Australian Competition and Consumer Commission boss Rod Sims has pledged to protect the interests of small and regional publishers under a new framework designed to force digital giants Google and Facebook to pay for news content.

Mr Sims, who last week was charged with creating a compulsory code to manage the commercial arrangements of tech giants and media companies, said some small publishers had a different relationship to the digital platforms than major media companies which argue Google and Facebook profit from their work.

Rod Sims said small publishers were worried about retaliation from the tech giants, but assured the code would accommodate all Australian media outlets. Credit:AAP

"[Small publishers] have indicated to us at least that important parts of the code for them are things like advance notice of algorithm changes," Mr Sims told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "We certainly had concerns expressed by some of them that algorithms would change and they would be severely affected ... and simple things like having someone to contact at the platforms, which they can struggle to get."

"For some of them the value exchange is a little bit different to what it is for Nine/Fairfax or News Limited, because everyone has heard of them. But if you are a small publisher ... the only way you may find them is through Google," he said.
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Two things get Brian Pritchard fired up in the morning before he heads into the cavern of death, fear and despair that the coronavirus has transformed his work into.

First, he puts on his headphones. Peace in the Valley by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers is a favorite. Next, he checks his phone for the latest text from his dad. Be conscious of love prayers humor compassion and positivity, read the latest one.

Then Brian puts on his mask, gloves and gown to become Dr. Pritchard, chief resident of the Brooklyn Hospital Center emergency room in New York. And he is no longer simply the son of Michael Pritchard, the comedian and anti-bullying speaker so revered in comic circles that hes known as Saint Mike.

At 34 years old, Brian actually for some time now has carved his own identity as a doctor, specializing in the homeless, the poor and the desperate for four years in Brooklyn. But the coronavirus crisis that has made New York City the epicenter of the pandemic, with more than 12,000 confirmed deaths, has shoved him into a whole new warlike existence  and now Brian is leaning on his father as never before, with 2,903 miles between them as Pritch (Mikes main nickname) sequesters at home in San Rafael.

Hes leaned on his dad as he managed a staggering 1,000 patients. A majority of them died, many as he cried at their bedside. Hes leaned on his dad as four people in his inner hospital circle died of the coronavirus. And Brian leaned on his dad when he himself caught COVID-19 on March 31  and then gave it to his wife, Marissa. The disease walloped Brian for three days until, with the disease beaten by his unusually strong immune system, he masked up again and went back to work as Marissa also recovered  and Pritch showered them both with streams of encouraging texts and calls.

Its a remarkable story of love from afar, a father to a son, in a frightening era when parents, sons and daughters like them all over the country ache to support each other but can only touch by phone and internet. No hugs. Just words and images.

Courtesy Michael Pritchard

My dad has always been supportive, but now? This pandemic is something totally different. We all need each other more than ever, and man, he is there for me, Brian said between shifts the other day. And when you get those texts from my dad, theyre kind of nonstop. He just fires em out, one big string with no punctuation or corrections. We call his mind the frog pond, because he jumps from one lily pad to another and never stops until he finally just runs out at some point.

Usually hes got a joke or two, but these days theres not much funny, Brian said. There have been times when we didnt have enough beds, just patients sitting in chairs with respirators. So much death. Pure chaos. Ive never seen anything like it. So dad sends inspirational stuff. Brian allowed a chuckle. And it is ceaseless. And sometimes a little embarrassing. But always sincere.

Pritch is a force of nature I met 20 years ago when I heard comedian Doug Ferrari was homeless. Robin Williams, Will Durst and every other comic pal of theirs that I called while looking for Doug said if you find him, call St. Mike. I did find Doug, I did call Pritch, and then I wrote about the mesmerizing rehab mission he pulled off with Doug  who today is funnier than ever, and happily settled.

But these times are different, like Brian said. Pritch also sends me those endless, mostly punctuation-less texts too, but now they are all about keeping your chin up  and about how incredibly proud he is of his middle child.

Emotionally intelligent Leadership tells touching stories. Guide love. your the best, he texted to Brian the other day  of course, with no editing. The young are gonna have years of love needed to heal. We can start now appreciating them, he texted to me around the same time.

Courtesy Brian Pritchard

Heres another of his latest: Dear Brian , We love those we heal and nurture as suffering or Wounded because we see our families faces in their sorrow ! If they cannot say goodbye to their loved ones get them to say it to you . I have done that in military , hospice and childrens hospitals for years . We are their family because they need that . Damn difficult son . Sometimes when I think of all my good byes to all they are .....GOOD Byes . On my own death bed I will remember teaching you this so that you and your sisters and brother might fill the circle with mine . Much love Pop

Pritch let out one of those booming laughs of his when I brought up his terrible punctuation and told him his son called his mind a frog pond. Its always reminded me of the way Williams mind and comedy worked; no wonder they were such good friends.

Yeah, no apostrophes, no periods, he said. I am totally ADD. I talk in staccato verse. Its a rhythmic cadence of passion. Then he pivoted to his go-to conversation topic: preaching optimism.

I always love that saying from Colin Powell that positivity is a force multiplied, and we need that more than ever now, Pritch said. We need to ramp up the compassion and kindness, to be aware in this period of time of this level of grief we are exposed to  that we are suffering present, not post, traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. This is all hands on deck, emotionally and spiritually.

Brian is lucky in many ways to have 69-year-old St. Mike for a father. Not only does Pritch text him every morning and FaceTime him three times a day, but he can relate in ways neither could have anticipated when Brian grew up watching his dad share billing with pals Williams and Jerry Seinfeld and voice characters for Star Wars characters.

Before comedy and Hollywood, Pritch was an Army medic in Vietnam. He was also a juvenile probation officer. And after shifting the bulk of his work in the 1980s toward conducting anti-bullying workshops for kids around the country and counseling cops, veterans and others on job stress, he earned that St. Mike moniker for his bottomless devotion to caring. When comedians were in trouble, they called Pritch. When Williams died in 2014, Pritch was the one who counseled the family.

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.

Dad doesnt talk about his time in Vietnam much at all, but I know hes seen a lot because he talks to me about death, Brian said. Hes familiar with it. He knows.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Death now has more to do with Brians job than ever. The historic 175-year-old, 464-bed hospital where he works  Walt Whitman brought poems to Civil War wounded there  typically draws a heavy caseload from the poorer ends of the New York borough where it sits, but the COVID-19 crisis has now jammed it hard with all walks of life needing respirators, extra beds, refrigerated morgue trailers outside.

This month the hospital got donated iPhones and iPads to have patients say goodbye to their families when we intubate them, because if youre getting admitted to the hospital with COVID, theres a high chance youre not getting out, Brian said. So now I have these moments with people where theyre saying goodbye to their families. Each time is equally devastating, and each time is as bad as the last. I wish I could shut off my mind, but Im so invested in these people I cant. He paused. Its devastating, he said.

Being the son of a funnyman, Brian is one of those docs usually cracking jokes in the E.R., jibing patients into smiles. But with the coronavirus, now its just us staff making fun of each other, he said. We try to keep it as light as we can, because youre surrounded by some of the saddest situations youve ever seen. Yesterday we were intubating a patient, and he got a cramp in his leg. I rubbed it and he was so grateful. Here he was struggling hard to breathe, to live, and he gave me that from his heart for this one tiny thing I did.

After something like that you just sit at the station and zone out, thinking about what happened, how his chances are so low. But I could never imagine myself doing anything else. Im trying to follow in my dads footsteps, and keep a human aspect to it all.

One of Pritchs texts last week told Brian, God son what heroes you have all become, but thats a rare occasion where his son disagrees. I dont feel like theres any sort of heroic thing to what Im doing, Brian said. I just love my job. Im listening. Caring.

Pritch shrugs off his sons modesty. Its what most heroes say. The world is a tough place, and we all have to be tough and self-reliant and stoic (the ancient philosophy of high virtue) to get through it. And Brian  hes quite the stoic. Us stoics, we believe in positivity and optimism.

We will all get through this. We just need to be there for each other.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com
A rock fragment of Martian meteorite ALH84001 (left). An enlarged area (right) shows the orange-colored carbonate grains on the host orthopyroxene rock.

Ancient Mars is looking better and better as an abode for life.

The famed Mars meteorite Allan Hills 84001 (ALH84001) contains 4-billion-year-old native organic molecules, the carbon-containing building blocks of life as we know it, a new study suggests.

And that's not all. The organics contain nitrogen, another ingredient that Earth life depends on, and were found within carbonate minerals, which usually form in groundwater. So the discovery adds to an emerging picture of a wet and potentially habitable Mars in the distant past, study team members said.

Related: Mars life: Exploration and evidence

This picture has been fleshed out by a range of observations over the years, including recent work by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Curiosity has spotted ancient native organics as well, and the car-size robot found evidence of a long-ago, but long-lived, lake-and-stream system at its study site, the Red Planet's 96-mile-wide (154 kilometers) Gale Crater. (Mars is very different today, of course; the planet transitioned to a cold and dry world about 3.5 billion years ago, after it lost most of its atmosphere to space.)

Scientists think ALH84001 was blasted off Mars by a powerful impact 16 million years ago and came down to Earth much later, about 13,000 years ago.

The meteorite, which was discovered in Antarctica in 1984, has been in the spotlight before. In 1996, a research team led by David McKay of NASA's Johnson Space Center claimed to have found compelling evidence of ancient microbial Mars life in ALH84001. The scientists cited four main lines of evidence, one of which involved carbonate globules and organic molecules.

The scientific community has generally deemed this collection of evidence to be unconvincing, stressing that abiotic factors could explain the observations. But the study authors stand by their original conclusions, and debate over ALH84001 continues to this day .

In the new study, researchers led by Mizuho Koike, of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, looked at the Mars rock in a new way. The team used novel and highly precise analytical techniques, including a type of X-ray spectroscopy, to detect nitrogen in ALH84001 and trace it to the carbonate minerals.

This was a first; nobody had found nitrogen-containing organics in the rock before, team members said. The researchers think the organics were trapped in the carbonate about 4 billion years ago; they said their techniques minimized the chance of terrestrial contamination, which is always a concern with Mars meteorites.

To be clear: The organics are not evidence of Mars life; such compounds can be produced abiotically as well as biotically. And there are other important questions about the ALH84001 organics as well, such as where they formed.

"There are two main possibilities: either they came from outside Mars, or they formed on Mars," study co-author Atsuko Kobayashi, of the Earth-Life Science Institute at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, said in a statement .

"Early in the solar system's history, Mars was likely showered with significant amounts of organic matter, for example from carbon-rich meteorites, comets and dust particles," Kobayashi added. "Some of them may have dissolved in the [Martian] brine and been trapped inside the carbonates."

Scientists have a chance to make some real progress on the Mars-life question soon. NASA's Mars 2020 rover Perseverance , which is scheduled to launch in July, will hunt for signs of ancient Red Planet organisms and collect samples for future return to Earth. Once this pristine Mars material lands here  which could happen as soon as 2031  researchers around the world will be able to scrutinize it in great detail.

The new study was published online April 24 in the journal Nature Communications .

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 .
President Donald Trump has been tweeting, as one does, about the travails of his former national security adviser Michael Flynn. On Wednesday, he tweeted a piece from the Federalist claiming explosive new documents reveal that the investigation and subsequent prosecution of former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn was a set-up from the beginning. Sen. Lindsey Graham dutifully tweeted in support that its pretty apparent to me that General Flynn was a victim of an out of control Department of Justice. He basically got railroaded. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence joined the party. The new information they cite is just-released handwritten notes from Bill Priestap, former assistant director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division, suggesting that FBI agents interviewing Flynn in early 2017 should decide between whether to get Flynn to admit to breaking the Logan Act when he spoke to thenRussian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition period, or try to see if he would lie in response to questions about the incident. (Flynn opted for lying.)

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The unsigned, one-page, newly released note indicates that we have a case on Flynn & Russians. In a section titled Afterwards, it stated, What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? The notes add:

I dont see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is going easy on him  If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ & have them decide. Or, if he initially lies, then we present him [redacted] & he admits it, document for DOJ, & let them decide how to address it.

Flynn eventually pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators more than two years ago about his communications with Kislyak, and he agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Muellers investigators, which he did, until he sought to withdraw the plea.

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This revisiting of the Flynn prosecution and conviction for lying to investigators about his contacts with Kislyak is part of Attorney General William Barrs probe into the Justice Departments investigation into the handling of the Flynn case. The goal is to show that former FBI Director James Comey, Assistant Director Andrew McCabe, agent Peter Strzok, and what Flynns new lawyer is calling special counsel operatives all worked together to railroad a celebrated and honest man, by threatening him with Logan Act and Foreign Agents Registration Act prosecutions. The story has been picked up widely by conservative media, with the Federalist calling the Logan Act unconstitutional and Fox News calling FARA another little-known and once-rarely used law. The gist of the explosive new note is unclear beyond the fact that it appears the FBI was trying to think tactically about how to question a suspect. Thats a thing the FBI does. This is, in short, a scandal in the same way the Mueller report was a scandal: The Department of Justice at one time was doing its job, which was to investigate crime, and the president happened to be closely associated with a whole slew of the criminals.

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As he did during the release of Muellers report, Trumps attorney general is once again running interference for his political patron at the expense of his own Department of Justice. Barr has brought in the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jeffrey Jensen, to review the entire Flynn case and determine whether the government hid exculpatory evidence from the defense, pressured Flynn to a plea deal, and questioned him without proper warnings. Barr was reportedly a driving force behind the decision to make these new records public. His own Justice Department has been in court defending the handling of the case as Barr seeks to undermine it.

Trump has been pushing hard on the notion that the FBI were human scum for pursuing the Flynn case. Hes redoubling that defense with tweets like this one from Thursday morning: What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!

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But Trump also tweeted a threat on Wednesday night at CNN for its coverage of the case: CNN doesnt want to speak about their persecution of General Michael Flynn & why they got the story so wrong. They, along with others, should pay a big price for what they have purposely done to this man & his family  They wont even cover the big breaking news about this scam! CNN covered the story here.

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Trump isnt just paving the way for a possible Flynn pardon, though. Because the criming, it is everywhere! He is also clearly laying the groundwork to pardon Roger Stone as well. His Thursday morning tweets also included this one:

Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly. How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias. Same scammers as General Flynn!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2020

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Trumps tweet came just hours before Stone filed a notice of appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit of his own November conviction on seven felony counts of lying to Congress and witness tampering. Stone lost his motion for a retrial in April after his lawyers argued that the verdict against him was tainted by juror misconduct. He also failed to get the judge removed from his case. That judge, Amy Berman Jackson, denied his appeal, and he has been sentenced to 40 months in prison, although he has not yet been incarcerated. Unrelated to Stones pleading, the FBI unsealed search warrants into Stones communications this week that show he had purchased hundreds of fake Facebook accounts that he used to promote WikiLeaks stolen Clinton emails and later to buy ads defending himself against prosecution. Trumps newest claims that Stone was railroaded and that jury bias tainted his trial are hardly new; Trump demanded that Barr adjust Stones sentence recommendation this winter, and top DOJ officials complied, with Barr insisting in February that Trump was making it impossible for him to do his job. Apparently, it is now possible for Barr to do his job again.

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Donald Trump has been using his pardon power to undermine basic tenets of the rule of law for a long time now, with a special soft spot for the liars and the grifters, and if that means undermining his own Justice Department, all the better (slamming the press for failing to cover a thing it covered is just the sugary sprinkles on top). There are open questions about whether a president can be held criminally responsible for pardons used to obstruct justice. It is certainly the case that once someone has accepted a pardon, he loses his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, which means that he may be hauled before Congress to testify about any illegal activities. But impeachment was intended to be the principal check against abuse of the pardon power. We all saw in January and February how that went.

Nobody can be surprised to see Donald Trump getting ready to pardon some of his extra-special liars. Thats just standard birds-of-a-feather stuff. But watching Barrs willingness to hollow out his own Justice Department in order to free a few of the presidents favorite bottom feeders remains a thing of wonder. All that talk of Barr as a lawyers lawyer when he took over from Jeff Sessions was so much wishful thinking. Hes actually just a criminals lawyer, and he holds all the keys.
MESA, Ariz., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a shocking display of disregard for First Amendment protections afforded all Americans, the leadership of popular social media platforms used by millions each day for news and opinions have announced a ban on certain usersand the removal of their contentthat they deem misleading or counterproductive to their own technocrat agendas.

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki told CNN that videos offering viewpoints on the current pandemic that differ from declarations made by the World Health Organization, will be spiked.

"We also talk about removing information that is problematic," Wojcicki said, "anything that would go against World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations would be a violation of our policy. And so, removal is another really important part of our policy."

YouTube subsequently removed a viral video featuring two California physicians presenting front-line evidence that national lockdown policies were not as effective as originally thought, and recommended policies to quarantine the sick rather than the healthy.

CFFS Executive Director Patrick Wood criticized the tech giant on the grounds of both free speech and merit.

"Google leadership has managed to pull off a rare double," Wood said, "in addition to depriving YouTube users of the right to express their own views or to listen to the views of health experts such as Dr. Erickson and Dr. Massihi, they have also boosted the credibility of an international organization that has been widely criticized for its mishandling of the health crisis."

The WHO has been condemned by political leaders in Congress for legitimizing dubious claims made by communist leaders in Beijing over their initial efforts to keep the virus localized, as well as the actual number of cases and fatalities that occurred.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg announced plans to censor protest organizers' posts that were intended to pressure state and local governments into lifting stay-at-home orders that have crippled the American economy. Zuckerburg told ABC that, "Facebook is now being used to organize a lot of these protests," and that "we do classify that as harmful misinformation and we take that down."

CFFS believes social media companies that act as a public utility should not be in the business of censorship of any lawful or constitutional activity.

"How can Facebook executives possibly defend a ban on lawful citizens using lawful tactics to organize peaceful assemblies?" Wood asked, "these types of decisions, made by Silicon Valley technocrats substituting their own judgment for that of the framers of our Constitution, is horribly damaging to the rights of Americans. The First Amendment is the watershed concept of all political and social activities. Without the ability to communicate with other law-abiding citizens, all other civil liberties are in immediate jeopardy."

For more information about CFFS please visit www.CitizensForFreeSpeech.org.

Media Contact:

Bob Frantz, National Director of Communications

480-526-0074

[email protected]

SOURCE Citizens for Free Speech
The Ukrainian Health Ministry has called on Ukrainians to stay home during the May holidays.

Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said this at a briefing on April 30, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"I ask you to stay home during the May holidays. I ask you to observe the lockdown. When reading morning statistics, I very much want us to have no new cases and no deaths," Stepanov said.

He said that 261 patients in Ukraine died of COVID-19 as of April 30. "These are real human tragedies, but this figure is much lower than, for example, in Italy, where on April 30, 27,000 people died and more than 203,000 fell ill, or in Spain, where more than 236,000 people were infected with COVID-19 and 24,000 died," Stepanov said.

According to him, the current incidence of coronavirus disease in Ukraine indicates that the lockdown was introduced in time and gave its results.

Instead, Stepanov stressed that people who do not adhere to lockdown requirements, in particular, by attending mass events, pose at risk not only themselves but also those surrounding them.

"I understand that it is very difficult to stay in lockdown for five or six weeks, but believe me that no one is going to extend the lockdown if there is no reason for this, no one is going not to let people into the parks, to keep certain shops closed, or to restrain small business. It is very important for us that the death toll from COVID-19 is zero. Each time you go to rallies or start violating the lockdown, think about your relatives and loved ones who can be infected during certain events," Stepanov said.

A small-scale protest was held outside the building of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on April 29. The protesters were demanding a relaxation of lockdown measures. Entrepreneurs demanded that the government allow small and micro businesses to operate in compliance with sanitary requirements. The protesters also demanded that the government ensure equal requirements for work in lockdown for everyone: for well-known retail chains, restaurants, etc.

Some 10,406 people contracted coronavirus in Ukraine as of April 30.

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C ustomers were found hiding in cupboards after officers raided a pub suspected of breaching coronavirus lockdown regulations, police have said.

Officers went to the Pitsmoor Hotel, Sheffield, on Friday after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public that the pub was still serving its customers.

Police said they found drinkers hiding in cupboards.

Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops were told to close on March 23 as the UK entered a nationwide lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19. Pub owners that ignore the lockdown order and remain open can be given a prohibition notice and fined.

The pub's alcohol licence is now under review after South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council issued a prohibition order forcing it to shut.

John O'Malley, Liquor Licensing Manager at South Yorkshire Police, told the BBC: "On Friday night, officers attended the premises and found a number of people hiding in cupboards, the pub was clearly still open for business.

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

"What makes this more significant, is that the licence holder has already been served a prohibition notice under the legislation for another premise, The Staffordshire Arms on Sorby Street.

"Licences for both venues are now under review by ourselves and Sheffield City Council, so there could be long-term implications for these businesses."

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove previously said that areas of hospitality including pubs could be the last to reopen after the lockdown.

TODO: define component type apester

He told BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Areas of hospitality will be among the last to exit the lock down, yes that is true, they will be among the last.

"This virus has changed so much, it's a new virus of a great potency and lethality. It spreads remarkably fast, we want to ensure that we can get on top of it."

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Wetherspoon has no hotline to the government as to when pubs might be permitted to reopen and we doubt if the government itself has yet made a decision on this.

"Like all companies we are trying to make a plan for the future and are guessing that they may be allowed to reopen in late June, around three months after they closed.
In his log, Michael diligently tracks weather, supplies and coordinates along with the victories and challenges of life at sea. We see Sybil swinging on the halyard (flying, as its known among families the Partlows meet while afloat) and George paddling in a pool of warm water on the shore of a tiny island (the coolest baby pool you ever saw).

While Michael embraces preparation and logistics, Juliet is slower to adjust to the nautical life. Shes depressive and skeptical by nature, haunted by childhood trauma; shes the friend youd call for a soulful conversation, not a raucous good time. The Partlows are the embodiment of wherever you go, there you are. Their tight quarters quickly become crammed with grudges and misunderstandings to the point where you wonder how they ended up together in the first place. (Gaige takes you there, too.) The dysfunction makes for entertaining fiction. In fact, it made me feel smugly perky about the state of my own marriage.

Eventually, the Partlows get their sea legs, and for a while their adventures are a cheery postcard for the homebound reader. The sky is a bowl of stars; the moon is so bright, you can read the face of a watch; everything churns so smoothly. Not only do family members adjust to their cozy berths, they sleep better than they ever have before. They revel in small moments: snorkeling in a coral reef, reading waterlogged paperbacks, making paper snowflakes while anchored near an island whose residents dont even have a word for time. Who wouldnt want to follow in their wake?

But just as youre about to dust off your globe and flex your pointer finger, disaster strikes. At first, its a series of unfortunate events  the boats transmission dies; Michaels financial wheeling and dealing threatens to catch up with him; one squall rocks them, then another. You begin to grasp the scope of the Partlows lack of preparation and the sheer size of the ocean. You start to wonder (if you havent already) whether Michael and Juliet had any business putting their kids lives at risk in order to stave off their own midlife ennui.

The real tsunami  not a literal one  hits when the Partlows are halfway between Colombia and Jamaica. The fact of it isnt a surprise; Gaige has been towing you to tragedy with the graceful crawl of a poet and the motorboat intensity of a suspense author. And yet, when you find yourself at the deep end of this book, gasping for breath, you will still be shocked by what you find at the bottom.

I had one cantankerous quibble with Sea Wife: I wished Gaige had used quotation marks around her characters dialogue. Without them, its easy to lose your bearings  but maybe thats the point of this book. Gaige tells the story of a family adrift, spun so thoroughly and vigorously out of their comfort zone that they eventually lose sight of the horizon. Finding out how  and whether  they find their way is worth some personal discombobulation, and it makes you appreciate the firm, familiar ground under your feet.

[ Read an excerpt from Sea Wife. ]

Discussion Questions

What did you make of the couples decision to take their children on such an ambitious adventure? Was it right, wrong or none of the above? Why? And how did your feelings evolve as you got deeper into the book?

Michael and Juliet often feel like two ships passing in the night  temperamentally, politically, parentally. What is it that pulls them to each other?

Which did you prefer: the passages in the present or the ones in the past? And how did you feel about toggling between the Partlows points of view, sometimes multiple times within a single page?

Suggested Reading

In April 2014, the Coast Guard received a mayday call from Rebel Heart, a boat that was hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico. It belonged to a couple who were crossing the South Pacific with their two young daughters; they had lost steering control and one of their daughters was sick. Their rescue sparked a lively debate, which is worth revisiting as you read Sea Wife."
The son of a woman with dementia has begun legal action over reduced inspections at care homes in Northern Ireland during the Covid-19 emergency. (stock photo)

The son of a woman with dementia has begun legal action over reduced inspections at care homes in Northern Ireland during the Covid-19 emergency.

Papers lodged at the High Court in Belfast are pressing for an urgent judicial review into decisions taken by the Department of Health and a watchdog body.

The challenge is being mounted on behalf of Briege Gray, a 73-year-old resident at private nursing facilities in Castlewellan, Co Down.

Lawyers representing her son, Keith Gray, contend the Department unlawfully directed the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) to suspend statutory care home inspections.

They also claim that the authority misinterpreted the direction as providing flexibility to continue inspections remotely.

According to their case, Mrs Gray's human rights are being breached.

"The continuing failure to inspect is likely to result in a diminution of the standard of care, which in turn directly correlates to the applicant's chances of survival during this pandemic," court papers say.

Seeking a hearing within days, Mrs Gray's legal team said the challenge involves the right to life, with wider implications for many others.

Her son described how his already high state of anxiety due to the coronavirus crisis has been compounded, claiming the situation is "simply unacceptable".

"I am at my wits' end over this," Mr Gray said.

"My mother, like hundreds of other residents, is vulnerable and her life is now at grave risk.

"I want proper inspections and full oversight but it may be too late. I am disgusted."

Further concerns were raised about personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, despite a manager at his mother's home assuring him that all staff are wearing face masks and eye shields as part of strict hygiene procedures.

The family's solicitor, Kevin Winters, stressed the urgency of the case.

"Given the vicious pace at which this virus operates, this application cannot come quickly enough," he said.

"All efforts need to be taken to halt the rising incidence of horrific statistics emerging from care homes.

He added: "It's against this background we are taking this challenge."

In previously reported legal correspondence, health authorities responded that any decisions by the RQIA had been taken in accordance with a direction from the chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride.

It said ceasing some inspections gave it the ability to direct focus to those areas identified as priority during the current emergency.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 00:32:37|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's economy is expected to grow by 2.27 percent in the current fiscal year 2019-20 ending in mid-July, a sharp drop from the targeted growth of 8.5 percent as economic activities are interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the central statistics body of Nepal said on Wednesday.

It will be the lowest growth since fiscal year 2015-16 when Nepal's economy grew by just 0.2 percent amid effects of the deadly earthquake in April 2015 and subsequent trade blockade allegedly imposed by India.

After achieving over 6 percent growth for three consecutive fiscal years, Nepal has targeted a growth rate of 8.5 percent this fiscal with the aim to lead the country to a high growth trajectory.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said in its annual "National Account Estimates of 2019-20" that it projected the economic growth with the assumption that the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 domestically and internationally would have an impact on the Nepali economy.

Nepal has been under nationwide lockdown since March 24 as ground and land transportation services have been halted except for supply of essential goods and services, businesses have been closed and industrial and construction activities have also been largely on standstill.

The CBS said in a press statement that its estimate of economic growth was based on the assumption that the hotel and restaurant sector and international transportation services would continue to be severely affected until the end of current fiscal year while other sectors would go towards normalization after mid-May.

The projection of the CBS is in line with that of the World Bank which had projected in one of its latest publications.

Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, a senior Nepali economist told Xinhua on Wednesday that the economic growth projected by the CBS was based on current realities of the COVID-19 in Nepal.

"As the situation is still fluid, growth will depend on whether the country would see spike in COVID-19 cases and how long Nepal has to take strong measures against the deadly disease," he said.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal has less than 60 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 so far.

"The economic growth projected by the CBS is the result of lockdown effect," said Pokharel, who is also former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, the central planning body of Nepal. "It is still positive because we have not yet seen the full force of COVID-19 effect paralyzing Nepal's weak medical system."

Another economist Govinda Nepal said that the Nepali people might have to take preventive measure for a long period due to the porous border with India where the number of cases has crossed 30,000.

"So, prolonged disturbance in economic activities might have bigger impact on economy than what the CBS assumed," Nepal told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Due to the ongoing lockdown, livelihood of millions of Nepalis, particularly that of daily wage workers, has been severely affected. The economists said the projected low growth has dented Nepal's aim of moving to high growth trajectory.

According to the CBS, Nepal will see contraction in outputs of at least five sectors -- hotels and restaurants; transport, storage and communication; manufacturing; mining and quarrying; and construction. Enditem
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Reuters

New York state paid $69 million for ventilators to an engineer with no background in medical supplies after he tweeted at President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force recommended him as a vendor, BuzzFeed News reported.

The ventilators reportedly never arrived.

New York has since terminated its contract with the man, a Silicon Valley electrical engineer named Yaron Oren-Pines, and is working to recover its money.

Reached for comment by phone, Oren-Pines told BuzzFeed News, "Neither me nor my company is providing any comment on this," and hung up.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Related Video: Why COVID-19 Death Predictions Will Always Be Wrong

The state of New York paid $69 million for ventilators to a man with no background in medical supplies after he tweeted at President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force recommended him as a vendor, BuzzFeed News reported.

The ventilators never arrived.

On March 27, as the novel coronavirus was surging through the US, Trump urged Ford and General Motors on Twitter to "START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW!"

Yaron Oren-Pines, an electrical engineer in Silicon Valley, replied to the tweet, writing, "We can supply ICU Ventilators, invasive and noninvasive. Have someone call me URGENT."

BuzzFeed reported that New York shelled out $69.1 million to Oren-Pines three days later for 1,450 ventilators  at least three times the standard price for high-end models. A state official told the outlet that New York entered into the contract with Oren-Pines at the "direct recommendation" of the White House coronavirus task force. It's unclear who specifically authorized the recommendation.

New York has since terminated the contract and the state is reportedly trying to recover its money. Reached for comment by phone, Oren-Pines told BuzzFeed News, "Neither me nor my company is providing any comment on this," and hung up.

In a similar case earlier this month, the Trump administration awarded a $55 million contract to a bankrupt company with no employees for N95 masks, according to The Washington Post.

Story continues



U.S. President Trump.

The company, Panthera Worldwide LLC, describes itself as a tactical training company for the US military and other government agencies, has no record of producing medical supplies or equipment, The Post said.

Panthera's parent company filed for bankruptcy protection last fall, and one of its owners last year said it'd had no employees since May 2018, The Post reported, citing sworn testimony. It is no longer listed as an LLC in Virginia, where its main office is located, after fees went unpaid.

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19, a pandemic last month.

As of Wednesday evening, 3,187,030 people around the world have been infected, and the US is the global epicenter of the outbreak, with more than one million confirmed cases.

New York is the hardest-hit state, with 305,024 cases and 23,317 deaths. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday that the death rate in the state has been flat for three consecutive days but that the number of new hospital admissions for the coronavirus increased slightly for the first time in 12 days.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. - A handful of loved ones in a chapel on Detroits west side and hundreds of mourners participating online said goodbye Thursday to the daughter of a police officer and firefighter who is Michigans youngest victim in the coronavirus pandemic so far.

The reality of the public health crisis that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 Detroit residents was clear in the livestreamed service for 5-year-old Skylar Herbert.

Skylar died April 19 due to complications from the virus.

In other times, her familys church would have been packed with mourners bidding Skylar farewell. But only about a dozen family members could be seen in the first two pews at the James H. Cole funeral home. Social distancing guidelines prevented more from attending, and each mourner wore a mask, as did funeral home staff, the pastor and the line of flower bearers.

Its become the new normal across the U.S. and around the world. Funeral services and burials have become smaller and more intimate to prevent the spread of the virus. Funerals have been delayed and some cemeteries arent allowing graveside services.

About 800 people viewed the livestream of Skylars funeral as the eulogy was read. Two video screens played a montage of photos of the girl and her family to gospel music. A bouquet of pink flowers spelled out her name.

It doesnt get no harder than this, said the Rev. Kevin Earley, pastor of the Metropolitan Church of God in Detroit. I will miss my Skylar. In just five years ... she gave a lifetime of love.

Earley said he performed Skylars parents wedding, and that the family attends the church.

A week before the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, Earley told congregants he had accepted a pastors job in Atlanta. And Skylars response touched him.

She was too young to really understand the announcement, so she came up to me he said Thursday. The thought came to my mind I wont get to see her grow up. Who knew? Who knew?

After Skylars death, Mayor Mike Duggan called her a real daughter of the city of Detroit. Skylars mother, LaVondria Herbert, has been a Detroit police officer for 25 years, and Skylars father, Ebbie, a firefighter of 18 years.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer paid tribute to the family last week.

Theyve been on the frontline and theyve served with honour and integrity, Whitmer said. They did not deserve to lose their child to this virus. Nobody does.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

Coronavirus infections leading to death are unusual among children.

Skylar was African American. Early data by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that 30% of patients who died from the virus whose race was known were black.

Health conditions that exist at higher rates in the black community  obesity, diabetes and asthma  make African Americans more susceptible to the virus, according to health officials. They also are more likely to be uninsured, and often report that medical professionals take their ailments less seriously when they seek treatment.

In March, Whitmer ordered Michigan residents to stay home, banned large gatherings and closed schools to slow the spread of the virus.

As of Thursday, the coronavirus, had infected more than 40,000 Michigan residents and contributed to the deaths of 3,670. Nationally, 1 million people are confirmed to have the disease and more than 61,000 have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected without feeling sick.

Earley didnt mention COVID-19 much, but the spectre of it filled the mostly empty chapel.

I believe shes in heaven, he said of Skylar. I believe shes with the Lord. But right now, this mess hurts.

Dying is but a pathway into the paradise where therell be no more death, therell be no more crying, therell be no more COVID-19, therell be no more sickle cell, therell be no more diabetes, he said.
Bootstrap Ventures, an Irvine, California- and Dallas, Texas-based private equity firm focused on Water Rights, has just launched.

Led by principal and founder Dennis Rogers and partner and co-founder Hunter Ross Fedden, Bootstrap Ventures specializes in energy and mineral rights and have created an investing niche in the underexposed area of Water Rights. |

To date, the firm has completed over twenty Water Rights deals, providing investors with returns that ranged from 12-25%.

Rogers has a dynamic background in finance, investments and business development. He has been raising funds in both the public and private sectors for over 10 years and has expansive knowledge in Water Rights, which the firm specializes in.

Fedden spent several years working with one of the countrys top real estate firms prior to launching Bootstrap. During his previous tenure he served in a number of capacities including development, sales, investing and capital raises  all of which prepared him for this new venture.

FinSMEs

30/04/2020
U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a roundtable discussion with industry executives on Opening Up America Again in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Says White House Wont Extend Social Distancing Guidelines

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the White House will not be extending its CCP virus social distancing guidelines that are set to expire on May 1 as more states look to re-open their economies.

Trump told reporters that the administration will be fading out the guidelines, which were initially put in place to curb the transmission of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Instead, governors will incorporate existing recommendations into their new future plans, he said.

Theyll be fading out, because now the governors are doing it, the president said during a roundtable with business leaders to discuss the strategy to reopen the U.S. economy.

The White Houses 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidelines were originally supposed to last 15 days, and were then extended an additional 30.

Under the measures, Americans are encouraged to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings, and discretionary travel. The elderly and those with serious underlying health conditions were also advised to self-isolate.

Vice President Mike Pence said that the existing social distancing guidelines were being incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that details how states can reopen gradually and safely.

Every state in America has embraced those guidelines at a minimum, or even done more, and now our focus is working with states, Pence said. The current guidelines, I think you can say, are very much incorporated in the guidance that were giving states to open up America again.

President Donald Trump listens to Dr. Anthony Fauci discuss the Trump administrations guidelines for Opening Up America Again during the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, on April 16, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Earlier this month, the White House unveiled 3-phase guidelines for governors to reopen their states. The new guidelines are aimed at clearing the way for an easing of restrictions in areas with a low transmission rate of the CCP virus, while keeping them in place in harder-hit locations.

Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a 3-phase gradual reopening of businesses and schools, with each phase lasting at least 14 days, meant to ensure that the virus outbreak doesnt accelerate again.

A wave of states across the United States have started to ease their lockdown measures, including Florida, Alaska, Georgia, Colorado, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, and Tennessee, while some states including Michigan and North Carolina have extended their social distancing guidelines into May.

The announcement from the White House comes amid reports that the U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8 percent annual rate in first quarter of the yeara precursor to far grimmer reports that some analysts say can be expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.

The White House has been pivoting to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nations economy state-by-state, although some have expressed concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

Were heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us, Trump said Wednesday of the modeled April virus peak in the country.

The United States by Thursday morning reported more than 1 million cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, with more than 60,000 deaths.
A central team of doctors deputed



by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, who were on a visit to Karnataka, have given a slew of suggestions on medium and long term measures on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team of doctors took stock of the situation of Karnataka's preparedness on COVID-19 and inspected various facilities across the state, before winding up their visit on Thursday, the health and family welfare department said in a statement.

The department added that the agenda of the team was also to provide required assistance to the state.

"The team made suggestions on medium and long term measures like strengthening human resources at health institutions, training, and mass counselling," the press release quoted Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Commissioner, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka as saying.

"The team visited health facilities and institutions across the state, interacting with local and state health officials in the districts of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Chikkaballapura, Hassan and Dakshina Kannada," the release said.

The central team consisted of Dr Avdhesh Kumar, Additional Director of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Dr R K Gupta, Consultant Physician, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital;



Dr Nishant Kumar, Professor, Anaesthesia, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and Dr Anuradha Shulania, Associate Professor, Microbiology, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The team deemed the Mysuru screening facility as excellent and declared that the Critical Care Support Team Initiative should be emulated by other states.

It also found the Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru and Suratkal quarantine facilities in coastal Karnataka were model practices to be followed.

The doctors also held meetings with officials of the Department of Health and Family Welfare including Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akthar, Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ANZ, before the pandemic, had the strongest capital position of any of the banks, thanks to the massive de-risking of its balance sheet as it slashed its Asian exposures over the past few years. It had a common equity tier one (CET1) capital ratio of 11.4 per cent.

Thats leading the banks, which are at the pointy end of the economy during this crisis, to be ultra-conservative even though they appreciate they dont yet know whether they are being conservative enough.

No one has any real grasp on how long or severe the economic downturn will be or what "normal" might look like if and when the economy stabilises.

While there are differences in the major banks responses to the financial fallout from the coronavirus there is a common theme as they grapple with its open-ended uncertainties: hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Despite that, and unlike National Australia Bank, which paid a reduced interim dividend while also raising $3.5 billion of new capital, it has deferred (rather than abandoned) its interim dividend, hanging on to the $2.2 billion of cash and capital it would have distributed had it maintained the dividend.

It has also taken a conservative approach to its provisioning for COVID-19-related losses, adding just over $1 billion to its collective provisioning and writing down the value of its investments in two Asian banks by $815 million to account for the virus impact on them. (Those write-downs are non-cash and, because investments are already fully deducted from capital, have no impact on its capital base).

With a CET1 ratio of 10.8 per cent even after the provisioning (and after $643 million of additional charges not related to the virus and largely due to the collapse of a Singapore oil trader in murky circumstances) ANZ would appear to be in a strong position to weather the economic storm. Even after the impairments, it generated a cash profit  organic capital  of $1.32 billion.

Chief executive Shayne Elliott and his board have no real idea of how ferocious that storm might be, how much damage it will cause to their customer base and balance sheet or how long it will last but they have attempted, as NAB did, to sketch out what it might look like.

Their base case is for a horrendous June quarter, with GDP slumping 13 per cent and a 4.7 per cent shrinkage in GDP for the full 2020 calendar year. Thats more pessimistic than NABs 3 per cent decline this year but envisages a stronger recovery in 2021, where it forecasts 4.1 per cent growth in the Australian economy against NABs 3.4 per cent.
United States President Donald Trump said the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire on Thursday, further distancing his administration from increasingly unpopular and contentious stay-at-home orders and economic lockdowns across the country.

To underscore his confidence that the country has turned the tide, Trump announced that he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly confined to the White House, starting with a trip next week to Arizona, a battleground state in the November election, and possibly Ohio, another key swing state.

He also said he hopes to begin holding the mass campaign rallies that have been a hallmark of both his earlier campaigns and his presidency.

The decision to let the federal guidelines expire leaves social distancing guidelines up to individual states, some of which have already started opening.

Theyll be fading out because now the governors are doing it, Trump said during a White House meeting with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana, on Wednesday.

Trump and certain governors have been locked in disputes over the allocation of needed medical supplies, including tests and personal protective equipment, to help the fight against the coronavirus.

Healthcare professionals prepare to screen people for the coronavirus at a testing site erected by the Maryland National Guard in a car park [Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP]

Marylands Republican Governor Larry Hogan, head of the National Governors Association, has repeatedly called on the federal government to do more to aid states.

The administration made it clear over and over again they want the states to take the lead, and we have to go out and do it ourselves, and thats exactly what we did, Hogan told reporters last week.

Return to campaigning

The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nations economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

The country has dramatically improved its testing after a slow and rocky start, but many health experts say the country still must do more  as many as five million tests a day  to safely reopen. Otherwise, they warn, coronavirus cases will skyrocket as Americans return to work.

States like Georgia, South Carolina and Alaska have allowed some businesses to reopen while maintaining social distancing. Most of the 50 states will reopen in some fashion within the next month.





The strong US economy has long been Trumps top selling point as a candidate. But the coronavirus pandemic has slowed it greatly, with an estimated 30 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits since the crisis began.

While he experienced an initial rally around the flag effect at the start of the crisis, Trumps raucous press briefings and controversial claims have pushed down those approval ratings more recently.

This, coupled with a stalled economy, could present significant challenges for Trumps re-election campaign.

I dont want people to get used to this, Trump said to reporters at the White House on Wednesday. I see the new normal being what it was three months ago.

Were going to start to move around and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, well have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other, he said, adding that having people spaced out in accordance with social distancing guidelines wouldnt look too good.

He didnt say exactly when he envisioned such rallies returning, but said the timing would depend, in part, on the states, since some have had far fewer cases than others.

Cases in the US are still rising dramatically. The country now has over one million confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That is a third of the global total, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. Deaths have surpassed 61,000 as of April 30.
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Global Insulin Delivery Devices (Idd) Market Size, Application And Trends Analysis By Type (Insulin Syringes, Pen, Insulin Pumps, Insulin Jet Injectors, Pen Needles And Others), Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, Online Sales And Diabetes Clinics/ Centers), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Homecare And Specialty Centres) And Region (Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific And Middle East & Africa) - Forecast Till 2025

The current research and development activities that are coordinating the two technologies, "sensor-augmented" and "sensor-driven" to develop pumps with completely automated & independent sensing and delivery system are expected to escalate the market on the ascending global heights.

Overview:

The insulin delivery devices market is growing at a rapid pace; mainly due to the rapidly increasing number of diabetic populations. Insulin delivery devices are adaptable & lifestyle friendly, and hence these are garnering huge popularity and advancement due to its programmable physiologic technique for the delivery of insulin.

Global Insulin Delivery Devices Market - Competitive Landscape

The rapidly growing market of insulin delivery devices appears fiercely competitive and fragmented with many large and small-scale players alongside new entrants forming a competitive landscape. The fierce competition in the anti-diabetic drug market has forced many players to developed delivery devices as an effective way to control the fall in revenues.

Matured players are increasingly seeking market expansion through various strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, increasing investments, innovation, and R&D to develop cost-effective product portfolio. They are also expanding their sales operations in emerging markets such as India and China to gain high market shares. The partnership formed are helping the companies to reduce the development costs associated with the insulin delivery devices.

These players possess state-of-the-art developing labs and strong sales and distribution network that can help them to gain the leadership position in the market. An ever-increasing emphasis on inbound lead generation over branding-oriented efforts has been observed among the marketers.



Key Players:

The fervent players leading the global insulin delivery devices market include Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Medtronic, Copernicus, Beta Bionics, InsuJet, MannKind, SHL Group, Roche, and Becton Dickinson (BD) among others.



Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:

December 14, 2018 -- Eli Lilly and Company (US), a leading global pharmaceutical company announced its expanded collaboration with Evidation Health, Inc. (US), a technology company involved in the development of digital tools and technologies especially for the healthcare industry. The collaboration with a multi-year agreement will provide Lilly with global access to Evidation's Andromeda data platform to analyze the data through Smartphones & Connected Sensors.

Studying Evidation's data platform will help Lilly to analyze data from continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and real-world information to build a connected ecosystem that includes an automated insulin delivery device and connected insulin pen.

Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/insulin-delivery-devices-market-851

More Healthcare Related Reports

Medical Tourniquets Market

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Market

About Market Research Future

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services

Contact:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/
Sardar Udham Singh

Producer Ronnie Lahiri told PTI, in earlier days of the project that they had decided to wait for Irrfan's return, but after his treatment, they mutually decided to move ahead with a different actor. "We had mutually discussed that he won't be in a physical situation to do such a complex role and he had asked us to move ahead. He told us before anyone else does a film on that subject he felt it would be unfair if we wait and somebody else does it."

"Previously, there was another film that we were going to do with him and somebody else did it and we had to shelve it. For him, stories were more important than individuals and we should go ahead and tell this important story of Udham Singh," Ronnie added.

Return With Deepika Padukone

Irrfan was also set to star in an Amazon original series titled, Gormint. But he decided to step down from the project, when he was diagnosed with cancer and had to leave for London for treatment. He had also signed up for Vishal Bharadwaj's next, which starred him alongside Deepika Padukone. The project had been delayed in wake of the actor's health.

Life In A Metro 2

There were also talks of Irrfan working with Anurag Basu for a sequel to Life in a Metro. The long-awaited sequel was discussed between the two, and Basu revealed, Irrfan had principally agreed to do it. "I was supposed to start a film with him. We were talking about Metro' sequel. For the Metro' sequel were waiting for Irrfan. I didn't start that film. We had discussed the idea back then and he loved the character and he wanted to do that again. This was one month before he was diagnosed," Anurag Basu told PTI.

Divine Lovers With Kangana Ranaut

Gurinder Chadha, on Twitter, revealed that she had a potential project for the actor. "Devastated that brave @irrfan khan sadly lost his battle. We had planned to work together and he spent a day at my house discussing our script before he fell ill. I mourn today for one of India's hugest talents and the worlds greatest actor. RIP baijaan and thank for your amazing work and legacy," (sic) she tweeted.

Director Sai Kabir had also planned a film with Irrfan alongside Kangana Ranaut in 2018, but the project fell through. "We were just going on floors with Divine Lovers, everything was set in 2018, but exactly in a month's gap, things changed. An unfortunate tragedy hit me. And he was diagnosed with cancer. It's very difficult to even think about that subject because it draws a lot of memories. I don't want to go there right now."
I believe it is helpful to couple the truths of Scripture with an understanding of the four distinct phases of crisis (impact, confusion, adjustment, and reconciliation) discussed by Dr. Norman Wright in his guide to crisis and trauma counseling. The Apostle Peter writes an entire letter to encourage Christians in their suffering. In 1 Peter 4, we are given 4 practical steps to consider during a crisis.

1. Normalize Emotions

(Phases of crisis: Impact and Confusion)

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you..." (1 Peter 4:12).

Here, the Apostle Peter begins this section of his letter to the Christians suffering for the sake of the Gospel, instructing them on how to respond to the presence of trials. Because we live in a fallen world, crises are inevitable and it is important to acknowledge their presence and our pain. Peters words remind us of this reality and the brokenness that accompanies it.

Dr. Wright explains that during the impact stage of a crisis, the initial fight or flight response is triggered and we resort to our innate tendencies, either fight the problem or avoid it completely. Also, the onset of such a crisis decreases our ability to take in new information and process things rationally.

As the impact of a crisis transitions to the phase of confusion, we can struggle with prolonged distress and begin to flood with feelings or avoid them completely. It is helpful to understand that crisis is connected to a loss of some kind, thus we can expect to experience uncomfortable feelings of grief, denial, guilt, anxiety, and depression.

If there is one thing I hope you will remember it is this: Your feelings are important and acknowledged by God. It is okay to feel fear, confusion, desperation, discomfort, urgency, overwhelmed. Scripture reminds in Psalm 34:17-18:

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

When a crisis arises, the first step in steadying our souls is simply to recognize our emotions and normalize them. It may take time and be messy, so be patient with yourself.

Photo credit: Pixabay/stocksnap
A stubborn Australian golden retriever has captured hearts online for refusing to go on a walk with her owner in a "hilarious" viral video.

Elsie's owner Mike Cook can be seen trying to pull the sitting dog along on her lead before she rolls over and plays dead in their Gold Coast neighbourhood.

Cook told ABC News they had only just started their walk when it happened.

"We live about 100 metres from where that video was taken, let's put it this way when we turned around to go home, she ran home," he said.
Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, who was battling leukemia for the last two years, died at Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital on Thursday (April 30) morning. He was 67. Rishi got treated for leukemia in the US for a year and had returned to India in September 2019. He was hospitalised after he complained of some breathing problem on Wednesday (April 29) night.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," read a statement released by the Kapoor family after his death.

He is survived by wife Neetu Kapoor and children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.

What Is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a blood cancer which is caused due to the rise in the number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the body. The increased white blood cells crowd out the red blood cells and platelets which are required by the body to remain healthy. The extra white blood cells dont work right.

WBCs are a vital part of immune system of our body as they protect the body from invasion by bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as from abnormal cells and other foreign substances. In leukemia, the WBCs stop functioning like normal WBCs as they divide too quickly and crowd out normal cells in due course of time. Majority of WBCs are produced in the bone marrow, but certain types of WBCs are also made in the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus gland.

Leukemia Symptoms

A patient might not notice any symptoms in the early stages of some forms. The symptoms may include

-Weakness or fatigue

-Bruising or bleeding easily

-Fever or chills

-Severe infections

-Pain in bones or joints

-Headaches

-Vomiting

-Seizures

-Weight loss

-Night sweats

-Shortness of breath

-Swollen lymph nodes or organs like your spleen
Nancy Pelosi lashed out at a reporter Thursday morning when she was confronted about her reaction to the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh compared to her endorsing Joe Biden for president after he was accused.

'Well let me just say, I respect your question, and I don't need a lecture or a speech,' Pelosi said, cutting off the reporter at her press briefing at the Capitol Thursday.

'I have complete respect for the Me Too movement,' Pelosi continued to the abbreviated room of reporters. 'I have four daughters and one son, and there's a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and be listened to.'

'There is also due process,' she asserted.

Pelosi made the comments after claiming earlier Thursday morning that she was 'satisfied' with Biden's response to the allegations levied against him  even though he has never directly addressed the claims.

The reporter was asking Pelosi during her press conference how Democrats will explain the fact that they demanded an investigation into the allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's but not into the ones against Biden.

Biden has never directly addressed the allegations, or been asked about them in any of the several interviews he has participated in the last month. Pelosi said believes Biden's denials because there was no evidence that his accuser came forward with allegations when it happened in the 1990s In 2018.

Tara Reade (pictured) went public with her allegations in an interview last month. She said Biden pushed her up against the wall and penetrated her with his fingers in 1993

'As far as Biden is of concern, how do Democrats square with the idea that they are essentially  they're standing by Biden, but they're using a comparatively different standard than with Kavanaugh when they demanded an investigation on Justice Kavanaugh when a very similar allegation came out on him ' the reporter asked before she was cut of by the House Speaker.

'There was never any record,' Pelosi explained in her response. 'Nobody ever came forward and nobody ever came forward to say something about it other than the principle involved. I am so proud  the happiest day for me this week was to support Joe Biden for President of the United States.'

'He is the personification of hope and optimism and authenticity for our country  a person of great values,' she continued of Biden, the presumed Democratic nominee.

'And so I want to remove all doubt in anyone's mind  I have great comfort level with the situation as I see it. With all due respect for any woman who comes forward with all the highest regard for Joe Biden. That's what I have to say about that. Thank you,' she said, then walked away from the podium.

Christine Blasey Ford, a professor and former classmate of Kavanaugh's, issued a sexual assault allegation against him after he was nominated to become a Supreme Court Justice by Trump in 2018.

While the accusers allegations stemmed back to the 1980s, when the two attended the same party while they were both teenagers, Democrats still insisted her allegations be heard and that Kavanaugh be investigated before confirmation hearings commenced.

Blasey Ford did not report or reveal details of the assault at the time, similar to what Pelosi says makes Reade's allegations unbelievable.

Pelosi is now insisting that since Reade did not share the incident in the 1990s or report the incident, she believes the campaign's denial that it ever happened.

Earlier in the day Thursday, Pelosi told CNN that she is 'satisfied' with Biden's response to sexual assault allegation from Tara Reade  even though he has never been asked about the matter.

'I have great sympathy for any women who bring forth an allegation. I'm a big, strong supporter of the Me Too movement. I think it's been a great contribution to our country, and I do support Joe Biden,' Pelosi told CNN's New Day.

'I'm satisfied with how he has responded. I know him, I was proud to endorse him the other  on Monday. Very proud to endorse him. And so I'm satisfied with that,' she continued.

Brett Kavanaugh (pictured) was accused of sexually assaulting classmate Christine Blasey Ford in the 1980s. There was also no evidence that she had come forward with accusations at the time of the attack  but Democrats still demanded an investigation be launched before Kavanaugh was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice

Pelosi told CNN Thursday that she is 'satisfied' with Joe Biden's response to sexual assault allegations levied against him last month  even though the candidate has not directly responded to the claims

The California Democrat issued her support for Biden's on Monday after the former vice president became the presumed Democratic nominee earlier this month.

When Pelosi was pushed to respond to the fact that Biden has not yet directly addressed the sexual assault allegations issued by Tara Reade in March, the California Democrat insisted it couldn't be true since the victim had not said anything at the time of the assault in 1993.

'It's a matter that he has to deal with, but I am impressed with the people who worked for him at that time saying that they absolutely never heard one iota of information about this. Nobody ever brought forth a claim or had anybody else tell them about such a claim,' Pelosi told CNN's New Day.

She instead, seemed to suggest that the election is more important than dwelling on sexual assault claims against the candidate.

'We have an important election at hand,' Pelosi asserted. 'One that is, I think, the most important ones that we've had. We say that every election, but I think this one is the most crucial. And I supported him because he is a person of great values, integrity, authenticity, imagination and connection to the American people.'

Biden's campaign has dismissed Reade's claims, but the candidate has not directly been asked about the allegations in any of his interviews over the last month.

Tara Reade was a staffer for Biden when he represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate  and she alleged last month that in 1993 the then-senator pushed her against a wall and penetrated her with his fingers in a Capitol Hill office building.

'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,' Kate Bedingfield, a deputy campaign manager for Biden, said shortly after the claims emerged in March.

Bedingfiled also lauded Biden for dedicating 'his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women' and authoring the Violence Against Women Act.'

'He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard  and heard respectfully,' she said in denying Reade's claims.

Biden's former executive assistant Marianne Baker also said on April 12 that she didn't hear or see anything about a sexual assault when she worked in Biden's Senate office.

'I never once witnessed, or heard of, or received, any reports of inappropriate conduct, period  not from Ms. Reade, not from anyone. I have absolutely no knowledge or memory of Ms. Reade's accounting of events, which would have left a searing impression on me as a woman professional, and as a manager,' Baker said.

Reade was a staffer in Biden's Capitol Hill office from December 1992 - August 1993, during the time he represented Delaware in the Senate. She was 29 at the time

However, Reade's brother Collin Moulton, her former neighbor Lynda LaCasse and an anonymous friend have all stated that she had told them about the alleged assault prior to her going public.

Moulton and LaCasse said Reade told them about the assault in 1993, while the anonymous individual said she was told in 2008.

Reade revealed her allegations in an interview with journalist and comedian Katie Halper, which was released as a podcast on March 25.

Biden has come under fire before for the way he interacts with women publicly, like standing too close, placing his hands on their shoulders or kissing them  and many women have come forward with claims that they felt violated or that Biden acted inappropriately towards them.
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Ahead of its Q4 results, India's biggest conglomerate Reliance Industries has announced up to 10 per cent salary cuts for some of its employees working in the hydrocarbon division in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The company has also deferred cash bonus and annual perform performance-linked incentives. As per Reliance Industries, it will keep analysing "economic and business environment" and will reconsider its response on based on the future situation.

The company's board of directors will also forgo 30-50 per cent of their salary. Company MD and Chairman Mukesh Ambani will forgo his entire compensation for the year, a letter signed by Reliance Industries Executive Director Hital R Meswani says, Business Standard reported. The pay cuts will apply only to employees earning over Rs 15 lakh a year, and those earning below Rs 15 lakh will not be impacted.

"The hydrocarbons business has been adversely impacted due to reduction in demand for refined products and petrochemicals. This has of course put pressure on our hydrocarbons business necessitating optimisation and cost reduction across all fronts," the letter said.

Besides, RIL is scheduled to announce the standalone and consolidated financial results today for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2020. RIL's consolidated net sales may stand at Rs 1.39 lakh crore and net profit is estimated at Rs 10,429 crore, according to a Bloomberg survey.

The RIL board is also expected to announce a decision on a proposal to issue equity shares to existing shareholders on a rights basis during a board meeting on April 30. It will also recommend dividend on the equity shares.

Meanwhile, the shares of RIL were trading at Rs 1,486, or up 59.05 points, or 4.14 per cent on NSE at the time of reporting.

Also read: Reliance Industries to announce Q4 results today: RIL petchem margins may be weak, Jio profit to rise
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A military helicopter operating off a Canadian frigate taking part in a NATO operation in the Mediterranean crashed into the sea between Greece and Italy, killing at least one person, Greek state TV reported Wednesday.

The Canadian Armed Forces Operations said on Twitter that it was a "developing situation."

"Contact was lost with the aircraft as it was participating in Allied exercises off the coast of Greece," they said in their tweet. "Search and rescue efforts are currently underway."

ERT said debris from the crash and one body were located late Wednesday, leaving the five others aboard the aircraft missing.

Greek media said the Sikorsky Sea King took off from the HMCS Fredericton, a Halifax-class frigate that was with other NATO vessels in the area. No further information was immediately available.
A portrait of President Moon Jae-in, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is displayed at a gallery in Jung-gu, Seoul, on April 27, the second anniversary of the Panmunjeom Declaration. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in said Monday that the COVID-19 pandemic has opened up new opportunities for stalled inter-Korean cooperation, which he began promoting following the Panmunjeom Declaration announced after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un two years ago.



Marking the second anniversary of the inter-Korean summit, Moon evaluated the "improvement in and challenges of" inter-Korean relations during the past two years.



"We will pursue the most realistic and practical ways for inter-Korean cooperation. The COVID-19 crisis could be a new opportunity. For now this is the most urgent task for cooperation," Moon said during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, according to press pool reports.



"In March, Chairman Kim Jong-un sent a letter to comfort and support the South Korean people and I also responded to it. Starting with cooperation in response to COVID-19, we can also join forces on livestock epidemics as well as disasters near the border and climate change, which will hopefully result in active inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation."



Since his New Year address, Moon said this year will be devoted to a strong push for inter-Korean cooperation despite the long deadlock in denuclearization negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. For this, he has proposed joint projects in areas of sports, railroad and roads, culture and tourism, in addition to keeping up efforts to reopen the joint Industrial complex in the North Korean city of Gaeseong and tourism to Mount Geumgang, which were closed by previous conservative administrations.









"It is not the lack of our resolve that has hampered the Panmunjeom Declaration from being implemented," Moon said. "It is because of the limitations imposed due to international circumstances. But we cannot wait indefinitely for conditions to improve. We must find and work together on things that can be done within realistic boundaries."



The remarks came amid rising skepticism about the declaration, aimed at reducing military tension and laying the foundation for permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.



Critics point out that there has been no notable progress with North Korea's denuclearization, despite a series of summits between the two Koreas as well as North Korea and the U.S. since the Panmunjeom Declaration. But Moon stressed once again the significance of the declaration in the peace process on the peninsula. "The declaration led to the Sept. 19 inter-Korean joint declaration and an inter-Korean military agreement, which served as the starting point for bringing our relations to a new level and laid the foundation for the first-ever North Korea-U.S. summit," Moon said.





A platform in Jejin station with a sign that says "in the direction of Mount Geumgang" Yonhap
Winnipeggers who have had to continue making their way to work during the pandemic will have noticed that their commute times have much improved in the past few weeks, but city data shows that traffic is beginning to pick up again.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeggers who have had to continue making their way to work during the pandemic will have noticed that their commute times have much improved in the past few weeks, but city data shows that traffic is beginning to pick up again.

During the week beginning March 14, the City of Winnipeg watched traffic levels fall to 64 per cent of normal traffic flows. Last week that number rose to 72 per cent.

Traffic has fallen more on weekends than weekdays and varies only slightly across different parts of Winnipeg.

An easier commute might be cause for minor celebrations in a sea of bad news, but similar data sets are being used to help understand global population behaviour, and they may even hold some insight into what economic recovery could look like.

TomTom, an international location technology company, has been collecting anonymous traffic data sets for more than a decade, providing real-time traffic information to various companies from 81 different countries.

It was the beginning of February when the company began seeing drastic declines in traffic across 22 cities in China. Then analysts were able to track the changes in behaviour as health protocols spread across the globe.

TomTom senior traffic and data expert Nick Cohn looked at data collected across Canada with the Free Press and was able to accurately surmise where some of the countrys most significant outbreaks were based using traffic data. Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto were among the cities seeing the largest declines in congestion.

And while Winnipeg and Edmonton have both experienced declines in congestion, they have seen the lowest amount of traffic-pattern changes among the cities the company monitors in the country.

"It looks like (Winnipeg) still has a lot of people staying at home, but not everyone, Cohn said in an interview from Amsterdam. "Its not like nothing is happening there."

Short of extreme weather events that clear roads in localized areas, Cohn said hes never seen a change in traffic patterns such as the ones brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winnipeg traffic volume, January 24 and April 3

Move the slider back and forth to compare traffic volume before and during the pandemic. Decrease in weight of red lines represents decrease in time needed to travel route due to drop in traffic congestion.

TomTom worked with local authorities in Italy's northern Lombardy region to help officials understand whether and how well enforcement actions were working and where heavy traffic patterns remained.

"We gave them some data for free where they were asking for trip patterns for big employment centres, where they were worried about if they needed to do extra enforcement," Cohn said. "And we measured that there was something like 75 per cent fewer trips to some of these big employment centres, which were high-risk areas for the virus."

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.

Now, as China begins to emerge from its isolation state, Cohn can track as traffic picks up again. More people are going to work but still traffic remains muted on the weekend, he said.

"It seems like people started going back to work, but arent doing anything else aside from essential travel," he said. "So now, as things are changing, were trying to pay attention to where its changing."

Traffic data is able to provide unique insight into how behaviour is changing as recovery attempts are being made in some parts of the world, and that information is being sought after by banks, the auto industry, energy companies and other sectors.

Companies are looking to glean all they can from what little information is available about how recovery will occur. Cohn said the data is being used to forecast future demand for petroleum products, new cars and other related goods.

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik
It's been more than a decade since the humble Polly Waffle chocolate bar graced Australian shelves.

But in one of the few bright sparks among the coronavirus doom and gloom, the famous log of marshmallowy and waffle goodness is rising from the dead in early 2021.

The federal government is pumping almost $50 million into manufacturing projects to create new jobs during the pandemic.

One of the beneficiaries is sweet-maker Robern Menz in South Australia, which will receive $1million to establish a Polly Waffle production line.

Scroll down for video

But in one of the few bright sparks among the coronavirus doom and gloom, the famous log of marshmallowy goodness is rising from the dead

The classic chocolate bars are filled with marshmallows and wafers

The project is expected to create 38 jobs. About 200 projects overall will be supported through the manufacturing cash splash.

Industry Minister Karen Andrews said the public funding injection couldn't come at a better time.

'As we face the coronavirus pandemic and look to come out the other side stronger, this investment will be more critical than ever,' she said on Thursday.

Polly Waffles were originally made in 1947 by Hoadley's Chocolates in Melbourne, and were later bought by Rowntree and Nestle.

Robern Menz CEO Phil Sims (pictured) have now revealed that not only will Polly Waffles be making a comeback, they'll also be made using the original 1947 recipe

The bar was last sold in 2009, infuriating fans of the chocolate treat.

But Robern Menz revealed in 2019 that not only will Polly Waffles be making a comeback, they'll also be made using the original 1947 recipe.

Robern Menz CEO Phil Sims said the delay until 2021 was caused by his company's need to build the right equipment to make the bar as it was back in the 1940s.

'Polly Waffle is a unique chocolate bar, and although it may sound simple enough - with its combination of chocolate, wafer and marshmallow - it actually requires a number of fairly complicated processes to create,' he told 7News at the time.

'Technology has advanced significantly since Polly Waffle was first produced in Australia, so we want to thoroughly examine all options before selecting the best one.'
The Trump administration bungled its initial effort to get a broad-based testing regime in place for the new coronavirus and has been playing catch-up ever since. But now the United States has conducted more than 5 million tests, more than any other country.

That would seem to be a good talking point for President Donald Trump. But it also lacks important context, because what really matters is how many tests are performed per million people. Moreover, Trump keeps exaggerating the statistics or making claims that turned out to be incorrect. "Anyone who wants a test can get a test," he declared March 6, a statement so false it needed to be corrected the next day by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

Here's a tour through Trump's recent rhetoric on testing.

"We are way ahead on testing. We are the best in the world on testing. We've tested much more than anybody else, times two - or every country combined. We've tested more than every country combined."

- Trump, remarks at the White House, April 28, 2020

More than every other country combined? Not by a long shot.

As of the end of April 28, the United States has conducted 5.9 million tests, according to one metric. (The crowdsourced Covid Tracking Project reports almost 5.8 million tests but it does not have international comparisons.) The next five countries - Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Arab Emirates - had conducted 10 million tests as of that date. The total for all non-U. S. countries is about 25 million. So Trump's bravado is ridiculously wrong.

As we have repeatedly noted, what matters is the number of tests per million people. The United States, at about 17,855 per million, was the lowest of those five countries - Russia tested at a rate of 21,511, Germany at 24,748, Italy at 30,547, Spain at 28,799 and the UAE at 106,904.

We should note that international comparisons are difficult because countries use different metrics. The United States reports "test results," South Korea "cases," Turkey "tests" and Italy "swabs." So not all of these numbers may be apples to apples.

Deborah Birx, the coronavirus task force coordinator, has said that the United States focused on hot spots at first, and those results are more favorable for the United States. For instance, New York has had 41,399 tests per million people as of April 27, according to the Covid Tracking Project. But of course, the test results for individual states or cities in Europe are also probably higher.

- - -

"I've told you that we inherited a very broken test - a broken system and a broken test, and within a short period of time, we were setting records."

- remarks, April 28

There were no tests for the novel coronavirus, which only emerged in China late in 2019, so tests had to be developed specifically by countries starting in January. Trump appears to be referring to a system in place that relied on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take the lead in developing the tests. But contamination at a CDC lab caused the CDC to distribute flawed tests to state and local health departments. On top of that, having the CDC take the lead, rather than the private sector, was inappropriate for the task of testing potentially hundreds of thousands of people.

Two former Trump administration officials had warned Jan. 28, in a Wall Street Journal article, that the CDC was not up to task and the private sector needed to be engaged. But the Trump administration waited another month before it fast-tracked the development of tests by private companies. From mid-January until Feb. 28, fewer than 4,000 tests from the CDC were used out of more than 160,000 produced, The Washington Post reported.

That delay left the United States dangerously exposed to the spread of the virus. Both South Korea and the United States reported the first case on the same day - Jan. 21. But South Korea rapidly developed a test and conducted massive testing - 10,000 people a day - while the United States did not. So while the United States now has more tests per capita than South Korea - it finally caught up April 16 - it has a far higher death toll. South Korea reports 5 deaths from covid-19 per million people, compared to 185 for the United States.

- - -

"Well, it will increase it and it'll increase it by much more than that [5 million tests a day] in the very near future. We're way ahead of everyone on testing. . . . Well, we're going to be there very soon. If you look at the numbers, it could be that we're getting very close."

- remarks, April 28

A Harvard University study had said 5 million tests a day by June - and 20 million a day by July - would be necessary for a return to normal life. Given that testing is running at about 300,000 tests a day, achieving 5 million tests a day in the very near future would be quite an achievement. Trump made these remarks in response to a question about the Harvard study from a reporter, but it turned out he did not know what he was talking about.

Unfortunately for Trump, Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary of health, had told Time magazine earlier in the day: "There is absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet, that we can do 20 million tests a day, or even 5 million tests a day."

So, the next day, Trump kind of walked his comment back, though as usual he did not admit error. "I didn't say it. . . . I think it was the Harvard report," he said, adding that "we are going to be there at a certain point. We'll be there."

This time, he did not say "very soon."

- - -

"Individual states were doing in cooperation with the federal government. But originally, it was, 'Oh, 40,000 people came in.' What they don't say - what the news doesn't say is they happen to be American citizens. How do you keep American citizens - you say they're coming in from China, they want to come back to their country. There is a tremendous problem in China; they want to come back. Are we supposed to say to an American citizen, 'You can't come back into your country?' And we did do testing, and individual states did testing or were supposed to have."

- remarks with Florida's governor, April 28

Trump has bragged about the restrictions he imposed Feb. 2 on some non-U. S. citizens traveling from China, but here he conceded that it was not foolproof because 40,000 people in February and March - a figure disclosed by the New York Times - managed to travel from China.

But the problem was that screening of arriving travelers at airports was spotty and inconsistent, probably catching only one out of every three cases. Trump tries to pin the blame on states, but as noted, there was virtually no testing available in the United States in the month of February because of the federal government's failures.

- - -

"The only reason the U.S. has reported one million cases of CoronaVirus is that our Testing is sooo much better than any other country in the World. Other countries are way behind us in Testing, and therefore show far fewer cases!"

- tweet, April 29

"The reason [for 1 million cases] is because of testing, because other countries don't test. So, if you don't test, you're not going to find cases."

- remarks, April 29

Trump is trying to make lemonade out of lemons. Many countries with significant case loads are testing, often at greater rates than the United States. The United States has such a huge case load because it failed to ramp up testing at the speed of other countries, so the virus spread silently before Trump finally took the problem seriously and advocated mitigation and social distancing efforts.

Having 1 million cases of covid-19 is nothing to brag about, but Trump still finds a way.

- - -

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The Washington Post Fact Checker is working with the CoronaVirusFacts/DatosCoronaVirus Alliance, a coalition of more than 100 fact-checkers who are fighting misinformation related to the covid-19 pandemic. Learn more about the alliance here.
B oris Johnson has said the UK is past the peak of the coronavirus outbreak as he led his first Downing Street briefing since recovering from the disease.

The Prime Minister also promised a "comprehensive plan" would be revealed next week on how lockdown measures will be relaxed.

Despite the PM's declaration, today's rise of 6,032 confirmed cases is the second highest of the crisis.

But the Government has also ramped up testing in recent weeks, with the aim of reaching 100,000 daily virus tests by the end of April. Just over 81,000 tests took place on Wednesday.

Covid-19 deaths in the UK have hit 26,771, an increase of 674.

Mr Johnson said: I can confirm today that for the first time we are past the peak of this disease.

We are past the peak and on the downward slope.

"At no stage has our NHS been overwhelmed, no patient went without a ventilator, no patient was deprived of intensive care, we have five of the seven projected Nightingale wards," he added.

It is thanks to that massive collective effort to shield the NHS that we avoided an uncontrollable and catastrophic epidemic where the reasonable worst-case scenario was 500,000 deaths."

Coronavirus in numbers: UK hospital death toll rises to 26,711

Also at today's briefing:

Boris Johnson suggested the use of face masks will be advised as part of measures for easing the lockdown. Face coverings will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons but also giving people confidence they can go back to work, Mr Johnson said.

Mr Johnson paid tribute to the NHS, saying: I want to thank the NHS for so much  including getting me back here and, I might add, a very much happier hospital visit yesterday.

The PM also warned the effective travel ban would not be lifted while there was a risk of a second wave of the coronavirus.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's chief scientific adviser, said there has been a decrease in the number of cases, as well as a decrease in the number of deaths from Covid-19.

Asked about the drug remdesivir, used to treat ebola and now being tipped in the US for use on coronavirus patients, Sir Patrick said: It absolutely does hit a particular part of the virus." Chief Medical Adviser Professor Chris Whitty said verbal reports on studies carried out internationally on the drug have been very encouraging.

Prof Whitty acknowledged concerns about deaths from other causes increasing because of the coronavirus outbreak. He said: Its not just cancers, we are very concerned that there has been a fall away in people coming to accident and emergency with things like strokes and heart attacks."

Mr Johnson remarked on the difficulties the public has suffered during enforced confinement where they have not been able to see friends and family while worrying about jobs.

Your effort and your sacrifice is working and has been proved to work, he said.

Government and NHS video explains why rate of coronavirus infection has to stay below one

He said he would next week set out how to kickstart the economy, adding this would involve a road map for easing lockdown restrictions.

He said: "Until this day comes (when an inoculation is ready), and we cannot say exactly when this will be, we are going to have to beat this disease by our growing resolve and ingenuity.

I will be setting out a comprehensive plan next week to explain how we can get our economy moving, our children back to school and into childcare, and thirdly how we can travel to work and make life in the workplace safer.

In short, how we can continue to suppress the disease and at the same time restart the economy.

Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /44 Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures AP Buckingham Palace AP Piccadilly Line tube AP Big Ben AP Millennium bridge AP Wembley Stadium AP St Pancras International train station AP Downing Street AP Victoria Station AP Regent Street AP The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace AP London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square PA Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bath PA Bath PA London's Waterloo station PA London Bridge PA London's Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA London's Buckingham Palace PA London's Tower Bridge PA London's Leicester Square PA London's Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral PA London's Criterion Theatre PA London's Palace Theatre PA London's Phoenix Theatre PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA Bournemouth beach PA Bath PA Bath PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bournemouth beach PA

He added: What you are going to get next week is really a road map, a menu of options  the dates and times of each individual measure will be very much driven by where we are in the epidemic, what the data is really saying and we are getting in a lot more data every day now and in the course of the next few days.

Referring to conditions needed for easing lockdown restrictions, Mr Johnson said: We must be sure that we can continue to protect the NHS and its ability to cope.

We must see a sustained fall in deaths. We must all make sure that the measures we take do not risk a second spike that would overwhelm the NHS.
Odeon cinemas are refusing to screen all Universal films, including the new James Bond movie 'No Time to Die', in a row over distribution.

Odeon's owner said the boycott of Universal's films will cover its 1,000 cinemas worldwide.

The boycott from the cinema chain was ignited by Hollywood giant Universal's decision to release movies via streaming, as well as to cinemas even when the coronavirus lockdown finally comes to an end.

The cinema chain will refuse to show James Bond's new blockbuster movie 'No Time to Die'

Odeon are banning all Universal movies in a row over films released straight to on demand

UNIVERSAL FILMS SET TO BE RELEASED SOON The King of Staten Island The Forever Purge Candyman BIOS Halloween Kills No Time to Die Samaritan The Croods 2 News of the World Jurassic World: Dominion Fast & Furious The Boss Baby 2 Advertisement

Universal's move comes after its hit film Trolls World Tour became a huge TV-on-demand success after the coronavirus crisis shut down cinemas.

Universal granted the likes of Sky and Apple TV to stream Trolls World Tour from home, which led to them racking up a massive 90million in just the first three weeks.

The film is the most high-profile of a series of titles that Universal intended for cinema release but instead was distributed straight to streaming services.

Universal are making movie premieres available to rent through digital platforms like Amazon, Virgin, Sky and TalkTalk on the day of release - at 15.99 a pop - after cinemas closed down to protect staff and customers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This is nearly double the UK average cinema ticket price of just over 7 - although the cost of a ticket varies from region to region.

The move has upended the traditional practice of keeping a movie exclusively in cinemas for what is typically a 90-day window before releasing it on other platforms.

Following the outcome of the Trolls World Tour release, NBCUniversal chief executive Jeff Shell said: 'The success exceeds expectations. As soon as theatres reopen we expect to release movies on both formats.'

Universal allowed the likes of Sky and Apple TV to stream Trolls World Tour from home

However, Odeon owner AMC have since hit back by sending a furious letter to NBCUniversal chairwoman Donna Langley, while it has also been claimed their plans are 'breaking the business model'.

Chief executive Adam Aron said: 'With this proposal to go to homes and theatres simultaneously Universal is breaking the business model and dealings between our companies.

'AMC will not license any of your movies in any of our 1,000 theatres globally on these terms.'

This has put James Bond's new blockbuster 220m movie, No Time to Die, into jeopardy.

Universal, which was started up in 1912, is the world distributor of the James Bond film, which is set to be released on November 12 and stars Daniel Craig in his last-ever outing in the title role.

Throughout the UK, Odeon has 120 complexes, as well as 11 in Ireland - while London's Leicester Square has hosted 700 major premieres.
On April 6, the State Department announced it would designate the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) as terrorists. This marks the first time that the United States has officially applied the "terrorist" label to a white supremacist organization.

Since both domestic and international white supremacist attacks have increased dramatically in the past several years, many observers have been calling for the United States to more actively describe white supremacists as terrorists. A former head of the National Security Division of the Justice Department, Mary McCord, called the RIM designation "appropriate" and "important."

RIM's designation, however, is less significant than it might appear - and may not actually suggest that the U.S. government has made stopping white supremacist terrorism a priority. Here's why.

- TheUnited States has strong and weak ways of designating "terrorists." This is a weak one.

Many outlets reported that the United States had designated RIM a "foreign terrorist organization." But this term has a specific meaning in U.S. law - and in this case, the United States didn't apply it.

The U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list criminalizes anyone who provides support to any organization on the list, including by joining that organization. These organizations must operate overseas, and they must meet the federal definition of "terrorist activities." Though some policymakers have called the list "largely symbolic," it can be a powerful national security tool. For example, the FTO list is the basis for prosecuting many of the U.S. nationals who joined the Islamic State.

But the State Department classified RIM as a "specially designated global terrorist" (SDGT), which is a much more limited measure. An SDGT designation means that the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control applies sanctions to the individual or organization that has been designated. In plain language, the United States can apply financial sanctions to the group, but it can't prosecute any current or future members of RIM based on their membership in the group alone.

In other words, even in this one instance, the United States has not criminalized white supremacist activity at the same level that it has criminalized extremist Islamist activity.

- The U.S. chose an obscure target

RIM is not a household name in the United States, in large part because it operates elsewhere. RIM works primarily with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and neo-Nazi organizations in Scandinavia. It was most recently connected - loosely - to a 2017 bomb plot targeting asylum seekers in Sweden. Unlike other international white supremacist organizations, such as Combat 18 or Generation Identity, it has not been linked to high-profile attacks.

So why did the U.S. government choose RIM as the first white supremacist organization to designate as "terrorist"? State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Nathan Sales said that RIM met the "standards for designation," including facilitating terrorist attacks by providing weapons and combat training. But this criterion also applies to numerous other such groups, such as another Eastern European militant organization, the Azov Battalion, which 40 members of Congress have asked the State Department to designate.

RIM may have been easier to designate, since it's an obscure organization that was not likely to raise objections from U.S. policymakers. Many higher-profile white supremacist organizations have stronger connections to the United States. But by making RIM the first pick, the United States limited the broader impact of its first white supremacist terrorist designation.

- The U.S. could have chosen a group that operates domestically

On March 9, Politico reported that the State Department was considering designating at least one violent white supremacist group as a foreign terrorist organization. The most likely candidate at the time, according to officials, was the Atomwaffen Division (AWD), a neo-Nazi organization responsible for the murder of a gay Jewish teenager and several plots to attack nuclear power facilities.

The designation of the AWD wouldn't have had many practical consequences from a counterterrorism perspective. Six AWD members have been convicted and sentenced under existing U.S. law, and the FBI arrested five more alleged AWD members in February. The organization was already decimated by the time the State Department pondered a designation.

Still, designating the AWD would have been a more significant policy maneuver than designating RIM. This is because the AWD operated primarily in the United States, though it also has cells in Canada, Germany and elsewhere. Rules for terrorist designation in the United States require designees to be foreign entities, and the State Department has historically interpreted this to mean organizations based outside the country. Still, not treating domestic white supremacist violence as "terrorism" reduces the credibility of the Trump administration's claim that countering white supremacy is "a top priority."

What this all means is that the administration's designation of RIM is less consequential than media reports suggest. The United States has not legally designated a white supremacist organization as a "foreign terrorist organization." It didn't choose to apply its first white supremacist terrorist designation - a symbolically important move - to a particularly well-known organization. And this designation alone does not demonstrate that the United States treats white supremacist violence as a serious threat.

- - -

Meier (@annameierPS) is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

For other commentary and analysis from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage
Half a million Australians took up unemployment benefits in the six weeks after the coronavirus forced key parts of the economy to shut, and economists warn it could take years for some of them to get another job.

In a sign the national jobless rate will spiral towards double digits, the Department of Social Services revealed the number of people on JobSeeker jumped from fewer than 800,000 on March 20 to 1.2 million on April 24.

The number of young Australians on youth allowance also surged, reaching 121,600 in late April, compared to 85,000 a month earlier.

There are another 300,000 claims to be processed, taking the total number of Australians on some sort of unemployment support to more than 1.6 million by late April.
Market Overview The market for UAE lubricants market is expected to grow at a CAGR less than 2% during the forecast period. The major factor driving the growth of the market studied is the expanding construction sector in the United Arab Emirates.

New York, April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) LUBRICANTS MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, AND FORECAST (2020 - 2025)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865888/?utm_source=GNW

On the flipside, the high price of synthetic lubricants and increasing drain intervals are expected to hinder the growth of the market studied.



- Investments and government plans to support industrial growth in the country are likely to provide a major growth opportunity for the market studied during the forecast period.

- Automotive & Other Transportation segment dominated the market and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period.



Key Market Trends

Increasing Construction Activities to Drive the Demand in the Country



- The construction sector in the country has been expanding at a significant rate, since the past few years. The trend is expected to continue during the forecast period, primarily due to the increasing number of initiatives taken by the government to develop infrastructure and construction, as well as the improving investor confidence in the countrys economy.

- Dubai is expected to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire Middle East & African region, as the country is preparing to host the Dubai World Expo 2020.

- Additionally, the construction sector is expected to witness a considerable growth in Abu Dhabi. This growth is primarily owing to the implementation of grand ventures in the major cities of the United Arab Emirates.

- The domestic residential construction market is dominated by the United Arab Emirates two major cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE government announced its decision to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of housing units. The government has also allocated land in Al Quoz and Muhaisnah (Dubai) for the construction of affordable housing units.

- Such aforementioned factors are driving the demand for the market studied.



Engine Oil Segment to Dominate the Market



- Engine oils are widely used for lubricating internal combustion engines in different types of automobiles. They are generally composed of base oils and additives.

- The base stock is either made using petroleum, synthetic chemicals, or from a mixture of both. The base stock is responsible for lubricating the moving parts in the engine and for removing the excess built-up heat. Meanwhile, additives are added for controlling the oil viscosity and lubricity, as well as protecting the engine parts against wear and tear.

- Various types of additives that are added in engine oils include oxidation inhibitor additives, dispersant additives, detergent additives, anti-foaming additives, viscosity index modifiers, anti-wear additives, corrosion inhibitor additives, and anti-freeze additives.

- Some of the chief functions offered by engine oils are resistance against corrosion and wear and tear to ensure increased engine life and better performance; reduce friction; increase engine performance; reduce fuel consumption; remove impurities and achieve engine cleanliness; optimize engine efficiency; and prevent energy loss by providing optimum cooling.

- Due to the persistence of very high temperature in the United Arab Emirates, engine oils that are thick in nature are widely used. The usage of thin oils leads to the quick exhaustion of oils and engine damage.



Competitive Landscape

The market studied is consolidated among the top five players. The top companies have been utilizing competitive strategies and investments to retain and expand their shares. The key players include, Adnoc, ENOC Company, Total, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, and Exxon Mobil Corporation accounting for about 70% of the market studied.



Reasons to Purchase this report:

- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

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Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865888/?utm_source=GNW



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SPRINGFIELD  The city is continuing to get donations from the community to help provide personal protective equipment (PPEs) for police and firefighters during the coronavirus, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said this week.

The latest contributors included Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and Holistic Industries, owners of Liberty Cannabis, Sarno said.

Holistic donated KN95 masks to the city, while the church made a cash donation.

These lifesaving PPEs are vital for our frontline personnel to do their jobs for our residents and business community, Sarno said in a prepared release. "I am truly humbled by the out pouring of support we have received from our Springfield community.

The Rev. Robert S. White and parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Sarnos home parish, donated $1,000 to help outfit the officers, firefighters and other front-line personnel.

As Father White stated in his letter, he heard my public plea for PPEs and I am very hopeful to hear his words of wisdom at Saturday 4 p.m. Masses soon too, Sarno said. "These are certainly challenging times but through our faith and hard and smart work well get through this together, as one and for the better.

Donations have come from many companies and individuals since Sarno issued a public appeal for protective masks for police, firefighters and other first-responders on April 8.

In addition, the city also received a donation of four thermal infrared thermometers from an anonymous donor.

(Editors note: Due to incorrect information supplied by the city, one of the donors was misidentified in an earlier version of this report.)
Barry Farah successfully launched 12 businesses in six sectors and authored three books. Farah ran for Governor of Colorado in 2018.
American Airlines has already reduced its flight schedule by about 80 percent in both April and May. Its June capacity will be down 70 percent, it said.

American Airlines on Thursday posted a $2.2 billion net loss, its first quarterly loss since emerging from bankruptcy in 2013, and warned of a roughly $70 million per day cash burn in the second quarter as the coronavirus pandemic halts travel.

Shares fell 4.3 percent before the bell.

Airlines - among the sectors hardest-hit by the pandemic - have grounded jets, canceled flights and suspended dividends and share buybacks among measures to shore up cash.

Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge, chief executive Doug Parker said in a statement.

The US airline swung to a net loss of $2.2 billion in the first quarter to 31 March from a $185 million profit a year earlier.

Excluding items, the net loss was $1.1 billion, or $2.65 per share, below analyst estimates of a $2.33 per share loss, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Total operating revenue declined nearly 20 percent to $8.5 billion.

The pandemic ended one of the longest expansion in US history, with the nations economy contracting at its sharpest pace since the Great Recession in the first quarter. Airline executives have warned that demand may not recover to 2019 levels for years.

American has already reduced its flight schedule by about 80 percent in both April and May. Its June capacity will be down 70 percent, it said.

It sees liquidity at $11 billion in the second quarter, up from $6.8 billion in the first, and Parker said on a conference call that the daily cash burn should slow to about $50 million in June.

Its overall cash position will be helped by a $4.75 billion government loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, for which it will have to pledge a portion of its assets as collateral.

American said that, following a recent appraisal, it believes its unencumbered assets are worth over $10 billion, excluding the value of its advantage loyalty program.

It is also receiving $5.8 billion in payroll aid, which bars airlines from cutting pay or jobs through 30 September.
In the long term, shes thinking about how shell fare in a post-pandemic economy. Not that this pleases me given all the suffering people are enduring, but oddly this might help my business in the long run, she said. Because my prices for the venue are so low, its possible that people who want to marry in 2021 but who have to scale way back will choose the ranch over a high-end venue.
Barring a settlement, the trial of the Alton Sterling wrongful death lawsuit will begin March 1, nearly five years after the man was fatally shot by a Baton Rouge police officer during a struggle outside a store.

The new trial date was set after state District Judge William Morvant held a telephone status conference late last week with attorneys for Sterling's five children and their mothers, the two officers involved in the deadly encounter, the city-parish and Police Department, and former Police Chief Carl Dabadie.

The trial was originally scheduled to start April 20 of this year, but that date was scrubbed after the judge presiding over the case changed hands several times. There also is an appeal pending before the state Supreme Court on an evidentiary matter.

+9 Coronavirus means Alton Sterling wrongful death suit won't be tried until 2021, unless settled While the ongoing coronavirus crisis likely has squelched any chance that the trial of the Alton Sterling wrongful death lawsuit will occur th

On top of that, the Supreme Court has said no trials of any kind can take place in the state until at least June 30 due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The 19th Judicial District Court also remains closed for all but emergency matters.

Sterling, 37, was shot to death July 5, 2016, by then-officer Blane Salamoni outside the Triple S Food Mart on North Foster Drive, where Sterling made a living by selling homemade CDs and DVDs.

Salamoni and officer Howie Lake II had responded to an anonymous 911 caller who claimed a man matching Sterling's description threatened him with a gun outside the convenience store, according to a summary of the 10-month federal investigation released by the Justice Department.

Two cellphone videos taken by bystanders captured the graphic conclusion of the roughly 90-second encounter. Salamoni can be heard yelling "gun" in the brief video clips just before he shoots Sterling six times.

Lake retrieved a loaded .38-caliber revolver from Sterling's pocket just after the shooting and both officers told investigators they thought Sterling was reaching for the weapon, federal authorities have said.

The Sterling family's lawsuit, filed in mid-2017, alleges the shooting exemplified longstanding problems of racist attitudes and excessive force among Baton Rouge police officers. Sterling was black and Salamoni is white.

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The lawsuit claims Salamoni and Lake ignored department policies and training during the deadly encounter.

+3 Alton Sterling family sues Baton Rouge, two police officers, says shooting shows racist behavior The children of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man who was fatally shot by a white Baton Rouge police officer just under a year ago, alle

Protests in the days after the shooting led to nearly 200 arrests. Just days after Sterling's funeral, a lone gunman from Kansas City, Missouri, ambushed officers at an Airline Highway business near police headquarters July 17, 2016, killing two city policemen and an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputy and wounding three other officers.

The East Baton Rouge Metro Council was unable to agree last December on a proposed settlement that resulted from mediation in the Sterling lawsuit.

EBR Metro Council fails to agree on proposed settlement in Alton Sterling civil suit, voting along party lines The East Baton Rouge Metro Council was unable to agree on a proposed settlement that resulted from mediation in the ongoing civil lawsuit agai

Attorneys on both sides of the case said recently they remain open to resolving it.

Morvant has scheduled a pretrial conference for Feb. 2.

Salamoni was fired in 2018 by current Police Chief Murphy Paul but appealed and in a settlement last year was allowed to resign.

Lake, who tased Sterling and helped wrestle him to the ground but did not fire his gun, last fall dropped his appeal of a three-day suspension he received for his actions. He remains on the police force.

Both federal and state prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against Salamoni and Lake.
BOYLE HEIGHTS, CA - APRIL 29: AltaMed Health Services staff swabs a patient during COVID-19 testing on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 in Boyle Heights, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) (Brian van der Brug/Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Every California resident with symptoms of the coronavirus is now considered a top priority for testing, state public health officials announced Thursday in a move that signals growing confidence that testing capacity has increased enough to handle a significant portion of the state's population.

Symptomatic low-risk people  including young adults without underlying health conditions  are now among the state's top priorities for testing, along with six other specified groups, according to the new guidelines from the state Department of Public Health.

Officials also announced late Wednesday that all people in high-risk settings, including grocery store employees, bus drivers and law enforcement officers, should also be included among the highest priority to receive routine screenings for the virus.

Such workers, considered "essential" even amid the shutdown, continue to come into regular contact with the public and therefore should be given priority access to testing, even if they don't show symptoms, according to the new state guidelines.

The latest changes appear to move the state closer to being able to effectively monitor the infection rate among residents, a goal which public health officials consider necessary before stay-at-home orders can be lifted.

County officials have the ultimate authority to set testing restrictions. But the state guidance serves as an advisory tool when a region's testing capacity is limited.

The state's latest announcement follows last week's move to open up priority testing to asymptomatic people who live or work in nursing homes or prisons.

Monitoring essential workers is also viewed as a key requirement before opening up the economy.

The first step in modifying the stay-at-home order and strengthening the economy is to put in place widespread testing, and the first group you'd want to have access to it is essential workers, said Dr. Bob Kocher, a member of Gov. Gavin Newsoms task force on testing.

Story continues

"Conceptually, people who have lots and lots of contacts are able to be screened. And we want those people to be tested often," he added. "You want to find out if theyre sick before they have symptoms and unknowingly spread it to other people.

A specimen is turned in at the new mobile testing site for people with symptoms of the coronavirus at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The states new recommendations reflect an overall increase in testing capacity. Major labs have reported sufficient supplies to run more procedures, the public health department said, and the state has averaged more than 20,000 tests per day for the last several days. But asked how many essential workers are active in the state and would presumably need testing, the health department said it "does not have that information."

Adherence to the state's recommendations varies by county. In some areas, such as L.A. County, health clinics and labs appear well-equipped to handle more test subjects. All county residents can get a free swab test at city-run sites, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday.

But in other areas, like Bakersfield or Fresno, testing sites can require a long commute. Newsom's team released a state diagram showing testing deserts in parts of the Central Valley and along the Nevada and Oregon state lines, as well as in dense urban regions with large numbers of minorities.

To address the discrepancies, the governor announced six new testing sites prioritizing black and brown communities and focusing on rural communities. About 80 others are expected to follow by early May.

In a message to health agencies and medical workers, the state health department acknowledged that health officers in some rural regions and high-density neighborhoods may not yet have the infrastructure and supplies to lift local restrictions. Officials said the department's prioritization guidelines should be used "when testing availability is limited" and that the policy "should not supersede the recommendations of a clinician or local health officer."

Eventually, officials said, widespread testing will help public health officials closely track potential cases, one of the requirements for California to ease into the next phase of the pandemic response. Such tracking will require an army of at least 10,000 contact tracers, Newsom said.

But the governor has repeatedly emphasized that there is a long, methodical road ahead before social restrictions are eased, saying that the spread of the virus will ultimately decide what happens next.

Politics will not drive our decision-making. Protests wont drive our decision-making. Political pressure will not drive our decision-making, he said in a Tuesday briefing. "Dates don't. But data does."
Australia will support Taiwan's return to the World Health Organisation as an observer four years after it was ousted by Beijing, risking another diplomatic spat.

The position, which follows an appeal from Taiwan's Health Minister, is consistent with Australia's long-held view that Taiwan should be able to participate in practical cooperation at the UN health agency.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation. Credit:Bloomberg

However, this is likely to further strain relations with China, which claims sovereignty over its island neighbour.

Australia and China's foreign ministries have traded barbs over the past week, leading to accusations of bullying, coercion and intimidation as the Morrison government pushes global calls into an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus.
The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates.

Whats happening

Michigan congressman Justin Amash on Tuesday announced he was forming an exploratory committee for a potential presidential run as a candidate for the Libertarian Party.

Amash first joined Congress as part of a wave of tea party Republicans elected on a platform of fiscal conservatism in the 2010 midterm elections. During his tenure, he was a frequent critic of the two-party system and occasionally broke with the GOP on key issues. He was the only non-Democrat in the House to vote in favor of impeaching Donald Trump for his conduct with Ukraine. Amash formally left the Republican Party in July of last year and served as an independent until joining the Libertarian Party this week.

Amashs odds of winning the presidential election in November appear to be incredibly small. The Libertarian Partys candidate in 2016, Gary Johnson, received just 3.3 percent of the vote. But third-party candidates can still play a major role in deciding who becomes president. Johnson and the Green Partys Jill Stein each earned enough votes to cover Trumps margin of victory over Hillary Clinton in several key swing states in the last election.

Why theres debate

In light of what happened in 2016, the initial response to Amashs announcement was that it was bad news for Joe Biden. Trump mockingly welcomed him to the race. They dropped balloons from the sky in the West Wing when Justin Amash announced that he was running for president, former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said. The fear among Democrats is that Amash will provide conservative independent voters who are loath to support Trump a choice other than Joe Biden.

Amash could be especially disruptive in his home state of Michigan  a state Trump won by just 10,000 votes in 2016. A poll from last year showed Bidens advantage in Michigan cut in half by Amashs presence in the race.

Others have challenged the assumption that Amash would primarily siphon votes from Biden. His record of fierce opposition to government spending and social programs might prove unappealing to moderate voters. At the same time, those small-government principles could be inviting to conservatives who might otherwise cast a reluctant vote for Trump.

Story continues

A number of political experts doubt that Amash, or any other third-party candidate, will play a decisive role in either direction.

Whats next

Before he can challenge Trump and Biden in the general election, Amash will first have to win the Libertarian Partys nomination. The partys convention is scheduled for late May, but the coronavirus pandemic has cast uncertainty on whether it will have to be rescheduled. The virus has also complicated Libertarians efforts to get their candidate on the November ballot in a number of states, including the crucial swing states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Perspectives

Trumps presidency may have led to a boost in popularity for the libertarian worldview

Four years of Trump and system failures in Washington may not usher in the first libertarian president, but perhaps theyve created the conditions for a candidate like Amash to expand the reach of libertarian politics and mobilize the ranks of disaffected voters.  Andy Kroll, Rolling Stone

Amash will give reluctant conservatives someone other than Biden to vote for

This is a consistent finding across polls that include third party candidates. In the end, they tend to give those people who werent going to vote for Trump anyway an excuse to vote for someone else [other than the Democrat], while not pulling many voters from the Trump column.  Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller, Bulwark

He could pull just as many votes from Trump as Biden

Amash will run to Trumps right on a variety of issues, particularly taxes and spending. Hell also resurface the long-dormant arguments from Republicans who didnt trust him to implement conservative policy. I dont know why people assume hell draw more votes from Biden.  New York Magazine columnist Josh Barro

Voters whove shifted to Biden wont want to risk helping Trump win

Its hard to imagine Amash peeling off too many Trump votes.  Insofar as Never-Trumpers still exist, many seem to have coalesced around Joe Biden  not because they love Bidens politics, but because they want to beat Trump. Theyre unlikely to switch over to a doomed statement campaign.  David A. Graham, Atlantic

Amashs politics wont appeal to many moderate Democrats

Amash may find more traction with disaffected Democrats, but his track record of extreme conservatism may hamper him there, too. He strongly opposes government spending and assistance, and he has taken many unpopular positions that have drawn public ire.  Matt Fuller, HuffPost

A progressive third-party candidate would be much more disruptive to Bidens chances

Its not that there isnt some room for a third party bid. Its just that such a candidacy would likely come from the left, not the right like Amash  someone more akin to the progressive Bernie Sanders.  Harry Enten, CNN

Amash needs only an above-average showing in his home state to swing the election

The case for him being a significant presence in the 2020 race is readily apparent. Hes not just a sitting congressman and former Republican, but he also hails from one of the most important states in the 2020 election: Michigan. The state went for Trump by just 0.2 percentage points in 2016  the thinnest margin of any state. That means even a modestly strong showing by a Libertarian nominee could theoretically swing the state and potentially the race for presidency.  Aaron Blake, Washington Post

Is there a topic youd like to see covered in The 360? Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com.

Read more 360s

Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images
A sign displays the logo of Dixons Carphone at the company headquarters in London

By Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) - Dixons Carphone said that strong online sales were making up for around two-thirds of the store sales lost in Britain's coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday, lifting its shares 15%.

The electrical goods retailer said it planned for "zero contact" shops once restrictions ease and chief executive Alex Baldock said that the shift Dixons had seen to online shopping did not mean that outlets would be permanently closed.

"We expect to re-open the full 300 of the large stores in the UK," he told Reuters by telephone.

Dixons shares jumped 15% to 79 pence at 0814 GMT, which Liberum analysts said reflected an improved position from the retailer's last update at the end of March.

Online sales in the UK and Ireland for products connected to the lockdown such as computers for home working and fridges and breadmakers had risen by 166% in the five weeks to 25 April, the period of Britain's lockdown, Dixons said.

Its stores in Britain would be ready to re-open under a zero-contact format from next week, the CEO said.

Once the government ends the lockdown and a green light is given, Dixons stores will open in a phased manner, with less than 100 opening on day one, Baldock added.

IN CAR SERVICE

Precautions will include gloves, masks and flexi-glass protective screens for cashiers, measures already proven and working in Dixons' Nordic stores, which have stayed open.

Customers will also be able to wait in their car in Dixons car parks while a staff member places their order in their boot.

"We have the space to do this safely," Baldock said, noting that most stores are on retail parks with large car parks.

The uncertainty caused by the pandemic, however, meant that the British-based group, which also has stores in Ireland, Scandinavia and Greece, would be scrapping its dividend.

That was part of a focus on strengthening its liquidity, which included extending its debt facilities, giving the group confidence however the rest of the year pans out.

Story continues

"We have the liquidity we need under any plausible scenario of how the future might turn out," Baldock said.

That future will be challenging, he said, predicting that customers will be spending less over the next six to 12 months as a recession takes hold and cuts their discretionary spending.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by James Davey and Alexander Smith)
California Department of Education

News Release

California Department of Education

News Release

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Hosts First Virtual Parent Support Circle Event with California Surgeon General

SACRAMENTOState Superintendent Tony Thurmond hosted the first online event for the new Virtual Parent Support Circle yesterday in the form of a panel discussion with California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris and partners from the California Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE).

The panel highlighted the diverse challenges our parents are encountering. According to Thurmond, the Virtual Parent Support Circle seeks to reach out and hear directly from parents across California and encourage them to do their best while sharing resources and supports as they cope with distance learning and economic challenges.

Through this virtual support group, I felt compelled to provide a space to let California parents know they are not alone as this pandemic affects parents differently, Thurmond said. Some parents work and dont have access to reliable child care, or there may be technology limitations and language barriers to consider. Other parents are also teachers, who have poured their hearts into supporting both their own children and their students. As a father of two daughters in public schools, I am committed to ensuring resourcesand, yes, emotional supportare reaching parents as they deal with so much uncertainty. The California Department of Education is committed to providing clarity during this unprecedented time.

Yesterdays event featured video testimony from parents across the state about their respective challenges and an overview of academic, bilingual, and mental health resources. Dr. Burke Harris spoke about dealing with stress and the importance of daily exercise, and encouraged parents to take care of themselves and reach out to others for support.

This was the first of many events planned for the Virtual Parent Support Circle series. It can be watched via Facebook Live on the California Department of Education (CDE) Facebook page . The PowerPoint utilized during yesterdays presentation with information on parent resources will be published on the CDE web page in the next few days and then shared on the CDEs social media. Comments from parents and educators are welcomed at COVID19@cde.ca.gov.

# # # #

Tony Thurmond  State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Thursday, October 28, 2021
To learn more about other writing units, visit our writing curriculum overview.

Every year since 2010 weve invited students to read The Times and choose anything they like  whether an article or an essay, a photo or a graphic, a video or a podcast  then tell us briefly why it got their attention. At the end of each week, judges from The Times newsroom choose their favorites and we publish them here.

The fun of the contest, for students and for us, is the range of results. Heres what Nancy Wartik, a 2016 judge, said after a summer of reading what teenagers sent in:

What struck me about the submissions was how wide-ranging the topic choices were! It didnt so much surprise me when students wrote about Pokemon Go or how exercise may help with studying. But there were essays about insecticides effect on bee sperm; disappearing sea ice; a new art museum in Paris; the death of a young woman jogger in New York; hunting lionfish; sexual assault in South Sudan; the Oklahoma City Thunder and lots more. It impressed me to find young people tackling so many different subjects.

You can read much more, below, about how the contest works and why parents, teachers and students like it, but we also have many other resources to help:
MOUNT DORA, Fla. - Hank Scott believes the bright green rows of ripening cucumbers are the best yield on his land since his father started the farm in 1963.

During any other spring, he'd oversee an army of workers harvesting cucumbers and shipping truckloads to pickling companies along the East Coast. But the coronavirus pandemic has closed or crippled the businesses where his produce would end up.

So instead, Scott, 64, invited volunteer pickers with the Society of St. Andrew, a Christian hunger relief organization, to glean as much produce as they could and donate it to nearby food banks. Anything green they left behind will likely be plowed back into the ground, feeding no one and adding to the farm's ballooning losses.

"Between them not being able to make a profit off it and us not being able to take the surplus, there's just a feeling of helplessness," said Kathleen Bean, who volunteered to pick with her husband and son at Long & Scott Farms about an hour's drive northwest of Orlando. After filling trucks and vans, more than two-thirds of the cucumber field remained untouched.

Scott and the volunteer cucumber pickers were trying to bring some sense to what has emerged as one of the most perverse outcomes of the pandemic: farmers forced to destroy fields full of crops while a growing number of families can't afford enough food.

On one end are produce growers who supply restaurants, canning companies and theme parks that have been closed for weeks. Meanwhile, increasing unemployment and a convulsing economy have sent many families to the foodlines. In the most agonizing instances, hungry mouths are just a few miles from rotting crops, separated by economic turmoil and ruptured supply chains.

As the gleaners rescue vegetable after vegetable, they are both a final lifeline for desperate families and a sign of just how badly the novel coronavirus has inhibited the systems that are supposed to keep everyone fed.

The Florida Department of Agriculture estimates that produce farmers like Scott have lost $522.5 million through mid-April. And they are not the only ones with a perishable product that will reach the end of its shelf life before it even leaves the farm. Dairy farmers and cooperatives across the country have dumped millions of gallons of milk down drains or onto fields as cheese plants and dairy producers contend with an unmovable surplus. Workers at pork and poultry manufacturing plants have been sickened by the coronavirus and in some cases died, placing a harsh spotlight on their working conditions during the pandemic and putting another kink in the supply chain with no resolution in sight.

By the time the country reopens, Scott fears it will be too late to save this season's cucumber crop. It might also be too late to save his farm, one of the last-remaining family growers in a region that in recent decades has been defined by encroaching suburbs and shrinking agriculture.

"In the beginning, we knew that we would take a hit, but we didn't really realize that they would shut every daggum thing down and then all our sales would stop," Scott said. Cucumbers "grow up a size a day so if we shut it down . . . for the week, everything that we should have picked that week gets lost. You can't turn these pickles on and off like a light switch."

- - -

On most days, about 35 people click on the food-finder button on the Web page of the Orlando-based Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, the state's largest.

In the past month, as the novel coronavirus has cost central Floridians their jobs, the number of clicks has ballooned to more than 1,200 a day.

"I've been doing this work 26 years across the country - and through lots of disaster relief. This is as bad as it's ever been." said Dave Krepcho, president and chief executive of the food bank. "Pre-virus, you had your population that was in poverty and you had this other population of working households that were struggling to pay the rent. They were on the edge. This pandemic has put them over the edge."

Many of the restaurants that used to drop off regular donations to the collection center on Mercy Drive are closed or struggling. But Second Harvest and other food pantries have been getting more donations from farmers such as Scott. While Krepcho's grateful he can still feed hungry people, he concedes that it's a sign of a bigger problem: there is nowhere else for the farms' produce to go.

"The charitable-food system is not equipped to accept all that product even if we can get our hands on it," Krepcho said. "We're the largest in Florida, so we have massive coolers and freezers and we can handle a lot of produce. But even with all our capacity, there are times that we can't accept it."

Adam Putnam, a former Florida commissioner of agriculture who is also a farmer said that with no place to sell or donate their crops, "some farmers just put the product out by the road of their farm and just give it away. It's just as frustrating for them. They don't want to plow their crops under. But when it's going to cost money to harvest it and send it somewhere when they've already lost a boatload of money, it's just not a good business decision."

After news programs showed pictures of Scott's farm plowing perfectly good crops into the ground, they received a deluge of hate mail from people who chastised them for not giving it to hungry people.

Scott's family responded with a Facebook post that touted their charitable giving - 4 million to 5 million pounds of produce a year - but also spoke about how difficult and expensive it is to reconfigure a mammoth supply chain that moves truckloads of food at harvest time.

"At this point we are struggling to pay our employees, as is everyone, so how can we possibly pay to harvest the crops only to be given away?" the post said. " . . . Without drastic changes, and if we don't get the country back to business as usual, we will continue to struggle, and you cannot get mad at the farmer who is forced to have to leave crops to rot in the field."

- - -

Finding places for Scott's crops - and figuring out a way to help his farm survive - is something that's perplexing people at all levels, from the people who live in Scott's house to government officials dispensing billions in aid.

On Tuesday, several of Scott's family members were working the farm's market, packaging and selling freshly picked corn, heads of cabbage and, of course, pickles. The sod business has been on the uptick, and they're looking for a sponsor for the fall corn maze. Still, none of it is enough if their pickles and other cash crops waste away in the Florida sun.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried's office has started a website that directs shoppers to farm stores. She's also lobbying the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state's congressional delegation for policies that would put more cash in the hands of Florida farmers - or at least give them a competitive edge in other markets.

Last week, the USDA passed $19 billion in agriculture relief. But Fried, Florida's only statewide elected Democrat whose agency is independent from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, said the benefit to Florida farmers would be nominal. Of the total, $2.1 billion goes to specialty crops such as cucumbers. The program puts a cap of $125,000 per commodity and gives $250,000 for each individual farm or rancher, Fried said.

"We are afraid that it is too little too late," she said.

Under the USDA plan, the federal government will also buy $300 million worth of produce, meat and dairy products from farmers, ranchers and pay distributors to ship the goods to food bank hubs.

"This program will not only provide immediate relief for our farmers and ranchers but it will also allow for the purchase and distribution of our agricultural abundance to help our fellow Americans in need," Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters on a call explaining the plan.

Scott spent most of last week looking for places to send his ripening crops - buyers preferably, but also charities in need. The largest charities help pay packaging costs for donated food, if he can find a way to get it to them. The large bins he uses to ship cucumbers to pickle producers aren't feasible for food banks distributing fresh produce to families.

Jennifer Novack had spent the morning picking pickles for charity with the Society of St. Andrew, but stopped by the farmers market for some honey butter when she overheard Scott's dilemma. She'd been furloughed by Disney, and had a bit of extra time on her hands. If there was an opportunity to help some more hungry people, she wondered aloud whether she had some extra cash, too.

"Well, how many crates do you need?" she asked the farmer. "How much do they cost? Maybe I can pitch in a few dollars."
By Ethan Dumper

KidScoop Media Correspondent

I was in Charleston, South Carolina covering the 10th DNC presidential debate for Kid Scoop media. This was my first event. I was nervous but prepared. First, I picked up my press pass. I felt so proud wearing the pass with its cool design. I am 10 years old.

After security, I walked down media row and found my seat in the press room and set up my computer to review my interview questions for the candidates. I interviewed journalists from all over the world and the mayors of Columbia, South Carolina and Washington D.C. I watched the debate from my spot in the spin room. Inside Edition asked me for my thoughts on the debate and I told them how much more I would understand the candidates if they all respected the time limits and didn't talk over each other. Everyone was interested to hear my story as well, it was so cool.

After the debate, the hundreds of journalists crowded around the exits and waited for the candidates. As a reporter, the trick is to try to be heard but not be bossy. Sometimes I called out the candidates names, sometimes I snuck to the front of the crowd, and sometimes I got their press person's attention.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg was about to go on stage when I caught his attention. I was nervecited (combo of nervous and excited) because I had not yet met a candidate. I asked him, "Why should kids like me tell our parents to vote for you?"

He answered: "Great question. You know the younger you are the longer you are going to be affected by decisions that are about to be made. Think about how important it is that the climate is a good one that you can thrive in, how important that the country is in good shape and we are respected around the world. You can share with your parents how important it is for you to have a leader that is thinking about your future."

I made my way through the gaggle of reporters and asked Tom Steyer the same question. He replied: "I will make sure on day one of my presidency that we will stop climate change and make sure we have every kid who is 10 years old live in a safe world. I give you my word. That is why." He also made eye contact with me like talking to me was the only thing he could think about!

I asked Senator Nina Turner, co-chair of the Sanders campaign: "Senator Sanders plans to put a stop to climate change in the next ten years, but what if ten years is not enough time?" She replied that Senator Sanders "has the most robust green new deal of everyone pouring trillions of dollars into trying to save this planet. He also wants to pull in other world leaders because he knows the US can't do it by themselves."

Senator Warren was with CNN so I waited. As soon as she finished the interview she walked up to me! I introduced myself and asked: "As Commander-in Chief, what steps would you take to stop an attack from North Korea?".

She replied "The number one step we would have to take is to make it clear to North Korea that we are not going to help out Kim Jong Un and that we are willing to push back against him... I am willing to stand up to a dictator like that and I think that is what keeps American safer." She was so caring, so gentle and kind, it was hard to believe that the same person who was yelling at people on-stage just two hours ago.

KidScoop Reporter Ethan Dumper interveiws Senator Elizabeth Warren

CNN anchors, Erin Burnett and Dana Bash, were twisting over the backs of their chairs to talk to me. I was so surprised because I didn't know who they were but I had just seen them on National television with Elizabeth Warren. A cameraman handed me a huge heavy coin that read "CNN - Capitol Hill Unit '' along with a picture of the capitol. Inside my heart was swelling with a mixture of happiness, amazement, and pride.

One media secretary had commented about how since I was a kid, my questions would not be at the highest standard. After I asked my question, they came back later and seemed impressed. I spent the day as a journalist representing the questions that are important to kids. I had lots of fun and an amazing experience but I was exhausted by the end. Sometimes it was hard to answer questions but I was so happy with how the night had gone. I was amazed and wonderstruck by the whole thing. At the end I thought, I may have met the future president.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 00:54:44|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A medical consultant expert team from China held discussions with public health officials, experts and medical personnel in Malaysia's Sabah state on Wednesday to share China's experiences on fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.

The expert team held a discussion session with public officials, medical personnel at a designated hospital treating COVID-19 patients in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital. The session was joined by representatives of other hospitals around Sabah via video conference.

During the discussions, the Chinese experts share China's experience on the treatment of COVID-19 patients, testing and contact tracing, protection of medics, among others. They also answered related questions raised by their Malaysian counterparts.

The expert team also visited the University of Malaysia Sabah and held discussion with university experts on issues including the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating COVID-19 patients, the standards of virus testing laboratory, cases of recovered patients testing positive, development of vaccines, among others.

The expert team and Liang Caide, Chinese Consul General in Kota Kinabalu, also handed over donations of medical equipment to the Sabah government. Enditem
By Laura Matos

Since the arrival of COVID-19, we are hungrier for information than ever.

That is why Kivvit is teaming with NJ.com to understand how New Jerseyans are staying informed during the pandemic and using data insights to help governments and organizations communicate with state residents in the age of COVID-19.

The data analyzed so far reveals a lot about our state in this unprecedented moment in time.

Like all Americans, New Jerseyans have turned to online news and digital platforms in record numbers. According to comScore, NJ.com readership increased 54% in March compared to the same period last year and now counts over 19 million unique visitors to the site from New Jersey and across the country who are seeking the latest news and updates.

Reflecting the far-reaching impact of the pandemic, over three-quarters of these NJ.com readers are first-time visitors to the site. Moreover, readers are spending twice the amount of time reading articles that have COVID or coronavirus in the headline than coverage unrelated to the pandemic, according to NJ.com data.

Five of the 10 most-read NJ.com articles from March 1 to April 21 demonstrate our strong interest in finding answers during this time of uncertainty. They feature tips and crisp distillations of what residents need to know on topics ranging from social distancing, to stay-at-home orders, practices for disinfecting groceries, and whether or not to stock up on medicine.

New Jerseyans today are seeking information that touches our most basic primal instinct  how to stay healthy, how to survive, and how to protect our families. Were looking to understand the rules so that we can follow them and keep our communities safe.

The most-read stories also underscore that the human element of this pandemic is as important as the numbers and statistics. The tragic news of the Fusco family, who had seven family members battle the virus and lost four of those family members, was the subject of two of the 10 most-read articles since March 1. Readership of obituaries on NJ.com rose 36% in the first three weeks of April compared to the same periods in January, February, and March. We are all seeking the stories behind the numbers  stories of family, friends, neighbors and strangers. All fellow New Jerseyans.

For too many, the pandemic has caused a significant loss of income. News articles about unemployment benefits are being read in almost every single one of New Jerseys 565 municipalities. The most-read of these articles contained headlines that go straight to a question: who is eligible? When will I see the extra $600 unemployment payment? and what if I cant get through? We arent just seeking information. We are seeking answers to the challenges we are all facing.

But, according to both the data and what we all know deep inside, the Jersey spirit is one that remains optimistic. When we look at the articles New Jersey residents are sharing on social media, we are reminded that the news we want to share with others is meant to lift us up. Four of the 10 most shared NJ.com headlines in the past month have been about businesses and communities helping one another, with headlines like Neighbor buys $1,200 in food from struggling restaurant, donates to soup kitchen and this feel-good story about Federicos Pizza in my own town of Belmar This N.J. restauranteur took out a 50K credit line to pay his employees during coronavirus crisis.

These stories of New Jerseyans coming together to help one another have generated hundreds of thousands of social media interactions. We arent just sharing this content. We are liking and commenting and passing it forward to remind each other that we are supporting one another at a time when we need it the most.

Our Jersey pride runs deep and runs strong, but so does our desire to help our friends and neighbors in times of need  no matter how hard things get. In the end, thats what makes us who we are.

Laura Matos is general manager of Kivvits New Jersey office located in Asbury Park. Kivvit is a national data-driven public affairs and strategic communications firm.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
New San Antonio and Bexar County stay-at-home orders will extend through May 19, with leaders saying the updated provisions are designed to ensure a high level of protection from the novel coronavirus as the area eases into Gov. Greg Abbotts Open Texas plan.

The news came as Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced that the number of new COVID-19 cases and people hospitalized with the disease continue to drop; the total number of confirmed cases was at 1,326 Wednesday. But there were two more deaths reported for a total of 46.

The new city and county orders generally stay in line with a new order handed down by Abbott earlier this week, lifting some restrictions on business activity. Friday, retail stores, malls, restaurants and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent of allowed capacity.

The city still will require people 10 years or older to wear masks or other cloth face coverings over nose and mouth when theyre in a public place, such as a grocery store or pharmacy, where its difficult to keep physical distance of 6 feet from others. But officials will no longer be able to enforce the measure through fines or citations.

City Attorney Andy Segovia said at Wednesdays daily city-county COVID-19 briefing that the governors order prohibits local entities from assessing civil or criminal penalties for failure to wear a face covering in public.

Everything else thats in this order in terms of limiting gatherings and other requirements on businesses, those can still be enforced by the city and by the county, Segovia said.

On ExpressNews.com: Mayor says its too soon to reopen so many businesses

Under Nirenbergs new order, businesses allowed to reopen under Abbotts plan must provide face coverings to employees who work in close quarters with one another. Abbott is hoping for more reopenings May 18 for businesses such as bars, barber shops and salons. Businesses will be able to open at 50 percent capacity at that time, if the state hasnt seen a new rash of COVID-19 cases.

We have slowed the spread, Nirenberg said at the briefing, once again urging residents to maintain social distancing and use face coverings in public to ensure there isnt a surge in the disease.

Using a football metaphor, the mayor said he doesnt want San Antonio to fumble near the goal line, rushing into a return to activities too quickly and carelessly, resulting in a spike in hospitalizations. There were only 19 new confirmed cases Wednesday of COVID-19, after 32 were reported Tuesday and 21 reported Monday.

Of the two deaths reported Wednesday, one was a Hispanic woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions. The death toll is now at 46.

Nirenberg said there still are 690 people known to be fighting the disease in Bexar County. Of those, the number in intensive care Wednesday was 36, up three from Tuesday, with 20 on ventilators, up from 17 earlier in the week.

The City Council is set to meet Thursday to consider extending a public health emergency declaration and hear a briefing on the local health transition teams recommendations and implementation plan. A local economic transition team will review that guidance and develop its own report for implementation to be presented at another joint teleconference meeting of the council and Bexar County Commissioners Court next week.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the extended stay-home orders provide more exceptions than the one that had been set to expire Thursday to correspond with Abbotts reopening plan. But Wolff encouraged people with health issues such as hypertension and diabetes to remain at home as much as possible.

The orders incorporate health recommendations from the governors plan, including mandates for specific industries, Wolff said.

It doesnt violate the governors orders. It just gives teeth to it, Wolff said of the extended order. We want to make sure that the governors plan works. Its not going to work without the safeguards weve put in.

Wolff said the county has created an online form for victims of an illegal lockout by landlords that can be processed by a justice of the peace in an emergency hearing. The county also is stopping foreclosures for failure to pay back taxes, and is requiring everyone entering a county building to wear a face covering, he said. Their temperatures also will be checked.

He and the mayor noted that testing and contact tracing are major components of the local response. Close to 22,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Bexar County, Nirenberg said.

For more information about testing, call the citys COVID-19 hotline, 210-207-5779, or email COVID-19@sanantonio.gov.

Jail report

At the Bexar County Jail, a total of 78 inmates currently have COVID-19, in addition to a total of 26 deputies and two civilian jail employees, according to the Sheriffs Office. Twenty inmates, 14 deputies and one civilian employee have recovered.

Also, a part-time Bexar County magistrate judge without any symptoms tested positive for COVID-19 during routine testing at the jail, officials confirmed.

On ExpressNews.com: Faced with COVID-19 pandemic, Wolff rethinks his last term

State District Judge Ron Rangel said the magistrate received the results Sunday. He is under quarantine and is working with San Antonio Metropolitan Health officials on contact tracing. A probate court reporter who is close to the part-time magistrate judge also is under quarantine and is awaiting test results.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales confirmed that one of his prosecutors who was working temporarily with the part-time magistrate judge at the jails Justice Intake & Assessment Annex at 200 N. Comal St. is also under quarantine and is awaiting results of a COVID-19 test.

Magistrates take care of arraignments and other pretrial duties, including setting bail.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Police Department reported no change in its numbers Wednesday, with six officers having tested positive, two in quarantine and three civilians in quarantine. The San Antonio Fire Department also had no change Wednesday, with six uniformed firefighters being treated for COVID-19, and 37 in quarantine.

Staff writers Joshua Fechter and Elizabeth Zavala contributed to this report.

shuddleston

@express-news.net
Macorva's survey software provides businesses with real-time customer feedback through automated surveys sent via text message. With a few taps on their smartphones, customers can review and describe their experiences in detail. All feedback is consolidated into simple dashboards that business leaders can use to track customer sentiment.

Most Texas businesses will be reopening with new procedures in place to keep customers and employees safe. Macorva will help these businesses by collecting specific feedback about how safe and comfortable customers feel under their new procedures.

"We hear a lot about how governments and businesses feel about reopening, but at the end of the day, our success depends on how customers feel. Removing the cost barrier to this technology means business owners can focus on getting back where they need to be without missing out on the information they need to best adapt to their new circumstances."

Texas businesses can get their free customer surveys set up by emailing [email protected] .

For more information, visit www.macorva.com.

SOURCE Macorva

Related Links

www.macorva.com


SPRINGFIELD  A report of a black pickup truck chasing a car in the Bristol Street area Wednesday led to the confiscation of a gun and the arrest of two city men, police said.

Detectives, aware of three recent shots fired incidents, possibly involving a black pickup, located the truck on Girard Avenue, Ryan Walsh, spokesman for the department, said. Two of those incidents had occurred in the Bristol Street area.

The detectives monitored the truck as it went down several streets and eventually stopped on Dunmoreland Street, Walsh said.

When two occupants got out and began walking away, detectives detained them and located a semi-automatic firearm, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, inside the truck.

Charles Brown, 22, of Pearl Street, was charged with carrying a firearm without a license (third offense), carrying a loaded large capacity firearm on a public way, firearm violation with two prior violent / drug crimes and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended sentence.

Jason Batchelor, 20, of Noel Street, was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded large capacity firearm on a public way and firearm violation with two prior violent / drug crimes.

Springfield police have seized 15 unlawful firearms since Gov. Charlie Baker instituted a stay-at-home advisory on March 24, Walsh said. Eight of those were large capacity firearms.
Bollywood's original 'chocolate boy', Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on April 30 at the Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Condolences and tributes for the late veteran actor are pouring in from a number of celebrities in Bollywood. Among them, Rishi's many time co-star, actress Padmini Kolhapure shared heartfelt remembrance of the late actor.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Padmini responded to Rishi's passing and said, "All I can say is I am a shocked I am numb and I can't even believe that he is gone. He was a great actor, a great person, a great soul and a great contributor to the Indian film industry. He has left us and I feel a very strong personal loss for me."

Adding that this is a personal loss for her, she said, "I think of him every day, he is on my mind every day of my life , he is part of my life , my growing up years were with him, so you can imagine how big this loss is for me."

Rishi and Padmini had starred in films like Prem Rog, Pyar Ke Kabil, Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan and so on.

Padmini remembered the surreal experience of going from being a fan of Rishi to being his co-star. "I used to bunk school and go watch Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh films. I was a fan first and then the next thing I knew I was doing a movie with him. I was sharing screen space with him. I used to love him on screen and admire his dancing and the next thing I knew I was dancing with him. It was totally surreal for me," she said.

Padmini also shared how Rishi was his usual bubbly self when he returned to India after undergoing treatment for leukemia in New York. She said that he didn't look like he had gone through such a terrible time and that is what Rishi was.

The actress rues the fact that she cannot pay her last respects to Rishi in person, due to the Coronavirus lockdown.

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor Dead: Kareena Kapoor Shares Heartwarming Childhood Picture Of Uncle And Dad

ALSO READ: Taapsee Pannu Shares Favourite Photo With Rishi Kapoor 'Even In His Bullying There Was Love'
Lakhimpur : , April 30 (IANS) The 70 odd Nepali migrants, staying at a shelter home in Dhaurhara in Lakhimpur district, are now attending Yoga classes and motivational lectures to help them overcome depression.

The migrants have been staying in a school since March 31 after the Nepal border was closed due to lockdown.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sunandu Sudhakaran said that the migrants were getting increasingly depressed and were experiencing anxiety disorders due to monetary tension and family issues.

"We then decided to arrange for motivational and Yoga sessions for them with the support of a Yoga guru. While practicing Yoga, we ensured that social distancing was maintained and all of them wore a mask," he said.

Sudhakaran said that the Nepali migrants did not create any problems and have been staying in harmony at the shelter home.

The official said that first one or two sessions, the migrants felt better and looked happier.

The migrants are now looking forward to returning to their homes after the Centre allowed movement of migrants and students on Wednesday.
TORONTO, April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YAMANA GOLD INC. (TSX:YRI; NYSE:AUY) (Yamana or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has increased its annual dividend by a further 25% to $0.0625 per share, effective for the second quarter of 2020. Shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2020, will be entitled to receive payment of this dividend on July 14, 2020. The dividend is an eligible dividend for Canadian tax purposes.



This is the third dividend increase announced by Yamana in the past year, for a cumulative total increase of 213%. These increases are part of a gradual and progressive approach to dividend increases, as the Companys cash balances continue to grow from increasing free cash flow1 and successful and continuing initiatives to monetize its portfolio of non-producing assets and financial instruments.

About Yamana

Yamana Gold Inc. is a Canadian-based precious metals producer with significant gold and silver production, development stage properties, exploration properties, and land positions throughout the Americas, including Canada, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Yamana plans to continue to build on this base through expansion and optimization initiatives at existing operating mines, development of new mines, the advancement of its exploration properties and, at times, by targeting other consolidation opportunities with a primary focus in the Americas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

416-815-0220

1-888-809-0925

Email: investor@yamana.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation and within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to information with respect to the Companys dividend policy, strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements are characterized by words such as plan", expect, budget, target, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include all those risk factors discussed or referred to herein and in the Company's Annual Information Form filed with the securities regulatory authorities in all provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com , and the Companys Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements estimates, assumptions or opinions should change, except as required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Companys expected financial and operational performance and results as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented in the Companys plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Story continues

(All amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwisde indicated)

End Notes

1. The Company uses the financial measure "Net Free Cash Flow" and "Free Cash Flow", which are non-GAAP financial measures, to supplement information in its Consolidated Financial Statements. Net Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The Company believes that in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Company and certain investors and analysts use this information to evaluate the Companys performance with respect to its operating cash flow capacity to meet non-discretionary outflows of cash or to meet dividends and debt repayments. The presentation of Net Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow are not meant to be a substitute for the cash flow information presented in accordance with IFRS, but rather should be evaluated in conjunction with such IFRS measures. Net Free Cash Flow is calculated as cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations adjusted for advance payments received pursuant to metal purchase agreements, non-discretionary expenditures from sustaining capital expenditures and interest and financing expenses paid related to the current period. Free Cash Flow further deducts remaining capital expenditures and payments for lease obligations.
W ere all spending a lot more time on social media, from Instagram to TikTok and Houseparty.

TikTok in particular is having a stellar month: the app just crossed two billion downloads across iOS and Android, according to data from SensorTower. it was downloaded 315 million times during the first quarter of this year.

But did you know you can do some good whilst youre scrolling through the feed and trying out new challenges?

TikTok recently added donation stickers to the platform, an in-app donation feature that creators can add to their videos and live streams to raise funds for charities. In the UK, the money raised will go to the British Red Cross and Help Musicians, the leading charity for musicians in the UK. These two charities have delivering critical support to those who have been hugely impacted by this crisis, said the company in a statement.

You have to be 18 or over to donate via a TikTok donation sticker. When you see one in a post, you can click on it where you will be guided to a window to submit a donation. TikTok has also said it will match any donations made between April 27 and May 27.

Were hoping to help more organisations access this feature in the coming months, giving more and more users the opportunity to raise funds for the causes theyre most passionate about, said TikTok.

TikTok isnt the only platform with a new donation sticker. Instagram also launched a new donation function for Instagram Live. Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was the first to use the sticker in a Live on Tuesday night.

Add a donation sticker to your next Instagram Live / Instagram

If you want to create a donation in a Live broadcast, you need to update your Instagram app first. Then select a Live as fundraiser before starting the broadcast and choose the non-profit you want people to donate to.

If you want to donate to someones chosen non-profit via Instagram, look out for the option pinned to the bottom of a Live broadcast and tap donate to start the process. Once this is done, you can unlock a new I Donated sticker which can be shared on your own Stories.

Social media has been instrumental in fundraising efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. The Run for Heroes campaign, which encourages people to run 5K and then donate 5 to the NHS charities has raised over 5 million since it started last month.
Update:

San Antonio police are appealing for information regarding an East Side shooting last month.

Officials shared photos of a pickup truck seen fleeing the scene after a man was shot and killed at the Super 8 Motel on Roland Ave. The vehicle is described as a 2019-2020 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Rebel Edition.

The truck, with dark tinted windows and black trim, has no license plate on the front and a paper plate on the back.

Three men were in the vehicle. Police said they are suspects in the shooting.

Police are asking anyone with information about the truck and its occupants to call the Homicide Unit at 210-207-7635.

Original:

A man was shot and killed at an East Side hotel Thursday morning, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

The shooting occurred at around 8:45 a.m. at the Super 8 located at 302 Roland Road alongside Interstate 10.

What we have here today is a a drug deal gone bad, said Chief William McManus.

READ ALSO: Police ID two killed in apparent murder-suicide

A 30-year-old man approached the passenger side of a car to sell drugs to the people inside, McManus said.

Two individuals came up from behind the man and both shot him, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses said police had been at the hotel investigating a vehicle burglary and left shortly before the shooting began.

Police said the shooters, both of whom were wearing masks, fled the scene in a white pickup. The hotels surveillance cameras will be used in the investigation, McManus said.

Rodney Flemings, 51, said he was lying in bed, two doors down from where the shooting took place, when he heard a series of loud bangs.

Flemings initially thought someone was knocking on his door. Then he heard another rapid-fire round of bangs, realized they were gunshots, and dove on the floor.

I hate all this violence, Flemings said. I hate to see it I really do.
Lufthansa group on Wednesday stated passengers on board any of its airlines' flights will have to mandatorily wear a mask that covers mouth as well as nose from May 4 onwards. The German group runs four airline brands - Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Austrian and SWISS.

"The company recommends that passengers wear them throughout the entire journey, i.e. also before or after the flight at the airport, whenever the required minimum distance cannot be guaranteed without restriction," Lufthansa group stated in its press release. Despite numerous adjustments to service procedures, it is not always possible to maintain the required distance on a flight, the release noted.

"Therefore, this measure serves as additional protection for all passengers. All flight attendants on Lufthansa group flights in direct contact with customers will also wear a corresponding mask," the group stated.

India has been under a lockdown since March 25 to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more than 1,000 people in the country till date. All commercial passenger flights have been suspended for the lockdown period. However, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, and special flights permitted by the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are allowed to operate.

All passengers are requested to bring their own mouth and nose cover, Lufthansa group said, adding that while a reusable fabric mask is recommended, all other types of coverings such as simple disposable masks or scarves will work too. "The airlines will inform their passengers in advance by an SMS or email and on their websites about the new regulation," the group stated. The obligation to wear the mask will be from May 4 to August 30, it stated.

Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Karnataka, MP allow movement of stranded migrants, students; tally 33,050

Also read: Coronavirus fallout: Airbus Q1 operating profit plunges 49%
Germany's health minister has warned against significantly relaxing restrictions imposed to curb coronavirus infections, saying this could recklessly endanger the country's achievements in fighting the pandemic.

In an op-ed Thursday for daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Jens Spahn welcomed the public debate over loosening the lockdown. But he said that especially because Germany has so far come through this crisis better than others it would be reckless to endanger this hard-won joint achievement.

Germany has recorded almost 162,000 cases of COVID-19 and 6,467 deaths so far, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. That is about a quarter the number of deaths recorded in Britain and France, which have a similar number of confirmed cases.

Spahn said the government wanted to take small steps, rather than risk a big step back.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is holding talks with the governors of Germany's 16 states Thursday to discuss the impact that existing measures have had on slowing the spread of the virus.

Germany recently allowed stores to reopen and some students to return to school, but officials dampened expectations than any major loosening of the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
No child is known to have passed on Covid-19 to an adult, a medical review has found, as evidence suggests youngsters 'do not play a significant role' in transmission.

A review of paediatric coronavirus evidence revealed 'the China/WHO joint commission could not recall episodes during contact tracing where transmission occurred from a child to an adult.'

Researchers have also failed to uncover any cases of children under the age of 10 transmitting the virus, which has killed more than 26,000 people in the UK.

Studies into the impact of coronavirus on children also found it likely youngsters 'do not play a significant role' in transmission of the virus, although experts admitted the facts are still 'unclear'.

A review of paediatric coronavirus evidence revealed 'the China/WHO joint commission could not recall episodes during contact tracing where transmission occurred from a child to an adult' (stock image)

Professor Russell Viner, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told the Telegraph: 'From around the world we are not seeing evidence that children are involved in spreading or transmitting the virus, but we do not have enough evidence.'

The review of 'pertinent paediatric literature' regarding coronavirus, led by Dr Alasdair Munro and published in partnership with the RCPCH, found current evidence 'consistently demonstrates reduced infection and infectivity of children in the transmission chain.'

Among the studies considered was an infected nine-year-old boy in France who did not pass the vicious virus on to anyone - despite being in contact with 172 people while contagious.

The unnamed boy was at the centre of a cluster of cases which made international headlines in February.

He and 10 others were struck down while staying in a ski chalet in the French Alps as Steve Walsh, one of the first Britons known to have the virus.

The child went to three different ski schools in eastern France while unknowingly infected, and mingled with other people.

Experts have also failed to uncover any cases of children under the age of 10 transmitting the virus, which has killed more than 26,000 people in the UK (stock image)

'Whilst a single case study, this evidence suggests different transmission dynamics from children, supporting other data which consistently demonstrates reduced infection and infectivity of children in the transmission chain,' Don't Forget the Bubbles researchers said of the case.

Researchers added that studies of 'multiple family clusters' in Guanzhou, China also suggested children were unlikely to be 'the index case.'

The review concluded: 'Covid-19 appears to affect children less often, and with less severity, including frequent asymptomatic or subclinical infection.

'There is evidence of critical illness, but it is rare. The role of children in transmission is unclear, but it seems likely they do not play a significant role.

'There is no direct evidence of vertical transmission, and early evidence suggests both infected mothers and infants are no more severely affected than other groups.'
Tomah Health emergency preparedness specialist James Newlun knows the importance of being prepared in times of an emergency. While no one could have predicted the impact of a disaster like COVID-19, Newlun says having a plan in place is the first and most important part of emergency preparedness.

Every disaster and every emergency is going to be different, but having plans about how youre going to continue to work as an organization, how youre going to function but most importantly testing that and training on that before you ever have anything is key, said Newlun who has been with the hospital nearly three years.

Newlun admitted that a plan is only as good as the resources to implement it. He said Tomah Health invested tens of thousands of dollars into its high-tech Emergency Operations Center, which has been active for well over a month into the pandemic. We have multiple screens in our EOC that have different things that can be implemented for presentations during an emergency or disaster plus a smart board screen that we primarily use for managing or tracking patients especially during a patient surge, Newlun said.

Even though Tomah Health has not experienced a patient surge during the COVID pandemic, Newlun said having the capability to know hospital bed counts is essential.

When youre talking about surge capacity, knowing what you currently are dealing with  the acuity levels of patients and then what we are still continuing to receive into our emergency room or other parts of the hospital are absolutely critical to plans and objectives, Newlun said. The EM (emergency management) resource that we use provides us an opportunity to see regionally or even statewide what our availabilities are in terms of bed space and capacity.

Before COVID-19, Newlun said the EOC was used a couple of times, including when patients were first moved into the new hospital in October. In the meantime, he said the room and resources have been invaluable while hospital staff and committees work through the current pandemic.

It is very important to have an area that is secure so that no matter what is going on, we can continue to do our work to keep our organization operational but also answer the needs of our front line staff, Newlun said. Thats the key component of an EOC  being able to help coordinate those pieces that are creating challenges.

He also said the EOC keeps everyone safe. Where a lot of traditional EOCs get everyone in the same room, right now its just opposite of that, we are not trying to put everyone together. But the capabilities that we have in this room have allowed us to do all of that and keep our people safe while making decisions on some substantial things.

Newlun said while few hospitals in the area have such an emergency operations center like Tomah Health, hospital officials did the right thing by planning ahead to ensure it was designed into construction of the new hospital. They (hospital leaders) have taken it very seriously and have been very supportive in the quest to make sure that we have what we need dealing with preparedness and being ready to deal with a disaster or an emergency, he said. As an organization this (equipment) has basically improved our capabilities and put us in a situation where we are better prepared for disasters, but most importantly, we have the tools and equipment to be able to do a collaborative response to any type of emergency or disaster.

Newlun was quick to recognize the Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition, which funded up to $25,000 to help offset costs for various equipment, including radio communications that allow hospital staff to monitor area Emergency Medical Services and law enforcement transmissions.

With that funding, were also identified as a secondary regional coordination site for hospitals in region four  in case a major event that would require hospital coordination in our region, Newlun said.

Newlun said at some point after COVID-19, Tomah Health will invite additional law enforcement and fire officials to take part in meetings in the EOC to become better informed and prepared for future emergencies.

Its a great tool to make sure that we stay on track and overcome these disasters and emergencies that we are faced with currently but also in the long term, he said. Between the support from administration and also the staff working and doing drills, that is what puts us ahead and able to move forward today and comfortably say that we can respond to things and are prepared to do so.

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With the Centre issuing guideines on the inter-state movement of migrant workers, the Kerala government renewed its demand for special non-stop trains to transport those who are keen to leave for their respective states, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

The Chief Secretary has written a letter in this regard to Union Home secretary, he told reporters here.

Earlier, the state government had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange for special non stop trains to transport the workers.

There are 3.60 lakh workers in 20,826 camps in the southern state and 99 per cent of them, hailing from West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, want to return to their respective states, Vijayan noted.

The Union Home Ministry in an order issued on Wednesday allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people who are stranded in different parts of the country to move to their respective states with certain conditions.

As per the order, buses would be used for transporting the stranded people and these vehicles would be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms on seating.

"There were so many people who wish to leave for their respective states. The distance they have to traverse from the southern state was very long, it would be a tiresome journey to transport them by bus and there was a possiblity of the virus spreading," the Chief Minister said.

"We need to follow certain norms before making arrangements for theirtravel. Not all can leave at the same time. Some workers may show some haste.

Police will look into it. They will be assisted with other health workers," he added.

The state has informed the Centre that strict social distancing norms need to be adhered to during the transportation of workers to their home states, medical teams ensured in each trains and food and water provided in the trains itself.

Meanwhile,violating lockdown norms, at least 100 guest workers took out a march at Malappuram demanding immediate arrangements for their return to their home states.

Holding placards and raising slogans, the workers took out the march at around 10 am today at nearby Chattiparambil bazaardemanding transport facilities to move back to their native as there was no work here.

"We have no problems with regard to our accomodation facilities orfood.

But, our families in our home states are starving and the government should make arrangements for our return", they said.

Several guest workers had assembled in Paippad town in Kottayam district on March 29 urging the state government to arrange vehicles for them to travel to their home destinations in north India.

With the Union Home Ministry deciding to permit the movement of migrant workers to their respective states, all steps would be taken to avoid unnecessary rush and erupting of skirmishes in their midst.

The state Police Chief Loknath Behera has issued directions in this connection to all district police chiefs and assistance of other related departments would also be taken, a press release said.

"All arrangements for the return journey of the workers will soon commence for which they will have to wait for some days and they willbe made to understand this.

Necessary orders have been issued to ensure that no law and order issues erupt due to this, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amanda Warner filed for unemployment in mid-March after it became clear that the job that Warner had lined up at a new food hall in Salem wasnt going to materialize due to the COVID-19 crisis.

But Warner didnt realize that the claim had been accepted until a check arrived in the mail. Amid the confusion, Warner, 23, didnt file for a second week of benefits. A letter soon arrived prompting Warner to fill out a form and contact the Oregon Employment Department to get benefits restarted.

Four weeks later, Warner has yet to receive another check. On Wednesday, Warner called the employment department 60 times but was constantly met with busy signals.

Its frustrating, Warner said. The last of my money is going to be going toward my May rent and my other bills for the month. I think after that, if my budgeting is right, Im going to have $50 left in the bank. I might have some cash stashed around here, maybe another $150. So, Ill have $200 to my name.

Warner is among many Oregon renters who are struggling to scrape together enough money to pay their bills as they wait for financial relief from the state and federal government. Warner will pay May rent after receiving a $1,200 federal stimulus check, but other Oregon tenants will be unable to pay when their rent comes due Friday.

After the vast majority of Portland-area renters managed to pay their rent in April, Adam Couch, a market analyst for RealPage, a company that provides property management software, said there was optimism that the majority of renters would be able to pay their May housing bills as well with unemployment benefits kicking in and federal stimulus checks arriving.

But Oregons delays in processing unemployment claims could cause problems for some renters.

More than 360,000 Oregonians filed unemployment claims over the last month and the Oregon Employment Department says it is paying more than $100 million in claims per week. But the department also accumulated an unprecedented backlog of more than 100,000 unprocessed jobless claims over the first six weeks of the coronavirus outbreak.

The backlog prompted Gov. Kate Brown to issue an apology to Oregonians on Twitter last weekend.

Those words rang hollow to some Oregonians, including Sara Hill. Hill, a bartender and self-employed dancer, managed to receive some relief from unemployment insurance in April for the bartending job that she lost due to the COVID-19 crisis.

But Hill wasnt able to file a claim for the wages she lost as a dancer until Oregon finally began processing claims for self-employed and gig workers Tuesday, a month after Congress expanded unemployment benefits to include those workers. It could take the department between a week and a month to process those claims.

After her partial unemployment benefits started coming through last week, Hill at last managed to pay her April rent. But she said she is only earning about a third of what she made before through the partial benefits and wont have enough money to pay her May rent when it comes due Friday.

Im scared because I dont know when well get to a point where I can work again, Hill said. Do I take the money that I might need for the foreseeable future and give it to my landlord right now? It puts me in a difficult position.

Brown issued a statewide moratorium on residential evictions in March. The order remains in effect until the end of June. But renters still worry that they could be forced out of their homes if they let their bills pile up and are unable to make up deferred rental payments when the moratorium ends.

A spokesman for Browns office said that the governor is aware that further executive or legislative action may be necessary to help Oregonian families and businesses, but Brown has not indicated what actions she will consider.

The uncertainty has left some tenants in a difficult situation.

Stacy Williams, 47, had been receiving unemployment checks until she was offered a job as a shift lead at a homeless shelter in Portland. Williams turned down the job a few days before she was expected to start because she has an autoimmune disorder and was worried about her safety due to the COVID-19 crisis.

While Williams believes she should still be eligible to receive benefits because her decision not to work was related to COVID-19, she has struggled to get through to the employment department. Despite the eviction moratorium, Williams has also received two letters from her property management company requesting that payments be made on time, which has only caused her more anxiety.

With her May rent deadline looming, Williams isnt sure what to do.

Im stuck with a choice, Williams said. Either I feed myself and my dog and keep the lights on or I pay rent. I wont be able to afford groceries, keep the lights on, keep paying the water, sewage and garbage bills, if I pay rent.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A court in Hanoi has upheld jail terms handed to a woman, who pimped her own 13-year-old daughter, and a man who paid over US$1,000 for the girls 'virginity.'

On Tuesday, the Peoples High Court in Hanoi held a closed-door appeal hearing of the case against Nguyen Duc Nhan, a 36-year-old doctor from Hanoi, and Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet from District 6, Ho Chi Minh City.

Tuyet was previously convicted of 'procuring' while Nhan was found guilty of 'molestation of a person under 16' and 'engaging in prostitution with a person under 18' by a court in the capital.

The victim in the case is Tuyets 15-year-old daughter D.K.T.N., who was only 13 years old when the crime took place in 2018.

According to the case files, Tuyet does not have a stable job. Out of desperation for money, Tuyet devised a scheme to pimp her own daughter.

Tuyet used a Facebook account under the name of Dang Thanh Thao to approach potential customers via groups dedicated to the illegal activity of so-called 'virginity trading.'

It was via the platforms that Tuyet connected with Nhan, who was looking for a long-time partner.

Tuyet repeatedly offered Nhan her daughters 'virginity' until he finally accepted the bid at VND25 million (US$1,064).

On November 6, 2018, Nhan picked N. up for sexual conduct and videotaped the encounter.

Later, he went on to blackmail Tuyet and N. using the sex tape to demand regular fornication with N. for VND5 million ($213) a month.

Fearing the situation was getting out of her hand, Tuyet turned herself in to police officers in June 2019, reported Nhans misconduct, and confessed to her wrongdoing.

Judges of the Peoples Court of Hanoi had sentenced Nhan to a total of 57 months in prison, including 15 months for 'molestation of a person under 16' and 42 months for 'engaging in prostitution with a person under 18.'

Meanwhile, Tuyet was handed six years for 'procuring.'

Appearing at the appellate court on Tuesday, both defendants asked to withdraw their appeals against the first ruling.

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Norwich synagogue helps launch foodbank Norwich synagogue helps launch foodbank

The Adat Yeshua Messianic Synagogue and NR2 Community Skill Share in Norwich have launched a foodbank to help feed people who are going hungry because of the Covid-19 crisis.

The foodbank targets residents of the NR2 area which surrounds the synagogue who are needy and vulnerable, many of whom are going hungry during the crisis. There is normally a team of four volunteers on site each day, two from the synagogue community and the two local council volunteers.



Each day (apart from Saturday) the foodbank is open for one hour, noon til 1pm and it offers the full range of food items and other sundry household items. No charge is made for anything. The project gets deliveries from the central food hub in Norwich, plus many donations from local people who just want to support this vital work. All relevant social distancing and hygiene requirements are in place and the foodbank is registered with the local council as a food outlet.



Rabbi Binyamin Sheldrake, who leads the Synagogue, said: The foodbank is in an integral part of our mission and vision for the area the Lord has placed us in. Regardless of the virus crisis we would have set up this foodbank, but the timing of the opening has met the needs of the area perfectly.

Factfile
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Sadraddin Agjayev - Trend:

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) led to a global economic crisis falling under the Black Swan theory, that is, it became difficult to predict phenomenons with impressive influence, and changed the situation in politics, economics and businesses in almost all countries, Manager of the Enterprise Azerbaijan portal Oruj Dursunzade said, Trend reports citing the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC).

With the advent of the COVID-19, we saw the first changes in the behavior of consumers and manufacturers. Technology and other companies began to work remotely. These changes are an urgent and compelled reaction to the epidemiological crisis, after which everything will return to their places, Dursunzade noted.

However, the activities of some companies using high-tech tools may continue in subsequent years. A pandemic will change the parameters of companies competitiveness. We can be sure that in the near future there will be a large number of high-tech organizations that meet the requirements of a new era, he stressed.

If we look at the projects implemented on the development of startups and innovations during the pandemic in Azerbaijan, we can predict the appearance of many different innovative solutions. Based on the decree of the Azerbaijani president, an innovative strategy of the country is being developed that will meet modern requirements. Moreover, according to changes in the Tax Code, start-ups that are subjects of micro or small business in Azerbaijan and act as legal entities are exempt from income tax in the field of innovation for a period of three years from the date of receipt of the Startap certificate, Dursunzade said.

As early as 2020, the State Employment Service under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population began to provide material support for the development of innovative projects and alternative labor within self-employment program. As part of this program, Enterprise Azerbaijan closely cooperates with the aforementioned service, he added.

Azerbaijan is one of the leading countries of the world in the field of reforms and digitalization of the public and private sectors. The sustainability of reforms implemented in this sector will further improve Azerbaijans business environment and contribute to a flexible response to the challenges of highly competitive international projects, said the manager.

A project to apply an amnesty of capital and property is considering in Azerbaijan. This project can have a positive impact on the ecosystem of startups and innovations in our country. The period after the pandemic promises the opening of new opportunities for participants of this ecosystem in Azerbaijan, creation of innovative investment funds, local and alternative sources of financing, start-up lending, as well as new financial and technological tools, Dursunzade noted.

It is difficult to predict how the world will look in the future, especially the economies of individual countries. Although its safe to say that active and flexible companies will have more opportunities. Now it is very important to monitor and identify new trends and requirements, because it is impossible to say exactly when the pandemic will end and potential opportunities will appear. Crises are cyclical and do not last forever, but they are a good test for startup projects in terms of intellectual power and economic endurance, he added.

The main task of entrepreneurs, in particular, startuppers, is to get out of it with the minimal losses and introduce more innovative and relevant solutions for successful development in the future, the portals manager said.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: agdzhaev
Nine members of a family were quarantined after a newlywed couple returned from Ghaziabad to Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district in an ambulance in the guise of patients, police said on Thursday.

The groom, bride and their seven family members were quarantined at their home in Khatauli, the police said.

A case has registered against the ambulance driver who allegedly brought the couple on Wednesday, the police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TORONTO - Harm reduction workers battling Ontario's opioid crisis say COVID-19 is making the situation worse, as police and public health officials in Toronto report a spike in overdoses and related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - Harm reduction workers battling Ontario's opioid crisis say COVID-19 is making the situation worse, as police and public health officials in Toronto report a spike in overdoses and related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Nick Boyce, of the Ontario Harm Reduction Network, said the dramatic measures that have been implemented to slow the spread of the new coronavirus are limiting drug users' access to support services that help prevent overdose deaths.

"We have these two crises where you have the drug crisis intersecting now with another serious public health crisis and the most marginalized folks are the ones bearing the brunt," he said. "Their access to any sort of supports has been significantly reduced, if not eliminated."

Boyce said the restrictive measures have also increased the risk of overdose for people consuming illegal drugs in isolation.

Toronto Public Health said data from the city's paramedic service for March and preliminary figures for April show a spike in suspected overdoses and deaths.

In March, there were 345 suspected opioid overdose calls and 19 deaths. The preliminary figures between April 1 and 26 show there were 300 suspected overdose calls and 20 deaths. On March 31 alone, the paramedic service said it responded to 25 overdose calls.

Toronto police said that between April 23 and 27 they had received numerous calls to respond to drug overdoses in the city's downtown core. Officers used the overdose reversing drug naloxone in a number of cases, but still two people died.

Public health said the overdose deaths are the highest they've been since March 2019 when 22 people died. Overdose deaths in the city had declined throughout 2019, according to public health's statistics, with six overdose deaths reported in September. But the figures began to bump back up at the start of 2020, with 15 deaths reported in January.

Toronto's associate medical officer of health acknowledged that there were concerns the anti-pandemic measures would further limit responses to the opioid crisis.

"This is very concerning and underscores the critical need for life-saving supervised consumption services in our community," Dr. Rita Shahin said in a statement.

After the new coronavirus was declared a pandemic on March 11, supervised consumption sites were forced to curtail their hours, with one site in downtown Toronto closing for weeks.

The sites changed their layouts, installed barriers, and now serve fewer clients at a time or by appointment to observe physical distancing. Staff are using personal protective gear while meeting with clients, even during street outreach.

Peter Leslie, a harm reduction worker in Regent Park, said the sites' new setups and the look of workers clad in PPE is upsetting for many clients.

"People take that personally, like, 'Oh my God, they must think I have something'," said Leslie, who is a substance user himself and spent seven years living on the streets. "That's the mentality you have when you're on the street because you feel like you're dirty."

Jennifer Ko, a front-line worker at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre, said in the current environment it is difficult to establish and maintain trust with clients with so many physical barriers.

Normally, harm reduction workers would ease clients into change, but there has been no time, she said.

"It feels terrible for workers to not be offering the robust services that we usually do," she said. "We can't engage in the kind of relationship building and support that we often do and to also then wonder about the folks that we're not seeing that we normally see."

Jason Altenberg, the CEO of the South Riverdale Community Health Centre, said the pandemic safety messaging directly contradicts strategies harm reduction workers have used to help drug users.

Where people are being told to stay home and physically distance themselves from others to fight the virus, substance users have been told for years never to use alone.

"My harm reduction team is trying to educate people who use drugs how to stay safe from COVID-19 and somehow balance that message with the overdose prevention messages that we provide," he said.

Altenberg said the volume of visitors to the city's Moss Park site is down by approximately half in a six hour shift  from 100 visits to about 50. Volumes at the South Riverdale site are down by 25 per cent, he estimates.

He said advocates have been asking governments to expand access to safe supply of drugs to help stem the tide of overdoses during the pandemic.

"It would allow people to potentially get off of the street fentanyl that is so toxic," he said, adding it could also help some people move towards treatment. "Our immediate concern really is (stopping) the preventable deaths that seem to be increasing in this moment."

Gillian Kolla of the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society and a researcher at the University of Toronto pointed out that British Columbia moved to further open access to safe supply early in the pandemic.

"People who were using the illicit drug supply would then have access to a pharmaceutical known drug supply that could maybe help reduce the risk both of overdose and of COVID," she said.

A spokeswoman for Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said the government is not currently considering expanding safe supply.

"It's also important to note that the ministry continues to fund and support all 16 Consumption and Treatment Services sites across the province," Hayley Chazan said, adding that Ontario is providing $12 million in emergency funding to the mental health and addictions sector.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2020.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers at Western and Suncor are teaming up to use algae as a way to produce serological test kits for COVID-19  a new process that overcomes shortfalls of existing processes while saving money.

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry PhD candidates Daniel Giguere and Sam Slattery are developing algae as a production factory to make necessary proteins to identify COVID-19 antibodies in someone previously infected with the disease.

"We are using a microalgae that shows a lot of promise for not only producing the protein needed, but producing it with the correct modifications to mimic how it's made in humans" Giguere said of the Mitacs-backed project.

Slattery added, "We are leveraging our in-house expertise and technology to rapidly produce the proteins and validate their effectiveness as a testing reagent."

One of the limiting factors in developing large-scale serological testing is the ability to make significant quantities of the viral proteins on a cost-effective basis.

Current tests rely on proteins made in reagents such as insect or mammalian cells which are expensive and difficult to scale. Algae are cheap to grow and can easily be engineered to produce the viral proteins.

"The synthetic biology group at Western has been developing genetic tools for algae that are proving their utility," explained Dave Edgell, who serves as co-principal investigator with fellow Biochemistry researchers Bogumil Karas and Greg Gloor.

Martin Flatley, Suncor senior staff engineer based in Sarnia, said the funding has enabled the team to significantly speed up the production process, with test kits expected on the market in a couple of months.

"We already had the equipment, expertise and access to the Western bio-safety lab. We thought, 'How can we use what we developed together to fight COVID-19?" Flatley said. "It's a great feeling knowing that we're doing this for the benefit of all Canadians."

Mitacs is a nonprofit national research organization that, in partnerships with Canadian academia, private industry and government, operates research and training programs in fields related to industrial and social innovation.

The Western-Suncor funding is part of an announcement that Mitacs is partnering with Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to expedite the approval process and leverage funding for COVID-19-related research projects.

Explore further Mass production of COVID-19 test systems
The COVID-19 pandemic spreading worldwide is a crisis for all human beings that needs to be addressed with courage and quick response in solidarity.

However, some U.S. politicians including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are reacting with inexplicable excitement out of their political motives, totally ignoring the human tragedy happening in their country exacerbated by the spiking death numbers.

Pompeo fabricated lies to attack China on multiple occasions, because he just hopes to sell his aggressive and dangerous China policy, even at the price of peoples lives, when the pandemic is causing psychological impacts on the American society.

Analysts in the U.S. pointed out that Pompeo did nothing to respond to the pandemic, but spent most of his energy on accusing China, repeatedly using the term possibility to spread lies to attack China and confuse the public.

It was commented by the media that the top U.S. diplomat has brought a total disgrace, as well as a loss of international credibility to his country. He made up lies that the virus was leaked from a Wuhan lab, instigated other countries to claim compensations from China, and hyped the so-called non-transparency of Chinas epidemic data.

Those who tracked Pompeos open remarks during the COVID-19 pandemic believe that the proportion of lies in his speeches has broken world record. Scott Ritter, a former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer said on news site Russia Today that the U.S. intelligence had been used to support the groundless theory that Iraq housed weapons of mass destruction, and those who have knowledge of this would dread many of Pompeos remarks.

Facing the health crisis, China has always been open, transparent and responsible. It takes the most comprehensive, strict and thorough containment measures with all-out efforts to curb the spread of the virus, and is actively engaged in international cooperation. Chinas efforts and role are conspicuous.

On the contrary, Pompeos immoral remarks would only cost the international credibility for the U.S. and make his country a butt of joke.

He was opposed by Americas allies at a previous G7 foreign ministers' meeting when associating the novel coronavirus with China. Some European diplomats told media that Pompeos requests had touched the red line, and Europe would never agree with this branding of this virus and trying to communicate this.

Former U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice gave a more explicit comment, saying Pompeos practices were shameful. She stressed the reality that viruses can arise in any corner of the globe, then spread to any corner of the globe.

The arrogance that ignores justice, the practices that stir up troubles, as well as the tricks that sow discords are the prominent labels placed by Pompeo on American diplomacy. The typical Pompeo-style diplomatic provocation once again exposed itself when the U.S. high-ranking official groundlessly slandered the World Health Organizations (WHO) lately. The international society opposed the U.S. defunding to the WHO, but Pompeo went farther, saying the organization needs a fundamental reform and the U.S. may never restore funding to the UN body.

Such practices conducted when the world is undergoing a global public health crisis are nothing but a heavy blow to international cooperation. Magazine The American Conservative said in an article titled A Failed Secretary Of State that the only thing that seems to interest Pompeo is in affixing blame to and scoring points against other states. It noted that his tenure has been defined by issuing lots of unrealistic ultimatums and flinging lots of undiplomatic insults. Neither of those is useful or constructive, especially in an emergency like this one, the article added.

"One wonders whether he's Secretary of State or Secretary of Hate," remarked Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

However, Pompeos awkward show is not as simple as a game. The top U.S. diplomats lies and vicious remarks obviously damage the international cooperation to fight the pandemic. Every lagged effort in the global public health crisis would jeopardize peoples lives.

Thomas Countryman, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State called Pompeos practices bad policy. He believes that strengthening the capability of all countries to cooperate on information exchange and best practices will save American lives.

Pompeos dark mentality to stop China-America cooperation on pandemic control and strengthen the confrontation against China has sounded an alarm for China-U.S. relations. As a matter of fact, many international observers have pointed out that the healthy and stable development of the international order is facing severe challenges as the U.S. focuses almost all of its national security strategies on major country competition.

No one knows how much longer Pompeos virus-like diplomacy will last. The visionary from the international society noted that Americas enemy is the virus, and attacking the other countries will only lead to more deaths.

To stop making troubles for and disturbing global solidarity, and to practically enhance global cooperation on pandemic control is to assume responsibility for the Americans and people around the world. It remains the only right path.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)
In the days following the capture of an American contractor in Afghanistan earlier this year, Navy commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network while the U.S. intelligence community tried to track the cellphones of the man and his captors, The Associated Press has learned.

While the circumstances surrounding the abduction remain unclear, the previously unreported operation described by multiple American officials over the past month shed new light on early efforts to locate Mark R. Frerichs. The disappearance several months ago of the contractor from Illinois has been shrouded in mystery, and the case has been the subject of minimal public discussion by the U.S. government.

The new details emerge as violence and political infighting in Kabul threaten to scuttle a Taliban peace deal with the United States. Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced frustrations after a failed attempt to mediate a power struggle between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

Washington has urged Kabul to release Taliban prisoners, which is part of the peace agreement.

But there are no indications Frerichs, a Navy veteran, has been part of negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban leadership, or that his release is part of any peace deal.

The Taliban kidnapped my brother in January. In February, the U.S. signed a peace deal with the Taliban. My brother wasnt part of the deal. Now we are arranging for the Taliban and Afghan government to exchange thousands of prisoners, Charlene Cakora, one of Frerichs sisters, said in an emailed statement to the AP. Why cant we make an American hostage be one of them?

Frerichs father, Art, said in a statement that though he has faith in President Donald Trump and Pompeo, I just need them to tell their people negotiating with the Taliban that America wont lift a finger until my son comes home. Hes a veteran. This is America. We dont leave people behind.

The Pentagon and U.S. Special Operations Command declined to comment. The rescue effort is being coordinated through the FBI-led Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which said in a statement that it was working with its partners to ensure that Mark Frerichs and all Americans held hostage abroad are returned home. It urged anyone with information to come forward.

The State Department said it was aware of an American whod been abducted in Afghanistan and that the welfare, safety and security of Americans is the Trump Administrations highest priority."

A former U.S. national security official who is advising the Frerichs family said he specifically urged Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to resolve the situation and bring Frerichs home. The former national security official insisted on anonymity to speak candidly since the official works with the Trump administration.

U.S. officials believe Frerichs, 57, of Lombard, Illinois, was held for at least some time in Khost, an eastern province along the border with Pakistan and its so-called tribal regions, a mountainous area that has historically been a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

The former national security official said that Frerichs has been in Afghanistan for about a decade working on commercial projects and was not a U.S. government contractor.

Though no formal demands are known to have been made, U.S. intelligence officials believe Frerichs was captured by members of the Haqqani network, a militant group that is aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan and that was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012.

Though the Haqqanis are known to carry out assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, Taliban leadership has not acknowledged Frerichs capture.

Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and Army veteran who led the teams that searched for Bowe Bergdahl after the Army soldier abandoned his post and wound up captured by the Taliban, said the Taliban frequently hides American hostages until they can move them over the border into Pakistan.

He said he had real concerns about suggestions that the Taliban are serious about peace."

The SEALs involved in the Frerichs effort had spent late January working to recover the bodies of two American service members who died when their aircraft crash-landed in Ghazni in central Afghanistan, according to the senior U.S. government official.

The bitter winter weather that limited overhead surveillance of the airplane wreckage by U.S. military drones also worked against officials during the later SEAL operation on the night of Feb. 3. Periods of poor-to-nonexistent visibility ultimately delayed a planned intelligence-gathering operation on a known Taliban location, said the senior U.S. government official.

Once the weather cleared, the SEALs loaded onto helicopters and flew to the undisclosed location. The senior official declined to disclose the exact location of the province for operational security reasons.

The senior U.S. government official and the Defense Department source with knowledge of the raid, who also requested anonymity, said the SEAL platoon was not met with Taliban resistance and that once at the compound, they detained several alleged Haqqani militants and uncovered a weapons cache.

The suspected Haqqani members were questioned about Frerichs whereabouts and were ultimately turned over to the Afghan government, according to the senior U.S. government official.

On Feb. 4, American intelligence officials received a report that Frerichs had possibly been moved to Quetta, Pakistan, a historical safe haven for the Taliban, the two officials said. But the information was deemed not credible enough to warrant a special operations mission, according to the senior U.S. government official.

The report also conflicted with signals intelligence  information gathered from electronic signals broadcast from devices like portable radios and cellphones  that U.S. officials had at the time.

U.S. intelligence officials continued to receive location pings from the suspected cellphones of Frerichs and his captors, but the trail went cold on Feb. 5, according to the senior U.S. government and Defense Department officials.

Operationally, the reason why time is critical in a kidnapping is because you can close the distance quicker, ideally immediately or by utilizing sources, said the senior U.S. government official. This is not the case right now. He could be two houses down from where he was taken and we would not know.
DALLAS, April 30, 2020 -- Treatment for heart failure should take into consideration a patient's social determinants of health - their overall living environment, socio-economic status, as well as the needs of unpaid family caregivers, according to two new scientific statements from the American Heart Association, published simultaneously today in the Association's flagship journal Circulation.

Heart failure, which affects 6.5 million Americans, is a slow, progressive disease in which the heart does not pump blood effectively. Although there is no cure, people with heart failure can live full lives with the help of medication, lifestyle changes and social support. Caregivers are needed as the disease progresses and when an individual is no longer able to manage the activities of daily living or complex medical regimens.

The scientific statement, "Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Care of Patients with Heart Failure," provides an overview of scientific research that demonstrates how the county where a patient lives, personal and social factors, such as insurance status, disability status, race, ethnicity and income inequality, may impact patients from receiving state-of-the-art care for their heart failure.

"Patients who don't have insurance coverage, enough to eat, struggle with transportation, don't have a safe place to be physically active, can't afford medications and/or have less education and/or insurance coverage may have significantly poorer heart failure outcomes, compared to people who don't experience those factors," said Connie White-Williams, Ph.D., R.N., chair of the statement writing committee, senior director of Nursing Services and the Heart Failure Transitional Care Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. "It's important that we ask patients about the life issues and challenges they may be facing; these issues have a direct impact on the patient's ability to adhere to any care plan."

To help overcome non-medical barriers to effective care for people with heart failure, the statement suggests a best practice scenario where an interprofessional health care team works together to support the patients, their families and caregivers. This support should address the numerous life challenges that can impact health outcomes, such as the patient's living situation, caregiver availability, ability to pay for medications and how well a patient and their caregiver understand medical information.

"Addressing social determinants of health can be resource-intensive, and many clinical practices do not have the resources nor are they set up to deal with these challenges. However, when nurses, physicians, social workers, pharmacists and mental health professionals work together, an effective plan of care can be designed to keep heart failure patients healthier and out of the hospital," White-Williams said. "This is a model we should be working towards implementing whenever possible."

The statement urges health care providers to routinely discuss a heart failure patient's overall living situation to identify challenges that affect their medical care. Whenever possible, health care providers should:

assist patients seeking insurance coverage, financial assistance, affordable housing or employment;

present health information in formats tailored to meet each individual's language, level of education and health literacy;

support nurse-led collaborative clinics that assist patients in becoming better stewards of their own health;

use medication access programs to help provide drugs out of patients' financial reach; and

partner with local food banks to help provide groceries to food-insecure patients.

"Recognizing the importance of social determinants of health is a critical first step toward getting health systems engaged in developing approaches to mitigate the many adverse consequences of these factors in different settings," said White-Williams.

A related scientific statement, "Family Caregiving for Individuals with Heart Failure" presents an overview of the challenges faced by unpaid family members who serve as caregivers for patients with heart failure.

Because heart failure is a progressive disease with alternating periods of stability, caregiver demands change over time. Following an initial diagnosis of heart failure, caregivers may need to provide emotional support to help patients cope with their heart failure diagnosis, potential social isolation and loss of independence.

As the disease progresses, patients often need help with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, toileting, dressing, medication adherence and navigating the health care system. In advanced heart failure, caregivers are often engaged to assist with management of intensive care therapies such as mechanical circulatory support that would previously have been undertaken by health care professionals in clinical settings.

"There is a critical need for health care providers to clearly understand the demands of caregiving and how these change throughout the trajectory of heart failure. Development of tools to screen and identify caregivers who are at high risk for depression and distress are also needed," said Lisa Kitko, Ph.D., R.N., chair of the family caregiving writing committee, and associate professor and associate dean of graduate education at the Pennsylvania State University College of Nursing in University Park, Pennsylvania.

"It is also important to assess caregiver capabilities, including their motivation to provide care; their physical, sensory, motor and cognitive ability to perform required tasks; their level of distress and depression. This includes making referrals to obtain supportive services, such as counseling and respite care on behalf of the caregiver," said Kitko.

Health care providers should include caregivers when working with the patient to make difficult decisions, such as whether to surgically implant medical devices designed to help the heart pump more effectively or deciding when it is time to deactivate these devices and progress to palliative or hospice care. "Palliative and/or hospice care providers may also have resources to support caregivers," said Kitko.

It is estimated that caregivers spend an average of 22 hours per week caring for patients with heart failure, and thus, they play an integral and instrumental role in providing care. Unpaid caregivers often experience loss of income, benefits and career opportunities, which can be financially burdensome to the entire family. These costs may be disproportionately borne by older adults, women and persons in underserved race/ethnic groups already at higher risk for financial insecurity.

In addition to the financial costs, significantly higher physical and psychological health risks, such as social isolation and disruption of outside relationships, have been observed among people caring for family members with chronic illnesses such as heart failure.

"In our current health care system, there is a lack of incentives for clinicians to evaluate caregiver needs and offer direct support.

The largest barrier is the lack of payment and reimbursement mechanisms that would allow clinicians to provide direct support to caregivers," said Kitko. "Other barriers include a lack of systematic mechanisms to identify caregivers and make referrals for those with the highest distress and unmet needs; medical record systems that can accommodate caregiver assessment, intervention and tracking; limited funding for community-based agencies that provide caregiver services; minimal time for clinical interactions with patients, which limits the ability address caregiver concerns or distress; and lack of clear guidelines for caregiver support provision."

###

The scientific statement, "Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Care of Patients with Heart Failure," was written on behalf of the American Heart Association's Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. Co-authors are Laura P. Rossi, Ph.D., vice chair; Vera A. Bittner, M.D., M.S.P.H.; Andrea Driscoll, Ph.D., N.P.; Raegan W. Durant, M.D., M.P.H.; Bradi B. Granger, Ph.D., R.N.; Lucinda J. Graven, Ph.D., M.S.N.; Lisa Kitko, Ph.D., R.N.; Kim Newlin, A.N.P., C.N.S.; Maria Shirey, Ph.D., M.B.A., R.N.

The scientific statement "Family Caregiving for Individuals with Heart Failure" was written on behalf of the American Heart Association's Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. Co-authors are Colleen K. McIlvennan, D.N.P., A.N.P., vice chair; Julie T. Bidwell, Ph.D., R.N.; J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, Ph.D., R.N.; Shannon M. Dunlay, M.D., M.S.; Lisa M. Lewis, Ph.D., R.N.; Ginny Meadows, M.S.H.I., R.N.-B.C.; Elisabeth L.P. Sattler, Ph.D., R.Ph.; Richard Schulz, Ph.D.; and Anna Stromberg, Ph.D.

Author disclosures are in the manuscripts.

The Association receives funding primarily from individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Every day, MySA.com compiles the latest headlines and helpful links on the COVID-19 pandemic in the San Antonio area.

More deaths: San Antonio officials reported 48 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths on Thursday. The new cases brought the total for Bexar County to 1,374 since the start of the pandemic.

There might finally be reason to take heart: Bexar County could be over its peak of infections, officials say. Among the signs: a sustained decline in demand for tests.

San Antonio stay-home to be extended: New San Antonio and Bexar County stay-at-home orders will extend through May 19, with leaders saying the updated provisions are designed to ensure a high level of protection from the novel coronavirus as the area eases into Gov. Greg Abbotts Open Texas plan.

Jail numbers jump: A total of 98 inmates at the Bexar County jail have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Wednesday.

That number represents an increase of 34 cases. Officials noted that the new cases were discovered as the jail conducts mass testing in partnership with University Health System and the San Antonio Fire Department.

Forty detention deputies at the jail have tested positive.

Mask decontamination begins in S.A.: A decontamination company is setting up operations in San Antonio with a federal contract to disinfect up to 80,000 N95 face masks a day for area hospitals, nursing homes and first responders who need them most.

Texas doesn't meet standards for reopening: Gov. Greg Abbott's top medical adviser said that Texas has not met all the benchmarks to reopen and said the state will have to work hard in the coming days to boost testing and train people to track down the contacts of those infected, to slow the spread of the virus.

Hospital numbers drop, but more die: The number of new confirmed cases and people in the hospital with COVID-19 in Bexar County continue to drop as San Antonio continues working on a plan to reopen businesses in phases, but two more deaths were reported on Wednesday during Mayor Nirenberg's nightly address.

Why one zip code has among the most COVID-19 cases in S.A.: San Antonio and Bexar County's daily report of COVID-19 cases includes a break down of surveillance by zip codes, which shows the heart of the West Side has one of the highest counts of infected patients.

COVID-19 Tracker: Interactive maps track coronavirus cases in San Antonio, Texas counties and the U.S.

THE GOOD NEWSLETTER: A weekly dose of inspiring San Antonio stories, delivered to your inbox
30 April 2020 For Immediate Release

Anglo African Agriculture plc

("AAA" or the "Company")

Result of Annual General Meeting

At the Annual General Meeting of Anglo African Agriculture plc ("AAA" or the "Company") held earlier today, 30 April 2020, all resolutions were passed. These were as follows:

1. To receive the accounts for the period ended 31 October 2019, together with the report of the directors and auditors.

2. To re-elect David Lenigas as a director.

3. To re-elect Robert Scott as a director.

4. To reappoint Jeffreys Henry LLP as auditors of the Company

5. To authorise the directors to determine the auditors' remuneration.

6. To approve the directors' remuneration report.

7. To authorise the directors to allot shares.

8. To dis-apply pre-emption rights.

9. To permit the Company to hold general meetings (other than its AGM) on 14 clear days' notice.

Resolution 8 was decided as a poll vote, results are below:

RESOLUTION VOTES FOR % OF VOTES CAST VOTES AGAINST % OF VOTES CAST VOTES CAST IN TOTAL TOTAL VOTES CAST AS A % OF ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL VOTES WITHHELD 8 5,828,651 93.5% 404,549 6.5% 6,233,200 32.1% 0

The full text of the resolutions can be found in the Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 7 April 2020 on the Company's website at www.aaaplc.com.

For further information please contact:
C ongratulations Boris and Carrie! Your son born yesterday reminds us that, for all the worries about coronavirus, and for all Boris being the most powerful person in the country, at heart, you are just two ordinary people having the most sacred experience you can have on Earth, bringing forth new life.

By any normal standards, babies shouldnt be born at Downing Street, for the obvious reason that Prime Ministers are often far too old and grizzled. Churchill was 76 when he returned to Downing Street his last time and Gladstone 82. Most are well over 60, as are their spouses. The only births on Prime Ministers have on their minds are their grandchildren and splashy policy initiatives.

Boris Junior though isnt the only child to be part of the Downing Street Babies Club in the 21st century: every inhabitant of Number 10 besides Theresa May had a young child either just before or soon after becoming Prime Minister. What can the latest addition of Number 10 expect?

Blair was the first to break the baby mould when his son Leo was born in May 2000, the first child to be born to the wife of a serving Prime Minister in over 150 years. Gordon Brown recalls his two sons viewing Number 10 much like a playground: his eldest, James Fraser, once seized the controls of the intercom system and told the staff they could leave for home. It was 3pm. Florence, the youngest David Camerons family, would regularly be seen riding through Downing Street on a pink scooter with a matching helmet. There was no distinction between home and work areas for the Cameron children, climbing across the furniture of the Cabinet Room and scrambling on a chair used by Churchill, as Cameron reveals in his memoirs.

Number 10 becomes part of the children, but they also become part of Number 10. Staff would regularly see Florence around the house as she would visit her favourite members of staff (surprise, surprise those who had sweets). Kate Fall, Camerons Deputy Chief of Staff, recalls that when the Camerons had to quit in June 2016, Florence attached herself to the railings in protest saying she didnt want to go. Nancy Cameron, on a school trip in France at the time, had to return early after her fathers resignation meeting with the Queen had been fixed. Indignant, she asked, cant you tell the Queen to do it another day?

Number 10 is both an office and a home, so it means the Prime Minister is never too far from his young family  something he will definitely appreciate. As Brown recounts, it allowed him to watch his children grow up without missing out. Two weeks ago, Boris was fighting for his life, and now he has given new life. His experience with the NHS has changed him forever. So too will Boris Jr.
MADISON, Wis., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rural Mutual Insurance Company and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation have established the Wisconsin Food and Farm Support Fund to raise money for established non-profits that can help Wisconsinites during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative brings together two additional key partners, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Under the campaign each entity is taking a focus on a different need.

"We wanted to do something on a state-level that would not only help people in need but also our farmers," said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President and Rural Mutual Insurance President Joe Bragger. "In order to provide help in a variety of ways, each entity took one initiative to focus on so that we could assist a larger base of people."

Rural Mutual Insurance will focus on collecting funds for Feeding Wisconsin. Feeding Wisconsin is the statewide association of the Feeding America food banks that sources, warehouses, and provides food to over 750 affiliated agencies and 1,000 local food programs throughout the state.

"Over the past six weeks, demand at the local food pantries have more than doubled, but the donations to the pantries have slowed to half of their normal collections," said Rural Mutual VP Customer Acquisition and Service Jason Feist. "We wanted to partner with an organization that would keep supplies moving while helping families in need."

This effort will include Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the non-profit organization representing the state's dairy farm families, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Through the joint effort, the partners will work on connecting processors to make dairy-specific donations. The partnership will provide movement/consumption of milk and other Wisconsin agriculture products to ensure farmers continue to have a place to sell their products, and provide Wisconsinites access to these nutritious, high-quality products. DATCP will also continue its work to connect dots with producers in a variety of other commodities. This will not only benefit the state's farmers by keeping product moving, but also help feed Wisconsinites in need. Producers, processors, and distributors of non-dairy commodities who are interested in finding ways to get their products to consumers experiencing food insecurity should contact DATCP by emailing [email protected].

Since the Safer at Home order, Wisconsin dairy farmers, processors and communities have joined forces to provide more than 10 million pounds of dairy products on a milk equivalency basis (representing more than 1.2 million gallons of milk) to the state's growing number of individuals in need of assistance.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau will focus on collecting funds and create awareness for Harvest of Hope. Harvest of Hope provides financial help to Wisconsin farm families in times of need. The Harvest of Hope Fund provides grants to farm families who need financial assistance to meet emergency needs for food, home heating fuel, medical or veterinary expenses, electric power cut-offs, climatic conditions (drought, floods, frost, hail), feed for cattle, machinery repair, retraining or other immediate situations. Funding is also available to purchase seed, fertilizer, fuel, and other supplies needed.

"It's been a tough climate for our state's farmers the last five years, and now we have been hit by unannounced pandemic," said WFBF's Interim Chief Administrative Officer Dave Daniels. "Harvest of Hope is a unique organization that grants money to farmers who need assistance in unprecedented times. It's an appropriate time to support this well-respected organization."

Learn more about the Wisconsin Food and Farm Support Fund by visiting ruralmutual.com/about/donations or wfbf.com/wisconsin-food-and-farm-support-fund.

Rural Mutual Insurance Company has been protecting Wisconsin for 85 years. As an AM Best A+ Superior company, Rural Mutual provides a full line of insurance products exclusively to families, businesses and farms in Wisconsin. The company is headquartered in Madison, WI with over 150 local agents across the state. For more information, visit RuralMutual.com.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization and is made up of 61 county Farm Bureaus. WFBF represents farms of every size, commodity and management style. For more information, visit wfbf.com .

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin represents Wisconsin farm families and works to increase the sale and consumption of Wisconsin milk and dairy products, as well as build trust in dairy farmers and the industry. For more information, visit wisconsindairy.org.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is responsible for inspecting food businesses and lodging and recreational facilities, working with counties to assist farmers in protecting the state's environmental resources, protecting animal health, promoting Wisconsin products at home and abroad, and enforcing Wisconsin's consumer protection laws. For more information, visit datcp.wi.gov.

Feeding Wisconsin is the state association of the six regional Feeding America food banks that provide food to more than 1,000 local food programs in all 72 counties of the state. Together, we provide 50 million meals annually to over 550,000 people in every corner of our state. For more information, visit feedingwi.org.

SOURCE Rural Mutual Insurance Company

Related Links

www.RuralMutual.com


SIOUX CITY -- Registering triple-digit increases in COVID-19 cases for the second straight day, metro Sioux City skyrocketed to the top of the nation's cornonovirus hot spots.

The surge came as local public health officials, for the first time, appeared to link much of the outbreak to the 4,300-employee Tyson Fresh Meats beef plant in Dakota City, Nebraska.

Woodbury County reported 129 new confirmed cases Friday, a single-day high that raised the county's total to 287. Dakota County, which disclosed 133 new infections on Thursday, added 29 more Friday, hiking its total to 295.

Counting three other smaller counties in the metropolitan statistical area, the metro's positive tests hit 601 Friday. Just a week earlier, there were just over 50 cases.

Local health officials warned the numbers likely will continue to rise in the coming days as the resulted of stepped up testing for the virus.

The rapid escalation landed the metro area at the top of the The New York Times' list of the U.S. cities with the highest daily growth rate. Metro Sioux City's cases have been doubling every day or so, according to the Times data.

"Communities with a lot of cases and a high growth rate are on track to have a serious problem," the Times wrote. "A high growth rate on top of a large number of cases means that a still larger number of people are on track to become ill or die."

There has been one COVID-19-related death, a Sioux City man who worked at the Tyson facility, the company's largest beef plant. Tyson has confirmed that some workers have tested positive for the virus but have refused to provided a number.

For several days, local and state officials also have sidestepped questions about the plant and have gone out of their way not to even talk about the meat giant, citing state health care privacy laws. In a statement late Friday, though, Siouxland District Health, which serves Woodbury County, acknowledged that "a significant majority of the people in our community who have tested positive work in another state in industries that are particularly hard hit by COVID-19, or are close contacts of these workers."

"Siouxland District Health Department is not able to disclose the name of the business where these individuals are employed at this time," the statement said. "We are working to get the percentage of the current cases that are associated with this industry, and will have a better number when the contact tracing of all the new cases from today has been completed."

District health officials attributed part of the reason in the the sharp rise in infections to a "significant increase" in testing for the virus.

"As the testing increases, more confirmed cases are identified which require follow up, and may also call for more needed testing of contacts of the current cases," the department said in the statement. "This is a cycle that will likely continue for the near future and we anticipate seeing testing numbers, and confirmed cases, continue to increase."

Citing the increased testing, Siouxland District Health said Friday it will no longer provide daily reports on the gender and age range of the new cases.

A total of 1,347 tests have been performed in Woodbury County. Of the 287 confirmed cases, 30 patients have recovered. Seven remain hospitalized while five have been discharged from the hospital.

Dakota County Health Department is not providing data on the number of county residents who are hospitalized or have recovered from the virus.

Several other Siouxland counties recorded increases in their COVID-19 numbers Friday.

In southeastern South Dakota, Union County, part Sioux City metro, reported 3 news cases, raising its total to 11. Six have active infections, five have recovered and one was hospitalized, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

In Northwest Iowa, Cherokee County recorded a second case, according to data from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Dickinson and Crawford counties each recorded new case, raising Dickinson's total to four and Crawford's to eight. Ida and Sac are the only Northwest Iowa counties with no new cases.

Statewide, Iowa recorded an additional 521 cases of the virus Friday, bringing the state's total to 4,445, though this figure does not include all of Woodbury County's infections. Eleven more deaths attributed to the virus were reported Friday, bringing the state's death toll to 107.

South Dakota has a total of 2,040 cases of the virus, 1,190 of whom have recovered. Sixty-one people in the state are currently hospitalized, and 10 have died. The vast majority of the state's COVID-19 cases are concentrated in Minnehaha County, which has 1,707 cases, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Friday reported a statewide COVID-19 tally of 2,421. The state's figures, which does not include all of Dakota Countys cases, continues to list Dakota as the fourth most-impacted county in the state, behind Hall, Douglas and Dawson counties. Fifty deaths associated with the virus have been recorded in the Cornhusker state.

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Marc Ching, an animal rights advocate seen here in 2015, has agreed to stop pitching an herbal supplement as a remedy for COVID-19. (Angela Weiss)

Marc Ching is founder of the Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation, which focuses on rescuing abused dogs and cats. He runs the PetStaurant, a purveyor of natural healing products for critters, with stores in Sherman Oaks and West Los Angeles.

And according to the Federal Trade Commission, Ching, 41, has been illegally selling an herbal supplement he claimed could treat COVID-19.

Not just that. He was accused by the FTC of making unsubstantiated claims that several other products sold by his Sherman Oaks supplements company, Whole Leaf Organics, can treat cancer.

These latter products feature CBD, or cannabidiol, a compound in marijuana that doesn't get you high but is said to have unproven health benefits.

Ching agreed this week to a preliminary order from the FTC barring him from claiming any product sold by his company "treats, prevents or reduces the risk of COVID-19; or treats cancer; or cures, mitigates or treats any disease."

Mitch Katz, an FTC spokesman, told me the settlement represents the agency's "first formal law enforcement action" involving a purported COVID-19 treatment.

However, he noted that "more than 30 warning letters" have been sent to companies selling similarly questionable remedies.

"Theres no proof that any product will prevent or treat COVID-19 or that any CBD product will treat cancer," said Andrew Smith, who heads the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

"Lets be clear," he said, "companies making these claims can look forward to an FTC lawsuit like this one."

The FTC's agreement with Ching stipulates that he "has not admitted to liability" regarding the claims and that the settlement isn't an admission he "engaged in violations of the FTC Act or any law or regulation."

I reached Ching by phone after the settlement was announced. He expressed willingness to discuss the matter but said he was busy. He told me to call back in a few hours.

Story continues

I did so, repeatedly. No answer.

Ching finally sent me a short email saying we wouldn't be speaking after all.

He said that, regarding the FTC settlement, "we made a mention to one of our supplements in regards to boosting the immune system. We did not say that it will or can cure, treat or stop COVID-19."

Ching added that he and Whole Leaf Organics have cooperated with the FTC "in everything they have asked to make sure we are in full compliance."

The FTC's original complaint, meanwhile, paints a damning picture of Ching's marketing practices.

It says that beginning in March, Whole Leaf Organics started claiming that a supplement called Thrive "treats, prevents or reduces the risk of COVID-19."

It also says the company "represented that the benefits of Thrive are clinically or scientifically proven. In fact, there is no competent and reliable scientific evidence that Thrive or any of its ingredients treats, prevents or reduces the risk of COVID-19."

The complaint includes a screenshot from the Whole Leaf Organics website touting Thrive as "the perfect way to strengthen your immunity against pathogens like COVID-19, the coronavirus," with that last bit in bold.

I asked Ching by email how this squares with his insistence to me that his company never said Thrive "can cure, treat or stop COVID-19." He didn't respond.

The Whole Leaf Organics site now says Thrive, which is on sale for $36.99, is "formulated containing 16 hand-selected herbal extract strains" and "offers immune support that may assist the body in promoting increased health."

The FTC complaint says Ching also marketed several CBD products that purportedly "provide extraordinary health benefits" and "treat cancer."

A screenshot included in the complaint pitches one of the CBD products, CBD-EX, as "the most effective innovation in cancer and immune related proactive supplement support in the past ten years."

According to the FTC, "there are no competent and reliable human clinical trials ... to substantiate the advertised health claims for these products."

It's unfortunate that Ching didn't want to be interviewed, because he's clearly an interesting person. His foundation's advocacy on behalf of animals goes back nearly a decade.

His activities have garnered support from some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Matt Damon and Joaquin Phoenix, who participated in a 2016 video condemning the grisly practice of butchering dogs for food in China.

However, a rescue mission to the Chinese city of Yulin undertaken by Ching that year landed him in hot water after critics said hundreds of dogs he rescued ended up dead.

The South China Morning Post ran a lengthy story reporting that after Ching saved about 1,000 dogs from being slaughtered, "two-thirds of the animals were paid for by two Buddhist organizations, which took the animals off to their own sanctuaries."

"Unknown to Ching," it said, "those dogs were fed and watered but denied lifesaving injections and medical treatment because of Buddhist beliefs. As a result, many of the already sick animals died of distemper and other diseases within days."

Ching told the paper that the goal of his trip had been to close down slaughterhouses, not save dogs. Although he acknowledged that hundreds of rescued dogs ended up dead, he said he at least gave them a chance at survival.

I can't speak to that, but I unequivocally support all efforts to prevent the mistreatment of our furry friends.

As for dubious COVID-19 cures, including one I recently wrote about involving "quantum" energy that supposedly breaks down pathogens, enough already.

The last thing we need are scientifically uncertain solutions for a scary problem (yes, looking at you too, Mr. President).

It shouldn't have taken an FTC order to make Ching do the right thing. Even well-intentioned businesspeople should know better.
by Paul Wang

According to the pro-democracy movement, police killed three people on 31 August 2019, a claim the government has refuted. Hundreds of riot police blocked an MTR exit. Because of the pandemic, groups of more than four people are banned. The health crisis is being used to stifle freedom.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  Hundreds of police agents in riot gear moved into the Prince Edward MTR (Mass Transit Railway) station to prevent people from gathering to commemorate last years police attack against commuters and pro-democracy protesters.

On 31 August 2019, police locked down the station for 4 hours during an operation that left three people dead, this according to protesters, a claim the government has always refuted.

The incident added weight to charges against the police that it used excessive force against anti-extradition protesters.

Since then, a rally is held at the end of each month and flowers placed in memory of the fallen. For many months, an altar with flowers and messages has stood at one of the stations exits.

No rally was possible this month because of the coronavirus pandemic, with police banning any assembly of more than four people.

To get around the ban, some district councillors placed themselves near the station with fresh flowers, giving them to commuters, who in turn left them in front of one of the exits.

This time, police used loudspeakers to warn people against gathering in groups of more than four people. Around 5 pm, agents in riot gear were deployed outside the station, setting up a barrier at exit B1, to prevent people from placing flowers at the site.

Tensions are currently running high in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy and anti-extradition protests have stopped because of anti-coronavirus restrictions, but several groups think that they must be challenged; for this reason, they are planning protests at shopping centres or in the streets.

The pro-democracy Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) wants to hold a rally tomorrow, May Day, but the police have not authorised the event. The union is examining ways to demonstrate tomorrow without breaking the law.

Similarly, pro-democracy groups that each year mark the Tiananmen Square massacre (4 June 1989) are looking at ways to do so this year. For many of them, the pandemic ban is being used to stifle freedom.

Photo: Guardians of Hong Kong
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 05:19:18|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Navy said on Wednesday it is launching a broader inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, effectively delaying its recommendation to reinstate Captain Brett Crozier as commanding officer of the warship.

"After carefully reviewing the preliminary inquiry into the events surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Gilday, provided me with his recommendations. Following our discussion, I have unanswered questions that the preliminary inquiry has identified and that can only be answered by a deeper review," acting Navy Secretary James McPherson said in a statement.

"Therefore, I am directing Adm. Gilday to conduct a follow-on command investigation. This investigation will build on the good work of the initial inquiry to provide a more fulsome understanding of the sequence of events, actions, and decisions of the chain of command surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt," McPherson said.

The new inquiry is expected to be led by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Robert Burke who will have until May 27 to complete it, according to a CNN report.

Also on Wednesday, sailors from the Roosevelt began returning to the aircraft carrier for the first time since they were moved ashore because of COVID-19 , said the report.

The aircraft carrier had 940 active coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, compared with 955 on Monday, reflecting an increase in the number of sailors who have recovered, said the report.

U.S. Navy on Friday recommended the reinstatement of Crozier's command of the warship following a week-long investigation but Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at the time that he had more questions about the investigation and could not yet make a decision, according to local media reports.

The Navy opened that 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 of near 5,000 crew members aboard the warship. Enditem
Over 80% of chemicals used to make pharmaceuticals sold in Europe originate from China or India, according to the European Fine Chemicals Group. When COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan and spread across the globe, experts worried about disruption of the drug supply chain.

Now, nations are rethinking their dependence on other countries for pharmaceutical ingredients and finished drugs, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.

In February 2020, as quarantines went into effect to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, many chemical plants across China were forced to close or operate with a reduced workforce for weeks. However, the disruption has had surprisingly little effect so far on the production and shipment of pharmaceuticals, Senior Editor Rick Mullin writes.

This is mainly because most manufacturers keep emergency stocks of ingredients to compensate for slowed deliveries. However, the months ahead could test the drug supply chain as inventories of backup supplies dwindle. This situation has forced leaders in the U.S. and Europe to consider rebalancing the pharmaceutical chemical supply chain.

In the U.S., legislation is being introduced to reduce reliance on foreign countries for life-saving ingredients. A bipartisan bill, the Strengthening America's Supply Chain and National Security Act, would require drug companies to provide more information on their active pharmaceutical ingredient supply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

But strong incentives could be needed to lure outsourced pharmaceutical manufacturing companies away from China, where production is much cheaper. The European Fine Chemicals Group has introduced a proposal that, among other measures, would invest in the development of green chemistry technologies to help re-establish pharmaceutical chemical production in Europe.

Although the pandemic is unlikely to cause immediate, dramatic shifts in chemical supply lines, COVID-19 has raised public awareness of the importance of having adequate supplies of pharmaceutical chemicals as a matter of national security, experts say.
Tattoos have come a long way to become a fashion statement in the modern world today. A number of people get inked for different reasons and oftentimes when done right can be a beauty to behold.

Here are some top reasons why as a Nigerian, you should not be getting a tattoo.

Skin Cancer

Tattoos are a thing of beauty but when not properly done sometimes can lead to fatal health issues.

Tattoos breach the skin, and this means that skin infections and other complications are possible, including allergic reactions which may be simple and sometimes very serious.

Employment

While tattoos are common among the youths of Nigeria today, they are not really accepted in the corporate world.

A good number of youths who were qualified at different job interviews lost their opportunity for employment as a result of having tattoos drawn on visible parts of their body.

Most employers hugely frown upon tattoos as they think it somewhat means irresponsibility.

Police Harassment

Police harassment is a predominant problem we have in Nigeria today, and its no news that men of the Nigerian Police including its Special Anti-Robbery and Special Anti-Cultism squad are known to harass young citizens.

While there has been effort to curb the Police harassment menace, it still lingers and by extension anyone whos rocking tattoos is at a very high risk of being arrested by the Police.

Affordability

While tattoos may be everywhere in Nigeria today, there are a few tattoo artists who are really professionals and can ink very quality tattoos.

The few top professionals who maintain an excellent work ethic while inking their clients charge an exorbitant rate, and with the present economic state of the Country today, getting a quality high end tattoo isnt a very much wise financial choice.

Difficult To Remove

Tattoos havs been said to be painful to get, but little do a lot of ink lovers know that tattoos are more painful to remove.

Getting a tattoo wiped off is also difficult to remove and extra expensive. It should also be noted that complications can arise from the removal which in turn can lead to skin problems.

Unskilled Tattoo Artist

While there are tons of tattoo artists in the Country today, very few are really professionals and are properly trained.

Most tattoo lovers would rather travel to South-Africa or other countries before they get a tattoo in order to get the best quality available.

Pregnancy & Gaining Body Weight

It is a known fact that tattoos can change form and appearance over time owing to body changes.

Women who ink their stomach areas and gain massive weight and skin stretching during pregnancy may have their tattoos looking deformed or somewhat different.

People who gain massive weight or shrink as well can end up having their tattoo looking different over time.

Contamination

Tattoos are done via instruments that pierce the skin and thus it is prone to infections and skin complications.

In addition, Tattoo dyes can be a problem especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes which have been revealed to cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site, which oftentimes can surface years after the tattoo had been done.

Other health complications

While it may sound like an over exaggeration of points, but for l people who are suffering from serious medical conditions, tattoos can be a very real risk to health and life. People with heart conditions, diabetes, epilepsy, hemophilia, and allergies should not get tattoos

Perception

Nigerians generally arent open to the idea of tattoos. Although, a good number of people May rock it, the general perception about tattoos arent too warm.

People with tattoos are often looked at as outcasts or irresponsible people in Nigeria. Only celebrities are oftentimes excused from these line of judge-mental perceptions.
The insights gathered by the Aiisma ecosystem naturally create a digital fence against the Covid-19 spread

Aiisma, an India born data marketplace has launched Aiisma App comprising of the marketplaces location sharing and health mapping features that can be used for effective contact tracing, which has been the strongest aid in fighting Covid-19 so far.

The insights gathered by the Aiisma ecosystem naturally create a digital fence against the Covid-19 spread, supporting citizens and authorities in the fight against the virus.

Via the Aiisma mobile app, users can consensually and anonymously trade their behavioural data for rewards and receive extra compensation for viewing ads on the marketplace and businesses can access this data through the Aiisma dashboard in a legal and economical format, to create relevant products and services offerings.

Furthermore, the same channel can deliver highly targeted text, banner and video ads to increase marketing efficiency for businesses.

In light of the current Covid-19 situation, Aiisma has also expedited the release of its health mapping feature for individuals, to manually share and monitor health insights.

Commenting on the launch of services, Ankit Chaudhari, Founder and CEO of Aiisma said, Indias large and young population, which is digitally savvy, will make for one of the largest contributors in the approaching data economy. We at Aiisma believe that the users should reap financial rewards for this contribution and intend to do exactly this. A few days before the launch, I discussed with my father, who is a specialist microbiology consultant with the state government and he emphasized on the importance of real-time data to fight Covid-19, whilst respecting citizen privacy. This motivated us at Aiisma to expedite the health data feature, which in combination with location sharing will probably become the most used feature of our application over the coming weeks. The economic impact of the pandemic will wreak havoc for small and medium business, where again information from consumer generated data will act as an enabler for SMBs to make smart decisions with respect to their path forward. The Covid-19 pandemic is an unfortunate situation for the world, but we are glad that we can make a positive contribution through the technology we have been building.

Adding to this, Nicholas Bohnlein, Co-Founder and COO of Aiisma said, As a millennial I understand the power and value of my data, which is regularly monetized under the pretext of freemium by BigTech companies. We at Aiisma want to give the power of data and the huge economic value back to data creators. With the help of Aiismas technology ecosystem, consumers can choose the kind of data they wish to share with businesses for a fair value. In our eyes every individual is a #datapreneur. We look forward to our launch and hope to bring value to Indian consumers. Also, I would like to mention that we are open to sharing anonymous information with the respective authorities to assist them fighting the pandemic.

The Aiisma App is in beta and will soon be available on mobile app stores
About 60,000 foreign nationals from 72 countries have been evacuated from India on special flights amid the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, with the UK on Thursday announcing plans to fly back another 2,000 stranded British travellers.

Secretaries in the external affairs ministry have been interacting via video conference with groups of ambassadors based in Delhi to discuss ways to fight the pandemic, the welfare of stranded Indians around the world and the evacuation of foreign nationals from India.

The ambassadors have thanked the ministry for its role in helping the evacuating of foreign nationals from all parts of India despite challenges of logistics during the lockdown, said external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava. About 60,000 foreign nationals from 72 countries have been evacuated, he told a virtual media briefing.

The UK said there would be seven charter flights in May to take more than 2,000 stranded British travellers home. These flights will take the total number of chartered flights so far to 59 and once they are completed, more than 15,000 British travellers will have been evacuated from India.

A statement from the UK high commission said the seven flights would be operated from Amritsar to London on May 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

The UK minister of state for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Tariq Ahmad, said: Our charter programme has already helped more than 10,000 British travellers return home from India by ensuring flights to the UK have run every day since April 8I would like to thank the government of India for their help in making it happen.

This is the fifth round of charter flights organised by the UK for Britons stranded in India. The UK government allocated 75 million for special charter flights to priority countries such as India, with the focus on helping the most vulnerable people.
Understanding the principles of cancer evolution is important in designing a therapeutic strategy. A research group at The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (IMSUT) announced a new simulation model that describes various modes of cancer evolution in a unified manner.

"We clarified the conditions under which each of the evolutionary modes is realized by performing simulation analysis using a supercomputer. Our findings have allowed us to explain the underlying principles of the evolutionary diversity of cancer." said lead scientist Atsushi Niida, Senior Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Human Genome Center of IMSUT.

To build a unified evolutionary simulation model

Cancer can be regarded as a disease of evolution, which results from natural selection of cells with high proliferative and malignant potential, following the accumulation of mutations in their genomes. Moreover, because cancer has a high evolutionary potential, it easily adapts to treatment-related changes in its environment and acquires therapeutic resistance (*1),

Previous genomic studies have shown that cancer evolution can be roughly divided into four modes of evolution. However, it has remained unclear what conditions give rise to each mode. Therefore, the research group have built a unified evolutionary simulation model that can recapitulate a variety of evolutionary modes.

By performing massively parallel simulation(*2) with various conditions on SHIROKANE, a supercomputer at IMSUT, the research group determined the conditions under which each evolution mode is generated. By providing a mathematical basis for understanding cancer evolution, this study is expected to contribute to the understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Various mathematical principles that explain the evolution of cancer

Classically, cancer evolution has been regarded as a process of evolution, in which normal cells evolve step-wise into a homogeneous cell population with high malignancy by serially acquiring driver mutations(*3) that favor cell growth and survival while undergoing natural selection (Figure 1A).

However, in recent years, multi-region sequencing(*4), which analyzes DNA samples obtained from multiple regions of a tumor, has demonstrated intratumor heterogeneity (ITH)(*5); that is, multiple clones with different mutations are generated during the course of cancer evolution and coexist in a single tumor. Also, depending on the types of cancers, driver mutations present only in a fraction of cells contribute to ITH; that is, natural selection appears to shape ITH (FIG. 1B).

On the other hand, it has been found that ITH can be shaped by the accumulation of neutral mutations(*6) that do not affect the growth and survival of cells; that is, ITH can be generated by neutral evolution (FIG. 1C). The evolutionary principle underlying ITH has not only varied among cancer types, but Niida and colleagues have also found that a temporal shift occurs during colorectal tumorigenesis (Saito et al.,2018); that is, it has been found that, in early lesions, ITH is shaped by natural selection while in advanced cancer, ITH is shaped by neutral evolution. Also, in contrast to the gradual evolution that results from the stepwise accumulation of single nucleotide mutations as assumed above, punctuated evolution has attracted attention. This is an evolutionary mode in which large changes occur over a short time at the chromosomal and genomic levels, such as copy number changes and structural abnormalities, explosively expanding from a few initial cells (Fig. 1D).

Thus far, four evolutionary modes have been proposed, but there are many unclear points concerning under what conditions these modes occur. Simulation using an agent-based model is considered to be a useful tool for understanding the principle of cancer evolution. The agent-based model assumes the components of a system called an agent, and specifies rules for the autonomous behavior of the agent itself and the interactions between agents and the environment.

Viewing each cell as an agent, ITH can be easily represented by the difference in the internal state of each agent. Niida and colleagues have recently developed MASSIVE, a new methodology of parameter sensitivity analysis(*7), which examines the dynamics of agent-based simulations (Niida et al., 2019). MASSIVE takes an approach completely different from conventional parameter sensitivity analysis methods; it makes it possible to intuitively search a large parameter space by combining massively parallel computing with interactive data visualization.

Based on the above, in order to clarify the conditions under which the above-mentioned four different evolution modes are realized, we have constructed a unified evolution simulation model that can recapitulate various evolution modes using an agent-based model. Parameter sensitivity analysis utilizing MASSIVE was performed on SHIROKANE, a supercomputer of IMSUT. They found that linear evolution occurs when strong driver mutations are assumed, while ITH is generated by natural selection when the driver mutations are weak. Moreover, the simulation revealed that the generation of ITH by neutral evolution requires a high neutral mutation rate, and the presence of cancer stem cells also contributes to neutral evolution by promoting the accumulation of neutral mutations.

Punctuated evolution could also be reproduced by assuming an explosive driver gene that enables cells to overcome the resource limitation required for cell proliferation. Furthermore, it was shown by simulation that punctuated evolution triggers the above-described temporal shift of the principle underlying ITH from natural selection to neutral evolution in colorectal tumorigenesis (Fig. 1E). This result also helps us understand that each mode works not as discrete, exclusive modes but rather blend continuously as a series of phases of cancer evolution.

The results of all the simulation analyses in this research can be searched interactively at https://www.hgc.jp/~aniida/canevosim/index.html.

Contributing toward a deeper understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer

"In this study, we clarified the principle underlying the diversity of cancer evolution by simulation analysis using a supercomputer. Since cancer has a high evolutionary potential, it adapts to the environment changed by therapy and easily acquires therapeutic resistance, so understanding the evolutionary principle of cancer is an important problem for designing therapeutic strategies." Niida emphasized

By providing a mathematical basis for understanding cancer evolution, this study is expected to contribute to the understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

###

Research Notes

(*1) Therapeutic resistance

A phenomenon in which cancer shows resistance to anti-cancer drug therapies. Even If a tumor in an advanced stage responds to a therapy and temporarily shrinks, it almost always regrows by gaining therapeutic resistance.

(*2) Massively parallel simulation

Preforming thousands of simulations simultaneously on a supercomputer. The computing power of SHIROKANE, the supercomputer used in this study, is several thousand times greater than that of a personal computer.

(*3) Driver mutation

Specific mutations that are thought to cause cancer by working in favor of cell growth and survival. Cells with driver mutations are favored by natural selection and spread within the cell population.

(*4) Sequencing

Determining the sequence of DNA, which encodes genomic information. Usually, in the case of cancer genome sequencing analysis, mutations, which are altered parts in the genome of cancer cells, are identified by comparison to the genome of normal cells from the same individual.

(*5) Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH)

A phenomenon in which multiple types of cell populations with different mutations coexist in a single tumor. It is generated by different cells acquiring different mutations during the evolution of cancer cells.

(*6) Neutral mutation

Mutations that do not affect cell growth or survival. Neutral mutations can spread by chance within a cell population and the phenomenon is called neutral evolution.

(*7) Parameter sensitivity analysis

Determining the conditions that affect the simulation results by repeating the simulation with altered parameter values that determine the conditions of the simulation model.

About the research

Atsushi Niida, Takanori Hasegawa, Hideki Innan, Tatsuhiro Shibata, Koshi Mimori and Satoru Miyano,2020,"A unified simulation model for understanding the diversity of cancer evolution"PeerJ

Papers

Article URL: http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8842
It worked on monkeys, so researchers at the University of Oxford have high hopes that their coronavirus vaccine will also work on humans.

But they dont expect preliminary results until the middle of June, John Bell, a regius professor of medicine at Oxford, told BBC Radio on Thursday.

Human trials  the first in Europe for a vaccine  began April 23, following successful tests on rhesus macaque monkeys in late March.

The results were so promising that British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca agreed to partner with the Oxford team to help ramp up production of the hAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine once the human trials are completed, according to the BBC.

AstraZeneca isnt the only Big Pharma company betting on the vaccine. Last week, the Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine maker, announced it would begin mass-producing hAdOx1 nCoV-19 without it being approved or even knowing if it works.

The University of Oxford researchers had projected that human trials would conclude in September, but the Serum Institute decided that was too long to wait. So its using its own funds to produce 40 million units of the vaccine.

Manufacturing a vaccine before its proven effective and before it receives regulatory approval flips the normal development process on its head. Its a huge risk, but one that some companies are willing to take in order to get a jump on deploying a vaccine on the massive scale needed to defeat the pandemic.

Other drug companies and biotechs are also making progress in developing a vaccine:

 Pfizer and BioNTech injected 12 healthy people in Germany with their experimental BNT162 vaccine.

 Moderna has begun human trials, and is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for its mRNAA-1273 vaccine.

 GlaxoSmithKline and the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi expect their vaccine will be ready for human testing in the second half of 2020.

Whether any vaccine can offer long-term protection against the coronavirus remains to be seen.

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious virus. A vaccine will need to induce durable high level immunity, but coronaviruses often dont induce that kind of immunity. Dr. David States, human genetics professor at the University of Michigan, systems biologist and bioinformatics pioneer, wrote in a Twitter thread last week.

They induce an immune response, but it tends to fade so the same virus can reinfect us a year or two later, he stated.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.



Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate
Are you wondering about the Bar Exam result 2019 release dates? Well, the much-anticipated 2019 Bar Exam results are finally out. The candidates can now check the supreme court's website to find out whether they have made it to the list or not.

Image: unsplash.com, @jasminecoro

Source: UGC

Out of the 7,685 law graduates who finished the Bar 2019 examinations, only 2,103 managed to pass. However, this is a record improvement compared to the previous years. The 2019 bar exams posted a passing rate of 27.36%, which is 5.29% higher than last year.

Bar Exam results 2019

According to the Bar Exam results released on Wednesday 29th of April 2020, Mae Diane Azores, who is a certified public accountant, scored the highest overall rating of 91.049 percent. Interestingly, the top five passers were all women, with only three men among the top ten.

During the previous years, such results were displayed in the Supreme Court compound, and the hopefuls would flock in to check the list of passers. However, the release of the 2019 Bar Exam results Philippines was a bit different as there will be no walking to the Supreme Court premises.

This year, the results were released on the Supreme Court website after the government banned social gathering as a measure to combat the spread of COVID-19.

You can, therefore, check the list of Bar passers 2019 on the Supreme Court's website.

Image: facebook.com, @Philstar.com

Source: UGC

How to check Bar Exam results 2019 online

Checking the Bar 2019 results is easy and straightforward.

Visit the Supreme Court's website. On the upper left is a search bar. Type your full registered name.

The system will acknowledge the presence of your name by displaying the list. If it is missing, then it will indicate "no results." Alternatively, you can go through the whole list on the website to check your name.

We wish to congratulate those who passed in the released 2019 Bar Exam results. For those who have not, we wish to as well encourage you that life does not stop here. You can always take advantage of the second and third chances.

READ ALSO:

New lawyer pays tribute to her lola as she ranks Top 1 in Bar Exam

Congrats! 2,103 out of 7,685 aspiring lawyers passed the 2019 Bar Exams

Civil Service Exam 2020: Tips on how to apply and pass, schedule

Source: KAMI.com.gh
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.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone talk with Polands President Andrzej Duda. They discussed the joint fight against coronavirus, energy security of the countries and Donbas Conflict as the Office of the President of Ukraine reported.

The heads of the states offered the coordination of the actions aiming for overcoming the consequences of coronavirus pandemic for the citizens of both countries. Special attention was paid to the mechanisms of emerging from quarantine and international cooperation for overcoming such challenges in the future, the message said.

Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine is ready to actively participate in the preparation and implementation of coordinated events and offer of Poland to create a European mechanism of the medical security echoes Ukrainian idea of the international mechanism for overcoming the consequences of coronavirus.

Ukraines President also thanked Andrzej Duda for medical equipment provided by Poland and financial aid from the European Union. Meanwhile, the Polish president highly estimated the contribution of Ukrainian aviation in the transportation of the medical goods for the international fight against the pandemic.

The important issue was the cooperation of Ukraine and Poland in the energy security sphere, particularly, the diversification of the sources of energy source materials and practical implementation of the trilateral memorandum between Ukraine, Poland and the U.S on cooperation in energy sphere signed in August 2019.

Ukraines president informed Polish colleague about the situation in Donbas and fulfillment of the agreements reached within Normandy Format Summit, which took place in 2019 in Paris. Duda assured that Poland sticks to the firm position on the support of the restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
JONA (dpa-AFX) - Cement giant LafargeHolcim (HCMLY.PK, HCMLF.PK) Thursday reported 11.2 percent in decline in sales and 14.1 percent decrease in recurring EBIT for the first quarter. The Group's net sales for the quarter slid by 11.2 percent to 5.29 billion Swiss francs from last year's 5.96 billion francs. On LFL basis, sales were down 3.3 percent. Recurring EBIT for the period was down by 14.1 percent to 262 million francs from 305 million francs, while it was down by 2.6 percent on LFL basis. The Group also reported operating profit of 244 million francs for the quarter, lower than the year-ago's 288 million francs. Looking ahead, LafargeHolcim said it is well-positioned to weather the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, but expects its impact in the second quarter. The company also added that the full impact of the crisis on its 2020 results cannot be assessed at this point. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
South Korean officials have today revealed 292 coronavirus patients feared to have been 'reinfected' were given false positive results.

Over the past month the Asian country has seen people cleared of the virus testing positive again, despite new cases thinning out.

Fears were raised the recovered cases had been reinfected from somebody else, or the virus had laid dormant before reactivating again.

Either way, it raised suspicions that a person's immunity is short lived after fighting off the deadly virus, scientifically called SARS-CoV-2.

If humans had no immunity, easing draconian lockdowns would have been pointless because no-one would be protected from being struck down again.

A senior South Korean official has now said the flurry of 'reinfected' people was due to a testing fault - and not a short-lived immunity.

The infectious disease expert revealed dead virus fragments can remain in the body, possibly for months.

These lingering fragments may cause a positive result, even though the person is not sick or infectious anymore, health chiefs added.

Oh Myoung-don, who leads The Central Clinical Committee for Emerging Disease Control (pictured at a press conference on Wednesday) , said dead virus fragments that remain the body, possibly for months. These fragments may be picked up by tests

Over the past month the country has seen people cleared of the virus testing positive for the virus again, despite new cases thinning out (pictured, daily new cases)

Health authorities in South Korea have said they recorded no new domestic cases of coronavirus infections at the end of Wednesday. Pictured, people outside in Seoul on April 30

Health authorities in South Korea have said they recorded no new domestic cases of coronavirus infections at the end of Wednesday.

It was a first for the country - which bucked the global trend and avoided going into lockdown - since its outbreak began to worsen in February.

However, there were four new imported cases, said the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

South Korea's total death toll is up to 247 - a fewer than some European countries have been reporting each day.

Countries like the US, Italy, France, Spain and the UK each have at least 100 times the death toll of South Korea.

While those countries grappled with their outbreaks, South Korea was faced with a new problem: reinfections.

Epidemiologists in Seoul urgently tried to drill down into the cause of the worrying trend, which was first witnessed in 51 patients from Daegu on April 6.

Forty more coronavirus patients in South Korea thought to have recovered from the disease tested positive again on April 10.

HOW DID SOUTH KOREA CURB ITS OUTBREAK AFTER BEING THE WORST INFECTED COUNTRY OUTSIDE OF CHINA? South Korea had its outbreak of coronavirus peak on February 29 when the country reported the world's most infections outside China. But it has been able to flatten its curve, reporting no new domestic coronavirus cases today, and just one death. The country has been aggressive in its fight against COVID-19, from quietly developing and stockpiling test kits as early as January, to tapping into smartphone and credit card data to track the movements of those confirmed to have the virus. The country tested up to 20,000 people a day for the virus, which would have allowed them to get an idea of how the virus was spreading. Seoul started its testing programme when the numbers were still small, telling companies to develop testing kits as early as January 27. The first diagnostic kit was approved on February 4, and nearly 100 laboratories are now equipped to carry out tests. When cases started mounting around the Shincheonji church, officials said they would test every member of the sect. The city of Daegu announced that nearly all the 10,000 worshippers had been tested by March 10. South Korea was also a pioneer of contact tracing, using phone location data and smartphone apps to identify clusters of cases. Mandatory testing and quarantines now apply to nearly all arrivals from overseas, including citizens. South Korea installed testing facilities this month at Seouls Incheon International Airport to screen anyone who arrives with symptoms. All arrivals must download a government app that tracks their location and requires users to report any symptoms. Everyone must self-isolate for two weeks if they do report symptoms, regardless of nationality or whether they tested negative. After the two-week period, the app shows a message saying users are free to delete it from their phones. The government also rationed protective face masks among citizens and delivered care packages with food, water, hygiene products and masks to those in self-quarantine. Advertisement

On April 27 it was reported at least 222 people were in the 'reinfected' category, as health officials scrambled to allay creeping nervousness that people can be re-infected.

Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), told a briefing that the virus may have instead been 'reactivated'.

It would mean that the patient never completely fought the virus off due to a deficient immune response.

Scientists dismissed the idea it was due to a fault in testing, Hwang Seung-sik, a spatio-temporal epidemiologist at Seoul National University, told Al Jazeera News.

'Few researchers think that this is actually a case of reinfection or an issue of accuracy in test kits,' he said. 'Many are looking at this more as a virus reactivation.'

'Given the high accuracy of test kits and volume of testing being conducted, this many cases of reinfection or reactivation is not a high number.'

About 20 per cent of those known to have gotten sick again are in their 20s, with those in their 50s making up the second-largest group.

'Rather than an error in test kits, I think this issue may be from a difference in immune system function between individuals,' said Dr Roh Kyung-ho, who works at the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital.

'We're in a situation where there is still no effective treatment or cure for the virus, and people might vary in how long they emit the virus, whether it be one month or six weeks.'

But a clinical expert panel on Wednesday concluded that recovered coronavirus patients who later test positive for the virus again were not 'reactivated' or reinfected, but were false positives.

Oh Myoung-don, who leads The Central Clinical Committee for Emerging Disease Control, said he and colleagues found little reason to believe cases could be COVID-19 reinfections or reactivations.

The head of the committee said the false positives were due to technical limits of PCR testing.

PCR testing is considered the gold standard due to its high accuracy levels but there are varying levels of sensitivity

'The tests detected the ribonucleic acid of the dead virus,' Dr Oh, a Seoul National University hospital doctor, told a press conference held at the National Medical Center on Wednesday.

The panel noted that the Covid-19 infection and the viral proliferation occur in respiratory epithelial cells, which line surfaces in the lungs.

Viral fragments may exist in epithelial cells even after the virus is inactivated, according to the panel.

These cells have a half-life of up to three months, and RNA virus in the cell can be detected with PCR testing one to two months after the 'elimination of the cell,' Dr Oh said.

The PCR tests cannot distinguish whether the virus is alive or dead, and this can lead to false positives.

'PCR testing that amplifies genetics of the virus is used in Korea to test COVID-19, and relapse cases are due to technical limits of the PCR testing,' Dr Oh claimed.

Dr Oh said the coronavirus does not linger inside the nucleus of human cells.

In this respect the virus that causes COVID-19 is different from the HIV and hepatitis B viruses, which can remain dormant in cells and awaken later.

Dr Oh went on to say that it is highly unlikely someone would be reinfected again because evidence suggests immunity is maintained for one year after the first infection.

He said: 'If we look at the results of the coronavirus (HCoV-229E) study on humans or the current Covid-19 virus (SARS-CoV2) study on animals, the immunity in vivo is maintained for more than one year after the first virus infection.

'Thus, it is improbable that a person could contract another coronavirus.'

A clinical expert has now said the flurry of 'reinfected' people was due to a testing fault. The infectious disease expert said dead virus fragments that remain the body, possible for 'weeks', may cause a positive result, even if the person is not sick of infectious anymore.

The infectious disease expert said dead virus fragments that remain the body, possible for 'weeks', may cause a positive result, even if the person is not sick of infectious anymore. Pictured: A Buddhist believer wearing a faces mask during a service to pray for overcoming the COVID-19 outbreak at the Chogyesa temple in South Korea, April 30

The health authorities concluded no local transmission occurred from a parliamentary election this month, where authorities took safety measures, including requiring voters to wear masks and plastic gloves when casting ballots. Pictured: Buddhist believers at a service, April 30

Reinfections would have made global efforts to contain the virus much more daunting.

Although the news from South Korea today is hopeful that reinfections don't exist, it cannot be ruled out completely.

Officials have been relying on hopes that once a person has had the coronavirus, they are protected from getting it again because their body has built up antibodies.

The idea of 'immunity passports', which certify a person has already had the bug, were at one point considered the key to getting out of worldwide lockdown.

But the World Health Organisation has warned against the idea because there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 are free from the risk of a second infection.

The WHO added that tests for antibodies of the new coronavirus 'need further validation' to understand how long immunity lasts for.

South Korea today reported no new domestic coronavirus cases - a win for the country which has been battling the virus since February.

KCDC reported four new infections, all imported cases. Of the total, 1,065 have been imported cases, where more than 90 per cent were Koreans, according to a KCDC statement.

The health authorities also concluded no local transmission occurred from a parliamentary election this month, where authorities took safety measures, including requiring voters to wear masks and plastic gloves when casting ballots.

'Twenty-nine million voters participated in the April 15 parliamentary election,' Yoon Tae-ho, director general for public health policy, told a briefing.

'Not one case related to the election has been reported during the 14 days of incubation period.'
By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices surged more than 10% on Wednesday after U.S. crude stockpiles grew less than expected and gasoline posted a surprise draw, feeding optimism that fuel consumption will recover as some European countries and U.S. state ease coronavirus lockdowns

By Laila Kearney

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices surged more than 10% on Wednesday after U.S. crude stockpiles grew less than expected and gasoline posted a surprise draw, feeding optimism that fuel consumption will recover as some European countries and U.S. state ease coronavirus lockdowns.

Crude prices crashed earlier this month, with global fuel tanking roughly 30% due to efforts to slow the spread of the virus. To ease the growing glut, major oil producing-nations agreed in mid-April to cut output by nearly 10 million barrels per day. Shale producers and oil majors are also reducing production.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at $15.06 a barrel, jumping $2.72, or 22%. Brent crude futures settled at $22.54 a barrel, up $2.08, or 10.2%.

U.S. crude oil inventories swelled by 9 million barrels last week to 527.6 million barrels, about 7 million barrels below their record high, the Energy Information Administration said. The build was slightly less than the 10.6 million-barrel rise analysts had expected in a Reuters poll. [EIA/S]

"The crude oil number is a big number at the end of the day, but it's not as big of a number that we had for the last three weeks," said Bob Yawger, director of futures at Mizuho in New York. The slowing build has delayed U.S. crude storage from filling to the brim, Yawger said, a scenario that would likely send prices plunging into negative territory again.

"The time to total crisis mode has been kicked down the road a little bit," he said.

The data included a notable drawdown in U.S. gasoline stockpiles of 3.7 million barrels from record highs last week as a modest pickup in fuel demand offset a rebound in refinery output.

Gasoline demand over the past four weeks remained down 44% from a year earlier, but the drawdown suggested consumption declines may be leveling off. Overall fuel demand has dropped by 28% in the last four weeks.

While U.S. storage is rapidly filling, crude production cuts by U.S. shale producers - estimated by consultants Rystad Energy at 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) for May and June - should slow flows into tanks.

Regulators in Texas, the biggest U.S. oil producing state, will vote on May 5 whether to enact output cuts. Officials in North Dakota and Oklahoma are also examining possible cuts.

That would add to production curbs of almost 10 million bpd agreed by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other large producers including Russia.

Prices also got a boost from hopes for a demand recovery as European countries including France and Spain, along with several U.S. states planned to lift some lockdown restrictions soon.

"As long as we see openings in the economy, we will not see plunges like we saw a week ago," said Gene McGillian, vice president of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. "But markets heading back up to pre-crisis days are going to be tough to come by."

(Additional reporting by Laura Sanicola in New York, Ahmad Ghaddar in London, Sunali Paul in Melbourne and Roslan Khasawneh in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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Linkedin Johannes Ledel (Agence France-Presse) Stockholm  Thu, April 30, 2020 13:31 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd530189 2 Books Maj-Sjowall,novelist,author,Nordic-Noir,obituary,Book Free

Maj Sjowall, one half of a Swedish crime-writing couple credited with inventing "Nordic Noir", has died aged 84, her publisher said on Wednesday.

Sjowall, a pioneer of gritty realism and an inspiration to modern crime writers, "passed away today after an extended period of illness," Ann-Marie Skarp, head of publisher Piratforlaget, told AFP.

With her partner Per Wahloo, who died in 1975, Sjowall penned a 10-book series centred on the dour, middle-aged and decidedly unheroic Martin Beck and his team of detectives in Stockholm's National Homicide Bureau.

Books like "Roseanna", "The Laughing Policeman" and "The Abominable Man," featured tightly structured plots packed with realistic details, charting the unglamorous slog and grind of police work.

"Her and Per Wahloo's 10 novels about Martin Beck... will become classics and have inspired, I dare say, all now living authors of crime novels," Skarp said.

Nordic Noir

The duo also penned the series decades before the likes of Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson made the genre of "Nordic Noir" into a worldwide hit.

"They broke with the previous trends in crime fiction," Henning Mankell wrote in an introduction to the 2006 English edition of "Roseanna". His own Inspector Kurt Wallander series would owe much to Beck three decades later.

Sjowall was "the giant on whose shoulders the titans of modern Scandi crime fiction stand," Britain's Daily Telegraph wrote in 2015, in a story headlined "The couple who invented Nordic Noir".

Both committed Marxists, they went beyond crime fiction, breaking new ground by carrying out a forensic examination of the failings of Swedish society. The modern themes they tackled included pedophilia, serial killers, the sex industry and suicide.

"Through the eyes of Martin Beck and his colleagues, they held a mirror up to Swedish society at a time when the ideals of the welfare state were beginning to buckle under the realities of everyday life," Scottish crime writer Val McDermid wrote in the introduction to the 2006 edition of "The Man Who Went Up In Smoke".

Read also: Acclaimed Swedish author Per Olov Enquist dies aged 85

Late night writing sessions

Born September 25, 1935 in Stockholm, Sjowall studied journalism and graphics. She worked as a translator, and art director, and as journalist for Swedish magazines and newspapers.

It was through her work that she met Wahloo, a successful political journalist, in 1961. The two quickly became a couple and had two sons.

Then they decided to launch the Martin Beck series.

After dinner and having put their sons to bed, they would sit opposite each other and write through the night, a chapter each.

"We worked a lot with the style," she explained to The Guardian newspaper in 2009. "We wanted to find a style which was not personally his, or not personally mine, but a style that was good for the books."

Before actually writing, the couple carefully planned their plots, travelling, taking hundreds of photographs, meeting people and drawing maps, Sjowall explained in a Q&A in the first book "Roseanna".

After Wahloo's death from cancer aged 48 in 1975 -- weeks after the last book in the series, "The Terrorists", was published -- she continued working as a translator.

She also collaborated on "The Woman Who Resembled Greta Garbo" with Dutch crime writer Tomas Ross in 1990.

The Martin Beck books have been translated into 40 languages, according to news agency TT, and served as the source material for dozens of movies.
Tom Hanks just underscored his good-guy status further. He recently tweeted photos of himself donating plasma.

Last week, the 63-year-old actor performed this good deed after he and Rita Wilson, his wife, recovered from COVID-19 and were considered to be carrying antibodies that could be advantageous to researchers in tackling the novel coronavirus.

The Oscar winner revealed on Wednesday that he contributed his blood plasma at a Los Angeles hospital.

"Here's last week's bag of plasma. Such a bag!" Hanks posted on Instagram. "After the paperwork, it's as easy as taking a nap. Thanks @arimoin and UCLA. Hanx."

Over a month ago, it was announced that Hanks and Wilson were diagnosed with the coronavirus and were self-isolating in Australia.

The couple posted positive social media updates regarding their recovery from quarantine. Eventually, they returned home to the US after being discharged from Gold Coast University Hospital in Australia.

The actor was shooting his latest film in Australia, Baz Luhrmann's now-delayed Elvis Presley biopic, when the pair tested positive for the respiratory illness.

According to Hanks on the podcast "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!," "We have not only been approached, we have said, 'Do you want our blood? Can we give plasma?' And, in fact, we will be giving it now to the places that hope to work on what I would like to call the Hank-ccine."

He and his wife are now immune to the virus.

Earlier in April, Hanks made a joke about the production of a 'Hank-ccine' using his donated blood.

Also Read: American Scientists Not Allowed to Enter China to Investigate Coronavirus

Also, 63-year-old Wilson took to Instagram for an update for her fans, sharing a picture of herself giving blood, "A photo of getting tested for antibodies in preparation of donating plasma. Thank you Dr. Anne Rimoin at UCLA for the study you're working on to help patients heal from COVID-19."

Hanks had previously declared publicly that he planned to donate blood and plasma to help discover a vaccine for the coronavirus.

Hanks said that the couple discovered they possessed antibodies after their bout with the coronavirus.

"A lot of the questions (are) what do we do now? Is there something we can do? And, in fact, we just found out that we do carry the antibodies."

The actor shared how he and his wife have been since testing positive for the coronavirus and flying back home after undergoing quarantine in Australia.

"We are just fine, dandy," he opened up. "We had all of the flu-like symptoms. My wife, Rita, was a little worse off than me. She had a very high temperature. And we were isolated so that we would not give it to anyone else."

COVID-19 is a disease that infects the respiratory system and can be deadly.

After arriving back in Los Angeles, Hanks and Wilson enrolled in a medical study to assess if their antibodies would be beneficial for scientists working on creating a vaccine.

Related Article: How Singapore Lost Control of COVID-19 Outbreak

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pilot of helicopter that crashed heralded for 'miracle' landing

The crew of a Hagerstown-based helicopter and the juvenile patient they picked up in Chambersburg, Pa., are OK after a crash near Philadelphia.
TDT | Manama

A joint research team from the Bahrain Institute for Public Administration (BIPA) and Arabian Gulf University (AGU), in coordination with the Supreme Council for Health (SCH), studied the concept of crisis-based innovation amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The study aims to set a theoretical framework for dealing with crises, based on measuring the awareness of people with regards to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and determining its impact on different sectors.

On the occasion, AGU president Dr Khalid Al Ohaly lauded Bahrains excellence in managing the ongoing health crisis, owing to it to the wise vision, directives, and care of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

He also noted the instructions issued by His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa based on three basic concepts of leadership: adherence to the spirit of innovation, foreseeing the future and setting options for emerging developments in crisis management.

These three elements are an empowering essence and spirit that reflect the main features of wise leadership, and it is what the concerned government authorities are implementing in their battle against the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Al Ohaly said.

The efforts devoted by the government through the coordination committee, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, are considered a pioneering, brilliant and creative model and on the highest levels of excellence in crisis management; a matter that attracted the attention of international organisations, which praised the efficiency of the Kingdom of Bahrain in managing this crisis.

BIPA director-general Dr Raed Mohammed Binshams commented: The remarkable accomplishments and social unity achieved by the Kingdom of Bahrain shall reach the world in a scientific and applied methodology that is based on scientific facts and data. This shall transform this national innovation culture into an international innovation culture to deal with all sorts of crises.

The study has several objectives, such as measuring the public sectors ability to respond to crises, developing a flexible administrative system so that it generates institutional knowledge through which a deeper understanding of peoples response to government directives is drawn, and measuring the efficiency of senior management in the public sector in utilising social media platforms and sending informative media messages that change the knowledge, behaviour and attitudes of citizens and residents
Alex Otti, former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, has asked Okezie Ikpeazu, the state go...





Alex Otti, former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, has asked Okezie Ikpeazu, the state governor, to show proof of his alleged sponsorship of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).





Otti made the demand while responding to a petition Ikpeazu allegedly wrote to the Police Service Commission against him, accusing him of sponsoring the secessionist group.





The governor was alleged to have accused him of being behind the removal of Ene Okon, the state commissioner of police, for failing to release one Emperor Ogbonna whom he said is an ally of Otti.





Reacting via a statement on Thursday, Otti said he does not know Ogbonna and had only intervened in his detention out of concern.

To set the records straight, I do not know Emperor Ogbonna. I have never met nor spoken to him. So the allegation of him being sponsored by me is laughable,he said.





When the plight of the young man was brought to my attention and by then he had been incarcerated for about 3 weeks, I picked up my phone and called CP Okon. I started by telling him that I did not know Mr. Ogbonna but as an Abia citizen, I thought I should intervene.





I reminded him that this is a democracy and warned him about being used by the Governor and his co travelers to abuse the fundamental human rights of Abians including Emperor Ogbonna.





Otti also said the allegation he is sponsoring IPOB is to pitch me against the authorities.





I make bold to challenge Ikpeazu to come up with proofs to show that I am the sponsor of IPOB or forever hide his head in shame, he said.





I consider this as a cheap attempt to pitch me against the authorities which will fail. It was actually his incompetence in dealing with the a small insurrection that ballooned into the python dance.





The former governorship candidate asked the governor to withdraw the said petition and tender an unreserved apology to me for defaming my character and false accusation.




TEHRAN, Iran, April. 30

Trend :

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency for providing Iran with a rapid detection device for COVID-19 known as RT-PCR, Trend reports via AEOI's official website.

"Good deeds will never be forgotten," AEOI said.

The statement further said that the coronavirus threat is threat to all mankind, so helping each other is natural.

Iran continues to apply measures to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 infection. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 93,600 people have been infected, 5,957 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 73,700 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.
Photo credit: IATF2020

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union (AU) and the Government of Rwanda have decided to postpone by one year the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2020) initially set to take place from 1 to 7 September 2020 in Kigali, Rwanda.

This decision was endorsed by the IATF2020 Advisory Council during its sixth meeting held virtually on 26 April 2020, after careful assessment of the situation.

Organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the AU, the second IATF will still be hosted by the Government of Rwanda and is now scheduled to take place from 6 to 12 September 2021 in Kigali. It will now be dubbed IATF2021.

Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah said that the continuing COVID-19 pandemic situation was not conducive to holding such an important pan African event which was initially scheduled to take place in just 4 months.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Governments, corporations and individuals to take unprecedented measures to ensure public safety, he said. It is our responsibility to comply with these measures to protect our host country and ensure the health and safety of all delegates, exhibitors and participants who have confirmed or expressed interest in taking part in the second edition of IATF.

Stressing the need to enable participants to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by the trade fair, Amb. Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the African Union said that the postponement would allow stakeholders to focus on the urgent collective task of responding to the pandemic.

We are facing an unprecedented health crisis. This is the time to join efforts to also mitigate the impact of the pandemic on African economies. We have agreed that the second IATF needed to take place in a more favourable context to enable African countries and companies to take full advantage of the Trade Fair, which will now become an element of their recovery strategy, said Amb. Muchanga.

Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Minister of Trade and Industry of Rwanda reiterated the commitment of the government of Rwanda to the success of the trade fair.

The reality we are confronted with today as we fight the spread of Covid-19 has prompted us to look at various factors which will undoubtedly impact African businesses and investors this year. In partnership with Afreximbank and the AU Commission, Rwanda is looking forward to the second IATF in 2021 to boost intra African trade, which is more than ever crucial to the development of our continent, Hon. Hakuziyaremye said.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, IATF Advisory Council Chairman and former President of Nigeria said: We offer sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all those who have lost their lives because of the coronavirus. We also wish all those who have been affected by the virus speedy recovery. We hope that this pandemic will soon be overcome to enable normal businesses to resume and underpin the forthcoming Trade Fair.

The Advisory Council also decided to postpone the third edition of IATF from 2022 to 2023 to be in line with the two-year intervals between IATF events.
The Coronavirus Genome

The coronavirus is an oily membrane packed with genetic instructions to make millions of copies of itself. The instructions are encoded in 30,000 letters of RNA  a, c, g and u  which the infected cell reads and translates into many kinds of virus proteins.

RNA instructions to make the ORF1a protein ORF1b protein Spike protein E M N Start of coronavirus genome 30,000 RNA letters ORF1a protein ORF1b protein Spike E M N Start of coronavirus genome 30,000 RNA letters 30,000 RNA letters N protein M and E proteins Spike protein 20,000 ORF1b protein 10,000 ORF1a protein Start of the coronavirus genome 30,000 RNA letters N protein M and E proteins Spike protein 20,000 ORF1b protein 10,000 ORF1a protein Start of the coronavirus genome

A New Coronavirus Dec. 26

In December, a cluster of mysterious pneumonia cases appeared around a seafood market in Wuhan, China. In early January, researchers sequenced the first genome of a new coronavirus, which they isolated from a man who worked at the market. That first genome became the baseline for scientists to track the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it spreads around the world.

Genome Wuhan-Hu-1, collected on Dec. 26 from an early patient in Wuhan Genome Wuhan-Hu-1, collected on Dec. 26 from an early patient in Wuhan Genome Wuhan-Hu-1, collected on Dec. 26 from an early patient in Wuhan Genome Wuhan-Hu-1, collected on Dec. 26 from an early patient in Wuhan

Wuhan Wuhan Wuhan Wuhan

A Typo in the RNA Jan. 8

A cell infected by a coronavirus releases millions of new viruses, all carrying copies of the original genome. As the cell copies that genome, it sometimes makes mistakes, usually just a single wrong letter. These typos are called mutations. As coronaviruses spread from person to person, they randomly accumulate more mutations.

The genome below came from another early patient in Wuhan and was identical to the first case, except for one mutation. The 186th letter of RNA was u instead of c.

Genome WH-09, collected on Jan. 8 from another patient in Wuhan u  186th RNA letter changed Genome WH-09, collected on Jan. 8 from another patient in Wuhan u  186th RNA letter changed Genome WH-09, collected on Jan. 8 from another patient in Wuhan 186th RNA letter changed: u Genome WH-09, collected on Jan. 8 from another patient in Wuhan 186th RNA letter changed: u

When researchers compared several genomes from the Wuhan cluster of cases they found only a few new mutations, suggesting that the different genomes descended from a recent common ancestor. Viruses accumulate new mutations at a roughly regular rate, so the scientists were able to estimate that the origin of the outbreak was in China sometime around November 2019.

One Descendent, Two More Mutations Feb. 27

Outside of Wuhan, that same mutation in the 186th letter of RNA has been found in only one other sample, which was collected seven weeks later and 600 miles south in Guangzhou, China. The Guangzhou sample might be a direct descendent of the first Wuhan sample. Or they might be viral cousins, sharing a common ancestor.

During those seven weeks, the Guangzhou lineage jumped from person to person and went through several generations of new viruses. And along the way, it developed two new mutations: Two more letters of RNA changed to u.

Genome GZMU0030, collected on Feb. 27 in Guangzhou u u u  Another RNA letter mutated  This mutation also changed an amino acid I Y Genome GZMU0030, collected on Feb. 27 in Guangzhou u u u  Another RNA letter mutated  This mutation also changed an amino acid I Y Genome GZMU0030, collected on Feb. 27 in Guangzhou u Y Another RNA letter mutated. This mutation also changed an amino acid.  u I u Genome GZMU0030, collected on Feb. 27 in Guangzhou u Y Another RNA letter mutated. This mutation also changed an amino acid.  u I u

Wuhan Guangzhou Wuhan Guangzhou Wuhan Guangzhou Wuhan Guangzhou

When Do Mutations Matter?

Mutations will often change a gene without changing the protein it encodes.

Proteins are long chains of amino acids folded into different shapes. Each amino acid is encoded by three genetic letters, but in many cases a mutation to the third letter of a trio will still encode the same amino acid. These so-called silent mutations dont change the resulting protein.

Silent mutation Non-silent mutation a c u a c a a c c a c g a c u a u u If the codon mutates to or or But if mutates to the amino acid wont change: then will change to T T T T T I (Threonine) (Isoleucine) Silent mutation a c u a c a a c c a c g If the codon mutates to or or the amino acid wont change: T T T T Non-silent mutation a c u a u u But if mutates to then will change to T I (Threonine) (Isoleucine) Silent mutation a c u a c a If the codon mutates to the amino acid wont change: T T Non-silent mutation a c u a u u But if mutates to then will change to T I (Threonine) (Isoleucine)

Non-silent mutations do change a proteins sequence, and the Guangzhou sample of the coronavirus acquired two non-silent mutations.

ORF1a protein E protein u u u  Amino acid change in the ORF1a protein Amino acid change in the E protein  I Y ORF1a protein E protein u u u I Y  Amino acid change in ORF1a Amino acid change in E  u Y E protein  Amino acid change in the E protein ORF1a protein Amino acid change in the ORF1a protein  u I u u Y E protein  Amino acid change in the E protein ORF1a protein Amino acid change in the ORF1a protein  u I u

But proteins can be made of hundreds or thousands of amino acids. Changing a single amino acid often has no noticeable effect on their shape or how they work.

Some Mutations Disappear, Others Spread

As the months have passed, parts of the coronavirus genome have gained many mutations. Others have gained few, or none at all. This striking variation may hold important clues to coronavirus biology.

The parts of the genome that have accumulated many mutations are more flexible. They can tolerate changes to their genetic sequence without causing harm to the virus. The parts with few mutations are more brittle. Mutations in those parts may destroy the coronavirus by causing catastrophic changes to its proteins. Those essential regions may be especially good targets for attacking the virus with antiviral drugs.

Total number of amino acid substitutions found in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April 1 10 Longer lines may show places where the genome is more tolerant of mutations. Gaps may show critical spots in the genome that cannot tolerate mutations. 20 Total number of amino acid changes in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April 1 10 Longer lines may show places where the genome is more tolerant of mutations. Gaps may show critical spots in the genome that cannot tolerate mutations. 20 Total number of amino acid changes in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April Longer lines may show places where the genome is more tolerant of mutations. Gaps may show critical spots in the genome that cannot tolerate mutations. 1 10 20 30 Total number of amino acid changes in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April Longer lines may show places where the genome is more tolerant of mutations. Gaps may show critical spots in the genome that cannot tolerate mutations. 1 10 20 30

As mutations accumulate in coronavirus genomes, they allow scientists to track the spread of Covid-19 around the world.

The First American Case Jan. 15

On January 15, a man flew home to the Seattle area after visiting family in Wuhan. After a few days of mild symptoms he tested positive for Covid-19. He became the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in the United States.

An X-ray of the patients lungs showed evidence of pneumonia. NEJM

The genome of his virus contained three single-letter mutations also found in viruses in China. They allowed scientists to trace the mans infection to its source.

Genome WA1, collected on Jan. 19 from a man in the Seattle area who visited Wuhan u u c S Genome WA1, collected on Jan. 19 from a man in the Seattle area who visited Wuhan u u c S Genome WA1, collected on Jan. 19 from a man in the Seattle area who visited Wuhan c S u u Genome WA1, collected on Jan. 19 from a man in the Seattle area who visited Wuhan c S u u

Identical genomes collected on Jan. 21 in Fujian and Guangdong provinces u u c S Identical genomes collected on Jan. 21 in Fujian and Guangdong provinces u u c S Identical genomes collected on Jan. 21 in Fujian and Guangdong provinces c S u u Identical genomes collected on Jan. 21 in Fujian and Guangdong provinces c S u u

Seattle Wuhan Fujian Guangdong Seattle Wuhan Fujian Guangdong Wuhan Fujian Guangdong Seattle Wuhan Fujian Guangdong Seattle

Seattles Hidden Epidemic Feb. 24

Five weeks later, a high school student in Snohomish County, Wash., developed flu-like symptoms. A nose swab revealed he had Covid-19. Scientists sequenced the genome of his coronavirus sample and found it shared the same distinctive mutations found in the first case in Washington, but also bore three additional mutations.

Genome WA2, collected on Feb. 24 from a high-school student in the Seattle area u u u g u c I L C S Genome WA2, collected on Feb. 24 from a high-school student in the Seattle area u u u g u c I L C S Genome WA2, collected on Feb. 24 from a high-school student in the Seattle area c S u g C u L u u I Genome WA2, collected on Feb. 24 from a high-school student in the Seattle area c S u g C u L u u I

That combination of old and new mutations suggested that the student did not acquire the coronavirus from someone who had recently arrived from another country. Instead, the coronavirus was probably circulating undetected in the Seattle area for about five weeks, since mid-January.

Since then, viruses with a genetic link to the Washington cluster have now appeared in at least 14 states and several countries around the world, as well as nine cases on the Grand Princess cruise ship.

Genome collected on March 5 from two passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship u g u u u u c L C N S Genome collected on March 5 from two passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship u g u u u u c L C N S Genome collected on March 5 from two passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship c S u u g C u L u u N Genome collected on March 5 from two passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship c S u u g C u L u u N

Early Transmission in California Feb. 26

A different version of the coronavirus was also secretly circulating in California. On Feb. 26, the C.D.C. announced that a patient in Solano County with no known ties to any previous case or overseas travel had tested positive.

A sample taken the next day revealed that the virus did not have the distinctive mutations found in Washington State. Instead, it only had a single mutation distinguishing it from the original Wuhan genome. That indicates that it got to California through a separate introduction from China.

Genome UC4, collected on Feb. 27 from a patient in Solano County, Calif. u V Genome UC4, collected on Feb. 27 from a patient in Solano County, Calif. u V Genome UC4, collected on Feb. 27 from a patient in Solano County, Calif. u V Genome UC4, collected on Feb. 27 from a patient in Solano County, Calif. u V

One known and one unknown introduction Seattle Wuhan Solano County One known and one unknown introduction Seattle Wuhan Solano County One known and one unknown introduction Wuhan Seattle Solano County One known and one unknown introduction Wuhan Seattle Solano County

Two healthcare workers who cared for the patient also became sick. Along with the patients mutation, their sample had additional mutations.

Genome UC2, collected on Feb. 27 from a healthcare worker who cared for the patient u c ctg V T Genome UC2, collected on Feb. 27 from a healthcare worker who cared for the patient u c ctg V T ctg Genome UC2, collected on Feb. 27 from a healthcare worker who cared for the patient c T u V ctg Genome UC2, collected on Feb. 27 from a healthcare worker who cared for the patient c T u V

A Torrent of Viruses

In January and February, more people arrived in the United States carrying coronaviruses of their own. Some viruses carried mutations indicating they had arrived from China or other parts of Asia. But in New York City, the majority of viruses researchers isolated from patients were genetic matches to viruses that had been circulating in Europe.

Shanghai to Munich Jan. 19

On Jan. 19  the same day the first Washington patient tested positive for Covid-19  a woman from Shanghai landed in Munich. Not long before the trip, her parents from Wuhan had paid her a visit. By the time she got to Munich she felt only mild symptoms, which she put down as jet lag.

The woman was employed by a German auto parts supplier. The day after she arrived, she went to a company meeting. Several other employees at the meeting got sick and tested positive for Covid-19. The coronavirus genome from a German man at the meeting had mutations linking it back to China.

Genome BavPat1, collected on Jan. 28 from a German businessman in the Munich area u u c g P G Genome BavPat1, collected on Jan. 28 from a German businessman in the Munich area u u c g P G Genome BavPat1, collected on Jan. 28 from a German businessman in the Munich area g G c P u u Genome BavPat1, collected on Jan. 28 from a German businessman in the Munich area g G c P u u

Munich Shanghai Wuhan Munich Shanghai Wuhan Munich Shanghai Wuhan Munich Shanghai Wuhan

Genetically similar versions of the virus later spread into other parts of Europe, but its unclear if they came from this cluster of cases or from a different introduction.

Welcome to New York March 1

The first confirmed case of Covid-19 in New York was announced on March 1, after a woman living in Manhattan was infected while visiting Iran. Of all the viruses that scientists have studied in New York since then, none bears the mutations in her coronavirus genome. That indicates that her infection was not part of a continuing chain of transmissions.

Genome NY1-PV08001, collected on Feb. 29 from a woman in NYC who had traveled to Iran a g u c u I F Genome NY1-PV08001, collected on Feb. 29 from a woman in NYC who visited Iran a g u c u I F u Genome NY1-PV08001, collected on Feb. 29 from a woman in NYC who visited Iran c u F g a I u Genome NY1-PV08001, collected on Feb. 29 from a woman in NYC who visited Iran c u F g a I

Instead, most of the New York coronaviruses that scientists have sequenced show genetic links to coronaviruses in Europe. Others came from Asia, and still others may have come from other parts of the United States.

Coronavirus infections genetically similar to samples circulating in: Europe and North America Europe Europe Washington BRONX Asia and Oceania MANHATTAN QUEENS BROOKLYN Coronavirus infections genetically similar to samples circulating in: Europe and North America Europe Europe Washington BRONX Asia and Oceania MANHATTAN QUEENS BROOKLYN Coronavirus infections genetically similar to samples circulating in: Europe and North America Europe Europe BRONX Washington Asia and Oceania MANHATTAN QUEENS BROOKLYN Coronavirus infections genetically similar to samples circulating in: Europe and North America Europe Europe BRONX Washington Asia and Oceania MANHATTAN QUEENS BROOKLYN

Reintroductions and Deportations March and April

Soon, the United States and Europe became new sources for introductions to other countries. Dozens of Guatemalans sent on deportation flights from the U.S. later tested positive for the virus, and coronaviruses carrying mutations that arose in Europe have been reintroduced to Asia.

Genome BJ2460, one of three identical samples collected on March 14 in Beijing u u u u u g u g u I L G G I Genome BJ2460, one of three identical samples collected on March 14 in Beijing u u u u u g u g u I L G G I Genome BJ2460, one of three identical samples collected on March 14 in Beijing u I g G u g G u L u I u u u Genome BJ2460, one of three identical samples collected on March 14 in Beijing u I g G u g G u L u I u u u

A nearly identical genome found in three people in Belgium, collected March 1320 u u u u g g L G G A nearly identical genome found in three people in Belgium, collected March 1320 u u u u g g L G G A nearly identical genome found in three people in Belgium, collected March 1320 g G g G u L u u u A nearly identical genome found in three people in Belgium, collected March 1320 g G g G u L u u u

A Slow-Mutating Virus

At this point in the pandemic, coronavirus genomes with 10 or fewer mutations are common, and only a small number have over 20 mutations  which is still less than a tenth of a percent of the genome.

Genome VIC995, collected on March 31 from a woman in Victoria, Australia u u a u a u u Y N V S L Genome VIC995, collected on March 31 from a woman in Victoria, Australia u u a u a u u Y N V S Genome VIC995, collected on March 31 from a woman in Victoria, Australia u S u V a N u a Y u u Genome VIC995, collected on March 31 from a woman in Victoria, Australia u S u V a N u a Y u u

Over time, viruses can evolve into new strains  in other words, viral lineages that are significantly different from each other. Since January, researchers have sequenced many thousands of SARS-CoV-2 genomes and tracked all the mutations that have arisen. So far, they havent found compelling evidence that the mutations have had a significant change in how the virus affects us.

Total number of amino acid substitutions found in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April 1 10 20 Total number of amino acid changes in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April 1 10 20 Total number of amino acid changes in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April 1 10 20 30 Total number of amino acid changes in 4,400 coronavirus genomes from Dec. to April 1 10 20 30

In fact, researchers have found that the coronavirus is mutating relatively slowly compared to some other RNA viruses, in part because virus proteins acting as proofreaders are able to fix some mistakes. Each month, a lineage of coronaviruses might acquire only two single-letter mutations.

In the future, the coronavirus may pick up some mutations that help it evade our immune systems. But the slow mutation rate of the coronavirus means that these changes will emerge over the course of years.

That bodes well for vaccines currently in development for Covid-19. If people get vaccinated in 2021 against the new coronavirus, they may well enjoy a protection that lasts for years.

What We Dont Know

Researchers have only sequenced a tiny fraction of the coronaviruses that now infect over three million people worldwide.

Sequencing more genomes will uncover more chapters in the viruss history, and scientists are particularly eager to study mutations from regions where few genomes have been sequenced, such as Africa and South America.

Genomes tracked by Nextstrain.org, per country 500 100 10 Genomes tracked by Nextstrain.org, per country 500 100 10 Genomes tracked by Nextstrain.org, per country 500 100 10 Genomes tracked by Nextstrain.org, per country 500 100 10



[Join author Carl Zimmer in conversation on Tuesday, May 5: Is There a Drug That Can Stop the Coronavirus?]







Note: The four letters of DNA are A, C, G and T. In RNA molecules like the coronavirus genome, the T (thymine) is replaced with U (uracil).

Sources: Trevor Bedford, Sidney Bell et al., Nextstrain.org; Vaughan Cooper; Ana S. Gonzalez-Reiche et al., medRxiv; Nature; New England Journal of Medicine. Cahill-Keyes World Map projection by Gene Keyes.
Three teenage siblings have drowned in a river in Ebonyi State after they escorted their parents to the farm.

The incident happened in Amauzu-Amaeze, Ishiagu, in Ivo local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the siblings had after work on the farm taken permission to have a bath in the river.

The bodies of the three siblings who attended Comprehensive Secondary School in Ishiagu, were later found floating on the water.

Police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident.

She gave the names of the three as Chisom Goodness Okoro, 18 years; Chinelo Covenant Okoro, 15 years; and Chika Godwin Okoro, 14 years.

Today 28th April, 2020 at about 1100am one Amamuche Okoro Aja of Amauzu Amaeze Ishiagu in Ivo L.G.A of Ebonyi State, reported at Ivo Divisional Headquarters that on the 25 April at about 11 a.m. himself and the wife Catharine Okoro went to the farm together with their three children.

After much work the children excused themselves to get refreshed at a nearby river. Sensing that they had stayed too long, he sent his wife to call the children only to find out that they had all drowned in the said river, she said.

Mr Okoro Aja narrated further that the three corpses were recovered and buried immediately as there was no foul play suspected.

It was learnt that the bodies were buried beside the stream without caskets, as culture and tradition demand in the area.

Mrs Odah said the divisional police officer of the area led a team of police detectives to the scene of the incident and immediately commenced an investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State, CP Awosola Awotinde, mourns and commensurates with the deceased family, the general public especially the people of Amauzu-Amaeze Ishiagu in Ivo L.G.A of the State, for such unfortunate incident, the spokesperson added.
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday morning blasted Vice President Mike Pence for not wearing a coronavirus mask while touring the Mayo Clinic earlier this week.

"Until we get this under control, we can't have the vice president of the United States go to the Mayo Clinic without a mask because that sets an example of recklessness," Cramer said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."

Pence, who leads President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force, suggested to reporters that he did not need to wear a mask because he is tested regularly for Covid-19 and does not have it.

Cramer's criticism of the vice president came as the "Mad Money" host praised Costco for its new policy, starting Monday, requiring all shoppers to wear a face covering in its stores. The retailer already requires its employees to wear masks.

"I think this will be the standard of care two weeks from now," Cramer said, reporting from CNBC headquarters in New Jersey. "I think anyone walking around here or any other place without a mask is going to be considered a health hazard."

Cramer said Costco, not the federal government, is setting the standard. "Costco is going to be right."

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people to use a cloth face covering to protect against the coronavirus. The CDC recommendation, however, was voluntary.

"I know it'll be considered a violation of all your civil liberties" to require masks, Cramer acknowledged. "I really don't care. This is about a national health emergency."

"Remember what this is about is protecting others, not yourself," he added, "I understand you have every right to be selfish about yourself. This is being selfish about others."

The White House was not immediately available for comment.

Two days after the Mayo Clinic controversy, Pence wore a mask during Thursday afternoon's visit to an Indiana facility making ventilators.

Pence was touring the General Motors plant in Kokomo with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and GM CEO Mary Barra, all of whom were also wearing masks.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTC: HMTXF) ("Hemostemix" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of David H. Tsubouchi, B.A., J.D., LL.D., D.S.Litt., C.Dir. to its Board of Advisors.

David Tsubouchi is the first Japanese Canadian to be elected to any provincial legislature in Canada and to be appointed as a Cabinet Minister. He has served as the Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Solicitor General, Chair of Management Board and Minister of Culture. Mr. Tsubouchi sits on the boards of OMERS Pension Fund, Lakefront Utilities and the Ontario Arts Council. He has previously served as the Honourary Consul General of Mongolia. As the former Registrar and CEO of the Ontario College of Trades he oversaw the regulation of the skilled trades in Ontario. He has also served as the Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Richmond Hill. His book, Gambatte was nominated for the Speaker's Book Award and the Heritage Toronto Book Award.

"Our team is delighted to be working closely with and taking counsel from David Tsubouchi, as his breadth of experience and relationships of trust span our legal, political, business and finance sectors," said Thomas Smeenk, President & CEO.

"I am looking forward to working with Thomas Smeenk and advising the team at Hemostemix," said David Tsubouchi. "Healthcare is and will continue to be a priority of not only Canada but of the world. An entrepreneurial Canadian stem cell company that has global aspirations and a public good purpose to improve the quality of life of many will be inspirational and exciting to work with," Mr. Tsubouchi said.

ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX

Hemostemix is a publicly traded autologous stem cell therapy company. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company developed and is commercializing its lead product ACP-01 for the treatment of CLI, PAD, Angina, Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and other conditions of ischemia. ACP-01 has been used to treat over 300 patients, and it is the subject of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial of its safety and efficacy in patients with advanced critical limb ischemia who have exhausted all other options to save their limb from amputation.

On October 21, 2019, the Company announced the results from its Phase II CLI trial abstract entitled "Autologous Stem Cell Treatment for CLI Patients with No Revascularization Options: An Update of the Hemostemix ACP-01 Trial With 4.5 Year Followup" which noted healing of ulcers and resolution of ischemic rest pain occurred in 83% of patients, with outcomes maintained for up to 4.5 years.

The Company owns 91 patents across five patent families titled: Regulating Stem Cells, In Vitro Techniques for use with Stem Cells, Production from Blood of Cells of Neural Lineage, and Automated Cell Therapy. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com.

Contact: Thomas Smeenk, President, CEO & Co-Founder

TSmeenk@Hemostemix.com 905-580-4170

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could," or "should" occur. Although Hemostemix believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of Hemostemix management on the date such statements were made. By their nature forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to fund operations and access the capital required to continue operations, the Company's stage of development, the ability to complete its current CLI clinical trial, complete a futility analysis and the results of such, future clinical trials and results, long-term capital requirements and future developments in the Company's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete, risks associated with its strategic alliances and the impact of entering new markets on the Company's operations. Each factor should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties are contained in the Company's filing with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55194
The phase three clinical trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir, led by a team of investigators including an Indian-American physician, for the treatment of the coronavirus patients has shown positive results, an American pharma company announced on Wednesday.

The California-based pharma company Gilead Sciences said that the preliminary results showed that 50 per cent of the COVID-19 patients treated with a 5-day dosage of remdesivir improved and more than half were discharged from the hospital within two weeks. A phase three clinical trial is said to be the final step in the process of the drug approval.

For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here

"Certainly, it's a positive it's a very positive event," Trump told reporters in response to a question on the latest result of the clinical trial of remdesivir.

The White House described the development as "quite good news".

The pharma company also said that it is also aware of positive data emerging from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAID) study of the investigational antiviral remdesivir for the treatment of the COVID-19.

"We understand that the trial has met its primary endpoint and that NIAID will provide detailed information at an upcoming briefing," it said.

Remdesivir is not yet licensed or approved anywhere globally and has not been demonstrated to be safe or effective for the treatment of the COVID-19.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

The study sought to determine whether a shorter, five-day course of remdesivir would achieve similar efficacy results as the 10-day treatment regimen used in multiple ongoing studies of remdesivir, the company said.

"These data are encouraging as they indicate that patients who received a shorter, 5-day course of remdesivir experienced similar clinical improvement as patients who received a 10-day treatment course," said Aruna Subramanian, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Chief, Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, and one of the lead investigators of the study.

"While additional data are still needed, these results help to bring a clearer understanding of how treatment with remdesivir may be optimised, if proven safe and effective," Subramanian said.

The company said it will share additional remdesivir data from the company's open-label Phase three SIMPLE trial in patients with severe COVID-19 disease shortly.

Dr Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, told reporters at a media briefing with Trump that Gilead results from the remdesivir clinical trial for treating the disease showed "quite good news".

"So that's something that will go with 31 per cent improvement, doesn't seem like a knock out, 100 per cent, it is a very important proof of concept," Fauci said.

"This is very optimistic, the mortality rate trended towards being better in the sense of less deaths in the REM designate group. Eight per cent versus 11 per cent in the placebo group. So bottom line. You're going to hear more details about this this will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal, and will be peer reviewed appropriately," said Fauci.

In an earlier interview to Stanford Medicine, Subramanian said that during normal times, a phase three clinical trial typically takes months of planning, after years of research before it is underway.

"But these aren't normal times. With a fast-moving pandemic bearing down and no approved treatments available, researchers are, like everyone else, desperate for answers, and they have ramped up their efforts to find solutions. Remdesivir jumped to the top of the list of potential treatments in part because it was farthest along in the approval process," Subramanian said.

By the end of February, as the virus spread in the United States, there were at least five clinical trials of remdesivir underway.

China initiated the first two studies in February, followed later that month by the Gilead trials for severe and moderate patients and the NIH trial. By the end of March, Gilead had expanded to 100 testing sites both in the United States and abroad, and the NIH trial had expanded to 60 sites, 50 of those in the United States, Stanford Medicine reported.

A coronavirus infection occurs when the germ enters the body's airways through the nose, mouth or eyes, then lodges in the cells in the lining of the lung's airways, where it quickly starts to make millions of copies of itself, wreaking havoc on the lungs, Subramanian told the Medical publication.

The virus makes copies of itself by inserting its own genes into the human cell's genetic machinery, basically hijacking the replication process of the human cell.

Remdesivir, like other anti-virals, is designed to target the system the virus uses to replicate, acting as a cap that prevents the virus from making new copies of itself or infecting other cells, she said.
Though they have complained about the challenges of organizing online training, schools agree that now is the right time to digitize university education.

A leader of Thai Nguyen University said since the beginning of 2020, the university has increased online classes and maintained all ordinary activities.





The school has faced problems organizing online teaching becaude of the lack of experience and learning tools since 70 percent of students are from mountainous and remote ethnic minority areas. However, the leaders of the school consider online teaching as a basic training mode.



To date, online training has been applied to more than 90 percent of subjects at the school.



At Dong Nai University of Technology, in addition to online teaching, the school organizes online exams and assesses students abilities through Webex Meetings.



To date, oral exams, major exercises and essays for the second semester have been completed with online exams with high student participation rate of 93.8 percent.

Though they have complained about the challenges of organizing online training, schools agree that now is the right time to digitize university education.

According to Duong Thang Long, vice rector of the Hanoi Open University, 42 percent of students at the school have fully been involved in online learning.



From late February to early April, there were more than 1 million accesses to online classes and more than 1,600 credit-based classes opened on LMS with online learning time of more than 14 million minutes.



Long said the university is considering organizing online semester-end exams.



Lecturers will raise questions directly and online to students, he explained. Students will also defend their theses online."



Approaching online teaching mode, the HCM City University of Technology and Education began applying blended learning before the epidemic outbreak. Students study theory online first, and then they go to class and apply the knowlege they receive in projects.



Do Van Dung, rector of the school, said that thanks to blended learning, students of the school won first prizes at the competitions for students doing research for the last three years. When the epidemic broke out, students quickly got used to the 100 percent online learning schedule.



We have opened 5,300 online classes so far this epidemic. All the activities of the school have been organized as usual, Dung said, adding that 100 percent of permanent lecturers of the school teach online and 23,000 students attend the classes.



The school plans to continue organizing online classes until the end of the second semester, even if the epidemic ends. Students will go to school just for practical lessons.



The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) is amending some regulations on full-time university education, allowing schools to carry out online training hours at a certain level.

Le Huyen

Vietnamese teachers, students frustrated with online teaching Students play truant to avoid learning, teachers are confused about teaching aids, and apps for online learning have security risks.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rejected US arguments for fielding low-yield nuclear warheads, warning that an attempt to use such weapons against Russia would trigger an all-out nuclear retaliation. The US State Department argued in a paper released last week that fitting the low-yield nuclear warheads to submarine-launched ballistic missiles would help counter potential new threats from Russia and China.

It charged that Moscow in particular was pondering the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons as a way of coercion in a limited conflict - an assertion that Russia has repeatedly denied. The State Department noted that the new supplemental warhead reduces the risk of nuclear war by reinforcing extended deterrence and assurance. The Russian Foreign Ministry sees it otherwise.

The ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, commented on the State Department's paper at a briefing on Wednesday, emphasizing that the U.S. shouldn't view its new low-yield warheads as a flexible tool that could help avert an all-out nuclear conflict with Russia.

"Any attack involving a US submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), regardless of its weapon specifications, would be perceived as a nuclear aggression, Zakharova said.

Those who like to theorize about the flexibility of American nuclear potential must understand that in line with the Russian military doctrine such actions are seen as warranting retaliatory use of nuclear weapons by Russia.

Zakharova cast the US deployment of low-yield warheads as a destabilizing move that would result in lowering the nuclear threshold.

US-Russian differences on nuclear arms issues come as relations between Moscow and Washington are at post-Cold War lows over the Ukrainian crisis and the accusations of Russian meddling in the US 2016 presidential election. Last year, both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The only U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control agreement still standing is the New START treaty, which was signed in 2010 by U.S. President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify the compliance.

Russia has offered to extend the New START that expires in February 2021, while the Trump administration has pushed for a new arms control pact that would also include China. Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing's refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much smaller nuclear arsenal.

In a statement Wednesday marking the 10th anniversary of signing the New START, the Russian Foreign Ministry hailed the treaty as an instrument that helps ensure predictability in the nuclear sphere and reaffirmed Moscow's offer to extend it without any preconditions.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It has been more than a month since New York Citys 1.1 million public school students -- the largest school system in the United States -- began remote learning after schools closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

School teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and therapists have been working for weeks to find new ways to engage students from 3 to 18 years old -- providing much-needed services, ensuring students are learning, and also meeting social-emotional needs.

When Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on March 15 that schools would close and move to remote learning, teachers were brought into their schools for three to four days of professional development.

There was only one week to prepare for the tools and resources educators would need to successfully conduct remote learning -- something that has never been done on this scale before.

What the schools have pulled off is nothing short of a miracle, Michael Mulgrew told the Advance/SILive.com. I mean, theres never been a plan or training or anything about this stuff. And you have certain schools, Oh we use Google. Using Google inside a classroom with the children sitting in front of you is one thing versus using Google with 27 kids all at a different house."

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

LEARNING CURVE

It has been a learning curve for educators to teach their students from their home rather than in the classroom. Teachers had to prepare lesson plans and assignments, while also missing the students they wont likely see for the rest of the school year.

But educators and administrators have thought of unique ways to engage their students and bring joy to them during a difficult time. This includes uploading daily morning announcements on YouTube, creating fun dance compilation videos among staff, saying the Pledge of Allegiance or listening to a read-aloud on video, and sending other inspirational messages.

And parents -- many who may still be working from home or are essential workers -- were thrust into a teacher role to help their kids with daily assignments and projects if needed. Many teachers are also parents themselves -- juggling educating their students remotely while also helping their own children.

What they have pulled off has been amazing. Its really been -- it hasnt been anyone from above teaching them how to do this, they all have figured this out on their own," said Mulgrew.

GRADING CHANGES

New York City teachers will also be grading their students differently due to remote learning for elementary and middle school students for the rest of the year.

We want to make sure the grading policy we use now fits the moment were in now and the reality of our kids, our parents, our educators now, said de Blasio during a press conference this week.

De Blasio announced that the city would immediately launch its new grading policy to keep students engaged in remote learning, uphold course requirements and maintain high expectations. The city will work to reach every student who may not be meeting standards by providing extra support to get them back on track, according to the mayor. The policy also aims to provide flexibility students and families need.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will receive either a Meets Standards or Needs Improvement grade, and middle school students will receive a Meets Standards, Needs Improvement, or Course In Progress" grade. Students in elementary and middle schools who cant demonstrate mastery or dont submit or complete work will be enrolled in summer programming, according to the new policy.

High school students will continue to be graded using existing grading scales. As part of the new policy, high school students will also have the option after receiving a passing letter grade to convert that grade to a pass rating. That means that if a student chooses to keep his or her passing letter grade, it will be included in the overall grade point average (GPA). Converting to a pass rating will not affect the GPA.

EMERGENCY REMOTE TEACHING

Joseph Frusci, a teacher at Staten Island Technical High School in New Dorp and professor at the College of Staten Island (CSI) in Willowbrook, explained that there is a difference between emergency remote learning and online learning.

Emergency remote teaching is what youre seeing now," Frusci said. "Online learning -- theres a process in place for that. You have pre-recorded videos, you have live sessions that are set up ahead of time, you have discussion boards that take place. And the students understand what theyre getting into as theyre registering for those courses or taking those courses, whatever it might be. They know what theyre getting into. With emergency remote learning, its a different animal altogether.

He said the transition in his CSI course has been easier because the class was originally planned as a hybrid course -- which meant students were previously attending both in-person lectures and participating in online assignments.

Frusci said that the Staten Island Tech leadership team members, long with Principal Mark Erlenwein, have been forward-thinking when it comes to technology. The school was an early adopter of Google Classroom -- an online tool many schools are now using for remote learning to upload and grade assignments.

Before remote learning began, teachers at Staten Island Technical High School would start their day by setting up Google Classroom and posting assignments, engaging students in discussions, Frusci recalled.

For some New York City teachers, the idea of video chatting to give a lesson is something new.

Frusci explained that there hasnt been a dramatic difference in learning among students in his computer science and cybersecurity classes due to the computer-driven nature of the courses themselves.

However, he said he doesnt know what remote learning looks like for other classes and grade levels, and that the distance learning model needs to be rethought. He added that the city Department of Education (DOE) should take time to rethink how remote learning could look if it happened again.

I think, depending on the grade level, depending on the type of instruction youre doing, this can either be very beneficial for students or set them back, he said. I dont know what labs look like if youre in, lets say a chemistry class or bio class, or physics and youre doing lab. I dont know what that looks like in an online setting.

WILL SOME FALL FURTHER BEHIND?

Noliwe Rooks, a professor of literature at Cornell University, said school districts easily transitioning to online learning typically have students with the same skills and socioeconomic backgrounds.

It would not seem to bode well for the New York City public schools, given the demographics -- but we dont know how its going to turn out, but we know it [online learning] works best with students whose basic skills are intact, she said.

Students who know the basics, have an innate curiosity, and often test at the upper levels of standardized testing will do well in online learning, she said. But for those who are grade levels behind and who dont know the fundamentals, online learning is often a complete disaster."

The longer that this goes on and as long as were clear this is going to go on...at least until May, the children who are struggling, who are already behind grade level, who are socio-economically vulnerable, who are homeless, are going to fall farther behind, Rooks explained. And thats not my wish for them. But all the data that I know -- thats whats going to happen.

Some advocacy groups have also expressed concerns that the citys large population of at-risk students is particularly at risk of falling behind.

We remain very concerned about the needs of kids who are most at-risk, said Raysa S. Rodriguez, associate executive director for policy and advocacy for Citizens Committee for Children. The crisisthey often say it doesnt discriminate, everyone is impacted. But having said that, there are folks who are going to be hit the hardest in terms of not only recovery but managing through this crisis. So one group that thats particularly true for is students of low-income families, as well as students in temporary housing."

She pointed to the fact that even before the coronavirus outbreak hit, the homeless student population was already far behind when you look at their outcomes compared to their permanently housed peers. That includes factors like attendance rate, proficiency in math and English language arts, test scores on standardized exams, and graduation rates.

These were things that we knew were the case and we knew were problematic even before the coronavirus, she added. Now, in light of this public health and economic crisis, the reality is that the conditions and the opportunities for educational gains for these students are even at greater risk.

The DOE has said that for the most vulnerable children, schools are doing check-ins, counseling sessions, and restorative circles remotely.

THE TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE

Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) said the biggest challenge for New York City during remote learning has been obtaining internet and device access for all students.

Staten Island -- were in a pretty good place, he said. Although we still have many in our community who dont have access to internet service or dont have laptops to be able to get on Google Classroom and things like that. But think about that throughout the city for 1.1 million students.

While many families were able to quickly and easily adapt to remote learning, some students still may not have access to internet-enabled devices to participate.

De Blasio initially said the city identified 300,000 students who may be without technology to be able to effectively move to remote learning, and that the city would purchase 300,000 Apple iPads to distribute to students who needed them, with priority on students most in need.

De Blasio announced this week that that 247,000 New York City families who requested tech through the agencys device survey will receive the equipment by the end of April.

Before the survey began, 175,000 devices were distributed via school sites. Devices continue to be distributed as families request them through an online form.

Remote learning devices were first prioritized for students living in homeless shelters, in temporary housing, as well as other vulnerable children.

Frusci said Staten Island Technical High School has a one-to-one student to device policy. That means every student who attends the school has a device, whether it is one he or she has from home or one provided by the school. The policy has led to a nearly seamless transition for the high school.

If were going to move to this [remote learning] model in emergency situations or snow days or whatever it might be, they need to really invest in technology -- meaning one-to-one devices, Frusci said. Meaning every student should at least be provided a [Google] Chromebook, an iPad or something.

He said one-to-one devices should be a standard for all schools -- no matter student performance levels.

I think every student should be treated equally. I think that would just bring equity to education, he said. Every student [is] provided a device which they can use for remote learning -- whether its emergency remote learning or traditional well thought-out online learning.

RISK OF EDUCATIONAL PLAGUE

Reilly said that after the coronavirus pandemic ends, there should be an after-action report from the City Council, as well as discussions on legislature and with the New York State Education Department regarding online learning in the future.

We should all be looking to when this is done -- [to] look at how the positives and the negatives and truly prepare, he said.

Rooks suggested schools begin the process of preparing students for when in-person classroom instruction begins again, and how to catch those students back up.

Otherwise, this is going to be kind of an educational plague, she said. Its going to widen some distances. Its going to increase issues if you dont prepare now what is more than likely coming.

At the time of publication of this report, the DOE had not responded to a request for comment regarding the impact of remote learning on New York City students and specifics for handling any needed catch-up instruction.

38 Life on lockdown: Coronavirus in NYC

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Russian government extended the ban on foreigners entering Russia until the situation with the coronavirus improved, said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

The PM noted that so far it is impossible to give an exact date when the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus will be completely lifted, including the crossing of Russian borders, TASS reported.

Until April 30, inclusive, there is a restriction on entry into Russia for foreign citizens,

Mishustin added that entry restrictions will be lifted for certain categories of foreign citizens, including for specialists who are adjusting and maintaining imported equipment.

Such a measure will reduce the negative impact of restrictions on the activities of Russian industrial enterprises, including those that manufacture equipment to combat coronavirus infection, he noted.

Earlier, the Russian government temporarily prohibited foreigners and stateless persons from entering the country until May 1. This restriction also applied to those arriving from Belarus.

An exception to this rule was made for foreign diplomats, members of their families, truck drivers, people with ordinary private visas issued in special cases by decision of the MFA, family members of Russian citizens and certain categories of citizens of countries with which Russia has visa-free agreements travel.
In chat with Rahul Gandhi, Raghuram Rajan says India can lead global dialogue in re-thinking economy

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 30: Former RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan said that India can assume a leadership role in shaping the economy after the COVID-19 crisis.

In an interaction with Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, Rajan said incidents such as coronavirus rarely have any positive results for any country. However, this crisis will enable a rethinking of everything in the global economy.

India can assume the leadership role in shaping that dialogue and to be a leader in that dialogue, Rajan also said.

Sitharaman refutes Rahul Gandhi's claims on loan write off, says Congress misled people

There will have to be a re-thinking of everything the global economy once we are out of this, If there is an opportunity for India, it is in shaping that dialogue and in being the leader in that dialogue, the former RBI chief said.

He also said India is not one of the warring parties, but a country big enough to have its voice heard in the global economy. He however added that going for a second or third lockdown to check the spread of the virus will be devastating for the country's economy.

Second or third lockdown will be devastating. It would diminish our credibility. We do not have to aim for 100 per cent success. It is not possible. We have to manage the re-opening, he said.
Getty

This article was updated with comment by one of the alleged murder targets, Prague district mayor Ondrej Kolar, at 4:30 a.m. EDT, May 1, 2020.

MOSCOWTwenty years into the rule of former KGB operative Vladimir Putin, the Kremlins reputation for assassination is such that almost no plot seems too far-fetched, from bloody shootingsbullets in the back, for instanceto suspicious defenestrations: liquidations known in the trade as wet work. Theres also been a penchant for wildly exotic poisons that seem intended as Kremlin calling cards, reminding Putins enemies, when eventually discovered, of the nuclear, biological, and chemical arsenal he controls as well as his very long reach.

So, when a magazine in the Czech Republic reported over the weekend that two prominent politicians in Prague were targeted by a Russian assassin in retaliation for affronts to Moscowand that the lethal weapon of choice was ricin, an infamous toxinthe article was taken seriously enough in Moscow and Prague to spark official responses.

Ondrej Kundra, a journalist for the Czech magazine Respect, wrote on Sunday that a Russian man entered Prague some weeks ago with an unspecified quantity of ricin in his suitcase and murderous intent.

Revealed: The Secret KGB Manual for Recruiting Spies

If ricin is injected into the bloodstream, even 22 millionths of one gram can prove fatal; if ingested orally, a few grams are required. Ricin dust blown into the eyes can be deadly as well.

The poison, extracted from castor beans, was a famous component in the KGB array of toxins used to assassinate people from Eastern Europe during the Cold War, including one famous case where a Bulgarian dissident writer was killed in London with a tiny ricin-laced pellet shot into his leg from the tip of a KGB-confected umbrella.

After publication of Kundras story, A Man With Ricin, it became public knowledge that three Czech citizensPragues Mayor Zdenek Hrib, Prague 6th District Mayor Ondrej Kolar, and political analyst Pavel Novotnyhave been under police protection since early April.

Story continues

In Russia, the foreign ministry glibly dismissed the allegation as the result of a fevered imagination, perhaps brought on by the coronavirus.

The article leaves much to be desired in terms of solid information. It is vaguely sourced, and lacking all sorts of critical details.

In other assassination plots tracked to the doors of the Kremlin, there were some efforts to disguise the killers origins. Investigators had to peel back layers of concealment before finding the signature poison and tracking those who delivered it.

In 2018, for instance, undercover Russian military intelligence officers eventually identified as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Bashirov nearly killed Russian defector Sergei Skripal and his daughter, and did kill an innocent bystander, with the nerve agent novichok developed by the Soviets. But Petrov and Bashirov had traveled with false documents under assumed names. The mysterious man from Kundras story traveled openly on a diplomatic passport, it seems, was not detained, and if he had any ricin with him, may well have held onto it.

Where did the so-far nameless man travel from? How much ricin did he have in his suitcase? How did the alleged assassin get away with the poison, if the special services knew about the threat? The author could not answer any of these questions. I only know that he arrived before April 10, Kundra told The Daily Beast in a telephone interview. I cannot even find out how he could arrive in my country during the COVID-19 shutdown.

And why would Russia target two municipal officials in Prague? Kundra suggested an answer to this one: To send a message to all other Czech politicians: If you promote anti-Kremlin policies, you will be rubbed out.

Soviet Scientist Who Developed Novichok Poison Used on Sergei Skripal: Im Sorry

The Czech foreign ministry confirmed to The Daily Beast that a member of the Russian embassy in Prague had returned to Prague from a business trip a few weeks ago and was picked up at the airport by his colleagues. We cant confirm or disprove the rest of the story.

Russian and Czech officials have been at odds since Pragues Mayor Hrib, one of the alleged targets for the ricin poison, renamed the square in front of the Russian embassy after Boris Nemtsov, the leader of opposition to Putin in Russia who was gunned down just outside the Kremlin walls five years ago. But this renaming of streets and squares in front of Russian embassies is not entirely new. Its something of an international movement promoted, not least, by Nemtsovs daughter, Zhanna.

A stretch of Wisconsin Avenue in front of the massive Russian embassy compound in Washington, D.C. was renamed Boris Nemtsov Plaza two years ago, and Lithuania has done much the same thing. When Prague followed suit in February this year, it denied officially that it was trolling Moscowbut of course it was.

The Kremlin was further offended when the mayor of Pragues 6th district, Ondrej Kolar, removed the statue of a Soviet-era commander, Ivan Konev, on April 3. Russia regards Konev as a Soviet hero, mainly for his actions in World War II, while many Czechs remember him as a symbol of repression for his role helping to crush the Hungarian uprising of 1956 and the Prague Spring of 1968.

That the Konev statue was brought down so soon before the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany on May 8 is especially galling for Moscow. By demolishing Konevs monument, they took a piss on the graves of millions of Russian soldiers who were victims of Nazis, Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political analyst, told The Daily Beast.

The Russian foreign ministry also protested the statues removal, but said any suggestion that such desecration would provoke an assassination plot is a a sick fantasy. Still, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, Prague should fully realize how serious the consequences of such methods and manipulations [of information] could be. A state newspaper, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, mocked the Czech authorities reaction to Kundras article: It turns out coronavirus does not destroy just the lungs but also the human mind, the newspaper wrote.

Though partly obscured by the COVID-19 pandemic, the dispute between Prague and Moscow has continued to escalate. The suggestive equivocation of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis seemed to add credibility to the magazine report: Its not acceptableif its truefor a foreign state to take action against our citizens here. We will certainly not allow any big world powers to influence our political affairs in any way, Babis said.

Now several days have passed, but the Czech government has not released any more details about the mysterious alleged assassin, who would seem to be still in Prague in the Russian embassy.

One of the alleged targets, District Mayor Ondrej Kolar, told The Daily Beast that he did not have any details about the alleged assassin. All I know is that there is a threat linked to the Russian Federation serious enough for police to put me and other two Prague officials under protection, he said.

Kolar noted that the Russian minister of culture had called him a gauleiter, an offical appointed by the Nazis, while a Russian professor declared that he should be assassinated like Reinhard Heydrich, the Nazi SS commander known as "the Butcher of Prague" who was killed by the resistance in 1942.

Such words of course encourage both Russians and their Czech fans to threaten me and my family, said Kolar, so I receive emails with photos of guns, messages that call to torture and brutally rape my partner and get our children killedsounds like these people would like to see us die.

Skeptics have suggested propaganda agendas on both sides of the ricin allegation. The story is very poorly sourced, says Joseph Fitsanakis, a scholar of Russian security service operations and professor in the Intelligence and National Security Program at Coastal Carolina University in the United States. I would not recommend any reporter treat it as a fact. Fitsanakis noted an infamous incident in 2018 in Ukraine when a reporter working with Kyivs security services allowed them to fake his assassination by a Russian hit team.

If there was a poison plot in Prague, there would be ample circumstantial evidence to back up the story and incriminate accomplices, Fitsanakis suggested. Considering how many cameras there are in Prague, such an operation would mean burning several Russian agents, Fitsanakis said. I would not hurry at this point to point the finger at the Russians, though he cited a dozen or so recent assassinations in Europe with likely Russian involvement, and added, It is also important to note that Russian wet work displays an impressive array of methods of killing.

One of the first poisonings allegedly ordered by Putin that drew major international attention was the murder of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 using the rare radioactive isotope polonium 210.

When security analysts discuss the use of poison as an instrument of policy by the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia, they sometimes suggest an analogy with the United States targeted killing program using drones. And to be sure, U.S. President Donald Trump seems attracted by the idea that theres moral equivalency, at least when rationalizing Moscow's actions. As The New York Times reported last year, when London was pushing for the White House to expel dozens of suspected Russian operatives in the wake of the Skripal incident, Trump initially wrote off the poisoning, in the Times words, as part of legitimate spy games, distasteful but within the bounds of espionage.

Over the years, Soviet secret services experimented with various poisons including arsenic, thallium, atropine, and warfarin, sometimes seeking a type of death that might appear natural. A KGB officer who defected to Western Germany, Bohdan Stashynsky, has testified that dozens of assassinations on foreign soil were personally authorized by the senior leadership of the KGB and Communist Party. Many were never reported as murders.

Another defector, the former KGB general Oleg Kalugin, now lives in Washington. Kalugin remembers the day he received sanctions for the assassination in 1978 of Georgiy Markov, the Bulgarian dissident writer in London.

I was in the room with the head of KGB, Yuriy Andropov, and the head of foreign intelligence, Vladimir Kryuchkov, 85-year-old Kalugin told The Daily Beast in a phone interview on Wednesday. Andropov told me he was against political assassinations, but Kryuchkov insisted that if we didnt give Bulgarians the umbrella with poison, they would fire our friend, the head of foreign intelligence. So Andropov agreed and we passed the umbrella to Bulgarians.

Under Putin, Russia convicted Kalugin in absentia for treason in 2002, which may give him a special interest in these matters.

The general says that the Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB, and the GRU, Russian military intelligence, inherited the secret poison labs. And apparently, those in charge are not counting on the coronavirus to do their work for them.

Kalugins former colleague, Colonel Mikhail Lyubimov, spied in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia for two decades and later, after the fall of the Soviet Union, remained in Russia, where he wrote books full of anecdotes about KGB activity. But Lyubimov says he does not find the Prague scandal convincing.

The radioactive polonium poisoning in London in 2006, he said, was a shameful operation, judging by reports, since the assassins left traces of polonium 210 scattered around the city and on the plane they flew home on.

I feel embarrassed, he said. KGB operations were thoroughly planned, double checked. There are much simpler ways to kill a person. He suggested rogue officers might be to blame. There might be some gang operating around the world, who knows, there are too many betrayers of Russia these days.

But "within the bounds of espionage" assassinations are one tool, and propaganda another, and they sometimes overlap. What's certain is that the alleged victims of the Prague poison plot are still alive. But the ricin, if it ever existed, is still out there.

Christopher Dickey also contributed to this article.

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President Donald Trump said Sweden is 'paying heavily' for not enforcing a coronavirus lockdown - as the country confirmed a near-record number of new infections today.

Schools, restaurants and hair salons across Sweden have remained open amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which has infected upwards of 3.2million people globally.

The World Health Organisation yesterday praised the Scandinavian country as a 'model' in the fight against the virus, claiming there are 'lessons to be learned' from the nation's response.

Dr Mike Ryan, an emergencies expert at WHO, said: 'I think there's a perception out that Sweden has not put in control measures and just has allowed the disease to spread, nothing can be further from the truth.'

He added that Sweden had demonstrated the 'new normal', explaining: 'It has relied on the willingness of its citizens to implement self-distancing and self-regulate.'

But Trump said Sweden has paid the price for its relaxed response, writing in a tweet this afternoon: 'Despite reports to the contrary, Sweden is paying heavily for its decision not to lockdown.

President Donald Trump (pictured) said Sweden is 'paying heavily' for not enforcing a coronavirus lockdown as deaths in the Scandinavian nation continue to rise

But Trump has questioned the country's response, writing in a tweet this afternoon: 'Despite reports to the contrary, Sweden is paying heavily for its decision not to lockdown'

'As of today, 2462 people have died there, a much higher number than the neighbouring countries of Norway (207), Finland (206) or Denmark (443).

'The United States made the correct decision!'

Following Trump's comments, Sweden announced its second-highest jump in cases with 790 new infections - at a time when much of Europe is seeing a slowdown in numbers.

The rise from 20,302 cases to 21,092 came alongside 124 more deaths, bringing the total from 2,462 to 2,586.

The US has currently confirmed 1,053,036 cases of Covid-19, with the death toll yesterday surpassing Trump's 'best case' scenario of 60,000.

But Sweden has a higher daily death rate per million people, today recording 7.43 deaths per million against 6.12 in the US.

Sweden has a high daily death rate per million people, shown on this graph, today recording 7.43 deaths per million against 6.12 in the US

The daily number of cases per million, shown on this graph, is much higher in the US than in Sweden and the UK

People sit outdoors in a park in Stockholm last weekend, enjoying a freedom to go outside which has been heavily restricted in most of Europe

People gather for a picnic in a park in Stockholm, Sweden amid the coronavirus pandemic on April 26

A nurse wearing protective clothing and a face mask looks at blood on an oxygenation machine as she attends to a patient at a hospital near Stockholm earlier this month

However, new data also shows the US has a significantly higher number of daily infections per million. It today reported 82.36 infections per million against Sweden's 67.43.

But neighbours of the Scandinavian nation have recorded a much lower number of coronavirus deaths in total, with 443 confirmed in Denmark amid 9,158 cases - a difference not adequately explained by the size of their populations.

Denmark has already sent children back to primary schools and re-opened some businesses including hair salons and driving schools.

Finland, which declared a state of emergency on March 16 and enforced a lockdown on April 1, currently has 4,995 cases of the virus, with Norway reporting 7,710.

The 790 new cases reported by Sweden today mark its second worst-leap so far, after a rise of 812 was recorded last Friday.

The daily number of cases in Sweden, shown on this graph, was back up to 790 today - the second highest on record, after last Friday's 812

This chart shows the daily number of deaths, which has been heavily affected by delays in reporting weekend cases. Today's figure is 124 new deaths

Although Sweden's figures have been very susceptible to rogue numbers caused by weekend delays, official figures show that 774 new positive tests did actually occur yesterday.

The nation, despite not having enforced the strict lockdown measures adopted by the majority of Europe, has banned gatherings of more than 50 people, closed secondary schools and university campuses and asked at-risk groups to self-isolate.

Swedes have also been banned from visiting care homes in one of the few restrictive measures that the government has imposed.

However, schools for younger children, restaurants and many businesses have remained open to the public.
The Fountain Overflows draws heavily on Wests Edwardian childhood, which was fractured by the absconding of her father, a brilliant but troubled journalist. Wests first-person narrator qualifies as an anti-amnesiac, with a memory so powerful that she can evoke not just the look of the past but also the prevailing mind-set. People felt a continuity of sorts, she points out, between a train and a horse-drawn carriage, with a mechanical hauler (the locomotive) taking the place of an animal one. When the automobile came along, though, it seemed to repeal the laws of physics: The miracle of not being pulled by anything, of the nothingness in front of the driver, was more staggering than can now be believed.
On Thursday, April 30, 2020, Churchill Downs Racetrack received approval from state officials to re-open its stable areas at both Churchill Downs Racetrack and the auxiliary training centre 'Trackside' on Monday, May 11 under strict guidelines to effectively mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

The stable areas will re-open under a phased, systematic approach. Opening day of the 2020 spring meet with spectator-free racing will be communicated in the coming days after track officials evaluate its in-coming horse population and load-in procedures.

We were able to come to an agreement (Tuesday) specifically with the group thats going to start, Churchill Downs, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said during his 5 p.m. news conference Wednesday. They are going to start accepting horses and start accepting folks on their backside  on May 11. There will be no fans for racing. I will tell you this is one of the most detailed plans that we have seen about specific security checks that everybody has to go through and be temperature-checked to masking to having a very limited group that is there.

Churchill Downs, in conjunction with other Kentucky racetracks and the KHRC, has identified specific protocols for its stabling and racing facilities as it relates to COVID-19. A multitude of precautions and procedures based on criteria set by public health experts will be implemented to ensure the safety of all employees, stakeholders and horses.

We truly appreciate the leadership of Governor Beshear and all of the hard work and guidance that state and local officials and public health experts have provided us to safely re-open, said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery. The health and safety of our horsemen, staff and community remains paramount. Strict compliance with our comprehensive COVID-19 Action Plan and social distancing guidelines is our responsible duty to effectively contain the virus.

Racing at Churchill Downs during the spring meet will be conducted spectator-free until government officials approve fans returning to the historic track. Only authorized racetrack employees and KHRC license holders who are providing support for a horse stabled at the facility will be permitted on property. This specifically includes only trainers with horses stabled or racing on the facility grounds and those who are responsible for the care of the horses (veterinarians, grooms, exercise riders and farriers).

Churchill Downs stable areas have been closed since December 31 for annual winter renovations and were originally scheduled to re-open March 17. Because of the unique situation, there will be a phased, systematic and controlled return of horses and their personnel to the stable areas starting on Monday, May 11.

The following is a listing of racetracks and when horses based there may return to Churchill Downs stable areas between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. (all times Eastern):

Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. (May 11-13)

Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Fla. and horses based at Florida training centers (May 14-16)

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. (May 17-19)

All other locales (May 20)

When racing returns to Churchill Downs it will be staged at a minimum of four days per week, Thursday through Sunday. A daily post time for the first race has not yet been finalized. A revised stakes schedule and condition book for the schedule of races also will be issued in the coming days.

Tickets for previously-scheduled May race dates will automatically be refunded at the point of purchase and ticket holders will receive an email with additional details. Tickets for June race dates will be addressed at a later date.

On March 17, it was announced that the 146th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve was rescheduled from Saturday, May 2 to Saturday, September 5.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS COVID-19 ACTION PLAN

PROCEDURES, GUIDELINES AND DIRECTIVES

Pre-entry procedures include wearing at minimum a cloth/mask or face covering prior to entering and all times while on the grounds, COVID-19 testing and passing a medical screening which includes a medical questionnaire and temperature reading.

All individuals who refuse to comply with the COVID-19 Action Plan or those who do not pass the medical screening will be denied entry onto the premises and asked to self-quarantine per CDC guidelines. A log will be kept for individuals that fail initial medical screening so that track security can ensure current CDC self-quarantine timelines have been met prior to attempted re-entry to site.

Each person on the grounds will be given a colour-coded wristband which will validate that person has passed that days screening. Each day a new colour will be used to ensure that all individuals are cleared to be on the grounds.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

In accordance with CDC guidelines, all horsemen and racetrack employees will be required to practice safe social distancing procedures. This includes avoiding group gatherings of any size and maintaining a six-foot social distancing protocol for all interactions. Track security will enforce social distancing policies in effect and repeated non-compliance will result in removal from the site.

ONSITE DAILY CHECK-INS

In addition to screening at the point of entry to the grounds, Churchill Downs will set up a process for daily onsite check-ins to screen individuals residing on the backside. These individuals will be required to report to a designated location on the grounds where they will have their temperature checked and must answer the questions for the medical questionnaire. Tracks will require all trainers to submit a badge list identifying their employees which will be cross-referenced to ensure that all employees are screened daily. Trainers will be advised of any individuals who failed to show up for their daily screening.

At the conclusion of daily screenings, security will also randomly check to make sure horsemen have the current colour-coded wristband for each day. Anyone who does not have the correct wristband will be asked to re-screen immediately.

QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS

Churchill Downs will make medical staff available to provide more detailed medical evaluations for those individuals who do not pass the screening in an effort to determine if they meet the CDC guidelines for quarantining. Those who are not required to quarantine will be allowed to return to their regular assigned area(s) and will continue to participate in daily medical screenings. Those required to quarantine will be asked to report to their trainer to coordinate the offsite quarantine location in accordance with current CDC guidance.

At the conclusion of their CDC recommended duration of quarantine, the individual must be re-evaluated by a medical professional. If the individual still exhibits symptoms associated with COVID-19, the medical professional may recommend additional isolation or off site treatment at that time. Conversely, upon successful medical re-screening, the individual will be allowed to return to their regular assigned area(s) and will continue to participate in daily medical screenings.

ONSITE STABLED HORSES & PERSONNEL PROCEDURES

Personnel are encouraged to increase the frequency of handwashing by utilizing exterior hand sanitizing stations or by utilizing restrooms/bath houses that are stocked with liquid soap.

In addition, sharing of equipment shall be minimized (lead shanks, grooming tools, mucking equipment, etc.). If equipment must be shared among horsemen, it shall be disinfected between uses.

JOCKEYS ROOM

Churchill Downs will ensure that jockeys and staff are adequately spaced out in the jockeys room to comply with proper social distance guidelines. Jockeys shipping in from out of state or are outside of the normal colony will be separated in another room.

GRANDSTAND/FRONTSIDE ACCESS/PADDOCK AREA

Grandstand, frontside and paddock access will be strictly limited to horsemen with horses racing and approved racing officials and track staff. All individuals in these areas will be checked by security personnel to ensure they have the correct colour wristband for access or they will be screened if this is their first time on the grounds that day. Congregating on the apron in large groups will not be allowed. All facilities will remain closed to the general public. There will be no onsite wagering for racing to reduce the likelihood of congregation and to limit touchpoints on the grounds. Paddock access will be limited to the trainer, assistant trainer, groom and horse only.

CLEANING PROTOCOLS FOR BACKSIDE & TRACKSIDE OPERATIONS

Dormitories  To maintain cleanliness within our backside dormitories, track personnel will ensure cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, door handles, handrails and tables, as well as non-porous surfaces in bathrooms, and laundry areas using EPA and CDC approved disinfectants. In addition, wastebaskets will be placed in visible locations and emptied regularly.

Restrooms  All restrooms/bath houses are pre-cleaned daily and routinely cleaned during normal operations provided six-foot social distances practices can be maintained. This includes frequent removal of trash and thorough cleaning of all surfaces. All restrooms/bath houses are stocked with liquid soap and all employees and on-site partners are encouraged to frequently wash their hands.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING

Training has been developed and will be provided to all team members, security and medical personnel on all new procedures and monitoring/reporting requirements. Medical personnel will develop and be trained on procedures to ensure that all suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection are properly communicated, documented and directed to appropriate quarantine facilities.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS

To limit exposure and prevent the spread of germs and disease the following restrictions shall apply:

No fans or media will be allowed at the track;

No guests, no exceptions;

No congregating in any areas;

Official clockers and gap attendants to use their designated space(s) only;

Only trainers and horsemen with horses stabled at Churchill Downs and Trackside and others are responsible for the care of the horses (veterinarians, grooms, exercise riders, farriers) are allowed in the stable area;

Track kitchen will remain open to serve onsite personnel only via carryout orders;

No access wrist bands will be issued to family members or guests of horsemen and racetrack employees; and

Individuals under the age of 16 will be prohibited from entering the barn area at any time.

(Churchill Downs Racetrack)
Jerusalem: Israel seems to be setting a new standard for public protests in the age of coronavirus.

During the past two weekends, thousands of people have gathered in perfect geometric patterns in Tel Aviv's central square to comply with social distancing rules as they express their anger over the continued rule of a Prime Minister charged with serious crimes.

People keep social distancing during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. Credit:AP

The demonstrations, resembling a vast glowing human matrix in stunning aerial photos, have become a symbol of Israel's duelling political and health challenges. They also contrast with other hotspots of civic unrest at a time when gatherings are restricted or banned around the world.

"If we want to succeed, we need to do it the right way," said protest organiser Shikma Schwarzmann. "We obey the law."
(CNN)  Norwegian multimillionaire Tom Hagen has been arrested on suspicion of killing his wife, Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, who disappeared 18 months ago.

Hagen's lawyer denies the property and energy mogul was involved, and he has not yet been charged with any crimes.

Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, 69, disappeared in October 2018 and the family said a ransom had been demanded for her release, but on Tuesday Norwegian police arrested Hagen, 70, on suspicion of killing her, according to public broadcaster NRK.

The case was first reported in January 2019, attracting widespread attention in a nation where crime rates are low.

Police say they now believe Anne-Elisabeth was killed and not abducted, and have enough evidence to "suspect" Tom of her killing.

"It is important to emphasize that although we have charged Tom Hagen, the case is still being investigated and there are several unanswered questions," st Police District said in a statement.

"It will be particularly important to clarify the role played by Tom Hagen, to find Anne-Elisabeth Hagen and to determine whether other people are involved."

"As the case initially appeared, our main theory was that Anne-Elisabeth Hagen had been abducted by someone with a financial motive. And in June 2019, we came to believe that she had most likely been killed," police said.

"We now believe there was no abduction and there was never any genuine negotiations. In other words there was a clear and well-planned attempt at misleading the police," the statement added.

The Norwegian legal system allows police to hold an individual on suspicion of a crime before formal charges are brought.

Hagen's attorney, Svein Holden, said his client denies the accusations.

"He strongly maintains that he has nothing to do with this," he told a group of reporters, according to Reuters.

Hagen will appear in court on Wednesday, the news agency reports.

Police asked the court to remand Hagen in custody for four weeks, with a ban on visits and outside communication, according to the statement.

They initially kept Anne-Elisabeth's disappearance a secret in a bid to protect her but then made the case public in January 2019.

"We can confirm that there is a ransom, and that serious threats have been issued," ystein Stavdal Paulsen, senior adviser of Norway's East Police District, told CNN at the time.

"Regarding the ransom, we do not want to confirm what amount or in what form," he added.

NRK reported at the time that multiple messages were found inside the Hagens' home and that a ransom had been demanded in the cryptocurrency Monero.

Hagen, a real estate investor and power facilities owner, is one of Norway's richest men, with a net worth of around $200 million, according to Norwegian financial magazine Kapital.

Anne-Elisabeth Hagen was a board member of her husband's holding company until September, according to NRK.

The couple lived in Fjellhamar, a village about 12 miles northeast of Oslo, according to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. The couple married in 1979 and have three adult children, it said.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Tom Hagen, one of Norway's richest men, arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife"
[April 30, 2020] Government of Canada introduces new digital initiatives to its suite of virtual tools for COVID-19

OTTAWA, April 30, 2020 /CNW/ - COVID-19 is a global public health challenge that continues to evolve rapidly. The pandemic has greatly changed the daily lives of people around the world, including in Canada, and in response, the Government of Canada is developing digital tools to keep Canadians safe and informed. Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, together with the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Digital Government and the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced two new additions to the Government of Canada's suite of virtual tools to support the health and wellness of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Get Updates on COVID-19 is a web-based email service that provides subscribers with critical information related to the pandemic. Developed by Health Canada, the Canadian Digital Service (CDS), and Service Canada, subscribers to the service will get emails directing them to important and authoritative content on the Government of Canada's COVID-19 website, Canada.ca/coronavirus. In addition, the ArriveCan app, developed in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency, has been launched across the country. It allows travellers returning to Canada to input their 14-day isolation or quarantine information quickly, easily and securely upon arrival. The app works by digitizing the information collected under the current paper form that travellers must complete. This required information includes flight or border crossing details, whether travellers are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, and whether they have quarantine accommodations. Get Updates on COVID-19 and ArriveCan will join the government's suite of digital tools, including the Canada COVID-19 mobile app, which features a symptom tracker, self-assessment tool, and information on mental health and substance use support through the Wellness Together Canada portal. The app is free and available on Canada.ca/coronavirus and through the Apple App Store and Google Play.



Quotes "We continue to act to make sure Canadians have access to updated and accurate information on the virus. I encourage all Canadians to use the Canada COVID-19 mobile app and the other digital tools to stay informed, to check your symptoms and to find help if you feel unwell or unsure."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Health "The collaboration happening across government and with other sectors to bring forward innovative digital solutions, such as Get Updates on COVID-19, to help address the challenges our country is facing during the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. Today's announcement is yet another example of how we are supporting Canadians and improving access to important information and resources." The Honourable Joyce Murray

Minister of Digital Government "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been taking an all-of-government approach to creating solutions that help Canadians stay informed and remain healthy. The ArriveCan app is another example of how we are working together across government to find innovative ways to limit the spread of COVID-19." The Honourable Bill Blair

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Quick Facts Once signed up, Get Updates on COVID-19 will send emails directly to Canadians any time there is an important information update on COVID-19. In every email, there will be a link to more information on Canada.ca/coronavirus.

During the first week of its testing phase, over 10,000 Canadians subscribed to Get Updates on COVID-19 on Canada.ca/covid19updates.

Canadians who choose not to register for the Get Updates on COVID-19 email notification service will still receive emergency notifications on their mobile phone through provincial and territorial Alert Ready text notifications or "Amber Alerts". The email service is separate from existing provincial and territorial emergency alerts.

The ArriveCan app is an alternative to paper forms and limits physical contact between travellers and Border Services Officers and Quarantine Officers. This helps to protect both the travellers and the officers.

The ArriveCan app will not be used to automatically track people's location through their phone or via GPS, nor is it a surveillance tool. The protection of Canadians' information is a priority for the Government of Canada , and any tool used to collect personal information undergoes a rigorous privacy assessment. Associated Links

Canada COVID-19 mobile app

COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool

Get Updates on COVID-19

ArriveCan App SOURCE Health Canada

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By Ashley A. Smith

EdSource

Students from the University of California and California State University systems are suing for refunds of fees for use of gyms, health and student centers that were closed for in-person services because of the coronavirus.

The total can be worth millions of dollars.

The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles and Oakland federal courts on Monday on behalf of more than 700,000 students who paid fees for the spring 2020 academic term but lost the benefits and services that come from those fees because campuses ended in-person instruction in March due to the pandemic.

The fees covered by the lawsuit were paid by students for health facilities and services, instructional-related activities, student association dues and the use of student centers. According to the complaint, depending on the location, fees from CSU could range from $847 to $4,201. On UC campuses, students paid a base of $1,128, plus additional campus-specific fees that could add up to $4,000 more to their bills.

A spokesman for the CSU system said the campuses have been open and offering services to students even though courses were moved online and that they would "vigorously defend against the lawsuit."

Across the state, students have demanded refunds for tuition and fees since being forced out of their dorms and in-person classes. However, these lawsuits don't demand any tuition refunds. Adam Levitt, a co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said the lawsuit doesn't seek tuition refunds because universities are offering classes online and trying to keep students on the path to graduation.

"The complaint misstates the facts," said Mike Uhlenkamp, a CSU spokesman. "Although classes were converted to online instruction after Governor (Gavin) Newsom issued his stay-at-home order, every CSU campus continued to fulfill its mission of providing instruction and services to its students. Campuses continue to operate, and many personal services are now provided remotely, such as counseling, advising, faculty office hours, disability student services and even telehealth medical care."

UC officials declined to comment for this story because they had just learned about the complaint.

"Despite its constructive eviction of students from campus for the remainder of the semester and ending all campus activities for at least that same time period, CSU (and UC) has not offered refunds to students for the unused portion of their campus fees paid to cover the cost of certain on-campus services which are no longer available to students," according to the complaint against CSU.

The UC system announced March 14 that all of its campuses would transition from in-person classes to online for the remainder of the term. The CSU system announced it would do the same March 17. The main plaintiff in the CSU complaint is Akayla Miller, a Sonoma State University student who left the campus in mid-March. In the UC complaint, Claire Brandmeyer, a UC Davis student, is the main plaintiff.

"While both CSU and UC were initially responsible in closing their campuses, it is improper for them to attempt to retain what amounts to many millions of dollars in aggregate in campus fees they collected from their students, even though they terminated the services that these fees covered," said Levitt, a co-counsel for the plaintiffs. "A college education is already a monumental expense for students and their families, and to essentially offer them no relief on these material expenditures, particularly during a time when millions of Americans are struggling financially, is not only tone-deaf but unfair and unlawful."

The universities have been more receptive to refunding or discounting campus dorms, residences and dining plans. UC President Janet Napolitano outlined in a letter to the Legislature that "UC is providing students prorated refunds on their housing and dining services agreements in the event they choose to leave on-campus housing. UC has already lost hundreds of millions in housing and dining revenue from students choosing to leave campuses, and anticipates losing more revenue by the end of the spring term."

Uhlenkamp said the lawsuit also misstates CSU's position on refunds for certain fees. In March, the system published its refund policies for tuition and fees. "Campuses will provide refunds for various categories of fees that are determined to have been unearned by the campus," he said. "These refund policies and procedures are available to all students, and requests for refunds are already being processed remotely."

The California universities are not alone in being sued over student fees, tuition and other costs. Similar lawsuits were filed against universities in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, New York, Liberty University in Virginia, Drexel University in Philadelphia and the University of Miami.

"Thousands of universities and colleges throughout the nation have made fair and appropriate decisions regarding refunds of student fees and room and board payments," said Matthew Miller, a co-counsel to the plaintiffs. "We understand that these institutions face their own financial pressures and that this situation is not easy for anyone. But that doesn't make it right for CSU, UC or any of these schools to pass their losses on to students."

EdSource Reporter Larry Gordon contributed to this report.

This story was originally published by EdSource. Please use the following link when sharing: https://edsource.org/2020/students-sue-california-universities-over-fees-lost-amid-pandemic/630377

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KAMPALA  Media giants Vision Group Uganda and Nation Media Group (NMG) Kenya have announced massive salary cuts as a result of registering low business due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Vision Group owns New Vision, Bukedde TV, Bukedde radio and Bukedde newspaper, Urban TV and a series of upcountry TV, newspapers and radio stations such as Orumuri, TV West, Radio West, Rupiny and Etop.

NMG Kenya on the other hand owns Daily Nation and NTV Kenya, among other Swahili publications and radio stations. Its sister company is NMG Uganda under which Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, Enyanda, KFM, Dembe FM, and other companies fall.

But according to the companies, they have had to cut salaries to remain afloat having suffered massive sales and advertising losses in this period.

Vision Group Chief Executive Officer Robert Kabushenga, in a letter dated April 30, informs all staff that the business has been negatively impacted by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in a more severe manner than could have been foreseen.

the recent downturn requires even more stiff measures to keep the business viable, Kabushenga writes, adding: This necessitates that for the first time in sixteen years management has to take drastic measures to reduce the wage bill.

The Vision boss adds that employees will receive full pay for the month of April 2020 but will effect gross salary reduction effective May 2020 of 60% for employees who earn above Shs19m, 45% for those between Shs8m-9m and 40% for those who earn below Shs8m.

This position will remain in place until further notice. Full details will be communicated in a personal letter to each staff member, Kabushenga said, adding that further measures are still being discussed and staff will be notified accordingly.

It is necessary for these measures to be undertaken to enable the company navigate the difficult market, he concludes.

For NMG Kenya, the CEO, Steven Gitagama said all staff earning above Kshs50,000 (about UGX1.7m) will suffer a cut, which will be determined by the company.

The pay cut ranges from 5% for the lower end of the target group and 35% for the high-end, including the CEO, Mr Stephen Gitagama. Even directors have taken a pay cut on their earnings.

The pay reduction takes effect from 1 May 2020. The staggered pay cut is intended to cushion those who earn less from deep financial pain.

Management has so far undertaken several cost-saving interventions to keep the business running and continue to deliver services to our customers. As part of these measures, the Board of Directors have taken a reduction on their directors fees, reads a statement by NMG CEO Stephen Gitagama.

This is an extremely tough decision, and we understand the impact this will have on you and your family. However, please be assured that we have considered several other alternatives, and the decision taken is the most sustainable option in the current circumstances. This unavoidable action is temporary and will be reviewed every three months depending on the companys performance and as the COVID-19 situation evolves.

However, NMG Uganda is yet to announce the salary cuts.

Related
A research team including research scientist Atsuko Kobayashi from the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan and research scientist Mizuho Koike from the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, have found nitrogen-bearing organic material in carbonate minerals in a Martian meteorite.

This organic material has most likely been preserved for 4 billion years since Mars' Noachian age. Because carbonate minerals typically precipitate from the groundwater, this finding suggests a wet and organic-rich early Mars, which could have been habitable and favourable for life to start.

For decades, scientists have tried to understand whether there are organic compounds on Mars and if so, what their source is. Although recent studies from rover-based Mars exploration have detected strong evidence for Martian organics, little is known about where they came from, how old they are, how widely distributed and preserved they may be, or what their possible relationship with biochemical activity could be.

Martian meteorites are pieces of Mars' surface that were themselves blasted into space by meteor impacts, and which ultimately landed on Earth. They provide important insights into Martian history. One meteorite in particular, named Allan Hills (ALH) 84001, named for the region in Antarctica it was found in 1984, is especially important. It contains orange-coloured carbonate minerals, which precipitated from salty liquid water on Mars' near-surface 4 billion years ago. As these minerals record Mars' early aqueous environment, many studies have tried to understand their unique chemistry and whether they might provide evidence for ancient life on Mars. However, previous analyses suffered from contamination with terrestrial material from Antarctic snow and ice, making it difficult to say how much of the organic material in the meteorite were truly Martian. In addition to carbon, nitrogen (N) is an essential element for terrestrial life and a useful tracer for planetary system evolution. However, due to previous technical limitations, nitrogen had not yet been measured in ALH84001.

This new research conducted by the joint ELSI-JAXA team used state-of-the-art analytical techniques to study the nitrogen content of the ALH84001 carbonates, and the team is now confident they have found the first solid evidence for 4-billion-year-old Martian organics containing nitrogen.

Schematic images of early (4 billion years ago) and present Mars. The ancient N-bearing organics were trapped and preserved in the carbonates over a long period of time. CREDIT Koike et al. (2020) Nature Communications

Terrestrial contamination is a serious problem for studies of extraterrestrial materials. To avoid such contamination, the team developed new techniques to prepare the samples with. For example, they used silver tape in an ELSI clean lab to pluck off the tiny carbonate grains, which are about the width of a human hair, from the host meteorite. The team then prepared these grains further to remove possible surface contaminants with a scanning electron microscope-focused ion beam instrument at JAXA. They also used a technique called Nitrogen K-edge micro X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (-XANES) spectroscopy, which allowed them to detect nitrogen present in very small amounts and to determine what chemical form that nitrogen was in. Control samples from nearby igneous minerals gave no detectable nitrogen, showing the organic molecules were only in the carbonate.

Carbonates plucked from ALH 84001 on the silver tape (left) and their nitrogen XANES spectra with reference compounds (right). Blue colour bar indicates the absorption energy of N-bearing organics. CREDIT Koike et al. (2020) Nature Communications

After the careful contamination checks, the team determined the detected organics were most likely truly Martian. They also determined the contribution of nitrogen in the form of nitrate, one of the strong oxidants on current Mars, was insignificant, suggesting the early Mars probably did not contain strong oxidants, and as scientists have suspected, it was less-oxidizing than it is today.

Mars' present surface is too harsh for most organics to survive. However, scientists predict that organic compounds could be preserved in near-surface settings for billions of years. This seems to be the case for the nitrogen-bearing organic compounds the team found in the ALH84001 carbonates, which appear to have been trapped in the minerals 4 billion years ago and preserved for long periods before finally being delivered to Earth.

The team agrees that there are many important open questions, such as where did these nitrogen-containing organics come from? Kobayashi explains, 'There are two main possibilities: either they came from outside Mars, or they formed on Mars. Early in the Solar System's history, Mars was likely showered with significant amounts of organic matter, for example from carbon-rich meteorites, comets and dust particles. Some of them may have dissolved in the brine and been trapped inside the carbonates.' The research team lead, Koike adds that alternatively, chemical reactions on early Mars may have produced the N-bearing organics on-site. Either way, they say, these findings show there was organic nitrogen on Mars before it became the red planet we know today; early Mars may have been more 'Earth-like', less oxidising, wetter, and organic-rich. Perhaps it was 'blue.'

Reference

Mizuho Koike1, Ryoichi Nakada2, Iori Kajitani1,3, Tomohiro Usui1,4, Yusuke Tamenori5, Haruna Sugahara1, and Atsuko Kobayashi4,6* In-situ preservation of nitrogen-bearing organics in Noachian Martian carbonates, Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15931-4 [open access]

Affiliations

1. Department of Solar System Sciences, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan.

2. Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). 200 Monobe, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan.

3. Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo. 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.

4. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology. 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.

5. Spectroscopy and Imaging Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute. 1-1-1 Koto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan

6. Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, U.S.A.

Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter.
LACK OF CLARITY | No clarity on AIs terms of agreements with aircraft suppliers (Boeing and Airbus) and its vendors. Typically compared to private airlines, AIs terms and conditions are very favourable to the other side, making its own cost of operations very high -- something a new buyer would never have liked.

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Airbus and Boeing, the worlds two biggest commercial aircraft manufacturers, on April 29 announced results for the first three months of 2020.

Both of them are in the red. Airbus reported a net loss of $521 million and Boeing $641 million, both boxed in by the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak that has wrecked the global aviation industry.

While the numbers are a reflection of the slump the industry has been through, the commentary around their results is a sign of things to come.

Here are the five most important learning:

'Worst yet to come'

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The coronavirus might have led to unprecedented financial loss to the aviation sector, but it is not done yet.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury told employees in a mail that even as the European company burns cash at an unprecedented speed, the situation may not reflect the worst-case scenario. It would take, Faury added, anywhere between three to five years for passenger traffic to get to the pre-COVID-19 levels.

COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.

This is not the kind of news that the aviation sector will be looking forward to, even as large part of it look to resume operations.

In India, airlines are waiting for what the government has to say once the lockdown ends on May 3, though restrictions are expected to continue. Flights have been suspended since late March and only a resumption in operations can bring in cash, imperative to meet costs.

The survival of Airbus is in question if we dont act now, Faury said in his mail.

A warning that would have made the European planemakers employees as nervous as the their peers in the aviation industry.

Job cuts

Airbus has already furloughed thousands of employees, including 3,000 at its Wales unit in England alone. It warned of more and Faury's mail signalled that employees have to be prepared for an extreme step.

Boeing, the American counterpart, has said it will cut 10 percent, or 14,000, jobs as it tries to limit costs.

There could be more as losses mount.

This will increase worries for employees of airlines, which have already laid off large parts of their workforce. British Airways has said it will cut up to 12,000 jobs.

In India, carriers such as GoAir and SpiceJet have terminated contracts of their expat pilots. Hundreds of their employees, and many more in other airlines, have been sent on leave without pay. SpiceJet on April 29 told pilots they won't be paid salary in April and May.

Increased job losses at Airbus and Boeing mean they expect lesser business, or deliveries, over the next few months. In other words, their clients- the airlines-- are struggling to even take the delivery of aircraft they have placed orders for.

Airlines would have no option, but to further cut their salary bills.

Lower production

In the first three months of the year, Airbus delivered 122 aircraft, 40 fewer than a year ago. Delivery of 60 were deferred.

Boeing added that it would churn out fewer aircraft, including the 787 and the 777, in the coming months.

The two have been forced to re-align their production rate to the sudden drop in airlines appetite to expand their fleet. Both have big clients in India -- IndiGo for Airbus and SpiceJet for Boeing.

For the investors of the two listed companies, used to the two carriers furiously expanding their fleet and networks, this is a sobering reality.

As we wait for projections from the two largest low-cost airlines in the country, it is safe to assume there will be a pause in expansion.

SpiceJet has already returned some of its aircraft to lessors and IndiGo may stretch delivery dates for its new aircraft.

Cash is king

Both, Airbus and Boeing, are humongous in size. The two had revenues of over $70 billion each in 2019 and that is helping them weather the present crisis.

But, they are burning cash, fast.

A report by Aerotime Hub said, "Airbus burnt through $8.7 billion in cash (including $3.9 billion in penalties), while Boeing reported minus $4.3 billion in operating cash flowthe worst in the history of the company."

Not many airlines have this cushion.

Some, including Flybe and Virgin Australia, have already filed for bankruptcy.

In India, airlines have managed to hang on, till now. But only one of them, IndiGo, has enough cash to see the year through without government aid.

Boeing has already got $17 billion in aid from the US government and Airbus has been promised a lifeline by the French.

It will be tough for some Indian airlines to survive without similar help from the government.
On Wednesday, the 36th day of the lockdown, the home ministry issued a set of guidelines to enable the movement of migrant workers, students, tourists, pilgrims and others stranded in different states to their home states. The government order stipulates that this can happen if there is a mutual agreement between the sending and receiving states; only those who show no symptoms after screening will be allowed to move; movement can only happen on road, in buses, while maintaining social distancing protocols; and those who return will either be in home or institutional quarantine, with periodic health check-ups.

The governments order is welcome, though long overdue. Over the past five weeks, India has witnessed a looming humanitarian crisis. Migrant workers sought to return home from the time the lockdown was announced on March 24. Thousands walked or cycled home, hundreds of kilometres away. Facing a severe shortage of cash and food, they went through acute suffering. State governments did step in and arranged shelter camps, but this turned out to be inadequate. There was also an emerging law and order concern, as restless and angry migrants clashed with security personnel in cities such as Surat demanding they be allowed to go home. The central governments dilemma was understandable  it was apprehensive that mass return of migrants could lead to the spread of the disease. But humanitarian and law and order concerns, and pressure from the ground, appear to have, finally, titled the decision.

The challenge is now in implementation. Reports suggest that there are 10 million migrants registered with different state governments who want to return home. Arranging transport will be a tremendous logistical challenge. The more important variable is maintaining the social distancing protocols during travel. Given that migrants are not going to be tested, but only screened, and many coronavirus disease patients are asymptomatic, there is a possibility that individuals with the disease may be travelling. This makes the requisite distancing, and then strict quarantine, and effective monitoring once they reach their destination essential. It was important to address the demands of migrants given the human tragedy that was unfolding. But India cannot afford to see the spread of the disease across the rural hinterland, where the health infrastructure is very weak. Getting this balance right will be critical in the weeks ahead.

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Eli Lilly India is committed to offer advanced treatment options for chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung cancer, gastric cancer, osteoporosis, mens health and growth-hormone deficiency

In 2019, US pharma major Eli Lilly and Company completed 25 years of its presence in India through its Gurugram headquartered wholly owned subsidiary Lilly India. Currently headed by Luca Visini who is serving as the Managing Director of Lilly India, the company is committed to offer advanced treatment options for chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung cancer, gastric cancer, osteoporosis, mens health and growth-hormone deficiency. To celebrate this landmark occasion with Lilly India, BioSpectrum got in touch with Luca Visini in an elaborate conversation about the companys growth and future plans.

Edited Excerpts-

Since its inception in India 25 years ago, Eli Lilly has developed around 8 products for diabetes treatment in India? How has been the journey and the subsequent evolution over the years?

Our journey of over 25 years in India has been both rewarding and challenging. We have maintained a steady growth pace and have made available our most innovative drugs for patients with diabetes in India. We see a large unmet need for Indias growing diabetic population. Over the years we have introduced several innovative diabetes drugs in India to cater to this unmet need. These include human insulin, analogue insulin, basal insulin and the first once-weekly GLP-1 therapy in 2016. India has the second highest number of patients with diabetes. Given the current trends, it is projected for India to have the highest number of diabetes patients by 2045. We have strategic partnerships with Cipla and Lupin for marketing and distribution of our diabetes medicines to expand access to healthcare practitioners and patients. This is done with the aim to make our innovations accessible to people in need, thereby bringing down the burden of diabetes in India. We will continue to invest in our India business and continue to deliver life-saving breakthrough medicines and solutions to address the countrys specific health needs.

As Diabetes constitutes the largest part of Lillys portfolio in India, how much is spent on the R&D and how much revenue is generated?

All our research and development is consolidated globally. We have R&D facilities in 8 countries, and we conduct clinical research in more than 55 countries. Over 7800 of our global employees, thats about 23 per cent of our workforce, is engaged in research. In 2018 alone, Lilly invested $5,307 million in R&D which was 21.6 per cent as a percentage of our sales.

How was the growth of the company during the FY18-19 in India, and what are your expectations from this year?

I am happy to share with you that Lilly India is growing every year and we are excited that we have the opportunity to serve unmet needs in the market through our medicines. We are optimistic about our business prospects and the value we bring to patients in India and will continue to invest in our India business to deliver life-saving breakthrough medicines and solutions to address the countrys specific health needs. We collaborate with various industry associations to promote dialogue on bringing more predictability to the pharmaceutical environment in India. Predictability on various fronts such as Intellectual Property protection, pricing policies, new drug launch process, streamlined regulatory structures and uniform marketing and commercial practices will be good for the industry and will help promote innovation.

Besides diabetes, Eli Lilly has developed very few products in its other priority areas in India. A growth hormone related product was developed back in 1999. Are there any new products coming up in this area? Why has there been so much lag?

Given our legacy in diabetes, we have a strong portfolio and an excellent track record of drug innovation in this disease area. But we have also focused on other therapies where there is urgent need for new medical solutions such as cancer, bone health, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), erectile dysfunction and growth disorder. We launched a new medicine for RA and entered into the autoimmune segment in India in 2018. As and when there is a new drug development, we analyze the need gap in the market and introduce the medicine in the market. Our new product pipeline includes molecules in different stages of development for diabetes, oncology, immunology and pain. We are also working on innovative drug delivery devices. Today, Lilly has one of the richest mid-to-late stage pipelines in its history, with 7 molecules in regulatory review, 18 molecules in Phase III clinical development, 13 molecules in Phase II testing and 24 molecules in Phase I. We would like to bring these innovative molecules to India depending on the market needs over the next decade.

What are the recent developments in the area of cancer at Eli Lilly? Any new products in the pipeline for India?

We have a strong portfolio in oncology including lung and gastric cancer. In 2017, we launched the first solution for second line treatment of gastric cancer to patients in India. This is another drug we believe can improve the treatment prognosis for Indian patients suffering from stomach cancer. Early last year, Lilly acquired LOXO Oncology which was the largest ever acquisition by Lilly to broaden its cancer treatment efforts. This acquisition will expand the scope of Lilly's oncology portfolio into precision medicines through the addition of a marketed therapy and a pipeline of highly selective potential medicines for patients with genomically defined cancers.

For India, Eli Lilly has another priority area which is untouched- osteoporosis? What are the plans in this sector?

I would like to state here that osteoporosis has been on our agenda for a long time. In 2004, we launched a recombinant DNA medicine for osteoporosis in India. Then in 2010, we launched a medicine administering device that made it easier for patients to administer their treatment. The current treatment in osteoporosis continues to be highly innovative and is benefiting many patients in need.

As CSR initiatives at Eli Lilly, what is in store for India in 2020?

Lilly is working on community initiatives in the areas of Education and Healthcare.

EDUCATION:

As part of our commitment to the local community, Lilly supports a school for the underprivileged called  KADAM - STEP UP. Located in Jharsa, Guragon, the school is run with the support from Humana People India (HPPI) since February 2014. We provide remedial educational support through tuition classes for children, after they return home from school and a three-month basic computer programme. The school also runs the Mid-day Meal programme for children at the centre through Akshaya Patra Foundation. Lilly India has also partnered with United Way of Delhi to support other education related initiatives in the past.

HEALTHCARE:

In the space of healthcare, Lilly India has partnered with United Way of Delhi to work with Project HOPE for a comprehensive capacity building program for primary care physicians. The program is focused on the prevention, early diagnosis, management and timely referral of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In partnership with the Uttar Pradesh Ministry of Health, Project HOPE is leading a project to build the capacity of healthcare professionals in the public sector to promote and practice relevant, up-to-date patient-centric care. The training modules include pathophysiology and management of common NCDs, basic principles of healthy lifestyle, treatment and management of complications. We also have a course that focuses on the development of interpersonal and counselling skills.

Dr Manbeena Chawla

(manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com)
A district collector,



two senior IPS officers and seven doctors were among those who have been quarantined on a day when two fresh cases were reported, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 497, even as Kerala made masks mandatory in public places and booked over 900 people on Thursday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said cases were registered against 954 people on the first day for failing to wear masks.

While 14 people were declared cured of the infection, two new cases were reported on Thursday.

Fortynine staff, including 7 doctors and 16 nurses, of a private hospital have been advised to go into quarantine after two positive cases were reported from Neyyattikara in Thiruvananthapuram, while in another hospital , where the positive patient had taken treatment, 29 health workers are under observation.

A case has been registered against Attingal MP Adoor Prakash for taking part in a food-kit distribution organised by 'Lawyers Congress' without maintaining social distancing as part of health protocol.

Police said the case was registered against the Congress MP, a few lawyers and around 50 others for gathering in a public place without ensuring social distancing.

However, Prakash told the media that the case was an act of political vengeance.

The Congress party protested against the registration of the case against its MP and said state Minister Kadakampally Surendran had also recently participated in a similar event where many were present, but he had gone scotfree.

Asked about the registration of the case against the Congress leaders, Chief Minister Vijayan said he had not come across any such reports.

There were 70 hotspots in the state and in Kasaragod the district collector and two IGPs are under quarantine after they had come in contact with a journalist who had tested positive on Wednesday.

Strict lockdown restrictions would be implemented in the areas marked as red spot districts and hotspots.

"The two new cases are from Malappuram and Kasaragod. One person reached from Maharashtra and the other person was a contact of an affected person.

Till now 497 people have contracted the disease and currently 111 people are under treatment," Vijayan told reporters after a daily COVID-19 evaluation meet.

At least 3.53 lakh people have registered in the NORKA website for the expatriates to return to the state, once the Centre decides to operate flights.

"As per the latest numbers, 3,53,468 people have registered from 201 countries in the NORKA website to return to the state.

Most number of registration is from UAE--1.53 lakh. Over 47,000 have registered from Saudi Arabia while 2,112 have registered from the UK, 1,895 from USA and 1764 from Ukraine," Vijayan said.

The state government will handover the priority list to the Centre and the embassies so as to devise a plan to bring them back.

A total of 94,483 Keralites from other states have also registered in NORKA website to return to the state.

Over 4 000 cases were registered for violating lockdown restrictions and police recorded arrest of 4,071 people.

In the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, few areas under Neyyattinkara municipality has been declared as a hotspot after two positive cases were reported on Wednesday.

As per the latest medical bulletin issued on Thursday, a total of 20,711 people are under observation in the state with 426 in isolation wards of various hospitals. The state has till now sent 25,973 samples for testing.

Kannur distirct in the state has 47 positive cases whereas there are 18 positive cases in Kottayam. Idukki has reported 14 cases while Kollam 12 cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drive-thru business at the Wood House Restaurant in Bismarck has pleasantly surprised owner Daniel Vondrachek II.

"One of our only desserts, our malts, are selling like crazy," he said. "That one's definitely up."

But reopening for on-site customers isn't yet in the cards, despite Gov. Doug Burgum's new guidelines for bars, restaurants, salons, gyms and theaters he closed and restricted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has sickened more than 1,000 people in North Dakota.

"We're going to keep going with our drive-thru-only model for at least another week and then going to reassess," Vondrachek said. There are supply issues, plus he'd like to meet the guidelines of the governor's "ND Smart Restart." And he's planning a thorough cleaning of the premises.

"I want to take this seriously," he said.

Businesses closed or restricted by executive order can reopen at 8 a.m. Friday. Burgum released his guidelines this week, outlining measures for social distancing and sanitizing. Restaurants, salons and other establishments in Bismarck-Mandan are weighing their next moves for what reopening looks like.

For six weeks, bars and restaurants have been limited to takeout and delivery services. Reopening is welcome news for establishments, but now come the preparations, such as acquiring personal protective equipment, Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC President Brian Ritter said.

"I think there's a balance there in that ... yes, on one side, we're very excited that we get to reopen our businesses, whatever form or fashion, but conversely, we know that there are some things that we'll have to do to adjust to a new reality," he said.

Time will tell as far as customers' response to reopening, he said.

"I believe there are residents of Bismarck-Mandan who will go out and patronize those businesses as soon as possible, just like they've been patronizing businesses who haven't been impacted during this time," Ritter said. "Conversely, I think there are those who will ... maybe be a little bit more reluctant to go out right away, and of course, that's everyone's choice, right?"

"Consumer confidence" will be a major piece of reopening, according to Jonathan Holth, co-owner and co-founder of the Toasted Frog, which has locations in Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks. Ensuring employees feel safe is key, too.

"We're going to have to, as an industry, continually show the general public that we're taking this seriously and that we're taking the necessary precautions to keep them safe," he said Wednesday during a Q&A with entrepreneurial networking program 1 Million Cups.

"I honestly believe that the hospitality industry is forever changed because of this," Holth said. "I think of a lot of the guidelines and things that you're seeing come out right now are things that will never go away. I think that this is just going to be the industry that we work in now, in many ways."

But some businesses won't survive, he added.

Humpback Sally's in downtown Bismarck has permanently closed as a result of the pandemic, co-owner Rick Becker said. Curbside pickup just wasn't viable for the small plates and cocktail bar after crunching the numbers, he said.

Upstairs bars Luft and 510.2 will reopen at 4 p.m. Friday with measures in place for sanitation and seating, Becker said. The 50% limited capacity guideline "isn't a big deal," he said, though it could be for other venues.

"We're excited to finally be open. We think it's going to be good for people," Becker said. The bars are prepared to be busy for people ready to go out amid good weather in the forecast, he said.

The guidelines for bars and restaurants should be easy to enforce, Blarney Stone co-owner Jim Poolman said. The downtown Bismarck Irish pub will reopen 11 a.m. Friday. Management on Thursday was still planning seating configurations for spacing farther apart. Poolman called the guidelines commonsense and realistic.

"We know what our capacity is, we know what social distancing is and we know that it's pretty easy to police that you can't stand around the bar," he said.

The limited capacity will "of course" cut into revenue, he said, but being able to open to on-site patrons will help business after six weeks of no dining or drinking in.

"We've got to start somewhere," Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse General Manager Brad Erickson said of the limited capacity.

The nightclub's dance floor will be covered with rugs and extra tables and chairs removed for more spacing.

There will be no blackjack, but electronic pull tab machines will be available and spaced 6 feet apart, with wipes available for players. Bar seating will be reduced, and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the bar. Erickson might even prop open bathroom doors to reduce contact. Borrowed Bucks opens at 4 p.m. Friday.

"Hopefully people come in with the right mindset," Erickson said. "They've lived this for a long time, for six weeks, and hopefully they come in and will just abide by the rules that the governor set up."

The CraftCade in downtown Bismarck has reconfigured its arcade games to accommodate social distancing when it reopens Monday, co-owner Colton Shoults said.

The bar/pizzeria arcade will make masks available for employees and customers and dedicate staff for sanitizing, among other measures.

"We already set a very high standard for cleanliness for our kitchen and just the way we run things, and now we're just going to be even more diligent about that," said Shoults, who also is a co-owner of Laughing Sun Brewing, which reopens Monday. He also owns Grand Junction Grilled Subs in Bismarck and Mandan, lobbies of which open Friday.

Stylists are looking ahead to reopening, but some don't plan to do so, State Board of Cosmetology President Maureen Wanner said. Masks, gloves and new sanitation and waiting room procedures all are expected to be in place, she said.

She urged stylists to read the "ND Smart Restart" guidelines and then assess their situation before deciding to reopen.

"Don't compare it to big salons or little salons," Wanner said. "Just reassess it, comparing it to your own salon. Take care of your own self first and your own health and your own clients, and I think we're going to be OK."

For her salon, Homestead Salon and Spa in Bismarck, she plans to reopen Friday and implement new scheduling and waiting procedures and take away the communal candy dish, magazines and coffee.

"All those little perks that we just don't need to have right now," she said. "We're getting rid of all those."

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Xiaomi is hosting a major launch event today where it's launching the Redmi Note 9 series globally and also the Mi Note 10 Lite. Alongside these, the tech giant could also launch a number of other Xiaomi branded products at the event.

The event is scheduled to begin at 8pm UTC (5.30pm IST) with the company live streaming the event via its YouTube account. While the event is majorly expected to be about the global unveil of the Redmi Note 9 series and the Mi Note 10 Lite, there could be other big announcements too. For those interested, the event can be live-streamed using the link below. Here's everything you can expect from the event.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite

Interestingly, Xiaomi has pretty much confirmed the launch of the Mi Note 10 Lite after it posted on its Mi Community forum about the device. Putting up a poster about the Mi 10 Lite, the company also revealed the colours that the phone will be available in once it's launched on April 30.

The Mi Note 10 Lite has also been spotted via a listing on Thailand's NBTC certification site previously. As the name suggests, the Note 10 Lite is a stripped-down variant of the Mi Note 10 which was first introduced to the world back in November.

As opposed to the regular Mi Note 10, the Mi Note 10 Lite is said to come with a 64-megapixel primary camera -- as opposed to the full-fledged Mi Note 10 which has a 108-megapixel camera. Talking about the specs, previous leaks have suggested that the Mi Note 10 Lite will be powered by the Snapdragon 730G SoC and come with a 6.47-inch FullHD+ AMOLED display. The software on the phone is said to be the latest Android 10. Other than this, the phone will be powered by a 5,260 mAh battery charged at 30W.

Redmi Note 9

The other big announcement from today could be the Redmi Note 9 which had recently received a BIS certification and is tipped to be launched in India in the coming weeks.

When it comes to specs, the Redmi Note 9 is expected to be similar to the Redmi 10X which was recently seen on the Chinese certification website, TENAA. The phone could come sporting a 6.53-inch full HD+ display with 2,340 1,080 pixels resolution. Under the hood, it could come housing the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC -- making it the first phone in the world to use this chipset.

The chipset will be paired with three RAM and storage configurations: 3GB + 32GB, 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB storage. The storage is tipped to be expandable by up to 512GB via microSD card. Reports suggest the phone will also come running Android 10 OS with MIUI 11 custom skin on top.

For cameras, the device could come with a square-shaped set-up with four cameras. The primary lens could be a 48-megapixel sensor sat next to an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 2-megapixel depth camera, and possibly a 2-megapixel macro camera.
The long-awaited opening of Pope Pius XIIs wartime records lasted a week before coronavirus shut Vatican archives down. But that week, documents emerged that reflect badly on the pontiff accused of silence during the Holocaust.

German researchers discovered the pope knew from his own sources about Hitler murdering Jews in 1942. But he concealed this from the U.S. government after an aide argued that Jews and Ukrainians  the Vaticans main sources  could not be trusted because they lied and exaggerated.

These reports come from seven University of Munster researchers who went to Rome March 2 for the historic opening of the papers. American and Israeli researchers never arrived due to the pandemic.

Catholic priest and historian Hubert Wolf, 60, led the German team. The prolific author enjoys a reputation as an objective analyst. He also served as historian for conservative Catholics who want Pius canonized as a saint.

If Pius XII comes out of this study looking better, wonderful. If he comes out worse, we must accept that, he told a Catholic weekly,

Pius XII (pope 1939-1958) was the 20th centurys most controversial pontiff. For decades, historians asked for his archives to be opened for scrutiny. Pius defenders praise his decision to hide Jews in the Vatican and monasteries. The Vatican published 11 volumes of selected archival documents to prove his innocence.

A 1999 Catholic-Jewish investigative commission broke up within two years because the Vatican wouldnt open its archive until 2028.Now, the Munster team has published its first findings; they reflect badly on Pius.

In September 1942, a U.S. diplomat gave the Vatican a secret report on the massacre of 100,000 Warsaw Ghetto Jews plus 50,000 murdered in German-occupied Lviv, Ukraine.

The intel came from the Jewish Agency for Palestines Geneva office. Washington asked the Vatican, which received information from Catholics around the world, could confirm this from its sources. If so, would the Vatican have ideas about how to rally the public against these crimes?

The archive has a note confirming Pius read the American report. Two letters to the Vatican independently corroborated massacres in Warsaw and Lviv, Ukraine.

A month before the American request, Lvivs Ukrainian Greek Catholic archbishop Andrey Sheptytsky sent Pius a letter reporting 200,000 Ukranian Jews massacred under outright diabolical Nazi occupation.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Wolf says the Secretariat of States Angelo DellAcqua, who became a cardinal, wrote a memo warning Pius to distrust the report because Jews easily exaggerate and Orientals  meaning Archbishop Sheptytsky  are really not an example of honesty.

.

In September, an Italian businessman named Malvezzi told Mgr. Giovanni Montini, the future Pope Paul VI, of incredible butchery of Jews he witnessed during a recent Warsaw visit. Montini reported this to his superior, the Vaticans secretary of state.

The archives also held three photos of emaciated concentration camp inmates and corpses in a mass grave. A Jewish operative gave them to the Vatican ambassador in neutral Switzerland to send to the Vatican which confirmed receipt in a letter two weeks later.

The Vatican told Americans it could not confirm the report
Crude prices crashed during the first quarter, devastating the oil sector. Several oil companies have already filed for bankruptcy, while most others have had to slash spending, shareholder payouts, and production. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) certainly hasn't been immune to this downturn. It reduced its drilling budget twice, suspended its share repurchase program, and curtailed some output.

But the company has still weathered this storm much better than most, which was clear in its first-quarter earnings.

Drilling down into ConocoPhillips' first-quarter earnings

Metric Q1 2020 Guidance or Expectations Production 1.278 million BOE/D 1.24 million to 1.28 million BOE/D Adjusted earnings $0.45 $0.17

ConocoPhillips delivered production toward the top end of its guidance range during the first quarter. While it was about 40,000 BOE/D below last year's level, that's mainly due to asset sales. Adjusting for these losses, production increased by 52,000 BOE/D thanks to growth in its Big Three U.S. shale plays (Bakken, Eagle Ford, and the Permian Basin). The company also delivered solid results in its development programs in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, which more than offset natural oil-field declines and a third-party pipeline outage in Malaysia.

Despite lower oil prices, ConocoPhillips generated $1.6 billion in cash from operations, which was enough to fully fund its capital expenditures and land acquisitions. The company also closed $500 million in asset sales. After paying $500 million in dividends and repurchasing $700 million in shares, ConocoPhillips ended the period with $8 billion in cash and short-term investments.

A look ahead

ConocoPhillips previously announced that it had suspended its share repurchase program, reduced its capital budget by 35% to $4.3 billion, and planned to curtail oil production by 225,000 barrels per day (BPD). But with the COVID-19 outbreak causing a glut of oil, which is filling storage to the brim, the company plans additional production cuts to help ease some of the pressure on oil prices.

For May, ConocoPhillips now plans to voluntarily curtail 265,000 BPD (230,000 BPD on a net basis). This output reduction includes 100,000 BPD at its Surmont facility in Canada and 165,000 BPD in the lower 48 states (an increase from its prior plan of 125,000 BPD). In June, the company plans to curtail 460,000 BPD (420,000 BPD on a net basis). Those cuts include 100,000 BPD at Surmont, 260,000 BPD in the lower 48 states, and 100,000 BPD in Alaska.

The company will make future decisions on voluntary production cuts on a month-to-month basis, depending on market conditions. Because of these curtailments and the ongoing volatility in the oil market, it suspended its guidance for 2020.

But ConocoPhillips did maintain its quarterly dividend at $0.42 per share. Unlike a growing number of oil companies, it's able to continue paying at its current rate thanks to the strength of its balance sheet. It entered this downturn with the second-lowest leverage ratio in its peer group and has a massive cash cushion.

Using its flexibility to handle the oil market's challenges

ConocoPhillips spent the years since the last oil market downturn building a company that could withstand the next one with ease. One of the defining characteristics of the company is its tremendous flexibility. Not only can it quickly adjust spending and production to market conditions, but it also has the financial cushion to maintain its dividend during these uncertain times. Those factors make it stand out as one of the best-positioned oil stocks to weather this current market downturn.
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Most teachers fear students are falling behind under remote-learning arrangements during the coronavirus lockdown and say they will need more support to catch up once classrooms reopen.

A survey of 3500 teachers across Australia and New Zealand in April revealed widespread concern that students' academic and emotional needs were not being met.

Teachers are divided on the efficacy of remote learning. Credit:Tanya Macheda

Eighty per cent of teachers surveyed by education consultants Pivot Professional Learning said they felt students would need extra instructional help when school returns.

Forty-one per cent said they were not confident online learning was as effective as classroom teaching, and 70 per cent said their workload had increased.
Sikkim, Indias only Covid-free state, has come up with its first laboratory to test swab samples of Covid-19 patients, top officials of the tiny Himalayan state said on Thursday.

Till date the state had to send swab samples to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, around 100 km away, under tight security. Around 200 samples have been tested at NBMCH so far.

Four Truenat beta-CoV test machines have been installed in state-run STNM hospital in Gangtok. Earlier it took us at least two days to get the test result as they had to be sent to NBMCH in Siliguri. Now we will get the results in one hour, said Mani Kumar Sharma, health minister of Sikkim.

Truenat beta-CoV test is a screening test. If tested positive, a person has to undergo an RT-PCR test for confirmation of Covid-19.

Sikkim, with a population of 6.19 lakh, shares international borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan. While the state was amongst the first to close the international borders and ban the entry of foreign and domestic tourists, it also took early decision to close two of the four border check posts with West Bengal.

So far not a single person has tested positive for Covid 19 in the state, said a top health official of the state.

Adjoining Kalimpong district in West Bengal has witnessed the death of a 44-year-old woman from Covid-19 on March 30 at NBMCH. In all, 11 members of her family in Kalimpong and Siliguri also tested positive. They have all been treated and discharged.

Along with the four Truenat machines, the state has also received 1,440 testing kits. We are, however, waiting for the guidelines from the Indian Council of Medical Research for the full-scale operation of the machines, said Pempa T Bhutia, Sikkims health secretary.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has also authorised 15 state-run hospitals to start Truenat beta tests to ramp up testing. Till date, West Bengal has tested 16,525 samples at 14 authorised testing labs. In the last 24 hours, the state conducted around 1905 tests.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pramod Giri I am working with Hindustan Times since 2001 and am posted in Siliguri, West Bengal, as Principal Correspondent. I have been regularly covering vast area of northern parts of West Bengal, Sikkim and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. ...view detail
There's always been a whiff of hypocrisy surrounding the World Economic Forum's annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, where the global elite congregates in a ritzy ski village to debate topics such as hunger and global warming, and basically tell the world how to manage itself better. In a world blighted by a pandemic, the event risks looking completely inappropriate.

The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in January, with an attendance list featuring 2,000 guests representing about 100 countries. Among them were at least 119 billionaires, according to calculations by my Bloomberg News colleague Tom Metcalf. Moreover, while the gender imbalance has improved in recent years, more than three-quarters of the attendees were male which is, frankly, still pathetic. Davos Man looks increasingly anachronistic.

Those optics have raised misgivings for one of the Alpine gathering's regular attendees. "When people are struggling and unemployment is soaring, the very idea of a global elite meeting in a Swiss ski resort is divisive at a time when we need unity of purpose," Standard Life Aberdeen Chief Executive Officer Keith Skeoch told the Daily Mail newspaper last week.

So he decided to pull his company out of Davos. "It is very apparent that we are heading into a significant global recession that will create real hardship in our communities," Skeoch said in a memo to staff last week. The 3 million pounds ($3.7 million) that would have been spent on the conference, including hosting a whisky bar where a traditional Scottish bagpiper would serenade guests, will instead be donated to "community projects" in the regions where Standard Life Aberdeen operates.

The nature of such shindigs means Davos is often caught napping, missing the breaking news that should dominate its agenda. It reflects a basic flaw in human nature: We're programmed to look for the next banana, and pretty terrible at long-term planning.

So when asked about the biggest risks facing the world, respondents to the WEF's 2020 survey rated extreme weather events, the failure of climate-change mitigation, major natural disasters, loss of biodiversity and human-triggered environmental damage highest. It was the first time climate concerns had dominated the list in the survey's 14 years, reflecting the prevailing news agenda in the months before the conference.

Chronic diseases haven't made the top 10 of most likely outcomes since 2010, after being rated the second most-probable risk in 2007. Pandemics haven't featured since ranking as the fourth and fifth highest-impact dangers in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

While the world was aware that a virus was spreading outside of China in January, the danger it posed seemed minimal, with fewer than 30 deaths reported by the time delegates gathered. The looming epidemic did make a brief Davos appearance. In a Bloomberg Television interview, Thomas Buberl, the CEO of French insurer Axa, said "new viruses will pop up" because of mankind's encroachment into more regions of the world. But Pascal Soriot at drugmaker AstraZeneca said that while the virus "must be taken seriously," his personal opinion was that global warming was a much bigger threat.

Adapting Davos to respect the strictures of social distancing may prove impossible when the whole point is to rub shoulders with influential people from the globe's four corners. If the show does go on, you could argue that companies would have a fiduciary duty to keep their senior managers away: I suspect there's not a single insurance company that would pay out on a Key Person Protection policy if a CEO caught the new coronavirus, or even covid-20, at a Davos breakfast or sipping cocktails at the Piano Bar.

The potential hazards of attending the WEF's conclave have occurred to at least one member of the financial aristocracy. "I had this nightmare that somehow in Davos, all of us who went there got it, and then we all left and spread it," JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said in February. "The only good news from that is that it might have just killed the elite."

There's also the growing awareness of the climate crisis as a real and present danger to act on. The pandemic has already had a beneficial, if potentially short-lived, effect on the environment, with lockdowns around the world curbing pollution by closing factories and slashing travel. Jellyfish have been spotted floating in the canals of Venice (although, sadly, not dolphins), and whales are enjoying swimming in quieter oceans without the low-frequency noise generated by ships.

With the average Davos attendee generating about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, the bulk of which is emitted by the plane flights there and back, a trip to the conference looks less and less justifiable. If the organizers want to get ahead of the curve by announcing something, they should declare that the 2021 gathering will be held via Zoom. For once, Davos would truly reflect the zeitgeist.

- - -

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Gilbert is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering asset management.
VANCOUVER, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Entree Resources Ltd. (TSX:ETG;OTCQB:ERLFF  the "Company" or "Entree") is pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general meeting of shareholders which was held today in Vancouver, British Columbia (the "Meeting"). All matters submitted to shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Information Circular, both dated March 26, 2020, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting.

NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

Shareholders approved setting the number of directors at six.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The details of the voting results for the election of directors are set out below:



Votes For Withheld Votes Director # % # % Mark Bailey 75,674,070 97.55 1,897,800 2.45 Alan Edwards 75,760,249 97.66 1,811,621 2.34 James Harris 75,673,482 97.55 1,898,388 2.45 Michael Price 75,900,174 97.84 1,671,696 2.16 Stephen Scott 76,037,643 98.02 1,534,227 1.98 Anna Stylianides 76,064,407 98.06 1,507,463 1.94

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants was re-appointed auditors of the Company for the ensuing year at the remuneration to be fixed by the directors.

STOCK OPTION PLAN

Shareholders approved amendments to and the renewal of the Company's Stock Option Plan.

Detailed voting results for the Meeting are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ABOUT ENTREE RESOURCES LTD.

Entree Resources Ltd. is a well-funded Canadian mining company with a unique carried joint venture interest on a significant portion of one of the world's largest copper-gold projects  the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. Entree has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture, depending on the depth of mineralization. Sandstorm Gold, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources are major shareholders of Entree, holding approximately 21%, 9% and 8% of the shares of the Company, respectively. More information about Entree can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com.

SOURCE Entree Resources

Related Links

http://www.entreegold.com


The partially redacted documents consist of two email exchanges between FBI officials, including former Flynn case agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page. Strzok was removed from Muellers team in July 2017  and ultimately fired from the FBI  after texts between the pair, who were having an affair, surfaced that were critical of Trump. Page separately left the team and later the bureau.
(Newser)  Four Amish children have been found dead and another remains missing after a horse and buggy overturned in flood waters in Kentucky on Wednesday. The carriage overturned shortly before 5pm as the children and their mother were attempting to cross a low-water bridge over a flooded stream in Bath County, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. The horse pulling the carriage apparently lost its footing. The children's mother made it to safety on the bank of the stream and called police. A man and woman who arrived on scene said they found only the horse, which they pulled from the water uninjured.

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"It was devastating," the woman tells WKYT. "The waters are so swift, and the rain was pouring down." County official Bobby Rogers said 50 National Guard members searched for the children throughout the night. Four were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fifth remained missing as of Thursday morning. "It has been a very tragic and mournful day within Bath County," Rogers wrote in a Facebook post late Wednesday, noting the county also recorded its first death from COVID-19 that day, per Fox News. "I ask that you please remember these individuals, and their families in your prayers." (Read more Kentucky stories.)
Matt Hancock has said he is very worried after children have been left in intensive care from a new disease thought to be linked to coronavirus.

The health secretary said on Tuesday that experts are "looking into it with great urgency" following reports of a new illness in children.

Speaking to LBC, he said: It's a fresh, new disease that we think may be caused by coronavirus and the COVID-19 virus.

"We're not 100% sure because some of the people who got it hadn't tested positive.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has said some children have died from a new disease linked to COVID-19 (AFP via Getty Images)

Hancocks comments follow a warning from NHS England on Sunday of a coronavirus-related syndrome emerging in children.

"We put out at the weekend a call across the NHS because some cases of this had been identified, said Hancock.

This call essentially says to doctors in other parts of the country 'have you seen this condition?' and then they collate the information and find out what's going on."

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"We're doing a lot of research now but it is something we're worried about.

"What I would also stress is that it is rare. Although it is very significant for those children who do get it the number of cases is small."

One doctor told LBC presenter Nick Ferrari he was aware of about 10 children being taken to hospital with the new disease.

The NHS sent a letter warning of an apparent rise in admissions of children to intensive care as a result of the condition.

According to the Paediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS), the letter says: In the last three weeks, there has been an apparent rise in the number of children of all ages presenting with a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care across London and also in other regions of the UK.

It adds: There is a growing concern that a [COVID-19] related inflammatory syndrome is emerging in children in the UK, or that there may be another, as yet unidentified, infectious pathogen associated with these cases.

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The NHS alert said a small number of children have shown symptoms similar to toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki disease, which affects children under five and can cause a high temperature, rash, swollen glands in the neck and red eyes.

It advised GPs to refer children with symptoms such as abdominal pain as a matter of urgency.

The alert said: "There is a growing concern that a SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) related inflammatory syndrome is emerging in children in the UK, or that there may be another, as yet unidentified, infectious pathogen associated with these cases."

Professor Simon Kenny, NHS national clinical director for children and young people, said: Thankfully, Kawasaki-like diseases are very rare, as currently are serious complications in children related to COVID-19, but it is important that clinicians are made aware of any potential emerging links so that they are able to give children and young people the right care fast.

The advice to parents remains the same: if you are worried about your child for whatever reason, contact NHS 111 or your family doctor for urgent advice, or 999 in an emergency, and if a professional tells you to go to hospital, please go to hospital.

Coronavirus: what happened today

______

Update: This article was amended at 5pm on 28 April after the Department of Health and Social Care told Yahoo News UK: The health secretary was referencing deaths were aware of that sadly related to Covid-19 not the inflammatory syndrome. We are not currently aware of any confirmed deaths related to the inflammatory syndrome.

As a result, Yahoo News UK has taken all references to children dying out of the article.

Mr Hancocks initial comments were: There are some children who have died who didnt have underlying health conditions. Its a new disease that we think may be caused by coronavirus and the COVID-19 virus. Were not 100 percent sure  because some of the people who got it hadnt tested positive  so were doing a lot of research now but it is something that were worried about.

Yahoo News UK is happy to make this amendment.
The Indian Rupee has fallen by nearly 8 percent to the US Dollar (USD) since January, severely impacting the businesses of import-dependent automotive companies.

The Indian currency hit an all-time low of Rs 77 against the USD earlier this month, a fall from Rs 71.36 recorded in the first week of January. This was triggered by poor foreign investment inflows, strengthening dollar and crumbling stock markets.

While there are fears that the Indian currency will fall even further to Rs 80 it has put pressure on automotive companies especially luxury car makers who rely heavily on imports. It should be noted that these carmakers had to hike prices with the changeover to Bharat Stage VI norms from April 1.

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo sell cars in India after importing fully built units of the vehicles or through the import of knocked down kits that are later put together at a local factory.

An 8 percent fall in Rupee should trigger an 8 percent rise in prices of their vehicles however due to current demand situation the companies are holding back the increase.

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Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India told Moneycontrol, Audi India is absorbing the impact of currency fluctuations for the moment and not passing it onto the customers. We will decide subsequently, if we need to do so.

Audi, a Volkswagen group owned German brand, is one of the top four luxury car makers in India. Last year Audi saw sales slump by 29 percent to 4,594 units compared to 2018 as slowdown became one of the primary reasons behind the fall.

Rival Mercedes-Benz, which as per 2019 sales numbers is the market leader in luxury car segment, has also felt the pinch of the falling Rupee. However, no decision on a possible upward price revision has been taken just yet.

Martin Schwenk, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, The weakening of the Rupee is a matter of concern and we are watching how the situation further develops. Mercedes had hiked prices by up to 3 percent in January to offset input cost hike.

Mercedes-Benz locally assembles 10 models from its Chakan, Pune-based factory and imports four models in addition to a full range of AMG models from Germany. The company witnessed 11 percent contraction in sales volume in 2019 to 13,786 units as compared to 2018.

Chinese-owned Swedish brand Volvo is the smallest of the five biggest luxury carmakers in India. The slowdown and absence of certain models led to a dip of 15 percent in Volvos volumes for 2019 to 2,253 units.

A source from Volvo Cars India said, We are not looking at a price hike basis the current situation. We of course dont know what will happen tomorrow.

While Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo and Lexus did not reveal sales for the January-March quarter Mercedes-Benz and BMW collectively posted a decline of 29 percent during the quarter compared to the same quarter last year.

Given the poor buyer sentiment, coupled with demand uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, luxury car volumes will most likely record a new multi-year low this year given that there is expected to be no revival on the cards till September.
Atlantic DataSystems (ADS), a Sage partner, today welcomed in two new Sage Intacct customers: eDNAtec Inc. and Ceres Halifax Inc. These companies join more than 11,000 others, who are moving their business to Sage Intacct, an integrated cloud-based solution specifically designed to support the needs of growing businesses.

Based in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, eDNAtec Inc. is an environmental genomics company. They commercialize genomics technologies and have developed a new generation DNA-based biological tracking system to support world leading environmental assessment, and monitoring programs used in marine-based energy, shipping, fisheries and aquaculture industries.

Ceres Halifax Inc.is shipping and terminal operator, located at the Halifax, Nova Scotia waterfront. Ceres operates in more than 15 ports in North America and offers services for container shipping, RORO, Cruise Lines, terminal operations and break-bulk.

As a Canadian-based IT consultancy, ADS has seen firsthand how flexible and agile companies need to be since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with employees across Canada learning to work from home. In efforts to maintain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, cloud and digital transformation strategies are center stage for forward-thinking Canadian businesses. Companies like Ceres Halifax and eDNAtec recognized the benefit of a cloud-based environment and were already on the path before the COVID-19 pandemic took place said Derek Sullivan, Vice President of ADS. As businesses look towards the future, companies like Ceres Halifax and eDNAtec are positioning themselves for future growth and success. They are taking proactive steps to controlling the controllable in a post COVID-19 economy.

With offices throughout Canada and more than 20 years of experience, ADS has worked with hundreds of businesses in the evaluation, selection and implementation of technology to run their business. With many small to mid-sized businesses running basic accounting software packages, they have helped clients find greater integration, connectivity and disaster recovery by moving to a simple cloud-based business software solution like Sage Intacct. Many of these companies previously ran desk-top solutions and are enjoying the benefits of anytime, anywhere access that cloud-based software can provide.

For more information about ERP solutions and Sage, visit http://www.atlanticdatasystems.com.

About Atlantic DataSystems (ADS)

ADS (http://www.atlanticdatasystems.com) helps small to mid-sized businesses throughout Atlantic Canada and Ontario fully realize the promise of technology by providing the right software, services and support to break down barriers and transform businesses. Since 1990, Atlantic DataSystems Inc. (ADS) has been helping customers to get the most from their business and information technology systems. ADS is a Vision33 (http://www.vision33.com) company.

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University of Liverpool researchers have published new estimates of the global burden of hepatitis D, and are calling for more efforts to tackle the 'forgotten' virus.

In a study published in the Journal of Hepatology, Professor Anna Maria Geretti and Dr. Alexander Stockdale, in collaboration with researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, estimate that worldwide, hepatitis D virus (HDV) affects nearly 5% of people who have a chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and that HDV co-infection could explain about 1 in 5 cases of liver disease and liver cancer in people with HBV infection.

To map the epidemiology of HDV infection in the world, Professor Geretti and Dr. Stockdale joined forces with the WHO Global Hepatitis Programme and IARC, alongside investigators in Germany, Malawi, and the United Kingdom. "Infection with HDV occurs in about 1 in 22 cases of chronic HBV infection in the world," Dr. Stockdale says. "More high-quality data are needed, but we have identified several geographical hotspots of high prevalence of HDV infection: in Mongolia, the Republic of Moldova, and countries in Western and Middle Africa."

"Although it is less common than hepatitis B, hepatitis D is a serious disease that often affects underprivileged and vulnerable populations," says Dr. Meg Doherty, Director of the WHO Global Hepatitis Programme. Those who are more likely to have HBV and HDV co-infection include people who inject drugs and people with hepatitis C virus or HIV infection. The risk of co-infection also appears to be higher in recipients of haemodialysis, men who have sex with men, and commercial sex workers. Dr. Doherty points out, "This information helps in identifying the groups with HBV among whom we should be looking for HDV."

HDV (formerly known as the Delta agent) is a small virusone of the smallest that is known to cause disease in humansand can replicate only in the presence of HBV, from which HDV borrows some of its structures. Compared with people with HBV infection alone, those who have a chronic infection with both HBV and HDV have a much higher risk of developing disease in the form of cirrhosis and liver cancer. "HDV is a significant contributor to severe liver disease and liver cancer," says IARC scientist Dr. Catherine de Martel. "The findings from this study inform our work on the association between viral infections and cancer, which is focused on developing improved prevention strategies."

Professor Geretti concludes, "HDV has long been neglected, because for decades the prevalence of infection remained uncertain and effective treatment was lacking. Mapping the epidemiology of the infection is just the first step. More efforts are needed to reduce the global burden of chronic hepatitis B and develop medicines that are safe and effective against hepatitis D and are affordable enough to be deployed on a large scale to those who are most in need."

Explore further What people living with hepatitis C need to know about COVID-19

More information: Alexander J. Stockdale et al. The global prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection: systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal of Hepatology (2020). Alexander J. Stockdale et al. The global prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection: systematic review and meta-analysis,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.04.008
A man accused of killing his wife and leaving her body to lay undiscovered for a day has faced court charged with murder.

Police will allege Jacqueline Sturgess was murdered some time on Tuesday, but officers weren't called to the Narangba property, north of Brisbane, until Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency services arrived at the Hemlock Court home just after 4pm, where they found the 45-year-old's body.

A crime scene was declared, but investigations quickly led detectives to a nearby residence where 50-year-old Shaun Robert Sturgess was arrested.
EgyptAir will operate on Friday two flights to Washington and Moscow to bring back stranded Egyptians after international flights to and from Egyptian have been suspended since March 19 as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus infections.

Meanwhile, Air Cairo will operate two flights to Kiev to carry home stranded Egyptians in Ukraine.

The four flights will land at Marsa Allam Airport as passengers will be admitted to quarantine for 14 days as a precautionary procedure to prevent the virus outbreak.

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President Donald Trump again commented on the embattled case of Capt. Brett Crozier on Wednesday, saying the ousted commanding officer and former Navy secretary who fired him would "be seeing me at a certain point."

Trump declined to offer his thoughts on whether Crozier should be reinstated as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, saying only, "I have my feelings on it."

"I don't know him, I've never spoken with him," Trump said of the captain. "But I think he's a very good man who had a very bad day.

"And then he wanted to be Ernest Hemingway," the president added, comparing Crozier to the famous writer. "... He started writing these long memos, and you can't do that when you're the captain of a ship."

Related: Navy Orders Deeper Investigation into Crozier Firing Over 'Unanswered Questions'

Crozier was removed from command earlier this month after a four-page letter he wrote warning Navy leaders about cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, spreading among his crew. Former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly relieved Crozier, citing a loss in confidence over the captain's handling of the situation.

Modly later resigned from his position after flying out to Guam to address Crozier's crew, where he made divisive comments about the captain.

Trump defended both men involved in the high-profile incident, saying they were two good people who both had bad days.

"That can happen," the commander in chief said. "They were under a lot of pressure because it went very public. They'll be seeing me at a certain point."

Trump did not elaborate on why, where or when he would be seeing Crozier or Modly.

The president went on to address the health crisis on the ship, saying COVID-19 "spread like wildfire" aboard the Roosevelt.

"It started with two people, then it went to 12 people and I got a report yesterday that it went to 851 people," he said. "... It starts with a little group and in four weeks, 800 and some-odd people.

"We thought it would end at 41," Trump added, not explaining why he believed the virus would have stopped spreading among the crew at that point. By the time Crozier had been relieved of command, COVID-19 cases among the crew were already up to 114.

The new acting Navy secretary, James McPherson, on Wednesday announced that the service would be expanding its investigation into the situation that led to Crozier's firing. He and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday met with Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday and it was recommended that Crozier be moved back into his position.

"I have unanswered questions that the preliminary inquiry has identified and that can only be answered by a deeper review," McPherson said.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: Navy Fires Head of Aviation Training School
Rising from Berlins Washington Platz like the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Cube Berlin, designed by Danish architecture firm 3XN, is the citys newest officeand its most forward-thinking. Despite Cube Berlins opening its doors to tenants just last month (a move that was abruptly halted due to the coronavirus), its plans were laid quite a while back, a few years before the turn of the millennium. The cubic shape derives from a master plan dating 25 years back by German architect O.M. Ungers for Washington Platz and the surroundings, says Kim Herforth Nielsen, founder and creative director of 3XN. The basic idea behind the master plan was that a solitaire building on the square should contribute to it with a sculptural or artistic gesture that would animate Washington Platz.

As its name suggests, the building is shaped like a fractured cube, designed as such to not only reflect passersby and the sky, but also provide terraces for the offices inside. Its impressive innovations, however, are first in its inventive glazed double-skin facade and second in its digital brain.

Cube Berlin refutes the common conception that glazed buildings are unsustainable, says Torben stergaard, the partner at 3XN in charge of the project. In most glazed buildings, the greenhouse effect can wreak havoc on a buildings efficiency when it comes to climate control, but thanks to the double skin, that issue is negated. Cube Berlin pioneers the development of solar control in the outer skin rather than on the inner, says stergaard. This offers more positive effects, like manageable temperatures in the cavity that imply extended seasons for natural ventilation in offices. Through its facade and other mechanical systems like solar collectors, Cube Berlin is 25 percent more energy efficient than standard green buildings.

Story continues

As for the digital brain, the entire building is managed by a single systemone thats accessible to Cube Berlin tenants via an app. Thus, users are able to change the temperature in their office, check the charge on their electric car or bike in the garage, or even communicate with colleagues. All of the data gleaned from the app is then processed by the buildings digital brain, which learns the habits of the buildings occupants and adjusts its systems to maximize efficiency. The connectivity of all systems in one integrated solution enables the exchange of data between systems otherwise operating in isolation, says stergaard. The data produced during everyday operation of access control, lift operation, ventilation systems, cooling systems, etc., has now been made accessible to the common platform. Over time, new elements and features can be added to this platform so it can grow to embrace new ideas and requirements.

While we hope that Cube Berlins digital brain doesnt follow in Hal 9000s footsteps (from the 2001: A Space Odyssey), we do hope it paves the way for using smart tech in offices to promote a greener future in building management. With that in mind, when the world eventually learns from and moves past the catastrophe that is COVID-19, it will be interesting to monitor if Cube Berlins interior is altered in any way as an adjustment to the new world we will find ourselves in.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
BINGHAMTON, NY -- Research into mass trauma events, like the 9/11 terror attacks, suggests effective ways to cope during the current COVID-19 crisis, according to research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Binghamton University Distinguished Professor of Psychology Steven Jay Lynn, doctoral student Craig Polizzi and Andrew Perry explored these techniques in "Stress and Coping in the time of COVID-19: Pathways to Resilience and Recovery," an article published in a special issue of the academic journal Clinical Neuropsychiatry. Lynn is the director of the Laboratory of Consciousness, Cognition and Psychopathology at Binghamton University.

The lab has studied coping techniques that can potentially promote resilience to and recovery from stress, including acceptance-based coping, mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation, Polizzi explained. "We also drew inspiration from our previous work with clients who have experienced traumas and how they have coped with traumatic events," he said.

In the article, the authors draw on studies of the New York metropolitan area following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, another incident of mass trauma marked by intense fear with the potential to produce psychological problems such as posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depression. Additionally, 9/11 has been heavily studied in terms of coping, resilience and trauma, providing a strong scientific foundation for evaluating the efficacy of coping strategies, Polizzi said.

Of course, there are significant differences. While natural disasters and terror events can bring people together in response or recovery, the pandemic requires a level of social isolation not seen since the 1918 Spanish flu. People also respond to trauma differently, which led the authors to suggest a variety of coping techniques.

"People are unique and the way they cope should be consistent with their needs and values," Polizzi said.

Coping activities -- also called behavioral activation -- can increase the ability to bounce back from negative events, and free up mental resources to deal with ongoing stressors and changing situations. At the heart of these coping activities are the three Cs of control, coherence and connectedness.

You can get a sense of control by planning your daily activities, checking in on friends and loved ones, adjusting your news intake, keeping a journal or preparing for your post-pandemic future. Connection, which fulfills the need for human contact and support, can be achieved even in times of social distancing through telephone calls, videoconferencing and social media, or even the purely internal practice of lovingkindness meditation, which directs positive emotions toward the self, loved ones, all humans and eventually all sentient beings.

Coherence "is founded in the deeply human desire to make sense and meaning of the world," according to the article. One starting point is "acceptance-based coping," observing our fears, anxieties and emotional responses without judgment -- a practice commonly known as mindfulness. You can practice mindfulness not only through meditation and focusing on the breath, but by giving an activity -- such as eating or walking -- your full and unhurried attention.

Looking ahead, the pandemic will give rise to additional research. Lynn's laboratory is planning to evaluate how mindfulness and emotion regulation promote resilience during the pandemic by defending against post-traumatic stress and dissociation.

"It is also important to test the coping strategies we proposed in our article to see if people did use them to reduce distress during the pandemic, as well identify additional techniques individuals used to cope with stress to enhance recommendations for coping during future mass traumas," Polizzi said.

###
The man fatally shot by Vancouver police earlier this week has been identified as a 50-year-old resident of the southwest Washington city, authorities say.

William E. Abbe died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office. The three officers who shot him Tuesday have yet to be publicly identified.

Abbes encounter with the officers began after Vancouver police were called to a fight involving two men Tuesday morning in the area of Fourth Plain Boulevard and Stapleton Road.

Officers arrived and found one man unconscious on the ground, according to police. On Thursday afternoon, police said the man had been released from the hospital after being treated, but they would not identify him.

Police said after finding the man on the ground, they found Abbe nearby.

Abbe refused police commands to put down sharpened objects, according to police, so three Vancouver police officers fired at him.

While authorities have not clarified details about the shooting, a video posted Tuesday on YouTube shows six police officers pointing guns at Abbe, who appears to be walking around several feet away from the officers, holding what appear to be two stick-like objects in his hands.

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

About 30 seconds into the 4 minute, 15 second video, an officer appears to fire something, possibly a taser, at Abbe, but he doesnt seem to be affected.

Abbe continues to pace about 15 feet away from the group of officers, most of whom are using a car as a barrier between themselves and Abbe.

The bystanders who filmed the video expressed dismay at various points in the video that the officers were pointing guns at Abbe and observed that he appeared to be having a mental health crisis.

Around the 3-minute mark, officers fired at least three shots at Abbe, and he immediately dropped to the ground.

After they shot Abbe, the six police surrounded him and continued to point their guns at him. A seventh police officer walked toward the group and also stood around the man.

About 45 seconds after they shot him, the officers knelt on the ground and appeared to be inspecting Abbes injuries. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead the same day.

-- Jim Ryan and Jayati Ramakrishnan

jryan@oregonian.com; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A tenured professor at Rutgers University has slammed President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its disproportionate affect on black people across the country, calling his response a 'clusterf**k.'

Brittany Cooper, a professor in the school's Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, took to Twitter on Tuesday to lambast Trump and his supporters, who she declared were 'willing to die' for him.

Cooper, author of the 'Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower,' began her Tuesday thread by asserting that most black people did not want the country to reopen and understood to do so would mean more death of black bodies.

Brittany Cooper, a professor in the school's Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, took to Twitter on Tuesday to lambast Trump and his supporters

Cooper, author of the 'Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower,' began her Tuesday thread by asserting that most black people did not want the country to reopen and understood to do so would mean more death of black bodies

'Not only do white conservatives not care about Black life, but my most cynical negative read of the white supremacists among them is that they welcome this massive winnowing of Black folks in order to slow demographic shifts and shore up political power,' she continued

'Not only do white conservatives not care about Black life, but my most cynical negative read of the white supremacists among them is that they welcome this massive winnowing of Black folks in order to slow demographic shifts and shore up political power,' she continued in the thread.

The irate professor shared that she was angered by a Trump supporting high school classmate - who was white - who touted the controversial suggestion from the president to use disinfectant to try to cure COVID-19.

'I realized again that for his supporters, realizing just how wrong they were about this man, and the depths of his idiocy and depravity, is akin to an existential crisis for them,' the professor chided.

The irate professor shared that she was angered by a Trump supporting high school classmate - who was white - who touted the controversial suggestion from the president to use disinfectant to try to cure COVID-19

'They are literally willing to die from this clusterf****d COVID response rather than admit that absolutely anybody other than him would have been a better president. And when whiteness has a death wish, we are all in for a serious problem'

Cooper continued her onslaught by sharing statistics showing that the majority of black voters overwhelmingly did not vote for Trump. The highest demographic that did was Black men at just a measly 15 per cent

'They are literally willing to die from this clusterf****d COVID response rather than admit that absolutely anybody other than him would have been a better president. And when whiteness has a death wish, we are all in for a serious problem.'

Cooper continued her onslaught by sharing statistics showing that the majority of black voters overwhelmingly did not vote for Trump. The highest demographic that did was Black men at just a measly 15 per cent.

'No Black person deserves this and Black women knew it would be absolutely awful for him to be president. And now we all live in daily fear,' Cooper stated.

She later added: 'F**k each and every Trump supporter. You all absolutely did this. You are to blame.'

'Black Lives Matter. Black Lives with hypertension, diabetes, and asthma matter. Fat Black Lives matter. All Black Lives matter.'

She later added: 'F**k each and every Trump supporter. You all absolutely did this. You are to blame'

Cooper declared: 'Black Lives Matter. Black Lives with hypertension, diabetes, and asthma matter. Fat Black Lives matter. All Black Lives matter'

Following Cooper's tweets on Tuesday, multiple conservative outlets covered her remarks. As a result, trolls and conservative pundits rushed to Cooper's Twitter to blast the professor and try to get her fired. She was also met with death threats.

Cooper chalked up the harassment to the 'patriarchy' and its role in 'harassing and threatening women who speak in public into silence.'

She continued: 'The thing is: I said what I meant. Trump has botched the handling of COVID. Tens of thousands of people had died, a risk that could have been mitigated if he had taken intelligence briefings seriously. Responsibility falls on him. And those who put him in office.

'So I said what I meant. And I curse cuz Im grown. I disdain every person who thought and thinks hes a good leader, because that thinking has had material consequences for far too many of us.

Health conditions that exist at higher rates in the black community -- obesity, diabetes and asthma -- make African Americans more susceptible to the virus. Health disparities are a result of racial inequality

Cooper chalked up the harassment she received for the threads to the 'patriarchy' and its role in 'harassing and threatening women who speak in public into silence'

She said: 'So I said what I meant. And I curse cuz Im grown. I disdain every person who thought and thinks hes a good leader, because that thinking has had material consequences for far too many of us'

Cooper boasted about being tenure at the university

'Just know a couple of things: 1.) I report threats to law enforcement and have had committed law enforcement support for many years now. 2.) I have tenure. Rutgers wont be firing me for tweets. That is all.'

Health conditions that exist at higher rates in the black community -- obesity, diabetes and asthma -- make African Americans more susceptible to the virus. They also are more likely to be uninsured, and often report that medical professionals take their ailments less seriously when they seek treatment.

Last week Dr Anthony Fauci, a member of President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force, attributed high coronavirus death rates among black people to pre-existing health conditions common in the black community, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes and asthma.

'It's really terrible, because it's just one of the failings of our society, that African-Americans have a disproportionate prevalence in incidents of the very comorbid conditions that put you at a high risk,' Fauci told actor Will Smith, who conducted the interview.

Black people, and other people of color, are more prone to work in jobs classified as 'essential jobs.' According to 2016 statistics from the MTA, roughly 40 per cent of their entire workforce identify as black.

On Monday, Kamala Harris (D-CA) and others will propose a bill aimed at creating a task force that will address the racial disparity plaguing communitity.

Sens. Cory Booker, Michael Bennet, and Bernie Sanders are also co-sponsoring the bill, Buzzfeed News reports.

According to figures from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 30 per cent of all coronavirus cases are from African Americans. African Americans only make up 14 per cent of the entire US population

David R. Williams, Florence Sprague Norman and Laura Smart Norman Professor of Public Health, explained that problems for black folks begin before they can even get to the health care system for help.

'Thats because their socioeconomic status puts them at a disadvantage. In 2013, for every household income dollar earned by whites, Hispanics earned 70 cents and blacks just 59 cents,' the professor explained to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2015.

'These economic disparities affect where people live, learn, work, play, and worshipand all of these factors can in turn impact health. For instance, if blacks or other nonwhites can only afford to live in poorer neighborhoods, they may face greater exposure to toxic chemicals, or have limited access to health care or healthy foods.

According to figures from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 30 per cent of all coronavirus cases are from African Americans. African Americans only make up 14 per cent of the entire US population.

New York-Presbyterian/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital frontline staff come out for the 7 o'clock cheers thanking them for their tireless dedication fighting COVID-19

Gwen Grant, president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said blacks are more prone to suffer disproportionately

'It's America's unfinished business -- we're free, but not equal,' civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson told the AP. 'There's a reality check that has been brought by the coronavirus, that exposes the weakness and the opportunity.'

Gwen Grant, president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said blacks are more prone to suffer disproportionately.

'Whenever there's a crisis such as this you find it takes its greatest tolls in communities of color,' Grant said.

Daniel Dawes, director of Morehouse College's School of Medicine's Satcher Health Leadership Institute, said America's history of segregation and policies led to the racial health disparities that exist today.

'If we do not take an appreciation for the historical context and the political determinants, then we're only merely going to nibble around the edges of the problem of inequities,' he said.

The release of demographic data for the country's coronavirus victims remains a priority for many civil rights and public health advocates, who say the numbers are needed to address disparities in the national response to the pandemic.

Some black leaders have described the Trump administration's response to COVID-19 as inadequate, after what they said was a hastily organized call with Vice President Mike Pence and CDC Director Robert Redfield

Some black leaders have described the Trump administration's response to COVID-19 as inadequate, after what they said was a hastily organized call with Vice President Mike Pence and CDC Director Robert Redfield.

According to a recording of the call obtained by the AP, Redfield said the CDC has been collecting demographic data from death certificates but that the comprehensiveness of the data depends on state and local health departments, many of which are overburdened by virus response. No plan was offered to help health officials in hard-hit communities collect the data, leaders who were on the call said.

Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which took part in the call, said African Americans 'have every reason to be alarmed at the administration's anemic response to the disproportionate impact that this crisis is having on communities of color.'
An Irish University has announced that Leaving Cert students forced to do exams later due to Covid-19 restrictions, will not start college there until this Winter.

The new First year students will not start until November while all students will be taking online lectures for the new college year in September, in efforts to cope with the Covid-19 impact.

Limerick University which has a big Laois student population say they are working "amid great uncertainty", in an email to students issued this Thursday April 30.

"We have been working to bring our community back together for the academic year 20/21 amid great uncertainty as to the government restrictions that will remain at the end of this summer. The health of staff, students and the wider community is paramount in our considerations and for that reason our plans may have to be revised depending on government advice," they say.

Their first years will start in November, if the Leaving Cert takes place as planned in late July.

"The Autumn Semester will begin on September 28 for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year undergraduate students and all current and new postgraduate students, (some programmes, such as education and health will have different programme dates)," the university said.

"Our plans for first year students depend on the scheduling of the Leaving Certificate but if as planned it takes place from the end of July we anticipate welcoming our incoming first year students at the beginning of November. However, the date for entry of first years depends on many factors, including when the Leaving Certificate takes place as well as the completion of CAO offers and acceptance of places.

The second term will begin at the usual time for the University.

"At this stage it is hoped that Semester 2 will begin as planned on 25th January 2021 for all students," they said.

Online lectures are likely instead of in the lecture halls.

"There is little doubt but that some restrictions on the size of groups which will be permitted to gather will remain in place in Ireland in September, which will affect our ability to deliver lectures on campus. Therefore it is likely that there will be a requirement for lectures to be delivered online. However, we anticipate a blended delivery of programmes to allow students to spend some time on campus in the autumn to facilitate face to face laboratory classes, studio time, and some seminars/tutorials. This will be limited in order to insure the health and safety of our community and to work within the government restrictions. Any planned approach will need to take account of the possibility that future full or partial closures may well be called for at short notice," they said.

The university has major news also for Erasmus and Non EU Exchange Mobility Programmes.

"As a result of the current travel restrictions and with no indication of when these will lift, we have also had to examine the viability of the Erasmus and Non EU Exchange mobility programmes in the Autumn Semester. After much consideration and with regret, we have decided at this stage - so as to allow for alternative planning for our students - that the Erasmus and Non EU Exchange mobility programmes will be suspended for the Autumn Semester and alternative programmes will be put in place for those UL students who had been scheduled to study abroad for their autumn semester. We realise that this is very disappointing for students, but at present it is the only safe option," they said.

Limerick University says planning is continuing for both students and staff.

"Many of you understandably will be seeking more details on the Autumn Semester and in some cases we simply wont have all the answers at this stage. Significant planning activity work is underway to enable an enhanced online experience and to support our staff with online delivery in what is going to remain a challenging environment for all of us. We are also developing protocols to safely restart some of our research programmes on campus," they say.

"We will continue to work with our partner universities here in Ireland and to draw upon best practice and innovative approaches internationally to provide our students with the best university experience and learning environment while we live with this virus".

"As time goes on, more detail will follow from Deans, Heads of Schools/Departments and Course Directors and we will be in touch again with more decisions as they are made by COTEC and the UL Future Planning Group. Stay home and stay well".

The statement was issued by UL Critical Operations Team and Executive Committee.
B anks are locked in last minute talks with regulators to secure a pledge they will not come under attack in future years over Rishi Sunaks so-called Bounce Back Loans for the smallest businesses affected by Covid.

Under pressure from small firms unable to qualify for his main Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the chancellor this week announced new micro loans only requiring a simple one page application form.

But banks are worried the extremely limited information they are allowed to ask will mean unsuitable loans are made, resulting in them coming under attack in future years.

The Bounce Back loans are similar to a scheme in Germany, but there, the government is lender. In the UK, while the state backs 100% of the loan, the bank is designated as the lender.

Talks to find a solution to the banks concerns before the scheme goes live on Monday are being held between UK Finance, the British Business Bank and the Treasury. All declined to comment.

One banker described the loans as being essentially self-certifying, with no formal checks or proof required about the borrowers likely financial future.

He said: We have asked for an indemnity because we dont want anyone coming back at us in two years, when the world looks very different from today, complaining we should have never lent these people the money.

Bankers fear that could put them in breach of FCA rules prohibiting lending to somebody who cannot afford to repay it, or the PRA rules safeguarding the stability of the banking industry that prohibited making loans you cannot get back.

One banker was concerned that, under the Senior Managers Regime making bankers personally liable for their banks actions, he could potentially even be jailed if the Bounce Back Loans are found to have brought the industry or their bank into disrepute.

There were also concerns the banks could also fall foul of the Consumer Credit Act protecting individual members of the public as many of the firms applying for loans will be one-man-bands.

A banker added: We really want to help these people, but if the government wants to hand out money without proper checks it should have been done as a grant, not a loan.

Another said: "For good reasons, the bounce back loan is extremely simple, self-certification. We are explicitly requested not to ask for forward looking business plans and cashflow forecasts. Ordinarily we'd be doing anti moneylaundering, know your customer, credit referencing scores but that is pretty much all suspended here. We can't ask the crucial question: can this customer afford the loan?"

The Treasury is offering secondary and primary legislation changes but this will not be possible until after the loans are introduced on Monday, meaning banks will have to lend unprotected in the meantime.
ITI limited is a telecom company and Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.

ITI Limited has pushed the deadline for submission of application for various posts including human resource and finance executive to 5 May. Earlier the last date to apply for these posts was 20 March. There are a total of 70 vacancies.

Of the posts on offer, nine vacancies are for the position of finance executive, eight are for finance executive trainee and 16 are for the position HR executive trainee. There are 37 other vacancies for various managerial positions.

ITI limited is a telecom company and Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.

Those who want to apply can do so by visiting the official website of ITI Limited.

Finance executive

To be eligible for this post, one should be a Chartered Accountant or have passed from The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICWA). Those selected will get total emoluments of Rs 40,230 per month, plus allowances and perks as per the Companys prevailing rules.

Finance executive trainee

Those interested for this post should have MBA degree with specialization in Finance. Those belonging to general and OBC should have passed MBA with 60 per cent marks. SC, ST and PwD candidates require 58 per cent marks. During the period of training, stipend for first year will be Rs 18,000 and second year will be Rs 19,000. After completion of training, they will receive the same salary as finance executive.

HR executive trainee

Candidates interested for the post of HR executive trainee should have Post Graduate Degree in HR/Social work with specialization in Personnel Management and Industrial relations/HR, MBA with specialization in HR or its equivalent course.

Those from general and OBC category should have scored 60 per cent marks in their PG degree. SC, ST and PwD candidates should have 58 per cent marks. There will be a two year training period. In the first year, they will get a stipend of Rs 18,000 and in the second year, they will receive Rs 19,000.

Post training, they will get the same salary as finance executive.

The age limit for the all aforementioned posts is 28 years for candidates belonging to general category.

The official notification for the managerial posts can be accessed here.
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - An ice jam had shrunk to almost half its size Thursday after causing major flooding earlier in the week that forced 13,000 people from their homes in Fort McMurray.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Striations in the ice jam caused by the piers of three bridges that cross the Athabasca River in Fort McMurray, Alberta is shown on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Officials in Fort McMurray are keeping a close eye on river levels after a 25-kilometre ice jam caused major flooding and forced about 12,000 people from their homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg Halinda

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - An ice jam had shrunk to almost half its size Thursday after causing major flooding earlier in the week that forced 13,000 people from their homes in Fort McMurray.

Officials said the blockage on the Athabasca River was about 13 kilometres long  down from 25 kilometres two days before  and water levels had dropped significantly on the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers in and around the northern Alberta city.

Environment Minister Jason Nixon said the improvement was allowing municipal officials to start planning for the return of evacuees.

"With the river ice continuing to melt and flow downstream, municipal authorities are now in the planning stages for re-entry," Nixon said at a news conference.

"It's important to remember that we still have flood water in these communities and our first priority is to protect the communities threatened by flooding."

The Fort McKay First Nation, about 60 kilometres north of the city, reported a death related to the flooding.

RCMP said officers were called to help two people stranded on the Athabasca River, northeast of the hamlet of Fort McKay. The two men had been on ATVs on a trail when water levels surged. They were able to hold on to a log until they could be rescued, said police.

Both were taken to hospital in Fort McMurray, but the older man died. Two women, two children and two dogs were also rescued from a nearby cabin.

Farther north, 450 residents from Fort Vermilion and Tallcree First Nation had to leave earlier this week due to another ice jam on the Peace River.

"The flooding danger in Fort Vermilion has passed, though flood levels do remain in Beaver Ranch," Mackenzie County Reeve Josh Knelsen said Thursday.

He said crews have started assessing the damage and need to ensure the community is safe before anyone is allowed back.

Knelsen said there was no timeline for residents to return, but the county had arranged a bus tour for evacuees to see the damage.

Nixon said the ice jams on the Peace River had released and moved downstream, where there was some flooding at the Little Red River Settlement. The ice jammed again at Garden River, forcing about 800 people out.

That means more than 14,000 residents were out of their homes on Thursday in northern Alberta.

Officials said they were still assessing flood damage in Fort McMurray, which is under a second state of local emergency on top of one declared last month because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"This is a one-in-100 year event," said Mayor Don Scott. "There's never been anything like this  and that's combined with the COVID-19 challenges."

At least 1,230 structures have been damaged, he said. That's almost half the number of buildings and homes lost in a wildfire that forced the evacuation of the entire city in May 2016.

The municipality's director of emergency management, Scott Davis, said it will be some time before evacuees can return.

"We are ... working with (Alberta Health Services), public health and RCMP as we determine what areas we can safely populate," Davis said.

"We want to ensure that the critical infrastructure has the ability to withstand a repopulation in a proper manner."

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A virtual community townhall was to be held for residents later Thursday to provide an update on the river breakup and flood.

Nixon said a number of provincial conditions must be met before evacuees can return.

"Those conditions include floodwater no longer being an imminent threat, the availability of critical infrastructure and essential services and hazards in the area being secured," he said.

"There is no question that the recovery process in this community will be lengthy."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2020

 By Colette Derworiz in Edmonton
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Wednesday that the state would be divided into two zones for giving impetus to economic activity.

Khattar said that in 15 districts where the number of coronavirus positive cases is less than 10, a district-level strategy would be adopted to start industrial operations. In the remaining seven districts, namely Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh, Sonipat, Panipat, Palwal, and Panchkula, the strategy would be made as per the block and town level. No economic activity would be allowed in the containment zones, the chief minister said.

Khattar said that those industrial units that follow social distancing norms and carry out their operations with less than 50% labour strength, can extend their working hours from 8 to 12 hours. The CM added that such industrial units should pay double salary to their workers for working overtime as per section 59 of the Factories Act, 1948.

CM Khattar also said that all brick kilns have been allowed to function and presently around 2.07 lakh labourers are working at these kilns. Besides this, various industrial units have been restarted wherein approximately 5.5 lakh workers are employed.
Midland County confirmed two new positive coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing its total to 61 cases and five deaths, according to the afternoon daily state report.

Gladwin County was listed as having 15 positive cases, one less than what was reported Wednesday. The state page says corrections to county cases are made as public health investigations of individual cases continue. Gladwin County has one recorded death.

Bay County and Isabella County each added one new case, bringing their totals to 143 cases and four deaths and 61 cases and 7 deaths, respectively. Saginaw County added 31 cases and three deaths, bringing its total to 663 cases and 59 deaths.

MidMichigan Health  which covers a 23-county region and has medical centers at seven sites, including Midland  was listed on the state website as having 23 COVID-19 patients, defined by the state as confirmed positive patients, including those in ICU and patients who are currently pending and under investigation. The health system reported three COVID-19 patients in ICU and 37% bed occupancy, the percentage of staffed inpatient beds occupied by any patient regardless of COVID-19 status. This data, according to the website, reflects the status in health systems and hospitals 48 hours prior to the time that it was posted to the state page, which was April 30.

The state also is reporting no COVID-19 positive residents at four of Midland Countys long-term care facilities, Brittany Manor, Medilodge of Midland, Midland Kings Daughters Home and Stratford Pines as of April 28. Gladwin Nursing & Rehab Community and Gladwin Pines Nursing Homes also are reporting no COVID-19 positive residents.

The state on Thursday added 980 new cases and 119 deaths. Forty of the 119 deaths are from review of death certificate data conducted by state Department of Health and Human Services staff three times a week, according to the state.

Overall, Michigan is at 41,379 cases and 3,780 deaths.

Viewers on the state site will see a new automated online assistant that can help Michiganders easily access the latest information about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly and theres a great deal of misinformation online, said Robert Gordon, MDHHS director. Robin, our new chatbot, is an easy, interactive way for Michiganders to get their question answered without frustrating wait times. Every moment counts in our fight to increase awareness and education and slow the spread of the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted normal operations for many State of Michigan resources. Robin will provide a centralized, first line of response to common inquiries. This will help reduce confusion and frustration, and make it easier to find answers.

The online assistant will also help to reduce calls to the COVID-19 hotline, which means decreased wait times for those who have more complicated questions and need to speak to a staff person. Since March 14, the COVID-19 hotline team has answered more than 26,000 calls.

Michigan's average coronavirus death age is 74.8, according to the state website, mich.gov, with the deceased ranging in age from 5 to 107. The state lists 40% of the deceased as 80-plus and 27% age 70-79. State statistics show 54% of coronavirus deaths are male and 46% are female.

The state lists the total recovered at 8,342 cases, as of April 24, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to March 25, 2020, according to the state website, mich.gov. The numbers will be updated every Saturday.

The state lists the majority of races in positive cases as 32% Black/African American; 33% Caucasian and 21% unknown, and the top three races in deaths as 41% Black/African American; 47% Caucasian and 7% unknown.

The total positive cases are 46% men, 54% women and 1% unknown.

Midland County Department of Public Health continues to encourage residents to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

 Continue to practice social distancing as recommended by federal, state and local officials.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

 Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

 Disinfect commonly touched surfaces.

 Stay home when you are sick.

 Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

We cannot stress enough how important it is for our community to be diligent in their community mitigation efforts," said Fred Yanoski, Midland County Public Health director/health officer. "We know that COVID-19 is in our community, and our residents can make a huge impact on slowing the spread of disease by following the recommended precautions."

If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available, call MidMichigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989- 633-1350 or MidMichigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100.

MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also e-mail COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708.
A diverse group of community figures and local activists have banded together to form a new political action committee focused solely on local, non-partisan issues within The Woodlands Township.

The new PAC, called TownshipFuture, was formed with a goal of improving The Woodlands in the years ahead as well as electing township directors that share the groups visions and educating the public, organizers said.

Local anti-incorporation activist Amy Lecocq, a former federal prosecutor, is the president of the TownshipFuture Steering Committee and one of the PACs co-founders. She said she was heavily involved in the formation of the committee over several months along with a group of other township residents. Other participants include Democratic activist Kira Becker, Walter Cooke  a local attorney who is a Vietnam combat veteran  and veteran community volunteer Rob Johnson.

Becker will act as the PACs secretary while Cooke is the treasurer. Johnson, a retired Exxon-Mobil corporate attorney and member of the board of the Interfaith of The Woodlands board, will also be heavily involved. There is also a group of residents who are interested in the mission and vision and who are working with us in multiple capacities, Lecocq added.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Villager Q&A: Amy Lecocq, former federal prosecutor and avid volunteer, discusses Woodlands incorporation

Cooke ran for a seat on the township Board of Directors in Novemver 2019, losing to Shelley Sekula-Gibbs as they competed with a third candidates to replaced retiring director John McMullan for the Position 5 race.

Lecocq was the campaign manager for another candidate in 2019, Walter Lisiewski, who lost the Position 7 race to Bob Milner. She makes regular public comments at township board meetings criticizing the incorporation studies the township has done since 2018. The incorporation process is on hold due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, which has caused a loss of sales tax and hotel occupancy tax revenue.

Non-partisan focus

Lecocq said the group of concerned residents have been planning to create the PAC for several months if not longer, but it only recently was finalized. It is registered as a general purpose political action committee with the Texas Ethics Commission and is also a Section 527 IRS-recognized nonprofit. The group will file financial disclosure forms and reports per state law similar to other political action committees, she noted.

We have basically three priorities we focus on. The first being, low property taxes and high level of public servicesthats always been a principle (The Woodlands) has abided by. Along those lines, limited governmentonly as much government as needed to provide the necessary services and then, lastly, respecting the townships history and character and respecting all residents. That has been a fundamental part of the community for more than 40 years, Lecocq said. We are non-partisan in terms of what were going to do. We are going to focus on key issues to The Woodlands and key non-partisan elections. We are not a partisan group at all. We have people from varied backgrounds, but we do all agree in our principles and vision for moving forward.

In a press release sent to media and residents, the group said the unique form of government (in The Woodlands) allows the Township to keep taxes especially low while providing a high quality of services, nimbly responding to resident and business needs.

Another guiding belief is that The Woodlands strong foundation of caring for all residents inspires residents and businesses to support the townships many non-profits, houses of worship, local companies and other organizations that enrich residents lives and help keep the township vibrant, officials stated in the release.

The formation of the new PAC has been in the works for years, Lecocq noted. Aside from the steering committee, many other community leaders and residents have helped with ideas and strategies.

It has been a process over some period of time, but I think weve kind of landed on this model for moving forward. There have been about maybe a dozen (community residents) who have offered advice and counsel along the way, Lecocq added.

Joining the fray

The new PAC, which enters a county environment with multiple other political action committees spanning several topics and issues, also created a new a website along with several different social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The group is recruiting residents, Lecocq noted, to help with their mission on several levels. There will also be a slate of informational sessions for residents, she added, that is still under development.

Lecocq and Cooke are well known in the community for their anti-incorporation views, however Lecocq said the new PAC and its members have not discussed incorporation and are not focused on the issue in any manner at this time.

The PAC is planning to host a township candidate informational night in June where, Lecocq said, potential candidates for the four open seats on the township Board of Directors in November 2020 will get information about the process and how the township governance model is set up. Township board members Gordy Bunch, Bruce Rieser, John Anthony Brown and newly appointed director Jason J. Nelson are all up for election to new two-year terms in November.

We anticipate probably doing an event in late June where we would invite prospective candidates for the township board to a morning (event), she said. Where we talk about what is involved in running for township board, what it is like to be on the township board. We are interested in identifying folks who have the same vision for our community, the same passion for The Woodlands and how to move forward as we do.

jeff.forward@chron.com
A day without a new coronavirus case in South Korea and a potential breakthrough in the hunt for a better treatment spurred optimism on Thursday, but catastrophic European figures underlined how much damage the epidemic has already done the global economy.

World financial markets picked up a little on the news on the medical and public health fronts, but deaths continued to mount across much of the world and some of the biggest economies are facing perhaps the most severe recession of the modern era.

Thursday brought stark official figures from Europe, where the locked-down EU economy was estimated to have shrunk by 3.5 percent in the first quarter, Germany's jobless total soared to 2.6 million in April from 2.3 million the month before and France confirmed that it had officially plunged into recession.

How vaccines aim to trigger the immune response. By John SAEKI (AFP)

The European Union's commissioner for the economy, Paolo Gentiloni, dubbed the situation "an economic shock without precedent in modern times" and official agency Eurostat said the first quarter contraction in the bloc's output was the most severe since its statistical series began in 1995.

Germany "will experience the worst recession in the history of the federal republic" -- founded in 1949 four years after World War II left the continent shattered and divided -- Economy Minister Peter Altmaier warned, predicting that Europe's biggest economy would shrink by a record 6.3 percent.

Aggressive test and trace

The novel coronavirus strain that emerged in China in December has now killed more than 224,000 people and spread to 193 countries and territories. Reporting standards vary across jurisdictions, but more than 3.1 million cases have been recorded and testing rates are increasing.

South Korea reported zero new locally transmitted infections. By Jung Yeon-je (AFP)

Markets nevertheless climbed cautiously higher on Thursday -- buoyed by news from Asia, where some of the formerly worst-hit countries have begun to reopen their economies and rebuild everyday life, and the United States, where scientists reported hopeful results in trials for an anti-viral drug.

For the first time since the new COVID-19 disease was detected there in mid-February, South Korea -- which for a period had the world's second-largest outbreak -- reported zero new infections, suggesting its aggressive test-and-trace strategy is having results.

Students in Taipei eat their lunch on desks with plastic partitions. By Sam Yeh (AFP)

"This is the strength of South Korea and its people," President Moon Jae-in said as he announced the milestone.

South Korea's death toll is around 250 -- vastly lower than that of Italy, Britain, Spain and France, which have each recorded at least 24,000 fatalities, and the United States, which tops the table with a third of global deaths.

Spain may be past the worst of the crisis, however, and is among the European countries planning a staged return to normal economic and social life next month. It recorded 268 deaths on Thursday, the lowest daily toll since March 20.

But in Russia, coronavirus cases surged past 100,000 on Thursday and officials warned that infections had not yet peaked as they extended lockdown measures.

Children run past used caskets at a crematorium facility in Manila. By Maria TAN (AFP)

Stuck in cramped flats and struggling with fears of the coronavirus and its economic impact, many Russians are worried about the return of an old demon.

"When I found myself alone at home, the first thought I had was 'ah, it's a good time to get drunk'," says Tatyana, a recovering alcoholic on lockdown in Moscow.

Iran is also still suffering a serious outbreak. The number of deaths in the country officially passed 6,000 on Thursday.

'Clear-cut, significant effect'

Meanwhile, in the first evidence of successful treatment, a US clinical trial of the drug remdesivir showed that patients recovered about 30 percent faster than those on a placebo.

"The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery," said Anthony Fauci, the top epidemiologist in the United States.

The drug failed in trials against the Ebola virus, and a smaller study, released last week by the WHO, found limited effects among patients in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the disease's original epicentre.

Fauci likened remdesivir to the first retrovirals that worked, albeit with modest success, against HIV in the 1980s, but it is a treatment not a vaccine.

Other labs around the world are searching for a vaccine, and some have reported potential progress, but success could be months or years away and experts warn that only a vaccine will will allow the full removal of restrictions that this year put half of humanity under some form of lockdown.

The US announced Wednesday that economic output collapsed 4.8 percent in the first quarter -- ending more than a decade of expansion. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell warned worse was to come, and economic activity will likely drop "at an unprecedented rate" in the second quarter.

The International Labour Organization said half the global workforce -- around 1.6 billion people -- are in "immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed".

burs-dc/txw
Edelman, Finn Partners, APCO Worldwide, Kivvit and Lambert are the Top 5 firms in the education category, a new specialty practice added to O'Dwyer's Rankings of PR Firms this year.

The ranking includes 31 firms that supplied education-related fee income data to O'Dwyers.

Education joins automotive/transportation, energy, industrial, non-profits, purpose/corporate social responsibility and real estate finance/development categories to debut in the 2020 rankings.

Finn Sees Education as "Cornerstone of Democracy"

Scott Widmeyer, founding managing partner/chief strategy officer at Finn Partners, said his firm works in the educational space with a single goal in mind, which is making a difference in the world.

Scott Widmeyer

"We know that education is the cornerstone of our democracy and its the vital engine that empowers our economy," he said. "Education is the enabler for all of our citizens to develop the skills they need to thrive."

Finn's team is engaged in showcasing and breaking down research from preeminent think tanks to top-tier universities, creating messaging to boost education opportunities for preschoolers and generating earned media results in prime outlets.

Widmeyer said Finn's clients are changing the world one student at a time. "They are educators and leaders in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education," he said. "They are foundations focused on urgent issues in diversity, economic empowerment and STEM. And they are scientists and researchers inside top universities working on important studies that will impact the world for years to come."

Finn's client roster includes universities (Cornell, Clemson, Pace and Carnegie Mellon), foundations (Carnegie Corporation of New York, Education Above All and Pritzker) as well as Amplify, KIPP and American Student Assistance.

Finn is the No. 2 education PR firm with $8.5M in fees.

APCO Relies on Deep Bench

Evan Kraus, president and managing director of operations at APCO Worldwide, credits the firm's deep bench of industry experts for the ability to provide "best-in-class" counsel and service to the educational sector.

Evan Kraus

The DC firm, which ranks No. 3 in the education group with $4.4M in fees, has been global agency of record for the Educational Testing Service for more than two years.

"APCO works with ETS around the world to position the organization as a thought leader in the education industry, and raise awareness for its brands in priority global markets," said Kraus. "This past year APCO began work to position ETS in a new market and begin building out a more robust corporate brand position, establishing ETS as a leading voice on learning."

APCO has also worked with the North Carolina Community College System to create a statewide outreach campaign to shift long-established perceptions of community colleges as a so-called second-rate education option.

The firm conducted months of extensive research to inform the campaign via statewide focus groups and surveys.

That research resulted in the Your Hire Education campaign, showcasing the modern and little-known offerings of NC community colleges, leaning into the fact these schools are different on purpose, tapping into the enterprising spirit of both North Carolinians and community colleges to make prospective students feel proud to attend, and showing the tangible benefits of getting a community college education.

The firm created a paid media plan, which encompassed digital, social media, and programmatic display to reach audiences as they search for the next step in their career or life.

"We also developed print ads, terrestrial and digital radio and TV spots, as well as billboard ads to reach people in both urban and rural areas," said Kraus. "Visitors to the website saw unique messages based on their audience segment, ensuring users saw the ad that would be most compelling to them."

The campaign led to increased perception among NCCCS' target audiences and contributed to a 4.4 percent increase in enrollment across the state, the first enrollment increase the system has seen in nine years," according to Kraus.

Kivvit Prioritizes Education

Kivvit has prioritized education as a core sector of its work with the goal of not only being an education communications leader, but a communications innovator in the space, according to Zach Silber, chief innovation officer and managing director of Kivvit's New York office.

Zach Silber

He said Kivvit has handled extensive data-driven research assignments and cutting-edge digital campaigns on behalf of institutions of all shapes and sizes across the US, ranging from the Fashion Institute of Technology to the University of Michigan to professional schools at the University of Maryland.

In 2019, the firm started working with the State University of New York to promote online course offerings.

"A notable higher education innovation is HigherRep, Kivvits award-winning, proprietary service that helps colleges and universities boost reputation through the use of highly-targeted digital advertising and custom digital audiences of academic leaders, prospective applicants, students, influencers and other stakeholders," said Silber.

In 2019, HigherRep helped several schools move up in the rankings within their respective fields and improve enrollment outcomes.

The HigherRep work earned recognition earlier this year at the Reed Awards as the Best Use of Data Analytics/Machine Learning.

Kivvit ranked No. 4 in the education rankings with $2.4M in fees.

Lambert Rises to COVID-19 Challenges

Lambert notched the No. 5 position on O'Dwyer's list with fees of $1.5M earned from providing integrated communications support to schoolsfrom preschool and early childhood development to post-secondaryas well as edtech and curriculum companies across the country.

Joe DiBenedetto

Joe DiBenedetto, managing director, heads the education & social impact practice of the Grand Rapids (MI)-based firm.

Lambert clients include Central Michigan University; Hillsdale Colleges Barney Charter School Initiative; Michigan State's diversity, equity & inclusion strategic plan; Detroit public schools; Flint community schools and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

DiBenedetto said Lambert reacted swiftly as the COVID-19 pandemic spread to support education clients facing never-before-seen challenges.

"As brick-and-mortar schools halted in-person learning to protect the safety and well-being of their students and community, Lambert worked alongside school leaders to ensure families and residents were updated as changes transpired on a daily and sometimes hourly basis," he said. "Simultaneously, the firm developed thought leadership and other media opportunities to reassure families that children would receive the academic support necessary to maintain the momentum built since the beginning of the school year."

DiBenedetto noted that innovation often occurs during times of crisis. "At every stage of the pandemic, Lambert brought new solutions and opportunities to school leaders to promote transparency and maximize engagement," he said. "Looking ahead, uncertainty is the only certainty for educational providers. As a result, communication will be more important than ever."

InkHouse Targets Boston

InkHouse, which is based in Waltham, MA, ranked No. 6 on O'Dwyer's education list with fee income of $1.4M.

Lisa van der Pool

Launched as a technology-focused firm in 2007, InkHouse quickly began to diversity, according to Lisa van der Pool, senior VP and head of the education group. "Working with the education sector was a natural evolution in large part because Boston is a hotbed for universitiesand education is an area that we are extremely passionate about," said van der Pool. "We work with education technology and publishing firms, many of whom are helping K-12 schools and higher education institutions strike a balance between high-quality learning materials and utilizing technology both in the classroom and at home to enhance and enable learning."

InkHouse's 15-member education team has worked for Bentley University, Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, as well edtech clients.

Rbb Drives Transformation

Miami-based rbb communications took the No. 9 spot in the education rankings with fees of nearly $870K.

Laura Guitar

Laura Guitar, executive VP and rbb partner, noted that staid and traditional educational institutions were once satisfied with executing similar year-to-year plans and measuring success in incremental gains.

That is no longer the case as institutions are now multi-disciplinary, metrics-driven communicators bent on driving forward mission, rankings, enrollment and endowments.

"Fundamentally, PR serves to connect an educational institution with its stakeholders in order to build reputation, secure long-term viability and activate the mission," said Guitar. "rbb accomplishes this by delivering significant volumes of top-tier national coverage around topics like maternal health, veterans care, and simulation education."

In 2019, rbb engaged in data-backed communication programs for Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Florida International University, Concord Law School at Purdue University Global, Primrose School, Gulliver Schools and Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart.

The firm also has extended its educational savvy into other client areas. "We established an online education program for current and potential clients for a property management company and formalized and expanded internal training and education opportunities for healthcare accounts," said Guitar.

She said the COVID-19 crisis has turned the educational sector upside down.

"In the coming weeks, months and years, PR will be ever more critical as educational institutions evolve their policies and strive to maintain trust in physical environments that have traditionally involved close quarters," said Guitar. "There will be increasing pressure to tap into new markets, find new revenue streams, and demonstrate return on investment within a suddenly fluid and ever-changing landscape."

The COVID-19 recovery period will be filled with new challenges and complexities, according to Guitar. "It will be incumbent on educational institutions of all types to employ a well thought out and results-driven PR strategy to ensure that their roles in society are well understood."
In 2010, Stephen Fenby was appointed CEO of Midwich Group Plc (LON:MIDW). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid.

Check out our latest analysis for Midwich Group

How Does Stephen Fenby's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

Our data indicates that Midwich Group Plc is worth UK361m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as UK401k for the year to December 2019. That's actually a decrease on the year before. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at UK315k. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from UK161m to UK644m, and the median CEO total compensation was UK751k.

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 70% of total compensation out of all the companies we analysed, while other remuneration made up 30% of the pie. Midwich Group does not set aside a larger portion of remuneration in the form of salary, maintaining the same rate as the wider market.

This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most similar size companies have to pay more, leaving less for shareholders. While this is a good thing, you'll need to understand the business better before you can form an opinion. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Midwich Group, below.

AIM:MIDW CEO Compensation April 30th 2020

Is Midwich Group Plc Growing?

On average over the last three years, Midwich Group Plc has seen earnings per share (EPS) move in a favourable direction by 16% each year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 20% over last year.

Story continues

Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. This sort of respectable year-on-year revenue growth is often seen at a healthy, growing business. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.

Has Midwich Group Plc Been A Good Investment?

Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Midwich Group Plc for providing a total return of 36% over three years. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size.

In Summary...

It looks like Midwich Group Plc pays its CEO less than similar sized companies.

Many would consider this to indicate that the pay is modest since the business is growing. The pleasing shareholder returns are the cherry on top; you might even consider that Stephen Fenby deserves a raise! It's not often we see shareholders do so well, and yet the CEO is paid modestly. The cherry on top would be if company insiders are buying shares with their own money. Shifting gears from CEO pay for a second, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Midwich Group that investors should be aware of in a dynamic business environment.

Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
TORONTO - COVID-19 has now spread to every region in Canada, with Nunavut reporting its first case on Thursday, as Ontario reported its largest one-day climb in fatalities and the country's budget officer predicted a flood of red ink.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Pablo Rodriguez as they wait for the COVID-19 committee in the House of Commons Chamber Wednesday April 29, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

TORONTO - COVID-19 has now spread to every region in Canada, with Nunavut reporting its first case on Thursday, as Ontario reported its largest one-day climb in fatalities and the country's budget officer predicted a flood of red ink.

The case in northern Nunavut was identified in the 1,600-strong largely Inuit community of Pond Inlet on Baffin Island. The territory's chief public health officer, Dr. Michael Patterson, said a rapid response team was on its way to the community to help manage the situation.

"No-one wants this virus; no-one brought this virus to Nunavut on purpose; no-one deserves to be shamed or blamed," Premier Joe Savikataaq said. "Now is the time for patience, kindness and staying at home."

Word of the first case in the northern territory came as Ontario passed the 1,000-death mark. Another 86 people had died, for a total of 1,082, although the overall jump in new cases was relatively modest. Quebec reported 98 new deaths  most of them in long-term care homes  for a total of 1,859.

Overall, Canada has now seen more than 52,000 cases. More than 3,000 of those have been deadly.

In response to the crisis, the federal government has opened its spending taps in an effort to keep the system from total collapse. The cost of propping up the economy was thrown into stark relief on Thursday when Parliament's budget watchdog pegged the deficit at a staggering $252-billion.

The report by budget officer Yves Giroux takes into account almost $146 billion in spending measures announced so far, and says even more might be needed if the economy recovers too slowly. The deficit figure, according to the office, was based on an expectation the economy would shrink 12 per cent this year.

Much of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's daily briefing, normally devoted to the government's fight against the pandemic, was instead taken up by the crash of a Canadian military helicopter off the coast of Greece during a NATO training exercise. At least one crew member  Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough  was killed and five others were missing.

Trudeau did say the government's priority was to support those Canadians who have taken a financial hit because of anti-pandemic measures. The restrictions, he said, would allow the economy to "come roaring back" once the epidemic has been curtailed.

"We need Canadians to stay home," Trudeau said. "Our focus needs to be on how we get through right now."

The restrictions, which have grounded much of the world's commercial aviation, have also had a profound impact on Canada's airports. Some have resorted to terminal closures and layoffs, while at least six regional facilities have lost scheduled passenger service altogether.

The organization that speaks for 100 airports across the country said they expected losses of around $2 billion this year. The Canadian Airports Association for government help to keep them aloft until demand returns.

Vancouver's airport authority said it would start offering voluntary layoffs to its 500 staff, with layoffs expected to follow.

As provinces look to get on the road to post-pandemic normalcy, the country's chief public health officer acknowledged people were getting antsy to get out of their homes. While the COVID-19 curve had been "a little flat" this week, Dr. Theresa Tam warned of still significant challenges in settings such as long-term care homes.

Alberta released its plan to lift some restrictions starting as early as Monday, when dentists and physiotherapists could reopen as well as golf courses.

Some retail businesses, restaurants, hair salons, museums, daycares and summer camps have been given a target date of May 14.

The Alberta relaunch plan comes with restrictions. One will require people to wear masks on mass transit.

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.

In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford said he understood people's anxiety about getting back to normalcy. Doing so, he said, would happen as quickly as possible but only in a safe and measured manner with public health considerations in the forefront.

"We're on the path to reopening the economy," Ford said. "There's a light at the end of the tunnel."

Prince Edward Island, which has had 27 cases in all and reported no new ones Thursday, said it was still not the time for non-essential travel to the province. Newfoundland and Labrador, which also announced no new cases, said it had reached a turning point and a start to reopening would happen next month if the positive trend continues.

New Brunswick also reported no new cases  for a 12th straight day.

-With files from Canadian Press reporters across the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2020.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: In a shocking incident, an 18-year-old girl returning home with her brother was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by seven men in a jungle amid the lock-down in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.

The gruesome incident happened on Wednesday night, when the teenage girl was returning home with her 21-year-old brother after getting petrol for their motor cycle.

The seven men, one of whom was possibly a minor stopped the girl and her brother. They thrashed the brother and threw him in a dry well before dragging the young girl into the nearby jungle, where they raped her one by one.

The men subsequently fled away leaving the girl at the spot.

When the siblings didnt return till night, the residents of their village started searching for them and were finally able to trace, both, the girl and her brother. The siblings had sustained injuries, but are now stated to be out of danger.

On Thursday morning, the siblings gathered courage and reported the matter to the local police.

According to Betul district police superintendent DS Bhadauria, based on the information given by the girl and her brother, five out of the seven accused have been arrested and search is underway for remaining two, who are absconding.

This is the second incident of rape within a week in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier, on April 22, a six-year-old girl was kidnapped by a 21-year-old man of her own village, raped and then blinded by the accused in Damoh district.

The Damoh district police, however, had cracked the case, by arresting the culprit within eight hours of reporting of the gruesome incident.
Vietnams digital transformation is vital for socio-economic success

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has just announced that it is working on a number of solutions to further promote digital technology businesses, develop tech products in e-commerce and e-payment, and boost IT applications in socio-economic development.

According to a VIR source, the new policies may focus on tax, fees, and favourable market access to certain areas. As expected, the specific solutions will be announced at the prime ministers largest-ever dialogue with the business community in late April or early May.

Alongside these strategies, golden opportunities for domestic and multinational corporations (MNCs) are on the way as the country issued a number of legal foundations in April as a means of opening up the market.

On the topic of national data sharing, the government enacted Decree No.47/2020/ND-CP dated April 9 on management, connectivity, and sharing of digital data of state organs. Taking effect from May 25, organisations, businesses, and individuals can access certain open information in line with prevailing rules.

Also in April, Vietnam, for the first time, issued a set of technical criteria on cloud computing. Based on these, state organs can assess and select solutions, or lease cloud computing services to serve the development of e-government and e-authority.

Vietnam is making great progress in promoting digital transformation at the government level since the launch of an e-government portal last December.

The cloud computing platform will be a new generation telecommunications infrastructure in the next five or 10 years, said a MIC official. The announcement of a set of technical criteria is more meaningful in this period, as state organs and Vietnamese businesses are heading towards digital transformation. This is the orientation for development of cloud computing for e-government and e-authority towards a digital government, digital economy, and digital society.

The sharing of digital data and the cloud computing platform are being viewed with interest by domestic and international technology firms in Vietnam. World-leading brands such as Amazon, Microsoft, and others are expanding rapidly in the country.

There is more good news for both international and domestic technology enterprises, as the MIC and the Government Office are finalising a national digital transformation programme and will submit it to the government for issuance this month, thus giving a big push in digital transformation across sectors.

In the draft of the National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, with a vision towards 2030, Vietnam will become a digital country, pioneering in testing new technologies and models; renovating fundamentally and comprehensively the management and administrative activities of the government, production and business activities of enterprises, and peoples living and working routines; and developing a safe and humane digital environment.

These would be a new driving force for technology firms to take the next step with their plans. So far, domestic telecommunications giants like FPT, Viettel, and VNPT along with MNCs such as AWS, Qualcomm, Lenovo, Keysight Technologies, and VMware Vietnam have announced their ambitious plans for the country.

In a nation where small- and medium-sized enterprises make up over 90 per cent of the market, this represents a positive potential growth area. AWS in particular believes it can play a big part in this growth.

On the 5G front, we already mentioned that we have 22 regions, and we are building edge locations and points of presence around the world, Conor McNamara, managing director of Amazon Web Services Southeast Asia, told VIR. Over time well bring these operations to Vietnam. That will allow deployment of AWS infrastructure in various data centres.

With the coming launch of Wavelength, continued McNamara, Coupled with the high consumption level of Vietnamese consumers and the digital savvy nature of the country, Vietnam certainly is an area of focus for us and we expect that it will happen over the years to come.

Similarly, Keysight Technologies has partnered with technology giants such as Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and others to introduce new products and services to accelerate digital transformation.
Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer recently returned $12,000 in political donations raised for him by former planning commissioner Justin Kim, who has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of bribery. He also returned a $1,000 donation from Kim's company. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Long before he admitted arranging a $500,000 bribe for a council member, Justin Kim was known at Los Angeles City Hall for bringing in a different kind of funding: campaign donations.

Kim, his wife and his real estate appraisal company gave at least $66,100 over the past two decades to city candidates and office holders, including Mayor Eric Garcetti and a majority of the council's members. The Mar Vista resident also raised money for politicians, hosting fundraisers and asking donors  many of them Korean American business owners  to contribute.

Kim, a former city commissioner, agreed last month to plead guilty to a felony bribery charge. Now, after receiving questions from The Times about his donations, some elected officials have begun giving back at least a portion of the money Kim gave to their campaigns and office holder accounts.

City Atty. Mike Feuer, now running for mayor, returned a $1,000 donation he received in 2014 from a firm headed by Kim. He also gave back another $12,000 that Kim raised for him that same year from other donors.

"There is no indication any of these donations is problematic, but in an abundance of caution Mr. Feuer has instructed any donation possibly associated with Mr. Kim be returned," his campaign consultant John Shallman said.

Kim could not be reached, and his lawyer did not respond to inquiries from The Times.

The bribery case, and the contributions that Kim raised and donated, are likely to be a major issue for candidates in the 2022 election, said political strategist Doug Herman.

The federal probe into City Hall involves not only Kim, but also former Councilman Mitchell Englander, who agreed to plead guilty to engaging in a scheme to deceive the FBI, and Councilman Jose Huizar, whose home and offices were raided by investigators in 2018.

"You don't have FBI investigations that take out sitting elected officials and then have no ramifications in upcoming elections. It just doesn't happen that way," said Herman, who does not currently have any clients seeking city office.

Story continues

Herman argued the best move, politically, would be to give the money to charity instead of returning it to Kim.

Some officials are doing that. Councilman Curren Price, who faces reelection in 2022, is planning to donate $2,600  the amount he received from Kims company and Kim's wife  to a fund that assists workers, said Angelina Valencia, an aide to the councilman.

Price is still trying to determine whether Kim personally raised any money for him at a fundraising event that Kim co-hosted in 2018 at the Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills, Valencia said. If Kim did, Price will also donate the equivalent amount to charity, she said.

Feuer and seven other L.A. city elected officials said they cannot return some  or in a few cases, all  of the money to Kim, his wife or his company because the committees that took in the donations have been shut down.

Kim, his company and his wife gave $5,000 to Councilman Gil Cedillo between 2011 and 2017. Cedillo cannot give back any of those funds, said spokesman Conrado TerrazasCross, since the committees involved have been closed or the money is not available.

Kim also co-hosted fundraisers for Cedillo's reelection campaign in 2016 and 2017, TerrazasCross said. He did not address how much money had been raised at the two events, but said those funds also cannot be returned.

"From what we know, these contributions were ethical," TerrazasCross said.

Councilman Mitch O'Farrell has returned $3,000 that he received from Kim, his company and his wife, according to his spokesman Tony Arranaga  the bulk of such donations he received.

Arranaga said O'Farrell is returning or donating funds from people identified by The Times as being linked to the FBI probe. At this point, he is not sending back money that other donors gave at a Kim fundraiser in 2017.

"We will return other contributions when there is cause to do so," Arranaga said.

Political consultant Dermot Givens, who is not currently representing any city candidates, said it makes sense for elected officials to send back donations from Kim himself to deter campaign attacks. But Givens argued the money raised by Kim from other donors won't be politically damaging unless those contributors are also charged in the corruption probe.

"You're not going to lose any votes over it," he said.

Kim, 53, had been heavily involved in L.A. politics, meeting with council members and serving as a political appointee himself.

In 2009, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa put him on a regional planning commission responsible for smaller projects in downtown, Hollywood and Koreatown. Two years later, Villaraigosa reassigned him to the citywide planning commission, which reviews some of the largest developments in the city.

Last month, Kim signed a plea agreement admitting that he served as a conduit for a bribe, picking up a paper bag filled with $400,000 and delivering at least a portion to a council member's staffer.

Although prosecutors did not identify the politician who was supposed to receive the alleged bribe, key details in their filing make clear that it is Councilman Jose Huizar. A lawyer for Huizar declined to comment on the case or say whether he would return at least $6,150 in political donations from Kim, Kim's company and Kim's wife.

Councilman Herb Wesson, who is running for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors, received at least $4,300 in donations for his city political accounts from Kim, his company and his wife. A Wesson spokesman said the three most recent donations, or $2,100, would be returned.

Representatives of Garcetti and Councilman Paul Krekorian said they cannot return some of their Kim donations, but would donate a portion of the money they had received to charity. Garcetti is giving $2,000 to the United Way, while Krekorian is sending $700 to the watchdog group California Common Cause.

Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Joe Buscaino are sending all the money they received to efforts to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Councilwoman Martinez is repulsed that Justin Kim helped facilitate bribes, and believes that anyone involved must be held accountable," her campaign consultant Roy Behr said.
Small businesses employ almost half of the U.S. total workforce, making them integral to both our economy and community," U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, said in a statement following the bills passage. "Advocating for resources to support businesses during this pandemic is of the utmost priority and I will continue to provide resources for our local businesses during this uncertain time.
Originally planned for a summer 2020 launch, McGraw-Hill accelerated the release of Virtual Labs in order to support faculty and students when college campuses began moving classes online during the COVID-19 pandemic. McGraw-Hill Virtual Labs was made available for disrupted courses and deployed immediately in March and April by more than 1,000 instructors across the country.

Virtual Labs' realistic, simulated lab experience allows students to be immersed in a lab environment remotely. While McGraw-Hill has been offering virtual lab tools for many years, this new solution is built on a foundation of learning science research and provides a more powerful and easy-to-use platform. Virtual Labs are also fully accessible, offering keyboard navigation and screen-reader capabilities.

The Virtual Labs online lab solution can be used to fully support remote and online learning, as well as for lab preparation, remediation or make-up for the traditional on-campus, in-person lab experience. The simulations help students learn by presenting them with the practical and conceptual skills needed through integrated labs and lectures, then checking for understanding and providing feedback.

For more information about Virtual Labs, visit https://www.mheducation.com/highered/connect/virtual-labs.html.

"We developed this powerful digital tool with flexibility in mind  so instructors could use it either as a supplement to in-person labs, or as a fully online solution," said Kathleen McMahon, VP of Portfolio Management for Science, Engineering & Mathematics at McGraw-Hill. "But the COVID-19 health crisis has shown the importance of powerful online tools that are affordable, easy to use and accessible, so all students can benefit from them. We're proud to have answered such a crucial need during a challenging time for all."

Virtual Labs is available in two ways: for instructors to implement as an independent lab solution or embedded into McGraw-Hill Connect courseware for lecture and lab, which is used by millions of students globally. This new tool further supports McGraw-Hill's Affordability & Outcomes program, which focuses on providing students with affordable course solutions that offer high value and increase learner success.

"Virtual Labs has been a lifesaver as we have moved into an online world with the coronavirus," said Dr. Jack Brown, Science Division Chair at Paris Junior College. "Courses that had run fully face-to-face have struggled to move classes online and have often left the lab out in the transition because they were not prepared. I think the value of a strong virtual lab has just skyrocketed, and McGraw-Hill is leading the way."

McGraw-Hill

McGraw-Hill is a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that drive results for students, parents, educators and professionals. We focus on educational equity, affordability and learning success to help learners build better lives. Headquartered in New York City, McGraw-Hill has offices across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions for PreK-12, higher education, professionals and others available in more than 75 languages. Visit us at mheducation.com or find us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn or Twitter .

Contact:

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McGraw-Hill

(646) 766-2951

[email protected]

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A worker has been crushed to death on an industrial site in Melbourne.

Paramedics were called to a stone supplier in Dingley Village, in the city's south east, at about 10am on Thursday.

It is understood at least one slab of marble fell on top of the person at the premises.

The worker, who has not been formally identified, died at the scene.

Work Safe is investigating.
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee on Thursday urged Democrats leading the committee to investigate the Chinese governments influence over the World Health Organization.

Ranking member Jim Jordan along with five Republican ranking members on oversight subcommittees sent a letter to Democratic Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney calling on Democrats to investigate Chinas sway over the WHO.

The potential misuse of taxpayer dollars is at the heart of the Committees jurisdiction, and we owe it to the American people to evaluate how the WHO has been spending their hard-earned money, the letter read, noting that American taxpayers are the single largest contributor to the WHO, contributing many times Chinas contribution.

Notwithstanding this drastic imbalance in funding, the United States should not support organizations that promulgate communist propaganda instead of the facts. Our republic is not obligated to hand money to an entity that espouses ideals of international cooperation while furthering the Chinese governments machinations, the letter continued.

The GOP committee members noted Maloneys own statement acknowledging that the WHO has shortcomings that must be corrected, although she opposed the decision by the Trump administration to suspend U.S. funding of the organization until a review is conducted to assess the WHOs role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.

In light of such an admission, coupled with multiple media reports of WHOs failures, we request immediate briefings, and hearings next month, on the WHOs relationship with the Community Party of China and its widely criticized response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Republicans wrote.

The WHO also attracted harsh criticism after it praised China for its transparency and willingness to share information regarding the nature and spread of the virus. The Trump administration and U.S. lawmakers have since cast doubt on Chinas good faith in sharing information about the outbreak and have criticized the WHO for apparently taking the communist country at its word.

Story continues

The GOP lawmakers also commended the presidents decision to pause WHO funding temporarily, saying the organizations inaction and delay undoubtedly cost American lives.

If Democrats were serious about oversight of American tax dollars, theyd investigate the WHOs ties to China. Its no secret that the WHO has been using American tax dollars to peddle Communist Chinas talking points about COVID-19 for months, A senior Republican aide told National Review. This practice should offend every American, no matter the party. The United States Congress should lead the way in opposing such propaganda.

As of Thursday afternoon, the U.S. has over a million positive cases of the coronavirus, and over 61,700 people have died after being infected.

More from National Review
President Donald Trump recently announced the federal government wouldn't impose an extension on its COVID-19 isolation policies once they end on Thursday. Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, and adviser, says the country will be "rocking again."

The Trump administration said the state governors would incorporate the existing self-isolation recommendations into their future plans as more officials began lifting restrictions and reopening their economies this week.

During a White House meeting on Wednesday, Trump lauded governors for taking cautious steps in reviving their economies.



Coronavirus Restrictions

The stay-at-home policy was initially set to last for two weeks. It was extended for 30 more days after medical experts deemed it necessary to close the country to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The movement restrictions forced many businesses to close doors and halt operations, leaving many Americans unemployed.

The existing coronavirus guidelines will be applied to the new policies issued by the White House. The newly released measures focus on how states can reopen their economies safely. Vice President Mike Pence state officials are adhering to the guidelines at a minimum, with some doing more.

Two weeks ago, the White House released guidelines to be used on planning a course towards some normality. During a teleconference with the governors, Trump said protecting the economy will help preserve the health of the American citizens.

The guidelines were broken into three phases, each one requiring 14 days of a downward trajectory of coronavirus cases to advance to the next one.

Phase one forbids the gathering of 10 or more people. It will also require employees to work from home if possible. Schools and bars will remain closed, while places such as restaurants, theaters, and churches are required to uphold strict physical distancing protocols. People classified as vulnerable are urged to stay home.

Phase two allows states with no signs of a resurgence to expand gatherings to 50 people. All non-essential travel can resume. Companies are still encouraged to let employees work from home. Schools and bars could operate with a limited capacity. Vulnerable people are still urged to stay indoors.

The third and final phase lets vulnerable people go out in public, as long as they follow specific measures. Hospitals and nursing homes will allow visitation.



Possible Cure



U.S. President Donald Trump revealed his plans to resume official travel after the end of the lockdown next week. He hopes to travel to Arizona to hold mass campaign rallies with thousands of supporters.

Trump also talked up a possible coronavirus treatment following reports the FDA will approve remdesivir as an option after researchers found clear-cut evidence that the drug helps patients recover more quickly.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House health advisor, said the data from the trial showed very promising results and sets a new standard of care for coronavirus patients.

According to the results, Gilead Sciences' drug brought down the mortality rate to 8 percent for the group receiving the drug. The patients who received a placebo showed an 11.6 percent mortality rate. Patients taking the medication were shown to recover within 11 days, four days earlier than the placebo group.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is in talks with the drug maker about making it available to patients. They are expected to grant an emergency-use authorization before the end of the month.
BRUSSELS - Italian pensioners living in Portugal can be subjected to either the Portuguese or Italian tax regime according to the sector of provenance (private or public), according to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The court said that the disparity of treatment given by the request of citizenship requirements for the public sector does not violate EU principles of free circulation and non-discrimination. In the sentence, the court stressed that, in the framework of fiscal conventions against double taxation, member States can divide taxation requirements based on criteria like citizenship. It is therefore legitimate for former Italian public employees living in Portugal to be required Portuguese citizenship, and not just residency in Portugal - as instead provided for former private sector employees - to obtain a pension from Italy. (ANSAmed)
The Serum Institute of India has plans this year to produce up to 60 million doses of a potential vaccine against the new coronavirus that is under clinical trial in Britain.

Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest maker of vaccines by volume, is mass-producing the vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford, which started testing it on humans last week, and is a leader in the global race to develop an antidote to the novel coronavirus.

Race for vaccine

In an interview to a various news organizations, Adar Poonawala, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SII, based in the western Indian city of Pune, says he is taking the risk of initiating production even before the vaccine has reached advanced clinical trials and will sell the vaccine, if developed, for just 1,000 Indian Rupees or 12 Euros per dose.

While the clinical trials have already commenced in the UK, we are simultaneously initiating production as well, in the hope that when the trials are successful, we will have the first batch of doses ready for use by September or October, Poonawala said.

The decision has been solely taken to have a jump-start on manufacturing, to have enough doses available. However, the distribution of the doses will commence only once the trials are successful and the vaccine is efficacious as well as safe for use.

While the Oxford vaccine, called "ChAdOx1 nCoV-19", is yet to be proven to work against COVID-19, the firm decided to start manufacturing it as it had shown success in animal trials and had progressed to tests on humans.

SII is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, which produces over 1.5 billion doses and immunises over 65 per cent of the children worldwide.

India alone is among the largest manufacturer of generic drugs and vaccines in the world. It is home to half a dozen major vaccine makers and a host of smaller ones, making doses against polio, meningitis, pneumonia, rotavirus, BCG, measles, mumps and rubella, among other diseases.

SII has also stitched up collaboration with Codagenix, an American biotech company, to develop a "live attenuated" vaccine, among the more than 80 reportedly in development all over the world.

Pharmaceutical insiders said SII would be investing over 4 million Euros on making around 3 to 5 million doses per month.

A vaccine needed that works

There are currently no approved vaccines or medication for the COVID-19 disease, which has killed more than 228,000 people worldwide and infected more than 3.2 million.

Though it has just been months since the novel coronavirus surfaced in humans, scientists have already been able to launch projects to identify and develop vaccines to halt the virus's relentless worldwide march.

Though there are now around 150 development projects worldwide, the German and British plans are among only five clinical trials on humans which have been approved across the globe.

Typically, vaccines go through various stages of research, which involve testing on animals and at least three phases of clinical trials. All this can take several years, sometimes up to a decade. But this is an extraordinary situation affecting the world, Raman Gangakhedkar, an epidemiologist told RFI.

Currently, six Indian companies are working on a Covid-19 vaccine, joining global efforts to curb spreading of the virus.

https://twitter.com/ndtv/status/1254830887641837569?s=12

Even after the vaccine is ready there are a lot of challenges, including whether the vaccine is effective in all populations, and if it can be used for different strains of the novel coronavirus, which might start mutating as time passes, said Sreekumar, chief scientific officer at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology.

In Britain, volunteers in a trial at the University of Oxford were given the first dose of a potential vaccine based on a virus found in chimpanzees.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized that a vaccine was the only thing to return normalcy to the world, and called for development projects to be accelerated.
CHICAGO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketsandMarkets published a report titled, "COVID-19 Impact on Global Machine Tool Market by Machine Type (Cutting and Forming), Automation Type (CNC and Conventional), Industry (Automotive, Sheet Metal, Capital Goods and Energy), Sales Channel (Direct Sales, Events & Exhibitions and Dealer & Distributor) and Region - Global Forecast to 2021". Based on their findings, the COVID-19 impact on global machine tool market size is projected to reach USD 68.9 billion by 2021 from an estimated USD 65.6 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 5.0%. The projections were based on the ongoing automotive industry production drop, which is the biggest consumer of machine tools and, additionally, the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the manufacturing industry. Economies rely on machinery for production, and machine tools form the crux of it. Companies are expected to recover from the recession slowly by taking preventive measures to meet production needs. Chinese firms have also become creative and resourceful to recruit the workforce. Some firms negotiated with local governments for permission to send in charted buses and even airplanes to bring back the workforce from remote regions. Others have started to adopt automation to make up for labor shortages. Some are also applying technologies to do crash training for newly recruited manual labor workforce. In some firms, salaried workers are temporarily taking on the work of hourly labor workforce in certain critical production areas

Browse in-depth TOC on "COVID-19 Impact on Global Machine Tool Market"

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"Asia Pacific is expected to recover at a faster growth than compared with other regions post COVID crisis during the forecast period."

Even with COVID-19 originating from China, the country has been successfully implementing strategies to control the spread, where it has been successful when compared to Europe and North America. Recently, China has slowly started its production activities with the minimum workforce. With Asia being the largest automotive producer, the Machine Tool Market is expected to rebound faster with investments in new technologies like Chipmaking equipment, which is expected to propel growth. The field likely will see an increase in demand amid advancement in technologies for 5G communication and artificial intelligence.

"Supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 have made machine tool manufacturers, and other end-use industries realize the over-reliance on China could be destructive."

Problems in the supply of materials have affected machine tool manufacturers due to supply shortages from China, has most of the materials were imported from China and due to the lockdown or limited production, other countries were looked upon for the supply of material. Due to the demand, large suppliers of components that dominate the Machine Tool Market prioritized big companies to SMEs at the time of recovery. Also, the recent disruptions in the supply chain have revealed that machine tool manufacturers over-rely on suppliers of key components and their weak negotiation power vis-a-vis suppliers of CNC, electronic components, casting, high precision components, and others.

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"Manufacturing industries are strategically re-tooling their production systems to make totally different products within Machine Tool Market."

Some OEMs have strategically planned to re-tool their production systems to make totally different products. For example, when the automotive industry was down by more than 90% in China in February, automobile manufacturer like Shanghai-GM-Wuling (SGMW) quickly retooled its production system to produce medical face masks, which positively contributed to mitigating the COVID-19 spread and at the same time generated rewarding revenues and positive reputation for the company.

Some of the major players in the Machine Tool Market are Doosan (South Korea), Amada (Japan), Makino (Japan), JTEKT (Japan), GF Machining Solutions (Switzerland), DMG Mori (Japan), Komatsu (Japan), OKUMA (Japan), Hyundai WIA (South Korea), Schuler (Germany), and Chiron Group (Germany), among others.

Browse Related Report:

CNC Controller Market by Hardware (CNC Machine and CNC Controller), Machine Type (CNC Machining Center and CNC Turning Center), Axis Type (2-Axis, 3-Axis, 4-Axis, 5-Axis, and Multiaxis), Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023

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Anyone who has ever studied ballet knows it takes lots of practice to dance with the kind of grace that makes each movement seem effortless.

Strength, balance and flexibility are required, and when all of those things come together, theres nothing like the euphoria of performing.

But what happens when a pandemic cancels not only your performances, but your classes? Ballet Theatre Company (BTC), in West Hartford, has come up with fun ways for students to maintain their training, and is sharing them with the public. Theyre available through BTCs Keep Dancing At Home Guide, which you can find on their website.

The guide features something for each day of the week; Movement Monday, Technique Tuesday, Workout Wednesday, Theraband Thursday, Fun Friday, Stretch Saturday, and Share Sunday.

Movement Monday activities have included Be A Choreographer, which challenged students to choreograph a dance to a song of their choice and then teach a friend via video chat, and Dancing Alone Together, which challenged students and faculty members to create an inspirational dance to share.

BTC has also challenged students to Get Outside and Dance, using nature as inspiration. Fun Fridays has been a fan favorite, including such activities as Be A Costume Designer and Ballet Jeopardy. Artistic Director Stephanie Dattellas shared more via email.

Q: You created the Keep Dancing At Home Guide to keep students active, connected and involved. What challenges did you face in putting it together?

A: Initially, the challenge was coming to terms with the reality that our preferred teaching methods would need to be put on hold, and that physical correction and connection be replaced with screens and virtual platforms. Ballet or dance is not just an activity, it is an art form. One that is meant to move largely, with precision, or freely, and above all prepared to be seen onstage. So the challenge was figuring out how to preserve that integrity in the confinements of a living room.

Q: What do you love most about it?

A: Under these unique circumstances, it is allowing us the opportunity to connect with our students in unique ways, and likewise, for our students to connect with one another. With flexibility, freedom, and at times monotony at home, our students are wanting, and able to dive into the world of performing arts. In our Monday Movement challenges our students are being challenged to create and share choreographic works. In other activities such as Ballet Jeopardy/Ballet Trivia our students are learning more about the history of ballet and testing their terminology skills. In these nontraditional studio activities our students are learning more about each other, themselves, and the art form.

Q: The activities in the guide are open to anyone who wants to give them a try. What made you want to share this?

A: Now, more than ever, it is important that we support one another. As I am sure you have noticed, artists of all kinds, all over the world are sharing their talents, and for free. Art provides an outlet to find a moment of solitude, peace or in some cases distraction. If Ballet Theatre Company can spark a moment of joy in a new normal for parents and children at home, then we have continued to find our purpose as an organization.

More Information Ballet Theatre Company, 20 Jefferson Ave. West Hartford 860-570-0440, facebook.dancebtc.org, dancebtc.org See More Collapse

I should note that our LIVE weekly, ballet classes, taught by BTCs professional staff are offered to our BTC students only. However, we are looking to expand these offerings in the near future.

Q: Can you talk about one or two of the activity days and why those exercises are so great for people of all ages?

A: Absolutely! On Monday, BTC presents our Movement Monday challenges  encouraging the public to get up and move. I think we all are experiencing our days melding into one another or maybe a new discovery of monotony... so it is so imperative we find activity and movement in our daily routines. Some of our Movement Mondays have included moving outside, choreographing a dance for a friend, or just grooving to your favorite song.

lkoonz@newstimes.com; Twitter: @LindaTKoonz
New Delhi: Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who was admitted to Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital on Wednesday night, died on Thursday morning. He was 67. Rishi Kapoor was battling cancer since 2018. He got treated in the US for a year and had returned to India in September 2019. He was hospitalised after he complained of some breathing problem last night.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," read a statement released by the Kapoor family after his death.

"He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears. In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way," it further read.

"He would not have it any other way," the statement concluded.

In February, Rishi Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues. He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At that time, he had said that he was suffering from an "infection". After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after.

He is survived by wife Neetu Kapoor and children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor, who was quite active on social media, hadn't posted anything on his Twitter account since April 2.

Rishi Kapoor, son of Indian cinema legend Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor, had starred in several blockbuster films. He was also a filmmaker. He debuted in 1970 with Raj Kapoors Mera Naam Joker while his first film as a leading hero was in Bobby opposite Dimple Kapadia in 1973.

In a career spanning five decades, he played prominent roles in films such as Karz, Khel Khel Mein, Amar, Akbar and Anthony, Laila Majnu, Nagina, Saagar, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Chandni, 'Damini', 'Do Dooni Chaar', 'D-Day', 'Agneepath' and 'Kapoor & Sons'.

Rishi Kapoor had won several accolades for his work, including the National Film Award for his debut role as a child artist in Mera Naam Joker

Rishi Kapoor had recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film 'The Intern', also featuring Deepika Padukone.
Well, look, when you run for president of the United States, your life is an open book, McConnell said during an appearance on Fox News. And I cant imagine that Vice President Biden is not going to have to participate in releasing all of the information related to the allegations. Its a very challenging thing to run for president, and I think everyone whos done that has realized that their entire life is opened up to scrutiny. And I think thats happening to Vice President Biden, and they shouldnt be surprised.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 08:34:00|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Zhao Jiasong

URUMQI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The life of Alexander Sergeevich Zazulin -- blonde hair, blue eyes, high nose, white skin and an ethnic Russian in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, can be defined by accordions in almost every way.

A 1,200-square-meter museum that preserves more than 800 accordions from over 20 countries in the city of Yining is the 40 years' living and working in miniature of the 62-year-old man known far and wide for his adept skills at repairing accordions.

Most of Alexander's accordion collection are exhibited in the museum. They were originally made in Russia, China, Germany, the Czech Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The accordion is the soul of Russian folk songs, Alexander said. His father used to play the instrument to amuse guests and neighbors. That was when his obsession with it started.

An accordion was a luxury at that time. Alexander recalled that his father, to make ends meet, had to pawn and redeem his accordion time after time.

Influenced by his father, Alexander learned how to play and even repair an accordion. He bought his first accordion at 18, which cost him all the money he saved from fishing and doing part-time jobs for months.

Later he was engaged in border trade for a living. At first, he recycled broken accordions from across Xinjiang and brought them back home for repair. Soon he began to purchase antique ones from overseas.

"Saving these accordions and restoring their sound gives me a strong sense of achievement," he said.

Alexander's repair skills are unique. He seldom sent them back to their manufacturers for parts replacement. Instead, he made bellows and reeds on his own.

"No matter how badly an accordion was damaged, I can fix it," he said. Not before long accordion lovers from home and abroad began to swarm to seek his help.

In 2002, he played the accordion with Zhang Zhiqiang, a famous musician in China. And in the summer of 2004, he performed alongside an accordion master from Kazakhstan.

He also tried composing. Without much schooling and knowledge of reading music, he has written dozens of musical pieces throughout the years.

Having spent all his life dealing with the instrument, he invested all his savings in building a small museum to display his accordions a few years back. They crammed the house even onto the roof, but some still had to be kept in boxes.

Someone offered him 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars) for all his accordions, but he refused, waiting for a better arrangement in life.

In 2019, Yining and the province of Jiangsu in east China jointly invested over 4 million yuan in building the current museum. Alexander finally saw his dream come true.

The museum instantly became a local landmark and served as a platform to introduce the accordion to the public. And more importantly, his daughter Anya has also been drawn back to inherit his legacy.

Anya has repaired 30 accordions since this year under her father's instructions. "It would be a pity if no one inherited my father's unique skills. I didn't have much interest before, but now I get more fun doing this work," she said.

Fluent in Mandarin, 30-year-old Anya has also been peddling local specialties such as honey and wine on livestreaming platforms. Next, she plans to livestream his father's collections and performances of her own once she masters the playing skills.

"A repaired accordion will have its own soul and can continue its story and music. Once an accordion is fixed, its soul is preserved, which enables it to pass its story and music on to more people," Alexander said. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Chen Xiaohu, Gu Yu and Zhang Zhongkai also contributed to the story.)
First deputy speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bekwai constituency in the Ashanti region Hon. Joseph Osei-Wusu has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other Civil Society Organization (CSO) to allow state institutions to perform their constitutional mandate enshrined in the 1992 constitution.

He said they should allow the Electoral Commission to fulfill their constitutional mandate by compiling a new voters register for 2020 general elections.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Otec FMs afternoon political talk show dubbed DWABEREM on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Hon. Osei-Wusu urged those with issues against the commission to use the law courts in settling any disagreements instead of street protests.

NDC and court injunction

The main opposition NDC is asking the Criminal Investigative Department of the Ghana Police Service to fast-track investigations into the ECs lawlessness after it allegedly went ahead to defy a court injunction over a supposed workshop for the controversial new voter's register.

The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George has vowed to exhaust all options to bring the Electoral Commission (EC) down in their legal battle.

Sam George, whos litigating against the Election Management Body(EMB) is considering filing contempt charges against the Electoral Commission (EC) for holding such workshop in his constituency despite the court injunction.

On April 24, the MP secured an injunction, restraining the Electoral Commission from holding the workshop in his constituency because of the global coronavirus pandemic. The ex-parte injunction, granted by the Tema High Court, took effect from Friday, April, 24 to Monday, April 27, 2020.

But the EC allegedly defied the court order not to hold the said workshop for directors and deputy directors and culminated in a protest by supporters of the NDC at the City Escape Hotel whod besieged the venue.

The workshop for Directors and Deputy Directors held at the Escape Hotel in Prampram formed part of the Commissions preparation towards the compilation of a new voters register.

Ghanas coronavirus cases

Ghana is currently the sixth country in Africa with the most persons infected by the novel Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ).

This comes after the countrys total COVID-19 cases moved up from 1,550 to 1,671, as of yesterday, April 28, 2020.

At a press briefing, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Aboagye, said 188 persons have successfully recovered.

Hon Joe Wises reactions

But the Bekwai legislator, Hon. Osei-Wusu said that the EC has the sole power to compile new register and therefore call on Ghanaians to go out in their numbers to engage in the registration when the time is due.

Allow the Electoral Commission (EC) put together a new voter register which is more credible, transparent and trustworthy for the 2020 general elections, Hon. Osei-Wusu told Prince Nii Ade (Dr. Cash), the programmes host.

If the pandemic slows down, the Electoral Commission (EC) should be able to devise a means of conducting this exercise to ensure Ghana has a credible 2020 general elections , he added.

The first deputy speaker of Parliament believes that the quality of the voters register played a critical role in the electoral process and an obsolete and incomplete register could not be relied on for an electoral process.

---OtecfmGhana.com
United Tribes of Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay Tribes have been fighting the proposed Pebble mine for sixteen years. Throughout this time, we have been fortunate to find allies in many placesour Tribal neighbors in Alaska who stand with us at rallies and in meetings time and again; the sport and commercial fisherman who understand the threat the mine poses to small, family-owned businesses; and even pockets of industry, such as the world famous jeweler Tiffany & Company, who committed to boycotting any precious minerals mined at Pebble.

Our people have lived from the lands and waters of this region since time immemorial. The proposed mine would sit at the headwaters of some of our most productive fishing rivers, and threatens everything that sustains us. The current Pebble plan alone would destroy 105 miles of rivers and streams, and thousands of acres of wetlands  all of which connect Bristol Bay waters and nurture the fish our people rely on.

The mines infrastructure would include about 100 miles of new roads, much of which would traverse important sites for picking berries, and hunting moose, caribou and birds. There would be new ports built on top of our ancient fish camps and traditional hunting and fishing grounds. Toxic waste would be stored at our headwaters forever, and toxic byproducts would remain in our seismically-active region for the rest of time  contained only by new, untested technology that if history teaches us anything, will one day fail and devastate our pristine homeland.

The signed Bristol Bay Proclamation on display in Seattle, Washington, on January 21, 2020. Photo courtesy United Tribes of Bristol Bay

Each detail of this project threatens our sacred way of life, and the current plan doesnt even consider the expansion to mine the full deposit, which Pebble is actively touting to its investors. This is why more than 80 percent of Bristol Bays residents oppose the proposed Pebble mine: it is a threat to our past, present and future as Native People.

Despite all this opposition, the federal governments is fast-tracking and supporting this project. It is clear that the government is more interested in bolstering one junior Canadian mining companys profits than listening to the millions of Americans who understand the devastation this project could cause in Bristol Bay.

But over the past several months, weve been fortunate to watch the broad-base of Pebble opposition grow even more. We have long been grateful for support from within Alaska, including our historic agreement with the Southeast Indigenous Transboundary Commission in 2017 to stand together in opposition to the threats large-scale mines pose to each regions communities.

Now we celebrate as our circle of tribal allies continues to grow. In 2019, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians updated their resolution from 2013 opposing Pebble and the National Congress of American Indians formalized their support for our cause with a resolution opposing the project and the current corrupt permitting process. And in early 2020, the Lummi Nation helped bring together representatives from those entities as well as the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Lummi Nation and Makah Tribe to sign the Bristol Bay Proclamation, further committing that we all stand together to protect our home  and the worlds last great wild sockeye run.

The Proclamation demands that the federal government honor its obligation to protect the lifeways of the Tribes of Bristol Bay; adhere to the first principles of government-to-government consultation including full, prior, and informed consent; and work with the Tribes of Bristol Bay to ensure the long-term, sustainable management of their lands and waters. These are the basic tenants of decency and respect our Native Nations should receive from America  but the government is shirking these responsibilities, and we are honored and thankful to stand together to demand our tribes be listened to for a better future for all.

The days we stand together with fellow tribes are a bright moment of hope for our regions future. Our Tribal allies have made a clear call for the federal government to start showing respect for our sovereign nations in Bristol Bay and listen to our people. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support and solidarity, and want to extend our deepest thanks  quyana and chinan in Bristol Bays Yupik and Denaina languages, and hyshqe in the Lummi language  to all those stand together with us.

Raynell Morris of the Lummi Nation at the signing of the Bristol Bay Proclamation in Seattle, Washington, on January 21, 2020. Photo courtesy United Tribes of Bristol Bay

Especially now, in these uncertain times across the Nation, it is easy to think of our own families and communities first, but we are so grateful for all those who continue to care for their neighbors both near and far. Many Tribal communities across America face challenges and hardship. We understand that the federal governments disregard and mistreatment of Tribal nations is not limited to Bristol Bay. And yet, across the country, we see a willingness to elevate our fight and work with us for a better future in Bristol Bay  and we are filled with deep gratitude.

We are still hopeful in Bristol Bay, because our people are resilient and strong and will not back down from this fight until our future is protected. And we are hopeful because we are fighting with wide-spread support and solidarity from Indian Country too. Together, we will protect the resources that sustain our cultures for future generations. From our childrens children, to yours, quyana and chinan.

The risk of transmission of the #Coronavirus in the Bristol Bay fishery of #Alaska is not just high -- it is certain: #AlaskaNative leaders are united in protecting their communities from #COVID19. https://t.co/aW7LFQtCk4  indianz.com (@indianz) April 23, 2020

MaryAnn Johnson and Wass Andrew are United Tribes of Bristol Bay board members, writing on behalf of UTBBs 15 member Tribes and the more than 80 percent of Bristol Bays population that these Tribes represent.

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With his statement that saving human life should not be societys first priority, German parliament president Wolfgang Schauble has triggered a discussion about worthless lives. On the 75th anniversary of Hitlers suicide in the Fuhrer bunker, Germanys ruling elite is once again discussing how many human lives should be sacrificed for corporate profit.

In an interview with the Tagesspiegel, Schauble said, But when I hear that everything must take second place to the protection of life, then I must say: that is not right in such an absolute sense. He continued, If there is one absolute value in our Basic Law, then it is the dignity of the person. This is inviolable. But that does not exclude us from having to die, he added.

Under conditions in which the coronavirus reproduction rate in Germany is increasing and the pandemic is raging internationally, this can only mean that countless lives must be sacrificed to boost the revenues and profits of big business.

German Bundestag President Wolfgang Schauble (AP Photo/Jean Francois Badias)

The reproduction rate reveals how many people are infected by someone who has coronavirus. In Germany, the rate reached its lowest level of 0.7 some 12 days ago. According to the Robert Koch Institute, it has climbed back up to 1.0, and the impact of the easing of restrictions over the past week will only make itself felt in the figures over the coming days. Experts therefore expect a second wave of the pandemic.

This has not stopped leading representatives from Germanys parliamentary parties speaking out in support of Schauble and demanding the lifting of the protective measures that remain in place.

Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner expressed this view most clearly, asserting that for his party of high-income earners, human lives, especially those of workers and pensioners, were merely a cost factor.

On the Welt television channel, Lindner explicitly backed Schauble. The protection of life is of course a high priority, but its always a question of weighing up priorities, the FDP leader said. The severe restrictions on public life have such a high cost factor that Lindner believes another route than the one pursued over recent weeks should be taken. So please, open businesses, get education institutions going, make gastronomy and production possible.

There was also applause from the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfDs parliamentary group leader, Alexander Gauland, stated, Parliament president Schauble is absolutely right on this. When the treatment of an illness begins to do more harm than the illness itself, the treatment must be ended.

The Greens, who never miss an opportunity to offer their services to big business and the financial elite, did not want to be left out of the general enthusiasm.

Green co-leader Robert Habeck agreed with Schaubles statement that the protection of human life does not justify everything and anything in such an absolute sense. The state has a high duty of care for life. The health care system cannot be allowed to collapse. But everything and anything is wrong. A dilemma in a democracy is normal, and politicians have to put up with that, he continued.

The leader of the Greens parliamentary group in the federal parliament, Katrin Goring-Eckardt, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that the state had to protect human life, but one must always remember that life is much more than just surviving.

The mayor of Tubingen, Boris Palmer, who has long expounded the right-wing core of Green politics, argued on the television channel Sat.1s breakfast show, Ill put it bluntly: were possibly saving people who would probably be dead in six months anyway due to their age or pre-existing medical conditions.

If Palmer got his way, the pandemic could be left to wipe out the elderly, who only cost more money. If you look at the coronavirus deaths, it is often the case that many people over the age of 80 die, he said. And we know that most people over 80 die at some point.

The Green Party politician, who usually advocates the strict deportation of refugees, is now cynically seeking to play off the lives of German pensioners against the poverty in developing countries. The poverty shock triggered by the global economic collapse produced by the isolation measures will cost the lives of millions of children, he said.

Schauble also received backing from theologians, jurists and cultural figures, for whom the defence of capitalism and their privileges is far more important than the protection of the lives of pensioners and workers.

The chairman of the German Ethics Council, Peter Dabrock, explicitly welcomed Schaubles remarks. We cannot in principle put the length of life ahead of the quality of life, he told financial daily Handelsblatt.

The Ethics Council had already noted in recent weeks that everything else could not be subordinated to the protection of human life, Dabrock pointed out. When the man who is formally second in line to the head of state makes such a statement, it carries the full weight of the state.

Former constitutional judge Gertrude Lubbe-Wolff told Handelsblatt, We must always take account of the capacity of the state to act, on which we rely for freedom and health in equal measure, and the limits of that capacity. There is no lexical ranking among the basic rights. Although the Federal Constitutional Court defined the right to life as a core value, this does not mean that everything else has to retreat behind the protection of life and health in principle.

Frank Castorf, the well-known theatre director and longtime artistic director of the Volksbuhne, one of Berlins leading theatres, who is also close to the Left Party, opposes the coronavirus restrictions with particular venom. In a piece with the infantile headline, I dont want to be told by Mrs. [Angela] Merkel that I have to wash my hands, he called in an interview with Der Spiegel (the weekly newsmagazine) for republican resistance against the coronavirus restrictions.

In light of the current fatality rate and the deaths of 6,000 people in Germany, Castorf believes that it is always sad when someone dies, including an elderly person. But thats just the way things are and we have to accept it. We are born with death, that is a philosophical platitude. The theatre is there to remind us that we cant abolish death.

Just like the idea of a socialist community of the people was propagated by the politicians during the era of the GDR [Stalinist East Germany, in which Castorf grew up], the director continued, so today the social obligation to save everyone from death is propagated. He has never felt so confined before in my life. The regulations and laws are an incision into our Western normality. I am being ordered what to do, what to think.

Castorf ended the interview by acknowledging, I admit with horror that I like Trump. Because he doesnt dance to the same tune. The anger towards Trump, stated the director, is the illness of we Germans, the madness of this small people in Central Europe that led us to Stalingrad and back.

In front of the Volksbuhne in Berlin, where Castorf is currently directing an adaptation of an Erich Kastner novel, a few hundred demonstrators have been gathering on recent weekends to protest the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus. Even the Left Party organ Neues Deutschland was compelled to acknowledge, Originally planned as a left-wing action, the protest seems to have been completely taken over by the right.

Schaubles claim that a contrast exists between the protection of life and human dignity is false even from a legal standpoint. Article I of Germanys Basic Law, Human dignity is inviolable. It shall be the obligation of all state power to respect and protect it, was a direct response to the Nazi dictatorships crimes, which subordinated human dignity to the alleged interests of the people and the will of the Fuhrer, and ultimately exterminated millions of worthless lives in concentration camps, forced labour, and euthanasia programmes.

The fact that the protection of human dignity includes the protection of the right to life and bodily integrity (Article II) is self-evident. Nonetheless, the Federal Constitutional Court confirmed this point at length in 2005, when it overturned the Air Security Law, which would have legalised the shooting down of hijacked passenger planes. The ruling stated that the law was incompatible with the right to life and guarantee of human dignity contained in the Basic Law, because to the extent that weapons were used, innocent people on board would be affected.

Schauble, who became Interior Minister for the second time that year, sharply attacked the ruling and sought to have it thrown out by means of a constitutional change. Only after the president of the Federal Constitutional Court at the time, Hans-Jurgen Papier, warned him publicly that the guarantee of human dignity could not be limited by means of a constitutional amendment, did Schauble abandon his plan.

The fact that Schauble is now once again calling into question the protection of human life and is receiving support from the entire official political spectrum is intimately bound up with the crisis of capitalism exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. While the virus and its spread are natural processes that experts have long been warning about, the political response to it is not.

The years-long savaging of the health service, the plundering of social resources by hedge funds, banks, and the super-rich, the creation of a huge low-wage sector in which millions of workers do not earn enough to make ends meet: all of these processes have left society utterly unprepared for the pandemic. Even elementary protective measures, such as the purchasing of masks and medical gowns for doctors and health care workers, were not carried out.

The ruling class views the coronavirus pandemic above all as an opportunity to intensify the transfer of social wealth from the bottom to the top. While the banks and big business receive trillions in public funds and the stock markets are rising once again, workers are being laid off or forced back into the factories to risk their lives.

To this end, the ruling elite is literally prepared to trample over corpses. Capitalism is based, as Karl Marx demonstrated in his masterwork Capital, on the exploitation of human labour power. The Nazis took this exploitation to the most extreme forms of brutality. Millions of forced labourers from almost all occupied countries worked themselves to death in German factories during the war. Experts worked out how they could be most effectively exploited with as few calories as possible before they died.

These traditions are being revived. There is no other way to explain the enthusiasm of the ruling elite, and its repulsive court jester Castorf, for Schaubles contempt for the protection of human life. The time is ripe for the overthrow of capitalism by a socialist movement of the international working class.
The New York Times recently published a story on the impact of the COVID-19 virus and the economic downturn on a number of publicly financed convention hotels around the country. The piece included this: The timing is especially vexing for new publicly funded convention hotels that were built to draw business travelers.
- The ministry said a total of KSh 1.3 billion had so far been used in combating the coronavirus pandemic

- Other expenses included leasing ambulances (KSh 42 million), communications (KSh 70 million), stationery (KSh 6.5 million) and printing of forms (KSh 9 million)

- The department also allocated Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) KSh 150 million to provide additional bed capacity at Mbagathi Hospital isolation centre

The Ministry of Health has spent KSh 2 million on airtime and KSh 4 million on tea and snacks since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Kenya.

In a statement, the ministry said a total of KSh 1.3 billion had so far been used in combating the killer disease.

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The ministry's budget breakdown seen by TUKO.co.ke on Thursday, April 30, indicated the expenditure was tabled before National Assembly's health committee chaired by Muranga woman representative Sabina Chege.

According to the document, some of the expenses incurred included leasing ambulances (KSh 42 million), communications (KSh 70 million), airtime (KSh 2 million), tea and snacks (KSh 4 million), stationery (KSh 6.5 million) and printing of forms (KSh 9 million).

READ ALSO: Buruburu: Polisi wachunguza chanzo cha moto ulioteketeza gari, dereva

Printing of forms gobbled 10 times more money that it had been budgeted for as the initial approved proposal was KSh 900,000.

The ministry also allocated Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) KSh 150 million to provide additional bed capacity at Mbagathi Hospital isolation centre, and KSh 10 million to the National Youth Service (NYS) for security services in isolation and quarantine facilities.

A file photo of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe. Photo: KMPDU.

Source: Facebook

KSh 5 million was allocated to the broadcasting department to facilitate community outreaches and media tours across region.

Here were some of the reaction by Kenyans on the expenditure:

"It's ironical that GoK spent 4 million on tea and snacks in a period of one month while it's citizens have nothing to eat evidently after a woman cooked stones for supper," Lesterweed Junior said.

"It's no longer funny when the MoH spends a whopping 4 million on tea and snacks when such huge amounts of money should be invested in PPEs, testing kits and ventilators," Mwangi Maina opined.

"Four million on tea and snacks. And then there are Kenyans citizens who cannot afford a meal,leave alone two square meals a day," Saru wondered.

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.

Floods and Coronavirus taking Kenya by storm | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
14,000 people register to leave Phuket in domestic repatriation drive

PHUKET: More than 14,000 people have registered to leave Phuket under a project to get Thais stuck in Phuket back to their home provinces.

COVID-19Coronavirustransport

By The Phuket News

Thursday 30 April 2020, 10:24AM

Photo: PR Phuket

UPDATE: The Phuket office of the Public Relations Department this morning (Apr 30) confirmed that foreigners may register to leave Phuket.



The Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) announced the project in a video posted on its official Facebook at 2:18pm yesterday.

People could register their intent to leave Phuket by informing their village chief (Phu Yai Baan) or subdistrict chief (Kamnan), or by online form.

People had until 9pm to register, by that time more than 14,000 people had done so, PR Phuket reported.

The registration is only a survey of how many people want to leave Phuket so they can get home, as requested by the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee, PR Phuket explained in a later post.

At a meeting of the committee yesterday, it was discussed that best practice guidelines would be followed in the domestic repatriation project, whereby:

- Provincial officials will make a list of names of those wanting to leave Phuket and send this to the destination provinces so peoples movements can be tracked

- People who leave Phuket must self-quarantine themselves at home for 14 days.

- All people leaving Phuket must be screened by having their body temperatures checked before leaving Phuket

At the moment, the province is gathering information to plan for the management of people to be done in a neat way and observing social distancing by gradually releasing people out with time management so that the people who travel do not get caught by the curfew, which is from 10pm to 4am the next day, PR Phuket explained.

Please follow further government announcements for the next opportunity to register for their project, PR Phuket said in its post last night, casting doubt on whether the registration process was actually a survey.

The first round form, in Thai language only, is no longer available, but now links to a second round form, also only in Thai, though PR Phuket has yet to announce that is available.

The Phuket News has so far been unable to confirm whether or not the project is open to foreigners to register.

Thai social media sites this morniing reported that more than 30,000 have now registered for the project. That number has yet to be confirmed by officials.
Donald Trump laughed about three videos released by the Pentagon which purportedly show 'unexplained aerial phenomena' and said Wednesday: 'I just wonder if it's real.'

The president spoke briefly about the footage to say 'that's a hell of a video' during an Oval Office interview with Reuters.

The footage has previously been acknowledged as real by the Navy.

Trump has expressed skepticism before about UFOs, telling George Stephanopoulos of ABC News last year that he had had a 'brief meeting' on the topic but adding: 'People are saying theyre seeing UFOs. Do I believe it? Not particular.'

It captures what pilots recorded on their video sensors during training flights in 2004 and 2015.

Two of the clips were first published in 2017 by the New York Times and the third by the To The Stars Academy in 2018 - a group that specializes in unexplained phenomenon and was founded by Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge.

'The Department of Defense has authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos, one taken in November 2004 and the other two in January 2015, which have been circulating in the public domain after unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017,' said Susan Gough, a Defense Department spokesperson in a statement.

The statement, released on Monday added that the videos were released after a 'thorough review' which determined that the unclassified videos 'does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems, and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena'.

One of the videos was captured off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, in 2015 (pictured)

Intervention: Donald Trump spoke about the videos during an Oval Office interview

One of the clips shows the notorious 2004 'Tic Tac' incident that was recorded over the Pacific Ocean. A second video was captured off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, in 2015.

Several months after those videos were published, To The Stars Academy released an additional video from the 2015 incident, which features a navy pilot remarking: 'What the f**k is that thing?'

DOD officials said they released the videos 'in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos'.

'The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as 'unidentified,'' the department said.

Former senator, Harry Reid, lauded the Pentagon's decision to officially release the clips.

'I'm glad the Pentagon is finally releasing this footage, but it only scratches the surface of research and materials available,' Reid tweeted Monday.

'The US needs to take a serious, scientific look at this and any potential national security implications. The American people deserve to be informed,' he added.

In September 2019, the Navy confirmed the authenticity of the videos for the first time.

The other video shows the notorious 2004 'Tic Tac' incident (pictured) that was recorded over the Pacific Ocean

Former senator, Harry Reid, lauded the Pentagon's decision to officially release the clips

'The Navy considers the phenomena contained/depicted in those three videos as unidentified,' Navy spokesman Joseph Gradisher told The Black Vault at the time.

The Navy prefers to call the objects seen in the videos 'unexplained aerial phenomena' (UAP), as opposed to the more commonly-used 'unidentified flying object' (UFO).

The clips were first published by The New York Times in December of 2017 and were recorded on two separate occasions.

According to the DOD, the videos have been circulating in the public domain after unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017.

In June 2019, senators were reportedly briefed by the Pentagon about reports of UFO sightings by Navy pilots.

One of those senators was Mark Warner, of Virginia, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, whose spokesperson said: 'If naval pilots are running into unexplained interference in the air, that's a safety concern Senator Warner believes we need to get to the bottom of,' Politico reported at the time.

The briefing was delivered by the Navy and included staff from the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

It is understood that such briefings have been on the rise since it was revealed that the Pentagon's secretive Aerospace Threat Identification Program continues to investigate reported sightings of unknown aircraft.
To the Editor:

Re New York Rules Cant Apply to All (column, April 25):

Bret Stephens would like to build an imaginary wall around New York that will miraculously contain a global pandemic on Americas shores.

Lifting evidence-based public health restrictions now is a recipe for a widespread, long-term public health catastrophe. We still dont know whether surviving Covid-19 confers immunity on an individual, and there is no treatment or vaccine. Its reckless to assume that areas of the country that have flattened the curve  or have thus far been spared significant outbreaks  are in the clear.

We have seen this virus quickly grab a chokehold on major metropolitan areas through community spread. It can happen anywhere: Large cities, small towns and neighborhoods across the globe have been devastated. Yet most hospitals in this country are not adequately equipped to handle a sudden wave of Covid-19 patients.

A measured lifting of restrictions, with rigorous social distancing and grounded in testing and contact tracing, is essential to ensuring that those hospitals remain able to respond to the crisis and protect their patients and staff.
Protesting conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic, workers at Amazon, Instacart, Target and Whole Foods plan to go on a nationwide strike on May 1, expected to be the largest such protest of its kind.

As part of Essential Workers Day, and set to coincide with International Workers Day, employees at six companies will go on strike and walk out from work, protesting what they see as paltry protections for them against the virus and few assurances for their jobs.

One of the national organizers is Christian Smalls, a former worker at the Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, who was fired last month after organizing a strike protesting poor safety measures at the warehouse. Smalls started working for Amazon at its Carteret facility, he said.

We formed an alliance with multiple companies to walk out on May 1 over the health and safety concerns of our employees," said Smalls. Were forming an alliance to come together and walk out together to show the solidarity between not just employees, but with people.

Whole Foods employees across the US plan on calling in sick on Tuesday to demand paid leave for workers as the Coronavirus spreads, and they're joining the ranks of 'essential' workers going on strike. Here is a view of the West Orange store.George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

Organizers from Amazon, Whole Foods, Instacart and Shipt, a delivery service owned by Target, have been planning the nationwide strike for weeks, said Smalls. Among employees concerns are a lack of sufficient personal protective equipment and flawed company policies that make it difficult to keep employees healthy, strike organizers said in a statement.

Precautions companies have taken, including issuing masks and conducting daily temperature checks, were too little too late, with the majority of the changes being implemented after March, organizers said. And many employees, like Robin Pape, an Instacart shopper in New York, say the changes were nowhere near enough.

It was kind of insulting, said Pape. We got one of those little paper thermometers that you might use on a fish tank."

The masks were a single layer of t-shirt material that werent finished in any way, she added. "And if you hold them up to the window you can see outside through them. So that was what they provided us for PPE.

Several New Jersey Amazon warehouse workers told NJ Advance Media that they were only given masks in early April, after working shift after shift without protection. Additionally, the layouts of many of the warehouses made it next to impossible to avoid coming within six feet of other people, they said, breaking with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control.

Because of the failings of our employers, many of our fellow employees have contracted this deadly virus and some have died, strike organizers said in a joint statement.

Amazon is one of several life-sustaining businesses hiring amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Calls and emails to Amazon were not immediately returned. Spokespeople for the other companies said the workers complaints do not take into account all of the precautions they have taken to keep employees and customers safe.

In a statement, Instacart said the company has been making changes for weeks, doing what it can to protect workers. An Instacart spokesperson said that the company worked with a third party to make its own hand sanitizer for employees and that face masks included in employee kits were made of cotton and polyester, meant to be washed and reused. The masks were made to not cut into supplies for medical workers, the spokesperson said.

Whole Foods said that much of what the organizers claimed about the company was not entirely accurate and that the company had implemented measures such as enhanced cleaning protocols, social distancing and crowd control measures."

Our focus right now is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our team members, which remains our top priority, while continuing to serve our customers and communities," said a Whole Foods spokesperson. Statements made by this group misrepresent the full extent of Whole Foods Markets actions in response to this crisis and do not represent the collective voice of our more than 95,000 Team Members.

A spokesperson for Target echoed the sentiment, saying the company has introduced dozens of safety measures since early March, including cleaning checklanes after each guest transaction, rotating the use of checklanes for deep cleaning, and installing Plexiglass partitions at checklanes. The stores also recently began requiring employees to wear masks at work, the spokesperson said in a statement.

While we take them seriously, the concerns raised (by the protestors) are from a very small minority, the statement said. The vast majority of our more than 340,000 frontline team members have expressed pride in the role they are playing in helping provide for families across the country during this time of need.

Its not clear exactly how many workers in New Jersey will take part in the nationwide strike.

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.
[April 30, 2020] Nicoya provides complimentary Surface Plasmon Resonance support for researchers during COVID-19

Nicoya, a leading provider of advanced analytical instruments for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, announced today that they will be offering Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technical support to all researchers - at no cost - during COVID-19. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005228/en/ Nicoya's Customer Success Team is a group of passionate and driven scientists with doctorates in biochemistry, master's degrees in chemical engineering, and extensive industry and research experience (Photo: Business Wire) The global impact of COVID-19 has made SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development a priority for researchers around the world. Finding a solution involves understanding the molecular characteristics of the virus through structural data, binding affinity and kinetics. SPR technology allows researchers to obtain this data in real-time and without the use of labels. To help accelerate COVID-19 research and support the scientific community, Nicoya is offering SPR support for data analysis or experimental design at no cost. With this initiative, Nicoya aims to help researchers obtain hih-quality binding kinetics data faster so they can better understand disease pathways, lead generation, and candidate validation. Researchers interested in requesting SPR support can do so at nicoyalife.com/covid-19-spr-support.



"Nicoya has a long history of standing behind scientists," said Ryan Denomme, co-founder and CEO of Nicoya. "Now that this epidemic has brought their work to the forefront, it's even more important that we do what we can to empower scientific research." Nicoya's mission is to improve human life by helping scientists succeed. With the launch of this new initiative, the company aims to support the scientific community and accelerate COVID-19 research. For a full list of ways Nicoya is supporting researchers in the fight against COVID-19, including their latest research on the binding of a SARS-CoV-2 antibody to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain, visit their website.

About Nicoya

Nicoya is a leading provider of advanced analytical instruments for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The Canadian company's mission is to improve human life by helping scientists succeed. Its instruments are used by hundreds of world-renowned researchers in over 40 different countries. Information about Nicoya can be found at nicoyalife.com, on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005228/en/

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Late actor Irrfan Khan's elder brother Imran Khan spoke to Times Of India about the actor's demise. He said that even though Irrfan could not attend their mother Saeeda Begum's funeral, he had promised the family that he would visit soon. Irrfan's mother passed away a few days ago in Jaipur, and the actor was unable to go due to the nationwide lockdown amid the pandemic.

Soon after, Irrfan was also rushed to the hospital pertaining to a colon infection. Imran, on learning about the news of his younger brother's demise, said that the family was devastated and were in deep shock. The family, at the time, was also mourning the loss of their mother.

Imran added that Irrfan kept saying "fikar na karo main aaonga, It appears that while Bhaijaan was unable to make it to the burial of our mother, he has gone up there to meet mother." He had also added, "Even after cancer he was frequently into calling us up. He used to cheer us up by saying a lot of things."

Irrfan's son Babil, earlier today, took to his Instagram story and thanked everyone for their condolences. He wrote, "I am deeply thankful for all the condolences you beautiful friends are pouring in for me. Although I hope you understand that right now I am not being able to reply because my vocabulary is dizzy. I will get back to each one of you but just not right now. Thank you so much! I love you.'

Many Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities co-stars took to their social media profiles to express their grief. Angrezi Medium, that released on March 25, 2020, turned out to be the actor's last film. He has been a part of blockbusters like Piku, Maqbool, Life of Pi, Inferno, Slumdog Millionaire and more.

Films Irrfan Khan Was Set To Be A Part Of Before His Death: Udham Singh, Gormint, Life In A Metro 2

Irrfan Khan Will Be Missed: 6 Times The Actor Shook The Audience With His Iconic Performance
Ronan Hughes was arrested at his home on April 20

A Monaghan man is alleged to be "the ringleader" and "chief organiser" of a criminal group who trafficked 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex last year, the High Court has heard.

The court was told yesterday that haulier Ronan Hughes is alleged to have "organised, paid for the travel and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants".

Mr Hughes was alleged to have previously visited driver Maurice Robinson at his home and paid him 25,000 (28,650), the court heard.

Evidence was heard at yesterday's bail hearing that 200,000 had been frozen in 33 bank accounts linked to Mr Hughes and his family and that the accused had last year bought a 2019 BMW X5, valued at 108,000, which has since been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Warrant

Mr Justice Paul Burns will deliver a decision today on whether the owner of the haulage firm will be granted bail ahead of his extradition hearing.

Expand Close Police at the scene in Essex where the bodies were found / Facebook

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Mr Hughes (40), of Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan, is wanted by authorities in the UK to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

He was arrested on April 20 at his home in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the police in Essex.

Mr Hughes and his brother Christopher (34) have been wanted in connection with the deaths, with Essex Police making an appeal last November for them to hand themselves in.

Their trucking firm is based in Tyholland, about 7km from the Armagh border.

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The eight female and 31 male migrants had arrived in England on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium.

The youngest were two boys aged 15.

Ronan Hughes appeared in court by video-link from Cloverhill Prison yesterday and wore a face mask.

At yesterday's bail hearing, Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told counsel for the State Ronan Kennedy SC that gardai were objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the charges.

Det Sgt Kirwan said it is alleged that Mr Hughes had unlawfully killed 39 Vietnamese nationals who were found dead in the back of trailer between October 22 and 24, 2019.

Mr Hughes, it is alleged, had also conspired with others to facilitate the illegal entry of people including the 39 deceased persons into the UK.

Migrants were allegedly smuggled in commercial trailers owned or operated by Mr Hughes, said Det Sgt Kirwan.

Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes faces a life sentence in prison if convicted and he has the means and ability to flee.

The witness said that when the driver Maurice Robinson found the bodies in the trailer, he called Mr Hughes.

He said Mr Hughes was sentenced to 30 months in prison for evading almost 1m worth of excise duty for smuggling cigarettes into the UK.

The witness said Mr Hughes was alleged to have previously visited Maurice Robinson at his home and paid him 25,000.

Det Sgt Kirwan said this was what Mr Robinson had told police in relation to the conspiracy.
The full text of the resolutions can be found in the Notice of Annual General Meeting set out in the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2019, which has previously been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and is available for inspection at: www.hemscott.com/nsm.do The results of the poll were as follows:

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
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.
Coronavirus adds more strain to healthcare system already battered by decades of conflict and political instability.

Afghanistans healthcare system has been battered by decades of conflict and political instability.

The new coronavirus pandemic is putting more strain on its medical workers.

Now, the government is releasing prisoners to stop the virus from spreading in its cramped prisons and to prevent hospitals from becoming even more overwhelmed.

Al Jazeeras Priyanka Gupta reports.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Michael Flynn, his former national security advisor and a convicted felon, had been "tormented" by "dirty cops" at the FBI.

Trump's remarks, made during a meeting about the coronavirus at the White House, came after he sent more than a dozen tweets and retweets supporting Flynn and decrying the FBI's handling of his criminal case.

"They were trying to force him to lie," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, appearing to reference new documents that were revealed in Flynn's case Wednesday night.

"General Flynn is a fine man," Trump said. "You don't get to where he is by being bad ... he's in the process of being exonerated."

Before his meeting on the Covid-19 crisis with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Trump engaged in a Twitter blitz about Flynn, the FBI and its former director James Comey.

"What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!" Trump tweeted.

"DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT!" Trump said in another post.

TWEET

TWEET

Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and later told NBC's Lester Holt that the Russia probe was on his mind when he decided to terminate Comey. As a result, then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
[April 30, 2020] DRAGANFLY COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF DRONELOGICS SYSTEMS

Vancouver, British Columbia, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY) (OTCQB: DFLYF) (FSE: 3U8) (Draganfly or the Company), an award-winning, industry-leading manufacturer within the commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), and unmanned vehicle sector (UVS), is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated January 16, 2020, the Company has completed the share purchase transaction (the Transaction) with the shareholders of Dronelogics Systems Inc. (Dronelogics), acquiring all of the shares of Dronelogics for cash and common shares of Draganfly (Draganfly Shares).

Transaction highlights: The Transaction further establishes Draganfly as a leading, diversified drone organization. Dronelogics has been growing steadily with revenues in excess of CAD$3.0 million



Dronelogics has been growing steadily with revenues in excess of CAD$3.0 million Strategically Positioned to Leverage Draganflys Brand: Dronelogics is a complementary business to Draganfly and the acquisition of Dronelogics has expanded the product offering of Draganfly in the integration and engineering segments. This has expanded Draganflys total addressable market and enhanced its position as a leader in the UAV and UVS industry.



Dronelogics is a complementary business to Draganfly and the acquisition of Dronelogics has expanded the product offering of Draganfly in the integration and engineering segments. This has expanded Draganflys total addressable market and enhanced its position as a leader in the UAV and UVS industry. Expanded Customer Base. Draganfly and Dronelogics have limited overlap in customer base representing an opportunity to cross sell the expanded product offerings and further customized solutions to existing clients.



Draganfly and Dronelogics have limited overlap in customer base representing an opportunity to cross sell the expanded product offerings and further customized solutions to existing clients. Established History of Providing Drone Services. Dronelogics has been in business for 10 years, working closely with large multinational companies to provide insights into inventory metrics, asset management, volume-metric calculation and digitizing assets, among many other applications.



Dronelogics has been in business for 10 years, working closely with large multinational companies to provide insights into inventory metrics, asset management, volume-metric calculation and digitizing assets, among many other applications. Enhanced Management Expertise. The acquisition has added a team of 11 employees to Draganfly. In connection with the Closing, Mr. Justin Hannewyk (Mr. Hannewyk) is the President of the operating subsidiary, Dronelogics, and is also appointed to Draganflys board of directors (the Board). The Dronelogics employee base brings a wealth of industry experience and knowledge to Draganfly. On closing of the Transaction (the Closing), the Company paid the shareholders of Dronelogics (the Sellers) CAD$2.0 million, consisting of a cash payment of CAD$500,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment, and 3,225,438 Draganfly Shares in satisfaction of the balance of the purchase price and payment of certain management bonuses at a deemed price of CAD$0.50 per share and welcomed Mr. Hannewyk as a member of the Board. On Closing, the Company also issued an additional 200,000 Draganfly Shares to a finder. The Company is also pleased to announce that its Board has appointed Scott Larson as its Lead Independent Director. Mr. Larson currently serves as a member of the audit committee and the compensation committee of the oard. As the Lead Independent Director, Mr. Larsons responsibilities will include, among others, (i) calling and presiding over meetings of the independent members of the Board; and (ii) serving as a liaison between the Chairman and the independent directors. The appointment of a Lead Independent Director supports Draganflys goal of good corporate governance practices in accordance with the guidelines set out in National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines.



Mr. Larson brings over 20 years of combined corporate finance, technology development and entrepreneurial experience to the Board. Previously CEO of Kater, a Vancouver-based mobility as a service (MaaS) company building out an integrated intermodal transportation platform incorporating public transportation, buses, taxis and ride haling vehicles into a single service. Previously, Mr. Larson has been CEO and co-founder of Helios Wire, a satellite company building out a space-enabled IoT/M2M network, and was CEO/Co-Founder of UrtheCast. Mr. Larson helped scale the company from its inception, taking it public on the Toronto Stock Exchange, raising $200 million, and leading the company to 250 employees over five years with seven offices around the world. Corporate Update

The Company also announced today the grant of stock options to certain consultants of the Company. Incentive stock options to purchase up to 600,000 common shares were granted to consultants of the Company, pursuant to the Company's share compensation plan, exercisable at a price of $0.77 per common share. The options shall have a term of 10 years and vest in three equal tranches, on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. About Draganfly Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY; OTCQB: DFLYF; FSE: 3U8) is the creator of quality, cutting-edge, UVS and software that revolutionizes the way people do business. Recognized as being at the forefront of technology for over 22 years, Draganfly is an award-winning, industry-leading manufacturer within the commercial UAV and UVS space, serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections and mapping and surveying markets. Draganfly is a company driven by passion, ingenuity and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money and lives. For more information on Draganfly, please visit us at www.draganfly.com .

For additional investor information, visit https://www.thecse.com/en/listings/technology/draganfly-inc , https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DFLYF/overview or https://www.boerse-frankfurt.de/aktie/draganfly-inc . Media Contact

Arian Hopkins

email: [email protected] Company Contact

Phone: 1-306-955-9907

Email: [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain forward looking statements and certain forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, continue, plans or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 on the Companys business, operations and financial condition, the successful integration of technology, the inherent risks involved in the general securities markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

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Rhoads Industries We are thrilled that great businesses like Rhoads Industries have been able to continue growing at the Navy Yard and creating jobs for Philadelphia through EB-5 investment from our partnership with CanAm. said PIDC President, Anne Bovaird Nevins.

CanAm Enterprises (CanAm) is very proud to announce that its $12 million EB-5 investment in Rhoads Industries (Rhoads) was repaid in full and early this week.

Founded and family-owned since 1896, Rhoads provides heavy industrial fabrication, installation and maintenance for commercial and government contracts, delivering products from turbines to submarine engines. In 2006, CanAm made a $7 million EB-5 investment in Rhoads Industries so that it could consolidate more than 200,000 square feet (SF) of fabricating shops and warehouses in three separate facilities around Philadelphia into a single complex at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a former U.S. Naval Base that has been converted by the City of Philadelphia into a 1,000-acre mixed-use industrial park. With the move, Rhoads increased its capabilities to encompass larger fabricated components and assemblies, which allowed it to expand its customer base to a global level; it also became a growing presence at the shipyard sector of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. That $7 million EB-5 loan was repaid in full in 2011, having created more than enough jobs for its EB-5 investors and all the filed I-829 petitions were approved.

Recognizing the potential to combine its industrial fabrication capabilities with advanced technology to fulfill government contracts at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, in 2014, CanAm funded a second EB-5 loan to finance Rhoads expansion plans. As a result, Rhoads doubled its facility capabilities by acquiring and expanding its operations to include a 241,863 SF industrial building, a 69,000 SF industrial space and a 16,000 SF office space. The EB-5 investment also generated job creation which far exceeded the requirement of 10 jobs per investor, therefore meeting all EB-5 program requirements.

Rhoads Industries is a family-owned, Philadelphia-based business that provides jobs and specialized job training to fulfilling its industrial contracts for the U.S. government, including the U.S. Navy. When I met Dan Rhoads for the first time more than ten years ago, I knew he was the kind of business owner that could really benefit from EB-5 financing, one who was committed to helping local Philadelphians and expand the Citys ambitious development plan for the Navy Yard. Its been amazing to see the Rhoads success story become part of the larger Navy Yard success story. When Dan called me to tell me he wanted to repay us early, I couldnt wait to share the news with our investors, commented Tom Rosenfeld, President and CEO of CanAm Enterprises.

CanAm has partnered with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), Philadelphias city-wide economic development corporation, to bring more than $697 million in EB-5 capital to the City. $134 million of that EB-5 capital has been invested into different projects throughout the Philadelphia Navy Yard, facilitating more than half a billion in projects there.

Our 16-year partnership between CanAm and PIDC has been invaluable as a resource for investment in Philadelphia projects, said PIDC President, Anne Bovaird Nevins. We are thrilled that great businesses like Rhoads Industries have been able to continue growing at the Navy Yard and creating jobs for Philadelphia through EB-5 investment from our partnership with CanAm.

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5 Program) is administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The EB-5 Program provides qualified foreign investors with the opportunity to earn a conditional, or temporary, two-year green card in return for investing $900,000 in projects located in high unemployment areas that create at least ten permanent full-time jobs for U.S. workers.

Prospective investors pursuing permanent residency in the United States are invited to read CanAms EB-5 Program Overview and inquire about the EB-5 Visa options.

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About CanAm Enterprises

With three decades of experience promoting immigration-linked investments in the United States and Canada, CanAm has a long and established track record. Basing its business on a reputation of credibility and trust, CanAm has financed 60 projects and raised nearly $3 billion in EB-5 investments. More than $1.4 billion in EB-5 capital from over 2,800 families have been repaid by CanAms 42 projects to date. CanAm exclusively operates seven USCIS-designated regional centers that are located in the city of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the metropolitan regions of New York & New Jersey, the states of California, Hawaii, Florida, and Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.canamenterprises.com.


If you want to understand why coffee spills more frequently than beer (hint: it has to do with the physics of foam), ask Alban Sauret, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara.

Sauret also is a good person to consult on more serious matters involving fluid dynamics and soft matter, such as applying liquid coatings that impart unique properties to a surface in a way that minimizes costly rejects. Of his work with industrial collaborator Saint-Gobain, Sauret said, "I realized that processes involving multiple phases in thin films are often challenging and poorly controlled, which leads to product rejection and waste."

That in turn led him to the focus of his current research, which involves understanding the complex dynamics at play in such systems. In recognition of his extensive and highly promising research in this area, Sauret has received a $500,000 Early CAREER award from the National Science Foundation for a project titled "Capillary flows of particulate suspensions."

"It is an honor to receive this award, especially since many of my past advisors and mentors have also received CAREER awards," said Sauret, who joined UC Santa Barbara a year ago. "It is also a credit to the many talented students I have worked with in France and here, since, in the end, most results are generated by our students. It's exciting now to be able to continue this research with many new graduate and undergraduate students at UCSB."

"I offer sincere congratulations to Alban Sauret on receiving this prestigious NSF Early CAREER award," said Rod Alferness, dean of the College of Engineering. "He continues a strong and growing tradition of our stellar young faculty receiving national recognition. We look forward to his continued success on this project and on those he will pursue in the future."

Understanding how a liquid coats a solid surface remains fundamentally challenging, and practical applications range from the aforementioned industrial coatings to surface contamination of liquids and transport in porous media, such as PVC tubing, which can become contaminated by liquid sludge flowing inside it.

"To improve the performance of coatings, particles are commonly suspended in them, whether deposited directly or sprayed as drops," Sauret says. "The dynamics of the system, in which the thickness of a liquid film reflects the size of the particle, challenges our understanding. Indeed, the traditional approach to understanding suspension flows is no longer valid when an interface is involved, because the surface gives rise to capillary effects that affect the system."

Sauret hopes his NSF-funded research will lead to a novel understanding of surface-tension phenomena in suspensions. "We want to understand how interfacial dynamics phenomena, such as the formation of water drops, thin films, or sprays, are modified by the presence of a second phase, such as solid particles, emulsion drops or microorganisms," he says. "Because of the great complexity of multiphase flows, it is currently impossible to represent them numerically. We hope to develop new approaches to describe how particles affect the overall process."

Manufacturing and coating are just two areas rife with processes that involve dipping some kind of object -- a probe, a wire, a sheet of material -- into a bath, removing it and then taking one of several actions, which may include dipping it into another container, testing the captured liquid (for pollutants, in one example), using the dipped object as a completed product, or sending it to the next step of a multi-stage manufacturing process.

"The product has to go from one sample to another without contaminating the whole thing," said Sauret. Or, if the bath contains a coating, conditions have to be such that no dust or other materials from the bath are entrained, or captured, in the flow, resulting in a finish that is less than perfectly smooth.

In addition to improving process efficiency, Sauret hopes that the knowledge generated in this project will "bolster the development of new coating processes that leverage capillary effects," adding, "The methods and models resulting from this work will be key in describing how a large range of heterogeneous fluids modify interfacial dynamics and will, therefore, be applicable to a wide range of scenarios.

"Being able to predict the size distribution of droplets generated by spray is very important, as evidenced currently by the importance of understanding the fate of aerosol droplets in transmitting the (novel) coronavirus," Sauret said. "Our group hopes to refine current models of atomization as they relate to multiphase fluids and other complex fluids."

In 2019, UC Santa Barbara had the highest percentage of eligible assistant professors receive NSF CAREER Awards in engineering and sciences among public universities. This year, the university is off to another solid start. "I think the collaborative environment at UCSB, the support we receive at the department and university levels, and the very high quality of both undergraduate and graduate students are important for everyone's success here," said Sauret.

Previously, Sauret received a Regents' Junior Faculty Fellowship and an American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund New Investigator Award, both in 2019; was included among a group of "Emerging Investigators" in a special themed issue of the journal Soft Matter in 2016; and received the prize for best Ph.D. research at Aix-Marseille University in 2014.

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For more on Sauret's research on capillary action and fluid dynamics, see the article "Take the Entrain."
Assam government on Thursday declared Bongaigaon district as a Red Zone after four new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive cases, including two healthcare workers, were reported, as the overall tally in the state rose to 41.

The two healthcare employees, who have tested Covid-19 positive, are a sample collector and a sanitation worker.

The state health department officials are worried about these four new Covid-19 positive cases because none of them had any recent travel or contact history with any of the patients.

Three of the four new cases are from Bongaigaon town. Bongaigaon district has been declared a Red Zone, as it has reported five new Covid-19 positive cases this week, said state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

We want the support of the people of the district because none of the four new cases have had any contact history with any known patient. Their swab samples were tested after they had shown symptoms of fever, he added.

Sarma said an investigation would be initiated on how the four patients contracted SARS-CoV-2 that causes the disease. All of them have been shifted to Mahendra Mohan Chowdhury Hospital (MMCH) in Guwahati for treatment.

People in Bongaigaon need to be very careful. However, Id not call it a community transmission. Well soon know if these patients met with someone who came from outside the state, said Sarma.

All relaxations, which were earlier allowed in Bongaigaon despite the ongoing nationwide lockdown restrictions, have ceased to exist after the state government declared the district a Red Zone. Inter-district travel has been stopped and standalone shops in rural areas have been asked to shut down.

All those, who came in contact with these four new Covid-19 patients, are being traced and put in institutional quarantine.

Earlier, on Tuesday, a 16-year-old girl from Bongaigaon had also tested positive. Bongaigaon joined the other five of the states 33 districts Dhubri, Morigaon, Golaghat, Nalbari, and Goalpara  that were declared as Red Zones.

Assam had reported 37 Covid-19 positive cases till Wednesday of which 36 had direct or indirect links with those who had attended the Tablighi Jamaats international congregation at Nizamuddin in New Delhi held between March 13 and 15.

A Guwahati-based businessman, who had tested Covid-19 positive, had no contact history with any known Jamaat attendees or their contacts.

Of the 41 Covid-19 positive cases in Assam, 29 have recovered, 11 are still undergoing treatment, and one person, a Jamaat meet attendee, had died.

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YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. The ban on export of a group of products from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to other countries is temporary and will be probably lifted after June 30, Artak Kamalyan - Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), said at a Yerevan-Moscow-Minsk video conference today.

He firstly presented the reason of such restrictions. Todays existing not so major restrictions have been applied not because that we are afraid that food within the Union will not be enough, but because that its an adequate reaction to the changes that are taking place over the possible rise in the demand and prices of certain products, he said.

The EEC Minister noted that when there is an urgent demand for any good, the demand of that business is expanding, and the price starts growing. Therefore, to avoid such speculations, these restrictions have been applied. But the Minister said these are temporary restrictions. The list of restrictions, which is not so big, will be lifted, I am sure, until June 30. We are already lifting the restrictions on some goods, he added.

Earlier the EEC made a decision to ban the export of some food essentials from the Union due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.



Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
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So Marvel packed the contents of her apartment into a PODS storage container that would be picked up, bought a used car from Carvana that was delivered to her door, and left on Monday. She drove for 11 straight hours, stopping finally in Tennessee.

She was accepted, but declined because she just couldn't bear to leave Brooklyn. She called back last week and asked if they'd still take her. They did.

Marvel, an optometrist who left Tulsa 20 years ago, actually applied for a program last year called Tulsa Remote. In an effort to attract new employee talent, it offers a $10,000 grant and additional benefits to eligible remote workers who move to and work from Tulsa.

"My neighbor died. Friends were seeing body bags from their windows, and you're just in this survival mode. I just was terrified," said Marvel, who lived alone in a rental apartment in Brooklyn. "Things in New York are not easy -- and that's some of the charm, you know  it's not so easy  and it just became way too difficult."

Now she's going home to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to escape the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit New York harder than any place in the nation. The outbreak's impact on her personal life, and on the city she loves, was simply too much.

Lindsey Marvel, 38, moved to New York City three years ago because, she said, "I'm literally going big or going home."

New York City has seen more than 165,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and more than 12,000 have died.

"As I was driving away from the city I just felt this overwhelming relief," Marvel said.

Marvel is not alone. While there is no hard data yet, both real estate agents and homebuilders are reporting anecdotally that they are seeing new interest from buyers hoping to move out of urban centers to the suburbs or exurbs. Tulsa Remote is definitely seeing a change.

"Since Covid, the applications have more than doubled. We've received over 1,000 applications in the last month, and in the month before that it was right around 500," said Aaron Bolzle, executive director of Tulsa Remote. "Visits to the website have increased as well. We had nearly 25,000 visitors on the site in the last month, which is more than double the increase over the month before."

The program, which is largely funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, had planned to take 250 people for all of 2020. Bolzle said they are now considering expanding it.

The trend, even if temporary, could benefit homebuilders, which tend to build farther out from cities. Builders are also pivoting to more walkable, urban-style communities that mimic cities, but with larger single-family homes and without the density of big downtown areas. The relative affordability of those communities right now is key.

"How do you pay New York City rent with unemployment, or just how do you justify paying that rent when everything's closed or you're afraid to even go to the grocery store?" asked Marvel, noting that rents continue to rise.

"I think at first people were kind of waiting to see OK, what's going to happen? And it's very apparent that it's going to be a while," she said. "I do believe it will get back to what it was eventually, but is this going to be a year? Is this going to be longer?"

Over the last decade, millennials especially have flocked to urban centers, prompting huge development of both rental apartments and condominiums. Home values are already starting to drop in Manhattan, and the rental stock is dangerously overbuilt. Other cities, like Washington, D.C., which has many nearby suburbs in both Virginia and Maryland, could also see values in the downtown weaken.

As the economic lockdown continues, and consumers wonder how long they will have to stay at home, those in smaller spaces and larger cities may consider changing their lifestyles for good.

"I believe that in times where there are economic downturns, there is opportunity for a city like Tulsa to provide a lifestyle that potentially was only thought of as existing in extraordinarily expensive major cities on the coast," said Bolzle.

Marvel, who specializes in telemedicine and can work remotely, said she plans to go back to Brooklyn often -- but not to live there. She hopes to buy a home in Tulsa and is already calling mortgage brokers.

"New York will always be New York, but it's going to take some time," she said wistfully. "It's a really hard place to leave, which is why I was having such a hard time, and I think, you know, what would this look like in a few years?"

-- CNBC producer Lisa Rizzolo contributed to this report
Majority of the companies, small and big, have adopted the work-from-home culture with the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

In this regard, nothing less can be expected of Google, the technology behemoth that employees thousands across the globe. The bigger question that stands now is, how does it plan to shift back to workplace attendance post lockdown?

Reuters

Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently answered that to some extent. First and foremost, he provided a rough idea of when Google employees can expect to report to their respective offices. As per Pichai, the employees should be expecting to work-from-home till at least June 1, mentions a BI report.



Then again, once the lockdown is over, Google employees can expect to return back to offices in an incremental and staggered approach. Starting with a small number of employees, Google is hoping to call more and more of its workforce to offices as weeks pass and the situation unfolds.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai (Image: Reuters)

That, understandably, is subject to location-specific conditions. Google is not expected to call in the employees in areas where the COVID 19 spread is on the rise. On the others, employees can expect a gradual return to life as it was in workplaces, of course, with new precautionary measures in place.



Pichai specified this in an email quoted in a report by CNBC. In the email, Pichai mentions that not everyone at a site will go back at once. There will be no one-size-fits-all approach, and the specific guidance will vary from location to location. He further confirms that a lot of people may have to continue working from home post June 1.

It is worthy to note that some of Googles business arms are currently involved in providing emergency services to people in need. The Google CEO thanked those employees saying, For those of you currently working onsite to provide critical services to keep our products, offices and data centers running, thank you! Your work has made it possible for us to help millions of others. I am grateful for everything our global teams are doing to deliver on our mission under these difficult circumstances.

Reuters

So as companies keep unfolding their business plans for the post pandemic world, it is interesting to see how new strategies have evolved over time.

While Google has ensured a workplace culture to return in its own time, companies like TCS have forever incorporated a work-from-home culture for the majority of its employees. You can read all about it here.
Sanford Hardware is just wrapping up a nearly month-long fundraiser, raising a few thousand dollars from customers, to benefit the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network.

At the close of business on Wednesday, April 29, Manager Adam Sian said the store had garnered $3,489.15, which came from more than 3,000 customers. The total will be matched by the hardware store and in addition, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan has pledged to match 10%. Sian said an anonymous donor in Midland also pledged to match a percentage.

So, the total donation to the food pantry will be more than $7,000.

Staff at the store, which is located at 346 Saginaw Road, began asking customers to round up their change on April 6. Sian said several customers didnt want their change back anyway, due to the coronavirus pandemic, so it seemed like a good opportunity to ask customers to round up and donate that change to the cause.

In addition, Sian said there have been many customers who have donated, including one woman who gave $250 and another person who gave $100. So, Sian gives all the credit of the fundraiser to the stores customers, which he said have been very generous.

I think we have the best customers in the world  theyre always willing to step up, Sian said.

The Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network houses its Sanford Food Pantry at Sanford United Methodist Church, where Sian attends service. He said he saw long lines at other food pantries across the country on the news and thought it would be a good to raise funds locally.

Through the pandemic, Sanford Hardware has been open, though conforming to the different executive orders. Sian said at one point, they had just the cash registers open and were grabbing each item off the shelves for customers, and theyve also done curbside pickups. Overall, Sian said their customers have been incredibly understanding and patient.

Were just trying to keep everyone as safe as we can, he said.
Russias police clamp down on criminal gang engaged in illegal sales of lung ventilators

 flickr.com/Fotos GOVBA

18:10 30/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 30 (RAPSI)  Investigators of Russias Interior Ministry could put an end to the activities of a criminal gang whose members are suspected of selling unregistered respiratory medical devices, the official spokesperson of the body Irina Volk informs RAPSI on Thursday.

The alleged crime took place in the territory of the Moscow Region, where the local investigative authority opened a criminal case over attempted serious fraud, Volk said.

Seven suspects were arrested in the case, five of them were put under house arrest, travel restrictions introduced with respect to two other alleged perpetrators.

Investigators believe the suspects offered potential customers devices manufactured in 1999 through 2000 with no required certificates or registration documents; the suspects had no papers confirming that they had legally obtained the ventilators.

Initially the police could seize 287 lung ventilators, in the course of searches conducted across two other regions they found and seized about 1,500 more such devices.
A Harare man has appeared in court facing charges of unlawfully intending to cause contempt, ridicule and hatred towards President Emmerson Mnangagwa after allegedly insulting the President and his mother and threatening to cut the testicles of his supporters.

Allegations against Abraham Baison, a 30-year-old from Mount Hampden are that on Sunday he insulted Mnangagwa by shouting expletives about the Presidents private parts and those of his mother.

The state, led by George Manokore argued that Baison was aware that there was a real risk that the statement was false and could engender feelings of hostility towards Mnangagwa.

It was the states case that on Monday at about 10pm, Baison stood at his door and started shouting obscenities aimed at Mnangagwa.

Baisons neighbour, Dorcas Chivavaya reportedly heard the insults and alerted Petros Kasiya, who confronted the accused.

The accused allegedly repeated his insults leading to Kasiya, who reported the case at Marlborough Police Station the following day.

Baison, who was represented by Kossam Ncube of Kossam Ncube and Partners, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate, Vongai Muchuchuti-Gurira granted Baison $300 bail and remanded the case to June 3.

As part of his bail conditions, Baison was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and report every Friday to Marlborough Police Station between 6am and 6pm.

The number of cases of people accused of insulting Mnangagwa continue to stack up.
After a day of coronavirus testing in Orange County demonstrated the need for more and repeated calls to test more people who live in Port Arthur, residents will have an opportunity.

The six-county Southeast Texas Regional Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday announced the addition of one day of testing for up to 100 individuals in each location.

People who want to be tested do not have to have COVID-19 symptoms. However, they will have to show proof of residency to be tested at the two alternate sites.

The Orange County testing will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center, 11475 Farm Road 1442. The Port Arthur testing will take place at the same time on Monday at the Bob Bowers Civic Center, 3401 Cultural Dr.

>> Related: SE Texas tops 500 confirmed coronavirus cases

Testing is free and appointments can be made by calling the six-county hotline set up to streamline the screening and testing process.

These are just two examples of a statewide push to expand virus testing as plans get underway to reopen the state for more commerce.

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. See More Collapse

Gov. Greg Abbott, in announcing the reopening plans on Monday, said the state has maximized testing capacity to perform 15,000 to 20,000 tests per day, with a goal to reach 30,000 in the future.

Southeast Texas residents also will have expanded opportunities to be tested by state strike teams in Beaumont on Saturday and, according to Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel, in Lumberton in the near future.

McDaniel said in his emailed daily update that he also anticipates the six-county group will offer one day of mobile testing in west Hardin County next week.

>> Related: Local businesses gear up for economic opening Friday

On Wednesday, an additional 190 people were tested for coronavirus at one of the two county-run sites.

Orange County Judge John Gothia said 93 people were tested at a state-run site in his county on Tuesday. The state also set up a site in Jasper County on Wednesday, but testing lasted through the day.

This raises the number of Southeast Texans tested at public sites by about 45% since the first full day that local county-run testing sites were open to any individual who wished to be tested, regardless of their symptoms or potential exposure.

Beaumont continues to lead in the number of confirmed cases each day.

The city confirmed five new positive cases on Wednesday and one more death.

>> Related: Six people die after coronavirus outbreaks at local nursing homes

Southeast Texas now has reported 507 confirmed cases and 26 deaths.

Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames previously said its not unexpected that the regions largest city would have the highest number of confirmed cases. And the number of infected people per 1,000 residents in Beaumont is still lower than almost all of the six-county regions largest cities.

But the number of confirmed cases in the city continues to grow, while it has slowed in surrounding areas.

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said previously that Southeast Texas is on the backside of its coronavirus curve.

But in Beaumont, Public Health Director Sherry Ulmer said she wants to see a pattern of decreasing the number of confirmed positives in Beaumont, or at least a plateau, before making the same determination for her area.

Kaitlin Bain is the Government Reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact her at Kaitlin.Bain@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here.

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Another aged care facility has been hit with a coronavirus outbreak, with three people testing positive and more cases expected to emerge.

Victorian health officials are investigating a possible new cluster of COVID-19 at Hawthorn Grange age care centre in Melbourne's east.

State chief medical officer Brett Sutton said extensive testing is being conducted after two residents and one staff member were found to have contracted the virus.

'I think we'll get on top of that. We've identified those additional cases and tested across the board for residents and staff,' Mr Sutton told 3AW on Thursday.

'(Aged care facilities) are places where you absolutely need to act down on it immediately and that really means extensive testing, including individuals with no symptoms.'

Health authorities are investigating a possible new coronavirus cluster at Hawthorn Grange aged care home in Melbourne's east after three people tested positive

Professor Sutton said the origin of the outbreak is unknown, as it is difficult to trace whether a staff member transmitted to a resident or vice versa.

'The measures are the same. We really need to make sure that everyone is tested, and that everyone who is positive is isolated and everyone else who is a contact is quarantined,' he told ABC Radio.

Victorian Minister for Ageing Luke Donnellan said health authorities and government aged care specialists were providing support to the privately-owned facility.

But it was not yet known how many people at the centre may have the virus, or whether people will need to be moved out of the facility.

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

'It's very early on,' Mr Donnellan said.

'To date, we haven't had outbreaks like with NSW. I very much hope that that remains like that.'

News of the possible new cluster comes after Victoria recorded seven new cases of coronavirus.

Ten mobile coronavirus testing sites are now operating across Melbourne as part of Victoria's effort to test up to 100,000 people in two weeks.

The latest cases bring the state's total tally to 1,361 while the death toll remains at 18, after a woman in her 80s died on Tuesday.

There are 18 people in hospital, nine of them in intensive care.

The 'hotels for heroes' program set up to assist hospital and health workers who might have contracted coronavirus or been in close contact to a positive case was expanded on Thursday.

'The opportunity will be provided to those who work in the public sector aged care facilities and it will also be provided to those who work in disability accommodation,' Mr Donellan said.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton on Thursday confirmed extensive testing is being conducted at the facility

Ten mobile coronavirus testing sites are now operating across Melbourne as part of Victoria's effort to test up to 100,000 people in two weeks. Pictured: A woman cleans a traffic light on a nearly empty road in Melbourne on April 28

'It is important that these people who have potential risks to be exposed to COVID-19, but also the potential to spread it around the community, that they have the opportunity to isolate safely.'

The announcement of a new cluster comes after two dozen staff at a hospital in Melbourne's west were put in self-quarantine.

A patient who attended Sunshine Hospital's emergency department last Thursday tested positive for coronavirus.

The patient required urgent surgery but had no known symptoms of COVID-19.

They developed a mild cough over the weekend and undertook a test for the virus, returning a positive result.

Western Health's executive director operations Natasha Toohey says 24 hospital staff have entered self-quarantine as a precaution, with testing also underway.

No other patients had been in close contact with the infected person.

Anglicare's Newmarch House in western Sydney, where 11 elderly residents have died from coronavirus so far

'The safety of our staff is paramount and Western Health took immediate action in response to this positive result,' Ms Toohey said.

The earliest restrictions will be lifted in Victoria is May 11, when a state of emergency comes to an end.

Meanwhile, NSW Health on Thursday confirmed the death of a 12th resident at Anglicare's Newmarch House nursing home after the facility announced the death of the 77-year-old male resident on Wednesday. It brings the state's death toll to 42.

About 80 residents are still living at the home near Penrith.

Twenty registered nurses, 25 carers, 11 cleaners and a GP are working daily at the nursing home where 34 residents and 22 staff members have tested positive to COVID-19.

Anglicare chief executive Grant Millard has said the facility was anticipating more deaths as the home runs as a 'pseudo hospital'.

Mr Millard on Thursday acknowledged the facility has been under 'extreme pressure' as it tries to manage infections and communicate with residents' families.

Residents have been isolated since the outbreak on April 11 with the home on Thursday saying it has arranged for some family members to visit and talk to their relatives through windows.

NSW has 3,016 confirmed coronavirus cases with 2,284 people having recovered from the disease.
Lata Mangeshkar health update: Veteran singer still in ICU, but there has been a slight improvement

Maharashtra likely to see rise in COVID-19 hospitalisations by Jan-end or early Feb

COVID-19 crisis: Haryana all set to adopt district level strategy to start industrial operation

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Chandigarh, Apr 30: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that the state would be divided into two zones for giving momentum to economic activity.

It is reportedly said CM Khattar on Wednesday announced that in 15 districts where the number of coronavirus positive cases is less than 10, a district-level strategy would be adopted to start industrial operations.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Many districts to get 'considerable relaxations' from May 4, says MHA

In the remaining districts, namely Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh, Sonipat, Panipat, Palwal, and Panchkula, the strategy would be made as per the block and town levels. The Chief Minister also said that no economic activity would be allowed in the containment zones.

CM Khattar said that those industrial units that follow social distancing guidelines and operate with less than 50 per cent labour strength, can extend their working hours from 8 to 12 hours. HE also added that such industrial units should pay double salary to their workers for working overtime as per section 59 of the Factories Act, 1948.

Heat may curb coronavirus spread but social distancing is key: Study

CM Khattar also said that all brick kilns have been allowed to function and presently around 2.07 lakh labourers are working in these areas. Also, several other industrial units have begun wherein approximately 5.5 lakh workers are employed.
Chennai, April 30 : The Tamil Nadu government, here on Thursday, announced a dedicated portal for people of the state living overseas and wanting to return after lifting of lockdown and resumption of flights.

In a statement, the government said owing to cancellation of international flights many students, workers and others from Tamil Nadu were unable to return.

Those wanting to return are requested to register in portal www.nonresidenttamil.org, which would enable the government to know the number of people looking forward to return and preapaare the quarantine facilities.
Aviation, which came to a virtually complete halt due to the pandemic, is starting to reawaken throughout Europe, and, following Wizzairs announcement on Tuesday and other route relaunch forecasts, passenger traffic at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is also slowly, gradually restarting.

Budapest Airport protects the health of passengers and staff with continuous and increased measures, and, in the interest of safe air travel, also asks passengers to help safeguard their own and others health by complying with the new airport protocol and general regulations.



Thanks to the improvement in the situation caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, European airports are slowly coming back to life. Several airlines are restarting their flights and passenger numbers are slowly starting to increase.



Dr. Rolf Schnitzler, the CEO of Budapest Airport emphasized: During this period, protecting the health of passengers and staff, ensuring the safety of air travel and a safe passenger experience are key priorities for Budapest Airport.



In harmony with the governments measures, the airport operator has been doing everything it could since the appearance of the pandemic in January to ensure that presence at the airport should be safe and risk-free for passengers and employees alike, he added.



As passenger traffic decreased in March and virtually ceased in April, Budapest Airport disinfected all areas of the airport affected by passenger traffic.



The airports emergency readiness unit continuously disinfects passenger security screening lanes on a daily basis, with a special procedure. The operator has performed a disinfectant spring cleaning in the entire area of the airport, and the increased, disinfectant cleaning is currently being carried out on a continuous basis as well. The offices, resting facilities and other premises used by airport services are also undergoing continuous and regular disinfectant cleaning.



Budapest Airport safeguards the health of passengers and staff on a continuous basis, with the following measures:

Increased and continuous disinfectant cleaning, including the ventilation system in the terminal.

Making hand sanitizer available, further increasing the number of hand sanitizer dispensers.

Active queue management (e.g. at check-in, security screening, boarding and passport control), floor stickers and prohibitive stickers on every second seat in the SkyCourt, facilitating and ensuring social distancing between passengers.

Making the wearing of masks mandatory for employees who are not able to keep a distance of 1.5 meters between people, due to the nature of their work, for example, terminal information staff and passenger security screeners.

Signs and fliers remain available at the airport, providing information about protection against coronavirus.

Budapest Airport is doing everything it can to ensure that the airport should remain a safe place for passengers and staff. At the same time, the restarting traffic demands increased attention and caution from passengers as well.



In the interest of their own and others health, Budapest Airport therefore asks all passengers to enter the area of the airport unaccompanied (e.g. without kiss and fly meeters and greeters), thus minimizing the number of people concurrently present in or at the facilities and ensuring appropriate social distancing.



It is important that all passengers should keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other, ideally wear a face mask and use hand sanitizer.



To minimize physical contact, we also ask passengers to use online check-in and self-service baggage drop-off, wherever available. Passengers are also advised to arrive early at the airport.



We also call passengers attention to the fact that pursuant to a currently valid government decree, all arriving passengers must still undergo body temperature measurement performed by medical professionals, as well as ID or passport control.



According to the currently valid government decree, only Hungarian citizens and the citizens of European Economic Area member states (European Union member states, Switzerland and Norway) entitled to residence in Hungary (and able to attest this right with a residence card) are entitled to enter the area of Hungary.



Photo courtesy of Budapest Airport
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on April 23, 2020. (House Television/AP)

Pelosi Responds to Bidens Handling of Tara Reade Allegations

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that she is satisfied with former Vice President Joe Bidens handling of sexual assault allegations against him.

During an appearance on CNN Thursday, Pelosi was asked about how the presumptive Democratic nominee is handling the allegation brought against him by former Senate aide Tara Reade. Earlier in the month, Reade filed a lawsuit against Biden and accused him of assaulting her at the U.S. Capitol building in 1993, which Bidens campaign has categorically denied.

I have great sympathy for any women who bring forth an allegation. Im a big, strong supporter of the MeToo movement. I think it has been a greatmade a great contribution to our country, Pelosi said on the program. And I do support Joe Biden. Im satisfied with how he has responded. I know him, I was proud to endorse him on Monday, very proud to endorse him. And so Im satisfied with that, she added.

The CNN anchor noted that Biden has not directly responded to the allegations against him, asking Pelosi whether the former vice president should do so.

It is a matter that he has to deal with. But I am impressed with the people who work for him at the time, saying that, absolutely, never heard one iota of information about this, nobody ever brought forth a claim or had anybody else tell them about such a claim, the House speaker answered.

Former President Barack Obama, flanked by former Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in 2009. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Biden, who has been mostly staying at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic and is holding online video conferences, hasnt been asked a single direct question by a reporter about the assault allegations. Only his campaign has responded to the claims.

However, the allegations will likely continue to dog Biden. Before Reades claims surfaced, Biden would have likely attacked President Donald Trumps previous remarks about women, but because of the allegations, he may have to think twice.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) last week claimed there is a double standard on how the Democrats and media have been slow to respond to Reades claims, compared to the coverage of allegations that were made against Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.

Former President Barack Obama attends the funeral service for civil rights leader Dorothy Height with (L-R) first lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, on April 29, 2010. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

McConnell told Fox News on Thursday that documents held by the University of Delaware, which have been sealed by the school, should be released to shed light on the Reade allegations.

When you run for president of the United States, your life is an open book, he said. I cant imagine  that Vice President Biden is not going to have to  release all of the information related to the allegations.

McConnell stressed that its a very challenging thing to run for president.

And sexual assault advocacy groups have said that Biden will have to directly address the allegations during the campaign.

We appreciate that some in the media have taken Tara Reades allegations seriously and urge that they be investigated fairly and rigorously, said Heather Drevna, the vice president of communications for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, according to The Hill. We also call on Vice President Biden to address the allegations directly and to fully cooperate in an investigation.
The leadership of Parliament has denied news that each MP has been given GHS120,000 to fight COVID-19 in their constituencies.

Both the majority and minority sides of the house want the general public to ignore the fabricated stories.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said the news puts lawmakers in bad light, hence the denial.

I understand that there is a report on social media that Members of Parliament have been paid some amount of money for purposes of COVID-19; 120,000.

That is inaccurate, it is misleading, it is erroneous and only meant to put members of parliament to ridicule and all kinds of demands from our constituents, Mr Iddrisu told journalists.

---classfmonline
New Delhi: In order to contain the spread of coronavirus, the Delhi High Court committee for a graded action plan on Thursday (April 30) discussed the use of fans in the court instead of Air Conditioners (ACs). The judges discussed this as one of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the court.

The use of fans in the court was considered as a measure suggested by PWD engineers to foil the apprehension that the centralized ACs may infect others with coronavirus if droplets of an infected remain in the air.

The committee also evaluated the risk of spreading infection through centralized air conditioning in Delhi High Court as the lockdown ends. A report on options for running centralized AC was also submitted and one of these was to install Ultra Violet Germicide Iradication devices.

A concern, however, was raised that even if these devices are installed with a lot of expenditure, there was no certainty of checking the deadly virus completely.

The engineers informed the panel that even Supreme Court has avoided switching on its Air conditioning, suggesting that it would be appropriate to procure a sufficient number of fans and install them in all blocks.

The PWD, which will submit a proposal after conducting a survey of the campus, will have to check all the doors and windows to have a proper net and mesh to prevent mosquitoes and insects from entering the courts.

The committee also discussed hearing urgent matters through video conferencing and resolved that advocates need not wear coats, bands, and ties for such hearings, but they shall adhere to the remaining dress code.

The committee, however, issued various directions to the Family Courts to start taking up matters and decided that the cases where arguments are complete and their Order or judgment has been reserved should be given priority.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Course Hero, in partnership with Edquity and nonprofit Believe in Students , today announced the launch of an ambitious emergency aid initiative, which will direct targeted financial assistance to college students experiencing financial hardship in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including non-Title IV students left out of the CARES Act. Launched by Course Hero, the initiative will utilize Edquity's pioneering emergency aid platform to address rising food insecurity, housing, and other pressing needs as institutions close or move to remote instruction.

"By tapping the reach and expertise of higher education organizations with broad networks and deep expertise, we're able to act quickly to deliver aid to students and close resource and equity gaps that are not new, but are particularly severe at this time," said Andrew Grauer, CEO of Course Hero. "These mission-aligned partners, by virtue of their deep experience collaborating with colleges and universities, will help us quickly deliver funds directly to students. We hope that our initial commitment serves as a catalyst for further investment."

Despite massive federal investments, nearly 1.5 million students will not receive support, according to recently published CARES Act guidance . Students excluded from access to critical emergency support include Dreamers, justice-impacted students, former foster-care youth, international students, students who have been forced from their homes, or are estranged from their parents.

Designed to allow business and philanthropic donors to build on an initial $500,000 commitment from Course Hero, and an additional $500,000 from the ECMC Foundation and Imaginable Futures, the initiative will roll out in two distinct phases.

In the first phase, multiple education nonprofits, convened by Course Hero, will distribute funds -- and raise awareness -- among students and administrators.

Achieving the Dream , a national reform network of more than 275 community colleges elevating two-year colleges as engines of social and economic mobility;

, a national reform network of more than 275 community colleges elevating two-year colleges as engines of social and economic mobility; American Association of State Colleges and Universities , a national membership network of nearly 400 public colleges, universities and systems.

a national membership network of nearly 400 public colleges, universities and systems. Excelencia in Education , a national nonprofit offering research, policy and practice and a network of colleges and universities to serve Latino student success in higher education;

a national nonprofit offering research, policy and practice and a network of colleges and universities to serve Latino student success in higher education; The University Innovation Alliance, a national coalition of innovative large public research universities, whose pioneering work to increase the number and diversity of college graduates in the United States has already achieved a 32% increase in low-income graduates, and 56% increase in graduates of color.

"The current crisis is causing extreme financial hardships for millions of Latino students as they face mounting emergency costs, often separated from on-campus resources and support. We know from the research that even relatively small costs can create significant barriers to student success, so investments in emergency student aid are among the most important actions we can take in support of student success," said Sarita E. Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education. "This unique philanthropic partnership will help to deliver critical emergency financial aid resources to students and campuses in need."

In the Initiative's second phase, Edquity will distribute funds to students on a broader basis through a central, consistent application, all while providing seamless support to make administration easy. This will include at its existing partner institutions at community colleges in Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles, new partners all across the country, and direct to students signed up with Course Hero.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issues a majority of college students face, including access to food, housing, childcare, and other basic needs. Students ineligible for federal support are more likely to experience financially precarious circumstances due to their limited access to funding in the first place," said Traci Kirtley, Executive Director of Believe in Students. "This initiative will help to ensure that all of our students are supported and stay on the path to graduation while remaining safe and healthy."

"All students are worthy of support to stay in college," said Sara Goldrick-Rab, Edquity's Chief Strategy Officer for Emergency Aid. "Making good on our equity mission demands that we get financial support out to as many students as quickly as possible, and ensure that they need not perform their poverty or reveal their citizenship status to get help. That said, despite all the good this fund can do, the ultimate responsibility lies with Congress to ensure that future funds can go to all students including undocumented students our efforts here do not obviate that obligation at all."

The initiative comes just in time, as colleges and universities are struggling to meet the needs of students dealing with many hardships. A February 2020 report from the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice documented extensive food and housing insecurity among the nation's college students. A March 2020 survey conducted by Course Hero revealed that food insecurity and housing each accounted for a quarter of students' overall emergency aid needs, followed by costs associated with lost jobs and technology like laptops and Wi-Fi.

"Talent is universal but opportunity is not," said Wes Moore, CEO of the anti-poverty charitable organization Robin Hood and an Edquity board member. "Despite the intent of Congress, the Department of Education has further restricted the opportunities of a large number of students who we are relying on for the health of our economy and democracy. This initiative recognizes that each and every student is critical and important to our collective success, and will provide the economic relief that is sorely needed by students in the face of one of the most acute economic challenges our nation has ever faced -- while championing our nation's most fundamental value that all are created equal."

Contributions to the initiative can be directed to Believe in Students, a national nonprofit on a mission to support college students' living expenses. Since the start of the pandemic, Believe in Students has supported students with these needs at 36 institutions around the country.

"Achieving the Dream is honored to be one of the nonprofits working with Course Hero to close aid gaps for community college students," said Dr. Karen Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. "We know that aid gaps are at the heart of equity gaps that prevent too many talented students from earning credentials and degrees that improve their economic mobility and their prospects for the future. Too many financially needy community college students are being left behind by the CARES Act. This partnership is one small way that ATD can help our colleges to make a larger difference in their communities."

About Course Hero: Founded by college student, Andrew Grauer, in 2006, Course Hero is on a mission to help students graduate confident and prepared. Today, Course Hero's unique, collective action framework enables students to either subscribe, or contribute their own resources to earn a Netflix-like subscription to more than 40 million course materials, tutoring and support resources. More than 37,000 faculty across the U.S. and Canada have joined the Course Hero faculty community to share their resources, collaborate with faculty in other fields, and hone new strategies for instruction.

About Believe in Students: Believe in Students is the nation's only non-profit organization focused exclusively on supporting college students' living expenses. They develop and support innovative, sustainable, and effective solutions that can scale to meet the widespread demands. Their current portfolio includes a range of evidence-based programs, including its inaugural program, FAST Fund ; a Student Emergency Aid Fund in partnership with Edquity; and the Gather Food Hall in partnership with Little Giant Creative . BIS also supports the national # RealCollege movement created by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice.

About Edquity: Edquity provides the first-ever student-centered technology platform designed to administer emergency aid to college students, using an evidence-based approach to get students to access cash assistance in 48 hours. The technology allows students to quickly complete an application either on a mobile device or on the web and has been documented to improve retention rates for the highest risk student populations, even in the wake of natural disasters and crises.

SOURCE Course Hero

Related Links

https://www.coursehero.com


UPTON, NY--Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators have revealed new details that explain how a highly selective catalyst converts methane, the main component of natural gas, to methanol, an easy-to-transport liquid fuel and feedstock for making plastics, paints, and other commodity products. The findings could aid the design of even more efficient/selective catalysts to make methane conversion an economically viable and environmentally attractive alternative to venting or flaring "waste" gas.

As described in a paper appearing in Science, the team used theory-based models and simulations to identify the atomic-level rearrangements that take place during the reaction, and then conducted experiments to verify those details. The studies revealed three essential roles for water, working in conjunction with an economical cerium-oxide/copper-oxide catalyst, to bring about the conversion of methane to methanol with 70 percent selectivity while blocking unwanted side reactions.

"We knew from previous work that we'd developed a highly selective catalyst for the direct conversion of methane to methanol in the presence of water," said Brookhaven Lab chemist Sanjaya Senanayake, who led the project. "But now, using advanced theoretical and experimental techniques, we've learned why it works so well."

The findings could speed the development of catalysts that make use of methane escaping from gas and oil wells, where it is typically vented directly into the atmosphere or burned off.

"Transporting gas is extremely difficult and potentially hazardous," Senanayake said. "But if you convert it directly into a liquid you can move it and use it instead of flaring it wastefully. While the commercialization potential for such a reaction may still take several years, we hope that our results and the understanding of how it all works will help to get there faster."

Theory lays the groundwork

The search for methane-to-methanol catalysts has turned up a few promising prospects. But many operate in several distinct steps with high energy requirements. And in many cases, competing reactions break down the methane (and any produced methanol) completely to carbon monoxide (CO) and CO2. So, when the Brookhaven team first observed that their catalyst could directly convert methane to methanol with high yield in one continuous reaction, they wanted to know more about how it performed this difficult task.

They were particularly interested in figuring out the role of water, which appeared to facilitate key steps in the process and somehow block the reaction pathways that produced CO and CO2.

Using computational tools in Brookhaven Lab's Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), Brookhaven's Scientific Data and Computing Center, Stony Brook University (SBU), and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Brookhaven chemist Ping Liu developed the theoretical approach to figure out what was going on.

First, she used "density functional theory" (DFT) calculations to identify how the reactants (methane, oxygen, and water) changed as they interacted with one another and the cerium-oxide/copper-oxide catalyst at various stages during the reaction. These calculations also included information about how much energy it would take to get from one atomic arrangement to the next.

"The DFT gives you a bunch of 'snapshots' of the stages involved in the reaction and the 'bumps' or barriers you have to overcome to get from one stage to the next," she explained.

Then she performed "kinetic Monte Carlo" simulations--essentially using computers to try out all the possible ways the reaction could proceed from snapshot to snapshot. The simulations take into account all the possible pathways and energy requirements to move from one stage to the next.

"These simulations start with each intermediate stage and look at all the possibilities that can go to the next step--and figure out what is the most probable pathway," Liu said. "The simulations determine the most probable way the snapshots can be connected in real time."

The simulations also model how different reaction conditions--for example, changes in pressure and temperature--will affect reaction rates and the probable pathways.

"There were 45-50 possible components in the 'reaction network' we were simulating," said Jose Rodriguez, a leader of Brookhaven's catalysis group who also has a joint appointment at SBU. "Out of those, Ping, Erwei Huang, and Wenjie Liao, two Ph.D. students at SBU, were able to predict what would be the most favorable conditions, the best path, for going from methane to methanol and not to CO and CO2--and all induced by the presence of water."

The models predicted three roles for water: 1) activating the methane (CH4) by breaking one carbon-hydrogen bond and providing an -OH group to convert the CH3 fragment to methanol, 2) blocking reactive sites that could potentially convert methane and methanol to CO and CO2, and 3) facilitates the displacement of methanol formed on the surface into the gas phase as a product.

"All the action takes place at one or two active sites at the interface between the cerium-oxide nanoparticles and copper-oxide film that make up our catalyst," Senanayake said.

But this description was still just a model. The scientists needed evidence.

Experiments provide proof

To gather evidence, the scientists from Brookhaven and SBU conducted additional experiments in Brookhaven's Chemistry Division laboratories and took several trips to the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Berkeley Lab. This team included SBU Ph.D. student Ivan Orozco and post-doctoral fellows Zongyuan Liu, Robert M. Palomino, Ning Rui, and Mausumi Mahapatra.

At the ALS, the group worked with Berkeley Lab's Slavomir Nemsak and collaborators Thomas Duchon (Peter-Grunberg-Institut in Germany) and David Grinter (Diamond Light Source in the United Kingdom) to perform experiments using ambient pressure (AP) x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which allowed them to track the reaction as it happened in real time to identify key steps and intermediates.

"The x-rays excite electrons, and the energy of the electrons tells you what chemical species you have on the surface and the chemical state of the species. It makes a 'chemical fingerprint.'" said Rodriguez. "Using this technique, you can follow the surface chemistry and reaction mechanism in real time."

Running the reaction with and without water under a range of conditions confirmed that water played the predicted three roles. The measurements showed how the reaction conditions moved the process forward and maximized the production of methanol by preventing side reactions.

"We found direct evidence for formation of CH3O--an intermediate precursor for methanol--in the presence of water," Rodriguez said. "And because you have the water, you modify all the surface chemistry to block the side reactions, and also easily release the methanol from the catalyst surface so it doesn't decompose."

"Now that we've identified the design principles for the catalyst," Senanayake said, "next we have to build a real system for using such a catalyst and test it--and see if we can make it better."

###

This work was funded by the DOE Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, and by a DOE Early Career Award for Senanayake. CFN, NERSC, and ALS are all DOE Office of Science user facilities.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://www.energy.gov/science/

Follow @brookhavenlab on Twitter and Facebook

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE's Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by the Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit applied science and technology organization.

Related Links

New Catalyst for Making Methanol from Methane

Media contacts: Karen McNulty Walsh, (631) 344-8350, or Peter Genzer, (631) 344-3174
A gunman opened fire with an assault rifle outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Gunfire broke out at around 2am outside the embassy in northwest Washington. Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to the scene after neighbours reported hearing at least 30 gunshots.

Officers found a man with an assault rifle at the scene and took the person into custody without incident. Investigators say they believe he had been deliberately shooting towards the embassy, though a motive remains unclear.

ABC affiliate WJLA reports police as saying the man had arrived at the embassy in an SUV with Texas licence plates and an American flag on the roof of his vehicle. Photos from the scene show investigators searching through the SUV, which was parked nearby. Witnesses also claim the man was wrapped in a flag.

The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, was arrested on charges of possessing an unregistered firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to kill and possessing a high-capacity magazine, a US Secret Service spokeswoman said.

No injuries were reported.

Cubas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that embassy staff members were safe and protected but that the shooting caused material damage to the building.

Photos posted on the embassys Twitter account show large holes left in the buildings facade near the front door and in pillars outside the building.

The Cuban government doesnt know the suspects identity or potential motives, the statement said, adding that the US State Department was also aware of the incident.

Police investigate the car of a shooter that opened fire on the Cuban Embassy on 30 April, 2020 in Washington, DC (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

It is the obligation of states to adopt appropriate steps to protect the premises of diplomatic missions accredited to their country against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, the statement said.

Other images showed investigators surveying the damage in front of the ornate embassy in Washingtons Adams-Morgan neighborhood, including a bullet hole in a window over the front door and damage to a flagpole and a column flanking a statue of Cuban independence hero Jose Marti.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Secret Service are investigating.

With reporting from The Associated Press
Rishi Kapoors top ten films: A tribute to the legend who charmed millions with 'Bobby' & 'Chandni'

Rishi Kapoors last tweet was appeal to refrain from violence towards health care professionals

Terrible week for Indian cinema: India mourns Legendary actor Rishi Kapoor's death

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Apr 30: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi tweeted condolences and expressed his sorrow over the death of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and called this 'terrible week for Indian cinema'.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhi wrote, "This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020



Another senior Congress leader, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gahlot also tweeted condoling the death of the legendary actor.

Saddened to know veteran actor #RishiKapoor has passed away. It is a devastating news for his family, friends & fans. My heartfelt condolences to his close ones. May they find strength in this most difficult time. He would always be remembered for his iconic roles...  Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 30, 2020

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar condoled the death of actor Rishi Kapoor, saying he was not only a great actor but also a good human being.

"The sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti," Javadekar said in his tweet.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his condolence to the Kapoor family.

Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor was hospitalised on Wednesday morning after complaining that he was not feeling well.

Rishi Kapoor's death comes a day after another Bollywood veteran and celebrated actor, Irrfan Khan, died of cancer.

In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.
By Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times

Every day, millions of Americans could be flushing critical coronavirus data down the toilet.

With the nation growing ever more weary of sweeping stay-at-home orders and a worsening economy, some scientists say our poop could be the key to determining when a community might consider easing health restrictions.

From Stanford to the University of Arizona, from Australia to Paris, teams of researchers have been ramping up wastewater analyses to track the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Initial studies show that sewage monitoring, or wastewater-based-epidemiology, could not only tell us how much the virus might actually be spreading in a community  but also when the virus has finally gone away.

Understanding the true scale of COVID-19 has been a major stumbling block across the country, as officials struggle with testing shortages, false negatives, and people who are infected but have no symptoms. Sewage data could potentially help fill these gaps by capturing critical information in the aggregate.

With wastewater, you can very quickly get a snapshot of an entire population, said Mariana Matus, who co-founded Biobot Analytics, a wastewater epidemiology startup inspired by her Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The closest approach to replicating the data from wastewater would be to literally test every single person in a community and then take the average of that. It is very powerful.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

The amount of virus detected in the sewage can, in essence, mirror the timing and scale of an outbreak in ways that more delayed (and more expensive) in-person testing cannot, experts say. All this information, when pieced together, is critical to informing and validating public health decisions  such as where to allocate medical supplies and when to reopen schools, restaurants and other public gathering spaces.

And as cities start loosening stay-at-home orders in the coming weeks and months, some say monitoring sewage could also provide early warnings if the virus suddenly makes a comeback.

Americans might find the idea gross, but wastewater early warning systems have helped catch norovirus, Hepatitis A and other diseases around the world for decades.

In Israel in 2013, a polio epidemic was detected in the sewage before any clinics had reported cases. This heads-up gave the government enough time to launch a vaccination campaign and contain the virus. Not a single case of paralysis was ultimately reported.

The monitoring program, set up in 1989 by the Israeli health department, had previously detected at least four other silent episodes of poliovirus before clinical cases were reported. Similarly, in Mumbai, India, researchers were able to detect poliovirus in sewage three months before any cases were observed.

In Australia, sewage monitoring is already in place to better understand patterns of illicit drug use  cocaine, methamphetamine and other substances that would otherwise be difficult to test and track. Researchers are now looking into this approach to monitor for SARS-CoV-2.

Similar work is happening in France, where public utility officials sampled sewage across greater Paris and confirmed a rise and fall in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations that corresponded to the shape of the outbreak. In the Netherlands, a research team was able to detect the virus in one citys sewage before local officials had even reported any cases of COVID-19.

As for the United States, using wastewater data to inform public health remains relatively uncharted. A research team at Stanford University just recently received a rapid grant from the National Science Foundation to analyze wastewater samples in the Bay Area and study whether monitoring for coronavirus in treatment facilities can be used to spot early outbreaks in a community.

Back at Biobot Analytics, which spun out of MIT with the goal of scaling this approach to every city in the country, researchers started out by tracking and tracing the opioid crisis  but recently pivoted to the coronavirus.

During a one-week period in March, Matus and her team carefully identified and quantified virus particles in sewage samples from a wastewater treatment plant in Massachusetts. (Evidence so far suggests that the virus is fairly inactive by the time its in fecal matter, but as an extra precaution, the scientists boiled each sewage sample at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 minutes.)

In a study released this month and awaiting peer review, Matus  along with researchers from MIT, Harvard Universitys T. H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston  reported their wastewater analysis showed a much higher number of infected people in the region than what individual clinical confirmations had shown.

Compared with the 446 reported cases in the area, the sewage samples revealed that even by conservative estimates, at least 2,300  and as many as 115,000  people could have actually been infected and shedding the virus during that period in March.

There are still some kinks to work out  how much virus does each person actually shed per trip to the toilet, for example, and how do you account for rain and snow and other factors that might impact sample dilution? But so far, Matus said, the study shows that a more routine wastewater monitoring system across the country could help cities and states be more proactive in preventing future outbreaks.

Since this pilot study in Massachusetts, hundreds of wastewater treatment facilities across the country  including more than a dozen in California  have asked Biobot to analyze their sewage. The researchers, doing the weekly (sometimes biweekly) analysis pro bono, hope to work with as many as 10,000 facilities to create a more comprehensive picture of how the virus is spreading or flattening in different parts of the United States.

To preserve the natural anonymity of sewage data, Matus said that her team has only been sampling areas that represent at least several thousand people.

Theyve started sharing their findings with local public health officials and other scientists to fine-tune these methods. Combined with clinical tests and the random antibody tests that cities have increasingly been conducting, routine wastewater analysis could help piece together a puzzle that everyone is still trying to figure out, Matus said.

Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona who has been doing similar research in his lab, said the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the potential for this largely untapped  but critical  form of epidemiology in the United States.

Everything ends up in the sewer, he said. Even herpes virus you can detect by molecular methods.

Gerba, who has been studying coronaviruses in wastewater since the SARS outbreak, said that molecular technology today has made sewage testing much faster and relatively inexpensive  compared to traditional cell cultures from decades past that could take weeks to process.

Now with SARS-CoV-2, Gerba noticed that viral concentrations started dropping in sewage samples taken from a community that embraced stay-at-home orders. Analyzing the sewage right now is helping officials and scientists better understand the true level of outbreak and how successfully the virus is being contained, he said. In the coming weeks, perhaps it could help inform when social distancing measures can be relaxed.

Ultimately, any fine-tuning now could help alert cities in the future if the virus returns for round two. Working groups, he said, are starting to form with wastewater researchers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Were having discussions on how to best do this in the future, how to organize it, how do we look at our preserved samples, Gerba said. Everything we learn from this will probably benefit us in the future  maybe in the fall  everyone is worried about the virus coming back in the fall.



2020 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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[April 30, 2020] CSC Expands its Fund Services Footprint into Ireland

Today, CSC (News - Alert) announced its Fund Services expansion into Ireland as part of its long-term strategy to provide global clients access to our suite of Fund Administration, Capital Markets, and Depositary services. After a comprehensive six-month application process with the Central Bank of Ireland, CSC has been licensed to provide its Fund Services offering in one of the leading European financial centers. "Ireland continues to enjoy a reputation as a dominant European and global fund administration center," says Liam McHugh, managing director of Fund Services for CSC. "Given the current trend of consolidation and M&A activity amongst competitors, we feel we are well placed entering the market as a privately owned partner with a more than 120-year history. Our long-term stability, as well as our client centric approach, is highly valued by our clients." This expansion follows several strategic hires, a recent acquisition, and other investments, including the organic recruitment and launch of Fund Services businesses in the U.S. and APAC markets. McHugh will lead the Dublin office, supported by a highly experienced management team, including David Barry as head of operations, David McCormack as head of transfer agency, and Lynda Kenny s head of risk and compliance, while Paul Whelan joins to oversee our global depositary offering.



CSC has earned the trust of clients around the world, working with 60% of the top 100 global alternative asset managers, providing specialized outsourcing services to them and their advisors in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. "Unlike other providers, one of our greatest strengths is that our professionals in the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific work as one team to deliver fully complementary and multi-jurisdictional solutions," says John Hebert, senior vice president of CSC. "Our global capabilities and team-based approach enables us to work in partnership with our clients regardless of market, service, asset type, or location-so we're positioned to make our client's interests our top priority."

The Irish office of Simmons & Simmons advised CSC on the licensing and approval process with the Central Bank of Ireland. For more information about CSC's Fund Services business, visit cscgfm.com. About CSC CSC is a leading provider of specialized administration services to alternative asset managers across a range of fund strategies, capital markets participants in both public and private markets, and corporations requiring fiduciary and governance support. We are the unwavering partner for 90% of the Fortune 500, nearly 10,000 law firms, and more than 3,000 financial institutions. CSC's Global Financial Markets professionals are located in key financial centers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific. We are a global company capable of conducting transactions wherever our clients are?and we accomplish that by deploying experts in every business we serve. For more information about CSC's services, visit cscgfm.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005034/en/

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DUBLIN, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Acute Kidney Injury Market Insight, Epidemiology and Forecast to 2030" drug pipelines has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report delivers an in-depth understanding of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), historical and forecasted epidemiology as well as the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) market trends in the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and United Kingdom) and Japan.

The Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) market report provides current treatment practices, emerging drugs, and market share of the individual therapies, current and forecasted 7MM Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) market size from 2017 to 2030. The report also covers current Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) treatment practice/algorithm, market drivers, market barriers and unmet medical needs to curate the best of the opportunities and assesses the underlying potential of the market.



Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Epidemiology



The disease epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by Incident Cases of Acute Kidney Injury, Discharge Diagnosed Cases of Acute Kidney Injury, Stage-Wise Discharged Diagnosed Cases of Acute Kidney Injury, Risk Factor Associated Acute Kidney Injury Cases and Renal Transplantation Associated Delayed Graft Function scenario of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the 7MM market covering the United States, EU5 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom) and Japan from 2017 to 2030.



Key Findings



This section provides glimpse of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) epidemiology in the 7MM:

The total incident population of Acute Kidney Injury in the seven major markets was found to be 1,525,519 in 2017. In the United States the incident population of Acute Kidney Injury was 895,078 in 2017, which is expected to increase in the forecast period (2020-2030).

the incident population of Acute Kidney Injury was 895,078 in 2017, which is expected to increase in the forecast period (2020-2030). The publisher also estimates higher Diagnosed Discharge Cases of AKI in the United States with 532,830 diagnosed discharge cases found in 2017.

with 532,830 diagnosed discharge cases found in 2017. According to KIDGO staging; stage II AKI corresponds to the relatively higher diagnosed discharge population with 223,789 cases in 2017 in the United States .

Drug Chapters



The drug chapter segment of the AKI report encloses the detailed analysis of mid and late stage pipeline drugs. It also helps to understand the AKI clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, approval and patent details of each included drug and the latest news and press releases.



Emerging Drugs



EA-230: Exponential Biotherapies



EA-230 is being developed by Exponential Biotherapies, is an intravenously administered chemically synthesized linear peptide, a derivative of the human pregnancy hormone used for immunomodulation. During the preclinical studies, the drug has shown anti-inflammatory properties and protects against organ failure in several animal models of sepsis or systemic inflammation which lead to acute kidney injury. Most notably, EA-230 has shown marked protective effects in the kidney during abdominal sepsis in animals. As EA-230 attenuates the proinflammatory response in neutrophils and monocytes ex vivo, and neutrophil influx in tissues during systemic inflammation in vivo is abrogated, EA-230 acts by protecting the host against the detrimental effects of neutrophils during acute systemic inflammatory diseases, thereby preventing organ damage, especially in the kidney. EA-230 is under development by Exponential Biotherapies in collaboration with Radboud University.



bRESCAP: Alloksys



RESCAP (Rescuing Alkaline Phosphatase), is an endogenous enzyme based on Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) a naturally occurring protein present in the body. It works as prophylactic and therapeutic anti-inflammatory protein that prevents ischemic injury by neutralizing and detoxifying inflammatory triggers that may derail the immune system. In acute settings, RESCAP triggers enhanced endogenous production of AP by the body, thereby boosting innate defense systems. bRESCAP is the type of RESCAP based on calf intestine from BSE free countries. It has a fast onset of action, a high dosing efficacy and a short residence time in the body (half-life of a few minutes), which makes the drug ideal for acute clinical disorder treatments.



ANG-3777 (BB3): Angion Biomedica



ANG-3777 (also known as BB3 and refanalin) is a small molecule hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) being developed by Angion Biomedica. Its development is grounded in decades of research investigating the role of the HGF/c-Met pathway in organ repair. When an organ is injured, HGF expression peaks around 2 h but c-Met receptor expression peaks around 24-36 h, creating a mismatch between HGF and c-Met potentially resulting in suboptimal rates of organ self-repair. ANG-3777 is designed to address this challenging mismatch, supplementing endogenous HGF during peak c-MET receptor expression.



Teprasiran (QPI-1002): Quark Pharmaceuticals



Teprasiran (QPI-1002) is a nuclease-resistant, synthetic double-stranded RNA oligonucleotide designed to temporarily inhibit the expression of the proapoptotic gene p53, via activation of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway being developed by Quark Pharmaceuticals. Its development is based on the proprietary concept for temporary and reversible inhibition of p53 for therapeutic purposes. P53 is a stress-response gene activated by DNA damage, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and other conditions, leading to the induction of cell cycle arrest, cell senescence or apoptosis.



ASP1128: Astellas Pharma



ASP1128 by Astellas Pharma is also known as MA-0217, is an investigational compound that is a potent and highly selective PPAR modulator. ASP1128 has the potential to have protective effects on kidney cells that are under cellular stress following CABG/V surgery by promoting fatty acid oxidation in the mitochondria. Further, ASP1128 may have the potential to reduce systemic and local inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.



Market Outlook



The global burden of acute kidney injury has increased over the years. Among the 7 major markets, the United States has reported having maximum incident cases of AKI. Though the incident of AKI is high across the US, but the condition is often undiagnosed, ultimately leading to lower treatable pool (when compared to the total incident population of the disease) that contributes to the market size of AKI.



Currently there are no targeted pharmacotherapies approved for the treatment of AKI. At present, the therapeutic market size of acute kidney injury in the United States is mainly accounted by use of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) and off-label drugs which includes various classes such as ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II-Receptor Blockers (ARBs), Diuretics and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).



The AKI market outlook of the report helps to build a detailed comprehension of the historic, current and forecasted AKI market trends by analyzing the impact of current therapies on the market, unmet needs, drivers and barriers, and demand of better technology.



This segment gives a thorough detail of AKI market trend of each marketed drug and late-stage pipeline therapy by evaluating their impact based on annual cost of therapy, inclusion and exclusion criteria's, mechanism of action, compliance rate, growing need of the market, increasing patient pool, covered patient segment, expected launch year, competition with other therapies, brand value, their impact on the market and view of the key opinion leaders. The calculated market data are presented with relevant tables and graphs to give a clear view of the market at first sight.



Key Findings



This section includes a glimpse of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) 7MM market.

There is no cure of AKI and the current treatment is aimed to manage the underlying cause and prognosis of AKI.

Conventional therapies such as drugs to manage blood pressure, fluid overload and cardiac output, to stabilize hemodynamic and oxygenation parameters, glycemic control, nutritional support to reduce the severity of AKI are frequently used in manageable cases of AKI whereas in critically ill patients RRT therapies are recommended.

The market size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the seven major markets was USD 4,082.95 billion in 2017 for the study period (2017-2030).

in 2017 for the study period (2017-2030). The United States accounts for the largest market size of AKI in comparison to the EU5 (the United Kingdom , Germany , Italy , France , and Spain ) and Japan

Drugs Uptake



This section focusses on the rate of uptake of the potential drugs that are expected to get launched in the market during the study period 2017-2030. The analysis covers Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) market uptake by drugs and patient uptake by therapies.



This helps in understanding the drugs with the most rapid uptake, reasons behind the maximal use of new drugs and allow the comparison of the drugs on the basis of market share and size, which again will be useful in investigating factors important in market uptake and in making financial and regulatory decisions.



Development Activities



The report provides insights into different therapeutic candidates in phase II, and phase III stage. It also analyzes key players involved in developing targeted therapeutics.



Pipeline Development Activities



The report covers the detailed information of collaborations, acquisition and merger, licensing and patent details for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) emerging therapies.



Competitive Intelligence Analysis



The publisher performs competitive and market Intelligence analysis of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) market by using various competitive intelligence tools that include-SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porter's five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies, etc. The inclusion of the analysis entirely depends upon the data availability.



Companies Mentioned



Exponential Biotherapies

Alloksys

Angion Biomedic

Quark Pharmaceuticals

AM Pharma

AtoxBio

Astellas Pharma

Pharming Technologies

MediBeacon

Orion Pharma

For more information about this drug pipelines report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tyyjea

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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The world's largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin soared over 14 percent on April 30 reclaiming its pre-coronavirus bull run of 2020.

It was quoting at $8,852.46, up 14.1 percent, at the time of writing this copy. It touched an intraday high of $8,973.08, nudging the crucial $9,000 levels and an intraday low of $7,755.07.

The digital currency is now up 30 percent from its March lows, outperforming the likes of S&P 500 (25 percent), Nifty (27 percent) as well as other major markets.

"Bitcoin is now trading at a critical inflexion point, where significant Fibonacci retracements, 50-day moving averages, and 10-day moving averages converge on the daily chart," said Forbes report, quoting analysts at Singapore-based bitcoin index fund Stack.

The turning of this resistance to support could see "further price action upside towards $9,300".



#Bitcoin overtakes Gold Year-To-Date.

Bitcoin was born in a financial crisis. It will come of age in this one. pic.twitter.com/Lw2Sn9RtR1 April 29, 2020

With the sharp surge, Bitcoin has reclaimed its position as the top rising asset class of 2020 once again , outperforming the likes of gold, crude, stocks as well as corporate bond.

Is FOMO playing out?

The amount of new Bitcoin mined every 10 minutes or so will drop by 50 percent from May 12. Sharp price surges were seen in the past adjustments of 2012 and 2016, which could potentially mean that the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) could be playing out in the top digital currency.

This was also evident from the 21 percent rise in Bitcoin prices in the last five days.

"The media coverage of the halving over the last five months, combined with continually increasing Google search volume for bitcoin halving, suggests that we may see similar FOMO around the upcoming halving event," Danny Kim, head of revenue at SFOX, told Coindesk.
Public lands across America, many of which remain closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic, are being offered up to industry by the Trump administration.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), part of the Department of Interior, is pushing ahead with plans to lease hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands to fossil-fuel and mining companies  despite recent steep declines in oil prices and a glut of supply. The Department of the Interior is led by David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist.

President Trump is expected to announce a plan soon to aid the US oil industry, AP reported on Thursday.

Administration officials are studying multiple options to assist the sector, including potentially stockpiling another several hundred millions of barrels of oil in the strategic reserves, according to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

The president anticipates the oil industry will have a couple of bad years because of the tremendous oversupply. But he added that insuring US energy independence was crucial to preserving US national security and economic strength.

BLM oversees around 245m acres of public land  1 in 10 acres in the US  mostly in the western states.

In Utah, 150,000 acres is up for sale for drilling, with some parcels close to Arches and Canyonlands national parks, home of some of the wests most dramatic red-rock landscape.

The Grand Canyon National Park as seen from a helicopter near Tusayan, Arizona (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File) (AP)

Erika Pollard, associate southwest regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, told the Salt Lake Tribune: The BLM must deny these egregious requests to open oil and gas development outside of Arches - on lands double the size of the national park itself.

At Arizonas Grand Canyon National Park, one of the most popular with tourists in the US, mining companies want the federal government to allow them to extract uranium, AP reported.

Earlier this month, a government lawyer with the Interior Departments Office of the Solicitor, Edward Keable, was appointed to oversee Grand Canyon National Park, a rare selection of someone who had not risen through the ranks of the National Park Service.

Extracting uranium is a huge draw on water resources with mines needing hundreds of gallons per minute, at a minimum. According to the Arizona State Climate Office, the region is in its 21st year of long-term drought.

Since 2019, BLM has released plans for Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Oregon laying out the management of more than 20m acres over the next 20 years.

The Pew Charitable Trusts public lands and rivers conservation program, which reviewed and analysed the plans between May 2019 and earlier this year, found troubling trends that warn of the loss of protection for millions of acres of public land and opening vast swaths to energy and mineral development.

New plans on expanding oil and gas development are underway in Uncompahgre, Colorado, Lewistown and Missoula, Montana, and Four Rivers, Idaho along with an area around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico.

"These BLM plans continue a recent trend of significantly reducing protections for longstanding Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, places where special management is needed to protect important historic, cultural, scenic, or fish and wildlife resources," the Pew report noted.

The BLM did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Independent.

Melyssa Watson, executive director of the Wilderness Society, told The Guardian: From rolling back EPAs pollution standards, to pushing for more oil and gas drilling and stifling the public review process, the federal government is fast-tracking rollbacks that deserve public scrutiny."

Last month, Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, announced a rollback on the Obama administrations emissions standards for vehicles, despite the decision meaning that millions more tonnes of CO2 will be added to the global warming crisis.

The EPA also said last month that it would suspend the enforcement of environmental regulations that punish polluters during the coronavirus outbreak and allow industries to self-monitor.

At the time, the Natural Resources Defense Council tweeted: This is an open licence to pollute. The administration should be giving its all toward making our country healthier right now. Instead it is taking advantage of an unprecedented public health crisis to do favours for polluters that threaten public health.

Associated Press contributed to this report
A 2019 study published in JAMA Network Open found that healthcare organizations are most susceptible to phishing attempts, with employees clicking one in seven simulated emails sent, and these findings were consistent with similar studies across other industries, where click rates can range from 13% to 49%.

In many cases, training can significantly limit the success of phishing attacks. However, it doesnt completely erase the risk of a few employees falling for the scheme, said Palotay. If youre the CEO of a company with 70 employees and you know that if every single one of your employees was sent that email that approximately 10 of them would fall for it, you know that you dont have an effective security strategy.

Read more: Tokio Marine HCC in new cyber insurance partnership

To combat this risk, companies should implement dual-factor authentication, which is the easiest and most effective step an organization can take to fight off cyber criminals. When logging into an email account, the user must first provide log-in information before receiving a code on their mobile device that must then be input as well, adding an extra layer of protection.

In the midst of a pandemic, re-evaluating cybersecurity measures like this can be especially important, as cyber criminals have reportedly been taking advantage of heightened fears as well as remote work set-ups, which might not be as secure as networks in offices.

Theres the potential of more hacking attacks because many businesses have enabled remote access, which they did not have previously, without properly safeguarding their network or email systems, explained Palotay, adding, We are also seeing a spike in phishing emails related to the coronavirus.

Read more: Fake COVID-19 apps can load ransomware, spyware on devices

Tokio Marine HCC  Cyber & Professional Lines Group has been providing its cyber policyholders with guidance on preventing phishing attacks to ensure that insureds are not only aware, but prepared.

One of our services is a phishing simulation, which combines training with the simulation exercise to test their employees vulnerability, said Palotay.

With many businesses already facing a myriad of challenges from employees working from home during the pandemic, training employees on how to recognize a phishing scam can keep that list of challenges shorter.

Dual-factor authentication and phishing training are relatively cheap and simple measures to implement, said Palotay. And, much easier and less expensive than having to deal with a hacker that attacked your companys network and caused havoc.

Want to learn more about the issues shaping the cyber insurance market in the US? Make sure you sign-up for our new - and completely free - virtual event, Broker Connect taking place on June 09.
A former Bureau of Prisons correctional officer pleaded guilty Thursday in the sexual assault of two female inmates.

Adrian L. Stargell, 39, worked as an education specialist at the Federal Correction Institution in Aliceville. He issued the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler to two counts of violating the rights of the two women and one count of making false statements to federal agents, according to a joint announcement by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Eric Dreiband and Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jay Town.

The crimes happened 2017 and 2018 while Stargell was on duty. He sexually assaulted two different women who were incarcerated at the Aliceville prison. The prison is a low-security facility with more than 1,000 female offenders about 40 miles west of Tuscaloosa.

Stargell admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong and against the law, yet he did it anyway. When federal investigators interviewed Stargell about the allegations of sexual misconduct, Stargell lied by falsely denying having any sexual contact with the victims.

Stargell will be sentenced on Aug. 27. The case was investigated by the Miami Division of the DOJ OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Posey and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice are prosecuting the case.

The Department of Justice will not tolerate prison officials who abuse their positions of power to sexually assault individuals in their custody, said Dreiband said. The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases and secure justice for victims of these despicable crimes.

Sexual assault is as despicable as it is illegal, Town said. We will not tolerate this abhorrent behavior. Our resolve must instead be to bring the full weight of our system of justice to every predator among us.

Stargells job was to help advance inmates rehabilitation through education, said James F. Boyersmith, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of the Inspector General in the Miami Field Office. Instead, he abused his power, sexually assaulted two inmates, and lied to try to cover up his actions. This kind of conduct will not be tolerated. Special Agents at the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to ensure that anyone who commits these kinds of despicable acts are brought to justice.
Work from home being practised during the ongoing coronavirus-induced lockdown might become a trend in coming days, IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said at a meeting of G20 ministers.

The minister highlighted India's action plan to fight coronavirus by leveraging digital technology and called for a coordinated global digital response to fight the pandemic.

"Work from home may become a new norm. Spoke about the tremendous role played by Indian IT/ITeS industry in providing uninterrupted support to global businesses during COVID-19 by switching to the work from home mode," Prasad said on social media platform Twitter.

An extraordinary virtual 'G20 Digital Economy Ministers' meeting was convened on Thursday to discuss the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed over 2.17 lakh people globally and to forge a global coordinated response harnessing digital technologies.

The death toll due to coronavirus rose to 1,075 and the number of cases climbed to 33,610 in the country on Thursday.

While Prasad talked about work from home culture, he also spoke about the need for developing digitally connected and more resilient global supply chains supported by innovations.

"India is an attractive destination for businesses who are willing to set up such resilient supply chains," Prasad said.

He said that to handle coronavirus, India has developed the Aarogya Setu mobile app, using geo-fencing for quarantine management.

The app has been made mandatory for government employees and people applying for e-pass in some jurisdictions.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) in a statement said the G20 digital ministers agreed to leverage the potential of digital medium to contain the pandemic and protect people.

MeitY said that Prasad during the meeting emphasised the importance to revive the economy while continuing the fight against COVID-19.

"He impressed upon the G20 ministers that the present situation also demands greater collaboration among stakeholders for providing solutions that can address issues related to social distancing, distributed workforce and the changing nature of global supply chain," the statement said.

Prasad also urged G20 to come out with a concrete digital action plan to fight the global pandemic.

"At the end of the summit, a G20 Digital Economy Task Force COVID-19 ministerial statement was issued which called for a coordinated global digital response to fight the pandemic, adopting measures to strengthen communication infrastructure and network connectivity, non-personal data exchange in a secured manner, use of digital solutions for healthcare, cyber-secured world and measures to strengthen resilience of businesses," the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump has said his historic first official visit to India in February reaffirmed the commitment of the two countries to build a comprehensive global strategic partnership grounded in shared interests and common purpose.

In a proclamation issued on the occasion of Asian American And Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, 2020, Trump said the US remains committed to strengthening its ongoing relationships with Asian and Pacific partners.

Last year, I was proud to stand alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in Houston, Texas, and earlier this year I made my first official visit to India as a demonstration of our Nation's enduring friendship with one of the world's largest and most diverse countries, Trump said on Wednesday.

During this historic visit, I had the honour of speaking about the importance of the relationship between our two countries before more than 110,000 Indian citizens, he said referring to his joint address with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The visit also reaffirmed that India and the United States are committed to building a comprehensive global strategic partnership grounded in shared interests and common purpose, benefitting both of our countries, Trump said.

The president made his maiden visit to India in February.

Trump said that during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the country celebrates the indelible mark these people from this community have left on America's culture and pay tribute to the myriad ways in which they continue to strengthen our Nation.

This month, we recognise the more than 20 million Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who make irreplaceable contributions to our Nation's economy, security, and culture," Trump said.

He said the US is grateful for those who have served and are currently serving in our Armed Forces, and those serving their communities as first responders.

Together, we will continue to live out the promise of our founding and build a better future for all Americans, Trump said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Bondi bar at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in Sydney's eastern suburbs could be shut for 18 months.

The Bucket List, where celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Paris Hilton have visited, is believed to be letting its July lease go until the multi-million dollar refurbishment of the Bondi Pavilion is complete.

The venue closed on March 22 after 20 patrons attending an event at the Bucket List were diagnosed with coronavirus, in accordance with the NSW Government outlines.

However now it may not reopen for another 18 months as company director Andy Ruwald is yet to sign a new lease, according to Sydney Confidential.

The Bucket List, where celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Paris Hilton have frequented, is believed to be letting it's July lease go until the multi-million dollar refurbishment of the Bondi Pavilion is complete (stock)

'Bucket List has closed for the pending Bondi Pavilion restoration, which we are excited about,' a spokesman said.

'The Bucket is very much part of the Bondi community, established and run for nine years by Bondi locals.

'We are working with council and feel confident the much loved Bucket will return looking amazing at the new Pavilion.'

Mr Ruwald is believed to have not signed a new lease and is in discussion with Waverley Council regarding the venue.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted The Bucket List for comment.

The venue announced they were closing on March 22 after cases of coronavirus were connected to a party held at the venue.

Sydney's Eastern Suburbs became an epicentre for the city's outbreak, prompting a pop up clinic to be set up in Bondi

The party was held hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced strict rules regarding public access to venues.

'In the interest of health and safety of our people and our community we have decided to close our venue until further notice,' a Facebook post read.

'We thank you for your continued support and loyalty to date in what has been a very challenging period for the hospitality industry.'

Sydney's Eastern Suburbs became an epicentre for the city's outbreak, prompting a pop up clinic to be set up in Bondi.
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As Connecticut prepares to loosen the lockdown on non-essential businesses next month (notice we said prepare, not throw the gates open as some other states), strict precautions are necessary to help avert a backwards slide on coronavirus infections.

First and foremost, along with increased testing, is an effort called contact tracing. Gov. Ned Lamont announced Tuesday the state is ramping up for this voluntary program of monumental proportions. We appreciate that Connecticut is in the forefront of this regional effort with New York and New Jersey.

The concept is simple, the execution complex.

Contact tracing means querying everyone who tests positive for the coronavirus for whom they may have had contact with once symptoms appeared, and even days before. Family members? Co-workers? Delivery person? Grocery store clerk? The coronavirus is highly contagious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that for every individual with the virus, another two or three become infected.

These contacts are then reached by a trained worker who informs them they are at risk, provides advice and urges them to self-quarantine for 14 days. The name of the original infected person is not disclosed.

In a state with about 3 million inhabitants, the process will be time consuming, but must be performed swiftly for it to be effective at halting the spread of the virus.

An individuals information on an extensive health database might raise privacy concerns for some.

Though privacy might be a fallacy in this social media age where every online purchase  or even wish  is tracked, the notion is deeply rooted. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis argued in 1928 for a constitutional right to privacy in a dissenting opinion concerning wiretapped telephone conversations. He articulated the right to be let alone as the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men. To protect that right, every unjustifiable intrusion by the government upon the privacy of the individual, whatever the means employed, must be deemed a violation of the Fourth Amendment.

However, the word unjustifiable is key. A century later, a devastating pandemic is a justifiable reason to cede for the greater good whatever remnants of privacy remain in the digital age.

That said, care can be taken to ensure the collected information is used solely for this purpose. For example, after a certain amount of time, names, phone numbers and exact street addresses would be erased but the remainder of the data remain for use in future studies of the pandemics progression.

The United States has no central contact tracing effort. Instead, states are left to figure it out. Connecticut will be part of one of the largest programs in joining with New York and New Jersey through the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; the regional alliance makes sense.

Contact tracing, along with greatly increased testing, is necessary for Connecticut to emerge safely from the lockdown. The more people who participate willingly, the better protection for all.
SpendEdge has been monitoring the global battery market and the market is poised to experience spend growth of more than USD 30 billion between 2017-2022 at a CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005821/en/

Read the 70-page research report with TOC and LOE on "The Global Battery Market, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend."

The need for environment-friendly transport is driving the adoption of battery-driven cars in the automotive industry, which in turn is boosting battery procurement across the globe. Rechargeable batteries are dominating the market due to their longer life span compared with primary batteries.

APAC is accounting for the largest share of the global battery market in 2017 due to increased adoption and use of two-wheelers (where batteries are extensively used) in countries such as India and China.

To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment subscribe to our procurement platform.

Insights into the market price trends

R&D costs are expected to increase during the forecast period as suppliers are focusing on manufacturing batteries that are light weight and small in size. This will impact battery procurement prices.

Prices of raw materials such as lead and lithium) will account for a significant portion of the overall supplier cost structure. This is expected to impact battery procurement prices for buyers.

Insights into strategies that will help buyers optimize their battery procurement spend

Buyers should engage with suppliers that have adopted commodity risk management strategies such as hedging to eliminate price risk while procuring raw materials from their vendors. This will ensure the procurement of raw materials at the correct price, which in turn will keep the production cost of suppliers in control.

It is advised that buyers procure from global suppliers who have a regional/local presence to reduce delivery timelines and save on transportation and logistics costs, as this will minimize their supply chains in terms of distance from supplier facilities. This will be effective to reduce battery procurement costs to a significant extent.

COVID-19 Impact Assessment and Market Insights

SpendEdge's reports now include an in-depth complimentary analysis of the COVID-19 impact on procurement and latest market data to help your company overcome sourcing challenges. Our Battery Procurement Market Intelligence Report offers actionable procurement intelligence insights, sourcing strategies, and action plans to mitigate risks arising out of the current pandemic situation. The insights offered by our reports will help procurement professionals streamline supply chain operations and gain insights in the best procurement practices to mitigate losses.

To stay on top of latest trends and supply market information, check out SpendEdge's knowledge center on COVID-19 impact assessment

The top battery suppliers enlisted in this report

This battery procurement market intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

General Electric

Panasonic

Toshiba

Johnson Controls

TOTAL

To get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights into markets for a lifetime activate your subscription to our digital procurement platform for free.

Some of the key topics covered in this report are:

Battery market spend segmentation by region

Battery supply market analysis

Battery procurement best practices

Regional spend opportunity for battery suppliers

Battery suppliers cost structure

Total cost of ownership analysis in the battery market

Battery suppliers pricing models analysis

Category management objectives to promote an optimized battery procurement

Cost saving opportunities in the battery market

Free sample of reports that you may like:

Global Robotic Arm Market Procurement Intelligence Report

Global Security Camera Market Procurement Intelligence Report

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Billy Bush says hes a nicer person after going through the Access Hollywood scandal that resulted in him losing his job.

The former NBC host was fired from the Today show in 2016 after appearing in a resurfaced 2005 tape in which then-presidential candidate Donald Trump bragged about his proclaimed ability to grab [women] by the p****.

Bush reflected on the scandal and its aftermath in a recent interview on Dennis Quaids podcast The Dennissance.

He admitted the moment was terrible, but sought to find a silver lining in the experience.

Its such an ugly moment. Its like  yeah, you want to delete it. Of course you want to delete it! he said.

But you cant and its out there for the world to consume, and your children most importantly.

Its just humiliating, embarrassing, its s*****, you suck. Theres no denying the moment is a terrible moment.

He acknowledged the public and private support he has received and added: Im a much nicer person. Im much more curious about other peoples experiences.

When Quaid asked if the scandal gave him more empathy, Bush confirmed that it had and told the actor: I only take the good out of it at this point. Im almost fully drained of the resentment. Not fully, but mostly.

Bush returned to television in 2019 as the host of Extra.
LIBERTY, Mo. (AP)  All Missouri businesses and social events will be allowed to reopen next week as long as residents and business owners continue to practice proper social distancing requirements.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson this week said the first phase of the reopening might look different in various regions of the state and local governments will be able to impose stricter limitations if their officials believe it is necessary. But he said that, as of next May 4, Missourians will be able to return to all businesses, such as restaurants, manufacturing plants, gyms and, hair salons, along with churches, sporting events and social gatherings.

Kansas Citys stay-at-home order is scheduled to continue through May 15. St. Louis, which has had a majority of the states cases, has not yet said when it will lift its order.

There will be no limit on the size of social gatherings if people maintain the current 6-foot social distancing efforts but some businesses  such as retail stores  will be required to take extra steps, such as limiting occupancy, he said.

We are successfully flattening the curve, Parson said. With the help of all Missourians, our plan is working. The health care system is not overwhelmed and we are winning the battle.

The news conference was interrupted several times by protesters. The governor acknowledged many people will disagree with decisions made throughout the pandemic but he said he believes Missourians will look back on the state and local efforts with pride.

The decision to reopen was made based on favorable data and approval from state health officials, but Parson warned reopening will be gradual and is the turning of a dial, not the flip of a switch.

The first phase of reopening will last through May 31. State and health officials will re-evaluate the data later in May to determine the next step.

Parson, along with state, health and business leaders, said the decision was based on four pillars that have been reached  expanding testing capacity across the state, expanding reserves of personal protective equipment, continued monitoring of the hospital and health care system capacity and the improved ability to predict where hotspots of the disease might spring up in the state.

Herb Kuhn, CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association, said the reopening will include a phased in resumption of elective surgeries, which many people and doctors have postponed because of fears of the coronavirus. Hospitals are prepared to return to restricted operations if needed but the good social-distancing efforts of state residents and planning by state and health officials puts us in a place where we believe we can safely move to this next step.

Nursing homes, long-term care facilities, retirement homes and assisted living homes, which have been hotspots in Missouri, must continue stronger guidance to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Parson and Rob Dixon, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, stressed that the reopening will be successful only if Missourians use common sense, follow social distancing guidelines and continue proper hygiene.

Dixon said businesses are encouraged to implement safety measures such as temperatures testing, modifying work spaces, using staggered shifts and limiting access to common areas as the state continues to fight the virus for the foreseeable future.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
Les membres du Cabinet ont pris note de la situation sanitaire a Maurice, du nombre de test fait pour detecter la presence du Coronavirus dnas la population et chez les frontliners, la liste des produits qui sont desormais sous controle et du Preparedness Plan pour les services hopsitaliers,

1. 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 29 April 2020, out of 15,893 PCR tests carried out, 332 persons had been tested positive;

(b) as at 29 April 2020, 14,305 Rapid Antigen tests for COVID-19 had been carried out on frontliners, namely healthcare providers in the public sector, police officers, residents and staff of Residential Care Homes, Prison Officers and prisoners. The test was being extended to foreign workers in dormitories and employees of supermarkets;

(c) as at 29 April 2020, there were 13 patients in the Treatment Centres and the number of persons successfully treated was 306; and

(d) the repatriation process is being carried out in a phased manner. In this respect, a flight from Paris repatriated stranded Mauritians on 26 April 2020. Another flight from South Africa is expected to airlift stranded Mauritians on 30 April 2020.

2. Cabinet has taken note of the list of goods in respect of which prices were controlled or marked-up prior to COVID-19 confinement curfew and the list of products whose prices are being controlled during COVID-19 sanitary curfew.

3. Cabinet has taken note of the Preparedness Plan for Hospital Services which includes 

(a) hospital staffing requirements to be adequate to attend to patients;

(b) medical and non-medical supplies to be in adequate stock;

(c) control of entry points for healthcare personnel and public to ensure that all persons entering the hospital premises wear masks, use hand sanitizers and have their temperature checked;

(d) social distancing measures to be implemented within all premises especially in waiting areas and at counters;

(e) Outpatient Departments and Accident and Emergency Departments to operate at staggered hours to avoid overcrowding;

(f) prioritisation of all surgeries;

(g) setting up of separate flu clinics;

(h) disinfection of hospital premises; and

(i) visitors to be limited to one per patient in wards in order to avoid infection.

4. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade had a conference call with HE Mr Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Trade recently. The objective was to exchange views on the COVID-19 pandemic and the support which EU could provide to Mauritius to address the arising challenges as well as on the state of play on the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA).

The Commissioner commended Mauritius for its COVID-related actions, reiterated the support to Mauritius by the EU which is open to further suggestions for additional support. The Commissioner also appreciated the leadership role of Mauritius in the negotiations on the deepening of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement.

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(Newser)  A 45-year-old mail carrier and mom of a 14-year-old is dead in Indianapolis after being gunned down on the job. The New York Times reports Angela Summers was killed Monday afternoon while delivering mail, and a 21-year-old man has been arrested. One man in the neighborhood where Summers was shot tells the Indianapolis Star that he was in his yard Monday and heard profanity, "angry words," and then "the pop of gunfire." Another local resident, 19-year-old Alondra Salazar, says she was inside her home when she also heard a loud noice, then knocking. When she opened her door, she says she saw a bloodied, "hyperventilating" Summers on her porch, with mail, a small container of hand sanitizer, and a can of pepper spray scattered around her. Salazar called 911 and tried to keep Summers calm, though she said she lost it when the wounded woman "said something about her kid."

story continues below

The Marion County Coroner says she died of a gunshot wound to the chest, per FOX59. The cops are so far mum on a motive, but a Facebook post by the National Association of Letter Carriers says Summers "was shot by a customer who was upset over his mail being held at the post office for a dog issue." A local NALC rep tells the Star that mail is usually suspended if a residence receives three dog complaints. "There had been a long-standing issue with dogs" at a local residence, he notes. Tony Cushingberry was arrested Tuesday for "alleged involvement" in Summers' death; charges are pending. The Star reports that in Facebook posts made on Saturday Summers wrote about having to spray a "nasty" dog twice, and said she felt "seriously unsafe" after the family that owned the dog threatened her over their halted mail service; the posts do not identify which residence she was referring to. (Read more shooting stories.)
If Richard Nixon had his silent majority, Donald Trump has his noisy minority or perhaps what might be called the loud few. Consider the facts.

Public opinion polling documents that the vast majority of Americans are staying at home (80 percent) and do not want the country to open prematurely (70 percent), as is being done in several states by Republican governors  including Ron DeSantis in Florida, Brian Kemp in Georgia, Henry McMaster in South Carolina, Bill Lee in Tennessee and, earlier this week, Greg Abbott in Texas.

By contrast, a minority of Americans are in the streets loudly protesting against their governors  both Republican and Democratic  who have decided to keep their states locked down. Politics aside, these governors are being cautious, erring on the side of protecting the health and safety of all their constituents.

Unlike the protesters, who are not following the presidents task force guidelines, these governors understand that taking to the streets is far more than a risk to the health of those who gather in public  it also is a risk to the health of others living in those states.

Admittedly, none of us likes being told to stay home. Nevertheless, most Americans accept whats best for all is what is needed and, in fact, demanded in the wake of a life-threatening pandemic; after all, we all are part of a larger us.

As a scholar of political communication, from a rhetorical perspective I find several things about these protests noteworthy. First, the argument used by these protesters to justify what they are doing is invalid, fallacious and misplaced  as is Trumps defense of the protesters.

Both Trump and those in the streets believe what they are doing is a matter of personal liberty. What they dont understand is that a large number of those with COVID-19 are asymptomatic. Hence, by gathering in public, protesters are infringing on and denying the personal liberty of others  the liberty not to get sick, not to go to the hospital, not to be intubated and not to die.

Second, it is rhetorically significant  yet hardly surprising  that many, if not most, of those protesting are Trump supporters; listening to them chant and viewing their signs make this evident. Moreover, it is clear from their language that they are directly following, responding to and adopting the presidents words.

Consider also that on a regular basis Trump applauds, encourages and even incites the protesters behavior. Just like the president in his daily briefings, protesters are using the coronavirus pandemic as a rhetorical opportunity  a way to create a media spectacle. Put simply, following the lead and example of the president, protesters are exploiting a health crisis to stage campaign rallies.

What is tragic is that Trump and those in the streets may never realize the consequences of what they are doing. Unfortunately, we live in an unprecedented time in our history when politics rather than health governs our presidents rhetoric and policies, and thus the behavior of his supporters.

Richard Cherwitz is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin.
The COVID-19 global pandemic will have a profound and lasting impact on the physical security industry. It will boost adoption of new technologies to address new types of threats. It will map out a path for new involvement of physical security technologies in areas of public health. It will raise new notions of privacy and turn previous thinking about privacy on its head. And the aftermath of the pandemic will give rise to all these changes in a breathtakingly accelerated timeframe.

In the wake of the pandemic, change will come faster than ever, and the industry will be more challenged than ever to keep pace.

Security and the future In the wake of the pandemic, change will come faster than ever, and the industry will be more challenged than ever to keep pace

These were some of the thoughts I heard recently in a panel discussion titled Crisis and the Everyday, which was part of Genetecs ConnectDX virtual trade show, April 20-21. The virtual conversation  emphasising both in form and content the current topsy-turvy state of the world  included interesting insights on the current pandemic and its near- and long-term impact on the industry.

In the middle of this pandemic, there is an opportunity to help security reinvent itself, said Brad Brekke, Principal, The Brekke Group, one of the panelists.

Amid the business disruption, we should ask whats the new playbook? Its an opportunity for security to look at ourselves now and look at a business plan of what the future might look like. We need to align with the business model of the corporation and define our role more around business and not so much around security.

How do you support the business and, more broadly, societies and communities?

The new normal for security

The new normal for security will include addressing biological risks alongside our traditional emphasis on physical risk and digital risk. Some industry sectors are being challenged in a way I have not seen in my lifetime, said Brekke. But they are learning fast.

We should take a look at where we have been and where we are going, said Brekke, whose firm develops comprehensive strategies to align security organisations with corporate missions. This is a point in time that has never existed, and a time to take a fresh look at what security is to the corporation and greater community. Its more a mindset than a specific set of tasks.

We just need to take a fresh look from a mix of perspectives.

Crisis and the Everyday" was part of Genetecs ConnectDX virtual trade show

Infrared cameras and access control technologies

New technologies to address the pandemic are enabling some nations around the world to track how people come and go and who they are exposed to. Technologies like infrared cameras are being used to detect body temperatures, and access control helps to monitor occupancy and social distancing.

But what will such use of these technologies mean in the long term?

Technologies like infrared cameras are being used to detect body temperatures, and access control helps to monitor occupancy and social distancing

We will see whether people will become more comfortable with this technology, said Ken Lochiatto, President and CEO, Convergint Technologies, a service-based security integration company.

Tools are in hand, and coming soon, that will allow us to be more proactive, to step in and measure the health of colleagues, for example, said Lochiatto. There are a lot of questions that will have to be addressed, and a lot of discussion will have to happen. Coronavirus will knock down the barriers (to the use of newer technology) in the short term, but where will it settle two years from now?

Manufacturer philanthropy

Security product manufacturers are expanding their scope beyond law enforcement and emergency management and stepping forward to help with the public good.

Technology in the security space is moving faster than the political establishment is thinking about, adds Lochiatto. We have to manage it as an industry so the government will not step in. We need to manage the discussion.

An accelerated timeline will raise the stakes even further.

All the questions that would have taken longer to answer will be answered in the next 6-8 months. For the security industry, it will drive even greater need for products, said Lochiatto.

The biggest question is Where does this all go? said Brekke. What is the new normal? What is the future, and how do we prepare our companies for it? What does technology look like in the future? There isnt just one particular set of questions, just a constant stream of Whats next?

Public health versus individual liberty

The current environment of disruption will shift the playbook and rebalance the tradeoff between privacy and protection, especially as it pertains to sharing medical information.

There will be a new balance between public health and safety as a whole versus individual liberties, said Brekke. Technology providers need to be at the table talking about the solutions. We should all be engaged in government affairs to balance the discussion and add our own perspectives. As a society and country, we have to come to a different perspective on this.

The current environment of disruption will shift the playbook and rebalance the tradeoff between privacy and protection

There are not enough ethics and guard rails, said Jonathan Ballon, Vice President and General Manager, Intel Corp. The majority of people are not afraid enough. They should be afraid; we need more regulation. We need to establish an ethical code of conduct for use of technology in these situations. We need to eliminate bias, respect individuals, and ensure people are being treated fairly.

In the next several years, there will be a lot of experimentation in the quest to get to a future state we can see and almost grasp. There will be black eyes and bruises on the path to getting there.

From smart security to more intelligent technology

After the pandemic, the innovation climate will befit new technology adoption. Platforms are only limited by our imaginations, and it creates an extraordinary opportunity and drives a lot of economic value, said Ballon. Long-term, the future is extremely bright. Companies should ensure that they are resilient and take advantage of another period of technology adoption, which we see coming out of every economic downturn.

After the pandemic, the innovation climate will befit new technology adoption

Another evolution in the market is a transition from smart systems to more intelligent ones. Intelligence includes the ability to learn using tools such as deep learning and artificial intelligence. Systems are going from smart to intelligent to autonomous, including systems that can operate within the constraints we have established, said Ballon.

Pierre Racz, president and CEO of Genetec, offered some words of caution about the growth of artificial intelligence in his keynote presentation, AI Hype Self Defense. Racz sought to provide guidance on the limits of the technology and urged the online audience to be skeptical of technology that works best when you need it least.

Science and technology are morally neutral, he said. How we use them is not.

Intelligent automation over artificial intelligence

Specifically, Racz contends that artificial intelligence doesnt exist and provides the reasoning power of an earthworm. AI systems dont know anything that isnt included in their input data  for better and for worse.

Racz contends that artificial intelligence doesnt exist and provides the reasoning power of an earthworm

A properly designed system can be useful [only] if you engineer around the false positives, false negatives and the unanticipated training set biases, said Racz. For example, because AI is based on probabilities, it doesnt perform as well when identifying improbable things.

In lieu of artificial intelligence, Racz recommends the term intelligent automation (IA), which describes using a machine (computer) for heavy computational lifting and keeping a human in the loop to provide intuition and creativity.

Do not misinterpret crafty guessing for intelligence or thinking, Racz warns. AI doesnt exist, but real stupidity exists. And we must design our systems taking into account the legitimate fears of the public we serve.
There was an outpouring of grief at the scene of the incident.

A neighbour of Gleason Lewis, who was shot and killed last Sunday at his home in Plan, Campden Park, told THE VINCENTIAN that he was at home when three police vehicles arrived at the Lewis residence.





He noted that the officers surrounded the house, and moments later he heard the sound of pounding on a door on the ground floor of the house. A short while after, the neighbour said he heard gunshots.





"Dem shoot up the place and when they stop he (Lewis) come outside. come outside on the verandah of the top floor of the house and say, "Alyo got a warrant? Who give alyo permission to mash up the place?, the neighbour recalled.





The police, according to the neighbour, responded by firing more bullets.





He also related that, at the time of the incident, Lewis was wearing jeans, a green shirt and a hat, and had an object in his right hand.





After the officers fired at him, the neighbour said Lewis ran back into the house, and from that point he did not know what happened, only that he heard a series of loud explosions.





According to the police, "A party of Police Officers, including the late, Sgt. 209 Philbert Chambers who was attached to the Questelles Police Station, was dispatched on duty to execute a search warrant at the home of Gleason Lewis in Campden Park. At approximately 8:05 am, while the Police were at Mr. Lewiss home performing their duty, he opened fire, killing Sgt. Chambers and wounding Police Constable 700 Verrol Sam in the process. The Police returned fire and Mr. Lewis was fatally wounded. Both men died at the scene.





But a number of residents who live in the vicinity of the Lewis home, told THE VINCENTIAN that they are of the opinion that he did not shoot officer Chambers.





According to one male who did not want to be identified, "They opened fire first and its like one of the officers who was firing, made a mistake and shoot the other officer. When the shooting done, the police bin all looking confused... the driver of the transport and another one was arguing; them kick up the drum that was by the side of the road all thing. Left to be seen what the video camera find and what kind a bullet kill the officer.





He described Lewis as a nice and easy-going guy. "Just about two days ago I talk to him. He had a little breakdown because I never see him behave so before. He had some loud cussing with his parents and he even cuss the neighbour, said the source.





"I think the situation could of handle differently. . If the police wanted to catch the man, they could have just asked the neighbour to call and hold him whenever he comes outside or stake out for him, said another neighbour.
New Delhi: On the untimely demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, the entire film fraternity including his fans in India and abroad are shocked and shattered with grief. While it has just been a day when we are coming to terms with actor Irrfan Khan's death, another blow came with Rishi Kapoor's sudden demise which shook everyone.

In this hour of this grief, his family, which also happens to be the first filmy family of Bollywood - the Kapoors shared their thoughts and extended condolences on social media.

Take a look at what wife Neetu, daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and nieces, Karisma, Kareena Kapoor shared:

Rishi Kapoor left this material world for his heavenly abode on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 8.45 am. He was admitted to Mumbai's Sri HN Reliance Foundation hospital on Wednesday night.

The thespian was battling Leukemia for the last two years and underwent treatment for it in New York where he stayed for almost a year. He is survived by wife and actress Neetu Kapoor, children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.

May his soul rest in peace!
The Delhi Police has granted permission to Riddhima Sahni, daughter of actor Rishi Kapoor who passed away on Thursday morning, to travel to Mumbai for his last rites amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, officials said.

As per sources, Ridhima Kapoor is flying via private jet that will reach Mumbai at 18:00 hours. She applied for the permission with DGCA and is awaiting confirmation.

"Along with Ridhima, five other people -- Bharat Sahni, Samara Sahni, Akshay Sahni and Drigalakshmi Rai -- got permission to travel to Mumbai," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R P Meena said.

Riddhima took to Instagram to share a heartbreaking post on her fathers death. Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you everyday I will miss your FaceTime calls everyday! Until we meet again papa I love you, she captioned a selfie with her father.

Rishi Kapoor, a third generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, was taken to the H N Reliance Hospital by his family on Wednesday.

Follow @News18Movies for more
TIRANA, Albania - A 24-year-old man wanted in Germany for allegedly belonging to a cell that planned attacks on behalf of the Islamic State group has been arrested in Albania, police said Thursday.

Albanian police said the suspect, a citizen of Tajikistan identified only as K.Z., was arrested on an international warrant issued by a federal court in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Police said in a statement that the man is accused of being part of a terror group that has founded a terror cell in Germany to make Jihad on behalf of the Islamic State.

The statement did not say why the suspect was in Albania.

Albanian police and prosecutors are preparing the paperwork for his extradition to Germany, where he faces a charge of participation in a foreign terror organization.

Earlier this month, four other Tajiks suspected of being members of IS were arrested in Germany on the same charge. German authorities said they joined the Islamic State group in January 2019, received instructions to form a cell in Germany and were planning an attack on American military facilities.

A 30-year-old thought to be their leader, Ravsan B., has been in jailed in Germany since March 2019 on unspecified charges. German authorities allege that to finance an attack, he accepted a $40,000 contract to assassinate someone in Albania, but the slaying plan failed.
Communications Minister Ange-Maxime Kazigui says fighting between armed groups in Ndele left many civilians dead.

At least 25 people have been killed and 51 others wounded in clashes in the northeast of the Central African Republic, according to the countrys communications minister.

Fighting between armed groups in Ndele led to the deaths of 21 civilians, Ange-Maxime Kazigui said on Thursday, adding that the situation remains confused.

Humanitarian workers, however, said that members of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC) had clashed in Ndele the previous day.

The Gula wing of the FPRC attacked the Runga faction in Ndele on Wednesday, an official from the countrys United Nations mission, known by its French acronym MINUSCA, told AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

There were about 100 Gulas who entered the town wearing civilian clothes, the official said.

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There have been clashes between Runga and Gula in Ndele, which is under FPRC control, since the start of March.

The FPRC last year split into two factions: the Runga ethnic group on one side, including FPRCs military chief Abdoulaye Hissene, and rival fighters from the Gula and Kara ethnic communities on the other side.

They are fighting for control of the regions resources, including its vast diamond deposits.

The Central African Republic has struggled with violence despite a peace deal signed between the government and 14 armed groups last year.

The country has suffered several crises since 2003, when former President Francois Bozize seized power in a coup.

The country spiralled into bloodshed after Bozize was overthrown in 2013 after a coalition of rebel groups from the largely Muslim north of the country fought their way into the capital, Bangui. In response, mostly-Christian militias known as the anti-balaka struck back, exacting revenge on Muslim civilians.

Since then, fighting has forced nearly a quarter of the countrys 4.5 million people to flee their homes and spawned a hotchpodge of armed groups as the rebel coalition disintegrated, with rival militias battling over resources controlling most of the country.
Chris Botti has included a Boston date in a late fall tour.

The trumpeter is scheduled to play the Wilbur Theatre on Nov. 27.

Tickets for the show are available through all Ticketmaster outlets and locations including ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000.

As a pop / jazz instrumentalist, Botti earned a Grammy Award for his 2013 release Impressions. He has sold over 4 million albums worldwide.

Shop for concert tickets here: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster.
This is not the grand opening we had envisioned, reads a description on The Cafe on Lumpkins website. Rather than open and accommodate dini
Against a pattern of increased abuses against asylum seekers in recent years, this newest approach stands out, said Itamar Mann, an expert in maritime and refugee law at the University of Haifa in Israel. Its methods chillingly resemble organized crime, and indeed the operations of people smugglers, which European policymakers so adamantly denounce.

The facts available raise serious concerns that we are seeing the emergence of a novel systematic pattern, such that may even put Maltese state officials in danger of criminal liability, at home or abroad, Dr. Mann added.

The Maltese government did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The activity was first documented on the evening of April 12, when three aging blue trawlers left the Grand Harbour in Valletta, the Maltese capital, within an hour of each other. The three boats  the Dar Al Salam 1, the Salve Regina and the Tremar  departed at the request of the Maltese authorities, according to the captain of the Tremar, Amer Abdelrazek.

A former Maltese official, Neville Gafa, said he was enlisted by the government that same night to use his connections in Libya to ensure the safe passage of the first two boats to Libya.

The boats did not submit paperwork to the immigration police, and switched off their satellite tracking devices soon after leaving port, maritime databases show.

But their mission had already been determined, said Mr. Gafa, who said he had been asked by the Maltese prime ministers chief of staff, Clyde Caruana, to help coordinate the operation. Mr. Caruana did not respond to requests for comment, but a government spokesman told The Times of Malta that Mr. Gafa had been asked to liaise with Libya on a separate matter that was unconnected to the episode.

The trawlers were sent to intercept a migrant vessel attempting to reach Malta from Libya  and which had been issuing mayday calls for some 48 hours  and then return its passengers to Libya, Mr. Gafa said.
A female police officer and her boyfriend have been charged with twice breaching travel restrictions designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The 29-year-old serving constable and her 24-year-old partner allegedly travelled by car from the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia into Perth without a lawful exemption.

The woman, a serving officer with the Crime Command, recently tendered her resignation effective May.

Police officers and Royal Australian Navy personnel are seen stopping drivers at an intrastate checkpoint on the Forrest Highway near the border of the Peel and South West region

In a statement on Thursday, WA Police said the officer's resignation was not related to the charges she is facing.

Police allege the Swan View woman and Walliston man twice this month travelled from the Wheatbelt region into the Perth/Peel region without a lawful exemption.

Both times, the man was told to turn his car around but allegedly failed to comply and continued beyond the police checkpoint.

He will face Midland Magistrates Court on May 15 charged with two counts of failing to comply with a direction.

The woman will face the court on the same charges on June 2.

'Internal Affairs Unit will not be investigating this matter further due to the officer's previously tendered resignation,' WA Police stated.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has signed the ordinance to defer the payment of a portion of government employees' salaries, up to a maximum of 25 per cent, in the event of a pandemic or natural disaster. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said the salary distribution will begin on May 4 and priority would be given to health and police personnel.

The governor also gave his assent to the ordinance to cut 30 per cent of the annual benefits to legislators.

The government took to the ordinance route after the Kerala High Court stayed an order for compulsory contribution by employees to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund to finance the COVID-19 control measures. The order was to deduct six days' pay from the salary of employees for the next five months. The Kerala Administrative Tribunal too had stayed the government order.

Through the ordinance promulgated on Thursday, the Kerala Disaster and Public Health Emergency Special Provisions, the government plans to deduct the salary as per the earlier plan. The ordinance says the government needs to announce the repayment plan and time only six months after the deduction.

Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said the governor's assent was a "big relief" to the cash-strapped state. "The governor knows the constraints of the state better than the opposition," he told the media. The minister assured employees that the money will be repaid.
Donald, youre up!

After diving into Harold Coopers (Harry Lennix) past in Kuwait earlier this season, The Blacklist is giving Agent Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) an episode to explore what led him to the FBI in Brothers.

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

"Weve been talking about a Ressler origin story for years now  since the first season, really, says executive producer Jon Bokenkamp, How Ressler became the agent he is, whats driving him, whats hidden in his past  all of those things are unpacked in this episode, which is a really powerful and emotional story that I expect will catch fans off guard."

Although Donald has been avoiding his brother Robbys (Anthony Michael Hall) calls for a few episodes, a dangerous secret from their past sends the strained pair back home. The animosity and friction between them is well deserved, assures Klattenhoff, who shares, Its safe to say that Donald Ressler and his brother havent gotten along in a while. Bringing the Resslers home gives The Blacklist viewers a surprising look at Donalds teenage years. Turns out Donald and Robby were not always the by-the-book and shifty pair they are in the present.

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

Exploring Resslers past will shed light on his darkest secret and provide an opportunity for him to change moving forward. Longtime viewers will be excited by this insight into how the rigid FBI agent's by-the-book approach was born. Klattenhoff believes his character may lighten up a bit after this trip down memory lane, Going forward, there may be just a little more forgiveness and then letting go of this responsibility Ressler has carried around forever.

Also, well have to see how much this does or doesnt change his outlook, he teases.

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

The hour, which is directed by Mahesh Pailoor, also doubles as a first for The Blacklist. This is the first episode in 7 seasons to not feature James Spaders Raymond Reddington. Klattenhoff shares, Im honored to be in the position where they give [me] the reins of the show to do our thing, and its also a fun episode.

Story continues

In the end, the actor wants fans to enjoy the hour as much as he enjoyed reading it and doing it. And, hopefully, well see some more of this stuff in the future, he adds.

The Blacklist airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Related content:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 17:25:48|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- German stocks were off to a good start on Thursday, with the benchmark DAX index growing by 87.47 points, or 0.78 percent, opening at 11,195.21 points.

The biggest winner among Germany's largest 30 companies at the start of trading was German aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines, increasing by 3.50 percent, followed by sportswear manufacturer Adidas with 2.49 percent and chipmaker Infineon with 2.41 percent.

On Thursday, MTU announced that revenues in the first quarter of 2020 increased by 13 percent year-on-year to approximate 1.3 billion euros (1.4 billion U.S. dollars). Operating profit declined by 3 percent to 181.8 million euros.

Shares in Munich Re fell sharply by 5.21 percent after its revenue forecast for 2020 of 2.8 billion euros on Wednesday was canceled, making the German reinsurer the biggest loser at the start of trading on Thursday.

On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the minister presidents of the country's federal states are scheduled to discuss the easing of restrictions during the coronavirus crisis in Germany.

Turnover of retail companies in Germany decreased by 1.5 percent in March year-on-year, based on provisional results released by Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) Thursday.

The yield on German ten-year bonds went down by 0.025 percentage points to minus 0.509 percent, while the euro was trading almost unchanged at 1.0876 U.S. dollars, increasing slightly by 0.01 percent on Thursday morning. Enditem
The federal government owns 27.1% of all land in the United States, and data from the Congressional Research Service shows that the U.S. government even owns a majority of the land in some states.

This article was first published on Stacker
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards(D-LA) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Calls WHO a Pipe Organ for China, Accuses Agency of Misleading US

President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused the World Health Organization (WHO) of withholding information from the United States and being a pipe organ for the Chinese regime amid the CCP virus outbreak.

During a meeting with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in the Oval Office, Trump was asked by a reporter, Mr. President, what are you hoping to learn about China and the World Health Organization with this investigation youve commissioned with the intelligence agencies?

The White House has reportedly ordered intelligence agencies to investigate whether China and the WHO initially held back information they had gathered about the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, NBC News reported earlier, citing unnamed current and former U.S. officials.

In response to the reporter, Trump said that he has been receiving updates on the investigation.

Its coming in and Im getting pieces already. And were not happy about it. And we are, by far, the largest contributor to [the] WHO, Trump said.

And they misled us. I dont know. They mustve known more than they knew because they came after what other people knew that werent even involved, he continued. We knew things that they didnt know. And either they didnt know or they didnt tell us, oryou know, right now theyre literally a pipe organ for China. Thats the way I view it.

Trump noted that the United States has been contributing more than $400 million to Geneva-based WHO for many years, while China contributes only $38 million, he said.

According to the WHOs records, China contributed $86 million through 2019, while the United States gave $893 million.

And yet, they [the WHO] seem to work for China. And they shouldve been in there [China] early. They shouldve known what was going on, Trump said, adding that the WHO could have stopped the spread of the CCP virus.

Why did China allow planes to fly out but not into China, but they allow planes to come out? the president also asked. And planes are coming out of Wuhan, and theyre coming out; theyre going all over the world.

Theyre going to Italy, veryvery big time to Italy. But theyre going all over the world. But theyre not going into China. What was that all about?

Read More US Could Seek Billions from China Over CCP Virus, Trump Says

Earlier this month, Trump halted funding to the WHO until his administration completes a review over the United Nations agencys response to the CCP virus crisis.

Leaders of Group of Seven (G7) countries have also called for a thorough review and reform of the WHO and criticized the agency for its lack of transparency and chronic mismanagement of the CCP virus pandemic.

On Monday, Trump said that the United States is investigating Chinas handling of the CCP virus crisis and may seek hundreds of billions in damages from Beijing.

The president has also on multiple occasions cast doubt upon and questioned the Chinese regimes reported numbers of CCP virus cases and deaths.
Niche, a Pittsburgh, PA-based school search platform connecting people to K-12 schools or colleges, raised $35m in Series C funding.

The round was led by Radian Capital, with participation from Salesforce Ventures, as well as existing investors Allen & Company LLC and Tim Armstrong. In conjunction with the funding, Weston Gaddy, Partner and Co-founder of Radian Capital, and Francisco DSouza, Executive Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of Cognizant, Niches board of directors.

The company plans to use the funds to advance its platform to partner with thousands of additional schools and to continue to expand headcount across product, engineering, marketing, and sales.

Led by Luke Skurman, CEO and founder, Niche provides a platform for users to manage their school search journey, and the application process. As a two-sided platform, the company currently has over 1,400 school clients including Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard Westlake School, Boston University and k12.com.

Niches website and native app include over 130,000 profiles on colleges and schools, over 140 million reviews and ratings from students, parents and alumni, providing user search tools and resources to use during the school selection process.

In 2019, the platform had over 100 million visits and currently more than one in two college-bound high school seniors are registered on the site and using the companys discovery tools to find a college or university.

FinSMEs

29/04/2020
US DOLLAR FORECAST POST-FOMC: DXY INDEX, EUR/USD, AUD/USD PRICE CHART SETUPS & TRADE LEVELS

DXY Index dropped to session lows as the US Dollar sank in response to a monetary policy update from the Federal Reserve

EUR/USD at risk of reversal considering the ECB meeting on deck might send the Euro lower against its US Dollar peer

AUD/USD price outlook could remain constructive thanks to Fed liquidity and coronavirus optimism

The US Dollar declined for a fourth consecutive trading session on Wednesday. The US Dollar experienced renewed selling pressure after the FOMC rate decision crossed the wires. US Dollar downside then accelerated on the back of dovish remarks from Fed Chair Powell.

The DXY Index, a basket of major currency pairs that reflects US Dollar performance broadly, trades 1.4% below its April 24 intraday high due to the ongoing stretch of US Dollar weakness. DXY Index price action now probes a critical technical support level, however, that might send the US Dollar catapulting back higher.

DXY INDEX PRICE CHART: DAILY TIME FRAME (26 DECEMBER 2019 TO 29 APRIL 2020)

Chart created by @RichDvorakFX with TradingView

US Dollar downside may soon subside with the DXY Index potentially finding buoyancy around the 99.25 to 99.50 price zone. This level of technical confluence is underpinned by its 50-day moving average and positively-sloped trendline extended through the series of higher lows since March 13.

Also, despite US Dollar selling pressure throughout the session, which was exacerbated by word that Powell expects the Fed to do more in terms of its liquidity efforts to combat the likely unavoidable coronavirus recession, it is noteworthy that the DXY Index failed to take out the prior intraday low.

If the US Dollar fails to find support around the aforementioned technical level, the DXY Index could stretch lower toward its next area of support near the 99.00 handle and mid-point retracement of last months trading range before the 200-day moving average comes into focus.

EUR/USD PRICE CHART: DAILY TIME FRAME (25 JANUARY TO 29 APRIL 2020)

EUR/USD continued its rebound since the most liquid and heavily traded currency pair plunged below 1.08 as the EU Summit failed to deliver a coordinated coronavirus stimulus response last week. The bullish MACD crossover hints at potential for a bigger advance if upward momentum gains pace and sees follow-through.

Although, with the European Central Bank on deck to provide markets with its own monetary policy update, spot EUR/USD price action could whipsaw back lower. EUR/USD might reverse if the ECB meeting reveals the central bank intends on boosting its bond buying program or other increasingly accommodative monetary policy measures.

AUD/USD PRICE CHART: DAILY TIME FRAME (26 DECEMBER 2019 TO 29 APRIL 2020)

US Dollar weakness is particularly evident when observing recent AUD/USD price action. Recent strength in spot AUD/USD is also indicated by the RSI climbing to its highest reading since the start of the year.

That said, AUD/USD bullish continuation seems likely until coronavirus recession concerns resurface and bring safe-haven currencies, like the USD, back into demand. The broader US Dollar might remain under pressure as AUD/USD climbs or until there is a resurgence in currency volatility.

-- Written by Rich Dvorak, Analyst for DailyFX.com

Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight
Manitobas partial reopening of the economy strikes the right balance between limiting the spread of COVID-19 and allowing some people back to work, but the government is still refusing to say how it will decide when to loosen restrictions further (or reinstate controls).

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobas partial reopening of the economy strikes the right balance between limiting the spread of COVID-19 and allowing some people back to work, but the government is still refusing to say how it will decide when to loosen restrictions further (or reinstate controls).

Premier Brian Pallister released the provinces reopening plan Wednesday, which allows some businesses to open their doors Monday. Its a cautious, phased-in approach that will allow parts of the economy to start up again, while limiting the spread of the virus. It appears to be a reasonable course of action.

There are risks that loosening controls will result in a more rapid spread of the disease, but those risks are virtually impossible to avoid. The economy cant stay locked down forever. Theres a certain amount of risk society has to accept, including death, as restrictions are eased.

Dr. Brent Roussin, the provinces chief public health officer, has said the number of cases will likely rise when restrictions are loosened, but what he still hasnt revealed (and whats missing from the 34-page document released Wednesday) is how fast cases would have to rise to reinstate controls, or how many people would have to be hospitalized before the province changes its plans.

Dr. Brent Roussin, the provinces chief public health officer, said the number of cases will likely rise when restrictions are loosened, but didn't reveal how fast cases would have to rise to reinstate controls. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

There are no specifics on any of those metrics.

"If results during or at the end of Phase 1 or any future phases are not favourable, the province will not proceed with further easing of secondary public health measures and may reintroduce others," the report says. "If virus activity remains low, we will give serious consideration in mid-May to easing the restrictions on group size."

However, the report doesnt define what "not favourable" or "low" means. Roussin said they will consider many factors before easing restrictions further, or reinstating controls. But he wont define what those are.

He said if the positive test proportion (the percentage of those tested who are infected) were to climb to between three and five per cent it would "raise some flags." Right now the PTP is at 1.12 per cent. But he wouldn't say if it would result in shutting down the economy again.

He has offered no specific scenario that would cause the province to change its course of action. If, for example, the PTP rose to two per cent, and intensive care capacity in hospitals declined to 10 per cent (it was at 34 per cent April 22), would the province delay opening more parts of the economy? Would Roussin bring in more restrictive public health measures? What benchmarks have to be reached to trigger further easing or more closures?

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Theres no point reopening businesses if the province is going to shut them down again because the number of cases rose marginally. (David Lipnowski / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The public, including business owners, has no idea how those decisions will be made.

No one knows what will happen after restrictions are loosened Monday. It will depend on many factors, including how well the new rules are followed and whether the public lets its guard down. Its impossible to know how many new cases or deaths Manitoba will have in the future. Trying to predict those is pointless.

But what the public does have a right to know is what the province is willing to accept when it comes to new cases, hospitalization rates and positive test proportions. Theres no point reopening businesses (and incurring expensive related costs) if the province is going to shut them down again because the number of cases rose marginally. Businesses and others have a right to know what the ground rules are.

The province must have some idea how those decisions will be made, including what criteria will be used. Surely theyre not making it up as they go.

There is no perfect way to reopen the economy. The province will have to make adjustments along the way. Roussin may have to bring back some controls. Many factors will have to be considered before deciding whether to ease restrictions further.

But if the province wants continued buy-in from the public, it has to be more open and transparent about its plan. Government has to be far more specific about how it plans to strike a balance between public health and the economy. Right now, the public is in the dark.
Monday, March 23, 2020Being stuck in quarantine can make you feel a bit stir crazy at times. Gyms, classes and recreations are all shut down due to the current situation around the world. Many professional trainers, programs and others are flocking to YouTube and Instagram to provide at home workout routines. Jenna Willis, a personal trainer for the stars, is my favorite instructor to follow. She provides ab challenges, toning workouts for brides to be, and much more!Jenna makes sure you get your squats, cardio and stretching in. I usually follow every single one of her workouts at the gym, but today my living room became my work out space.My roommates and I followed along with her YouTube video.We struggled at first, but eventually got the hang of it.Each of us has our own limitations as well. We plan on working out from home, going on walks and eating healthy every day, just like Jenna! These workouts arent just great ways to stay fit, theyre an awesome way to have fun. Follow along with her on her Instagram and YouTube @msjennawillis.March 24-April 1, 2020Coronavirus - but make it summer camp and six feet apart. The weather is in the high 80s and everyone has been ordered to stay inside and practice social distance. But just like every other antsy college kid, I couldnt just let this beautiful weather pass me by. So, I grabbed five of my closest friends and decided to play some volleyball and grill out. The day consisted of making jokes, meeting new friends and creating lasting memories during this world pandemic. The past few days have had me feeling like I am living in a sweet summer dream with a nostalgic playlist to go along with it.To quote High School Musical, Do you remember in kindergarten how youd meet a kid and know nothing about them, then 10 seconds later youre playing like youre best friends, because you didnt have to be anything but yourself? Well the past week has felt exactly like that. Going outside during this time of quarantine has given me the opportunity to meet my neighbors, learn that half the Chattanooga Football Club live in my apartment complex, and much more. To top it all off, I met the most beautiful dog while wandering around my apartment complex. His name is Mako, and he is probably the most handsome husky I have ever met. The owner, Nathan Hawkins, a Chattanooga State student, told me about how he saved Mako from an abusive owner and that ever since that day, he hasnt looked back.Many people see COVID-19 only as a negative impact on the world; while I agree, I do have to give thanks where it is due. Without this global virus, I would probably still be a homebody, I wouldnt have realized how much I love smores or met some pretty cool soccer players. It sounds strange to say that a deadly disease would have such a positive impact on my life, but like I said earlier, I am so thankful that it has.April 2-9, 2020Backroads and good music make for a movie moment during a time of uncertainty. My roommates and I had the bright idea to take a walk on Racoon Mountain and enjoy the sunset this past Friday. As this is one of our favorite places in Chattanooga, we always try to go when the weather is so nice. We love everything about Racoon Mountain, the drive there and back, the view and of course an endless number of photos you can take while youre up there.When we got to the top of the drive to enter Racoon Mountain, it was gated off and posted up with signs saying Do Not Enter. We tried to not let it get to us, but to say we werent saddened by the mountain being closed would be a lie. We took the loss and decided to explore a side of the mountain we have never seen. It worked out in our favor as we came across the TVA reservoir. As soon as we pulled up, we saw a beat-up old truck and a man with his guitar.My friends and I followed the six feet apart rule and let the man be while he sang to the mountains, but I couldnt help but photograph him and his truck. It was like a scene hand picked out of a movie montage. I could tell this was something the man did to help cope with everything going on in the world, or maybe it was just his way of finding peace with his craft. Regardless, his music felt good for the soul and, whether he knew it or not, his music made me calm in this time of worry.Meet the Storyteller:Emily LaRocque is a senior studying communication at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga. She hopes to use her degree to become an event planner. She likes creating lasting memories for people, while building a strong community. As a natural born planner, she has planned vacations, weddings, concerts and much more. On her off days, you can find her drinking a hot cup of coffee listening to her favorite albums on vinyl. Contact her at ddz632@mocs.utc.edu.
(Photo : REUTERS/Carl Recine) Lab equipment is seen at Cobra Biologics, scientists are working on a potential vaccine for COVID-19, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Keele, Britain, April 30, 2020.

With human trial results expected in June, pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will mass-produce a COVID-19 vaccine if proven effective.

The first results for human trials of the experimental shot called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 are expected in mid-June. It was developed by Oxford University scientists.

Once proven effective, the company will have immediate access to the vaccine.

The pharmaceutical company will also team up with global partners on the distribution of the vaccine across the globe.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the deal as a 'hugely welcome news' while its details will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, both parties said on Thursday, Apr. 30 that the deal was not-for-profit and will only cover costs of production and distribution.

While the process of developing vaccinations can take up to a decade and scientists, have said finding an effective jab within 18 months would be 'unprecedented.'

Researchers across the world are racing against time to develop a vaccine, which is usually done in years. Over 100 possible strains are being developed while some already undergo human testing.

Oxford University Professor Sir John Bell told BBC Radio 4's Today that he hoped results from the human trial of the vaccine would be available by mid-June.

He told Today that once it is approved by regulators, the challenge is to manufacture at scale.

'We also want to make sure that the rest of the world will be ready to make this vaccine at scale... where the need is very great," said Prof. Bell.

"We really need a partner to do that, and that partner has a big job in the UK... so we are going to work together with AstraZeneca," he added.

This is the first venture made since the launch of Vaccines Taskforce two weeks ago in aim to find a new coronavirus vaccine.

It comes after the world's largest vaccine maker warned that no coronavirus shot will be ready for mass manufacturing until late next year.

Chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline Emma Walmsley said, 'if things go right', millions of doses would not be produced until the second half of 2021.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was 'hugely welcome news' that Oxford University had agreed with AstraZeneca to scale up its coronavirus vaccine.

'The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world. Bringing together the best British science and the best of British business will give us the best possible shot at a vaccine," said in a tweet.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus to End in December? Data Scientists Predict End of Pandemic With A.I. Model

How does the vaccine work?

The Oxford jab attempt is based on recreating the 'spike' proteins found on the outside of the COVID-19 viruses.

While it will contain a genetically-engineered virus, it will not cause any infection inside a human body.

If the vaccines are able to copy the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, the immune system will be triggered to create special antibodies to attack it, and this could train the body to defeat the real coronavirus in case they get infected with it in the future.

Meanwhile, Pfizer yesterday also revealed that it may have a coronavirus vaccine ready by the autumn. The U.S.-based company has already started mass-producing doses to reach 'hundred million doses' available by the year-end.

Read also: Study Reveals People With Positive Antibody Tests May Still Contract Coronavirus

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
When we wager money at an online casino, we all hope to land a win. Many times, we have visited a land-based casino, we did not turn into millionaires overnight, yet the potential for online casinos is there. It is the year 2020, and where as 20 years ago it was popular to make your way to a land-based casino, today your absolute best casinos are all online. And yes, they give you millions. Of course, you will not win millions of dollars or euros from a normal slot machine or at the roulette wheel.

Yet, if you would like to defy the odds and would like to become a money mogul overnight, you would need to tempt your luck at the reels of a progressive jackpot slot game. And sites like Best 50 Casino are all about helping you achieve exactly that. There are specific jackpot games that could land you millions. Our favorites are Mega Moolah by Microgaming and also Mega Fortune by NetEnt. These games are not only fun to play, but also worth a spin or two as they could indeed help you to take ample money bags home. There is no big strategy to playing a slot game really. Simply login to your best 50 casino sites, wager in the funds that you have as play money such as deposit 5 get 25 free casino offer, or hit the spin button and hope for a win. There are bigger winning chances if you play at the maximum stake that the slot game offers.

Now, lets have a look at some of the biggest slot wins in history, shall we?

Rawiri Pou Mega Moolah win

It was June 17th, when Mr Rawiri Pou chose Casino Lands site via his best 50 casino list. He was looking for some fun. Some slot fun to be precise. He decided that he would like to temp his luck on the reels of Mega Moolah. Little that he knew that his game time could win him NZ $10,144,395.8 that amount to around US7.4 million. When asked where he will spend the funds, he simply said on his family.

2. DP on Ipad

When you login to the best 50 casinos, little do you know that you could win millions. This is what happened to a female anonymous player with the initials DP. DP logged into Zodiac casino from her ipad. Settled on Mega Moolah and he spins turned her into an instant millionaire. She deposited just 1 Dollar to secure a win of 7.9 million ($8.82 million). DP became so popular that a book was written in honor of her lucrative win.

3. The Mid-Night Student Win

In 20111, a Norwegian student could not sleep, so he decided to login and spin some reels. Just for some thrills he decided on a jackpot game. Little did he know that his insomnia could land him 11,736,228 or around US$13.3 million.

4. Finnish player with a 25 cents bet.

Whilst with 25 cents we would opt to either buy bread, gum or sweets. A Finnish man decided to login to best 50 casino sites and enjoy some gameplay. With a spin he landed one of the biggest jackpots in history on the reels of Mega Fortune. In total he won 17,861,800 or around US$24.

5. The British Soldier: Jonathan Heywood

The odds of opening a Betway account and 25 mins later landing a multi-million jackpot win are relatively slim. Yet, this is what Jonathan Heywood experienced. Although we are not sure what game Jonathan opted to play, we are aware that he took home a lucrative 13.2 Million British Pounds that translates to US$17.2 million. When asked what he will be doing with his winnings, Heywood simply said that he will buy himself a flashy Bentley, and stated that he will threat his family to a European cruise. A follow up interview in 2018 was launched by Betway, where they caught up with Heywood. He stated that he used most of his winnings on his fathers medical bills and also some investments. Another great bet is Bingo, and you can win while having fun playing bingo online.

If you crave a big win, there is only one thing to do.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China  Thu, April 30, 2020 08:35 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd51770d 2 News China,Forbidden-city,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-quarantine,reopening,pandemic Free

China's Forbidden City will reopen on Friday, three months after it closed due to the coronavirus crisis -- the latest signal that the country has brought the disease under control.

The sprawling imperial palace sitting across Tiananmen Square was shut down on January 25 as authorities closed tourist attractions and took other extraordinary measures to contain the virus, including locking down an entire province.

The Palace Museum, which manages the Forbidden City, announced Wednesday that it will reopen from May 1, with a daily limit of 5,000 visitors -- down from 80,000 before the pandemic.

Authorities have implemented other measures to reduce risks of infections at the cultural site, which in normal times attracted huge crowds.

Visitors will have to wear masks and show health codes on a special mobile phone app that indicates if they are an infection risk before entering.

Temperatures will be taken at the entrance and anyone coughing or showing a fever will be turned away. Visitors will have to stand one meter from each other.

Within half an hour of the announcement, around 2,500 tickets for May 1 were booked, according to the ticketing website.

While much of the rest of the world is still enforcing confinement measures, China has been resuming work, reopening schools and lifting restrictions on movement as the number of domestic infections have plunged and no new deaths have been reported in two weeks.

The capital announced earlier that Beijing's museums would progressively reopen from May 1.

Beijing also lowered its emergency alert from the highest level and lifted a strict quarantine requirement for domestic travellers from "low-risk" areas, which it had kept in place long after many other regions in the country eased travel restrictions.

Within half an hour of the announcement, searches for air tickets climbed quickly on booking website qunar.com, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Arrivals in Beijing from the virus epicenter of Hubei province as well as travellers coming from abroad are still required to complete a 14-day quarantine, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The National People's Congress -- the country's rubber-stamp legislature -- set a May 22 date for its annual session, which had been delayed due to the outbreak.
A senior PSNI chief has said his officers will be operating border checkpoints to ensure that travel restrictions are adhered to over the upcoming bank holiday weekends.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said yesterday the PSNI has been working with the Garda to "co-ordinate our operational activity over both bank holiday weekends".

The May Day bank holiday will take place in the Irish Republic this weekend, while the holiday will be marked in Northern Ireland on May 8, to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

The PSNI chief said that while he understood the holiday would traditionally mean people visiting family or going to beauty spots, lockdown rules must be continued to be adhered to.

"We have to remember, as has been said time and time again, that this is a health crisis not a holiday," he stressed.

He urged people to stay at home, and not to travel over the border, warning officers will be out across Northern Ireland to stop drivers.

"We will continue to conduct patrols and checkpoints and you will see police patrols and checkpoints across Northern Ireland, for example at beauty spots, on roads going to key resorts and in border areas," he explained.

"If you don't have a reasonable explanation for your travel, we will turn you back."

ACC Todd said officers will take action against those who persist in breaking restrictions.

He revealed that to date, a total of 374 fines and 615 Community Resolution Notices have been issued by officers.

Mr Todd continued: "We will continue to engage with people and explain what we need them to do and encourage them to follow the restrictions that are in place.

"For the small numbers continuing to ignore the restrictions, it is inevitable we will have to move to enforcement through penalty notices, but I would stress this is always a last resort."
Michigan's stay-at-home order imposed during the coronavirus outbreak does not infringe on constitutional rights, according to a judge's ruling that threw out a lawsuit filed against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Court of Claims Judge Christopher M. Murray denied granting an injunction of the governor's March 24th order requested in the lawsuit filed by five state residents.

Judge Murray, however, said the residents' claims that the order infringed on their constitutional rights were not strong enough due to the severity of the pandemic.

Michigan's stay-at-home orders imposed during the coronavirus outbreak do not infringe on constitutional rights, according to a judge's ruling that threw out a lawsuit filed against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer addressed the state during a speech in Langsing Wednesday

Reversing the order 'would not serve the public interest, despite the temporary harm to plaintiffs' constitutional rights,' wrote the judge in the court ruling.

'Although the Court is painfully aware of the difficulties of living under the restrictions of these executive orders, those difficulties are temporary, while to those who contract the virus and cannot recover (and to their family members and friends), it is all too permanent,' the judge wrote, reports ABC News.

The ruling came down as armed demonstrators descended on the state's capitol demanding Michigan be reopened.

Lawmakers wearing bullet-proof vests on Thursday rejected Whitmer's request to extend Michigan's state of emergency declaration.

The ruling came down as armed demonstrators descended on the state's capitol demanding Michigan be reopened. A protester yells at Michigan State Police after protesters occupied the state capitol building Thursday

A protestor yells in the faces of Michigan State Police Thursday as armed demonstrators entered the state's capitol to demand Michigan be reopened

In Michigan, guns are permitted inside the state's Capitol as long as they are visible and carried with lawful intent.

Protesters, who weren't wearing masks, were seen yelling within inches of officers from the Michigan State Police.

Michigan has had 40,399 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for at least 3,670 deaths.

Across the country, there have been 1,097,209 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 63,836 deaths attributed to the virus.

A day-to-day look at the number of deaths in the US attributed to the coronavirus

Demonstrations targeting Whitmer have been staged for weeks by protesters insisting the governor reopen the state and its economy.

Whitmer has resisted, saying that she is following state health guidelines and that she will continue pushing social distancing until the virus has ended its run.

The residents who sued Whitmer claimed an 'Emergency Management Act' extending the governor's powers in a state of emergency is 'an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power,'

Judge Murray, however, ruled that the act has specific rules and procedures for declaring a state of emergency.

Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel agreed with the judge's decision.

'This pandemic has already taken more than 3,600 lives in Michigan and many more around the world,' she said in a statement, reports ABC News.

'The primary goal of the Stay Home, Stay Safe order has always been to protect human life.'
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday sought the assistance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to help in the seamless assimilation of migrant workers when they return to their hometowns and villages amid coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown.

Lauding the excellent, selfless work done by NGOs and CSOs, the Health Minister appealed for their assistance in the continuance of the lockdown. He appreciated their meticulous efforts to ensure the well-being of Indian citizens.

In an interactive live session, organized by NITI Aayog, Vardhan said that there might be some resistance when the migrant workers go back home, which is where the NGOs can step in. These people will require help from society to reorganize them, to ensure they are adequately tested and get the right guidance," said Vardhan. He also urged the NGOs and CSOs to battle the menace of stigmatization. The session was moderated by CEO Amitabh Kant.

Vardhan mentioned that India took immediate proactive steps within days of knowing about the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China. The Central Government immediately issued advisories to the states, undertook rigorous community health surveillance and started thermal screening at airports, borders as well as seaports.

He spoke at length on the issue of stigmatization of COVID-19 positive patients and frontline workers who are engaged in battling this war. The government recently amended the Epidemic Diseases Act to protect healthcare workers against violence during health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. However, he said not everything can be solved with the help of law.

He also spoke on the classification of districts, whereby 129 districts have been identified as hotspots, around 297 as non-hotspots, and over 300 as unaffected. "We have three categoriesred, orange and green. We are helping the red zones get into the orange zone if they don't have a single case for the next fourteen days and the same for the orange to get into the green zone. We know very accurately where our enemy is in the country and we know how to deal with this enemy. Using all our forces, we will defeat it," he said.

On PPEs and masks, he said, "We have enabled and handheld 108 manufacturers in the country, who are now producing over 1 Lakh PPEs every day. For N95 masks, we are producing more than a lakh every day now. There is an adequate supply of these essential items and we are distributing the same to the states." He also mentioned that the AYUSH Ministry has issued guidelines about natural things that can boost ones immunity.

Imploring everyone to download the AarogyaSetu app, the Minister insisted on its vital role in the fight against Covid-19. He said the app provides us much-needed protection. He also mentioned, "The government has launched @CovidIndiaSeva, in collaboration with Twitter India, and citizens can reach out with any specific problem or solution that they want to communicate with us. And I assure you that we will resolve your issues in the shortest possible time."

Vardhan said, "Regularly washing your hands and faces and wearing a mask at all times will protect you and your loved ones from getting this infection. These are simple precautions. Take care of elders at home, especially because they are more vulnerable. Stay at home, work from home. Till the time we find a vaccine for this, social distancing aided by the national lockdown is the most potent social vaccine for us."

All NGOs registered on NITI Aayogs Darpan Portal participated. Some of the leading ones were: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, represented by Hari Menon; HelpAge India, represented by Mathew Cherian; Tata Trusts, represented by HSD Srinivas; Piramal Swasthya, represented by Ashwin Deshmukh; CYSD, represented by Jagadananda; Prayas, represented by AmodKanth; Red Cross, represented by Yahia Alibi; SEWA, represented by Chaya Bawasar; Mann Deshi Foundation, represented by Prabhat Sinha; Sulabh International, represented by Lalit Kumar; Lal Pathlabs, represented by Arvind Lal; Public Health Foundation of India, represented by K Srinath Reddy; Care India, represented by Manoj Gopalakrishnan; Working Womens Forum, represented by Nandini Azad; and Akshay Patra, represented by Vijay Sharma.

The NGOs/CSOs mentioned a number of issues: combating stigma and discrimination against Covid-19 patients and frontline workers; flagging shortage of medicines in rural areas; seeking help for e-passes; provision of more PPEs and N95 masks; seeking a data-driven response to the crisis; help in reaching entitlements to migrants and easing digital payments; financial and policy support to informal entrepreneurs after the lockdown is lifted; sending essential items to remote areas of the country; proposal to open up income-generating programmes in the green zones; more health workers for rural areas; promoting virtual care in rural areas; pooling of RT-PCR tests; capacity-building of medical staff; upgrading quarantine and intensive-care facilities; and need for more decentralized community surveillance mechanism and community nutrition centres, among others.
You cant just tell people youre cleaning, you have to let them see people cleaning, said Jonathon Day, associate professor at Purdue Universitys School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in West Lafayette, Indiana. These companies need to be transparent about what theyre doing and demonstrate it, so we have a sense of comfort. Its only when I feel safe about going back to hotels that Im going to let my guard down enough to leave my house.
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix American Financial Services Inc. (Phoenix) announced today that the company has hired Tony Olivo as Vice President of Sales. Mr. Olivo will be responsible for implementing the company's sales strategy, developing and maintaining an expanded client base for the fund accounting, investor services, back office outsourcing and technology solutions Phoenix provides to alternative investment funds.

TONY OLIVO, VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, PHOENIX AMERICAN FINANCIAL SERVICES

Mr. Olivo brings to Phoenix American fourteen years of industry experience, over ten of which were with Phoenix American. He began his financial services career at Phoenix in 2006 as an investor services representative. He served in operations with the company for four years amassing a comprehensive knowledge of back office operations for alternative investment funds and working extensively with Phoenix's proprietary STAR-XMS fund administration system. Having risen to the level of Senior Account Manager, Mr. Olivo transitioned to Director of Business Development in 2010 and served in that role for seven years. Since 2017, Mr. Olivo has worked with PEF Services as Director of Business Development. He returns to Phoenix American as Vice President of Sales.

With the growing sophistication of alternative investment funds and the increased need for advanced and integrated operational solutions, Mr. Olivo has chosen to return to Phoenix to direct his considerable sales expertise to the promotion of Phoenix American's fund services platform which incorporates transfer agent and investor services, administration, fund accounting, tax reporting, investor web portal and end-to-end back office outsourcing solutions.

"Phoenix American has been an established leader in the direct investment industry for decades," says Mr. Olivo. "I'm excited to be part of the growth the firm is poised to experience in the coming years."

"We are delighted to have Tony back at Phoenix," said Andrew Constantin, Senior Vice President, Operations for Phoenix. "He has comprehensive knowledge of our operational processes and no one can better describe and demonstrate to our prospective clients the unmatched capabilities of STAR-XMS."

Phoenix American Financial Services provides full-service fund administration, accounting, transfer agent and investor services as well as sales and marketing reporting to fund companies in the alternative investment industry. The PAFS aircraft group provides administration and accounting services for securitizations specializing in the commercial aviation leasing industry. The company is a subsidiary of Phoenix American Incorporated along with Phoenix American SalesFocus Solutions, providers of the cloud-based MARS CRM, Sales and Marketing Reporting and Compliance Management solutions for banks, insurance companies, asset management firms and other financial service organizations. Phoenix American Incorporated was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in San Rafael, CA.



Media contact:

David Fisher

[email protected]

(415) 485-4673

SOURCE Phoenix American Financial Services
SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / TPT Global Tech, Inc. ("TPTG or the Company") (OTCQB:TPTW) announces today it has received a loan under the SBA's Payroll Protection Program of approximately $720,000. This loan will be used for payroll, medical premiums and rent in accordance the rules for loan forgiveness which the Company plans to apply for at the appropriate time.

"We are very pleased that TPT Global Tech and its subsidiaries received a loan under the SBA's Payroll Protection Program. We are trying to maintain all employees during this difficult time. Film and TV production work has come to a complete stand still in Los Angeles due the Covid 19. In our rural American Midwestern internet market it has been very hard for our field techs to service our internet customers and for any significant frequency changes to occur." said Stephen Thomas CEO TPTG.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings and pursuit of new markets are forward looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions.

About TPT Global Tech

TPT Global Tech Inc. (OTC:TPTW) based in San Diego, California, is a Technology/Telecommunications Media Content Hub for Domestic and International syndication and also provides Technology solutions to businesses domestically and worldwide. TPT Global offers Software as a Service (SaaS), Technology Platform as a Service (PAAS), Cloud-based Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) and carrier-grade performance and support for businesses over its private IP MPLS fiber and wireless network in the United States. TPT's cloud-based UCaaS services allow businesses of any size to enjoy all the latest voice, data, media and collaboration features in today's global technology markets. TPT's also operates as a Master Distributor for Nationwide Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and Independent Sales Organization (ISO) as a Master Distributor for Pre-Paid Cellphone services, Mobile phones Cellphone Accessories and Global Roaming Cellphones.

Frank Benedetto

619-915-9422

SOURCE: TPT Global Tech, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587808/TPT-Global-Tech-Receives-720K-Loan-Under-SBAs-Payroll-Protection-Program
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Mary and Wilford Kepler, who were together for 73 years, died within six hours of one another after battling the coronavirus.

YouTube/TMJ4 News

An elderly Wisconsin couple who spent 73 years together died within six hours of each other as they battled the coronavirus.

Their granddaughter, Natalie Lameka, told Milwaukee's TMJ4 News that hospital staff placed Mary and Wilford Kepler's beds together, and the couple held hands.

"It was just heartbreaking to hear, but also heartwarming to hear," Lameka said.

Most hospitals have implemented no-visitor rules, meaning that coronavirus patients have been dying without loved ones by their side.

But Lameka said she took comfort from the fact that her grandparents were together right up until the very end.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A Wisconsin couple who spent 73 years together also spent their last hours together as they battled the coronavirus, according to their granddaughter.

Natalie Lameka told Milwaukee's TMJ4 News that her grandparents, Mary and Wilford Kepler died just six hours apart in a Wauwatosa hospital.

Lameka said it's unclear how the couple first contracted the coronavirus. She said the couple was kept together in the same hospital room since both were infected, and they had been holding hands throughout their stay.

"It was just heartbreaking to hear, but also heartwarming to hear. And we're just so thankful that they were together and that they were aware that they were together," Lameka said. "They were able to say, 'I love you.'"

The fact that the couple was kept together was a huge comfort to their family, who were unable to visit them in the hospital, Lameka told the outlet.

Most hospitalized coronavirus patients across the country haven't had that luxury  the virus is so contagious that most hospitals have implemented no-visitor rules, meaning that patients have been dying without their loved ones by their sides.

Some Americans have even reported saying their final goodbyes via FaceTime or by phone.

Story continues

Lameka told TMJ4 News that she and her brother were the last two relatives to see the Keplers in person before they died, but other family members had to make do with FaceTime calls.

She said she took comfort from the fact that hospital staff had placed the Keplers' beds together.

"Losing them sucks," she told TMJ4. "The way that they went out is something that we are going to remember forever."

Read the original article on Insider
A Turkish military cargo plane carrying the second batch of medical supplies departed for the U.S. to deliver aid to its NATO ally battling the coronavirus outbreak.



"Second part of the medical aid supplies, prepared at the directions of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the aim to help combat the COVID-19 outbreak, has departed Ankara onboard the Turkish Armed Forces aircraft," the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Twitter.



The first part of the medical aid supplies that included masks, face visors, N95 masks and overalls was sent on Tuesday, Anadolu agency recalls.



Previously, Turkey sent medical aid to UK, Spain, Italy, Britain, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Libya and Somalia with aims to combat the pandemic.
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has denied Oyo State government an opportunity to return the 1,800 bags of rice the state claimed were not fit for human consumption.

Both Oyo government and the Oyo/Osun Command of NCS have been trading blame since last Friday over the bags of rice customs supplied to the state government as parts of federal government palliatives to the state.

The command had on Tuesday supplied 1,800 bags of rice to the state as part of efforts to cushion the effects of coronavirus on the people of the state.

Osun received 1,800 bags, Ekiti received 1,800 bags while Ondo received 600 bags of rice from the command.

However, three days after taking delivery of the rice, Oyo State government through the special adviser to the state Governor, Debo Akande, said the rice is not healthy for human consumption.

The minister of humanitarian affairs, Sadiya Farouq, was also dragged into the controversy when she said NAFDAC certified the rice as fit for consumption, a claim NAFDAC dismissed.

Customs on Sunday insisted the bags of rice that exited its Command headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital were in good condition.

Public Relations Officer of Oyo/Osun Command, Abdullahi Lagos, in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES had on Sunday insisted that the command was embarrassed to hear three days later, that the rice allocated to Oyo had weevils and were unfit for human consumption.

some of the controversial rice

Defiant state

The Oyo government on Wednesday returned the controversial rice but the Customs officers shut the doors of the command on the officials of the state government.

Trucks loaded with the expired rice were sent to Oyo/Osun Command in Ibadan, but the Customs officers refused to open its doors to the officials led by commissioner for agriculture, Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle.

Mr Ojekunle told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, that the state government wrote two separate letters to the agency to intimate it of plans to return the unhealthy rice but was surprised men of the NCS barred the government from returning the rice.

They did not open the doors for us to enter. They said that they had not received order to collect back the rice.

Some spoilt grain from the bags of rice

We wrote a letter to them on 24th April that we want to return the rice. We wrote another letter Wednesday morning before we load the rice that we want to return the rice. They shut the doors.

They told us that they had not received order to collect back the rice. They did not allow us to enter, he said.

Truck loaded with the rice

Customs react

But the public relations officer of Oyo/Osun NCS Command, Abdullahi Lagos, while reacting, insisted that there is a procedure for the return of the rice which has not been perfected.

He noted that the state government wrote an unprofessional letter to the agency.

Mr Lagos in a telephone interview on Thursday said, When they came, we politely told them that there is a procedure, there is a procedure from the headquarters. There is a process. There should be a process, we were very polite.

Truck loaded with the controversial rice

In the letter they wrote on 24th April, they only copied us, in that kind of letter they did not expect us to act.

The letter they wrote is unprofessional. We politely told them that they should go back because we have not been told to collect the rice back. We received order to distribute the rice and we (have to) wait for the order before we collect the rice back. We told them politely. We were very civil. We dont manufacture rice.
According to a new report from China, Samsung is developing a 250MP camera sensor for smartphones. That camera sensor could be up to an inch in diagonal, in case you were wondering.

Now, we all know that the company included a fairly large sensor in the Galaxy S20 Ultra as well. The companys flagship features a 108-megapixel main camera sensor. That sensor, for comparisons sake, is 1/1.33-inch, which is noticeably smaller than what this new sensor is going to offer.

Samsung developing a 250MP camera sensor for smartphones, in addition to a 600MP one

The report does not say when will this sensor arrive, but it is in Samsungs shorter-term plans. Some of you probably already know that the company is working on a 600MP sensor as well, at least based on reports.

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That report surfaced quite recently, though a 600MP camera sensor is a part of Samsungs long-term plans. Samsung is developing a 250MP camera sensor for smartphones, along with a 600MP one, but those two sensors are not the only ones that are coming.

The source also claims that Samsung is getting ready to launch a 150-megapixel camera sensor in the second half of this year. It claims that Samsung is done with the research and development, and that it is planning the launch.

That will be an ISOCELL sensor, like every other smartphone camera sensor that the company makes. We dont know what model will it be exactly, nor what are its specifications, however.

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We will have to wait for Samsung to make this camera sensor official in order to know more. It is expected to be an improvement over the 108-megapixel unit in the Galaxy S20 Ultra, though.

A 150-megapixel camera sensor is coming later this year

That 150-megapixel camera sensor almost certainly will not make its way to the Galaxy S20 series. It may be included in the Galaxy S21 / S30 smartphone(s) next year, presuming it will be a flagship-grade camera sensor.

Samsung had opted to include its 108-megapixel camera in only one Galaxy S20 handset, the most powerful one. The other two variants come with a 12-megapixel main camera, which is just as capable, though.

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Smartphone cameras are getting better year-after-year, and it seems like Samsung is trying to compete with Sony in that regard. Sony is the go-to company for camera sensors for many companies, Samsung included.

Samsung is trying to manufacture rather large, high-pixel-count sensors in order to compete, though. That 108-megapixel camera inside the Galaxy S20 Ultra is nothing to scoff at. Having that in mind, it will be interesting to see what will Samsung bring next.

Were not yet sure when exactly will this 150-megapixel camera arrive, but the source seems to be confident its coming in H2 2020. Chances are it will launch at some point after the Galaxy S20 event, but were only guessing.
Having children, of course, has always been a gamble. Its often noted that our ancestors had children, intentionally or not, under far worse conditions than those we face today and that historically speaking, giving birth in the midst of a crisis is technically the norm, not the exception. This is all true, but it has little persuasive power: Merely contemplating the suffering of others, whether our contemporaries or not, will not help us figure out what we want for our own lives.

Coming up with reasons to wait is easy. I know this from experience, having let countless considerations and obstacles deter me from having children earlier. It seemed obvious to me that I had to accept a three-year postdoctoral position in Britain, even though it meant spending those years an ocean away from my partner. Before we got together, it seemed self-evident that I should choose my romantic partners based on intellectual compatibility and emotional satisfaction, rather than whether we had matching timetables for starting a family, or whether I had any reason to think theyd be any good at it. Until only very recently, Id planned to delay getting pregnant for another six months so that I could fit into my laboriously chosen wedding dress and drink at the reception. That I am now facing the choice, at 33, whether to start trying to get pregnant in a pandemic isnt just bad luck; the decision to have children can be deferred, but not endlessly. And the longer we put other things first, the less flexibility we will have when it comes time to make it.

The coronavirus pandemic is not the first persuasive reason given to my generation to hold off on having kids, nor will it be the last. Even in plague-free times, across the country and around the world, young people in staggering numbers are choosing to delay starting families, or forgo it altogether: In a 2018 New York Times survey of Americans aged 20 to 45, only 42 percent of respondents who didnt already have children said they wanted to become parents. Among the reasons cited are climate catastrophe and rising barriers to economic well-being, as well as the opportunity costs of missing out on career dreams and the desire to have leisure time. None of these concerns seem alien or superficial to me; I have, at times, felt their pull myself.

And yet it strikes me that there is something missing from discussions of why were not having kids. Whats missing is not an adequate accounting of the risks  a familiar list to which the coronavirus can now be added  but rather a recognition that there is something special about the decision to raise a child, something that makes it very different from picking up a new hobby or making a career choice. We sense that there would be something perverse about drawing up a list of benefits and downsides. To decide to have children is, after all, to take a stance on one of the most fundamental questions a person can ask: Is human life, despite all the suffering and uncertainty it entails, worth living?

Choosing to have children is anxiety-provoking even to those to whom this decision comes with ease. Whatever ones material circumstances, the question of how to affirm life in the face of suffering, sacrifice and uncertainty is as profound as it is unavoidable. It is therefore easy to forget that affirming life is something that we do every day, with every breath we take. However difficult the going gets, however much we complain and protest, we treat our lives not only as valuable but also as precious. The answer to the question whether life is good does not await our decision to have children; we answer it already every day, with every genuine commitment that we make.
An intensive care nurse diagnosed with a rare blood cancer just weeks after her dream wedding has died from the disease, her family have confirmed.

Brave Julia Cullen, 27, won admiration for her no-holds-barred determination to win her fight against lymphoblastic leukaemia.

But in a heartbreaking post to family and friends, her husband confirmed she had passed away at home surrounded by her family.

The newlywed fell ill just weeks after marrying her beloved fiance, Peter, 29, in October 2018.

Brave intensive care nurse Julia Cullen, 27, who won admiration for her determination to win her fight against lymphoblastic leukaemia has died, her family have confirmed

She underwent gruelling treatment programmes to combat the disease - only for it to return aggressively in February.

Julia, from Hartlepool, Teesside, died in her sleep last week surrounded by her family.

Husband Peter wrote on Facebook: 'I need to let everybody who knew my beautiful wife Julia Cullen know that tonight she unfortunately passed away after a long battle with leukaemia.

'She went peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family. Thank you for all for your support during this difficult past year.

Julia was a newlywed who had just returned from her dream wedding and honeymoon with beloved fiance, Peter, when she fell ill

'Goodnight darling be at peace I will never forget you.'

Julia's dad Graham, 57, sister Louisa, 28, brother Ste, 41, and twin Jack tragically lost their mum, Cath, 61, also a nurse, to bowel cancer in May 2016.

The family has now launched an appeal in support of Anthony Nolan and encouraged people to sign up as stem cell donors.

Louisa said: 'My best friend, my soul, my rock, my beautiful brave sister, took her last breath last night.

Doctors diagnosed her with the rare form of blood cancer, and she underwent gruelling treatment programmes to combat the disease. But it returned aggressively in February

Mrs Cullen's mother Cath, 61, who was also a nurse, had fought bowel cancer with liver metastasis before sadly losing her battle in May 2016. Pictured, the two together

'It's been such a hard journey for her and us all over the last year from her diagnosis. Julia, we always said we could get through anything as long as we have each other, so I'm a bit lost what to do in life now. '

Julia had shared blunt photos on Instagram from her 15-month fight to show how cancer does not discriminate.

She told her followers after being diagnosed aged 26: 'If there's anything I want to do after going through this experience of cancer, it's to raise awareness that it's happening.

In a message to friends and family, husband Peter said: 'I need to let everybody who knew my beautiful wife Julia Cullen know that tonight she unfortunately passed away after a long battle with leukaemia'

'It's happening to the young and old, the fit and unfit, the employed and the unemployed.

'It's happening now and it could happen to you. Yes. You.

'It isn't glamorous, it isn't a story - it's hard, it's painful, it's gruelling, it's terrifying.'

Doing cross-fit five times a week, Julia was the fittest she had ever been before her mysterious symptoms started weeks after her wedding.

She struggled in gym classes and her heart rate went off the scale just when climbing stairs. Initially, she put her relentless fatigue down to 60 hour weeks working at North Tees hospital.

WHAT IS ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA? Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells in the bone marrow. There are around 810 new cases in the UK every year. In the US, ALL affects approximately 1.7 adults per 100,000. Anyone can develop ALL, however, it mainly affects younger people. Many ALL symptoms are vague and flu-like, such as: General weakness

Fatigue

Fever

Frequent infections

Bruising or bleeding easily, including nosebleeds, heavy periods and blood in the urine or faeces

Unexplained weight loss

Bone or joint pain

Breathlessness

Swollen lymph nodes

Feeling full

Paler skin than normal Risks for developing ALL include exposure to radiation, smoking, being overweight and having a weak immune system. Research suggests being breastfed and exposed to childhood infections may reduce a person's risk. The main ALL treatment is chemotherapy. Patients may also have radiotherapy, steroids or bone marrow transplants. Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement

In her Instagram story, Julia told how she then spotted spots on her legs and messaged Louisa: 'I've Googled it, I've got leukaemia.'

Julia was admitted to a hospital ward in January 2019, where doctors dropped the bombshell that she had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia - a blood cancer rare in adults and mainly found in children.

In Julia's Instagram story, she tells how she went pink after an allergic reaction to antibiotics and how shaving her head was 'freeing yet upsetting as f***'.

She shared the highs of spending time with her friends and the lows of having to have a plastic tube - known as a Hickman line - fed through her chest.

Peter shaved off Julia's hair with his dad's clippers at their home in Hartlepool as it fell out by the root in hospital.

Julia said: 'I was really anxious about shaving my head because it would be an outward sign that I was poorly.

'I was worried that people would stare at me in Aldi and wonder or pity me.

'But I just had to face it and remember that no-one loves me because I have nice hair.'

Julia also posted how 'ulcers really f***ing hurt', that she 'turned yellow' when her 'liver went to pot', and a picture of her 'vomming' in a hospital car park at 1am.

In February, she wrote on Instagram of her determination to win her fight, and said: 'You will get through it.

'You won't "fight it" as people say, you'll "face" it. You'll face it with whoever and whatever you have to. Because life is precious. So be thankful. Always thankful.'

She said: 'I just want to be real with people about cancer. I know that I'll get there eventually but there's nothing easy about it.

'My friends and family have been amazing, especially Peter. Neither of us expected our married life to begin like this but he's been my rock.

'He has sat for hours with me in the hospital, held my hand while they drilled into my bone and stuck needles in my spine, rushed me into hospital when I've been unwell, wiped my tears, told me off and kept me smiling.

'He has been everything I needed him to be exactly when I needed it without asking for any thanks or acknowledgement.'

Julia's friends and family lit candles in their homes in her memory.

Brother Jack, a hospital porter, said: 'Words can't describe how heartbroken and devastated I am to lose my twin sister.

'I love you so much and I will continue to look after our wonderful family.'
Alivio Open Mic, held in a garage in Bell before the pandemic forced the spoken-word event onto Instagram. (Felix Quintana)

In a garage in Bell, Friday nights used to be occasions for a communal celebration. Rows of people would sit under strings of lights, vibrant hand-drawn illustrations adorned the walls and local vendors lined the driveway. If you walked past the front yard you might assume it was a carne asada joint, but for the past six years, Alivio Open Mic has been home to various Southeast L.A. poets and artists, all taking their shot at the spotlight.

With California sheltering at home during the COVID-19 crisis, Alivio has had to cancel its monthly gatherings, but open-mic nights continue; all you need is a phone.

For the last month, poet Eric Eztli, who founded Alivio Open Mic in 2013, has been hosting weekly live poetry readings on Instagram Live. Its his way of sustaining the Alivio spirit now that they cant gather in his parents garage, and it has allowed him to support local artists and vendors via a GoFundMe campaign, which aims to raise $10,000.

Eric Eztli, founder of Alivio Open Mic (Felix Quintana)

In-person events are so important, Eztli said during a phone call. Thats how you make memories, and that's the stuff that really leaves an impact on an audience. But for now Instagram will have to do.

Typically the show would begin with Eztli walking down the driveway burning sage as the crowd gathered outside the garage. But at the beginning of a recent Instagram show, all he can do is light the sage from his guest bedroom in Maywood as the phone starts to record. The rhythms of Aniceto Molinas  Cumbia Cienaguera" fill the room as pink fluorescent lights illuminate a white wall with framed drawings.

Alivios guidelines remain the same  with a few adjustments. Those who want to be featured must request access. Once accepted, each performer is limited to five minutes of spoken word, singing, rapping  whatever they like, so long as it isnt sexist, racist, homophobic or transphobic.

The livestream lasts almost two hours (with a quick break because of Instagram streaming limits), showcasing nine performers and reaching 31 viewers. Each artist  including one from Texas and another from Hawaii  offers an intimate portrait from self-isolation, focusing mostly on financial insecurity, mental health and the longing for community. Heart and fire emojis replace the sounds of cheers and snapping fingers. Words of encouragement flood the bottom of the screen. Eztli ends the online event by reading poems from his most recently published book,  From My Blood .

Story continues

Ruth Guerrero, a.k.a. Silvandgold, a frequent performer at Alivio Open Mic. (Amalia Sepulveda)

One artist taking part is a frequent Alivio rapper who goes by the name of Figgy Baby . He performed music from his album, Blood from a Stone, two years in the making, which had been released the night before.

Figgy Baby, whose real name is Andrew Figueroa, had been gaining momentum as an artist before having to cancel several live concerts, including a headlining spot at Los Globos, a music venue in Silver Lake, for his album release party.

So many events got pulled from under me, and I rely so much on my community and spaces like open-mics, Figgy Baby said over the phone. I rely on them not just for financial support but emotional support. Community has been my savior.

Alivio has raised more than $3,500 since the beginning of April from 71 donors, including $1,250 from Anthony Rendon, the speaker of the state Assembly, representing Southeast L.A. It has made $1,500 in payments to six working artists.

Silvandgold, whose real name is Ruth Guerrero, ultimately chose not to apply for Alivios funding  feeling that the events vendors should benefit first. After releasing her self-titled debut album in November, the spoken-word poet was forced to cancel performances, including a festival show in Florida. She also lost her part-time job in her family dress shop, which was forced to shut down.

Eztli has been posting fliers on the Alivio Open Mic Instagram page and encouraging others to share them online  even if they cant afford to donate. He points out that more famous artists have been able to continue profiting off merchandise. We support big-name rich artists, he says. Lets support the artists that we call neighbors, friends, community.

Alivio is not the only open mic thats moved online as the result of the COVID-19 crisis. Da Poetry Lounge, located at the Greenway Court Theatre in the Fairfax district, has continued to meet digitally every Tuesday night.

Poet and Da Poetry Lounge Instagram host Yesika Salgado. (Ruth In Truth)

A few weeks ago Da Poetry Lounge presented its first-ever Instagram Live event, hosted by poets Jasmine Williams and Yesika Salgado and featuring Imani Cezanne , this years Women of the World Poetry Slam champion. After having to cancel a spring tour, Salgado has been hosting poetry workshops via Zoom in collaboration with Not a Cult, which has published her three poetry books, from her family home in Silver Lake.

Its been interesting having poetry readings while in my house, she said by phone. It makes them more emotional. When you're performing a poem you realize that you're sitting in the place where you had that experience.

I love my readers and I miss them so much, she added, her voice quivering over her mangos, as she calls her fans. Because they're my family. I share my life with them. I miss community.

Eztli too had an emotional reaction as he wrapped up his first virtual Alivio Open Mic Night.

I turned off the phone, went to the living room, and I cried, he said. I let myself feel that because I needed that human connection, and people needed it.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) -NetCents Technology Inc. (CSE: NC) (FSE: 26N) (OTCQB: NTTCF) ("NetCents" or the "Company"), a disruptive cryptocurrency payments technologies company, is pleased to announce the addition of Wang Qin to its Advisory Board.

Mr. Wang has 30-years of venture capital and private equity investment, executive management, and consulting experience in the broader information and technology industry as well as resource, energy, and cleantech industries, in China, Canada, and Japan.

"This addition to our team rounds out the footprint of the Advisory Board providing NetCents global reach and exposure," stated Clayton Moore, Founder and CEO NetCents Technology. "The first task for our Advisory Board is to develop clients for our white-label banking suite. With the team we have put together, we have entry to many financial institutions around the world. NewMargin has one of the top track records in venture capital globally, and we are lucky to be associated with such a forward-thinking team. We are proud to communicate that NewMargin Capital Management is a now also a shareholder of NetCents."

NetCents has targeted opportunities in Asia due to the deeper penetration of cryptocurrency within the Asian financial infrastructure than is found in North America or Europe. For NetCents to monetize its technologies fully, it needs significant representation in the Asian market. Now, with the addition of Mr. Wang to the Advisory Board, the Company has this representation. Qin's experience and reputation will be able to represent NetCents on any level.

"Before I agreed to join, I analyzed what NetCents offers market participants in Asia, and I concluded they have a distinct advantage in their user interface and experience," added Mr. Wang. "I'm looking forward to assisting NetCents to gain market share by making appropriate introductions for the Company by leveraging my experience at NewMargin and Ceyuan."

Mr. Wang has been a Managing Partner of NewMargin Ventures and Ceyuan Ventures, prominent private equity funds management companies in China, for over ten years. Prior, Mr. Wang was involved in managing US dollar-based investment funds, including a 100 million USD VC funds and a 300 million USD growth funds investing in Chinese internet and technology companies, such as PPStream (acquired by IQIYI), Kugou (acquired by Tencent Music), Xunlei, UCWeb (acquired by Alibaba), as well as gold mining companies including Pretium Resources.

In recent years, Mr. Wang has focused on managing RMB based Chinese funds, including a 3 billion RMB resource funds investing in mining and energy companies in China, and a 600 million RMB new energy and cleantech funds investing in lithium battery-related resource and material companies in China. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for several of the funds' portfolio companies.

Before joining NewMargin Ventures and Ceyuan Ventures, Mr. Wang was a principal of LG Investment Ventures. In 2000, he founded and managed an IT consulting firm and mandarin language school in Shanghai. He spent the next ten years working for CGI Group in Canada and Nippon Life Insurance Company in Japan. Through this experience, Mr. Wang accumulated practical knowledge of business analysis, corporate finance, and management implementation, as well as a strong business network.

The Company would like to announce that it has issued 4,964,497 units for gross proceeds of $1,390,059. Each unit comprises one common share of the company and one share purchase warrant, priced at $0.70, with a two-year term. The Company paid commissions of $9,310 and issued 2,000 Agent Warrants with the same terms as the warrants in the private placement.

NetCents is building a financial ecosystem which provides:

Exchange services for cryptocurrencies

Touchless consumer payments and merchant processing using cryptocurrency with software embedded in 5.6% of worldwide terminals

Credit card products that are cryptocurrency enabled

Fixed income products for individual investors

Invoicing and payment for SaaS and PaaS (software as a service and platform as a service) companies

White-label commercial banking solutions as a service for traditional banks

Management will continue to provide updates regarding new developments as they occur.

To learn more about NewMargin:

http://www.newmargin.com/en/

About NetCents

NetCents Technology Inc, the transactional hub for all cryptocurrency payments, equips forward-thinking businesses with the technology to seamlessly integrate cryptocurrency processing into their payment model without taking on the risk or volatility of the crypto market. NetCents Technology is registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FINTRAC.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.net-cents.com or contact Sonja Bakgaard, Investor Relations: sonja.bakgaard@net-cents.com.

To keep up on the latest - make sure to join the telegram channel http://t.me/NetCents

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

NetCents Technology Inc.

"Clayton Moore"

Clayton Moore, CEO, Founder and Director



NetCents Technology Inc.

1000 - 1021 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC, V6E 0C3



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55177
By Mike Lilley

New Jersey Education Association Vice President Sean Spiller is running for mayor of Montclair. Spillers leadership position with the NJEA, the most powerful special interest in the state, which is purposefully training and running members like Spiller for political office, should raise alarms for Montclair citizens and stir up important questions for all New Jersey residents.

For Montclair, an NJEA Vice President/Mayor Spiller would present major conflicts of interest.

As an elected officer of the NJEA, Spiller has a fiduciary duty to protect and advance his members interests, including those of the Montclair Education Association (MEA). On top of that, NJEA and MEA members dues have made Spiller a very wealthy man, paying him an estimated $2.1 million during his years as an elected officer. But as mayor of Montclair, Spiller would owe the Montclair citizens a fiduciary duty to represent their interests.

Even worse, Spillers obvious conflict of interest was legally declared by a New Jersey Superior Court. As a town councilman, Spiller was removed from the Board of School Estimates (BoSE), which oversees Montclairs school budget, due to his status as an NJEA elected officer.

As mayor, Spiller would have a much greater conflict of interest. He would appoint the entire school board, which is supposed to represent Montclair in bargaining with the MEA and provides two of the five BoSE members. Spiller would also chair the BoSE and appoint two council members to it. NJEA Vice President Spiller would thus be in a position to control the entire membership of both the school board and the BoSE.

Acknowledging these conflicts, Spiller has offered personal assurances that he would pick independent members for the school board. But Spillers personal assurances were clearly insufficient as a defense against the ruling by the Superior Court and they are insufficient here.

Likewise, Spiller has proposed appointing a designee to chair the BoSE but this, too, would fail to erase the conflict. Even if this is permitted by law, Spiller would still select the designee and would still have appointed the school board members who would serve on the BoSE. NJEA Vice President Spiller would still have the ability to control the BoSE.

Finally, Spiller seems to have no regard for how even the appearance of a conflict of interest undermines public trust in the institutions of democratic governance. Why would Spiller run for mayor and create a much larger conflict?

Perhaps he is counting on the fact that he will (again) be provided with top-notch NJEA lawyers for free, while private Montclair citizens would (again) have to mount an expensive lawsuit to vindicate their concerns. Or perhaps Spiller sees Montclair as a stepping stone to an even brighter political future.

But NJEA Vice President Spillers political future should be of great concern to New Jersey citizens.

The NJEA that Spiller leads is not your average civic association: it is by far the biggest political spender in the state and has been for decades. It can field armies of campaign volunteers when and where it chooses. The result is unmatched political power and influence  for decades.

But electing NJEA-friendly candidates is apparently not enough. As detailed in Sunlight Policy Centers new report, Councilman Spiller, Mayor Spiller, Governor Spiller? the NJEA created its own Political Leadership Academy to train members to run for political office, and over the past five years, 1,310 NJEA members have run. The NJEAs political aspirations run all the way to the top. As Director of Government Relations Ginger Schnitzer affirmed: We need NJEA members running for office at all levels of leadership. And who knows? An NJEA member sitting on a school board today, may one day become our governor.

Now, with the NJEA Political Leadership Academys most famous graduate moving up the ranks of New Jersey politics, Schnitzers vision doesnt seem so far-fetched. The NJEA can and does outspend and out-organize any other political force in the state. It is certainly possible that the NJEA and its network of allies could get a Mayor Spiller elected governor, but would it be right for New Jersey?

Mike Lilley is the founder and president of the Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on showcasing greater transparency and sound policy solutions throughout the state. Prior to starting the SPCNJ, he served as executive director of Better Education for New Jersey Kids and as an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Kenyans have rallied to the aid of a widow filmed cooking stones for her eight children to make them believe she was preparing food for them.



Peninah Bahati Kitsao, who lives in Mombasa, hoped they would fall asleep while they waited for their meal.



She used to wash laundry locally but such work is hard to come by now as people have restricted their interactions because of coronavirus.



A shocked neighbour, Prisca Momanyi, alerted the media to her plight.



After being interviewed by Kenya's NTV, the widow has received money via mobile phone and through a bank account that was opened for her by Ms Momanyi, as the mother of eight does not know how to read and write.



Ms Kitsao, who lives in a two-bedroomed house without running water or electricity, has described the generosity as a "miracle".



"I didn't believe that Kenyans can be so loving after I received phone calls from all over the country asking how they might be of help," she told Tuko news website.



She had told NTV that her hungry children had not been deceived for long by her delaying stone-cooking tactics.



"They started telling me that they knew I was lying to them, but I could do nothing because I had nothing."



Her neighbour had come around to see if the family was OK after hearing the children crying, NTV reports.



As part of measures to cushion the most vulnerable from the coronavirus crisis, the government has launched a feeding programme.



But it had yet to reach Ms Kitsao, who was widowed last year when her husband was killed by a gang.



Her neighbour has also thanked the county authorities and the Kenya Red Cross, who have also come to help Ms Kitsao.



Many more households in that neighbourhood of the coastal city are now going to benefit from the relief food scheme too, the authorities say.

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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Pune, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global E-prescribing market size is projected to reach USD 4,017.79 million by 2026 owing to the implementation of e-prescribing software in the electronic health record solutions that simplified prescription filling over the years. E-prescribing or electronic prescribing is a technology substructure that allows physicians and medical practitioners to send computer-based electronically generated prescriptions to a hospital-based or standalone pharmacy. It is also cost-efficient and reduces the chances of medication errors by pharmacists. The market is discussed in details in a recently published report by Fortune Business Insights titled, E-prescribing Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Delivery Mode (Web-based, On-premise), By Prescription Type (Controlled substance, Non controlled Substances) By End User (Hospitals, Physician's offices, Pharmacies) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. As per this report, the market value was USD 863.64 million in 2018 and is expected to rise at a CAGR of 21.0 % in the forecast duration set between 2019 to 2026.





Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/e-prescribing-market-102698







What are the Report Highlights?

The report is based on an in-depth analysis of the market and provides a 360-degree overview of the same. It throws light on significant industry developments, current e-prescribing market trends, and other interesting insights into the market. It discusses factors boosting, repelling, challenging, ad creating opportunities for the market during the forecast period. The report also describes the table of segmentation in detail and mentions the names and figures of the leading segments with their attributed factors. For more information on the report, log on to the company website.





An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market:

The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic.

We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future.

To get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market.

Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/e-prescribing-market-102698







Market Drivers



Better Medical Record-Keeping Factor with Electronic-Prescription Solutions to Add Impetus to Market

The increasing adoption of e-prescription based electronic health record (EHR) solutions on a global basis is the key factor boosting the e-prescription market growth. Besides this, electronic prescription system offers better medical history records than handwritten prescriptions. It cannot be forged or exploited, thereby adding to the growth of the market in the forthcoming years. Additionally, rising initiatives taken by both public and private healthcare organizations to integrate e prescribing solutions and eliminate the use of adverse drug events (ADEs) and medical errors will also help to aid in the expansion of the market in the forecast period.

Regional Segmentation:



North America Dominating Market with Increasing Digitization in Healthcare Sector

Based on geographical segmentation, the market is dominated by North America, with a USD 399.61 million e-prescribing market share earned in 2018. Factors responsible for this dominance include the rise in digitalization in the healthcare sector and government-supported reimbursement policies with the flexible regulatory scenario. Additionally, the increasing funding from public and healthy private organizations with integrated adoption of EHR will help this region continue dominating the market in the coming years. On the other side, the market in Asia Pacific will witness exponential growth on account of the rising penetration of players in this region, especially in the emerging economies of China and India. Additionally, the increasing awareness about healthcare facilities and its associated benefits, coupled with the rising prevalence of chronic disorders, will help the market in the Middle East and Africa, witness stable growth.





Quick Buy - E-prescribing Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102698





Competitive Landscape:



Fragmented Nature of Market to Intensify Future Competition

The market for E-prescribing is dominated by Epic Systems Corporation with its specialization in interoperable technology. This dominance is attributed to the secure network of contacts starting from small to big hospitals such as Health System, UNC Health Care, Duke University, John Hopkins Health System, University of Utah Health Care, and Vanderbilt Health System. Apart from this, the competitive landscape of the e-prescribing market is fragmented in nature due to the presence of many companies. These vendors are adopting strategies such as company collaborations, agreements, and contracts, joint ventures, and others to stay ahead of the competition and attract high e-prescribing market revenue in the forthcoming years.



List of Key Companies Operating in the E-prescribing Market include:

Epic Systems Corporation

NextGen Healthcare

Surescripts

Medical Information Technology, Inc. (MEDITECH)

Athenahealth

eClinicalWorks

Practice Fusion, Inc.

Cerner Corporation

Allscripts Healthcare, LLC

Others



Significant Industry Developments of the E-prescribing Market include:

February 2018  The first-ever intelligent e-prescribing mobile application to fight opioid over-prescribing and growing medication adherence was announced by DrFirst.

May 2016  Distribution partnership with Sandwell & WEest Birmingham Hospitals NHS was declared by Cerner for major EPR programs, including bed management, clinical documentation, and e-prescribing.



Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/e-prescribing-market-102698





Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Recent Industry Developments Such as Mergers & Acquisitions Regulatory Scenario for Key Countries Technological Advancements Pertaining to E-prescribing Solutions Data on EHR Adoption for Key Countries Key Industry Trends New Product Launch

Global E- prescribing Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Delivery Mode Web-based On-premise Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Prescription Type Controlled substance Non Controlled substance Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End User Physicians Office Hospitals Pharmacies Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued.!!!





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The coronavirus-stricken Ruby Princess was forced out to sea by Australian authorities last Thursday afternoon, despite what New South Wales (NSW) Police Commissioner Mick Fuller described as not a zero risk of serious illness developing on board.

Around half the crew were allowed to leave the ship earlier in the week and fly home. The remaining workers face another two weeks on board as the cruise liner makes its way from Port Kembla, south of Sydney, to Manila, where several of its sister ships are currently moored.

It is not clear where the ship or its crew will go after the Philippines, but the company has made clear it still intends to use the Ruby Princess for cruises between Seattle and Alaska as early as July.

Ruby Princess (Photo: Wikipedia)

Of the 567 workers who disembarked from the ship last week, 40 showing signs of the coronavirus were taken to local hotels for further quarantine under medical supervision. These workers will remain in isolation until they are deemed fit to fly.

According to Fuller, the crew still on board have all tested negative for COVID-19. Some crew members have claimed on Facebook, however, that they have not received their results from the most recent round of testing.

The fact that dozens of crew members were still too unwell or infectious to fly after five weeks of self-isolation strongly suggests that the coronavirus still presents a substantial threat to the workers on board. Whether these recent cases have been contracted from asymptomatic carriers or contaminated surfaces on board, there is no guarantee that more infections will not develop while the ship is at sea.

The Maritime Union of Australia and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) have claimed credit for the increased testing and partial repatriation of the crew. The fact that hundreds of workers are being sent out to sea at considerable risk of serious illness, and without any union action, underscores the fraudulent character of this posturing.

The unions have also exploited the crisis to promote nationalist demagogy. Speaking at Port Kembla as the ship prepared to depart, ITF Australian National Coordinator Dean Summers said: The real core [of the problem] is the flag, is the registration of that ship, a filthy flag of convenience. In other words, the problem was that the Ruby Princess is not an Australian owned and registered vessel.

Military personnel prepare to screen Ruby Princess crew as they leave the ship (Photo: defence.gov.au)

Summers called for a parliamentary inquiry aimed at ensuring that the carriage of Australian passengers around our Australian coast is for Australian workers on Australian-flagged vessels.

The union assertions are aimed at promoting the fraudulent claim that Australian-registered ships are more likely to respect the rights of their workers than foreign-owned vessels. This is belied by the record of Australian-owned commercial shipping companies in slashing jobs and conditions, invariably with the assistance of the unions themselves.

Amid a global pandemic, the nationalist rhetoric of the unions is aimed at dividing workers and preventing a unified struggle by all mariners and cruise employees against the offensive of the global companies that dominate the sector. The union line, moreover, serves to cover for the responsibility of Australian state and federal authorities for the deadly Ruby Princess saga.

The ships 1,100 crew had been self-isolated in their cabins since March 19, when 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and NSW Health despite clear indications of a significant outbreak onboard.

No health screenings were conducted, and the throng of incoming passengers were hustled in to Australias busiest city before coronavirus swabs taken in the ships medical centre could be tested on shore.

At least 900 confirmed cases and 21 deaths have been directly linked to the Ruby Princess, and numerous coronavirus clusters around the country have started with travellers returning home from the ship.

This includes a recent outbreak in northwest Tasmania that forced the closure of two hospitals, along with the mandatory self-isolation of 1,200 health workers and their families. The cluster has so far claimed eleven lives.

Public outrage over the mishandling of the Ruby Princesss return to Sydney has led NSW authorities to launch two separate investigations into the affair.

As has been the case with other COVID-19 outbreaks around Australia, the police homicide squad, with the eager support of governments and the media, has sought to blame individual workers for spreading infection. The early stages of the investigation centred on finding patient zero amid the ships crew, as if the first person to take ill is somehow responsible for the sickness and death of all that follow.

The police investigation will not examine the actions of ABF or NSW Health, but will instead focus on the conduct of the ships captain and crew. It is highly unlikely that a criminal liability case would ever be brought against Carnival Australia, which owns the Ruby Princess. This is because proving gross negligence by a company requires evidence that the most senior members of the organisation were directly involved.

The other investigation, a special commission of inquiry ordered by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian commenced last week with two days of hastily organised hearings in which Ruby Princess crew members were interviewed in the final hours before the ship was herded off the Australian coast.

Evidence was heard from three witnesses: the ships senior doctor, Ilse Von Watzdorf, hotel manager Charles Verwaal, and staff captain Sebastiano Azzarelli.

Both Verwaal and Von Watzdorf contrasted the offloading of passengers in Sydney on March 19 with what had taken place at the conclusion of the ships previous voyage on March 8. In the earlier case, NSW Health officials boarded the ship, carried out a health assessment and tested a number of passengers for COVID-19 before allowing anyone to leave the vessel.

Verwaal said: I think we were very surprised that we did not have the same treatment from NSW Public Health as we did on the eighth.

Media coverage of the doctors testimony seized upon the fact that the Human Health Report submitted to Australian authorities answered no to the question: Was there any situation on board which may lead to infection or the spread of disease?

While this seems damning when presented out of context, both Von Watzdorf and the commissioner made clear that the question is a subsection of a part of the form relating to gastrointestinal illness, and would not be reasonably interpreted as having anything to do with an outbreak of coronavirus.

The same form did contain the information that 128 people on board the ship had been ill, 104 with acute respiratory symptoms, and that 24 had temperatures over 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

The doctor also explained that she had spoken to NSW Health to arrange the medical disembarkation of two patients who were experiencing fever and acute respiratory symptoms, and had tested negative for flu. She had specifically mentioned the necessity for paramedics transporting these patients to have proper personal protective equipment.

When the ambulance service contacted Vessel Transport Services, which manages the harbour, for more information about these two patients, the query was initially brushed off as a prank phone call.

The inquiry has now been adjourned indefinitely, after having promoted the insinuations that the ships crew, rather than the Australian authorities, were responsible for the Ruby Princess outbreak.

Unlike the police investigation, later hearings of the special commission of inquiry will supposedly examine the conduct of state and federal agencies including ABF and the police, but its main purpose is to defuse public outrage over the handling of the ships return to Sydney.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away in Mumbai today after a long battle with leukemia. The actor was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.

The actor died peacefully at 8:45am, surrounded by his loving wife Neetu Kapoor and son Ranbir Kapoor.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last," read a statement from Rishi Kapoor's family.

"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him. He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears."

The family also urged the actor's well-wishers to respect the laws that are in force in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force."

On Wednesday night, Randhir confirmed to News18 that Rishi Kapoor was not keeping well.

"It's true that he has been admitted to the hospital. He was not keeping well and had some problem, so we admitted him early this morning. But I know that he will be alright. Neetu (Kapoor) is by his side," he had said.

Rishi Kapoor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

He was previously taken to the hospital in February earlier this year after being diagnosed with an infection.

The actor had flown to New York in September 2018 and returned after almost a year in 2019. He was accompanied by his wife Neetu Kapoor in his battle with the deadly disease. Ranbir and his girlfriend, actor Alia Bhatt had also paid visit to the veteran actor in NYC.

Rishi Kapoor had recently announced his new project, a remake of Hollywood film 'The Intern', in which he was supposed to feature with Deepika Padukone.
KAMPALA  Jacqueline Atugonza, the secretary of the Kampala District Land Board (KDLB), has been arrested in connection with alleged questionable allocation of government land to private developers.

Police officers confirmed the arrest which took place Tuesday night, but declined to give details.

Kampala Land Board Secretary Jacqueline Atugonza is one of those arrested according to the police CID (PHOTO/File).

Atugonza was arrested by operatives from State House Anti-Corruption Unit on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni for allegedly parcelling out government land.

According to reports, Atugonza, working with other officials on the board, dubiously sold government land to businessmen in town.

One of the key land deals being investigated is that of Kiira Road Police in Kamwokya, a shanty suburb of Kampala.

It was sold to a businessman in Kampala who is erecting flats.

Related
MANILA, Philippines  A portion of a condominium building in Makati City collapsed on Thursday morning, April 30.

In a report, the Makati City Police said a slab of the mezzanine floor of SM Jazz Mall Tower D, located along Nicanor Garcia Street and Metropolitan Avenue in Makati City, collapsed around 11 a.m.

Makati City Police chief Police Colonel Rogelio Simon said no one was reported injured and only cars parked in front of the mall building were damaged by falling debris.

From there gumuho yung portion niya, bumagsak sa baba tapos may tinamaan na mga sasakyan. Luckily, wala tayong recorded na namatay o kaya injured sa area dahil yung pinagbagsakan is the entrance ng mall mga private property, he said.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the SM Development Corporation (SMDC) said that the facade wall of the parking level at Jazz Mall sustained damage that caused its outer slab to collapse to the driveway.

As of this posting no serious casualties were reported, it added.

The SMDC said that as a safety precaution, residents have been directed to stay near Metropolitan Avenue.

Residents of all four towers of SM Jazz residences were evacuated following the incident.

Members of the Makati City Bomb Disposal Team also went to the scene following reports of what sounded like an explosion coming from the area. However, they found no traces of bomb after conducting an inspection.

Simon said the investigation into the incident is underway.

On going pa yung mga gathering information natin kung ano ang nangyari, he said.

They have also formed a team that will do a walk-through inside Tower D to determine its structural integrity.

Mayroon na tayong initial ang sabi nila days before may mga residents doon sa portion na yun may naririnig ng parang lumalagitik na bakal, mga yero parang mga ganun pero hindi nila pinansin yun, he said.  RRD (with details from Correspondent Vincent Arboleda)

The post Portion of Makati condominium building collapses appeared first on UNTV News.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 22:56:14|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel's attorney-general said on Thursday that no legal grounds exist for preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from serving as prime minister during his corruption trial.

In an opinion submitted to the Supreme Court, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit said the criminal charges against Netanyahu raise "significant misgivings" but "does not justify a judicial intervention" to bar the long-time leader from forming a new government.

The opinion was part of discussions held at the Supreme Court over a series of petitions submitted by anti-corruption groups and high-profile public figures from the academy, high-tech, and the security system, including two former Shin Bet security service chiefs. They asked the top court to ban Netanyahu from serving as prime minister for his criminal indictment.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli parliament approved in the first reading a bill to enable the unity government deal between Netanyahu's rightwing Likud party and his former chief rival Benny Gantz' centrist Blue and White party.

Under the unusual power-sharing deal signed on April 20, Netanyahu will serve as prime minister for 18 months before being replaced by Gantz.

The unity government deal was achieved after three rounds of elections that produced inconclusive results in about a year.

The bill still needs two more full rounds of readings in the parliament before getting its final approvement.

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and calls the allegations part of "a witch-hunt."

His trial is scheduled to begin on May 24 in the Jerusalem District Court. Enditem
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A top coronavirus model is predicting that 100,000 Americans will have died from COVID-19 by the end of the summer - as the US death toll surpasses President Donald Trump's best case scenario of 60,000 deaths.

The MOBS model from the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University also estimates that there will be about 89,000 deaths by mid-May if stay-at-home orders remain in place.

That death toll would increase to over one million in an unmitigated scenario, according to the projections that are among those used by the CDC to forecast the pandemic.

The director of the institute responsible for the MOBS model, Alessandro Vespignani, is estimating that 100,000 will die by the end of the 'first wave' at the end of summer.

As of Wednesday, the US death toll is now at 61,000 and there are more than one million infections across the country.

Trump, in recent weeks, had suggested that 60,000 might be the total death count from COVID-19. He had cited the estimate as a sign of relative success after the White House previously warned the US could suffer 100,000 to 240,000 deaths.

The MOBS model from the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University estimates that 100,000 Americans will have died from COVID-19 by the end of the summer. It also estimates that there will be about 89,000 deaths by mid-May (above) if stay-at-home orders remain in place

That death toll would increase to over one million in an unmitigated scenario, according to the projections that are among those used by the CDC to forecast the pandemic

Pictured above is a comparison of projected average infections by May 1 in scenarios where social distancing is adhered to and where it is not

Another 2,389 Americans died from coronavirus on Wednesday after a brief lull in new fatalities.

Daily deaths had been on the decline in recent days, dropping below 2,000 on Saturday and continuing to fall on Sunday and Monday.

New deaths recorded fell to 1,315 on Monday, the first time daily fatalities in the US had been this low since April 5, before climbing again this week.

New cases also spiked on Wednesday with 28,259 new infections, bringing the total to 1,065,245 cases.

Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, on March 29 revealed models projecting the deaths of 100,00-240,000 Americans, assuming social distancing efforts were ongoing.

At the same time, she said epidemiology models initially had predicted a worst-case scenario of 1.5 million to 2.2 million US deaths without mitigation efforts such as social distancing, hand washing and staying home as much as possible.

Soon after, Trump began speculating that the 100,000 figure was an outer limit. Later, he leaned more toward the 60,000 projection.

'The minimum number was 100,000 lives and I think we'll be substantially under that number,' he said April 10. 'Hard to believe that if you had 60,000 - you could never be happy, but that's a lot fewer than we were originally told and thinking.'

Trump has used the 2.2. million death estimate repeatedly to suggest he saved millions of lives through leadership that he and other administration officials say was 'decisive'. Trump often cites restricting travel from China, where the virus originated, and from Europe, where it took hold before exploding in the US, as among his most important first steps.

'We did the right thing, because if we didn't do it, you would have had a million people, a million and a half people, maybe 2 million people dead,' the president said on April 20.

'Now, we're going toward 50-, I'm hearing, or 60,000 people. One is too many. I always say it. One is too many. But we're going toward 50- or 60,000 people.'

The latest increase in the death toll came after the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model, often cited by White House officials, raised its COVID-19 death toll projections this week.

The model now projects 74,073 Americans will die from the coronavirus by August 4, which is up from nearly 67,000 a week ago and 60,000 predicted two weeks ago. That figure is down from about a month ago when the model projected around 90,000 deaths related to coronavirus in the US.

A COVID-19 Simulator tool developed by Massachusetts General Hospital and Georgia Tech University predicts that current restrictions being implemented in various states could see the US death toll reach about 86,000 fatalities by August 30.

These models all predict that reopening states too soon and relaxing social distancing measures will result in even more deaths.

These forecasts cited by the CDC track the number of COVID-19 death since February and show the estimated deaths across the US in the next four four weeks. All of the models assume that existing social distancing measures will continue, while the Columbia University (CU) models makes various assumptions on the effectiveness of current social distancing interventions

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model projects 74,073 Americans will die from the coronavirus by August 4

This COVID-19 simulator tool developed by Massachusetts General Hospital and Georgia Tech University predicts that current restrictions being implemented in various states could see the US death toll reach about 86,000 fatalities by August 30

THE US STATES REOPENING: Montana: From May 4 Missouri: May 4 Maine: From May 1 Ohio: From May 1 Iowa: May 1 Alabama: From April 30 Minnesota: From April 27 Mississippi: From April 27 Tennessee: From April 27 Colorado: From April 27 Michigan: From April 24 Alaska: From April 24 Georgia: From April 24 Oklahoma: From April 24 South Carolina: From April 20 Texas: From April 20 Advertisement

Alessandro Vespignani, the director of the institute responsible for the MOBS model, told Yahoo News' Skullduggery podcast that his estimates were higher than official estimates because it accounts for transmissions in January and February.

The first US death was recorded on February 29 but recent testing in California indicates the first death might have been on February 6, with the virus circulating weeks earlier than previously thought.

He predicted that without social distancing measures put in place across the US, the number of fatalities would have already reached half a million.

'Any surveillance system for diseases only captures the tip of the iceberg,' he said.

The rising death toll means coronavirus could soon be deadlier than any flu season since 1967.

America's worst flu season in recent years was in 2017-2018 when more than 61,000 people died, according to the CDC. The only deadlier flu seasons were in 1967 when about 100,000 Americans died, 1957 when 116,000 died and the Spanish flu of 1918 when 675,000 died.

In early March, the prospect that the coronavirus would kill more Americans than the flu was unthinkable to many politicians who played down the risk of the new virus.

Trump tweeted on March 9: 'So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!'

There could be 22 emerging COVID-19 hotspots in small cities or rural areas in eight states that are lifting lockdown restrictions, analysis of social media coronavirus posts reveals

There could be up to 22 emerging coronavirus hotspots in small cities and rural counties across eight US states that are lifting lockdown restrictions, data researchers have found.

An analysis conducted by data firm Dataminr used artificial intelligence to examine social media posts related to coronavirus and predicts the smaller areas where infections are set to increase.

The firm identified the areas based on clusters of public social media posts that directly referenced, among other things, firsthand accounts of symptoms, relatives who have been infected and testing supply shortages.

The small cities or counties - located in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas - had all seen an increase in the number of social media posts related to COVID-19.

There could be up to 22 emerging coronavirus hotspots in small cities and rural counties across eight US states that are lifting lockdown restrictions, data researchers have found

In Florida's Volusia County there are currently 445 infections. Infections increased there last week by 79. The week prior cases increased by 123. Social media posts in this area spiked about two weeks prior to cases increasing

Vigo County in Indiana currently has 62 infections. It increased last week by just two infections but rose by 17 the week prior. Social media posts increased about two weeks before cases started to spike

In Indiana's Tippecanoe County, there are currently 95 infections. That's an increase of 36 cases in a week. Social media posts spike about a month prior to infections rising

Summit County, Ohio currently has 542 cases. The number of infections there increased by 157 in the past week and 91 the week prior. Cases started increasing about a week after social media posts there, according to the data

Those areas where the social media clusters were identified had not yet had a spike in COVID-19 infections, which the analysis suggests could point to them being emerging coronavirus hotspots.

In most cases, the data analysis shows the increase in social media posts occurring several days before the number of infections started to increase.

It aligns with CDC warnings that COVID-19 symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

The data used in the analysis only accounts for infections reported up until April 21.

In the week since, figures independent from the analysis show that infections have spiked in some of the 22 areas.

All eight of the states where the 22 areas were identified have either partially lifted, or didn't have, lockdown measures related to coronavirus.

There are two areas in Georgia, which reopened last week, that the analysis says are hotspots.

In Chatham County, infections increased by 32 in the past week. The week prior saw 25 new infections.

Clarke County saw an increase of 26 infections last week and 14 new cases the week before.

St. Joseph County in Indiana has 602 infections. Cases increased last week by 160 and 169 in the week prior

Polk County, Florida currently has 457 infections after increasing by 101 in a week. Infections spiked about two weeks after an increase in social media posts

Montgomery County in Ohio has 266 infections after increasing by 29 cases in a week. Infections increased about three weeks after an increase in social media posts

Monroe County, Indiana currently has 122 infections. The number of cases appeared to increase about three weeks after a spike in social media posts

Manatee County, Florida now has 563 infections. Infections increased by 120 in the past week and 166 the week prior. The number of cases appeared to increase about three weeks after a spike in social media posts

Lucas County, Ohio currently has 1166 infections. Infections increased by 313 last week and 257 the week prior. The infections appeared to spike about a week after an increase in social media posts

Lubbock County, Texas currently has 504 infections. Cases increased by 46 last week and 91 in the week prior. Cases appeared to spike about three weeks after an increase in social media posts

Infections in Jefferson County, Texas have risen to 288 infections. They have increased by 74 over two consecutive weeks. Infections appeared to increase about a month after social media posts started increasing

In Jackson County, Michigan the infections have increased to 342. Cases increased by 62 last week and 85 the week prior. The infections appeared to increase about a week after social media posts started increasing

In Horry County, South Carolina infections have now risen to 211. Infections appeared to increase around the same time social media posts started to also rise

In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp is pushing one of the most aggressive reopening plans in the US. Barbershops, gyms and nail salons were allowed to reopen Friday and dine-in restaurant service and movie screenings were freed to resume Monday - despite warnings that, without sufficient testing, the state could see a surge in infections.

In South Carolina's Charleston County, infections jumped 35 in the last week and 50 the week prior.

Greenville County in South Carolina recorded 144 new infections last week and 117 cases the week before.

In Lucas County in Ohio, infections spiked by 313 last week compared to the 257 cases the week before.

Indiana's St. Joseph County recorded 160 new infections last week and 169 a week earlier.

Last month, Dataminr, which tracks real-time data for the United Nations and other firms, correctly predicted 14 states where COVID-19 infections would spike within two weeks.

It comes as a number of states - mostly in the South and Midwest - lift coronavirus restrictions following weeks of mandatory lockdowns that have thrown millions of American workers out of their jobs.

Public health authorities have warned that increasing human interactions and economic activity may spark a new surge of infections just as social-distancing measures appear to be bringing coronavirus outbreaks under control.

Stay-at-home orders issued by governors across the US and subsequent decisions to slowly reopen state economies have turned into highly charged political issues in recent weeks as the shutdowns have hammered the nation's economy.

Chatham County in Georgia currently has 217 infections. The number of cases appeared to increase about a month after social media posts spiked

Hidalgo County, Texas currently has 310 infections. The number of infections appeared to spike about three weeks after social media posts started increasing

Greenville County, South Carolina currently has 661 infections. The number of infections appeared to increase about a week after social media posts appeared to spike

In Escambia County, Florida the current number of cases is 485. Cases appeared to increase about three weeks after the number of social media posts spiked

Clarke County in Georgia currently has 142 infections. The number of infections appeared to spike about two weeks after social media posts increased

In Charleston County, South Carolina the currently number of infections is at 438. The number of cases appeared to increase about a month after social media spiked

Bay County, Florida currently has 70 infections. Cases appeared to spike about a month after social media posts increased
The times we are living in are historic and stunning, forcing us all to take a deep look at who we are as a people and our place in the world," Lightfoot said in a statement. "No one knows this better than Oprah, and I join all of Chicago in looking forward to hearing the wisdom shell be sharing with our incredible young people as they take this unforgettable next step on their lifes journey.
Worker unions and rights groups have decided to cancel all planned events for the May Day holiday on Friday, and will instead hold an online conference on labor rights.

Owing to concerns over the novel coronavirus pandemic, unions and labor groups will not assemble for the annual holiday, but will continue to advocate for the rights of workers, who have been worst hit by the current economic slowdown.

Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodia Labor Confederation, said the conference will include worker representatives for various sectors and will focus on ensuring workers are protected during the pandemic.

We only invite the union representatives for an online news conference and we will submit the petition to the government, said Ath Thorn, president of Cambodia Labor Confederation.

Ath Thorn said the petition would have 18 points, many similar to last years petition, especially focusing on the wellbeing of workers during the current pandemic.

Vorn Pao, president of Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association, on Wednesday said he will not organize any gatherings, but would invite workers affected by the economic slowdown to talk on Facebook Live. This, he said, would include informal workers, such as domestic workers, tuk-tuk drivers, and street vendors.

We will invite them to talk online so that we send the message to the public and relevant authorities, Vorn Pao said.

Vorn Pao asked the government to release the funds to help poor citizens by providing them food, money, hand sanitizer, and masks. He also urged the government to completely suspend loan payments to financial institutions for three to six months for poor citizens.

Ou Tephalin, president of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation, said the government had done little to help workers in her sector, but much more was needed.

The attention of the government for these sectors is still low. I mean they have not focused on any sector and have not helped everyone in the country, said Ou Tephalin.

The Ministry of Labor has said that 130 garment factories have suspended operations, affecting around 100,000 workers. Another 90,000 migrant workers have returned from overseas, with little employment opportunities in the provinces.

VOA Khmer could not reach Heng Sour, a Ministry of Labor spokesperson, on Wednesday.
The additional $600 checks supplementing those who are collecting regular unemployment benefits have been arriving in the bank accounts of many Massachusetts residents.

But the payments have been inconsistent for some, and those who dont qualify for them have received checks by accident. For others who are eligible, those additional payments are non-existent, because they cant get their applications approved.

The money is part of the federal CARES Act, and is supposed to be distributed to people across the country who are already collecting regular unemployment, or those approved for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Extended Benefits, among other things.

Many residents have come to depend on the extra cash, especially those whose future job prospects are increasingly uncertain amid the global pandemic. In Massachusetts, the coronavirus has killed more than 3,400 people and put more than a half-million others out of work.

Last week, MassLive received more than a dozen emails from readers who had only seen one of the $600 payments so far, and not a second. Several reported they received the first $600 payment with their unemployment, but nothing the following week.

Many said they attempted to contact someone at the Department of Unemployment Assistance to no avail.

In follow-up interviews, those who saw the first installment of the $600 report having received a second lump-sum payment on April 21, and a third on April 28  apparently reflecting the regular weekly benefit plus the additional stimulus bump.

Tyler Creador, who lost his job as a technician at a Mazda dealership in Raynham the day Gov. Charlie Baker ordered all non-essential businesses closed, says he received a regular payment on Wednesday April 8, and the $600 on April 9.

Since then he received the money as single deposit: the state unemployment lumped with the federal money, with taxes taken out. On Monday, on the states online portal, he saw another such amount postdated for April 28, which arrived the following day.

Frustrated initially by the missed payment, Creador reached out to Sen. Becca Rausch, whose office has been helping constituents navigate the unemployment system.

I do not know why the retroactive payments have been slow to come, and I wish the rollout for this had been smoother, Rausch said in an email. Our nation is facing an unprecedented level of unemployment, and our Commonwealth is no exception. People badly need the financial assistance in hand as soon as possible.

Another woman, who did not want to be named, received her second payment on April 21 after getting nothing the week before, according to documentation she provided MassLive. She says shes been unemployed since before the coronavirus outbreak in Massachusetts.

But others, who dont qualify for the checks yet still received them earlier in the month, now believe theyre eligible, and have been trying to contact state officials

I havent seen anything since, said Jessica Sheehan of Mattapoisett, who said shes been out of work for roughly a year.

Sheehan said shes going to school to be a paralegal  a program listed under the states so-called Training Opportunities Program, or a Section 30 program  and that the extra $600 would help because opportunities to work in the legal system have diminished during the crisis.

But Sheehans regular unemployment benefits expired months before the crisis, and is now collecting extended benefits. According to the states website, Sheehan, and those in her position, are not supposed to be getting the $600.

Yet many still have. Sheehan got a check on April 9, which was deposited directly into her bank account and labeled MASS DUA Tax." A Duxbury man, who also did not want to be identified, and who is also in a Section 30 program, got a check from the state on April 9 for $600.

It seems like everyone across the board got something on April 9, the man said in a phone interview, adding hes been getting mixed messages from state employees about his eligibility for the additional cash.

But seeing the $600 bump initially, he thought he had qualified, as one state employee had told him, he said. Another employee told him he wasnt eligible.

Im fine with not getting something Im not owed, but I just want a definite answer," he said.

Sheehan, on the other hand, says she hasnt been able to reach anyone from the state for clarity.

The most frustrating point is you cant get through to anyone, she said.

According to the states website detailing the implementation of the CARES Act, the money will be disbursed to all of those collecting regular unemployment retroactive to March 29, 2020 and continuing until July 31, 2020.

Officials also note that residents should be getting the payments automatically  that disbursement had begun immediately.

Eligible claimants who are already receiving UI do not need to do anything for the additional $600 to be added to their weekly benefit amount, the website reads. This benefit will be available for all new claimants filing for regular Unemployment Compensation as well.

Charles Pearce, director of communications for the states Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, when reached, did not speak to the inconsistencies with the program, or why some people have been getting caught up with payments and not others.

The states computer systems overseeing the influx of unemployment applications were out of date and needed replacing, and those who are self-employed, or are so-called gig workers, had to wait until officials rolled out the new program to apply.

Gov. Charlie Baker said officials have already processed over 100,000 claims under the new program; thats on top of the roughly 650,000 claims that have been filed under the traditional unemployment program since March 15, he said. Thats four times as many people who filed for unemployment benefits in February.

Some other states saw delays in processing unemployment claims and in getting the $600 CARES Act payments.

Weve heard countless stories across the nation of the record number of workers who tried to file for unemployment, only to be met with crashing websites, unreachable phone lines, and states unable to process claims," Andrew Stettner, senior fellow at The Century Foundation and an unemployment insurance expert said in a media release this week. "Even among the workers fortunate enough to have their claims processed, the overwhelming majority did not receive emergency relief in March.

Related Content:
Beverly Hills Physicians is a health and beauty medical group servicing Southern California. Its never a bad time to start the ball rolling on procedures in the future.

An April 22 article on Inside Hook reports on the sudden increase in cosmetic procedure interest since video conferencing became the leading form of communication. Due to the recent closure of physical offices because of new social distancing policies, video calls and meetings have vastly boosted the amount of time individuals unintentionally spend staring at themselves through the small, mirror-like box onscreen that often gives people an unflattering reflection of themselves. The article explains that, while individuals normally pay attention mostly to what others are saying in meetings or maybe gathering their thoughts for what they are going to say, now that their faces are staring back at them its hard not to dwell on the imperfections they see. Los Angeles-based health and beauty medical group Beverly Hills Physicians says that, while beauty treatments and procedures may be on hold for now, individuals can utilize this time to think about what they might like to have done and its never a bad time to start the ball rolling on procedures in the future.

Beverly Hills Physicians says that it can be hard to accept the fact that our appearances do matter to us a great deal. Whether its making a good first impression on a date or in an interview, the clinic says how a person presents themself can make or break an opportunity. Beverly Hills Physicians notes an individuals appearance also plays an important role in self-esteem, saying that when people feel good about their appearance, they exude more confidence as well.

The Southern California health and beauty medical group says that due to advances in medical technology, improving ones looks has never been easier to achieve. When it comes to video conferencing, Beverly Hills Physicians notes that what most individuals come to worry about are facial lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. The clinic says that these can all be treated both through traditional facelifts that as well as through nonsurgical treatments such as Botox or other injectables. What most people once assumed was reserved for Hollywood elites and the like in years past has increasingly become accessible to the everyday individual, offering everyone the ability to put their best face forward.

Interested readers who would like more information about Botox or other services offered by Beverly Hills Physicians can call 1-310-620-7911 or visit the clinics website at https://www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com/. Virtual consultations are currently available.


INDIANAPOLIS - Any easing of Indianas statewide stay-at-home order wont limit the authority of city or county officials from imposing tighter restrictions in their attempts to slow the coronavirus that has killed at least 1,000 people across the state, the governor said Thursday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Christopher Ikemire prepares to test a customer at the Eastern Star Church, Thursday, April 30, 2020, in Indianapolis. Indianapolis city, health and faith leaders set-up the new COVID-19 testing site in the city's most vulnerable neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

INDIANAPOLIS - Any easing of Indianas statewide stay-at-home order wont limit the authority of city or county officials from imposing tighter restrictions in their attempts to slow the coronavirus that has killed at least 1,000 people across the state, the governor said Thursday.

Gov. Eric Holcomb is poised to announce on Friday modifications to the business and travel restrictions that have been in place since March 25 as a growing number of states are loosening their shutdown orders.

Indianapolis officials, however, extended the citys stay-at-home order on Thursday by two weeks through May 15, saying the states largest city was still experiencing too many COVID-19 cases to safely relax restrictions. Some other cities and counties around the state also have adopted rules responding to outbreaks in their communities.

Holcomb said he supported Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsetts decision and that the new state order wouldnt strip away local authority.

Local jurisdictions can always be stricter than what we have said, Holcomb said. This has been the case, not just once, in the state of Indiana. Well seek to 100% of the time work with those local officials.

Holcomb spoke Thursday from Kokomo, where he joined Vice-President Mike Pence in touring a General Motors electronics plant thats been converted to produce critical care ventilators for hospitals around the country.

Holcomb said his changes to statewide restrictions will be methodical and come in stages, but did not provide any details

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APS PREVIOUS STORY IS BELOW.

Indiana health officials added 43 confirmed coronavirus-related fatalities to the states death toll on Thursday as the governor nears an announcement on changes to the statewide stay-at-home order.

The state has recorded 1,007 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak hit Indiana in early March, the Indiana State Health Department said.

Six more presumed COVID-19 deaths added to the state statistics give Indiana 107 such fatalities. Those are deaths that state officials said doctors blame on coronavirus infections without confirmation of the illness from test results.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has said he would announce changes Friday to the statewide stay-at-home order that has been in effect since March 25.

State officials are considering information such as hospitalization and death rates, along with the availability of intensive care unit beds and ventilators for those who are seriously ill, in deciding whether to lift any restrictions, Holcomb said.

Plans for significant increases in coronavirus testing and contact tracing have been announced by state officials this week.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APS PREVIOUS STORY IS BELOW.

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.

About 57,000 more people applied for unemployment benefits in Indiana last week as the state continues to see record numbers of newly jobless people stemming from the coronavirus economic slowdown.

Federal statistics released Thursday show Indiana has had nearly 570,000 people seek jobless aid over the past six weeks. That growth in the unemployed since March 15 is more than five times greater than Indianas total of about 105,000 people seeking jobs in February.

More than 30 million people across the country have now filed for unemployment since coronavirus closures started and economists have forecast that the national unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has said he would announce changes Friday to the statewide stay-at-home order that has been in effect since March 25. Holcombs decisions are coming as health officials reported Indiana now has more than 1,000 people who have died with confirmed or likely coronavirus infections since the outbreak hit the state early last month.

But Indianapolis officials announced Thursday the citys state-at-home order will continue until at least May 15, including a ban on dine-in service at restaurants and the closure of nonessential businesses such as movie theatres, fitness centres and hair salons.

The challenges we face here in Indianapolis are unique  a city filled with large venues, densely populated neighbourhoods, and active business centres, Mayor Joe Hogsett said. To ensure that we see continued progress in our fight against this virus, we must recommit to our social distancing efforts even as we plan for the future.
The public wasn't allowed inside the Michigan House gallery on Thursday, April 30, but protesters made sure their voices were heard from the hall.

An estimated 400 to 700 people showed up to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmers request to extend Michigans state of emergency declaration, said Michigan State Police Lt. Brian Oleksyk.

The state of emergency gives Whitmer the power to issue executive orders and control certain resources without legislative approval. The legislature was meeting to vote on whether to extend it. The governor first declared the state of emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak March 10. The legislature on April 7 approved an extension through April 30. Whitmer this week asked the legislature to approve another extension of 28 days.

Related: Protesters tell lawmakers vote no on extending state of emergency, argue freedoms outweigh coronavirus threat

Some of the protesters went inside the Capitol, in hopes of attending the sessions. The public hasn't been allowed inside, as the gallery space has been reserved for lawmakers and media members, to ensure social distancing.

Social distancing guidelines were not followed in the hall, as protesters packed in and led chants like let us in. A row of officials from the Capitol and police stood in front of the doors, blocking their entrance. Many protesters were not wearing masks.

"Other than chanting loudly, it's been very calm," Oleksyk said.

To abide with executive orders, only 275 people are allowed inside the Capitol building at a time, Oleksyk said. That limit  which includes lawmakers themselves  was being strictly followed, Okeksyk said. Once the limit was hit, officials wouldnt allow more people in until others exited.

One arrest had been made as of 2 p.m. after one protester assaulted another protester, Oleksyk said. No tickets or fines have been issued so far, Oleksyk said.

Related: Showdown brewing between Whitmer, Michigan Republicans over coronavirus state of emergency

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 30: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Protesters of Michigans coronavirus response removed from House gallery

Protesters tell lawmakers vote no on extending state of emergency, argue freedoms outweigh coronavirus threat
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 17:42:50|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Infrared cameras have captured footage of four snow leopards in the Qilian Mountains national nature reserve in northwest China's Gansu Province, the reserve's management authority said Thursday.

The cameras recorded the four snow leopards, including an adult snow leopard and three cubs, having fun and playing in their habitat in Zhangye City.

"It is rare to see many snow leopards together in a video," said Zhang Juntao, a member of the reserve's wildlife survey team.

A total of 327 infrared cameras had been set up by the reserve since September last year to monitor wild animals, and each camera that recorded footage of the snow leopards was retrieved recently.

Snow leopards are a Class A protected animal in China and are classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They mainly inhabit the Himalayas in central and southern Asia at an altitude of 2,500 to 4,500 meters. Enditem
Virginia Giuffre Roberts has started a GoFundMe account for fellow Jeffrey Epstein accuser Maria Farmer, who has cancer.

Farmer, who is in her 50s, has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, according to the fundraising page set up by Roberts Wednesday.

Both Roberts and Farmer are among women who have come forward to say they were sexually abused by the now-deceased, convicted pedophile.

Doctors want to do additional medical scans to determine the stage of her cancer so t she can begin chemotherapy, writes Roberts on the GoFundMe page, which has a goal of raising $75,000.

Virginia Giuffre Roberts (pictured) has started a GoFundMe account for fellow Jeffrey Epstein accuser Maria Farmer, who has cancer

Farmer (pictured), who is in her 50s, has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, according to the fundraising page set up by Roberts Wednesday. Both Roberts and Farmer are among women who have come forward to say they were sexually abused by the now-deceased, convicted pedophile. Farmer is pictured while receiving medical treatment

Doctors want to do additional medical scans to determine what stage of the cancer she has so that she can begin chemotherapy, writes Roberts on the GoFundMe page, which has a goal of raising $75,000

Roberts tweeted that she had set up the fundraiser with 'Epstein's Survivor Sisterhood'. 'Help Maria Farmer Beat Cancer- please RT and spread on other social media platforms- she needs our help!!' she wrote in the tweet.

She also tweeted that she had set up the fundraiser with 'Epstein's Survivor Sisterhood'.

'Help Maria Farmer Beat Cancer- please RT and spread on other social media platforms- she needs our help!!' she wrote in the tweet.

Roberts says that Farmer for years has had a number of debilitating symptoms that doctors now believe were caused by the cancer.

She was first diagnosed with a rare brain tumor early last year and had targeted radiation last spring. She thought that the cause of her illness had finally been discovered.

The procedure brought some relief, but many of the symptoms lingered and follow-up scans revealed masses in her mediastinal tissue that were of concern to her medical team.

Farmer was first diagnosed with a rare brain tumor early last year and had targeted radiation last spring. She is pictured from an image posted on social media by Roberts

Surgery later removed many of the masses, but biopsies afterwards were inconclusive. Scans this year then showed that the masses had returned. She was scheduled for a second surgery in mid-March.

Roberts does not say if the surgery went ahead or was delayed because of priorities set at hospitals for treating coronavirus patients.

She, however, does say additional scans are needed to determine what stage of cancer Farmer has and that she needs to start chemotherapy 'right away.'

Epstein, 66, committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10 while facing federal sex trafficking charges.

Epstein, 66, committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10th while facing federal sex trafficking charges

Farmer sued Epstein's estate in November seeking unspecified damages after claiming she was hired by the dead financier as an art consultant before she was sexually assaulted by him and his 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell (right) in 1996

He had previously in 2008 accepted a secret deal to avoid federal prosecution and pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting an underage girl for sex.

Farmer sued Epstein's estate in November seeking unspecified damages after claiming she was hired by the dead financier as an art consultant before she was sexually assaulted by him and his 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell in 1996.

Farmer says she was brought into the dead Epstein's orbit the year before, when Eileen Guggenheim, who chairs the board at the New York Academy of Art, introduced her to him at her thesis show.

At the time, Guggenheim was dean of students at the school, which Farmer was attending.

Dailymail.com exclusively reported that activists this week launched a petition to remove Guggenheim from serving as the academy's board chair after she allegedly made Farmer, sell a rape-inspired painting to Epstein for half the price, a year before she became his victim.

A statement provided to DailyMail.com from the academy stated: 'This petition is filled with false information, innuendo and lies. As such, we have reported it to Change.org as against their community guidelines and hope it will be taken down. What happened to Maria Farmer and all of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein is horrible.'

'However, the allegations against Eileen Guggenheim are unfair and injurious. She has spent the last 30 years working for the well-being and success of all the Academys students,' the statement explains.

'It is important to note that Farmer was a 25-year old adult when she graduated from the Academy. She went to work for Jeffrey Epstein after graduation of her own accord and had been in his employ for over a year when the assault happened.'

Roberts, 36, claims she was trafficked by Epstein.

In an explosive interview with 60 Minutes Australia in November, Roberts spoke out about her life as Epstein's sex slave and described in detail how she was allegedly 'trafficked' to Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, when she was 17.

In an interview with 60 Minutes Australia in November, Roberts detailed how she was allegedly 'trafficked' to Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, when she was 17 and pulled out an infamous photo (pictured) of her with the prince that she says was taken the night she had sex with him

Prince Andrew has repeatedly and vehemently denied the accusations, calling them 'false' and 'without foundation' and saying 'any suggestion of impropriety with under-age minors is 'categorically untrue'.

During the interview, Roberts pulled out an infamous photo of her with the prince that she says was taken the night she had sex with him.

'This photo has been verified as an original and has since been given to the FBI and they've never contested that it's a fake,' she said.
Four children were killed when a powerful bomb exploded in the remote Rolpa district of Western Nepal on Thursday, an official said.

The blast occurred in Duwagaun village of Triveni Rural Municipality-7, Chief District Officer Laxman Dhakal said.

The deceased have been identified as 14-year-old Lokiram Dangi, 11-year-old Bimala Khatri, 5-year-old Bijaya Khatri and 13-year-old Gaurab Nepali.

The blast occurred when the minors were playing. The incident site is some 30 kilometers from Libang, the district headquarters.

"Some explosives have been found around the incident site," the official said.

The security personnel are investigating the matter.

The local police suspect that the explosive could have been left by the Maoist rebels during the decade-long armed conflict. More than 16,000 people including security personnel were killed during the armed insurgency.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[April 30, 2020] Stonebranch Universal Connector for SAP Technology Now Available on SAP App Center

Businesses using SAP solutions can now orchestrate and automate business processes and background workloads ATLANTA, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stonebranch today announced that its Universal Connector app for SAP technology is now available for free trial and purchase on SAP App Center, the digital marketplace for SAP partner offerings. Stonebranch Universal Connector is designed to smoothly integrate with SAP HANA or SAP NetWeaver to any workload automation or job scheduling solution as well as Stonebranch's own suite of IT automation solutions. "The Stonebranch Universal Connector for SAP technology is perfect for IT teams looking to orchestrate critical SAP IT processes as part of a holistic IT automation initiative," said Giuseppe Damiani, CEO of Stonebranch. "By making the Stonebranch Universal Connector available on SAP App Center, we have essentially opened the door for customers using SAP solutions who want to control all IT workloads, manage file transfers, and simplify tasks like SAP system copy from a single automation platform." The Stonebranch IT automation suite, Universal Automation Center (UAC), helps organizations automate, manage, and orchestrate IT processes. With the Stonebrach Universal Connector, businesses using SAP solutions can now tap into the power of UAC to holistically control IT workflows across multiple platforms and business applications, regardless of where the data resides. This is all done from a single SaaS or on-premises-based platform, providing control across the entire IT environment. Stonebranch Universal Connector offers benefits including easy installation and maintenance, smooth connectivity to SAP NetWeaver or SAP HANA, real-time control and auditability, and end-to-end security and compliance.



At SAP App Center, businesses can discover approximately 1,800 innovative partner solutions that integrate with and extend SAP solutions. The solutions are SAP-validated and can be sorted by SAP product line, industry, solution type and use-case scenario, creating a seemingly endless supply of opportunities. Find, try, buy and manage SAP partner solutions digitally at www.sapappcenter.com. Stonebranch is an SAP silver partner in the SAP PartnerEdge program. As such, it is empowered to build, market and sell software applications on top of SAP Cloud Platform, the market-leading platform-as-a-service offering from SAP. The SAP PartnerEdge program provides the enablement tools, benefits and support to facilitate building high-quality, disruptive applications focused on specific business needs  quickly and cost-effectively. The program provides access to all relevant SAP technologies in one simple framework under a single, global contract.

About Stonebranch

Stonebranch builds dynamic IT automation solutions that transform business IT environments from simple IT task automation into sophisticated, real-time business service automation, helping organizations achieve the highest possible Return on Automation. No matter the degree of automation, Stonebranch software is simple, modern, and secure. Using its universal automation platform, enterprises can seamlessly orchestrate workloads and data across technology ecosystems and silos. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with points of contact and support throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Stonebranch serves some of the world's largest financial, manufacturing, healthcare, travel, transportation, energy, and technology institutions. Learn more at www.stonebranch.com. SAP, SAP HANA, SAP NetWeaver and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. For more information contact: [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089016/Stonebranch_Logo.jpg

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In 2015, AMRA and Pfizer launched a pilot collaboration to perform body composition profiling from magnetic resonance images (MRI) in individuals who were part of the UK Biobank registry to better understand the relationship between body composition and risk for obesity-related diseases. AMRA has since analyzed over 10,000 datasets for body composition, resulting in 7 peer-reviewed journal articles and 24 peer-reviewed conference abstracts. The data from this research is now publicly available through the UK Biobank resource.

The renewed partnership involves body composition analysis of 100,000 individuals who were part of the UK Biobank  making it, when completed, potentially the largest detailed study of its kind in the world. The extensive dataset will include highly standardized imaging biomarkers to establish individualized norms for certain metabolic conditions  such as NAFLD/NASH, obesity, and diabetes  that can serve as a reference in future clinical trials and clinical practice. Further, the project will provide a unique resource linking the high-quality imaging outputs with genetic and phenotypic data from the UK Biobank  including disease status, outcome data, and biomarker data  to enable new discoveries and insights.

"With the addition of the imaging data to the already phenotypically and genotypically rich UK Biobank dataset, we believe there is potential to advance scientific and clinical understanding of a number of highly complex diseases related to metabolic dysregulation, the prevalence of which is increasing around the world," said Morris Birnbaum, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer for the Internal Medicine Research Unit at Pfizer. "We hope the findings from this collaboration will help identify and validate new therapeutic targets that can advance breakthroughs that change patients' lives."

Sir Rory Collins, UK Biobank Principal Investigator and BHF Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at Oxford University, said: "UK Biobank's goal is to provide a resource to support imaginative health research around the world. It is fantastic that the resource is sparking new and successful partnerships like this one that are driving research forward in ways that could not have been imagined when UK Biobank was started. We look forward to seeing how these data contribute to the welfare of patients in the years to come."

AMRA is continuously working towards developing new biomarkers and continues to strive towards building a real-world database representative of the global population. The collaboration with Pfizer supports this endeavor and will potentially enable the development of high-utility imaging biomarkers and/or the identification of disease phenotypes.

About AMRA Medical:

AMRA is an informatics company focused on next generation phenotyping and is at the forefront of combining AI and real-world data for precision medicine. The company has developed a new global standard in body composition assessment, the ability to automatically produce multiple fat and muscle biomarkers with unrivaled precision and accuracy, as well as contextual disease insights  all from a single, rapid, whole-body MRI. AMRA was founded in 2010 as a spin-off of Linkoping University, Sweden, with the aim to support transformative care and vital decision making from clinical research to health and wellness.

SOURCE AMRA Medical

Related Links

https://www.amramedical.com/


SEBEWAING  What would have been the 56th annual Michigan Sugar Festival postponed until June 2021, due to coronavirus concerns.

Many residents and business owners were deeply saddened by this news but remain understanding.

We are one of the first to start off the summer, Sebewaing Village President and festival Co-Chair Julie Epperson said. This is a sad time and a reflection of what our country and state are going through.

Epperson reminisced over the community getting together every year and all the fun they would have. She compared the festival to the first day of summer, a holiday parade, or watching the Unionville-Sebewaing High School girls softball team compete.

Nonetheless, the pandemic has already imposed a great deal of negative impact on the community. The possibility of increasing its spread in Huron County was simply not something worth risking.

Epperson emphasized focus on keeping locals safe and healthy. The idea of having so many people out and about caused concerns among residents, especially knowing that many will come from out of the area.

Another factor is the carnival crew, Epperson said. Will they clean enough?

She also recognized that many parents and caregivers are laid off.

Will parents be able to pay for it? Epperson questioned.

She talked about all of the planning that goes into the event, including obtaining sponsorship. The closure of surrounding businesses impacts donations. Many are in financial strain, and to Epperson, asking for assistance in putting the festival together just did not seem right.

It takes nine to 10 months of preparation for this festival to be done right, Epperson said. We had already lost the last two months of sponsorship.

The committee was in constant contact with one another, via email and phone calls, until a unanimous decision was made. They took their recommendation to the Sebewaing Chamber of Commerce. After approximately three weeks of review, the decision was made to cancel this years festival.

Chamber President Doug Deming said the idea of increasing the spread of this virus or someone getting very ill was not something he could have on his conscience. He also reiterated Epperson's concerns about how difficult it would for the Skerbeck Family Carnival to keep their equipment sanitized frequently enough. He even expressed doubt as to whether the state would allow the carnival to operate this year.

"This has affected everyone," Deming said. "While we want to have fun and we don't want the gap in not having it, there would be more of a gap if people were to get sick. We are a tight knit community. You have to make the right decision and we are elected to that."

Deming pointed out that 99.9% of the people he has spoken with have agreed with the chamber's final decision. However, some were questioning why the chicken barbecue had to be canceled. Deming said the health department was not issuing temporary licenses this year. Even if the chamber wanted, it could not host a barbecue.

He hopes everyone learns something from all of this, like to not take things for granted and to get more involved.

"This will really give us a score card to make some future changes," Deming said. "It's an eye opener for everyone and untapped territory for everyone."

The chamber announced the cancellation of the annual festival on Facebook Wednesday. The community has since reacted.

Elkton Parks and Recreation President and event coordinator Anges Kosinski said that while it is very sad and heartbreaking for all, her heart goes out to the organizers.

"Let's face it, these volunteers don't put those kinds of hours in just for the recognition," Kosinski said. "They do it for the love and pride of their community. They do it to bring family and friends together. It's a big family reunion, so to have to cancel this close to the event after all this planning is very disheartening."

Kosinski commended the committee for making a decision that put the safety of its community first.

As an annual sponsor, Lukes Supermarket Store Manager Steve Limberger has witnessed the harm the virus and its related executive orders has already brought to area businesses. He is proud to sponsor the festival every year and spoke on its cancellation.

Its going to affect all businesses in town, Limberger said. I am sure its going to impact everyone because we wont have the people in town that we normally do. But I understand why they had to do it. It was for the safety of everyone. I get it. We are just looking forward to getting on track for next year.

Huron County resident Laura Lynch would agree that health and safety come first.

(The Michigan Sugar Festival) is embedded into the community, Lynch said. It is very sad but you have to see to the safety of the people.

Deming hopes the Thumb and its visitors will be in for a special treat next year, assuming things go back to "normal."

"It will just be bigger and better in 2021," Deming said. "We will have some surprises next year."
BERLIN, April 30 (Reuters) - Germany has banned Iran-backed Hezbollah on its soil and designated it a terrorist organisation, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Police conducted early morning raids in Germany to detain suspected members of the group. Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah's extremist wing.

"Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has banned the Shiite terrorist organisation Hezbollah in Germany," tweeted a ministry spokesman.

Germany had previously distinguished between Hezbollah's political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad's army in Syria. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers and Andreas Rinke Editing by Michelle Martin)
Identity and access management in 2022 - what will the future look like?

As we enter into 2022, there is still a level of uncertainty in place. Its unclear what the future holds, as companies around the world still contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working has been encouraged by most organisations and the move to a hybrid working system has become business as usual, for the majority of businesses. Some have reduced their office space or done away with their locations altogether. Following best security practices With all this change in place, there are problems to deal with. According to research, 32.7% of IT admins say they are concerned about employees using unsecured networks to carry out that work. Alongside this, 74% of IT admins thought that remote work makes it harder for employees to follow best security practices. This need to manage security around remote work is no longer temporary. Instead, companies have to build permanent strategies around remote work and security. The coming year will also create a different landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Here are some key predictions for next year and what to start preparing for in 2022: The reality of SMB spending around security will hit home SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working, especially in comparison to their size. They had to undertake significant digital transformation projects that made it possible to deliver services remotely, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve seen a shift in mindset for these companies, which are now more tech-focused in their approach to problem solving. According to our research, 45% of SMBs plan to increase their spending towards IT services in 2022. Around half of all organisations think their IT budgets are adequate for their needs, while 14.5% of those surveyed believe they will need more, to cover all that needs to be done. Identity management spending to support remote work For others, the COVID-19 pandemic led to over-spending, just to get ahead of things and they will spend in 2022, looking at what they should keep and what they can reduce their spending on. Areas like identity management will stay in place, as companies struggle to support remote work and security, without this in place. However, on-premise IT spending will be reduced or cut, as those solutions are not relevant for the new work model. Services that rely on on-premise IT will be cut or replaced. The device will lead the way for security We rely on our phones to work and to communicate. In 2022, they will become central to how we manage access, to all our assets and locations, IT and physical. When employees can use company devices and their own phones for work, security is more difficult. IT teams have to ensure that theyre prepared for this, by making sure that these devices can be trusted. Wide use of digital certificates and strong MFA factors Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication There are multiple ways that companies can achieve this, for example - By using digital certificates to identify company devices as trusted, an agent, or strong MFA factors, like a FIDO security key or mobile push authentication. Whichever approach you choose, this can prevent unauthorised access to IT assets and applications, and these same devices can be used for authentication into physical locations too. Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication. Understanding human behaviour Alongside this, it is important to understand human behaviour. Anything that introduces an extra step for authentication can lead to employees taking workarounds. To stop this, it is important to put an employee education process in place, in order to emphasize on the importance of security. The next step is to think about adopting passwordless security, to further reduce friction and increase adoption. Lastly, as devices become the starting point for security and trust, remote device management will be needed too. More companies will need to manage devices remotely, from wiping an asset remotely if it gets lost or stolen, through to de-provisioning users easily and removing their access rights, when they leave the company. Identity will be a layer cake Zero Trust approaches to security Identity management relies on being able to trust that someone is who they say they are. Zero Trust approaches to security can support this effectively, particularly when aligned with least privilege access models. In order to turn theory into practical easy-to-deploy steps, companies need to use contextual access, as part of their identity management strategy. This involves looking at the context that employees will work in and putting together the right management approach for those circumstances. For typical employee behaviour, using two factor authentication might be enough to help them work, without security getting in the way. How enterprises manage, access and store identity data There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time For areas where security is more important, additional security policies can be put over the top, to ensure that only the right people have access. A step-up in authentication can be added, based on the sensitivity of resources or risk-based adaptive authentication policies might be needed. There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time, so that it aligns more closely with those use cases. Identity management critical to secure assets in 2022 There are bigger conversations taking place around digital identity for citizenship, as more services move online as well. Any moves that take place in this arena will affect how businesses think about their identity management processes too, encouraging them to look at their requirements in more detail. Overall, 2022 will be the year when identity will be critical to how companies keep their assets secure and their employees productive. With employees working remotely and businesses becoming decentralised, identity strategies will have to take the same approach. This will put the emphasis on strong identity management as the starting point for all security planning.
San Antonio officials reported 48 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths from the disease on Thursday.

The new cases brought the total for Bexar County to 1,374 since the start of the pandemic.

Forty-eight people have died.

To date, 638 people with confirmed diagnoses have recovered, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at the daily city-county briefing with Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

One of the two newly reported fatalities was Timothy De La Fuente, 53, a Bexar County sheriffs deputy assigned to the county jail.

De La Fuente died Thursday, two days after being tested for the novel coronavirus  part of a sweeping effort to screen all deputies and inmates at the downtown lockup.

The test results came back positive on Thursday,Wolff said. De La Fuente, a 27-year veteran of the sheriffs office, was home sick with a dry cough and other symptoms, Wolff said. His wife was planning to take him to an emergency room when his condition took a severe turn for the worse, the county judge said.

De La Fuente died at home, Wolff added.

Its a tragedy and one that clearly shows that all of us are vulnerable, regardless of our age and regardless of whats happening with our lives, Wolff said.

On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Abbott pushes Friday reopening even as Texas misses benchmarks set by his advisers

The new cases and deaths came as retailers, malls, restaurants and movie theaters prepared to reopen Friday under an executive order issued this week by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Under Abbotts Open Texas initiative, restaurants, shops and other businesses can reopen at 25 percent occupancy.

Abbott left enforcement of the occupancy limit largely to local governments. Wolff and Nirenberg said they expected residents to report violations but did not anticipate many citations would be issued.

Its going to be the citizens out there that are going to be watching, Wolff said. Theyll be calling.

As businesses reopen, residents can expect a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, though the bump might not appear for weeks, Nirenberg said.

If the virus is in the community and you increase the amount of social activity there is, by definition, youre probably going to see an increase in cases, the mayor said.

Abbotts order encourages residents to wear masks in public, but it bars cities and counties from fining those who refuse. The order supersedes local orders in San Antonio that authorized fines for those who did not wear masks in public in situations where maintaining a 6-foot distance from others would be difficult.

But San Antonio officials still want residents to wear masks.

City Council voted 10-1 Thursday to extend Nirenbergs latest stay-at-home order through May 19. That order requires people 10 years or older to wear masks or cloth face coverings when in a public place such as a grocery store or pharmacy. San Antonio no longer will be able to enforce the rule with fines or citations.

Now Playing: Mayor Nirenberg answers the question: "What keeps you up at night?" Video: mySA

District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, the lone member to vote against extending the order, said it still went too far.

I still think that were overstepping the bounds on saying Its mandatory versus You should wear it considering the health and safety of your neighbors, Perry said.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Businesses allowed to reopen under Abbotts plan must provide face coverings to employees who work in close quarters with one another.

Under Abbotts order, businesses such as bars, barber shops and salons will be able to go up to 50 percent capacity on May 18 if the state hasnt seen a new rash of COVID-19 cases.

As of Thursday, 129 inmates at Bexar County Jail had tested positive for the virus, along with 40 deputies.

Another place where the virus has cropped up is Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare of Live Oak, a facility that focuses on cardiac patients and outpatient therapy. Two patients and one employee there have tested positive for the virus, city spokeswoman Laura Mayes said Thursday.

The facilitys parent company, Advanced Healthcare Solutions, also owns the Southeast Nursing and Rehabiliation Center  a major hotspot for the virus in San Antonio.

To date, 19 municipal employees  including police officers, firefighters and civilian workers  have contracted the disease, San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh told City Council members Thursday. Of those, eight have recovered and returned to work.

Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
Brisbane, Australia, April 30, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - Lithium explorer and developer Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE.AX - News) (HAM:LK1.F - News) (OTCMKTS:LLKKF - News) has completed a compelling and robust Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) into the technical and economic viability of Lake's Kachi Lithium Brine Project in Catamarca, Argentina. The study demonstrates the project's potential to deliver high purity product required by battery makers, based on a sustainable and scalable process (refer project details in Tables 1, 2 and 3*).

The study focused on the engineering and costing of preferred process design options supported by direct lithium extraction test work by Lilac Solutions, with Hatch appointed to provide engineering and design services.

Lake's Managing Director Steve Promnitz said: "This is a major milestone for Lake that allows us to ramp up project development initiatives. The PFS highlights the cost competitive nature and scale of the flagship Kachi Project using direct extraction, but has the benefit of producing high purity product capable of attracting premium pricing, while being a leader in sustainable lithium desired by Tier-1 electric vehicle makers. The PFS together with samples from the pilot plant will help advance discussions with off-takers and financiers."

Lilac Solution's CEO Dave Snydacker said: "Kachi is a globally important lithium project with its large brine resource and environmentally-friendly process. With this PFS, we have demonstrated a non-utilities OPEX of US$2,500 per tonne of lithium carbonate. The remaining 40% of OPEX is primarily due to energy from natural gas at US$21/mmBTU. Given the excellent solar resource on site, we have a great opportunity to incorporate solar PV and reduce OPEX. Looking at the capital cost structure, we see that 51% of CAPEX is related to site works and contingency, so opportunities exist for cost reduction in upcoming engineering studies. The Lilac team is excited to continue working closely with Lake to progress the development of Kachi."

Story continues

Financing discussions are underway. The potential for premium pricing for a preferred high purity product assist this process. The results and the data of the PFS provide a solid basis for these discussions as well as for a definitive feasibility study (DFS).

Financially Robust Project

The key conclusions of the PFS of the Kachi Lithium Brine Project's commercial viability are presented in Table 1*. The unlevered project delivers an attractive prospective financial performance, with conservative long term future price assumptions of US$11,000/t for battery grade lithium carbonate, with a pre-tax NPV8 of US$1050 million and an 25% IRR and post-tax NPV8 of US$748 million and an 22% IRR based on an annual production target of 25,500 tpa LCE which is supported by the Indicated Mineral Resource for an initial 25 years. The annual EBITDA for the project is US$155 million, with life of project EBITDA of US$3,890 million.

Operating and capital costs are presented on Tables 2 and 3*. These are in October 2019 United States dollars, and estimated to an accuracy of about minus 20% to plus 30%. Australian dollars are for comparison only. Capital costs exclude owner's costs whereas operating costs exclude corporate overheads, taxes and royalties. All costs associated with the direct extraction process were provided by Lilac Solutions, with the remainder based on engineering designs supported by OEM quotation, industry enquiries and supplier databases.

Project Location and Mineral Resource

The Kachi Lithium Brine project is based on the Salar de Carachi Pampa, which is part of the endorheic Carachi Pampa basin, located in La Puna region of north-western Argentina. More specifically, it approximately 50 km south of the town of Antofagasta de la Sierra, in the Province of Catamarca and 100km south of the lithium brine operation at Hombre Muerto, owned by Livent (previously FMC).

The explored area of the salar was 175 km2, hosted in a 700 to 880 metre deep fault-bounded north-west orientated depression filled with brine saturated sands, interbedded with silt and clay, capped by a salt crust and small lake. It is partially obscured by a basalt shield volcano and associated debris fan.

Lake Resources controls 100% of the project, which comprises 70,000 hectares of mineral concessions over the salar through its wholly owned Argentine subsidiary Morena del Valle Minerals S.A. Previously untested, Lake drilled 3150 metres in 15 holes into the salar, down to 400 metres depth, resulting in a maiden JORC resource reported to the ASX on 27 November 2018 of:

- 1.0 million tonnes LCE at 290 mg/L lithium (Indicated), and

- 3.4 million tonnes LCE at 210 mg/L lithium (Inferred).

This resource remains open at depth and laterally, and further drilling is expected to expand and upgrade it. It has low impurities as indicated by a Mg/Li ratio of 3.8 to 4.6, and an average drainable porosity at 8%. The 25,500 tpa LCE production target for the PFS was based on the full utilization (100%) of the JORC Indicated Resource. No Inferred Resource was used in the study.

Plant Design and Extraction Method

The plant design targets production of 25,500 tpa of battery grade lithium carbonate through the treatment of brine with direct lithium extraction technology based on ion exchange (IX) with the concept shown in Figure 1*. The process involves the annual treatment of about 23 million cubic metres of brine at 250 g/L lithium, with an overall plant recovery of 83.2%. The eluate from the process is further concentrated and purified and fed into a conventional lithium carbonate plant. No solvent extraction plant is required to remove boron. While the study was based on 24,000 mg/L feedstock to the lithium carbonate plant (LCP), subsequent development by Lilac has shown that concentration to 60,000 mg/L lithium feedstock is possible for shipping of the lithium concentrate off site. No evaporation ponds are used. The lithium-depleted brine is free of any contaminants and can be reinjected underground to support the salar's water balance and protect the environment.

The purified lithium concentrate was reacted with sodium carbonate to produce lithium carbonate. The plant layout is shown on Figure 2*. Extraction test work has demonstrated that a 99.9% lithium carbonate product with low impurities (battery grade) can be produced by the Lilac process (Table 4*) within several hours of extraction as opposed to 18 to 24 months for conventional evaporative concentration processes.

Next Steps

With this PFS, a robust engineering and cost case has been demonstrated. Further engineering studies will be focused on reducing operating and capital costs for the project. The operating cost can be reduced by partially replacing gas with a solar PV and storage system for 8-12 hours per day. The capital cost can be reduced by optimizing the plant layout to minimize earth works, concrete, and steel and by completing a pilot project to reduce contingency.

The next steps involve delivering product samples from the pilot plant modules to potential off-takers and further engineering work to reduce up-front capital and on-going operating costs. Further resource development would extend project life. Studies will be initiated to consider staged development commencing indicatively at 10,000 tpa LCE.

The PFS provides a solid basis for a definitive feasibility study and Lake is confident of progressing the project further based on these latest results.

*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/44B02070



About Lake Resources NL:

Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE.AX - News) is a lithium exploration and development company focused on developing its three lithium brine projects and hard rock project in Argentina, all owned 100%. The leases are in a prime location among the lithium sector's largest players within the Lithium Triangle, where half of the world's lithium is produced. Lake holds one of the largest lithium tenement packages in Argentina (~200,000Ha) secured in 2016 prior to a significant 'rush' by major companies. The large holdings provide the potential to provide consistent security of supply demanded by battery makers and electric vehicle manufacturers.

The Kachi project covers 69,000 ha over a salt lake south of FMC's lithium operation and near Albemarle's Antofalla project in Catamarca Province. Drilling at Kachi has confirmed a large lithium brine bearing basin over 20km long, 15km wide and 400m to 800m deep. Drilling over Kachi (currently 16 drill holes, 3100m) has produced a maiden indicated and inferred resource of 4.4 Mt LCE (Indicated 1.0Mt and Inferred 3.4Mt) within a 8-17 Mt LCE exploration target (refer ASX announcement 27 November 2018).

A direct extraction technique is being tested in partnership with Lilac Solutions, which has shown 80-90% recoveries and lithium brine concentrations in excess of 3000 mg/L lithium and is planned to be trialled on site in tandem with conventional methods as part of a PFS to follow the resource statement. Scope exists to unlock considerable value through partnerships and corporate deals in the near term.

Contact:

Steve Promnitz

Managing Director

Lake Resources N.L.

T: +61-2-9188-7864

E: steve@lakeresources.com.au

Source:

Lake Resources NL

Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
Anna Hui, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, said the federal government has made it clear that general fear of COVID-19 will not support continuation of unemployment benefits under both the regular unemployment insurance program and the PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) program.

Therefore, if an employer provides the employee suitable work to return and the employee chooses not to return to work, then unemployment benefits will cease, Hui said.

Parsons administration has implemented a hazard pay program for some workers as an incentive to keep them on the job. Employees at state facilities can receive $500 per month as long as they show up to work every day.

But Tim Cutt, grievance officer for the Missouri Corrections Officers Association, said that can lead to employees coming to work if they are sick in order to receive the additional money.

Nancy Cross, vice president of Local 1 of the Service Employees International Union, said office workers who are being forced to work from home must use their own computers.
[April 30, 2020] Second Life Mac Teams with Kerry Wood to Provide iPads for Pitch In After-School Program in Chicago

SKOKIE, Ill., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Second Life Mac , an Apple device sellback company, has teamed with Kerry Wood and the Wood Family Foundation (WFF) to provide iPads for the foundations Pitch In After-School Program in Chicago. Click to Tweet .

The WFF was established by former Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and his wife Sarah in 2011 with the vision of improving the lives of Chicago children and inspiring others to join the mission. In 2014 the foundation launched an after-school mentoring program called Pitch In for students at Lawndale Community Academy (LCA) and later expanded to Richard YatesElementary School, Bernhard Moos Elementary, and Charles Sumner Math and Science Community Academy.



Pitch In fosters high-quality mentoring relationships for students in grades 4-8 with supportive adults and students to ensure successful transitions between middle and high school. With school canceled because of Covid-19, we have students in the Pitch In program without access to the technology necessary to keep them connected with their teachers, said Kerry Wood, founder and president of WFF. In addition, we are offering students a social-emotional curriculum during the pandemic featuring videos, online meetings, guest speakers and parent resources. The Second Life Mac donation will make a huge impact for these students.

Second Life Mac, which buys pre-owned Apple devices from schools and enterprises and refurbishes them, donated 50 iPads with 128gb of storage and Wifi+Cellular capabilities. I love to see students engaged and passionate about learning, said Scott Pauga, founder and president of Second Life Mac. We are very happy to support the Pitch In program and its efforts to give kids the skills and desire to reach their potential. About Second Life Mac

Second Life Mac partners with schools and enterprises to create sustainable technology budgets by purchasing their pre-owned Apple devices. The income organizations receive for their aging devices can be used to invest in new technology. Devices are evaluated, data is securely erased to Department of Defense standards, and they are resold via wholesale and retail channels. The company is headquartered in Skokie, Ill., and has procurement professionals around the country. More information is available at www.secondlifemac.com or on Twitter @SecondLifeMac. For information contact: Linda Muskin, 847-432-7300

[email protected] Laura Muriello, 847-644-6934

[email protected]

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Grace Forrest, the daughter of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, said migrant workers were 'being let down'

Modern slavery watchdog Walk Free Foundation is urging businesses and governments to help reduce COVID-19 risks for vulnerable workers, citing a massive outbreak among migrants crammed into dormitories in Singapore under extended lockdown measures.

After months of controlling the spread, cases in the city-state have surged by the thousands, with the vast majority of second-wave infections linked to the dorms.

The construction workers, largely from Bangladesh and India, are confined to their crowded rooms until May 4, and have reported insufficient cleaning services and no personal protective equipment, despite government assurances they would be able to socially isolate.

They were also excluded from a government program to distribute masks to households, the Perth-based foundation says in its special Protecting People in a Pandemic report released on Friday.

'People are being let down,' co-founder Grace Forrest, the daughter of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, told AAP.

'If we leave these populations behind, it is absolutely morally wrong ... and it also creates incredible vulnerability to the entire population,' she said

'If we leave these populations behind, it is absolutely morally wrong ... and it also creates incredible vulnerability to the entire population.'

The workers had also complained of inadequate food and Ms Forrest said she had heard the words 'mass starvation' every day in relation to migrant workers, many of whom were trapped in countries they had moved to or been trafficked to, with their passports confiscated by their employers.

The reports lists ways companies can try to ease the impact of the crisis on workers, with measures including paying suppliers up front or shortening payment terms.

A carpet weaver in Varanasi, India. Modern slavery watchdog Walk Free Foundation is urging businesses and governments to help reduce COVID-19 risks for vulnerable workers

Many companies weren't absorbing the economic hit of lost business caused by COVID-19 and were instead making their low-paid workers suffer, she said, singling out British fashion retailer Primark.

'How ridiculous ... it's completely unfair.'

She said some of the other offending industries included fishing and agriculture.

The expression 'we're all in this together' had been used widely in discussing the pandemic, but it appeared to apply only to those who could afford to socially isolate or work from home, she said.

The foundation's advice for governments includes ensuring undocumented migrant workers have access to virus testing and health care.
While India continues to reel under the effects of coronavirus pandemic, a newborn infant was found abandoned in Uttar Pradesh's Noida on Tuesday.

The Times of India reported that the police personnel found the newborn baby near the Sector-122 Prithla roundabout.

Representational Image/Facebook

Wrapped in pink towels, the girl, who is barely said to be four-days old, was left at the pavement on the side of the road. People walking across the road heard her cries and managed to spot her.



After the Noida Police was informed, a team of cops arrived on the spot and contacted the CHILDLINE India Foundation.

The girl has been admitted at the Kailash Hospital in Noida. After getting clearance from the district administration, she will be sent to Mathura Care Centre.



As per TOI, police said that someone took advantage of the lockdown and left the baby on the side of the road. A probe has been launched in this matter and the search is ongoing to find the parents of the child.

Representational Image

The baby is now at a shelter home in Sector 12 and in the the custody of Childline.



Information about the baby being found was shared by some on social media, which led to several calls coming to Childline from couples interested in adopting her.



Satya Prakash, manager, FXB-Suraksha-Childline, told TOI that he had received as many as 30 calls from couples inquiring about the baby and the adoption process.

Around 30 couples wanted to know whether they could adopt the child but we had to explain to them the legal procedures involved, he was quoted saying by TOI.

Prakash added that most couples are interested in adopting newborns but it can take over a year for the process to be completed because of the queue.
Mothers have given warnings to parents about a Kawasaki-like inflammatory disease affecting children that is believed to be linked to coronavirus.

Doctors were issued an alert about a sharp rise in the number of infants being admitted to intensive care across the UK with the mysterious disease on Tuesday.

Becky White from Batley, west Yorkshire, said her 18-month-old son Freddie suffered a six-week illness she believes to be Kawasaki disease and she fears his symptoms returning.

Meanwhile, Suzanne Mawdsley from Radfcliffe, Greater Manchester, said two of her children suffered from the mysterious illness but displayed different symptoms.

Suzanne Mawdsley from Radfcliffe, Greater Manchester warned parents about the mysterious 'inflammatory disease' believed to be linked to coronavirus after her daughter Quin, 10, developed a rash initially thought to be chickenpox

Her 19-year-old son is also believed to have had the condition but suffered different symptoms, with a large red mark appearing on his tongue (left)

Suzanne says 'with my children their symptoms have been very different, so people should be aware that it might show itself in different ways'

Freddie White began having red sore eyes and a high temperature six weeks ago when the skin on his finger started to peel.

Becky phoned the GP who told her the symptoms sounded like they were viral and Freddie's symptoms started to get worse.

The mother-of-three said the peeling from his fingers and toes began to spread up his arms and legs and Freddie developed a red rash on his stomach and face.

WHAT IS KAWASAKI DISEASE AND TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME? KAWASAKI DISEASE Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels and affects mostly children under five years old. The inflammation can weaken the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with blood. This can lead to aneurysms and heart attacks. The condition affects eight children out of every 100,000 and statistics show it is fatal in three per cent of cases that go untreated. WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES IT CAUSE? The symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually develop in three phases over a six-week period, according to advice on the NHS' website. The first signs are a fever and a rash in the first few weeks, followed by the eyes of children becoming red and swollen. It can also cause the lips to dry up and crack, a sore throat, swollen lymph glands and the tongue to become red, the NHS warns. The second phase of Kawasaki disease often causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, joint pain and jaundice. In the third phase, symptoms tend to disappear but children 'may still have a lack of energy and become easily tired during this time'. TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME Toxic shock syndrome is a highly dangerous bacterial infection - but it can be misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to other illnesses and because it is so rare. It occurs when usually harmless staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus bacteria, which live on the skin, invade the bloodstream and release dangerous toxins. TSS has a mortality rate of between five and 15 per cent. And reoccurs in 30-to-40 per cent of cases. Using tampons is a particular risk factor for TSS, according to the NHS. WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES IT CAUSE? a high temperature

flu-like symptoms

feeling and being sick

diarrhoea

a widespread sunburn-like rash

lips, tongue and the whites of the eyes turning a bright red

dizziness or fainting

difficulty breathing

confusion Advertisement

She was told on a video appointment with a doctor that Freddie had scalded skin syndrome and he was prescribed antibiotics, with symptoms expected to clear up in days.

However, they did not and Becky to Freddie to the hospital to be checked and Freddie was given fluids and Calpol along with antibiotics.

Becky said the antibiotics seemed to work somewhat but when he completed the course of antibiotics, the rash came back worse and covered his whole body.

She went back to A&E and Freddie was diagnosed with streptococcus, which is similar to scarlet fever with symptoms of a strawberry tongue, swollen glands, rash and peeling hands and feet.

Freddie was prescribed a different course of antibiotics for ten days and is now symptom free after one day.

However, after reading about Kawasaki disease and a mysterious inflammatory condition that has been killing children across the country, Becky is worried Freddie's symptoms may have been a sign of something worse.

Becky told Metro.co.uk: 'During this time on antibiotics weve had sleepless nights and a very distressed baby.

Although Freddie has now picked up he still hasnt completely recovered from the rash.

'Hes been off the antibiotics for one day now and my concerns now after seeing the news about Kawasaki are that his symptoms will come back.'

Suzanne Mawdsley warned parents that symptoms of the disease can vary after two of her children suffered from it in different ways.

Her 19-year-old son Kane suffered a red mark on his tongue after experiencing a sore throat and temperature.

However, her ten-year-old daughter Quin developed a nasty rash on her face and neck that looked like measles.

While Kane recovered after taking paracetamol and swilling with salt water, Quin's condition deteriorated after initially being diagnosed as chicken pox.

She told MEN: 'It was only on Monday when I saw on the news about these rashes and thought it looked similar to Quin's. When I rang 111 they said it's most likely Kawasaki.

'If you're in any doubt then it's best to be sure and don't be afraid to ask questions.

'With my children their symptoms have been very different too, so people should be aware that it might show itself in different ways.'

Quin did recover after being prescribed the antihistamine chlorpheniramine to ease the itching and her mum was told to seek further help if her condition worsened.

Earlier this week health chiefs insisted they were 'unaware' of any deaths in British children from a serious 'inflammatory syndrome' thought to be linked to the coronavirus.

Up to 20 children were reported to have fallen critically unwell on Tuesday and Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted 'some' youngsters had mysteriously died with no underlying conditions.

Hancock said he was 'very worried' by the mystery syndrome which experts think is caused by coronavirus infection.

A mother from Lancashire, who does not wish to be named, shared shocking images of her two-year-old daughter with blotchy purple rashes across her entire body

Chloe Knight, 22, revealed her two-year-old son, Freddie Merrylees (pictured), became ill just before the lockdown and was 'like a zombie' due to Kawasaki disease. The youngster had a rash on his body, a high temperature, red eyes and struggled to eat and drink

Melanie Cook, 38, from Gypsyville, Hull, believes her one-year-old son George was struck down with the mystery disease in mid-March after suffering red, puffy eyes (shown), 'violent vomiting' and fatigue.

The illness appears to be similar to Kawasaki disease - which causes blood vessels to become inflamed, and toxic shock syndrome - an overreaction by the immune system which causes the body to attack its own organs.

This has led to some parents linking the Kawasaki disease and the mysterious inflammatory condition together.

Gemma Brown, from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, told MailOnline her two-year-old son Bertie was admitted to hospital last month on his second birthday when his temperature soared over 40C (104F) and his blotchy rash began to turn black.

And Melanie Cook, 38, from Gypsyville, Hull, revealed her one-year-old son George was infected with coronavirus when he was struck down with mystery symptoms in mid-March.

Sabrina and Steve Legge, from Bath, Somerset, were left petrified that sons Dylan, 16, and Colston, 14, have the inflammatory syndrome after suffering from sickness, blisters on their tongues, diarrhoea and stabbing chest pains last week. The family claim their GP has refused to test the teens for coronavirus.
Washington, April 30 : As many as 82 residents living at an aging veterans home in the US state Massachusetts have died, including 70 having tested positive for coronavirus, the state's Executive Office of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday.

The death toll at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home would continue to climb, according to local media reports, calling it the already deadliest known outbreak at a long-term care facility in the country, Xinhua reported.

"It's horrific," said Edward Lapointe, whose father-in-law lives at the veterans home, "These guys never had a chance." Among another 12 death cases, 11 tested negative and one remained unknown, said the executive office.

Meanwhile, an additional 80 residents and 81 employees have tested positive, while 55 residents have tested negative, and 9 have pending tests, according to a report from a US media website. Only 106 residents remained at the veterans home as of Wednesday.

With limited staff, workers were forced to routinely travel to other units in order to provide help, which caused the virus to spread at an extremely high rate, local media quoted Joan Miller, a nurse at the home, as saying.

Some workers were without proper personal protective equipment, a local media outlet reported.

There were nearly 230 residents living at the home in late March and before the outbreak, about one-third of residents were 90 or older and needed round-the-clock care, the paper reported.

Federal officials are looking into whether residents were denied proper medical care, according to local media reports.
Three McDonald's stores were forced to close their doors after running out of vital ingredients for their burgers.

Franchisees Rob and Linley Parry, who own the three restaurants in Rotorua, New Zealand, opened on Tuesday after the country eased coronavirus restrictions to level three.

The relaxing of Jacinda Ardern's tough measures allowed people to travel to work, spend time outdoors and order takeaway food for the first time in nearly five weeks.

The franchisee couple assumed they had enough stock to last five days when they reopened their stores, but were completely sold out within 36 hours.

Cars line up at a McDonald's drive-thru on April 28 as New Zealand eases strict regulations implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease

People wait to collect takeaway food at a McDonald's restaurant on April 28 in the wake of New Zealand easing strict regulations implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease

'We managed to get a top-up yesterday [Wednesday] but that was not even close to being enough,' Mr Parry told NZ Herald.

All three stores were forced to close early on Thursday after being 'eaten out of stock'.

A large delivery was due at 8pm to replenish stocks and open drive-thrus at 9pm.

They have also requested another delivery for ingredients expected to arrive on Saturday.

'Once level three began, everyone in Rotorua wanted a little bit of normality, whether that's the drive-thru at Macca's or going to Blue Lake,' Mr Parry said.

'People have clearly missed us.'

Customers queue up for the drive-thru at a McDonald's restaurant on the first day of the easing of restrictions in Wellington on April 28

Other stores in New Zealand are facing similar food shortages as restrictions are lifted.

McDonald's New Zealand said most stores had run out of lettuce, but orders could still be made without the ingredient.

McDonald's spokesman Simon Kenny said the popular Big Mac and McChicken were the most affected items without lettuce.

The fast food chain saw more than 300,000 burgers sold in the period of 24 hours after restrictions were eased, Stuff reported.
Democrats are happy because...

...Joe Biden is hidden in a basement and is not yet exposed as the elderly, frail, and going senile disaster candidate he really is.

...the coronavirus is racist. It thrives on communities of color who have been marginalized, victimized, and everything-ized by the man and falls under a new category called "virus injustice."

...eighty-year-old plastic surgery patient Nancy Pelosi can cover her neck with a bandana.

Democrats are happy because...

...Americans have forgotten about their disastrous impeachment hoax for the most part.

...their ridiculous primary process that resulted in Joe Biden being given the nomination has been mostly forgotten.

...the Deep State crimes against the United States that Democrats backed and paid for have been largely forgotten.

Democrats are happy because...

...totalitarianism is cool again! Americans are willing to give up their freedoms, including agreeing to mass house arrest, under the guise of a public health crisis.

...the idea of totalitarian government in America is no longer a far-fetched evil leftist Utopian fantasy; the police state is real, and it's here now.

...the Nazi and Soviet methodology of snitching on neighbors has been normalized thanks to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and New York City's Bill "von Wilhelm" de Blasio.

...mass surveillance will become acceptable under the guise of public health, or "saving lives," and who can argue with that?

Democrats are happy because...

...Donald Trump no longer does big rallies where he mocks them endlessly.

...Donald Trump's greatest accomplishment, a strong U.S. economy, has been destroyed.

...as an epidemic manager, Donald Trump is out of his natural element as economic manager.

...Donald Trump will be judged in November not for his many accomplishments in office for three years, but largely for his response to the coronavirus.

Democrats are happy because...

...millions of Americans are now dependent on the federal government to survive, and unemployment checks will be preferred by many over working.

...thousands of businesses, large and small, are now dependent on the federal government to survive.

...Trump is blowing up the budget and deficit by trillions of dollars in only a few weeks, something it took Obama eight years to do.

...a likely $26-trillion deficit could lead to the bankruptcy of the United States, which could sweep Democrats into power and justify the raising of taxes, the elimination of millionaires and billionaires, and a permanent socialist state.

Democrats are happy because...

...there are 40,000 ventilators in production, even though they are unneeded, and an unused empty hospital ship and an empty Javits center full of unused hospital beds in New York City.

...the coronavirus allows them to remind us of their intellectual superiority by emphasizing their belief in "science," as they do with global warming climate change.

...reports are coming out that hydroxychloroquine might not be helping COVID-19 patients.

...the coronavirus might come back in the fall, and lockdowns might need to stay in place or come back soon.

...it's impossible to test everyone and EVERYONE MUST BE TESTED before lockdowns can be lifted.

Democrats are happy because...

...in the future, they can demand, or just implement by executive order, voting by mail and online voting for anyone who feels he is vulnerable to seasonal flu (especially communities of color, disabled people, those with dependent children, or those who just fear getting the flu).

...they didn't think disposing of the Constitution and Bill of Rights was going to be this easy.

...authoritarianism, lockdowns, arrests of mothers in parks, breaking up funerals, and dictatorship in America are no longer a fantasy of fringe psychopaths. All of it has now gone mainstream, and no one seems to mind!

Hollywood film director Joel Gilbert is president of Highway 61 Entertainment. Among his many films are political documentaries including The Trayvon Hoax: Unmasking the Witness Fraud that Divided America; Trump: The Art of the Insult; There's No Place Like Utopia; Dreams from My Real Father; Atomic Jihad; and Farewell Israel: Bush, Iran and the Revolt of Islam.

Photo credit: Wendy from Lake Forest (cropped).
A goose has taken advantage of the coronavirus lockdown to nest in one of the north of Englands busiest transport hubs.

The proud mother, who has just laid her fourth egg, is becoming a social media star after making her home in a raised flowerbed in the middle of the main concourse at York railway station.

The area is normally crowded with commuters and tourists but it has seen just a fraction of its normal footfall over the last few weeks.

Now the goose, who has not yet been named, has settled in and is watched daily by thousands of people via a series of goosecam feeds posted by the rail firm London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which runs the station.

The firm posted footage on Twitter on Wednesday evening which said: HONK. There is nothing wrong with your #goosecam set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture.

There are now FOUR eggs in the flowerbed nest at #York, and it seems the station team is taking good care of Mother Goose!

People watching the footage from the various cameras said they are now waiting for the babies to emerge.

An LNER spokesman said: We are thrilled to see the return of the goose to York station. Interest from customers viewing our regular #GooseCam posts on social media continues to be incredible.

Were grateful to our customers for continuing to follow the advice to stay at home, although we expect York station could soon become home to several more guests in the coming days.

The spokesman said staff at the station are welcoming suggestions for names for Mother Goose via LNERs social media channels.

The goose was first spotted 10 days ago by an eagle-eyed British Transport Police community support officer who posted pictures on Twitter and said: This afternoon PCSO Ridley was on patrol at York Train Station when he noticed this goose had laid an egg amongst the flowers in the normally extremely busy main entrance. Amazing.

Thank you to all those who continue to support our #NHSheroes in obeying the #lockdown.

The goose is being watched by thousands through the station's 'goosecam' / LNER

The feathered visitor eluded station staff for a few days but they spotted her and set up their goosecam, posting: Have you heard that a goose has laid its egg in the entrance of #York station?
Gina Shakespeare is a film and television producer from New Zealand. Over the past 15 years, she has produced and directed hundreds of hours of content, including TV commercials, programs, and corporate video for a wide variety of clientele; and has authored 3 short films. She is currently the producer and host of "Declassified," an investigative news program by The Epoch Times.
If we thought the decision to impose a stay-at-home order was tough, then the options on how the coronavirus lockdown may be relaxed are proving much more agonising.

The Republic has been in de facto lockdown from March 28 and since then we have become used to eerily empty streets and the new norm of physical distancing.

Lockdown has protected us from the tragedy of overwhelmed intensive care units, and slowed the spread of the virus while saving lives.

But the stark figures around deaths, new cases of the virus, hospital and intensive-care admissions may not be enough to provide the reassurance public health doctors need to open the gates wide for now.

Even 'light-touch' lifting of restrictions could risk another resurgence and, although some European countries are a step ahead, there is no blueprint.

The problem, as experts point out, is that lockdown is the best safety net available to tackle the virus in the absence of treatments or a vaccine.

There are currently few other weapons available to reduce levels of infection.

A new report from 'The Lancet' medical journal has more bad news in the countdown to us hearing what shape the first stage of the national lockdown exit plan will be.

It shows the first randomised trial of remdesivir suggests the antiviral drug is not associated with significant clinical benefits in the treatment of coronavirus patients.

The Ebola drug was listed as the "most promising candidate" for a Covid-19 therapy in January by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The study shows treatment with remdesivir did not speed up recovery or reduce deaths from Covid-19 compared with placebo in hospitalised patients in the trial.

The authors from China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in China say that future studies of remdesivir are needed to better understand its potential effectiveness.

It is still early days and there are more than 300 drug trials under way to investigate treatments for the virus.

But a study of another much-hyped drug, the anti-malarial medicine hydroxychloroquine, found no benefit either alone or given in combination with an antibiotic for coronavirus patients.

A vaccine is likely to take 12 to 18 months. But there are hopes that an experimental vaccine that is regarded as safe and effective enough to be rolled out to maybe high-risk groups such as health workers could be ready in weeks or months. This would be allowed under emergency rules developed by drug regulatory agencies and the WHO.

The reality is Ireland is part of a big European experiment as countries lift restrictions.

France will begin the exit from May 11, with markets and other non-essential retailers among the first to re-open.

Schools will start to resume, but only if teachers confine pupils to no more than 15 children in each classroom at a time.

Bars and restaurants will remain shut except for delivery services.

Italy is emerging from one of the longest and more severe lockdowns in Europe.

Distance limits for exercise are being relaxed and some shops such as bookstores are open, while all non-essential stores will be open by May 18.

Sports teams will be permitted to restart training.

Museums and libraries will also be open to the public from mid-May.

The lack of consistency and assortment of different post-lockdown scenarios across Europe shows some of the dilemmas faced by public health experts here in deciding how far the relaxation should go.

When the lockdown was called here in mid-March, the take-off of infection in nursing homes and other community residential centres had yet to emerge, and now this so-called hotbed of infection will be key to the decisions taken this week.

Even if there is limited easing, it will be necessary to have as many safeguards in place as possible to try to keep the infection in check.

Infectious diseases expert Prof Sam McConkey has said it is inevitable the coronavirus will spread after any lifting of lockdown measures.

New cases must be found quickly and their contacts traced to ensure the infection is isolated and not given the chance to spread.

Public health staff should be able to trace contacts within three to six hours, he said.

Given it still takes several days to receive a test result this may not be possible and it raises questions about how far the lockdown can be safely reversed in the coming weeks at least.

Some of the best minds have urged that a lockdown should provide a clear timetable of what will be phased in over time.

It should be crystal clear, and there should a risk rating for the public, showing rationale behind each of the proposed milestones.

Some European countries have outlined these timetables.

It gives the public and businesses hope and helps people out of the current state of limbo.

None of that was necessary when the lockdown was called and the blanket restrictions were enforced, fuelled by the fear thousands would die and hospitals would not be able to cope.

Physical distancing will be at the heart of our activities for 2020 at least as we try to learn to go about our business while also living with the threat of the virus.
Kolkata, April 30 : Expressing pain over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark that the opposition parties were behaving like 'vultures waiting for the dead', Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, here on Thursday, asked her to shun 'petty politicking'.

"Appeal all parties to be in sync in combating Covid-19. Pained @MamataOfficial opposition behaving like 'vultures waiting for the dead'. We are in 'roof falling' situation and must shun petty politicking," Dhankhar tweeted.

Dhankhar also accused the Banerjee government of 'muzzling' the media. "Concerned @MamataOfficial warning to media 'behave properly' have noticed, felt muzzling and control of media by varied means. Why put media in fear? "There should not be anything to hide. Independent media is spine, essential element of democracy. Why stress this asset," the Governor tweeted.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hasnt set a target date for when she believes it will be safe to reopen more of New Mexicos economy.

But guidelines issued by the White House and Johns Hopkins University offer a few clues about what to watch for.

One of the standards, for example, suggests phasing in a reopening of businesses after a decline in new cases over a two-week period  a standard New Mexico doesnt appear to meet yet.

The number of new cases announced Wednesday, in fact, represents the biggest single-day surge so far.

The federal and university guidelines, however, dont answer a key question  whether to allow certain counties or regions of New Mexico to open earlier than others. Instead, the White House and Johns Hopkins each leave that decision to a governors discretion.

About 20 of New Mexicos 33 counties either havent reported a virus case in the past two weeks or have so few cases that its difficult to discern a trend. Most are sparsely populated, but they also include Los Alamos, Lincoln and Taos counties.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat and former state health secretary, has repeatedly rejected the idea of opening some counties but not others.

Transmission of the virus doesnt heed county lines, she has said, and the rapid growth in McKinley and San Juan counties demonstrates how easily the virus can spread in areas far from the states most populous cities.

The fight against (COVID-19) is the same in every part of the state, whether there are 3 positive cases in a certain community or 300, Lujan Grisham said in a tweet Wednesday. Three cases becomes 300 very quickly.

Republican state legislators and others critical of the governors public health orders, meanwhile, say the state shouldnt impose a one-size-fits-all restriction for New Mexico, especially when some counties havent reported even one case over the past two weeks.

We ought to follow the data, House Minority Leader James Townsend, R-Artesia, told reporters in a conference call this week. Thats what everyone wants  to be treated fairly.

Other criteria

Case counts are just one standard outlined by the White House and Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Adequate supplies of personal protective equipment for health care workers, robust testing to monitor the spread of the disease and the capacity to carry out contact-tracing investigations are also suggested criteria.

Human Services Secretary David Scrase suggested Wednesday that New Mexico could reach its targeted conditions for relaxing some restrictions within the next two to three weeks.

We believe that if New Mexicans continue to practice the same level of social distancing that they have been, that we will reach our proposed gating criteria for disease spread, testing, contact tracing and isolation, and hospital capacity and PPE within the next 2-3 weeks, he said in a written statement.

Neither the White House nor Johns Hopkins offers a black-and-white formula for when it would be safe to reopen a state or region.

The Johns Hopkins guidelines  authored by professors, scientists and Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration under President Trump  suggest that governors work with public health professionals, hospital leaders and mayors to assess when to proceed to a phased-in reopening.

Recognize that the desire to get back to normal as quickly as possible is a common reaction in the catastrophic context, and it is an impulse worth restraining, the authors urged in a 23-page document outlining their guidance to states.

The White House-issued Guidelines for Opening Up America Again also grant discretion to governors. They suggest where appropriate that governors work on a regional basis to satisfy the opening criteria.

The federal guidelines say they can be carried out statewide or county by county, at a governors discretion.

State and local officials may need to tailor the application of these criteria to local circumstances (e.g., metropolitan areas that have suffered severe COVID outbreaks, rural and suburban areas where outbreaks have not occurred or have been mild), the federal guidelines say.

No decline in new cases

New Mexico hasnt yet had a decline in new daily cases.

One of the White House standards calls for a downward trajectory of documented cases or percentage of positive tests over a 14-day period. The Johns Hopkins criteria is similar but slightly more strict, with a suggestion to wait until the number of new cases has declined for at least 14 days.

A statistical model crafted by a team at Los Alamos National Laboratory estimated a 51% chance earlier this week that New Mexico was already past the peak in daily new cases.

The daily case counts reported by New Mexico health officials are still bouncing around, fluctuating based on how many tests are administered and whether laboratories report full results each day. But six of the highest single-day case totals have come since April 22.

The state announced 239 new positive tests Wednesday, the largest number in a day so far. About 7% of the new test results announced Wednesday were positive, 2 percentage points higher than the day before.

Lujan Grisham and state health officials have described the trend as a flattened curve, meaning New Mexicans have succeeded overall in slowing the growth in new cases. But the governor hasnt characterized it as a decline.

Tracking individual counties is difficult, because the state often adjusts the numbers afterward to remove duplicate totals or make other changes.

But about 20 counties have had no or a minimal number of cases over the past 14 days.

On the other hand, the totals can climb quickly. Socorro County had no reported cases for three consecutive days earlier this month, for example, and then jumped to 11 in a single day. The number declined again after that.

Patience urged

Rep. Deborah Armstrong, an Albuquerque Democrat and chairwoman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, said she hopes the public will remain patient. She is sheltering at home with her 91-year-old mother and her daughter with advanced cancer.

New Mexico is making progress on testing and health care equipment, Armstrong said, but its best to proceed cautiously.

I dont think any of us really want our parents, our siblings, our kids  those who are vulnerable  to be given a death sentence, Armstrong said.

Republican lawmakers, in turn, continue to push for a limited reopening in parts of the state. Four GOP legislators from Roswell delivered a resolution to the Governors Office on Wednesday making their case.

Rep. Greg Nibert, R-Roswell, told reporters this week that many small businesses wont survive if the closure of nonessential businesses remains in place, pushing the state to the brink of a depression.

But business owners and customers are willing to abide by social distancing instructions, he said, to get the economy moving again. Its clear that some parts of the state havent been hit as hard, Nibert said, making it reasonable to craft locally tailored solutions.

Were on the precipice of a real economic collapse in our state if this goes on longer, Nibert said.

Lujan Grishams plans for reopening should become clearer Thursday. She has scheduled a public briefing to explain her decision to extend the states public health orders through May 15.

But she hasnt ruled out modifying the orders.
About 70,000 Massachusetts workers filed new claims for unemployment insurance in the week that ended April 25, marking the sixth straight week the depth of the economic impact coronavirus crisis has been reflected in the labor market.

The state has now processed nearly 725,000 new unemployment claims since mid-March  a figure representing about one-fifth of the total state workforce eligible for the benefits.

But it was the second straight week the number of new claims in Massachusetts fell. The state saw 80,969 new claims in the week ending April 18, according to revised estimates  the first time in a month the number of new claims fell below 100,000.

The new data released Thursday by the U.S. Employment and Training Administration also showed 3.8 million new claims filed nationwide, a decrease of 603,000 from the previous week.

The news comes one day after the federal government reported that U.S. gross domestic product shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in the first quarter. The numbers for the second quarter are expected to be even worse.

New filings peaked in Massachusetts in the week ending March 28, when there were over 180,000 new claims.

These are unprecedented numbers. In the last 20 years, no other week has seen more than 30,000 new claims filed in Massachusetts.

The new claims for unemployment have yet to show up in the much-watched unemployment rate.

The number of unemployed people in Springfield dropped by 200 in March, according to figures released last week by the state, and the citys unemployment rate of 5% was barely changed from the month before. As a region, Greater Springfield reported an unemployment rate of 3.9%, down from 4% the month before.

But those numbers are based on surveys of households and of workplaces completed in the middle of March, before most of the shutdown orders and Gov. Charlie Bakers stay-at-home advisory aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

National surveys reflect the dire labor market. According to the Conference Board, those saying jobs are plentiful decreased from 43.3% to 20%. Those claiming jobs are hard to get increased from 13.8% to 33.6%.

The proportion of respondents expecting more jobs in the months ahead rose from 16.9% to 41% percent, but those anticipating fewer jobs also increased, from 17.6% to 20.8%.

How to get help

Help filing a claim is available by phone at 877-626-6800, or online at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-unemployment-benefits.

MassHire Career Centers across the state offer career counseling and job search services. To find the career center near you, visit mass.gov/masshire-career-centers.

Related Content:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 12:05:31|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- India's federal health ministry Thursday said 66 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides fresh 1,263 positive cases were reported since last evening across the country, taking the number of deaths to 1,074 and total cases to 33,050.

"As on 8:00 a.m. (local time), today 1,074 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," information released by the ministry said.

On Wednesday evening, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country was 31,787 and the death toll was 1,008.

According to ministry officials, so far 8,325 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement.

"The number of active cases in the country right now is 23,651," the information said.

Thursday marks the 37th straight day of ongoing lockdown across the country announced by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The lockdown which was announced on March 25 has been extended until May 3.

The federal home ministry said new guidelines to fight COVID-19 will come into effect from May 4, which would give considerable relaxations to many districts.

Meanwhile, government has issued an order to states to facilitate inter-state movement of stranded people including migrant labourers in the country. According to federal home ministry, all persons must be medically screened at source and destination and kept in home or institutional quarantine on arrival, as per health ministry's guidelines. Enditem
Christian leaders Eric Metaxas, David French debate evangelicals and Trump

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Two popular Christian figures, Eric Metaxas and David French, recently debated the evangelical case for and against President Donald Trump.

French, The Dispatch senior editor, is a self-described conservative Never Trumper, while Metaxas, a conservative radio host and author, has been outspoken about his support of the Trump administration.

Opening the debate moderated by Gabe Lyons during last weeks Q 2020 Virtual Summit, Metaxas explained that while he hated and despised Trump before the primaries, his mindset changed as he penned an op-ed for the New Yorker lightly mocking the now-president.

I began to see him differently, he said. I was born in Queens, my family is working class. Something connected me with him, as though I was listening to a Jackie Mason or to some comedian who communicates in a different way ... I began to shift and began actually to be open to the idea that maybe he could, you know, represent Americans.

Metaxas pointed out that famed theologian Martin Luther was a maniac who communicated in a crazy way that allowed him to connect with people who felt disenfranchised.

I think when you see Trump in that context, things change, he said. The question is, can we see him in that context?

The best-selling author also explained why he continued to support Trump after the Access Hollywood tape dropped in 2016 containing his lewd remarks about women.

According to Metaxas, the viciousness of the opposition to Trump drove him deeper into his support of the then-nominee. He argued that such opposition was hypocritical, adding: Who among us has not said horrifying things?

That level of viciousness blew my mind and made me think, perhaps I am missing something here. And perhaps, God chose Trump to shame the Church, he said. The Church had not been living out its faith in a way that was changing the world, that was sacrificial ... and that God, as He often does, reaches outside the camp to someone that will make our heads explode, and chooses him to shame us, to fight, because we decline to fight.

French explained his own anti-Trump position by emphasizing that Christians are called to be salt and light in all areas of life. Theres no area in which you are not called to be an ambassador and a witness for Jesus Christ. Theres no area that you wall off from Christian ethics, none, no area," he said.

He referenced his opposition to President Bill Clintons sexually immoral behavior in the '90s, pointing out that the Southern Baptist Convention roundly condemned such behavior at the time, stating: Tolerance of serious wrong by leaders sears the conscience of the culture, spawns unrestrained immorality, and also surely results in Gods judgment.

Evangelicals quickly went from the group of people most likely to say that character mattered to in 2016 the group that said the least likely that character mattered, French explained. Now did the truth, the theological truths articulated in the Southern Baptist Convention statement change? No, they did not. What changed was the partisan imperative. What changed was the atmosphere of fear.

In response, Metaxas argued that Trumps conservative policies, especially for the unborn, rise above his character flaws, noting, Obama ... is morally upstanding and hes a good family man and so on and so forth, and yet he did everything in his power to make it possible to murder the unborn in their mothers' wombs. He did everything he could to undermine biblical marriage. How do you give that a pass?

French argued that while support for life is necessary, its not sufficient, explaining that for a candidate to earn my vote they have to be pro-life but just being pro-life by itself does not earn my vote. A person who is malicious, cruel, corrupt, incompetent.

According to French, Americans dont just have two choices in the upcoming election, arguing they can exercise a veto and pick up the flag with a better candidate next time. He argued that many evangelicals voted for Trump due to fear that Americas about to end, evangelicals are ... isolated, were alone.

Were the most powerful religious movement in the world, he stressed. We have veto power over the political fortunes of one of the two great political parties of the most powerful nation in the history of the world. And we act as if we are some kind of persecuted minority on the edge of extinction, and thats, I think, grotesque.

Later in the debate, Metaxas acknowledged that ultimately, Americans dont need Trump  they need God. However, he reiterated the argument that Trumps earlier sexual indiscretions and controversial communication style dont outweigh the benefits of his conservative policies.

I simply dont see how anything that has been said here or has been said would get me to allow someone like Joe Biden or a Hillary Clinton to genuinely destroy America forever and we havent even touched on Kavanaugh, he said.

Evangelicals have been largely divided on Trumps candidacy. A recent survey from Pew Research Center found that while white evangelicals remain a core support group of Trumps, many have a low view of his character and conduct.

Just 15 percent of white evangelicals say morally upstanding describes the president very well; a quarter say honest is a very good descriptor of him; and fewer than a third say they like Trumps behavior.

While 63 percent of white evangelicals prioritize political leaders sense of morality and ethics, 67 percent say its just as important that they stand up for people with their same religious beliefs.

Recently, prominent SBC leader Albert Mohler made headlines after publicly reversing his anti-Trump position from 2016, revealing he will likely vote for Trump in November.

In an interview with The Christian Post, pastor and author Tim Keller pointed out that many evangelicals  particularly millennials  currently feel homeless politically.

Most people have to realize that both the Republican and Democratic party are for some good things the Bible would want you to be, he said. For example, the Bible says we should really care about economic and racial justice. The Bible also says that same-sex marriage and abortion are wrong.

We should take a look at that. The Republicans' platform is strong on two of them and weak on two of them, and the Democratic platform is strong on two of them and weak on two of them. Which one is the Christian party? You can say one is more important than the other because in abortion someone loses their life and maybe thats decisive enough for you to vote for Republican candidates. But you cant hitch the entire Christian church to one of those because no party reflects the whole gamut of what the Bibles values are.
President Trumps son in law definition of success may be indicative of mental illness as serious as dementia and narcissistic personality disorder that Trump suffers.







April 30, 2020

COVID-19 Coronavirus Outbreak  World StatisticsEmail

Coronavirus Cases: 3,274,346 Closed Cases: 1,263,255 Deaths: 231,473 Recovered: 1,031,782 Currently Infected Patients 2,011,091

United States

Total Coronavirus Cases: 1,077,347 Active Cases: 865,228 Closed Cases: 212,119 Deaths: 62,433 Recovered: 149,686

Jared Kushner's declaration during a Fox News interview on Wednesday, with Fox and Friends, declared the administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic as a "great success story."Less than a day after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States topped 1 million.

The insanity of describing the Trump Administration a success with 62,000 people already dead, over 865,000 active cases with 18,851 people in critical condition from a man with absolutely no public service experience isnt escaping any thinking persons attention.

When Kushner was transfixed when questioned about coronavirus testing levels in the United States. He ignored the fact that that there is no national coordination and nowhere near the capability of testing the 5 million people a day a Harvard study has determined needed to re-open America safely. Instead, he pretended that the need testing exists and said the question shouldn't be why did it take so long, but instead should be

"How did we do this so quickly?"

Kushner maintained the talking points with the Trump propaganda, also predicted that the U.S. economy would be "rocking" by July.

"May will be a transition month ... I think you will see by June, a lot of the country should be back to normal, and the hope is that by July the country is rocking again,"

Many economists are predicting the U.S. economy that shrunk in the last quarter by 4.8% is expected to nosedive by over 30% in the second quarter of the year.

And, while the unemployment levels show over 30 million Americans caught in what can now only be described as the first depression since the 1930s many experts, labor experts and economists are saying the real unemployment number is closer to 40 million already and estimate antiquated unemployment systems in the majority of U.S. states have another 9 million people waiting just to have their applications processed.

Kushners definition of success ignores that for over 70 days President Trump minimized and ignored the growing pandemic advise from his intelligence advisors, cabinet aids, and medical advisors. He also ignores the fact that states are opening up despite not seeing the crucial reduction of infections for the recommended 14 days. Many health experts, including NIHs Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, are warning that opening up early could lead to a devastating second wave that combines with the Flu in the fall.

Kushner is attempting like his father-in-law to try to reframe the narrative around the growing number of coronavirus cases and deaths, which have now surpassed the total of U.S. troop fatalities during the Vietnam War.

Trump said Wednesday afternoon that other countries

"don't have the ability to do what we're doing" on coronavirus testing and that while the 1 million coronavirus cases sound bad, it is "an indication that our testing is so superior."

"So, we reached a million cases, that's a tremendous amount, and the reason is because of testing because other countries don't test. If you don't test, you're not going to find cases."





The truth is that we have tested less than 2% of the U.S. population, and President Trump legitimately appears to have a dangerous genetic pre-disposition to lies even when the truth would serve his interests better.

Trump also on Wednesday seemed to affirm Kushner's frustration over the administration not getting credit for its response, calling his son in law "a genius."

Politicians on both sides of the political aisle as well as nonpartisan public health experts, physicians, nurses, and health care workers across the country have been and continue to raise alarms of major impediments to conduct coronavirus tests. They are saying hundreds, if not thousands of times every day, not enough tests are being done and that laboratories have an insufficient capacity thats leading to long wait times for results, and TREMENDOUS shortages of required testing materials, such as swabs and reagents.

But inside the White House, Trump and Kushner, along with most of the President senior political advisers, continue to live in and delusional alternate reality and chafe at not getting enough credit for their efforts in combating the coronavirus.

This reality would suggest that Jared Kushner isnt a genius but instead a village idiot. Recent polls show that Vice President Biden lead has expanded to 10 points or more in national polling and that hes ahead in crucial swing states that Trump must win to be reelected. Meanwhile, Trump is also in danger in traditionally red states like Texas, Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, and Florida. The polling has been so horrible.







Susan Rice: Kushner's comment would be laughable if it weren't deadly serious








Caroline Sheelan and Tina McDonnell, the two Louth women who run a 60-strong group of sewists who work dauntingly-long hours to produce medical protection masks during the Covid-19 outbreak, didnt know each other up until a few weeks ago. Now theyre business partners and close friends. Weird how a global pandemic thats forcing us all to stay apart, can bring total strangers together.

We started off as members of the 'Masks4AllIreland  Sewists against Covid-19' group on Facebook but didnt know each other until one day Tina needed a needle for her machine and I had spares, Caroline explains with a laugh.

The national group was doing wonderful work providing masks to frontline workers, but Caroline felt she and Tina could do even more - by looking local.

It became clear setting up a local group would be more beneficial, so we set up the 'Masks for Louth' Facebook page and teamed up with a core group of eight other people from Louth who were members of the All Ireland group also and it has grown from there.

And grown it has - there are now 60 in the group, working around the clock to produce the life-saving equipment - and its entirely non-profit, but very reliant on donations. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help.

The support of local people has been invaluable, Caroline adds.

We have been very fortunate to receive tremendous support from local businesses and we would like to thank most sincerely McEvoys, Hubert Tullys and Guineys for supplying and donating fabric, AV Direct and Don Keatings for packaging materials, Print Express for all our printing needs, Sean Moriarity Transport for taking on much of the daily collections and deliveries around the county and to Dundalk Credit Union for their amazing donation of 1,000.

The cost of this project is not cheap but the reward of saving lives and reducing the spread of Covid-19 makes it worth every penny. 

Caroline continues: One of the first things Tina said to me when we set up the county group is that local supports local and this initiative is testament to that. The people of Co. Louth have come out in a big way to support this through donations of money, fabric, sewing machines, offers to help in any way they can and that community spirit makes all the long hours worthwhile.

While juggling a six-month-old, online teaching and the sewing group, Caroline says her days are busy - but she wouldnt have it any other way.

Initially our days were spent getting people up to speed with the pattern, sourcing fabric and materials and getting supplies to people to get them on the way! As well as sorting through requests and allocating masks to them. As the operation has gotten bigger we have looked at making it a more streamlined process.

The logistics involved in the process are incredible for what is essentially a cottage industry, and theres no doubt that Caroline, Tina and the rest of the group are working to maximum possible efficiency.

We receive daily totals of masks available from our sewists and requests for more fabric, explains Caroline further. Collection of these masks is then organised and they are taken to a central hub where they are sorted according to the requests that have been received. To reduce over-handling of these masks they have been pre-packaged by the person who made them.

We also have a number of people prewashing and cutting the fabric so that it arrives ready for the people sewing, this will greatly speed up our rate of production. We would dearly love if any laundrette was interested in coming on board to wash and press the material, they can do it much quicker and easier than household machines. There is also the constant stream of activity on the three pages to be updated and messages to respond to.

While the masks certainly go out to those on the frontline, Caroline and Tina and Masks For Louth are not limiting access - they want to help as many people as possible feel safer and feel protected.

These masks are being requested by people from all backgrounds - carers , nurses, pharmacy staff, vulnerable members of our community to name but a few. Masks are not there to protect the wearer, but to protect the people who come in contact with the wearer.

There are also very important guidelines from the WHO on how to wear these masks and care for them in order for them to be effective and we provide that information in a leaflet when delivering the masks.

Our first aim is to provide all healthcare and frontline workers with a mask, but ultimately we believe the general population will be required to wear them after lockdown based on the data coming from other countries so our hope is to be able to provide every Louth resident with a mask! We are an ambitious bunch! We do believe this is well within our reach with enough support.

The Masks for Louth GoFundMe page is HERE for anyone who would like to contribute.
Emboldened by billionaire Elon Musk, a cadre of wealthy tech investors and venture capitalists is pushing for an end to shelter-in-place orders, arguing the harm of the quarantines outweighs the benefits and even equating the measures to forced detention.

Musk railed against the widespread shelter-in-place orders on his electric car company Tesla's earnings call Wednesday, using harsh language and profanities to describe orders he characterized as "fascist" and as "forcibly imprisoning" people in their homes.

By Thursday, Musk was doubling down - sharing links to articles supporting his position and amplifying the posts of venture capitalists and tech investors who agreed with him.

"Time to free us for the sake of progress," wrote investor Adam Draper, managing director of the firm Boost VC, in a post retweeted by Musk.

To support the idea of getting back to work before shelter-in-place orders are over, Draper cited a widely read essay by prominent investor and Facebook board member Marc Andreessen called "It's Time to Build," but Andreessen's argument was more about a return to investing in infrastructure and ambitious projects. His firm, Andreessen Horowitz, recently closed its second fund to invest in cryptocurrency.

"Elon Musk is a national treasure," Andreessen said through a spokesperson.

Jason Calacanis, an early investor in numerous companies including Uber, wrote that the decision to remain home should be left to individuals.

"People already have this right, the government is simply lobbying folks to stay home, but they can't keep them there," he said on Twitter, another post Musk retweeted.

Tesla investor Ross Gerber also joined Musk in critiquing the orders following the CEO's missive, pressing California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, on the side effects of the orders on mental health and families.

"Have you [done] that calculus?" Gerber asked in a tweet. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In response to questions about his tweet, Gerber said he took objection to the "arbitrary" nature of the closures and said the rollouts equated to politicians picking winning and losers. He said masks and social distancing can serve as effective measures without the need for extreme shelter-in-place orders.

"I believe in the balance of cost vs cure," he said, "not just cure at all cost. [It's] been 6 weeks. They should be able to deal with this by now."

Tesla, Calacanis and Draper didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The positions by Silicon Valley's brashest voices may represent a business interest more than a moral or ideological stand. Like other industries, tech has been beset by layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts during the economic downturn that the novel coronavirus has caused - though some tech companies were also among the first to tell employees to work from home, even before quarantine orders. Musk himself launched into his tirade after highlighting the impact of the Bay Area's strict shelter-in-place orders' impact on his Fremont, Calif., factory's ability to produce cars.

The rhetoric mirrors that of the protesters who have taken to streets in cities around the country demanding the orders come to an end.

Few in Silicon Valley support rushing to reopen. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday expressed concern about what lies ahead for the country. "While there are massive societal costs from the current shelter in place restrictions, I worry that reopening certain places too quickly, before infection rates have been reduced to very minimal levels, will almost guarantee future outbreaks and even worse economic outcomes," he said.

There is a strong libertarian streak among tech leaders, emboldened in recent weeks by the federal government's response to the spread of covid-19. Silicon Valley's self-stylized contrarians who warned their followers about the novel coronavirus early have grown increasingly skeptical of both institutions and established scientific expertise. "The Manhattan Project for the virus is going to end up being the Palo Alto Project," entrepreneur and investor Balaji Srinivasan tweeted in March. "It's on us. The state doesn't have tech talent anymore."

But that crowd has yet to show support for Musk's call to end shelter-in-place restrictions.

Musk has previously been a conduit for controversial covid-19 information between Silicon Valley libertarians and the White House. In mid-March, for instance, Musk tweeted about the benefits of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, including a paper that had been making the rounds among tech folks who were early to warn about the spread of the virus. Five days later, Trump touted the benefits of hydroxychloroquine.

On Thursday morning, Lincoln Network, a right-leaning political group for tech workers, hosted a Facebook live stream panel called "A Time to Build? Institutional Failure and Reform After COVID," riffing on Andreessen's essay. In an email to The Washington Post, Lincoln Network co-founder Garrett Johnson said, "We did not interpret Marc's essay as a call to end shelter in place and reopen the economy."

Cities around the country enacted their shelter-in-place orders beginning in March in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and spread out the cases so they did not overwhelm medical systems and cause supply shortages while straining critical care capacity.

Musk has spent the past month diminishing the seriousness of the response to coronavirus, at one point calling the panic "dumb" and tweeting that "Kids are essentially immune." Health experts say that is not the case. He shared a YouTube video that suggested quarantines reduced immunity to the virus and called for shelter-in-place orders to end, which YouTube removed for violating its guidelines on coronavirus-related misinformation. He wrote a in a post that the United States would have "close to zero new cases" by the end of April, if trends from March held.

Data from The Post's coronavirus tracker showed there were more than 28,000 new U.S. cases reported on Thursday.
Activists painted the words "protect Amazon workers" outside Jeff Bezos' Washington home.

REUTERS/Leah Millis

Activists protesting Amazon's treatment of warehouse workers during the coronavirus pandemic painted a giant mural outside CEO Jeff Bezos' home in Washington, DC.

"We're calling him and Amazon out for leaving their workers out here without the proper personal protective equipment," one of the activists told The Washington Post.

Amazon has faced criticisms that it is neglecting worker safety during the coronavirus pandemic amid spiking demand.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Activists gathered outside Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' $23 million mansion in Washington, DC, to paint a huge street mural to protest his firm's treatment of warehouse workers.

The activists were from the climate-change charity Shut Down DC, and their mural said "PROTECT AMAZON WORKERS."

A Washington Post reporter, Marissa Lang, was on the scene and said no movement was seen inside the house.

Lang added that the police were present to ensure the activists remained socially distanced during their work. She said they wore masks but did occasionally move closer than 6 feet apart. The mural took about an hour to complete.

"We're calling him and Amazon out for leaving their workers out here without the proper personal protective equipment," Laura Beth Pelner, the activist who designed the mural, told The Post.

"We're calling all these essential workers heroes  grocery-store workers and delivery drivers and everyone working at these Amazon warehouses filling people's orders  but corporations aren't doing enough to protect them. Essential workers are not expendable."

Lang reports that two hours after the mural was completed, a worker wearing a mask hosed it away.

As demand for Amazon deliveries has surged with people staying inside, warehouse and delivery workers have found themselves on the front lines of the pandemic. Amazon has had to counterbalance spiking demand with the health and safety of its workers. The company has announced new policies around sick pay and time off, and it introduced measures like temperature checks, mask handouts, and increased cleaning.

Story continues

Workers, however, including ones who have spoken with Business Insider, have said the company's safety measures are missing, inadequate, or unenforceable.

In France, Amazon has shut down all its warehouses after a court ruled its worker protections were lacking.

Bezos' personal net wealth has swollen thanks to the unprecedented demand for Amazon's services. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bezos' net worth is $143 billion, more than double the wealth of Warren Buffett or Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Once the airline industry's ugly ducklings, air freighters are now flying high as some of the only airplanes still criss-crossing the skies during the global coronavirus crisis.

While these aerial juggernauts hauled freight for low margins, airlines lavished advertising on business travellers and tourists. But with these customers grounded, airlines are rushing to turn passenger planes into temporary cargo carriers.

Half of air cargo normally travels in the belly of passenger jets rather than dedicated freighters. But the grounding of two-thirds of the world's fleet has led to a scramble for cargo capacity for medical supplies and other goods.

Airlines saddled with the cost of unused planes are looking to modify cabin interiors to adjust to the new reality. And that is providing a surprise windfall for aircraft maintenance companies deprived of their normal trade of keeping passenger jets flying, industry executives told Reuters.

Germany's Lufthansa Technik AG, Canada's Avianor, Hong Kong's HAECO Group and Belgium's Akka Technologies are among those stripping out seats or adding nets and storage devices to cabins to cram in cargo instead of tourists.

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

"We have great demand. We have more than 40 airlines requesting a proposal," said Jens Weinreich, product manager at Lufthansa Technik , which has converted 18 cabins for various carriers and expects to modify 100 more.

Lufthansa-owned Austrian Airlines has begun to remove most passenger seats in some 777s, while Polish LOT and Delta Air Lines are also examining freight makeovers.

Leeham analyst Bjorn Fehrm said airlines could keep running mixed cabins with passengers and cargo sharing the space even after the crisis, like a flying station-wagon.

"Freight prices can go back down quite a bit and it stillA makes sense," Fehrm said of the conversions.

But while freight Investor Services said China-U.S. freight rates rose 22% last week due to demand for protective gear, cargo demand has been fickle in the past and the outlook for trade is uncertain in the wake of the pandemic.

"We have seen a real resurgence of freight in the past month ... but we are on the edge of a global recession and the normal pattern of recession should start to take hold," Stuart Hatcher, chief operating officer of IBA Aero, told a webinar

CARGO MINDSET

Avianor, which specializes in maintenance and cabins, said demand from Air Canada has helped overcome the slowdown, while European planemaker Airbus has come up with a scheme to turn cabins into temporary bays for freight pallets.

This is a change of mindset for airlines, who focus obsessively on cabin layouts to promote their customer brands.

Some previous Boeing 737s operated by specialists like France's ASL Airlines allow three people to do a "Quick Change" in just 20 minutes, with rows of seats taken out through a side door to allow passengers to fly by day and cargo by night.

Newer jets tend to be optimised for passenger service and it takes a week to prepare one for cargo.

But there could be other benefits to a mixture of cargo and people. HAECO said its product allows for a mix of passenger seats and freight, which would help with social distancing.

The surge in demand for cargo conversions has led airlines to appeal for a global set of rules from aviation authorities.

Akka Technologies is helping Franco-Italian ATR turn turboprops into medical equipment vehicles. It is also working on plans approved by EU regulators for A330s and Boeing 777s.

"For the time being, this will generate business for engineering houses such as ourselves. In the mid-term, the traffic will take time to recover," board member Charles Champion, a former Airbus engineering head, said.

Cabin modifications will not compensate entirely for the crisis that has caused widespread jobs cuts and forced airlines like Lufthansa to seek help, but will deliver some work, Lufthansa Technik modifications chief Henning Jochmann said.

"That will not save our lives ... but we do what we have to do."
The Narendra Modi government should take the responsibility of migrant workers return home by arranging free trains to their states, said a TRS minister even as Telangana appointed a nodal officer for facilitation.

Respective states have to make transport arrangements for their peoples return.

At least, 15 lakh workers from outside Telangana are estimated to be engaged in various works primarily in the construction sector and are especially concentrated in the capital Hyderabad.

The central government has simply eased restrictions and washed its hands of the matter. For these workers to travel in buses as far as Bihar will take 3-5 days. Taking the responsibility, the centre should have arranged free rail travel for these hapless workers, said Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Telanganas animal husbandry and cinematography minister on Thursday.

Many of these workers, rendered jobless and without income since March last week, want to go home. Some of them, who set out on foot to their states as far as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh were stopped by the officials, providing food and shelter arrangements in various districts.

On Wednesday, around 2,000 laborers engaged for construction of buildings at the IIT Hyderabad clashed with cops damaging a police vehicle, while demanding their March salaries from the construction firms and permission to go home.

Though the K Chandrasekhar Rao government had announced Rs 500 per every migrant and 12 kg rice relief, many allegedly did not receive the benefit.

Following the central governments Wednesdays fresh guidelines allowing interstate road movement of migrant workers, stranded tourists etc., the Telangana government has appointed a senior IAS as the nodal officer to facilitate all such movements.

A meeting headed by chief secretary Somesh Kumar to discuss their movement has devised a protocol for the purpose. Kumar said that they wrote to all states asking to furnish the details of people stuck in Telangana, while requesting those states to plan for their transport home.

Stranded people have to contact their respective state governments. The Telangana nodal authority would facilitate other governments, while issuing passes for the migrants after their screening confirms no COVID-19 infection.

In addition to Sandeep Sultania, secretary, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, as the nodal officer for the movement of stranded persons, the CS has also designated a senior IPS - Jitender, ADGP (Law & Order) as the police nodal officer since the movement requires police scrutiny and permissions at various check posts.
STAMFORD  A Stamford-based organization known for its health relief work will focus on comic relief this Friday, with the help of some big celebrity names.

Nine-time Grammy-nominated artist Sia will headline an hour-long fundraiser called COVID is No Joke, that will feature comedy sketches, stand-up routines, and messages from comedians such as Will Ferrell and Jack Black along with actors Bryan Cranston and Gal Gadot.

The event is being hosted by Stamford organization Americares, which touts itself as the worlds leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies.

The concept for COVID is No Joke comes from a previous benefit event put on by Americares after Hurricane Sandy. The event called We Hate Hurricanes raised $100,000.

Americares Chief Marketing Officer Jed Selkowitz said once the organization decided to do a similar benefit in support of frontline health workers, the first call made was to actor Tony Goldwyn, a member of the Americares board and actor.

Goldwyn, who played the fictional president Fitzgerald Grant on the show Scandal, reached out to his former costars Kerry Washington and Bellamy Young, both of whome agreed to participate.

That was about three weeks ago, said Selkowitz, and the list of talent scheduled to appear on the show has grown quickly since.

Comedians Chris Mann and Dwayne Perkins will be on the show, as will Stephanie Beatriz of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Veep cast members Reid Scott, Timothy Simons and Matt Walsh.

Other celebrities schedule to appear: Elizabeth Banks, Ike Barinholtz, Wayne Brady, DArcy Carden, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Cotter, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, Kyle Gass, Linda Hamilton, Chelsea Handler, Mindy Kaling, Kerri Louise, Jonathan Mangum, Patton Oswalt, Natalia Reyes, Adam Scott, Finn Straley, Paige Weldon, and Jenny Yang.

Hollywood producers and longtime Americares supporters Bonnie Curtis, Kristin Hahn, Linda Goldstein Knowlton, David Koplan, Julie Lynn and Marti Noxon are the executive producers of the comedy benefit.

Its just unbelievable how many incredible people stepped up to help, Selkowitz said.

Goldwyn will host the show, including an opening with Washington and Young that Selkowitz teased could be scandalous.

The show will be pre-taped but livestreamed on Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the Americares page on YouTube and on Facebook and Twitter.

So far, one anonymous donor has already offered to match up to $100,000 of donations, Selkowitz said. To donate, people can visit americares.org. During the show, people can also text the word JOKE to the number 20222 to quickly send $25 to the relief organization.

While obviously we are raising funds for the COVID-19 effort, one of our main objectives is to bring laughter and levity into peoples homes during such unsettling times, Selkowitz said.

Americares, a health-focused relief organization, has been providing protective gear and infection-control supplies to health facilities in the United States, the Bahamas, Haiti, Honduras, India, Lebanon, the Philippines and Tanzania.

In the U.S., Americares has delivered 38 tons of supplies, including gloves, masks, gowns and disinfectants to 40 states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, Americares is training health workers in infection prevention and control, disaster preparedness and mental health and emotional support for health workers .

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
Figures that include non-hospital deaths are still thought to undercount the true scale of the pandemic, say experts.

Reaching a milestone that will be celebrated by no one, the United Kingdom now has Europes second-highest official coronavirus death toll, raising questions about Prime Minister Boris Johnsons response to the outbreak.

Some 26,097 people in the UK have died after testing positive for COVID-19 as of April 28 at 16:00 GMT, Public Health England (PHE) said on Wednesday, for the first time citing daily figures that included deaths outside of hospital settings.

The figure included an extra 3,811 deaths added to the most recent total announced  mostly incorporating deaths in care homes between March 2 and April 28  on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who in recent weeks had been standing in for Johnson during the prime ministers absence due to his own battle with the virus, said there were 756 more deaths in all settings reported on Tuesday compared with the day before.





That means the UK has suffered more COVID-19 deaths than either France or Spain have officially reported, though fewer than Italy, which has Europes highest death toll and the second-worst in the world after the United States.

We must never lose sight of the fact that behind every statistic there are many human lives that have tragically been lost before their time, Raab told reporters. We are still coming through the peak and this is a delicate and dangerous moment in the crisis.

The UK government has been fiercely criticised over its handling of the crisis, not least over the provision of personal protective equipment to medical personnel.

We also pay tribute, of course, to those caring for the sick, and yesterday at 11am the whole country observed a minutes silence, a moment to reflect on the sacrifice of all of our front-line workers who have died whilst dedicating themselves to caring for others and serving others, Raab said.

Such a high UK death toll increases the pressure on Johnson, who celebrated the birth of a baby son on Wednesday. It is the first child for the prime ministers partner, Carrie Symonds.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer criticised Johnsons response to the worlds worst public health crisis since the 1918 influenza outbreak after Johnson had spoken of Britains apparent success in tackling coronavirus in a speech to the nation as he returned to work on Monday.

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We are possibly on track to have one of the worst death rates in Europe, Starmer told Parliament. Far from success, these latest figures are truly dreadful, he added, referring to previously published data.

In mid-March, the governments chief scientific adviser said keeping Britains death toll below 20,000 would be a good outcome. Having already exceeded that, and a daily death toll in the high hundreds, Yvonne Doyle, Public Health Englands director of health protection, said the trend had become quite flat.

It may begin to decline, but we are not convinced of that yet, she said.

UK and Italy

Johnson initially resisted introducing the lockdown, but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die.

Doyle said the new figures put the UK roughly in line with its peers in Europe, when adjusted for population.

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Although international comparisons are difficult, the updated figures confirm Britains place among the European countries worst hit by the viral pandemic.

Italy said on Wednesday that its death toll had risen to 27,682. Like those in the UK, its figures are based on deaths following positive coronavirus tests in all settings.

Spain reported 24,275 deaths at the last count, less than Britains new toll published on Wednesday. Spains population is around 20 million smaller, so it has a higher prevalence of deaths per capita.

Still, early evidence for excess deaths  the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year  suggest Britain has fared poorly in comparison to other countries.

Although it takes a long time to form a full picture, academics prefer this measure to gauge the impact of an epidemic and the measures taken by countries to control it, since it is easier to compare across countries.

Official data published this week offered a flavour of the true human cost of the pandemic in Britain: 22,351 people died from all causes in England and Wales in the week to April 17, the biggest total since comparable records began in 1993.

While this was 11,854 more than average for the week, only 8,758 cases mentioned COVID-19 in death certificates, suggesting even this more comprehensive data may be undercounting the true toll.
By Frank Pingue

April 29 (Reuters) - Kentucky's Churchill Downs received state approval on Wednesday to reopen its stables on May 11 followed by spectator-free racing under strict guidelines to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

The home of the Kentucky Derby, which this year was moved to Sept. 5 from May 2 because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, said opening day of its 2020 Spring Meet without spectators will be communicated in the coming days.

"There will be no fans for racing," Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a news release issued by Churchill Downs.

"I will tell you this is one of the most detailed plans that we have seen about specific security checks that everybody has to go through and be temperature-checked to masking to having a very limited group that is there."

Churchill Downs' stable areas have been closed since Dec. 31 for annual winter renovations and were originally scheduled to reopen March 17.

The racetrack, which previously postponed the start of its Spring Meet that was set to begin April 25, said when racing returns it will be staged at a minimum of four days per week, Thursday through Sunday.

Churchill Downs also said racing during its Spring Meet will be conducted spectator-free until government officials approve fans returning to the track.

In the meantime, only authorized racetrack employees and Kentucky Horse Racing Commission license holders who are providing support for a horse stabled at the facility will be permitted on property.

"The health and safety of our horsemen, staff and community remains paramount," said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery.

"Strict compliance with our comprehensive COVID-19 Action Plan and social distancing guidelines is our responsible duty to effectively contain the virus." (Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Michael Perry)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:24:30|Editor: huaxia

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A woman wearing a face mask prepares to get on a tram in Berlin, capital of Germany, April 27, 2020. (Photo by Binh Truong/Xinhua)

With all the signs suggesting an economic recession, European governments are straining to restore a resemblance of normalcy by easing lockdown, while firing warning shots across their residents' bows.

BRUSSELS, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Europeans are bracing themselves for "difficult" post-lockdown days on top of the heavy toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the region.

With all the signs suggesting an economic recession, governments are straining to restore a resemblance of normalcy by easing lockdown, while firing warning shots across their residents' bows.

As of 10:00 CET on Wednesday, 1,265,762 Europeans have contracted the coronavirus, accounting for 41.5 percent of the global count, while 125,986 of them have died, making up 58.2 percent of the death toll worldwide, according to the latest data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

A customer wearing a face mask selects clothes at a shop in Berlin, capital of Germany, on April 29, 2020. (Photo by Binh Truong/Xinhua)

"MORE DISCIPLINE" NEEDED

In Spain, where the pandemic has caused 24,275 deaths, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Health Minister Salvador Illa warned on Wednesday that the period of scaling down anti-virus measures will not be easy.

"We should not fool ourselves, it is going to be difficult," said Grande-Marlaska in a joint press conference with Illa. "We can see the end of the road, but we can't forget the sacrifices that still lie ahead of us. Some of these stages are going to need more discipline than up to now."

The ministers' heads-up came a day after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced his government's four-stage plan -- starting Monday -- to ease restrictions and take Spain progressively towards the "new normality."

In Poland, where the first stage of exit plan has been in effect since April 20, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki appealed to Poles not to get complacent in the face of the pandemic.

"We are opening up the economy, but we are not relaxing our safety measures by one inch," he said during a press conference on Wednesday.

Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski added that the requirement to cover nose and mouth in public spaces will remain in place.

A sign reading "masks available" is seen outside a pharmacy in Berlin, capital of Germany, on April 29, 2020. (Photo by Binh Truong/Xinhua)

GRIM ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Ireland's largest hotel operator Dalata Hotel Group PLC announced on Wednesday that it has laid off 3,500 employees due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's the latest in a flurry of massive layoffs across Europe. Early this month, Riga International Airport downsized 500 staff members, as all its operations have been at a virtual standstill because of the pandemic.

Data released by the Romanian government on Monday revealed the pandemic has idled nearly a quarter of the labor force in the private sector.

The massive layoffs and suspensions added to the signs Europe is on a slippery slope toward economic recession.

The European Commission said in a statement on Wednesday that the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in both the euro area and the European Union (EU) plummeted in April, marking the sharpest monthly decline on record.

The ESI in the euro area fell by 27.2 points from the previous month to 67.0 points in April, while the ESI for the EU sank 28.8 points to 65.8 points, the Commission said.

On the same day, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier said his government is bracing for the "worst recession" in history, with the gross domestic product (GDP) expected to fall by 6.3 percent this year.

In Italy, the government's Economic and Financial Document (DEF) has projected that overall revenues will drop by almost 6 percent this year compared to 2019.

"Such drop would be unprecedented, at least in the last 50 years," Eugenio Gaiotti, Head of Bank of Italy Economics and Statistics Department, commented on Wednesday at a press conference.

A woman wearing a face mask leaves a shop in Berlin, capital of Germany, on April 29, 2020. (Photo by Binh Truong/Xinhua)
_________

The word chignon has appeared in three articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Jan. 23 in In Paris, Champagne and a Butterfly by Kathleen Beckett:

They came Monday evening to see the latest addition to the museums 4,000-piece permanent jewelry collection: a small butterfly brooch by the Taiwanese jeweler Cindy Chao, displayed in a glass vitrine in its Galerie des Bijoux.

 Ms. Chao, who calls her business The Art Jewel, described the piece as sculptural. My grandfather was an architect and my father a sculptor. Art is in my blood, she told her guests during brief remarks, after being introduced by the museums director general, Sylvie Correard. (Ms. Chao wore a black velvet tuxedo suit and had her hair in a chignon, clearly displaying a pair of her peony earrings that feature 10-carat diamonds and 1,300 small sapphires. A brand executive at the event said the earrings cost $1.56 million.)
Two months after the US and the Taliban signed a deal Washington heralded as the way to end Afghanistan's war, violence is spiralling out of control and experts say a fragile peace process risks collapse. Dozens of Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters have been dying almost daily with civilian casualties rising across the country as both sides ramp up operations. The insurgents have been emboldened by a deal that gave them many concessions in exchange for few commitments, fuelling their surge of attacks in recent weeks, analysts say. The timing could hardly be worse, as Afghanistan also grapples with a coronavirus epidemic. The peace "process isn't dead yet, but it is on life support", said Ashley Jackson, a researcher at the Overseas Development Institute. "It's anyone's guess how much time we have before it does begin to irrevocably fall apart." An Afghan official said that on average, the Taliban have launched 55 attacks each day since the deal signing in Doha on February 29, while a UN agency reported that Afghan forces are causing more child deaths than the insurgents -- mainly from air strikes and shelling. Analysts say the bloodshed was predictable -- or inevitable -- given the wording of the deal and the sweeping concessions the US granted its foe of more than 18 years. Titled the "Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan", the accord promises a full withdrawal of US and foreign forces without the Taliban committing to a ceasefire or even any reduction in violence. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants American troops home quickly, and the Taliban realise that as long as they don't hit American or foreign troops, there are few consequences for continued attacks. The insurgents see the agreement as "an end-of-occupation deal", said Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. "The US wants out of Afghanistan and it has ceded to all the Taliban demands." Nishank Motwani, a Kabul-based strategy and security expert, said the Doha agreement had emboldened and legitimised the Taliban, who think they have won the war so have little incentive to stop fighting. "The Taliban fundamentally believe that victory is theirs," Motwani said. - Withdrawal timeline - The deal means that in return for vague Taliban security commitments and a loose pledge they won't let Al-Qaeda and other jihadists threaten the US or its allies, the American military and all foreign forces will quit Afghanistan by July 2021 -- a process already under way. Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said Trump is determined to leave Afghanistan "come hell or high water", so the Taliban face few consequences for continued violence. "This isn't a deal to win peace, this is simply a deal to give the Americans cover (to leave Afghanistan)," Rubin told AFP. "And if it means throwing the Afghans under the bus, so be it." The agreement also detailed several commitments from President Ashraf Ghani -- including a very lopsided prisoner swap -- even though US and Taliban negotiators systematically sidelined his government. The prisoner exchange would see Ghani release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, including many hardened fighters likely to return to the battlefield. In exchange, the Taliban would release 1,000 Afghan security forces. The swap was supposed to be concluded by March 10, paving the way for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. A Taliban source said the insurgents had no intention of slowing violence until the prisoners are released, and reiterated there will be no talks unless that happened. "Ghani's government is trying to test our nerves but we want to tell them that we are not tired, we are still fresh and ready to fight," the Taliban member told AFP. The insurgents have also rejected as "illogical" recent ceasefire calls from Kabul and the West, pointing to the fact the deal did not mandate one. Fawzia Koofi, a member of the Afghan team selected for eventual negotiations, said another hurdle is the political crisis that has seen Ghani's legitimacy challenged by his rival Abdullah Abdullah, who also claimed the presidency after an election marred by fraud allegations. "We are waiting for the political dispute to come to a possible consensus and end inside Afghanistan so that... we have a united position during the talks," she said. Ghani's administration has at least held some discussions with the Taliban on the prisoner issue and that gave grounds for hope, International Crisis Group analyst Andrew Watkins said. "The most important thing for peace talks to succeed is for both sides to keep talking, constantly, even while fighting wages."
Editor's note : A number of expats living and working in Vietnam have expressed their thoughts on the countrys developement during the past years, airing their opinion on the improvement the country has made.

The countrys fight against novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has also left a deep impression on them.

The comments were made at the request of Tuoi Tre News on the occasion of Vietnam celebrating 45 years of Reunification Day (April 30).

The following comments have been edited by Tuoi Tre News for clarity, consistency, and coherence.

The spirit of a united front

How Vietnam handled COVID-19 in the country was incredible! I am forever going to be in awe at how quick the government took action to prevent what could have been a catastrophic disaster. I am also impressed at how cooperative the people of this beautiful country became. Expats and locals worked together (for the most part) to help one another, to support local businesses, and to respect the rules. I wish it was the case for other countries, too.

Angeli Castillo is seen in a photo she provided Tuoi Tre News.

I have only been here for four years, but I have seen how uplifting the spirit of a united front looks like, so it didn't come as a surprise when everyone worked together to cooperate and respect our host country. Of course, there were special cases where people showed a lack of respect, but thankfully the government took swift action.

I believe that the image of Vietnam has greatly improved especially in the eyes of the foreigners that live here and even the ones that used to live here. Many of us had an impression that it was just chaos in Vietnam. A simple example is the driving laws. If locals can disobey the traffic laws, of course, it will be easy for guests of the country to do the same. But seeing how Vietnam handled the COVID-19 so well gives me hope that one day Vietnam residents and guests won't need a pandemic-scale reason to cooperate and be as respectful as they can to keep the county clean and just as organized.

I'm not sure when or how this will end. I just know that now is the time to improve on roadworks and anything Vietnam (or anyone) needs to improve and develop because, when this is over, there will be a massive demand for travel, tourism, and creative solutions.

Angeli Castillo, founder and creative director of Karma Creatives, a Filipina who was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, the UAE

A new perspective of the country

The whole foreign community in Vietnam and myself admire a lot the way Vietnam has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's also something that's very surprising for people in the West when they hear about how well Vietnam is doing. A few days ago, there was a speaker, James OBrien, on a quite famous radio show in the UK who was talking about Vietnam and how well the country has done. People were very surprised until he explained how early people in Vietnam, not just the government, started to react. Vietnam has dealt with COVID-19 as effectively as possible by using a big hammer very early.

Rafael Masters is seen in a photo he provided Tuoi Tre News.

How Vietnam has been dealing with COVID-19 certainly gives foreigners a new perspective of the country.

Personally, Ive been here for 12 years and started a company in Vietnam because I love the place. I believe in the ability, skill and ambition of Vietnamese people. While how well Vietnam responded to the COVID-19 pandemic was something nice to see, it was also not a huge surprise to me. When it really, really matters, they will completely unite as a country and they will all do the right thing. That's something that I had never seen before, even though I knew that could be done by looking at the history of the country. To see this is something personal and it was very amazing.

Rafael Masters, cofounder and CEO of Vulcan Augmetics, from the UK

A rising star

Vietnam has done admirably containing the novel coronavirus. The healthcare system and efficiency of the government of Vietnam in controlling this pandemic have been very impressive. I am sure many people have taken notice and their initial apprehension will turn into admiration. Vietnam's star is rising in the world.

I have lived in Vietnam for four years so far but I have visited Vietnam at least once or twice a year since 2003. Other than Vietnam I have also visited several Asian countries during that time. Compared to all the places I have visited, Vietnam's economy has grown the fastest in the past 17 years and achieved the greatest progress in terms of improving the lives of ordinary people.

Ong Kian Soon is seen in a photo he provided Tuoi Tre News.

The first time I came to Vietnam in 2003, there were few international clinics and hospitals. Expats and wealthy locals tend to go to places like Singapore or Thailand for their healthcare needs. However, there are many international clinics and hospitals in big cities now, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, and people are spoilt for choice. The best private hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City now boast service levels and clinical quality rivaling Thailand/Singapore at prices they cannot hope to compete. Moreover, I feel that Vietnam is just getting started. Looking at the massive investments in health care in recent years, we will likely see even more progress.

Many things make me love to live in Vietnam, but the great optimism and hope for the future that is so palpable in the country attracts me the most.

Ong Kian Soon, family physician from Singapore

Vietnam's reputation

Vietnam has been fighting the disease since the beginning, at the same time as China even though there were almost still no cases in Vietnam. I think Vietnam has a reputation already of being a safe country that is developing well. I'm sure that the handling of this disease means that Vietnam will be taken even more seriously on a global scale because they handled this seriously and without impeding people's personal liberties, but by taking necessary precautions. I think the West has a lot to learn from this.

The solidarity shown by Vietnam has been very impressive to witness. Even though Vietnam is not as rich as France or the UK, they still show a lot of solidarity by sending masks to Europe. It's a global solidarity. Vietnam cares for its people but also people abroad.

Camille Quignon is seen in a photo she provided Tuoi Tre News.

So far during this epidemic, I feel like local governments have managed to take care of their people, for example with zero dong markets and rice distributors, and this is something that is extremely important for the future because a richer and prosperous society is only as healthy and happy as its people.

My impressions of Vietnam before I arrived were a mix of what I had learnt at school about the war and its consequences, and also of what I knew from various friends who went and visited the country. They usually all said it was a gorgeous and great country, and people are very friendly. After living here, I think that I agree with my friends, particularly because Vietnamese people are indeed very friendly, and interested in people.

I haven't been in Vietnam so long but I have already seen a lot of improvements and great changes. Setbacks come with every fast development, and I hope that Vietnam manages to control them, for example having too many modern supermarkets could damage the local markets. I hope Vietnam will always keep their spirit that the poorer people are not abandoned.

Camille Quignon, lecturer in French from France

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Expanding its extensive portfolio of graduate degree programs, Northwood Universitys Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management announced the addition of a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree.

Through the use of emerging techniques and tools in data analytics, quantitative decision making, and qualitative research, the DBA focuses on applying business theory in areas such as leadership, organizational culture and global change to complex problems.

With a mission to create future leaders of a global, free-enterprise society, a doctor of business administration was a natural extension of our comprehensive business programming, said Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, chief academic officer at Northwood University.

What differentiates this program is its emphasis on practical application as well as scholarly development. The programs unique, combined focus on leadership and business analytics will not only help individuals become more complete and compelling leaders, it will also prepare business scholar practitioners to solve complex problems and drive strategic change, said Dr. Lisa Fairbairn, dean of the DeVos Graduate School of Management.

The DBA provides the next step for those with a masters degree in a business-related field who are looking to enhance their knowledge and expertise to transform themselves into dynamic problem-solvers and business leaders. The three-year, online curriculum allows students to begin their dissertation during the first year. Doctoral students will also participate in annual collaborative residencies where they share research, learn from peers, faculty and industry experts, and develop valuable networks.

We are thrilled to offer Northwood Universitys first doctorate program adding to our 61-year history of business education, said Northwood President Dr. Kent MacDonald. With the DBA, we will further develop working professionals into scholar-practitioners that are the exceptional problem-solvers needed today.

Northwood is now accepting applications for the fall cohort beginning in August. The university is looking for individuals who have already earned a masters degree in a business-related area and want to advance their career, conduct applied research, instruct at educational institutions, or consult on organizational performance.

 Processed by Victoria Ritter, vritter@mdn.net
A former police chief in Honduras was charged Thursday in federal court in New York with helping to ship tons of cocaine into the United States at the behest of the Honduran president and his brother.

Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares, widely known as The Tiger, was named police chief in 2012 as part of a sweeping campaign to clean up a corrupt department, despite having previously faced murder charges himself.

Federal prosecutors in New York accused Mr. Bonilla of using his position to help powerful politicians involved in drug trafficking  namely, the former congressman Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado, widely known as Tony, and his brother, the president, Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado.

The presidents brother was convicted of drug trafficking in New York last year and is expected to be sentenced in June.
Deaths from the coronavirus outbreak have piled up so fast in the Amazon rainforests biggest city that the main cemetery is burying five coffins at a time in collective graves

Manaus: Deaths from the coronavirus outbreak have piled up so fast in the Amazon rainforests biggest city that the main cemetery is burying five coffins at a time in collective graves.

Soon, the city may run out of coffins. Its chaos here, said Maria Garcia, who waited for three hours in a line of hearses to obtain a death certificate to be able to bury her 80-year-old grandfather, who died at dawn in his home of respiratory collapse.

Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, was the first in Brazil to run out of intensive care units, but officials warned that several other cities are close behind as the country registered a record 6,276 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.

Brazils Health Ministry reported 449 related deaths in the prior 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 5,466 out of 78,162 confirmed cases.

In Rio de Janeiro, cemeteries have accelerated construction of above-ground vaults to entomb a wave of deceased patients. Undertakers in Manaus even resorted to burying coffins one on top of the other this week, but the city stopped the practice after grieving relatives protested.

Brazilian right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has downplayed the gravity of the virus, calling it a little cold, came under new criticism for his remarks on the soaring deaths. So what? Im sorry, but what do you want me to do? Bolsonaro told reporters on Tuesday, saying he could not work miracles".

The accelerating death rate in Brazil is the most concerning of all emerging-market nations, Deutsche Bank analysts told clients in a note on Wednesday.

In Manaus, which is accessible only by plane or boat from the rest of Brazil, corpses are accumulating in a refrigerated container improvised as a morgue freezer as they await burial. Manaus is today an absolute priority given the calamity the city is facing, Brazils new health minister, Nelson Teich, told reporters. He said a plane with ventilators would be heading there on Thursday.

Too late for Garcias grandfather, Amadeu Garcia. Health authorities had been irresponsible, she told Reuters by telephone, and to make matters worse doctors were refusing to sign death certificates for people who died at home, creating a traffic jam of hearses at the only public health post providing them.

At the main Taruma cemetery, a new area has been opened where undertakers were digging rows of graves and now just trenches for five coffins at a time.

The mayors office said the citys funeral system was collapsing and running out of coffins. Only three relatives are allowed to attend COVID-19 burials, and sometimes there is nobody to accompany the coffins to the grave. The city is recommending that families cremate their dead.
Businesses accused by state or local authorities of false advertising or unfair business practices are not entitled to a jury trial, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Violations of the states False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law can carry substantial civil penalties  potentially many billions of dollars in this case, according to the accused company, a debt payment service. But while both businesses and individuals are entitled to a jury determination of ordinary claims for damages, the court said disputes under these two business laws involve complex questions of fairness and equity that are traditionally decided by judges in non-jury trials.

Deciding whether a business practice was deceptive to consumers or unfair to competitors requires judicial experience and familiarity with the treatment of (comparable) business practices here and elsewhere, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said in the majority opinion. Such a decision, she said, does not typically involve the type of ordinary fact-finding assigned to a jury.

For example, she said, a past case involved a dispute over whether a cereal company had falsely advertised sugary products as healthful and nutritious, a question that was properly decided in a non-jury trial.

Before a lower-court decision in this case, Cantil-Sakauye said, California courts had consistently required disputes under both laws to be tried by a judge rather than a jury. The False Advertising Law was passed in 1941, the Unfair Competition Law in 1933, and both were later amended to allow the state attorney general and county district attorneys to seek civil penalties for violations.

Three justices joined Cantil-Sakauyes opinion. In a separate opinion, Justice Leondra Kruger, joined by Justices Goodwin Liu and Mariano-Florentino Cuellar, agreed that the current case involved complex questions suitable for a non-jury trial, but said some claims of false advertising turn on factual issues and could be submitted to a jury.

The court did not decide whether juries should hear suits under Californias Private Attorneys General Act, which allows private citizens to sue businesses for alleged violations of state consumer laws when state officials take no action. Those suits are filed in the name of the state, which collects 75% of any civil penalties, with the rest going to the private whistle-blower.

The case involved Nationwide Biweekly Administration Inc. and its affiliates, which advertised that their system of loan repayments saved interest money for borrowers by arranging more frequent repayments. The company was sued in 2015 by district attorneys in Alameda, Marin, Monterey and Kern counties, who said Nationwide had overstated the alleged savings, failed to disclose all of its fees, and had been the subject of complaints from consumers and regulatory agencies.

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a separate suit against the company in federal court in San Francisco and won a $7 million verdict from a judge after a non-jury trial in 2017, a verdict that is now on appeal.

The district attorneys suit, filed in Alameda County, seeks court orders against any illegal practices, restitution for customers harmed by the company and civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation, penalties the company says could exceed $19 billion. A state appeals court ruled that Nationwide was entitled to a jury trial to determine whether it had violated the law and would have to pay civil penalties, but the states high court disagreed.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Although the trial will determine whether the company will be financially penalized, Cantil-Sakauye said, the central question is whether its conduct violates the policy or spirit of one of those laws, in the words of a previous ruling requiring a non-jury trial.

Lawyers for the company were not immediately available for comment.

The case is Nationwide Biweekly Administration vs. Superior Court, S250047.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
A Perth family claims they have been refused social visits to their elderly relative by a nursing home, despite repeated calls by the state and federal governments to stop locking out visitors.

Doug Warnock said he had not been able to visit his 84-year-old mother-in-law, who lives at Aegis Aged Care's facility in Hilton and suffers from severe dementia, for nearly two months.

The elderly relative suffers from severe dementia and relies on social visits from family and friends. Credit:Stock

He said the family had made numerous requests but had only been allowed one visit in more than six weeks, despite rules allowing social visits to residents struggling with isolation twice a week.

"The treatment we were given by people up there was despicable," he said. "Dementia patients need supportive care and you should be able to go and give emotional support to the residents."
GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Rises as Remdesivir Paves Way For Easing Lockdowns

The Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate soared by 1% today largely due to an increase in global risk appetite. The pairing is currently trading around $1.922.

Sterling edged higher after Londons FTSE 100 stock market index rose on hopes that Gilead Sciences experimental antiviral drug  Remdesivir  could help patients recover from the coronavirus more swiftly.

The drug has been described as a clear-cut power to fight Covid-19.

As a result, Sterling traders reacted positively to the news as the drug could pave the way to the UKs easing of lockdown measures.

However, today saw No 10 state that it would not gamble away the success of the lockdown by easing it prematurely.

A spokesperson for Downing Street said:

We dont want to relax the social distancing measures or do anything which could lead to the virus, which the British public have done so much to suppress, being able to spread in an exponential way again, and that will guide our approach as we move forward.

Some Sterling traders were relieved as this will help the nation avoid the economic devastation of a second peak of coronavirus cases.

Australian Dollar (AUD) Falls as Australia-China Tensions Ignite

The Australian Dollar (AUD) struggled today following heated tensions between China and Australia, threatening a decoupling of the two economies.

The row between the two countries rose after Canberra called for further investigations into Wuhans spread of the coronavirus.

James Laurenceson, the Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute based in Sydney, commented:

Mutual trust, already low, has taken another hit. Still, I remain optimistic that both sides can keep it together because neither would win from tensions spilling over and infecting the entire relationship. In the end, from Australias perspective of the relationship is one of interdependence, not dependence on China.

With China being Australias largest trading partner, todays spat between the two nations has caused Aussie traders serious concern.

Any signs of a decoupling of the two economies would severely hit the Australian economy.

Added to the current Covid-19 crisis, this has only dampened market appetite for the Aussie.

GBP/AUD Forecast: Could Sterling Rise on Hopes of a UK Economic Recovery?

Australian Dollar (AUD) investors will be looking ahead to tomorrows release of the Australian HIA New Home Sales report for March. If home sales continue to deteriorate, then we could see the Aussie continue to suffer.

However, Australian Dollar traders will be keeping a close eye on Australia-China developments. Any signs of the two economies coming into conflict would prove AUD-negative.

The GBP/AUD exchange rate will be driven by coronavirus developments this week, due to a lack of notable UK economic data.

However, if the UK Government signals a possible lockdown easing plan, then we could see the Pound rise on renewed hopes of economic recovery.
UPDATE: 10:00 p.m. Thursday April 30 - Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey says the owner of Gearhead Barbershop in Chico was arrested on suspicion of rape.



According to Anthony Eidem's fiance, Eidem is out on bail as of Thursday evening.

---

UPDATE: 4:25 p.m. Thursday, April 30 - The owner of a barbershop in Chico was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape Thursday morning, according to Chico Police.

Chico police officers said in October 2019, they took a report of an alleged sexual assault that occurred at a home in Chico. The investigation was forwarded to the Detective Bureau, who conducted numerous interviews and search warrants, Chico police said in a press release.

After a lengthy investigation, 47-year-old Anthony Joseph Eidem, of Chico, was identified as the suspect in the case.

On April 30, Eidem was arrested around 8 a.m. on the suspicion of attempted rape by force and assault with force, likely to produce greater bodily injury (GBI), according to Chico Polices crime portal.

RELATED: Chico barbershop reopens its doors amid COVID-19 pandemic

Eidem is the owner of Gearhead Barbershop located on West Sacramento Avenue.

Just last week, he reopened his barbershop amid the stay-at-home orders. However, the Chico community expressed a mix of emotions.

Action News Now Vanessa Romo spoke to the co-owner of Gearhead, his fiance, she said the accusations are absolutely false and they are working with their attorney.

As for the shop, she says they are unsure if they will remain open but she's playing it by ear.

Eidem was booked and transferred to Butte County Jail and his bail was set at $130,000.

"Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, no additional information will be provided," Chico police said in a press release late Thursday afternoon.
As warm spring weather returns to Central Illinois, the reopening of state parks on Friday will be greeted by visitors eager to hit the trails or go fishing. But there are limitations. Here's what you need to know.
A senior Tory minister has admitted that the government is likely to miss its own target for 100,000 daily tests for coronavirus by the end of April.

Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, said the government probably wont hit the ambitious goal set by Matt Hancock, the health secretary, in time, as ministers scramble to manage expectations.

But Downing Street insisted that Boris Johnson has not given up hope of meeting the deadline, telling reporters: The target is for 100,000 tests and we are working hard to hit that.

Mr Hancock announced the target as the government came under sustained pressure over lack of testing for NHS staff and other key workers, many of whom were concerned about self-isolating needlessly or passing on the virus unknowingly.

Testing capacity has been rapidly scaled up, with eligibility expanded in recent days to include people over 65 who are showing Covid-19 symptoms and asymptomatic residents and staff in care homes.

But Mr Buckland admitted that only 52,000 people had been tested yesterday  just over half the target  and the looming deadline was likely to be missed.

He told Sky News: Well have the results I think tomorrow [Friday]. Even if we dont hit it, and its probable that we wont, we will in the next few days hit that target.

Were up to 52,000 people being tested, the capacity is rising, I think it was right to set an ambitious target.

And you know, sometimes even if you dont hit the target on the due date the direction of travel is the most important thing.

I believe were going to get there and then move beyond it, because we need more.

Mr Buckland said he was frustrated not to meet the target but he praised efforts to ramp up testing, adding: I think we will get to that 100,000 in a few days.

Mr Johnsons official spokesperson said Mr Buckland was wrong to write off the governments chances of success, but said he absolutely had confidence in the justice secretarys grip of the situation.

In terms of capacity, as of 28 April we got that up to 77,365. The target is 100,000 today and the health secretary and all his team are working hard to hit it, said the spokesperson.

Daily testing numbers in hospitals and Public Health England labs are now being outstripped by the 42 commercially-operated drive-through sites around the country  some 17 mobile units are now conducting tests at care homes and other locations, and home-testing kits are being snapped up as fast as they are made available, at a rate of around 15,000 a day, the spokesperson said.

He added: We have announced a fairly significant extension to eligibility  around 15 million people  and youd expect it to take a little time for that to be reflected in the figures.

The deadline comes as the body which represents hospital trusts said the fixation on 100,000 daily tests figure was a red herring, which was distracting from the overall strategy.

NHS Providers warned that the English health and care system started from a poor position and consistently struggled to demonstrate a clear, effective and well communicated strategy, with a lack of clarity on who would be tested, when, how, and with what frequency.

The report said members felt on the end of a series of frequent tactical announcements, with no visibility on any long-term strategy.

It said: They are being expected, at the drop of a hat, to accommodate these changes with no advance notice or planning, despite the fact that many of the changes have significant operational impact.

Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Show all 30 1 /30 Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS staff at the Mater hospital in Belfast, during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak. PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Shoppers observe a minute's silence in Tescos in Shoreham Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Firefighters outside Godstone fire station PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Hospital workers take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE across Britain for all workers in care, the NHS and other vital public services after a nationwide minute's silence at University College Hospital in London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A school children's poster hanging outside Glenfield Hospital during a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A man holds a placard that reads "People's health before profit" outside St Thomas hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus University College Hospital, London Hospital workers hold placards with the names of their colleagues who have died from coronavirus as they take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff at Waterloo Station in London, stand to observe a minute's silence, to pay tribute to NHS and key workers who have died with coronavirus AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Medical staff at the Louisa Jordan hospital stand during a UK wide minutes silence to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus in Glasgow Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London An NHS worker observes a minute's silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London AFP via Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Belfast, Northern Ireland NHS staff observe a minutes silence at Mater Infirmorum Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Plymouth NHS workers hold a minute's silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS Frimley Park Hospital staff at the A&E department observe a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Mater Infirmorum Hospital People applaud after a minutes silence in honour of key workers Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Waterloo Station, London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Wreaths laid outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A group of trade unionists and supporters standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew's House in Edinburgh to observe a minute's silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London Police officers observe a minutes silence at Guy's Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A woman standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Royal Derby Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Leicester, NHS workers during a minute's silence outside Glenfield Hospital Getty

The report added: The recent public focus on whether 100,000 tests will be performed on April 30 is a red herring.
The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Geneva Finance Limited's (NZSE:GFL) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Based on the last twelve months, Geneva Finance's P/E ratio is 9.17. That means that at current prices, buyers pay NZ$9.17 for every NZ$1 in trailing yearly profits.

See our latest analysis for Geneva Finance

How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Geneva Finance:

P/E of 9.17 = NZ$0.430  NZ$0.047 (Based on the year to September 2019.)

(Note: the above calculation results may not be precise due to rounding.)

Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.

How Does Geneva Finance's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. As you can see below Geneva Finance has a P/E ratio that is fairly close for the average for the consumer finance industry, which is 9.2.

NZSE:GFL Price Estimation Relative to Market April 30th 2020

That indicates that the market expects Geneva Finance will perform roughly in line with other companies in its industry. So if Geneva Finance actually outperforms its peers going forward, that should be a positive for the share price. I would further inform my view by checking insider buying and selling., among other things.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Companies that shrink earnings per share quickly will rapidly decrease the 'E' in the equation. That means even if the current P/E is low, it will increase over time if the share price stays flat. A higher P/E should indicate the stock is expensive relative to others -- and that may encourage shareholders to sell.

Story continues

Geneva Finance saw earnings per share decrease by 35% last year. And over the longer term (3 years) earnings per share have decreased 9.2% annually. This growth rate might warrant a low P/E ratio.

A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

Is Debt Impacting Geneva Finance's P/E?

Geneva Finance has net debt worth a very significant 170% of its market capitalization. This level of debt justifies a relatively low P/E, so remain cognizant of the debt, if you're comparing it to other stocks.

The Bottom Line On Geneva Finance's P/E Ratio

Geneva Finance has a P/E of 9.2. That's below the average in the NZ market, which is 18.0. The P/E reflects market pessimism that probably arises from the lack of recent EPS growth, paired with significant leverage.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. Although we don't have analyst forecasts you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Geneva Finance. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Washington: There is a growing push within the Trump administration to craft a list of retaliatory measures against China over its role in the coronavirus outbreak, three sources, including a US official, familiar with the matter said, but cautioned the efforts were in early stages.

President Donald Trump has shown increasing frustration with China in recent weeks over the pandemic, which has cost tens of thousands of lives in the United States alone, sparked an economic contraction and threatened Trump's chances of re-election in November.

US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a range of options were under discussion but that it had not yet reached the level of Trumps top national security team or been taken to the president.

A range of options are being discussed, informally for now by officials across an array of government agencies, including the State Department, White House National Security Council, Treasury Department and Pentagon, two of the sources said.
(Newser)  Michael Flynn's legal team is trying to get the case against him dismissed, and his lawyers say newly released documents from the FBI show why. The judge in Flynn's case on Wednesday unsealed the documents, which include notes written by FBI agents as they discussed strategy before interviewing Flynn in 2017, reports the Wall Street Journal. Flynn's lawyers say the notes prove the agency was trying to set him up. One handwritten note in particular is being widely cited in coverage, per the Hill:

"What's our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" it reads. "If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ & have them decide. Or, if he initially lies, then we present him [redacted] & he admits it, document for DOJ, & let them decide how to address it." The note adds: "If we're seen as playing games, WH will be furious," the note reads. "Protect our institution by not playing games."

story continues below

President Trump has picked up on the story. "What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again! he tweeted Thursday. In another tweet, he called the prosecution of Flynn a "scam" and singled out CNN for its coverage, reports Politico. Flynn served as national security adviser for less than a month before he was fired over conversations he had with Russia's ambassador during the Trump transition to the White House. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about those discussions, specifically about whether they spoke about US sanctions. Now Flynn wants his case dismissed or the ability to rescind his guilty plea and go to trial. Trump already has floated the idea of a pardon, and the new developments will surely help Flynn's case in that regard, notes Axios. (Read more Michael Flynn stories.)
COVID-19: Home Ministry on Wednesday said that new guidelines to fight coronavirus which will give considerable relaxations to many districts will come in effect from May 4 after lockdown comes to an end.

COVID-19: After considering the easing of curbs in the orange and green zones of many districts, the Centre on Wednesday said that new guidelines which will come in effect from May 4, will provide relaxations to many areas. Home Ministry also said that relaxations will be evident in areas which have no COVID-19 cases and have been declared coronavirus free zones. The detailed document of the new measures will be announced in the coming days said the Home Ministry spokesperson.

The orange zones where there have been no fresh COVID-19 cases from the last 14 days will also be benefited from these measures. However, the red zones will be able to see some relaxations. Further, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has outlined a total of 129 districts which are red zones where a lot of economic activities are centered will adopt the strategy of detection, testing, and isolation on a vigorous rate.

The government feels that their strategy of opening limited shops and establishments worked quite well and will plan for more such easing plans. Home Ministry spokesperson also said that tremendous gains and improvements are seen in the situations due to lockdown. To ensure that the situation still remains under control, it is necessary to follow all the lockdown measures until May 3.

Also Read: COVID-19 lockdown: Centre allows interstate travel for stranded migrant workers to get home

New guidelines to fight #COVID19 will come into effect from 4th May, which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts. Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come.#Corona Update#StayHomeStaySafe @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA  Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 29, 2020

With the increasing number of cases, there is also a possibility that the lockdown might get extended in some parts of the country after May 3. Talking about the total number of cases in India, as per the last data shared by Union Health Ministry, the toll is at 1,008 with a total number of cases at 31,787 with 22,982 active cases and 7796 cured.

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Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

DANBURY  A town resident and former member of the Danbury Drum and Bugle Corps died April 23 with COVID-19, according to his obituary.

Howard Lee Dines, 65, was a graduate of Morgantown (W.Va.) High School who attended West Virginia University.
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Landra Gould, widow of senator Harry M. Reid, pays respects at his casket at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll/Bloomberg News)

The former Senate majority leader was remembered as a pragmatic dealmaker who became a political force across two presidencies.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 04:01:36|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Italy's massive tourism sector may emerge from the coronavirus outbreak more like the one from generations ago than like the one that thrived before the start of the crisis, experts have said.

Tourism represents around 15 percent of Italy's gross domestic product, and it has been one of the country's few reliable parts of its slow-growing economy over the last 15 years. But with the national lockdown that entered into force on March 10, all that changed.

The first major step toward easing the nationwide quarantine will come on May 4, but few are predicting a quick recovery for the tourism sector.

Minister of Tourism Dario Franceschini said this week it was unlikely foreign visitors will return to Italy in large numbers until next year, and that it could be 2023 before the sector recovers completely. The first wave of tourists, Franceschini said, will be Italians staying close to home.

That would hearken back to the period immediately following World War II, when Italy's tourism sector flourished due to masses of Italians discovering their own country.

"Italy's tourism sector could come out of this looking more like it did in the 1950s than the way it did in 2019," Matteo Montebelli, head of the Institutional Relations Directorate at the Italian Touring Club, Italy's largest tourism association, told Xinhua.

Franceschini has unveiled several initiatives to help that along, including a holiday bonus of 500 euros (545 U.S. dollars) per family earmarked for domestic travel and tax credits for vacation-related expenses. Multiple initiatives are in the works to help soften the economic blow to owners of hotels and restaurants.

"We are making a strong investment in domestic tourism," Franceschini said in a statement. "This will be a summer of holidays in Italy."

That may not be enough for many in the sector, however. According to Steve Brenner, co-owner of The Beehive, a 20-room hostel-hotel hybrid in Rome focusing on independent travelers, the crisis has put many operators in the sector on the brink of collapse.

"We started getting a wave of cancellations in late February but we still had a few rooms filled when the lockdown was issued, and the last guest left March 18," Brenner said in an interview.

"Now we have to find a way to hang on through the summer and then the winter, and hope to still be open next year when I hope tourists will start coming back. Even when the lockdown is eased, people aren't going to be eager to travel."

Brenner estimated that before the outbreak only a tenth of his businesses came from Italians.

"There is no way for us or most of the hostel and hotel owners I know to survive over time depending on domestic business," he said. "Most hotel operators are going to need assistance to hang on."

Alberto Corti, head of the tourism division at Confcommercio, a business association, said that there are some economic advantages to domestic tourists -- at least for the economy as a whole.

"More than half the money an international tourist spends on a trip to Italy is spent outside Italy, whether on flights, hotel bookers, and so on," Corti told Xinhua. "For a domestic tourist, almost all the money that is spent stays in Italy." Enditem
AutomakerFCA India on Thursday said it haspledged around Rs 2 crore to help people affected by COVID-19 crisis in Mumbai, Pune and Chennai.

Specifically, FCA India Engineering has tied up with not-for-profit organisations,Sevalaya in Chennai and United Way in Mumbai for distribution of family kits to 1,500families in the two cities, the company said in a statement.

A family kit, sufficient for a family of 4-5 individuals, comprises dry food, personal hygiene essentials (including toothpaste, soap andhand wash) and personal protective equipment (PPE), it added.

FCA India Engineering has also collaborated with Voluntary Health Services (VHS), a non-profit hospital trust in Chennai as well as Naidu Hospital, run by PuneMunicipal Corporation, it added.

A 42-bed COVID-19 isolation ward in VHS will be supplied with medicalequipment, and Naidu Hospital will be supplied with air validation systems and amedical oxygen pipeline necessary for treating infected patients, the company said.

"While a much-needed strategy is being put in place to restart economic activity by reopening various industries, large sections of thecommunity are still displaced and are in need of basic necessities and proper medical treatment to survive the next couple of months," FCA India President and Managing Director Partha Datta said.

The company's initiatives are aimed at helping people tide over these difficult circumstances ascritical steps are being taken to flatten the curve as quickly as possible, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Asip Hasani (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya, East Java  Thu, April 30, 2020 14:36 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd535c60 1 National Sampoerna,HM-Sampoerna,cigarette-producers,surabaya,East-Java,COVID-19,COVID-19-cluster Free

Tobacco giant HM Sampoerna's factory in Rungkut district of Surabaya, East Java, has temporarily shut down following reports that two of its workers had died of COVID-19 and dozens of other workers had tested positive for the virus that causes the disease.

Curative management head Joni Wahyuhadi of the East Java COVID-19 task force said that its teams were scrambling to trace people who may have come in direct contact with the two workers at the factory, which had at least 500 workers.

Nine workers at the factory had been admitted to hospital as patients under surveillance (PDP) after showing symptoms of the disease, Joni said.

"The tracing is underway, [while] 163 swab samples are awaiting results from the PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests," Joni told reporters on Wednesday evening.

The task force took blood samples from 323 factory workers for the COVID-19 rapid tests on Wednesday. Of these, 63 samples have returned positive test results for the coronavirus.

The task force was to take swab samples for more accurate PCR tests from these 63 workers, as well as some 100 others who had undergone the rapid tests, Joni said.

"[The 63 workers] are in good condition so far," he said, adding that the workers were now in quarantine at the factory complex.

Read also: An examination of Indonesia's death toll: Could it be higher?

The cigarette factory was identified as a new cluster of COVID-19 cases in Surabaya when the two workers' test results came back positive after their deaths on April 14.

The date or dates on which the task force received the two workers' test results has not been released.

Hundreds of the factory's workers were furloughed while the task force was tracing contacts, Joni added.

The discovery of the new cluster of community transmission at the factory has raised further concerns among the public, who are questioning the government's decision to allow factories to continue operating during the epidemic.

East Java province has the third largest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, with 872 confirmed cases and 95 deaths according to the government's official tally as of Wednesday afternoon. Surabaya, the provincial capital and the epicenter of the East Java outbreak, has recorded 394 confirmed cases and 55 deaths.

The province has 2,986 cases of PDP, a government classification for people presenting COVID-19 symptoms and has either traveled to an affected area (domestic or international) or has had direct contact with a confirmed case, and require further testing. Of these PDP cases, 260 have died, but it is unknown whether their deaths are related to COVID-19.

Surabaya and its satellite regencies of Sidoarjo and Gresik imposed the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) on April 28 for an initial period of 14 days.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A growing number of new cancer drugs have come on the market in recent years, yet the cost of therapies in Europe and the United States have risen. This is driving up healthcare costs, which poses a challenge not only for the Swiss social insurance system, but for patients all over the world. But are the high prices of cancer drugs justified? Does the cost correspond to the particular drug's effectiveness in combating the disease? An international research team from the University of Zurich and Harvard Medical School carried out a study to examine these questions.

Cost comparison of 65 cancer drugs

The scientistsled by Kerstin Noelle Vokinger, professor at UZHanalyzed the costs of cancer drugs in Switzerland, Germany, England, France and the United States. The prices of 65 new oncology drugs to treat solid tumors and various types of blood cancer were adjusted to calculate the monthly treatment costs for a standard patient.

In a second stage, the researchers investigated whether there is a link between monthly treatment costs and the clinical benefit of cancer drugs for solid tumors. The effectiveness of the drugs, which had been approved by the US and European licensing authorities (the FDA and EMA, respectively), was calculated using two well-established systems for evaluating the clinical benefit of cancer therapies: the American Society of Clinical Oncology Value Framework, and the European Society of Medical Oncology Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale.

No correlation between cost and benefit

"Our study clearly shows that, in general, for Switzerland, Germany, England and the United States, there is no association between clinical benefit of a cancer drugs and their prices," explains lead author, Kerstin Vokinger. Only for France a correlation could be found based on one of the clinical benefit assessment systems. "It's also clear that the prices of cancer drugs in the US are significantly higher than in the four European countries, with Americans paying on average approximately twice as much for the same drug."

This is because drug pricing in the US is dictated by the free, unregulated market. In Europe, on the other hand, national authorities negotiate prices with manufacturers. From the European countries analyzed in the study, Switzerland has the second-highest prices after England, while the same drugs are cheaper in Germany and France. It must be kept in mind, however, that NHS England benefits from non-public discounts on certain drugs, so the actual prices may be lower than the official list prices.

Drug prices are not justified

"The pricing of cancer drugs is only partially justified. Drugs that are less effective should be cheaper than those with high efficacy," the UZH professor says. "National authorities should take greater account of the clinical benefits of drugs when negotiating prices, and therapies that provide high clinical benefit should be prioritized in price negotiations." Vokinger firmly believes that this is crucial in order to guarantee patients access to key cancer drugs since countries have only limited financial resources.

Explore further New studies question whether novel anti-cancer drugs are worth their extra cost

More information: Kerstin N Vokinger, Thomas J Hwang, Thomas Grischott, Sophie Reichert, Ariadna Tibau, Thomas J Rosemann, Aaron S Kesselheim: Prices and clinical benefit of cancer drugs in the USA and Europe: a cost-benefit analysis .The Lancet Oncology, 30 April 2020. , Journal information: Lancet Oncology Kerstin N Vokinger, Thomas J Hwang, Thomas Grischott, Sophie Reichert, Ariadna Tibau, Thomas J Rosemann, Aaron S Kesselheim: Prices and clinical benefit of cancer drugs in the USA and Europe: a cost-benefit analysis .The, 30 April 2020. , DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30139-X
Last week, the boss of Europe's busiest airport should have been addressing the great and the good of the aviation industry.

But, like get-togethers up and down the country, the monthly Aviation Club lunch had been cancelled because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Had the event gone ahead, the top brass from the likes of British Airways, Airbus and Rolls-Royce would have heard Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye deliver a particularly gloomy assessment.

"Until there is a cure or a vaccination, it is likely that travel between countries will only happen if each considers the other to be low risk," his speech read. "Leaving the middle seat empty on planes cannot be a long-term solution."

Airports such as London's Heathrow and airlines are facing their biggest crisis ever in the pandemic. Credit:AP

The existential threat posed by the coronavirus was brought sharply into focus on Tuesday when British Airways owner IAG issued a shock announcement. Posting its worst quarterly loss, the airline said that up to 12,000 staff could face redundancy. BA boss Alex Cruz did not mince his words in an email to employees that unions called a "bolt from the blue".
Around 100 Chinese nationals have signed a petition calling on the ruling Chinese Communist Party to release a jailed rights activist, or at least allow him a final meeting with his mother.



Both Huang Qi and his mother Pu Wenqing are in failing health, but Pu told RFA on Thursday that she doesn't have long left to live.



"I am seriously ill and have difficulty breathing," Pu said. "I only have one request. I am calling on the central leadership [in Beijing] to send a team to get to the bottom of Huang Qis case and deal with it in a just manner."



Pu, 87, was unable to speak for long, as she has terminal lung cancer, she said, but thanked people for their support.



"I have a dozen or so diseases that are all incurable," she said in an earlier interview on April 28. "I have a lung tumor that has metastasized and the original tumor has grown too."



"I won't be alive for much longer," she said. "I think I will probably die without seeing my son again."



Pu has repeatedly called for a last meeting with Huang, who suffers from kidney failure and coronary heart disease, among other things. But the authorities have refused to allow even a final phone call.



As well as the petition, activists have been calling prison bureau officials in the southwestern province of Sichuan, who referred inquiries to Bazhong Prison, where Huang is being held. Employees at the prison said the request would need to be "discussed with the family."



Repeated calls to Bazhong Prison resulted in a busy signal during office hours.



Wide public support



Sichuan resident Xie Junbiao, who signed the petition, said Huang has many supporters among ordinary people who were helped by his organization to fight for their rights, often in relation to land grabs by local governments, forced evictions and other abuses of official power.



"There is a task force assigned to Huang Qi's case, and anything to do with him, including whom he meets, communicates with, has to go through this group," Xie said. "They have to get their leaders' consent for things like phone calls."



He said Pu remains under close surveillance, even on her deathbed.



"They have a team on surveillance downstairs [from her apartment] right now," Xie said. "Medical staff from the hospital have been sent to stay at her home, which is also a stability maintenance measure."



Xie said Huang's supporters didn't really expect their petition to have any effect in the face of such measures by the authorities, but felt they needed to do something.



"We feel very helpless," he said. "We are telling the truth but it doesn't make any difference."



A court in the southwestern province of Sichuan handed down a 12-year jail term to Huang, a veteran rights activist and founder of the Tianwang rights website, on July 29, 2019.



Huang was sentenced by the Mianyang Intermediate People's Court to 12 years of imprisonment, after it found him guilty of "leaking state secrets overseas."



Miscarriage of justice



Huang's lawyers and Pu have said all along that the case against Huang was a miscarriage of justice, even allowing for the traditionally harsh treatment of dissidents in China.



Huang, 57, has been identified by Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as one of 10 citizen journalists in danger of dying in detention.



He has repeatedly denied the charges made against him and has refused to "confess."



Huang's Tianwang website had a strong track record of highlighting petitions and complaints against official wrongdoing, and injustices meted out to the most vulnerable in society, including forced evictees, parents of children who died in the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and other peaceful critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.



Until her illness progressed, Pu had been a vocal campaigner for Huang's release on urgent medical grounds, and says the charges against him are politically motivated, with no evidence to back them up.



Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Paris Hilton has finally gone Instagram official with her boyfriend Carter Reum to mark their one year anniversary.

The heiress and the business mogul, both 39, had been rumoured to be dating for months, before speculation ramped up in January when they were seen together at LAX airport and at various events.

The pair had kept things very cloak and dagger, however, keeping things off social media, with Carter even deleting his personal Instagram when news of their dalliance started to surface.

'I love being yours': Paris Hilton has finally gone Instagram official with her boyfriend Carter Reum to mark their one year anniversary

Yet, having made it to the one year mark, Paris has gone public with the CEO.

She posted a loved-up snap of the pair kissing at an evening event and captioned it: 'Happy Anniversary my love.'

She added: 'My favorite thing to do is make memories with you. Your kisses are magical. I love being yours and knowing you're mine.'

She also shared a series of neon-lit slogans, hinting Carter is the man for her.

Sweet: She also shared a series of neon-lit slogans, hinting Carter is the man for her

Going strong: The heiress and the business mogul, both 39, had been rumoured to be dating for months, before speculation ramped up in January when they were seen together at LAX airport and at various events

They included 'Happily Ever After' and 'I Want To Be With You Everywhere.'

Paris had already admitted the pair were an item, however. The DJ told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month that she's 'making the most' of lockdown.

The reality TV icon revealed she's splitting her time between philanthropy and catching up with loved ones  including boyfriend Carter.

Paris confirmed her romance with the businessman in February, after they attended a Golden Globes after-party together in January.

'I've been focusing on my businesses and also my family's Hilton Foundation to help give back to those in need,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Official: Paris confirmed her romance with the entrepreneur and author in February, after they attended a Golden Globes after-party together in January

'I also love to read, be creative, write music, make art, spend time with my pets, FaceTime with my family, cook with Carter and have a movie night together.

'I'm used to being on a plane 250 days out of the year and travelling all the time for my businesses, so I've really taken this time to appreciate my time at home and making the most of it.'

Back in January, Page Six reported that Carter shared a photo which seemed to signal something between the duo, before he swiftly deleted his account.

A-list associates: Carter [above in 2009] is a tech startup entrepreneur and investor who is 'known in Hollywood' and spends time with 'Gwyneth Paltrow's circle of friends'

'It was a big family photo from over the holidays. Paris was sitting on his lap,' an insider dished to the publication.

According to guests, the new couple were seen kissing and 'smiling at each other as she placed her hand on the back of his head and touching and rubbing his neck.'

Another source told E! a bit more about Carter, explaining he is 'a tech startup entrepreneur and investor and is in the Gwyneth Paltrow circle of friends.'

Though he's less high-profile than some of Paris' other suitors - who have included the likes of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, poker player Rick Saloman and Good Charlotte's Benji Madden - the source said he's no stranger to the celeb scene.

Ex factor: This is Paris' first relationship since splitting with actor Chris Zylka in November 2018. The pair are seen in Milan in October 2018, shortly before their breakup

The couple, who met through friends, are 'very happy together' and are being called a 'great couple' by those that know them.

It seems that Carter has quite the biography. The Columbia University and Harvard Business School grad founded M13, an investment firm. He's also behind the liquor company VEEV Spirts, which he co-founded with his brother Courtney.

Demonstrating his many strengths, he also penned a book with his brother called Shortcut Your Startup: Speed Up Success with Unconventional Advice from the Trenches.

This is Paris' first relationship since splitting with actor Chris Zylka in November 2018. The pair were engaged for 11-months before calling it quits.

At the time of the split, a source told JustJared: '[Paris and Chris] broke up and called off their engagement earlier this month. Their relationship started to become off-kilter after about two years together.'
Elizabeth Warren is ending her presidential campaign, according to reports

The claim: Sen. Warren recently voted to give herself a raise

A Facebook posting by a political activist stated Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, had recently voted in Congress to give herself a pay raise.

The statement by Kaitlin Bennett, on her Facebook page Kait's Unsafe Space, was actually a screenshot of her earlier comment on Twitter to a posting by Warren.

The senator's April 28 tweet referred to a recent article in Forbes regarding how much richer billionaires had gotten during the pandemic. Warren tweeted: "There is something fundamentally wrong when billionaires are getting richer in the middle of a pandemic while hospitals are struggling to find PPE, essential workers are left without protections, and millions of families are scrambling to make ends meet." She included a link to the Forbes article.

Bennett, an American gun rights advocate and right-wing social media personality, responded within 25 minutes, tweeting: "Didn't you literally just vote to give yourself a raise? Why don't you donate your salary to someone who needs it more?" Bennett included a "just thinking" emoji in the middle of her tweet.

Warren posted her tweet at 3:45 p.m. EDT. Bennett's response was posted at 4:08 p.m.

While Bennett does not mention a specific pay raise vote, she indicated it was recent, saying that Warren "just" voted for it. While it was posed in the form of a question, it was presented as a fact.

USA TODAY reached out to Bennett for comment through her Twitter, Facebook and her website Liberty Hangout, but did not receive a response.

Recent congressional votes

The only possible recent vote involving funds for Congress was the CARES ACT, the stimulus package tied to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill, officially known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was signed March 27 by President Donald Trump following its passage by both houses of Congress.

Story continues

Some other posts on social media on the same issue referred to a version of the stimulus package, proposed by House Democrats on March 23, that allocated $25 million for Salaries and Expenses for the chamber. The fund would be allocated in accordance with a spend plan submitted to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives by the Chief Administrative Officer and approved by such Committee.

Evan Hollander, a communications director for the House Appropriations Committee, told USA TODAY, The $25 million funding is to support the Houses capability to telework, including for the purchase of equipment and improvements to the network.

The money will also reimburse the staff of the House Child Care Center and pay the contracts for House food services.

None of the funds will go to member salaries, which are paid directly from the Treasury pursuant to the Constitution, Hollander said.

A Senate document on the $25 million, listed under salaries and expenses, says the funding "supports the Houses capability to telework, including the purchase of equipment and improvements to the network. Funding is also provided toreimburse costs for the staff of the House Child Care Center and House restaurant contracts."

Regarding the CARES funding, a "Dear Colleagues" email from House Committee on Administration ranking member Rodney Davis, R-Ill., explained how the $25 million provided for House operations would be spent, emphasizing that money allotted for salaries and expenses was not meant for members salaries. Instead, the funds will go to helping congressional operations adapt to the necessities and demands of the coronavirus pandemic.

Specifically, it will be used to help purchase IT equipment and services, including expanded customer service and video town hall capabilities, and emergency transportation and logistical support as needed, Davis message read.

Davis also explained that Congress expects $10 million to fund the Sergeant at Arms; $8.8 million for video town hall equipment and logistics; $2 million for laptops for House committees; $2 million for Office Supply Store computer purchases; $1 million for 24-hour IT Customer Support and $500,000 for additional equipment for computer imaging.

The issue of Warren's vote as giving herself a pay boost is also undercut by the 27th Amendment to the Constitution that bars any changes in the salaries of members of Congress from taking effect until after the next election. That provision would apply to any pay raise that was included in the CARES Act.

In addition, under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, which also ruled out such pay raises in the same congressional session, salaries are adjusted automatically according to the Employment Cost Index, which tracks changes in private-sector wages and is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Even then, Congress prohibited expected automatic salary raises of 2.6%, or $4,600, for members in its appropriations for the 2020 fiscal year.

Most members of Congress are paid a salary of $174,000. Exceptions include the speaker of the House, who is paid $223,500, as well as the president pro tempore of the Senate and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, each of whom is paid $193,400.

Our ruling: False

We rate the claim that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (or any member of Congress) recently gave herself a salary boost to be FALSE and is not supported by our research. Moreover, the only recent funding vehicle that includes money earmarked for the House and Senate came in the coronavirus relief package. There is no reason to expect that the funds allotted in the CARES Act will go toward salaries for members of Congress. If funds provided by the CARE Act were directed to pay for congressional staff, it would require approval from the House Appropriations Committee, something the committee is unlikely to grant. Further, the 27th Amendment prohibits current members giving themselves a

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact Check: Sen. Elizabeth Warren did not vote to raise her own salary
Parliament last week approved a set of modifications to Income Tax Law 91/2005. The law sets rates and tax brackets for natural persons.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the aim of the modifications is to reduce the tax burdens on the lowest-income groups and redistribute them by creating a new segment for the highest-income earners.

The first bracket, on taxable earnings up to LE15,000, is exempt from taxes. The second bracket pays 2.5 per cent on earnings up to LE30,000, the following bracket 10 per cent for taxable income up to LE45,000, and the next 15 per cent on taxable income up to LE60,000.

The fifth bracket earning between LE60,000 and LE200,000 is taxed at 20 per cent. Those earning above LE200,000 pay 22.5 per cent. The modifications introduce a new tax bracket of 25 per cent for those earning above LE400,000.

According to a report by parliaments Budget and Planning Committee on the bill submitted by the government, the law had been modified several times, most recently in 2017 when exemptions and tax brackets were modified. A tax-credit system was also established designed to support the lower-income classes and reduce their tax burden.

But the practical application of the tax-credit system had resulted in distortions of progressive tax rates, the report said. As a result, it was cancelled and tax brackets widened.

Income tax is imposed on wage-earners and the professional income of self-employed individuals such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants. The tax is also collected on revenues from commercial or industrial entities registered in their names and on revenues from real estate such as income from apartment rentals.

Individuals file a tax return listing income from one or more of these sources of income.

The current system should be beneficial to the lower-income brackets, but in fact it does not give them added benefits as they are likely to be already exempt from paying income tax, said former deputy minister of finance for tax policy Amr Al-Monayer.

He said the tax-credit system that was in place before the modifications of the law had ensured a form of progressive taxation because those with lower incomes had received greater reductions on their taxes than those with higher.

Under the tax-credit system, the lower brackets paid no more than 1.5 per cent of their taxable incomes, or LE100 at most. 15 million people had benefited from the system, he said, adding that it might have had some glitches, but it had worked for most. He pointed out that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in December 2017 had praised the system, saying that the increase in tax credits was a good step towards a more progressive income tax.

The problem with the new modifications, according to Al-Monayer, was that they would cost the government some LE4 billion to cover exemptions that were not needed. The lower-income brackets were already paying almost nothing, he said.

As for the highest rate of 25 per cent on individuals, this was well-intentioned, Al-Monayer said, but international best practice shows that the income tax rate on individuals should not exceed the corporate tax rate as this leaves room for evasion. The corporate tax rate stands at 22.5 per cent in Egypt.

Moreover, the few thousand people that would be paying more on their incomes as a result of the higher bracket would not make up for the extra expenses the government would have to be bear because of exemptions, he noted.

Another tax expert who preferred to remain anonymous concurred. He said that individuals subject to the higher tax rate of 25 per cent could set up companies and be subject to the corporate tax rate to avoid the higher tax rate. He said that high personal income tax rates existed in countries including the US, but that these included all sources of income, including dividends.

He said that tax reforms should aim to broaden the tax base and reduce tax rates, pointing out that lower taxes are conducive to investment and spending. He said that in Egypt wage-earners were the main source of personal income taxes, but in December 2017 an IMF report had said that personal income tax compliance is low due to a large informal economy and cash payments [and] compliance on professional incomes is particularly low.

According to data in the Ministry of Finances February monthly bulletin, 2019-20 taxes on employment income contributed around LE62 billion to tax revenues, while taxes on income from activities other than employment contributed around LE38 billion. Total tax revenues were estimated at LE857 billion.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 30 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under headline: Taxed with good intentions

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A day after the ministry of home affairs (MHA) announced guidelines for states to bring back their residents  students, tourists, and migrant labourers; mostly the last  many states started work on Thursday on what promises to be perhaps the biggest such exercise seen in India, the return of over 10 million people to at least 25 states and Union Territories.

There are multiple challenges involved.

One, to do so without trains, which arent running now; states have demanded that special trains be permitted to transport migrants back, but the home ministry guidelines have, so far, only permitted movement by buses, on road. There is also no clarity on whether trains will resume after May 3, when the current phase of the nationwide lockdown ends.

Two, to do so in the least possible time and maintaining social distancing norms  a travelling salesman problem raised to the nth degree of complexity.

And three, to have adequate screening, quarantine, and hospital facilities for those who return, usually to the rural hinterland.

Bihar building construction minister Ashok Chaudhary acknowledged some of this. In an interview to ANI, he said: We have information about 2.5 million migrant labourers (from the state). If we follow social distancing norms, one bus can carry 15-20 people According to this calculation, Chaudhary said, up to about 170,000 buses will be needed to bring the workers back at the same time. Then, there are the unregistered labourers and students stranded across the country, he added.

Chaudharys observations highlight the challenges every state is expected to face, albeit to varying degrees.

The Centre, however, has indicated that a careful reading of the home ministry guidelines will reveal that there is an operative word which describes its scope -- stranded. A top government official, who is a part of the decision-making process, said that the order had made it clear that it applied to those workers, pilgrims, students and others who were stranded -- and it was not a free for all. If a worker is at home, in say Delhi or Gurugram, where he works, it should not be counted as stranded.

This reading of the order means that arrangements should be primarily made for around 1.5 million people, who are currently housed in thousands of camps. The official quoted above said that this was conveyed to chief secretaries by cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba in a meeting last Sunday. If the situation appears to be getting out of hand, the Centre can change the rules again, he warned.

But this may be a distinction hard to implement on the ground, for both categories of migrants, those who are in camps and those who are in rented accommodations but want to return, have registered with state governments. Any state will find it difficult to leave its own languishing in other states  especially not when they are restive and want to return.

Hence, the planning is being done with an eye on all migrants who want to return, and clamour has grown for special trains with states such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab and Kerala joining the chorus.

In the prevailing situation, bus journey is not safe. And there is a limit to maintain social distancing in buses. So we want the railways to run non-stop trains for them (workers and others), Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said special trains will facilitate faster return of the workers and backed the demand. So did Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi.

The railways ministry so far maintains that it has made no decision on running special trains, but an official said it is considering the proposals and awaiting a final word from the home ministry. The home ministry will take the call soon. Phase-wise plans will be drafted by each zone based on the expected crowd, the senior official said on the condition of anonymity.

By the end of Thursday, several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, announced that they have already appointed nodal authorities, as instructed by the Centre, to coordinate with others and finalise the protocols. They have also issued directions to district authorities to set up facilities for medical check-up of returnees at the border and housing them at quarantine centres.

According to state estimates, about 10 million migrant labourers are stranded across the country, especially in states such as Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The transport of migrant workers alone is estimated to require 500,000 buses if the Centres social distancing norms are enforced and they are transported around the same time.

Uttar Pradesh announced its own plans to transport a million workers on Tuesday itself, a day before the guidelines were issued. And on Thursday, state officials said they will try to bring back most of the workers within a week. UP, Indias most populous state, has already brought back 270,000 workers from Delhi and Haryana. Its next challenge is transporting 1.5 million workers.

Maharashtra, a favourite destination of migrant labourers  especially from eastern India  is housing close to a million workers from other states. The state government issued a notification on Thursday allowing the transportation of stranded workers, pilgrims and students. Other states will have to send buses to take back their residents.

While Rajasthan, which has appointed 19 nodal officers to bring back an estimated 700,000 workers, sent a fleet of buses to other states, Madhya Pradesh additional chief secretary ICP Keshri said district authorities have been asked to gear up for the arrival of a large number of workers over the next few days.

The mammoth logistical exercise is the result of the lockdown India enforced, with a few hours notice, starting March 25. It was originally expected to end on April 14 but was extended to May 3. The lockdown was aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and giving India time to upgrade its health infrastructure. But it left an approximately 10 million workers adrift, and with no way to return home in the absence of public transport. Many lost their jobs. Some decided to walk back home. State governments set up relief camps to house the migrant workers but many remain restive. On April 13, a day before the first phase of the lockdown ended, following rumours about special trains for migrant workers, thousands descended on Mumbais Bandra station. Besides the migrant workers in relief camps, a large number of migrants are stuck in their rented accommodations, and may remain undocumented in the central list.

With no sign of a premature end to the lockdown, some states such as UP decided to use buses to transport their workers from neighbouring states. Others, including Punjab and Bihar, sought guidelines from the Union government on this. The issue was also raised in the fourth meeting on the pandemic, in just over a month, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers of states on Monday. The guidelines were finally issued on Wednesday.

The MHA order said migrant workers, students, tourists, pilgrims and other persons stranded in other states should be allowed to move. All states, the order said, should appoint nodal authorities who should register these individuals. The sending and receiving states should then consult and agree with each other about movement by road. Those who wished to travel have to undergo screening, and only those who are asymptomatic could proceed. The order said buses shall be used for enabling movement  and these should be sanitised and social distancing maintained in their seating arrangements. The states and Union Territories on the way shall allow the movement of such buses.

It is clear that the process could take weeks. A bus can accommodate some 60 people; with social distancing, that comes down to around 20. And a Mumbai-Lucknow journey or a Delhi-Patna one (most migrant workers are from UP and Bihar) will need to cover 1,376 km and 1,085 km respectively.

The states will also need to ensure the workers arent carrying the virus. And they have started the preparations to this effect. Every worker returning to Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan will be scanned at the borders and quarantined. After 14 days, buses will take them to their home districts only if they dont have any symptoms of Covid-19. Those having symptoms will be admitted in hospitals. In Odisha and Chhattisgarh, quarantine centres have been set up in government buildings, such as schools and community health centres, in rural areas. All district collectors have been directed to ensure that no returnee enters a village without being in a quarantine, said Chhattisgarh chief secretary RP Mandal.

Sanjay Jha, Bihars minister for water resources and the national general secretary of the Janata Dal (United), said: The process of registration has begun. And once we bring them into the state, we will provide food, shelter and even utensils and other basic necessities to those in quarantine shelters or in isolation centres if they are found positive.

State officials also said the number of calls to their help lines has significantly increased since the Centres decision allowing migrant workers and others to return home.

Abdul Rahim, 34, a construction worker stuck in Ranchis Lowadih area, called the West Bengal government helpline on Thursday morning. They assured us that they would take us back very soon, he said, visibly happy.

An official of the Uttarakhand government, who did not want to be named, said: The MHA guidelines will be followed. We have already started receiving calls from people on the help line that was launched just after the lockdown began.

(With state inputs)
Defense Minister of Ukraine Andriy Taran has discussed a modernization plan for aviation equipment with the command of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of Ukraine, the ministry's press service said.

The meeting was held during a working visit by the minister to Vinnytsia garrison.

The head of the Defense Ministry heard a report by Colonel General Serhiy Drozdov, a commander of the Air Force, on the combat capacities and modernization plan for the existing equipment for aviation, anti-aircraft missile, radar and signals troops, it said.

The participants of the meeting also discussed the procurement of new pieces of armament and military equipment for Ukraine's Air Force.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, shown Jan. 15, said while crime in L.A. is down in almost all categories since the pandemic began, career criminals are exploiting the situation, getting arrested over and over with no real consequences. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Eric Medina has been arrested four times on suspicion of grand theft auto in the last three weeks.

It began with the theft of a Ford van April 9, authorities said. Within a day, he was back on the streets, helped by California's statewide zero-bail policy for lesser offenders fueled by the coronavirus outbreak.

Five days later, officers apprehended him with a stolen Toyota truck, officials allege. Again he went to jail, only to be freed without bail. Police say he stole another Toyota truck on April 20. And then last weekend, Medina was arrested yet again in a stolen 2009 Ford Focus.

Los Angeles police say Medina, 31, is part of a larger problem related to sweeping changes in the judicial system amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shuttered many courts and prompted officials to reduce jail populations to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

On March 27, Los Angeles County implemented a zero-bail requirement for most misdemeanors and low-level felonies.

In the first 30 days of the policy, the Los Angeles Police Department has arrested 213 individuals multiple times, with 23 being arrested three or more times. They account for about 5% of all of those booked on misdemeanors or felonies, records show.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore said while crime in Los Angeles is down in almost all categories since the pandemic began and L.A. implemented its stay-at-home order, career criminals are now exploiting the situation, getting arrested over and over with no real consequences.

"I think repeat offenders need to be off the streets," Moore said, calling for a reexamination of zero bail for repeat offenders.

An examination of LAPD arrests shows that while arrests are down 37% in the last month, those arrested multiple times is up compared to the same time last year. Persons with multiple arrests now account for 5% of all arrests compared with 4% the same period in 2019. Multiple arrests now account for 10% of all arrests compared with 8% in 2019 for that time.

Story continues

In early April, California's Judicial Council, the body that sets policy for all the courts, opted to implement the emergency bail schedule statewide after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the coronavirus emergency.

Zero bails for misdemeanor and low-level felonies has long been a goal of justice reform advocates who say the current cash bail system unfairly locks up those without means prior to trial or resolution of their case.

In announcing a series of widespread changes to the courts, including the temporary zero bails earlier this month, California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the state Judicial Council, said to say "there is no playbook is a gross understatement of the situation."

The move came as the state also was releasing 3,500 inmates and closing entry to prisons for new inmates to allow for social distancing to slow the spread of the virus.

Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey endorsed the move, noting L.A. County implemented it early.

"Zero bail has been an effective tool in reducing the jail population and minimizing the spread of the coronavirus," Lacey said in a statement. "Unfortunately, a few defendants have taken advantage of this public health effort. We will ask the court to consider bail in any extraordinary circumstances."

Former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascon, who is challenging Lacey in a November runoff election, said the virus has accomplished what criminal justice advocates and research studies could not.

"The novel coronavirus has forced our system of justice to confront a not-so-novel question, one that largely defined the criminal justice reform movement even prior to the pandemic: Does keeping huge numbers of people in custody on small-time offenses pose a greater threat to us all than letting them out?" Gascon asked. "This virus does not care if you're a prosecutor, victim or a defendant. Innocent or guilty, this virus can still kill you."

But LAPD Asst. Police Chief Robert Arcos said zero bail has also had negative consequences: "We like to think at these tough times people won't exploit the system, but the reality is far different."

Examining Medina's recent arrests, Arcos noticed the fourth arrest. "Oh geez, he was arrested again over the weekend," he said.

Despite the overall crime drop, Arcos said one category is going the opposite direction  automobile thefts.

According to LAPD Capt. Paul Vernon, who oversees the department's Compstat data operations, car thefts in the last month have shot up across Los Angeles by nearly a third.

Armando Llamas was arrested on suspicion of a car burglary on April 23 in South Los Angeles. He was released without bail within hours. Llamas was back behind bars that evening for allegedly stealing a car, only to be released again. Two days later, he was arrested again.

One man has been arrested six times on suspicion of a variety of crimes, including brandishing a weapon and trespassing in the North Hollywood area, records show.

Arcos said the department is working with prosecutors to seek a means to having repeat offenders held with some bail.

Statewide, in more conservative counties, prosecutors and sheriffs have publicly questioned the move to release some suspected offenders without bail.

Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said the council should have allowed pretrial services professionals to do a risk assessment on some zero-bail cases, because some of the defendants may have prior strikes. He said the approach does not allow any real scrutiny of defendants.

"This shortsighted order handcuffs law enforcement, fails to take into account criminal history, and completely ignores the rights of victims," he said.
A Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum says the reopening of schools should be delayed a little longer to ensure the safety of students in the wake of COVID-19.

Older students in China's biggest cities and other countries in the world are starting to return to school, following the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr. Adutwum on Citi TVs Point of View, however, advised against pressurizing government into taking a similar decision in Ghana.

The Deputy Minister said the closure was a safety measure devised by the government to prevent a spread of the virus in schools and should be in force until scientific data suggests otherwise.

At this point, what I will say is that we all need to do our part to make sure the President and together with the country, will win the fight against COVID-19. Everything we are saying here is not because someone does not want to do something. We are running this country and we are fighting this fight based on science and facts. If the environment is not safe for students to be in school, you cannot be in school.

It is not like during the military regime in our times when universities were closed for political reasons. That is when you could appeal to the government and say can you open the universities for us? It was a political decision. The safety of the students was not at stake. The lives of the students were not at stake. I do not want us to stampede those who are leading the fight but rather pray for them and ask them when the environment is safe, based on the data, based on the facts, based on the science, please tell us to go back to school and we will gladly do so. We should not be seen as saying can we go as if we are making independent decisions aside of COVID-19, Dr. Adutwum explained. Nana Addos directive

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed schools in the country to shut down effective Monday, March 16, 2020.

The President gave the order when he addressed the nation on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

All Universities, Senior High Schools, and basic schools, i.e. public and private schools, will be closed Monday, 16th March 2020, till further notice. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, has been tasked to roll out distance learning programmes, he said.

President Akufo-Addo, however, said students who will be taking part in this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will be allowed to attend school to prepare for their examinations, but with prescribed social distancing protocols.

But this decision was later reviewed allowing such students to go home.

Currently, this years WASSCE has been put on hold .

----citinewsroom
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentally preparing people for the lockdown by giving a call to observe the Janata Curfew before imposing nationwide curbs three days later on March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

He also said the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the country has been showing regular improvement and now stands at 12.5 days when seen over a period of three days which is an indicator of the positive effects of the lockdown.

According to a health ministry statement, while interacting with civil society organisations and NGOs through a video link, thanked PM Modi for leading containment efforts by "first preparing the minds of people for lockdown through Janata Curfew and then announcing lockdown as part of the graded response to the evolving situation".

NITI Aayog, CEO, Amitabh Kant was also present at the video conference.

"The COVID-19 doubling rate in the country has been showing regular improvement and stands at 12.5 days when seen over a period of three days, 11 days seen over a period of seven days and 9.9 days over a period of 14 days," the health minister said,



These may be taken as indicators of the positive effects of the lockdown along with the cluster management and containment strategies, Vardhan said.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 1,075 and the total number of cases climbed to 33,610 in the country on Thursday, recording an increase of 67 fatalities and 1,823 cases since Wednesday evening.

However, a PTI tally of the figures reported by various states as on Thursday showed 33,579 cases and 1,093 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.

At the meeting, Vardhan expressed gratitude over the work done by over 92,000 NGOs in providing food and other necessities to different sections of society.

Appreciating the contribution of these organisations and terming it vital in the management of COVID-19, the minister said such work by these institutions also inspired other people to come forward and make contributions.

Vardhan also briefed the participants about the chronology of efforts made to combat the COVID-19 situation. "The Government of India has taken pre-emptive and pro-active action and escalated the response as per the situation," he said.

During the interaction, the NGOs raised concerns over the limited availability of medicines, lack of services for geriatric care especially in aspirational districts, issues faced by women, mobility problems faced by NGO workers during the lockdown, malnourishment and food security, issues of the stigma associated with certain livelihoods and problems in last-mile provision of entitlements to migrants among others.

They also urged Vardhan to take appropriate measures for boosting of immunity through traditional knowledge, dispel fears of communicable diseases among the people, financial support for micro, small and medium enterprises when the economy reopens after the lockdown.

Vardhan assured help to the NGOs and said that classification of districts in red, orange and green zones based on the number of coronavirus cases will help them in prioritizing their work.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reproductive rights will be on the line when his office goes head-to-head with the Trump Administration before the U.S. Supreme Court next week, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro insisted Thursday.

The topic will be an administration edict that would allow employers to approve or deny employees health insurance coverage for contraceptives. Shapiro and his counterparts in other states have been able to block that directive from being enforced so far.

The fight before the nations highest court will be the end game, however.

During a teleconference, Shaprio said his attorneys will argue before the Supreme Court on May 6 that the guaranteed contraception coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act should withstand the Trump Administrations illegal attempt to remove it.

This (COVID-19) pandemic has shown that people need more access to health care, not less, said Shapiro, a Democrat. This is what may be the biggest fight of all, protecting womens right to birth control, to contraception.

Contraception is medicine, pure and simple, he said.

Some dont see the issue as simple. A primary criticism of the ACAs contraceptive coverage mandate is that it requires employers who are opposed to contraception for religious reasons to nevertheless provide such coverage to their workers.

Shapiro said the current legal fight began in 2017 when the nascent Trump Administration issued the directive to allow employers to make the contraceptive coverage call. He said his office has won lower court rulings blocking its enforcement since, and now must win a final round before the Supreme Court

We cant leave contraception care up to the whim of any CEO, he said.

The oral arguments before the justices will be held via phone due to the coronavirus lockdown, meaning the public can dial in and listen, Shapiro said.

It is a lack of public participation in the issuance of the Trump directive that makes it illegal, he said. He said the contraception edict was shoved through by bypassing required public comment requirements.

We cant allow federal agencies to dismantle programs they dont like and dont have the votes to change, Shapiro said.

He said contraceptive coverage is not just a pillar of the ACA. It also is a major economic issue for women who without the insurance mandate would have to pay $1,000 or more a year for contraceptives, the AG said.
This is what I got to do. I got to go to work in this, he said in the video. Its not making any sense. Its nasty, nasty.

People are scared when the train comes in the station, Chalmers added. If one car looks bad, theyll run to another  but its the same problem in every car.

Were out there every day putting our lives on the line We should get hazard pay, he asserted.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed the growing crisis in the wake of growing outrage over the alarming underground hazard conditions, calling the situation disrespectful to the essential workers who need to ride the subway system.

Cuomo said Tuesday, We have to have a public transportation system that is clean, where the trains are disinfected, and added: Its not even safe for the homeless people to be on trains, Cuomo added.
Tributes have been paid to Game Of Thrones actor BJ Hogg following his death aged 65.

The actor, who was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, was best known for his role in the HBO drama as Addam Marbrand, and for parts in BBC's The Fall and Big Mervyn in the BBC Northern Ireland comedy series Give My Head Peace.

The comedy team behind Give My Head Peace, the Hole in the Wall gang, said in a statement: 'BJ is part of the Give My Head Peace family.

Much missed: Tributes have been paid to Game Of Thrones actor BJ Hogg following his death aged 65 (above as Addam Marbrand in GOT)

'He was a fine actor, great colleague and a true friend. Our thoughts are with his wife Elish, son Nathan and daughter Abigail at this time.'

BJ's agent Geoff Stanton told Mailonline: 'We are all devastated at the news of BJ's passing and offer our profound sympathies to his wife Elish, son Nathan and daughter Abigail.

'BJ was an exceptionally fine actor with a tremendous range and a gift for comedy and music.

'But more than that, he was a wonderful human being, with never a bad word spoken about him. It was a privilege to represent him and to know him.

'He will be a great loss to our industry and to anyone whose lives he touched.

Iconic: The actor, who was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, was also known for his role as Big Mervyn in the BBC Northern Ireland comedy series Give My Head Peace

An online biography of the actor said he was born in April 1955.

BJ travelled the world as an actor, writer and director and was a classically-trained musician who toured with Big Bands.

He performed at Belfast's Lyric theatre and international venues in Russia and elsewhere.

He was also known for his performance in 1996 film Dance Lexie Dance, which was nominated in the Best Live Action Short Film category at the Oscars.

Peter Johnston, director of BBC NI, said: 'BJ was a great comedy talent and a much-loved character in our long-running sitcom, Give My Head Peace.

Role: He also played the father of murder victim Sarah Kay in critically acclaimed TV series The Fall in 2013

'Many people will also remember his performance in the Oscar-nominated Dance Lexie Dance.

'Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad and difficult time.'

Give My Head Peace co-star Tim McGarry said: 'BJ isn't just a colleague of ours or a great actor, he's not just a friend, he's part of the 'Give My Head Peace' family and we are very much a family.

'I was on stage with him a few weeks ago and it's just heartbreaking.

'He was such a lovely guy. BJ, as you probably know, was a big guy but he was a big softie as well and it is just so, so sad.'

Fan favourite: The comedy team behind Give My Head Peace, the Hole in the Wall gang, said in a statement: 'BJ is part of the Give My Head Peace family'

Tribute: Give My Head Peace co-star Tim McGarry said the cast were 'shocked and heartbroken' at BJ's death

He also tweeted: 'Everybody associated with #GiveMyHeadPeace is shocked and heartbroken by the sudden passing of our dear friend and colleague BJ Hogg. We've lost a member of the family. Thanks for all the laughs BJ.'

BJ played knight Addam Marbrand in the first series of Game Of Thrones.

He also played the father of murder victim Sarah Kay in critically acclaimed TV series The Fall in 2013.

Charlie Lawson, who plays Coronation Street's Jim McDonald shared a photo of him with BJ and paid tribute to his dear friend.

He wrote: 'St Peter's havin a geg tonight! Very sad.

'We were very fond of each other, nothing to do with acting, the arts, or any of that stuff, we just .......

'God love y' BJ, havin a Black Bush dear heart.'
Srinagar, April 30 : In a major development in the tainted Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Davinder Singh case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said that it has arrested an alleged terrorist Tariq Ahmed Mir for providing logistic support to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

An NIA official related to the probe told IANS, "We have arrested Mir for his alleged role in providing logistic support to terrorists in Kashmir for long.

The official further said that Mir has provided support to the terrorists in Kashmir on a number of occasions and was active with terrorists for long.

An NIA source related to the probe also said that Mir was in touch with Singh, who is being probed by the anti-terror probe agency.

"We have verified that he was in touch with Singh for some time. We will probe their relations and also probe if any other police officers were in touch with Mir," the source added.

The source further said that in the coming days few more arrests will be made.

On January 11, police arrested Singh on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway when he was transporting Naveed, Rafi and Irfan to Jammu.

After initial investigations by the J&K Police the case was handed to the NIA.

Police sources said that the two terrorists and the lawyer had planned a travel to Pakistan after reaching Jammu.

Singh was later shifted from Srinagar to Jammu on a transit remand where an NIA team questioned him. After his arrest by the J&K police, multiple raids were conducted at his residence in Srinagar.

Singh was posted with the anti-hijacking wing of J&K Police in Srinagar, and was part of the security staff that had received a group of foreign diplomats who visited Kashmir.
Survey findings reveal that despite government reassurances, just a fraction of people have benefited from direct cash transfer and free ration schemes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily paralyzed numerous countries. Many people are under some degree of lockdown to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Governments have had to pass massive stimulus packages in the form of handouts to vulnerable populations, tax cuts and subsidies, and low-interest loans to help people and small businesses survive the economic catastrophe.

MyUpchar spoke with Gram Vaani, an IIT-Delhi social tech company that, amongst other initiatives, collects data from marginalized populations using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology. Gram Vaani has developed a voice-based participatory media platform and deployed it across 25 districts. In a recently published survey, respondents from Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar replied to 11 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) detailing their experiences of the lockdown. The findings reveal that despite government reassurances, just a fraction of people have benefited from direct cash transfer and free ration schemes.

The situation of the rural poor in MP, Bihar and Jharkhand

A total of 1,737 people across the three states responded to the survey which was held between March 24 to April 14 - the initial duration of the lockdown. Out of these, 840 were from Bihar, 398 were from Jharkhand and 499 were from Madhya Pradesh. The majority were involved in farming activities, and the remainder were largely daily wage labourers.

Overall, over 60% of the respondents said they had not received the free ration to which they were entitled, and half of them had not received the financial assistance that was guaranteed to them. Worryingly, 25% had said back then they would not be able to manage if the lockdown was extended any longer. On the brighter side, most respondents said that the police were cooperative and didnt resort to coercion, whereas 25% claimed heavy-handed behaviour.

Under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, the government had guaranteed double the amount of free ration to all those eligible, free of cost. Despite this, the data from Gram Vaani is disappointing; close to 90% of respondents in Bihar were not given their due, nearly 70% in MP did not get their allotted ration, whereas the figure was 63% in Jharkhand. According to reports on the ground, while ration has arrived in the villages, it has not been transferred to those who need it most - either ration cards are missing or not accepted or the food is being siphoned off and withheld from those who are entitled to it.

When it comes to cash transfers, the data doesnt inspire much confidence either. Under the Divyang pension scheme, the government had said that three months of pension would be provided to those entitled to it. However, close to 60% of applicable respondents said that no transfer had been made. Similarly, the government had said that it would transfer Rs 1,500 to women who held Jan Dhan accounts in a three month period. A dismal 19% received the payments in Jharkhand, 34% in MP and 40% in Bihar.

The road ahead

As the report suggests, there are major gaps in the distribution of ration. While the goods arrive in villages, there are issues at the local level that prevent marginalized families from getting them. To this end, Gram Vaani has suggested that helplines be set up to inform relevant authorities in case of ration dealers withholding supplies. Further, those who submitted applications for ration cards years ago but still havent received them should get ration regardless.

Another urgent issue is Aadhar linkages; since many cards were made in haste, personal identifying information was often misrepresented - this has made it difficult for people to open bank accounts and get benefits from DBTs (direct benefit transfers). Gram Vaani underlines that these issues need to be amended at the earliest; until then the PDS (Public Distribution System) should universalize grain distribution at least in marginalized districts.

For more information, read our article on COVID-19 India Timeline

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
New data collected by state officials show the most common underlying health conditions among Oregonians who have died from COVID-19.

Heart disease is the most frequent ailment. Neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions are second most common.

Diabetes, lung disease and illnesses such as cancer are also on the list.

Here are more developments to know Thursday:

CASES: The Oregon Health Authority said coronavirus has now claimed 101 lives statewide and infected 2,446 people. The coronavirus has disproportionately affected Latinos in the Willlamette Valley.

REOPENING: In a positive step toward reopening, coronavirus tests have risen sharply as capacity expands. As state officials plan ways to safely reopen the economy, they are weighing whether to ask Oregon restaurants to keep patrons names for contact tracing.

RESPONSE: The Oregon parole board may consider releasing some seriously ill inmates early amid the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, an Oregon federal judge denied an injunction to halt part of President Donald Trumps coronavirus-era freeze on processing visas for some young immigrants.

ECONOMY: Nearly 7 percent of mortgages were in forbearance as of April 19, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, which represents the real estate finance industry. That number is up from just 0.25% during the first week of March.

JOBS: Roughly 30.3 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the six weeks since the outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors and slash their workforces.

HELP: Literary Arts has set up a $100,000 emergency relief fund for Oregon writers, including playwrights, cartoonists and poets. The fund will disperse $1,000 emergency awards to as many as 100 writers.

BUSINESS: Ten small businesses on North Mississippi Avenue have come together to request rent relief from their common landlord as the crisis threatens to wipe out an entire cluster of distinctly Portland businesses. Another popular Portland business, Ringside Steakhouse, is planning a second parking lot sale after it sold 2,000 pounds of beef in two hours Saturday.

EDUCATION: The University of Oregon is extending its acceptance deadline from May 1 to Sept. 1, providing prospective students four extra months to plan for college. UO says it is the first school in the U.S. to extend its acceptance deadline until the end of summer.

SHOPPING: Costco joined the ranks of stores that will require shoppers to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic. The policy begins Monday.

#TEAMOREGON:

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-- The Oregonian/OregonLive

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The coronavirus outbreak and subsequent social lockdown to protect lives has changed the way we live and work at rapid speed.

This has caused doubts and raised questions for many people planning their financial futures.

In the current circumstances many older homeowners are concerned about whether they can, or indeed should, consider releasing equity - a way of unlocking tax-free cash from the value of their homes.

Currently, over-65s in the UK have more than 1 trillion worth of unmortgaged housing equity and by unlocking some of that, they can help fund a more comfortable retirement.

But everybody has questions about equity release and right now people are asking whether this is a good time to release funds from their property's value.

Homeowners over 55 can release tax free cash from their homes with equity release

Can you still do equity release during lockdown? And should you?

Things to consider about equity release  With a lifetime mortgage the cash you release from your home is tax-free  Key Equity Release offers lifetime mortgages only, which is a loan secured against your home  Typically there are no monthly repayments as the loan plus roll-up interest is repaid when the plan comes to an end  You always remain the owner of your home with a lifetime mortgage  You should always think carefully before securing a loan against your home  Keys plans come with a no negative equity guarantee so you will never owe more than your home is worth  Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits  You can guarantee an inheritance with some of Key's plans  All of Key's equity release advice relates to its range of Key-branded products and is completely free of charge, so you can find out if it's right for you without it costing a penny

The simple answer is yes. You can absolutely do equity release during lockdown but as you might imagine things have changed and there are important things you need to consider.

It is a requirement to take specialist advice when you take out an equity release product and never before has getting the right quality of advice been more important.

Is now a good time to do equity release?

It has always been vitally important that you balance both your short-term and longer term financial needs but now, more than ever, the need to get good quality advice is crucial.

Equity release lasts a lifetime and so it is important not to rush into a long-term financial decision just to service a short-term need.

This is where market leading advisers, Key Equity Release, can help. Their honest approach to equity release advice ensures that if equity release is not right for you here and now, they will tell you.

Can you get equity release advice remotely?

Traditionally, most people would choose to meet an adviser to discuss releasing equity face-to-face.

Today, with social distancing and lockdown, that's no longer possible. The good news is that it is still possible to investigate your options.

Key Equity Release believes firmly in the value of face-to-face specialist advice, however they have now made it possible to receive the same expert, personal advice over the phone, tailored to your specific circumstances.

You can also still involve family members in the process when you use Key Equity Release - your adviser will set up a call for you to discuss your options together if you wish.

Can you still get legal advice during lockdown?

Releasing money from your home is a big decision, which is why anyone taking out an equity release plan must seek independent legal advice to ensure their interests are protected.

As it is no longer possible to receive face-to-face legal advice during lockdown, industry body, the Equity Release Council, has worked with specialist solicitors to ensure customers can still receive independent legal advice .

This means solicitors can facilitate the signing and witnessing of documents whilst adhering to government guidelines on social distancing, allowing customers to proceed with equity release.

If you want a family member to be involved, your adviser can arrange for them to join the telephone consultation to ask any questions they may have without anyone risking their health

Will someone need to come to my home?

Under lockdown, physical property valuations aren't possible.

However, to enable customers to continue with equity release, semi-automated valuations have now been made possible, meaning they can accurately value your home without the need for someone to visit.

These use a combination of property value data sources and a local RICS chartered surveyor's expertise to be able to accurately assess your property's value.

Again, an adviser like Key will take care of all of this for you.

Consider why you want to do equity release

There are many reasons people consider releasing a tax-free sum of cash from their home.

If you want to release equity to repay existing debts, increase your income or support a family member then it may well be that an adviser recommends you go ahead if they're sure it's appropriate for your personal circumstances.

However, there are some obvious reasons for releasing equity which might not make so much sense given the coronavirus pandemic.

Unfortunately coronavirus has put travel on hold so if you were hoping to use equity release to fund a holiday, your adviser might suggest waiting for a period

For example, many people release equity to pay for holidays or to buy new cars or make some home improvements.

If this is what's motivating you, it may be more sensible to review options with an adviser but postpone releasing the cash until you can put the money to good use.

Key is telling customers in this situation to get in touch, but if the right advice for you is to wait, then that is what your adviser will recommend.

We want to ensure customers make the right decisions, balancing all the different factors Will Hale, Key chief executive

Key's chief executive, Will Hale, says: 'While this may seem counterintuitive, providing best advice, even if that means recommending customers do not proceed at this time, is at the heart of our business.

'Releasing money from your home is an important long-term decision and it is important that all the risks and benefits are properly considered at a time when customers may be feeling more worried than ever about their future and that of their wider family.

'Key Equity Release prides itself on answering all of the questions you might have about equity release, the most important of which is 'Is equity release right for me?

'We want to ensure customers make the right decisions, balancing all the different factors, especially at a time when immediate financial worries, both for them and their families is likely to be at the forefront of their mind.

'Now more than ever Key will make sure equity release is right for you given the current circumstances.'
Due the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of global events are being postponed. Among the events expected to be postponed is Expo 2020 Dubai. Following its meeting yesterday, the Federal Council has confirmed Switzerlands participation in this major event, which is now expected to be held in 2021.

In light of this, the council has instructed Presence Switzerland at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) to continue preparations for the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai with a new budgetary framework.

The Executive Committee of the Bureau International des Expositions requested at its meeting on April 21 that member states postpone Expo for a year. The proposal is expected to be adopted before the end of May.

Manuel Salchi, commissioner general of the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: I am happy to announce that Switzerland confirmed its presence at the Expo 2020 Dubai in 2021 and joins the consensus in favour of the postponement in solidarity with the organizer and all participants. We herewith reaffirm our strong commitment to the success of Expo 2020 Dubai.

In spite of these postponements, which also entail additional costs for Switzerland, the Federal Council views such large-scale events as an opportunity to position Switzerland and promote its economy, particularly during the post-Covid-19 phase. The council has therefore approved the additional related costs. - TradeArabia News Service
360Civic has signed an agreement with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a new website to serve as a digital front door to help DHSs current and prospective clients.

This website will be a critical component in the services that we provide to adults and children in need, said Erin Dalton, Deputy Director of the DHS Office of Analytics, Technology and Planning. It is our mission to make sure that those who would benefit from our programs can quickly and easily find the information they need. We are confident that 360Civic is the company to help us achieve this goal.

DHS helps more than 200,000 residents every year, providing services and resources for those who need homelessness assistance, mental health and substance use treatment, child abuse prevention, and more. When the site is completed, it will be used as a user-friendly extension of their existing services to help directly identify and assist their residents needs.

We are honored to have been selected by DHS for this very important project, said 360Civic cofounder Bridget DiRico. Our experienced team of designers, writers and programmers are working together to exceed our clients expectations.

360Civics executive staff has experience working in city human service departments, having previously created websites with similar goals and objectives as DHS. The company is eager to devote its teamwork and expertise to providing a new resource to people who access social services in Allegheny County.

For more information on 360Civic, visit http://www.360Civic.com and find 360Civic on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About 360 BC Group, Inc.: 360 operates worldwide with leading brands in three business areas: 360Biz and 360Civic. Founded in 2004, the minority owned 360 group holds a top market position in California for designing comprehensive websites for both the public and private sector, ranging from small businesses to large Fortune 500 companies and municipalities. 360 also provides a full suite of marketing services for high-technology industries through our dedicated teams across multiple creative, technological and security specialties. For more information, visit http://www.360bcgroup.com.

Contact: Sara Lopes

Phone: (949) 916-9120

Email: slopes@360-biz.com
President Donald Trump said Thursday he would considering bringing Michael Flynn back to work at the White House and expressed confidence his former national security adviser was going to be cleared.

'I would certainly consider it,' he said at an event in the East Room, when asked if he'd hire Flynn again.

'He will be fully exonerated one way or another, and he would be capable of coming back ,' Trump noted.

President Donald Trump said he would considering bringing Michael Flynn back to work at the White House

The president has not ruled out a pardon for Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, but has expressed confidence the retired general would be exonerated.

'It looks like to me that he would be exonerated based on everything that I see. I'm not the judge, but I have a different type of power. I don't know that anybody would have to use that power. I think that he is exonerated,' he said.

Flynn's legal case is in flux. He is awaiting sentencing from his guilty plea but has a new legal team who has tried to withdraw that plea, alleging federal prosecutors acted in 'bad faith.'

His case was bolstered by newly unsealed FBI documents that show that FBI officials discussed whether to get Flynn 'to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired' during a 2017 interview with the Trump aide on his contact with the Russian ambassador.

Trump dodged a question about why he fired Flynn to begin with.

The president cut Flynn loose in February 2017 - a month after he took office - first saying he fired Flynn because he lied to Vice President Mike Pence, and later because he lied to the FBI.

Pence said on Thursday he doesn't think Flynn intentionally lied to him in 2017 about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

'I know what General Flynn told me and Im more inclined to believe it was unintentional than ever before,' he told reporters traveling with him to a GM plant in Indiana.

Vice President Mike Pence said he doesn't think Michael Flynn intentionally lied to him in 2017 about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

President Trump said in the Oval Office Thursday that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn is 'in the process of being exonerated'

Michael Flynn was fired a month into President Trump's tenure. At the time, Trump said it was because he lied to Vice President Mike Pence and later said it was because he lied to the FBI

The president has spent the past 24 hours focused on his former National Security Adviser, blasting out a tweet storm late Wednesday night and Thursday morning defending Flynn.

'What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!,' Trump wrote.

He also attacked James Comey, who was FBI director during the Flynn investigation, after unsealed FBI documents revealed agents were trying to get Flynn 'to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired' in their controversial 2017 interview.

'DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT!,' Trump tweeted.

He continued that assault in the Oval Office.

'Look at what they did to the guy,' Trump said to reporters. 'They came at him with 15 buses and he's standing in the middle of a highway. What they did to this man. They tormented him.'

'They destroyed him but he's going to come back, like I say he's going to come back, bigger and better,' the president added.

The president hinted that more information about his former aides' cases would soon be coming out.

On Twitter Thursday, President Trump attacked James Comey (left), who was FBI director during the Michael Flynn (right) investigation, as a dirty cop. He continued those attacks during his Oval Office meeting with the governor of New Jersey

Coronavirus cases in the United States reached more than 1.6 million with more than 61,000 deaths while new statistics showed more than 30 million Americans filed unemployment claims since mid-March, but Trump spent the morning tweeting about Flynn along with criticism of the media, particularly CNN and MSNBC's Brian Williams.

He sprinkled in a few comments about the work being done to combat the coronavirus but the majority of the 46 tweets or retweets he sent between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. EST were focused on Flynn, his ex-campaign aide and former White House National Security Adviser.

The many tweets and retweets from the president included those his son Donald Trump Jr., House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, and a smattering of conservative radio hosts advocating for Flynn.

'Not only should general Flynn's charges be dropped immediately but the treasonous actors who set him up should be in jail!!!,' was a tweet from Donald Trump Jr the president retweeted.

Mixed in with Trump's outrage about Flynn was criticism of former FBI director James Comey, whom the president fired, and support for Roger Stone, a political dirty fixer and longtime Trump friend.

'Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly. How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias. Same scammers as General Flynn!,' Trump wrote.

Stone was convicted last year of lying to House investigators during their Russia probe and was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

President Trump spent much of Thursday morning tweeting or retweeting about newly released FBI documents in the Michael Flynn investigation

Mixed in with President Trump's tweets defending Michael Flynn, was a defense of his longtime friend Roger Stone

Another target of Trump's ire has been Comey, who was FBI director during the Flynn investigation. Comey claims Trump asked him during an Oval Office meeting to end the federal probe of his National Security Adviser, which Comey declined to do.

Flynn resigned from his White House post in February 2017 after it became public that he misled Vice President Mike Pence over his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

Comey was fired on May 9, 2017.

Flynn plead guilty to a felony count of 'willfully and knowingly' making 'false, fictitious and fraudulent statements' to the FBI during his January 2017 interview with them at the White House on his Russia contacts.

His sentencing has been postponed and he is working with a new legal team in an attempt to withdraw his plea, claiming that agents tricked him into lying.

Trump spent much of late Wednesday night tweeting about his former aide, complaining about media coverage of the case and tweeting out reports of newly-unsealed FBI documents on the Flynn investigation.

The president called the federal probe into Flynn a 'scam.'

'.@CNN doesnt want to speak about their persecution of General Michael Flynn & why they got the story so wrong. They, along with others, should pay a big price for what they have purposely done to this man & his family. They wont even cover the big breaking news about this scam!,' he wrote.

Conservative news outlets focused on Flynn after the unsealed FBI documents were released on Wednesday.

'He was unfairly and unjustly targeted by 'Deep State' bureaucrats that clearly, with all the evidence now to prove it, wanted to take him down,' Fox News host Sean Hannity said Wednesday night of Flynn.

The bombshell notes reveal the bureau discussed how to approach its investigation into Flynn's involvement with Russia and whether to confront him over intercepted conversations he had with then-Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak.

Agents also discussed the possibility of Flynn admitting to breaking the Logan Act and warned of the importance the White House did not think the bureau was 'playing games' with the investigation.

The release of the notes comes just days after President Trump retweeted a social media post claiming Flynn will be 'completely exonerated'.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI during its investigation of ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia but has since claimed he was 'set up and framed' by the bureau.

Unsealed FBI documents show officials discussed whether to get former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (above) 'to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired' during his controversial White house interview

Four pages of internal documents penned ahead of the January 2017 interview were released to Flynn's lawyers last week and unsealed Wednesday by a federal judge.

The notes were handwritten by FBI's former head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap after a meeting with then-FBI Director James Comey and then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, according to Fox.

The notes reveal how top bureau officials discussed their plans for interviewing Flynn over the allegations and whether the 'goal' was to get him to tell the truth or catch him in a lie so he could be charged over the allegations.

'What is our goal?' one of the notes dated January 24 2017 - the day of the interview - read. 'Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?'

In another note, the agents discussed the possibility of Flynn admitting to breaking the Logan Act.

'If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ and have them decide  or, if initially lies, then we present him [REDACTED] and he admits it, document for DOJ, and let them decide how to address it,' the note read.

The Logan Act bans private citizens from engaging in unauthorized correspondence with foreign governments.

The notes reveal how top bureau officials discussed their plans for interviewing Flynn over the allegations

The FBI officials went on to consider whether to let Flynn know they were aware of his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, the then-Russian ambassador to the US, after they had intercepted his communications.

'We regularly show subjects evidence with the goal of getting them to admit their wrongdoing,' the notes said.

'I don't see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is going easy on him.'

The agents did not confront him about the conversations during the interview, according to FBI official reports.

Flynn did not admit to any wrongdoing in the interview but pleaded guilty later in 2017.

The agents also spoke about the importance that the White House did not think the FBI was 'playing games' with the investigation, the notes reveal.

Donald Trump waded into the matter Wednesday, showing his support for his former aide by retweeting two news articles on the documents and a Twitter post by Flynn which simply showed a video of an American flag waving in the wind in a rural setting

'If we're seen as playing games, WH will be furious,' the notes read.

'Protect our institution by not playing games.'

Flynn's lawyers and supporters have claimed the documents show the former security adviser was set up by the FBI.

Flynn's lawyer Sidney Powell told Fox News' 'Hannity' Wednesday night the notes were 'damning'.

'It's just absolutely appalling what these agents, and then special counsel operatives, did to General Flynn,' he said.

'It's abuse of their authority at every turn. I interpret the notes as absolutely damning of their conduct and their plan.'

Donald Trump waded into the matter Wednesday, showing his support for his former aide by retweeting two news articles on the documents and a Twitter post by Flynn which simply showed a video of an American flag waving in the wind in a rural setting.

His eldest son Donald Trump Jr. also tweeted his support of Flynn: 'Flynn doesn't need to be pardoned, he did nothing wrong, he needs to be fully exonerated with all charges dropped immediately!'

On Sunday, Trump retweeted a post from Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo who claimed Flynn would be 'completely exonerated'.

'Breaking News: sources tell me [Flynn] will be completely exonerated this week. It was a total fraud. A Set up. More tomorrow,' Bartiromo tweeted on Sunday.

Trump and Flynn at a rally during his 2016 presidential campaign. Flynn is one of six Trump aides and associates charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign

The president also retweeted a clip of a Fox News interview with Devin Nunes, the Republican congressman from California, which claimed 'possibly exculpatory evidence' showing the government 'framed' Flynn was submitted to the court Friday.

Last month, Trump - who fired Flynn saying he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI - said he was considering a full pardon for Flynn.

'I am strongly considering a Full Pardon!' Trump tweeted.

Flynn is one of six Trump aides and associates charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.

He pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period and provided extensive cooperation to Mueller's team of investigators.

But Flynn now claims he did not lie and attempted to withdraw the guilty plea in January.

He alleges federal prosecutors acted in 'bad faith' and broke their end of the bargain when they sought prison time for him.

His attorneys are asking a federal judge to consider the new evidence as part of their request to withdraw his plea.

Flynn's lawyers Powell and Jesse Binnall have that the new material 'proves Mr. Flynn's allegations of having been deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.'

Jeff Jensen, the US attorney in St. Louis, is leading a Justice Department review of the Flynn case

'The government has deliberately suppressed this evidence from the inception of this prosecution  knowing there was no crime by Mr. Flynn,' according to his lawyers.

Flynn has also accused his former attorneys from the law firm Covington & Burling of misleading him by allowing him to plead guilty in order to cover up its own errors.

Earlier this year, Attorney General William Barr ordered an external review into Flynn's case headed by Jeff Jensen, the US attorney in St. Louis.

Jensen is a former FBI agent with a long background in battling white-collar crime.

A Justice Department official said Jensen is working with Brandon Van Grack, a member of special counsel Robert Mueller's team, to review the Flynn case.

Prosecutors had initially said Flynn was entitled to avoid prison time because of his extensive cooperation, but the relationship with the retired Army lieutenant general grew increasingly contentious after he hired his new set of lawyers.

Following Flynn's attempt to withdraw his plea, the Justice Department abruptly offered a more lenient sentencing recommendation.

The latest sentencing filing still seeks a sentence of up six months, but unlike before, prosecutors explicitly state that probation would be a 'reasonable' punishment and that they would not oppose it.

A second set of 11 pages of notes, which Flynn's lawyers have called 'more appalling' and totaled 11 pages, were also released Wednesday but have not been made public.
LONDON - Britain is past the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday, as he promised to reveal a road map out of national lockdown  but not yet.

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This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man walks past a closed cafe, as the lockdown due to the coronavirus continues, in London, Thursday, April 30, 2020.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

LONDON - Britain is past the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday, as he promised to reveal a road map out of national lockdown  but not yet.

Appearing at a news conference for the first time since he fell seriously ill with the virus a month ago, Johnson said were past the peak and we are on the downward slope.

The number of hospital admissions and people in intensive care with COVID-19 are now falling, and deaths are increasing less sharply than in early April.

And, crucially, the disease's reproduction rate  the number of people each person with the virus infects  is now below 1. Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said it was between 0.6 and 0.9 in different parts of the U.K.

As other European countries begin to reopen businesses and schools, Johnson is under pressure to reveal when and how the government will ease a nationwide lockdown that was imposed on March 23. The restrictions are due to last at least until May 7.

Johnson said he would set out a comprehensive plan next week about steps to restart the economy, reopen schools and get people back to work. In an apparent change in government policy, he said that face coverings will be useful in the next stage of the crisis, for both epidemiological reasons and to give confidence to those returning to work.

In this photo provided by 10 Downing Street, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs his first digital Cabinet meeting inside the Cabinet Room of No 10, since he returned to work after contracting coronavirus and the birth of his new son with his partner Carrie Symonds, in London, Thursday April 30, 2020. (Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street/via AP)

However, he stressed that any changes would be gradual.

Weve come under what could have been a vast peak ... and we can now see the sunlight and pasture ahead of us, he said. And so it is vital that we do not now lose control and run slap into a second and even bigger mountain.

Johnsons Conservative government is facing growing criticism as it becomes clear the country will have one of the worlds highest coronavirus death tolls.

The government said another 674 people with the coronavirus have died in hospitals, nursing homes and other settings, taking the total to 26,771. Only the United States and Italy have higher tolls, though Johnson stressed that international comparisons are very difficult.

Johnson acknowledged frustration about problems getting protective equipment to front-line workers and in carrying out testing, but insisted that the government was throwing everything at it, heart and soul, night and day, to get it right.

The government has acknowledged that it may miss its self-imposed goal of conducting 100,000 tests for coronavirus a day by the end of Thursday.

The government has been criticized for failing to catch most cases of COVID-19 and now says wide-scale testing will be key to controlling the virus and lifting the restrictions on business and daily life.

Earlier this month, the government vowed to perform 100,000 tests a day by April 30. The number has been climbing steadily, and hit 81,000 on Thursday, Johnson said.

Chris Hopson, who heads NHS Providers, an umbrella group for U.K. hospitals, said the 100,000-a-day target was a red herring, and urged the government to set out a detailed strategy for who would get tested and when.

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.

"What we need to know is what are we going to do in terms of the testing regime over the next six, eight, 10, 12 weeks as we come out of lockdown, Hopson said.

He said 800,000 health care workers will need to be tested regularly to ensure they remain free of the virus.

Johnson, 55, only returned to work on Monday after recovering from a bout of COVID-19 that put him in intensive care. His fiancee, Carrie Symonds, gave birth to their son on Wednesday.

Tragically thousands of people have been less fortunate than I was, he said.

___

Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Most teachers believe students will need extra learning support when they go back to school, but they are more worried about children's social isolation than their academic progress.

Almost half of more than 3500 teachers in a trans-Tasman survey lacked confidence in their ability to meet students' learning needs online, but they were divided over whether remote teaching was as effective as the face-to-face kind.

Pivot Professional Learning, which helps schools improve teacher effectiveness, surveyed the teachers across Australia and New Zealand in early April, when 95 per cent of them had either moved to remote learning, or were preparing to as schools sent students home due to COVID-19.

Teachers are more worried about social isolation than academic progress. Credit:Scotch College

Four in five believed students would need extra support when they returned to on-campus learning, the survey - which covered 1 per cent of the Australian teaching workforce, and more than 2 per cent of teachers in New Zealand - found.
Bulmers maker C&C has halted payment of its final dividend for 2019 due to its focus on conserving cash and its decision to avail of government support through the coronavirus crisis.

C&C, which also owns brands including Tennent's and 5 Lamps beer, has placed around 70pc of its staff on furlough.

In a trading update the company said it continued to actively engage with the Irish and UK tax authorities.

The group has also implemented an average salary reduction of around 20pc across its workforce, with its executive leadership team and board remuneration reduced by 30pc and 40pc respectively for an initial three months.

The group has current liquidity of around 570m, of which 430m is in cash.

The board of C&C believes that its existing liquidity position is more than sufficient for the companys current and expected needs.

In addition, C&C said it has now received confirmation from the Bank of England that it is eligible to issue commercial paper under the Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) Scheme.

In March C&C raised around 140m in new debt in the United States private placement market.

Patrick Higgins, analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers, said: Overall, while we note the extremely challenging trading conditions, we consider C&C's update this morning to be encouraging, outlining further detail on its strong focus on protection of profit and cash.

This should enable C&C to navigate its way through this challenging period.

C&C, which owns a 47pc stake in Admiral Taverns, a UK pub operator, said it has launched a number of initiatives to support its customers.
Heavy rain in West Michigan has caused rivers and lakes to rise rapidly, some as much as 5 feet, causing flooding that has closed roads and stranded homes and businesses.

Areas near Lake Michigan received 2 to 4 inches of rain between the evening of Tuesday, April 28, and the morning of Thursday, April 30, the National Weather Service reports.

That resulted in flood warnings and advisories covering much of West Michigan. On Wednesday, Business Route U.S. 31 between Montague and Whitehall was shut down Wednesday afternoon, forcing motorists to take long detours.

Several other roads in Muskegon County were closed, and waterfront homeowners watched as water crept closer, submerging yards, driveways and streets.

Bear Creek in North Muskegon rose 5 feet in 26 hours, between 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, National Weather Service data shows. It crested at 16.1 feet, just below the record high of 16.3 feet, before beginning to recede on Wednesday.

A flood warning was issued for the White River above Whitehall, which was expected to rise above flood stage Thursday afternoon, flooding cottages, canoe liveries and farmland, according to the National Weather Service.

Data showed the White River rose from 2.5 feet at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to 5.8 feet by 12:15 p.m. Thursday. Predictions were that it would crest at 6.4 feet  4 inches above flood stage  at 2 a.m. Friday, May 1, and remain there until around noon before gradually receding to below flood stage around 8 a.m. Saturday.

A flood warning also was issued for Allegan and VanBuren counties until 8 p.m. Thursday, with warning that low-lying areas could be inundated, beaches and dunes could experience significant erosion and homes could be flooded and roads could be closed.

A lakeshore flood advisory was issued for Muskegon, Ottawa, Mason and Oceana counties until 8 p.m. Thursday, with warnings that some roads and low-lying areas could become submerged. Roads and parking lots along the Lake Michigan shoreline will experience flooding, and beaches and dunes would likely experience some eroding, the advisory from the Weather Service states.

The Grand River in Robinson Township rose above flood stage, which is 13.3 feet, to 13.85 feet at noon Thursday, and was expected to rise slightly more before receding later Thursday.

Near Eastmanville, the Grand River rose 2 feet between 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Thursday, according to National Weather Service data.

Other flooding was reported along the Muskegon River near Bridgeton and the Pere Marquette River in Scottville.

Areas already prone to flooding were again underwater, including in Muskegons Bluffton neighborhood and the Mona Lake-front neighborhood off of Seaway Drive in Norton Shores. Areas around Spring Lake in Ottawa County also reported flooding.

Several roads in Muskegon and Ottawa counties have been closed due to high water. They include:

-- School and Exchange streets in Spring Lake, where Lake and Beach streets also had water over them.

-- Lorenson Road between Todd and Michillinda roads in Fruitland Township.

-- Todd Road between Lorenson and Weber roads in Fruitland Township.

-- Michillinda Road from M-120 to Dalson Road in Dalton Township.

More on MLive:

Flooding in Mona Lake neighborhood proving difficult to address

Floodwaters, miseries rise in Muskegon Lake-front neighborhood

Michigans weekend weather looks almost outstanding

Michigan total snow this season: See the winners and losers
Following the unprecedented market carnage that saw US benchmark prices drop below zero last week, producers selling crude oil to Asian customers have started to add a new clause in their contracts under which the cost of their oil will not go below $0.00 a barrel in any circumstance, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting numerous sources.

The price of WTI Crude May futures slumped to as low as -$37 a barrel early last week, after crashing by more than 300% last Monday, a day before the WTI Crude May contract expired, as traders rushed for the exit to avoid owning physical barrels of oil for delivery in May.

The negative price of oilan industry first in the unprecedented demand collapse and oil glutspooked sellers of oil into Asia, who started to insist on the no zero oil price in their contracts, according to Reuters sources. Alongside the slump of the WTI Crude futures into negative territory, some grades sold in Asia were being priced in the low teens because of the heavy discounts and the crashing demand.

Most buyers in Asia have accepted the no zero price clause, which aims to protect sellers from having to pay buyers to take their oil, Reuters sources said.

The gist of the new clause in contracts is that the price of oil cannot be lower than $0.00 in any circumstance, with a buyer at an Asian refinery confirming to Reuters that there was a new clause that stipulates the minimum price of $0.00 or $1.00 per barrel.

No one ever expected prices to go negative! one of the sources, who works with an oil producer, told Reuters.

Currently, most of those clauses are mostly applied to condensateultra-light crudesold in Asia, as condensate is much cheaper than heavier grades and is not in high demand, according to Reuters sources.

The fact that oil producers now include legal clauses to protect themselves against negative oil prices speaks volumes of the current market conditions of enormous oversupply amid collapsing demand.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
EDMONTON - Premier Jason Kenney says a global oil glut means Alberta's main industry will be dealing with low prices for a year or longer after the COVID-19 crisis abates.

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This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney updates media on measures taken to help with COVID-19, in Edmonton on Friday, March 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON - Premier Jason Kenney says a global oil glut means Alberta's main industry will be dealing with low prices for a year or longer after the COVID-19 crisis abates.

Kenney says reduced demand for oil and gas during the pandemic, coupled with a destructive price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, has left the world awash in oil.

"Our best intelligence is that those extremely depressed prices are likely to continue for the better part of a year at least given global inventories," Kenney said Wednesday.

He said supply is so high, holding tanks are at the brim and tankers on the U.S. Gulf Coast can't unload.

West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark price for North American oil, is hovering around $US15 a barrel, while Alberta had banked on it being US$58 a barrel this fiscal year.

The province, with an economy heavily dependent on oil and gas, has been hit hard. Its budget deficit was expected to be $7 billion before the novel coronavirus spread worldwide. Kenney has said it is now likely to be closer to $20 billion.

The federal government offered help to the industry on April 17. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government would spend $1.7 billion in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia to clean up inactive and "orphan wells''  oil and gas wells that have been abandoned by their often-bankrupt owners without being remediated.

Another $750 million to help cut emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that leaks from energy facilities, was also promised.

The cash is expected to support 10,000 jobs across the country.

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Kenney reiterated Wednesday that the aid is appreciated but more must be done to help Alberta's core industries  including oil and gas, aviation, and tourism  during the pandemic.

He called again for the federal government to provide between $15 billion and $30 billion in the form of loan guarantees to help those businesses get access to cash to stay afloat.

He reminded Trudeau that Alberta's energy sector supports jobs across the country and has benefited all Canadians through transfer payments.

"We will continue at every opportunity to raise the alarm with the federal government about the need for urgent action," said Kenney.

"After the $600 billion net that we've given the rest of the country in recent decades, it's time for the rest of the country to be there for Alberta."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2020
A loyalist bonfire cancelled because of Covid-19 has been turned into a giant tribute to the NHS

A loyalist bonfire cancelled because of Covid-19 has been turned into a giant tribute to the NHS.

More than 800 pallets normally used to build one of Portadown's biggest Eleventh Night bonfires were arranged to spell out 'NHS'.

The team behind the tribute at the Drumilly bonfire site, between the Corcrain and Redmanville estates, plans to paint the structures and fly NHS flags from them until after the Twelfth.

Jordan Russell, chair of the local Create community group, said he was delighted with the outcome.

"We decided early on that there would be no bonfire because we don't want to have mass crowds gathering. Instead, we decided to show our support to the NHS," Mr Russell explained.

"Around 15 people - five adults and the rest young people in their teens who would normally build the bonfire - created the structures.

"It is 36 pallets high and took two days to build. These young people take pride in the bonfire and they were disappointed when they were told it wouldn't be happening this year.

"Building the sign for the NHS has given them something else to focus on and have a sense of pride in. We don't want people to gather at it and we hope to put a fence round it to discourage this."

The tribute has attracted a lot of attention in the local community, with cars stopping to admire it.

Mr Russell added: "Every Thursday night everyone in the two estates comes out to clap for the NHS. There is a massive sense of appreciation locally for frontline workers and this is our way of thanking them."
Bills on the accession of Ukraine to the Inter-American Convention on the Execution of Criminal Punishments abroad and on the adherence to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property will be considered

Verkhovna Rada Reuters

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will hold an extraordinary plenary session today, on April 30. The corresponding order was signed by Parliament Speaker Dmytro Razumkov, the press service of Verkhovna Rada reports.

"The Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov convenes an extraordinary plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at 13:30 on April 30 upon the request of 159 MPs," the message reads.

Bills on the accession of Ukraine to the Inter-American Convention on the Execution of Criminal Punishments abroad and on the accession to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property are on the parliaments agenda. In addition, Verkhovna Rada intends to consider several ratifications.

It also intends to reduce the pledge for local elections.

As we reported earlier, Georgian politicians ask Ukraine to take their opinion into account when considering the appointment of Mikheil Saakashvili as Vice Prime Minister.

"I know Saakashili very close because I was in the parliament in 2003, but not in the ruling party, but the opposition. When Saakashvili decided to take my property from me, as he did with the other people in Georgia, I criticized him in the open, which is why they beat me up in downtown Tbilisi. The party of President Zelensky is called Servant of the People, and my request is to consider the opinion of the Georgian people. He's a criminal in Georgia, and he cannot be elected for such position," Valeri Gelashvili, the MP who represents Georgian Dream faction, said.
This week, new evidence emerged in the sexual assault allegation by former Joe Biden staffer Tara Reade against the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee. According to Business Insider, four people have stated that Reade told them contemporaneously about her accusation that Biden forcibly penetrated her with his fingers in 1993. Meanwhile, the Media Research Center uncovered a clip, purportedly of Reade's mother, calling into "Larry King Live" back in 1993 to obliquely refer to the allegation. While such evidence does not speak to the actual event at issue, it does demonstrate that Reade has been talking about the alleged incident since it occurred.

The media ignored the original allegation for weeks. Now, even while reporting on the new developments, they've found ways to downplay their importance. Thus, The Washington Post -- democracy dies in darkness! -- wrote an article headlined "Trump allies highlight new claims regarding allegations against Biden." Normally, headlines are designed to convey information about the underlying story. This headline was apparently written in English, translated to Swahili and then to Punjabi via Google Translate and then back to English before printing.

Other news outlets skipped the revelations altogether. The New York Times, which ran a comprehensive piece two weeks ago attempting to debunk Reade's case, completely ignored the new information. NBC News didn't bother covering the information either. Meanwhile, NBC News and MSNBC Chairman Andy Lack printed a piece on the network website celebrating its journalistic performance. "Humbled by the responsibility we bear, we try our damnedest to serve our audience," he said. It's a wonder Lack didn't dislocate both arms trying desperately to pat himself on the back.

As of this writing, Biden has not been asked a single direct question about Reade by a television reporter. Meanwhile, members of the media cheer their audacity in asking President Donald Trump questions like, "If an American president loses more Americans over the course of six weeks than died in the entirety of the Vietnam War, does he deserve to be reelected?" So. Much. Journalisming.

Why does any of this matter? Not because Biden should be convicted in the court of public opinion without evidence. He shouldn't. The standards of due process should apply evenly, regardless of partisanship. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh should not have been subjected to thousands of hit pieces, magazine covers and twisted accusations that his anger at rape accusations he disputed was mere evidence of his privilege. Christine Blasey Ford should not have been celebrated nationwide as a symbol of truth telling without any corroborative evidence. #BelieveAllWomen was always an idiotic slogan. Only now are members of the media admitting it.

That's why this matters. Biden's candidacy will survive Tara Reade: Democrats aren't dumping Biden overboard based on a 27-year-old accusation of questionable veracity, and they certainly won't do so when running against Trump, who has his own checkered history. But the media's pathetically hypocritical standard on due process and sexual assault allegations won't survive. Neither will their credibility. President Trump spends an inordinate amount of time bashing the media for their lack of seriousness. The same media who laureled Democrats for cashiering Kavanaugh and now spend their days studiously avoiding any talk about Tara Reade deserve every ounce of skepticism the American people can muster.

There's a serio-comic tenor to this whole situation. We're living in a time when we must trust the media more than ever -- to bring us unbiased, factual information about a global pandemic, to warn us of dangers and to be reasonable about risk assessment. Yet the media have spent so many years burning through their credibility that they have little left. That's their own fault. If they wish to restore their credibility, they could start by apologizing for their Kavanaugh coverage -- and by providing some fact-checking about their own political motivations.
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MIDDLETOWN  The Amazing Grace food pantry is hoping to serve the population of laid-off workers or those whose hours have been cut as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency is offering clients a full box of food that will last a week or more, according to St. Vincent de Paul Middletown Executive Director Maryellen Shuckerow. There is plenty of food, she said. Curbside pickup is available.
Surprise! There is an all-new Eternals comic available now from Marvel

A globe-trotting story about the Eternals vs. Deviants in the 500 Year War
Workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on April 29, 2020. (Craig Ruttle/AP)

About 50 Bodies Found in Trucks Outside NY Funeral Home

NEW YORKPolice were called to a Brooklyn neighborhood Wednesday after a funeral home overwhelmed by the CCP virus resorted to storing dozens of bodies on ice in rented trucks, and a passerby complained about the smell, officials said.

Investigators who responded to a 911 call found that the home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses, according to a law enforcement official. No criminal charges were brought and the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home was cited for failing to control the odors. The home was able to obtain a larger, refrigerated truck later in the day, the official said.

Workers suited up in protective gear could be seen in the afternoon transferring bodies into the refrigerated truck.

A person who answered the phone at the funeral home hung up without speaking. Subsequent calls went to voicemail, which was full.

Workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on April 29, 2020. (Craig Ruttle/AP)

New York City funeral homes have struggled in the city since late March.

The city set up temporary morgues. Hospitals used refrigerated tractor trailers to cart away multiple bodies at a time, sometimes loading them in public view on the sidewalk. Crematoriums have been backed up. Funeral directors across the city have pleaded for help as they have run out of space.

The NYPD notified the state Department of Health, which oversees funeral homes, about the situation at the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home. It did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams went to the scene on Wednesday evening. He told the Daily News, While this situation is under investigation, we should not have what we have right now, with trucks lining the streets filled with bodies.

New York City police officers stand by at the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, on April 29, 2020. (Craig Ruttle/AP Photo)

He said it was people who walked by who saw some leakage and detected an odor coming from a truck.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

By Michael R. Sisak and Deepti Hajela

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
Judy Blume considers herself an open book. But a few years ago, the trailblazing author of "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," destroyed a collection of her private journals.

These notebooks were shredded under my supervision, Blume, 82, revealed on Cheryl Strayeds New York Times podcast Sugar Calling.

Blume, who has been married to writer George Cooper since 1987, said she wrote about their relationship. She also vented about motherhood. (She shares two grown children with her ex-husband.)

Judy Blume has revealed that she shredded a collection of her private notebooks.

I thought, I dont want to die with these notebooks out there. I dont want anyone I love  my kids, my husband  I dont want them to read this, Blume explained. While some of it may have been about them, (it) was really for me and I didnt feel it belonged out there in the world. This is who I was at a moment in time.

The papers served their purpose and helped Blume work through her emotions. Now, Blume is encouraging teens to use writing as an outlet for their thoughts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Acknowledge your feelings. You dont have to discuss it with your parents, the Key West, Florida-based novelist said. Through the hardest times  I never wrote about the happy times  but through the hardest times, I would just write stuff down.

Sometimes Blume would just scribble a word such as Annoyed or Lonely and decorate it with doodles.

"All the the things they may be feeling, jot it down," she advised.

Someday when this ends, and it will end, they will have this so they can remember, Blume said. They never have to share it. I think thats the most important thing. Its theirs, its private. Its off limits.
The move garners significance as Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who took the oath of the office on 28 November 2019 has to become a member of either of the two houses by 28 May

Putting to rest rumours about impending political instability in Maharashtra, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has urged the Election Commission to hold elections for the nine vacant Legislative Council seats, at the earliest.

The move assumes significance as Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who took the oath of the office on 28 November 2019, has to become a member of either of the two Houses of State Legislature  Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council  by 28 May, to remain in power.

While the coronavirus pandemic has practically ruled out elections on any seat, Thackeray's last hope was Legislative Council, but that too depended on the governor's nod as biennial polls to Legislative Council has been postponed due to coronavirus outbreak.

The governor had kept mum on the issue despite two formal proposals from the state cabinet and many informal visits by Uddhav's team in this regard.

Koshyari finally broke his silence hours after Uddhav's trusted lieutenants, Milind Narvekar and Eknath Shinde, met him at the Raj Bhavan and a day after the chief minister reportedly dialed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his help in mitigating a brewing political instability in the state.

Uddhav's original plan to avoid constitutional crisis was to get elected to the Legislative Council by his MLAs in a 26 March election. However, the polls were postponed in the aftermath of COVID-19.

The Cabinet then recommended appointing the Shiv Sena chief as a Member of the Legislative Council as a Governor's nominee, but Koshyari has stalled a decision on the nomination. He has now finally asked the poll panel, in a letter, to hold MLC polls at "the earliest"

The Governor stated that the central government has announced many relaxation measures regarding the enforcement of lockdown, elections to the council seats can be held with certain guidelines.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The crisis brought by coronavirus disease will change filmmaking as we know it, a movie producer has said.

Content producers are working to develop new guidelines for when they are able to resume production, Regal Films producer Roselle Monteverde told CNN Philippines The Final Word on Wednesday.

But Monteverde said she expects downscaled staff on set.

We are expecting half of our staff only from over 100 to about 50 staff at any time on the set, she said.

The feature film producer added that everyones health conditions will be monitored and social distancing rules observed.

Monteverde said they are also looking at scheduling arrival of people and having individually packed meals in film locations - which traditionally place people into tight spaces.

No more kissing scenes?

When asked if their movie outfit would temporarily do away with fight and intimate scenes, she replied that they will follow the government-issued guidelines, even if it means revising scripts.

Monteverde added that actors and actresses have to be flexible with the new guidelines  with the new normal.

Movies on streaming platforms

Since hundreds of movie theaters were shutdown by the COVID-19 outbreak, Monteverde said that traditional cinema-goers might find it safer to watch films at home, so they are exploring the possibility of a digital release - at least until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.

We have to look at the consumer behavior, whether they're willing to go to enclosed cinemas with recycled air, closed, air-conditioned places. So, that's why we need to do sustainable go to other platforms and distribution in new media.

She added, We need to come out with more content that is suitable for the new media as well.

Localities considered moderate- and low-risk areas will be placed under general community quarantine from May 1 to 15. These areas will have more relaxed lockdown rules.

The Department of Trade and Industry has recommended that several non-essential businesses be allowed to reopen, and some activities, including video and television program production, be permitted to resume.

Meanwhile, the enhanced community quarantine has been extended until mid-May in the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon (except for Aurora, which is under general community quarantine) and other cities and provinces where COVID-19 risk is considered high.
RoomSoom, a coliving and student housing company has raised funding from Mumbai Angels Network. RoomSoom was founded in 2016, headquartered in Noida by Nitin Agrawal and Garima Agrawal.

RoomSoom believes that its not into the business of providing houses to those who need it, but into providing living experiences to those who will be delighted by it. Its dynamic growth lies in its ability to quickly identify the needs of a young and demanding population and provide quick solutions that they never thought existed.

Nitin Agrawal Co-Founder of RoomSoom, said, "MA not only helped us raise funds seamlessly but also connected us to its vast network of Investors across cities in India. With these funds, we plan to tap every market, reach every individual, and identify every need. So that we can provide them with a solution they will not find anywhere else."

Anshuman Ranjan, MA Investor shares his thoughts on RoomSoom, From an investor's perspective RoomSoom had the right ingredients; a scalable and profitable business model, experienced and innovative management, and a resilient business that can recover quickly from the pandemic impact.

Nandini Mansinghka, Co-promoter and CEO Mumbai Angels Network, commented, RoomSoom specializes in designing coliving accommodations for the youth and makes house hunting easy for bachelors and families. We are delighted about having RoomSoom as a part of our portfolio, we wish the team success, growth and expansion of the business across more cities in India.
COVID-19 has acted like a mirror of countries healthcare systems by revealing the vulnerabilities and pushing health systems to the brink. As I write this, worldwide over 3 million people have a confirmed case of COVID-19 and it has resulted in over 220,000 deaths. As countries balance the tightrope of a health, economic, and in some cases security crisis, the question everyones asking is when this pandemic will be over? The answer is: when we have a vaccine or some effective remedies. However, when the vaccine is found will Nigeria be able to deliver that vaccine to its citizens? To be sure the pandemic will have a ripple effect on our social behavior, economies and health systems for years to come.

Vaccines remain one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases. Using the ingenuity of the bodys immune system and modern science, vaccines give us a shot at life. This week is World Immunization Week and the theme is Vaccines work for all. The world focuses on the heroic work of protecting the health of everyone everywhere by the people that develop, deliver and receive vaccines. The swine flu (H1N1) of 2009 which infected well over 700 million people still exists today. Because of several factors, including vaccines, H1N1 does not make headlines any longer. Integral to ending the COVID-19 pandemic is finding a vaccine.

However, vaccines do not administer themselves. They need a robust system to get delivered to everyone  no matter where recipients live. A vaccine should reach you through your primary healthcare center whether you live in the rural areas in Sokoto, urban slums of Lagos, beyond the creeks of Bayelsa or in the hills of Adamawa states. Given community spread of a highly contagious diseases like COVID-19, vaccines are the safest ways to increase immunity in order to keep you and your family safe. The fact remains that none of us are safe until all of us are safe.

Nigerias established ways of distributing vaccines are through primary healthcare centers (PHCs). PHCs are the backbone for any health system in the world. Primary healthcare centers have the ubiquity to reach everyone no matter where they live. Nigeria has about 30,000 primary healthcare centers and abysmally an estimated 80% are dysfunctional. Only 1 in 5 healthcare centers work to a considerable extent. This is damning news for all Nigerians. Think of this scenario: if tomorrow we have a COVID-19 vaccine, most of our population who live in rural areas or who cannot afford private care will not be reached. While some might feel safe based on their ability to get immunized, a majority of Nigerians may not get the vaccine. They will in turn interact with you, your children and loved ones. It begs the question, how safe are you really?

The global vaccine alliance, Gavi is an international public private partnership with an objective of ensuring equity to access new and underused vaccines for those living in poor countries. Simply put, Gavi raises funds for vaccine production and ensures that rich countries where vaccines are often created share access with countries like Nigeria. Gavi began supporting Nigeria 19 years ago and has provided nearly $1.3 billion. A prerequisite to partnership with Gavi is that the Nigerian government must match Gavi funds. As such, the Nigerian government has committed about $2 billion for vaccines till 2028. The partnership with Gavi has enabled cold chain expansion which is critical for vaccine storage as well as efficacy and training thousands of health workers, amongst other initiatives. Even with the availability of the vaccines and a trained health workforce, we need effective distribution through primary healthcare centers.

All is not doom and gloom. The newly awarded Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), a national program stipulated by the National Health Act 2014 already has funding approved by President Buhari  N55billion in 2018 and N44 billion in 2019. Like GAVI, BHCPF requires states to also contribute funding for primary health care, in conjunction with the Federal Government. The Basic healthcare Provision Fund is currently the lowest hanging fruit to strengthening our primary healthcare (PHC) systems. The herculean task of funding a health program has already been achieved. In our typical pattern, however, we seem to be stuck in implementation. The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, called Huwe (an Ebira word meaning life) is already funded to provide free basic services to populations that need it the most. Before the program begins the primary healthcare must be renovated and made functional, complete with running water. Then medicines are purchased two months at a time and provided to each participating primary healthcare center. Based on the current program design there must be one functional PHC in every Ward in Nigeria. Today, Huwe is yet to fully take off. This implementation delay prompted a call to review the programs operational guidelines. The Operational Guidelines is the lynchpin of actualizing Huwe. The Ministry of Health has completed review of the programs Operational Guidelines which began in February 2020. The new guidelines must urgently be shared with stakeholders and the Huwe program must fulfil its intended objective. The time to implement is now.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has understandably been pre-occupied by our national response to COVID-19. However, that battle is not complete if we focus on near term statistics such as, the Total Confirmed, Discharged, and Deaths without focusing on the solution. Ensuring Huwe works should be an integral part of the COVID-19 battle. PHCs already have a network to reach people in remote communities with treatments, drugs, and life-giving information about COVID-19. Without Huwe, Nigeria loses an opportunity to increase the functionality of our primary healthcare systems. Without functional PHCs, we are unable to deliver vaccines. Without the effective delivery of vaccines we remain in the grip of COVID-19 and untold pandemics into the future. Nigeria cannot afford an appalling 20% of functional PHCs and neither can you.

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The loss of another great Bollywood actor, Rishi Kapoor, just a day after the passing away of Irrfan Khan is difficult to bear for all cinephiles. Members of the Hindi film industry too suffered this tragic loss. Many celebrities have taken to their social media profiles to mourn the loss and tweet condolence messages today, after the news of Rishi Kapoor's death made headlines on April 30.

Rishi Kapoor        Kareena Kapoor Khan,    | FilmiBeat

Rishi Kapoor's niece, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan mourned the loss of her dear Chintu uncle by sharing an age old throwback picture of Rishi and Kareena's father Randhir Kapoor. The image is a black and white picture of brothers Rishi and Randhir when they were kids, smiling adorably into the camera.

Sharing the image, Kareena expressed a lot in just a few words. She wrote, "The best boys I know... Papa and Chintu uncle ," (sic).

Rishi breathed his last at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital after being admitted there on Wednesday night. His brother Randhir had confirmed the news and said that Rishi's wife Neetu was by his side. He battled leukemia for two years and got treatment for it in New York city, where he spent almost a year.

Kareena and her husband Saif Ali Khan, Alia Bhatt, Abhishek Bachchan were among the celebrities who visited the hospital today to pay their final respects to the departed life.

While Rishi's son Ranbir Kapoor was reportedly able to spend time with his father during his final moments, his daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahani was not. According to reports, Riddhima was travelling from Delhi to Mumbai to make it to Rishi Kapoor's funeral, but couldn't.

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor Passes Away: Amitabh Bachchan Says 'He's Gone, I'm Destroyed'

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor Wanted To Spend Time With Grandchildren Before Death; Actor's Wish Remains Unfulfilled!


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.




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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CHICAGO - A sharply worded ruling by a federal appeals court in Chicago on Thursday said the Trump administration policy of threatening to withhold grant money from so-called sanctuary cities to force them to comply with its more stringent immigration policies violates separation-of-powers provisions enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said a freeze of that policy should extend nationwide, rejecting arguments by U.S. Department of Justice lawyers that if an injunction were OKed in the case it should only apply to the city of Chicago.

Broad executive-branch powers on immigration matters dont include withholding money allocated by the legislative branch to pressure cities and states to comply with an executive-branch policy, said Judge Ilana Rovner, who authored the 95-page ruling.

Such a concentration of power, she said, would allow tyranny to flourish, and our system of government is wisely set up by the Founders to foreclose such a danger.

She added: The separation of powers is a foundation of our government, not a formality to be swept aside on the path to achieving goals that the executive branch deems worthy.  The (grant) conditions imposed here are an executive usurpation of the power of the purse.

One of the three judges on the panel, Daniel Manion, concurred with the bulk of the ruling. But he said in a separate opinion that he disagreed with approval of a nationwide injunction, saying that broad, sweeping relief of such nature is rarely appropriate.

Congress established the main grant at issue, called a Byrne JAG grant, to help local law enforcement buy equipment, including body cameras and bulletproof vests. But Judge Rovner wrote that the Trump administration was wielding the grant as a hammer to further a completely different policy of the executive branch  presenting a city such as Chicago with the stark choice of forfeiting the funds or undermining its own law enforcement effectiveness.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot described being thrilled by the ruling in the litigation that stretches back to Donald Trumps first year as president.

When I got the news from our corporation counsel earlier this morning, I let out a cheer, Lightfoot told reporters. She added: This is a great victory, not only for Chicago, but for our immigrant and refugee communities everywhere in the country.

Then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel initiated the legal action in 2017 against the U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the grants, over the tying of grants to compliance with U.S. immigration law as the Trump administration wants it enforced.

Other cities who opted to similarly limit their co-operation with federal immigration agents also filed lawsuits against the department. Several cases are still playing out around the country.

Jeff Sessions was U.S. attorney general when Chicago sued in 2017, decrying what he called in the wake of the lawsuit what he called open hostility to enforcing immigration laws. His successor, William Barr, has defended the administration policy just as vigorously.

The suit focused on conditions on Chicago and other cities for grants, which included that they share immigration-status records with U.S. agencies and provide federal agents unfettered access to jails that might hold immigrants without proper documentation.

A Justice Department spokesman declined comment Thursday. The department would have the option of appealing the 7th Circuit decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lightfoot said the city will be right there with them if the department goes to the nations highest court.

Chicagos sanctuary policies date back to the mid-1980s and successive city councils have confirmed or expanded the protections.

The city has prohibited police from providing federal immigration and customs officials access to people in police custody, unless they are wanted on a criminal warrant or have serious criminal convictions. Local police are also barred from allowing the federal agents use their facilities for interviews or investigations and from responding to agency inquiries about a persons custody status or release date.

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Associated Press reporter Kathleen Foody contributed to this report.

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Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mtarm
Yanghee Lee said she left in her UN human rights role in despair at ongoing atrocities in Myanmar - Denis Balibouse/Reuters

The United Nations human rights envoy for Myanmar left her six-year-long role on Thursday with a chilling warning that the countrys military was engaging in activities against rebels that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Her evidence of the targeting of ethnic minorities in Myanmars Rakhine and Chin states comes less than three years after the world was horrified by the militarys ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, triggering a mass exodus of refugees into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now languish in squalid camps.

While the world is occupied with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Myanmar military continues to escalate its assault in Rakhine State, targeting the civilian population, said Yanghee Lee, who also serves as an advisor for the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.

Ms Lee said that she was enraged and saddened by the situation in the country as her mandate drew to a close. On Thursday she also expressed her frustration at the failure of the international community to step up and take action against atrocities committed in Myanmar.

Disappointed at the lack of support and the will from the International Community for justice and accountability! Impunity will only help repeat 'Never again' situations! she tweeted.

I wonder the International Community will say when there is another horrific crisis. How many more times will it repeat: 'Never again'?

Destitute Rohingya refugees have fled squalid camps only to be left starving at sea - Suzauddin Rubel/AP

In an earlier interview with Reuters, Ms Lee said that the democratic opening that brought Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to power in 2016, ending half a century of military rule, had failed to bring the hoped-for expansion of rights and freedoms.

In her role as a UN investigator, she has been repeatedly denied entry to Myanmar. Ms Lee has previously accused the army of genocide and other war crimes against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine in 2017  charges which the military and civilian government have denied.

Story continues

Her final report focused on intense recent clashes between government troops and the Arakan Army, an insurgent group seeking more autonomy for the countrys western region. The group recruits mainly from the regions Buddhist majority.

More than 157,000 people have been displaced and hundreds, including women and children, killed and wounded during the armed conflict which has raged in Rakhine and Chin States since December 2018.

Calls for a ceasefire, including by the Arakan Army, have gone unheeded. Instead, the Tatmadaw [armed forces] is inflicting immense suffering on the ethnic communities in Rakhine and Chin, Ms Lee said in a statement.

Rohingya refugees are dependent on aid handouts since being forced out of Rakhine in 2017 - Shafiqur Rahman/AP

The Tatmadaw is systematically violating the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and human rights. Its conduct against the civilian population of Rakhine and Chin States may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Facing no accountability, the army had intentionally maximized civilian suffering, she charged.

Recent air and artillery strikes on civilians have killed and injured scores of adults and children, and some of the injured have been prevented from accessing urgent medical care, according to the UN report.

Most heinously, a severely injured teenage boy died at a military checkpoint in Rakhine after the Tatmadaw forced the vehicle transporting him to wait there on the way to hospital, it said.

Men suspected of links to the Arakan Army have been detained for days and tortured. Aid has been denied and schools, houses and a Buddhist temple have been burned or destroyed, even an entire village of up to 700 homes.

In one artillery attack on 13 April, the Tatmadaw killed eight civilians, including at least two children, when it targeted Kyauk Seik village, in Ponnagyun township, with artillery from its nearby Battalion 550 base, Ms Lee said.

The Arakan Army has also been accused of conducting its hostilities in a manner that has had negative impacts on civilians, including kidnapping local officials and parliamentarians.

The army has denied targeting civilians and has declared the insurgent group it is fighting, the Arakan Army, a terrorist organisation.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Officers clad in tactical gear swarmed a Southwest Albuquerque neighborhood looking for a suspect accused of killing a Roswell man during a family get-together early Wednesday.

Albuquerque and State Police assisted Roswell police in taking 40-year-old Arturo Duran-Lujan into custody Wednesday afternoon.

Duran-Lujan is charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and child abuse in the death of 37-year-old Leroy Acosta.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court:

Roswell police responded to a shooting around 12:30 a.m. in the 300 block of East Ballard. Officers found Acosta on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his face. A gun fell from his waistband as paramedics carried him to an ambulance. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

People at the scene said they were having a family get-together because an aunt had just died and Duran-Lujan and his girlfriend came from Albuquerque for the funeral. They said Duran-Lujan and Acosta did not get along.

Multiple women said they were inside when they heard yelling and gunshots outside. When they went outside, they saw Acostas daughter clinging to her father as he lay in a pool of blood.

The 15-year-old daughter told police she watched Duran-Lujan shoot her father in front of numerous children who were playing in the front yard. She said it was over an argument but didnt know what it was about.

Officers viewed surveillance footage that they said showed Duran-Lujan approach Acosta and swing a couple times before a muzzle flash is seen. They said Duran-Lujan then jumped into a vehicle with two others and drove away.

Police checked the vehicle license plate, which was registered to an address in the 8900 block of Via del Oro SW in Albuquerque.
Gov. Bullock last month declared a moratorium on evictions and late fees, and Autumn Spivey, a renter in Billings, wanted to do everything by the book.

When she learned in mid-March that her new job at Red Lobster wouldn't materialize because of COVID-19 closures, she filed for unemployment with the hope the funds would arrive by April 5, the day her rent was due.

In the meantime, she contacted her landlord, letting her know she was unemployed, that she had successfully filed for unemployment and that she was still planning on paying her rent. Spivey told her landlord rent could be a little late because of the delays with unemployment.

All the correspondence between the two women had been positive and supportive. Spivey has lived in her apartment since November 2017 and has never been late on her rent, she said. Her last email letting the landlord know her rent was coming but that it would be late  she was still waiting on her unemployment  was on Apr. 6.

"I didn't know there was any problem," Spivey said.

Then she looked at her bank account. On April 7, the rent money and the associated late fees were drawn from her account without her knowledge by a third-party company called Zego.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico reported on Wednesday it now has over 10,000 cases of coronavirus, the fifth-highest tally in Latin America, as containment measures and rock-bottom crude prices wreak economic havoc on the oil-producing country.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has frequently expressed optimism that Mexicans will overcome the outbreak, arguing that tight-knit families offer the best protection, even as he has balked at more aggressive stimulus measures to help both businesses and individuals.

Mexico's economy, Latin America's second biggest and already ailing before the outbreak, is expected to contract by as much as 10% this year.

As late as March 22, Lopez Obrador was still encouraging Mexicans to go out with their families to restaurants, while allies, including the mayor of Mexico City, began ordering the closure of movie theaters and gyms and asking residents to stay home.

Earlier this week Mexico entered into the so-called "Phase 3" of the spread of the novel coronavirus, the most serious stage, as senior health officials warned that the transmission of the virus is intensifying.

Mexico has so far registered 970 coronavirus deaths and 10,544 confirmed infections.

The first confirmed infection was reported on Feb. 28, and it took 32 days to reach 1,000. Barely two weeks later, it hit 5,000 cases, according to a Reuters tally. It took just another nine days to double to 10,000 cases.

Across the region, only Brazil, Peru, Chile and Ecuador have more confirmed cases.

(Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Kim Coghill)
Mira Nair's "The Namesake" is considered one of the best works of Irrfan Khan and the filmmaker now shares the story of how she met and developed a long-lasting friendship with the actor, who passed away after a battle with cancer.

While scouting talent for her 1988 feature "Salaam Bombay!", Nair went to the National School of Drama in Delhi where she spotted the then 18-year-old actor - "tall and gangly and angular like a praying mantis".

"And of course, he had this extraordinary face. He was only 18, but he still had a craggy face and those hooded eyes. The interesting thing was that he was very keenly focused. He was acutely observant and very open, not filled with any kind of big attitude," the director recalled during a telephonic conversation with the New York Times.

Irrfan, 54, died in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday after a two year fight with a rare form of cancer. He was buried at the Versova graveyard.

Nair said that the actor left the drama school on her request and lived in a Mumbai flat for two-three months with her, another cinematographer and many street kids.

Initially set to play street gang leader Salim, the actor was later given a one-day scene of the scribe who rips off the street child and doesn't send the letter home to his mother.

The filmmaker said they realised that at his height of around 6 ft, he was "double the length of any malnourished street child".

"The kids came up to his waist. It was not possible for him to be physically part of this group. It was a terribly hard thing to tell this wonderful actor that I couldn't cast him, but he understood that," Nair said.

But despite this, the two remained friends.

Sixteen years later, as she promised, Nair gave him a lead part in "The Namesake", based on Jhumpa Lahiri's novel of the same name.

"I had no idea when we brought him out here to play Ashoke Ganguli that it was Irrfan's first time in America. And he looked at things with the eyes of not just an excited young man seeing this other world, but also with the eyes of the character who had to play it."



Nair said she introduced Irrfan to Lahiri's parents and asked him to base his character on her father.

"And it was really beautiful because Irrfan is not Bengali, but he looks Bengali and he's such an extraordinary actor that he can internalize all those things that make somebody as particular as they are," she added.

The filmmaker then recalled one of the most moving scenes from the movie where Irrfan's Ashoke Ganguli is having a conversation with his son, Gogol, explaining how he named him after Ukrainian author Nikolai Gogol.

"And on the second take, he said to me, 'Tujhe kuch aur chahiye, na?' ('You want something') And I said: 'Yeah, I want a tear to glass your eyes. I don't want it to fall down.'



"In fact, I'd say something funny like, 'If the bloody tear falls down your cheek, I will give you a slap.' That's how we used to talk, nothing precious -- a joke, as if we were car mechanics and I was telling him to shift into third gear," Nair said.

The director said the last time she met Irrfan was a year ago in London where he was receiving treatment for neuroendocrine tumour and the actor was "remarkably philosophical".

"We ate very well in a cafe. He flirted with the waitress. My friend came in on a bike and he got on the bike and he said: 'I just need to. I need to do one block. Just one'.

"We had our last pictures together on this bike, and he was in full-blown treatment and yet he was in dapper linen.

Meanwhile, actor Kal Penn, who played Irrfan's son in the movie, also posted a tribute to the actor.

"Irrfan's art and humanity will be badly missed. Never seen someone use the beats of silence so beautifully to convey so much about who we are. Sending love to Sutapa and the family," the actor tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T his is the horrifying moment a man struck a pensioner on the head with a metal pipe before stealing the food shed just bought.

CCTV footage of the incident, shared by police in the US state of Arizona, shows the 77-year-old woman leaving a restaurant with two pizza boxes before shes confronted by the assailant.

With her hands full, she pushes open the door with her back, so doesnt notice the mans approach.

As she passes the threshold, she is met by the aggressor who squares up to her, pole raised.

The victim takes panicked steps to move away from him, but he strikes his weapon hard across her head.

He then seizes one of the boxes as she drops her other belongings and runs back into the building  her head in her hands.

Police in the city of Tuscon posted the clip on Twitter on Tuesday, urging the public to help them identify the suspect.
Mother's Day is almost here and Tory Johnson has exclusive "GMA" Deals and Steals on gifts to celebrate the mom figure in your life.

Score big savings on everything from skincare products and jewelry to tea and cocktail kits and more.

The deals start at $10 and are all at least 50% off.

PHOTO: Deals & Steals for Mother's Day from small businesses (ABC News Photo Illustration, Teaspressa, Amelia Rose, Earth's Elements)

Find all of Tory's "Deals and Steals" on her special website, GMADeals.com.

Plus,this month, to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Tory has 50% off eco-friendly products from 25 companies -- mostly small businesses. The deals end today so shop her exclusive "Deals" here!

Deal Details:

1. Use the links provided below on the date(s) listed to receive the savings.

2. All deals are available only while supplies last. No back orders, unless specified by the individual vendor. No rain checks.

3. Deals cannot be combined with other coupons and offers.

4. Contact retailers for any questions about products before ordering online.

5. Shipping rates indicated are valid in the continental United States only.

Plus,this month, to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Tory has 50% off eco-friendly products from 25 companies -- mostly small businesses. The deals end today so shop her exclusive "Deals" here!

NEED HELP? CONTACT TORY: For those who need assistance with a deal, please email Tory Johnson directly at help@gmadeals.com. Tory and her team respond to all viewer emails within an hour during business hours.

'GMA' Deals & Steals for Mother's Day from small businesses originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
The Covid-19 lockdown will continue in some or the other form till a vaccine is developed for the coronavirus, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has said.

The lockdown is till May 3 as of now, and it is a long way to exit the lockdown. It is not possible now to restart inter-state bus, train or air services. Lockdown is the only way and people need to accept this as part of their lives, he told reporters at the Civil Secretariat late on Wednesday evening.

The lockdown will continue in some form or other till a vaccine for the coronavirus is developed, he said without specifying whether he was referring to restrictions across the country or in Tripura.

Deb made the remarks after holding a meeting of all political parties at the Civil Secretariat. Representatives of 18 parties, including the CPI-M, Congress, INPT, BJP and its alliance partner IPFT, joined the meeting.

Speaking about initiatives to tackle the economic crisis after the lockdown, Deb said the primary sectors, such as agriculture, horticulture, dairy and poultry farms, are the mainstay of the states economy and work has already started in these fields. Besides, 50 of the states 75 industrial units have resumed functioning.

Though Tripura is a small state, our government has adopted initiatives to revive the economy after the lockdown. We have started to work in the primary sectors and 50 industrial units have already started functioning, he said.

We have helped all the poor people in terms of cash benefits and supplies of rations during the lockdown. They have received different amounts, ranging between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 in their bank accounts and free rations, said Deb.

During the meeting, the CPI-M demanded the state government should provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to people engaged in cleaning and sanitation tasks, and food items such as potatoes, pulses and onions to poor families for three months.

The Congress stressed that government benefits should reach people living in areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Currently, Tripura has buffer stocks of rice for 76 days, wheat for 80 days, sugar for 42 days, lentil pulses for 17 days, and salt for 14 days.

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CHICAGO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- J-POWER USA Development Co., Ltd. ("J-POWER USA"), Solar Plus Development, Inc. ("Plus"), a subsidiary of Plus Renewable Technologies Limited, Avondale Solar, LLC ("Avondale") and AP Solar Holdings, LLC ("AP Solar"), a joint venture company between Plus and Avondale, have agreed to jointly develop Red Tailed Hawk Solar, a 350 MWac solar project located in Wharton County, TX.

This will be J-POWER USA's first renewable project in the U.S. The demand for solar power has increased in recent years with Texas having some of the best solar resources in the country in addition to its rapidly growing economy. This project is strategically located close to the load center of Houston, a high-power demand area.

J-POWER USA and its affiliate companies now have interests in 12 U.S. power generating facilities, totaling approximately 6,500 MW. "We are excited to expand our development capabilities into the renewable energy field," stated Mark Condon, President and CEO of J-POWER USA. "J-POWER USA's participation in this project will assist in providing energy to the marketplace in order to meet consumer demand for clean, affordable and reliable power," Condon continued.

Trevor Nash, CEO of AP Solar, said "We are very pleased to be working with J-POWER USA on the development of the Red-Tailed Hawk Solar project which will be well positioned to provide low cost renewable power to the Houston Zone."

About J-POWER USA

J-POWER USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of J-POWER North America Holdings Co., Ltd. which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. ("J-POWER") with headquarters located in Tokyo, Japan. J-POWER USA, headquartered in the greater Chicago area, has a long-term strategy to acquire, develop, finance and operate power generation facilities in North America through its team of power professionals with a proven track record of successfully developing and acquiring power projects in the IPP sector.

J-POWER stock is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In the fiscal year ending March 2019, J-POWER had revenues of US$8.1 billion and assets of approximately US$24.9 billion. With approximately 25,000 megawatts of net ownership, J-POWER is one of the world's largest independent generators of electricity, owning 97 power plants in Japan and 37 international IPP investments.

About AP Solar

AP Solar is a joint venture between Avondale Solar, LLC ("Avondale") and Plus Renewable Technologies Limited ("Plus"). AP Solar is a full service, utility-scale solar power project developer that focuses, currently, on the ERCOT market in Texas.

About Plus

Plus owns operating renewable assets in China, Taiwan and the U.S. and continues to develop new projects in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and other Asian markets.

About Avondale

Avondale was founded by affiliates of Snapper Creek Energy Advisors, LLC and is a privately-held investment holding company created for the purposes of investing in utility-scale solar projects throughout the de-regulated electricity markets in the United States.

SOURCE J-POWER USA Development Co., Ltd.

Related Links

https://jpowerusa.com


The decision by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans government to delete nearly 4,000 names from its terror watch list was part of a well-orchestrated effort to scrub its terror record clean not just at home, but also at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), people familiar with the developments told Hindustan Times.

Islamabad has told a visiting team of a UNSC monitoring committee that it had been unable to act against numerous individuals listed in its sanctions list because the UN panel had given insufficient information.

The UNSC 1267 Sanctions List has 130 names from Pakistan.

Islamabad, however, acknowledges the presence of only 19 of them including Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed. It has already moved the UNSC to delist 6 terrorists including Matiur Rehman, described in UN records of 2013 as the chief operational commander of terror group Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, a top official in North Block that houses Indias internal security establishment said.

The UN analytical support and sanctions monitoring team, which was on a five-day visit to Pakistan in March, was told that the UN Sanctions List did not have the accurate date of birth, nationality, national ID number, passport number or a specific address of the men sanctioned for their terror links.

Pakistan had put out a similar set of explanations when it was asked about the deletion of 3,800 names from its domestic terror watch list.

In October 2018, Islamabad showed off this list to the counterterror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force to demonstrate that it was coming down heavily on terrorists. This terror watch list, according to FATF records, then had 7,600 names of terrorists.

Indian counterterror officials suggested that the effort to prune Pakistans terror watch list is a more recent development.

The deletions were first spotted by Castellum AI, a New York-headquartered tech firm that tracks watch lists globally. In a statement in April, the tech firm started by a former US treasury department official said many of the names were removed sometime after October 2018. But there were about 1,069 names in the watch list that were deleted between March 9-27. Another 800 names were removed after March 27.

This means the process to delete the names started the day the UNSC monitoring team landed in Pakistan, a counterterror operative told Hindustan Times. The UNSC monitoring team was in Pakistan from March 9-13.

Indian officials said they had not been able to access the details of the UNSC panels visit but had learnt that the UNSC panel did convey, on March 18, that Pakistan could file requests for delisting inappropriate names from the UNSC sanctions list.

Pakistan hopes to get the support of the Chinese in this endeavour given how Beijing had blocked an international effort to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist for years. Beijing eventually had to give in last year but started backing Islamabads attempts to include Indian professionals working in Afghanistan in the UNSC 1267 list.

Also Read : Brief the boss: The backstory of Masood Azhars global terror tag

The exercise to get names of terrorists deleted, a top source in the internal security establishment said, appears to be driven by the desperation to stay out of the FATFs black list. Pakistan has been on the terror financing watchdogs grey list since June 2018 and faces the risk of being placed in the black list if it does not demonstrate that it was really acting against terrorists.

By getting rid of half of the proscribed entities, Pakistan authorities attempted to reduce its obligation to freeze the assets of such entities, the source said.

The FATF, which was due to review the status of steps taken by Pakistan, has pushed the meeting by four months in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In any case, officials said, Pakistan had always kept out the most prominent of the terrorists that it supports out of the watch list.

Top terrorist leaders who had been designated by the UNSC such as the Lashkar-e-Taibas chief operations commander and 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Zaki ur Rehmani Lakhvi have always stayed out of Pakistans terror list. So did Dawood Ibrahim and others such as Mohammed Yahya Mujahid, head of LeTs media department (sanctioned in 2009) and LeT co-founder and Hafiz Saeeds deputy Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi.

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Manila: The Philippines has begun to ease coronavirus restrictions, even as the number of infections and deaths continues to rise, nearly two months since a lockdown was imposed on the most populous island.

The government placed areas with few cases of COVID-19 under a more relaxed form of quarantine starting from Friday, allowing work, public transportation and commercial establishments, including shopping malls, to resume operations at a reduced capacity.

The so-called general community quarantine still requires people to maintain physical distancing, wear face masks when outside their homes, and practice strict hand hygiene, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

"People can go out of their homes but only for essential or work-related activities," he said. "Leisurely trips are still not allowed."

The capital of Manila, as well as 15 provinces and three cities around the country, are under stricter lockdown until May 15.

The lockdown or "enhanced community quarantine" was first imposed in mid-March over the entire island of Luzon, where Manila is located and which is home to about 57 million people, or half of the Philippines' population.

Under the lockdown, only one person per household is allowed to leave their homes to buy supplies, while public transport and work are suspended. Shopping centres are still closed.

The Department of Health on Friday reported 284 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, bringing the national tally to 8772. The death toll from the highly infectious disease rose to 579, with 11 new deaths.
Barzan Holding Company, in cooperation with US company Wilcox, is expected to produce 2,000 Savr-Q ventilators a week.

Qatar has started manufacturing artificial respiratory machines in order to cover the requirements of the health sector domestically and to export internationally, in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited the Barzan Holding Company, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Defense, and was briefed on the production lines for manufacturing the Savr-Q ventilators.

Sheikh Tamim also met a number of Qatari engineers at the companys research and development centre who are working to produce devices that conform to the standards of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Barzan will produce the ventilators through a strategic partnership with the American company, Wilcox, in order to cover the health sectors requirements in the country.

It is a small, light device, made for civilian and military use, Saud Abdullah al-Manai, the assistant project manager for Savr-Q, told Al Jazeera. It is 100 percent Qatari in terms of engineering and manufacturing.

In light of the increasing global demand for ventilators for the treatment of people infected with coronavirus, the company is estimated to produce 2,000 ventilators a week, with the aim of reaching internal self-sufficiency and international export.

The new coronavirus, which has infected more than three million people worldwide and killed about a quarter of a million people, has resulted in an increased global demand for the mechanical ventilation industry.
Utica, N.Y.  A 47-year-old Utica man has been arrested and accused of breaking into the home of a woman who had an order of protection against him and threatening her with a knife, according to police.

Israel Crespo was charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree criminal contempt, New York State Police said Wednesday.

At 6 a.m., Crespo forced his way into the womans Marcy home and threatened her with a knife, police said. Crespo left and the woman called 911, according to police.

Police later found Crespos car parked in the road in front of 1219 Miller St. in Utica, police said.

Troopers spotted Crespo running on Miller Street, and he was arrested a short foot chase later near Miller Streets intersection with Eagle Street, according to police.

Police searched Crespos car and found a knife and box cutter, police said.

Crespo was taken to the Oneida County Jail, where he awaited centralized arraignment.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
Photo credit: Vostok - Getty Images

From House Beautiful

As more states plan to slowly reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, Simon Property Group, the biggest mall owner in the U.S. is reopening 49 of its malls and outlet centers starting on Friday.

According to a memo obtained by CNBC, the company plans plans to reopen its properties in 10 states across the country based on current state and local stay-at-home orders. The states include Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Texas, and Missouri.

Monday through Saturday, the malls and outlet centers will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The reduced hours will allow for cleaning at night. Simon also plans to regularly clean areas that are touched a lot like escalator, door knobs, and food court tables.

Simon will encourage customers to take their temperatures before visiting the mall. If shoppers don't take their temperatures at home, the company said that it will have free temperatures testing with infrared thermometers. Simon will also give out free face masks that follow CDC guidelines and hand sanitizing packets to customers that ask for them. To try and implement social distancing, food court seating and entrances will be limited, play areas and fountains will be closed, and occupancy won't exceed one person per 50 square feet.

While the malls and outlet centers will be open, the retailers will have to decide whether or not to reopen, too.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 22:04:25|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Arab foreign ministers strongly condemned on Thursday Israel's plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

In a statement following a video conference, the Arab League (AL) considered the plans "a new war crime to be added in the Israeli heinous record" against Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz signed a deal on April 20 for a unity government that could accelerate the prime minister's plans to annex parts of the West Bank in the coming months, with July 1 as the start of cabinet discussions.

Israel occupied the West Bank in the war in 1967.

The Arab countries called on the U.S. government to abide by the UN charters and the international laws with regards to protecting the Palestinians' rights, and to "abandon its support for Israel's plans and maps that seek to annex more Palestinian territories."

The AL held the Israeli government and the U.S. government accountable for the impact of "such practices on the world security and stability."

Meanwhile, the statement reaffirmed that the Arab countries "will boost, by all financial, legal, diplomatic and political means, any Palestinian decisions to face the Israeli plans of expanding the occupied settlements." Enditem
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the people of Kano that he would not let them down regarding the mass deaths in the state.

President Buhari, in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the outcome of the impending autopsies would determine the real causes of the strange deaths in the state.

The statement read: Theres no time for energy wasted on political point-scoring, whether by current or former holders of office  or for any differences between state and federal administrations to be publicly aired.

This is no time for talk. Our common purpose is to preserve the lives and health of citizens. President Muhammadu Buhari and his government are with the people of Kano State and will not let them down.

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If there is reason to believe that the mortality rate in Kano due to COVID-19 is out of control, it will spell a serious development to which the best action would be for the federal government and state government to work more tightly together to find solutions and implement together.

In Nigeria, there are currently verbal autopsies underway in Kano State to identify the precise cause of the sudden and rapid increase in mortality in recent days.

While some may wish to believe that there are other causes at play here like hypertension, diabetes, meningitis, and acute malaria, there are others who say it is COVID-19.

We should be prepared to accept the medical and scientific result of the autopsies and work together to confront the common enemy.

What we know all over the world is that communities with similar socioeconomic dynamics like Kano have found as very helpful, the sort of lockdown measures now imposed, with markets and other public places of worship shuttered more strictly.

Shehu added: Nigeria is only weeks into our fight against the invisible COVID-19 that, earlier this year, was unknown to almost every nation in the world.

Read Also: MURIC Says Kano Death May Suggest A Plot To Decimate Muslims

Only earlier this month Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHOs Health Emergencies Programme, made clear that We are at the beginning in Africa.

There is much that remains unknown about this virus. What we do know is that global infections rates continue to rise each day  even when in some nations affected some time before Nigeria, the daily rate of infection is now slowing.

We know too that there is a global shortage of personal protective equipment, virus testing kits and other medical devices required to fight this pandemic.

And we also know that in each and every country there are some cities and regions more severely affected than others.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-29 20:47:00|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Hu Tao

BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- An unprecedented air cargo relay is taking place in the global skies, as China endeavors to ensure its safety and efficiency together with aviation players worldwide.

Air cargo has become increasingly important in the global anti-pandemic fight due to growing demands for medical and other vital supplies. Great challenges lie ahead for government authorities and airlines.

China is making persistent and comprehensive efforts to facilitate the global relay in the air.

COMMITMENT TO INT'L COMMUNITY

The civil aviation authorities of China have continuously introduced encouraging policies, guidance and "green channels" to ensure the smooth and safe operation of airlines in their cargo missions at home and abroad.

China has provided support to the international community within its capacity while ensuring its domestic epidemic control and prevention, said Jin Junhao, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

China's international air cargo capacity has been gradually expanded thanks to the CAAC's multiple effective measures, such as cutting the costs of carriers, establishing "green channels" for flight approval and introducing point-to-point charter cargo flights.

In the April 20-26 period, for instance, China maintained 1,989 weekly scheduled cargo flights with 93 overseas destinations in 45 countries.

The number of flights represented a 17.7-percent increase from the week earlier, or an increase of 96.2 percent from the weekly flight tally before the outbreak of COVID-19.

While ensuring the cargo flight volume and frequency for emergency supplies, the CAAC has also taken comprehensive safety measures, especially as some carriers are adapting their passenger airplanes for cargo missions.

The CAAC has issued a notice for guaranteeing safety when utilizing passenger aircraft for cargo flights, aiming at guiding carriers to fully evaluate their passenger airplanes for cargo flights and ensure safe operation of such services.

STRENGTH OF CHINESE AIRLINES

Given the government's policies and guidance, major Chinese airlines manifest their strength by increasing efficiency and capacity in expanding the air cargo transport network at home and abroad.

Thanks to the country's decades-long efforts in cultivating the civil aviation industry, major Chinese airlines have been generating power by expanding their fleet and serving capacity.

China Southern Airlines, the country's largest air carrier, is now sending 185 international cargo flights weekly to support the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The Guangzhou-based China Southern is the largest air carrier in Asia, with a fleet of more than 860 airplanes by the end of 2019.

The company is serving the global anti-pandemic fight on its international cargo flight network reaching Europe, North America, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, West Asia and Southeast Asia.

SF Airlines, China's largest air cargo carrier, uses its all-cargo freighters to provide medical supplies and other necessities for daily life and work resumption.

The airline has been exploring potential uses of its fleet of 58 all-cargo freighters and air logistics linking more than 60 destinations worldwide.

JOINT RELAYING EFFORTS

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on April 28 released a report for March air cargo performance, which demonstrated a severe and immediate capacity shortfall.

The gap between transport demand and capacity must be addressed quickly "because vital supplies must get to where they are needed most," said Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of the IATA.

The Chinese civil aviation authorities are adopting flexible measures to relieve pressure between cargo transport demands and the capacity of domestic and global carriers.

Since February, the CAAC has approved a total of 3,178 added charter flights carried by all-cargo freighters, and 1,873 added cargo flights carried by use of idle passenger airplanes, according to statistics from the CAAC.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched special air cargo flights linking cities between the Netherlands and China on April 13 to provide the rapid transportation of medical equipment and other emergency supplies, according to KLM China.

In the April 27-May 3 period, the airline will operate 19 cargo flights between the Netherlands and multiple destinations in China, to ensure the continuous supply of medical supplies from China.

Delta Air Lines, one of the major airlines of the United States, is now using cargo flights to maintain a China-U.S. "lifeline" of vital supplies, according to the airline.

To date, Delta has increased its China-U.S. air cargo services to 14 flights per week.

"Increasing our cargo flights means suppliers in China can get these items to frontline workers throughout the U.S. far more rapidly than if they were transported via cargo ship," said Shawn Cole, vice president with Delta Cargo. Enditem
The Indian-American community has been an extraordinary source of strength during the coronavirus pandemic, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Wednesday, asserting that they have stepped up and shown leadership in these difficult times.

"The Indian community in the United States has been an extraordinary source of strength and support for our Embassy since the time this crisis broke out. You have stepped forward and shown leadership in difficult circumstances and demonstrated the strength of the Indian diaspora," Sandhu said in a virtual interaction with a group of eminent Indian-American community leaders from across the country.

Applauding them for their sense of community service and duty, Sandhu said they have gone above and beyond in extending a helping hand to those who need.

"You are example not just for India but also for the United States. The selfless service that many of you are providing amongst your local communities in the United States has been appreciated by leaders here and makes me very proud, he said.

"Needless to say, Indian-Americans are leading this country in the fight against Covid19. Whether as healthcare workers; doctors; scientists, business-owners -- you are leading the charge against Covid and your contributions will not go unacknowledged," he said.

Describing them as important stakeholders in the India-US relationship, he said that the community is the common bond which brings the two countries together. "As global strategic partners, we have close co-operation in all spheres of human activity including scientific and medical research."



Observing that Indian students in the United States have been facing an unpredictable situation due to the lockdown and classes going online, he said he has succeeded in persuading many Universities in allowing them to continue in their accommodation, some were unable to do so due to closure of dormitories.

"When they had no other place to go, Hotel Owners came forward to offer accommodation to stranded students and other short-term visitors. It gives me a great sense of pride that through the pooled resources from all of you, over 5000,-such rooms have been arranged. Special thanks to Indian Hotel owners including AAHOA for this," he said.

"When some students did not have enough resources to take care of the daily needs, you came forward to help with provisions and food packets," he said.

The Indian Embassy had reached out to many community doctors in anticipation of the worsening health situation in the United States.

"Many of our stranded Indians here in the United States are elderly, visiting parents. One of the main problems they are facing is shortage of prescription medicines due to their extended stay. When they approached us, due to your support, we were able to connect them with Indian-American doctors," he said.

In fact, AAPI has set up a dedicated e-mail helpline to assist those in need of medical prescriptions. The AAPI has also tied up with Telemedicine to assist in prescription of medicines. These are only a few among the countless instances where the community has stepped forward, he said.

Sandhu said that many of the community organizations/associations, either individually or jointly as a group, have constituted Task Force/Teams, to provide help.

"I have seen the helpline of NCAIA (National Council of Asian American Associations). Sewa International has been helping out students and other stranded Indians on a range of issues and mobilizing volunteers for assistance," the top Indian diplomat said.

The Indian-American community leaders praised Sandhu for his efforts to connect with the community during this coronavirus pandemic.

"Due credit should be given to the Indian mission under the guidance and leadership of Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu who are doing a great job, tirelessly reaching out to the Indian-American community in this Pandemic" said New York-based Al Mason.

Indian-American Sikh leader Sukhpal Singh Dhanoa, said Ambassador Sandhu has been proactively reaching out to the community during this hour of crisis.

Kalpesh Joshi from AAHOA said that it was very nice of the Ambassador to take this initiative. "I have never seen this extraordinary response from government official that they care about Indian citizens overseas and the diaspora," he said.

"The community is doing its best in this hour of crisis. We hope that things get better here and in India. Some (Indian) students really want to go back and some students are scared as to what will happen. We give them moral support," said Joshi, who has been leading the AAHOA efforts to provide accommodation to the stranded students.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NewLeaf Brands Inc. (CSE: NLB) (OTC: NLBIF) (FSE:0NF) ("NewLeaf Brands" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement dated April 29, 2020 ("the Agreement") to acquire Mydecine Group ("Mydecine"), a Colorado headquartered company.

Mydecine is a vertically integrated company engaged to utilize the vast medicinal, health and wellness capabilities of the plethora of compounds found in various strains of mushroom and fungi as a whole. The Company, through its three wholly-owned divisions, "Mydecine Farms", "Mydecine Wellness", and "Mydecine Labs" aims to be an industry pioneer in the cultivation, processing, product development, and research and development of the many beneficial and exciting compounds that are found in various strains of mushroom and fungi from all around the world.

Josh Bartch, CEO of NewLeaf Brands, commented that "we can't be more excited to close this deal with Mydecine. The medical and industrial uses of mushrooms are becoming more popular every day, and we will now be on the forefront of these evolving industries."

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company will purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Mydecine in exchange for 17,000,000 common shares of NewLeaf Brands. The Company will pay a finder's fee for the transaction.

To learn more about Mydecine please visit the company's website at mydecine.com

About NewLeaf Brands

NewLeaf Brands, Inc. is an innovative Cannabidiol ("CBD") lifestyle Company. Through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries We are Kured, LLC, Drink Fresh Water, LLC, ReLyfe Brand, LLC and TeaLief Brand, LLC the Company's main business activities encompass the development, marketing, and distribution of CBD products (including vaporizer pens/cartridges, hot/cold tea, softgel capsules and beverages) throughout North America, South America, and Europe. In addition, NewLeaf Brands, Inc. has extensive retail and cultivation land investments in Oregon, USA.

For further information about NewLeaf Brands, please consult the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's website at www.NABrandsInc.com. For further information about We Are Kured, please visit their website at www.wearekured.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to completion of planned improvements at both the Canadian and US sites on schedule and on budget, the availability of financing needed to complete the Company's planned improvements on commercially reasonable terms, planned occupancy by the tenant-growers, commencement of operations, differences in yield on expected harvests, delays in obtaining statutory approval for marijuana production plans, issues that may arise throughout the grow period, outdoor crops affected by weather, the ability to mitigate the risk of loss through appropriate insurance policies, and the risks presented by federal statutes that may contradict local and state legislation respecting legalized marijuana. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Joshua Bartch

Chief Executive Officer [email protected]

For Further Information Contact

Corporate Communications

[email protected]

+1-250-488-6728

We Are Kured Contact:

Benjamin Martch

Founder & CEO

www.wearekured.com

SOURCE NewLeaf Brands Inc.
The Madhya Pradesh government on



Thursday said it had brought back over 20,000 migrant labourers, who were stranded in other states amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

Additional chief secretary I C P Keshari, who is in- charge of the state control room, said at least 20,000 migrant labourers, who were stranded in other states, were brought back to Madhya Pradesh so far.

Labourers travelling in 200 buses from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur and Jaipur cities had reached Neemuch, Agar-Malwa, Sheopur and Guna entry points in Madhya Pradesh, he said.

These migrant workers will be sent to their home districts after they undergo a health check-up, he said.

As many as 500 people were brought back from Gujarat on Wednesday, the senior official said.

Apart from this, at least 2,000 to 3,000 labourers were reaching the state borders on foot every day, he said, adding that 3,000 labourers from Rajasthan, who were stuck in Madhya Pradesh, have been sent back to their home state.

Keshari went on to say that 30,000 labourers stranded in various districts of the state were sent back to their hometowns in the last five days.

At least 7,000 labourers from Rajasthan and 3,000 from Uttar Pradesh will be brought back on Thursday, while arrangements were being made to bring back 1,600 workers from Goa, the official said.

Meanwhile, labourers expressed their happiness on returning home after remaining stranded in other states during the lockdown.

Bishnu Bai, who travelled with 18 of his family members to Naya Gaon border between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan earlier this week, said, "We had gone to Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) for work and we are now relieved to return to our village in Ujjain district."



Arvind, a resident of Damoh district, travelled from Aurangabad in Maharashtra and reached Harda district on foot.

"I work in Aurangabad, but was stranded there because of the lockdown. I managed to reach Harda on foot and the local administration arranged for my food and stay," said Arvind, who will undergo a health check-up before being sent home.

Earlier on Tuesday, the state government had brought back about 1,350 labourers from Haryana to Gwalior by bus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CINCINNATI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Two local entrepreneurs, Chad Brizendine and Jake Warm, have acquired the beloved local bourbon brand O.K.I. from New Riff Distilling. O.K.I.'s first single barrel releases are set for bottling at cask strength and release in Northern Kentucky this fall, just in time for bourbon enthusiasts' busiest time of year.

O.K.I. Fall 2020 Launch Bottle

Paying homage to O.K.I.'s roots and name [Ohio. Kentucky. Indiana], O.K.I. will maintain its sourcing strategy of 36 percent high rye bourbon from Lawrenceburg, Indiana for its launch. As part of its acquisition, O.K.I. will update its brand story and packaging, focusing more on the rich bourbon heritage of the entire region dating as far back as pre-Prohibition.

Warm's family has been integral to local bourbon history for decades. He shared: "My great grandfather, Jake, built the iconic Seagram's warehouse at the Lawrenceburg distillery in the 1930's. At the time, it was the world's largest whiskey maturing warehouse. I'm very proud that our first O.K.I. barrels will be aged in the same buildings my family built 90 years ago."

Brizendine added, "95 percent of the world's bourbon supply comes from the tri-state region of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and we're very proud of that.* We look forward to working with distilleries across the region to source bourbon and rye for future O.K.I. releases."

Stay up to date on all things OKI Bourbon and the Fall 2020 release on Facebook: www.facebook.com/okibourbon

About OKI Spirits LLC

Local Cincinnati-based whiskey entrepreneurs Chad Brizendine and Jake Warm are co-owners of OKI Spirits LLC. Brizendine was co-founder and Warm an early investor in George Remus Bourbon, acquired in 2016 by MGPI. OKI Spirits will operate from its Cincinnati, OH headquarters and specialize in highly curated single barrels of Bourbon and Rye whiskey.

* Source: Kentucky Distillers' Association

Media Contact:

Chad Brizendine

[email protected]

502.468.6748

SOURCE O.K.I. Bourbon
D onald Trump has announced that the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines after they expire on Thursday.

The US president said he plans to resume official travel with a trip to Arizona next week.

Mr Trump also said he hopes to hold mass campaign rallies in the coming months with thousands of supporters, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by then.

He then talked up the good news of the day with hopeful results coming in for a possible Covid-19 treatment.

New York's Coronavirus outbreak - In pictures 1 /34 New York's Coronavirus outbreak - In pictures The Supermoon rises behind the Empire State Building while it glows red in solidarity with those infected with coronavirus as the outbreak of the disease (COVID-19) continues in the Manhattan borough of New York City Reuters A nearly empty Times Square AFP via Getty Images Riders, some wearing masks and gloves as a protective measure over coronavirus concerns, enter a New York City subway train AP People try to keep a social distance while they enjoy a sunny day at Central Park Reuters Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, that the zoo said on April 5, 2020 has tested positive for coronavirus disease WCS/Handout via Reuters People wear face masks AFP via Getty Images A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan Reuters US President Donald Trump looks on during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on March 31, 2020, in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Felix Hassebroek waves to his classmates, who he has not seen in 2 weeks through a livestream video meet up during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Friends and neighbors, Sarah and Elizabeth, talk about their weekends from opposite sides of the road as they maintain social distance in a neighborhood in Syracuse, New York Reuters Light morning traffic seen on the FDR drive on March 24, 2020 in New York City AFP via Getty Images A subway customer uses a tissue to protect her hand while holding onto a pole AP Workers construct what is believed to be a makeshift morgue behind a hospital during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Manhattan borough of New York City Reuters Beds separated by black fabric are set up as a temporary field hospital for Covid-19 patients in Queens, New York AFP via Getty Images New York's Hart Island where the department of corrections is dealing with more burials Reuters Medical workers wait for patients at a special coronavirus intake area in New York Getty Images Patients wear personal protective equipment while maintaining social distancing as they wait in line for a COVID-19 test at Elmhurst Hospital Center AP The One World Trade Center tower in Manhattan is seen illuminated in blue light Reuters Pictures drawn by children as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters U.S. Army National Guard personnel load boxes of free food provided by multiple New York City agencies into a taxi for distribution to local residents in the Harlem neighbourhood of Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID19) in New York Reuters Traders work during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 17, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City AFP via Getty Images A man in a wheelchair crosses a nearly empty 7th Avenue in Times Square in Manhattan Reuters Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS

But the White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nation's economy state-by-state.

This comes amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

"We're heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us," Mr Trump said as he led a roundtable with executives from companies like Hilton and Toyota.

The president laid out a vision of a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy - "with or without" a vaccine - with packed restaurants and filled stadiums.

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That vision flies in the face of sober assessments from doctors who say the country will need to embrace a "new normal" that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.

"I don't want people to get used to this," Mr Trump told reporters. "I see the new normal being what it was three months ago."

To underscore his confidence, the president announced that he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House.

The US president said he plans to resume official travel with a trip to Arizona next week / AFP via Getty Images

He said he is planning a trip to Arizona next week, followed by a possible trip to Ohio, even as much of the country remains under effective lockdown with all but essential travel banned.

"We're going to start to move around and hopefully in the not too distant future, we'll have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other," he said, adding that having people spaced out in accordance with social distancing guidelines "wouldn't look too good".

Mr Trump said the timing would depend, in part, on the states, since some have had far fewer cases than others.

Crowds arrive at the Brooklyn Promenade / Getty Images

The announcement came after the president said he will not be extending the White House's "30 Days to Slow the Spread" guidelines when they expire on Thursday.

"They'll be fading out because now the governors are doing it," Mr Trump told reporters.

Those guidelines - which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30 - encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

The White House on Wednesday was also pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.
International president of Vishwa



Hindu Parishad (VHP), Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, on Thursday said that the lynching of two seers in Maharashtra and killing of as many priests in Uttar Pradesh are incidents of different nature and hence they should not be compared.

Two sadhus and their driver were lynched on April 16 in Palghar district of Maharashtra while they were on their way to a funeral in neighbouring Silvassa.

Days later, two priests were found murdered at a temple in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday morning (April 28), allegedly killed by a local youth.

Talking to PTI, Kokje said, "In Palghar, the violent mob lynched two saints in the presence of police, while in Bulandshahr, a person killed two seers while they were sleeping in a temple. It clearly reflects that both these incidents are of different nature and therefore, it is not proper to compare them."



"The incident in Maharashtra (that happened) before the police raises a question mark over the law and order situation in the state," Kokje, a former judge in the high courts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, said.

He added that attempts were being made to link the Palghar incident with rumours about child lifters.

"This incident should be deeply probed," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The state of Alabama is suing agricultural giant Tyson Farms over one of the largest recorded fish kills in Alabama.

The state seeks compensation for damages caused by a June 2019 wastewater spill that killed an estimated 175,000 fish and in the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River. The spill angered local residents as waves of dead and decomposing fish washed down the river for days. Months later, the river was still largely devoid of fish.

The lawsuit, filed by the Alabama Attorney Generals office, alleges that Tyson engaged in negligent and wanton conduct by causing a public nuisance, committing a trespass to State land, and by committing a trespass to chattel, resulting in the death of various species of fish and other wildlife.

The state is seeking unspecified penalties and compensation from Tyson for the damages caused by the spill.

On June 6, a pipe failure at the Tyson Plant in Hanceville, Ala., caused the release of over 200,000 gallons of insufficiently-treated wastewater into the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River, the AGs office said in a statement. "Since that time, the Attorney Generals Office has undertaken extensive preparation for litigation, and today, the Attorney General filed suit against Tyson.

The Attorney Generals mission in this matter is simpleto see the State made whole for the damage done to our environment and to see the affected communities adequately compensated for their unique and devastating losses.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall visited the scene in September, about three months after the spill, as fish populations were only slowly beginning to recover. The AGs office and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management had been attempting to negotiate a settlement with Tyson Farms for months. Those negotiations appear to have broken down with the lawsuit.

Worth Sparkman, a spokesman for Tyson Farms, said the company was disappointed that the state had chosen to file suit.

Weve tried for many months to work with the state to resolve this matter, including an offer to initiate conservation and community projects including river access in the area of the accidental release, Sparkman said. We are disappointed in the decision of the Alabama Attorney General to file suit. Were focused on the health and safety of our employees and are doing all we can to continue to feed America during these challenging times. We look forward to presenting our side of the story.

What happened?

The spill occurred on June 8, 2019 when a pipe failed at the River Valley Ingredients poultry processing facility in Hanceville, sending tens of thousands of gallons of partially treated wastewater into the river. Tyson says the spill occurred because some temporary piping that was installed by an outside contractor failed, sending partially treated wastewater into the river.

That wastewater contained largely organic poultry material. The facility, which was called American Proteins until Tyson purchased it in 2018, has been described as the largest poultry rendering facility in the country, taking blood, feathers, innards and other parts of chickens that arent valued for human consumption, boiling and melting them into protein-based products that can be used to create animal feed, pet food or other products.

When large amounts of such organic matter enters a river, bacteria counts skyrocket, and those bacteria use up oxygen that fish need to survive.

It appears that most of the fish in the affected area were killed, Damon Abernathy, assistant chief of fisheries for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said at the time. Dissolved oxygen dropped to levels that most fish cannot easily survive.

The initial estimate of 175,000 fish was considered conservative by ADCNR, which noted in its report that direct counts of dead fish were not possible," because of the magnitude size of the incident.

Black Warrior Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke said the river will likely take years to fully recover, although its hard to know how long because there is no precedent to look at.

There are a lot of lingering effects, Broooke said. The impact on the aquatic ecosystem will take quite some time to remedy.

Brooke said the impacts werent limited to wildlife.

Theres also a toll that was taken on the people that live on and utilize the river, Brooke said. This really had a dampening effect on peoples enjoyment of the Mulberry Fork. There are a number of a number of people that weve heard from who just stopped using the river altogether for, for the fact that they feared it was too contaminated.

In an open letter to local residents posted on Tysons web site, River Valley Ingredients senior vice president Shane Parks said the spill was unacceptable," and that improvements had been made at the facility.

First and most importantly, we understand that events like this are unacceptable, Parks wrote. We strive to be good stewards of the environment and we take that obligation seriously. While this was an isolated event, I want you to know that weve taken measures to improve our operation at this facility.

Martha Salomaa, a nearby resident and teacher at Dora High School, is also president of the Sipsey Heritage Commission, which hosted kayak races on that stretch of the river until last year. The Sipsey Heritage Commission has also sued Tyson over the spill.

Salomaa said the river is starting to get closer to the way it was before the spill, but still has a long way to go.

We can see definite improvements, Salomaa said. "Its not what it was, but we are seeing improvement.

Theres some fish. Some of the birds are returning. You know, were seeing herons, that kind of thing.

She said shes glad that Marshall and the state also filed suit against Tyson.

Im really glad now that theyve taken the initiative to do that, she said. I think its time Alabama stands up for itself about things like this.

Read the full complaint below.
Sticking with the restrictions to contain Covid-19 has had a positive effect but it is vital that we stay the course, according Trevor OCallaghan CEO of Dublin Midlands Hospital Group in his weekly update to the community.

We are now in our 7th week of Government Covid-19 restrictions and acknowledge the efforts the public and staff have made to adhere to the restrictions. It is imperative that we keep this up as it is having a positive impact. It has had a stabilising effect on our acute services, albeit some of our ICUs remain in surge. Our hospitals are seeing further presentations and admissions to our EDs, and many hospitals reporting that those admissions are people who are non-covid and very sick,

He urged people who are ill to act on their symptoms by going to hospital or GP.

It is so important that people know that if you are feeling particularly unwell, particularly with signs of symptoms of stroke or heart failure that you immediately seek medical advice and attention.

GPs and GP Out of Hours Services are available in the first instance to support you. If you have an emergency, please do not delay and attend your nearest Emergency Department.

We also want to assure you that extensive work has been undertaken by hospitals to ensure we protect those who are attending for our services and we want to reassure our patient population, he said.

The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group includes hospitals in Laois, Kildare and Offaly as well as St James's, Tallaght and The Coombe maternity hospital in Dublin.
An illuminated 5G sign hangs behind a weave of electronic cables on the opening day of the MWC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. Angel Garcia | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Singapore remains on track to roll out nationwide 5G services by 2025 despite the current economic uncertainties posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the country's communications and information minister S. Iswaran said. 5G refers to the fifth generation of high-speed mobile internet that aims to provide faster data speeds and more bandwidth to carry growing levels of web traffic. The country's telecommunication industry regulator, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), on Wednesday announced the two provisional winners who will build Singapore's nationwide 5G networks: Singapore Telecommunications and a joint venture between telcos Starhub and M1. The final awards will be given by June after the telcos complete the regulatory process in May. Iswaran told reporters at a briefing that 5G is an important investment in Singapore's digital infrastructure for the future. He explained the city-state is on track toward achieving nationwide 5G coverage by 2025 and be able to deploy the full breadth of services made possible with the new technology.

5G is for the 'long haul'

To be clear, utilizing the full potential of 5G requires building what is known as standalone networks: These are infrastructure designed using 5G-specific technologies. Though the standalone networks are more efficient compared to many of the initial 5G networks that are being rolled out, they are also very expensive to build. Many of the current 5G networks are built by upgrading existing 4G infrastructure. Singapore's economy is facing a recession this year due to the Covid-19 crisis and the central bank this week said there's "significant uncertainty" over the depth and duration of the contraction.

Our focus has been on overall network resilience and security, and ensuring vendor diversity. S. Iswaran Singapore Minister Minister for Communications and Information

"Clearly, it's going to be a very challenging year economically," Iswaran said in response to CNBC's question about whether the government is planning any financial help for the telcos that are rolling out 5G and help them weather through the current crisis. "But the investment in 5G infrastructure is not something that's for the short term." "We're talking about a license for 15 years, so it's not about today, or tomorrow, or even next year, it's about the long haul," Iswaran said. "This investment commitment by the telcos who are recipients of this license is an indication of their confidence in the long term of the economy." "This is something not new to the telco industry, they make investments for the long haul and I think they would've factored all this into account," he added.

'Billions of dollars'

When asked about how much Singapore will cumulatively invest into 5G, Iswaran told CNBC it would be up to the telcos to share what they've prepared in terms of their commitments. "But I would say that if you just take a reference from what has been announced or is in the public domain, based on different markets, it would not be wrong to conclude that the cumulative investments will run into billions of dollars," he said. Last year IMDA said telcos would have to pay more than 55 million Singapore dollars (almost $39 million) for one lot of the scarce 5G airwaves. The telcos would also have to build other 5G-related infrastructure including base stations to provide islandwide coverage.

A man with a mask on taking a walk at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore's central business district seen in the background on April 1, 2020. Suhaimi Abdullah | Getty Images

Starhub and M1 declined to reveal how much they would invest or if they anticipate any delays in the rollout of 5G due to the virus outbreak, saying they can only share more details after the full license is awarded. Singtel did not immediately respond to CNBC's questions but pointed to a media statement from Group CEO, Chua Sock Koong who said, "In view of COVID-19's impact on the economy, we see this as a significant investment in the future  one that will create sustainable economic and social value as industries and business models transform, unlocking new careers and skills in the process."

Starting in January 2021

IMDA said the winners will have to roll out 5G standalone networks from January 2021. They would also be required to provide 50% islandwide coverage by the end of 2022 and full coverage by the end of 2025. Mobile operators will be able to access those networks through wholesale arrangements. IMDA did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comments on how it would regulate the industry to ensure its competitiveness. Additionally, telco companies and other mobile virtual network operators will be able to use the shorter range millimeter waves to sell 5G services to retail users.

Singapore's fourth telco, TPG, which submitted a separate bid, was the only major player left out of the nationwide 5G deployment. When asked about the city-state's stance on Chinese telecommunication equipment maker Huawei, Iswaran said IMDA will look at the overall security and resilience of the networks the winners will build when giving out the final award. Huawei is one of the major names in the race to build 5G infrastructure. But the United States has accused the company of including security vulnerabilities in its hardware that could be used for espionage by Beijing. The U.S. has urged its allies to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks. For its part, Huawei has denied allegations that it colludes with Chinese intelligence. "Our focus has been on overall network resilience and security, and ensuring vendor diversity," Iswaran said.

WATCH: What is 5G?
The federal government may be about to offer the struggling U.S. oil industry loan financing in exchange for stakes, Bloomberg has reported, citing an unnamed source familiar with plans.

The plan, which the government could unveil later today, could include bridge loans and emergency loans from the Fed under a program aimed at helping small and medium-sized companies. These are the options favored by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told media earlier this week.

Mnuchin himself told media, "This is not going to be a bailout," adding that they were holding discussions about "a lot of different strategies."

Earlier this week, a second oil company filed for bankruptcy protection after Whiting filed for Chapter 11 in mid-April. Diamond Offshore Drilling said conditions in the industry had "worsened precipitously in recent months."

Many expect mass bankruptcies in U.S. oil, especially in the shale patch, where debt loads tend to be high and production costs not low enough for a prolonged price depression of the sort we are witnessing right now. Earlier this month, Norway's Rystad Energy warned that as many as 533 U.S. oil companies could go bankrupt if oil stays at around $20 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate is currently trading at over $17 a barrel. While this is a lot better than the negative $37 a barrel the market saw on April 20, it is far below the breakeven rate of most U.S. oil producers.

The EIA's latest weekly petroleum report provided some positive signs of returning demand for fuels. It reported an unexpected decline in gasoline stocks, and this pushed WTI higher. It's too early to say, though, whether this will be a trend or a one-off occurrence.

In any case, it will take a long time for prices to recover to levels that would ensure the survival of many, if not most, U.S. oil producers.

This fact certainly warrants government help, given how many jobs are at risk of disappearing. Yet a bailout will also inevitably draw vocal criticism from the anti-oil lobby.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:


Medics prepare to lift a COVID-19 patient onto a hospital stretcher outside the Montefiore Medical Center Moses Campus on April 7, 2020. Not related to this story.

John Moore/Getty

A coronavirus patient in the Bronx, New York City, died in March after unprepared medical residents set her ventilator too high, and subsequently made her heart stop, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The Bronx patient who died was a woman in her 60s who was being cared for on the overnight shift by family-medicine residents who later said they did not know how to work the ventilator settings, The Journal reported.

It was one of many similar stories The Journal uncovered, showing how medical residents training to be family doctors, dentists, and psychiatrists were being put in charge of caring for the critically ill.

Montefiore Hospital did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. It also did not respond to The Journal.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Related Video: Why No One Knows if COVID-19 Is Seasonal

A coronavirus patient in the Bronx, New York City, died last month while being cared for by medical residents who didn't know how to work her ventilator.

The incident at Montefiore Medical Center was one of multiple reported by The Wall Street Journal, which detailed how medical residents training to be family doctors, psychiatrists, and even dentists are now being shifted to the coronavirus outbreak's front lines.

Residents are doctors who have graduated from medical school and are training for specialties. During this training, they work at hospitals shadowing experienced doctors in their focus area.

But during times of emergency, like the coronavirus outbreak, they can be put to work in the emergency department and intensive care units to meet the demand for doctors, even though this work may not be in their specialty area.

The patient who died at Montefiore Medical Center was a woman in her 60s who was being cared for on the overnight shift by family-medicine residents, who are not required to do a rotation in critical care while training.

Story continues

When the patient's heart stopped, doctors ran to her room and found that her ventilator had been turned up too high.

One of the doctors asked two of the residents if they knew how to work the settings on a ventilator, and they said no, The Journal reported, citing a resident who was in the room.



Nurses at Montefiore Medical Center Moses Division hospital protesting for personal protective equipment on April 2, 2020.

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

The Journal reported that medical residents at Montefiore Medical Center are largely being put in charge of patients who are 65 and older, while younger patients who have a better chance at surviving coronavirus are getting the attention of more experienced doctors and nurses.

The Journal said the hospital referred the paper to an outside public relations consultant when reached for comment on the story, and said it never got a response.

Montefiore Medical Center did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Earlier this month the hospital's nurses and doctors had protested over a lack of personal protective equipment, echoing claims of many other medics around the world.

The New York State Nurses Association has also filed a lawsuit against the hospital for unsafe working conditions during the outbreak.

Health workers, particularly those on the front line, have been placed under immense pressure during the coronavirus pandemic. New York City is also the epicenter of the US outbreak.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Coronavirus update: The total number of COVID-19 cases in India has reached 33,050 cases with the toll at 1074. A total of 1,718 cases have been reported with 67 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Coronavirus update: The total number of coronavirus cases in India has now reached 33,050 cases with the toll at 1074. Total active cases in India have reached 23,651 with 8324 people recovered as per the latest data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In the last 24 hours, a total of 1,718 cases has been reported with 67 deaths. Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said on Wednesday that out of total active coronavirus cases in India, 0.33% are on ventilators and 1.5% are in oxygen support.

He added that the mortality rate of coronavirus cases in India is 3% as compared to 7% worldwide and approximately 86% of the deaths have been reported due to co-morbidities like diabetes, chronic kidney and heart issues. Maharastra remains the worst-affected state with total of 9915 cases and 432 deaths, followed by Gujarat with the second-highest number of cases 4082 with 197 deaths. Delhi has recorded 3439 cases with 56 deaths and Madhya Pradesh with 2561 cases and 129 deaths.

A total number of coronavirus cases worldwide has reached 32 lakh with the death toll over 2.27 lakh as per the reports. The United States has alone reported 10 lakh cases with deaths over 60,000. Spain has reported 236,899 cases, Italy with 203,591 cases, France with 166,543, the UK with 166,441, and Germany with 161,539 total cases.

Also Read: PM Modi greets Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on Ramzan, discusses ways to combat COVID-19

With 1718 new cases & 67 deaths in the last 24 hours, the total number of #COVID19 positive cases in India rises to 33050 (including 23651 active cases, 1074 deaths, 8325 cured/discharged/migrated): Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/CHfLjMn8Iq  ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2020

Further, Centre on Wednesday has hinted towards extending the nationwide lockdown beyond May 3 in red zones areas. Further, it also states a new set of guidelines that will come into effect from May 4 in orange and green zones that will see considerable relaxations. Moreover, the red zones will not see any relaxation. Further, the spokesperson of Home Ministry also said on Twitter that it is mandatory to follow the lockdown measures until May 3 to control the current situation of the country.

New guidelines to fight #COVID19 will come into effect from 4th May, which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts. Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come.#Corona Update#StayHomeStaySafe @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA  Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 29, 2020

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Meghan Markle wore a Roland Mouret dress the day before her royal wedding in 2018, and the exact design is now on sale. (Getty Images)

Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Meghan Markle has fans swooning over her glamorous outfits, as well as her casual attire too.

The former Suits actress has worn some iconic outfits over the years, which we will never forget; from her Givenchy wedding dress, to her Line The Label white trench coat when she announced her engagement to Prince Harry.

Another one to add into the mix is the navy blue Roland Mouret number she wore the day before the royal wedding on 19 May.

Markle, 38, was pictured arriving at Cliveden House Hotel prior to the big day with her mother, Doria Ragland, by her side, wearing the chic design from the British brand.

So it is music to our ears to learn that two years later and Markles exact dress - the Barwick Dress - is still available to buy - and its on sale.

Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, arrived at Cliveden House Hotel to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry. (Getty Images)

Buy it: Barwick Dress | 675 (Was 1,350) from Roland Mouret

The mid-length design boasts lapel detail to create a boatneck style, as well as asymmetric seam detail going down the bust to the waist line before the material falls into a waterfall feature.

It also has a long gold zip fastening at the back of the dress.

The Barwick Dress comes in dress sizes six to 16, although size 18 has sold out online.

Shoppers will be pleased to know the price has been slashed by half price as it has gone from 1,350 to just 675.

Markle appeared to love the style so much so she wore a grey long sleeved version two months after her marital ceremony.

In July 2018, she was pictured wearing the other colourway when she visited Irish President, Michael Higgins, and his wife during a royal visit to Dublin, Ireland.
I wish the ribbon-cutting were going to be taking place at the end of 2022. But we want this done right, said Gray, who has championed expanding health-care options east of the Anacostia River throughout his political career. Its not just the hospital. . . . Its really the kind of system that I have wanted to see us do for people who live on the east end of the city.
JD Greear answers: 'Is COVID-19 evidence of a specific judgement from God?'

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As the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the United States surpasses 1 million, pastor J.D. Greear weighed in on the question of whether Christians should view the pandemic as evidence of a specific judgment from God.

In a recent episode of his Ask Me Anything podcast, Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, first acknowledged that, like other natural diseases and disasters, the coronavirus is a consequence of living in a fallen world.

Additionally, the pastor noted that in both the Old and New Testaments, Scripture clearly says that sometimes God uses disease or death as a specific punishment for sin whether of individuals or societies as a whole. He referenced Acts 12:23, John 5:14, 1 Corinthians 11:30, and the entire book of Revelation.

There are times when sickness and death is a specific judgment on sin, he said. But that is a level of interpretation about an event that the Bible does not encourage us to exercise in specific situations.

In fact, more often than not  [Jesus] is pointing people away from that conclusion, he said. He infrequently ties a sickness to something ... its not wise for us to say, This is happening because of this.

Greear said that in the Old Testament, Job's friends blamed his extraordinary suffering as the punishment of God for sin. However, God called Jobs friends wicked for saying his suffering was judgment, even calling them stupid for doing so.

Its not for me to know, he said. I think this is especially problematic to do right now with the coronavirus. Perhaps there are some situations out there where God is individually giving a specific punishment, but I think in general this is a call to the whole world to wake up.

We see now that there are some communities in our own country that are suffering more, and perhaps thats because of unjust situations theyve been put in, Greear continued. So to turn around and say, Youre suffering more because of your sins,' when its actually because of the sins of others that theyre suffering, that would seem especially grievous.

Still, the pastor said that when he is sick or suffering, the first question he asks is, Is God trying to get my attention about something?

I do believe that if there is something, like a good Heavenly Father, God will let me know quickly, he said. If He doesnt reveal anything, then I assume its suffering like Job was suffering.

Greear concluded by citing Luke 13 where a tower falls and kills 18 people. Somebody asks Jesus, Was this because these 18 people were more wicked than the rest? Jesus says no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish.

You need to be asking what the implications are for you, he stressed. What is God trying to say to me? Hes using this, and Hes using it to say sin is serious, and youve got to wake up to the severity of sin and the urgency of salvation.

More than 1 million cases of coronavirus have been reported in the U.S., and more than 30 million Americans have filed initial unemployment claims since mid-March, according to the Labor Department.

In recent weeks, a number of prominent pastors and Christian leaders have weighed in on what God is saying to the world amid the pandemic.

Gods message to the world during times like this always is, Youre not really in charge, Tim Keller, the retired pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, told The Christian Post. You may think you are going to get ready for the next one, but you never will. The world isnt under your control; its under my control. You need to turn to me. You are not sufficient to run your own life. You need my wisdom and you need my help.

In every disaster, whether its 9/11 or COVID-19, God is saying to people, Eventually, Im going to put an end to all of this. But for the time being, this world is broken, and every time you think you dont need me and that you can get on top of it, something like this will come along to remind you that, no, you do need me, he continued.

Prominent pastor and televangelist David Jeremiah reiterated that God might be using COVID-19 to remind people of their reliance on Him.

He told CP: We are a great country, there's no question about it. We have the greatest economy in the history of the world. We are a nation of self-made people, according to them. If were not careful, we can begin to think we are the master of our own souls, in charge of our own fate.

God, he said, sometimes just reaches down to remind us, You think you've got this thing under control, but I can take a germ you cant even see and bring it to your knees.
Australian Manufacturing Program Brings Back the Polly Waffle

The classic Polly Waffle chocolate bar is set to return to Australian supermarkets after receiving a government funding boost in the wake of the CCP virus outbreak.

The Morrison government will provide $1 million (US$656,000) to South Australian confectionery company Robern Menz, who also revived the Violet Crumble chocolate bar last year.

Over a decade after being pulled from shelves, the once-famous log of gooey and crunchy candy will be brought back to life in early 2021.

This is part of the Australian governments $215 million cash splash to create new jobs and bring manufacturing home amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Industry Minister Karen Andrews told Channel 7s Sunrise on April 30 that funding will go towards building a new production line to produce the Polly Waffle, and in the process create 38 ongoing jobs.

Its a big win for South Australia, for Australia and its part of a broader programthe Manufacturing Modernisation Fundthat were rolling out the announcement today, she said.

Aussie manufacturers will be a big part of our nations post #COVID19 recovery. Thats why as a Government were backing 200 projects worth $215 million through our Manufacturing Modernisation Fund. These projects are expected to create more than 2,600 new jobs around Australia. pic.twitter.com/LDOWvAxeea  Karen Andrews MP (@karenandrewsmp) April 30, 2020

Andrews said the public funding injection couldnt come at a better time.

As we face the coronavirus pandemic and look to come out the other side stronger, this investment will be more critical than ever, she said.

The first Polly Waffle bar was produced in Melbourne until 2009 and had a cult following among baby boomers. It was pulled from shelves, creating an uproar.

There has been community support for a revival, with one Facebook group gaining over 56,000 members. Members of the group posted memes about the candy.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is likely to discuss on Friday demands for holding legislative council polls in Maharashtra which were deferred due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who was sworn in on November 28 last year, has time till May 27 to get elected to the state legislature, failing which he will have to step down.

Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari has now requested the Election Commission to declare polls for nine vacant seats in the Legislative Council.

Sources in the poll panel said though they have not received the communication of the governor so far, the issue could be discussed on Friday as all three ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra -- the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress -- have appealed to the EC to conduct the Legislative Council polls, saying social distancing and other precautions can be taken during the voting procedure.

Since the Raj Bhawan has written, the communication would also be on the Commission's table on Friday, the sources said.

Earlier, the state cabinet had recommended appointing the Shiv Sena chief as a member of the Legislative Council as a Governor's nominee, but there had been no progress on the proposal.

The Election Commission had deferred the elections to the nine legislative council seats that fell vacant on April 24 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 17-year-old charged in the crash that killed Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, is being released on bond and into home confinement.

Johnston Edward Taylor, charged with manslaughter in the May 25, 2019 deaths of the Brambletts, had is bond revoked Dec. 18. At that time, he was transported by deputies to a treatment facility where he remained until Thursday morning.

According to an order issued by Circuit Judge Jacob Walker III, attorney Tommy Spina and Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes agreed on terms of Taylors release. Under the conditions, Taylor must remain on 24/7 lockdown as his mothers home and must wear an ankle monitor. He also is prohibited from use of any social media and must continue mental health and drug treatment therapy.

Taylors drivers license will remain in the possession of Spina, and the teen is not allowed to drive. Visitors in his home will be restricted to immediate family members.

Additionally, the judge ordered, Taylor must follow a strict 14-day COVID-19 quarantine.

Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes is asking that Johnston Edward Taylor's bond be revoked since he has gotten two speeding tickets and one reckless driving citation since the deadly accident seven months ago.

It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Brambletts were killed. Taylor -- then a Lee Scott Academy student -- was traveling southbound in the outside lane on Shug Jordan Parkway approaching West Samford Avenue in his Jeep Laredo.

The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light. The Jeep struck the Brambletts SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian crossing signal and a traffic light pole before coming to a final rest.

The Brambletts vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb.

Taylors "blood sample contained THC, which is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, and is indicative of recent usage of marijuana at the time of the collision, records state. The teen was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room from multiple internal injuries.

Rod Bramblett, 52 and the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury.

At the time of the deadly crash, Taylor was driving 89 mph, under the influence of marijuana, and still accelerating, authorities said, when he rammed into the back of the couples SUV.

He was initially released on $50,000 bond. After his release, records show, Taylor was cited by Auburn police on Nov. 24 for driving 68 mph in a 45-mph zone on South College Street near the intersection of South Donahue Drive. That incident happened at 7:20 a.m. and the officer observed the defendant accelerating rapidly, the prosecutor wrote. According to a police report, Taylor told the officer he was sorry and he was speeding because his girlfriend was having an anxiety attack. Taylor told the officer he was the person who accidentally crashed into the Brambletts. Taylor thanked me for writing him a citation and was released from the scene."

The following day, on Nov. 25, Taylor was cited by Auburn police for speeding and reckless driving. The teen was observed driving 62 mph in a 35-mph zone on Annaleu Drive near Burke Place. He was also seen spinning tires and fishtailing into an oncoming lane of travel. That incident happened at 9:25 a.m. During the traffic stop, Hughes noted, the officer smelled marijuana in the vehicle and found marijuana residue. "The driver appeared nervous because his hand was shaking,'' an officer wrote. The passenger had a hoodie pulled over his head and would not make eye contact with me.

"The driver stated he was sorry, and his paddle shifter had slipped,'' according to the officer.

The officer told Taylor he smelled marijuana and Taylor told them he had not smoked marijuana since May. Officers found empty cigar packets and shake, small pieces of marijuana, on the floorboard. Taylor told officers that he had hit a cat with the vehicle and it was nasty and he was trying to get it out from the undercarriage. Taylor asked if officers wanted to see it, and we declined, an officer wrote.

Taylors trial is set for later this year.
Lloyds Banking Group has revealed a massive drop in profit after taking a major hit from worsening economic conditions in the first three months of the year.

It said a massive 1.4 billion impairment charge had left profits in the doldrums.

Pre-tax profit plunged 95% to 74 million, down from more than 1.6 billion in the same three months of last year.

It marks a major challenge for the bank as it tries to prop up ailing businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

I would like to pay tribute to the exemplary dedication being shown by all our colleagues across the group providing vital banking services to those in need, but also in going above and beyond in countless and often unseen ways to support the most vulnerable Antonio Horta-Osorio, Lloyds Banking Group

Chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said: The coronavirus pandemic presents an unprecedented social and economic challenge which is having a significant impact on people and businesses in the UK and around the world.

The economic outlook is clearly challenging, with the longer-term outcome dependent on the severity and length of the pandemic and the mitigating impact of Government and other measures in the UK and across the world.

Net income hit just under 4 billion, down from 4.4 billion in the same period last year. Profit after tax fell 60% to 480 million, while costs fell marginally to 1.96 billion.

The bank said it had lent around 500 million to some 3,752 small businesses as part of the Governments Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

It puts Lloyds behind many of its rivals  HSBC has lent 765.2 million, Barclays 738 million, and RBS 1.4 billion.

On a call with reporters, Mr Horta-Osorio said the groups business customers largely preferred other support to the CBILS loans.

The bank has instead handed out 39,500 overdrafts, capital repayment holidays and deferred payments.

Mr Horta-Osario said the bank has approved the vast majority  more than 80%  of eligible CBILS loan applications.

Some customers have been turned away because they could not afford to pay the loans back, he said.

We remain committed to supporting our customers and colleagues over the weeks and months ahead through any interruptions they face as a result of #COVID19.



More info on our #coronavirus hub: https://t.co/eZpPoB2upU #LBGResults #LLOY $LYG pic.twitter.com/ALq15zqZhX  Lloyds Banking Group (@LBGplc) April 30, 2020

Around 83,000 motor finance customers have been given payment holidays, as have 175,000 customers who have taken out personal loans, and 219,000 credit card holders.

More than 400,000 mortgage-holders have also been granted a payment holiday.

The bank withdrew its financial guidance for investors, saying the longer-term impact of Covid-19 is not yet clear.

Both senior staff and executives will not be given a bonus this year, the bank told shareholders, who already had their dividends slashed last month.

Mr Horta-Osorio added: I would like to pay tribute to the exemplary dedication being shown by all our colleagues across the group providing vital banking services to those in need, but also in going above and beyond in countless and often unseen ways to support the most vulnerable.
Contributing to a government's crisis attempting to tackle an increasingly rising COVID-19 pandemic, Bolsonaro experienced the hardest hit to his presidency when his famous justice minister resigned Friday and accused him of alleged illegal involvement in law enforcement.

His department reported that Brazilian Public Prosecutor Augusto Aras requested on Friday that the Supreme Court allow an investigation on accusations brought against President Jair Bolsonaro by former Minister Sergio Moro.

Moro vs. Bolsonaro

The unexpected resignation and the so-called 'super minister' accusations were a powerful attack against Bolsonaro, whose reputation had already plummeted after underestimating the new coronavirus as just a mere cold.

Moro, who had gained widespread public support for arresting corrupt businessmen and politicians as a prosecutor, announced that he had resigned because Bolsonaro had removed Mauricio Valeixo, chief of the federal police, for political and personal motives.

Additionally, the severe accusations to Bolosonaro are likely to subject him to genuine political, and perhaps even legal, consequences. Moro confirmed that Bolsonaro raised concerns regarding investigations in the Supreme Court, not revealing no further specifics and that he wanted more details from his chief of police inside.

"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 had stated. "And really, that's not the job of the federal police to give that information."

Several scathing allegations against the president, who has yet to justify why he ordered Valeixo out, was featured in Moro's calm live television message. The office of the president was not responding to a request for an interview. Bolsonaro stated at a news conference at 5 pm on Twitter that he would "re-establish the truth."

Check these out!

Brazil's Supreme Court vs. Bolsonaro

Justice Celso de Mello, in his verdict on Monday, granted the federal authorities 60 days to investigate the controversial accusations of former Minister of Justice and Public Security Sergio Moro. The withdrawal of the latter last week threw the government into chaos.

The Supreme Court of Brazil has authorized an investigation on allegations that President Jair Bolsonaro decided to "interfere" for political advantage with federal investigations.

According to the judge, the criminal acts suspected of the republic's president appear to have a close relationship with the operation of the presidential authority, leading to Bolsonaro's being investigated.

The document from the Supreme Court judge, collected by a news agency and confirmed by local media, outlines seven allegations towards Bolsonaro, such as malfeasance as well as obstruction of justice.

If the investigation supports the allegations, Bolsonaro would have to be charged and likely be expelled from power by the Brazilian Congress.

A survey conducted on Monday night reveals split views on the fate of Bolsonaro, with 45 percent of Brazilian citizens claiming Congress must initiate an impeachment process against the president.

The results that will be turned over to the Attorney General could end in two ways; either an application for political persecution against Bolsonaro or an indictment for perjured testimony against Moro.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Federal Bureau of Prisons on Thursday released a list of 837 inmates at Ohios sole federal prison who, under a Cleveland judges order, should be released or transferred due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The inmates, serving their sentences at Federal Correctional Institution Elkton in Columbiana County, meet standards set in an order last week by U.S. District Judge James Gwin. The judge ordered the bureau to identify inmates 65 years and older, and those with certain pre-existing conditions that could leave them vulnerable to serious illness associated with the virus.

Those inmates must be either released or moved to another prison, so Elkton officials can allow for social distancing and reduce the threat of the coronavirus, the judge ordered. The prison has seen dozens of cases among both inmates and staff, and seven inmates have died.

The low-security prison, which has a main facility and a smaller adjacent one, has about 2,400 inmates. A few defendants who committed crimes that received a lot of publicity are serving their sentences there.

Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, who is serving 28 years for corruption, is on the list. The 64-year-old former county Democratic Party chairman has been in poor health for years, according to his lawyers.

Fyre Festival mogul Billy McFarland, who is serving six years for fraud, is not on the list. McFarland, 28, asked a judge to release him and claims he has several ailments that put him at risk, though the Justice Department says no such ailments were documented.

Gwin initially ordered the prisons bureau to release the list on April 23, the day after he issued his decision. The prisons bureau, represented by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Cleveland, did not produce it and instead appealed.

After another order from the judge Wednesday that commanded the release of the list by 8 a.m. Thursday, the bureau asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to halt Gwins order.

The 6th Circuit denied the request at 7:29 a.m. Thursday, ordering the bureau to release the list. It said it would rule later on whether to stop Gwins order regarding the release and transfer of the inmates.

Read more:

Feds to judge: Dont release Fyre Fest mogul Billy McFarland from Ohio federal prison over coronavirus concerns

Feds appeal judges order to move at-risk inmates out of Ohio federal prison ravaged by deadly coronavirus outbreak

Federal judge orders Elkton prison officials to clear out vulnerable inmates because of coronavirus

Fyre Fest fraudster Billy McFarland wants out of Ohio federal prison where coronavirus runs rampant

Federal prison in Ohio, where Jimmy Dimora is doing time, reports coronavirus cases among inmates
Maharashtra inched closed to 10,000 Covid-19 cases with 597 new infections reported on Wednesday, taking the tally in the state worst hit by the contagion to 9,915.

The state also recorded the highest single-day death toll with 32 fatalities reported on Wednesday. The state health department said that the number of recoveries was also the highest with 205 people discharged on Wednesday.

Until now, 432 people have succumbed to the disease across the state. The number of recovered people stands at 1,593.

Mumbai continued to record the bulk of the states Covid-19 infections and deaths with 475 cases and 26 deaths reported on Wednesday. The city now has 6,644 cases and 270 deaths.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said the state may plan to shift asymptomatic patients in Mumbai into home quarantine as per the revised guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). He added that the doubling rate in Mumbai had improved from seven to 10 days. The doubling rate in Mumbai has gone to 10 days, which is better than Indias doubling rate that stands at nine days now. The mortality rate has also reduced. Everybody is focused on Mumbai, he said.

Tope said that institutional quarantine was being ramped up in Mumbai and assured that the state health department and the civic body was prepared for any spike. We have taken the decision to use big grounds to set up beds for institutional quarantine. Oxygen line will be kept beside the beds. No matter how big the spike in Mumbai, we are preparing accordinglyAs we say, hope for the best and prepare the worst, he said.
Tim Keller: Churches will be challenged to 'do more with less' in aftermath of COVID-19

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In the aftermath of COVID-19, churches nationwide will need to learn how to do more with less and sacrifice programs and other luxuries to help those in need, pastor and author Tim Keller has said.

During a recent interview with Gabe Lyons at the annual Q 2020 Virtual Summit, Keller, the 69-year-old retired pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, said the coronavirus pandemic is more like 9/11 than unlike," as the two tragedies were unprecedented and resulted in multidimensional damage, both social and economic.

Christian institutions are going to be faced with needing to do more with less, he predicted, explaining that after 9/11 Redeemer Church had 25 percent more people and 25 percent less income.

The number of people and the needs massively expanded, [but] because people lost their jobs and left the city and all that, income was having a huge shortfall, he said. Its exactly the same thing [now]: All the churches I know are saying, We have to do more with less. We have far more needs and we have less resources to do it. And so it means not only a new approach to stewardship but also thinking about what you spend your money on.

Keller, who serves as the chairman of Redeemer City to City, which has helped start more than 500 churches in dozens of the most influential cities in the world, said that between the lockdown and a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available, theres going to be an interim period.

I don't know what it looks like, he admitted. All I can tell you is, it'll take two things: It will take innovative thinking ... there's got to be more networking and talking.

The second thing is, you always lead through sacrifice, Keller continued. The church in general is going to have to spend more or less money on itself  that is, its own programs  and more money on the people of need. And the only way to do that is to cut things that you're doing right now.

Does it mean sacrificing part of your salary as a way of making sure that you're able to meet needs in your community? I don't know, he continued. But leadership happens through innovation and sacrifice, always. And we're going to have to do both of these in the next year or two.

New York is the epicenter of the countrys COVID-19 outbreak, with the overall death toll standing at 12,067 and 158,000 confirmed cases as of Monday afternoon.

A statewide Siena College survey released Monday found that 46 percent of city's residents known someone who has died of complications from COVID-19, as do 36 percent of suburbanites and 13 percent of upstaters. In all, about one-third of voters statewide know someone who has died.

Additionally, the economic toll also has been devastating, with 32 percent of respondents saying they or someone in their households has been laid off because of the pandemic.

Keller said the virus has rattled human pride and caused people to become anxious, adding that every time a tragedy has occurred in NYC, there are about 10 or 20 percent more people willing to listen to a Gospel presentation.

That's all. It's temporary, it goes away, frankly, with good times, he said. But you actually do have about 10 or 20 percent more ears, and you just really need to be more confident to get out there and say things, you really should.

There are people at Redeemer right now that became Christians right after 911 because they showed up in church because they were scared, and they just felt like they needed a connection, Keller added.

Still, the speaker and author said he isnt optimistic about culture permanently changing as a result of the virus, stressing that Christians will still need to find new ways of formulating Christian truth in a way that both connects to the culture but doesn't compromise with it.

In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Keller said the coronavirus is doing what 9/11 did to the state: presenting a unique opportunity for Christians to serve as a beacon of hope amid darkness.

At the national level, I dont have much hope, he admitted. Politicians are trying to pin the other side with the blame for the virus and its discouraging. Theyre trying to score points so that when the pandemic begins to ease, they look good.

But at the local level, thats probably not going to happen. Everyone is going to say, OK, how do we deal with the devastation in our communities? And thats where I think, if Christians are willing to get out there and be Good Samaritans and say, How do we work with people of different races and religions and just try to love them and how can we join hands? we will have less polarization and a real opportunity to witness.


(Root-cause analysis is one of the features least supported by network troubleshooting tools, according to Enterprise Management Associates recent research Network Management Megatrends 2020, that surveyed 350 network-management professionals about these tools. This article by EMA Vice President of Research Networking Shamus McGillicuddy discusses this finding and recommends how management pros should evaluate this feature. A recording of a webinar covering the research is here.)

Troubleshooting is perhaps the most vital responsibility of a network operations team. When IT services are interrupted or degraded, engineers and admins race to diagnose and remediate the problem. Every minute counts, because transactions, employee productivity, and customer satisfaction all suffer while the network team is doing this work.

Given the stakes, network management tools must have well-defined workflows and technical functionality to support the troubleshooting process. Unfortunately, many tools are letting network managers down.

Root-cause analysis (RCA)is the critical aspect of network troubleshooting. Network engineers must form a theory of the problem and test that theory. Only after they have confirmed their theory of the problem can they move forward confidently with a solution.

Over the years, network managers have told EMA that RCA is one of the most time-consuming aspects of their job. Given that network-management tools are clearly failing to support this task, engineers and admins must perform complex calculations themselves. The tools often present dashboards with vast arrays of alerts and time-series graphs that show patterns and indicators of a possible problem, but no clear definition of the nature of the problem. As a result, IT pros have to infer the root cause by looking for patterns of cause and effect. This is no easy tasks, especially given that network managers said that 42.7% of the alerts produced by their tools are false alarms, not indicative of an actionable problem.
Mongolia Coronavirus Update - Coronavirus cases climb to 38, No deaths reported in country as on 30-Apr-2020

In Mongolia total confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) have increased to 38, there is no death so far due to the outbreak of Coronavirus in country.

Coronavirus (Covid-19) update from around the world:

United States, 29-April-2020: U.S. Covid-19 Deaths is more than the the deaths during Vietnam War. During Vietnam War US lost 58,220 lives, now due to Covid-19 infection total deaths reached over 60,000 in the country.

Mexico, 29-April-2020: In Mexico 1,223 new cases of Covid-19 identified raising the total count to 16,752 in the country.

China, 29-April-2020: China reported over 22 new cases Covid-19 raising the total cases to 82,858 cases in the country.

West Bengal (India), 29-April-2020: West Bengal reported 33 new cases of Coronavirus while total active cases reached to 550 in the state.

Punjab (India), 29-April-2020: Total number of Covid-19 cases in Punjab reached 375. In the state more than 60 fresh cases of Coronavirus reported today.

Dharavi (India), 29-April-2020: Dharavi reported 14 new cases raising the total cases to 344 in Dharavi. No new deaths are reported from Dharavi Today.

Maharashtra (India), 29-April-2020: Maharashtra reported 597 fresh Covid-19 cases today while total cases of Covid-19 infection rises to 9,915 in the state. Over 432 people died so far due to Covid-19 infection in the state.

India, 29-April-2020: Coronavirus hotspots in India decreased from 170 to 129 in a fortnight.

Andhra Pradesh (India), 29-April-2020: An 11-baby among 73 new cases in Andhra Pradesh. In past 24 hours 73 new cases of Covid-19 reported from Andhra Pradesh raising the total Covid-19 patient count to 1,332 in the state.

France, 29-April-2020: Total fatalities due to Covid-19 infection surpasses 23,000 mark in France.

Gujarat (India), 28-April-2020: Gujarat reported 226 new cases of Covid-19 infection raising total count to 3,774 in the state. Over 181 people died so far with Covid-19 infection in Gujarat.

India, 28-April-2020: Total confirmed cases in India have risen to 29,435 while Covid-19 outbreak is spread in 185 counties of the world. India is under nationwide lockdown and today is the 35th day of the lockdown.

India, 28-April-2020: One new case of Covid-19 is reported from Bihar raising total cases to 360 in the state.

India, 28-April-2020: Delhi confirmed cases crosses 3,000 mark with 2,177 active cases in the city. Delhi Government in its bulletin on Monday revealed that the total confirmed cases in the state rises to 3,108, while there are 21,132 active cases of Covid-19 in India.

World, 28-April-2020: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization Director-General said "The pandemic is far from over." Which means the Covid-19 infection will stay for the longer period of time in the world.

Nigeria, 27-April-2020: In Nigeria the lockdown has been extended in three major states Abuja, Lagos and Ogun. Now the lockdown will be imposed till May 4. Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari announced the extension of lockdown today.

India, 27-April-2020: The Tamil Nadu government announced on April 27 to return 24,000 rapid test kits imported from China. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after their test asked the states to stop using COVID-19 rapid antibody kits developed by two Chinese companies. These COVID-19 rapid antibody kits were imported earlier for the testing of suspected patients. But now India will not use these kits because it is not giving satisfactory results, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

France: France is reporting higher number of deaths but but slightly fewer people with severe conditions were admitted into ICU in past fourth day. France reported 315 deaths last day as compared to 345 deaths the day earlier. In France 133,670 confirmed cases and 14,412 deaths reported so far.

Here are the latest cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in Mongolia:

Sr. No. Date Total Cases New Cases Total Deaths Deaths 1. 25-Apr-2020 37 1 0 0 2. 26-Apr-2020 38 1 0 0 3. 27-Apr-2020 38 0 0 0 4. 28-Apr-2020 38 0 0 0 5. 29-Apr-2020 38 0 0 0 6. 30-Apr-2020 38 0 0 0

TOP 10 Deaths by country due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:



1. Europe (132,971)

2. North America (67,130)

3. USA (61,669)

4. Italy (27,682)

5. UK (26,097)

6. Spain (24,275)

7. France (24,087)

8. Asia (18,301)

9. South America (8,150)

10. Belgium (7,501)

Total Deaths Worldwide (228,270)

Globally till now over 228,270 people died due to the outbreak of deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19). Authorities in the Mongolia and other countries are taking proper measures to contain the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19).

As of now Europe is the worst affected country in the world with over 132,971 deaths and 1,348,020 confirmed cases.

Check latest update: Coronaviurs Covid-19 cases around the world
PHNOM PENH, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The tourism ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on Wednesday to strengthen tourism cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a joint statement.

The joint statement was released after a special meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers on the COVID-19 via a video conference, which was chaired by Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon.

"The ministers recognized the urgent need for a strengthened ASEAN coordination mechanism to collectively overcome surging challenges to the tourism sector, one of the worst-hit economic sectors in the pandemic," it said.

The ministers agreed to foster ASEAN coordination in expediting information exchange on travel-related health and other necessary measures undertaken by ASEAN member states, with a view to providing timely and reliable information for inbound and outbound travelers and tourism operators.

They also agreed to enhance closer cooperation in the sharing of information and exchange of best practices among ASEAN member states as well as with ASEAN dialogue partners on the responses to the crisis and on measures to support the tourism sector, it added.

The cooperation will also include implementing clear policies and measures to bolster confidence among domestic and international visitors to Southeast Asia by developing clear standards and guidelines for a safer and healthier work environment to protect workers and communities in the hospitality and tourism-related industries.

They also promised to support the development and implementation of a post COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Plan without undermining efforts to safeguard public health, according to the statement.

Also, they agreed to expedite both micro-and macro-economic policies, providing technical support and financial stimulus, tax alleviation, capacity and capability building, especially digital skills, for travel and tourism stakeholders, it said.

ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi said during the meeting that about 45,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases have so far been recorded in ASEAN, killing nearly 1,800 people.

"This health crisis is taking a heavy toll on our people and our economies-from trade and supply chains disruption, to business closures and job losses," he said. "This is especially true in the hardest-hit sectors of retail, hospitality, transport and tourism, where majority of small businesses operate and thousands of workers are employed."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion denies saying the poor were less likely to contract COVID-19.

Concepcion was quoted in several reports saying that the poor may have better immunity because they have "so much more exposure.

When asked about the issue, Concepcion told CNN Philippines his comment was taken "totally out of context."

Concepcion said he read the article that said he made the alleged statement, reviewed the video where the event happened, and reiterated, "There was no way I ever made that statement and it is totally unconnected; why, what did I say...the poor...whatever statement I said, there is no connection. Because everybody has to work, why would I make a statement particularly to one sector to work?"

He said he was having a discussion about whether there was any truth to some sectors being more immune to the virus over others.

He said he was invited by a priest to speak and address other priests and bishops regarding concerns over quarantine issues and how they could continue services, given restrictions

"I gave them some ideas. And knowing that many of these places were serving the urban poor and marginalized community I asked them 'kamusta naman sa area niyo [how are things in your area]?'...they said, 'Ok naman dito [Things are OK here]. Kasi the number of people infected hindi naman gaano alarming [it's not so alarming]...' And I asked them, is this all over? Kasi many of them were sharing their own thoughts...And I asked them what do they thing, bakit ganito? And they said, 'Baka mas malakas sila [It could be bcause they're stronger]. Their immunity is better,' he said.

Concepcion added,"That's not the first time I heard it. I've heard it also when Caritas was doing this thing, and among friends, we were discussing this thing as well. It was trying to probe out whether there was any truth to it. So that is all. So there connection intended there and I moved to another topic."

He added he has spoken and gave a tape of the incident to the news outfit who initially published the story and explained his side, but has not asked for a retraction.

Concepcion added, "The public should know better that I am not that kind of person."

DOH: No one is immune

The Department of Health said Thursday no one is spared from possibly contracting the coronavirus.

DOH Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said it just so happened that the first COVID-19 cases involved people from the middle and upper classes because they were able to travel abroad, as well as attended conventions and conferences.

"Wala hong ebidensya na merong immunity ang specific sector of society... Wala tayo dapat iniisip na may immunity dito. Wala pong sinisino ang virus, kahit sino ang meron," Vergeire said Thursday.

[Translation: There is no evidence that certain members of society have immunity... We should not think anyone is immune to this. The virus does not discriminate, anyone can get it.]

Vergeire also dispelled rumors that hot weather may deactivate COVID-19. She said the virus is active, no matter what the weather is like.

"Wala pang ebidensya na ang COVID virus is affected by weather. Whether it be mainit or whether malamig sa parepareho lang tayo ngayon, mainit o malamig andyan pa rin ang virus kung tiningnan ang experiences across the globe. It should not be a basis of the business sector na kasi exposed sa sun kaya pwede na magtrabaho. Kailangan ng masusing pag aaral para diyan para sure na safe pabalikin ang workers who are exposed to sun. Hindi ito batayan dapat kasi wala tayo sapat na ebidensya," she said.

[Translation: There is no evidence that COVID is affected by weather. Whether it's warm or cold, it's the same everywhere if we look at experiences across the globe. It should not be based on what business sector you are in; dont assume just because you are exposed to the sun, you can go to work. That needs careful research before we can prove those who are exposed to the sun can safely go back to work. There is no basis for this because we do not have enough evidence.]

CNN Philippines correspondents Carolyn Bonquin and Rex Remitio contributed to this report.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee levelling a series of allegations against her. They ranged from trying to muzzle the media to indulging in petty politics.

Dhankhar in one of his tweets during the day took exception to Banerjees outburst against the Opposition for their criticism of her government on handling the COVID-19 outbreak.

Appeal all parties to be in sync in combating Covid 19. Pained @MamataOfficial opposition behaving like vultures waiting for the dead. We are in roof falling situation and must shun petty politicking. Why enhance bickering in times when people face untold miseries, tweeted Dhankhar.

Appeal all parties to be in sync in combating Covid 19. Pained @MamataOfficial opposition behaving like vultures waiting for the dead. We are in roof falling situation and must shun petty politicking. Why enhance bickering in times when people face untold miseries.(1/3)  Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) April 30, 2020

Claiming that he had noticed attempts of trying to muzzle and control the media, the Governor said that there should not be anything to hide.

Concerned @MamataOfficial warning to media behave properly Have noticed, felt muzzling and control of media by varied means. Why put media in fear? There should not be anything to hide. Independent media is spine, essential element of democracy. Why stress this asset, he tweeted.

Concerned @MamataOfficial warning to media behave properly Have noticed,felt muzzling and control of media by varied means. Why put media in fear ? There should not be anything to hide. Independent media is spine, essential element of democracy. Why stress this asset ! (2/3)  Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) April 30, 2020

Referring to the popular uprisings in Egypt and Libya in 2011 the Governor said that news is what the authority wants to hide.

A popular government without popular information or means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or perhaps both.James Madison. Free media role in 2011 in ousting long ruling dictators in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia +ve. News is what authority seeks to hide! tweeted Dhankhar.
TANZANIA, Tanzania - The U.N. humanitarian chief said Wednesday that more than 40 cases of COVID-19 and at least three deaths have been reported in Syria, signalling that tragedy beckons after nine years of war that has left the countrys health care system decimated.

Mark Lowcock told the U.N. Security Council that while the number may sound low compared to other countries, testing in Syria is very limited. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, meanwhile, called for a lasting cease-fire to fighting in the country.

With millions of people displaced in crowded conditions and without adequate sanitation, he said Syria cant be expected to cope with a crisis that is challenging even the wealthiest nations.

Efforts are being made to set up isolation areas in displacement camps and health facilities in Syria, but measures aimed at containing the virus are already having side effects such as skyrocketing food prices in some areas, he said.

Lowcock said essential medical supplies and equipment must be allowed into the country, and that the Al Yarubiyah border crossing from Iraq to Syrias northeast must be reopened.

The border crossing was closed in January at Russias insistence, and Lowcock said deliveries of medical supplies to the northeast from Damascus have not filled the gap.

Syrian Kurds established an autonomous zone in the northeast in 2012 and were U.S. partners on the ground in fighting the Islamic State extremist group. A Turkish offensive in October against Syrian Kurdish militants led the U.S. to abandon its Kurdish allies, leading to strong criticism of both Washington and Ankara.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a cease-fire to all conflicts around the world on March 23 to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, and at separate Security Council meetings Wednesday on Syrias political and humanitarian situation there was widespread support for his appeal.

Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, welcomed the fact that there has been significant calm in many areas of Syria, with no all-out offensives since early March.

He said Russian-Turkish arrangements have taken hold in the northwest, the last opposition stronghold, and cease-fire arrangements between Russia, Turkey and the United States in the northeast also continue to broadly hold.

He said the calm was uneasy and fragile and there is a constant risk of things escalating.

He appealed for a cease-fire that results in sustained calm and is nationwide in scope  one that does not see new assaults across lines of contact, and enables Syrians to access equipment and resources necessary to combat COVID-19.

But Russia and the U.S. disagreed about who should be in the lead in pursuing a cease-fire and an end to the Syrian conflict.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council that the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey  the guarantor states in the so-called Astana process aimed at ending the Syria conflict  held a video conference on April 22 and underscored the leading role of Astana in promoting a Syrian settlement.

He said this includes stabilizing the situation in the country, dealing with refugees, resolving humanitarian problems and promoting a dialogue among Syrians in the committee that is to draft a new constitution.

Nebenzia said the ministers of Russia and Iran, who support Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, would prepare for the next Astana summit.

The acting U.S. deputy ambassador, Cherith Norman Chalet, said the U.N. must be at the centre of any effort to establish a comprehensive, enduring, and verifiable nationwide cease-fire.

Frances U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere also stressed that the U.N. must be at the forefront of cease-fire efforts.

He called for a broader political process than just the constitutional committee and told the council that France is deeply concerned about the growing instability everywhere in Syria.

Russias Nebenzia ticked off terrorist groups operating in Syrias northwest and stressed that the pandemic cannot be used as a pretext to whitewash terrorists.

Appeals to Damascus to step up its efforts to fight the pandemic are irrelevant as to 30% of territories which are under effective control either of foreign troops or of opposition or of terrorists, Nebenzia said. Those controlling these territories should be responsible for it.
An appeals court court ordered a new trial for a man convicted of trying to murder two police officers during a high-speed rolling gun battle through the Upper Florida Keys in 2015.

Robert Schminky, 62, was convicted of two counts of first-degree attempted murder of a police officer in January 2018, and Monroe County Judge Luis Garcia sentenced him to two life terms in prison in March of that year.

The Jan. 21, 2015, shootout left a Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputy with a grazing bullet wound to the leg, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper with hearing loss and both officers with post-traumatic stress.

But a three-judge panel of the Third District Court of Appeal Wednesday reversed the sentence and ordered a new trial.

The reason? The Florida Supreme Court changed the jury instructions on that specific charge a month after Schminky was convicted, mandating that jurors must consider whether the defendant knew the person he or she tried to kill was a law enforcement officer.

The standard instruction for attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer did not exist at the time of trial, and as such, was not read to the jury, the judges wrote. Instead, the jury was instructed on regular attempted first-degree murder, which excludes the element of knowing that the victims were law enforcement officers.

State Attorney Dennis Ward said Thursday that his office will retry Schminky.

Absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind, he said

Schminky is also serving time for aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and fleeing and eluding police under aggravated circumstances, charges which have been affirmed.

Schminkys defense was never to dispute the version of events presented by prosecutors, much of which was caught on police dash-cam video. His attorneys argued, rather, that he was temporarily insane that night and did not know right from wrong because he was withdrawing from the prescription anti-anxiety medication Paxil.

Story continues

The night of mayhem began with Schminky beating his wife so severely with a shotgun outside of their Buttonwood Drive home in Key Largo that he broke her arm and several ribs, and snapped the weapons stock off from the force of the blows.

Honour Schminky, who went from a cooperating witness for the prosecution testifying in her husbands defense, called 911 from the couples landline before the attack because he threatened her with violence after she asked him about a missed medical appointment.

Robert Schminky pulled the telephone cord out of the wall, and Honour called the police on her cell phone, prompting her husband to begin beating her with the shotgun.

Audio of the grizzly attack was played during the trial, on which jurors heard Honour begging for help and pleading with Robert to stop hurting her. The audio also clearly recorded each thud of the shotgun hitting her body.

Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies take fingerprints from a shackled Robert Schminky on Tuesday, March 20, after Circuit Judge Luis Garcia sentenced him to two life terms for his 2015 shootout with deputies and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.

Two deputies arrived, and Robert Schminky calmly walked past one of them on the street, fired two blasts from his shotgun into the ground and drove off in his Lexus SUV.

Another deputy and a FHP trooper gave chase from his neighborhood, off mile marker 100, through multiple subdivisions, and finally to County Road 905, which runs parallel to the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 that leads in and out of the Keys.

Heading north on 905, Schminky opened fire on sheriffs officer Sgt. Sydney Whitehouse, who was driving south and returned fire through his driver-side window. Schminky turned his car around and headed south. In doing so, he sideswiped FHP Cpl. Christine Graceys patrol car.

Whitehouse and Gracey, who were both awarded their respective departments Medal of Valour for their actions that night, caught up with Schminky in the parking lot of a Circle K gas station located between the entrances of both the 18 Mile Stretch and County Road 905 at mile marker 106.

Gracey tried to use her cars push bar to T-bone Schminkys Lexus into the woods to disable it, but he accelerated toward her cruiser, and she could see he was holding a pistol. As both cars became stuck together, Schminky fired several shots into Graceys cruiser, which narrowly missed her.

She continues to have hearing issues because of the loud sound of the bullets whistling and bouncing through her car, according to her testimony at trial.

She did not shoot back because she said she did not want to strike the several deputies who now surrounded both cars. When she managed to dislodge her car from Schminkys, Gracey fired back once through her windshield, but missed her target.

Whitehouse got out of his car and began shooting at Schminky, who was also squeezing off rounds at the police. A bullet ricocheted and hit Whitehouse in the leg, and Schminky drove off again, this time south on U.S. 1.

He drove his Lexus into St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church at mile marker 105.5, where a deputy was posted. The deputy, Nestor Argote, said at the trial that he saw Schminky run toward him holding a handgun. Argote fired 10 shots at Schminky, but missed.

He and another deputy chased him and caught up with him in a field behind the church. Schminky had ditched his gun during the chase. Argote tried cuffing Schminky, but he fought back. He finally stopped after the other deputy, Sgt. Barney Sajdak, hit him with the butt of his rifle.

Although jurors were not asked to consider whether Schminky knew he was shooting at cops that night, they did hear that he was at least aware of that fact after he was arrested.

During the trial, a registered nurse who works intake at the Key West jail testified that Schminky told her, I was shooting at cops through a windshield, so that cant be good.

During the sentencing hearing, Honour Schminky and several of his friends testified that Robert Schminky was a peaceful man, and his actions that night were completely out of character.

A psychiatrist testified on his behalf that Schminky was prescribed Paxil for anxiety and depression in October 2015. Schminky said the drug made him more anxious, so he stopped taking it around December.

The psychiatrist said that he started taking it again before abruptly stopping about three days before the rampage. The doctor said Paxil is among a number of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs that can cause bizarre side effects if someone quits using them all at once rather than tapering off.

He referred to the condition as Paxil discontinuation syndrome.
Face masks

InkheartX/Shutterstock

Utah is giving free face masks to any resident who does not already own a mask.

The announcement comes as a precaution as the state prepares to begin reopening businesses.

Gov. Gary Herbert said that residents should expect to wear masks in public until a vaccine is produced.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced Monday that the state will begin distributing free face masks to any Utah resident who does not own a mask in an effort to protect residents' health as the state aims to reopen parts of the economy.

Utah did not enact stay-at-home orders, but the state plans to loosen some of the coronavirus restrictions it had in place by May 1, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Distributing face masks is a line of defense the state is using to try and gear up businesses, but according to NBC News, no state has seen a steady 14-day decline in coronavirus cases  a key factor in epidemiologists say needs to be met in order to reopen the economy safely.

"We want to do everything we can as we work together as a state to combat COVID-19," Gov. Herbert said. "Wearing a mask when we are out in public may not be convenient, but it can help slow the spread of the virus. Let's all do our part in stopping the spread and helping to protect those around us."

Herbert also said wearing masks in public would be a norm in the state until a vaccine is developed.

The state plans to mail residents who request masks up to six face masks per household address. The shipments could take between one to two weeks to arrive. That's why essential workers and at-risk populations, such as people above the age of 65, will receive priority shipments. First responders and state management offices will also receive masks.

Using funding provided by the CARES act, Utah bought 2 million masks from Utah Manufacturers Association and Cotopaxi. Utah Manufacturers Association is working with manufacturers around the state to produce 1.5 million masks and Cotopaxi will make 500,000 masks.

Story continues

All of the masks will be made in Utah, keeping 200 workers employed in order to manufacture the masks. The governor's announcement discouraged people who already own masks to request a shipment for themselves or for others.

If you are a Utah resident, you can order a mask here.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As Uttar Pradesh prepares for the return of stranded migrants, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to keep ready quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens for about six lakh people.

Adityanath also appealed to those stranded in other states to be patient and not start walking towards their homes.

Maintain patience that you have shown till now. A detailed plan is being prepared after contacting states concerned to ensure that all return to their homes safely. Therefore, stay where you are and remain in contact with the respective state governments. Do not start moving on foot, he said in a tweet on Thursday.

An official spokesman said the state government has written letters to different states seeking detailed data on migrant labourers and workers of UP along with their names, mobile numbers and addresses as well as medical reports.

The spokesman said workers stranded in Madhya Pradesh will be brought back on Thursday and those in Gujarat on Friday by buses.

The UP government had on March 28-29 facilitated the return of around 4 lakh people from Delhi.

The government has also ensured the return of about 50,000 people from Haryana and Rajasthan.Around 13,000 people are being brought back from Haryana.

Earlier the government brought back 11,500 students of the state from Kota in Rajasthan and ensured that 15,000 students from Prayagraj return safely to their homes in different districts of the state, the spokesman said.
Both the Mayor of Fethiye Alm Karaca and Muglas Deputy Mursel Alban have pledged themselves to the battle to block plans for geothermal drilling sites along the coast between Oludeniz and Gemiler.

Both hosted a joint press conference in Kayakoy this morning to confirm their vehement opposition to the shock decision to grant applications for exploration at six locations.

Mr Alban faces the cameras in Kayakoy. Picture by Steve Parsley.

Two are on the shores of the Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz, one is within a First Degree Natural Site within the boundaries of the Kayakoy neighbourhood, another is within an archaeological site near Gemiler and two more are at Oyukbas Hill near Darbogaz.

Online petition

The news had already prompted an online petition launched by Fethiye Ecological Life Association (Fethiye Ecolojik Yasam Dernegi or FETDER) which had expressed grave concerns over whether toxic chemicals will be used during geothermal exploration, as well as the potential for earth tremors and subsidence.

Should a more permanent geothermal plant be established, the association warns of the potential for an increased risk of CO2 emissions, water pollution and consequential environmental damage to plants and trees and even the local soil.

By this morning, over 8,000 people had already expressed their support for the petition.

However, today, Mr Karaca and Mr Alban joined the fight and pledged every legal means possible will be used to block the proposals.

Mr Karaca and Mr Alban (centre) address the crowd during the press conference in Kayakoy this morning. Picture by Steve Parsley.

Approximately 100 people  all observing social distancing and wearing the appropriate PPE  listened as statements were read out. Both men then addressed the crowd.

Protesters stand in solemn silence  and observe social distancing  as they register their resistance to plans for the six sites. Picture by Steve Parsley.

A joint statement read out was as follows:

Because of its delicate and rare natural values, Fethiye was declared a Private Environment Protection Area (OCK) by the cabinet in 1988.

However, it has been been declared an investment is planned which involves geothermal source searches by ground drilling and, as a result, a CED (environment effect report) procedure started on March 30, 2020, for six sites around Kayakoy and Oludeniz.

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has given the necessary permissions for the activity. It is indicated in the Project Presentation file that the investors have prepared and presented the project to the Ministry of Environment and City Planning and six drilling points have been selected within Kayakoy and Oludeniz covering 2.182,5 hectares. Each will cover ten acres of land at the following locations:

Two are within the Oludeniz Lagoon Archaeological Site  one on a Natural Site (defined as a delicate area under absolute protection on a ecology-based scientific research report prepared by the Ministry of Environment and City Planning)

One is in the region of Kayakoys Soguksu beach, defined as a delicate area under absolute protection.

One of them is on Delikliburun-Gemiler Beach, a first-level Archaeological Protected Area

Two more are to the north of Darbogaz and Oyukbas Hill, which is also a Natural Protected Area

All these areas are defined as Important Natural Areas in the Environment Plans for Aydn-Mugla-Denizli and left for the use of forestry.

Delicate areas under absolute protection are described according to the resolution thus: Protection and access terms of the Natural Protected Areas  presented in the Official Gazette and put in to action on 25.01.2017 with the number 2995  means access to these areas is limited due to the protection of their natural resources. Public access to these areas is banned; only scientific research, educational or environmental monitoring can only be done after special protection measures are taken. Ground drilling for geothermal resources is therefore against this resolution.

The project and the points of drilling mentioned above are all within very delicate ecosystems defined and registered by the Ministry of Environment and City Planning because they contain very rare species which are close to extinction.

The Republic of Turkey is responsible for these sorts of areas and the species they contain under the international environment agreements. According to constitution law Section 90, the terms of the international agreements we take part in are applied as law.

Some of the drilling points in the project are also located within areas defined as Archaeological Protected Areas. The government of the Republic Of Turkey also took part in international agreements which underlines that any archaeological sites should be considered as humanitys mutual inheritance and partners who signed the agreement accept the responsibility for passing on this inheritance to the next generations.

Geothermal Energy Plants (JES), which are seen as a sustainable energy source, can cause irrevocable damage due to poor location choices and the negative impact they can have on the environment. It has been reported on several occasions that JES sites have affected agriculture and stockbreeding.

The destruction of nature will begin with site preparation work and will continue during the drilling.

The river beds such as Akkula, Harnuplucukur and Kuyucukuru will be damaged while the mud created by the drilling, the release of poisonous gases and the release of liquids containing cyanide, sulphur, nickel and lead will cause environment pollution and damage.

Waste reaching the sea via surface absorption and via the rivers can will also lead to the destruction of marine ecosystems.

Also, if enough geothermal resources are found at one of the drilling points, this will allow other geothermal tourist establishments to develop, increasing the pressure for more construction.

The environmental damage will increase immensely with the opening of new roads to access the drilling points and new establishments, the installation of transfer lines and networks for the geothermal resources.

It is very clear that this sort of enterprise looks like a path to more tourism development, risking the most delicate ecosystems under Fethiyes absolute protected areas.

In addition to the realities mentioned above, we request the following for this project:

The permissions and licences given by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources with the title of Geothermal Resource Search by Ground Drilling are cancelled.

The CED report procedure granted by the Ministry of Environment and City Planning is stopped according to the relevant law.

We kindly present this mutual declaration from Fethiye Belediye and Fethiye Town Council.
(Newser)  A New York City emergency room doctor who died by suicide after working at a hospital inundated with COVID-19 cases pushed herself past the breaking point because she wanted to help as many people as possible, relatives say. Jennifer Feist tells Today that Dr. Lorna Breen took a week and a half off work at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where she oversaw the emergency room, after becoming infected. "Then she went back to the most horrific, unimaginable conditions," said Feist. "And for somebody whose life's calling is helping people, and she just couldn't help enough people. And the combination was just untenable." Feist says she believes the virus altered her sister's brain, making it even harder to cope with working 12-hour shifts during the pandemic.

story continues below

"She said it was like Armageddon," Feist says. "She said, 'There are so many sick people everywhere.'" Feist says she urged her sister to rest more and take better care of herself, but "she would not give up. She would not let it break her, which, of course, it did." Breen, 49, took her own life after family members brought her back to Charlottesville, Va. Loice Swisher, an emergency room physician in Philadelphia, tells the Washington Post that she fears there will be more cases like Breen's during the pandemic. She says physicians are especially vulnerable to suicide, but are often reluctant to seek help from other doctors. "We dont want to be seen as a weak link," she says. "We don't want to be seen as incompetent or place an extra burden on our colleagues." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
To transition means to move from one condition or state of being into another.



And that's just what Dalhousie began to do in the spring of 1970. As green shoots emerged from the soil and trees began to flower across Dal's campuses that April, the university experienced its own kind of growth with the launch of the Transition Year Program (TYP).



An eight-month program centred around building academic and critical-thinking skills, TYP provided opportunities for individuals lacking the usual educational qualifications to prepare for all aspects of academic life and gain access to university. What made TYP so special to so many was that it reflected the unique needs of racially marginalized communities nearby, focusing its obligations and resources squarely on helping individuals from those communities still suffering under the weight of historical wrongs  namely, African Nova Scotian and Mikmaq communities.



The programs launch 50 years ago this week was a modest, yet game-changing, step in the universitys journey to becoming a true leader in equity, diversity and inclusion.



It gives students value, not only as individuals, but as people linked to the histories of those communities, says Isaac Saney, TYPs director since 2014. It empowers them and gives them a sense of self-worth and self-esteem. It challenges all the denigrations these communities have had heaped upon them.



Dr. Saney, who has been an instructor in the program for nearly 30 years, says TYPs success stems from the rigorous academic experience it offers, the financial support it delivers, and the rich sense of community it provides.



"When you become part of the TYP, you become part of what we call the TYP family, which stretches back to 1970, he says, noting there are about 20-25 students accepted each year. You are a part of this family that has a very strong sense of community connection, a very strong sense of its history, a very strong sense of the struggles of the community.

Breaking the syndrome



That spirit has its roots in the programs founding, in part, by members of those communities.



One was undergraduate student, civil rights advocate and future lawyer Burnley "Rocky" Jones. Another was James Walker (shown below right with Jones in 2013), a graduate student in history originally from Toronto. They joined forces with members of the broader Black cultural community as well as Mikmaw leaders such as Elder Noel Knockwood in the late 1960s to advocate for a transition-style program and found a university administration ready and willing to explore the idea.



A committee was set up by the university and a report produced that confirmed what many already suspected: very few individuals of African Nova Scotian and Mi'kmaq descent held university degrees.



Citing economic disadvantages and a long history of discrimination and social injustice directed against both these peoples" and the "special need for university-trained people in this segment of the population, the report recommended a transition-year program be established at Dal with two long-term goals: the further development of leadership and self-help capacity within these communities and the alleviation of poverty through education.



Dr. Walker, who first met Jones at a civil-rights demonstration outside the United States consulate in Toronto in 1965, remembers reflecting on the goals at the 20th anniversary of the program in 1990.



Rocky and I were both speaking and we both said, quite independently, that if we knew it would last 20 years, wed have done something else, says Dr. Walker, now a professor of Black Canadian history at the University of Waterloo. We didnt think we were starting another institution. We thought we could abolish racism or break the syndrome that was keeping kids out of school.



Now, as TYP turns 50, hes had to confront the reality that the racism they were trying to dismantle then still exists.



Black and Indigenous kids are still being shunted into non-academic programs or discouraged from staying in school or convinced that theres no job for them anyway, so why bother getting an education, he says. Those syndromes are still present. So TYP is still necessary.



When Dr. Walker visited Dal last fall to take part in a celebratory event marking the 50th anniversary of TYP, he got to see first-hand just how impactful and necessary the program still is and how grateful the people who have been through it are.

'I have to admit, I cried'



Those people include Tyla Johnson, who just finished the program this spring after a year of extreme personal highs and lows.



A single mother of three, the 43-year-old  born and raised in East Preston  first heard about the program after returning to Nova Scotia from Ontario a few years ago. Having had her first child at 16, Johnson found herself pulled into the working world out of financial necessity and with few avenues for academic advancement.



Even though Johnson completed a community college diploma in social services in Ontario years ago, when she finally set out to embark on her dream of going to university last year after decades of raising her children, she did so with the odds stacked against her.



First, there were the naysayers.



A lot of people told me I couldnt do it and told me I was too old, she says. But that was also motivation because I was like, You know what, Im going to prove you wrong. I was determined to show, even though it was hard, that its never too late.



Johnson also suffered anxiety about not being able to work because she was going to be in the program, which  with six full courses  requires a lot of time and energy from students. While TYP does provide financial support for its students, it wasnt enough to prevent Johnson from suffering misfortune when she and her 17-year-old son were separated from each other after becoming homeless in December.



He was living somewhere else because there are shelters that wont take a 17-year-old son with a female as hes too old, so we were separated since December, she says. It was challenging, and it was hard.



Still, even with all these setbacks, Johnson rose to challenge and finished the year with straight As and an acceptance into Dal, where she hopes to eventually pursue family law.



To receive that phone call, I have to admit, I cried, because it was a hard year, she says, adding that she and her son finally moved into a new home just last week.



She credits TYPs support system  including the programs dedicated physical space on Studley Campus, affectionately known as TYP House (shown right)  for giving her a place and space where she felt she belonged as she navigated the ups and downs of the past year.



When they tell you that you are part of the TYP family, they definitely mean that you are a part of the TYP family, she says. I went through a lot of personal struggles outside of school that I wouldnt have been able to continue the program without the support of the TYP family. Im very grateful and appreciative of that.

Changing lives forever



Others who have passed through the program over the years share similar sentiments.



For Lisa Robinson, now an Indigenous education officer at the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, TYP opened the doors to a BA, BEd and graduate school.



"TYP was the precise moment that my education experience changed," she says.



Most students who successfully complete the program, like Robinson, go on to pursue degrees at Dal. Many end up bringing their learning back to help others by becoming leaders in their communities, something Dr. Saney notices when he visits various communities around the province.



"I cant express enough how this program impacted my life forever," says Eric Christmas (B.A, M.Sc. 89), a graduate of the program who has become an influential Indigenous entrepreneur, community and business development advocate, and leader in renewable energy for Mi'kmaq communities across Nova Scotia.



Other grads have gone on to become federal human rights offices, RCMP officers, teachers, psychologists, policy analysts, social workers, architects, lawyers, university professors and more.

An historic contribution



Originally considered a pilot project by the university, TYP was eventually upgraded to the status of a department in 1982. In 1990, the program found a new home in Henson College, the predecessor to todays College of Continuing Education, and in 2000 further investment from the university. The university has continued to reaffirm its support for the TYP in recent years.



Before his death in 2013, TYP co-founder Dr. Rocky Jones  who went on to become one of Canadas most renowned civil rights leaders and lawyers  described the program as the most important initiative he had ever been involved in.



It was deeply humbling praise coming from one of the singularly important figures in the struggle for social justice and equity in Canada, says Dr. Saney (shown below).



TYPs longevity speaks to just how valuable the program and its many dedicated faculty and staff remain to the university as it continues on that journey in developing a unified approach to diversity and inclusion.



"As Dalhousie embarks on a concerted program of diversity and inclusion, it bears underscoring that TYP has been the trailblazer, says Dr. Saney. The challenges and difficulties that Mikmaq and African Nova Scotian learners face when undertaking post-secondary education still remain. The TYP has made a modest but, nevertheless, historic contribution to resolving and meeting these manifold and multi- faceted challenges. And in meeting these challenges, TYP graduates have been front and centre. This perhaps best epitomizes TYPs on-going legacy and mission."



If you or someone you know is in need of the guidance provided by Dalhousie's Transition Year Program, visit dal.ca/typ for more information.


CAIRO  Sudans new government has outlawed the practice of female genital mutilation, a move hailed as a major victory by womens rights campaigners in a country where the often dangerous practice is widespread.

The United Nations estimates that nearly nine in 10 Sudanese women have been subjected to the most invasive form of the practice, which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia and leads to health and sexual problems that can be fatal.

Now, anyone in Sudan who performs female genital mutilation faces a possible three-year prison term and a fine under an amendment to Sudans criminal code approved last week by the countrys transitional government, which came to power only last year following the ouster of longtime dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

This is a massive step for Sudan and its new government, said Nimco Ali of the Five Foundation, an organization that campaigns for an end to genital mutilation globally. Africa cannot prosper unless it takes care of girls and women. They are showing this government has teeth.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor's funeral was held in Mumbai on Thursday afternoon. His final rites ceremony was attended by wife Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir Kapoor and his girlfriend Alia Bhatt, niece Kareena Kapoor Khan and her husband Saif Ali Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and a few others.

In the pictures and videos of his funeral which are circulating on the internet, Alia Bhatt, who is in tears, can be seen holding up her phone as if she is recording a video. According to a Times of India report, Alia was in a video call with Ranbir's sister Riddhima Kapoor, who could not make it to the funeral.

Alia had done a similar thing when Ranbir could not attend Krishna Raj Kapoor's funeral in 2018. She had made Ranbir a part of it through video call.

Riddhima was permitted to travel from Delhi to Mumbai but could not make it in time for the funeral. She took to her social media platforms to pay her final respects to her father, as she wrote, "Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you everyday I will miss your FaceTime calls everyday! Until we meet again papa I love you - your Mushk forever" (sic). She shared a throwback picture with Rishi.

Rishi passed away at 8:45 AM on Thursday, after being admitted to the HN Reliance Foundation Hospital on Tuesday night. Rishi had been fighting leukemia for two years, and had reportedly recovered after receiving marrow treatment in New York. However, the actor was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday night when his health deteriorated.

ALSO READ: RIP Rishi Kapoor: From PM Narendra Modi To Shashi Tharoor, Politicians Mourn Actor's Death

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor Funeral Pics: Ranbir Kapoor Stares Sadly; Neetu Kapoor, Alia Bhatt Break Down


Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 16:48:22|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- While skies are clearer during the epidemic amid subdued human activities, China is determined to keep the tint of blue on the dome as it propels economic recovery while paving the way for long-term growth.

The limited and temporary impact from the epidemic won't affect China's long-term momentum toward improving the ecological environment, said Cheng Huiqiang, deputy secretary-general of the China Development Research Foundation.

The country is making steady progress in tackling the challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic, including medical waste disposal, pushing ahead with environmental undertakings in action.

As of April 25, China had disposed of 304,000 tonnes of medical waste since Jan. 20, with daily treatment capacity up 1,220 tonnes from before the epidemic, official data showed.

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said Monday it is yet to discover evidence that the epidemic is affecting the quality of drinking water so far.

A draft revision to the law on the prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid waste was adopted by the National People's Congress Standing Committee Wednesday, introducing higher standards for medical waste treatment, especially during epidemics. It will take effect on Sept. 1.

The country has vowed to install in every county a medical waste disposal system complete with facilities for collection, transport and treatment by June 2022. It is estimated that the treatment of medical waste will become an industry of 11 billion yuan (about 1.56 billion U.S. dollars) by 2023, drawing investment from many A-share listed firms.

Bent upon economic recovery as the epidemic wanes, the world's second-largest economy strove to orient its policy towards green growth in the long run.

China will continue to step up environmental protection while pursuing high-quality economic growth, said Cao Liping, an official with the MEE.

The country placed environmental protection projects high on its agenda of work and production resumption. The MEE has urged local governments to actively resume 114 major ecological projects.

With a total investment of 252 billion yuan, these projects cover water treatment, ecological restoration and industrial park construction and were selected to boost investment, promote economic growth and meet people's demand.

Among these projects was the ecological restoration of Erhai, one of the largest plateau lakes in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The project, with an investment of over 27 billion yuan, has been re-started and reported steady progress despite the epidemic.

Apart from supporting major environmental projects, China also resorted to environmental economic policy to steer businesses toward sustainable growth, unveiling a plan in December to establish a national green development fund in 2020.

The country's green finance, an emerging environmental economic policy tool, has seen rapid expansion in recent years. In 2019, its green bond issuance topped 30 billion U.S. dollars, ranking second in the world, data from Bloomberg showed.

With new forms of green finance springing up, the country has expanded financing channels for environmental projects, slashed financing costs and reduced project risks, spurring a shift to green growth, the People's Bank of China said in a report.

Wang Yao, a professor with the Central University of Finance and Economics, attributed green growth in some regions to the country's sound green finance system, but also noted that efforts need to be made to unify green finance standards, regulate environment information disclosure and roll out more innovative products to achieve high-quality development. Enditem
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court next week begins hearing oral arguments over the phone  a small step for social distancing, but a giant leap for the justices.

For decades, the court has ignored most of the technological and transparency advancements adopted by other branches of government. Even as lower federal and state courts began live-streaming and broadcasting sessions for public consumption, the highest court in the land remained cloistered.

Cameras in the court? "Over my dead body," former Associate Justice David Souter once said. And not only was live audio shunned  it was big news in legal circles a decade ago when the justices agreed to release recordings of their oral arguments once a week, rather than once a year.

It took a global pandemic to shake things up.

In early March, a week after nursing home residents began dying of the coronavirus in Kirkland, Washington, the justices were still hearing cases inside their marble courtroom. Two weeks later, they closed the building, moved their private conferences remote and postponed further hearings.

When Supreme Court Marshal Pamela Talkin cries "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" at 10 a.m. sharp Monday, she will be using Alexander Graham Bell's invention of 1876, but with a twist: C-SPAN, which came along a century later, will carry two weeks of arguments live.

More: These are the most important decisions before the Supreme Court this year

COVID-19 was able to do in two months what C-SPAN has been trying to get the court to do for 35 years, says Bruce Collins, the public affairs network's general counsel.

The Supreme Court postponed its oral arguments for March and April but has now scheduled about half of them to be held by telephone beginning May 4. For the justices, it's a brave new world.

The 25 lawyers who will argue from land lines rather than the Supreme Court lectern have been preparing in unusual ways. Dry runs known as moot courts are by phone rather than in faux courtrooms. Telephonic hearings before lower courts have proven to be good practice.

"These are uncharted waters here," says Roman Martinez, an appellate lawyer who will argue one of the first cases. "This is sort of a brave new world for all of us."

Story continues

For a court that clings to tradition more than the British monarchy  where male government lawyers wear morning coats, quill pens pass for souvenirs and e-mail has increased only because of social distancing  its choice of telephonic hearings came as a surprise to many.

"I definitely think there are risks on the technological side," says Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, which advocates for increased transparency. Lower federal and state court oral arguments recently featured a judge being dropped from the call and another whose mute button necessitated a recess.

"I think there are going to be hiccups," Roth says. "Were all going to have to be a little bit charitable."

No 'pomp and circumstance'

When a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit heard an emergency challenge to President Donald Trump's travel ban against several majority-Muslim countries early in 2017, it did not have time to meet in person. So the three judges and two lawyers were joined by phone from Arizona, California, Hawaii, Washington state and Washington, D.C.

Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell, who won a short-lived victory in that case, learned the power of technology when friends as distant as the New York City subways listened live.

It was remarkable to me how many people I heard from, Purcell recalls.

Protesters against President Trump's temporary travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations stand in front of the Bradley Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Feb. 4, 2017, in Los Angeles after the order was lifted.

Now he's two weeks away from arguing  at 7 a.m. PT on May 13  that the men and women appointed as presidential electors should be required to vote for the winner of the state's Nov. 3 election, rather than going rogue.

If were going to dramatically change the role of electors, obviously everyone should know that before the election, Purcell says.

The day before on May 12, the justices will hear the biggest cases of the two-week foray into telephonic technology when President Donald Trump's lawyers seek to keep his tax returns and financial records from congressional investigators and New York prosecutors.

Listeners won't have to wait long to hear Chief Justice John Roberts, a potential swing vote, because his turn to question four lawyers in the two cases will come first. But Trump's closely watched high court nominees, Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, will go last in the seniority pecking order.

Perhaps because it's a brave new world, the court will kick off the phone hearings Monday, May 4, with a less important case: an effort by the travel website Booking.com to trademark its name. Appellate lawyer Lisa Blatt, a veteran of 39 high court arguments, will represent the company.

By May 6, U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco and a highly renowned predecessor, Paul Clement, who has argued 101 Supreme Court cases, will be on the horn to argue that the Affordable Care Act cannot force religious objectors to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives.

An hour later, Martinez will try to convince the justices that political consultants and pollsters have a First Amendment right to target cellphones with recorded calls.

The most important time for core political speech is in a run-up to an election, Martinez says. For his first telephonic argument before the high court, he plans to leave home for his Washington, D.C., office.

For Eric Rassbach, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, it will be his first Supreme Court argument ever the following week. To argue that religious schools can fire teachers because they have "ministerial exceptions" from job discrimination laws, he plans to use a podium as if he was in court on Monday, May 11.

"I am going to miss the pomp and circumstance of it," Rassbach says. "The parry and thrust of argument will obviously be different."

Appellate lawyer Ian Gershengorn, who served as the Obama administration's acting solicitor general in 2016, will argue a Native American land dispute the same day. He will miss seeing "the non-verbal cues from the justices  whos frowning, whos smiling, whos grimacing.

A similar Oklahoma case was argued in 2018 but never decided, presumably because Gorsuch was recused, leaving only eight justices and, therefore, a likely tie vote.

"All eyes will be on Justice Gorsuch," Gershengorn says, before recalling the medium.

"All ears will be on Justice Gorsuch," he says.

Hard to go back?

Nearly all federal appeals courts already are providing live access to remote oral arguments, as are many state supreme courts. On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit broadcast a three-hour hearing on two major separation-of-powers cases involving disputes between the Trump administration and the U.S. House of Representatives.

At the Supreme Court, however, the justices only rarely relent on releasing audio recordings later in the day  the first time being after hearing the presidential election case Bush v. Gore in 2000.

"The federal courts, including the Supreme Court, must often introduce new technologies at a more measured pace than other institutions, especially those in private industry," Roberts said in his 2014 year-end report. "They will sometimes seem more guarded in adopting cutting-edge innovations, and for good reason, considering some of the concerns that the judiciary must consider in deploying new technologies."

Now that social distancing has forced the court's hand, however, advocates and attorneys expect more of the same in the future.

"I think there will be a lot of pressure for the Supreme Court to maintain the practice," Fix the Court's Roth says.

Once you cross that bridge, it does seem a little hard to go back, assuming everything runs smoothly," Gershengorn says. "Its harder to cut back on access once youve given it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court justices, lawyers prepare for live telephone hearings




North Korean state media have continued reports on leader Kim Jong-un's work in an indication that he is handling state affairs normally, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Tuesday, amid persisting speculation about the leader's health.







Kim Jong-un has stayed out of public view for about two weeks since he was last seen in a political bureau meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on April 11, but North Korean media outlets have reported on his daily routine schedule, according to the minister.







"North Korean media outlets have put out reports related to Chairman Kim's work since his attendance of a politburo meeting, suggesting that he has been carrying out state affairs in a normal way," he told lawmakers.







North Korean state media have recently carried reports on Kim's schedule, such as sending diplomatic letters and conveying gifts to honored citizens, but they have not provided information on Kim's whereabouts or health conditions.







The official Korean Central News Agency said late Monday that Kim sent a congratulatory telegram message to the South Africa president in the latest report on the leader's management of state affairs.







Speculation about Kim's health has spread since he apparently skipped an annual visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the April 15 birthday of the late founder and his grandfather Kim Il-sung.







Unconfirmed media reports have since speculated that Kim might be "in grave danger" after surgery, but South Korean officials have repeatedly disputed these claims, saying no unusual signs have been detected from North Korea.







Some said that Kim appears to be staying in the eastern coastal town of Wonsan. U.S monitoring website 38 North earlier reported that commercial satellite imagery showed a train probably belonging to Kim was spotted in the region since at least April 21. (Yonhap)


Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 22:12:36|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Namibia will on May 5 start gradually lifting the lockdown over four phases to allow the economy to function without compromising health of the public although the state of emergency will continue for the next six months, the Presidency said.

Namibian President Hage Geingob said they will implement different levels of lifting the lock down.

"The lock down will remain the same until mid night on May 4. We will continue to implement the lifting of the lockdown gradually without compromising the social distancing regulations," he said.

He also added that, "All Namibians will be needed to wear mask in public areas and government will assist the vulnerable. The sale of alcohol will continue to be prohibited throughout the country. We could use this situation to deal with the abuse of alcohol in this country."

He said the lockdown has not been easy on Namibians.

"We commend the perseverance of Namibians within this difficult period." Enditem
Tuolumne County Public Health View Photo

Sonora, CA  Tuolumne Public Health Officials have put out a written statement to further clarify its stance on the current COVID-19 restrictions.

As reported here on Tuesday, after Calaveras Countys Health Officer announced the lifting of some recreational restrictions, Tuolumne Countys Public Health reported they would be reviewing the situation, as detailed here. In this further outline of its position on the states stay-at-home order, Tuolumne health officials say it is to clarify the state health officer Orders and Governors roadmap planning.

The statement makes clear that public health does not want to be more restrictive than the California Health Officers Order and is advocating that the State allow a regional approach in flexibility.

The entire Tuolumne County Public Health written statement can be viewed below:

According to State law, Tuolumne County Public Health will continue to follow the State Health Officer Orders. It is not the intent of Tuolumne County Public Health to be more restrictive than the California Health Officers Order. Our Department, and the Board of Supervisors, continue to advocate the State to allow a regional approach in flexibility. The statewide stay-at-home order is still in effect until further notice, and according to the Governors press conference on 4/28, he expects that the order may be modified in a matter of weeks.

As part of our local and regional roadmap planning, in alignment with the State Roadmap for Modifying the Stay-at-Home Order, Public Health continues to coordinate with County Innovation & Business Assistance and our business, recreation, visitation, and community agencies to plan for safe operating protocols as we await further direction from the State.

We encourage businesses and organizations to follow the Innovation & Business Assistance blog posts and connect with the agency via their website, where planning documents and information can be found. The website is www.TCDisasterAssistance.com. Virtual town hall meetings will take place in the near future. The date and time for these meetings will be released via a press release and posted on the Public Health website.

This evening, Wednesday, April 29th a second webinar for businesses will be held to gain input on this planning process. Businesses can register for the webinar at this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l_hwTeYwRBugXKva_uEwAw

Tuolumne County has been fortunate to remain in containment with very few cases and no evidence of COVID-19 community transmission, and we thank the public for their part in that. We understand the challenges that the stay-at-home order presents. We are planning for, and look forward to moving into Stage 2 safely, as more information comes to us from the State. The Governors most recent update on the State plan can be viewed at https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/04/28/governor-newsom-providesupdate-on-californias-pandemic-resilience-roadmap
The Obama administration used the IRS to violate the constitutional rights of political opponents and most of the media and other Democrats didn't care.

The Obama administration used government agencies to illegally spy on thousands of Americans, and most of the media and other Democrats didn't care.

The Obama administration used the corrupt Justice Department to protect Hillary and take out Trump, and most of the media and other Democrats not only didn't care, but participated.

The Obama administration had slush funds at the EPA, CFPB, and Justice Department, which were used for political purposes and to give kickbacks to political supporters, and Obama was supported throughout, with most of the media covering up the corruption and calling the Obama/Biden years scandal-free.

But a signature on checks and a letter from Trump, and that is the most political thing they have ever seen.

The dishonesty by the media as they seek to take out Trump and elect the clearly incompetent Biden is endless, dangerous, and worthless.

From USA Today:
Millions of acres of public land across the American West, including New Mexico, sold each year to the oil and gas industry for extraction remain undeveloped.

Environmentalists argued unused leases block proper land management and conservation efforts, while the low price land if often sold for could cost taxpayers millions in potential revenue.

A study from the Center for Western Priorities showed about 22 million acres of public lands in western states were leased to the industry.

Leases in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming in New Mexico were included in the report.

Since the last major amendment to the Mineral Leasing Act in 1987, the study reported 30 percent of all public lands leased to the oil and gas industry were sold for just $2 per acre  the minimum price when a bid is received  totaling about 3.7 million acres.

And 57.2 percent of all leases since that year, totaling 38.4 million acres, were leased for $2 or less, as leases can be sold for $1.50 an acre if no bids are received.

More than 90 percent of those leases were no longer active, per the report.

Such low cost leases shortchange taxpayers and incentivize speculation on public lands with little or no potential for oil and gas development, the report read. Compared to leases that sold for more than $2 per acre, low cost leases have significantly higher rates of termination.

Arizona led the West in leases sold for the minimum prices, with 3,040 acres or 70 percent of its 4,201 acres leased to the industry going for $2 per bid, while 1,161 went for the $1.50 no-bid price, records show.

That meant all of Arizonas federal land leases went for the bottom prices.

Behind Arizona came Oregon, with 98 percent of its land leases going for the bottom rates, followed by Nevada with 84 percent.

New Mexico had by far the lowest percent of land sold for the low prices at 3 percent, but also had the fourth-highest total acreage sold at about 1.1 million acres leased to the oil and gas industry since 1987.

Just 24,516 acres of New Mexico federal land when for the $2 minimum bid, and 4,635 acres went for the $1.50 no-bid rate.

New Mexico also had the lowest percentage of acres leased but sitting idle, with 11 percent or 474,121 acres unused of the 4.3 million total acres currently leased for oil and gas operations  the second-highest among the states studied behind Wyomings 9.2 million acres.

Bu the study warned that even more land could be leased to industry in all 10 states as 90 percent of the public lands managed by the federal government through its Bureau of Land Management were available for oil and gas development, but only 10 percent were prioritized for alternative uses such as recreation or wildlife management.

The industrys footprint is excessive, locking up public lands and encroaching on national parks, imperiled wildlife habitat, and critical migration corridors, the report read.

But U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Berhhardt said the agency that oversees the BLM was able to generate record-breaking revenue from oil and gas in recent, despite using less acreage.

In 2018, the BLM produced $1.1 billion in revenue from oil and gas operations on federal land, while using about 25.5 million acres  lowest since 1985, per records from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

That year, the BLM also broke the record for the most oil produced onshore, with about 214 million barrels generated, records show.

About 7,808 leases took effect in fiscal year 2018, per the latest data from the DOI, putting the state in second after Wyomings 12,780 acres.

New Mexico was also second in the nation for acreage leased by the BLM with 4.3 million acres as of the last day of FY 2018m behind about 8 million in Wyoming.

About 3.8 million of those BLM-leased acres in New Mexico were considered producing, records show, for a production rate of about 88 percent.

Meanwhile, Wyoming had about 4 million producing acres for a production rate of about 50 percent.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.



2020 the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.)

Visit the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) at www.currentargus.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New Delhi, April 30 : The Delhi High Court has refused to put an interim stay on a circular by MCX which had fixed the due date rate of crude oil futures contract in a negative value.

The circular dated April 21, issued by the Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing Corporation Limited, fixed the due date rate of crude oil futures contract, which expired on April 20, at minus Rs 2,884 per barrel.

While refusing to grant interim stay on the circular, a single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice C. Hari Shankar observed, "Keeping in mind the multifarious objections raised by the respondents, which would require to be answered by the petitioner, as also because the writ petition has failed to disclose any provisions, statutory or otherwise, which the impugned circular allegedly infracts, and, additionally, bearing in mind the fact that the dispute essentially involves the rate at which the transactions are to be effected, and is, essentially, therefore, in the nature of a contractual financial dispute, I am not inclined to grant any interim relief in this matter." The court also sought response from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and others in connection with the petition filed by Akshay Aluminium Alloys LLP challenging the circular issued by MCX on April 21. The plea also sought an interim stay on the said circular.

During the course of the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner made various submissions to impugn the said circular, which primarily hinges on the practical hardship that his client is facing as a consequence of the circular.

However, the judge questioned the submissions of the petitioner and said, "I may note here that despite repeated queries from the bench of this court, my attention has not been invited to any statutory provision, or even to any administrative instructions, which stand infracted by the impugned circular." Responding to the submissions made by the petitioner, Arvind Datar, senior counsel appearing for SEBI, told the court that various preliminary submissions, including certain serious preliminary objections in his submission would merit outright dismissal of this writ petition.

"On whose action the petitioner claims to be aggrieved are situated in Mumbai. Various other persons, who are also aggrieved by the impugned decision, have, in fact, moved the Bombay High Court, and it is the petitioner alone who has chosen to approach this court," Datar said, raising questions on the territorial jurisdiction.

Datar further submitted that the present dispute is entirely within the realm of contract, and does not constitute one of these species of contractual disputes in which a writ court could legitimately exercise jurisdiction.

The court will now hear the matter on June 24.


AKRON (dpa-AFX) - While reporting its first-quarter financial results on Thursday, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) said it is planning a phased restart of production during the second quarter, which began earlier this month with some of its commercial truck tire facilities in the U.S. and Europe. The company expects the majority of its manufacturing facilities to resume operations by the end of May.



Goodyear Tire noted that decisions regarding production will be based on an evaluation of market demand signals, inventory and supply levels, as well as the company's ability to safeguard the health of its associates.



The company's plant in Pulandian, China is operating with 100 percent of its workforce, but is not yet operating at full capacity. The facility is expected to continue ramping up production during the second quarter.



Goodyear Tire said it expects 2020 capital expenditures to be no more than $700 million.



In addition, the company is implementing actions to reduce payroll costs through a combination of furloughs, temporary salary reductions and salary deferrals covering over 9,000 of its corporate and business unit associates. This includes substantial salary reductions and deferrals for the company's CEO, officers and directors.



Goodyear Tire is also reducing discretionary spending, including marketing and advertising expenditures. Together, the company expects these actions will help to mitigate the financial impact of lower industry demand as a result of COVID-19.



Further, Goodyear Tire is accelerating restructuring actions to further improve its cost structure. The company has recently reached a tentative bargaining agreement to permanently close its Gadsden, Alabama manufacturing facility as part of its strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of its manufacturing footprint.



The tentative bargaining agreement remains subject to approval by the membership of the local union. The company expects the closure will result in annual savings of about $130 million in 2021 when compared with 2019.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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[April 29, 2020] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS FITB, I, SERV, ZM INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits

NEW ORLEANS, April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits:

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB)

Class Period: 2/26/2016 - 3/6/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: June 8, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-fifth-third-bancorp-securities-litigation-1 Intelsat S.A. (I)

Class Period: 11/5/2019 - 11/18/2019

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: June 8, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-silver-lake-group-llc-intelsat-sa-securities-litigation



Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (ZM)

Class Period: 4/18/2019 - 4/6/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: June 8, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-zoom-video-communications-inc-securities-litigation ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (SERV)

Class Period: 2/26/2019 - 11/4/2019

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: June 9, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-servicemaster-global-holdings-inc-securities-litigation

If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com .

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Main results

Gross profit from sales in Q1 2020 amounted to ISK 4,321 million compared to ISK 4,231 million in Q1 2019, an increase of 2.1%

Due to falling fuel price loss of 140 million is reported in gross profit

Operating expenses in Q1 2020 ISK 3,301 million compared to ISK 2,902 million on Q1 2020, an increase of 13.8%

Interest bearing liabilities (excluding lease liabilities) amounted to ISK 33,448 million at the end of Q1 2020 compared to ISK 37,183 million in Q1 2019.

Net interest-bearing liabilities without lease liabilities ISK 28,425 million at the end of Q1 2020 compared to ISK 36,709 million end of Q1 2019 A decrease of 22,6% between years.

Equity ISK 28,294 million and equity ratio 35.1% at the end Q1 2020 compared to 32,0% at the end of Q1 2019.

Eggert or Kristofersson, CEO Festi hf.:

"The year 2020 got off to a great start and exceeded all expectations. Then the COVID-19 outbreak came into play with the congregation ban in March, which had a significant impact on the Group during Q1 and will have an impact over the next few months. A closer look at the three main pillars of Festi, mixed fortunes can be seen. Kronan is getting stronger in the food retail market with a sales growth of 13%. ELKO's operations were above expectations with 12,8% sales growth YoY. N1's operations were however highly impacted by the congregation ban, decline in tourism and reported loss on inventory due to falling fuel price in the world market. Never the less; the financial position of Festi is solid and cash flow remains strong.



The Group's focus during the COVID-19 outbreak is on maintaining productivity while keeping its employees and customers safe. The Group is a critical infrastructure company in Iceland with its network of supermarkets and convenience stores, electronics retail stores, fuel and car service stations around Iceland. The Group works closely with its suppliers to ensure that customers will have the same range of products as before the outbreak and is fully committed to finding new ways to serve its customers when faced by various quarantine restrictions.

Story continues



In connection with the preparation of these financial statements the COVID-19 effects on the business was assessed, both financial and non financial. The Group is balanced in exposure with its diversified business mix. Parts of the Group's operation are experiencing considerable business growth while other parts are experiencing considerable drop. In that part of the business, the Group has moved small portion of employees to the part-time salary solution offered by the Government to be able to retain employees while the effects of the outbreak is ongoing. At the moment the full economic impact of COVID-19 is unknown but the management and the board are monitoring the situation closely. Festi is committed to achieve its mid- and long term growth targets.

For further information contact Egger or Kristofersson CEO at eggert@festi.is or Magnus Kr. Ingason CFO at mki@festi.is

Attachments
Dismissed as useless, now apparently indispensable -- wearing a face mask as protection from the new coronavirus is becoming commonplace around the world as countries begin to emerge from lockdowns.

Here is a snapshot of the global measures on masks -- mandatory, recommended or optional -- provided by AFP bureaus worldwide.





- Obligatory nationwide -

Over 50 countries now require people to cover their faces when they leave home, especially on public transport and in shops.



In Africa, Cameroon imposed masks on April 9.



Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia followed.



Nigeria and South Africa will join them in early May.



The rules are not always respected in these often poor countries, either for lack of money or availability or because of scepticism over masks' efficiency.



Chad, which originally imposed masks, did a u-turn due to lack of material. However, in some countries those breaching the rules can be arrested, including in Guinea or Liberia.



In Latin America, it is obligatory to cover the nose and mouth in public places in Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Salvador and Venezuela.



In Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, the rules only concern public transport and shops. Masks will become obligatory in Honduras from May 3.



In Europe, Bulgaria, Georgia, Luxembourg, Poland, the Czech Republic and Ukraine impose masks. But they are necessary only in enclosed public places, public transport and shops in Austria, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia.



In France from May 11 they will be obligatory on public transport and recommended for going shopping.



In Germany donning face masks in public is compulsory in all 16 states, including on public transport and in most shops.



In the Middle East, Bahrain, Israel, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates impose them in public places, while Qatar limits the measure to workplaces and certain shops, as does Turkey.





- From region to region -

Story continues

In Pakistan, where the government only recommends their use, masks are mandatory in some localities.



In China there are no general rules, but people are required to cover their noses and mouths in certain circumstances, including in crowded public places.



Brazil, India, Indonesia and Mexico have strongly advised their citizens to wear masks outdoors, but this is only obligatory in some regions. In Russia mask use is recommended but is obligatory only in certain regions, but not Moscow.



In Italy, only in Lombardy, the epicentre of the country's epidemic, is it necessary to cover the nose and mouth outdoors. Elsewhere is voluntary.



Big cities like Abidjan, Kinshasa, Lagos, Manilla, New Delhi, Mumbai, New York and Niamey also demand masks or scarves.





- Recommended -

The use of masks is recommended in Bangladesh, Bolivia, the Central African Republic, Estonia, Greece, Jordan, the Maldives, Mali, Tanzania and Tunisia.



In Spain, they are recommended when social distancing can not be respected at work, shopping, in enclosed spaces and in the street. Ten million masks were distributed on public transport on April 13, when many people returned to work.



The use of masks is just recommended in Central Asian countries, except Uzbekistan.





- Part of life -

In many Asian countries mask wearing was already common to deal with seasonal flu and hay fever. So people leapt to wear them following the COVID-19 outbreak.



In South Korea or Japan they are now almost unavailable due to high demand.



In Afghanistan, they are worn by many in the cities including in mosques. They were already often used to protect against pollution or by women to hide their faces.





- Optional -

Around 30 countries -- including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and in Scandinavia -- let people decide for themselves whether to wear masks.



In Africa and Europe many countries have no rules, including Botswana, Britain, the Netherlands and Uganda.






Amid questions regarding the quality and delay in supply of kits by China, tapping other sources for these kits assumes importance given the need for reliable testing undertaken after rigorous review of the equipment.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was forced to recall the rapid antibody testing kits procured from China due to meager five percent accuracy rate of these kits. Meanwhile, China, among the leading manufacturer and exporter of these kits, blamed the handling by doctors, calling for better communication between Beijing and New Delhi.

India had procured five lakh rapid antibody testing kits from two Chinese firms. However, the ICMR said they showed a wide variation in results, as against the assurances given by the manufacturers. There are strict requirements for the storage, transportation and use of COVID-19 antibody rapid test kits. Any operation which is not carried out by professionals in accordance with the product specifications will lead to testing accuracy variations, Counselor Ji Rong, spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, said.

With countries like South Korea, which fought the coronavirus outbreak successfully, advocating the importance of widespread virus screening, a testing vacuum may prove hazardous to Indias response to COVID-19. India reported 33,050 confirmed cases on Thursday.

Additionally, a delay in the delivery of the kits, from the initial 5 April date to 10 April and then 15 April further cast a shadow on the mass testing strategy that India looked at deploying to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Some reports attributed this delay to rumours that India's share of kits were redirected to other countries by China.

However, ICMRs head of epidemiology and communicable disease Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar declined to comment on whether the kits were diverted to the US or other countries, according to Hindustan Times.

China remains the largest manufacturer and exporter of protective equipment and testing kits, leaving many countries with no option but to rely on it as the coronavirus toll in many countries continues to climb. However, complaints against Chinese rapid antibody testing kits have been raised by countries other than India too, which claim that they do not meet the average 80 percent accuracy benchmark set by European Union Medicine Agencys guidelines.

Spain returned around six lakh kits manufactured by Shenzen Bioeasy Technology after they yielded an accuracy rate of 30 percent, while Britain is seeking a $20 million refund from China after rejecting the kits. The Czech Republic found the tests to be 20 percent accurate, while authorities in Phillippines and Turkey pegged the figures at 40 percent and 35 percent respectively. Hitting out at China, from whom Slovakia had purchased 1.2 million testkits, Prime Minister Igor Matovic said, We have a ton and no use for them, adding that they should be thrown straight into the Danube.

Shrugging off responsibility like it did in the face of complaints of India, China held Slovakia responsible for the handling of the kits leading to their inefficiency. Problems should be properly solved based on facts, not political interpretations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. Additionally, President Xi Jinping described Chinas mass deployment of medical assistance to countries including Italy, Greece and France as an effort to further a Health Silk Road.

Reports claim that over 100 Chinese companies are selling coronavirus testing kits to Europe, but most are not licensed to sell in China, according to India Today. Beijing, however, pledged to improve its crackdown on faulty medical products. A Ministry of Commerce statement said that coronavirus test kits, medical masks, protective clothing, ventilators and infrared thermometers will need to prove theyre certified in China and promise their products also meet the quality standards of the importing nation, according to Bloomberg.

Amid questions regarding the quality and delay in supply of kits by China, tapping other sources for these kits assumes importance given the need for reliable testing to curb the spread of the virus. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Tuesday that India will achieve self-reliance with respect to the production of indigenous rapid testing and RT-PCR diagnostic kits by the end of May. Looking at other options to procure rapid testing kits, New Delhi has ordered a first batch from South Korea, and more kits will be procured from Germany, Canada and Japan, according to India Today. The consignments of at least five lakh kits is expected to arrive from South Koreas Humasis Ltd in four batches starting 30 April, a News18 report said.

The Indian firms -- Gujarat-based Voxtur Bio, Delhi-based Vanguard Diagnostics and the government-owned HLL Lifecare -- have been approved for supplying test kits. HLL plans to manufacture two million kits by 30 May, a report in Hindustan Times claims. The other two firms depend on China for some components to manufacture these kits and an embargo on exports of these components has left their operations in limbo.

Additionally, South Korea-based SD Biosensor set up a subsidiary in Haryanas Manesar with a capacity to produce five million kits, with the aim to scale up production, according to a statement from the Embassy of India in South Korea's capital Seoul. It is working on an order of 1 lakh testing kits, the manufacturing plant head told ANI.

A rapid test kit determines whether a person has developed antibodies in their blood stream to fight COVID-19 and has been recommended for surveillance testing. Unlike RT-PCR tests, whose results take around five hours, rapid test kits show results within 30 minutes. The ICMR has recommended using these in containment zones, large migration gathering and evacuee centres. It has also said that a RT-PCR test is necessary to validate a negative rapid test kit result.
SPRINGFIELD  A second Republican state representative on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Gov. JB Pritzker alleging he overstepped his authority in ordering Illinoisans to stay at home to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The outcome of Machesney Park Rep. John Cabellos case could affect all state residents, as Cabello filed the suit in Winnebago County on behalf of himself and all citizens of the state of Illinois similarly situated.

Illinoisans right to free movement  to leave their homes and shop at a local business, for example  were arbitrarily stripped away from them by Pritzkers implementation of the stay-at-home restriction, Cabello alleges.

That order, initially instituted on March 20 and extended through the end of May, could continue into perpetuity as (Pritzker) solely determines, all without due process of law, according to the court filing.

No one has that authority  nobody, not the governor, not the president, Cabellos attorney, Thomas DeVore, said Wednesday in a phone interview. That is the stuff of kings centuries ago. It is unconstitutional.

DeVore is also representing Rep. Darren Bailey, a Republican from Xenia, in a similar case. On Monday, a Clay County Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of Bailey and released him from the governors stay-at-home orders.

Cabellos case differs from Baileys in that it alleges the Illinois Department of Public Health has supreme authority to close businesses and put residents under quarantine or isolation.

According to the statute creating the department, officials must either have an Illinoisans consent when doing so, or obtain a court order. The burden of proof is great  among other things, the department would need to prove to a judge that the communitys health is significantly endangered by the person it wants to quarantine.

DeVore said the procedure outlined by that statute is the law of the land and what should be governing any quarantines.

 Pritzker has perverted the emergency provisions of the (Illinois Emergency Management Act) in an effort to rip the sacred responsibility of the health and lives of the people away from where the Legislature placed it, being local control of county health departments of the (Illinois Department of Public Health), and in doing so he took complete control of the free movement of every citizen within the state of Illinois, according to the lawsuit.

Even if well intentioned by Pritzker, his actions as governor have left every citizen of this state completely devoid of any procedural due process rights to protect their liberty, the document continues.

In the court filing, DeVore also takes issue with the governors disaster proclamations including a 30-day arbitrarily placed time frame.

The Illinois Emergency Management Act specifies a governor has emergency authority during a disaster for 30 days, but DeVore said it does not specify that a disaster must include an end date.

He said he believes Pritzker does not have the authority to issue successive disaster proclamations, and he suggested the Legislature should use those 30 days to determine what actions it should take to protect public health.

Theyre playing games with this type of language, DeVore said. The governors people should appreciate theres a lot of smart people in this state who can see this for what its worth.
SMALL Irish firms are increasingly exposed to bad debts and lost cash flow because their British trading partners are running out of funds themselves, according to Bibby Financial Services Ireland.

"The UK and Irish SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) sectors are closely linked, with many SMEs in both countries trading directly with one another. What happens in the UK has significant knock-on effects for Irish SMEs," said Bibby managing director Mark O'Rourke.

He cited internal research suggesting that a third of British SMEs will run out of cash by July unless trading restrictions there ease.

Half of British SMEs would be likely to run out of cash if UK restrictions run deep into the third quarter, it found.

Bibby said British SMEs overall already have written off bad debts averaging 35,000 (40,000) in the first two months of the Covid-19 crisis.

It said 77pc of British SMEs have seen their orders fall since mid-March, and 17pc have been forced to renegotiate contracts with suppliers and customers.

"The research gives a stark warning that, in the midst of the current crisis, our small and medium-sized businesses are more exposed than ever to the damaging effects of bad debt and a lack of cashflow," Mr O'Rourke said.

Sandyford-based Bibby is a non-bank lender specialising in finance for SMEs, including via funds provided by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. That finance option gives firms the option to buy, receive and sell goods before paying for them.
Journalism implies an attempt at discovering facts. But people no longer know, and oftentimes no longer care, what is fact and what is fiction.

Joining the Dots is a weekly column by author and journalist Samrat in which he connects events to ideas, often through analysis, but occasionally through satire

***

The recent interrogation of Arnab Goswami by the Mumbai Police in connection with a case filed in Nagpur accusing him of attempting to incite communal violence during a televised rant against Sonia Gandhi seems to have attracted more attention than his show itself. On his TV debates, Goswami has long been known for a loud, hectoring approach, which has made him extremely popular because it seems that many viewers are interested not in balanced, impartial journalism but in the staples of Bollywood movies  a good yarn with emotion, drama and excitement.

Goswamis influence on Indian television news has been immense. All across the country, there are now channels in multiple languages where screaming anchors present as news whatever view the channels owners lean towards.

Television is an expensive business and without revenue, a channel is doomed. However, the catch-22 is that when drama, emotion and excitement substitute for actual news on these channels, journalism is dead anyway. Such content should rightly be categorised as infotainment, and the showmen and women at their helm may be referred to simply as anchors, without plonking them incorrectly in the category of journalists.

Journalism implies an attempt at discovering facts. Truth is a big word. Fact is smaller, but it is still hard to get to. There is a presumption of objectivity  that what is a fact to you, is also a fact to me  which is where all the arguments begin. We are all enveloped in the subjectivities of our lives. Objectivity may thus be impossible to attain, but a measure of fairness and impartiality is possible. What has happened in the case of a lot of journalism in recent years is that the attempt itself has been done away with. Arguments in favour of taking a position and taking a side were made by a Left brought up on postmodern ideas of the absence of objective reality, and adopted and weaponised by the Right, with the consequence that today, the line between fact and fiction has blurred, even in the case of news.

People no longer know, and oftentimes no longer care, what is fact and what is fiction. Fake news and alternative facts are being produced and consumed in industrial quantities everywhere. All major political parties have their own fake news factories which generate content to show their party in good light, and their opponents in bad light. Governments have gotten in on the act too  recall the Russian influence operations, confirmed earlier this month by the United States Senates Intelligence Committee, that contributed to Donald Trumps victory in the last US elections.

The target of each one of those operations, whether conducted by a political party or a government, is manipulating the emotions of the average viewer or reader. Coupled with the rise of social media, the collapse of traditional business models in journalism makes ordinary folks everywhere easy targets of such operations. People have got used to getting news for free. They are often unaware of the new internet jungle saying, if youre not paying for it, youre not the customer, youre the product. Personal data and their minds and emotions are the products that people are giving away in exchange for what appears to be free news.

There is, however, a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The boldest journalism in the present situation, where financial pressures from advertisers including governments often forces big media to avoid ruffling feathers, has come from small digital media start-ups. Their growth is hampered by the absence of a business model in the world of free news. A technical solution to the problem is awaited. Processing micropayments in a painless and seamless way might rescue journalism, because people may be willing to shell out tiny amounts for each article they read, which would make quality digital journalism financially viable and widely accessible.

Until such a time arrives, it might seem that a crackdown on fake news is much to be desired. That could be a mistake.

The problem with any government crackdown on fake news is that it would first need to define what is real news. Governments like to define the official version of events as real news. So, anything that disagrees with the official version becomes fake. Imagine a situation where a journalist files a report on a corruption scam. At the moment of filing the first report, the full facts of the matter would not be out in the public domain. If at that point, the government of the day calls the report fake news and arrests the journalist for spreading it well, that wouldnt leave a very free press, would it?

We seem currently to be heading towards exactly such a situation in India. The Uttar Pradesh government has arrested journalists for pointing out flaws, and sent the police after senior editor Siddharth Varadarajan. A slew of journalists in Kashmir have of late been called to police stations for interrogations and slapped with FIRs for their reports. In Northeast India, at least two journalists have been summoned to police stations within the past month. In the Andamans, a journalist was locked up by police for a tweet asking why people were being quarantined for calling Covid patients on the phone.

The crackdown is not limited to journalists alone. A recent report by Makepeace Sitlhou in Article 14 mentions that in Manipur, a Facebook post by a local teacher asking about the constituencys MLA was met with a case for sedition and waging war against the state. Five others, including a minor, who had liked or commented on this post were charged with sedition.

The cases against Goswami have to be viewed against this backdrop. As a viewer and a journalist, I have no doubt that his shows have long been high on showmanship and low on journalism. However, as the Press Council of India rightly pointed out, in response to the alleged attack on Goswami, violence is not the answer, even against bad journalism. The council also said, Every citizen in the country, including a journalist, has the right to express their opinion which may not be palatable to many but this does not give anybody the authority to strangulate such a voice.

The caveat is that such opinions should stop short of incitement to violence. Goswami should be free to express unpalatable opinions provided he doesnt tip over into hate speech. The same goes for Varadarajan, the Kashmiri journalists, the teacher in Manipur who was arrested for his innocuous Facebook post, the Andaman journalist, and all the other people around the country who are today bearing the brunt of people in positions of power cracking down on news, opinions and even simple, logical questions.

Were all in this together. Either everyone has freedom of speech and expression, or no one does.
In view of the coronavirus-



enforced lockdown, the mortal remains of Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor were taken to crematorium straight from the hospital where he died on Thursday morning, said an official.

Kapoor (67), who was suffering from cancer, died at the H N Reliance Hospital at Girgaon in south Mumbai.

Earlier in the day, police had requested the family of Kapoor to take his body to crematorium, where his last rites took place after 4 pm, from the hospital.

"As per rules we requested family members of Rishi Kapoor to take his body straight to Chandanwadi crematorium at Kalbadevi in South Mumbai," said a senior police officer.

Due to the lockdown, imposed to halt the spread of COVID-19, police have restricted movement and gathering of people.

The lockdown rules also cover gathering for last rites of any person, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Schweblin, 42, grew up in a middle-class family on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and has lived in Berlin since 2012. She has long been celebrated as one of the most innovative Spanish-language writers of her generation, ever since she published her award-winning debut collection nearly 20 years ago. Her books have been translated in 35 languages. But her work has only recently caught on with U.S. readers, beginning with the English translation in 2017 of Fever Dream. Since then, her global rise has been swift: Fever Dream was a finalist for the Booker International Prize and won the Shirley Jackson Award for best novella, and is being adapted into a film for Netflix; both Mouthful of Birds and Little Eyes were longlisted for the Booker International Prize.

In an email interview, Schweblin discussed the avoidance of technology in literature, the surreal nature of her work and how she thinks quarantine is affecting us. A condensed and edited excerpt from the exchange, which McDowell translated, is below.

Can you tell me about where you are right now and how the pandemic has affected your daily life?

Im in Lago Puelo, in the far south of Argentine Patagonia, a small and isolated town. I came here almost two months ago now to visit my mom for a few days, but the pandemic and obligatory quarantine trapped me, and I havent been able to get back to Berlin.

The first days were tough. Life was telling me: Youre staying here, with your little carry-on suitcase and your two books for the plane, youre staying here and you have no return date. But now the days pass quickly, and I feel ever more comfortable, strangely comfortable. I rented a ramshackle cabin from a neighbor where I go every day to write. On the way I pass cows, bulls, horses, packs of dogs that keep me company almost the whole way. I concentrate on work, I exercise, I practically dont talk to anyone all day long. Im almost ashamed to say it: Im happy amid the storm.

How did you come up with the concept of kentukis?

From the intersection of some circumstances of my life two or three years ago: a lot of connection with other people through social networks and mobile devices, traveling a lot, practically jumping city to city, language to language and culture to culture. Also a disquiet, or curiosity, that I couldnt manage to formulate to myself and that had to do, precisely, with the way literature was writing these worlds.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 : Congress veteran and Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, 64-year-old Ramesh Chennithala might be short in stature, but after being groomed in the political stables of Congress legend K. Karunakaran, he is today a 'tall' leader.

Chennithala rose from the student ranks in the Congress and went on to become one of the youngest State Minister at the age of 30 in Karunakaran's cabinet in 1986 and since then he has not looked back.

He has been in the Lok Sabha on quite a few occasions, before returning to the state politics and had one of the longest tenures - till recently, as state party president.

Later he became the number two in the Oommen Chandy government, when he made a late entry as Home Minister and now is the leader of opposition.

Chennithala today is in the news, as he is now the punching bag of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for his close tab on the activities of Vijayan and the way he is trying to tackle Covid-19.

In a freewheeling chat with IANS at his official residence here, Chennithala said these are all hazards of the job.

Q: Do you think you are being attacked by Vijayan, more than anyone? A: It's my job that I am doing. I will question and criticise the Vijayan government, if the situation arises. Apart from one meeting, long back, we, the opposition, had never been consulted on the way how Covid-19 should be tackled. We are cooperating with the state and Centre in tackling this pandemic, but the way Vijayan is going, he functions like an autocrat, which we will not accept.

Q: Why is he jittery, each time you ask questions? A: Just imagine what would have happened, had I not brought to the attention the now infamous Sprinklr data scam. I had to go the High Court and just see, they have accepted each and every issue that we pointed out with regard to data privacy. They themselves pointed out that they would have taken a different approach had it not been for the pandemic. The issue is before the court and it will come after three weeks. I don't think anyone will say we are playing politics.

Q: Do you think it's after you raised Sprinklr, his attacks have increased? A: Probably because this is a deal, which has flouted every accepted norm of the way how a government should function. In such a massive data transfer there is not even a file. This handing of the data is grossly against the accepted policy of the CPI-M. The CPI-M had clearly mentioned about its position in its election manifesto. This issue was never discussed in his party, in the Left Democratic Front, nor in the state cabinet. This clearly shows the arrogance that Vijayan carries in himself.

Q: Arrogance? A: Yes, you wait and see, Kerala will give a befitting reply to his arrogance. He does not like anyone who criticises him. Just look back and count, who all has he shouted down. Even you (media) also have come under his wrath. It has now come to a stage that none for the fear of his anger, keeps away and that he is using it quite well to do things the way he desires. But this style will not help at all, as this is not the sign of a tall leader.

Q: Why do you think so? A: Just take a dispassionate look into what's happening in Kerala and the way Covid-19 is being handled. Vijayan is only the 22nd Chief Minister of Kerala. Right from EMS Nampoothiripad to Oommen Chandy, successive governments have played their part, depending on the situations and have carried forward, from the strong foundations of our state. If you look into what happened in 1918, when Spanish Flu struck the world. The erstwhile Travancore kingdom registered the lowest death rate. Such is our system, Kerala has achieved everything because of the education, literacy and the presence of a well oiled health machinery that has been in place for ages. So for those who govern here, there is a strong base and all what needs to be done is to take forward taking everyone together.

Q: What do you think is happening now? A: To put it straight, I will say, the only thing happening now is a perfect PR exercise of Vijayan. Everything associated with Covid-19, here is, nothing but publicity. So many states in our country are also doing the same thing and have done a commendable job, but there none of them are engaged in blowing the trumpet. Do you see any Chief Minister addressing the media daily and for over an hour. To prepare for the press meet, lot of time is consumed. Even the positive cases are first announced by Vijayan. Precious time is lost.

Q: What should be done? A: He (Vijayan) is using this for his publicity, but you wait and see, this will soon backfire. People of Kerala know everything and they are quite intelligent. Everyone knows that he is doing this, as the local body polls are round the corner and next year the assembly polls.

Q: Don't you think this would help him in the elections? A: Of course, he will surely use all this present rhetoric for the election campaign. In the 2010 local bodies polls, we came out with flying colours and lost that edge in the 2015 polls. But this time we are confident of getting back. Our United Democratic Front is well prepared and ready to take on him, to eventually show him the exit door.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Rishi Kapoor was fairly active on Twitter, airing his opinions with conviction, no matter how controversial. His unique take on matters would always generate social media reaction. He was one of most vocal Bollywood stars on social and political issues.

Owing to his illness, which finally took his life on April 30, the actor hadn't tweeted in a while. His last post, shared on April 2, was an appeal to refrain from violence towards doctors and nurses battling Covid-19 on the frontlines.

"An appeal Folded hands to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please dont resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!Flag of India," he had posted.

An appeal  to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please dont resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 2, 2020

On the same day he engaged in a conversation with director Kunal Kohli, who had complimented Rishi playing the dafli on screen. "Nobody plays the dafli like you! In fact. Every musical instrument you've played on screen. Always looks like youre actually playing it. But the dafli. Just the best ... oh dafli waale ... dafli buja .... what a song! Made as much by the way you played it," Kunal had said. Rishi responded, "Thank you. Much credit to late Shree. P.L. Raj ji the choreographer. Of course some measure of knowledge and talent is necessary of something or anything you portray on screen. I have in all modesty taken this as a compliment. Thank you Kunal."
Donald Trump erupted at his top political advisers when they presented him with polling data that showed Democrat Joe Biden beating him in a number of crucial states, according to reports.

Polls in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have all put the president behind his Democrat opponent ahead of the November 3 election.

At the same time, Trumps approval ratings have slumped since the coronavirus pandemic began  dropping six percentage points to 43 per cent, according to Gallup polling.

On Friday, Trump was said to have flipped at his campaign manager Brad Parscale over polling data, as well as lashing out at other staff who have tried to convince him that his public performances are bringing his numbers down.

One anonymous Republican source told CNN that Trump was p***ed because he knows he messed up in those briefings.

President Trump on Friday had to defend his comments on disinfectant injections as a possible coronavirus cure, made during Thursdays daily news briefing, ahead of his call with Parscale.

I am not f***ing losing to Joe Biden, Trump allegedly told Parscale on the phone on Friday after a series of heated conference calls with his campaign team and advisors.

Parscale and other staffers presented Trump with internal Republican polling last Wednesday that showed him losing to Biden in several swing states  a diagnosis that he has publicly insisted he does not believe. He reportedly threatened to sue Parscale while several aides were listening.

After CNN reported on the pairs encounter on Wednesday night, Trump denounced the claims on Twitter, and wrote: Just told that Fake News CNN is falsely reporting that I was recently shouting at my campaign manager over made up nonsense,

He added: Actually, he is doing a great job, I never shouted at him... and have no intention of doing so.

On Wednesday, the president told Reuters that he does not believe the polls.

I believe the people of this country are smart. And I dont think that they will put a man in whos incompetent, said Trump, in an reference to Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The presidents polling crisis comes at a critical point in the coronavirus pandemic, with new figures showing the outbreak in the US has now created more than a million cases and claimed more deaths than the total American fatalities in the Vietnam War.
The rape and murder of nurse Sandra Hoare at Walgett in north-west New South Wales more than two decades ago remains one of the state's most sickening crimes.

Ms Hoare was working alone in the town's hospital when she was abducted from the geriatric ward, sexually assaulted at a nearby oval and slaughtered by two cousins.

The 21-year suffered what a judge described as 'extended concentrated suffering' over an hour-long ordeal in which she was subjected to 'acute degradation and humiliation'.

When Vester and Brendan Fernando had finished tormenting Ms Hoare her life was ended with repeated blows from a machete which almost decapitated her.

Vester was 24 and Brendan a year younger at the time of the 1994 murder. In 1997 they were both sentenced to life in prison and two years later Vester murdered Brendan in jail.

Sandra Hoare was abducted from Walgett hospital in NSW's north west in December 1994. Vester Fernando (pictured) was 24 and living at a rehabilitation centre for Aborigines with drug and alcohol problems when he murdered Ms Hoare with his cousin Brendan

Sandra Hoare was taken to an oval where she was raped then attacked so viciously with a machete she was almost beheaded. Cousins Vester and Brendan Fernando were jailed for life for her murder

Brendan Fernando was 23 when he and his cousin Vester murdered Sandra Hoare. He had been drinking all day before the pair abducted her. Brendan told police Vester killed Ms Hoare

Their crimes were recalled with horror again this week when it was revealed Vester had been charged with the attempted murder of another inmate.

Vester and Brendan, who both denied killing Ms Hoare, were convicted on circumstantial evidence and admissions made by the younger cousin.

Before Ms Hoare's murder they had both been heavy drinkers and cannabis smokers and had spent short stints in jail. They had what was described as a 'brotherly' relationship.

Vester had a criminal record for offences of dishonesty dating back to 1986. Two years later he was jailed for common assault and in June 1989 was sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of three years for robbery with wounding.

In September 1992 he was sentenced to four years with a minimum term of two years for assault with attempt to rob in company. He was on parole for that crime when he murdered Ms Hoare.

Walgett is a socially disadvantaged community - more than 40 per cent of the current population of about 2,000 is indigenous - and the murder of a white woman by two black men stirred racial tensions in the town.

Before the murder Vester had been living for some time at Orana Haven, a hostel at Brewarrina 90 minutes' drive west of Walgett which provides rehabilitation for Aborigines suffering from alcohol and drug problems.

Three other Orana residents said they had seen Vester in possession of machetes at the hostel. He was seen with at least one machete on the night of Ms Hoare's murder.

Ms Hoare was engaged to be married when she started her night shift at Walgett hospital on December 8, 1994.

Her fiance said she had dressed for work in a white shirt, slacks, sockettes and shoes. When he drove her to the hospital she had her hair pulled back with a tie.

Sandra Hoare was working alone in the geriatric ward of Walgett hospital when she was abducted by the Fernando cousins. Vester Fernando assaulted an elderly patient before taking Ms Hoare to a nearby oval

That evening Vester had arrived at his sister Wendy's Walgett home about 6pm carrying an overnight bag.

He was driven to a local hotel where he linked up with Brendan, who had already been drinking most of the day.

Wendy last saw the pair at the pub about 10pm and various locals encountered the cousins around town over the next few hours.

Robert Walford had an altercation with Vester when he ran into the cousins in the street about midnight. Vester, he said, had grabbed him by the shirt while carrying a machete.

Michael Jackson also said he also saw the cousins in the street and Vester had invited him to join them in stealing a car.

Mr Jackson said Vester told him: 'Dont worry about anyone grabbing you Mick, I've got a machete here.'

Vester then pulled up his shirt and showed Mr Jackson the blade of what looked like a machete and said 'If anyone grabs you, I'll kill them.'

Footage allegedly shows double killer Vester Allan Fernando stabbing another inmate at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre near Kempsey in New South Wales on April 8

The vision allegedly shows Fernando walk away from the stabbed prisoner as he writhes on the ground. Fernando then appears to slide a weapon across the floor to approaching officers

Footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows the stabbing unfold under a stairway, as other inmates mill around and the wounded prisoner bleeds out on the floor

Mr Jackson, who parted company with the cousins, said Vester told him he was going to his sister's house to get a screw driver to break into a car.

Lindsay Morgan saw the cousins in the street between 1am and 2am and said Vester was holding a machete in his right hand with Brendan walking beside him.



Mr Morgan's sister Sharada gave evidence of seeing both Fernando cousins in a Walgett street in the early hours of December 9.

Ms Morgan said she saw Brendan throw a knife into the bush as a police vehicle drove by. Brendan had then retrieved the knife and given it to the Vester who put it down his shorts.

Ms Morgan said she later saw the cousins walking towards the hospital.

Exactly what happened at the hospital is unclear because we only have Brendan's version. But it seems the cousins attempted to steal a car from the grounds before abducting Ms Hoare from her ward.

Nurse Adam Jackson had driven his partner's car to the hospital that night and parked about 10.45pm.

About 2.45am Mr Jackson went to the ward where Ms Hoare was working to visit her but could not find his colleague.

Vester Fernando had been housed in the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre (pictured) until he allegedly stabbed another inmate on April 8. He is now in Goulburn's Supermax jail

Instead, he found a elderly patient with a head wound and saw blood in the building. Inspecting the car he found a broken window and damage to the lock and ignition.

Mr Jackson noticed several items missing from the glovebox including a Bon Jovi cassette, sunglasses and a photograph of his partner's children. Some of those items were linked to Vester.

Ms Hoare's dead body was not found until later that day. She was wearing only the unzippered slacks, sockettes and shoes. Her underwear was never located.

The injuries the nurse had suffered were appalling.

Ms Hoare had sustained a number of cuts to the jaw and two wounds described as 'very severe' to the neck. Together those wounds passed through the jugular vein, left vertebral artery and larynx, or voice box.

Two machetes were found in a dam near Ms Hoare's body. A screwdriver was located near the machetes.

Medical evidence was given that either weapon could have inflicted the wounds to Ms Hoare.

It had rained heavily in Walgett about 2.30am on December 9 and muddy shoe prints were found in the hospital ward where Ms Hoare had been working and near the car.

Walgett is 690km north-west of Sydney and 279km north of Dubbo. It has a hot, semi-arid climate

The Fernando cousins took Sandra Hoare to one of two ovals (pictured) at Walgett where Vester raped the nurse while Brendan held her down

Three sets of footprints led away from the hospital to a timbered area near the town's Number 2 rugby oval where Ms Hoare had been raped by the cousins.

The footprints continued to where Ms Hoare's body was discovered in a paddock about 400m from the hospital.

Vester later denied having been near the hospital on the night or possessing any machetes.

He admitted encountering Mr Walford but said he was holding a small iron bar he had found rather than any sharp weapon.

The case against Brendan was in part circumstantial but also relied upon admissions taken down in a police notebook signed by him, an electronically recorded interview and a recorded 'runaround' at the scene of the crime.

Brendan agreed to take police to where Ms Hoare had been raped and killed but told them 'I don't want to go too close to where it happened.'

He claimed he had only gone to the hospital to steal a car and Vester had decided to abduct the nurse after she saw them.

The CCTV vision of Vester Fernando taken at Mid North Coast Correctional Centre allegedly captures him walking away from a stabbing, tracking what appears to be blood on his shoes

After the attack Fernando calmly raises his hands in the air as prison officers approach him then lies on the floor. The two-time killer has been charged with attempted murder

Brendan told police Vester had assaulted an old man in the geriatric ward and kidnapped Ms Hoare with a machete held to her throat.

'He said, "You scream bitch you goin' to get it. I'll cut your throat you c***. Simple as that, you slut". He took her and started going scrub.'

Brendan denied sexually assaulting Ms Hoare but said he held her legs while Vester put the machete to her throat and raped her under a tree near the town's rugby oval.

'He told her to lay down,' Brenda told police. 'She laid down. He told me to hold both her legs. I had no other choice so I grabbed them.

'He had the blade pressed to her throat and, and he had her by the head and his hand over his mouth.'

Brendan claimed he did not see what happened after the sexual assault but he knew Vester had killed Ms Hoare.

'I had my back turned walking away,' he told police. Asked if he saw the machete blows he said: 'No. I heard her screaming but.'

The cousins were jointly indicted on charges of murder and aggravated sexual assault. Both pleaded not guilty and after a lengthy trial a jury found otherwise.

Sandra Hoare's mother Pauline (pictured) has said footage of Vester Fernando allegedly stabbing another inmate has brought back terrible memories of her daughter's murder

Vester Fernando (pictured) stabbed his cousin Brendan to death in Lithgow Correctional Centre. Vester blamed Brendan for his murder conviction and life sentence

Justice Alan Abadee said the killing was 'accompanied by unbelievable savagery'. He could not imagine the terror Ms Hoare must have felt when she was abducted.

Both cousins were jailed life for the murder and ten years for the sexual assault. Each subsequently unsuccessfully appealed against his conviction and sentence.

The Court of Criminal Appeal judges found Ms Hoare had been taken from her workplace, where she had a right to feel safe, and subjected to physical and mental torture.

'This was a case involving two strong men killing a young defenceless and vulnerable woman who had done them no harm and committed with callous indifference to human life,' they found.

Vester was held for some time at Goulburn jail, while Brendan was locked up in Lithgow. In May 1999 the pair was reunited at the latter prison.

The older cousin was initially kept in segregation because of fears he might harm Brendan but they both asked the jail's governor to be allowed to associate and that request was eventually granted.

Walgett (pictured) is a town of about 2,100 people in the north west of NSW. It takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning 'the meeting place of two rivers' and was listed as one of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the state in the 2015 Dropping Off The Edge report

On September 22 Vester stabbed Brendan to death with one half of a pair of scissors during a music lesson in Lithgow's education block auditorium.

Vester, who blamed Brendan for his conviction and sentence, pleaded guilty to murder and showed no regret, remorse or contrition.

Justice Rod Howie put Vester away for 30 more years with a minimum 22-year term, describing the sentencing exercise as 'academic'.

The now 50-year-old is now accused of stabbing a 26-year-old inmate in the neck, chest and back at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre near Kempsey on April 8.

Horrific memories came flooding back for Ms Hoare's mother Pauline when footage of the jailhouse attack emerged, allegedly showing Vester attempting to become a three-time killer.

'It really takes you back 25 years ago when the trauma first happened,' Ms Hoare told Nine News. 'I know for as long as I live I will never forgive him.

'You become angry not only with the murderer but also the jail officials, what are they doing that doesn't stop these multi-murderers from offending inside the jail?

'If every mother had a daughter like mine, what a beautiful world it would be.'
Photo: Glacier Media Vancouver International Airport

The union representing workers at the Vancouver Airport Authority says its workforce will be reduced by 25-30% in the coming weeks, following negotiations that will address voluntary buyouts and early retirement offers.

As a result of international flight restrictions and suppressed domestic demand, the airport is projecting to see up to a 55% reduction in passenger numbers, from 22 million in 2019 to a projected 10-15 million this year, said Barry Tchir, Union of Canadian Transportation Employees regional vice-president, Pacific.

The union represents about 550 workers, said Tchir. The reduction is to include management as well, he said.

So far YVR has been transparent with whats going on and we hope that continues, said Tchir of airport CEO Craig Richmond, who actually announced his retirement earlier this year.

Vancouver Airport Authority is the organization that runs the airport and comprises just over 500 people, not the broader airport workforce of 26,000, noted a spokesperson.

YVR issued the following statement on Wednesday: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a dramatic impact on the global aviation industry. At YVR, we now expect to operate as a smaller airport than previously forecasted, serving fewer passengers as we work through a multi-year rebuild.

We must make some difficult decisions to safeguard the future or our organization, including reducing the Airport Authoritys workforce to align with current and forecasted operational requirements. Vancouver Airport Authority is the community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages YVR and comprises more than 500 people in areas including airport operations, finance, engineering, human resources, administration and more.

Meanwhile, Canada's airports are predicting around $2 billion in lost revenues this year.

The isolation of would-be travellers, border closures and flight cancellations have led to a precipitous decline in demand for plane tickets and, by extension, airport services.

"Our airports have seen traffic and revenues plummet significantly  an average of about 90 per cent," said Daniel-Robert Gooch, head of the Canadian Airports Council, which represents 100 airports. "Looking ahead to the end of the year, airports anticipate year-end revenues to be down about 55 per cent from where they would have been, even more at smaller airports."

Globally, commercial air traffic shrunk 41 per cent below 2019 levels in the last two weeks of March alone, according to Flightradar24.com. Canada, too, has been hit hard.

Emergency isolation measures, including the closure of the U.S.-Canada border and stay-home directives, brought the rush of normal air traffic to a crawl. At least six regional airports, from Saint John, N.B. to Prince Rupert B.C., have lost scheduled passenger service altogether.

At Canada's largest airport, Toronto Pearson International, plummeting passenger traffic has left normally bustling, frenetic terminals looking like gleaming ghost towns. About 5,000 passengers are moving through the facility each day, down from a normal 130,000, the airport said.

Several Canadian carriers, such as Porter Airlines and Sunwing, stopped regular flights altogether. Larger carriers, such as Air Canada and WestJet, have been limping along on drastically curtailed passenger loads.

 with files from The Canadian Press
A second three-month payment break for borrowers hit by the Covid-19 outbreak could be unveiled within days, AIB chief executive Colin Hunt has told the Irish Independent.

The first three-month repayment holiday was announced in March and has seen a massive uptake.

But with much of the economy shut down and job losses and temporary layoffs continuing to soar, banks are preparing to extend the scheme.

AIB alone has processed "well over 40,000" payment breaks for customers since the Covid-19 outbreak, Mr Hunt told the bank's shareholders yesterday, at an AGM held over the telephone because of the pandemic restrictions.

It is understood talks are now at an advanced stage between the Central Bank and the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI), representing all of the main banks, to hammer out how best to roll over the current repayment break scheme.

Key elements of the scheme include that the process is quick with relatively little paperwork required of borrowers, and that banks do not have to class loans with an agreed payment break as non-performing - which would make it costly for lenders.

It is also vital that borrowers are not classed as having missed payments on the Central Bank-controlled Central Credit Register - so their ability to borrow money in future is not hurt.

It is understood that ensuring those criteria are carried over for a further three months, as well as that the extended scheme complies with European Banking Authority (EBA) rules, is the core of the current round of discussions.

The extended scheme would be available both to customers who already have a payment break and new applicants.

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The initial three-month break was spearheaded by the BPFI in agreement with the Central Bank.

It was the first time all five main banks had agreed to offer an industry-wide payment holiday.

Mr Hunt told the Irish Independent after yesterday's AGM that he expects details of a further payment break could be announced within days.

"Pressing pause until there is more certainty" has been what customers have needed, the chief executive added.

Mr Hunt said that payment breaks rather than overdrafts or new debt have emerged as the key support that most borrowers have requested since the Covid-19 outbreak has smashed through the Irish economy.

He confirmed the scale of his own bank's customer engagement activity at the AGM, which was held over the telephone as a conference call with shareholders instead of at a physical location for the first time because of the Covd-19 restrictions.

AIB has so far processed payment break requests for 16,000 mortgage accounts, 12,000 SME customers and for 12,000 personal customers, he said.

AIB will publish financial details on May 12, including results for the first three months.

Mr Hunt said the bank had rapidly shifted focus to create the infrastructure to process applications from customers, including through digital and telephone channels.

Footfall in AIB branches is down around 50pc since the crisis started, but the bank will keep the network open, he said.

"There is still a cohort who want to bank in branch, we are not going to close our doors on them. It is also symbolically important that we are open," he said.
Pope Francis urges prudence and obedience to pandemic protocols after bishops complain

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Two days after bishops in Italys Roman Catholic Church complained that government officials did not include the resumption of in-person masses as part of a reopening plan for the country starting May 4, Pope Francis on Tuesday urged prudence and obedience to prevent the coronavirus from surging in the country again.

Speaking to the faithful during the celebration mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday, Pope Francis encouraged adherence to the pandemic protocols.

At this time, when indications have been given to exit out of quarantine, we pray the Lord will grant to His people, all of us, the grace of prudence and obedience to these indications, so that the pandemic does not return, he said, according to Vatican News.

There have been at least 201,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Italy, the Italian Department of Civil Protection reports, and as of Wednesday morning, 27,359 people had died. Italy, which was once the center of the coronavirus pandemic before being overtaken by the United States, instituted strict protocols to prevent the spread of the virus, including the shuttering of churches and businesses for gatherings in March.

On Monday, Italys Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced plans to ease some of those restrictions imposed seven weeks ago, the BBC reported. While the easing of the restrictions will allow people to start visiting their relatives in small numbers as well as allow the reopening of places like parks and factories, a ban on in-person church services was kept in place, angering the bishops.

In a letter to Giuseppe, a group representing Roman Catholic bishops in Italy warned they could "not accept seeing the exercise of freedom of religion being compromised."

It should be clear to all that the commitment to serving the poor, [which is] so significant in this emergency, stems from a faith that must be nourished at its source, especially the sacramental life, the bishops wrote.

The bishops argued that the government should have distinguished between its duty to provide health guidance and the churchs right to organize the life of the Christian community, respecting the measures but in full autonomy, The New York Times reports.

Contes office noted that they were working on protocols to allow the resumption of liturgical services as soon as possible but in conditions of maximum security.

Italian bishops have been in negotiation with the government about a reopening of public services and noted that despite the tough" tone of their recent statement those talks have continued.

I think in any relationship, if it's true, there will be moments in which you can and must raise your voice, as long as this doesn't become the norm," the undersecretary of the bishops conference, the Rev. Ivan Maffeis, told the TV2000 broadcaster.
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Gang rapist Mohammed Skaf will remain behind bars at least until next year after New South Wales authorities knocked back his latest bid for parole.

Skaf's plea for freedom was rejected in February by the State Parole Authority (SPA), which decided for the third time it was unsafe to let him out.

The 36-year-old then applied for a review of that rejection but on Thursday the SPA refused to do so, saying its previous decision would stand.

In refusing Skaf parole in February, the SPA accepted advice from the Serious Offenders Review Council that parole was inappropriate for now.

To be granted parole Skaf would have to participate in an external leave program to assist his reintegration into the community.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all external leave programs had been temporarily suspended.

Mohammed Skaf's (pictured) case was considered on Friday by the State Parole Authority, which decided for the third time it was unsafe to release him into the community

A pre-release report compiled by Corrective Services in 2018 said Skaf (pictured) had demonstrated no change in his attitude toward his offences since the beginning of his sentence' and 'continues to blame the victims'

His next parole consideration will be listed in November 2020.

Mohammed Skaf was convicted alongside brother Bilal and other gang members for a terrifying series of rapes in Sydney in 2000.

He was sentenced to 22 years, 11 months and 30 days in prison with a non-parole period of 16 years, 11 months and 30 days.

If he is not granted parole, Skaf's full prison sentence expires in January 2024.

A pre-release report compiled by Corrective Services in 2018 said Skaf 'has demonstrated no change in his attitude toward his offences since the beginning of his sentence' and 'continues to blame the victims'.

One of the Skaf gang's victims, an 18-year-old woman, was raped 40 times by 14 men over four hours in an attack coordinated by mobile phone. She was then dumped at a train station after being hosed down.

During her ordeal the woman was called an 'Aussie pig', told she was going to get it 'Leb-style' and asked if 'Leb c*** tasted better than Aussie c***'.

Mohammed Skaf was convicted alongside brother Bilal (pictured) over a terrifying series of rapes on young women in Sydney in 2000

The rapists received sentences totalling more than 240 years with Bilal Skaf being jailed for 55 years, later reduced to a minimum 28.

Judge Michael Finnane compared the Skaf gang's depravity to outrages committed by invading armies in times of war and said their crimes were 'worse than murder'.

'These were not random attacks and, in my view, they were aimed at creating terror in the community,' Judge Finnane said.

'It seemed clear to me that these men were sending out a message to the community in Sydney. Skaf and the members of this gang clearly wanted public recognition for what they had done.'

None of the rapists ever expressed any remorse for their crimes.

Only the Skaf brothers are still in jail for the rapes.
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer has called on three multi-national insurance companies to end business ties with the coal industry, a move he says will protect clients from the effects of climate change and ensure long-term value for shareholders.

Stringer sent letters on April 24 to the executives of Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway, New York, N.Y.-based AIG and Boston, Mass.-based Liberty Mutual Insurance. The letters were sent on behalf of the New York City Employees Retirement System, Teachers Retirement System of the City of New York and New York City Board of Education Retirement System. The three New York City systems, which held approximately $155 billion in assets as of February 2020 and are long-term AIG shareholders, divested from the coal industry in 2015 in response to financial and climate risks associated with coal production, according to Stringers letters.

In his letters, Stringer urged the three insurance companies to take immediate action to cut ties with the coal industry as well, including ceasing to underwrite any coal projects and divesting any holdings in companies that extract or distribute thermal coal. Together, Berkshire Hathaway, AIG and Liberty Mutual Insurance represent more than $6.7 billion in coal investments as of 2017, according to a press release issued by Stringers office.

Divesting from the coal industry is the right thing to do for our planet, our future, and our children  and its the smart thing to do for investors and shareholders, Stringer said in the release. The science is clear: coal is polluting our air, water, and ecosystem. Continuing to invest in coal projects will only create greater financial risk, potential liability, and future cost-burdens in the short and long term.

Stringer stated in his letters that coal accounts for approximately 40 percent of global carbon emissions, making it a risky business venture with at least seven major coal companies filing for bankruptcy in the past year.

To date, 19 insurance and reinsurance companies have begun limiting their underwriting of coal and 35 others have committed to some form of divestment, including Swiss Re, Zurich, Chubb and AXIS Capital, according to Stringers letters.

Many private firms have also begun to divest from the coal industry, with BlackRock recently announcing a commitment to divesting its $1.8 trillion in actively managed funds from any firm generating more than a quarter of revenues from thermal coal. Similarly, Goldman Sachs has ruled out direct finance for new or expanding thermal coal mines and coal-fired power plant projects worldwide, as well as direct finance for new Arctic oil exploration and production, according to Stringers letters.

Liberty Mutual, which Stringers letter stated carries $1.47 billion in coal investments as of 2017, has committed to phasing out future investments in coal, though it has not moved to divest its existing portfolio of coal investments just yet.

In its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Review 2019 report, the company outlined its plans to make no new investments in debt or equity securities of companies that generate more than 25% of their revenues from thermal coal mining or utility companies that generate more than 25% of their electricity production from thermal coal. The company said it also plans to phase out coverage and investments for existing risks that exceed this threshold by 2023.

We recognize the risk of climate change to our planet and are taking action to reduce carbon emissions, a Liberty Mutual spokesperson told Insurance Journal. Environmental sustainability has been a key focus for us for some time, and we have a long-term strategy of decarbonization and investment in renewable energy.

The company has invested more than half a billion dollars in renewable energy over the past five years and aims to advance its energy investment strategy by primarily targeting private power investments in wind, solar, hydroelectric and gas-fired generation, according to the spokesperson. Its future investment commitments to fossil fuels have also declined by more than 50% over the past several years, the ESG Review report stated.

Were taking many steps that demonstrate our commitment to the shift toward clean energy, and we will continue to improve and build on the progress weve made, the spokesperson added.

Stringer said in his letter to Liberty Mutual that while he recognizes the companys efforts to evaluate its exposure to coal and to limit new coal investments, he believes the company should be doing more to divest existing coal holdings and ceasing to underwrite coal extraction projects.

From the unprecedented wildfires that recently ravaged California and Australia to historic flooding across the American Midwest, we have all had to grapple with the repercussions of extreme weather events that many scientists have linked to our rapidly changing climate, Stringer said in his letters. Over the past three years, natural disasters cost the world economy an estimated $650 billion in costs. Clearly, climate change poses an enormous risk to the world economy and to the long-term viability of insurance companies.

AIG, along with its subsidiaries, carries $5.16 billion in coal investments as of 2017, according to Stringers letter. Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries carry $95 million in coal investments as of 2017, Stringers letter stated. AIG declined to comment. Berkshire Hathaway did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Topics Carriers New York Energy Pollution
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye on Wednesday suspended criminal jury trials in the state for a total of 90 days from previous deadlines.

The chief justice's order adds another 30 days of suspension to a 60-day suspension she ordered in March in view of health and safety requirements during the coronavirus pandemic.

The suspension applies to Superior Court criminal jury trials for which the previous deadline under state law occurred or will occur between March 16 and June 15.

Cantil-Sakauye issued the order in her role as head of the San Francisco-based California Judicial Council, which sets rules for the state court system.

She said the suspension was needed to balance the constitutional rights of criminal defendants with the health and safety of defendants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers and other trial participants during the "life-threatening pandemic."

The chief justice also said courts could conduct trials at earlier dates if they could do so in compliance with health and safety rules. She said they could consider the use of remote technology.

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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday discussed ways to fast track investments into India to spur economic growth hit by coronavirus pandemic outbreak as the country nears the end of the second phase of the 40-day-long national lockdown that has crippled most economic activity leading to a cut in the economic growth projections and forecasts of an economic downturn.

The meeting chaired by the prime minister was also attended by the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the home minister Amit Shah, the minister for commerce & industries Piyush Goyal along with minister of state for finance Anurag Thakur along with senior officials of the government of India.

A release from the prime ministers office said that the meeting underlined the need for a more proactive approach and to handhold investors to clear all bottlenecks for necessary approvals to start a business in the country.

During the meeting, the PM directed that the action should be taken for a more proactive approach to handhold the investors, to look into their problems and help them in getting all the necessary Central and State clearances in a time-bound manner, the release said.

The meeting comes one a day when agencies released data indicating the growth of eight core sector industries had contracted by 6.5 per cent in the month of March 2020, compared to 5.8 per cent growth registered last year.

The meeting also comes in the backdrop of downward revision of GDP growth forecasts by several agencies including the IMF. In the light of the need for investments in the post-coronavirus economy, the prime minister has been stressing on attracting companies leaving China due to ongoing trade war with the US and the uncertainties created by coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. He has also stressed on self-reliance as the best way to cope with such crisis.

In the present scenario, the PM is said to have advised for the development of a scheme to create ready-to-use infrastructure and financing support to attract global and domestic investments.

Todays meeting comes a day after a task force headed by economic affairs secretary Atanu Chakraborty forecasted an investment need of Rs 111 lakh crore over the next five years to build infrastructure projects and to drive economic growth.



For Coronavirus Live Updates

According to the government release, the prime minister stressed on helping states evolve their own strategies and said they needed to be proactive in attracting investments.

The meeting also decided to continue with the reform initiatives undertaken by the various ministries, including removal of any obstacles to the promotion of investment and industrial growth in a time-bound manner.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

Earlier today, former RBI governor and noted economist Raghuram Rajan said that going for a second or third lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will be devastating for the countrys economy.
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: The central government might have issued a notification allowing migrants to go back to their home states and the Maharashtra government might have appointed dedicated nodal officers to help carry this out -- but now a Rs 200-crore stumbling block stands in the way.

Maharashtra has more than five lakh migrant workers stranded at various temporary shelter homes across the state with most of them hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. They have been provided free of cost food through community kitchens until now. Shifting them back home, however, is another task altogether, according to the Maharashtra government.



"The central government issued the circular on Wednesday allowing these migrant workers to travel back home, but it had not mentioned who will bear the cost of transporting them. We calculated that to provide the transport facilities to all these migrants will cost the state exchequer no less than Rs 200 crore. Currently, the financial condition of the Maharashtra government is not sound. So, it is better the respective source states bear the cost of the shifting," said a senior Maha Vikas Aghadi minister requesting anonymity.

ALSO READ | The migrant workers are the builders of modern India. Time to take care of them

Former Congress chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that in such a crisis, the Centre should bear the cost. "If it does not, then the source state from where the migrants are coming have to shoulder the responsibility. Actually, the central government should have started the long-distance trains that would not only reduce the travelling cost but help maintain social distancing as well. It will make everyone's life easier," Chavan said.



The Maharashtra government has appointed three senior-level IAS officers as nodal officers to oversee the whole process. They include additional chief (revenue) secretary Nitin Kareer, IA Kundan, principal secretary, women and child development department, and Abhay Yarawarkar, state disaster management director.

These three officials will coordinate to ensure the movement of stranded migrants, students and tourists during the lockdown while all district collectors will work as nodal authorities for receiving and sending stranded people.

"We will prepare the list of the migrant workers and share with the source state. Then, the respective department secretary will write to the source state secretary conveying the message of the state to arrange transport or bear the cost," said a senior government official requesting anonymity.

According to the notification, the nodal authority will register the name of those stranded and note down the places they desire to travel to.

No group will be permitted to travel without a letter of consent from the respective nodal authorities.

The screening of these stranded people will also be done and COVID-19 positive patients will not be allowed to travel from one part to another part.

ALSO SEE:
Fake video about low hazard of COVID-19 blocked by prosecutors

 pixabay.com

14:04 30/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 30 (RAPSI)  Prosecutors have blocked a fake video underestimating the danger of the spread of coronavirus, the press service of the Russian Prosecutor Generals Office has told RAPSI.

The video contains information that self-isolation is just smoke and mirrors fabricated for the peoples digitalization and proposes not to comply with the restrictions and bans, the statement reads.

In early April, Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted bills on criminal and administrative punishment for violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules and penalties for distributing fake news about emergencies and epidemics into law.




Donald Trump and his campaign team are revising the presidents 2020 re-election strategy in real-time with the coronavirus death toll in the United States over 61,000, and a major part is trying to further turn voters against China.

The president spent weeks referring to the deadly respiratory disease as the Chinese virus, but dropped use of the term. He admitted there was a trade deal to think about. But as he increasingly lashes out at the Chinese government, its clear theres something, for him, more important to consider: Four more years in the White House.

Mr Trumps national poll numbers against the former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, tumbled this week after his suggestion last Thursday that Americans might inject disinfectant to kill Covid-19. The week brought more bad polling news for the incumbent: Mr Trump trails Mr Biden in six of seven expected battleground states that political operatives from both parties say will decide Novembers election.

Only in North Carolina does Mr Trump have an advantage. But even in the Tar Heel State, which he won in 2016 by 3.6 points over former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, the presidents lead is only one-third of a single percentage point, according to an average of several polls tabulated by RealClearPolitics.

Mr Trumps own willingness to push or shatter the truth, dismiss scientific evidence, ignore the pleas of governors, and contradict his widely respected public health team during his now-paused daily coronavirus press briefings appear to have done as much to change the 2020 campaign as anything the virus did to the United States or Mr Biden has done since all but locking up the Democratic nomination.

The presidents miscalculation that the daily briefings were boosting his odds at a second term already is allowing him to shift to a campaign strategy that is starting to more closely resemble his 2016 Make America Great Again bid for the White House.

And a big part of the revised strategy is a willingness to directly blame the Chinese government for an US Covid-19 death toll equivalent to the capacity of Soldier Field for Chicago Bears games.

As part of a new White House communications strategy of getting the president out of the briefing room talking about fighting the viruss spread and into meetings with governors and industry executives to talk about reopening the country, Mr Trump has shown a new willingness to call out China by name.

Its in 184 countries, as you hear me say often. Its hard to believe. Its inconceivable, he said during an event with small business owners and employees on Tuesday afternoon.

It shouldve been stopped at the source, which was China. It shouldve been stopped very much at the source, Mr Trump said sternly. But it wasnt. And now we have 184 countries going through hell.

Not going into China

The US commander-in-chief went even further a day later, telling reporters he views Chinese and WHO officials as in cahoots. Its just the kind of anti-US conspiracy he sold to voters during the 2016 campaign.

WHO officials seem to work for China, and they should have been in there early, they should have known what was going on, and they should have been able to stop it, Mr Trump said on Wednesday, deflecting blame for more than 1 million people infected in his own country despite reports he was warned by his intelligence agencies throughout January and February about a possible crisis here.

Just as he did four years ago as a businessman and GOP White House hopeful, Mr Trump on Wednesday pushed a conspiracy theory by suggesting unnamed Chinese officials looked the other way and sent Covid-19 stateside.

Why did China allow planes to fly out but not into China? But they allow planes to come out and planes are coming out of Wuhan, he said, referring to the Chinese province where American intelligence analysts say the virus went public. And theyre coming out, they are going all over the world. They are going to Italy  very, very big-time to Italy. But they are going all over the world.

Then, the line he hopes will resonate with swing voters in blue-collar counties in those seven swing states, where manufacturing plants closed as work moved to China: But they are not going into China. What was that all about?!

That sharper tone came as his White House this week ordered two top American intelligence agencies  the National Security Agency and Defence Intelligence Agency  to investigate whether the Chinese government and World Health Organisation covered up the novel virus going public in China and its likely deadly impact around the world.

In essence, Mr Trump asked the intel services to find out what Chinese leaders, and WHO officials, knew and when they knew it -- and what steps they might have taken to keep the outbreak quiet. The Washington Post reported on Thursday that senior US officials are mulling possible retaliatory actions or demanding financial compensation from Beijing.

Collectively, White House and Trump campaign officials appear eager to salvage the presidents re-election chances by blaming the outbreak on China, a country that reams of polling data shows has never been viewed favourably by US voters -- be them Republicans, Democrats or independents.

Rolled over for the Chinese

Trump aides and the president, who admits he studies polling data closely, are mindful that US attitudes towards China amid the pandemic outbreak and national lockdown are overwhelmingly negative.

Seventy-seven per cent of those surveyed earlier this month by the Harris polling organisation say the Chinese government is to blame for the Covid-19 outbreak. Within those numbers: 90 per cent of Republicans hold Beijing most responsible, and Mr Trump makes few policy or political decisions without considering his base.

The same poll, however, showed 67 per cent of Democratic voters blame China, and 75 per cent of independents. The latter voting bloc will be key in swing counties and states come election day.

But Mr Trumps attacks on China come with political and potentially bigger risks.

Mr Bidens campaign already is attacking the president for his previous unwillingness to go after China over its handling of the outbreak there, admitting during one briefing that he still wants to finish a two-part trade deal with the Asian power.

Trump rolled over for the Chinese, the Biden campaign ad contends. Look around ... Donald Trump left this country unprepared and unprotected for the worst public health and economic crisis in our lifetime.

Still, Mr Trumps top election need is keep his base fired up so they turn out in big numbers in light blue and light red counties in areas like southeastern Pennsylvania and other areas that have voted for presidential candidates from both parties in the last several election cycles.

By pointing the finger at China  the administrations preferred foil  and billing WHO as Chinas agent, President Trump seeks to strike a sudden blow at multilateralism that will appeal directly to his electoral base, says J. Stephen Morrison, a former Clinton administration health official and senior congressional aide.

That step also satisfies the growing chorus of China hawks in the [Trump] administration and in congress, added Mr Morrison, now director of the Global Health Policy Centre at the nonpartisan Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank, who deeply resent Chinas Covid-19 narrative: that China  in contrast to the United States and Europe  took early and aggressive action against the coronavirus and achieved quick success which now permits the reopening of its economy.
EBRD providing additional US$ 70 million of trade finance to NBU

Fresh funds will support local exporters and importers

Continuing vital trade links during Coronavirus pandemic

More businesses in Uzbekistan, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will benefit from export and import opportunities available through a trade finance agreement signed between the EBRD and the countrys leading lender, the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NBU).

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact the EBRD is dedicating the entirety of its work to support its regions. A vital part of this effort is an increase in much needed EBRD trade finance support which in Uzbekistan alone has now reached US$ 220 million.

The increase in trade finance will help mitigate the disruptions that severe market conditions have caused in trade and supply chains. This is particularly important in circumstances when the availability of commercial trade finance credit lines is likely to remain constrained.

An additional trade limit of up to US$ 70 million to NBU under the EBRDs Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) will help domestic exporters and importers continue their business activities. It follows a package of up to US$ 150 million made available to Asaka Bank, Ipoteka Bank and UzPromstroybank under the EBRDs TFP earlier this month.

NBU operates 93 branches across Uzbekistan. The bank is well-placed to provide much-needed support to Uzbek businesses to enable them to better manage commodity stocks and plan for longer trade cycles.

Despite a decline of exports and imports in Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2020 by around 3 per cent, trade remains an important factor in the national economy: In 2019 alone the countrys trade turnover was around US$ 43 billion.

TFP promotes international trade to, from, and within the Banks countries of operations, including Uzbekistan. The EBRD is currently working with seven Uzbek financial intermediaries, which collectively have trade finance limits worth US$ 340 million.

In addition the EBRD also offers access to compliance and advances trade finance skills: over 500 local bankers from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan have received professional specialised training since 2017.

The EBRDs e-Learning programme scholarships for trade finance are one of the largest among IFIs. They were extended to staff of local banks that are currently at home but dont have access to the banks systems.

The EBRD has also created an online knowledge sharing platform, where professionals from Armenia, Georgia and Ireland help Uzbek bankers to discuss cases in trade finance.

To date, the EBRD has invested 1.85 billion through 79 projects in Uzbekistan's economy.
Patients with glomerular disease and their caregivers highly prioritize kidney health and survival when it comes to treatment, but they also stress the importance of addressing factors related to life participation, fatigue, anxiety, and family impact. The findings come from a study that will appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN.

Glomerular diseases affect the glomeruli, or the tiny filters within the kidney where blood is cleaned, and patients can have a range of symptoms and unpredictable disease course. Patients commonly have poor kidney function, high blood pressure, protein or blood in their urine, and diabetes. They also have a higher chance of kidney failure, cardiovascular conditions, serious infections, broken bones, and even death. Affected patients and their caregivers have had little input into which health measures are assessed in clinical trials.

To identify and better understand key health outcomes that are important to these individuals, Simon Carter, MBBS (The University of Sydney) and his colleagues conducted the SONG-GD initiative, which included 16 focus groups of adult patients with glomerular disease and their caregivers from Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The 101 patients and 33 caregivers in the study identified 58 outcomes. The 10 highest ranked outcomes were kidney function, death, dialysis or transplant requirement, life participation, fatigue, anxiety, family impact, infection and immunity, ability to work, and blood pressure. Three themes explained the reasons for these rankings: constraining day-to-day experience, impaired agency and control over health, and threats to future health and family.

"The reasons why these outcomes were so highly prioritized were because they restricted and limited people's day-to-day living, reduced their ability to control or influence their own health, and threatened either their own future health or the health of their family," said Dr. Carter. "These life and family-related concerns are poorly studied so far in trials in glomerular disease, but they are more important to patients and caregivers than other commonly reported outcomes such as relapse, remission, and proteinuria."

This study is part of the international Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Glomerular Disease project (SONG-GD) that is developing a core outcome set for clinical trials in adults with glomerular disease. A core outcome set is a small number of outcomes that should be reported in all trials in a particular health domain because that knowledge is critically important to all stakeholders and users of the research. SONG-GD is part of the SONG initiative, which was launched in 2014 to develop core outcome sets for trials in all kidney diseases. "With the help of many international patient and professional organizations, the SONG initiative has now involved more than 9,000 participants internationally across its various streamsincluding 4,500 patients and caregivers, but also healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, allied health, researchers and industry partners, policy makers, funders, and regulators," said Dr. Carter.

Explore further Peritoneal dialysis trials often do not assess priorities most important to patients

More information: "Identifying Outcomes Important to Patients with Glomerular Disease and their Caregivers," CJASN, DOI: 10.2215/CJN.13101019 "Identifying Outcomes Important to Patients with Glomerular Disease and their Caregivers,"
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced strong support for his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, raising speculation that a pardon may be coming after Flynns lawyers disclosed internal FBI documents they claim show the FBI was trying to entrap him.

Trump has long said he is considering pardoning Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in early 2017 about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States. The president spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning retweeting supportive statements and a video Flynn tweeted of an American flag flapping in the wind.

He told reporters at the White House that he believed Flynn had been tormented and that, following the release of the documents, now we have to see whats going to happen.

They came at him with 15 buses and hes standing in the middle of the highway. What they did to this man, Trump said, without specifying what he meant. They tormented him. They destroyed him. But hes going to come back.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called into Fox News Channel to react to the release of the FBI documents, saying, if true, it is extremely troubling.

If all this proves to be true, you will have, certainly, a major, major error on the part of top leadership at the FBI, which could well warrant additional charges against them, he said.

Lawyers for Flynn released internal FBI emails and handwritten notes on Wednesday documenting internal correspondence among FBI officials before Flynns interview with the bureau. They contend the documents bolster their allegations that Flynn was set up to lie when he was questioned at the White House three years ago. The notes show the officials grappling with how best to approach Flynn, how much information to provide him during the interview and what to do if he made a false statement.

Flynn, who was among the first of the presidents aides charged in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, is now seeking to withdraw his guilty plea and makes broad assertions of law enforcement misconduct. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has rejected many of the defense arguments but has yet to rule on whether Flynn can take back his guilty plea.

Meanwhile, a federal prosecutor from Missouri is reviewing the Justice Departments handling of the case at the direction of Attorney General William Barr. The department said the notes were provided as part of that ongoing review.

It remains unclear what bearing the documents will have on the case or how significant the judge will determine them to be. But Flynn has emerged as something of a cause celebre in recent months for supporters of the president, who have rallied around the retired Army lieutenant general and seized on the findings of a harshly critical watchdog report on the Russia investigation to try to cast doubt on the entire probe.

Prosecutors havent filed anything in response to Wednesdays action by Flynns lawyers. But Trump has made clear he is considering a pardon. Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway said on Fox on Thursday that it it would be up to Trump to make any announcement on a pardon, but called Flynns treatment a disgrace.

In FBI emails dated Jan. 23, 2017, the day before agents interviewed Flynn at the White House, officials pondered at what point in the conversation Flynn should be reminded that it is against the law to lie to the FBI  at the outset of the conversation or after he makes a suspected false statement. His lawyers have said he was never given such a warning.

Also released was a page of handwritten FBI notes, dated the following day, in which an official appears to recap an internal debate inside the bureau about the interview.

Whats our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? the notes say.

At another point, the notes say, If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DoJ and have them decide. That is a reference to a centuries-old, esoteric law that makes it a crime for a private citizen to conduct foreign policy with another government.

The notes also say: If were seen as playing games, WH will be furious. Protect our institution by not playing games.

The handwritten notes bear the initials EP, which is likely a reference to E.W. Priestap, the senior FBI official who in the summer of 2016 approved the opening of an investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

In December 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about having discussed sanctions against Russia during the presidential transition period with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador at the time. Flynn provided such extensive cooperation that prosecutors said he was entitled to a sentence of probation instead of prison.

But his sentencing hearing one year later was abruptly cut short after Flynn, following a stern rebuke from Sullivan, asked to be able to continue cooperating and earn credit toward a more lenient sentence.

Since then, Flynn has hired new attorneys  including Sidney Powell, a conservative commentator and outspoken critic of Muellers investigation  who have taken a more adversarial stance to the government.

The lawyers have accused prosecutors of withholding documents and evidence they said was favorable to the case and repeatedly noted that one of the two agents who interviewed Flynn was fired from the FBI for having sent derogatory text messages about Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump also tweeted Thursday about his longtime political adviser Roger Stone, who was convicted last year as part of the Russia investigation and is awaiting a date to surrender to federal prison.

Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly, he asked, adding: Same scammers as General Flynn!
ATLANTA, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Apartment Guide has released a new survey tracking renter sentiment on their homes, work and lifestyles since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The findings show the majority of renters were able to pay their rent on-time in April, however 4 in 10 renters are concerned about their ability to pay rent in the upcoming months.

Renters living with their parents or relatives are the most worried about paying rent. But those living with pets or roommates also report increased concern. Individuals living on their own or with a significant other are slightly less anxious about paying their rent compared to others.

"It's no surprise that rent affordability is a major concern for renters across the country right now," says Brian Carberry, Managing Editor for Apartment Guide. "Renters who have been furloughed or laid off may struggle to pay rent as early as May, and they should notify their property managers immediately to try and work out some sort of payment plan or rent deferral plan."

The survey also discovers that most renters are practicing social distancing, and the majority of them feel they are handling coronavirus isolation and emotional effects well. They are adjusting to working from home, as well. In fact, 70% of renters say they easily found a workspace in their home, about the same percentage of respondents who have had to adjust to new ways of working.

In addition to highlighting these sentiments, the Apartment Guide coronavirus renter survey also highlights:

One region where renters are especially worried about making rent than anywhere else in the country

Which amenities renters miss the most during the coronavirus pandemic

The perceived safety of deliveries among renters

If apartment dwellers feel their landlords or property managers are doing everything they can to keep the community clean

Read the full report for additional insights and details on these survey findings.

About Apartment Guide

Apartment Guide was a rental industry leader long before its website debuted 20 years ago. This trusted legacy brand  now part of the RentPath family of digital brands  has a team of editors and experts who help make every stage of the rental journey easier. From hot tips and cool hacks to helpful articles and videos, Apartment Guide creates content that empowers renters by boosting their knowledge and confidence. The Apartment Guide website also contains apartment listings across the United States, including in college destinations.

About RentPath

RentPath is a leading digital marketing solutions company that empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Through its brands, RentPath continues to simplify the rental search experience while driving quality advertiser leads that result in occupancies and a high return on investment. With powerful online and mobile solutions that provide prospective renters with the information and tools they need, RentPath connects consumers with a home that reflects their personal lifestyles.

RentPath helps people navigate the rental journey by providing a delightful, stress-free experience so that all renters find and enjoy their ideal home.

SOURCE Apartment Guide

Related Links

https://www.apartmentguide.com


WASHINGTON, D.C.  Five Southern Illinois Congressmen are urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to begin a safe, phased reopening of businesses.

U.S. Reps. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, are joined by U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, and Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon in the letter. They say the coronavirus pandemic has impacted different parts of the state in different ways, and a sensible reopening plan is needed.

The lawmakers said they heard from constituents after Pritzkers announcement that the stay-at-home order would be extended until May 30.

Illinois is a diverse state and the coronavirus has impacted communities in different ways, the letter states. As we work to start the phased reopening here at home, we cannot do so with a blanket, one-size-fits-all plan.

As we continue to face rising numbers of coronavirus in certain areas, we need to continue getting the necessary resources to aid those areas, the letter states. But we also need to recognize that areas without any cases of the virus need to be treated differently.

The Congressmen ask Pritzker to take a regional approach, starting the reopening process in low-risk areas.

Now is the time for Gov. Pritzker to step up with a plan to reopen Illinois that prioritizes the health of our people and our economy, their letter states. We stand ready to work with the governor on this effort.

All five lawmakers voted in favor of the four different phases of legislation to provide financial aid and relief caused by the coronavirus pandemic. They said the federal government has provided Illinois with more than 1.6 million N-95 masks, more than 5.5 million surgical masks and 2.3 million surgical gowns, and almost 70 million medical gloves.
Over the past twelve months, TUV Rheinland conducted multiple reviews of Risen Energy's technical capabilities in the areas of management systems, environment, staff and equipment based on IEC/ISO 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories and other technical requirements as per related test standards. As a result, Risen Energy was found to fully comply with its external laboratory management protocols. Hence, awarding of this qualification demonstrates Risen Energy's excellence in lab management and testing.

Risen Energy president Xie Jian said, "We are very pleased to be a TUV Rheinland accredited TMP Laboratory, which not only showcases the qualifications of our industry-leading staff and equipment, facilities and environment, but demonstrates our strict requirements when it comes to product testing. We are looking forward to collaborating with TUV Rheinland as we continue to drive the sustainable development of the industry."

Mr. Zhou added, "This recognition shows that in addition to a strong manufacturing capacity, Risen Energy also has high-level R&D and quality management capabilities, which are the marks of industry-leading manufacturing companies. We look forward to further enhancing continued exchanges and communications around the technology with TUV Rheinland and to benefit from each other through ongoing collaborative efforts and also promote the healthy development of industry."

SOURCE Risen Energy Co., Ltd

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Deadlines to register for Unified entrance exam on foreign language, Unified professional entrance test postponed, registration to be carried out online - Education Ministry

Registration for the Unified entrance exam on a foreign language and the Unified professional entrance test have been postponed and will last from May 12 to June 5, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine reports.

The corresponding letter was sent to the heads of higher educational institutions and scientific institutions that provide training for masters.

"Given the situation with the spread of coronavirus, registration for the Unified entrance exam on a foreign language and the Unified professional entrance test will take place completely online. The Ministry has developed and published detailed step-by-step instructions on how selection committees are to collect, process and register documents received," said Yehor Stadny, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science.
Keisling arriving for fieldwork in Northeast Greenland at the East Greenland Ice Core Project (EGRIP) camp during his GROW Fellowship to the Centre for Ice and Climate. Credit: B Keisling.

Buried a mile beneath Greenland's thick ice sheet is a network of canyons so deep and long that the largest of these has been called Greenland's "Grand Canyon." This megacanyon's shape suggests it was carved by running water prior to widespread glaciation, but exactly when and how the island's grandest canyon formed are topics of intense debate.

Now scientists from the U.S. and Denmark are proposing a surprising new hypothesis for the megacanyon's formation: catastrophic "outburst" floods that suddenly and repeatedly drained large meltwater-filled lakes. The findings, published this week in the journal Geology, also suggest that Greenland's subglacial canyon network has influenced the island's ice sheet since its inception.

Although repeated outburst floods have been suggested as the mechanism by which the Columbia River and other North America canyon networks formed, they had not previously been considered as the source of the remarkable landscape hidden beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet, says Benjamin Keisling, the study's lead author and a former graduate student at the University of the Massachusetts, who also collaborated with researchers at Denmark's Centre for Ice and Climate during a National Science Foundation GROW fellowship.

"If the floods we propose occurred, they could have influenced ocean circulation, causing abrupt climate changes with regional and perhaps global significance," says Keisling, now a postdoctoral fellow at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. "The megacanyon beneath northern Greenland also influences how ice and water flow in the subglacial environment today, which affects present-day ice-sheet stability," he says.

Modeled outburst flood during ice-sheet retreat, routed to the outlet of Petermann Glacier. The animation covers 22,000 simulated years, and pauses to highlight a large ice-dammed proglacial lake during the deglaciation. Credit: B Keisling

A Different Approach

In most studies of Greenland, researchers use the modern ice sheet as a starting point for understanding how it has changed over time. But for this study, Keisling and his co-authors decided on a different approach: investigating what Greenland looked like prior to widespread glaciation. "We wanted to better understand the dynamics of 'glacial inception'how, where, and why the ice sheet first grew on an ice-free island," he says.

The team also wanted to gain insights into how the ice sheet grew back after melting. "We know from prior work this has happened multiple times in the past and could again in the future, given enough global warming," says Keisling.

The researchers used coupled ice-sheet and climate models to simulate the Greenland Ice Sheet's evolution over multiple glacial-interglacial cycles during the global cooling from the Pliocene into the Pleistocene, 2.58 million years ago. They found that following long periods with stable temperatures, an exceptionally warm period could cause the ice sheet to retreat rapidly. This melting led to the development of large, ice-dammed lakes in areas where the bedrock was still depressed due to the former ice sheet's weight.

The simulations eventually show the ice dams give way, leading to large outburst floods. "Over time," says Keisling, "it appears that the filling and draining of these lakes as the ice repeatedly retreated and advanced carved Greenland's megacanyons." Similar floods have been documented at the edge of other retreating ice sheets, he says.

Modelled outburst flood during a deglaciation scenario routed to the outlets of the northeast Greenland ice stream (NEGIS). The animation covers 25,000 simulated years, and pauses to highlight a large ice-dammed proglacial lake during the deglaciation. Credit: B Keisling

Ice-Sheet Stability: Past, Present, and Future

Based on comparisons with modern outburst floods, the researchers estimate that it took tens to hundreds of these events to carve Greenland's largest canyon. According to Keisling, widespread sediment deposition in the water-filled basins may have also impacted the ice sheet's behavior each time it grew back.

Ultimately, Keisling says, the study results point to testable hypotheses that can guide future research to finally settle the ongoing debate about whether the Greenland Ice Sheet's stability has changed over time. "Knowing the history of Greenland's bedrock provides context for understanding the ice sheet's long-term behavior," he says. "This helps paint a picture of what happened during past warm periods when the melting ice sheet caused global sea levels to risea phenomenon we are also seeing today."

Explore further Eurasian ice sheet collapse raised seas eight metres: study

More information: Benjamin A. Keisling et al, PliocenePleistocene megafloods as a mechanism for Greenlandic megacanyon formation, Geology (2020). Journal information: Geology Benjamin A. Keisling et al, PliocenePleistocene megafloods as a mechanism for Greenlandic megacanyon formation,(2020). DOI: 10.1130/G47253.1
Praj Industries has developed unique process technology in its government approved (Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research, GOI) state-of-the-art research centre that helps formulate alcohol into high quality sanitizers.

Hand sanitizers are an effective measure to curb the spread of the novel Corona virus. Following the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization and Ministry of Health, Govt. of India, the sanitizer market is experiencing exponential demand. This has opened a huge requirement of sanitizers and disinfectants in India and across the world.

The formulation in sanitizers has at least 80% alcohol that neutralises the virus and thus prevents its spread. Sanitizers can be produced from value added processing of alcohol made in distilleries and bottling plants.

Praj Industries has developed unique process technology in its government approved (Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research, GOI) state-of-the-art research centre that helps formulate alcohol into high quality sanitizers.

With over 750 references across the world including more than 450 in India, Praj is well positioned to facilitate the production of sanitizers leveraging on its captive process plant customer base.

Understanding the seriousness of the fight against the virus and in response to the appeal by Ministries of defence and health, GOI, Praj has decided to undertake the following major initiatives.

Offer open and free access on its company website of all design, engineering and formulation mixture packages to produce sanitizers [for standardised plant capacity of 2KLPD (20,000 bottles of 100 ml. each) and 5KLPD (50,000 bottles of 100 ml each)]

Provide remote engineering and commissioning assistance to produce sanitizers.

Praj is also geared up to manufacture and supply specialised reactors required for production of sanitizers on a fast-track basis.

Sharing his thoughts on this decision, Atul Mulay, President-Bioenergy business said, "We are pleased to offer Praj's know-how and engineering package that adheres to WHO guidelines for the production of sanitizers. We are sure our sincere contribution of providing a plug and play package will boost production at this critical juncture and help combat the spread of the virus."

The aim of this decision is to contribute towards the health and safety of people across the country and Indias efforts to tackle Covid19 pandemic.
A day after three cops were arrested for violating curfew to purchase drugs, three residents of Lakhan Kalan village have also been booked by the Kapurthala police for attacking them and putting others lives at risk.

The accused are Harpreet Singh, Ravi Kumar and Jagga of Lakhan Kalan.

Inquiry officer sub-inspector Jaswant Singh said a video, which has since gone viral, shows some locals stopping cops in uniform in violation of the district magistrates orders. The three persons also manhandled the cops when they were found to be in possession of drugs.

The video, which caused much embarrassment, to the police, shows that on being cornered, the cops tried to flee and a syringe fell from the pocket of one of the cops. Locals later found drugs in their possession.

The locals have been booked under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The cops, who were cornered, are constable Dyal Singh and constable Jagjeet Singh, who are posted at PAP Jalandhar; and constable Germanjeet Singh, who is posted at the Jalandhar commissionerate.

The accused were posted in Jalandhar and they had gone to the village in Kapurthala district on April 3 for purchasing drugs.

Sub-inspector Avtar Singh of Sadar police station, Kapurthala, said that a medical check-up conducted at the Kapurthala civil hospital confirmed that the accused had taken drugs.

A doctor, on condition of anonymity, said the cops were addicted to heroin.

The cops were booked under Sections 188 (disobeying a public servants order) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection) of the Indian Penal Code, the Disaster Management Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

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[April 30, 2020] rf IDEAS celebrates 25 years of identity access management innovation.

As a leader in the identity access management industry, rf IDEAS welcomes its 25th year in business with a refreshed brand, revamped website, and new products in the WAVE (News - Alert) ID line of proximity and contactless identification, mobile credential and authentication readers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430006013/en/ WAVE ID Nano USB-C (Photo: Business Wire) A tradition of progressive product development and exceptional customer service is demonstrated in long-lasting partnerships with Imprivata, HP, and Google (News - Alert). "Collaboration is the key to our growth and leadership in the identity access management market," says David Cottingham, president of rf IDEAS. "Our new products-including great strides in contactless authentication-reflect our drive to create market solutions hat anticipate and deliver on the changing needs of customers."



The redesigned rfIDEAS.com website guides customers to the ideal solution for applications such as employee identification, secure printing, time and attendance, and other areas, with biometric authentication solutions coming soon. The company's newest single sign-on solution, WAVE ID Nano USB-C, delivers the same wireless reader technology now available in the fast-growing Type-C USB connector, in a design that stands up to hostile environments. It makes reader capabilities possible on smaller devices and is compatible with Apple, Google, and Microsoft (News - Alert) USB-C enabled devices, clinician laptops, and mobility applications.

The company's commitment to innovation and quality ensures that all processes, product quality control, development and overall corporate management meet and exceed customer expectations. As a result, rf IDEAS was listed for five consecutive years (2011 through 2015) on Inc. magazine's list of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies prior to its acquisition in 2015 by Roper Technologies, Inc. New branding and product lines continue to reflect this dedication to thought leadership and innovation. About rf IDEAS rf IDEAS, Inc. is a leader in the card and credential reader space for healthcare, manufacturing, government, and enterprise. Partnering with leading technology companies, rf IDEAS readers enable innovative solutions for single sign-on, secure printing, attendance tracking, and other applications that require authentication. rf IDEAS readers support nearly all credential technologies worldwide and the growing set of mobile credentials. For more information, visit www.rfideas.com. rf IDEAS is a registered trademark of rf IDEAS, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and product or service names are property of their respective owners View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430006013/en/

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trolls world tour

Cinema historians may look back at an unlikely film as a crucial turning point in the history of the industry: Trolls World Tour.

The animated musical is at the center of a clash between Universal Pictures and AMC Theatres over the future of global film distribution. After theaters around the world closed, Universal announced it would release Trolls World Tour exclusively for digital rental, thus using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to experiment with a release strategy many believed was inevitable anyway. According to Universal, that experiment was a resounding success.

In the three weeks since Trolls World Tour was released digitally, the film generated $95 million in revenue for Universal, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. It was reportedly downloaded 5 million times in the US and Canada.

The results for Trolls World Tour have exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the viability of PVOD [premium video on-demand], NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell told the Wall Street Journal. As soon as theaters reopen, we expect to release movies on both formats.

Cue the mayhem.

AMC Theatresthe largest movie theater chain in the world with 11,000 screens and an indispensable asset for Hollywood studiospromptly freaked out about Shells boasting. In particular, it took issue with Shells wording that Universal will release movies in both formats (theaters and at-home viewing) in the future. Normally, theaters are granted a roughly 75-day exclusive window to screen films before theyre released digitally.

AMC president Adam Aron sent a strongly worded letter to Universal, declaring its 1,000 theaters around the world will no longer show any Universal movies:

We want to be absolutely clear, so that there is no ambiguity of any kind. AMC believes that with this proposed action to go to the home and theatres simultaneously, Universal is breaking the business model and dealings between our two companies. It assumes that we will meekly accept a reshaped view of how studios and exhibitors should interact, with zero concern on Universals part as to how its actions affect us.

Story continues

The moratorium does not apply only to Universal, and will extend to any studio that unilaterally abandons current windowing practices absent good faith negotiations between us, Aron said. Even though other studios like Disney and Warner Bros. have also experimented with forgoing theatrical releases amidst the pandemic, Aron said that so far Universal is the only one to contemplate a wholesale change to the status quo.

Aron added AMCs new policy is not some hollow or ill-considered threat.

Universal put out a statement in response, stating it was disappointed by Arons letter while attempting to clarify its position moving forward. The studio said it still plans to release movies directly to theaters, and would only go the premium video on-demand route when it makes sense. But the damage was already done.

The two companies will likely work something out, because they still need each other. Without a supply of new movies, theater chains like AMC would go out of business. (Theyre already in serious financial trouble due to the virus.) And the studios need the theaters to help them maximize profitsespecially on big-budget blockbuster films that potentially can make so much more money with a theatrical release than with digital-only distribution.

And while Universal might be thrilled with the digital returns on Trolls World Tour, they still pale in comparison to theatrical revenue. The first Trolls movie made $347 million worldwide. Even with only half the profits (studios and theaters split revenue 50/50), Universal still made $173.5 million on the film. While the margins are much better for studios on digital releases (they get to keep 80% of revenue, while the retailers get the rest), its taking from a much smaller pot. US law forbids the studios from owning their own theaters, and keeping all the revenue.

Thats why Universal delayed the theatrical release for the next Fast & Furious movie an entire year rather than release it on-demand right now. It will likely gross more than $1 billion worldwide when put in theaters. Half of that figure is certain to be far more than 80% of whatever the film would make digitally.

Universal also knows that the current conditions that made Trolls World Tour a digital success are unlikely to be repeatable for future movies. Millions of consumers are stuck at home and starved for new, family-friendly content. Its unclear how successful a film like Trolls would be if released digitally under less ideal conditions.

What seems most likely in a post-coronavirus world is the film industry will fracture into two distinct distribution strategies, cementing a trend that was beginning even before the virus. Most small- to mid-budget films with a lower theatrical revenue ceiling could skip theaters and be released straight to homes. But big-budget event films are still way too lucrative to do the same. They will be the only type of movie still put into theaters.

The eventification of moviesblockbusters crowding out other movies from theaterswas already underway. Coronavirus may simply hasten and codify that shift into normal practice in the decades to come. Trolls World Tour showed Universal that there is a path forward for some films that doesnt involve theaters. But it also underscored how badly the studios still rely on companies like AMC for all its other movies.

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The Osun State Government and its Zamfara State counterpart are at loggerheads over the recent apprehension of some youth allegedly from Zamfara for illegal mining in the South-west state.

The youth had allegedly sneaked into Osun by hiding in trucks carrying materials for illegal mining, amidst the coronavirus lockdown.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Adeyanju Binuyo, had on Wednesday, confirmed the apprehension of 11 youth and the aim of the government to send them back to their home state.

Mr Binuyo said they came through the Ondo axis, accompanying trucks that are carrying food materials purportedly to be sold around the Southwest generally.

Reacting, the Zamfara government expressed anger over the development. It said the youth were unfairly targetted.

A spokesperson of the Zamfara governor, Zailani Bappa, in a statement on Thursday, accused the Osun government of using Amotekun (Southwest security network) to target Zamfara indigenes and ensure that anyone escorting trucks that offload goods is turned back and escorted out of the state.

Doubtlessly, the above position as portrayed by the Deputy Chief of Staff is not statesmanly and smacks of bad taste. Indeed, it is condescending and totally negates good practices expected of leaders in a Federal setting such as Nigeria.

It is, therefore, against federal law to instruct Amotekun to arrest all Northern youth who had escaped into the state by hiding in trucks as quoted by Mr Binuyo for deportation back to their so-called state of origin.

Nigeria and the world at large is facing a serious and challenging pandemic. All civilized societies are joining hands together to fight the spread of this pandemic and even extending helping hands to others. It is, therefore, disheartening that Osun state will take the path of isolating assumed outsiders and segregating what should be a common fight by all Nigerians, he said.

Osun government maintains stance

But Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, denied that the state was targeting Zamfara or Northern youth.

First, our targets are not necessarily Zamfara indigines but illegal miners. If Zamfara governor himself can have the cause to arrest them there, we will not condone that here. We cannot afford to have banditary before taking action, Mr Omipidan told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.

Coming into our state during lockdown is even an offence. Ordinarily, they should be prosecuted based on our lockdown guidelines. We are being magnanimous by sending them back and we are also being diplomatic to have tagged them Zamfara youths. They are illegal miners who are also being arrested in their state.

When asked for the location of those apprehended, Mr Omipidan said they are being rounded up and once we conclude the necessary process, we will parade them.
Top business groups in the UK and Ireland have called for the Taoiseach and First and deputy First Ministers to co-operate to protect public health and restore prosperity following Covid-19.

The CBI in the UK and the Republic's Ibec have today written a joint letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and to First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill.

They are urging co-operation and co-ordination across the UK and Ireland "to provide the best chance of protecting public health and restoring people's prosperity".

A memorandum of understanding for North-South co-operation on public health was signed by the departments of health in Northern Ireland and the Republic earlier this month.

But today's letter calls for economic co-operation to help the recovery.

Ibec and the CBI said that it was in everyone's interests for experts on both sides of the border to be in regular communication about each other's plans for economic revival, including for all-island business and cross-border employment.

They also suggest that parallel conversations should take place between the UK and Republic, suggesting the North/South Ministerial Council and British-Irish Council as the framework for talks.

And talks on co-ordination could also be held through meetings of the Tanaiste, First and deputy First Minister and the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, it suggests.

The letter is signed by the CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn and Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy.

It states that both organisations have been working through "one of the most challenging periods for business that we can recall".

It stresses existing and historic economic and political links between the UK and Ireland, including through the Good Friday Agreement and the Common Travel Area.

It adds: "As the coming weeks unfold, we all hope to make great progress with efforts to both suppress the virus and start planning for that much needed economic reboot. The business community is acutely aware of the deep economic impact on business and livelihoods that the measures to contain Covid-19 have had across these islands."

It said that integrated supply chains for essential goods like medicines and pharmaceuticals were of immediate concern, and accounted for substantial trade between Ireland and the UK.

"The agri-food market across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is at the forefront of all island business and indeed across the two islands agri-food products trade seamlessly - with Ireland being the UK's second largest source of food imports and one of its largest markets for retail related exports.

"To support these supply chains and ensure that the measures taken in the recovery phase help to sustain the wide range of business activity between the two jurisdictions, we will need the highest level of co-operation, co-ordination and joined-up thinking.

"A return to daily movement of workers and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland (and across the two islands) will depend on the easing of current restrictions and alignment with medical advice.

"To support and re-energise the strong economic linkages, Ibec and CBI believe it is important and in everyone's economic interests to have the experts on both sides of the island of Ireland regularly communicating on their respective economic restart plans."
Models demonstrate Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Book Flex Alpha convertible notebook. The company said Thursday that it will receive pre-orders for the new laptop, which can be converted from a laptop to a tablet, from Friday to May 10. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
PITTSBURGH, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "I found conventional tools did not firmly anchor round objects," said an inventor from Waller, Texas. This inspired me to develop a better clamp that could secure various round surfaces."

He developed the V-CLAMP that would eliminate the tool rolling off a round project work piece. Instead, this invention would ensure a position grip without slipping. Additionally, it would provide users with enhanced safety by reducing the risk of finger and hand injuries.

The original design was submitted to the Houston sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-HUN-854, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

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Manila, April 30 : A 16-day-old baby in the Philippines has become the youngest patient to recover from COVID-19 in the country, the Department of Health said on Thursday.

At just five days old, Kobe Manjares was admitted to the National Children's Hospital in Manila, where he tested positive for the novel coronavirus, reports Efe news.

He was treated there for the next 11 days.

"The DOH applauds our valiant healthcare team for this feat," the Department said on its Facebook page.

The baby was discharged from hospital on Tuesday and was sent off by the medical team who treated him along with posters that read, "Kobe beats COVID", according to photos published in the local media.

Kobe was born healthy on April 12, but developed symptoms of fever and cough.

His father Ronnel Manjares said doctors told him that the infant needed to be hospitalized if he wanted his son to survive.

The authorities have not given any details about how the infant contracted the virus or about the health of the mother.

Health official Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press conference on Thursday said 25 babies under one year of age are infected with COVID-19 in the country, of which six have died while the others have recovered.

The youngest patient is a nine-day-old baby in the city of Cebu.

The Philippines has so far reported 8,212 COVID-19 cases, with 558 deaths, while 1,023 have recovered.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
GLENS FALLS - Employees represented by New Yorks largest public labor union rallied Thursday outside the offices of three Republican members of Congress calling for their support of more federal aid for state and local municipalities.

Members represented by the Civil Service Employees Association, which is the nation's largest state-level labor union, hosted drive by rallies in Glens Falls, Syracuse and Long Island as part of the unions campaign to get state and local governments unrestricted funding to deal with massive revenue losses amid the coronavirus pandemic.

CSEA Capital Region President Ron Briggs said members rallied outside U.S. Rep. Elise Stefaniks office in Glens Falls. Organizers said union members would maintain social distancing protocols by staying in cars; images from the event show that people were outside their vehicles, but were wearing masks and appearing to distance themselves from others. Stefanik has been supportive of the federal government providing more help to localities.

The CSEA represents about 30,000 state and local government employees in the greater Capital Region and more than 200,000 employees statewide, including workers who plow streets, collect garbage or provide other essential services such as child protective services.

Elise Stefanik has a great relationship with the current regime, and she needs to be more vocal to say: You have to stop playing politics and get the communities the services they desire and need, Briggs said. The federal government seems to understand businesses are hurting, but Im not sure why they dont think the same is happening for local governments that provide essential services.

Stefanik has called for Congress to provide federal funding for state and local governments, and has sent a letter to leaders on the task force urging for the fiscal support that will ensure schools, police, fire and other emergency medical providers are funded.

I fully support state and county funding and local funding from the federal government. I liken this to post-9/11, post-Hurricane Sandy, where the federal government stepped up to provide financial support for New York," Stefanik said during an afternoon phone conference with reporters Thursday. "We are working together as a delegation. We are working across party lines to advocate for increased financial support for New York, which has significant fiscal costs because of COVID I hope they were social distancing!

Mark Kotzin, communications director for CSEA, said Republican lawmakers were targeted in this first round of protests because of the need to put pressure on party leadership. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested states file for bankruptcy rather than the federal government chip in to keep local governments afloat.

We are trying to pressure every single member of the House and Senate to deliver this needed aid to preserve our public services, because at the end of the day, thats what all New Yorkers are going to rely on, Kotzin said. We have gotten assurances from Democratic leadership that they are in support, which is why we are specifically trying to move more Republicans to support this.

More Information CSEA rally information Noon on Thursday outside U.S. Rep. Peter King's office in Long Island.

Noon on Thursday outside U.S Rep. Elise Stefanik's office in Glens Falls.

1 p.m. on Thursday outside U.S. Rep. John Katko's office in Syracuse. See More Collapse

Local and state elected officials have also stressed the need for the federal government to step up and provide financial relief for communities that are facing budget holes from lost sales tax revenue and other fiscal impacts from the pandemic and businesses shuttering to help stem the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

State Assembly members recently sent a letter to congressional delegates pushing for the funding as well. Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, posted the letter on Facebook on Wednesday noting his support.

To be blunt, we are struggling to find a path forward for our state and local governments to continue to operate without considerable financial assistance from our federal government, the state officials wrote. Without aid, we cannot continue to fund critical services such as healthcare, public safety, transportation and education.

Federal officials continue to discuss a fourth stimulus bill, but the details have yet to be revealed.

Ive had conversations directly with President (Donald) Trump. Ive raised the issue of county and state aid," Stefanik said. "He requested that each member of the (White House Reopening) Task Force send in their top priorities. State and county aid was included from the requests from my office.

Emilie Munson contributed to this report.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Apr. 30, 2020 | BALLARD COUNTY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 30, 2020 | 05:22 PM | BALLARD COUNTY

Members of the Ballard Memorial High School Class of 2020 are receiving a special gift.



In lieu of a traditional scholarship program, Ballard County Farm Bureau has announced that each graduating senior at Ballard Memorial High School will be receiving a $100 gift. There are no stipulations on how students spend the money.



We wanted to show the class of 2020 that we support them, and even though they are missing some of the most important milestones of their young lives, they are not forgotten, said Todd Williams, Ballard County Farm Bureau Board President.



Ballard County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Casey Allen, expressed his gratitude to the board of directors.



While scholarship money is important on a yearly basis, every senior in this class will benefit from the $100 gift during these trying times when need is high," said Allen. "We appreciate the individuals on the board thinking of Ballard County Schools and doing something that will make a difference in the lives of our senior students.



The BCFB board members are comprised of local agricultural and community leaders with a goal of supporting and preserving agriculture for future generations.



In good times or bad, the agriculture community is always there to support its communities, said Justin Puckett, Agency Manager. I am proud of our organization for recognizing needs and following through with meaningful action  its just what we do.



Seniors will receive a check from Ballard County Farm Bureau with their diplomas.
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Linkedin David Courbet (Agence France-Presse) Berlin, Germany  Thu, April 30, 2020 14:36 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd5357a3 2 World Germany,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-quarantine,pandemic,physical-distancing,social-distancing Free

On a sunny Sunday in April, 20 people were enjoying a barbecue in the city of Schwerin in northern Germany.

The police promptly intervened, slapping them with a fine for breaking new social distancing rules to limit the spread of COVID-19.

They were alerted to the festivities by a neighbor, "outraged by such behavior", who also proceeded to boast about her efforts on social media, opening up a heated debate about the return of denunciation to Germany and whether it is acceptable in the current crisis.

Telling on your neighbors is a highly sensitive subject in a country still haunted by memories of Nazism and the former communist dictatorship in East Germany, two regimes under which informing on others was practically a national policy.

The term "Duninziant" ("snitch") has been trending on Twitter, fuelling ever more reference to the Third Reich and the Stasi secret police.

"All of this appears to confirm a deep-seated prejudice that Germans have against themselves: That when in doubt, a part of the population is willing to become an extension of state power," psychology professor Christian Stoecker told Der Spiegel weekly.

But Germany is not the only country to have seen a rise in the number of people reporting fellow citizens to the authorities for breaching virus-related social distancing rules.

Similar observations have been made in countries around the world where lockdowns have been imposed: In New Zealand, a dedicated website was deluged with reports; in South Africa, a wedding was interrupted after an anonymous call; and in France, the emergency number 17 has been overrun with calls.

Universal phenomenon

"The phenomenon is universal, but with different regional characteristics. It happens more often in urban areas, where many people depend on each other, than in less populated areas where you have more space," said Rafael Behr, a professor of criminology and sociology at the Hamburg Police Academy.

"Acts of denunciation will increase, as will acts of solidarity," he predicts.

"The longer the state of emergency goes on, the more antisocial people will become and the more mistrust and suspicion will develop, for example about whether your neighbor is contagious."

In Germany, police are receiving several hundred complaints a day via phone calls, emails and social media, according to an AFP tally.

In Munich alone, "around 100 to 200 citizens are calling every day" with violations to report, according to Sven Mueller, a spokesman for the city's police force.

In the state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, police intervened in 2,930 violations of social distancing rules between March 20 and April 7.

"Around two thirds of these cases were linked to reports from citizens," said police spokeswoman Stefanie Klaus.

The majority of complaints are about people entering public spaces such as stadiums, parties in private homes or cars with license plates from outside the area.

Poisoning social relations

"Not all of the calls lead to police intervention," said Heidi Vogt, a spokeswoman for the police in Berlin.

At the end of March, overwhelmed by complaints, police in the German capital appealed to residents on Twitter to stop calling the 110 emergency number, stressing that it was "not designed for lockdown breaches".

Andreas Geisel, interior minister for the city-state of Berlin, called on citizens to restrain themselves.

"We don't want any snitching," he told RBB radio.

"With a soft lockdown like we have in Germany at the moment, people's continued freedom depends on their ability to contain themselves," political historian Klaus-Peter Sick told AFP.

"If a group of young people are behaving in an undisciplined way, some people will see that as irresponsible and not thinking about others," which can lead to frustration and denunciation, he said.

But some informers are motivated less by social responsibility and more by the desire to settle personal scores.

"This is always the case in times of crisis, especially when they give rise to new regulations that make it possible to invoke justice: anyone who is jealous of their neighbor now has the opportunity to denounce them for the slightest violation of the coronavirus rules," said Behr.

"That poisons social relations."
An initial investigation and witness statements showed that a semi-truck was eastbound on Ind. 130 when a yellow Ford passenger car was traveling west on Ind. 130. For unknown reasons, the passenger car went left of center into the eastbound lane of travel and collided with the truck.
By Online Desk

Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stay the whopping Rs 20000 crore worth Delhi Central vista project. The top court was hearing a petition challenging the Centre's decision to notify a change in land use regarding the redevelopment plan.

The central government had earlier approved the land-use change as required for the Central Vista development project on the recommendations of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), paving the way for construction of a new Parliament building among others. This decision will ensure that green areas and public-semi-public spaces are adequately compensated or enhanced in Lutyens Delhi.

At present, the Central Vista houses Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, North and South Block, India Gate, National Archives among others. All these iconic buildings were constructed before 1931, the year in which the new capital was inaugurated. Other office buildings were built subsequently to address the office requirements of central ministries and departments in an unplanned manner.

Under the new plan, a new Parliament House is planned that will address not only the space requirement but also result into an iconic structure which stands as a symbol of democracy. The project also involves the creation of new residences for the Prime Minister and the Vice-President near the South and North Blocks and the demolition of the existing buildings along the two sides of Rajpath, to make way for a concentration of about 10 government building complexes.
Early numbers from the second round of the federal coronavirus relief Paycheck Protection Program show smaller businesses are getting better results this time around.

The average loan size is half that of the first round of the program, and smaller banks are leading the way, U.S. Small Business Administration officials said in a press release.

The Paycheck Protection Program was initially passed as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The PPP, a lifeline to small businesses struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic, is attractive to many small business owners because of its low-interest, forgivable loans. Nearly $350 billion for the program was claimed in less than two weeks.

Last week, Congress replenished the PPP fund. The results so far sound good for smaller businesses. Some tweaks made to the legislation this time around were designed to steer funds to smaller businesses with fewer resources, as well as women and minority-owned businesses.

In all, Congress allocated another $310 billion to the program, with portions set aside in particular for small lenders and community banks. The SBA also created a window of time when only these small lenders were allowed to file applications.

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, $90 billion and 960,000 loans had been processed during round two, according to the SBA. Smaller lenders processed more than half of the loans and about $43 billion of the money claimed so far in this phase.

About 5,300 banks, lenders and financial institutions across the country have participated in the program.

Have you applied for a PPP loan? We want to hear your story. Contact Reporter Julie McMahon: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

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New Delhi, April 30 : In first of the video series started by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said that India has an opportunity in shaping the dialogue in global economy, post pandemic.

"There is opportunity for India, it is in shaping that dialogue. Being more of a leader in that dialogue because it is not one of the two big warring parties. But it is a big enough country to have its voice heard in the global economy," said Rajan.

He said India can find opportunities for its industries, for its supply chains. But most importantly, we can try and mould the dialogue towards one which has greater place for more countries in the global order, a multi-polar global order rather than a single or a bipolar global order," added Rajan.

Howver, Rajan cautioned when Rahul Gandhi asked him if India can take advantage of the situation due to pandemic. Rajan said, "These kinds of incidents rarely have positive effects for any country, in general. There are ways countries can take advantage of. What I think we can say is that there will have to be a rethinking of everything in the global economy once we are out of this." When Rahul Gandhi asked, "is there crisis of centralisation of power taking place," Rajan replied, "I do believe that decentralisation is important -- both for bringing more local information to work but also about giving empowerment to the people. What you see across the world is a great sense of disempowerment." "Decisions are being made elsewhere, but not by me. I have a vote but that elects somebody in a far-off place. My local panchayat, State government has less power. They don't feel they can have a voice in anything. So they become prey to different set of forces," Rajan said.

"Social harmony is a public good. Having everyone believe that they are a part of this system, an equal part of the system is essential. We cannot afford to be a house divided. Especially in these times when our challenges are so big." Rajan added.
Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait announced Thursday that Egypts ranking has improved cumulatively by 27 percentage points (pp) in the international Open Budget Index over 2017 and 2019, up from 16 pp in 2015.



The improvement advanced Egypt's ranking in the index to 61st place out of 117 countries covered, up from 65th place in the 2017 edition.



The report also showed that the sub-index of budget supervision also notably improved, recording 50pp, up from 39pp in 2017.



The Open Budget Index is the world's only independent, comparative measure that tracks government budget transparency. Countries covered by the Open Budget Survey are given a transparency score between 0 and 100, which the International Budget Partnership (IBP) uses to construct the index, ranking assessed countries.



IBP is a global research and advocacy programme that aims to promote public access to budget information and the adoption of accountable budget systems.



In a statement, Maait clarified that Egypt surpassed the MENA region average, ranking second equal with Morocco. He added that Egypts community engagement has risen by 4 pp to reach 15 pp out of 100pp, up from 11 pp in 2017, exceeding the global average and surpassing Jordan and Morocco.



Maait attributed Egypts improvement to the finance ministry's efforts aimed at providing simplified information about the states public budget to citizens. He added that the improvement also reflects the ministry's willingness to provide adequate advance data about Egypts fiscal and tax policies, which help in stimulating investment.



Deputy minister for financial policies and corporate improvement Ahmed Kojok said that the finance ministry had established a fiscal transparency and community engagement unit, the first of its kind, to sustain Egypts improvement in the index and to entrench the concepts of transparency and disclosure.



Head of the unit Sara Eid said the ministry has worked hard over the past five years to upgrade transparency practices and to build bridges between all concerned parties. She added that the unit released a version of the semi-annual financial performance report for citizens for the first time, in addition to releasing a preliminary draft budget to enhance transparency and public financial reform.



Eid added that the ministry has launched an interactive website to give citizens an opportunity to record their opinions and find data and relevant reports.



The FY 2020/21 draft budget, announced earlier this month, includes a package of procedures that aims to secure Egypts fiscal and economic status and to implement its fiscal reform policy that focuses on reducing the public debt to GDP ratio to 82.8 percent.

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Former President John Mahama has been strongly criticized by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) after describing the economy as one in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and in tatters.



The Presidential Candidate in an address to the nation via social media opined that just one month of this Government funding just some sessions of the economy and vulnerable persons at home due to the coronavirus, our economy has gone to the ICU and is in Tatters now and needs critical health Examination



The ruling government however disagrees.



Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in reaction to this suggested that the former President has no moral grounds to criticize the ruling government's handling of the economy especially as he was unsuccessful in dealing with the energy crisis during his tenure.



Adding his voice to the debate on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Sammi Awuku, National Organiser of the NPP blamed Mahama's 'untruthful' comments on his advisors.



According to him, had those advising him on economic matters been doing a good job, the former President would have known that the current economy is doing better than his.



"I dont know those advising the former Presidentwhen you talk of growth; the growth rate in 2016 was 20.7, in 2019 its 6.5. this shows his claims cannot be backed by data.if the leader of the opposition party who wants to be voted for again will say the resilient economy is in ICU, it means those advising him on economic issues are not being truthful to the man," he stated.



Listen to his submission in the video below





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A day after Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on attempts to create political instability in the state, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday requested the Election Commission to declare elections to the nine vacant seats of the states Legislative Council.

In his letter to the poll panel, the Governor said the elections should be held at the earliest with a view to end the current uncertainty in the state.

The Governor stated that the central government has announced many relaxation measures regarding the enforcement of lockdown, elections to the council seats can be held with certain guidelines.

Thackeray had on Wednesday called up the Prime Minister and asked him to intervene, sources had said, as time runs out for him to save his CM seat.

The Shiv Sena chief, who is not a member of either house of the state legislature, was sworn in as chief minister on November 28, 2019. He has to become a member by May 28 when he completes six months in office. Otherwise he will cease to the chief minister.

The Election Commission is likely to discuss the demands for holding legislative council polls on Friday.

Sources in the poll panel said though they have not received the communication of the governor so far, the issue could be discussed on Friday as all three ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra -- the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress -- have appealed to the EC to conduct the Legislative Council polls, saying social distancing and other precautions can be taken during the voting procedure.

Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, Thackeray's plan was to get elected to the Legislative Council by his MLAs in a March 26 election. However, the polls were postponed in the aftermath of COVID-19.

The Cabinet then recommended appointing the Shiv Sena chief as a Member of the Legislative Council as a Governor's nominee, but Koshyari has stalled a decision on the nomination.

As per constitutional guidelines, Koshyari can nominate those "persons with special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service.

Currently, there are two vacancies, resulting from two NCP legislators jumping ship to the BJP, to which Thackeray can be nominated.
Some allies say Joe Biden needs to be bolder in his denials of Tara Reade's sexual assault allegations. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images)

Joe Bidens campaign adamantly denied it and then stopped talking about it. His surrogates get uncomfortable when it comes up  and it keeps coming up. And his aides insist the media have already litigated the mess and exonerated the former vice president, which is not entirely true.

An allegation that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee sexually assaulted a young staffer in a Capitol Hill basement hallway nearly three decades ago refuses to go away even as the campaign disputes the claim.

Top Democrats are rallying behind Biden, and there are no available records from the time substantiating his accuser's account. But Biden, stuck at home in Delaware in the coronavirus crisis, is facing demands by some supporters to mount a more aggressive defense.

"It is clear there is a lot of pressure and Biden has to personally and convincingly deny this," said Robert Shrum, a veteran Democratic strategist and director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future. "I think the guy is innocent of all this. But the pressures are now such that hes got to respond."

All of this puts Democrats in an awkward place as they confront allegations from Tara Reade, the former Senate staffer who says Biden cornered and assaulted her in 1993. In an era when Democratic leaders stress the urgency of empowering sexual assault victims to tell their story, Reades charges have been eagerly seized by Republicans as a political weapon.

Although President Trump stands accused of serial sexual assaults, with over a dozen women alleging he violated them in incidents that spanned many years  allegations he denies  Reade's name lights up conservative social media, amplifying her charges and spawning conspiracy theories that threaten to ricochet through the internet and resonate broadly.

It is a familiar predicament for Democrats. Their delays in confronting charges about Hillary Clintons misuse of an email server when she was secretary of State enabled a conspiratorial right-wing narrative to fester and seep into the mainstream, contributing to her defeat in the 2016 presidential race.

Story continues

In the 2004 election, Democratic nominee John F. Kerrys flat-footed defense of his Vietnam War record against accusations by Swift Boaters for Truth so tarnished the candidate that a new political term was coined for creating doubt: swift boating.

Some Democratic strategists worry Reade's account could also snowball if Biden doesn't move quickly to quell the controversy.

This story is a slow burn, but it's not going away," said a Democratic strategist who was involved in the 2020 race and who, like many Democrats interviewed, would only talk frankly about Biden's handling of allegation under the condition of anonymity. "In the meantime, he's putting Democrats  particularly women  in a terrible spot."

Biden has laid low so far. He isn't holding rallies or news conferences during the pandemic shutdown, so journalists have little chance to question him. At a live stream event Tuesday, he spoke at length about protecting women from violence, but did not mention the claim against himself.

That may change in the coming days. People with knowledge of the campaign's thinking say he is prepared to answer questions about the allegations, but has not yet been asked in the limited interviews he has granted recently.

The story first landed late last month, when Reade told progressive podcast host Katie Halper that Biden, then a U.S. senator and her boss, had pushed her against a wall and penetrated her with his fingers in 1993.

She said she told her superiors but they did not act, and instead dismissed her. Soon after last month's podcast, Reade detailed her allegations in a police report she filed in Washington, D.C.

Deep dives into Reades account by major news outlets were inconclusive, with teams of journalists unable to find solid corroboration. But her story kept re-emerging.

On April 27, Business Insider published an interview of a former neighbor who said Reade had told her about the assault in the mid-1990s. Days earlier, the Intercept unearthed a 1993 tape of CNNs "Larry King Live" in which a caller said her daughter had problems with a prominent senator, although she did not mention sexual assault. Reade says that caller was her late mother.

Prominent Democratic women backing Biden say they are not persuaded.

This whole picture that is painted to me does not ring true, former California Sen. Barbara Boxer, a longtime crusader for womens rights, said of the Reade allegations. This is a changing story from someone who started off with a different story.

Reade's brother has offered differing accounts of what she told him about Biden. Reade had initially been one of several women who complained last year that Biden was inappropriately touchy, but she did not publicly accuse him of assault until he started winning primaries.

If my daughter told me she was sexually assaulted, would I call Larry King? said Boxer. Id be in tears. Im calling the cops.

Attempts to reach Reade for comment were unsuccessful.

The charges by Reade  and the reluctance of mainstream Democrats to side with her  have reignited tensions on the left.

There is simply no moral justification for Biden to continue as the presumptive nominee, tweeted Claire Sandberg, who was national organizing director for Bernie Sanders, who endorsed Biden after suspending his own presidential campaign. Out of respect for survivors and for the good of the country, he should withdraw from the race.

Bidens defenders argue the story is no longer Reades allegations but the way they are being used to attack Biden.

The Republican National Committee plans to launch a video that accuses Democrats, the media and women's rights advocates of hypocrisy for ignoring sexual harassment allegations because they are aimed at a Democrat, not a Republican like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

The many allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Trump do not appear to be giving Republican officials pause.

"That was litigated in 2016 and voters were able to decide, said RNC spokeswoman Elizabeth Harrington. The troubling thing here is that most of the media doesn't want voters to have the information to be able to decide."

Reade's allegation is putting the women in contention to be Bidens running mate in a sensitive spot. Instead of questions about policy expertise, they are asked to comment on whether the party's presumptive nominee committed sexual assault.

Their responses have been in sync with the Biden campaign strategy of saying they respect womens right to speak out, coupled with praise for Bidens record on womens issues.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California in mid-April told the San Francisco Chronicle, This woman has a right to tell her story and I believe that and I believe Joe Biden believes that."

I can only speak to the Joe Biden I know, Harris said. You know hes been a lifelong fighter in terms of stopping violence against women.

Also backing Biden is Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a former 2020 presidential candidate who helped pressure Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to resign from the Senate in 2018 amid harassment accusations that he denied.

Gillibrand said Wednesday she was satisfied that Reade was able to be heard and was investigated by media outlets. But she said she believes Biden: He has devoted his life to supporting women.

How closely voters are paying attention is an open question, especially as most Americans are preoccupied by the rising death toll and crashing economy from the coronavirus pandemic.

The controversy may never get settled  and may not matter for Democrats in November.

Two things can be true at the same time, said Rebecca Katz, a progressive Democratic strategist. Tara Reade may have credible allegations, and also, Joe Biden would be a much, much better president than Donald Trump.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 233,000 people worldwide.

Over 3.2 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 1 million diagnosed cases and at least 63,001 deaths.

Today's biggest developments:

California's Orange County beaches must close after photos of crowds Kamala Harris announces legislation for task force to combat racial, ethnic disparities USNS Comfort leaves NYC

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates.

9:05 p.m.: Chicago to hold virtual high school commencement

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the entire city will take part in a virtual commencement ceremony in mid-June. The ceremony will have a commencement address from none other than city icon Oprah Winfrey.

The ceremony is intended to honor public schools, but also charter and private schools.

"The times we are living in are historic and stunning, forcing us all to take a deep look at who we are as a people and our place in the world," Lightfoot said in a statement. "No one knows this better than Oprah, and I join all of Chicago in looking forward to hearing the wisdom shell be sharing with our incredible young people as they take this unforgettable next step on their lifes journey."

The event, which does not yet have a date, will feature "speeches, performances, and a wide array of elements that will feature student achievements and experiences."

Story continues

Chicago Public Schools closed on March 17 and will be closed throughout the rest of the school year.

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

6:50 p.m.: American, Delta, United to require face coverings

Three more major American airlines will require passengers to wear face masks during flights.

American Airlines, Delta and United announced on Thursday that all customers will be required to wear face coverings starting in May.

The move follows similar announcements from JetBlue and Frontier.

PHOTO: A flight attendant serves a snack on a Baltimore-bound Delta flight to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on April 20, 2020, in Linthicum Heights, Md. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Delta and United will require face coverings starting May 4. American will require face masks on flights starting May 11.

JetBlue and Frontier will start requiring face masks during travel on May 4 and May 8, respectively.

This week, Democratic lawmakers called for federal action to mandate that all air travelers wear masks.

5:15 p.m.: CityMD has done thousands of antibody tests already

Just two days into its initiative to offer antibody testing, CityMD has already done 19,000 tests, according to the chain of walk-in clinics.

"We did more than 19,000 in the first two days and we remain very busy at the sites," Joy Lee-Calio, director of public relations and communications for Summit Medical Group, said in a statement. "We do not anticipate any testing capacity issues at this time. Wait times are longer than normal right now, but were doing our best to keep the lines moving while maintaining social and physical distancing."

CityMD has more than 100 locations in New York and New Jersey.

The health provider announced Tuesday it would offer an antibody test to determine if patients had COVID-19, whether or not they experienced symptoms. The tests cost $55, but are covered by most insurers, according to CityMD.

New York and New Jersey have proven to be the epicenter of COVID-19 cases, with more than 400,000 combined confirmed cases in the states and over 30,000 deaths -- about half of the total nationwide.

5 p.m.: Connecticut nonessential businesses can open May 20

In Connecticut, nonessential businesses can reopen May 20, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Thursday.

That will include hair and nail salons, outdoor-only restaurant seating and outdoor museums and zoos.

4:10 p.m.: California's Orange County beaches must close after photos of crowds

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered beaches in sunny Orange County to close temporarily on Thursday, after too many people flocked to the sand over the weekend.

The "images we saw on the beaches were disturbing," Newsom said. "Everyone saw those images and we're all concerned about that. ... That's what ultimately led to this decision."

PHOTO: In this file photo taken on April 25, 2020, people enjoy the beach amid the coronavirus pandemic in Huntington Beach, California. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)

"If we can get this right, we can reopen very quickly," he added.

PHOTO:People sit on beach chairs and watch surfers, April 30, 2020, in Newport Beach, Calif. A memo sent to California police chiefs says Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed starting May 1 to curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

California has 48,917 people diagnosed with coronavirus, while at least 1,982 people have died.

3:10 p.m.: West Virginia on brink of reopening

In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice says he is replacing his "stay-at-home" order with a "safer-at-home" order on Monday, May 4, which encourages, but does not require, West Virginians to stay at home.

PHOTO: A skateboarder skates at Fort Neal Park on April 15, 2020 in Parkersburg, W.Va. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The new order says restaurants can open for outdoor dining service and elective medical procedures can resume.

PHOTO: A customer leaves with a carry-out order at the newly opened Cook Out restaurant Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Cross Lanes, W.Va. (John Raby/AP)

Public gatherings with more than 35 people are prohibited.

Churches remain essential and can stay open but people should practice social distancing

Small businesses can operate if there are no more than 10 employees. The businesses must have limited customer contact and maintain social distancing and hygiene practices.

Nail salons, hair salons and barber shops can open if they leave time between appointments for proper cleaning and disinfecting. Customers must wait for their appointment in their cars.

2:25 p.m.: Kamala Harris announces legislation for task force to combat racial, ethnic disparities

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., on Thursday announced new legislation -- the COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act -- to create a task force to combat the way minorities are being impacted by the coronavirus.

Faces of the coronavirus pandemic: Remembering those who died

"People of color are being infected and dying from coronavirus at astounding rates," Harris said in a statement. "This is in part due to persistent lack of access to health care, bias in our health care system, systematic barriers to equal pay and housing, and environmental injustice. It is critical that the federal government proactively work to right historical wrongs that have led to racial inequities for generations."

The legislation would require the task force experts and government officials to "make data-driven recommendations to federal agencies about directing crucial resourceslike testing kits, testing supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE)to communities with racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death rates."

Philadelphia doctor takes to streets to help black communities get tested for COVID-19

It also aims to extend the work of such a task force beyond the current coronavirus pandemic by establishing a permanent presence, "to continue to identify and address racial and ethnic disparities in our health care system and improve future infectious disease response."

The legislation has the backing of a number of top Senate Democrats, including five of Harris' former 2020 presidential competitors -- Sens. Cory Booker, Michael Bennet, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

1:55 p.m.: Russia's prime minister tests positive for COVID-19

Russia Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and will go into self-isolation.

PHOTO: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin via teleconference in Moscow, April 30, 2020. (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mishustin made the announcement during a televised video briefing with President Vladimir Putin.

Remdesivir could be promising drug candidate to treat coronavirus

Mishustin said he intended to remain in contact with colleagues, but asked Putin to appoint Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov as acting prime minister.

"The government will continue to work as normal," Mishustin said. "I plan to be in active contact by telephone and video-conference with my colleagues, and also with you."

Putin said he hoped Mishustin would continue to be able to work and take part in decisions, adding that getting the coronavirus could "happen to anyone."

1:25 p.m.: USNS Comfort leaves NYC

The Navy ship USNS Comfort left New York City's harbor Thursday afternoon to return to Norfolk, Virginia.

PHOTO: Police officers salute as the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort as it departs Pier 90 in Manhattan under thick fog to return to its home port of Norfolk, Va., April 30, 2020. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

PHOTO: The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort departs Pier 90 in Manhattan under thick fog to return to its home port of Norfolk, Va., after treating patients during the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City, April 30, 2020. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

The USNS Comfort treated 182 patients during its one month in New York.

PHOTO: The USNS Comfort departs for its home port of Norfolk, Virginia, April 30, 2020, in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

The ship "was originally tasked with providing care to non-COVID patients, bringing the first aboard on April 1," the Navy said in a statement this week. "It quickly became apparent that in order to be of help to the city, USNS Comfort needed to treat all patients, regardless of their COVID status. On April 6, the USNS COMFORT began accepting COVID-positive patients."

"I believe Comfort not only brought comfort but also saved lives," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a briefing last week.

PHOTO: NYPD officers salute the USNS Naval Hospital Ship Comfort as it is pushed out into the Hudson River by tugboats, April 30, 2020, in New York City. (John Minchillo/AP)

12:50 p.m.: UK is 'past the peak,' Boris Johnson says

The United Kingdom is "past the peak of this disease," Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Thursday, as he anchored the daily Downing Street briefing for the first time in weeks.

"We are on the downward slope," said Johnson, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus and treated in the hospital.

PHOTO: A man wearing a face mask sits in front of an image of Queen Elizabeth II with quotes from her broadcast to the nation on the coronavirus epidemic displayed on screens in Piccadilly Circus, on April 09, 2020, in London, England. (Peter Summers/Getty Images)

"I will be setting out a comprehensive plan next week on how to get the economy moving, to get children back to school and how we can travel to work and make work in the workplace safer," Johnson said.

Fatalities in the U.K. has climbed to over 26,000. The U.K. now has the third-highest death toll, behind the U.S. and Italy.

12:20 p.m.: New York forming a 'tracing army'

In New York state, 306 lives were lost to the virus on Wednesday, including 19 in nursing homes, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.

PHOTO: Hospital workers line up to receive personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer at University Hospital of Brooklyn, on April 29, 2020, in Brooklyn, New York. Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes and Housing Works delivered PPE to hospital workers. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Housing Works)

Across the state, 4,681 people tested positive on Wednesday.

New York is now forming a "tracing army" -- led by former New York City mayor and presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg -- to recruit and train people to work as contact tracers, said Cuomo.

"We want the best system that we can have to get New York open and to protect New Yorkers," Cuomo said, "but it will also be a laboratory to put together the best system" to share with other states.

Meanwhile, Cuomo announced that New York City subways will close from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. during the pandemic in order to disinfect trains and stations.

PHOTO: NYPD and MTA officers search cars for sleeping passengers and direct them to the exits at the 207th Street A-train station, April 30, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (John Minchillo/AP)

The governor said conditions on the subway have "rapidly deteriorated." Even though the Metropolitan Transportation Authority "stepped" up to clean trains and buses every 72 hours -- which Cuomo called "an amazing undertaking" -- he stressed that the disinfecting must ramp up because the virus can live on a surface for hours or even days.

"You have to disinfect every place that a hand could touch on the subway car," Cuomo said. "It is a massive undertaking that we've never done before."

PHOTO: NYPD officers wake up sleeping passengers and direct them to the exits at the 207th Street A-train station, April 30, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (John Minchillo/AP)

11:35 a.m.: Alabama beaches to reopen Thursday night

Alabama beaches will reopen Thursday night as the state's new "safer at home" order goes into effect.

With the new rules, no more than 10 people can be in a group at the beach. Beachgoers must stay 6 feet away from people outside their household.

Pools are also reopening with the new rules. Those at pools must follow the same rules as the beach.

"Our beaches will be open - providing people abide by social distancing & the gatherings guidelines," Gov. Kay Ivey tweeted. "I trust the people of AL to practice personal responsibility while enjoying the Gulf."

SLIDESHOW: Coronavirus outbreak sparks global health emergency

The new "safer at home" order enforces social distancing as some people return to work, Ivey said.

"The threat of #COVID19 isnt over. Were still seeing the virus spread," she cautioned. "Youre urged to wear face coverings around people from other households when you leave your house. Please continue proper hand washing & other good, common-sense hygiene."

10:50 a.m.: Intelligence Community examining origins of the outbreak

The U.S. Intelligence Community agrees with the "wide scientific consensus" that COVID-19 wasn't man-made or genetically modified, according to a statement Thursday.

However, the Intelligence Community says it's continuing to "rigorously" examine "whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."

PHOTO: Passengers wait at a long-distance bus station in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province, on April 30, 2020, ahead of the Labor Day holiday which starts on May 1. (Str/AFP via Getty Images)

"As we do in all crises, the Communitys experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to U.S. national security," the statement added.

10:25 a.m.: NYC distributing free face coverings at busy parks

In New York City, free face coverings are being distributed at high-trafficked parks and hard-hit communities, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.

PHOTO: Medical mask vending machine debuts in New York City, Apr 29, 2020. (Sara Jaye Weiss/REX via Shutterstock )

The mayor also said he's assigning city workers to patrol parks and public spaces to enforce social distancing.

PHOTO: People walk dogs in New York's Times Square, April 29, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

De Blasio called it a "very good day" as he announced the latest numbers.

Of people tested citywide Tuesday, 22% were positive -- down from 23% on Monday.

How accurate is the US coronavirus death count? Some experts say it's off by 'tens of thousands'

There were 129 people admitted to hospitals with coronavirus symptoms on Tuesday, down from 136 on Monday.

And 705 patients were in ICUs on Tuesday, down from 734 on Monday.

As the pandemic continues, New York City is planning to triple testing capacity at community sites, de Blasio said.

PHOTO: Passengers wearing face masks ride the subway, on April 28, 2020, in New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

The city currently has 11 testing sites, and by the week of May 18, the city plans to have 30 sites.

The mayor said there will be 14,000 tests conducted this week, but by the week of May 18 the city hopes to reach 43,000 per week.

9:42 a.m.: Europe remains 'in the grip' of coronavirus pandemic, WHO says

The World Health Organization's European director warned Thursday that the continent remains "in the grip" of the coronavirus pandemic, even as many countries start lifting lockdowns and relaxing other restrictive measures.

"The European region accounts for 46% of cases and 63% of deaths globally," Dr. Hans Kluge said during a press conference in Geneva. "The region remains very much in the grip of this pandemic."

Out of the 44 countries in the WHO Europe's region that have enacted coronavirus-related restrictions, Kluge said 21 have already begun easing those measures and another 11 intend to do so in the coming days.

PHOTO: A logo is pictured on the headquarters of the World Health Organization, ahead of an emergency committee meeting on the novel coronavirus, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Jan. 30, 2020. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

Kluge noted that social distancing measures have helped reduce the number of new COVID-19 cases in the region, saying, "We must monitor this positive development very closely."

But he said France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom still have high caseloads while Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine have all seen increases in cases.

"This virus is unforgiving. We must remain vigilant, persevere and be patient, ready to ramp up measures as and when needed," Kluge said. "COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon."

8:49 a.m.: Japan plans to extend state of emergency

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday he plans to extend the country's state of emergency, which is slated to expire next week.

"I believe it will be difficult to return to our normal daily lives after May 7," Abe told reporters. "We must expect an endurance race to a certain extent."

PHOTO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wears a face mask while answering questions during an upper house budget committee session at the parliament in Tokyo on April 30, 2020. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images)

Abe said he will consult with experts to determine how long the declaration should be extended to curb the country's coronavirus outbreak.

Japan reported more than 200 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 overnight, bringing the nationwide tally to nearly 14,000.

7:50 a.m.: Potential COVID-19 treatment shows 'glimmer of hope,' researcher says

Scientists are optimistic about a potential treatment for COVID-19.

A U.S. government-sponsored clinical trial of the antiviral medication remdesivir began on Feb. 21 and includes more than 1,000 patients around the world. Sixty-eight sites have joined the study -- 47 in the United States and 21 in countries in Europe and Asia. Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, has played a leading role -- the school and an affiliated hospital enrolled 103 patients, more than any other institution in the world.

Preliminary data from the trial shows hospitalized patients with advanced COVID-19 and lung involvement who received the drug recovered faster than similar patients who received a placebo.

"Having taken care of patients for eight weeks now with many colleagues working hard, we have been getting patients better but we are looking to find a medication that helps patients get better more rapidly, get them home to their families and make more room for other patients," Dr. Aneesh Mehta, an infectious diseases expert at Emory University who is leading the trial there, told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos in an interview Thursday on "Good Morning America."

"I think now we have the first glimmer of hope of something that can do that," he added.

PHOTO: Dr. Aneesh Mehta of Emory University appears on 'Good Morning America,' April 30. 2020. (ABC News)

Mehta noted that most antiviral medications tend to work better earlier in the course of disease, so his team would also like to offer remdesivir to patients with milder cases.

"It is an intravenous medicine so can only be given in the hospital," he added, "but we are planning to offer this medicine as early as possible to as many patients that qualify."

Mehta said his team is now looking at other medications to be used in combination with remdesivir.

"We want to learn how remdesivir works for patients, who it works best in and what additional medications or therapies are needed to improve the outcome," he said. "All patients are different, so we want to make sure that we're tailoring their therapy to what their needs are."

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

7:12 a.m.: China reports no new deaths

China reported no new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Thursday morning and just four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, all brought from outside the country.

China has been testing and quarantining people coming into the country from abroad. Imported cases of COVID-19 account for many of China's recent cases.

PHOTO: Travelers wear face masks amid concerns of the novel coronavirus as they arrive from a flight at Beijing Daxing International Airport on the eve of a five-day national holiday in China on April 30, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

China's National Health Commission said Thursday that 619 people remain hospitalized with COVID-19, including 41 in serious condition.

Since the new virus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan back in December, the country has reported 82,862 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,633 deaths.

6:04 a.m.: Russia reports record spike in new cases

The number of people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease in Russia surpassed 100,000 on Thursday, while the death toll topped 1,000.

Russia's coronavirus response headquarters on Thursday morning reported a record daily spike of 7,099 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the tally to 106,498. The death toll from the disease now stands at 1,073, after 101 new fatalities were reported over the past 24 hours -- the second day in a row that Russia has recorded over 100 deaths from COVID-19.

Moscow still has the bulk of the country's reported infections, with 3,093 new cases and 65 more deaths were confirmed in the capital on Thursday morning, according to the coronavirus response headquarters.

PHOTO: A medic gets out from an ambulance at a hospital where patients infected with the novel coronavirus are being treated in the settlement of Kommunarka, outside Moscow, Russia, on April 28, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

Much of Russia has been on lockdown since late March, with residents ordered to stay home and only essential businesses remaining open, including banks, grocery stores and pharmacies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended the lockdown until May 11 on Tuesday and asked his government to put together a plan to slowly reopen the country.

3:57 a.m.: South Korea reports no new local cases for 1st time since February

South Korea reported no new locally transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday for the first time since Feb. 18.

Four new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the past 24 hours, but all were imported from abroad, according to the South Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PHOTO: People visit a public park along the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, on April 30, 2020. South Korea on April 30 reported no new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 for the first time since February. (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

The country's first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on Jan. 20. Since then, at least 10,765 people have been diagnosed with the disease, of which 9,059 have recovered and 247 have died.

South Korean authorities remain concerned about the possibility of new outbreaks and have urged the public to maintain strict social distancing guidelines as the nation enters an extended public holiday that began Thursday.

ABC News' Jamie Aranoff, Dee Carden, Matt Fuhrman, Will Gretsky, Bill Hutchinson, Aaron Katersky, Kelly McCarthy, Patrick Reevell, Joseph Simonetti, Tanya Stukalova and Alisa Wiersema contributed to this report.

California's Orange County closes beaches after photos showed them packed with people originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Joe Biden's campaign released a memo on Thursday announcing that it has come to an agreement with Bernie Sanders' former team to allocate enough statewide delegates at the Democratic National Convention to ensure "fair representation" for the progressive wing of the party.

Why it matters: Now that Sanders won't be the nominee, this is one way for his team to sustain the movement he's built and been a part of for decades  and to give his supporters a sense of representation and power over the Democratic platform.

Near the end of Sanders' campaign, some close allies were already looking past the 1991 delegates necessary to become the nominee  and instead focused on winning enough delegates to have influence over the party rules and platform committees at the convention this summer.

What they're saying:

"While Senator Sanders is no longer actively seeking the nomination, the Biden campaign feels strongly that it is in the best interest of the party and the effort to defeat Donald Trump in November to come to an agreement regarding these issues that will ensure representation of Sanders supporters and delegate candidates, both on the floor and in committees. We must defeat Donald Trump this fall, and we believe that this agreement will help bring the party together to get Trump out of the White House and not only rebuild America, but transform it."

 Biden campaign

The big picture: Sanders lost a chunk of the delegates he won during the Democratic primaries after dropping out. The Biden campaign has agreed to allow statewide delegate slots to be "filled by supporters of the Biden and Sanders campaigns based on the candidates' respective statewide results."

In New York, where the board of election's decision to cancel the primary has prompted intense backlash from Sanders supporters, the two teams are working together to figure out a way for Sanders to win some of those eventual delegates.

Go deeper: Biden and Sanders work toward truce on big issues
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Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 16:42 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd543612 1 Business Indonesia,crude-oil-price,Crash,lockdown,pandemic,price-war,pertamina,explainer,#PostScript Free

Global crude oil prices have crashed to record lows this year as a result of a collapse in the demand for oil amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a price war between the world's major producers, Saudi Arabia and Russia. US crude fell to negative value for first time in history on April 20 as the coronavirus crisis sapped demand and producers ran out of places to store all their excess barrels of crude. Oil prices slightly recovered in the following days as demand, battered by COVID-19 restrictions, started to increase. However, despite the surge, crude prices remain low with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures at $17.75 per barrel and Brent crude at $25.38 a barrel on Thursday, Reuters reported. Experts say the price crash hit the upstream oil industry, which is a major contributor to Indonesias state revenue, hardest. However, they also say the crash provides some relief to midstream players, both fuel refiners and distributors, amid slumping demand for fuel, a commodity mainly used by the transportation sector. The price crash also helped many consumers worldwide save on fuel expenses but not so in Indonesia, which imposed a low price ceiling for fuel distributors just prior to the crash. We are going to be hit from many angles, economist Enrico Tanuwidjaya of Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Downstream

Contrary to other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesias fuel prices have not budged since the crash and local stakeholders have not signaled a discount any time soon, citing multiple reasons.

State-owned oil company Pertamina, which operates over 90 percent of gas stations in the country, frequently says that Indonesias falling demand undermines the need for cheaper fuel.

Company data obtained by the Post shows that Pertaminas gasoline and diesel sales between March and April were, respectively, 16.8 percent and 8.4 percent lower than the previous two months. The fall was mainly caused by the implementation of social restrictions in Indonesias big cities since the middle of March.

Fuel consumption dropped to such an extent that Jakarta's air pollution level fell by a third and two West Java mountains became visible from the notoriously smoggy capital city.

Prices are low but people are not buying our stuff, so we are not earning, Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati told legislators via video conference last week.

Several observers including a trade union, the National Federation of Trade Union (KSPN), previously urged Pertamina and the government to reduce fuel prices to help Indonesias poorest families weather the economic shocks caused by the emergency measures to curb the COVID-19 transmission. The government introduced earlier this year a price ceiling on fuel sales.

Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry spokesman Agung Pribadi, whose ministry issued the price ceiling, countered this argument by pointing out that the governments fuel subsidy program for the poor remains in place.

The government is still observing and evaluating oil price developments, he said in a statement.

Midstream

With falling global gasoline prices and declining domestic fuel demand, Pertamina has plans to import 9.3 million barrels of gasoline and to cut back its monthly crude oil-refining operations by 43 percent starting May over the course of COVID-19.

Pertamina, which operates Indonesias biggest refineries, will execute the steepest output cut for jet fuel or avtur by 66.3 percent and unsubsidized diesel by 72 percent. The former fuel is mainly used by airplanes and the latter by commercial vehicles.

We expect 2020 refining margins to be the weakest in the last 20-25 years, said Sushant Gupta, research director at energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, commenting on the expected performance of Asia Pacific oil refineries this year.

Gupta advises refiners to be flexible in adjusting refinery output to those oil-based products with fastest growing demand. He added that low oil prices provided an opportunity for Asias heavy oil-consuming countries to expedite filling up their petroleum reserves.

In line with Wood Mackenzies analysis, Pertaminas Nicke told legislators that the company was looking to diversify its refinery output into petrochemicals. The state-owned company also rented three oil tankers while prowling for a fourth tanker to stockpile cheap oil.

However, Nicke said that, going forward, the company would not purchase more storage space because tanker rental prices were soaring as many other countries implement similar hoarding strategies.

Upstream

Falling crude oil prices have forced Indonesia to revise down its annual oil production target, setting the country a step back from its ambition of becoming a self-sufficient oil economy.

The Upstream Oil and Gas Special Regulatory Taskforce (SKK Migas), initially bent on maintaining 2020 targets, recently revised down by 4 percent to 725,000 barrels of oil per day (mbopd), amid mounting economic pressure.

We are looking for ways out so that changes arent that big, said SKK Migas head Dwi Soetjipto.

Indonesias top two homegrown oil producers, Pertamina and privately owned PT Medco Energi Internasional, have cut back upstream production targets by 29,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) and up to 10,000 boepd, respectively.

Pertamina projects its upstream revenue to fall by up to 59 percent below initial expectations this year under a worst-case scenario, whereby the national benchmark Indonesian Crude Price (ICP) averages $31 per barrel this year.

Economy

Two economists told the Post that the crash will likely have a negative impact on Indonesias state revenues but positive impact on the country's current account deficit (CAD) as the decline in the US dollar spending for oil imports will reduce the deficit.

A sizeable portion of the countrys CAD, which puts pressure on the rupiah exchange rate, comes from oil imports.

The economists expect state revenue shortfalls from the oil and gas industry to exceed savings from fuel subsidies, which are expected to fall due to the decline in demand. The government had, prior to the pandemic, expected to earn Rp 127.3 trillion from the industry and spend Rp 18.7 trillion on fuel subsidies this year.

So a marginal benefit plus a relatively significant impact on crude revenue then, on a net basis, fiscally, its negative but for the CAD it will actually help narrow it, said economist Enrico.

We import crude and fuel in huge volumes  around 800,000 barrels per day  but with such low prices then the import value of that crude and fuel becomes very cheap, said energy economist Fahmy Radhi of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) on Wednesday.

However, Fahmy said that falling crude prices also risked derailing the value of Indonesias other commodity exports such as metal ores and coal, whose international trade prices are tied to oil prices, among other variables.
T he southern Italian region of Calabria has given the go-ahead for pizzerias, bars and restaurants with open-air tables to reopen, sparking a rift today with the central government.

Calabria president Jole Santelli said that open-air markets, including street vending and bakeries would also be allowed to resume business in the countrys tourist-friendly toe.

Ms Santelli, a centre-Right Forza Italia party politician, said she was making the changes to show trust in residents after official figures revealed only one registered coronavirus death there. Starting tomorrow, the reopening of bars, bakeries, restaurants and pizzerias  where tables can be out in the open  will be consented, Ms Santelli said in a statement last night.

Calabrians have shown a civic sense and respect for the rules in recent weeks. It is right that, today, the region puts their trust in them. They will be able to demonstrate common sense in managing the new open spaces that the region has decided to allow.

But Ms Santellis attempt to ease the lockdown ahead of a timetable set out by the national government produced a stern warning from Rome. Regional affairs minister Francesco Boccia said the regions must show the same unity as that requested from citizens. He threatened to send an order to Ms Santelli to halt the relaxation.

Under a national blueprint for easing the lockdown, unveiled by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, bars and restaurants are meant to remain closed until June, except for takeaway services.

In Spain, where the death toll of more than 24,000 is not far behind Italys, the government today announced the economy had suffered a 5.2 per cent contraction in the first quarter. The bleak figure follows a recent warning by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that his country is facing a recession of extraordinary scale. The number of fatalities recorded overnight fell to 268, the lowest tally in nearly six weeks.

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In Germany, the number of recorded infections rose today by 1,627  the highest increase in four days  as Chancellor Angela Merkel prepared to consult state premiers on whether to lift more of the lockdown restrictions following the early relaxation which has allowed small shops to reopen and some other activities. There has been speculation that a possible rise in infections since the curbs were eased could lead to some being reimposed.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats want to undo a provision in coronavirus legislation that bars families with mixed immigration status from receiving stimulus payments from the Internal Revenue Service.

We want to address the mixed-family issue, the San Francisco Democrat said at her weekly news conference Thursday, without committing to it being part of the next bill the House passes on the pandemic.

At issue are payments up to $2,400 for married couples who file their taxes jointly and $500 each for dependent children. Legislation that Congress passed in March authorizing the payments excludes people who file with an individual taxpayer identification number, which is used by taxpaying undocumented immigrants who do not have Social Security numbers.

That exclusion means that families in which one spouse is a citizen but the other is not, and those in which the parents are undocumented but their children are U.S. citizens, are ineligible for the payments.

Pelosi declined to give specifics on how Democrats would seek to change the provision. She said she is scheduled to have a call Friday with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York and the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas.

We have been working to get the tax identification number as a basis for how people would get direct payments, Pelosi said. I myself cannot understand why the tax number is not the basis for how some of this money is distributed, so well be making that case.

The speaker also responded to a question about supporting undocumented immigrants more broadly than the stimulus payments. She said she is pleased that the Federal Reserve is looking at ways to extend lending programs to nonprofits, including those that work with immigrants.

California has partnered with nonprofits to set up a $125 million fund to give cash payments to undocumented immigrants in the state.

Pelosi praised such efforts, saying, We are well served if we recognize that everybody in our country is part of our community and ... helping to grow the economy. Most of what we are doing is to meet the needs of people, but its all stimulus, so we shouldnt cut the stimulus off.

The exclusion of mixed-status families from the federal payments is the subject of a lawsuit in Maryland. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund argues the provision is unconstitutional because it treats married couples of mixed status differently than citizen married couples.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
[April 30, 2020] Parade Technologies Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Parade Technologies, Ltd. (Taipei Exchange: 4966.TWO), a leading high-speed interface IC supplier, today announced financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2020 ended March 31, 2020, and provided guidance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Consolidated revenue was US$98.36 million and consolidated net income was US$20.69 million. Basic and fully diluted after-tax earnings per share ("EPS") were US$0.27 (NT$8.00) and US$0.26 (NT$7.79), respectively. These results compared to consolidated revenue US$93.72 million and consolidated net income of US$18.59 million, or US$0.24 (NT$7.42) and US$0.23 (NT$7.13) per basic and fully diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. In US dollars, the first quarter of 2020 consolidated revenue increased 2.27% sequentially and was up 4.95% year-over-year. The gross profit in the first quarter of 2020 was US$43.90 million, representing an increase of 3.87% from the previous quarter and an increase of 11.86% compared to the same quarter of last year. Based on current business outlook, Parade is providing the following guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2020: Revenue: US$105 ~115 Million

Gross Margin: 41.5% ~44.5%

Operating Expense: US$23 ~24 Million The financial figures detailed above for the first quarter of 2020 have been reviewed by independent accountants. About Parade Technologies, Ltd. Parade Technologies, Ltd. is a leading supplier of mixed-signal ICs for a variety of popular display and high-speed interface standards used in computers, consumer electronics and display panels. The fabless semiconductor company was founded in 2005 and publicly listed on Taipei Exchange ("TPEx") in 2011 (stock code: 4966). Parade's portfolio of IC products serves the growing demand for HDMI, DisplayPort, SATA, and USB ICs for display, storage and interface applications. In addition to being a technology innovator, Parade is an active participant and leader in industry standards-setting organizations. Parade Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned US-based subsidiary of Parade Technologies, Ltd., is a member of VESA (Video Electronics Standard Association). Parade Technologies, Inc. has made key contributions to the development of VESA's DisplayPort digital video interface standard. Parade leverages its close relationships with market leading Tier-1 OEMs to develop ICs that provide unique system capabilities. Many of the company's devices integrate proprietary technologies that offer superior system signal integrity, advanced system integration and enhanced power efficiency. As a result of the company's "standards-plus" design philosophy, Parade ICs have been designed into products offered by nearly every leading computer and display vendor worldwide.







Parade Technologies, Ltd. and Subsidiaries. The reader is advised that these consolidated financial statements have been prepared originally in NT$ and conformed with the adoption of IFRSs. In the event of any differences between NT$ and US$ version, the NT$ version shall prevail. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME USD in Thousands NTD in Thousands Sequential Quarter Three Months ended Sequential Quarter Three Months ended Mar 31, Dec 31, Mar 31, Mar 31, Mar 31, Dec 31, Mar 31, Mar 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 Revenue 98,360 96,180 98,360 93,720 2,961,629 2,931,558 2,961,629 2,889,378 Cost of goods sold 54,462 53,919 54,462 54,478 1,639,853 1,643,425 1,639,853 1,679,571 Gross profit 43,898 42,261 43,898 39,242 1,321,776 1,288,133 1,321,776 1,209,807 Research & development expenses 13,898 13,962 13,898 12,787 418,478 425,578 418,478 394,207 Sales & marketing expenses 4,864 4,821 4,864 4,535 146,442 146,912 146,442 139,814 General & administrative expenses 3,641 3,704 3,641 3,100 109,645 112,903 109,645 95,577 Total operating expenses 22,403 22,487 22,403 20,422 674,565 685,393 674,565 629,598 Operating income 21,495 19,774 21,495 18,820 647,211 602,740 647,211 580,209 Non-operating income and expenses 817 1,007 817 525 24,608 30,678 24,608 16,201 Income before income taxes 22,312 20,781 22,312 19,345 671,819 633,418 671,819 596,410 Income tax expense 1,625 66 1,625 755 48,928 2,001 48,928 23,273 Net income 20,687 20,715 20,687 18,590 622,891 631,417 622,891 573,137 EPS - Basic (In Dollar) $0.27 $0.27 $0.27 $0.24 $8.00 $8.18 $8.00 $7.42 Shares used in computing EPS-Basic (In thousands) 77,872 77,194 77,872 77,228 77,872 77,194 77,872 77,228 EPS - Diluted (In Dollar) $0.26 $0.26 $0.26 $0.23 $7.79 $7.98 $7.79 $7.13 Shares used in computing EPS-Diluted (In thousands) 79,965 79,132 79,965 80,332 79,965 79,132 79,965 80,332

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS USD in Thousands NTD in Thousands As of March 31, 2020 and 2019 Mar 31, Mar 31, Mar 31, Mar 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Current assets Cash & cash equivalents 282,212 203,678 8,531,276 6,277,354 Accounts receivable, net 45,960 51,892 1,389,371 1,599,309 Inventories, net 31,576 35,399 954,540 1,090,995 Prepayments 10,881 6,195 328,922 190,929 Other current assets 11,289 9,624 341,257 296,618 Total current assets 381,918 306,788 11,545,366 9,455,205 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment, net 9,346 10,047 282,538 309,639 Right-of-use assets 5,581 6,590 168,721 203,108 Intangible assets 77,367 82,812 2,338,795 2,552,250 Deferred income tax assets 3,922 2,239 118,550 69,009 Other non-current assets 854 883 25,824 27,232 Total non-current assets 97,070 102,571 2,934,428 3,161,238 Total Assets 478,988 409,359 14,479,794 12,616,443 Current Liabilities Accounts payable 28,035 23,454 847,490 722,867 Other payables 21,116 17,767 638,316 547,571 Current income tax liabilities 17,182 16,800 519,418 517,773 Lease liabilities - current 2,010 2,055 60,774 63,333 Other current liabilities 7,913 6,921 239,206 213,295 Total current liabilities 76,256 66,997 2,305,204 2,064,839 Non current Liabilities Lease liabilities - non-current 3,571 4,535 107,947 139,775 Total non current liabilities 3,571 4,535 107,947 139,775 Equity Ordinary shares 26,326 26,058 799,611 791,299 Capital reserves 104,245 93,031 3,171,706 2,812,895 Retained earnings 292,406 243,192 8,958,168 7,452,955 Other equity (20,520 ) (17,862 ) (761,117 ) (441,870 ) Treasury shares (3,296 ) (6,592 ) (101,725 ) (203,450 ) Total equity 399,161 337,827 12,066,643 10,411,829 Total liabilities and equity 478,988 409,359 14,479,794 12,616,443 UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS USD in Thousands NTD in Thousands For three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 Mar 31, Mar 31, Mar 31, Mar 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Cash flows from operating activities Income before income tax for the period 22,312 19,345 671,819 596,410 Depreciation and amortization (including the right-of-use assets) 3,493 3,661 105,163 112,876 Share-based compensation cost 2,626 2,118 81,086 65,334 Interest income (815 ) (654 ) (24,539 ) (20,155 ) Income and expenses having no effect on cash flows 5,304 5,125 161,710 158,055 Accounts receivable (6,016 ) (5,948 ) (181,852 ) (183,308 ) Inventories (96 ) 402 (2,886 ) 12,374 Prepayments (2,537 ) 538 (76,696 ) 16,665 Other current assets 397 1,215 12,006 37,351 Net changes in assets relating to operating activities (8,252 ) (3,793 ) (249,428 ) (116,918 ) Accounts payable 1,811 (8,172 ) 54,742 (251,861 ) Other payables (3,524 ) (2,581 ) (106,531 ) (79,566 ) Other current liabilities 1,572 (394 ) 47,511 (12,137 ) Net changes in liabilities relating to operating activities (141 ) (11,147 ) (4,278 ) (343,564 ) Cash provided by operations 19,223 9,530 579,823 293,983 Interest received 815 654 24,539 20,155 Income tax paid (6,725 ) (235 ) (202,501 ) (7,238 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 13,313 9,949 401,861 306,900 Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of equipment (1,117 ) (418 ) (33,633 ) (12,899 ) Acquisition of intangible assets (240 ) (1,620 ) (7,216 ) (49,944 ) Decrease (Increase) in refundable deposits 12 (75 ) 349 (2,298 ) Net cash used in investing activities (1,345 ) (2,113 ) (40,500 ) (65,141 ) Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options 298 337 8,967 10,390 Repayment of the principal portion of lease liabilities (413 ) (477 ) (12,422 ) (14,691 ) Cash dividend regain from canceled share-based compensation 43 15 1,295 448 Net cash used in financing activities (72 ) (125 ) (2,160 ) (3,853 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (64 ) 266 66,075 27,520 Net Increase in cash and cash equivalents 11,832 7,977 425,276 265,426 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 270,380 195,701 8,106,000 6,011,928 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 282,212 203,678 8,531,276 6,277,354 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005422/en/

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[April 30, 2020] Arch Capital Group Ltd. Pledges $1 Million to Aid COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (Arch) today announced plans to make $1 million in corporate donations, double its employee giving match for charitable contributions and establish an employee assistance fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Arch's initial pledge will aid organizations primarily focused on food insecurity, health issues in underserved and high-risk communities and providing front-line responders with protective equipment and essential medical items related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation will support charities around the world where the company has large employee populations, along with contributions to organizations with a global impact. A list of charities selected by the company is provided below. In addition to the corporate donations, Arch is temporarily enhancing its corporate match for employees' charitable contributions from 1:1 to 2:1 to strengthen employees' ability to impact the charities most meaningful to them. "The scale and speed of this pandemic has been devastating around the globe," said Marc Grandisson, Arch President and Chief Executive Officer. "Striving to make a difference and investing in our communities are part of our corporate values, and we are committed to supporting those affected by this crisis." Additionally, Arch has established an employee assistance fund, Arch Cares: COVID-19 Employee Assistance Fund for Financial Hardships. The fund will provide monetary support to eligible employees with financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer Centrone, Chief Human Resources Officer, said, "We recognize the pandemic has directly affected the overall financial well-being of some of our employees' family members. By creating this fund, we hope to ease the strain on those employees in what is already a difficult situation." Donation Recipients Global COVID Solidarity Response Fund for World Health Organization Australia The Smith Family Children's Charity Bermuda The Bermuda Community Foundation

Vision Bermuda

Bermuda Family Centre - Hardship Program

Age Concern

Eliza Doolittle Society



Canada Sunnybrook Foundation

Daily Bread Food Bank

Operation Harvest Sharing



Cyprus Cyprus Red Cross Society



Hus Forbi Hong Kong

Hong Kong Red Cross Ireland Cystic Fibrosis Ireland Philippines Philippines Red Cross

Lung Center of the Philippines



Spain Caritas Diocesana Switzerland Gluckskette

Swiss Philanthropy

United Kingdom NHS Charities Together

Age UK

PPE for NHS



United States National First Responders Children's Foundation

Direct Relief

Red Cross Coronavirus Outbreak Fund

MBA Opens Doors Foundation



Connecticut PPE for UConn Healthcare New Jersey Jersey Battered Women's Services

Sage Elder Care

Holy Name Medical Center

One Simple Wish North Carolina Guilford Education Alliance - Laptop Project

No Kid Hungry North Carolina Texas Frisco Fast Pacs



About Arch Capital Group Ltd. Arch Capital Group Ltd., a Bermuda-based company with approximately $13.23 billion in capital at Dec. 31, 2019, provides insurance, reinsurance and mortgage insurance on a worldwide basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. This release or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of Arch Capital Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or their negative or variations or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements involve our current assessment of risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. A non-exclusive list of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements includes the following: adverse general economic and market conditions; increased competition; pricing and policy term trends; fluctuations in the actions of rating agencies and our ability to maintain and improve our ratings; investment performance; the loss of key personnel; the adequacy of our loss reserves, severity and/or frequency of losses, greater than expected loss ratios and adverse development on claim and/or claim expense liabilities; greater frequency or severity of unpredictable natural and man-made catastrophic events, including pandemics such as COVID-19; the impact of acts of terrorism and acts of war; changes in regulations and/or tax laws in the United States or elsewhere; our ability to successfully integrate, establish and maintain operating procedures as well as integrate the businesses we have acquired or may acquire into the existing operations; changes in accounting principles or policies; material differences between actual and expected assessments for guaranty funds and mandatory pooling arrangements; availability and cost to us of reinsurance to manage our gross and net exposures; the failure of others to meet their obligations to us; and other factors identified in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other cautionary statements that are included herein or elsewhere. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005777/en/

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The German government is bracing for the "worst recession" in the country's history, with gross domestic product (GDP) expected to fall by 6.3 percent this year, Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier announced on Wednesday.

Germany's export-oriented economy is currently exposed to "massive foreign and massive domestic shocks," stressed Altmaier.

For 2020, the official spring projection of the German government says that exports would fall 11.6 percent and private consumption would drop "significantly" by 7.4 percent due to the closure of shops and other businesses

Investment in capital goods is also expected to fall by 5 percent in 2020, while cyclical investment in equipment would fall by as much as 15.1 percent, Altmaier said.

For 2021, a recovery of 5.2 percent "in the course of the catch-up process" is forecast in the spring projection. Pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels would be reached again at the beginning of 2022.

However, the forecast rests on the assumption that there would be no serious regression in the incidence of infections either in Germany or internationally, and that economic activities could be resumed "gradually" in May and June.

Altmaier stressed that it was a "positive sign" that German automobile manufacturers Daimler and Volkswagen had already restarted production and were in the process of gradually ramping up operations.

The labor market in Germany is "coming under heavy pressure," said Altmaier. According to the forecast, unemployment is expected to rise from the current 5.1 percent to an average 5.8 percent in 2020.

"The federal government's spring projection clearly shows how serious the situation of the German economy is," commented Joachim Lang, head of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), on Wednesday.

Lang said the government should "launch an economic stimulus package as quickly as possible in order to get industrial production back on track and to get through the phases of economic stabilization and recovery."
DUBAI, UAE, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Teleperformance Middle East has been certified as one of the 'Best Workplaces in the UAE and Saudi Arabia' by global benchmark Great Place to Work (GPTW), ranking amongst the top 30 in UAE and top 10 in Saudi Arabia. This also marks Teleperformance's eleventh Employer recognition award this year.

The award evaluates success based on a comprehensive satisfaction survey and external audit. Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain and recognise outstanding workplace cultures and is considered as an authority in the construction of high performance and high trust culture companies in more than 60 countries.

Telepeformance in the Middle East has more than 7000 staff with over 1500 across UAE and Saudi Arabia and over 35 different nationalities. During the COVID-19 crisis, Teleperformance has prioritised the safety of its diverse employees by implementing successful work at home strategies whilst ensuring staff remain engaged and happy.

Dr. Michael Burchell, CEO, Great Place to Work Middle East, comments: "We congratulate Teleperformance on being certified as a great work place in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and for excelling in all five dimensions of the Great Place to Work Model - Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride and Camaraderie."





He added: "The Best Workplaces list recognizes organizations that have demonstrated a truly serious commitment to creating workplaces that foster trust, pride and camaraderie amongst their employees. Being part of the Best Workplaces lists in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Teleperformance team should be proud of this noteworthy accomplishment. Congratulations to all their teams in both countries."

Piety Gonsalves, CEO, Teleperformance Middle East, comments: "This award is a proud achievement for us. This recognition is a testament to our people-centric culture and motivates us to continue creating an engaging and agile environment conducive to a successful 'high tech, high touch' operation. Our intention was to know if employees are happy and engaged, and we are genuinely grateful to all our employees who together nurture a working environment where our shared values of trust, pride and pleasure play an important role."

Piety concludes: "Our focus on empowering employees through providing growth opportunities, effective engagement and re-skilling is something we take pride in, and it's very fulfilling to see our commitment to these programs translate into Teleperformance Middle East becoming a leading workplace. We believe our dedication towards ensuring the wellbeing of our diverse workforce in the wider community is crucial to our success, even in a crisis."

About Teleperformance Group

Teleperformance (Paris: TEP) (ISIN: FR0000051807) (Reuters: TEPRF.PA) (Bloomberg: TEP FP), a leading global group in digitally integrated business services, serves as a strategic partner to the world's largest companies in many industries. It offers a One Office support services model combining three wide, high-value solution families: customer experience management, back-office services and business process knowledge services. These end-to-end digital solutions guarantee successful customer interaction and optimized business processes, anchored in a unique, comprehensive high tech, high touch approach. The Group's 331,000 employees, based in 80 countries, support billions of connections every year in over 265 languages and 170 markets, in a shared commitment to excellence as part of the "Simpler, Faster, Safer" process. This mission is supported by the use of reliable, flexible, intelligent technological solutions and compliance with the industry's highest security and quality standards, based on Corporate Social Responsibility excellence. In 2019, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 5,355 million (US$ 6 billion, based on 1 = $1.12) and net profit of 400 million.

Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC Large 60, CAC Next 20, CAC Support Services, STOXX 600, SBF 120, S&P Europe 350 and MSCI Global Standard. They have also been included in the Euronext Vigeo Eurozone 120 index since December 2015 and the FTSE4Good Index since June 2018 with regard to the Group's performance in corporate responsibility.

For more information: www.teleperformance.com

Follow us on Twitter @teleperformance

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STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- Jeep Babes of Ohio, Strongsville residents and family members and employees of Altenheim Senior Living recently got together to put big smiles on residents faces with a drive-by parade.

Parade participants, which included more than 40 cars, met up in Strongsville, then one by one made their way to the Altenheim Senior Living campus, where residents awaited this lovely gesture.

As the Jeeps and cars started to roll in -- all decorated with signs, balloons, streamers, etc. -- they were surprised to see that the residents had put up signs and decorations of their own to welcome them.

Chrissy Norris, resident companion in the Memory Assisted Living Building, said: Although the parade was for the residents, it even made us as employees feel appreciated, as well. Participants of the parade were screaming thank you to us.

Life has been very different for the past two months. The coronavirus has affected everyone in the world, whether they have contracted the illness or not. While it has been extremely hard for families and friends to not be able to directly visit senior loved ones, this parade helped to make up for some of that lost time.

On top of all of the craziness due to COVID-19, the weather here in Northeast Ohio has been almost just as crazy. This day, they lucked out with beautiful 60-degree weather for the parade, which enabled many residents to be able to come outside and actually speak in person to their family members and friends (from a distance, of course.)

It was a great way to have the residents interact with the people they love most while keeping them safe.

Residents of Altenheim Senior Living show their thanks to a parade of decorated cars driven by Jeep Babes of Ohio, Strongsville residents, family members and employees. (Photo Courtesy of Stacy Stahurski)

This heartwarming event would not have happened without the generosity and creative thinking of Strongsville resident and Jeep Babes of Ohio member Jen Kovach. Earlier in April, at a Facebook mask-making event for COVID-19, Jen reached out to one of Altenheims resident companions, Elise Demeter, who was also part of the event, to help organize the parade.

Jen was able to create a very happy day for the residents and many of their loved ones. Altenheim Senior Living would like to send a big thank you to Jen for spreading positivity during a very difficult time.

Honor students: Polaris Career Center recently inducted 90 students into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). NTHS is Americas highest award for excellence in career and technical education.

NTHS mission is to honor student achievement and leadership, promote educational excellence and enhance career opportunities for the organizations members. Fewer than 2 percent of Americas secondary students are nominated for membership into this prestigious organization. Nominees are evaluated based on scholarship, service, leadership and character.

To be eligible, Polaris students must meet the following requirements:

Earn all As in their Polaris program

Maintain a 95 percent or higher attendance rate

Maintain a 3.0 accumulative grade point average

Polaris Campus Inductees from Strongsville High School include:

 Katelyn DeBow, Junior, Exercise Science & Rehab Therapy

 Mariya Dydyk, Junior, Digital Art & Design

 Tyler Houghton, Junior, Precision CNC Machining

 Alexandria Kimmel, Senior, Criminal Justice

 Margaret Micko, Junior, Medical Professions

 Ryan Nelson, Senior, Electronics & Alternative Energy

 Jessa Styles, Junior, EMT/Fire Training

 Liliya Svydenyuk, Senior, Medical Professions

For the third straight year, Polaris also inducted satellite program students into the National Technical Honor Society. Those students are enrolled in Polaris programs housed at each partner high school.

Polaris Satellite Inductees from Strongsville High School are:

 Matthew Budney, Junior, Engineering

 Jacob Koshel, Junior, Engineering

 Rohan Patel, Junior, Engineering

 Alexia Scarvelli, Junior, Engineering

 Julia Spicer, Junior, Engineering

 Seth Welch, Junior, Engineering

 Matthew Williams, Senior, Engineering

 Cameron Wolf, Junior, Engineering

For the birds: With the current COVID-19 healthcare crisis, Kemper House is taking extra precautions to keep their most vulnerable population, their Alzheimers and dementia residents, safe. With no visitors allowed, theyre looking for innovative ways to engage their residents in a more meaningful way.

They are hoping to bring wildlife a little closer by reaching out to the community for donations of birdhouses and bird feeders.

Kemper House recognizes that nature is one of our best medicines and the definite advantages of attracting birds to their residences. Bird feeders bring the dynamic natural world into the slower world of an Alzheimers facility.

The colors, movements and sounds of birds have been found to be soothing and calming for someone with dementia. Feeding and watching birds gives residents a connection with the outside world and can reduce isolation, agitation, anxiety and depression.

Kemper House is accepting donations of birdhouses, bird feeders and bird food to engage their Alzheimers and dementia residents. (Photo Courtesy of Westend61)Getty Images/Westend61

Residents with Alzheimers disease or other dementias often struggle to stay connected to their surroundings. With over 5 million Americans now living with the debilitating effects of Alzheimers disease, Kemper House is striving to keep residents meaningfully engaged and active; bird feeders and birdhouses are a simple yet effective way to do this.

If you, your family or your organization would like to build or donate birdhouses, bird feeders or bird food, contact Jennifer Nance at jnance@kemperhouse.com or 440-823-9870.

Kemper House is a family-owned and -operated residential care facility that specializes in caring for individuals with all stages and all types of Alzheimers disease and related dementias up to and including end-of-life and hospice care. They provide long-term care, adult daycare and short-term respite stays in Strongsville and Highland Heights.

Let the Strongsville community know what is going on with your organization, church, school, business or family. Email me at shirleymac48@att.net.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks rose modestly on Thursday, with a strong rally in oil prices, positive results from remdesivir drug trial and the Fed's assurances on helping the economy helping underpin investor sentiment ahead of European Central Bank meeting later today. Investors shrugged off data showing that the French economy saw its sharpest economic contraction since World War II in the first quarter due to the containment measures taken to curb the spread of coronavirus. GDP fell 5.8 percent sequentially in the first quarter, the biggest decline since the series began in 1949, according to preliminary data from the statistical office Insee. Economists had forecast a 3.5 percent fall. The benchmark CAC 40 was up 13 points, or 0.29 percent, at 4,684 after gaining 2.2 percent the previous day. Safran shares jumped more than 4 percent. Chief Executive Philippe Petitcolin told reporters the aerospace supplier remained on 'solid' foundations with 3.2 billion euros of cash and cash equivalents on March 31. Plane maker Airbus soared 5 percent on reports that it was in talks with the French state regarding possible aid. Utility Suez gained 2 percent. Declines in volumes have largely stopped by end of April and governments appear determined to drive the progressive exit from containment from May onward, the company said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
By Daniel Wiessner and Tom Hals

April 30 (Reuters) - U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia on Thursday defended his department's handling of workplace safety during the coronavirus pandemic, saying "the cop is on the beat" in response to union criticism about a lack of directives to protect workers.

In a letter to Richard Trumpka, president of the AFL-CIO federation of unions, Scalia said the workplace safety agency known as OSHA has been investigating thousands of complaints.

Scalia said OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is taking a two-pronged approach by providing industry-specific guidance that it could enforce if employers fail to adopt it.

OSHA is charged with setting and policing national working conditions.

Workplace safety is emerging as a major point of tension as businesses begin to reopen from mandatory lockdowns imposed to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

Workers have protested safety conditions at fast-food restaurants, hospitals and warehouses, while businesses have lobbied Congress for legal shields to protect them against lawsuits from employees and customers.

OSHA has come under increasing pressure to take a tougher approach.

The agency issued on Sunday new guidelines, such as spacing workers and implementing temperature checks, for meat-processing plants after many closed following COVID-19 outbreaks among their workers.

Unions and Democrats in Congress have been pressuring OSHA to issue emergency temporary standards that they have said would be easier to enforce than the guidance issued by OSHA, which they argue lacks teeth.

Scalia said employers, relying on OSHA'S flexible and tailored guidance, are already doing the very things the unions want to accomplish through an emergency standard.

"Employers are implementing measures to protect workers, in workplaces across the country," he wrote.

Scalia also rejected Trumpka's request that all employers be required to report COVID-19 infections, saying that doing so would "burden employers and overwhelm OSHA."

The agency in March eased the requirements for determining when an employer has to report an infected worker, a change businesses had pushed for because they said it was difficult to determine if an employee had become infected at work. Worker advocates have said the change could undermine a sick employee's access to workers compensation insurance. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware Editing by Noeleen Walder and Leslie Adler)
Aspo Plc

Press Release

April 30, 2020 at 2:30 pm



Aspo Plc's January-March 2020 interim report to be published on May 5, 2020



Aspo Plc will publish its January-March 2020 interim report on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at approximately 10:00 a.m. EEST. The report will be available at www.aspo.comafter publication.

In order to protect its personnel and stakeholders in the exceptional circumstances caused by the coronavirus situation, Aspo will not hold its traditional press and analyst conference in connection with the announcement of the Q1 interim report. The CEO's presentation on the first quarter of 2020 will be published on May 5, 2020 at 12:00 noon, and the broadcast can be viewed at https://aspo.videosync.fi/2020-q1-results. The video recording will then also be made available on the company's website.

A separate Q&A telephone conference (in Finnish) will also be arranged for analysts, investors and the media on May 5, 2020 at 2 p.m. You can participate in the conference call without pre-registering by calling +358 981 710 310 and dialing 47213654#.



ASPO PLC



Aki Ojanen

CEO



For further information, please contact:

Keijo Keranen, Group Treasurer, +358 400 955 821, keijo.keranen@aspo.com



DISTRIBUTION:

Key media

www.aspo.com



Aspo is a conglomerate that owns and develops business operations in the Northern Europe and growth markets focusing on demanding B-to-B customers. Our strong company brands - ESL Shipping, Leipurin, Telko and Kauko - aim to be the market leaders in their sectors. They are responsible for their own operations, customer relationships, and the development of these. Together they generate Aspo's goodwill. Aspo's Group structure and business operations are continually developed without any predefined schedules.
Ghostpoet doesnt care about making his audience feel safe. The 37-year-olds songs are dark, uncomfortable things, designed to mirror to his innermost thoughts on politics, race, power and sex.

His fifth album, I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep, follows 2017s Dark Days + Canapes, where the artist born Obaro Ejimiwe combined Tricky-esque trip hop with post-rock influences, stark strings and bare-bones synths  all set against a backdrop of hedonism and paranoia.

I havent reached my peak, he prophesied on that albums Woe is Meee, and now he proves he was right. After working with producer Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, David Holmes), Ejimiwe chose to produce this record himself. Gone is much of the external noise  typewriter clatters, vinyl crackles and the whir of bicycle spokes  replaced by ambitiously ornate compositions.

As on Dark Days, I Grow Tired feels spookily prescient. The doomsday anxiety caused by a post-Brexit and Trump world has morphed into fully fledged panic: Ejimiwe imagines a dystopian wasteland full of shadows and vermin. Sack Full of Rats uses the EU Leavers refrain of out means out from his perspective as a child of immigrants (his parents are from Nigeria and Dominica). The buzzsaw of a violin opens Humana Second Hand, where Ejimiwe mutters: Once again, the happy pills aint doing s***.

Songs such as Nowhere to Hide Now and Breaking Cover borrow Gang of Fours scratchy, post-punk electric guitar twangs; other tracks move slowly, building tension. But what Ejimiwe really reminds me of here is Tom Waits  from his fascination with mortality to the delight both artists take in sounds designed to unsettle. Youd be forgiven for mistaking the chimes on Concrete Pony for the dry clack of bones.

There are the briefest of moments when Ejimiwes artistry becomes too self-conscious. Yes, inviting artists such as Artschool Girlfriend and SaraSara in order to explore notions of gender works very well on When Mouths Collide, a sort of haunted house version of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkins Je taime moi non plus. But actual French  a huskily delivered reading of one of his poems on This Trainwreck of a Life  smacks of trying too hard.

By Social Lacerations, though, Ejimiwe is at the height of his observational prowess, examining the damage caused by selfie culture, social conflict and disillusionment. Those scars may not always be visible, he seems to say, but theyre there.
Despite Johnny Depp's successful career, he continues to struggle financially. Unfortunately, it is because of his own doing and not due to his relationship with Amber Heard.

Depp shocked the world when he agreed to pay Heard a $7 million settlement when they got divorced in 2017. Although it was truly a massive amount, it was actually just a pinch of his net worth.

The 56-year-old "Pirates of the Caribbean" star originally had a net worth around $400 million before it plummeted to $200 million. However, according to the report released by Rolling Stone, he took home $650 million on his films that netted $3.6 billion.

Surprisingly, the magazine pointed out that almost all of his money is now gone and neither the "Aquaman" star nor his former partner Vanessa Paradi ( who got $127 million after their split) are to be blamed.

The financial troubles of Depp started when he filed a lawsuit against The Management Group (TMG), a company being managed by his long time manager Joel Mandel and his brother Robert for alleged negligence, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty.

According to Stephen Rodrick in his article titled "The Trouble With Johnny Depp," the suit submitted by the actor stated that TMG gave Depp's sister, Christi, and his assistant, Nathan Holmes, $7 million and $750,000 respectively without informing Depp.

Because of this, the "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" star sought more than $25 million from the company for allegedly taking tens of millions from him plus additional damages.

However, TMG counter-sued and stated that the actor owed them for a long list of unpaid services. They also added that Depp's unfortunate financial situation then was due to his lavish lifestyle.

In the end, the two parties settled their case during a mediation session for an undisclosed amount, according to Deadline.

"Johnny Depp is pleased to have achieved a settlement agreement with The Management Group following the legal action he took against the company in January 2017," a spokesperson for Depp said.

Though it seemed like the end of Depp's financial struggles, the worst came to hit him again.

Depp's Expensive Lifestyle

In the lawsuit filed by the Mandels that contradicted Depp's claims, they revealed that the actor has a $2 million-a-month compulsory spending disorder, and most of it was spent on wines.

"It's insulting to say that I spent $30,000 on wine," the actor disagreed. "Because it was far more."

Depp also allegedly reserved $200,000 of his fortune per month for his private jet.

Aside from these lavish purchases, Depp also bought an entire chain of islands in the Bahamas for $3.6 million back in 2004. When he faced money problems, J.K Rowling saved him by buying his $18-million yacht -- in which he spent hundreds of thousands monthly for its maintenance.

With this luxurious and opulent lifestyle he has, it is not that surprising for him to lose his profits from his award-winning movies and suffer from financial struggles for years.
[April 30, 2020] Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Directs $260,000 to Address Ohio Food Insecurity in Response to COVID-19

The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation announced today new Ohio grants totaling $260,000 to Ohio-based Boys & Girls Clubs, Feeding America organizations and the Children's Hunger Alliance to address food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19. The grants are part of a $2 million commitment that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its Foundation have made to support nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the pandemic. The Foundation has been working with partner nonprofit organizations to support emergency response, food access, personal protective equipment supplies, education, cancer support, and virtual youth programming. Approximately $1.1 million has already been committed to organizations across the state, with another $900,000 slated for emerging needs in the coming weeks and months. "We have nearly 4 million members and 4,200 associates working and living in every corner of this state - we're deeply committed to improving lives and communities here," said Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio President Steve Martenet. "We're in this together and in addition to supporting Ohio's nonprofit heroes, we will always stand with Ohio's health care providers, communities, employers and elected officials." Highlights of the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation's COVID-19 response include: Directed $135,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Cincinnati, Columbus, Wooster, Marietta, Toledo, Hamilton, Youngstown and Orrville to support expanded supplemental food programs, virtual programming, technology and staff.

Committed $100,000 to Ohio-based Feeding America food banks to fund emergency food programs.

Provided $50,000 to the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio's Pandemic Emergency Fund to help homeless shelters achieve social distancing and purchase sanitation and hygiene supplies to protect residents.

Directed $25,000 to the Children's Hunger Alliance to support meal distribution efforts through community action agencies, recreation centers, schools, libraries and Panera Bread locations across Ohio.

Granted the Community Shelter Board $25,000 to support food and safe housing programs for those impacted by COVID-19.

Provided $50,000 to the Cancer Support Community of Central Ohio's Distress Screening program to identify and address heightened anxiety among cancer patients and survivors. These individuals are uniquely impacted by social isolation and COVID-19's threat to people with compromised immune systems.

Directed $50,000 to the YMCA of Greater Cleveland to support child care services for essential workers.



The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation also continues to work with national partners including the American Red Cross, Americares, Direct Relief and numerous others to ensure access to emergency assistance for individuals and families, and personal protective equipment and training for health workers.

Additionally, in observance of National Volunteer Month in April, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is doubling its matching contributions to $2 for every $1 donated by Anthem's 70,000 associates across the country through May 5. It is also doubling Anthem associate volunteer credits to $20 per hour, which associates can earn and donate to the nonprofit of their choice. Anthem associates in Ohio have logged nearly 1,000 volunteer hours and donated $110,000 to support local nonprofit organizations. Volunteer efforts have included providing meals to frontline healthcare workers and engaging in virtual volunteering such as online teaching and telephone outreach to people who are isolated. About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that make up its Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets: maternal health, diabetes prevention, cancer prevention, heart health and healthy, active lifestyles, behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates' donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005157/en/

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Princess Martha Louise of Norway was joined by boyfriend Shaman Durek Verrett in wishing her eldest daughter Maud a happy 17th birthday.

Mother-of-three Martha Louise, 48, and Durek Verrett, 45, both shared lengthy Instagram posts celebrating the teenager's 'creativity' and 'deeply philosophical' nature to mark the occasion yesterday.

Martha Louise, daughter of Norway's reigning King Harald V and Queen Sonja, also praised the 'wisdom' Maud demonstrated when speaking at the funeral of her father Ari Behn in January.

Martha Louise of Norway was joined by boyfriend Shaman Durek Verrett in wishing her eldest daughter Maud a happy 17th birthday. Pictured, a photo of Maud shared by Martha Louise

In the post Martha Louise praised the 'wisdom' Maud demonstrated when speaking at the funeral of her father Ari Behn in January, pictured. Speaking at the public funeral, Maud urged people battling mental health issues to seek support, saying 'there is always a way out'

Martha Louise shared lengthy Instagram posts celebrating the teenager's 'creativity' and 'deeply philosophical' nature to mark the occasion yesterday, pictured

The proud mother wrote: 'Happy Birthday my darling Maud. You are such an old soul with so much profound wisdom. A fountain of joy and creativity, depth and laughter.

'Even in your darkest hour you showed the world how you think of others through sharing your wisdom in your speech at your fathers funeral.'

Mr Behn, who shared three children with Martha Louise, killed himself on Christmas Day last year.

Speaking at the public funeral, Maud urged people battling mental health issues to seek support, saying 'there is always a way out'.

The proud mother-of-three shared this sweet throwback snap of her eldest daughter Maud

Shaman Durek added his own well-wishes and wrote in the comments section, pictured

Martha Louise shared the moving tribute alongside three photos of Maud throughout the years.

Shaman Durek added his own well-wishes and wrote in the comments section: 'What can I say? Well for one I'm so happy that mom and Ari brought you into this world.

'We know you have come from beautiful parents because you are such a kind, loving, poetic soul with a humble heart and intelligent mind.

'I love the way you think about life, people and art. I love how excited you get when you draw another picture. You have so many artist gifts from Queen Maud and your lovely dad. You bring such light and grace into this world.'

Martha Louise shared the moving tribute alongside three photos of Maud throughout the years, including this snap

Speaking to FEMAIL this week, Shaman Durek, 45, revealed that he and girlfriend Princess Martha Louise of Norway are considering marriage and have already made plans to live together in the US once the global coronavirus lockdown is over.

The couple have been dating for more than a year - but are currently apart due to lockdowns in their respective home nations of the US and Norway.

He told Femail: I can tell you one thing. It (marriage) is definitely not off the table. Our plans are eventually to live together with each other. Not in Norway, but in the US.

And let me tell you, no matter what people say about us, it is our life. Martha and I are going to live the way we decide to live.
Following a horrific attack that left at least 117 dead or wounded, Turkish forces have closed all roads leading in or out of the Afrin area, while a culprit is yet to be identified reports Brocar Press.

Turkish forces, with participation from its affiliated National Army, as well as police, closed all entrances to the city of Afrin north of Aleppo on Wednesday after an explosion that killed dozens of civilians.

A correspondent for Brocar Press in rural Aleppo said that all roads and crossings from rural Idleb and Aleppo leading into the Afrin area and city had been completely closed on the orders of the Turkish forces stationed there.

The correspondent added that the city was under a major security alert by Turkish forces and local factions.

He said security barriers had been set up in the city since morning, and extensive security inspections were being conducted. The local market was also closed, and residents were forbidden to enter.

The toll of Tuesdays bombing attack rose to 117 dead and wounded.

Dr. Ahmad Hajji Hassan, Director of Health in Afrin, said that the number of dead had reached 52 by Wednesday, with 65 wounded, most of whom were in critical condition. Workers had identified 19 of the bodies, while 23 remained unknown due major burns.

Hassan added that the bombing was the most horrific the liberated north has seen in a long time, as this number of victims had never before been recorded, and because of the degree of deformation to the dead and wounded. Fuel barrels that were inside the vehicle bomb contributed to the high temperature and rapid spread of the fire, causing the large number of civilian casualties.

The Turkish Defense Ministry blamed the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) for the explosion, noting that the attack was carried out with an oil tanker loaded with bombs.

The Syrian Democratic Council meanwhile condemned the attack, holding Turkey and its military factions in Afrin responsible for what it described as a terrorist act.

Afrin, which is under the control of Turkish forces and the Syrian National Army, has seen dozens of explosions in the form of IEDs, motorcycle bombs and car bombs claim hundreds of victims since the National Army took control of the city.

Residents of the city believe that the security situation is deteriorating rapidly as killings, kidnappings and explosions are on the rise, causing a large number of families to leave Afrin.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Government logging has resumed in fire-damaged forests in NSW despite warnings that devastated bushland and endangered wildlife are too fragile to withstand further disruption.

Newly released documents from the NSW governments logging agency  the Forestry Corporation  reveal that at least 85 per cent of harvestable native hardwood forests in the south coast region was burnt in the fires.

Despite this, in a letter to wood supply contract holders  released during budget estimates  the corporation said it remains "optimistic" it can meet its supply entitlements.

Independent NSW MP Justin Field said the government was acting as if the devastating fires had never happened. He said communities were "devastated to see logging return to burnt and unburnt forests across NSW."
Until now.

The Wickhams minivan was one of thousands of vehicles that snaked as far as the eye could see one morning last week in Egg Harbor, N.J., 10 miles west of Atlantic City. The promise of fresh produce and a 30-pound box of canned food, pasta and rice from a food bank drew so many cars that traffic was snarled for nearly a mile in three directions, leading to five accidents, the police said.

Im just afraid Im going to lose my house, said Ms. Wickham, who lives in Egg Harbor. I feel like a failure right now.

In more than 40 percent of households in New Jersey, at least one person is out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic, a Monmouth University poll released on Monday found.

Many suddenly unemployed workers in one of the nations wealthiest states say they have been pushed to the edge of hunger, forced to ask for help for the first time in their lives.

Lines at a food pantry in Summit, an affluent commuter town in northern New Jersey, stretch around the block every Tuesday evening. A food bank on the Jersey Shore has started a text service to give new users a discreet way to seek help.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

$25 billion worth of export orders have been cancelled in two months

$4 billion worth of apparel exports at stake due to lockdown

Local administration not allowing permission for factories to operate despite govt order

Production has completely stopped since last month; jobs are at stake

Total order cancellations across all export sectors range between 50 to 60 percent

"We are facing a big, big, big, problem", says Vilas Gupta, Managing Director of Taurus Englobe Ltd, a company functioning from the Noida Special Economic Zone (NSEZ). Gupta is not talking about his company alone. None of the 262 manufacturing units in NSEZ, except 15 that are producing essential items like medical goods, are allowed to function, despite the central government issuing clear instructions to permit operations in access-controlled zones like SEZs with requisite safety precautions and up to 50 percent employee strength.

The NSEZ, which exports Rs 9,000 crore worth of goods each year and employs over 50,000 people, has all the facilities that qualify its units to be operational, but UP state administration feels otherwise.

"There is a housing society about 1.5 kms away from the NSEZ where there are some corona positive patients. Citing this, the administration is not allowing permission to operate the units saying we are within a containment zone. But they have not closed other neighbourhood societies," says Gupta, who is also regional chairman of the Export Promotion Council of EoUs and SEZs.

The stubbornness of the authorities has impacted exports. Factory owners feel the future of their business is at stake as overseas buyers cancel orders. "The shipments that are ready can't be exported till local administration allows them to start the operation. Even the shipments that are at finishing stage may get damaged as they are lying open. This may put the factories under heavy losses. Business owners feel if the factories are not allowed to operate immediately, they will have to reduce staff and workers, which will lead to vast unemployment", Gupta says. The shutdown, if it continues, may also see overseas buyers placing orders with Chinese companies where factories are in full operation.

The plight of NSEZ is not an aberration. A Shaktivel, chairman of Apparel Exports Promotion Council, says over $4 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) worth of apparel exports are at stake. Apparel exports are facing huge demand problem as overseas buyers are not buying since malls, stores in Europe and US are shut.

"Production has completely stopped since last month. Even though central government allows partial functioning, no government has given permission for us to start operations," Shaktivel says. According to him, even salaries to employees will be a problem if there is no production and orders for a long time.

Ajay Sahai, director general and CEO of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), says total order cancellations across all export sectors range between 50 to 60 percent, while for sectors such as apparel, leather (footwear), handicraft and carpets, it is over 80 percent. "In just two months, roughly $25 billion worth of export orders have been cancelled", Sahai says.

The mass cancellations of orders due to demand slump in key markets is not only impacting the viability of Indian exporters, it is also casting doubts over the ability of fresh orders too. "With all the bankruptcy filings going on, the financial soundness of the buyer is in question. We are asking companies to take insurance cover for all orders," Sahai said.

Even companies prefer not to operate in full capacity due to order cancellations. The government decision to permit operations with 50 per cent employee strength is thus a blessing in disguise, provided, it gets implemented at the ground level. With various government agencies scuttling their plans to re-start production, India's export sector is hoping to see an early withdrawal of lockdown and resumption of normal business activities.

If that happens soon, some of the cancelled orders may come back, or else, even with all the talk of Make in India, the country might be giving away the export competence.

Also read: 1,000 foreign firms mull production in India, 300 actively pursue plan as 'Exit China' mantra grows

Also read: Lockdown 2.0 bleeds travel, aviation; manufacturing, agriculture plan hesitant comebacks
A hot potato: In its earnings call yesterday, Tesla beat analysts estimates for its first-quarter revenue, but thats not what most people are talking about. Elon Musk overshadowed the results by ranting against shelter-in-place orders, which he called fascist and claimed infringed on peoples rights.

Tesla recorded 88,400 sales between January and March, along with a profit of $16 million. Despite the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this marks the third quarter in a row that the company has recorded a profit.

During the call, Musk said he did not know when Teslas Freemont, California factory would reopen, lambasting the Bay Areas shelter-in-place order. We are a bit worried about not being able to resume production in the Bay Area, explained the CEO. The extension of shelter-in-place  or as I would call it, forcibly imprisoning people in their homes, against all constitutional right, and in my opinion infringing on peoples freedoms in ways that are horrible and wrong, and not why people came to America or pulled this country  what the f**k?

Tesla was slow to shutter its Freemont factory, waiting almost a week after the Bay Area ordered non-essential businesses to close before complying.

FREE AMERICA NOW  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2020

Musk went on to warn that the lockdown would cause great harm to Tesla and many other companies. But while larger firms like the EV maker could survive, many smaller businesses would not.

This wasnt Musks first objection to the orders. He posted a series of tweets on Tuesday praising Texas for reopening businesses, calling for the government to give people their freedom back, and an all-caps FREE AMERICA NOW message, which has become his pinned tweet.

Hospitals in California have been half empty this whole time pic.twitter.com/8GL2BLypqV  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 30, 2020

Musks comments havent damaged Teslas share price, which was up 4 percent to $870.49 in after-hours trading.

Musk previously claimed there would be close to zero new cases of Covid-19 in the US by the end of April. Yesterday, there were 23,901 reported cases and 2,247 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 57,505more than the total number of Americans who died in the Vietnam war, where fighting lasted more than a decade.

With lockdown protests taking place in many states, Facebook is now banning event listings that organize these rallies. The decision has brought criticism from several public figures and politicians who call it a violation of peoples right to freedom of speech.

Why is @Facebook colluding with state governments to quash peoples free speech?



Regardless of what you think about the lockdowns or the protests against them, this is a chilling & disturbing government directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights. Very dangerous! https://t.co/rnG09TSVhI  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 20, 2020
Photo

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission, UGC has issued guidelines for all universities across the country in regard to the problems faced during the pandemic outbreak. Based on the guidelines of the UGC Committee, this time the examinations will be held in July and the results will be announced in August.

File PhotoThe new session at Allahabad University starts in July, but this time the education has changed due to the lockdown caused by the corona virus. In fact, UGC has sent this report on examinations and academic calendars to all the universities on the basis of which work on related schemes has been started at Allahabad University.

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According to the report of the UGC committee, the examinations for the session 2019-20 will be held in the first week of July. The result will be announced in August and the new session will start from August. Intermediate semester students will be graded on an internal basis as per UGC guidelines. However, the results of the papers will be announced in July when Covid-19 gets some relief.

File photoThe exam for terminal semester students will be held in July. A Covid-19 cell would be set up in each university to address issues related to the academic calendar and examinations.

File photoThe committee constituted by the University Grants Commission also said in its report that the annual examination should be of 50 per cent marks while the other 50 per cent marks should be based on the performance of the previous semester examinations. CBSE has also issued guidelines in this regard. Remaining CBSE 10th and 12th papers will also be commenced.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be "really rocking again."

To underscore his confidence, Trump said he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House, starting with a trip to Arizona next week.

And he said he's hoping to hold mass campaign rallies in the coming months with thousands of supporters, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by then.

ALSO READ | COVID-19: 35 US states release formal opening plans even as coronavirus death toll crosses 60,000

Putting a positive face on the latest grim numbers, the U.S. death toll has now surpassed American lives lost in the Vietnam War, Trump delivered his daily upbeat update and Kushner described the administration's much-criticized response to the pandemic as "a great success story."

Trump also talked up the good news the day provided: hopeful results for a possible COVID-19 treatment.

But the government announced dismal new economic numbers as the pandemic took hold and shut down much of the country.

The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in first quarter of the year, a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.

ALSO READ | Unfollow saga: WH briefly 'follows' twitter accounts of host country during presidential visit, says official

The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nation's economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

"We're heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us," Trump said as he led a roundtable with executives from companies like Hilton and Toyota.

Trump laid out a vision of a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy, with or without a vaccine with packed restaurants and filled stadiums.

That vision flies in the face of sober assessments from doctors who say the country will need to embrace a "new normal" that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.

"I don't want people to get used to this," Trump told reporters.

ALSO READ | Over 70 per cent of tested inmates in US federal prisons have COVID-19

"I see the new normal being what it was three months ago."

White House spokesman Judd Deere tweeted that Trump would visit a Honeywell facility in Phoenix on Tuesday to highlight production of "critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state."

Trump also said he was considering making a trip to Ohio, even as much of the country remains under effective lockdown with all but essential travel banned.

"We're going to start to move around and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we'll have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other," he said, adding that having people spaced out in accordance with social distancing guidelines "wouldn't look too good."

He didn't say exactly when he envisioned such rallies returning, but said the timing would depend, in part, on the states, since some have had far fewer cases than others.

The federal government and most states have urged residents to avoid mass gatherings and to remain at least six feet apart.

The announcement came after Trump said he will not be extending the White House's "30 Days to Slow the Spread" guidelines when they expire Thursday.

"They'll be fading out because now the governors are doing it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.

Those guidelines, which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30, encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

Edwards, who recently extended Louisiana's stay-at-home order through May 15, is currently under fire from Republican lawmakers in his state.

While he was in Washington, some GOP legislators were trying to rally support to take the extraordinary step of trying to override the governor's emergency decision-making.

But Trump commended Edwards on the job he's done after New Orleans became one of the nation's coronavirus hot spots.

"I just wanted to congratulate you," Trump said.

At the same time, Trump's campaign released a digital ad praising elements of the federal response.

It is set to reach residents of 17 battleground states featuring Democratic governors whose approval ratings have skyrocketed during the crisis.

The White House on Wednesday was also pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31%, 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

"It's highly significant," said the usually cautious doctor.

"What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus."

The White House and Trump in particular have been eager to give the country positive news as they work to move past the crisis and rebuild the economy, even as the country's death tally continues to rise.
A Manitoba judge is recommending mandatory methamphetamine training for all police and correctional officers who process arrestees at the police station or Winnipeg Remand Centre.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba judge is recommending mandatory methamphetamine training for all police and correctional officers who process arrestees at the police station or Winnipeg Remand Centre.

The recommendation is included in an inquest report released Wednesday into the October 2016 death of 31-year-old Russell Spence.

The inquest heard testimony Spence had consumed "toxic" levels of methamphetamine prior to police arresting him at an Ellice Avenue convenience store. Later, while in the shower room at the remand centre, Spence became aggressive and had to be restrained by several correctional and police officers.

During the scuffle, Spence stopped breathing. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead in hospital.

A pathologist later found the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia, or an abnormal heart rhythm, aggravated by the methamphetamine in Spences system and the stress of the physical struggle.

"Clearly, the witnesses who testified reflected a complete lack of knowledge as to the effects and indicia of methamphetamine on individuals who they deal with, such as Mr. Spence," provincial court Judge Brent Stewart wrote in a nine-page report.

Spence was carrying a knife and a pair of scissors when he walked into a 7-Eleven store shortly after 11 p.m. and asked staff to call police for him. Officers arrested Spence on two counts of possession of a weapon and took him to police headquarters where he disclosed he had consumed methamphetamine and alcohol earlier in the day.

According to a report by the sergeant who processed Spence, he displayed a number of unusual behaviours prior to his admission to the remand centre, including an unprompted denial of a crime for which he had not been questioned, dropping to his knees before an officer and angrily clenching his fists.

An arrest log sheet included Spences drug disclosure, but it was not forwarded to remand centre staff.

At the remand centre, police turned Spence over to staff with no mention of his earlier behaviour, the inquest heard.

A police officer who transported Spence to the remand centre testified Spence made more unprompted comments denying a crime and, while in transit, appeared to be chanting or singing in unintelligible words.

"All of these abnormalities were not communicated to the corrections officers upon the transfer process," Stewart said. "I suspect from the evidence received that since the prisoner was cooperative and not acting out, such a report was unnecessary in the police constables view."

At the remand centre, Spence continued to make bizarre comments and upon admission said: "I forgive you guys, just beat me already."

"Again, despite these comments, no concern was shown by the officers that the remarks might reflect an imminent outburst," Stewart said. "At this stage no thought of calling for the on-duty nurse to do an assessment happened.

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"It appears that all those who dealt with Mr. Spence viewed his comments as quirks and provided he was cooperative to their directions, all was good," he said.

In the shower area, Spence charged at an officer with clenched fists before other officers intervened and he was taken to the floor.

Stewart recommended that officers be trained to recognize signs a prisoner has taken methamphetamine and how to best process them when taken into custody, including what kind of force to use in controlling them.

Stewart also recommended that all officers involved in the transfer of a prisoner to the remand centre be aware of risk factors indicated in their arrest log sheet, including the consumption of any street drugs.

In an email statement, the Winnipeg Police Service said it was still reviewing the inquest report and how it might adopt its recommendations, noting "officers currently receive training as it pertains to the issue of methamphetamines and their impact."

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
In a breakthrough, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) has arrested a former panchayat member from South Kashmirs Shopian district in the case involving DySP Devender Singh.

The arrested person, NIA said was in league with militants and provided them logistical support ; he was also in touch with Singh. Officials said the man was arrested from Baramulla district where he also owns a house.

DySP Devender Singh was arrested along with three militants from the national highway at Qazigund on January 11 by a team of J&K police. The team was led by two senior J&K police officers. Police later said that Singh was escorting the trio to Jammu and then to Punjab.

After the arrest , the case was handed over to NIA for further investigations; the federal investigating agency carried out a series of raids in different parts of Kashmir, especially in Srinagar and South Kashmir and questioned more than two dozen people. The NIA team also raided the house of Singh in Srinagar , his ancestral home in Tral and seized some documents.

A senior NIA officer familiar with the investigations told Hindustan Times that a person by the name of Tariq Ahmad was arrested by NIA. The arrested person is from Shopian who was also involved in helping militants.

He added that Ahmad is a former panchayat member who was also in touch with Devender Singh.

After his arrest, Singh was shifted from Srinagar to Jammu on a transit remand where he was questioned by senior officials of NIA. At the time of arrest Devender Singh was posted at Srinagar airport and was part of the anti-hijacking wing of Police.
A 26-year-old woman on Thursday gave birth to a girl with the help of a female constable in a police vehicle while on her way to the hospital in north Delhi's Gopalpur area, officials said.

Around 9:30 am on Thursday, the police rushed to the spot after receiving information that the woman was in acute labour pain.

While they were taking her to the Tirath Ram Hospital in Civil Lines, she delivered in the PCR van. The delivery was facilitated by woman constable Resham, a senior police officer said.

"The mother and the infant were admitted in Tirath Ram Hospital and both are fine," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Many of us are overdosing on YouTube during coronavirus confinement, and were used to the fact that, like it our not, were being monitored. Things we shop for online invariably pop up in ads accompanying the videos.

Lately, however, Im struck by the fact that the videos themselves are tracked. Watching one leads to suggestions for others  the product of YouTubes AI, which blends genius with quirkiness.

YouTube has some 1.3 billion users and they upload over 7,000 hours of video each day. Even sheltered 24/7 theres too much inventory to navigate without YouTubes help, as I learned in a recent session. It began innocently enough when I heard President Trump mention at a briefing that he had glimpsed shots of deserted streets in Manhattan. So I searched for that.

Sure enough, YouTube delivered live video from cameras overlooking Times Square. At 2 p.m. on a recent Tuesday there were more of us lurking (504) than were walking the streets. This feed began March 7 and has registered 28,000 likes and 1,700 dislikes. (Note to self: Dont try to find meaning in the voting patterns of quarantine victims.)

Anyway, when I refreshed YouTube its algorithm had apparently determined that Im a fan of random street views, so it suggested one in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, overlooking the Pizzeria Caldera in Town Square (104 watching; 45,000 likes). Another click and I was transported to an intersection in La Grange, Kentucky (140 watching; 10,000 likes). I counted many more cars and pedestrians in downtown La Grange than in Times Square, and no one was wearing a mask.

The Kentucky view included train tracks. Naturally, AI assumed Id enjoy a page provided by Virtual Railfan. With 886 others I watched a live stream of the rail yard in La Plata, Missouri, for people who enjoy watching trains. The description added, Amtraks Southwest Chief passenger train stops here twice a day.

YouTube then determined that I must love subways. This resulted in Good Samaritans Confront Man with Hatchet on NYC Subway Train, which led to The Ugliest NYC Subway Station, and then to New Yorks Incredible Subway Dancers.

After a while AI must have concluded: This guy is really into transportation! So I watched a flyover video of a place in Victorville, California, where some 400 commercial planes are parked during the coronavirus shutdown. And that took me to 10 Things You Should Not Say to Car Dealers.

Eager to escape the transportation thread, I tried to trick AI by searching for suggested YouTube videos. The first recommendations was a video titled YouTube Suggested Videos Suck!!!

Clearly, YouTube knows itself even better than it knows me.

Peter Funt is a writer and speaker. His book, Cautiously Optimistic, is available at Amazon.com and CandidCamera.com.
By Akbar Mammadov

President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to further strengthen the technical support for Azerbaijans agricultural sector, presidential website reported on April 30.

Under the order, $16.5 million (AZN28 million) will be allocated to the state-owned "Agroleasing" OJSC to meet the technical needs of agricultural producers for the sustainable development of grain-growing, cotton-growing and other traditional agricultural sectors, the report said.

So far, "Agroleasing" Open Joint Stock Company has purchased 45,000 different types of agricultural machinery, including modern cotton and grain harvesters, tractors, trailers and other agricultural equipment as part of measures to reinforce state support for the agricultural sector, which is one of the main priorities of the country's economy, the report said.

"Agroleasing OJSC was set up in 2004 and is 100% state-owned. Previously, it was controlled by the Ministry of Economy but was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture on July 21, 2009. The company aims to establish material-technical base of the agricultural producers, provide the entrepreneurs with technical equipment, machinery, mineral fertilizers, breeding animals and irrigation system by leasing, as well as agicultral services at low prices.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Exporters to Bangladesh are



weighing the option of using the riverine route as an alternative to land port which is in deadlock for more than a month over various issues including quarantine norms during the lockdown.

"Trade is not happening through land ports now. So, there is huge interest among exporters to ship their cargo through inland waterways and seaports," Calcutta Customs House Agents Association president Subhas Chandra Ghosh told PTI.

The trade through the riverine route was closed after India restricted entry of Bangladeshi barges earlier this month as a measure to check the spread of coronavirus infection. Following this, the neighbouring country also imposed similar restrictions.

However, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday clarified that the movement of inland vessels on the India- Bangladesh protocol route is permitted.

There are no restrictions on export items from waterways and seaports, Ghosh said.

"According to available information, Bangladeshi vessels will enter from Monday," said Sagar Khastagir, an official of Summit Alliance, a leading Bangladeshi port operator in Kolkata.

Another customs agent said one vessel is getting ready for Bangladesh with a variety of products.

"Usually, fly ash accounts for 85-90 per cent of total cargo via the riverine route. But, in situation like this, movement of other commodities will rise," the agent said.

Customs officials said they are working round the clock to clear cargo and also offered certain relaxations in the wake of unprecedented times for ease of Exim sector.

Over 2,100 Bangladesh-bound trucks are stuck in and around Petrapole for over a month since the nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24. According to rules, truckers have to go for a 14-day quarantine once they return from another country.

To allow movement of stranded trucks laden with goods at Petrapole land port on the India-Bangladesh border, the West Bengal government on Tuesday said it can permit only essential commodities to be sent to the neighbouring country, but transfer of cargo has to be done at the no man's land to avoid the quarantine conditions.

If a truck does not enter another country, there is no question of quarantine for the drivers and helpers.

Through this land ports, India exports cotton fabrics, vehicle chassis, non-alloy steel, yarn, iron and steel products, synthetic fibres, two-wheelers, jute seeds, machinery parts, books and paper, cereals and other food products.

On the other hand, items such as jute, readymade garments, betel nut and rice bran come from Bangladesh.

Demand for high-quality rice from India used to be high in Bangladesh earlier. But its export had shrunk after a duty of 60 per cent was imposed on non-basmati variety by the importing country around two years ago, rice exporters said.

The Volume of basmati has also been negligible. Between April last year and January, 2020, the value of basmati export was below Rs 15 crores, according to the data available with the rice exporters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The entirely interactive, digital catalog will bring the Avon experience to life in a completely new way. The monumental move of switching to a new digital platform allows Avon to help their Representatives expand their reach even further. The browsing and buying experience will be optimized for desktop and mobile with shoppable posts, video makeup tutorials, influencer-created content, interviews with product creators, video reviews, animations and more. Cutting-edge AR makeup will also be a key feature with functions such as Virtual Try-On, Foundation Shade Finder and Concealer Shade Finder. This will allow customers to virtually try on makeup shades before buying and discover their shade matches.

Avon Representatives can also customize their Avon catalog and experience for shoppers allowing them more room to promote their business. Seamless sharing with let all users share any page or content via social, email or SMS. Now Representatives can consult with their customers and literally sell products digitally anytime, anywhere.

Avon's paper brochure will still be available. Last year it began printing in smaller dimensions, less ink, fewer pages and a lighter quality paper. The paper is also sourced from sustainably managed, PFEC-certified forests with controlled sources. In doing so, Avon has moved to a significantly higher cost-efficient method, and the goal is to have the brochure be exclusively digital in the next few years.

Other recent noteworthy Avon initiatives around Earth Day include a greater visibility for Avon's product safety policy and prohibited ingredient lists through more accessible placement on the website. In addition, Avon will continue its status as one of the few cosmetic companies to list all ingredients of each product on its website, providing full transparency to customers before they try to purchase a product. Avon will also continue its current animal welfare policy and eliminating animal-derived ingredients from new products. All Avon cartons are now made of FSC-certified paperboard as well.

Finally, Avon will continue its longstanding partnership with Feed the Children. Over the last 16 years, Avon has donated and diverted from landfills over 15 million pounds of personal care, hygiene and beauty products, clothing, shoes and home essentials for distribution to children and families in need.

To browse the new digital catalog visit: https://www.avon.com/digitalcatalog.

ABOUT NEW AVON COMPANY

New Avon Company ("Avon") is the leading social selling beauty company in North America, with independent sales Representatives throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and through affiliation in Canada. Avon's portfolio includes award-winning skincare, color cosmetics, fragrance, personal care, and health and wellness products featuring brands such as ANEW, Skin So Soft, CHI, and The Face Shop, as well as fashion and accessories. Avon has a 134-year history of empowering women through economic opportunity and supporting the causes that matter most to women. Avon philanthropy has contributed over $1 billion globally toward eradicating breast cancer and domestic violence. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avon.com.

For more information, please contact:

Susan Small at Avon [email protected], 212-282-6066

SOURCE New Avon Compan

Related Links

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Treatment for heart failure should take into consideration a patient's social determinants of healththeir overall living environment, socio-economic status, as well as the needs of unpaid family caregivers, according to two new scientific statements from the American Heart Association, published simultaneously today in the Association's flagship journal Circulation.

Heart failure, which affects 6.5 million Americans, is a slow, progressive disease in which the heart does not pump blood effectively. Although there is no cure, people with heart failure can live full lives with the help of medication, lifestyle changes and social support. Caregivers are needed as the disease progresses and when an individual is no longer able to manage the activities of daily living or complex medical regimens.

The scientific statement, "Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Care of Patients with Heart Failure," provides an overview of scientific research that demonstrates how the county where a patient lives, personal and social factors, such as insurance status, disability status, race, ethnicity and income inequality, may impact patients from receiving state-of-the-art care for their heart failure.

"Patients who don't have insurance coverage, enough to eat, struggle with transportation, don't have a safe place to be physically active, can't afford medications and/or have less education and/or insurance coverage may have significantly poorer heart failure outcomes, compared to people who don't experience those factors," said Connie White-Williams, Ph.D., R.N., chair of the statement writing committee, senior director of Nursing Services and the Heart Failure Transitional Care Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. "It's important that we ask patients about the life issues and challenges they may be facing; these issues have a direct impact on the patient's ability to adhere to any care plan."

To help overcome non-medical barriers to effective care for people with heart failure, the statement suggests a best practice scenario where an interprofessional health care team works together to support the patients, their families and caregivers. This support should address the numerous life challenges that can impact health outcomes, such as the patient's living situation, caregiver availability, ability to pay for medications and how well a patient and their caregiver understand medical information.

"Addressing social determinants of health can be resource-intensive, and many clinical practices do not have the resources nor are they set up to deal with these challenges. However, when nurses, physicians, social workers, pharmacists and mental health professionals work together, an effective plan of care can be designed to keep heart failure patients healthier and out of the hospital," White-Williams said. "This is a model we should be working towards implementing whenever possible."

The statement urges health care providers to routinely discuss a heart failure patient's overall living situation to identify challenges that affect their medical care. Whenever possible, health care providers should:

assist patients seeking insurance coverage, financial assistance, affordable housing or employment;

present health information in formats tailored to meet each individual's language, level of education and health literacy;

support nurse-led collaborative clinics that assist patients in becoming better stewards of their own health;

use medication access programs to help provide drugs out of patients' financial reach; and

partner with local food banks to help provide groceries to food-insecure patients.

"Recognizing the importance of social determinants of health is a critical first step toward getting health systems engaged in developing approaches to mitigate the many adverse consequences of these factors in different settings," said White-Williams.

A related scientific statement, "Family Caregiving for Individuals with Heart Failure" presents an overview of the challenges faced by unpaid family members who serve as caregivers for patients with heart failure.

Because heart failure is a progressive disease with alternating periods of stability, caregiver demands change over time. Following an initial diagnosis of heart failure, caregivers may need to provide emotional support to help patients cope with their heart failure diagnosis, potential social isolation and loss of independence.

As the disease progresses, patients often need help with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, toileting, dressing, medication adherence and navigating the health care system. In advanced heart failure, caregivers are often engaged to assist with management of intensive care therapies such as mechanical circulatory support that would previously have been undertaken by health care professionals in clinical settings.

"There is a critical need for health care providers to clearly understand the demands of caregiving and how these change throughout the trajectory of heart failure. Development of tools to screen and identify caregivers who are at high risk for depression and distress are also needed," said Lisa Kitko, Ph.D., R.N., chair of the family caregiving writing committee, and associate professor and associate dean of graduate education at the Pennsylvania State University College of Nursing in University Park, Pennsylvania.

"It is also important to assess caregiver capabilities, including their motivation to provide care; their physical, sensory, motor and cognitive ability to perform required tasks; their level of distress and depression. This includes making referrals to obtain supportive services, such as counseling and respite care on behalf of the caregiver," said Kitko.

Health care providers should include caregivers when working with the patient to make difficult decisions, such as whether to surgically implant medical devices designed to help the heart pump more effectively or deciding when it is time to deactivate these devices and progress to palliative or hospice care. "Palliative and/or hospice care providers may also have resources to support caregivers," said Kitko.

It is estimated that caregivers spend an average of 22 hours per week caring for patients with heart failure, and thus, they play an integral and instrumental role in providing care. Unpaid caregivers often experience loss of income, benefits and career opportunities, which can be financially burdensome to the entire family. These costs may be disproportionately borne by older adults, women and persons in underserved race/ethnic groups already at higher risk for financial insecurity.

In addition to the financial costs, significantly higher physical and psychological health risks, such as social isolation and disruption of outside relationships, have been observed among people caring for family members with chronic illnesses such as heart failure.

"In our current health care system, there is a lack of incentives for clinicians to evaluate caregiver needs and offer direct support.

The largest barrier is the lack of payment and reimbursement mechanisms that would allow clinicians to provide direct support to caregivers," said Kitko. "Other barriers include a lack of systematic mechanisms to identify caregivers and make referrals for those with the highest distress and unmet needs; medical record systems that can accommodate caregiver assessment, intervention and tracking; limited funding for community-based agencies that provide caregiver services; minimal time for clinical interactions with patients, which limits the ability address caregiver concerns or distress; and lack of clear guidelines for caregiver support provision."

Explore further Caregivers face strain when patients receive heart pumps

More information: Connie White-Williams et al. Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Care of Patients With Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, Circulation (2020). Connie White-Williams et al. Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Care of Patients With Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association,(2020). DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000767 Lisa Kitko et al. Family Caregiving for Individuals With Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, Circulation (2020). DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000768 Journal information: Circulation
It's an age of care packages: friends dropping gifts at each other's doors, little gestures of connection and affection that bridge the social distance and bring a quantum of joy to quarantine.

They could be food, or wine, a home-made card or toys for the kids. Or they could be short experimental films.

Screen Show critic and movie academic Lauren Carroll Harris has responded to the current lockdown by teeing up a weekly series of new and underseen shorts dubbed Prototype Care Packages.

Filmmaker Esther Carlin. Credit:Alexei Ymer-Welsby

Designed to easily disseminate  even on a mobile phone  they are short experimental films by the likes of director Alena Lodkina (Strange Colours).
CHEYENNE (AP)  After having their doors closed due to statewide health orders for more than a month, a number of Cheyenne businesses are ready to serve the community once again, planning to open Friday when the states new health order goes into effect.

On Tuesday, Gov. Mark Gordon announced a modified order that will last from Friday until May 15 that allows barbershops, cosmetologists and tattoo parlors to reopen. The order also gives each county more flexibility in reopening their own economies.

Weve done that with an eye toward protecting our citizens, Gordon said.

I know people are impatient and anxious. It is absolutely imperative that we do not lose the ground weve gained, that we do not surrender our advance against this terrible virus, Gordon said.

At Trujillos Barber Shop, owner Paul Trujillo said theyre just excited to get back to work, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported. On Wednesday, Trujillo said they were answering the phone every three minutes, scheduling appointments and letting customers know theyll be open bright and early at 8 a.m. Friday.

We were averaging between 15 to 20 haircuts a day, Trujillo said. When you go from that to nothing, obviously were excited to open up again.

Though Trujillo said they were able to keep paying all five of their barbers while the shop was closed, he said the financial circumstances were tough as someone who is self-employed.

Its kind of scary not knowing when your next paycheck is coming in, Trujillo said.

Under the new health orders, businesses like Trujillos must abide by certain health guidelines, including eliminating waiting areas, limiting the amount of people in the shop and requiring all staff to wear personal protective equipment. Trujillo and Presidential Barbershop owner Angel Maldonado said theyll have customers wait outside for their services.

While Maldonado said theyll be deep cleaning the shop and preparing to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the new health order will take away from the barbershop experience that Presidential is known for.

Maldonado said without the waiting room, its not going to have the atmosphere like it used to.

At Electric Sabbath Tattoo, theyll be taking an even stricter approach, only allowing one person in at a time to get tattooed. The customer will be allowed to bring along one additional friend or family member.

After being unable to receive any federal assistance from the CARES Act, owner and tattoo artist Jason Jeffers said before being able to reopen, they were just living on a prayer.

While nail and hair salons, barbershops and tattoo shops will be allowed to reopen without needing permission from health officials, along with child care facilities and gyms, a number of businesses are still waiting for the all-clear from local officials.

In an attempt to get businesses that are struggling back up to speed as quickly as possible, elected officials from Cheyenne and Laramie County, local health officials and business representatives formed a planning committee to create a comprehensive, phased plan for reopening.

These plans must first be approved by the state before they can be acted on, and Laramie County Board of Commissioners Chairman Gunnar Malm said theyve already sent a rough draft of Laramie Countys plan to state officials. Malm said the committee hopes to have a finalized plan with three phases by Friday, along with more details of what each phase will include.

In tandem with local health officials, the committee will be watching a number of metrics to ensure reopening doesnt make the situation worse, including looking at hospital capacities and the percentage of new COVID-19 cases. How quickly each phase is rolled out will be dependent on such data points, but the committee is looking at ways to include restaurants in the reopening.

We just really want to focus on making sure that the recovery here locally, both economically and from the virus, is a V and not a W, Malm said. So we dont want to do something prematurely or in a way that would create another spike.

At its merchant meeting Wednesday, the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority also offered support to downtown businesses like Red Bison Home and Paramount Cafe that are preparing to reopen Friday or early next week.

The DDA, along with the Greater Cheyenne Area Chamber of Commerce and Visit Cheyenne, are putting together an easy-to-read guide for local businesses that will describe each phase of reopening and the health requirements.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, we have an imperative to be as safe as possible and to help stop the spread, DDA Executive Director Amber Ash said. Some of it may seem burdensome, but the challenge becomes that if were not able to open back up in a safe environment, and then we have a huge spread of virus, well wind up closing back down. Thats the last thing we want to do going into summer and Frontier Days.

DDA staff gave businesses tips on how to function in this new normal, as Ash said some experts are projecting the effects of coronavirus could last as long as 18 months. The DDA suggested that businesses should look at how COVID-19 will affect spending habits into the future, and how they can adjust their business model to meet that demand.

According to the DDA, its also helpful during this time to place the hours of operation and process for curbside pickup or delivery clearly on the front of their websites.

The Wyoming Business Council has also been helping business owners prepare to reopen, hosting webinars this week that have already been attended by more than 350 people. The sessions on reopening the economy have been so popular that they planned more webinars on the states plans for Thursday and Friday, and you can register at wyomingbusiness.org/transition.

Wyoming Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell recommended that business owners reach out to their industry associations and peers to ensure that industry-specific best practices are in place. He said carefully following guidelines and reopening based on data is vital in ensuring long-term success of local businesses.

Taking a careful, data-driven and metered approach is important to public health, but its also very important to our businesses, because many of them have told us that a cycle of start-up and shutdown can be more devastating to them than the shutdown itself, Dorrell said.

While local groups and officials are working to give businesses the tools they need, Ash said the nature of the situation is so unprecedented that there will be some bumps in the road.

This is a very fluid situation, so its probably going to be changing and evolving as we continue to learn from the virus, Ash said. Its probably going to be very frustrating as a business owner, as stuff is coming out at the last minute and youre having to readjust accordingly. However, like I said, at the end of the day, we also have the obligation to try and stop the spread so that with the help of all merchants, we can continue to operate.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
MIAMI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2020 Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's and Related Diseases has been awarded to J. Paul Taylor, MD, PhD, Chair of the Cell and Molecular Biology Department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Potamkin Prize, sponsored by Potamkin Philanthropies, is given in partnership with the American Academy of Neurology and the American Brain Foundation (ABF). Potamkin Philanthropies Co-Chair Andi Potamkin presented the award to Dr. Taylor in a livestream that was part of the ABF's 2020 Commitment to Cures virtual awards gala, hosted by CNBC personality Jim Cramer.

First established in 1988, the Potamkin Prize was created to honor Luba Potamkin, wife of famed entrepreneur Victor Potamkin. Luba Potamkin was diagnosed with Pick's disease in 1978. The Potamkin Prize is often called the Nobel Prize of Alzheimer's research.

Dr. Taylor's research focuses on phase separation, which is the way in which the contents of cells spontaneously separate into compartments similar to the way oil and water spontaneously separate. He was drawn to this phenomenon by dogged pursuit of patient mutations and a little bit of luck.

Dr. Taylor saved DNA samples from patients for many years in hopes that they might someday become useful. Finally, around 2009, methods for whole genome sequencing became available and Dr. Taylor immediately began sequencing his patients and made the surprising discovery that mutations causing neurodegeneration were frequently found in the unstructured regions of proteins. Upon purifying these proteins and examining their behavior in a test tube, he recognized that these unstructured regions were capable of phase separation, essentially forming protein droplets in water.

In subsequent work, Dr. Taylor and others came to appreciate that phase separation is an important strategy of cellular organization; for example, forming RNA granules. Most importantly, Dr. Taylor discovered that disease mutations impair normal phase separation, which impairs gene expression in neurons and kicks off the process of abnormal protein deposition so common in end-term Alzheimer's and related diseases.

The Potamkin Prize selection committee said, "Dr. Taylor's groundbreaking studies link the molecular mechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases togetherranging from astute clinical observation all the way to molecular mechanisms of disease and new therapeutic avenues. Of particular interest is his recent work on liquid-liquid phase transitions, a biophysical property that seems to go awry in neurons undergoing some forms of disease processes."

"Receiving the Potamkin Prize is a great honor, and I am so thankful for the recognition of my research," said Dr. Taylor. "With the support of St. Jude, I am excited to continue down the path toward a better understanding of neurodegeneration." Dr. Taylor is spearheading a new era at St. Jude by expanding its scope beyond its world-renowned pediatric cancer research into broader research into neurological diseases.

Over the years, The Potamkin Prize has awarded more than $3 million to 67 scientists conducting innovative research in the field. The $100,000 annual award is given for achievements in emerging areas of research in Alzheimer's, Pick's, and other neurodegenerative disorders.

"I am delighted to bestow this award upon Dr. Taylor," said Andi Potamkin. "It is such an honor to see how this prize, created in my grandmother's memory, is paving the way toward finding treatments and cures."

About Potamkin Philanthropies

Potamkin Philanthropies is the philanthropic arm of the Potamkin Companies. Representing the Potamkin family's passion for a variety of causes, Potamkin Philanthropies funds numerous activities, primarily in the fields of art, education and science. Potamkin Philanthropies has funded the Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's and Related Diseases, an annual $100,000 prize often referred to as the Nobel Prize of Alzheimer's research, since 1988. More information about the Potamkin Prize can be found at www.potamkinprize.org.

About the American Academy of Neurology

The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with 36,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.AAN.com.

About the American Brain Foundation

The American Brain Foundation was founded by the American Academy of Neurology as the premier foundation that promotes and invests in research across the whole spectrum of brain disease. We believe that when we cure one of these diseases, we will cure many. Learn more at www.AmericanBrainFoundation.org.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate 20% to 80% since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food  because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.

Media Contact:

Lucy O'Brien

[email protected]

212-683-8100

SOURCE Potamkin Philanthropies

Related Links

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(Acting) Sergeant Philbert Chambers was said to have been a very community-spirited young man.

Efforts by local law enforcement officers to execute a search warrant at the residence of Gleason Lewis in Plan, Campden Park, on Sunday 26th April, resulted in tragedy.





Sometime around 7:45pm on that day, the relatively peaceful community of Plan was thrown into a panic, after a barrage of gunshots shattered the usual morning tranquility.





In the aftermath, the bodies of (Acting) Sergeant Philbert Chambers and civilian Gleason Lewis lay dead, feet apart from each other, while another officer was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Kingstown.





According to a police release, while the Police were at Lewiss home, "he opened fire killing Sgt. Chambers and wounding Police Constable 700 Verrol Sam in the process. The Police returned fire and Lewis was fatally wounded. Both men died at the scene.





Victim showing disturbing signs





Lewis had only recently arrived in St. Vincent from his abode in the USA, and was expected to return to the US. However, with the COVID-19 bringing a halt to international air travel, he was forced to remain in SVG.





Members of the community, as well as family members, spoke of Lewis showing signs of mental (health) problems.





He is said to have grown aggressive to the point of threatening his parents and one of his siblings, causing them to leave their home to stay with another family member.





One person recounted that Lewis, in his aggression, had taken the occasion to chopping his fathers pick-up with a cutlass.





According to a very close family member, they had contacted the police to assist in getting Lewis out of the house to receive medical attention. But he locked himself in his room.





Prior to Sundays fatal incident, the police had attempted to get Lewis out of the house on at least two occasions, but to no avail.





Different strokes for .





When THE VINCENTIAN arrived on the scene not long after the shooting, investigators were combing Lewiss residence, inside and outside.





They were later seen leaving the house with at least two laptop computers and a suitcase. The footage from a home security camera at the Lewis residence was also confiscated.





When the transportation from the Ever-Ready Funeral Home arrived to take charge of the bodies, the police officers readily assisted in lifting Chambers body into one of the vehicles.





However, there was a loud police command of, "Stand down, no body move!, when it was time to lift Lewiss body. Residents of the community assisted in this regard.





As the funeral home vehicle departed the scene, loud screams and wailing could be heard coming from family members and friends of both of the deceased.





On social media, tributes were paid to both Lewis and Chambers. The Sergeant was described as a very hard working, friendly and committed law officer. Lewis was considered to be a very quiet person who grew up in a decent family, his father being a former secondary school principal.





Attempts to get a statement from Lewiss immediate family proved difficult. One relative, however, questioned the police account of what transpired.





"Something aint matching up, and we are wondering if it is really Gleason who shoot those officers, or whether it was a matter of crossfire. Left to be seen, said the relative.





Meanwhile, Lewiss father, Glasley Lewis, is appealing to the authorities to hand over his sons death certificate, so that he can lay him to rest.





The Commissioner of Police has promised a coroners inquest into the incident.
Travellers forced to quarantine in hotels are eight times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, in an indication that the controversial policy has helped contain the virus.

The national cabinet agreed last month to place anybody coming into Australia from overseas into enforced quarantine in hotels, motels, caravan parks and student accommodation for 14 days, as most cases of coronavirus were the result of international travel.

Passengers arriving at the Hilton Hotel CBD to start their quarantine. Credit:Jacky Ghossein

The policy has been criticised by mental health advocates and the travellers, who have raised concerns about the lack of fresh air, fresh food, cheap laundry and cleaning services.

Figures obtained from NSW Health up to Monday show that since Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the policy on March 28, 795 symptomatic travellers have been tested for COVID-19 in NSW, with 65 (8.17 per cent) returning positive results.
In addition to large grooves, which were present before etching, high density of small grooves were observed on the surfaces after etching. Credit: NITech

In the present context of concerning CO 2 levels and sustainability issues, the search for efficient and clean alternatives for producing energy continues. Among the most attractive ecofriendly fuels known, hydrogen stands out and there is much potential for its use. But researchers are yet to come up with a cost-efficient and scalable method to produce large amounts of hydrogen, and a hydrogen economy is still not in the cards.

For instance, hydrogen can be produced from fossil fuels, but the process generates CO 2 and is, therefore, not sustainable. An environment-friendly approach to producing hydrogen is water splitting: breaking up water molecules (H 2 O) to obtain pure hydrogen (H 2 ). The energy that this process requires can be harvested directly from solar radiation using photoelectrochemical cells. These cells are composed of two electrodes and a material called the electrolyte; the characteristics of all three are tailored to trigger and favor the necessary water splitting reactions.

One important characteristic that determines the efficiency of the water splitting reaction is the "band gap" of the photoelectrode material. The band gap is broadly a measure of the energy that the electrodes must receive so that charge can transfer through them and the reaction can occur. Photoelectrode materials with moderate band gaps are desirable because less energy would have to be captured from solar radiation to cause charge circulation. In light of this, silicon carbide (SiC) electrodes have been explored as a promising option.

Now, scientists from Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan, have contributed to a better understanding of these materials. "SiC is one of the most promising photoelectrode materials owing to its durability. Among its various types, 3C-SiC can absorb part of visible light due to its moderate band gap and is also capable of hydrogen generation," explains Dr. Kato the lead scientist of this study published in Applied Physics Express. Nonetheless, the observed performance of existing 3C-SiC photoelectrodes is still lower than that predicted through theoretical calculations.

To bridge this gap and improve performance, the scientists applied a previously reported approach: the efficiency of photoelectrodes can be improved by giving them a textured structure. A rugged surface allows the incident light to pass through the material multiple times, increasing the amount of sunlight absorbed.

In this study, to make the 3C-SiC photoelectrode surfaces textured, Dr. Kato and his colleague employed a technique called "electrochemical etching." They then compared the optical and electrical properties and the performances of several photoelectrodes etched under various conditions. They also observed all surfaces through advanced microscopy techniques.

They saw that the etching had occurred preferentially on the existing faults and dislocations on the material's surface. Its surface roughness was greatly increased (as desired), without the formation of "point defects"anomalies in the base structure of the electrode.

Its performancemeasured through its photon-to-current conversion efficiency under an applied voltage (also known as "ABPE" or "applied bias photon-to-current conversion efficiency")showed improvement. Under optimal conditions of etching and platinum cocatalyst deposition, the performance was found to be 2%. "This ABPE value is the highest among the reported efficiencies for SiC photoelectrodes so far. Thus, we believe our 3C-SiC photoelectrode with a surface texture formed through electrochemical etching is promising for solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion applications," concludes Dr. Kato.

The scientists say that their ultimate goal is to someday produce SiC photocathodes with solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies comparable to those of other energy conversion technologies. Realizing this vision could be a key step towards a more environment-friendly hydrogen economy.

Explore further Cheap, efficient and stable photoelectrode could improve water splitting with solar energy

More information: Masashi Kato et al, Highly efficient 3C-SiC photocathodes with texture structures formed by electrochemical etching, Applied Physics Express (2020). Masashi Kato et al, Highly efficient 3C-SiC photocathodes with texture structures formed by electrochemical etching,(2020). DOI: 10.35848/1882-0786/ab6f29
The kit is priced between INR 2000-3000/- depending upon the global supply

Bengaluru based start-up Bione has recently launched a rapid COVID-19 at-home Screening test kit. The easy-to-use kit displays accurate results within minutes, instrumental in the timely screening of the deadly virus.

The at-home screening kit is available for sale on companys platform after approval from the requisite medical regulatory authorities.

In a breakthrough development, the Biotech company has devised the screening kit for coronavirus which can provide respite from the impending fear of the contagion. The simple point-of-care home screening kit renders quick results, without having to step out in the wake of lockdown. It will foster timely detection of the disease while acting as a preventive tool for others in proximity to the user, by isolating the carrier immediately.

The kit is priced between INR 2000-3000/- depending upon the global supply, to increase its affordability for the masses. Under normal circumstances, the ready-to-use kits can be received within 2-3 days of placing the order at their platform. An effective screening tool for mass screening, the organisation is also in talks to provide bulk orders for early detection.

COVID-19 Screening test kit is an IgG & IgM based tool which takes 5-10 minutes to deliver the results. Upon receiving the kit, the user is required to clean their finger with an alcohol swab and use the lancet provided to finger-prick. The cartridge provided reads the results from the blood sample thus obtained, within 5-10 minutes.

As per the company statement, The products have been sourced from worldwide CE and FDA approved partners and are brought to market after stringent quality controls have been ensured. The kits are approved by ICMR and will be deployed in the market after proper quality checks and assurance. The company is in the process of getting approval for more USFDA partners.

The organisation is well-equipped to supply 20,000 kits per week and intends to build its manufacturing facilities in the coming months to sufficiently cater to the high demand.

Currently, the kits are experiencing a worldwide upsurge in demand especially from the US, Italy, Spain etc. due to lack of coronavirus testing solutions in the market.

Speaking on the launch, Dr Surendra Chikara, CEO, Bione said, We had been tracking the pandemic and pooled in a lot of time, resources and attention in our mission to develop a tool effective in curbing the outbreak. COVID-19 Home Screening test kit has emerged as a breakthrough product in such unprecedented times. By bringing down the result time, we are looking to make an impact and help India fight COVID-19. We strongly believe that the government's support is pivotal in leading a revolution against coronavirus.

The company had earlier developed a Microbiome test kit to check gut dysbiosis and also genetic tests to predict susceptibility to contagious diseases such as COVID-19, based on their genetic makeup.
An expected recovery in Chinese manufacturing was thwarted as the global spread of the pandemic disrupted export orders.

Chinas factory activity unexpectedly shrank in April, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday, as the coronavirus pandemic shattered global demand, causing a substantial drop in export orders and more layoffs.

The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 49.4 last month, from Marchs expansionary 50.1. The 50-mark separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis. Analysts had expected the PMI to rise to 50.3.

While the dip in activity was not as severe as the extreme contractions seen in other countries, the survey, which focuses mostly on small and export-oriented businesses, reinforces views that any recovery in the worlds second-biggest economy is likely to be some way off.

The contraction seen in the Caixin survey was worse than Chinas official factory PMI released earlier on Thursday, which slipped to 50.8 from 52.0, showing activity expanded albeit at a slower pace.

A sub-index for production in the Caixin survey rose to 51.1 in April from Marchs 50.6, underpinned by more government easing of restrictions previously imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

However, export orders contracted at the fastest pace since the 2008 global financial crisis, with a sub-index dropping to 33.7, as external demand collapsed due to heavy lockdowns worldwide. That reading was even worse than February when Chinas economic activity ground to a standstill.

The export slump pushed overall business lower, suggesting the recovery in domestic consumption has been limited.

To sum up, the sharp fall in export orders seriously hindered Chinas economic recovery in April, although businesses were gradually getting back to work, Zhengsheng Zhong, Director of Macroeconomic Analysis at CEBM Group, said in a note accompanying the survey.

Some analysts even raised the prospects of a recession in China as they predict second-quarter growth could stay below zero. The economy shrank 6.8 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, marking the first contraction since current quarterly records began.

Weak demand has prompted manufacturers to reduce their payrolls at a faster pace in April, the survey showed, while companies slashed their selling prices for the third-straight month.

Concerns over the effects of the pandemic weighed on business confidence, with an index for optimism over the next 12 months dipping to a four-month low.

Unlike in February and March, manufacturers confidence was not high in April as the coronavirus hard hit on external demand forced them to reassess the pandemics impact: the economic shock may be greater than previously thought and it may take longer for the economy to recover, said CEBM Groups Zhong.

A package of macroeconomic policies, as suggested in the April 17 Politburo meeting, must be implemented urgently. It is particularly necessary to aid weak links including small and mid-size enterprises and personal incomes.

China will step up macroeconomic policies to offset the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, the ruling Communist Partys politburo said in a meeting earlier this month.

Policies could include raising the ceiling on the budget deficit ratio, increased bond issuance and a more flexible monetary policy with more reductions to reserve requirement ratios and benchmark lending rates. Market rates would be guided lower.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on April 30, 2020, in Mumbai's Reliance Hospital. The actor was diagnosed with cancer back in 2018 and had been battling it for two years. The news about Rishi Kapoor's death was first confirmed by the late actor's brother Randhir Kapoor.

Later, a heartfelt public statement was released by his family on Rishi Kapoor's demise, remembering him as a joyous and determined person. Read the public statement released by the Kapoor family on Rishi Kapoor's death below:

Also read: Rishi Kapoor's death: Iconic movies of the legendary actor with wife Neetu Kapoor

Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him. He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears. In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way.

Rishi Kapoor had a career spanning across over four decades in the Hindi film industry. During these years, there have been over 120 Rishi Kapoor movies, where the actor has given commendable performances, earning both critical and commercial acclaim. The peak of Rishi Kapoor's romance movies came during the 90s era, between 1990 to 1999, Rishi Kapoor featured in over 30 films.

The majority of these films were based on the romance genre which established the actor to have a 'chocolate boy' image. Read below to know some of the best Rishi Kapoor movies from the 90s where he was seen in a young romantic avatar.

Also read: When Irrfan Khan praised his 'D-Day' co-star Rishi Kapoor and said 'He is hot liquid'

Bol Radha Bol (1992)

The 1992 film Bol Radha Bol featured Rishi Kapoor and Juhi Chawla in lead roles. Bol Radha Bol is considered to be one of the most entertaining Rishi Kapoor movies as the actor can be seen playing a double role in the film. The iconic song Tu Tu Tu Tara is still fresh in people's minds and can also be seen referenced to in various films Hindi films.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67: Ranveer Singh pays 'heartbreaking' tribute

Henna (1991)

The 1991 film Henna was both critically and commercially successful when it first released. The film was Raj Kapoor's last directorial venture which was later completed by Randhir Kapoor after his untimely demise. The romantic film is based around the backdrop of Pakistan and also features a tragic twisted end which makes it one of Rishi Kapoor's must-watch films.

Also read: After Rishi Kapoor's classy final tweet, Kapoor family also upholds larger good amid loss

Sahibaan (1993)

The 1993 film Sahibaan featured Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit in pivotal roles. The film was a commercial success and featured a popular soundtrack which was reportedly loved by fans. In the film, Rishi Kapoor could be seen donning an out and out romantic avatar as he is paired opposite Madhuri Dixit.

Also read: Rishi Kapoors Death: Iconic Songs Of The Legendary Actor That Will Always Be Evergreen

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From supply chain, to acquisition, to automation, the federal response to COVID-19 is changing what IT means to agencies, according to several top federal IT managers.

As the pandemic grew, the Small Business Administration ramped up its telework efforts and surged its personnel and IT to support disaster and small business loan portals, the agency was told there were potential shortages desktop and laptop computers and lagging supplies of peripheral devices such as mice and monitors, according to agency CIO Maria Roat. That shortage, however, didn't slow the efforts down, as the General Services Administration and NASA's SEWP contract had enough to support SBA's efforts, she said, but it showed a potential problem.

With other agencies, including Health and Human Services and the Veterans Administration looking for similar IT gear, "the supply chain on the hardware side was stressed," said Roat during an April 30 ACT IAC teleconference.

Cross-agency teamwork, she said, is a critical piece of such a huge response. SBA's dozens of field offices, for instance, can now rely on IT support from GSA and Agriculture Department IT field personnel because of collaboration through the Federal CIO Council, according to Roat. "I haven't used that yet," she said, but it's helpful to know the help is there.

In setting up its telework and loan platform efforts, Roat said SBA has leveraged software defined networking, collaborative technologies, such as Skype, and Microsoft Teams.

In support of the loan platforms, said Roat, SBA has turned up its Gigabit bandwidth on Ethernet backbone circuits to handle the traffic on the portals. The agency, she said, plans to add more capabilities, as well hone existing capabilities in the coming weeks.

"We're now getting ready for release five" of those portal efforts, she said. The agency will add additional features, such as chat boxes, a way to view active cases and additional workflow refinements, as well as additional personnel, she said.

The COVID-19 response, said Harrison Smith, deputy chief procurement officer, at the IRS, has shown the federal government needs faster, more responsive methods to get what it needs in times of crisis. The pandemic response has shown the traditional 12 to 36 month acquisition planning cycle "is not how we need to do things," he said.

COVID-19 "has underscored the need for us to move ahead in a more agile manner" but also balance that quicker capability with responsible spending, he said.

That could mean making a way for agencies to shift to more creative ways of getting things on the fly, possibly forgoing interagency agreements for say, shared services, for instance, according to Smith.

GSA, said Beth Killoran, the agency's deputy CIO, is learning to leverage drones, data analytics and virtual capabilities to handle more of its federal building management duties. The agency is using geotagged images to track contractors' construction or repair work on its buildings, to save local and federal building inspectors from having to make a trip to sites, she said. The agency is tasking drone aircraft to do exterior building inspections, as well. GSA has also tapped public data of COVID-19 hotspots at federally-owned medical facilities, to inform where its cleaning crews can safely do their work.

Modernized IT, said Roat, Killoran and Smith, is key to responding to such a huge crisis. The workforces at GSA, SBA and IRS, they said, have adapted quickly to telework because they had begun to move toward telework before the crisis.

House lawmakers previously proposed a $3 billion bump for the Technology Modernization Fund in a COVID-19 bill that ultimately went nowhere, but future additions are possible. Roat, who is on the TMF board that approves projects for funding said it's unclear if any new funding will be approved.

SBA, she said, spent 50 intense days planning and executing a plan to implement IT to support public-facing portals and services for COVID-19 response.

"From where I sit, I'd bet other agencies are doing the same" reflection on how to move ahead from here, she said. "How would we use that $3 billion to look at the bigger picture?" Should it concentrate on shared services, she wondered. "Everyone is at home right now. Everyone is digital. We need to ramp up out digital citizen interaction."
As businesses begin to reopen after weeks-long closures to slow the spread of coronavirus, claims management companies have adjusted their service offerings to smooth the transition.

Sedgwick, for instance, in February began helping clients set up temperature screenings for essential workers unable to work from home. The company has also multi-tasked its nurse triage call center, which was set up to assist workers compensation patients, to take questions from client employees seeking treatment for COVID-19 or concerned about exposure.

Tracey Radford, a senior vice president for managed care client services, said the shift toward more proactive services was an easy pivot for an organization already focused on medical management.

In this case its really about, what do we do when we dont have a claim? Radford said. How can we help our clients with getting employees back to work?

Radford said Sedgwicks clients asked Sedgwick for help in assuring employees that employees are being kept safe from the spread of COVID-19. She said the company used its network of medical providers to source non-touch infrared thermometers for employee temperature screenings to ensure that nobody with a fever walks into the workplace.

Each screening is done by a clinician who is trained in infectious disease management, either a home health aide, licensed practice nurse of registered nurse, Sedgwick says. Clients can customize the service. Screenings can also be done remotely.

Radford said Sedgwick is also using its 24-7 on-call nurse services for injured workers to answer employees questions about the coronavirus. She said the service is offered to all of Sedgwicks clients, even those that had not contracted to use the nurse triage line.

Some employers have also called on Sedgwick to help protect returning workers with physically demanding jobs who may have gotten out of shape during the pandemic shutdown. For that, Sedgwick offers a variety of instructional videos on conditioning exercises and activities.

Similarly, Radford said Sedgwick has had to keep a close eye on injured workers who have been forced to delay surgeries because of government orders that shifted hospital resources to emergency care. She said Sedgwick offers pre-hab physical training to ensure those injured workers are in optimal condition when elective surgeries resume.

Crawford & Co. is also offering a screening process for clients who are returning employees to the workplace. Mike Hoberman, senior vice president for business services, said the company has set up a 1-800 number that workers can call to answer a series of questions to determine if they are ready to return to duty.

He said questions include whether the worker exhibited symptoms of a COVID-19 infection and how long has it been since those symptoms subsided. Employees who are deemed fit to work according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are issued a certificate that clears them to return to work.

Hoberman said Crawford, like Sedgwick, is also leaning heavily on its nurse-case management team during the pandemic. He said while the company has seen a decline in some routine types of workers compensation claims because of stay-at-home orders, it has seen a spike in claims for the health care sector.

Many of these health care workers are on the front end of the frontline so they are in a really traumatic situation, Hoberman said during a video interview with Crawford & Cos new global CEO, Rohit Verna. We are seeing the effect of the stress really set in there.

He said the company also continues serving injured workers who filed claims before the coronavirus outbreak who, unless critically ill, can no longer visit their doctors.

Weve shifted to more to of telephonic case management model, and also telehealth, telerehab, Hoberman said. Thats really started to gain some traction as we look for solutions to be on the front end, at the leading edge to support these injured workers.

Crawford also offers clients disinfection services to businesses that are reopening, through a network of 700 contractors, Hoberman said.

Charles Taylor Adjusting isnt offering any new services to help clients reopen, but it has changed the way it does things because of the pandemic, said Vince Cole, chief executive officer for the companys U.S. operations.

Cole said Charles Taylor specializes in complex claims, so its offerings arent as broad as the big claims shops. The pandemic has, however, forced the company to increase the number of inspections that it does remotely.

Cole said Charles Taylor has built an application that allows its adjusters to determine the dimensions of large structures by taking photographs. He said the remote adjusting program is similar to an off-the-shelf product marketed by Hover, but designed specifically for the large, more complicated claims that Charles Taylor investigates. The company had distributed the software to all of its adjusters and third-party contractors, he said.

The pandemic hasnt slowed down the flow of claims to Charles Taylor. Danielle Kaminski, a senior vice president, said the company is investigating several hundred business interruption claims. Many in the industry have said such claims are unlikely to be paid. Kaminski offered no opinion on that, but she said even an initial investigation, such as collecting coverage data, confirming policyholder information and taking an insureds preliminary statement can take several hours.

Investigations for California business-interruption claims will be even more time consuming. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a directive prohibiting employers from issuing blanket denials.

There has to be a fair investigation, Kaminski said.

About the photo: Americans lined up to buy goods at supermarkets like Costco Wholesale and Walmart as fears over COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, on April 18, 2020. Photographer: Tayfun Coskun/Getty Images /Anadolu
BETHESDA, Md., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it closed the largest transaction in company history; a $2.4 billion Fannie Mae Credit Facility to refinance 67 multifamily properties located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The borrower, Southern Management Corporation, is the largest privately-owned residential property-management company in the Mid-Atlantic region. The portfolio financed is comprised of 22,439 units in total, over 60 percent of which qualify as mission-driven, affordable housing under Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) guidelines.

"Walker & Dunlop's creativity, tenacity, and market knowledge resulted in a superior execution for this large and complex transaction amidst the uncertainty of a rapidly unfolding financial and health crisis," said Suzanne Hillman, President and CEO of Southern Management Corporation. "I am so glad that Southern chose to work with Brendan Coleman and his team at W&D. The effort, skill, expertise, and responsiveness of all parties involved was unprecedented."

Multifamily Finance Senior Managing Director, Brendan Coleman, and team members Chris Forte, Connor Locke, Colin Coleman, Adam Johnston, and Skye Stansbury structured the financing to provide the borrower maximum flexibility, with staggered maturities across a mix of fixed and floating-rate, full-term, interest only financing.

Willy Walker, Walker & Dunlop Chairman and CEO commented, "It is an incredible honor to be the selected financing partner for Southern Management, and is reflective of the team, brand, and capabilities we have built at Walker & Dunlop." Mr. Walker added, "Our team, along with our partners at Fannie Mae, did an exceptional job executing this enormous transaction under exceedingly challenging circumstances given the current environment. I am deeply appreciative of the trust and confidence Southern Management placed in Walker & Dunlop."

"At Fannie Mae we are committed to the development and preservation of affordable housing for America's communities," stated Jeffery Hayward, Executive Vice President of Multifamily, Fannie Mae. "This $2.4 billion Southern Management transaction gave us the opportunity to partner with one of our top DUS lenders, Walker & Dunlop, using the credit facility, one of our most flexible financing products, to structure a winning solution for the borrower while delivering affordability to the Washington, D.C., market."

Walker & Dunlop is a leader in the multifamily lending space and ranked as the #1 Fannie Mae DUS Lender in 2019. For information about Walker & Dunlop's view on the apartment market, including insights on the potential impact of COVID-19 on commercial real estate owners, watch our recent webcasts on YouTube and visit our Insights Center.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 850+ professionals in 40 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.walkerdunlop.com


Q: My husband takes medication for his high blood pressure. Hed like to find ways to lower it more naturally, so we are intrigued that you have written about beet juice for blood pressure control.

Unfortunately, he also gets kidney stones. From what I have read, beets and beet juice are high in oxalates. Is that true? It would mean we have to find a different way to lower his blood pressure.

A: Four decades ago, scientists found that a handful of foods can increase the oxalate content of the urine (Clinical Science, April 1981). They include chocolate, peanuts, beets, rhubarb and spinach. People prone to oxalate-containing kidney stones should avoid such foods.

There are many other natural approaches to blood pressure control, however. Unsweetened pomegranate or cherry juice can lower blood pressure. Volunteers in a randomized controlled study drank 2 cups of tart cherry juice or a placebo beverage every day for three months (Food & Function, June 20, 2018). Those consuming cherry juice had lower systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol.

Other strategies include eating magnesium-rich foods, learning how to breathe slowly and relaxing in a hot tub or sauna. For lots more information about controlling hypertension, you may wish to consult our eGuide to Blood Pressure Solutions. You will find it in the Health eGuide section of PeoplesPharmacy.com.

Q: I used to have to use the bathroom three or four times a day at a moments notice. This is part of my history of ulcerative colitis.

About two weeks ago, I started taking a couple of tablespoons of blackstrap molasses daily. Since then, my urge to poop is under control. In addition, I need to use the bathroom only once or twice a day.

I am not constipated, and Im pleased with these changes. Do you have any insight why it is happening?

A: People with ulcerative colitis have an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. There is some evidence to suggest that the immune system of these individuals is reacting to the microbiome of the gut.

A fascinating article in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine (December 2019) may offer a preliminary answer to your question. A pilot test-tube study suggests that sugarcane molasses may enhance the bodys natural anti-inflammatory reaction. It may do this in part by enhancing the good bacteria in the colon. Perhaps the blackstrap molasses is modifying your microbiome in a favorable way.

Q: You have written about rosemary water improving performance on some cognitive tests. What is rosemary water? I have never seen it. Where could I get it?

A: We wrote about a study in which 80 people were randomly assigned to drink a cup of commercial rosemary water (No. 1 Botanicals, a British brand) or plain water. The differences in cognitive performance were small but statistically significant.

We dont know if it is possible to purchase rosemary water in the U.S. Shipping it from London would be very pricey.

You could make your own rosemary water, but we dont have a way of standardizing the active compounds such as rosmarinic acid. When we make it, we use six 6-inch sprigs of fresh rosemary from the backyard bush and steep it in a quart of water for an hour. We boil the water first. Unfortunately, we dont know how this compares to No. 1 Botanicals rosemary water product.

Most of the medications taken by Americans used to be made in the United States. That all started to change about 20 years ago. Now, the vast majority of medications we swallow are made in whole or in part outside our borders.

This happened in large measure because manufacturing costs, including materials and labor, are far less expensive in places such as China, India, Slovakia and Brazil. The generic drug industry relies on low prices to sell its products.

The Food and Drug Administration has embraced this move. On its website, the agency brags that generic drugs save Americans billions of dollars every year.

Four years ago, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that more than 40% of finished drugs and 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients are produced overseas. These APIs are the defining compounds in all our medications.

Is there a downside to this huge shift in the pharmaceutical supply chain? Over the past decade or so, we have heard from many readers who complain that their medications appear to be of substandard quality. When manufacturing is located abroad, the FDA has a harder time inspecting pharmaceutical facilities to ensure quality.

But there is another complication when the pharmaceutical supply chain originates overseas. In a crisis such as a worldwide pandemic, there can be shortages of essential medicines.

FiercePharma is an online news service that tracks the pharmaceutical industry on a daily basis. In an April 13, 2020, report, it shared this concern: The novel coronavirus has put an enormous strain on the pharmaceutical supply chain, with spot shortages of certain meds increasingly common. Now, with thousands of COVID-19 patients flooding U.S. hospitals, drugs used during treatment and ventilation are growing scarce.

Critical medications such as propofol and midazolam are in short supply. Some antibiotics and albuterol asthma inhalers also are running low.

Its not just the manufacturing process that has been affected. According to FiercePharma (March 31, 2020), The production of Chinese active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) slipped by 10% to 20% during the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in China but is quickly recovering. The bottleneck in the global supply chain for APIs is now shipping, particularly ocean freight.

Quality also may suffer during the pandemic. That is partly because FDA inspectors have been called home from China and India. The honor system has replaced FDA oversight.

Katherine Eban is the author of the book Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom. In a story for Reuters (April 16, 2020) she reports that one of the foreign companies supplying the drug chloroquine to the U.S. market has been cited for manufacturing failures.

This is a medicine that some doctors are using to treat COVID-19. The FDA has lifted its import ban on the company to allow both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to continue to flow into the U.S. market from India.

Disruptions to our drug supply chain because of the pandemic may encourage U.S. lawmakers to reevaluate the appeal of less expensive foreign-made medicines. Maybe it is time to reward companies for making medicines at home where they can be regularly inspected by the FDA.

Contact the Graedons at peoplespharmacy.com.
Drugs, guns found believed linked to Bacalar plane

Chetumal, Q.R.  Members of the 34th Military Zone in the capital city of Chetumal have confirmed the seizure of more than 200 packages of cocaine along with weapons and ammunition.

Elements of the Mexican Army say they seized 241 packages of cocaine and six weapons along with more than 2,000 cartridges after making the discovery in the Juan Sarabia community, about 25 kilometers west of the city of Chetumal.

The weapons and drugs were found in a safe house after a search of the premises. The Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) did not report any arrests, only the seizure of illegal items. It is believed possible that the drugs were part of the load from an illegal landing in Bacalar earlier this week.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump, the president of the United States, announced that he is halting funding to the World Health Organization, saying, among other things, that the organization is very China-centric and really blew it on the coronavirus. The move followed weeks of escalating attacks on the UN health organization as he tried to push blame away from his administration.

As one of its biggest funding sources, the US decision to halt funding for the global health organization could be a major blow to its efforts to fight diseases around the globe and coordinate the pandemic response, and many people have made the point that doing so mid-pandemic is pure lunacy. Clearly, it is a desperate attempt by the Trump administration to cover up its colossal failure in handling the pandemic.

The WHO officially declared a pandemic on Mar. 11, and declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on the Jan. 30.

In fact, Trump praised the WHO early on.

Trump tweeted on Feb. 25: The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!

Why did the Trump administration do a U-turn on its attitude toward the WHO?

The reason lies in the dire situation in the United States. Facing fierce criticism for its poor response to coronavirus, the Trump administration is using smoke and mirrors to divert attention away from the real issue. With over 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and more Americans dead from coronavirus in three months than the number of American soldiers killed in the Vietnam War, there is huge pressure to shift the blame for the disaster in the United States onto others.

The WHO, as the global guardian of public health, has a vision to allow all people enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. Among other things, it provides leadership on matters critical to health, engages in partnerships, monitors the health situation, and assesses health trends. It therefore has a key role to play in the global health response to the pandemic. Trying to crush it will only worsen an already dire situation, as the organization cannot be fully effective without the United States, and no one country can fight this battle alone.

The situation is worrying in the United States, but the reason there is so much death is that the Trump administration created a nightmare situation. It is a leadership issue. At the end of last month, the Boston Globe editorial board called the crisis in the United States a colossal failure of leadership, criticizing the Trump administration for dragging its feet on coronavirus and thus making a bad situation worse. In other words, the president has blood on his hands, the editorial board argued.

This is a harsh assessment, but it gets to the heart of the issue. Regardless of how much lipstick you put on a pig, it is still a pig. Blaming the WHO will not change the fact that the administration ignored warnings from health and intelligence advisers in the months Trump continued to play down the threat. In February, for example, Trump claimed that the number of cases would be close to zero in a matter of days and that the crisis would disappear like a miracle. Obviously, this did not happen. Instead, the number of cases in the United States surged.

Everyone wants to see the situation in the United States take a turn for the better, but attacking and defunding the worlds premier global health organization is nothing but a smelly red herring that detracts from the real problem at hand. That is, that a colossal leadership failure in Washington caused so much death.
A federal judge Wednesday denied a request by immigration advocacy groups to temporarily halt part of President Donald Trumps recent order that would restrict some children of permanent residents from obtaining visas to enter the country over the next two months.

Last Wednesday, Trump signed an order that blocks some new entrants to the country who dont already have visas or other travel documents but exempted certain categories of foreign workers and employers, including investors and health care professionals, as well their spouses and children. Also exempt are children or spouses of American citizens and U.S. military and most asylum seekers.

Trump has said the purpose of the executive order is not only to protect Americans from the coronavirus but to save their jobs.

The Portland-based Innovation Law Lab, Los Angeles-based Justice Action Center and the American Immigration Lawyers Association filed an emergency motion on Saturday, seeking a temporary order to block Trumps ban on visa services for children of immigrants who are at risk of turning 21 and aging out of their preferential underage status for the processing of visas.

But U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon found there wasnt a sufficient connection to the plaintiffs pending suit that challenges Trumps restrictions on visas for immigrants who cant pay for health insurance.

Just because the Court issued orders based on a complaint relating to the processing of immigrant visa applications, that does not mean that the Court has the authority  to stop enforcement of every immigration-related executive order (or other action) that might affect members of the certified class, Simon wrote in his ruling.

While the judge said he recognized the potential hardship and delay for those who are turning 21 and could lose their preferential status for the processing of a visa under Trumps recent order, he wrote, That is a matter for Congress to fix, not the courts.''

Attorney Nadia Dahab of Innovation Law Lab had argued during a hearing held by phone Wednesday that plaintiffs were seeking limited relief to protect the kids who are at the most imminent risk of harm.

She conceded that the people affected are likely a small group of young adults who are 20 years and a few months old now and would turn 21 in the next three months.

The 60-day pause in granting visas under Trumps latest order could turn into a potentially indefinite delay in their visa processing and prolonged family separation, Dahab said.

These kids may be functionally unable to receive a visa in their lifetime, she told the court.

Attorney Courtney Moran, representing Trump and the government, countered that the challenge isnt appropriate in the immigration suit pending before Simon that deals with the ability of immigrants to afford health insurance.

Its completely unrelated to this lawsuit, she said.

Of course we are not unsympathetic to the facts that certain individuals are going to age out of their visa preference category, Moran told the judge.

Though those who turn 21 would lose their preference for a visa, they can still apply.

They dont lose eligibility for a visa,'' Moran said. Its not extinguishing anyones rights to apply for a visa.

Other emergency services also still exist for this group of visa applicants to make their predicament known to consulate services where they live, Moran told the court.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

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[April 30, 2020] Practical and profitable remote care technology: LifeOnMD provides patients with extraordinary quality remote care

NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent public health challenges call for new ways to deliver patient care. LifeOnMD allows you to remotely diagnose, monitor, eEncount, and check vitals such as blood glucose, blood pressure and hundreds of other parameters. The end-to-end remote solution makes it possible for patients to be treated from their own homes, without putting anyone at risk. Patient care has changed. Less office visits drastically impact a provider's encounters per day. Senior patients, many providers' main clientele, are the most at risk. Additionally, patients are more receptive to remote care. Government regulations/taxpayers and commercial insurance providers are also encouraging change. This allows providers to serve patients while acquiring financial benefits and exercising safety. LifeOn is a patented system that is practical and profitable. LifeOnMD provides a 360-degree view of information from patient devices, EMR an via visual telepointments that enables providers to remotely care for their patients.



"LifeOnMD targets clinics and hospitals that intend to give patients better care, even remotely," said Alok Sinha, CEO of Globus Eight Inc., "Infectious diseases, chronic care, and senior care management require ongoing monitoring during quarantine and otherwise." Alok added, "We have thousands of devices that patients can choose from, or they may even use their own devices that integrate with the LifeOn framework." Marni Ehrlich, CEO of TechLeaders Consulting LLC., says, "LifeOnMD offers providers the necessary support to evolve providers and patients into this new delivery paradigm. It leverages our unique understanding of Health IT, IoT platforms and telecommunications to deliver a complete solution in the remote monitoring marketplace."

About TechLeaders: TechLeaders Consulting, LLC is a top-ten healthcare consulting company and leading implementation agent for HIT for the New York State eHealth Collaborative. About Globus Eight: Globus Eight Inc. is an IT services company offering IT support, security, and AI/IoT solutions to its customers. Contact: Ms. Neha Shrivastava (https://lifeonmd.g8.net) Globus Eight Inc/TechLeaders Consulting

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[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/practical-and-profitable-remote-care-technology-lifeonmd-provides-patients-with-extraordinary-quality-remote-care-301050261.html SOURCE Globus Eight Inc

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Police detained 1,104 persons



along with 842 vehicles on Thursday in Manipur for violating the curfew and defying the lockdown, a senior officer said.

The curfew violators were produced before the magistrates concerned and were fined totalling to Rs 1,22,490 under the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, said Additional Director General of Police (law and order) L Kailun



Police warned of strict action against those violating the curfew and the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, April 30 : Round the clock sweeping and disinfection is a new normal in Azadpur Mandi, Asia's largest fruit and vegetable market. But despite implementing such extraordinary hygienic measures, buyers are a bit hesitant in flocking to the crowded market which has recorded over 15 positive cases of Covid-19 and has 14 agencies sealed on its premises.

"Adhering to social distancing, we have restricted the numbers of buyers...but business will go on, this mandi is north India's lifeline," says Adil Ahmed Khan, Chairman of Azadpur's Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC).

In fact, the real battle on ground zero here is about lives and livelihood.

"Over 1,000 big trucks, loaded with vegetables and fruits are reaching here everyday. If we cease these operations, what will millions of people eat? The question is not about profit and loss, but about feeding the people," Surendra Yadav, an agent trading in vegetables, told IANS.

"Four trucks of cabbage, arrived from Shimla yesterday. But surprisingly two truckloads of cabbage still remain unsold. The buyers are not turning up here in large numbers," says Yadav who is ready to sell a sack of cabbage for as less as Rs 100, almost 50 per cent of its wholesale market value.

It's not only the fear of Covid-19 pandemic, but restrictions on wholesale and retail agents have also brought down the numbers of buyers here.

Usually the movement of trucks and smaller goods carriers at the sprawling market easily crosses the 5,000 mark on any given day. However, to adhere to the norms of social distancing these days, APMC has restricted the numbers of trucks and other transport vehicles of buyers to 3,300.

"Tough measures have to be taken. So now we distribute tokens for each truck or tempo entering into the mandi. We regulate the movement of vehicles on an hourly basis. For example from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., early morning, we allow entry of only 300 trucks. During the next hour, a similar number of trucks are allowed. In between we close the entry for a couple of hours. This token system goes on till late night," says Khan, who remains busy chalking out strategies with officials for effective containment of the virus in one of the most crowded places on the globe.

While buyers think twice in entering Azadpur Mandi, hundreds of truckers carrying fruits from Kashmir or remote places in Himachal Pradesh, brave the pandemic to earn livelihood. More than 30 trucks of apples from Kashmir Valley reached Azadpur on early Thursday morning.

"Because of the lockdown, buyers (from neighbouring areas) are unable to reach. Still much of the consignment has been sold out," says Mohammed Islam who deals in Kashmiri apples. The apple agent wears a mask and also keeps a bottle of sanitiser at his table.

The labourers who offload the goods from trucks and later load them into smaller vehicles have been provided masks. The local police and APMC officials inspect each of the shed to ensure that all 2,800 licensed agents follow the stringent norms laid down by the Health Ministry for containment of COVID-19.

In one of the bigger sheds, tonnes of onion, packed in 100 kg sacks, are all stacked up on the floor. Scores of trucks bringing quality onions from Rajasthan, Nashik and other places have flooded the mandi.

"One truck load of onions has been lying with me for the past two days. Though the price remains the same (Rs 400 per quintal), I hope the stock will be cleared if we get buyers in the coming days," says Lallu, who serves as manager for a prominent commission agent.

According to Lallu, a large number of buyers who come from western UP and other places are not turning up.

The spread of the virus in a few shops here has also caused fear among a few.

"Let's hope things will change after May 3," says Lallu who expects that there would be considerable relaxation in the mandi after the second leg of lockdown ends.

Meanwhile the APMC Chairman is holding meetings with the District Magistrate, Civic and Health Ministry officials to organise regular testing of suspects, many of them who could be silent carriers of the virus.

The APMC is also awaiting the report of over 50 people working in the mandi, who were tested for Covid-19 virus.

"I hope things will improve. At this moment I can only assure you that the show will go on...irrespective of the outcome of the test reports," said Khan, whose eyes blinked for a while as he readied to walk into another meeting.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seven Hazur Sahib pilgrims, who had returned from Nanded, Maharashtra, tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Thursday, taking the district count to 15.

Deputy commissioner (DC) Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal said of the 15 cases in the district, 14 are Hazur Sahib returnees.

The patients are a 53-year-old man, 55-year-old woman and 54-year-old woman from Patti, a 57-year-old woman and 26-year-old man from Sursingh village, while a 50-year-old man and 72-year-old man tested positive in Dilawalpur. Two persons found covid positive in Sangrur. Their samples were taken at checkpost mounted on Patiala-Sangrur road near Amargarh.

MOGA COUNT REACHES FIVE

One Hazur Sahib pilgrim tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Moga on Thursday, taking the districts count to five.

The man, a resident of Ghaloti village in Dharamkot sub-division, was admitted to the isolation ward of Mogas civil hospital.

Earlier, Moga had been declared Covid-19 free after all four positive patients recovered from the disease.

Civil surgeon Dr Andesh Kang said, A total of 90 pilgrims have returned to the district from Hazur Sahib. These pilgrims were quarantine upon their return and their swab samples were sent for testing. The reports of 60 others are awaited. At present, there is only one active case in the district.

A group of 20 pilgrims had returned from Maharashtras Hazur Sahib in a private vehicle on Monday.

They had gone for the pilgrimage in the second week of March, but were stranded there after a lockdown was imposed.

Ten returnees have also tested positive in Punjabs Mohali.
New Delhi, April 30 : The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed its discontent with a slew of PILs seeking wide-ranging directions to the Centre on various issues involving the nationwide lockdown. The top court said the whole concept of the PIL has been lost.

A bench headed by Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices S.K. Kaul and B.R. Gavai said the concept of the PIL has been forgotten, as lawyers keep filing petitions on "what they feel is possible". "This is not public interest litigation." The observation from the top court came on a clutch of PILs citing gaps in the RBI circular issued on March 27, granting a three-month moratorium on repayment of term loans by borrowers, which meant they would not have to pay loan EMI installments during the moratorium period.

The PILs were junked by the bench, saying there is no aggrieved party before it. Besides, how would the lawyer justify that it was a bad scheme, it asked.

The court also noted that none of the lawyers represented the actual borrower. "How can you file Article 32 petition? Are you an aggrieved party in this petition?" queried Justice Kaul.

The lawyer replied the scheme will affect everyone. "How are you saying you are an affected party?" Justice Kaul repeated his query.

Another petitioner argued that the banks were not implementing the RBI's March 27 circular on EMI moratorium and many were aggrieved. The bench said "we direct the Reserve Bank of India to ensure implementation of the Circular on March 27, in its letter and spirit." In a separate PIL, a petitioner sought direction from the top court to universalize the public distribution system and provide ration to those who do not have ration cards. The top court said it has already asked the Centre to examine the matter.

In 1986, the then Chief Justice P.N. Bhagwati introduced PIL to the Indian judicial system. The original idea was to provide access to justice to the marginalized citizens. It allowed an individual or NGO to approach the top court seeking protection of rights of the downtrodden. But by the mid-1990s a flurry of high-profile cases were filed using the PIL instrument.

Since the beginning of the lockdown, the apex court is conducting hearing through video-conferencing and a chunk of its time has been devoted to hearing PILs on varied issues -- free treatment and free medical tests for coronavirus, medical issues connected with treatment, economy, finance and wages for migrant workers -- during the lockdown.

In many cases, the apex court has asked the Centre to consider the suggestions made in the PILs.
Many of the changes  such as decreases in drunken-driving crashes and felony charges filed in county court  flowed logically from the closure of the beer stores.

Not only Whiteclay, but Sheridan County is better off with these stores closed, said Maisch, who also produced the documentary "Sober Indian, Dangerous Indian" about Whiteclay. Nebraska today is less complicit than it was three years ago in the destruction of a tribe and a community.

Ever since President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 shrunk the 50-mile buffer zone around the Pine Ridge to 1 mile, Whiteclay sat in a prime location to sell beer to the officially dry reservation  and did just that for more than a century.

The violence alcohol fueled in Whiteclay has dried up, said Sheridan County Sheriff Jeff Brewer. Gone are the vagrants and drunks passed out on the streets, the fights that occasionally turned fatal.

He estimates his department handles no more than one or two calls from Whiteclay per week.

As far as problem areas in the community, I wouldnt say its one, said Brewer, who was elected to his post in 2018 after serving as police chief in nearby Gordon.
New Delhi, April 30 : "It is a wake-up call," said K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientificy Adviser to the Centre, whose role is very significant in the current COVID-19 scenario. Raghavan on Thursday stressed the need to reinvent to create a national structure which can deal with extraordinary situations.

"We are good at doing something when someone else has already done it. We need to flip it around so that India leads in every sector. This is a wake-up call for us," said Raghavan.

He was addressing a webinar 'How science, technology and innovation can lift India out of the Covid-19 pandemic through public-private partnership', organised by FICCI, jointly with his office and the Department of Science and Technology.

Highlighting the post Covid-19 scenario, he said hygiene, use of contact tracing apps, testing and social distancing at workplace areas will be paramount and companies will have to ensure it.

In the context of government having already given indications that some reprieve may be in the offing after May 3, the question remains how to gradually go about our normal life activities as the survival mantra is social distancing. "The challenge in going forward is how we will open work places without the vaccine. Logistics, while difficult, will need to be worked out," he said.

He said industry, academia and everyone must work to clean up the environment.

Meanwhile, Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary at Department of Science and Technology, stressed the need for a much stronger public-private partnership (PPPs). "Let it translate into some purposeful rapid action; the government is with industry. This can be done, and it ought to be done," said Sharma.

Dr Arabinda Mitra, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, said the focus must stay on key areas such as technology intelligence within industry bodies or industries; effective PPP for technology development, human capital, infrastructure capital and multi-consortium model by pooling together startups, academia, industry and technology diplomacy.

"India's engagement in the past was reactive, but now it has to be proactive. We are very open to co-collaborate. These collaborations can only happen when we are on an equal footing," said Mitra.

FICCI President Dr Sangita Reddy observed that there cannot be a better moment to show that it is science and technology that can help us fight. "It is time for us to move into a more specialized program. We need to set up infrastructure to promote innovations by connecting people and institutions," she said.
American slaughterhouses processed nearly a million fewer cattle, hogs and sheep in the past week than they did during the same time a year ago, marking a new low that experts say will likely increase spot shortages of meat at some grocery stores.

I wouldnt say the food system is breaking, but at least the meat sector is in real serious, critical condition at the moment, said Jayson Lusk, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. The chances of there being limited availability have risen, and its going to depend a lot on where you live.

Meanwhile, legal experts said President Donald Trumps executive order Tuesday declaring meatpacking plants critical to keep open will do little on its own to stop the slide in meat production brought on by the spread of the coronavirus among meatpackers.

It doesnt compel meat or poultry producers to remain in production, said Deborah Pearlstein, a law professor at Yeshiva University, and it doesnt give employers immunity from lawsuits.

Outbreaks of the novel coronavirus have shuttered an alarming number of Americas meatpacking facilities in recent weeks, with at least 4,400 workers falling ill across 80 plants, causing 28 to close for at least one day, according to data compiled by USA TODAY and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.

Those numbers have risen as red meat production has dropped. Last week, meat production was down about 25 percent compared to the same time last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On Wednesday, production was a full 42 percent lower than the same day last year.

A decrease in the number of hogs being slaughtered is driving the drop. That number fell to 283,000 Wednesday, down from more than 500,000 as recently as mid-March.

Even so, Lusk and others say, most Americans will still be able to buy meat. Steve Meyer, an economist for Kerns & Associates in Iowa, said panic buying will only exacerbate shortages.

Story continues

Were not going to run out of meat, Meyer said. Buy what you need, and leave some for somebody else, and I think well all get through this OK.

Supply will depend on existing contracts between individual grocers and their suppliers. If one store has a relationship with a supplier whose plant is down, meat may go out-of-stock there. But a different grocer down the road could contract with a supplier facing no shutdowns.

Its kind of luck of the draw of which one you might be shopping at, Meyer said. He recommends that customers ask their grocer when another shipment is expected or try another store.

Data show poultry availability holding steady. Retailers were 13.5% out of stock of poultry as of Monday, better than 14.4% a week earlier and a high of 25.4% on March 19 during the peak of Americas panic buying, according to Euromonitor International.

Industry leaders are sending mixed messages about what to expect next.

John H. Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods, warned of "meat shortages, saying in a blog post and full-page newspaper advertisement published Sunday that the food supply chain is "breaking" and "vulnerable."

But Cargill CEO Dave MacLennan said Tuesday on Bloomberg TVs Leadership Live With David Rubenstein that the ability of us to produce food is still there despite challenges for the supply chain.

I think its under strain, but I dont think its broken, he said.

Mike Duffy, CEO of C&S Wholesale Grocers, one of the nations largest distributors of food to retailers, said the supply of meat, especially pork and beef, is very challenged right now.

Shoppers will find more retail shelves out of stock until processing capacity is brought back online, Duffy told USA TODAY in emailed remarks.

For farmers, the out-of-whack supply chain is turning into a disaster. They are forced to consider euthanizing animals, including hogs and chickens, that they cant sell to processors.

In the past week alone, USDA figures show 935,000 fewer cattle, hogs, and sheep were sent to meat processing plants than over the same time period a year ago.

As a result, farmers are reportedly attempting to slow the growth of hogs and cattle by removing certain ingredients in the feed, Arun Sundaram, a meat industry analyst with CFRA Research, wrote.

Most chickens only live for 38 to 42 days, said Matt Wadiak, a founder of Blue Apron and CEO of pasture-raised chicken company Cooks Venture. If those chickens have nowhere to go, they will be euthanized.

The problem is we dont have a diverse and resilient food system, Wadiak said. We have a food system that is inherently flawed, filled with cracks, extremely fragile and overly consolidated.

Is Trumps order a savior, or paper tiger?

The meat industry appeared to receive a boost Tuesday, after Trump issued an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act and declaring meat processing facilities critical infrastructure.

However, legal experts say its unclear exactly how the order will prop up the meat packing industry.

The executive order gives the USDA under Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue authority under the Defense Production Act, Pearlstein, at Yeshiva Universitys Cardozo Law School, said. But that authority is mostly limited to allowing the government to prioritize contracts, she said, not demanding new ones or forcing factories to remain open.

All eyes will be on what Perdue does next, Pearlstein said.

In a statement Tuesday, a USDA spokesman did not detail how the order will be used to keep plants open, but said the agency will require that meat packing companies provide written plans for how they will protect workers from COVID-19 infections.

Smithfield, one of the largest meat processing companies in the United States, issued a statement that said it believed the executive order would help it secure personal protective equipment for workers.

"Importantly, the company believes that the executive order will provide priority assistance in securing an ongoing supply of critical PPE, as well as aid the company in securing broader COVID-19 testing for its employees, the statement read.

Pearlstein said thats plausible.

The key question now is how the secretary plans to use this power, Pearlstein said. Would he really prioritize getting PPE to meat packers over, say, health care workers?

Workers at risk

At least one plant that had been expected to close this week is now remaining open.

On Monday, local health officials and workers told the Lincoln Journal Star that the Smithfield plant in Crete, Nebraska, would shut down, possibly as early as Wednesday. But on Tuesday, the day Trump signed his executive order, workers received an email saying it would remain open, leading about 50 workers to walk off the job, according to the Journal Star.

Asked about the situation in Nebraska, Smithfield pointed to a statement it released on its website. The statement says Trumps order helps ensure the American people will not experience protein shortages.

Another major company, Tyson Foods, released a statement saying it has already taken steps such as adding workstation dividers and screening worker temperatures and that the safety of our team members will remain our top priority as we work with the USDA on next steps.

The statement did not address whether Tyson would open closed plants.

Tyson Foods installed plastic barriers between worker stations at its meat and poultry plants to protect against transmission of the coronavirus.

In recent weeks, a growing number of laborers in the meatpacking industry have raised alarms about conditions inside plants. A USA TODAY investigation found that while some companies have taken measures such as installing plastic barriers and spreading out workers on production lines, many workers still feel unsafe. Meanwhile theres been little oversight from federal work safety regulators.

USA TODAY Investigation: Coronavirus at meatpacking plants worse than first thought

Several groups, including the United Food and Commercial Workers union, now worry that Trumps executive order will further force members into dangerous working environments.

"The White House must work to immediately mandate strong, enforceable safety standards in meatpacking plants, a UFCW spokesperson wrote in an email. Those standards must include access to daily testing for all workers, personal protective equipment through the national stockpile if necessary, and paid sick leave so no one comes to work sick.

However, legal experts noted that Trumps order specifically directs Perdue to act in a way consistent with recent safe-workplace guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

By following those guidelines, Perdue could head off legal challenges to the order, said Claire Finkelstein, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Wadiak, the Blue Apron founder and CEO of Cooks Venture, said workers in many meat processing plants endure tough conditions and are underpaid, leading to annual employee turnover of more than 100% in some factories.

He questioned whether meat processors could remain open if nobody shows up.

How are they going to do that? he told USA TODAY in an interview. If the people are sick, they wont come to work.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Meat shortages expected as production plunges
10:31 | Lima, Apr. 30.





In a press conference held at the Parliament headquarters, Merino affirmed that the Legislative Branch acted "responsibly" in approving this initiative, which was submitted in early April and received no comment from the Executive Branch





"Therefore, in accordance with article 108 of the Constitution, this new Congress will proceed to enact the law. () We do so in the healthy recognition of the economic need of more than 6 million Peruvians who wait for help in this chaotic economic situation that we are facing," he expressed.





On April 3, Peruvian lawmakers approved the law that allows citizens to withdraw up to 25% of their pension savings, equivalent to 3 tax units (UITs), that is, under a cap of S/12,900 (US$3,824) for each affiliate.





Confrontation ruled out

After the enactment of the act, First Deputy Chairman Luis Valdez ruled out any confrontation between the Legislative and Executive Branches as a result of this decision and noted that, in this fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) , "all institutions should be more united."





For her part, Third Deputy Chairwoman Maria Teresa Cabrera stressed that "not everyone thinks the same" when living in a democracy, and the fact that there is a discrepancy regarding the pension savings withdrawals from Pension Fund Administrators (AFP) "cannot be called a confrontation."
India's ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin who became quite famous for his fiery speeches at the world body is celebrating his last day in the office. The ambassador on Thursday shared a post on Twitter where he is seen in a video conference with the UN chief Antonio Guterres and talks about bowing out with a 'namaste'.

In the tweet he wrote: "Time to bow out, with the usual." The video attached with the tweet, Akbaruddin is seen folding his hands and explaining the significance of a 'namaste'.

Time to bow out, with the usual pic.twitter.com/BM6m7j7qQW -- Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) April 30, 2020

Akbaruddin said, "When we leave or when we meet, we don't say 'Hello' or 'thanks' we say 'namaste' and as I end I would like to say 'namaste'."

Guterres in turn smiled and returns the gesture by saying namaste.

Akbaruddin is a 1985 batch Indian Foreign Service officer who had been serving as India's permanent representative at the United Nations was appointed to the post in January 2016. He will be succeeded by TS Trimurti who is currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Technavio has been monitoring the fish sauce market and it is poised to grow by USD 537.05 mn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005611/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Fish Sauce 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. Masan Group Corp., Pichai Fish Sauce Co. Ltd., Rayong Fish Sauce Industry Co. Ltd., Thai Fishsauce Factory (Squid Brand) Co. Ltd., and Unilever Group are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Growing use of fish sauce has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Fish Sauce Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Fish Sauce Market is segmented as below:

Product Industrial Fish Sauce Traditional Fish Sauce

Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America



To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31906

Fish Sauce 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 fish sauce market report covers the following areas:

Fish Sauce Market Size

Fish Sauce Market Trends

Fish Sauce Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies production of fish sauce from fish waste as one of the prime reasons driving the fish sauce market growth during the next few years.

Fish Sauce Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the fish sauce market, including some of the vendors such as Masan Group Corp., Pichai Fish Sauce Co. Ltd., Rayong Fish Sauce Industry Co. Ltd., Thai Fishsauce Factory (Squid Brand) Co. Ltd., and Unilever Group. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the fish sauce market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Fish Sauce Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist fish sauce market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the fish sauce market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the fish sauce market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of fish sauce market vendors

Table Of Contents :

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT

Market segmentation by product

Comparison by product

Industrial fish sauce Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Traditional fish sauce Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by product

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

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: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 10: MARKET TRENDS

Rise in online sale of fish sauces

Increasing popularity of vegan fish sauce

Production of fish sauce from fish waste

PART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 12: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Masan Group Corp.

Pichai Fish Sauce Co. Ltd.

Rayong Fish Sauce Industry Co. Ltd.

Thai Fishsauce Factory (Squid Brand) Co. Ltd.

Unilever Group

PART 13: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

Definition of market positioning of vendors

PART 14: 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/20200429005611/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

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Email: media@technavio.com

Website: www.technavio.com/
Hundreds of members of the Orthodox Jewish community attend the funeral for a rabbi who died from the coronavirus in the Borough Park neighbourhood on April 5 - GETTY IMAGES

Bill de Blasio, New Yorks mayor, broke up a Hasidic Jewish funeral in Brooklyn for breaching social distancing rules and lashed out at mourners, prompting accusations of racism.

Hundreds gathered on Tuesday to pay respects to a rabbi who had died from coronavirus, despite an order by the state not to gather in large numbers.

"My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed," Mr de Blasio tweeted after police dispersed the funeral in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn.

Tipster says this is the Williamsburg funeral today of Rabbi Chaim Mertz who died from COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/wsTvCrlzpb  Reuven Blau (@ReuvenBlau) April 29, 2020

In another tweet, he said: "Something absolutely unacceptable happened in Williamsburg tonight: a large funeral gathering in the middle of this pandemic."

He said he went there to ensure that the crowd was broken up, and added: "What I saw WILL NOT be tolerated so long as we are fighting the Coronavirus."

On Wednesday, Mr de Blasio defended his actions in his daily briefing, telling reporters he had "no regrets about calling out this danger".

"I spoke last night out of passion. I could not believe my eyes, it was deeply, deeply, distressing.

"People's lives were in danger right before my eyes. It was tough love. It has not happened in other places, let's be honest. No it is not like people gathering in the park." But he added: "I won't tolerate antisemitism."

Images posted on social media show hundreds of people on the street for the funeral of a rabbi who had died of Covid-19, identified by The Yeshiva World as Chaim Mertz.

Some, but not all, of the mourners wore face coverings and more than 50 were crammed on the pavement, in violation of Governor Andrew Cuomos order.

Story continues

Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray applaud healthcare workers at Brooklyn's Kings County Hospital Center - AP

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said officers on scene did not ticket or arrest anybody.

The coronavirus has hit the close-knit Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn particularly hard, killing religious leaders and followers at a rate that some public health data suggest may exceed that of other ethnic or religious groups.

Members of the community have continued to gather in the streets in large numbers for the funerals of rabbis and influential figures.

Critics accused Mr de Blasio of singling out the Orthodox Jewish community for censure when others have violated social distancing rules as well.

"This has to be a joke," City councilman Chaim Deutsch, who represents a large Orthodox Jewish constituency, tweeted. "Did the Mayor of NYC really just single out one specific ethnic community (a community that has been the target of increasing hate crimes in HIS city) being noncompliant??"

Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, tweeted that generalising about the whole Jewish population of New York City "is outrageous, especially when so many are scapegoating Jews."

Others noted the crowds that gathered earlier on Tuesday to watch a flyover by the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds to honour health-care workers.

The crowd for the fighter jets today were around longer than the funeral, said Isaac Abraham, a Jewish community activist.

He also noted that the funeral was not a last-minute event that the city was unaware of.
Bihar, Punjab and Telangana on Thursday wanted special trains for the transportation of migrant workers while Uttar Pradesh deployed buses to bring them back from some nearby states, a day after the Centre gave the go-ahead for the inter-state movement of labourers hit by the lockdown.

As the Centre's decision ahead of the end of the 40-day lockdown brought cheers to lakhs of migrant workers across the country, quarantine centres and shelter homes were also being readied for the returning migrants with UP alone preparing to receive an estimated 10 lakh people. The coronavirus-induced lockdown is due to end on May 3.

State governments also appointed nodal officers from the civil and police administration to develop standard protocols to help coordinate the movement of the stranded people. Contact details of the officers were also given.

A senior official of the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) said all states and union territories (UTs) will have to "strictly follow" its latest guidelines.

The MHA on Wednesday issued fresh directives allowing states to transport stranded students, migrant labourers, tourists and pilgrims to their home states or destination by strictly following guidelines meant to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

Asked during a press briefing in Delhi if special trains and private vehicles will also be allowed to transport these people as demanded by some states and others, Joint Secretary in the MHA Punya Salila Srivastava said the orders issued at present were for "using buses and for group of persons".

"State governments will also register such people and concerned states will discuss among themselves for ensuring these movements by road," she said.

In Ahmedabad, some stranded migrants said they have already started packing their bags to return home.

"Life became very difficult for me and my family after the lockdown as I was left with no money, said Shyam Singh, a native of Morena in Madhya Pradesh, who is currently living in Ranip area of Ahmedabad.

Singh said he was glad they were now allowed to go back to their home state.

"I can at least do some farming there to help my family. I have already packed the luggage for the journey. If I find some better work in my home state, I do not wish to return here," he added.

The Bihar government urged the Centre to allow running of special trains at least from far-off places where the migrants from the state are stuck.

We will welcome all our people willing to come back, from any part of the country. Arrangements like screening, home quarantine and institutional quarantine are in place.

"But the number of those wanting to return is likely to be huge. If we depend on buses, the process could take months to complete, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said in a video message.

Non-stop trains without any intermediary halts could be operated, he said, adding seating arrangements be made for passengers in a way that social distancing is ensured.

Modi pointed out that the number of people from Bihar stranded is very large, with more than 17 lakh having received financial assistance of Rs 1,000 each from the state government and nearly 10 lakh more applications under process.

We can opt for buses to bring people from places which are close to Bihar. But for far-off ones, the Centre should consider our request for special trains, the senior BJP leader said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange special trains.

According to officials, there are nearly 10 lakh migrant labourers in Punjab. Approximately 70 per cent of these are from Bihar.

Building contractor Bhagvat Yadav, a native of Lucknow, said around 45 people, including labourers and masons, are working with him and all of them want to go back home.

Telangana Animal Husbandry Minister T Srinivas Yadav also demanded that the Centre arrange special trains and provide free transportation.

Observing there are about 15 lakh migrant workers in Telangana, who hail from states like Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, he said it takes about three to five days for them to reach their home states if they travel by buses.

It is not appropriate for the Centre to say that the state governments concerned have to transport the migrant workers in buses, said an official release quoting him.

The Centre should take steps to send these workers to their native places in buses, under the auspices of respective state governments, after they reach their home states in trains, Yadav said.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked officials to keep ready quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens as the state prepares for the return of migrant workers stranded in different parts of the country.

Adityanath appealed to those stranded in other states to be patient and not start walking towards their homes.

"Maintain patience that you have shown till now. A detailed plan is being prepared after contacting states concerned to ensure that all return to their homes safely. Therefore, stay where you are and remain in contact with the respective state governments. Do not start moving on foot," he said in a tweet.

An official spokesperson said in Lucknow that workers stranded in Madhya Pradesh will be brought back on Thursday and those in Gujarat on Friday by buses. Around 13,000 people are also being brought back from Haryana.

The chief minister asked officials to prepare quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens to cater to 10 lakh people.

Adityanath suggested that these facilities could be set up in college buildings with a proper facility for community kitchens, toilets and security among other things.

Though state governments are working on plans for the movement of migrant workers it was not known whether the entire affected lot would like to return to their homes since plans are also afoot to scale up industrial activities after May 3.

For example, the Karnataka government has decided to allow industrial activities across the state barring COVID-19 containment zones from May 4.

The state government decided to allow the movement of migrant workers, tourists, students and others stranded in different parts of the state.

This will be a one-time movement and the government would arrange buses for those in need but they should bear the expenses, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said.

In Gujarat, the state government stepped up its efforts to send back the migrant labourers, who are mostly from Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment, Vipul Mitra, said around 4,000 migrant workers kept at various shelter homes will be sent back to their home states soon.

Of them, around 2,300 are from Uttar Pradesh alone, while others are from neighbouring states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

"We have already started the process to send 500 labourers to Maharashtra in the coming days. We will drop them at the border, from where, authorities of that state would ferry them into their buses. District collectors are also issuing permits to shift such workers in private buses with the help of local NGOs and industries," Mitra said.

"Since UP is far from Gujarat, we have urged that state to send their own buses to shift 2,300 migrants.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People ride bikes and walk on a path along the beach in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 26, 2020. (Michael Heiman/Getty Images)

Newsom Orders Closure of Orange County Beaches

NEWPORT BEACH (CNS)Despite indications he might close the coastline statewide, Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 30 instead ordered a temporary hard close only of beaches in Orange County, where crowds gathered on the sand during last weekends heat wave amid social-distancing mandates due to the CCP virus.

Were guided by health. Were guided by your health and the health of others, Newsom said in announcing the closure.

On April 27, Newsom lamented images of crowds that gathered on some beaches in Orange Countyparticularly in Newport Beachon the weekend of April 25-26, saying such masses of people are a feeding ground for COVID-19 and could reverse the progress the state has made in flattening the curve of the illness.

He repeated those concerns on April 30, but said the vast majority of the state did not have issues with large crowds gathering.

But in areas where we didnt see that, you have to acknowledge that, you have to own that. And you have to figure that out, Newsom said.

Ive been led by my health directors  that feel we need to address that a little more specifically in a targeted way. The volume of people in a concentrated space, particularly in a few cities, in a few coastal cities, off and around the Orange County area. Those were the point of particular concerns.

So today we want to make some clarifications. Were going to do a hard close in that part of the state, just in the Orange County area, he added.

Were going to have a temporary pause on the beaches down there, state and local beaches. We want to work very closely with local elected officials, and were committed to doing that, said Newsom.

And if we can get some framework and guidelines to get this right, we can reopen very, very quickly. But weve got to make sure we can get this right.

Newsom had expressed optimism earlier this week that local Orange County officials would take action to prevent a recurrence of last weekends beach gatherings.

But on April 28, the Newport Beach City Council rejected a proposal to shutter the beaches for the next three weekends. Laguna Beach officials, meanwhile, voted to allow active use of the beaches from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays, beginning May 4.

We heard Gov. Newsoms comments and are awaiting a copy of the actual order, said John Pope, a spokesman for Newport Beach. The city of Newport Beach intends to honor the governors directive to close Orange County beaches.

State Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) condemned the governors order.

Gov. Newsom just doesnt seem to get it, he said.

Orange County residents have been responsible. Theyve followed health care officials prudent recommendations and respected the science. The county hasnt seen the surge in its hospitals, and six weeks into this shelter-in-place order, the beach may be the best medicine.

Moorlach added, We need to trust people. If our citizens exercise proper social distancing, then we should allow access to the beaches.

If youre part of a vulnerable group, shame on you for going to the beach. Indeed, we allow shoppers to go to the grocery store with proper social distancing. Why not the beaches?

Orange County GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker said he was greatly angered by the closure of the beaches.

It is a complete slap in the face to local control, and has nothing to do with health, he said.

His [Newsoms] actions are arrogant and unnecessary. A pandemic does not cancel our constitution, our branches of government, or our right to be governed by those we elected in our local communities.

On April 29, a memo from the California Police Chiefs Association was circulated to law enforcement agencies across the state, indicating that the governor planned to order the closure of all beaches in the state.

After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsoms Shelter in Place Order, the governor will be announcing tomorrow [April 30] that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1st, the bulletin read.

We wanted to give all of our members a heads up about this in order to provide time for you to plan for any situations you might expect as a result, knowing each community has its own dynamics.

Newsom, however, denied on April 30 that he ever intended to make such a sweeping order.

Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said Newsom has the power to close beaches in Orange County, but does not believe it is a wise decision.

Medical professionals tell us the importance of fresh air and sunlight in fighting infectious diseases, including mental health benefits, Wagner said. Moreover, Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far.

Wagner called the governors decision an overreaction from the state [that] will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information.

Newport Beach police Chief Jon Lewis and fire Chief Jeff Boyles issued a joint statement on the morning of April 30, insisting that when crowds gathered at the citys beach on the weekend of April 25-26, the overwhelming majority of Newport Beach residents and visitors were families or practicing social distancing.

What we observed from land and by air was the vast majority of beachgoers practicing social distancing, they said in the statement.

There were, in places, some clusters of people that were not social distancing. Throughout the day, our police officers and lifeguards patrolled the entire beach area to educate and remind those individuals of the necessity of physical distancing.

Fearing that Newsom might issue a statewide beach-closure order, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer took to Twitter on the morning of April 30 to criticize such a move.

In San Diego County, beaches are open in San Diego, Oceanside, Encinitas, Coronado, and Imperial Beach. Beaches in Del Mar were set to open on the morning of April 30, but word of Newsoms pending announcement put the move on hold.

After Newsom announced only an Orange County closure, Faulconer called the decision great news.

San Diego beaches will stay open under our plan approved by lifeguards and health officials, he wrote on Twitter.

In a time of great crisis we dont need knee-jerk policies. We need to keep a steady hand. Its the only way to keep the publics trust. Keep it up, SD!

Newsom has been insistent that residents continue adhering to social-distancing requirements, saying in recent days that the state could begin lifting some restrictions in weeks, not months if people continue to stay at home. But he said that could change quickly if people get complacent.

He noted that the state recorded a near-record number of deaths from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus on April 29, saying, Its just another reminder, this disease has not gone away.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys cover-up and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Local health officials on April 30 reported one additional death and 145 new COVID-19 cases in Orange County.

The latest virus-related fatality raises the countys death toll to 45, and brings the total number of confirmed cases to 2,393, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

The number of hospitalized patients jumped from 175 on April 29 to 190 on April 30, while the number of intensive care patients declined from 70 to 63.

The number of people in the county tested for the virus increased by 1,594 to 31,534.
Wachiwit/Getty Images

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

For years, apparel brands have promised to police their supply chains to root out unsafe conditions and worker abuse. But new research from Cornell Universitys School of Industrial and Labor Relations found a variety of problems in their efforts. For example, much of the information given to the auditors who inspect factories was inaccurate, particularly in China and India.

More than half of the 31,652 factory audits conducted in those two countries over a seven-year period were based on falsified or unreliable information. The unreliable audits showed laborers working fewer hours per week and suggested much higher compliance with local wage laws than the more reliable audits. In one instance, labor audits of the same supplier by the same auditing firm in the same time period produced very different judgments.

The share of inaccurate audits was lower in the other 11 countries in the study, but still the average unreliability of all 40,458 audits examined was about 45%.

Why it matters

This means that brands cannot see the results of the many corporate social responsibility programs intended to track and improve working conditions in their suppliers factories. As a result, theres been not enough effort improving conditions. And consumers who want to use their spending to improve working conditions dont have reliable information to inform their purchases.

How we do our work

Our team spent two years building trust with apparel companies, suppliers and other groups and persuading them to let us analyze their data. In exchange, we signed nondisclosure agreements that allowed us to work with unique, massive data sets never before available to researchers, making it possible to see the inner workings of large-scale labor compliance programs and help us measure their impacts. The institutions were more willing to share data knowing it was anonymous and that our analysis could potentially benefit the industry as a whole.

Story continues

What still isnt known

A clearer picture begins with getting more reliable information. A recent analysis in Vox shows how bad data on the fashion industrys environmental impacts distorts efforts to change them. Getting reliable data for labor compliance means that buyers and brands must invest in intelligence from workers, unions and bona fide due diligence.

Whats next

Our research shows why a mandatory system of due diligence  rather than the current voluntary one  may be necessary to fix the problem. The European Commission, for example, is considering a proposal that would require apparel, food and mining companies, among others, to implement human rights due diligence and accountability along their global supply chains and report publicly about their efforts.

But better reporting by itself wont solve the problem. We believe workers and unions need to play a bigger role. A separate Cornell analysis found that compliance with safety and labor laws increases significantly when workers are able to bargain with managers over working conditions. And unions may get a stronger voice as part of a new agreement with governments and brands like Adidas and H&M aimed at protecting the garment industry and its workers from a drop in demand due to the coronavirus recession.

[Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.]

<p>Este articulo se vuelve a publicar de <a href="http://theconversation.com/es?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link0&utm_content=article-136821">The Conversation</a>, un medio digital sin fines de lucro dedicado a la diseminacion de la experticia academica.<p> <p><strong>Lee mas:</strong><br><ul><li><a href="http://theconversation.com/five-years-after-deadly-factory-fire-bangladeshs-garment-workers-are-still-vulnerable-88027?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link0&utm_content=article-136821">Five years after deadly factory fire, Bangladeshs garment workers are still vulnerable</a></li><li><a href="http://theconversation.com/what-businesses-can-do-to-stamp-out-slavery-in-their-supply-chains-82640?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link1&utm_content=article-136821">What businesses can do to stamp out slavery in their supply chains</a></li></ul></p>

The New Conversations Project at Cornell University has received past funding from the Strategic Partnership for Garment Supply Chain Transformation (Netherlands) and Gap Inc.

Sarosh Kuruvilla has received funding from the ILO in the past, but does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond his academic appointment.
Cannabis, cyber and COVID-19  the three Cs may have more in common than meets the eye.

Cannabis dispensaries, now considered essential businesses in many states, have stepped up deliveries, curbside pickups and online ordering to service customers during the pandemic.

But in doing so, they are facing greater cyber risks and an insurance market in which its difficult to find coverage.

Demand for cannabis has continued to increase in recent years. BDSA, a provider of cannabis industry market research, this week issued a report showing 2019 legal cannabis sales globally grew by 46% to $14.8 billion, up from 16% growth in 2018.

As theyve grown these businesses have become increasingly sophisticated, and have had to become even more so during the pandemic crisis, where stay-at-home orders have asked citizens to reduce trips, according to Chris Boden, cannabis and life sciences practice group team leader with wholesaler Crouse & Associates.

A lot of the dispensaries have gone to online ordering, delivery, and curb-side pick-up models, Boden said. And theyre realizing more and more of their organization is run online.

Deliveries require dispensaries to obtain and keep names and addresses, those who can work remotely need computer access, and dispensaries may be doing more outreach to produce sales to make up for an drop offs in walk-ins, such as the use of customer relationship management software and outreach via email, or even text messaging.

As a wholesale broker, Boden has heard from his retailer clients who have been asking him more often about cyber coverage, a product that has been particularly hard to place for cannabis businesses.

I would definitely say there has been an increase in inquiries in the last month, two months, obviously when the COVID-19 crisis hit, about cyber coverage options, Boden said.

Cyber is hard to find, with carriers shying away from selling cyber products to plant-touching cannabis companies whose activities are still officially illegal in the eyes of the federal government.

Theres a large shortage, said Michael Sampson, a partner in the insurance recovery group and co-vice chair of the cannabis law team for in the Pittsburgh, Penn., office of ReedSmith. Therere only a couple carriers at most that will write cyber coverage for plant-touching businesses.

Even before the pandemic, cannabis businesses had a cyber target on their backs, according to Sampson.

Most cannabis dispensaries are required to have a seed-to-sale tracking system, particularly those selling medical marijuana, and are also required by the licensing structure of numerous states to maintain data on their clients  making them highly appealing to hackers.

There is a lot of potential for exposure to a data breach, to some sort of ransom attack, to some sort of cyberattack, because theyre dealing with lots and lots of data, said Sampson, who described his council of new clients as routinely including the recommendation that they obtain cyber liability coverage.

Hes also been speaking to clients a great deal lately about Telephone Consumer Protection Act claims as more dispensaries take to texting out deals, and offers, to buyers in their databases. The TCPA, which restricts telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems, is often excluded in cyber policies, he noted.

Theres a ton of these claims being brought currently, Sampson said.

Hes also telling his cannabis company clients that as they change to meet the demand in these uncertain times, their risk profiles also change.

What Im seeing a lot of is companies that are trying to be quick to respond, but theyre taking on new business models  whether its delivery, whether its curbside  and every time the amount of data goes up, it just increases the exposure.

Related:

Topics COVID-19 Cyber Cannabis
An Arizona police department is reportedly looking into the death of a man who died last month after his wife said they swallowed chloroquine phosphate, thinking it would help prevent them from catching the COVID-19 coronavirus.

A homicide detective reviewing the death of Gary Lenius confirmed the investigation to the Washington Free Beacon Tuesday after requesting a copy of the Free Beacons recorded interviews with Leniuss wife, Wanda, the online newspaper reported.

After Gary Lenius, 68, died on March 22, Wanda, 61, told several news outlets she and her husband had ingested a substance used to clean aquariums after hearing President Donald Trump tout one of its ingredients, chloroquine phosphate, during his public health press briefings.

NBC News reported the story, and it went viral, feeding into political divisions and criticisms of Trump. But the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative online newspaper, dug into the story and interviewed Wanda and Garys friends, raising questions.

Wanda reportedly told the newspaper that she watched the president tout the virtues of chloroquine on the news, and remembered buying a container of "chloroquine phosphate" years before to clean a fish tank.

We werent big supporters of (Trump), but we did see that they were using it in China and stuff, she reportedly told the newspaper. And we just made a horrible, tragic mistake.

Gary Lenius and his wife Wanda, both in their 60s, drank chloroquine phosphate last month after confusing it for hydroxychloroquine.#Coronavirus #DonaldTrump https://t.co/M5zgdWkA4j  H24 News Ireland (@h24news_ie) April 25, 2020

Wanda reportedly told the Free Beacon that they each consumed one teaspoon and some soda each, which represents at least four times the lethal limit. They both started having severe symptoms within 30 minutes.

I started vomiting, she told NBC News last month. My husband started developing respiratory problems and wanted to hold my hand.

Both were taken to the hospital but the man could not be resuscitated.

The Free Beacon interviewed some of Garys friends who said the story didnt add up.

What bothers me about this is that Gary was a very intelligent man, a retired (mechanical) engineer who designed systems for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, and I really cant see the scenario where Gary would say, Yes, please, I would love to drink some of that Koi fish tank cleaner,' one of his close friends reportedly told the Free Beacon. It just doesnt make any sense.

The Free Beacon found campaign finance records show that Wanda Lenius had given thousands of dollars to Democratic groups and candidates over the past two years, most recently to the 314 Action Fund. The fund promotes itself as the "pro-science resistance" and has criticized the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The newspaper also reported that Wanda Lenius was charged with domestic abuse assault in 2001 after she allegedly hit her husband and swung a mounted birdhouse at him. Gary Lenius declined to cooperate, testifying that he was not injured or placed in fear of injury. His wife was exonerated.

When the Free Beacon asked Wanda Lenius if she had a conversation with her husband before consuming the laced-soda, she reportedly said: "No. I mean, it was really kind of a spur of the moment thing.

The newspaper said it turned over its recording of Wandas interview to police.

Homicide Detective Teresa Van Galder reportedly told the Free Beacon:

"As this is an active investigation, I cannot go into any details at this time regarding the case," Van Galder said.

Once the newspaper published its story Tuesday announcing the homicide investigation, a police spokesman reached out to the newspaper to emphasize that is normal protocol for the homicide department to investigate all death cases (other than obvious natural causes) and that the death has not been ruled a homicide at this time.

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(Millbrook, NY) Fishery collapses can be difficult to forecast and prevent due to hyperstability, a phenomenon where catch rates remain high even as fish abundance declines. In a recent Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences study, researchers conducted a whole-lake experiment to reveal the causes of hyperstability in recreational fisheries. Fish habitat preferences were found to leave them vulnerable to overexploitation.

Chris Solomon, an aquatic ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, was an author on the paper. He explains, "The few previous studies on hyperstability in recreational fisheries, like those in commercial fisheries, have relied on observational data. By using an experimental approach, we were able to reveal the underlying cause of a problem that has vexed fisheries managers."

By manipulating the abundance of largemouth bass in a northern Wisconsin lake, Solomon and colleagues undertook the first experimental test of hyperstability. Over the span of three months, the research team changed the abundance of bass in Camp Lake on a weekly basis, from over 350 to only 25 fish. Electrofishing was used to temporarily move animals from the lake's main basin to an isolated side basin.

Once a week, three anglers fished for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, boating along the shore. They targeted the littoral zone, preferred bass habitat, and recorded the location of each fish hooked. When their catch rates were compared to the known abundance of bass in the lake each week, the team documented that angler success remained high until only a few fish remained.

The mechanisms believed to cause hyperstability are habitat aggregation and effort sorting. Habitat aggregation refers to the tendency of fish species to cluster in areas with preferred habitat features like fallen trees or aquatic vegetation. Effort sorting refers to angler skill, with less skilled anglers moving on as fish decline, resulting in high catch rates for the remaining skilled anglers.

Lead author Colin Dassow, a PhD candidate at the University of Notre Dame, explains, "Previous studies have linked hyperstability to effort sorting. By using a fixed set of anglers, we excluded this variable. Habitat aggregation was the driver of hyperstability collapse in Camp Lake. Hyperstability heightens the risk of fishery collapse because anglers don't get any signal that fish are in trouble until it's too late."

Solomon explains, "We found that hyperstability can occur simply because anglers know where fish like to gather, even at times of year when fish are not densely aggregated for spawning. That's worrisome because most fish species have habitat preferences - suggesting that many recreational fisheries may be susceptible to hyperstability."

According to the paper's authors, limiting angler effort is the primary way to protect fish that are vulnerable due to habitat aggregation. This could take the form of shortening the fishing season, reducing harvest limits, or prohibiting fishing when and where fish gather to spawn. These aren't always popular policies, but they could prove instrumental to conserving fish stocks and quality fishing opportunities.

"Protecting the economic, social, and ecological benefits of healthy fisheries requires closer monitoring," Dassow notes. "Unfortunately, data reported by anglers is patchy and data collected by researchers and state agencies is too costly to undertake at scale. Both types of data inform our understanding of how the system as a whole is 'working', but we don't have enough of either type."

Solomon concludes, "It's important for anglers to understand that what comes out of the water is not always representative of what lies beneath the surface. Even if the fish are biting, this doesn't mean there are many of them. Anglers, fisheries managers, and other stakeholders must work together to advocate for better monitoring and sensible limits on effort if we want to sustain good fishing opportunities now and in the future."

###

https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2019-0245

Investigators

Colin Dassow - University of Notre Dame, Biological Sciences

Alexander Ross - Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Olaf Jensen - Rutgers University, Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences

Greg Sass - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Escanaba Lake Research Station

Brett van Poorten - Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Christopher Solomon - Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Stuart Jones - University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is an independent nonprofit center for environmental research. Since 1983, our scientists have been investigating the complex interactions that govern the natural world and the impacts of climate change on these systems. Our findings lead to more effective management and policy actions and increased environmental literacy. Staff are global experts in the ecology of: cities, disease, forests, and freshwater.
Meghan Markle's makeup artist has revealed the secrets behind her 'glowy and stress-free' Zoom appearance, including brushed brows, a 'juicy' lipgloss and a base finish reminiscent of her wedding day look.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, spoke with a British youngster virtually from her home in Los Angeles on 27 March as part of her role as patron of SmartWorks, with a clip of the video call released by the charity yesterday.

Now celebrity makeup artist Ruby Hammer has revealed how the royal nailed the 'perfect' make-up for video calling, by opting for a similar look to her wedding day style.

Ruby, who has done Meghan's makeup on several occasions, including one of the royal's first dates with Prince Harry, 35, told The Telegraph: 'Her face looks glowy and stress-free...It definitely looks like shes done her own make-up, as youd expect right now, but she knows what works for her.'

Celebrity makeup artist Ruby Hammer has revealed how Meghan Markle, 38, 'nailed' the perfect Zoom beauty look by opting for a look similar to the finish on her wedding day

The makeup artist said the royal had opted for makeup 'similar to how she had her finish on her wedding day'.

She suggested the royal had used a combination of tinted moisturiser with a heavier concealer under her eyes, leaving the rest of her coverage 'light enough so you can see her freckles' and 'not too madeup.'

The makeup artist added that thanks to her 'clean living' lifestyle, Meghan has 'beautiful skin' which allows her to keep her coverage light.

Meanwhile Ruby said the Duchess had also opted to apply a 'healthy bit of blush' upwards ad outwards, high on her cheeks to avoid 'looking washed out.'

The makeup artist, who has worked with the Duchess of Sussex in the past, said the royal's skin looked 'glowy and stress free'

The makeup artist suggested the royal had brushed her eyebrows up, and gently filled in the shape.

She said: 'Meghans eyes look really awake and alert, which is in part down to the brows and also the fact that Meghan has two or three layers of mascara on.'

Meanwhile Ruby revealed how Meghan likely applied a sweep of translucent powder across the tops of her cheeks, and mattified between her brows, the sides of her nose and her chin.

The makeup artist said the use of transculent powder was 'the quickest way to look polished and professional'.

Ruby compared the look to Meghan's wedding day makeup, revealing how the royal had opted for a light base to show off her freckles

She also pointed to Meghan's choice of a 'balmy lipstick or juicy lip-gloss' would be comfortable and allowed the royal to re-apply quickly if need be.

In a video clip released on the charity's Instagram page yesterday, the Duchess can be seen chatting virtually to an unnamed woman who was applying for an internship after completing her studies in psychology.

She praised the youngster for her positive attitude, saying 'there's so much going on in the world right now' but she was being a 'beacon of hope and all the positivity.'

In the clip, Meghan can be seen wearing a simple deep red v-neck jumper and several gold pendants.

The royal, who continues to be patronage of the organisation despite stepping back from royal duty, launched her clothing collection with the organisation in September in London

Meghan privately visited Smart Works several times before being named as its royal patron in January last year and has a long-standing commitment to supporting women's empowerment.

The Duchess launched the Smart Set collection last September, which saw every item sold by the retailers matched with one item donated to SmartWorks.

Despite stepping back from royal duties alongside Prince Harry last month, Meghan has been permitted to maintain her patronages.
Alaya Tyler shown here in her neighborhood in West Philadelphia. Read more

The Inquirers The Probation Trap series was awarded a Hillman Prize, one of the nations top investigative journalism awards, on Thursday.

The series was reported by Samantha Melamed and Dylan Purcell, with photographs and videos by Jessica Griffin.

The Hillman Prize honors deep storytelling in service of the common good. Recipients exemplify reportorial excellence, storytelling skill, and social justice impact.

The Sidney Hillman Foundation was to celebrate the newspaper series, along with other award winners in the book, magazine, criticism, online, and television categories at a Facebook Live awards ceremony hosted by the actor Danny Glover at 7 p.m. Thursday.

In the five-part series, the reporters revealed problems with Pennsylvanias probation system and how it affected the lives of nearly 300,000 people under correctional control.

Through scores of interviews, months of court-watching, and first-ever data analysis, their stories showed that while probation is often proposed as an alternative to incarceration, it is instead a major driver of it.

 READ THE SERIES: The Probation Trap

The series revealed that even during a time of falling crime rates, probation has grown unchecked in Pennsylvania because of unusual state laws that set few limits on probation or parole, and a courthouse culture in which judges, working without guidelines, impose wildly different versions of justice. In the regions courthouses, they uncovered a system of mass supervision that routinely punishes poverty, mental illness, and addiction.

The Philadelphia Inquirer series didnt only uncover a remarkably entrenched cycle of violate, revoke and resentence, it also provided solutions to remedy this largely hidden perversion of justice in America, said Hillman judge Alix Freedman of Reuters. The judges also noted Griffins beautiful images and videos that bring peoples stories to life.

The Inquirers Garland Potts and Chris Williams also contributed to the series.

The Hillman Prize rewards great reporting, great storytelling, and, most significantly, the impact on social justice that results from great journalism, said Gabriel Escobar, editor and vice president. The five staffers who worked on The Probation Trap met this incredibly high bar by revealing systemic problems and reporting on solutions  in other words, investigative journalism at its best.

In addition to Freedman, this years prizes were judged by the writer Ta-Nehisi Coates; the New Yorkers Jelani Cobb and Hendrik Hertzberg; the American Prospects Harold Meyerson; and the Nations Katrina vanden Heuvel.
After Speight was shot, police said, they drove away in the Jeep and passed a D.C. police vehicle. Police said they later found the Jeep in an alley and pursued it to Eastern Avenue near the border with Maryland. Police said they arrested two suspects who ran into an apartment building and another on the street.
30.04.2020 LISTEN

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Wa Central Constituency, Hajia Humi Awudu on Thursday, April 30 presented Chest Freezer Refrigerators to fifteen (15) women in the Wa Central constituency.

The gesture forms part of her Women Empowerment agenda as she seeks the support of constituents especially women to enable her become the Member of Parliament for the area.

Presenting the items in a short ceremony at the regional library, she urged beneficiaries to put the refrigerators into economic use to enable them raise income to take care of their families at home and support their businesses.

She noted the presentation was rolled out of the first batch to fifteen (15) women beneficiaries who came from different communities within the constituency and the second batch which will be in the coming weeks.

Hajia Humu used the opportunity to encourage everyone to continue to adhere to the directives by President Akufo-Addo during these trying times in the fight against Covid-19.

The aspiring Member of Parliament was filled with joy by the kind words and goodwill messages from the various women groups and other participants at the ceremony.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude and assured her of their support in the parliamentary elections slated for December 7 this year.
Latest News Understanding the 'perfect storm' that was the Sydney property market in 2021 Leading expert reflects on the crazy year that brokers and buyers experienced  and throws forward to the 12 months to come

How to manage home buyer regret Tips for brokers on how they can keep their clients onside once they have bought

An aggregator has reported adoption of its digital tool launched late last year has skyrocketed in the era of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Loan Markets My Lead Generator, introduced in October 2019, has now been activated by over 80% of the groups network.

The tool provides brokers with a unique URL to embed into their digital marketing channels including their websites, social medias, email campaigns, Google Review pages, email signatures and referral partner marketing. The brokers can track the results across all platforms to learn which channels are most effective, a function which has been proven invaluable during COVID-19 as brokers and customers alike are finding new ways to connect.

This bespoke tool brings Loan Market brokers one-step closer to becoming the 100% digital broker, said Loan Market chief marketing officer Lisa Phillips.

Productivity is critical for the industry right now which is why brokers are making it a standard inclusion within their digital marketing strategies.

Over the March quarter, the top three sources of leads generated through the tool were brokers own websites (59.4%), referral partners (16.7%), and Facebook (8%).

Almost 50% of leads were first home buyers and nearly 20% were next home buyers which, according to the group, shows that both current and future mortgage holders are extremely responsive to the online experience.

My Lead Generator also creates detailed customer profiles including which market segment they fit into, their motivation to buy, existing savings and the amount they want to borrow among other factors.

With the amount of competition in the market, being able to humanise and personalise the digital experience is critical, said Phillip.

For many brokers, lead generation is a highly time-confusing experience with many unable to track which lead source is the most effective. My Lead Generator allows brokers to simply demystify their strongest lead sources so they can do more of what works and ditch the rest.

[The tool] not only delivers quality leads to brokers through the two-step verification, but also allows this to happen seamlessly and without contact until the broker is fuelled with the right information and customers want to receive the call.

In an era where the client experience is the differentiator, this advantage is a game-changer.
When Maryland governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, announced the purchase of 500,000 coronavirus tests from South Korea last week, he called it an exponential, game-changing step forward in the states effort to get more people tested.

The dramatic story drew notice from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and a dismissive swipe from fellow Republican, Donald Trump.

But more than 10 days after the chartered Korean Air plane landed, Maryland has not allowed access to the tests kits, much to the frustration of local, state and federal leaders seeking to alleviate community testing shortages.

None of the kits have been deployed, and no one knows when they will be, Harford county executive Barry Glassman, a Republican, said on Tuesday afternoon. In the environment thats out there, that need is not being met.

In conference calls with local and federal officials over the past two weeks, the Hogan administration said the tests were hung up by regulatory hurdles and shortages of other testing supplies that have throttled testing capacity nationwide, according to multiple people who participated.

Mr Hogan publicly described a different reality on Wednesday, when he outlined for the first time how he will use the tests. He said he would prioritise universal testing in nursing homes and other hot spots, such as an outbreak at a poultry plant on Marylands eastern shore.

The governor said the kits would also bolster testing for health-care workers and first responders. As a fifth priority, he would expand the broad, community-based testing experts say is critical to easing shutdown restrictions.

As soon as we got the tests, everybody was like, Can we have 100,000 of those tests? Mr Hogan said of local leaders. First of all, the state is going to maintain those tests. Were not just going to send them off to people.

Mr Hogan's spokesman, Michael Ricci, said there is no imminent shortage of swabs or other testing supplies significant enough to limit output at state-controlled labs.

Two private labs have been contracted to use the South Korean kits, Mr Ricci said, and one cleared the necessary regulatory hurdle a week ago. Along with the state lab, he said, the private labs are adequately stocked to ramp up state testing to as much as 2,200 samples per day. This does not include capacity in hospital and commercial labs.

The state official described specific shortages in nasal swabs, viral transport media and reagents, outlining a scenario that would allow Maryland to use less than 1 per cent of the South Korean test kits (Getty)

When asked why state officials offered different information in their closed-door conversations with county leaders and congressional staffers, another of Mr Hogan's aide said the administration has been cautious about conveying the extent of its resources while it is trying to secure additional testing supplies. The aide spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategies.

Additionally, despite the fanfare surrounding Mr Hogans $9.4m (7.5m) dollar deal with LabGenomics, the test kits from Seoul were not in short supply in the United States, according to interviews with industry experts. Domestic manufacturers were producing millions of them per week when Maryland struck its overseas deal.

Some firms sell the kits for 20 to 30 per cent less than what Mr Hogan paid.

Mr Ricci said the state picked the Korean company weeks before the shipment arrived, when market conditions were different, based on a number of factors, including compatibility with our labs, market availability, reasonable market price, delivery methods and coordination, and overall trust and communication with the vendor.

On Tuesday afternoon, a state health department official told congressional staffers that Maryland was missing critical testing components and had only enough supplies on hand to conduct 3,200 tests in state-directed labs, according to multiple people on the call.

The state official described specific shortages in nasal swabs, viral transport media and reagents, outlining a scenario that would allow Maryland to use less than 1 per cent of the South Korean test kits.

State officials have offered no timetable for when the tests might be ready for community-based testing, according to interviews with local, state and federal officials involved in expanding Marylands testing efforts (Getty)

State officials have offered no timetable for when the tests might be ready for community-based testing, according to interviews with local, state and federal officials involved in expanding Marylands testing efforts, which rank in the middle of the pack among states.

One official said leaders of some of Marylands largest jurisdictions have become so frustrated theyve discussed trying to obtain their own tests since they cant access the ones from South Korea. Experts say dramatically enhanced community-based testing is critical to understanding the spread of the virus. Without more testing, its impossible to identify, track and isolate new cases.

If they have all of those pieces, its time to get them into the hands of people who need them, the official said, who requested anonymity to be candid about private conversations. We know theres a need. These sitting in a state warehouse somewhere doesnt do anyone any good.

Local governments have worked to set up testing sites, where patient samples are collected via nasal swab and transferred to a lab for processing using the type of test kit Mr Hogan acquired. In general, those sites will only take as many samples as labs can process in a timely way.

Mr Hogan has said the South Korean tests are critical to meeting his goal of testing 10,000 people per day. At the news conference where he announced the purchase, he said he hoped to double that threshold, even as he acknowledged that the state would need more swabs, reagents and lab capacity to meet it.

Representative Anthony Brown, Democrat of Maryland, said Mr Hogans initial announcement led him to believe that Maryland was poised to implement widespread testing.

Donald Trump has said that testing will need to increase to re-open the economy, but the poorest Americans would still not consider seeking healthcare (AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)

What we learned over time is thats not accurate, Mr Brown said Wednesday. A test means that you can take a sample and get a result, and hes not able to do that for 500,000 Marylanders.

Until the state can reach the ability to test 10,000 people per day, Mr Brown said, Maryland residents are going to stay locked up in our homes.

County leaders from the states major jurisdictions have been on at least two calls in the past 11 days with state officials, including with Mr Hogan himself, asking whether they can get some of the South Korean tests and when they can expand their own testing sites.

Baltimore County opened two new testing sites this week but is limiting the access to 320 people per week because labs cannot process more.

The test kits from South Korea are just a piece of the puzzle and still need the appropriate swabs, reagents and lab capacity, said Sean Naron, a spokesman for Baltimore county executive Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat. We are still waiting on a clear timeline from the state on when all these pieces will come together.

In recent weeks, scarcities in testing have been due to a lack of nasal swabs to collect samples and the chemical reagents to process them (Getty)

The South Korea test situation has devolved to the point that Montgomery county executive Marc Elrich, a Democrat, started laughing Wednesday when a reporter asked about access to the tests.Without things like reagents, Elrich said, they are sort of like paperweights.

Mr Hogan has consistently described his purchase of the tests as a necessary workaround after the federal government left it up to states to source their own testing programmes in circumstances that pitted governors against each other.

On The View, he said he had to go abroad to find the test kits that nobody had enough of.

In recent weeks, however, it has not been a shortage of the assays themselves that created national scarcities in testing, but the lack of the nasal swabs to collect samples and the chemical reagents to process them, experts say.

If somebody had come to us a few weeks ago and said we need a large order for Maryland, we would have been very anxious and capable of taking the order and fulfilling it, said Dwight Egan, CEO of a Co-Diagnostics, a company that makes the same type of assays Mr Hogan acquired from South Korea.

Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Show all 13 1 /13 Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Cheryll Mack, 46, a registered nurse in the emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift outside the hospital where she works. "The Covid-19 spread has affected a lot of livelihood, a lot of people's lives. It has created a crisis, death in general. So I would like to ask not one single person, but all people worldwide, to converge and join the platform that this is something that nobody can fight individually," said Mack. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Dr Laura Bontempo, 50, an emergency medicine doctor wears her personal protective equipment she uses when she sees patients, while posing for a photograph after a nine-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moments have actually been separating families from patients, there is a no-visitor policy now and taking people away from their loved ones is very challenging," Bontempo said. "I'm used to treating sick patients. I treat sick patients all the time. It's very different knowing that the patient you are treating, is actually a risk to you as well. That's the main difference here. No one who works in hospitals is afraid of treating sick people. Just want to keep staff safe and the patients safe at the same time." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Ernest Capadngan, 29, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment during the shift was just seeing Covid patients die helpless and without their family members beside them," Capadngan said. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Martine Bell, 41, a nurse practitioner in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a six-hour shift outside the hospital where she works. "The hardest thing in all of this, has been taking care of fellow healthcare providers. It really hits home and it's really scary when you see someone that could be you coming in and now you're taking care of them. It's also hitting home that once healthcare providers start getting sick, who is going to be taking care of the public," Bell said. "It's very stressful, everyone is on edge. We don't know who's coming in next, or how sick they're going to be, or if we are going to get a whole bunch of people or if we're not going to get no one. It's a really stressful and just a completely unusual time for all of us." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Kaitlyn Martiniano, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital. "We have a lot of patients and they are pretty sick right now but we have not yet been hit as hard as New York or Seattle, so I feel like we are very lucky with that so far. Every day you have to just be optimistic." Said Martiniano. "I think the reason that we are not being hit as hard right now is because so many things are closed, and because so many people are staying at home." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Tracey Wilson, 53, a nurse practitioner in an intensive care unit (ICU), poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "I had a patient fall out of bed today and I had to call his wife and tell her and she couldn't come see him, even though she pleaded and begged to come see him," Wilson said. "There is a lot of unknowns and with that unknown is a lot of anxiety and stress that we're not used to dealing with." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Meghan Sheehan, 27, a nurse practitioner in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "I think the hardest moment has been the fear that lives within all of us. There is a lot of unknown right now. We fear what's going to happen tomorrow, how the emergency department will look next week when we come in. We have fears about our own colleagues, whether they will fall ill. We also fear that we could be asymptomatic carriers and bring this virus home to our families and our loved ones. There has been a lot of fear over our supplies and whether we'll run out. And then obviously there is the fear that we will see patients and not be able to do everything we normally can to help save patients' lives," Sheehan said. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Kimberly Bowers, 44, a nurse practitioner in an ICU, poses for a photograph after a 13-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment was a young woman who died and her family wasn't able to be here with her," Bowers said. "I think right now, it's just frustrating and scary just not knowing what comes next." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Tiffany Fare, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit poses for a photograph after a 13-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "One of the hardest moments was having to see a family member of a Covid patient, say goodbye over an iPad, rooms away. That was a tough one, I can't imagine how hard it would be to be saying goodbye, you can't see your loved one and then they're gone," Fare said. "My team has been really great to me. We've worked really well together and we've really come together in this crisis. We don't really know each other, we all come from different units within the same hospital, so for us to come together and work so well as a team, it's been a journey but I think that's what is giving me hope." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Dr Kyle Fischer, 35, an emergency medicine doctor, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where he works. "Since it's a new virus, we don't have any experience with it. For most diseases I am used to seeing it and taking care of it and this, I don't have any starting place. I know what I'm hearing from New York, I've read all of the papers it seems like, but no one knows what the correct answers are, so there's a huge amount of uncertainty and people are really, really sick. So it's hard to second guess whether or not you are doing the right thing when you think you are but you never quite know," said Fischer. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Julia Trainor, 23, a registered nurse at a surgical ICU, poses for a photograph after a 14-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment was having to put a breathing tube in my patient who could no longer breathe for herself and after the breathing tube went in, we called her family and the husband, of course, couldn't visit her because of visitor restrictions at the hospital. So I had to put him on the phone and hold the phone to her ear, as he told her that he loved her so much and then I had to wipe away her tears as she was crying," said Trainor. "I'm used to seeing very sick patients and I'm used to patients dying but nothing quite like this. In the flip of a switch, without the support, they're completely isolated. They're very sick. Some of them recover and some of them don't. But the hardest part, I would think, is them having to go through this feeling like they are alone." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Lisa Mehring, 45, a registered nurse who works in a biocontainment unit with Covid-19 patients, poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works in Maryland. "Seeing these new moms have babies has been the hardest moment along with having do their pumping for the new moms and them not being able to be with their newborn children, it's hard to think of the family that they are missing," Mehring said. Photos Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Jacqueline Hamil, 30, a registered nurse in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift outside the hospital. "The hardest moment of my shift today, I was in charge, and we had a really sick patient that was in a really, really small room and usually, when we have sick crashing patients, we can have a ton of resources and a ton of staff go in and help with the nurse and the doctors that are taking care of that patient. But due to the patient being ruled out for the coronavirus, we could only have five or six people in the room at a time and putting on all the gowns and gloves and masks and face shields to protect us in case the patient does have coronavirus, it takes a while, so the nurse that was in there, ended up being in the room for you know 6, 7 hours with minimal breaks and it was hard being in charge and knowing that she was stuck in the room and really nothing I could do to help her," Hamil said. Reuters

Were shipping to nearly 50 countries, he said. We always love to ship in the United States because its a lot easier to ship domestically than foreign.

A distributor for Co-Diagnostics offered Maryland more than 500,000 tests at a cheaper cost during a call on 10 April, according to a person familiar with the pitch who requested anonymity to avoid scuttling future potential business.

Mr Ricci, Mr Hogans spokesman, said Maryland had signed a contract for the South Korean purchase just over a week before that, on 2 April. Mr Hogan has said he and his Korean-born wife, Yumi Hogan, began working on the deal on 28 March.

The state reached out to several domestic suppliers along with the Korean companies in late March, Mr Ricci said, but at the time none could offer the volume and guarantees the state was seeking.

The United States got off to a slow start in its efforts to test for the coronavirus after delays this year caused by federal red tape and an initial flawed test created by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Other countries, such as Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea, ramped up more quickly. But US manufacturers worked fast to catch up.

By mid-March, US manufacturers were able to ship tests to domestic labs by the millions. On 18 March, Co-Diagnostics announced it could produce about 50,000 tests per day. Thermo Fisher Scientific announced on March 16 that it had 1.5 million tests on hand and expected to quickly increase production to 2 million tests per week, and the company has since reported it has ramped up to 5 million tests per week, many of which are being exported globally.

No one is saying that they cant get the test kits anymore. Theyve got those, and the manufacturers are certainly turning them out, said Lale White, chief executive of XIFIN, a health information technology company that services a substantial portion of the nations commercial and public diagnostic labs and produces industry analytics.

Eric Blank, chief programme officer for the Association of Public Health Laboratories, agreed. As far as we can tell, there is not a shortage of the test kits, Blank said in an emailed statement. There are, and have been, shortages in the ancillary reagents and supplies like swabs throughout the response to date.

Nevertheless, Maryland is not the only US entity to buy tests abroad. This month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency bought 600,000 tests from two South Korean companies for a total of $8.2m (6.5m).

Mr Hogan initially said Maryland paid $9m (7.2m) for its tests, a figure that state officials slightly revised upward Wednesday to $9,464,389 (7,573,025).

That means Maryland paid $18.93 (15.15) per test, while FEMA paid approximately $13.67 (10.94).

In a statement, Mr Ricci said Marylands price was considered reasonable based on market value.

The Washington Post
It was a heartbreaking day for cinephiles, when one of India's finest actors, Irrfan Khan passed away after a battle with neuroendocrine tumour on April 29. The Angrezi Medium actor was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for colon infection.

Not only in India, Irrfan was quite a known face in the international circuit as well. The actor starred in Hollywood films like Slumdog Millionaire, The Amazing Spider-Man, Life of Pi, Jurassic World, Inferno, Warrior, A Mighty Heart, etc.

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, who worked with Irrfan in A Mighty Heart in 2007, paid homage to her co-star. The actress said in a statement, "I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of A Mighty Heart. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him."

She further added, "I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world."

In A Mighty Heart, Angelina played the role of slain journalist Daniel Pearl's widow Marianne, while Irrfan essayed the role of Zeeshan Kazmi, the chief of Karachi Police.

Irrfan Khan's Jurassic World co-star Chris Pratt, also mourned his demise and tweeted, "So sad to hear about the passing of screen legend Irrfan Khan. Irrfan Khan played Masrani in Jurassic World. He was an exquisite actor and human. He will be missed."

Hollywood actress and director Natalie Portman also posted a photo with Irrfan on her Instagram stories and wrote, "Sending love to Irrfan Khan's loved ones today." The two actors worked together in New York, I Love You.

Irrfan Khan Was Unable To Get Some Chemo Sessions, Reveals Cinematographer Anil Mehta

Rishi Kapoor & Irrfan Khan Have THIS Unfortunate Thing In Common, Which Will Shock You
What do mining magnate Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest and media mogul Kerry Stokes have in common?

Both Australian business tycoons stand to add to their incredible fortunes thanks to China, and both have in the past 48 hours thrown their weight behind Beijing as diplomatic tensions escalated.

First it was Mr Forrest ambushing Health Minister Greg Hunt by inviting a Chinese diplomat to a government press conference on Wednesday night.

Mr Forrest's personal fortunes has jumped $3 billion from March 9 as his company Fortescue Metals Group's share price ballooned.

Victoria and Tasmania Consul-General of China Long Zhou (centre) departs a press conference where he spoke of the relationship between China and Australia

Hours later, Mr Stokes called on the government not to 'poke our biggest provider of income in the eye' on the front page of a newspaper he owns.

Mr Stokes cut down Seven West Media's interest in China in 2017 by selling off its WesTrac China operations to Lei Shing Hong Machinery for $540 million.

However, the rest of the WesTrac sells machinery to the same mining companies that earn billions from selling iron ore to China.

WesTrac was about $3 billion of Seven West's $4.1 billion revenue in the 2019 financial year.

The two billionaires' stunts came amid tensions between Australia and China over Prime Minister Scott Morrison's push for an inquiry into the origin of COVID-19.

The deadly pandemic is believed to have started in an exotic animal market in Wuhan, but China is dead against the inquiry happening.

Chinese Ambassador Jingye Cheng on Monday warned a continued push for the inquiry would prompt a boycott of Australian goods, tourism, and universities.

China expert Clive Hamilton said both billionaires were looking after their business interests by playing nice with China.

'China has been grooming senior Australian business and political leaders in the expectation they will become advocates, and effective spokesmen for the Chinese Communist Party,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Chinese Ambassador Jingye Cheng on Monday warned a continued push for an inquiry into coronavirus in China's wet markets would prompt a boycott of Australian goods, tourism, and universities

The deadly pandemic is believed to have started in an exotic animal market in Wuhan, but China is dead against the inquiry happening

'We've seen that this week with Mr Forrest and Mr Stokes acting as megaphones for Beijing's messaging in Australia.

'In this case, they are pressuring the Morrison Government to back down on its push for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus.'

Professor Hamilton said they both made their fortunes in dealing with China and Mr Stokes was a personal friend of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

'Chinese diplomats have for years been quietly building their support in Australian business, universities, and politics, and they've done well given how many of our elites count themselves as friends of China,' he said.

'China has powerful Australians who are essentially doing its work, and that's been extremely damaging to our interests.'

Mr Forrest and Mr Hunt were announcing a $320 million deal to bring 10 million coronavirus testing kits to Australia from China, financed by the mining boss' foundation.

Both business tycoons stand to add to their incredible fortunes thanks to China, and both have in the past 24 hours done Beijing's bidding on coronavirus. Australians were not impressed

China is accused of covering up the severity of the epidemic after it started in a live exotic animal market in Wuhan, costing the world vital weeks of preparation. Pictured: A bat in a wet market in Indonesia

However, Mr Forrest brought along Victorian Chinese Consul-General Zhou Long, without Mr Hunt's knowledge, who took the opportunity the praise Beijing's handling of the crisis.

'The Chinese government has released information related to COVID-19 in open, transparent and a responsible manner,' he claimed.

'We have worked closely with the WHO and other countries. Including sharing experiences and providing assistance within our capacity.

'China very much appreciates and is thankful to the compassion, support and sympathy of the Australian people.'

Mr Forrest was widely condemned for the stunt and Mr Hunt cancelled a follow-up event at a Melbourne hospital on Thursday.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie said Mr Forrest allowed the Chinese Communist Party to 'ambush the press conference'.

'This guy drops out of the sky in his private jet and enables the Chinese Communist Party to ambush a commonwealth press conference. Yeah, we're not happy,' he said.

Mr Forrest was also raked over the coals by Karl Stefanovic, who said 'it's almost like you've performed an act of treason' on the Today show on Thursday morning.

Mr Forrest brought along Victorian Chinese Consul-General Zhou Long, without Mr Hunt's knowledge, who took the opportunity to praise Beijing's handling of coronavirus crisis

Mr Forrest was widely condemned for the stunt and Mr Hunt (left) cancelled a follow-up event at a Melbourne hospital on Thursday after being blindsided

But the billionaire replied that the backlash was a 'complete non-story' and he didn't see what all the fuss was about.

'China has really stepped up so I brought the Chinese consulate along because they've helped Australia,' he said.

'Mums and dads and boys and girls are now able to get tested across our country.

'I brought the consulate along when we broke the back of the PPE [personal protective equipment] crisis in Perth so I brought him along again in Melbourne.'

Mr Forrest earlier suggested that coronavirus may have started anywhere in the world - even Britain or Australia.

'I don't know if this virus started in China or somewhere else and frankly I don't care... because it just might be Australia, it just might be Britain, it just might be China,' he said.

Mr Forrest's procurement of Chinese medical equipment is also useful self-promotion with limited risk.

The mining boss' Minderoo Foundation bought the gear in advance and paid for it to be flown to Australia, but will be reimbursed by the government as it is used.

Mr Forrest and his wife Nicola donated $70 million to bushfire relief in January, but only $10 million of that was for immediate help to hard-hit communities.

Some of the medical equipment in not even high enough grade to be suitable for hospital use, WA Health Minister Roger Cook admitted.

Mr Forrest and his wife Nicola donated $70 million to bushfire relief in January, but only $10 million of that was for immediate help to hard-hit communities.

Another $10 million was for 1,200 volunteers from the mining and agriculture sectors for reconstruction, and the remaining $50 million to Minderoo for a nebulous 'resilience blueprint'.

Mr Stokes, through a front page article in Seven West-owned The West Australian, advocated for Mr Morrison to dump his inquiry.

'China probably owes the world an explanation on the origins of COVID-19... (but) we need to stop making accusations,' he said.

'If we're going to go into the biggest debt we've had in our life and then simultaneously poke our biggest provider of income in the eye it's not necessarily the smartest thing you can do.'

Seven West Media boss Kerry Stokes called on the government not to 'poke our biggest provider of income in the eye' on the front page of a newspaper he owns

Australians were outraged by Mr Stokes' defence of China in the current diplomatic climate

Mr Stokes also warned if China cut off its trade the Australian dollar would plunge to US25c and make it even harder to pay off our debt.

The media mogul has been another consistent China booster, last September expressing concern about Australia-China relations 'and what it means for our trading position'.

'Australia's entire future is based on our ability to trade and China is our largest trading partner,' he told the Australian.

'Our whole standard of living is virtually determined by the exports we make to China.'

Mr Stokes also caused controversy recently when he and his wife were allowed to fly back to Australia from a holiday in Aspen on April 8 without enduring 14 days locked in hotel quarantine like everyone else.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also warned Mr Morrison he should simmer down and not provoke China, but did not advocate scrapping the inquiry.

'An Australian prime minister who ends up in conflict with China cannot expect any support or solidarity from the Australian business community,' he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday night.

'Overwhelmingly, they're totally invested in the economic benefits of the relationship.'

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the G20 Summit in 2016

AMBASSADOR'S ECONOMIC THREAT TO AUSTRALIA In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, Ambassador Cheng slammed Australia's push for a global inquiry as 'political' and warned Chinese consumers could boycott the country. Answering a question about whether China could boycott Australian iron ore or gas, Mr Cheng instead focused on China's contribution to Australia's agriculture, tourism and education sectors. Mr Cheng said: 'I think if the mood is going from bad to worse, people would think why we should go to such a country while it's not so friendly to China. 'The tourists may have second thoughts. Maybe the parents of the students would also think whether this place, which they find is not so friendly, even hostile, is the best place to send their kids to. 'So it's up to the public, the people to decide. And also, maybe the ordinary people will think why they should drink Australian wine or eat Australian beef.' Advertisement

Mr Turnbull is not considered to be overwhelmingly pro-China, especially as he was the one who banned Chinese state-linked tech firm Huawei from being part of Australian's 5G network on security grounds.

The same cannot be said for Mr Stokes, who in the same West Australian interview urged a rethink of the ban.

'It's no good rolling out dud 5G technology, we actually need to have the very latest and best 5G technology and I don't think you can end up with the best 5G technology unless Huawei is in the mix,' he said.

Huawei quickly praised his words as 'sage advice'.

Ambassador Cheng's original comments to the Australian Financial Review claimed Mr Morrison pushing for an inquiry was 'dangerous'.

'I think in the long term... if the mood is going from bad to worse, people would think 'Why should we go to such a country that is not so friendly to China? The tourists may have second thoughts.

'The parents of the students would also think whether this place which they found is not so friendly, even hostile, whether this is the best place to send their kids here.

New Deloitte Access Economics modelling estimates $8.1 billion could be wiped from the accommodation and food services sector in the months from April to August

This graph shows the percentage of employees put out of work during the coronavirus crisis according to new modelling

'It is up to the people to decide. Maybe the ordinary people will say 'Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?''

Hu Xijin, editor of the state-run Global Times, on Tuesday night threw fuel on the fire by making even less veiled boycott threats.

'Australia is always there, making trouble. It is a bit like chewing gum stuck on the sole of China's shoes. Sometimes you have to find a stone to rub it off,' he said.

Professor Hamilton said Mr Xijin's extraordinary comments helped expose the lie that was China's professed friendship with Australia.

'They show how the the Chinese Communist Party has always thought of Australia,' he said.

'It's important to acknowledge that because so many prominent Australians have fallen for the friendship trap and talk in these dreamy-eyed ways about how China is our friend and we have to behave like friends.

'No, China is not our friend, it is hostile towards Australia and our interests and we should go into negotiations with them understanding that.'

Professor Hamilton said China had for many years quietly and insidiously influenced Australian policy and Mr Cheng's outbursts finally brought it into the open.
Her days in the isolation



ward no longer haunts India's first COVID-19 patient in Kerala and the 20-year old medico who has fully recovered is now busy attending online classes from her university in Wuhan in China as she completed three months since being diagnosed with the disease.

She is not unduly perturbed by the fact that Wuhan turned out to be the epicentre of the deadly virus, which went on to affect most parts of the world, and eagerly waiting to go back to the Chinese city and resume her course once normalcy returns.

"I am attending online classes of our university since February. The classes are held everyday depending on the subjects. We were told the portions now being taken would be take once again after the regular classes start as practicals have to be held", the student told PTI from her home town in Thrissur district.

It was on January 30 that the third year medical student from Wuhan university tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the country's first COVID-19 patient, days after she had returned home following semester holidays.

After nearly three weeks of treatment at the Thrissur Medical College Hospital, she had tested negative twice for the virus, confirming her recovery, and was discharged on February 20.

Soon, she started attending the online classes of her university in Wuhan, which has been attracting several students from Kerala in view of its comparatively lower fees and other facilities.

The classes begin at 5.30 am (Chinese time 8 am) and go on till 9 am with a 10 minute break, the woman said.

"The faculty in the university include those from China, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but our faculty are mostly Chinese teachers and they take classes in English," she said.

Though the university has indicated that the classes would be conducted afresh once students return, no time-frame has yet been given.

"It seems there are no patients in Wuhan now. That's what we have been told", she said adding the flight services have to commence first.

Health officials in China on Sunday announced the last COVID-19 patient in Wuhan has been discharged and the hospitals in the epicentre of the global pandemic have no coronavirus cases for the first time after more than three months of arduous battle against the deadly virus that infected over 80,000 people on the mainland.

The toll in Wuhan has recently been revised to 3,869.

Asked how she was passing her free time since recovering from the disease, the Keralite said she was fond of cooking and been helping out her mother in preparing mouth-watering dishes.

"I love cooking and in Wuhan hostel we have kitchen and I used to cook my meals. Now I assist my mother. We prepare samosas, cutlets and grilled chicken," she said.

The student was admitted to the district hospital on January 27 after she informed medical officials about symptoms like sore throat and dry cough.

Asked if she was scared when she tested positive, the medico replied in the negative.

"When my sample result came, many people world over had recovered. I was not scared and I did not have any health issues either," she said.

While returning from Wuhan, Indian embassy officials had told her and others to inform officials in Kerala that they were from China.

"We were asked to approach health officials in case of any symptoms of the virus besides being strictly following the 28 day home quarantine as stipulated by the Kerala government," she said.

The health department officials were in constant touch with her on a daily basis enquiring about her health.

"When I developed sore throat and dry cough, they were immediately informed and an ambulance was sent to pick me from my house", the youngster said, recalling the turbulent times.

All praise for the Kerala Health department for the care and treatment, she said "Our health care system is very good and I got excellent treatment leading to my recovery. I did not have fever at all during my hospitalisation."



Her classmate from Alappuzha and a senior from Kasaragod, who were the second and third positive cases in the country, have also recovered.

The state, which saw arrival of several people from COVID19-hit countries like Italy and Gulf region before the lockdown, reported more cases later, but did well to contain the spread with effective quarantine and treatment protocols, which have come in for praise.

As of Wednesday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Kerala stood at 485 with 123 active patients.

The COVID-19 first emerged in a food market in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, and later became a pandemic, affecting most parts of the world, including India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After shooting Speight, police said, the suspects drove away in the Jeep, only to pass a D.C. police vehicle. Police said they later found the Jeep in an alley and pursued it to Eastern Avenue near the Maryland line. Police said they arrested two suspects who ran into an apartment building and another on the street.
New Delhi, April 30 : T.S. Singh Deo is an ex-royal from Surguja in Chhattisgarh and is Minister of Health and Panchayti Raj in the Congress-ruled state. In the crucial test of management and leadership in this hour of Covid-19 pandemic, his ministry is in the forefront of twin-tasks: On the one hand, he has to ensure peoples health and contain the pandemic, and on the other, keep up the morale of the rural populace. He is also close to the top Congress leadership and was leader of Opposition when the BJP was in power two years back.

He speaks to IANS, and apprehends that the virus is going to stay for another six months, at least. "We have to prepare ourselves... and the only way is random testing," he says. He has already got 56,000 primary schools converted into quarantine centres. "We have the capacity to deal with the pandemic. The state is ready for the migrants and they will be quarantined nearest their homes for emotional support.

Chhhattisgarh has only 5 active corona cases.

Excerpts from the interview to Saiyed Moziz Imam Zaidi of IANS Q. What is the Covid-19 situation in Chhattisgarh? A. Covid-19 is going to stay, at least for six months, that's what I can sense after talking to various experts. Some experts have warned of more than 6 months -- till 2022. So, we have to learn to live with it till a vaccine and other medicines are discovered.

What is the rate of testing in your state? The Rt-PCR testing capacity is conclusive, but so far we have the limitation of 2,000 tests per day, this means a minimum of 60,000 tests per month. In a population of, say 30 million, we are doing only 1,000 tests per day on Rt-PCR. It is very low and has to be ramped up... One way of doing it is by surveillance and rapid testing. We have ordered 75, 000 kits and we have received 25,000 of them which have been distributed. We will soon have a better idea because experts say a large number of people may be asymptomatic - people could be infected, but may not show symptoms, So random testing and surveillance are the way out.

How difficult is it to identify and trace suspects and their contacts? Experts say that 80% of the affected people would get cured. But a large number of them could be asymptomatic. So, the target is to get as many asymptomatic patients tested as possible.

Is the government experimenting with any particular model of containment? Nobody can go beyond the established protocols approved by the ICMR. Rapid testing has to be ramped up; it is better than having thermal sensor system.

What about plasma therapy? The whole idea of plasma therapy against coronavirus is that it helps in increasing your immune system. The use of hydroxychloroquine was also based on a similar premise of developing antibodies. So, it could be all about the immune system.

How do you see Centre's cooperation in terms of providing support? Its good, but they adopted a conservative approach in the sense the testing was very limited and labs were only few at a time when the world was buffeted by the virus. We should have been more proactive in terms of manufacturing PPE kits, rapid testing and other material. We would have been ahead in this fight had we adopted a protocol earlier. Initially, we were testing those coming from China. We should have prepared ourselves much more in advance.

How is the state prepared in terms of number of beds and isolation wards and how are you dealing with the general patients who are suffering from other diseases? The treatment of other patients is affected, no doubt. It is mainly because the transportation is suspended and the number of OPDs and IPDs has dropped. There seems to be a drop in institutional deliveries. We are trying to ramp them up with arrangement such as separate vehicles in each Community Health Centre covering 50,000 people or more.

Such patients are not allowed to come from their villages or homes to the hospital because vehicles would be available. Accident cases have dropped because there is hardly any vehicular movement. The birth rate, however, has not dropped. We are trying to reach out to the families where childbirths are due.

How is the government geared up to contain coronavirus? We have prepared 7 to 8,000-bed facilities for isolation and ICU beds with ventilators. Today we have 922 ventilators 300 child ventilators. We also have ICU beds separately and 139 quarantine centres.

Where will you accommodate the migrants after they return? The migrants should be brought to their native places. They have suffer emotional stress and there is pressure on them to get back to their places. We plan to keep them in primary schools in every village. Each village has a minimum of 10 beds, so we can keep them there. There are 20 thousand villages in Chhattisgarh, so we have the capacity of 2 lakh beds. We have to keep in mind that we should coordinate their movement through passes issued to them at the point of departure. From the point of departure, we will try to track them to their homes and to their villages so that we can locate them accordingly But if they are coming without passes, then it would be difficult in controlling them. We assume that they are asymptomatic and if anybody found symptomatic will be tested and isolated. It is a big challenge.

You are Panchayati Raj Minister, how have you involved panchayats in this fight against the pandemic? The first one is awareness and we are fortunate that most of the villages in Chhattisgarh have cooperated with the government, not allowing any movement in their villages. But we have to give them employment. We never stopped MNREGA in our state, so the numbers of MNREGA workers has jumped from 40,000 risen to1851,000.

There has been controversy about procuring rapid testing kits...? On April 4, the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) allowed the use of rapid testing kits. When the ICMR procured the rapid testing kits, Chhattisgarh too received 4,800 of them from a Chinese company. The issue of these kits not working properly was raised by Rajasthan and other states. Then the ICMR stopped the use of rapid testing kits. They have now withdrawn them and decided to send them back to the company. We have now procured them from a South Korean company based in Manesar (Haryana). We have found no discrepancy in the results.

How many active corona cases are there in Chhattisgarh? There are 5 active cases and 9 others, were traced through rapid testing system, are yet to be tested.
A Wednesday morning shooting at an apartment complex brought Beaumonts homicide count to six over the past four weeks, and the council member representing the ward where half occurred attributes the uptick to the uncertainties and stresses of the coronavirus pandemic.

I would truly have to say the COVID shut in probably has a lot to do with it, Ward 4 Councilmember Robin Mouton said. There is a lot of unknown, and people are out of work, stressed and depressed. They are dealing with things that are not normal for them. They are used to going to work or going about their day, and truly not used to being stuck in the house without the liberties of going where they would like.

The most-recent death occurred at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Starcrest Apartments on Elmira Street. When officers arrived at the south end complex, they found two people had been shot while sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot. A woman was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening; but Marcus Savoy, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials hope the violent trend is not the new normal for the city that had no homicides until March 31 after finishing 2019 with 20.

Mouton said the homicide prevention lies with those committing the crimes.

There are so many more elements that are compounding an already bad situation, she said. Its unfortunate that people continue to take the law into their own hands. Can the police be everywhere? No. Can pastors and leaders and officials control it? I wish we could.

Mouton said she would welcome a greater law enforcement presence, but questions its effectiveness.

When people dont respect the law, it wouldnt matter how many law enforcement are there, she said.

Beaumont Police Chief James Singletary declined to comment specifically on the recent incidents, but said the city is still seeing the same types of homicides it has for years.

When I was in the detective divisionwe had months like this, he said. Weve had issues with violence off and on for the last several years. Like weve said many, many times, we can not prevent them. People are dying for the stupidest reasons in the world. Its pretty sad and alarming.

Back in the day, people would settle problems with fist fights. Even the drug dealers werent as violent Its a bad month, but its not like weve never had a month like this and weve had months like the first three months of the year.

In 1994, Beaumont recorded 30 homicides, nearly doubling the amount from 1985. Since the mid-90s, the total has fallen gradually, mirroring a the trend around the country.

Over the last four or five years, people are dying behind drug deals, domestic disturbances, friends are shooting friends, Singletary said. A lot of times, they know each other. Sometimes they are drug deal rip offs. The bad guys carry guns to protect their dope and protect their money. Its the same old stuff. Its going to go on and on until these guys decide to stop shooting each other.

Beaumonts first homicide of the year came on March 31 when Grady Rothkamm, 26, was stabbed to death while leaving a friends house on Riggs Street. Police arrested Ronald Laverne Crawford, 53, on the charge of murder. He is in the Jefferson County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. Three days later, Chiquitha Young, 49, was stabbed to death in her apartment on Crow Road. Police arrested Malcolm Lewis, who also lived in the apartment complex.

On April 7, Valerie Jacob King was fatally shot at the Maple Apartments on South 4th Street. A man was arrested and charged with murder before being released the following day. District Attorney Bob Wortham said at the time facts were in dispute whether the suspect was the victim or the defendant, and that it was improper to keep him in jail. Wortham said the case will go before a grand jury.

On Wednesday, Singletary told The Enterprise that the department is looking at the possibility of self defense in a couple of this years homicides.

People are wanting answers and we are doing our best to try and control the things we can control and that is solving the homicides and we are doing that. People are wanting us to come up with explanations and I dont think anyone can come up with explanations to why there are so many different homicides in Beaumont.

On April 19, a 15-year-old West Brook student was arrested after Monica Landrio, 41, was fatally shot at a West Florida Avenue apartment complex. According to police, Landrio fired a gunshot into the air in an attempt to break up a fight at 4:30 a.m. Police said one of the juveniles in the crowd of nearly 30 people shot at Landrio striking her several times.

One week later, officers responded to a report of a fight in the 7700 block of Stonetown Road. Before police arrived, officers were told a man was shot and lying on the ground. Shane Russell Jones, 41, died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Officers arrested Zachary Kapel, 33, and charged him with murder.

Im at a loss for words to try and explain some of this stuff, Singletary said. Hopefully we will have another dry spell, but it is not looking good for the summer. I want to let the citizens know that we are going to be there. We are going to keep doing our bestThe murders are so scattered around, its hard to patrol that large area. When they are domestic and there are alcohol and drugs involved, its hard to do that.

chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/chris_moore09
Economists are renowned for their impenetrable language. But when it comes to the terrible toll wrought by joblessness, they dont mince their words.

"Scarring" is the term economists apply to the long-term adverse effects of losing a job.

Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit:

Similar to physical scarring, the traumatic experience of losing a job can leave a worker with mental, financial and social scarring for decades to come  if not the rest of their lives.

According to Deloitte Access Economics economist Chris Richardson, if a person is made redundant during a recession and is not rehired within two years, it is likely they will never work again.
A subsidiary of American Water has agreed to buy Upper Pottsgroves wastewater management system for $13.75 million. Read more

A subsidiary of American Water has agreed to buy Upper Pottsgroves wastewater management system for $13.75 million, a deal officials said would lessen burdens on the debt-ridden town, which has struggled to maintain its aging infrastructure, and add to the portfolio of Pennsylvanias largest private water company.

The Upper Pottsgrove Township Board of Commissioners approved the sale with Pennsylvania American Water on April 20, adding to the utility giants municipal wastewater treatment system acquisitions that range from McKean County in northwestern Pennsylvania to Philadelphias collar counties. Pennsylvania American Water also will be responsible for three public sewer extension projects in town.

Mirroring similar sales in other towns, the agreement is expected to allow Upper Pottsgrove to pay outstanding debt, replenish its pension fund, and fix other deteriorating infrastructure.

Pennsylvania American Water has tentatively scheduled to take ownership of Upper Pottsgroves wastewater management system early next year, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, said Maggie Sheely, a spokesperson for the company.

The utility commission would oversee water rates and rate changes.

Upper Pottsgrove had been searching for a utilities company to buy its wastewater system assets since early 2019 and submitted a bid request to Aqua America and Pennsylvania American Water on Feb. 5.

Under state laws, notably Act 12, a private water company can assess the value of a wastewater system, the cost of repairs and estimated future revenue, and offer the appraisal figure to a town  in this case, $13.75 million to Upper Pottsgrove.

The utility company can then charge customers based on the new, fair-market value of the wastewater management system instead of its lower depreciated value. Utility commission oversight is intended to prevent possible rate spikes after acquisition, but private water systems can also offset increases by spreading costs across all its customers in Pennsylvania.

Consumer advocates have opposed the law, saying that public water systems often charge less and that privatized water utilities can become predatory and raise prices substantially.

Private utility companies have rejected such characterizations and said acquisitions help pull towns out of dire financial situations.

Without the sale, Pennsylvania American Water said, Upper Pottsgroves residents would have seen a significantly higher tax increase if the town were solely responsible for fixing its wastewater management system, which serves about 1,600 people.

The sale offsets other financial burdens, officials said, meaning residents will have about a 9% decrease in wastewater fees. To date, residents in Upper Pottsgrove, which the census has pegged at having a population of about 5,700, have annually paid about $860 in sewage fees, ranking among the costliest in the area.

In 2019, Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of Camden-based American Water Works Co. Inc., acquired a string of public water and wastewater utilities that included facilities in Sadsbury and Valley Townships, Chester County, and Royersford, Montgomery County.

Staff writer Andrew Maykuth contributed to this article.
Mid-Atlantic property and casualty insurer NJM Insurance Group has committed $400,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts. The funding will go to non-profits serving essential needs, healthcare providers, emergency responders and coordinated statewide efforts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Community support and corporate giving are essential in times of challenge and uncertainty, said Mitch Livingston, president and CEO of NJM. Our commitment to these relief efforts is rooted in NJMs core principles. During this very difficult time, we will remain true to our pledge to support the communities we are privileged to serve.
Mitsubishi Motors shares messages of perseverance, resilience and optimism in latest Small Batch  Big Impact film

"We forget sometimes how many good people there are in the world and how many positive things actually happen on a day-to-day basis." This wise reminder to remain grateful and optimistic, regardless of the challenges that lay ahead, is perhaps more timely and relevant now than ever before.

U.S. Army combat veteran and Record the Journey nonprofit founder Rachael Ridenour offers these words of wisdom at the conclusion of Mitsubishi Motors North America's (MMNA) latest digital video. The film recounts Ridenour and U.S. Air Force veteran Karah Behrend's experiences during the 2019 Rebelle Rally , a grueling eight-day, off-road navigational rally and the longest competition of its kind in the Lower 48 states.

Ridenour and Behrend piloted a minimally modified, hand control-equipped Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross to second place in the Crossover class, breaking barriers along the way. Behrend, who was forced to medically retire from the Air Force when she lost the use of her legs and parts of her hands to a progressive neurological disease, became the first adaptive athlete ever to compete in and complete the physically and mentally demanding 2,000-kilometer challenge. Their inspirational effort also earned them the Team Spirit award, as voted on by their fellow Rebelle competitors.

"Facing tough challenges together, staying optimistic and compassionate in the face of adversity, is heroic, and hearing of heroism tends to bring out the best in all of us," said Kimberley Gardiner, vice president and chief marketing officer, MMNA. "In keeping with our Small Batch philosophy, we're evolving our engagement strategies and acknowledging what people are experiencing right now. Rachael and Karah's story offers inspiration and connection at a time when we can all really use it."

The partnership with Ridenour's Record the Journey veterans charity late last year marked the start of MMNA's new corporate social responsibility initiative, known as "Small Batch - Big Impact," under which the company and its dealer partners plan to redefine the term "CUV" to mean "Community Utility Vehicle." The CUV program is creating a series of vehicle loans to small nonprofits to help support local communities. Other CUV donations have been made to the Las Vegas-based Goodie Two Shoes Foundation and the Nashville-based Community Resource Center , with each of the charities using their Mitsubishi vehicles to further their respective missions.

The latest Small Batch  Big Impact film can be viewed at www.mitsubishicars.com/community . Related content will be shared via MMNA's social channels ( www.facebook.com/mitsubishi , www.instagram.com/mitsubishimotors , and www.twitter.com/mitsucars ) or can be found by searching #SmallBatchBigImpact.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Through a network of approximately 350 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, research and development, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. 2019 marked the brand's seventh consecutive year of sales growth.

Located in Franklin, Tennessee, MMNA is a part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Mitsubishi continues to lead the way in the development of highly efficient, affordably priced new gasoline-powered automobiles, while using its industry-leading knowledge in battery-electric vehicles to develop future EV and PHEV models.
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol is seen after a rainstorm, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Washington

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - By now, David Tryon had expected to be a two-year veteran at the Small Business Administration, an agency at the heart of the U.S. government's coronavirus relief effort as it disburses more than $650 billion in loans for struggling small companies.

But the Ohio attorney, nominated by President Donald Trump in October 2017 as the SBA's chief counsel for advocacy, has remained in limbo awaiting a Senate confirmation vote. In the meantime, the position - intended to advance the concerns of small businesses to the White House, Congress, federal courts and states - has remained without a Senate-confirmed occupant.

"There's so much discussion about how do we help small businesses survive in this environment," Tryon said in an interview. "And this is exactly what the office of advocacy should be doing now."

The pandemic has worsened an extensive backlog in the Senate's consideration of Trump's nominees for a long list of top administration positions. Senators left Washington in March amid broad stay-at-home policies imposed in most of the country intended to slow the spread of the virus. They are not due to return until next week.

The problem of important positions remaining unfilled can in part be blamed on partisan stalemates over nominees in the Senate, which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans.

But Trump also has failed to send the Senate nominees for 166 of the 750 key administration positions requiring confirmation, far more than the 79 others who have been nominated but not yet confirmed, according to a tracker from the Washington Post and non-partisan Partnership for Public Service.

Many high-level executive branch posts have remained without a Senate-confirmed occupant, including homeland security secretary for a year and director of national intelligence since August.

Tryon said the position to which he was nominated is crucial as millions of small businesses - which employ more than half of private-sector U.S. workers - struggle to stay afloat, many shuttered as Americans stay home to avoid spreading the virus.

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"This is so important for our economy right now, so important for all the people throughout the country that have been hoping to again be employed," Tryon added.

RULES CHANGED

There has been dysfunction surrounding nominations since Trump took office in 2017. [nL2N2C3303]

Republicans have accused Democrats of obstructing confirmation of nominees by insisting they be subject to hours of debate rather than quickly approved by voice vote. Democrats previously accused Republicans of obstructing confirmation of nominees made by Trump's Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.

Republicans hold 53 seats in the 100-member Senate. Both parties have changed the chamber's rules in recent years to make it easier to confirm nominees.

Democrats, seeking to exert what limited power a minority party has in the Senate, have said many positions are too important to rush confirmation without a full vetting of a nominee. They also have said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trump have not made executive branch appointments a priority.

McConnell, who blocked Senate consideration of an Obama Supreme Court nominee in 2016 so Trump could fill the vacancy, has made confirmation of conservative judicial nominees a top priority. The Senate has confirmed 193 federal judges nominated by Trump for lifetime appointments, moving the courts decidedly to the right.

Trump has touted his judicial appointments as he campaigns for re-election on Nov. 3. McConnell has called the Senate back to Washington on May 4 despite the city's stay-at-home order, promising to confirm more Trump-nominated judges.

Tryon, 61, was contacted about the SBA position in June 2017, and began wrapping up his 31-year law firm career after he was nominated that October. The Senate Small Business Committee held his confirmation hearing in February 2018 and sent his nomination to the full Senate in March 2018 on a 14-5 vote, with five Democrats voting no. The full Senate, however, has never held a confirmation vote.

Tryon said he believes he ultimately will be confirmed.

"President Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to me and his strong commitment to help small businesses," Tryon said. "I expect that the Senate will recognize the critical importance of this confirmation for the recovery of small businesses that are facing unprecedented pressure today because of COVID-19," the respiratory illness caused by the virus.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Mary Milliken and Will Dunham)
A decontamination company is setting up operations in San Antonio with a federal contract to disinfect up to 80,000 N95 face masks a day for area hospitals, nursing homes and first responders who need them most.

Battelle, based in Ohio, established the Critical Care Decontamination System, or CCDS, at the transformed Freeman Coliseum grounds, the location of a temporary hospital built to house non-critical patients that has not proved needed.

The company expects to begin filling orders by the end of the week at the Freeman, one of 60 locations covered by a $400 million contract awarded to Battelle by the Defense Logistics Agency on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.

Set up within four interconnected shipping containers, the system resembles a makeshift lab. In it, the respirator masks are exposed to a vapor phase hydrogen peroxide for more than two hours to eliminate biological contaminates, including the coronavirus, Battelles website states .

Joe Arrington, a San Antonio Fire Department spokesman, said an N95 mask can be disinfected up to 20 times using this system without losing its effective performance. Battelle is simply waiting on the necessary chemical to start, he said.

Eighty-thousand a day is a game changer, Arrington said.

To meet this figure, the site will be in operation seven days a week, 16 hours a day, serving the 28 counties of Public Health Region 8 of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The system is expected to help smaller healthcare systems, county agencies, and others that may not have the necessary budget or capability of buying additional N95 masks.

This will reduce and slow down their burn rate, Arrington said. They wont need to replace their masks (with new ones) every time.

On ExpressNews.com: I have to triage requests: SA volunteers are flooded with requests for face masks

Hospital liaisons can sign up to have their masks disinfected via the Battelle website. Each order placed will receive an assigned number to help keep track of the masks.

When you ship them here we make sure all the masks stay together in decontamination, Arrington said. The masks get repackaged and you get the same masks back.

The fire department is supporting Battelle as they operate, Arrington said.

Currently, the federal contract is to only disinfect N95 masks. Arrington said Battelle is researching how many times other equipment, such as face shields, can be disinfected and re-used.

Another decontamination system is being set up in Houston and is expected to begin operation by Thursday morning. Two additional systems will be established in Austin and the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Arrington said.

Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Jacob, become a subscriber. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
A suspect has been arrested for a series of business break-ins that involved the theft of charity canisters containing cash.

Jose Cartalla, 33, of Detroit, has been charged for seven different incidents, which occurred between December 2019 and April 2020. He was taken into custody on April 24.

Cartalla is charged with four felony counts of breaking and entering a business, five felony counts of larceny from a building, two misdemeanor counts of entering without permission, two misdemeanor counts of malicious destruction of property and two misdemeanor counts of violating Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order.

Cartalla was arraigned on April 27 in front of 19th District Judge Gene Hunt. He is being held at the Wayne County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said Cartalla got away with an average of $300 from every charity canister he swiped.

Our generous businesses and community consistently contribute to those that are less fortunate, Haddad said. Breaking into businesses to steal this money is shameful.

Haddad said Cartallas M.O. was the same at each location: Late at night he breaks glass windows to get inside a business, steals the charity collection box and gets out.

In the two weeks before his arrest, Cartalla broke into five to six businesses in Dearborn, Haddad said, who described the man as a walking crime wave. He said Cartalla often is homeless, uses drugs and has mental health issues.

This is a good case study of how one guy can make it look like Dearborn is not safe, Haddad said. He hit a bunch of businesses.  Hopefully we can get him help and get him off the street.
A rigorous trial sponsored by the U.S. government showed remdesivir has a clear impact on hospitalization time for COVID-19 patients, Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Wednesday.

Fauci heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which provided funding for the clinical trial.

An independent data and safety monitoring board, which analyzed results from the trial, notified researchers that the results show remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant positive effect in diminishing the time to recover, Fauci told reporters at the White House.

What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus, he added.

The median recovery time for patients in the group receiving remdesivir, an experimental drug developed by the California-based Gilead Sciences, was 11 days, compared to a 15-day median recovery for the group receiving a placebo, or a 31 percent faster recovery time.

The mortality rate for the remdesivir group was 8 percent, compared to 11 percent for the other group, though the number has not yet reached statistical significance.

The full results havent been released, but NIAID announced the data several days earlier than it normally would because of ethical considerations, Fauci said.

Whenever you have clear cut evidence that a drug works, you have an ethical obligation to immediately let the people who are in the placebo group know so that they can have access. All of the other trials that are taking place now have a new standard of care, he said.

The trial started on Feb. 21 and included over 1,000 patients with advanced cases of COVID-19, a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus from China. The patients were treated across multiple countries, including the United States.

Results will be peer-reviewed, Fauci said.

More detailed information about the trial results, including more comprehensive data, will be available in a forthcoming report, NIAID said in a press release.

Earlier Wednesday, a study by Chinese researchers found remdesivir had no discernible impact in terms of time to clinical improvement.

However, the numerical reduction in time to clinical improvement in those treated earlier requires confirmation in larger studies, researchers wrote in reporting the results in The Lancet.

Fauci called the study inadequate and underpowered.

From The Epoch Times
Ward 8 Council member Trayon White Sr. has stepped up during the terrible weeks of the pandemic, bravely going out  gowned and masked  to deliver food and other goods to families in need. He also has helped focus attention on jail conditions. Those attributes, though, do not make up for his shortcomings in office. Mr. White has functioned more as a community activist than as a legislator, playing to his base of supporters rather than effectively addressing long-term needs of the entire community. A crowded field and Mr. Whites standout political skills make his reelection likely, but more effective representative is needed if Ward 8 is to get responsible development and improved education outcomes. A better choice is offered by Mike Austin, an attorney with deep ties to the community who was legislative director to former Ward 8 council member LaRuby May.
Though The Beatles officially parted ways in 1970, the band had stepped away from touring several years earlier. In fact, the last show the band played for paying customers came at San Franciscos Candlestick Park on Aug. 29, 1966.

If you look at the Fab Fours path to Candlestick that summer, youll see why the band needed a break. That July, while leaving the Philippines, The Beatles had been spat on and shoved about. (It was worse for their crew.)

When they arrived in America in August, things only improved slightly. By then, the John Lennon comments about the band being more popular than Jesus brought out more boycotts, along with threats from the Ku Klux Klan. In brief, touring had become hardly worth the money.

But it didnt stop at these incidents. Since the early days of Beatlemania, the group had a hard time taking their live performances seriously with thousands of screaming girls unable to hear what they were playing. And early on they began substituting obscene lyrics at their raucous gigs.

John Lennon said that Beatles concerts had nothing to do with music

The Beatles perform in the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, February 16, 1964. | CBS via Getty Images

When The Beatles played to 56,000 people at New Yorks Shea Stadium in 1965, the group inaugurated a new era of stadium rock. To that point, bands couldnt command those types of crowds, and the sound issues became apparent right away.

In Anthology, Paul McCartney noted that his future wife Linda was at Shea in 65. She was quite pissed off with everyone screaming, Paul said. She genuinely wanted to hear the show. That wasnt the deal, though. Not then. Pauls bandmates also acknowledged that one could hear them.

By the following year, Ringo had seen the end of the line. Nobody was listening at the shows, he said in Anthology. That was OK at the beginning but it got that we were playing really bad. John said hed lose his voice at times and no one would notice.

The music wasnt being heard, John recalled in Anthology. It was just sort of a freak show. [] The music had nothing to do with it. However, the band did find ways to cope with the shouting at the beginning of Beatlemania. Singing vulgar substitute lyrics was one of them.

The Beatles sang about sex organs when they knew no one could hear

The Beatles perform on stage at the Washington Coliseum, Washington DC, February 1964. | Rowland Scherman/Getty Images

If you play to an audience of teenage girls screaming at the top of their lungs, it becomes clear right away that your songwriting and musicianship arent being appreciated. So how did The Beatles cope? Mostly, they tried to entertain themselves.

At the Shea Stadium show, you can see John doing his best Jerry Lee Lewis impression by running his elbow across a keyboard. And youll often see John and Paul joking with George Harrison during shows of the era.

But the Beatles vocalists also amused themselves by injecting dirty lyrics into their performances. In The Ox, the 2020 biography of Who bassist John Entwistle, Paul Rees includes an excerpt from Entwistles unpublished biography written about a 1964 show The Who played with The Beatles.

Listening to the Fab Fours performance backstage, Entwistle and his bandmates quickly realized the moptops werent singing their famous lyrics. [The members of The Who] were crying with laughter at the words they were singing, Entwistle wrote.

Its been a hard days c*ck, Entwistle recalled the clean-cut Beatles singing over the direct vocal feed going backstage. (The screaming girls had no way of hearing it.) And Entwistle caught a reworking of another Beatles classic later in the set. I wanna hold your c*nt, he heard them sing.

Also see: Why John Lennon Wrote A Day in the Life and Other Masterpieces in a Time Crunch
Starbucks (SBUX) fiscal second-quarter results took a hit, as the company reported a steep drop in profit and comparable sales as the coronavirus crisis forced the shuttering of cafes in the U.S. and China, its two largest markets.

Here are the key numbers from the report, and what Wall Street expected from the company, as compiled by Bloomberg:

Adjusted earnings per share: 32 cents versus 34 cents expected

Global same store sales: -10% year over year versus -9.7% expected

The coffee giant was not immune to COVID-19 pandemic thats wreaked havoc on the global economy with store closures and stay-at-home orders. When the virus first took hold in China earlier this year, Starbucks was among the first wave of multinationals to shutter stores in the Middle Kingdom.

During the quarter, Starbucks earnings plunged 47% from the 60 cents reported in the same period a year ago. In the U.S., comp sales were down 3%, while international comp sales fell 31%.

According to analytics firm Placer.ai, nationwide data showed March took a hard hit as U.S. lockdowns shut down nonessential businesses, with visits plunging 30.2% below the baseline  a decrease of over 36% year over year.

The company had previously noted in a recent filing that U.S. comp sales had been on track to deliver 8% growth for the first ten weeks of the quarter, but sales worsened because of the pandemic.

All told, Starbucks opened 255 net new stores in the quarter.

Learning from China

In January, the coffee giant had closed more than half of its stores 4,100 in mainland China. Presently, however 98% of the Starbucks stores in China are open, but many with modified operations.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Starbucks has started opening up locations across New York for mobile orders during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 23, 2020 in New York City. COVID-19 has spread to most countries around the world, claiming over 190,000 lives with over 2.7 million cases confirmed. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)

The global coffee giant expects the impact of the virus to intensify in the fiscal third quarter, which will give way to moderation in the latter part of the year. Striking a tone of optimism, Starbucks expects a substantial recovery in China

Since the beginning of this global crisis, Starbucks has made decisions that prioritize the well-being of our partners and customers, support health and government officials, and responsibly serve our communities, CEO Kevin Johnson said in a statement.

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This principled approach is showing steady business improvement in China where today, substantially all existing Starbucks stores have reopened with modified operations, new store locations are being added and customer engagement continues to grow with each passing week, he added

According to Johnson, Starbucks is using the China experience to inform its decisions in other markets. Right now, the company has entered what it calls the monitor and adapt phase in the U.S. to re-open stores with best-in-class safety protocols, he added.

We continue to navigate this dynamic situation  which we believe is temporary  and are confident that Starbucks will emerge from this global crisis even stronger than before, Johnson said.

Prioritizing partners

On March 15, Starbucks suspended cafe seating and moved to a to go format in the U.S., and also pivoted to drive-thru and delivery only to adhere to social distancing rules.

Approximately 60% of the 15,000 Starbucks stores in the U.S. offer drive-thru service. The coffee chain offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats across 49 markets in the U.S.

During this time, more customers signed up for the Starbucks app, with the Starbucks Rewards loyalty programming growing to 19.4 million active members in the U.S., up 15% from a year ago.

During the pandemic, Starbucks rolled out temporary COVID-19 related benefits for its U.S. employees, including higher hourly wages for those willing and able to work, and catastrophe pay for those who cant work through the end of May. For those choosing to work, the coffee giant recently sweetened the hourly pay with an extra $3 per hour and will continue providing that premium through the end of May.

Whats more, if a partners home store is closed, they will have the option to work at a nearby location thats open. To be sure, employees who are healthy, but unwilling to work after May 3, will no longer receive the catastrophe pay.

However, the catastrophe pay will be available through the month of May for anyone who needs to stay home because of a diagnosis or need to self-isolate, or if their store needs to remain closed during that time, or if parents need to homeschool their children.

Julia La Roche is a Correspondent at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.
- Rana Zoe Mungin was a social studies teacher at Bushwick Ascend Middle School in Brooklyn

- She died in hospital a month after she was put on a ventilator, more than six weeks after she first fell ill with a fever

- Mungin was turned away from an ER after medics dismissed her breathing difficulties twice, before she was finally hospitalised

- Emergency responders insinuated she was having a panic attack and that her lungs were clear

- She first developed symptoms after her sister returned home with a fever from her work at a hospital

A middle school social studies teacher from Brooklyn in the United States has died of COVID-19 following a month-long battle with the virus.

The 30-year-old reportedly sought medical help twice but was turned away for testing both times before she was eventually diagnosed with the virus.

READ ALSO: Nairobi woman narrates how Ghanaian lover conned, left her homeless

Rana Zoe Mungin was a social studies teacher at Bushwick Ascend Middle School in Brooklyn. Photo: Daily Mail.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 17 relatives of Siaya COVID-19 victim released from quarantine after testing negative 4 times

Rana Zoe Mungin, who had been clinging to life in the hospital for more than a month, died on the afternoon of Monday, April 27, her mother confirmed to ABC News.

'It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you all that my sister, Rana Zoe, has passed away today at 12:25p.m. due to COVID-19 complications,' Mungin's sister tweeted.

"She fought a long fight but her body was too weak," she added.

READ ALSO: Working from home: Sierra Leone Minister feeds, carries 10-month-old daughter on his back during Zoom meeting

Despite repeated pleas for help and exhibiting various symptoms of the virus, Mungin's family said she was denied COVID-19 testing twice at Brooklyn's Brookdale Hospital.

It was reported this was the same hospital where her older sister died of an asthma attack 15 years earlier.

Mungin reportedly contracted the deadly virus after Mia, a registered nurse, returned to the home they shared with a fever on March 9, 2020, after working in a hospital.

READ ALSO: Death of a hero: Top ER doctor who treated coronavirus patients dies

Just days later, Mungin began showing symptoms of the virus.

Her condition worsened and her family called for an ambulance on at least one occasion after she developed breathing difficulties and took her to the ER twice.

But, despite being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus complications due to underlying health conditions, including asthma and high blood pressure, medics dismissed her symptoms.

READ ALSO: Thika couple appeals for financial help to treat 11-month-old daughter admitted with pneumonia at Kijabe Hospital

On one occasion, emergency responders dismissed complaints that she was struggling to breathe and insinuated she was having a panic attack, and that her lungs were clear.

The 30-year-old was finally admitted on March 20, 2020, and put on a ventilator. She was then given the experimental malaria drug hydroxychloroquine touted by President Donald Trump.

When that did not work, Mia lobbied for her sister to take part in clinical trials and the teacher was moved to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan where she started improving.

READ ALSO: Malindi woman ordered to return KSh 150,000 paid as her dowry after court nullified marriage

One month after going on the ventilator, she woke up and was moved to a New Jersey hospital for patients who have come off ventilators.

A few days later, she died from COVID-19 complications.

Mungin taught at Ascend Academy in East New York, Brooklyn, an area of New York City that was among the hardest-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

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A fifth of high street stores plan to stay closed permanently after the coronavirus lockdown lifts, retail leaders have told MPs.

It comes as administrators announced on Thursday that Oasis and Warehouse will close all stores indefinitely with more than 1,800 workers losing their jobs.

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, said it has been the "worst time ever for retail" after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK.

Millions of businesses are shuttered across the country as the lockdown continues / PA

Speaking to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee on Thursday, he said 20 per cent of retailers surveyed by the trade body said they do not intend to reopen after the lockdown.

Mr Goodacre added: "For those even saying they would look to reopen, there is a huge caveat about the level of trade on whether they would continue to reopen.

"If the footfall is impacted and social distancing exists and they find it hard to meet needs of customers and workers, it would be more expensive to reopen than to stay closed."

Non-essential retailers shut their doors last month as part of the Government-mandated lockdown, while food retailers have seen sales surge in recent weeks due to strong demand.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, told the committee that 69 per cent of non-food retailers have been "significantly" impacted by the virus.

She told MPs: "There is no way that anybody is expecting that demand will revert to what it was before - there will be a slow gearing back up.

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

"What implementing social distancing will mean is that normal capacity to serve customers will be restricted and, certainly from a public perspective, I have no doubt that people will be very cautious about how they shop, for safety reasons and because of pressure on money in their pockets."

Ms Dickinson called on the Government to not "turn off the tap" of financial support for businesses, calling for tapered support as customer demand starts to recover.

The Chancellor has announced a range of support measures for retailers and other businesses, including a business rates holiday, the job retention scheme and business interruption loans.

TODO: define component type apester

However, Mr Goodacre said only 20 per cent of members have attempted to access the loans as they "don't see debt as the solution", with just 20 per cent of these applications securing cash support.

Meanwhile, the failure to save any part of Oasis Warehouse Limited, the company behind the two brands, along with The Idle Man and Bastyan Fashions, will result in the loss of 1,803 jobs, administrators have said.

Empty streets in UK after pubs and restaurants close 1 /8 Empty streets in UK after pubs and restaurants close An empty Westfield Stratford City Getty Images The empty car park outside a cinema in Leicester, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and gyms across the country to close PA Westminster Bridge is quiet in London AFP via Getty Images A pedestrian walks past a closed pub in New Cross, south London PA Cyclists keep their distance in Richmond Park PA A sparse Odeon cinema in Leicester after the Government ordered leisure facilities to close PA

Administrator Rob Harding said: "Covid-19 has presented extraordinary challenges which have devastated the retail industry.

"It is with great sadness that we have to announce a sale of the business has not been possible and that we are announcing so many redundancies today."

He added: "This is a very difficult time for the group's employees and other key stakeholders and we will do everything we can to support them through this.

"We would like to thank all the employees and other key stakeholders in the group for their continued support."

The 1,800 staff had already been placed on furlough as all shops were closed.
New Delhi: A review of scientific studies done by the University College London (UCL) has added more evidence to the claim that people who smoke might have a lower risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus COVID-19.

The academics at UCL looked at 28 papers and found the proportions of smokers among hospital patients were 'lower than expected'. One public health professor said there was 'something weird going on with smoking and coronavirus' and experts are struggling to explain the connection.

One of the studies showed that in the UK, the proportion of smokers among COVID-19 patients was just five per cent, a third of the national rate of 14.4 per cent.

Another found in France the rate was four times lower. In China, a study noted 3.8 per cent of patients were smokers - despite more than half of the population regularly smoking cigarettes. When smokers do get diagnosed with the virus, however, they appear to be more likely to get so sick that they need ventilation, two studies in the review showed.

Researchers admit that hospitals are probably not recording patients' smoking status properly, potentially because they are too busy, patients are too sick to answer, or because people lie in their answers. But they are struggling to knock down mounting evidence suggesting an apparent protective effect given by cigarettes, which one expert today admitted was 'weird'. A review of five early studies on the topic last month made the exact same conclusions - that smokers may avoid serious infection, but their outlook is worse if they do.

Twenty-two of the studies were conducted in China, three in the US, one in South Korea, one in France and one was an international study using mostly UK data.

Only three of them split smoking status into three parts - current, former and never smokers. The other 25 only reported current and former smoking status, but there were questions around how many of the rest had never smoked, and how many had missing data.

Notwithstanding these uncertainties, compared with national prevalence estimates, recorded current and former smoking rates in the included studies were generally lower than expected. Data from the US suggests that smokers appear to be less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 compared with never smokers.

Rather than this reflecting likelihood of catching the virus in the first place, it is more likely to point to someone's risk of becoming so ill they have to go to the hospital. Most of the countries involved in the studies did almost all of their testing in hospitals. But the researchers noted that smokers were more likely to be tested, possibly because their symptoms, like a cough, are more obvious due to their habit.

'We would, therefore, caution against drawing any conclusion as to whether smokers are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection at this early stage,' the UCL team said.

Two high-quality studies provided zero evidence that the 657 current or former smokers with the virus were at a higher risk of ending up in the hospital. But among 1,370 people hospitalised across two other studies, smokers were 43 per cent more likely to see their disease progress to become severe than those who had never smoked.

Three studies reported death rates from COVID-19 but there 'did not appear to be a notable difference' between smokers and non-smokers. However, the studies 'did not explicitly state never-smoking status', the authors said. They implied that patients who died may have smoked in the past, but this was not clearly recorded by a doctor. The authors concluded there is a lack of evidence that meets a high standard to definitely say whether or not smokers are at higher risk of catching the coronavirus or having poor outcomes.

Commenting on the matter, Linda Bauld, a professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said 'there's something weird going on with smoking and coronavirus'.

We know for decades that smoking is linked to a higher risk of developing respiratory conditions and also people who smoke have poorer outcomes. And we've still got around seven million smokers in the UK, [the] leading preventable cause of death. However, my colleagues at UCL... what theyve found is there are surprisingly few smokers in those studies whove developed coronavirus. 'In one French study, four times as many non-smokers got the virus and developed COVID-19 compared to smokers. 'There is a potential biological explanation for this, Bauld told Good Morning Britain.

Professor Bauld said the way the virus enters the body may be blocked by the effects of nicotine - the addictive compound found in tobacco. The coronavirus enters cells inside the body via structures called ACE-2 receptors, which coat the surface of some cells, including in the airways and lungs. The numbers of ACE-2 receptors someone has are thought to vary depending on genetics and some evidence suggests that they are higher in smokers. This could, in theory, put them at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus.

However, the virus is known to cause lung damage by depleting the numbers of ACE-2 receptors, so the fact that smoking increases them could reverse the effect and prevent harm to the lungs. On the other hand, other studies show that nicotine reduces the action of the ACE-2 receptor, suggesting smokers are less likely to catch the virus in the first place. Professor Bauld said: 'It's plausible that smokers are less likely to develop the condition potentially because of nicotine. Importantly in that UCL review where smokers did develop COVID-19, their outcomes are far worse.'

A leading infectious disease expert at University College London, Professor Francois Balloux has also previously said there is 'bizarrely strong' evidence that smoking may be protective.
Click here to read the full article.

Apple turned in better results for the first three months of 2020 than analysts expected amid the COVID-19 crisis  including posting a record $13.3 billion in services revenue, up 17% year over year.

In February, Apple warned investors that it expected to miss previous targets for the March quarter, citing the coronavirus outbreak in China as disrupting iPhone manufacturing and hurting sales in the country. Then in mid-March, the tech giant said it was shuttering all its retail stores worldwide with the exception of Greater China; they remain closed, although .

Apple did not provide financial guidance for the June 2020 quarter, given the lack of visibility and certainty, CFO Luca Maestri told analysts. The stock dipped more than 2% in after-hours trading.

That said, Apple CEO Tim Cook said on the earnings call that in the second half of April, weve seen an uptick across really across the board. Part of it is due to new products, like the $399 iPhone SE smartphone launched April 24, and part of stemmed from the government-stimulus programs in the month, Cook said. A part of it is probably the consumer behavior of knowing this is going to go on for a little while longer and getting some devices and so forth lined up to work at home more, he added.

Cook touted the strength of the services business, which includes App Store, Apple Music, AppleCare and Apple TV Plus. He said the company still expects services revenue for fiscal 2020 to be double that of fiscal 2016, when sales were $24.35 billion.

Despite COVID-19s unprecedented global impact, were proud to report that Apple grew for the quarter, driven by an all-time record in Services and a quarterly record for Wearables, Cook said in announcing the results.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak hitting China, Cook said, Apple was expecting to turn quarterly sales at the high end of its previous guidance range (which was $63 billion-$67 billion).

Story continues

For the quarter ended March 28, Apples second quarter of fiscal 2020, the company reported revenue of $58.31 billion, up 1% from the year-ago quarter, and net profit of $11.25 billion (or earnings per diluted share of $2.55, up 4%). That beat Wall Streets already-lowered expectations pegged Apple revenue of $54.54 billion and earnings per share of $2.26 for the period.

Sales of iPhone in the period fell 6.7%, to $28.96 billion. Revenue in Greater China also fell 6.7%, to $9.46 billion, while in the Americas sales came in at $25.47 billion, flat versus the prior year.

Sales in Apples Mac and iPad business segments declined year-over-year 3% and 10%, respectively, while revenue in the Wearables, Home and Accessories segment rose 18%, to $6.28 billion  a quarterly record.

Cook, on the earnings call, talked about Apples response to COVID-19. He name-dropped Oprah Winfrey  who teamed with Apple as part of launching Americas Food Fund and hosted a free series on Apple TV Plus, Oprah Talks COVID-19  and Lady Gaga, who was joined by Cook on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to announce Apples donation of $10 million to the One World: Together at Home concert fundraiser.

In addition, Cook said the companys free coronavirus screening app, released in late March, has been downloaded 2 million times and Apples corresponding website has had 3 million visits. Apple also has distributed tens of millions of face masks and custom-built face shields to health care workers professionals worldwide and donated to organizations including Global Citizen and Americas Food Fund.

(Pictured above: iPhone 11)
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Enexor BioEnergy ("Enexor") www.enexor.com, a U.S. organic waste-to-energy company, has formed Breathe Strong, LLC, committed to the design and manufacturing of the XVENT, a ventilator designed to help with current ventilator shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, and future pandemics. In less than thirty days, Breathe Strong designed and started manufacturing the XVENT. The XVENT will be manufactured at Enexor's manufacturing facilities in Franklin, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, with a capacity to produce up to 200 units per day. Additionally, the XVENT will be manufactured in other countries to address their medical device shortages, mitigating the financial burden associated with full-featured ventilators. Breathe Strong will be donating the XVENT to Ghana, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and other countries, as soon as export permission is granted. On April 11, 2020, Breathe Strong submitted a request for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA and will submit for final FDA approval in June.

The Breathe Strong XVENT emergency ventilator by Enexor BioEnergy. The XVENT utilizes a precision machined piston system controlled by an industrial-grade programmable logic computer (PLC). Enexor BioEnergy's, Director of Engineering, Scott Auerbach demonstrating the XVENT's industrial-grade programmable controllers and electronics at work in Enexor's command center.

The XVENT is a continuous, positive pressure ventilator that is capable of assisting a patient with respiratory insufficiency or respiratory failure. The XVENT utilizes a precision machined piston system controlled by an industrial-grade programmable logic computer (PLC). The system is self-calibrating, equipped with back-up battery power, and designed for many years of use. Qualified medical professionals can control and remotely monitor pressure, volume, inspiratory time, and respiratory ratio to provide life-sustaining ventilatory assistance.

"Less than a month ago, a doctor partner of ours in a developing country reached out to me looking for ventilators. I asked him how many he needed. He answered, 'one ventilator saves two lives; you do the math,'" said Lee Jestings, founder and CEO of Enexor.

"That evening, I challenged my team to design and build a ventilator that is reliable, affordable, and deployable in any remote hospital around the world. The Enexor team, led by Scott Auerbach, Director of Engineering, quickly went to work, and delivered within three weeks."

"We immediately made some important design decisions. First, we would not use a bag valve mask (BVM) resuscitator but instead would use a precision machined piston air pumping system. Second, we would design with industrial-grade programmable controllers and electronics. Third, we would design a ventilator with the intent of getting full FDA approval; and finally, the ventilator must be competitive in function, but affordable," said Scott Auerbach.

Immediately, Breathe Strong put together an advisory team of medical professionals consisting of critical care physicians and current respiratory therapists to define ideal modes, features, performance, and operating parameters. They then reached out to several companies that could assist with the initiative. What emerged was a world-class team of Tennessee companies and consultants from Maine to Oregon.

"The user's ability to control the XVENT is our design's most critical component. So we immediately reached out to Schneider Electric (www.se.com), Casco Systems (www.casco-systems.com), and Border States Electric (www.borderstates.com). These companies are the gold standard for designing, producing, and distributing the best industrial controls components on the market."

Breathe Strong's local Tennessee neighbors also responded immediately. Wolfe Industrial in LaVergne, John W. McDougall Co. in Nashville, and Ironcraft Inc. in Lewisburg worked nights and weekends to support us with high-quality steel parts and components. Nemo Design, a Portland, Oregon based brand-design agency, volunteered their time to provide expert product-design, branding and marketing support.

About Breathe Strong, LLC

Breathe Strong, LLC, a subsidiary of Enexor BioEnergy, an organic waste-to-energy company based in Franklin, Tennessee, manufactures the XVENT ventilator. The XVENT utilizes a precision machined piston system, controlled by an industrial-grade programmable logic computer (PLC). The XVENT is self-calibrating, equipped with back-up battery power, designed for many years of use at medical facilities anywhere in the world. Breathe Strong submitted a request for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA and will submit for final FDA approval in June. www.breathestrongtn.com

Media Contact

Sheena Francis

Marketing & Communications Manager

[email protected]

615-656-0508

SOURCE Enexor BioEnergy

Related Links

http://www.enexor.com


US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday criticized South Africa and Qatar for accepting doctors from Cuba to battle the coronavirus, accusing the communist island of profiting from the pandemic. Cuba's globe-trotting doctors have long been a source of diplomatic soft power and pride for Havana, but Washington says the medical workers only benefit the government and has encouraged them to defect. "We've noticed how the regime in Havana has taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue its exploitation of Cuban medical workers," Pompeo told reporters. "We applaud leaders in Brazil and in Ecuador and Bolivia and other countries which have refused to turn a blind eye to these abuses by the Cuban regime and ask all countries to do the same, including places like South Africa and Qatar," he said. "Governments accepting Cuban doctors must pay them directly. Otherwise, when they pay the regime, they are helping the Cuban government turn a profit on human trafficking." South Africa, which like Qatar has friendly relations with the United States, on Monday announced that 217 Cuban doctors had arrived in the country, which has the highest number of coronavirus infections in Africa. Cuba has sent doctors to more than 20 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic including hard-hit Italy as well as Mexico. France has also authorized Cuban teams to help in its overseas territories. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel reacted to Pompeo on Twitter, writing: "The United States is being deliberately deceitful by attacking Cuba's international medical cooperation with lies and slander." "Cuba's solidarity further isolates the aggressive policies of the United States," he said as he shared articles from Cuban state media. Cuba has made health care a societal pillar despite the poverty of the island, which has been subject to US sanctions for six decades. Former president Barack Obama sought to reconcile with Cuba, calling the isolation policy a failure, and ended a program in which Washington encouraged Cuban doctors to defect and resettle in the United States -- whose capitalist medical system offers exponentially higher incomes. President Donald Trump's administration has snapped back US pressure sharply and has imposed visa restrictions on Cuban officials involved in medical missions. Cuba says it earned $6.3 billion from its medical dispatches in 2018 and used the proceeds to finance its own universal health care coverage. One of the staunchest critics of the program is Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right ally of Trump, who kicked out 8,000 Cuban health workers as he took office. Cuba's health system briefly became an issue in the US presidential election as opponents of leftist Bernie Sanders assailed his past praise for Havana's record on medical care and literacy.
Earlier this month, many Americans anxiously refreshed their mobile banking apps and checked their mailboxes in search of their economic stimulus checks from the IRS.

Last Friday, the mailbox at Albert Reyna's Northwest Side apartment was the landing place for someone else's check, which was mailed to a former tenant of the apartment Reyna now lives in.

Reyna did not open the envelope, but could see through the window that a check was enclosed. While millions of Americans received their payments through previously used IRS direct deposit information, those who did not have their bank account details listed where mailed their checks to their last known address.

Though the name of the rightful owner was a common one, Reyna employed the help of Facebook friends to return the money that so many residents are depending on during the pandemic.

READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio

What Reyna didn't anticipate was the number of people with the same name as the recipient trying "desperately" to trick him into giving them the relief check. He said the messages and comments were non-stop in the days-long search for the rightful owner

"It was a shame how money hungry they were," he said.

By the time the previous tenant reached out to retrieve his mail, Reyna said he was frustrated by all of the other attempts to commit identity theft. He was also more suspicious.

"I wanted this check to go to the right person," Reyna added. "I needed proof."

Even an ID, old pieces of mail, which bore the right name and apartment address, didn't suffice for Reyna to hand over the check. It wasn't until the claimant correctly answered questions about the apartment landlord that Reyna said he was able to confidently put the envelope in the right hands.

"I could see him walking back to his car, so happy," he said.

Reyna said the young man started tearing up and offered him a tip for returning the mail. He said he wasn't expecting anything in return, but the gesture was "more than enough" for some tacos to celebrate his birthday on Saturday.

Reyna hasn't received his check, but said he's not bothered by it.

"I have my place, I have food and my car is paid for," he said. "God is providing for me regardless."

He deleted the Facebook posts once the search for the right person was complete. He said the signal boost picked up a viral amount of shares, comments and incessant messages for both himself and the family the check belonged to. Though Reyna is disappointed in the number of people who tried taking money that didn't belong to them, he is looking at the experience as a positive.

"It was a good deed," he said. "We just happened to see what kind of people are really out there and that's never going to change."

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
C-SPAN is publishing inaccurate transcripts of President Donald Trump's remarks during the vitally important national coronavirus task force daily briefings.

Yes, really.

So Trump is being falsely attacked for what Trump never said (again). The worst of it, lately, is Trump asking questions to scientists. Those questions have been transformed into statements that Trump never made. But as I endeavored to clear up the fog, I was shocked to discover that C-SPAN's textual transcripts are the source of the confusion. The quotes that Trump-haters are throwing around happen to be accurate reports of the inaccurate C-SPAN transcript.

Not everyone knows that www.C-SPAN.org preserves a repository of video records of newsworthy events. Not only can people watch events live on cable TV through C-SPAN, but if you missed it live, or want to study an event again, videos are available for viewing going back probably to 1995, searchable, of course.

Those inside the political loop know this. Journalists are...well, in a hurry, shall we say. And news outlets are hurting financially. So when C-SPAN offers a textual transcript of the video, it is tempting when throwing together a newspaper article or television news script to simply lift the text transcript off the left-hand side of the screen at www.C-SPAN.org. Why watch the actual video record? It's so much faster in a rush just to use the "cheat sheet" version from C-SPAN.

On April 23, 2020, after Homeland Security's chief scientist, William Bryan, gave a presentation, Trump asked for clarification of the continuing future research that would be on-going. See time segments 26:2535:00 and 31:0931:18 measured from the full video.

The actual transcript from the relevant segment (clip) on April 23, 2020 makes clear that (1) Trump never made any statements about anything, but merely asked the scientists to clarify (for the reporters' benefit) what further research the scientists would be working on in the future; (2) Trump was clearly discussing conversations with the scientists held before the briefing; (3) the discussion was about isopropyl alcohol, not bleach; (4) Trump repeatedly emphasized that all of this would require further research and testing; and (5) Trump said at the time, "Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn't work." Yet he is being attacked as claiming that he was instructing people to take specific treatments.

William Bryan concluded his remarks: We are also testing disinfectants readily available, we have tested bleach, we tested isopropyl alcohol on the virus specifically in saliva or respiratory fluids. And... And I can tell you that bleach will kill the virus in 5 minutes. Isopropyl alcohol will kill the virus in 30 seconds. And that's with no manipulation. No rubbing. Just spraying it on and leaving it go. You rub it and it goes away even faster. We are also looking at other disinfectants. We are specifically looking at COVID-19 virus in saliva. This is not the end of our work as we continue to characterize this virus and integrate our findings into practical applications to mitigate exposure and transmission. I would like to thank * * * President Donald Trump jumped in: "So I will have a question that some of you are probably thinking about if you are totally into that world, which I find to be very interesting. So supposing we hit the body with a tremendous uh, whether it is ultraviolet or just a 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 are going to test that, too. Sounds interesting. And then I see the disinfectant, that knocks it out in a minute, 1 minute, and is there a way we can do something like that. By injection, inside, or or almost a cleaning. You see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it will be interesting to check that. So that you're going to have to use medical doctors. But it sounds interesting to me. So, we'll see. The whole concept of the light, the way it kills it in one minute. That is pretty powerful.

Trump addressing William Bryan during questions from reporters [Later at 31:0931:18 from the full video]:

Not injections. We were talking about almost a cleaning. A sterilization of an area. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn't work. But it certainly has a big effect if it's on a stationary object.

By contrast, the C-SPAN textual transcript says merely:

Here's a question that some of you are probably thinking about. Supposing we hit the body with the tremendous with her in his sight for are a very powerful light, and I think you said, that has been tested. What about the light inside of the body either through the skin or in some otAnd I think you said you would test to. Pres. Trump. And then I see the disinfectant, and is there a way we can do something like that. By injection inside. You say it's in the lungs, and there's a tremendous numbers. But it sounds interesting to me. The whole concept of the light, and one minute. That is pretty powerful.

The C-SPAN "cheat sheet" transcript presents the briefing out of context, and hides how clearly Trump was just speculating and talking purely about future research.

The video of the actual briefing shows that President Trump never made any claims or statements. Trump never expressed any opinion about whether anything would work. Trump merely teased out of the scientists at the briefing what further research they might be doing. Trump not only emphasized that certain issues might be "interesting," but put it in the context of really obscure possibilities "So I will have a question that some of you are probably thinking about if you are totally into that world, which I find to be very interesting." This was as far as one could get from Trump recommending anything.

Never has the president told anyone to take any medication or treatment. Trump has merely given updates on what researchers are looking into. (Perhaps he should be clearer.) The attacks on Trump that he made any claims about treatments are scurrilous and defamatory. But they are amplified by reporters and politicians spreading accurate repeats of an inaccurate transcript.

One action item: The White House should be releasing its own transcript of White House events, not trusting any third party. The White House should be routinely distributing citations, supporting documentation and sources for every statement the president makes.

Correction: Feb. 23 corrected to April 23.

Update: C-SPAN's director of communications, Howard Mortman responds:

Regarding this posting today: https://www. americanthinker.com/blog/2020/ 04/cspan_posting_inaccurate_ transcripts_of_trump_ briefings.html Just some background on the process: - We use the closed captioning immediately - Because the closed captioning comes to us from a third party and is uncorrected and unofficial, we always warn the public and media to check what's in there against the video. Never copy and paste the closed captioning -- it's a guide only. -The next day when the official transcript is posted we attach it to the video -Sometimes the White House delays posting the official transcript as they did on the day you write about -For us, that means we have to keep going back to check -That's what happened in this case. -Now the official White House transcript is out and is attached to the video, like the other days Please reach out to me anytime if you have questions about C-SPAN processes. Happy to help explain, particularly before publishing... but after as well.

Jon Moseley responds:
CHONGQING, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / On April 29th, Liangjiang Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cluster-2020 International Cloud Road Show was held in Sino-Switzerlamd Technological Park (SSTP). The online roadshow of 8 digital economy projects from the U.S.A, Singapore and Switzerland were completed.

Digital economy has been new impetus of global economy development. Based on the key carriers such as Liangjiang Digital Economy Industrial Park, Liangjiang New Area is facilitating the deep combination between digital economy and real economy to improve the impetus for high-quality society and economy development. In the year 2019, the digital economy grew by over 20% in Liangjiang New Area, taking up more than 1/4 in scale in the whole city.

The reporter learned that the 8 projects participating the road show covered several industries including IOT, intelligent manufacture, block chain and big health. Among them, one local Chinese IOT platform with self-owned world-leading cloud service and cloud module development technology, has set R&D centers on five continents around the world, and spread business to more than 230 countries and areas including North America, Europe, China and Japan.

Liu Yulong, CEO of that company, said that they now provide whole-house intelligent one-stop solution in realms from kitchen & bath fixtures, major appliance, small appliance to security system, and that they have maintained steady development in domains of long-run apartment, smart hotel and commercial real estate and achieved remarkable sales performance.

Another domestic company presented an AI-driven business war simulation system which provides an experiential business environment that quite similar to the reality. The academic system derives from A-Level Business Studies, a business education knowledge system of University of Cambridge. A professor advisory team led by Dr. Thomas, the General Director of Management Science of London School of Economics, is a member of the construction of the curriculum system frame.

"From 5 years ago when the company was established, we have always been troubled about the matter of market scale. Now the reality tells that a lot of enterprises, schools and business academies need this business war simulation system." Wang Dongmei, the head of the company, introduced that the order quantity grew like a blowout during the pandemic period because the company had gained some online bases.

"All these projects are comparatively huge in scale, and they cover a very wide fields and industrial range, for example, the hot fields at present such as block chain, IOT and new energy, etc." Ma Xiuyong, Chairman and General Manager of Chongqing Share Zhihe Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., spoke highly of the projects participating in the roadshow at the scene.

Ma Xiuyong said that the most impressive one among the 8 projects to him is the IOT platform mentioned above, "That company is growing rapidly with customer quantity accumulating continuously. Its service covers from hardware, software to agreement and user ecology, i.e. a whole industry chain. It's a relatively complete business model."

The director of Technology and Innovation Office of Liangjiang New Area said that Liangjiang New Area has been selecting a big quantity of high-quality start-up business projects, building an all-round service platform for the entrepreneurs to promote connection with capital, intelligence, and support policies, hence to promote the growing of the enterprise with "Wisdom Liangjiang" as a brand and "connection with capital, intelligence, and support" service as the core and by holding theme activities of "weekly forum, monthly roadshow, seasonal carnival and annual ceremony".

Currently, Liangjiang New Area is trying to grab the strategical opportunity of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and 6 newly-built municipal-level new type upscale R&D platforms, accounting for 3/4 platforms of the whole city, have been completed. There are in total 280 municipal-level or higher level R&D institutes, and more than 2800 authorized patents, managing in more than 30 patents for every 10 thousand people.

Liangjiang New Area, by relying on the construction of National Offshore Innovation & Entrepreneurship Base for Overseas Talents, will also make more efforts to link global and domestic high-quality projects, and to gather national, even global advanced innovation resources to promote the high-quality development of the new area.

Media Contact:

36kr

Name: Suzy Yuan

E-mail: yuanjiuxiang@36kr.com

SOURCE: 36kr

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587752/Liangjiang-Innovation-and-Entrepreneurship-International-Cloud-Roadshow-Was-Held-Successfully-as-8-Digital-Economy-Projects-Completed-Cloud-Roadshow
COVID-19 has arrived at a time of unprecedented global need, with a record 168 million people already requiring humanitarian assistance at the beginning of this yeari .

World hunger levels have been rising since 2015 with over 820 million people going hungry on a daily basisii and 135 million experienced acute food insecurity in 2019iii .

CONSTRAINED FOOD SUPPLY

The COVID-19 pandemic is already affecting global food systems, supply chains, and purchasing practices. Stockpiling

and a growing demand for food items are creating a strain on global supply chains while restrictions on trade and movement have had a knock-on effect on availability of food stuffs. Price increases will further inhibit equitable access to quality nutritious food. Increasing rates of infection and widespread fear of infection, coupled with restrictive social distancing measures, are affecting agricultural input and yields, which will lead to more severe food insecurity and higher rates of malnutrition in the long term.

As the global food chain faces further disruption and food prices riseiv , availability and affordability will be affected. This will place more stress on poor families to make ends meet when they are hit by higher food costs and a drop in informal labour opportunities. Moreover, spiking food prices could potentially lead to social unrest and instability, as was the case during the food crises of 2007-2008.

Although harvests in many regions have been good this year, there is now a high risk that the broader disruptive effect of COVID-19 will drive up levels of global food insecurity to over a billion people, figures we have not witnessed for a decade.v

While the majority of people suffering acute food insecurity in 2019 lived in countries affected by conflict (77 million), climate change (34 million) and economic crises (24 million people), the coronavirus has massively complicated existing crises and threatens to worsen othersvi . The World Food Programme has warned that 265 million people could be at risk with the potential for multiple famines in the coming months.vii

East Africa Locust Infestation - a Parallel Emergency

East Africa is at the epicentre of the locust crisis, with Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda among the affected countries. The worst desert locust infestation in 70 years is already devastating crops, posing a grave threat to food security and livelihoods. In the affected countries, almost 25 million people are already experiencing severe food insecurity. Coronavirus restrictions are delaying the delivery of pesticides and equipment to control the locusts. With flights cancelled, shipping costs have reportedly increased by 300%.

The second wave of this outbreak, which is currently arriving after seasonal rains, is

estimated to be 20 times the size of the first. This wave of locusts will wipe out farmers livelihoods and food supplies, which will have a knock-on effect on food prices and availability. The U.N.

Food and Agriculture Organisation has called the locust outbreak, caused in part by climate change, an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods.

THE COST OF COVID-19

A global pandemic unfolds in different ways in different countries, and adopting a standardized set of interventions can have particularly severe implications in the poorest regions.

Income losses as a result of COVID-19 are expected to exceed $220 billion in developing countriesviii . With an estimated 55% of the global population having no access to social protection, these losses will deeply affect the poorest and most vulnerable communities in particular. The damage to fragile states is likely to be even deeper, longer lasting, exacerbating political instability or increasing the likelihood of violence. Further strain on these economies is expected due to reduced revenue from taxation and export duties.

WHERE LOCKDOWN POLICIES HIT HARDEST

Figure 2 In the dense informal settlements of Kibera, Nairobi, social distancing is extremely difficult. Photo: Ed Ram/Concern.

More than half the worlds population live in cities, with over 200 million of the worlds poorest people living in high-density poorly serviced urban settlements or formal and informal camps for displaced people and refugees. Social distancing is a useful tool to flatten the curve to enable health systems to manage the crisis, but realistically, very difficult in communities where families live in confined spaces.

The more severe lockdown approaches in place in many Western countries are only possible if supported by broad and inclusive social protection systems to protect families and individuals whose livelihoods have been disrupted.

In countries where neither mitigating strategy is an option due to high density of population and the inability of government to provide social protection for all, these sudden and possibly extended measures have the potential to be catastrophic. In Malawiix , the proposed three week lockdown was suspended for seven days to allow for measures to be put in place to prevent hunger when large food markets were closed. As COVID-19 evolves, so too must responses, moving from blanket approaches to more flexible, contextually feasible strategies. The design of flexdownsx rather than absolute lockdowns may be a more effective approach, a pro-poor model of social distancing, especially for highly vulnerable groups with limited resources and resilience.

THE COST OF COVID-19 TO THE POOREST

In low-income countries, many of which are also affected by conflict and instability, a high proportion of the population, simply cannot survive without a daily wage and have no access to a social safety net. Of 736 million people living on less than $1.90 a day, 413 million are in sub-Saharan Africaxi , where economies are already fragile. In anticipation of crippling losses as infection rates increase, many African countries in lockdown are implementing emergency economic policies to protect people and the economy. Nigeria, for example, is providing $52 -four months worth of welfare payments in three areas of the country that have been placed into lockdown. In Ethiopia, the government has relaxed rules for mobile banking and money transfers.

The economic impact of measures employed to control the pandemic will be felt most keenly by extremely poor people. Disruptions to markets and supply chains will push the price and availability of food up. The informal labour economy has been badly hit as routines are suspended across almost every country. The near-collapse of the aviation industry will have consequences for tourism and the associated seasonal labour market. The drop in

consumer spending in Western countries has had a direct impact on employment in countries like Bangladesh, where garment workers suddenly lost their jobs as international retail chains pulled $2.4 billion of businessxii . Additionally, unemployment in high and middle-income countries is already having a direct effect on remittances, a vital source

of income for millions of families that far exceeds the monetary value of overseas aidxiii . Some payment companies have already seen an 80-90% drop in bank transfers to Africa.xiv

In urban informal settlements and camp settings for internally displaced people, or refugees, the informal labour market is the lifeline and only source of income for millions of people. If people are prevented from moving around to earn enough to buy food with no alternative safety net, they will be pushed further into debt and the likelihood of hunger and malnutrition will increase. For the extreme poor, if they dont earn a daily income, they dont eat.

In conflict-affected countries, the economic and social disruption of COVID-19 restrictions is a potential trigger for further conflict. Shutting down systems and delaying or redirecting badly needed humanitarian services will impact on stability, increase violence and opportunistic theft where resources are scarce. Humanitarian commodities will also increase in value and this will in turn increase the risk for humanitarian workers and aid recipients.

SUPPORTING APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19

Figure 3 In crowded refugee camps, such as those in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, access to sanitation facilities is of paramount importance. Photo: A.K.M. Jakaria/ Concern

Responding to COVID-19 requires a high level of personal responsibility and community cooperation. Given the nature of this virus and the possibility that up to 10 million people in Africa could be infectedxv , community intervention and collaboration is an urgent priority.

There is much we do not know about COVID-19. What we do know is that the means to combat and minimise its spread has cost the world billions already. A global recession has started and no one will be spared some level of financial hardship in the coming months and well into 2021.

The world is learning by doing in managing the impact of COVID-19. While there is learning from China, Italy and Spain on how to survive the pandemic, low-income countries do not have the same resources and infrastructure to cope.

Work with communities to adapt to Covid-19 restrictions

Figure 4 Concern Lebanon are assisting in the building of a facility for suspected positive Covid-19 cases, they also provide information to the community on prevention of the spread of the virus. Photo: Concern Worldwide

The international community learned about Ebola while responding to the crisis. We must do the same again and adapt those valuable Ebola lessons to design and implement practical interventions that work to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

Restricting community activities as part of a lockdown can be an effective prevention strategy, but it is very difficult and takes its toll on people. Creative and effective ways such as those used throughout the Ebola outbreak in West Africa can provide support during difficult and testing times.

Increasing the frequency of and access to religious service broadcasts and adapting school curricula to be aired over the radio were welcome and effective measures supported by Concern. In countries where distributions of food and non- food items are essential and cannot be stopped indefinitely, Concern has successfully adapted distribution systems to large numbers of people, ensuring social distancing is practiced and sanitising/washing facilities at distribution sites are adequatexvi .

Focus on practical measures that remove barriers to public health

Nearly three quarters of those living in least developed countries lack basic handwashing facilities at homexvii . Therefore, every alternate measure, proactive even if imperfect solutions, to protect people must be explored and instituted. Increasing access to water, improving sanitation and providing hygiene kits are essential responses to curb the spread of the virus. Increasing information sharing and public messaging works to increase awareness and support people to change their behaviours as much as they can.

Enable semi-formal and informal businesses to operate safely

Small businesses are essential in communities where it is neither possible nor sensible to bulk buy. Not only are small market traders dependent on what they themselves can earn each day, their customers depend on them to sell in small affordable quantities of basic goods, and provide credit when it is needed. These businesses must be supported and viewed as an essential community resource, to communicate information and look out for vulnerable members of the community. Markets are often well governed by trade associations and consultation directly with traders should influence policies on what is reasonable and workable to make market places safer.

Invest in nutrition and food security

Experience from previous crises, shows the significant impact of movement restrictions and disease containment efforts on food production and access, and the importance of maintaining and upscaling humanitarian food security interventions for the most vulnerable populations. Early response to the ongoing locust infestation is essential to minimise the impact on countries in the Horn of Africa of multiple shocks on food security.

Undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, increases the frequency and severity of such infections and delays recoveryxviii. Nutrition programming must be recognised as a priority service to protect the health and welfare of children under 5, pregnant and lactating mothers and other vulnerable groups.

Millions of children are losing out on essential nutrition with schools closed, and many families cannot afford to feed their children as they have lost their income. Providing families with the means to feed their children must be a priority to prevent children from becoming malnourished and to protect their health. Cash assistance to urban communities with no other means of earning a living, or where no social protection system exists, must be prioritised in countries where no state social protection system exists.

Prioritize communicating with the public to build trust

Accurate information communicated clearly, is key to successful effective prevention strategies. Messages should be consistent and driven out through multiple channels of communication. In Concerns experience, collaboration with trusted community members, such as teachers, traditional chiefs, religious and public figures, as well as engagement with youth groups is essential to reach across society.

Figure 5 A nutrition counselor advises a young mother on COVID-19 prevention measures at a Concern Supported Nutrition site in Coxs Bazar Refugee Camp, Bangladesh. Photo: Shah Arafat Rahman / Concern

Stay and Deliver: Adapt humanitarian programmes to this new context

Stay and Deliver: Adapt humanitarian programmes to this new context

It is imperative that international aid programmes remain operational as far as is possible so as not to neglect existing humanitarian need, thus potentially generating even further global upheaval, conflict, displacements, resource depletion and the spread of other diseases in the coming months.

Full funding of the COVID-19 UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan and investment in scalable actions that can curtail the spread of the virus must be prioritised, preferably complementing and strengthening existing programmes. A diversion of funding from ongoing humanitarian services will undermine progress in some of the worlds poorest countries and extend the breeding ground for the coronavirus itself.

Life-saving humanitarian activities such as the distribution of food and cash must be considered essential services and be exempt from restriction or impediment by authorities. As humanitarian staff provide live- saving assistance to the most vulnerable people in crisis, the movements of essential staff must be allowed to continue unrestricted by local and national authorities. The additional impact on our target groups if humanitarian programmes are suspended for any extended period of time will be disastrous.

Governments must recognise humanitarian programmes as essential services and secure movement for humanitarian actors. Humanitarian agencies need to do everything they can to stay and deliver interventions, and to adapt these to changing needs.

In conflict settings, state and non-state actors must also recognise the essential services provided by humanitarian actors and step up to allow access in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Do the extraordinary

The world faces an unprecedented challenge. COVID-19 is a pandemic that has highlighted global inequality as never before, and our collective vulnerability to suffering and loss, regardless of wealth and power. The response in many countries has required greater courage and commitment to protect each other, and minimise the multiple impacts of the virus on the most vulnerable.

A greater global response and exceptional political commitment is now needed to ease the impact of COVID-19 on countries with the least resources to cope with its impact.

Funding is desperately needed to increase humanitarian response capacity and support national governments to protect their citizens.

In conflict contexts, peace is essential to allow all people the time to protect themselves and their families, and to allow assistance reach those with no means to avoid COVID-19. All states should support the call from the UN Secretary-General for a global ceasefire.

Figure 6 As part of the response to Covid-19, Concern Syria have begun distributing hygiene kits while social distancing in Northern Syria Photo: Concern Worldwide
SALT LAKE CITY, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women Tech Council (WTC), a national organization focused on the economic impact of women in technology, today launched the first ever SheTech Live Virtual Summit to activate high school girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). As people across the country physically distance, the Summit connects thousands of girls with industry mentors and role models to inspire their future decisions about careers and opportunities.

"During this time when traditional education and every facet of society is facing unprecedented circumstances and challenges, it has never been more crucial to have the next generation of STEM leaders engaged and inspired to solve the real world challenges surrounding us all," said Cydni Tetro, President of Women Tech Council. "By inspiring these girls to use technology to create impact in everything from food and fashion to disaster response and global supply chain, we are driving the long term strength and vitality of our economy, workforce, talent pipeline, and technology industry."

In past years, SheTech included large, in-person gatherings for girls to connect. This year's Summit was launched to provide a live experience where high school girls across the state can come together at the same time, share a common experience, and have insights that help them see how their dreams can be accomplished with technology. The Summit was specifically designed to meet the needs of students during this unique time, and included collaboration and partnerships with STEM teachers, technology companies, government officials and education leaders.

Through live career workshops, industry mentor interactions and insights from inspiring role models like the women leading the response and technology to beat COVID-19, the Summit helps students see the need for them in technology careers and the unparalleled opportunities to create impact working in these fields. Thousands of girls, hundreds of industry mentors and several leading industry companies will participate. The Summit will also allow students to share their passions for STEM with a student-made workshop competition and a celebration for graduating seniors showing off their accomplishments in SheTech and STEM.

Over the last seven years, SheTech has activated more than 15,000 girls to pursue STEM fields. In addition to the Summit, SheTech is a year-round program with opportunities to engage girls in STEM through industry internships, mentor and role model connections, information about college scholarships and help connecting with STEM resources in their school and district. This continued exposure and integration with industry helps give them the resources and support to launch successful careers.

The SheTech Virtual Summit is sponsored by Adobe, Ancestry, Dealertrack, Dell Technologies, Ivanti and Vivint Smart Home.

For more information about SheTech, visit www.shetechexplorer.com .

Media contact:

[email protected]

About Women Tech Council:

Women Tech Council (WTC) is a national organization focused on the economic impact of women in the technology sector through developing programs that propel the economic pipeline from high school K-12 to the C-suite. WTC offers mentoring, visibility, opportunities and networking to more than 10,000 women and men working in technology to create business environments focused on inclusivity and high performance. Through this work, WTC propels women in technology careers and the talent pipeline by ensuring a strong, diverse and entrepreneurial technology workforce. For more information on Women Tech Council, visit: www.womentechcouncil.org .

SOURCE Women Tech Council

Related Links

http://www.womentechcouncil.com




SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. has placed five of Amazon's foreign websites on a blacklist as these sites facilitated the sale of counterfeit and pirated products.



The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said it has added Amazon's websites in Canada, France, Germany, India, and the UK to its list of 'notorious markets' for counterfeiting and piracy.



According to the USTR, one submission by U.S. right holders specifically highlighted examples of the challenges they face with alleged high levels of counterfeit goods on the e-commerce platforms.



The right holders expressed concern over the misleading seller information displayed by Amazon and alleged that the company does not sufficiently vet sellers on its platforms.



The right holders also noted that Amazon's counterfeit removal processes can be 'lengthy and burdensome,' even for those who are enrolled in Amazon's brand protection programs.



However, Amazon responded to the move by saying it 'strongly disagreed' with the characterization of the company in the USTR report.



'This purely political act is another example of the Administration's notorious pattern of using the U.S. government to advance a personal vendetta against Amazon,' the e-commerce giant said in a statement.



Amazon said that in 2019 alone, it invested over $500 million and had more than 8,000 employees protecting its store from fraud and abuse.



The company claimed it stopped over 2.5 million 'suspected bad actors' from opening Amazon selling accounts before they published a single listing for sale. It has also blocked more than 6 billion suspected bad listings before they were published to Amazon's stores.



U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly clashed with Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos in the past. Bezos also owns the Washington Post, which has been critical about Trump.



Last year, Amazon filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense for awarding the Pentagon's coveted multi-billion-dollar cloud contract to Microsoft. Amazon was seen as a top contender for the Pentagon's multi-billion dollar cloud-computing contract.



Amazon had alleged that Trump influenced the Defense Department's decision as the competing bids from Microsoft and Amazon for the cloud-computing project were considered.



Amazon claimed that Trump denied the contract to the company due to his personal differences with Bezos, and his dislike for the Washington Post.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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The Iconic has launched a half-price sale on designer dresses from midday until 4pm on Thursday to celebrate the relaxation of social distancing restrictions in Australia.

For four hours only, housebound shoppers eagerly awaiting a return to normality can bag 500 frocks at a 50 percent discount from sought after names like Alice McCall, Steele, Camilla and Rotate Birger Christensen.

The site is also running a 'Buy Two, Save 50%' deal from Thursday, April 30 until Monday, May 4 with huge reductions on clothing and accessories for men and women.

This offer applies to brands including Calvin Klein, Bec & Bridge, Alias Mae, Shona Joy, By Johnny and Abrand Jeans.

Scroll down for video

This 1980s-inspired mini-dress by Danish design duo Rotate Birger Christensen has been reduced from $1,360 to $680 in The Iconic's flash half-price sale

An emerald maxi-dress by Camilla currently discounted from $700 to $350 (left) and an embroidered shirt dress from See By Chloe slashed from $900 to $450 (right)

Homegrown brands are generously reduced, with floral print dresses from Alice McCall slashed from $360 to $180, and crisp white shirts by Ellery cut from $900 to $450.

Elaborate bohemian gowns from Camilla are marked down from $700 to $350.

Prices on international labels have also been slashed, with 1980s-inspired mini-dresses from Danish design duo Rotate Birger Christensen marked down from $1,360 to $680, and colourful wrap-dresses by Stine Goya from $939 to $470.

Everyday styles are equally discounted, with maxi-dresses from Assembly cut from $90 to $45, and work dresses from Whistles from $300 to $150.

A colourfully printed floral frock from Copenhagen label Stine Goya, reduced from $939 to $470 until 4pm on Thursday

A tie-dye dress from Australian brand Shona Joy reduced from $280 to $140

Skater and body-conscious dresses from Cotton On are reduced from $45 to a mere $22.50 and trendy Missguided frocks with over-sized sleeves cu from $60 to $30.

Checked midi-dresses from Only are reduced from $80 to just $40, while stocks last.

The discount also applies to designs from Manning Cartell, C/MEO Collective, Cecilie Copenhagen, Faithful and See By Chloe.

Sydneysiders can once again use The Iconic's same-day delivery service which was suspended due to lockdown, meaning customers can wear their purchases within 24 hours of ordering.

To shop the sales, visit The Iconic's homepage here.
Customers shop in ALDI in Duesseldorf, Germany, as the virus continues to spread. Photo: REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

A hunt for genes that may betray carriers by initiating or exacerbating Covid-19 infection is being carried out using DNA data from genealogy hobbyists.

Tens of thousands of people who have bought self-testing kits from 23andMe have signed up to log their experience of Covid-19, and that of relatives, in an attempt to understand why some people suffer so much more severely than others.

Customers bought the kits as part of research into their family history, or for health reasons, to see if they had a genetic predisposition to conditions from baldness to diabetes, or even Alzheimer's.

Read More

Over the years, 23andMe has established a database of more than 10 million genetic profiles, and claims that 80pc of its customers have consented to the use of that data, once anonymised, for research.

Its giant survey, which it hopes will eventually have hundreds of thousands of contributors, aims to help with the development of a Covid-19 therapy by pinpointing which genes may play a part in worsening its effects.

"We need to develop therapeutics to help treat this disease," said Adam Auton, 23andMe's principal scientist leading efforts on its Covid-19 study.

"We are trying to contribute to the basic research that will move the scientific field forward... making it available to the scientific community at large - and that will include pharma, including our partners as well."

Mr Auton says that the survey's results, which will be freely available, should be ready by the end of summer.

There is no guarantee that a clear genetic link will be found, but any pointers may help in drug research.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today warn the nation not to expect major changes to the lockdown after it emerged Britain has one of the world's worst coronavirus death rates.

Data published by the Cabinet Office yesterday show Spain and Belgium are the only two countries with a worse per-head death rate than Britain.

On eight separate days this month, more than 1,000 people died of the virus in the UK.

Mr Johnson will chair a cabinet meeting this morning at which ministers will discuss the way forward, but it became clear yesterday that they favour a highly cautious approach to lifting the restrictions.

Read More

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, said that in Germany - which contained the virus better than any other European country - the transmission rate had gone up after it eased its lockdown.

He said: "It's vital we proceed carefully... we mustn't gamble away the sacrifices and the progress that we've made."

The rise in Germany's coronavirus infection rate following the easing of its lockdown has raised concerns that most social-distancing restrictions will have to remain in place to control the outbreak.

The number of people infected with Covid-19 by each carrier has risen from about 0.7 to 0.96 since restrictions were eased on April 20.

Although that number means the epidemic is still under control, it gives the German government little leeway to remove more restrictions.

Officials urged the public to continue to abide by social-distancing rules, including wearing masks while on public transport or shopping. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Stricken with the coronavirus last month, 71-year-old Marieliese Falcon lay on what Ochsner Medical Center doctors believed was her deathbed when her daughter Shannon  clad in gear protecting her from contagion  walked in to say goodbye.

The rest of the family was dialed into a video call on Shannon Falcon Bouviers cellphone, with everyone reminding their Ghee Ghee they loved her and pleading with her not to give up yet.

But the Falcon family matriarch was sedated and connected to a ventilator helping her breathe, a situation most people in her position dont survive. So after going home, Shannon waited for what she feared was the inevitable call that her mother had died.

Only it never came. Doctors held nothing back over the next 2  weeks, and Falcon improved enough that she was eventually discharged, her loved ones said Wednesday.

During her convalescence, Falcon lost the muscles needed to stand up. She is at a physical rehabilitation hospital for the time being, but her family is as optimistic as ever for a full recovery.

Moms tough, said Falcons son, Brian. But I didnt think she was this tough. Its unbelievable.

Second New Orleans deputy, veteran supervisor at jail, dies from coronavirus A second Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office deputy has died from the novel coronavirus, the agency said Wednesday.

Falcon, a grandmother of four who used to run Falcons Restaurant in Bridge City with a late husband, knew something was wrong when she developed intense body pains and a persistent, severe headache. Bouvier said her mother was admitted to Ochsner on March 17 after she hallucinated that her house was haunted and that she was speaking with her long-dead mother.

Doctors soon had devastating news. The oxygen levels in her blood had plummeted, and she needed to be put on a ventilator. Her pneumonia-ravaged lungs appeared as if cobwebs covered them, suggesting she had contracted COVID-19.

Doctors allowed Bouvier to don protective gear and pay one final visit to her mom. She brought her family along virtually and still remembers the sounds of her relatives sobbing.

Its not something you can prepare for, said Bouvier, who expected her mother would die that night.

+3 Lambeth House resumes family visits, but possible new coronavirus case appears The last isolated residents of the first cluster of deadly coronavirus in Louisiana are finally leaving their rooms for face-to-face reunion

Yet Falcon survived until morning, and what ensued was  in the words of Shannon's husband, Dwayne  a nightmare roller coaster.

It took nearly two weeks to get the results of a test confirming Falcon had COVID-19. Eventually, bacteria associated with the ventilator gave Falcon a second case of pneumonia, in addition to the one inflicted by the virus.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Her blood oxygen levels seesawed between relatively normal to practically lethal. Doctors would tell the family she was on the verge of coming off the ventilator, against all odds. Also, at least four times, they warned the Falcons and their mother's longtime partner, Michael, that the end was near.

The staff dosed her with hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria, a parasite that is known to lower patients oxygen levels through attacks on their red blood cells. They also treated the Westwego woman's bacterial pneumonia with the antibiotic azithromycin, Shannon Bouvier said.

The cocktail was a standard treatment for coronavirus patients earlier in the pandemic.

Medical experts have since cautioned that the anti-malarial can cause complications and may do more harm than good, but all Falcons family cares about is she began getting better. She passed two tests gauging whether she could breathe on her own, and on April 4  18 days into her hospital stay  doctors managed to safely get her off the ventilator.

Her first conversations with her family were brief. Loved ones would tell her, We love you, get better. She couldnt answer because shed been intubated so long she had temporarily lost her voice.

But in a few days she was transferred from the ICU to a normal room. Her voice  and spirit  returned.

When her daughter reacted to her moms raspy baritone by joking, It doesnt sound like you, Falcon shot back, It doesnt feel like me either.

She received food and hydration through tubes for the rest of her stay. But on April 24, she was released from Ochsner and placed in the care of an Algiers rehab facility, where she is relearning to get back on her feet and walk.

While her journey to recovery isnt complete, Brian Falcon said his family is moving forward with plans to throw a party for his mother whenever the pandemic ends  a remarkable turn of events.

Meanwhile, the Bouviers pleaded for their fellow New Orleanians to continue adhering to officials social distancing and face mask guidelines, aimed at containing the virus spread.

Saying goodbye to your mother or grandmother on FaceTime is not a situation you want to be in, Shannon Bouvier said.

Tulane Lakeside to reopen its ER soon after 6-week coronavirus closure In a sign that the wave of coronavirus patients continues to ebb, Tulane Health System is reopening the emergency room at Tulane Lakeside Hosp
The head cardiologist at a St. Petersburg hospital in Russia has resigned, claiming staff have not been given all the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need during the COVID-19 epidemic. Marianna Zamyatina says she was demoted after complaining to hospital administrators about the lack of equipment.
REGINAKelly Knowles has many questions about returning to work, including where her son would go.

The Regina hairstylist contacted his daycare after the Saskatchewan government announced last week that some businesses such as salons, shut down because of COVID-19, could reopen in mid-May.

She was told there is space for her 2-1/2-year old, but the centre is only caring for kids of essential workers. And with her partner still working, there isnt anyone else at home to help, she said.

If I did go back to work, we do need that extra care, Knowles told The Canadian Press.

I cant open up my schedule and start accepting my guests to come in if I dont have a daycare for my son.

Questions about child care and schools are being raised as various provinces outline their plans to relax public health restrictions so that some services and businesses can reopen and residents can go back to work.

For families with kids, they cant participate in that if they dont have child care, says Jennifer Robson, associate professor in political management at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Each province is dealing with the issue differently.

In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe has said students are unlikely to return to classes this school year. On Thursday, the province announced child-care spots reserved for the children of essential workers will also go to children whose parents are headed back to work in the first two stages of its reopen plan.

Manitoba plans to keep schools closed, but intends to allow day camps with a maximum of 16 kids per site.

Schools and daycares in Quebec are to reopen May 11 outside greater Montreal, but high schools are to stay closed until September. In Ontario, publicly funded schools are to stay closed until at least the end of May.

The inability to provide hard timelines is understandable, Robson says, since those decisions are driven by medical evidence.

She says households with parents who can resume work will be figuring out what makes economic sense. And without child care or schools, someone has to stay home with the kids.

Gender roles being what they are and gender-related pay gaps being what they are, odds are good that most families are going to elect to have Mom end up staying home with the kids.

Lindsay Tedds, professor of economics at the University of Calgary, says women have already borne the brunt of the pandemic and, without child-care options, that could be exacerbated.

Citing a Statistics Canada labour force survey from March, Tedds says women were the hardest hit by job losses and a lot of the impact was felt in female-dominated sectors such as hospitality and tourism.

Women had to leave their jobs even before the big shutdown started simply because the schools shut down.

In a statement, the president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, acknowledges that restarting the economy will be tough for working parents if schools and daycares stay closed during the initial phases. Goldy Hyder encourages employers to be flexible.

Dan Kelly, head of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says some employers may not be able to find workers who can pull away from their families. But he feels its better to move ahead with an imperfect plan than to keep the economy frozen.

While some parents can work from home, those who work in bars, restaurants and sectors such as the airline industry cannot, Tedds notes.

She and Robson say household incomes will continue to take a hit if both parents cant get back to work. Gains made over the last few decades have been in large part thanks to women entering the labour force.

They also say time away from work may mean not getting promotions or building up work hours associated with career advancement. As well, staying home means not paying into a pension plan or employment insurance, including maternity and paternity leave.

If were ... expected to go back to work and nobody has thought about what we do with the kids, we have a huge problem, said Tedds.

The CEO of the Canadian Womens Foundation says its time governments examine how child-care centres are funded. Right now, without receiving fees from parents, they could close.

Paulette Senior says Ottawa has a critical role to play.

This government is committed to gender equality and gender equality is an essential rung to the economy.

Maryam Monsef, federal minister for women and gender equality, says in a statement that the pandemic has shown long-term solutions are needed in child care  and provinces need to collaborate.

It is clear that the steps that all orders of government take in the next days and weeks as we contemplate slowly reopening our economy will require a vision for child care.

We cant resume without it.
Libyan eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar said on Monday he had "a popular mandate" to govern the country, declaring a key political deal was over as he vowed to press his assault to seize the capital, Tripoli. The 76-year-old leader of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) dismissed the 2015 United Nations-brokered agreement to unite the country as "a thing of the past". In a televised address, he also pledged to create a new government, Al Jazeera writes in the article Libya: World reaction to Haftar's termination of unity gov't deal.

The announcement came two weeks after forces loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli expelled Haftar's troops from several key cities in the country's west. World powers have reacted with alarm to Haftar's latest announcement, fearful that the move could see the country, already mired in conflict since the 2011 overthrow of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, plunge into further chaos.

Libya's GNA

Libya's UN-recognised government accused Haftar of seeking to stage a new coup. "It's a farce and the latest in a long series of coups d'etat," the GNA said in a statement on Tuesday. "What the war criminal Haftar said was a coup on the democratic path, not new but a continuation of his failed coups and to cover up his repeated defeats." It said that Haftar "turned his back on the parallel political institutions that backed him and designated him" as head of the army. The Tripoli-based government urged Libyans to join "a comprehensive dialogue and continue in the democratic path to reach a comprehensive and permanent solution based on ballot boxes".

European Union

Peter Stano, the EU's spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, dismissed Haftar's move as unacceptable, stressing that it would never provide a sustainable solution to the country's crisis. "Any attempt to push forward a unilateral solution, even more by force, will never provide a sustainable solution for the country. Such attempts can't be accepted," Stano said, adding that the 2015 Skhirat agreement signed under UN auspices "remains the viable framework for a political solution in Libya until amendments or replacements are found". The agreement, signed in Morocco following the emergence of two centres of power, set up the GNA in Tripoli to manage the transition process in Libya while acknowledging the Tobruk-based House of Representatives as the country's official legislature.

Germany

Berlin also expressed concern about Haftar's termination of the power-sharing agreement. "In the German government's view, the conflict in Libya cannot be solved militarily and not through unilateral declarations either, but only through a political process with the participation of all regions and ethnic groups," a Foreign Ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying by dpa news agency on Tuesday. "For this, a ceasefire is first of all urgently needed."

United States

Washington regretted Haftar's "unilateral declaration", calling for dialogue between the two sides and a "humanitarian" truce in light of the new coronavirus. "The United States regrets ... commander Haftar's suggestion that changes to Libya's political structure can be imposed by unilateral declaration," a statement on its embassy's Twitter account said. "As civilians continue to suffer during the holy month of Ramadan and the COVID-19 pandemic threatens more lives, we urge the LNA to join the Government of National Accord in declaring an immediate humanitarian cessation of hostilities."

Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the statements of Marshal Haftar, said that at all stages of the settlement of the Libyan crisis, Moscow had stated that it was necessary to convince the conflicting parties to agree on what conditions they could solve the problems of their country, where the statehood was destroyed in 2011 by illegal aggression of the North Atlantic Alliance. We have always cautioned against attempts to impose on the Libyan parties documents and agreements written without their direct participation since the non-viability of this kind of approach has been repeatedly proven.

Now we are faced with a repetition of what has already been done in relation to the outcome of the Berlin Conference. When the final document was submitted for approval, Russian President Vladimir Putin specifically asked whether the conflicting parties support this document, primarily Haftar and al-Sarraj. We were told that this task would be solved subsequently. We warned that without the clearly expressed consent of the Libyan parties, there is little chance that these agreements reached among external players would be viable. Unfortunately, exactly this happened. But this does not mean that the conflicting parties must now make aggressive statements, announce any unilateral decisions and refuse to conduct an inter-Libyan dialogue.

We did not approve the recent statements of Sarraj, who refused to talk with Haftar. We do not approve the statement that now Haftar will decide unilaterally the way for the Libyan people to live. Neither of these factors helps to find a stable compromise, without which it is impossible to get out of this crisis, Lavrov said. He also spoke about the statement that was made just the other day, but which attracted little media attention. The President of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh Issa called for a national dialogue, advocated that this dialogue should be aimed at the formation of common bodies of power in which the representation of three key regions of Libya would be evenly and equally ensured. This is exactly what we have been talking about all these years: Libyans themselves must find generally acceptable approaches, to start a dialogue, and then to rebuild their new state. External players should strongly support such approaches. I hope the lessons learned from previous attempts will prove useful, and we will nevertheless advance in the direction of encouraging Libyans themselves to talk and find a compromise, "Lavrov said.

Later, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained that Saleh called for a cessation of hostilities during Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims. She proposed a number of constructive ideas to bring Libya out of the protracted military-political crisis: the creation of unified authorities with the proportional geographical representation of three historical regions, development of a new constitution, and holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in accordance with it.

Smolenskaya Square believes that the ideas voiced by the President of the Libyan House of Representatives could form the basis of political discussions in the framework of the comprehensive Libyan settlement. In comparison to the conciliatory tone of Salehs speech, the commander of the Libyan National Army Haftar spoke in a tough and uncompromising manner. In particular, he reiterated his intention to continue the military operation launched more than a year ago and to free Tripoli and the whole territory of Libya from terrorists. He also announced the transfer of power in the country to the military command, Zakharova said.
The Michigan House adjourned Thursday afternoon without taking up an extension of the states coronavirus state of emergency, setting the stage for a legal fight between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-led legislature.

Michigans state of emergency is due to expire at the end of the day April 30. The emergency declaration gives the governor additional powers to issue executive orders during an emergency situation.

Whitmer contends she retains emergency authority during the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of what the Legislature does, but Republican lawmakers critical of the administrations COVID-19 response maintain a 1976 law requiring the governor to seek legislative approval for an emergency after 28 days applies in this case.

The governor asked the legislature to extend the state of emergency another 28 days, although she said she believed it should likely be longer to respond appropriately to a virus thats infected more than 40,000 people and killed 3,670 in Michigan alone. She said legislative approval was necessary to extend liability protections for frontline workers like doctors, nurses and first responders.

Instead, the Michigan House amended a Senate bill that initially would have limited the number of days a governor could unilaterally declare a state of emergency. The House-amended version would codify many of the executive orders Whitmer has issued over the last several weeks, such as price gouging protections and extensions of tax deadlines.

Related: Protesters congregate at Michigan Capitol in rally against stay-home order

A release from House Speaker Lee Chatfields office states the modified bill replaces the current controversial state of emergency and unilateral executive orders with similar legislation that protects the emergency measures put into place over the last two months.

The idea we want to put an abrupt end to the state of emergency and go back to normal immediately is a lazy political talking point, Chatfield said in a statement. We all agree Michigan must continue taking strong steps to fight the spread of this disease. But we can both protect the public health and protect the individual people who make up our great state."

House members voted on the bill 59-41 along partisan lines. MLive has contacted the governors office for comment.

Among the other actions the House took Thursday was the approval of a resolution that gives Chatfield the ability to sue the Whitmer administration and challenge actions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members of the Michigan House of Representatives must defend the Legislatures role as the sole lawmaking body and as a co-equal branch of government in Michigans constitutional system, the resolution states.

The votes occurred as hundreds of protesters rallied against extending the state of emergency, both inside and outside the Capitol. Participants stood shoulder-to-shoulder on Capitol grounds and eventually gathered in front of the House chamber, chanting, Let us in. Let us in.

The Senate is also in session Thursday, but remains in recess as of 3 p.m. The Michigan House is next scheduled to meet Tuesday, May 5.

Live: Protesters Face-off with Police at Michigan Capitol Protesters argue with Michigan State Police in the Capitol Building Posted by MLive.com on Thursday, April 30, 2020

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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Henry Ford doctor who nearly died from coronavirus was on ventilator 9 days ago, now hes home

Protest over Michigans state of emergency to go on, despite Facebook removing 2 events
The philosophy in Europe is that the financial blow of the pandemic can be softened if workers are able to keep paying their bills and if businesses do not have to hire and train an entirely new set of employees as the crisis abates. Many European governments have implemented a subsidy program, pioneered by Germany in the last global recession, under which they pay up to 87 percent of salaries for workers sent home but kept on payroll.
India on Thursday called as "propaganda" its criticism by certain Twitter handles from the Arab world alleging that Muslims are being targeted in several parts of the country in the name of containing spread of coronavirus.

Strongly rebutting the charges, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the Gulf countries are deeply committed to friendly relations with India and they do not support any interference in its internal affairs.

Talking about India's close and traditional ties with the region, he said New Delhi is ensuring uninterrupted supply of food and essential commodities to it during Ramzan as part of its deep-rooted friendship.

He said several Gulf countries are even seeking discussions with India on post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

"Much of what you see is propaganda by interested parties. Stray tweets can not be used to characterise our bilateral ties with these countries. The real picture of these relations is very much different," he said during an online media briefing.

There has been a wave of angry reactions on Twitter by leading citizens and rights activists from various Arab countries following allegations that Muslims are being blamed for spreading COVID-19 in several parts of India.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a powerful bloc of 57 countries, recently accused India of "Islamophobia". India rejected the charges as regrettable.

"We have been making special efforts to ensure uninterrupted supply of food and essential commodities which are required during the Ramzan period in these countries, and this is something which has been greatly appreciated. These countries also want a priority discussion with India on the post COVID-19 economic recovery," Srivastava said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have been in regular touch with their counterparts from the region in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

"In these discussions, there have been requests for sending medicines and medical teams to these countries. We already deployed a Rapid Response Team in Kuwait. There is also a request to send doctors and nurses from India," said Srivastava.

"What comes out clearly is that these countries are deeply committed to friendly relations with India. They also do not support any interference in internal matters of India. It is, therefore, important that the friendly and cooperative nature of our relations is accurately recognised and the misuse of social media is not given credence," he added.

Asked about reports of an order issued by Oman's Finance Ministry asking all state-owned companies to replace foreign workers with qualified local Omanis, Srivastava said it is not aimed at Indians working in the Gulf nation.

"The policy is a decades-old one and not specific to India. It does not target the Indians in any way," he said.

There have been apprehensions that the order will render thousands of Indians working in state-run firms in Oman jobless.

"They greatly value relationship with India. Government of Oman is taking special care of Indians which included free testing for coronavirus, its treatment, providing food," the MEA spokesperson said.

Oman government is also extending certain categories of visas of Indians.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rolls-Royce is to become the first UK car firm to restart full production after the coronavirus lockdown, with staff returning on 4 May - a day earlier than Aston Martin.

Bosses said that 1,000 employees  half the total workforce  would be back on the production line from that date resuming production of its exclusive Phantom, Wraith, Dawn and Cullinan models.

Support staff such as marketing and sales will continue to work from home, it confirmed.

First back: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars says it will be the first vehicle maker in the UK to go back to work next month

The firms factory at Goodwood near Chichester will operate one shift daily, rather than the usual two from Monday.

Staff will be wearing protective clothing and masks, and observing social distancing rules in line with Health and Safety advice.

Rolls-Royce will be the first automotive manufacturer in Britain to resume full production, a spokesman told This is Money.

Full production will restart on 4 May.'

Bosses said that 1,000 employees will be back in the Goodwood factory from 4 May - a day earlier than Aston Martin workers return to the assembly lines at St Athan

Half of Rolls-Royce's total workforce will be back on the production line from 4 May resuming production of its exclusive Phantom, Wraith, Dawn and Cullinan models

Aston Martin Lagonda had previously announced last week that it will resume operations at its St Athan facility, in Wales on 5 May.

It said the factory would kick back into gear making the DBX crossover - the iconic British brand's first SUV - while following guidelines from Public Health Wales and Public Health England to protect its workforce.

It said it will take 'learnings in terms of health and safety' into account when it reopens its main car plant in Gaydon, Warwickshire, at a later date.

Fellow British luxury car maker Bentley has announced it is to phase in production from 11 May, rising to full production from May 18  the same day that Jaguar Land Rover aims to restart some production at its Solihull plant and Wolverhampton engine factory.

Bentley has outlines new measures it will put in place to resume production at the Crewe plant

Bentley says it will introduce measures around seven key areas  prior to leaving work, travel, entry, preparing for work, work stations, breaks, and exiting the site  and are designed to protect staff at the factory, which employs over 4,000 people and where every Bentley is hand-built.

The key process changes impact all areas, and include a redesign of the manufacturing facility itself to allow a two-metre distance between work colleagues, and one-way movement paths and traffic flows.

Facemasks will be compulsory in all factory and office areas.

There will also be an enhanced cleaning routine and clear guidance to the workforce on limiting the risk of infection on areas such as meeting governance, site access and travel.

This extends to new, stringent measures to control the population density on site at any one time.

All entry and exit points have been reviewed and reconfigured to disperse the volume of people, there will be control measures in all catering facilities that limit capacity and allocated distanced seating, and office-based colleagues will work to a newly introduced shift-pattern.

This will control the workforce density on site throughout the day, with extra defences also in place such as plastic separation screens in office areas.
University of California campuses are unlikely to fully reopen for the fall term because of the coronavirus pandemic, UC President Janet Napolitano acknowledged Thursday.

Napolitano, speaking on a webinar hosted by the Bay Area Council, also estimated system-wide financial losses in March alone at nearly $600 million. She said the 10 campuses collectively lost close to $300 million for the month, mostly in refunds to students for housing and dining contracts, and UC hospitals lost another $300 million.

Now were measuring the month of April, Napolitano said, and its going to be ugly.

Napolitano, who announced last September that she would leave her position on Aug. 1, spoke while seated at the dining-room table of her Oakland home, her makeshift shelter-in-place office. She has led the UC system  a sprawling behemoth with about 270,000 students and 230,000 employees, and an annual budget of nearly $40 billion  since 2013.

Napolitano, 62, chatted with Bay Area Council Chief Executive Officer Jim Wunderman, who shared questions from reporters. Their wide-ranging, hour-long conversation mostly addressed the impact of COVID-19 on one of the nations most visible public university systems.

UC campuses have launched 330 research projects on different aspects of the virus, Napolitano said, in addition to 13 clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of existing drugs.

She also addressed the swirling uncertainty surrounding the fall term. UC campuses moved to online instruction in mid-March, as nearly all colleges across the country did, and will stay online for their summer programs.

As for the fall plan, Napolitano described college campuses as a complicated thing because of large lecture halls and communal living in dormitories. Those realities make social distancing a significant challenge.

She suggested campus housing will not reopen without widespread testing, contact tracing and a place to quarantine students who test positive.

I think its fair to say none of our campuses will fully reopen, Napolitano said. I think what some of our campuses are exploring is a mix, where there will be some material delivered in a classroom or lab setting, so-called wet labs, and other classes will continue to be online.

UC Berkeley officials, already considering this sort of hybrid approach, indicated in a message to students last week that they plan to continue to offer remote instruction as an option for Fall 2020, even if classes are held in-person.

Those officials  Vice Provost Lisa Garcia Bedolla and Vice Chancellors Catherine Koshland and Stephen Sutton  also pledged not to cancel fall semester. And they wrote, Tuition and mandatory fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the academic year.

That type of hard financial line has sparked several class-action lawsuits, including two filed this week against UC and another against the California State University system.

Napolitano did not address the lawsuits, but she conceded the coronavirus financial impact on the UC system will force tough decisions in the fiscal year ahead.

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.

UC will receive about $260 million in Cares Act grants, with at least half going to emergency financial aid for students.

One unanswered question, Napolitano said, is the level of funding the university will receive from the state of California. Another key question: how this crisis will affect enrollment in the fall.

Friday is the deadline for students to declare their intent to register for the fall semester/quarter, which should give UC officials a preliminary idea. Napolitano also expects the customary summer melt, with some students deciding to take a gap year and others choosing to attend a community college for one year.

UC schools could see a drop in coveted international students, much to Napolitanos frustration.

I dont know for sure, but we predict the number of international students will be reduced, she said. Thats partially attributable to the (Trump) administration making securing visas more difficult. Thats created a virtual wall. Its unfortunate and bad policy, but thats what we have.

Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick
Melinda Mann is one of more than 750 crew members  nine of whom are American citizens  stuck on board Holland America's MS Oosterdam after it disembarked its last passengers in March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mann, a 25-year-old youth program manager from Georgia, boarded in late February and worked until her contract ended on April 18. But due to the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing orders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she's had to remain on board, only venturing from her room for meals.

It seemed that relief was near as the Oosterdam sailed toward the Port of Los Angeles set to disembark on Tuesday. Then, things changed.

"CDC canceled our disembarkation at the last minute," said Mann, who was scheduled to get off the ship with the other eight American workers. A copy of her airline ticket, obtained by USA TODAY, shows she was booked to fly from Los Angeles to Atlanta on Tuesday, April 28.

American crew member Melinda Mann (right) is seen protesting her detainment on the MS Oosterdam with a colleague.

On Monday, she and the other Americans each received a phone call from Holland America's human resources department informing them they would not be getting off after all.

According to the vessel-tracking site MarineTraffic.com, the Oosterdam, which had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, left the Port of Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon and is now off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico.

Mann said that on Tuesday, the Americans received a visit from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents, who said they might still be able to disembark. But ultimately, the CDC didn't allow it.

"The first set of CBP agents told me they would not arrest me if I walked off the ship," she said. "I went back to my room, spent a few hours packing my bags, and when I tried to leave the ship, security wouldn't let me."

Mann believes that the CDC violated her rights, so she decided to protest.

"As an American citizen, I have the right to enter the country," she said. "So I think the CDC's order is illegal as it pertains to American citizens."

Story continues

She went to the gangway with a backpack holding her laptop, phone, chargers and her wallet. And she live-streamed her approach on Facebook, since she was worried security would get "physically aggressive."

Three guards blocked her exit. When she approached them, a "three-stripe" security officer  the chief security officer on a cruise ship  began "berating" Mann for attempting to leave, she said.

"He called me a 'silly little girl' among other things before he realized I was recording," she said. "I told him and the security guards that I am an American citizen and that the ship cannot lawfully detain me. They are not a government agency, nor do they have political power." Mann said the security guard told his officers to stop her physically if she tried to "make a run for it."

She asked to be placed in the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department or CBP since being placed under arrest would avail her of a lawyer.

"If I have to be arrested to stand up for my civil rights, then so be it. I consider my actions in demanding to be let ashore to be a form of civil disobedience," she explained.

At least if she were arrested, she'd be be dealing with a government agency and have access to a lawyer.

"On the ship, I don't get a lawyer," she added. "I don't get any options. I have to just do what they say."

She was kept on board by ship officials, though she says she doesn't harbor any ill will against them.

"The captain told us that he could personally be arrested for allowing me to break quarantine. The ship is just following the CDC orders," she explained.

Mann said she willingly returned to her room after security stopped her from leaving. She added that human resources called her to make sure she was OK.

"My intention was never to get into a fight with ship security. We're all ultimately on the same side: getting crew home," she said. "They just don't want to get arrested or in trouble for letting me go right then and there."

In a statement provided by Erik Elvejord, a spokesman for Holland America Line, the cruise line, which confirmed no crew disembarked Tuesday, said the CDC's current no-sail order prohibits the line from allowing crew off the ship  even the US. citizens. The cruise line says it is working with the CDC to obtain approval to do so.

CDC spokeswoman Jasmine Reed told USA TODAY that the agency "has informed all cruise lines operating ships in U.S. waters, including Holland America Line and its parent company, the Carnival Corp., of these safety requirements, which includes arranging nonpublic transportation."

She added, "While these plans are under review, CDC permits cruise ships to disembark their crew members if cruise line executives  including the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Compliance Officer, and the Chief Executive Officer  attest that the cruise line has complied with requirements for the safe disembarkation of crew."

Reed noted, "In the last two weeks, other cruise lines have provided signed attestations to disembark crew members. And CDC has approved those disembarkations. Neither Holland America nor Carnival provided the attestation despite requests from CDC."

Holland America and Carnival told the agency that arranging travel for its crew without using commercial aircraft was proving too expensive, she added.

"Because Holland America and Carnival failed to provide the safety attestation, disembarkation would have violated the No Sail Order and federal laws, which carry criminal penalties," Reed explained. "Therefore, CDC, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, California Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Health Department, and the Los Angeles Police Department worked together to enforce the No Sail Order. Rather than comply with the No Sail Order and disembark its American crew, the Oosterdam departed."

Elvejord said that the No Sail Order doesn't prevent disembarkation but has "such onerous requirements" that Holland America is "not able to debark crew."

The CDC requirements that Elvejord refer to include:

Repatriation of crew members on government or industry chartered private flights or private transport.

72 hours notice to state and local health departments with jurisdiction for the seaport, the state, county or city of residence for disembarking crew members.

Cruise ship operators must ensure crew members do not: Stay in a hotel before going home. Take public transportation to get to charter flights. Enter a public terminal. Take commercial flights after charter flights are done. Have a transportation layover of more than 8 hours. Have any interaction with the public on the journey home.

72 hours notice to the CDC for U.S. residents who plan to take private vehicles home.

Any commercial travel used by crew members on their journeys home must be approved by the CDC on a "case by case" basis.

The crew on the Oosterdam are not alone in their predicament, Elvejord told USA TODAY: "Virtually every ship we have has crew members on it. You have to have crew on the ship to operate it, even at anchor  it's called 'safe minimal manning.' "

There are 48 American crew members on Holland America ships, 11 of whom will remain on board for "minimal manning."

"Our remaining U.S. crew members are all over the country so the requirement to fly everyone home only via charter flights/private plane is very challenging," Sally Andrews, spokesperson for Holland America added. "We continue to work with the CDC for an option to use commercial airlines for healthy crew to travel home like other U.S. citizens are allowed to do."

Investigation: More than 90,000 cruise crew members left to battle coronavirus  at times without pay

Mann has been told that on Thursday, she and the other Americans will be moved to the MS Koningsdam, which is anchored in Ensenada, where they will wait for the U.S. to readmit them. But she hasn't been given a time frame or an idea of how that would work. And after being burned once, she's skeptical that the crew on the Koningsdam will be allowed to disembark.

"It feels like the governments of the world are treating us like disease vectors instead of humans," said Mann. "It's easy for the CDC to say 'no ships allowed' because that verbiage doesn't bring to mind the hundreds of people stranded on board."

Cleaning a floating petri dish: How is a cruise ship sanitized after a coronavirus outbreak?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Holland America cruise: American crew denied disembarkation in LA
Kansas City Super Bowl Champ Suffered Rough Arrest

Chiefs' Bashaud Breeland Arrest, Cop Pulled Gun & Taser On NFL Player Kansas City Chiefs star Bashaud Breeland -- who had an interception in Super Bowl LIV -- was just busted for weed possession, open container and resisting arrest, officials confirm. 28-year-old Breeland -- fresh off inking a new, $4.5 million deal to stay with the Chiefs this off-season -- was booked around 1:30 PM on Tuesday in Charlotte, NC.

Meth Town Nasty Charge

Independence man facing child porn charges, allegedly caught with victim at his home INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - An Independence man who is facing child pornography charges was arrested with the child victim in his home, according to prosecutors. Justin D. Swift, 35, is charged with one count of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography in federal court.

KCMO Murder Case Redux

KCK man charged in connection to fatal shooting on April 12 KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - A Kansas City, Kansas, man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting on April 12. 33-year-old Ivan D. Mock faces second Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. According to court records, Daniel L.

Just a fewwith a local connection that deserve a look but maybe not a post . . .Developing . . .
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said she is baffled by Gov. Greg Abbotts plan to reopen malls, restaurants, retail stores and movie theaters while COVID-19 infections continue to increase in Texas.

Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro called it cavalier and former U.S. Senate candidate Beto ORourke said the reopening is premature.

They are joined by a growing chorus of Democrats who are increasingly vocal in their criticism as the first phase of Abbotts plan begins on Friday.

On a conference call with reporters on Thursday, Garcia, a Houston Democrat, said Abbott has been talking about relying on doctors and data, but she said she questions which doctors and which data he is relying on.

Was it really time? Garcia said. Frankly, we just need to keep doing what we are doing. Im not convinced it was time to open, certainly not here in the Houston region.

TOO SOON? Gov. Abbott pushes Friday reopening even as Texas misses benchmarks set by his advisers

Abbott is ending his statewide stay-at-home order at the end of Thursday and allowing retail stores, malls, restaurants and theaters to reopen at 25 percent of their maximum capacity, even in cities such as Houston that had enacted local rules to close those businesses. Abbotts order supersedes any conflicting orders enacted by local officials.

To support his order, Abbott has stressed in television interviews that Texas has one of the lowest death rates in the nation and continues to have plenty of hospital bed capacity.

Understand that Texas has either the 3rd or 4th best  meaning lowest  death rate in the United States, Abbott said in a television interview on KVUE, an ABC affiliate in Austin. Texas never has had a situation like New York, like California, like Washington, like Louisiana, like New Jersey, like Michigan, like Illinois with deaths. Weve never have had capacity strains on our hospitals like those states.

But positive cases of COVID-19 in Texas have continued to increase by more than 850 a day over the past 7 days. That is higher than the previous seven days when Texas added fewer than 800 cases per day.

U.S. Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat whose district includes parts of Fort Bend County, said he knows a lot of people have consternation about rushing back into the marketplace. He said people want to know how things can open back up without a rash of new infections.

Green said he wants people to continue to wear face coverings and practice social distancing even while the state continues to re-open. Abbott has recommended the same measures.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

ORourke weighed in on Thursday night during a social media interview he conducted with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

I am just so personally disappointed in our national leadership and our president and in our governor who I believe is prematurely reopening this state, the former El Paso Congressman said, adding that Texas has one of the lowest per capita testing rates in the nation.

Castro said experts are calling for robust testing to be in place as they move to re-open states, something Texas just doesnt haven yet. Abbott has called for Texas to increase testing to 30,000 tests per day as his plan is enacted, though the state is now doing less than half that number.

It doesnt make any sense, Castro said of Abbotts plan.

But while those Democrats criticize Abbotts approach, Hildalgo is steering clear of criticizing Abbotts order. She told ORourke in their interview that Abbotts re-opening plan is faster than I had in mind but it doesnt mean I dont want it to succeed.
'Proper' childcare is needed for Covid-19 frontline health staff, according to Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley who has branded the HSE response of 'no use'.

The Health Service Executive has confirmed that frontline healthcare workers who cannot attend work due to childcare difficulties will be paid to stay at home, on the basis that they remain available for work from home in other roles.

Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley says this is not enough.

"I am demanding that a proper scheme be put in place to assist frontline health staff with childcare.

What the HSE has just announced is of no use as almost none of the work that they are trained for can be carried out from home. It would also pull essential staff away from the frontline at a time when there is a pressing need for them in our hospitals and nursing homes.

Some health workers are in a very difficult situation at the moment as they are trying to work shifts and variable hours providing front line services, while at the same time trying to balance caring for children who are out of school or creches.

This is a particular problem for parents with children who have special needs and this can be extremely challenging. It is also difficult for those workers that are single parents and dont have a network of wider family support. In normal times grandparents would often fulfil this role, but with the Covid 19 restrictions those that have health conditions or who are over seventy are not in a position to do so," he said.

Deputy Stanley said the Government announced a week ago that public sector employees, who had a partner working in the Health Services, could take time off to care for children. He said this is a welcome move but is of no benefit to health care workers that have partners working in essential private sector employment.

What is needed is a creative approach by local and national government along with childcare providers. Creches and schools are rightly closed at this time but there are opportunities to organise limited childcare with the assistance of those who normally work in schools and creches. This could be organised on a very localised basis and would give health care workers who have children a badly needed break. This could just be for a few hours to do shopping and have some rest time.

The importance of supporting frontline health services in Tullamore and Portlaoise Hospital and the large number of nursing homes in Laois and Offaly was never more critical. Many of them are working under enormous pressure. I have raised the need for childcare assistance with the Health Minister and I await his reply. Sinn Fein believes its important that we provide the necessary supports for our health care workers during this emergency, he said.

Childcare facilities have been shut since March to stem the spread fo Covid-19.
MIDLAND, Texas  I cried the day I moved to Midland, the capital of our nations oil and gas industry. Back then, almost 10 years ago, my husbands new job designing control systems for natural gas processing plants wasnt the sort of work I wanted him to take.

It didnt mesh well with my increasingly progressive principles. And so on some level, I understand the response from people when I tell them where I live: an odd mix of curiosity, pity and disgust.

Curiosity because, along with our neighbor city Odessa, were seen as the land of Friday Night Lights, oil barons and women with hair still bigger than Texas. Pity because all they picture is flat, thirsty land peppered with thorny mesquite and bobbing pump jacks. Never mind that the sunsets will leave you speechless. Yet ever since a drop in demand caused by this Covid-19 pandemic caused oil prices to plummet, its the last response  disgust  that seems to be everywhere. Disgust stemming from oil town stereotypes. And it troubles me. Because I cant reconcile the disgust-turned-to-glee I see on social media (the they deserve it anyway attitude) with the Midland Ive come to know.

My husband and I are native Texans. When we returned from four years in Beijing with a dog and a newborn daughter, the city quickly made us feel at home again. Over the past several weeks, as we joined the rest of the country in doing what we can to stop community spread of the coronavirus, weve been dreading another crisis in the making. One that few outside of the oil-rich Permian Basin in West Texas noticed brewing. On April 20, it happened.
A court-appointed receiver has been given the green light to begin liquidating the assets and inventory of the embattled Nygard Group of companies.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A court-appointed receiver has been given the green light to begin liquidating the assets and inventory of the embattled Nygard Group of companies.

Manitoba Court of Queens Bench Justice James Edmond approved a motion Wednesday by receiver Richter Advisory Group to begin selling off the assets at a date yet to be determined.

"I am satisfied that the receiver has acted reasonably and with a view to securing the best possible price for the large quantity of retail inventory and multiple leased locations," Edmond said.

The Nygard Group of companies was ordered into receivership last month after Edmond ruled it had not acted in good faith with its lenders and an insolvency trustee.

U.S. lenders White Oak Financial and Second Avenue Partners launched receivership proceedings after Nygard  which has corporate headquarters in Winnipeg, New York and Toronto  failed to repay a US$25-million loan.

Under its proposal, Richter will receive the assistance of a consultant group of companies that will help co-ordinate "store closing or similar themed liquidation sales of all inventory at all retail stores."

Richter will receive 1.75 per cent of gross proceeds, while the consultant will assist in the sale of all store furniture, fixtures and equipment, receiving 17.5 per cent of the proceeds.

"I am satisfied that the consultant described by the receiver has extensive experience respecting the liquidation of inventory in the retail sector and is able to provide advice to the receiver respecting ongoing discussions with the parties that may be interested in purchasing (the companies)," Edmond said.

According to Richter, efforts to sell the business, either in whole or in part, have "not yielded any tangible results to date," Edmond said.

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"A sale of the business as a going concern is usually in the best interest of all stakeholders to maximize the return," Edmond said. "Given the present circumstances, it is unlikely that there are other bidders that may come forward at this time."

Restrictions connected to the COVID-19 pandemic prevent setting a start date for any liquidation sales, which "may be timed differently, depending upon the region," Edmond said.

The Nygard Group of companies, already in financial distress, went into freefall after founder Peter Nygard was hit with a U.S.-based class-action lawsuit in February alleging he had sexually assaulted 10 women.

In the months since, the number of accusers in the lawsuit has risen to 46, including 18 Canadians and multiple Winnipeggers. The allegations span five decades, with 12 of the women claiming they were minors when Nygard allegedly raped them.

Nygard, 78, has repeatedly denied the allegations through his lawyers, claiming hes the target of people with a personal vendetta against him intent on ruining his reputation.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-30 07:50:45

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PARTNERSHIP IS PART OF A CONTRACT AWARDED TO OLOGY BIOSERVICES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO DEVELOP AND MANUFACTURE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF INFECTION WITH SARS-COV-2JUST - EVOTEC BIOLOGICS TO SUPPLY ANTIBODY SCREENING AND ANALYTICAL CHARACTERISATION OF ANTI-COVID-19 ANTIBODIESHAMBURG, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced that its Seattle-based subsidiary Just - Evotec Biologics, Inc. has entered into a partnership with Ology Bioservices, Inc. ("Ology Bio") for the evaluation and analytical characterisation of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. This work falls under a contract awarded to Ology Bio by the Department of Defense Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Enabling Biotechnologies ("JPEO-CBRND-EB") to develop, and manufacture monoclonal antibodies for treatment and prevention of infections with SARS-CoV-2.This work is supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs with funding from the Defense Health Agency.Under the terms of the agreement, Just - Evotec Biologics will act as a subcontractor to Ology Bio and utilise its in silico toolset to screen a panel of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies provided by Ology Bio that were generated from convalescing COVID-19 patients. Just - Evotec Biologics' Abacus(TM) and analytical toolsets will help to filter these antibodies into a smaller set with predicted desirable characteristics for manufacturing and long term storage. Once the final antibody panel has been selected and produced at a small scale by Ology Bio, material will be sent to Just - Evotec Biologics for evaluation of biophysical properties and potential post-translational modifications.Rapid evaluation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody candidates will improve the quality of antibody therapeutics selected through this contract and provide confidence to proceed with large-scale manufacturing.Dr Craig Johnstone, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, comments: "Antibodies generated from convalescing patients do not necessarily translate into stable, manufacturable biotherapeutics. Applying our in silico approach Abacus(TM) to narrow down a large set of antibodies to the few candidates with the most preferable development characteristics significantly improves the likelihood of rapidly manufacturing high-quality biotherapeutics." "We are pleased to work with the highly innovative and professional scientific staff at Just - Evotec Biologics in our efforts to rapidly produce anti-COVID-19 antibody therapeutics," says Ron Cobb, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Ology Bio.No financial details of the agreement were disclosed.ABOUT OLOGY BIOSERVICES, INC.Ology Bioservices is a privately held, full-service Contract Development Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) serving both government and commercial clients, specializing in biologic drug substance manufacturing from early stage through commercial product. The company has 183,000 square feet of manufacturing, process development and QA/QC space in its state-of-the-art, Department of Defense Advanced Development and Manufacturing Facility in Florida. The company's infrastructure provides unique services to its clients, including full regulatory support from preclinical through licensure, clinical trial operational support and bioanalytical testing, as well as CGMP manufacturing up to Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3). Ology Bioservices has 20 years of experience developing and manufacturing drugs and biologics for the U.S. Government, with over $500M in government contracts awarded. The team at Ology Bioservices has decades of experience manufacturing, developing and licensing vaccines and protein/antibody therapeutics. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ologybio.com ABOUT THE JPEO-CBRNDThe Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense is the Joint Service's lead for development, acquisition, fielding and life-cycle support of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense equipment and medical countermeasures. As an effective acquisition program, we put capable and supportable systems in the hands of the service members and first responders, when and where it is needed, at an affordable price. Our vision is a resilient Joint Force enabled to fight and win unencumbered by a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear environment; championed by innovative and state-of-the-art solutions. JPEO Enabling Biotechnologies (EB) is an organization established for the purpose of providing medical solutions, during a crisis, against future threats.ABOUT JUST - EVOTEC BIOLOGICSJust - Evotec Biologics wholly owned by Evotec SE is a unique platform company that integrates the design, engineering, development, and manufacture of biologics. With deep experience in the fields of protein, process and manufacturing sciences, the Just team came together to solve the scientific and technical hurdles that block access to life-changing protein therapeutics; from the design of therapeutic molecules to the design of the manufacturing plants used to produce them. Our focus is to create access and value for a global market through scientific and technological innovation. Learn more at www.just.bio ABOUT EVOTEC SEEvotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide and our more than 3,000 employees provide the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery and development solutions. We cover all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry's need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery and development (EVT Execute). The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuronal diseases, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, fibrosis, rare diseases and women's health. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of approx. 100 co-owned product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer
There must be direct engagement with logistics businesses

There must be direct engagement with logistics businesses, training and a move to minimise friction for the sector as the UK negotiates its trading relationship with the EU.

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to have hugely detrimental impact on society and economies across the globe, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has now outlined its Keeping Northern Ireland and Great Britain trading document, as the UK negotiates its trading relationship with the EU and today marks the first meeting of the joint UK and EU committee focused on how to implement the Northern Ireland protocol.

As the protocol is agreed and developed, new trading and transport provisions need to be tested with industry and communicated early so it has enough time to adapt, the FTA has said.

Its calling on the Government to address a series of key areas in regards to the negotiations.

- Engage with logistics from the start

- Minimise friction, red tape and costs for industry

- Derogations for qualifying trade flows

- Assistance with the cost of transition

- Customs training and support to build customs capacity

- Simplified transit for Northern Irish goods to Great Britain through Dublin

- Preserve road and Irish Sea connectivity

- Preserve essential staff mobility

Earlier this month it was revealed crucial logistics firms here are facing massive operating losses of up to 150,000 a week, with dozens facing an uncertain future, amid the coronavirus crisis.

While some companies are seeing business soar to levels of demand associated with Christmas such as those involved in meat and poultry, others which deliver for firms such as fashion retailers have seen trade plummet as the UK-wide lockdown hits business.

Businesses which deliver to Northern Ireland but rely on bringing goods such as returns back to Britain and elsewhere are now "running on empty", but facing the same costs and overheads.

For some there has been a 90% drop in business, and unsustainable trading imbalances.
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Hundreds of foreign companies are actively procuring components for India and Pakistan's nuclear programmes, taking advantage of gaps in the global regulation of the industry, according to a report by a US-based research group.

Using open-source data, the nonprofit Centre For Advance Defense Studies (C4ADS) report provides one of the most comprehensive overviews of networks supplying the rivals, in a region regarded as one of the world's most dangerous nuclear flashpoints.

India and Pakistan are taking advantage of gaps in global non-proliferation regimes and export controls to get what they need, said Jack Margolin, a C4ADS analyst and co-author of the report.

It is seldom possible to determine whether individual transactions are illegal by using publicly available data, Margolin said, and the report does not suggest that companies mentioned broke national or international laws or regulations.

But past reports by the think tank, whose financial backers include the Carnegie Corporation and the Wyss Foundation, have often led to action by law enforcement agencies.

Spokesmen from the offices of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan did not respond to requests for comment. Pakistan's military, which plays a major role in decision-making for the nuclear weapons programme, also declined to comment.

To identify companies involved, C4ADS analysed more than 125 million records of public trade and tender data and documents, and then checked them against already-identified entities listed by export control authorities in the United States and Japan.

Pakistan, which is subject to strict international export controls on its programme, has 113 suspected foreign suppliers listed by the United States and Japan. But the C4ADS report found an additional 46, many in shipment hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

In Pakistan's case, they have a lot more stringent controls, and they get around these by using transnational networks and exploiting opaque jurisdictions, Margolin said.

The father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, AQ Khan, admitted in 2004 to selling nuclear technology to North Korea, Iran and Libya. He was pardoned a day later by Pakistani authorities, which have refused requests from international investigators to question him.

India has a waiver that allows it to buy nuclear technology from international markets. The Indian government allows inspections of some nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but not all of them.

Neither India or Pakistan have signed the international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, adhered to by most nuclear powers. Consequently, they are not obliged to submit to IAEA oversight over all of their facilities.

C4ADS identified 222 companies that did business with the nuclear facilities in India that had no IAEA oversight. Of these, 86 companies did business with more than one such nuclear facility in India.

It's evidence that more needs to be done, and that there needs to be a more sophisticated approach taken to India, Margolin said. Just because the product is not explicitly bound for a military facility, that doesn't mean that the due diligence process ends there.

India and Pakistan have gone to war three times - twice over the disputed Kashmir region - since they won independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Having for years secretly developed nuclear weapons capability, the two declared themselves nuclear powers following tit-for-tat atomic tests in 1998.

A few years later, in 2002, the two foes almost went to war for a fourth time, following an attack by Pakistan-based militants on the parliament in New Delhi. And a year ago, a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in a part of Kashmir controlled by India sparked another flare up in tensions.

Both countries are estimated to have around 150 useable nuclear warheads apiece, according to the Federation of American Scientists, a nonprofit group tracking stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
Donovan Copley, frontman of Cape Town Afro-pop band Hot Water, delivers a heartwarming lockdown music video for the brand-new single "Home" to raise funds for the Covid-19 Feed a Child Coalition.

The music video features appearances from celebs such as Passenger, Jeremy Loops, Jules from Goodluck, Arno Carstens, Sandra Prinsloo, David Kramer, Zak Hendrikz, Majozi, Jack Parow, and many more.The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the worlds people and economies to its knees and its still unfolding, as we well know. South Africa faces her own challenges and right now hunger seems to be an even bigger threat than this invisible enemy.

Filmmaker Uga Carlini from Towerkop Creations and artist Donovan Copley from Hot Water got on their phones to see what could be done with what they know best  filmmaking and music, but like all of us  from their home(s).



They reached out to an incredible group of people from all over the world  some known, some not  to join them. And they did. People from various countries (USA, Spain, Italy, UK and as far as Fiji) participated in the video - some located in those countries that have been hit the hardest by Covid-19.



They now ask that you join too. Everything helps: sharing the video, watching it, loving it, donating.





Donovan Copley is a father to three young boys and when he heard there were kids going hungry during this crisis - it really struck home. I wrote this song last year as a way to deal with challenges in myself and what I saw others dealing with and in the world.

From recording the song to getting the video made, Copley explains how it all came about, saying: When I was confronted by the massive challenge that we are all facing at this time in so many different ways, Home rose to the surface as an answer to the question How can I be of service in the face of this?



I caught up with him last week.







The new decade means:

Fame is about:

Retirement will happen when:

I don't do:

What does music mean to you?

What makes you stand out?

 Deborah Rossouw

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

Any funny moments on stage?

What is your most treasured possession?

Its your round, what are you drinking?

Dream gig to do:

Nicknames:

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Five favourite SA albums of all time:

Favourite fashion garment:

Give us some real proper slang and what it means

What is your favourite word?

Top of your bucket list:

Your greatest achievement:

What do you complain about most often?

What is your fear?

Happiness is:

On stage, I tend to?

Do you do charity work and, if you do, what do you do?

Wishes and dreams:

Social media links

Having fun (no matter what happens).Opening a can of worms.Huh?Aubergines.Satisfaction.High levels of energy, madness, bravery, colour, my Hot Water can guitar and currently a very large pair of blue glasses from The Oculus.When the magic happens.All the time. I once split my pants all the way down the back playing to an audience of 15,000 in a medieval courtyard in Spain.A 150-year-old sea chest that I got when I was 15 years old.Cranberry juice.Robben Island.Vitamin D, Magic Hands.Masseuse.Intense. Energetic. Deep. Passionate. Warm.Mathaka - Makgona Tsohle BandLoliwe - ZaharaThe Best of Johnny CleggBaningi Abangithandayo - Moses Nabafana BengomaGraceland - Paul Simon (its enough South African for me to call it an SA album)My Chappies T-shirt.Kak = trouble/shitGatvol = fed-up (and on the verge of being angry)Klap = smackHKGK = Hier kom groot kak (translate: here comes big sh*t)F*k-Voort = Covid-19Wamkelekile.A trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway.Making a living from doing what I love.Having too much to do.Not fulfilling my life.A choice.Have fun and feel free.Yes, a lot. At the moment, all proceeds for the duration of the pandemic from my current song and video Home are going to the Covid-19 Feed A Child Coalition.A world that works for everybody. Twitter | TikTok: @HOTWATERSA
Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon are one of five school groups who have been chosen to rear five Irish Angus calves for 18 months as part of a unique schools competition.

The Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition, run in association with processing partners ABP and Kepak, aims to encourage second-level students to gain an understanding about the care and attention that is required to produce and market the highest quality Irish Angus beef for consumers.

The announcement, which was made live on social media last Wednesday, April 22, comes after a competitive application process, whereby student groups vying to take part in the competition presented their original project ideas to a panel of judges comprised of agri-food industry professionals at a recent high-profile exhibition at Croke Park.

Rachel Maguire, Aileen Briody, Ciara Gavigan and Kate Mulvey from Mercy in Ballymahon expressed an interest in the benefits of using Irish Angus beef over other breeds.

The Longford group join students from Boherbue Comprehensive School, Cork; Gorey Community School, Wexford; Carrick-On-Shannon Community School, Leitrim and The Abbey School, Tipperary Town as the successful applicants for this years competition.

The five groups will each receive five Irish Angus calves in September, which they will rear for 18 months. In addition to rearing the calves, the students will complete a research project linked to the senior-cycle Agricultural Science curriculum which focusses on a particular aspect of farming and beef production. The individual project themes will be announced when the groups receive their calves in September.

The Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition aims to allow students to apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to a real-life setting. Each of the finalists will receive the financial benefit involved in the selling of the animals to the processors on completion of the project. The winning students also receive an additional grant of 2,000 for their further education.

For further information on the project visit www.certifiedirishangus.ie
European Parliament Vice-President Mairead McGuinness says people must continue to abide by government regulations as the fight against Covid-19 continues.

McGuinness, who is continuing her work from home, is optimistic about the economic recovery of EU member states, including Ireland, once the global pandemic is arrested with post-lockdown talks already underway.

However, the Ardee native insists social distancing and strict cleansing measures have to remain if this country is to avoid a much more extreme crisis.

Im in touch with an Italian colleague who lives near Bergamo - which has been the epicentre of this - and the devastation that he speaks about socially, economically and in terms of grief are just unthinkable, MEP McGuinness told The Democrat.

When youre talking about thousands of deaths, it is frightening.

So its very important to remind ourselves that washing our hands, using hand sanitisers, sneezing and coughing etiquette, and staying at home are the most vital parts of the prescription. We do hope at some point that there will be light at the end of the tunnel and we can ease up.

The EU Commission is trying to coordinate the exit strategies and rightly so. Member states are all at a different stage and rather than a haphazard exit strategy, it should be coordinated.
A former lawmaker at the upper legislative chamber, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned against the decision to relax the Coronavirus lockd...





A former lawmaker at the upper legislative chamber, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned against the decision to relax the Coronavirus lockdown in Abuja, Lagos, and Ogun States.





Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial district in the last National Assembly dispensation blamed the government for being unable to feed the people which led to the decision to lift the lockdown.





He warned that Nigerians, specifically Abuja residents, will not keep the conditions attached to the ease of the lockdown.





Senator Sani tweeted, The truth is that once the Lockdown is lifted on Monday in Abuja, nobody will listen to any grammar of conditions attached to it. Its either there is lockdown or no lockdown.





The Government is unable to feed the people and conduct enough COVID-19 test and has taken a dangerous gamble.





During his address, President Muhammadu Buhari, announced that the restriction on social and religious gathering would remain in place.





The President said that as from May 4, selected businesses will open from 8am to 6pm and that the current lockdown will be relaxed same day.
The Portland nonprofit Literary Arts has set up a $100,000 emergency relief fund for Oregon writers, including playwrights, cartoonists and poets.

As of Wednesday, writers who meet eligibility requirements can apply on the Literary Arts website for onetime $1,000 grants to make up for lost income or revenue or to plug other financial holes. Applications close May 13.

The writers of our community, a lot of them are bartenders and waitresses and adjunct professors and gig-writing copywriters without full-time salaries, Literary Arts executive director, Andrew Proctor, said Wednesday. And generally, people have lost their jobs. The economics of writing and the financial risks are enormous, and most of them dont have a safety net.

He added, We tend to romanticize artistic poverty, but its just poverty.

Literary Arts, whose mission focuses on readers and writers, already administers the Brian Booth Writers Fund, named for the creator of the nonprofits Oregon Book Awards and Oregon Literary Fellowships. The fund is set up as an endowment that provides revenue for the awards and fellowships. The new Booth Emergency Fund for Writers will consist of about 10 percent of the endowment funds principal, Proctor said.

No one imagined this crisis being how the money would be used but  its not off-mission at all, Proctor said.

Applicants for the awards must meet one or more of the following criteria:

 Oregon Book Award winner or finalist

 Oregon Literary Fellowship recipient

 Author of at least one title published since 2010 by an established publisher

 Author of a full-length play produced in mid-size or large theaters and/or published by established dramatic presses

 Essayist, critic, short story writer, cartoonist or poet with at least eight published pieces in the last three years in periodicals with a national or broad circulation

 Spoken word poet, or writer in another genre, who has earned income from performing, reading or touring and has performed in at least 12 venues since January 2019

 Writer with some other type of established practice (excluding copywriting, blogging, public relations, and writing for non-periodical websites and corporate clients)

Literary Arts will prioritize funding for writers identifying as black, indigenous, and/or people of color because COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting communities of color.

Proctor said Literary Arts settled on $1,000 as the award amount after conversations with writers about what would be a meaningful amount of money for a writer.

Meanwhile, Literary Arts continues its other work.

Its educational programs, which include Writers-in-the-Schools residencies, a college essay mentoring program, and the Verselandia poetry competition for high schoolers, have all pivoted to digital, Proctor said. Verselandia is not going to occur as a competition this year  its too stressful and we cant gather an audience anyway. Instead, were going to be doing a digital, multimedia anthology of student work, he said.

Literary Arts public programming includes the Portland Arts & Lectures series, which brings noted authors to town. When Oregons stay-home order was issued, the 2019-20 series had one event left, an appearance by Colson Whitehead, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Underground Railroad.

We elected to move it to next spring and honor all the tickets, Proctor said.

Literary Arts also rescheduled its annual Oregon Book Awards ceremony, from the original April 27 date to June 22. Proctor said an announcement would be coming soon about the ceremony, which also recognizes recipients of Oregon Literary Fellowships.

We normally would have by now announced the new cycle for submitting for (book) awards and the new fellowships for 2021, he said. We just have been completely blown off course. They are 100% going to happen next year.

The nonprofit also puts on the annual Portland Book Festival, which draws 10,000 readers to downtown Portland each November to attend panels, storytimes and other events featuring dozens of authors.

Right now were planning for it, Proctor said. Of course its possible that the festival cannot gather together people, in which case we would do something virtually.

As for Literary Arts itself, were at full strength, staffwise, but we are definitely experiencing losses, Proctor said. Weve fundraised as hard as weve ever fundraised before, which is definitely challenging.

Proctor has taken a 25% pay cut. We have, not yet, had to cut any other salaries, he said.

Literary Arts is committed to staying open to support readers and writers, Proctor said.

We need our artists in this moment, I think, to write about it, to help us process it, Proctor said. We need there to be witnesses to it.

awang@oregonian.com; Twitter: @ORAmyW
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Thursday, Willis Towers Watson (WLTW) said it is withdrawing and consequently fully disclaims its full-year 2020 guidance, due to the uncertainties caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The company added that the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a material adverse impact to its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2020. However, It expects that the impact of COVID-19 on general economic activity could negatively impact its revenue and operating results for the remainder of 2020. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
One of Northern Ireland's oldest residents has been laid to rest in her native Limavady after a funeral attended by just 10 people due to coronavirus restrictions.

Ethel Barbour, who was 106 when she died at Cornfields Care Centre on Tuesday, was "highly respected by everyone", a son said.

Mrs Barbour is survived by her sons David and Bob, daughter Miriam and eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Her son Bob was among the 10 mourners permitted to attend his mother's funeral and burial.

He said Thursday was a surreal day for the whole family.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Barbour said: "My mother passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning but in fact she was fine up until a few days before that.

She was a Godly Christian woman so her funeral was surreal. We would have very much wanted to give her a good Christian service and burial and, while we had the service, there were only 10 of us in church Bob Barbour

"She was alert and we had Facetime conversations with her and she waved and smiled at us. If we asked her a question she answered us and even though she had slight Alzheimer's, she knew us all.

"She was a Godly Christian woman so her funeral was surreal. We would have very much wanted to give her a good Christian service and burial and, while we had the service, there were only 10 of us in church.

"My father William John was well-known as a local councillor so my mother would have been very well-known too and people would have wanted to come to pay their respects."

Mr Barbour said his mother preferred the simple, straightforward things in life and was very much content with her lot.

He added: "My mother was born before the First World War so when you consider the things the children are taught in the history books, she lived through them all.

"She was part of what I consider to be the greatest generation that ever lived, she lived through two world wars, she grew up with no electricity and no running water in the house.

"She was very much her own woman who was highly respected by everyone."
Tripoli, April 30 : Libya's east-based army announced halting of military action in the country during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.

"On this blessed occasion, in appreciation and in response to the calls from brotherly and friendly countries that demand an end to the fighting during this holy month (of Ramzan), the General Command (of the army) announces cessation of all military operations on its part, and that there will be an immediate and very severe response to breach of the cessation of the military operations by the terrorist militias (UN-backed government's forces)," the army said in a statement on Wednesday.

The UN-backed government has not responded to the statement so far, reports Xinhua news agency.

On April 24, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had called for a humanitarian truce in Libya during Ramzan.

The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign in and around the capital Tripoli since April 2019, attempting to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government.

Since the the conflict began, the UNSMIL has documented at least 356 civilian deaths and 329 injuries.

It has also forced more than 150,000 to flee their homes.
Joblessness is rising far more slowly in Europe than in the U.S. during pandemic, new figures show. Read more

BRUSSELS  European unemployment crept up only modestly since the start of the coronavirus lockdowns, data released Thursday showed, at a time when millions of Americans filed for unemployment benefits.

The contrast showed the effect of Europe's starkly different approach to fighting the economy-busting effects of the pandemic, with many governments directly intervening to subsidize private-sector salaries. In the United States, stimulus and relief programs have been comparable in scale, but not as directly tied to avoiding layoffs.

Most of the data released Thursday by many European countries was for March, meaning it reflects about two to three weeks of the pandemic shutdowns, but not the full scale of an economic cataclysm that has only escalated since then. The figures reflect a significant shock to the system at a moment when policymakers are warning of a recession this year larger than that during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Still, when compared with the U.S. jobs carnage for the same time period, when jobless claims spiked to record levels in the United States during the first weeks of widespread lockdowns, the European figures appear far more contained. Seasonally adjusted unemployment across the European Union rose by 0.1 percentage point in March, to 6.6%, according to the E.U. statistics agency.

The overall economic picture is grim in the European Union, with the economy shrinking by 3.5% in the first quarter of the year, the sharpest decline on record, according to figures also released Thursday. The U.S. economy contracted 4.8% during the same period.

The jobless figures have been cushioned by vast numbers of European businesses that have signed up for subsidy programs in which governments pay up to 87% of workers' salaries to avoid layoffs. The system, pioneered in Germany during the 2008-2009 global recession, has now been imitated widely in Europe. The thinking among many policymakers is that the economic blow of the pandemic can be softened if workers are able to keep paying their bills and if businesses do not have to hire and train an entire new set of employees as the crisis abates and ordinary economic life resumes.

"If you have 10% of the workforce getting laid off and going on unemployment benefits, then you would have 10% of the current high-spending consumers who wouldn't be spending anything because of the insecurity of the future," said Danish Employment Minister Peter Hummelgaard. His government has presided over a program in which it pays 75% of workers' salaries, up to $3,355 a month, for employers whose revenues have taken a significant hit from the lockdown. Employers cover the other quarter.

 READ MORE: Pa. officials fielding 20,000 calls a week as deluge of applicants crashes unemployment system

In Denmark, the unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in March, up from 4.0% in February, according to figures released Thursday. The figure would have been far worse if the 150,000 Danish workers who have been enrolled in the salary subsidy program had instead been laid off, Hummelgaard said in an interview.

If those workers had joined the jobless rolls, Denmark's unemployment rate would have jumped to roughly 9.5%.

"Businesses are encouraged and obliged to keep workers in their current jobs, for the sake of the individual worker, obviously, but also for the overall sake of the economy and our ability to get back on track fast," Hummelgaard said. And as Denmark starts to reopen its society, he said, policymakers are already looking at more traditional stimulus programs and hope to wind down the subsidy program by early July.

The costs of the programs can be difficult to estimate as they get underway, since most governments have made them open to any eligible company rather than capping them at a certain level of funding, and the economic outlook continues to darken. The official British Office for Budget Responsibility estimated this month that Britain's program, which is subsidizing up to 80% of the salaries of eligible workers, would cost about $65 billion over three months  a share of the British economy equivalent to a program that would cost $508 billion in the United States. The British program has since been extended by a month, until the end of June. Employers are clamoring for it to stretch until the fall.

The U.S. small-business loan initiative known as the Paycheck Protection Program contains elements similar to the European efforts, since it fully forgives loans if they are used for payroll, rent or mortgage payments. Congress has channeled $659 billion toward it so far. But its funds do not go exclusively toward avoiding layoffs, and U.S. unemployment filings continued to skyrocket Thursday, bringing total new claims to 30 million in the last six weeks.

Europeans say the programs make a major difference in the way they plan their lives.

"It's definitely keeping our jobs alive for the moment," said Maria Hoejer Romme, a Danish business researcher whose company enrolled in the program last month.

She and her husband have a 10-month-old baby and just bought a new home, making them vulnerable to sudden economic disruptions, she said. They recently had a conversation about what would happen if she were laid off, something she said she never could have imagined just a few months ago. The salary subsidy program has made her company more resilient and helped her family plan for the strange new pandemic-struck world.

"There might be a chance I'd lose my job, but now I can think, 'Okay, it probably won't happen,'" she said. "You can adjust your economy, and you can look into the future."

The programs have been rolled out in Europe's largest economies, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy, and have quickly expanded to cover major portions of the workforce. Nearly half of French workers are enrolled; in Britain, two-thirds of employers are participating. The German federal employment agency announced Thursday that employers enrolled up to 10.1 million workers in its wage subsidy program between mid-March and April 26, more than triple the total for all of 2009.

The impact of the pandemic in terms of lost work hours is similar on both side of the Atlantic, said Holger Schmieding, chief economist for the Hamburg-based Berenberg Bank. But while in the United States the "eye-popping numbers" show up in unemployment figures, in Europe they show up in on-the-job benefits, he said. The European system saves "a lot of anguish in hiring and firing."

Most of the programs were initially set up to last only three months, although many have now been extended into the summer. Policymakers hope that as lockdowns ease, governments can dial back the subsidies. If they cut off the programs suddenly, they could still face a wave of layoffs, only this time with depleted coffers. France, for instance, plans to pare back the program after June 1.

Unemployment is still rising across Europe, despite the programs  just at a slower pace than in the United States. German unemployment in April rose 0.7% percentage points to 5.8% and is forecast to rise further.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

The United States will release unemployment figures for April on May 8. Analysts estimate that the U.S. jobless rate is currently between 10 and 15%, up from the 50-year low of 3.5% in February, before the pandemic hit.

"The corona pandemic is likely to lead to the worst postwar recession in Germany. As a result, the job market is also under considerable pressure," Detlef Scheele, head of the German Federal Employment Agency, told reporters Thursday. German policymakers agreed last week to increase the salary subsidies so that they cover up to 87% of a worker's pay, up from 67% previously.

Economists say wage subsidy programs typically work most effectively if the worst economic crisis is relatively short  just a few months, ideally  since companies will have a much harder time recovering if they are frozen much longer than that. Customers will move on; demand will change. Assuming lockdowns can be eased relatively quickly, the programs may prove successful, but if the health situation deteriorates again and forces economies to hibernate until fall, the outcome may be less rosy.

"If we see a longer economic downturn in Europe, we'll see the same problems as the U.S. They will have just delayed it," said Simon Tilford, director of research at Forum New Economy, a Berlin-based economics think tank. "It's not a long-term solution to a sharp reduction in demand for labor, because the state cannot afford to subsidize wages at that level indefinitely, and it would slow the pace of adjustment."

Still, in the short run, many European employers see the wage subsidy programs as a godsend.

"Small businesses have no extra money to cover a crisis situation," said Paul Konradi, 33, general manager of Rowdy, a chain of four hip barbershops in Berlin and Hamburg. Customers used to come for haircuts, hot towels and beard trims in establishments decked out with exposed brickwork and vintage chrome and leather chairs. Now those clients are gone.

Without Germany's subsidy program, Konradi said, he probably would have been forced to start laying off some of the company's 26 employees. "There would be no money" without the program, he said. "I don't know what I'd do."

In France, Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud said Wednesday that 11.3 million workers were now enrolled in her country's program, which pays up to 70% of salaries.

"I think we can be proud in France that we have put in place this massive safety net," she said.

The programs are "effective, but it's not absolute," said Jean Pisani-Ferry, a French economist and nonresident fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economists who has taken part in crisis consultations with the French government.

Still, as a gamble in risky times, he said the programs make sense.

"You have two risks. You have the risk of keeping companies afloat that have no future" by using wage subsidy programs. Or, without the programs, "you have the risk of precipitating the collapse of companies that do have a future," he said.

___

The Washington Posts Loveday Morris in Berlin, Christine Spolar in London, James McAuley in Paris and Quentin Aries in Brussels contributed to this report.
D esign and technology teachers have made more than 200,000 pieces of protective equipment for frontline NHS workers, new figures reveal.

Data from the Design and Technology Association shows the full extent of visors, goggles, scrubs, masks and other kit teachers have produced.

Tony Ryan, of the Design and Technology Association, said: I am in awe of the work that has taken place. Our subject is all about designing solutions for human problems, and what bigger challenge has society faced in recent years?

London is leading the way, with teachers at Merchant Taylors School in Northwood making more than 1,000 protective visors every day.

They will be sent to hospitals including the Royal Free, Chelsea and Westminster, Northwick Park and Mount Vernon, as well as Watford General.
Dr Alex George has honoured the NHS working during through the coronavirus pandemic in a touching Instagram post on Wednesday evening.

The Love Island star, 30, who working as an A&E doctor amid the crisis, has said that nurses are the 'backbone of our National Health Service'.

Dr Alex took the time to chat to a group of nurses about their experiences on the frontline in his latest YouTube video, which he shared on social media.

Thank you! Dr Alex George has honoured the NHS working during through the coronavirus pandemic in a touching Instagram post on Wednesday evening

The reality star shared a picture of himself standing with three nurses outside the emergency department while praising them in the caption.

He wrote: 'Nurses are the backbone of our NHS and vital on the frontline in the fight against the coronavirus. Despite everything they are facing they continue to look after their patients with care and compassion.

'In my latest video we hear their incredible stories. Link in bio.'

Video: The Love Island star, 30, who working as an A&E doctor amid the crisis, has said that nurses are the 'backbone of our National Health Service'

Following his social media post, Alex appeared on Thursday's episode of Lorraine where he discussed his concerns over NHS staff's mental health.

He told host Lorraine Kelly: 'We're seeing a lot of sad things, we see it normally but not on this scale. I can definitely see how this will build up for a lot of people.

Dr Alex revealed he had spoken to colleagues to gauge their opinion, and said: 'It was really interesting to speak to staff and see how they're coping. The feedback I got was that there's ups and downs, you see things that affect you.

He added: 'But ultimately seeing these things day in day out have an impact on your mental and physical health.'

Frontline worker: Following his social media post, Alex appeared on Thursday's episode of Lorraine where he discussed his concerns over NHS staff's mental health

Lorraine asked Dr Alex how he was coping personally and he said: 'Yeah I have had some difficult l times, I'm quite open. I've come home in tears at some of the things we see. I'm happy to speak to my colleagues at work.

Speaking about his coping techniques, he said: 'We have a wellness room, if you need a bit of time. I can speak to my colleagues, friends and family and my girlfriend has been amazing. I've spoken to her about some things.'

He also paid tribute to his patients and said: 'Patients are also amazing, they are so grateful for our help and that can bring a warmth.'

Relationship: Dr Alex pictured with his girlfriend Amelia who he hasn't seen for five weeks due to the pandemic

However Dr Alex did also discuss the positives of the job, and said: 'Cases I've seen, patients I was really worried about then went into ICU...

'But I followed their journey and they went home - there's no better feeling than that. We've worked as a team to get people home to their families.'

Dr Alex discussed the pressure that doctors and nurses feel to keep working and dealing with trauma, as he predicted a PTSD crisis in the future.

Hero: He told host Lorraine Kelly: 'We're seeing a lot of sad things, we see it normally but not on this scale. I can definitely see how this will build up for a lot of people

He said: 'If you have burn outs in the coming months, if you don't address those things. I hope any colleagues watching feel comfortable enough to reach out.

'Nationally I think we need to think these are unprecedented times, but we need to focus on people who really need the help as there will be problem with PTSD. '

He explained: 'I think for doctors there's a mentality of kicking the can down the road when it comes to mental health.'

Dr Alex also revealed he has felt touched by the Clap For Carers appeal which takes place every Thursday at 8pm.

He said: 'I was on shift two weeks ago and everyone was outside clapping, I was choking up it was such an incredible feeling.

'It really makes a difference having the country behind us. We are in this together as a nation and we'll get through it together.'
Los Angeles, April 30 : Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman has sent her love to the near and dear ones of Irrfan Khan, who died on Wednesday in Mumbai.

Remembering Irrfan, Portman took to Instagram to share a photo of herself with the actor. In the photo, she is in a white bridal wear and is held by Irrfan, who is in a black and white suit with a hat.

"Sending love to Irrfan Khan's loved ones today," she captioned the snap.

The two had featured together in Mira Nair's segment of "New York, I Love You", a 2008 American romantic comedy-drama anthology film.

Ever since the news of Irrfan's demise came out on Wednesday, celebrities from Bollywood as well as Hollywood where he was the face of India, have been pouring in.

Earlier, Hollywood star Angelina Jolie had also expressed her condolences, in a message shared with IANS.

"I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of 'A Mighty Heart'. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him. I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world," Jolie said in her message.

"A Mighty Heart", is a 2007 drama directed by Michael Winterbottom based on the 2003 memoir of the same name by Mariane Pearl. The film accounts the aftermath of the kidnapping of Marianne's journalist husband Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, and his subsequent beheading by the kidnappers.

Jolie played Marianne Pearl while Irrfan impressed Karachi police chief Zeeshan Kazmi, in a well-written role.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Oregon parole board is considering the early release of some inmates who may qualify to get out of prison due to their medical condition in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dylan Arthur, executive director of the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision, this week asked the Oregon Department of Corrections for information on inmates who meet the criteria for early release consideration.

Arthur sent an email Wednesday to community corrections officials, saying prison medical staff will determine who is eligible. Then state corrections officials must decide "if there is a viable release plan for the person, he wrote.

That information will be forwarded to the parole board who will then make a decision of whether or not to advance the release date of the (inmate).

By law, the parole board may consider releasing inmates before the end of their sentences only if they fall under a limited set of circumstances: They must have a severe medical condition, including terminal illness, or be elderly and permanently incapacitated.

Regardless of a persons medical status, age or disability, prisoners serving mandatory minimum sentences under Oregons Measure 11 law are not eligible for early release.

The Oregon Justice Resource Center this month petitioned the Oregon Supreme Court to direct the parole board to create an valid and expedited process for sick prisoners to seek early release. The organization argued that the parole board has delegated its authority to make early release decisions to the Department of Corrections.

It is unclear how many inmates qualify or how much time they would have shaved off their sentences. Arthur did not immediately respond to an email and phone messages from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Michael Hsu, chairman of the parole board, did not respond to an email.

According to a report drafted this month by corrections officials, prison medical staff have identified 182 inmates as most vulnerable due to their medical conditions; of those, 73 are in prison for for non-Measure 11 convictions.

As of Tuesday, 18 state prison inmates had tested positive for COVID-19. Thirteen of them are at Shutter Creek Correctional Institution in North Bend. Santiam Correctional Institution in Salem has four cases and one case has been reported at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla.

Corrections officials said all but one of the inmates with the virus have been moved to Coffee Creek Correctional Institution in Wilsonville because that prison is equipped with negative pressure rooms, which are designed to limit circulation of airborne illness. The inmate from Two Rivers was transferred to Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, also home to a negative pressure room.

Gov. Kate Brown at one point considered early release of inmates in a range of circumstances, including those approaching the end of their sentences and those who are seriously ill, but she abandoned the idea. She has said she would evaluate early release case by case and rejected the sort of large-scale inmate release Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed off on this month. Inslee authorized the release of nearly 1,000 nonviolent offenders in response to the spread of the virus in one of the states prisons.

The Oregon Department of Corrections concluded that 40 percent of the inmate population -- about 5,800 prisoners -- would have to be let out to accommodate social distancing recommendations.

A recent survey by DHM Research in Portland found that Oregonians strongly oppose -- 68 percent -- a general release of people from jails and prisons to meet coronavirus social distancing guidelines. A majority -- 56 percent -- also oppose releasing inmates because they are medically fragile.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
CHESTER, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Unlike most parts of the world economy, the coronavirus pandemic has actually resulted in increased growth in the e-commerce retail market. Fueled by people's inability to shop at traditional brick and mortar retail outlets and their increased free time, online shopping has seen a mini boom. Young entrepreneurs are defying the downturn to build companies with big potential going into the future. This is challenging the traditional retailers, whose businesses have been massively affected by the measures taken to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

One such young entrepreneur is Sam Stewart, and his success is far more interesting and uncommon. Sam turned an idea for streetwear into a six-figure business and did it all from the comfort of his bed. Samuel J Stewart was born in Hampstead, London on the 29TH of April 1999, but moved to small town of Chester where he attended state schools. Unmotivated by the mundane education and struggling with his dyslexia, he scraped by on his A levels - just enough to get entrance into a university. Still, the passion he had sought through a traditional educational route eluded him, despite him putting significantly more effort into his work at university.

Over time, Sam started to pay more attention to popular trends in clothing. Emphasizing the functionality and look of streetwear, he decided to learn about e-commerce and how he could produce his line of clothes. The manner in which he founded his online store is unusual at first glance, but it's becoming more familiar as time goes on. After all, a vast number of entrepreneurs in the modern day are millennials like Sam. Their approach to the world of clothing is nothing like what the market has seen before. That's not a condemnation of their efforts, though.

While studying at Aston University in Birmingham, Sam realized that the life he aspired to couldn't be realized through working as a lifeguard at the local gym. So, one early morning, from his bed he embarked on what would become a life-changing journey. He established an e-commerce site and founded his business. He pieced together a supply chain and a logistics network spanning the globe to deliver the apparel clients wanted. Like most endeavors, Rome was indeed not built in a day and success came gradually. It required two years of listening to customer feedback, exploring the communities and concepts behind street wear and paying attention to the latest celebrity trends. But eventually, the hard work paid off.

The ability to start a business has never been easier; thanks to innovations in technology, everything you need to succeed is at your fingertips. Millennials growing up with this as the norm are well placed to take advantage. With nothing to lose, they can invest time into their own projects, whether its building up a social media presence or starting a brand. The online economy has become a viable rut for willing young entrepreneurs to become wealthy.

Now, Sam Stewart, at only 21 years old, is head of his own company and continues to specialize in streetwear and celebrity-themed urban clothing. The company has grown to be a six-figure business and they are poised to take in over $30,000 in revenue for the month of April 2020 alone. That's not bad, considering that the majority of the company's decisions are being made from Sam's bed rather than in a board room.

Sam's business is proof of how e-commerce has allowed millennials to find their own space in the business world and adapt it to their passions. While millions around the world have been at home unable to work and large parts of the global economy have grinded to a halt, young entrepreneurs with online businesses are still poised to make a large splash this year, even in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Global e-commerce retail sales are set to hit $4.9 trillion by 2021. That is a 265% increase from 2014, which only accounts for 17.5% of the worldwide retail market; therefore, we are likely to see a steady upward trend with no signs of decline even with the worst global pandemic in 100 years crippling much of the world's economy.

Sam, like many young entrepreneurs, plans to take advantage of this massive growth, with his next goal of his company being to crack the ceiling of earning $1 million. before expanding into the next stage of development. When asked about the future of his business, Sam said he plans to "rival the biggest [names] in the fashion market". He wants to grow his business into a multi-million-dollar empire and expand the reach of his brand even further. That way, more customers from all parts of the world can obtain unique, high-quality streetwear that resonates with their favorite celebrities. For now, though, Sam is still working hard to get his brand the recognition and customer base that is required to reach that next level. Whether or not he plans on expanding his operation to the point that he can't manage it from his bed is still up in the air. Despite his achievements, he has decided to continue his university education as he doesn't want to disappoint his parents! He is now at Liverpool John Moores University, studying, as you might have guessed, business. He will be entering his final year in September. Sam wants his story to inspire fellow millennials to become masters of their own destiny and plans to eventually offer courses and mentoring to help others achieve their aspirations in life.

Media contact

Samuel J Stewart

Telephone: +447520648066

Insta: _Samstewart

Email: media@samueljstewart.com

Website: www.samueljstewart.com

SOURCE: Samuel J Stewart

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587735/Samuel-Stewart-Young-Entrepreneur-with-Massive-Growth-Competing-with-Industry-Giants
The Federal Reserve revamped its Main Street Lending Program in ways that will allow battered oil companies to qualify for the aid after industry allies lobbied the Trump administration.

Larger, more heavily indebted companies can now qualify and use the money to pay off prior loans under the changes the central bank announced Thursday.

The move opens the door to more oil and gas producers, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, who had pressed the administration on the issue as energy companies struggle to survive an epic collapse in fuel demand and crude prices.

With the decrease in demand and oversupply due to the global oil price war creating a valley for these highly leveraged companies, this expansion will help them bridge the gap as we look to reopen America, Cramer said in an emailed statement Thursday.

Environmentalists blasted the shifts they said reward oil companies that took on too much debt and were overproducing crude even before the coronavirus pandemic caused demand to crater.

These changes directly reflect demands from polluters and their favorite members of Congress, said Lukas Ross with the environmental group Friends of the Earth. Long before the coronavirus, the drillers were in deep trouble. Now frackers want to pay back their debts with our money. Trumps big oil bailout must be stopped.

For weeks, oil industry advocates have warned the original program structure would prevent battered drillers from accessing capital under the program.

Texas' Sen. Ted Cruz and the Independent Petroleum Association of America argued oil companies needed more flexibility to use Main Street loans to repay existing debt -- something that was previously off limits but will now be allowed under some conditions.

Banks are frozen so I think this is the only hope to see businesses underwrite expansion or to recapitalize between now and the end of the third quarter, said Dan Eberhart, the chief executive of oil-field services company Canary Drilling Services, which has furloughed about 200 people and implemented across-the-board salary cuts.

Maximum loan totals under the Main Street program are also being hiked to $200 million -- from an earlier $150 million cap viewed as too low to help oil producers.

Although the Fed changes are broad -- and arent limited to potential oil company applicants -- they directly respond to the industrys wish list.

The major changes announced today mirror the top requests of the oil and gas industry, said Bharat Ramamurti, a member of the congressional watchdog appointed to scrutinize implementation of the Fed and part of Treasurys virus-relief work.

That raises questions about how the changes promote the broader public interest -- especially when these companies will still have no real obligation to retain or rehire their workers, Ramamurti said on Twitter.

Credit ratings

Even before the changes, oil and gas companies with investment-grade credit ratings could secure funding through a separate program, the Feds Primary and Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facilities.

However, under term sheets released April 9, funding was restricted to firms that had credit ratings of at least BBB-/Baa3 as of March 22 -- a cutoff date that could come too late for some oil producers, such as Occidental Petroleum Corp., which had its debt cut to junk by Moodys on March 18, with Fitch and S&P following on March 20 and March 25, respectively.

Representatives of Occidental did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Republicans have argued that funding should be available to oil companies with credit ratings that slipped amid the coronavirus pandemic and a surge in crude unleashed by a Russia-Saudi Arabia battle for market share.

On Thursday, the Fed said lenders now will be able to apply their industry-specific expertise and underwriting standards to best measure a borrowers income.

Highly leveraged companies also can take advantage of a new, third loan option that comes with increased risk sharing by lenders.

It was not immediately clear Thursday whether the changes would allow Occidental to qualify for aid.

The Feds approach to tweaking the Main Street loan program avoids creating an oil industry-specific initiative that could be unpopular with the public or require approval from Congress, where Democrats are deeply opposed.

The oil industry itself has been split over government aid targeted to the sector. While some smaller, independent producers and their trade groups have clamored for government loans, the idea of industry-targeted aid has drawn resistance from larger, multinational oil companies better able to ride the rout as well as their top lobbying group, the American Petroleum Institute.

Industry opponents of targeted loans are concerned that taking taxpayer money now could cost them political capital in Washington and be used by drilling foes against the sector later.

You cant have capitalism on the way up and socialism on the way down, said American Petroleum Institute Senior Vice President Frank Macchiarola. The role of the government is to provide appropriate economic stabilization across the economy. We do not think the role of the government is to become the private economy.
Kaley Cuoco will star in the upcoming Sony Pictures action-comedy Man From Toronto.

The 34-year-old actress will join the likes of Woody Harrelson and comedian Kevin Hart in the film set for a September 17, 2021 release date, as confirmed by Deadline on Wednesday.

Back in March, Sony halted production on Man From Toronto in wake of the coronavirus pandemic and replaced actor Jason Statham with Harrelson.

Silver screen: Kaley Cuoco will star in the upcoming Sony Pictures action-comedy Man From Toronto; Cuoco pictured in 2019

According to Deadline, the film follows follows 'the world's deadliest assassin' known as The Man From Toronto who has a chance encounter with a character named Teddy who is described as 'New York's biggest screw-up.'

The chance encounter occurs at an Airbnb and - due to unknown circumstances - the unlikely pair must come together and 'save the day.'

Man From Toronto comes from the minds of screenwriters Robbie Fox and Jason Blumenthal. Though the pair created the story together, Fox is credited for the film's script.

After news broke, Cuoco took to Instagram to express her excitement over her addition to the project.

'In a time where things feel uncertain, this kind of news makes me feel incredibly grateful and elated! Am I dreaming?'

Star-studded: The 34-year-old actress will join the likes of Woody Harrelson and comedian Kevin Hart in the film set for a September 17, 2021 release date, as confirmed by Deadline on Wednesday; Hart (left) pictured in 2019 and Harrelson (right) pictured in 2019

She continued: 'Cant wait to reunite with [Hart] and basically sit there while he makes my face hurt from 24/7 laughter! and Woody?! What?!'

The film will be directed by Patrick Hughes, who is an Australian director known for his work in The Hitman's Bodyguard and The Expendables 3.

Blumenthal, along with Todd Black and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists will produce the film, while Bill Bannerman will act as executive producer.

Though there are no updates as to when Man From Toronto will resume production, audiences can catch Cuoco in the HBO limited series The Flight Attendant, which will premiere on HBO Max this year.

Next role: Though there are no updates as to when Man From Toronto will resume production, audiences can catch Cuoco in the HBO limited series The Flight Attendant, which will premiere on HBO Max this year; Cuoco pictured on the set of The Flight Attendant in February

Cuoco is also named as a producer on the project based on the novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian.

Kaley plays the character of Cassandra Bowden, a flight attendant who wakes up to find a dead body lying next to her in her hotel room in Dubai.

Riddled with fear and hesitant to contact the authorities, Bowden goes about her flight attendant duties as if her horrific morning had never occurred.

Of the role, Cuoco explained to People that she 'wanted to try something different,' being that she starred on television comedy The Big Bang Theory for nearly a decade.

Switching it up: Of the role, Cuoco explained to People that she 'wanted to try something different,' being that she starred on television comedy The Big Bang Theory for nearly a decade; Cuoco pictured on the set of the Flight Attendant in February

'I don't think anyone thinks I can [play a dramatic role], and I know that I can, so I'm really excited about that,' she said.

Kaley continued: 'I feel like I used to kind of put my head in the sand and do my work and go home, and that's not the case anymore. It's like I go home and the work just begins and we're like putting the show together and editing all this stuff.'

Due to COVID-19, Kaley has been hunkered down at her new Los Angeles mansion with husband Karl Cook.

The couple moved in together for the first time two months ago, despite being married for a year-and-a-half.
A celebrity London restaurateur whose guests include the Prince of Wales, Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry has described the shocking rise in racism against the Chinese community due to coronavirus.

Geoff Leong, 43, who owns Dumplings' Legend in China Town, told how people had been assaulted, children ostracised at school and others spat at while they went about their lives.

And he revealed that the Metropolitan Police were investigating after all four tyres on his silver Mercedes were slashed outside his home in north London.

It means his wife Marie-Claire - an NHS doctor - now struggles to get to work on a busy Covid-19 ward during the lockdown.

Geoff Leong, whose guests include the Prince of Wales, Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry, has described the shocking rise in racism against the Chinese community due to coronavirus

The 43-year-old (pictured with Jonathan Ross), who owns Dumplings' Legend in China Town told how people had been assaulted, children ostracised at school and others spat at while they went about their lives

Mr Leong, (with Stephen Fry above) who is on the board of the Barbican, sits on the Covid Anti-Racism Group which liaises between the police and the South East Asian community

And he revealed that the Metropolitan Police were investigating after all four tyres on his silver Mercedes were slashed outside his home in north London. It means his wife Marie-Claire - an NHS doctor - now struggles to get to work on a busy Covid-19 ward during the lockdown

Mr Leong sits on the Covid Anti-Racism Group  a committee made up of Anglo-Chinese business leaders, councillors and former police officers - which was set up this month to liaise between Scotland Yard and the South East Asian community.

He told MailOnline: 'There has been growing anti-China racism since the pandemic took hold by people who hold China responsible for the spread of the virus.

One woman told us how someone pushed her off her bike and told to take her virus back to China.

The parents of an 11-year-old girl told us how their daughter was left out of activities at school in January and February because she "would give everyone the virus"

And at China Exchange we had a volunteer spat at in the street and an intern who had a man back her out of a tube train while yelling that she shouldn't infect everyone.'

Mr Leong, a father-of-three, said he noticed the tyres had been cut when he went to drive the car with his children in Hackney, north east London, last week.

'Its possible that someone living locally who knows that I am of Chinese-heritage has seen me getting in and out of the vehicle and decided to stab the car tyres as some sort of retaliation for coronavirus.

No other car on the street was touched, just mine. Ive reported the matter to the police as a potential hate crime and they have been out and taken photos of the damage.'

The Anglo-Chinese businessman (with his doctor wife) told MailOnline: 'There has been growing anti-China racism since the pandemic took hold by people who hold China responsible for the spread of the virus

The father-of-three, said he noticed the tyres had been cut when he went to drive the car with his children in Hackney, north east London, last week.

In a bid to shame the culprits, he plastered the car with messages reading Why? Who did this to a doctors car, 4x wheels stabbed! and How is my NHS doctor going to get to work today?

In a bid to shame the culprits, he plastered the car with messages reading Why? Who did this to a doctors car, 4x wheels stabbed! and How is my NHS doctor going to get to work today?

He also scrawled the word WHY? on each damaged tyre.

Mr Leong, who is also on the board of the Barbican, said his wife works in neurology but has been asked to cover in the Covid-Ward at King's Colleg Hospital in south London to help battle the pandemic.

'Thats why I left all those messages over the car, I want them to know that theyve basically hindered a doctor trying to save lives. I want the wider community to know what theyve done.

Ive lived in Britain since I was 10-years-old, I was schooled here. The Chinese community have given a lot to this country, many nurses and doctors who work for the NHS have come from China or Hong Kong.

It is distressing for us to go through as a family. If there are people out in the community who have a grudge against me  or the Chinese community  and have done this then they need to be exposed.

Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, said she was shocked his car had been attacked: If only his car was attacked in the street  the simple question is why?

Me Leong said: Ive lived in Britain since I was 10-years-old, I was schooled here. The Chinese community have given a lot to this country, many nurses and doctors who work for the NHS have come from China or Hong Kong'

He added: It is distressing for us to go through as a family. If there are people out in the community who have a grudge against me  or the Chinese community  and have done this then they need to be exposed. Pictured: With Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall

This will shock all right-minded people because we know that coronavirus is a worldwide pandemic and we have to be pulling together, which most people in Hackney are.

This was a particularly unnecessary and nasty crime, which has had the added consequence of leaving a front-line health worker without her wheels.'

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: Police were called on Wednesday, 22 April to reports of criminal damage to a car.

The owner of the vehicle reported that the cars tyres had been slashed. There have been no arrests at this stage.
Washington, April 30 : US President Donald Trump said the White House coronavirus guidelines will be "fading out" as more states begin to reopen their economies despite concerns ove the ongoing pandemic.

"They'll be fading out, because now the governors are doing it," Trump said during a White House meeting with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Wednesday.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines were being incorporated by governors into their plans to reopen, and indicated they will phase out over time, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Every state in America has embraced those guidelines at a minimum, or even done more, and now our focus is working with states," Pence said.

"The current guidelines I think you can say are very much incorporated in the guidance that we're giving states to open up America again." The guidelines, including measures such as physical distancing, avoiding large gatherings and working from home, are set to expire Thursday.

Trump announced the guidelines on April 16 that recommend a three-phase approach for states and counties to reopen their economies by May 1.

The US currently accounts for the highest number of coronavirus cases, as well as deaths.

As of Thursday morning, there were 1,039,909 cases, with 60,966 deaths, according to the latest tally by the Johns Hopkins University.
The handful of burgers and breakfast sandwiches that Nikki French has been making for pickup each day isnt paying the bills.

Her eight-table diner in rural Modoc County, which used to serve gobs of pancakes and chicken-fried steak to local ranchers and travelers off Highway 395, has seen sales plunge since the coronavirus put a lid on most commercial activities last month, including sit-down dining.

On Friday, however, the Auction Yard Cafe in Alturas, along with the small towns movie theater, bars, hair salons and other shops and restaurants, plans to reopen its doors and get back to business.

Its time, said French, 48, who was forced to stop table service in mid-March. You see everybody going out to the grocery store now, and the hardware business is booming. You might as well let us and everybody else open, too.

Modoc County, once a gateway for horse-drawn wagons settling the West, expects to lead California out of its nearly 2-month-old shutdown. Facing frustrated shopkeepers and a public antsy from social isolation, the countys Board of Supervisors approved plans this week to allow businesses, schools, churches and doctors offices to resume operation  with added safety precautions.

John Blanchard

The move comes as the rest of California remains idled by state shelter-in-place orders, which have forced services considered nonessential to close. Six Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, have even extended local stay-at-home directives through the end of May.

The different actions across California reflect the stark contrast in how different parts of the state have been affected by the virus and how they view the threat. Rural areas, where the number of sick people and deaths is much lower, have recently ramped up pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom to ease restrictions.

Last week, six counties in Californias sparsely populated north  Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Colusa, Tehama and Glenn  along with the regions Republican state lawmakers sent a letter to the Democratic governor asking permission for businesses to reopen, but to little avail. The counties together claim fewer than 100 of the states more than 46,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Statewide, more than 1,900 people have died.

Modoc County, meanwhile, has had zero cases of COVID-19. Like the counties that petitioned the governor for leniency, the leaders there also have sent Newsom a letter, this one notifying him of their intention to drop the state sanctions Friday.

At some point, there needs to be a beginning of the reopening process and, quite honestly, what better county for it to occur in, said Ned Coe, a county supervisor and longtime cattle rancher. We got a small population and were COVID-19 free.

Coe said that county officials have made certain that their reopening plan meets the terms the governor laid out as necessary before shelter-in-place orders can be safely lifted. They include ensuring that businesses can provide adequate social distancing and having the means to test sick residents for the virus.

The governor, however, has not left it to local jurisdictions to decide when theyre ready to drop state directives. Newsoms office did not respond to requests from The Chronicle for comment. Newsom, in the past, has said that his office would resist pressure to rescind the shelter-in-place orders until health officials think its safe.

While acknowledging that circumstances differ in different areas, state health officials have worried that prematurely lifting the regulations in one place would lead to outbreaks of the virus that could spread elsewhere.

Modoc Countys plan for reopening comes with several conditions. Restaurants and bars must operate at half capacity. Churches and schools have to keep people 6 feet apart. It also advises those over 65 to stay home.

The county only has about 8,800 residents, about a third of whom live in Alturas, the only incorporated community. Theres a small hospital, a casino, several schools and a number of small towns across the 4,200 square miles of largely pine forests, alpine lakes and mountains. But for many services, residents in Alturas drive an hour and a half to Klamath Falls in Oregon or three hours to Reno or Redding.

We dont have a mall or a Walmart, said Heather Hadwick, the countys deputy director of the Office of Emergency Services, who is helping to spearhead the reopening. Our movie theater is never packed, so were already social distancing. ... And most of our hair salons have only one chair.

Hadwick said it will be easy for most businesses to meet the countys new rules for operation and, if not, theyll do whats necessary to comply.

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.

Only one business in the county has so far qualified for a federal small business loan, county officials say, leaving most eager to reopen and begin making money again.

Farming and ranching drive much of the regions economy, but hospitality and tourism, hard hit by the shelter-in-place, are big too. The rural county is poorer than most of California, with nearly 1 in 5 living in poverty and household incomes averaging about two-thirds the state median.

Republicans outnumber Democrats more than 2 to 1, and 70% of the countys votes went to President Trump in 2016.

The CARES Act and some of the financial opportunities (in response to the coronavirus) didnt seem to show up in Modoc County, said Elizabeth Cavasso, a county supervisor and businesswoman who operates the historic Niles Hotel in Alturas. Its really strapped people here. Our county is aware of that and wants to do what it can to help businesses start back up.

Jodie Larranaga, who owns the Brass Rail bar and grill in Alturas, said it hasnt been worth keeping the lights on the past two months to pay staff to wait for the occasional take-out order. Shes excited to get back to work, and her patrons look forward to her return.

Most people in this town are fed up, Larranga said. Ive had people begging me for weeks to open.

Like elsewhere in the state, Modoc County residents are mixed in how they feel about the virus and its dangers. Larranga thinks the threat has been overblown. But she believes people should be allowed to make up their own minds and act accordingly.

I got people who are so happy to see each other that theyre going to sit together when I open, she said. They can make that choice. Theyre grown adults.

On the other hand, if they want to sit in another part of the restaurant, she said, they can.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
On April 30, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had a phone conversation with Zakir Garalov.

During the telephone conversation, the head of state stressed that Zakir Garalov, whose term of office as Prosecutor General expired, had faithfully served the principles of statehood of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev in this position, and hailed his works to improve the activities of the prosecution bodies.

Zakir Garalov thanked the President for recognizing his activities, and said he would always support the successful policy pursued by the head of state.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
[April 30, 2020] Early-Stage Venture Capital Firm Ridge Ventures Adds Head of Investor Relations & Principal to Growing Team

Today, Ridge Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm whose investments include Braze, Fastly, Discord, UpLift, Krux, ThirdLove and Sapho, announced that Head of Investor Relations Susan Stella and Principal Kamil Saeid joined its team. At Ridge, Stella will lead marketing and communications strategy with limited partners. Saeid will source new investment opportunities and work alongside Ridge Ventures portfolio companies that have collectively raised more than $1 billion in each of the last two years. A significant amount of Ridge Ventures' fourth fund, with capital exceeding $150 million, is still available for new deals.



"Susan's vast experience in venture and Kamil's empathetic, founder-first mindset are a welcome addition to the Ridge family," said Alex Rosen, Managing Partner of Ridge Ventures. "It's a trying time for many enterprise companies, even more so for enterprise startups. Expanding our operations on both ends of the ecosystem-from communicating with a growing base of LPs to sourcing new investments-will be crucial as the industry navigates an unprecedented and challenging economic climate." As Ridge's Head of Investor Relations Stella brings 20 years of LP communications experience, including her work for multi-billion dollar private equity funds, emerging venture funds and industry associations. She was previously a Principal and Director of Investor Relations at Knightsbridge, as well as a Director at Thunderbird Global Private Equity Center. Susan received an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management-along with the highest honor awarded to a single graduate, the Barton Kyle Yount Award-after earning her BA, magna cum laude, from Drake University.

"I'm excited to team up with Ridge Ventures and manage their expanding roster of LPs," said Stella. "Ridge boasts an impressive portfolio of top-notch startups and the track record of big returns that LPs desire. This makes my job much easier." Before joining Ridge Ventures, Saeid was an Investor and the first outside hire at Aspect (News - Alert) Ventures, where he worked with companies like Chime, Exabeam and Gusto. Prior to this, Saeid was a consultant at Bain & Company, supporting both hyper-growth and large incumbent technology companies, legacy companies undergoing a generational shift, as well as serving on the Private Equity Group. Saeid graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Biomechanical Engineering, and later returned for his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is particularly excited by companies targeting industries and functions that remain overly analog and have historically been overlooked. On the personal side, he is interested in tech development in Africa and bridging the continent's ecosystem to Silicon Valley's. "Joining a firm amid a pandemic is like skydiving and assembling your parachute on the way down, but I relish the challenge," added Saeid. "I'm excited to back companies that will be critical to rethinking digital transformation while learning from Ridge Ventures' seasoned investors along the way. More than anything, I'm grateful for the chance to provide early-stage founders the support they need during this difficult period." The arrival of Stella and Saeid to Ridge Ventures follows the hiring of Partner Brendan Baker, ex-Greylock Director and early Angellist employee, in September 2019. Moving forward, the firm will look to further reinforce its team with experienced, founder-centric colleagues who can empower enterprise startups adapting to an ever-changing landscape. About Ridge Ventures Founded in 2007, Ridge Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund investing in founders who are redefining how the world interacts with data and code. Ridge takes a fast, flexible and founder-focused approach, and backs companies delivering advanced technologies, new distribution models and incredible user experiences. To learn more, visit www.ridge.vc and follow us @ridgevc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005272/en/

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As Texas plans to partially reopen its economy after Gov. Greg Abbot said he will allow some businesses, including retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls, to reopen if they adhere to a list of requirements, Houston restaurant owners hold mixed feelings about the Abbots decision.

Since the pandemic began, Houston restaurants have only been allowed to offer take-out and delivery services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This has caused restaurants to operate with limited staff with many restaurant owners planning to re-hire when the threat of spreading coronavirus lessens.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Texas A&M system plans to reopen in the fall, including football

As outlined in Abbotts executive order on Monday, restaurants may operate for dine-in service up to 25 percent of the total listed occupancy of the restaurant and may not offer valet services except for vehicles with placards or plates for disabled parking.

Restaurants must also require parties maintain at least six feet apart from other parties at all time; make hand sanitizing stations available upon entry to the restaurant; they cannot have tables consisting of more than six people; they must use disposable menus; employees must wash or sanitize their hands upon entering the restaurant and between interactions with customers; and more.

To see a full list of restaurant requirements, go to https://gov.texas.gov/organization/opentexas.

For some restaurant owners, like Ricardo Molina from Molinas Cantina, the governors decision is exciting as a lot of his staff is ready to get back to work.

MORE FROM RYAN NICKERSON: New Orleans Saints punter and Main Squeeze Juice try to squeeze out COVID-19 in Houston area

Were going to be open and were excited about it. The governor and his staff did a fantastic job looking at science, the research, talking with health experts, and gathered a lot of information, said Molina. The state checklist they put out is pretty comprehensive.

We of course have to maintain a six-foot distance, which is probably the most important piece of this, especially while waiting to be seated so thats going to be tricky, said Molina.

According to Molina, the 25 percent capacity requirement the restaurant must maintain will mean people will not be able to pile in the entry areas or fill up the bar and stand around and have drinks as they wait for a table.

To get around this, Molinas staff will take customers phone numbers and direct them to wait outside the restaurant or in their cars and call the customers when their table is ready.

Aaron Lyons, founder of Dish Society, feels as if the Governors decision came too quickly as he was expecting to open in the middle of May.

I was not expecting Friday, I dont think anyone was. Politics aside, regardless of what anybody says, I dont think a majority of people are comfortable going out right now, said Lyons. Thats for both guests and our team members.

Lyons said they are not going to rush into anything and are going to offer limited patio services only.

Were not going to open our dining rooms. Were basically going to be treating every order like a to-go order, said Lyons. Instead of people eating in their cars, they are going to eat on our patio. Well have a manager out there to assist and get refills and stuff, but well have handwashing stations out on the patio, and well allow customers inside one by one to use the restroom as needed.

MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox

Restaurant owners like Justin Turner from Bernies Burger Bus in Bellaire are most concerned with their staffs well being and will also only allow for customers to eat on their restaurants patio. Turner also believes the 25 percent capacity requirement is bad for business and not worth implementing.

Were not trying to go back to full service just yet because were worried about the safety of our staff, said Turner. If one person gets sick here, were done. 25 percent doesnt do anything for us as a business. It doesnt help us; it hurts us to try and staff that, so wed rather go with the minimal staff.

Even if Gov. Abbott allowed for 100 percent capacity, Lyons and Dish Society wouldnt be doing it as they were already considering limited capacity upon reopening mid-May.

The 25 percent occupancy thing I think is a good way to ease into reopening if you can and youre following the right protocol, said Lyons, and based on polling and just what Im seeing, thats about the percentage of people that feel comfortable eating out so I think thats probably a fair number to start with.

One of Turners main concerns is the requirement for a handwashing station immediately upon entry into the restaurant. With the lack of available hand sanitizer, Turner doesnt think he could sustain the requirement for even a week.

I might be able to guarantee one day but I dont know how many people are going to walk in and use all my hand sanitizer, said Turner. Then Im out. Then what do I do?

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
Over 70 percent of federal prison inmates who have been screened for the coronavirus have tested positive, new figures show, as cases and fatalities are predicted sore with nationwide testing efforts still in the early stages.

According to the Bureau of Prisons, of the 2,700 inmates tested nationwide, nearly 2,000 have come back positive - strongly suggesting there are far more prisoners with COVID-19 than currently reported.

With just fifteen percent of the nations federal prison population screened, 1,534 inmates have tested positive for coronavirus, 414 have recovered and 31 have died.

FCI Terminal Island in San Pedro has suffered the worst outbreak in any of the nations federal penitentiaries, with more than half of its 1,051 inmates currently struck-down with the deadly virus.

Jack Donson, a retired BOP employee and prison consultant, told DailyMail.com that the situation across the US is going to get 'ugly' - and fast.

'They have only started formal large scale testing,' Donson said, 'and the early results are very bad.'

The top five worst-hit federal prisons are shown above (left to right): Lompoc USP, CA; FCI Terminal Island, CA; Fort Worth FMC, TX; Elkton FCI, OH; Butner Medium FCI, NC

FCI Terminal Island in San Pedro has suffered the worst outbreak in any of the nations federal penitentiaries, with more than half of its 1,051 inmates currently struck-down with the deadly virus

As of Thursday, 570 FCI Terminal Island inmates were confirmed to have coronavirus, along with 10 staff members. Two inmates have already died of complications related to COVID-19.

In little over a week, the outbreak at FCI Terminal Island has escalated rapidly as prison officials increased testing efforts.

To try and combat the spread, dozens of inmates have been moved into tents for social distancing, others have been moved into lock-down.

Family members of inmates at the low-security facility told the LA Times that a military-style medical facility has been erected in the prison yard to help house the relentless number of sick.

Inmate Michael Fleming, 59, died from coronavirus at a nearby hospital on Sunday. Serving 20 years for drug conspiracy charges, hed tested positive for the virus on April 8.

Top Five Worst-Hit Federal Prisons in the United States 1. FCI Terminal Island Positive Inmate Cases: 570 Positive Staff Cases: 10 Inmate Deaths: 2 2. FMC Fort Worth Positive Inmate Cases: 298 Positive Staff Cases: 1 Inmate Deaths: 3 3. FCI Butner Positive Inmate Cases: 212 Positive Staff Cases: 13 Inmate Deaths: 6 4. USP Lompoc Positive Inmate Cases: 83 Positive Staff Cases: 15 Inmate Deaths: 1 5. FCI Elkton Positive Inmate Cases: 49 Positive Staff Cases: 48 Inmate Deaths: 7 Statistics up-to-date as of Thursday April 30 at 10:30am Advertisement

Flemings son, also named Michael, said he never got to say goodbye to his father. He said he was never informed of his dads diagnosis or that hed been placed on a ventilator in critical condition.

The first word the family received of the fathers illness was the day he died, from a prison chaplain asking if the body should be cremated and where the ashes should be sent.

They just left us all in the dark, Fleming said in an interview with The Associated Press. We had to find out from the news what the actual cause of death was. It was kind of screwed up.

The response from the federal Bureau of Prisons to the growing coronavirus crisis in prisons has raised alarm among advocates and lawmakers about whether the agency is doing enough to ensure the safety of the nearly 150,000 inmates serving time in federal facilities.

And even though officials have stressed infection and death rates inside prisons are lower compared with outside, the new figures provided by the Bureau of Prisons suggest the worst is yet to come.

In FCI Butner, North Carolina, more than a quarter of its 860 inmates (212) have already tested positive, and six have died. Texas FMC Fort Worth has also been cited as a potential hotspot in recent days with 298 of its 1,472 prisoner population hit by COVID-19.

USP Lompoc, which suffered the countrys first coronavirus penitentiary outbreak, currently has 83 active cases of coronavirus and one registered death.

The victim, 60-year-old Efrom Stutson, contracted the virus before concluding his 27-year sentence for selling cocaine. He walked out of the facility on April 1, but was hospitalized hours after.

He was looking forward to a new life, finding a job and seeing his kids, said his sister, Lawanda Rangel to the Times. He was happy the last time I spoke to him from there.

Five days later, and he was dead from complications caused by COVID-19.

Similarly, in Oklahoma, a pregnant Native American woman incarcerated at the El Reno federal correctional institution died after giving birth on a ventilator Tuesday.

Andrea Circle Bear, 30, had been sentenced to more than two years in prison on a drug charge in January. She delivered her baby by cesarean section while on a ventilator in a Texas hospital on 1 April, and died there on 28 April.

Her child survived, but officials refused to provide any further information on the baby's condition or who is it taking care of the child, 'out of respect for the family and for private reasons.

The 30-year-old woman 'had a pre-existing medical condition' that made her more at risk for a severe case of coronavirus, according to federal officials, without specifying what the condition was.

The BOP has 142,255 federal inmates in BOP-managed institutions and 10,552 in community-based facilities. Ther are 1534 federal inmates and 343 BOP staff who have confirmed positive test results for COVID-19 nationwide. Currently, 414 inmates and 132 staff have recovered. There have been 31 federal inmate deaths and 0 BOP staff member deaths attributed to COVID-19 disease

While testing efforts are increased, the Bureau of Prisons communication policies are leaving families in the dark about their loved ones potentially life-threatening condition.

Not having the opportunity to say goodbye -- that wouldve been invaluable, Michael Fleming said of his father's death. We will never have that chance.

Under Bureau of Prisons policy, the agency is supposed to promptly notify the family of inmates who have serious illnesses. But the agency, which confirmed the family wasnt initially notified, has discretion when making notifications, according to a spokeswoman.

Prisons officials say they are doing the best they can under dire circumstances and following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We are doing the right things to manage our population and to keep them as safe as possible at this time when we cant provide that assurance to our average American free public that everyone is safe and secure right now with this pandemic, said Kathy Hawk Sawyer, a senior adviser at the Bureau of Prisons who previously ran the agency twice.

As of Wednesday, 31 inmates, including Fleming, had died of the coronavirus at federal correctional facilities since late March.

His death followed that of Bradley James Ghilarducci, 73, who died last week while serving eight-years for receiving and distributing child sex abuse imagery. Both of the men had pre-existing medical conditions, officials said.

Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan, who represents the area, wrote on Twitter, This is not acceptable. It is clear they are not making sure these inmates are protected. The government has a responsibility to protect people in its care, including inmates. Being incarcerated at #TerminalIsland should not be a death sentence. We need answers.

In FCI Butner, North Carolina, more than a quarter of its 860 inmates (212) have already tested positive, and six have died

Texas FMC Fort Worth has also been cited as a potential hotspot in recent days with 298 of its 1,472 prisoner population hit by COVID-19

Prisons officials have daily calls with CDC officials, and CDC teams have visited several correctional facilities. As part of the plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officials have limited inmate movement, set up tents to increase bed space, isolated inmates at some prisons and identified others for possible home confinement.

The Justice Department obtained 20 ventilators for use at hospitals housing federal prisoners, Dr. Jeffrey Allen, the bureaus medical director, said in an interview.

In the last week, the Bureau of Prisons has obtained more than 5,000 test kits and now has 20 rapid testing machines deployed at hot spot prisons to increase testing numbers, Allen said.

He insisted that testing was in line with current CDC guidance and that officials are working daily to discover new strategies to slow the spread of the virus.

A lot is yet unknown about how to limit its transmission in a correctional environment, and thats why were collaborating with the CDC to try to identify that sort of data that can inform our management strategies going forward, he said.

But at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal lockup in New York City housing 1,700 inmates, there were only nine nasal swab test kits late last month, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of hundreds of inmates there. Just one inmate has been confirmed with coronavirus there, according to Bureau of Prisons statistics.

Deirdre D. von Dornum, attorney-in-charge of the Federal Defenders of New York in Brooklyn, said there was a reason.

They are not testing anyone, she said.

USP Lompoc, which suffered the countrys first coronavirus penitentiary outbreak, currently has 83 active cases of coronavirus and one registered death. The victim, 60-year-old Efrom Stutson, contracted the virus before concluding his 27-year sentence for selling cocaine. He walked out of the facility on April 1, but was hospitalized hours after

Nearly 350 staff members have tested positive, with no recorded fatalities. FCI Elkton currently has the highest staff sickness rate of 48 positive cases, one less than the prisoners tall of 49

At the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the New York City jail where Jeffrey Epstein killed himself, inmate Guillermo Zegarra-Martinez told his attorney in an email that his cellmate tested positive for the coronavirus and was put in isolation for more than two weeks.

But Zegarra-Martinez was not tested even though he was shaking in his cell with a fever during nights while experiencing pain throughout his body in the week before his cellmate was taken out and the week after, the inmate wrote.

The sick inmate was taken out of the cell only because he was coughing on the face of the guy who took his temperature, Zegarra-Martinez said, according to his lawyer, Sabrina Shroff.

Disgraced celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti was temporarily released from the facility last Friday due to the risk of contracting COVID-19 inside the Manhattan correctional center.

Avenatti, whose clients once included the likes of Stormy Daniels, was ordered by a judge to return to the facility in 90 days. He was also made to wear a monitoring bracelet and will serve the three-month period in confinement at a friend's house in Venice, California.

The 49-year-old had to spend two weeks under quarantine at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility before he could leave the prison to ensure he had no signs of the virus.

Avenatti is one of a number of federal inmates released from jails across the US as officials try to stem the spread of coronavirus inside penitentiary walls.

Disgraced celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti was temporarily released from Metropolitan Correctional Center last Friday due to the risk of contracting COVID-19 inside the Manhattan correctional center

Meanwhile, advocates and even prison guards have been calling for reforms to head off outbreaks in a prison system plagued for years by violence, misconduct and staffing shortages.

Nearly 350 staff members have tested positive, with no recorded fatalities. FCI Elkton currently has the highest staff sickness rate of 48 positive cases, one less than the prisoners tall of 49.

Staff are sent around the country to pick up shifts, and union officials say the shortages are still so severe that officers are sometimes working 24 hours in a row. At a prison in Elkton, Ohio, where seven inmates have died, the governor called in the National Guard to help supplement medical staff.

Officers worry that the protective equipment theyve been given isnt adequate to protect them from daily contact with inmates, especially at facilities where dozens have tested positive.

But Hawk Sawyer said the Bureau of Prisons is prepared with ample amount of personal protective equipment and supplies, including soap and disinfectant.

We are creating and making the masks for the staff, as well as the shields and hand sanitizer and all kinds of things, she said.

The Bureau of Prisons has not yet responded to a DailyMail.com request for comment.
Five prison officers in Northern Ireland have tested positive for Covid-19, the justice minister has said.

Naomi Long said her thoughts with are with the individuals and their families.

Giving evidence to Stormonts justice committee, Ms Long also revealed that so far no prisoners in the region have tested positive for the virus.

There are just over 1,500 prisoners in Northern Ireland, but a number were given temporary release amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Of the 120 prisoners given temporary release, eight have been returned to custody for not complying with regulations, Ms Long added, with most of the contraventions relating to drugs and alcohol.

Ms Long said infection control measures have been put in place within custodial environments, including precautionary isolation for new committals as well as personal protective equipment for staff.

None of the prisoners or young people in our care have tested positive for Covid-19, she said.

Five prison officers have tested positive for Covid-19 and our thoughts are with them and with their families at this difficult time.

Ms Long also gave an update on a temporary mortuary prepared at Ministry of Defence property at Kinnegar, Co Down.

I sincerely hope, having visited the site, that we never need to use it. Naomi Long

She said she had made a Military Aid from a Civil Authority (MACA) request to use a part of the base, and described how it has been transformed of large empty industrial sheds to possibly the best morgue facility on these islands.

Staff in my department, partners and contractors worked extremely hard to develop this site within a very short time frame and it has been handed over now from the contractors, she said.

I sincerely hope, having visited the site, that we never need to use it.

She added: It is our intention that we could keep the facility and that we would have it in the event that there were any future issues.

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said the point that needs to be made is that the military can be used in the most discrete manner, but have a really big impact.

Ms Long responded: For some in our community the involvement of the military is still an issue of sensitivity  to be fair, the military are also aware of that and therefore the site they have given us is self-contained, its not branded, its completely centrally managed. They were really conscious of their wish to ensure that anyone who would use that facility would feel comfortable and confident about using it.
Madison County Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward for information on a theft at the Henson Ford dealership in Madisonville.

According to a social media post, the dealership was burglarized on Monday night. Deputies were called to the business on Tuesday, where the dealerships owners reported 11 vehicles had catalytic converters stolen, totalling more than $33,000.

Madison County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. The dealerships owners have pledged an additional $2,000. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still claim the reward by contacting 936-348-3100 or submitting a tip at www.P3tips.com.
New Delhi/IBNS: Days after Twitter deleted fake handles attributed to royal family members of the Gulf countries which were used to target and spread false news about India, Kuwait has now rejected attempts to spoil ties with the nation through foreign sponsored social media posts.

India appreciated Kuwait government's move as MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava was quoted as saying by The Economic Times: "We have seen certain references to India in non-official social media handles in Kuwait. The Government of Kuwait has assured us that they are deeply committed to friendly relations with India. They also do not support any interference in the internal affairs of India."

It is therefore important that friendly and cooperative nature of our relations is accurately recognised and misuse of social media is not given credence, the spokesperson said.

Amid COVID-19 crisis, India recently deployed a Rapid Response Team to Kuwait, on its request, to assist the nation in the fight against the highly infectious disease.

Micro-blogging site Twitter has suspended a fake account that was allegedly used by Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to spread false news about India in the Gulf region, media reports said.

The entire controversy started on Wednesday when a Twitter account named @SayyidaMona had posted that Oman government will expel one million workers living in Oman if the "persecution" of Muslims in India is not stopped.

Indian PM Narendra Modi was also tagged with the post.

A fact check by IBNS found the account as fake. It has since been suspended by Twitter.

"Oman stands with its Muslim brothers and sisters in India. If the Indian Govt doesn't stop the persecution of Muslims, then 1 million workers living in Oman may be expelled. I will take up this issue with the Sultan of Oman @narendramodi," the fake account tweeted.

Micro-blogging site Twitter has suspended a fake account that was allegedly used by Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to spread false news about India in the Gulf region, media reports said.

Micro-blogging site Twitter has suspended a fake account that was allegedly used by Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to spread false news about India in the Gulf region, media reports said.

The entire controversy started on Wednesday when a Twitter account named @SayyidaMona had posted that Oman government will expel one million workers living in Oman if the "persecution" of Muslims in India is not stopped.

Indian PM Narendra Modi was also tagged with the post.

A fact check by IBNS found the account as fake. It has since been suspended by Twitter.

"Oman stands with its Muslim brothers and sisters in India. If the Indian Govt doesn't stop the persecution of Muslims, then 1 million workers living in Oman may be expelled. I will take up this issue with the Sultan of Oman @narendramodi," the fake account tweeted.

Indian security agencies say ISI has been spreading hatred against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gulf countries by using several fake accounts on social media platforms, reported the news channel Wion.

According to reports, the intelligence agencies have prepared a dossier of Pakistan's involvement in activities of spreading anti-India messages through fake or hacked accounts on social media.

Investigators have said that fake accounts are being created in the name of royal family members of Gulf countries to spread hatred against India.

This revelation comes after another twitter account ID @pak_fauj was found to have changed its name to Mona bint Fahd al Said @SayyidaMona a member of the Oman royal family. This account has also been used to spread anti-India propaganda, Wion reported.

Several anti-India tweets on ties between India and the Gulf were posted from the twitter handle.

Several Pakistani media personnel have shared them.

The dossier prepared by security agencies and accessed by Zee News reveals that hundreds of such Twitter accounts have been used to spread hatred against India and are being operated from Pakistan, but have assumed identities of persons from Gulf nations to push the narrative that there is a backlash against Indian government in Gulf.

An Indian security official told Wion, "How ISI executed the fake news campaign; it first dug out old tweets put out by Indians in Gulf with negative references to Muslims and through ISI handles popularised it. It adopted two methods for popularising- fake handles purportedly belonging to high profile people in Gulf like royal family and journalists."

A cyber expert Jiten Jain told the news channel, "Interesting aspect was that those ISI handles that were claiming that they were India or Pakistan based, started showing themselves to be Gulf based to push the narrative that there is a backlash against Indian govt in Gulf. ISI is using name of royal families to spread hatred against India."

Sayyida Mona bint Fahd al Said, the Omani princess whose name was used by the impersonator, issued a clarification on Wednesday saying she had no connection with the tweets.

The tweets posted by a person impersonating an Omani princess were aimed at disturbing social harmony in India and disturbing New Delhis ties with countries in West Asia, people familiar with developments said on Thursday as reported by Hindustan Times.

The people cited above, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said it was deeply regrettable that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was levelling accusations of Islamophobia against India. They described these accusations as factually inaccurate and misleading, reported the Indian newspaper.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sayyida Mona has clarified that the Twitter account is fake and has no connection to her.

First of all, I thank you for your concern to verify what was published through an account impersonating me, which you are sure that I have no connection with," she said in the statement as reported by The Arabian Stories.

With full trust in all of you in strengthening awareness among all regarding such activities, which are not acceptable to the Omani society. I would like to confirm again that my presence in social media is restricted to the following accounts: @hhmonaalsaid on Instagram and @MohaFahad13 on Twitter, she said.

Munu Mahawar, Indian Ambassador to Oman, also thanked the princess for the clarification.
A former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and her husband, Ikemba, have donated bags of 50kg rice to the Women Wing of Umuda-Isingwu Development Union in Umuahia North LGA of Abia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bags of rice were presented on the couples behalf by a community leader, Chris Onwuegbu, to the executives of the union, on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, a former Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank, was recently appointed World Health Organisations Special Envoy for the newly-inaugurated Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.

Mr Onwuegbu said the gift was to ameliorate the suffering of the women due to the lockdown induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He lauded the U.S.based couple for the gesture.

According to him, the couple has contributed much to the development of the community.

They are so passionate about our wellbeing that there is no single progressive group in the community they dont belong, he said.

Responding, Ugonma Iheoma, Chairperson, Womens Wing, Umuda-Isingwu Development Union, expressed gratitude to the couple for the donation.

It is not the first time she and her husband are helping us in this community. We are blessed to have her married to our community.

She is a humble and a kind-hearted woman. The husband is always giving her support , Mrs Iheoma said.

(NAN)
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Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 17:16 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd545c30 1 Business Indosat-Ooredoo,financial-report,loss,revenue,telecommunications Free

Telecommunication company PT Indosat reported an increase in losses during this years first quarter despite growing revenue as its organization rightsizing added to costs.

The publicly listed company recorded Rp 605.61 billion (US$40.37 million) in loses in the January-March quarter, 107.04 percent higher than the corresponding period last year.

However, it booked a 7.9 percent year-on-year (yoy) increase in revenue to Rp 6.5 trillion during the quarter, largely driven by a 10.6 percent growth in cellular revenue to Rp 5.4 trillion, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

It also saw an increase in average revenue per user (ARPU) to Rp 29,600, higher than the Rp 26,500 recorded in the same period of 2019, thanks to a 63 percent annual jump in data traffic.

The rise in net losses was primarily driven by a one-off impact of organization rightsizing and losses in foreign exchange, the company said in the statement.

The firm announced earlier this year that it was laying off 677 employees as part of a change in its business strategy to bring the companys closer to market needs. The company allocated Rp 663 billion for compensation packages, with an additional bonus of Rp 18.3 billion to 92 percent of employees that accepted the decision.

The companys costs went up by almost 9 percent annually in this years first quarter to Rp 6.33 trillion.

Despite the increased losses and looming risks from the COVID-19 pandemic, president director and chief executive officer Ahmad Al-Neama was still upbeat about the companys performance, as it was still on track with its three years turnaround plan, saying the company still sees positive momentum continuing in the coming quarters.

Al-Neama also emphasized the companys commitment to improving its network performance and services amid the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in several regions.

We have accelerated our network rollout plan to make sure people can stay connected during these times and will continue to support the country through this pandemic, he said in the statement.

Binaartha Parama Sekuritas equity analyst M. Nafan Aji told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the PSBB measures could benefit Indosats performance in the second quarter of this year onward.

He expected the measures, which require people to work and study from home, to lead to an increase in data usage, which would boost Indosats revenue.

He also advised the company to find ways to make its business more efficient.

Without efficiency measures, the company is less likely to improve its performance and turn its bottom line to a profit amid the highly competitive climate of the telecommunications industry, he said.

Indosat shares, traded under the code ISAT, dropped 4.44 percent on Thursday versus a 3.26 percent jump on the main gauge Jakarta Composite Index (JCI).

Editor's note: This article has been revised to state that Indosat's average revenue per user (ARPU) is Rp 29,600, higher than the Rp 26,500 recorded in the same period of 2019.
India is starting one of the worlds first clinical trials of experimental blood plasma therapy, described as a very promising potential treatment for seriously ill coronavirus patients.

The treatment takes blood donated by someone who has recovered from Covid-19, extracts the colourless plasma rich in antibodies for fighting the disease, and gives this as a transfusion to the infected patient.

Its a tried and tested technique that has been used as far back as the Spanish flu of 1918 and was more recently approved by the World Health Organisation to combat the outbreak of Ebola in west Africa.

But the hour-long procedure comes with its own risks, including the potential to pass on other illnesses from the donor to the patient, and it is not yet known how effective it will be when it comes to the new coronavirus.

None the less, medical teams across the world have been taking donations from recovered coronavirus patients and are already using plasma therapy as a last-ditch treatment, with consent, in emergency cases  whats known as compassionate use.

Its a rare instance where scientists are having to play catch-up with the reality on the ground. The nature of the pandemic means doctors need to apply new treatments with rigour but also with unprecedented speed, said Dr Vishal Rao, who is leading Indias phase-one trial at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), Karnataka.

Dr Rao told The Independent that he already has several donors and expects the first patients in the trial to start receiving transfusions by the end of this week.

Simultaneous phase-one trials are being conducted by the University of Chicago and Semmelweis University in Hungary. Using a small number of patients in a controlled environment, their job is to establish the safety of the procedure so that larger phase-two trials, with hundreds of patients, can then begin.

After media coverage of apparently successful plasma therapy treatments in compassionate use cases in several Indian states, Dr Rao said the authorities had receiving thousands of requests from hospitals across the country to start using the experimental technique.

The Indian health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal was forced to issue a statement this week stressing that currently there are no approved therapies for Covid-19, including plasma therapy, and that while plasma therapy is one of the treatments that is currently being experimented with, there is, however, no evidence to support it as a treatment.

Dr Rao said he welcomed the governments statement, saying it was not feasible to roll out plasma therapy before the safety trials have been completed. But he also supports its use on compassionate grounds if somebody is willing to take the risk.

What weve seen is that the gap between research and clinical practice, the gap between bench and bedside has narrowed down significantly in this time of pandemic, he said. It has come down from years to weeks and months. The initial data [from compassionate use] is a very, very promising start.

We dont have the liberty of time to look at a very large, statistically significant number and then debate all of these issues. This is something that the global community is trying to answer in a very quick fashion We will really have to push science to the limit of its utility.

The Indian Council for Medical Research has already approved plans for a phase-two trial involving more than 450 patients that, if the Karnataka trial goes well, will take up to six months.

The US gave the green light for a similar phase-two trial, also randomised and controlled and also involving 450 test subjects, a week ago. And American researchers are also following the progress of more than 600 patients who have received compassionate plasma therapy. Doctors say such cases, though not carried out in the rigorous setting of a medical trial, could provide useful insights.

The first paper describing the apparently positive results from experimental plasma therapy in 10 severely ill coronavirus patients was published as a preprint  before going through a peer-review process  by a Chinese team in Wuhan on 16 March.

A second study, involving five critical patients in Shenzhen, China, was again issued as a preprint in the Journal of the American Medical Association on 27 March.

Five people who had been in hospital in Shenzhen for at least 10 days were started on transfusions, the paper says, and within three days body temperature had normalised in four out of the five patients. At the conclusion of the observations, three had been discharged from hospital and two were in a stable condition.

The authors said that in this preliminary uncontrolled [study], administration of convalescent plasma containing neutralising antibody was followed by improvement in clinical status. They also stressed, however, that the limited sample size and study design preclude a definitive statement about the potential effectiveness of this treatment.

German authorities approved the countrys first plasma therapies on 7 April, while France started giving treatments to 60 patients across Paris hospitals around the same time.

The UK has only just approved a trial which officials say could eventually lead to treatment of up to 5,000 patients a week, but has yet to get off the ground. Englands deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van Tam said Britain was 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, adding: We hope to add convalescent plasma to this list shortly.

Dr Rao said that in a global crisis, no country should sit idly by and wait for somebody else to solve it for them. India is at the forefront, trying to give some quick answers, but each country needs to push its scientific rigour and innovative promise to the limit, he said. [This crisis] needs the global collective brain and collective consciousness to come together to solve it.
Bill Bauer says he and his wife noticed that Southwest Airlines canceled two flights from Fort Myers to Pittsburgh Sunday.

Only one flight remained, Flight 3897, and Bauer says it appears that flight also carried passengers from the other canceled flights. The end result was something that made him uncomfortable: no social distancing.
TORONTO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rubicon Minerals Corporation (TSX: RMX |OTCQX: RBYCF)("Rubicon" or the "Company"), based in Toronto, Ontario and focused on developing the Phoenix Gold Project in Red Lake, northern Ontario, today announced that George, Ogilvie, P.Eng., President and CEO of Rubicon, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on May 6th.

DATE: Wednesday, May 6th

TIME: 10:30-11:00am ET

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/MayResourceVIC-PR

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

Recent Company Highlights

(Please refer to the Cautionary Statements at the end of this news release.)

Delivered a 2019 Preliminary Economic Assessment (" 2019 PEA ") for the Phoenix Gold Project, demonstrating an after-tax IRR and NPV 5% of 40.2% and C$135.2 million , respectively, based on a US$1,325 per ounce gold price assumption. Other highlights include the potential for conceptual life of mine after-tax free cash flow of C$191.5 million , total cash costs of US$624 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of US$882 per ounce. See news release on August 19, 2019 (Link to news release: https://rubiconminerals.com/Investor-News/News/Press-release-details/2019/Rubicon-Minerals-Delivers-New-PEA-Demonstrating-a-402-After-Tax-IRR-and-C191-million-Free-Cash-Flow-Potential-of-the-Phoenix-Gold-Project/default.aspx) and the Company's technical report for the Phoenix Gold Project dated January 3, 2020 (the " 2020 Technical Report ") which is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at https://rubiconminerals.com/Exploration-Projects/Phoenix-Gold-Project/default.aspx.

") for the Phoenix Gold Project, demonstrating an after-tax IRR and NPV of 40.2% and , respectively, based on a per ounce gold price assumption. Other highlights include the potential for conceptual life of mine after-tax free cash flow of , total cash costs of per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of per ounce. See news release on (Link to news release: https://rubiconminerals.com/Investor-News/News/Press-release-details/2019/Rubicon-Minerals-Delivers-New-PEA-Demonstrating-a-402-After-Tax-IRR-and-C191-million-Free-Cash-Flow-Potential-of-the-Phoenix-Gold-Project/default.aspx) and the Company's technical report for the Phoenix Gold Project dated (the " ") which is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at https://rubiconminerals.com/Exploration-Projects/Phoenix-Gold-Project/default.aspx. Updated 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate shows expansion of Measured and Indicated Resource Estimates to 811,000 ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 464,000 ounces. See the 2020 Technical Report

On schedule to deliver a Feasibility Study for the Phoenix Gold Project in H2/2020.

About Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Rubicon Minerals Corporation is an advanced gold exploration company that owns the Phoenix Gold Project, located in the prolific Red Lake gold district in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Additionally, Rubicon controls the second largest land in Red Lake consisting of over 285 square kilometres of prime, strategic exploration ground, and more than 900 square kilometres of mineral property interests in the emerging Long Canyon gold district that straddles the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Rubicon's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (RMX) and the OTCQX markets (RBYCF). For more information, please visit our website at www.rubiconminerals.com .

RUBICON MINERALS CORPORATION

George Ogilvie, P.Eng.

President, CEO, and Director

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors.

A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network.

Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements and other Cautionary Notes

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, will (or not) be achieved or occur in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding mineral resource estimates, the anticipated timing of the delivery and details of a feasibility study for the Project, the results of the 2019 PEA (including any anticipated economics, such as return on capital (including IRR) and NPV, free cash flow, gold production (payable or otherwise), capital and operating costs, life of mine (or LOM), estimated tonnes and grade, mineable inventory, construction period and other results of the 2019 PEA, all of which are estimates only), impact of infrastructure on the economics of the 2019 PEA or any Feasibility Study for the Project, the potential impact of the data from the 2019 drilling program after September 30, 2019, the potential tonnage of mineralized material and its grade from the Project (including, but not limited to, any Explore Target areas), the potential to improve Mineral Resource estimates (including but not limited to expanding the quantity and converting or upgrading the classification) and any further steps necessary to do so (including the anticipated outcome of further drilling of the Project) and mine plans.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and represent management's best judgment based on facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable. If such opinions and estimates prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rubicon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, those described in the Company's annual information form dated March 27, 2020 under the heading "Risk Factors" (the "2020 AIF"), the Cautionary Statements and footnotes in Company's news releases dated August 19, 2019 (collectively, the "Cited News Release"), the 2020 Technical Report including but not limited to its Cautionary Statements, and the Company's other continuous disclosure documents, all available under its profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.rubiconminerals.com.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Rubicon disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement, and those contained in the Cited News Release and the 2020 Technical Report.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Mineral Resources

Until mineral deposits are mined and processed, Mineral Resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral Resource estimates that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the foregoing cautionary statements as well as in the cautionary statements (and elsewhere) in the 2020 Technical Report and under the heading "Risk Factors" in the 2020 AIF . The quantity and grade of reported "Inferred" Mineral Resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "Inferred" Mineral Resource estimates as an "Indicated" or "Measured" Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "Inferred" Mineral Resources to an "Indicated" or "Measured" Mineral Resource category. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling and development; (iii) results of test stoping and other testing; (iv) metallurgical testing and other studies; (v) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (vi) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vii) the possible failure to receive required permits, licenses and other approvals. The Mineral Resource estimates referenced in this news release were reported in accordance with NI 43-101.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources

Information concerning descriptions of mineralization and "Mineral Resources" referenced in this news release may not be comparable to information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under applicable United States securities laws. Canadian reporting requirements for disclosure of mineral properties are governed by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") of the Canadian Securities Administrators (the "CSA"). The definitions used in NI 43 101 differ from the definitions under applicable United States securities laws. For example, while the terms "Measured" and "Indicated" Mineral Resource and "Inferred" Mineral Resource are defined by NI 43-101 and recognized and required by the CSA, they are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of "Measured" and "Indicated" Mineral Resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of a "Reserve". The estimation of "Inferred" Mineral Resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of Mineral Resources. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "Inferred", "Measured", or "Indicated" Mineral Resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category.

It should not be assumed that any part or all of a "Measured", "Indicated" or "Inferred" Mineral Resource estimate exists or is economically or legally mineable. Under Canadian rules, estimates of "Inferred" mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies or other economic studies, except in prescribed cases, such as in a preliminary economic assessment (or PEA) under certain circumstances. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "Reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "Reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the Reserve determination is made.

SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com

Related Links

http://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com


SAN FRANCISCO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LF Networking (LFN), which facilitates collaboration and operational excellence across open source networking projects, today announced continued successes with cross-industry, global collaboration. Progress includes the Linux Foundation induction of new project, XGVela, an open source telco Platform as a Service (PaaS) for 5G network functions and related applications; new LFN silver member everis; expanded mentorship and training opportunities; and a new verified product by the OPNFV Verification Program (OVP). Together, these efforts bring additional support for future automation and deployment of 5G, edge, and cloud native networking technologies.

"In a new normal, networking serves as the critical foundation for everything we do. That said, we are pleased to see strong growth in developer participation of our projects, including training with close to 30,000 enrollees to date, and a recent virtual developer event with over two-times the registration of past physical events," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IOT, the Linux Foundation. "We're expanding our global footprint that enables open source networking and related technologies to grow and thrive. Other examples include the addition of XGVela as a Linux Foundation project aimed to accelerate telco cloud adoption, new silver member everis, and new training and mentorship opportunities."

Donated by LFN member China Mobile, XGVela provides a PaaS platform to accelerate the design, development and innovation of telco-related services. The project refines common capabilities of upper layer services as PaaS functions on platform layer. The platform brings General PaaS functions from existing open source PaaS component projects (e.g. Grafana, Envoy, Zookeeper, etc.) to be enhanced with telco requirements, and Telco PaaS which has strong telecommunication characteristics and is under exploration.

Currently, XGVela has gathered partners including China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, ZTE, Ericsson, Nokia, H3C, CICT and Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications, and received high attention from Intel, and Red Hat. XGVela hopes to expand the telco cloud native ecosystem and enable more cloud deployments among telcos.

"Exploring the future direction of network transformation has always been one of China Mobile's core missions," said Xiaodong Duan, director of network and IT department, China Mobile Research Institute. "With the deployment of 5G, applications of containers and microservice technologies, we believe operator networks will eventually evolve into a cloud native network. Hence China Mobile is pleased to launch a new project within the Linux Foundation  XGVela, a 5G cloud native PaaS. We hope XGVela will gather the most intelligent technicians from operators, vendors and IT companies to help accelerate operators' cloud native transformation and promote vertical industrial prosperity."

Welcome everis

LFN welcomes its newest Silver member, everis , an NTT DATA company dedicated to consulting and outsourcing in all sectors. everis joins recently-announced Silver members A10 Networks, AMD, Codilime, Mirantis, Robin.io, Solutions by STC, ULAK, and Xilinx. These organizations work alongside the plethora of existing member organizations to drive development, testing and implementation of LFN's existing networking projects, including FD.io, ONAP, OPNFV, OpenDaylight, OpenSwitch, PNDA, SNAS, and Tungsten Fabric.

"We are really excited to join LFN. everis, as a networking system integrator, finds in LFN a key lever to unleash industry Data Openness, Network Process Automation and 5G future networks," said Hugo Alberto Nava, Telecom Director at everis. "This area is so important for us that we have designed a new area, #everisOpenNetworks, in charge of uniquely integrated networks and systems, helping CSPs achieve more efficient and low-cost operations. Our vision in relation to the future of OSS is directly connected with a disaggregated, open, cloud-based and data-driven architecture with the main purpose of enabling value through close loop automation inside the most important network processes. We believe the Linux Foundation Networking is essential to go deep into this approach, helping us to make a difference by sharing knowledge and taking our proposal into a superior level."

About everis

everis is a consulting and outsourcing company that covers all sectors of the economy, with a turnover of nearly 1.437 million euros in the last fiscal year, made up of 27,000 professionals distributed throughout Europe, the USA and Latin America. everis is firmly committed to talent and innovation and its main objective is to attract the best professionals and help them develop their careers in the company https://www.everis.com/

Mentorship & Training

LFN is kicking off an expanded mentorship program with 9 active projects; opportunities for students (mentees) include building a portal for ONAP Automation Testing; Hardware Delivery Verification Tool; ONAP Security Requirements; Conformance Testing for ETSI NFV APIs; and more. More details on the LFN Mentorship program are available here .

Additionally, the Linux Foundation offers a robust package of networking training courses. Given the current global situation, the Linux Foundation is making it easier to use this time to brush up on open source skills, or gain new ones. All certification exams, and nearly all training courses, are available remotely, making them a good option for those home during this time.

Included is the entire catalog of open networking training courses , covering everything from DevOps for Network Engineers to courses on ONAP, OPNFV and more. An ONAP certification exam will be launching in the coming months, so this is a great chance to get prepared. The LF also offers dozens of completely free training courses . Edge training courses will be available in May.

OVP Badging

The OPFV Verification Program (OVP), which has verified 12 products with the NFVI "Infrastructure" badge, is pleased to announce its first product to be verified with the "VNF" Badge  Cnar , a 5G Core VNF from LFN member U LAK Communications. The team from ULAK participated in the LFN Developer & Testing Forum in Prague and the VNF Hacking Track designed to help VNF vendors jumpstart their VNF testing efforts.

New LFN Assets

A new whitepaper , prepared by a Working Group of the LFN Technical Advisory Council (TAC) , has been published that illustrates the state-of-the-art in networking technology and provides an overview for how the LF Networking (LFN) projects may be used as building blocks for modern networks. An introductory guide for the edge is also now available that overview of the edge compute market opportunity, where open source fits in, the role of Linux Foundation projects in your edge strategy, and how to get involved.

Looking Ahead

2020 will continue to be a productive year for LFN. The community will host a virtual developer event June 1-4 (details to come) for developers to collaborate and engage across LFN communities, including ONAP, OPNFV, CNTT, and more.

The Open Networking & Edge Summit (ONES), the industry's premier open networking event now expanded to comprehensively cover Edge Computing, Edge Cloud & IoT will take place in Los Angeles September 28-29. ONES enables collaborative development and innovation across enterprises, service providers/telcos and cloud providers to shape the future of networking and edge computing. Register today for Early Bird pricing: https://events.linuxfoundation.org/open-networking-edge-summit-north-america/register/

ONAP will soon issue its sixth platform release, ONAP Frankfurt, which enhances support for cloud native with deeper Kubernetes integration and for 5G through network slicing and an initial O-RAN integration. Frankfurt will also include security improvements and begin the shift to Python 3 and Java 11.

More LFN content is on the way with an LFN End User Advisory Group (EUAG) whitepaper on ONAP consumption, a CNTT whitepaper, and introductory guides for cloud native and 5G.

Support for XGVela

"Cloud Native has reached broad consensus as the target architecture of telecom networks," said Xiongyan Tang, chief scientist of China Unicom Network Technology Research Institute and the Chief Architect of China Unicom Intelligent Network Center, China Unicom. "China Unicom believes that the telecom cloud native architecture is a key path towards agile operations, and would provide a great foundation for the digital transformation of operators. XGVela is committed to work together towards a telecom PaaS functions platform for 5G and Cloud-oriented serviceswhich will play an important role in the cloud native evolution of the telecom industry. China Unicom is pleased to join XGVela project, and will work together with community partners to nurture a vibrant technical community."

"In the 5G era, services innovation needs a fast-paced, continuous change of technology to promote network transformation," said Yongbing Fan, vice director of Network Evolution Department, China Telecom Research Institute. "The integration of CT and IT technology, network and cloud-native are currently recognized to be telco-industry trends. China Telecom attaches great importance to the combination of network and services, and is committed to accelerating its cloudification. The cloud-native telecom PaaS platform, XGVela, perfectly meets the needs of the 5G era. China Telecom is pleased to join this project and work with community partners to cultivate a dynamic technical community."

"Cloud native paradigm and design principles are key to Ericsson, being the first 5G provider to include cloud native container-based technologies as part of its 5G Core offering," said Anders Rpsengren, head of Architecture & Technology, Business Area Digital Services, Ericsson. "Ericsson is one of the leading promoters and supporters of the open source ecosystem, accelerating the adoption and industry alignment in a number of key technology areas. As a leading vendor of cloud native telco applications we see significant value in both standardization and open source projects in the cloud native area including CNCF, CNTT and now XGVela, that help push the boundaries of tomorrow's networks in terms of agility, efficiency and reliability."

"Network transition has become a consensus among global operators. NFV, SDN and 5G have accelerated the progress of telecommunication network and cloud computing combination," said Chen Fang, technical director, H3C Carrier Department. "XGVela will further promote the introduction of cloud-native concepts into telecommunications networks. By constructing a carrier-grade PaaS platform and restructuring the organization of 5G network elements, it will promote the full opening of 5G network capabilities and support the network transition and success of 5G networks. H3C is committed to promoting the digital transition of society and is willing to work with China Mobile to promote the maturity and industrialization of XGVela."

"The telecommunications industry is in the middle of two key transitions that will shape the world to come  the deployment of 5G and the transition to cloud native," said Jonne Soininen, head of Open Source Initiatives, Nokia. "The industry needs to work closely together in order to succeed in this transition. Nokia is strongly committed to contribute to achieve this goal. We welcome the leadership from CMCC in proposing the XGVela project. Nokia is looking forward to working closely with CMCC and the rest of the industry to make sure the transition to cloud native in telecommunications is successful."

"ZTE is honored to participate in the XGVela project as a major telecommunications equipment manufacturer. We believe that XGVela attempts to use containerization technology and reasonably divide the telecommunications capabilities and general capabilities in PaaS, which will help the flexible deployment of network elements and the rapid scheduling of resources in 5G networks," said Wang Weibin, CTO of ZTE Telecom Cloud & CN Product Operation. "ZTE hopes to contribute our experience accumulated in the long-term research and development of telecommunications core networks in this project. We sincerely hope that industry peers will work closely together in this new open source project to enrich the ecosystem, create extraordinary value, and achieve complete success!"

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and commercial adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

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Unsealed internal FBI documents reveal that top FBI officials conspired to set up General Michael Flynn to "get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired." The fact that these documents turned up only now is just one part of the DOJ's and FBI's Russia hoax, an ongoing effort to stage a coup against the Trump administration. The DOJ's and FBI's malicious prosecution against Flynn consisted of withholding exculpatory information (including the material discussed here), threatening without cause to prosecute Flynn's son to force Flynn to plead guilty, and blackmailing Flynn's attorneys into working against him.

Bombshells appear in notes that Bill Priestap, the former head of counterintelligence at the FBI, wrote down after meeting with thenFBI director James Comey and thenFBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, and in emails among McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Lisa Page.

Priestap, in his notes, stated explicitly that the goal of the upcoming interview with General Flynn, which took place on January 24, 2017, was either to get him to confess to something or to "get him to lie." Either a lie or a confession would serve the endgame, which was "so we can prosecute him or get him fired."

What this unholy trio tried to do was get Flynn to admit to violating the Logan Act. This 1799 law was intended to prevent people from fraudulently telling foreign governments that they represented the United States and deriving financial benefits from that fraud. No one has ever been prosecuted under the Logan Act.

Priestap had some concerns, but not about doing something unethical or illegal. Instead, he worried that "[i]f we're seen as playing games, WH [i.e., the Trump White House] will be furious[.]"

In addition, in an email exchange that included agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, the FBI conspired about how to "slip" a "1001 warning" to Flynn without his being aware of it. The phrase "1001 warning" refers to 18 USC 1001, which creates a felony for "knowingly" making false statements to the FBI. John Solomon explains:

"I have a question for you," Page wrote in an email that included Strzok. "Could the admonition re 1001 be given at the beginning at the interview? Or does it have to come following a statement which agents believed to be false? Does this policy speak to that? She added: "It seems to be if the former then it would be an easy way to just casually slip that in, Of course you know sir federal law makes it a crime to..." A while later, Page gets an emailed response: "I haven't read the policy lately, but if I recall correctly, you can say it any time. I'm 90 percent sure about that, but I can check in the a.m." The mere fact that FBI agents were using phrase like "slip that in" when talking about a warning designed to protect someone's constitutional rights is certain to give Flynn's lawyers more fodder to argue in court that his January 2017 interview was a set up as Powell has argued.

James Comey later boasted about advancing this nefarious scheme. According to him, he was able to take advantage of the White House's disorganization (he forgot to tell his audience this was only three days after the inauguration) to blindside Flynn without bothering to go through ordinary White House channels:

People really criticized President Trump for firing this guy?



Listen to @Comey shamelessly brag about getting away with setting up @GenFlynn..pic.twitter.com/IrU2ErJaXr  Benny (@bennyjohnson) April 30, 2020

Within days or weeks of this concerted attack on Trump's chosen national security adviser, the DOJ and FBI knew that there had not been any Russian collusion  yet they pressed on, destroying General Flynn's life and leaving Trump (and America) without a trusted adviser.

Decent people reacted with horror to these revelations:

The Flynn stuff is really bad, its hard for me as a lawyer to even explain how bad it is.



Every lawyer just feels this in their bones.



Flynn got framed, there's no other way around to, no way to spin it.



No amount of outrage could overstate the fury we feel.  Gen Flynn supporter Cernovich (@Cernovich) April 30, 2020

A federal agency set up a decorated lieutenant general all to help a political party undermine an election. If they almost got away with doing this to Mike Flynn, there is zero hope for the average American citizen if they are ever falsely targeted similarly.  Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 30, 2020

Some have tried to dismiss the issue by saying it's standard operating procedure for the FBI to try to trap people during interviews. In this case, though, the FBI tried to hide the 1001 warning, which is unconscionable. Also, given how ludicrous Steele's documents were, the DOJ and FBI knew, or should have known, that there was no crime. Finally, even after knowing with certainty that there was no Russia collusion and after the FBI agents reported that Flynn was telling the truth as he knew it, the DOJ still prosecuted Flynn.

This is pure Soviet-era stuff ("Show me the man, and I'll show you the crime"). In a just world, everyone involved should be doing a perp walk.
HARTFORD  Four people were injured in a crash on I-91 South Tuesday night, including a Shelton resident and a state trooper, according to state police.

A Connecticut State Police cruiser, driven by Trooper Chandler Chasse, was parked with its emergency lights on in the left lane of a closed construction zone near Exit 27 in Hartford just after 9:30 p.m., Trooper Kevin Curry said in a release.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 15:20 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd53d619 1 Business Gojek,ride-hailing-application,decacorns,investment,funding Free

Homegrown decacorn Gojek has secured Rp 14.5 billion (US$963,297) in fresh capital injection from seven investors during the last four to five months, paving the way for the company 's "super app" expansion plans while attracting new investors.

Currently valued at $10 billion, the company raised a combined total of Rp 1.4 billion in its series P funding round from three new investors: Rp 1.2 billion from Jakarta-based East Ventures, Rp 97.5 million from Mandiri Capital Indonesia and Rp 113 million from Silicon Valley-based Pegasus Tech Ventures, kontan.co.id reported.

Earlier in February, PT Pusaka Citra Djokosoetono also purchased 5,941 shares in the series P funding worth Rp 2.9 billion. The company is the majority shareholder of the Blue Bird Group, the holding company that operates Blue Bird taxi, Gojek's erstwhile rival.

Also in February, PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa, the company that owns the Gojek brand, acquired 4.33 percent shares in the Blue Bird taxi company from Pusaka Citra Djokosoetono, worth Rp 450 billion, as reported by Bloomberg.

The acquisition was widely viewed as part of Gojek's strategy to manage competition with its primary rival, Singapore-based ride-hailing company Grab Holdings, while expanding its food delivery and digital payment businesses.

Gojek's existing investors have also increased their investment through the series P funding this year, with tech giant Google Asia Pacific purchasing 11,883 additional shares worth Rp 5.9 billion. The latest acquisition increases Googles ownership in Gojek to 8.69 percent, from 2.59 percent in the series I round of funding and 5.24 percent in the series M round.

Meanwhile, SMDV II SG, the Sinar Mas Group's Singapore-based venture capital arm, has invested Rp 1.4 billion in the company through the series P funding this year. In November 2019, Unilever Swiss Holdings acquired 5,530 shares in Gojek worth Rp 2.77 billion.

Gojek released 45,552 shares for the first part of its series P funding round in June 2019, which were acquired by the United States' Visa International Service Association and Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Lease and Finance at Rp 500,000 per share for a total value of Rp 22.8 billion.

The ride-hailing company has issued 1.7 million shares in funding rounds from series A to series P, with paid-up capital totaling Rp 689.87 billion. The company has around 130 institutional and individual investors listed as registered shareholders in its updated articles of association dated April 23, 2020. (eyc)

Editor's note: This article has been revised to state that Pegasus Tech Ventures is one of Gojek's new investors.
As many as 14 people have been



arrested for offering prayer at a mosque in violation of the coronavirus lockdown norms in Kalaburagi district in Karnataka, police said on Thursday.

Police said they were looking for two more people who participated in the prayer on Tuesday.

"We arrested 14 people on Tuesday evening from T Bommanahalli mosque," a police officer told PTI.

A total of 16 people gathered in the mosque for the prayer and two of them managed to flee when police rushed there following information, the official said.

Religious gatherings have been prohibited under the lockdown in force to check the spread of coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's hospitals are straining to deal with a rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 infections, with bodies being kept in hallways, masks being repeatedly reused, and protests breaking out amongst medical workers concerned over their safety.

Peru has the second highest number of cases in South America after Brazil, despite a tough lockdown aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus.

Confirmed numbers have risen sharply in recent days, passing 17,000 on Tuesday, double the figure from just one week ago. Almost 500 people have died.

"We as a hospital have a capacity for only six bodies," Deisy Aguirre, leader of the nurses union at the Maria Auxiliadora hospital in Lima, told Reuters outside the hospital on Monday.

"Daily we have been seeing 13 to 16 bodies crowded on the first floor."

The health ministry says it expects patient numbers to peak within days or in the following week.

On Monday, dozens of health workers protested in front of the Maria Auxiliadora hospital, holding banners decrying a lack of protective equipment such as masks.

A doctor at the protest who declined to give his name provided video showing at least four dead bodies covered in white or black covers in a hospital corridor.

Susana Oshiro, the hospital's director, told Reuters that at some point the number of dead had exceeded the capacity of the hospital as there was only space for six bodies in the mortuary.

"We have now contracted a freezer, a refrigerated container to store the bodies while they come to collect them for cremation," she said. The 100-body freezer has been in operation since Monday, she added.

Even the cremation of remains has become an issue, with Lima's six crematoriums already exceeding capacity.

Edgar Gonzalez, head of Lima's Santa Rosa crematorium, told Reuters by telephone that before the pandemic they cremated 10 bodies a day and now they are cremating up to 30.

Story continues

RECYCLED MASKS

Peru reported its first case of coronavirus on March 6 and it took 25 days to add 1,000 infections. Fourteen days later it reached 10,000 cases, official data show.

The government has also been gradually increasing the amount of tests, which totaled over 155,000 as of Tuesday, one of the highest levels in the region.

In Latin America, only Brazil has more confirmed cases, with over 40,000. Chile is third, with over 10,000.

Rosmini Ayquipa, another nurse from the Maria Auxiliadora hospital, told Reuters workers had had to wear the same masks for several days due to a shortage.

"We have to use three masks throughout the month, so we re-use and re-use it and what has happened? Where I work, colleagues have caught the disease," she said.

Oshiro, the hospital director, said the complaint related to N95 type masks, which she said everyone wanted to use but which were only given to personnel involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Everyone else has surgical masks, she said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says limited re-use of masks is generally acceptable, though not all types of masks can be reused and they should be discarded when "soiled, damaged, or hard to breathe through."

Reuters could not confirm how many workers had become sick at the Maria Auxiliadora hospital.

However, Ciro Maguina, vice dean of the Peruvian Medical College, said 237 doctors nationwide had been infected to date, with nine in intensive care using mechanical respirators. One doctor had died. Those numbers do not include nurses or other health workers.

President Martin Vizcarra has acknowledged that the country's hospitals are already close to capacity. He has taken steps to increase intensive care units and the number of hospital beds.

"In the next few days we are going to have an increase in the capacity of care with ventilators arriving," he said in a news conference on Monday.

For a graphic on coronavirus cases worldwide open in a browser: https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH-MAP/0100B59S39E/index.html

(Reporting by Marco Aquino and Reuters TV; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien)
As the coronavirus pandemic slows in other countries, children are returning to classrooms with preventive measures such as face masks and temperature checks.

While most U.S. states have closed school for the remainder of the school year, with a few already contemplating delaying a return to classrooms in the fall, seeing kids head back to school in other countries has parents asking what the school day will look like for their children once the COVID-19 crisis ends.

Daily Life In Hefei (Zhang Yazi / China News Service via Getty Images)

Janelle Hanchett is an American living in the Netherlands, where children will return to schools in May and June. Hanchett, who has four kids who range in age from 5 to 18, said she's not afraid of what will happen when her kids return to their classrooms.

"I am absolutely ready for it," said Hanchett, explaining that the curve is flattening in the Netherlands. "They are going back half days and alternating in-class and online study, meaning they will go to school from 8:30 a.m. until noon and only every other day. The days they are home, they will have Skype lessons."

Janelle Hanchett with her husband, Mac, and their children, Ava, 18, Rocket, 14, George, 9, and Arlo, 5. (Janelle Hanchett)

"From observing my American friends, the Netherlands is much more relaxed when it comes expectations surrounding online learning," added Hanchett, who blogs at Renegade Mothering. "This is a huge relief to me."

As an American living in Korea, Ann-Marie Vallone's young children have been attending school remotely since the end of February. Vallone said her kids, ages 6 and 8, are tentatively scheduled to return to school on May 11.

Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.

"There are many new protocols and procedures in place such as morning temperature checks upon entering school property, mandatory wearing of face masks, strategic placement of hand sanitizer and increased disinfection of handrails and common areas," Vallone told TODAY Parents. "The teachers will also enforce social distancing rules within classrooms and during recess, and the school has postponed all field trips and after-school activities."

Story continues

Daily Life In Chongqing (Zhou Yi / China News Service via Getty Images)

Still, Vallone has concerns about sending her kids back to the classroom.

"With spring in full bloom, our family is suffering with allergies and although wearing a mask helps to cut down on breathing in pollen, it does nothing to stop the pollen from entering the eyes, causing some serious itchiness," she said. Her kids' school serves children from a wide geographic area, with some spending an hour on the bus every morning, she added. "I feel that if there were an outbreak of COVID-19 in our school, we could easily assist in the spread throughout the province."

Daily Life In Chongqing (Zhou Yi / China News Service via Getty Images)

According to BBC News, schools in some parts of China have reopened. Schools in Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus outbreak began, plan to resume on May 6. In addition to face masks and social distancing, photos have emerged of students wearing special "one meter hats"  hats with tubing extending on either side to remind them to keep a safe distance from others  and students are being checked for fever at the school gates.

Students at Yangzheng Primary School in Hangzhou wear DIY one-meter hats on the first day of the new semester. The headmaster said the initiative aims to help students get accustomed to social distancing amid the #coronavirus pandemic. (Photos courtesy of Zhejiang Daily) pic.twitter.com/PdzYLidHst  Sixth Tone (@SixthTone) April 26, 2020

CBC reports that students in Taiwan are eating lunch surrounded by personal protective barriers (like little cubicles) and are required to wear face masks. Parents are also required to check their child's temperature each morning before sending them to school.

TOPSHOT-TAIWAN-HEALTH-VIRUS (Sam Yeh / AFP via Getty Images)

BBC News reports that in Denmark, which was one of the first countries in Europe to close schools due to the virus, some schools have re-opened with an emphasis on hand washing and social distancing, but no masks.

Denmark Begins To Ease Restrictions Following Coronavirus Lockdown (Ole Jensen / Getty Images)

Most of Germany's classrooms remain closed, but Reuters reports older students returned to the classroom to take final exams last week. Reuters also reports that Finland will resume schools on May 14 for little more than two weeks before summer vacation starts in June, and Austria plans to open schools with students attending in split groups with spaced-apart desks around the same time.

The Coronavirus Crisis In Germany: Week 8 (Alex Grimm / Getty Images)

Hanchett said she has less anxiety about sending her kids back to the classroom than her American friends.

"Kids here can hang out ... and hug and kiss," she explained. "This is quite different than what they're doing in America, but this is 17 million people, not 330 million people. And they have a different idea about child transmission."

While some European countries have expressed a lack of concern that children can infect others with COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control recommends keeping kids away from older adults and people with chronic medical conditions, an at-risk population that could certainly include teachers.

Vallone said she isn't sure how schools can completely protect students from the spread of coronavirus.

"My son is in kindergarten and I'm constantly reminding him to wash his hands with soap, keep his mask on and try not to touch his eyes," said the mom of two. "It's exhausting and I can't imagine how difficult it will be for the teachers to have to enforce these rules while trying to carry on with lessons."

Related video:
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Linkedin Fransisca K. Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 08:54 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd5183d3 3 Lifestyle blibli-com,e-commerce,delivery,household-consumption,spending,spending-behaviour,grocery,GDP-Ventures Free

Traditionally, Ramadan is a season of feasting and festivities that drive grocery spending. However, Ramadan this year is transpiring under stark circumstances due to COVID-19.

The pandemic has forced the public to practice physical distancing and home quarantines, to avoid catching the virus. The governments decree on large-scale social restriction (PSBB) has further limited the mobility of the public.

The combination of government measures and the publics avoidance of public spaces has had a grim impact on grocery retailers, notably fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and fresh food producers. The three have had to readjust their expectations of elevated sales this Ramadan because consumers are no longer thronging offline stores to purchase seasonal needs, prompting these stores to cut operational hours, thus further diminishing the chances for grocery retailers to record sales.

However, decreasing offline store purchases have not equated to declining demand for groceries. Consumers still need groceries, even more so during Ramadan as they yearn to carry on revered traditions such as breaking-the-fast with delicious meals.

Consumers had already begun visiting e-commerce platforms to purchase groceries in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak and with the pandemic extending to Ramadan, consumers are set to shop online even more intensively.

At the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak, consumers mainly shopped for health and wellness products, like hand sanitizer and masks. With Ramadan here, consumers now frequently fill their online carts with fresh foodstuff such as meat, fruits and vegetables for their meals.

To cater to consumers better, e-commerce platforms have worked closely with brands to secure stocks -- especially essential foodstuff and popular Ramadan staples like syrup, cookies and crackers, sugar and dates -- to ensure that consumers can consistently find their needs. E-commerce platforms have also leveraged their comprehensive ecosystems, of which digital financial services are part of, to facilitate purchases.

E-commerce platforms provide a wide range of payment solutions, from internet banking to online credit facilities, to accommodate transactions. Recently, e-commerce platforms introduced the pay later feature, whereby consumers can purchase products now and pay for them toward the months end, to help those whose incomes have suffered due to COVID-19.

The expansion of consumers online shopping carts is a positive sign for grocery retailers in the markets shift toward a stay-at-home economy. Witnessing how e-commerce platforms retain their access to the market despite COVID-19 has convinced grocery retailers to escalate their Ramadan sales and marketing efforts in the online space. Bottled water and childrens milk brands, for example, have started offering special sales promotions, from free delivery to discounts, in partnership with e-commerce platforms. Most importantly, fresh food producers, encompassing fruit and vegetable farmers, as well as meat and poultry processors, have joined the e-commerce bandwagon to sell their produce.

E-commerce platforms help retailers keep the lights on beyond providing them a channel through which they can always access the market. E-commerce platforms address another key concern among grocery retailers and that is logistics, which have become an even greater challenge under large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). E-commerce platforms now provide end-to-end fulfillment processing, from inventory warehousing to last-mile delivery, to ensure purchased products reach the hands of consumers. This is a boon for grocery retailers, especially for fresh food producers who must guard their narrow margins during challenging times for business.

The utilization of e-commerce by fresh food producers have caught the eyes of the government. Realizing the potency of e-commerce in connecting farmers with consumers, the government has begun engaging with e-commerce platforms to collaborate in programs aimed at helping the poor who have been greatly affected by COVID-19 this Ramadan.

The Agriculture Ministry is among government bodies that has formed partnerships with e-commerce platforms for the distribution of subsidized rice. The ministry will leverage e-commerce platforms wide logistics network, which stretches across Indonesia, to distribute subsidized rice. Moreover, with their capability to store and process a persons data, e-commerce platforms can play a role in assuring that aid is received by those who deserve it.

Looking at the market shift toward online groceries and weighing on the heightened role of e-commerce in grocery retail further exposes the key role e-commerce platforms play in this COVID-19-impacted Ramadan. It is e-commerce platforms that will buttress household consumption during Ramadan, a critical season given its sizable contributor to Indonesia's annual economy, despite challenges imposed by COVID-19. After all, household spending contributed over 56 percent to gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019.

The major role that e-commerce plays in grocery retail is set to continue beyond Ramadan and COVID-19. COVID-19 has triggered permanent behavioral changes on the level of consumers, retailers and the government who have converted to, and now trust, e-commerce for grocery retail and distribution.

These behavioral changes are accelerating digital transformation, whereby the public turns to online services to sustain their lives. And with the acceleration of digital transformation, e-commerce will move closer to becoming the primary retail channel for the country. (kes)

***

Fransisca K. Nugraha leads the consumer goods category, a key Blibli category encompassing groceries, health and beauty products, childrens toys, as well as parent and baby needs.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
A man arrested for drink driving four times in little over a month was refused bail yesterday because of the risk he could pose to the public if freed

A man arrested for drink driving four times in little over a month was refused bail yesterday because of the risk he could pose to the public if freed.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said he was "very concerned" about 58-year-old's Christopher McGuigan's offending.

"I believe there's a real risk, if he were to be released back to the community, that he would repeat this offending. That would cause an unwarranted risk to other members of the public," said the Newry Magistrates Court judge, sitting in Lisburn.

McGuigan, from Aughrim Court in Kilkeel, appeared in court via videolink from custody and admitted a charge of driving while unfit in a supermarket car park on Tuesday.

A police constable told the court that staff at the Asda supermarket in Kilkeel alerted the PSNI at 9.30am to a suspected drink driver after McGuigan bought alcohol and drove off in a white camper van.

Police officers arrested the defendant at his home a short time later.

A subsequent breath test showed he was more than four times the legal limit.

The constable explained that by going into an off-licence, McGuigan had been in breach of bail conditions in relation to charges of harassment, intimidation and breach of a restraining order over a case in which sentencing is expected next month.

She also told the court that the incident on Tuesday was the fourth time McGuigan had been arrested for driving while unfit.

She explained that he had also been detained on March 25, April 13 and April 19.

When he was arrested in March, a breath test showed he was more than six times the legal limit.

The court was told that "because of the level of intoxication, he couldn't provide an evidential sample" of breath on the other two occasions, so a sample of blood had to be taken.

"I have serious concerns that if released he will continue to drive," said the officer.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor John Rocks told the court McGuigan was a "recovering alcoholic" who had been sober for almost 18 years.

He admitted, however, that his client had returned to drinking over the last few weeks.

"I would argue that the lockdown is having a monumental effect on him and his mental health," said Mr Rocks, who also argued that his client should be freed, albeit under "stringent bail conditions".

Refusing bail and remanding McGuigan into custody, Judge Broderick ordered a pre-sentence probation report and said he would pass sentence on the most recent driving while unfit charge and the harassment case next month.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The coronavirus pandemic made even the most simple tasks, like going to the grocery store, feel like an episode of the dystopian science fiction TV series Black Mirror.

The restrictions placed on daily life forced many Americans to alter their habits and everyday routines, and those changes can be jarring. Many stores have started limiting their capacity leading to lines outside the entrance. Inside, shoppers in face masks try to stay at least six feet apart as they scramble for meat, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Most people communicate with strangers through non-verbal glances and facial expressions, but thats nearly impossible when theyre wearing a mask. Shoppers instead go about their business in a zombie-like trance, silent and hyper-aware of everything theyre touching.

Human beings are inherently social, so theyre used to making connections and feeling comfortable in the presence of others. That has changed thanks to the pandemics uncertainty, because its impossible to tell if another person is carrying the virus, said Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a clinical psychologist and professor at Northwestern University.

"Right now, we are viewing other people as threats who are literally potentially deadly to us," Solomon said. "That's very different."

For many Americans, going to a grocery store or picking up a take-out order had been routine. There are certain expectations for those familiar tasks, so you dont need to expend much mental energy to accomplish them. Its now much more stressful to remain mindful of every surface you touch and whether youre standing six feet apart from the nearest shopper.

Because were not able to fall back on our natural habits, were expending a ton of energy to do what might seem like simple, basic things, said Dr. Kaz Nelson, the vice-chair for education at the University of Minnesotas Department of Psychiatry. And its absolutely exhausting.

Part of the reason many Americans are feeling so disjointed is the fact their lives have been stable for years. Experts noted that for some communities, things might not seem as different. People living in poverty are likely more familiar with the anxiety that comes from concern over the food supply, and people of color likely have prior experiences of others avoiding them on the street, they said.

For those used to living in relative privilege, though, there's a great deal of uncertainty about the coming months. And that uncertainty permeates everything, Nelson said.

"It's sort of an existential threat, and we don't have a lot of practice, collectively, in managing these situations because of the relative stability we've had over the last several decades," she said.

Why does all of this feel so bizarre?

Human beings don't perceive their surroundings in purely physical terms; instead, they see things and interpret them. The mind is sensitive to small deviations from the norm, so unusual events grab our attention and focus, said Howard Nusbaum, a cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Chicago.

These days, if you see a person trying to keep their distance from you on the street, it likely means theyre trying to adhere to social distancing guidelines. But that hasnt been the case in the past. People usually interpret physical distance as someone disliking or fearing them.

"That's going to reduce our sense of understanding the world around us, make us feel distance from that world, and also maybe feel a little hesitant and concerned," Nusbaum said.

Face masks have also taken on a new context amid the crisis. They've typically been associated with sickness, because doctors and nurses wear them in hospitals. Now they're commonplace on the street, as public health officials have recommended that everyone wear face masks to prevent the spread of the virus.

In some Asian countries, people have been wearing face masks in public since the SARS outbreak in 2002. However, Americans still associate them with some dystopia, said Dr. Dolores Albarracin, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

"The combination of deviation from what's routine combined with images of an apocalyptic future might explain our reactions," she said.

Face masks also present another issue for our public interactions. Most people communicate with strangers through glances or facial expressions. It's easiest to tell how a person is feeling by the look on their face. Smiling at someone conveys friendliness, while frowning signifies a feeling of displeasure.

That non-verbal communication is complicated if a mask covers half of your face. If others are unable to see your mouth, theyre left to guess how youre feeling, said Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, a health psychologist with the University of Wisconsins School of Medicine and Public Health.

"When we don't get that nonverbal feedback, we feel more distance from one another, [and] it makes the other person feel less safe," she said.

For so many of us, the virus dramatically altered routine aspects of our lives. Civic and religious leaders urged against families against gathering to celebrate Passover and Easter. Many people have been unable to celebrate their birthday with a party. The virus also forced the cancellation of school proms, and many graduates will attend virtual graduation ceremonies.

Smaller aspects of our lives that we've taken for granted have changed, too. Americans are used to being able to run to the store to get something they need, or order it online and have it show up on their porch the next day. That's no longer the case, Solomon noted.

"We have become an ultra-consumer world, so there are consequences on our psychology when things are less available, and our movements are more restricted," Solomon said. "We feel affronted because we are used to being able to do what we want when we want."

Is this going to get any easier?

Most people are not used to living life on high alert every time they leave the house. A prolonged increase in day-to-day anxieties has obvious implications for a persons mental health. It could also affect their physical health by making it more difficult for their immune system to function, Nelson said.

There is hope that people can adapt during this crisis, especially if they need to keep wearing face masks and social distancing until a COVID-19 vaccine is available in an estimated 12 to 18 months. Nelson noted that some people who suffer traumatic brain injuries need to relearn essential functions like walking, so she's optimistic people will get used to the new normal we're facing for the foreseeable future.

It might be some time before shaking someone else's hand is considered safe, and some public health experts have suggested the custom should be phased out of our culture altogether. For the time being, though, people could greet each other in public through waving, bowing or other gestures, the same way different cultures do, Nelson said.

"This is an opportunity to learn the best of these kinds of practices from other cultures, and to be a little flexible in implementing healthy behaviors to help keep our community connected and safe," she said.

Even something as simple as stopping to chat with someone in a grocery store could be helpful because it could help us feel more connected to others during the crisis, Mirgain said. She said it's important to maintain connections to others to keep us from feeling isolated.

"When we go through something stressful, if we go through it together with someone, whether in person with a family member or even reaching out to vent and debrief with someone virtually, that is something that can keep our mind and body and system in balance."

Nusbaum cautioned that if people do not make an effort to stay connected to others, they could adjust to feeling like it's reasonable to be scared whenever they leave the house. But he's optimistic that people will maintain their relationships through video chats and other forms of communication, and will eventually feel more comfortable.

People have a remarkable ability to adjust to all kinds of things, he said. We lay down new base rates and expectations pretty quickly.
With the registration forms being active today on the Indian embassy website, an exercise to gather the exact number of stranded Indians in the United States, the Indian government has given a clear indication that it is all set to undertake what could be the biggest repatriation operation of stranded Indian diaspora from not just the United States but also from other countries amid the coronavirus crisis.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

A senior official told ANI that the Indian missions will be asked to compile a list through this registration and repatriation will be coordinated with respective states. This registration exercise would help the Government of India to obtain relevant information in respect of Indian nationals wishing to travel to India for compelling reasons.

As the clamour for repatriation is rising from hundreds of thousands of Indians in the virus-hit countries, ANI learns that the GoI has listed some categories, who would be given priority and will get the first seats in special repatriation flights, followed by the students stranded in foreign countries.

As the government is continuously assessing the situation and working on all possible options, it is still not certain when and how will Indian citizens stranded in the United States will return home.

The Middle East will first be the focus. We are still formulating if the citizens stranded will be airlifted by the Air India or commercial flights, the source further told ANI

On landing in India, every citizen will be screened to figure out if the person should be sent to quarantine centres or straight to the hospital, the official added.

The source further said: The exact number of Indians stranded in the United States is still to be gathered, but the New York jurisdiction of the Indian mission alone has more than a million Indians, who have shown a willingness to return to their homes.

Click here for complete coronavirus here

Amid the coronavirus fears, thousands of Indians have expressed willingness to come back to India, but due to the suspension of air operations and other modes of travel, they have been stuck there.

Despite media speculations, there is no official confirmation of any evacuation flight from the US to India till now. ANI learns the main purpose of this information sheet is to collect actionable data on Indian nationals willing to travel to India urgently, should an opportunity like this arise.

The Indian government would ideally want this data/ information sheet to be filled preferably by Thursday evening.
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Today I woke up to the news that a fellow physician died by suicide. As I read the article, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. My eyes watered. They still do, as I write this piece. Although I did not personally know Dr. Lorna M. Breen, an ER doctor in New York City, the loss feels near and dear to my heart. She was one of us, a member of the medical community. I know my colleagues are feeling the pain as well. We are all posting about it on social media. We are all in shock.

Regrettably, this is not the first time a physician has died by suicide. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have demonstrated that the rate of suicide among doctors is much higher than the rate of suicide in the general population. For male doctors, the rate is 40 percent higher than that of other men. For female doctors, the rate of suicide is 127 percent higher than that of other females. Approximately 300-400 physicians die by suicide in the United States per year. This number is already too high. How much higher will it get if we do not begin to take a more active stance to protect our frontline workers? What will it take for the system to protect their workers? What are we doing as a community and a society to protect the emotional wellbeing of physicians and other frontline workers?

Over the past weeks, we have read about how physicians have to work with suboptimal personal protective equipment. They do not have enough beds nor enough respirators to take care of patients. They face ethically and morally complex decisions such as which patients get treatment, and which do not. They see their patients die alonesome of those patients are their own colleagues and coworkers. However, the distress is not only at work. Frontline workers have to decide whether to go home and expose their families to COVID-19 or isolate themselves in an attempt to protect themsome have even slept in tents. Many continue to struggle to find reliable and safe childcare while wondering whether that will be the last time they will see their family. Sadly, most have already signed a living will.

As if that were not enough, physicians and other frontline workers are experiencing xenophobia and racism daily. They are having to do their work while being called derogatory terms. Physicians and other frontline workers are feeling exhausted, angry, sad, and scared. They are feeling ignored and betrayed by the system, by the government, by their employers. Dr. Lorna M. Breens suicide is an unfortunate and painful reminder of what physicians and other health care workers are experiencing and feeling right now.

As a psychiatrist, I am appalled by the lack of response to protect the mental health of our frontline workers. Physicians and other frontline workers need to feel that the government and their own organizations are actively listening to their concerns, actively working to protect and support them and their families. They need to feel that we all are caring for them, just as they are giving their all to care for us.

What are some ways that we can begin to care for our frontline workers? First, we need to pay attention to what their needs are. We need to have more open conversations about their wellbeing and mental health. We need to meet their basic needs, including:

Access to PPE to safely and adequately do their job. Access to food and hydrationsome may not have the time to cook or go grocery shopping. Time to rest in between shifts and time off duty to recuperate. Access to comfortable and safe places to rest. Support with making arrangements to protect their families, including childcare. Access to reliable and secure systems for check-ins, psychological first aid, and feedback.

This is just the beginning of a long list of things we need to be doing to support our frontline workers. This list needs to be continuously adapted and revised as we learn more about their needs.

Every single one of us can do something to support frontline workers. Every little bit helps. For example, individuals need to ensure they stay home and keep a safe distance until told otherwise to continue to flatten the curve. Staying at home may seem like a small thing to do, but we have seen it prevent hospital systems from being overwhelmed.

For those of you who know a frontline worker, make sure to check-in with them, ask them what they need, let them know how much you care about them. If you can, offer to listen to them, go grocery shopping for them, or send them a thank you message. Frontline workers may have a hard time asking for help. In general, asking for help is hard, but it is even harder when we are under stress.

Dr. Breens suicide shook the medical community. Her death reminds us that the COVID-19 crisis has unspoken ramifications. We need to ensure that we do not lose any more physicians and other frontline workers to either COVID-19 or suicide. We must all come together to protect our frontline workers. There is so much we can do at the societal and individual level, but we must act soon before it is too late. The wellbeing of frontline workers needs to be our priority right now.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.

Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.

Amalia Londono Tobon is a child psychiatry fellow.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
For civilised nations, the overriding priority when tackling the coronavirus pandemic has been to devise the best means of limiting the spread of COVID-19 and to provide the best possible care for its victims.

From Britain to New Zealand, and from the US to Taiwan, the primary emphasis has been to focus all available resources on limiting the impact of the virus on citizens.

Sadly, the desire to place humanitarian considerations above all others is by no means universal. For there is also a small cohort of rogue states, such as China, Russia and Iran that prefer to view the pandemic as more of an opportunity to exploit the crisis for their own political ends.

Xi Jinping has deflected domestic criticism by pointing at enemies in the outside world. Credit:AP

Thus, at a time when the rest of the world is battling to limit the number of coronavirus fatalities, there has been a significant upsurge in cyber attacks and hostile disinformation campaigns.
Typically, a long line of cars stuck on West Burnside means rush hour, or perhaps the end of a Thorns or Timbers match at Providence Park.

On Saturday, it meant steaks.

Thats when RingSide Steakhouse, the 75-year-old Portland restaurant known for its steaks, sunken bar and old-school ambiance, held its first-ever parking-lot sale, offering dry-aged steaks and other meats to the public.

Well, I certainly have a different perspective now than the last time we talked, RingSide general manager Geoffrey Rich said Wednesday. We expected there to be some interest, and we receive some communication after the announcement, but by no means was it hundreds or thousands of people.

According to Rich, customers were expected to arrive at the restaurants parking lot around 10 a.m., when they would be handed a paper menu featuring a list of boxes filled with frozen meat, including the restaurants signature dry-aged steak. Instead, the first car pulled in around 7:30 a.m., the lot was full by 8:45 a.m. and the line was already stretching several blocks down Burnside by 9:30 a.m.

By noon, the restaurant had sold out, moving 2,000 pounds of beef plus additional boxes of pork, chicken and other items sourced from Newport Meats, the California-based distributor that handles dry-aging for the restaurant. RingSide sold a further 2,000 pounds of beef Sunday, though by then the restaurant had set up a reservation and ordering system on its website. That experience was more orderly, with approximately 200 people given 30-minute windows to arrive at the parking lot in groups of 10 to 15. No traffic problems were reported Sunday.

It was a great lesson, Rich said. We knew restaurant sales and meal kits have had a huge spectrum from very little interest to overwhelming interest. Weve certainly skewed toward the overwhelming interest side of things.

Rich said he received about 400 emails in the 48 hours after the event, with some upset about the traffic, others thankful that RingSide had organized the sale. Rich offered his sincerest apologies to those inconvenienced by the traffic, and thanks for the Portland Police Bureau for their assistance, including directing traffic and using their speakers to inform drivers when the sale was over.

They were massively helpful, and things could have gone much more differently than they did, Rich said. But Portlanders are great at forming lines.

According to Rich, RingSide plans to release reservations for its next parking lot sale some time in mid-May. Check back with the restaurants website for more information.

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell

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Do not refer to NHS workers as heroes or angels, suggests a new mental health guide for health workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr Esther Murray, from Queen Mary University of London, is one of the contributors to the guide, which is published in the European Health Journal, that describes how NHS workers might be psychologically affected as a result of working in the pandemic.

It highlights the psychological strains of NHS workers roles, such as having to choose which patients will not receive life support.

Discussing some of the ways NHS workers have been lauded by society for their efforts, Dr Murray said that the aforementioned labels are problematic.

The hero and angel tropes which we see bandied about are also highly problematic because they make it look as if people signed up to die, like a hero does, but they didnt, she said.

It also makes it harder for NHS staff to talk about how they really feel because opinions get polarised  are you a hero or a coward?

A lot of staff feel like cowards but they are not at all, theyre just quite justifiably frightened and angry.

The guide, created by researchers from Queen Mary University of London, Londons Air Ambulance and Barts Health NHS Trust, and a London-based A&E doctor, also lists some coping strategies and tactics for healthcare leaders to support the mental health of their team members.

These include better communication, empowering staff, and showing humility and humanity.

Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Show all 18 1 /18 Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, wearing PPE before going into rooms Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, speaks to a carer at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Carers working at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A care worker wearing PPE opens a drink carton Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, sits with a carer Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A care staff member wearing PPE Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home looks after a resident SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer wearing PPE uses a speaker Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer helps Jack Dodsley, 79, from his chair Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer wearing PPE helps Jack Dodsley, 79 Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A carer brings food to a resident at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A staff member puts on PPE at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, puts on PPE before she enters a room SWNS Care home hit by coronavirus: A rare glimpse of life inside A bench at Newfield Nursing Home Tom Maddick/SWNS

It also advises staff get regular exercise and enough sleep.

Many staff will be negatively psychologically affected, it reads.

There are, however, opportunities at every level to make a difference to the mental health support of staff, and to identify and encourage opportunities to find growth and meaning in this situation.

Our society should now regard these individuals as gold dust and it is our duty to provide the support they deserve.
When a natural disaster like an earthquake strikes, a community can literally be shaken to its core. One way to assess how well and how quickly that community recovers is to measure how, and how quickly, its hospitals and wider healthcare systems can become fully functional again and take care of its patients. Predicting the trajectory of that recovery is no easy task.

That's because the resilience measures of a healthcare system are dizzyingly complex. They span everything from the availability of hospital staff, to the protection of critical equipment, to the state of the roads for ambulances to travel on, to the efficiency by which hospitals can transfer critically ill patients to different hospitals.

Hussam Mahmoud, an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University, and his students spend a lot of time thinking about how to define and describe "community resilience." Mahmoud and graduate student Emad Hassan have created a modeling tool that could help city planners and emergency managers understand the full functionality and recovery of a healthcare system, in the wake of a natural disaster.

"We set out to develop models allowing us to understand, what is the demand on a hospital healthcare facility after an event like an earthquake," Mahmoud said. "When we started looking into this, we were shocked to learn that there are no models currently that allow you to understand, what is the demand on the hospital, how is the hospital being impacted by the natural disaster, how is that going to impact demand and capacity, and how will that change over time?"

Their model, described in a forthcoming issue of the journal Reliability Engineering and System Safety, has wider implications for use in other disasters, including pandemics, like the one the world is experiencing now with COVID-19.

Healthcare as a complex network

In their paper, Mahmoud and Hassan seek to understand healthcare systems as complex networks that can be visualized as nodes of different functionalities. These include number of staffed beds, hospital staff availability, housing functionality, patient waiting time for treatment, and even things like the probability of patient X going to healthcare facility Y. The availability of water, power, transportation and telecommunication also support hospital operation and factor into the model. And the researchers define healthcare not just by physical metrics, but also by quality metrics, like the level of customer satisfaction -- measured by things like patient wait time.

To develop and test their framework, the researchers applied it to a virtual community called Centerville, which was developed as a research tool by researchers at the CSU Center for Risk-Based Community Resilience, a National Institute of Standards and Technology Center of Excellence of which Mahmoud and Hassan are contributing members. The researchers applied an earthquake scenario to Centerville -- an imagined mid-sized U.S. community of 50,000 residents with commercial and industrial zones, schools, fire stations and hospitals -- to see how it would fare. Using the virtual environment helped them highlight the capabilities of their model and the impact of decisions made as the community recovered.

Pandemic applications

The purpose of Mahmoud and Hassan's work is to define the parameters needed to be measured by communities to assess how prepared they are for natural disasters. In the wake of COVID-19, Mahmoud said, they have begun using their model to theorize and predict how hospital networks can better manage pandemics by identifying gaps in resources and potential bottlenecks according to different worst-case scenarios. They are now working with the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health to further refine the model and apply it to pandemic planning.
U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a roundtable discussion with industry executives on Opening Up America Again in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2020. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Says He Plans to Resume Travel Next Week With Trip to Arizona, Maybe Ohio

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he plans to kick off his out-of-state travel next week with a trip to Arizona, as the White House moves to push state leaders to consider re-opening their economies.

The president told reporters he plans to resume traveling after spending more than a month largely confined to the White House because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

I think Im going to Arizona next week, and we look forward to that, Trump said during a roundtable with business leaders to discuss a strategy to reopen the U.S. economy.

And Im going to, I hope, Ohio very soon, he continued. And were going to start to move around, and hopefully in the not too distant future, well have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other.

Arizona and Ohio are expected to be key battleground states in the upcoming November presidential election. In 2016, Trump won Arizona by less than 4 percentage points and Ohio by 8.

Trump said his Arizona trip would be industry-focused because its too soon for the big everybody-get-together-and-stand-next-to-each-other crowds.

White House spokesman Judd Deere said on Twitter Wednesday that Trump would visit Phoenix on Tuesday. Deere said the president plans to tour a Honeywell plant to highlight critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state.

@realDonaldTrump will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday and visit a @honeywell facility to highlight critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state  h/t @KTAR923 | https://t.co/KFqa2BpUwm  Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) April 30, 2020

The president last left Washington on March 28, when he visited Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a Naval hospital ship before it made its way to New York City. Trump has a trip to West Point planned for June 13, when he is set to address U.S. Military Academy graduates.

As cases of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, top 1 million in the United States and the death rate decreases, Trump has been keen to resume travel.

The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8 percent annual rate in first quarter of the yeara precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.

A White House official said that Trump also wishes to visit those working on the front lines of the CCP virus outbreak, Bloomberg reported.

The White House has been pivoting to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nations economy state-by-state, although some have expressed concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

Were heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us, Trump said of the modeled April virus peak in the country.

Trump laid out a vision to eventually return to pre-CCP virus normalcywith or without a vaccinewith packed restaurants and filled stadiums. That vision flies in the face of assessments from expert doctors who say the country will need to embrace a new normal that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.

I dont want people to get used to this, Trump told reporters. I see the new normal being what it was three months ago.

Trump said Wednesday that he will not be extending the White Houses CCP virus social distancing guidelines, which are set to expire on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Update: Overwhelmed funeral home cited for failing to control odors

Dozens of decomposing bodies were discovered stored in unrefrigerated trucks outside a Brooklyn, N.Y., funeral home yesterday, according to the New York Times.

The Times reported the discovery was made after someone reported a strong odor coming from the trucks. CNN reported that someone had noticed fluids dripping from one of the trucks.

The number of bodies found in the trucks is unclear. Media outlets reported there were anywhere from 40 to 100 bodies.

The bodies were in body bags stored in a U-Haul rental truck and a tractor-trailer near the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home. The New York Times said it was unclear how many of the people had died in the coronavirus pandemic.

But New York Citys death care system  its hospital mortuaries, cemeteries, crematories and city-run morgues  has been under extraordinary strain in recent weeks as beleaguered workers have tried to grapple with the single worst mass casualty event to hit New York since the Spanish flu pandemic of a century ago. At least 14,000 people in the city have perished from Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

One official told the Times that the funeral home owner had been storing the bodies in the trucks after his freezer stopped working.

CORONAVIRUS NEWS ON PENNLIVE

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A Jefferson County judge has declined a request to set bond for a Birmingham police detective accused of fatally shooting another woman during a love triangle gone wrong.

Alfreda Fluker, 39, is charged with capital murder in the April 10 shooting death of Kanisha Nicole Fuller. She is also charged with attempted murder of Mario Theodore White. Both Fluker and White were detectives on the Birmingham Police Departments Crime Reduction Team.

Flukers attorney, Erskine Mathis, earlier this month requested that bond be set for Fluker. The attorney stated that Fluker is a mother of three who has custody of, and supports, all of the children.

Fluker, Mathis wrote, is not a dangerous person and is not a threat to anyone. She has pleaded not guilty to the crimes and believes when a jury hears the evidence in this case, they will find her not guilty the attorney wrote in his motion. Other than the testimony of Mario White, who is a victim in this case, there is not evidence against this defendant.

District Judge Alaric May declined the bond request. Because the defendant is charged with a capital offense, this defendant is not entitled to, nor is this court obligated to, set a bond at this time, the judge wrote in his order.

The shooting happened about 11:51 p.m. that Friday in Birminghams Germania Park. West Precint officers responded to the park after the citys gunfire detections system, Shot Spotter, alerted them to shots fired. When they arrived on the scene, they learned the 43-year-old Fuller had been shot multiple times, including at least once to the head.

Fuller was found unresponsive in an unmarked Birmingham police vehicle. She was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead Saturday morning. That vehicle was assigned to White. Fullers white Jeep was found in the middle of a field at Germania Park.

There is no indication White called 911 following the shooting. Additional details about what transpired before and after the deadly shooting have not yet been made available. White is on leave pending ongoing investigations.

Investigators quickly identified the suspected shooter as Fluker, who had been with the department for about 15 years. She had been a detective for the past five years.

Fluker was taken into custody Saturday morning at her west Birmingham home. Both women at one point or another had been in a relationship with White.

Fuller was laid to rest April 25. Fluker remains held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.
New Delhi: Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor died at Mumbai's Sir HN Reliance Foundation hospital on Thursday, 8:45 am. He was battling Leukemia for the past two years and underwent treatment for it in New York for a year.

He is survived by wife and actress Neetu Kapoor, children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor. The actor, who was always vocal about issues on Twitter, had first disclosed about his illness on the micro-blogging site.

All through his tough times, Neetu Kapoor stood like a rock behind him. The two cemented a great bond of love and affection - giving picture-perfect relationship goals to fans and followers. Rishi and Neetu Kapoor worked in several movies like Kabhie Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, Rafoo Chakkar, Do Dooni Chaar amongst various others together.

Their on-screen chemistry turned into the real-life romance and the two got married on January 22, 1980. Today, let's cherish their love through pictures:

Rishi Kapoor's family released a statement this morning:

Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with Leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.

In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.

He would not have it any other way.

May his soul rest in peace!
NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommending wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, face masks and other coverings have been high demand. Many of our partners have stepped up to manufacturer face masks to help support the effort to beat the coronavirus outbreak.

Thanks to their efforts you can now buy plain or custom branded face masks in bulk from Swag.com. Whether for friends and family or for a business owner looking to protect their workforce from COVID-19 you can purchase our face masks in bulk and have them delivered directly. We stock a variety of mask types for you to choose from, from the traditional cloth face mask to bandanas and even face shields.

Not only are our face masks manufactured in the United States they are available right now, can be custom designed by you and are of high quality and most are machine washable.

Alongside stocking face masks that can be sent directly to your employees, we have also started a donation program called "Masks for All", the goal of which is to send free facemasks to those who need it the most.

Our Masks for All program will help get custom masks to those in need in New York City, including homeless shelters, youth groups and prisons. For every 100 masks sold, we are donating 10 masks to these local organizations.

Jeremy Parker, CEO of Swag.com said, "We're proud to be able to offer our facemasks to employees around America to help keep people safe. The Masks for All program is our way to help support the relief effort and give back to those in need in the city where we were founded."

Swag's mission is simple. Only offer the finest promotional branded products. No more searching through thousands of products - we've done the hard work for you.

Find out more about our bulk custom face masks: https://swag.com/collections/face-masks - for every 100 masks sold, we are donating 10 masks to local organizations in New York City.

View the full range of our other products at Swag.com

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Osun Governor, Gboyega Oyetola

Zamfara State Government has criticized plan by its Osun counterpart to deport Northern youths who allegedly sneaked into the South-West state.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, on Thursday, Zamfara government said such an act is disheartening.

The PUNCH had on Wednesday reported that Osun raised the alarm over the large influx of northern youths, especially Zamfara indigenes, into the state.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State, Prince Adeyanju Biniyo, accused the northerners of sneaking into the state, threatening that the Osun Amotekun Corps has been notified to arrest and deport the strangers.

Reacting, Bappa faulted Binuyo, claiming that the Zamfaras youths are Nigeria citizens who can reside in any state.

The statement read in part, The attention of Zamfara State Government was drawn to a story credited to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State, Prince Adeyanju Abdullahi Biniyo, where he alleged an influx of Zamfara indigenes into the state and described it as dangerous.

As if the entrants brought in war, he also called on the Osun indigenes not to panic as the state has instructed Amotekun to fish them out and ensure that anyone escorting trucks that offload goods is turned back and escorted out of the state.

Doubtlessly, the above position as portrayed by the Deputy Chief of Staff is not statesmanly and smacks of bad taste. Indeed, it is condescending and totally negates good practices expected of leaders in a Federal setting such as Nigeria.

It is, therefore, against federal law to instruct Amotekun to arrest all Northern Youth who had escaped into the state by hiding in trucks as quoted by Mr Binuyo for deportation back to their so-called state of origin.

Nigeria and the World at large is facing a serious and challenging pandemic. All civilised societies are joining hands together to fight the spread of this pandemic and even extending helping hands to others. It is, therefore, disheartening that Osun state will take the path of isolating assumed outsiders and segregating what should be a common fight by all Nigerians.
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a dead man into office, naming the late Tobias Chukwuemeka Okwuru as a board member for a government agency, two months after he died.



Mr Buhari sent a letter to the country's senate on Tuesday to confirm the list of 37 appointees but was unaware that Mr Okwuru had passed away in February.



The president's media aide, Lauretta Onochie, said Mr Okwuru was alive when the president appointed him to serve on the board and that "he even came to update his CV, in readiness for the appointment after the Senate screening".



"When he sadly passed away while waiting for the screening by the Senate, that information was not communicated to the Federal Government," she said.



This is not the first time Mr Buhari's presidency has made the grave error of appointing a dead person. In 2017, the president appointed at least five people who were long dead on to several boards of government agencies.

Source: BBC









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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) -BMGB Capital Corp. (TSXV: BMGB.P) ("BMGB" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding letter of intent (the "LOI") dated April 28, 2020 respecting the proposed acquisition by BMGB of NAVCO Pharmaceuticals Limited ("NAVCO") (the "Transaction"). Under the LOI, BMGB and NAVCO have agreed to act in good faith to draft, negotiate and execute a definitive share exchange agreement or other similar form of agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") respecting the Transaction, which will supersede the LOI. The Transaction is intended to qualify as BMGB's "Qualifying Transaction" as defined by Policy 2.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

Trading of the common shares of BMGB will remain halted in connection with the dissemination of this news release and will recommence at such time as the Exchange may determine, having regard to the completion of certain requirements pursuant to Exchange Policy 2.4. Further details of the proposed Transaction will follow in future news releases.

About NAVCO

NAVCO manufactures and researches nano-technology products and materials using Computerized Nano-meter Algorithms ("CAN"). These products have applications in the medical, textile, chemical and additive industries. NAVCO's products are tailored to defend against microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and genetic manipulation tools such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats ("CRISPR").

NAVCO's low cost BioActive stream nano-technology allows for manufacturing of nano-scale structures that have important biological implications for medical, veterinary, food, additive and other industrial uses.

NAVCO has three main product lines, namely, an aerosol spray, a cream and nano BioActive-Silver. The Aerosol spray provides long lasting, active protection against microorganisms and can be used on walkways, hallways, countertops and many other surfaces. NAVCO's cream is geared toward long lasting active protection of skin against microorganisms. NAVCO's nano silver is the most biologically active product line used on the market for uses in wound and bone healing, drug delivery systems, detection technologies and multiple other uses.

NAVCO's production and headquarters is located in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

The Transaction

The Transaction is expected to proceed by way of share exchange agreement under which BMGB will issue an aggregate of up to 14,500,000 BMGB common shares pro rata to the NAVCO shareholders at deemed price of $0.30 per share, representing an aggregate valuation for NAVCO under the Transaction of up to $4,350,000. The Transaction is subject to completion of certain conditions precedent, including without limitation: execution of the Definitive Agreement; the preparation and filing of a Filing Statement with the Exchange; completion by BMGB of a private placement (the "Private Placement") for gross proceeds of no less than $1,450,000; completion of satisfactory mutual due diligence; receipt of required shareholder approvals; and receipt of all necessary regulatory and Exchange approvals.

Under the Private Placement, BMGB will raise gross proceeds of no less than $1,450,000 through the issuance of common shares, anticipated to be at a price of $0.30 for share. The Private Placement may also include the issuance of share purchase warrants, if agreed to in writing by the parties. The Company will provide further information respecting the Private Placement in due course.

In conjunction with the closing of the Transaction, the resulting issuer (the "Resulting Issuer") will change its name to a name mutually determined by BMGB and NAVCO, acting reasonably. On closing of the Transaction, and assuming that BMGB issues 14,500,000 shares pro rata to the NAVCO shareholders and raises $1,450,000 under the Private Placement at a price of $0.30 per share, the Resulting Issuer will have 23,833,333 common shares issued and outstanding. The current shareholders of BMGB would hold approximately 18.88% of the shares of the Resulting Issuer, participants in the Private Placement would hold approximately 20.28% of the shares of the Resulting Issuer, and the NAVCO shareholders would hold approximately 60.84% of the shares of the Resulting Issuer. The board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer will be those persons mutually determined by BMGB and NAVCO, acting reasonably.

The Transaction will not constitute a "Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction" (as such term is defined by the Exchange). In addition, the Transaction is not a "related party transaction" as such term is defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions and is not subject to Policy 5.9 of the Exchange. As a result, no meeting of the shareholders of BMGB is required pursuant to Policy 2.4 of the Exchange or applicable securities laws.

Sponsorship of a Qualifying Transaction of a capital pool company is required by the Exchange unless exempt in accordance with Exchange policies or unless a waiver is granted by the Exchange. BMGB intends to apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements under section 3.4 of Exchange Policy 2.2 or a waiver of sponsorship if an exemption from sponsorship is unavailable; however, there can be no guarantee that a waiver will be granted if no exemption is available.

In conjunction with the execution of the LOI, BMGB has provided NAVCO with a loan in the amount of $25,000 that was required to ensure the preservation of NAVCO's assets. The loan is unsecured, bears interest at 6% per year, compounded monthly, and is repayable on the earlier of: (a) December 31, 2020; and (b) the date which is 30 days after the date on which the LOI is terminated for any reason other than the execution of the Definitive Agreement.

The LOI also provides that, following execution of the LOI, BMGB and NAVCO will in good faith negotiate, draft and execute a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") under which BMGB will make a loan to NAVCO under the following terms: BMGB will make a loan of up to $75,000 to NAVCO to be used by NAVCO for purposes agreed to in writing by BMGB, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; the loan will be secured against all of the assets of NAVCO; the loan will bear interest at 6% per year, compounded monthly; and the loan will be repayable on or before the earlier of: (a) December 31, 2020; and (b) the date which is 30 days after the date on which the LOI is terminated for any reason other than the execution of the Definitive Agreement. The loan and the Loan Agreement will be subject to Exchange approval.

About BMGB

BMGB is a capital pool company in accordance with Exchange Policy 2.4 and its principal business is the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction.

For additional information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or contact the Company as follows: Lucas Birdsall, CEO, at (778) 549-6714 or lucasbirdsall@gmail.com.

###

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to BMGB and NAVCO, including, the completion of the Private Placement and the Qualifying Transaction, are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the companies' current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to them, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation: the results of the business of NAVCO; the estimation of capital requirements; the estimation of labour and operating costs; the timing and amount of future business expenditures; and the availability of necessary financing. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Such factors include but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in costs; litigation; legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; and technological or operational difficulties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. Should any factor affect the companies in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the companies do not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the companies undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release in the United States. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55229
Amaravati, April 30 : The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to create livelihood opportunities for local fisherfolk by constructing eight fishing harbours and a jetty in the state.

At a review meeting here on Thursday, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said that if adequate facilities are provided, local fishermen need not migrate to other states for livelihood.

Around 4,000 local fishermen stranded in Gujarat, due to COVID-19 lockdown, are expected to return to AP on Friday. They had left for AP from Gujarat by bus, on April 27, following Chief Minister's intervention.

Estimated to cost about Rs 3,000 crore, the project is expected to be completed within three years. Under the project, a jetty and a fishing harbour will be developed at Srikakulam, while fishing harbours will be set up in Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Prakasam, Nellore, Guntur, West and East Godavari districts.

State Fisheries Minister Mopidevi Venkatramana took a dig at the previous TDP regime for setting up only three fishing harbours in the state. the YSRCP government's decision would enrich fishermen's lives, the Minister said.

"The previous TDP government had spent only Rs 40 crore for the seaports in Gundayapalem in Prakasam and Antharvedi in East Godavari district. The YSRCP government under Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is going to spend Rs 3,000 crore for 8 fishing harbours and a jetty. This would enhance fishing activity and the income of fishermen", the minister said.

Under the project, major fishing harbours would come up in Badagatlapalem in Srikakulam, Pudimadaka in Vizag, Uppada in East Godavari, Narsapuram in West Godavari, Machilipatnam in Krishna, Nizampatnam in Guntur, Kothapatnam in Prakasam and Juvvaladinne in Nellore district. One jetty would also come up in Manchineellapeta in Srikakulam district.
Businessman Richard Powell has been jailed for giving false details after landing on the Isle of Man via private jet. (SWNS)

A British businessman has been jailed for giving false details to officials after landing on the Isle of Man via private jet.

Richard Malcolm Powell, 59, gave officials a fake name as well as an incorrect date of birth, address and telephone number when he landed on the island in March, a court heard.

Under emergency laws introduced to limit the spread of coronavirus, new arrivals to the Isle of Man were required to provide their personal details and self-isolate for 14 days.

Douglas Courthouse heard that Powell arrived via private jet on 20 March but gave his name to authorities as Richard Howell instead.

After concerns were raised by airport officials, the information was handed to police and he was arrested six days later at a holiday cottage in the village of Union Mills.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

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Appearing in court last week via videolink, he was jailed for a total of 10 weeks and fined more than 2,500 for breaching the emergency laws as well as several previous offences.

Handed him the sentence, deputy high bailiff Chris Arrowsmith said Powell had been trying to protect the unnamed pilot of the jet and to avoid detection by the authorities.

The businessmans barrister Paul Rodgers said Powell had made a momentarily bad decision.

He said his client had made a significant contribution to the island for a number of years, paying into the top tax bracket and running a music festival which raises money for charities on the Isle of Man.

Coronavirus: what happened today
42nd Annual Sam Gomez Race Goes Virtual

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Sam Gomez 5K road race is on for this weekend to benefit the Elizabeth Freeman Center.

With COVID-19 limiting the way people can interact, one would think a road race would certainly be out of the question.

But Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Student Government Organization, the race organizers, found a creative solution.

"We saw that some other races around the country and in the Berkshires had made their races virtual and were inspired to make our race virtual as well," Student Government Association members Fabby Street and Megan Bantle said in a joint email. "This way we can still advertise our amazing sponsors who invested in the race and still host a community-oriented event for the MCLA community while we are off-campus."

The Sam Gomez Road Race is in its 42nd year and is one of the oldest races in Berkshire County. Sam Gomez was a professor at what was then North Adams State College, and founded the college's cross country team.

Street and Bantle noted that they did not want to completely cancel another event when so much of the academic year has already been compromised by the novel coronavirus pandemic. So they adapted and instead of having one 5-kilometer race, runners and walkers have from Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. until Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m. to run their race.

No registration is required and runners are just asked to send a picture of themselves out on their own race day to sga@mcla.edu . They will then receive an e-certificate.

These photos will be posted on the MCLA Student Government Facebook page and website.

Racers are also encouraged to post photos to social media with #virtualsamgomez. Members of the SGA hope this will connect people digitally.

"Folks are encouraged to use this race as part of their spring training, but we will not be collecting times or posting them. This is more a community challenge to have as many people as possible participate and connect through social media for one large cause. This can also be used for someone to go out and challenge themselves individually through physical activity," the students wrote.

Participants can run anywhere. MCLA students currently no longer on campus are encouraged to join in wherever they may be.

"The MCLA Student Government and staff felt like it was really important to bring as much of the vibrant MCLA community life as possible to students and community members, even while people are not on campus. We are hoping that maintaining MCLA traditions, like the Sam Gomez Road Race, which is over four decades old, will give students a sense of normalcy and help them to remember that the community they have here at MCLA hasn't gone away."

The event is free but part of MCLA Women's Center's Virtual Take Back the Night event and donations will be accepted for the Elizabeth Freeman Center, which offers shelter and support to victims of domestic violence and assault in Berkshire County.

"Despite being isolated physically, participants will all be contributing by either donating or raising awareness for the amazing work that the Elizabeth Freeman Center does to address domestic and sexual violence in Berkshire County," the Street and Bantle wrote.

Donations can be made here

The SGA members thanked their sponsors and felt that being outside can only improve things during these uncertain times.

"We believe that spending time outside and moving your body are both great ways to maintain a routine and help your mental health while at home. We also understand that not everyone has access to the outdoors at this time, but encourage people to do what they can!"
Fort Bend County Judge KP George on Thursday called for Texas officials to remove from a state lockup in Richmond prisoners who tested positive for COVID-19 and were recently transferred there.

They should not be coming to our backyard while we are trying to manage going back and re-opening our county and our community, George said at a news conference, hours after he released a statement encouraging county residents to contact their state legislators to demand the convicted criminals with coronavirus get sent someplace else.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel said 35 inmates are recovering from COVID-19 at Jester State Prison. The facility was chosen, Desel said, because of its size and proximity to Hospital Galveston, where inmates are being treated for COVID-19.

They may not be ready for general population at their housing unit that they came from, said Desel. They may still need some level of convalescence before that occurs.

A group of prisoners originally housed at the Jester 1 unit were moved to another facility before the current inmates were transferred over, according to Desel. Jester 1 unit, which usually houses substance abuse offenders, has a maximum capacity for 323 male inmates, according to the TDCJ website. It also has medical capabilities such as ambulatory medical, dental and out-patient mental health services which is managed by University of Texas Medical Branch, the website stated.

In his statement, George said he was shocked to learn that the State of Texas has been using Fort Bend County as a dumping ground for convicted criminals with coronavirus.

The county judge said he didnt learn prisoners were being transferred until after the process of moving them began.

However, Desel said that the county judge, the judges chief of staff and the county public health official were all made aware of the transfer through numerous phone calls on April 24. Starting that weekend, prisoners were being transferred from the hospital.

There was not any expression of any negativity then, said Desel.

Taral Patel, chief of staff for George, acknowledged they were notified, but were not given a chance to provide feedback on the decision to transfer inmates to the facility.

It wasnt any kind of advance notice, said Patel.

Desel said the inmates are in medical isolation and anyone who comes into contact with them are in full PPE gear. He said he assumes more inmates recovering from COVID-19 will be transferred to the Jester 1 unit.

Earlier this month, TDCJ also transferred at least 128 COVID-19 positive inmates to two units in Brazoria County without warning local officials, a move that angered both County Judge Matt Sebesta and Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen.

The surprise caused Sebesta to pen his complaints in a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott and request that the states prison agency apologize for how it surreptitiously brought infected inmates to the county. Bonnen, R-Angleton, said he was similarly surprised and delivered Sebastas correspondence to the governor himself.

I dont want any more COVID-positive inmates transferred to Brazoria County, Bonnen said.

George said he learned from a state official that prisoners are supposed to be quarantined for 14 days after being dropped off at the Jester unit. Prison employees will also be screened for symptoms such as a fever and are required to wear masks inside. But George, still called the protocols dangerously insufficient standards for the close and confined quarters in a prison.

We have enough to deal with and we dont want more, George said. That is the bottom line.

Samantha Ketterer contributed to this report.

brooke.lewis@chron.com
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Prince William community has proven resilient. The Prince William Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS.

We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover.

We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Prince William Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
The Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau, Nuno Nabiam, alongside three members of his cabinet have tested positive for coronavirus.

The countrys minister of health, Antonia Deuno, on Wednesday said Mr Nabiam; the Interior Minister, Botche Cande; Secretary of State for Public Order, Mario Fambe; and Secretary for State for Regional Integration Monica Boiro were diagnosed on Tuesday and have since been quarantined at a hotel in the capital, Bissau.

I have tested positive for the new coronavirus; I am at home and I feel good. The virus exists and spreads easily. Stay at home and take all measures to save your life and that of your family.

A policeman attached to the interior ministry anonymously told AFP we are all afraid, because in our ministry, despite the barrier measures, we meet very frequently, we sometimes talk to each other without wearing masks.

A source told the news agency that tests are also underway at a Navy unit where the police chief had paid a visit shortly before his death.

The National Police Commissioner for national order, Biom Nantchongo, died on Sunday at Simao Mendes National Hospital. His death is the first in Guinea Bissau.

The country of about 1.8 million residents has made efforts to raise awareness but still some citizens are in doubt when it comes to the existence of the virus.

I wear a mask to protect myself from the dust, not the virus! I dont believe in it. Im using it as Im also going to visit someone whos sick in the hospital, Ude Djassi, a shopper admitted to Africanews.

On the other hand, Aissatu Cande, a vegetable seller, said she does not wear a mask because of an existing health problem I dont use a mask because I have a heart palpitation problem. Thats why.

Guinea Bissau has 205 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 19 recoveries, and one death.
Ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland shrinking and melting since 2003 have contributed towards a global sea level rise, a NASA funded study revealed.

Researchers at the University of Washington examined data from two space lasers that were able to make the most precise measurements of the ice sheets to date.

They found the net loss of ice from Antarctica, along with Greenland's shrinking ice sheet, has been responsible for 0.55 inches of sea level rise since 2003.

In Antarctica, sea level rise is driven by the loss of the floating ice shelves melting in a warming ocean - they hold back the flow of land-based ice into the ocean.

The study found that Greenland's ice sheet lost an average of 200 gigatons of ice per year, and Antarctica's ice sheet lost an average of 118 gigatons of ice per year.

One gigaton of ice is enough to fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

This shows the amount of ice gained or lost by Antarctica between 2003 and 2019. Dark reds and purples show large average rates of ice loss near the coasts, while blues show smaller rates of ice gain in the interior

The findings come from the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2), which was launched into orbit in the autumn of 2018.

The team behind the study compared recent ICESat-2 data to measurements from its predecessor taken between 2003 and 2009.

'If you watch a glacier or ice sheet for a month, or a year, you're not going to learn much about what the climate is doing to it,' said lead author Benjamin Smith.

'We now have a 16-year span between ICESat and ICESat-2 and can be much more confident that the changes we're seeing in the ice have to do with the long-term changes in the climate,' said the glaciologist at the University of Washington.

In Antarctica, sea level rise is driven by the loss of the floating ice shelves melting in a warming ocean - they hold back the flow of land-based ice into the ocean

'We're seeing high-quality measurements that carpet both ice sheets, which let us make a detailed and precise comparison with the ICESat data.'

Previous studies of ice loss or gain often analyse data from multiple satellites and airborne missions but the new study takes just a single type of measurement.

It takes height as measured by an instrument that bounces laser pulses off the ice surface - providing the most detailed and accurate picture of ice sheet change.

The researchers took elements of earlier ICESat measurements and overlaid the new data from ICESat-2 measurements taken last year.

They then ran the data through computer programs that accounted for the snow density and other factors, and then calculated the mass of ice lost or gained.

'The new analysis reveals the ice sheets' response to changes in climate with unprecedented detail, revealing clues as to why and how the ice sheets are reacting the way they are', said co-author Alex Gardner, a NASA glaciologist

Of the sea level rise that resulted from ice sheet meltwater and iceberg calving, about two-thirds of it came Greenland, the other third from Antarctica

'It was amazing to see how good the ICESat-2 data looked, right out of the gate,' said co-author Tom Neumann, the ICESat-2 project scientist.

'These first results looking at land ice confirm the consensus from other research groups, but they also let us look at the details of change in individual glaciers and ice shelves at the same time,' Neumann said.

In Greenland, there was a significant amount of thinning of coastal glaciers.

The Kangerdulgssuaq and Jakobshavn glaciers, for example, have lost 14 to 20 feet of height per year for the past 16 years - the authors discovered.

Warmer summer temperatures have melted ice from the surface of the glaciers and ice sheets, and in some places warmer ocean water erodes away the ice at their fronts,' the NASA backed team say.

In Antarctica measurements showed that the ice sheet is getting thicker in parts of the continent's interior, likely as a result of increased snowfall, Smith said.

This shows the amount of ice gained or lost by Greenland between 2003 and 2019. Dark reds and purples show large rates of ice loss near the coasts. Blues show smaller rates of ice gain in the interior of the ice sheet

The loss of ice from the continent's margins, especially in West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula, far outweighs any gains in the interior.

'In West Antarctica, we're seeing a lot of glaciers thinning very rapidly,' Smith said.

'There are ice shelves at the downstream end of those glaciers, floating on water. And those ice shelves are thinning, letting more ice flow out into the ocean as the warmer water erodes the ice.'

These ice shelves, which rise and fall with the tides, can be difficult to measure, said co-author Helen Amanda Fricker, a glaciologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.

Some of them have rough surfaces, with crevasses and ridges, but the precision and high resolution of ICESat-2 allows researchers to measure overall changes, without worrying about these features skewing the results.

This is one of the first times that researchers have measured loss of the floating ice shelves around Antarctica simultaneously with loss of the continent's ice sheet.

The study found that Greenland's ice sheet lost an average of 200 gigatons of ice per year, and Antarctica's ice sheet lost an average of 118 gigatons of ice per year

Ice that melts from ice shelves doesn't raise sea levels, since it's already floating - just like an ice cube in a full cup of water doesn't overflow the glass.

But the ice shelves do provide stability for the glaciers and ice sheets behind them -'It's like an architectural buttress that holds up a cathedral,' Fricker said.

'If you take away the shelves, or even if you thin them, you're reducing that buttressing force, so the grounded ice can flow faster.'

The researchers found ice shelves in West Antarctica, where many of the continent's fastest-moving glaciers are located, are losing mass.

Patterns of thinning show that Thwaites and Crosson ice shelves have thinned the most, an average of about five meters (16 feet) and three meters (10 feet) of ice per year, respectively,' the researchers said.

This NASA funded study has been published in the journal Science.
(TNS)  The City of Buffalo, N.Y., could run out of money by Friday and has a $35 million year-to-date budget deficit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report released Tuesday by the City Comptroller's Office.Buffalo is hardly alone in its financial situation.As the outbreak's economic toll on the city became clearer, other towns and villages across Erie County also facing significant revenue losses continue to push for the federal government to grant them direct financial help.To help overcome the fiscal predicaments they now face, leaders of towns and cities, alike, say direct federal aid to municipalities is needed.Some local town supervisors say without assistance through a stimulus package, services may have to be cut in order to balance their budgets."We are unable to do this alone," Lancaster Supervisor Ronald Ruffino said.The largest impact on many towns will be the loss of sales tax revenue, Ruffino said during a virtual news conference Tuesday.But municipalities are also losing out on court fees and other types of revenue as the effects of the pandemic linger.Lancaster officials' estimates for how much sales tax revenue the town may lose have ranged from 50 percent early on to up to 80 percent under the most recent calculations, Ruffino said.To try to alleviate some of the financial pressure, the town is only approving purchases for capital expenditures where such spending is "absolutely necessary" due to safety issues, he said. The town hasn't hired any seasonal employees, and probably will not, he said.Spending on services for youth and seniors, as well as recreation programs, will be hard to keep at budgeted levels without stimulus funding, Ruffino said."We see this being a very difficult role to maintain in 2020 if we are not granted federal assistance through a stimulus package," he said.So far, aid to municipal governments has been left out of federal stimulus packages, which have provided money for businesses and hospitals.A report by the state Division of Budget calls for New York to close its own projected $13.3 billion budget shortfall by cutting $10.1 billion in spending, with $8.2 billion cuts coming in a reduction of "aid to localities," which includes support for local governments.Grand Island already has furloughed a number of employees and is pushing back spending on some recreation programs, Supervisor John C. Whitney said."This is just going to hurt us and impact us in ways that we are not going to be able to recover from," Whitney said.The Town of Evans is looking at a projected $1.5 million budget gap due to projected losses in state aid and sales tax revenue, Supervisor Mary K. Hosler said.The town has furloughed all of its part-time employees but hasn't made any cuts to its full-time labor force yet, Hosler said. Evans' marina also hasn't opened, which further cuts into the municipality's revenue, she said.Hosler said she believes stimulus for municipalities has become a "bargaining chip" between Democrats and Republicans in Washington."To me, it's irresponsible," she said.For the City of Buffalo, cash funds are projected to land in the negative by the end of the month and cash disbursements are trending lower than projected, according to the comptroller's report.As of April 22, year-to-date revenues for the City of Buffalo were $341 million while year-to-date expenses were $376.4 million, City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams' report said.The city and the Buffalo Board of Education are still expected to receive their state aid, which will result in a positive combined cash flow to the city through June, according to the report.Mayor Byron W. Brown has previously described federal stimulus to municipalities like the city as a critical need.
(Newser)  President Trump is ready for the country to go back to the "way it was three months ago"and that includes Trump rallies. The president said Wednesday that he is going to visit a facility making medical equipment in Arizona next week and hopes to go to Ohio "very soon," NBC reports. Trump said he had been in the White House for "many months," and while it is still too soon for big "stand-next-to-each-other crowds" at campaign rallies, "were going to start to move around and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, well have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other." Trump said the federal "30 Days to Slow the Spread" guidelines will not be extended after they expire Thursday, reports the Guardian.

story continues below

The guidelines will be "fading out because now the governors are doing it," Trump said. Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines are now part of federal guidance on when and how states can reopen. Trump's medical advisers have called for a gradual reopening, but Trump said Wednesday that he wants it to happen as soon as possible. "If I watch Alabama play LSU, I dont want to see 20,000 people instead of 120,000 people," he said. Senior adviser Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, said Wednesday that the "federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story," the AP reports. He predicted that the country will be "really rocking again" by July. (Read more President Trump stories.)
New Delhi, April 30 : The initial symptoms of novel coronavirus disease were identified as Influenza like and respiratory problems till now, but recently the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the US agency charged with tracking and investigating public health trends, has come up with new symptoms of novel coronavirus.

These new symptoms include symptoms like chills, repeated shaking with chills, headache, muscle pain, loss of taste and smell.

Some experts say the new symptoms have been observed in Indian patients too while others have maintained that no such study in India has been published yet and it requires more evidence and data for this conclusion.

Speaking to IANS, Senior Resident of Infectious Diseases department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Dr Soumyadip Chatterji said, "Yes, we are getting patients with these complaints." Dr Cahtterji explained that people having complaints of loss of smell feel very irritated. "Anosmia is very irritating for patients. Anosmia is loss of smell." Dr Chatterji, who is currently posted at AIIMS dedicated COVID centre in Jhajjar, Haryana, told IANS that such symptoms in Indian COVID patients were visible since the end of March. "As the number of patients increased here in India, we found these symptoms in Indian patients too. I recently encountered an aged diabetic who was unable to take food as he had loss of taste and smell," said Dr Chatterji.

The doctor said that Chills, muscle pains were known symptoms from early Chinese reports too. Anosmia cropped up in reports towards the end of March and early April. There were reports from the United States of patients having what looks like frostbite or is called COVID toe these days. However in India the thickness of blood has been noticed in many patients.

Talking about painful sores or 'COVID toe' symptoms, Dr Cahtterji said that he did not come across any such patient as of now at the COVID centre he is currently posted at. "I have not seen any symptom like this yet, but I have read in reports about it," said Dr Chatterji, adding "Skin rashes in viral infections are not new. They are common and this particular manifestation has not yet been proven to be covid manifestation but its association has been noticed." The reason behind this symptom, Dr Chatterji said, may be due to vessel inflammation as a part of immunological response or due to micro clots. However he said nothing is clear yet. "We have to keep in mind that micro clots are menace in COVID and thus we use anti-clotting drugs. But cause of this awaits confirmation," he said.

He also said in any kind of viral infections, skin lesions may range from reddish patches called Erythematous maculopapular lesions to Petechiae, meaning bleeding spots to over clots in skin or even this kind of what these days is called 'COVID toe' on internet.

"However I would like to call it another skin manifestation during a viral disease." Another doctor, Dr Bisakh Bhattacharya, a Senior Resident of Infectious Diseases Department at the AIIMS, currently posted at National cancer institute (NCI) Jhajjar which is a dedicated COVID centre of AIIMS, told IANS that if these atypical symptoms are shown in the patients and the person is from any containment zone, he needs to be tested for COVID-19 too.

Dr Bisakh said, "many patients come with the complaint of severe headache and sometimes they do not show typical symptoms of COVID like cold and cough. Even if a patient is complaining these symptoms sans typical symptoms of the novel coronavirus and he is coming from hotspot areas, that person needs to be tested for COVID-19." He also added that however it was too early to reach to that conclusion as the knowledge about this disease is very dynamic and adding new aspects frequently. "We need more data to make such decisions and there is not any advisory from the government regarding it," said Dr Bisakh.

Another doctor, Dr Gaurav Gupta of medicine department at the AIIMS in Delhi said, "COVID-19 is a viral illness and the symptoms can range from very mild to severe. These are very similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza. Some people may have only a few symptoms, and some people may have no symptoms at all. People who are older or who have existing chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, severe obesity, chronic kidney or liver disease, or who have compromised immune systems may not present with classical symptoms." Talking about the new symptoms of coronavirus, Dr Gupta said, "In India, no such study has been published regarding this as of now. However, to suspect, we add these symptoms to the list with classical symptoms such as fever, sore throat and cough. Patients of older age group may have atypical symptoms."
The Supreme Court on Thursday sought CBI's response on a plea of former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, serving life term in an 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, seeking grant of either interim bail or parole for eight weeks in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Khokhar and former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar are serving life imprisonment in Tihar jail in the case after the Delhi High Court convicted them on December 17, 2018.

A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justice Aniruddha Bose took note of the submissions made by Khokhar's counsel that prisons need to be decongested to contain the pandemic as has been suggested by courts as also the government.

The bench, hearing the plea via video conferencing, then asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, to file the response. Khokhar was earlier granted 4-week parole on January 15 by the top court following the death of his father.

Senior advocate H S Phoolka, who represented riot victims and was in his native village in Punjab, opposed the bail plea.

"That the Applicant is constrained to approach this court for enforcement of his rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution in order to save his life. Applicant who is a senior citizen around 65 years of age suffering from various ailments like diabetes, hypertension and severe joint pains and is languishing in jail for more than six years.

"The applicant has been denied parole which has been liberally granted to hundreds of prisons in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic putting his life in jeopardy," the convict said in his plea.

It said that in March, when COVID-19 had started gripping the country, a statement was made by Delhi government in the high court that in order to contain the spread of the contagion, it would amend the Prisons Rules to give an option of parole to convicts and under trial prisoners.

The convict sought parole under amended Prison Rules 1211 and said that he was suffering from various ailments which made him vulnerable to the virus, it said.

The parole was denied to the convict under the Rule which prohibited such a relief in cases where investigations have been conducted by the CBI.

"That rejection of applicant's prayer for parole on this very ground is apparently unjustifiable and unconstitutional being violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India," it said.

Earlier, the top court had said that it would hear the bail plea of other convict Sajjan Kumar in the case during summer vacation.

Khokhar's life sentence was upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2018, while it had reversed the acquittal of Kumar by the trial court in 2013, in a case related to the killings of five Sikhs in the Raj Nagar Part-I area in Palam Colony in southwest Delhi on November 1-2, 1984, and burning down of a gurdwara in Raj Nagar Part-II.

The anti-Sikh riots had broken out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by her two Sikh bodyguards.

The high court had also upheld the conviction and varying sentences awarded by the trial court to the other five -- Khokhar, retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and former MLAs Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar.

It had also convicted them for criminal conspiracy to burn down residences of Sikh families and a gurdwara in the area during the riots.

The trial court in 2013 had awarded life term to Balwan Khokhar, Bhagmal and Lal, and a three-year jail term to Yadav and Kishan Khokhar.

Following the high court verdict, life term of Balwan Khokhar, Bhagmal and Lal has been upheld and the sentence of Yadav and Kishan Khokar has been enhanced to 10 years in jail.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON  In the days following the January capture of an American contractor in Afghanistan, Navy SEAL commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of a Taliban-linked militant network, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. intelligence agents also tried to track the cellphones of the man and his captors, but the trail went cold. There has been little public discussion by the U.S. government of Mark R. Frerichs case, even as American negotiators arranged prisoner exchanges as part of their efforts to reach a peace deal with the Taliban.

Little is known about the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the contractor from Illinois. But the previously unreported operation, described by multiple U.S. officials over the past month, sheds new light on the American governments efforts to locate him soon after he went missing and to collect intelligence aimed at his recovery.

A senior U.S. government official and a second Defense Department official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Pentagon and U.S. Special Operations Command declined to comment on the operation.

The new details emerge as violence and political infighting in Kabul threaten to scuttle the peace deal between the Taliban and the U.S. Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced frustrations after a failed attempt to mediate a power struggle between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival, Abdullah Abdullah.

Frerichs father, Art, said in a statement that though he has faith in President Donald Trump and Pompeo, I just need them to tell their people negotiating with the Taliban that America wont lift a finger until my son comes home. Hes a veteran. This is America. We dont leave people behind.

Though no formal demands are known to have been made, U.S. officials believe Frerichs was captured by members of the Haqqani network. The militant group is aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan and was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012.

The Haqqanis are known to carry out assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, but Taliban leadership has not acknowledged Frerichs abduction.

The first 96 hours is crucial, the senior U.S. government official briefed on the case told the AP. If theyre not recovered in the first few days, it becomes harder every minute after.

In late January, the SEALs that would become involved in Frerichs case spent the latter part of the month working to recover the bodies of two American service members who died when their aircraft crash-landed in Ghazni in central Afghanistan, an operation that had been complicated by inclement weather.

The weather also delayed the SEAL operation to gather intelligence on Frerichs whereabouts. Once the weather cleared, the SEAL team loaded onto helicopters on the night of Feb. 3, and flew to the undisclosed location, said the senior U.S. government official, who has direct knowledge of the raid. The official declined to disclose the exact location of the province for operational security reasons.

The senior U.S. government official and the Defense Department official with knowledge of the raid said the SEAL platoon was not met with Taliban resistance and that once at the compound, the platoon detained several alleged Haqqani militants and uncovered a weapons cache.

The suspected Haqqani members were questioned about Frerichs whereabouts and were ultimately turned over to the Afghan government, according to the senior U.S. government official.

There are no public indications that Frerichs, a Navy veteran, has been part of negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban leadership or that his release is part of any peace deal.

The Taliban kidnapped my brother in January. In February, the U.S. signed a peace deal with the Taliban. My brother wasnt part of the deal. Now we are arranging for the Taliban and Afghan government to exchange thousands of prisoners, Charlene Cakora, one of Frerichs sisters, said in a statement provided to the AP. Why cant we make an American hostage be one of them?

The rescue effort is being coordinated through the FBI-led, multiagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell. It said in a statement that it was working with its partners to ensure that Mark Frerichs and all Americans held hostage abroad are returned home. It encouraged anyone with information about the case to come forward.

The State Department said it was aware of an American citizen taken captive in Afghanistan.

The welfare, safety and security of Americans is the Trump administrations highest priority, the department said. The United States will continue to push for the safe return of this and all other U.S citizens through all relevant channels.

A former U.S. national security official who is advising the Frerichs family called on Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to resolve the situation. He needs to understand from the top that getting an American hostage home is also part of his job. He is aware of Marks presence, but it does not appear yet that he understands that he needs to get him home, said the former official, who insisted on anonymity to speak candidly because the official sometimes works with the Trump administration.

A representative for Khalilzad did not immediately respond to an email from the AP seeking comment.

U.S. officials believe Frerichs, 57, of Lombard, Illinois, was held for at least some time in Khost, an eastern province along the border with Pakistan and its so-called tribal regions, a mountainous area that has historically been a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

The former national security official said that Frerichs has been in Afghanistan for about a decade working as a contractor on private commercial projects. He was not a contractor for the U.S. government, the former official said.

Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and Army veteran who led the teams that searched for Bowe Bergdahl after the Army soldier abandoned his post in 2009 and wound up captured by the Taliban, said the Taliban frequently hide American hostages until the militants can move them over the border into Pakistan.

He said peace deal negotiations should have stopped as soon as the U.S. government learned that Frerichs was missing.

I have real concerns about suggestions that the Taliban are serious about peace, that the Taliban are upholding their end of the deal when  as we speak today  they are holding a former Navy veteran and American citizen hostage that they took, again, during the peace negotiations, Waltz said in an interview.

The search area for Frerichs began in Khost and extended south to the province of Kandahar, the two officials said.

On Feb. 4, American intelligence officials received a report that Frerichs had possibly been moved to Quetta, Pakistan, a historical haven for the Taliban, the officials said. But the information was deemed not credible enough to warrant a special operations mission, according to the senior U.S. government official.

The report also conflicted with signals intelligence U.S. officials had at the time. Signals intelligence is information gathered from the electronic signals that are broadcast from devices like portable radios and cellphones. The information can be used to track the movements of individuals or eavesdrop on conversations, known in the spy business as low-level voice intercepts.

U.S. intelligence officials continued to receive location pings from the suspected cellphones of Frerichs and his captors, but the trail went cold on Feb. 5, according to the officials.

Operationally, the reason why time is critical in a kidnapping is because you can close the distance quicker, ideally immediately or by utilizing sources, said the senior U.S. government official. This is not the case right now. He could be two houses down from where he was taken and we would not know.

____

LaPorta reported from Delray Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington, Kathy Gannon in Islamabad and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

___

Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org.
Anyone who has watched Rishi Kapoor's films would agree that he was preternaturally exceptional at his craft. The actor who made his debut in Mera Naam Joker in 1970, directed by his father and actor, director Raj Kapoor, bagged a National Film Award for Best Child Actor. From thereon, Kapoor would go to win many awards and accolades for his career spanning 50 years.

In Mera Naam Joker, Kapoor stood out as the adolescent Raju who was infatuated with his teacher Mary, played by Simi Garewal. As he comes to terms with the world and what is expected of him Raju realises that he was born to entertain and make the world laugh despite his troubles. Mera Naam Joker launched Kapoor, who would go on to become one of the biggest stars of the Hindi film industry.

Also read: Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67

His first film was soon followed by another big hit, which eventually became a Hindi classic -- Bobby (1973). Paired with Dimple Kapadia, Bobby soon caught the imagination of the entire country. It also landed him a Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Only two films old, Rishi Kapoor already gave two defining performances in Indian film history.

From thereon, Kapoor gave some of the most iconic films in India such as Rafoo Chakkar (1975), Laila Majnu (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Karz (1980), Saagar (1985), Chandni (1989), Bol Radha Bol (1992), Damini (1993). More recently Namaste London (2007), Delhi-6 (2009), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Kapoor & Sons (2016), 102 Not Out (2018) and Mulk (2018) are only a few of his movies that made people fall in love with his craft.

Even during his last few moments, Rishi Kapoor was entertaining the audience. "Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukaemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last," said the Kapoor family in its statement.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: 'He will be greatly missed', mourn Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: Actor appealed for peace amid coronavirus in his last tweet
Rishi Kapoor was a revolutionary. Not of the Leninist or Maoist variety, who roam the dense jungles of India and strike fear in the people and police with their menacing guns and their heavy bandoliers. Rishi was a revolutionary of Love. He embodied, in his taboo-breaking Bobby, the freedoms of Woodstock and the yuppification of renegade hippies. The youth had announced a worldwide revolt in 1968, from Berkeley to Paris to Bombay. India, still rigidly socialist and cleaving to five-year plans, was in the grip of a Nehruvian Congress that was splintering. Indira Gandhi was on the ascendant.

It was in 1970, Rishis father, Bollywoods original showman Raj, lifted the curtains on his most personal film, Mera Naam Joker. Rajs tramp, weary and fatigued, had fallen into a supremely existential funk. All his energy had dissipated, all his gallivanting had stopped, all his insouciance had disappeared. The tramp, which Raj Kapoor played with pathos, probably was having a breakdown and was on the verge of a collapse. Rajs genius, which was undergirded by his innate optimism in the India Story, was to introduce a shy and extremely reserved Holden Caulfield into his sad, broken story of alienation and loneliness. This Salingeresque twist, which was enacted by a very young and chubby-cheeked Rishi, carried a whiff of revolt. His shackled prurience gets a bit loosened when he sees his teacher bathing in the buff. Rishis Holden did not become an outright revolutionary, but he surely got a scent of revolution. The rebellion that was triggered by the clamorous youth, who were sick of a sclerotic society that didnt give them their rightful due.

The Holden who stepped out of the fading frame of Mera Naam Joker became a full-fledged Caulfield in Bobby. He wasnt a catcher in the rye; he was neither a catcher on the sly. He was a catcher, but certainly not shy. Rishi Kapoor had announced to the world that he was Indias answer to James Dean, his rebellion a bit tame but still powerful for an India, which chained to hoary conventions and strange taboos was gasping for air.

He was a rebel, with a serious cause. He was a chocolate boy gone rogue. He was a dancing, exuberant Camus to his grim, existential Sartresque father. He was out of the clutches of absurdity and ready to embrace a new future. He made the screen sizzle in 1973. Inside the theatre, everyone was wonderstruck. Outside, India, after going to war with Pakistan for the third time, was facing its own student revolts.

Rishi was a good foil to a simmering Amitabh Bachchan, who symbolised, with his pursed lips and silent, sullen looks, an India on the boil. An India that was going the full Sartrean arc from Nehrus Being to Indiras Nothingness. An India beset with absurdity and plagued by existential doubts. An India weighed down by its rotten, soul-killing systems. An India where the Ambedkarean topsoil of democracy was fast being gouged out to expose the turbulence within. Being was swiftly turning into nothingness. Rishis Caulfield was an act of revenge on the system. Like Camus, he broke with the perils of stubborn absurdity and embraced a humanism that encouraged rebellion but kept the faith.

India entered a dark age in 1975 and Bachchan continued to blow his fuse. As he, with his heavy blows and belligerence, kept striking the stalled and corrupt system and became a messiah, Rishi, like a content Everyman, continued to spread the gospel of love.

Bachchan yelled, Rishi yearned. Bachchan craved his own lore, Rishi wanted his own love. Manmohan Desai, with his uncanny eye for box-office success, brought the two together in Amar Akbar Anthony. The Muslim Akbar went to Rishi; the Christian Anthony went to Bachchan. And the Hindu Amar went to Vinod Khanna. Bachchan raged here too, but with some booze-fuelled self-pity.

Rishi, a flirtatious tailor, yearned and romanced his heart out. Khanna neither raged nor yearned. He was the most solid and respected (being a policeman) among the three. The casting was Desais Bollywood brilliance at work. Rishi made Bachchan more humane and prone to doubts. They would, of course, act together in more films in the coming years, with Bachchan getting more and more mellowed in his joyously buoyant company.

When the gagging of Indias freedoms was lifted, the country had truckloads of pent-up energy to release. Rock and roll burst into the scene, with RD Burman dexterously beating his conga drums and Rishi Kapoor bouncily singing his disco songs. It was a controlled explosion of cacophony to snuff out the resentments and rages left by Indias dark ages.

Holden Caulfield had no qualms in turning himself into a slim Elvis Presley, jiving and crooning his way to our hearts. Mithun too debuted around the same time, but the appellation of Indias heartthrob was reserved for Rishi. The song and dance continued for some years. Om Shanti Om became a soothing national anthem. It calmed anxieties and made people gyrate their resentments away. Rishi faced tough competition from foreign bands like BoneyM and Abba, but he stood his ground. India was his haseena and he was its eternal deewana.

Yash Chopra, who brought bling and chiffon beauty to India, took Rishi and Sridevi to Switzerland to romance and dance. Just a few years before Indias liberalisation, Chopra was trying to show us what the possibilities of globalisation entailed. Rocking and shaking among the tulips of Switzerland, Rishi, along with Sridevi, showed India what was coming in the next years. The Bobby boy of 1973 had grown mature as Chandnis man in 1989, but the tag of the rebel out to cross new frontiers stayed with him.

Rishi had put on weight and the years showed on him, but his rebellionthe Everymans quest to stand up and be countedhad not died. It was still alive and kicking in both India and Switzerland. Bachchan had faded, his angry man persona in tatters, but Rishi was still gung-ho and all ready to welcome Indias go-go years.

When Manmohan Singh, in 1991, proudly announced to the world that Indias time had come, Rishi, the Holden Caulfield who had grown a tad bulky with the burden of so many expectations, would have chuckled to himself. Two years ago, in 1989, he had taken India on a Swiss jaunt and already shown that our time was coming fast. It was not the Karan Johar hero who brought the shining world into our consciousness; it was Rishi. And he had started that journey in Bobby, on his mini Rajdoot, a bike that became a national dream. And he kept on spinning more and more dreams for us. These were not Borgesian, labyrinthine voyages; these were simple, uncomplicated travels done just to fulfil own dreams. This was a sated Holden Caulfield travelling Route 66; this wasnt an angsty Caulfield looking into the back of beyond for nirvana.

Salinger, because for his mania for privacy and not publishing, did not give his Holden a second chance. Rishis Holden did get a second innings in a Bollywood that was changing and wasnt worshipful of Kapoors, the first family of Bombay cinema. Rishi became a mafia don, played Dawood, and even was sent to Banaras to play an aggrieved Muslim. It was as if the Akbar of Desais film had grown old and was trying to fend for himself. There were severe assaults on his dignity, but in Mulk he showed he still had some fight left in him.

He did not want the world to see him as a dotard; he still wanted to see him as a dogged deliverer. A deliverer of faith, freedom and fineness. He was a Sisyphus who never flinched from rolling his stone up; he was the Prometheus who gave fire to many ideas, but always remained chained to his ideal of work. The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy, said Camus. To which Rishi, with that sly smile of his, would have replied: I rebel; therefore I exist.
Sujata Anandan By

A month ago, when the national lockdown was imposed across the country, I called my house help to check if she and her family were safe and needed anything. But her absolute delight at me having called out of concern, I discovered, had a different dimensionshe thought I could not do my housework by myself and was expressing my desire to have her back.

All the memsahibs who had never done a spot of housework in their lives and used to stretch themselves out before their television sets while ordering us about, now are holding brooms and mops in their hands and spending half the day in the kitchen cooking their own meals, she laughed merrily.

A month later she had less cause for crowing at the situation of her multiple employers in high rises. This time she called to express fright and worry and I could see she was desperate to resume work. But not because she had run out of money. Her concern and fears were more primal. At the end of a long chat, they came pouring out.

We have to use public toilets. There is no way we can maintain cleanliness or safe distancing there.

While working in the high rises, this maid would either use the watchmens toilets in the buildings, which were far cleaner than the public ones in her area, or she might even get lucky and some or the other employer would be generous enough to allow her to use theirs. So she wanted to move

in with one of those employers for the period of the threat. But the situation now is such that all building societies have banned domestic help, are disposing of their own garbage and cleaning not just homes but even their toilets themselvesmore than just the cooking, sweeping and swabbing they had to do in the early days of the lockdown. No one was willing to take her up on her offer to help them in their household chores, in return for the use of a private toilet.

I always knew that the claims of past governments on having built a toilet for every home in India were extremely hollow. Even after Bombay was declared open defecation free (ODF), I could see even children and women lined up along railway tracks, mornings and evenings, defecating in the open. The coronavirus pandemic has busted all those claims of cities becoming ODF and brought into sharp focus the obfuscation of facts and statisticslike Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray had once pointed out, the claim of building eight lakh toilets per week was simply unsustainable because, broken down, that meant one toilet was built in seven seconds. That means faster than you can even go to the toilet! he had said rather graphically.

Now in crowded slums like Dharavi, Asias largest shanty town, this problem becomes exacerbated. If Bombay had been really ODF, as the previous government had claimed, why are there so few toilets in the slum? The government is now thinking of providing the shanties with portable toilets. But that is a concept good only for high-end users during conferences and public meetings or exhibitions and fairs on open grounds. Who will clean those toilets? Where would the plumbing go?

Moreover, having visited Dharavi frequently for reportage on various issues, I can say that more than defecation, it is spitting that is a major issue. Users in these areas chew tobacco and spit into and around the toilets all the time because they dont have wash basins at home, they live cheek-by-jowl and so cannot spit into their neighbours homes; many homes are perched on gutters that flow nearby, so public toilets are the best place to spit out their tobacco. As a colleague with equal experience of reporting from slums told me, Did you ever notice the public toilets smell less of urine and more of tobacco?

This is an issue that has never been addressed by any government. Despite a ban on tobacco in many states, it is freely available under the counter. There are no public spittoons in slums and, as we have seen before, imposing of fines has not helped. At the moment, spitting in the open is more of a health hazard to citizens than the use of public toilets and that is why suddenly the disease has shifted from affecting the wealthier travellers to infecting slum dwellers in larger numbers.

There is a culture of unhygienic living among many sections of society that needs addressing and will take a long time reversing. And this unhygienic living is not unique to the poor slum dwellers or limited to any caste or religion. I was startled to discover my one-time neighbours, an upper caste South Indian family, had no garbage bin at homethey thought that was a sign of great cleanliness. They would simply throw the discarded waste from their plates out of the kitchen window and into the neighbours courtyardthey had to leave the area after many quarrels and protests.

Then there was a middle class family who used the same bucket for washing utensils, clothes, mopping the floor and bathing among five members in the family. It is no wonder one or the other was constantly visiting the doctor even before the coronavirus. As for the slum dwellers, I know of those rehabilitated in pucca buildings with indoor toilets who still would want to defecate in the open following a lifetime habit, saying they cannot clear their bowels without the smell of the seaor tobaccoall around them.There are critics who have said a lot more Indians might die of hunger than of the virus. But a lot more Indians are now chewing tobacco to kill that hunger.

Sujata Anandan

Senior journalist and political commentator

(sujata.anandan@gmail.com)
SAN FRANCISCO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation  (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced that Helm is the tenth project to graduate. To move from the maturity level of incubation to graduation , projects must demonstrate thriving adoption, an open governance process, and a strong commitment to community, sustainability, and inclusivity.

Helm is a package manager that provides an easy way to find, share, and use software built for Kubernetes. The project uses a packaging format called charts, which are a collection of files that describe a related set of Kubernetes resources. It is used in production by a variety of organizations , including AT&T, Bitnami, CERN, Conde Nast, Microsoft, VMWare, and many others. Since its inception, there have been more than 13,000 contributions representing over 1,500 companies to the Helm project.

"Because of its close ties to the Kubernetes community, Helm has been involved with CNCF since the foundation was created," said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO/COO of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "Since joining CNCF as an independent project outside of Kubernetes and with their recent v3 release last year, the project has proven to be incredibly popular with end users by lowering the barrier of entry to install and manage software in Kubernetes."

Helm was created in 2015 at Deis, which was later acquired by Microsoft. What is now known as Helm classic was introduced at the inaugural KubeCon that November. In 2016, the Helm team joined forces with Google, Skippbox, and Bitnami to produce Helm 2, which defined a workflow for creating, installing, and managing Helm charts. In June 2018, Helm joined CNCF as an incubating project. The Helm Hub was launched in late 2018 as a centralized home for Helm charts and today sees more than hundreds of millions of downloads a month. Late last year, the Helm team released Helm 3, which builds upon the Helm 2 workflow, changing the underlying infrastructure to reflect the needs of the community as they change and evolve.

"When we set out to build Helm, we had two goals in mind," said Matt Butcher, principal software development engineer at Microsoft and Helm maintainer. "First, make it easy for Kubernetes newcomers to get started deploying cloud native applications. Second, provide a package manager that can scale with enterprise needs. With today's graduation announcement, we're happy to see how these two goals have been fulfilled on a larger scale than we ever imagined!"

Across Helm and all its sub-projects, there are 28 active maintainers from 16 different organizations, including Blood Orange, IBM, Microsoft, Samsung SDS, and more. The project also has more than 30,000 GitHub stars, and receives close to 2 million downloads in a month from across the globe.

"We're absolutely thrilled to hear about Helm's graduation," said Matt Fisher, software engineer at Microsoft and Helm maintainer. "We've accomplished so much together as a community over the last four and a half years. Helm was built with the goal to help teams collaborate together, share their experiences with the Kubernetes community, and discover new ways of accomplishing tasks with Kubernetes. We're really proud of the work we've done up to this point, and look forward to the work ahead of us."

CNCF recently funded an open source, third-party security audit of Helm 3 , which concluded that Helm is "recommended for public deployment," and did not pose significant security risks.

"Throughout my time at Conde Nast and American Express, Helm has swiftly become the de facto package manager to Kubernetes," said Katie Gamanji, CNCF TOC member and cloud platform engineer at American Express. "It is a highly customizable tool and it abstracts the application deployment to a simple configuration file. I am excited to see Helm as a graduated CNCF project, as it is a mechanism that sustains open collaboration and closes the gap between the application and infrastructure teams."

"Helm has empowered our developer teams to leverage our on-premise multi-tenant Kubernetes installation in a big way," said Nick Shine, technology engineer at State Farm. "With the power of Helm and a GitLab CI Runner Helm Chart, developers were able to take control of and manage their own CICD infrastructure in a single command without the overhead and redundancy of every team becoming experts in Kubernetes. Our internal Helm Chart Repository has grown from just a few charts, customized to comply with our security policies, to almost 40, providing developer teams with a wider range of tools, databases, and language choices than ever before."

"Helm is a fantastic tool for Kubernetes application deployment," said Liying Zhang, product manager, JD Retail. "We recently started to use Helm for deploying our ChubaoFS cluster on JD's Kubernetes platform, where it has helped to reduce the deployment time from several hours to a few minutes. In addition to ChubaoFS, we also use Helm to manage many other charts including ectd, grafana, MySQL, zookeeper, etc. I'm thrilled to see Helm graduate, and hope this project becomes increasingly active and benefits more users."

To officially graduate from incubating status, the project has adopted the CNCF Code of Conduct . It has also defined transparent open governance and has a security assurance case , part of the requirements for CII Silver level, that did not find any issues.

For more about Helm, please visit https://github.com/helm/helm .

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors, and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 500 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jessie Adams-Shore

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Related Links

https://www.cncf.io


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Friends and family traveling from near and far to celebrate and console is a hallmark of African American funerals. The tradition was strengthened after the end of slavery, reconnecting families splintered by forced separation and, then, later, the Great Migration. A 2016 article by Tiffany Stanley in The Atlantic said that after slavery and Jim Crow, when many lost their lives prematurely, homegoings offered black Americans the respect in death that they didnt always receive in life.
Amazon began a pilot program to test some of its warehouse employees in Troutdale for the coronavirus this week, part of the companys larger effort to address the outbreak.

To promote the health and safety of our teams, we are launching a small-scale pilot of self-administered testing for COVID-19 at PDX9 starting April 29th, the company wrote in an electronic message to employees Tuesday. PDX9 is the name of Amazons massive, 855,000-square-foot Troutdale distribution center.

Amazon announced earlier this month that it planned to develop internal testing capacity for the coronavirus. The Seattle company indicated it plans to build its own testing lab, a move far beyond its core business in e-commerce and data hosting.

Spokeswoman Rena Lunak indicated the Troutdale testing is part of that effort, along with other steps including masks for employees and checking workers temperatures.

A next step might be regular testing of our employees, and weve started our first small-scale pilot, Lunak wrote in an email Wednesday. We dont know exactly yet how its going to shape up, but we continue to believe its worth trying.

Many companies are taking steps to contain the spread of coronavirus among their employees but it takes a company of Amazons size to build the resources to develop its own testing capacity.

In Amazons quarterly financial report Thursday, CEO Jeff Bezos said the company plans to spend hundreds of millions to develop our own COVID-19 testing capabilities.

The company said it has redirected a team of employees, from research scientists to software engineers, to focus on the testing program.

The team is building its first lab and has begun a pilot to test front-line employees, Amazon said in its quarterly report. The company said "we stand ready to share anything we learn.

If Amazons testing succeeds in curbing the outbreak it could both help safeguard its employees and give the company a substantial competitive advantage by ensuring it can continue operating during the epidemic.

Its not clear whether the testing underway in Troutdale is happening at Amazon facilities elsewhere and Lunak did not respond to a message seeking additional detail.

Amazons distribution networks in Oregon and around the world have continued to operate during the outbreak. The company has acknowledged infections among a number of its employees, including at least one in Oregon.

Employees will be paid while participating in the testing, according to the message to Troutdale workers, provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive by an Amazon employee.

We know many will want to participate but selection will be determined through a roster system as we refine the testing process during this early phase, the company wrote. Our intention is to expand offerings to other employees on-site.

Amazon said employees who test positive will receive up to two paid weeks off.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699

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NEW BRITAIN, Conn., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) today announced first quarter 2020 financial results.

1Q'20 Revenues Totaled $3.1 Billion , Down 6% Versus Prior Year, With A 7% Organic Decline Primarily Related To Impacts From COVID-19

, Down 6% Versus Prior Year, With A 7% Organic Decline Primarily Related To Impacts From COVID-19 1Q'20 Diluted GAAP EPS Was $0.88 ; Excluding Charges, 1Q'20 Diluted EPS Was $1.20 , Reflecting $60 Million In External Headwinds And Coronavirus Related Volume Declines Partially Offset By Margin Resiliency Actions

; Excluding Charges, 1Q'20 Diluted EPS Was , Reflecting In External Headwinds And Coronavirus Related Volume Declines Partially Offset By Margin Resiliency Actions Recently Announced Cost Reduction Program Expected To Deliver $1 Billion In Annualized Savings With $500 Million In 2020

In Annualized Savings With In 2020 Continues Suspension Of Guidance But Currently Expects Second Quarter To Be The Trough For 2020 Revenue Decline

1Q'20 Key Points:

Net sales for the quarter were $3.1 billion , down 6% versus prior year, as acquisitions (+2%) and price (+1%) were more than offset by volume (-8%) and currency (-1%).



, down 6% versus prior year, as acquisitions (+2%) and price (+1%) were more than offset by volume (-8%) and currency (-1%). Gross margin rate for the quarter was 32.7%. Excluding charges, the rate was 33.0%, down 40 basis points from prior year as price, margin resiliency and other cost controls in late March were more than offset by lower volumes, higher manufacturing costs related to the virus as well as currency and tariff headwinds. Higher manufacturing costs resulted from significant increases in PPE and freight costs.



SG&A expenses were 23.9% of sales. Excluding charges, SG&A expenses were 23.0% of sales compared to 22.7% in 1Q'19, reflecting tight cost management and headcount reductions from 2019 actions partially offsetting the impact from lower volumes.



The tax rate was 8.8%. Excluding charges, the tax rate was 12.5% versus 15.0% in 1Q'19.



Working capital turns for the quarter were 6.0, up 0.2 turns from prior year.

Stanley Black & Decker's President and CEO, James M. Loree, commented, "We have focused our organization around four key priorities: (1) ensuring the health and safety of our employees and supply chain partners; (2) maintaining business continuity and financial strength and stability; (3) serving our customers as they provide essential products and services to the world; and (4) doing our part to mitigate the impact of the virus across the globe.

"In the first quarter, as we navigated through the early stages of one of the more challenging global crises the world has experienced, our team demonstrated great agility and resiliency in tackling the supply chain and initial demand impacts from the global pandemic as well as the carry-over headwinds from tariffs and currency. We are making critical decisions around those priorities every day to protect the company, our employees and all of our stakeholders. We are proud of how quickly and effectively our employees have responded and are confident in our ability to maintain the vitality, strength and sustainability of our 177 year old company."

1Q'20 Segment Results

($ in M)



Sales Profit Charges1 Profit

Ex-

Charges1 Profit

Rate Profit Rate

Ex-

Charges1













Tools & Storage $2,071 $234.8 $ 3.1 $237.9 11.3% 11.5%













Industrial $591 $67.8 $10.4 $78.2 11.5% 13.2%













Security $468 $20.9 $13.9 $34.8 4.5% 7.4% 1 See Merger And Acquisition ("M&A") Related And Other Charges On Page 6

Tools & Storage net sales declined 10% versus 1Q'19 from the impacts of lower volume (-9%) and currency (-2%) partially offset by price (+1%). Revenue across all regions declined due to the impact from the global pandemic with North America -8%, Europe -7% and emerging markets -13%. The North America organic decline was driven by the expected difficult comparison to the prior year's Craftsman rollout and the unexpected pandemic-related impacts that emerged during the quarter. Europe and emerging markets were impacted by customer closures and government restrictions beginning in late February which continued through the end of the quarter. Overall Tools & Storage segment profit rate, excluding charges, was 11.5%, down from the 1Q'19 rate of 12.1%, as the benefits from cost control, margin resiliency actions and price were slightly offset by lower volume, tariffs and currency.



-8%, -7% and emerging markets -13%. The organic decline was driven by the expected difficult comparison to the prior year's Craftsman rollout and the unexpected pandemic-related impacts that emerged during the quarter. and emerging markets were impacted by customer closures and government restrictions beginning in late February which continued through the end of the quarter. Overall Tools & Storage segment profit rate, excluding charges, was 11.5%, down from the 1Q'19 rate of 12.1%, as the benefits from cost control, margin resiliency actions and price were slightly offset by lower volume, tariffs and currency. Industrial net sales increased 6% versus 1Q'19 as the IES Attachments and CAM acquisitions (+15%) were partially offset by volume (-8%) and currency (-1%). Engineered Fastening organic revenues were down 9% as share gains were more than offset by lower global automotive light vehicle and general industrial production. Infrastructure organic revenues were down 6% as modest growth in Oil & Gas was more than offset by lower North American Attachment Tools volumes. Overall Industrial segment profit rate, excluding charges, was 13.2%, down from the 1Q'19 rate of 13.9%, as the negative virus-related volume impacts and currency were partially offset by cost control and margin resiliency initiatives.



Security net sales declined 4% versus 1Q'19 due to divestitures (-2%) and currency (-2%). North America organic growth was up 2% as higher volume in automatic doors and healthcare were partially offset by lower installation and service revenue in commercial electronic security. Europe was down 1% organically as a decline due to customer restrictions in France and the UK was partially offset by growth in Sweden . Although the commercial electronic security organic growth in both regions were impacted by customer and government restrictions, the installation orders and backlog (+20% versus prior year) remain in a healthy position. The overall Security segment profit rate, excluding charges, was 7.4%, which was down from the 1Q'19 rate of 10.3%, as price and cost control were more than offset by lower volume in electronic security, investments to support growth and the impact from the Sargent & Greenleaf divestiture.

$1 Billion Cost Reduction Program

The Company's cost reduction program, announced on April 2, is currently being implemented and is expected to deliver $1 billion in annualized cost savings with an approximate pre-tax charge of $160 million expected to be primarily recognized during 2Q 2020. Based on the extraordinary sacrifices that our employees are making at this time, Jim Loree and all of the Company's most senior executives, as well as all board members, have elected to forego 20% of their ongoing cash compensation at least for the remainder of the year.

The program's primary focus is to:

Adjust the Company's supply chain and manufacturing labor base to match the current demand environment

Substantially reduce indirect spending (currently ~$1.7B annualized)

annualized) Reduce staffing, compensation & benefits in a manner that ensures the Company is prepared for a demand recovery at the appropriate time

Capture the significant raw material deflation opportunity

Given the unusual breadth of potential forward demand scenarios which may unfold in the coming months, the program has been carefully and thoughtfully designed to preserve the Company's financial strength and execution capability while providing flexibility to modulate costs up or down based on depth and duration of the crisis and the associated demand development.

Liquidity & 2020 Outlook

Stanley Black & Decker believes it is in a strong financial position and has significant flexibility to navigate this volatile period:

Maintains strong investment grade credit ratings

Possesses approximately $1B of cash on-hand as of quarter end

of cash on-hand as of quarter end Manages a robust and highly rated commercial paper program ( $3B program with $1.7B outstanding as of quarter end).

program with outstanding as of quarter end). Carries $3 billion of revolving credit facilities backed by a well-capitalized, diversified bank group

of revolving credit facilities backed by a well-capitalized, diversified bank group Has the ability to generate additional cash proceeds of $750 million in the second quarter upon the successful remarketing of its Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, pursuant to its 2017 Equity Units Transaction

In addition, the Company plans to reduce capital expenditures and temporarily suspend acquisition-related activity and share repurchases until the demand outlook is clearer. The near term priority for capital deployment will be focused on deleveraging in line with our strong, investment grade credit ratings. From a portfolio perspective, the Company is deferring the Security strategic review until after the environment stabilizes.

On April 2nd, the Company withdrew its full year guidance as a result of the uncertain macro environment. The Company anticipates COVID-19 driven demand disruptions to negatively impact 2020 results versus prior guidance and will provide context on scenario planning for its businesses on today's earnings call.

Donald Allan Jr., Executive Vice President and CFO, commented, "In an environment that continues to change each day, we are doing everything we can to evaluate and prepare for the wide variety of scenarios that could occur in 2020 and beyond. We are continuing to suspend our guidance for now and are experiencing substantial revenue declines early in the second quarter which we currently expect will represent the trough quarter for the year. We have moved quickly and decisively in the initial steps we have taken so far  including our capital deployment focus and $1 billion cost reduction program  to ensure we maintain a strong operational foundation and balance sheet during this unpredictable period. We are confident that once through this event we will be in a position of strength to benefit from a recovery."

Merger And Acquisition ("M&A") Related And Other Charges

Total pre-tax M&A related and other charges in 1Q'20 were $61.7 million, primarily related to deal costs, Security business transformation and margin resiliency initiatives, and non-cash inventory step-up charges. Gross margin included $9.1 million of these charges while SG&A included $29.8 million. Other, net and Restructuring included $18.9 million and $3.9 million of these charges, respectively.

Share of net earnings of equity method investment included $1.0 million of charges.

The Company will host a conference call with investors today, April 30, 2020, at 8:00 am ET. A slide presentation which will accompany the call will be available at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com and will remain available after the call.

The call will be accessible by telephone within the U.S. at (877) 930-8285, from outside the U.S. at +1 (253) 336-8297, and via the Internet at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com. To participate, please register on the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call and download and install any necessary audio software. Please use the conference identification number 2168249. A replay will also be available two hours after the call and can be accessed at (855) 859-2056 or +1 (404) 537-3406 using the passcode 2168249. The replay will also be available as a podcast within 24 hours and can be accessed on our website and via iTunes.

Stanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions, engineered fastening systems, and more. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.

Investor Contacts:

Dennis Lange

Vice President, Investor Relations

[email protected]

(860) 827-3833

Cort Kaufman

Director, Investor Relations

[email protected]

(860) 515-2741

Media Contacts:

Shannon Lapierre

Vice President, Communications & Public Relations

[email protected]

(860) 827-3575

Organic sales growth is defined as total sales growth less the sales of companies acquired and divested in the past twelve months and any foreign currency impacts. Operating margin is defined as sales less cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses. Management uses operating margin and its percentage of net sales as key measures to assess the performance of the Company as a whole, as well as the related measures at the segment level. Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations less capital and software expenditures. Management considers free cash flow an important indicator of its liquidity, as well as its ability to fund future growth and to provide a return to the shareowners. Free cash flow does not include deductions for mandatory debt service, other borrowing activity, discretionary dividends on the Company's common stock and business acquisitions, among other items. Free cash flow conversion is defined as free cash flow divided by net income. The normalized statement of operations and business segment information, as reconciled to GAAP on pages 12 and 13, is considered relevant to aid analysis of the Company's margin and earnings results aside from the material impact of the M&A related and other charges.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including any projections or guidance of earnings, revenue or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include, among other, the words "may," "will," "estimate," "intend," "continue," "believe," "expect," "anticipate" or any other similar words.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any of its forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of its forward-looking statements. The Company's future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed or incorporated by reference in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in its forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (i) successfully developing, marketing and achieving sales from new products and services and the continued acceptance of current products and services; (ii) macroeconomic factors, including global and regional business conditions (such as Brexit), commodity prices, inflation, and currency exchange rates; (iii) laws, regulations and governmental policies affecting the Company's activities in the countries where it does business, including those related to tariffs, taxation, and trade controls; (iv) the economic environment of emerging markets, particularly Latin America, Russia, China and Turkey; (v) realizing the anticipated benefits of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances or divestitures, including the successful integration of the CAM acquisition into the Company and the return to production of the Boeing 737 MAX; (vi) pricing pressure and other changes within competitive markets; (vii) availability and price of raw materials, component parts, freight, energy, labor and sourced finished goods; (viii) the impact the tightened credit markets may have on the Company or its customers or suppliers; (ix) the extent to which the Company has to write off accounts receivable or assets or experiences supply chain disruptions in connection with bankruptcy filings by customers or suppliers; (x) the Company's ability to identify and effectively execute productivity improvements and cost reductions; (xi) potential business and distribution disruptions, including those related to physical security threats, information technology or cyber-attacks, epidemics, sanctions or natural disasters; (xii) the effects of COVID-19 and the related impact on the Company's liquidity and operations, including demand for its products, as well as the effectiveness of the Company's associated cost-saving measures; (xiii) the continued consolidation of customers, particularly in consumer channels; (xiv) managing franchisee relationships; (xv) the impact of poor weather conditions; (xvi) maintaining or improving production rates in the Company's manufacturing facilities, responding to significant changes in product demand and fulfilling demand for new and existing products; (xvii) changes in the competitive landscape in the Company's markets; (xviii) the Company's non-U.S. operations, including sales to non-U.S. customers; (xix) the impact from demand changes within world-wide markets associated with homebuilding and remodeling; (xx) potential adverse developments in new or pending litigation and/or government investigations; (xxi) changes in the Company's ability to obtain debt on commercially reasonable terms and at competitive rates; (xxii) substantial pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; (xxiii) potential environmental liabilities; (xxiv) work stoppages or other labor disruptions; (xxv) changes in accounting estimates and (xxvi) the Company's ability to successfully complete the remarketing of the Series C Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock within the time period or on the terms currently contemplated, if at all.

Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements are set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including under the heading "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes.

Forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and forward-looking statements in documents attached that are incorporated by reference speak only as of the date of those documents. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement or to report any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.



















STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars Except Per Share Amounts)







































FIRST QUARTER









2020

2019



















NET SALES

$ 3,129.4

$ 3,333.6



















COSTS AND EXPENSES













Cost of sales

2,106.3

2,228.0





Gross margin

1,023.1

1,105.6





% of Net Sales

32.7%

33.2%





















Selling, general and administrative

748.5

778.9





% of Net Sales

23.9%

23.4%





















Operating margin

274.6

326.7





% of Net Sales

8.8%

9.8%





















Other - net

74.9

65.4





Restructuring charges

3.9

8.7





Income from operations

195.8

252.6





















Interest - net

49.6

57.8



















EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY INTEREST 146.2

194.8





Income taxes

12.9

24.7



NET EARNINGS BEFORE EQUITY INTEREST

133.3

170.1





Share of net (losses) earnings of equity method investment (0.2)

0.3



NET EARNINGS

133.1

170.4





Less: net (losses) earnings attributable to non-controlling interests (0.1)

0.5



















NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREOWNERS $ 133.2

$ 169.9



































EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK













Basic

$ 0.89

$ 1.15





Diluted

$ 0.88

$ 1.13



















DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

$ 0.69

$ 0.66



















WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands)











Basic

150,330

147,863





Diluted

151,903

149,908

















STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)

















March 28,

December 28,





2020

2019











ASSETS









Cash and cash equivalents

$ 987.1

$ 297.7

Accounts and notes receivable, net

1,681.5

1,454.6

Inventories, net

2,532.4

2,255.0

Other current assets

491.9

449.3

Total current assets

5,692.9

4,456.6

Property, plant and equipment, net

2,036.7

1,959.5

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

13,877.4

12,859.5

Other assets

1,298.0

1,321.0

Total assets

$ 22,905.0

$ 20,596.6























LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY







Short-term borrowings

$ 1,674.0

$ 337.3

Current maturities of long-term debt

3.1

3.1

Accounts payable

2,029.2

2,087.8

Accrued expenses

1,664.0

1,977.5

Total current liabilities

5,370.3

4,405.7

Long-term debt

4,662.6

3,176.4

Other long-term liabilities

3,912.9

3,872.3

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. shareowners' equity 8,953.4

9,136.3

Non-controlling interests' equity

5.8

5.9

Total liabilities and shareowners' equity $ 22,905.0

$ 20,596.6



























STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUMMARY OF CASH FLOW ACTIVITY (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)































FIRST QUARTER

































2020

2019



OPERATING ACTIVITIES















Net earnings



$ 133.1

$ 170.4





Depreciation and amortization



141.1

137.8





Share of net losses (earnings) of equity method investment



0.2

(0.3)





Changes in working capital1



(512.7)

(616.8)





Other





(166.9)

(122.4)





Net cash used in operating activities



(405.2)

(431.3)











































INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES















Capital and software expenditures



(82.9)

(89.6)





Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired



(1,302.4)

(676.2)





Purchases of investments



(6.5)

(245.4)





Payments on long-term debt



-

(400.0)





Proceeds from debt issuances, net of fees



1,486.4

496.9





Stock purchase contract fees



(20.1)

(10.1)





Net short-term borrowings



1,351.9

1,419.9





Proceeds from issuances of common stock



44.6

10.2





Craftsman deferred purchase price



(250.0)

-





Cash dividends on common stock



(105.6)

(97.6)





Effect of exchange rate changes on cash



(22.6)

4.8





Other





(3.9)

(7.2)





Net cash provided by investing and financing activities



1,088.9

405.7























Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash



683.7

(25.6)























Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period



314.6

311.4























Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period



$ 998.3

$ 285.8











































Free Cash Flow Computation 2













Operating cash flow



$ (405.2)

$ (431.3)



Less: capital and software expenditures



(82.9)

(89.6)



Free cash flow (before dividends)



$ (488.1)

$ (520.9)























Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash























March 28, 2020

December 28, 2019



Cash and cash equivalents



$ 987.1

$ 297.7



Restricted cash included in Other current assets



11.2

16.9



Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash



$ 998.3

$ 314.6





















1 Working capital is comprised of accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable and deferred revenue. 2 Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations less capital and software expenditures. Management considers free cash flow an important measure of its liquidity, as well as its ability to fund future growth and to provide a return to the shareowners. Free cash flow does not include deductions for mandatory debt service, other borrowing activity, discretionary dividends on the Company's common stock and business acquisitions, among other items.













STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)





























FIRST QUARTER





2020

2019







NET SALES









Tools & Storage

$ 2,070.8

$ 2,292.3

Industrial

590.7

555.0

Security

467.9

486.3

Total

$ 3,129.4

$ 3,333.6























SEGMENT PROFIT









Tools & Storage

$ 234.8

$ 265.8

Industrial

67.8

71.0

Security

20.9

39.5

Segment Profit

323.5

376.3

Corporate Overhead

(48.9)

(49.6)

Total

$ 274.6

$ 326.7























Segment Profit as a Percentage of Net Sales









Tools & Storage

11.3%

11.6%

Industrial

11.5%

12.8%

Security

4.5%

8.1%

Segment Profit

10.3%

11.3%

Corporate Overhead

(1.6%)

(1.5%)

Total

8.8%

9.8%

























STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP EARNINGS FINANCIAL MEASURES TO CORRESPONDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars Except Per Share Amounts)























FIRST QUARTER 2020







Reported

Acquisition-

Related

Charges &

Other1

Normalized3





















Gross margin

$ 1,023.1

$ 9.1

$ 1,032.2



% of Net Sales

32.7%





33.0%





















Selling, general and administrative

748.5

$ (29.8)

718.7



% of Net Sales

23.9%





23.0%





















Operating margin

274.6

38.9

313.5



% of Net Sales

8.8%





10.0%





















Earnings before income taxes and equity interest 146.2

61.7

207.9





















Income taxes

12.9

13.1

26.0





















Share of net (losses) earnings of equity method investment (0.2)

1.0

0.8





















Net earnings attributable to common shareowners 133.2

49.6

182.8





















Diluted earnings per share of common stock $ 0.88

$ 0.32

$ 1.20





































1 Acquisition-related charges and other relates primarily to inventory step-up, deal costs, Security business transformation and margin resiliency initiatives.

























FIRST QUARTER 2019







Reported

Acquisition-

Related

Charges &

Other2

Normalized3





















Gross margin

$ 1,105.6

$ 6.4

$ 1,112.0



% of Net Sales

33.2%





33.4%





















Selling, general and administrative

778.9

(23.0)

755.9



% of Net Sales

23.4%





22.7%





















Operating margin

326.7

29.4

356.1



% of Net Sales

9.8%





10.7%





















Earnings before income taxes and equity interest 194.8

52.6

247.4





















Income taxes

24.7

12.4

37.1





















Share of net earnings of equity method investment 0.3

3.4

3.7





















Net earnings attributable to common shareowners 169.9

43.6

213.5





















Diluted earnings per share of common stock $ 1.13

$ 0.29

$ 1.42





































2 Acquisition-related charges and other relates primarily to restructuring, deal and integration costs, Security business transformation and

margin resiliency initiatives, and inventory step-up charges.

3 The normalized 2020 and 2019 information, as reconciled to GAAP above, is considered relevant to aid analysis of the Company's margin and earnings results aside from the material impact of the acquisition-related and other charges.

























STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP SEGMENT PROFIT FINANCIAL MEASURES TO CORRESPONDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)



























FIRST QUARTER 2020









Reported

Acquisition-

Related and Other

Charges1

Normalized3

















SEGMENT PROFIT





































Tools & Storage

$ 234.8

$ 3.1

$ 237.9





Industrial

67.8

10.4

78.2





Security

20.9

13.9

34.8





Segment Profit

323.5

27.4

350.9





Corporate Overhead

(48.9)

11.5

(37.4)





Total

$ 274.6

$ 38.9

$ 313.5











































Segment Profit as a Percentage of Net Sales















Tools & Storage

11.3%





11.5%





Industrial

11.5%





13.2%





Security

4.5%





7.4%





Segment Profit

10.3%





11.2%





Corporate Overhead

(1.6%)





(1.2%)





Total

8.8%





10.0%





















1 Acquisition-related and other charges relate primarily to inventory step-up, Security business transformation and margin resiliency initiatives.

















































FIRST QUARTER 2019









Reported

Acquisition-

Related and Other

Charges2

Normalized3

















SEGMENT PROFIT





































Tools & Storage

$ 265.8

$ 12.6

$ 278.4





Industrial

71.0

6.0

77.0





Security

39.5

10.8

50.3





Segment Profit

376.3

29.4

405.7





Corporate Overhead

(49.6)

-

(49.6)





Total

$ 326.7

$ 29.4

$ 356.1











































Segment Profit as a Percentage of Net Sales















Tools & Storage

11.6%





12.1%





Industrial

12.8%





13.9%





Security

8.1%





10.3%





Segment Profit

11.3%





12.2%





Corporate Overhead

(1.5%)





(1.5%)





Total

9.8%





10.7%









































2 Acquisition-related and other charges relate primarily to inventory step-up, integration costs, and Security business transformation and margin resiliency initiatives.

3 The normalized 2020 and 2019 business segment information, as reconciled to GAAP above, is considered relevant to aid analysis of the Company's segment profit results aside from the material impact of the acquisition-related and other charges.



SOURCE Stanley Black & Decker

Related Links

http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com


A Maple Shade man pleaded guilty Wednesday to shooting his neighbors dog in the head last summer, authorities said.

Toby, a poodle, was euthanized a day after being shot with an air rifle last summer, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutors Office.

William D. Stroemel, 64, was handed a five-year state prison sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and animal cruelty, the office said. He was also forbid from having contact with the dogs owners, the Cook family, and must pay them back for the cost of Tobys vet bills and necropsy.

The investigation began on Sept. 18 after police were contacted by the Cooks who live in the 800 block of Greenwood Avenue, police said.

The family told police that the poodle was discovered by another neighbor the previous day when they heard it howling in pain, the office said.

A poodle named Toby had to be euthanized after it was shot in the head Tuesday in Maple Shade, according to the granddaughter of it the dog's owner.

A GoFundMe page set up by the granddaughter of Tobys owners to cover medical expenses said the pom poodle escaped from the yard and was wandering along 5th Avenue when someone shot him in the head.

A vet examined the dog and found that Toby had been shot in the head and he was euthanized the next day, officials said.

Investigators discovered that Stroemel, a heavy equipment operator who is also known as Wild Willie, shot Toby with the air rifle while the dog was passing his home in the street, and then gave the gun to a friend and asked him to hold it for him, prosecutors said.

He was initially only charged with the weapons offenses after search of his home Monday revealed a .22 caliber pistol, however, the animal cruelty and hindering apprehension charges were added after a necropsy performed on the poodle, Toby, showed that the pellet removed from his head was connected to an air rifle that Stroemel had at the time of the shooting, authorities said.

There are few criminal acts as callous as shooting an innocent dog that is the beloved pet of one of your neighbors, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said. But Toby was not just a family pet, he was also a therapy dog and helped relieve the post-traumatic stress disorder experienced by a Vietnam War veteran. Such flagrant disregard for life and the impact of ones actions demands serious punishment, and we believe this plea agreement reflects that.

Stroemel was scheduled to be sentenced on July 29.

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.
A newlywed bride whose glamorous wedding became the centre of a coronavirus outbreak has hit back at critics who accused the couple of putting people's lives 'at risk'.

Emma Metcalf, 36, and Scott Maggs, 37, tied the knot in front of 120 guests at the upscale Tumbling Waters Retreat in Stanwell Tops, south of Sydney, on March 6.

In the days to follow, the intimate occasion would make national headlines and become the subject of controversy after 42 wedding guests fell ill with COVID-19.

Mrs Metcalf opened up on the ordeal in an essay for Marie Claire Australia, issuing a plea for 'empathy' after she and her husband became targets of abuse and blame online over the outbreak.

NSW bride Emma Metcalf, 36, (pictured with husband Scott Maggs) spoke out after 42 people became ill with coronavirus at her wedding last month

The couple tied the knot at the upscale and scenic Tumbling Waters Retreat in Stanwell Tops, NSW, on March 6

The wedding became known as one of the main clusters of cases in NSW, after 42 of 120 guests contacted the virus - many have since recovered

At least 42 coronavirus cases emerged from the couple's wedding, making it one of the biggest clusters of infection in the state.

'We would never have put people at risk knowingly. If we knew then what we know now, we wouldn't have gone ahead with the wedding. That's a fact', she said.

'We have received negative feedback online for "putting people at risk," but we never wanted this to happen.'

Mrs Metcalf proposed championing a more positive message rather than 'pointing fingers' and fear-mongering.

She asked the public to instead 'come together as a community; be smart, practice common hygiene, be kind and empathetic.'

She also emphasised the fact that there were no travel bans or restrictions on gatherings in place when the couple married.

'Of course, we also couldn't help feeling some guilt that our beautiful day had now impacted so many people - even though we knew we hadn't done anything wrong', she said.

With the exception of the outbreak, Mrs Metcalf, a Sydney-based producer and consultant, said her big day was 'one big party where we all laughed, danced and enjoyed every single moment'.

Mr Maggs said the outbreak was the 'last thing' the couple wanted for their special day but hoped their story could remove the stigma about testing positive to the virus

With the exception of the outbreak, Mrs Metcalf still remembers her big day as a party where everyone 'laughed, danced and enjoyed every single moment'

She recalled hugging and kissing each of her guests - a memory she still remembers fondly despite the unfortunate turn of events.

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

The couple had been four days into their honeymoon in the Maldives when they learned two of their guests had become sick.

Mrs Metcalf said receiving the bad news via text message 'truly burst our love bubble.'

The couple then informed their other guests, urging them to get tested if they experienced any symptoms.

Both Emma and Scott, however, remarkably managed to avoid infection.

In her essay, Mrs Metcalf admitted the ordeal put the couple through a challenging time, all while bringing their community together.

She revealed the majority of guests who had contracted the virus have since been cleared and are doing well.

When news first broke about the outbreak, the couple revealed they had become victims of 'finger pointing' from critics online.

'We've had to deal with people accusing us of being irresponsible, blaming us for the virus. It has been pretty full on, we are very sensitive about that and trying to shield our guests from that,' Ms Metcalf told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'I have to say the media attention the wedding generated did not help things. It just created more hysteria and panic when really, I think we should be thankful for the people who went and got tested and let us know what was going on. We can't shame people over a disease.'

Breaking their silence on Instagram, Mr Maggs said the couple wedded in 'a glorious fashion' surrounded by their 'nearest and dearest'. 

Mr Maggs and his wife hoped the only media attention they would receive from their wedding would be to 'hero all the amazing people and small businesses who helped make our day so special'.

'But due to factors outside our control, our wedding has become front page news for something we could never anticipate,' he said.

As the CEO of a health promotion charity, Mr Maggs wanted to make sure the community was informed about the coronavirus pandemic.

'Normally, we're all about 'early detection', but unless you're showing symptoms it's important not to overwhelm the health system,' he said.

In a post on Instagram account Beard Season, Mr Maggs said the couple tied the knot in 'a glorious fashion' surrounded by their 'nearest and dearest'

Mr Maggs and his wife hoped the only media attention they would receive would be to 'hero all the amazing people and small businesses who helped make our day so special'

'Instead, know the warning signs, look out for each other and give people a (sanitised) hand instead of pointing fingers.

'Australia is all about mateship. We showed it during the bushfires and we can do it now.'

Mr Maggs said the outbreak was the 'last thing' the couple wanted for their special day but hoped their story could remove the stigma about testing positive to the virus.

'We're all in this together and together, we can overcome it,' he said.

The married couple said they were devastated to learn so many of their guests had fallen sick.

'We were completely gutted when we first found out and we really wanted our friends to be safe and for them to be well. I couldn't really think past that,' Mr Maggs told Yahoo when they returned from the honeymoon.

'It was the best day of our lives and we wanted it to be remembered for the right reasons. It was the perfect weekend except for this.'

The Tumbling Waters Retreat team who worked at the function all returned negative test results, a statement on Friday confirmed.

The staff are in 'good health' and are now allowed to come out of their two-week self-isolation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 13:58:50|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The government of Pakistan has been persuading the opposition parties to hold a virtual session of the National Assembly or the lower house of the country's parliament after two parliamentarians tested positive of COVID-19, official sources told Xinhua on Thursday.

A high ranked official from the National Assembly seeking anonymity told Xinhua that the session has to be called to fulfill the constitutional requirement on the National Assembly to hold its sessions of the remaining 58 days for completing its mandated 130 days sitting, in the parliamentary calendar year ending in September 2020.

"Definitely, it is mandatory to complete 130 days of the session, but the government does not want to convert parliament house into an infection house amid rising numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The parliament has more duty to show responsibility in this difficult situation," the official added.

The government has formed a special committee of parliamentary leaders to decide whether to hold a virtual session or not. Earlier on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in the virtual session of the parliamentary leaders' special committee to decide about the session.

Qureshi told media that the decision to convene parliament's online or physical session would be taken with consensus and in consultation with all member political parties.

The foreign minister added that all the parliamentary leaders presented positive and good suggestions for the session which would be discussed with the speaker of the National Assembly.

On April 22, the opposition parties submitted requisition with the approval of 98 members to call a physical session of the National Assembly within 14 days to discuss some important issues related to COVID-19.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the opposition party Pakistan Peoples Party, also demanded to summon a full and physical session, saying that it is the speaker's duty to ensure the safety of all members' health.

According to the data available on the website of Pakistan's health ministry on Thursday morning, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 15,759 with 346 deaths in the country. The data showed that 4,052 patients have also recovered which is 25.7 percent of the total number of cases tested positive. Enditem
As the United States pressed Saudi Arabia to end its oil price war with Russia, President Donald Trump gave Saudi leaders an ultimatum.

In an April 2 phone call, Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started cutting oil production, he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw US troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The threat to upend a 75-year strategic alliance, which has not been previously reported, was central to the US pressure campaign that led to a landmark global deal to slash oil supply as demand collapsed in the coronavirus pandemic - scoring a diplomatic victory for the White House.

Trump delivered the message to the crown prince 10 days before the announcement of production cuts. The kingdom's de facto leader was so taken aback by the threat that he ordered his aides out of the room so he could continue the discussion in private, according to a US source who was briefed on the discussion by senior administration officials.

The effort illustrated Trump's strong desire to protect the US oil industry from a historic price meltdown as governments shut down economies worldwide to fight the virus. It also reflected a telling reversal of Trump's longstanding criticism of the oil cartel, which he has blasted for raising energy costs for Americans with supply cuts that usually lead to higher gasoline prices. Now, Trump was asking OPEC to slash output.

A senior US official told Reuters that the administration notified Saudi leaders that, without production cuts, there would be no way to stop the US Congress from imposing restrictions that could lead to a withdrawal of US forces. The official summed up the argument, made through various diplomatic channels, as telling Saudi leaders: We are defending your industry while you're destroying ours.

Reuters asked Trump about the talks in an interview Wednesday evening at the White House, at which the president addressed a range of topics involving the pandemic. Asked if he told the crown prince that the US might pull forces out of Saudi Arabia, Trump said, "I didn't have to tell him."

"I thought he and President Putin, Vladimir Putin, were very reasonable," Trump said. "They knew they had a problem, and then this happened."

Asked what he told the Crown Prince Mohammed, Trump said: "They were having a hard time making a deal. And I met telephonically with him, and we were able to reach a deal" for production cuts, Trump said.

Saudi Arabia's government media office did not respond to a request for comment. A Saudi official who asked not to be named stressed that the agreement represented the will of all countries in the so-called OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations, which includes OPEC plus a coalition led by Russia.

Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia have played an important role in the OPEC+ oil cut agreement, but without the cooperation of the 23 countries who took part in the agreement, it would not have happened, said the Saudi official, who declined to comment on the discussions between US and Saudi leaders.

The week before Trump's phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed, US Republican Senators Kevin Cramer and Dan Sullivan had introduced legislation to remove all US troops, Patriot missiles and anti-missile defense systems from the kingdom unless Saudi Arabia cut oil output. Support for the measure was gaining momentum amid Congressional anger over the ill-timed Saudi-Russia oil price war. The kingdom had opened up the taps in April, unleashing a flood of crude into the global supply after Russia refused to deepen production cuts in line with an earlier OPEC supply pact.

On April 12, under pressure from Trump, the world's biggest oil-producing nations outside the United States agreed to the largest production cut ever negotiated. OPEC, Russia and other allied producers slashed production by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd), or about 10% of global output. Half that volume came from cuts of 2.5 million bpd each by Saudi Arabia and Russia, whose budgets depend on high oil-and-gas revenues.

Despite the agreement to cut a tenth of global production, oil prices continued to fall to historic lows. US oil futures dropped below $0 last week as sellers paid buyers to avoid taking delivery of oil they had no place to store. Brent futures, the global oil benchmark, fell towards $15 per barrel - a level not seen since the 1999 oil price crash from as high as $70 at the start of the year.

The deal for supply cuts could eventually boost prices, however, as governments worldwide start to open their economies and fuel demand rises with increased travel. Whatever the impact, the negotiations mark an extraordinary display of US influence over global oil output.

Cramer, the Republican senator from North Dakota, told Reuters he spoke to Trump about the legislation to withdraw US military protection from Saudi Arabia on March 30, three days before the president called Crown Prince Mohammed.

Asked whether Trump told Saudi Arabia it could lose US military support, US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told Reuters the president reserved the right to use every tool to protect US producers, including our support for their defense needs.

The strategic partnership dates back to 1945, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Saudi King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud on the USS Quincy, a Navy cruiser. They reached a deal: US military protection in exchange for access to Saudi oil reserves. Today, the United States has about three thousand troops in the country, and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet protects oil exports from the region.

Saudi Arabia relies on the United States for weapons and protection against regional rivals such as Iran. The kingdom's vulnerabilities, however, were exposed late last year in an attack by 18 drones and three missiles on key Saudi oil facilities. Washington blamed Iran; Tehran denied it.

THIRTEEN ANGRY SENATORS

Trump initially welcomed lower oil prices, saying cheap gasoline prices were akin to a tax cut for drivers.

That changed after Saudi Arabia announced in mid-March it would pump a record 12.3 million bpd unleashing the price war with Russia. The explosion of supply came as governments worldwide issued stay-home orders - crushing fuel demand - and made clear that US oil companies would be hit hard in the crude price collapse.A Senators from US oil states were infuriated.

On March 16, Cramer was among 13 Republican senators who sent a letter to Crown Prince Mohammed reminding him of Saudi Arabia's strategic reliance on Washington. The group also urged Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to investigate whether Saudi Arabia and Russia were breaking international trade laws by flooding the US market with oil.

On March 18, the senators a group that included Sullivan of Alaska and Ted Cruz of Texas held a rare call with Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Cramer called the conversations brutal as each senator detailed the damage to their states' oil industries.

She heard it from every senator; there was nobody that held back, Cramer told Reuters.

The Saudi embassy did not respond to requests for comment.

Cramer said the princess relayed their comments to officials in Saudi Arabia, including the energy minister. The senators told the princess that the kingdom faced rising opposition in the Senate to the Saudi-led coalition that is waging a war in Yemen against Houthi rebels.

Saudi and US officials have said the Houthis are armed by Iran, which Tehran denies. The backing of Senate Republicans over Yemen had proved crucial for Saudi Arabia last year. The Senate upheld Trump vetoes of several measures seeking to end US weapons sales and other military support to Saudi Arabia amid outrage over the Yemen conflict, which has caused more than 100,000 deaths and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

Cramer said he made a phone call to Trump on March 30, about a week after he and Sullivan introduced their bill to pull US troops from Saudi Arabia. The president called Cramer back the same day with Energy Secretary Brouillette, senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on the call, the senator said.

I said the one person that you don't have on the call that can be very helpful is Mark Esper, the defense secretary, Cramer recounted, saying he wanted Esper to address how US military assets in Saudi Arabia might be moved elsewhere in the region to protect US troops.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on whether Esper was involved in discussions of pulling military assets out of Saudi Arabia.

BENDING THE KNEE

Trump's oil diplomacy came in a whirlwind of calls with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed and Russian President Vladimir Putin starting in mid-March. The Kremlin confirmed Putin's conversation with Trump and said they discussed both oil supply cuts and the coronavirus pandemic.

On the April 2 call with Prince Mohammed, Trump told the Saudi ruler he was going to cut them off the next time Congress pushed a proposal to end Washington's defense of the kingdom, according the source with knowledge of the call. Trump also publicly threatened in early April to impose tariffs on oil imports from Saudi Arabia and Russia.

After the conversation with the Saudi crown prince, and another the same day with Putin, Trump tweeted that he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to cut output by about 10 million barrels, which will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!"

Riyadh and Moscow later confirmed they had restarted negotiations.

On April 3, Trump hosted a meeting at the White House with senators Cramer, Cruz, and Sullivan, and oil executives from companies including Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron Corp, Occidental Petroleum Corp and Continental Resources.

During the public portion of the meeting, Cramer told Trump that Washington can use the billions of dollars it spends defending Saudi Arabia on other military priorities if our friends are going to treat us this way.

The prospect of losing US military protection made the royal family bend at the knees and bow to Trump's demands, a Middle Eastern diplomat told Reuters.

After prolonged and fractious negotiations, top producers pledged their record output cut of 9.7 million bpd in May and June, with the understanding that economic forces would lead to about 10 million bpd in further cuts in production from other countries, including the United States and Canada.

Trump hailed the deal and cast himself as its broker. Having been involved in the negotiations, to put it mildly, the number that OPEC+ is looking to cut is 20 Million Barrels a day he tweeted shortly after the deal.

Riyadh also took credit. Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz told Reuters at the time that the crown prince had been instrumental in formulating this deal.
The stars of Love Island's inaugural winter series have lost 500,000 in 'missed opportunities', a PR expert had predicted.

Following January's show, which was filmed in South Africa, stars including Finn Tapp, Paige Turley, Sophie Piper and Luke Trotman were looking to follow to in the success of former stars, with lucrative club promotions and signings.

Yet amid the coronavirus pandemic, Jack Cooper of EdHopkinsPR revealed to Metro that stars have missed key moneymaking moments which have previously bagged stars up to millions of pounds.

Uh oh: The stars of Love Island's inaugural winter series have lost 500,000 in 'missed opportunities', a PR expert had predicted (Shaughna Phillips and Demi Jones, pictured)

ITV aired its first winter series in January, having previously aired a series starting in June every year since 2015 (save for 2016's series, which started on 30 May).

The show was thwarted with woes, as its host Caroline Flack stood down as presenter amid an assault charge following a row with her boyfriend Lewis Burton.

Caroline, who was replaced by Laura Whitmore while awaiting trial, tragically took her own life in February leading to widespread heartache.

Shortly after the show came off air in February, the global coronavirus pandemic began shortly before Prime Minister Boris Johnson enforced a lockdown - which saw what would be money-making opportunities for the cast cancelled.

Oh no! Following January's show, which was filmed in South Africa, stars including Finn Tapp, Paige Turley (pictured), Sophie Piper and Luke Trotman were looking to follow to in the success of former stars, with lucrative club promotions and signings

Troubles: The show was thwarted with woes, as its host Caroline Flack stood down as presenter amid an assault charge following a row with her boyfriend Lewis Burton before taking her own life in February

He said: 'They are also missing out on club appearances due to them being closed, which could have earned them up to 5,000 per hour'.

While the show has made millionaires out of many of its contestants, including Olivia Buckland, Alex Bowen, Dani Dyer and Chris Hughes, PR expert Jack has predicted that this year's contestants will have such chances thwarted.

He went on: 'With no events to attend, they are also missing out on a huge range of exposure in the media, having no stories for the press to write about...

All dressed up with nowhere to go: He went on: 'With no events to attend, they are also missing out on a huge range of exposure in the media, having no stories for the press to write about' (Sophie Piper, pictured)

'The Winter Love Island stars are set to lose huge amounts of money, some contestants up to 500,000. Brand deals at the moment are at an all-time low.

'Many of the participants have approached us to represent them during this tough time. Due to our books being full and also the lack of opportunities in the industry at this time, we have had to decline them.'

Despite this, he predicts couples who are still together stand a better chance, as he said: 'People are interested in keeping up to date with what they are doing, especially if they are isolating together...

Uh oh: 'The Winter Love Island stars are set to lose huge amounts of money, some contestants up to 500,000. Brand deals at the moment are at an all-time low' (winners Paige and Finn Tapp, pictured)

'Being in a couple brings up their financial worth, and in some circumstances could secure them a deal of up to 10,000.'

Elsewhere, while there are doubts over whether Love Island will return later this year, the number of applications for the summer series is anything to go by, fans are hoping the ITV2 dating show does return as potential islanders are at a record high.

According to The Sun, Love Island has received its highest number of applications yet, while the UK is in lockdown and show bosses are hoping to snap up new reality stars by holding virtual auditions.

Stand in: Laura Whitmore took over her friend Caroline's role as presenter

An insider told the paper that applications have surpassed 12,000, claiming: 'Applications have gone through the roof since lockdown. Never before have so many people applied in this six-week time span.'

They continued: 'Over seventy per cent of the applications have come from 18 to 28-year-olds and the videos being sent in have been more creative than ever as people have more time on their hands.'

The insider suggested that once the candidates for Love Island's summer series have been shortlisted in the 'coming weeks', they'll then be interviewed virtually by the team, with ITV having to bring in 'extra staff' to accommodate the high numbers.
Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest and Health Minister Greg Hunt have cancelled a joint event at short notice a day after the businessman blindsided the MP at another announcement.

The pair were meant to be at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne to announce an extra $67 million to ensure every child in Australia with cancer will have access to life-saving treatment.

Chinas consul-general for Victoria Zhou Long (right) and Health Minister Greg Hunt. Credit:AAP

But relations between Mr Forrest and the federal government are strained after he invited a top Chinese diplomat into Commonwealth government offices to address the media without Mr Hunt's knowledge on Wednesday.

The mining magnate has since played down the tensions, but federal MPs believe the government was ambushed in the middle of a difficult diplomatic situation with China.
Valero Energy Corp (NYSE:VLO)

Q1 2020 Earnings Call

, 10:00 a.m. ET

Contents:

Prepared Remarks

Questions and Answers

Call Participants

Prepared Remarks:

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by and welcome to the Valero Energy Corporation's First Quarter 2020 Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speaker presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker, Mr. Homer Bhullar, Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.

Homer Bhullar -- Vice President of Investor Relations

Good morning everyone and welcome to Valero Energy Corporation's first quarter 2020 earnings conference call. With me today are Joe Gorder, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Lane Riggs, our President and COO; Donna Titzman, our Executive Vice President and CFO; Jason Fraser, our Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Gary Simmons, our Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and several other members of Valero's senior management team. If you have not received the earnings release and would like a copy, you can find one on our website at valero.com. Also attached to the earnings release are tables that provide additional financial information on our business segments. If you have any questions after reviewing these tables, please feel free to contact our Investor Relations team after the call.

I would now like to direct your attention to the forward-looking statement disclaimer contained in the press release. In summary, it says that statements in the press release and on this conference call that state the company's or management's expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements intended to be covered by the Safe Harbor provisions under Federal Securities laws. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations including those we've described in our filings with the SEC. Now I'll turn the call over to Joe for opening remarks.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Homer and good morning everyone. Well, we've all had a very challenging start to the year with significant impact to our families, communities, and businesses worldwide brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ensuing collapse of economic activity due to stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions has driven down demand for our products, particularly gasoline and jet fuel. Despite these extraordinary challenges, we're blessed to be able to continue supporting our community partners and organizations on the front lines that help people most in need in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the country, we see neighbors and strangers helping one another and demonstrating genuine human kindness. With that in mind, our ethanol operations produced hand sanitizer for distribution to hospitals, emergency responders, and other organizations and I'm proud of our employees for their innovation and efforts to make this possible.

Valero entered this economic downturn in a position of strength and our team has been thorough, decisive, and swift in our operational and financial response to the current environment. Operationally, we've adjusted the throughput rates at our refineries to more closely match product supply with demand to ensure that our supply chain does not become physically infeasible. We also temporarily idled a number of our ethanol plants and reduced the amount of corn feedstock processed at the remaining plants to address the decreased demand for ethanol.

Financially, we remain well capitalized. We started the year with a solid cash balance. Due to the uncertainty in the markets and attractive rates available to us, we thought it'd be prudent to strengthen our financial position further. We entered into a new $875 million revolving credit facility, which remains undrawn and we raised $1.5 billion of debt for additional liquidity. We also temporarily suspended buybacks in mid-March. In addition, we decided to defer approximately $100 million in tax payments that were due in the first quarter along with approximately $400 million in capital projects for the year including slowing the Port Arthur Coker and Pembroke Cogen projects, which pushes out their mechanical completion by six to nine months.

That being said, we continue to make progress on several of our strategic projects. We completed the Pasadena terminal project, which expands our products logistics portfolio, increases our capacity for biofuels blending, and enhances flexibility for exports; and the St. Charles Alkylation Unit remains on track to be completed in 2020, and we're continuing to make progress on the Diamond Pipeline expansion and the Diamond Green Diesel project, both of which should be completed in 2021, subject to COVID-19 related delays. The Diamond Green Diesel joint venture also continues to make progress on the advanced engineering review of a potential new renewable diesel plant at our Port Arthur, Texas facility.

So the actions we've taken are consistent with the capital allocation framework we've had in place for several years. We continue to prioritize our investment grade credit rating and non-discretionary uses of capital, including sustaining capital expenditures and our dividend and you should continue to expect incremental discretionary cash flow to compete with other discretionary uses primarily organic growth capital and buybacks. Our framework has served us well and we'll continue to adhere to it in the future.

In closing, the health, safety, and well-being of our employees and the communities where we operate remain among our top priorities. Our prudent management of operations has allowed us to weather a global shutdown like this without layoffs and while a tremendous amount of uncertainty remains in the near future, our operational and financial flexibility allow us to navigate through today's challenging macro environment. Our advantaged footprint with the flexibility to process a wide range of feedstocks coupled with a relentless focus on operational excellence and a demonstrated commitment to stockholders' positions our assets as well as our country and the world return to a more normal way of life. So with that Homer, I'll hand the call back to you.

Homer Bhullar -- Vice President of Investor Relations

Thanks, Joe. For the first quarter of 2020, the net loss attributable to Valero stockholders was $1.9 billion or $4.54 per share compared to net income of $141 million or $0.34 per share for the first quarter of 2019. First quarter 2020 adjusted net income attributable to Valero stockholders was $140 million or $0.34 per share compared to $181 million or $0.43 per share for the first quarter of 2019. First quarter 2020 adjusted results exclude an after-tax lower of cost or market or LCM inventory valuation adjustment of approximately $2 billion. For reconciliations of actual to adjusted amounts, please refer to the financial tables that accompany this release.

The refining segment generated an operating loss of $2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $479 million of operating income for the first quarter of 2019. First quarter 2020 adjusted operating income for the refining segment, which excludes the LCM inventory valuation adjustment, was $329 million. First quarter 2020 results were impacted by low product margins related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid decline in crude prices. Refining throughput volumes averaged 2.8 million barrels per day, which was in line with the first quarter of 2019. Throughput capacity utilization was 90% in the first quarter of 2020. Refining cash operating expenses of $3.87 per barrel were $0.28 per barrel lower than the first quarter of 2019 primarily due to lower natural gas prices.

Operating income for the renewable diesel segment was $198 million in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $49 million for the first quarter of 2019. After adjusting for the retroactive blender's tax credit, adjusted renewable diesel operating income was $121 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase in operating income was primarily due to higher sales volumes. Renewable diesel sales volumes averaged 867,000 gallons per day in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 77,000 gallons per day versus the first quarter of 2019.

The ethanol segment generated an operating loss of $197 million in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $3 million of operating income in the first quarter of 2019. The first quarter of 2020 adjusted operating loss, which excludes the LCM inventory valuation adjustment, was $69 million. The decrease from the first quarter of 2019 was primarily due to lower margins resulting from lower ethanol prices and higher corn prices. Ethanol production volumes averaged 4.1 million gallons per day in the first quarter of 2020.

For the first quarter of 2020, general and administrative expenses were $177 million and net interest expense was $125 million. Depreciation and amortization expense was $582 million and the income tax benefit was $616 million in the first quarter of 2020. The effective tax rate was 26%, which was impacted by an expected U.S. federal tax net operating loss that can be carried back to years prior to December 2017 enactment of tax reform in the U.S. Net cash used in operating activities was $49 million in the first quarter of 2020. Excluding the unfavorable impact from the change in working capital of $1.1 billion as well as our joint venture partner's 50% share of Diamond Green Diesel's net cash provided by operating activities excluding changes in its working capital adjusted net cash provided by operating activities was $954 million.

With regard to investing activities, we made $705 million of capital investments in the first quarter of 2020, of which approximately $468 million was for sustaining the business including cost for turnarounds, catalysts, and regulatory compliance. Approximately $237 million of the total was for growing the business. Excluding our partner's 50% share of Diamond Green Diesel's capital investments, Valero's capital investments were approximately $666 million.

Moving to financing activities, we returned $548 million to our stockholders in the first quarter of 2020. $401 million was paid as dividends with the balance used to purchase 2.1 million shares of Valero common stock. The total payout ratio was 57% of adjusted net cash provided by operating activities. As of March 31st, we had approximately $1.4 billion of share repurchase authorization remaining. And last week, our Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share, further demonstrating our solid financial position and commitment to return cash to our investors.

With respect to our balance sheet at quarter-end, total debt and finance lease obligations were $11.5 billion and cash and cash equivalents were $1.5 billion. Our debt to capitalization ratio, net of cash and cash equivalents was 34%. In April, we closed on a 364-day $875 million revolving credit facility, which remains undrawn. Including this credit facility, we had over $5 billion of available borrowing capacity.

Turning to guidance, we now expect annual capital investments for 2020 to be approximately $2.1 billion, reflecting a reduction of $400 million from our prior guidance. The $2.1 billion includes expenditures for turnarounds, catalysts, and joint venture investments. For modeling our second quarter operations, we expect refining throughput volumes to fall within the following ranges: U.S. Gulf Coast at 1.325 million barrels per day to 1.375 million barrels per day; U.S. Mid-Continent at 315,000 barrels per day to 335,000 barrels per day; U.S. West Coast at 215,000 barrels per day to 235,000 barrels per day; and North Atlantic at 315,000 barrels per day to 335,000 barrels per day. We expect refining cash operating expenses in the second quarter to be approximately $4.50 per barrel.

Our ethanol segment is expected to produce a total of 2 million gallons per day in the second quarter. Operating expenses should average $0.49 per gallon, which includes $0.12 per gallon for non-cash costs such as depreciation and amortization. With respect to the renewable diesel segment, we expect sales volumes to be 750,000 gallons per day in 2020. Operating expenses in 2020 should be $0.50 per gallon, which includes $0.20 per gallon for non-cash costs such as depreciation and amortization. For the second quarter, net interest expense should be about $145 million and total depreciation and amortization expense should be approximately $580 million. For 2020, we expect G&A expenses excluding corporate depreciation to be approximately $825 million and we still expect the RINs expense for the year to be between $300 million and $400 million.

Lastly, due to the impact of beneficial tax provisions in the CARES Act as well as the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, small changes in assumptions yield a wide range of outcomes resulting in a low degree of confidence in any estimate of the effective tax rate. So at this point, we're not providing any guidance on it. That concludes our opening remarks. Before we open the call to questions, we again respectfully request that callers adhere to our protocol of limiting each turn in the Q&A to two questions. If you have more than two questions, please rejoin the queue as time permits. This helps us ensure other callers have time to ask their questions.

Questions and Answers:

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Our first question will come from Doug Terreson with Evercore ISI. Please go ahead.

Doug Terreson -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst

Good morning, everybody.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Good morning, Doug.

Doug Terreson -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst

So, global refined product supplies following in response to the declines in demand that we're seeing, was it more competitive plants probably reducing output less than others and on this point, I wanted to get your insights on Atlantic Basin and global storage levels, whether you think we're nearing capacity and if so, when might we get there? So just some fundamental color on these market areas, if you have it. And then second, because refineries are completely shut down often face challenges when they restart, if they restart. I want to see if you kind of frame the pros and cons for us of those decisions and also whether the new fuel specs might affect restarts in the current scenario. So the questions are on market fundamentals and potential capacity outcomes.

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Okay, Doug. This is Gary. Yeah, on your question on market fundamentals in the North Atlantic Basin, we were staring at that pretty hard a few weeks ago and thought we were going to have an issue with that region filling up with products, but really been encouraged by the reaction to the industry to cut rates and to make less gasoline and diesel [Technical Issues] at least the APIs yesterday showed that PADD 1 had a small draw on gasoline, which is encouraging, but at this stage, it looks like the industry has done a good job to balance supply with demand and we're not as concerned about filling up on inventory.

Doug Terreson -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst

Okay, good.

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Hey, Doug, this is Lane. I'll answer the second question. So you're exactly right, whenever -- the risk is, you know, everybody I'm sure -- most refiners try to push their refinery utilizations down at somewhere near minimum, which normally is 60% to 65% for a given unit -- because the risk of shutting one down very much puts you at risk of when you try to start back up, it's not going to start up and you have to go into a full-blown turnaround. Now with that said, we actually did shut down our St. Charles FCC. It's a big FCC and it was because we had just finished a turnaround, but we saw that as being a way to take off some gasoline producing capacity for our system and not take that risk. In terms of fuel quality, it's just -- you know, there's a lot of investment out there in terms of lower sulfur, it just depends on, you know, if for some reason a GDU or your ULSD unit has a problem on start-up, but other than that, I don't -- as I think about that for us, I haven't seen that be a big problem for us.

Doug Terreson -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst

Okay, thanks a lot guys.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Doug.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Theresa Chen with Barclays. Please go ahead.

Theresa Chen -- Barclays -- Analyst

Good morning. Thank you for taking my questions. First question, just on the depth and duration of the demand shock. Gasoline margin seems to be responding to the industry lowering utilizations and margins have improved, but the diesel side has seen some volatility recently. Not sure if it's just reflecting real economic contraction in activity. Can you just talk about what's happening there on the diesel side?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yeah, Theresa, this is Gary. So I think as we talked about, the industry did a good job of balancing supply and demand on the gasoline side. For the most part, along with that, we were cutting refinery crude runs with the expectation that would bring diesel balances pretty close to supply being in balance with demand. However, the jet demand disruption was just so severe that everyone started blending jet into diesel, it caused the diesel yield from refineries to be really at record levels and even despite the lower refinery utilization, we've seen diesel production outpacing demand, causing the inventory build. I think we are seeing at least this week, starting to see some indications in the market that people in the industry, including ourselves, are making some adjustment to their operations to bring the diesel yields down, which should be supportive to the diesel fundamentals moving forward.

Theresa Chen -- Barclays -- Analyst

Got it. And in terms of the recent force majeure declarations, whether it be Flint Hills, your refining neighbor in Corpus or Continental as a producer or Pemex declaring force majeure on gasoline imports, do you see an acceleration of this? Do you think the reasoning would likely hold up in court? And can you just talk about how you see these developments evolving as both an entity that can declare force majeure or as a counterparty on which force majeure could be declared against?

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

So Theresa, we're trying to -- OK. Are you asking kind of a legal perspective on force majeure or are you asking kind of do we expect the market to continue to do this?

Theresa Chen -- Barclays -- Analyst

Well, the latter more.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Okay, so, Gary, you want to?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yeah, so I can tell you most of our -- certainly on the crude side of the business, most of our contracts have a 30-day cancellation and we've been trying to tell our suppliers we expected to hold them to that and so, so far, we haven't really seen much of a disruption in crude supply as a result of the force majeure you are reading about in the press.

Theresa Chen -- Barclays -- Analyst

Got it. Thank you for taking my questions again. I hope you all stay safe and well in these challenging times.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, likewise, likewise. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Manav Gupta with Credit Suisse. Please go ahead.

Manav Gupta -- Credit Suisse -- Analyst

Hey, Joe, at the start of the call you mentioned the weaker gasoline demand. What I'm trying to understand is Texas is lifting the order on Friday. Florida has minimum number of cases. So those two are big demand states and looks like their orders will be lifted, at least a partial reopen by end of this week and then there are about 16 states that have come behind them with their prospective reopen plans. So what I'm trying to understand is, yes, gasoline demand is bad right now, but as one after another of these states do start opening, like when do we start seeing a rebound in the gasoline demand as these states do start coming online.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

That's a good question. Let me give you an anecdotal answer and then, Gary, can give you what we're seeing in the system, he and Lane, but I mean in San Antonio proper, we have -- because I'm serving on some committees that are working on some issues here, but we've seen a 14% increase in traffic over the last couple of weeks. So people are starting to get out more and as you said, we're going to be opening up and I think there probably is a pent-up demand for folks to get out of their houses and get mobile and to shop again and to go to restaurants again. So I do think we're going to see more activity and not only here, but much more broadly, particularly through the South. Gary, within the system, we've also seen some change in demands.

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yeah, we have. So we saw a very sharp fall off in demand really the last two weeks in March. It kind of got to a point in our system where we're seeing demand about 55% of what we would call normal. For the first couple of weeks in April, it seemed to have stabilized around that level, but now we're starting to see demand pick back up already. So if you look at the seven-day average in our rack [Phonetic] systems, it's about 64% of normal. So already about a 9% increase of where we were kind of early April and as you mentioned, where you are really seeing the pick-up is in the Mid-Continent, the Gulf Coast regions as some of these stay-at-home orders are lifted, we're seeing a fairly significant sharp increase in demand.

Manav Gupta -- Credit Suisse -- Analyst

Thanks, guys. A quick follow-up, your benchmark indicator on the newbuild diesel side was almost down $0.45, but the realized margin actually was up quarter-over-quarter. I'm trying to understand how did you so successfully manage to beat your own benchmark and deliver a beat on the renewable diesel side?

Martin Parrish -- Senior Vice President-Alternative Energy and Project Development

So Manav, this is Martin, on the benchmark, you have to realize we're using a soybean oil price. Our actual feedstock costs are going to differ from that. There is other impacts too, you know, contractually what we're doing this year versus last year. So I'm not going to give you a hard and fast answer on that, but it's -- we just -- you're kind of seeing the strength of renewable diesel and the strength of Diamond Green there.

Manav Gupta -- Credit Suisse -- Analyst

Thank you for taking my questions.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

You bet. Take care.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will be from Roger Read with Wells Fargo. Please go ahead.

Roger Read -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst

Hey, thanks, good morning.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Good morning, Roger.

Roger Read -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst

Well, tons of stuff to ask here, but I guess where I'd like to go first question really, what are you seeing in terms of the crude side of the market. How has that been flowing through in terms of, you know, we had negative crude prices for a day, availability of different lights and heavies and maybe how that's flowing through. Maybe some guidance on what capture can be in such a uncertain market condition?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yeah, Roger, a lot of volatility in the crude markets and we've certainly been changing our purchase signals from week to week kind of moving throughout the quarter. I think you know for quite some time now we've been signaling really maximum light sweet along with heavy sour and we haven't seen the economics of the medium sours as much. Now we got into March and medium sours became economic and we ramped up medium sours.

However that -- I would say, we've kind of returned back to the place where we were before to where we're back kind of maximizing light sweets and heavy sours in our system and certainly in some regions you're seeing real wide market dislocations on some of the light sweets that we're buying, especially in the Mid-Continent region Line 9 through Quebec is providing us with a big benefit, and then we're balancing those light sweet purchases with a lot of different heavy sour feedstock. So kind of step back into some of the high sulfur fuel blend stocks along with some heavy sour crudes that we're sourcing from Canada and South America.

Roger Read -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst

And I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're not having any trouble finding crudes at this point?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

No, no trouble in that area at all.

Roger Read -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst

All right, that's not [Phonetic] wanting to get Joe to laugh. Second question on --

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

You did, you did.

Roger Read -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst

Second question on the regulatory side and a couple of parts here, but we're going to have a real issue is hitting any sort of ethanol blending volumes this year. So where do you stand on or where do you think the market stands maybe on getting some relief there. And then, I was curious if there is any other regulatory headaches in front of you at this point, stuff we don't normally think about, but whether it's the winter grade to summer grade exclusions that were given into May or any other sort of headwinds we should think about on the regulatory side?

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Okay. Jason, you want to speak to that?

Jason Fraser -- Executive Vice President and General Counsel -- Analyst

Yeah, Yeah I can definitely talk a little bit about the RFS. Of course, with the large drop in gasoline and diesel demand and the harm to our industry, the compliance cost for the RFS does stick out a little more, its definitely not helping things and RINs are still pretty high. They didn't really drop [Phonetic] with the price of our products. So five governors recently sent a letter to the EPA requesting they exercise their severe economic harm waiver authority to reduce the RVOs for 2020. We definitely agree with those governors and believe the EPA has the authority and the basis to grant those waivers and lower the volumes. As for other regulatory headwinds, I can't think of any right now --

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

[Speech Overlap] The other guys can't --

Jason Fraser -- Executive Vice President and General Counsel -- Analyst

So we'll just take them one at a time, Roger.

Roger Read -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst

I appreciate that. Thank you, guys.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

You bet. Take care.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Phil Gresh with J.P. Morgan. Please go ahead.

Phil Gresh -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst

Yes, hi, good morning.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Hi, Phil.

Phil Gresh -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst

Hi. So first question, you had mentioned demand at about 64% of normal and your utilization guide for the quarter, it looks like it's in the low-70s. Would you say that today you're operating kind of below that midpoint and the expectation with that guidance is that utilization would ramp over the quarter or would you say that you intend to kind of have a more stable utilization and if demand gets better, we start to see inventory draws.

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Hey, so Phil, this is Lane. So if you think about it, the low-70s is on a throughput basis, not all of which goes into gasoline and diesel. We're trying to make sure that we are careful to match our feedstock plans with where we think demand is. Now pent into that is a slight -- some recovery toward the end of it, but our buying habits right now is to be on the assumption that crude will be available and that we're going to run our assets to meet demand and not necessarily let structure drive us to maybe outrun demand or anything like that.

Phil Gresh -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst

Okay and just broadly, how do you think about -- if you think about the macro on the gasoline and the diesel side over the next, call it, one to two quarters, how do you think about the inventory progression for the industry based on the way you've been modeling it?

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Well, Gary took a shot at that earlier. I guess I could take another shot at it and then Gary can tune whatever I have to say here. I think the industry has done a really good job with respect to gasoline and we were, you know, when it first started, that was our primary concern and I think the industry responded with appropriate rate reductions including us and where we are today is you have like Gary mentioned, jets dropping into diesel.

So how I think that will play out is there are signals right now out there to essentially drop diesel into gas oil which will replace some VGO purchases into these conversion units. So you should see some diesel disruption and then everybody is going to have to stare at how much crude they really think they need to meet demand and so ultimately, it comes back to demand versus how does this crude supply, obviously there is a lot of crude, but you don't have to reach out very long or far to get your supply chain very committed, then you can ramp up accordingly or cut accordingly depending on how that plays out.

Phil Gresh -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst

Okay, great. And my follow-up is just on capex, how much flex do you see in your capital spending as you move into 2021, it sounds like most of the capex that you're cutting back on this year was more related to growth projects, but just want any color as you look out. Thanks.

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Yeah, we would expect if we needed to be something commensurate with the $400 million that we talked about in or gave the guidance for this year.

Phil Gresh -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst

Okay, great. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Doug Leggate with Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Doug Leggate -- Bank of America Merrill Lynch -- Analyst

Thank you. Good morning everyone. Hey Joe, It seems like a long time since we had our virtual dinner. So I hope you guys are all going well.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Oh, it sure has, hasn't it. Thanks, Doug.

Doug Leggate -- Bank of America Merrill Lynch -- Analyst

So I had two quick questions. First of all, I don't know if Donna is there, but I wanted to ask about working capital, the mechanics of any potential unwind and how you would expect the working capital to -- the trajectory through the year. I know it's a bit of a moving piece. And I guess a related question, which is my second question, also financial, in the balance sheet. I know you're at 34% net debt to cap. I think that's probably the highest level you've had in quite a while. Obviously, there is no liquidity issues, but I'm just curious as to where you see the balance sheet headed over the medium-term and what -- how would you look to move it back and I guess what I'm really trying to understand is if and when things normalize, would you tend to run with a more robust balance sheet going forward after this or how would your behavior change as it relates to just treatment of buybacks, balance sheet, dividends, things of that nature and I'll leave it there. Thank you.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Great.

Donna Titzman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

All right. Well, I'll start with the working capital. No, you're correct, as we've seen prices level off a bit and then hopefully now as they start to recover with the economy waking back up, we would expect to see that working capital draw reverse itself. I can't tell you how quickly that will happen. That is really all depending on how quickly we see these prices recover. And to answer the balance sheet question, obviously, the debt to cap has gone up a bit here of late. Our intentions would be as everything gets back to normal to also normalize that balance sheet a bit.

When we raised the $1.5 billion, we did that in short-term maturities and not in 10s [Phonetic] and 30s [Phonetic] with the idea that, that would become repayable much quicker than a longer-term issuance. So our intent would be to kind of get back to where we were pre all of this as quickly as we can and again, the liquidity as you mentioned is absolutely key today. So we are definitely in the cash preservation mode right now, but we have a very strong liquidity level and are very comfortable with where we're at today.

Doug Leggate -- Bank of America Merrill Lynch -- Analyst

Donna, can I just ask for some clarification on the working capital, you run I assume a net payables position. I was really more interested in the mechanics. I understand we've had a big drop in crude prices. So obviously that hurts you, but do you anticipate -- that was a big move obviously in Q1, but do you anticipate any additional moves in terms of use of working capital after the shock [Phonetic] we've had in oil prices or do you think the worst is kind of behind us there?

Donna Titzman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Well, I think you can expect that a lot of this started in mid-March and continued through the April time frame. So you should probably expect some of that to have carried into April, but as I mentioned, things are leveling off and hopefully now we're looking at improvement from this point forward. So we shouldn't see that same kind of level of cash being consumed.

Doug Leggate -- Bank of America Merrill Lynch -- Analyst

All right. Appreciate it. That was it for me guys. Thank you very much and good luck.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Doug. Take care, buddy.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Neil Mehta with Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.

Neil Mehta -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst

Hey, Steve. Good morning and hope all of you are doing well. I just wanted to follow-up on this question of demand and we've talked a lot about on this call, 2020 demand conditions, but Joe and team, I want to get your perspective on sort of the structural questions of demand particularly for two products, gasoline and jet. And so on gasoline, the thoughts around work from home and does that create a change in social behavior that has an impact on low gas demand. And jet the willingness of the consumer to travel. I think all of us are just trying to figure out whether there is a long-term impact from some of the changes that we've seen here over the last month or do you view this as more cyclical?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Hey Neil, this is Gary. So I think we are taking those things into account and so where we saw a fairly sharp decline in demand to this 55% level, we would expect the recovery to be more gradual on the demand side as people continue to work from home. We see some offsetting things, certainly people working from home, but then you're going to have people driving more and probably using mass transit less going forward just because the social distancing is hard when you are on mass transit. So, overall, we see a fairly gradual recovery in demand with gasoline demand getting back close to where it was pre-COVID.

On the jet side, I think we believe that the lower jet demand is probably here with us longer and it probably is a late year type recovery for people who are going to get back and start flying again or requires a vaccine or something on the medical side to happen where people start to feel comfortable flying again.

Neil Mehta -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst

That's great. Thank you. The follow-up is just on the dividend. I think the message you're trying to deliver here is that the dividend is a core priority and something that you're committed to, but just want to get your perspective on that and how you guys are thinking about the fact that the [Phonetic] -- dividend.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, OK, Neil, I'll take a first crack and then I'll let Donna also have a shot at this, but you know, with the situation we're dealing with right now with the pandemic, we consider it to be a fairly short-term in nature and obviously, our team is running the business for the long -term and as the guys have mentioned, we're already seeing improvements in demand, which we think are going to continue as people return to more normal activities. So let's look at how we manage the business what we've said for several years now and how we're managing it going forward, OK?

We've got this capital allocation framework in place that we've adhered to for years and within that framework, we consider the use of cash for sustaining capex and turnarounds and then the dividends to be non-discretionary and then the discretionary uses are acquisitions, growth projects, and share repurchases and there is the competition that we have for those dollars within those three categories. So with that in mind, think about what we've done and the actions that we've taken to date, OK? We've reduced our discretionary capital spending and our share buybacks and we're not considering any acquisitions until there is certainly further improvements in the market.

So those three things are playing out the way they should within the context of that capital allocation framework, but if you look at additional actions that has been taken, you know, we have a very capable proactive Board of Directors and they declared the dividend last Friday and they have the same confidence in our business and this team that I have. So the things that we've talked about for years are the things that we've implemented and that we use both when margins are really strong and when margins are weak like they have been here over the last six or eight weeks and so, in my view, relative to the dividend, we've got a long way to go before we need to take any action there. Donna, anything you would like to add?

Donna Titzman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

No, I mean, just all along, we have maintained a conservative balance sheet for the purpose of being able to survive times like this.

Neil Mehta -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst

Great, guys. Very clear.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Neil.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question comes from Prashant Rao with Citigroup. Please go ahead.

Prashant Rao -- Citigroup -- Analyst

Thank you. Good morning, thanks for taking my question. My first question is on the balance sheet and specifically on debt. I wanted to sort of touch back on that. You guys took good advantage of the low interest rate environment and the strength of your financial position with that $1.5 billion in recently issued debt. I'm just wondering depending upon how the recovery here goes economically, are there further opportunities ahead to take advantage of these low interest rates, maybe potentially refi or retire other parts of the current debt structure, lower your overall interest expense. Donna, you made a comment about sort of the appetite for longer tenure versus shorter tenure debt. So perhaps that plays into this as well. So, any color there would be appreciated. Thanks.

Donna Titzman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Sure, so the problem with -- this is something that we look at all of the time, not just in this environment, but on a regular basis. The issue typically with retiring or refinancing current debt out there is we have make-whole provisions in all of our agreements. So effectively, what we're doing is paying the investor the impact of the current low prices anyway. So from an economic perspective, that rarely works out to be a good deal. That being said, we continue -- but we are always looking for odd moments in the market where things may not trade as efficiently as others. Many times, those are smaller opportunities and not larger opportunities, but again, we'll continue to look for those ideas, but I wouldn't say that that would happen in any big way.

Prashant Rao -- Citigroup -- Analyst

Okay. Thank you, that's clear. My follow-up is a sort of pre-differential question. We've seen a lot of disparity, some disconnects between what we see on the screen and the physical market, I guess the financial and the physical market and we get some questions on the ability to aid that disparity and what that means to the ability of refiners to capture some of those dislocations and how cautious should we be in thinking about that as we look forward and as we model here and did some of those pre-differential advantages maybe be preserved into further quarters or months ahead given that utilization rates are low right now. So I wanted to get a sense of those -- there is a lot of working parts in there, but get a sense of how some -- those of us who aren't operating experts might be able to think about that from a modeling perspective?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Sure, this is Gary. Kind of a couple of ways on the crude side. Some of our contracts -- some of our supply contracts on the crude side are based on a monthly average price. So obviously when you had the dislocation that happened at the end of the month, it does figure into the monthly average and will ultimately make its way to our delivered crude cost and then we also -- I can't say that we anticipated the crude going negative like it did, but we certainly saw the potential for weakness as you got to contract expiry. So we did probably go into that period of time a little on the short side to give us the opportunity to go out and buy some of those discounted barrels and we've done that and then to your point, if we had room to absorb it in our system, we'll run those barrels. If not, you know, there is places where we're putting those barrels into storage and you'll see that benefit in months to come.

Prashant Rao -- Citigroup -- Analyst

Thanks.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Paul Cheng with Scotiabank. Please go ahead.

Paul Cheng -- Scotiabank -- Analyst

Hey guys, good morning.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Good morning, Paul.

Paul Cheng -- Scotiabank -- Analyst

First want to wish everyone and the team and your families safe and healthy. Joe and Gary, can you talk a bit about the export market, because I think that they've been holding up reasonably well in the first quarter, but seems like they start to be having some crack. I'm actually quite concerned because I think Latin America probably have a lot of the infected cases but they probably didn't know yet. So maybe you can help us understanding that what you are seeing particularly in the last two or three weeks, have you seen any trend?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Hey Paul, this is Gary. So really our April volumes, we don't have the final accounting volumes done yet, of course, but our April export volumes are down about 10% from what we did in the first quarter or more typical type numbers. So you're not really seeing it in April, but in May, you know with what we're selling forward, you're seeing far lower demand in the Latin American countries than what we've typically seen kind of support. On the distillate side, we did see a fall off in diesel exports.

Some of that has just been because the U.S. inventories were very low and so the U.S. market was stronger and we were better to keep the barrels in the domestic market than to ship them abroad, but on the distillate side, we saw exports falling off around 60% of normal, gasoline has been more 10%. Where we're selling wholesale barrels like into Mexico, we've been surprised at how well those volumes have held up. So yesterday, in Mexico, we moved 85% of what we were moving in the first quarter. So our wholesale volumes -- barrels that we're selling in country are holding, but we are seeing the export markets fall off.

Paul Cheng -- Scotiabank -- Analyst

Thank you. And Gary, you talked about the gas -- the storage, it's not going to reach the 10 [Phonetic] in the Atlantic Basin. Can you talk about in the [Indecipherable] the inland market.

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yeah, so that was the other area that we had a lot of concern on and again, you could see in the Mid-Continent, refiners adjusted and it looked like we may fill up in a couple of weeks and now they've kind of adjusted the gasoline balance with the demand and we're seeing inventory draws and the Mid-Continent is one of the areas that we've actually seen the best recovery in demand out of all the regions.

Paul Cheng -- Scotiabank -- Analyst

Can you talk about California because we've seen a sharp improvement in the margin over the last, say, couple of weeks, but is there any particular reason driving that?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yes, so that really is more driven I would say from the production side. I think the refining industry has done a good job of bringing units offline and getting production balanced with demand. We've actually seen some inventories draw on PADD 5 and so that's led to the strength in the gasoline market.

Paul Cheng -- Scotiabank -- Analyst

All right, thank you.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Paul.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Benny Wong with Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.

Benny Wong -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Hey, good morning guys. Thanks for taking my question. I hope everybody on the line is safe and healthy. My first question is really on planned maintenance. We've seen a lot of facilities defer maintenance work just given the challenges of COVID. Just looking a little bit further out, when we're back to more of a normal environment, would you expect a little bit of pent-up maintenance activity that needs to be had by then or do you think there is enough [Phonetic] flexibility for guys who kind of do the work during this period reduce runs and shutdowns right now.

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

So, Benny, this is Lane. I'll just give you our behavior as a proxy for that. We were fortunately in a good position in that the second half of the year, we had a low sort of planned turnaround basis. So we didn't have a lot of planned turnarounds and so when we looked at all of our -- so when we look at our turnarounds, we look at our maintenance, we are making sure that we maintain our plants just like we do in our framework and very carefully, but we did sort of push some discretionary maintenance into next year and I'm sure a lot of people are going to do that.

At some point, obviously people have to do turnarounds. People who are deferring turnaround are doing a lot of that. At some point, that does catch up and we'll just have to see and at some point, you have to take a turnaround and there was a question earlier that I will answer too, if somebody shut a unit down that is along somewhere near the end of its run cycle, there will be some risk to starting it up, which may force them to take the turnaround early.

Benny Wong -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Got it. Thanks, Lane. That's super helpful. My second question is on the renewable diesel side. Just curious with this economic shut down the impact it's had on demand and even on the feedstock side and just taking a little further out, any risk that these events might cause some of the jurisdictions that are looking at adopting LCFS to maybe those plans being delayed?

Martin Parrish -- Senior Vice President-Alternative Energy and Project Development

Okay, this is Martin. I think if you step back and put DGD in perspective, right, we've got a great first quarter in the book. We're running at full capacity and our outlook hasn't changed as we're committed to the long-term strategy of growing the business. With COVID-19, carbon prices dropped slightly, but the RIN has escalated entirely offset that and the gallon blender's tax credit -- dollar per gallon is in play. On the feedstock availability, you have to understand, we're running 275 million gallons a year now. We have plans to go up to four times that amount and we still believe we can secure the feedstock for that.

So this is kind of a, there is disruptions, but it's not significant. We're not concerned about keeping feed in front of the unit. As far as what it does for the LCFS, I think all this is rather temporary and I characterize it as a bump in the road, but I don't think it's going to slow anything down materially and certainly in the rear view mirror, I don't think it's going to be that significant.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, I don't -- Jason, I don't know what you think, but I don't think anybody is going to back off of LCFS type regulations.

Jason Fraser -- Executive Vice President and General Counsel -- Analyst

Yeah, I don't think so. You may see a little bit of slow in them actually enacting laws and bills just because they've taken a lot of recesses with the social distancing. So the legislature in a lot of the states have really slowed down over the last couple of months, but we're starting to see them talk about coming back and get back into session. I think, Arizona and California are coming back. We were just talking about it yesterday, but you could see that a little bit of delay in that, but I don't think it changes the long-term trend or their views.

Benny Wong -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Got it. Thanks guys. Appreciate the thoughts. Please stay safe.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

You too. Thanks.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Brad Heffern with RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Brad Heffern -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Hey, good morning everyone. Another question on capture. I think some of the things that have been discussed so far have been around crude discounts and sound like they're positive for capture. I'm just wondering with these refineries running in these sort of unusual constraints, low utilization and maybe FCCs being shut down, are there decrements we need to be thinking about to capture as well either as it relates to how much you can optimize the system or maybe you can optimize the system or maybe the production of intermediates or something along those lines?

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Hey, Brad, this is Lane. So I would just say with respect to anything, it might be something to think about. The conversion units create volume gains whether they're hydrocrackers or FCC and so to the extent that we're cutting FCCs and hydrocrackers to meet the demand that we think there are -- you'll have a -- you could have a negative -- your volume gain isn't there to help in your margin capture. I would say outside of that, I don't know if there's anything else with how we're operating that would directly impact that.

Brad Heffern -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Okay, got it, thanks. And then maybe one for Martin, just on the ethanol business, you guys gave the guidance of 2.0 [Phonetic] for this quarter, down a little bit more than 50%. Is there a reason that you're not running it lower than that just given that we're seeing negative margins on the screen here even even before opex. Thanks.

Martin Parrish -- Senior Vice President-Alternative Energy and Project Development

Okay. Sure, well, as you know, we've got eight of our plants down and six running. So, we're actually running lower than 50% today. This demand disruption really hit home in ethanol. Significant cuts have been made across the industry. We cut -- if you look at the April EIA information, it would tell you is that demand -- implied demand is less than 50% of last year. So we think we're in the right spot. Ultimately, this will recover right and global renewable fuel mandates will drive export growth. Domestically, we'll get going again and ethanol is going to be in the gasoline pool and we'll see incremental demand as a result of fuel efficiency standards and year-around E15 sales.

Brad Heffern -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Okay, thanks all. Stay healthy.

Martin Parrish -- Senior Vice President-Alternative Energy and Project Development

You too.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Sam Margolin with Wolfe Research. Please go ahead.

Sam Margolin -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst

Good morning, everybody. Hope all is well.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Good morning, Sam.

Sam Margolin -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst

I've got a sort of outlook question. Gary, you mentioned that your light sweet throughput was up in the quarter. That's probably because crude production was up in the U.S. still in the first quarter. That -- it doesn't look like it's going to continue. I mean -- in the environment where U.S. crude production declines and really doesn't return to levels that it's at today for three or four years, how do you think that affects your business and your capital allocation decisions? Do you think we're going to reenter an environment that's very complexity oriented or is there something else that might be less obvious that you're paying attention to. Anything around that theme would be helpful?

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

So, hey, this is Lane. So I would say from a capital allocation, if you think about the things that we're investing in on the refining side, its the coker, right? There's other small caps that always we work on our feedstock flexibility, but to the extent that there is something that has a feedstock feed element to -- that's really more about positioning yourself to continue to run for heavy sour. We built the two crude units to run domestic. I think we think obviously you have to destock even though there's some production losses going into this, you're going to have to destock domestic crude for a while as there is a recovery.

So we're not making big investments to run additional domestic crude because we think we've done that. So we don't have -- we don't have this sort of projects in the future to try to take more advantage of that because we think we've done it, but we don't really have a lot of projects -- big projects that are even pointed at trying to take advantage or do something different on our feedstock selection.

Sam Margolin -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst

Thanks and then just a follow-up on feedstock, you mentioned that high sulfur fuel oil kind of component still look attractive, certainly on a percentage to Brent basis, the discount is pretty wide. How do you balance that with sort of your throughput utilization decisions. I would imagine there's some -- there's at least some incentive across the board to maybe run ahead of demand, but where do you sort of draw the line between regular way business and what might cross into trading or something that you don't want to be involved?

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

That's a really good question. So what I would say is we -- all of our -- our refineries are essentially this open capacity, right? It's a little bit -- it's an interesting place to be when you're trying to do your planning and doing relative values of feedstock into it is open. So we are -- it's pretty, pretty basic. We are doing our best to try to optimize our feedstock selection into matching demand and trying to be very careful not to run ahead of demand even though so there will be structure that might try to incentivize you to do so.

So we are being very -- paying particular attention to doing that, but Gary mentioned that we started out, we were sort of -- a lot of domestic crude in heavy and then as this thing unfolded, we saw gasoline get weak which would have disadvantaged domestic crudes, we sort of went to medium sour and really lit up [Phonetic] on heavy and as we've seen gasoline start to pick up and it looks like that's in line, you're seeing us sort of work back I think to sort of our traditional posture, its just we're going to be running less of it.

Sam Margolin -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst

Yeah, thanks so much.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Ryan Todd with Simmons Energy. Please go ahead.

Ryan Todd -- Simmons Energy -- Analyst

Great. Thanks, maybe just one high-level strategic one for me, I know it's hard to speculate at this point, Joe, but if you're looking at the crystal ball, are there any structural changes you see down the line that are likely to impact your business and may impact the way you allocate capital. I know you've talked a little bit about the potential longer-term impacts to demand, but as you think about overall as you run your business operational practices, regional preferences within the portfolio, long-term calls on capital. Are there any structural things coming out of this that you think -- that you are thinking about in terms of Valero down the line?

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, I know we're always thinking about it, right, but you can't run -- I said this earlier, I think you can't run the business based on a short-term set of circumstances and so we are reassessing our long-term strategy all the time and we meet with our Board on it to review it every year, but if you look at what we've done, OK and kind of our approach to the business, I don't know that anybody sitting in the room here with me would consider refining to be a long-term growth story, OK? It's really -- it's a business where I think the industry has set itself now to basically match supply and demand going forward and so the way we look at it is we run the business to maximize the margin that we can capture within the business and so our capital is focused on optimization projects and logistics projects, which allow us to lower our cost structure of things coming into the plants and going out of the plants and then just how do we get a little more value out of every stream it is that we process.

That's the view that we've adhered to now for several years and I think it's the view that we're going to adhere to going forward. So it's a little early right now for me to say that there is any fundamental changes other than those that we've already implemented around capital. A greater focus on the renewables, the greener fuels going forward, which we've done with the ethanol business and with the renewable diesel business, but other than that, I just don't envision anything -- any major change of direction right now.

Ryan Todd -- Simmons Energy -- Analyst

Great. I appreciate it. Thank you. That's all for me.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Jason Gabelman with Cowen. Please go ahead.

Jason Gabelman -- Cowen -- Analyst

Thanks for taking the questions. I wanted to ask about the regional guidance that you provided, you mentioned that Mid-Con demand has been getting stronger, that regional utilization guidance is kind of at the lower-end of the range. North Atlantic also and then U.S. West Coast looks like those assets are going to be the highest -- running at the highest utilization rates in 2Q. So can you just discuss some of the puts and takes by region, the results and the dispersion of run rates? Thanks.

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Yes, this is Lane. I'll take a stab at it. Our view, when Gary was talking about the Mid-Con and it's getting better, when you think about a refinery operation, when you have a refinery sitting in the Mid-Con, if you get out of balance, it can become, you know, you might end up shutting your refinery down. So we have taken the position on where we are essentially landlocked to be very cautious on our feedstock plant with be assumption there is plenty of oil to go get it if we needed to whatever reason -- we believe that demand is picking up. So it's really around where was demand versus expectations and where were our concerns about sort of the feasibility of our operations where we are landlocked is all these policies around COVID impacted demand.

So that's really where I think Gary's thought were. It's just now we see that the Mid-Continent has sort of bottomed out, seems to be recovering a little bit better. So we have a run -- but our plan is to make sure that we are shortening our supply chain and that we can manage it and respond to it quickly and not get ourselves to where we're overcommitted on supply chain in the event that we have -- that creates a problem for us if something doesn't quite happen the way that we hope it does and that's really the narrative all the way across every system that we have. We're just being very careful trying to match the demand with that region with an understanding that the West Coast, the Mid-Continent, is not, you have to get that right. If you get it wrong, you get into some -- having to do very uneconomic things to fix those problems. The Gulf Coast -- it's a big system. It can go into a lot of different pipelines, servicing a lot of different parts of the country and then ultimately export to sort of satisfy its balance, but even there we're being very cautious. Our North America -- I mean the Atlantic is really -- we're doing some work in both of those refineries in the second quarter.

Jason Gabelman -- Cowen -- Analyst

Got it, thanks. And just a follow-up on longer-term margin outlook. Clearly, it looks like demand is starting to improve from the bottoms, but there is a lot of global refining capacity out there that's not being utilized right now and historically, refiners have reacted pretty quickly to changes in demand. So I'm just wondering what your outlook is over the next year even if demand recovers, if it doesn't come fully back, is there a risk that there is slack in the global refining system that could limit the gains in refining margins until demand more fully recovers. Thanks.

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yes, this is Gary. I would say, certainly there is that risk, but again, I would point to -- we've been very encouraged by the discipline the industry's shown and we're hopeful that maybe what you saw in March in the case that demand fell off sharply and it took a couple of weeks for refineries to modify their operations to come back closer to being in balance with demand. You see a reverse of that as demand picks up and we set our operations to run at lower production rates, maybe you get some big draws, but there is no way for us to really speculate how the industry is going to respond as demand recovers.

Jason Gabelman -- Cowen -- Analyst

Got it. Thanks for the time.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question will come from Matthew Blair with Tudor, Pickering, Holt. Please go ahead.

Matthew Blair -- Tudor, Pickering, Holt, & Co. -- Analyst

Hey, good morning, Joe. Glad to hear everyone is safe.

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Matt.

Matthew Blair -- Tudor, Pickering, Holt, & Co. -- Analyst

If I take midpoint refining throughput guidance against your 450 [Phonetic] opex guidance, it looks like your projected total opex will be coming down by about $90 million versus Q1 levels. Is that $90 million simply your energy savings on running the boilers at lower rates or are there other areas where you've been able to cut cost as well?

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Yeah, this is Lane again. So if you think about our cost structure, in a refinery, you have variable costs and fixed costs and the variable costs and it's an interesting thing to think about, because in a $1.80 sort of Henry Hub pricing environment, variable cost which for us includes FCC catalyst chemicals and natural gas to fire our boilers and our heaters, there's really somewhere now down between 15% and 25% whereas in years past where natural gas was much more expensive, we've been a bigger component.

So yeah, natural gas purchases is a part of that, it's not -- it's really if you look all the way down the line, we have our variable costs if we've cut FCC catalysts, we've cut natural gas, but we've also -- we also see our -- we've reduced our contractor headcount some and looking at very carefully are sort of discretionary maintenance also bring that down and again try to be very careful with operating costs.

Matthew Blair -- Tudor, Pickering, Holt, & Co. -- Analyst

Sounds good and then could you also talk about your ability to capture contango in this market, both for U.S. barrels as well as for your offshore barrels. There has been some reports that refiners are looking to procure additional storage, maybe even like renting out Jones Act tankers. So can you just walk through all that?

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yeah, well, certainly, if you know the market structure is such that if you can put barrels in tankage whether that's floating storage or tankage in Cushing, the market pays you to do that. In terms of our everyday purchases, a lot of the market structure is built into the prices you see and you don't necessarily get a big benefit from market structure except for Mid-Continent barrels that we purchase and we tend to see a bit when we're in contango versus when the market structures in backwardation. It's a pretty complex discussion and I would ask you if you want to go into that in detail, you can call Homer and we could set up a discussion to go into more detail about that.

Matthew Blair -- Tudor, Pickering, Holt, & Co. -- Analyst

Sounds good. Thanks guys.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for participating in today's question-and-answer session. I would now like to turn the call back over to management for any further remarks.

Homer Bhullar -- Vice President of Investor Relations

Thanks, Sherry. We appreciate everyone joining us today and hope everyone stays safe and healthy. If you have any follow-up questions, as always, don't hesitate to reach out to the IR team. Thank you.

Operator

[Operator Closing Remarks]

Duration: 67 minutes

Call participants:

Homer Bhullar -- Vice President of Investor Relations

Joe Gorder -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Gary Simmons -- Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Lane Riggs -- President and Chief Operating Officer

Martin Parrish -- Senior Vice President-Alternative Energy and Project Development

Donna Titzman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Doug Terreson -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst

Theresa Chen -- Barclays -- Analyst

Manav Gupta -- Credit Suisse -- Analyst

Roger Read -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst

Jason Fraser -- Executive Vice President and General Counsel -- Analyst

Phil Gresh -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst

Doug Leggate -- Bank of America Merrill Lynch -- Analyst

Neil Mehta -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst

Prashant Rao -- Citigroup -- Analyst

Paul Cheng -- Scotiabank -- Analyst

Benny Wong -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Brad Heffern -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Sam Margolin -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst

Ryan Todd -- Simmons Energy -- Analyst

Jason Gabelman -- Cowen -- Analyst

Matthew Blair -- Tudor, Pickering, Holt, & Co. -- Analyst

More VLO analysis

All earnings call transcripts
Our rural communities are feeling the effects of COVID-19 and need immediate support to ensure that critical services and supplies as well as economic recovery resources are available, said Jodi Golden, executive director OCRA, said in the release. These are the first of many projects we hope to fund through this new program.
Volunteer From Your Couch is a new hub of digital volunteer opportunities to aid in COVID-19 response. Right now, millions of Americans under stay-at-home orders are searching for ways to help their communities. Now there's a way to volunteer from your couch. Literally.

Events platform Mobilize announces the launch of Volunteer From Your Couch (https://www.volunteerfromyourcouch.com/), a central hub of volunteer opportunities aiding community efforts in COVID-19 rapid response that can be done safely from home via computer or smartphone.

Right now, millions of Americans under stay-at-home orders are searching for ways to help their communities. At the same time, organizations engaged in crucial coronavirus relief work are desperate for more volunteer help. Volunteer From Your Couch connects the two.

Citizens can browse and sign up for activities like phone and text banking to check in on vulnerable neighbors, ensuring they have enough food and medicine or providing resources for unemployment benefits and other emergency financial aid. These virtual volunteer shifts are created and hosted by nonprofits like Meals on Wheels, No Vet Alone, and When We All Vote, as well as political leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Joe Biden.

As coronavirus began to rapidly unfold across the country, Mobilize moved quickly to transition the more than 1,000 organizations using its platform for civic engagement from in-person events to virtual meetups, volunteer trainings, and peer-to-peer outreach through digital channels.

Mobilize CEO Alfred Johnson says, We immediately recognized the need to help nonprofits maintain momentum during this critical time. At the same time, we saw tremendous energy from volunteers on our platform seeking ways to help. We created Volunteer From Your Couch to serve as the central hub that connects volunteers and organizations working together for covid-19 rapid response.

Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY delivers food to, and combats social isolation among, homebound senior citizens. This regional affiliate acted creatively and swiftly in response to coronavirus, identifying seniors in their community they dont yet serve and using Mobilize to schedule phone bank outreach to see if anyone needs food or other assistance.

"Within our first few calls, we connected with a woman whose daughter was no longer able to bring her food because of COVID-19 layoffs, and we were able to add her to our delivery list the next day, says Jennifer Steele, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY. This new outreach initiative allows us to identify seniors who may not know how to get help, so that we can deliver food directly to their doors.

No Vet Alone works to reduce suicide among military veterans and first responders. Renata Sahagian, Chief Experience Officer, says, The added stress, anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty created by this global pandemic is only making things more difficult for these men and women. It was crucial that we bring our programming, including happy hours and wellness seminars, online immediately to keep our community connected.

Mobilize is currently providing free use of its core platform to nonprofits on any COVID-19 relief volunteer mobilization efforts through May 31. As more organizations begin use of the platform, new volunteer events are created and added every day.

ABOUT MOBILIZE: Mobilize is the leading events management and volunteer recruitment platform, connecting mission-driven organizations and supporters. It is used by nearly 2k organizations nationwide to engage supporters through trainings, events, fundraising and community outreach. Since Mobilize was founded in 2017, more than 1.7 million people have signed up to take 3.3 million actions through the platform. Mobilize is based in New York, NY with offices in Washington, DC.

Nonprofits doing covid-19 relief work can sign up at https://join.mobilize.us/free-access-for-covid-19.

Volunteers can find opportunities at volunteerfromyourcouch.com.
Seven Kashmiri students, who were allegedly being harassed by their hostel owner for rent in southwest Delhi's Jia Sarai area, were sent to their native place in Jammu and Kashmir by bus, police said on Thursday.

With the help of authorities, a bus was arranged and passes were issued to them, they said.

The students posted a video on social media on April 25 accusing their hostel owner for harassing them for rent despite the Delhi government's order in this regard.

"We are in Jia Sarai, Hauz Khas and we are stuck here. Despite the government's order stating that landlords shouldn't ask for rent, our owner took April's rent from us. Within a few days, he will ask for next month's rent and we can't afford that," a woman student said in the video.

She alleged that some of her friends in the hostel were unwell and they called on helpline numbers for medical assistance, but nobody came to help them.

"We are struggling here and are depressed. Please rescue us," one of the women students said in the video.

Taking cognizance of the video, police spoke to the resident commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir in Delhi.

"We received information through social media about the seven Kashmiri women who were stranded in a hostel in Jia Sarai and want to go back to J &K. We verified the information and sent the students back home by bus," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Devender Arya said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congressman James E. Clyburn Talks CARES Act Phase Four with the Black Economic Alliance

While the world continues to manage economic shutdown and stay at home orders, and their health, organizations like the Black Economic Alliance (BEA) have chosen to use their platform to connect leaders with the public to keep everyone informed and well.

As part of their COVID-19 Speaker Series, BEAs executive director David Clunie, co-chairs Tony Coles, and Charles Phillips spoke with Congressman James E. Clyburn Thursday, April 16, 2020, to discuss and answer questions about the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. Together they sent a message to Black America while uncovering inequalities of the healthcare and financial realm, and detailing the importance of funds going to minority-owned small businesses, HBCUs, and underserved communities.

This is really impacting all of us in profound ways from a health perspective but also economically, Clunie opened the conversation. Its been interesting in the last few days to see media and government leaders really pivot to talking about the numbers of just how disproportionately severe this impact has been on communities of color, low-income communities, and particularly the Black [community].

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With moderations from Coles, the conversation with Rep. Clyburn began almost immediately reassuring the government is responding well to change and efforts regarding small businesses. However, he still believes they are still missing the target regarding who and what areas need the resources. I think that if theres anything that has laid bare for us, it is the inequalities. The inequities that exist in our delivery systems, be it health care need education, and be in economic development, he stated. We need to take a hard look at restructuring healthcare, restructuring education, and restructuring our banking systems.

Focusing on health, We know all the experts tell us, in order for us to get back to anything that resembles normality we need to test. We need to track and trace the testing. We need to develop treatments. That, to me, is where we ought to be focusing, Rep. Clyburn emphasized. For phase four of the government coronavirus relief bills, he believes more funds should be allocated to finding a solution, testing in rural areas, and for those considered essential workers. With the next round of government funding, he hopes that rather ignoring the issues in healthcare and aimlessly devote money to its problems, they instead build community health centers within commuting distance of every person in the U.S.

In the next phase, Rep. Clyburn is not only fighting for healthcare but broadband. That is when wen ought to invest the $65 billion that is required to have healthcare  [and] another $80 billion for broadband deployment, he stated, adding that it be available for a possible reoccurrence.

The only way were going to get our communities prepared for that is to have 100 percent built out of broadband, so telehealth can take place. Have 100 percent coverage of community health centers, so that people can be within commuting distance of treatment and tracing. That is what is going to be required.

The conversation moved forward to discuss small business and the financial assistance business owners are receiving as part of the CARES Act. Rep. Clyburn makes it clear he wants the money to go to communities that may not survive an extended economic shutdown. Im not going to be satisfied with a program thats pushing money out the door, and the money is not going into areas where its sorely needed. Not only needed but sorely needed, he emphasized. Thats what Im going to be working very hard to do.

Along with small businesses, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) also need funding according to the congressman. Unlike Ivy League and PWIs, its believed many HBCUs lack the infrastructure to maintain if schools remain closed come September. To counter that concern, Rep. Clyburn believes postponing student loans and continuous engagement regarding the importance of HBCUs could help curve the issue.

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The conversation comes to a close. Rep. Clyburn shared the most important issue is broadband deployment. Thats how we take care of these young people, he stated. Broadband deployment is number one for education. Broadband deployment is number one for healthcare delivery. That is huge.

To me, the two most important things in addressing this today is keeping people healthy and quite frankly, getting people educated.
ANZ Bank chief executive Shayne Elliott has defended suspending dividends while the coronavirus crisis is at a peak, saying it is in shareholders' interests to wait until the pandemic's grim economic toll is clearer.

As the lender became the first big four bank to delay a decision on dividends for this half, Mr Elliott on Thursday warned of years of economic pain ahead, predicting higher unemployment would linger for up to five years.

ANZ chief executive, Shayne Elliott, defended the dividend suspension as in the interests of shareholders. Credit:Nine

Amid a fierce debate about whether banks should be returning capital to shareholders during the pandemic, with pressure for big cuts from regulators, ANZ said it would update the market on any dividend in August. It came as profits tumbled 60 per cent to $1.4 billion in the March half.

Mr Elliott said in the "heat of the moment" when the outlook was so uncertain, the board was reluctant to pay out more than $1 billion of its capital as dividends. He said deferring the decision made more sense than trying to regain the capital later through a dilutive equity raising.
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has told Dublin City Council they should reconsider their decision to re-introduce clamping.

Mr Murphy, who is also responsible for local government, told the council their resources could be put to better use than clamping cars when the capital is under lockdown.

Speaking to Independent.ie, the minister said now is not the time for clamping to returning.

Ive asked Dublin City Council to reconsider their position on this, he said.

If a car is causing an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians, or is parked in a dangerous way, then move it.

Im sure there are other things that the vans and personnel could be helping with but thats a matter for Dublin City Council, he added.

On Wednesday, clamping returned to normal levels in the city centre after being relaxed for the first three weeks of the nationwide clampdown.

All cars parked in the citys yellow zone risked being clamped if they had not paid parking fees.

However, the council said they will continue to relax the rules for healthcare workers.

The council added that it will continue to pursue a programme of measures to help with social distancing for pedestrians and providing additional space for public transport users and cyclists".

Docklands Business Forum CEO Alan Robinson said it was mean spirited of the Council to enforce clamping during a national crisis.

Mr Robinson said the bone headed enforcement flies in the face of the Department of Health instruction to "relax on-street parking laws to meet the travel needs of essential workers.

All workers travelling into Docklands at this time of extreme danger are doing tasks essential for their companys and our economys survival, he said.

Many employees will now be forced onto public transport, thus increasing the level of social interaction and the spread of the virus and forced to use parking machines that have been identified as potential carriers of the virus by, he added.
IMDA awards 5G network licences to Singtel and M1-Starhub joint venture

Singtel and a joint-venture consortium formed by StarHub and M1 have been awarded 5G network licences by Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

Announcing the winners of IMDA's 5G Call for Proposal (CFP) Provisional Award, Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran said Singapore is on track towards achieving nationwide coverage of 5G in Singapore on a standalone basis by 2025.

The coverage will reach 50 per cent in two years' time.

"With this, Singapore will be amongst the early group of nations which are able to offer the full-fledged capabilities and services of 5G," Iswaran said during a virtual media doorstop.

In a Facebook post, Iswaran added that the Singapore government will continue to co-invest with the industry to advance r5G solutions and use cases.

"With strong Government-industry partnership, we are on track to deploy nationwide 5G networks by 2025, with full-fledged 5G capabilities that will spur innovation and create exciting opportunities," he said.

"Amid todays COVID-19 challenges, the investments in Singapores 5G infrastructure underscore long-term business confidence in our economy, and will ready us for the eventual recovery to build a thriving digital future for our people, businesses and industries."
As the world navigates a unique time in modern history, people around the globe are seeking out symbols of hope and unity. In that spirit, light artist Gerry Hofstetter is illuminating the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland, with flags from many different countries and thank-you messages in English, French, Italian and German.

Over five weeks, the artist projected light onto the mountains peak as a sign of hope and solidarity. Some countries even responded in kind; when the flag of the United Arab Emirates was projected on the Matterhorn, a Swiss flag was projected on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

While the images appear bright in the photos, the effect was much more subtle in person, as to not disturb residents near the Matterhorn. No animals live on the Matterhorn, either, so no wildlife was disturbed during the exhibit.

Hofstetter has worked on numerous projects around the world, working in the medium of light projection, but particularly in his native Switzerland.
The use of militaries to enforce quarantines in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus is causing anxiety among some in African countries who fear conflict. VOAs Salem Solomon looks at the risks and the benefits of deploying security forces during a pandemic.
SHELTON  Five more coronavirus-related deaths bring the citys laboratory-confirmed total to 80, as the citys total positives sit just less than 400.

Shelton now stands at 398 positives, by far the largest number in the Valley, according to data released Wednesday by the Naugatuck Valley Health District. Beyond the laboratory-confirmed COVID-related deaths, the NVHD states that there are 16 probable deaths from coronavirus complications.

We extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed away due to COVID-19 complications, said NVHD Director Jessica Stelmaszek, adding that the Valley now has more than 1,000 positive cases since the first case was reported in mid-March.

Stelmaszek stated that the addition of probable COVID-19 associated death data is now being reported in response to the state of Connecticut now reporting probable death data.

Our condolences continue go out to the families and friends of those who have passed away, said city Public Safety Director Michael Maglione, adding that, beside the vast number in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities, there are more than 190 different spots with individuals testing positive throughout Shelton, with varying age ranges.

The latest five laboratory-confirmed deaths were residents of nursing homes in the city. Data show that 275, or 27 percent, of the 1,021 confirmed cases among Valley residents are individuals who currently reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility, group home or similar setting. Overall, 179 of Sheltons 398 confirmed COVID-19 cases are residents of nursing or assisting living facilities.

According to NVHD data, 99, or 36 percent, of the 275 individuals have died due to COVID-19 complications.

In all, using the state numbers, some 35 percent of the 476 nursing home residents in Shelton have at least tested positive for COVID-19. No records are released on hospitalizations.

Statewide, positive cases sit at more than 26,500  10,985 of those in Fairfield County  with 2,168 deaths from COVID-19-related complications. Overall, there are 1,691 people  a drop of more than 41 in 24 hours  hospitalized with COVID-19. The numbers have prompted Gov. Ned Lamont to order that all residents wear masks or facial coverings when in public while also maintaining social distancing if leaving their home is necessary.

For public health surveillance, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-associated deaths are defined as patients who tested positive for COVID-19 around the time of death, said Stelmaszek, adding that this is not a determination of the cause of death.

Area health district officials are continuing to urge residents to stay home as much as possible and practice social distancing by keeping six feet between you and others if you must go out. To minimize the amount of people who can be exposed, Stelmaszek said families should designate one person per household to do grocery shopping or other necessary errands.

Of the Valley laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-related deaths, 83 were people 80 and older, 21 were between 70 and 79, five were between 60 and 69 years of age, and one was between 40 and 49.

Beside Sheltons 398 positive cases reported Monday, there were 174 in Naugatuck, 168 in Ansonia, 150 in Seymour, 98 in Derby and 33 in Beacon Falls.

Positive cases cover a wide range of ages, with Valley data showing that 201 people are 80 and older; 94 are between 70 and 79; 160 are between 60 and 69; 163 are between 50 and 59; 156 are between 40 and 49; 135 are between 30 and 39; 102 are between 20 and 29; and 10 between 10 and 19 years of age.

Lamonts executive orders have shuttered all schools until at least May 20 and directed employees at nonessential businesses to stay home until further notice. Gatherings of more than five people are prohibited. The governor has stated that schools may remain closed until the fall.

Residents should continue to heed the advice of their chief elected officials and stay home as much as possible and continue to practice social distancing to avoid exposure and further spread of the virus, Stelmaszek said.

The state Department of Public Health now publishes a report at ct.gov/coronavirus that breaks down positive COVID-19 cases by town.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
Though the plot is complicated, one thing is clear: The filmmakers did a poor job of representing Chicago. The movie, available Thursday to stream, was shot in the Vancouver area in the spring of 2019. Canada is often used as a stand-in for Chicago, but the Dangerous Lies team didnt seem to put much effort into making Vancouver look like Chicago.
Sagnarigu (N/R), April 30, - Oxfam in Ghana, an international NGO, has presented medical items to the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly to support the Municipal Health Management Team (MHMT) in its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the area.

The items included 100 boxes of surgical gloves, 100 bottles of hand sanitisers and liquid soap and 250 nose masks.

Mr. Mohammed Mahamud, Governance Lead at Oxfam in Ghana, on behalf of the organisation, presented the items to Mrs. Mariam Iddrisu, Sagnarigu Municipal Chief Executive at Sagnarigu for onward handing over to the MHMT.

Mr. Mahamud said the presentation of the medical items to the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly formed part of Oxfam in Ghanas comprehensive intervention to support the fight against COVID-19 in the country.

He said, This comprehensive intervention by Oxfam in Ghana, expected to cost approximately $600,000 (about GHc3.5million), has components such as Public Health Education, Distribution of Non-Food Items, Influencing and Advocacy, Building of Local Humanitarian Leadership, Strategic Support to the State and Distribution of Safety Kit to Service Providers.

The Sagnarigu Municipal is one of many Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country in which Oxfam in Ghana works together with civil society organisations (CSOs) to improve domestic revenue mobilisation and efficient, effective and empowering social service provision to reduce vulnerability, poverty, and inequality.

NORSAAC, an NGO working in the Northern Region, is one of Oxfam in Ghanas partners that have worked closely with the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly to improve domestic revenue mobilisation, citizens engagement for accountability and effective social service delivery.

Mr Mahamud commended government for its efforts so far at tackling the disease entreating it to take on board the inputs of CSOs in its decision-making regarding the COVID-19 as well as work with them to ensure that the needs of the poor were adequately addressed to prevent the deepening of existing inequality because of the pandemic.

He also entreated the citizenry to cooperate with the government in its efforts to curb the spread of the virus by adhering to the safety measures, such as wearing of face masks, regular hand washing under running water, using sanitizers and keeping distance away from others in their social and economic interactions.

He emphasised that Through effective collaboration between the State and non-state actors, Oxfam is optimistic the fight against COVID-19 will soon be over and the country will return to the path of growth and development.

Mrs. Iddrisu expressed appreciation to Oxfam in Ghana for the gesture saying the items had come at the right time when the Municipal Assembly had placed requests for such items for distribution to health facilities in the area.

She appealed to Oxfam in Ghana to consider women in its comprehensive intervention on COVID-19 to help protect them in their various activities to support their households.
New York's wealthy are moving their money  and often their families  into surrounding suburbs and exurbs as they look to escape the coronavirus hotspot and a crowded lifestyle.

It's too early to tell how many New Yorkers will leave the city, or if the mass exodus that many are predicting will come true. Yet sales activity and interest, especially at the high end, is already shifting from New York City to the surrounding areas.

Although more than 3.2 million people worldwide have been sickened by the coronavirus, New York City, with its high population density, has been particularly hard hit. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, more than 164,841 people have had Covid-19 in the city.

Brokers say there's a rush of buyers and renters from the city who are asking for the same thing: more space and more distance from neighbors and crowds. Some of the wealthy are looking to rent. Others are checking out second homes a short drive from the city and still others want more permanent primary homes for their families.

"I can't remember the last time we were this busy," said Owen Berkowitz, with the Berkowitz Marrone Team at Douglas Elliman, who serves Westchester County, New York; Fairfield County, Connecticut, and other high-end markets around New York and Boston.

Berkowitz had a home in New Rochelle, New York, go into contract this week to a New York City buyer, and has two other homes headed to contract. The New Rochelle home, a four-bedroom colonial, was listed for $999,000.

Fairfield County has become another hotspot for New York emigres. While some are looking to buy, many others are looking for summer rentals there as an alternative to the Hamptons, which has more traffic and not as much space and local infrastructure for the money.

Steven Magnuson, a Douglas Elliman broker in Greenwich, Connecticut, recently rented a modern, five-bedroom home with an infinity pool there for $55,000 a month, a record for the town. Now, the house is available again and the owner raised the rent to $65,000. Even with the higher rent, there's a waiting list of 18 people waiting to see it and rent, Magnuson said.

"It seems like everyone wants to leave the city," he said. "Our problem is not enough inventory for sale. We've been on the phone 24/7 and on email."
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

If you own a recreational vehicle in the age of COVID-19, lets face it  youre probably not going anywhere.

That was part of the reason Holly Haggard of Prosper, Texas, offered her familys RV when a Facebook posting alerted her to the plight of Dr. Jason Phillips, a front-line emergency room doctor in Texas who was concerned about going home at night and potentially exposing his family, and looking for a temporary housing solution.

Haggard immediately offered up her RV. Phillips and his wife, Emily, picked it up within hours.

Haggard and Emily Phillips also immediately recognized that there were likely other hospital and health care workers in the same situation, so they started a Facebook group, RVs 4 MDs, to match RV owners with those who need temporary housing.

It started out as just an act of kindness and it turned into a nationwide movement, Haggard told the Journal. This is what America should be about  complete strangers coming together, offering help to someone theyve never met and changing lives forever.

Melissa Leymon, a friend of Haggards and the New Mexico spokeswoman for RVs 4 MDs, said that despite the name, the service has found matches not just for doctors, but other front-line health care workers, including nurses and janitorial staff working in hospitals.

The organization, which began just five weeks ago, already has 30,000 Facebook group members and has provided 1,355 matches around the country.

The organization is just now starting to gain momentum in New Mexico, with requests for RV matches coming from Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, Leymon said.

Front-line hospital and medical professionals who would like to be matched with an RV for temporary housing can go to the RVs 4 MDs Facebook page and fill out the request form.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:21:33|Editor: huaxia

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Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presides over a bi-weekly seminar held by the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national political advisors convened a bi-weekly seminar on Thursday to discuss how to accelerate construction of the industrial Internet.

The seminar, held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, was presided over by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Stressing that accelerating construction of the industrial Internet is of great significance to the promotion of high-quality economic development, Wang called for efforts to promote the integrated development of industrialization and informatization to provide strong support for the building of manufacturing power and a modernized economy.

Political advisors noted that achievements have been made in China's industrial Internet construction, but the country's industrial Internet is still at an early stage of development.

They proposed speeding up the development of industrial Internet in fields including aerospace, high-speed rail transportation, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence.

They also called for efforts to encourage enterprises of all types of ownership to participate in the construction of 5G, big data centers and other new infrastructures, as well as improve intellectual property protection and deepen international cooperation. Enditem
Boulder, Colo., USA: Buried a mile beneath Greenland's thick ice sheet is a network of canyons so deep and long that the largest of these has been called Greenland's "Grand Canyon." This megacanyon's shape suggests it was carved by running water prior to widespread glaciation, but exactly when and how the island's grandest canyon formed are topics of intense debate.

Now scientists from the U.S. and Denmark are proposing a surprising new hypothesis for the megacanyon's formation: catastrophic "outburst" floods that suddenly and repeatedly drained large meltwater-filled lakes. The findings, published this week in the journal Geology, also suggest that Greenland's subglacial canyon network has influenced the island's ice sheet since its inception.

Although repeated outburst floods have been suggested as the mechanism by which the Columbia River and other North America canyon networks formed, they had not previously been considered as the source of the remarkable landscape hidden beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet, says Benjamin Keisling, the study's lead author and a former graduate student at the University of the Massachusetts, who also collaborated with researchers at Denmark's Centre for Ice and Climate during a National Science Foundation GROW fellowship.

"If the floods we propose occurred, they could have influenced ocean circulation, causing abrupt climate changes with regional and perhaps global significance," says Keisling, now a postdoctoral fellow at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. "The megacanyon beneath northern Greenland also influences how ice and water flow in the subglacial environment today, which affects present-day ice-sheet stability," he says.

A Different Approach

In most studies of Greenland, researchers use the modern ice sheet as a starting point for understanding how it has changed over time. But for this study, Keisling and his co-authors decided on a different approach: investigating what Greenland looked like prior to widespread glaciation. "We wanted to better understand the dynamics of 'glacial inception'--how, where, and why the ice sheet first grew on an ice-free island," he says.

The team also wanted to gain insights into how the ice sheet grew back after melting. "We know from prior work this has happened multiple times in the past and could again in the future, given enough global warming," says Keisling.

The researchers used coupled ice-sheet and climate models to simulate the Greenland Ice Sheet's evolution over multiple glacial-interglacial cycles during the global cooling from the Pliocene into the Pleistocene, 2.58 million years ago. They found that following long periods with stable temperatures, an exceptionally warm period could cause the ice sheet to retreat rapidly. This melting led to the development of large, ice-dammed lakes in areas where the bedrock was still depressed due to the former ice sheet's weight.

The simulations eventually show the ice dams give way, leading to large outburst floods. "Over time," says Keisling, "it appears that the filling and draining of these lakes as the ice repeatedly retreated and advanced carved Greenland's megacanyons." Similar floods have been documented at the edge of other retreating ice sheets, he says.

Ice-Sheet Stability: Past, Present, and Future

Based on comparisons with modern outburst floods, the researchers estimate that it took tens to hundreds of these events to carve Greenland's largest canyon. According to Keisling, widespread sediment deposition in the water-filled basins may have also impacted the ice sheet's behavior each time it grew back.

Ultimately, Keisling says, the study results point to testable hypotheses that can guide future research to finally settle the ongoing debate about whether the Greenland Ice Sheet's stability has changed over time. "Knowing the history of Greenland's bedrock provides context for understanding the ice sheet's long-term behavior," he says. "This helps paint a picture of what happened during past warm periods when the melting ice sheet caused global sea levels to rise--a phenomenon we are also seeing today."

###

FEATURED ARTICLE

Pliocene-Pleistocene megafloods as a mechanism for Greenlandic megacanyon formation

Benjamin Keisling and colleagues, keisling@ldeo.columbia.edu

URL: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/doi/10.1130/G47253.1/584570/Pliocene-Pleistocene-megafloods-as-a-mechanism-for

Animations: Modeled outburst flood during ice-sheet retreat, routed to the outlet of Petermann Glacier. The animation covers 22,000 simulated years, and pauses to highlight a large ice-dammed proglacial lake during the deglaciation. Credit: B Keisling: https://www.geosociety.org/images/GSA/media/2020/bak20_petermann.gif

Modelled outburst flood during a deglaciation scenario routed to the outlets of the northeast Greenland ice stream (NEGIS). The animation covers 25,000 simulated years, and pauses to highlight a large ice-dammed proglacial lake during the deglaciation. Credit: B Keisling: https://www.geosociety.org/images/GSA/media/2020/bak20_negis.gif

GEOLOGY articles are online at http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/content/early/recent. Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org.

https://www.geosociety.org
Keir Starmer, the UK's newly-elected Leader of the Opposition Labour Party, on Thursday said Kashmir is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully and stressed that such divisive issues from the subcontinent should not be allowed to divide communities in Britain.

In an attempt to reach out to the Indian diaspora and distance the party from a perceived hostile stance under the previous leadership, Starmer pledged to build stronger business links with India during his first dialogue with the Labour Friends of India (LFIN) group in London on Thursday.

We must not allow issues of the sub-continent to divide communities here. Any constitutional issues in India are a matter for the Indian Parliament and Kashmir is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully, said Starmer, in a statement following the meeting.

A Labour government under my leadership will be determined to build even stronger business links with India and to cooperate on the global stage on issues such as climate change, he said.

It marks a strategic step to draw a line under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and move Labour away from some of the controversial actions widely perceived as anti-India by the diaspora population. The most glaring was a resolution passed at the annual party conference in September last year that purported to seek international intervention in Kashmir.

The resolution was widely seen as influencing much of the 1.5-million diaspora vote in the December 2019 General election, which resulted in a disastrous defeat for the Labour Party.

Britons of Indian origin contribute so much to the UK and to the Labour Party. I'm committed to working closely with Labour Friends of India to rebuild trust with the community, Starmer said, adding that he would encourage more British Indians into elected posts in Westminster as well as at local government level.

He also indicated plans to hold discussions with the Indian High Commissioner in the UK, Ruchi Ghanashyam, in due course to open a renewed dialogue between the Labour Party and people of India.

I really welcome his commitment to rebuilding strong links between the Labour Party and the Indian community, said Rajesh Agrawal, LFIN Co-Chair and the Deputy Mayor of London for Business.

This has been a great start and Keir has achieved a lot in the short span of couple of weeks. Labour Friends of India will work closely with him and will continue to promote UK-India ties as well as continuing to raise any issues from the community to the leadership, he said.

LFIN had called for a healing process under the new Labour leadership soon after Starmer's election earlier this month.

The Labour Party is the natural party for British Indians but the last few years have seen the relations strained. I hope the change in leadership is the beginning of a healing process and the party will be able to regain the trust of the British Indian community, Agrawal said at the time.

Starmer's interaction with LFIN follows Labour's shadow foreign secretary, Indian-origin Lisa Nandy, dialling in earlier this week for a constructive virtual interaction with Ghanshyam on India-UK relations and collaborations in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

The moves indicate a repositioning within the party on its approach to India and controversial issues in the sub-continent.

Labour is an internationalist party and stands for the defence of human rights everywhere, said Starmer in his statement this week.

Under Corbyn's leadership, diaspora groups in the UK had repeatedly spoken out against a perceived anti-India sentiment within the Labour Party ranks.

Most recently, there was some consternation at a debate on Kashmir being included on the order paper for parliamentary business by a group of Pakistani-origin backbench Labour MPs, which did not go ahead due to the stripped-down model being followed by the House of Commons during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amnesty International has reported that since the lockdown directive was instituted in Nigeria, 19 citizens have so far been killed by security operatives.

The federal government positioned security operatives in highways and cities to ensure Nigerians abide by the order.

Read Also: Lagos Police Arrest 65 Fun Seekers For Violating Lockdown Order

Recall one Joseph Pessu was shot dead by a soldier in Warri, his death sparked outrage and counter-attacks. Not long after this, a policewoman was shot dead by her male colleague who is a member of the Rivers state task force on the COVID-19 lockdown. The incident happened on April 23.

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We have been monitoring human rights violation on lockdown in the fight against #COVID?19: So far 19 Nigerians have been killed by security personnel, Amnesty International tweeted.

On lockdown, in the fight against #COVID?19 Nigerians have been experiencing human rights violations. This is unacceptable and must end.
Household power bills will remain flat in NSW but fall by up to $109 in other regions as plummeting global energy demand flows through to the domestic market.

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on Thursday released its default market offer (DMO), which limits the price retailers can charge residential and small businesses customers on default contracts in NSW, South-East Queensland and South Australia.

Household electricity bills will fall for average customers on default contracts. Credit:Mark Piovesan

AER said an average customer on a so-called "standing offer" contract would save $109 in South Australia and $62 in South-East Queensland in 2020-21. In NSW, prices would be between $3 higher and $9 lower. Victoria sets a default market offer independent of other states and its latest round, in January, increased average annual household bills by $100.

An average business customer will save up to $131 in NSW depending on their region, $265 in South-East Queensland and $815 in SA.
[April 30, 2020] Calian to Hold Conference Call Following Release of Second Quarter FY2020 Results

OTTAWA, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calian Group Ltd. (TSX:CGY) will hold a telephone conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 to discuss the results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, which will be released after market close on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Interested participants from the financial and media community should call 343-700-0401 or 1-800-367-2403 at approximately 8:20 a.m. The conference ID is 5397919. Following the presentation, interested parties will be invited to participate in a question and answer session. The conference call will be available for a period of 14 days for playback and is accessible by dialing 1-888-203-1112, passcode 5397919. Calians conference calls are also available on the Companys IR page online. About Calian

Calian employs over 3,400 people in its delivery of diverse products and solutions for private sector, government and defence customers in North American and global markets. The Companys diverse capabilities are delivered through four segments: Advanced Technologies, Health, Learning and Information Technology. The Advanced echnologies segment provides innovative products, technologies and manufacturing services and solutions for the space, communications, defence, nuclear, government and agriculture sectors. The Health segment manages a network of more than 1,800 health care professionals delivering primary care and occupational health services to public and private sector clients across Canada. Learning is a trusted provider of emergency management, consulting and specialized training services and solutions for the Canadian Armed Forces and clients in the defence, health, energy and other sectors. The Information Technology segment supports public- and private-sector customer requirements for subject matter expertise in the delivery of complex IT and cyber security solutions. Headquartered in Ottawa, the Companys offices and projects span Canada and international markets.



For investor information, please visit our website at www.calian.com or contact us at [email protected] . Kevin Ford Patrick Houston Media inquiries: President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Simon Doyle 613-599-8600 613-599-8600 613-599-8600 x 2205



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The eight McDonalds on Staten Island will provide free Thank You Meals" to the boroughs healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics through May 5.

First responders who show their badges are offered food and beverage from a select menu. Their breakfast options include a choice of Egg McMuffin, Chicken McGriddles or bacon-egg-cheese biscuit. These come with a hash brown or any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee. First responder lunch and dinner menus offer a choice among a Double Cheeseburger, 6-Piece Chicken McNuggets or a Filet-O-Fish. These selections come with any sized soft drink, tea or hot coffee and small fries.

As local business owners, we know that our communities need us now more than ever, and were committed to continuing to serve them, said Katie Hunt-Rotolo, a local owner/operator and president of the McDonalds New York Metro Owner/Operator Association, in a press release.

In the meantime, Staten Islanders have reported sporadic absences of some menu items and changes in hours. Individual franchises did not pick up the phone and could not be reached directly.

A spokeswoman for the company said on Wednesday, There are no shortages, these were system decision[s].

She explained, Across the country we are serving a limited menu to [enable] our restaurants to deliver a great customer experience, maintaining high levels of quality and maintain speed of service as the restaurant teams manage the current COVID 19 crisis.

With questions about protecting Staten Island employees as well as changes in designs of future restaurants and packaging, the spokeswoman said, Safety is top of mind at McDonalds.

She additionally referred the Advance to an April 16 statement by David Tovar, Vice President of U.S. Communications & Government Relations, which said, Our supply chain has done an amazing job to secure over 100 million non-medical grade masks for restaurant employees thus far. While employees awaited shipments throughout April he encouraged staff to use DIY masks.

Tovar nodded to an infographic that outlines restaurant cleanliness and employee hygiene guidelines in the pandemic. Among the procedures listed were more prolific placement of hand gel dispensers and an increase in cadence of sanitization of all high touch surfaces, cleaned every two hours now."

Dine-in seating areas and self-serve kiosks and beverage stations ceased on March 16 for McDonalds franchises around the country. About a week prior the company offered staff two week paid sick leave for those affected by the virus and instituted temperature checks.

Restaurants shifted to a limited menu earlier this month to ease kitchen operations to ease operations. Employees are required to use gloves at the drive-thru and front counters at all restaurants that allow pickup in the buildings.
An engineering lecturer has produced more than 1,000 face shields for healthcare workers after transforming his study into a PPE production line

Aaron McConville, a lecturer in electronic engineering at Ulster University in Belfast, is using 3D printers he has built and assembled at home over the years to print protective face shields for frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originally printing 20 per day, Dr McConville increased daily production to more than 100 following donations from the university, friends, family, colleagues and the public.

With the help of his partner Alice, Dr McConville has produced more than 1,000 visors and distributed them to a number of care homes, hospitals and hospices in urgent need of PPE in Northern Ireland and England.

With the lockdown Im not going anywhere, so with a global shortage of PPE this was a perfect opportunity to do my bit Aaron McConville

Dr McConville said: The Ulster University community is doing everything it can to support the fight against Covid-19.

I wanted to play my part and use my skills and expertise to support our frontline healthcare workers.

Protective visors, although simple, are a fundamental piece of PPE that many frontline workers were going without.

These crucial items provide protection for the face, helping to prevent infection by blocking droplets of fluid that would otherwise be able to enter via the nose, eyes and mouth.

I have a number of 3D printers here at home and with the lockdown Im not going anywhere, so with a global shortage of PPE this was a perfect opportunity to do my bit and help protect those on the front line.
Online CME platform is both viable and workable alternative

Emergence and re-emergence of microorganisms with vengeance is nothing new to the medical world that has been constantly in warpath against them to protect humanity. What caught the world off guards was the surprising propensity with which the novel Covid19 announced its arrival as a bolt from the blue in the form of a pandemic across the globe within a month, inflicting mass casualties in developed countries as Europe and US after China unlike its 6 other cousins in last 2 decades; from SARS (2002), Bird flu (2005), Swine flu (2009), MERS (2012), Ebola (2014), Nipah (2018) to the present SARSnCOVID (2019).

While several novel lines of therapies are being tried out with encouraging results, the colossal economic slowdown, scarce logistics and casualties we have incurred by this highly infectious virus has been scary. Had it started in the developing world, probably it would not have received so much attention with usual blame game by the west, eager for a respite with dire urgency. None is willing to invest in research on tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, diarrhea or rabies, thinking beyond their narrow borders and the myopic vision. Possibly success in the drive against Small pox and Polio have made us complacent.

Unfortunately, not merely the above six, scientists have identified 6.3 to 8.3 lakh virus out of over 16 lakh on earth surface are lurking in the wings to invade human beings turning as pathogens. In addition, hundreds and thousands are constantly mutating for survival and renewed pathogenicity.

Consequently, our strategy needs to be futuristic, investing resources in the broad outlook of Vasudhaiba kutumbakam in advanced research; while protecting Mother Nature by calling immediate halt to our selfish destruction of flora, fauna, senseless killing of animals and reducing carbon foot print. More investments are indeed warranted in talentism than materialism, in case we care to learn any lesson. Those who fail to learn from history, are condemned to repeat it.

The medical professionals world over are eager to find a definitive remedy and prevention, having tried several permutation and combinations. The speed, at which the genetic code of nCOVID19 has been discerned, is noteworthy. A novel therapeutic molecule is bound to arrive soon. After all, necessity is the mother of invention.

Everyone is striving to get all the time updated on the advances occurring at any part of the world, not only on the current crisis, but also on all front in the quickest possible time and the most user friend modality. Yes, it is high time to change those conventional modalities, so far dependent on resource intensive national and international seminars and conferences, courtesy pharmaceutical giants, not always without conflicts of interest.

In the present scenario, such modalities of Medical Education (CME) programmes by various bodies, across the world are out of context, mostly mixed up with tourism, luxury and of course academics. It is high time to turn towards online education platforms, which the Pediatric Association of India has recently embarked upon in order to beam upto-date scientific contents on relevant topics in pediatrics world over.

Online CME platform is both viable and workable alternative. It comes with a slew of advantages. The platform does away with the hassles involved in organizing the event that demands great amount of coordination and man-hours. It is economical and makes learning more of a democratic exercise at ones own convenience, said Dr. Nimain Mohanty, M.D. (PGI), Co-ordinator, Continued Medical Education, Pediatric Association of India, its immediate past president and currently, Professor Emeritus Pediatrics, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Mumbai.

Moreover, doctors who find it difficult participating in CME programme due to challenging schedule will find the online CME initiatives more convenient to see web-casts, interacting freely with speakers or enjoying the talks from archives at their leisures. Again, it entails minimum cost on the part of the organisers at no cost to the viewers. "The leaps in technology have enabled the online CMEs to be as effective as the physical ones with the added benefit of being more interactive without the limitations of time or the inhibitions of raising questions publicly, adds Dr. Rajiv Brahmane, MS (Ophthalmology).

Online CME initiatives offer greater safety, especially in situations like nCOVID pandemic, demanding maintenance of safe physical distance between individuals to prevent community spread, quips Dr. Banshi Saboo, Chairman & Diabetologist, Dia Care, Ahmedabad, President RSSDI.

Recently, a doctor returned to Sri Chithira Thirunal Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram after a training session in Spain. He joined duties immediately on returning home, but soon tested positive for COVID-19. His colleagues had to undergo surveillance and further investigation. All these when we need more medical professionals in the fight against the virus. Such situations and risks can be averted if we adopt online learning practices more widely, a well-known neurosurgeon who does not want to be named states.

He further says, Online learning platforms can also effectively deal with ethical issues due to reduced organizing cost and thus making organisers less dependent on corporate support. In fact, medical students coming out of Wuhan Province of China in the nCOVID19 aftermath are regularly visiting their daily medical course lectures online across the world now, so useful in the present context.

Nevertheless, nCOVID19 is prompting a new learning culture among the medical professionals. Online platforms are a great way to exchange knowledge and skill which will soon become the norm, opines Dr. Alpesh Gandhi, President of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). FOGSI has seriously seized of the issue and would do everything to support any ecosystem that supports and encourages online learning among medical professionals.

Knowledge shared is knowledge squared. In the era of technology, a great way to do this is by providing our doctors access to the knowledge of our experts in the safety of their own homes in the present time of COVID-19 infection. We, therefore, wish to use this new method of teaching to conduct webinars on pertinent topics, that can be accessed from all over the country, and provide our members with an easy way to update their knowledge and skills, Dr. Gandhi further added.

Online learning trend now enjoys government support for developing modules such as MOOC (Massive Open Access Online Courses). Many developers are coming out with innovative ideas and strategies. DocMode  a leading online medical education platform in the country for instance, is offering its technology platform free of cost to the medical fraternity for the purpose. In crisis like situation as this, it drives us to explore new options and solutions for disseminating greater awareness and know how, says Hans Lewis, Founder and CEO, DocMode. According to him, online platforms that host CME programmes are bound to be most popular very soon, driving rapid growth and huge success.
Keeping the over-50s in isolation longer and requiring people to prove their age when out and about is 'the safest way out of lockdown', researchers claim.

A Warwick University study found that a 'rolling age-release strategy' was the best option to end the lockdown introduced to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

The strategy proposed by researchers is based on the fact that death rates from COVID-19 among 50-year-olds are 20 times higher than deaths among 20-year-olds.

Study authors wrote that that police officers would have to be given the power to fine those caught breaking the age rule to ensure it was followed.

In an extreme example - set out by the study authors, based on Chinese data - they say releasing over-50s early without a vaccine could see 40,000 extra people die.

Scroll down for video

The strategy proposed by researchers is based on the fact that deaths from COVID-19 among 50-year-olds are 20 times greater than deaths among 20-year-olds

This graph shows the relative risk of death from coronavirus for each age group compared to those in their 20s  based on being released form lockdown before a vaccine is available. Not to be confused with the rate of death

In the study 'Age, death risk and the design of an exit strategy', the Warwick researchers shared five benefits of basing the end of lockdown on age.

They say an age-based release recognises that 'we cannot wait indefinitely to reopen the economy' and is the 'safest way to do so before a vaccine is available'.

Andrew Oswald, Professor of Economics and Behavioural Science at Warwick, said people older than 50 'do not realise the danger they are about to be in'.

'Our age-risk graphs need to be understood by everyone. They show very clearly that younger people are at far less risk of dying from COVID-19 than older citizens.

'Any lockdown release policy that does not design itself around this "age gradient" in human coronavirus risk will have dangerous consequences,' Oswald said.

Authors say young healthy people are the best placed to survive the virus and should be released in the first wave of an 'age-related' lockdown release schedule

The researchers say older people should be in lockdown longer as 'younger people are far, far, safer'.

Enforcement is a concern raised by the researchers in their paper, saying that people may be reluctant to stay indoors longer.

'How would an age-based release rule be enforced? Presumably police officers would have to be given the right to fine those caught breaking the age rule.

'As we have explained elsewhere, the vast majority of citizens in the UK carry driving licenses that would allow a police officer to check their date of birth,' they wrote.

They added that a rolling age-release poses the lowest risk and reduces the chance of people being called back for a second round of lockdowns.

'In principle the young should be able to stay out once released,' say researchers.

A number of studies have demonstrated the fact that the risk of death from coronavirus increases with age.

People under 50 have a less than 0.5 per cent chance of death from COVId-19 but it jumps to 1.3 per cent for over-50s.

It gets even higher as you get older - with a death rate of 3.6 per cent for over-60s and 8 per cent for over-70s.

NHS expert Mike Fischer, agrees that over-50s should stay at home during the coronavirus outbreak.

Warwick researchers say there are five key reasons why young people should be released first It recognizes that we cannot wait indefinitely to reopen the economy; It is the safest way to do that before a vaccine is available; It is the least likely strategy to require that people will have later to be painfully recalled into further rounds of lockdown, because in principle the young should be able to stay out once released; It usefully plays for time as researchers work on a vaccine; It targets the group currently the hardest-hit financially. Advertisement

Official data - collated by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre from NHS critical care units - shows more than 54 per cent of COVID-19 patients admitted for urgent care are aged between 50 and 69 years.

Almost three quarters of critically ill people are either overweight or obese.

There are five tests outlined by the government that would allow the lockdown to be lifted including getting the rate of infection lower and having tests available.

The tests also include ensuring the NHS has sufficient capacity, a sustained fall in daily deaths, PPE is available and measures won't risk a second peak of infections.

Not everyone agrees this is the best approach, Dr Thomas House, a statistician from the University of Manchester said young people could get a false sense of security.

'If younger individuals begin to mix again and we see an increase in the prevalence of coronavirus infections, that will inevitably increase the number of cases in the older individuals who are most at risk of dying once infected,' he told the Telegraph.

'It is also likely that there are many younger individuals who have massively increased risk compared to others of their age due to factors we have not yet been able to identify through epidemiological analysis, and who would therefore be seriously misled by the kind of charts proposed by the authors.'

The Warwick team say the hardest part could be in convincing the public of the importance and benefit of a rolling age-release strategy.

'Strategies for building public support for a rolling release could include clear communication about the rationale for the strategy, and online resources to help people understand their own personal risk profiles,' the team wrote in a release.

This graph is an extreme example, using Chinese data to estimate the impact an early release of each age group would have on coronavirus deaths in the UK. They found the most at risk group is the over 60s and the lowest risk is those in their 20s

Researchers say the oldest groups - including those over 70 - should be the last released from lockdown as age is a significant factor in survival rate from COVID-19

Nick Powdthavee, Professor of Behavioural Economics at Warwick Business School, said: 'We believe that an age-based strategy along the lines we describe has the potential to strike the right balance between epidemiology and economics.'

The researchers don't think older people should be kept out of work though, rather that they should make use of technology like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

'Far from being left on the shelf, older workers can play a vital role as supervisors and mentors using the communication technologies which have come to the fore during lockdown,' he said.

Researchers say an app could be developed that provides people with their own 'risk' from coronavirus using the most recent epidemiological evidence.

'A release of younger people might, we appreciate, cause resentment among those older than the age-group released,' they wrote.

'Nevertheless, to reassure them, the older groups could be told when their turn would eventually arrive, and they could be encouraged to check a government sponsored website detailing the exact risk-by-age pattern of the virus.'

They say that 'one of the characteristics of COVID-19 is that younger people are far, far safer' - yet much of the worldwide discussion of an exit strategy does not exploit this 'fundamental, and potentially pivotal, piece of knowledge'.

The paper is available on the Warwick University website.
As many stocks have plunged below their real value, foreign funds are combing Vietnamese shares, raising fears that Vietnamese companies will be acquired by 'shark' investors.

Like many markets in the world hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnamese shares have lost about 20 percent in value this year. Many stocks have seen their price hit historic lows, attracting large investment funds to buy shares in bulk.

The General Statistics Office (GSO)'s data showed the value of foreign indirect investment, which includes capital contributions and equity purchases, in the first quarter of this year increased to 2,523 transactions worth a total of 2 billion USD, compared to 1,653 transactions in the same period last year.

The value of capital contributions and share purchases of foreign investors in the first quarter of 2019 reached 5.69 billion USD but nearly 70 percent of this value was the conversion of debt into equity of Beerco Limited (ThaiBev's subsidiary in Hong Kong) to Vietnam Beverage Co Ltd.

The strongest trade occurred in March  the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

Big deals included JPMorgan Vietnam Opportunities Fund transferring 2 million shares of Military Bank (MBB) to Vietnam Growth Stock Income Mother Fund (worth about 34 billion VND) and NTAsian Emerging Leaders MasterFund transferring 1.3 million shares of Mobile World Investment Joint Stock Company to Asian Smaller Companies Fund and Vietnam Growth Stock Income Mother Fund.

On April 13, Aquila SPC Ltd (related to Dragon Capital) also transferred 420,000 MWG shares to Arisaig Asia Consumer Fund.

The PVI Opportunity Investment Fund (POF) bought 3.9 million shares of Vinaconex Power Development & Construction Investment Joint Stock Company (VCP), raising its holding to 13.9 million shares, or 24.39 percent.

On April 23, VinaCapital's fund group acquired 50,000 shares of Phuoc Hoa Rubber Joint Stock Company, sticker PHR on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE), increasing its ownership to 5 percent.

According to AFC Vietnam Fund, many stocks on the exchanges are undervalued compared to the corporate value, something rare in developed markets. Therefore, these stocks are very attractive to major investors, including AFC Vietnam.

A representative of VinaCapital Investment Fund said they had a large amount of cash and were seeking investment opportunities when the price is right.

According to Phan Dung Khanh, investment director of Maybank Kim Eng Securities, there were opportunities to acquire businesses on the stock market because the stock price was very low. The important thing would be to choose which business at what price and when.

Le Dat Chi, deputy head of Business Finance Department of University of Economics HCM City, said the crisis was an opportunity for the acquirers.

"Many stocks have lost 70-80 percent of their value and there is no reason for companies and investment funds with big money not to buy," Chi was quoted as saying on the nld.com.vn.

This explained why a number of businesses and members of the board of directors of companies recently registered to buy back shares to not only invest but counter acquisition attempts of rival businesses and investment funds, Chi said.

Preliminary statistics from the stock exchanges showed that as of April 10, members of the boards of directors and internal shareholders of listed companies had registered to buy shares worth up to 750 million USD, of which they successfully bought shares worth 455 million USD. Companies have also registered to buy back shares worth up to thousands of billions of VND./.

Vietnam: one of fastest recovering stock markets The Vietnamese stock market regained nearly 100 points after a gloomy March, producing one of the best performances among stock markets around the globe.
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Forrester today predicts that due to the coronavirus, global retail sales in 2020 will decline by an average of 9.6 percent globally, a loss of $2.1 trillion. Forrester also predicts that it will take four years for retailers to overtake pre-pandemic levels.

According to Forrester's updated retail forecasts across North America, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, the impact of the coronavirus on retail sales will vary worldwide given the regional differences and considering that each country is at a different stage of the pandemic.

Key findings include:

Global

Non-grocery offline sales will see a 20% growth contraction in 2020.

Retailers will continue to face growth constraints, with a lot of brick-and-mortar retailers predicting losses in 2020. Many will also assume that their growth in online sales will not be enough to offset the lost sales from store closures.

North America

In the US, retail sales will fall by $321 billion in 2020, a decline of 9.1% from 2019.

In Canada , similar losses are expected, with total retail spending expected to decline by $25 billion in 2020, representing a 7.7% drop from 2019.

Europe

Retail sales will lose 260 billion across EU-5 (the UK, France , Germany , Spain, and Italy ) in 2020, a decline of 10.4% from 2019.

, , Spain, and ) in 2020, a decline of 10.4% from 2019. Due to COVID-19, Forrester expects a 56 billion loss in French retail sales in 2020 compared to Forrester's pre-COVID-19 predictions, representing a 9.5% drop from 2019. In Germany , total retail will fall by 60 billion in 2020, a decline of 10% from 2019. For the UK, Forrester expects a 56 billion loss in UK retail sales in 2020, an estimated decline of 11.4% from 2019.

AP

In AP, the loss of sales is predicted to reach $767 billion in 2020, a decline of 10% from 2019.

China is the most negatively affected country in the region, with $192 billion of retail sales lost in January and February of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

LATAM

Retail sales will decline 6.8% for 2020 in LATAM.

"COVID-19 is significantly impacting the global retail landscape," said Michael O'Grady, principal forecast analyst at Forrester. "Retail categories like grocery and essential consumables are performing well, while other categories like fashion, beauty, and cosmetics are seeing a marked decline in consumer spend. In 2020, there will be a significant decline in global retail sales, particularly with non-essential items sold offline, which will be a big challenge for brick-and-mortar retailers. Online sales, however, will be more resilient. To navigate the crisis, retailers need to manage their costs and drive their eCommerce sales and services as much as possible."

Resources:

Visit Forrester's COVID-19 Insights Hub for the latest guidance for leaders to address the growing business and employee experience implications of the coronavirus pandemic.

Check out Stephanie Balaouras' blog, Entering The New Normal: How To Safely Bring Your Workforce Back, to learn how retailers can start planning their pandemic recovery.

Listen to Forrester's What It Means podcast episode on coronavirus's impact on retail and what the future may hold for the industry.

About Forrester

Forrester is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. We work with business and technology leaders to drive customer-obsessed vision, strategy, and execution that accelerate growth. Forrester's unique insights are grounded in annual surveys of more than 690,000 consumers and business leaders worldwide, rigorous and objective methodologies, and the shared wisdom of our most innovative clients. Through proprietary research, data and analytics, custom consulting, exclusive peer groups, certifications, and events, we are revolutionizing how businesses grow in the age of the customer; learn more at forrester.com.

Media Contact:

Hannah Segvich

Public Relations

Forrester Research, Inc.

+44 20 7323 7602

hsegvich@forrester.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1162036/Forrester_Snapshot_Infographic.jpg


Auto parts firm to bet W300 bil. on research center



By Nam Hyun-woo





Hyundai Mobis operating profit



Hyundai Mobis will enhance its marketing activity targeting Chinese clients, as the market there is showing signs of bouncing back from the COVID-19 fallout, the Hyundai Motor Group auto parts unit said Friday.



"As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the global market downturn, especially in the Americas and Europe, will likely pose a greater impact on our second quarter earnings," Hyundai Mobis said during a conference call.



"While employing emergency management strategies and other measures to improve profitability, we will continue making investments to enhance our core competence."



For its recovery, the company said it will focus on strengthening its marketing activities in China, citing an early recovery in the Chinese market.



In regional sales, those from China declined by 55.6 percent to 542.5 billion won in the first quarter from 1.22 trillion won a year earlier. During the same period, European sales slightly declined 4.69 percent, while that of the U.S. increased 19.6 percent.



The company said, however, this trend will likely be reversed as American and European markets are seeing a severe impact from the coronavirus pandemic.



"In the first quarter, a sharp decline in the Chinese market aggravated the company's overall earnings, but the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic will deal a heavier blow to American and European markets."





Hyundai Mobis CEO Park Chung-kook
As the COVID-19 crisis plateaus, public attention is beginning to focus on other matters.

In particular, it is returning to issues, such as climate change and pharmacare, that dominated the last federal election.

Thanks to the pandemic, these concerns have almost disappeared from public debate. Instead, Canadians have been preoccupied with the daily coronavirus body count.

Is it slowing or accelerating? Is this disease being brought under control? Or will an even more deadly wave hit us again in a few months?

In a weird way, the pandemic has been a godsend for Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus minority Liberal government. It has given that government a focus it lacked. It has consigned political embarrassments like the Jody Wilson-Raybould affair to the back burner.

Most important of all, it has allowed Trudeau, in his daily, televised homilies, to come across as concerned, compassionate and reasonable.

His government has invented a host of new spending programs to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. If people complain they have been left out, the government simply invents more.

All of this costs tens of billions of dollars. Yet even the most fiscally conservative rarely complain. Its as if the virus had given the Trudeau government a free pass.

But with evidence suggesting that the crisis has reached its peak, all of this starting to change.

Provincial governments are beginning to relax restrictions on economic activity. As that happens, public attention shifts from the prime minister to the premiers.

In Ontario, for instance, its much more important to know what Premier Doug Ford thinks about reopening the economy  particularly since Trudeau has said he will defer to the provinces in this matter.

In Ottawa, the opposition Conservatives, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois are starting to take careful potshots at the prime minister. Its only a matter of time until Parliament returns to business as usual, with or without virtual sittings.

When that happens, the Liberals will want to be recognized as more than good stewards who directed Canada through a bad patch.

By the time a new election comes along (and in a hung Parliament this could happen at any moment), Trudeau will want to be able to present voters with a compelling reason to elect a Liberal majority.

This would almost certainly involve promises designed to appeal to so-called progressive voters.

Some argue that the cost of dealing with COVID-19 will leave no fiscal room for new federal programs, such as pharmacare or measures designed to fight climate change. But they miss the point.

The point is that the pandemic has shown that deficits really dont matter  that, when it wishes, a well-to-do country can accrue massive debts and yet survive quite handily.

The Liberal government has pledged to spend more than $146 billion this year alone to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. The Parliamentary Budget Officer predicts that the federal deficit will hit a staggering $252 billion this year thanks largely to a fall-off in tax revenues.

Yet few predict fiscal doom. Indeed, many analysts argue that in an economy where the private sector has shut down, more government is needed not less.

Even my fiscally frugal friends on the Globe and Mail editorial board are sanguine, arguing that over time normal economic growth will take care of the COVID-19 debt.

By comparison, a universal public pharmacare plan would be a bargain. It would cost Ottawa only $20 billion a year according to the Parliamentary Budget Office  an amount that would be more than offset by savings to individuals and provinces.

In short, there is life after COVID-19, particularly for the centre-left. The pandemic has underscored the utility of strong government action. It has given the sometimes leftish Liberals an opportunity. We shall see if they have the wit to use it.
A teacher from one of Perths most exclusive private schools has been barred from her profession for two years after the Teacher Registration Board found she engaged in serious misconduct rendering her unfit to be registered.

Liza Anne Richardson, 45, was employed as a year 6 teacher at Wesley College in 2017 when she engaged in inappropriate conduct with two students.

The board heard Ms Richardson had been spoken to by senior staff at the college about her overfamiliarity with certain students and interactions with certain children before and after school, and during recess and lunch breaks.

Following a complaint received by the school, the teacher was found to have communicated with two students over email and text messages in a personal and emotional manner.

The messages included Ms Richardson sending and receiving messages such as "I love you", "love u", "love you too".
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TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/CONIF_CONIF DESCRIPTION CONIF - Conselho Nacional das Instituic o es da Rede Federal de Educac a o Profissional ACCOUNT CREATED ON 27 Oct 2010 LOCATION Brasil TWEETS 317 FOLLOWERS 673 LISTED 10
: A committee under the



Ministry has given the 'green signal' for onshore exploration, development and production by the city-based infra major Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) at an oil and gas field in Gujarat.

According to the minutes of the meeting of Environmental Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, MEIL sought clearance to develop CB/ONDSF/Khambel/2016, an oil and gas block spread in Patan and Mehsana districts in Gujarat.

"The EAC, after deliberations, recommended the project for grant of environmental clearance subject to submission of conservation plan for schedule I species to CWLW (chief wildlife warden). The EAC has also recommended the following specific terms and conditions as...," the EAC said.

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment report submitted by the MEIL to the Ministry the investment would involve USD 10 million for three wells.

There are no national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, tiger/elephant reserves, and wildlife corridors within 10 km distance from the block area.

Narmada Canal and Khari River are passing through the study area and according to MEIL there is no forest land involved in this activity, the minutes said.

On completion of the project, necessary measures shall be taken for safe plugging of wells with secured enclosures to restore the drilling site to the original condition, the EAC said as one of the conditions for the EC.

MEIL, in 2018, said it bagged two mega off-shore oil fields in Gujarat and Assam.

The Khambel Oil Field is in Khambe Basin located at West Coast of Gujarat and Lakshmi Zen Oil Field is in North Eastern Arcan Basin in Assam.

A senior official of the company then said MEIL will invest aboutUSD 100 million in the fields, to be raised from internal accruals.

The company estimated that Khambel Oil Field would provide life-time production with a production target of 3.70 lakh barrelsof crude oil and 1.3 lakh cubic meters of gas every day from the field.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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President Donald Trump is expected to deliver remarks Thursday on how his administration is protecting senior citizens, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to claim lives in the United States.

Seniors are considered high-risk candidates for contracting the virus, suffering the most severe symptoms and their fatality rates are higher than the general population.

Around the country, essential businesses have established "senior-only" hours to minimize their exposure to the virus.

Seniors have grown more critical of the White House's response to the pandemic in recent weeks. The group's approval of how the president is handling the outbreak dropped by nearly 20 points in a recent Morning Consult poll.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump announced "Operation Warp Speed," a plan to speed up the process of bringing a coronavirus vaccine to market.

"I hope we're going to have a vaccine and we're going to fast-track a vaccine like you've never seen before if we come with a vaccine. I think they probably will," he told reporters during a White House meeting with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

When asked by a reporter who is in charge of the vaccine operation, Trump said, "honestly, I am."

But Trump's top medical advisers, including infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, have repeatedly said that a coronavirus vaccine won't be ready for 12 to 18 months at the earliest.

Several White House and administration officials are expected to join the president, the White House said, including Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway, Doug Hoelscher, Intergovernmental Affairs director, Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, General Joseph Lengyel, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Wilke, Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Seema Verma, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator.

Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee is also expected to attend.

The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 3.2 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 227,971 deaths so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 1 million cases in the United States and at least 60,999 deaths, according to the latest tallies.

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Call for a ceasefire during the holy month comes in response to appeals from friendly nations, LNA spokesman says.

Libyan renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar has said his forces would cease hostilities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan following international calls for a truce in the war-torn North African nation.

Ahmed Mismari, spokesman for Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), said in a television broadcast on Thursday the ceasefire came at the request of the international community and friendly countries.

The announcement came after pro-Haftar forces suffered a series of setbacks in recent weeks in their year-long campaign to seize Tripoli with forces loyal to the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) expelling them from two key coastal cities west of the capital.

Explosions in the centre of Tripoli were heard after the announcement.

A source from GNA told Al Jazeera it would not adhere to the truce. Mismari warned violations by the GNA would be met with an immediate and harsh response.

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 GNA and the eastern-bsaed House of Representatives allied to Haftar.

Last week, the UN, European Union and several countries called for both sides to lay down their arms during Ramadan.





Sami Hamdi, the editor-in-chief of the International Interest, a current affairs analysis magazine, told Al Jazeera that Haftar was announcing the truce now because the tide of the Tripoli offensive has altered.

Now his two main basis, the spine of the Tripoli offensive is under siege  thats al-Watiya airbase where the supplies come in from the east and Tarhuna, he said.

Hamdi added: It seems Haftar is concerned that he might not be able to hold on to them for much longer. But more importantly, Haftar believes that domestically the situation needs attention. He needs to cement his authority in the east.

He said Haftar wanted to use the time to clean up the political mess in the east.

He made a unilateral declaration that he would rule Libya by a popular mandate. It was done to cut off any potential opposition that might take advantage of the reversal in the offensive.

Military dictatorship

Backed by Turkey, GNA troops are now encircling Haftars main rear base at Tarhounah, 60km (39 miles) southeast of the capital.

Since launching the Tripoli offensive in April last year, several ceasefires between Haftars forces and the GNA have fallen through, with both sides accusing the other of violations.

Haftars opponents accuse him of wanting to establish a new military dictatorship in the country.

On Monday, he claimed he had a popular mandate to govern, declaring a key 2015 political deal over and vowing to press his assault to seize Tripoli.

The GNA responded by accusing Haftar of seeking to stage a new coup and called the attempt a farce.

What the war criminal Haftar said was a coup on the democratic path, not new but a continuation of his failed coups and to cover up his repeated defeats, the GNA said in a statement.

Haftar, 76, receives support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia.

On Wednesday, a UAE delegation reportedly landed in Sudan to shore up support and recruit fighters for Haftars forces.

The delegation, led by UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed, discussed ways of supporting Haftar in light of the setback his LNA is facing.

In a 376-page report submitted to the UN Security Council in December, a panel of experts warned the presence of Sudanese fighters  which analysts estimate at anywhere between 1,000 and 3,000  had become a notable feature of the Libyan conflict and it risked destabilising the country further.

The LNA has for weeks been shelling Tripoli in a campaign of bombardment that has drawn repeated rebukes from the UN.

Hospitals in parts of Tripoli held by the GNA have repeatedly been hit by shelling in recent weeks, despite the threat to Libya posed by the coronavirus.

The Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday the UAE had last year targeted a biscuit factory with a drone strike in support of the LNA, killing eight civilians in an attack it called apparently unlawful. The UAE and the LNA have not commented on that report.
Vice President Mike Pence wore a face mask while touring a General Motors plant in Kokomo, Indiana, on Thursday, after coming under fire for flouting the Mayo Clinic's mandatory face mask policy during a visit on Tuesday.

Why it matters: This is the first time that Pence, who has traveled all over the country as head of the White House's coronavirus task force, has publicly worn a face mask. The CDC issued guidance this month recommending that Americans wear face coverings to help stop the asymptomatic spread of the coronavirus.

Pence told reporters amid backlash on Tuesday that he had tested negative for the virus: "And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible healthcare personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you," he said.

Second lady Karen Pence insisted on Fox News on Thursday morning that Pence only found about the Mayo Clinic's policy after leaving the facility, despite the clinic saying in a statement that it had informed his office beforehand.

The big picture: The plant that Pence toured on Thursday was brought back online to help ramp up the production of ventilators. GM and its partner, Ventec Life Systems, have said they will ship more than 600 ventilators this month, and almost 15,000 by the end of June.
SPRINGFIELD - The Urban League of Springfield is joining the opposition to a move by Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood to reinstate five officers awaiting trial in connection with the alleged cover-up of a 2015 bar brawl involving several off-duty officers.

The leagues board of directors on Tuesday voted to convey its strong opposition to the reinstatement of the officers.

For the police commissioner to take this action, in our opinion, is short-sighted and an exercise in poor judgment, read a statement issued by Urban League president Henry Thomas III and board of directors chair the Rev. W.C. Watson. The Urban League strongly urges the Commissioner to rescind her decision to reinstate the 5 suspended officers.

Previously, two members of the Springfield City Council, President Justin Hurst and at-large councilor Tracye Whitfield voiced their opposition.

Clapprood responded on Thursday evening that she was standing by her decision.

Im disappointed that the councilors who drafted press releases nor Mr. Thomas ever asked me for my reasons to reinstate, never asked to meet with me or asked the circumstances of the cases, she said. Im saddened by their efforts not to get the facts. I stand by my decision.

The controversy stems from Clapproods April 15 decision to address staffing shortages related to COVID-19 by reinstating the officers, who had been suspended without pay for more than a year.

The five officers were among the 14 current or former Springfield police officers named in the investigation into a 2015 fight and subsequent cover-up involving off-duty police and civilians outside Nathan Bills Bar and Restaurant in East Forest Park.

One citizen, H. Paul Cumby, was injured and ended up suing the city. He received an $850,000 court settlement.

The five reinstated officers, Shavonne Lewis, Darren Nguyen, Derrick Gentry-Mitchell, James DAmour and John Wajdula, were accused of taking part in the cover-up, not in the brawl.

Clapprood noted that two are African-American another is Asian-American.

Clapprood said the department has been hit hard with absences, and it was unlikely with the courts being all but shut down because of the COVID-19 emergency that any of the suspended officers would see their cases resolved until next year.

The move has been publicly supported by Mayor Domenic Sarno and by Joseph Gentile, president of the police officers union, Local 364 of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.

Hurst last week called the move flat out wrong, and urged Clapprood to reconsider. Clapprood in response said she would stand by her decision.

Whitfield on Tuesday said the move by Clapprood is tone-deaf and will only raise the level of distrust of the police in the community.

When something is wrong, its just wrong and the Police Commissioners decision to reinstate five police officers under investigation by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Attorney General is exactly that, she said. To use the coronavirus as a reason, she said, is disappointing.

She also questioned why the move was essential when Springfield has 34 new police academy graduates sworn in on Thursday and reporting for duty beginning Sunday.

The statement by the Urban League strongly urges Clapprood to rescind the reinstatements.

We believe the 5 officers should have their day in court, but they are not entitled to the special treatment that offends most citizens sensibilities, it said. The reinstatement of the officers undermines community trust and faith in the department. Therefore, the credibility of the department is at stake in this matter.
There will be a lot of changes in the royal family once Prince Charles becomes the king, particularly in the roles of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Over the years, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have stepped up and became more visible as they increase their workload in preparation for the demands of becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In the current line of succession after the Queen, Prince Charles is the first in line to the throne and also the longest waiting heir, followed by Prince William. Third in line is the 6-year-old Prince George.

With that in mind, Kate and Prince William have the remarkable duty of molding the young royal for his future role as the king of England.

As cited by online magazine The Talko, if Prince Charles takes over Queen Elizabeth II's role, Prince William's eldest son will be much closer "to taking on the role himself one day."

"Although William will be next in line himself, he and Kate will have to step up their efforts to get their son George to take on this massive amount of responsibility," the outlet added.

Normal Childhood

In previous reports, British media commentator Neil Sean told Fox News that the royal couple wanted their three children, George, Charlotte, and their youngest son, Louis, to grow up in an ordinary environment and experience a normal childhood.

"Both Kate and William... like the idea of having them mix with all the other children of their age to make friends and enjoy a normal childhood without the confines of royal life," Seam shared.

The media commentator also pointed out that Prince William does not want his kids to be limited by royal life.

"William, in particular, enjoys doing this as he remembers with such great affection how his mother, the wonderful Princess Diana, arranged all kinds of things for both him and [his brother Prince] Harry to do, like fast-food restaurants, shows, seaside holidays and so forth," the Fox reporter added.

Kate, on the other hand, vowed to teach her kids "life skills" while in a "fun and loving childhood."

What separates Prince George to other kids is that he is England's future king. With that said, Kate and William are also preparing him for his soon-to-be role in the monarchy without restricting him to experience normalcy in childhood.

In his 2017 interview with British GQ, the 38-year-old Duke of Cambridge confessed that having a stable home is important to him.

"I want George to grow up in a real, living environment, I don't want him growing up behind palace walls, he has to be out there. The media make it harder but I will fight for them to have a normal life," William shared.

Since the bombshell news of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex leaving the royal family, Prince William and Kate have managed to take on extra roles to reinforce the monarchy and to support the Queen and the Prince of Wales on their royal engagements.


During the current coronavirus crisis plaguing the world, the focus has naturally been on the immediate physical fallout of the diseasethe symptoms, the prognosis, the treatment, the mortality rates There has not been enough emphasis on the mental health of patients who have tested positive; or that of those in quarantine and isolation; or the thousands of us in lockdown, grappling with a bleak reality that is unlike anything we have experienced before.

Fortunately, in India there is a collective of concerned mental health professionals called Wellbeing Volunteers United, who are offering their services for the purpose. The services are available through a free helpline to those who are suffering from any kind of mental health disorder, like anxiety and depression. The collective is an initiative of Dr Prakriti Poddar, a leading Mumbai-based mental health expert and managing trustee of The Poddar Foundation, and focuses on building awareness around mental, behavioral, and emotional health issues. The 1800-121-0980 helpline is backed by the Goa State Government; the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW); Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC); The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI); PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai and other healthcare and mental wellness organisations.





According to DrPoddar, the role of the Wellbeing Volunteers in the coronavirus crisis is to attend to people in distress. COVID-19 is not only a physiological disease but also affects ones mental well-being. People are facing anxiety, loneliness, helplessness, boredom, uncertainty, obsessive-compulsive behaviour like repetitive washing of hands, hoarding, depression, mood swings and anger outbursts, she elaborates.

While the impact of the coronavirus outbreak can be significant on someone with no history of mental health issues, it can be severe on someone who has a preexisting condition like an anxiety disorder. An individuals anxiety can be triggered due to this outbreak; a person with depression can feel even more lonely and helpless due to the isolation; a person with a compulsive disorder can feel overwhelmed; a child with autism can feel stressed due to the sudden change of routine. If services like counselling, providing medication are disrupted it can create an impact on their condition, DrPoddar says.





A free helpline is particularly helpful in times like these when access to physical consultations with medical practitioners have become difficult due to the lockdown. Dr Poddar says that numbers of calls to the helpline are rising every day. Recently, we got a call from a homemaker who was distressed because her husband was distressed. She wanted to help him but didnt know how. We started by positively encouraging her and being empathetic. We assured her that we understood her problem. We then helped her come up with a plan to maintain positivity in the house by making her husband participate in games and watch his favourite shows instead of news that could be further distressing for him.





In India, financial insecurity, work-related stress and relationship issues are major triggers of mental illnesses. What makes it worse is that culturally rooted stigmas prevent people from seeking help. According to the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16, at least 10 million 13- to 17-year olds have mental health problems and 9.8 million adolescents need active intervention to treat their illnesses. In addition, 47% of the elderly go through mental health challenges. This is an epidemic and it needs to be curbed. Unfortunately, a large number of people with mental health issues fail to find medical help. Our aim is to look into the unaddressed disease burden, she concludes.

Edited by Shraddha Kamdar
Well known Pastor and author Timothy Keller has been encouraging Christians on his podcast to continue trusting God throughout difficult times. For strength and hope throughout the difficult times, Keller mentions to meditate on God's words and promises.

"I can still be joyful in the world."

In an economy such as Israel; in ancient society, without fruits, vines, olive crops, nor sheep, every individual went through trials and tribulations. Even through the time of poverty and awful death, people rejoiced in him during the circumstances that were falling apart. Tim Keller compares and contrasts the time being in Israel and today's coronavirus pandemic. 'Even in tough situations, one must rejoice and have trust in God.'

Tim Keller also relates the devastating world today with an English missionary, Alan Gardiner who was the last one alive on his way for a mission. Through starvation, broken body, hopes being dashed, yet; the young English missionary stated that he was overwhelmed with the sense of the glory of God. Although he wanted to be a missionary, he was overwhelmed with God's presence already. As Alan Gardiner was dying, he wrote in his journal, "I am overwhelmed with the sense of the goodness of God."

Psalm 34:10 'The young lion may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.'

Pastor Tim Keller mentions that Alan must've gotten directly in contact with that goodness because there were no good circumstances around him. Because everything was wrong, there must have been a problem; yet, Alan states that he is overwhelmed with the sense of glory of God. Even through the pandemic, one must be overwhelmed and pleased by God. From the good things that are happening to us, one cannot be fooled to be still.

From his encouraging words, there are 3 ideas for Christians to practice.

-Repeating

"To get in contact with God directly, we need to have practice in our lives such as praying two or three times a day. Repetition is extremely important because it shows us Jesus over and over again and each gospel goes deeper. There's a need for bible memory, regular prayer, daily hours of prayer, because we are creatures who work through habit." Keller stated.

-Remembering

"The goodness of God: If there's nothing happening right now then the purpose is to remind yourself of all the other things he's done for you." Keller stated.

-Rejoicing

"Praise not just thinking about the good things he's done, but get in touch with who God is, thinking about God's holiness, grace, and his love for us in Jesus Christ." Keller stated.

During the Q/A time, Tim and his Wife Kathy Keller spoke about God answering prayers.

'Just because I didn't answer your prayer your way doesn't mean I didn't answer your prayer anyway.' "We often don't see God's answers to prayer because we're looking for something else. Fix that alter that fixes the circumstances somehow and we don't see the answer he's actually giving. How does one develop the capacity to see the answers that God's giving and not the answers we're looking for?"

Pastor Tim Keller responds, "God gives you what you would have asked for if you knew everything he knows. If we knew everything God knew, therefore what he was giving me; he actually always answered your prayers. Yet, he finds different ways to answer prayers. When we pray we give what we want. God says look I will give you but not the way you want."
UPDATE: Lakes Mall management clarified on Friday, May 1, that while retail to go is offered as an option to its tenants, only Dicks Sporting Goods is providing the service so far.

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  The Lakes Mall near Muskegon has created retail-to-go guidelines for its tenants.

The owner of the indoor shopping mall, Namdar Realty Group, is opening the Lakes Mall as well as others in the state with certain restrictions. The mall closed on March 24 due to the coronavirus COVID-19.

It will be up to individual tenants to decide if they choose to reopen their stores. As of Friday, May 1, only Dicks Sporting Goods chose to offer the retail-to-go service.

According to a press release from the mall, the reopening guidelines include:

-- Accepting payments over the phone or Internet if possible. Otherwise, contact to receive payment should be minimized.

-- Having an employee place purchases in a customers vehicle backseat or trunk whenever possible.

-- Having employees wash or sanitize their hands after each interaction with a customer.

-- Disinfecting whenever possible any item that comes in contact with a customer.

The mall will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will be open to all tenants and employees beginning May 1, the press release states.

We encourage all merchants to re-open their locations at our properties which will allow a restart of business operation, the press release states.

Updates will be provided in the future regarding which retailers will reopen.

MLive has complete coverage on coronavirus COVID-19, including maps of known cases, at mlive.com/coronavirus.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

 Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

 Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

 Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

 Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

 Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

 Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

More on MLive:

Genesee Valley Center, Fashion Square Mall to offer retail-to-go options

Michigan House adjourns without extending coronavirus state of emergency

Michigan still 3rd in US for most coronavirus deaths with nearly 3,800
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Whats the deal with graduations amid the coronavirus?

Were talking whats allowed, after Gov. Mike DeWine backtracked, on This Week in the CLE.

Listen online here.

Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour coronavirus news podcast, with help from editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me. We answer many of the questions youve sent through our text message platform.

Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares once or twice a day what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802.

And youve been offering all sorts of great perspective in our coronavirus alert account, which has 13,000-plus subscribers. You can sign up for free by texting 216-279-7784.

We start by clearing up the confusion over masks. Who has to wear them? Jane explains how Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted explained the requirement on Wednesday.

The concept of graduation has also been back-and-forth. Jane explains what the governors final word is on commencement ceremonies.

So after graduation, will the class of 2020 be able to start a traditional college education? Case Western Reserve University officials plan to offer courses both online and in-person in the fall. We discuss how you could possibly socially distance in a dorm, and what other schools are planning.

On the other end of the spectrum are nursing homes. In Ohio, 276 nursing home residents have died from the coronavirus, Jane reports.

A nursing home in Tallmadge tested all 104 patients, and results came back positive for 59 of the 104 residents.

How can businesses clean their workplaces to make them safe for employees and customers? Jane has the answer.

Rite Aid has expanded coronavirus testing criteria at its 25 drive-up, self-swab coronavirus testing locations across the country, including in Parma and near Akron. You need an appointment, but the test is available to all adults are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

To close, we talk about what to expect when restaurants finally reopen. First, expect more space between tables. Plus, I say youll probably see servers in marks, paper menus and napkins, single servings of condiments and no more communal tables. But what about sidling up to the bar for a drink?

Meanwhile, find all our past episodes here.

Do you get your podcasts on Spotify. Find us here.

If you use Stitcher, we are here.

RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here.

On Google Podcasts, we are here.

On PodParadise, find us here.

And on PlayerFM, we are here.




By Jung Da-min







Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced Wednesday that the company and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) jointly donated coronavirus test kits to the Indonesian Defense Ministry to help the country battle the COVID-19 outbreak.







The companies sent enough test kits to analyze up to 10,000 samples. They said they wanted to offer humanitarian aid to the Southeast Asian partner country which operates Korea's KT-1B and T-50i planes and 1,400-ton submarines.







"Korea and Indonesia have maintained friendly relations in various fields, including the defense industry," KAI President and CEO Ahn Hyun-ho said. "I hope this support will help Indonesia better battle the COVID-19 outbreak."







In cooperation with the Korean Embassy in Indonesia and the Indonesian Defense Ministry, the test kits were delivered to Jakarta by Indonesian flagship carrier Garuda Airways. The test kits have an over 95 percent accuracy rate.







KAI, the sole aircraft manufacturer in Korea, has been partnering with the Indonesian government for the joint development of the KF-X/IF-X fighter for both countries' air forces, after the two nations signed an agreement in 2014.







The countries have further elevated bilateral cooperation in the defense industry through a joint declaration on the sidelines of the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit in November last year, in which they highlighted the joint fighter project.







Korea has recently become one of the main exporting countries to Indonesia in the defense field, topping the ranking of such countries from 2009 to 2018, followed by Russia, the U.S., the U.K. and the Netherlands, according to the 2019 Global Defense Market Year Book published by the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality.


Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) Industry veterans such as Farida Jalal and Satish Kaushik, who not only worked with Rishi Kapoor but also knew him well, cannot get over the news of his demise. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, April 30 : Industry veterans such as Farida Jalal and Satish Kaushik, who not only worked with Rishi Kapoor but also knew him well, cannot get over the news of his demise.

Filmmaker-actor Kaushik, who has worked with Kapoor in films like "Tehzeeb", "Saagar", "Aa Ab Laut Chalen" and "Wedding Pullav", says the late star made acting look like the easiest profession and that he ruled Bollywood with his charm and king size personality.

"Chintuji was a much-loved young icon of romance for me when I saw 'Bobby' in my college days in Delhi. After coming to Mumbai I kept on seeing him in various films as a huge star, and then got to work with him as a co-actor, and then he directed me in 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen'," Satish told IANS.

"He was a great friend, great company, always very jovial and very loving. A great person and actor, who ruled the film industry with his charm and king size persona," said Satish, who was recently shooting with Rishi for a film called "Sharmajee Namkeen".

An emotional Satish says that with Rishi the era of Romance has gone. "Yes, (the) era of romance is gone with him but his footprints will always take us to happiness and joy. Chintuji we will miss you and you will always remain the charming boy of Indian cinema. Rest in peace," he wrote.

While Kaushik was working with Rishi Kapoor in the film he would never complete, Farida Jalal recalled working with the late actor in his debut movie, "Bobby". She broke down over phone, while talking about Rishi Kapoor.

"Oh my god, what is happening? Yesterday Irrfan Khan passed away and today it is Chintu (Rishi Kapoor) I am really shocked. I was very close to Chintu. I worked with him in his first film, 'Bobby'. I don't know what to say, I need to process this," she said.

In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.

Post return to India, his health has frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to hospital in quick succession in February.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy on Wednesday said that it would carry out a broader review into the spread of the coronavirus aboard an aircraft carrier, a move likely to delay a decision on the future of the ship's fired captain.

Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of command of the carrier Theodore Roosevelt after the leak of a letter he wrote calling on the Navy for stronger measures to protect the crew.

Last week, the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday recommended after a preliminary investigation that Crozier be reinstated.

"I have unanswered questions that the preliminary inquiry has identified and that can only be answered by a deeper review," acting U.S. Navy Secretary James McPherson said in a statement.

"Therefore, I am directing Admiral Gilday to conduct a follow-on command investigation," McPherson said.

He added that the report would look to provide a "more fulsome understanding of the sequence of events, actions, and decisions of the chain of command."

The move appears to be in line with the wishes of U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who had been in favor of receiving a completed written investigation before making any decisions.

Esper had received a verbal briefing on the preliminary inquiry but felt that was insufficient to go forward on the Navy's recommendations.

Officials have told Reuters that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley was also in favor of a broader review.

At a White House event on Wednesday, President Donald Trump did not weigh in on whether he thought Crozier should be reinstated.

"He decides to be Ernest Hemingway," Trump said, referring to the captain's letter, but added that Crozier had a bad day and was a good man otherwise.

Crozier is one of the 940 sailors from the Roosevelts 4,800-member crew who have tested positive for the coronavirus, effectively taking one of the Navys most powerful ships out of operation.

Crozier was fired by the Navy's top civilian, then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, against the recommendations of uniformed leaders.

Modlys decision backfired badly, as members of the crew hailed their captain as a hero for risking his career out of concern for their health in an emotional sendoff captured on video that went viral on social media.

Embarrassed, Modly then compounded his problems by flying out to the carrier to ridicule Crozier over the leak and question his character in a speech to the Roosevelts crew, which also leaked to the media. Modly then resigned.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart. Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Marguerita Choy)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
RESTON, Va., April 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (Lightbridge, or the Company) (LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, today issued an update letter to shareholders from Seth Grae, President & Chief Executive Officer:



To Our Valued Shareholders,

I hope you and your family are safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of great economic uncertainty, we have taken steps to significantly reduce our burn rate in order to preserve the cash we have on hand. Our goal is to stretch our runway with current cash in our accounts to the end of 2021 while focusing on key research and development activities.

We remain committed to full transparency with our shareholders. I am not satisfied with our stock price, and dont believe it reflects the value of Lightbridge. Aside from our current cash position, we have invested tens of millions of dollars to develop Lightbridges valuable technology, including Lightbridge Fuel rods, assemblies, and manufacturing methods, that is protected by a significant worldwide patent portfolio and trade secrets.

The potential for our technology has been recognized by major companies in the nuclear industry and the Department of Energy (DOE) and its Idaho National Lab (INL). In fact, the barriers to entry within the DOE and INL are quite significant; to achieve this level of industry recognition is a testament to the potential of Lightbridges technology, and speaks to the wide disconnect in the market value of our stock.

Congress is providing historically high levels of support for nuclear power, with large majorities of votes in favor by members of both political parties. The administration is strongly promoting nuclear power, from the White House setting policies to DOE making its facilities and experts at national labs available to companies developing advanced nuclear technologies. Lightbridge has recently won a voucher from DOEs Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program, to support development of Lightbridge Fuel in collaboration with INL. We expect a long and fruitful partnership with DOE and INL.

Story continues

GAIN PROGRAM FUNDING AWARD

We ended fiscal year 2019 on a high note, winning the GAIN voucher, our first DOE funding award for the project, which helps position the Company for the next phase of development. Lightbridge has formalized the project, entering into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) on April 22, 2020 with Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC1, the operating contractor of INL, in collaboration with DOE. The scope of the project includes experiment design for irradiation of Lightbridge metallic fuel material samples in the Advanced Test Reactor at INL. We expect the project to commence soon.

The federal government has made nuclear technology a strategic priority. We believe that demonstrating excellent performance under the GAIN program, along with demonstrating the value that Lightbridges technology offers to DOE, will be helpful in future grant applications. DOE is mandated by law with the responsibility for removing used fuel from all commercial U.S. nuclear power plant sites. When and where DOE will move that fuel is not yet known. When Lightbridge Fuel is brought to market, it will reduce the amount of used fuel per unit of electricity generated, creating a benefit for DOE, which would have less used fuel to move and handle. This will also support DOEs nonproliferation mission, since Lightbridge Fuel will provide enhanced proliferation resistance.

LIGHTBRIDGES CO-EXTRUSION MANUFACTURING PROCESS

We released a video in late December 2019, demonstrating Lightbridges co-extrusion manufacturing process using surrogate materials to produce full commercial-length Lightbridge Fuel rods for large light water reactors and small modular reactors. We selected the surrogate materials in the demonstration to simulate the flow stresses, temperatures and extrusion pressures expected in the manufacture of actual Lightbridge Fuel rods, which will utilize a uranium-zirconium alloy.

LIGHTBRIDGES EXPANDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

We are also expanding our intellectual property protection. We recently received a Decision to Grant from the European Patent Office for a patent related to a Lightbridge metallic fuel assembly design for use in CANDU-type reactors. This extends Lightbridge's patent portfolio coverage and expands our market opportunities globally. According to the World Nuclear Association, there are 46 CANDU-type pressurized heavy water reactors in use around the world. The intellectual property in our proprietary fuel designs reflects years of research and effort by our team, including leading experts within the nuclear energy field. Our metallic fuel designs can also be adapted for use in nearly all other power reactors around the world.

It is our goal to bring Lightbridge Fuel to market as quickly, and at the lowest cost to stockholders, as practical. We are designing the fuel to make existing reactors able to compete and win financially against natural gas, renewables, and other nuclear fuels. Lightbridge Fuel is also compatible with and can further improve the economics of new smaller, safer reactor designs that will significantly increase the amount of carbon-free energy.

HISTORIC LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR NUCLEAR INNOVATION

We are operating in perhaps the friendliest government environment for nuclear research in several generations, with bipartisan support. The federal government is now providing small American companies with a greater opportunity than it has in the past to develop advanced nuclear technologies within its national laboratories. The government is making available reactors and other facilities to the industry, which includes Lightbridge, as shown with our first GAIN voucher award. In December 2019, Congress voted to approve appropriations for fiscal year 2020 that included $1.49 billion for nuclear energy programs, an increase of approximately $167 million over 2019.

We were honored that Lightbridge was included in a meeting held with President Trump in the White House in February 2019 with leaders of the nuclear power industry, which helped lead to the idea of the Nuclear Fuel Working Group (NFWG). On April 23, the NFWG released its report: Restoring Americas Competitive Nuclear Advantage: A Strategy to Assure U.S. National Security .

The report, which represented a whole-of-government approach, with input from experts across government departments and agencies, included a wide range of strategic priorities that align with the benefits of Lightbridge Fuel, including the backing of American innovation to support U.S. national security goals, including overtaking China and Russia in the international civil nuclear marketplace. Prominent in the report were stated commitments towards funding research and development for advanced nuclear fuels and reactors to use high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and backing commercialization of small modular reactors, as well as new fuel technologies to make nuclear power even safer.

We have been designing Lightbridge Fuel to meet all these goals. Our technology will help enable the vision for nuclear power manifested in these policies. Having recently received government funding support through the GAIN program, we believe Lightbridge is well positioned for continuing work with national laboratories, and the timing couldnt be better for Lightbridge to leverage its technology to advance these historic federal government initiatives.

In addition to bipartisan support for nuclear power at the federal level, Virginia, Lightbridges home state, is an example of broad support at the state level. Thus far in 2020, four bills have become law, along with a resolution passed towards the advancement of nuclear energy research and exploration of economic opportunities. Recently, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam directed the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority (VNECA) to work with industry stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan for ensuring that carbon-free nuclear power continues its contribution to economic development and reducing greenhouse gases. As a member of the board of directors of the VNECA, which has helped support this legislation, I think Virginia recognizes the large and growing federal support for nuclear power, particularly for advanced technologies, and wants to help position companies and universities within the state to receive that federal support. These bills are part of a trend that includes other states and countries recognizing nuclear as part of clean energy.

NUCLEAR AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF FUTURE ENERGY GENERATION

We believe there will need to be significant growth in nuclear power if the world is to meet energy, climate, and security needs. We have designed Lightbridge Fuel to play a major role in meeting these goals. Much of the private investment into advanced nuclear technology companies is leveraged with DOE funding support. While bringing change to the nuclear power industry is difficult, we remain confident in our ability to succeed.

The nuclear power industry is at an inflection point. Additional large reactors will close, and some new large reactors will be built, predominantly by foreign state-owned companies. Lightbridge Fuel can support existing and new large reactors compete against natural gas and renewables. Furthermore, the deployment of new smaller safer reactors, which Lightbridge Fuel can further optimize, opens the door for the next generation of reliable nuclear power.

ANNUAL MEETING AND EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

We are postponing our annual meeting until later this year, due to issues related to the printing of our proxy materials as a result of the pandemic. However, we will file a Form 10-K/A in the coming days that will include information that weve traditionally included in the proxy statement ahead of our annual shareholders meeting. This will include our management compensation and disclosures for 2019, along with our newly instituted Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), which facilitates executive and employee ownership of Lightbridge stock by permitting all Lightbridge employees to purchase shares on the open market through after-tax payroll deductions. The Board expects all our named executive officers to participate in the ESPP. We believe that providing this information in a timely manner is in the best interests of our shareholders.

ARBITRATION WITH FRAMATOME

We have commenced arbitration proceedings. We are confident of our position and will provide updates in the future.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

We have taken measures  both internally and directly within the investment community  that we believe will help generate greater awareness of the Lightbridge story among the investment community, with the goal of delivering long-term sustainable value to our shareholders. Weve recently completed a redesign of our corporate website, as well as a new investor presentation. I invite everyone to visit www.Ltbridge.com and welcome your feedback on both.

I want to thank our shareholders and also our employees, partners, and vendors, for your continued support. We will keep you apprised of our progress and key developments. I hope you stay safe and healthy.

Very truly yours,

Seth Grae

President & CEO

About Lightbridge Corporation

Lightbridge (LTBR) is an advanced nuclear fuel technology development company based in Reston, Virginia, United States. The Company is developing Lightbridge Fuel, a proprietary next-generation nuclear fuel technology for current and future reactors, which significantly enhances the economics, safety, and proliferation resistance of nuclear power. Lightbridge invented, patented, and has independently validated its technology, with goals of preventing climate change and enhancing national security. The Company has assembled a world-class development team. Four large electric utilities that generate about half of Americas nuclear power advise Lightbridge on fuel development and deployment. The Company plans to operate under a licensing and royalty model, and based on the increased power generated by Lightbridge-designed fuel expects to offer high ROI for operators of existing and new reactors. For more information please visit: www.ltbridge.com .

To receive Lightbridge Corporation updates via e-mail, subscribe at https://www.ltbridge.com/investors/news-events/email-alerts

Lightbridge is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @LightbridgeCorp at http://twitter.com/lightbridgecorp .

Forward Looking Statements

With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the timing and outcome of research and development activities, other steps to commercialize Lightbridge Fuel and future governmental support and funding for nuclear energy. These statements are based on current expectations on the date of this news release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly from such estimates. The risks include, but are not limited to: the Companys ability to commercialize its nuclear fuel technology; the degree of market adoption of the Company's product and service offerings; market competition; dependence on strategic partners; demand for fuel for nuclear reactors; the Company's ability to manage its business effectively in a rapidly evolving market; changes in the political environment; risks associated with the further spread of COVID-19, including the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on people, economies, and the Companys ability to access capital markets; the outcome of the arbitration with the Companys former joint venture partner and dissolution of the Enfission joint venture; as well as other factors described in Lightbridge's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Lightbridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.



A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Lightbridges Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at http://www.sec.gov/ and www.ltbridge.com .



Investor Relations Contact:

Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc.

Matthew Abenante

Tel: 212-564-4700

ir@ltbridge.com

1 The Battelle Energy Alliance is a collaboration between Battelle, BWX Technologies, Washington Group International, Electric Power Research Institute and an alliance of leading universities. Battelle is the largest private non-profit research and development organization in the world.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 15:37:18|Editor: huaxia

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A bird flies to an artificial nest on an electricity pylon in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, April 23, 2020. With a mild climate, Hainan is a paradise for birds. Especially from March to July each year, the breeding season for birds, a large number of birds nest and lay eggs. As the transmission lines usually pass through wetlands, ponds and fields where birds flock, electricity pylons become their ideal places to nest. To allow birds and cables to co-exist in harmony, Hainan Power Grid Company changed its traditional way of repelling birds and has been attracting and protecting birds by offering homes for them. About 3,000 artificial nests have been installed on the transmission lines over the past three years. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
A friend emailed me a YouTube link this week, to a film which seems a trance-like dream, but its real. It was made by someone flying home from Europe to Australia a few days ago in a world in which there are no passengers and hardly any planes. His is the lone bag that comes off the luggage belt. Terminals are ghostly, lights burning but shops shut. The familiar rhythm of announcements  welcome to X, the local time is Y, thank you for flying Z airlines rings out like an echo from a world that was vaporised one instant in mid-March. Hes like the last passenger out of Pompeii.

When the traveller reaches Sydney, a secure bus takes him straight to a fortnights quarantine in an airport hotel, with guards patrolling the corridors and one short escape a week allowed out of the room. At least, being efficient Australia, hes allowed to order room service bottles of shiraz and meals from Uber Eats. But its all very dystopian and its killing flying.

Some will shrug. London is a city which became addicted to cheap flying. Now its going cold turkey. Its ringed by six airports, more than any other major city in the world, and the LON flight code was not long ago the busiest on the planet. Now the city has clean air and silent skies. Even obsessive fliers are discussing online how Zoom conferences are revealing that most business trips were pointless. Just two months ago the defeat of plans to build a third runway at Heathrow was big news. Now the airport is running on one and is shutting two of its four terminals. You could pack all the people passing through Gatwick each day on to a couple of buses, if packing people on buses was safe. Its not all bad news, either. Carbon emissions have collapsed. Anyway, Derbyshire has loads more to offer than Dubai for a break.

But if you cut London off from the world, you then need to ask: whats the point of London? Its a city with just one business: being at the centre of things. The magic of our city is that everything comes here, everything leaves here and its always on the move. Until now. You dont have to be rich or selfish to feel a thrill as the Piccadilly Tube counts down those endless stops to Terminal Five. The roar of four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines as an A380 hits take-off speed might not be the sound of freedom, but there are moments when to me it comes close.

Julian Glover / Daniel Hambury

Even if you set my environmentally toxic romance aside, there are all the people whose jobs are going to go, starting with 12,000 at British Airways announced this week, but vast numbers more who work at airports or less secure airlines which will never fly again. Then there are the families in diverse London with links all over the planet. Im one. With an Australian passport in my pocket, I too want to go back soon.

London is a city at the centre of things  its magic is that everything comes here and it is always on the move

So we need a route to get flying again, even if it will be a route to fewer flights and more expensive tickets. Endless minibreaks might become one trip a year, and that wont be a bad thing for places like Venice which were drowning under tourism.

How can we restore confidence in flying? Well need to quarantine and test incoming passengers (Britains weirdly relaxed approach until now cant last). Well probably need facemasks on flights  as lots of airlines now require. We might need to show clear test results on an app before boarding.

Well find the rules become a nightmare: safe countries might become a bubble, Australia linking to New Zealand and maybe somewhere like Taiwan long before it lets coughing Londoners in. Malaga might welcome low Covid Austrians long before its happy to see us. Perhaps a Greek island or two will take UK flights  at a price.
Millions of Australians have been told to stay away from their families this Mothers' Day despite the country crushing the coronavirus curve.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews encouraged families to speak with their mothers and grandmothers on Sunday, May 10, by tuning into a video chat rather than meeting face-to-face.

Mr Andrews indicated tough restrictions introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19 would not be lifted in Victoria before May 11, when a state of emergency comes to an end.

Just like the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day, Mr Andrews said Mothers' Day 'needs to be very different this year'.

Millions of Australians have been told to stay away from their families this Mothers' Day despite crushing the coronavirus curve (stock image)

'We all want to be together, but the only way to get through this crisis is to work together,' he told The Herald Sun.

'I know we all just want to give our mum a hug.'

Mr Andrews recommended virtually marking the occasion, and added life can return to normal sooner if all Victorians 'do the right thing'.

'Catch up with your mum over a video call. Support a local business and send her flowers or some special goodies - that's what I'll be doing,' he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will meet with state and territory leaders on Friday morning for the National Cabinet.

There will be no immediate action to change the national baseline restrictions until May 11 but some states or territories can look to loosen their own measures.

STATE BY STATE RULES FOR MOTHER'S DAY VICTORIA Victorians are allowed one visitor from outside their household. NEW SOUTH WALES NSW are easing social restrictions to allow two people and their children to visit others in their homes. QUEENSLAND Up to two guests are allowed to visit any house. ACT Up to two guests are allowed to visit any house, but for compassionate reasons. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Extended family gatherings are allowed, with limits of 10 people. NORTHERN TERRITORY Up to 10 people are allowed to gather but must follow social distancing guidelines. WESTERN AUSTRALIA Extended family gatherings are allowed, with limits of 10 people. TASMANIA Up to two guests are allowed to visit any house, to provide 'social support'. Advertisement

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews encouraged families to celebrate their mothers and grandmothers on Sunday May 10 by tuning into a video chat rather than meeting face-to-face with their loved ones

Western Australia was the first to move on Monday when it began to relax its social distancing measures.

Groups of 10 people are now allowed to gather to exercise, and for weddings and funerals.

Open home inspections have started up again, and the state is forcing its hospitality workers to complete a COVID-19 hygiene course as it prepares to reopen bars and eateries.

NSW, which has the nation's highest number of cases, will modestly ease its social contact restrictions on Friday, and Queensland will follow on Saturday.

In the Northern Territory, outdoor weddings and funerals will be allowed from Friday, and restaurants and bars will open again on May 15, but with a two-hour time limit.

Just like the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day, Mr Andrews said Mother's Day 'needs to be very different this year'. He urged Victorians to celebrate the occasion on a video call (stock image)
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In the last few months, multiple groups of attackers successfully compromised corporate email accounts of at least 156 high-ranking officers at various firms based in Germany, the UK, Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Singapore.Dubbed ',' the newly spotted cyberattack campaign leveraged Microsoft file-sharing servicesincluding Sway, SharePoint, and OneNoteto launch highly targeted phishing attacks.According to a report Group-IB Threat Intelligence team published today and shared with The Hacker News, PerSwaysion operations attacked executives of more than 150 companies around the world, primarily with businesses in finance, law, and real estate sectors."Among these high-ranking officer victims, more than 20 Office365 accounts of executives, presidents, and managing directors appeared."So far successful and still ongoing, most PerSwaysion operations were orchestrated by scammers from Nigeria and South Africa who used a Vue.js JavaScript framework-based phishing kit, evidently, developed by and rented from Vietnamese speaking hackers."By late September 2019, PerSwaysion campaign has adopted much mature technology stacks, using Google appspot for phishing web application servers and Cloudflare for data backend servers."Like most phishing attacks aiming to steal Microsoft Office 365 credentials, fraudulent emails sent as part of PerSwaysion operation also lured victims with a non-malicious PDF attachment containing 'read now' link to a file hosted with Microsoft Sway."The attackers pick legitimate cloud-based content sharing services, such as Microsoft Sway, Microsoft SharePoint, and OneNote to avoid traffic detection," the researchers said.Next, the specially crafted presentation page on Microsoft Sway service further contains another 'read now' link that redirects users to the actual phishing sitewaiting for the victims to enter their email account credentials or other confidential information.Once stolen, attackers immediately move on to the next step and download victims' email data from the server using IMAP APIs and then impersonate their identities to further target people who have recent email communications with the current victim and hold important roles in the same or other companies."Finally, they generate new phishing PDF files with the current victim's full name, email address, legal company name. These PDF files are sent to a selection of new people who tend to be outside of the victim's organization and hold significant positions. The PerSwaysion operators typically delete impersonating emails from the outbox to avoid suspicion.""Evidence indicates that scammers are likely to use LinkedIn profiles to assess potential victim positions. Such a tactic reduces the possibility of early warning from the current victim's co-workers and increases the success rate of new phishing cycle."Though there's no clear evidence on how attackers are using compromised corporate data, researchers believe it can be 'sold in bulk to other financial scammers to conduct traditional monetary scams.'Group-IB has also set-up an online web-page where anyone can check if their email address was compromised as part of PerSwaysion attackshowever, you should only use it and enter your email if you're highly expecting to be attacked.
The Delhi High Court has granted interim bail for three weeks to a man, accused of raping a minor girl, on the ground that his parents and wife are unwell.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, granted the relief to the man in view of the medical attention required by his family and asked him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 25,000.

The court said in view of the COVID-19 pandemic resolution passed by the high powered committee and a judgement of the division bench, the requirement of furnishing a surety bond by the prisoner while granting bail is dispensed with.

It directed the accused not to try to get in touch with the complainant or any other prosecution witness directly or indirectly and not to make any effort to tamper with the evidence.

The high court directed the accused not to leave the national capital during the period of release on interim bail without the prior permission of the concerned court.

The high court asked the man to provide his mobile number to the investigating officer of the case and remain in touch with him twice a week and directed him to surrender before the concerned jail superintendent on expiry of interim bail period.

The man, who is accused of raping a minor girl in 2018 in Adarsh Nagar in north west Delhi, approached the high court seeking interim bail on the ground that his father, mother and wife are unwell and require medical attention.

His counsel said while the man's father suffered a paralytic attack and required medical attention, his wife has been medically examined with complaint of fever and breathlessness.

However, the prosecutor, who opposed the interim bail plea, said the medical documents of the man's father have been verified.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its a lot, Simler said. However, we are saving lives. As of right now, we have not had anyone test positive (for COVID-19), nor have they had symptoms and that is a true testament of our efforts to keep them safe and keep them in.
A FORMER metropolitan mayor has called for parking spots in Limerick to be replaced with restaurant tables.

Councillor Daniel Butler has been in contact with local authority bosses to table the idea, which he hopes will help restaurants left struggling in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Among the hospitality trade, its expected restaurants will re-open under strict social distancing guidelines, which the Fine Gael man says will cut their capacity and trade by 40%.

To help this, he wants to see eatries in the city centre, as well as Kilmallock, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale and other towns and villages, benefit from the elimination of a parking spot instead a table where the vehicle would have been.

Business owners would pay a nominal fee to have this service, he said.

What I have asked council executives to examine next is the use of parklets and on street tables in place of parking where there is a demand by food business for the summer period. This would help to compensate food outlets for lost capacity while also making our towns and villages more pedestrian friendly, he told the Limerick Leader.

The parklets could be used as eating spaces or to compensate for lost path space, where current path space is used for tables, to ensure physical distancing space and support those with mobility challenges such as wheelchair user, he added.

Cllr Butler says the use of parking spaces is a natural extension to restaurants using the pavement for tables, adding he doesnt feel that many spots will be impacted because lots of restaurants already do not face onto the roads.

As Covid-19 restrictions begin to be relaxed, Fine Gaels party leader in the metropolitan district warned businesses are going to face a new reality.

In order to help, he wants to see the speed limit in the city cut from 50 kilometres per hour down to 30 kilometres per hour: This would help with safety issues associated with parklets and ensure improved safety for pedestrians. We need to explore all the options but in a measured and coherent way that does not burden stretched resources, he said.
A safety and security agreement removing the need for post-Brexit entry and exit declarations between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is needed, the freight industry said.

A substantial customs agent shortage in the UK also needs to be urgently addressed ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period, hauliers added.

Northern Ireland businesses are facing added pressure due to the potential formalities associated with the Irish border protocol that will not be faced by other UK businesses in Great Britain, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) said.

It said: Logistics is an adaptable industry that can quickly react to changing circumstances, new risks and opportunities, but to do so it needs advanced notice of the changes that are to come.

On both sides of the Irish Sea, businesses and logistics providers need to have timely clarity on operational requirements and new processes so they have enough time to implement them.

It said trade facilitation measures can help reduce additional requirements and red tape for traders and their logistics providers while the UK is outside the EUs single market and customs union.

The FTA said: Our industry needs a safety and security agreement removing the need for entry and exit summary declarations between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

For this to work, it would also be likely that the same process would likely be required on shipping between Great Britain and Ireland.

The transition period is due to end at the end of this year.

Civil servants in Northern Ireland are planning for either a free trade deal with the EU or a no deal in which a protocol aligning trade regulations across Ireland comes into force.

The UK is due to indicate by June whether it is seeking an extended period of transition, although Downing Street has ruled out such a move.

Hauliers also called for a mutual recognition agreement for authorised economic operator (AEO) status.

Story continues

They are seeking a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement removing the need for physical checks on agri-food products and other plant products and products of animal origin.

The FTA said: Industry needs to identify ways and means to demonstrate what goods moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland would be classified as not at risk and to then make use of a facilitation to avoid unnecessary formalities and checks.

Before the end of the transition period, the criteria for considering which goods brought into Northern Ireland from outside the EU are not at risk of subsequently being moved into the EU will be established.

The FTA said: Consideration should be given to the unique geographical situation regarding trade entering the island of Ireland and where goods entering from Great Britain can be identified as not being at risk to the single market, derogations should be applied to such trade to ensure continued frictionless transit and minimal formalities.
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Air transport 2021, November

Published: 30 April 2020

Number of passengers at Finnish airports fell to under one half in March 2020

Altogether 0.96 million passengers flew through Finnish airports in March 2020, which was 56 per cent lower than one year before. There were 0.7 million passengers at Helsinki Airport and a total of 0.2 million passengers at other domestic airports. Helsinki Airport accounted for 78 per cent of all passengers at domestic airports.

In March 2020 the number of passengers at Helsinki Airport decreased by 57 per cent and the combined number of passengers at other Finnish airports went down by 53 per cent compared to March 2019.

Sixty-nine per cent of the passengers were from international flights and 31 per cent from domestic flights. Of the passengers at Helsinki Airport, 80 per cent were from international flights. Ninety-six per cent of the passengers at Helsinki Airport flew on scheduled flights and four per cent on chartered flights. At the other domestic airports, 14 per cent of the passengers flew on chartered flights.

Passengers of scheduled and chartered flights at Helsinki Airport and other domestic airports in January to March 2020

In the January to March period of 2020 altogether 4.9 million passengers flew through Finnish airports, which was 20 per cent lower than one year before. Seventy-one per cent of the passengers were from international flights and 29 per cent from domestic flights. There were 3.9 million passengers at Helsinki Airport and a total of 1.0 million passengers at other domestic airports. Helsinki Airport accounted for 79 per cent of all passengers at domestic airports.

In the January to March period of 2020 air freight and mail transports amounted to 44.128 tonnes in total, and 97 per cent of the tonnes were transported through Helsinki Airport. Ninety-nine per cent of the tonnes were transported between Finland and foreign countries. Altogether 25.009 tonnes of the goods were outgoing and 19.118 tonnes were incoming.

Source: Transport and Tourism, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Matti Kokkonen 029 551 3770, Sami Lahtinen 029 551 3207, matti.kokkonen@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (161.6 kB)

Updated 30.04.20020

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Air transport [e-publication].

ISSN=2670-1847. March 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 13.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ilma/2020/03/ilma_2020_03_2020-04-30_tie_001_en.html
BRUSSELS  Facing pointed criticism from lawmakers on Thursday, the European Unions top diplomat denied that Chinese officials had pressured his team to soften language in a recent report on disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic.

The report, released late last week, described Chinese and Russian efforts to spread falsehoods and propaganda about the pandemic. But The New York Times reported that the language had been toned down amid criticism from China. The final report differed in key areas from both an internal version and an earlier draft that had been planned for public release, according to interviews, emails and documents seen by The Times.

The European Unions senior diplomat, Josep Borrell, acknowledged that Chinese officials had objected to the report, but said such objections are are the daily bread of diplomacy. He said the revisions had been part of the normal editing process. There was no watering down of our findings, Mr. Borrell said.

Lawmakers appeared skeptical. Thierry Mariani, a French member of the European Parliament, told Mr. Borrell that his team had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
"As long as this disease spreads, we have to continue to scale, and as long as this disease takes lives, we must test," said LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, shown here during a March news conference. Read more

All Los Angeles County residents will now have access to free coronavirus testing regardless of whether they have symptoms, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday, noting that Los Angeles is the first major city in the United States to roll out such an effort.

Previously, testing in Los Angeles was limited to individuals showing symptoms, frontline workers and those who lived or were employed at institutional facilities such as nursing homes. By opening testing centers to the broader population, Garcetti said officials hope to stem the spread of the potentially deadly infection by identifying asymptomatic carriers while also gaining a better understanding of the virus's impacts on the community.

"As long as this disease spreads, we have to continue to scale, and as long as this disease takes lives, we must test," Garcetti, a Democrat, said at his daily coronavirus briefing. "We know that coronavirus is a silent killer that moves quietly through the population, and many of the people who transmit the disease, this is why it is so deadly, don't know that they have it."

Los Angeles County officials reported 1,541 new cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, the largest increase of infections reported in a single day since the outbreak began, according to the Los Angeles Times. The county now has more than 22,400 reported cases with just over 1,000 deaths.

During the briefing, Garcetti encouraged residents to make appointments to get tested, stressing that those with symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath will be prioritized. There are currently 34 testing sites countywide and the city has the capacity to test 18,000 people a day, Garcetti said.

"Don't wait, don't wonder and don't risk infecting others," he said. "This is a really important step to prepare for other steps forward in the weeks to come."

Garcetti's announcement comes just days after President Donald Trump unveiled what the White House called a "blueprint" for expanding testing capacity nationwide that largely places the responsibility on states to create their own plans and rapid-response programs, The Washington Post reported. The White House's guidance follows mounting pressure from health experts and local leaders who have called for a national testing strategy to be implemented as states have started to work toward easing restrictions amid the ongoing pandemic.

While California has not approached reopening as aggressively as other states, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, unveiled his four-phase plan Tuesday, which included the possibility that select businesses could be up and running again within weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times.

On Wednesday, Garcetti expressed confidence that there would be enough tests for anyone who wants one, despite the county being home to roughly 10 million people  a belief echoed by Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Jeff Gorell, who is helping to lead the city's outbreak response.

"We feel very comfortable with meeting the demand and the truth is every time we announce a larger population is invited to test, we brace for being overrun and we haven't been overrun yet," Gorell told The Post. "We just have not met capacity."

Since Los Angeles began testing last month, Gorell said the number of tests available has consistently been greater than the number of people requesting them.

Before Wednesday, Los Angeles was ordering 3,000 tests a day from an FDA-approved lab in the neighboring city of San Dimas, which also processes the results, Gorell said. On an average day, only around 1,500 people would show up to get tested, he said.

"We have excess appointments and we have excess kits left over," he said. "In the crisis we find ourselves in, we don't want to be in that position. We want to use all of the capacity that we have."

In preparation for a swell of people seeking tests, Gorell said the city is now upping its daily order to 10,000 kits. Testing sites  many of which are run by trained volunteers from Community Organized Relief Effort, a nonprofit founded by actor Sean Penn  are also prepared to handle any influx, he said.

"We'll get a pretty good sense in the next couple of days as to what that demand is," he said, adding that officials would like to see most, if not all, open appointments fill up.

Gorell said he anticipates the expansion in testing to play a major part in influencing how the city adjusts its coronavirus response moving forward.

Officials are hopeful test results that include those who are asymptomatic will help them get a more accurate understanding of how the virus is spreading in the community and provide critical data that will inform future policies and guidelines. The new testing format may also lead to a larger number of residents being aware of their conditions, knowledge that could contribute to slowing community transmissions.

It benefits everybody, Gorell said.
At least 100 Guatemalans deported from the US between late March and mid-April have tested positive for the coronavirus.

A planeload of 92 Guatemalan deportees scheduled to arrive Thursday all tested negative for the coronavirus before boarding their flight from Texas in the United States, Guatemalan officials said Thursday.

The major change in how the US handles its deportation flights to Guatemala comes after two weeks in which Guatemala refused to accept more flights.

Guatemalas foreign ministry said Thursdays flight did not signify that flights had officially resumed and it did not know when there would be another one, perhaps suggesting it was a test.

Its under negotiation, the ministry said.

The government had suspended the flights after at least 44 deportees on an April 13 flight from the US state of Louisiana tested positive for the virus.

That had been the first day of resumed flights after a previous suspension that followed a March 26 flight on which the majority of the deportees also tested positive. Guatemalen President Alejandro Giammattei recently referred to it as that damned flight, showing his frustration with a topic that has become sensitive domestically as the countrys teetering health system tries to confront the viruss spread.

In total, at least 100 Guatemalans deported from the US between late March and mid-April have tested positive for the virus. The April 13 flight of infected deportees so unnerved Guatemalas government that the US sent a team from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Guatemala to verify the tests.

Guatemalan migrants walking toward a bus after being deported from the US in Guatemala City, Guatemala [File: Fabricio Alonso/Reuters]

Since at least March, the government had been asking its US counterparts to certify the health of deportees before putting them on flights. Until now, that had meant only checking their temperatures or looking for other symptoms.

It appeared Guatemalas two-week suspension finally moved the US government to test deportees. It was not immediately clear if the US would begin testing deportees to other countries.

The issue had become sensitive for Giammattei in Guatemala, where there was a growing fear and accounts of harassment of deportees because people feared they carried the virus.

Last week, Giammattei said in an interview that some countries were helping Guatemala with financial and medical resources to confront the virus while others have sent us infected deportees, but not a dime.

Last Friday, US President Donald Trump called the presidents of Honduras and El Salvador to offer encouragement and medical equipment while praising their assistance in controlling immigration. Giammattei was notably not included among those calls.

To the United States, it sounds bad that a little country wants to push its luck and blame them for deporting infected deportees, even though its true, said Renso Rosal, a Guatemalan political analyst.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks at a Los Angeles County Health Department press conference on the novel coronavirus, (COVID-19)on March 4, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

Los Angeles became the first city in the U.S. to offer coronavirus testing for anyone regardless of whether they have symptoms, Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a press conference on Wednesday.

But those with symptoms will have the first priority, he added.

Los Angeles has the capacity to conduct roughly 9% of all tests in America, Garcetti told reporters.

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In other regions in the state, efforts are underway to understand the spread of the virus by testing those who aren't actively experiencing symptoms.

Bolinas, California was the first town to offer widespread testing to residents. The effort, which kicked off earlier this month, is part of a research project put together by the Marin County community of Bolinas and the University of California, San Francisco.
Ford Australia will produce and donate up to 100,000 face masks for brave frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The auto company is liaising with the government to supply the masks amid a global shortage of Personal Protective Equipment.

Prototype masks were tested in five Victorian hospitals and are now being produced at scale and distributed to doctors and nurses.

Ford Australia will produce and donate up to 100,000 face masks for brave frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ford has deployed a core team to produce the face shields, with around 50,000 already assembled at production cells in its Broadmeadows facilities in Melbourne

Ford has deployed a core team to produce the face shields, with around 50,000 already assembled at production cells in its Broadmeadows facilities in Melbourne.

Kay Hart, President & CEO of Ford Australia & New Zealand, said Ford is ramping up production and distribution of the face masks.

'We said from the beginning of COVID-19 that any way we could help, we would help,' she said.

'Producing face shields is certainly something new for us, but our innovation team and engineers were able to test a number of different designs in hospitals and with their input we have been able to get the face shield right for the people who will be wearing them.

Prototype masks were tested in five Victorian hospitals and are now being produced at scale and distributed to doctors and nurses

'With testing of the prototype shield now complete, we're quickly ramping up production and working to dispatch the shields to medical workers and other facilities that need them.

'It's great that our team has been able to quickly pivot to put their skills towards producing the face shield while also continuing their global work designing and engineering pick-up trucks and SUVs.'

Ford is liaising with the government on ongoing needs for the supply of face shields in order to satisfy demand for PPE gear.

The company has also worked with a number of local suppliers to procure the materials for the face shields and overcome challenges with availability of materials on the global market.
By Trend





The number of foreign citizens who visited Uzbekistan for tourism in the period from January through March 2020 decreased by 12 percent compared to the same period of 2019, Trend reports citing the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan.

The number of tourists who visited Uzbekistan in the period from January through March 2020 amounted to just over 1.2 million people, the report said.

The most tourists came from the CIS countries - 1.1 million people (95.6 percent of the total), and only 53,600 people (4.4 percent) came from non-CIS countries.

The largest flow of foreign citizens in Uzbekistan was observed from the following countries: Kazakhstan - 397,600 people (32.8 percent of the total number of all arrivals), Tajikistan - 332,700 people (27.4 percent), Kyrgyzstan - 298,100 people (24.6 percent), Russia - 64,700 people (5.3 percent), Turkmenistan - 60,600 people (five percent), Azerbaijan - 2,000 people (0.2 percent) and Belarus - 1,200 people (0.1 percent).

Significant tourist flows from non-CIS countries were observed from Turkey - 13,500 (1.1 percent), South Korea - 5,200 (0.4 percent), China - 3,700 (0.3 percent), India - 3,600 (0.3 percent), Japan - 1,300 (0.1 percent) and France - 900 (less than 0.1 percent).

The inflow of tourists from abroad in Uzbekistan significantly declines due to the spread of coronavirus in the world, the report said.




The Bombay High Court on Thursday



sought the Maharashtra government's response to a plea seeking a probe into the Palghar mob lynching by an independent agency like the CBI or a special investigation team (SIT).

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed the government to file its affidavit in response to the petition filed by an advocate, Alakh Alok Srivastava, by May 22 and also give details of its investigation into the April 16 lynching of three people - two seers and their car driver.

Srivastava, in his petition, has sought for the high court to monitor the probe and seek periodical reports from the investigating agency.

The plea also sought for the trial in the case to be expedited and for financial compensation for the drivers family.

The incident took place on the night of April 16 when the three men were going from Mumbai in a car towards Surat in Gujarat to attend a funeral.

Their car was stopped near a village in adjoining Palghar district where the three were dragged out and beaten to death with sticks by a mob on suspicion that they were child-lifters.

The deceased were identified as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70), Sushilgiri Maharaj (35), and their driver Nilesh Telgade(30).

The petition noted that presently 101 persons have been arrested in the case, which has now been transferred to the state CID from the local police.

The government has also suspended five policemen for alleged dereliction of duty.

However, there are allegations that the police personnel present at the scene of the incident did not help the victims. The incident video even shows one police official pushing one of the victim sadhus away from him instead of protecting him, the petition said.

The plea further said the incident has shaken the collective conscience of the society and every step needs to be taken to restore faith of the public in the police machinery.

In view of this, the petitioner has sought a probe into the mob attack by an independent agency like the CBI or an SIT.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Homelessness figures have dropped below 10,000 for the second time this year. (Nick Ansell/PA)

Homelessness figures have dropped below 10,000 for the second time this year.

Newly released figures for the month of March show that homelessness figures have dropped below 10,000, with 6,552 adults and 3,355 children homeless.

This is a decrease of 241 people from Februarys figures, with 62 less adults, 179 less children and 122 less families in emergency accommodation in March.

Dublin has recorded by far the highest number of homeless people in the country with 4,515 people without a fixed abode.

A total of 1,488 families in the country are homeless.

However, charities have warned that this drop in homeless figures may spike again once figures are released for the months with lockdown restrictions in place.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said that despite challenges, people are being moved into homes.

Despite the current challenges work is taking place across the country to move people into homes, he said.

We continue to add capacity to the system where needed to allow for isolation and social distancing and are working closely with the HSE.

Depaul CEO David Carroll said that things cannot go back to how they were before.

There have been many positives in terms of the response to those experiencing homelessness during this crisis however, things cannot go back to the way they were before."

He called for a robust plan to be put in place to avoid more people becoming homeless due to the economic effects of the pandemic.

"With mass job losses and the likelihood of a recession a robust plan needs to be drawn up and implemented so we avoid a scenario where more people become homeless as a result of Covid-19, he said

Some of the vital measures put in place, such as rent freezes and a moratorium on evictions will need to remain for a longer period.

Simon Community spokesperson Wayne Stanley also called for preventative supports to be put in place to help people stay out of emergency accommodation.

We believe that work should be a part of ongoing planning to unwind the restrictions put in place due to the health crisis and should continue as part of any new government strategy on homelessness, he said.
A simple technique to illuminate the exits in trawl fishing nets can reduce unwanted bycatch by almost 50%, new research has found, potentially protecting both the environment and fishermens livelihoods.

Attaching LED lights to larger holes in nets intended to allow non-target species to escape dramatically cut the numbers killed unnecessarily, a team from Bangor University found.

The research, published in Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, inverts an old fishing technique of shining a light on water to attract fish into a net to boost the catch.

The study, which was conducted between June and August 2017, tested the impact of lights in reducing the number of haddock and flatfish caught in a queen scallop fishery off the Isle of Man.

A haul of Queen scallop, the target catch species, caught during the experiment (Lucy Southworth/PA)

It found that while existing bycatch reduction devices were effective at shallower depths of 29 metres to 40 metres deep, in deeper darker waters of 45m to 95m, they had no impact at all on bycatch numbers.

But once LEDs were added to these exits in deep water, haddock bycatch was reduced by 47% and flatfish catch was reduced by 25%.

Bycatch is a problem in fisheries all over the world because it inflicts further damage on often depleted non-target species, and kills mammals and seabirds that become entangled in nets.

It can also be a huge cost to fishermen  under EU law, the Landings Obligation requires fishermen to bring ashore almost everything that they catch, including fish that are not part of their quota.

If they end up catching too much of their non-target species, fishermen can see their fishery choked  closed for a period of months to allow vulnerable stocks to recover.

Lucy Southworth, lead author of the study, told the PA news agency: Traditionally, and this goes back decades and maybe even centuries, fishers used lights to attract fish.

But now we are turning that on its head to try and manipulate the behavioural responses in fish and other animals to either repel them away from gear or to manipulate their behaviour so they can escape from them net.

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She added: In our case we decided to attach the lights to the escape exit to try and guide fish towards it so they would escape out more so than they would do if the lights werent there.

LED lights fitted to square holes in the net designed to allow certain species to escape (Lucy Southworth/PA)

Ms Southworth described the discovery that existing bycatch reduction devices without LEDs cease to work at greater depth or at night very worrying.

It means fishermen trying to comply with best practice are still at risk of seeing their fisheries closed early, and potentially causing significant unintended environmental damage.

The research team thinks the LED solution could prove very popular with fishermen because the lights are relatively cheap, easily applied to existing nets and reconfigured for different environments.

Separate research conducted in Peru has already shown LED lights can reduce the numbers of seabirds entangled in gill nets, and is trying to establish if it can help protect turtles.

Anecdotally, the team conducting the research in the Isle of Man found evidence of escapement of shark bycatch and think it could be an area for further research.

Spurdog sharks escaping from the illuminated square mesh panel (Lucy Southworth/PA)

It could potentially reduce the numbers of dolphins, whales and porpoises killed in fishing nets in UK waters every year.

The lights might help alert marine mammals to the presence of nets  particularly gill netting, which forms a wall across the seabed  helping them to avoid them.

The study worked with lights supplied by the UK-based start-up SafetyNet Technologies.

Dan Watson, the companys chief executive, said: Wed love to keep working with people to progress the science further.

Morven Robertson, senior UK projects manager at the Blue Marine Foundation, welcomed the research, saying: We look forward to seeing how this technology can help fishermen to reduce bycatch, avoid choke species and fulfil commitments to the landings obligations.

Samuel Stone, head of fisheries and aquaculture at the Marine Conservation Society, said: This is really exciting and exactly the kind of innovation we need to see more of to reduce bycatch in our fisheries.

He added: Wed love to see more funding for innovations like this, but policy incentives from governments are also really important.

Offering things such as extra quota and access to certain areas when approved selectivity devices are being used could really help incentivise widespread use.

Philip Evans, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said it was concerning that existing bycatch reduction devices become less effective at night and in deep water.

We hope that fishing fleets take heed of this scientific development to help them reduce their bycatch, and step up their measures to eliminate it as much as possible, he said.

But to give our oceans the best chance of recovery, we need to see catch limits set at sustainable levels, in line with scientific advice.

We also must place at least 30% of our oceans off limits to human activity, including fishing, by 2030.

Marine biologist Rob Deaville, head of the UKs Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, welcomed the research but was cautious of what it might mean for marine mammals, saying further research was needed.

Meanwhile, our existing options to mitigate cetacean bycatch remain limited and we must do more to improve the availability of potential tools to address this significant issue, he said.
There's nothing wrong with following the rules but some people have proven to take things too far when it comes to abiding by instructions.

Bored Panda has collected a selection of hilarious photos of people from around the world who have ended up in absurd situations while doing exactly as they're told.

They include a pedestrian pausing at temporary traffic lights after spotting a sign saying 'when red light shows wait here', and a coffee shop customer who received their order with their name 'Brian with a y', written on the side.

Elsewhere, a man was spotted staring intently on the ground after spotting a 'watch the step' sign, while a husband responded to his wife's request to put the pillow cases on by perching them on top.

Amongst the photos collated by Bored Panda, one woman, believed to be in UK, was very obliging to the rules as she stood on the pavement in front of the sign for traffic which reads: 'When red light shows wait here'

A man, believed to be from the US, posed while staring intensely at step in front of the very literal sign which tells him to 'watch step'

One student, who currently lives in China, decided to save time writing a long answer by literally following the instruction of writing '80-100 words'

Bryan, from an unknown location, was left eating his words after ordering an ice-cold Starbucks drink

Another clever employee, from an unknown location, was told to 'make a sign', opting to pen the exact instruction onto the blackboard along with a miniature sign that he made out of chalk

You can never be too cautious! One employee, believed to be from the US, decided to ensure customer safety by putting wet floor signs all over the supermarket

A customer on a Disney cruise, from an unknown location, told the waiter they wanted 'nothing' from dessert. And the waiter brought them the dish they asked for by piping 'nothing' on a plate

A mother, from Honolulu, Hawaii, was told to 'cover up' while breastfeeding in a restaurant. However the woman decided to adhere by the instructions by literally throwing a scarf over her head

A makeup artist, from Chicago, told her brother that he could eat 'half of her grapes'. However when she returned, she found each grape bitten into

A parent, from an unknown location, was left baffled after telling their daughter to 'weigh all of the ingredients'. However, instead of weighing them individually, she piled them all on the scales

One husband, from an unknown location, was told by his partner to put the pillow cases on the pillows. And it seems he took the instructions very literally by placing the pillow cases on top of the pillows

A tenant, from an unknown location, was told to 'put in new fire alarms and not remove old ones'. However, they were left with a wall of alarms after taking the instruction literally

One person admitted they might have made a mistake when going through a Taco Bell Drive-Thru in America and asking for 'as much sauce as you're allowed to give me'. They returned home with two bags full

A husband, believed to be from America, was left unimpressed when he asked his wife for frozen fruit and she decided to buy bananas with a label for the movie Frozen on it

One child, thought to be based in Britain, was left seriously disappointed when his parents gifted him this S, rather than the 3DS game console he wanted

A British-based psychologist was asked which of her two affiliations she preferred to go on her name tag when speaking at an event. She replied with 'Probably University of Central Lancashire', and so that's exactly what was put

One teenager decided to give their teacher a very literal reply to the statement: 'Motivate your answer'. It is unclear where the youngster is from

A British parent instantly regretted telling her three and four-year-old children to place the toilet roll under the sink, as she was given this result (pictured above)
Agartala/Aizawl, April 30 : Piglets imported from the UK by the National Livestock Mission (NLM) for the northeastern states, have been kept in quarantine in Delhi as highly infectious African Swine Fever (ASF) caused the deaths of hundreds of pigs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Thursday.

According to officials in Agartala and Aizawl, the NLM had imported 262 high-quality piglets from the United Kingdom, but these piglets had to be kept in quarantine in Delhi as the ASF caused deaths of hundreds of pigs in six districts of Assam and nine districts in Arunachal Pradesh.

Tripura's Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD) Director Dilip Chakma said these 262 high-quality piglets were supposed to be distributed in five northeastern states -- Tripura, Nizoram, Meghalatya, Manipur and Nagaland.

"Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had no pig breeding policy when the initiative to import the piglets from the UK was undertaken by the NLM. Later, both the states framed the pig breeding policy," Chakma told IANS.

He said that due to the outbreak of ASF in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the NLM kept the piglets in quarantine at the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service center at Kapashera in southwest Delhi since the piglets were imported from UK in February.

Chakma, who is also the Additional Secretary of the ARDD, said the NLM (similar to National Health Mission), would bear the entire expenditure to import the piglets from UK and to distribute them to the northeastern states. He said that the Mizoram Government's Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Department (AHVSD) is the nodal agency of this scheme.

An official of the AHVSD said the pure breed large white Yorkshire and pure breed Landrace pigs of UK are of very high quality compared to the local breed in many respects. Pork is one of the most common and popular meats consumed by both tribals and non-tribals in the northeastern states.

Due to the ASF, hundreds of pigs' deaths were reported from the Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and Jorhat districts of Assam and in West Kameng, Papum-pare, Lower Siang, Upper Siang, East Siang, Lohit, Lepa-Rada, Namsai, Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Because of the outbreak of ASF in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, all the state governments in the northeast have sounded a high alert and asked people, especially owners of piggeries, to refrain from bringing pigs from other states.

Animal resource experts in northeast India suspect that the highly contagious ASF came to the region from Tibet in China through Arunachal Pradesh. Assam Agriculture and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora confirmed the deaths of over 2,260 pigs in his state's six districts due to suspected ASF, with authorities waiting for confirmatory reports from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal.

Bora said in Guwaahti: "The pigs are dying due to a foreign virus and we guess that it may have come from Tibet in China. Reports of pigs' deaths in Arunachal Pradesh were reported in the first week of April. Many villagers in the state threw the carcasses of dead pigs into rivers which flow down to Assam, causing pig deaths in Dhemaji district which borders Arunachal Pradesh." Bora said that normally this is a period of swine flu among pigs in Assam. "We have vaccinated animals against Classical Swine Fever (CSF) disease." According to the animal resource experts, the pigs generally are affected by the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) besides the ASF and CSF.
With the addition of 417 fresh coronavirus cases, the number in Mumbai rose to 6,875 on Thursday, while 20 more patients succumbed to the disease, taking the toll to 290, the city civic body said.

According to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release, with the detection of fresh cases, the tally jumped to 6,875, while the toll reached 290 in the financial capital with the addition of 20 fatalities, most of them having pre-existing illnesses.

The BMC said it discharged 45 patients from various hospitals on Thursday following their recovery from the disease, taking the number of such people to 1472.

The civic body further informed that 498 new suspected patients of COVID-19 have been admitted in various hospitals in the city.

According to BMC sources, the city has 1459 containment zones, where at least one positive or suspected patient has been found.

The BMC said out of 20 fresh deaths, 16 patients had co-morbidities.

"Eight of the deceased were above 60 years and 12 were between 40 to 60 years of age," the release said.

The civic body also claimed out of the 417 new cases, 110 tested positive on April 27 and 28. These patients have already been admitted in isolation wards and they are under treatment.

Meanwhile, in the wake of death of a civic inspector associated with food distribution work in Dharavi due to coronavirus, the BMC has decided to test its assessment staff, bus drivers and community development officers at fever clinics by May 1.

The decision comes after one of the main labour unions warned of "tough stand" if the BMC did not conduct medical examination of its staff.

In the meantime, an NGO, Watchdog Foundation, has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray claiming that 26 staffers, including a few doctors, of a leading hospital in suburban Vile Parle (West) have tested positive for coronavirus.

However, the hospital has not quarantined its staffers, the NGO claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lifetimes Married at First Sight has started branching out in recent months, as former cast members develop devoted followings and spinoffs launch. On Apr. 29, Kevin Frazierwho also hosted the Married at First Sight Season 10 reunionsat down with eight former couples and cast members from the previous nine seasons to catch up during an update special, Married at First Sight: Where Are They Now?

From happy couples updates on babies and home ownership to arguments between soon-to-be-divorced exes and appearances by controversial participants, the drama (and cuteness) was real! Heres a rundown of the eight Married at First Sight couples and cast members who sat down with Frazier for the specialand a bit about what each of them had to say.

Doug Hehner and Jamie Otis | Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner

Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner, from Season 1, are likely the most well-known couple from Married at First Sight. After all, Jamie appeared on ABCs The Bachelor before her stint on the Lifetime show, and she now regularly hosts Married at First Sight: Unfiltered.

Doug and Jamie are happily married today, and theyre proud parents to young daughter Henley. Jamie (who recently had a COVID-19 scare but ultimately tested negative for the virus) is now pregnant with their second child, a boy.

The couple opened up on Where Are They Now? about the pain of the two miscarriages they suffered before Jamies current pregnancy, as well as Jamies rocky journey to finding her father. When she finally discovered who he was, she tragically realized that he had already passed. Its the most devastating thing, and Im still trying to come to terms with it, Jamie admitted. But, I mean, I guess thats life, right?

Samantha Role

Samantha Role was a controversial cast member on Married at First Sight Season 3 due to her poor treatment of her husband, Neil Bowlus.

Now married to husband Chris Wise, Samantha wanted to appear on the reunion to publicly apologize for her treatment of Neil and own up to her mistakes. Watching some of the things that I did and some of the things that I said, I was just disgusted with what I saw, because Im not that person anymore, Samantha confessed.

She even credited Neil with her growth as a person and as a wife. Being married to such a great man like Neil, I never would have been able to become the person that I am today, Samantha gushed to Frazier.

Neil even had a special video message for Samantha, to reassure her that he no longer harbored any resentment or ill will towards her. He wished her the best of luck in her family life and offered her some much-needed closure in an emotional clip.

Ashley Petta and Anthony DAmico

Ashley Petta and Anthony DAmico were a well-matched, beloved couple on Married at First Sight Season 5. The happily married pair shared the story of Ashleys emotional labor with their daughter, Mila Rose.

At 37 weeks pregnant, Ashley was warned that her little girls growth had slowed significantly, putting her pregnancy, and her babys health, at risk. During this difficult time, Anthony credited his wife with serving as his strength. She was probably reassuring me more than anything, he confessed.

I do think that this has probably been the only time in our relationship that I was more calm than Anthony, Ashley agreed.

Ultimately, though, all went well after Ashley was induced. The new mom called her daughters birth the moment that her dreams came true. The couple hopes to have another baby in the future.

Jephte Pierre and Shawniece Jackson

Jephte Pierre and Shawniece Jackson, from Boston, had a rocky beginning on Married at First Sight Season 6. Jephte found it difficult to open up to his wife, and the couple separated not long after filming wrapped. Because Shawniece was pregnant with their baby, Laura, the pair decided to stay together to co-parentbut eventually, they got back together.

And while the tumultuous couple told Frazier they were in a much better place now, they still werent wearing their rings. Jephte told Frazier he wanted to start over from the beginning with his wife and propose on his own, without the influence of the show.

Our first go-around was so tough, so we decided, to alleviate some pressure, that we would make it our own, Jephte said on the special. And I decided that I wouldnt wear a ring until I got down on one knee and proposed to her myself.

Molly Duff

Molly Duff was married to Jonathan Francetic on Married at First Sight Season 6. The couple never consummated their marriage, and many viewers criticized Molly for her harsh treatment of her husband. Jon even claimed on the show that Mollys behavior towards him was emotionally abusive.

But after the couple got divorced on Decision Day, their story wasnt over. Jon was seen out and about in Boston with none other than Dr. Jessica Griffin, a former Married at First Sight expert who hadnt exactly taken kindly to Mollys behavior towards her husband.

Molly admitted that she hadnt exactly been pleased about what she saw as Dr. Jessicas bias during their marital counseling sessions. Still, she told Frazier she moved past the situation and wished her exwho is now engaged to Dr. Jessicaonly the best.

I had always felt like Jessica didnt like meI had always felt like there was this bias to back up Jon, Molly told Frazier during the special. Later, though, she said, I think now that Ive had an opportunity to talk to both of them, you know, Ive kind of moved on from the situation. Its been two years at this point. Theyre happy together. They wish me well, from what theyve said, so theres just no reason to hold on to any of that negativity.

Bobby Dodd and Danielle Bergman

Bobby Dodd and Danielle Bergman quickly became the best-loved couple on Married at First Sight Season 6. And it looks like they worked out their biggest disagreement, as Danielle ultimately decided to be a stay-at-home mom to their daughter while Bobby served as the family provider.

But Danielles pregnancy and childbirth experiences were far from peaceful. The Married at First Sight star was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Her liver began to shut down, and she was at risk of seizures.

Bobby revealed that hed even overheard the nurses suggested that her life was at stake during the harrowing experience. Hed gone so far as to plan to name their daughter Danielle if anything happened to his wife.

I kept asking the question, am I going to leave with both of them? Bobby said of their time in the hospital. They just kept giving me the generic answer of, Were gonna do our best to make sure that both of them go home with you.

Despite their terrifying experience, Bobby and Danielle hope to have more children. They are proud parents of little Olivia, now one year old.

Elizabeth Bice and Jamie Thompson

Season 9s Elizabeth Bice and Jamie Thompson had one of the most tumultuous relationships in Married at First Sight history. Their explosive fights and off-and-on relationship led many viewers to believe they probably wouldnt make it. (And their relationship resulted in one of the shows most famous phrases ever: basic Caucasian sex.)

But the couples passion apparently matched their volatility. Despite a few makeups and breakups along the way, theyre still together and possibly planning to have a child in the future. Reflecting on their rocky relationship, Jamie said they hadnt known how to channel their passion and emotional, fiery natures in productive ways.

I think a lot of it is passion, Jamie told Frazier. Were passionate people, were vibrant people, and we didnt know how to channel thatNow weve learned how to channel that passion into building a relationship.

Elizabeth added that she and her husband had both been very selfish people when they first got married.

We knew we wanted to be married, but I dont think we realized how much we needed to change in order to make another person work in your life, the Married at First Sight star said. And I think thats what a shocking part of this experiment is. Yes, you do realize you have to start to rearrange your life, but when that actually starts to happen, no one can prepare you for that.

Amber Bowles and Matthew Gwynne

Amber Bowles and Matthew Gwynne, hailing from North Carolina, had a passionate start on Married at First Sight Season 9. But their relationship soon fell apart, as Matt started to push Amber away and even spent entire nights away from her without his ring on.

Amber suspected Matt of doing more than just partying when he was out. Her suspicions were confirmed when friends told her theyd seen her husband getting flirty and physical with other women at bars.

However, the couple still isnt divorcedin part due to North Carolina law, which requires that you be legally separated for at least a year before filing for divorce. Amber, who has a new man in her life, claimed that Matt refused to sign the papers shed sent him three times. She asked Matt to sign the papers with a notary during filming, but he refused yet again.

Theres a right and theres a wrong way to do things, Matt pushed back. Its just unprofessional to do this here.

Okay, well, Im not trying to be professional. Im trying to get divorced! Amber exclaimed. We have no cordiality. I am not friends with you. I want a f***ing divorce now.

And Matt showed he certainly hadnt changed: After Amber finally stormed off in frustration, he also left the stage, bragging that he was about to go kick it with an IG model.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Clouds and a few breaks of sun; the mildest day of the forecast. .

Tonight

Mostly cloudy and not that cold.
Apart from the great reform brought by COVID-19 to the health sector in Nigeria, one of the other areas that seems to have witnessed the wind of change is the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), as those in power and outside the power corridors continue to resonate the need for an overhauling of the programme in order to reflect the global best practices.

On 14th April, 2020, Senator Ahmed Lawal, President of the Senate and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the house of respresentative meet with president Mohammadu Buhari to discuss the reform of the NSIP. This meeting came days after the leadership of the National Assembly faulted the parameters for selecting the beneficiaries of the programme and stressed the need for a strong collaboration between the Executive and legislatures in order to meet the need of the most vulnerable people in Nigeria.

Though, this was countered by the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, who stated that most successful SIPs around the world are not those based on the inclusion of the of candidates of the National Assembly to the National Social Register (NSR) which has been a recurring issue from the inception of the NSIPs since 2016, but the one devoid of politicians interference.

However, whether the recent acceleration in the criticism of NSIP by the leadership of National Assembly is an effort to politicize the system in order to insert their preferred candidates or not, the reality is that the NSIP needs a re-evaluation that will lead to a reform in order to surmount the mirage of problems bedeviling the system.

Before the National Assembly's advocacy on the reform of NSIP, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq had once said that there are middle men and double dealers in the system whose nefarious activities are really corroding the tenent of the NSIP. The same thing could be deduced from the comment of Mrs Ashia Buhari last year on the scheme.

This became clearer with the claims and countered claims of diversion of palliative relief designed to mollify the hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 and the government claim of feeding school children despite the lockdown.

National Social Investment Programme is an intervention Programme created by the Federal Government in 2016 to cater for the need of the poorest of the poor in the country. The Programme has four Cardinal pillars which are: N-power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), National Home Grown School Feeding Programme with sub-programmes designed to effectively allievate the poverty of the most vulnerable.

For instance, the N-power houses unemployed graduate and non graduate youths while the GEEP comprises of traders and other entrepreneurs. Similarly, the CCT cater for the poorest among them especially, those that feed on the crumbs of the crumbs and the Home Grown School Feeding takes care of the students by giving them meal in schools.

Unfortunately, most of the revelations coming from the public show that there is a lacuna between the stated objectives and the reality on ground as most students in the schools noted on the NSIP do not know the meaning of Home Grown School feeding not to talk of eating free meal.

The same is applicable to the CCT where some even witnessed fake alart. Infact, the one in the GEEP is so serious to the extent that some people that are eminently qualified were technically disqualified because of vested interest while some that were finally accepted were disbursed late, some half payment.

The narrative is so sadden in N-power as most times, the beneficiaries were been paid based on 50 days calendar month making planning and savings from their stipend, #30, 000, difficult. Thereby, weakening the moral and passion of the gallant volunteers to transform their respective sectors and move them to the next level they ought to be.

This is coupled with the fear of unknown regarding their exist package. Some even believe that they were used to scored political goal in 2019 election and that very soon they will be shown an exit rout of the programme without any tangible package. This has really corroded the tenet of NSIP and turned it to "operation shop and shop programme" starting from the top of the prymid to the base.

Infact, this was the reason people were so suscepious of federal government COVID-19 palliative and it's possibility in a country named among most corrupt countries in the world based on Transparency Corruption index in 2019.

Now that COVID-19 and the chronicle of the programme have showen the state of social investment programme in Nigeria what next?

The next thing is to swing into action by re-evaluating, recalibrating and rejigging the system in order to meet global best practices by backing it up with necessary legislation, turning it to employment pool, empowerment center and transfiguration of the poorest of the poor to the higher level instead of sharing dirty money to people on the street in order to create an unsustainable impression.

Femi Oluwasanmi writes from Ibafo, Ogun State.
NY archbishop Dolan tells Trump we need you more than ever, then gets slammed by Catholic paper

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The National Catholic Reporter, a progressive independent voice for Catholics and people of faith, has slammed Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan for cravenly and inextricably linking the Catholic Church in the United States to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

The rebuke from the Kansas City, Missouri, news outlet came in a Tuesday editorial, which called Dolan out along with Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez and other Catholic leaders for joining Trump and hundreds of others on a call Saturday. During that call, Dolan revealed himself as a great friend of the president, whom he told we need you more than ever.

Without a whimper from any of his fellow bishops, the cardinal archbishop of New York has inextricably linked the Catholic Church in the United States to the Republican Party and, particularly, President Donald Trump, the publications editors said.

With hundreds of others on the call, including Catholic educators, the bishops were once again masterfully manipulated. They previously gave Trump certain campaign footage when they delivered Catholics to his speech at the March for Life rally in Washington early in the year, the editors lamented. Now Trump will have Dolan's language from the call, telling everyone that he considers himself a great friend of Trump, for whom he expressed mutual admiration as a great gentleman.

In a report on the call by Crux, President Donald Trump called himself the best [president] in the history of the Catholic Church and warned the Catholic leaders that issues such as abortion and religious liberty, which have never been more important for the Church, were at stake in the upcoming presidential election.

He also pledged support for Catholic schools whose leaders pressed him about the need for continued funding amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Never has the outlook financially looked more bleak, but perhaps never has the outlook looked more promising given the energetic commitment that your administration has to our schools, Dolan said after Trump made about 15 minutes of opening remarks on the call. We need you more than ever.

Trump reportedly responded by reminding attendees of his reelection efforts, saying the situation coming up on Nov. 3, the likes of which have never been more important for the Church.

He warned that if he is defeated in November, the Catholic Church will be "very different."

I hope that everyone gets out and votes and does what they have to do, he then said.

The National Catholic Register noted in their editorial on Tuesday that the kind of relationship on display between a president with an uncontrollable propensity for lying and Catholic leadership is unprecedented.

Friendships have existed in the past between U.S. presidents and princes of the church. How those affected the church's involvement in politics and policy, negatively or positively, differed from one circumstance to another. But it is rare, if not unprecedented, that the church's leadership apparatus would be co-opted to the degree seen in the case of Trump, the publication said.

Certainly, it is without precedent that the leadership would cozy up so cravenly to a president whose most consistent attribute is an uncontrollable propensity for lying, continuously and about everything. He is dangerously disconnected from reality and is defined by characteristics that normally are condemned from pulpits.
One Tamil Nadu-based ambulance driver, who was among the two who drove five stranded Tripura residents, including a couple, from Chennai to the north-eastern state earlier this week, has tested coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive, state law minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Wednesday.

The couple and three other Tripura residents were stranded in Chennai after the central government imposed nationwide lockdown restrictions from March 25 initially for 21 days and then further extended it for another 19 days till May 3 to contain the spread of Covid-19 outbreak.

On April 27, the five people entered Tripura in an ambulance via Churaibari check-post on the states border with neighbouring Assam. They reached Udaipur in Gomati district on the same day late evening.

There were two ambulance drivers, who took turns to drive over 3,000 kilometres by road from Chennai to Tripura. All seven people, including the drivers, were immediately quarantined after they reached here. We also collected their swab samples and sent them for tests. One of the drivers, who is from Tamil Nadu, has tested Covid-19 positive. The rest six have tested negative, the minister told the media persons.

All the seven people were screened before they entered Tripura and none of them had shown any symptoms of Covid-19, he added.

The minister said that the Covid-19 positive driver is undergoing treatment in Siliguri, north Bengal. All those, who came in contact with the driver during his stay in Tripura, will have to undergo tests, the minister said.

The state government, which is all set to begin rapid random community Covid-19 tests, urged people to volunteer for tests if they show any symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 that causes the disease.

Around 6,000 people, who are stranded outside Tripura, have registered with the state authorities in their bid to return home at the earliest, officials said. The state has conducted 4,613 tests to date, they added.
By Online Desk

The Union Health Ministry said that 1,823 new coronavirus cases and 67 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, across the country.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 33,610, including 24,162 active cases, 8,373 cured, discharged, migrated and 1,075 deaths.

Meanwhile in Tamil Nadu, 161 cases were reported on Thursday making it the highest single day rise. A two-month-old baby is also among those who tested positive.

To attract more foreign investments, PM Narendra Modi also held a Cabinet meeting to discuss strategies to boost the economy on Thursday.
In the global fight against the novel coronavirus, no country can say it has won until all countries are free from the threat of the pandemic.

There is a consensus that China and the United States, as the two major powers, should stop mutual attacks, suspicions and accusations and work together to combat the pandemic.

However, seeing the trouble their country is getting into, some US politicians are shifting the blame on China and poisoning Sino-US ties. This has continuously interfered with bilateral cooperation to fight the epidemic.

US hard-liners do not want the need for bilateral anti-epidemic cooperation to upset their plan to tighten strategic competition with China. Instead, they have been trying to use the epidemic to intensify the competition. In fact, they have been taking advantage of the lack of firsthand information about China in the US and secretly spreading rumors to stimulate the public and politicians to pour groundless criticisms on China, inviting a fierce response. The escalating war of words is giving them further leverage to lash out at China, making it a scapegoat for all the problems in the US.

The election year in the US has in particular increased irrational talk about China, poisoning bilateral cooperation and dealing a serious blow to global confidence.

Since the novel coronavirus' global outbreak, the US has not sent any signal for enhancing global unity and cooperation, nor has it undertaken global leadership for fighting the pandemic. Instead, it has adopted a buck-passing tactic to defame the World Health Organization and block global cooperation.

The US' behavior after the outbreak shows that its hegemony is fading. In the face of powerful nontraditional security enemies such as the novel coronavirus epidemic, the US' past hegemonic model characterized by strategic competition and zero-sum game can neither protect its own people well nor make it shoulder the new international responsibilities under globalization.

Predictably, the international strategic community will rethink global leadership in the wake of the outbreak. The lack of leadership endangers world stability and mankind's ability to solve international problems. In the process of globalization with declining hegemony, who will bear the leadership responsibility and whether the world will be more turbulent should be carefully considered.

FU YING, FORMER VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
By Alwyn Scott and Rachit Vats (Reuters) - General Electric Co said on Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic dealt a $1 billion blow to cash flow at its industrial business in the first quarter, while total revenue fell almost 8% and the company warned the damage would worsen in the next three months. Among many changes in response to the novel coronavirus, the Boston-based conglomerate said it had cut 700 workers and 1,300 contractors at its power division, was bracing for repossession of some aircraft by its GECAS leasing unit and was cutting capital spending by 25% this year. Chief Executive Larry Culp declined to be drawn in on when cash flow might recover, and said some of the $2 billion in cost cutting the company was undertaking to deal with the economic effect of the coronavirus could be permanent

By Alwyn Scott and Rachit Vats

(Reuters) - General Electric Co said on Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic dealt a $1 billion blow to cash flow at its industrial business in the first quarter, while total revenue fell almost 8% and the company warned the damage would worsen in the next three months.

Among many changes in response to the novel coronavirus, the Boston-based conglomerate said it had cut 700 workers and 1,300 contractors at its power division, was bracing for repossession of some aircraft by its GECAS leasing unit and was cutting capital spending by 25% this year.

Chief Executive Larry Culp declined to be drawn in on when cash flow might recover, and said some of the $2 billion in cost cutting the company was undertaking to deal with the economic effect of the coronavirus could be permanent.

"We've been hit hard and fast ... in some of our most important, highest-margin businesses, be it aviation, and services, particularly, gas power services," Culp said on a conference call. "We think that that gets worse before it gets better, particularly here in the second quarter."

The one comparative bright spot was GE's healthcare business, where demand for coronavirus-related products rose 1.5 to 2 fold, he said. This was partly offset by declining demand for other products. The division, which recently sold its biopharma unit, generated $896 million in quarterly profit.

Some analysts saw little that was unexpected in the results. While aviation profit margins fell more than was predicted, GE's forecast that the unit will see a slow recovery "should not surprise investors," Barclays analyst Julian Mitchell wrote.

Others said the results were disappointing. "Considering that GE had previously established a pattern of 'beat and raise,' we anticipated a result above 10 cents and a better free cash flow print," said John Inch, analyst at Gordon Haskett.

GE's shares were down 1.6% at $6.69 in afternoon trading.

GE earlier this month pulled its 2020 forecast, citing uncertainties created by the coronavirus outbreak. But it had backed its first-quarter industrial free cash flow expectation of near negative $2 billion.

Free cash flow from industrial operations was negative $2.2 billion in the first quarter, missing analysts' estimates of negative $2.02 billion, according to Refinitiv data.

GE reported adjusted earnings of 5 cents per share, below the average estimate of 8 cents, according to Refinitiv.

Fallout from the pandemic caused revenue to fall 13% in both the aviation and power divisions. Profit in aviation fell 39% to $1 billion, while the power unit lost $129 million, GE said.

Revenue at GE's gas power business fell by $426 million on an organic, or comparable basis from a year ago, more than the $387 million decline in such revenue in the aviation unit.

GE said about 20% of planned maintenance work on power plants had been deferred until later in the year, a factor that weighed on revenue and profit. Many U.S. utilities are deferring non-essential work because of health and safety restrictions.

GE said it planned to cut costs by $2 billion and take other steps to save $3 billion in cash in response to the pandemic, such as reducing capital spending or adjusting working capital.

The company had already announced this month plans to furlough half of its U.S. aviation component manufacturing and jet-engine assembly workers, without specifying how many. That move followed GE's decision to lay off 10% of its 52,000-member aviation workforce in late March.

GE has also said the slowdown in aircraft repairs was affecting half of its maintenance workforce but has not provided numbers.

(Reporting by Rachit Vats and Alwyn Scott; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Steve Orlofsky and Chizu Nomiyama)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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Long lines have emerged at pet food banks in Florida as desperate owners struggle to feed their beloved animals.

On Thursday, volunteers distributed boxes and bags of free food at a drive-thru pet food bank at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center in Doral, Florida.

It's the second food bank distribution organized at this center by the Miami-Dade Animal Services to help families struggling to make ends meet as over 30million Americans have filed for unemployment.

Locals were seen driving up to the center wearing face masks and plastic gloves, many with their eager puppies in tow.

Police men were seen directing traffic as long lines of cars lined the street waiting for their turn to accept a donation. Cops were seen putting pieces of paper on the hood of cars indicating to volunteers to put either cat or dog food into the vehicles.

On Thursday, long lines of cars gathered at the drive-thru pet food bank at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center in Doral, Florida where locals in need were given free food for their animals. A man pictured wearing a protective mask as he waits with his dog for a food donation

A long line of cars gathered at the food bank on Thursday where volunteers piled in bags of dog and cat food into the trunks of waiting cars at the Doral, Florida facility

Lending a helping hand: Eduardo Rodriguez wears a protective face mask as he tosses a bag of dog food into a vehicle at a drive-through pet food bank held by the Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center

Stacks of giant bags of cat and dog food were laid under tents at the Doral facility. Cars pulled up to the tents with their trunks open and volunteers placed the food inside in an effective strategy to help the needy while practicing social distancing

Thursday's event was the second pet food bank organized by Miami-Dade Animal Services to help families struggling to make ends meet as over 30million Americans have filed for unemployment in light of the pandemic

Piles of pet food were stacked under giant white tents as volunteers hauled bags into the open trucks of customers, lending a helping hand while practicing social distancing.

Floridians were able to help pet owners get relief thanks to a massive donation from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty and with support from the Miami-Dade Police Department and the City of Doral Police Department.

In Florida there are more than 33,600 cases of COVID-19 and there have been over 1,200 deaths from the deadly virus.

Throughout the state pet food banks are supporting families in need in Broward and Palm Beach counties multiple days a week on a first come, first served basis.

Some places like Passion for Paws in West Palm Beach are offering to pay for veterinary costs for cash-strapped pet owners, including the cost of emergency surgery and annual exams.

Volunteers put pieces of paper indicating what kind of animal food was needed on the hood of customer cars

Cops were onside directing traffic at the drive-thru food bank where cars lined up for blocks on Thursday

Stronger together: Volunteers wore masks and gloves as they handed out much-needed pet food to families in need

Floridians were able to help pet owners get relief thanks to a massive donation from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty and with support from the Miami-Dade Police Department and the City of Doral Police Department

Many locals brought their pets to the drive-thru center while wearing protective masks

Similar scenes of endless lines at pet food distribution centers have emerged across the country.

In Michigan, the Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter durned into a pet food bank, offering food and essential supplies outside of its front entrance in Mason.

In Maryland, the Humane Society of the United States has helped organize food shelters across the state for families struggling to put food on the table and in pet food bowls.

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania more than 1,000 people lined up last week at the Animal Friends Chow Wagon Pet Food Ban,k giving relief to dog and cat owners in need.

Beatrice Diaz wears a protective face mask as she passes out pet food at the drive-thru food bank on Thursday

In Florida, there are more than 33,600 cases of COVID-19 and there have been over 1,200 deaths from the deadly virus

Throughout the state pet food banks are supporting families in need in Broward and Palm Beach counties multiple days a week on a first come, first served basis. Eduardo Rodriguez pictured passing out bags of dog food at the drive through Thursday

Some places like Passion for Paws in West Palm Beach are offering to pay for veterinary costs for cash-strapped pet owners, including the cost of emergency surgery and annual exams. Cars pictured being directed through the drive-thru food bank

A curious pup looks out of a car window at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center during the pet food bank event Thursday

Giant white tents held hundreds of bags of pet food at Thursday's drive-thru pet food bank

Workers pictured loading massive bags of dog food into a vehicle at the Thursday pet food bank
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Vice President Mike Pence tours the General Motors/Ventec ventilator production facility with GM CEO and Chairman Mary Barra in Kokomo, Ind., Thursday, April 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

WASHINGTON - This time, he wore a mask.

Vice-President Mike Pence donned a face covering Thursday as he toured a General Motors/Ventec ventilator production facility in Indiana after coming under fire for failing to wear one earlier this week in violation of Mayo Clinic policy.

The facility in Kokomo had been closed because of the coronavirus but was brought back online in mid-April to produce critical care ventilators for hospitals around the country. General Motors requires workers to wear masks in the plant's production area, according to spokesman Jim Cain.

Pence removed the mask, however, for a roundtable with top officials, including General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Ventec CEO Chris Kiple. None of the participants wore face coverings.

Pence's visit to the factory came hours after his wife, Karen Pence, defended her husband's decision to not wear a mask during a Tuesday visit to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a visit to the General Motors/Ventec ventilator production facility with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb in Kokomo, Ind., Thursday, April 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Mrs. Pence told Fox News Channel that he had been unaware of the hospitals coronavirus policy during the visit and that the vice-president has been following the advice of medical experts. Pence, like other senior White House staff, is tested for the virus at least once a week.

As our medical experts have told us, wearing a mask prevents you from spreading the disease. And knowing that he doesnt have COVID-19, he didnt wear one," Mrs. Pence said, adding that it was actually after he left Mayo Clinic that he found out that they had a policy of asking everyone to wear a mask.

So, you know, someone who's worked on this whole task force for over two months is not someone who would have done anything to offend anyone or hurt anyone or scare anyone, she said.

The Mayo Clinic had earlier tweeted  then deleted  that it had informed the vice-president of its "masking policy prior to his arrival.

Mayo shared the masking policy with the VPs office, the health care system later said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in supermarkets, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

Vice President Mike Pence tours the General Motors/Ventec ventilator production facility with GM CEO and Chairman Mary Barra in Kokomo, Ind., Thursday, April 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed discomfort about mask-wearing, saying he did not intend to wear one when the CDC's recommendations were unveiled. But he said Thursday that he would be open to wearing one when he travels to Arizona next week.

I'm going to have to look at the climate, he said, telling reporters, I'd have no problem wearing a mask.

Still he queried reporters about whether it would be appropriate to wear one while delivering a speech.

Should I speak in the mask? he asked. "You're going to have to tell me if that's politically correct. I don't know. If it is, I'll speak in a mask. Trump's has openly flouted political norms and taken pride in his political incorrectness.

Footage of Pences tour of the Mayo Clinic earlier this week showed him bare-faced as he met with an employee who had recovered from the virus, even though everyone else in the room appeared to be wearing one. He also participated in a roundtable discussion in which every participant, from Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn to the state's governor, wore a mask except for him.

Pence explained his decision that day by stressing that he has been frequently tested for the virus.

As vice-president of the United States Im tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus, Pence said. And since I dont have the coronavirus, I thought itd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you.

But even with a mask, Pence would have been able to look health care workers in the eye because one only covers the nose and mouth.

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.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who wore a mask while he accompanied Pence on his visit to the Mayo Clinic, said he appreciated seeing that Pence was wearing a mask on his trip to Indiana on Thursday.

The simple gesture of wearing that mask in public goes an awful long ways, Walz said.

People who enter the White House complex have their temperature taken, and those who will be in close proximity to the president and the vice-president are given rapid COVID-19 tests to ensure they're not infectious.

Senior staff also are given tests on a rolling basis so that infections are quickly detected.

___

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking in Washington, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis and Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed to this report.
[April 30, 2020] Dascena Announces Closing of $50 Million Series B Financing to Support Advancement of Diagnostic Algorithm Development Engine to Inform Patient Care and Improve Outcomes

Dascena, Inc., a machine learning diagnostic algorithm company that is targeting early disease intervention to improve patient care outcomes, announced today that it closed a $50 million Series B financing led by Frazier Healthcare Partners with participation from Longitude Capital, existing investor Euclidean Capital and an undisclosed investor. "At Dascena, we believe in the power of machine learning to improve patient care and outcomes, and we continue to develop algorithms to do just that," said Ritankar Das, founder and chief executive officer of Dascena. "Machine learning is transforming how we solve problems across industries, and by applying this technology to healthcare, we will enhance the quality and efficiency of patient care. Our flagship sepsis algorithm, InSight, has produced significant decreases in mortality and hospital length of stay among patients with sepsis. In U.S. hospitals, over a quarter million patients die of sepsis each year. We believe that our InSight algorithm can have a substantial impact in this arena." Diagnostic Algorithm Engine The Series B financing will enable Dascena to advance a suite of machine learning algorithms to inform patient care strategies and improve outcomes. Dascena algorithms have been validated through eighteen peer-reviewed publications in several studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. In a randomized controlled trial of hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), Dascena's InSight algorithm resulted in a 58% reduction in patient mortality and a 21% reduction in length of hospital stay. Data from this prospective study of InSight were published in the BMJ Open Respiratory Research (link) in 2017. In addition, as published in the BMJ today, Dascena validated the performance of InSight in a larger real-world outcomes study in both ICU and other hospitalized and emergency department patients.



"We view the InSight sepsis product as just scratching the surface of how machine learning can improve patient care, and Dascena is committed to continued innovation for the benefit of patients," added Mr. Das. "Sepsis kills an American every two minutes, and early detection and treatment are critical to patient survival," said Matthew Fine, M.D., chief medical officer of Oroville Hospital. "To combat this deadly condition, we have used Dascena's sepsis prediction technology over the past two years and have found it very helpful for the care of our patients."

About Dascena Dascena develops machine learning algorithms to enable early disease intervention and improve care outcomes for patients. For more information, visit Dascena.com. About Frazier Healthcare Partners Founded in 1991, Frazier Healthcare Partners is a leading provider of growth and venture capital to healthcare companies. With nearly $4.8 billion total capital raised, Frazier has invested in over 200 companies, with investment types ranging from company creation and venture capital to buyouts of profitable lower-middle market companies. The firm's Growth Buyout team invests in healthcare and pharmaceutical services, medical products and related sectors. The Life Sciences team invests in therapeutics and related areas that are addressing unmet medical needs through innovation. Frazier has offices in Seattle, WA, and Menlo Park, CA (News - Alert), and invests broadly across the U.S., Canada and Europe. For more information about Frazier Healthcare Partners, visit the company's website at www.frazierhealthcare.com. About Longitude Capital Longitude Capital is a private investment firm that makes venture growth investments in biotechnology, medical technology and health solutions companies that seek to improve clinical outcomes, enhance quality of life and/or reduce system costs. Longitude Capital invests in both privately held and publicly traded life science companies through a variety of investment approaches. Longitude Capital has offices in Menlo Park, CA, Greenwich, CT and Boston, MA. For more information, please visit www.longitudecapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005164/en/

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[April 30, 2020] Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. Announces 8 New Contracts in Texas, New iUGO Care Module

HAMILTON, Ontario, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (TSXV:RHT or OTCQB:RQHTF) (Reliq or the Company), a technology company focused on developing innovative mobile health (mHealth) and telemedicine solutions for Community-Based Healthcare, is pleased to announce that it has signed contracts with 8 new clients in Texas to use its proprietary iUGO Care Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), Chronic Care Management (CCM), Principal Care Management (PCM) and Telemedicine platform.

We are very pleased to have added eight new clients to our customer base in Texas, said Dr. Lisa Crossley, CEO of Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. We will begin onboarding patients for these clients in May. The new clients include physician practices, home health agencies and an oncology specialist practice. The oncology practice will be using Reliqs new iUGO Care PCM (Principle Care Management) module. New billing codes for PCM were introduced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2020. These codes allow specialists to provide care management services to patients with one high risk disease or complex chronic condition, unlike Chronic Care Management (CCM) codes which are designed for primary care physicians to provide care management services for patients with at least two chronic conditions. The new PCM billing codes can be billed concurrently with Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), providing substantial new virtual care-based revenue streams to specialists. We are excited to be able to expand our patient base toinclude this newly covered patient population.



Reliq Health Technologies is a healthcare technology company that specializes in developing innovative software solutions for the Community Care market. Reliqs powerful iUGO Care platform supports care coordination and community-based healthcare. iUGO Care allows complex patients to receive high quality care at home, improving health outcomes, enhancing quality of life for patients and families and reducing the cost of care delivery. iUGO Care provides real-time access to remote patient monitoring data, allowing for timely interventions by the care team to prevent costly hospital readmissions and ER visits. Reliq Health Technologies trades on the TSX Venture under the symbol RHT and on the OTCQB as RQHTF. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Dr. Lisa Crossley

CEO and Director

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Investor Relations at [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information



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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) Calls for widespread and targeted testing not just in the Philippines, but other countries battling the COVID-19 pandemic continue to surface as the number of cases keeps climbing worldwide.

The latest global tally from Johns Hopkins University showed there are now almost 3.2 million cases of the coronavirus disease in 185 different countries including China, where the outbreak began.

With infections showing no signs of stopping and a vaccine yet to be developed, health experts contend that mass testing identifying and isolating clusters and cases would prove to be one of the quicker, more efficient ways to help curb the spread of the viral disease.

Why is mass or targeted testing important? Where does the world stand in terms of containing the mysterious coronavirus?

CNN Philippines spoke to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent of CNN, to know more.

Still on the mitigation phase

Gupta explained that most places around the world are still under the "mitigation phase" or only plainly dealing with the presence of the virus.

"Meaning were just dealing with the virus, were dancing with the virus, as some have described it, but it's all about trying to slow it down," Gupta said in an interview with The Source.

Several governments have imposed lockdowns and restrictions, with health frontliners throwing out the common "stay at home" line to citizens. Health experts have continuously reminded people to follow strict safety protocols including social distancing, constant wearing of face masks, and frequent handwashing and sanitizing, among others.

Measures, however, would have to be ramped up if countries seek to get to the "containment phase" or identifying where the virus is spreading at the moment.

"Ultimately, we want to be in containment phase, and that means basically trying to put a box around the virus and contain it," Gupta said.

"In order to do that, you got to find the people who are infected, right away, they have to be isolated, and the people around them, their contacts, they have to be traced."

But how do countries achieve this? "The key to doing that is testing, you have to have the testing," the medical expert said.

With an invisible enemy, Gupta said it is impossible to know the entire coverage of the virus. Widespread testing, he said, would help identify areas which pose greater risks.

"Because its such a contagious virus, because people may not have many symptoms but can still spread it, thats really important to know, just where are we dealing with," Gupta noted.

How the Philippines is faring in targeted testing

The Philippines' Health Department earlier targeted to improve daily testing capacity to 8,000 by the end of April, in an effort to catch up on the global COVID-19 measures. The agency later admitted that it may not achieve the goal, with the country currently sitting at a 4,900-daily testing capacity as of Wednesday.

READ: DOH scrambles to meet target COVID-19 testing capacity

Health Department Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, assured that the government is exhausting all its resources in order to reach the number in the coming days.

Malacanang, on the other hand, remained hopeful the country can soon achieve the goal of conducting 20,000 tests per day, with more subnational laboratories receiving accreditation.

On April 14, the Philippines rolled out its first wave of the "progressive" expanded testing, where high-risk patients have been prioritized. These are people showing severe flu-like symptoms; the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions, and pregnant women with mild symptoms; and healthcare workers with respiratory symptoms.

More sectors will be covered as the country's testing capacity increases, DOH previously said.

Several local governments in various parts of the country have also implemented mass testing procedures for their constituents. Some private sector firms have also pledged to set up their own testing facilities for employees, in a bid to ramp up the country's capacity.

To date, the Philippines has recorded 8,212 cases of the infectious disease, including 1,023 recoveries and 558 fatalities.
Parliaments next plenary session, due on Sunday, will see MPs discuss a raft of new legislation

On 25 April Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said the plenary sessions scheduled on Sunday will focus on helping the government fight the fallout from the coronavirus crisis, and include discussions of a new batch of financial and economic laws.

Abdel-Aal added that he had asked the ministers of health and education to come to parliament to answer MPs questions.

Sami Hashem, head of the Education Committee, told Al-Ahram Weekly that Minister of Education Tarek Shawki had been invited to attend a meeting next week to discuss school exams and the beginning of the new school year.

We will also discuss the research students in primary and preparatory schools are now required to prepare and send online to replace the end-of-year exams, said Hashem. MPs have received a lot of questions from constituents that we hope Education Minister Shawki will answer.

Hashem believes that is now possible that schools and universities will open in September.

All the signs are that the state is opting to reduce the social distancing measures imposed mid-March, which means the school year is unlikely to be postponed beyond September, said Hashem.

The Education Ministry is also facing pressure to intervene to reach a middle ground between schools and parents on school fees.

A lot of parents have written to the committee demanding the Education Ministry press schools to cut fees next year to compensate for the cancellation of the school year in the middle of March as part of anti-coronavirus measures, said Hashem.

Mohamed Al-Amari, head of parliaments Health Committee, told the Weekly that Minister of Health Hala Zayed is also expected to come to parliament next week to discuss the problems facing doctors working in quarantine hospitals.

On 22 April MPs approved amendments to Law 137/1958 which aim to give the Health Ministry greater powers to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

I joined with 60 other MPs to propose amendments to articles 25 and 26, and to add three new articles to the law on the prevention of epidemic diseases, said Al-Amari.

The changes will allow the health minister to make it obligatory for citizens to wear face masks and follow other protective measures outside their homes, with a fine ranging between LE300 to LE5,000 for non-compliance.

The changes will also grant health authorities greater powers in determining how to handle the bodies of victims of epidemics.

The proposed changes will stipulate that the bodies of victims be dealt with in a manner that prevents the spread of any epidemic while respecting the dignity of the dead and religious and social traditions, said Al-Amari. Anyone found guilty of contravening the rules pertaining to the burial of those who succumb to infectious diseases, or who block or postpone burial procedures, will face a fine of up to LE10,000.

Hussein Eissa, head of parliaments Budget and Planning Committee, revealed committee members are discussing the new state budget and development plans for fiscal year 2020-21 after the ministers of finance and planning addressed MPs on 21 April.

We will hold a series of hearing meetings on the budget and development plans next week. MPs are keen to see how the new budget meets the needs of the health sector in light of the outbreak of the coronavirus, said Eissa.

Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait told MPs last week that Egypt hopes to overcome the economic difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic soon.

Maait said that the outbreak hit Egypt at a time when the country was moving towards building a strong economy capable of absorbing shocks and winning the confidence of international institutions and investors.

The first half of fiscal year 2019-20 saw GDP grow by 5.6 per cent, the highest in Egypts history, Maait told MPs.

We also reduced the unemployment rate to eight per cent, secured a budget surplus of LE40.4 billion and increased public investments by 23 per cent, said Maait.

Maait added that though the coronavirus crisis will force changes to the 2020-21 budget it is too early to determine their precise nature, though it is clear greater resources need to be allocated to healthcare and education.

An increase of LE 78.9 billion has been penciled in for healthcare allocations, and LE166.6 billion for the education budget, said the minister.

Planning Minister Hala Al-Said also addressed MPs, indicating that in the face of the coronavirus crisis an extra LE100 billion had been allocated to support the tourism and industry sectors, stimulate the stock market and help seasonal workers.

Al-Said said the global recession caused by the crisis could see a 60 per cent drop in tourism revenues and falls in overseas remittances, exports, and Suez Canal revenues. Al-Said said the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic had forced the government to focus on implementing health and social programmes to contain the negative effects of the crisis.

Al-Said said the Planning Ministry had developed two possible scenarios for the developing crisis.

The first scenario is that the virus will be brought under control within three months,

while the second envisages the crisis caused by the virus continuing to the end of 2020.

Regardless of the path the pandemic takes, Al-Said said it is essential that Egypt makes the best of a doleful situation.

There is an opportunity for the industrial sector to exploit the drop in imports and move to fulfil the countrys basic needs and boost Egypts exports to foreign markets, said Al-Said.

She predicted that if the virus continues to wreak havoc until the end of the year, Egypts development plans will take a 30 per cent hit.

In the coming week MPs are also expected to debate a new Unified Tax Procedures Law and take a final vote on the 22-article Central Depository and Registration Law and a four-article law regulating the role of deputy governors.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 30 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under headline: United we stand

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Kolkata, April 30 : One-hundred-and-five coronavirus positive patients have died in West Bengal so far, of whom 33 have perished due to Covid-19 and 72 following co-morbidities, a senior official said on Thursday.

"The committee of experts formed by the health department has filed its second report. It has looked into the cause of death of 105 patients. Thirty-three of them have died due to Covid-19 disease, according to the experts.

"The rest 72 patients died due to co-morbidities. Incidentally, they were coronavirus positive," state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said at the state secretariat Nabanna.

Sinha said the state now had 572 active coronavirus cases, while 139 patients have been discharged after recovery.

Amid the continuing flak from opposition parties and doctors, who have dubbed the formation of the expert committee, tasked with adjudicating whether a corona positive patient died due to the viral disease, as the state govenrment's ploy to suppress the number of deaths, Sinha explained that it was constituted as Covid-19 is a new ailment.

"It has been formed to ascertain how the virus is spreading, and impacting the human body, and also changing its character," he said.

Sinha said the panel was not reviewing the death certificates, but carrying out an audut of the deaths.

However, the panel has suggested that three aspects be mentioned before issuing death certificates. "These are immediate cause of death, the condition which caused the death and the ailment or injury that triggered the morbid condition. Besides, the committee has also stressed keeping records of every patient's previous illnesses, treatment and tests".

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee drew a sharp counter from the BJP after she claimed before the media that neither was she involved in the formation of the panel nor did she have any knowledge about its members.

Ridiculing Banerjee, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh wondered whether her government was being run by "ghosts".

"I was dumbstruck on hearing the Chief Minister say that she was not involved in the formation of the committee. The Chief Minister says she even doesn't know who are on the panel. Then who is running the government? It must be a ghost. Otherwise, she wouldn't have made such a remark," Ghosh said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 29 reportedly said that there is a real risk of famine in North Korea amid the coronavirus outbreak. Pompeo was answering a question on the whereabouts of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is missing from the spotlight since April 11. Pompeo during an interview reportedly said that the United States has not seen him for weeks now but assured that Washington is watching closely.

Read: Kim Jong Un's Sudden Disappearance Brings Spotlight To North Korea

Pompeo was also asked about Kim Jong Un's health during his daily press briefing on April 29, to which he replied, "So I dont have anything to add to the status of Chairman Kim. I think the President commented on it yesterday." When asked if North Korea would be safer or more dangerous with or without Kim Jong-un in charge and US' plan on what would happen if he dies, Pompeo said, "We did have a chance to interact with a number of North Koreans on our various trips, the ones that I took along with my team and then when the President traveled there for  to meet with Chairman Kim and his team as well. So weve had a chance to meet Chairman Kims sister and some of the other leaders there as well."

Read: German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer Prohibits Hezbollah Activities

Pompeo further added that no matter what transpires in North Korea, the United States would continue to focus on its mission, which is to achieve verified denuclearization of the state. "Regardless of what transpires inside of North Korea with respect to their leadership, our mission remains the same. Its to deliver on the agreement that Chairman Kim made with President Trump back in Singapore, and thats the fully denuclearized, verified denuclearization of North Korea," Pompeo told reporters.

Read: Syria Needs Ceasefire To Effectively Combat COVID-19 Crisis: UN Envoy

Kim Jong's disappearance

The rumours of the 36-year-old dictator being seriously ill found a base when Kim failed to appear on the annual ceremonies to mark the birth anniversary of his grandfather on April 15, a very important event in North Korea. The report was first published in a newspaper in South Korea that follows the secretive state closely. US President Donald Trump had earlier this week said that he knows where Kim is but he won't tell anybody, adding fuel to the sparking speculations.

Read: White House Clarifies It Briefly Follows Twitter Handles During State Visits

Media reports suggest that Kim Jong Un's maybe spending some alone time at his coastal resort in Wonsan as satellite images from a US-based North Korea monitoring project, 38 North, showed a train parked outside a station reserved for the family's personal use. As per reports, boats used by Kim were also spotted in the Wonsan area, suggesting his presence.

(Image Credit: AP)


U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Chinas handling of the coronavirus is proof that Beijing will do anything they can to make him lose his re-election bid in November.



In an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for China over the virus. "I can do a lot," he said.



The Republican president said he believed China should have been more active in letting the world know about the coronavirus much sooner.



Asked whether he was considering the use of tariffs or even debt write-offs for China, Trump would not offer specifics. "There are many things I can do," he said.  "Were looking for what happened."



"China will do anything they can to have me lose this race," said Trump. He said he believes Beijing wants his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, to win the race to ease the pressure Trump has placed on China over trade and other issues.
Katie Couric Recalls Uncomfortable 2004 Interview With Denzel Washington

Former TV anchor Katie Couric said that she was left shaken during a 2004 interview with actor Denzel Washington.

Couric was asked on a podcast if she was ever suddenly surprised by anyone she interviewed during her news career.

I had a very uncomfortable interview once with Denzel Washington about the remake of The Manchurian Candidate  I think he totally misconstrued a question I asked and kind of jumped all over me, Couric told the podcast this week, according to Yahoo.

Couric added that it was so uncomfortable as Washingtons co-star, Meryl Streep, looked on during the interview. She was referring to an interview on Dateline in 2004.

Denzel, are youdo you feelyou know some people say Hollywood folks should stick to acting, Couric asked him.

I dont know what Hollywood folks are, first of all, Washington replied. Hollywood is a town that has some stars on the sidewalk. I dont know anybody from there. So, I dontthats like sayingcalling you a type of folks. Im not a Hollywood folk. I dont know who they are.

Couric, in attempting to rephrase the question, asked, Are you one of those people that

Ah, there you go. Am I one of those people? Hm, isnt that interesting? Washington said. He then added, No, dont stop. I heard what you just said. Am I one of those people? No, Im not.

When Couric attempted to elaborate, Washington said, Im a human being. My job is acting.

Speaking about the interview, Couric said on the podcast, I just remember leaving it and thinking, God, I must have  I dont think I said anything wrong, I dont know what happened,' according to People magazine. Anyway, he must have been having a really bad day, because he later wrote a really big check to my colon cancer organization, which I thought was super sweet, Couric said.

Couric said that while Washington is one of her favorite actors, she was upset by the interview.

I remember walking out and feeling really kind of shaken that he had kind of gone after me in a way that was completely, weirdly uncalled for, she said.
Mumbai, April 30 : Bollywood veteran Rishi Kapoor was hospitalised on Wednesday morning after complaining that he was not feeling well.

According to reports, the 67-year-old actor has been admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Wife Neetu Kapoor is at his side.

The hospitalisation was confirmed by Rishi's elder brother, actor Randhir Kapoor. "It's true that he has been admitted to the hospital. He is in Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He was not keeping well and had some problem, so we admitted him early this morning," Randhir Kapoor said, according to a report in news18.com.

Asked if it was an emergency situation, Randhir told the website: "That's why he has gone to the hospital. But I know that he will be alright. Neetu (Kapoor) is by his side." Incidentally, Kapoor, who is known to regularly tweet on social media, has not done so after April 2.

In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.

Post return to India, Kapoor's health has frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to hospital in quick succession in February. Amid speculations about his health, he had been hospitalised in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi.

IANS had reported back then how Kapoor had clarified that he was in hospital because he was down with an infection and needed medical attention.

While wife Neetu was at his side in Delhi back then, unconfirmed reports had said that his son Ranbir Kapoor along with friend, actress Ali Bhatt, has rushed to be at his father's side.

On returning to Mumbai back then, reported ndtv.com, Kapoor had again been hospitalised with viral fever but was discharged soon after.
Day after day Anthony Bowe appears at the front fence of Newmarch House, waiting to see or hear from his 76-year-old mother Patricia Shea, who is among 59 residents and staff with coronavirus linked to the aged care facility.

As Mr Bowe arrives in the rain on Thursday afternoon, an ambulance leaves the facility. The driver is decked out in a full protective bodysuit. It's the daily drumbeat of deadly inevitability playing out at Caddens in Sydney's west.

Anthony Bowe, the son of Patricia Shea who tested positive to coronavirus, stands outside Anglicare Newmarch House. Credit:Edwina Pickles

"That doesn't look good at all... it makes you feel sick because you know someone's in for a shock," Mr Bowe said.

On Friday morning, a statement from Anglicare confirmed the bad news: another resident of the aged care home had died with COVID-19.
CARE created the CARE Package at the end of World War II to aid the post-war poor and hungry, delivering over 100 million of them to struggling families around the world. Now, the United States is on the list of countries requiring humanitarian assistance. The CARE Packages  of today still aim to provide resources and comfort, but they have been reimagined to reflect current needs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

CARE Packages will provide either:

Direct monetary support: CARE will deliver CARE Package Gift Mastercards to responders working on the frontlines of COVID-19. In addition, each gift card sent domestically will unlock a donation to CARE's COVID-19 response work in over 60 countries, which is helping to mitigate further disaster in communities already facing hardship.

OR

CARE will deliver CARE Package Gift Mastercards to responders working on the frontlines of COVID-19. In addition, each gift card sent domestically will unlock a donation to CARE's COVID-19 response work in over 60 countries, which is helping to mitigate further disaster in communities already facing hardship. Food and essential supplies : Physical CARE Packages consisting of urgently required resources are available for those most in need in certain New York City and San Francisco locations. Plans are underway to expand to additional US cities alongside local community organizations.

"CARE is proud to have been a leader in disaster response and humanitarian aid around the world for the last 75 years. Helping those most in need by taking on the world's toughest challenges is the heart of who we are. And right now, that means tackling COVID-19 both here at home and abroad," said Michelle Nunn, President and CEO of CARE. "Our brand-new CARE Package is designed to meet this extraordinary moment by delivering support to today's heroes: essential workers, frontline medical personnel, and caregivers; in addition to individuals in need, and communities around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic knows no borders  and neither does CARE's work."

Those wanting to help can thank workers keeping people safe as the world attempts to combat the spread of COVID-19 by sending a CARE Package. Specifically, people will be able to participate by:

Supporting a Hero:

Send an earmarked donation to CARE, and CARE will work with partner organizations to provide a CARE Package Gift Mastercard directly to frontline workers risking their health and safety to protect the nation's most vulnerable people.

Supporting a Friend:

Know someone working on the frontlines? Send them a CARE Package Gift Mastercard and a personal message of gratitude for their contribution.

Supporting the Global Community:

The COVID-19 pandemic is stretching the limits of even the best prepared countries. The world has not come to grips with how the outbreak threatens the world's poorest communities and how that will ultimately impact all communities. Send help to places in the greatest need with an international CARE Package.

Over the next three months, CARE will roll out US-based CARE Package programming across the country in partnership with grassroots organizations including Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, Child Care Aware of America, United Food and Commercial Workers, National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA), ACFB , CHRIS 180 , Purpose Built Schools, Berkeley Food Pantry , Mobilize Love , Project Open Hand and more.

Money designated for international COVID-19 response efforts will support CARE's work to provide health and hygiene kits, install handwashing stations in public places, and deliver clean water where it is scarce in more than 60 countries.

Corporate support for the domestic CARE Package enables CARE to implement the program at scale. Like its predecessor, the new CARE Package represents hope and cooperation. True to its history, CARE is unifying consumers and corporations to help others. CARE's COVID-19 response is generously supported by Public Partnerships, a Public Consulting Group Inc. Company; GAP Foundation; Oil of Olay; Mastercard; Pepsico Foundation; Matchfire and THNKS.

Visit https://www.carepackage.org to make a donation and send a CARE Package today.

ABOUT CARE:

CARE is the leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty by lifting up women and girls. It reached 68 million vulnerable people in 100 countries around the world in 2019. Since the onset of COVID, CARE has pivoted its life-saving food security, health services, educational, and women's empowerment programming to directly fighting the spread and impact of the disease. As of April 17th, 2020, CARE has reached 107.4 million people with COVID-specific or adapted programs. 1.9 million people have been directly reached with hygiene messaging, 601,000 with hygiene kits, 773,000 with increased water, 114,000 with food or cash/vouchers and 22,800 with handwashing stations.

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With much of Europe entering a post-lockdown phase of coronavirus containment, differences are beginning to appear in advice and rules issued by governments on how to continue to prevent its spread.

Ireland is unusual in that the Government has yet to outline the specific measures that will be in place when the lockdown begins to ease - or even a date for when that process will begin.

On Tuesday, Belgium and Austria announced measures to coincide with the easing of their lockdown, which included a maximum of four people to a table at Austrian cafes from May 14.

In Switzerland, children under the age of 10 can hug their grandparents again after its public health officials announced that it was safe to do so.

The change of advice came after Swiss scientists concluded that young children pose no risk of infection from Covid-19 because they do not have the "receptors" targeted by the virus.

"Children are very rarely infected and do not pass on the virus. That is why small children pose no risk to high-risk patients or grandparents," said Dr Daniel Koch, head of the infectious diseases unit at the federal office of public health.

The advice applies only to under-10s who are showing no signs of illness, with grandparents still advised to keep their distance from older children.

There was also good news for young children in Spain when those under the age of 14 were allowed outside over the weekend for the first time in six weeks.

The country has also introduced price caps on items such as hand sanitiser and face masks.

An issue that has caused some confusion since the start of the outbreak has been the use of face masks, with the initial advice being that wearing one would not prevent someone from catching the virus.

The World Health Organisation had said masks should only be worn by medical workers.

However, emergent thinking is that the masks help prevent the virus's spread because they block the particles from an infected wearer's mouth.

In the Czech Republic, people are now required to wear masks outdoors after a government decree.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the masks were vital in controlling the spread and urged other governments to follow suit.

Czechs must source masks for themselves while students at the Umprum Academy of Art, Architecture and Design in Prague have been making hundreds of them for a maternity hospital in the city.

Neighbour Slovakia has also made the wearing of masks mandatory.

In Germany, from yesterday, anyone using public transport or in a shop must wear a mask, with the same rules in place in Italy.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said its phase two would see the public "coexist" with the virus.

People will be allowed to visit relatives from May 4 and it will be possible to move from one municipality to another, while funerals - if attended by a maximum of 15 people - will be allowed.

Social distancing and restrictions on the number of people allowed at gatherings are among the rules still being implemented universally.
D onald Trump has accused the World Health Organisation (WHO) of being a pipe organ for China during the coronavirus pandemic.

The US President has been critical of the UN agencys response to the outbreak, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.

Mr Trump instructed his administration to temporarily halt funding to the WHO over its handling of the global crisis.

And on Wednesday the president ramped up his attack on the WHO, saying: We [the United States] knew things that they didnt know.

He added: Right now, theyre literally a pipe organ for China, thats the way I view it

The WHOs director general has defended the steps taken by the agency, saying it "acted quickly and decisively to respond and to warn the world".

Coronavirus 'wreaking more havoc than any terrorist attack', WHO says

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO's emergency committee will reconvene on Thursday, some three months after first declaring a global health emergency.

Mr Tedros called for "unity at a national level and solidarity at the global level" in the fight against Covid-19.

He said: "More than ever, the human race, humanity, should stand together to defeat this virus.

"This virus can wreak havoc - more than any terrorist attack.

It can bring political, economic and social upheavals, but the choice is ours, and the choice should be unity at national level.

Mr Trump said the WHO had "failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable.

Responding to the criticism, Mr Tedros said: "We sounded the alarm early and we sounded it often.

"We said repeatedly that the world had a window of opportunity to prepare and prevent widespread community transmission.

"We started our early press conferences. People were saying, you know the world will be tired of you if you make a press conference every day, but we didn't mind, we wanted to make sure the world understands what we are saying.
Women bore much of the burden of the Vietnam War but their voices have long been absent from the trove of literature on the topic, says acclaimed author Nguyen Phan Que Mai. Speaking to AFP ahead of the 45th anniversary of the fall of Saigon Thursday, Que Mai says her new novel "The Mountains Sing" -- written in English -- aims to shine a light on the stories of women who not only endured and survived conflict, but had to rebuild shattered lives time and again. "I've read a lot of Vietnam war fiction in English and most of it is written in the voices of men," adds the poet and writer. "I grew up with incredible women around me," she says, adding that while many sons and fathers lost their lives in combat, it was women who had to deal with the heartache and the consequences. "My childhood was full of images of women who were waiting for the return of their loved ones from the war. My village was basically empty of men and the women later had to carry on, had to raise the kids and survive," she explains. "The Mountains Sing" is written from the perspective of a Vietnamese grandmother and her granddaughter. It tells the story of four generations of their family through much of the 20th century, spanning the French colonial period, the rise of communism, the war with America, to present day. Novels such as "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien and Graham Greene's "The Quiet American have become classics but offer few details of the female experience. And Vietnam's most celebrated novels on the topic, Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize winner "The Sympathizer" and Bao Ninh's "The Sorrow of War" were written by men. - 'Invaders' - The 46-year-old wanted to take a fresh approach. "I wanted to show the Vietnam war and Vietnamese history from another angle, from the angle of Vietnamese women," she says, adding: "I could see that women are the people who bear the burden of the war." She believes it is vital to help people see there's more to the country than the war, hailing it as a place full of complexity, colours, culture. Born in 1973, Que Mai spent most of her childhood in the south in the post-war years after her father, a teacher, was relocated from the north. They moved to the tip of the Mekong Delta in 1979, where the land was lush and fertile, but bullet shells had to be removed in order to plant rice, she recalls. Like many people at the time in Vietnam -- which was under a US embargo -- they were dirt poor and her family rarely had enough to eat. She rose every day at 4:30 am to catch shrimps in nearby rice fields before heading to school. After class, she would sell water spinach and cigarettes on the street. Despite reunification on April 30, 1975, division between the north and south was as tangible as ever, she says, recounting a terrifying first night in her new home. "I was eating dinner and I heard a 'boom' -- someone had thrown a rock at our house," Que Mai says. "The southern people considered us invaders." Four decades on, many of these old wounds have yet to be healed. For those who fought in the brutal conflict with the US and for the family members left behind, there is still unresolved trauma, she insists. - Humanising the enemy - "I have a friend who fought in the war and he cannot sleep with a ceiling fan in the room because he still thinks of American helicopters chasing and shooting him," Que Mai says. "And for many people the war still hasn't ended because their loved ones haven't returned home." Decades on, there is still a tendency on both sides to dehumanise the enemy, said Que Mai, who left Vietnam on a scholarship to Australia. She later returned, before moving to Bangladesh and Jakarta -- her current home -- with her German husband. But the residual pain from the war was never far behind, she insists, describing how she refused initially to visit the memorial in Washington DC. "'I will not go in there and honour the Americans who had trampled on my country,'" she remembers telling her husband. Que Mai later relented and cried as she stood in the memorial. "It was the first time I felt humanity... because I was brought up to consider American soldiers as killers, as inhuman." The dehumanisation goes both ways -- an American veteran had told her that on the plane to Vietnam, troops were told not to worry about killing the Vietnamese because "they don't love their families the way we do". Her novel -- which is not currently available in Vietnamese -- is not autobiographical. But her influences are clear, as she dedicates the book to her grandmother who died in the 1940s famine, her grandfather who passed away during the land reform policy of 1955, and her uncle, a war veteran. She says: "I wanted to write this book for healing and for peace and for reconciliation." A woman walks next to a hoarding marking the 45th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, in Hanoi Vietnamese author Nguyen Phan Que Mai holds copies of her novel "The Mountains Sing" Picture released 10 June 1972 by North Vietnamese official agency with a caption saying: "Young women carry the ammunition to the front in Quang Tri province, south Vietnam"
In the end, Covid-19 will be remembered mostly, financially speaking, for ACCELERATING the unimaginable wealth gap that exists in the western world, as it does in developing countries. The UBER-RICH have won again, but I believe that the masses will not GO DOWN so easily this time around.

For now, the markets are just ECSTATIC and that does give me pause, since they've ESSENTIALLY erased most of the March crash, but it's not that simple at all.

Our biggest-ever WINNER is Bitcoin, which we covered at $400/coin, something that we believe will probably NEVER occur again. It is currently making 20-TIMES our money and will remain a LEGENDARY TRADE.

Courtesy: Zerohedge.com

No doubt we're in the midst of DEPRESSION-LIKE conditions; there's going to be FRICTION going forward, since 26 million people, who represent around 20% of the workforce, are ON THE SIDELINES.

The good news is that there are TWO antiviral treatments that are seeing GREAT RESULTS.

Gilead Sciences is the maker of Remdesivir, which is REPORTEDLY getting satisfactory results in trials.

You must DREAM BIG right now.

The liquidity being offered by governments and central banks IS UNPRECEDENTED.

Both from the standpoint of investment opportunities and career-building, EVERYONE was hurt by this pandemic, which means that EVERYONE is in search of value-creation.

Courtesy: Zerohedge.com

The market gains are DRIVEN SOLELY by computer trading right now, which went from net short to ALL-IN LONG, but our indicators are showing that they're not looking TO STOP BUYING.

This is all playing right into the hands of President Trump. Think about this:

The villain is China: Everyone sees the TOTALITARIAN REGIME in the red country as a threat.

Literally, if Trump's goal three years ago was to show America and the world that China is a BURDENSOME nation, Covid-19 is the perfect catalyst to achieving this end.

The Wuhan Lab leak is turning into the OFFICIAL MAINSTREAM story.

The trust level that Europeans, Australians and other Asian countries are showing towards China is DWINDLING.

Checks In The Mail: President Trump is also portraying himself as the father and mother of the common man.

The helicopter money, small business loans, rescue packages, infrastructure programs and the likely TAX CUTS  all of it is DOING HIS POPULARITY a lot of good.

2.2M vs. 60K Death Toll: We're going to keep hearing about this for many months to come!

We all know by now that the mathematical models, which inflated projected CALAMITY and bodies piling up, were DEAD-WRONG.

Obviously, Trump will take credit for DEFEATING this by taking pro-active measures.

Re-Opening Pressures: Notice that President Trump is now the one URGING everyone to get back to work.

He knows as much as we do that this virus is nothing for MOST PEOPLE. Therefore, we MUST OPEN while keeping our elderly and sick away from danger.

He coined the term the cure can't be worse than the disease and it's gaining him popularity.

This is a REMARKABLY UNIQUE recession, since there's a vibe from the top down that no one did anything wrong, so as a collective we must HELP EACH OTHER.

It will be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out.

In the meantime, Gilead Sciences looks to be on the verge of cracking a cure for Covid-19, which will alleviate MUCH OF THE RISK from the dreaded 2nd wave and from the re-opening.

The panic looks to be OVER.
By Joe Bavier and Alexander Winning

JOHANNESBURG, April 22 (Reuters) - South Africa is considering introducing flexible restrictions on economic activity after it phases out a nationwide lockdown, according to a draft government presentation seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

An "alert system" comprised of five levels would identify which sectors are allowed to operate under different risk scenarios and enable the government to alter restrictions swiftly for different parts of the country.

Africa's most advanced economy last month imposed some of the world's strictest measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial 21-day lockdown has already been extended by two weeks and is now due to expire on April 30.

The draft presentation, which was authored by the presidency and health ministry, said evidence indicated the lockdown had successfully limited the disease's spread.

"However, there are serious risks associated with lifting lockdown restrictions too soon, or in an unsystematic and disorderly manner," it stated.

Sit-in restaurants, hotels, bars, conference centres, cinemas, sporting events and religious gatherings will remain shut after the lockdown ends, regardless of the risk level, the document stated. And no gatherings of more than 10 people outside of a workplace will be permitted. (Reporting by Joe Bavier and Alexander Winning; Editing by Toby Chopra)
The top US infectious disease official said Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental antiviral drug remdesivir will become the standard of care for COVID-19 after early results from a key clinical trial on Wednesday showed it helped patients recover more quickly from the illness caused by the coronavirus.

Preliminary results from a U.S. government trial showing that patients given remdesivir recovered 31% faster than those given a placebo, were hailed by Dr Anthony Fauci as "highly significant."

"This is really quite important," Fauci told reporters at the White House, likening it to a moment in 1986 "when we were struggling for drugs for HIV and we had nothing."

"This will be the standard of care," he said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has been in discussions with Gilead about making remdesivir available to patients as quickly as possible, but the agency declined to comment on any plans to grant the drug regulatory approval.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

"I want them to go as quickly as they can," President Donald Trump said, when asked if he wanted the FDA to grant emergency use authorization for remdesivir. "We want everything to be safe, but we would like to see very quick approvals, especially with things that work."

The closely watched drug, given by intravenous infusion to hospitalized patients, has moved markets in the past few weeks following the release of data from several studies that painted a mixed picture of its effectiveness, and Fauci cautioned that the latest data still needs to be analyzed.

Gilead's shares rose more than 5% on Wednesday to close at $83.14 and are up 27% so far this year.

Interest in remdesivir has been high as there are no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19, and doctors are desperate for anything that might alter the course of the disease that attacks the lungs and can shut down other organs in severe cases.

Doctors on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle have been eager for results from the NIH study because it is a large trial in which patients were randomized to treatment with the drug or a placebo without participants or doctors knowing which group they were in - the gold standard for clinical trials.

Gilead earlier this month said the company was prepared to donate to hospitals its existing supply of 1.5 million doses of remdesivir - enough for more than 140,000 patients depending on length of treatment. Regulatory approval of the drug would also clear the way for commercial sales.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on other supply plans.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, said partial results from its 1,063-patient trial show that hospitalized COVID-19 patients given remdesivir recovered in 11 days, compared to 15 days for patients given a placebo.

The study showed a trend toward better survival for remdesivir - 8% of patients given the drug died compared with 11.6% in the placebo group - but the difference was not statistically significant so may not be due to Gilead's drug.

The trial's lead researcher told Reuters on Friday that full results could come by mid-May.

"The full dataset will provide more clarity on how remdesivir can best be used," said Dr. Aneesh Mehta, a researcher on the NIH trial from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

'GLIMMER OF HOPE'

Despite the excitement, Dr. Lawrence K. Altman, global fellow at The Wilson Center in Washington, DC, was not ready to celebrate the preliminary findings.

The new data "offers a glimmer of hope" that remdesivir has an effect against COVID-19, but more scientific analysis is needed "comparing them to other studies of the drug that have shown mixed results," he said in a statement.

Also on Wednesday, results were published by the Lancet medical journal of a trial conducted in China that concluded remdesivir failed to improve patients condition or reduce the pathogens presence in the bloodstream. Gilead said previously that those findings were inconclusive because the study was terminated early.

"The drug seems to have antiviral activity - how much is as yet unclear," Dr. Daniel McQuillen, an infectious disease specialist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, told Reuters. "Seems likely that it might need use with another antiviral agent."

Combination antiviral treatments have proven highly effective against other diseases.

Gilead also provided data on a study in severe COVID-19 patients it has conducted in dozens of medical centers, which does not have a placebo comparison but tested the drug under five-day and 10-day regimens.

In that 397-patient trial, Gilead said 62% of patients treated early with remdesivir were discharged from the hospital, compared with 49% of patients who were treated later in the course of the infection.

Gilead Chief Medical Officer Merdad Parsey in a statement said a five-day regimen, "could significantly expand the number of patients who could be treated with our current supply of remdesivir."

Remdesivir, which previously failed as a treatment for Ebola, is being tried against COVID-19 because it is designed to disable the mechanism by which certain viruses make copies of themselves and potentiallyA overwhelm their host's immune system.

The company is also studying the drug in patients with less severe COVID-19, but those results are not expected until later next month.
Media has a key role to play in shaping how we think and act during these uncertain times. South Africans are seeking out trusted, reliable sources of news and information, yet publishers across the board are suffering catastrophic losses of revenue as many advertisers reduce, pause or even stop advertising during lockdown.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

"Back us not block us"

Attention to advertising higher

When recession looms it is understandable if businesses try and shore up short-term profits by cutting variable expenditure, such as advertising. However, as our evidence from past downturns shows, unless companies are saving cash simply to survive, or because they can no longer supply advertised services, cutting ad budgets  relative to competitor spend  is a high-risk strategy.

Triggering an immediate and lingering effect

Advertisers can trust credible media brands

But some market-leading, global brands are also bucking the trend. For instance, Marketing Week reports that P&G has doubled down on its marketing so that it moves forward not backward. P&G is using this opportunity to remind consumers of its brands and their benefits, rather than cutting back on marketing spend.Like many other companies, newsrooms and publishers are however forced to cut staff and salaries, while a high percentage of publications are pivoting further to digital models as the current Covid-19 crisis exacerbates long-term declining print circulation figures.Its a perfect storm in the media world.Yet, according to a recent Bloomberg article: fortunately traditional media now has a chance to rebuild its reputation and even augment its essential role in democratic societies. The fate of many media companies clearly depends on how well they perform their duty to inform accurately and honestly. But thats not good enough on its own. They also need to convince marketers and their agencies to continue utilising their inherent power to reach valuable consumers who read, whether online or still in print.Widespread reports confirm topics such as crisis, Covid-19 and coronavirus have been racing to the top of digital advertiser block-lists, potentially stripping news companies of desperately needed revenue from programmatic (automated) advertising placement on their digital platforms. This is done to prevent spam and the spread of falsehoods, but if implemented indiscriminately, it can also counteract legitimate connections with a growing digital news audience.IAB Australia has encouraged all advertisers to take advantage of their ability to control with precision where their ads appear and to embrace the opportunity to support the ongoing production of news and journalism in these uncertain times, with media owners appealing to marketers and advertisers to back us not block us.Eye-tracking market researcher Lumen reports that attention to advertising is even higher during this time and indicates an increase in attention to advertising is driven in part by increased engagement with articles and social media posts concerning coronavirus. This provides further proof that advertising remains a potent force despite the current crisis. Advertisers should not fear to have their ads appear next to news stories dealing with Covid-19.In its look at past experience Campaign UK notes companies that thrived after past recessions were those that kept communicating with consumers through the downturn, took a more active posture, focused on through-cycle interventions and acted with urgency. Given that we are likely in the midst of a generation-defining event that will influence how consumers behave for years to come, marketing leaders must consider how to re-architect current marketing models, approaches and tools to get ready for the turnaround.In its look at the IPA Bellwether Report Q1 2020 that sees marketing budgets plummeting at the fastest rate since the global financial crisis of 2009, Warc cautions:Findings in an April 2020 McKinsey& Co report on adapting customer experience (CX) in the time of coronavirus, show that: Particularly in times of crisis, a customers interaction with a company can trigger an immediate and lingering effect on his or her sense of trust and loyalty. As millions are furloughed and retreat into isolation, a primary barometer of their CX will be how the businesses they frequent and depend upon to deliver experiences and service that meets their new needs with empathy, care and concern.Closer to home, advertising agency M&C Saatchis recent webinar 2020 2.0 Back to the new normal, shared compelling insights into how brands can stay relevant with clear purpose, enriching experiences and tangible value with an overarching message that brands that show up to help during the pandemic are the ones consumers will continue to want to engage with and support post lockdown when forced isolation fades from view.This includes brands that work hard to deliver news and reporting that is verifiable and trusted, whether the news of the day is depressing or uplifting. News is, after all, trusted to inform and engage.Fran Luckin is the COO of another leading agency, Grey Africa. She was the first South African female jury president of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (Cannes 2017) and says in her Day in the lockdown life for industry website Bizcommunity: People are confined to their houses, but they still need and want to be entertained, to be given information that can help them, be reassured and encouraged.South African publishers of news and magazine brands are serving these important human needs every day. A recent Publisher Research Council (PRC) desk research study clearly shows exponential growth in online usage as measured by unique browsers, since March 2020.While printed publication platforms have declined during the rapidly changing environment, millions of readers are still accessing their valuable and trustworthy news and information online. On the digital platforms of credible media brands, consumers find the same inspiration, entertainment and, despite possible CV19 fatigue, trusted, credible news as they would find in these same media brands printed products.What all this means is that advertisers will find the valuable consumers they need to reach on the trusted and honest platforms of credible media brands. In print and online.In physical life and in our increasingly digital lives, advertisers can, therefore, trust credible media brands to continue delivering news, information and entertainment to readers, while at the same time providing access to their high value, reading consumers for advertisers to reach.
LANSING, MI -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled a plan, inspired by the World War II G.I. Bill program, to provide the front-line workers keeping Michigan running during the COVID-19 crisis a tuition-free college education.

The plan, announced Wednesday by Whitmer, is known as the Futures for Frontliners program and would provide a tuition-free pathway to college or a technical certificate for those essential workers who dont have a college degree. The program is inspired by legislation passed following World War II in which returning soldiers were provided educational opportunities.

Historically when Americans put their lives on the line to defend the rest of us from a foreign enemy, we have shown our gratitude by giving them educational opportunities to improve their lives, Whitmer said during her press briefing Wednesday. Our enemy in this instance is a virus. But our frontline workers are just as heroic. And thats why its important for us to extend some gratitude, and some opportunity, once we are beyond this moment.

The release mentioned the types of workers who would benefit from the plan include those who are: staffing our hospitals and nursing homes, stocking the shelves at grocery stores, providing child care to critical infrastructure workers, manufacturing PPE, protecting public safety, picking up trash, or delivering supplies.

The Futures for Frontliners program is our way of saying thank you to those who have risked their lives on the front lines of this crisis. This program will ensure tuition-free college opportunities and give these dedicated Michiganders an opportunity to earn a technical certificate, associate degree or even a bachelors degree, Whitmer said in a press release. I want to assure all of our workers we will never forget those of you who stepped up and sacrificed their own health during this crisis. Youre the reason were going to get through this.

Jeff Donofrio, Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity said the program will be vital to ensuring the future economic success of the state.

Its going to be something we have to engage in because, making sure that they are successful over the long term for individuals who struggle, already to make family sustaining wages, will be critical to the future of our state, Donofrio said. By investing in them again we ensure our states future economic success.

While she didnt go into details, Whitmer said the program would be funded through federal available to the state in two separate programs. One source of funding is through the CARES Act, while another portion of the money will come through programs designed to improve the skills of workers. Information on who would be eligible and when the program would begin was not given.

In the press release announcing the plan, the governor said she was looking forward to working with lawmakers on the bipartisan legislative coalition that helped pass Michigan Reconnect, which provides grants for students over 25, last month.
At last weeks virtual drop-in session, many of you asked for clarification of the rules around entering Spain during the current state of emergency. Consul General, Lloyd Milen, has recorded a message from his home in Barcelona, explaining who is able to enter the country and what documentation is required.

This video reflects the situation on the day of posting, so please sign up for alerts to https://www.gov.uk/foreign- travel-advice/spain, so that you are kept informed of any changes to the entry requirements.
As hospitals nationwide braced for a surge of COVID-19 cases, other patients seemingly disappeared.

The National Investigative Unit is getting answers to your coronavirus questions, such as whether it's still safe to go to the hospital if you have an emergency not related to COVID-19.

Chief National Investigative Correspondent Mark Albert asked doctors who revealed a big number of patients have stopped asking for help.

"Overall, we've seen about a 30 percent reduction in our volumes," said Dr. Claudette Rodriguez, of HonorHealth in Arizona. "And the patients that we are seeing or are sicker than they normally are. I asked them why did why did you wait? And a lot of them will tell me that they were afraid of coming to the hospital because of the virus."



It's affecting care across the country. A new study by a dozen doctors at nine U.S. hospitals found a 38% drop in heart patients.

Dr. Santiago Garcia, of the Minneapolis Heart Institute, who helped lead the study, says the results worry him.

"I think we had a risk of losing two decades of progress," Garcia said. "Don't play, doctor. If you are in doubt, please call us."



Dr. Bernard Chang at Columbia in New York tweeted: "Where did the strokes go? ... they're staying/dying at home. Collateral victims."

And this trend isn't just hurting patients. It could have a crippling effect on hospitals and their staffs.

Greg Feirn, of LCMC Health, says his five New Orleans hospitals are facing "significant lost revenue" from the drop in patients and postponed elective procedures ... income used to employ doctors and nurses.



"There's a multitude of factors here impacting the financial situation of of health care systems," Feirn said.

Doctors urge everyone to consult their personal physician if they think they may need medical help.

Rodriguez has a simple prescription.

"If you're having chest pain, if you're having difficulty breathing or increasing difficulty breathing, don't wait," she said. "Come to the hospital because we're there to take care of you."


By looking at the economic calendars, we observe scheduled central bank events.

What should traders look out for during this week in regards to the central banks?

Following Mondays BoJ, the FED and ECB are in action.

The FEDs unlikely to drop rates to 0% just yet, which is Trumps desire. Expect Trump to give his 10 cents worth following the FOMC press conference

The FED will be promising support in a bid to avoid shocking the markets. They will be talking about doom and gloom in order to prepare the markets ahead of 1st quarter GDP numbers on Thursday. 2nd quarter GDP numbers will garner more attention, however, following the April lockdown.

We then have the ECB on Thursday. We have seen the EU project come under fire, so it will be an interesting one.

It will come down to the FED, however, when it comes down to the global financial markets.

Central banks have been easing their policies since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, how is oil doing after the last weeks negative prices?

We have seen oil prices continue to struggle, with WTI seeing deep red once more.

Output has been in decline providing support but expect pressure on crude oil prices to remain. Concerns over the economy and the economic outlook remain negatives for crude oil near-term.

Will we see sub-$10, probably not, so expect more chatter on supply cuts. Much will depend on U.S output. OPEC will want to see the U.S chip in before delivering a more material cut in output.

It appears that in the current environment most prior correlations between asset prices are no longer valid.

How about macroeconomic data? Are statistics releases still influencing exchange rates?

We need to get passed March and April figures to see the bottom of the Abyss in the respective economies.

1st quarter GDP numbers out of the U.S and private sector PMI numbers out of China will garner some attention.

The weekly jobless claims figures will also need to slide back from the recent levels seen over the last couple of weeks.

Story continues

Overall, however, the stats are not having a material impact on the markets. Coronavirus updates, including the number of new cases and plans to ease lockdown measures, remain the key drivers.

We will need to start seeing May and June economic data for influence on the markets to resume.

Since we mention New Zealand, the country recently announced that it is free from the coronavirus.

How did that impact the countrys currency?

Great news from NZ as we see some more positive news on the coronavirus front.

New Zealand being free of new cases is certainly positive. When we look at economic data out of NZ, it hasnt been as bad as the markets had anticipated.

Even March trade data this morning impressed, with exports rising by a record amount.

Is the Kiwi Dollar heading for a slide and is the RBNZ going to deliver negative rates?

Theyve talked about it. With a reopening in the NZ economy, a pickup in activity is expected. Other economies reopening, including China, should also provide further support.

One downside is obviously tourism, which will be one negative that the RBNZ will need to consider. And obviously consumption.

Weve seen the Kiwi Dollar trail the Aussie Dollar this week. Thats largely down to the markets still expecting the RBNZ to deliver negative rates.

Despite good fundamental news, the exchange rate is still set by the central bank.

Could you comment more on the situation in the EU and the pressure from the ECB on EU member states?

In terms of the ECB, Lagarde may be miffed that EU member states were not able to deliver the EUR1tn stimulus package.

Thats likely to come up in Thursdays press conference. She will want to put pressure on the likes of the Netherlands, Germany, and other northern EU member states.

Even within the ECB, Lagardes hands are tied with EU member state representation.

Will the ECB deliver more support, they will have to. There is a sizeable contraction expected, particularly in the 2nd quarter.

Lagarde may want to drag her feet a little, however, to see how far EU member states are willing to go

We can expect further progress on this in the coming few weeks.

We then look at the EU project itself. If the EU fails to deliver, the likes of Italy and Spain will question the lack of support at a time of dire straits

Last but not least. Is there anything else geopolitical happening?

Weve got the EU project and how the ECB and EU member states step up to support more adversely affected member states. That is one to monitor.

Theres also Brexit. Boris Johnson was looking for a framework to be in place by June. Thats highly unlikely with the British PM only just returning to office. So, will there be an extension to the transition period?

The big one to look out for is the rising tension between the U.S and Iran. Trump will be looking at some sort of raid or an attack on Iran. That would be a great distraction as Joe Biden eats into his lead

We have also heard the news of the U.S administration going to the UN Security Council stating that they had never actually left the Iran nuclear agreement.

Thats quite a statement considering the fanfare behind the U.S withdrawal.

It does suggest that the U.S is looking to sever the supply of arms from the likes of China and Russia. This could mean that the U.S is preparing for some sort of move against Iran

That would also be quite a boost for oil prices

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
A Queensland man who ran a "substantial" drug trafficking business has been sentenced to more than 17 years in jail.

Ngoc Tang Phan was paid $18.5 million for about 100kg of methamphetamine sold to a syndicate that was just one of his customers.

Phan was driven "purely and cynically by profit", said Brisbane Supreme Court Justice Helen Bowskill. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

He also sold heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

The 38-year-old spoke in code when discussing his deals and used gestures, pointing to different parts of his face to indicate various types of drugs, to avoid being caught.
Counting underway

Counting in South Africas historic all-race elections finally began yesterday, after a week of voting chaos, political violence and uncertainty. The delay in counting follows administrative issues which hampered voters across the country, with an extra day of voting allowed in parts of KwaZulu, the eastern cape and northern Transvaal. Asked if he had won, ANC leader Nelson Mandela said: "Its a victory for the people of South Africa."

Anderson angry

Labor frontbencher Peter Anderson will resign from the shadow ministry following his loss in a preselection battle with the ALP left for his state seat of Liverpool. After losing the 139-130 to Liverpool deputy mayor Paul Lynch, Mr Anderson lashed out at Opposition leader Bob Carr, saying he was "disgusted" with him for undermining his position in the electorate. "Anyone who said I didnt look after my electorate was telling a lie," he said.

Pele weds again
There is a growing concern that the number of people who might experience suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide or die by suicide will increase during these months as many questions remain unanswered about the new normal.

"The coronavirus might spark someones exasperation, Prevent Suicide PA Executive Director Govan Martin said. "Human connection is really important right now.

Martin lost his brother to suicide when he was a teenager. He, and others like him, are working to spread suicide prevention awareness now more than ever to help educate people on what to look for in a family member, close friend, acquaintance, or any loved one.

"If we can start to talk about suicide like its not taboo, then we start to save lives, Martin said. We know a lot of people have problems right now and people have issues. Among them, they may not feel that they have a support system, so they might have thoughts about suicide. We want people to reach out for help and not be ashamed of it.

Camp Hill resident Gina Lauck agrees. She lost her daughter on April 8, 2019.

"We dont know what we are having anxiety about right now, necessarily, she said. "We all need positivity. All were hearing is really negative information, which is real, but how can we spread hope in a meaningful way?

Lauck said her 23-year-old daughter, Katie Altieri, had a lot of emotional pain. The weight of her personal burden, along with health challenges, made Altieri think the pain was insurmountable.

But, that doesnt mean her daughter wasnt an outstanding person, Lauck said. Altieri wanted to be a medical doctor and she cared deeply about others to the extent that she was known to take on other peoples problems.

In her memory, Lauck connected with a nonprofit called Dont Give Up Signs. It sells signs of hope that can be displayed on someones property.

A currently out-of-work central Pennsylvania realtor, Lauck spends her time focused on this project as well as driving throughout central Pennsylvania to drop off signs. The signs, which read anything from Dont give up to Were all in this together are intended to start a dialogue, which has happened, she said.

"There is no mention of suicide prevention, social isolation, or anything more than a positive message, Lauck said.

While social distancing is intended to protect lives, the lack of human interaction could also create a feeling of helplessness. Lauck said she thinks theres no better time than now to spread her daughters message.

"So many people already distance themselves for other reasons: mental health issues, abusive relationships that get worse with unemployment rising and everyone is forced to stay home, even those aged 10 to 19 years old, a group whose rate of suicide has doubled in the past 10 years, she said. The opportunity to stumble upon that one person who would believe in them is removed when we are social distancing.

Pennsylvania doesnt have any real-time data on suicide statistics, but it is certainly an area of concern," state health department spokesman Nate Wardle said.

"We know this is a stressful time for individuals for many reasons, he said. "This could include a change in routine, a loss of income, loss of work, lack of social interaction. We want all Pennsylvanians to take steps to care for one another, at a distance through calls, texts, video chats, and other means.

The state health department has been pushing its resources to make sure Pennsylvanians can get help, he said.

Its too soon to say how the coronavirus has impacted suicide rates in the commonwealth. The most recent data made available to Prevent Suicide PA by the Pennsylvania Department of Health is from 2018, Martin, of Prevent Suicide PA, said.

"People tend to start thinking about suicide when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Many who consider it and have even attempted it have gone on to live healthy lives, the foundations experts report.

The foundations website notes that people with the following mental health conditions are more likely to attempt suicide:

Mental health conditions, such as depression, substance use problems, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and personality traits of aggression, mood changes, and poor relationships

Conduct disorder

Anxiety disorder

Serious physical health conditions, including pain

Traumatic brain injury

Most experts will tell you that suicide is multicausal, Martin said, which was the case for Laucks daughter. Altieri had emotional pain and also suffered from severe seizures.

The two were estranged for years. And, no matter what Lauck tried to do to help her, Altieri found a way to end her life, even when she had been admitted to a hospital, where she was able to overdose and die from pills.

"My heart is heavy today with the thought of regret and guilt for the people who are left behind, Lauck said. I used to think suicide was selfish. Quite honestly, I was glad that my daughter was no longer in pain. It was horrible, sometimes you cant help someone. When you break a leg, you can go to the doctor. But its not the same with emotional pain. As her mom, its my responsibility to give meaning to her pain.

Suicidal thoughts often begin with substance abuse, any kind of abuse in general, and a feeling that no one believes them when they ask for help, as well as bad breakups, a job loss, or financial stress, Martin said.

"When you talk about someone who died by suicide, people think: Was he crazy? Martin said. Did he get bullied? Did his family drive him to do it? There are a lot of other things that surround suicide but usually, its a mental health issue.

If someone starts suddenly behaving differently, Martin said, asking the question are you OK?" is perfectly legitimate to ask.

It gives the person permission to say, Im struggling right now, Martin said. Then say, you know what, Im going to be right here. Im going to help you. What can I do to help you? Where are you at in your thought process? Suicide is not an impulsive act. Being in that level of emotional or physical pain, to say its a selfish act or to say that someones weak, goes against all the evidence we know about the research we have put into preventing it. We want to stop it.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention noted the following as warning signs:

If a person talks about

Killing themselves

Feeling hopeless

Having no reason to live

Being a burden to others

Feeling trapped

Unbearable pain

Behavior

Increased use of alcohol or drugs

Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods

Withdrawing from activities

Isolating from family and friends

Sleeping too much or too little

Visiting or calling people to say goodbye

Giving away prized possessions

Aggression

Fatigue

Moods

Depression

Anxiety

Loss of interest

Irritability

Humiliation, shame

Agitation, anger

Relief, sudden improvement

A lot of people have fleeting thoughts of suicide, Martin said.

The "Don't Give Up" sign movement is having a positive impact in central Pennsylvania, according to Gina Lauck. Photo: Gina Lauck

"What we want people to do during the coronavirus is to increase contact with everybody, Martin said. "Once this is over, you will get and give those supportive hugs, or handholding. Theres nothing more important than sitting down face-to-face with someone and saying, I care about you.

One way to uplift someone else during this time is to connect with them on social media, write a handwritten letter, send a card, or  if it seems that the situation is getting serious  call resource helplines to get advice on what to do, Martin said. Calling 911 to request a welfare check is another way to ensure someone is doing OK, he said.

"Go to people you feel that you can trust, Martin said. If someone turns you away, there are other people to talk to. Contact help phone numbers  we want people to reach out. Usually, someone considering suicide is feeling isolated and alone.

Suicides nationwide have increased overall throughout the past few years, Lauck said. Without knowing current statistics, waiting months or years to find out what they are is too late, she said.

"Going through the pandemic, its really difficult, she said. There have been soul-splitting moments. Were in a dark place, but reach for light or else well become so consumed that we dont see a way out. I want people to know the same thing I used to say to my daughter all the time, you matter. Take one action today to make your life better, like taking a shower. Sometimes its that simple. Do something for yourself that makes you feel good about yourself today. Just live in today. Dont worry about next week. Just live in today.

Lauck can be reached on Facebook at Chronically Strong. She said she plans to start up a nonprofit in the near future to help others.

Resources to seek help include:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line Text PA to 741741

Pennsylvania Mental Health Support Line 1-855-284-2494

Prevent Suicide PA website provides additional resources

Heres a list of mental health services available to Pa. residents struggling during the coronavirus

Philadelphia festival for coronavirus relief to feature War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, John Oates and more
 Krazifornias Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he is closing all the beaches in California this weekend, to which I say, Good luck with that. Heres to hoping there is massive civil disobediencea vivid demonstration of what self-government looks like, and the limits of diktats.

Newsom seems to be out of step with even the worst governors of other states. Even New York City, the most hard hit area, isnt trying to close down Central Park completely. Moreover, you can pick up signs that elite opinionthat is, the superstructure of the decisions of followers like Gov. Cuomois starting to shift ever so perceptibly to opening the country back.

Theres no better sign of this than NY Times columnist Tom Friedman, who wondered in his Tuesday column whether Swedens much more permissive quarantine is a better idea than what weve done:

This strategy posits that most people under age 65 who get the coronavirus  if they do not have major pre-existing medical conditions  will either experience it as a typical or tough flu, or completely asymptomatically, and the number who will get so sick that they require hospitalization or emergency care will reliably be less than the number of beds needed to care for them.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 9:00PM

By Glenn Dunks

The Tribeca Film Festival is sadly a no-go for 2020, but the teams behind some of the festivals documentary selections have made their films available for press so were going to take a look at a few and hope that one day they make their way to screens for you in the future.

Let us start with a delight of a drag kiki in P.S. Burn This Letter Please, tracing an underground circuit of drag queens, female impersonators and gender illusionists in 1950s pre-Stonewall New York City. Prompted by the discovery of a box of letters all addressed to a mysterious man named Reno -- I wont spoil the fun, but the recipient has ties to Michelle Pfeiffer! -- who kept them secret, and in doing so has kept alive a part of queer history that is too fabulous to stay hidden away. Through these letters and interviews with some of the surviving queens, directors Jennifer Tiexiera (an excellent editor of works such as Dragonslayer, one of my top documentaries of the decade, and 17 Blocks) and Michael Seligman (a producer on RuPauls Drag Race) untangle the insignificant dramas and life-changing moments of Daphne, Adrian, Claudia, Rita George and the rest of the gang.

Before Paris is Burning and even before The Queen, P.S. Burn This Letter Please offers insight where there has historically been so little. As one talking head explains, this is real gay history in black and white.

And it helps that the subjects are so wonderfully camp and entertaining in front of the camera. Even if it lacks those earlier landmark documentaries nostalgic varnish, what it offers is something just as rich. The use of archival footage is simply divine and the voice work put to reciting the letters secrets and scandals have the right amount of gossipy flavour as their stories dance through the New York scene, Harlems ball culture, off limits airforce bars and tedious office day jobs. A real treat of a discovery.

The best of the lot may just be 499, which by mixing time-warping fiction with documentary has allowed director Rodrigo Reyes to inventively capture at a glance at almost five centuries of Mexican history. Made to in its own way commemorate 500 years since the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in what is now Mexico, 499 opens with the image of a Conquistador washing ashore at Veracruz after having fallen off his ship and landing in contemporary Mexico through some sort of curious time distortion. Its as unexplained as it is creative and allows for Reyes to find remarkable if distressing parallels between 1519 and now.

Reyes is probably best known for Purgatorio: A Journey Into the Heart of the Border, which played festivals in 2013. I have not seen that film, but I admire enough of what I have seen in 499 to seek it out. He has a immediately recognisable strength at crafting vivid imagery that is as equally charming and playful, yet marked by the full weight of a history of violence that has permeated his homeland (as it has most lands). This fusion, pushed forward by the wayward Conquistador becoming a refugee of sorts in the country he came to invade, allows for a deeper sense of trauma to be revealed.

As this Conquistador, dressed in a pomp ensemble that gets more ragged as he goes, navigates his way towards what is now Mexico City, he encounters a variety of Indigenous men and women whose stories are similar and yet wildly different. The murder of an activist or the disappearance of a child become more than just their own individual moments of horror in the lives of those involved, but new shards in a crack that that stretches back through time. 499 is a rich and striking documentary; a significant and unexpected coda suggesting but for the hand of fate we could be any of the displaced souls on this planet.

An unfortunate disappointment, however, was Kubrick on Kubrick. A shame, really, as it starts so strong with delightfully rendered miniatures and then the shock of hearing Stanley Kubrick with his crisp American accent. Overlayed with photography, artwork, film clips and news reel, this most rare of cinematic treats is such a curious feast that its hard not to be enraptured. But after the first 30 minutes (of a scant 70 minutes), director Gregory Monro cant keep that enthusiasm going. By its final stretch, his documentary becomes little more than a clip package with an inexplicable Diane Sawyer interview with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as a odorous capper.

Perhaps by the very nature of the film, built as it is around tape recorded interviews between Kubrick and French film journalist Michel Ciment, Kubrick on Kubrick doesnt interrogate anything about how he made his movies, rather merely that he made them at all. I winced seeing Shelley Duvall in early 80s promo interviews, for instance, knowing the pain she went through on the set of The Shining. Even then, little is said of Kubricks self-banning of A Clockwork Orange, for example. It is ultimately too slight for a subject this extraordinary.

Lastly, another visually striking doc is Wake Up on Mars, a feature-length look at the same debilitating disease that was so alarming in 2019 Best Documentary Short Subject nominee Life Overtakes Me. Its called Resignation Syndrome, where childrentypically those in refugee families whose traumatic experiences of war are confounded by the new threat of deportation from their new homeslay in sleeping comas unable to do anything for themselves but to breath.

If its dramatic impact is somewhat lessened by its proximity to that early Oscar nominee then it impresses nonetheless especially for its visual language. Blending a chillier hand-held aesthetic whenever focused on the gruelling physical and emotional labour of this refugee familys parents with more colourful, dreamy camerawork of the hopeful children, it acutely traces the metaphorical rollercoaster of this Kosovan family through images. It isnt until its final moments that Swiss-Albanian director Dea Gjinovci embraces something more abstract or perhaps even fanciful and I wished it perhaps went there more often, but Wake Up on Mars proves to be a potent and stylish take on this tragic humanitarian crisis.
As the federal government's social distancing guidelines expire, United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the said guidelines will just "fade out." He also said that he is counting on the states to implement regulations as the country slowly eases into reopening.

According to Time, Trump's administration stated that the cautionary guidelines that it issued 45 days ago, in the early days of the pandemic has been incorporated into recommendations which have been given to the states. The said advice includes how the states can begin to gradually loosen on the restrictions and open their economies.

During his meeting with the Democratic governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, Trump told reporters that the restrictions will just be fading out as the governors are now taking over the responsibility.

Edwards also responded to Trump's statement by saying that his state as turned the corner in fighting the virus and that meeting on that day has brought them hopeful signs of a possible treatment. However, not the same can be said about the status of the economy.

As the coronavirus spread, the US economy was highly affected. In the last quarter it sank by a 4.8% annual rate, this, however, is only a preview of what could possibly be a grimmer report which is expected by the summer due to the health crisis that has triggered a severe recession.

Transition is not going as 'smoothly' as Trump says

However, despite the fact that Trump seemed pretty confident that the governors are already handling the recovery of their respective states, the transition from the imposed restrictions is not going as smoothly as expected.

Edwards has been commended by the president for doing a good job in controlling the spread of the virus in New Orleans, which was one of the hot spots of the virus in the country. However, the said commendation seemed to disagree with the current reaction of Republican lawmakers against Edwards. The governor is currently under fire for extending the stay-at-home order in the state until the 15th of may.

Read also: U.S President Donald Trump Introduced 3-Phase Plan to Reopen Economy

The president has once threatened to force the states to reopen but has also said that he will leave the decision to the local government.

In addition, Trump also confirmed that the White House will no longer extend its "30 Days to Slow the Spread" guidelines as they expire. The guidelines were initially only set for 15 days but were extended for 30 more days due to the rampant spread of the virus n the country.

Aside from Trump's statements, Vice President Mike Pence also stated that the new guidelines that the White House has laid out guides the states on how they can gradually reopen as the number of cases subside.

As of the moment, the White House has been talking about the possibility that the experimental drug Remdesivir can help patients recover faster. Based on a major study by the National Institute of Health, the drug has been proven effective in shortening the time of patient recovery by four days.

Related article: Trump Reveals Strategy to Ramp Up COVID-19 Testing

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 17th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, April 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Wednesday adopted a revised law on the prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid waste.

President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to promulgate the law.

The 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), which concluded on Wednesday, also adopted a decision to appoint Tang Yijun as the justice minister, replacing Fu Zhenghua, and appoint Huang Runqiu as the minister of ecology and environment, replacing Li Ganjie.

Xi signed another presidential order to appoint and remove the ministers based on the decision.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting, which was attended by 123 committee members in person and 46 others via video link.

At the meeting, Li asked the lawmakers to earnestly study the instructions of Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on strengthening legal safeguards for public health and fully implement the instructions in the legislative work.

He asked the lawmakers to fully grasp the importance and urgency of strengthening legal safeguards for public health and push for high-quality and effective legislative work to prevent and defuse major public health risks and protect people's life and health.

The lawmakers passed a decision to authorize the State Council to temporarily adjust relevant laws and regulations in the Hainan pilot free trade zone.

They approved a decision on opening the third session of the 13th NPC on May 22.

They ratified a treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons between China and Pakistan.

The lawmakers also adopted other items on the session's agenda, including deputies' qualifications and personnel appointments.

After the meeting, Li Zhanshu presided over a lecture.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 20:08:58|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel will fund coronavirus-related research programs with a total of 10 million new shekels (about 2.86 million U.S. dollars), the state's Ministry of Science and Technology said on Thursday.

This is the first time that an Israeli ministry is funding researches dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on the Israeli society.

Of the total amount, about 80 percent will be allocated to medical researches regarding diagnostics, drug treatment, vaccination, prediction of spread and medical equipment.

The rest of the fund will be invested in studies dealing with public health and social implications of coronavirus, on issues of social resilience, economic impact and care for special populations. Enditem
A court in Assam's Cachar district has sentenced a Bangladeshi to three years in prison for illegally entering India seven years ago.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate M Newpane on Tuesday sentenced Enamuddin, a native of Habiganj district of Bangladesh, to three years in prison besides slapping a fine of Rs 500 on him for illegally entering India on April 5, 2013 near Kinokhal border outpost in Cachar district.

BSF personnel had nabbed the man after he slipped into India and had handed him over to the local police.

A case under sections of the Foreigners Act was registered against Enamuddin with the Katigorah police station. He was forwarded to the Silchar Central Jail.

READ | Inmate Freed From Oklahoma Prison Tests Positive For Coronavirus

READ | 2,368 Prisoners Released From Chhattisgarh Jails Since Covid Lockdown
Brooklyn Sherrill, left, and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The canvas is a pair of white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers.

Painted on the left shoe are two outstretched hands that are about to touch, both wearing blue medical gloves. On the right, the words "Stay Home" are painted in black.

The shoes were inspired by Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam," and is the brainchild of two 23-year-old Ocean City residents, Brooklyn Sherrill and Sam Halseth, who own ShoreView Creative, a digital media enterprise focusing on brand development and social media strategizing.

Influenced by the heroic efforts of the frontline workers and the struggles of those affected by the coronavirus, they wanted to put their talents to good use and help support COVID-19 relief.

"Everyone's just been so gravely affected and something that we've always done is think about how we can do our part for the community," said Sherrill.

Don't Edit

Brooklyn Sherrill and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The Michelangelo painting on the Sistine Chapel ceiling depicts God reaching his hand out to the extended hand of Adam, their index fingers about to touch that will give Adam and mankind life.

In today's world it seems that life teeters on whether we practice social distancing rules, wear a mask outside or how well we observe the stay at home order. New Jersey has the second-most COVID-19 cases and related deaths in the United States.

These custom designed hand-painted sneakers are part of an online auction on eBay that ends Saturday, with 100 percent of the profits going to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to Sherrill, they decided on WHO because "that's the most popular, that's the one that gets the most traction that people can really make a difference globally."

Born and raised in Minnesota, the two best friends -- who are also roommates and business partners -- moved to Ocean City approximately two years ago and started ShoreView Creative in June of 2019 with Sherrill the content writer and Halseth the creative director.

Don't Edit

Brooklyn Sherrill, right, and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

"She's crazy talented," said Sherrill about the painting skills of Halseth, who graduated with a fine arts degree from the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

While studying abroad in Rome, Halseth visited the Vatican and traveled around the city to look at Michelangelo's works of art.

"I really liked the 'Creation of Adam' that's on top of the Sistine Chapel," said Halseth, who sees a correlation between that painting and life as it exists today.

"The painting itself talks about our relationship with God and humanity and how they're about to touch and create a spark of life."

She said now because of COVID-19 we are relying on each other to preserve life.

"It's kind of ironic that the fingers aren't touching because we can't really touch now, we have to keep a distance."

Sherrill said that they are already getting more requests for hand painted shoes in the original design, where the blue gloves worn by the outreaching hands represent all the frontline workers.

Don't Edit

Brooklyn Sherrill and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The winning bidder will have a pair of Air Force 1 shoes in their size painted and sealed, which makes the sneaker weatherproof and waterproof.

"I love to paint shoes, it's my passion," said Halseth who has been painting sneakers since her junior year in college. "The more I can create during this time, the better."

They want to eventually expand the "Creation of Adam" design to somehow include firefighters, police and different organizations.

In addition to the WHO donation, ShoreView Creative is also supporting two local campaigns -- "Chefs Feed the Frontlines" in Minneapolis and the "Casino Family Food Giving Tree" in South Jersey. The goal is to raise $2,000 that will be split between the two campaigns.

Sherrill said that anyone who donates to either of the two campaigns on the "Support Families & Frontlines" donation page will receive a 4x6 inch print as a thank you and a token of remembrance of this time. The postcard-sized prints will feature the Michelangelo design and the back will have a stay home, thank you message.

Don't Edit

Brooklyn Sherrill, left, and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Brooklyn Sherrill and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Brooklyn Sherrill and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Brooklyn Sherrill and Sam Halseth, both of Ocean City, are auctioning off originally designed, hand-painted custom sneakers, Monday, April 27, 2020. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization will receive 100 percent of the profit. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com.
The Indian cinema, in less than 24 hours received double shocker as it lost two of its most renowned and legendary actors--Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan. Rishi Kapoor immortalised his on-screen characters with sheer brilliance. Irrfan Khan was a true on-screen chameleon who smoothly transformed from a top athlete to a bandit to a common man looking for a bride to a doting dad in films.

READ | Papa I will always love you, writes Riddhima on father Rishi Kapoor's demise

The romantic star of many a Bollywood film, 67-year-old Rishi Kapoor, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2018 and died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday. Rishi, a third-generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, actor son Ranbir and daughter Ridhima. Rishi was taken to the H N Reliance hospital by his family on April 29.

READ | When Rishi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan shared stage and talked about '102 Not Out'

His notable films as a romantic hero are "Laila Majnu", "Rafoo Chakkar", "Karz", "Chandni", "Heena" and "Saagar". He was, however, more proud of his second innings as an actor, which he found more satisfying. His notable films as a character artiste are "Do Dooni Chaar" with wife Neetu, "Agnipath" and "Kapoor & Sons".

WATCH | Rishi Kapoor's interview with Sudhir Choudhary where he talked about fans love

The actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment from 2018. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering. Post return to India, Kapoor`s health has frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to hospital in quick succession in February. Amid speculations about his health, he had been hospitalised in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi.

SEE PICS | Rishi Kapoor and wife Neetu Kapoor's timeless love story captured in these pics - Take a look!

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukaemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," the family said in a statement.

READ | Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan's 'D-Day' viral movie clip on social media gives goosebumps!

One of India's finest and most versatile actors, Irrfan Khan breathed his last on April 29 leaving behind a legacy unparalleled. The 53-year-old actor was rushed to Kokilaben hospital due to colon infection on April 28. The actor par excellence battled a rare form of cancer - Neuroendocrine Tumour for two long years and had shared the news of his illness first on social media. Irrfan's last rites were performed today at the Versova Kabrastan in Andheri, Mumbai. His relatives and close ones paid their last respects.

READ | 10 times Irrfan Khan proved he is master of versatility

Irrfan was that rare actor who straddled multiple worlds, making his mark in both international and Indian cinema in roles intense and light-hearted. The self-effacing National Award winner, who acted in films as diverse as Maqbool, Life In A... Metro, Madaari, Life of Pi, The Namesake, Paan Singh Tomar, Haasil, The Lunchbox, Piku, and Hindi Medium among others, had stayed away from the public eye after his diagnosis in 2018 when he went to the UK for treatment.

READ | When Irrfan Khan was my neighbour and stayed in a one room-kitchen house

He returned home in 2019 and shot for "Angrezi Medium", the sequel to his 2017 hit "Hindi Medium". However, his health condition prevented him from promoting the movie, which hit the theatres in March.

WATCH | DNA: Irrfan Khan gave the formula of being 'immortal' | SEE PICS: Remembering Irrfan Khan and his 'filmy influences' with old pics of him

Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan's powerhouse talent and contribution to cinema remain unmatched and unparalleled. Their death has created a void, leaving behind a cinematic legacy which the generations will witness and re-live through their brilliant masterpieces. People across all fraternity and borders paid their tribute these two brilliant actors.
Google has now announced the roll-out an update to the sharing dialog used across G Suite, including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. The new dialog is intended to improve precision and control, particularly as it pertains to individualized sharing.

Google says that the underlying goal is to make it easy to share with individuals, in addition to allowing key in-app actions, without over-sharing. Thats a change thats critical amid the shift of the current work environment, with more users working from home.

The update accomplishes that by replacing the old dialog with a new card-like interface. Prior features appear to be mostly intact but there are three big advantages that go well beyond the aesthetic.

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First, Google says that the new interface highlights essential user tasks such as sharing and changing permissions or viewing who has access. But it also visually separates sharing with people and groups from the previous link-sharing interface.

Options associated with link-based sharing have been moved to a click on a Get link card below the primary sharing UI. Google says that provides a more task-focused approach to sharing.

The search giant has also included a new copy link button that makes it easier to pick up the link. Thats without requiring any changes to the links permissions.

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Finally, its easier than ever to see who has access and what kind of access they have in the top card. A drop-down menu next to each user allows that access to be changed as needed as well.

The new dialog appears only in the web variant of G Suite apps

The new interface is already rolling out but it will, for the time being, only work with desktop platforms. Thats because it applies exclusively to the web-based sharing dialog. So it will apply mostly to Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook users. Google hasnt provided any details about whether or not it plans to bring a similar UI over to Android or iOS variants of G Suite apps.

Specifically, the change applies to dialog found under the blue-colored Share button at the top-right hand side of the page for those services. A click on that brings up the new UI

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How long will this rollout take and who will see the changes?

Now, Google does indicate that the overall rollout will take some time to finalize. As of April 28, Rapid Release domains will see a gradual rollout over the course of 15-days. For Scheduled Release domains, that rollout wont start until May 26. However, its not going to be quite so limited as might be expected based on previous G Suite changes. Particularly in terms of which end-users can take advantage of the new dialog.

In fact, Google says that users with both G Suite and Drive Enterprise accounts. Thats in addition to users with personal Google Accounts. Effectively everybody will be able to use the newly enhanced dialog surrounding the services sharing features.

The update is arriving on the server-side so users wont need to take any action such as updating apps. Itll also be turned on by default.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested one person, alleged to be an arms dealer, in connection with the case pertaining to the arrest of now suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh who was nabbed by police for driving terrorists out of the Kashmir Valley earlier this year.

The arrested person has been identified as Tariq Mir and has been sent to six days of NIA custody by the court, they said.

Mir, a resident of Shopian in South Kashmir, was arrested in Jammu and is alleged to have been indulging in arms supply to various terror groups.

Earlier this year in January, the DySP was arrested along with two terrorists and an overground secessionist worker while he was driving them out of the Kashmir Valley to Chandigarh. He was suspended following his arrest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Octavia Spencer has been doing her part during the coronavirus pandemic, feeding healthcare workers with the aid of Frontline Foods and donating breathing monitors to hospitals that include the Baptist Health system in Alabama.

The Oscar-winning actress, who was born in Montgomery, announced one of her initiatives this week on Instagram, saying:

I, like many of you, have felt helpless in knowing how to help during this time. Seeing what is happening in the communities that I love, I have teamed up with @Mikucare to donate monitors to nursing and medical facilities in Alabama and New York to provide much needed relief to nurses as they navigate care for COVID-19 patients. ... Please everyone do your part to stay safe and stay home in order to protect yourself and the ones you love most and I hope we can all find ways -- small and large -- to give back to our neighbors, family, and those on the frontlines.

Spencer listed beneficiaries of the breathing monitors using their social media handles: @baptist_health and @montefiorehealthsystem. The overall number of monitors donated by Spencer has not been announced, and its unclear how many monitors each hospital will receive.

Baptist Health, based in Montgomery, is the largest healthcare system serving central Alabama, providing comprehensive hospital-based and outpatient services to residents in Central Alabama, according to its website. Baptist Health includes hospitals in Montgomery and Prattville, a cancer center, a surgical center and more.

Alabamians are no stranger to uniting during times of adversity. At Baptist Health we have experienced a tremendous outpouring of support from businesses, organizations and individuals throughout Central Alabama during the COVID-19 crisis, said Kadie Agnew, Baptist Healths public relations director, in a prepared statement. However, perhaps the most unexpected blessing came when Alabama native, Octavia Spencer, offered to give back to her hometown. Thanks to Octavias generosity and giving spirit, Baptist Health is now equipped with a new and innovative monitoring system. This advanced technology allows our caregivers to safely observe COVID-19 positive patients and those patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or another highly contagious illness. This gift provides a priceless peace of mind.

Montefiore Health System includes 10 hospitals and other healthcare facilities in New Yorks Westchester County, the lower Hudson Valley and the Bronx.

Spencer, 47, also has been focused on feeding healthcare workers in hospitals. She talked about her project with Frontline Foods, an organization that partners with World Central Kitchen, on a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Through Frontline Foods, restaurants prepare meals for healthcare workers in their communities, deliver them to hospitals and are paid for their efforts. Frontline Foods gathers donations to make that happen.

Spencer has teamed with comedian Joel McHale to support Frontline Foods. The entertainers talk to Clarkson about their efforts in the video below, starting at the 6:50 mark.

Frontline Foods is active in Alabama, and is focused on hospitals in Birmingham, according to its website. Nearly $30,000 has been raised here, the website says, and more than 2,000 meals have been delivered to date.

The idea is simple: Support local Birmingham hospital clinicians who are working in wartime-like conditions and support local restaurants who have been impacted by the COVID crisis, the website says.

If you dont have money to give, a simple prayer goes a long way, too, Spencer said during the interview with Clarkson.

Spencer won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe as best supporting actress for her role in The Help, a 2011 film directed by Tate Taylor. She was nominated again for both awards for her work in Hidden Figures" (2016) and The Shape of Water (2017).
The Diyanet comes under fire after comments on homosexuality and failing to stop people from travelling to holy sites.

Ankara, Turkey  As the Muslim world marks Ramadan under the cloud of the coronavirus outbreak, Turkeys powerful Religious Affairs Directorate has emerged as a leading voice in guiding the faithful during the crisis.

Such prominence, however, has also shone a critical light on the directorate, known as the Diyanet, for its actions during the crisis.

Turkeys Human Rights Association and the Ankara Bar Association submitted criminal complaints alleging hate speech against Diyanet head Ali Erbas over his televised sermon on the first day of Ramadan, in which he claimed evils such as homosexuality spread disease and decay.

The directorate has also come under fire after failing to halt people travelling to Islams holy sites in Saudi Arabia  trips overseen by the Diyanet  as the pandemic first emerged in Turkey last month. Many early infections spread from people returning from the Umrah pilgrimage.

The Diyanet, which manages Turkeys 89,000 mosques, has become increasingly influential under the 18-year rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AK Party), seeing its budget quadruple to outstrip those of most government ministries.





Many saw this as a rebalancing of Turkish society after decades of secular rule that saw Islam marginalised through measures such as a ban on women wearing headscarves in universities or public sector jobs.

The directorates income is bolstered by commercial interests in property as well as finance from providing sacrificial livestock and selling pilgrimage tours. Although this form of religious endowment, or vakif, is traditionally used to fund pious foundations, it has led to criticism that the directorate has strayed from its religious mission to chase power and wealth.

Aykan Erdemir, senior director of the Turkey programme at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, DC and a former member of the Turkish parliament, said targeting the LGBT community aimed to deflect blame from mismanagement of the outbreak.

Instead of taking responsibility for the egregious mistakes in its own handling of the public health challenges, the Diyanet has chosen to make vulnerable groups a target of hate crimes, he told Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Omer Saglam, a former Diyanet official now working as a writer, described the continuation of pilgrimages as fundamentally wrong.

Although other branches of government should also shoulder some blame, the Diyanet should have issued strong advice to halt the overseas travel of such a vulnerable group, he added.

Plague-stricken citizens

When thousands of pilgrims, most of them elderly, arrived back in Turkey, some were quarantined in student dormitories but many returned to their villages.

Evidence soon emerged showing returnees welcoming large groups of visitors at home even after Ankara imposed measures to contain the virus, such as the closure of the border with hard-hit Iran on February 23.

Recep Ozel, deputy chairman of the AK Party, tweeted on April 1 that, of the 268 confirmed cases in his home province of Isparta, 245 were Umrah pilgrims.

Fahrettin Yokus, an opposition politician from the religiously conservative province of Konya, was more forthright.

When you look at the statements of the health minister, most of those who lost their lives are Umrah pilgrims, he told the opposition Sozcu newspaper. The head of the Diyanet is responsible for these plague-stricken citizens.

The directorate has also faced questions over the delay in cancelling Friday prayer gatherings in mosques until March 16, despite the requirement under Islam to take precautions during health threats.





Turkey closed other public spaces such as bars and cafes on the same date and other Muslim-majority nations also halted Friday prayer services around the same time.

Turkey recorded its first coronavirus case on March 11 and now has 112,261 cases, the highest number outside Europe and the US.

It was a great mistake that it continued to perform mass prayers in mosques after the outbreak of the virus appeared, Saglam said.

On the other hand, it is worth considering claims that those returning from Umrah were released into society without adequate controls and not quarantined. In this respect, the Diyanet has institutional responsibility.

In a statement on Erbass sermon, the Diyanet underlined Islams command that sex should only occur between a married man and woman. Islam clearly forbids all forms of adultery as well as homosexuality, it said.

Under the constitution, it is the directorates legal duty to give Islamic guidance, the statement added.

As a requirement of this responsibility, it is extremely unjust and irresponsible behaviour to fabricate hate speech or discrimination in relation to the religious explanation of all kinds of illegitimate sexual relationships as a great sin.

Such an allegation amounted to insulting the religious and spiritual values of Turkey, the statement said.

Attack on Islam

Defending the directorate, government officials and AK Party supporters characterised criticism as an attack on Islam, using the top-trending hashtag Ali Erbas is not alone.

In a speech following a cabinet meeting on Monday, Erdogan backed Erbas for fulfilling his religious duty.

If there is someone in our country who should speak for Islam, if there is an institution, it is the Directorate of Religious Affairs, he said.

The president singled out a statement from the Ankara Bar Association as a deliberate attack against Islam and the state.

The true faces of those who glorify heresy in the name of equality are disclosed one by one  We believe that this false slanderous political concept, which has no contribution to the nation and the country, will be completely liquidated, said Erdogan.

Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank tweeted: This rabble, which tries to view their grievances with Islam through Mr Ali Erbas, should well know that they will not have influence until the as long as the call to pray is heard over our eternal homeland.

Prosecutors in Ankara have launched an investigation into the citys bar association for allegedly insulting religious values.

Same-sex relationships have never been illegal in Turkey, while in many Western countries they remained illegal until the 1960s, and people have been legally permitted to change gender since 1988.

Although Turkeys approach to the LGBT community compares favourably to its neighbours in the Middle East, in recent years annual LGBT rights marches have been banned in cities such as Ankara and Istanbul.

Erdemir said the attacks on the Diyanets critics show that the homophobic conspiracies peddled by the countrys highest religious authority resonate closely with the prejudices held by the countrys political leadership.
Its almost two months since the Australian womens cricket team thrashed India in the T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Since then, the G has remained largely empty except for a paired-back team of dedicated ground staff who are keeping the turf action-ready for the AFLs start date - whenever that might be.

Nevertheless, theres been some movement behind the scenes among Melbourne Cricket Clubs famously closed-shop committee. Ad man Russel Howcroft, a devout Demons supporter and a former Melbourne Football Club director, has been appointed as a director. He takes the place of former Cadbury Schweppes executive Mark Smith  also a Dees supporter (and former player)  who has resigned.

Fans nearly fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the Women's T20 World Cup cricket final on March 8, Credit:AP

MCC president Michael Happell announced Smiths casual vacancy had been filled automatically in an email to members at the start of the week. The news caught some members by surprise, considering it was only in August that Smith was re-elected to the committee, along with existing directors Annabel Brebner and Seek chief financial officer Geoff Roberts.

At the time, the trio were up against hopefuls, including former police prosecutor Tony Burns, superannuation executive Bill Hodges and real estate veteran David Taylor, in a no-doubt expensive, voting process.
About a third of some 3.2 million known COVID-19 patients have recovered, with total number of deaths exceeding 228,000.

More than 3.8 million people in the US filed new claims for jobless benefits over the past week, bringing the six-week total since the beginning of coronavirus-related lockdowns to more than 30m.

The Eurozones economy shrunk by 3.8 percent in the first quarter, the biggest hit since records began in 1995.

Worldwide, the number of confirmed infections stood at more than 3.2 million, with some 230,000 deaths and more than 1 million recoveries.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said he tested positive for coronavirus and will self-isolate to protect other cabinet members, promising to be in constant contact on all the main issues.

WHO says it is very concerned about community spread in a number of countries in West Africa.

Here are the latest updates:

Thursday, April 30

23:50 GMT  IMF chief lauds Japans spending to combat coronavirus

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday lauded Japans plans to spend about 20 percent of its gross domestic product to respond to the economic challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and help the worlds poorest countries, urging others to do their part.

Japan, the worlds third largest economy behind the United States and China, was the largest contributor to IMF financial resources and the largest contributor to the funds concessional lending facilities, Georgieva said in a statement.

While it has the clear intention to support the Japanese economy, Japan will also underpin the stability of the global economy through contributions to the International Monetary Funds resources for the provision of debt relief and concessional financing to low-income countries, she said.

22:00 GMT  Trump says has seen evidence linking Wuhan lab to coronavirus

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he has seen evidence that the coronavirus originated in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, but he would not disclose what the evidence was.

The comments came on the same day that US intelligence agencies said they have concluded that the new coronavirus was not man-made or genetically modified but said they were still examining whether the origins of the pandemic can be traced to contact with infected animals or an accident at a Wuhan lab.

The Chinese government said earlier on Thursday that any claims that the coronavirus was released from a laboratory are unfounded and purely fabricated out of nothing.

20:57 GMT  Can the US economy recover?

As the pandemic spreads in the US, the countrys economy is likely to face its worst crisis since the Great Depression.

Millions of US citizens have lost their jobs and consumer spending has seen its biggest decline in 40 years.

What can be done to reverse the crash?

Find out more here.





20:47 GMT  NASCAR to resume season in mid-May

NASCAR will be the first major sport in the United States to return to action amid the COVID-19 pandemic after the organisers of the popular racing series said that the season will resume without fans in mid-May.

NASCAR, which postponed racing in mid-March due to concerns over the coronavirus, said its season will resume on May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.

The race will be the first of seven over an 11-day span at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR and its teams are eager and excited to return to racing, and have great respect for the responsibility that comes with a return to competition, Steve ODonnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer said in a statement.

NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials and all those in the local community.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Brett Moffitt celebrates after clinching the 2018 truck series championship and winning the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway [File: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters]

20:08 GMT  Brazil sees record rise in cases

Brazil reported a record 7,218 confirmed coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, raising its total to 85,380 cases.

The countrys health ministry added the death toll had increased by 435 to 5,901.

19:46 GMT  California closes Orange County beaches

Gavin Newsom said he had ordered beaches in Orange County in the southern part of the US state to close, after crowds defied public health guidelines to throng the popular shoreline last weekend.

Read more here.

People are seen gathering on the Corona del Mar State Beach on April 25, 2020 in Newport Beach, California [Michael Heiman/AFP]

19:43 GMT  Peru deaths surpass 1,000

The death toll in Peru rose to 1,051 from 943 the previous day, the countrys ministry of health said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the number of cases had risen by 3,045 to 36,976.

Peru has the second highest number of confirmed cases and deaths in Latin America.

19:33 GMT  UN chief laments lack of global leadership

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented a lack of leadership by world powers and a divided international community in the fight against the coronavirus as he raised concern about inadequate support for poor countries.

In response to questions about global leadership, Guterres told a news conference that the international community was divided when it was more important than ever to be united.

There is  a disconnect between leadership and power. We see remarkable examples of leadership but they are usually not associated with power. And where we see power we sometimes do not see the necessary leadership, Guterres said.

I hope this will be overcome sooner rather than later, he added.

18:36 GMT  Overcrowded DRC prisons ticking time-bomb

Main prisons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are filled at 432 percent on average, making them some of the most overcrowded in the world.

Leading health experts say these overcapacity prisons seriously risk outbreaks of COVID-19, threatening the lives of detainees, guards and the outside population.

Read Peter Yeungs story from Goma here.

18:07 GMT  UK past peak of coronavirus outbreak, PM says

Britain is past the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, despite recording another 674 deaths in the last 24 hours.

For the first time, we are past the peak of this disease  and we are on the downward slope, Johnson, making his first appearance at a daily government briefing since his own battle with COVID-19, said

We are coming through the peak or rather we are coming over what could have been a vast peak, as though we have been going through some huge Alpine tunnel.

And we can now see the sunlight and the pastures ahead of us. So its vital that we dont now lose control and run slap into a second and even bigger mountain.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to Downing Street this week after recovering from COVID-19, said the country needed to continue its lockdown measures to avoid a second spike in infections [Dan Kitwood/Getty Images]

17:05 GMT  Global number of recoveries top 1 million

Around a third of the worlds known coronavirus patients, some 1,004,483 people, have recovered from the disease, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University.

16:59 GMT  Russian PM Mishustin diagnosed with coronavirus

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin that he had been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Speaking at a televised meeting, Mishustin suggested that First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov should serve as acting prime minister in his absence. Putin supported his proposal.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin chairs a meeting on measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) via video link in Moscow, Russia earlier this month [Dmitry Astakhov/Reuters]

16:46 GMT  Italys daily tallies fall

Deaths from the coronavirus in Italy climbed by 285, against 323 on Wednesday, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new infections stood at 1,872, down from 2,086 the day before.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 27,967, the agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States.

The number of officially confirmed cases, which includes those who have died or recovered, was 205,463, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain.

People registered as currently carrying the illness declined to 101,551 from 104,657 on Wednesday.

In the shadow of #coronavirus, Muslims around the world are facing a unique #Ramadan this year. How are you observing Ramadan while maintaining social distancing? Share your experiences in a comment or video below | #AJinRamadan pic.twitter.com/XiCjQddz7G  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 30, 2020

16:41 GMT  UK death toll hits 26,711

The death toll in the United Kingdom rose by 674 to 26,711, Prime Minister Boris Jhonson said in his first appearance after recovering from the coronavirus.

16:29 GMT  Poland lifts quarantine rule for workers, students who often enter from neighbouring states

People working or studying close to the Polish border will be able to cross it regularly again as of May 4 without needing to undergo a two-week quarantine, Polands prime minister said.

The growth of new coronavirus cases is relatively low and stable. We havent won with the epidemic, but we increasingly have it under more control, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a post on his Facebook page.

It means we can take more decided steps to allow economic life to speed up, he wrote.

The loosening of restrictions he mentioned applies to those resident in areas of Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic close to the land border with Poland. But entry into Poland remains barred to all others unless they undergo the two-week quarantine.

16:24 GMT  NY governor says may need army to trace contacts of patients

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that he would need an army of between 6,400 and 17,000 people to trace the contacts of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus as part of a strategy to limit outbreaks.

Cuomo said that former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg would, in coordination with Johns Hopkins University, oversee the recruitment and training of these contact tracers and make the program available to governments worldwide.

16:22 GMT  Travel within Europe not on the agenda: Merkel

The question of allowing travel within Europe as the coronavirus crisis eases is currently not on the agenda, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

16:09 GMT  Turkey reports new cases, deaths

The number of positive cases in Turkey rose by 2,615, according to the health ministry, brining the total number of cases in the country to 120,204.

The death toll has risen by 93, brining the total number to 3,174.

15:44 GMT  Half the countries in Europe have eased restrictions

The WHO said about half of Europes countries had relaxed coronavirus-related restrictions.

Speaking to reporters in Denmarks capital, Copenhagen, Hans Kluge, head of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, said 44 states in the European region had imposed partial or complete restrictions of movement in the fight against the pandemic.

Of those, 21 have begun easing their restrictions, to different extents. An additional 11 countries are planning to do so in the coming days.

However, Kluge warned: I said before, this virus is unforgiving. We must remain vigilant, persevere and be patient.

15:26 GMT  Virus threatens fate of abandoned dogs in Greece

As a nationwide lockdown enters its second month in Greece, animal rescue groups and shelters have become overwhelmed with the number of strays piling up in their facilities.

Although dog adoption in central Athens and other urban city centres continues, as some seek companionship in the form of pets during the lockdown, international dog adoption from Greece to countries across Europe and the US has come to a standstill.

Thousands of dogs who were slated to travel abroad to new homes are now stranded in shelters across the country, which has become a popular source for international adoption, waiting for coronavirus travel restrictions to be lifted. As the weeks pass, the backlog of dogs is increasing and the cost of care is becoming unmanageable for some facilities.

Read Fahrinisa Campanas story from Athens here.

The municipality of Thessaloniki places volunteer feeders in central parts of the city to feed the stray animals, which due to the restrictions for COVID-19 are in danger of starvation [Nikos Arvantidis/EPA-EFE]

15:15 GMT  Could oil crisis radically redefine US-Saudi relations?

An armada of tankers laden with an estimated 50m barrels of Saudi Arabian crude is heading towards United States shores  cargo US shale oil producers regard as a foreign invasion delivered by a lower-cost competitor hell-bent on driving them out of business.

For President Donald Trump, the timing is particularly vexing. With US voters heading to the polls in November, Trump is under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, while the US economy  a cornerstone of his re-election campaign  is being annihilated by lockdowns.

Now an oil price crash rooted in COVID-19 disruptions and aggravated by Saudi shenanigans has many US oil firms staring down the barrel of bankruptcy.

Read the story by Patricia Sabga & Radmilla Suleymanova here.

US President Donald Trump (R) and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC [File: Mark Wilson/Bloomberg]

15:04 GMT  Minds focused on May 7 for lockdown review: UK PM spokesman

The UK government is focused on May 7 when a review of social distancing measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak is due, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

Johnson, who chaired his first meeting of his top ministers on Thursday after falling ill with COVID-19, received an update on the crisis from his chief scientific adviser and chief medical officer, but work is ongoing on the lockdown measures.

We dont want to relax the social distancing measures or do anything that could lead to the virus, which the British public has done so much to suppress, being  spread in an exponential way again and that will guide our approach on the way forward, the spokesman told reporters.

The date we are working towards is May 7. That is the date for the next review of the social distancing measures  that is where minds are focused.

14:09 GMT  Pfizer aims for 10-20 million vaccine doses by end of 2020

Pfizer aims to make 10-20 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine it is developing with Germanys BioNtech by the end of 2020 for possible emergency use depending on trial results, the US drugmakers vaccines head said.

Of course we need to see and wait to see how the vaccines efficacy and safety is demonstrated, hopefully in the coming months, Nanette Cocero, the global head of Pfizer Vaccines, said on a conference call.

But assuming that is demonstrated, we are looking to ramp up manufacturing rather quickly to have around 10 to 20 mln doses by the end of this year, which are expected to then of course be used in an emergency type of setting.

Neal Browning receives a shot in the first-stage study of a potential vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus [File: Ted S. Warren/AP Photo]

13:40 GMT  Bosnia extends passanger air traffic halt

Bosnias central government extended until June a halt to all passenger air traffic to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Zoran Tegeltija said.

The measure, excluding freight planes carrying medical aid for the Balkan country, had been in effect since March 30 to April 30.

Bosnia, which has registered 1,757 cases of the coronavirus and 69 deaths, declared a nationwide state of emergency on March 17.

13:38 GMT  Denmark says virus spread has not accelerated since reopening

The spread of COVID-19 in Denmark has not accelerated since the country began a gradual looswening of restrictions in mid-April, the State Serum Institute, which is responsible for preparedness against infectious diseases, said.

The so-called R rate, which shows the average number of infections one person with the virus causes, has increased slightly in the past two weeks but remains below 1.0, the institute said.

However, there are no signs that the COVID-19 epidemic is accelerating, it said.

13:36 GMT  England hospital death toll rises to 20,137

A further 391 people who tested positive for the coronavirus in English hospitals have died, taking the total there to 20,137, health officials said.

Within the 391, 15 of the patients aged between 49 and 97 had no known underlying health condition.

Hello, this is Farah Najjar taking over from my colleague Joseph Stepansky.

13:05 GMT  UK focused on May 7 for lockdown review: PM spokesman

Britains government is focused on May 7 when a review of social distancing measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak is due, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said

Johnson, who chaired his first meeting of his top ministers on Thursday after falling ill with COVID-19, received an update on the crisis from his chief scientific adviser and chief medical officer, but work is ongoing on the lockdown measures.

We dont want to relax the social distancing measures or do anything that could lead to the virus, which the British public has done so much to suppress, being  spread in an exponential way again and that will guide our approach on the way forward, the spokesman told reporters.

The date we are working towards is May 7. That is the date for the next review of the social distancing measures  that is where minds are focused.





13:00 GMT  Lufthansa pilots offer to sacrifice up to 45 percent of salary: Union

Pilots at Lufthansa are ready to sacrifice up to 45 percent of their salaries for more than two years to help cut costs, their union, Cockpit, has said, as the airline struggles with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The concessions amount to more than 350 million euros and make a significant contribution to the viability of the company, Cockpit said in a statement.

The offer affects pilots at Lufthansas namesake core brand, its freight division and its budget carrier Germanwings.

12:55 GMT  30 million have sought US unemployment assistance since outbreak began

More than 30 million people in the US have filed unemployment claims since mid-March after parts of the economy were shut down to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The US registered an additional 3.8 million unemployment claims last week, according to data released by the Department of Labor on Thursday, as the economy reels from the coronavirus pandemic.

The figure comes on top of more than 26 million claims already filed since mid-March amid efforts by governments to shut down parts of the economy to stem the spread of the virus.

US flags fly outside of the New York Stock Exchange as markets continue to react to the coronavirus disease

12:50 GMT  WHO says very concerned at community spread in West Africa

The WHO is worried by the community spread of the new coronavirus in a significant number of West African countries, the regional head of the organization has said.

Sub-Saharan Africa has confirmed around 23,800 cases with over 900 deaths. A number of countries have issued targeted lockdowns in some major cities, as well as dusk-to-dawn curfews and restrictions on interurban travel, but have stopped short of nationwide lockdowns as in most European countries and South Africa.

On Tuesday, the government of Senegal said in its daily outbreak briefing that one case of community infection in the Casamance region of the country contaminated 25 other people.

We are very concerned about West Africa where we are seeing some community spread, in a significant number of countries compared with others, Matshidiso Moeti told a news conference, without identifying the countries.





12:45 GMT  British Airways plans to cut pilot numbers by a quarter: Letter

British Airways is seeking to cut pilot numbers by a quarter as it slashes costs to weather the coronavirus crisis, according to a letter sent to union leaders and seen by Reuters news agency.

Under the plan, BA would cut 1,130 captain and co-pilot jobs from its headcount of 4,346, the IAG-owned airlines head of flight operations told the BALPA union in the letter.

In a short space of time the situation has significantly deteriorated, the April 28 letter reads, adding that BA may yet be forced to suspend the few services still running from London Heathrow. There are no clear signs of improvement in air passenger demand.

A spokeswoman for BA did not immediately return calls and messages seeking comment on the planned cuts, which were first reported by Sky News.

12:40 GMT  Dutch cases rise to 39,316, with 84 new deaths

The Netherlands number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 514 to 39,316 health authorities said, with 84 new deaths.

The countrys death toll stands at 4,795, the Netherlands Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update.

The RIVM cautioned it only reports confirmed cases, and actual numbers are higher.

People, some wearing face masks, observe social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus when standing in line to buy traditional Kings Day pastry in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [Peter Dejong/The Associated Press]

12:30 GMT  Kuwaits Jazeera Airways lays off over a third of staff

Kuwaits Jazeera Airways has laid off over a third of its staff and can dip into its cash reserves to get through the coronavirus crisis, its chairman said.

Several governments around the world are supporting airlines hammered by the pandemic that has virtually halted international travel.Kuwait halted all commercial flights on March 13 as the Gulf Arab state rolled out restrictions to control the spread of the virus that has now infected 3,740 people and killed 24 there.

Jazeera, one of the regions few listed airlines, has laid off 320 employees, including cabin crew, ground staff and support staff, or 37% of its workforce.

We kept only the sufficient number to run the current situation, Marwan Boodai told Reuters by phone. We hope that there will be an opportunity to re-employ them again in the coming months and we hope they will return.





12:15 GMT  Japan unlikely to lift virus state of emergency next week: Abe

Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said it will be hard to lift a nationwide state of emergency imposed over the coronavirus next week as local media reported he plans for an extension, possibly by another month.

The measure was initially declared on April 7 across seven regions experiencing a spike in infections, but was later expanded to cover the entire country.

With the original month-long period coming to an end next week after the countrys annual Golden Week holidays, local media reported that Abe was now expected to extend the measure, either until the end of May or for another full month until June 6.

Considering the burden carried by medical officials, I recognise the present situation as very severe, Abe told reporters. Its hard to return to the days of the past, starting on May 7.

12:00 GMT  Germany to reopen religious institutions: Govt source

Germany is poised to reopen churches, mosques and synagogues for religious services, but under stringent conditions to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus, a government source told AFP news agency Thursday.

The number of participants will be limited and attendees will have to keep a distance from each other, according to a plan to be approved by Chancellor Angela Merkel and premiers of Germanys 16 states when they hold a conference later on Thursday.





11:45 GMT  Ireland to consider easing restrictions every 2-4 weeks, PM says

Irelands roadmap for gradually easing coronavirus restrictions will lay out how any changes will be made every two to four weeks, but the government will intervene earlier if things go off track, Acting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said.

Varadkar listed five criteria to be considered each time a change is considered: the progress of the disease, healthcare capacity and resilience, testing and contact tracing capacity, the ability to shield at-risk groups, and the risk of secondary morbidity and mortality due to the restrictions themselves.

The easement of the current restrictions will be slow and gradual. The lifting will not necessarily mirror the manner in which they were escalated, Varadkar told parliament, adding that the plan was due to be completed on Friday.

A man looks at his phone in Dublin as the spread of the coronavirus continues in Dublin, Ireland [Jason Cairnduff/Reuters]

11:30 GMT  Europe flooded with cocaine despite trade disruptions

Latin American drug lords have sent bumper shipments of cocaine to Europe in recent weeks, including one in a cargo of squid, even though the coronavirus epidemic has stifled legitimate transatlantic trade, senior anti-narcotics officials told Reuters news agency.

The illegal drugs industry has been disrupted by the virus, with international supply chains busted and millions of customers on lockdown.

But drug kingpins have risen to the challenge, packing huge loads of cocaine into the fewer container ships and commercial airplanes in circulation in a sign they were ready to take higher risks to deliver their wares.

Based on seizures of bigger-than-usual shipments of cocaine, it would be fair to say that Europe was flooded with cocaine ahead of lockdowns, Bob Van Den Berghe, senior law enforcement officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), told Reuters.





11:15 GMT  Swedish town uses chicken manure to help stop gathering

A town in southern Sweden has turned to a traditional source to try to prevent the coronavirus spreading during an annual festive event  chicken manure.

The university town of Lund began spreading chicken droppings in its central park to put off would-be revellers who would usually come on April 30 to celebrate Walpurgis Night.

The occasion, marking the shift away from dark, chilly winter days towards brighter spring and summer days, is typically celebrated with picnics, parties and bonfires across the country, and regularly attracts thousands of students.

This is a park where usually 30,000 people gather, but with COVID-19 this is now unthinkable, the towns mayor, Philip Sandberg, told Reuters news agency. We dont want Lund to become an epicentre for the spread of the disease.





11:00 GMT  Iran virus death toll surges past 6,000: ministry

Irans health ministry has said that 71 new fatalities from the novel coronavirus took the countrys overall death toll past the 6,000 mark.

The number of deaths from this disease effectively crossed 6,000 today, ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in televised remarks.

Considering that we lost 71 of our countrymen in the past 24 hours, a total of 6,028 of those infected with COVID-19 have passed away to date, he added.

10:50 GMT  Tajikistan confirms first cases

Tajikistan has confirmed its first 15 coronavirus cases, the Central Asian nations Healthcare Ministry has said.

Five cases have been confirmed in the capital city of Dushanbe and 10 more in the Sughd province which borders Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the ministry said.

10:40 GMT  European lockdowns could avert 11,300 air pollution deaths

Improved air quality in Europe due to lockdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic has delivered health benefits equivalent to avoiding 11,300 premature deaths, according to a study published on Thursday.

Researchers extrapolated the likely impact on diseases caused or made worse by air pollution, which has fallen dramatically as hundreds of millions of people have stayed at home over the past month.

You could compare it to everyone in Europe stopping smoking for a month, said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which conducted the study.

Our analysis highlights the tremendous benefits for public health and quality of life that could be achieved by rapidly reducing fossil fuels in a sustained and sustainable way.

Read more here.

The canals in Venice are clearer than they have been for a long time with decreasing traffic of boats due to lockdown measures taken in the face of coronavirus [File: Federico Vespignani/Anadolu]

10:20 GMT  Keeping faith under the lockdown?

Much like our daily routines, religious and cultural rituals have been derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.

A global ban on gatherings has meant that holidays like Passover, Easter and Vaisakhi are being celebrated in isolation. The same is happening for Muslims observing Ramadan and Eid.

Even those who are not religious are having to adapt for birthdays, weddings, even the way we mourn the dead.

Start Here explains how centuries of religious and cultural practices have change.





10:10 GMT  Qatar produces new artificial respirators

Qatar has started manufacturing artificial respiratory machines in order to cover the requirements of the health sector domestically and internationally, in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited the Barzan Holding Company, which is affiliated to the defence ministry, and was briefed on the production lines for manufacturing the Savr-Q ventilators.

Read more here.

Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited the production line of Qatari ventilators at the Barzan Holding Company in Doha [Al Jazeera]

09:55 GMT  Indonesia says infections rise above 10,000

Indonesia has confirmed 347 new coronavirus infections, taking the total in the Southeast Asian country above 10,000 for the first time with 10,118 infections, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said.

Yurianto reported eight new deaths, taking the total of fatalities to 792, while 1,522 have recovered.More than 72,300 people have been tested.





09:40 GMT  Malaysia reports 57 new cases with two new deaths

Malaysian health authorities have reported 57 new coronavirus cases, raising the cumulative total to 6,002 cases.

The health ministry also reported two new deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 102.

09:35 GMT  Italy PM Conte says to ease lockdown on basis of local conditions

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he will gradually relax the countrys coronavirus lockdown taking into account differences in contagion levels in different parts of the country.

In a speech to parliament, Conte said a new stimulus package to support the economy, due to be presented in a few days, would include $16.3 billion for companies and 25 billion directly for payroll workers and the self-employed.

The lockdown imposed on March 9 will be gradually rolled back from May 4 and agreed with local authorities taking account of the regions where the epidemiological situation is less severe, Conte told the lower house of parliament.

However, the prime minister warned regions not to ease restrictions unilaterally, without consultations.

A man delivers roses, symbol of the patron of Venice Saint Mark, on his feast day during the coronavirus lockdown across the country in Venice, Italy [Manuel Silvestri/Reuters]

09:25 GMT  Spain daily death toll falls to lowest tally in nearly six weeks

The number of fatalities related to the novel coronavirus recorded overnight in Spain fell to 268, the lowest tally in nearly six weeks, the countrys health ministry has said.

The overall death toll rose to 24,543 on Thursday up from 24,275 on the previous day, the ministry said. The number of cases registered in the country rose to 213,435 from 212,917 the day before.

09:20 GMT  Eurozone economy shrinks 3.8 percent as restrictions take toll

The eurozone economy shrank by 3.8 percent in the first quarter of the year as coronavirus lockdown measures began to bite, official data has shown.

Across the EU, gross domestic product contracted by 3.5 percent in the first major indication of the economic devastation facing the bloc as a result of the pandemic.

The European single currency area also saw a slowdown in inflation to 0.4 percent in April, driven by a collapse in energy prices.





09:15 GMT  Czechs govt says spread contained, plans to carefully reopen

The spread of the novel coronavirus has been contained in the Czech Republic and the government will continue to cautiously open up the economy, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Thursday.

The country has seen the number of new cases drop below 100 for the past eight consecutive days, and the number of active cases has also been on the decline.The ministry said the reproduction rate of the virus has dropped to 0.7, which means every newly infected person passes the infection to less than one other person.

The positive developments have prompted the government to start reopening shops and services as well as non-urgent medical care as doctors fear the impact of neglect in standard care.

So far we do not see a negative trend resulting from previous relaxations, Vojtech told a televised news conference.We will proceed with caution, gradually in the upcoming waves, and I believe we are on a good path.

A woman sits on a chair while waiting in line to be tested for the coronavirus as a part of a study about undetected infections in Prague, Czech Republic [David W Cerny/Reuters]

09:10 GMT  Spanish economy shrinks by 4.1 percent in first quarter

The Spanish economy shrank by 4.1 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, showing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Official statistics released on Thursday showed that compared to the last quarter of 2019, Spains GDP had shrunk by 5.2 per cent in the January-to-March period.

Spain  Europes fourth biggest economy  imposed some of the strictest lockdown measures of any country in order to slow the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease it causes.

08:55 GMT  Hungarian schools to remain closed until end of May: Govt

Schools in Hungary will remain closed until the end of May and events with more than 500 participants cannot be held until Aug. 15, Prime Minister Viktor Orbans chief of staff Gergely Gulyas has said.

Orban announced on Wednesday that some restrictions outside Budapest imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak will be lifted starting next week.

Existing restrictions will continue for now in the capital, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths.





08:45 GMT  UK Colonel Toms fundraising exceeds $37 million

The total raised by Britains Colonel Tom Moore for health service charities has exceeded $37 million veterans 100th birthday on Thursday.

Moore captured the hearts of a nation during the COVID-19 pandemic by walking 100 laps of his garden to raise money to support frontline health workers.





08:35 GMT  Philippines reports 276 new cases, 10 more deaths

The Philippines has reported 276 new coronavirus infections and 10 more deaths, bringing its total number of cases to 8,488 and fatalities to 568.

It also said 20 more individuals have recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,043.

08:25 GMT  German jobless total soars in April: Official data

The jobless total in Germany leaped by 13.2 percent in a single month to more than 2.6 million in April, official data has shown, highlighting the coronavirus pandemics impact on Europes top economy.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the unemployment rate jumped from 5.0 percent to 5.8 percent, the BA federal labour agency said, while some 750,000 companies applied to place 10.1 million workers on government-funded shorter hours schemes.





08:15 GMT  Pharma company CEO says theyll know if Oxfords vaccine works in June or July

The chief executive of British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it will know by June or July whether a coronavirus vaccine it is working on with the University of Oxford will be effective or not.

By June, July we will already have a very good idea of the direction of travel in terms of its potential efficacy, CEO Pascal Soriot told BBC radio on Thursday.

Well continue working with the Oxford Vaccine Unit to bring it to patients and to regulatory authorities first of all as soon as possible, he added.





08:00 GMT  Pakistan register highest single-day rise in cases for second day

Coronavirus cases in Pakistan have risen by 874, the highest single day increase, for the second consecutive day, to 15,759 cases countrywide, according to government data

New deaths from COVID-19 rose by 19 to a total 346, with 4,052 patients having recovered since the start of the countrys outbreak in late February.

People line up to receive free food as the time to break fast approaches during Ramadan amid a coronavirus lockdown of the Punjab province [Sohail Shahzad/EPA]

07:50 GMT  Russia case tally passes 100,000 with record daily rise

Russia has reported 7,099 new cases of the novel coronavirus, a record daily rise, bringing its nationwide tally to 106,498.

The official nationwide death toll rose to 1,073 after 101 people with the virus died in the last 24 hours, Russias coronavirus crisis response centre said.

07:40 GMT  Singapore reports 528 new cases, taking total to 16,169

Singapore has confirmed 528 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, its Health Hinistry said, taking the city-states total cases to 16,169.

Singapore has so far reported the most cases in South East Asia.





07:25 GMT  Germany social distancing will certainly be extended until May 10: Merkel aide

German Chancellor Angela Merkels chief of staff said on Thursday that social distancing measures in Europes largest economy would certainly be extended until May 10 for the time being.

Helge Braun told broadcaster n-tv a larger discussion about further steps to ease the lockdown would happen on May 6. Some shops have already reopened.

Protesters took to the streets in Berlin on April 25 to demonstrate against the measures taken to combat the coronavirus outbreak [Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu]

07:15 GMT  Britain releases 40 of 4,000 prisoners identified for early release

Britain has released 40 of a possible 4,000 prisoners that were identified for early release, after the government got a better control on the spread of the coronavirus in prisons, Justice Minister Robert Buckland said on Thursday.

The picture is a much better one than presented itself to me even a month ago, he told Sky News on Thursday.

07:00 GMT  Yemen reports first two deaths

Yemen has reported its first two deaths from the novel coronavirus, its health minister told Yemen TV late on Wednesday.

Yemeni authorities also reported five confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the first time the war-torn country has reported multiple cases.

The United Nations has said it fears the disease could be spreading undetected in a country where millions face famine and lack medical care.

Read more here.

Yemens long-running conflict has left millions of the countrys people facing famine and vulnerable to coronavirus [File: Yahya Arhab/AFP]

06:45 GMT  Britain could miss COVID-19 testing target, minister says

The UK could miss its target of carrying out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April, Justice Minister Robert Buckland has said.

Some 52,429 tests were carried out on Wednesday, according to the latest figures, putting Britain on course to miss the target set by the health minister.

Even if it isnt met, we are well on our way to ramping this up, Buckland told the BBC.





06:30 GMT  Ukraine crosses 10,000 cases

Ukraine now has 10,406 confirmed coronavirus cases and 261 deaths, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has told a briefing.

The government has put lockdown measures in place until May 11 and has said it expects the pandemic to peak in Ukraine early next month.

06:15 GMT  California likely to announce closure of states beaches and parks

California Governor Gavin Newsom is likely to announce on Thursday the closure of the states beaches and parks after crowds jammed beaches last weekend, according to a memo cited by local media, amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

The memo was sent by the governors office to Californias police chiefs, local media reported. Newsoms office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment late on Wednesday.

After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsoms Shelter in Place Order, the Governor will be announcing tomorrow that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1st, according to the memo posted by the FOX 11 Los Angeles channel.

A heatwave hits Southern California amid the coronavirus pandemic [Etienne Laurent/EPA]

06:00 GMT  Activist Thunberg helps launch effort to protect children

Teen climate-change fighter Greta Thunberg aimed her activism at the coronavirus on Thursday, helping launch a campaign with the United Nations to help protect children from the pandemic with the purchase of soap, masks and gloves.

Thunberg used funds she has raised to combat climate change to donate $200,000 to the U.N.s childrens agency, UNICEF, as did the Danish anti-poverty group Human Act to kick off the campaign, UNICEF announced.

Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child-rights crisis, Thunberg said in a statement.It will affect all children, now and in the long-term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most.

Proceeds from the campaign will be used to provide children with soap, masks, gloves and hygiene supplies, according to UNICEF.

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg participates in a video conversation during the coronavirus pandemic [Reuters]

05:30 GMT  Thailand reports 7 new cases, no new deaths

Thailand has reported seven new coronavirus cases but no new deaths, taking its tally to 2,954 cases while fatalities remained at 54 since the outbreak began in January.

New daily infections have stayed in the single digits for four consecutive days.

Nearly 91 percent of patients have recovered and gone home, leaving 213 still in the hospital, according to Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman of the governments Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration

_____________________________________________________________

This is Joseph Stepansky in Doha taking over the live updates from my colleague Zaheena Rasheed.

______________________________________________________________

04:52 GMT  Sri Lanka to reimpose full nationwide curfew

Sri Lankas government reimposed a 24-hour curfew across the Indian Ocean island nation after a recent resurgence of coronavirus cases.

Sri Lanka has reported 630 COVID-19 patients including seven deaths. Of the total, 308 cases were reported after April 22 and many of them were navy sailors or their close contacts.

A Sri Lankan army personnel wearing a facemask holds a stop sign at a checkpoint during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 outbreak in Colombo on April 29, 2020 [Ishara S Kodikara/ AFP]

The virus is believed to have entered a navy camp after sailors were deployed to search for a group of people who had contact with a COVID-19 patient and were evading quarantine.

Authorities isolated the camp and took the necessary steps to quarantine about 4,000 troops there after infections rose.

The blanket curfew will resume at 8pm. It was originally imposed on March 20 but had been eased in recent days for about two-thirds of the country. The capital, Colombo, is among the districts considered high-risk and its 24-hour curfew was never eased.

04:03 GMT  UN urges countries to avert hunger catastrophe for millions of children

The World Food Programme and the United Nations childrens agency have urged governments to shore up the futures of the 370 million children worldwide who depend on school meals.

For millions of children around the world, the meal they get at school is the only meal they get in a day. Without it, they go hungry, they risk falling sick, dropping out of school and losing their best chance of escaping poverty, said David Beasley, the WFP Executive Director.

We must act now to prevent the health pandemic from becoming a hunger catastrophe and to ensure that no one is left behind.

During #COVID19 school closures, the world's most vulnerable children are missing out on more than education. For millions of children in fragile countries, school is a place of safety, the promise of a daily meal, as well as access to health and nutrition. pic.twitter.com/cb9ylakSnZ  World Food Programme (@WFP) April 29, 2020

03:39 GMT  Maldives reports its first coronavirus death

Health authorities in the Maldives have said an 83-year-old woman died in the countrys capital, Male, after contracting the new coronavirus.

The death on Wednesday was the island nations first reported death from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. The Maldives has recorded 280 cases, of which the majority are among the countrys migrant labour force.

03:15 GMT  IMF approves $650m in aid to Dominican Republic

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $650m in emergency assistance to the Dominican Republic to combat the effect of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic has significantly weakened the countrys macroeconomic outlook for 2020 and created financing needs that require additional support, the IMF said in a statement.

The money will be used to finance increased healthcare spending and to provide assistance to the most vulnerable.

02:57 GMT  China reports four new coronavirus cases

Health authorities in China have reported four new cases of COVID-19 at the end of Wednesday. All were imported.

The figure brings the total number of imported cases in the mainland to 1,664 and takes the countrys tally to 82,862.

Students wearing face masks leave a school in Beijing as senior high school students in the Chinese capital returned to campus on April 27, 2020 [Tingshu Wang/Reuters]

02:45 GMT  First batch of Hong Kong residents stranded in Pakistan to return home

The first batch of Hong Kong people stranded in Pakistan due to coronavirus-related border closures are due to depart Islamabad on a chartered flight today, says the government of Hong Kong.

Upon their arrival in Hong Kong, the 300 returnees will be tested for COVID-19 and will have to undergo 14 days of quarantine. There are about 1,600 Hong Kong residents stranded in Pakistan right now, according to the territorys government.

02:32 GMT  US threats could block affordable COVID-19 drugs

Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) criticised the US government for threatening trade sanctions against countries it believes are not adequately protecting intellectual property policies in the pharmaceutical sector.

The move by the US Trade Representative (USTR) could block the targeted countries from making affordable drugs to treat the coronavirus, the humanitarian group said.

The countries listed in the USTRs Special 301 Report include India, Brazil, China, Chile and Canada.

At a time when governments across the globe are struggling to provide adequate healthcare, it is ludicrous that the USTR is continuing to aid pharmaceutical corporations to profit from the abuse of intellectual property, said Leena Menghaney, head of South Asia for MSFs Access Campaign.

It is a matter of concern that the US government is going after countries in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic for encouraging generic competition and price-lowering mechanisms to ensure access to medicines.

01:41 GMT  South Korea reports no new domestic coronavirus cases

Health authorities in South Korea have said they recorded no new domestic cases of coronavirus infections at the end of Wednesday, a first for the country since its outbreak began to worsen in February.

However, there were four new imported cases, said the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figure takes the national tally to 10,765. The death toll is up by one to 247.





01:01 GMT  European lockdowns could avert 11,300 air pollution deaths

Improved air quality in Europe due to lockdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic has delivered health benefits equivalent to avoiding 11,300 premature deaths, according to research published on Thursday.

Researchers extrapolated the likely effect on diseases caused or made worse by air pollution, which have fallen dramatically as hundreds of millions of people have been forced to stay home over the past month.

You could compare it to everyone in Europe stopping smoking for a month, said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, which conducted the study.

Our analysis highlights the tremendous benefits for public health and quality of life that could be achieved by rapidly reducing fossil fuels in a sustained and sustainable way.

00:33 GMT  Cities face 100 million new poor in post-pandemic world

About 100 million people living in cities worldwide will likely fall into poverty due to the coronavirus pandemic, experts have said, calling for mapping tools to identify vulnerable communities and investment focusing on slum areas.

Within cities, we need to focus on those who need help the most, the poor and the vulnerable have been very seriously affected, says Sameh Wahba, global director for the World Banks urban, disaster risk management, resilience and land global practice.

Our estimate is that there will be possibly upward of a 100 million so-called new poor on account of loses of jobs and livelihoods and income, Wahba told a webinar with members of the media.

Without data, government food and financial aid is not reaching slum areas where about one billion people live worldwide, added activist Sheela Patel.





00:26 GMT  UK to test 100,000 people to check coronavirus spread

The United Kingdoms health ministry has said it plans to test a randomly chosen group of 100,000 people for the new coronavirus as part of its efforts to understand infection rates better before loosening restrictions on the public.

The tests to see if people are currently infected with the respiratory disease will be led by Londons Imperial College and polling company Ipsos MORI. The chosen people will be sent self-testing kits to see if they are infected.

The UKs government is due to review next week whether to relax a nationwide lockdown brought in on March 23 to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has so far killed more than 26,000 people in the UK.

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Zaheena Rasheed in Male, Maldives. You can find all the key developments from yesterday, April 29, here.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S



Yediyurappa on Thursday condoled the death of Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, saying his stellar performances will be remembered.

The veteran actor, who was suffering from cancer, died at a Mumbai hospital this morning.

"Shocked by the passing of another legend, and veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor. His way of mesmerising us with his stellar performances will be remembered and missed. Prayers to his family and loved ones. RIP," Yediyurappa tweeted.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu too expressed his condolence.

"Deeply saddened by the demise of wonderful actor and legend Shri #RishiKapoor. The cine world would be poorer by his absence. My sincere condolences to his family and friends," Sriramulu tweeted.

Multilingual film actress and Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh expressed her grief, stating the year 2020 is turning out to be the worst nightmare.

"Woke up to this absolutely devastating news, 2020 is turning out to be the worst nightmare @chintskap #RishiKapoor. Stole our hearts with his performances right from Bobby until now..no more," Sumalatha tweeted.

She said she will miss him forever.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, April 30 : The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), an auxiliary to the government, has been tasked with collating data of Covid-19 cured people and counsel them to donate plasma for the plasma therapy.

In the plasma therapy, the antibodies of a person who has recovered from the viral infection are taken and transfused into an infected person in a bid to boost their immune system.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has started a national study to understand the efficacy of therapy.

Dr Vanshree Singh, director of Indian Red Cross Society's blood bank, told IANS, "The Red Cross will collect data of cured patients from the hospitals and the ICMR. Our organization will then conduct online psychosocial counselling of the shortlisted donors to urge them to donate plasma for the therapy." The donors would have to fulfil certain guidelines to donate plasma, she said.

"First, the donor should have completely recovered from the viral disease and will have to be of 18-50 years of age. They should not have any major illness or surgeries or heart, kidney and liver issues," Dr Singh said.

After narrowing down the number of eligible donors from the list of recovered patients and counselling them, the society will recommend the list to the government.

The blood bank of the Red Cross would not collect blood. It will be down by the blood bank of the hospital. "It's because there are certain tests that will have to performed directly at the hospital and the patient, under the treatment, should be in that hospital too," she said The Gujarat branch of the Red Cross has counselled 20 recovered people. "The society has given their details to hospitals, which will collect their plasma soon," Dr Vanshree Singh said.
URBANA, Ill. - Climate change creates extreme weather patterns that are especially challenging for people in developing countries and can severely impact agricultural yield and food security. International aid organizations have invested billions of dollars in promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, but the effects of those programs are rarely documented.

A new University of Illinois study helps provide such documentation. Researchers Festus Amadu, Paul McNamara, and Daniel Miller, Departments of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at U of I, evaluated the effectiveness of a major United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program in southern Malawi. They found impressive results; farmers who implemented CSA practices saw a 53% increase in maize yields.

Those findings, published in the journal Food Policy, document the efficacy-as well as the long-term impact-of CSA programs that provide training and resources to farmers, says Amadu, post-doctoral research associate at U of I and lead author on the study.

"Our research showed that farmers were able to maintain these practices. Their perceived benefits outweighed constraints, to the extent that when we conducted the study two years after the USAID project had ended, retention rates were high," he states.

The USAID contributed $86 million to the Wellness and Agriculture for Life's Advancement (WALA) project in southern Malawi from 2009 to 2014. The project featured multiple components, including maternal and child health nutrition education; community development activities; and training farmers in CSA practices to improve watershed restoration.

Amadu's research focuses on the WALA project's CSA component, which aimed to improve food security by helping farmers increase their adoption of environmental conservation practices and realize higher yields of maize, the main crop in Malawi.

The researchers surveyed more than 800 smallholder farmer households in southern Malawi. They also visited fields to verify whether farmers maintained the CSA practices over time. The study included farmers in WALA watersheds as well as farmers in comparable watersheds without WALA CSA activities.

"Climate change leads to excessive weather shocks with extreme dryness or extreme rain," Amadu explains. "Farmers can use climate-smart practices to absorb excess rainwater and conserve it so it is available in times of drought."

CSA practices include technologies such as absorption trenches that capture rainwater during excess rainfall and gradually let it seep it into the soil or save it for irrigation during dry periods.

"A group of farmers could have large absorption trenches around their farms. The farms could also have continuous contour trenches and stone bounds, which would slow excessive rain water in mountainous or hilly areas and help conserve soil nutrients," Amadu explains.

Other CSA practices include using vetiver grass (a legume plant that helps soil conservation), or agroforestry fertilizer trees, where tree roots can reduce rain water run-off, and falling leaves can serve as fertilizer.

"These are not really rocket science technologies. They are just basic things that people have always done but they never really prioritized them," Amadu says. He points out such techniques require investment of land, labor, and finances that make adoption challenging in developing countries.

Amadu trained a team of 14 students from Malawi's main agricultural university to conduct the surveys, using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) technology. The students interviewed smallholder farmers and their spouses in the project area, as well as a control group that did not learn about CSA interventions.

The researchers identified several factors that increased CSA adoption rate, such as the ability to hire help, and access to extension services. They also found that plot size, soil fertility, and use of fertilizer had a positive effect on yield.

Amadu says the results indicate aid programs work because they help farmers acquire knowledge and gain access to resources, while reducing barriers to implementing the CSA techniques.

The researchers note the findings also have policy implications beyond the results of the WALA project.

"More generally, our findings on CSA adoption and maize yields suggest that aid-financed CSA can be effective in reducing food insecurity in contexts beyond Malawi, particularly those in resource-poor, rural dryland areas where rainfed agriculture predominates," they conclude in the paper.

###

The article, "Yield effects of climate-smart agriculture aid investment in southern Malawi," is published in Food Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101869

Authors include Festus Amadu, Paul McNamara, and Daniel Miller, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), University of Illinois.

Authors acknowledge other Illinois researchers who provided significant feedback at various stages of the study. Some of these faculty include Ezekiel Kalipeni, Richard Brazee, Alex Winter-Nelson, and Hope Michelson.

Funding was provided by the USAID-funded Borlaug LEAP Fellowship; USAID-funded Strengthening Agriculture and Nutrition Extension Activity; and a US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch project.

To learn more about the College of ACES and support their work, visit http://www.aces.illinois.edu.
After deleting all evidence of her noticeably edited bikini picture on Tuesday, Kylie Jenner returned to Instagram with a sultry snap of herself lounging in a pair of knit loungewear.

The 22-year-old billionaire put her amble assets and taut midriff on full display, as she smiled seductively into the camera and plugged her older sister Kim Kardashian's brand Skims.

'oops not supposed to be showing you guys the new cozy skims,' Jenner captioned the photo in her new $36.5 million home in the Holmby Hills on Wednesday.

Comfy: Kylie Jenner returned to Instagram with a sultry snap of herself lounging in a pair of knit loungewear on Wednesday, one day after her Photoshop fail

Despite 'leaking' the collection to her 172 million followers, Kim gushed over the lip kit mogul's look, which included a fuzzy bra and matching sweats.

'KYLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You look bomb!' the 39-year-old reality star wrote, among the tens of thousands of comments that poured in during the post's first hour.

While Kylie didn't give her pal Stassie Karanikolaou photo credit, the mother-of-one's best friend is likely the photographer, as the pair have been spending a lot of time together in Jenner's backyard.

The friends have been filming TikTok videos together, and generally posting nicely-posed snaps and videos across their social media accounts.

Called out: Jenner quickly deleted an image that eagle-eyed fans noticed were strangely altered, due to the warped concrete pool edge, which is a a tell-tell sign of sloppy editing, on Tuesday

In addition to the photos of Kylie driving to Stassie's house during quarantine last week, the BFFs have posted some nicely-posed photos and videos across social media.

On Tuesday, Jenner quickly deleted an image that eagle-eyed fans pointed out were strangely altered.

'Kylie is a master at Facetune and photoshop,' one fan wrote, while another confused user said: 'I'm trying to work out what she was even editing.'

Making a splash: In addition to the photos of Kylie driving to Stassie's house during quarantine last week, the BFFs have posted some nicely-posed photos and videos across social media

The bikini fail featured a warped concrete pool edge, a tell-tale sign an editing app like FaceTune had been used on the photograph.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was also called out for treating the coronavirus lockdown rules like they don't apply to her, as she continues to hang out with her friend.

Governor Newsom of California has encouraged residents to stay home and isolate  which means not meeting up with friends and limiting contact with people outside of one's household.

TikTok stars: In addition to the photos of Kylie driving to Stassie's house during quarantine last week, the BFFs have posted some nicely-posed photos and videos across social media

Last month, the beauty, at the encouragement of Surgeon General Jerome Adams, used her influential platform to urge people to stay home during the pandemic.

'I listened to the Surgeon General this morning, and even though I've already been doing my daily reminders [to practice social distancing], he definitely encouraged me to come on here and talk to you guys,' the star stated on an Instagram Story.

'Coronavirus is a real thing!'

Social distancing: Last month, the beauty, at the encouragement of Surgeon General Jerome Adams, used her influential platform to urge people to stay home during the pandemic

Jenner continued: 'Please stay inside, practice social distancing, self quarantine, If you live with your parents, you don't want to go home and get your parents sick. You might have it and not even know and be affecting other people.'

Jenner went on to reveal she is used to staying indoors, and spent much of her pregnancy at home.

'I watched movies, I read books, I would do full spa days and take long baths, ' she recalled.
Children could be at risk of suffering deadly heart damage if Kawasaki disease is misdiagnosed as coronavirus, top medics fear.

NHS chiefs have warned of a spike in youngsters with an 'inflammatory syndrome', which has left a dozen critically-ill in intensive care.

Health officials fear it is a complication of COVID-19 and say it has symptoms similar to Kawasaki, including abdominal pain and rashes.

But a British Kawasaki charity has now warned actual cases could be misdiagnosed as COVID-19, leaving children at risk of permanent heart damage.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has admitted that he is 'very worried' by the mystery syndrome, thought to have struck fewer than 20 children.

Officials have launched an urgent investigation into the spate of cases, which are mostly centered around London.

Medics have likened the illness to toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, which can cause redness of the tongue (pictured left) and rashes (pictured right), but it is unclear whether this illness is having those effects

WHAT IS KAWASAKI DISEASE AND TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME? KAWASAKI DISEASE Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels and affects mostly children under five years old. The inflammation can weaken the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with blood. This can lead to aneurysms and heart attacks. The condition affects eight children out of every 100,000 and statistics show it is fatal in three per cent of cases that go untreated. WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES IT CAUSE? The symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually develop in three phases over a six-week period, according to advice on the NHS' website. The first signs are a fever and a rash in the first few weeks, followed by the eyes of children becoming red and swollen. It can also cause the lips to dry up and crack, a sore throat, swollen lymph glands and the tongue to become red, the NHS warns. The second phase of Kawasaki disease often causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, joint pain and jaundice. In the third phase, symptoms tend to disappear but children 'may still have a lack of energy and become easily tired during this time'. TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME Toxic shock syndrome is a highly dangerous bacterial infection - but it can be misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to other illnesses and because it is so rare. It occurs when usually harmless staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus bacteria, which live on the skin, invade the bloodstream and release dangerous toxins. TSS has a mortality rate of between five and 15 per cent. And reoccurs in 30-to-40 per cent of cases. Using tampons is a particular risk factor for TSS, according to the NHS. WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES IT CAUSE? a high temperature

flu-like symptoms

feeling and being sick

diarrhoea

a widespread sunburn-like rash

lips, tongue and the whites of the eyes turning a bright red

dizziness or fainting

difficulty breathing

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Charity Societi said it was is aware of 'delayed presentations of Kawasaki disease because of initial incorrect diagnoses of COVID-19'.

A spokesperson for the organisation revealed it had resulted in 'adverse coronary outcomes due to delayed institution of treatment'.

Professor Rob Tulloh, who sits on the Societi's scientific advisory board, told i: 'We are not aware of the numbers of cases.

'But we have anecdotal reports from around the country of infants and children who are presenting late with Kawasaki and who have nasty complications as a result.'

He urged parents to think of other conditions, including Kawasaki, as the cause of a prolonged fever, and not just assume it is coronavirus.

Kawasaki is a condition that causes inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels and affects mostly children under five years old.

There are roughly eight cases for every 100,000 children in the UK and figures show it is fatal in three per cent of cases that go untreated.

The NHS says around 25 per cent of children with Kawasaki who don't receive treatment - because the condition has been diagnosed incorrectly - suffer heart-related complications.

This is because Kawasaki causes inflammation to the heart and blood vessels, which can lead to aneurysms, heart attacks and heart disease.

Treatment revolves around aspirin and intravenous drips of antibodies - proteins the immune system produces to fight disease-carrying organisms.

Doctors remain baffled as to what causes Kawasaki - and no infection has ever been proven to be the sole trigger of the condition.

A Societi spokesperson said: 'The scientific community believe that any one of many infections may trigger Kawasaki disease in susceptible children.

'During the last Sars epidemic, the same links to new cases of Kawasaki disease were reported, but these have since been disproven.'

The Department of Health has said it is 'unaware' of any children having died from the syndrome, which hasn't been given a name.

But Mr Hancock appeared to suggest that some youngsters had died when he was quizzed about the NHS alert on LBC earlier this week.

The Health Secretary initially told presenter Nick Ferrari that all of the children who had died had 'significant underlying conditions'.

However, he backtracked immediately and said 'some' children with no health woes had succumbed to COVID-19.

But his response came immediately after being questioned about the inflammatory syndrome, prompting officials to insist no children had died.

Officials have yet to prove it is a COVID-19 complication, with urgent investigations now being carried out to get a clearer understanding.

Not all of the affected children with the syndrome have tested positive for COVID-19, further complicating the truth behind the spike in cases.

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has admitted it is 'entirely plausible' this spike is linked to the coronavirus outbreak.

GPs were sent an alert about youngsters becoming ill with blood markers in line with 'severe COVID-19 in children'.

The memo, sent by NHS England, said the cases had overlapping features of atypical Kawasaki and toxic shock syndrome.

NHS advise says TSS - often linked to tampons - is caused by bacteria, not any type of virus, getting into the body and releasing harmful toxins.

Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include a headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash, dizziness, confusion and the lips and tongue turning bright red.

GPs were told to send youngsters to hospital immediately, if they suspect they have the mystery condition.

Other symptoms of the condition included abdominal pain, seizures and rashes. The alert revealed a spike in cases had appeared in April.

This could be because it is slow to develop or so rare it has only become noticeable in the peak of the UK's epidemic, which has now slowed.

Professor Russell Viner, head of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, warned children were presenting with varied symptoms.

In a piece for the Daily Mail, he revealed they all had an 'over-activity of the immune system and inflammation of the blood vessels and heart'.

He said there were 'similarities' with both Kawasaki and toxic shock syndrome but added: 'What we are seeing are not classic presentations of either.

'Since our tests for COVID-19 are not fail safe, it remains unclear whether these symptoms are related to the virus or not. Nothing can be ruled out.'

Professor Viner added similar cases had been reported across Europe, with alerts issued in Spain, Italy and Ireland.

Seven British families tell how their children have suffered tell-tale symptoms of 'inflammatory syndrome' linked to COVID-19 as officials investigate mysterious spike in number of youngsters being admitted to intensive care with serious condition

More 'petrified' parents have come forward after their children were struck down with tell-tale signs of a mysterious coronavirus-linked inflammatory syndrome that has hospitalised at least 20 youngsters and left a dozen fighting for their lives.

Gemma Brown, from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, told MailOnline her two-year-old son Bertie was admitted to hospital last month on his second birthday when his temperature soared over 40C (104F) and his blotchy rash began to turn black.

Mrs Brown says she is certain her boy had the vicious virus but has no way of knowing because he was denied a test and diagnosed with the rare Kawasaki disease.

Melanie Cook, 38, from Gypsyville, Hull, revealed her one-year-old son George was infected with coronavirus when he was struck down with mystery symptoms in mid-March.

She said she was '110 per cent sure' her son's red eyes, violent vomiting and fatigue was COVID-19-related, but claims her son was diagnosed with conjunctivitis and denied a swab.

Parents Sabrina and Steve Legge, from Bath, Somerset, have been left petrified that sons Dylan, 16, and Colston, 14, have the inflammatory syndrome after suffering from sickness, blisters on their tongues, diarrhoea and stabbing chest pains last week. The family claim their GP has refused to test the teens for coronavirus.

Chloe Knight, 22, from Edinburgh, revealed her two-year-old son, Freddie Merrylees, was 'like a zombie' after suffering from Kawasaki disease in March.

Scans showed the boy's heart valves had become inflamed after he was taken to hospital with blotchy rashes, puffy red eyes and a loss of appetite. His mother says they were refused coronavirus tests.

A mother from Lancashire, who does not wish to be named, shared shocking images of her two-year-old daughter with blotchy purple rashes across her entire body. The parent said she was waiting on coronavirus test results with bated breath.

And Lewis Greig, 13, from Aberdeen, was finally diagnosed with the lethal virus after becoming so ill he needed to be hooked up to a ventilator. The teenager initially was struck down with inflammatory symptoms including bloodshot eyes and measles-like rashes.

A mother from Lancashire, who does not wish to be named, shared shocking images of her two-year-old daughter with blotchy purple rashes across her entire body

Bertie Brown was admitted to Worcestershire Royal hospital last month on his second birthday after developing a fever and rash across his body

Chloe Knight, 22, revealed her two-year-old son, Freddie Merrylees (pictured), became ill just before the lockdown and was 'like a zombie' due to Kawasaki disease. The youngster had a rash on his body, a high temperature, red eyes and struggled to eat and drink

Melanie Cook, 38, from Gypsyville, Hull, believes her one-year-old son George was struck down with the mystery disease in mid-March after suffering red, puffy eyes (shown), 'violent vomiting' and fatigue.

Lewis Greig, from Torry, Aberdeen, has been on a ventilator at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, after he suddenly became unwell last week with a high temperature (pictured: Lewis, left, and the rash which appeared on his hand, right)

Parents Sabrina and Steve Legge, from Bath, Somerset, have been left petrified that sons Colston (left), 14, and Dylan (right), 16,have the inflammatory syndrome after suffering from sickness, blisters on their tongues, diarrhoea and stabbing chest pains last week

Lewis Greig was not thought to have the virus because he did not have the usual dry cough but he is now on an intensive care ward at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Although Lewis has not been diagnosed with this toxic shock syndrome, medics have been warned to mindful of inflammatory symptoms such as his which could be linked to the coronavirus.

Lewis's mother Karen Simpson said the teenager had suffered from vomiting, rashes and red swollen eyes. He was rushed to hospital in Aberdeen before being transferred to an intensive care unit in Glasgow, where he tested positive for coronavirus.

Lewis is in a critical but stable condition and is showing signs of improvement, although his family must wear protective equipment while visiting.

Ms Simpson spoke about Lewis's ordeal to warn parents that children with COVID-19 can show different symptoms to adults.

Ms Simpson, who is currently staying in a Glasgow hotel to be close to her son, with Lewis's father Wayne, 47, said: 'It all started last Saturday when we discovered he had a temperature. It was really high - about 40.5 degrees.

'At first we didn't think it was anything too major. We assumed he had a bug and that it would pass.

'On the Sunday though, things weren't any better and Lewis started to get progressively worse as the week went on.

'He started being sick, had a sore head and was really tired. We'd already been on the phone to the COVID-19 hub on 111 and they said to make sure he was drinking - if they needed to admit him they would.

'By Thursday, he had developed a measles-like rash on his hands and his eyes went deep red and bloodshot.

'On Friday morning, he woke up in a bad way. We phoned the doctor, who had a quick look at him and they phoned the sick kids' hospital.

'We took him up straight away, and when we got there, he couldn't walk from the car into the building.'

Within hours of being taken to hospital, Lochside Academy pupil Lewis had been put on a ventilator to help him breathe.

And in the early hours of Saturday, he was transferred to Glasgow by ambulance.

Ms Simpson said: 'I have never seen anything like it before. It was so scary. The first few tests they did came back negative for COVID-19. But then they did another one and that came back positive on Sunday night.'

Ms Simpson now wants to make other parents aware of tell-tale signs which may show children are suffering from the virus.

She said: 'I want to help other parents understand how to spot it. They might show some really strange symptoms which aren't fitting with the normal coronavirus symptoms. Make sure you get them checked and keep pushing to have them tested.

'One of the doctors said to us children don't present with a dry cough like adults do. In children, there's an inflammatory reaction which makes it look like an autoimmune disease.'

Lewis, who is a brother to Nathan, Sam, Abby, Jorja and Eli, is now showing small signs of progress - and his family are determined to help him pull through.

Ms Simpson said: 'Lewis is now making small steady steps towards getting better, although he is still having to have quite a lot of medication and is still on a ventilator.

'He's able to move now and knows when we go into his room, although we can't have very much contact with him and need to wear PPE.

His temperature soared over 40C (104F) and the blotchy rash spread across his body and began to turn black. Doctors were initially baffled but a senior consultant eventually diagnosed the boy with the rare Kawasaki disease

His mother Gemma (pictured with Bertie and is older brother George, 14) believes his symptoms were a complication of the coronavirus. But Bertie (right) was not given a COVID-19 test, leaving both medics and his family in the dark about a possible link

'But he is showing some positive signs and he is definitely in the right place. He will get through this because he is a fighter.'

Gemma Brown, 38, told MailOnline that her son, Bertie, was admitted to Worcestershire Royal hospital last month on his second birthday, when his temperature soared over 40C (104F) and his blotchy rash began to turn black.

Doctors were initially baffled but a senior consultant eventually diagnosed the boy with the rare Kawasaki disease, a form of toxic shock syndrome which causes the body's immune system to attack its own organs.

But Bertie was not given a COVID-19 test, leaving both medics and his family in the dark about a possible link between Kawasaki disease and coronavirus.

'I don't know how the Government is going to prove there's a link if they're not testing patients,' the mother-of-two from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, said.

'I asked for him to be tested, as I had a gut feeling that there was a connection between covid and Kawasaki. Both attack your immune system and the whole family had been poorly with Covid symptoms before Bertie fell ill.

'I was adamant that there was a link and was begging for a test, but they just told me that there was no need to test the under-fives.'

The boy was given an immunoglobin transfusion and was in hospital for five days. 'It was horrific seeing him like that,' Mrs Brown said.

'He didn't have any respiratory problems but he was put in a ward on his own and he was easily the most poorly child in the hospital.

Melanie Cook, 38, of Gypsyville, Hull, believes her 21-month-old son George showed signs of the ailment in mid-March

George was diagnosed with conjunctivitis, cellulitis and scarlet fever during his five-week illness (in hospital, left), but having read about the new condition's associated symptoms, Mrs Cook is convinced her son had the mystery disease (right, his arm breaks out in a rash)

'His rash had started out being itchy, but it quickly put him in agony. His temperature was dangerously high and they were monitoring him round the clock.'

Bertie, who was born very prematurely weighing only 1.5lb, has always had a weak immune system, making him susceptible to viruses.

'Thank God he is OK now and has come home, though he's still on Aspirin to prevent his blood clotting,' his mother said.

'He's much better in himself. But the fact is that we just don't know what's been going on as he wasn't tested for coronavirus.'

Melanie Cook, 38, of Gypsyville, Hull, believes her 21-month-old son George showed signs of the ailment in mid-March.

George was diagnosed with conjunctivitis, cellulitis and scarlet fever during his five-week illness, but having read about the new condition's associated symptoms, Mrs Cook is convinced her son had the mystery disease.

She said: 'I'm not saying it's anyone's fault I just want to raise awareness about the symptoms and let people know that this is around because I 110% believe that George definitely had this.

'Now, seeing the cases of children having this and the symptoms they've had - they're giving this four week structure now saying about the red eyes, the sore throat, the rash and all these red patches and that's what he had.

'What I'm hearing them describe is exactly how it was happening.'

After an episode of 'violent vomiting', lethargy and redness around the eyes George was diagnosed on March 17 as having conjunctivitis by his GP and was given penicillin.

Parents Sabrina and Steve Legge, from Bath, Somerset, have been left petrified that sons Dylan (left), 16, and Colston (right), 14, have the inflammatory syndrome. The family claim their GP has refused to test the teens for coronavirus

Colstons tongue has developed blisters on either side after coming down with mysterious symptoms of the virus on Sunday

On Friday, March 20, Mrs Cook noticed red patches on her son's skin. She said: 'We were sat having tea, he had a jumper on and I took it off and he had these red patches on him just like the ones that we are now being told are symptoms but obviously at the time that wasn't linked to anything like that.

'All we knew as the symptoms of Covid were the cough and the temperature. So he had these red patches on the back of his legs and feet and hand and arms. My husband took him straight to the doctor's and came back with more antibiotics and said the doctor said he had cellulitis. We thought 'gosh he's just got over conjunctivitis and now this.'

By March 26, George had almost finished his course of antibiotics but was still ill. Mrs Cook said: 'He had developed a cough, the redness had turned into a rash and his breathing was bad.'

After another check-up George was diagnosed with scarlet fever. But things came to a head on the night of March 19.

Mrs Cook explained: 'He started vomiting, his temperature was really high, and his breathing was really bad. His rib cage was going in and out. He was asleep on me but he started convulsing and this really panicked me.

George was rushed in to hospital where medical staff stabilised his temperature before sending him home where he eventually recovered.

Mrs Cook said: 'We got put into a room and they gave him different shots to get his temperature down and checking his stats and everything like that.

'After four weeks I was at the end of my tether with it, pouring my heart out after all the things he'd been given and all these different shots.

'They told me they thought it was scarlet fever still because of his spots on his throat and the rashes. From the beginning of March it was maybe five weeks of him being ill until he finally got better.'

Although George has not been tested for Covid-19, Mrs Cook remains convinced that her son has suffered with the suspected coronavirus-related illness.

Sabrina and Steve Legge, from Bath, Somerset, have been left petrified for the health of sons Dylan, 16, and Colston, 14, who they believe have both shown symptoms of the inflammatory disease.

Mother Sabrina and stepdad Steve claim they initially raised concerns with their GP at Combe Down Surgery, last Friday after Dylan had been ill for 10 days, but were advised to call back on Monday if the symptoms persisted.

Chloe Knight, 22, from Edinburgh, said she and son Freddie were denied coronavirus tests despite the youngster showing signs of infection

Freddie's whole body became covered in scabs and rashes and scans revealed his heart valves were inflamed - all symptoms of the mysterious inflammatory disease linked to the virus

But following fresh warnings from Matt Hancock that the new strain could be fatal, Sabrina, 42, and Steve, 47, were left even more concerned when Colston, who has autism, fell ill with the same symptoms on Sunday.

And the pair were left furious after they claim they called their GP back on Monday with concerns about both sons to allegedly be told 'it doesn't matter what Matt Hancock says - we don't hand out tests willy-nilly'.

The terrified parents are now begging medics to test their sons before it is too late. Radiology assistant and mother-of-three Sabrina said: 'Dylan has been in so much pain he couldn't sleep, he's been in more pain than when he had appendicitis two years ago - I've never seen him like this.

'When you hear Matt Hancock saying about these new findings and you get straight onto the GP the next day only to be fobbed off, it's just really worrying.

'We called NHS 111 and they said they were 90 per cent sure it was this new inflammatory disease linked to Covid-19 as well, but the only thing they can do is refer us to our GP who would need to then refer the boys to be tested and treated.

'It really does scare you as a parent, you just worry what's going to happen to them.' The family have been self-isolating together at their home with Sabrina's three children, Chloe, 17, Dylan, and Colston and Steve's daughter, Jessica, nine, for the last six weeks.

After initially starting with vomiting and diarrhoea, Dylan's condition worsened to include constant stomach cramps and stabbing pains in chest that were so agonising he couldn't sleep or manage a meal.

Now Colston has started with the same sickness symptoms that his brother had, and the couple fear he will follow Dylan's pattern and develop agonising chest and stomach pains.

Property maintenance business owner, Steve, has branded the alleged decision by the GP to not test the boys for Covid-19 as 'disgusting' after already losing a loved-one to the pandemic.

He said: 'I'm absolutely furious and I think it's disgusting. I understand that the tests are very short but on one hand you have the Health Secretary telling people that children with these symptoms need to be referred as a matter of urgency, and then when we call the GP they refuse to see them or do anything.

'Dylan's had severe chest pains and stomach cramps, he's needed to go to the toilet every five minutes, he's been really ill.

'And now Colston is showing the same symptoms that Dylan had when this first started, he's got blisters on his tongue and bloodshot eyes and he's started vomiting.

'The GP basically told us that 'it doesn't matter what Matt Hancock says, we don't give tests out willy-nilly'.

'I've already lived through losing a loved one to Covid-19, we won't sit and watch it take one of our kids.'

A spokesperson for Combe Down Surgery said: 'While we are unable to comment on the healthcare of individual patients, we would like to reiterate the national guidance that any person with coronavirus-like symptoms should self-isolate for at least seven days, and to contact their GP should these symptoms persist for longer than a week.

'In most cases, children seem to be less susceptible to the effects of coronavirus than adults, however we would encourage any parent who has a child suffering from an urgent or pressing health concern, such as chest pain and a persistent high temperature, to seek help by calling NHS 111 or - in the most serious cases - 999.'

Chloe Knight, 22, has told of her terror when her two-year-old son, Freddie Merrylees, became ill just before the lockdown and was 'like a zombie' due to Kawasaki disease.

The youngster had a rash on his body, a high temperature, red eyes and struggled to eat and drink, after becoming ill on March 11.

Medics initially suspected it was scarlet fever, but it was eventually diagnosed as Kawasaki disease. Freddie was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in Edinburgh, three times before doctors were satisfied his symptoms were consistent with the disease.

Mother-of-two Ms Knight took the sick child to a GP on March 12 when he had a rash, and was given penicillin and a diagnosis of suspected scarlet fever.

But he developed worrying symptoms such as puss around his mouth, and struggled to swallow, worrying part-time bank worker Chloe and partner Marcus Morwood, 23.

When Freddie went to stay with his dad, Robbie, 23, who is in the army - who also became alarmed at the symptoms which worsened.

On March 16 he was hospitalised and scans done by doctors in the hospital also revealed the valves leading to Freddie's heart had swollen up due to the inflammatory infection.

After five days, Freddie was allowed to leave hospital - but Chloe then developed what she feared to be coronavirus symptoms, including loss of taste and smell.

Ms Knight said: 'First of all a rash appeared on his chest and back, and the next day he was covered in a red rash. Doctors thought it was scarlet fever and I wasn't questioning that at all. He went to his dad that night and his dad said he really wasn't himself.

'On the Friday night his dad called me to say Freddie didn't want anyone looking at him or talking to him.The rash started to spread and looked like scabby sores.

'We took him to the Sick Kids Hospital and they thought it might be measles but he has had the MMR. On the Saturday his dad said he really wasn't with it, and on Sunday when he arrived home he didn't want to be touched or looked at or spoken to.

'I phoned NHS 24, and Freddie's nose started pouring blood. I was told to bring him to the Sick Kids Hospital, and we were told it could be a bad case of scarlet fever.

'I felt that something worse was wrong with him.'

Freddie was sent home with penicillin but refused to eat it when it was hidden in yoghurt.

On March 16, he appeared 'lifeless' and was lying on the couch staring into space. His worried mother took him back to the hospital, where the possibility of Kawasaki disease was mentioned.

Freddie was put in an isolated room as scarlet fever was still suspected amid fears of contagion. But he did not have peeling hands and feet, a common symptom.

On March 17, doctors detected a heart murmur - sparking renewed fears it could be Kawasaki diesease. The following day a heart scan was carried out, and on March 19 Freddie was moved onto a general ward.

On March 20, a heart scan was sent for analysis in Glasgow and revealed his heart valves were swollen.

The tot was given aspirin and omeprazole, which he was prescribed for six weeks, as well as penicillin for seven days. However there are no tests for Kawasaki disease and the diagnosis is based on symptoms.

Ms Knight said: 'If it's not treated properly and promptly it can cause heart disease. It is not contagious and when Freddie was ill we did separate them.

'They were treating him for Kawasaki but there are no tests. I wanted him to be tested for coronavirus, and I wanted to be tested for coronavirus, but they said they couldn't do that.

'I can't praise the NHS enough. Even now he's talking about wanting to go outside catching germs, so he can go to hospital.

'There needs to be more research into Kawasaki disease, it's extremely rare. He's on the mend now and back to his usual self.'
Making voice heard: Marie Murphy, from Donaghmede in Dublin, at the protest outside the Debenhams store on Henry Street. Photo: Gareth Chaney, Collins

Debenhams workers have called on the Government to intervene with the company's liquidation process in a bid to halt the loss of 2,000 jobs in Ireland.

More than 450 Debenhams workers participated in an online rally, hosted by Mandate Trade Union and Uplift - People Powered Change, yesterday.

Meanwhile, some had also attended demonstrations outside stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Newbridge earlier in the morning.

The protests heard union representatives and staff urge the Government to invest in the company to allow it to continue trading.

Jane Crowe, Mandate shop steward at Debenhams on Henry Street, Dublin, told of how workers were "very disappointed" when the company announced it was going into liquidation earlier this month.

"We're very disappointed with Debenhams and the way they treated us. It was a very cold email that was sent to us.

"We were very, very disappointed, but that soon turned into anger.

"We're only ordinary people working in an extraordinary time," she said.

Cork Debenhams worker Valerie Conlon said staff felt the company had shut its Irish stores in order to prevent the UK stores from going under.

"This isn't going to go away any time soon. It's all the English companies in Ireland that are closing the Irish stores to save the English stores," she said.

"It is a long road ahead of us, but we want to tell Debenhams that we, and Mandate, are ready for the fight."

Ms Conlon said the union was calling on the Government to introduce measures that will halt companies entering liquidation for the duration of the pandemic.

"We will be looking at the Government to introduce some sort of programme that will stop liquidations happening during Covid-19, because at the end of it all the country will be decimated with the amount of companies that will close down because of it."

A number of political representatives, such as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, Fianna Fail's Paul McAuliffe, and Solidarity/People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, also joined the virtual meeting.

The High Court appointed insolvency practitioners Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary of KPMG as joint provisional liquidators of the company to the Irish arm of Debenhams earlier this month.

The proceedings are expected to reconvene today.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 10:24:40|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Jerusalem if elected.

"The move shouldn't have happened in the context as it did, it should happen in the context of a larger deal to help us achieve important concessions for peace in the process. But now that is done, I would not move the embassy back to Tel Aviv," Biden said during a virtual fundraiser.

The former vice president also said that he would reopen a U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem to engage the Palestinian leaders in talks about a "two-state solution," which has been a long-standing view of Washington regarding the Palestinian issue.

U.S. media reported that Biden, then a senator of Delaware, voted for the passage of the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995, which authorized moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. However, the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administration had all deferred the move.

In December 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Washington moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in May 2018, drawing condemnation and opposition globally. Enditem
A doctor from Manipur has been



conferred the 'Order of Rising Sun' by the Japan government for promoting a better understanding of Japan in India and deepening ties between the two countries, a release said.

The 'Order of the Rising Sun' is conferred on persons with achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, environmental preservation, welfare or achievements in their fields. It was constituted by Japanese Emperor Meiji in 1875.

Thangjam Dhabali Singh, an allopathic doctor by profession and founder of the Manipur Tourism Forum (MTF), was conferred the 'Order of Rising Sun - Gold and Silver Rays' by the Japan government on Wednesday, the release issued by the forum said.

The Japan government conferred the decoration on Singh while announcing the names of the foreign recipients of the Spring Decoration, 2020, the release said, quoting a letter sent to the doctor by the Embassy of Japan in India.

Singh had organised the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal of the Second World War. Several Japanese citizens, including officials from the Embassy of Japan in India, had participated in the event, it said.

"With support from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Imphal Peace Foundation was launched on June 22 last year. The MTF played an important role in giving shape to it during Th Dhabali Singh's tenure as president of the forum," the release said.

The Embassy of Japan in India has paid tributes to Singh's long years of service in consolidating Japan-India relationship, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Apple and Google have released the first versions of their COVID-19 contact-tracing tools to public health organisations, so the agencies can start building applications ahead of the system's launch in mid-May.

The tool set is a combination of software updates for iOS and Android, and software development kits to help developers build and test their apps. Apple released an early beta version of its software update that incorporates the technology, iOS 13.5, while Google is rolling out an update via its Google Play app store.

Contact tracing apps keep track of which smartphones have been close to each other, so in the event a person is diagnosed with COVID-19 the system can determine who's been near that person in the previous two weeks and therefore may have contracted the disease.

The first phase of Apple and Google's system will allow apps deeper access to Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating systems for more consistent tracing. For example the iPhone version of Australia's app, COVIDSafe, currently has to be active on the phone with the screen on to work properly. The new tools will potentially allow tracing to continue even if the phone is locked or other apps are in use.
A federal appellate court on Tuesday overturned a jurys award of $64 million against Firemans Fund Insurance Co. for allegedly breaching the terms of a reinsurance agreement.

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals found that Firemans Fund was not liable for claims made by Utica Mutual Insurance Co. under the terms of seven reinsurance contracts that backed up coverage for a New York manufacturing company that sued for asbestos injuries.

The appellate panel found that the reinsurance certificates provided to Utica by Firemans were not triggered by the aggregate amount that Utica paid to settle multiple claims; the coverage kicked in only if the payment to settle a single occurrence, or accident, exceeded the thresholds stated in schedules included in each policy.

Given the unambiguous language in the umbrella policies, Firemans Fund had no obligation to pay for bodily injury claims that did not exceed bodily injury limits identified in the Schedules, the court said.

The dispute between the insurers took root more than a half a century ago. From 1966 to 1972, Firemans Fund agreed to reinsure umbrella policies that Utica had issued to Goulds Pumps, a Seneca, Falls, N.Y. manufacturing company founded in 1848. Those policies contained schedules that stated an aggregate limit for property damage, but listed only per-occurrence limits for bodily injury claims.

Utica and its policyholder, Goulds Pumps, defended thousands of claims alleging bodily injury caused by asbestos from the companys products, starting in the 1980s. By 2007, Utica contended that it had paid all that was owed under its insurance contracts with Goulds. The pump manufacturer disagreed and both sides asked federal courts in New York and California for declaratory judgments.

The courts never ruled. The two sides reached a settlement in 2007, agreeing that Utica had paid all that was owed under its primary policies, but $325 million was still available under the umbrella policies that Utica had reinsured with Firemans.

Reimbursement

The district court judges signed off on the settlement. Utica then asked Firemans Fund for $35 million in reimbursement, which amounted to $5 million a year, for seven years. The insurer contended that Firemans covered the top half of the policy limit for each umbrella policy issued to Goulds during those seven years, which would allow it to recoup amounts paid over $5 million up to the $10 million total limit on each policy.

Firemans Fund refused. Utica Mutual sued.

A jury for the U.S. District Court in Syracuse, N.Y. ruled that Firemans Fund had breached its reinsurance agreement and awarded Utica the $35 million plus $29 million in pre-judgment interest.

Utica argued that Firemans Fund was obligated to honor its settlement with Goulds because its reinsurance contract contained a follow-the-settlements clause that required it to accept Uticas interpretation of the umbrella policies. The 2nd Circuit disagreed, saying the New York Court of Appeals has held that follow-the-settlement clauses cannot be used to overturn the language of reinsurance policies.

The court said the limits on the umbrella policies were clearly stated. The schedule for the 1966-67 umbrella policy, for example lists a $100,000 per person limit and a $300,000 per accident limit for bodily injury claims and a $50,000 per accident limit and a $100,000 aggregate limit for property damage claims.

The court rejected Uticas argument that the aggregate limits did not have to be stated because Firemans Funds liability to pay when claims cost exceeded more than $5 million during a policy period was implied by the reinsurance certificate. Other portions of the policy would make no sense if that interpretation were accepted, the panel said.

Indeed, the Schedules would serve very little purpose since, under Uticas approach, one could read into the Schedules limits not otherwise stated, even if doing so would directly contradict language in the umbrella policies, the court said.

Topics Claims New York Reinsurance
President Trump on Wednesday said he plans on going to Arizona next week, and hopes to visit Ohio "very soon."

Arizona and Ohio are both battleground states. Trump hasn't left Washington, D.C., since March 28, when he went to Norfolk, Virginia, to send off the USNS Comfort. Senior administration officials told USA Today that Trump will likely visit an Arizona manufacturing plant that makes masks. Over the last few weeks, Vice President Mike Pence has visited some manufacturing and health care facilities, and is set to travel to Kokomo, Indiana, on Thursday to tour a GM ventilator plant.

Because of the pandemic, it's "too soon for the big everybody-get-together-and-stand-next-to-each-other crowds," Trump said, but he hopes that in the "not-too-distant future, we'll have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other. I can't imagine a rally where you have every fourth seat full  every sixth seat's empty for every one that you have full. That wouldn't look too good. I hope we're going to be able to do some good, old-fashioned 25,000-person rallies where everyone is going wild because they love our country."

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Cairo University is shutting down its Faculty of Dentistry building in Qasr Al-Ainy for two weeks after the faculty dean tested positive for coronavirus, spokesman Mahmoud Alam El-Din said on Thursday.

Alam El-Din said dean Atef Shaker tested positive for coronavirus after he had exhibited symptoms.

The university spokesman said the closed comprises the administration offices as well as a number of clinics that were shut down when study was suspended.

Vice dean of the faculty Azza Ezz El-Arab said the faculty will continue to treat urgent cases in a separate building in the faculty.

The infection control committee traced 17 contacts among workers and members of the medical team, who have been placed in a 14-day quarantine and will be tested for the virus.

The committee has not yet specified how the dean had contracted the virus as he practises his job as a doctor, the university spokesman said.

He added that if any of the contacts tested positive for the virus they will be put in isolation in the French Kasr El-Ainy Hospital, which has been designated as an isolation hospital for the medical, teaching and administrative staff of Cairo University who contract the coronavirus.

Egypt has suspended study in universities and schools since 15 March in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Supreme Council of Universities has cancelled exams at universities nationwide and replaced them with either a research paper or online exams, except for senior students whose exams were postponed until universities reopen.

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WEST HAVEN  Just as Tyler Newkirk was putting the finishing touches on his popular Easter/spring gift shop and readying to open, nonessential businesses in the state were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At first I was relieved because I wanted me, my family and my customers to be safe, said Newkirk, owner of Tyler Newkirk Craft Co. located on his grandfathers B & B Farms

But then weeks passed, with no end in clear sight.

Loyal customers who said their spring decor isnt the same without Newkirks unique goods, urged him to sell online - but he resisted until now because he delights in people experiencing the stores ambiance.

He will hold a Facebook Live sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, walking viewers through the shop and talking about his merchandise, much of it handcrafted by him and others. The virtual shopping trip will be on his Tyler Newkirk Craft Co. Facebook page and will remain there for viewing at any time.

At first I didnt want to because I like seeing people, he said of taking the shop virtual. Its not really a money thing. I want people to see the store.

Customer Margi Maher of Milford said shes never missed one of his openings, as he remakes the store for every season, plus Christmas, and she will be there for the Facebook Live tour.

You want everything when you walk through that door, Maher said, noting Newkirks merchandise is unique. Its eye candy to me. You want to touch everything and hell let you.

Marie Whelan of Hamden said she and other family members are ready to shop Saturday via Facebook Live.

I love his shop. Im happy hes doing this, Whelan said. I like how its very different from a lot of modern decorations. They have more of a vintage feel.

Shoppers who like what they see on Facebook Live can private message Newkirk for prices, other information and to order. Merchandise will be delivered or made available for curbside pickup.

While its not all about the money for Newkirk, he admits money matters somewhat because he has rent and other bills to pay. Newkirk is a senior drama major at Southern Connecticut State University who loves decorating.

I think its going to go well, Newkirk said. Its kind of like a QVC thing. People are going to have a ball, Im going to have a ball.

Some of the items for sale are by local crafters, including fragrant soy candles by Lisa Adams, totes and hats by Jordan Garganos No Name Outfitters (Garganos proceeds go to charity), and Beyond the Sea nautical crafts by Patricia Thompson.

Newkirk also has a wide variety of spring wreaths - his specialty - his own decoupage Easter eggs, British pottery that he found at antique sales, soaps and lotions from Shore Soap Co, seashell frames, loads of throw pillows and houseplants.

Plants that make your house happy, Newkirk said. Everything is colorful in the shop.

For those still in Easter mode, there are plenty of bunnies and chicks, too - fake ones, of course

Cute things you wont find anywhere else, he said.

Newkirk said he can pack stuff away for next year. The summer line will be displayed soon, then fall and Christmas.

Newkirk, who specializes in costume and design at school, said he learned about crafting and decorating from his three creative grandmas: Judy, Barbara and Paula  who continue to create with him.

His shop is situated on his grandfather Bob Newkirks popular B & B Farms at 668 Jones Hill Road.

B & B Farms is considered one of West Havens local gems, is visited by thousands in spring, summer and fall who feed the horses and sheep, buy flowers, eat ice cream and bask in the views and warmth of the Newkirk family.
Airlines could issue vouchers to compensate passengers for flights cancelled due to the pandemic, say governments.

Twelve European Union governments urged the EUs executive body on Wednesday to suspend rules forcing cash-drained airlines to offer full refunds for cancelled flights instead of vouchers for future travel because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Airlines across Europe, including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, have sought state rescues as coronavirus lockdowns have forced them to ground their fleets for more than a month, with no end in sight.

The transport ministers of Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal have asked the European Commission for a temporary amendment to the rules.

In a joint statement issued before a meeting of EU transport ministers, they said the blocs executive body should propose the amendment as a matter of urgency. Consumers should be made to accept vouchers instead of refunds with certain conditions.





However, at the meeting, some EU governments opposed changes to the current rules so as not to frustrate the legitimate expectations of passengers. No decision was taken.

The EUs transport chief has previously said airlines must provide refunds for cancelled flights and can only offer vouchers if the passengers accept them instead.

In their statement, the transport ministers said vouchers should be valid for a set length of time and include the right for reimbursement if they are not used before the end of that period. Protection should also be provided in the case of airline bankruptcies.

The solution, the ministers said, would help airlines facing cash-flow constraints while allowing a common and adequate level of consumer protection.

The blocs transport ministers met by videolink on Wednesday, along with counterparts from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, to discuss how to coordinate the relaxation of travel restrictions as EU nations start reopening.

The ministers asked the commission to present guidelines as soon as possible for the transport sector, and said rules such as sanitary measures for different modes of transport should be harmonised across Europe to ensure connectivity.

The commission is expected to present the guidelines next week.
Six weeks after the city issued a stay-at-home order, a panel of local leaders laid out a plan for how San Antonio businesses should start up again as Gov. Greg Abbott allows more and more businesses to reopen.

Gov. Greg Abbott reopened the state on May 1, despite the fact that Texas has yet to meet most of the benchmarks for easing restrictions set by his own most prominent outside medical adviser.
African Americans Still Facing Higher COVID-19 Related Death Rate

Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti is interested in forming a Task force prioritizing Underserved communities.

Monday, April 27, the City of Los Angeles heard from its Mayor, Eric Garcetti, as he shared the latest news surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak in L.A. and the surrounding areas. Mayor Garcetti addressed many concerns, such as the time expectancy Los Angeles will re-open the economy and on the higher death rate found in African American Communities.

Mayor Garcetti reviewed the updated data surrounding COVID-19; he reiterated the significance of testing and how they guide the course of his decisions. He provided principles that align with the county departments benchmarks; he shared that Angelenos lives are of upmost priority.

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The Los Angeles City mayor shared the latest update behind the COVID-19 outbreak in L.A., announcing that as of April 27, there were 29 additional deaths; 25 of these individuals were between the ages of 65 and over, 18 of them with underlining health conditions. Three people were between the ages of 41-65, with one of them having preexisting health concerns. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 942.

The significant rise in death rates within the African Community is a pressing matter, Mayor Garcetti addressed it by noting the largest test site in the county is the Crenshaw Christian Center, which is located in a high-density living area for African Americans. Mayor Garcetti stated, This virus doesnt discriminate in terms of who can get infected; it does discriminate in terms of the outcome.

When asked if there is room on the agenda for a proactive task force and opportunity for activists and experts to represent underserved communities that can join him in these briefings, he responded, I love the idea of a taskforce  I think it should focus on the disproportionate impacts among our poor, homeless, among people who are part of ethnic groups that are disproportionately dying or being affected, he said, agreeing to having experts come in who are prioritizing underserved communities.

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Other concerns were of employment and serving housebound elderly Angelenos. People who are between the ages of 65-and-over with underlining health conditions, are part of the most at-risk groups to have a fatal outcome from contracting coronavirus. Their best defense is to stay at home, which creates the issue of food supply and access to needed provisions. Mayor Garcetti announced a contract between L.A. County and Serving Our Community, that feeds the citys elderly. Serving Our Community initiative is an institution launched by Hospitality and Training. It converts industrial-sized kitchens and laid-off hospitality employees into fully staffed facilities that deliver food and provide cleaning services. Hospitality and Training (HTA) was granted a regional master service contract by the State of California. 75 percent of the funding for the service comes from FEMA.

Last week, Mayor Garcetti reiterated the most efficient fight against COVID-19 is within testing aggressively. Last week, there were 30 active testing sites available; as of April 27, there are 35 testing locations. 120,000 people have been tested for COVID-19. There is a testing capacity that is prepared for 12,000 people a day across the L.A. County. Garcetti specified the best defense and most efficient way to recovery is to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Regarding the Safer at Home order being lifted, the Mayor Garcetti suggested that many businesses will not re-open by May 15. He expressed the recovery plan is being developed in Snapshots. He said the most sufficient action is to open the economy in baby steps, aligning with the California State Governor. The most likely notion will be to open each business in sanctions and manage the outbreak as it fluctuates.
Taipei: South Korea recorded no new locally transmitted cases of coronavirus infections for the first time since February on Thursday, in a milestone vindicating its much praised "trace, test, treat" pandemic response strategy.

Koreans wear masks as they gather during a birthday of Buddha service to pray for the defeat of the coronavirus pandemic at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea. Credit:Getty

The timing of the announcement - two weeks after the logistical feat of holding the country's general elections during a pandemic - offered further evidence that South Korea has become a world leader in how to successfully defeat COVID-19.

However, South Korea's Centres for Disease Control did record four new COVID-19 infections in people arriving from abroad, highlighting the long-term challenge of stamping out the spread of the virus when international borders start to open up.

From being overwhelmed by hundreds of new cases a day in February, peaking at 909 on February 29, daily infections have now slowed to a trickle, allowing life to resume a precious sense of normalcy.
Danish design may soon have a watch industry moment. And its not just that the Copenhagen architect Bjarke Ingels designed the new Audemars Piguet museum, scheduled to open in June.

Watch companies in Denmark generally focus on buyers who prize stylish design but at low cost, an approach likely to appeal as the global economy struggles to recover from the coronavirus crisis.

If someone is really interested in that clean Scandinavian look, they might be attracted, said Reginald Brack, a watch and luxury industry analyst and executive director of the NPD Group. He also noted that many Danish watches were considered what the industry calls fashion watches, with prices below $500 because they run on quartz batteries rather than the costlier mechanical movements used by well-known Swiss brands.

But in Denmark, with a population now estimated at more than 5.8 million, people never have been particularly interested in luxury watch brands. In 2018, a residents average pretax income was 326,048 Danish kroner ($47,749), which doesnt easily allow splashing out for a Rolex or Cartier Tank.
A Covid-19 patient living at home will have his/her left hand stamped stating committed to home isolation and will have to remain in the designated room for at least 16 days, the Delhi governments home isolation guidelines, released on Thursday, said.

This comes two days after the Centre allowed home isolation of positive patients, keeping in mind the rising number of cases and the strain they put on hospital infrastructure.

A consultative meeting of Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, health secretary Padmini Singla, director general of health services Dr Nutan Mundeja and medical director of Lok Nayak hospital Dr JC Passey, among others, was held Wednesday to finalise the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for home isolation.

So far, 3,515 cases and 59 deaths have been reported in the city.

Data shows that around 43% of all active Covid-19 cases  those still with the infection  are admitted to the Covid-19 care centre with mild symptoms. These people will be eligible for home isolation if they have adequate facility  a separate bedroom and bathroom at home.

Once a person tests positive, the new SOPs state that the surveillance team will call to check if (s)he has mild or moderate symptoms. Anyone with moderate symptoms such as high fever or breathing difficulty, and those with comorbid conditions such as diabetes or hypertension will be moved to a Covid health centre or hospital.

If symptoms are mild and the person has no comorbid conditions, then a health team will visit the house to check the person and the house to see if it can be used for isolation. If yes, then the team will get an undertaking from the patient that (s)he will remain in isolation and call them in case symptoms worsen. The patient will be stamped on the left hand and made to download Arogya Setu app, which will track the persons movements. A home isolation sticker will also be put up outside the residence.

The person will be allowed to come out of isolation only after two of his/her tests come negative for Covid-19. If not, the isolation can be extended and the right hand of the person will be stamped, the guidelines stated. The patients condition will be checked every day over phone by the district health teams and treatment has to be sought if there is difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, mental confusion, or bluish discolourations on the body.

It is impossible to assess someones condition over phone; a physical check is necessary at least twice a day. We simply do not have the manpower to let a doctor check every patient twice a day, even if we have just 50 such cases in a district. Also, the progression of the disease is sudden and might require immediate medical attention. In such cases, we cannot wait for the person to call us and then wait for an ambulance to bring her to a hospital, a district health official said.

During the isolation, the patients must wear a triple-layer mask at all times and discard it after eight hours of use or when visibly dirty or moist. The mask has to be disinfected using 1% hypochlorite solution. The caregiver also has to wear a triple-layer mask when in the same room as the patient and use disposable gloves when handling the patient.

They must avoid contact with contaminated items such as cigarettes, eating utensils, dishes, drinks, used towel and bed linen, the guidelines say.

The caregiver also have to take the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine  400 mg twice a day on Day 1 followed by one tablet every week for three weeks. The drug is not recommended for anyone under the age of 15, anyone with retinopathy, cardiac conditions, or know hypersensitivity to hydroxychloroquine and aminoquinoline. In case there are side effects, the caregiver has to report to pharma covigilance.

Once home isolation ends, the person will still be under surveillance for another 14 days, and they are not to attend any gathering, according to the guidelines.

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GODFREY  Local leaders say residents need reasons for hope amid the coronavirus closures.

In a Wednesday teleconference hosted by the RiverBend Growth Association, eight mayors shared their thoughts about safely reopening the region  and how the region may be changed by COVID-19.

Its going to take a while to get out of this; we know that, said RBGA President John Keller. Even when the switch is turned back on its going to be like accelerating your car. Its not going to be turned back on and doing 65 miles per hour.

Gov. J.B. Pritzkers stay-at-home order begun in March is scheduled to run through May 30. The mayors on Wednesday offered a unified call to maintain public safety, but shared different views on when, and how, the order should be lifted for residents and small businesses.

These businesses need hope, said Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick. They need something to look forward to and theyre not getting it now.

How many small businesses are not going to make it? he said. Thats whats scary to me.

Alton Mayor Brant Walker said people do not need to be scared of seeking medical help from hospitals if needed. He said emergency rooms are seeing patients in worse shape because they were afraid to seek that help.

The hospitals are safe, he said. If you do need service or medical attention, please still go to the hospitals. Dont neglect your medical needs.

All said their communities have been devastated by the financial impacts of COVID-19. Grafton Mayor Rick Eberlin advocated a regional approach to reopening, noting Missouri is preparing to ease its commerce restrictions on Monday.

There definitely needs to be precautions taken, but we have to get things started back up here, he said. Its a head-scratcher why we wouldnt look at this as a regional thing.

Wood River Mayor Cheryl Maguire also suggested that, after seeing how other states reopen, local leaders could petition Pritzker to consider a regional reopening. State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, also said lawmakers all have been asking the governor to take a look at regionalism.

Eberlin said Grafton is at wits end because of last years historic flooding and this years COVID-19 pandemic. The states delay in reopening Pere Marquette State Park also is hurting the area, he said.

Theres virtually no revenue coming in, he said. Ive received calls about businesses discussing bankruptcy. Theyre in dire straits. You can see the strain and the wear on their face.

There is no way in my mind that we can hold out until the 30th of May, Eberlin said. The businesses are biting at the bit. Theyre very anxious.

Hartford Mayor Jim Hickerson said his villages one restaurant/tavern and the confluence tower have been closed by the stay-at-home order. Village gatherings have been restricted, Hartfords centennial celebration has been postponed until Sept. 12 and development along Illinois 111 has stopped.

We had hoped for some potential take-offs along that area, he said. They came to a screaching halt at this time. Hopefully when everything gets back to as close to normal as we can we will have some important announcements on those properties.

Maguire announced a soft opening is planned Thursday for a COVID-19 testing facility on Old St. Louis Road in Wood River. Testing will be by appointment only; for more details people an call 618-646-2596.

She said small businesses and local organizations have been hurt in Wood River by the COVID-19 pandemic. She added Wood Rivers walking trail remains open.

People want to get out in the sunshine, she said, They just want to be outside. People want to be able to go to the library.

McCormick said Godfreys parks and trails also are open. He, too, suggested Pritzker look at Southern Illinois in a different light from the Chicago area and proposed Madison County use its $1.7 miilion in federal COVID-19 funds to help local businesses.

We dont know what kind of finanial impact this is going to have on us until its over, he said.

Walker said Alton is developing plans to reopen some parks and working on next years budget, noting the COVID-19 closure has cost the city in the millions of dollars in revenue.

I dont know what we look like coming out of this, when we go through May and open up in June, he said. I will completely expect that there will be some businesses, when this is over, that just wont open again, which is terribly unfortunate.

I dont know how many of them live through a 60-day shutdown, he said.

East Alton Mayor Joe Silkwood said the city is working on a six-month budget with all discretionary spending frozen. He projected many changes for the area because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I suspect were going to be doing social distancing for quite some time, probably until they get some type of treatment or vaccine or both, he said. Were going to have to do business differently than the way we always did.

We have to open up smart, he said, I think everybody gets it. I think everybody is getting antsy, and lets just hang in there and stay the course and try to get open safe.

Bethalto Mayor Alan Winslow said his community expects to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the COVID-19 closure. He said hes optimistic June 1 will be the trigger to lift the state restrictions, but it will take a concerted effort by the public to comply with using face masks and social distancing.

I think the recovery is going to be slow, Winslow said. Im concerned that some of the restrictions will be with us for a while and, quite honestly, well probably see some public rebellion against some of those restrictions.

Roxana Mayor Marty Reynolds noted his communitys stable industrial tax base has helped it weather many of the COVID-19 economic effects.

Lifes tough on some people right now, he said. If Roxana can do anything, let us know.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 11:51:51|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, April 30 (Xinhua) -- "Mutual support is more valuable in challenging times," Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Cao Zhongming has told Belgian daily De Morgen, voicing his hope that joint efforts to fight COVID-19 would further promote bilateral ties.

The Chinese and Belgian governments and people have supported each other during the fight against COVID-19, the ambassador said in an exclusive interview with the newspaper.

On April 2, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with King Philippe of Belgium, during which the two heads of state expressed solidarity against the pandemic and willingness to further promote bilateral ties.

The ambassador said that the Chinese embassy has acted as a bridge of connection between the two countries during the outbreak of COVID-19, by discussing joint response efforts with Belgian foreign relations and public health authorities, setting up video calls for exchanges between Chinese and Belgian experts, and facilitating Belgium's procurement of medical supplies in China among other measures.

In addition, Chinese companies, the Alibaba Foundation and the Jack Ma Foundation have donated to Belgium 500,000 masks and 30,000 test kits.

Faced with the COVID-19 crisis, Cao recalled that the European Union, of which Belgium is a member, donated 12 tons of protective equipment to China, and Belgian companies and individuals also made donations.

The valuable collaboration between China and Belgium are "manifestations of the unity and friendship between China and Belgium amid difficult times," he said.

China's role in sharing information on COVID-19 from the time the novel coronavirus appeared has been instrumental in the global understanding of the symptoms of the disease, Cao said.

On Jan. 11, China shared the genetic sequence of the virus with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the world, enabling the United States and Europe to start developing test kits and a vaccine, he said.

In response to the so-called "mask diplomacy" theory -- the fear of foreign powers using the relief efforts to boost their influence -- the ambassador said such claims are false. "Such concerns are unnecessary as China bears no such intentions."

"When the outbreak was at its peak in China, the EU and some European countries gave us much-appreciated support and assistance. Belgian companies also offered to help. What China is doing now is simply reciprocity with no political motivations behind it," he added.

It is the same when the EU helped us, nobody in China suspected "mask diplomacy," he continued. "It is unfair to level unfounded accusations against people willing to extend a helping hand."

Addressing whether the virus escaped from laboratories in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the ambassador said WHO experts and many leading scientists have refuted the idea, saying that all available evidence suggests that the virus is of animal origin and was not handled or constructed in a laboratory.

Belgian virologist Emmanuel Andre, a former inter-federal health spokesman, also agreed that the virus originated from nature and there is no evidence suggesting otherwise, Cao said.

While continuing its national efforts to control the disease, China will continue to actively work with international partners to defeat the virus, he said.

"We look forward to working together with the Belgian government and also with the EU to support the WHO playing a more important role in coordinating an international response," the ambassador said. Enditem
By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP)  The smallest companies seeking coronavirus relief loans were moving to the head of the line Wednesday after the Small Business Administration said that for eight hours ending at 9 p.m. pacific time it would accept loans only from small lenders.

The step was being taken to ensure that small community lenders, those with under $1 billion in assets, and their small business customers would have access to the $310 billion program, SBA head Jovita Carranza said in a tweet.

There have been concerns about the nation's smallest businesses being able to get loans because small banks  many of them with just a few hundred applications  have had to compete with big national banks submitting hundreds of thousands of loan requests. Carranza said smaller lenders would still be able to submit applications before and after the eight hours reserved for them. A statement issued later by SBA and the Treasury Department said the dedicated submission hours for small banks would be in effect only on Wednesday.

But the big banks also are submitting applications for small businesses, Richard Hunt, president of the Consumer Bankers Association, a trade group whose members include large national and regional banks, said in a tweet.

"Many small businesses went to banks over $1 billion to help provide for a family," Hunt said.

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News that big companies including restaurant chains like Shake Shack and the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers had gotten loans in the first $349 billion round of funding also raised anger that well-financed companies had taken priority over struggling small businesses. Shake Shack, the Lakers and some other large businesses have since said they would return the money, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said loans above $2 million will be audited to ensure that the businesses actually need the money.

Earlier Wednesday, banks including community lenders reported more success in getting small business owners' applications for coronavirus relief loans into the SBA's processing system known as ETran. Banks had been frustrated by the slow pace of submissions Monday and Tuesday, the first two days of the current round of funding.

"SBA made some system tweaks yesterday that appeared to help with getting loans through in a more timely fashion," said Paul Merski, a vice president at the Independent Community Bankers of America.

The SBA said late Tuesday it had approved nearly 476,000 loans totaling more than $52 billion; it has not released any updated figures since. Banks have thousands more loans to submit, and many owners are still applying for the relief.

The loans, part of the government's $2 trillion relief coronavirus relief package, are intended to help businesses hit hard by the virus retain their workers or rehire those who were laid off. Thousands of businesses have been forced to shut down to contain the spread of the virus or have lost business as customers stayed home or cut their spending.

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the economy shrank nearly 5% in the first quarter, with consumer spending dropping 7.6%; the virus began spreading in the U.S. midway through the quarter.

Demand for the small business loans has been intense  a first $349 billion round of funding was depleted in less than two weeks with the SBA approving 1.7 million. Banks had thousands of applications ready to go Monday when the current round began. Banking groups said limits the SBA placed on the number of loans each bank could submit were announced at the last minute on Sunday, making it impossible for lenders to adjust their own submission processes.

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The Berejiklian government will for the first time pinpoint active coronavirus cases by postcode using new heat maps which will also show recovery rates and testing numbers by suburb.

As the state's lockdown restrictions begin to be relaxed from Friday, NSW will launch Australia-first maps revealing up-to-date information about COVID-19 cases and testing rates.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she hoped the de-identified NSW Health data would encourage an increasing number of people to be tested for coronavirus.

More than 7300 tests were conducted in NSW on Wednesday. The state's goal is 8000 a day.
Pakistan on Thursday summoned the Indian Charge d'Affaires here to lodge protest over the alleged firing by the Indian troops across the Line of Control that resulted in the killing of a Pakistani soldier and two civilians.

Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri summoned Indian Charge d'Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia and registered "Pakistan's strong protest over the alleged ceasefire violations by the Indian forces" in Rakhchikri Sector on April 29, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said.

The Pakistan Army had claimed that a 34-year-old Pakistani soldier and two women were killed in firing allegedly by the Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC) on April 29.

"In 2020 alone India has committed 919 ceasefire violations and deliberately targeted innocent civilians living close to the LoC in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons, the FO said.

The DG (SA & SAARC) called upon the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, investigate it and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the working boundary, it said.

In August last year, Pakistan expelled the Indian High Commissioner and suspended bilateral trade ties with India in response to New Delhi's decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UNESCO, UAE begin reconstruction of historic Iraqi church destroyed by ISIS

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Work has begun to rebuild a Christian church in Iraq destroyed by the Islamic State as part of a partnership between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates.

UNESCO announced last week that construction has commenced on the Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Hour in Mosul. Mosul was once Iraqs second-largest city before it was overrun by the Islamic State terrorist group in 2014 but liberated by U.S.-backed coalition forces in 2017.

"With the official approval from The Dominican order, UNESCO  in close collaboration with relevant authorities  will now start the stabilization and rehabilitation of The Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Hour in Mosul, the international body said in a statement.

"This projects component will include all the phases of a stabilization and rehabilitation project  from site clearance and initial survey to the preparation of the detailed design for the actual execution of the works.

The church, also known as Al-Saaa Church, was built in the 1800s and is located at the heart of the Old City of Mosul. The church is also known as The Clock Church because it was gifted a clock in 1880 by Empress Eugenie of France, the wife of Emperor Napoleon III.

As previously reported by The Telegraph, the church was blown up by the Islamic State.

According to UNESCO, the church has always been considered one of the areas iconic landmarks and was a living example of the brotherhood between Moslawis.

The rehabilitation of this church is important not only because of its value as cultural heritage but also as a testimony to the diversity of the city, a proud crossroads of cultures and a peaceful haven for different religious communities over the centuries, UNESCO said.

International Christian Concern, a U.S.-based advocacy group, reports that Al-Saaa Church represents the long historical presence of Christianity in Mosul.

According to UNESCO, the church building also carries architectural value.

Each viewer coming from Nineveh or Al-Farouq Street would see the Al-Hadba Minaret first then the bell tower of the Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Hour, or vice-versa, the statement reads. This architectural and urban feature is engraved in the memory and history of the people and of the city and is emblematic of the cultural diversity and peaceful co-existence between its communities.

The project will create a unique on-the-job training opportunity for local heritage professionals and craftsmen.

The rehabilitation project was announced last October as part of the UNESCO-UAE initiative called Revive the Spirit of Mosul. The project aims to reconstruct the historic landmarks of Mosul damaged by the Islamic State.

Another project announced as part of the initiative last October was the restoration of the Al-Tahira Syriac-Catholic Church. The centuries-old church had its roof collapse when it was bombarded in 2017.

The UNESCO-UAE partnership is also working to restore the Al Hadba Minaret and the Al-Nouri Mosque of Mosul, which was built more than 850 years ago.

UNESCO is fostering reconciliation and social cohesion in Mosul through the restoration and reconstruction of emblematic historical sites as part of UNESCOs international initiative Revive the Spirit of Mosul, UNESCO stated.

The initiative will also include the construction of a museum and memorial site to exhibit and preserve remnants of the sites with the community and educational spaces.

The UNESCO-UAE partnership comes as the Arabian country has been devoted in recent years to promoting interfaith harmony.

UAE labeled 2019 its Year of Tolerance. In 2019, UAE hosted a regional religious freedom summit and also hosted the first papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula.

Last September, plans were announced for the building of an interfaith complex called the Abrahamic Family House in which a church, synagogue and mosque will be built on Saadiyat Island near Abu Dhabi.

The Abrahamic Family House was a result of Pope Francis visit to Abu Dhabi last February. Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Egypt signed off on establishing the interfaith Higher Committee on Human Fraternity.
The Phantom Menace (credit: Disney)

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Disney+ has shared the official timeline of the Star Wars universe ahead of Star Wars Day  May the Fourth  on Monday.

With eleven live action feature films, three (official) animated series, and one live action series, the chronology of the series has become increasingly complicated since George Lucas film made its debut in 1977.

However this simple chart should clear up any lingering questions about what happens when in the world of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Jar Jar Binks et al.

From Phantom Menace to The Rise of Skywalker and everything inbetween. (Disney+/Lucasfilm)

Interestingly, the timeline doesnt start and end with Phantom Menace and The Rise of Skywalker, as it extends in both ways beyond the films considered the beginning and end of Star Wars so far. A hint of things to come perhaps?

The entire Star Wars catalogue is streaming on Disney+ with the final episode of The Mandalorian coming 1 May, the final episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker landing on 4 May. Animated series Star Wars: Resistance is coming to Disney+ soon.

The streaming service also shared some fun trivia you might not know about the Star Wars saga...

EPISODE I

The E.T. CG model built for the Special Edition release of E.T. the Extra Terrestrial was inserted into The Phantom Menace as a delegation in the Galactic Senate.

Read more: Everything coming to Disney+ in May

Dominic West (Detective Jimmy McNulty from The Wire) played a Palace Guard in The Phantom Menace.

EPISODE II

Every single armoured clone trooper in Attack of the Clones was realised as a computer-generated creation, and no clone trooper armour was ever built.

EPISODE III

George Lucas makes a cameo appearance in Revenge of the Sith as a blue-skinned background character named Baron Papanoida.

EPISODE IV

American actress Carrie Fisher and British actor Kenny Baker on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope written, directed and produced Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

The name R2-D2 stands for Reel 2, Dialogue 2 a phrase which first emerged while George Lucas and Walter Murch were mixing THX-1138.

Story continues

Tatooine was originally named Aquilae in the draft scripts of Star Wars, before adopting a name very similar to the southern Tunisian city of Tataouine.

Original lightsaber props were fashioned from camera flash bars.

The sound effect for the blaster was created by tapping a cable wire.

Peter Cushing was often filmed from the knees up because he was wearing only socks because his shoes were uncomfortable because they were too tight.

Other actors considered for Star Wars include: Christopher Walker and Kurt Russell as Han Solo;

Terri Nunn and Amy Irving as Princess Leia; William Katt as Luke

Harrison Ford wasnt originally considered for the role of Han Solo. He was only brought in as a favor to read with the actors.

EPISODE V

American actors Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, British actors Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew on the set of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back directed by Irvin Kershner. (Photo by Lucasfilm/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

To build up early anticipation for The Empire Strikes Back, Boba Fett appeared in cartoon form in 1978s Star Wars Holiday Special. A year later, Fett became available to fans as an action figure.

John Ratzenberger, Cliff Claven from Cheers and Pixar voice acting staple, plays a Rebel officer.

Han Solos famous I know line was developed by Harrison Ford and Irvin Kershner while on set.

EPISODE VI

American actor Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi directed by Welsh Richard Marquand. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

During production of Return of the Jedi, the titles Revenge and the Jedi and Blue Harvest were used to throw people off. The title was always intended to be Return of the Jedi but the studio began promoting the film with the bogus title.

Dengar appears in Jabbas Palace and Bossk appears in Jabbas Sail Barge in Return of the Jedi.

The burp of Sarlacc was also used in Alien, both by Howie Hammerman

Saga

Darth Vadar and Princess Leia, on the beach in Northern California for Star Wars Rolling Stone Magazine in 1983. (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images)

A character has a bad feeling about this in each of the six films.

The Wilhelm scream can be heard in all six films.

Inclement weather has constantly impacted film production. The first week of shooting on the original Star Wars (March 1976) was delayed because the Tunisian location used for the desert planet Tatooine was hit with its first winter rainstorm in 50 years. A blizzard during the 10-day shoot in Norway on The Empire Strikes Back (March 1979) buried the filming location under 10 feet of snow. When the Episode I production moved to Tunisia, it was met by a ferocious thunderstorm on July 29, 1997 that destroyed most of the Podracer arena and Mos Espa sets.

Keira Knightley, Sofia Coppola, and Rose Byrne have all played handmaidens in the Prequel trilogy.

Actors Denis Lawson and Ewan McGregor pose for photographers during a photo call to promote the film 'American Pastoral', in London, Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles) is the uncle of Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi).

Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Warwick Davis (Wicket W. Warrick, Wald) and Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks) have all appeared unmasked as background characters in the films.

Six actors played Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the Star Wars films: David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Bob Anderson, Sebastian Shaw, Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen.

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The banks are strategising the post-COVID-19 world from multiple fronts such as the possible asset quality deterioration, liquidity management and the capital challenge.

The liquidity challenge is the least of the worry, say bankers, as they would find ways to deploy the funds. The asset quality deterioration is not expected to show up immediately as the RBI provides them regulatory forbearance in NPA classification for a three months. There are expectations of further extension to it and on restructuring of loans.

But banks are staring at risk of corporate credit downgrades by the rating agencies. The rising ratings downgrades actually threaten to blow up banks' capital buffers.

In a recent CRISIL study, the downgrades have actually outnumbered the upgrades in the second half of 2019-20. This isn't surprising as the economy has been on a downswing for the last 12 months. Another rating agency ICRA saw the downgrades in the corporate sector more than doubling during the same period. The corporates have entered the COVID crisis in a bad shape.

The downgrade matters for the RBI as well as banks as risk-weights in capital calculation are decided based on the rating profile of borrowers. Lower the rating, higher the risk-weights.

The risk-weights influence the capital as riskier assets eat away bank's capital. Take, for instance, the RBI has fixed higher risk-weights for unrated corporates, unsecured loans with no collateral and for lower investment grade corporates (B, BB, A).

So how much could be the damage to banks' capital?

The RBI has recently done a study of different stress scenarios based on the geopolitical tension, trade war and the global slowdown. In a severe or most stressed scenario, the RBI has predicted the capital adequacy of banks falling to 12.7 per cent by September 2019 from the current 15 per cent-plus. The projection for gross NPAs was pegged at 15.6 per cent , up from current 9.4 per cent.

This stress test scenario was built in pre-COVID days in December last year. Nobody knows how much economic damage COVID would unleash as the entire world is still fighting the virus and also pumping in trillions of dollars to avoid a long recession. If the above scenario gets replicated, the banks would still be in a better position at 12.7 per cent capital adequacy against the minimum 9 per cent, but they would be without any buffer. The ones with lower capital would certainly find it difficult to do any lending business.

But if the COVID impact breaches the above numbers, there could be serious threat to banks. Meanwhile, many private sector banks are already in capital-raising mode to create additional capital buffers. The government should also recapitalise the banks to put them on a strong footing not only to fight the COVID impact, but also to continue lending in the economy as the growth would be a big casualty.
Rishi Kapoor's passing has made his colleagues in the Hindi film industry remember the bright, cheerful, loving person that he was. Alia Bhatt, who got a lot closer to Rishi since the time she started dating his son Ranbir Kapoor, is mourning the loss of a dear one. Alia took to her Instagram handle to pay a tribute to Rishi, which will bring tears to your eyes.

Alia expressed that she felt blessed to have known Rishi Kapoor, and shared that she received so much love from him the past two years that she will always cherish it.

In a note, Alia wrote, "What can I say. About this beautiful man... who brought soo much love and goodness into my life. Today, everyone speaks of the legend that is Rishi Kapoor... and though I've known him like that all my life... for the past two years I've known him as a friend, a fellow Chinese food lover, a total cinema lover, a fighter, a leader, a beautiful storyteller, an extremely passionate tweeter and a father!"

She continued, "In these past two years the love I have received from him is like a warm hug that I will always cherish! I thank the universe for giving me this opportunity to know him... today probably most of us can say he is like family - because that's how he made you feel! Love you, Rishi Uncle! Will miss you forever! Thank you for being you!" (sic).

In another post, Alia shared a throwback picture of Rishi and his wife Neetu Kapoor and captioned it, 'love you', adding a heart emoji. She also shared a picture of Rishi and Ranbir when the latter was a kid, and wrote, 'beautiful boys', (sic).

Rishi passed away at the HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on the morning of April 30, 2020. He had battled leukemia for two years.

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor's Funeral: Alia Bhatt Held Up Her Phone During The Final Rites For This Reason?

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor's Death: Kareena Kapoor Shares Heartwarming Childhood Picture Of Uncle And Dad


Johnson and State District Judge Ralph Strother, who preside over the countys two primary felony courts, both said any plans they are making now remain tentative because of the uncertainty of the times. The last felony trial in Johnsons court was Feb. 17, while Strother last tried a case beginning Feb. 28. Both judges and the two county court-at-law judges have been conducting a handful of plea hearings and other matters one day a week via teleconferences for the past several weeks.

I am ready to get back to it, Strother said. I am more than ready. I think this was a terrible blunder the way we have handled this. People are still getting the virus. Nothing we have done has prevented people from getting it and people are going to continue to get it regardless of what we do, and look at the lives that have been ruined. We destroyed peoples livelihoods, the most basic liberty we have, the right to earn a livelihood, and we put people under modified house arrest. That is basically what it amounts to, and I just think it was a big mistake. We overreacted.

When reminded that the courts are ordering people to report for jury duty and not filling them with panels of brave volunteers, a previous concern expressed by Judge Johnson, Strother said it is nothing new.
Ex-members of Syrian military accused of torture were living in Germany as refugees until they were arrested and jailed.

Koblenz, Germany  This week in Koblenz, a picturesque German town on the banks of the Rhine river, local prosecutors have been demonstrating how the world could try war criminals.

During the first few days of a landmark case focusing on crimes against humanity by members of the Syrian regime, the court heard details of years-long investigations.

Two Syrians  Anwar Raslan, a former colonel who defected from Syrian military intelligence, and Eyad al-Gharib, who allegedly worked for him  are being trialled for their complicity in the torture of around 4,000 people and the deaths of 58 others, among other crimes, in the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, south-western Germany.

Both had lived as refugees in Germany but were arrested in February last year. They have been in prison since.

German prosecutors are using a legal principle called universal jurisdiction, which allows them to bring cases before German judges, regardless of whether the accused or their crimes have a close connection to Germany.

The first stage of the trial ended on Wednesday. The next stage resumes in Koblenz on May 18.

This is a historic case and it is the first time that international crimes committed by government officials are trialled, while the same government is still in power, Anna Oehmichen, a German lawyer appointed by the Open Society Justice Initiative to represent five witnesses in Koblenz, told Al Jazeera.

But it is also a challenge to prove such a case in Germany because so much of it happened elsewhere.

Syrian defendant Eyad al-Gharib, 43, arrives at court. He is accused of being an accomplice to crimes against humanity, having helped to arrest protesters in the autumn of 2011 [Thomas Lohnes/various sources/AFP]

Media and the public packed the courtroom on April 23, the first day of the trial, including many Syrians who had travelled several hours to Koblenz.

This is an historic day, said a protester outside the court, holding up a sign calling for justice for Syria.

The following days were more concerned with bureaucratic detail.

Testimony was given by immigration authorities, a representative of the German Foreign Office and an officer from the German Federal Criminal Police, Germanys equivalent to the FBI in the US.

The court is gathering this kind of technical information to come up with a detailed chronology, explained Patrick Kroker, a senior legal adviser with the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, or ECCHR, which is supporting nine witnesses in the case.

This is likely to continue for the next few months.

After that, we will probably move to another phase where we have different kind of evidence being given, he told Al Jazeera.

How Raslan came to Germanys attention

The federal police officer  whose name is suppressed by German law for security reasons, led the investigation into Anwar Raslan.

He told the court how Raslan had first come to their attention: In 2015, he made a complaint with local German police because he believed he was being followed by members of the Syrian secret service in Germany.

At the time, Raslan gave details about his job with military general intelligence in Syria, for whom he had worked for around 18 years.

Raslan said that before he defected, he had overseen investigations at Branch 251 of military intelligence in Damascus. Local police flagged this and passed the information to their federal counterparts.

In their indictment against him, German prosecutors now allege Raslan supervised the use of systematic and brutal torture at Branch 251 between April 2011 and September 2012.

But, as the federal police investigator said, the German war crimes unit had been collecting evidence from Syria long before this, since around the beginning of the Syrian revolution in 2011.

Syrians shout freedom during a protest at Dael region, near the city of Deraa in southern Syria on March 25, 2011 [Khaled al-Hariri/Reuters]

They suspected war crimes were being committed back then, and their background investigation already held some information on Raslan.

As they were interviewed during their asylum applications, German immigration authorities often asked Syrian refugees whether they had witnessed, been victims of, or committed any war crimes.

Raslans name and that of Branch 251 had come up in interviews with a number of Syrian asylum seekers, the police officer said.

We saw this [the immigration interviews] as a very, very significant source, he told the court.

Building a case

Syrian activists and lawyers in Germany, who knew Raslan was in the country, also gave statements about the ex-colonel to the German authorities, with the ECCHRs help. They were somewhat surprised to find that federal investigators were already looking into his case.

German investigators also sourced information from elsewhere on an ongoing basis, the investigator explained, including from human rights organisations, the United Nations, media reports, Syrian community groups and also from the Commission for International Justice and Accountability, or CIJA.

CIJA, an NGO, collected documentary evidence from inside Syria and was able to give the German investigators three documents from 2012 with Raslans signature on them.

Some of the so-called Caesar files  thousands of photographs of corpses of tortured detainees in Syrian regime jails, taken by a police photographer, known only as Caesar  were also used as evidence.

The German investigators sent the pictures to forensic medicine specialists in Cologne to be professionally assessed. The results of that work could eventually also be used in other countries courts.

Senior public prosecutor Jasper Klinge answers journalists questions outside the courtroom during a break in the trial against the two Syrian defendants accused of state-sponsored torture in Syria, on April 23, 2020, in Koblenz, western Germany [Thomas Lohnes/AFP]

Prosecutors are using novel investigatory strategies in this trial, explained Kroker, who, in his role as an independent lawyer, is also representing seven joint plaintiffs in the case.

Background investigations enable prosecutors to move on these kinds of trials more quickly. And this case also shows the necessity and utility of international cooperation, especially within the European Union.

As the Germans began looking for Syrian witnesses  particularly those who had been held at Branch 251  they regularly contacted other war crimes investigators around Europe. They ended up with witnesses in Germany, Norway, Sweden and France.

Every statement we took would lead to another witness statement, the police investigator told the court; interviewers would always ask the Syrians if they knew anybody else who had been held at Branch 251.

At some stage, we decided we had to finish. We took about 70 statements that fit into the time period.

The investigation also included more standard police methods  such as a photographic line-up where victims were asked to identify Raslan, a month-long wiretap and a search of Raslans home and electronic devices.

That didnt yield much, the policeman conceded. But we did find a notebook that had the telephone numbers of high-ranking Syrian regime members in it, a copy of his military ID and a CV in English, he recounted.

What next?

The German federal prosecutors goal is to place Raslan, and his aide, at Branch 251 over the aforementioned 17 months.

As yet, it remains unclear what the defences strategy might be.

Raslan and al-Gharib willingly gave details of the work they did in Syria to immigration authorities and German police.

The defence asked the federal police officer: Were they, and other asylum seekers, warned that this information could potentially be used against them?

He did not have an answer.

Additionally, German immigration authorities are not supposed to grant asylum to anybody suspected of war crimes.

It also became clear that, thanks to his military seniority at the time of his defection, Raslan was considered an important asset to the Syrian opposition in Europe.

Because of that, he may have been advantaged in getting a German visa for himself and his family in 2014.

A leading Syrian dissident, Riad Seif, vouched for him and Raslan was part of a wider Syrian circle that attended peace negotiations in Geneva in early 2014, a representative from the German Federal Foreign Office told the court.

Raslan did not appear to have been questioned by immigration authorities, the police investigator said.

He also admitted that some of the witnesses, whose statements were used to build the case against Raslan and al-Gharib, were also ex-Syrian military. No charges have been brought against them.

Lawyers representing the Syrians in the case have already said that, in strictly legal terms, none of those things should make a difference as to whether Raslan and al-Gharib are personally found guilty or not. But their defections and honesty could be taken into account during sentencing if they are.

But that is some time away  the trial is expected to take up to two years, possibly longer.

Attorney Patrick Kroker (C) and co-plaintiffs Wassim Mukdad (L) and Hussein Ghrer (R) answer journalists questions outside the courtroom during a break in the trial [Thomas Lohnes/AFP]

Because of the German legal principle of orality, which requires oral evidence to be given before the judges, documents such as visa applications and letters about social welfare benefits all had to be read out, in order to be admitted into evidence.

Perhaps in some ways, such dogged bureaucratic mundanity is welcome.

Ive heard about fair trials but this is the first time I have experienced one, said Hussein Ghurair, a Syrian journalist and one of the joint plaintiffs.

Its such a fair trial that the judge even made sure to ask whether the defendants could hear her properly. And whether theyd had enough time to communicate with their lawyers.

When we were being interrogated, we were blindfolded and handcuffed. We were powerless. Now, we want the truth to be told, we want to reveal what is still happening to our friends in Syria today and we want that to be told through a fair trial.
A small village with less than 2,000 people in the far west of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been lifted out of poverty with the help of members of the armed forces stationed there.

Qikertierek Village in Akto County of Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture formed a joint military-civilian unit in 2016 with the armed forces stationed in the county.

Over the past three years, members of the Chinese armed forces unit have helped local villagers shake off poverty by building houses, purchasing cattle and sheep for them, providing education funds and arranging occupational training workshops.

Since October 2018, the military provided funds for 12 poor students to pursue education. They regularly raise money to buy school bags, toys and other supplies for preschool children, and improve learning conditions for poor students.

People in Qikertierek Village have long earned a living by farming and raising livestock.

The armed forces have arranged technical training for the villagers on farming and breeding, and bought 30 embroidery machines for them to develop artisanal handicraft.

The armed forces members also invite migrant workers every year to introduce their working experience in big cities out of Xinjiang. They've so far coordinated 59 job opportunities for villages in companies in provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

There used to be 244 registered poor rural households, involving 999 people. Now only four households, with a total of nine people, remain in poverty.

In October 2019, the armed forces bought 40 cattle and sheep for the four impoverished households and helped them with animal farming.

The officers and soldiers also help farming work and house cleaning for the elderly and send daily necessities like rice, noodles and cooking oil for them. Free medical checkups and services are also provided.

In addition, the armed forces have helped improve the living environment of the villagers, including repairing old dilapidated houses, building clean and neat courtyards, building roads, providing clean drinking water and full radio, television and broadband coverage.
United Nations, United States: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has donated a $100,000 prize she won from a Danish foundation to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for use against the COVID-19 pandemic, the world body said Thursday.

"Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child rights crisis," Thunberg, 17, was quoted as saying in the UNICEF statement.

"It will affect all children, now and in the long term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most," she added.

"I'm asking everyone to step up and join me in support of UNICEF's vital work to save children's lives, to protect health and continue education."

The Danish anti-poverty non-governmental organization, Human Act, will match the $100,000 donation, the statement added.

UNICEF said the funds would give it a boost as it struggles to support children impacted by anti-virus lockdowns and school closures, particularly in the fields of "food shortages, strained health care systems, violence and lost education."

Thunberg said at the end of March that she had "likely" contracted the coronavirus, after experiencing several symptoms after a trip to central Europe.
Germany labeled the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah a terrorist organization today in a move that Israel hopes will cause Europe to follow suit.

The top German diplomat said that Hezbollahs violent activity and threats to Israel were the reasons behind the declaration.

Hezbollah denies Israel's right to exist, threatens with violence and terror, and massively upgrades its rocket arsenal, said Germany's Foreign Affairs Minister Heiko Maas in a statement. It is important that Germany exhausts the means of the rule of law to take action against criminal and terrorist activities of Hezbollah, he said.

The decision means that all Hezbollah activity is now banned in Germany and comes after years of pressure from the United States and Israel. German authorities raided mosques on Thursday believed to be connected to the group. Hezbollah symbols are henceforth banned at gatherings, in published materials and in the media, and its assets in Germany can be confiscated, according to The New York Times.

Israel rejoiced at the move and declared its desire for other European Union (EU) states to join Germany.

This is a very important decision and a valuable and significant step in the global fight against terrorism, said Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz in a press release. I call on additional European countries and the European Union to adopt this necessary policy, Katz said.

Many countries  including the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates  list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. But until today, Germany only listed Hezbollahs military wing as such. The EU and France also only consider Hezbollahs military terrorists. This constitutes a significant policy difference between the United States and the EU.

Hezbollah maintains some support in Europe. There are up to 1,050 Hezbollah members in Germany, Reuters reported.

Hezbollah formed in 1985 to fight Israel in southern Lebanon during that countrys multifaceted civil war. It has received considerable political, financial and military support from Iran since its inception. Hezbollah and Israel fight on and off near the Israel-Lebanon border, and Israel frequently bombs Hezbollah targets in Syria. Hezbollah fights on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war, along with Iran.
There was a 37.6 per cent slump in UK car production last month, the first set of figures showing the devastating initial impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the industry.

With many vehicle makers closing factories near the end of the month in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, just 78,767 vehicles were made during the month, 47,428 fewer than in March last year.

If car plants remain closed until mid-May, vehicle outputs in 2020 will fall by over a quarter of a million units and it will cost the industry 8.2billion, the Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders warn.

Car factory closures at the end of March forced by the coronavirus outbreak saw UK vehicle production slump 38% last months, new figures revealed today say

The coronavirus crisis has caused factories across the country to close, resulting in more than 140 days of lost production.

Output for the domestic market fell by 36 per cent, while exports were down by 38 per cent as the pandemic forced vehicle makers to down tools.

As well as UK car showrooms having to close their doors from the morning of 24 March, the SMMT said demand was particularly weak in major export destinations, including the US and EU where many key markets were shut for most of the month.

However, there were some encouraging signs, with shipments to China rising 2.3 per cent as lockdown measures began to ease, said the trade group.

Total car production rounded off the first quarter down by almost 14 per cent with 319,252 vehicles leaving factory gates compared with 370,289 in the same period in 2019.

With many factories closing from the end of the month in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, just 78,767 vehicles left factory gates during March, 47,428 fewer than a year ago

Rolls-Royce Motors said it will be the first UK car maker to restart its operations, with staff returning the the assembly line at the Goodwood plant near Chichester on 4 May

Bosses said that 1,000 employees  half the total workforce  would be back on the production line from that date, though support staff, such as marketing and sales teams, will continue to work from home

The latest independent analysis suggests that the crisis could result in a loss of 257,000 units this year across all UK plants if factories stay closed to the middle of May, costing the sector over 8billion, said the SMMT.

The industry body said it was imperative for assembly lines to restart as soon as the lockdown is eased and appropriate measures are put in place so factory staff can remain safe.

Government schemes, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), have provided a lifeline for many businesses, with almost two-thirds of the full-time automotive manufacturing workforce furloughed, safeguarding thousands of highly-skilled jobs, research by the SMMT found.

UK car makers are drawing up detailed plans to ensure worker safety when they return from lockdown as the SMMT engages with the wider industry, government and other stakeholders to deliver best-practice guidance to help companies of all types and sizes to do the same.

It said the successful restart of the UK automotive sector will require a clear plan built on 'four pillars'.

These include re-opening automotive retail and stimulating demand, ramping up safe and sustainable production, securing and supporting resilient supply chains, and ensuring a supportive regulatory framework is in place.

Nissan has yet to give a date for when operations at the UK's biggest producing car factory will commence, but says it is working on a plan

The Japanese brand says it is running trials of safe operations with 50 production-line staff members

Bentley said it is implementing a phased return to production at the company's headquarters in Crewe, England, from 11 May

Bosses at the UK car maker said there will be around 250 'comprehensive and wide-ranging' hygiene and social distancing measures under an employee programme called 'Come Back Stronger' to ensure the safety of staff, including wearing PPE

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: 'UK automotive is fundamentally strong but, as these figures show, it is being tested like never before, with each week of shutdown costing the sector and economy billions.

'Government's emergency measures are helping keep many companies afloat and thousands of people in jobs, but liquidity remains a major concern and will become even more stretched as the industry begins to restart.

'To get production lines rolling, we need a package of measures that supports the entire industry.

'This will include new workplace guidance, additional measures to ease cash-flow and help furloughed colleagues back to work, as well as demand-side measure to help encourage customers back into the market.

'This should be seen as long-term investment into the underlying competitiveness of an industry critical to the health of the economy and the livelihoods of thousands of households right across the UK.'

With some key export markets, including China, Germany and the US, now starting or planning to re-open, manufacturers in the UK are making detailed preparations for employees to return safely to work over the coming weeks.

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's biggest car producer, said it will gradually resume outputs from 18 May

The Solihull plant will resume production of SUV models including the Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Jaguar I-Pace, while the engine plant in Wolverhampton will also restart

What UK car makers have said about when they plan to return - and how

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said it will be the first UK car maker to restart its operations, with staff returning on 4 May.

Bosses said that 1,000 employees  half the total workforce  would be back on the production line from that date, though support staff, such as marketing and sales teams, will continue to work from home.

The firm's factory at Goodwood near Chichester will operate one shift daily, rather than the usual two.

Staff will wear protective clothing and masks, and will observe social distancing rules in line with Health and Safety advice.

Aston Martin said it will have part of its workforce back at the new St Athan factory in Wales from 5 May

The state of the art production facility in Wales is the home of the new DBX - Aston Martin's first ever SUV

Aston Martin said it will reopen the St Athan plant on 5 May to resume outputs of the DBX crossover while rival luxury brand Bentley says it will introduce a set of around 250 'comprehensive and wide-ranging' hygiene and social distancing measures under an employee programme called 'Come Back Stronger' in order to implement a phased return to production at the company's headquarters in Crewe, England, from 11 May.

Jaguar Land Rover - the UK's biggest car maker - has identified 18 May as the return date for a 'gradual' restart of its major assembly line in Solihull, West Midlands, and at its engine plant.

Nissan says it is running trials of safe operations with 150 staff members at the Sunderland plant though doesn't plan to return to production until early June.

And Vauxhall has revealed it already has in place new social distancing measures for the return of production of the Astra at Ellesmere Port.
Elsewhere, activists fear that the emergency measures passed to combat the virus will serve as pretexts to crack down on opponents and the media. In the Philippines, thousands have already been arrested for violating lockdown measures and President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to impose martial law. The government passed new legislation in late March to help fight the pandemic. Two journalists have already been charged under the laws provision against false information and now face prison time, according to the advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.
Pandemic causes Q1 loss of $110 million, says Vietnam Airlines

An aircraft of Vietnam Airlines prepares to take off from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines.

Vietnam Airlines has reported a loss of over VND2.6 trillion ($110 million) in the first quarter, which is higher than its 2019 net profit.

Last year it had reported a net profit of VND2.54 trillion ($108 million), including VND1.2 trillion in the first quarter.

The airline blamed the first quarter loss on the coronavirus pandemic's severe and direct impact on the aviation industry.

Its revenues were VND18.9 trillion ($807 million) during the period, down almost 26.5 percent year-on-year.

The carriers assets decreased by 7.2 percent to VND70.94 trillion ($3.03 billion), while its equity dropped 14.3 percent to VND15.9 trillion.

Its CEO, Duong Tri Thanh, has predicted the airline would lose revenues of around VND50 trillion ($2.14 billion) this year, and the aviation industry would be set back by three or four years.

The Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises has predicted that Vietnam Airlines could suffer a loss of over VND19.6 trillion ($837 million) this year if the pandemic persists until Q4.


A Clear Lake excavation company has settled a lawsuit with the Iowa Attorney Generals Office for damaging underground utilities while digging on multiple occasions.

Yohn Co. admitted to the violations and agreed to pay a $7,500 civil penalty in addition to injunctive relief prohibiting future violations under the agreement.

Under Iowas One Call law, anyone who digs, excavates or trenches privately or commercially is required to first contact the Iowa One Call center to locate underground utilities.

According to court records, Yohn Co. severed a half-inch Alliant Energy Company natural gas pipeline in September 2018 while excavating near the intersection of 12th Avenue South and South Third Street in Clear Lake.

In November 2018, Yohn Co. hit and damaged a 2-inch Alliant natural gas pipeline with a backhoe while digging near 806 12th Ave. S. in Clear Lake.

Court records state Yohn Co. also damaged a 1-inch Alliant natural gas pipeline while removing concrete rubble with a front-end loader at 1714 Fourth Ave. S. in October 2019 in Clear Lake.

In two of the incidents, Yohn Co. failed to provide 48-hour notice of planned excavation and proceeded with excavations without having the underground facilities located and marked, according to the lawsuit. The company also failed to timely notify Alliant of damages to its facilities.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller also filed similar actions against four other Iowa companies this week, according to a media release Thursday. Two were filed in Cerro Gordo County.

Arends & Sons Construction and Arends Excavating of Cedar Falls agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty and cease excavations without first contacting the statewide notification center.

Lawsuits remain active against Muscatine Utility for excavations in Mason City; Klima Drainage for work in rural Delaware and Linn counties; and Lumos Electric for excavations in Burlington.

According to court records, Muscatine Utility allegedly damaged two half-inch Alliant natural gas pipelines while installing cable and internet service at 2340 and 2348 Ping Court in March 2019 in Mason City.

The incident resulted in the loss of service for some customers and remediation costs to Alliant.

In another incident involving Muscatine Utility, the company allegedly a half-inch natural gas pipeline while installing cable and internet service at 914 N. Federal Ave. in October 2019 in Mason City. Court documents state all utilities were accurately located and marked prior to excavation.

The Attorney General said in the first incident, Muscatine Utility failed to notify Alliant of the damaged pipeline, and in the second incident, the company didn't "exercise due care" while excavating to avoid damaging marked underground facility.

Violators are subject to a civil penalty up to $10,000 per day for violations related to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, and up to $1,000 per day involving other underground facilities. Violators also may be liable for the repair costs of damaged facilities.

Excavators, farm operations and homeowners can notify the Iowa Once Call Notification Center about planned digging or excavating online at www.iowaonecall.com, or by phone at 811 (or toll-free at 800-292-8989).

The One Call law has been in effect since 1993. Iowa One Call is paid for by owners and operators of pipelines and other underground facilities. Services provided by Iowa One Call are free to homeowners, contractors and professional excavators.

Reach Reporter Ashley Stewart at 641-421-0533. Follow her on Twitter at GGastewart.

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Observers have long dreaded the arrival of an economic perfect storm in Wyoming, but not even the most pessimistic of the bunch imagined the epic collapse that a recent Legislative Service Office memo says is in store for the state.

Its optimistic scenario shows a loss of $556 million through the 2021-22 biennium. On the other end of the scale, where no one in state government wants to stare, the pessimistic forecast is a $2.8 billion deficit. House Revenue Committee Chairman Dan Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne) told WyoFile reporter Andrew Graham, who broke the story about the memo, that...
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Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation El Sayed El Quseir said on Wednesday that the volume of Egyptian agricultural exports increased to more than 2.4 million tons during the period from January to April 202.

This came in a weekly report handed over to Quseir by head of the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) Ahmed el Attar.



The exports included about 1.2 million tons of citruses, 550,000 tons of potatoes, 150,000 tons of onions and 20,000 tons of strawberries, according to the CAPQ report.

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Quarantine isnt always a bad word.

The Lincoln City Cultural Center is embracing Oregons stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus crisis by creatively developing new ways to dispense arts and culture opportunities to locals.

LCCC began its Creative Quarantine Project shortly after Oregon issued stay-at-home orders in mid-March.

Using its Facebook page as a primary vehicle, LCCC makes available daily options that include live concerts, poetry and exercise. The other piece is the genesis of the project, art packets that are assembled and distributed from 1-3 p.m. each Thursday to families in the LCCC parking lot.

When coronavirus shut down homes and businesses in mid-March, the cultural center was preparing for one of its big annual events, the Festival of Illusions during spring break. With the festival cancellation, suddenly LCCC had a pile of art supplies on its hands.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

It decided to take the supplies, put them into kits and distribute to local children. This became a weekly event, as LCCC partnered with the Kiwanis Club and Lincoln City Outlets to give out more than 1,000 kits to locals.

LCCC executive director Niki Price says she was the projects inspiration came from Pendleton Center for the Arts, which did something similar in the face of coronavirus.

When the realization hit that we were going to have to close down, we were dead in the water for a couple days, Price said. When I saw how Pendleton was giving away art kits, we wondered how can we do the same?

This Thursday, LCCC is expanding the art kit handout to those of all ages for its Happy Heart Hunt drive. LCCC is encouraging Lincoln City residents to decorate paper hearts and place in the front window of their home during the month of May.

The Creative Quarantine Project has spawned other events. Because of social distancing restriction, LCCC turned the annual Easter egg hunt into handing out

plastic and ceramic egg packets to hundreds of local children in the parking lot. Not long ago LCCC staged a one-day drive for Lincoln City Food Pantry, where it collected 1,752 pounds of non-perishable food and $4,173 in cash donations.

There are more plans for May, including the Siletz Bay Music Festival, which features live music through LCCCs Facebook page May 8-10.

Price said the Creative Quarantine Project has been a hit locally, but also outside the city when they feature a known musician on Facebook. One example was a performance by Kevin Burke, an Irish fiddler from Portland. Price said they had a surge in Facebook traffic of people watching from the United Kingdom.

Since starting the project, Price says LCCCs Facebook page traffic has surged between 500 and 750 percent.

Coronavirus has opened doors, namely technology, that will stay open for LCCC when life begins returning to normal.

Ive found several people who want to have Zoom art receptions, and other sorts of outreach video that we wouldnt have considered before. Thats the big takeaway from this for me, Price said.

--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel

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Some of the earliest people forced into slavery in Latin America in the 16th century have been revealed, shedding light on their tragic lives.

Three male skeletons were unearthed in a mass grave on the grounds of Hospital Real de San Jose de los Naturales, an early colonial hospital in Mexico City.

Analysis of their remains, including their teeth, reveals they were abducted from their homes in sub-Saharan Africa, trafficked across the Atlantic and subjected to horrific physical abuse.

One person led a physically demanding life of physical labour, another was shot with a copper bullet and the other had evidence of repeated broken bones.

All survived these injuries but suffered premature deaths, likely induced by years of extreme hardship at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors.

One of the individuals also suffered with hepatitis B while another was afflicted with a syphilis-like infection called yaws, which affects a person's bones.

Three skeletons (pictured, the skulls and teeth of these remains) found in a mass grave on the grounds of Hospital Real de San Jose de los Naturales were studied by scientists

Pictured, the skull of one of the individuals studied, in which the dental modifications which helped identify the person of African origin are apparent. Tubes used for isotope and genetic tests, both of which were carried out as part of our study, are also seen

In the 1500s, Charles I of Spain authorised the infamous transport of the first African slaves to the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

His decree signalled enslavement, misery and death for an untold number of people.

Many Africans were stripped of their identity, culture and individuality when subjugated by the colonists, and little is known about who the first slaves were and how they became victims of one of humanity's most heinous periods.

Now, researchers from the Max Plank Institute for the Science of Human History are attempting to shed some light on the plight of these people.

Analysing the bones and DNA samples, scientists were able to determine from where in Africa they were likely captured, the physical hardships they experienced as slaves, and what pathogens they may have carried with them across the Atlantic.

The three individuals in the study first caught the attention of the team due to their distinct dental modifications.

All possessed a filling in the upper front teeth consistent with traditional African culture. It is still seen in some groups living in western Africa today.

Genetic analysis showed all three individuals shared a Y-chromosome lineage that is highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the most common trait found in modern-day African-Americans.

This information was then combined with isotope data from the teeth, which confirmed all three were definitively born outside of Mexico.

Analysis of their bones revealed a clear picture of physical hardship and premature death.

The authors of the research say their findings prove the trio may were among the very first Africans to reach the Americas after being abducted from Africa.

How conquistador Hernan Cortes helped begin Spanish rule in central Mexico Hernan Cortes meeting the Aztec Emperor Montezuma, 1519 Hernan Cortes - born in Medellin, Spain, in 1485 - first made a name for himself when he helped Diego Velazquez in his conquest of Cuba. In 1518, at the age of 33, he convinced Velazquez to let him lead an expedition to Mexico, following in the footsteps of conquistador Juan de Grijalva who led an expedition to Yucatan in 1518. After forming alliances with indigenous peoples, Cortes marched on Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital led by Moctezuma II. After a failed attempt at taking the Tenochtitlan in 1520, Cortes returned in 1521 and began a three-month siege which ultimately let the Spanish to take control. Immense cruelty was inflicted on indigenous peoples under Cortes's orders, as well as countless lives lost due to diseases brought over from the West. He died in Seville on December 2, 1547. Advertisement

Pictured, evidence of an African slave who was shot. Green coloration seen in picture C and D was acquired by contact with copper on the cervical vertebrae and a rib. The person is believed to have survived this and died of other causes

Three male skeletons were unearthed in a mass grave on the grounds of Hospital Real de San Jose de los Naturales (pictured), an early colonial hospital in Mexico City

Study senior author Professor Johannes Krause, an archaeogeneticist involved in the study, said: 'Combining molecular biology, isotopic data and bioinformatic tools with classical historical, anthropological and archaeological evidence allowed us to gain insights into the life history of some of the earliest African slaves in the Americas.

'Using a cross-disciplinary approach, we unravel the life history of three otherwise voiceless individuals who belonged to one of the most oppressed groups in the history of the Americas.'

Study lead author Rodrigo Barquera, a graduate student, said: 'Modern lab techniques allow us to gather incredible amounts of data from very little biological material.

'The amount of information we can give back to archaeologists, anthropologists and society today using only one tooth from each individual is something we could only dream about just 10 years ago.

'Having Africans in central Mexico so early during the colonial period tells us a lot about the dynamics of that time.

'And since they were found in this mass burial site, these individuals likely died in one of the first epidemic events in Mexico City.'

The skeleton of one individual was marked with large insertions where his muscles attached to the bones, indicating a lifetime of gruelling physical labour that caused him to develop significant muscle mass.

Another individual's bones were marred by a gunshot wound, which turned green - potentially due to contact with a copper bullet fired by a tempestuous slave owner.

The last individual had clear evidence of healed skull and leg fractures. However, all three individuals are not believed to have died from any of these wounds.

Mr Barquera said: 'We can tell they survived the maltreatment that they received.

'Their story is one of difficulty but also strength, because although they suffered a lot, they persevered and were resistant to the changes forced upon them.'

The team was able to reconstruct the genomes of diseases the people suffered from.

One individual was infected with a strain of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) often found in western Africa today.

Dr Denise Kuhnert, part of the Max Planck, research team, said: 'Although we have no indication that the HBV lineage we found established itself in Mexico, this is the first direct evidence of HBV introduction as the result of the transatlantic slave trade.'

Another individual was infected with Treponema pallidum pertenue which is similar to syphilis and causes yaws, a painful infection of the bones similar to syphilis that affects joints and skin.

The same strain of yaws has been previously identified in a 17th Century colonist of European descent, suggesting the establishment of the disease lineage of African origin in the early colonial population of Mexico.

The research was published in the journal Current Biology.
Chennai: Trying to leverage its position as one of the top destinations for foreign investment in the country, Tamil Nadu has set up a crack team of bureaucrats to see if investments flowing out of Covid-impacted countries as a measure of supply chain diversification can be drawn into the southern Indian state.

This committee will be headed by the states chief secretary and will submit a report within one month. The panel will also include representatives from top investor companies from nations like Japan and South Korea, which have already indicated preference to shift production from China.

"Reports indicate that countries like the USA, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore are likely to diversify by establishing supply chains originating in India. Tamil Nadu, which is already a favoured investment destination, is well placed to attract these investments and needs to take pro-active steps to attract them," a government order stated.

Globally, companies are said to be evaluating their supply chains. Recently, Japan had even allocated a portion of its stimulus package to help manufacturers with bases in China to move their units.

The panel will formulate a special incentive package and facilitation process to draw investments and identify sectors in which the state can develop ecosystems. The panel will also identify measures to fast track clearances to promote the investments.

Tamil Nadu was doling out incentives one after the other just ahead of the advent of the Coronavirus. The state had unveiled a raft of measures to draw investments emerging in the electric vehicle industry. From road tax waivers for consumers to a slew of sops for charger manufacturers, the state put out a comprehensive policy for e-vehicles.

Another interesting feature in Tamil Nadus industrial scene is the presence of Taiwanese phonemaker Foxconn, which runs a contract for Apple among other phone brands such as Xiaomi.

Foxconn was significantly ramping up labour forces for its factory in Sunguvarchathiram off Chennai, before its plans were derailed by the spread of the Coronavirus. The Taiwanese company is one of the trusted investors in Tamil Nadu: top executives of Foxconn were present alongside Edappadi K Palaniswami as he met investors during his trip to the US last year.

Auto plants of companies like Hyundai, Renault Nissan and Ford are also located in the state. Not just commercial vehicle makers like Daimler, even luxury brands have arrived in Tamil Nadu for its labour: BMW has its India plant here near Chennai. Tamil Nadu will be leveraging all these points to global investors in their pitch, said an official privy to the development.

While the state has taken a bold step to draw new investments, its existing investors face a quandary over the lack of clarity about the phased exit plan.

Most of Tamil Nadus biggest factories are located in the Sripurumbudur-Oragadam belt in Kanchipuram district, ironically the first-ever area to register a Coronavirus victim in the state.

A C-suite executive working for a major electronics manufacturer said he was not sure about permissions as yet, meaning the industry still awaits clarity on operating factories after May 4.
Lackland Baptist Church will open its doors for services Sunday for the first time in nearly two months, in keeping with health protocols issued this week by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The church, located near Lackland AFB, will ask everyone to wear masks and will limit seating to 50 people so the number of worshipers doesnt exceed 25 percent of the buildings capacity. Those seats will be placed 6 feet apart, as the governor recommended.

Instead of passing an offering plate, the church will set up offering boxes.

In addition to the traditional 11 a.m. Sunday service, the church has added an 8:30 a.m. service reserved for senior citizens, who are considered more vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.

Were doing everything we can do to be sure that people are safe and secure, Pastor Rick Hudson said. Were following the guidelines the governor has set down.  We will very slowly, very methodically kind of roll back into a regular schedule.

Abbotts Open Texas initiative, which calls for a phased reopening of businesses and other institutions, includes minimum standard health protocols for churches.

Issued Monday, the guidelines call on churches to set aside an area for at-risk worshipers, including senior citizens and those with certain health conditions, or to add a specific service just for them.

The protocols also strongly encourage at-risk church members to watch services online.

Churches are encouraged to keep at least two empty seats, or 6 feet of space, between congregants sitting in the same row and to leave every other row empty. Family members or pairs of people accompanying each other to church can sit together.

Because the governor has declared religious services essential, churches will not have to abide by the 25 percent occupancy limit imposed on certain businesses that are allowed to reopen starting Friday. Lackland Baptist is observing the limit voluntarily, to err on the side of safety.

The church will continue to broadcast its worship services, as it has done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But Hudson wants to give members of his congregation the option to attend in person  something they havent been able to do since March 8, when the church suspended in-person services.

In Hebrews Chapter 10, the Scripture tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  There is a need that people of like faith have to gather together for fellowship, for prayer, Hudson said.

And I think its time. Weve been apart now for six weeks, seven weeks. Theres a synergy that occurs in the church that doesnt occur anywhere else.

Although many San Antonio churches plan to remain closed for part or all of May, some are opening their doors for smaller services under certain conditions..

On ExpressNews.com: Texas doesnt meet three of four benchmarks for reopening Friday

The Restoring Church has held small services the past two Sundays for church leaders and elders who felt comfortable attending in person, senior pastor Darryl Crain said. Those events drew no more than 40 people, who were spaced apart as required unless they were part of the same family. About half wore masks, Crain said.

The Restoring Church also has broadcast its services for the past two months and has drawn far more viewers and worshipers online. The number of people watching its livestreams has increased 300 to 400 percent, he said.

I think no matter what churches decide to do, the majority of people are going to be on the safe side rather than rush back, Crain said. Plain and simple fact is, we may not have more people in the building, but we have more people listening to the message and calling in for prayer.

We believe that God is a God of healing and protection. But we also believe in order and not tempting anything. Were not going flout peoples safety for some kind of faith proclamation.

We believe God can keep us from a fire, but Im not going to throw myself in a fire to prove that.

Xtreme Harvest Church never stopped people from coming to its worship services. About a month ago, the church moved those services outdoors and set up chairs 6 feet apart. Since then, the congregation has tripled in size, senior pastor Brian Ayala said.

Many of those who attend remain in their cars during the churchs services at 7015 Wurzbach Road. The church has two to four security officers on duty at every service to make sure people follow the social distancing guidelines, Ayala said.

Weve had some people that got upset and walked off when they got corrected by the security, Ayala said. Its sad, but the bottom line is these are the guidelines right now in order for us to keep reaching the community and holding services on the property. There is no wiggle room there.

On ExpressNews.com: Mayor says theres a big question mark whether Fiesta will happen in November

All of the churchs employees wear face masks and gloves, but the church doesnt ask people attending the outdoor worship events to wear such gear. Regardless, most worshipers are wearing masks when they arrive, Ayala said.

The church broadcasts its services, but some church members cant afford high-quality internet and couldnt watch the videos online without interruption, Ayala said.

Because the congregation has grown so much larger  close to 300 people at times  theres no way to fit them inside Xtreme Harvests building. Ayala said the church is considering adding services or constructing a larger building.

Some of San Antonios largest churches said they havent determined when they will reopen and in the meantime will continue broadcasting services online.

Among them are Concordia Lutheran Church, which has a congregation of about 9,000 people. Concordia has no target date for reopening and continues to evaluate the situation, said chief of staff Greg Styles.

Everybodys chomping at the bit to get back, but at this point, its probably not the safest option just right out of the chute, Styles said.

Cornerstone Church  a nondenominational, evangelical church with more than 22,000 members  will continue to stream its services online until further notice, Facebook page states.

Community Bible Church, one of the largest nondenominational churches in San Antonio, said it wasnt ready to publicly share details on when it might reopen for in-person worship.

Public celebrations of Mass at Catholic churches remain suspended until at least May 18.

Local Episcopal churches will keep their doors closed through at least May 15. Many of those churches are broadcasting their services online.

The Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning will remain closed, as will all Chabad Centers throughout Texas, until its clear the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is declining. The centers rabbis said they hope to re-evaluate the situation around May 18.

Peggy OHare covers demographics, the census and occasionally crime and general assignment stories in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Peggy, become a subscriber. pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare
President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be really rocking again.

Meanwhile, Trump said he plans to resume official travel with a trip to Arizona next week. And he said hes hoping to hold mass campaign rallies in the coming months with thousands of supporters, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by then.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

Putting a positive face on the latest grim numbers  the US death toll has now surpassed those in the Vietnam War  Trump delivered his daily upbeat update and Kushner described the administrations much-criticized response to the pandemic as a great success story.

Trump also talked up the good news the day provided: hopeful results for a possible Covid-19 treatment. But the government announced dismal new economic numbers as the pandemic took hold and shut down much of the country.

The US economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in first quarter of the year  a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.

The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nations economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

Were heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us, Trump said as he led a roundtable with executives from companies like Hilton and Toyota.

Trump laid out a vision of a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy  with or without a vaccine  with packed restaurants and filled stadiums. That vision flies in the face of sober assessments from doctors who say the country will need to embrace a new normal that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.

I dont want people to get used to this, Trump told reporters. I see the new normal being what it was three months ago.

To underscore his confidence, Trump announced that he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House. He said hes planning a trip to Arizona next week, followed by a possible trip to Ohio, even as much of the country remains under effective lockdown with all but essential travel banned.

Were going to start to move around and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, well have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other, he said, adding that having people spaced out in accordance with social distancing guidelines wouldnt look too good.

Click here for Covid-19 updates

He didnt say exactly when he envisioned such rallies returning, but said the timing would depend, in part, on the states, since some have had far fewer cases than others. The federal government and most states have urged residents to avoid mass gatherings and to remain at least six feet apart.

The announcement came after Trump said he will not be extending the White Houses 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidelines when they expire Thursday.

Theyll be fading out because now the governors are doing it, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.

Those guidelines  which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30  encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

Edwards, who recently extended Louisianas stay-at-home order through May 15, is currently under fire from Republican lawmakers in his state. While he was in Washington, some GOP legislators were trying to rally support to take the extraordinary step of trying to override the governors emergency decision-making.

But Trump commended Edwards on the job hes done after New Orleans became one of the nations coronavirus hot spots. I just wanted to congratulate you, Trump said.

At the same time, Trumps campaign released a digital ad praising elements of the federal response. It is set to reach residents of 17 battleground states featuring Democratic governors whose approval ratings have skyrocketed during the crisis.

The White House on Wednesday was also pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31%  11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

Its highly significant, said the usually cautious doctor. What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.

The White House and Trump in particular have been eager to give the country positive news as they work to move past the crisis and rebuild the economy, even as the countrys death tally continues to rise. The US has now recorded more than 58,000 deaths from the virus, surpassing the total number of Americans who were killed in the Vietnam War. More than 1 million people have now tested positive.

Trump said that number has risen so high because of an increase in testing. The country has dramatically improved its testing after a slow and rocky start, but many health experts say the country still must do more  as many as 5 million tests a day  to safely reopen. Otherwise, they warn, cases will skyrocket as Americans return to work.

The only thing worse than an unnecessarily slow recovery is a reversed recovery, Joshua Bolten, the president of the Business Roundtable, an association of prominent CEOs, said during the White House event.

Meanwhile, Kushner, who has been helping lead response efforts, said in an interview with Fox and Friends that he believes May will be a transition month and that, by June, a lot of the country should be back to normal. And the hope is that ... by July the country is really rocking again.

I think that weve achieved all the different milestones that are needed, he claimed. So the federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story.
Editor-in-Chief

Find me on Twitter: @mattsainsb





I do love seeing how various companies are doing their bit to help encourage people to stay at home at this critical time. Warner Music Japan is pulling its weight too, releasing the 2018-2019 Miku Symphony concerts on YouTube, for free. Hatsune Miku does all kinds of performances these days. She's got her own concerts, of course, but she also teams up with Kodo to do Japanese drumming concerts, she performs in kabuki plays and there is this annual symphony that she appears in. This is classy and elegant Miku, and while any symphony is better live, being able to watch it on YouTube gives you a taste of just how lovely an event this would be.Both videos are below. Enjoy, and once all this lockdown nightmare is dealt with, be sure to get yourself along to a Miku symphony if you're ever around for it.
How Books and Buckets program in Long Beach aims to keep kids away from gang violence
Media mogul Kerry Stokes has used the front page of The West Australian newspaper to call on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to appease China's anger at Australia's push for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Stokes, who controls the paper's publisher Seven West Media, also mounted a defence of the exotic animal wet markets where the virus is believed to have broken out.

Kerry Stokes is the second WA billionaire this week to enter the debate on Australia's relationship with China. Credit:Philip Gostelow

"If we're going to go into the biggest debt weve had in our life and then simultaneously poke our biggest provider of income in the eye it's not necessarily the smartest thing you can do," his newspaper reported him saying.

Beijing's ambassador to Australia has warned that the pursuit of a global review into the COVID-19 pandemic could spark a Chinese consumer boycott of students and tourists visiting Australia, as well as sales of popular agricultural exports like wine and beef.
Captain Bob Touhy, USN (Retired), is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Vietnam veteran who flew over 550 combat missions during his tour as a Seawolf helicopter gunship pilot, counterterrorism expert with thirty-plus years of field experience in investigative intelligence work, and concept director for the Virginia Schools Terrorism Awareness Program (VSTAPS). He is currently working as managing partner of Virginia Security Group and residing with his wife, Anna, on their Virginia farm. He has published his latest book When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: a compilation of evocative poems written over the course of two decades.

As a counterpoint to the death and destruction of war and to the stress and structure of being a US Navy test pilot, a corporate executive, and a successful business entrepreneur, Bob Touhey writes poems that celebrate the lives and lessons of the quietness of life, the comfort of family and friends, and the unbridled loyalty of animals. Bobs poems span the decades from a New Years celebration in Times Square during his final year at the US Naval Academy to the recent death of several of his domestic animal friends. They span the globe from the foothills of Virginia to the teaming life of Bratislava, Slovakia, in Eastern Europe.

Former university professor and friend, Steve Doc Troxel, has written short explanations to help the reader understand the context for each of Bobs poems so that the reader can better understand the gentler side of this decorated Vietnam War hero. Doc, who helped Bob get his wartime memories out of his head and onto paper in Seawolf, Where You From?, uses his knowledge of the darker times of Bobs life to present a more well-rounded view of this American patriot and hero.

Published by Page Publishing, Captain Bob Touhy, USN (Retired)s engrossing book is a heartwarming poetic homage to the moments small and large that comprise an eventful and well-lived life.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase When Irish Eyes Are Smiling at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Advancements in facial recognition tech have made it possible to identify us even when were covering our face, but a new wave of privacy advocates want to outlaw the algorithms across the U.S.

The Ban Facial Recognition campaign led by technology advocacy body Fight for the Future is spearheading an effort to get universities to commit to an outright ban on the surveillance mechanism.

Fight for the Futures campaign kickstarted back in June 2019, with the launch of an interactive map that pinpoints locations in the U.S. where you might be targeted by facial recognition cameras.

But a recent surge of protests spread across college campuses was triggered by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) decision to test facial recognition tech. About 12 schools saw protests by students with a further 36 subjected to online activism via petitions.

[Keep up with the latest in technology and security. Sign up for the ExpressVPN blog newsletter.]

UCLA has a flawed history with facial recognition

UCLA first flirted with the idea of facial recognition software to boost campus security in 2019. The decision drew widespread criticism, with Fight for the Future rallying the troops.

To showcase the inaccuracies of facial recognition, Fight for the Future attempted to match the photos of over 400 UCLA faculty members and students with those in a mugshot database. The software misidentified 58 people, with the majority of those misidentified people of color.

UCLA eventually caved and agreed to reverse its original decision, outlawing the use of surveillance cameras. But the protests didnt end there  students on campuses such as Yale Law School, University of Oregon, DePaul University, and more, picketed to force administrators to reconsider plans of adopting facial recognition.

Protestors at Yale. Source: Yale Daily News

Privacy experts disturbed by the potential for misuse

Dominique Coronel, one of the activists and a current student at DePaul University told The Guardian that prevailing anti-immigration attitudes and the use of facial recognition tech by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) to deport residents compelled him to take part.

 Education should be a safe place, but this technology hurts the most vulnerable people in society, he added.

Digital rights activist Sean OBrien, who also heads up the Yale Cybersecurity Lab, was at the forefront of protests at his campus.

I became part of the Fight for the Future campaign to ban facial surveillance because of a deep-seated feeling of dread about the technology, Sean told ExpressVPN.  Weve known for some time that the tech is biased against vulnerable populations, but now we know that hundreds, if not thousands, of institutions were hiring sketchy third-party vendors such as Clearview AI who centralized and shared facial profiles globally without any consent.

BuzzFeed investigation reveals scope of shared facial profiles

According to a BuzzFeed investigation, more than 50 educational institutions across 24 states in the U.S. were part of Clearviews client list, including high-profile names such as Columbia University, the University of Alabama, and Southern Methodist University.

Clearviews been under fire recently after scraping more than a billion images from the internet and hawking its technology to law enforcement departments and security agencies. Activists say that the practice is illegal, and the photos were obtained without any consent.

Everyone has a right to communities free from surveillance by unaccountable tyrannies, such as the companies behind facial recognition technology, asserted Sean. The tech jeopardizes personal privacy and reduces the quality of life [of U.S. residents], but worse than that, it seriously threatens our autonomy and social mobility.

In an eerily Orwellian take, Sean told ExpressVPN that dozens of students at Yale signed the online petition and expressed support for the fight against facial recognition, but only a few appeared physically to protest, likely spooked by long-term repercussions of their actions.

Weve known that instead of freeing us, the internet makes us conform but the effects seem to be getting stronger and stronger.

The protests are working

Fight for the Futures advocacy is having an effect, though. Harvard, Columbia, the University of Michigan, Oberlin College, and UCLA have now taken a public stand not to use facial recognition. In total, about 50 educational institutions have confirmed that they have shelved plans to use the technology with more likely to follow suit.

Can we trust that our profiles tied intimately to our face, perhaps our most personal feature, will be handled securely and without data breaches by organizations who already leak massive amounts of data on millions of people?, asked Sean, vowing to push ahead with his activism until the fight against facial recognition is won.
Amendments to Convention 108: European Standards for Personal Data Protection will be Applied in Third Countries

Posted by Publisher Internet

On 7 November 2019, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania ratified the protocol (CETS No. 223) amending the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (ETS No. 108, the ?the Convention?) and endorsed its explanatory report. Currently, 36 states have ratified the amendments to the Convention, including 26 EU member states.

The provisions of the Convention sought to safeguard the rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals and the right to respect their privacy when their data is processed automatically within the territories of all signatory states. The Convention was adopted in response to the growing need for data processing due to the development of technological solutions.

Prior to the adoption of Convention 108, in order to establish a uniform system for the protection of personal data relevant to as many different states as possible, the provisions of the various states were taken into consideration. The objectives of the Convention, adopted in 1981, remain relevant even today.

With the continued improvements in technological data processing methods and in order to provide appropriate solutions for the privacy issues involved, as well as to strengthen the Convention?s own mechanism of operation with regard to the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force in the EU in May 2018, it was necessary to amend previously defined provisions of Convention 108.

The most significant amendments to Convention 108

In order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Convention, the obligation to designate a supervisory authority for each state that has acceded to the Convention was introduced. In Lithuania, the supervisory authority is the State Data Protection Inspectorate.

The requirement to immediately notify the supervisory authority about any breach of data protection was included. In Lithuania information can be submitted in person to the Inspectorate, by post or by email with a secure electronic signature. Complaints may also be submitted through the Inspectorate\-\-s electronic services portal.

Third countries were encouraged to agree to comply with the general data protection standards and the section of the Convention relating to cross border flows of personal data was also extended.

A provision was included stating that the processing of data should be proportionate to the legitimate purposes (this provision was taken over from the GDPR).

The list of sensitive personal data was also expanded. According to the amendments of the Convention, such personal data are

a person?s genetic and biometric data;

data related to a person?s criminal activities;

data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political beliefs, trade union membership, religious beliefs, a person?s health or sex life.

European standards for the protection of personal data also apply in third countries

The amendments to Convention 108 will encourage third countries that have acceded to the Convention and are not covered by the GDPR to apply the fundamental principles of personal data processing, explain the Ecovis experts. In this way, the requirements for the transfer and protection of personal data will be unified internationally.

Accession to the Convention may also have a significant effect on determining whether the third country can be considered as applying adequate personal data security measures and whether the transfer of personal data to such a country would be considered secure. If the Commission takes such a decision, the transfer of data to these countries could take place without specific authorisation or other applicable security measures.

The Significance of Convention 108 for the UK and Brexit

On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union and entered a Brexit transition period which will run until the end of 2020. Until then, the GDPR still applies and data protection is therefore ensured.

However, from 2021 the United Kingdom will be considered a third country in terms of the processing and transfer of personal data. This means that among other things, the transfer of personal data to the United Kingdom will only be possible if the terms of the GDPR are met. The United Kingdom is among the signatories to the Protocol, thus assessing the accession to the Convention as an appropriate safeguard for the transfer of data to third countries will probably simplify the exchange of personal data between the UK and the EU.

For further information please contact:

Loreta Andziulyte, Certified Data Protection Specialist, Attorney at Law, Partner, ECOVIS ProventusLaw, Vilnius, Lithuania

www.ecovis.com/en

Ecovis is a leading global consulting firm with its origins in Continental Europe. It has over 7,500 people operating in over 75 countries. Its consulting focus and core competencies lie in the areas of tax consultation, accounting, auditing and legal advice.

The particular strength of Ecovis is the combination of personal advice at a local level with the general expertise of an international and interdisciplinary network of professionals. Every Ecovis office can rely on qualified specialists in the back offices as well as on the specific industrial or national know-how of all the Ecovis experts worldwide. This diversified expertise provides clients with effective support, especially in the fields of international transactions and investments ? from preparation in the client?s home country to support in the target country.

In its consulting work Ecovis concentrates mainly on mid-sized firms. Both nationally and internationally, its one-stop-shop concept ensures all-round support in legal, fiscal, managerial and administrative issues.

The name Ecovis, a combination of the terms economy and vision, expresses both its international character and its focus on the future and growth.
Indonesian police block supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto during a rally outside the Elections Supervisory Agency building in Jakarta, May 21, 2019.

An American-based religious freedom watchdog group has placed Indonesia and Malaysia on a special watch list over its concerns about treatment of minorities, and is recommending that the U.S. State Department do the same.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in its 2020 annual report, said the two Southeast Asian countries were among 15 countries that it put on that list.

Instead of using its own Tier 2 category, as in past reports, the 2020 Annual Report also recommends 15 countries for placement on the State Departments Special Watch List for severe violations, the commission said in releasing the report this week.

The other 13 countries are Cuba, Nicaragua, Sudan, and Uzbekistan  which the State Department had already added to the Special Watch List last December  followed by Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.

In its sections on Indonesia and Malaysia, the commissions report recommended that both countries be placed on the U.S. Department of States Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

On Wednesday, a day after the report came out, government officials in Jakarta did not immediately respond to requests for comment from BenarNews. In Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian government told BenarNews that it needed to review the report before Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri could comment on it.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. The commission monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad and makes policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state, and Congress.

In 2019, religious freedom conditions in Indonesia generally trended negatively compared to the previous year, the report said in its chapter on Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation.

East Java and West Java, among the most densely populated Indonesian provinces, had the highest number of incidents of religious intolerance, the report said.

Citing reports from local NGOs, the commission listed discrimination, hate speech, acts of violence and rejections of permits to build houses of worship for minority religious communities as types and examples of intolerance.

Specific incidents in Indonesia included the case of a Catholic woman charged with blasphemy after she brought her dog into a mosque. The report noted that she was acquitted in February 2020 after a three-judge panel ruled that she suffered from paranoid Schizophrenia.

A second case involved a Buddhist woman who was convicted of blasphemy in 2018 after she asked a nearby mosque to lower the volume of its speakers for the call to prayer. USCIRF noted that the Indonesian Supreme Court rejected her appeal in April 2019, adding she was paroled one month later.

The report said hardline Muslim groups had threatened efforts by Buddhists to build a temple and Christians seeking to build a Pentecostal church.

It linked politicians to efforts to stifle religious freedom  pointing to Prabowo Subianto, who unsuccessfully ran for president against incumbent Joko Jokowi Widodo last year. It said Prabowo attempted to mobilize a group of hardline Muslim supporters who led efforts to overthrow Jakartas ethnic Chinese Christian governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama in 2017.

Jowokis administration did not escape unscathed.

Following his reelection, there were reports that the government planned to introduce stricter background checks to identify religious extremists in the bureaucracy and remove them. In November, the government launched a website that allowed members of the public to report on alleged radical content shared by public servants online, it said.

Minority Muslim sects, including Shia and Ahmadiyya, also faced hostility and harassment in 2019, according to the commission. The quasi-governmental Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) has issued fatwas declaring these groups deviant and heretical to Islam, the report said.

Usman Hamid, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said such discrimination had continued amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this month, the Al-Aqsa Mosque owned by the Ahmadiyya community in Tasikmalaya, West Java, was sealed off by the local government on the pretext of social distancing measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19, according to Usman.

This discriminatory action has been taken under the pretext of preventing greater resistance by local residents against Ahmadiyya group, not for public health reasons, Usman told BenarNews.

Bonar Tigor Naipospos of the Setara Institute, a human rights organization in Jakarta, urged the government to abolish blasphemy laws and revise the criminal code.

We consider that in a society that respects the right to freedom, regulations on blasphemy should be abolished and replaced with regulations on incitement to hatred and discrimination based on religion, Bonar told BenarNews.

Malaysia concerns

In its section on Malaysia, USCIRF said conditions for worship in the country continued to trend negatively from previous years.

Conditions for minority faith believers as well as for majority Sunni Muslims stagnated or, in some cases, worsened, it said.

The chapter on Malaysia focused on authorities issuing warnings against deviant sects and the threats they present to Islam.

The pairing of Malay ethnicity with the Islamic religion continues to infringe on the human rights of individual Malays, the report said. Historically, the religious Sharia courts have declared several minority Muslim groups as non-Muslim, which persistently creates a grey area for those Malays who adhere to officially deviant sects of Islam.

In August 2019, the Sabah state legislature amended its Sharia crime law of 1995 declaring Sunni Islam the official religion and criminalized alternative interpretations.

Kamil Zuhairi Abdul Azizi, chairman of Syiah Malaysia, said his group of Shiite Muslims had been discriminated against for a decade.

Our rights to practice our form of Islam is not a deviation to the orthodox form of Islam, but even so our right to worship at private premises are denied, our right to marriage is restricted and right to free speech and peaceful demonstration is blocked, he told BenarNews.

We are insulted in Friday sermons continuously, and slandered openly in mosques by religious figures, who made threats to our safety openly in the media without any repercussion, he said.

In addition, non-Muslim groups  specifically Hindus, Buddhists and Christians  reported feeling increasing strain and social hostility, the report said.

Minority houses of worship are regulated, hundreds of Hindu temples have been demolished in recent years and Buddhist temples cannot be taller than local mosques, USCIRF said.

USCIRF, however, did commend the Malaysian government for establishing a special task force in June 2019 to investigate the enforced disappearances of two prominent religious minority leaders.

Nevertheless, the whereabouts of Christian pastor Raymond Koh and social activist and Shia convert Amri Che Mat, as well as of Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, remained unknown at the end of the reporting period, the commission said.

The reports special watch list is new for 2020, replacing its Tier 2 list in previous reports. In 2019, USCIRF reported that Indonesia had been on the Tier 2 list since 2004 and Malaysia had been on it since 2014.

The lists worst offenders, including China, Myanmar, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Vietnam, are considered countries of particular concern. In previous years the list carried that title along with Tier 1.

USCIRF officials on Wednesday did not immediately respond to requests for comment from BenarNews.

Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta and Hadi Azmi in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 23:36:14|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Thursday slammed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority's intimidation toward Taiwan compatriots working on the mainland, saying it has obstructed cross-Strait exchanges and damaged the vital interests of Taiwan people.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the despicable acts have met and will continue to meet firm opposition from people across the Taiwan Strait.

The mainland will, as always, extend cordial welcomes and firm support to young people in Taiwan who pursue careers on the mainland, Zhu said.

She reiterated the mainland's consistent and active support to cross-Strait exchanges in the film and television sector, adding that Taiwan actors and actresses are welcomed to pursue their dreams on the mainland.

What is not allowed is that a small number of people made money on the mainland on the one hand but supported separatist activities advocating "Taiwan independence" on the other hand, she added.

The ultimate goal of the DPP authority and a handful of "Taiwan independence" forces dispersing fake news in the film and television sector is to sabotage cross-Strait exchanges and sow discord between people across the Taiwan Strait, she noted.

She also warned that the collusion of forces advocating "Taiwan independence" with those advocating "Hong Kong independence" will inevitably deteriorate cross-Strait relations and incur trouble for Taiwan society. Enditem
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has donated a $100,000 prize she won from a Danish foundation to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) for use against the Covid-19 pandemic, the world body said Thursday.

Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child rights crisis, Thunberg, 17, was quoted as saying in the UNICEF statement.

It will affect all children, now and in the long term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most, she added.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

Im asking everyone to step up and join me in support of UNICEFs vital work to save childrens lives, to protect health and continue education.

The Danish anti-poverty non-governmental organization, Human Act, will match the $100,000 donation, the statement added.

UNICEF said the funds would give it a boost as it struggles to support children impacted by anti-virus lockdowns and school closures, particularly in the fields of food shortages, strained health care systems, violence and lost education.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

Thunberg said at the end of March that she had likely contracted the coronavirus, after experiencing several symptoms after a trip to central Europe.
GREENWICH, Conn., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD) today announced that the Company has accelerated the timing for its first quarter 2020 earnings release and conference call. The Company will now release its first quarter financial results on Monday, May 4, 2020 before the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, instead of the previously announced date of Thursday, May 7. A conference call will be held on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

During the call, the Company's officers will review first quarter performance, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer period.

Webcast

The Company encourages use of the webcast due to potential extended wait times to access the conference call via dial-in.

The webcast link will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.starwoodpropertytrust.com. To listen to a live broadcast, go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will also be available for 90 days on the Company's website.

To Participate in the Telephone Conference Call:

Dial in at least five minutes prior to start time.

Domestic: 1- 877-407-9039

International: 1-201-689-8470

Conference Call Playback:

Domestic: 1-844-512-2921

International: 1-412-317-6671

Passcode: 13702227

The playback can be accessed through May 11, 2020.

Full Text of the Earnings Release

Internet -- The full text of the earnings release will be available on Monday, May 4, 2020 at the Company's web site, www.starwoodpropertytrust.com.

at the Company's web site, www.starwoodpropertytrust.com. Mail -- For those without Internet access, the first quarter earnings release will be available by mail or fax, on request. To receive a copy, please call the Company's Investor Relations line at 203-422-7788.

About Starwood Property Trust, Inc.

Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), is a leading diversified finance company with a core focus on the real estate and infrastructure sectors. An affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group, the Company has successfully deployed over $61 billion of capital since inception and manages a portfolio of over $17 billion across debt and equity investments. Starwood Property Trust's investment objective is to generate attractive and stable returns for shareholders, primarily through dividends, by leveraging a premiere global organization to identify and execute on the best risk adjusted returning investments across its target assets. Additional information can be found at www.starwoodpropertytrust.com.

Contact:

Zachary Tanenbaum

Starwood Property Trust

Phone: 203-422-7788

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Starwood Property Trust, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.starwoodpropertytrust.com


A longtime public policy adviser has been tapped to lead the Southern Baptist Conventions ongoing efforts to combat sexual abuse in churches.

Travis Wussow will spearhead the Caring Well challenge and curriculum that the SBC has pushed as it confronts widespread sexual abuses detailed in an ongoing Chronicle investigation.

Wussow will also remain in his current position as the Ethics and Religion Liberty Commissions general counsel and vice president for public policy.

The move follows a handful of recent departures from high-level staff at the ERLC. Earlier this year, the commissions vice president Phillip Bethancourt announced hed leave to pastor a church in Texas.

Bethancourt was among the SBCs more visible leaders on the abuse front, and worked with survivors and experts that have advised the SBC on preventing abuse.

The work of that group drew national interest last year after the publication of Abuse of Faith, which found that hundreds of Southern Baptist pastors had been criminally convicted for sex crimes. The investigation also found at least 700 reported victims.

The SBC has since passed reforms to curb sexual abusers, as well as developed the Caring Well curriculum for its 47,000 churches. The commission also held a three-day conference in Dallas last year that focused exclusively on abuse issues.

Wussow told the Chronicle that abuse will be a major priority for the Ethics and Religion Liberty Commission moving forward.

Confronting the sexual abuse crisis has been a major priority for the ERLC under (president) Russell Moore, a commission spokesperson said. That will continue to be the case for us and, more broadly, the churches that we serve that recognize this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.

robert.downen@chron.com
Rishi Kapoor dies at 67: After Irrfan Khan shock, Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who is known for his glorious career for four-decades, passed away Thursday morning at Mumbai hospital. Watch iconic tracks of veteran actor here

Rishi Kapoor dies at 67: This wont be wrong to say that this week was not less than a shock for Bollywood as hours after Irrfan Khans death, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at a Mumbai hospital on Thursday morning. The actor was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Wednesday morning after he complained of breathing issues. Irrfan Khan and then Rishi Kapoor, no doubt both the news has left Bollywood fans heartbroken.

After undertaking a long cancer treatment in the US for almost a year, Rishi Kapoor returned back to India last year in September. The way he appeared on-screens kept on astonishing his fans. He is among those actors whose legacy cant be described in words. The actor first appeared in a lead role in 1973 in film Bobby and then gave back to back hits like Heena, Nagina, and Karz. Rishi Kapoor is also known as the most romantic actor in the industry after he appeared in more than 92 films in the role of a romantic hero.

The powerhouse of energy also entertained his fans with some of his chartbuster songs which have been enjoyed by generations. This wont be wrong to say that Rishi Kapoor will always be remembered for lighting up the screens and surprising fans with his phenomenal acting and performances.

Also Read: Rishi Kapoor no more: Kapoor family says veteran actor kept doctors, hospital staff entertained till his last

Here are some classics numbers from the veteran star

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mzdkxnU4mU&feature=youtu.be

The official statement issued by Kapoors revealed that Rishi Kapoor took his last breath at 8:45 today morning after fighting two-year battle with leukemia. His doctors and medical staff said that the actor kept everyone entertained until his last. He was determined to live to the fullest in his entire treatment for the last two years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mzdkxnU4mU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQmSFhGmMgk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTPTU8lkNaQ

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Britain's most powerful warship has set sail on a training exercise for eight weeks - despite two of its 700-strong crew testing positive for coronavirus.

HMS Queen Elizabeth had been expected to take to the water from Portsmouth Naval Base at the start of the week, but the departure was delayed to allow the ship's company to be tested.

Two people were found to have have contracted the virus and were removed just hours before the vessel left the harbour, after several days of mixing with others on board, though navy bosses insist all were complying with social distancing where practicable.

It comes after concerns were raised when more than 600 members of the crew of a French aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels tested positive for Covid-19, while a sailor died after coming down with the bug on the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth Harbour, pictured, after being delayed due to the crew being tested for coronavirus

Members of the ship's company waved from the 65,000-tonne vessel, pictured, as it took to the water for the next two months

The Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier, pictured, will undergo several weeks of training and assessment with the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), facing simulated battle damage, fires and floods, as well as warfare training and mission rehearsals

People took selfies, pictured, as the Royal Navy aircraft carrier left the harbour on Wednesday evening to help prepare it to be in a position to declare carrier strike capability later this year

Tests were carried out after more than 600 members of the crew of a French aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels were found to have Covid-19, while a sailor died after coming down with the bug on the USS Theodore Roosevelt

Defence secretary Ben Wallace told MPs last week that he had given all ships' captains in the Royal Navy full authority to return to port, come alongside or evacuate if they had an outbreak on board

HMS Queen Elizabeth by the numbers Weight: 65,000 tonnes Length: 920ft (280m) Draught: 36ft (11m) Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h) Range: 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) Crew capacity: 1,600 Launched: June 2017 Commissioned: December 2017 Entering service: 2020 Advertisement

It led shadow defence secretary John Healey to call for the military to be tested and for large-scale training exercises to be postponed to protect personnel.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'While many Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel from the regular and reserve forces remain ashore supporting, the current national fight against Covid-19, the ship's company of HMS Queen Elizabeth are focused on ensuring that UK Defence remains prepared for future global threats.

'All personnel sailing with the ship, have undergone testing for coronavirus.

'As a further precaution, HMS Queen Elizabeth will conduct a period of isolation at sea, before she starts her training with the Flag Officer Sea Training (Fost) staff.

'She will be operating in waters close to the UK coast and the commanding officer has the discretion to cease the training, if deemed necessary.'

Defence secretary Ben Wallace told MPs last week that he had given all ships' captains in the Royal Navy full authority to return to port, come alongside or evacuate if they had an outbreak on board.

He said: 'In the case of Queen Elizabeth, I have spoken to the captain directly myself and said we will not judge you, we will not think any the worse of you if when you are at sea you feel the need to come back because of a crew outbreak.

'I have also said to the First Sea Lord, you must justify in writing why it is necessary to put to sea.'

The Queen Elizabeth is sailing for a period of sea training and carrier training around the south coast to help prepare it to be in a position to declare carrier strike capability later this year ahead of its first deployment planned for early 2021.

The training will include the UK Lightning fighter jet crews which will practice manoeuvres on its flight decks.

The huge 3billion vessel is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft and its company will number around 1,600 personnel.

As well as state-of-the-art weaponry and communications systems, HMS Queen Elizabeth boasts everything from gyms to a chapel and a medical centre.

The project was years in the making, with designs beginning as early as 1999, and the ship was built in nine different blocks in six shipyards across the UK.

Its design, build and development involved every region of the country, and more than 10,000 people, clocking in some 28 million hours of work.

It has not been without its stumbling blocks, however, after a burst pipe onboard let in more than 200 tons of water and put it out of commission for the second time in just 19 months.

Some have questioned whether sending hundreds of personnel to sea in the middle of a pandemic is a sensible move, but the former head of the Royal Navy insists a presence must be maintained.

Admiral Lord West of Spithead, who is recovering from a bout of coronavirus himself, told MailOnline: 'This exercise is part of the package that's leading to it being to be fully deployed a year and a half from now.

'There has to be a balance between how many you have got available to help with Covid-19, and how many you need to ensure the capability of the military goes ahead.

'People who are dangerous - the Russians, the Iranians and the Chinese - don't really care about things like Covid-19, they have a totally different view and it will not stop adventures.

'I'm sure the navy have had in place some strict rules to make sure people are being tested.

'The ship's company is only about 700 or 800 people, unlike American vessels which have 5,500 or the French with 2,500.'

The navy spokesman said last night: 'HMS Queen Elizabeth has sailed from Portsmouth today to ensure she is ready to conduct her first operational deployment in 2021.

'She will undergo several weeks of training and assessment with the staff of Fost to ensure the UK can deliver on its commitment to have a Carrier Strike Group ready to deploy from the end of this year.'

It comes as the flagship of the French Navy is at the centre of a coronavirus emergency - following a training exercise with NATO allies including a British frigate.

The nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, one of the largest warships in the world, is thought to have at least 40 cases of the virus among its force of around 2,000.

A French Armed Forces Ministry spokesman confirmed the Charles de Gaulle was on its way back to Toulon. It has been deployed in the Atlantic as part of the Foch mission and is pictures above off the coast of Frederikshavn in Denmark

It was steaming back to its home port of Toulon, in the south of France, on Wednesday morning as a screening team prepared to board.

A French Armed Forces Ministry spokesman said: 'Around 40 sailors are today under close medical observation.

'They are showing symptoms consistent with possible Covid-19 infection. These first symptoms have appeared recently.'

At the end of March the Charles de Gaulle was the flagship for NATO Maritime Group One and took part in a training exercise off the east coast of Denmark.

The force included the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland, which has a complement of 185.

A case of coronavirus has also been reported on the Belgian frigate Leopold 1, which was escorting the Charles de Gaulle.

The Charles de Gaulle is currently in the Atlantic and returning to Toulon as quickly as possible.

It is equipped with a medical platform on board complete with a resuscitation unit, and everything is being done to keep those who are thought to be infected away from their comrades.

Sailors displaying symptoms of coronavirus are all being placed in solitary confinement.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry seem to be the picture-perfect couple. The pair have remained a steady connected force despite the scrutiny that they faced as senior members of the British royal family. Things only got worse following their choice to step away from royal life and become private citizens.

From their engagement announcement until today, its been clear that the Sussexes are besotted with one another. While members of the British royal family are typically reserved when it comes to affection and PDA, the duo is known for their hand-holding, public touching, and overall admiration for one another.

Also, on more than one occasion the Duke of Sussex has spoken up for Meghan, against the slander that she has faced in the tabloids and the press. Still, despite what appears to be a fairytale romance, Meghan is no fan of mushy love stories.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have a very modern marriage

While the British royal family is a very traditional institution, the Sussexes managed to remain wholly modern. In fact, one royal expert believes that Meghan used lessons from her first marriage to inform her current relationship.

It is easy to see that Meghan is not looking for Harry or this marriage to complete her, relationship expert Sami Wunder told Express. She may have given up her Hollywood career due to royal protocol but the woman continues to keep herself busy and involved with several charitable interests and even flew all the way to New York to enjoy her baby shower with her own set of personal friends. She is not going to be the woman that looks up to Prince Harry to fulfill each and every one of her needs, as many first time married women would do.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put their marriage above everything else

Though Prince Harry has said he made the final decision to step down as a senior royal, it was ultimately Meghans decision to move to her hometown, Los Angeles, California.

Harrys number one priority is to make Meghan happy, and hell do everything he can because he feels guilty that he did not do enough to protect his mother, royal expert Angela Levin told Newsweek. It stayed with him, so hes determined to make Meghan happy. I think he adores Meghan. He thinks shes absolutely wonderful.

In fact, things had gotten so bad for the pair within the royal family, that they knew their marriage would be at risk if they didnt do something drastic. Meghan said they made it seem like this is the way it is, deal with it, a source told Daily Mail. Harry had been dealing with it far too long. She said he wasnt going to let this destroy her life and their marriage.

Meghan Markle doesnt like mushy love stories like The Notebook

Despite her obvious adoration for her husband, the Duchess of Sussex has made it clear that shes not into mushy love stories. On her now defunct lifestyle site, The Tig, she got candid about how she views romances.

Heres the thingjust as with the movie The Notebook, I have never seen these endlessly romantic love stories that people speak about with such tremendous adoration nor have I read the books of which they are based, she wrote.

It looks like the duchess appreciates realism above everything.
The sun, like all stars, is a blazing ball of fusion-powered plasma. From its surface emerge magnetic field lines that can cause dark patches known as sunspots. Turn up the activity of these magnetic whorls, and you get more solar storms flinging deadly charged particles and radiation throughout our solar system. If enough of these punishing waves hit a rocky planet, that planet might end up microwaved into a dreary condition where nothing could live.

So how is it that were alive? A study released Thursday in the journal Science suggests that our sun is rather tame compared with its stellar siblings, and that hundreds of other sun-like stars in our galaxy have on average five times more magnetic activity than our parent star. In other words, the sun is a bit humdrum, which might be good for life here on Earth.

Astronomers have been tracking the appearance of sunspots since the time of Galileo, providing a proxy for solar activity stretching back four centuries. Some previous studies also implied that the sun was quieter than other similar stars. But competing evidence has also found the suns activity level is normal for stars of its size.

This triggered the question: Is the sun a real sun-like star? said Timo Reinhold, an astrophysicist at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Gottingen, Germany, and co-author of the paper.
A case has been registered



against 57 migrants labourers who set off for their hometowns hundreds of kilometres away on bicycles from Navi Mumbai, in violation of the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus, a police official said on Thursday.

The police also registered a case against three shop owners who sold bicycles to these migrants during the lockdown, he said.

Some Turbhe police personnel on patrolling duty spotted a group of people on bicycles near Mahape in Navi Mumbai in the early hours of Wednesday.

When enquired, the migrants told the police that they set off from Turbhe and other neighbouring areas of Navi Mumbai to go to their native places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, as they did not have any food or means to sustain their livelihood, the official said.

They also told the police that they purchased bicycles from three shops in Turbhe and nearby areas.

The 57 migrant workers were subsequently taken to Turbhe police station and booked under Indian Penal Code Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), the official said.

Their bicycles were seized and the three shop owners who sold them the two-wheelers were also booked under IPC Section 188, he said.

The workers were later asked to go back to their homes in Navi Mumbai and they were also provided sufficient food and grains, senior police inspector Sachin Rane said.

"We told them to stay at home till the lockdown is lifted and assured to provide food to them during this period," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nebraska church leaders said Thursday they will proceed cautiously with the resumption of worship services upon expiration of the coronavirus pandemic-based ban on church gatherings next week.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has lifted the ban effective May 4, although social distancing expectations will remain in place.

The Rev. Christopher Kubat of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Hastings and the Rev. Richard Snow, Nebraska District president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, appeared with Ricketts at the governor's daily coronavirus news briefing.

"People who are at risk should stay at home," Kubat said, and so should those who live or associate with them.

"My sense is that numbers will be down," he said. "People are wary."

Snow said he believes "a lot of congregations will wait until June" to resume worship services, especially larger church congregations. In most cases, churches have transitioned to streaming worship services online or holding services outside similar to a drive-in theater.
President Donald Trump on Thursday continued his series of cryptic comments on the health and well-being of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

The president's words have given no insight into Kim's state. The North Korean leader hasn't been seen in public in nearly three weeks and iss been rumored to be dead, alive, or in a vegetative state.

'I understand what is going on, I cannot just talk about him right now, just hoping that everything will be fine. But I do understand the situation very well,' Trump said Thursday at the White House.

President Donald Trump continued his series of cryptic comments on the health and well-being of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un

Kim has been rumored to be dead or alive or in vegetative state; he was last seen above on April 11

President Trump and Kim Jong Un have become close; the two met in June 2019 at the Demilitarized Zone

Trump, the first American president to met with a North Korean leader, has a warm relationship with Kim, who he has met with twice. The leaders have also exchanged letters and Trump, at point, said he 'fell in love' with Kim.

But now the dictator's medical condition is unknown, raising questions about the stability of government in Pyongyang and the security of the country's nuclear weapons.

Trump has remained coy about what he knows.

'I can't tell you exactly. Yes I do have a very good idea,' Trump responded when asked about it. 'But I can't talk about it. I just wish him well. I've had a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un,' he said earlier this week at a press conference.

North Korea is a difficult country for intelligence agencies to penetrate given its police state and near isolation from the rest of the world.

South Korea's government has said Kim is alive and is handling state affairs normally at an unspecified site outside the capital. But the country hasn't cited its sources.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said officials 'haven't seen' Kim since April 12, when he was inspecting North Korea's Air Force units.

'We haven't seen him. We don't have any information to report today, we're watching it closely,' Pompeo told Fox News on Wednesday.

'We're watching each of those things closely, as they have a real impact on our mission set, which to ultimately denuclearize North Korea.'

Speculation concerning Kim's health began to gain momentum after he failed to turn up at the celebration of his grandfather's birthday on April 13, one of the country's biggest calendar events.

It marks the first time he has ever missed the celebration.

South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, who oversees engagement with North Korea, said it was plausible Kim that decided against attending due to the coronavirus, given stringent steps his government has taken to head off an outbreak.

'He had never missed the anniversary for Kim Il Sung's birthday since he took power, but many anniversary events including celebrations and a banquet had been canceled because of coronavirus concerns,' the minister told a parliamentary hearing.

'I don't think that's particularly unusual given the current (coronavirus) situation,' the minister said, although North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

In this Wednesday, July 25, 2012 photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) \, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju, right, waves to the crowd

There were reports that Kim underwent a cardiovascular procedure or had decamped to avoid the coronavirus.

Kim is overweight, reportedly smokes heavily and has other health problems.

Kim, who is in his mid-30s, was last seen in public on April 11, when he presided over a meeting discussing coronavirus prevention and electing his sister as an alternate member of the political bureau of the ruling Workers Party.

His sister, Kim Yo Jong, believed to be in her thirties, was turfed out of the dictator's inner circle when she was blamed for last year's bungled talks with Trump.

But following an extensive publicity drive to curry favour, she returned.

Talks between Washington and Pyongyang collapsed in February 2019 when President Trump pulled out of a much anticipated Hanoi summit to discuss denuclearization.

Kim pinned the blame on his younger sister, who was swiftly removed from her post.

Since she was cast out into the cold, Kim Yo Jong has steadily built back her public profile by appearing in videos with her brother - one even shows the pair riding horses in the snowy mountains.

Kim Jong-Un's younger sister Kim Yo Jong (left) is rumored to replace him if he dies

Kim Yo Jong (left, handing a document to Mike Pompeo), believed to be in her thirties, was turfed out of the dictator's inner circle when she was blamed for last year's bungled talks (first summit in Singapore pictured) with Donald Trump

Kim Yo Jong acted as her brother's envoy to the South at the time of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018, which ushered in a rapid diplomatic rapprochement on the divided peninsula

On Monday, the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Kim sent a message of gratitude to workers building tourist facilities in the coastal town of Wonsan, which is where some speculate he is staying. No photos of him were published.

South Korean intelligence and North Korean state media reports suggest that Kim could have suffered some sort of medical setback but likely not a life-threatening one, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a senior researcher at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

The root problem may be the shaky nature of South Korean intelligence.

Finding out is important because incapacity at the top could lead to bogged-down decision-making that could boost the hard-liners who emerged following the collapse of Kims second summit with Trump in February last year.

The Americans at that summit rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of the North's nuclear capabilities.

The National Intelligence Service, Seouls spy agency, has said it cant confirm whether Kim had surgery. If Kim emerges well in state media, he would join past North Korean officials who were incorrectly reported incapacitated by outside media.
President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 30, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump: The FBI Tormented Flynn

The FBI tormented Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump asserted on Thursday.

What they did to General Flynnand by the way, to Roger Stone, and otherswas a disaster, and a disgrace, and it should never be allowed to happen in this country again, Trump told reporters in the White House.

They tormented him. They destroyed him. But hes going to come back bigger and better.

Flynn was Trumps national security adviser as the then-president elect prepared to take office in early 2017. Two FBI agents met with Flynn and he eventually pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the FBI.

The FBI was going to close the case against Flynn before agent Peter Strzok intervened, citing leadership of the agency, according to messages released on Thursday. Documents released Wednesday showed an FBI official mulling what the bureaus goal was in speaking to Flynn.

Flynn is essentially exonerated, Trump told reporters when asked if hed consider pardoning the general.

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)

CNN tormented him, he added to Jim Acosta of CNN.

I really hope to see that CNN will, not even apologize, which they should, but just cover it fairly, because hes in the process of being exonerated.

CNN didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flynn was ousted from his position in February 2017.

Asked if he thought it was a mistake to fire Flynn, Trump said he wished he had all the information thats now coming out.

You see the written statements, where they were trying to force him into a position, where we can get him in a lie, can we get him this way, or that way. This is terrible. This is like what happened inand Im not going to name the countries, because we deal with these countriesbut what would happen in other countries, not the USA, he said.
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Natalie Portman are among the Hollywood celebrities who have mourned the death of actor Irrfan Khan.

The 54-year-old actor lost his battle with a rare form of cancer and died in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday. He was buried at the Versova graveyard.

Pratt and Howard had famously collaborated with Irrfan on their 2015 blockbuster "Jurassic World" and they remembered the actor as a "screen legend" and an "exquisite human being".

"So sad to hear about the passing of screen legend @irrfank . Irrfan Khan played Masrani in 'Jurassic World'. He was an exquisite actor and human. He will be missed," Pratt tweeted.

Howard shared two stills of hers with Irrfan from the Colin Trevorrow-directed adventure thriller and said she feels "lucky" to have worked with the actor.

"Irrfan, you are an exquisite human being and we will all miss you dearly. These images are from the first and last day of filming, and I was lucky enough to spend them working with you. Love to you and your family always," she posted.

Trevorrow was among the first from Hollywood to pay tributes to Irrfan.

"Deeply sad to have lost #IrrfanKhan. A thoughtful man who found beauty in the world around him, even in pain. In our last correspondence, he asked me to remember the wonderful aspects of our existence in the darkest of days. Here he is, laughing," he wrote on Twitter.

Another Hollywood star, Natalie Portman also remembered Irrfan with whom she collaborated on 2008 movie "New York, I Love You". The two actors shared the screen space for filmmaker Mira Nair's segment in the anthology film.

Portman took to her Instagram Story and uploaded a photo of hers with Irrfran from the critically-acclaimed movie.

"Sending love to Irrfan Khan's loved ones today," the actor wrote alongside the photo.

Filmmaker Marc Webb, who directed Irrfan in 2012 superhero hit "The Amazing Spider-Man", said he will always be a "dedicated" fan of the actor's work.

"In Irrfan, power and gentleness co-existed perfectly. When he sings to his new wife at the bathroom door in The Namesake' or speaks of his father in Life of Pi' his talent is positively mystical.

"He is the most nuanced actor I've worked with. I am forever his dedicated fan," he tweeted.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee also mourned Irrfan's demise, calling him "a great artist, a true gentleman and a brave fighter". The two had worked on 2012 movie "Life of Pi".

"His passing away is cinema's loss. We will miss him dearly. May you Rest In Peace my dear friend," Lee said in a statement to Deadline.

Indian-origin Hollywood star Mindy Kaling said she is "devastated" after learning about Irrfan's death.

"The loss of Irrfan Khan - at such a young age - is devastating. He was my favorite actor.

"I can't think of someone who gave such layered and thoughtful performances but was also a movie star; you couldn't take your eyes off of him onscreen. Love and peace to his family," Kaling said in a post on Twitter alongside a photo of Irrfan.

French actor Omar Sy, who featured alongside Irrfan in "Jurassic World" and 2016's "Inferno", called Irrfan an "exceptional man".

"May your soul rest in peace my man@irrfanexceptional man and actor. My thoughts and prayers go to his loved ones," Sy said in a post on Instagram.

"Suits" star Gabriel Macht recalled his meeting with Irrfan when his wife, Jacinda Barrett, worked with the actor on 2006 film "The Namesake".

"I met Irrfan Khan when he worked with @JacindaBarrett on 'The Namesake'. One of the most pleasant, down to earth, and gentle beings in the few times I had with him. What a beautiful actor as well. Blessings to he and his family. #RIPIrrfanKhan" he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Nigerian army on Wednesday announced the arrest of 13 fake soldiers who specialize in duping unsuspecting members of the public.

According to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Olu Irefin who made this known while parading the suspects, he gave their names as: Ebenezer Adeleke, Afolabi Hassan, Allen Afolabi, Daramola Olamide, Akpan Joel, Eze David, Frank Eze, Joseph Okere, Ahmed Ameh and Akpan Emmanuel.

He said, You will be shocked at the level they are impersonating the army. Both the Lieutenant and the Major have a photo frame they used to deceive members of public and when you check their internet profile or page they looked real as military personnel.

Read Also: Police Officer, Army Fight Over Superiority (Video)

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They have used provost letterhead to apply for visa but unfortunately they took a wrong channel of applying because we do not do it directly, he said.

I want to use this medium to appeal to law-abiding citizens and other security agents that when they see soldiers, they should ask for their identification cards and where they have doubts they should make contact and we will make arrest.

All this arrest you are seeing was based on information and operation checkmate that is currently ongoing. We will continue to do this operation to clean Lagos and its environs of this kind of hooligans, he said.

One of the suspects while confessing, said:

I was arrested at Abule Egba after someone called me that they wanted to buy land.

I got there and it was soldier men and they asked me to take them to my house where they discovered the photo frame and other exhibits that I used to impersonate the army.

I was once a soldier. I was dismissed as Corporal in 2016 for going Absent Without Leave (AWOL). I bought the uniform and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from someone in Abacha Barracks in Abuja.

I usually used the uniform to escort trucks with goods from Mile Two to inside TinCan for N80,000 per trip. I used N50,000 to settle police, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and other security agents. I used the remain N30,000 to take care of myself and family.
30/04/20  Labour taxes on the average worker across OECD countries continued to decline for the sixth consecutive year in 2019, according to a new OECD report.

Taxing Wages 2020 shows that the tax wedge  total taxes on labour costs paid by employees and employers, minus family benefits, as a percentage of the labour cost to the employer  was 36.0% in 2019. This OECD-wide average rate, calculated for a single person with no children earning the average wage, represents a fall of 0.11 percentage points from 2018.

The indicators presented in Taxing Wages 2020 provide an important baseline on labour taxation in 2019, against which the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can be measured. In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have introduced a range of concessions that will contribute to a further decrease in labour taxes in many countries. Indicators for 2020, which will include the impact of the pandemic on wages and the different elements of labour taxation including income taxes, social security contributions, payroll taxes and cash benefits, will be available in the 2021 edition of the report. These indicators will inform future policy discussions on the role that labour taxes should play in the overall tax mix, both in recovery and beyond.

The decline in the average tax wedge between 2018 and 2019 was due to decreasing tax wedges in 17 countries. While the decrease in most of these countries was small, at less than one percentage point, the tax wedge in Lithuania fell from 40.7% to 37.2% (-3.43 percentage points), due to a strong decrease in employer SSCs following a major tax reform. In a further 19 OECD countries, the tax wedge increased between 2018 and 2019. This increase was less than 0.5 percentage points in all countries except Estonia, where there was an increase of 1.08 percentage points due to a reduction in the income tax allowance. Across countries, the tax wedge on the average worker in 2019 ranged from over 45% in France, Austria, Italy, Germany and Belgium to under 20% in New Zealand and Chile.

Tax wedge on labour costs in OECD countries, 2019



Taxing Wages 2020 also considers the net personal average tax rate (NPATR), which measures the income tax and SSCs paid by employees, minus any family benefits received, as a share of gross wages. In 2019, the OECD average rate was 25.9% for a single person with no children earning the average wage. This rate is 0.4 percentage points higher than in 2018. The NPATR for the average worker varies considerably among countries: ranging from below 15% in Mexico and Chile to over 35% in Denmark, Lithuania, Belgium and Germany.

The report also includes a Special Feature on the taxation of non-standard workers. Tax systems in which different employment forms are taxed differently may incentivise the adoption of certain employment forms over others. For example, in Italy and the Netherlands, the tax-related labour costs of standard employees far exceed those of non-standard workers, indicating that firms have incentives to shift away from standard employment. In many countries, non-standard-workers do not enjoy the same range of social protections as standard workers and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the vulnerability of some of these workers. Policymakers need to examine the incentives that may accompany differential taxation across employment forms in their countries to ensure that tax systems do not unduly incentivise the growth of tax-advantageous employment forms or exacerbate the vulnerability of non-standard workers.

Key findings from Taxing Wages 2020

Tax wedges for single people and families with children

In 2019, the highest average tax wedges for single workers with no children earning the average national wage were in Belgium (52.2%), Germany (49.4%), Italy (48.0%), Austria (47.9%) and France (46.7%). The lowest were in Chile (7.0%) and New Zealand (18.8%).

In 2019, the highest tax wedge for one-earner families with two children at the average wage was in Italy (39.2%). Finland, Greece, Sweden and Turkey had tax wedges of between 37% and 38%. New Zealand had the lowest tax wedge for this family type (3.5%), followed by Chile (7.0%) and Switzerland (9.9%).

Between 2018 and 2019, the largest increases in the tax wedge for one-earner families with children were in Slovenia (3.3 percentage points), Poland (2.6 p.p.), New Zealand (1.6 p.p.), Estonia (1.4 p.p.) and the Czech Republic (1.0 p.p.). The largest decreases were in Lithuania (4.2 p.p.), Austria (3.7 p.p.) and France (2.3 p.p.).

The tax wedge for one-earner families with children is lower than for single individuals without children in all OECD countries except in Mexico, where both household types face the same tax levels. The differences are around 15% or more of labour costs in Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland and Slovenia.

Net personal average tax rates (NPATR) for single people and families

In 2019, the highest average NPATR for single workers with no children earning the average wage were in Belgium and Germany (both 39.3%), Lithuania (36.1%) and Denmark (35.4%). The lowest were in Chile (7.0%) and Mexico (10.8%). The OECD average increased by 0.4 percentage points to 25.9%.

The average NPATR for one-earner families with children was 14.6% in 2019. The highest NPATRs for one-earner families with two children at the average wage were in Lithuania (27.7%), Turkey (26.5%) and Denmark (25.2%). The lowest NPATRs were in the Czech Republic (1.8%), Canada (2.4%) and Estonia (2.9%).

Special Feature  Taxation of non-standard work

Among the seven OECD countries that are observed in the Special Feature, in Italy and the Netherlands, the tax-related labour costs of standard employees exceed those of non-standard workers, indicating that firms have incentives to shift away from standard employment.

For example, in Italy, the tax wedge of an employee with a permanent contract earning the average wage was 47.7% using 2017 tax rules compared to 14.4% for a worker taxed under the forfait regime. In the Netherlands, the tax wedge of an employee was 37.4% compared to 15.1% for a self-employed worker.

To access the report, country notes, and summaries, visit: http://oe.cd/TaxingWages.

Media enquiries should be directed to David Bradbury, Head of the OECDs Tax Policy and Statistics division (+33 (0) 1 45 24 15 97) or CTP.Communications@oecd.org.

An embeddable data visualisation for this publication is available at: www.compareyourcountry.org/taxing-wages. Please use the +share/embed button to customize this tool for your country and language and to generate the embed code for your website.

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
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.
Lawyers representing Jeremy Bamber, who is serving a whole life sentence for killing five members of his family in 1985, will ask the high court to review the refusal of the Crown Prosecution Service to disclose evidence they believe could undermine his conviction.

They say key material in the case was made available to an author behind an ITV drama about the killings that was withheld from his legal team, the Guardian reports.

Carol Ann Lee, who penned the book the miniseries White House Farm was based upon, posted an image on social media earlier this year of documents provided to her by Essex Police, not seen by the defence, as part of her research.

Carol Ann Lee, pictured, who penned the book the miniseries White House Farm was based upon, posted an image on social media earlier this year of documents provided to her by Essex Police, but not to the defence, as part of her research

The author posted several images on social media of her work on the book (above) including one of pages provided to her by Essex Police, but not to the defence, as part of her research

White House Farm at Tolleshunt D'Arcy, near Maldon, in Essex, pictured, where Bamber is alleged to have shot dead his mother, father, sister and twin nephews in August 1985

In an Instagram post which has since been deleted after a complaint from Bamber's representatives, she wrote: 'It was interesting to see and read all the original material.'

The numbered documents taken from Holmes boxes (an administrative system introduced in 1985 to support major investigations) include files numbered 75/13 and 75/15, which Bamber says he has never seen.

After Bambers legal team complained to the CPS the Instagram post was deleted.

Bamber has spent years denying involvement in the 1985 murders when his sister Sheila Caffell, her two young sons and Bamber's adoptive parents June and Nevill Bamber were found shot dead at White House Farm at Tolleshunt D'Arcy, in Essex in 1985.

Bamber, 59, (pictured in 1986 left and Freddie Fox playing him in the ITV drama right) is serving a whole-life prison sentence for the 1985 murders of his sister Sheila Caffell, 26, her twin boys Nicholas and Daniel, both six, and his parents Nevill and June, both 61

Jeremy Bamber and girlfriend Julie Mugford at the funeral of three of his family members. after the funeral Bamber's former teacher called police and said he had been acting

Bamber is seen above bowing his head as the coffins of Nevill and June Bamber, and Sheila are carried

Now the 59-year-old is confident certain papers from Holmes boxes - an filing system rolled out at the time to support major probes - have not been disclosed as they are all numbered.

Lee's post included pictures of documents numbered 75/13 and 75/15, which Bamber claims to have never seen, the Guardian says.

Tomorrow's hearing in Leeds comes after a high court judge refused to take the CPS' decision not to share material with the defence to a judicial review.

Jeremy Bamber's sister Sheila, and her children Daniel and Nicholas, pictured together, were all killed in the massacre

Bamber is pictured left being escorted by police in connection to the murder case in 1985. His sister (right) was found shot dead by police after they were called to her farmhouse

However, the case will be fully reconsidered, supported by oral submissions by Bamber's legal team, according to the newspaper.

Mark Newby, a solicitor advocate at Quality Solicitors Jordans, which represents him, said the row 'raises the question of whether a work of fiction is more important than justice'.

Bamber, speaking from Wakefield prison, told the Guardian: 'It is disgusting that a third party was provided with documents and sensitive photographs when Essex police and the CPS have been unwilling to hand over material to our own forensic experts to prove that two silencers were recovered from the scene.

Freddie Fox starred as Jeremy Bamber, pictured, in the ITV drama White House Farm earlier this year

Bamber's lawyers say some documents were never seen by the jury - and asked ITV to postpone the drama, pictured, believing the new evidence could prove his innocence

'Despite court orders being in place for them to make full disclosure to us, which they deliberately chose to ignore, when Carol Ann Lee requested material she was given it without a second thought. Where is my justice?'

A spokesperson for Essex police said: 'We are aware of the claim made by Jeremy Bamber and can confirm that this matter forms part of an ongoing judicial review. As this matter is therefore the subject of a forthcoming legal hearing it would not be appropriate for us to comment further.'

The CPS declined to comment.
Migrant workers, students, tourists and others stranded in Karnataka due to COVID-19 lockdown will be able to return home with the state government on Thursday giving the nod for a one-time movement, while 30 new cases and a death was reported, taking the toll to 22.

It also resolved to permit industrial activities across the state barring coronavirus containment zones from May 4, when the second phase of national lockdown is expected to end.

By May 4, fresh directives were likely to come from the Centre, following which a decision will be taken on more economic activities like opening of salons, liquor shops, malls and cinema halls among others, the government said.

Announcing the Cabinet decision to allow inter-state and inter-district movement of people, which came a day after the Centre issued guidelines for the process, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said this will be a one-time measure and the government would arrange buses for those in need but they should bear the expenses.

The government has issued order appointing senior IAS and IPS officers as as the nodal officers to facilitate smooth and orderly movement of persons across state borders as per SOPs.

The Minister also said, people willing to return to the state would have to undergo tests for COVID-19.

A 67-year-old woman from Dakshina Kannada became the 22nd COVID-19 fatality, taking the death toll to 22 in Karnataka, where 30 new positive cases have been confirmed. With this the total number of infections has gone up to 565, health department officials said Thursday.

The deceased patient was admitted to Wenlok Hospital in Mangaluru with SARI (past history of COPD and Diabetes) on April 18.She was on ventilator support and died today, they said.

Thirteen patients, including seven from Mysuru and three from Bengaluru Urban, were discharged, taking total discharges in the state to 229.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the government has decided to allow industrial activities across the state barring coronavirus containment zones from May 4.

There were total 123 containment zones in Karnataka till Wednesday evening.

He however said government would wait and take a call on easing curbs for industrial activities in the state capital.

Earlier, the state government had on April 8 decided to conditionally allow economic activities to restart in green zones by opening of shops and industries.

Yediyurappa said as the COVID-19 cases may continue for another 2-3 months, both economic activities and efforts to control the pandemic have to go hand-in-hand.

Later in the day, he held a meeting with members of various associations of commerce and industries and suggested them to be prepared for resuming industrial operations.

Appealing to industrialists to pay wages or salaries to the employees, he asked them to take all precautionary measures for the safety of workers in their factory premises, and also assured them government will consider their demands compassionately and respond keeping in mind, the constraints.

Among 30 new cases reported on Thursday, as many as 14 are from Belagavi, ten from Bengaluru Urban, two from Vijayapura, and one each from Davangere, Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi and Tumakuru.

From across the state most number of infections have been reported in Bengaluru Urban district with 141 cases, followed by Mysuru 88 and Belagavi 67.

Out of total 229 patients discharged maximum 63 are from Mysuru, 61 from Bengaluru, 11 from Chikkaballapura.

A total of 60,156 samples, including 4,752 on Thursday, had been tested with 57,548 of them reporting negative, the bulletin said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Impact of COVID-19 felt as managed services demand shrank in March



Infrastructure-as-a-Service exceeded 1 billion (872 million) for eighth straight quarter

ISG forecasts increased spending on security, cloud migration and collaboration tools

LONDON, April 30, 2020)), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The EMEA ISG Index, which measures commercial outsourcing contracts with annual contract value (ACV) of 5 million (4 million) or more, shows combined market ACV (including both as-a-service and managed services) in EMEA increased by 3.8 percent year on year, to 4.5 billion (3.9 billion). EMEA was on track to deliver 7-9 percent growth, but demand was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, which first hit the region in early March. Sequentially, EMEA was down 6 percent in the first quarter compared with its record fourth-quarter ACV in 2019.

In the first quarter, managed services ACV was up 6 percent year on year, to 2.7 billion (2.3 billion), fueled by strong demand for information technology outsourcing (ITO), up 23 percent, to 2.4 billion (2.1 billion). Strength in DACH and Benelux countered a sluggish ACV performance in the Nordics and in the U.K., which continues to grapple with Brexit anxiety. Business process outsourcing (BPO), meanwhile, fell back 51 percent, to 290 million (253 million), against a robust first quarter last year.

As-a-service ACV, at 1.8 billion (1.6 billion), established a new quarterly record, albeit on only 1 percent growth year over year. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) rose 7 percent, to 1.4 billion (1.2 billion)-the eighth consecutive quarter it has exceeded 1 billion (872 million)-while Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) slid 13 percent, to 478 million (417 million).

"Cloud is gaining more relevance every quarter as customers move from on-premises, capex-driven deals to an on-demand operating model," said Steve Hall, president, ISG EMEA. "This will only increase as COVID-19 highlights the importance of cloud-based infrastructure."

The Impact of COVID-19

Globally, 85 percent of the first quarter's managed services deals were awarded in January and February. The ISG Index shows a pandemic-related drop-off in activity beginning in early March across Europe (earlier than in the Americas, where this drop-off began toward the end of March).

ISG predicts global ACV for managed services deals will drop 17 percent sequentially in the second quarter, as a result of the pandemic. This will be driven, in particular, by weakness in key industries such as travel, transportation and hospitality; CPG and retail; and financial services.

The as-a-service market suffered minimal impact from the pandemic in the first quarter. In fact, IaaS experienced a brief surge, as businesses pivoted to a work-from-home environment and saw an increased reliance on e-commerce. IaaS providers may get a boost from firms moving additional workloads to the public cloud.

SaaS providers will be hit by companies shedding costs and user licenses as businesses around the world continue to furlough corporate employees. Firms with multiyear agreements should be better insulated. However, SaaS budgets will be diverted to increased spending on cybersecurity, cloud migration and collaboration tools.

"Firms that took their digital transformation seriously in the past couple of years will likely weather the COVID storm better," said Hall. "They have better visibility into their supply chains. They've converted their stores to mini-distribution systems and are using strong B2C and analytics to maintain customer loyalty. Their mobile solutions mitigate the need for humans to seek service via contact centers, and their intelligent automation solutions minimize the number of employees required to transact. Those that didn't make significant progress on their digital transformations will need to accelerate their digital investments now.

"By the second half of the year, managed services should rebound. Overall, 2020 managed services ACV likely will be off 7 percent. In the as-a-service space, we see ACV being up 5 percent sequentially in the second quarter and up 12 percent for the full year."

About the ISG Index

The ISG Index is recognized as the authoritative source for marketplace intelligence on the global technology and business services industry. For 70 consecutive quarters, it has detailed the latest industry data and trends for financial analysts, enterprise buyers, software and service providers, law firms, universities and the media. In 2016, the ISG Index was expanded to include coverage of the fast-growing as-a-service market, measuring the significant impact cloud-based services are having on digital business transformation. ISG also provides ongoing analysis of automation and other digital technologies in its quarterly ISG Index presentations.

For more information about the ISG Index, visit this webpage .

About ISG
COVID-19 cases in Malaysia reach 6,002, total deaths at 102

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 30 (Xinhua) The number of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia totaled 6,002 after 57 new cases were recorded, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press briefing that 84 cases had been released, bringing the total cured and discharged to 4,171 or 69.5 percent of all cases.

There are still 1,729 active cases, of which 36 are currently being held in intensive care and 14 of those are in need of assisted breathing.
Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest-backed mining giant Fortescue expects to increase iron ore shipments in the next two months, saying China's rapid recovery is set to build demand for Australia's top export earner and will be vital to the nation's post-lockdown recovery.

A day after the billionaire magnate urged the Morrison government against straining relations with China, Fortescue Metals Group revealed shipments of steelmaking commodity iron ore to China have been largely unaffected by the coronavirus crisis and were likely to increase as China's recovery continues.

Mining magnate Andrew Forrest is bringing in supplies to increase COVID-19 testing in Australia. Credit:Trevor Collens

Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said the company was on track to hit its full-year export target and raised expectations it could ship a further 2 million tonnes this financial year.

"Fortescue is a core supplier of iron ore to China and we see strong ongoing demand for our products and anticipate a steady recovery in economic activity in that market," Ms Gaines said.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has formed and keeps in Donbas a task grouping of Russian-occupation troops as part of the 1st (Donetsk) and the 2nd (Luhansk) army corps with the overall number of more than 35 thousand personnel.

Currently, over two thousand Russian career officers are stationed in the occupied part of Donbas, Joint Forces Commander Volodymyr Kravchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform, answering a question about the size of Russian troops in Donbas.

To control the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has formed and keeps a task grouping of Russian-occupation troops as part of the 1st (Donetsk) and the 2nd (Luhansk) army corps with the overall number of more than 35 thousand personnel who are operationally subordinate to the army of the Southern Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The bulk of key and command personnel of the regiments, brigades, and command staffs of the army corps are the career officers and generals of the Russian Armed Forces who are being sent to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on a rotational basis. Today, over two thousand Russian career officers are stationed in the occupied part of Donbas. At the same time, the posts of junior enlisted and commanders of the tactical units are taken up mainly by local residents and mercenaries from Russia, Kravchenko said.

He also informed that in order to maintain the administrative-police regime and ensure the functioning of the occupation administrations, other security agencies had been created  the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of State Security which are directly managed by the Russian Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service (FSB).

Apart from maintaining and backing the armed formations, the Russian Federation uses the territory of Donbas as a military training ground and tests cutting-edge weapons systems for its army, the Ukrainian Commander emphasized.

Over the course of military confrontation in Donbas, the Ukrainian military have seized and documented many samples of weapons that are exclusively in service with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which once again proves Russia's direct involvement in the armed conflict in the territory of Ukraine.

According to the Commander, Russian Torn-MDM electronic intelligence systems, Leer-3 RB-341V, 1L269 Krasukha-2, RB-109A Bylina, Repellent-1 electronic warfare systems, Kasta 2E2 radar systems, etc. have been found in the occupied territories by means of intelligence.

"The use of 9M133 Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, 3OF39 Krasnopol guided missiles, Orlan-10 and Eleron unmanned aerial vehicles by the enemy has been recorded. The UAVs are also used for strikes. The grenades of grenade machine guns and fragmentation hand grenade are used for this purpose, Kravchenko said.

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When the world was in need of joint efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, some American politicians, represented by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have multiplied the means of scapegoating other countries, showing no regard for the health of millions of Americans, impeding international anti-pandemic cooperation.

They pursued ugly political interests in complete disregard of the virus as it claimed lives of people around the world and must be held accountable for their evil acts.

Just as American analysts pointed out, he contributed nothing to the countrys anti-pandemic efforts, with the Washington Post remarking that Pompeo's pandemic performance ensures his place among the worst secretaries of state ever.

Not only did Pompeo fail to offer leadership, hes cynically using the pandemic to pound on US adversaries, undermining global cooperation against the virus right when its badly needed, US political news website revealed.

Externally, he has stirred up trouble for the World Health Organization (WHO) and China, and attempted to claim compensation from China, while imposing sanctions on Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and others amid the pandemic. Even to US allies, Pompeos promise to help them may just be lip service as the US sent military aircraft to vie for medical supplies.

As the US chief diplomat, Pompeos offensive words and deeds come as a shock considering his line of work . During the pandemic, he continued promoting the maximum pressure campaign against Iran. His practice of worsening other countries situation in their response to the pandemic will only lead to greater humanitarian disasters, overstepping the bottom line of humanity. In contrast, Chinas sincere assistance to other countries has been highly appreciated by them.

Furthermore, Pompeo said the US might never restore WHO funds. The USs decision to defund the WHO is simply this - a crime against humanity, according to an article published on top medical journal The Lancet, on April 25.

Pompeo has used the term "Wuhan virus" on many occasions and criticized China for hiding information about COVID-19 in total disregard for the facts, attempting to drive a wedge between China and other countries.

China made a timeline public of its efforts against COVID-19, yet Pompeo didnt dare to allow the WHO to investigate the virus in the US. By fabricating rumors, the former director of the CIA is resorting to the same old tricks in the diplomatic arena.

Instead of upholding the sense of responsibility as a professional diplomat, Pompeo spread political rumors, nothing short of the accomplice of the virus. These American politicians have only damaged their countrys international reputation, rather than making America great again.
A shopper and cashier both wear masks and gloves, and the cashier also has on a plastic visor at the checkout station at Pat's Farms grocery store in Merrick, N.Y., on March 31, 2020. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Experts Reveal Most Dangerous Place in a Grocery Store

Cashiers at most grocery stores and big-box retailers are exposed the most to COVID-19, according to health experts.

Brian Brown-Cashdollar, program director at the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health, told CNN that workers at the greatest risk are the workers with the most direct contact with other people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus might be spread via touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Also, routinely clean frequently touched surfaces, the agency says.

Cashiers, meanwhile, have to touch and scan bags as well as items. They also have to interact with customers all day, some of whom could be infected with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus causes COVID-19.

Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, told the network that cashiers perform a similar function as health care workers.

And as a result, cashiers need N95 masks as much as health care workers, he told CNN, adding that some U.S. stores should sanitize cash at some point.

He believes that all stores also need to give their cashiers face shields because many coronavirus carriers are asymptomatic. In China, stores are sanitizing cash, and the United States should as well at some point.
(Natural News) Despite the apparent slowdown in the number of COVID-19 cases in several areas within California, the outbreak in Los Angeles County is showing no signs of letting up after public health officials confirmed an additional 59 deaths across the region.

This update brings the countys total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 1,004.

According to public health officials, the cases recorded in the county now make up 45 percent of total cases and the majority of hospitalizations within the state.

L.A. County has hit the tragic milestone of 1,000 people dying from COVID-19. Please know that if you are grieving the loss of loved ones who have died from COVID-19, our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and your friends, county public health director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement.

Aside from the new mortalities they recorded, Ferrer also announced an additional 597 confirmed cases, bringing the countys total number of infected individuals to 21,017.

According to an analysis of coronavirus data, the number of deaths in L.A. County translates to a rate of 9.3 deaths per 100,000 people, which is 58% higher than that of the next hardest hit urban county, Riverside. The same analysis also noted that L.A. Countys rate is 72% higher than that of Santa Clara County, which is regarded as the Bay Areas coronavirus epicenter.

These rising numbers, public health officials said, underscore the need for people to stay indoors as much as possible.

Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths, we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible, Ferrer said.

Further analysis of the L.A. County data, however, revealed several sobering points.

According to data furnished by the county public health officials, black people still have the highest COVID-19 death rate in L.A. County, a rate currently pegged at 13 deaths per 100,000 people. Latino, Asian, and white populations, on the other hand, notched rates of 9.5, 7.5 and 5.5 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively.

In addition, official data also revealed that those who live in lower-income communities within L.A. County are roughly three times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who reside in much wealthier communities.

According to the figures presented by public health officials, neighborhoods, where 30% to 100% of the residents live in poverty, had about 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 5.3 deaths per 100,000 in communities in which less than 10% of residents live in poverty.

According to Ferrer, the data surrounding the countys disproportionate coronavirus mortalities is a reminder of the work that still needs to be done, as well as the issues that need to be addressed to help and protect the more vulnerable members of the population.

Ensuring access to testing, early treatment and care, and economic support among those communities at higher risk of devastating outcomes associated with COVID-19 is essential, Ferrer noted.

Los Angeles County not yet keen on lifting restrictions  Authorities

In a statement released Friday, county authorities said they are not yet keen on easing restrictions, noting that they do not want to undo any developments accomplished so far regarding the pandemic.

We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic, and we dont want to prematurely ease restrictions, County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said.

For the county to ease restrictions, Barger said, the county will first need to make sure that its hospitals are adequately staffed and that they have enough resources to perform testing. In addition, they must also have a sufficient number of ventilators and other medical supplies to handle routine care as well as possible influxes of new COVID-19 patients. (Related: More people have died from coronavirus than the official numbers suggest, NYT claims)

Second, Barger said, the county must ensure that there are protections in place for the most vulnerable in the community, such as the elderly, the homeless people and those who live in institutional settings. Barger added that provisions must be put in place for those who do not have access to health services.

Third, the county must have the capacity to test, isolate and quarantine all those who are infected with the coronavirus, as well as to conduct surveillance to prevent its further spread.

Lastly, Barger said, the county must maintain physical distancing and infection control measures. According to Barger, businesses will be provided with educational materials and guidance to ensure that the social distancing rules can be followed once they reopen.

As of this writing, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed 1,809 lives and infected 45,031 others in the entire state of California.

Due to bottlenecks in testing and lags in data reporting, however, experts say the true number of infected individuals in the county remains unknown, although it is likely to be much higher than the ones presented in official tallies.

Sources include:

MSN.com

LATimes.com 1

KTLA.com

LATimes.com 2

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

CNBC.com
SPRINGFIELD  There are several suspected white supremacists under investigation in connection with the attempted firebombing of a Jewish geriatric care campus in Longmeadow, according to recent court filings.

However, the only man charged in the case is not among them, his court-appointed lawyer argues.

John Michael Rathbun, 36, is charged in federal court with two arson-related counts in connection with a gas tank stuffed with a Christian church pamphlet that was set on fire on the grounds of the Jewish Geriatric Services collaborative on April 2. The flame fizzled out and no one was injured, according to investigators.

But during a lengthy videoconference court hearing Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Breslow focused on what could have happened.

What could have happened if this device had not ... sputtered out, if you will? Breslow asked FBI Special Agent Derek Boucher.

It could have damaged property and it would have harmed people, the agent responded.

Public defender Timothy Watkins peppered the agent with questions about items seized during an April 15 raid of Rathbuns home on Lori Lane in East Longmeadow.

Did you learn that any Nazi flags were found at Mr. Rathbuns house ... any pictures of Hitler around Mr. Rathbuns house? Watkins asked. Did you witness any tattoos on Mr. Rathbun? Is it true that white supremacists have a predilection for tattoos?

The questions prompted repeated objections from Breslow.

Boucher  a longtime member of a Joint Terrorism Task Force that probes domestic and international terrorism in Western Massachusetts  responded generally that not all white supremacists are obvious about their alliances.

While a portion of key court records in the case remain under seal, some public filings indicate that several unnamed individuals have been interviewed by the FBI and some have been offered immunity from prosecution. Watkins drew out that authorities identified 27 users of online white supremacy platforms through their internet addresses, and that none of them were Rathbun.

Watkins suggested there has been at least one other arrest in the case, but that has not been made public.

Wednesdays hearing was held to establish whether the case can move forward in the absence of an indictment by a grand jury. Federal rules require indictment within 14 days of a defendants arrest if he or she is being held without the right to bail  which Rathbun is. He was patched into Wednesdays videoconference from the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow.

Grand juries in Massachusetts are not sitting during the COVID-19 pandemic in keeping with state mandates. Most court hearings are either being held with parties dialing in remotely or have been postponed.

Breslow and his co-counsel, Risa Berkower, a trial attorney with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., argued the case easily meets the legal standard to continue without an indictment.

This defendant placed a would-be bomb outside a public area, Berkower said.

Watkins countered that the gas container was more bizarre than sinister.

Somebody drove up and for some reason ... tried to light this paper on fire. It doesnt light it on fire. He shrugs his shoulders, walks away and leaves the device there? Watkins argued to U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson.

Robertson said she will issue a ruling by Friday.

Investigators have said they found Rathbuns DNA on both the gas tank and the pamphlet. What was salvaged of the church pamphlet in the gas tank read: Will you receive Jesus Christ right now? and How you can pray, according to Bouchers testimony.

Rathbuns DNA was on file due to a prior felony conviction. He has a history of drug use and petty crimes including breaking and entering and receiving stolen property.

The FBI investigation of the incident led to two white supremacy online platforms that require downloading software, logging in and being invited into specific conversations. One user cited that jew nursing home in longmeadow massachusetts as a possible target and proposed April 3 as jew killing day, according to court records.

Rathbun denied any connection to the arson attempt or white supremacist groups.

The would-be firebomb was placed at the entrance to the JGS campus off Converse Street.

The spot is near the Ruths House assisted living facility, three synagogues, a private Hebrew school and a Jewish community center, authorities noted. The alleged attack was waged six days before Passover and in the midst of the coronavirus crisis after many residents and staff of the Longmeadow campus had fallen ill.

Boucher said police and fire officials in Longmeadow described the would-be firebomb as a crude Molotov cocktail placed in a patch of dirt and bushes just feet from a well-traveled pedestrian path. Authorities previously described it as a five-gallon plastic Scepter canister filled with what was believed to be gasoline.

A witness spotted the container between 8 and 9 a.m. on April 2 and called the fire department, Boucher testified. Police arrived about 10 a.m. Eventually state police and the FBI became involved.

Media reports and federal officials themselves have characterized the incident as part of a spike in alleged hate crimes prompted by the collateral emotional toll of the pandemic.

In times of national crisis, hatred based on religion often blossoms into violence, Andrew E. Lelling, the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, said following Rathbuns arrest. We will find, investigate and aggressively prosecute anyone engaged in this kind of mayhem.
New York, April 30 : With nations around the world battered by their dependence on China for vital supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that Washington was discussing restructuring global supply chains with India and other Indo-Pacific "friends".

He said at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday that conversations with leaders of India and the other Indo-Pacific countries involve "thinking about how we restructure these supply chains to prevent something like this from ever happening again".

"One example of our work together is with India. It's lifted export bans on critical medical supplies, including pharmaceuticals used to treat some COVID-19 patients," he said.

During the discussions with also Australia, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and New Zealand, they shared "information and best practices as we begin to move the global economy forward" and "getting our economies back to full strength", he said.

India, like the US and other countries, has had to import medical supplies for meeting the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in China and spread around the world from there.

The US, in particular, has had to compete with other countries for the dwindling supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE) putting its healthcare workers at risk.

China, meanwhile, has been able to exercise influence through th stranglehold on the essential supplies, while profiting from the rising prices for them.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Emirates SkyCargo has utilised the cargo capacity on its Boeing 777 freighter and Boeing 777-300ER passenger freighter aircraft to help maintain and replenish food supplies in the UAE during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The air cargo carrier has helped import more than 34,000 tonnes of food into the country between January and April, out of which 13,000 tonnes were imported between March and April. In the month of April alone, Emirates SkyCargo helped bring in food supplies into the UAE from over 35 countries around the world.

"Despite the severe reduction in the number of flights we operate and the resultant reduction in the amount of cargo capacity we can work with, we have given top importance to maintain food supplies in the UAE as we consider this our responsibility. Through our regular cargo flights from major food production markets such as Australia, Egypt, India, Kenya, Pakistan and many other nations, we have been able to import quality food items. This has helped keep store shelves in the UAE well stocked with the familiar and comfort food items that puts a smile on peoples faces. We are also thankful to the support from the various UAE authorities who have helped facilitate these imports during such critical times," said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo.

Emirates SkyCargo is currently operating flights to around 60 global destinations on a scheduled basis and to many more destinations as charter and ad hoc operations. Food bound for the UAE is loaded on these flights from markets across the world. With its access to expertise in specialised handling for perishables through its Emirates Fresh product, Emirates SkyCargo ensures that the produce reaching the UAE maintains its freshness during transit.

Just some of the food imports that Emirates SkyCargo has facilitated since the start of the year include

 More than 5,200 tonnes of food from Australia including chilled meat and fruits such as grapes and melons

 Close to 2,500 tonnes of food from Egypt including fresh fruits such as strawberries, guavas and vegetables including sweet potatoes

 More than 4,000 tonnes of food from India including fresh vegetables and fruits

 More than 2,500 tonnes of food from Kenya including fresh fruits such as pineapples and mangoes and meat

 Close to 1,600 tonnes of salmon from Norway

 Over 4,500 tonnes of food from Pakistan including chilled meat, fish and vegetables

In addition to securing UAE food supplies, Emirates SkyCargo also provides a boost to the local economies of the various countries it operates to by providing a lifeline for the agricultural and other produce exporters. The export revenues generated from trade of fruits, vegetables, sea food and meat support the livelihoods of farmers and growers in these regions. Just last week, the air cargo carrier announced that it would be working with the Australian government to facilitate exports of Australian agricultural and sea food commodities. - TradeArabia News Service
Healthcare units in countries across the world have had some success with the blood plasma therapy to treat Coronavirus patients, in the wake of which thousands of recovered patients have come forward to donate blood for the same.

Instagram/Tom Hanks

Among them are Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, they are doing their bit to help with the fight against the devious virus that has wreaked havoc across the globe.

The Academy Award winner revealed on social media that he donated blood plasma at a Los Angeles hospital in an effort to help fight the coronavirus.

Sharing a photo of the bag of plasma he donated, Tom Hanks wrote, 'Heres last week's bag of plasma. Such a bag! After the paperwork, its as easy as taking a nap. Thanks @arimoin and UCLA. Hanx (sic)'.

Tom Hanks was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus along with his wife Rita Wilson in March. The actor was shooting his upcoming film in Australia.

In a recent interview with NPR, Hanks explained that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, are able to donate their blood and that he hoped it may be used to help find a cure for the deadly virus.



Heres last week's bag of plasma. Such a bag! After the paperwork, its as easy as taking a nap. Thanks @arimoin and UCLA. Hanx pic.twitter.com/15WblGiVwe  Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) April 29, 2020

"We have not only been approached, we have said, 'Do you want our blood? Can we give plasma?' And, in fact, we will be giving it now to the places that hope to work on what I would like to call the Hank-ccine," Hanks recently said on the podcast Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!

He added, "A lot of the questions [are] what do we do now? Is there something we can do? And, in fact, we just found out that we do carry the antibodies."

The liquid portion of blood taken from survivors of the disease may be rich in antibodies that doctors hope can speed up recovery for the sickest patients. A plasma transfusion is much like a blood transfusion and is administered with an IV.

In India hundreds of Tablighi Jamaat volunteers who have recovered from coronavirus are now queuing up in hospitals in different parts of India to donate plasma for critical patients undergoing treatment.

Doctors have urged recovered Covid-19 patients to donate their plasma so it can be used for trials on more incoming cases. Plasma therapy is not seen as a cure but as a stop-gap measure by doctors to help patients recover.


NASA

NASA awarded contracts worth a combined $967 million to three teams of companies on Thursday to begin work on lunar landers toward the agency's goal of putting astronauts on the Moon by 2024. Teams led by Blue Origin, SpaceX and Dynetics won awards under NASA's Human Landing Systems program. These awards are study contracts for the next 10 months, at the end of which NASA will pick one or more winners to begin building the spacecraft. NASA awarded the Blue Origin team with $579 million, the Dynetics team with $253 million and SpaceX with $135 million. The wide range in award totals comes due to the differences in each team's bid and approach to achieving NASA's goal. Boeing also bid on HLS but was not awarded with a study contract. The Boeing proposal included using an upgraded Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which Boeing is currently building for NASA.

An artist's rendition of a human lunar lander on the surface of the Moon. NASA

The lunar landers built under HLS are a part of NASA's Artemis mission to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024. That's a task President Donald Trump gave NASA in 2017, when he directed the agency to accelerate its efforts and land humans on the lunar surface. Trump was the third president in the last 30 years to announce a return to the Moon. NASA requested $3.37 billion in its fiscal year 2021 to fund the HLS program. Congress last year approved $600 million for the agency to develop a crewed lunar lander, making NASA's latest request a five-fold increase.

The Blue Origin team

Jeff Bezos' space company unveiled its plans to build a crewed lunar lander last year, announcing it would partner with industry giants Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper in the effort. "We have put together a national team to go back to the moon," Bezos said in October.

Blue Origin had previously unveiled its lunar lander concept, called Blue Moon. Bezos said that, in Blue Origin's team, his company would build the lunar lander while Lockheed Martin will built the "ascent element" (which returns astronauts from the Moon's surface), Northrop Grumman would build the "transfer element" (which brings the lander into position in orbit around the Moon) and Draper would develop the systems' guidance and flight avionics.

Blue Origin

The Blue Origin team's design would launch on multiple rockets, including the company's New Glenn or United Launch Alliance Vulcan. Both New Glenn and Vulcan are under development, with first launches scheduled next year.

SpaceX

Elon Musk's space company bid its immense Starship rocket for HLS, which the company has been developing and testing at its facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

SpaceX

SpaceX said a "lunar optimized Starship" would bring crew from lunar orbit to the Moon's surface under NASA's Artemis program. "A lunar optimized Starship can fly many times between the surface of the Moon and lunar orbit without flaps or heat shielding required for Earth return," the company said.

SpaceX

The rocket is designed to be reusable so SpaceX can launch and land it multiple times, like a commercial airplane. Starship's shiny external appearance is because of the type of stainless steel that SpaceX is using to build the rocket. Starship recently passed a critical milestone in its development. The rocket prototype successfully performed a pressured, cryogenic test on Sunday.

The Dynetics team

Science and technology company Dynetics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of defense contractor Leidos, teamed up with Sierra Nevada Corporation to develop its lunar lander. The companies have been quiet about the proposal, only confirming in January that Dynetics was leading a bid for HLS.

An artist's rendition of Dynetics' HLS lander on the Moon's surface. Dynetics
We have something very special in Woodley Park. Its not just the buildings, or the businesses, or the zoo or the history, its the sense of community that we have together, Brusoe says. We sometimes have debates about how the neighborhood should change and grow and at times they get a bit a passionate, but at the end of the day were here for the good of one another.
Chandigarh, April 30 : Amid concerns expressed by Deputy Commissioners on several Covid-infected persons coming in from outside the state in recent days, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered village-level quarantine in designated buildings.

He also issued strict instructions for compulsory institutional quarantine, for both positive and negative cases.

During a virtual meeting, the Chief Minister made it clear that no one coming from outside should be allowed to go home without completing the 21-day quarantine period, since symptoms generally show up after some time.

Where possible, those found positive and negative should be segregated in different buildings altogether, he suggested, as a measure to check the further spread of the pandemic.

He directed the officials to work with sarpanches to identify schools and other buildings for quarantine purposes in villages.

The Chief Minister also appealed to sarpanches and panchayats to increase village-level surveillance to check further spread of the disease.

So far, 3,525 pilgrims from Maharashtra's Nanded and 153 students from Rajasthan's Kota had returned to Punjab in the past four days, in addition to 3,085 labourers received at the Fazilka-Rajasthan border, the meeting was told.

Of those who had returned from Nanded, test reports had so far been received for 577 persons, of whom 20 per cent were found positive.

Incidentally, of the 105 fresh cases reported in the state on Thursday, 98 were from outside.

The Chief Minister directed the district officials to ensure that all those coming from outside download the COVA app to enable strict monitoring of their movement through Geo Fencing.

He further instructed tracking and screening of all those who had come from outside the state on their own.

Ruling out any relaxation at the borders, which continue to remain strictly sealed, the Chief Minister said there was no question of allowing any buses to enter Punjab without permit or approval from the respective states which are sending vehicles to pick up their people.

He directed the officers to ensure strict enforcement of the sealing at the borders, asserting that "we will not allow anyone to enter without proper procedure".

In Punjab, the Chief Minister attributed the infections to three sources - NRIs, and the Tablighi Jamaat and Nanded returnees.

While Punjabis returning home were welcome, they had to be strictly quarantined, he said, directing the officials to ensure not to allow any unauthorised entry at the borders.

"If we do not control the situation, no industry will open," he warned.

Stressing that industry was critical to reviving the state's economy, he asked the Deputy Commissioners to explore ways of facilitating this.

Of the 2.5-lakh odd industries in the state, only around 3,600 were eligible to open, and of these, so far a mere 1,100 had chosen to open up, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana called for permission to industries not located in focal points and industrial estates to also open up, in designated areas as per the master plan.

The Chief Minister agreed, pointing out that with 95 per cent of the state's industry in Ludhiana, it was important for them to start operating in order to revive the economy of Punjab.

He also stressed the need for all milk plants in the state to work at full capacities.
Burma Myanmar Govt Offers to Pay Factory Workers 40% During COVID-19 Inspection Closures

Factory workers on their way to work on April 20 in Yangons Hlaing Tharyar Township. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Yangon  Myanmars Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population says it will provide 40 percent of workers salaries where factories have been closed since April 20 for COVID-19 inspections.

Workers must be registered with the government social safety net and compensation will be based on the days their factories were closed.

Factories across Myanmar closed from April 10-19 for the Thingyan holiday and were due to reopen on April 20 only for the Ministry of Labor to say that they must remain closed until their coronavirus preventative measures had been inspected.

Factories were required to make marks to keep employees six feet apart, provide washbasins, masks and gloves, conduct temperature screening at the entrances and ensure safe distancing measures on ferries among other measures.

Only the factories that meet the requirements will be allowed to resume operations, said the ministry. This led to pay disputes with employees insisting they were paid for that period and employers saying they could not afford to pay while factories had been idle for most of April.

The Labor Ministry then said that it would grant certain social security benefits for employees registered with the Social Security Board.

It wont take long with us when we receive claims [for social security payment from factories]. We will check if the dates and the periods of closure are correct. And if they are, we will provide payments right away, U Maung Maung Aye, director-general of the Social Security Board, told The Irrawaddy.

Ma Phyo Sandar Soe, assistant general secretary of the Confederation of Trade Unions in Myanmar, said: I am grateful to the government for granting 40 percent of salaries while it previously appeared that employees would get nothing.

However, she said she is concerned some employers might exploit social security payments.

Some businesses may claim for social security payments from the government while they gave casual or annual leave to staff for the inspection period, she said. In that case, employees would lose their leave entitlements.

If employers grant casual or annual leave, they have to pay for it, but not the government. And some employers may claim for social security benefits while they didnt really close their factories, she said.

U Maung Maung, however, said the SSB is making checks based on the reports of the Directorate of Industrial Supervision and Inspection and the government COVID-19 inspection reports to make sure there were no false claims.

Since March 23, Myanmar has reported 150 COVID-19 cases. Six people have died and 27 have recovered, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Says Factories Must Take COVID-19 Precautions Before They Reopen

Myanmar Factories Ignoring COVID-19 Rules Face Prosecution: Suu Kyi
Official White House Photo by Andrea HanksBy LIBBY CATHEY, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is facing backlash Thursday after praising the administration's response to the novel coronavirus pandemic as a "great success story" on the same day that the nation's official death toll from the virus surpassed 60,000.



"We're on the other side of the medical aspect of this, and I think that we've achieved all the different milestones that are needed," Kushner told Fox and Friends Wednesday morning. "The federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story. And I think that that's really, you know, what needs to be told."



Despite persistent problems with the country's testing supply chain, Kushner said the question on testing shouldn't be why did it take so long, but, "How did we do this so quickly?"



He also predicted the country will be "rocking" again by July.



Former national security adviser Susan Rice criticized Kushner's comments on CNN Wednesday evening, saying his claim "would be laughable if it weren't so deadly serious."



"It's ridiculous," said Rice, who worked in the Obama administration. "I don't know how anybody with a straight face can call this a 'great success' and declare this a mission accomplished moment when more than 60,000 Americans are dead."



Rice noted that a second wave of infections is expected, citing Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top expert on infectious diseases who said last week that he is "convinced" there will be coronavirus infections in the fall.



"Dr. Fauci, whose judgment I trust implicitly, has just said that he believes a second wave in the fall is inevitable. And that's the pattern of pandemics of the past," Rice added.



"So we are far from being able to declare victory," Rice went on. "And in any event, there's no victory when the losses on the battlefield in less than two months exceed all of those through the entirety of the Vietnam War, 26-plus million Americans are out of work, the GDP is declining at a rate of almost 5%."



John Cohen, former acting undersecretary for intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security, who served under the Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama administrations and is now an ABC News contributor, shared a similar sentiment.



"It is not a success when 60,000 Americans die in approximately three months. Claiming victory while we are still in the midst of a national crisis speaks to the alternate reality some are living in," he said.



Michael Bromwich, a former federal prosecutor and Justice Department inspector general under the Clinton administration, also took to Twitter to denounce Kushner's assessment.



"Doubtful that the public has a high level of confidence in the self-serving conclusions and pronouncements of Dr. Kushner," Bromwich tweeted. "On what planet is 59,000 plus deaths a 'success story'?"



Kushner, in his interview, did not discuss the severe problems with the country's testing supply chain, the lack of approved treatments or a vaccine for the disease and seemed to push back against the recommendations made by the doctors on the coronavirus task force who say social distancing will continue through the summer.



"May will be a transition month," Kushner continued. "I think you will see by June, a lot of the country should be back to normal, and the hope is that by July the country is really rocking again."



Trump on Wednesday also congratulated his administration's response while rejecting the idea of a "new normal" at a business roundtable event focused on "Opening Up America Again."



"We did all the right moves," the president said. "This is going away."



"I see the new normal being what it was three months ago," he continued. "Hopefully in the not too distant future, we'll have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other."



The pressure for Trump and his allies to shift the narrative comes as the November election approaches and some polling shows the president trailing presumptive Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden in key battleground states.



"The eternal lockdown crowd can make jokes on late-night television," Kushner added on Fox, "but the reality is that the data's on our side."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Earlier this month, a McDonalds restaurant in Guangzhou, in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, was forced to remove a sign warning that black people are not allowed to enter. Upon removing it, McDonalds told NBC News in a statement that the sign was not representative of our inclusive values.

That sounds like what it almost certainly is: a product of the companys communications department, called in to do damage control. And while we can accept that the McDonalds corporation itself is not, on the whole, racist, the sign does unfortunately represent Chinas values.

As NRs Jim Geraghty has noted, the incident is an example of the xenophobia and racism on display just now in China. This phenomenon is not new to the PRC, but the government has an extra incentive to lean into it now, because it helps the governments concerted campaign to deflect blame for the global coronavirus pandemic.

There is ample evidence of this. A recent Reuters report noted that ambassadors from several African nations recently engaged the Chinese foreign ministry to raise concerns about how their citizens are being mistreated in China. Passport holders from African countries are subject to extreme stop-and-search practices. Many who are coronavirus-negative are being forced into 30-day quarantines anyway. Foreigners from a range of countries who can document clean bills of health are being denied entry to places of business and other facilities simply because they are foreigners.

Much of this is taking place in Guangzhou, known to some as Little Africa because it has the largest African-immigrant population in China. To some extent, African immigration to China is a by-product of Xi Jinpings effort to build a global network of trade and infrastructure investment that gives the regime a perceived geopolitical advantage over the West in the developing world. Ghanaians, Nigerians, and other immigrants to China are all too happy to take advantage of the work and educational opportunities China offers. But many of them have learned the hard way just how limited the countrys kindness is.

Story continues

In fact, Chinas ill-treatment of foreign-minority populations reflects how the Chinese government treats its own citizens. Muslim minority Uighurs are being held in so-called re-education camps intended to strip them of their religious and ethnic identity, and in many cases subjected to forced labor. In Tibet, which China has oppressed since the very beginning of Communist rule in 1949, things have gotten worse under Xi: Last year, Freedom House named Tibet the second-least-free territory on Earth, behind only war-torn Syria.

It would be natural to presume that such discrimination is a regrettable result of the dominance of the Han Chinese, who are more than 90 percent of Chinas population and dominate its society. (By comparison, ethnic Uighurs, for example, make up less than 1 percent of the population.) The Han Chinese, with 1.3 billion members, are the largest ethnic group not just in the PRC but in the world. Antipathy, oppression, and discrimination toward minority ethnic groups in a country with such a dominant majority is regrettable but not surprising, and not unique to the PRC.

Beijings response to critics who note all of this is to try to drown them out by highlighting Americas own well-documented history of racial discrimination. But thats the point: Our historical sins are well-documented, and they inform just about every aspect of our public policy. A free press and other institutions hold up our actions for the world to see. There is no mystery about how our country continues to deal with the effects of the institutionalized discrimination that persisted for nearly two centuries after our own founding, and for a century after we fought a war to end it.

That said, there is a quality to the pattern of behavior in the PRC that transcends ethnicity. Chinese racial discrimination is horrifying in its own right, of course. But it also suggests a farther-reaching chauvinism that is emerging as the defining characteristic of the Xi era.

Han Chinese make up the same percentage of the population in Hong Kong as on the mainland, and are 97 percent of the population in Taiwan. Neither Hong Kongers nor Taiwanese have suffered any less at Xis hands for that. Nor, for that matter, have the 400 million mostly Han Chinese living on less than $5 a day in the country outside Chinas megacities, who face vicious discrimination from urban elites.

In some ways, the gulf between the rich in Chinas cities and the poor in its rural areas has been institutionalized through the longstanding hukou system of internal registration, which hampers movement between regions and creates what amounts to an economic caste system. While Xi has made hukou reform a priority in order to create greater opportunity for urban migration and prosperity, the system continues to reinforce the divide between urban haves and rural have-nots. As the former become wealthier and more global in their perspective, the disdain they frequently show for those who are different  whether from Africa or rural China  is becoming more pronounced.

Xi-era chauvinism is beginning to create a backlash around the world. One example is the cooling ardor toward the Belt and Road Initiative, Xis aforementioned effort to gain footholds in foreign markets. Many projects have caused host countries to take on excessive debt. In one instance, a strategic port in Sri Lanka was ceded to China when the debt burden became too high. Politicians in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and other countries have reversed earlier positions of support because of what they see as Chinas discriminatory debt diplomacy.

This backlash is appearing even in European countries that once saw China as a potential counterbalance to the Trump administration. In Sweden, for instance, some cities have ended sister-city relationships with Chinese counterparts, and the country has closed its Confucius Institute schools, dealing a blow to one of Beijings other soft-power propaganda operations. European leaders, including NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenburg and French president Emmanuel Macron, have also called for better understanding of how Beijing handled the coronavirus pandemic and pushed back against Chinas campaign to deflect blame for it.

In short, the world finally seems to be recovering from its decades-long love affair with the PRC, which peaked with the rise of Xi, who was initially viewed as a reformer who would bring China onto the worlds stage as an equal, responsible actor. The true nature of the regime is becoming more apparent, and the world doesnt like what it sees: the dreadful treatment of ethnic minorities and the rural poor; the obvious interference in Taiwans recent presidential election; the belligerence toward Hong Kong as the one country, two systems agreement is systematically dismantled and pro-democracy leaders are arrested or just disappear; the bullying of emerging economies through debt diplomacy; and now what is very likely a global pandemic caused by Chinese negligence.

For the first time since the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre 30 years ago, the world has awakened to these ugly realities, and if anything good has emerged from this chaotic geopolitical era, that might be it. Heres hoping that more aggressive action to counter Beijing comes next.

More from National Review
Peoples lives were in danger before my eyes and I was not going to tolerate it, he told reporters. I regret if the way I said it in any way gave people a feeling of being treated the wrong way, that was not my intention. It was said with love, but it was tough love, it was anger and frustration.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, said the mayors remarks were unfair to the more than one million Jewish people who live in New York City. The few who dont social distance should be called out  but generalizing against the whole population is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews, he wrote on Twitter. This erodes the very unity our city needs now more than ever.

Jacob Mertz, a spokesman for the rabbis synagogue, Kahal Tolath Yakov, said in a statement that it had tried to organize the funeral to stay within social distancing guidelines but unfortunately, this didnt pan out, and NYPD had to disperse the crowds.

We came up with a plan to have many streets closed, so that mourners can participate and walk the coffin while following the social distancing rules and wearing masks, Mr. Mertz said in a statement. New Yorkers walk the streets daily, thus, a funeral  we thought  shouldnt be different, as long the rules are followed.

Mr. de Blasio has longstanding ties to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, which supported him as he rose through the political ranks from the City Council, then as public advocate and as mayor.

When Mr. de Blasio needed donations to his flailing presidential campaign to qualify for the democratic debates, he turned to Orthodox donors.

But the mayor has run into frequent political headaches related to public health issues in the ultra-Orthodox community, including the measles outbreak and his policy on a circumcision ritual, metzitzah bpeh, that led to multiple children becoming infected with herpes.
(Philadelphia, PA) - Like power lines in an electrical grid, long wiry projections that grow outward from neurons - structures known as axons - form interconnected communication networks that run from the brain to all parts of the body. But unlike an outage in a power line, which can be fixed, a break in an axon is permanent. Each year thousands of patients confront this reality, facing life-long losses in sensation and motor function from spinal cord injury and related conditions in which axons are badly damaged or severed.

New research by scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Temple University (LKSOM) shows, however, that gains in functional recovery from these injuries may be possible, thanks to a molecule known as Lin28, which regulates cell growth. In a study published online in the journal Molecular Therapy, the Temple researchers describe the ability of Lin28 - when expressed above its usual levels - to fuel axon regrowth in mice with spinal cord injury or optic nerve injury, enabling repair of the body's communication grid.

"Our findings show that Lin28 is a major regulator of axon regeneration and a promising therapeutic target for central nervous system injuries," explained Shuxin Li, MD, PhD, Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology and in the Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and senior investigator on the new study. The research is the first to demonstrate the regenerative ability of Lin28 upregulation in the injured spinal cord of animals.

"We became interested in Lin28 as a target for neuron regeneration because it acts as a gatekeeper of stem cell activity," said Dr. Li. "It controls the switch that maintains stem cells or allows them to differentiate and potentially contribute to activities such as axon regeneration."

To explore the effects of Lin28 on axon regrowth, Dr. Li and colleagues developed a mouse model in which animals expressed extra Lin28 in some of their tissues. When full-grown, the animals were divided into groups that sustained spinal cord injury or injury to the optic nerve tracts that connect to the retina in the eye.

Another set of adult mice, with normal Lin28 expression and similar injuries, were given injections of a viral vector (a type of carrier) for Lin28 to examine the molecule's direct effects on tissue repair.

Extra Lin28 stimulated long-distance axon regeneration in all instances, though the most dramatic effects were observed following post-injury injection of Lin28. In mice with spinal cord injury, Lin28 injection resulted in the growth of axons to more than three millimeters beyond the area of axon damage, while in animals with optic nerve injury, axons regrew the entire length of the optic nerve tract. Evaluation of walking and sensory abilities after Lin28 treatment revealed significant improvements in coordination and sensation.

"We observed a lot of axon regrowth, which could be very significant clinically, since there currently are no regenerative treatments for spinal cord injury or optic nerve injury," Dr. Li explained.

One of his goals in the near-term is to identify a safe and effective means of getting Lin28 to injured tissues in human patients. To do so, his team of researchers will need to develop a vector, or carrier system for Lin28, that can be injected systemically and then hone in on injured axons to deliver the therapy directly to multiple populations of damaged neurons.

Dr. Li further wants to decipher the molecular details of the Lin28 signaling pathway. "Lin28 associates closely with other growth signaling molecules, and we suspect it uses multiple pathways to regulate cell growth," he explained. These other molecules could potentially be packaged along with Lin28 to aid neuron repair.

###

Other researchers contributing to the work include Fatima M. Nathan, Yosuke Ohtake, Shuo Wang, Xinpei Jiang, Armin Sami, and Hua Guo, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center and the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine; and Feng-Quan Zhou, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.

The research was supported in part by National Institute of Health grants R01NS105961, 1R01NS079432, and 1R01EY024575 and by funding from Shriners Research Foundation.

About Temple Health

Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Affiliates, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHS's physician practice plan comprised of more than 500 full-time and part-time academic physicians in 20 clinical departments. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.

It is the policy of Temple University Health System that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.
You cant visit museums in person during pandemic lockdowns, but you might not have to for one of the most prestigious institutions. The British Museum has made (via Motherboard) images of more than half its collection (4.5 million objects) available online, with 1.9 million images available through a Creative Commons 4.0 license. You can not only browse the gallery, but use it however you like for non-commercial purposes. About 280,000 photos are being published for the first time, and you can now zoom into and pan images if you want to see every last nuance of an artifact.

The museum already has a number of legendary items available online, including the Rosetta Stone and the Sutton Hoo discoveries. This expansion adds items like a once-lost painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a Bronze Age pendant and a Easter Island sculpture (which Easter Island residents want returned).

This widened access had been planned for a while, the museum said, but had been moved forward due to COVID-19.

The digital collection wont completely replace the experience of seeing historical items in person. It does, however, ensure that anyone with a decent internet connection can see much of what the museum has to offer without waiting for life to return to (semi) normal. The open photo license could also help the gallery reach a considerably wider audience, not to mention help teachers and students with their research.
On Monday, Washington lawyer Lisa S. Blatt will pull out her favorite suit, put on her lucky, understated jewelry and stride to the lectern to address the justices of the United States Supreme Court.

In her dining room. On the telephone.

"I'm going to replicate the process as much as possible," said Blatt, though the only people who will see her Monday are a son who's in charge of the dog, a daughter who will intercept anyone who approaches the house, a colleague at the table and Blatt's husband David, acting as timekeeper.

It is unclear exactly where the nine justices will be - other than apart - as they begin two weeks of oral arguments unlike any in the court's 230-year history.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced changes at the Supreme Court that decades of nagging from the legal academy and threats from congressional critics failed to achieve.

Not only will the arguments be conducted by telephone - a Zoom meeting might be a bridge too far for the videophobic justices - the world for the first time will be able to listen in live, as the cases are argued.

Anyone who finds that less than remarkable in the 21st century has likely never noticed that bronze tortoises are an architectural feature at the Supreme Court, where counsellors still receive a commemorative quill pen.

The justices are making adjustments for the arguments, including asking questions one-by-one by seniority rather than the usual free-for-all, and the lawyers are as well.

At the Justice Department, whose attorneys will take part in nine of the 10 scheduled arguments, the pleas will be made to a speakerphone in the solicitor general's conference room. They will still be wearing morning coats, the formal, traditional dress for government lawyers who argue before the court.

Lawyers on the West Coast, including one making his first Supreme Court argument, will rise before dawn to await the justices' call.

Blatt will be arguing her 40th Supreme Court case, more than any other woman, and was selected by the court for the first argument in its experiment. "What could I say?" she recalled. " 'Of course. Happy to. Honored to.' "

Like most repeat Supreme Court practitioners, her preparation is intense, with moot courts in which lawyers try to ask the toughest questions, and rounds of brainstorming sessions with colleagues at the Washington firm of Williams & Connolly, where she and David are partners.

But if she is reverent about the court, she is equally irreverent about everything else, and mentions another part of her personal argument regimen.

"I did the root touch-up and straightened my hair, at home," she said in a telephone interview. "The only thing I did not do is get my Botox replenished. It's just not possible, so I'm doing my argument in wrinkles."

Blatt, who will be representing Booking.com in an otherwise nondescript trademark dispute, says she is fiercely competitive, and has a won-loss record of 36-2-1. (The justices decide one of her cases last term.)

She is not a student of the philosophy that oral arguments are a conversation between the justices and the advocates.

"An 'argument' is just that: It involves combative communication and intense verbal jousting," she wrote in a recent law review article. "You either win or lose. Or, as I like to frame every case I argue, someone is going to die, and I don't want it to be me."

In her last outing at the court in January, Blatt felt her male opponent had been condescending and unnecessarily denigrating of the legal case she had just presented.

When Chief Justice John Roberts told her she had five minutes for rebuttal, Blatt replied, "You may want to cut me off."

She added: "I don't know what to say. I didn't go to a fancy law school, but I'm very confident in my representation of the case law." Blatt, who received her law degree summa cum laude from the University of Texas, won the case in a 9-to-0 vote.

Blatt's adversary in the upcoming case, Justice Department lawyer Erica Ross, declined to be interviewed, as is customary for government lawyers.

Their trademark argument might not set ratings records for C-Span, which plans to broadcast the court's proceedings. But on May 12, the court is scheduled to take up President Donald Trump's efforts to shield his financial records from congressional committees and a New York prosecutor.

While many lawyers see an argument at the Supreme Court as a career pinnacle, its impact on the outcome of the case is not particularly prized, at least by the justices.

They have said in the past that arguments are important, but likely change the outcome in a few cases each term. Justice Stephen Breyer, for instance, has said he has opposed televising the arguments because he thinks it would give the public a distorted view of their relevance.

More important is what comes before the argument, he said: the facts of the case, the lower court's decision, the court's precedents, the briefs filed by opposing counsel arguing the law and from amicus groups alerting the justices to the consequences of their decisions.

There is no requirement for oral arguments, and the court decides a few cases each term on the briefs alone. It routinely decides emergency requests without arguments, such as its recent intervention into absentee voting in Wisconsin's primary.

But arguments are the only time the justices discuss cases in public before deciding them. And they acknowledge that they give them a chance to challenge the parties' legal arguments and test the consequences of writing an opinion a certain way.

Oral arguments are especially dear to some members of the court. Roberts was a widely lauded Supreme Court advocate before he became a judge. Ruth Bader Ginsburg made her mark arguing gender discrimination cases before the then-all-male court. Elena Kagan was President Barack Obama's solicitor general, representing the administration at the court.

Stanford law professor Jeffrey Fisher said oral arguments are an advocate's last chance. "I see it as your opportunity to try to get through to them if you haven't gotten through to them already," he said.

But he said arguing by telephone will be difficult. "I cannot imagine giving argument without seeing their faces, without seeing their expressions and all the rest," he said. "I just think that's going to make the argument so much harder."

Fisher said he already faced that choice once. The night before an argument, he broke his glasses and had no way to get them repaired before heading to the court.

He had to decide whether to wear a spare pair of contact lenses, which would correct his nearsightedness and allow him to see the justices, or go without, which would allow him to see his notes. He wore the contacts.

Fisher on May 11 is scheduled to represent two teachers in a case about whether the First Amendment protects religious schools against anti-discrimination laws. He expects to leave his Menlo Park, California, home before 6 a.m.

"My plan is to go sit in a conference room, lock the door and spread my stuff out," he said.

Coincidentally, his opponent in the case is Eric Rassback, another Bay Area lawyer who is vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

Rassback said he will put on a suit and drive to a law firm conference room to deliver what will be his first argument before the Supreme Court.

Does he fill a little cheated to be missing out on the grandeur of the Supreme Court courtroom?

"No!' he said brightly. "I get to be a footnote in history."
Multiple lanes of northbound U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose are currently blocked due to a solo-vehicle traffic collision early Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP said the crash was first reported at 4:39 a.m. just south of Hellyer Avenue.
EASTON  Aspetuck Land Trust announced Thursday the acquisition of Gilberties Farm, a picturesque 34-acre working organic farm adjacent to the land trusts Randalls Farm Preserve on Sport Hill Road.

Sal Gilbertie will continue to farm the land and will lease the property from ALT.

Gilberties Farm will anchor Aspetuck Land Trusts larger vision to create a multi-town Green Corridor involving a 40,000-acre belt of land in Easton, Weston, Redding, Wilton, Westport, and Fairfield, ALT said.

Gilberties Farm is the largest certified organic greenhouse operation in the Northeast and a staple in the Fairfield County food system for many decades.

The land trust intends to keep the property as a working farm and is exploring ways the farm can be more accessible to the community.

ALT acquired the farm for $2 million from its owner, Dan Levinson of Westport and his partners. The sale closed April 24. Levinson organized a group to purchase the farm in 2013 when its bank threatened foreclosure and development.

In a release, ALT said, Levinson has given the land trust a mortgage on the farm and made a generous financial gift that reduced the purchase price significantly. In addition, thanks to donations by land trust members, Aspetuck Land Trust was able to contribute significant funds to complete the transaction.

Our intent from the outset was to support Sal Gilbertie and save his farm from development, and we are thrilled to now put it in ALTs hands for the long term. We strongly support ALTS vision of the farm as a transformational open space centerpiece for their Green Corridor Initiative, Levinson said.

Sal Gilbertie said, We want to thank Dan Levinson for his help and Aspetuck Land Trust for purchasing the farm and preserving Gilberties Organics forever and allowing us to continue to grow and serve our communities with quality herbs, vegetables and microgreens.

Bill Kraekel, president of Aspetuck Land Trust, said in a release, We are pleased to be able to make this announcement in this very difficult economic and public health environment. That said, we continue to need funds to protect other parcels in the Green Corridor that are at clear risk for development. For us to succeed in keeping Fairfield Countys serene pockets of rural beauty which we know and love, we will need more people to step forward as Dan has done to make this financially possible.

David Brant, executive director of the land trust, said there is still much to do.

Despite the challenges we face, we are happy to share this positive news. Our mission is protecting open space. Land doesnt save itself. Saving a working farm today will have benefits for many generations to come, he said.

ALT said it is in the process of raising additional funds to help with the acquisition, including submitting a grant application to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and said it will keep the public informed as plans for enhancing the property unfold.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a news conference at Rideau Cottage, as efforts continue to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ottawa on April 24, 2020. (Blair Gable/Reuters)

Canada Set to Ban 11 Categories of Assault Rifles, Other Weapons: Source

OTTAWACanada is set to announce it is banning 11 categories of assault rifles and other weapons, including those that have been used in mass shootings, a security source said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government has long promised to clamp down on firearms, citing a spike in gun crime.

Officials said the new measures, which will apply to about 125,000 weapons, had been in the works for months and were not directly prompted by a shooting rampage in Atlantic Canada earlier this month.

A gunman armed with weapons that included an assault rifle killed 22 people in Nova Scotia. Police said nine of the victims died in fires the man had set, while the rest were shot

The new ban will further tighten gun controls that are already stricter than those in the United States. The source, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said the announcement could come as soon as Friday.

We have long been committed to strengthening gun control in this country, including banning military style-assault weapons, Trudeau told reporters on Thursday.

There is no need in Canada for guns designed to kill the largest amount of people in the shortest amount of time, he added, saying an announcement would be made in the coming days.

The news was first reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. A spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who has overall responsibility for gun control, declined to comment.

Among the weapons that will be outlawed are the AR-15, used by a gunman to kill 26 adults and children in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in the United States, and the M4, M14, and M16 assault rifles.

Other weapons on the list include the Ruger Mini-14 rifle, used in a 1989 Montreal mass shooting in which 14 women were killed, as well as carbines such as the CZ Scorpion, Beretta CX4 Storm, and Swiss Arms Classic Green.

By David Ljunggren
Mayor of Philadelphia Jim Kenney listens during a press conference about the coronavirus at City Hall on March 18. Read more

Mayor Jim Kenney wants to hike taxes, lay off hundreds of city workers, and keep swimming pools closed this summer to fill an estimated $649 million budget hole caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The revised spending plan for the coming fiscal year offers a grim outlook for Philadelphias finances as the city remains under a stay-at-home order. It comes less than two months after Kenney released an ambitious $5.2 billion budget with a proposal to make community college free for many students, expand residential street sweeping, and include no tax hikes. Expanded street sweeping is not part of the new $4.9 billion budget proposal, officials said Thursday, and the community college scholarship program will be delayed and reduced.

Kenney proposed increasing the rates for the citys property tax and parking tax, as well as the wage tax for suburban commuters, as well as freezing planned reductions in business taxes and the wage tax rate for city residents, and eliminating a discount for property-tax payers who pay their bills early.

The tax proposals are sure to face scrutiny from City Council, which must hold hearings and approve a budget before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1.

The first response to [decreased revenue] is sticking your hands into the taxpayers pockets, Council President Darrell L. Clarke said Thursday morning in a virtual round-table meeting with some of his colleagues. Well, guess what? The taxpayers dont have much in their pockets.

Jim Engler, Kenneys chief of staff, said the administration is also reducing expenses and spending reserve funds, and called the budget proposal a balanced approach to soften the blow of the coronavirus pandemic.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus impact: Philly schools face $1 billion hole over 5 years as Kenney administration asks departments to cut budgets by 20%

We look forward to discussing all of this with City Council over the next two months, Engler said. And welcome any proposals that theyre going to have for other options to raise revenue or to make other cuts.

City budget officials estimate a $535 million drop in revenue in the next year, and $30 million in additional expenses due to the pandemic. Those estimates do not include impacts in the current fiscal year, which ends in June.

As bad as these projections are, things could get worse, Budget Director Marisa Waxman said.

The city will put in place a hiring freeze and pay reductions for nonunion employees. The citys labor unions will receive pay raises, however, as part of one-year contract extension agreements, even as some of their members likely will face layoffs next year.

The proposal also includes projected savings for laying off or not hiring part-time and seasonal workers, such as those who staff city pools and portions of the workforce in various city departments. The city has not yet determined how many of its more than 25,000 full-time workers it will need to let go, but Engler said the cuts will affect both unionized and exempt employees.

There will be several hundred either part-time, seasonal, or full-time employees that will be separated from the city, Engler said. Were still working through all of it. Its going to be a substantial number.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus could cost Philly up to $647 million  but layoffs are avoidable, city controller says

Kenney is proposing a property tax rate hike of 3.95%, which would result in a $58 tax increase next year for the owner of a home assessed at $150,000. The additional revenue raised would all go to the School District.

Kenney last proposed a property tax hike in 2018; Council rejected it amid outrage over assessment changes that resulted in significant tax increases for thousands of homeowners.

You cannot tax your way out of this pandemic, Councilmember Allan Domb said Thursday, adding that he hoped the city could trim expenses and increase efficiencies instead.

The citys parking tax would increase from 22.5% to 27% under Kenneys proposal, and the nonresident wage tax rate would increase from 3.4481% to 3.5019%. The wage tax rate for residents would remain at 3.8712%. For a worker who commutes into Philadelphia and makes $50,000 per year, the increase would result in about $26 in additional tax annually.

Passing a budget with tax hikes, layoffs, and cuts to popular services will be politically delicate. City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart suggested the city should explore how to do things better before looking at tax increases and service reductions.

We need to be looking at how to operate more efficiently, and I dont think that significant layoffs or raising taxes should be on the table until weve looked at every single area of this budget," said Rhynhart, the citys elected financial watchdog and a frequent critic of the administration.

The administrations budget proposal prioritizes public safety  with no layoffs in the Fire or Police Departments  as well as health and education, Waxman said. Existing funding for Kenneys signature pre-K and community schools programs, which are paid for by the sweetened beverage tax he championed during his first term, will be maintained, but the programs will not expand as planned.

 READ MORE: Do you still have to pay the Philly wage tax if youre working from home in suburbs due to coronavirus?

The citys libraries and rec centers will remain open but with reduced hours and programming.

Other revenue increases in Kenneys budget proposal include hiking permit and license fees and a fee for commercial trash.

Administration officials said they also worked to leverage federal funding, including reimbursement for expenses to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

And city officials are holding out hope that more help from the federal government could still be on the way.

My hope is that the federal government steps up and provides essential financial support to both cities and states around the country," Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker said Thursday, and that this support comes before City Council has to adopt a budget that closes a $649 million budget hole."
"I am honored to continue the Heroes to CEOs program for its fourth year and meet passionate veteran entrepreneurs who have very unique businesses. We are extremely proud to be supporting Milk Money Kitchens during this unprecedented time for veteran entrepreneurs and small business owners," said Mark Delahanty, President and CEO, Bob Evans Farms. "Nancy's pitch and her innovative business impressed me and is going to be extremely valuable."

Bob Evans Farms has always been committed to supporting America's active duty service members, veterans, and their families through awareness, donations, strategic partnerships, grant opportunities and volunteerism. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Heroes to CEOs program pitching event was held virtually for the finalists and judges to abide by social distancing guidelines. Bob Evans Farms was inspired by the determined, creative, and hard-working veteran entrepreneurs that participated in this year's program and are honored to support them as the world collectively navigates through this unique time.

For the second consecutive year, Bob Evans Farms partnered with Bunker Labs, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping new veteran entrepreneurs start their own businesses. Bunker Labs is committed to seeing that every entrepreneur in the veteran community has the network, tools, and resources they need to start their own business. Bunker Labs has received a total of $30,000 in donations from Bob Evans Farms over the past two years, as recognition of their support of Heroes to CEOs and to help continue their mission.

Milk Money Kitchens runs on the singular vision of improving lives and increasing economic growth through food entrepreneurship. By providing on-demand rental kitchen spaces, business consulting & services, and revenue-sharing opportunities, people can grow their existing food operations or launch a new business with less capital, less personal risk, and far more profitability. The company's goals are centered around creating socio-economic mobility and measurable economic value.

"Thanks to the 'Heroes to CEOs' program, we can onboard four employees. This will allow us to run a second facility, which is under negotiation now and only needs minor improvements to launch," said Nancy Preston, Founder of Milk Money Kitchens. "Our integrated approach to solving food industry problems only begins with rental kitchens that reduce capital needs and fixed costs."

The future will also be bright for the other two finalists, Cristina and Robert Moore, co-founders of Bronze Star Homes, and Donald Todd, founder of Baby So Right. The two finalists each received a $10,000 business grant for their companies. Bronze Star Homes plans to use the program grant to help provide them with most of the design and certification funding to develop and build a village of tiny homes for homeless veterans. Baby So Right plans to continue to produce, distribute and create the automatic retractable pacifier holder and other new similar types of products to protect infants and children.

Bob Evans Farms has given a total of $260,000 to veteran businesses and organizations since the Heroes to CEOs program started in 2017. For more information on the Heroes to CEOs program visit https://www.bobevansgrocery.com/our-story/our-farm-salutes/. For more information about Bob Evans Farms visit www.bobevansgrocery.com and for more information about Bunker Labs visit www.bunkerlabs.org .

About Bob Evans Farms, Inc.

Bob Evans Farms, Inc. is a brand born and raised on the promise of farm-fresh goodness. For more than 70 years, the company has been making delicious, quick-to-table farm-fresh food that is sold in grocery stores all over the country. Today, Bob Evans brand mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese products are the #1 selling refrigerated side dishes in the United States*. Based in Columbus, Ohio and owned by Post Holdings, Inc., a consumer-packaged goods holding company, Bob Evans Farms is also a leading producer and distributor of refrigerated potato, pasta and vegetable-based side dishes, pork sausage, and a variety of refrigerated and frozen convenience food items under the Bob Evans, Owens and Pineland Farms brand names. For more information about Bob Evans Farms, Inc., visit www.bobevansgrocery.com .

SOURCE: IRI Scan Sales Data Total U.S. 52 Weeks Ending 12/29/19.

About Bunker Labs

Bunker Labs is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago, with chapters in 25+ cities, built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans to start and grow businesses. Through local chapters organized in cities across the U.S., Bunker Labs provides educational programming, mentors, events, and thriving local networks to help military veterans succeed and thrive as entrepreneurs and innovators.

SOURCE Bob Evans Farms, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.bobevansgrocery.com


The majority of political leaders across the world responded to the continuing coronavirus pandemic, which has already killed more than 190,000 globally, by calling for increased international cooperation and welcoming any financial, medical and humanitarian aid that is offered to them by foreign entities to help protect their constituents. This is why New Yorks Governor Andrew Cuomo happily accepted Chinas proposal to send 1,000 ventilators to his state, and Italy gratefully welcomed hundreds of Cuban doctors who offered their help in the countrys fight against COVID-19.

Similarly, when the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibabas founder Jack Ma offered to send hundreds of ventilators as well as hundreds of thousands of personal protective equipment (PPE) to 54 countries in Africa, most African leaders, such as Ethiopias Abiy Ahmed and Rwandas Paul Kagame, swiftly accepted the donation and expressed their gratitude.

The leaders of Eritrea, a country ranked 182/189 in the United Nationss 2019 Human Development Index, however, surprisingly chose to reject the vital equipment Ma offered to send them. On April 5, the head of Economic Affairs for Eritreas ruling Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) party, Hagos Kisha Gebrehiwet, publicly confirmed that the Eritrean government rejected Mas donation. Talking as a guest speaker at the bi-weekly Hagerawi Nikhat (national consciousness) teleconference, an exclusive online seminar in which senior party officials get a chance to communicate with their cadres in the diaspora, the man in charge of Eritreas economy said the country does not want to become a dumping site for unsolicited donations. Accepting such offers would be against the principled stance of the Eritrean government which advocates for self-reliance, he added.

Within the very same online seminar, Gebrehiwet explained that the Eritrean leadership is now trying to buy the medical equipment needed to treat COVID-19 cases from the incredibly competitive Chinese market and arrange the shipment of these items to Eritrea on chartered planes.

Of course, despite its rejection of foreign aid, the Eritrean government does not have the necessary funds to swiftly make such purchases. As a result, it turned to its own long-suffering citizens and launched aggressive fundraising campaigns to make them donate the little money they have to the state to help the efforts to combat the virus. Thanks to these aggressive campaigns, some of Eritreas most penurious citizens, including members of the national service, have already been coerced to make donations. It is not yet known, however, whether these donations proved sufficient for the country to buy everything it needs to contain the spread of the virus.

While the Eritrean government undoubtedly hindered the countrys ability to respond to this public health emergency by rejecting Mas generous donation, this was only one example demonstrating its tendency to value its own image and survival more than the wellbeing of its constituents, even during a pandemic.

While Eritrea is one of the most isolated countries in the world, it did not escape the pandemic. The first COVID-19 case in Eritrea was reported on March 21, and, as of April 28, there are 39 confirmed cases in the country, of which 19 have recovered according to the Ministry of Health. The country has been in a nation-wide lockdown to slow the transmission of the virus since April 1.

The pandemic has not yet reached its peak in Eritrea, but all signs indicate that the country is heading for catastrophe.

Eritreas healthcare system is not strong enough to handle a deadly and highly infectious disease like COVID-19. Even before the pandemic, the countrys healthcare facilities had been suffering from an acute shortage of supplies. At certain times, patients have even been asked to buy intravenous (IV) infusions from private pharmacies before being admitted to hospital. The Eritrean government closed all private clinics in 2009. In the second wave of state seizure that started in June 2019, it also took control of 29 Catholic hospitals, health centres and clinics. Meanwhile, the unfavourable working conditions pushed many Eritrean physicians to flee the country, causing major staff shortages in hospitals.

And lack of quality public healthcare is not the only reason why the coronavirus pandemic is likely to have catastrophic consequences for Eritrea.

Although many countries, including some developed nations, are suffering from a shortage of essential products as a result of the pandemic, the magnitude of the problem is double in the case of Eritrea where import and export businesses have been banned since 2003.

As, even during normal times, Eritreans can only buy rationed essential supplies that are on sale in the governing partys stores, they could not stockpile to prepare for the lockdown. Moreover, even if the state miraculously managed to secure extra goods to put on sale, Eritreans would not be able to do any extra shopping as they are not allowed to withdraw more than $330 in any given month from their own savings. This, despite Eritrea being a complete cash economy.

Since the mid-2000s, Eritreas President Isaias Afwerki has been spending most of his time supervising dam constructions. Yet the countrys major cities, including the capital, are still suffering from a chronic shortage of running water and electricity. In August 2018, the regime rounded up many water-tank truck owners. Many of them remain in prison. All water bottling companies were closed in June 2019. This makes it impossible for many Eritreans to follow the hygiene protocols necessary to curb the spread of the virus.

If not impossible, the regime has also made it very difficult for Eritreans in diaspora to help their family members back home. Eritrean citizens living abroad are required to pay the so called diaspora tax first if they want to send goods to their home country. Wiring money back to Eritrea is also not easy for members of the diaspora, as they are forced to use an extremely deflated fixed currency rate imposed by the government to do so.

Eritreans are also suffering from a lack of political leadership during this difficult time. While the leaders of most countries are doing daily briefings to inform their citizens on the latest developments about the pandemic, President Isaias has not spoken to the Eritrean people or media for almost two months after giving an interview to the state-run media in mid-February, in which he did not even mention the growing threat posed by the new coronavirus. His prolonged absence from public life led to rumours that he is incapacitated or even dead.

Inside sources told me the president was in the port-city of Massawa during his months of absence from public life, as he reportedly plans to relocate his temporary office to Gedem, near Massawa. Sources close to the matter also told me that it has been very difficult to get hold of him during this time. In an extremely centralised system, where senior state officials cannot make the smallest decision without the presidents approval, one can only imagine the damage caused by Afwerkis absence during such a crucial time.

After his prolonged absence, on April 18, the president suddenly sent a five-minute recorded message to the Eritrean people from an unknown location. Afwerki only mentioned the pandemic in the introduction of his message and went on to tell his constituents that COVID-19 should not derail the development programmes his leadership has embarked on. The presidents message made it clear that the pandemic is just a secondary concern for the government. The Ministry of Information, however, only translated into English the short section of the message where the president mentioned the pandemic.

As it became clear that Eritrea is not going to be able to protect its citizens from COVID-19, rights groups, exiled scholars, and the UNs Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Eritrea, have called on the Eritrean government to release the tens of thousands of prisoners of conscience who have long been languishing in overcrowded and unsanitary prisons. Many also expressed concern about the thousands of students who are living in cramped conditions at the Sawa military training centre.

During his online seminar, Gebrehiwet also responded to these calls, brushing them off as hypocritical. Rather than offering an explanation as to how they are planning to stop the virus from spreading like wildfire in prisons and military schools, he claimed these would be the best places for anyone who needs to be in quarantine.

In response to the growing criticism of its COVID-19 response and concerns over the wellbeing of its citizens, the Eritrean government issued a statement on April 6, accusing the UNHRC of harassment and claiming that the states enemies are using the pandemic to push for regime change.

While the accusation that rights groups, media organisations and the UN itself are using the pandemic to push for regime change in Eritrea is clearly unfounded, there is a very real chance that this public health emergency is going to spell trouble for Eritreas authoritarian government.

History shows that public health crises such as pandemics, food shortages or extreme pollution harm all governments, but pose the most significant threat to authoritarian regimes. The 1973-1975 Ethiopian famine, for example, was the final trigger that ended Emperor Haile Selassies reign in the country. In Sudan, it was Omar al-Bashirs repeated failure to handle such crises, such as the cholera outbreak of 2017 and the spike in the price of bread in 2018, that led to the demise of his 30-year regime.

The Eritrean government demonstrably failed to respond efficiently to the most significant public health threat the world has faced in a century. If it does not change its ways, accept the global communitys help and take action to save the lives of already-suffering Eritreans, it is unlikely to survive past this pandemic.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
A coronavirus test that delivers results in 75 minutes is being trialled in London hospitals  and could be available for Londoners to buy and use at home within weeks.

Its inventor, Professor Chris Toumazou, of Imperial College London, plans to rapidly expand production to 300,000 tests a month by July to establish a Deliveroo-style delivery service to homes and businesses. This will enable companies to test staff to ensure they can safely return to work.

The Department of Health has ordered 10,000 of the tests and they are being provided to the NHS on a not-for-profit basis. They could cost about 40 when sold privately.

The point of care test is undergoing large-scale testing at St Marys and Charing Cross hospitals to allow staff to check quickly whether they have contracted the virus. It is much faster than the standard test being used in the NHS, which typically involves a wait of several days before the laboratory result is known.

The new test, called DnaNudge, also helps to identify whether patients who arrive in A&E with a non-coronavirus condition unknowingly have Covid-19 and need to be separated from other patients.

There are plans to roll it out to Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital, in Acton, to enable pregnant women planning a caesarean birth to be tested, and to Northwick Park hospital, in Harrow, which was the epicentre of the UKs coronavirus outbreak. A nationwide roll-out is expected to follow as part of the UKs efforts to test first 100,000 and then 250,000 people a day.

This is separate to government plans announced today to test 100,000 people in 315 local authorities across England for coronavirus by sending them home-testing kits.

The DnaNudge test was approved by regulators last week after three weeks of testing on about 400 patients in London and Oxford showed it was 97-98 per cent accurate in detecting Covid-19, and 100 per cent accurate in establishing whether someone did not have the virus. This latter check, known as specificity, is vital in enabling health professionals not displaying symptoms of coronavirus to know they are safe to continue working.

This will increasingly become a factor as the NHS splits into Covid-positive and Covid-negative hospitals as it returns to normal business.

The device has been adapted from a consumer test launched by Professor Toumazou last November that uses a persons genetic profile to advise them which types of food are healthiest for them.

The adapted test detects the RNA molecules indicating Covid-19. A nasal swab is placed within a cartridge, which is then placed in a small portable NudgeBox analyser device to allow an RNA polymerase chain reaction test to be conducted. The test is able to check whether enough RNA has been detected on the swab, and voids any tests with insufficient genetic material to ensure an accurate result.

Professor Toumazou, one of the worlds foremost biomedical engineers and a fellow of the Royal Society, said: Our niche is in these triage-essential situations, where we need to get a result as fast as we can  situations like A&E and before elective surgery and radiography. These are situations where you cant wait for 24 or 48 hours. Our key advantage over other point-of-care tests is we believe ours is the only technology that doesnt require manual processing in a lab  theres no chemistry step.

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We want to see a big deployment of this in the community, both in care homes and in people coming out of isolation and going back to work. We have got everything ready to do that sort of thing once we come out of lockdown.

He said the number of tests coming back positive had fallen sharply since the early trials, suggesting that the battle to contain coronavirus within hospitals was being won.

When we started testing in Oxford and London a couple of weeks ago, I would say we had about 30-40 per cent tests positive [for Covid], he said. Now its down to about five per cent. Professor Graham Cooke, an infectious diseases expert at Imperial who is leading the clinical development in hospitals, said: This is one of the most exciting technologies Ive seen in this area, particularly because it avoids the need for any sample handling.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals in England, said the UK needed to replicate mass testing capacity seen in Germany and South Korea.
UTICA, N.Y.  The Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) has received a grant for nearly $178,000 through the CARES Act to provide relief funding during the coronavirus pandemic.

Congressman Anthony Brindisi says this Health and Human Services Grant will go toward meal delivery, care services, respite care and other support programs at RCIL.

These are critical funds that will go to the Resource Center for Independent Living and allow them to help our most vulnerable, Brindisi said. COVID-19 is hurting all of our vulnerable populations and we need to get them the help they need. I am fighting in Washington to deliver crucial funds to our area. We are all fighting this together and I will never stop advocating for Upstate New York as we fight back.

The grants were distributed through the Administration for Community Living.
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The National Coordinator, Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, has lost his father in Kano State.

The deceased, Aliyu Daneji, was aged 96.

A family source told PREMIUM TIMES that the senior Aliyu died after a brief illness late Wednesday.

He said funeral prayers and burial were observed early on Thursday at his residence at Sabuwar Kofar, Kano Municipal Local Government Area.

The late Mr Daneji was a retired civil servant in the state civil service. He was a Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Finance from 1972-1975.

The death comes amidst a series of mysterious deaths ravaging Kano State, which the authorities are currently investigating.

The Kano State Government has launched a verbal autopsy to ascertain the causes of the deaths.

The Federal Government also sent a delegation of medical experts to help the state.
MARK RALSTON/Getty Images

If you're shopping for a used car, some of Carvana's 161 market areas have the big 32-car vending machines you may have see in ads. Carvana's price is the price  no negotiating.

Carvana has home delivery and pays careful attention to hygiene in order to kill the coronavirus, spokeswoman Amy O'Hara says.

"We wipe down the keys, the paperwork, everything you touch. You can take it for a spin, and we'll even stay on the phone with you. When you're done, leave the paperwork on the seat or in the mailbox  whatever feels safe for you, she says.

 Shop for a loan. Many car companies are offering zero percent loans through their dealerships. But maybe the vehicle you want isn't in the zero-percent program or you don't have a good enough credit rating.

Or maybe you dislike other conditions of the loan in the fine print. Bankrate.com can give you an idea of other auto loan rates. Dealers often offer to arrange a loan for you, and they usually make a profit on such loans, meaning they're not the best available rates.

Consumer Reports magazine suggests also checking online: Clearlane [operated by Ally Bank], E-Loan and LendingTree farm out requests to numerous lenders and usually provide you with several competing offers.

 Contact dealers. Some car-shopping sites have a form to get dealers to contact you. Or you can use the telephone. (Imagine that!)

Be sure to tell them that you don't want personal interaction.

1. You want to fill out all the paperwork online or to have it dropped off in a safe spot, and you'll return it there for dealer pickup.

2. You won't be coming to the dealership or meeting in person with anyone.

3. You want the car delivered. And you want a chance to look it over to be sure it has no damage, has only a few miles on the odometer and has been thoroughly cleaned before you touch it.

Tell the dealer you also will want to test-drive the car before giving a final OK to the deal in writing. If you're especially tall or short, you'll want to make sure the car fits you. If your back is cranky, you'll need to check the seat adjustments to be sure the fit is comfortable.

Expect the dealer to promote an extended warranty or, for a big fee, a maintenance contract that covers the price of the recurring service appointments at the manufacturer's specified intervals. Those sorts of extras are where the dealerships main profit is, because selling new cars is very competitive on price.

Your earlier research probably suggested whether you wanted such things or not.

 Feel smug  or at least accomplished. You now are a veteran of what very well could become the new normal of car buying.

TrueCar's Alain Nina-Sinkam says traditional showroom shopping will last beyond the coronavirus epidemic  but that touchless, at-home transactions will grow in appeal.

"Things we had to do in the heat of the moment, we found were good ideas and made sense, he says.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  Six people died in the fire that razed at least eight houses in a crowded community in Tondo, Manila on Thursday morning, officials said.

The blaze, which started past 6 a.m. in a residential area of Tioco corner Tapuri Streets, reached first alarm at 6:38 a.m. That means at least two firetrucks were called in to battle the blaze.

The Bureau of Fire Protection said two of the dead were girls aged 16 and 17. A 70-year-old woman was also among the fatalities.

A fire has razed a residential area in Tioco corner Tapuri Street in Tondo, Manila on Thursday morning. Previous Next

At least 20 families were displaced by the fire that was declared out at 7:52 a.m.

Damage was estimated at 150,000.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for updates.
Items One and Two are linked. One of the few meatpacking facilities in the country where workers won some concessions on safety is a Smithfield plant in Milan, Mo. Why? Because the workers went to court. In response to a lawsuit filed by an anonymous employee of the plant and the Rural Community Workers Alliance, U.S. District Judge Greg Kays ordered the plant to follow federal safety recommendations while the case continued. Sorry, Mitch. Sometimes it takes a lawsuit to make things better.
Kate Langbroek has slammed Australians who are complaining about being in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview on The Project on Thursday, the 54-year-old radio presenter - who is currently based in Italy - said Australians had gotten off lightly compared to people in other parts of the world.

'Well, you know, it's all comparative, and I would say, if you're allowed to go outside in pairs to exercise, and you're allowed to go and visit somebody, and you're allowed to have conjugal visits, and you're allowed to go grocery shopping and there's clothes stores open and florists are open, I would say... Suck it up!' she said.

Lashing out: On Thursday, Kate Langbroek (pictured) slammed Australians who are complaining about being in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic

After relocating to Bologna, Kate and her family are now faced with strict lockdown restrictions as the coronavirus devastates the region.

'However, I know what it's like. You only know what you know, and I understand as well the frustration of people wanting to get outside, but it seems that now is not quite the time to do that,' she continued.

She then urged Australians 'to be like the emu and kangaroo on the coat of arms, we can't go backwards!'

Not that bad: In an interview on The Project on Thursday, the 54-year-old radio presenter - who is currently based in Italy - said Australians had gotten off lightly compared to people in other parts of the world

Kate said life in Italy at the moment is very 'different' compared to what most Australians have experienced at home.

'Our isolation is different to yours, because you still have a concept of something called "shops" that we don't have,' she added.

She said the northern part of Italy, where she's based, has had 'terrible death figures', and local businesses are 'absolutely bleeding here'.

Doing it tough: After relocating to Bologna, Kate and her family are now faced with strict lockdown restrictions as the coronavirus devastates the region

'I'm trying to keep my nose clean. Very hard for me, because you know I have a bit of a sticky nose,' she joked.

On Thursday, Kate shared a photo of herself reading a book while lying in bed on Instagram, admitting the repetitiveness of life in lockdown was getting to her.

'Can't remember the last time I spent the morning in bed, reading. Oh, that's right. It was yesterday...' she captioned the post.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that he had been diagnosed with the new coronavirus and was temporarily stepping down to recover.

Mishustin, 54, suggested that First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov serve as acting prime minister in his absence.

Putin, who was listening on a televised video conference, sighed when he heard the news, wished Mishustin a speedy recovery and said he agreed with the proposed replacement.

Mishustin, who has been one of the main coordinators of Russia's response to the new coronavirus, is the first high-ranking Russian official to publicly say they have the virus. He broke the news hours after the number of confirmed cases of the virus in Russia surged past the 100,000 mark.

"I have found out that the coronavirus tests I had done returned with a positive result," said Mishustin, who was appointed by Putin in January. "I need to self-isolate and follow doctors' instructions. This is necessary for the safety of my colleagues."

Mishustin said he would remain in contact with members of the government and Putin by phone and video conference despite his condition.

"What is happening to you can happen to anyone," Putin replied matter-of-factly. "When you get to the hospital, call me. I'll be waiting for your call."

The broadcast of the meeting, which showed the men on split screens, lasted just under four minutes.

Mishustin will spend his self-isolation period at a hospital under the supervision of doctors, his spokesman Boris Belyakov said, without disclosing the exact location where the prime minister would be treated.

Belyakov added that all those who had been in contact with Mishustin would go into self-isolation and be tested for the virus.

Russia's nationwide tally of confirmed coronavirus cases surged past the 100,000 mark earlier on Thursday after a record daily rise in new infections.

Russia this week overtook China and Iran in the number of confirmed cases arising from the global pandemic.

Russia has so far reported 1,073 coronavirus-related deaths, a figure far lower than many of the hardest-hit countries however.

Putin has warned the peak of the outbreak has yet to come, and the authorities have said there could be a new spike in cases if the population flouts lockdown measures during public holidays in early May.

The world's largest country by territory, Russia has been on lockdown since Putin announced the closure of most public spaces in late March to limit the scope for the virus to spread.

Putin and the cabinet have been holding remote meetings to avoid contact.
TROY  Detective Sgt. Randall French, the city police officer who for more than a month battled the effects of COVID-19, died on Thursday.

"It is with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you of the line of duty death of Troy Police Detective Sergeant Randall C. French," Chief Brian Owens said in a prepared statement. "(French) succumbed to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, after a long and tough fight."

French, 39, was treated for the virus at Albany Medical Center and at one point received a blood plasma transfusion.

In the weeks before his death, French's wife, Danielle French, made an impassioned plea for donors who could provide the plasma that has shown some promise in reversing the impact of the virus. A donor with potential life-saving antibodies from the virus later provided the plasma donation.

"He is still very sick but he has been making steps in the right direction and the doctors are optimistic," she wrote in an April 17 post on Facebook. "Albany Med has been absolutely amazing."

Albany Med was among the first hospital systems nationwide to receive federal approval to use the experimental COVID-19 treatment that uses the antibody-rich plasma from a recovered patient to treat a sick person.

The Police Department's union and the North Greenbush ambulance squad where French was a volunteer also made pleas for plasma donations.

A source familiar with the case said French entered Albany Med last month with what was thought to be broken ribs from an ATV crash. He was tested and found to be infected with the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Troy Mayor Patrick Madden described French as a dedicated member of the police department whose career involved working to improve neighborhood quality of life, removing illegal guns and drugs from city streets, and community engagement.

"From his service as a paramedic, continued support and advisement with the Troy Police Cadet Post, and his leadership with the Special Operations Section, Sgt. French personified public service in the field of public safety," he said. "His death is a profound loss for the department and the entire city of Troy. On behalf of the Mayors office, Deputy Mayor (Monica) Kurzejeski, department heads and city employees, we extend our sincerest condolences to the French family during this incredibly difficult time.

French, who graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in applied mathematics, joined the department in 2003. He commanded the Troy Police Departments drug unit. He was ranked first on the city's civil service list for promotion to captain.

But Frenchs attempts to be promoted into the command ranks were thwarted by his connection to the fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin during an April 17, 2016 traffic stop on Hoosick Street. Thevenin was suspected of drunken driving when French stopped his car. Thevenin drove off and was fatally shot by French, who later claimed he thought his life was at risk.

An internal affairs investigation later raised questions about French's description of the shooting and recommended sustaining four disciplinary charges against French, including unjustifiable use of deadly force and providing false testimony related to the death of the 37-year-old man. No action was taken.
Prime Minister Morrisons push for an independent investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus is both imperative and risky. It is imperative because a deeper probe could bolster efforts to tackle the pandemic. It is risky in the sense that key Western allies are focused on containing the outbreak, and have vowed to revisit the matter at a later time.

Scott Morrison with the Premier of the People's Republic of China, Li Keqiang, before the ASEAN summit in Bangkok last year. Credit:AAP

By attempting to conquer both fronts, Canberra risks getting caught in the crosshairs of a larger, divisive Beijing-Washington disinformation spat  which is not the desired objective.

Consider the fact that Australia has its eyes set on next months annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, and has demanded a COVID-19 probe without exactly calling out China. Yet the blowback has been considerable. Beijing threatened to boycott Australian goods and offered a great degree of ridicule.

Even though the tirade confirms Chinas unexplained sensitivities to an investigation, it arrives at a cost Australia cannot afford: amplifying Washingtons anti-China offensive.
The IMF on Thursday approved loans worth hundreds of millions of dollars for Mali and Ethiopia to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The Washington-based crisis lender has stepped up its global financing efforts in recent weeks to help countries weather the coronavirus crisis.

The IMF board granted $411 million to Ethiopia on the Horn of Africa to help relieve the pandemic's effects on its fast-growing economy.

The money will come from the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), which allows nations to circumvent the lengthy negotiations usually needed to secure a full economic assistance program -- time most countries do not have as they struggle to cope with the coronavirus crisis.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant adverse impact on the economy and created urgent fiscal and balance of payments needs," IMF Deputy Managing Director Tao Zhang said in a statement.

The RFI money, along with $12 million in debt relief under a separate program, will help Ethiopia "address balance of payments pressures and create fiscal space for essential pandemic-related expenditures," Tao said.

On the opposite side of the continent, Mali will receive $200 million to help plug the deficit created by government spending to blunt the coronavirus impact.

IMF Deputy Managing Director Mitsuhiro Furusawa warned the efforts to contain the pandemic were having "a large adverse impact on Mali's economic growth and public health."

"The authorities are taking measures to limit fiscal pressures through reprioritization of spending plans, but large additional financing will be needed to preserve macroeconomic stability and development gains," he said in a statement.

The West African country's disbursement was made under the Rapid Credit Facility, which is aimed at the world's poorest nations and has been doubled in size to quickly dispense aid.

The money "will support the authorities' response to the crisis, but additional support from the international donor community will be needed to mitigate its social and economic effects."

Among the world's poorest countries, Mali has struggled with insecurity caused by jihadists and ethnic clashes for years, with violence in the center and north occurring on a near-daily basis.

Large swaths of Mali remain outside of the government's control, and experts worry the country is particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.

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DRCs main prisons are filled at 432 percent on average, making them some of the most overcrowded in the world.

Goma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo  Delcasse Lukumbu lies awake at night on the dirty concrete floor of Gomas Munzenze prison fearing for his life. Surrounded on all sides by hundreds of inmates, the political activist, who was sent to Munzenze a few weeks ago, has no way of keeping a safe distance from others to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

It will spread like a fire, Lukumbu said on the phone last week. As soon as one person catches the virus, we will all catch it within hours.

More than 2,400 mostly male prisoners are currently housed inside Munzenze, which was built for a capacity of just 150. The Democratic Republic of the Congos (DRC) main prisons are filled at 432 percent on average, according to MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country, making them among the most overcrowded in the world.

Leading health experts say these overcapacity prisons seriously risk outbreaks of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, threatening the lives of detainees, guards and the outside population.

Stuart Kinner, a global health professor at Melbourne University who co-authored a paper in The Lancet on the dangers of COVID-19 in prisons, said the situation was a ticking time-bomb. He added: Theres likely to be an explosive outbreak, meaning a huge amount of people infected in a short amount of time that will rapidly overwhelm the DRCs health system.

There have been 500 confirmed coronavirus cases in the DRC, including four registered in Kinshasas Ndolo prison this week. According to the coronavirus response committee, 25 of the 180 prisoners in the same cell as the first case have already been tested. But testing is not standard and has not been carried out across the DRCs prisons.

A photograph shared by detainees in Mbandaka prison on April 21 [HRW]

Testimonies heard by Al Jazeera spoke of desperation and squalid living conditions in Munzenze, once called the most terrible prison in Africa by a UN official. Tiny amounts of food are provided for one meal a day, many are forced to sleep without shelter due to the lack of space in cells, and last month female prisoners resorted to using shreds of foam mattresses during their period because the prison had run out of sanitary supplies.

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This is hell, said one prisoner in Munzenze, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal by prison authorities. There is barely any water for us to use  and none of it is clean. If coronavirus doesnt kill us, then something else will.

Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said the organisation had been told some prisoners go days without eating and that 25 died from hunger and a lack of medicine in Kinshasas Makala prison in early 2020. Whats relevant for us is how the pandemic brings to the fore these larger systemic problems, he said. These prisons are basically running without money.

Interim guidance published last month by the World Health Organization (WHO) urged authorities to take urgent action to protect inmates, including airport-style temperature testing of those entering the facilities, enhanced hygiene practices and making space available for high-risk, vulnerable prisoners.

The WHO also warned that Africa could become the next epicentre of the outbreak after the continent registered a 43 percent rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases last week. It said the respiratory virus could kill 300,000 people and push 30 million into desperate poverty. For a population of nearly 90 million, the DRC has just 65 ventilators.

The main entrance to the Muzenze prison in Goma [Peter Yeung/Al Jazeera]

Attempts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering prisons, however, have been flawed, critics say.

On April 2, the justice minister banned deliveries of outside parcels. But Joseph Djongo, a lawyer for Goma-based NGO Food Action for All, said inmates rely on family members and church volunteers bringing them food to survive.

We try to supply food, he said. But restrictions are tighter now. If prisoners arent released, they could die of hunger.

Human rights defenders including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, have reacted to the crisis by calling on national governments to immediately reduce populations in prisons, immigration detention centres and psychiatric hospitals to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Florian Irminger, executive director of Penal Reform International, said the government should release individuals charged for minor and non-violent offences and those with underlying health issues.

Such releases are basically the only way authorities in DRC can aim at preventing a massive spread of coronavirus, he said.

Photographs shared by detainees in Kinshasas Makala prison on April 21 [HRW]

Several countries across the world have already confirmed a number of coronavirus cases in their prisons, including the Kondengui prison in Yaounde, Cameroon, which recorded 13 positive tests out of the 20 administered. Iran, one of the countries worst affected by COVID-19, has so far temporarily freed about 85,000 people from jail in emergency measures.

According to MONUSCO, magistrates in the DRC have to date released some 2,000 prisoners, mostly in the capital, Kinshasa, to reduce the countrys prison populations. But campaigners say this is just a fraction of what is required because, like Lukumbu, some 73 percent of detainees in the DRC have not been convicted of any crime or are awaiting trial, according to the database, World Prison Brief.

Patrick Mukendi Tshibamba, director of Munzenze prison, said officials try to provide the best conditions we can for prisoners.

He added that hand-washing stations had been installed in response to the threat of coronavirus and that there had been attempts to enforce physical distancing. We know if the virus enters the prison it will be deadly, he explained. But there are financial and political limits on what we can do.

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice refused to reveal if any further releases were planned, but stated: All responsible governments are closely monitoring the situation of all parts of the population. The DRC is no different.

Yet in Munzenze, dozens of newly arrested prisoners arrive at the towering concrete block covered in barbed wire every week without being tested for coronavirus, further adding to the anxiety of the troubled population.

We live in fear, said Lukumbu. But whats almost worse is that we dont know if, or when, it will ever end.

This reporting was supported by The Pulitzer Center
Dogs fill shelters and line streets amid travel restrictions and growing rate of abandonment due to financial woes.

Athens, Greece  As a nationwide lockdown enters its second month in Greece, animal rescue groups and shelters have become overwhelmed with the number of strays piling up in their facilities.

Although dog adoption in central Athens and other urban city centres continues, as some seek companionship in the form of pets during the lockdown, international dog adoption from Greece to countries across Europe and the US has come to a standstill.

Thousands of dogs who were slated to travel abroad to new homes are now stranded in shelters across the country, which has become a popular source for international adoption, waiting for coronavirus travel restrictions to be lifted.

As the weeks pass, the backlog of dogs is increasing and the cost of care is becoming unmanageable for some facilities.

For Detroit resident Jennifer Cloherty, who runs international dog rescue organisation Above and Beyond English Setter Rescue, coronavirus travel restrictions have halted her international operations.

Cloherty normally travels to Greece every few weeks to bring dozens of dogs from a shelter on the outskirts of Athens back to the US.

Unfortunately, with the travel restrictions and lockdowns in Greece and the USA as well, it is currently impossible for me to bring any of our dogs back from Greece, she told Al Jazeera.

I have no idea when well be able to resume bringing dogs back, I cannot take any more dogs at the kennel. We dont have any more space, nor can we afford it, she said.

A lack of resources means that shelters have been forced to stop taking in new strays, leading to more dogs on the street.

It also means more dogs continuing to breed in the wild, which again increases the number of strays.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic changed the nature of dog adoption in Greece, more dogs were being abandoned because people could no longer afford them and also due to a hunting culture.

Nowadays, the abandoned dogs problem is significant  the numbers show a great spike in the last years, said Sotiria Kiriazi, a dog trainer and family pet consultant in Athens.

This fact may be attributed to the long-lasting economic crisis in Greece, but there seems to be a connection to the lack of education regarding animal rights and welfare.

Domestic adoption in Greece has grown recently but mostly in city centres, where there are more young people.

The older generation sees dogs just as tools, said Irini Moifessi, president of the Pan-Hellenic Animal Welfare Federation.

This [mentality] has changed with the new generation. Theyre obviously more animal friendly, theyre more sensitive to the cause of animals.

Young people are also more likely to adopt a street dog rather than buy a purebred dog, she said.

But the dogs normally adopted by young city dwellers are small or puppies, due to a lack of space. This means bigger, older and former hunting dogs are rarely taken in.

These are the dogs that usually go for international adoption.

It is a difficult situation for our international rescue at the moment, said Cloherty, who now has over 60 dogs waiting to travel from Greece to the US, a number feared to increase.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 16:10 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd541229 1 National KPK,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,PPP,Romahurmuziy,bribery,corruption,release,Supreme-Court,appeal Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has released former United Development Party (PPP) chairman and graft convict Muhammad Romy Romahurmuziy from prison after the Jakarta High Court ruled in favor of his appeal for a sentence reduction.

KPK spokesperson Ali Fikri said on Wednesday that the Jakarta Corruption Court had ordered the antigraft bodys prosecutors to release Romy on the same day, declaring that he had fulfilled his one-year prison sentence.

The PPP politician spent a year behind bars after graft busters detained him on April 15, 2019.

The KPK has no other choice than to release [Romy] because he had served time as stipulated in the court rulings against him, Ali said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

Read also: In defense statement, Romahurmuziy reveals connection to former KPK commissioner

The Jakarta Corruption Court initially sentenced Romy to two years in prison on Jan. 20 for accepting a bribe of Rp 346.4 million (US$22,220) from Religious Affairs Ministry officials in exchange for promotions within the ministry. The verdict was lower than the four-year prison sentence demanded by KPK prosecutors.

However, the Jakarta High Court ruled in favor of the politicians appeal and cut his sentence to one year.

Ali said the KPK had submitted an appeal against the high courts ruling to the Supreme Court on Monday, as the high court did not rule Romys wrongdoing as part of an act of bribery.

The panel of judges at the appellate court failed to sufficiently consider [Romys] conviction, which was too light, the spokesperson went on to say.

Read also: Supreme Court seeks to eliminate disparities in graft sentences

He added that the antigraft body hoped the Supreme Court would consider the reasons for the KPKs appeal in accordance with the legal facts, as well as justice for the public, as corruption is an extraordinary crime in the country.

Indonesia Corruption Watch also slammed the courts decision, saying it was lighter than the sentence given to other political party leaders.

PPP lawmaker Achmad Baidowi, who also serves as the partys deputy secretary-general, appreciated Romys release.

Whether he will return to the party depends entirely on him. For now, he will focus on the appeal process at the Supreme Court.

Ghina Ghaliya contributed to this reporting
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Police discovered 100 bodies stacked in unrefrigerated trucks outside a funeral home in Brooklyn Wednesday after police responded to 911 complaints from neighbors who had been complaining for weeks about the smell.

Authorities found two unrefrigerated U-Haul box trucks being used to store the bodies outside of Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in Flatlands after neighbors filmed body bags being dragged into them in recent days.

There were as many as 50 corpses being stored in each truck, according to ABC News, as the facility struggled to keep up with the overwhelming surge of bodies due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Police found the bodies in various stages of decomposition.

The owner told city officials that its freezer had stopped working and they were forced to use the trucks as storage while bodies awaited burial or cremation.

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Workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn Wednesday after authorities found that the facility was storing up to 100 bodies in two unrefrigerated U-Haul storage vans

Pictured here workers secure a van full of bodies of deceased people during the outbreak of coronavirus disease at the Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn. The owner of the home said that its freezer broke and overwhelmed with the surge of bodies caused by the coronavirus outbreak, they used these vans as storage for weeks

After neighbors complained for weeks about the smell coming from U-Haul vans being used to store bodies at the funeral home, the NYPD investigated Wednesday and discovered 100 bodies in various stages of decomposition

Police responded to a report of human bodies in vehicles in Brooklyn on Wednesday which they determined were connected to the nearby funeral home. They discovered 100 decomposing bodies in two U-Haul truck. A freezer truck was brought in by officials who helped workers transfer the corpses which had been wrapped in body bags

'For weeks already, there have been trucks constantly outside unloading bodies. You could smell the death,' Jay Fredo told New York Daily News.

'Some of them have been dropped. I know it's a pandemic, but this is crazy. It's sick.'

No criminal charges were brought but the home was cited for failing to control the odors.

The facility was able to obtain a larger, refrigerated truck later in the day, the official said, and workers suited up in protective gear could be seen in the afternoon transferring bodies.

'I saw 15 bodies in the U-Haul box truck stacked up on one another, and more in the other,' one officer told the New York Daily News.

'They stored them right out on the street.'

A member of staff told ABC that there were a further 30 to 40 bodies inside and some were being kept on the floor.

'This funeral home is over-capacitated with human remains and that is true,' said Dr. David Penepent, a funeral director who teaches at SUNY Canton and was brought in by the state to help.

'He got overwhelmed with the number of remains that he had and he didn't know what to do and I'm here to assist him in this operation.'

Neighbors took these videos of the bodies being unceremoniously stacked into the back of the trucks in recent days. They had complained for weeks about the smell coming from the trucks

The bodies were packed in body bags inside the U-Haul trucks for weeks as they awaited cremation or burial. Neighbors had made complaints to the authorities after they filmed the decomposing corpses being stacked into the trucks

NYPD officers secure trucks full of bodies in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Officers made the gruesome discovery of as many as 100 bodies stored in two U-Haul vans outside of the Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home

It is reported that as many as 100 bodies were being kept in unrefrigerated storage trucks outside the funeral home

Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn received complaints after neighbors said they could 'smell the death' coming from trucks parked outside the home being used to store bodies. The home has been cited for the smell

John DiPietro, who owns the neighboring property, told the New York Post that cadavers had been mounting up at the funeral home for weeks.

'You don't respect the dead that way. That could have been my father, my brother,' said DiPietro.

According to the Post, the funeral home told police officers that the bodies were due to go to the crematorium, but nobody had come to collect them.

In contrast, ABC News reports that the funeral homeowner told city officials that their freezer was broken.

Funeral homes across New York City have been overwhelmed in recent weeks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Aerial footage showed the bodies being taken from the U-Haul vehicles and transferred to a refrigerated truck

Police cordoned off the area around the funeral home and the trucks on Wednesday night as the complaints about piles of bodies was investigated

The funeral home workers were pictured coming in and out of the building wearing protective gear on Wednesday

The smell from the bodies being stored in the trucks was reaching the surrounding buildings pictured here. The owner told officials that the freezer in the home broke. The city brought in a freezer truck Wednesday to store the bodies

The homes are required to store bodies awaiting burial or cremation in appropriate conditions that prevent infection.

The city was forced to obtain freezer trucks this month to temporarily hold bodies as funeral homes reached capacity and no space remained to store bodies properly.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said Wednesday night that he was going to Flatlands to investigate the complaint as he called for an urgent reform of the city's burial process.

'This is exactly what I spoke about over the weekend regarding the urgent need for reform in the handling of bodies and burial processes,' Adams tweeted.

'We demand decent treatment of our deceased.

'While this situation is under investigation, we should not have what we have right now, with trucks lining the streets filled with bodies.

'It was people who walked by who saw some leakage and detected an odor coming from a truck.'

Outside the building, authorities found two U-Haul box trucks, a U-Haul van, an unmarked 30-foot box truck, and an unmoored tractor trailer. The unmarked vehicles holding bodies were refrigerated but the U-Haul trucks were not

Police wore face masks as they guarded the morbid scene. Officers are believed to have found up to 100 bodies in the trucks

Funeral homes across New York City have been overwhelmed in recent weeks. On Wednesday, the extent of the strain was revealed when police officers pictured here were called to a funeral home in Brooklyn over complaints that bodies were stored in unrefrigerated trucks

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams traveled to the scene as he called for reform in the city's burial process

Local residents told New York Daily News of the increasingly foul smell coming from the funeral home and that trucks were seen for weeks constantly unloading bodies.

'I've seen bodies stacked up on top of one another inside the trucks with both doors open,' said Abdul Kamara, 40.

'They've been storing bodies in the trucks. It's been going on since the beginning of COVID. These people have passed. This is not the way they should be treated on the way out.'

The Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home on Utica Ave. and Ave. M in the Flatlands has been cited for not controlling the smell of dead bodies after they used unrefrigerated rental U-Haul trucks as storage for weeks after their freezer broke

The NYPD and several state and city agencies including the state Department of Health visited the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening after complaints were filed that the facility was using rented trucks to store bodies

Workers from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home on Utica Ave. and Ave. M in Flatlands, Brooklyn, are pictured here in protective gear after the NYPD visited in relation to complaints in the way they were storing bodies

The New York Times reports that the state Department of Health, which regulates funeral homes, was called to the scene to determine whether the home was handling human remains appropriately.

Cleckley is not a member of the New York Funeral Directors Association, the organization said.

Wednesday's terrible discovery came after city officials declared last week that they would freeze bodies temporarily rather than burying them on Hart Island.

The city says that freezer trucks will be used that can keep human remains frozen for up to a year.

Adams has said that he wishes to form a bereavement committee from next Monday to help the city deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the large number of deaths it has experienced in the past few weeks.

'This community is going to be traumatized by this long after COVID-19,' the borough president said.

'It's gonna take coordination between funeral directors, cemeteries and the city to address this situation.'

New York City's death toll had reached 12,287 as of Wednesday afternoon with at least 159,865 cases.

Nearly half of all New York City residents say they know somebody who has died of coronavirus, a new poll finds, shedding a stunning light on just how deeply the pandemic has hit the Big Apple.

The state-wide survey, carried out by Siena College and released this week, discovered that 46 percent of New York City residents personally knew someone killed by COVID-19, as do 36 percent of respondents living in the suburbs, and 13 percent of those living upstate.

The deadly virus has had a particularly large impact on New York's minority communities, with 52 percent of Latino voters and 48 percent of black voters confirming they know someone who has died, compared to just 25 percent of white respondents.

In total, around one in three people across New York State know a fatality of the outbreak.
The number of positive cases across Indiana rose by 669, or nearly 4%, to 17,835 since the day before.

The number of confirmed cases in Lake County increased by 60, or just more than 3%, to 1,846.

Totals included 414 positive cases and 15 deaths in Gary as of Thursday afternoon, according to the Gary mayor's office. There were 116 cases and four deaths reported in East Chicago, according to information released Wednesday.

The Lake County Health Department reported the following case totals Thursday: Hammond: 286, up from 277 a day before; Crown Point: 202, up from 190; Merrillville: 188, up from 183; Dyer: 108, up from 105; Hobart: 103, up from 99; Munster: 96, up from 94; Schererville: 94, up from 92; "unknown": 41; Highland: 39, up from 38; Griffith: 38, no change from Wednesday; St. John: 33, up from 32; Cedar Lake: 29, up from 28; Lowell: 26, up from 25; Whiting: 21, no change from Wednesday; "other": 11, up from 10; Schneider: two, up from one; New Chicago: one, no change.
Glimmers of a gradual return to air travel mean airlines are rolling out new policies aimed at protecting passengers and crew from coronavirus transmission and increasing consumer confidence in air travel safety.

One day after the TSA marked its highest number of screened passengers in the US since April 3, JetBlue Airways announced that it will require all passengers to wear face masks starting on May 4. Crew members were already required to wear masks.

The TSA figure -- 128,875 passengers screened on Sunday -- was still only about 5% of the 2.5 million people screened on the equivalent day in 2019, but it's an uptick nonetheless and safety measures are top-of-mind for anyone considering flying.

JetBlue's move follows American Airlines' announcement on Monday that flight attendants will be required to wear masks beginning on May 1.

American will also start handing out sanitizing wipes and gels and face masks to customers in early May, "as supplies and operational conditions allow," the news release said.

As people in many corners of the world begin to move around more freely, airlines are issuing policies that are likely to evolve with the pandemic.

All of the carriers have plans for enhanced cleaning and sanitation.

Here's where some major carriers stand so far on personal protective equipment and social distancing measures:

United Airlines

All United Airlines flight attendants are required to wear face masks. United was the first major US carrier to announce the requirement.

United Airlines will begin to provide masks to passengers in early May, a company spokesperson told CNN.

"We are not mandating that passengers wear a mask, however, we strongly encourage travelers follow CDC guidance to wear a face covering when social distancing is difficult," said Nicole Carriere, a spokeswoman for United. "By providing the masks, we're making it that much easier for them to do so."

The carrier has also modified in-flight service to minimize touchpoints and has moved primarily to pre-packaged foods and sealed beverages.

United is also implementing changes to boarding and seat assignments to promote social distancing through at least May 31.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is requiring all employees to wear masks or face coverings when unable to maintain the six-foot social distancing rule, the airline said in a memo to employees on Monday.

"We are strongly encouraging our customers to wear masks and will make them available at ticket counters, gates and onboard airplanes," the memo also said.

Delta is blocking middle seats and reducing the number of passengers on each flight, boarding customers 10 at a time and changing food and beverage service to reduce touchpoints between passengers and crew, according to measures outlined on the carrier's website.

American Airlines

In addition to handing out masks to passengers and requiring flight attendants to wear them starting in May, American Airlines has turned off some computers and kiosks at ticket counters to her encourage social distancing.

Signage at gates reminds passengers not to crowd together during the boarding process. American has also reduced food and beverage service through April 30 and has limited the number of passengers on each aircraft through May 31.

"American will not assign 50% of main cabin middle seats or seats near flight attendant jump seats on every flight, and will only use those middle seats when necessary," the carrier's temporary policy reads.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue is the first major US carrier to require that passengers wear masks, effective May 4.

"Wearing a face covering isn't about protecting yourself, it's about protecting those around you," said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer of JetBlue, in a statement. "This is the new flying etiquette."

JetBlue has also limited the number of available seats on most flights and regularly reviews seat assignments to maximize space between passengers.

The carrier has adjusted food and beverage service to minimize touchpoints, with more limited offerings in many fare classes.

Air Canada

All Air Canada passengers are required to comply with a Canadian government mandate that all passengers flying through, to or from Canada wear a non-medical face mask or face covering over their nose and mouth.

Air Canada has adjusted its boarding procedures and is reseating customers to enable social distancing. Where adequate spacing isn't possible, passengers can choose to take a later flight at no additional cost.

Services and amenities have also been adjusted to mitigate the risk of viral transmission. Some food service has been suspended or shifted to pre-packaged fare and bar service and pillows and blankets are no longer available on some flights.

Masks and other protective equipment common in Asia

Since April 23, Malaysia Airlines has required all passengers (excluding infants) to wear face masks.

Korean Air is providing cabin crew with protective clothing, including goggles, masks and gloves.

"Protective gowns are being provided on medium- and long-haul inbound flights as overseas Covid-19 cases continue to increase significantly," Korean Air says in outlining its protective policies.

All Korean Air passengers are required to wear masks, and the airline is providing surgical masks and hand sanitizer at airports and on aircraft.

Some European carriers are offering or requiring masks

Passengers must wear face masks when flying with Lufthansa Group beginning May 4. The group includes Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Flight attendants will also be required to wear masks, according to a Lufthansa Group news release.

Lufthansa added that leaving middle seats vacant will no longer be necessary.

"As a result of this new regulation, the middle seat that has thus far been left vacant in Economy and Premium Economy Class, will no longer remain a necessity, as the facial covering provides the necessary protection," the news release said.

"Yet, currently, due to a decrease in flight demand, seats will be allocated as far apart as possible throughout the cabin."

Air France says on its website that the majority of its flights are not full, allowing social distancing.

"In cases where social distancing is not possible, our crews distribute masks at the aircraft door to customers who do not already have them," the site says.

Dutch carrier KLM says its crew members wear "mouth caps and protective gloves." CNN has asked for clarification and information on whether passengers are required to wear masks.
Amsterdam, 30 April 2020

Brunel International N.V. (Brunel) today announced its intention to nominate Graeme Maude for appointment as Chief Operating Officer, starting 1 July 2020.

The Supervisory Board will nominate Graeme Maude for a period of four years at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 29 June 2020.

Aat Schouwenaar, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Brunel

To drive the diversification and growth strategy and to invest in our future capabilities, we have decided to extend the Board of Directors with a COO. We have now reached agreement with Graeme Maude to join us on July 1st, 2020 as the COO of Brunel. With his unique experience in professional staffing, global staffing and many acquisition and improvement projects, Graeme will add crucial execution power to Brunel. In his role as COO, Graeme will take responsibility for critical strategic diversification and optimization projects, and the regional directors for the Americas and Belgium will report to him.

Jilko Andringa, CEO of Brunel

Peter and I are pleased to welcome Graeme in our team and look forward to the synergy this will bring for Brunel. I am convinced that with the arrival of Graeme, we can accelerate the execution of our strategy.

Graeme Maude

Graeme Maude was born in 1967 and has British nationality. Graeme Maude has held various national and international senior positions with leading players in the market, most recently with RGF Staffing (part of Recruit Holdings) as Chief Operating Officer. Before joining RGF, he worked for 8 years at a professional staffing company, lastly as managing director. Graeme Maude started his career at Deloitte, earning his title as a chartered accountant in 1993.

Attachment


Greenberg Traurig, LLP Amsterdam shareholders Bas Vletter and Wietse de Jong authored the Netherlands trends and development chapter in the 2020 Chambers Global Practice Guide on Corporate M&A published by Chambers and Partners.

Covering 53 jurisdictions, the Corporate M&A guide addresses recent developments in the M&A market, the regulatory field, recent legal developments, stakebuilding, negotiation, structuring, disclosure, duties of directors, defensive measures and litigation.

Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guides provide legal commentary on key issues for businesses and discusses important developments in the most significant jurisdictions. For each guide, Chambers and Partners selects contributing editors who are ranked in the relevant Chambers guides as the best in their field.

Bas Vletter has been recognized as one of the leading M&A and ECM lawyers in the Netherlands, including in the 2020 edition of Chambers Europe and in several other guides, like Legal 500. He has acted as legal adviser in several high-profile private and public transactions, including the first successful public hostile bid in the Netherlands.

Wietse de Jong is a leading financial law attorney who focusses on investment management and products and services of financial institutions. He held positions with US and Dutch regulators and received accolades from several legal directories, such as Chambers and Legal 500.

About Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice

Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice comprises more than 450 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America who regularly advise public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs, and investment funds on global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions, and general corporate matters. The groups industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, consumer products, energy, food and beverage, health care, manufacturing, media, technology, and telecommunications sectors.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.


Hammond's Holy Ghost Catholic School third grade student Brinleigh Pecquet shows everyone the round object she found in a Zoom scavenger hunt with teachers and classmates.
The documents released Wednesday evening include notes showing FBI officials discussed in advance how to handle a January 2017 interview with Flynn about his contacts with Russias ambassador to the United States before Trump took office. Three people familiar with the matter said the notes were written by E.W. Priestap, the former assistant director of the FBIs counterintelligence division. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because Flynns case is still being weighed by the courts. A lawyer for Priestap did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Denis Goldberg, a veteran anti-apartheid activist in South Africa who was imprisoned for 22 years, has died at the age of 87.

His was a life well-lived in the struggle for freedom in SA. We will miss him, the BusinessLIVE news portal quoted Goldbergs family as saying in a statement today.

Goldberg, who was born in Cape town in 1933 and passed away late Wednesday, had been active in the struggle against apartheid in the country.

In 1963, he was arrested at the Rivonia headquarters of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), which was the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) co-founded by the iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela.



The MK was founded following the Sharpeville massacre committed by police forces against protesters demonstrating against apartheid legislation known as pass laws in 1960.

Goldberg was sentenced in 1964 to four terms of life imprisonment. He was the only white member of MK who was arrested and sentenced in a trial known as the Rivonia Trial.

He spent over 22 years in jail along with other prominent members of the anti-apartheid movement in the country.

Goldberg was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver by the South African presidency in 2009.

RIP!

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  Brazils virtually uncontrolled surge of COVID-19 cases is spawning fear that construction workers, truck drivers and tourists from Latin America's biggest nation will spread the disease to neighboring countries that are doing a better job of controlling the coronavirus.

Brazil, a continent-sized country that shares borders with nearly every other nation in South America, has reported more than 70,000 cases and more than 5,000 deaths, according to government figures and a tally by Johns Hopkins University  far more than any of its neighbors. The true number of deaths and infections is believed to be much higher because of limited testing.

Meanwhile, the European economy shrank by a record 3.8% in the first quarter as business activity from hotels and restaurants to construction and manufacturing was frozen by shutdowns aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

The drop in the 19-country eurozone was the biggest since statistics began in 1995 and sharper than the plunge in the midst of the global financial crisis in the first quarter of 2009 after the bankruptcy of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers.

Live coronavirus tracker

Coronavirus news in the U.S.

US weighs restricting travel from Brazil amid fears it may be next coronavirus hot spot (ABC News)

Senate Democrats demand answers as to why leader of vaccine development was reassigned (CNN)

These New Yorkers fleeing coronavirus vow theyll never return (NY Post)

Tenants, landlords brace for largest rent strike in decades (NBC News)

Navy delays decision on reinstating fired captain who warned of coronavirus (Politico)

Elon Musk slams fascist social distancing measures in rant about Tesla production (CBS News)

Coronavirus news around the globe

In this Wednesday, April 29, 2020 photo a man walks in front of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany. The European economy shrank by 3.8% in the first quarter, the most since records began, as business activity was frozen by shutdowns aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus. It was the biggest drop since statistics started in 1995 and bigger than the plunge in the midst of the global financial crisis in the first quarter of 2009 after the bankruptcy of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)AP

Russias coronavirus outbreak is getting bad. Putin says the worst is yet to come. (Vox)

UK researchers should know by July if vaccine is effective (CNBC)

After aggressive mass testing, Vietnam says it contains coronavirus outbreak (Reuters)

South Korea reports no new local cases for 1st time since February (ABC News)

Latest local coronavirus news

Local farmers start taking online orders (Fox 8)

Trump says he will visit Arizona next week, maybe Ohio (NBC News)

Read complete prior coronavirus coverage.
The National Trust for Scotland launches new Pinewood Conservation Gin

The Cairngorm National Park in Scotland is home to a host of diverse wildlife, but is perhaps best known for supporting a large part of the remnant Caledonian pinewood. Mar Lodge Estate, a 30,000ha estate within the Cairngorms National Park, is managed by The National Trust for Scotland (NTS), for whom the pinewood is of particular importance: as an iconic part of the Scottish Highlands, not only are these trees culturally important, but they also support a host of other wildlife including pine marten, red squirrel and twinflower.

However, due to the historic heavy grazing and timber clearance, these trees are under threat, and in order to ensure the important restoration and expansion of the pinewood, the NTS has come up with a creative way to raise funds: they have partnered with a local distillery, Glenshee Craft Distillers (the producers of Persie Gin), to produce Pinewood Conservation Gin, a gin inspired by the pinewoods. All proceeds from the sales of the gin go back to the Mar Lodge Estate, located within Cairngorm, to protect and support the growth of the pinewood.

Not only are the proceeds from the gin going to support the trees, but the botanicals the gin is flavoured with come from the Mar Lodge pinewoods themselves, hand-picked by NTS staff. There are huge numbers of usable plants on the Estate, including juniper, and this has given the NTS the opportunity to make an exciting new product that simultaneously reflects its namesake. The gin itself has been described as herbaceous and savoury, with a warming sweetness.

It is available to buy from the NTS shop or here, and by purchasing the gin, you are supporting the Caledonian pinewoods of Scotland. It will also be available in Trust shops in Scotland, and the NTS hopes to extend sales to businesses across the Cairngorms and further afield over the year.

30 April 2020 -
A bipartisan group of 63 state representatives in a letter Wednesday made several requests of Gov. Greg Abbott that they say would help protect elderly Texans living in long-term care facilities.

Our state government can and must do more to protect our most vulnerable Texans, they wrote. That is why we respectfully request the following critical measures to defend our elderly Texans, Texans with disabilities and the Texans on the frontline serving these communities.

As of Wednesday, about 40 percent of the states COVID-19 deaths were linked to nursing homes and assisted living centers, according to state data.

Abbott has barred all vistitation from people other than those providing critical assistance at nursing homes, state-supported living centers, assisted living facilities, or long-term care facilities. In his latest executive order issued Monday, Abbott also released recommendations to facilities to decrease the risk of infection in these facilities, though experts interviewed by Hearst Newspapers this week said they were largely a reiteration of existing guidance.

CARE HOME DEATHS: Nearly half of coronavirus deaths in Texas linked to nursing homes, assisted living facilities

In the letter Wednesday, lawmakers asked that COVID-19 testing be available and mandatory for every employee and resident of a nursing home, state-supported living center, state hospital or group home and that the state increase its transparency in reporting outbreaks.

The states health department two weeks ago began releasing data on number of infections and deaths but has declined to include the names of facilities in that data.

The lawmakers also requested that Abbott direct additional funding to Texas Medicaid by increasing the reimbursement rate for long-term and intermediate care facilities to cover direct-care staff wages and personal protective equipment. Texas has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursment rates in the country.

About 80 to 85 percent of Texas nursing home residents are dependent upon either Medicare or Medicaid funding for their care, according to the Texas Health Care Association. In 2018, 86 percent of Texas nursing homes reported allowable costs that exceeded Medicaid reimbursement.

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE: As 11 residents died of COVID-19, College Station care home left families guessing

During last years legislative session, bills failed to pass that would have increased funding for long-term care providers who met certain quality standards and created a pool of incentive funds paid into by all operators in the state.

The letter is signed by nearly every member of the Democratic House Caucus, as well as Republicans Angie Chen Button, of Richardson; Drew Darby, of San Angelo; James Frank, of Wichita Falls; Stephanie Klick, of Fort Worth; Matt Krause, of Fort Worth; Gary VanDeaver, of New Boston; James White, of Hillister.
A few months ago, Erie County, New Yorkhome to the city of Buffalocame into the new year with a multi-million dollar budget surplus, just as its done every year for most of the last decade. Meanwhile, Nassau County, in suburban Long Island on the other end of the state, had just projected a 2020 budget deficit of nearly $50 millionits smallest projected deficit in years.

Today, however, both counties are in the same bleak situation: staring down budget holes many millions of dollars deep, dreading tough decisions like layoffs, service rollbacks, and tax hikes, and anxiously awaiting more help from Washington, D.C.

The unprecedented scenario created by the coronavirus crisis has rendered each countys fiscal past basically meaningless. Theyre now under siege from both sides of their balance sheets. On one hand, the counties main source of revenuesales taxis set to dry up as local economies remain shuttered. On the other, the governments are pouring more dollars into services countering the outbreak, like emergency first response and law enforcement.

Both counties received hundred-million dollar sums of federal aid in the $2.2 trillion CARES Act that passed in March. But local officials say that more relief will be needed as long-term economic damage sets in, erasing their budget surpluses or adding to their existing deficits.

The problem for themand for state, county, and city officials nationwideis that the issue of state and local government aid has suddenly become the biggest fault line in Washington over coronavirus aid.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) set off a furor when he expressed opposition to further aid for state and local governments, and suggested bankruptcy as a possible remedy for struggling jurisdictions. Other GOP lawmakers, such as Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Rick Scott (R-FL), have argued that Washington shouldnt be bailing out poorly-run state and local governments.

Story continues

That kind of talk infuriates state and local government officialsno matter their party affiliation. As the experiences of Erie and Nassau Counties show, the fiscal pain that local governments are facing is severe, and its hitting no matter how well-run a county was perceived to be before COVID-19 struck.

Were estimating something on the order of a $300 million loss in revenue, said Jack Schnirman, the Nassau County Comptroller. This is unforeseen, catastrophic revenue loss that is solely because of the impact of COVID-19 When you lose a huge part of your revenue, you need help, regardless of how much or little of a surplus, or deficit, or rainy day fund you may have.

Its brutal. Ive never seen anything like it, said Stefan Mychajliw, Jr., the top budget official in Erie County. Theres talk of our revenue loss being close to $200 million, he said, which is much more than the countys discretionary budget of $150 million.

Five Million People Need This Lifeline. But Its Gone Broke.

We provide important services that taxpayers actually use911 dispatchers, parks, libraries, said Mychajliw. If we dont get some semblance of relief, if someone calls 911, no ones going to answer.

To county officials, thats just one reason why the question of sending more aid their way shouldnt be a question at all. I wholeheartedly understand the reluctance to bail out states they believe are fiscally mismanaged, said Mychajliw, who calls himself as conservative a fiscal Republican as can be. We were in phenomenal shape We shouldnt be punished at the local level for states sins.

Schnirman, a Democrat, noted New Yorks large contribution in tax dollars to the federal government and how hard its been for the New York City region in particular to secure aid from Congress, like in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Its not lost on folks that were talking about a region thats had to scratch and claw to get money, said Schnirman. You want to get any New Yorker angry? Say someone in another part of the country thinks we should go bankrupt after we give so much money to the federal government.

He explains New Yorkers attitude toward the rest of the country like this: Lookwere there for you, be there for us. How can this be a partisan issue?

In the CARES Act, at least, state and local government aid was not the partisan issue it is now. Lawmakers and President Trump approved a $150 billion pot of funds to help out those governments.

Erie and Nassau Counties are both populouseach has near or over one million residentsand got $160 million and $236 million, respectively, worth of relief in the CARES legislation. Those funds began arriving last week.

While local officials enthusiastically welcomed that aid, the strings attached to the money limit how helpful it can be. Those dollars have to be spent on COVID-related services, and cant be used to stem the massive budgetary bleeding on the revenue side of counties balance sheets.

Both counties are pushing for Congress to fix that provision. In an April 28 letter sent to McConnell and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mychajliw urged amending the prior legislation that will allow us to use the $160 million in a more flexible manner.

Money to offset revenue is critical for a county government that is paying the police, the EMTs, the frontline workers who are dealing with this, said Schnirman of Nassau County. As Comptroller, I pay the bills, a $38 million payroll every other week. Thats money in the hands of those folks.

Advocates for state and local governments were disappointed that additional relief was not approved as part of a $484 billion extension of small business and hospital funds that Trump signed into law last week. In negotiations over that bill, Senate Democrats proposed a measure to allow already-appropriated aid to be used to backfill government revenue loss, but it was rejected.

A spokesperson for McConnell declined to comment on whether the GOP leader would consider amending the CARES Act funds to provide that flexibility, though several GOP senators and President Trump himself have backed the idea in some way.

A spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) directed The Daily Beast to Pelosis statement during a press call yesterday that local governments revenue loss has to be compensated for.

Negotiations over a next round of coronavirus legislation have not started in earnest. But local governments and their advocates are already trying to put as much pressure as possible on Congress to consider their needs in whatever package they work on next. The National Association of Counties, which represents county governments nationwide, launched on Wednesday a new campaign to pressure Congress to provide more relief.

We have been strongly advocating for direct and flexible federal funding for county responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and our lost revenue, said Mary Ann Borgeson, the president of NACo. These are more than just numbers in a spreadsheet. We are talking about vital services our residents need and the people who deliver them day in and day out.

Individual counties like Erie have been active in D.C. outreach, too: Mychajliw, for example, said that they have sent over 400 letters to the federal government and Congress pushing for various things since the COVID-19 crisis began.

McConnell has signaled at least a willingness to consider additional state and local government aid, though he said on Wednesday that it would have to be coupled with measures to limit liability for employers and corporations as people return to work amid COVID-19. The idea is generally considered a non-starter by Democrats.

The officials in Erie and Nassau counties say theyre not at risk of flying off a fiscal cliff imminently. On Monday, the Federal Reserve announced an expansion of its program to let counties and cities borrow from a $500 billion fund designed to help them during the coronavirus outbreak. The Fed lowered the population threshold for governments eligible for those loans, allowing both of the New York counties to apply.

Thats welcome news, said Schnirman, and will help Nassau County manage the immediate situation. But the economic disaster hitting counties is so severeand is poised to be so prolongedthat they believe Congress must act quickly to approve additional relief for the long-term to stave off tough decisions, like laying off government employees, raising taxes on already squeezed residents, or cutting back the law enforcement, health, and transportation services they provide.

The fact that item keeps getting passed on, he said, is not encouraging, and hurts their ability to plan. If you tell me next time, its certain, everyone can take a deep breath, exhale, and plan, said Schnirman.

As soon as you hear, well get you next time, he said, you wonder, is there really going to be a next time?

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Lotfullah Najafizada, is an award-winning journalist and director of TOLOnews, Afghanistan's top 24/7 news and current affairs TV channel. At TOLOnews, Najafizada oversees the largest news operation in Afghanistan

1. What is your biggest concern for press freedom in your country?

"Getting accurate and timely information from officials, at various levels of government, is a big issue for press freedom in Afghanistan. For example, it is often very difficult to get meaningful statements about financial activity from the ministries or about controversial operations from security forces, or about the progress of high-profile cases from the judicial organizations. In early February, 30 news agencies in Afghanistan signed a petition calling on the Afghan government to stop restricting media access to information".

2. What are your daily challenges as a journalist?

"The deteriorating security situation is one of the primary challenges Afghan journalists face on a daily basis. I lost 11 colleagues from my media, all killed by suicide bombs; some were deliberately targeted and others were killed while covering an earlier attack. Despite the Afghan-Taliban peace deal signed on February 28, Taliban attacks have been on the rise around the country, and recent attacks in Kabul claimed by Daesh at public events--covered by journalists--are also a threat. Coronavirus nowadays is another challenge for all--especially for health workers, the police and journalists".

3. What are the most important stories to cover right now?

"Coronavirus is in the spotlight in Afghanistan, as everywhere. After this, the ongoing Afghan peace process is the big story. And the current political impasse between President Ashraf Ghani and his long-time rival Abdullah Abdullah over the disputed election results is also an important national story, and international stakeholders also involved".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend:

Observance of the necessary sanitary and hygienic rules by people, even in conditions of softening of the quarantine regime, is extremely important, and non-compliance with these rules can lead to a second wave of coronavirus infection, Azerbaijans Chief Epidemiologist Ibadulla Aghayev told Trend.

The coronavirus infection is very dangerous. The introduction of a quarantine regime in Azerbaijan has reduced the number of infections. But the softening of the quarantine regime should not create an opinion among people that the threat has passed. They should know that if the epidemiological situation requires, then the quarantine regime will be tightened again. This is an important issue that depends on the people themselves, Aghayev said.

If the population observes the rules set by government institutions, then we will overcome the pandemic. An increase in the number of infections can occur as a result of non-compliance with these rules. Citizens should be aware that if the number of infected people grows, then the restrictions will be strengthened, said the epidemiologist.

The chief epidemiologist added that despite the fact that some restrictions were lifted, the possibility of infection with the virus is great.

Ibadulla Aghayev has appealed to the population with a request not to go out onto the street unnecessarily, and to stay away from crowded places.

A massive throngs of people can again lead to an increase in the number of cases of infection. Until the epidemiological situation is completely stabilized, everyone should understand their social responsibility and comply with all required sanitary and hygienic standards, the epidemiologist stressed.
Detectives found no evidence of violence and haven't ruled out COVID-19

Workers grew concerned after they realised the pair hadn't left their room all day

The bodies of a married couple who were found dead on the floor of their holiday apartment in Bali may have had COVID-19.

The Ukrainian nationals were found dead on Wednesday night after apartment staff in Kedonganan, in the south of the Indonesian resort island, realised they hadn't left their room all day.

They called in a locksmith to open the apartment door before making the grisly discovery.

The Ukrainian nationals were found dead on Wednesday night. Stock image of a crime scene in Indonesia

'After they managed to open the room the two victims were lying on the floor and lifeless,' town leader Kadek Laksana told Indonesian publication Detik.

Detectives found no evidence of violence and said COVID-19 hasn't been ruled out.

The bodies were doused with disinfectant and removed according to virus protocols.

They were transported to Sanglah General Hospital.

Investigations to determine a cause of death are ongoing.

It comes a month after a male tourist was found dead on the side of the road in Denpasar, 12km north of where the Ukrainian couple were found, Coconuts reported.

Police initially thought the man died of alcohol poisoning, but it was later confirmed he had COVID-19.

Of the 9,771 confirmed cases in Indonesia, 215 were in Bali.

Four people on the resort island have died and 96 have recovered.
New Delhi: Indian cinema's legendary star Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 8.45 am. He was admitted to Mumbai's Sri HN Reliance Foundation hospital on Wednesday night. The thespian was battling Leukemia for the last two years and underwent treatment for it in New York where he stayed for almost a year. He is survived by wife and actress Neetu Kapoor, children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.

The last rites were performed today evening at the Chandanwadi Electric Crematorium in Mumbai. Rishi Kapoor's wife Neetu Kapoor, sister Rima Jain, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor along with other relatives and friends paid a tearful adieu with a heavy heart to the man who brought charm alive to the silver screens.

Family members and close friends reached the venue to pay their last respects. Rishi Kapoor's mortal remains reached the crematorium in a flower-decorated ambulance from Sir HN Reliance Foundation hospital as the legendary actor truly deserved a befitting farewell on his final journey.

The Mumbai Police had requested his family to perform the last rites directly at the crematorium and not take the body to his home first due to the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak.

Ranbir and 19 others were allowed to enter the Crematorium. Rishi Kapoor's wife Neetu Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Rima Jain, Manoj Jain, Armaan Jain, Aadar Jain, Anissa Jain, Rajeev Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Bimal Parekh, Natasha Nandan, Abhishek Bachchan, Dr Tarang, Alia Bhatt, Ayan Mukerji, Jai Ram, Rahul Rawail and Rohit Dhawan were present at the funeral.

His daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni has been granted permission to travel from New Delhi to Mumbai. Delhi Police issued her a travel pass to be able to attend the last rites of her father.

The Kapoors released a statement earlier this morning reading:

Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with Leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.

In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.

He would not have it any other way.

May his soul rest in peace!
[April 30, 2020] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Blue Whale Re Ltd.

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a+" of Blue Whale Re Ltd. (Blue Whale) (Burlington, VT). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable. The ratings reflect Blue Whale's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also reflect Blue Whale's strategic position as the captive insurer for Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) [NYSE: PFE], a leading global pharmaceutical company. As Blue Whale insures or reinsures Pfizer's global property exposures, it plays an important role in Pfizer's overall ERM and assumes a critical role in protecting the Pfizer enterprise's assets. Blue Whale's capitalization is very strong, albeit reliant on its parent. It operates at conservative underwriting leverage levels; however, it provides coverages with extremely large limits, and its gross exposures per loss occurrence are elevated. Although Blue Whale benefits from reinsurance protection, it is heavily dependent on reinsurance, with very substantial net retentions. Its reinsurance is provided by a large panel of reinsurers that provide significant capacity. AM Best recognizes the quality of the reinsurers, and the substantial financial resources and support available to the captive as part of the Pfizer group. Due to the nature of the relationship between Blue Whale and Pfizer, changes in Pfizer's credit risk can impact Blue Whale's ratings, as it is dependent on Pfizer's ability to support its credit risk profile, competitiveness and risk management. AM Best's view of third-party credit ratings and Pfizer's market-based credit risk measures indicate general strength, despite short-term uncertainty as Pfizer refocuses its strategy toward newer pharmaceuticals, divests its over-the-counter pharmaceutical business and contributes its mature pharmaceuticals going off patent to a joint venture. That said, the captive continues to be an integrl component of Pfizer's risk management platform.



Blue Whale's operating results and reserve levels reverted to historical levels in 2019, following final resolution of Hurricane Maria-related claims. Prospectively, the company anticipates lower property insurance requirements through 2020 as the parent evaluates its Caribbean production and warehouse insurance requirements. Based on the parent's refocused corporate strategy described above, as well as Blue Whale's current reinsurance program, Blue Whale appears well-positioned to address Pfizer's insurance needs. AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the United States and throughout the world. For current Best's Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright  2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005591/en/

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Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc., a Rockville, Md.-based clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the study of nucleic acid immunotherapy platforms, closed a $61.3M financing.

The round was led by HLB Co., LTD, a global pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel cancer drugs. This represents the second closing in the investment process for the HLB Consortium, ($10M was placed in February 2020), and substantially increases their holding in Immunomic Therapeutics to 47.6% of the common stock. HLB also secured an option to make further investment into the company in the months ahead. Concurrent with the financing, five members from HLB Co., LTD will be joining the Immunomic Therapeutics Board of Directors.

Proceeds will support the acceleration of Immunomic Therapeutics Phase II clinical trial of ITI-1000 for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), advance its emerging pipeline, the expansion of its team and infrastructure to support the future growth of the company.

Led by Dr. William Hearl, CEO, Immunomic Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of vaccines through its proprietary technology platform, UNiversal Intracellular Targeted Expression (UNITE), which is designed to utilize the bodys natural biochemistry to develop vaccines that generate broad immune responses. UNITE has a history of applications in various therapeutic areas, including infectious diseases, oncology, allergy and autoimmune diseases.

Immunomic Therapeutics is primarily focused on applying the UNITE platform to oncology, where it could potentially have broad applications, including viral antigens, cancer antigens, neoantigens and antigen-derived antibodies as biologics.

The company has built a large pipeline from UNITE with six oncology programs and two allergy programs. ITI has entered into an allergy partnership with Astellas Pharma and has formed several academic collaborations with Immuno-oncology researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, and Duke University.

In addition, Immunomic Therapeutics and HLB intend to establish an Asian Brain Cancer Research Center in Seoul that will bring together the experts and science to advance research in the GBM field and to deploy ITI-1000 to the Asian population.

ITI-1000 is a cell therapy powered by ITIs UNITE platform that is currently being evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial (ATTAC-II) in collaboration with researchers at the University of Florida (Dr. Duane Mitchell) and Duke University (Dr. John Sampson). ITI-1001 is an alternative, cell-free approach to treating GBM.

The company held a successful pre-IND meeting earlier this year for ITI-1001 and expects to be able to file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2020.

FinSMEs

30/04/2020
Mobile Money transfers across different networks, also known as Mobile Money Interoperability have shot up by 358 per cent in the first three months of this year, compared to the same period last year.

The volume went up to over 5.12 million transactions from 1.11million in the first quarter of last year, according to figures from the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), a subsidiary of the Bank of Ghana.

Sending money from a wallet to another of a different telecommunications network was only possible through the token system, which was complicated until the MMI, was introduced in May 2018.

Since its introduction, it has become easier to transfer funds across wallets of different networks. This possibility has also led many organizations to set up their systems to accept mobile money payments.

Mr. Archie Hesse, the Chief Executive of GhIPSS, said in an interview that the MMI had made payments through mobile money one of the most efficient and easy to access.

He, therefore, urged all businesses to accept payments from mobile money wallets as one of the default modes of payment or risk losing out on potential income.

When MMI started, the volume of transactions hovered around 100,000 per month but monthly transactions have since crossed the one million mark with the month of March 2020 recording close to two million transactions.

MMI transactions include transfers from wallets to bank accounts as well as from wallets to e-Zwich cards.

However, these two account for less than three per cent of the volume of transactions, implying that an overwhelming majority of the transactions involve wallet to wallet transfers.

Mobile money, in general, has witnessed phenomenal success in Ghana but this is being negated by the frequent cash-back transactions, which means that ultimately cash is being used to make payments.

In recent times, however, the introduction of merchant IDs has encouraged customers to pay directly from their wallets.

Another effort likely to result in a further drop in cash-back transactions is the launch of the universal QR code for payment.

This payment service will enable customers to scan the codes of merchants to pay directly from their wallets. The QR code payment is also available for feature phone users who will be required to dial a specific code to effect payment.

Payment using QR code in Ghana can be made using mobile money wallets or bank accounts as well as any other payment apps that fintechs may develop. This payment service was launched in March this year.

 GNA
Delia Saemenes misses home.

Its been weeks since the 8-year-old has seen her house, her neighborhood, her friends and the city of Albany.

For now, shes just over the border in California, where a helicopter dropped her off, living in a rented house with her three siblings, her mother and her father, glad to be alive.

It will be six weeks since it happened tomorrow, said her mother, Jessye, over the phone on Thursday. We landed here on March 19.

The day is one Jessye and her husband, Nick, will never forget. Its the knot at the end of a string of days that saw their daughter come close to death and one that will continue to impact the rest of their lives.

Jessye noticed something off about Delias health in mid-February and made a doctors appointment. That was a Friday.

By Monday, the girls stomach was bloating.

We brought her in, Jessye said. They looked at her, they looked at her blood work and immediately sent us to OHSU.

At Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland, the Saemeneses say they dont remember much at all.

An ER doctor came out and handed me a cellphone, Jessye said. The doctor on the other end  its all such a blur but I just heard liver transplant and Life Flighting to Stanford.

Delia was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, a disease that essentially means her immune system is attacking her liver. Or it was until three weeks ago, when she received a transplant.

Knowing someone had to die, its horrific, Jessye said of the wait to hear about a match. Its a very emotional thing to deal with and we are believers, so I never once could bring myself to pray for a liver for her. I just prayed for the family that lost their child. Its a bittersweet moment, and I will never be able to pass that transplant day without thinking of that family.

Delias surgery was relatively successful except for an issue with her bile duct that was fixed days after the transplant. She was doing well enough to be discharged last Friday, but the family will have to remain in California for now. Possibly for months.

"It's not uncommon for families to stay close to the hospital for months," said Children's Organ Transplant Association President Rick Lofgren.

Often, families will utilize resources like the Ronald McDonald House that provides apartments for immediate family members to stay with patients close to the hospital. But that wasn't an option for Delia.

"The pandemic has made it more complicated," Lofgren said.

COVID-19 has closed schools and businesses and has seen hospitals delay procedures like chemotherapy and fertility treatments. The virus, which is responsible for nearly 60,000 deaths nationwide, has altered the way transplant patients recover as well.

Because of restrictions implemented due to COVID-19, the Saemeneses would not have been able to stay together at a Ronald McDonald House.

Delia and her mother had already spent three weeks on their own after flying to California with Nick. And while the stay-at-home orders meant the rest of the family was isolating in Albany and therefore relatively germ-free to rejoin Delia in California, it would have to be in a rented house.

"It was hard," Jessye said. "We left for a doctor's appointment and didn't come home for six weeks, really months. We said goodbye to our family but not goodbye."

Now that the family is together again and Delia's health is improving, the focus has shifted slightly to the financial consequences of the transplant.

"A liver transplant could cost $600,000," Lofgren said. "Insurance pays for some of that, but there's transportation, medication and lodging."

Jessye was handed a brochure by a social worker in the first few days of her stay in the hospital with Delia. It was for Lofgren's organization.

"They've been great," Jessye said.

The Children's Organ Transplant Association was founded 34 years ago to help a little boy in Indiana who was in need of financial assistance for a transplant. Since then, it has helped more than 3,5000 patients. Delia included.

"She will need help for the rest of her life," Jessye said. "She could have complications for the rest of her life and need to see a doctor. She'll be on medication for the rest of her life, and some of those medications can be $200 a month with insurance."

To help offset the cost, COTA has been hosting fundraising efforts for the family. One has raised just over $46,000 to be used for Delia's care. Currently, an online auction is raise money to help pay for their housing, which is 30 minutes away from the hospital. Because COVID-19 has slowed travel and traffic, the arrangement will work for now, but as soon as social distancing restrictions are lifted, the family may need to find a new home, closer to the hospital.

"Our community has been amazing," Jessye said, noting that local businesses donated items for the auction that will run through Monday.

"I don't even have the words to express how loved and supported we have felt by our people." Jessye said. "We're just so grateful for Albany."

For information on how to donate, visit facebook.com/cotaforteamdelia.

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Ten Egyptian military personnel were killed or wounded when an improvised explosive device was detonated in North Sinai on Thursday, the Egyptian military said.

An officer, a non-commissioned officer, and eight soldiers were killed or injured when an IED detonated under their armoured vehicle in southern Bir El-Abed city in North Sinai governorate, according to a military statement.

"The armed forces underscored the continuity of combating terrorist elements to maintain the security and stability of the country," the statement added.

This is the first such attack since February, when the armed forces thwarted a terrorist attack on a security checkpoint in North Sinai governorate, killing ten terrorists participating in the attack.

The cabinet issued a statement of condolences for the military personnel who lost their lives in the incident and wishing a speedy recovery for those injured.

"The cabinet mourns Egypt's armed forces martyrs who were martyred by an explosive device in Bir El-Abed city in North Sinai governorate," the statement said.

The statement underlined the Egyptian people's appreciation of the efforts exerted by the men of the military to safeguard the country and to defend it against "the enemies of the homeland and of religions."

History will remember those who defend their homeland, just as the Egyptians remember the martyr Ahmed El-Mansi, who was martyred in a terrorist attack in the city of Rafah in Sinai in 2017, read the statement.

The military has been carrying out Operation Sinai 2018, a counter-terrorism campaign, since February 2018. The campaign involves land, naval and air forces, as well as the police and border guards.

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The company will provide residents of the regions with food aid during Ramadan

The leading mobile operator of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC continues its initiatives aimed at supporting and care for low-income and other vulnerable Azerbaijani families during the special quarantine amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Thus, the companys another charity project held under its corporate social responsibility strategy aims to distribute food packages to 1,000 low-income families residing in the regions of Azerbaijan who are in the state of lockdown every week during the holy month of Ramadan.

In total, more than 4,000 low-income families will receive food packages during the month of Ramadan. This week, food aid will be provided to socially vulnerable families living in Jalilabad, Hajigabul, Fizuli and Gadabay.

The food aid will be delivered to the residents by Azerpost LLC of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan according to the list provided by Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The major purpose of the campaign organized by Azercell is to improve the social welfare of vulnerable people, support government measures, and promote the social assistance initiatives in the society during the special quarantine amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It should be noted that, on the occasion of Novruz holiday and preventive measures against coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Azercell Telecom LLC, in cooperation with Regional Development Public Union (RDPU), presented holiday gifts to about 6000 low-income families in Baku with at least one family member receiving a pension for the disability of 1st degree.
Honor our school nurses for all they do

On May 6, we will recognize our school nurses by celebrating National School Nurse Day as a way to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting.

The theme this year is School Nurses: Supporting Students in Times of Crisis.

Last year, the World Health Organization named 2020 as the Year of the Nurse in order to celebrate and grow the nursing workforce to needed levels. Then COVID-19 turned our world upside down, showcasing just how much we need more fearless, trailblazing, leader nurses.

As a school nurse at College View High School and nursing coordinator with College Station schools, I witness school nurses as frontline health care providers who provide disease prevention surveillance and care for students. School nurses serve as the bridge between health care and education systems.
KOLKATA: The West Bengal police on Thursday arrested two main instigators of Tuesday's attack on the cops enforcing coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown in Howrahs Tikiapara.

These two culprits were identified and arrested this morning, said reports. They will be produced before the court shortly. With this, the total number of arrests made in connection with the case now stands at 12.

According to the police, these two men had instigated the mob to attack the policemen who were trying to enforce lockdown in the area on Tuesday.

Ten people were arrested by the police on Wednesday and raids are still on to nab all the culprits responsible for the attack on the police in West Bengal's Howrah district.

Two police personnel were injured as a mob hurled bricks and bottles and attacked a police outpost in the Tikiapara area, besides vandalising two security force vehicles after the law-keepers tried to enforce the lockdown in Belilous Road on Tuesday.

Tension still prevailed in the area which saw nightlong raids by the police to round up the perpetrators of the violence identified from a video footage of the incident that had caused outrage in the state as also various parts of the country.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Wednesday said she has directed the police to take stern action, without harassing any innocent people.

"This incident should not have taken place. I have told the police to take stern action. The culprits will be booked. At the same time, no innocent person will be harassed," she said. Banerjee, however, accused the BJP of trying to politicise the issue.

"There are so many police stations in Bengal. The incident has taken place in only one police station area. And they are making it a big issue across the nation. As if it is a big victory of the BJP. Their only aim is to humiliate the state government and the state," she told media persons.
Over 117 million domestic trips are estimated to be made by Chinese passengers during the upcoming five-day May Day holiday, according to the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

Short inter-provincial journeys by private vehicles will be the most common, Wu Chungeng, an official with the MOT, said at a press conference Thursday.

Daily railway passenger trips during the holiday, running from May 1 to 5, are expected to reach 5 million, about one-third of the level seen during last year's same period. The number of daily road trips for the holiday is expected to reach 17.98 million.

An estimated 450,000 daily waterway passenger trips are expected to be made during the May Day holiday, about 50 percent of the number made during the holiday in 2019. Daily air passenger numbers are estimated to hit 580,000, about 33.2 percent of that for the same period last year.
The Incredible Dr. Pol has been the show on Nat Geo Wild and Disney+ that fans have been turning to during sheltering in place to forget the ongoing problems around the world and to focus instead on the vets calving of cows, castrating of horses, deworming of puppies, and generally caring for the house pets of residents in his Michigan community.

Dr. Jan Pol of The Incredible Dr. Pol | Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

The animal doctor and his staff have been doing their best, as well, to keep fans upbeat during this trying time.

Dr. Pols check-ins with fans

On the shows Instagram and Twitter accounts, many of the posts are frequent check-ins with fans, especially during the current global health crisis, asking them How are you doing today? and Feels like a good time to spread some pawsitivity!

The veterinarian clearly appreciates his shows fans, telling The Chicago Tribune, The people that watch the show love animals  and people that love animals are good people. And those are the ones that come to meet us.

We were walking down the street here and suddenly this man looked at us and said, Dr. Pol! Gimme a picture! We love your show! That is fantastic. We meet the nicest people.

Dr. Pol has also employed his office cat, Tater, to lift spirits

Both in his office and online, Dr. Pols rescue cat, Tater, is a balm for weary spirits. Onyx black and spry although hes had one leg amputated due to having caught it in an animal trap, Tater has his way at the clinic. He lays where he wants, when he wants, and generally has charmed his way into the hearts of the docs patients and viewers.

I castrated him, Dr. Pol explained to Reality Blurred in 2018, I took the leg off on Tuesday, on Wednesday we just opened the cage door, he jumped out, and he has owned the clinic ever since. That cat is so fantastic for dogs, catshes not afraid of anything or anybody.

The veterinary clinic has had to pull back on non-emergency visits

Dr. Pol and his staff have decided to limit the extent of their practice in order to do their part in preventing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

As with many medical offices, Pols practice is asking clients not to bring in their pets for routine reasons, such as check-ups or for minor issues.

Dr. Pol posted on Instagram, Pol Veterinary Services will remain open to serve clients with scheduled appointments and emergencies. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are asking that any non-essential visits please be postponed. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

The Netherlands-born doctor said in early March, This COVID-19 is causing so much fear because there are no known anti-bodies and this lack of immunity leads to more sick. . . We are learning more every day. Corona has been around a long time in different strains. This COVID-19 is causing so much fear because there are no known antibodies and this lack of immunity leads to more sick.

Read more: The Incredible Dr. Pol: The Veterinarian Shows Off His Unusual Skull Collection
Sandeep Makkar, Managing Director, J&J Medical Devices India talks about how the company is contributing in the fight against COVID-19

"In India, Johnson & Johnson has supported the Government of Maharashtra by donating 10,000 units of N95 Masks, 200,000 units of surgical Mask 2/3 ply Masks and & 7000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kits. We are also partnering with non-government organizations like Americares India Foundation to help fight this pandemic with focus on distribution of PPEs, masks and sanitizers to hard-hit areas across the country. Johnson & Johnson will continue to bring its full resources and minds to combat this pandemic."

- Sandeep Makkar, Managing Director, J&J Medical Devices India
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Linkedin Agnes Pedrero (Agence France-Presse) Geneva  Thu, April 30, 2020 16:09 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd540244 2 Art & Culture United-Nations,culture,free-content,lockdown,coronavirus,COVID-19,online-content Free

Books, films, concerts: free content has been spreading almost as fast as the coronavirus, making life easier for those sheltering from the pandemic, but also threatening already fragile cultural industries, the UN warned Tuesday.

As countries around the world have imposed strict physical distancing measures to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus -- cancelling events, banning public gatherings, and asking billions of people to stay home -- access to free cultural content online has become omnipresent.

While some content creators have themselves opted to make their artistic products available, Francis Gurry, the head of the UN's World Intellectual Property Organization, voiced concern that numerous requests are coming in for IP "exceptions... for the cultural sector to disregard copyright".

WIPO's IP rules do permit exceptions to cultural copyright to facilitate access to books, publications and other creative content in certain specific circumstance and under certain conditions.

But in an interview with AFP, Gurry questioned whether it was justified to use the ongoing pandemic, which has killed more than 210,000 people worldwide, as an excuse to make entire museum exhibits, operas, ballets, concerts and publications available to the public at no cost.

'Deep distress'

"We should be much more measured," he said, pointing out that such moves were dramatically slashing the income of many professionals in an already fragile sector.

"To cast off a copyright, you have to prove that there is a special need," he said.

"I do not really see evidence of a problem accessing content" in the current situation, he said, pointing out that it was still possible to purchase cultural goods online, like books and music.

At the same time, he said, content creators have been hard-hit by the crisis.

Many in the field had completely lost their revenue streams, Gurry warned, pointing for instance to film production, which has all but ground to a halt, where hundreds of people are usually involved in making a single movie.

"It is hard to quantify the consequences as this is happening, but the sector is in deep distress," he said.

His warning came as WIPO on Tuesday celebrated the entry into force of an international treaty giving new rights to film and television actors.

The Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances was adopted in 2012, but is only coming into force now that the minimum required number of 30 countries have ratified it.

The treaty gives performers rights over the reproduction, distribution and rental of their audiovisual performances, which could mean they are able to earn more money.

It updates previous multilateral provisions agreed in 1961 for the digital era and extends to actors some of the same protections enjoyed by musicians, giving them more power to decide how their performances are used.

Read also: Moscow's Bolshoi to livestream shows for free

'Fundamental for mental health'

"In a number of countries, there are no protections for actors," Gurry said, adding that the new treaty would change that.

Any country that is party to the text "will be obliged to put in place rights for audiovisual performers, like television and film actors," he added.

China, Japan and Russia are among the 30 countries that have ratified the treaty.

Big players, including the United States and European film hubs like France and Italy, have not yet done so, although they have signed it.

Despite the treaty's incomplete coverage, Gurry said it was a welcome bit of good news for a sector devastated by the COVID-19 crisis.

"If ever there was a moment to increase the amount -- and predictability -- of audiovisual performers' earnings, it is in this COVID-19 era that is negatively affecting economic activity, including new productions," Gurry said in a statement.

He acknowledged that governments needed to focus on halting the spread of the new virus and ensuring the physical health of their populations.

But he stressed that it was also important to support cultural arts, which are "fundamental for mental health" for those cooped up at home.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi staunchly defended former vice president Joe Biden as "a person of great integrity" amid sexual assault allegations from a former female staffer that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee denies.

While saying that Biden's accuser would have "due process," Pelosi said the decades-old charge did not dampen her full-throated endorsement of Biden's candidacy.

"The happiest day for me this week was to support Joe Biden for president of the United States," she told reporters at a Thursday news conference on Capitol Hill after she was asked about the allegation. "He's a person of great integrity, great concern for the American people."

The accusation: Former staffer Tara Reade says Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993. Here's what we know.

Pelosi went on to say that "there was never any record and nobody ever came forward to say something about it apart from the principal involved."

Tara Reade, a former staffer to Biden when he served in the Senate, has accused the former Delaware lawmaker of sexually assaulting her in a Capitol Hill office building in 1993. Reade worked for Biden's Senate office at the time.

10/25/19 9:29:44 AM -- Baltimore, MD, U.S.A -- Former Vice-President Joe Biden walks with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as they enter the funeral of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md at the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore. -- Photo by Jack Gruber, USA TODAY staff ORG XMIT: JG 138336 The funeral of D 10/2 (Via OlyDrop)

Biden's campaign has adamantly denied the allegation, though Biden has not directly addressed the allegation yet.

The accusation has opened a rift in Biden's left-wing support at a time when he's working to win over reluctant voters in his bid to defeat President Donald Trump in November. A number of Bernie Sanders' backers have said the allegations should prompt the former vice president to drop out of the race.

But Pelosi's defense means the federal government's most powerful woman and a champion of the me-too movement remains firmly behind Biden, who has been criticized over the years for his manner of hugging and touching women. Reade's accusation is the first known allegation of sexual assault against Biden.

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"So I want to remove all doubt in anyone's mind, I have great comfort level with the situation as I see it, with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward, but with all the highest regard for Joe Biden," Pelosi said.

Sharing allegation: Report: Biden accuser spoke to neighbor about alleged assault

The speaker issued a similar defense in a CNN interview Thursday morning.

"Well, I have great sympathy for any women who bring forth an allegation," the Speaker said on CNN's "New Day." "I'm a big, strong supporter of the 'me-too' movement. I think it has been a great  made a great contribution to our country. And I do support Joe Biden. I'm satisfied with how he has responded."

When asked if Biden should directly address the allegation, Pelosi said, "It's a matter that he has to deal with."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden Tara Reade accusation: Nancy Pelosi defends ex-vice president
DUBAI : The death of a United Arab Emirates-based Indian industrialist last week was a suicide, Dubai Police has confirmed.

Dubai Police told Gulf news on Wednesday that Joy Arakkal, originally from Kerala, committed suicide on April 23 by jumping from a building in Business Bay.

"We received a report about a man plunging to his death from the 14th floor of a friend's building on Thursday. The businessman committed suicide over financial problems," Brigadier Abdullah Khadim Bin Sorour, director of Bur Dubai Police Station, told Gulf News.

The police ruled out any criminal suspicion behind the suicide and said they were coordinating with the businessman's family for the repatriation of his body.

A UAE Gold Card visa recipient, Arakkal was the managing director of Dubai-headquartered Innova Group of Companies which had diverse businesses, with major focus in the oil sector.

Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul confirmed to Gulf News that Arakkal's family was set to fly home with his body after Indian authorities gives them special permission to travel in a chartered air ambulance.

"They have received the NOCs from India. We have taken it up with the UAE MoFAIC (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) for necessary permits from the UAE side," Vipul added.

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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BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA - A paper published in Advanced Photonics "Enhanced lightmatter interactions in dielectric nanostructures via machine-learning approach," suggests that machine-learning techniques can be used to enhance metasurfaces, optimizing them for nonlinear optics and optomechanics. The discovery has promising possibilities for the development of a wide range of photonic devices and applications including those involved in optical sensing, optoacoustic vibrations, and narrowband filtering.

Metasurfaces are versatile platforms used to manipulate the scattering, color, phase, or intensity of light that can be used for light emission, detection, modulation, control and/or amplification at the nanoscale. In recent years, metasurfaces have been a subject of undergoing intense study as their optical properties can be adapted to a diverse set of applications, including superlenses, tunable images, and holograms.

According to Advanced Photonics Co-Editor-in-Chief, SPIE Fellow, and Head of Photonics & Nanotechnology Group at King's College London Anatoly Zayats, this work marks an exciting advancement in nanophotonics.

"Optimization of metasurfaces and metamaterials for particular applications is an important and time-consuming problem," said Zayats. "With traditional approaches, only few parameters can be optimised, so that the resulting performance is better than for some other designs but not necessarily the best. Using machine learning, one can search for the best design and cover the space of parameters not possible with traditional approaches."

###

The article authors are Lei Xu, Yixuan Ma, Fu Deng, Yan Kei Chiang, Lujun Huang, and Andrey E. Miroschnichenko, School of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of New South Wales, Canberra; Mohsen Rahmani, Daria A. Smirnova, Khosro Zangeneh Kamali, and Dragomir N. Neshev, Nonlinear Physics Centre, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra; Haoyang Zhang, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane; and Stephen Gould, ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.

Advanced Photonics, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal, is published by SPIE and Chinese Laser Press in the SPIE Digital Library, which contains more than 500,000 publications from SPIE journals, proceedings, and books, with approximately 18,000 new research papers added each year.

About SPIE

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2019, SPIE provided more than $5.6 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. http://www.spie.org

Contact:

Journal Advanced Photonics DOI 10.1117/1.AP.2.2.026003

Daneet SteffensPublic Relations Manager+1 360 685 5478@SPIEtweets
Economic shock waves from the coronavirus pandemic and shelter-in-place orders continue to devastate American workers: 3.8 million people filed new unemployment claims last week, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.

Although the number for the week ended April 25 was less than the stunning 6.9 million newly jobless reported in a single week in late March, it still shows extensive blows to the economy. The total claims nationwide for the past six weeks now stand at 30.3 million, an unprecedented surge.

John Blanchard

Experts agreed that figure doesnt capture the full scope, as many claimants still struggle to reach overwhelmed state unemployment departments, while freelancers, gig workers and self-employed people have been waiting for states to create systems so they can file for benefits. California only began accepting such claims under a federally funded program this week.

Its unlike anything that any of us has ever lived through, said Susan Lund, a partner at consulting firm McKinsey Global Institute. You have to go back to the Great Depression to see this level of unemployment  and the speed with which it came about is stunning.

Job cuts started in service occupations at restaurants, hotels, airports and retail stores  places that lost customers to travel bans and plummeting demand even before shelter-in-place orders closed many businesses. Now theyre cascading to additional sectors, even ones that are still operating, according to a McKinsey report Lund co-authored.

As the weeks roll on, you see the impact of reduced consumer spending, Lund said. Manufacturing, business services, nonessential health care and professional services are all now seeing job losses.

The Bay Areas tech sector, which seemed to have a Teflon coating that repelled economic dips, is increasingly feeling the pain. This week Lyft announced layoffs for 17% of its staff and Uber acknowledged it is mulling job cuts. Yelp and Eventbrite, Opendoor, LendingClub, Zenefits, Patreon, GoPro, the RealReal and VSCO have all laid off workers.

You cant sustain top performers on the larger salaries and everything that comes along with that, said Cristin Culver, formerly the head of local communications at real estate tech company Opendoor before she was laid off on April 15.

The longevity and sustainability of the business had to be prioritized, she said, adding that other tech companies are facing the same decisions as Opendoor.

Culver said the company provided her and others with a generous severance package.

High performers can be victims of their own success in a recession, she said, noting that she received multiple raises and promotions during her almost three years at the company  making her more vulnerable to being laid off. Expensive people become more of a glaring line item, she said, adding that marketing departments are among the first to be jettisoned at the first sign of choppy economic waters.

That is true for even giants like Google. The Mountain View internet company reportedly plans to cut up to 50% of its marketing budget for the second half of the year along with announcing a hiring freeze in some departments.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has received 3.7 million new claims for unemployment since mid-March. The Labor Department numbers, which only reflect claims that were fully processed, showed 328,042 new California claims for last week. The Employment Development Department said it paid out $1.2 billion in claims on Monday  10 times the daily peak recorded in April 2010, as the states economy climbed out of the 2007-09 recession.

Workers financial suffering  through permanent layoffs, temporary furloughs, reduced hours and/or salary cuts  will continue to mount, according to the McKinsey report. It estimates that ultimately up to 57 million U.S. jobs could be vulnerable to such actions during the shutdown, meaning the number of affected jobs could almost double.

But Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys.com, took a more upbeat approach.

I think the worst of the hit  the biggest job losses, the highest unemployment  is the month of April, he said. Then businesses will restart, whether its a good idea or not. In May, you could actually see no job loss.

Still, in the Bay Area, shelter-in-place orders are extended at least through the end of May, which means that ripple effects could continue.

Jerry Nickelsburg, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast, which does economic modeling about California, is also optimistic, noting that the federal Paycheck Protection Program  a forgivable loan that gives small businesses incentive to keep their workers employed  should help. However, many small businesses say the program is difficult to access.

New unemployment claims were mostly due to firms shutting down because they were mandated to, or because people sheltered in place, Nickelsburg said. You would expect that to be mostly done. Surging unemployment claims are due to taper off.

But a new deluge is likely to show up in next weeks data, which will include Californias first wave of unemployment claims from gig workers, freelancers and self-employed people.

Under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, such workers are eligible for joblessness benefits for the first time. California started accepting those claims on Tuesday.

Newsom said that about 190,000 Californians applied to the assistance program on the first day it was available, on top of 45,000 people applying for unemployment from losing traditional jobs.

Most other states also have had to devise new systems to handle claims from freelancers. With millions of Americans self-employed as independent contractors, freelancers or gig workers, experts said its likely that they will add to the floods of claims.

Even when there arent layoffs, hiring has slowed or halted for many occupations, McKinsey found, naming oil/gas operations, food machine operators, bakers, bellhops and car insurance appraisers as occupations with the biggest declines in new job postings.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

All the increases in job listings were in the medical field: medical translators and interpreters, respiratory therapists, general practitioners, psychiatrists and epidemiologists.

Ironically, medical workers who arent directly involved with COVID-19 care are now losing jobs and pay. Stanford Health Care, for instance, last week gave its 14,000 staffers the choice of a 20% pay cut, using paid time off or taking unpaid leave during the 10 weeks starting April 27.

Other nonessential medical professionals are also impacted. Cathy Oleson, a part-time dental hygienist in Los Gatos, has been unable to work for weeks. Her employers can only see patients in an emergency. She collects $1,050 each week in unemployment insurance money  the California maximum of $450 plus a $600-a-week boost from the federal Cares Act.

Oleson sees her employers facing difficult decisions as rent comes due and other business expenses pile up with no revenue coming in.

We told the landlord that we couldnt pay or that we wanted to delay, said C. Rodney Rosland, a dentist and one of Olesons employers. He wasnt very happy about that.

Rosland said he paid his portion of the April rent for the office he shares with another dentist and worries about having money to reopen when shelter in place orders are lifted.

Were not running from the obligation, but were concerned about having working capital when we get back, Rosland said.

Still, after many years in practice with no loans to pay for education or launching a business, Rosland said hes in better shape than newly minted dentists.

Were talking hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt for some dentists who now have no income, Rosland said.

He hopes to receive support through the federal loan program but has not received any money after applying in early April.

Culver from Opendoor said she has already started interviewing for new jobs. This is not her first layoff as a 13-year veteran of the technology industry. She counts herself lucky that she can take her time in the search.

I think it will be an opportunity, she said.

Carolyn Said and Chase DiFeliciantonio are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com, chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @CSaid, @ChaseDiFelice
 Flash

Though severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak, the domestic tourism market is gradually resuming with people's desire for travel increasing, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Tourism Research Center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The report is based on big data and 15,163 questionnaires.

According to the report, Wuhan - the hardest hit city during the coronavirus outbreak - is at the top of wish lists for travelers, who said they want to contribute to the economic development in the region following the epidemic. Beijing was the next most popular choice, followed by Chongqing.

Travelers with low incomes are especially interested in traveling as hotels and attractions offer lower prices. The report said that people in this group are expected to take 3.8 trips on average this year, up from 1.6 trips the previous year.

Further, it is estimated that people will spend 5,746 yuan ($811) on travel this year, 734 yuan higher than in 2019.

Though some groups of people canceled their trips because of COVID-19, about 72.4 percent of people surveyed said that they still have plans to travel as the epidemic wanes.

According to the report, 9.4 percent of those surveyed set their travel plans during the outbreak, and about 30 percent said that they will carry out their plans within three to six months once the epidemic is over.

Short-distance tours are recovering while outbound tourism lags as people think domestic attractions are much safer than those overseas.

Summer and National Day holidays are prime for vacation and are preferred by travelers, the report said.

"COVID-19 has created the greatest challenge the world's tourism sector has seen in some time," said Song Rui, director of the Tourism Research Center.

"The industry is in a slow recovery thanks to the government's strong and effective measures to control the epidemic," but the resumption of tourism faces obstacles as people stress over safety, cleanliness and possible risks when traveling, she added.

Shu Zhan, dean of the Tencent Culture and Tourism Industry Research Center, said at an online news conference recently that the coronavirus outbreak has thoroughly changed people's view of consumption, which requires the industry to upgrade to meet people's rising demand for higher quality tourism.

Shu said that travelers are placing more emphasis on quality, especially concerning emergency response, social security and health. Moreover, tourism has become more popular as low-income groups and seniors are growing to be potential consumers of tour products.




Rishi Kapoors last tweet was appeal to refrain from violence towards health care professionals

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 30: Legendary actor, Rishi Kapoor passed away today. The actor was very active on Twitter and his tweets would generate a lot of reactions.

His last post on Twitter was an appeal to refrain from violence towards the healthcare professionals who are out there battling against the coronavirus.

Rishi Kapoor: Rare, old and unseen photos of Bollywoods chocolate boy

An appeal to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please don't resort to violence, stone throwing or lynching. Doctors, Nurses, Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind, Kapoor had tweeted on April 2.

An appeal  to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please dont resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 2, 2020

On the same day, he had also replied to Kunal Kohli who said that none played the dafli like him. Kohli had said, nobody plays the dafli like you! In fact. Every musical instrument you've played on screen. Always looks like you're actually playing it. But the dafli. Just the best ... oh dafli waale ... dafli baja .... what a song! Made as much by the way you played it.

To this Kapoor had replied thank you. Much credit to late Shree. P.L. Raj ji the choreographer. Of course some measure of knowledge and talent is necessary of something or anything you portray on screen. I have in all modesty taken this as a compliment. Thank you Kunal.
A male greater sage grouse displays for hens in sagebrush steppe habitat in the Big Horn Basin. Sage grouse will strut and fight to catch the eye of females during their spring mating rituals.

POWELL - Greater sage grouse numbers are expected to continue dropping across the West for the fourth year in a row, alarming scientists and conservation officials. It also raises questions of federal management of habitat home to the grouse and more than 350 other species dependent on the sagebrush steppe.

Since the signing of a historic collaborative conservation plan in 2015, state-level data suggest sage-grouse populations have declined 44% on average. Scientists and conservation organizations are sounding the alarm, arguing the Trump administration is continuing to prioritize the use o...
Dubai, April 30 : Indian missions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have opened e-registration for expats wishing to travel back home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reported on Thursday.

In a Wednesday nigh night tweet, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced the details of data collection through the website of the Indian Consulate in Dubai, reports Gulf News.

In the notice, the mission stated: "All Indian nationals in the UAE are hereby informed that the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India, Dubai, have uploaded a form for (the) collection of data to create a database of Indians who wish to travel back to India under COVID-19 situation." But Minutes after posting the tweet, the mission deleted it citing "technical issues" as some users were having trouble accessing the page.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Consulate General of India in Dubai reposted the link, warning that it may take "some time for the page to load due to high traffic".

Several Indians in the UAE, including pregnant women, elderly patients, stranded visit visa holders and those who lost jobs, have been requesting their government to help them fly back home during the travel restrictions and lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

As first reported by Gulf News on Monday, the Indian missions were readying to compile the details of those wishing to return home following reports from India that the Indian government was making preparations to receive its citizens from abroad.

The missions were awaiting more clarifications from New Delhi regarding the details that need to be collected and "some more issues" that needed to be clarified, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor had told Gulf News on Monday.
A damages claim by serial killer Mark Nash, who is serving life sentences for the notorious Grangegorman murders, has been declared inadmissible by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the grounds of delay.

Nash, who stood trial for the murders 18 years after he carried them out, had complained that his right to a trial within a reasonable time had been breached and had sought damages.

In its judgment which was published today, the Strasbourg Court unanimously held that Nash's complaints were lodged more than six months after the last Supreme Court decision in Ireland and therefore were inadmissible because of this delay.

In 2015 Nash was found guilty of murdering two women in Dublin, whose mutilated bodies were found in sheltered accommodation in Grangegorman 23 years ago. Nash had already been serving life sentences since October 1998 for murdering two people in Roscommon in mid-August 1997.

The four murders were committed within the space of five months. He is currently serving the four life sentences at the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, County Laois.

The 47-year-old, who is originally from England but who had last addresses at Prussia Street and Clonliffe Road in Dublin, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Sylvia Sheils (59) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6 and March 7, 1997.

The prosecution case presented by Brendan Grehan SC was based on Nash's own admissions and DNA evidence which connected him to the two deceased women.

A Central Criminal Court jury unanimously found Nash guilty after four hours of deliberations following a 48-day trial and he was then given mandatory life sentence for the murders by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on April 20, 2015.

The Court of Appeal upheld the murderer's conviction for the "cold-case" killing of Ms Sheils and Ms Callanan in May 2018, which became known as the "Grangegorman murders".

Mr Justice Alan Mahon, who sat with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Michael White, said it was the strong view of the three-judge court that Nashs trial for the Grangegorman murders was entirely fair and it produced a verdict well justified by the evidence". The Supreme Court refused leave to appeal further.

Giving judgment in the three-judge court, Mr Justice Mahon said the gruesome murder of two vulnerable and defenceless middle aged women had attracted enormous attention at the time and understandably so. It was not just the cruelty of the murder which attracted such attention but also the fact that the two women were brutally murdered and mutilated in circumstances where they presented absolutely no risk or threat to the killer.

The level of violence perpetrated on them was senseless and was so fierce that perhaps the victims own appreciation of their fate was short lived, the judge said.

Post mortem examinations established that they had received multiple stab wounds and that their bodies had been gratuitously mutilated. Dr John Harbison, the then State Pathologist, stated in his report that the "injuries were outside my experience in 26 years of pathology practice.

The ECHR (Fifth Section) judgment which was published today said it may only deal with cases after all domestic remedies have been exhausted and within a six month period from the date of the final decision in the process of exhaustion of domestic remedies.

Nash's application for damages for pre-trial prosecutorial delay was lodged with the Court on January 4, 2018. The killer complained that his right to a trial within a reasonable time had been breached.

He pointed to the 12-year period which had elapsed between him first being questioned as a suspect in the Grangegorman murders in 1997 and the decision to formally charge him with the murders in 2009. This had followed the discovery of new evidence which resulted from the availability of enhanced DNA testing.

Nash had sought before the Irish courts to prohibit his trial and obtain damages for breach of his Constitutional and Convention rights. The Irish High Court had refused him relief and the Supreme Court had upheld that refusal. This had cleared the way for his trial to proceed in January 2015. Subsequently, the Supreme Court ruled separately on the damages part of his claim which it dismissed.

In its ruling, the ECHR found that the Supreme Court had dismissed Nash's damages judgment on October 24, 2016, more than 14 months prior to the application being lodged to the court. The decision of the Supreme Court of July 13, 2017 dismissing Nash's application to re-visit the final order of the Supreme Court did not have the effect of interrupting or re-starting the running of the six-month time period.

"If it were the case that an applicant could apply to a court to rectify a judgment at any stage in order to re-start the six month period, that would subvert the purpose of the six month rule," the judgment stated. As a result, Nash's application to re-visit the damages claim was dismissed by the ECHR.
ADDISON, Texas, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cedar Valley Hospice, a leading provider of hospice and palliative care services in Iowa, has selected Curantis Solutions to further enable its mission "to enrich lives with knowledge, respect and compassionate care." Founded in 1979, Cedar Valley Hospice is well respected in its community and state for providing hospice and palliative care services to individuals across multiple counties in the state, regardless of diagnosis or ability to pay.

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at a news briefing about COVID-19 at City Hall in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, on March 14, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

De Blasio Apologizes for Tweet about Packed Jewish Funeral, But Says He Has No Regrets

Hours after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio criticized the Jewish community for failing to adhere to social distancing orders during a large funeral held in Brooklyn, he issued an apology, but said he had no regrets about calling out this danger.

If in my passion and in my emotion, I said something that in any way was hurtful, Im sorry about that, de Blasio said during a press briefing Wednesday. That was not my intention. But I also want to be clear: I have no regrets about calling out this danger and saying were going to deal with it very, very aggressively.

His apology came after his initial remarks, which were made on Twitter, were met with strong criticism. The mayor and New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Dermot Shea personally visited the area in Brooklyns Williamsburg neighborhood where hundreds of people gathered to mourn the death of Rabbi Chaim Mertz.

My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.  Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 29, 2020

My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups, de Blasio said on Twitter.

In response, New York City councilman Kalman Yeger, who is Jewish, described the mayors comments as unacceptable.

Mr. Mayor, your words are unacceptable. To condemn our entire community over one group of people is something you would not do to any other ethnic group, and I know you long enough to know that you know this. https://t.co/tkKQrc0bXA  Kalman Yeger    (@KalmanYeger) April 29, 2020

To condemn our entire community over one group of people is something you would not do to any other ethnic group, and I know you long enough to know that you know this, Yeger tweeted.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League said in a tweet aimed at the mayor, The few who dont social distance should be called outbut generalizing against the whole population is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews.

Hey @NYCMayor, there are 1mil+ Jewish people in #NYC. The few who dont social distance should be called out  but generalizing against the whole population is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews. This erodes the very unity our city needs now more than ever. https://t.co/jcYO9QQred  Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) April 29, 2020

What he did was a horror, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism Dov Hikind told NTD News. To blame the Jewish community, that means he blamed me, he blamed everybodyJews everywhere. That was clear, thats why people reacted the way they did. People on the right, people on the left, it doesnt matter, they understood the danger of his words.

De Blasio pushed back against critics and said he spoke out of frustration and anger, as he found it deeply, deeply distressing to see a large crowd defy social distancing orders.

It was said with love, but it was tough love, he said. I regret if the way I said it in any way gave people a feeling of being treated the wrong way. That was not my intention.

He wrote earlier that large gatherings WILL NOT be tolerated during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, that has infected more than 1 million Americans nationwide, and caused at least 60,000 deaths.

I understand when people are going through mourning, theyre in real pain, but we have to understand what it means to hold a large gathering in New York City today, he said.

It means unfortunately that people who go to that gathering, some will be sick with that disease. Its just a fact. We know this. Some will spread the disease to others. People, as a result, will die.

New York has the most cases and deaths in the nation; the bulk of the outbreak is in the city, which has a population of some 8.5 million.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said Sunday that upstate could begin to reopen on May 15 when the stay-at-home orders are slated to expire.

Cuomo plans to extend restrictions for some parts of the state, primarily New York City and its environs. If reopening isnt done well, the state will see the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths begin to rise sharply again, he warned.

NYPD officers issued 12 summonses at the Brooklyn funeral to those defying social distancing measures, Commissioner Shea said.
The governor of California plans to announce the closure of all beaches and state parks in a press conference today after soaring temperatures drove the public to soak up the sun over the weekend.

Gavin Newsom, the state's governor, is expected to announce the tightening of restrictions on Thursday at a press conference, according to a memo seen by FOX 11.

'After well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newson's shelter in place order, the governor will be announcing tomorrow that beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1,' the memo read.

In this file photo taken on April 25, 2020 people enjoy the soaring temperatures at the beach amid the novel coronavirus pandemic in Huntington Beach, California

Pictured: A file photo of Governor Gavin Newsom on 14 April, 2020. Newsom has come under fire for proposing the closure of all public areas, including beaches and public parks, amid the coronavirus pandemic

In this April 26, 2020, file photo, people sit on the beach - not following social distancing measures - in Huntington Beach, Calif. A memo sent to California police chiefs says Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed starting Friday, 1 May, to curb the spread of the coronavirus

On Monday, Newsom released a scathing tirade against those flouting social-distancing rules, singling out those who flocked to Huntington Beach and Newpoer Beach in Orange County.

'This virus doesn't take the weekends off, this virus doesn't go home because it's a beautiful sunny day around our coasts,' the governor said.

The temperatures soared way past 80F as the public flocked to the beach to catch some rays.

Images from the beaches show sun-seekers revelling in the high temperatures but leaving very little space in between each other.

According to advice from the World Health Organization, people should stay at least six feet away from each other; desist from gathering in groups; and stay away from mass gatherings.

Over the weekend, all of these recommendations were ignored.

In the memo leaked by Fox11, Newsom said that he was concerned that California had the fourth highest number of hospitalized patients due to coronavirus.

Some have defended keeping the public spaces open. Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner, said that the open spaces were essential for the public's health and wellbeing.

In this Saturday, April 25, 2020, photo, people stand in line during the coronavirus pandemic in Pismo Beach, Calif., on the state's Central Coast. California may be only a few weeks away from making 'meaningful changes' to its stay-at-home order, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday, but he warned progress will be jeopardized if people do things like crowd beaches, which occurred over the warm spring weekend

'Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far,' he told Fox11. 'I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information.'

Despite the governor's intents, one of the towns where people were seen flocking over the weekend has decided to keep their beaches open.

Newport Beach city council voted Tuesday to keep public areas open amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Amid COVID-19 pandemic, Philippine group calls for protection of sardines

by Madelaine B. Miraflor

April 30,2020 | Source: Manila Bulletin

Oceana, the largest international non-government organization focused on marine conservation, has called on the Philippine government to establish management mechanisms on the fishing of sardines, which has already become a staple relief food amid COVID-19 pandemic.



Maybe because of its size, sardines is one of the most undervalued fishes in the Philippines in terms of protection and management mechanisms. It is one of the least pricey seafood sources of protein for most Filipinos, Oceana said in a statement.



This, as the group urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to implement the National Sardines Management Plan, which intends to curb overfishing of sardines in the Philippines.



The plan, which went through several public hearings and consultations for the past three years, is now up for approval of these government agencies.

A data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that from 2012 to 2017, the sardine industry has yielded an average of 355,000 metric tons (MT) worth 10.45 billion.



In the country, some of the biggest canned seafood manufacturing companies are A. Tung Chingco Trading, the exclusive distributor of Ligo products; Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CNPF), which produces canned sardines under the 555 brand; and Universal Canning, Inc., which is the owner of Familys sardines.



In times of crisis, sardines are a staple in relief packs, Oceana said. To those who are not allowed to go out because of the enhanced community quarantine, sardines have become a staple in the pantry, whether canned, bottled, or smoked and dried.



A Social Weather Station (SWS) survey in 2017 showed that 70 percent of Filipinos eat fish or any seafood for five days in a month. Of this, three out ten Filipino adults nationwide ate sardines.



Oceana said that given the significance of sardines to Filipinos, it is imperative that these resources should be sufficiently managed for its harvests to be forever.



The approval of the National Sardines Management Plan is not only imperative for the sectors dependent on this industry for their economic interests. With the COVID19 pandemic, we saw again how important this is for our food security and health, said Oceana Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos.



According to her, establishing Fisheries Management Plans are an excellent way to organize the existing biological, economic, and social information about sardines.



It is also an ideal platform to make sure that all present and future governance and management mechanisms are coordinated, and part of a cohesive framework especially as we now have the Fisheries Management Area system. It also provides opportunities to set realistic goals for a fishery, Ramos said.

 2016 mb.com.ph | Philippine News. All rights reserved

Theme(s): Fisheries Resources.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Wednesday said the city is extending its curfew to May 18 to fall in line with Gov. Charlie Bakers decision to do the same for the reopening of non-essential businesses.

Walsh said the citys public health emergency is still in effect until further notice.

All of our measures will be continue to be guided by local public health data and expert advice, Walsh said.

On April 6, Walsh issued a stay-at-home advisory for the city of Boston, urging residents  with the exception of essential workers  to stay home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The advisory began on April 7.

On Tuesday, Baker extended the states stay-at-home advisory until May 18, two weeks later than the state was scheduled to open.

Non-essential business closures and the ban on gatherings above 10 people are also extended until May 18, Baker said.

As of Wednesday, there are at least 8,613 cases of coronavirus in Boston, and 333 deaths from the virus.

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An experimental drug has proven effective in treating COVID-19 patients, the head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, announced Wednesday.

"Remdesivir has a clear-cut significant positive effect in diminishing the time to recover," Fauci told reporters in the White House Oval Office. "A drug can block this virus."

An international randomized placebo control trial at his institute started on Feb. 21 with hundreds of hospitalized coronavirus patients, said Fauci. Recovery time was 11 days for those given the drug compared to 15 days for patients given a placebo, according to the NIAID.

"Whenever you have clear-cut evidence that a drug works, you have an ethical obligation to immediately let the people who are in the placebo group know so that they can have access and all of the other trials that are taking place now have a new standard of care," Fauci told reporters.

Remdesivir, manufactured by Gilead Sciences, is given intravenously and designed to interfere with an enzyme that reproduces viral genetic material. In animal tests against SARS and MERS, diseases caused by similar coronaviruses, it has helped prevent infection and reduced severity of symptoms. But it is not yet approved anywhere in the world for any use.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant



Soren on Thursday said it was a relief to note that for the second consecutive day the state recorded only two COVID-19 cases and assured to increase the number of tests.

Only two patients (had) tested positive for the coronavirus infection in the last two days (Tuesday and Wednesday). This is relief to all of us, Soren said in a tweet.

Jharkhan has a total of 107 Covid cases so far, of whom three died and 19 have been cured.

After witnessing a sudden spurt in the number of coronavirus cases on pevious Sunday and Monday, Jharkhand recorded only two positive cases each on the following two days.

The state had registered 16 positive cases on Sunday and 20 the next day. But, in a welcome relief the figure came down to two each in the next two days.

While on Tuesday both the cases had come from Ranchi, the next day while one had tested positive at Jamtara another infected person hailed from capital Ranchi.

The hotspot Hindpiri locality in Ranchi, which is being manned by the CRPF personnel, has so far recorded 78 cases, including 66 active and ten discharged, according to COVID-19 bulletin.

A Malaysian woman was the first to test positive for the virus in a mosque in Hindpiri in March end.Subsequently the count of the infected persons multiplied in the area in he state capital



The chief minister said that the government is set to increase the number of tests for the virus every day in addition to launching screening of people in every village by members of the Sakhi Mandal (self-help group) and the three-tier Panchayat Raj System and other volunteers.

Through this abhiyaan (campaign) we can cover all the villages before the end of the lockdown. The government will be free of its responsibility only after bringing back every person (stranded outside) of Jharkhand and keep them in complete quarantine, Soren said.

Stating that challenges are ahead, the chief minister lauded the people for their cooperation in the fight to contain spread of the virus during the lockdown.

I am grateful for this, Soren said, assuring the people that Jharkhand would soon become free of coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Henry Walker is like many small business owners in the Houston region. The 36-year-old Bayou City native was laid off from an oilfield job more than five years ago and after unsuccessful efforts to find new work, he instead opened his own business  Legacy Barbell, a unique, California-style gym for folks who are very serious about fitness.

The business, which Walker founded four and a half-years ago, didnt just give him a new job and income, he says it saved his life from depression and other health issues.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: University of St. Thomas to reopen, Houston's largest church resumes

Now, less than three months after a relocation into a new 9,000 square foot structure with high-tech air filtration and disinfectant systems, his business has been shuttered since March 18 due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus and resulting government mandates to close.

That is changing on Thursday, though, as Walker plans to reopen his facility to the more than 800 dues-paying customers at 8 a.m. He cited the recent comments from Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough who said Gov. Greg Abbotts planned reopening strategy was vague and that until it was tweaked to have more legal teeth, county businesses could reopen on Friday.

We are a gym, an actual true gymsome people mislabel us as a hard core gym that is dirty and dingy. I describe us as a serious place for people who are serious about goals. On March 18, we closed our doors. I said, this is for the betterment of the community and Im closing my doors, Walker explained. The mandate came down from the (county) judge and the county commissioners, so we decided to close.

REOPEN TEXAS: Abbott announces which Texas businesses can and can't open May 1

That closure left not only himself unable to work, but the other six employees on staff, too. Fitness trainers at the gym are independent contractors and the gym has six full-time employees. There are dozens of personal trainers that also work at the gym, however they are classified as independent contractors and not on Walkers payroll. The gym was a dream he had after losing a job in the oilfields five years ago, and, he says it saved his life from severe depression.

The gym was originally located inside a different 4,000 square foot space; but Walker moved into the new location on Hanna Road in Oak Ridge North roughly three months ago. Soon after, he had to close due to restrictions on what businesses were deemed essential and allowed to remain open.

I just did all that (relocation and improvements) and the county said, youve to close. I put a half million dollars into the business and we were open three weeks and they said, close, Walker added, noting that he has been sweating bullets with concern and stress over paying his mounting bills.

PUSHING BACK: Montgomery County commissioners call Abbotts plan to reopen Texas economy vague

Walker also said he is concerned about how government officials define essential businesses, especially designating his gym  what he calls a health facility  non-essential while allowing other stores such as furniture stores to remain open.

I am kind of waiting to see what happens with the governor. It is not a good thing, he is going back on it and changing his verbiage. The judge will then change what he says and well have to figure out what to do, Walker said. Weve all been sitting on our butts for six weeks. You cant tell me were unsafe compared to a movie theater. We clean everything here with barbicide, which kills HIV, all sorts of things worse than cornoavirus.

Walker also said other businesses that may open, like movie theaters cannot be safer than a gym that is cleaned vigorously. He also said the mere act of working out is a form of healthcare, as athletes are active and the workouts aid in making immune systems stronger which in turn leads to healthier people. He was also concerned about how an essential business is defined.

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Now, Walker plans to reopen for his remaining members  during the shutdown he said about 20 percent of his monthly membership quit due to financial issues  but with somewhat limited hours. The gym will reopen from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Then 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For someone to tell me I cannot open my business because they dont deem it essential, then I want them to go without a paycheck, Walker said. Spend six weeks in my life where every dream youve built is in jeopardy because someone made decisions with a bunch of big businesses.

jeff.forward@chron.com
VICTORIAPremier John Horgan says he will outline details next week about reopening British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic as workers at two additional poultry processing plants were reported to have tested positive for the virus.

Horgan said the reopening guidelines will be different than other provinces, mostly because B.C. didnt fully lock down its economy, allowing construction, agriculture and other industries to continue operating.

The approach in B.C. was to focus on how could we keep sectors operating safely, rather than shutting them down until such time as we could open them up again, he told a news conference.

Horgan said the reopening plan will focus on ensuring health orders on physical distancing and self-isolation are being practised so that new COVID-19 cases are kept to a minimum.

Its not just going to be the flick of a switch, said Horgan, who also announced the provinces state of emergency has been extended by another two weeks.

He said the public must have confidence about safely entering businesses and workers must have assurances about their safety as the province takes a slow, methodical, phased-in approach to reopening.

The only way we build that confidence is to have a set of common protocols, common guidelines, in place to protect workers, in place to protect consumers, he said.

Horgan said he doesnt expect regular classes at schools to resume until at least September.

The government said Wednesday 13 outbreaks of COVID-19 are over, but four more people died from the illness in the province. A total of 109 people have now died from COVID-19 in B.C.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said the four people who died were seniors living in long-term-care homes.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 34 new positive tests COVID-19, for a total of 2,087 cases, with 1,305 people having recovered.

Horgan expressed concern that workers at four poultry-processing plants have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since last week.

Horgan said provincial sick-pay standards are being reviewed after the province heard workers at one plant told health inspectors they went to work sick because they couldnt afford to lose a days pay.

That just cant continue, he said.

Sofina Foods Inc. in Port Coquitlam and Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry in Chilliwack said Wednesday each of their facilities has one worker who has tested positive.

Sofina Foods said in a statement its employee lives with relatives who work at another plant that was recently closed after several workers tested positive for COVID-19.

The company, which employs more than 400 workers, said the plant remains fully operational, and that disinfection protocols and physical distancing measures are in place.

Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry said its employee had been off the job since Friday with mild flu symptoms and tested positive on Tuesday.

Two other poultry operations in Metro Vancouver were ordered closed by health officials recently when workers at the plants tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the government said 50 people at Superior Poultry Processors Ltd. in Coquitlam and 42 at United Poultry Co. Ltd. in Vancouver have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has said there is no indication food is a source of transmission of the virus.

Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, which produces organic and specialty chicken, duck, squab and free-run geese, said in a statement that similar businesses have not been required to recall products after COVID-19 outbreaks.

Its office and farm store remain open, but the company said its plant was closed on Wednesday while it met with officials to determine what happens next.

Sofina plant manager Kuljeet Chahal said the company was prepared and acted quickly to assess the risks.

Combined with the fact that the employee wore protective personal equipment at all times, we are confident that we had the right measures in place to help mitigate risks to other employees, Chahal said in the companys statement.

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STAMFORD, Conn., April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Holding Company (IHC) announced today that it has entered the Medicare Supplement Insurance Market (Medigap), with an initial launch by Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC) in Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah. By July, we expect to have 15 states, including Texas, and by the 2021 Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) that begins on October 15, 2020, IAIC intends to have Medigap plans in approximately 30 states. IAIC Medicare Supplement has a variety of plans for consumers that will provide coverage that best meets their needs. IAICs first core Medicare Supplement offering will include plans A and F, as well as plans G and N. The plans have competitive rates, point-of-sale underwriting, easy-to-use e-application with voice signature and e-signature capabilities.



This is an important milestone in the execution of a broad senior-market initiative for IHC, said Roy Thung, IHCs CEO. The population in the United States is aging with approximately 10,000 people per day turning age 65. IHC is pleased to add Medicare Supplement plans to an impressive portfolio of supplement products that reimburse for expenses not covered by traditional Medicare, such as Dental, Vision, Hearing, and Hospital Indemnity with Transition and Recovery Care. Medicare Parts A and B cover many healthcare expenses, and our products help pay for many costs not covered by traditional Medicare. IHC will market plans through IHC Specialty Benefits call centers and career agents, and through select third party distribution channels, using a sophisticated buyer propensity and health model developed by our recently acquired MarTech division. By the beginning of the 2021 AEP, we expect to have 150 licensed call center agents selling senior products, including IAICs new Medicare Supplement plans.

About Independence American Insurance Company

Independence American Insurance Company is domiciled in Delaware and licensed to write property and/or casualty insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Its products include pet insurance, short-term medical, hospital indemnity, fixed indemnity limited benefit, group and individual dental, and Medicare Supplement. Independence American is rated A- (Excellent) for financial strength by A.M. Best, a widely recognized rating agency that rates insurance companies on their relative financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations (an A++ rating from A.M. Best is its highest rating).

Story continues

About The IHC Group

Independence Holding Company (IHC), formed in 1980, is a holding company that is principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual specialty benefit products, including disability, supplemental health, pet, and group life insurance through its subsidiaries (Independence Holding Company and its subsidiaries collectively referred to as The IHC Group). The IHC Group consists of three insurance companies (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company). We also own the following agencies: (i) PetPartners Inc., our pet insurance administrator; (ii) IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc., a technology-driven full-service marketing and distribution company that focuses on small employer and individual consumer products through its call center, career agents, and Independence Brokerage Group; and (iii) The INSX Cloud Platform through My1HR, our wholly owned Web Based Entity. Our InsureTech division is comprised of our call centers, field and career agents, in-house MarTech artificial intelligence capabilities and domains, including www.healthedeals.com; www.healthinsurance.org; www.medicareresources.org; www.petplace.com; and www.mypetinsurance.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this release may be considered forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to management's views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding IHC's proposed tender offer, including the maximum number of shares of common stock IHC will offer to purchase in the tender offer and the expected timing of the commencement of the tender offer. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the markets in which IHC operates, new federal or state governmental regulation, IHCs ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage any past or future strategic acquisition, and other factors which can be found in IHCs other news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. IHC expressly disclaims any duty to update its forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.
Yolanda Hadid with her daughter Gigi and boyfriend Zayn, who are expecting their first child together. Picture: Instagram

Gigi Hadid's mother Yolanda confirmed her pregnancy news and said she is "so excited" to become a first-time grandmother later this year.

Speaking to Dutch broadcaster RTL, Yolanda, who is originally from Holland, said she was surprised that their "little secret got leaked to the press" but they are thrilled with the new addition to their family.

"Of course we are so excited. I'm excited to become a grandmother in September especially after I lost my mom so recently," she said.

"But this is the beauty of life, one soul leaves us and a new one comes in. We feel very blessed. I can't wait to become a grandmother."

It's reported that Gigi is expecting a baby girl and fans have been over-analysing pictures from the supermodel's 25th birthday celebrations earlier this week, which they believe was also a gender reveal party.

Gigi and her on-off boyfriend Zayn Malik, are in lockdown at her mother's Philadelphia farm alongside her sister Bella and a select group of family friends.

Expand Close Yolanda Hadid, from left, Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid attend the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Kings Theatre on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Yolanda Hadid, from left, Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid attend the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Kings Theatre on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

TMZ first broke the story of her baby news, citing "family sources".

"Gigi and Zayn are expecting their first child together and the couple is very excited! Gigi has kept the secret close to her family and friends for a while, as shes only a few months along," the insider said.

"Once Gigi and Zayn got back together at the end of last year, it was like they never skipped a beat and knew what they had was special. The couple and their families are overjoyed.

Meanwhile, Gigi previously hinted at the possibility of starting a family with the former One Direction star, as she said she's looking forward to her future outside of modelling.

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She said: "I think that as I get older ... well one day I'll start a family and I don't know if I will always be modelling. I love the creative side of fashion, it's so fulfilling.

"The people I work with make me so happy, I'm so lucky to be around them. But who knows? Maybe I'll take up full time cooking!"
Its a mystery to me why, in the middle of a pandemic, anyone would want to read books about pandemics. Arent we getting enough from the constant news updates? Do we really want to screw our anxiety levels even higher?

But apparently books about pandemics are bestsellers. I suppose thats to be expected with non-fiction: we are already seeing a number of books from Italy, one of the first countries to be hit hard by the virus.

Under the influence of the current pandemic, people are returning to Albert Camus' The Plague' Credit:

Why, however, is plague fiction so popular? Old classics are getting a new life: Albert Camus 1947 novel The Plague, about an outbreak of bubonic plague in a northern African town, is topping bestseller charts in France.

And theres a brand new story emerging week by week online from bestselling author Mitch Albom. Set in his home city of Detroit in the grip of the pandemic, hes following the fortunes of four families and a miraculous little boy. Human Touch is free, to raise awareness for coronavirus relief.
Asia Migrant Workers Left Jobless and Trapped by Thai Coronavirus Lockdown

Migrant workers from Myanmar who lost their jobs line up for free food provided by volunteers following the COVID-19 outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand on April 23, 2020. / REUTERS

BANGKOKHtoo Gay War quit her job as a domestic worker in January because her employer refused to allow her to take one day off each weekjust before Thailand reported its first case of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Three months later, the pregnant 30-year-old from Myanmar has been unable to find a new job as Thailand has declared a state of emergency, shutting malls, schools and bars to curb the spread of the virus, which has infected some 3,000 people.

I want to go home to be with my parents, because at least they can take care of me while Im out of work and dont have any money, she said from the central Thai province of Pathum Thani.

But I cant go back now that the borders are closed, she said, adding that her family is scraping by on her husbands salary of 8,000 baht (about US$250 or 350,000 kyats) per month.

Thailand has about 2.8 million registered migrant workers mainly from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, government figures show. But the UN estimates that 2 million more work informally across the country.

At least half a million migrant workers in Thailand have been left unemployed as a result of the coronavirus crisis, estimates the Migrant Working Group (MWG), a network of non-governmental organizations promoting migrant rights.

These workers will find it difficult to seek new jobs as many venues are still closed, and they also cant go back home and have very little access to government aid, said Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a coordinator at MWG.

Suchat Pornchaiwiseskul, director-general of the Thai Department of Employment, said its policy was to help unemployed migrants find new jobs within 30 days.

Thailands labor law protects both Thai and foreign workers, Suchat said.

Debts building up

Thailand has introduced a raft of measures to help workers affected by the coronavirus, including financial aid for informal Thai workers and for Thai and foreign workers registered under the social security system.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation spoke to seven migrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar who said they did not receive government assistance because they were not formally registered.

One female worker who earned 120 baht a day at a beauty salon before it closed, said she owed money to a grocery store because she could not afford to pay for basic goods.

Ive been looking for a new job, but no one has been willing to accept me, said the worker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Thai law does not allow migrants to work in beauty salons.

About 60,000 migrant workers scrambled to leave Thailand in March before the land border was closed, as the shutting of businesses left them without an income.

Most migrant workers are not members of Thailands social security scheme, said Jarrett Basedow, regional director of Issara Institute, a labor rights and anti-trafficking group.

We have not yet talked to a migrant worker who has accessed this assistance, he said, adding that many work illegally, have not received a social security card or their employers have not paid the necessary contributions.

Unemployed people must contribute to social security for at least six months before they can receive benefits.

Basedow said many employers were laying off workers, often with no legal severance pay, by pressuring workers to sign resignation letters or not renewing their contracts.

Many of these workers are worried about meeting their needs until they are able to return home, as they have no employment and high debt, he said.

Pasuta Chuenkhachorn, a lawyer with the Human Rights and Development Foundation, which provides legal aid to migrant workers and trafficking victims, said the governments financial aid measures discriminated against migrants.

In times of crisis like this, the Thai government only takes care of Thai people, she said.

One glass factory worker from Myanmar said he and dozens of other workers were laid off on March 1, as orders had fallen.

He was unable to look for a new job because his passport and work permit were still with the agency that recruited him.

Theres no point in staying here anymore, he said by phone from Thailands central Samut Prakan province.

Once the borders are open, Ill go home. Its hard to find work here and I dont have my personal documents.

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Theres a reason we never see the villain in The Assistant. A lot of people like to think, Well, Harvey Weinstein is in prison now, its all fixed, says Kitty Green, whose new film was inspired by the #MeToo movement. I wasnt trying to explore the bad apples. The films pointing to a larger problem, a systemic problem  a cultural problem, essentially  that still continues.

As the first film to tackle the Weinstein revelations head-on, The Assistant could have been gratuitous, sensationalising the trauma many women endured at the hands of the disgraced Hollywood producer. It couldnt be further from that. Released just weeks after Weinstein began his 23-year prison sentence, and described in this publications five-star review as masterfully nuanced on every level, the film was made with the belief that bad men have had enough screen time. Its as chilling as it is compelling.

Unfolding over the course of a single day, The Assistant follows Jane (Julia Garner), a low-level assistant at a film production company. The newest member of staff, she is the first to arrive each morning and the last to leave. She makes coffee. She sends a young woman clutching headshots into a one-on-one meeting with the boss (whos never referred to by name). She clears up clutter from a meeting. She returns an earring from her bosss floor to a second young woman. She books appointments. She escorts a third, very young woman (a new hire) to a hotel to meet with him. We dont know exactly what hes up to  the limits of Janes knowledge are the limits of ours, too  but we have our suspicions. As does Jane.

At first, though, she goes along with it. Jane doesnt know what goes on when they go into that room, says Green. The doors closed, and she immediately has a job to do that is keeping her from putting the dots together. So in that sense, I was interested in just how much someone in that position would be aware of. All those women that come through that office  at least three that day  Jane is trying to figure them out and what theyre doing there and whether they want to be there or not.

Kitty Green on her new film The Assistant: I was definitely trying to explore something that was less about the bad apples and more systemic (Rex)

This girl is fairly new in the business, Garner told Vulture of her role. She probably just got out of school and shes struggling with whats right and whats wrong, but she still wants to keep her job. For people who maybe have worked in an abusive environment and they are like, I said something! Im like, No you didnt, you wanted to keep your job. Its about that. Its not about Weinstein. There [have been] so many cases, so its about not forgetting them, not having to go back to square one, where we were.

The bosss behaviour certainly seems to be an open secret among Janes male colleagues. They listen on the intercom to the animalistic male grunts coming from his meeting room, and laugh. They joke about avoiding the chaise longue in his office. A voice on the phone tells her to just ignore the two cheques with no names on them. This is a company filled from the ground up with toxic behaviour  those who enact it, those who enable it, and those who do nothing to stop it.

I was definitely trying to explore something that was less about the bad apples and more systemic, says Green, who worked in documentaries  most recently 2017s Casting JonBenet, about the murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey  before making The Assistant. She didnt know at first that this would be a fiction film; she initially envisaged it as something quite different, following a sour experience taking Casting JonBenet to Sundance Film Festival. The first question I was asked when I landed was which of my two male producers I get my ideas from, she says with a scoff. And I remember immediately feeling so upset. The idea that Id worked that hard to get a film into Sundance and people werent giving me credit for it or were assuming that I wasnt really in charge  it kind of messed with my self-confidence. I was having a lot of interactions with male journalists and critics who were saying things, subtly, that were making me feel as if I wasnt being taken seriously. So I started working on something that was about power structures.

That idea gradually evolved into an exploration of consent. She started speaking to young women on college campuses. Then when the Harvey Weinstein story broke, the press was focusing on these bad men, she recalls. I knew, and I think a lot of women knew, that these were more structural and systemic sexism problems, that there is a sexism inherent in the film industry. So I shifted focus.

This is why Green chose not to even show the boss on camera  so that she didnt risk the extent of the problem being overlooked. In order for things to change, she says, we need more women in positions of power. So lets explore why there arent. Instead of looking at the top down, lets go bottom up. Lets look at the youngest female employee of that company, and why she isnt being promoted, and why she isnt allowed to climb the ladder the way the boys are, and whats preventing her from moving into a position of power. Thats the crux of the film, essentially.

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Janes two male co-workers are disrespectful and dismissive. They throw screwed-up paper at her when they want something, sneer at the sandwich she brings them because its turkey not chicken, and expect her to field the calls with the bosss irate wife.

Jon Orsini, Julia Garner and Noah Robbins in The Assistant (Curzon ) (Curzon)

I was interested in micro aggressions, explains Green. Those tiny moments that often go unnoticed by men, and I think women pick up on. I felt like the close-up in a fictional film could show that in a way that a documentary couldnt. The glances and gestures. The way men take up space in an elevator. I wanted to amplify those. Does she see a connection between those micro-aggressions and the more severe abuses of power? Its complicated, because you cant conflate a toxic work environment with something as horrific as sexual assault, she says, but I mean, if you let people get away with certain behaviours, then they will push it a little further the next time. We need to prevent any of this from going on in the first place. The safer and more fair we can make our workplaces, the less likely there will be sexual misconduct and sexual assault going on. Its a spectrum, I guess, of abuse.

Janes workplace is neither safe nor fair. In perhaps the most devastating scene of the film, after growing concerned for the welfare of the bosss alarmingly young and inexperienced new hire, who has been at a hotel with him for several hours, she gathers up the courage to go to HR. For a moment, it seems she might have found a sympathetic ear. But as Jane struggles to articulate herself, or come up with any concrete proof of her suspicions, it becomes clear that this man in a suit (a smarmy, supercilious Matthew Macfadyen) is not on her side at all. When I found out, I came straight here, she says. Sorry, what did you find out? Theres a long, painful pause. What can we do? she says, desperate. Do about what? It is no use. She retracts the complaint, collects her belongings and goes to leave. You dont have anything to worry about, he says when she reaches the door. Youre not his type.

Green captures all of this in low, dreary saturation. Theres no score, just the sound of whirring printers and ringing telephones. All the while, the camera stays uncomfortably close to Garner, who is vulnerable and tightly coiled. As the humiliations and moral compromises wrack up, the life seems to fade from her big, wounded eyes.

 The Assistant trailer

In researching the film, Green consulted with women who had been in similar situations. I spoke to a lot of young women who had been in positions that made them very uncomfortable but felt they didnt have the power to speak up, or tried to speak up and were shut down, she says. I do think the press were very quick to label anyone that was an assistant to somebody who was a predator to be an enabler, and its so much more complicated than that. If you are the youngest woman on the desk of someone like that, its a really difficult position to be in. I wanted to show how she, too, is a victim of a toxic and gendered work environment.

Some of the women Green spoke to even had similar experiences with their companies HR departments. A lot of them had gone to HR with complaints and felt almost gaslit, she says. They walked out confused about why they went in in the first place. HR departments are there to protect the company, not the employees, so you go in there looking for support and you realise that youre almost in trouble for being there in the first place. That kind of relationship, and the machinery that supports a predator like that, all of the systems and structures hes built around himself, was interesting to me.

Still, Green doesnt buy into the concept of men bad, women good. At one point towards the end of the film, an older woman turns to Jane in the lift and says something that is at best ignorant, and at worst, utterly malicious. The character was originally a man, but a friend of Greens read the script and suggested that she change it. Theres a lot of women who have made the wrong choices and whove treated women terribly, she says, and I do think all of that needs to be examined and interrogated.

Green shot The Assistant in just 18 days, but it took a little longer than that to get it financed. Often, she found that the women at production companies loved it, but their male colleagues would shut it down. I think a lot of this behaviour is still going on in workplaces, and I think people are a little afraid to confront that idea, she says. The idea that were highlighting scares some people, because itll force them to have to confront their own behaviour, and that makes people uncomfortable. But I think a certain amount of discomfort is a good thing if were gonna move forward. She laughs. Change is a little uncomfortable.

The Assistant is out on Curzon Home Cinema on Friday 1 May
A Texas man accused of opening fire outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington early Thursday morning was arrested and charged with assault with intent to kill, the authorities said, reporting damage to the building but no injuries.

The police and Secret Service officers were called to the scene at about 2:10 a.m., after receiving reports of gunfire by the embassy, the police said. There, officers found a man with an assault-style rifle, said Brianna Jordan, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department. He was taken into custody without incident, she said.

She identified the man as Alexander Alazo, 42, of Aubrey, Texas, and said he had been charged with assault with intent to kill. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Our initial investigation indicates that the subject was shooting toward a foreign embassy building, Ms. Jordan said, adding that both the police and the Secret Service were investigating the incident.
Cider and beer maker C&C has temporarily laid off 70% of its staff, implemented a 20%-40% pay cut and has scrapped its annual dividend.

Elsewhere, Danish brewing giant Carlsberg has warned of continuing sales falls as the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to lash the drinks industry.

C&C  which makes the twin cider brands Bulmers and Magners, as well as Five Lamps and Tennents beers  said it will slash its capital spending this year to between 7m and 10m, significantly down on last year.

Wider staff will take a 20% salary cut, while the groups executive management and board will see their pay reduced by 30% and 40% respectively. The pay cuts will be for an initial three months and will be reviewed thereafter.

As it is availing of government cover in both Ireland and the UK, C&C said it has scrapped dividend plans, saying awarding a payout would not be appropriate nor prudent. It said it will reinstate its dividend policy as and when appropriate.

C&C has also pushed out publication of its annual results to the beginning of June and its AGM until July 23.

It also said that while it has reached the final stages of appointing a new CEO, the process will be delayed due to the current travel restrictions in Ireland and the UK.

Meanwhile, Carlsberg has said worse is still to come after a 7% decline in first quarter sales, as increased beer sales in supermarkets failed to balance the closure of bars and restaurants during the coronavirus lockdown.

Elsewhere, British pub group JD Wetherspoon  which is expanding in Ireland - plans to raise $175m (161m) in a share placing as it tries to cope with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced all pubs to close.

- additional reporting Reuters
The official Twitter handle of the President of the United States of America, The White House, and the POTUS himself, Donald Trump, have now unfollowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the social media platform. But why?

It was only three weeks ago when the White House followed PM Modi, President Ram Kovind and other Indian handles. PM Modi was also the only foreign prime minister to have been followed by Trump.

This sudden end of friendship has obviously given rise to conspiracy theories on Twitter.

A few days ago, Trump had urged Modi to lift the ban on the export of hydroxychloroquine, a drug which Trump had repeatedly promoted as a miraculous solution to coronavirus. After Trump's request, Modi had lifted the ban on the drug's export. Trump tweeted that he wouldn't forget his "friend's" help during the coronavirus crisis.

But if that was really the case, why did Trump unfollow Modi on Twitter?

After threatening our PM with retaliation on the Hydroxychloroquine issue, Trump goes on to unfollow PM Modi on Twitter. Why is India global reputation being sabotaged by the US? Wasn't Namaste Trump satisfactory?  Prajwal Kuttappa (@PrajwalKuttappa) April 29, 2020

US President Donald Trump, White House unfollow 'good friend' PM Modi on Twitter. What is the reason behind it. Being him called as Corona Carrier Trump in India, or the moment his purpose of HCQ is over, he changed the stance?,,,,  Balaji Gurude #WithRG (@BGurude) April 29, 2020

Chronology ko Samajhiye ! First He got PM Modi to organize 'Namaste Trump' on the name of 'friendship' Then, threatened & secured HCQ, while Indians suffer Now, unfollowed PM Modi after getting their work done !  Rohan Gupta (@rohanrgupta) April 29, 2020

2 weeks ago, a diplomatic victory was claimed as @whitehouse followed @narendramodi & several Indian accounts, post export of anti-malarial drugs We tracked following behavior. Now @narendramodi & rest have been unfollowed. Do we get the drugs back, or was 2 weeks the deal? pic.twitter.com/SUyXyqGJyN  joyojeet pal (@joyopal) April 28, 2020

On April 4, The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had issued a notification putting a complete prohibition on the export of hydroxychloroquine and its formulations, given that India is one of the largest manufacturers of the anti-malaria drug.

But Trump wasn't too happy with this. India may have to bear the brunt of America's "retaliation" if it does not lift hold on the export of hydroxychloroquine, he had warned.

"I spoke to him (PM Modi) on Sunday morning and I said we appreciate it that you are allowing our supply (of Hydroxychloroquine) to come out, if he doesn't allow it to come out, that would be okay, but of course, there may be retaliation, why wouldn't there be?" Trump had said.

Hours later, the Modi government relaxed the ban on the drug. It seemed like India had made its way into Trump's good books once again as the US President tweeted, showering praises on Modi and thanked them for relaxing the ban.

But was that the real reason for their end of friendship on Twitter? The reason might not have anything to do with hydroxychloroquine at all.

Once people started raising questions, a White House spokesperson explained to PTI that their Twitter handle and Donald Trump only follows other foreign handles when the POTUS is about to make a trip to any country for official reasons. Those handles are then followed to show support or retweet important updates regarding the visit.

To jog your memories, Trump visited India in the last week of February for the mega 'Namaste Trump' event.

The White House official also clarified that their Twitter handle, and that of Trump only follow accounts related to the US administration, like First Lady Melania Trump, the Vice President, the Second Lady and so on.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- A U.S. Army-funded project is identifying how officials at different levels of government can work together to encourage protective behaviors to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This is the new goal of an existing game-theory project funded as part of a Multi-University Research Initiative by the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory.

Most of the literature in game theory examines individual behavior, but this project, led by the University of Michigan along with Harvard University, University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California and Washington University, explores what happens when decisions are made at multiple scales, such as during the current COVID-19 pandemic, where decisions are made by individuals, local governments, state governments and nations.

The research team saw the applications of their work to the COVID-19 pandemic and pivoted their modeling.

"The global pandemic is the most salient threat we face at the moment," said Dr. Purush Iyer, an ARO program manager. "While the U.S. Army's interest in network games includes understanding the impact of the adversarial groups in a host population, electronic warfare, and distributed weapon systems, we fully support exploring the impact of measures to control the spread of disease."

According to the researchers, when human behavior is competitive, people don't use resources in the way that is most efficient for the community--as seen in behaviors like mask, sanitizer and toilet paper hoarding. But most decisions about how to behave aren't entirely individualistic. People make them as part of a community, and are swayed both by leadership and the incentives and disincentives that leadership can offer--as well as altruism.

The team is exploring how to model compliance or lack of compliance regarding COVID-19 orders and recommendations in their game-theory framework. The protective behaviors include not going out, wearing a mask when going out, hand washing and sanitizer use when returning from being out.

The factors that may influence compliance often include the prevalence of COVID-19 in the local community, a person's vulnerability or proximity to vulnerable individuals, and general awareness. But they may also be affected by the timing of the order and even the words and phrases chosen to give the justification and restrictions. This aspect of the analysis will allow the team to then investigate community-wide behavior as a result of high-level policies.

The team plans to connect behaviors identified from such data with COVID-19 case data to discover which restrictions and recommendations are most effective.

"We're also interested in understanding what additional mechanisms or policies could be introduced to make the overall system more efficient--for instance, enabling more collaboration among communities rather than competition," said Mingyan Liu, leader of the project and the Peter and Evelyn Fuss Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan.

Liu cited the way that states are currently fighting one another for federal supply of medical equipment even as some come together on a plan to begin re-opening the economy.

For now, the team is best equipped to model strategic decisions associated with social distancing at the individual and community levels, but they have plans to include economic concerns as well. The state that is able to remain open because its neighbors are closed is a free rider in the sense of limiting virus spread, but it may also play an important economic role in manufacturing and distribution, helping to head off shortages.

###

The researchers presented the work at a recent Call to Arms virtual conference from the National Science Foundation's Networking Technology Systems group.

CCDC Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL discovers, innovates and transitions science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.
As economic concerns mount for millions of U.S. residents amid the coronavirus public health crisis, one 23-year-old Boston man is doing his part to ensure disabled people are getting the food they need during the pandemic, according to news outlets.

WBZ reported that Esteban Barriga, who is autistic, was worried about individuals who cannot wait in long lines at food banks. So, he and his mother, who live in West Roxbury, created a fundraising initiative to buy grocery store gift cards for those in need.

We want to help [disabled] people who are poor and have no money, no jobs. They also have special needs, Barriga told WBZ.

The duo has sent gift cards to residents in Chelsea, Everett and Fall River, and they were looking to send a few to people in Salem, according to the news outlet.

Barriga and his mother, Maribel Rueda, have raised more than $500 since starting the initiative Wednesday, and the two have been receiving messages of support on their Facebook page.

This amazing young man with autism saw people falling through the cracks and decided to do something about it! Lets help him help them, one person wrote online.

People can donate to Esteban and Ruedas efforts by visiting their Facebook page.

Related Content:
After two passengers on their luxury cruise tested positive for Covid-19 in March, Emilio and Barbara Hernandez were so frantic to get off the ship, they wrote a note to the captain.

The Costa Luminosa sailed on with them still onboard, and they ended up with the virus. Now recovering, the Hernandezes and 98 fellow passengers have sued Costa Cruise Lines Inc., a brand owned by Carnival Corp., alleging the firm endangered passengers lives through negligence and bad decision-making.

A Costa spokeswoman said the company stepped up its sanitation of ships and then took action, including quarantining passengers, after it learned of the positive test results.

The Hernandezes and their fellow plaintiffs are seeking class-action status. They may have rough sailing ahead.

The tickets that cruise passengers buy resemble legal contracts, and they generally contain language barring customers from filing class-action suits  lawsuits that allow one or more plaintiffs to act on behalf of a larger group. Thats just one of several built-in legal protections in cruise tickets meant to safeguard companies against a rash of litigation thats already arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

These claims are enormous  nothing the industrys seen before with so many passengers fallen sick and bringing suit, said Martin Davies, director of the Tulane Maritime Law Center at Tulane University Law School. Any judgments would be paid out of an insurance pool that the cruise lines have formed, Davies said.

Carnival Claims

Currently, no cruise company faces more claims related to the virus than Carnival, the industrys largest operator. At least 22 lawsuits have been filed against Carnival-owned companies, seeking millions of dollars in damages. The company said it doesnt comment on active litigation.

By comparison, Celebrity Cruises, owned by the second-largest company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., faces just one U.S. lawsuit so far: a proposed class-action filed by crew members who allege Celebrity failed to protect them from the virus. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., the third largest, faces a shareholder lawsuit that alleges the company failed to disclose adverse facts that affected it due to Covid-19. Lawyers say passenger suits against other cruise companies are probably coming.

Some of the virus-related claims, including the Hernandezes case, seek class-action status and involve multiple plaintiffs, totaling almost 200 so far.

But suits seeking class-action certifications face an uphill battle, Davies said, because of language contained in the passengers tickets. Provided thats what the contract says, generally the courts will find that enforceable.

Range of Protections

Its not uncommon for big businesses of all sorts to insist on class-action waivers in their contracts, but cruise operators have a range of other legal protections as well. Some of them stem from byzantine maritime laws that date to the 19th Century, when policy makers wanted to encourage investment in the shipping industry.

If you print out one of these tickets, its like 20 pages of gobbledygook, said John Hickey, a maritime lawyer. Hickey, who spent almost two decades defending cruise operators in court, now represents plaintiffs against them. Most people have no idea the limitations theyre presented with.

For example, judgments for deaths that occur far from U.S. ports are limited by the Death on the High Seas Act, enacted in 1920. Most ticket contracts limit any legal actions to select federal courts, predominantly in Florida or Los Angeles, no matter where the customers live. And most of them require passengers to notify a cruise operator within six months that they intend to sue.

Its not uncommon for big businesses to insist on class-action waivers, but cruise operators have a range of other legal protections as well.

In general, cruise industry representatives say its unfair to single out cruise operators, who they say implemented more aggressive screening and prevention measures related to Covid-19 than other travel sectors did.

Cruise lines took immediate and aggressive action based on the information that was available when it was available every step of the way, said Bari Golin-Blaugrund, a spokeswoman for the Cruise Lines International Association. Importantly, all decisions were based upon the expertise and guidance of prevailing health authorities.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 14 ordered cruise ships in U.S. waters to suspend operations after travelers on more than 30 voyages were infected with Covid-19.

The Hernandezes tickets for the Costa Luminosa contained a patently unfair prohibition on class actions, said their lawyer, Michael Winkleman of Florida. He acknowledged significant hurdles for their lawsuit, which alleges that the bar on class actions should be voided because Costa Cruise Lines acted intentionally by exposing passengers to a highly contagious virus for which theres no vaccine.

If the case isnt certified as a class action, Winkleman said, he intends to file cases for the plaintiffs individually or in smaller groups. Class-action lawsuits, which can result in larger judgments or settlements, can help to move cases more swiftly for plaintiffs. Most plaintiffs law firms that pursue them do so on a no win, no fee basis, banking on bigger payouts, said Davies, the maritime-law professor.

Suits Allegations

The ship never should have sailed, Emilio Hernandez, 51, said in an interview. They put profit over the safety of passengers and crew.

He and his wife almost canceled their March 5 sailing on the Costa Luminosa to Antigua and Europe, but Costa assured them precautions would be taken, he said. Their lawsuit alleges that the operator proceeded with the trip despite knowing that at least one passenger from the ships previous voyage, who disembarked Feb. 29, had coronavirus symptoms.

That passenger left for a medical emergency that was not even connected to any flu-like symptoms, said Rossella Carrara, a spokeswoman for the cruise operators Italian parent company, Costa Crociere Group, which is also owned by Carnival.

Before the new coronavirus, the cruise industry had generally avoided large-scale litigation over infectious disease outbreaks at sea.

Sanitation procedures on the ship were stepped up ahead of the Hernandezes cruise, Carrara said, and a quarantine of all passengers and other measures, such as daily temperature checks, were adopted after the company learned of positive test results.

Costa has said previously that the company passed information to Costa Luminosa passengers as soon as it received it and that it suspended new cruises on March 13, the day it learned that a passenger on its cruise had tested positive.

Should Have Known

Many of the coronavirus lawsuits filed thus far argue that the companies should have known how infectious the pathogen was after an outbreak in late February on the Diamond Princess, which is operated by Carnivals Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. What began as fewer than a dozen infections quickly spread to more than 700 passengers and eventually killed at least 13 despite a quarantine of the vessel off Yokohama, Japan.

Lawsuits filed by passengers of another Princess vessel, the Grand Princess, allege that the cruise line knew some people aboard had Covid-19 symptoms when the ship docked and boarded new passengers in San Francisco on Feb. 21 for a cruise to Hawaii. The two symptomatic passengers disembarked that day; one tested positive shortly afterward and died, prompting California officials to refuse to let the ship dock.

The Grand Princess suits, filed by lawyer Debi Chalik, claim that the cruise operator alerted passengers of the ships previous cruise about potential Covid-19 exposure in a Feb. 25 email, but didnt warn passengers on its Hawaii cruise. Chaliks office said its representing dozens of plaintiffs.

A spokeswoman for Princess Cruises said the companys response to the Covid-19 outbreak has focused on the well-being of our guests and crew within the parameters dictated to us by the government agencies involved and the evolving medical understanding of this new illness. She said the company doesnt comment on pending litigation.

On March 4, Carnivals Chief Medical Officer, Grant Tarling, notified passengers and crew on the Grand Princess that the CDC was investigating a cluster of coronavirus cases connected to the previous voyage, according to the Princess website. It warned the 60 or so guests who also had sailed on that trip that they may have been exposed. It was then  two weeks after the voyage began  that testing started, the suits allege.

For now, with cruises canceled, the industry in a kind of suspended animation.

When the ship was finally permitted to dock, 21 people tested positive. All American travelers were quarantined on U.S. military bases.

Carnivals President and Chief Executive Officer, Arnold Donald, told Bloomberg Businessweek in an April 16 article that his companys response was reasonable under the circumstances. This is a generational global event  its unprecedented, he said.

Inspections Questioned

Before the new coronavirus, the cruise industry had generally avoided large-scale litigation over infectious disease outbreaks at sea. Since 2006, thered been fewer than 10 lawsuits filed over norovirus, the notorious gastrointestinal ailment that for years has ruined some passengers experiences.

Yet many of the Covid-19 lawsuits raise questions about the inspections that U.S. officials instituted in response to norovirus outbreaks. Plaintiffs in the Grand Princess suits claim the cruise operator didnt adequately sanitize the vessel between voyages. And Winkleman, the Hernandezes lawyer, said he plans to focus part of his cases on Carnivals record of ship inspections and history of outbreaks at sea.

The Costa Luminosa and the Grand Princess both have unremarkable inspection records. Ships need an 86 or higher to pass under the CDCs Vessel Sanitation Program. The Costa Luminosa was last inspected on Jan. 5 and received a 94. The Grand Princess passed its last inspection in June with a 93.

The program subjects ships that dock at U.S. ports to surprise inspections twice a year. Since 2016, ships owned by Carnival fail about 3% of their inspections. Norwegian Cruise Line has the worst failure rate at 4% and Royal Caribbeans rate is about 1%.

Carnival spokesman Roger Frizzell noted that the company makes up about half the industry, and said its ships typically perform extremely well during inspections. He said Carnival-owned ships have received the highest number of perfect scores as well.

For now, with cruises canceled and the industry in a kind of suspended animation, the lawsuits and their claims represent a potential challenge that cruise operators havent seen before, said Ross Klein, an associate dean at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada who has studied the cruise industry for more than two decades. There are still a lot of ifs about the success of the legal claims, he said, but the risk for the companies is there.

The industry hasnt had any calamitous losses  nothing that would be potentially as large as this if the cases proceed in court, Klein said.

With assistance from Christopher Palmeri, Jonathan Levin and Kevin Varley.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits USA
In an interview with Dallas business owner and CEO of Venture X Near Galleria, Nadim Ahmed Discusses Why flexible workspaces are essential for disaster recovery.

Dallas, TX, April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dallas, TX - Whether theyre manmade or an act of nature, disasters can be devastating for a business.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), up to 60 percent of small businesses never reopen after a disaster. Among those forced to close for five days or more, 90 percent fail within one year.

Disasters can come in all shapes and sizes. If your business is located in a part of the country that sees tornadoes, frequent flooding, brushfires, or hurricanes, you cant afford to forego disaster recovery planning.

Likewise, every business is vulnerable to manmade disasters like identity theft and hacking. While small businesses might think theyre safe from cyber-attacks and security threats says Nadim Ahmed of Venture X Dallas North Coworking space.

In fact, cyber thieves often prefer small businesses because they tend to lack the sophisticated encryption and other security safeguards used by big names and multinational corporations. In 2012 alone, cyber-attacks on small businesses jumped by 300 percent.

No matter the size, businesses that fail to prepare for the worst risk of losing money or shutting down. This is why disaster recovery planning is critical.

If your business has a disaster recovery plan, you should consider making a detailed strategy for relocating the business so you can be up and running as quickly as possible following a disaster. This is where co-working can help.

Why You Need an Alternative Work Space

In 2019, Goldman Sachs made headlines after it set up an entire alternative trading floor in a co-working space in London. As a backup location, the second trading floor was designed to mimic the companys operations as closely as possible, enabling the entire operation to quickly pick up and go in the event of a disaster.

Story continues

The idea was to sidestep interruptions in everyday business. While smaller companies likely dont have the resources to completely copy their workspace, business of all sizes can build on the concept pioneered by Goldman Sachs.

For example, having a flexible workspace ready and waiting can give your workers a place to report to when disaster strikes.

Whether its a hurricane or a water main break, knowing you can have your team assemble in an alternative space gives you the peace of mind of knowing you can continue working even if your main office is suddenly unavailable.

What Is a Disaster Recovery Plan?

Every business should have a disaster recovery plan. This is a detailed plan that spells out how every critical department in the business will continue operating in the event of some type of disaster. For example, the plan should discuss departments like IT and human resources, as well as sales and accounting. The plan should also address physical space and digital storage.

There are numerous benefits that come with having a disaster recovery plan. In addition to keeping the business up and running, a good disaster recovery plan can safeguard workers safety, keep jobs secure, raise the confidence of key stakeholders, maintain corporate compliance, reduce financial hazards, and safeguard the companys reputation.

What Kind of Disasters Should a Business Consider?

While some types of disasters are easier to predict than others, the very nature of disasters is that they tend to come on without a great deal of warning.

For example, if your business is located in the heart of hurricane territory in Florida, you can assume your area will see its share of hurricanes. However, you cant predict with any real certainty which hurricane season will produce a Category 5 storm.

This is why businesses should prepare for anything and everything. Possible disasters include:

Flooding

Fires

Hurricanes

Earthquakes

Landslides

Insect or rodent infestation

Extreme heat or cold

Vandalism

Theft

Employee sabotage

Worker strikes

Hacking

Pandemics and other biohazards

Toxic and chemical accidents

Gas leaks

Disruption in utility service

Building structural problems

Computer malfunctions

Various disasters can affect businesses in different ways, but several types of disasters can devastate a company by compromising its physical location. Businesses that set up a co-working space as an alternative location can focus on planning how they will continue operations rather than spending their time frantically searching for a second location when disaster strikes.

Factors to Consider When Preparing Your Disaster Recovery Plan

When preparing your disaster recovery plan, some items to consider include the following.

Identify key personnel  Which employees are critical to keeping the business operational? Ideally, these workers should be the first to move to the co-working space.





Identify critical departments  Every department is important for a business, but some departments play a larger role than others when it comes to staying operational and generating revenue. These departments should have priority when it comes to relocating to your companys co-working space.





Do a test run  You dont have to wait for a disaster to happen to see if your disaster recovery plan works. Just as you might perform a fire drill to test your buildings sprinkler system, you can test the effectiveness of your disaster recovery plan by running through emergency scenarios.





Sources:

Check out Venture X Dallas by the Galleria office location here.





Nadim Ahmed

214-919-8844





Story via KISS Story Newswire
Japan's Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo, says he will extend the declaration of a state of emergency that is due to end on May 6.

He made the announcement on Thursday after the Diet approved a supplementary budget for fiscal 2020 to fund an emergency economic package to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Abe told reporters it would be difficult for Japan to return to normal life from May 7, and said the country should be determined to wage a "battle of patience."

Abe says he will consult experts on how long the state of emergency should be extended.
The Port of Oakland is facing a severe financial crisis  but its not so much because the port is missing its ships. Its the airplanes.

Port officials are expecting that, because of the coronavirus pandemic, air passenger counts will be down 95% in April from a year ago  and the Oakland airport accounts for more than half the ports income.

The pandemic has weakened international trade, decimated travel and shuttered local businesses. For the port, that has created a dire situation.

Executive Director Danny Wan told the State Lands Commission, which regulates the use of land at the port, in a meeting held by videoconference Wednesday that the port was coming to grips with a severe revenue shortfall. He asked the state agency to help the port get more federal funding and consider flexibility with land use, as traditional avenues for income steeply decline. The Port of Oakland disclosed in April that it was expecting to receive $44 million of federal relief under the Cares Act.

The Port of Oakland is operational in these unprecedented, challenging times and has stepped up for the states emergency response, Wan said in the meeting. But we will need to adapt our business model to new realities and ask the commission to continue to work with us to find creative, workable solutions to stabilize our finances.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

The Port of Oakland reported $397 million in revenue last year. It directly employs more than 500 people and supports more than 84,000 jobs in the Bay Area. Its classified as an essential operation under shelter-in-place orders that Alameda County has extended, along with other Bay Area jurisdictions, through the end of May.

The port has three main lines of business: the seaport, the airport and commercial real estate. The first two account for the majority of the ports income, with the airport bringing in a little over half, and the seaport around 40%. Its commercial real estate revenue, including rents from tenants in Jack London Square, accounts for 10%.

In March, Oakland International Airport saw passenger travel decline by almost 59% to 451,000 compared with March 2019. Port officials did not have exact figures for April but said they are expecting passenger counts to decline by 95% year over year; federal, state and local governments have warned against any nonessential travel. In 2019, the airport served 13.6 million passengers and moved 1.3 billion pounds of air cargo.

The seaport, a hub of maritime international trade for the region, sees three-quarters of its business with Asia. It saw overall import and export volume decline by 11% in March compared with 2019. The port is expecting further decreases in the summer: The arrivals of approximately 20 container ships have been canceled for May and June, the port said.

Port officials said a decline in consumer spending has affected global trade, and there are fewer goods to load on ships running between Asias manufacturing centers and U.S. ports.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The port had projected revenue this year would be flat at around $398 million. With its largest sources of income falling, the port expects to report steep financial losses well into its 2021 fiscal year.

Relief may come through a loosening of land use rules, if the state commission agrees. The port oversees approximately 837 acres, including 20 miles of waterfront around Jack London Square. Some of the commercial real estate properties on the site include warehouses, parking lots, hotels, offices, shops, restaurants and public parks.

In March, an empty pier at the port was the docking site for the Grand Princess cruise ship, which had more than 100 coronavirus cases. The ship and passengers have since departed.

Some longshoremen at the SSA Marine terminal called for more extensive equipment cleaning last month and threatened to refuse to work.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika
Press Release

30 April 2020

Hoteliers in the Netherlands and Belgium expect that the corona crisis will have a long-term impact, but will eventually recover. This is shown in new research by Horwath HTL. The domestic market will recover relatively quickly and perhaps even come out of the fray more strongly, but the international market is facing a slow recovery. A large number of closed hotels are now cautiously opening again, but revenues in the first half of the year have been at least halved. The projections for the second half of the year also show much lower occupancies and revenues. After the crisis, which hoteliers expect to last for at least 6 to 12 months, a slow recovery is expected.

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Expected impact of the corona crisis

Positive

5% expect an increase in the tourist individual segment in 2020

12% even believe that the domestic market will emerge stronger

67% expect recovery within six months and two years

Negative

85% expect revenues to be much worse in 2020 than in 2019

80% expect a greater impact than from the financial crisis 2008 - 2009

72% expect tour groups to perform much worse than in 2019

Long-term impact of the corona crisis

The hoteliers expect the impact of the corona crisis to last longer than the current lockdown measures. More than 70% of hoteliers expect the impact to last longer than 6 months: 31% expect 6-12 months, 36% expect 12-24 months and 4% longer than 24 months.

The impact on the hotel market in 2020 is very large. Almost all hoteliers expect occupancy rates and revenues to be worse this year than last year; according to 85% they will be much worse. More than 80% of the hoteliers believe that the consequences of the corona crisis are considerably greater than the last financial crisis in 2008-2009.

Hotels are slowly reopening

Of the 200 hotels surveyed, almost 60% were completely closed by mid-April, and another 22% had closed part of the hotel rooms. In addition, only 16% are still operating the food and beverage and/ or other facilities. A number of hotels have since reopened, many expect to return to business in the coming month.

Bars and restaurants have been closed in Belgium since March 12 and in the Netherlands since March 15 by order of the government, but hotels may still remain open. In the Netherlands, hotel guests may also use the hotel restaurant under certain conditions. The measures will last until at least May 19 in the Netherlands and June 8 in Belgium.

Of the hotels that are closed, almost 80% expect to be closed for 1-3 months. Only 2% are expecting a 3-6 month closure; none of the hoteliers expect to be closed for more than 6 months. However, almost 20% indicate that they will remain closed until the end of the crisis.

Occupancy rates and revenues more than halved

More than 80% of the surveyed hotels expect a decrease of over 50% in the occupancy rate in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Average room rates have also fallen, but less sharply. More than 50% expect a decrease of over 25%, of which about 30% expect a decrease of over 50%. Almost all hotels expect revenues to fall by more than 50%.

A decline is also expected for the second half of 2020, but projections are - currently - less negative than in the first half. Approximately 97% expect lower occupancy rates in the second half of the year than in the same period last year, but only about 10% of hoteliers expect a decrease of over 50%. The majority, almost 52%, expect a drop between 25% and 50%. The projections for the average room rates are again slightly less negative: 91% expect a decrease, but only 30% expect a decrease of over 25%.

Largest impact on international market and tour groups

Hoteliers expect the greatest impact on the international market. Nearly 97% of respondents expect the international market to perform worse in 2020, of which 66% expect the market to perform much worse. Expectations for the domestic market are less negative, but more than 50% still expect a decline here.

None of the business and tourism market segments are expected to show an increase in 2020. For all segments, at least 90% of the hoteliers surveyed expect the segment to perform worse or much worse. The most negative impact is expected on the tour group segment: almost 72% expect this segment to do much worse. The business group segment will also perform much worse according to 67% of respondents, and the business individual segment according to 55%. The tourist individual segment is seen least negatively. Here 5% of hoteliers expect an actual increase.

In the longer term, expectations for the international segment are also the most negative, followed by the group segments. The domestic market has the most promising outlook: only 2% of respondents expect the domestic market will never recover from the corona crisis. The majority are cautiously optimistic about the domestic market: almost 50% expect a slow recovery, and 37% expect this market to return to its previous level soon. In fact, nearly 12% believe that the domestic market will be stronger after the corona crisis than it was before the crisis.

For the foreign market, 15% do not expect a full recovery, and 74% only a slow recovery. The remaining 11% do expect the foreign market to fully recover, but none of the respondents foresee an improvement compared to the market before the crisis.

Labour costs are main business concern

The Horwath HTL survey shows that over 80% of hoteliers are deeply concerned about labour costs, while between 30% and 40% are also concerned about energy costs, taxes, debt and interest payments and/ or lease payments. Most hoteliers therefore hope for additional support from the government, including by reducing or suspending VAT and tourist tax and by providing financial support to hotel staff and the hotel market as a whole.

Many hoteliers have taken actions to increase turnover, including through additional sales & marketing activities (45%), by selling vouchers (36%) and by offering the hotel rooms as an office or quarantine room (33%). Hotels also focus on take-away and delivery services from the hotel restaurant, including private dining in hotel rooms.

However, some of the hoteliers choose not to initiate sales-oriented activities during the lockdown, because it seems inappropriate or because the hotel has halted all operations. There are also hotels that make the rooms available for healthcare institutions or as a homeless shelter.

To save costs, 68% of participating hotels have reduced the number of temporary staff. In addition, 37% of respondents reduced the number of permanent staff, while another 24% were considering the same. More than 42% of participating hotels have applied for a lease reduction from the hotel owner.

Horwath HTL Hotel Market Sentiment Survey

The Benelux Hotel Market Sentiment Survey 2020 is a publication by consulting firm Horwath HTL. The report presents the results of an online survey within the hotel industry in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg in the first half of April 2020. Some 200 hotels in the Benelux participated in the survey.
Senior Trump administration officials have pushed American spy agencies to hunt for evidence to support an unsubstantiated theory that a government laboratory in Wuhan, China, was the origin of the outbreak, according to current and former American officials. The effort comes as Mr. Trump escalates a public campaign to blame China for the pandemic.

Some intelligence analysts are concerned that the pressure from administration officials will distort assessments about the virus and that they could be used as a political weapon in an intensifying battle with Beijing over the outbreak that has infected more than three million people across the globe.

Most intelligence agencies remain skeptical that conclusive evidence of a link to a lab can be found, and scientists who have studied the genetics of the coronavirus say that the overwhelming probability is that it leapt from animal to human in a nonlaboratory setting, as was the case with H.I.V., Ebola and SARS.

Reporting for The New York Times, Mark Mazzetti, Julian E. Barnes, Edward Wong and Adam Goldman investigate how scientists, spies and government officials have wrestled for months with varying theories about how the outbreak began. Many agree on the importance of determining the genesis of the pandemic. In government and academia, however, experts have ruled out the notion that it was concocted as a bioweapon. And they agree that the new pathogen began as a bat virus that evolved naturally, probably in another mammal, to become adept at infecting and killing humans.

A few veteran national security experts have pointed to a history of lab accidents infecting researchers to suggest it might have happened in this case, but many scientists have dismissed such theories.
Formula 1 seems to start at the Red Bull Ring of Austria and one team seems all too happy with that choice: Red Bull Racing. According to AutoHebdo, the Austrian racing stable may be too busy racing on its own circuit.

Formula 1 finally seems to start a race in Austria at the beginning of July and Red Bull is doing everything in its power to get the circuit ready. Helmut Marko is in the front line to suggest all kinds of plans to be able to race anyway and the French AutoHebdo is noticing that now. According to the French magazine there is also a bit of own interest in this.

Read more Ratzenberger: The man whose death is still overshadowed by Senna

Own interest of Red Bull

Forcing an opening race in Austria indicates that Red Bull knows they have a strong car for that season. Formula 1 itself has been overwhelmed with the idea of starting as early as July and the organisation will have a hard time getting a season off the ground with more than fiveteen races', it says.

AutoHebdo is therefore not satisfied with the risk that will probably be taken here. Public opinion will speak out very loud if there will be racing in Austria in the near future, with all its consequences. They will have to test day and night for the coronavirus to get it safe and for that you will have to have a very strict safety protocol', concludes the statement.
After weeks of delay, New Jersey is moving to test all of the approximately 18,000 state prisoners as well as every prison employee for COVID-19, NJ Advance Media has learned.

Testing could begin this week, and thousands more saliva tests from Rutgers University should arrive next week for both inmates and staff, according to PBA Local 105 President William Sullivan, who said he was briefed by corrections officials Tuesday.

Those details were confirmed by a second corrections source with knowledge of the plans who is not authorized to discuss prison policies publicly.and requested anonymity.

Matt Platkin, Gov. Phil Murphys chief counsel, said at Wednesdays coronavirus briefing that the state was working with Rutgers to test inmates. A letter from the governors office to the union obtained by NJ Advance Media also acknowledged the adult and juvenile systems were working with Rutgers to test all staff.

The letter also denied officers request for hazard pay.

The corrections department did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.

The move to expand testing comes as New Jersey grapples with an unprecedented spread of contagion behind bars, which so far has touched more than 500 employees and 141 inmates, though public health experts and prison reform advocates say the virus real spread is likely much broader.

Testing will begin more than two weeks after authorities at the Essex County jail launched a similar program.

To date, about 1 percent of the prison population  196 inmates  have been tested, 150 of whom were positive. Twenty-nine inmates and at least two corrections officers have died.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

In the letter, Murphys office told the union Wednesday that while they were deeply appreciative of officers work, the state was not in a financial position to approve a request for hazard pay."

That denial, coupled with a lack of protective gear and testing, showed that Murphy didnt value officers lives, Sullivan said in a statement.

The disappointment and anger for our Governors lack of respect is indescribable, the union president wrote.

A Murphy spokesman declined comment.

Platkin, Murphys chief counsel, also said Wednesday that 54 inmates had been temporarily released so far and another 24 were scheduled for home confinement in the near future, as part of the plan to ease pressure behind bars.

Staff writer Joe Atmonavage contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.
The Arab League says Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank would amount to a war crime and a serious violation of international law if implemented.

"The implementation of plans to annex any part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 ... and the lands on which Israeli settlements are standing represents a new war crime added to the Israeli record full of brutal crimes against the Palestinian people, the pan-Arab organization said in a statement.

Under an emergency unity deal reached this month by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz, the Cabinet and parliament can take up the annexation issue as soon as July 1 on the condition there is agreement from the United States.

Along with East Jerusalem, the West Bank is part of the territory Palestinians are seeking for a future independent state. Jewish settlements on the land are considered illegal by most of the international community.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki warned during todays virtual meeting that the annexation would "end the two-state solution. He also expressed concerns that Israel would put the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem under its control before replacing it with a Jewish temple.

The Arab foreign ministers called on the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States to hold an emergency meeting over the future of a two-state solution and prevent Israel from implementing its colonial plans.

In January, President Donald Trump unveiled his highly controversial Middle East peace proposal, which recognized the majority of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory as well as Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley. This week, a State Department spokesperson said the United States is prepared to recognize Israeli actions in the West Bank that involve negotiations with the Palestinians.
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Despite beefed up security in the district amid the Covid-19 lockdown, miscreants broke open an ATM in Dera Bassis Akali market on Thursday.

The accused, however, could not take away any cash.

Police were informed about the broken ATM of Canara Bank around 12pm.

On reaching the spot, they found no security guard deployed in the kiosk and the wires of the ATM alarm system damaged.

Police got in touch with the bank, but no complaint was lodged. Police have initiated preliminary investigation and are scanning the CCTV footage available.
Former US President Barack Obamas stepbrother, Malik Abongo Obama, has completed 30 days of mandatory quarantine.

Malik arrived in Kenya from the United States on March 25th and proceeded to self-quarantine at home.

However, a week later, he was recalled and placed under mandatory 14-day quarantine in line with the government directive which had ruled out self-quarantine after realizing some Kenyans were flouting the guidelines.

Malik was subsequently booked at the KMTC hostels in Nairobi, the cheapest available option at Sh2,000 per day.

Following his release on April 25, the infamous Trump supporter took to Twitter to lament 30 days of hell on earth.

30 DAYS HELL ON EARTH!!!: From March 25, 2020 (on arrival from the USA): 23 Days Mandatory (Forced) Quarantine (KMTC-Nairobi) at own expense $460 (Ksh46,000), 7 Days Self-Quarantine (Home). Completed Today KENYAPFF! he tweeted.

Other than endorsing President Trump, Malik has previously made international headlines for selling Baracks handwritten letters for Sh1.4 million.

Read: Heres Obamas Handwritten Letter His Kenyan Half Brother Has Sold to US Media
SHENZHEN, China, April 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CIOE 2020 (the 22nd China International Optoelectronic Exposition), the most influential and renowned optoelectronic industry exhibition, will be held as scheduled from September 9 to 11 at the largest exhibition venue Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. This grand event attracted tremendous abundant leading optoelectronic companies to present the entire optoelectronic ecosystem in information and communications, lasers, infrared, precision optics, lens and camera module, optoelectronic sensor and photonic innovations. Having annual over 3,000 exhibitors at the exhibition halls, CIOE is popular amount optoelectronic buyers for product sourcing as one trip and for all.

At CIOE 2020, over 800 manufacturers, equipment and service providers such as Hisense, SCHOTT, Keysight, HiSilicon, PHOGRAIN, Shijia, Eoptolink, Gigalight, II-VI, VIAVI, MACOM, O-Net, SENKO, InnoLight, CIG, T&S Communications, Sifotonics, Hitachi, Jiangsu Etern, C-data Technology, AUXORA, Broadex will exhibit at CIOE - Information and Communication Expo showcasing optical components and materials, optical fiber & cable, wireless communications, fiber sensing, cloud data center, optical communications system equipment, manufacturing system equipment, broadcasting and communications equipment, operation and service.

China's laser market is growing rapidly due to higher requirements in semiconductor processing and PCB processing. More than 200 top laser companies like Han's Laser, INTE Laser, NKT, SemiNex, Holo/Or, ATTOCUBE, Optical Film, DERAY, BWT, RealLight, SYNTEC, Lumcore, HI-Tech, Raybow Optoelectronics, Exuberance Opto-electronics will gather at CIOE  Lasers Technology & Intelligent Manufacturing Expo presenting the hottest technologies and products in laser materials and components, laser equipment, 3D printing and high-end intelligent equipment. Also, Lithuania Pavilion will join CIOE 2020 and showcase the world's first-class laser technologies.

As the only and first professional infrared exhibition in China, key infrared players LYNRED, FORECAM OPTICS, JIUZHIYANG, Thorlabs, ULIRVISION, Newport, DALI, IRay, GLOBAL SENSOR TECHNOLOGY, LEMO, GRINM, Kaihang, FuJiRui, MAGNITY, Sunell, AVIC, Keii Electro will bring the hot infrared equipment and application in the fighting against COVID-19 at CIOE  Infrared Applications Expo.

Ametek, Haotian, Panasonic, Buhler, SCHOTT, SUMITA OPTICS, Bruker, SHINCRON, Novel Trading, Phenix Optics, Schneider, HIKARI GLASS, CDGM, Foctek, Hitronics, INFICON, OPTRONTEC will continue to showcase the hot products and technologies in machine vision, optical components and instruments at CIOE  Precision Optics Lens and Camera Module Expo.

Also, Shanghai JuYou Smart Intelligence Technology, Xi'an Zhisensor Technologies, Honvision, Hypersen, KOWINTEST EQUIPMENT, ACUS TECHNOLOGY, Neuvition Technology, Optochip, Fraunhofer FEP, DRX Light Tech will share the topnotch products and applications in optical fiber sensor, machine vision, IoT at CIOE  Optoelectronic Sensor Expo. Furthermore, CIOE  Photonics Innovation Expo will gather Chinese top research organizations such as Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Pixel Technology, Flyuoptics, Dajian Optics, Zhejiang jingzheng Optoelectronic Technology, ZHONGGUANG PRECISE INSTRUMENT to demonstrate the latest products in biophotonics, information optoelectronic technology, intelligent manufacturing and robot.

Together more than 3,000 optoelectronic companies will present the world's largest exhibition for product displaying, demo releasing and network expanding.

Save the date and sign up now to CIOE 2020 to meet the world's most completed optoelectronic clusters by only one visit.

SOURCE CIOE
Health & Wellness

By Ls Cohen Published: April 30 2020

Both counties reported a total of 69,164 positive cases.

Numbers reported daily by Nassau and Suffolk counties show that there are a total of 69,164 positive cases on Long Island as of Wednesday night.

Suffolk reported that there are 34,079 confirmed cases at this time and Nassau reported 35,085 Total Covid-19 positives.

Suffolk County has administered 89,168 Covid-19 tests, 37.3% of those tested were confirmed positive. Nassau County did not report on the total number of tests administered.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced in a press conference on Wednesday that the county had 14 days of decreased Covid hospitalizations. Of those tested only 15% came back with a positive result.

Sadly, 2,802 people have died so far on Long Island from Covid-19. 1,155 deaths were in Suffolk County and 1,647 in Nassau County from Covid-19.

Suffolk County also reported that there are 1,047 patients hospitalized, down 35 from April 28. Of those, 369 are in the intensive care unit, which is a decrease of 35 patients from the day before.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said that hospital beds in the county are at 74% capacity and ICU beds are at 63% capacity.

In Nassau, there were 1,459 people hospitalized and of those 397 are in the ICU with 338 on ventilators. The county did report that 3 fewer people were on vents from the day before.

166 Covid patients have been discharged from the hospital between the two counties in the last 24 hours.

Nassau County Executive Curran said that she was encouraged by the decrease in hospitalizations over the two week period and the 14 days downward trajectory of people who test positive for Covid, calling them milestones. These numbers check two of three boxes in CDC protocol to phase one reopening. The third box is ramped up testing, which Curran said the county is working toward.

According to Curran, there are two types of testing. The first is viral testing to tell if you are positive or negative for Covid. The second is antibody testing to see if you already had the disease and got better.

The county will partner with Northwell Health to test first responders and essential healthcare workers to begin testing for antibodies starting next week.

We waited to get the right test, she said. We believe that we got that from Northwell.

The test will be by appointment and voluntary. The blood draw test (as opposed to a finger prick) are more reliable than other types and tests for how many antibodies are in a persons body.

The testing should be ready to begin early next week.

We hope it will give us all a larger understanding of community spread and herd immunity, Curran said.
The coronavirus pandemic will change the world and the oil industry forever, oil and gas supermajor Shell said on Thursday as it slashed its dividend for the first time since World War II to preserve cash and value in a highly uncertain macroeconomic environment.

Shell reported on Thursday current cost of supplies (CCS) earnings excluding identified itemsits proxy for net profitof $2.957 billion for Q1, down by 46 percent on the year, reflecting lower realized oil, gas, and LNG prices, weaker realized refining and chemicals margins, and lower sales volumes.

While the earnings beat analyst estimates, Shells outlook was not optimistic at all, with chief executive Ben van Beurden saying that The global economic decline and uncertain outlook may have a significant impact on our profitability, cashflow and our balance sheet.

And we are taking decisive action to reduce our spending, increase our liquidity and effectively position our business to manage through the deteriorating macro-economic and commodity price outlook, Shells top executive said, adding that the group is cutting its quarterly dividend, beginning this quarter.

Shell is slashing its dividend to US$0.16 per A ordinary share and B ordinary share, down by 66 percent from the US$0.47 dividend for the same quarter last year.

This dividend cut is the first at Shell since World War II, reflecting the severe nature of the effect that the pandemic and demand collapse have had on Shells business.

Shares in Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) tanked by 12 percent at 10:09 EDT in New York, and its shares in London were also crashing by 12 percent at 15:09 London time.

Given the continued deterioration in the macroeconomic outlook and the significant mid and long-term uncertainty, we are taking further prudent steps to bolster our resilience, underpin the strength of our balance sheet and support the long-term value creation of Shell, van Beurden said.

There will be changes in peoples lifestyles, and the oil industry will never be the same, van Beurden said in an interview with Bloomberg Television after the release of the results. van Beurden later said at a press conference:

We do not expect a recovery of oil prices or demand for our products in the medium term.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
As the state moves towards reopening, and with six months to Election Day, we all should start thinking about voting in the time of COVID-19.

Will it be by mail? Will it happen at all? Will we pick a president 18th Century style? More on that later.

First, come November, will people even be interested in voting? Who knows where the economy will be? Or whether theres a new viral wave. We all could be consumed by survival.

Yet, instinctively, at this date youd think, Lord, yes, were interested in voting. After seeing the importance of government and politics in times of crisis, yes, yes, were interested, more than ever.

A recent Fox News Pennsylvania poll supports this view: 78 percent of state voters say theyre extremely or very interested in the presidential election.

But then voters say lots of things. And the attention span of the average voter is about as long as your average Tweet.

Right now, Democrats talk about President Trumps handling of the pandemic, his self-promotional virus briefings, with his Dr. Don remedies of untested drugs, light beams and Lysol. And whether he reacted late or slowly, resulting in the U.S. leading the world in coronavirus deaths.

Republicans enjoy mock-snoozing over the ramblings of basement-cloistered Joe Biden who, even in his candidate-protection program, cant avoid gaffes.

If you missed it, Biden, in a recent Pittsburgh TV interview, referred to Gov. Tom Wolf, a fellow Democrat in a state critical to his campaign, as Dale.

For the record, there was a Gov. Dale Wolf, a Republican who served in Delaware for 20 days, after Gov. Mike Castle resigned to go to Congress. But that was 27 years ago. Not sure this helps dispel concerns that Bidens mired in the past.

Speaking of the past, theres a 1990s sexual assault claim by a former Senate aide still dogging Biden. His campaign denies it. But calls for him to address it persist.

Anyway, Biden currently has an edge nationally and in Pennsylvania, which almost certainly has more to do with Trump than with Biden.

The latest USA Today/Suffolk poll puts Biden ahead of Trump by 10 points, 50-40. And the Real Clear Politics average of Pennsylvania polling in March and April has Biden up 6.7 points. This includes the aforementioned Fox poll in which Biden leads Trump by 8 points, 50-42.

Still, some national pundits are split on where Pennsylvania stands: University of Virginias Larry Sabato, of Sabatos Crystal Ball, says Pennsylvania, along with Arizona, Wisconsin and North Carolina, is a toss up; but Inside Elections Nathan Gonzales says our state and Michigan tilt Democratic.

And even if people are interested, will they vote, and how?

There still could be major virus issues, especially in big cities. So, expect fights over mail-in voting. Democrats love it. Most Republicans and Trump do not.

Theres a lot of dishonesty going along with mail-in voting, Trump said during an April 7 briefing, theyre fraudulent in many cases.

Lots of states, including Pennsylvania, allow mail-in options. Five states -- Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Utah -- vote entirely by mail. Trump, in 2018, shut down his commission on voter fraud after it failed to find any, though he blamed states for not cooperating with the search.

Finally, best case/worst case for Election 2020?

Penn State Associate Political Science Professor Robert Speel, an elections expert, offers thoughts.

Best case: pandemic data is stable or improving, a normal election with far more votes by mail and high voter turnout. I think this is the most likely scenario, Speel says.

Worst case: fall viral wave, no normal election, states change their Electoral College laws, revert to 18th Century system of state legislatures choosing electors to vote for president. Trump would win the election easily, due to Republican control of most legislatures, so its likely Democrats would loudly protest such a procedure, says Speel. (Yeah, they probably would.)

All of which is, you know, something to think about.

John Baer may be reached at baer.columnist@gmail.com.

More from PennLive

Pa. remains key battleground but COVID-19 radically changes 2020 election

Food insecurity in Pa. rises during pandemic, Gov. Tom Wolf says

Pa. to announce Friday which counties will reopen May 8; how they will be determined is still unclear
Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at the age of 67 on Thursday. He was admitted to H N Reliance hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday. The news of the death has thrown the entire country into a state of mourning with tributes to the late actor coming in from all corners. Not only actors, politicians also paid tribute to the late actor and offered condolences to his family.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to the late actor, he wrote on Twitter, "This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed."

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief. - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Twitter wrote, "Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul."

Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul. - Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 30, 2020

"The sudden demise of actor #RishiKapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans," wrote Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Twitter

The sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti - Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) April 30, 2020

Maharashtra Deputy Cm Ajit Pawar offered condolences to the late actor's family, he wrote, "Sorry to hear about the sad demise of the legendary & charismatic veteran Actor Rishi Kapoor. An iconic star of the Indian cinema has been lost. Heartfelt condolences to his family."

Sorry to hear about the sad demise of the legendary & charismatic veteran Actor Rishi Kapoor. An iconic star of the Indian cinema has been lost. Heartfelt condolences to his family.#RishiKapoor - Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) April 30, 2020

"Shocked by the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor Ji. An actor par excellence who charmed millions, he will be deeply missed by all. My deepest condolences to his family & fans all over the world. RIP," wrote Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh

Shocked by the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor Ji. An actor par excellence who charmed millions, he will be deeply missed by all. My deepest condolences to his family & fans all over the world. RIP. #RishiKapoor - Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

In February, Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues. He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At the time, Kapoor had said that he was suffering from an infection. After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after. Kapoor started his acting career from supe-rhit film Bobby, opposite Dimple Kapadia in 1973. His last film was The Body.

Also Read: Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67

Also Read: Rishi Kapoor death: Actor appealed for peace amid coronavirus in his last tweet
(Photo : REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo ) FILE PHOTO: People pass by Apple store in 5av as it's closed to public due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, U.S., March 14, 2020.

Apple has released a new beta of iOS 13.5 Thursday, Apr. 30, including the first version of its exposure notification API for COVID-19 contact tracing. The beta is available to developers now, along with the first beta launch of Xcode 11.5. The Xcode launch includes an up to date version of the iOS SDK that consists of the publicity notification API.

READ ALSO: COVID-19 Update: Pfizer's Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be Ready in the Autumn - Reports

Needs approval from public health authority developers before the official release

In conjunction with this, 9to5Mac said Apple and Google could also release the first seeds of the exposure notification API to public health authority developers. Their goal is to acquire feedback from builders on how to improve the API before its launch by May.

Apple is relating to this iOS launch as beta 3 of iOS 13.5, following two developer beta releases of iOS 13.4.5. 9to5Mac explained any revision of iOS that makes use of a new SDK should have its minor model wide variety changed, therefore the leap from iOS 13.4.5 to iOS 13.5.

Apple and Google will release additional data to developers, TechCrunch reported. This will include sample code to help builders similarly recognize how the exposure notification app will work.

ALSO READ: Apple, Google to Terminate COVID-19 Tracking Tools When Pandemic Ends, But Here's The Catch

Later this year, iOS and Android will receive updates to allow users to decide into exposure notification without installing an app.

Apple and Google say that they've already received feedback from the public health officials and feature made adjustments to the API in response. For example, today's update allows developers to define and calculate an exposure risk level to expose to users. This will allow the government to make more specific facts about the exposure, including distance and duration.

How exposure notification app will work

In the Google-Apple device, tracing the coronavirus is done through scrambled codes that are saved on a user's mobile phone. CNBC said the organizations and security advocates prefer this method to prevent the possibility that coronavirus-tracing apps ought to shape the cornerstone of the latest surveillance systems.

ALSO READ: COVID-19: Coronavirus Contract Tracing Apps Raise Concerns on Effectiveness, Legality Worldwide

When two people are in close range, with proximity detected by using Bluetooth, their phones will detect anonymous identifiers. If an individual gets COVID-19, they can have their device transmit a listing of all of us they've been in contact with to the cloud.

The second person's telephone will periodically download a list of anybody that has tested fine of their area. If a suit occurs, they'll be notified and brought on to contact health authorities.

Other updates?

Apple's latest beta model of iOS 13 makes it easier to unlock an iPhone with Face ID feature while wearing a face mask, The Verge reported.

The report added iOS will now pull up the manual passcode option after one swipe up from the bottom of the screen. The change - which should finally arrive in the non-beta iOS release - can be a welcome development for any iPhones without a physical home button.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A mask created from the bags that Modern Hire and SIOP donated to MakeIt Labs to help in the fight against COVID-19. (Photo by MakeIt Labs, Nashua, NH) "With a positive reframing of the global hardship, we hope that by extending the competition the best and brightest will have all the more opportunity to join and contribute, resulting in even better endpoint solutions, said Isaac Thompson, Ph.D., Principal Data Scientist at Modern Hire

Modern Hire, the all-in-one enterprise hiring platform that enables organizations to continuously improve hiring experiences and outcomes with trusted science and technology, today announces that the third annual Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Machine Learning Competition will remain open through March 2021. Modern Hire and SIOP also donated 5,000 bags created for SIOPs now-cancelled annual conference in Austin, Texas to create masks for personal protective equipment in the COVID-19 crisis.

This years SIOP Machine Learning competition is a remarkable first for the field of AI, especially in employee selection. We have open-sourced hiring data from a Fortune 100 company with demographics, which many thought was impossible. This data will serve as a foundation for a community of innovation to strive together to make AI applied to hiring fairer, said Isaac Thompson, Ph.D., Principal Data Scientist at Modern Hire and organizer of the SIOP Machine Learning Competition. With a positive reframing of the global hardship, we hope that by extending the competition the best and brightest from across the world will have all the more opportunity to join and contribute, resulting in even better endpoint solutions. Similarly, I am proud that Modern Hire and our SIOP community repurposed conference bags that would have gone unused into protective equipment.

Engineered and designed by Thompson and his Modern Hire colleague, Nick Koenig, Ph.D.  two of the industry-leading data scientists and researchers in artificial intelligence  the goal of the competition is to infuse the latest and most powerful methods in computer science, data science and artificial intelligence into the field of people analytics. Each year, participants are presented with a problem to solve within the HR industry. This years challenge is one of the most common HR and company leaders face: reducing bias to make fair and accurate hiring decisions.

Using a massive open data set from a Fortune 100 company  which includes assessment, performance and retention data from nearly 50,000 employees  participants are tasked with creating an algorithm that determines who to hire, while balancing fairness against the multiple criteria already collected from candidates. Since the algorithms will be written in open source language, any company will be able to leverage the algorithms created to make more fair and accurate hiring decisions. Winners will be chosen based on how well their algorithms perform against a hidden data set.

To date, over 140 analytics teams have entered the competition. Teams have joined from companies such as Atlassian, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson, Uber and the USAA, along with research institutions such as Bowling Green State University, Duke University, Michigan State University, New York University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Alabama. The competition website will maintain a live, public leaderboard running top team scores, and each team will receive an additional 50 submissions so that they can continue to innovate and ideate on the data until the March 2021 deadline. The final test data set, which will determine the winners, will be released one to two months before the competitions deadline. Participants will only be granted a few submissions on this data set, with more details and information to come as the March 2021 deadline approaches.

With the 35th Annual SIOP Conference now transitioned to a virtual event, Modern Hire has donated the 5,000 SIOP conference bags that it had sponsored to Nashua, New Hampshire-based MakeIt Labs, which Modern Hire and SIOP were connected to through MakerMask.org. MakeIt Labs is working with a vast community of individuals and groups who are creating more than 100 million masks across the U.S. MakeIt Labs divided up the bags from Modern Hire and SIOP  which were made of non-woven polypropylene, the material of choice for commercial, medical-grade masks  among those in its community who requested materials to make masks. Once complete, the masks will be donated to help in the fight against COVID-19.

Though our 2020 conference was cancelled, we knew it was the best decision for the SIOP community. Were excited that we were able to turn bags designed for the in-person event into masks that will be used by those that need them the most during the fight against COVID-19, said Scott Tonidandel, Ph.D., SIOP 2020 Conference Chair. Were also pleased that, with Modern Hires help, we were able to extend the deadline for our Machine Learning Competition to give more participants the chance to submit their ideas and innovations through next year. We're looking forward to the 2020 SIOP virtual conference in June and meeting again to connect with our community in person at the 2021 annual conference once it's safe to do so.

For more information and to register for the third annual SIOP Machine Learning Competition, please visit: https://forms.gle/F5fAs8HLV1E3ZdVE6. To learn more about SIOPs annual conference, visit https://www.siop.org/Annual-Conference.

About Modern Hire

Modern Hire is the all-in-one enterprise hiring platform that enables organizations to continuously improve hiring results through more personalized, data-driven experiences for candidates, recruiters, and hiring managers. The Modern Hire platform merges trusted science with proven SaaS technology to predict performance, ensure fairness, and automate workflowenterprise-wide. It combines AI, predictive analytics, workflow automation, assessment, and interviewing technology in a single SaaS solution that integrates with leading HCM systems. Trusted by 47 of the Fortune 100, Modern Hire transforms each step of the hiring process, from post-apply to hire and beyond. To learn more about Modern Hire's vision for making hiring personal, visit: http://www.modernhire.com.

About SIOP

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) is the premier membership organization for those practicing and teaching I-O psychology. While an independent organization with its own governance, SIOP also represents Division 14 of the American Psychological Association and is an organizational affiliate of the Association for Psychological Science. SIOPs mission is to enhance human well-being and performance in organizational and work settings by promoting the science, practice, and teaching of industrial-organizational psychology. To learn more about SIOP and industrial-organizational psychology, visit: http://www.siop.org.
Irans Health Ministry has announced that religious shrines will remain closed in what appears to be a blow to influential hard-line clerics who are pushing for the sites to reopen amid efforts to contain one of the Middle Easts worst coronavirus outbreaks.



"Until theres full assurance that pilgrims to religious sites will not face problems, we won't allow ourselves to open the doors of these centers to the people," Health Minister Saeed Namaki was quoted as saying by the semiofficial ISNA news agency on April 30.



Namaki's comments came a day after another Health Ministry official, Alireza Raeisi, said religious sites in several cities, including Qom and the capital, Tehran, will remain shut until the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which started over the weekend, unless conditions change.



"Although, with the current situation, it is unlikely that this happens soon," he added.



The comments come amid reports of pressure on the government to reopen shrines that were shut in March, triggering protests by hard-liners who attempted to storm the Massoumeh shrine in Qom and the Imam Reza shrine in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

The government shut the holy Shiite sites, visited annually by millions of pilgrims who often touch and kiss the shrines, in an effort to contain the country's coronavirus outbreak, which has killed nearly 6,000 people and infected over 93,500, according to Health Ministry figures released on April 29. Given the lack of transparency by government officials and media reporting restrictions, real numbers are believed to be significantly higher.

On April 29, the spokesman for the head of seminaries in the holy Shiite city of Qom, where the outbreak erupted in February before spreading to the rest of the country, called on President Hassan Rohani to reconsider his decision to close the shrines and apologize to Iranians for shutting them.



Hojatoleslam Abbas Rafaati Naeini claimed that experts at the countrys anti-coronavirus taskforce have concluded that the shrines had a minimal role in the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

There have been similar calls by other clerics to reopen the shrines, including by influential ayatollah and Rohani critic, Ahmad Alamolhoda, who leads Friday Prayers in Irans second-largest city Mashhad.



Rohani's adviser Hesamedin Ashna had suggested on Twitter that there had been tough discussions regarding the reopening of religious sites.



"Unfortunately, we will have to live with the coronavirus for a while longer," Rohani said earlier this week. The Iranian president said that, as a cleric, he had hoped that religious sites could reopen more quickly.



Iran has in past days eased some of the restrictions it had introduced to combat the outbreak and reopened some businesses to salvage the economy, which is already under intense pressure from crippling U.S. economic sanctions.



Authorities have repeatedly called on Iranians to follow health protocols and social distancing guidelines to slow the outbreak amid warnings that the country could be hit by a second wave of infections.
By Express News Service

KOZHIKODE: Breaking all barriers and challenges during the lockdown period, the surgeons of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) have achieved a milestone by performing an open thorax surgery on a two-month-old pup in Malaysia using the telesurgery media. According to the surgeons here, it is the smallest puppy in the world that has underwent a similar surgery for correction of vascular ring anomaly.

It was Dr Shibu Sulaiman, an alumni of KVASU and now working with Ponang Veterinary Hospital, Malaysia, who presented one of his patients, the eight-week-old Miniature Pinscher weighing only 800 gm. But as the doctors in Malaysia expressed their apprehension to handle the case, Shibu approached Dr Sooryadas S, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Pookode.

Technical procedures were completed to guide the surgeons in Malaysia through online telecommunication method. The pup that was diagnosed with a rare condition of vascular ring anomaly which can only be corrected through a complicated thoracic approach required an experienced doctor for which the experts from KVASU expressed their willingness.
Washington: US president Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be really rocking again.

To underscore his confidence, Trump said he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House, starting with a trip to Arizona next week.

And he said he's hoping to hold mass campaign rallies in the coming months with thousands of supporters, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by then.

Putting a positive face on the latest grim numbers, the U.S. death toll has now surpassed American lives lost in the Vietnam War. Trump delivered his daily upbeat update and Kushner described the administration's much-criticized response to the pandemic as "a great success story."

Trump also talked up the good news the day provided: hopeful results for possible COVID-19 treatment. But the government announced dismal new economic numbers as the pandemic took hold and shut down much of the country.

The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in the first quarter of the year, a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.

The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nation's economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

"We're heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us," Trump said as he led a roundtable with executives from companies like Hilton and Toyota.

Trump laid out a vision of a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy with or without a vaccine with packed restaurants and filled stadiums. That vision flies in the face of sober assessments from doctors who say the country will need to embrace a new normal that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.

"I don't want people to get used to this," Trump told reporters.

White House spokesman Judd Deere tweeted that Trump would visit a Honeywell facility in Phoenix on Tuesday to highlight the production of critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state.

Trump also said he was considering making a trip to Ohio, even as much of the country remains under effective lockdown with all but essential travel banned.

"We're going to start to move around and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we'll have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other," he said, adding that having people spaced out in accordance with social distancing guidelines wouldn't look too good.

He didn't say exactly when he envisioned such rallies returning, but said the timing would depend, in part, on the states, since some have had far fewer cases than others. The federal government and most states have urged residents to avoid mass gatherings and to remain at least six feet apart.

The announcement came after Trump said he will not be extending the White House's 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidelines when they expire Thursday.

"They'll be fading out because now the governors are doing it", Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.

Those guidelines  which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30  encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice president Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

Edwards, who recently extended Louisiana's stay-at-home order through May 15, is currently under fire from Republican lawmakers in his state. While he was in Washington, some GOP legislators were trying to rally support to take the extraordinary step of trying to override the governor's emergency decision-making.

But Trump commended Edwards on the job he's done after New Orleans became one of the nation's coronavirus hot spots.

At the same time, Trump's campaign released a digital ad praising elements of the federal response. It is set to reach residents of 17 battleground states featuring Democratic governors whose approval ratings have skyrocketed during the crisis.

The White House on Wednesday was also pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31%  11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

"It's highly significant," said the usually cautious doctor, "What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus."

The White House and Trump in particular have been eager to give the country positive news as they work to move past the crisis and rebuild the economy, even as the country's death tally continues to rise.
As other countries launch contact-tracing apps to help the fight against Covid-19, Ireland is still waiting. Will we get it out anytime soon? How might it compare to other countries' systems? And will it utilise technology offered by Apple and Google?

Most countries are approaching their contact-tracing apps in the same basic way: using the wireless Bluetooth technology on a citizen's smartphone to detect and interact with other citizens' smartphones. There are then differing approaches as to how authorities want to use this data.

Some will be happy to get a general overview of citizens' potential exposure to carriers. Others want to delve deeper, seeking the ability to directly notify individual citizens that they may be at greater or lesser risk.

For example, UK authorities have been clear that they want their app to be able to alert the phone's owner if the phone of someone who tested positive was close by at any stage.

Against this backdrop, Apple and Google have jointly launched a technological way to connect all smartphones over Bluetooth for contact-tracing effort by health authorities (and only health authorities). However, uptake of their platform looks set to be mixed. While countries like Germany will use it, the UK will not, because it prefers a more directly-accountable system that is centralised on a server to the decentralised one existing on individual phones that the two tech giants are building.

Here's a comparative look at what we know so far about Ireland and a handful of other countries.

Ireland

Timeline: Mid-May

The HSE says that it will have a contact-tracing app in the coming weeks, but has given little guidance on its shape or specific purpose, as other countries have done.

The firm designing the app, Waterford-based Nearform, is understood to be focusing it around on-device storage, meaning that technical information about the identity of other app-carrying phones would mostly be stored on the user's phone as opposed to on a centralised HSE server, as countries like the UK are doing.

This could mean that the app makes use of the Bluetooth application programming interface (API) being introduced by Apple and Google, as countries such as Germany are doing.

Elsewhere in the Irish medical system, others are being more open about development of their own contact-tracing apps. Beaumont Hospital currently has an app under construction that may give staff greater protection against exposure by using Bluetooth to notify the hospital and workers of potential exposure by other staff who test positive. The app, being built by Machine.ie on a pro bono basis, is being designed primarily to help contact-tracing professionals in their work.

While it has not yet been completed, key decisions will include the extent, if any, that mobile phone numbers might play a part in the notification process.

United Kingdom

Timeline: Mid-May

The UK's National Health Service is building its own contact-tracing app that aims to record a phone's location data when it is close to another app-using phone for a period of several minutes.

Matthew Gould, the executive in charge of the project, said this would allow tracers to more quickly assess the potential threats and spread of the virus. However, the location setting will be an opt-in feature, he added.

Mr Gould also said that the UK has decided to choose a centralised operation system, meaning that more of the data from the apps will be processed and stored in a single location rather than separately on people's phones.

The advantage to this, he told British MPs this week, is that they can put together a more complete picture of which data to trust and act upon, such as the likelihood of some individuals being at greater risk than others.

It is yet to be explained how such a system will work on iPhones, which have strong privacy guards against apps that run in the background.

Germany

Timeline: Mid-May

Germany was set to go live with a centralised contact-tracing app but has had to change the design of the app, for two reasons.

First, there were concerns about the potential privacy implications of a centralised database, and the potential that the data may be used for other purposes either during or after the pandemic. But the clincher may have been a difficulty with iPhones, which don't allow for the smooth operation of monitoring technology in the background.

A direct appeal from Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel on this issue to Apple was rejected.

SINGAPORE

Timeline: Live since March

Singapore's 'Trace Together' app has been a central focus for many other countries because it was one of the first to be deployed and isn't as invasive on privacy grounds as comparative apps in South Korea and Israel.

It uses Bluetooth to detect and communicate with other app-enabled phones. If someone tests positive, they are asked to upload their contact data. From there a contact-tracer will call other individuals thought to be at risk from proximity to the person who tested positive.

But other countries have also seen that to properly work on iPhones, the app needs to be opened and kept on, something that isn't required on Android phones.

Australia

Timeline: Live now

Within a couple of days, over a million users have downloaded Australia's new contact-tracing app. Those who download it are asked for their mobile number, name, age and location.

The centralised app then alerts users if someone who has been within Bluetooth range tested positive.

To address privacy fears, the Australian government says that all data is wiped either when the app is deleted from the phone or after 21 days.

It also insists that no other authority in Australia - including the police force - will be allowed have any access to the data.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra crossed the 10,000 mark and reached 10,498 as 583 people were diagnosed with the disease on Thursday while the death toll rose to 459 with 27 more fatalities. Mumbai, which now has 7,061 cases, has reported 290 deaths.

The first Covid-19 case in Maharashtra was reported on March 9 and took it 30 days to cross the 1,000 mark. Within 23 days, the state has now breached the 10,000 mark. The cases jumped from 1,000 to 2,000 in six days and doubled from 2,000 to 4,000 over the next six days). They rose from 4,000 to 6,000 in just four days. Another 4,000 cases were reported over the next seven days.

Maharashtra has on an average been recording over 500 new cases daily since April 19. Over the last 21 days, the state has recorded 6,855 new cases.

Officials insisted the situation is still under control as most of the new cases were detected through contact tracing. Though a decline in new cases is yet to start, we can say the situation is under control as we are aggressively doing contact tracing and most of the new cases are those who have been traced following the detection of positive Covid-19 cases, said Dr Tatyarao Lahane of the states Directorate of Medical Education and Research.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said they are prepared for any situation and have set up 1,677 dedicated Covid-19 hospitals with 1,76,357 isolation and 7,248 intensive care unit beds. These hospitals have been divided into three categories for asymptomatic, mild and serious cases. We also have around 3,000 ventilators, around 80,000 personal protective equipment kits and 2.82 lakh N95 masks.

The state currently has 733 containment zones and around 10,092 survey teams have screened over 4.21 million people. As many as 10,695 people are at government quarantine facilities while 1,68,266 are home quarantined. As many as 1,773 patients have recovered so far, officials said. Of the 27 deaths reported on Thursday, 22 patients had also other diseases, they added.

The mortality rate had come down to 4.36% (342 deaths till Sunday) from 7.41% (148 cases) on April 13. It continued to be higher than the national rate of 3.25% as of Sunday.

The state has so far tested 1,45,798 people and 1,34,244 of them have tested negative for the disease.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday ordered that no hospital can turn away any patient without examination after complaints that hospitals were denying admissions or delaying treatment.

In an order on Thursday, chief secretary Ajoy Mehta cited the Centres guidelines and said the state government has also ordered shifting of all asymptomatic patients without co-morbid conditions to Covid Care Centres. It added private hospitals can send such patients for home quarantine but after proper counselling.

The state has also allowed migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and others stranded in Maharashtra to move out and permitted intrastate movement for them with certain conditions. Mehta issued an order in this regard on Thursday.

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The services are being rolled out for over 3,00,000 people across the states of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh

As millions across the country grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, Glenmark Foundation, the CSR arm of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals along with its NGO partners, is working closely in alignment with government directives and state health authorities to extend its support - through a combination of on-ground and remote health initiatives.

Glenmark Foundation has pledged support in the form of food aid and health services for undernourished children, pregnant and lactating women, migrants, daily wage earners and healthcare providers on the frontlines of the outbreak.

A key intervention is the launch of a tele-health solution by the Foundation and its NGO partner Institute for Global Development (IGD), which follows guidelines framed by the governors of the Medical Council of India (MCI) and NITI Aayog. A battery of medical doctors with various specialisations have committed support for the on-call service and have been mobilised to expand access to quality patient care.

The services are being rolled out for over 3,00,000 people across the states of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Commenting on Glenmarks efforts, Cherylann Pinto, Executive Director, Corporate Services of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said, Giving back to the community has always been a Glenmark priority. The COVID-19 pandemic makes it even more imperative for us to support the countrys most vulnerable populations. We are working with the government and our NGO partners across states to extend our support on multiple fronts, to address the needs and challenges during this outbreak.

Glenmarks efforts across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim are intended to support the local authorities and work in synergy with the states in the nations fight against COVID-19. Amidst the present crisis which has brought on a nationwide lockdown, Glenmark is providing psychological support to 10,000 lactating mothers and pregnant women through telecounselling.

Additionally, it is also undertaking vaccination, attending to women undergoing antennal care (ANC), and postnatal care (PNC), and providing health support to children and other patients. The Foundation is also extending support by ensuring adequate monthly supply of food grains to undernourished children, pregnant and lactating women in 70 tribal villages, in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh and 10 tribal hamlets in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai.

Apart from these, it has undertaken several initiatives - partnering with local administrations to extend support and feed families of migrant and daily wage workers during the lockdown. Glenmark Foundation is also providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to medical staff in the public health sector in Maharashtra.

PPE includes medical masks and gowns, gloves, eye and head protection gear, sanitizers, etc., all of which are critical for health workers. Over 3,500 litres of sanitizers are being distributed across villages, housing societies, police stations and government offices across these states. In acknowledgement of the contribution of law enforcement agencies during this unprecedented time, Glenmark has conducted medical check-ups for 400+ local law enforcement personnel in Ankleshwar, Gujarat.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has also donated over INR 1.5 crores to various states CM Funds and to the PM CARES Fund. In addition, Glenmark will be supplementing to the funds donated generously by its employees for the COVID - 19 relief activities.
On 28 April the Kemet Boutros-Ghali Foundation for Peace and Knowledge (KBG) posted its third virtual roundtable discussion on the repercussions of Covid-19. The webinar focused on the effects of the pandemic on refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced people, ie people on the move.

The discussion, moderated by Ambassador Moshira Khattab,executive president of KBG, started off with a brief on Egypts immigration law. The opening speech was given by professor Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the board of trustees of KBG, who said 2018 saw the highest number of displacement ever where 70.8 million refugees fled their homes.

The roundtable is the third of the foundations series of webinars on the repercussions of Covid-19, said Khattab, adding that the focus today is on how to protect and uphold the rights of one of the most vulnerable groups affected by Covid-19.

Covid-19 is a situation unlike anything we have faced before, and as UNICEF says it does not discriminate, nor should our response. She stated that through collaborative efforts we are able to truly leave no one behind.

Maha El-Rabbat, special envoy to the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Covid-19 Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) shared at the roundtable alarming facts and figures. Due to wars, violence and political instabilities, forced displacement has reached an unprecedented level, she said.

According to UNHCRs 2018estimates, more than 70.8 million people were forcibly displaced: about 41 million are internally displace; 25 million are refugees; and five million are asylum-seekers.

The Arab region hosts about half of the refugees worldwide, including 5.5 million Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA.

The massive numbers of people on the move reflect on the infrastructure of hosting countries, that are lower- or middle-income countries, El-Rabbat said, noting that the Covid-19 crisis has added to the burdens of both the hosting countries and the refugees who come with their own baggage of diseases and ailments.

The WHO is working on raising awareness and pushing for testing and isolation. However, social distancing cant be applied in overcrowded camps.

Other innovative methods should be applied to protect public health, and surveillance should be the essential part to adopt such measures, she said.

From a political angle, Covid-19 might be the reason to stop the massive violence in the Arab region and, consequently, decrease the number of people on the move.

Ahmed Abul-Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, said I launched an appeal against all kinds of hostility and conflict in the region. That region is haunted by military conflicts, whether in Syria, Libya, or Yemen, and maybe in other areas so that was our immediate and first step is to call upon all parties to end to these conflicts.

Abul-Gheit said he addressed the foreign ministers of the five permanent member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the matter, noting that Tunisia, the country representing the Arab world in the UNSC, is currently working closely with France on a draft resolution to end conflicts or at least stop fighting in the region.

Sameh Shoukry, Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Egypt has not taken any step to repatriate migrants. It continues to ensure their inclusion in the healthcare system.

He noted that Egypt is both a destination and transit country for five million refugees and asylum-seekers.

Egypt is following key strategies in global emergency and calling for the inclusion of refugees and support of national efforts, he said. Raising awareness and cultivating a culture of empathy and integration during these exceptional circumstances among host communities and vulnerable groups is necessary.

Maintaining Egypts commitment to meet the needs of refugees entails that Egypt insures and continues to receive the required international support from donors and international organisations in recognition of its efforts in this regard. There should be international solidarity with refugees and other vulnerable groups by avoiding sudden and forced repatriation, he insisted.

Amr Moussa, former secretary-general of the Arab League said Covid-19 has shown the drawbacks of the global multilateral system, raising questions about poverty, the gimmicks of influential powers, and the environment.

Globalisation cannot go uncontrolled and unhindered with the very weak multilateral system. It is in our best interest as developing nations, and as people of the world that have seen a pandemic that has defeated systems, national systems in particular, to make the multilateral system stronger to meet future challenges, Moussa said.

He noted that pandemics are closely associated with climate change and the demographic explosion. Our way of dealing with nature and other creatures should be reconsidered. As we see, the environment is faring much better now. There are no planes, no cars, no factories, etc... but this will come to an end once the coronavirus is over.

Moussa believes poverty is the primary reason people migrate, blaming it on industrial policies and rivalry between influential powers as is the case in Syria, Libya, and Yemen.

He emphasised the role of the private sector and civil society as exemplified in the new active attitude undertaken by the Kemet institution.Finally, I wish to underline my appreciation to both UNRWA and UNHCR for their efforts.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said I have been in the humanitarian business for about 30 years and I have been impressed by the capacity and agility of the 70-year-old UNHCR for being innovative even in the exceptional circumstances of confinement that have been imposed by Covid-19.

He explained that the coronavirus is yet another challenge to Palestinian refugees, the largest refugees in the world and the most vulnerable in the Middle East, because in most of the countries where the Palestinian refugees are hosted, poverty is twice higher than the average population.

Yet the UNHCR has succeeded to maintain all the basic services, healthcare centres, have remained opened, and shifted to delivering medicines to homes. The same applies to social economic support, with home deliveries, and education.

But this is taking place at a time when the agency is faced with unprecedented financial challenges, as the speakers noted the agency saw the worst financial year since 2012 in 2019.

According to Abul-Gheit, after the US administration denied the Palestinians their share, the Arab league stepped in calling on Arab countries to help. This resulted in contributions of $250-300 million annually to UNRWA. And for the first time since 2012, the agency ended up with less than $1 billion, while its budget is $1.3 billion.

What is important is that member states at the General Assembly support renewing the mandate. Political support translates into more resources for the agency to deliver its own mandate.

There is no better investment in UNRWA and Palestinian refugees than in the education and well-being of the Palestinian refugees, he added.

There is no better investment than in UNRWA for the sake of peace and security in the Middle East and promoting the right of the Palestinian refugees.

On a parallel note, Raouf Mazou, assistant high commissioner for operations at the UNHCR, said "One of the first questions we asked ourselves was would governments include refugees and internally displaced persons or exclude them? The other question was what would happen to congested camps, and we have so many of those camps around the world and very often in the developing world which is receiving the largest number of refugees?

The positive thing is that in the MENA region, governments like Egypt and Kuwait have included refugees in their response to Covid-19. They did not discriminate. In the case of Lebanon, we partnered with the government to expand the capacity through the provision of above 285 additional hospital beds and 39 additional intensive care beds. This is what we did to ensure inclusion takes place.

As for camps, we are trying to decongest wherever possible and to improve sanitation, control the movement, and isolate vulnerable groups, Mazou said.

The Mauritanian government requested the establishment of a quarantine and isolation unit and we answered its request, in addition to providing the country with additional shelters, kits, relief items to the refugees and we increased the peoples access to water, sanitation and hygienic materials. As for the marginalised in the informal sector living day to day, UNHCR has collaborated with the foreign ministry to list those threatened with eviction from their houses to enlist them in a cash-based assistance project.

Mazou said Egyptian foreign minister Shoukry was very clear that people should not be expelled in situations like this.

We are working with all governments to make sure that even if there are tighter controls, asylum-seekers  even if they have to be quarantined for some time  should be allowed to cross the borders.

Chinas Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said Covid -19 is a global enemy, as he explained the collaboration and efforts China has been sharing with the world since the outbreak.

We have the support of Egypt, Arab and African countries. And now we give back assistance in material and financial support to our friends in the region, Liao said.

Until April China had held 87 video conferences with 115 countries including west Asian and Arab countries, including Egypt. China signed more than 114 agreements with other countries to facilitate their procurements of medical supplies from China.

With the Covid-19, the problem of refugees becomes more exacerbated, he added.

Covid-19 has added to the urgency of this timeless problem, said Ambassador Khattab, adding that in the absence of a vaccine, the pandemic continues to be a harsh reminder of our collective vulnerabilities, which are amplified for the internally displaced and impoverished host communities.

While access to healthcare for people on the move will continue to be a priority for the global community, Covid-19 has added to the urgency of this timeless problem.

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Even as measures to restart the stalled Indian economy from May onwards are being debated, serious labour shortages are being predicted. And as stranded workers are being allowed to go home, corporate heads are scratching their heads on how to restart the business.

Obviously there are operational challenges, but we are functioning. Labour is not easily available, said the CFO of a key infrastructure utility earlier this week.

"We are offering incentives, but the workers desperately want to go back home. As soon as bus and train services start, my hunch is that many will go back. It will be difficult to get them back for a few months given the fear around the pandemic," says the CFO who did not wish to be identified.

Though essential goods and services are still being delivered, the massive dislocation of workers as a result of the surprise lockdown has left a huge question mark on the possibility of restarting factories and workshops with any semblance of normalcy.

The real test will be when non-essential businesses are allowed to start, especially the labour and transport-intensive ones, says Yogesh B. Mathur, former CFO and restructuring expert.

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 is a very unusual situation where there is a conflict between your personal and family health and that of earning your livelihood.

Migrant labour which fuels large sections of the Indian economy is at the forefront of the economic pain that COVID-19 has inflicted. Devoid of work and wages, often stuck in accommodation which prevents social distancing, these daily wagers bore the brunt of the lockdown as the transport services stopped completely.

This disruption, however, does not seem to be temporary for a variety of reasons -- genuine health concerns, fear and real logistical barriers. Many businesses are wondering if the term 'Vaishvik Mahamaari' has caused a climate of unreasonable fear.

Views have been expressed on the pandemic. Perhaps more needs to provide a clear signal to workers to rejoin work, says the CFO.

Others worry about the continued sealing of state borders which will prevent the resumption of genuine business activity. States are unlikely to allow free movement across borders anytime soon.

For plants and factories whose workforce comes from a catchment area spread over neighbouring states, resumption of work will not be easy. The pharma cluster in Baddi is an example.

In China, where a similar lockdown lasted over 70 days, many workers had gone back home for their Lunar New Year holidays at the start of the lockdown. Later as activity gradually resumed, companies shared workers between themselves to ensure delivery of essential goods and services as the lockdown was extended.

For instance, Walmart Inc apparently tied up with close to 160 companies in the food and hospitality industry for worker-sharing arrangements to staff close to 400 of its stores in China.

Such worker-sharing arrangements may well be doable and a win-win solution as long as skills are transferable and there is no conflict of interest. They may need to be facilitated, says Mathur.

In any case, the risk is all yours if there is any infection once you start, so businesses will step forward only very cautiously, says a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry.

As a partial easing of the lockdown occurs at the beginning of May, there would be greater clarity on the shortages and how companies intend to cope with an unprecedented labour shortage.
Architect Roland Catalani, who was a principal at leading Australian firm Fender Katsalidis until his retirement in late 2019, has died from pneumonia. His passing was not COVID-19 related.

Catalani spent 25 years with the practice co-founded in the early 1990s by Karl Fender and Nonda Katsalidis, but his relationship with Fender went back much further than that.

The two were friends across six decades, first meeting in 1966 at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology where they were enrolled in the drafting course but snuck in to architecture classes on the sly.

Roland Catalani, who was a principal of architecture firm Fender Katsalidis, has died.

Catalani worked in London and Amsterdam before re-teaming with Fender in Thailand, where the pair worked on the Atrium in Bangkok, despite having no prior hotel design experience.
Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters

When John Gianoulidis, owner of the Kafenio Greek Diner, heard the Georgia governor, Brian Kemp, announce restaurants could offer dine-in services once again this week, he feared the worst for his restaurant and coffee shop in Atlanta.

Heres the deal, he typed out on Facebook.

Kemp mandates restaurants reopen, whether I reopen dining rooms or not. I file for business interruption insurance, it does not go through since I am allowed to operate full capacity, he hypothesized, adding further down in the now viral post, If things blow up again, they are still on my tab not on the states, since they are no longer employed. Guys, this is about screwing the working class and small business, not about helping us.

Economists are uncertain if Gianoulidis is entirely correct about the exact rationale behind the sudden announcement to reopen Georgia as coronavirus cases continue to rise, with nearly 25,000 confirmed in the state as of Tuesday afternoon. The states reopening has been so early that even Donald Trump urged Kemp not to do it.

But they can agree the most in danger from Kemps actions  both economically and healthwise  are those who open their businesses or return to work in Georgias new sudden easing of restrictions.

The states current count of positive virus cases makes it the tenth highest in the country as employees were cleared to serve meals in a restaurant, offer up tattoos or provide hair and nails services and check-in gym goers for Zumba class. In the last month, Georgias department of labor processed 1,090,536 claims, more than the last three previous years combined. Nearly a third of the claims came from the food and accommodation industry, many of whom can now  technically  go back to work as restaurants open.

While that may help ease the burden of claims processed by the state, how it affects the greater economy is unclear, said Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Initiative.

From an economic standpoint, its just not really clear why you open up one set of businesses, versus another set, she said, referring to Kemp allowing non-essential business to reopen.

Story continues

Kemps office did not respond to the Guardians request for comment. The states department of labor did not have much concrete guidance as to whether the reopening would see jobless claims shifted off the government books.

This is a way for them to continue to receive some of those same benefits as they gradually come back to work. And then when its time to get back to work that employer stops filing for them, the Georgia department of labor communications director, Kersha Cartwright, said.

But its unclear when that line between gradual and full time was drawn and by whom it was to be decided  the state or the employer.

Many business owners, like Gianoulidis, will continue to offer carry-out options, but want to wait to hear the risks versus rewards from health officials before opening and seating customers in close quarters, they say.

Im just trying to figure out whats going on. I havent heard from the US health department, Gianoulidis said, adding he would rather hear from health officials than politicians.

But for those businesses that do open up, while the state continues to follow through on its shelter-in-place order until 30 April , this could leave vulnerable employees on even more uncertain grounds, said Gould. Some might not want to go back to work, feeling unsafe while others may be living with elderly family members or those with pre-existing conditions.

Others may return to work, uncertain about the states policy on unemployment insurance, Gould added, unsure if they would still qualify now that their place of employment is open.

When asked what would happen if employees of non-essential businesses that could reopen under the states mandate chose not to return in fear of their safety, Georgias department of labor could not clarify if they would still be eligible to file for unemployment.

Work with your employer, try to work something out. If you cannot work it out and you decide to separate yourself from that place of employment then we will base our eligibility upon the facts presented in the case, Cartwright said.

Georgias governor might not have felt the pressure to rush his states residents back to work if he had more financial support to fill in gaps where the Cares Act did not reach, an April report from American Progress said.

I think that if the federal government stepped in and actually provided significantly more state and local aid to help them deal with the pandemic and to help them deal with this relief period and the recovery, that would be good for the economy, Gould agreed.

But the health risks of an early reopening could be even more risky than an economic one.

According to a new analysis of data released by the Daily Beast in collaboration with MIT and Harvard Universities, that could most likely be the case. If the state had continued its current stay-at-home mandate and kept non-essential businesses closed, coronavirus fatalities by mid-June would have been somewhere between 1,004 and 2,922. Instead, the teams simulation suggests that number could now be as high as 9,748.

This is a policy that has not been endorsed by experts in public health  one concern going forward is whether it would lead to new outbreaks and contribute to a second wave of growth of the pandemic, Cornell University labor economics professor Francine Blau said.

For now, Gianoulidis will keep his dining areas closed, like many other restaurants in Atlanta, with too many financial and health risks at play for him to open them with confidence.

Im just going to continue doing what Im doing until we get a better idea of whats going on, he said.
A Monaghan haulier alleged to be "the ringleader" and "chief organiser" of an organised crime group who trafficked 39 migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex last year has been refused bail by the High Court pending an extradition hearing.

The deaths of the migrants hidden in the refrigerated trailer, inside which police found bloody handprints, was a "tragedy which rightly attracted public revulsion, outrage and anger", Mr Justice Paul Burns said today.

The court was told at yesterday's bail hearing that Ronan Hughes is alleged to have "organised, paid for the travel and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants".

Gardai gave evidence that Mr Hughes has "huge connections" and familiarity with various ports throughout Europe and had the "wherewithal to flee the jurisdiction at the appropriate time".

Evidence was also given at the hearing that 200,000 had been frozen in 33 bank accounts linked to Mr Hughes and his family and that the accused had last year bought a 2019 BMW X5, valued at 108,000, which has since been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

Mr Hughes, 40, of Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan is wanted by UK authorities to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Returning judgment today, Mr Justice Burns said that the alleged details of the case made out against Mr Hughes indicate he had carried out a "controlling role" in the illegal operation, which had resulted in the tragic deaths of the Vietnamese nationals.

The High Court judge said that a person awaiting trial has a presumption of entitlement to bail unless the prosecution fails to satisfy the court to the standard of proof required.

Furthermore, the State's objections must be satisfied by cogent evidence, he said.

The prosecution do not have to prove Mr Hughes will abscond as a matter of certainty but rather they must satisfy the court that the risk of him absconding is not a possible risk but a probable one, he explained.

The judge said the deaths of the 39 migrants was a tragedy which rightly attracted public revulsion, outrage and anger.

However, the seriousness of the offences cannot automatically disentitle a person to bail, he added.

Referring to Mr Hughes, Mr Justice Burns said that undoubtedly he faced extremely serious charges and he could expect to receive a very significant custodial sentence if he is convicted of the offences.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter in the UK is life imprisonment, he indicated.

"It's common sense that the greater the potential sentence, the greater the incentive to abscond," he said.

The case against Mr Hughes appears to be "a strong one", said the judge, albeit that it has not yet been subject to challenge through a trial.

The judge noted that the Minister for Justice had placed emphasis on the fact that Mr Hughes operates an international haulage business with extensive contacts abroad, has a detailed knowledge of ports, a history of smuggling and access to extensive funds.

Counsel for the respondent had relied on the fact that he had not gone into hiding prior to his arrest, his assets were frozen, he had significant ties in this jurisdiction, had no history of taking bench warrants and previously stood trial when he was prosecuted in the UK, he said.

However, Mr Justice Burns emphasised that Mr Hughes has significant ties outside the jurisdiction, operates an international haulage business for many years, travels extensively and has a business registered in Bulgaria.

The judge said it was difficult to disagree with Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan's evidence that Mr Hughes would have knowledge to flee through a port without the law knowing and pointed to the fact that the ports were still open despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

He took into account that Mr Hughes has access to considerable funds and said he may still do so as the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigation is ongoing.

He uses a Northern Ireland driving licence and did not give any convincing explanation for this, he said.

Mr Hughes had not sought to abscond the jurisdiction since the date of the alleged offences and his recent arrest and this must stand to his credit, observed the judge.

In summary, Mr Justice Burns said there was a risk of absconding in every case, which runs from very low to very high.

An aerial photo of the lorry container in Essex.

He said he was satisfied that the prosecution had met the burden of proof required. Mr Hughes was a probable flight risk if bail was granted and there was a very serious risk of him absconding, he said.

Unfortunately, there were no conditions that could allay the court's concerns, he said.

Mr Justice Burns said he noted Mr Hughes' evidence that he would abide by the terms and conditions set by the court but he said the unfortunate reality was that every person granted bail gives this certainty and some do abscond.

He described Mr Hughes' evidence as unconvincing and lacking in credibility and in particular he noted Mr Hughes' lack of knowledge concerning his business affairs, the previous movement of vehicles from his yard at Tyholland on October 24, 2019 and the fact his driver's licence is registered to an address in Northern Ireland.

"Even if he had not given evidence I would have refused bail in this matter," he said.

Mr Justice Burns remanded Mr Hughes in custody to May 15, when the full hearing of his extradition to the UK will take place.

The haulier was joined by video-link from Cloverhill Prison today and wore a face mask for the short hearing.

He is the second man from Northern Ireland to be arrested here on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) as part of the Essex police investigation.

Mr Hughes, who owns a haulage firm, was arrested on the evening of April 20 at his home in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a EAW issued by the police in Essex.

Mr Hughes and his younger brother Christopher, 34, have been wanted in connection with the deaths since the beginning of the investigation, with Essex Police making an extraordinary live appeal last November for the siblings to hand themselves in.

Their trucking firm is based in Tyholland, about 7km from the Armagh border.

The eight women and 31 men had arrived in England last October on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The youngest of the victims were two boys aged 15.

Bail hearing

At yesterday's bail hearing, Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told counsel for the State Ronan Kennedy SC that gardai were strongly objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the charges and there were no conditions upon which bail could be granted that would allay concerns.

Reading from the warrant, Det Sgt Kirwan said it is alleged that Mr Hughes had unlawfully killed 39 Vietnamese nationals who were found dead in the back of trailer in UK between October 22 and 24, 2019.

It is alleged the migrants had been brought into the UK illegally by Mr Hughes and his co-conspirators.

Vietnamese nationals require a visa to enter the UK and given the circumstances in which the victims were transported it followed that those involved were aware that they had no right to enter the UK, he said.

Mr Hughes, it is alleged, had also conspired with others to facilitate the illegal entry of people including the 39 deceased persons into the UK between May 1, 2018 and October 24, 2019.

Migrants were allegedly smuggled into the UK from Belgium in commercial trailers owned or operated by Mr Hughes, said Det Sgt Kirwan.

He said it was alleged that "Mr Hughes organised, paid for the travel and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants".

Continuing to read from the warrant, Det Sgt Kirwan said: "On October 15 2019 [Ronan] Hughes arranged for his driver Maurice Robinson to deliver trailer number GTR128D to Mr Eamon Harrison in France. On October 16, 2019 Hughes travelled to Essex.

"On October 17 2019 Harrison collected cakes and biscuits in Belgium and drove to Dunkirk, France. There was no legitimate reason for him to have travelled to France.

"He then drove to Zeebruge and travelled by sea to the UK. [A named man] collected the trailer and drove to Collingwood Farm. [A named man] and Hughes also travelled to the farm at the same time.

"After leaving the farm [a named man] and Hughes travelled together to an industrial site where attempts were made to disguise the fact that people had been in the trailer.

"When [a named man] delivered the load to the intended recipient it was rejected due to signs that people had been in the container.

"Later that day Hughes returned to a hotel in Essex where he met Robinson and [a named man]. [A named man] was seen to give Hughes a bag.

"Later that day Robinson took the trailer GTR128D to Purfleet where it travelled to Belgium and was collected by Harrison.

"On October 22 2019 Harrison takes the trailer GTR128D to Dunkirk, France where a witness saw people entering the trailer. As on October 17 Harrison had no legitimate reason to travel to France.

"Before taking the trailer to Zeebruge Harrison makes two stops in Belgium. Temperatures within the trailer suggest that the doors were opened during these stops. The trailer travelled to Purfleet by sea.

"When booking the ferry Hughes falsely declared that the trailer was carrying a load of biscuits. On 22 October 2019 Robinson is waiting in Purfleet and is taken to Collingwood farm.

"Robinson then collects the trailer from the port in Purfleet. In order to enter the port he used a pin number provided to Hughes by the ferry company.

"Robinson drives a short distance before opening the rear doors and discovering the occupants. 39 Vietnamese men and women are dead.

"Robinson first telephones Hughes and the emergency services who arrive at 01.49 and declare that all 39 migrants are dead.

The deceased died from lack of oxygen caused by being sealed within a container with insufficient air to sustain life.

"The ferry entered UK territorial waters at 19.43. An expert witness concludes that taking into account the temperature increase and phone usage by the victims, they all died between 20:00 and 22:00 hours," he concluded.

Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes had "a serious case to answer" in the UK and it was also alleged that he was the "chief organiser" of the organised criminal group involved in bringing illegal migrants into the UK.

Essex police said this group was organised for the purposes of financial gain, he explained, adding that "very large sums" of money were involved in the business.

Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes faced a life sentence in prison if convicted of the offences and he had the means and ability to flee at the appropriate time.

He had been identified by Essex police as the organiser and there was extensive phone and CCTV evidence, he indicated.

He said Mr Hughes has previous convictions in this jurisdiction and the UK for road traffic offences and smuggling convictions.

Mr Hughes was sentenced to 30 months in prison for evading almost 1 million worth of excise duty for smuggling five million cigarettes into the UK in 2009, he said.

He described Mr Hughes as the alleged "ringleader", who had allegedly made a substantial amount of money from this illegal activity.

The witness testified that Mr Hughes was alleged to have previously visited Maurice Robinson at his home and paid him 25,000.

Det Sgt Kirwan said this was what Mr Robinson had told police in relation to the conspiracy. Det Sgt Kirwan pointed out that 200,000 had been frozen in 33 bank accounts linked to the respondent and his family.

Lorry driver Maurice Robinson

He owns a time-share in a villa in Florida and has an address in Armagh, the court heard.

Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes has "huge connections" throughout Europe, has many trailer units registered to him and his haulage business is registered in Bulgaria.

"Given the nature of his work, he has great familiarity with various ports throughout Europe and how to exit and enter them and he has the wherewithal to flee the jurisdiction at the appropriate time," he indicated.

The court also heard that he bought a 2019 BMW X5 valued at 108,000 last year, which is now in possession of the CAB.

Det Sgt Kirwan indicated that not all vehicles associated with Mr Hughes had been located by CAB and it was believed that vehicles of value were removed from his yard at Tyholland on October 24, 2019, when the bodies of the migrants were discovered.

His family home in Monaghan is on an individual site adjacent to his father's house, finished to a very high standard and it was financed without a mortgage.

Furthermore, Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes had the ability to abscond and it was the belief that should the High Court grant bail and then order his surrender, he would not present himself to be handed over to the UK authorities.

Under cross-examination, Remy Farrell SC, for the respondent, put it to Det Sgt Kirwan that his client had not left the jurisdiction since he became the subject of the investigation despite having ample opportunity.

In reply, Det Sgt Kirwan said that "the bar has been substantially raised" since he was called upon for questioning by police and there was now a "greater incentive" for Mr Hughes to flee the jurisdiction as he was now being sought to be charged.

Mr Hughes gave evidence yesterday via video-link.

He told Mr Kennedy that he had told his solicitor to make contact with gardai and the PSNI last October to let them know where he was living and that he was ready to cooperate with them through his legal team.

He said he knew there was going to be a EAW for him.

The respondent told Mr Kennedy that he looks after his father, who is not well with a lung disease and is not fit to do anything for himself.

He agreed that he would surrender his passport, observe a curfew and sign on at Monaghan Garda Station on a daily basis if granted bail.

Mr Hughes said he understood that Det Sgt Kirwan considered him a very significant flight risk and agreed that they were serious offences.

He further agreed that he had declined to come forward as part of a public appeal by UK authorities to speak to police.

Mr Hughes said he had been involved in his haulage business since 2009 and he was aware it was a very substantial operation.

He said he had travelled extensively as a driver and agreed he had got a Northern Ireland driving licence some years ago.

He said only some of the 200,000 which had been frozen by CAB belonged to him. He said his business had turned over 500,000 or 600,000 in 2017 and denied he had a time-share in Florida.

Mr Kennedy asked Mr Hughes if he was making a substantial profit from his business and he replied: "The haulage business isnt very profitable".

A photo of the scene after 39 bodies were found in a container in the UK.

Last week, Det Sgt Jim Kirwan told Mr Kennedy that he arrested Mr Hughes as part of a planned operation at 5.15pm on April 20 at his home in Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan on foot of the warrant and cautioned him.

Eamon Ronald Harrison, 22, of Mayobridge, Co Down has already appeared in court here and has been granted leave to appeal his pending extradition to the UK in May under the terms of the EAW.

He is wanted to face 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Last Friday, the Court of Appeal was told by Mr Kennedy that a charge of conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK's Modern Slavery Act had been withdrawn by UK authorities against Mr Harrison.

The court heard that this would shorten the appeal hearing on May 7.

It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer, in which the bodies of eight females and 31 males were found in an industrial park in Grays, Esssex on October 23 last, to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain.

The cargo was recorded as biscuits and the migrants died from a lack of oxygen between 8pm and 10pm after they had entered UK territorial waters.

Earlier this month Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property.

He denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The High Court in Dublin has heard that the sealed refrigeration unit was not turned on and that the people inside died from oxygen starvation.

Temperatures inside the unit rose to 38.5 degrees before it steadily reduced, and police discovered bloody hand prints inside.
US doctors cited a rare inflammatory condition called Kawasaki disease as a potential complication of COVID-19 in a young child.

National Health Service England sent a caution to doctors, while on Sunday, the Paediatric Intensive Care Society wrote it to its members on Twitter.

New York City health officials were commanded to begin tracing a potential association between COVID-19 and toxic shock in children, following local hospitals detecting pediatric patients with serious inflammatory symptoms.

"We need to understand if this is actually a new phenomenon," according to Dr. Sean O'Leary, an infectious disease specialist with the American Association of Pediatrics in an interview on Wednesday.

Almost 100 confirmed cases of the atypical illness have been diagnosed in at least 6 countries, with doctors in the UK, the US, Italy, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Spain now reportedly investigating this condition.

The first cases emerged this week upon NHS issuing the aforementioned alert to pediatricians about the number of children admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) having both toxic shock and the Kawasaki disease.

The latter is an inflammatory disorder that affects the heart, blood vessel, and other organs.

While there was insufficient evidence to support the link with the novel coronavirus, French health minister Olivier Veran said the cases were being taken "very seriously."

Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC in less than 24 hours has admitted many children that tested positive for the coronavirus who are suffering from a constellation of symptoms that resemble the rare disease.

A representative from Children's National Hospital confirmed that the children exhibited "Kawasaki-like characteristics."

Also Read: American Scientists Not Allowed to Enter China to Investigate Coronavirus

A team at Stanford Children's Hospital also remarked that they had witnessed a case, describing a 6-month-old girl confined in the hospital with Kawasaki disease and later tested positive for the coronavirus.

The rare illness causes inflammation in the arteries' walls and can constrict blood flow to the heart.

One doctor described the Kawasaki disease as infected patients feeling as if "every blood vessel in the body is on fire."

According to Veran, "All of the pediatricians and critical care medics are working together to see whether it's connected to COVID-19."

Doctors said that overall, children are not at high risk from the coronavirus, but reports of the inflammatory syndrome across Europe and the US underscore the need for vigilance from parents.

A health specialist who treated 3 children at Columbia University Medical Center in New York said their patients, ranging between 6 months old and 8 years old, endured fever and inflammation of the heart and gut.

"Right now, we're at the very beginning of trying to understand what that represents," according to a pediatric rheumatologist and immunologist, Columbia's Mark Gorelik.

The inflammatory condition's symptoms include stomach pain, high fever, and skin rashes. It comes with lasting heart problems if left untreated. However, the disease is often treatable and most children can recover without serious problems, but it can be life-threatening.

No one currently knows the root of the Kawasaki disease, but some studies have alluded to a connection between viruses or bacterial infection.

Related Article: How Singapore Lost Control of COVID-19 Outbreak

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Melissa L. Williams Tyler Perrys new muse in Tyler Perrys Ruthless now streaming on BET Plus

If you were an ingenue, of color, who wants to keep her bank account growing it would not be a bad lookat allto be considered Tyler Perrys new muse. If weve learned anything since the reign of King Perry is that he knows how to build a financial empire, his brand, and his legacy.

Ladies and gentlemen allow me to introduce Melissa L. Williams, who according to her biography, is Perrys newest muse. Williams made waves first on BETs #1 ranked new scripted series Tyler Perrys The Oval, which earned her the lead role in Perrys spin-off series Tyler Perrys Ruthless, as the title character Ruth Truesdale. Now playing on BETs new streaming platform, BET Plus.

BETs The Oval, tells the story of a family placed in the White House by people of power while also highlighting the personal side and everyday lives of the staff who run the inner workings of the nations most iconic residence.

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Perrys spin-off series, Tyler Perrys: Ruthless, tells the riveting story of a woman named Ruth who kidnaps her young daughter to join her in the dark underworld of a fanatical religious cult.

Williams grew up in Oklahoma City as the oldest of seven and utilized her family holiday gatherings to put together and star in her own talent shows. A natural performer from an early age, she set out to do as much local theater as she could find in Oklahoma City, eventually heading to Clark University in Atlanta for college to study theater. Williams joined the CAU Players, the Universitys drama club, which puts on various productions yearly ranging from classical works, musical works, childrens productions, and one-act play festivals. Melissa starred as Carmen in F.A.M.E. during her time in the CAU Players. After leaving the University of Atlanta, Melissa went to get additional technical training so that she could produce projects herself and applied it to several music videos she produced when she moved to LA.

Williams now calls Los Angeles home which she happily shares with her new French bulldog, Ray.

Heres what vegetarian and a self-proclaimed foodie Melissa L. Williams had to share about being inside Tyler Perrys galaxy and what she did to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE LOS ANGELES SENTINEL: Lets get straight to it. According to your biography, you are officially Tyler Perrys new muse. Whats that like?

MELISSA WILLIAMS: Its definitely an honor to be working with Tyler Perry. When I auditioned The Oval [Tyler Perrys The Oval] he called me and shared that he had been wanting to work with me.

LAS: Really? Thats flipping huge. Sorry. Continue.

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MW: (laughing) No. Youre right. It is big. After my first audition, he said that he thought that Ruth would be a better role for me. He asked me to think about it. I told him yesimmediately on the phone but he said, no, think about it and then he said to text him and let him know.

LAS: Im feeling how big of a deal that was for you.

MW: Right? You understand. Tyler Perry called me and then told me to text him after I thought about the role of Ruth. That was the best part of being cast. He called me directly and wanted me to do Ruth.

LAS: What is like to work with Tyler Perry?

MW: Wonderful. He leads the morning prays every day before we begin filming. Hes there calling thats a wrap at the end of the day. We get a great sense of Perrys work ethic. Hes involved in everything. He has a vision.

LAS: Thats an understatement. Did he direct every episode?

MW: He did.

LAS: How many episodes?

MW: We shot 24 episodes in 13 days.

LAS: Hello. Did I hear this correctly? Repet it again, slowly.

MW: We shot 24 episodes in 13 days and Tyler Perry wrote and directed each episode.

LAS: How long are the episodes?

MW: 48 minutes.

LAS: I am speechless? Thats amazing.

MW: Hes a genius. He has a vision and he has a work ethic. Tyler is a legend and there is a lot of respect for what he has created. The goal is to get the job done and come out with a wonderful product at the end.

LAS: Amazing. Im newly inspired. Does he encourage those around him to step out and pursue their dreams?

MW: Absolutely he does. He tells us that if he can do it, we can do it.

LAS: Do you believe it?

MW: Of course, I do.

LAS: So do I. Here I come Tyler Perry. Ive heard that you have stepped up and made your presence known during this awful pandemic. Can you share how you did that and why?

MW: I experienced random acts of kindness in my condo building. For example, someone had left a package of toilet paper with a note that said, if you need one, take one, much love from 301. It was so thoughtful and selfless at this time when you literally cant buy toilet paper anywhere. I was really inspired by that kindness and began interacting with some people on Instagram, whom all expressed a need for money due to the financial hardships they were experiencing during this time. So I asked them for their Cash App username and send them the money for whatever they need it for. I am grateful to be able to do that.

LAS: Whats next for you? Youre lovely by the way.

MW: Thank you. Next. I am auditioning. I tape myself at home and send it off. Hopefully, some of these projects come through. I am excited. And then I am hoping for The Oval to come back.

Tyler Perrys Ruthless (https://bet.us/34QAQen now playing on BETs new streaming platform, BET Plus.

www.instagram.com/melissa.l.williams

This phone interview has been edited for length and clarity.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's advisers presented him with the results of internal polling last week that showed him falling behind former vice president Joe Biden in key swing states in the presidential race, part of an effort by aides to curtail Trump's freewheeling daily briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, according to three people with knowledge of the conversations.

The president spoke with campaign manager Brad Parscale, White House senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, among other officials, in calls and meetings last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to the three people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal internal discussions.

One call on Wednesday - with Parscale patched in from his home in Florida and McDaniel from hers in Michigan - was designed to present grim polling data to the president to encourage him to reduce the frequency of coronavirus briefings or to stop taking questions, after seeing his numbers slip for several weeks, officials said.

Trump resisted the pleas, saying people "love" the briefings and think he is "fighting for them," a person with knowledge of the Wednesday conversation said. Trump has long been distrustful of polling data presented to him when the numbers are negative, aides say.

The two polls given to Trump - one from the Republican National Committee and another from the Trump campaign - both showed Trump trailing Biden in swing states, officials said. His political team has grown more concerned in recent weeks, as the briefings became more combative while the economy cratered and coronavirus deaths continued to rise.

On Thursday, Trump set off a new uproar with his suggestion that injecting bleach or other disinfectants could help kill the novel virus - prompting a scramble by the administration to contain the damage.

The president held no briefings over the weekend and has taken fewer questions this week, with no appearances in the briefing room. Aides say they are hoping to soon have the president travel outside Washington, meet with governors in the Oval Office and participate in events that are focused on the economy.

RNC and Trump campaign officials did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday on the polling.

Aides described Trump as in a particularly foul mood last week because of the polling data and news coverage of his administration's response to the pandemic, according to two of the people familiar with the discussions. In one call, he berated Parscale over the polling data, the two people said.

At one point in that call, Trump said he might sue Parscale, though one of the people with knowledge of the comments said he made the remark in jest. News of Trump's eruption at Parscale was first reported Wednesday by CNN.

Trump told Parscale that he did not believe the polling that had been presented to him, even though it came from the campaign and the RNC.

"I'm not losing to Joe Biden," Trump said at one point, both of these people said, adding that the president used profanities throughout the call.

After the call, Parscale described it to others as a Trump venting session, these people said.

Trump ranted to other aides for several days about a story in the New York Times that described him as spending much of his day watching television and calling people on the phone.

He was also angry about coronavirus testing - telling advisers that he was unfairly getting crushed in the media over shortages in the United States. Trump this week announced a set of testing guidelines that continued to leave the onus on states to develop their own plans.

"He was just in a terrible mood with everyone late last week," a fourth official said.

Parscale came to the Oval Office on Tuesday for a long meeting with Trump in which the hatchet was buried, one of the people said. He brought polling numbers that were more positive for Trump, and the president seemed in a far better mood, people with knowledge of the meeting said.
South Asia could face another health emergency if the unimmunised or partially immunised children in the region -- nearly 4.5 million of whom live in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan -- do not receive their life-saving vaccine shots due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, the UNICEF has warned.

Sporadic outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and diphtheria, have already been seen in parts of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal, the UN Children's Fund said.

"With lockdowns in place as a part of the novel coronavirus response, routine immunisations have been severely disrupted, and parents are increasingly reluctant to take their children to health centres for routine jabs," it said.

According to the UNICEF, almost a quarter of the world's unimmunised or partially immunised children -- about 4.5 million children -- live in South Asia. Almost all of them, or 97 per cent, live in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The South Asia region is also home to two of the last polio endemic countries in the world, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Vaccine stocks are running dangerously low in some countries of the region as supply chains have been disrupted with travel bans and cancelled flights. The manufacturing of the vaccines has also been disrupted, creating additional shortages," Regional Health Advisor for UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) Paul Rutter said.

Many of the health facilities throughout the region, where millions of children are normally vaccinated, have been closed and outreach sessions have been suspended, adding to the challenge, he said.

"As long as frontline health workers take the appropriate precautions, particularly washing their hands, there is no reason not to vaccinate in fact, it is crucial that vaccination continues," Rutter said.

Across the region, national mass vaccination campaigns have been postponed. Bangladesh and Nepal have postponed their national measles and rubella campaigns while Pakistan and Afghanistan have suspended their polio campaigns.

UNICEF strongly recommends that, where immunisation campaigns are suspended, governments begin rigorous planning now to intensify immunisation activities once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

"We are very concerned about the impact of not getting children vaccinated," UNICEF ROSA Director Jean Gough said.

"Many of these children are already vulnerable. While the COVID-19 virus does not appear to make many children seriously ill, the health of hundreds of thousands of children could be impacted by this disruption of regular immunisation services. This is a very serious threat. Early action is key," Gough said.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF are urging governments to prevent devastating nutrition and health consequences for the 370 million children missing out on school meals as a result of school closures.

For millions of children around the world, the meal they get at school is the only food they will get in a day. WFP and UNICEF are working with governments to support children who are out of school during the crisis.

In 68 countries, governments and WFP are providing children with take-home rations, vouchers or cash transfers as an alternative to school meals. The two organisations are also calling for support as they set up to assist governments in the coming months to ensure that when schools reopen, school meals and other health and nutrition programmes resume.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trumps top economic adviser said on Thursday the administration was not considering cancelling some debt held by China as a way to strike at Beijing for perceived shortfalls in its candidness on the coronavirus pandemic.

The Washington Post, citing two people with knowledge of internal discussions, reported on Thursday that some administration officials had discussed the idea.

The full faith and credit of U.S. debt obligations is sacrosanct. Period. Full stop, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Reuters.

Similarly is the reserve currency status of the U.S. dollar, Kudlow said. The storys completely wrong.

Trump told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for Beijing over the virus. I can do a lot, he said.

The president has shown increasing frustration with China in recent weeks over the pandemic, which has cost tens of thousands of lives in the United States alone, sparked an economic contraction and threatened Trumps chances of re-election in November.
Migrants: civil society denounces Tunisia center's condition Amnesty asks for release of migrants Al Wardia

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, APRIL 30 - Several Tunisian organizations representing civil society have denounced in a joint statement the ''detention of several dozen migrants'' in the Center of El Ouardia (Al Wardia), a southern district of the capital, which is officially called a ''hosting and orientation center''. The organizations said they were concerned by recent migrants' protests during the coronavirus pandemic, asking authorities to explain on which legal grounds they are detaining the migrants. The statement said that an official communication was sent to the Tunisian government and the Superior council of magistrates on April 28.



Based on the information available, the organizations said, the number of migrants staying at the center varies with releases and new detentions being constantly reported despite the health risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. ''All the detainees have in common is that they are foreign nationals and don't know on which legal grounds they are being detained'', said the press release.



Some of the migrants were arrested in El Ouardia because they did not have a stay permit while others were detained for different charges, the groups said, adding that they feared foreign nationals were being systematically detained in an arbitrary way, contrary to the Tunisian Constitution and international conventions.



The organizations formally asked authorities to explain why people were being detained in El Ouardia and to adopt any measure to end detentions that are arbitrary and without legal grounds.



They added that the situation needs to be solved urgently in the midst of the coronavirus emergency as social distancing measures cannot be easily observed in detention centers. Such a risk could worsen with the arrival of new detainees so it is necessary to clarify as soon as possible the juridical status of this center and of the people who have been deprived of their freedom, the statement said. The organizations that signed the statement include Lawyers without borders (Afs) and the Tunisian forum for economic and social rights (Ftdes).



Amnesty International has also urged Tunisian authorities in a statement to ''urgently release immigrants detained in terrible conditions at the hosting and orientation center of Ouardia in Tunis and to guarantee that they have access to essential services, including adequate lodgings and medical assistance''.(ANSAmed).




For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

As the economic impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak are being felt all over country, a new report is indicating that Seattle's increase in unemployment is actually the highest of any city in the nation, showing just how much damage the virus has wreaked on the Puget Sound economy.

The report from personal finance website Wallethub compared unemployment rates in US cities and found that Seattle experienced an 86.92% increase in the unemployment rate between March 2020 and March 2019, the highest year-to-year increase in the country.

The breakdown of numbers show that while only 12,843 people in the city were unemployed last March, that number nearly doubled to 24,006 unemployed residents in March 2020.

When looking at this year alone, the numbers are even more staggering -- from January to March 2020, the city has experienced a 105.92% increase in unemployment. That means in a span of just three months, unemployment in the city rose from 11,658 people to 24,006, the third biggest jump in the nation.

The report does not include how many jobs were lost in April, after Gov. Jay Inslee's stay-at-home order went into effect at the end of March and closed all nonessential businesses.

Other cities that saw big increases in unemployment rates were Hialeah, FL, which saw a massive 145.91% increase in unemployment from the beginning of the year to March and Miami, which similarly experienced a 137.25% increase during that same time.

Miami, Hialeah and Seattle were the only cities that saw an increase in unemployment rates over 100%.

"Many cities are experiencing massive budget deficits because of the coronavirus crisis, and this will only become more difficult to manage as cities continue to struggle to support affected industries," said Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzalez. "Without federal help, many cities may be forced to make big cuts to their budgets, to the detriment of education, recreational programs and other important services that take a backseat to immediate health concerns."

This comes as a Yelp report indicates that over 4,500 businesses in the Puget S0und-area have temporarily or permanently closed due to COVID-19. Seattle ranked fifth among the major metro areas studied that saw the most closures.

"The overall impact on major local economies amounted to four or more times the magnitude of the biggest prior economic shocks theyd experienced in the last decade, such as major hurricanes," the Yelp report said.

Large companies in the region have also felt the economic impact of the virus. Among the hardest hit are those in the travel industry as business has nearly evaporated with the stay-home orders and travel restrictions.

On April 29, Boeing announced plans to cut 10% of its workforce, citing the grounding of its best-selling jet and record low global travel rates causing airlines to cancel new plane orders.

"The aviation industry will take years to return to the levels of traffic we saw just a few months ago," wrote Boeing CEO David Calhoun in a memo to employees.

In total, the United States is estimated to have lost over 22 million jobs during the pandemic.

RELATED CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Founded in 2012 and launched in London in 2017 the nCino EMEA office recognised for strong company culture

LONDON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- nCino, the worldwide leader in cloud banking, today announced that it is amongst the UK's Best Workplaces according to Great Place to Work. The award recognises nCino's strength of culture and its commitment to creating a supportive and enriching environment for its people.

nCino has always been a company committed to offering flexible and remote work options to facilitate a strong work-life balance. This established best practice is more critical than ever, as nCino team members navigate the ongoing challenges of the global Covid-19 pandemic while continuing to deliver transformative digital solutions for financial institutions. As organisations around the world address the immediate health, safety and economic crises, nCino's strong cultural foundation allows its people to rise to the challenge and maintain a sense of community and commitment to its customers.

"This is an incredible achievement for nCino, and we're thrilled the hard work we've put into growing and supporting our team in London has been recognised," said Pullen Daniel, EVP Managing Director - International at nCino. "We believe the key to maintaining a strong culture is empowering employees and providing them with the support, resources and tools they need to be successful. Through this period of unprecedented global challenge, I'm exceptionally proud of how the team has continued to use our cutting-edge technology, virtual tools and video conferencing systems to run our global business, which has allowed us to facilitate collaboration with our colleagues, partners and customers without interruption."

In addition to a flexible work environment, nCino offers employees a well-rounded benefits-package, from competitive salaries and 100% premium-paid private medical insurance, to cycle-to-work and childcare vouchers. In addition, through its employee-led and company-supported volunteer organisation, nVolve, nCino sponsors and supports community service programmes around the world.

"nCino's recognition as a Best Workplace underlines the enormous commitment and value the organisation places in its people and in turn the high levels of trust that reside within", said Ben Gautrey, Managing Director at Great Place to Work UK. "Not many organisations become recognised as a Best Workplace in their first year of consideration and the fact that nCino has managed to do so is highly impressive. The organisation was shown to excel in regards to the employee experience when pertaining to Career and Development, Culture and Wellbeing."

Understanding the perspective of employees is key to building a successful workplace environment. To determine an organisation's ranking, Great Place to Work administers its Trust Index survey to employees which represents 75% of the final score. The remaining quarter of the score comes from the Culture Audit, a business-driven questionnaire that uncovers and evaluates an organisation's HR and leadership practices, policies and culture.

nCino's strong culture has been successfully extended all the way from the Head Quarters in Wilmington, North Carolina USA to the office in London. nCino believes the key to maintaining such a strong culture is empowering employees to think bigger, encouraging new ideas to promote innovation, providing employees with the resources, support and guidance needed to be successful, and most importantly, having fun while working hard.

About nCino

nCino is the worldwide leader in cloud banking. Its Bank Operating System improves employee efficiency while enhancing the customer experience for onboarding, loans and deposits across all lines of business. Transforming how financial institutions operate through innovation, reputation and speed, nCino works with more than 1,200 financial institutions globally whose assets range in size from $30 million to $2 trillion. A proven leader, nCino is part of the Forbes Cloud 100 and was named the #1 "Best Fintech to Work For" by American Banker. Follow @nCino or visit www.ncino.com.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work UK is a consultancy specialising in workplace culture, helping organisations to create exceptional, high performing workplaces where employees feel trusted and valued. We help employers improve recruitment, retention and productivity by putting employees at the heart of the organisation, analysing what they think and feel and identifying the real issues that need to be addressed. Part of a global organisation, we apply data and insights from approximately 10,000 organisations across the world to benchmark individual performance and advise employers on how to continuously improve employee engagement and wellbeing and so help build and sustain business performance. We run the Best Workplaces awards to enable the organisations we work with to celebrate their achievements, build their employer brand and inspire others to take action.
Three poverty-stricken counties across China have chosen tailored industries such as fruit planting, photovoltaic projects and cultural tourism to fight poverty.

Tursunjan Roza (R) exchanges views with impoverished people at an orchard. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

One of 10 impoverished counties in the provincial region, Yengisar county of Kashgar in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region has a history of planting apricot trees for over 400 years, with almost every family having their own apricot trees.

Unfortunately due to neglect, in 2017 severe budworm damage was detected in the county, causing harvest failure of nearly 90 percent of apricot trees.

Yengisar went all-out to enhance pest and disease prevention and control, providing technical guidance on such aspects as fertilizer and water management for farmers after the region began promoting poverty alleviation by accelerating the development of forest and fruit industries in southern Xinjiang in 2018. Thanks to these efforts, the county achieved a bumper harvest of apricots last year.

This year, Yengisar invested over 46 million yuan ($6.5 million) to assist registered impoverished households in reseeding, pest and disease control, application of organic fertilizers, grafting, trimming and other technical services for 6,200 hectares (15,000 acres) of fruit trees, said Tursunjan Roza, deputy head of the county, adding that the move is expected to increase the income of farmers by over 10 percent.

Through cooperation with Xinjiang Guoye group and e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba to help sell fresh apricots, for the first time ever the county sold 20 tons of fresh apricots in the markets outside of the autonomous region through online channels in 2018.

Ninglang Yi autonomous county in Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan province is reducing poverty by developing the photovoltaic industry.

All 82 poor villages in the county were included in its poverty alleviation efforts through the sector, said Yang Chengxin, secretary of the county's Party committee, adding that Ninglang decided to build two photovoltaic power stations in Lanniqing and Majinzi villages due to their better transportation and light conditions, as well as flat terrain.

The two stations started construction on Nov. 5, 2019, and after entering service a month later they generated an income of 3.5 million yuan ($490,000) during four months of operation. All earnings from the project will be used to lift the 82 villages out of poverty as they collectively own the property rights of the stations.

The county offered 20 public welfare jobs such as cleaners, water conservancy management personnel and road maintenance crews for impoverished households in each village, giving a monthly subsidy of 400 yuan ($56) for each position.

Jise Fangsen (R) discusses the development of the cultural tourism industry in Sanhe village with director of Zhaojue countys housing and urban-rural development bureau. (Photo/Xue Long)

Zhaojue county, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture of southwest China's Sichuan province is fighting the battle against poverty through the development of cultural tourism.

The county boasts beautiful natural scenery and landscapes such as Gukede wetland national nature reserve, historical relics including Boshewahei rock carvings and cultural traditions of the Yi nationality.

Based on these conditions, Zhaojue produced a tourism development strategy, said Jise Fangsen, deputy head of the county.

Local farmers can make a lot of money by selling land alone. "A dozen locals earned respectively over 100,000 yuan ($14,000) last year," Chen Jinsong, secretary of the town's Party committee. By cooperating with Liangshan Culture and Tourism Investment Group Co., Ltd, the county is pushing forward the construction of Gukede scenic area in Nidi town.

Sanhe village in Zhaojue county built a museum on poverty alleviation and an archive on its history, while restoration and protection of traditional buildings of the Yi nationality are also underway.

As the village established a rural cooperative to employee villagers, helping them increase income, Sanhe is also promoting homestay industry, according to Li Kai, the first secretary of the village in charge of poverty alleviation.
Joe Biden will break his silence on a sexual assault accusation Friday morning on 'Morning Joe.'

The presumptive Democratic nominee was facing pressure to address allegations from Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer who said in 1993 Biden put his hands down her skirt in a Congressional hallway.

Biden hadn't addressed Reade's allegations, that have now been corroborated by several sources and are gaining steam in the mainstream press.

Biden will speak with hosts Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough and Willie Geist, NBC News said.

In March, when major news outlet started doing reporting on the story his deputy campaign manager and communications director, Kate Bedingfield, put out a statement.

'Women have the right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims. We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false,' Bedingfield said.

Joe Biden, the Democrats' presumptive nominee, hasn't addressed Reade's allegations of sexual assault head-on, with his campaign sending out a statement denying them in March, when more mainstream outlets began picking up the story. He will Friday on 'Morning Joe'

Tara Reade told The New York Times' media columnist on Wednesday that she hasn't been asked to do a sit-down interview on her allegations against Joe Biden by any of the major mainstream news networks

Joe Biden will appear Friday on 'Morning Joe,' with co-hosts Mika Brzezinsk (left), Joe Scarborough (right) and Willie Geist

The campaign also provided news outlets with a character witness: Marianne Baker, an executive assistant to Biden from 1982 to 2000.

'In all my years working for Senator Biden, I never once witnessed, or heard of, or received, any reports of inappropriate conduct, period - not from Ms. Reade, not from anyone,' Baker said in a statement, provided by the campaign.

'I have absolutely no knowledge or memory of Ms. Reade's accounting of events, which would have left a searing impression on me as a woman professional, and as a manager,' Baker continued.

'These clearly false allegations are in complete contradiction to both the inner workings of our Senate office and to the man I know and worked so closely with for almost two decades,' Baker added.

Meanwhile, Reade spoke Wednesday with The New York Times' media columnist Ben Smith about what looked like uneven media treatment in comparison to women who have made accusations against conservatives including President Trump and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

She said major networks 'are not offering to put me on TV - they're just doing stories. No anchors, no nothing like that.'

Reade's initial story was told by a podcast and publications that were friendly to Bernie Sanders' side of the Democratic Party.

It was first told to journalist Katie Halper for her 'Katie Halper Show' podcast on March 25.

Reade was then interviewed by Hill.TV and Vox.

Halper's friendly to Sanders - who was still in the race at the time. The Intercept, another publication that's friendly to Sanders, also did early reporting.

Reade, too, was supportive of Sanders in tweets - allowing the progressive-versus-moderate Democratic split displayed in the last two presidential primaries to taint the Biden accuser's claims.

Since then, Business Insider has produced reporting that corroborates Reade's claims.

In her intitial interview with Halper, Reade said 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 shared her interview with Halper on her now-locked Twitter account adding, 'Please stay in Bernie.'

Earlier this week, MSNBC took flak for covering Reade's story with the hashtag #FireChrisHayes trending on Twitter after the 'All In' host had New York Magazine's Rebecca Traister on.

Traister had penned a piece called 'The Biden Trap' in which she criticized the former vice president for not responding to the assault allegation head-on.

That's led to his female surrogates - and his eventual, female vice presidential pick - 'drinking from a poisoned chalice,' Traister wrote.

'Because the promise to choose a woman ensures that whoever she is, she will be forced to answer - over and over again - for Biden's treatment of other women, including the serious allegations of assault leveled by Tara Reade,' Traister said in the essay.

Biden's inaction has been putting female surrogates in tough positions.

Soccer star Megan Rapinoe - who previously supported Biden's primary rival Elizabeh Warren - appeared on Instagram Live with the ex-vice president and his wife Jill on Thursday and was excoriated for not asking about Reade.

'Youve always been my hero. Why didnt you ask him about the sexual assault allegations? Im really disappointed in what I thought you were,' one Instagram user lamented.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at a reporter Thursday morning for pointing out her very different reaction to assault claims waged against Kavanaugh versus Biden.

'Well let me just say, I respect your question, and I don't need a lecture or a speech,' Pelosi said. 'I have complete respect for the Me Too movement. I have four daughters and one son, and there's a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and be listened to.'

'There is also due process,' Pelosi said.

She previously said she was 'satisfied' by Biden's response to the allegations.

Pelosi endorsed Biden for president earlier this week.

Stacey Abrams, who's likely on the list of female vice presidential picks, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a formal 2020 hopeful, have also gotten heat for their support of Biden.
The fifth largest piece of the Moon on Earth

James Hyslop, Christies Head of Science and Natural History, explains why this lunar meteorite will probably be the largest example to ever come to market

This is the fifth largest piece of the Moon on Earth, declares Christies Head of Science and Natural History James Hyslop. Weighing over 13.5kg, it is much larger than any example returned by the Apollo programme. The lunar meteorite in question, known as NWA 12691, plummeted to Earth as part of a large meteorite shower over the Western Sahara, where the borders of Algeria and Mauritania meet. The exact date of the shower is unknown, but it has been determined that it was responsible for at least 30 known lunar meteorites. According to Hyslop, NWA 12691 probably landed on Earth hundreds  if not thousands  of years ago, after being blasted off the Moons surface by the collision of an asteroid or comet.





MNWA 12691  a massive specimen of the Moon. Lunar Feldspathic Breccia. Sahara Desert, Western Sahara. Offered for private sale at Christies. View books and science objects currently available for private sale at Christies

Unsurprisingly, Moon rock is one of the rarest substances found on Earth. In addition to the approximately 400 kg of Moon rock returned by Apollo astronauts in the 1960s and 70s, there is only an additional 650 kg of known lunar meteorites. They would all fit comfortably inside a very small car, claims Hyslop. Lunar meteorites are formed from the near-surface regions of the Moon known as the lunar regolith, and contain a combination of minerals that are rare or unknown on Earth. The official classification and publication of this meteorite, says Hyslop, was performed by Dr. Tony Irving, the worlds foremost expert in the classification of lunar meteorites.

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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is warning today of the potentially devastating impact of a COVID-19 outbreak in South Sudan. Years of conflict and a number of recent natural disasters have left many internally displaced people, refugees and host communities throughout the country struggling to meet their basic needs and now particularly vulnerable to the threat of COVID-19.

Years of violence have severely damaged South Sudans health services, said Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations. After last years floods and the recent locust swarm, people are struggling. Together with the threat of COVID-19, this is a perfect storm that may lead to potentially terrible consequences for millions of people living in already precarious situations, if the virus rapidly spreads.

To date, there have been 35 confirmed cases of coronavirus in South Sudan. Many of the 1.7 million internally displaced people in the country are living in crowded, collective sites where they face poor sanitary conditions and limited or no access to health facilities.

Many of the countrys health facilities have been damaged or destroyed during years of fighting. Those remaining lack sufficient medicines, qualified health professionals and medical equipment.

UNHCR and its partners continues to work closely with South Sudanese authorities to ensure forcibly displaced populations are included in the countrys national COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. We have constructed five emergency treatment centres to support this effort, with five more set to be built in the coming weeks. COVID-19 prevention, awareness and control efforts are being put in place in all camps. Refugees and IDPs have been given extra rations of soap and additional buckets to help maintain hygiene. Outreach campaigns to spread awareness about COVID-19 prevention and treatment are ongoing.

However, ongoing inter-communal clashes, together with measures intended to limit the spread of coronavirus, such as restrictions on movement and goods, are creating signficiant challenges for humanitarian organisations to provide much-needed protection and aid to affected populations.

Fighting has left many people struggling to survive. A large proportion of the countrys rural population rely on their livestock and farms, which are often killed or damaged during the clashes, as their major source of income. This is worsening already dire levels of poverty, with many people having no access to social safety nets, at a time when the economic impact of COVID-19 is increasing.

UNHCR echoes the appeal of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire. Warring parties in South Sudan must immediately cease hostilities, now, in these unprecedented circumstances, more than ever, to ensure people are able to access life-saving assistance. The good progress made following the 2018 Peace Deal must not stall. Momentum must continue on the pace and implementation of the agreement at this critical juncture in the countrys history.

Further support to UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations from the international community is urgently needed. Severe underfunding continues to hamper our efforts to save lives. However, support to the COVID-19 response must not come at the price of neglecting pre-existing humanitarian needs.

Note for editors:

Relevant broadcast-quality footage is available for download on UNHCR's content platform Refugees Media.

UNHCR has issued an emergency appeal for US$255 million to provide support to forcibly displaced populations around the world with COVID-19 preparedness and treatment. At the same time, UNHCR has received 11 per cent of the US$179 million needed as part of our appeal to meet the pre-existing humanitarian needs of people inside South Sudan.

South Sudan is currently host to some 1.7 million internally displaced people, as well as nearly 300,000 refugees who have fled to the country from countries including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia. Around 260,000 South Sudanese have also spontaneously returned to the country in the last few years after previously seeking safety in neighbouring countries.

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Deputy PM Minh informed the Estonian FM about measures implemented by the Vietnamese Government and the countrys achievements in containing the COVID-19 and maintaining economic growth.

Vietnam is ready to share information and experience with Estonia, and join hands with the country to promote international cooperation in driving back the epidemic and dealing with global challenges, he said.

Reinsalu, for his part, spoke highly of Vietnams drastic and effective measures as well as its active and proactive role at international and regional forums, especially its success in the role of rotary President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in January 2020.

He suggested that both countries continue working closely together at the UNSC on issues of global concern, especially when Estonia will serve as rotary UNSC President in May 2020.

Deputy PM Minh thanked Estonia for supporting the signing of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in June 2019.

He proposed that the Estonian Parliament soon ratify the EVIPA to boost trade between the two countries, as well as between Vietnam and the EU.

Speaking highly of recent progress in bilateral ties, both sides vowed to strengthen traditional friendship and all-around bilateral cooperation in fields of their strength and demand in the near future, including in digital economy and e-government.
HEAD electronics quickly passed the ISO13485 audit with no shortcomings found, based on the excellence of their existing production operation, with Aegis' FactoryLogix at the core.

Aegis Software, a global provider of Manufacturing Execution Software (MES), today announces that HEAD electronics has achieved ISO13485 accreditation based in part, on Aegis as their trusted software provider of IIoT-driven MES software.

Specializing in the design and assembly of industrial electronics, HEAD electronics saw the urgent need for the manufacture of critical medical devices in the market, and has quickly and seamlessly achieved ISO13485 accreditation to carry out this vital work.

"Our primary motivation is more to help people in the world get through this crisis", states Sini Dilrosun, Quality Manager, who continues, "We are proud of the dedication from our team to make this happen quickly, based on the excellence of our normal production practices, that feature Aegis' FactoryLogix MES software at the core. We are now able to engage with a number of potential customers for the first products that require medical certification."

Such accreditation exists to ensure the quality and reliability of products, in this case, to an exceptionally high standard. The mindset and culture within HEAD electronics has always been in line with this, which has allowed HEAD electronics to be flexible in responding to opportunities and needs as they arise, supported by the adaptability of FactoryLogix to quickly change the types of products manufactured.

Daniel Walls, European Managing Director, Aegis Software, states, "There can be no greater acknowledgment of the capability and performance of our software than to enable customers such as HEAD electronics to be recognized, meeting customers' core business needs. We are very pleased that FactoryLogix is contributing to help people who urgently need the manufacture of dependable medical equipment in these challenging times."

Customers of HEAD electronics are assured of a world-class supply of medical devices, further differentiating HEAD's market position and value as they respond quickly and assuredly for the direct benefit of the many people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

About HEAD electronics

Head Electronics BV in Katwijk, The Netherlands was founded in 1987. HEAD stands for "Holland Electronics Advanced Development". HEAD electronics develops and produces electronics for various types of customer applications. The company does not focus on a specific sector, but distinguishes itself by offering the widest possible range of related services where the customer is central, and wants to unburden them as much as possible. Learn more by visiting ?https://www.head.nl

About Aegis Software

Founded in 1997, Aegis Software uniquely delivers a comprehensive and flexible end-to-end Manufacturing Execution System (MES) platform giving assembly manufacturers the performance, flexibility, control and visibility they require. Aegis software is used globally in more than 2,100 factories across the military, aerospace, electronics, medical, and automotive industries, driving rapid and continuous innovation with the highest quality while reducing operational costs.

Learn more by visiting ?https://www.aiscorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005096/en/

Contacts:

Debbie Geiger

Vice President, Global Marketing

215-773-3571

dgeiger@aiscorp.com
The initiative comes as the White House faces mounting criticism over long lines and supply shortages for testing.
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The first of more than 4000 sailors who were taken off the USS Theodore Roosevelt following a COVID-19 outbreak on board the aircraft carrier have now returned to the ship after being quarantined in hotel rooms in Guam.

On Wednesday, dozens of sailors were seen being boarding buses outside their lodgings before they were transported back to the vessel, docked at Naval Base Guam.

In a statement, the US Navy stressed that all personnel returning to USS Theodore Roosevelt have twice tested negative for the coronavirus and are asymptomatic.

However, officials were still not taking any chances, with the sailors seen having their temperatures taken before boarding the vessel.

All wore face masks, and several donned gloves as they collected their bags and made their way back to the carrier.

As of Tuesday, 969 of the Roosevelt's 5,000 strong crew have tested positive to COVID-19, and one had died from the virus.

The first of more than 4000 sailors who were taken off the USS Theodore Roosevelt following a COVID-19 outbreak on board the aircraft carrier have now returned to the ship after being quarantined in hotel rooms in Guam. The sailors are seen collecting their belongings before boarding on Wednesday

In a statement, the US Navy stressed that all personnel returning to USS Theodore Roosevelt have twice tested negative for the coronavirus and are asymptomatic

All wore face masks, and several donned gloves as they collected their bags and made their way back to the carrier

Sailors seen having their temperatures taken before boarding the vessel

The Navy says the sailors who were taken off the ship will return to the vessel in waves. The process is expected to take a number of weeks.

Meanwhile, the roughly 700 sailors who have been running the ship while it has been in port will now move ashore and into quarantine.

'The stay-behind crew successfully built a 'bubble' around the ship, that can now be turned over to the clean crew,' Commander Zach Harry, chief engineer aboard the Roosevelt, said in a statement Wednesday.

'The crew will now create a boundary to keep the coronavirus out.'

The Navy says the sailors who were taken off the ship will return to the vessel in waves. The process is expected to take a number of weeks

The USS Roosevelt docked in Guam on March 26, following a COVID-19 outbreak on board the vessel

Returning sailors will now relieve their colleagues, who have remained on board running the vessel for the past few weeks

The USS Roosevelt docked in Guam on March 26, following a COVID-19 outbreak on board the vessel. However, at the time, sailors were still confined to the vessel.

Days later, the ship's Captain, Brett Crozier, sent a letter to Navy bosses pleading to let his crew off the carrier for fear that up to 50 people on board the boat could die from the coronavirus.

On April 2, Captain Crozier was ousted from the ship after Navy bosses accused him of breaking the chain of command after his letter leaked to the press.

His sacking sparked widespread outrage and international media attention.

Despite firing Crozier for breaking the chain of command, the Navy conceded to his demands for mass testing and a wide scale evacuation of the ship.

Sailors are seen returning to the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Wednesday

On Wednesday, the Navy revealed that officials will conduct a wider investigation of circumstances surrounding the spread of the coronavirus aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Sailors are seen returning to the boat on Wednesday

COVID-19 outbreak on board USS Kidd causes more headaches for the Navy The USS Kidd is the second active US warship to suffer a coronavirus outbreak. The vessel docked in San Diego on Tuesday, after 64 of its sailors tested positive. Morw than half of the crew have now screened. Of the casualties, two sailors have been medically evacuated to the US and another 15 have been transferred to the USS Makin Island to be closely monitored. According to a status update sent by the Navy to Congress, the first sailor to exhibit signs of the virus came on April 22  35 days after the ship's last port visit in Hawaii, USNI News reported. While it's widely believed coronavirus symptoms typically take no more than 14 days to appear, the period between USS Kidd's last docking and the date of the first sign of symptoms being observed has perplexed Navy officials. Advertisement

In recent weeks there has been speculation that Crozier could be reinstated to his position as captain of the carrier.

However, on Wednesday, the Navy revealed that officials will conduct a wider investigation of circumstances surrounding the spread of the coronavirus aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which delays the decision on whether to reinstate the Crozier.

Acting Navy James E. McPherson announced the investigation, saying an initial inquiry was insufficient.

'I have unanswered questions that the preliminary inquiry has identified and that can only be answered by a deeper review,' he said.

The wider investigation is intended to last no longer than 30 days, according to one defense official who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity to provide details before McPherson issued his statement.

The new review will examine how the outbreak began and how it was handled, and address Crozier's concerns that his leadership was not acting fast enough to protect the crew from the spreading virus.

Those leaders would include Rear Adm Stuart Baker, commander of the carrier strike group, who was aboard the Roosevelt with Crozier; the 7th Fleet commander, Vice Adm William R. Merz; the Pacific Fleet commander, Adm John C. Aquilino; and the most senior admiral in the Pacific, Adm Phil Davidson, head of Indo-Pacific Command.

Crozier himself tested positive to COVID-19 several weeks ago.

As he continues his recovery, friends and former colleagues are busy praising him after he was booted from the aircraft carrier for writing a letter to Navy bosses sounding the alarm about a widespread outbreak of coronavirus on board the ship.

Long-time friend, former Navy captain Jeff Craig, told The New York Times earlier this month that he hopes Crozier will be reinstated on the Roosevelt.
Patient care has changed. Less office visits drastically impact a provider's encounters per day. Senior patients, many providers' main clientele, are the most at risk. Additionally, patients are more receptive to remote care. Government regulations/taxpayers and commercial insurance providers are also encouraging change. This allows providers to serve patients while acquiring financial benefits and exercising safety.

LifeOn is a patented system that is practical and profitable. LifeOnMD provides a 360-degree view of information from patient devices, EMR and via visual telepointments that enables providers to remotely care for their patients.

"LifeOnMD targets clinics and hospitals that intend to give patients better care, even remotely," said Alok Sinha, CEO of Globus Eight Inc., "Infectious diseases, chronic care, and senior care management require ongoing monitoring during quarantine and otherwise." Alok added, "We have thousands of devices that patients can choose from, or they may even use their own devices that integrate with the LifeOn framework."

Marni Ehrlich, CEO of TechLeaders Consulting LLC., says, "LifeOnMD offers providers the necessary support to evolve providers and patients into this new delivery paradigm. It leverages our unique understanding of Health IT, IoT platforms and telecommunications to deliver a complete solution in the remote monitoring marketplace."

About TechLeaders: TechLeaders Consulting, LLC is a top-ten healthcare consulting company and leading implementation agent for HIT for the New York State eHealth Collaborative.

About Globus Eight: Globus Eight Inc. is an IT services company offering IT support, security, and AI/IoT solutions to its customers.

Contact: Ms. Neha Shrivastava (https://lifeonmd.g8.net)

Globus Eight Inc/TechLeaders Consulting

260 Main Street

Suite #102

Northport, USA

11768

+1-267-755-9444

[email protected]

SOURCE Globus Eight Inc

Related Links

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MOUNT VERNON, NY  Outside The Wartburg in Mount Vernon, members of the Dominican Sisters of Hope are waving at the windows.

That's because inside Wartburg are some of their fellow nuns, whom they have not been able to visit for two months since New York's assisted living facilities and nursing homes were shut to visitors. It's a hardship for anyone, most certainly for the members of the order, who are accustomed to care for each other when sick.

Dominican Sister of Hope Anne Marie Bucher, OP, and Dominican Sister of Hope Margaret Anderson, OP, wave to Dominican Sisters of Hope who can't leave their rooms at The Meadowview Assisted Living at The Wartburg in Mount Vernon, NY.





Along with the waving, they're bringing pizzas and thank you cards. Those are for the staff at Wartburg, in appreciation for their tireless work to defend their charges from the new coronavirus.

Dominican Sister of Hope Margaret Anderson, OP, delivers pizza and a thank you card to Meadowview Assisted Living at The Wartburg in Mount Vernon, NY. John Schuster, administrator of Meadowview, receives the haul.

"We wish that we could be with them and thank them in person, but this is the least we could do given the circumstances," said Dominican Sister of Hope Margaret Anderson, OP, a member of the group's leadership team.



This week, the sisters are buying lunch for the employees at the Wartburg and Brandywine at Wall Senior Living in Wall, New Jersey. Both senior care facilities are home to a number of Dominican Sisters of Hope.

The pizza-and-salad lunches are spread over three days (Tuesday-Thursday) to coincide with the Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena on April 29. In addition to being an appreciation of health care workers, the lunches are also a celebration of the legacy of Catherine of Siena, who was named a Doctor of the Church 50 years ago this year.

Catherine ministered to the sick in Siena during the Plague in the 1300s.

Along with lunch, the sisters delivered thank you cards to the administrators at each facility. Of course the lunches and accompanying thank you cards are dropped off at a 6-foot distance while wearing masks.

This article originally appeared on the Mount Vernon Patch
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

Trend:

The Azerbaijani government continues to take urgent measures to bring back the citizens who are abroad and want to come back, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said, Trend reports on April 30.

Due to the difficult global situation because of the coronavirus pandemic, citizens abroad are returning to the country even under the current conditions of a special quarantine regime, the spokesperson said.

A special website has been created to bring back our citizens from Russia, the spokesperson said. People are being registered online. During the previous weeks, a group of our citizens, namely, 548 people, returned to Azerbaijan and this work continues. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that each returning citizen is quarantined. In this regard, the decision related to the return of citizens is made depending on the availability of vacant beds in quarantine zones.

We have repeatedly appealed to our citizens in this regard, Abdullayeva added. Azerbaijani extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Russia urged compatriots to demonstrate understanding.

Presently, our citizens after registration must wait for a message, which is sent to them from the website and not go to the border checkpoint, the spokesperson added. While going to a border checkpoint, our citizens endanger both their own health and the health of their relatives.

I would like to emphasize again that the return of our citizens is being ensured taking into account the availability of vacant beds in the quarantine zones in Azerbaijan, Abdullayeva said. In this regard, of course, we must think about our doctors, respect the work of the medical staff, which works almost without interruption. There are also our citizens in other countries. They are staying temporarily and want to return. The work is underway to return them to Azerbaijan.

Gathering at the border checkpoints doesn't help move the matter forward, and it is important for every citizen to understand this, the spokesperson added. I would like to reiterate that the government will return the citizens who are abroad gradually in accordance with the development of the situation in Azerbaijan, the availability of vacant beds in the quarantine zones and the corresponding logistic support."
Nearly a quarter of 14,138 randomly-selected citizens across 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam said poverty was their greatest issue of concern last year.

A Hanoi street. Poverty was one of the biggest concerns of Vietnamese people in 2019.

The respondents were interviewed for the 2019 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI), the results of which were released on Tuesday.

The findings indicate that more citizens without the safety net in the form of social insurance consider poverty to be a pressing issue and are mainly concerned about the lack of certainty that they will have sufficient resources for the future.

These concerns are likely to be amplified in the coming months with many having been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.

The unprecedented US$2.6 billion social protection package adopted by the National Assembly that is expected to benefit more than 10 per cent of the population should help address some of these concerns.

Other most important issues facing the country from citizens perspective in 2019 were economic growth (the issue was voiced by 10.78 per cent of the respondents), the environment (8.85 per cent), employment (6.36 per cent), the East Sea dispute (nearly 6 per cent), roads (more than 5 per cent), corruption (4.53 per cent), law and order (3.57 per cent) and education (3.35 per cent).

The state of the environment has remained a significant public concern, the third most serious in 2019. This suggests the environment has become a mainstream issue among Vietnamese citizens.

This finding also underlines the importance of a prioritised public policy response to poor air and water quality. In the majority of provinces, citizens reported air quality has remained the same or degraded.

This years PAPI report contains a special chapter on gender and leadership.

With elections for the National Assembly and Peoples Councils in 2021, the 2019 PAPI report explored whether voter bias was behind the low numbers of women elected relative to candidates nominated in past elections.

It found voters exhibited a strong bias against women in leadership roles, especially at village level  which is considered one of the most important levels of governance by citizens.

This bias was nearly three times greater than that faced by female National Assembly candidates.

Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador in Viet Nam said that the 2021 National Assembly and Peoples Council elections provided an opportunity for more women to be elected to legislative and leadership positions. Improving gender equality and womens empowerment was a key focus for Australia in Vietnam.

The important findings on gender, leadership and the 2021 elections in the 2019 report underline that more work needs to be done to address bias against women being elected to leadership positions and ensuring electable female candidates are nominated to have an equal voice in the political arena and in shaping the nations development, she said.

Extracted infographic from PAPI 2019 Report.

Speaking at the online launch of PAPI 2019, Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, said one of the most important topics being discussed globally today was the wellbeing of people, the responsiveness of governments and public trust in government efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnamese Government has been praised by citizens and the international community for being anticipatory, agile and adaptive to effectively curb the outbreak, she said, adding that the strong leadership, rapid and transparent measures with priorities placed on public safety have been identified as key factors to boost public trust in the administration.

The PAPI research is focused on the same governance principles. The PAPI index highlights the value of citizen engagement and their ability to assess provincial governance and public administration efficiency in responding to the needs and expectations of the people, she said.

As a policy monitoring tool that assesses citizen experiences and satisfaction with government performance, PAPI offers an overview of provinces performance through measuring the satisfaction of their citizens  the public service users.

In 2019, PAPI measured eight dimensions: participation at local levels, transparency, vertical accountability, control of corruption, public administrative procedures, public service delivery, environmental governance and e-government.

The southern province of Ben Tre was ranked top in the 2019 PAPI index with an aggregate dimensional performance score of 46.74, followed by Dong Thap Province (46.72), Quang Ninh (46.66) and Bac Giang (46.04).

Base on the aggregate scores, the 63 provinces and cities across Vietnam are divided into four groups including the 16 best performers, 16 high-average performers, 15 low-average performers and 16 poor performers.

Hanoi got only 41.53, Hai Phong 41.54 and Bac Ninh 42.08, making the three major localities poor performers, while HCM City stood among high-average performers with 43.79. Da Nang was still among best performers with a score of 44.99.

The full 2019 PAPI Report and more in-depth analysis of the findings are available at papi.org.vn.

PAPI is a collaboration between the Centre for Community Support and Development Studies (CECODES), the Centre for Research and Training of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF-CRT), the Real-Time Analytics and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Following the initial pilot in 2009 and a larger survey in 2010, the PAPI survey has been implemented nationwide each year since 2011. VNS

Vietnam sticks to poverty reduction targets Vietnam is aiming to continue reducing poverty, prioritising poor mountainous regions and ethnic minority groups.
Around a dozen sanitation workers here alleged shortage of protective gear at a government hospital where coronavirus patients are being treated and staged a protest outside the camp office of the district magistrate.

They protested outside the office of District Magistrate Suhas L Y who said the matter was being looked into and assured that they would be provided with safety kits.

Gautam Buddh Nagar in western Uttar Pradesh has so far recorded 138 positive cases of coronavirus and is among the worst-hit districts in the state, even as 88 patients have recovered here till Thursday evening.

"We are being exploited at the district hospital. There is no facility, nothing for us. They give us plastic in the name of kit (protective gear) and tell us to work in wards having COVID-19 patients," Neeraj Kumar, a sanitation worker, claimed.

"Officials tell us work if you want or leave, this is how it is," Kumar alleged.

The sanitation workers also sought an increment in their salaries.

DM Suhas said officials concerned have been directed to provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to these "corona warriors" and also assured taking up the demand of their salary hike with the state government.

"The chief medical superintendent has been instructed to provide sanitation workers all necessary protective gear, or PPE, and whatever is needed. The city magistrate has also been asked to check and verify if the work has been done," he said.

"They have also sought a hike in salaries. Communication has been made to the state government and whatever is their demand, it will be taken into account," the DM added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Germany has completely banned Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement from carrying out activities on its soil.

It comes as police raided mosques and venues linked to the group in the early hours of this morning.

Like the European Union, Germany had until now only outlawed Hezbollah's military wing while tolerating its political wing.

But in a shift immediately welcomed by the United States and Israel, the German interior ministry said on Thursday it now considered the entire movement a 'Shiite terrorist organisation'.

A police officer walks out of Al-Irschad Mosque during a raid in Berlin, as dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah in Bremen, Berlin, Dortmund and Muenster early Thursday

'Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation deemed responsible for numerous attacks and kidnappings worldwide,' Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told Germany's Bild daily.

The interior minister 'has banned the operation of the group' in Germany with immediate effect, his spokesman tweeted.

'Even in times of crisis the rule of law is upheld,' he wrote.

Raids were taking place in several places across the country, he added.

Dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah in Bremen, Berlin, Dortmund and Muenster in the early hours of the morning, German media reported.

The Al-Irshad mosque in Berlin was sealed off with at least 16 police vans parked outside, an AFP photographer saw. Masked police officers were seen walking in and out of the mosque.

Although Hezbollah has no official presence in Germany, security forces estimate it has roughly a thousand members in the country.

They are thought to use Germany as a safe haven to make plans, recruit sympathisers and raise funds, including through criminal activities.

The group's 'criminal activities and plannings for attacks are also taking place on German soil,' Seehofer told Bild.

He also recalled that Hezbollah has openly called for 'the violent destruction' of the Israeli state.

'It's part of our historic responsibility that we use all means under the rule of law to act against this,' he said, in a nod to Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust during World War II.

Police raid Al-Irschad Mosque in Berlin. The Al-Irshad mosque was sealed off with at least 16 police vans parked outside, an AFP photographer saw. Masked police officers were seen walking in and out of the mosque

The United States and Israel have long designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group and urged allies to follow suit.

US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell welcomed Berlin's change in stance and called on 'all European Union member states to take similar action'.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised what he called 'a significant step in the global fight against terrorism.' He too urged the European Union 'to do the same.'

Britain outlawed Hezbollah's political wing last year, making membership of the Shiite movement or inviting support for it a crime.

The decision followed outrage over the display of the Hezbollah flag, which features a Kalashnikov assault rifle, at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London.

The mood began shifting in Germany too with parliament passing a resolution last December that urged the government to ban the group from operating in Germany altogether.

The interior ministry's prohibition order means the group's supporters are no longer allowed to display Hezbollah symbols or hold gatherings, and that funds can be frozen.

Hezbollah sympathisers had in recent years waved their flag at the anti-Israel al-Quds rally that is controversially held in Berlin each year.

Hezbollah, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war, is seen by Israel as an Iranian proxy, seeking to extend the Islamic republic's military reach to the Jewish state's northern border.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer banned all activities of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Germany, with police raiding on mosques and other places in Berlin and other cities

Israeli warplanes have carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria over the past few years against what Israel says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets.

Hezbollah was established in 1982 during Lebanon's civil war.

It is now a major political party in the country, where it holds a majority in parliament along with its allies.

Israel and Hezbollah also fought a 2006 war.
SACRAMENTO  State officials pushed to close all beaches and state parks in California to try to prevent overcrowding they feared could spread the coronavirus, but Gov. Gavin Newsom decided Thursday only to temporarily close beaches in Orange County, an administration official said.

Newsom said at a news conference he was ordering a hard close in Orange County after beaches in Newport Beach and Huntington Beach drew tens of thousands of visitors during a heat wave last weekend. He said he was particularly concerned about the beach activity because Orange County has more coronavirus cases and hospitalizations than many other areas.

Same reason we are not reopening arenas with tens of thousands of people  we dont want to have beaches with tens of thousands of people mixing, Newsom said.

A Los Angeles TV station reporter posted a memo online from the California Police Chiefs Association late Wednesday that suggested Newsom would close all beaches and state parks. It said the governor would announce the closures Thursday and that police were being given a heads up to prepare to enforce them.

Newsoms aides did not deny the statement Wednesday evening, telling The Chronicle only that they had nothing to share tonight.

The report of what Newsom might do drew immediate condemnation, with a prominent Republican activist calling to take this state back through massive civil disobedience and the Humboldt County sheriff vowing he would not enforce any such order.

Mindy Schauer / Associated Press

Hours later, Newsom denied that he had originally considered a wider shutdown.

Bottom line: That was their memo, but that memo never got to me, he said.

But following Newsoms announcement, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and members of his staff posted on Twitter that the governors original plans had been broader than Orange County.

For the record, last night Mayor Faulconers administration was notified by Governor Newsoms administration that he would be announcing the closure of ALL CA beaches, wrote Aimee Faucett, Faulconers chief of staff. Minutes before todays press announcement Mayors office was notified this would only apply to Orange County.

Members of the Newsom administration who worked on the beach issue this week originally believed a statewide closure was the right approach and informed law enforcement and local officials Wednesday evening, according to an administration official who declined to be named so he could speak openly. The Chronicle agreed to the request in keeping with its anonymous sources policy.

When presented with the option Thursday morning of closing all beaches, Newsom instead chose to limit his order to Orange County, the official said, because other communities had been more willing to restrict beach access to walking, exercise and other activities that would not allow people to congregate for long periods.

In a statement, the police chiefs association said, In an ever-changing environment, we sent out information regarding decisions that were still evolving, which was regrettably shared outside of our police chief membership and we apologize for the undue concern that caused to the public, our colleagues, the governor and his staff.

Newsom said Monday that crowded beaches in Orange and Ventura counties over the weekend were an example of what not to do as the state tries to stop the spread of the virus with the goal of easing stay-at-home orders.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2019

This virus doesnt take the weekends off. This virus doesnt go home because its a beautiful, sunny day around our coasts, he said.

The governor said Thursday that his decision to close the Orange County beaches was guided by science and data, though he said it was too soon to know whether there had been an uptick in new cases tied to the crowds the previous weekend. Ventura County beaches will remain open.

My job as governor is to keep you safe, Newsom said. When our health folks tell me they cant promise that if we promote another weekend like we had, then I have to make this adjustment.

Officials in Orange County pushed back on the notion that beaches were overcrowded or that most visitors were not observing social-distancing guidelines. Both Newport Beach and Laguna Beach decided this week to keep beaches open at least some of the time.

County Supervisor Don Wagner tweeted that it is now politics driving state decisions, rather than data.

Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed person's identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicle's detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on SFChronicle.com. See More Collapse

Fred Whitaker, chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, called Newsoms order a complete slap in the face to local control and said county and city officials are the best to determine the status of public areas such as beaches and hiking trails.

Alexei Koseff and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com, megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff @meganrcassidy
Amid the economic chaos brought on by Covid-19 and generational challenges that thousands of businesses now face, global business consultancy firm The Challenges Group is announcing a new service to support the survival of businesses, the safeguarding of jobs, and the availability of important products and services to rural and urban customers in Africa.

Since the global crisis caused by the outbreak of coronavirus, Challenges business consultants have been developing the Enterprise Resilience Programme, a suite of tried and tested tools and enterprise support, including market analysis and business diagnostics, designed to bring clarity to managers on the impact of Covid-19 upon their specific businesses. Thanks to the insights derived from the programme, managers can react more effectively to the rapidly changing business landscape, knowing that they are making intelligent and informed decisions.

Challenges, which was founded in 1999, has over the past two decades built a reputation for one-on-one practical support to individual SMEs and business leaders. It recognised the need to go further than online webinars to support managers make the right decisions for their business in the face of this acute global crisis. Aside an office in Scotland, it has offices in Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.

Eoghan Mackie, Chief Executive Officer, said: This programme will help prevent the collapse of many businesses across our markets in Southern, Eastern and Western Africa.

Challenges also said it has underwritten this belief by offering a repayment package of 24 months with little to no interest to essential businesses.

Mr Mackie added: We understand the last thing businesses need right now is additional financial pressure, and we absolutely do not want to add to that. Our Enterprise Resilience Programme makes it possible for the senior management team to act quickly, and to respond to immediate and complex business needs. Challenges business associates will work hand-in-hand with the enterprises to ensure they stay healthy enough to navigate the crisis, and then repay easily from margins once markets are more stable."

Following the current economic turmoil, Mr Mackie indicated the participating businesses to come through this pipeline will be more ready for investment.

He added: Those businesses that can demonstrate resilience will have proven their business, their model and their vision. And theyll be able to demonstrate that these qualities are backed by excellent decision making, risk mitigation and financial management. These qualities are exactly those that attract investors. Just like the current crisis, were looking beyond it too.

Challenges is already working with key partners in its markets, and engaging funders with a view to scaling up the ERP by underwriting or supporting the cost of companies going through the programme.

In the exact words of the CEO, This is a time when we all urgently need to be working together in order to save businesses and safeguard jobs and peoples livelihoods. We welcome discussion with partners who want to take a pro-active approach to protect businesses

About Challenges

The Challenges Group is a family of enterprise consultancies with a focus on developing and emerging economies. It has been operating globally since 1999. In that time it has provided more than 100,000 onsite consulting days, delivered in excess of 30 million in debt and equity financing, and supported more than 3,000 growth businesses in 66 countries.

In the past four years alone it has worked with more than 600 companies in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it has offices in Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.
The Vietnamese community abroad has actively collaborated with local authorities and people in both Vietnam and their host countries to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnamese people in Moscow present lunch sets to health workers at an emergency station in Lyublino district of Russia.

Many Vietnamese people in Moscow continue to help doctors on the frontline in the Russian capital city.



Although many restaurants and cafes in Moscow are on the brink of bankruptcy, some have decided to cook and provide free food for doctors with a hope that they will enjoy delicious meals during their short periods of rest.



Recently, a charitable group of Vietnamese people donated over 400,000 rouble (over US$5,300) to a Vietnamese restaurant to cook and present 65 lunches for 10 days to emergency health workers in the Lyublino District, which is home to many Vietnamese.

The Tam Tam Foods Company granted five packages of Vietnamese coffee to show gratitude to frontline doctors.

Last week, the Vietnamese community in Russia's Irkutsk city also donated 4,000 cloth face masks as part of a campaign to support the fight against COVID-19.

Overseas Vietnamese in Thailand and the Republic of Korea have donated VND704 million ($30,000) to support the fight at home.

Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Dang Minh Khoi handed over the money, raised by the General Association of Vietnamese people in Thailand and the Vietnam Business Association in the Republic of Korea (VIBAK), to President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man at a ceremony in Hanoi on Monday.



Speaking at the function, Khoi said that the donations reflected the tradition of solidarity and mutual support of the Vietnamese people. Despite difficulties in their host countries, overseas Vietnamese had launched fundraising campaigns to help their compatriots at home combat the disease.



It showed that the overseas Vietnamese community is an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation, he affirmed.



In addition, Vietnamese in Hungary, Thailand, China, the US, Laos, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, Poland, the Czech Republic, Britain, Germany and France also offered cash and medical supplies such as cloth face masks, clothes, food and gloves to administrations, hospitals and Vietnamese nationals in need in their host countries, he added.



VFF Central Committee President Tran Thanh Man thanked Vietnamese citizens abroad for their heartfelt support to the homeland and said the money and medical supplies would be delivered to those in need in an open and transparent manner.



According to preliminary statistics from the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, as of April 26, 25 overseas Vietnamese collectives and individuals from 14 countries and territories have donated nearly VND33 billion ($1.4 million) and medical supplies to the COVID-19 combat in the homeland. VNS

Vietnamese expats in US support local fight against COVID-19 A large number of the overseas Vietnamese community in the US have been striving to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 by sewing face masks for use in hospitals due to a scarcity of protective equipment for medical workers.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The COVID-19 pandemic wasnt the way Joshua Twito expected planned to begin his medical residency.

The 29-year-old Staten Islander just started his internal medicine residency at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH). His upcoming graduation from St. Georges University in Grenada has been cancelled, like so many others, because of the coronavirus. It was scheduled for May 8.

Twito said the cancellation stings a little, especially after having gone through so much schooling to get to where he is now.

Under Gov. Andrew Cuomos executive order he and hundreds, if not thousands, of other fourth-year medical students were brought in to practice as first-year medical residents to help with the doctor shortage during the pandemic.

A native Staten Islander, Twito has experience with pandemics  he was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) during the Ebola outbreak.

Im no stranger to PPE and everything but I wasnt expecting to see so many people in critical care and dying right out of the gate, Twito said.

Those in the medical field are life-long learners, he said, but the coronavirus is a critical learning time for him and his fellow residents, as well as every healthcare worker on the frontlines.

Its not the healthiest way to do things, but sometimes trial by fire is the best way to learn, he said about beginning his residency.

Healthcare workers, especially new residents like Twito, are getting out of their comfort zones every day to help treat the boroughs patients who are suffering.

Twito said hes happy to be back in his hometown practicing medicine after medical school abroad.

When I got into St. Georges University I always knew that I wanted to come back and stay local. Once I got the interview at Staten Island University Hospital I was happy because it was a top choice for me, he said.

After his internal medicine residency, Twito said he plans to do a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care.

The coronavirus outbreak and the number of patients in critical care will be a good lesson for his future as a physician.

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

FILLING THE DOCTOR SHORTAGE

Twito is just one of 18 graduates of St. Georges University who matched to residency programs in Staten Island  six placed at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) and 12 at SIUH.

Dr. Richard Olds, president of St. Georges University, said future physicians and overseas medical school graduates like Twito are helping to fill a critical shortage of doctors during the pandemic.

St. Georges University has been the top supplier of doctors in the nation for a decade and is the largest English-speaking medical school in the world, Olds said.

International medical graduates are more likely to enter primary care specialties and practice in under-served communities, Olds said, adding that there is a surplus of doctors in affluent communities, leading to a shortage of doctors in rural communities.

Approximately 70% of medical school graduates go into specialty medicine. As more primary care physicians begin to retire  the average age of primary care physicians is 55-years-old  the shortage will become greater.

However, where a resident matches and chooses to begin their residency is largely the choice of the student, not the hospital.

New York medical school students are likely to leave New York for their residency, while New Yorkers who leave the state for medical school are likely to return for the residency and practice.

Half of the decision of where a doctor chooses to practice is there where theyre from, Olds said. Theres an 80% chance of a doctor returning to their hometown to practice medicine after attending medical school.

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A man armed with a high-powered assault rifle fired multiple rounds at the Cuban embassy in Washington early Thursday, authorities said, damaging the building and leading Havana to lodge a protest. Police arrested the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Alexander Alazo of Aubrey, Texas. No one was injured. "This morning at approximately 2:15 am, US Secret Service officers responded to the Embassy of Cuba following reports of shots fired," the Secret Service said in a statement. "One individual was arrested for being in possession of an unregistered firearm as well as unregistered ammunition, assault with the intent to kill, and possession of a high capacity feed device. "No injuries were reported at the scene." While the suspect was arrested by Washington police, the investigation also includes the Secret Service, which is involved in assuring the security of foreign diplomats and embassies. "The subject was immediately taken into custody without incident and the weapon was recovered," Hugh Carew, a spokesman for the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, said in a statement. There was no motive given for the attack. Local media said the suspect fired about 30 rounds at the embassy, located at the edge of the Adams Morgan neighborhood, a normally bustling area full of bars and restaurants but which has been stilled by the coronavirus shutdown. The embassy posted pictures of bullet holes in the exterior walls and columns, a window and a light fixture. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez summoned the US charge d'affaires in Havana, Mara Tekach, to make a "strong protest" against what he called "terrorist aggression" against the embassy in Washington. "It is not possible to disassociate this event from the upsurge in the US government's policy of aggression and hostility toward Cuba, or from the tightening of the blockade" on the Caribbean island, Rodriguez said in a statement to national television. The administration of President Donald Trump has chilled relations with Havana, reversing course after an opening initiated by his predecessor Barack Obama. Tekach, in a statement after she was summoned, condemned the attack in Washington. "It is a great relief that nobody was injured," she said. "The United States takes its responsibilities under the Vienna Convention very seriously and will ensure a full and complete investigation," she continued. A State Department spokesperson said that the agency was committed to working with law enforcement to protect foreign missions in the United States. In October 2017, the Trump administration expelled 15 Cuban diplomats after a rash of incidents in which US embassy staff in Cuba reported as yet unexplained head pains, dizziness and hearing loss. It has also reinstated tough controls on trade and travel to the island, after Obama's opening. Bullet impacts are seen on a column in front of the Cuban embassy in Washington after a man fired at the building A suspect is in custody after opening fire on the Cuban embassy in Washington
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After a Lake Geneva health club exhausted all possible legal avenues to be declared an essential business, the clubs operator decided to open back up anyway.

Project Veteran Muscle, a gym that caters to military veterans and first responders, opened its doors April 25 despite being declared a nonessential business and forced to close under the states Safer At Home order to control the coronavirus pandemic.

Operator Nick Pinnt applied to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to earn classification as an essential operation allowed to remain open. After being denied, Pinnt reached out to local congressmen, but was not able to make any headway.

The club not only offers fitness equipment for nearly 100 members, it also includes avenues for veterans to speak with volunteer mental health counselors free of charge, which Pinnt feels should serve as an exemption from the state-ordered public health closure.

I really feel like were under the realm of essential, he said. I dont think were violating any law at this point.

Pinnt acknowledged the risk of appearing to defy state law. The penalty for violating the law is a misdemeanor violation of law related to health, which carries a possible jail term of 30 days and a $500 fine if found guilty.

Lake Geneva police Lt. Ed Gritzner said police were unaware of the Project Veteran Muscle situation, but would look into it.

Gritzner said if the department heard about someone in potential violation of the Safer At Home mandate, the first instinct would not be to put them in handcuffs, but instead to persuade them to follow the order.

We are not looking to write tickets or to arrest somebody, Gritzner said. Were still going to seek voluntary compliance.

Project Veteran Muscle opened last winter inside about 4,000 square feet of space in the Lake Geneva Self Storage building, 901 Maxwell St.

In March, the club closed its doors along with many other businesses under state order to prevent crowds from gathering needlessly in places where they could spread the coronavirus.

Pinnt says that ever since the club closed, he had an almost constant stream of messages from members every day asking when the gym would be back open.

Club member Alex Marino says he was one of those pushing the club to reopen.

I think I reached out to him almost, like, every other day, like, Are you open yet? Marino said.

Once he decided to reopen on April 25, Pinnt knew he had to make some changes to protect his customers, including shorter hours of operation to allow for more time cleaning, marks required while exercising, and a 10-person limit inside the gym.

Those alterations eased the mind of members who were glad Project Veteran Muscle was making its return.

I was excited, but I wanted to make sure it was done right, member Joe Brown said.

Especially for the estimated 50 military veteran members, losing access to the gym caused additional tension during the already stressful coronavirus outbreak.

Brown, Marino and Michael Kearns, all veterans, came to Project Veteran Muscle at least three times a week before the shutdown, and they said their routine was a critical part of maintaining their mental health.

I had a brain injury, so my biggest thing is to stay active and stay busy, Kearns said. Downtime absolutely is my worst enemy.

Providing that structure is why Pinnt says he felt he should reopen his business, which he says is nonprofit. Not to serve as a political protester against the governors order, he said, though he does see how people might see it that way.

Its going to be taken one way or another by the individual, but I wouldnt just stand up and say this is a protest, Pinnt said.

For the good of himself, the gym and the members, Pinnt is hopeful his reopening will not bring police enforcement.

Incurring tickets and fees and stuff isnt conducive to being able to operate a nonprofit and stay open, he said.
A Co Antrim boy who was denied the chance to have a fourth birthday party with his pals has been left overjoyed after the coastguard came to his rescue.

Enda McAuley, from Ballycastle, had been looking forward to celebrating his big day for weeks until coronavirus restrictions were introduced.

But yesterday, he was stunned to see the flashing lights of two coastguard vehicles at his door, with a surprise rendition of Happy Birthday and a present from the rescue volunteers.

His father, Patrick (34), is also a rescue volunteer with Ballycastle Coastguard.

"I think he was shocked, but he was really happy as his uncle is a paramedic and was able to be there, too," he said.

"With all the lights on the street, I think the neighbours must have been wondering if there was something wrong at first.

"He's been missing his wee friends at nursery, but my wife Roisin (34) and I asked him if it was better than a party and he said yes."

Mr McAuley said he had cleared the big-hearted gesture with his manager earlier.

"He told us to go for it as it would be a good morale booster for the team.

"I also thought it would be nice for his wee friends living on the street as well because they would normally all be out playing together, but like everywhere, it's been like a ghost town."
Ven. Wonhaeng, right, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, makes a bow at the Memorial Hall of Korean Buddhist History and Culture in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Park Ji-won



Leaders of major religious groups stressed the importance of seeking unity between religions and people amid the COVID-19 pandemic when commemorating Buddha's Birthday, which falls Thursday.



Ven. Wonhaeng, leader of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, read the statement of Ven. Jinje, the spiritual leader of the Jogye Order that stated: "To overcome the difficulties we face today, we need to stop confronting each other and pave the way to unify for the new future By forgiving each other and seeking unification, we can overcome this national disaster wisely Commemorating Buddha's Birthday, people and Buddhists need to seek world peace by lighting up the lotus lanterns so that the coronavirus can be eradicated."



Emphasizing that Jogye Order's temples are providing space and accommodation for medical staff who have been fighting COVID-19, he urged Buddhists to abide by the spirit of the founder of Buddhism and act responsibly.



Earlier, the Jogye Order decided to delay the Buddhist holiday to May 30 to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.



Meanwhile, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung delivered a congratulatory message Tuesday to the Jogye Order to commemorate the ceremonial event. "As a citizen, I appreciate your decision to delay the event for Budda's Birthday," he said.



Cardinal Andrew also highlighted the importance of religious groups joining hands to overcome the difficulties.



"I think Buddhism and Catholicism share the same religious values praying for people's happiness and looking for forgiveness. Let's join hands to be an example to spread the values of mercy, peace and love throughout the world instead of spreading distrust, resentment and rage created by the infectious disease."



The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), a liberal group of Protestant churches, also released a congratulatory message Wednesday to celebrate the birth of Buddha, stressing cooperation between religious groups to tackle the disaster.



"Amid the crisis of the spread of COVID-19, I realize that Buddhists and Christians are organically connected in this universe, affecting each other," Rev. Lee Hong-jung, general secretary of the NCCK, said in a statement Wednesday. "It is fundamentally the same what Buddha did to the world to save people and what Jesus did for the love of people. If Buddhists and Christians work together, we will make a harmonious world where justice and peace can be combined."



A scaled-back version of the Lotus Lantern Festival, which is the one of the largest yearly events for Buddhists held on the sidelines of other birthday events, will be held Thursday in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, participated in by 50 monks without citizens to prevent the spread of the infectious disease. Some 50,000 lanterns will be hung throughout Seoul to pray for an end to the pandemic.


Like a bitter India pale ale, Peter Bulut has always found e-commerce to be an acquired taste. Heading into the year, business had been good at Great Lakes Brewery, so Bulut, its owner and co-founder, saw no need to get into online sales.

But then the COVID-19 pandemic and economic lockdown hit, forcing Bulut to close the Great Lakes retail store in Etobicoke in mid-March as business evaporated. With revenue severely curtailed, he had to lay off 16 staff.

Thats when the brewery turned to e-commerce. Remaining employees quickly spun up a bare-bones online store where customers could place orders for home delivery. Idle staff who were previously delivering beer to commercial establishments were enlisted to run orders around Toronto. Curbside pickup at the brewery was added to online options a few weeks later.

The moves allowed Bulut to bring back half of his laid-off staff, with four to eight drivers now delivering up to 250 orders per day and other staff handling pickups. Sales arent quite at their pre-pandemic level, but Bulut says the online store is helping Great Lakes hold its own. Its enough for him to have developed a taste for e-commerce  and to see its future potential.

We were shocked at how quickly it started gaining momentum. It was unbelievable, Bulut said. When life gets back to whatever normal is, well keep going with it.

Great Lakes is one of many businesses forced by the shutdown to try e-commerce for the first time or to expand existing online operations. With few other sales options, many have had no choice but to overcome their reluctance.

Historically, small- and medium-sized Canadian businesses have been particularly slow in getting online. A report last summer from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) found that only four in 10 had an online presence where they could receive and fulfil orders.

Canadian shoppers, meanwhile, have been enthusiastic e-commerce users regardless. About 84 per cent of Canadian internet users shopped online in 2018, according to data from Statistics Canada.

The problem is that supply  at least from Canadian merchants  hasnt been meeting that robust demand, according to BDC, with many retailers considering the move to online a complicated and expensive process.

But attitudes are now clearly changing, the bank says. Firms recently polled by BDC said that needing to offer products and services online is the second biggest lesson learned during the pandemic, after the need to establish emergency funds.

If youre selling online, you can still be open. Its making a huge difference in this crisis, said Pierre Cleroux, chief economist at BDC. A big part of this is going to stick. What were seeing now is going to really accelerate the use of online business. Its going to be even more important now to sell online than it was before.

Ottawa-based Shopify, which provides a platform that allows businesses to create online stores, is reporting big pandemic-related growth. The company says store creation by new customers, including Great Lakes, increased 20 per cent year-over- year during the last two weeks of March.

Investors have sent company stock soaring 45 per cent since the beginning of April to around $889 per share, resulting in Shopify threatening to overtake RBC as Canadas largest publicly traded firm.

Shopify believes the pandemic will usher in permanent changes to how people shop and how businesses serve them, with home delivery and pickup options here to stay.

Retailers are adapting rapidly and consumers are rapidly adapting too, said Loren Padelford, general manager of Shopify Plus, a division of the company that caters to larger businesses. People dont want to stand in line, especially when theres a health concern. The idea of going back to that is antiquated, its just not going to happen.

Some industry observers arent so sure. Richard Powers, associate dean at the University of Torontos Rotman School of Management, says online business will improve overall, but e-commerce still doesnt make sense for many retailers.

Home delivery, for example, is too expensive in normal circumstances, while curbside pickup means customers arent coming into stores and making impulse purchases that add to bottom lines.

The cost (of delivery) just erodes any profit that they had in what were already thin margins, he said. Theyll cancel those programs as soon as theyre able.

Bulut, at Great Lakes, wants to keep delivery going when normalcy returns, but admits hes not sure how viable it will be. For one thing, most customers are home now to receive orders but might not be when they return to work. Other logistical issues will also arise.

I dont expect well see the same volume, Bulut said. If traffic goes back to even half of normal, its going to be more difficult to get around the city. I can see that being a challenge.

Alex Snider, co-owner of Queen Books in Leslieville, also isnt sure whether shell be able to continue with her newly launched e-commerce options. Snider, along with her husband and another employee, are personally delivering books to customers in Toronto, which likely wont be sustainable post-pandemic.

Shipping rates in Canada are prohibitively expensive, she says, which will continue to prevent her from going online in a bigger way. Sending a book across Canada, for example, costs her about $12, Snider says. Her counterparts in the United States pay a fraction of that.

That shows you how frustrating it is here, Snider said.

Shopifys Padelford acknowledges that shipping is a problem in Canada. Many retailers have resisted going online because they cant compete with Amazon, which has built its own network to ensure fast and cheap delivery.

That was the impetus behind Shopify last year launching its own Shopify Fulfilment Network, a supply chain designed to give businesses a delivery alternative on par with Amazon.

Along with this weeks launch of Shop, its consumer-facing shopping app, the company is looking to push e-commerce toward being the permanent norm for Canadian retailers, rather than just a temporary emergency measure.

You need lots and lots of options, Padelford said. Its going to improve because it has to.
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Dozens of New York Police Department officers stood at a Manhattan pier to salute the US Navy hospital ship that was headed back to its Virginia base on Thursday after being sent to the city to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

The 1,000-bed ship departed in harsh winds and an intense fog after treating just 182 patients since it arrived in New York.

The NYPD officers were joined by numerous FDNY firefighters on Manhattan's Pier 90 to see the USNS Comfort off as it made its journey back to its home port in Norfolk, Virginia.

Personnel from the ship could be seen waving from the vessel as they were cheered on their departure.

The USNS Comfort departed from Manhattan's Pier 90 on Thursday. It is making a return trip to its home base in Norfolk, Virginia

Officers from the New York Police Department salute as the hospital ship as it departs from the Upper West Side pier

According to Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman, once the ship is back in Norfolk, it will restock and be cleaned before possibly departing on another venture

The hospital ship USNS Comfort passes the Statue of Liberty as its departs New York City. 182 people were treated while the ship was docked in NYC

Several of the officers were standing shoulder to shoulder as they saluted, failing to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Folks from New Jersey and New York could be seen gathered on their shore lines as they viewed tug boats pulling the large vessel.

The 1,000-bed ship treated 182 patients while in New York. All have been discharged to their homes or to a nearby hospital, Navy Spokesperson Mary Cate Walsh said to NBC New York.

According to Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman, once the Comfort has returned to base in Norfolk, it will restock and be cleaned before possibly departing on another venture.

Hoffman added that the departure 'is a sure sign of modest progress in mitigating the virus in the nation's hardest hit city and is a welcome sign.'

Personnel from the ship could be seen waving from the vessel as they were cheered on their departure

The ship 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

The ship departed in harsh winds and an intense fog that made seeing the skyline difficult

A man standing at the Brooklyn end of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge waves a United States flag as the ship passes

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 initially 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.

The Comfort also refused to take patients who had any of 49 other health conditions that were detailed in a list by the state department that is yet to become public.

But as the vessel lay empty while emergency rooms in the city were overflowing, Governor Cuomo pressured President Trump to overrule FEMA and allow the vessel to accepting COVID-19 patients as well.

The vessel was pulled by tug boats down the Hudson River

Several of the officers were standing shoulder to shoulder as they saluted, failing to adhere to social distancing guidelines

Following outcry from health executives, including Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New York's largest hospital system, the ship's mission was refocused to treatment of COVID-19.

The move saw the vessel's capacity reduced to 500, but red tape still prevented the treatment of many patients on the vessel.

One doctor told the New York Post that there was a 25-point checklist of requirements that patients had to meet before they could be transported to the ship, or the military field hospital at New Yorks Javits Center. It is unclear whether the military or the state department of health mandated that checklist.

State officials claimed that it was the military that put the strict requirements in place, whereas defense officials say it was the state.

An additional hurdle was the lack of specialized staffing, with the Comfort unable to treat mentally ill people, children or pregnant women.

The Comfort also was unable to live up to its billing because of red tape that limited the ship's capacity for serving as an overflow medical facility for non-coronavirus patients

Its hesitation in accepting COVID-19 patients was that it would be a complex operation to disinfect the ship once the pandemic was over

NYPD officers wearing masks to protect against cornavirus, salute the USNS Naval Hospital Ship Comfort as it is pushed out

On April 9, Vice President Mike Pence called the patient count on the Comfort so 'modest' that 75 military doctors had been deployed to emergency rooms to help relieve their strain.

On the same day, a Brooklyn nursing home where 55 elderly people have since died from coronavirus begged New York health officials to move its sick residents to the Navy hospital ship, but had their request denied.

When the email was sent, just 62 patients were being treated on the ship.

CEO of the Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, Donny Tuchman: 'I was told those facilities were only for hospitals.'

By April 25, the 360-bed nursing home was topping the nation's list of nursing home deaths.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were 162,212 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York City, according to the city's department of health.

There were 12,571 people in the city confirmed to have died from the disease, and a further 5,295 deaths which are presumed to have been from the virus.

Spectators on the New Jersey shoreline watch as the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort departs Manhattan

Following outcry from health executives, including Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New York's largest hospital system, the ship's mission was refocused to treatment of COVID-19

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort departs Manhattan and heads out to sea under heavy fog

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort sits at Pier 90 in Manhattan under thick fog shortly before departing
Before getting tested for COVID-19, Taylor Venable had all the classic symptoms. A high fever, a bad cough, along with nausea and diarrhea. Her mother, an essential worker, had already tested positive for the virus before Venable, 22, became symptomatic. Because she has asthma, her doctor thought it best she be tested. After going through the testing process at Eli Lilly Co. on April 22, Venable got her results a day later: she had COVID-19.

Venable is one of the 17,835 Hoosiers to date who have tested positive for the virus. In order to track more cases and make more people aware of their status, Indiana announced on April 28 that the state will expand testing for anyone who is symptomatic.

In a press conference with Gov. Eric Holcomb, Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer for the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) said the state plans to have 50 testing sites available by the end of May.

Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Public Health Department, said testing sites will be added to areas deemed hot spots, where COVID-19 rates are higher. Marion County makes up 31% of the states COVID-19 cases, with 5,530 positive cases to date within the county, according to the ISDH. African Americans in the county are three times more likely than whites to have a confirmed case of COVID-19, and twice as likely as whites to die from the virus.

A testing site at Eastern Star Church opened April 30. Caine said 500 people called ahead to register for testing. Testing is free and no insurance is required.

In a press conference on April 30, Caine said this increase in testing sites will allow for between 1,000 to 1,500 more COVID-19 tests to be performed in Marion County every week.

So, what should Hoosiers going to get tested expect?

I thought it was interesting at the Eli Lilly [testing] center, you cant open your window at all, Venable said. There are people on the sidewalk that have signs around their neck that say Call this number, and you call that number to say whether youre there for a test or if youre doing a study.

The workers then put a green flag on your windshield if youre getting tested, or a pink flag if youre there for a study.

It was weird, Venable said. I remember people with pink flags looking at me weird.

After determining what each person is there for, individuals are directed to the parking garage  six cars at a time  and their names are taken down. Then, a nurse performs the test, a nasal swab that only takes seconds.

It was pretty painful, Venable said. The only thing I could compare it to is when youre in a pool and go underwater and accidentally inhale. It burns a lot.

The test is done by inserting a 6-inch swab, similar to a Q-tip, into the cavity between your nose and mouth via your nostril for 15 seconds, rotating it several times. This is done in both nostrils to get an accurate result.

Just get ready for pressure and burning, Venable suggested.

While Venable got her results back the day after testing, it can take up to a week to get your results.

If you do test positive, those with mild cases really just have to wait it out.

My doctor told me to just quarantine and stay in my room as much as possible, Venable said. She said Tylenol and ibuprofen are fine, but to try and stick to Tylenol. Other than that, theres really nothing that can be done.

While she still has a stuffy nose, Venable said her other symptoms  including a loss of taste which occurred after testing positive  went away a little over a week into her quarantine.

Despite being virtually asymptomatic, Venable is still concerned that she could be a carrier.

However, experts dont think people who previously tested positive for COVID-19 need to be retested.

Retesting is not recommended on a regular basis, Weaver said in an April 28 press conference. We know that if someone tests positive, when we test them two or even three weeks later, they can still test positive, but we dont know if that means they can still spread it.  It isnt recommended that people get retested to prove negativity.

According to Weaver, there are tests underway to learn more about how long the virus can last, and for how long it is transmittable.

But some, like Venable, dont think its safe to even consider going out in public with all of the unknowns surrounding COVID-19.

The whole not getting retested thing, I just dont know about that, Venable said.   We need to know when the virus is actually out of your system, because you can be asymptomatic and still pass it. I dont know if I feel safe going out, even two weeks after I tested positive. I dont really trust what theyre saying, just because its such a new virus.

To continue to curb the spread of the virus, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced April 30 an extension of the stay-at-home order for Marion County until at least May 15, despite any changes Gov. Holcomb may announce in the near future.

In a press conference, Hogsett said Hoosier efforts to flatten the curve are working, but added, we are not in the clear yet. Hogsett cited medical and business experts to argue reopening the economy could do more harm than good to local businesses and could reverse the progress the city has made in combating the virus.

Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.
Levels of violence between prison inmates, attacks against staff and force used against prisoners have reportedly reached 'record highs'. (Getty)

A shocking new report has lifted the lid on the deep crisis inside male prisons in the UK, where violence, drug problems and overcrowding are rife.

The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) said that the "infliction of unjustified violence by staff on prisoners" was particularly "deeply concerning.

The "evolution" of an informal practice of preventive strikes  where prisoners who are behaving are punched so they do not become a threat in future  was of "utmost concern", according to the report.

"Alarmingly high levels of substance use" were also of "deep concern.

The committee inspected Doncaster, Liverpool and Wormwood Scrubs prisons as well as Feltham A and Cookham Wood young offender institutions in May last year.

Although there had been some progress since 2016, the committee found problems remained.

Wormwood Scrubs was one of the prisons inspected for the report. (PA)

The report said: "There is now a clear acknowledgement at the highest political level that the lack of safety in prisons and the persistently high levels of violence are unacceptable and urgently need to be tackled.

"Nevertheless, the ineluctable fact remains that the prison system is in deep crisis.

Inmates were "enduring restricted and isolating regimes and/or long periods of segregation.

Levels of violence between inmates, attacks against staff and force used against prisoners had reached "record highs.

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

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The report added: "A new and deeply concerning finding was the infliction of unjustified violence by staff on prisoners in namely Liverpool and Wormwood Scrubs; of utmost concern was the evolution of an informal practice of 'preventive strikes'  ie: preventively punching compliant prisoners whom staff perceived might, at some point in the future, become a threat.

"For a prisoner officer to strike a fully compliant prisoner is totally unjustified.

Story continues

In young offender institutions, episodes of violence were being tackled "by a very frequent resort to the use of force and restrictions on the movements" with some officers on occasion resorting to "pain-inducing techniques which should be abolished in law and practice.

Drug taking was "omnipresent" in the establishments visited, most notably in Doncaster where the "smell of drugs wafted along the corridors even in plain daylight.

The Ministry of Justice said it would not hesitate to instigate disciplinary proceedings. (Getty)

The prison system in England and Wales "continues to suffer from chronic overcrowding", the CPT said, with the population more than doubling since 1990 and most adult jails operating well above normal capacity.

The committee said the solution "is clearly not for the United Kingdom to build its way out" as it called on the government to take action to address the problem.

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "This is a deeply shaming report. It shows how far below the standards of a civilised country our prison system has fallen.

The Ministry of Justice said it would not hesitate to instigate disciplinary proceedings for the inappropriate use of force or report the matter to police where appropriate, adding that any unlawful force against a prisoner was unacceptable.

A spokesman added: "This government has made its commitment to safe, secure and decent prisons very clear."

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
After starting out as a chef with no formal training and opening a vegan restaurant in a state known for steak, Rebel Mariposa has found a risk not even she dares to take.

The chef-owner of San Antonios La Botanica will not reopen her restaurant on Friday when Texas stay-at-home order expires and the states economy begins to awaken.

To Mariposa, lifting restrictions at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic is premature. With the states infection rate still yo-yoing, testing not yet widely available and many public health officials advising against reopening, Mariposa argues Texas Gov. Greg Abbott should have extended the lockdown into May.

While keeping La Botanicas six employees safe is most important to Mariposa, thats not her only reason for hesitating to reopen. A lawsuit from a customer who claims to have become infected at her restaurant could force La Botanica to permanently close and leave Mariposa in financial ruin.

If you add any other fee right now, it would crush us, said Mariposa, whose given name is Rebeca Lopez. Were trying to cut down costs. We dont know if were even going to be able to make it through the pandemic yet.

San Antonio restaurant owner Rebel Mariposa is concerned about reopening in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy of Rebel Mariposa)

Mariposas concerns mirror those of many restaurateurs and business owners in states that are beginning to restart their economies. They fear losing their businesses if they dont soon open their doors soon, yet they also worry about endangering their workers and exposing themselves to liability risks if they do.

In order to hold a business liable, an infected customer would first have to prove that is where transmission of the virus occurred. Attorneys who specialize in tort law told Yahoo that will be a difficult hurdle to overcome unless the customer can somehow prove he or she didnt have contact with anyone else during the coronavirus incubation period of up to two weeks.

How would you know that you got it at the gym or the barber or wherever versus anywhere else you were during that time? USC law professor Gregory Keating said.

Story continues

Keating conceded that there are certain circumstances that would make it more plausible for plaintiffs to pinpoint a specific moment of transmission. Maybe a dozen people from the same community begin showing symptoms within days of one-another and they all are members of the same gym, attended the same conference or received haircuts from the same barber.

In such instances, that business potentially could be found liable if the infected customers can show that employee negligence was a contributing factor. Business owners can guard against that outcome by taking great care following the industry guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or public health officials.

The problem for business owners is that they dont have to lose a lawsuit for it to be crippling  or even catastrophic. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees to defend oneself against a lawsuit that is too flimsy to win yet still strong enough to survive a motion to dismiss without a trial.

If you get past the motion to dismiss, then you have discovery and a jury trial and the lawyer bills really start piling up, said Michael Krauss, a George Mason law professor specializing in tort law and legal ethics. Some plaintiff lawyers exploit that with what they call nuisance suits intended just to get a settlement. In those cases, the settlement will be cheaper than paying a lawyer to successfully defend the suit.

In the past month alone, all sorts of COVID-19-related lawsuits have already popped up. Workers suing employers. Inmates suing the Corrections Department. Passengers suing cruise lines. Businesses suing insurance companies. Heck, even U.S. states suing China.

Its likely the litigious trend will only get worse with businesses reopening and the pandemic still nowhere near under control. Put the words coronavirus and lawyer into a search engine, and youll find personal injury attorneys itching to pursue a wrongful-death case and provide the justice and full financial compensation you and your family deserve.

Given the deluge of advertisements like those, its no wonder that government officials are reportedly hotly debating the merits of a liability shield that would prevent businesses from being sued by customers who contract the coronavirus. According to the Washington Post, Republicans want the liability shield to be part of the next stimulus, while congressional Democrats warn it could allow businesses to escape consequences for reckless practices.

Its a balancing act, Los Angeles attorney Sevan Gobel said. Once you start going down the path of lawsuits concerning COVID-19, youre putting the risk of being sued and having to pay legal fees on businesses that are currently struggling as it is. But then the other real concern is on the other end. If you do give businesses complete immunity, is that going to lead to lax safety standards that could endanger the public?

With no law yet in place to shield them from being sued by customers, business owners in states that are partially reopening must assess how to guard against liability risks.

Renowned chef Hugh Acheson did not open any of his three Georgia restaurants on Monday despite the states decision to relax its coronavirus restrictions and allow some businesses to serve customers. In addition to concerns about jeopardizing the health of his employees and accelerating the spread of the virus, Acheson said the threat of customer lawsuits certainly played a part in his decision too.

Acheson hopes to open his restaurants in the next month once he has devised guidelines to operate safely and to limit the spread of the virus. Without that, Acheson said, You are really open to lawsuits.

I think there is real liability there, he added. Not just legal costs.

Dallas restaurateur Shannon Wynne. (Courtesy of Shannon Wynne)

On the other side of the debate is Dallas restaurateur Shannon Wynne, founder of the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and co-owner of restaurants in six different Southern states. He describes the risk of a customer lawsuit as low on his list of concerns as he prepares for the reopening of his Texas restaurants on Friday.

Wynne, 68, readily admits that he wouldnt yet dare visit a restaurant for a meal. Calling it a foolish risk for someone his age with the pandemic not yet under control, Wynne said, Ill have Uber bring my food and Ill wipe it off, but Im not going to go out to eat it.

Asked why hed reopen his restaurants then, especially when they wont approach profitability at 25 percent capacity, the allowance through at least May 18, Wynne cited several reasons. His employees need money and want to work. He wants to maintain brand awareness. And his staff needs practice upholding the new guidelines.

At each of Wynnes restaurants, an employee will stand at the front entrance keeping count to make sure theyre never above 25 percent capacity. Customers will order from a scaled-back menu. Everyone from bartenders to servers to line cooks will wear masks and gloves and will focus on keeping everything wiped down and clean.

Were going to follow the guidelines to a tee, Wynne said. If we act responsibly and do our jobs as were supposed to, I dont think were opening ourselves up to any liability.

Mariposa isnt as certain as Wynne, which is one of many reasons why San Antonios hub of vegan cuisine for now will not even offer takeout. For at least two more weeks, La Botanica wont be serving up any delicious empanadas stuffed with potatoes or beans or any refreshing Mezclaritas. Nor will it be hosting any of its usual drag shows, live music or karaoke nights.

The date that Mariposa is tentatively targeting to reopen her restaurant is May 21. By then, she is hopeful that the infection rate in Texas will have declined, testing will be more available and the risk of exposure for her customers and staff wont be so high.

If we have to stay closed more than a month, we might not make it, Mariposa said. Ive trusted my gut many times as a business owner, and Im going to continue to do that.
Amazon has reportedly bought heat-sensing cameras to detect possible coronavirus infections among its workforce from a Chinese firm blacklisted by the US.

Zhejiang Dahua Technology Company is said to have helped China detain and monitor the Uighurs and other Muslim minorities.

Reuters reports that the company shopped 1,500 cameras to Amazon this month in a deal valued at close to $10m. One third of the cameras are destined for Amazon locations in the US.

The deal is legal because the rules only control US government contract awards and exports to blacklisted firms and do not apply to the private sector.

However, the US government red flags such transactions and advise that companies proceed with caution.

A statement from Amazon reads: We are now implementing the use of thermal imagers from multiple manufacturers for temperature screening to create a more streamlined experience for our employees. None of this equipment has network connectivity, and no personal identifiable information will be visible, collected, or stored.

Dahua, one of the largest manufacturers of surveillance cameras in the world, disputes its designation as a blacklisted company saying that it lacks any factual basis.

In a statement, the company said it is committed to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 through technology that detects abnormal elevated skin temperature  with high accuracy.

Thermal cameras made by Dahua have been used in hospitals, airports, train stations, government offices and factories during the pandemic. IBM has also placed an order for 100 units, and Chrysler ordered 10, a source told Reuters. The company also makes white-label security cameras on behalf of other brands.

The Trump administration blacklisted Dahua and seven other technology firms for acting against US foreign policy interests, saying that they were implicated in Chinas campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups.

More than one million people have been sent to camps in the Xinjiang region as part of Chinas campaign to root out terrorism, the United Nations estimates.

Amazon is using a variety of hardware from individual temperature checks using hand-held thermometers to thermal imaging for high-traffic areas, depending on the location.

The company stresses that the hardware and technology are in compliance with local state and national laws.We are not using facial recognition on any of the thermal imaging equipment.

With reporting from Reuters
Daily regimens are important for those developmentally challenged.

And while the outbreak of the coronavirus has affected the entire world, individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities have been especially affected.

Peter and Samantha Cheung. (Courtesy/Susan Cheung)Staten Island Advance

West Brightons Susan and Peter Cheung are missing visits with their daughter, Samantha, 32, who has lived in the AHRC New York City Ralph L. Rossi group home in Port Richmond for 13 years.

Susan and Samantha Cheung. (Courtesy/Susan Cheung)Staten Island Advance

Theyre not only missing fun in-person visits, but not being able to press their cheeks against hers and hold their daughter in their arms has been painful.

Susan Cheung and Victor Mannah, director of the Ralph L. Rossi Residence in Port Richmond Center. (Courtesy/Victor Mannah)Staten Island Advance

In a letter to staffers at Samanthas group home the Cheungs wrote in part:

We wanted to share how we are managing isolation from our daughter, Samantha (well mostly moms point of view), during this pandemic crisis.

"It has been 38 days of not being able to visit and be next to our Sam. The lack of physical contact from our routine of nuzzling (our noses); to hugs and kisses; or just simply touch each other... has been unbearable.

"We worry if Sam understands the magnitude of this crisis. Is she able to process this new normal? Is she happy and simply just okay?

Peter and Samantha Cheung on Super Bowl Sunday. (Courtesy/Susan Cheung)Staten Island Advance

"Well, we have NO worries in terms of the care provided by the AHRC staff at Rossi; especially under the leadership of house manager Victor, and assistant managers Dorel and Mary. The continuing communication provided by this team and their staff has been immense and has dispelled any worrisome thoughts about how Sammy is day to day.

"For an example, Victor alerted us when Sam had to see a doctor regarding her reinfection of her cheeks earlier this month. [Sam had lost her sight.] This time, through telemedicine, the doctor who saw Sam was able to diagnose her with the same infection and prescribed the same medications as before. The staff was then able to pick up the prescriptions at the local CVS...

"We are thankful for todays technology that allows us to connect with Sam daily by cell and mini iPad. Were also thankful that the Rossi staff is able to help Sam with FaceTime every day since March 17th! We have not missed a single day chatting with our Sammi... sometimes for an hour plus! Well, in regards to seeing her face... its usually just her cheeks as Sam holds her cell anyway she can to hear us. :)

We are thankful that Sam, with the help of tech guru Victor :), was able to set up the Zoom app and be linked to her Lifestyles Day Program sessions. This is a great portal with the outside world as her friends say hi hi to her. :)

"We are thankful that the Rossi staff has developed morning activities with the residents to keep them all engaged and involved. We heard from the staff that Sam loves it and yes, she participates. :)

Samantha Cheung in her mom at the Ralph L. Rossi Resdence. (Courtesy/Susan Cheung)Staten Island Advance

"We are very thankful for the bouquet of flowers, the balloons, and the card sentiments sent our way from Rossi to lift our spirits. It was a wonderful surprise!

"With so much to be thankful for... because of the Rossi staff... the isolation of 38 days from our daughter Samantha has been manageable during this crisis in a very wonderfully healthy way. And through the efforts of the Rossi staff we believe that Sam continues to be happy during these trying times too!

As to quote the famous saying these days... We are in it together!

Susan said as a mom, she would have never thought she would personally survive this crisis, the inability to be by her daughters side for over 40 plus days.

I was emotionally tearful after a month and had to remind myself to remain strong for our Samantha," she said. Im thankful for technology to FaceTime her everyday and to be able to have fun conversations of remember when? Also, Samantha would ask me to look up all her favorite music groups, characters, read Wikipedia about some of her favorite authors (I would use my iPad to look up all her requests and then place the speaker of my iPad to my cell speaker so she can hear all her requests). Its just wonderful to hear her hearty laughters and see her smiling face...it fills my heart with total joy!

She has a 100 mom and dads there especially with the manager Victor who calms me down. They are all taking care of her. And Im comfortable with that.
Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, and Senator Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, applauded an announcement on Wednesday from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that it has begun implementing a new public-private partnership to accelerate the development of COVID-19 testing technologies. Senators Blunt and Alexander worked together to include this shark-tank-like effort in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act that was signed into law last week.

Dramatically increasing our coronavirus testing capacity will give people the confidence to get back to school, work, and daily life, said Senator Blunt. Im glad to see the National Institutes of Health moving quickly to get this new effort up and running so we can get the most promising new technologies into the hands of health care providers as soon as possible. This program will bring together public and private-sector partners to help tackle the biggest global health challenge we have seen in generations. America has long been a leader in developing life-saving innovations and we will do it again.

We now have at the National Institutes of Health a $1 billion competitive shark tank led by Dr. Francis Collins, one of the nations leading scientists, that will lead the effort to create new technologies to produce the tens of millions of diagnostic tests we will need to contain this virus and restart the economy, said Senator Alexander. In such a bold effort there will be failures, but all we need are a few successes to get our country back work and back to school.

In a Washington Post op-ed last week, Senators Blunt and Alexander laid out their shark tank proposal to provide surge funding to NIH and other agencies to advance other research, giving money to states to buy testing equipment, improve data reporting, conduct tests and operate testing centers, and implement contact tracing to identify those whove come in contact with sick people so they, too, can quarantine themselves. The Blunt-Alexander proposal was fully-funded in the latest round of coronavirus relief legislation.

Senators Blunt and Alexander previously worked together to secure free antibody testing to determine whether someone has had the coronavirus and developed antibodies, in line with the full coverage for diagnostic tests that was included in the phase two coronavirus response legislation.

More information on the NIH announcement is available here.
A new poll reveals that more than half of US military veterans surveyed believe that the US government should be less engaged in foreign wars, an increase of about nine percent compared to the same poll conducted last year. A large majority of military veterans and the families of troops and veterans also support a full withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Seventy-three percent of veterans and 69 percent of military families support a full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, while 57 percent of veterans polled expressed opposition to continued military conflicts overseas, the Military Times reported.

More than half of veterans backing full withdrawal offered strong support for the idea, the Military Times also reported, while only 7 percent said they think the country should be more involved.

The results of this years poll, conducted by Concerned Veterans for America, shows an increase in antiwar sentiments compared to the 2019 survey, which showed 60 percent of veterans and families wanted a complete withdrawal.

About two-thirds of veterans also said they want to see a reduction in US spending on foreign aid, and about 17 percent said they wanted to see an overall decrease in US military funding (34 percent said they wanted an increase).

National security ranked only fourth among survey participants top political priorities, well behind the first choice, health care.

Immigration and the US national debt ranked second and third. There was a margin of error of 3.5 percent, the Military Times noted.

The invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, marked the beginning of a nearly 19-year-long war, the longest in US history, as well as the onset of a so-called global war on terrorism that was used to justify the war of aggression against Iraq, as well as bombings, assassinations, renditions and torture in other parts of the globe. This was followed by the war on Libya and the bloody proxy war for regime change in Syria, both of which relied upon elements linked to Al Qaeda, the supposed target of the US war on terrorism.

Under both the Republican administrations of Bush and Trump, as well the Democratic one of Obama, the pretext of combating terrorism has been utilized to justify global militarism aimed at shoring up declining US hegemony.

Late last year, The Washington Post published The Afghanistan Papers, revealing the same pessimism in the militarys leadership now reflected in the militarys rank-and-file veterans and their families.

As the World Socialist Web Site noted in December:

What emerges from the interviews, conducted with more than 400 US military officers, special forces operatives, officials from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and senior advisers to both US commanders in Afghanistan and the White House, is an overriding sense of failure tinged with bitterness and cynicism. Those who participated had no expectation that their words would be made public.

The death, suffering and criminal waste of vast resources in Afghanistan boggle the mind. Of the 3,500 dead in coalition forces, the majority, 2,300, were American, the Watson Institute at Brown University reported as part of its Cost of War project.

The institute also reported 157,000 Afghan deaths resulting from the war, likely a significant underestimation.

Brown University also summed up the costs of wars and military action in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan at $5.9 trillion.

The price tag for all of the Post-9/11 wars was more than $6.4 trillion, and, according to the Cost of Wars conservative estimate, 801,000 fatalities were directly caused by the wars and several times as many indirectly.

Moreover, 21 million people, including millions of young children, have become refugees or displaced persons.

To put that in perspective, it is as if Norway, Sweden and Denmark were depopulated, or almost one-half the population of Spain or Argentina. In the United States it would mean the depopulation of all three states of Tennessee, Indiana and Missouri or the entire state of New York or almost all of Florida.

It is important, however, not to be fooled by the concern of the group Concerned Veterans for America. It was created by billionaire businessman Charles G. Koch and cut from the same cloth as the Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation and Americans for Prosperity.

(M)aintaining our presence in these countries puts American lives at risk, wastes valuable taxpayer dollars, and saps valuable human and material resources from confronting more immediate and persistent threats to American security and prosperity (emphasis added), Concerned Veterans for America explained.

It continued: American security interests can be protected by strengthening the long-term economic stability of our country, maintaining a strong military able to deter adversaries actions before they happen, committing ourselves to the deliberate employment of Americans abroad, and a vigorous defense of our nation if attacked or threatened.

In creating a new veterans group, Koch is seeking to influence public opinion for the purpose of making the shift from wars on terrorism to great power conflicts with China and Russia, posing the threat of nuclear war. Just as ominously, confronting ... threats to American security means for Koch and his fellow billionaires, the growing militarization of the police and the use of troops to control the working class.
Tests carried out for novel coronavirus at the 28 retirement homes run by the municipality of Budapest in the city and outside the capital identified positive cases in two of them, Mayor Gergely Karacsony told parliaments welfare committee.

In both homes, the residents who tested positive were individuals who had just moved back after hospital stays, Karacsony said, underlining that none of the institutions inspected had violated any regulations.



The Budapest city council has long maintained the position that an easing of restrictions in the capital should be conditional on making face masks mandatory and mass testing, the mayor said.



Karacsony welcomed the governments screening programme to determine the actual number of people infected with the virus as well as the restrictions put in place with the aim of slowing the viruss spread.



He said Budapest had launched its own coronavirus test programme at local council-run retirement homes.



Karacsony said the biggest problem when it came to the joint epidemic response was that the capital was not receiving enough information from the government or the operative board coordinating the response, but added that a positive turning point had been reached when he was invited to the cabinet meeting.



The mayor also said the Budapest city council had been forced to carry out a number of tasks that officially it was not responsible for, noting that the capital had carried out a 58-point plan.



Bence Retvari, state secretary at the human resources ministry, said the government had fulfilled its obligation to provide funding for social care organised by the city council.



Budapest has been allocated 6 billion forints (EUR 16.9m) in this years budget for elderly care, he added.



Regarding the case of an elderly care home in Budapests eastern suburbs that has seen a surge of coronavirus cases, Retvari said Karacsony could have spoken with the chief medical officer when she visited the home, but he had instead sent his deputy.



The state secretary said the ongoing inspection of the home on Pesti Road was unbiased and fact-based.



MTI Photo: Tibor Illyes
The government in Turkmenistan has long been known for strictly controlling all aspects of its citizens' lives and restricting their freedom.



But Turkmen officials have taken it a step further recently by banning women who work for the state from coloring their hair or wearing nail polish. Applying false eyelashes or laminating one's eyebrows is also forbidden.



Violating any of the rules of the informal ban could result in the loss of one's job.



No official reason was given for the latest decision that was announced to employees at meetings held in schools and at government agencies, an RFE/RL correspondent in Ashgabat reported on April 24, citing several women who were in attendance.



While many are unhappy with the ban, no one dared to voice their displeasure with the new restrictions, the women told RFE/RL.



The Turkmen government -- which controls all media, most of the economy, and enforces a myriad of social rules on its citizens -- is considered among the most repressive in the world and doesn't tolerate public criticism or free speech.

A similar ban on women's beauty products was imposed on state workers in the Central Asian country of some 5.8 million people in April 2018. But those restrictions had gradually been eased, the women said.



Hairdressers and beauty-salon owners were also informed about the new rules, RFE/RL's correspondent reported.



It was clarified by state officials at the meetings that the nail-polish ban applies both to fingernails and toenails. But it's unclear if the women are allowed to get a regular manicure or pedicure without coloring their nails or if they would be allowed to have a transparent varnish applied.



The restrictions have not been announced or discussed by state media outlets.

Dress Code



The new rules come two months after a Turkmen province prohibited men from coloring their graying hair.



The Turkmen government had previously introduced a dress code for women working for the state that consists of long, traditional embroidered dresses with a hem at the ankle.



Headwear -- either a handkerchief or traditional hat -- is optional.



As part of the latest restrictions, the state workers have also been told to refrain from extravagant embroidery on the upper part of their dresses.



Instead they are told to stick to "a narrow, simple, and modest pattern."



The ban was first announced to employees in the Gokdepe district in Ahal Province, and the instructions were given in Ashgabat, the capital, soon afterwards, RFE/RL reported.



Ashgabat city authorities and the state-run Central Council of the Women's Union of Turkmenistan did not respond to RFE/RL requests for comment on the new regulations for women.



Turkmen police have in the past fined women who violated the dress code.



Men have also not been spared from the government's strict rules.



In early February, authorities in Lebap Province prohibited all men above the age of 40 from coloring their gray hair.

That ban on touching-up gray roots began two years ago and was linked to authoritarian President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's new image.



The president -- who had always dyed his hair pitch black -- disappeared from public view for several weeks in the summer of 2018 and returned with a new salt-and-pepper look. It was the first time he had appeared with gray hair.



Men who work in the country's public sector also aren't allowed to wear their hair long or to grow a beard.



The Turkmen authorities' latest move comes as the rest of the world focuses on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Along with North Korea and Central Asian neighbor Tajikistan, Turkmenistan is one the few countries that has not reported a single coronavirus infection.

Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service
By Britnee N. Timberlake

Right now, our state is going through a crisis that none of us have ever experienced. A new virus is sweeping through New Jersey and around the world, wreaking havoc on our communities, taking lives and impacting every one of us in different ways.

Flattening the curve is priority. The measures our state has taken are critical to slowing the spread of the virus and saving lives. At the same time, we must continue to work to address the economic challenges forcing businesses to shut down and lay off hundreds of thousands of workers. Since mid-March, 930,000 workers have filed for unemployment in New Jersey.

Nearly half of all Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck with even fewer having an emergency fund. Now, many dont even have a paycheck due to circumstances out of their control. Its not so easy finding a job when many businesses are closed or riding out the pandemic with a skeleton crew. More residents than ever before are worried about how they will pay their rent or mortgage in the coming months.

Although a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures exists during the COVID-19 crisis, many landlords are still expecting financially strapped tenants to pay their rent. Many tenants have been threatened with eviction after the State of Emergency lifts if they cannot pay now.

The majority of New Jersey homeowners can receive mortgage relief as a result of the recent agreement between Gov Phil Murphy and more than 40 banks, credit unions and servicers. However, in exchange for the mortgage relief, some lenders are requiring full payment of the amount past due on the 91st day, reporting negatively to credit agencies and sending late notices to owners, which only ignites more stress during this period of high anxiety.

The solution to solving both the renter and homeowners plight is Assembly bill A-3948, which I introduced on April 13. This bill would provide uniform mortgage relief and rent suspension for homeowners, small businesses and to anyone who requests relief during this time, with no impact to credit, or added fees or interest. My bill would also grant rental suspensions to anyone who requests one in writing.

No resident should have to worry about losing their home or facing financial penalties as a result of this pandemic.

People must stop looking at this housing crisis as landlords vs. tenants - both are important to the housing ecosystem. If homeowners do not succeed, renters will be displaced; if renters do not succeed, homeowners will foreclose. It's critically important for both to receive an equal opportunity to keep a roof over their heads. My bill provides that opportunity.

We have worked hard to get out of the housing foreclosure crisis and still have a long way to go. New Jersey is still leading the country in foreclosures. The housing crisis will only worsen after COVID-19 passes. The rate of homelessness will drastically increase. People who were previously self-sufficient and gainfully employed will be on the street.

I urge landlords throughout the state to take stock of the current situation and offer rental relief to the people living in your homes and apartment buildings. Whether you freeze their monthly payments or offer a reduced payment plan based on the tenant's current financial capabilities, you can make a big difference by showing compassion to your fellow New Jerseyans.

If any landlord is already receiving mortgage assistance through an existing forbearance but is still demanding rent from tenants, those actions are shameful. We need to come together now more than ever to help our fellow community members get through this crisis.

Everyone in our community must understand that we are all in this together, and we need to help one another out as we work our way through this crisis.

Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake represents New Jerseys 34th Legislative District.

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The police watchdog has ordered an inquiry into why Scotland Yard failed to investigate two more VIP abuse fantasists who lied about a Westminster paedophile ring.

The pair  known only as A and B  made false statements supporting claims by fantasist 'Nick', whose real name is Carl Beech, about a murderous VIP paedophile ring that Britain's biggest force had called 'credible and true'.

Their lies in 2015 prolonged the investigation into the allegations, known as Operation Midland, and the torment of those falsely accused by Beech for months.

Police watchdog have ordered an inquiry into why two abuse fantasists weren't investigated after lying about a Westminster paedophile ring to support Carl Beech's claims (pictured)

Ex-Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse, who headed the bungled probe, later admitted A and B  who have shocking criminal records  told 'deliberate' lies to his officers.

Yet no action was taken despite ex-High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques saying in a scathing report that an outside force should probe them for trying to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Rodhouse had also previously decided not to investigate paedophile Beech for telling lies.

A senior legal source, with knowledge of the Nick scandal, told the Daily Mail that A and B should be serving long jail sentences for their 'appalling lies'.

Now, following a complaint from ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor  who was a victim of Beech's far-fetched claims  the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has demanded an inquiry into why the Met failed to probe A and B. An outside force is expected to carry it out.

Carl Beech is serving 18 years in jail for perverting the course of justice and other offences but the Met ignored the recommendation that the two other serial liars be investigated

In a letter to Mr Proctor, Brett Gerrard of the IOPC said: 'I am satisfied an investigation is required in order to provide an adequate response to you regarding the decisions made.'

According to Mr Gerrard's letter, senior Met officers agreed not to investigate A and B at a meeting on September 19, 2017.

Scotland Yard has declined to tell the Mail who chose to ignore Sir Richard's recommendation they should be investigated.

When Operation Midland closed without any arrests or charges in March 2016, the Met said in a statement authorised by Mr Rodhouse that there was no evidence Beech 'knowingly misled' officers.

This was despite clear indications the former nurse had lied about VIP sex abuse and murder, damaging the reputations of former Tory home secretary Leon Brittan, ex-Armed Forces chief Lord Bramall and Mr Proctor.

Beech is now serving 18 years in jail for perverting the course of justice and other offences.

Yet the Met ignored the recommendation that the two other serial liars be investigated.

Last night, Mr Proctor, who won 500,000 damages, welcomed the IOPC's decision to order an inquiry. He said of Mr Rodhouse: 'He should be nowhere near any police force.'

Mr Rodhouse, who is now the 245,000-a-year head of operations at the National Crime Agency, has repeatedly declined to answer questions from the Mail.

Scotland Yard said: 'A complaint received via Northumbria police in October 2019, that former DAC Rodhouse (and the Met) did not investigate two further false complainants at the completion of Operation Midland referred to in the Henriques Report as 'A' and 'B' for perverting the course of justice and wasting police time, was assessed by the Met's appropriate authority.

'The appropriate authority found that any decision to investigate 'A' and / or 'B' was not for former DAC Rodhouse to make. However, it was a decision for a senior officer or senior officers in the Met to make. Records show clear evidence of careful consideration of this matter and a clear rationale for not commencing an investigation, but not of the explicit recording of this to the standard required. Therefore, a complaint against the Met was recorded in January 2020 and voluntarily referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in accordance with IOPC Statutory Guidance.

'The IOPC has now determined that the matter should be investigated as a local matter but suggested it be conducted by an external force. The Met is in the process of identifying a suitable external force to conduct the investigation.'
But workers are scared of getting infected and some have staged protests over fears they are being exposed at work to the novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease. At least 60,000 people have died in the United States, the most in the world, according to a Reuters tally.

Hospital janitors

Workers advocates say the NLRB rule will, for example, prevent janitors who work in hospitals and are employed by a staffing agency, from demanding safety measures that could protect them from the coronavirus.

Thats because the agency that employs the janitors controls the conditions the new rule deems essential, such as pay, hours and discipline. The hospital may control the health and safety conditions that could expose the janitors to coronavirus at work, but the hospital would not be considered a joint employer under the new rule.

As a result, the hospital management would have no legal duty under federal labor law to come to the bargaining table and negotiate with the janitors over safety.
They met online.

There were jitters at first, as is common in such matters. But over the next two weeks, the talk flowed easily in their long, daily web sessions. And the laughs, too. Personal details were disclosed; history was recounted. The trust forged in truths, and even the music they shared, sealed a bond.

Before they knew it, they were in a relationship.

In April, 24 actors, several designers and one Tony Award-winning director, Diane Paulus, embarked on a groundbreaking digital "workshop" for a Broadway-bound revival of the musical "1776." The story of a revolution with a revolutionary non-binary, gender-inclusive cast. And they did it under the most harrowing of circumstances: a pandemic.

No longer able to gather for the traditionally hands-on process of assembling a new show, Paulus was relying instead on the fingers and faces of a cast and creative team perched at laptops and isolated across 13 states and the District of Columbia. Rehearsals were supposed to start April 6 in New York City, led by Paulus, artistic director of the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Plans called for a 13-city national tour to begin later this year, ending with a run on Broadway in spring 2021 at the Roundabout Theatre Company. Paulus realized that if she still hoped to have a production ready to launch whenever theaters reopened, she had to devise another way of preparing.

"I said to my team, 'We're going to try this, and if it doesn't work, it's OK,' " Paulus said of the daily meetups organized on Zoom, the platform that has become a kind of town square in the age of covid-19. What the Zoom gatherings unleashed, though, was by all accounts unexpected and remarkable, to the point that some participants say they can't imagine starting another show without them.

"Through this format," Paulus said, "there was an intensity of shared experience that went very deep."

As a quarantined theater world copes with confounding new realities and open-ended separation from its natural habitat, new methods are being experimented with to fill the void. Theaters are, for instance, live-streaming their plays on YouTube and their websites, with varying degrees of technical and artistic success. But what happens to a slew of other projects still in development for Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theaters? Is online communication a viable alternative for building a show? "1776" is one of the first productions to attempt the experiment.

The concept Paulus came up with for the 1969 Tony-winning musical - a big-canvas account of the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence - was a fitting match for the unconventional nature of this workshop. (A workshop is generally less formal than rehearsals, which start a few weeks before performances begin.) All the actors in her cast identify as female, genderqueer, non-binary or trans. The roles of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and the other figures of the Continental Congress would be filled in a way audiences had never seen.

"Hamilton," of course, reset our expectations for imagining history, with actors of color playing virtually every major part. For this new staging of "1776," with words and music by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone, Paulus had similar aspirations. Her company has explored nontraditional terrain before, in productions like Rachel Chavkin's recent adaptation of "Moby-Dick." On this new occasion, she asked herself: "How could I cast it so that it looked like 2020?"

"OK, wow, this is not the role traditionally I would have gone out for!" said Crystal Lucas-Perry, who plays John Adams, the musical's central character, conceived as the caustic driving force in Congress behind unifying the colonies. That impulse in Adams made Detroit-born Lucas-Perry believe she could play him: "I can definitely connect with someone who wants to get something off the ground."

Paulus said she had no way of knowing whether introducing cast members to one another long distance would be worth it. She was a neophyte to Zoom, a service that before the virus primarily had been used as a business conferencing tool. But the deep historical roots of "1776" seemed to her as ripe for investigation online as any play or musical might be. And she felt a special imperative to immerse her actors in history, given that they would be exposing audiences to it in such a fresh and challenging way.

"I had this theory that if I could talk about the show, I could share the research I've been doing, I could do a table read, go over the music - if we could plant all these seeds, then once the workshop was over, we could continue to grow the seed," Paulus said. "That was my practical idea. But what happened was this extraordinary emotional bonding, which I never would have anticipated happening."

Deprived of the ability to mix, physically, in a rehearsal room, the actors and design team faced the formidable challenge of discovering one another and finding level artistic ground from their own homes. "We were learning by doing, acknowledging that this was a grand experiment," said Paulus, whose Broadway directing credits include the 2013 Tony-winning revival of "Pippin" and the currently closed "Jagged Little Pill." "Where I might have been in a 20-by-30-foot room, watching a rehearsal, now I was watching everybody in camera close-up: the way their heads change position, emotions bubbling up. It was really powerful."

Shawna Hamic, cast as Richard Henry Lee, an exuberant Virginia colonist (who sings the buoyant "The Lees of Old Virginia"), thought she would just be saying an extended hello. "My expectations were so low, I thought it was going to be a nice way to see everyone's faces - sort of a cocktail party," she said. "But we ended up delving so much deeper than I thought was possible. That anonymity of being online - you're in your own home and in your safe space - you were able to open up in ways I didn't expect."

The interactive exercises that occurred over those two weeks included not only a read-through of the script and individual song practice sessions, but also lectures by historians from Harvard, with which Paulus's nonprofit theater company is affiliated. Jane Kamensky spoke about the American Revolution, Timothy McCarthy discussed the politics and prose of the Declaration, and Vincent Brown shared his thoughts on the transatlantic slave trade. (One of the musical's most blistering numbers, "Molasses to Rum," is sung by a South Carolina colonist, Edward Rutledge, who calls out the North's hypocrisy for its financial interest in perpetuating slavery.)

And Paulus gave the actors assignments, too. Each had to prepare a five-minute talk on a personal or historical subject of their choosing. "In a sense, we each became a professor," Hamic observed, "and by doing that, by sharing that, we shared ourselves, we shared our viewpoints. And so it wasn't just a group blur in the 'gallery' view (on Zoom)."

The workshop experience was like entering a hall of mirrors: the story of democracy and nation-building discussed in a most democratic way - as an act of show-building. Or as Lucas-Perry described it: "The launch of a journey that somehow became more purposeful because of the challenge of the situation, and how we were going to overcome the challenge."

On the workshop's last day in late April, Paulus recalled, the participants were in tears. The foundation had been laid. When would the architecture rise? That remains unknown.
- The surprise celebration for the mom-to-be was caught on camera and the video went viral

- In the video, a procession of cars had lined up outside the woman's home while hooting as her guests stepped out to drop their gifts on the driveway

- They all gave an elbow or ankle greeting before posing for a photograph and then driving off

- The expectant mom was in tears, blowing kisses and expressing her gratitude to the guests

While family and friends are forced to be away from each other and special celebrations are put on hold, a mom-to-be was overjoyed to be given a surprise baby shower in South Africa.

After seeing something similar done in the United States, Dinika Rooy's friends and family hosted the drive-by and drop off baby shower for the mom-to-be.

READ ALSO: Nairobi woman narrates how Ghanaian lover conned, left her homeless

Dinika Rooy was forced to be going for her appointments on her own after hospital restricted movements. Photo: Dinika Rooy

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Man narrates how he taught extremely feminist wife tough lessons by fully submitting to her

The celebration was caught on camera and the video, which showed a procession of cars lined up outside her home and hooting on Saturday, April 25, went viral.

One by one, people got out of their cars and dropped off gifts on her driveway, giving an elbow or ankle greeting before posing for a photograph and then driving off.

All the while, the expectant mom was in tears, blowing kisses and expressing her gratitude to the guests.

READ ALSO: Thika couple appeals for financial help to treat 11-month-old daughter admitted with pneumonia at Kijabe Hospital

In just minutes, the baby-shower was over.

Unlike traditional baby showers, no games were played or words of wisdom given to the expectant mom. There was no cake or lunch shared among the guests.

According to the mom-to-be who spoke to local media, it was a welcome surprise.

READ ALSO: Death of a hero: Top ER doctor who treated coronavirus patients dies

Dinika was scheduled to have a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming birth of her son on April 4, 2020, but was forced to cancel it. Photo: Diniko Rooy

Source: Facebook

I did not know about it. I was sleeping when the people came and my mother woke me up. As soon as I got out, I just saw this convoy of cars, she said, adding she was very emotional.

She was scheduled to have a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming birth of her son on April 4, 2020, but was forced to cancel it at last minute as a result of the lockdown imposed in the country.

I did not think I was going to have a shower any more but I thought perhaps we would have a baby welcome shower [after the lockdown], she said.

READ ALSO: 17 relatives of Siaya COVID-19 victim released from quarantine after testing negative 4 times

While many were moved by the gesture, some were critical.

Some people have given negative comments that I am not wearing a mask but I did not know about it, she said, adding that she was not prepared for what awaited her outside.

Dinika said everyone who took part in the shower had good intentions.

READ ALSO: Buruburu: Polisi wachunguza chanzo cha moto ulioteketeza gari, dereva

Dinika said everyone who took part in the shower had good intentions. Photo: Dinika Rooy.

Source: Facebook

The mom-to-be said most people were, however, positive about the ceremony and would consider doing the same thing.

"It is an idea for people to have their kitchen parties and baby showers the same way and they can just correct where we made mistakes, she said.

Dinika said while she had had a smooth pregnancy, the coronavirus had forced her to change more than just the baby shower plans.

READ ALSO: Working from home: Sierra Leone Minister feeds, carries 10-month-old daughter on his back during Zoom meeting

She was forced to start going for her appointments on her own after hospital restricted movements and visits to the health facilities amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

"I can not have someone with me. I am not sure how many people they will allow in when I give birth. I wanted to have a photographer but I do nor think it will happen," she said.

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Michigan congressman Justin Amash late on Tuesday announced plans to jump into the 2020 presidential race. Amash, a former Republican turned Libertarian, had toyed with the idea for a while. His argument has been that he could rally voters disaffected by Donald Trump but uninterested in voting for a Democrat.

Amash, a five-term congressman, is known as a gadfly who has bucked Republican leadership and eagerly skirmished with his colleagues when he was a Republican. In July 2019 Amash, the only Republican congressman to vocally support impeaching Trump, left the Republican party.

Related: Justin Amash explores running for US president as Libertarian

In announcing the creation of his presidential exploratory committee, a largely ceremonial step in American politics, Amash said on Twitter: Were ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. Im excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president.

Heres what you need to know about the Libertarian presidential candidate.

Who is Amash?

Amash, 40, is a lawyer by trade who first served in the Michigan statehouse before ascending to the US Congress in 2010 during the Tea Party wave. Amash, in his first campaign, benefited from support from major Tea Party groups.

In 2019 Amash left the Republican party in protest of its seemingly immovable support for Donald Trump. He decided to join the Libertarian party and has served as one of the few members of Congress not part of the Republican or Democratic party.

Could Amashs candidacy have an impact in the 2020 presidential election?

Its possible. Amash, a fiscal conservative, could siphon away right-leaning voters disinclined to vote for Trump from former vice-president Joe Biden. Or his candidacy could attract small-government Republicans away from Trump to the benefit of Biden.

His chances of winning the presidency are slim. Amash is getting into the race late and no presidential candidate running on the Libertarian party has ever actually been elected president. They usually perform poorly.

Story continues

What is his relationship with Trump?

Contentious. Amash has been a vocal critic of the president and the feeling is mutual. When Amash announced he was leaving the Republican party, Trump tweeted: Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is quitting the Party. No Collusion, No Obstruction! Knew he couldnt get the nomination to run again in the Great State of Michigan. Already being challenged for his seat. A total loser!

(Amash, at times, has been mentioned as a potential candidate for statewide office but has never actually run for Senate or governor.)

Does Amash have a chance?

Its unclear what impact Amash will have in this election. The coronavirus pandemic has already upended some of the normal rules of presidential campaigning. Amash himself is a relative unknown compared with Trump or Biden as well.

Almost a year ago a poll for the Detroit News found that Amash would draw about 10% of the vote to him in a three-way race. Biden, the poll found, would have the plurality with Trump trailing the former vice-president by just a few percentage points.

But more recently data from Morning Consult suggested that Amashs presence in the race would have essentially no impact at all.

What happens next?

Amash will have to move quickly to assemble a presidential campaign. That includes not just staffers but also the requisite amount of support to have any impact at all. Amash has already been in contact with the Libertarian partys chairman.

But Amash will also have to devote a significant amount of time to ballot access, making efforts to appear on voters ballots as a libertarian presidential candidate alongside Trump and Biden. Thats been a persistent hurdle for third-party candidates. The Libertarian party is on the ballot of 35 states, meaning theres room for growth in a candidate like Amash.

Still, its an uphill battle.
Story Highlights 50% approve, 48% disapprove of Trump's handling COVID-19 situation

COVID-19 situation approval down from 60% last month

Overall job approval rating now at 49%

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans divide evenly when asked whether they approve or disapprove of the way President Donald Trump is handling the coronavirus situation in the U.S., with 50% approving and 48% disapproving. Approval of his handling of the COVID-19 crisis is down 10 percentage points from last month, including a 10-point decline among independents and a 16-point decline among Democrats.

Changes in President Trump's Approval Rating for Handling the Coronavirus Situation % Approve Mar 13-22 Apr 14-28 Change % % pct. pts. U.S. adults 60 50 -10 Republicans 94 91 -3 Independents 60 50 -10 Democrats 27 11 -16 Gallup

Given the dominance of the coronavirus situation in Americans' minds, it is not surprising that the president's overall job approval rating nearly matches his approval rating on COVID-19.

Gallup's April 14-28 poll finds Trump's overall job approval at 49%, the same as in a March 13-22 poll but higher than his reading of 43% in an April 1-14 survey. To the extent that these variations are not a function of sampling error, they could be tied to Americans' changing outlook on the coronavirus situation in general and Americans' increasingly evaluating Trump on the COVID issue alone.

The poll was conducted as the number of new daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. declined from its peak on April 5. The large majority of interviews were completed before the backlash over Trump's remarks questioning whether injecting household disinfectant into people with the virus could be an effective treatment.

Most of the variation in Trump's recent job approval rating is among independents. In the current poll, 47% of independents approve of the job he is doing as president, the highest Gallup has measured for the group to date. Ninety-three percent of Republicans and 8% of Democrats approve of the job Trump is doing.

Generally speaking, Trump's recent job approval ratings have been higher than at any point in his presidency, largely because of modest rallies in support for him tied to his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial and the coronavirus crisis.

During his 13th quarter in office, stretching from Jan. 20 through April 19, he averaged 47% job approval. That is four percentage points better than his previous high quarters -- 43% during his 10th (April 20-July 19, 2019) and 12th (Oct. 20, 2019-Jan 19, 2020) quarters in office.

Trump's average approval rating throughout his three-plus years in office remains at 40%.

Explore President Trump's approval ratings and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.

View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 19:18:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has ratcheted up financial support on Thursday for workers in difficult circumstances amid the COVID-19 epidemic in regions including Hubei Province.

A total of 37.8 million yuan (about 5.4 million U.S. dollars) was allocated to facilitate local trade unions to aid households infected by the epidemic, according to the ACFTU.

Trade unions at the local level should enhance assistance for workers in difficulties and support their basic livelihoods including employment, social security and medicare.

For workers infected or died with the virus, specific subsidies should be provided for their families in a timely manner to help them out of difficulty, according to the ACFTU.

It also urged local departments to raise funds in all ways to ensure regular assistance in place, integrate resources from society and charities and introduce targeted policies to better solve workers' problems in daily life.

In late March, the ACFTU designated a special assistance fund of 250 million yuan to ensure the basic living conditions of workers in need amid the epidemic. Enditem
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- A pandemic, a supply glut and plunging U.S. crude futures: With the world upended, theres never been a better time to challenge established oil benchmarks. So shouldnt Chinas two-year-old yuan-denominated contract be doing just that?

The upheaval in oil is hard to overstate. Last weeks extreme dive into negative prices, driven by the quirks of physical delivery, dealt a significant blow to the credibility of West Texas Intermediate futures. That contract has long been a benchmark for the U.S. oil industry, albeit a flawed one. Heavy selling from the biggest oil exchange-traded fund exacerbated the slide, which could see a repeat in May, when June futures expire. WTI is trading near a meager $16 a barrel, with Europes Brent, a better indicator of seaborne oil demand, at under $23. Both are at a fraction of January levels well above $60.

By contrast, Shanghai crude futures are trading at a lofty near-222 yuan a barrel, or just over $31. The contract was set up in 2018 to reflect the shift in the markets center of gravity to Asian demand and the Middle Eastern grades that China consumes. Thats a near-record spread to the global benchmarks.

The pricing gap is an odd distortion. Part of the premium is due to soaring freight costs to China, which have spiked to as much as 60% of Brent. With few available ships in producing regions, plus the number being used for floating storage, the price of shipping to China is going up. Charterers want to avoid long journeys. But theres more: traders say storage capacity constraints have made it hard to deliver oil, even with bids. Local retail investors, meanwhile, have piled in. None of this is helping a contract that aims to unseat the current dollar-denominated duopoly.

The Shanghai contract has done modestly well to date, especially relative to past attempts to create rival benchmarks, say, in Russia. It has been liquid, too, thanks to retail interest and local, if not international, trading heavyweights. Investors have started to hedge and there has been none of the Beijing meddling that damaged market credibility in the past.

Story continues

Yet Shanghai has on average amounted to only about 10% of global oil futures volumes over the past 12 months, and a smaller slice as a proportion of open interest. U.S. sanctions against countries such as Russia and Iran havent yet helped fuel significant moves into yuan either. While the pandemic has seen interest from Chinese investors soar, the upheaval doesnt appear to have shifted international trade.

In part, thats because some problems with the contract were still being solved when the crisis hit, like concentration of activity at the front end of the curve. Then theres the fact that the contract is denominated in Chinas currency, which isnt fully convertible. Thats key for Beijings policy ambitions but a headache for traders.

Regardless, the price gap isnt encouraging. A benchmark, after all, should reflect global markets. On a positive note, the Shanghai International Energy Exchange has been moving to add warehouse capacity, approving an additional 800,000 cubic meters of storage Friday. The INE is now also considering allowing deliveries to tanks and ships held by refiners or traders, Reuters reports. That will begin to ease the speculative squeeze and should narrow the premium.

One mainland trader described INEs efforts on storage as swan-like  paddling fast underwater, despite the calm exterior. With more futures contracts becoming available to foreign investors, Beijing will hope so.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

By Matanat Nasibova - Trend:

The Lankaran cannery, the biggest producer of a wide range of fruit juices and compotes in Azerbaijan, located in Lankaran district, exported the products several times since the beginning of 2020, Manager of the cannery Famil Abbasov told Trend.

The products were mainly exported in January 2020, Abbasov added.

At the same time, the cannery exported the products to Russia, Ukraine and Poland in the first quarter of this year, the manager added. Bagdan compotes, which are in the greatest demand on the domestic market and abroad, were mainly exported. Some 200,000 bottles of compotes were exported to Russia during the first quarter of 2020. Some 60,000-80,000 bottles of compotes were exported to Ukraine and Poland.

Up to 100,000 bottles of compotes were also exported to Russia in April, the manager said. The products are expected to be exported to the US in early May. Approximately 15,000-20,000 bottles of compotes will be initially exported. The volumes of products to be exported to the US are planned to be increased in the future as far as demand and supply increase.

The retail price of compotes within the country varies between 1.40 -1.80 manat (82 cents -$1.05), Abbasov added. At the same time, the prices of export products are also quite low as foreign customers fully cover all transport and customs costs."

The manager stressed that today 65-70 percent of the cannerys products are sold in the domestic market while 30 percent are exported.

"The cannery plans to increase its export potential, so we are constantly looking for new partners, the manager said. Besides compotes, it is planned to increase the export of tomatoes and fruit juices, which are sold mainly in the domestic market."

The products manufactured by the Lankaran cannery have a certificate of conformity issued by the Azerbaijani State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents.

The production capacity of the cannery allows producing around 6-7 million bottles of compotes and in general up to 10 million bottles of all types of products.

The Italian equipment has been installed in the cannery.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova
KITCHENER, ONT.A variety of missteps by management at Forest Heights Revera Long-Term Care Home created a pandemic within its walls, a union president says.

The Kitchener home is now the facility with the most COVID-19 cases  193 among residents and staff  and more than half of the deaths in Waterloo Region.

Locally, 66 people have died of coronavirus as of Tuesday, 34 of them at Forest Heights.

On Thursday, the province said 35 had died at Forest Heights.

The crisis could have been averted if staff had enough personal protective equipment and if they were allowed to wear the masks they had, said Ruth Pryce, president of Unifor Local 1106 which represents personal support workers, nurses and registered practical nurses at 30 different local workplaces.

Pryce said some personal support workers (PSW) were told not to wear N95 masks because it would scare residents, especially those with dementia.

It is very disturbing to see what is unfolding in front of your eyes, Pryce said. The members do not have enough tools to do their job.

Some PSWs who tested positive for the virus but didnt show symptoms were told to show up for work anyway, she said. Residents who were positive should have been separated from others more quickly.

In a release Tuesday, Forest Heights Revera said they are aware of concerns with shortages of personal protection equipment and employees working with symptoms.

We have heard concerns raised that an employee was asked to work when suffering from a fever, and that an infected resident was not properly quarantined. These are not acceptable actions, and we are investigating them to ensure that all protocols and directives are communicated to staff and implemented, the release said.

Revera said there is now sufficient equipment and training is being provided to workers.

If there were ever a temporary shortage, this would be addressed immediately by our partners in public health and hospitals, the company said.

Kitchener Centre New Democrat MPP Laura Mae Lindo, who held a virtual town hall with PSWs and the union last week, said the crisis at Forest Heights points to how underfunded long-term care homes are and how vital workers are undervalued.

We have a gaping wound in long-term care homes and someone is trying to put on baby Band-Aids, Lindo said.

Its clear by the system considers PSWs as expendable. They are bearing the brunt of this pandemic, said Waterloo New Democrat MPP Catherine Fife.

Macey Aramburo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Long-Term Care, said there may be times in which staff who has tested positive but has no symptoms may continue to work.

In exceptional circumstances where additional staff are critically required, an earlier return to work of a COVID-19 positive health-care worker may be considered under work self-isolation, recognizing the staff may still be infectious, she said.

Pryce said a shortage of staff and poor wages for PSWs are issues the union for has been highlighting with the government for years, but no one was listening.

PSWs often have 10 residents they have to get out of bed, shower and dress within an hour to get them ready for breakfast, she said.

My heart breaks for my members, Pryce said in an interview. They are crying, they are so upset.

They are scared, she said. To see your residents dying and your co-workers getting infected, wouldnt you be scared?

Some PSWs work part-time and have been forced to work at more than one home to make ends meet. The provincial government recently announced that PSWs were not allowed to work between homes during the pandemic.

The Ontario government also increased wages for PSWs, giving them an additional $4 an hour pandemic pay.

Karima Lalany, a personal support worker at Forest Heights, said the home is understaffed and those working are stressed.

Lalany worked at the beginning of the outbreak, which was declared April 1, but is at home now taking care of her elderly mother. Forest Heights asked her to return to work last week.

In the virtual town hall on the status of long-term care organized by Lindo, Lalany said one day at work she put on a mask when the nurse on the floor was wearing one.

I wore it to protect my residents, she said.

But then she was told to remove it by management, even though there was an outbreak at the home. Lalany said even some of her residents asked her why they werent wearing masks.

They understand why we are wearing masks. We are not scaring them, she said.

Once the pandemic happened, N95 masks and shields were made available, she said.

Its kind of too late, said Lalany, who said the outbreaks could have better controlled if staff was allowed to use equipment and residents had been segregated.

Pryce said since a light has been shone on Forest Heights there have been improvements. The temperature of all workers is taken when they arrive for work and once their shift is done, she said.

Revera said that 12 PSWs have been temporarily reassigned to work at Forest Heights to offer relief to overworked staff. Twenty-three residents have been moved to local hospitals to relieve pressure on staff and help isolate infected residents still at the home.

At least another 32 residents will be moved to hospital over the next two days, Revera said in a release Tuesday.

It was determined that moving additional residents from Forest Heights to regional hospitals would be in the best interests of the residents and staff, the company said.

Revera also hired 20 extra staff in various roles, the company said.

We are grateful for the heroic contributions of our front-line staff at Forest Heights who have been working around the clock to care for our residents during the homes pandemic outbreak. The team has truly exhibited compassion, courage and determination, Revera said.

Pryce said staff continue to do a fantastic job despite the conditions. I take my hat off to the staff, she said.

Its just so sad it took this for the public to realize what is happening, Pryce said. It is so sad to see all the people who have died.
Victoria's deputy Chief Health Officer has come under fire for comparing the deadly COVID-19 outbreak in Australia to the arrival of Captain Cook.

While the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook's arrival at Botany Bay went virtually unnoticed by much of the nation, it did not slip past Dr Annaliese van Diemen.

Dr van Diemen, the second highest ranking health official in Victoria, compared the famous voyage on social media to the current pandemic that has claimed 91 lives across Australia.

'Sudden arrival of an invader from another land, decimating populations, creating terror,' she tweeted on Wednesday, anniversary of Captain Cook's arrival in 1770.

Victoria's deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen (pictured) has come under fire for comparing the deadly COVID-19 outbreak to the arrival of Captain Cook

Dr van Diemen posted this to Twitter on Wednesday, the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook's arrival at Botany Bay, Sydney, in 1770

James Cook was a British explorer, surveyor, navigator and cartographer who mapped large parts of the world including Australia's east coast and New Zealand. He was the first white European to set foot on Australia's mainland at Botany Bay, Sydney, on 29 April 1770

'Forces the population to make enormous sacrifices & completely change how they live in order to survive. COVID-19 or Cook 1770.'

Dr van Diemen's comments were labelled as 'disgraceful' by opposition politician Tim Smith, who said it was not the 'time' for such comparisons.

'What's with the culture wars crap from a state health bureaucrat at a time like this?' Mr Smith said.

'Comparing the extraordinary first voyage of Captain Cook where he charted the East Coast of Australia for the first time to a deadly virus is disgraceful.

'You've lost the plot.'

Captain Cook first set foot in Australia on the shores of Botany Bay on April 29, 1770.

It would be another 18 years before English settlers returned on the First Fleet, which the Liberal frontbencher pointed out to Dr van Diemen.

'Cook's voyages were an extraordinary achievement and helped scientific discovery enormously,' he tweeted.

'You do realise the settlement of Australia wasn't decided by Captain Cook  he died in 1779  and the Colony of New South Wales was founded nine years after his death by Captain Arthur Phillip?'

The 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's arrival in Australia went almost unnoticed across the nation, in sharp contrast to how it marked the bicentenary.

Dr van Diemen's comments were labelled as 'disgraceful' by opposition politician Tim Smith on Twitter (pictured), who also pointed out that Captain Cook had not settled in Australia

Fifty years ago Australia celebrated the bicentenary of Captain James Cook's 'discovery' of the the vast island continent with fireworks, historical re-enactments and a long visit by the Queen. This painting shows Cook taking possession of Australia for King George III

The Queen and Prince Philip spent 40 days in Australia for the 200th anniversary of Cook's landing in 1970. She is pictured on a walkabout in Launceston, Tasmania, during that visit

Fifty years ago Australia celebrated Cook's 'discovery' of the island continent with fireworks, historical re-enactments and a weeks-long visit by the Queen.

Today's anniversary of Cook's landing at Botany Bay - known as Kamay in the local indigenous language - has been muted amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Social distancing rules mean there have not even been the widespread protests that marked the bicentenary in 1970.

Some see April 29 as a day of mourning rather than a reason to honour Cook's deeds of exploration. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, commemorative events had been scrapped or altered.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, an admirer of Cook, said on Wednesday the 250th anniversary provided all Australians with an opportunity to reflect on a 'merging of histories.

'The day Cook and the local Indigenous community at Kamay first made contact 250 years ago changed the course of our land forever,' Mr Morrison said.

Cook's 1770 landing in Sydney was romanticised for centuries. It is now considered by some as the precursor to an invasion that began with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Pictured is a poster from 1930

Cook's voyage of discovery from 1768 to 1771 took him around Cape Horn to New Zealand and the east coast of Australia. He returned to England via Indonesia and the Cape of Good Hope

'It's a point in time from which we embarked on a shared journey which is realised in the way we live today.

'We honour the resilience, wisdom, custodianship and stewardship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Indigenous culture is a fundamental element of modern Australia.

'We also acknowledge the extraordinary individual of James Cook whose passion for science and discovery played such a critical role in Australias journey to the nation we are today.'

Cook is no longer considered to have 'discovered' a continent which already had 60,000 years of Aboriginal history.

He is acknowledged as the first European explorer to land on the east coast of Australia. It is less well known that before he got out of his boat he shot an Aborigine.
[April 30, 2020] Retail Banks Face Major Customer Satisfaction Challenge as World Shifts to Digital-Only Engagement, J.D. Power Finds

Retail banks have been confronting a difficult paradox for the last several years. The most satisfied retail banking customers use both branch and digital services to conduct their personal banking, while the least satisfied are those who have a digital-only relationship with their bank and do not use branches. Now, as the COVID-19 pandemic places constraints on in-person retail banking and forces customers to increase reliance on digital service channels, banks are facing an important test. According to the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study,SM released today, 52% of retail bank customers classified as branch dependent before the COVID-19 pandemic, and successfully transitioning them to digital-without compromising customer experience-will be critical in the weeks and months ahead. "With fewer customers visiting branches, it will be important for retail banks to replace the in-person service they would have provided with personalized services delivered instead through digital channels," said Paul McAdam, senior director, banking intelligence at J.D. Power. "Given the technology available to banks, customer pain points with digital should be easy to address. Let's keep in mind that digital retail banking was introduced 25 years ago. Executing basic user-friendly functionality, providing a full range of services and offering easy ways to pay and move money are areas where banks could improve their digital offerings." Following are some key findings of the 2020 study: Pre-pandemic, branches still played major role: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 52% of retail bank customers were classified as branch dependent, meaning they either used the branch exclusively (10% of customers) or used a combination of branch visits, online and mobile banking service (42% of customers) during the past three months. Branch-dependent customers visit a branch an average of 1.5 times per month. Following 25 years of bank investment in providing and upgrading digital offerings and customers' increased adoption of them, 30% of bank customers now do their banking in a digital-only manner and do not use branches.



Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 52% of retail bank customers were classified as branch dependent, meaning they either used the branch exclusively (10% of customers) or used a combination of branch visits, online and mobile banking service (42% of customers) during the past three months. Branch-dependent customers visit a branch an average of 1.5 times per month. Following 25 years of bank investment in providing and upgrading digital offerings and customers' increased adoption of them, 30% of bank customers now do their banking in a digital-only manner and do not use branches. Digital-only customers have lowest levels of satisfaction: Overall customer satisfaction with retail banks tends to decline as customers transition away from the branch and to digital-only banking relationships. The overall satisfaction score among branch-dependent bank customers is 824 (on a 1,000-point scale), which is 23 points higher than the core among digital-only customers. That satisfaction gap is widest (31 points) among members of Generation Y. 1







Overall customer satisfaction with retail banks tends to decline as customers transition away from the branch and to digital-only banking relationships. The overall satisfaction score among branch-dependent bank customers is 824 (on a 1,000-point scale), which is 23 points higher than the core among digital-only customers. That satisfaction gap is widest (31 points) among members of Generation Y. Big banks lead midsize and regional banks on digital engagement: The Big 6 2 banks currently have a jump on regional and midsize banks to build digital engagement. Prior to the pandemic, 49% of big bank customers had high levels of digital engagement, compared with 41% of regional bank customers and 36% of midsize bank customers.



The Big 6 banks currently have a jump on regional and midsize banks to build digital engagement. Prior to the pandemic, 49% of big bank customers had high levels of digital engagement, compared with 41% of regional bank customers and 36% of midsize bank customers. P2P payment integration emerges as wild card for bank customer satisfaction: Satisfaction is significantly higher among customers who have linked their bank accounts to digital payment services (e.g., Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal (News - Alert), Venmo) than among those who have not. Among P2P (person to person) payment providers, direct integration with Zelle generates the highest boost in bank customer satisfaction. The study measures customer satisfaction with banks in 11 geographic regions. Highest-ranking banks and scores, by region, are as follows: California Region: Chase (825)

Florida Region: Chase (851)

Mid-Atlantic Region: S&T (News - Alert) Bank (871)

Midwest Region: First National Bank of Omaha (847)

New England Region: Bangor Savings Bank (863)

North Central Region: City National Bank (WV) (857)

Northwest Region: Columbia Bank (837)

South Central Region: Arvest Bank (863)

Southeast Region: United Community Bank (862)

Southwest Region: Arvest Bank (851)

Texas Region: Frost Bank (863)

See the rank charts for each region at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2020044. The U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, now in its 15th year, measures satisfaction in six factors (listed in alphabetical order): account opening; communication and advice; channel activities; convenience; problem resolution; and products and fees. Channel activities include seven subfactors (listed in alphabetical order): ATM; assisted online; branch; call center; IVR; mobile; and website. The study is based on responses from 91,950 retail banking customers of 182 of the largest banks in the United States regarding their experiences with their retail bank. It was fielded from April 2019 through February 2020. Big banks are defined as banks with more than $250 billion in domestic deposits; regional banks are those with $55 billion-$250 billion in domestic deposits; and midsize banks are those with less than $55 billion in domestic deposits. For more information about the J.D. Power U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/resource/us-retail-banking-satisfaction-study. J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power has offices serving North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info. 1 J.D. Power defines generational groups as Pre-Boomers (born before 1946); Boomers (1946-1964); Gen X (1965-1976); Gen Y (1977-1994); and Gen Z (1995-2004). Millennials (1982-1994) are a subset of Gen Y. 2 The Big 6 banks are Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, PNC, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005013/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 10:49:48|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Restaurant and bar workers in the State of Western Australia (WA) will undergo COVID-19 hygiene training allowing venues to reopen after lockdown, authorities revealed on Wednesday.

WA has been one of the most successful states in containing COVID-19, with zero new cases reported on Thursday, and is considering lifting restrictions on the food and beverage industry.

"While we're not there yet, we need to make sure our businesses are prepared," WA Premier Mark McGowan said.

However the state's roughly 70,000 hospitality workers will be required to undergo online training to show they can comply with rules in order to lower the chance of spreading the virus.

"This mandatory, specialised course will ensure that every single worker employed at a WA hospitality business has the skills and knowledge to protect themselves, their colleagues and their customers from COVID-19," McGowan said.

Course material will draw on official State and Federal advice regarding COVID-19 -- key elements of which include reporting personal health issues, maintaining COVID-19 specific hygiene practices, reducing cross contamination, and effective cleaning and sanitising practices.

Managers and supervisors are also required to undergo a second, more advanced, tier of training and venues are required to roster one of these staff members onto every shift as a dedicated hygiene officer. Enditem
After another tie vote Tuesday night, the Boyertown Area School Board abandoned its plan to narrow its seven applicants for a board vacancy down to two finalists, and instead picked from the entire list, thereby choosing Marianne Scott as the newest member.
Researchers from Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) in collaboration with colleagues from Southern Federal University and Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT Madras) suggested using machine learning methods to predict the properties of artificial sapphire crystals. It is a unique material widely used in microelectronics, optics and electronics. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Electronic Science and Technology and the illustration from the article hit the coverpage of the journal.

Machine learning methods are becoming increasingly popular in accelerating the design of new materials by predicting material properties. The minimization of various defects in the crystal structure is extremely important for the improvement and development of modern technologies for the artificial sapphire crystal growth.

Scientists note that the purpose of the study is to reduce various defects in sapphire crystals, improve and develop modern technologies for growing artificial crystals.

"Our research team obtained the models of crystal growth parameters' influence on sapphire crystal growth. We developed the software which is considered to be a universal tool for studying the influence of various parameters on the quality of crystals. It can be widely used to assess and predict the defects in a growing crystal," said Alexey Filimonov, Professor of the Higher Engineering Physics School at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU).

Julia Klunnikova, Associate Professor at Southern Federal University (SFU), adds: "We use the scheme where the predictive modules are developed separately using the Orange Canvas data mining tool. For the decision support system, our group developed a special software for analyzing the quality of the resulting crystals, which allows optimizing the process of crystal growth".

Ravi Kumar, Head of the Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics & Professor in the Dept of Metallurgical and Materials Engg.,at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT Madras), is confident that the industrial application of such methods will heighten the automatization level of production of crystals with a predefined combination of properties that can be important for a particular application in micro- and nanoelectronics. The solution of these scientific and engineering problems assumes the use of information technologies in production of crystals at a new level.

Currently, the team of authors is working to increase the number of experimental data, which will provide new opportunities for prediction and increase its accuracy. It is planned to recognize crystal images from the furnace chamber and to forecast the conditions' influence on the crystal quality.

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THE government is to decide on a roadmap for reopening Ireland to "a new normal", Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dail.

Mr Varadkar warned that any easing of coronavirus restrictions will be slow and gradual and he set out five criteria that will feed into the decision making.

These are:

The progress of the disease;

The capacity of the health care system;

The capacity for testing and contact tracing;

Shielding at-risk groups like the elderly;

The risk of secondary morbidity and mortality.

Mr Varadkar said that the easing of restrictions won't necessarily mirror the way they were escalated.

He said there would be two-four week intervals in lifting restrictions but to accurately assess the impact of the easing of certain measures.

Mr Varadkar said the restrictions could be re-introduced earlier "if things appear to be going off track".

He said he expects the "roadmap" to be ready for consideration by Cabinet tomorrow.

Mr Varadkar offered his condolences to the families of those who have died.

He said that deaths from coronavirus, both confirmed and suspected combined, stand at 1,190.

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Mr Varadkar said lock-down is difficult but added: "We must keep doing what were doing because it is working."

He said: "We owe it to those who have been lost".

Mr Varadkar defended how the crisis in nursing homes has been responded to pointing to funding support and deliveries of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

He said that behind the scenes there has been "considerable" work to protect people.

He said that comparisons between Ireland and other countries on the spread of the virus and number of deaths can't yet be made as different jurisdictions have varying ways of compiling the figures and are at different stages in the pandemic.

Mr Varadkar said: "In any case its not a competition".

He said Ireland has tested more than 150,000 people so far and is sixth on a per capita basis in the EU and has a higher rate than Germany, South Korea and Singapore.

Mr Varadkar said he's "increasingly concerned" that people with non-coronavirus illnesses aren't presenting to clinics and hospitals.

He said one GP told him that he had not diagnosed cancer for a month, which has never happened in their practice before.

Mr Varadkar said that perhaps people with other illnesses are afraid of catching the virus if they go to health centres or do not want to put extra pressure on the system.

But he urged people to "seek help if you need it" and said GPs and the Emergency Departments are still open.

The Taoiseach also said that there would be "major difficulties" in using predictive marking for Leaving Cert students.

The Leaving Cert has been postponed until July 29 due to the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Varadkars remarks came after People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett asked why the government is continuing with the Leaving Cert given the uncertainty being experienced by students.

He said most students want a certification that doesnt require them to got through the stress of sitting the exam.

Mr Varadkar said there was a debate on the Leaving Cert in the Dail last week and most TDs agreed with the plan to continue with the exam.

He said plans are being developed to do that with a view to the exams starting on July 29.

Mr Varadkar said the reason for this is that the alternative, predictive marking, "raises all sorts of difficulties".

He said some students are concerned teachers may not give them a fair grade.

There was also an issue with using the results from mock exams as students would not have realised when they were held that they could be used to work out their final result.

"There are major difficulties with predictive marking.

"It is not impossible, but if it were done we would be dealing with a raft of issues," he said.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin told the Dail that public transport users must be advised to wear face coverings.

He that every part of Irish society has played a role in responding to the pandemic and the "resolve to do everything possible remains strong".

He said: "No one believes that the threat is gone and no one expects a rapid reversal of every control measure."

But he warned there is a "deep unease" due to growing uncertainty about what the next steps are.

He called for the government to increase transparency and "meaningful consultation" as the "only reasonable response to the controls which we have collectively accepted on our rights".

Mr Martin raised the issue of advice on the use of face coverings by the public.

He said: "I think theres no credible alternative to adopting their use particularly on public transport."

He said that other countries have assessed their role and that he expected advice on the issue shortly.

Mr Martin also said there should be "a full and open assessment of the economic impact of the pandemic" including the impact on public companies.

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

He said: "For example, we are currently operating a public transport system which is receiving almost no revenue What is to be done to fill this gap?..."

"What is the current state of local authority finances? What is the assessment of the hit taken by higher education institutions?"
Nokia 220 4G is the latest device to join HMD Global's feature phone family. Launched in China, the feature phone is a 4G-enabled version of the Nokia 220, which was launched last year alongside the Nokia 150. The Nokia 220 4G brings 4G VoLTE support for carriers in China, along with other basic features such as an MP3 player and a physical T9 keyboard. The new feature phone is on now pre-sale in China while the shipping begins May 7.

Nokia 220 4G Price

The Nokia 220 4G feature phone comes at a price of CNY 299, which is approximately Rs 3,200. The pre-orders for the feature phone are live on Nokia Mobile Store, JD.com, and Tmall. The Nokia 220 4G comes in Black and Blue colour options.

The company is doling out a CNY 30 coupon for pre-bookings of the Nokia 220 4G. The pre-booking amount for Nokia 220 4G on Nokia Mobile Store is CNY 2.9, while Tmall and JD.com are accepting CNY 1 as a token amount. The remaining amount needs to be paid on May 7, when the sale of the smartphone begins for everyone.

HMD Global has not specified if the Nokia 220 4G will be launched in the markets outside of China.

Nokia 220 4G Specifications

Despite having a vivid smartphone spectrum, the feature phone portfolio of HMD Global is quite strong in markets such as India. This is why the company pays attention to the low-end segment. The Nokia 220 4G is another attempt at bringing the 4G prowess to the feature phone. The feature phone supports VoLTE, as we said, on all carriers in China. It comes in two models - a single SIM variant and a dual SIM variant.

The Nokia 220 4G comes with a 2.4-inch QVGA non-touchscreen display with a resolution of 240x320 pixels. The Nokia 220 4G is powered by the Feature OS (via NokiaMob), which is a little ambiguous. But if we were to guess, it could run on KaiOS.

Moreover, the Nokia 220 4G packs 16MB of RAM and 24MB of internal memory, along with support for a microSD card. There is a 0.3-megapixel rear camera on the feature phone. It has a 1200mAh removable battery under the hood. The Nokia 220 4G measures 121.3x52.9x13.4mm and weighs 86.5 grams. For connectivity, the Nokia 220 4G has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a MicroUSB (USB 2.0), and Bluetooth v4.2. The feature phone has a wireless FM radio and an MP3 player.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 23:44:54|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish plans to relax the drastic COVID-19 restrictions in late May should be done in phases to prevent a new wave of infections, experts and officials said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that the strict measures imposed more than a month ago would be eased at the very end of May.

Turkey will "overcome the global calamity of the COVID-19 disease and have a double feast by the end of Ramadan," the Turkish leader said following a cabinet meeting.

This year, the Eid Al-Fitr which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan falls on between May 24 and May 27.

The weekend lockdowns will continue during the Ramadan holidays, with the next one to be effective at midnight on April 30 which will run until the midnight on May 3, the Turkish leader noted.

Erdogan also insisted that measures should be gradually relaxed so as not to cause a second wave of contagion in Turkey which has the highest number of infected cases in Asia.

On Wednesday, Education Minister Ziya Selcuk announced that schools will remain closed until June 1.

"Returning to normal will depend on the success of our fight against the virus. Current measures will be in place for another month," Health minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters on Wednesday.

A Turkish source close to the government told Xinhua that the easing will be carried out "under a strict plan."

"We do not take chances with a pandemic. Some restrictions will be lifted but others will remain in place for several months," the source said on the condition of anonymity.

Serhat Unal, a professor of infectious diseases from Hacettepe University in the capital Ankara, said he is not expecting Turkey to ease its vigilance prematurely against the virus.

"With a strong medical infrastructure, Turkey has a low mortality rate and our hospitals are far from saturation, but this doesn't mean we should let our guard down," he told Xinhua.

Until a vaccine is found, "coronavirus will still be in control of the pandemic," noted the Turkish professor who himself recovered from the virus a couple of weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Huseyin Altas, head of the Council of Shopping Centers, said a planned phased reopening from May 11 would initially exclude cinemas, playgrounds and restaurants.

There are more than 430 shopping malls in Turkey's big cities, offering employment to tens of thousands of people amid a vulnerable economy that has taken a new blow by the pandemic.

Turkey has shut down malls, schools, restaurants and cafes to curb a surge in cases of the COVID-19 disease, while millions under the age of 20 and over 65 have been under mandatory confinement for a month.

Turkey has so far reported more than 117,000 coronavirus cases including 2,992 fatalities. However, there is a fall in newly reported deaths over the last week. Enditem
Mining magnate Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest is considering buying Virgin Australia - a week after the airline was placed into voluntary administration.

The billionaire has reportedly put together a team of people to crunch the numbers since the airline is formally went up for sale.

Forrest also called in investment bank Credit Suisse for advice on the potential acquisition.

Virgin approached Forrest and floated the idea of him becoming a white night investor earlier this month, prior to its collapse, the Financial Review reported.

Mining magnate Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest is considering buying Virgin Australia - a week after the airline was placed into voluntary administration

Virgin Australia had already been struggling prior to the coronavirus pandemic; amassing debts of $7billion, including $450million owed to its hard working staff

It's understood the 58-year-old will work out the numbers through his investment group Minderoo or a consortium.

There are 10 separate parties vying to take over Virgin Australia, which is set to be worth billions.

But the airline had already been struggling prior to the coronavirus pandemic; amassing debts of $7billion, including $450million owed to its hard working staff.

Virgin Australia 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'.

Virgin Australia is ten per cent owned by billionaire Sir Richard Branson, who is battling to save his UK business Virgin Atlantic.

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 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.

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.

Virgin Australia went into voluntary administration on April 23, putting 16,000 jobs under threat

Virgin Australia is ten per cent owned by billionaire Sir Richard Branson, who is battling to save his UK business Virgin Atlantic

News of Forrest's potential purchase of Virgin comes the same day the billionaire businessman was slammed for letting a Chinese diplomat 'hijack' a ministerial press conference.

Forrest held a joint press conference with health minister Greg Hunt on Wednesday to announce the businessman's foundation securing 10 million coronavirus testing kits from China.

He also invited Victorian China Consul-General Zhou Long to speak - who did not take questions but credited the 'open, transparent and responsible' manner with which China had worked alongside the World Health Organisation.

There are increasing tensions between the two countries after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an inquiry into China's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mr Forrest (pictured with wife Nicola on) called backlash over the unexpected appearance a 'complete non-story'. Radio host Alan Jones and ex-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have both criticised the billionaire for inviting the Chinese diplomat

'You didn't tell the PM's office - you didn't tell the health minister's officer - it's almost like you've performed an act of treason,' Today host Karl Stefanovic told Forrest.

Forrest said backlash over the unexpected appearance was a 'complete non-story'.

'China has really stepped up so I brought the Chinese consulate along because they've helped Australia,' he said.

'Mums and dads and boys and girls are now able to get tested across our country.

'I brought the consulate along when we broke the back of the PPE [personal protective equipment] crisis in Perth so I brought him along again in Melbourne.'

Perth broadcaster Gareth Parker said a similarly unexpected visit was made by the Chinese Consul Madam Dong to an event in Perth when Forrest secured medical supplies for Western Australia.
Mumbai, April 30 : Actress Dia Mirza has joined women world leaders, including Melinda Gates and Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg, to support the global plan for social and economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Dia, a United Nations Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals, has teamed up with the women world leaders as part of a global advocacy effort called 'Rise for All'.

The effort is to support the United Nations' plan for social and economic recovery from coronavirus globally.

Speaking of the global effort, Dia said: "My optimism, my belief in humanity and my faith in us during this shared experience tell me that we will overcome this pandemic and work towards building a more sustainable world by not just ensuring we adopt and follow through on the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, but find individual action and individual ways to become better citizens of our planet." Convened by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, 'Rise for All' aims to mobilise support for the UN roadmap to tackle the development emergency emerging out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to fully fund the UN Response and Recovery Trust Fund.

Dia is part of an initial group of nine prominent women joining the UN Deputy Secretary-General in raising their voices to save lives and protect livelihoods, urging leaders in all countries, across all sectors, to address the humanitarian crisis of the pandemic.
OTTAWAThe province with the most COVID-19 deaths and infections is taking what one expert calls an insanely foolish risk by staging Canadas most aggressive plan to lift restrictions imposed during the coronavirus crisis.

On Wednesday, Quebec took another step in rolling back strict measures to contain the virus when it announced it would relax travel restrictions starting next Monday in regions where the spread of the disease is under control.

The move comes one day after the province  which leads Canada with more than 26,500 infections and 1,700 deaths attributed to COVID-19  announced it would start allowing some shops to reopen as early as May 4, followed by the planned resumption of schools and manufacturing activity in the coming weeks.

Amir Attaran, a professor of law, public health and epidemiology at the University of Ottawa, said it is too early to start reopening the economy because Quebec  and Canada in general  does not have enough capacity to test for infections and trace people possibly exposed to the virus.

Describing the provinces plan as a gamble, Attaran was blunt about the risks of lifting restrictions without the ability to test masses of people for the virus. He pointed to Germany, which reported this week it is now testing 900,000 cases per week. Canada has conducted more than 750,000 tests since the beginning of the pandemic.

Thats where you want to be, he said of the German figures. And if youre not there then its insanely foolish and negligent to do what (Quebec Premier Francois) Legault is talking about.

Speaking to reporters in Quebec City on Wednesday, the provinces deputy premier stressed the reopening plan hinges on the publics continued discipline in maintaining social distancing measures even as some businesses reopen. Genevieve Guilbault said the province wont hesitate to push back its reopening plan if the situation worsens.

Well continue to evaluate the situation, like I said, but the key word is really discipline, she said. We must maintain prohibitions that are in place right now, in terms of public health.

Quebecs plan contrasts with Ontarios. Premier Ford has pointedly refused to affix a schedule to the eventual lifting of measures that have closed businesses and prohibited gatherings of people for weeks. At Queens Park Wednesday, Ford said Ontario would face disaster if it lifted restrictions too soon and prompted a new spike of infections. While he noted the spread is slowing, he said the province must be methodical in how it reopens the economy.

He also urged people in other provinces to stay out of Ontario  and that he has said as much to Quebecs premier.

Health officials in Ottawa and across the country have reported that weeks of social distancing and restrictions that closed non-essential workplaces and barred foreign visitors from Canada is slowing the spread of the virus. In recent days, several provinces have rolled out blueprints for lifting some restrictions.

On Wednesday, Manitoba announced that dentist offices and other health services, retail shops, museums, libraries and restaurant patios can reopen on May 4 under social distancing guidelines. Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, which have reported far fewer infections than larger provinces, have also announced plans to lift some restrictions in the coming weeks.

Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Toronto, said the pandemic is playing out very differently across the country. But Quebec has the largest burden of infection in the country, which makes their plan to reopen seem like a pretty ambitious timeline to do it safely, Bogoch said.

Its probably premature to lift these restrictions in Quebec.

Last week, Legault promoted the idea of herd immunity, in which the risk of the pandemic drops as a greater proportion of the population gets infected and develops natural immunity to the coronavirus, thus slowing the spread until new infections are eliminated.

Attaran, the University of Ottawa professor, said there is still no proof people develop lasting immunity to the novel coronavirus, but they likely do based on evidence from other diseases.

The decision to pursue mass immunity by exposing people to infections should be a political calculation based on science, Attaran said, because it involves balancing the needs of the economy against the desire to take maximum precautions to protect people from a deadly disease.

Youll get to a threshold of herd immunity sooner than those who have distanced, he said.

But wherever that threshold isyoure going to lose a lot of blood between here and there. Youre going to make an awful lot of people sick and an awful lot of people die.

Attaran added that, if he was given health advice to other provinces, he would call for travel restrictions to limit any resurgence of the virus in Quebec from spilling into the rest of the country. There are already checkpoints on the border between Ottawa and the city of Gatineau to restrict everything but essential travel.

Unless we close our borders to Quebec, we are by extension part of their experiment, he said.

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Private banks may sell shares to raise a cumulative Rs 35,000 crore to build a buffer against the economic shocks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bank of Baroda, RBL Bank, IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and IDFC First Bank are looking to build a capital base against the economic effects of COVID-19. RBL and IDFC First plan to raise between Rs 1,800-2,000 crore each, sources told Mint.

IDFC First Bank will reportedly use the capital for strengthening the banks capital buffers further and for growth.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

RBL Bank is also said to be looking to add growth capital and strengthen its capital position.

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

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

The capital raising may happen when the share price goes up. The money can be used for consolidation such as acquisitions or mergers, apart from improving the banks tier 1 capital further," sources told the paper.

Over the past weeks, these banks have made plans to issue fresh shares to enhance common equity tier 1 (CET 1) capital, it added. CET 1 is used to measure a banks capability to bear loan losses and write-offs, and also measure cash reserve for acquisitions or infusions.

The lockdown to combat the spread of the virus has made it difficult for borrowers to repay loans and could increase slippages and loan write-offs in the September quarter. The second phase of the country-wide lockdown is scheduled to be lifted in phases from May 3.
Actor-writer Lisa Ray had made her Bollywood debut with Irrfan Khan in 2001 film Kasoor and is devastated with his untimely death. The actor shared an anecdote from the making of Kasoor about how he walked with dignified authority, though he was a struggling actor in those days.

Sharing Irrfans still from the film Warrior, Lisa talked about his performance in the film and meeting him on the sets. Revealing the first impression that he left on her, she wrote, His quiet, electrifying performance in @asifkapadia1 The Warrior rendered me speechless. There was no role he could not make his own. But a little known fact, is I met Irrfan on the set of my first Hindi film #Kasoor. He played the opposing lawyer in a courtroom scene, and even in this small role he was impossible to ignore. Well done he told me afterwards. He had removed his lawyers robe and walked with an even more dignified authority, though he was a struggling actor in those days.

Mourning his death, she further wrote, Hes a once in a generation artist who set new standards in cinema in India and aboard. I feel irredeemably grief stricken, but in the end we need to celebrate what he illuminated for us on screen through his humane performances. I read that when he embarked on treatment for cancer he asked life to embrace him with the fervour of the lyrics of one of his favourite songs: Lag jaa gale ki phir yeh haseen raat ho na ho, shayad phir is janam mein, mulakat ho na ho #IrrfanKhan #devastated #legend. Irrfan had played the role of public prosecuter Nitin Mehta while Lisa was the female protagonist Simran Bhargav.

Also read: Amitabh Bachchan shares fan tribute to Irrfan, Rituparno Ghosh about longing to be in realm of talents that left us before time

Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, and had been under medical attention for the same. He was admitted to the Kokilaben Ambani hospital for colon infection but breathed his last on Wednesday at around 11 am. He is survived by his wife Sutapa and sons Babil and Ayan.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
As we stand in one of the busiest weeks of the current reporting cycle, investors can be lured by the profits of companies that have already released their quarterly figures. However, instead of adding the stocks later to your portfolio, accumulating the ones that are yet to report earnings and poised to beat estimates can generate higher gains. This is because an earnings beat usually serves as a catalyst, boosting investor confidence in a stock and resulting in price appreciation.



While the first quarter began on a positive note with a resilient economy and decent job-market strength, things got weary in the second half due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, REITs invest in all types of properties, from residential, offices, malls to hospitals, hotels and data centers, to several others. Therefore, not all of these were impacted, as the underlying asset categories and location of properties play a crucial role in determining REITs performance.



Take for example the industrial real estate asset category which continues to play a pivotal role in a rising e-commerce market, transforming the way how consumers shop and receive their goods. Moreover, apart from e-retail, companies are making strategic moves to improve their supply-chain efficiencies, spurring demand for logistics infrastructure and efficient distribution networks.



Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. industrial market was on a solid footing and though the outbreak resulted in a choppy situation in March, it needs to be noted that this asset category seems to be one of the most resilient ones during the crisis. Per a report from CBRE Group CBRE, net asking rents were up 4.8% year on year in the March-end quarter, while the vacancy rate came in at a near-record low of 4.5%. With anticipations for greater inventory controls, supply-chain diversification as well as e-commerce progression, this asset category has scope for long-term growth.



Moreover, per a report from real estate technology and analytics firm RealPage, the U.S. apartment rental markets performance in February was steady with national apartment occupancy in the month remaining at 95.5%, in line with Januarys and up 30 basis points (bps) from the year-ago tally. Rent growth of 2.9% also came in line with the three-year average.



Apart from these, data-center and tower REITs have experienced decent market fundamentals and are poised to benefit from the heightening reliance on technology. Moreover, for retail REITs, the impact of shutdowns and store closures are likely to be more pronounced on retail real estate fundamentals in the second quarter than in the first.



The Zacks Methodology



However, picking the right stock could be difficult unless one knows the proper method. To make the task simple we rely on the Zacks methodology, combining a Zacks Rank  Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold)  and a positive Earnings ESP.



Our proprietary methodology, Earnings ESP, shows the percentage difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate. And research shows that for stocks with this combination of rank and ESP, chances of a positive earnings surprise are as high as 70%.



You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Here are four REITs that have the right combination of elements to deliver a positive surprise this season. Also, the diversification benefits that real estates offer make them prudent investment choices now.



Americold Realty Trust COLD currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3 and has an Earnings ESP of +9.74%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this REITs first-quarter funds from operations (FFO) per share has been revised upward marginally in a months time to 28 cents. Its revenue estimate suggests a 21.9% year-on-year increase to $479.2 million.



Atlanta, GA-based Americold Realty is focused on the operation and development of temperature-controlled warehouses. The firm currently owns and operates roughly 175 warehouses across the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Argentina. It works mostly with food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers. The REIT is likely to play a key role during the coronavirus crisis as its facilities are integral components in vital supply chains.



Americold Realty is scheduled to report quarterly figures on May 7.



SBA Communications Corporation SBAC currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3 and has an Earnings ESP of +0.67% for the quarter under review.



This Boca Raton, FL-based communications tower REIT has a decent surprise history, having beaten estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average positive surprise being 2.8%.



In the January-March quarter, the company is anticipated to have benefited from incredible mobile subscriber growth witnessed by the wireless tower industry. In fact, next-generation 4G LTE networks, heavy investments in future 5G networks, and the increased use of smartphones and tablets have been generating impressive demand for tower leasing. This is likely to have driven the tower operators domestic and international site-leasing activities during the quarter to be reported.



SBA Communications is scheduled to release earnings figures on May 5.



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



VEREIT, Inc. VER currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 and has an Earnings ESP of +5.15%. This Phoenix, AZ-based diversified REIT has a decent surprise history, having beaten estimates in all of the preceding four quarters, the average positive surprise being 3.69%.



VEREIT Inc. owns and manages one of the largest portfolios of single-tenant commercial properties in the United States. Particularly, it has a diversified portfolio of retail, restaurant, office and industrial real estate assets.



VEREIT Inc. is set to report quarterly numbers on May 20.



Equity Residential EQR, a Chicago, IL-based residential REIT, currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 and has an Earnings ESP of +1.26%, at present. The REIT has a projected long-term growth rate of 5.2%.



The company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average positive surprise being 2.02%.



Equity Residential recently noted that its same-store portfolio remains well occupied at 96.5% as of Mar 24, 2020. The company is also seeing indications of increased retention. Furthermore, the company announced that it has collected about 93% of its April cash rents through Apr 7, and is having talks with the remainder of the residents on payment options.



For the to-be-reported quarter, Equity Residential projects normalized FFO per share at 84-88 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is currently pegged at 87 cents, indicating a 6.1% year-over-year improvement on solid revenues. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the companys quarterly revenues is pinned at $683.7 million, suggesting 3.2% growth year on year.



Equity Residential is scheduled to announce earnings results on May 5.



Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represent funds from operations (FFO)  a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Elon Musk launched into an expletive-laden rant on Tesla's earnings call Wednesday, calling shelter-in-place orders "fascist" and demanding political officials "give people back their g-- d--- freedom."

"To say that they cannot leave their house and they will be arrested if they do, this is fascist," he said, before the call abruptly cut out. "This is not Democratic - this is not freedom."

The company was forced to shut down its factory in Fremont, California, just as it was ramping up production for its Model Y, the crossover vehicle it expects to be its best-selling product. Musk has been a vocal critic of coronavirus measures on social media, tweeting Tuesday night, "FREE AMERICA NOW."

On the call, Musk called the coronavirus an "unexpected roundhouse" kick that "came out of nowhere." He dropped an f-bomb in describing what he saw as "forcibly imprisoning" people in their homes "against [their] constitutional rights," adding, it's "not why people came to America."

The comments followed Tesla posting a slight profit Wednesday, a lukewarm signal as worries mounted about the electric carmaker's trajectory amid the global pandemic.

The company said first-quarter profit came in at $16 million, down compared with the past two consecutive quarters. In the same quarter a year ago, the company reported a $702 million loss. The company's nearly $6 billion in quarterly revenue was up 32 percent year over year.

The company in early April already reported a record first quarter for production and deliveries of its vehicles lineup, consisting of the Models S, X, 3 and Y. Still, analysts have cautioned that the pandemic is likely to slice into production and render unlikely its target of half a million vehicles built in 2020.

Tesla echoed that concern, saying it might not hit that target as a result of the coronavirus. It also warned that cash flow and net income might be difficult to predict, so it would revisit its yearly guidance next quarter.

"It is difficult to predict how quickly vehicle manufacturing and its global supply chain will return to prior levels," Tesla said. "For our US factories, it remains uncertain how quickly we and our suppliers will be able to ramp production after resuming operations."

Chief financial officer Zachary Kirkhorn said Tesla is closely assessing the impact of the coronavirus downturn.

"In Fremont we're working toward restarting production as soon as that's possible," he said. "However, unavoidably, the extended shutdown in Fremont will have an impact on our [near-term] financial performance."

Still, Tesla's stock rose more than 7 percent in after-hours trading to $861.07 as investors applauded the profit.

The record first-quarter performance surprised investors and analysts, who expected the company to have suffered some preliminary effects from the global impacts of the coronavirus, which ravaged China before the first cases of local transmission were reported in the United States toward the end of February.

Analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities said Tesla's ability to turn a profit in an environment constrained by covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, sent the market a strong signal of the company's financial viability that sent the stock surging.

"The fact that they're navigating that storm as well as they are, now you're going to have a stock that's going to start to make its trek toward a thousand dollars," he said.

Before his rant, Musk said on the call that Tesla had started spending more efficiently to better withstand the crisis.

"It has caused us to look closely at our cost structure and to be more efficient as a company," he said. "We came to the conclusion that the right move is actually to continue to expand rapidly, continue to invest in the future in new technologies, even though it is risky."

Tesla began delivering its Model Y crossover in March, a muted debut that coincided with widespread social distancing and shelter-in-place orders aimed at slowing the spread of the virus. Wednesday's earnings report was the first indicator of demand for the small SUV, which has long been expected to be strong due to U.S. preference for that type of vehicle. Tesla said the crossover became the "first time in our history that a new product has been profitable in its first quarter."

The Y's debut may have provided some insight into why Musk initially resisted efforts to close businesses in the Bay Area, where Tesla is headquartered. Only after substantial intervention from local authorities last month did Musk agree to close up shop at its Fremont factory.

Tuesday night, ahead of the earnings release, Musk repeatedly encouraged business to reopen. The tweets drew the ire of some elected officials who said Musk's antics showed he was willing to put the health of Americans at risk for personal gain.

"By all accounts, 2020 was supposed to be Tesla's year," Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights with research group Edmunds, said in a statement. "Its Shanghai factory was up and running, Model Y production and deliveries were ahead of schedule, and the company was making money while expanding its product lineup and operations. COVID-19 essentially robbed what would've been a home run for Elon Musk, so it's unsurprising that he's been leaning into the 'Free America' rhetoric on Twitter."

Although some "die hards" will stick with the brand, Tesla faces problems including cheaper gas and a recession that is likely to cut into pocketbooks, said Karl Brauer, an auto industry analyst who serves as executive publisher at Cox Automotive. Luxury brands, which count Tesla among their ranks, tend to suffer during recessions.

"We looked like we were on the cusp of electric vehicles moving from niche to something more than niche," Brauer said. "Nobody with a grounded perspective thinks that what has happened in the last two months is good for electric vehicles."
EURUSD Breaks Weekly Chart Downchannel Resistance Tradable Patterns - Wed Jan 12, 10:12PM CST The (EURUSD) is consolidating in todays Asia morning after yesterdays roughly 100 pip gain from the days low to its high. Significantly, the EURUSD has broken above the December high and downchannel/descending... ^EURUSD : 1.14736 (+0.29%) FXE : 106.43 (+0.74%)

Shootin' the Bull Swift Trading Company - Wed Jan 12, 4:43PM CST I am going to stick my neck out and say that I believe today may be a tipping point in the next round of inflation. I say that based upon a couple of factors that have been building and are potentially...

Midweek Soy Market Closes in Black Barchart - Wed Jan 12, 4:41PM CST Front month soybeans rallied off the initial report day drops and closed the session with double digit gains of 12 1/4 to 14 1/2 cents. March stayed under the $14 mark by 3/4 of a cent. USDA raised the... ZSF22 : 1391-2s (+1.05%) ZSPAUS.CM : 13.5725 (+0.91%) ZSH22 : 1391-2 (-0.57%) ZSX21 : 1234-0s (+1.79%) ZSPX21US.CM : 12.3270 (+1.90%)

Lean Hogs Bounced Triple Digits Barchart - Wed Jan 12, 4:41PM CST Hog futures closed with triple digit gains of $1 to $1.47 in the front months. USDAs National Average Afternoon Base hog price for Wednesday was $66.07 after a 92 cent drop. The CME Lean Hog Index from... HEG22 : 78.850s (+1.28%) HEK22 : 90.975s (+1.34%) KMG22 : 90.725s (+0.78%)

Corn Closes Red on Report Day Barchart - Wed Jan 12, 4:41PM CST Corn futures spiked lower after the data drop early on Wednesday before rallying back just as quick for midday. At the closing bell, prices were 1 3/4 to 2 cents weaker with May above the $6 mark and March... ZCH22 : 597-6 (-0.21%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.8579 (-0.37%) ZCK22 : 599-2 (-0.25%) ZCZ21 : 588-6s (+0.77%) ZCPZ21US.CM : 5.7930 (-0.49%)
In this April 1, 2020, file photo, pedestrians wear face masks to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea. AP



Potential cooperation between the two Koreas in fighting the coronavirus pandemic is not subject to the international sanctions on Pyongyang, a senior presidential official said Tuesday.



South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday vowed to move ahead with "realistic and practical" cooperation with the North, including a joint response to COVID-19 and border-area disasters, as he marked the second anniversary of the historic summit with his northern counterpart, Kim Jong-un.



"This is a humanitarian matter thus not subject to sanctions," a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said in a meeting with reporters. "We expect no major constraints," he said, requesting anonymity.



The North has long been subjected to tough sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests. The South plans to prioritize resuming inter-Korean programs that would not undermine the sanctions or getting conditional exemptions.



The official also pointed out that Seoul and Washington have had "close consultations" regarding Seoul's proposed inter-Korean railway connection project.



"The situation continues to change in each phase of negotiations between the Koreas. I can tell you that the railway project is being sought out under such circumstances," the official explained.



The North, according to the official, has not responded to the South's offers. He explained that Seoul remains prepared to move immediately with the projects if Pyongyang accepts the proposals.



"We look forward with hope," the official added.



On circulating theories surrounding the North Korean leader, the official said that the government has come across no movement or trend to discern the exact state of Kim's health.



Unconfirmed media reports have since speculated that Kim might be "in grave danger" after receiving surgery, but South Korean officials have repeatedly disputed these claims, saying no unusual signs have been detected from North Korea.



Officials in Seoul said that Kim appears to be staying in the eastern coastal town of Wonsan. The U.S monitoring website 38 North earlier reported that commercial satellite imagery showed a train probably belonging to Kim was spotted in the region since at least April 21. (Yonhap)


DENVER, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GigSmart, the smart staffing solution connecting businesses with available workers, is encouraging all U.S.-based businesses, organizations, and non-profits seeking volunteers to leverage its staffing platform to expand their search, free of charge.

GigSmart's two staffing apps, Get Workers and Get Gigs, are most often used to connect businesses with labor needs to skilled workers who can be hired on the fly at low costs with no lead time. As a direct result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, GigSmart's free apps can also be used to connect organizations seeking COVID-19-related volunteers to individuals who want to help. With an existing user base of over 170,000 workers, every applicable Get Gigs user will automatically be notified when COVID-19-related gigs are posted in their area.

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt our nation, demand for volunteers is on the rise. "Every day we see local governments, health care facilities, and community organizations struggle to find volunteers," said Mitch Catino, Chief Product Officer of GigSmart. "These organizations face challenges when it comes to promoting, sourcing, and tracking all of their volunteer-related efforts. GigSmart's apps are built to instantly match volunteers to volunteer opportunities  by location and by skill."

Organizations interested in sourcing COVID-19 volunteers can create COVID-19-related gig posts in the Get Workers app. Alternatively, individuals who are interested in volunteering can use the Get Gigs app to be connected to volunteer opportunities matching their relevant skills, like Certified Nursing Assistant, Home Hospice Aide, Food Delivery Driver, General Laborer, or Volunteer.

Catino continued, "We've invested extensive resources into creating easy-to-use apps that connect organizations to individual workers and volunteers. We want to be socially responsible, and we want to help people connect to volunteers or volunteer opportunities in the midst of the coronavirus crisis."

Available in all 50 states, the number of users leveraging GigSmart's two-sided staffing platform is growing significantly month-over-month. Businesses can leverage the Get Workers app to source temporary labor across 3,000+ skills, and individuals can use the Get Gigs mobile app to access local, on-demand, and scheduled gigs or part-time and full-time jobs available across nearly every industry.

To create your free Get Workers account to instantly source paid hourly workers or unpaid volunteers in your area, or to learn more about GigSmart, please visit www.gigsmart.com.

About GigSmart

GigSmart is a software development company focused on providing modern solutions to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving economy. GigSmart's staffing platform connects businesses looking for labor with available workers across all 50 states. Launched in December of 2018, GigSmart's Get Gigs and Get Workers apps have already surpassed 300,000 installs, serving industries like construction, manufacturing, transportation, retail, customer service, and professional services. GigSmart is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with 35 full-time employees.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rich Oakes

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720.892.6371

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France suffered its sharpest economic contraction since records began in 1949 in the first quarter, as a coronavirus lockdown from mid-March left shops shuttered and consumers hunkered down at home, data showed on Thursday.

With the curbs on activity set to run at least until May 11, economists said the first quarter plunge was only the beginning of a downward spiral and there would be a long, painful slog to recover lost ground.

Gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 5.8% from the previous three months, the INSEE official statistics agency said. That marked the second consecutive quarter of contraction, putting the economy technically into recession.

The slump was the deepest on a quarterly basis since World War Two.

It surpassed economists' average expectation of 3.5% in a Reuters poll, and the 5.3% of the second quarter of 1968, when France was gripped by civil unrest, mass student protests and general strikes.

Since March 17, France's 67 million people have been ordered to stay at home except to buy food, go to work, seek medical care or get some exercise on their own.

INSEE said consumer spending, usually the driver of the French economy, dropped 6.1% in the first quarter from the previous three months while business investment plunged 11.4%.

The lockdown is due to begin winding down from May 11, but the government has said that bankruptcies and unemployment are likely to rise steeply in its wake.

French credit insurer Euler Hermes said in a research note it expected GDP to shrink 16% quarter on quarter in the three months to June.

Highlighting the immediate impact of the lockdown, INSEE said in a separate release that consumer spending plunged nearly 18% in March from February with manufactured goods down 42%.

The government expects the economy will contract at least 8% this year and has rushed through a crisis package worth 110 billion euros - 4% of GDP - to help companies and workers.

More than one in two private sector workers has been put on state-subsidised furloughs aimed at staving off permanent mass layoffs.

Euler Hermes forecast a full-year GDP contraction of nearly 9% on the expectation that activity would resume only gradually, with manufacturing and construction reaching pre-crisis activity levels at year-end while services would remain below that until the second quarter of 2021.

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Societe Generale posted a first-quarter loss on Thursday and said it would make deeper cost cuts in 2020 as its provisions against bad loans increased threefold and it suffered from trading losses.

The coronavirus pandemic has shut down businesses in France and beyond, brought chaos to the world markets and is expected to cause a recession not seen in generations.

France's third-biggest listed bank said revenues fell 16.5% in the first quarter to 5.17 billion euros ($5.62 billion), while its net loss amounted to 326 million euros versus a 686 million euros profit a year ago. Underlying net income was down 90.8% to 98 million euros.

Its cost of risk, or provisions against loan losses, increased to 820 million euros in the first quarter from 264 million a year earlier "in the context of the Covid-19 crisis and some specific files, including two exceptional fraud files," it said.

The banks' revenues from structured products saw losses due to the cancellation of dividend payments of companies and due to counterparty defaults.

The bank said it confirmed its target to see a decrease in costs in 2020 and that there would be an additional cost reduction between 600 and 700 million euros in 2020.

Chief executive Frederic Oudea said that bank was confident in the "the robustness of our capital and risk profile."
A man wanted in a Huntsville double homicide case was arrested today in Nashville, the authorities said.

Tyron Johnson, 37, was arrested by a federal task force at his home in Nashville, a Tennessee city located about 100 miles north of Huntsville. Johnson is charged with murder in the deadly shootings of two men outside a motorcycle club in March, according to the authorities.

IN CUSTODY: Johnson was being sought for involvement of a shooting that occurred on 3/27 on Mastin Lake Rd leaving two victims dead. During this lengthy investigation a tremendous amount of weapons and gang paraphernalia have been seized in multiple jurisdictions. @MNPDNashville https://t.co/X4oL83qz1g  Huntsville Police (@HsvPolice) April 30, 2020

Bernard E. Griffin, 53, and Kelcey W. Smith, 45, were shot to death late that night outside the club on Mastin Lake Road. Two other men  ages 38 and 46  were injured by gunfire.

The shooting happened at the culmination of an ongoing dispute between two motorcycle groups with nearby offices, according to police Chief Mark McMurray.

Theyve been arguing for some time, and this just erupted last night, the chief said when asked about the case at a press event the next morning. It finally came to a boil.

Another man, 31-year-old Albert Vinson of Madison, has already been charged in the deadly shootings. Hes held in the Madison County jail on two charges of murder, and one charge each of discharging a firearm into an occupied building and first-degree assault.

The situation at the motorcycle club was one of three shootings that happened in Huntsville during an eight-hour span, leaving two dead and six injured.

Johnson and Vinson could face up to life in prison if convicted in the deadly shootings at the motorcycle club. Johnson is jailed in Nashville pending transfer back to Alabama.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while speaking at the daily press conference, said that Britain is 'past the peak' of the COVID-19 pandemic. At his first press conference since being hospitalised with the virus, Johnson confirmed that the UK is past the peak and is also on the downward slope. With more than 171,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, the COVID-19 contagion has also claimed nearly 26,771 lives in the country.

While Johnson warned that it is too soon to remove lockdown measures, he also said that next week he would unveil a comprehensive plan for eventually reopening the economy, schools, and workplaces. He also informed that in the coming week the authorities will also decide whether to extend the COVID-19 lockdown or instead modify measures.

READ: UK PM Boris Johnson, Fiancee Carrie Symonds Announce Birth Of 'healthy Baby Boy'

READ: Boris Johnson Wishes Captain Moore On 100th Birthday, Thanks Him For Raising 30mn For NHS

No risk of a second peak

While speaking to the media, Boris Johnson said that the rate at which the virus spreads among people was below one which is the outcome of the general publics adherence to the social distancing measures his government introduced last month. As authorities believe that the virus is almost contained, the UK government said that it could both relax and tighten measures.

The UK Environment Secretary George Eustice at an earlier press briefing had said, There are encouraging signs of progress, but we will not adjust our social distancing measures until our five tests are met -- that the daily death rate falls sustainably and consistently. The rate of infection is decreasing, operational challenges have been met, and that there is no risk of a second peak.

Boris Johnson himself recently recovered from the deadly virus and took over his office on April 26. After contracting COVID-19, Johnson spent three days in intensive care of a London hospital. He took almost two weeks to recover from the virus and is now back to his normal schedule.

READ: 'Maintain Spirit', Says Boris Johnson, In First Public Address Post COVID Recovery

READ: Boris Johnson Back At Work, Says Tide Being Turned On Covid-19
Defending the ban of 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, the administration on Wednesday said that right to access to internet is not a fundamental right. Submitting its response in the Supreme Court on the plea filed by Foundation for Media Professionals seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the union territory, the JK administration also added that internet is an enabler of rights and not a right in itself and that the present 2G speed of internet does enable one to create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge.

"It is submitted that the right to access the internet is not a fundamental right and thus the type and breadth of access for exercising the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and/or to carry on any trade or business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India through the medium of the internet can be curtailed," the 35-page affidavit filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.

"It is submitted that internet is an enabler of rights and not a right in itself and that the present 2G speed of internet does enable one to create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge," it added. Centre has not yet restored 4G internet services in J-K and had provided 2G services after apex court's January 10 order asking it to review all orders of suspension.

READ: Landline-based broadband Internet to be restored in Kashmir in next few days: Sources

What's J-K administration opined on restoration of 4G?

The J-K administration opines that 4G services are used to circulate provocative and false videos, messages in no time, thus, disturbing the law and order situation in the valley. "Internet is being used to support fallacious proxy wars by raising money, recruiting and spreading propaganda/ideologies and prevalence of internet provides an easy inroad to young impressionable minds," it said in its affidavit.

READ | SC gives Centre till Sunday to respond on plea seeking 4G internet restoration in J&K

In its affidavit, J-K has also named Pakistan and its attempt to create disbalance in the valley. "Pakistan-based terrorism handlers like TRF and TMI, instigating youth to join terrorism, are using messaging applications to communicate as also to raise the morale of terrorists; however, 2G mobile data services considerably restrict the use of such applications." It has also given details about 108 terrorism-related incidents took place with 99 incidents being reported from Kashmir province, while nine others from Jammu province.

"The misuse of data services, applications like WhatsApp and Facebook for mobilising crowds by anti-national elements has the potential to cause large-scale violence, disturb public order and indeed threaten the security of the country," the affidavit added.

READ | SC orders review of restrictions in J&K; says restore internet for 'essential services'

On healthcare services during Covid-19

Quashing the claims of the petitioner that during the Covid 19 pandemic and the demands by various local politicians including former chief ministers - Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, J-K administration claimed that it is taking all possible steps to ensure that minimum inconvenience is caused to citizens while keeping the vital issues of national security and internal security as a paramount consideration. "It is submitted that the administrative authorities concerned are the best suited to assess and handle the situation depending upon the peculiar needs and facts brought within their special knowledge," the affidavit said.

READ | 'Archaic 2G not functional': Mehbooba Mufti slams Centre over internet restoration in J-K
Rishi Kapoor isnt the kind of star you come across every other day. He has numerous memorable films to his name, and many unforgettable performances spanning over 50 years of his filmy journey.



However, in recent times, Rishi Kapoor left a mark as the perfect father-figure that many of us have been blessed with or wish we had the pleasure of making memories with in real life. He went from being a strict authoritarian in films like Patiala House to being a righteous father in Mulk, while also entertaining us with his portrayals of a goofy dad, jovial father and supportive father-figure on numerous occasions.

Today, as we take our time to remember this veteran star here are 6 instances when Rishi Kapoor aced the role of daddy cool on-screen and made us appreciate our dads a little more.

1. Hum Tum

 Yash Raj Films

Rishi Kapoor as the easy-going, warm father Arjun Kapoor in Hum Tum comes as a fond memory of dads who continue to share a lively relationship with their grown-up sons. As Karans father, Arjun was not only a supportive father, but also someone who utilised his personal experiences to guide his son away from self-destruction. Saif and Rishis goofy repartee and camaraderie in the film tugged at our hearts with recognition of having been in similar situations ourselves.



2. Namastey London

 Viacom-18

Rishi Kapoor as Katrina or Jasmeets father Manmohan in Namastey London made for a very memorable role. Rishi Kapoor seemed completely in his element as the spunky, loud Punjabi dad, especially in the scenes shot in his pind in Punjab. Manmohan as the devoted, caring father with a weakness for his daughter found a special place in the hearts of many who have been blessed with doting fathers like him in real life.



3. Do Dooni Chaar

 Walt Disney Pictures

Who can forget the endearing Santosh Duggal from Do Dooni Chaar? An honest, middle-class man who took pride in his ideals and struggled hard to balance it with his familys aspirations? From striving to fulfil his childrens needs to setting aside his inhibitions for his familys happiness, Mr Duggal was a replication of many middle-class dads who would bear personal discomfort for his childrens happiness and welfare.



4. Bewakoofiyaan

 Yash Raj Films

Another of Rishi Kapoors take on the invested father as VK Sehgal in Bewakoofiyaan. VK is so protective and committed to his only daughters future; he wouldnt let anything or anyone come in the way of ensuring she leads a happy life with or without him. Isnt that so much like almost every girls dad? So even when it comes to choosing, or in this case approving of his daughters life-partner VK is ready to turn into a villian and test his potential son-in-law before giving away his daughter to him. VK as the slightly paranoid, overprotective father was really a winner.



5. Kapoor & Sons

 Dharma Productions

Now, this one has to be the most memorable of them in recent times. As Amarjeet, Rishi Kapoor wasnt just the witty dad, but also a jolly grandfather any child would love to sit close to and regale in the many jokes and tales they have to share. Amarjeet, as the 90-year-old head of the family does more than to bring his family together and keep it close, he allows his family to face their demons and grow before it gets too late to redeem themselves.



6. Rajma Chawal

 SaarthiE

Perhaps not a very well-known film, but Rishi Kapoor as Raj Mathur in Rajma Chawal became a personification of a fathers angst at being distanced from his child. As Raj Mathur, he showed us that a father would go to any means to care for his child and bring him solace, even at the cost of overlooking his personal loss.






U.S. President Donald Trump said South Korea has agreed to pay more for the stationing of American troops in the country, according to a news report.







"We can make a deal. They want to make a deal," Trump was quoted as saying in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday (U.S. time), referring to the negotiations to determine how to divide the cost for the upkeep of about 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.







"They've agreed to pay a lot of money. They're paying a lot more money than they did when I got here," he said.







South Korea's presidential office declined to comment, saying, "The negotiation is still ongoing."







"We have nothing to announce yet in regard to the defense cost-sharing deal," a Cheong Wa Dae official said Thursday in a phone call with Yonhap News Agency.







Trump said last week that he rejected South Korea's offer because he felt the Asian ally should pay more. An earlier news report said South Korea suggested a 13 percent increase from the 2019 share of US$870 million for the presence of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea.







More than 4,000 South Korean employees of U.S. Forces Korea have been placed on unpaid leave since April 1 due to the absence of a new defense cost-sharing deal, known as the Special Measures Agreement, to cover their salaries.







The previous SMA, under which Seoul agreed on an 8.2 percent increase, expired at the end of 2019. (Yonhap)


The old band was back together. Boris And The Boffins finally reunited yesterday, their month-long absence from the stage not the result of creative differences but a killer disease which left their charismatic front man struggling to fend off that great gig in the sky.

Back at last in their favourite Downing Street rehearsal room, the Prime Minister, flanked by his Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty, swayed gently at his lectern.

A touch wearier since we last saw them, yes, but almost certainly a little wiser too.

Welcome, said Boris, giving his notes an exaggerated shuffle. Im sorry not to have been with this trio for so long.

At last, we got to hear a sample of some new material. We are past the peak of this disease, the PM declared defiantly. Were past the peak and we are on the downward slope. There are many reasons to be hopeful.

Britain's Prime Minister was back on the podium for the government's daily coronavirus briefing after being absent having caught the virus, and appeared breathless as he spoke

He promised next week to draw up a comprehensive plan of how to lead Britain out of the lockdown. But anyone looking for a ground-breaking new sound was left disappointed. The combos afternoon set list was otherwise all too familiar.

All the old hits were there: Stay the course Your sacrifice is working Keep going! The lockdown, the PM made clear, was going nowhere for now.

Considering the coronacoaster hes been on these past weeks, the PM managed to appear relatively chipper.

Desperate though the toll was  were on course to have the most deaths in Europe  he was determined to convince us there was an open hatch at the end of his route out of this.

We have come under what could have been a vast peak, as though we have been going through some huge alpine tunnel, he said, We can now see the sunlight and the pasture ahead of us. He insisted the UK would beat this disease with our resolve and ingenuity.

We were shown a little film full of blips and blurps and little red and blue dots explaining why the lockdown would not be lifted.

Every expense had been spared on the videos creation. By the looks it, it had been cobbled together on one of those 1980s Commodore computers that could play Space Invaders but little else.

Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, pictured, joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the coronavirus briefing on April 30 in Downing Street and shared the latest virus data

The media performed their usual intermission act. Surprisingly no one asked about the new Johnson baby. Pity. We could have done with some light relief amid the gloom.

Not the appropriate time perhaps.

ITVs Robert Peston asked whether the crisis would herald a new age of austerity. Boris insisted the economy would bounce back strongly and gave Peston a light rollocking for using the word austerity.

There was an interesting moment when someone asked about face masks. Boris thought they would be useful when the lockdown was finally eased and people needed to find the confidence to go back to work. As far as I know, this is the first time hes acknowledged this.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty joined Johnson and Vallance on Thursday, over a month after the trio made their first appearance at the government's first daily coronavirus briefing

Whitty got quite animated, which is to say his left eyebrow half twitched, when someone asked what lessons had been learned. Lets not go charging in whos won and whos lost in this, he said sternly.

When this unlikely three-piece first appeared together in this very spot in March  seems almost a year ago now  Boris kept getting his two bandmates confused (Chris, no! Patrick, he would yell with an awkward ruffle of the hair.) Now they were almost finishing each others sentences.

Who knows, perhaps one of them might end up godfather to No10s new arrival. Suspect the little one would do rather better out of Sir Patrick come Christmas time. He looks the sort whod fork out on a case of vintage port as a Christening gift. Whitty would probably offer to name some new bacterium after the little fella.

Eventually, at 5.52pm the boys downed their instruments and trudged off stage. No bow, no encores. Not so much as a sweaty wave goodnight.

Therell be plenty of time for those when theyre able to produce some different tunes.
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The California attorney general's office is reviewing whether Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey's husband committed a crime when he pointed a gun at protesters in March (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The California attorney general's office is reviewing whether Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey's husband committed a crime and should face prosecution for pointing a gun at protesters outside their home a day before her crucial primary election, officials said.

The Los Angeles Police Department presented its case to Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra's office this month, said Josh Rubenstein, the department's chief spokesman.

David Lacey has been under investigation since March 2, when about 30 protesters arrived at the family's Granada Hills home before dawn. The demonstration was in response to claims that Lacey had failed to deliver on a promise to meet with black activists and discuss a wide variety of issues, including her decision-making in cases in which law enforcement used deadly force.

Melina Abdullah, a Black Lives Matter organizer and Cal State L.A. professor who has long sparred with Lacey and the LAPD, said she and two others approached Lacey's door. Seconds later, Abdullah said, she believed she heard a gun cock.

Video of the incident shows David Lacey answering the door with a firearm in one hand demanding the protesters leave.

"Are you going to shoot me?" Abdullah asks.

"I will shoot you. Get off of my porch," David Lacey responds.

The incident took place just 24 hours before voters went to the polls in a contentious primary race among Lacey, former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascon and former public defender Rachel Rossi. Lacey outpaced her rivals and earned 49% of all ballots cast, but that wasn't enough to avoid a runoff against Gascon in November.

#BREAKING This morning Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Laceys husband pulled a gun out on Black Lives Matter activists who protested his wife in front of their house. @BLMLA pic.twitter.com/wnCFMMvaWV  Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) March 2, 2020

The case is being reviewed by the attorney general to avoid any conflict of interest that would ensue from Lacey's office having to potentially prosecute her husband.

Story continues

In an email, a spokesperson for the attorney general's office said the agency will "review any material regarding the incident that is presented to us by LAPD" but declined to offer specifics, citing the ongoing investigation.

David Lacey, a former investigative auditor for the district attorneys office, declined to comment through a spokesman for Lacey's reelection campaign. He has not been arrested.

Just hours after the incident, Lacey told reporters she had received death threats during the campaign and claimed the hard-fought primary  which featured a January debate that was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, including one who tried to rush the stage  had left her and her husband fearful of who might have been at their door that morning.

His response was in fear, and now that he realizes what happened he wanted me to say to the protesters, the person that he showed the gun to, that he was sorry, that hes profoundly sorry, that he meant no one any harm, she said last month.

Civil rights attorney Carl Douglas, who is representing Abdullah and two other demonstrators involved in the incident, described David Lacey's actions as "negligent use of force." He pushed back on comments made by LAPD Chief Michel Moore last month that his clients were hamstringing the investigation by initially declining to speak with detectives.

We are actively cooperating with the Los Angeles Police Department to make sure that justice is served," he said. "We do not want there to be any suggestion that Dr. Melinas failure to cooperate in anyway hampers a fair investigation into what happened that day. Dr. Melina has sat down with an investigating officer and answered every single question she was asked.
The war effort certainly didnt hurt American automakers; they came out of the war bigger than ever and even more tightly connected to the centers of power. Charles Wilson of G.M. served as secretary of defense under President Dwight Eisenhower; Robert McNamara of Ford held the job under Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. George Romney, head of American Motors, was governor of Michigan and Richard Nixons secretary of housing and urban development.

But that political influence did not prevent the industry from becoming more regulated. Carmakers began voluntarily adding seatbelts to vehicles in the 1950s; in the 1960s, the government made the feature mandatory. Additional federal safety and emissions standards made cars safer for people and the environment.

It may be too early to tell what a post-coronavirus Silicon Valley will look like, but there are some early signs of a similar transformation.

Tech companies that long disdained big government have been urging federal leaders to do more and working with governors and mayors to address the pandemic. In Washington State, Microsoft is teaming up with public health officials to collect data about the virus and procure protective equipment. In California and New York, an effort led by Marc Benioff, the chief executive of Salesforce, has delivered truckloads of masks, gowns and swabs to hospitals. Facebook, Apple and Google have been incredible partners, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said this month.

At the same time, the publics dependence on digital technology during the lockdown and the growing market share of some platforms has increased calls for regulation. This week, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri called for the Justice Department to open a criminal antitrust investigation of Amazon, citing the pandemics devastation of the retail sector. Amazons reported data practices are an existential threat that may prevent these businesses from ever recovering, he said. Amid the shutdown, House and Senate committees have continued to consider tech privacy, which now includes concerns about how to protect personal data in the design of contact-tracing apps.

The worker activism already rumbling through tech has also accelerated. The blue-collar workers who power the digital economy  including fulfillment center workers and app-based couriers  are pushing for higher pay and better protection, just as Detroit autoworkers did 90 years ago.

The realm of political possibility is getting larger, just as it did in the 1930s. Roosevelts New Deal consisted of ideas that had been knocking around among activists for decades, but they lacked broad-based political support  until a crisis delivered it. Similar things are happening now, as Democrats and Republicans embrace trillions of dollars in government spending and mainstream Democratic politics tilt toward the left.
A new book will dwell on Maharashtra's history and evolution from a rich past to the modern times and list its enormous contribution to the tapestry of the country's culture and thought.

In "Shivaji in South Block: The Unwritten History of a Proud People", journalist Girish Kuber talks about Maharashtra's politics, history and society.

From the time of the Satavahanas down to the present day, he chronicles many lesser-known tales: the empire that brought the mighty Mughals to their knees to the woman who took the issue of consent in marital sex right up to Queen Victoria.

The book also discusses the evolution of movements of the right and left as well as for Dalit pride, the leader who mentored Gandhi and the man who killed him, the best prime minister India never had, and the uncertain tryst of Shivaji's metaphorical descendants with the seat of national power, publishers HarperCollins India said.

The book, whose announcement was made on the eve of 60th Maharashtra Day, is scheduled for release in October.

Kuber said his book delves into where the Marathi Manoos stands today and why he is where he is.

"As Maharashtra celebrates the 60th year of its formation, it is an opportune time to revisit the state's glorious past. Maharashtra has made several significant contributions to Indian society that are not widely known and has firsts in a number of fields to its credit," he said.

According to Krishan Chopra, publisher, HarperCollins India, Maharashtra is much more than Bollywood and industry and Kuber has given an exciting account of why the intriguing Marathi Manoos is such an important element in understanding the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus has wreaked havoc with health systems and torn global economies to shreds but in that darkness some of the best of humanity has shone through.

In Western Australia that has become evident through individuals and businesses putting their unique talents to use in the fight against the virus.

The scuba engineer

As a petroleum engineer and keen diver of 27 years, Perth man Ian Sharky Jones is always planning against worst-case scenarios.

And in a world where COVID-19 could overwhelm hospital oxygen supplies, he combined his love of diving with his technical expertise to come up with two simple 3D printable parts  the oxy-wai and oxy-sai  that fit in scuba or welding tanks, unlocking the oxygen for medical use.
By Trend

Azerbaijans Yelo Bank closed 8,504 loans worth 16.4 million manat ($9.6 million), Chairman of the bank's board Nikoloz Shurgaia told reporters at a briefing in Baku, Trend reports on April 29.

The loans were closed thanks to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs decree on additional measures to the resolve the issues related to the problem loans of individuals in the Azerbaijan Republic dated February 28, 2019, which was of great importance for freeing the financial sector from non-performing assets, ensuring liquidity and revitalizing the sector as a whole, the chairman added.

Some 2,898 loans worth 7.7 million manat ($4.5 million) were restructured upon the decree, Shurgaia said.Moreover, the compensations in the amount of 11.4 million manat ($6.7 million) were paid to 9,372 clients. The volume of written off interest amounted to 21.9 million manat ($12.9 million).

In accordance with the decree, some main credit debts of individuals in foreign currency with the main amount of up to $10,000 which was increased in manat as a result of devaluation were paid out through the state budget funds.

This reform, covering a total of more than 800,000 citizens, has pleased the population. As for the impact on the banking sector, the share of distressed assets in the total loan portfolio decreased by 2.6 percent and thereby led to its recovery.

(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on April 29)

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Tajikistan has officially registered the first 15 COVID-19 cases, the Health Ministry told Sputnik on Thursday

DUSHANBE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2020) Tajikistan has officially registered the first 15 COVID-19 cases, the Health Ministry told Sputnik on Thursday.

"As of today, 15 coronavirus cases have been officially confirmed in Tajikistan after testing," the Health Ministry said, specifying that 10 cases are reported in the country's capital of Dushanbe, and five more in the northern Sughd region.
Thousands of parents are defying confusing advice from school officials and are sending their children back to the classroom.

Teachers have begged parents to keep kids at home, despite government health experts saying there is a 'low risk' of COVID-19 being transmitted in schools.

While 87 per cent of families are keeping children at home, department of education data showed, an extra 56,000 are going back to class.

This is eight per cent more than at the end of last term, when 95 per cent of kids were staying at home and doing classes online.

With parents unable to juggle caring for small children and working from home, 15 per cent of primary school children went back on Wednesday.

A family in Brisbane is seen studying at home on April 15 (pictured) after the Queensland government requested parents keep kids at home for the first half of term two

This is compared to just six per cent of high school students, who are more likely to be able to entertain themselves at home, according to figures seen by the Daily Telegraph.

Experts said there is a low risk of children catching the virus, but they can transmit it to others - but this has not been seen widely in Australia.

The country's chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, said there has no evidence of 'major transmission amongst children in schools'.

'There are lots of downsides of children not going to school,' he said on March 23.

'They can practice reasonably good social distancing and hand hygiene and other practices in the school, and this, as we have said, is our long-haul measure.

Teacher Cindy Bunder (pictured) is seen demonstrating a virtual classroom at Glenunga High School in Adelaide on April 3

Primary school student six-year-old Oscar (pictured) is seen being home schooled online in Sydney on March 31

'And the impact on children of potentially missing several months of school is material.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pushed for school attendances to increase, despite some states maintaining strict advice about keeping children at home.

But NSW Primary Principals' Association president Phil Seymour pleaded with families to keep their kids at home if possible - and told Mr Morrison to 'butt out'.

'We need parents to hold the line, to follow the instructions their school gives out,' he said.

'By sending lots of kids in you're going to send the whole system into chaos.

'I think parents are in a dilemma because of what the Prime Minister has been saying and pushing, but he should butt out.'

Primary School student, ten-year-old Nate, is seen being home schooled in Sydney on March 31

IS IT SAFE TO SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL? Sending children back to school during the pandemic has become a tense issue. But schools have been deemed 'low risk' for coronavirus transmission. Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said there was 'no evidence of major transmission amongst children in schools'. Children must try and practice social distancing, and teachers must keep classrooms and door handles clean. If children are experiencing symptoms, or any of their household are, they should stay home. Experts fear the negatives of children missing education far outweigh any risks. Advertisement

But doubts were raised after an outbreak at two childcare centres in Sydney and Melbourne.

A four-year-old girl at Bright Minds Academy in Cranebrook, in Sydney's west, attended the centre for two days while infected with coronavirus.

Another child at the Learning Sanctuary Yarraville in Melbourne has also been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Their age and gender has not been revealed and both childcare centres have been closed.

Parents have been urged to get their children tested if they show any symptoms of the virus.

No children have died from coronavirus in Australia and the risk to them is thought to be low.

'I'm very concerned about the quality of education that's going to be delivered to our kids this year,' Mr Morrison has said.

The prime minister has even vowed to send his own daughters back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, as long as proper teaching resumes in Australia's classrooms.

Classrooms across Australia have been left empty by the coronavirus pandemic (pictured, a Brisbane school on March 30) with many choosing to keep their kids at home

The prime minister's daughters, Abbey, 11, and Lily, nine, who he shares with wife Jenny, attend an independent baptist school in Sydney.

But they were forced to miss the last week of term one, after a lack of teachers saw school descend into a 'childminding' service where they were left to 'look at screens'.

Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Morrison intends to send his daughters back to school after the term break - as long as normal teaching resumes.

In an interview on earlier this month, he explained he would have his children back in classrooms 'in a heartbeat' - if schools were back to ordinary lessons.

'I kept my kids in school up until the last week because they weren't getting taught at school in that last week,' he said on 6PR.

Scott Morrison (pictured, centre) has vowed to send daughters Abbey (left) and Lily (right) back to school as long as normal teaching resumes

'I mean, they were sitting in a room looking at a screen, that's not teaching, that's childminding.

'And schools aren't for childminding. Schools are for teaching and they're for learning.'

All states and territories, except the Northern Territory where attendance is compulsory, have made school optional.

Some, including Victoria, have told parents not to send children to class during the coronavirus pandemic.

HOW AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL LEARN FROM TERM 2 VICTORIA Term 2: Wednesday April 15 - Friday June 26 Government primary, secondary and special schools move to remote learning and teaching. On site learning available for vulnerable students and children of parents unable to work from home. Government providing free internet and laptops for students who need it. End of year VCE exams moved to December. QUEENSLAND Term 2: Monday April 20 - Friday June 26 Students who are able to learn from home will move to remote online learning. Schools remain open for school staff including teachers, vulnerable students, and children of parents unable to work from home. Government providing sim cards with internet access to students who are unable to access the internet at home. Remote learning measures will be in place until May 22. NORTHERN TERRITORY Term 2: Monday April 20 - Friday June 26 Schools to remain open and students are expected to attend physically. Exceptions can be made for students to learn from home if their parents inform the school. NEW SOUTH WALES Term 2: Monday April 27 - Friday July 3 Students encouraged to stay at home and learn remotely if possible. Schools remain open for those who cannot learn remotely or have parents unable to work from home. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the guidelines are unlikely to be changed early in the term. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Term 2: Monday April 27 - Friday July 3 Schools remain open, though parents are free to keep their children at home. All schools are providing access to online learning for students who remain at home. Some private schools have transitioned to all online learning. Flexible arrangements put in place to assist students in year 11 and year 12, and it is expected end of year exams will still be conducted for year 12 students. Schools in and between the towns of Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Angaston, Lyndoch and Williamstown closed until further notice due to a cluster of cases in the Barossa Valley. Schools will close for at least 24 hours if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 to allow all families to be advised and for the site to be cleaned. A site will only re-open on the advice of health authorities. ACT Term 2: Tuesday April 28 - Friday July 3 Students to move to remote learning at home. Some schools will remain open for vulnerable students and the children of essential workers. All students will follow the same curriculum. Government will provide computers and internet devices to students in need. TASMANIA Term 2: Tuesday April 28 - Friday July 3 Students to continue to learn from home where possible. Schools remain open for students whose parents are unable to supervise at home due to work or are unable to support learning at home. Teachers to provide students with school work online, offline or a combination of both. WESTERN AUSTRALIA Term 2: Tuesday April 28 - Friday July 3 Students were urged to learn remotely from home if their parents are not essential service workers or vulnerable towards the end of term one. All schools provided access to online learning for students at home. Students will complete their Year 12 exams this year, but they may be shorter and start a couple of weeks later. School holidays are being used to develop an education model for term two and beyond. It is unclear whether students will receive their usual report cards in term two, but there will be some form of feedback. If anyone at a school tests positive for COVID-19, the school will be temporarily closed for tracing and cleaning. SOURCE: AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement




Credit: CC0 Public Domain

With fewer python hunters working in South Florida during the coronavirus lockdown, one likely consequence could be fewer snakes captured over the past couple of months.

That's not been the case.

The giant invasive constrictors are everywhere, devouring mammals in the Everglades and showing up in new places where they have been easy pickings for veteran wranglers like Donna Kalil, the first woman to be hired by state-sponsored programs to eliminate the snakes.

"We may be in lockdown but the pythons are still out there, eating our wildlife, reproducing and expanding their range very quickly," Kalil, who wears a trademark pink shirt on all hunts, said from a location in Everglades National Park where she was hunting on Tuesday. State-hired python hunters, a job that only exists in Florida, are designated essential workers and have been allowed to move in and out of state lands to look for snakes even during statewide stay-at-home orders.

Still, Kalil said she hasn't gone hunting as much over the past month to respect public health rules to slow the spread of COVID-19, but also because it's been difficult to find volunteers to go along on her hours-long road cruising trips. But the times she did go on hunts recently have been productive.

Last week she got lucky and found an egg-bearing female measuring 14 feet, which will fetch a bonus from the state-sponsored programs that pay hunters $50 for each python measuring up to four feet plus $25 more for each additional foot, and an additional $200 for a nesting female. Kalil said she hasn't noticed changes in behavior because of the lockdown, but said she found snakes in places where they are usually hard to spot.

The number of snakes caught in March this year dropped to 10 compared with 16 last year, according to the South Florida Water Management District. But in April, the numbers from the district are actually up: 55 compared with 46 in the same month last year. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which also manages a python removal program, didn't reply to requests for recent python data.

Pythons are breeding during this time of year, which means that snakes tend to be hiding in inaccessible places, and captures traditionally drop. But scoring a female with eggs is a double victory: more cash for the hunter and at least a dozen fewer voracious snakes eating marsh rabbits and wading bird eggs in the fragile ecosystem.

Finding "honey holes" is something Tom Rahill has been doing in the Everglades during the coronavirus crisis. Rahill, a longtime python hunter and founder of Swamp Apes, an organization that takes war veterans to the Everglades to catch pythons to ease combat trauma, is one of the few hardcore hunters still cruising around dirt roads or exploring the marshes by canoe.

"The best thing about being in the Everglades now, when things are more quiet, is we can spot new hunting grounds more easily," Rahill said. He's been going out alone, respecting social-distancing rules, to map out places where he plans to take veterans once quarantine restrictions are lifted. He won't say where the new spots are. "There is a lot of competition."

Burmese pythons pose a serious threat to the Everglades ecosystem, as they can easily move around the marshes and tree islands, where they find plenty of food all year round. For nearly two decades, these voracious snakes have been successful at reproducing in the wetlands because they have no predators. Females can lay up to 100 eggs a year.

Wildlife managers believe they first arrived in South Florida as pets, and were released in the Everglades three decades ago, where they found the perfect home. By some estimates there are currently as many as 300,000 roaming the Everglades.

Since 2017, the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have been paying registered hunters to help control the population.

Not much has changed in python hunting practices during the pandemic, and social distancing was already the norm for most agents who work alone or with one partner at the most. With fewer hunters road-cruising, pythons have probably gone on roads more often to bask after cooler nights, said Michael Kirkland, an invasive animal biologist at the Water Management District.

"We probably had fewer people going out especially at the beginning of quarantine last month, but now we see activity picking up again," he said. And there are other factors to consider, too, like an earlier breeding season and drier conditions, which help hunters spot the pythons.

One thing that changed for hunters is that the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down weighing stations at state and federal lands. That's where hunters take their catch to be measured and fitted with a unique ID so the same snake isn't counted twice. It's a crucial step to calculate compensation for the hunter. Now, python measuring and recording is being done during live video chats with the district and FWC officials.

Kalil's 14-footer female is currently in her freezer, waiting for the video call to be scheduled, she said.

"While it's harder to find them when they are breeding, it's a good time to make an extra effort and find these females, which are worth so much more when the goal is to remove as many snakes as possible."

Explore further Florida python program nabs 900th snake, including new record

2020 Miami Herald

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The judicial officer who heard James Cronins anti-doping violation case has defended his decision to hand the Munster player a one-month suspension.

Cronin tested positive for two banned substances, prednisolone and prednisone, following Munsters Champions Cup pool clash at home to Racing 92 last November 23 and was not covered by a Therapeutic Use Exemption.

Competition organisers EPCR referred the matter to independent Judicial Officer Antony Davies who heard the case last week and ruled that the prop had committed an unintentional anti-doping violation as a result of having had the wrong antibiotics dispensed to him by a pharmacy.

The one-month ban handed down by Davies could be appealed by Sport Ireland and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), both of which are considering whether the length of suspension is too lenient given that Cronin will be free to play again after May 16 without having missed any games due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Davies told Off The Ball he was comfortable with his decision being reviewed but defended his determination that Cronins level of culpability was low and the suspension was adequate.

We know that the prescription issued by the doctor to the pharmacy had amoxicillin only on it and we know that he was handed a packet with two tables in it, two different sorts.

His fault is failing to query that because athletes, if you are under the programme, you are 100% responsible for whats in your system. Its strict liability, you cannot delegate that to other people.

Davies added: "Yes, potentially it could have been avoided but the big problem here is with the pharmacy, it's a serious and unexpected mistake.

He saw his own name on the medication and sometimes players trust absolutely the environment theyre in their clubs, with the team doctor, the nutritionists, people like that and they dont question in my view as much as they ought to do, exactly what they are asked to take.

"And in this case James Cronin didnt and it was a careless mistake but an understandable one in the circumstances. I felt that his level of culpability was low, set against similar cases towards the lower end of the zero to two years.

"Given that there is still the possibility of an appeal by WADA or Sport Ireland in the case, it may well be that they decide my decision is one that no reasonable legal representative could have come to, in which case they will come to a different decision themselves It is all subject to further independent review.

"I am sure if it is felt that it is out with this sort of decision that could be reasonably expected in this case, then something else will be substituted for it at a later date."
Vietnam features extensive ethnolinguistic diversity and occupies a key position in Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA). Vietnam, with its borders to China, Laos and Cambodia, has a rich geographical diversity, and ample access to human migration with the Red River and Mekong deltas, and a long coastline.

The early settlement of anatomically modern humans in MSEA dates back to at least 65 thousand years ago (kya) and is associated with the formation of a hunter-gatherer tradition called Hoabinhian. Since the Neolithic period, which dates to about ~4,000-5,000 years ago, cultural transitions and diversification have happened multiple times eventually leading to the extraordinary cultural diversity in present day MSEA.

According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, Vietnam has a population size of more than 96 million people comprising 54 official ethnic groups; 110 languages are spoken in the country. To date, there are hundreds of ethnolinguistic groups in MSEA, speaking languages belonging to five major language families: Austro-Asiatic (AA), Austronesian (AN), Hmong-Mien (HM), Tai-Kadai (TK), and Sino-Tibetan (ST).

Yet, the genetic diversity of Vietnam has remained relatively unexplored, especially with genome-wide data, because previous studies have focused mainly on the majority Kinh group.

Now, in a new paper published in the advanced online access edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution, Dang Liu, Mark Stoneking and colleagues have analyzed newly-generated genome-wide SNP data for the Kinh and 21 additional ethnic groups in Vietnam, encompassing all five major language families in MSEA, along with previously-published data from nearby populations and ancient samples.

"We find that the Vietnamese ethnolinguistic groups harbor multiple sources of genetic diversity that are associated with heterogeneous ancestry sharing profiles in each language family," said corresponding author Nong Van Hai. First author Dang Liu added, "However, the linguistic diversity does not completely match genetic diversity; there have been extensive interactions between the Hmong-Mien and Tai-Kadai groups, and a likely case of cultural diffusion in which some Austro-Asiatic groups shifted to speaking Austronesian languages.

On a global scale, the strongest signal separates most Indian groups from the East Asian groups. They also found evidence that the majority group Kinh, which have been the focus of previous studies, may not reflect the total Vietnamese diversity. Within modern Vietnamese groups, individuals from the same language family are mostly placed together. Within these language families, the ST, HM, and TK groups are mostly separated from AA and AN groups. Vietnam ethnolinguistic groups overall tend to show the closest relationships with Taiwanese and southern Chinese groups.

"Overall, our results highlight the importance of genome-wide data from dense sampling of ethnolinguistic groups in providing new insights into the genetic diversity and history of an ethnolinguistically-diverse region, such as Vietnam," said corresponding author Mark Stoneking. "In contrast to previous studies suggesting a largely indigenous origin of the Vietnamese, we find evidence for extensive contact, over different time periods, between Vietnamese and other groups.

The study is the most wide-spread analysis to date, carrying out the most updated and informative approaches available from using modern genomic data, to better understand the rich genetic population diversity of Vietnam.

###
The Church of the Armed Forces, in the Kubinka ("Patriot") military park. The victory over Nazism (with a portrait of Stalin) and the annexation of Crimea (where Putin and other contemporary Russian politicians appear). The criticisms. Patriarchate: the "patriotic" mosaics will not be exposed to the devotion of the faithful.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The finishing touches are being put to the Orthodox Church of the Armed Forces, with mosaics that even depict Vladimir Putin and Yosef Stalin among the angels, the saints, the Mother of God and God the Father.

Located in the Kubinka ("Patriot") military park, near the capital, it should be finished in May, to celebrate 75 years since the victory over Nazism.

The church is meant to be a kind of pantheon that glorifies Russian history and its leaders. In addition to the face of the current president and the dictator who persecuted the Church and religions, there is also the defense minister Sergei Shoygu, the foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, the secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev. On the walls some moments of Russian history are exalted such as the victory over Nazism, with the portrait of Stalin (photo 2) and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 (photo 3).

This fact is provoking heated debate locally and in the international community. Vedemosti newspaper has branded the operation as a "parody of Russian history and state".

In the midst of the coronavirus storm, the patriarchate has had to take some steps to limit the scandal of "patriotic" mosaics. The person in charge of the patriarchate's relations with the Armed Forces, the bishop of Klin Stefan (Privalov), has communicated that it will be the Holy Synod to decide the fate of the mosaics: they will almost certainly be kept in some museum halls, and will not be exposed to the devotion of the faithful. However, the "opinion of the President" on the matter will be taken into account.
All states and union territories (UTs) will have to "strictly follow" the home ministry's latest guidelines allowing cross-country movement of stranded migrant workers, students and pilgrims during the ongoing lockdown, a senior official said on Thursday.

The Union government had on Wednesday issued fresh directives allowing states to transport stranded students, migrant labourers, tourists and pilgrims to their home states or destination by strictly following guidelines meant to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

Asked during a press briefing if special trains and private vehicles will also be allowed to transport these people as demanded by some states and others,Joint Secretary in the Union home ministry Punya Salila Srivastava said the orders issued at present were for "using buses and for group of persons".

Asked if e-commerce activities will resume post May 3, when the extended lockdown is scheduled to end, Srivastava said "we should wait" for the new orders to come.

"State governments have to keep in mind certain things while arranging their movement. All states and UTs will appoint their nodal officers who will develop standard protocols for such stranded people."



"They will also register such people and concerned states will discuss among themselves for ensuring these movements by road," Srivastava told reporters during the routine briefing on updates related to the virus outbreak and lockdown measures.

Every person will be screened and asymptomatic ones will be allowed to go. Buses will be used for travel and these vehicles will be sanitised and social distancing rules will be strictly followed while seated in the bus, she said.

All states in transit route will allow such movement and on reaching the destination, local health officials will check the travellers and if they are not required to be kept in institutional quarantine then they will be allowed to go in home quarantine for 14 days, the official said, quoting the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Their (travellers) health check-up will be done regularly and monitored. Travellers will be encouraged to use the 'Aarogya setu' app, she said.

"All states will have to strictly follow these directives," Srivastava said.

The officer also briefed the media about the feedback given by the inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs) that went to Hyderabad (Telangana's capital) and Chennai (capital of Tamil Nadu).

The teams are headed by an additional secretary-rank officer of the central government and comprises experts from health care, disaster management and other fields and are mandated to review the progress of COVID-19 containment in worst affected districts of the country.

In Hyderabad, the IMCT toured hospitals, central drug stores, shelter homes and 'mandis', Srivastava said.

It found that the state has adequate numbers of test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) and is using an end-to-end IT (information technology) dashboard that tracks a patient from testing to discharge, she said.

The team also visited the hospital which is the state nodal centre for COVID-19.

They found all protocols are being followed there. It has a lab where 300 tests can be done everyday and about 97 per cent of cases of the state have been treated here.

The team also visited the district hospital at King Koti and found all protocols were being followed.

It was suggested that donning (area to wear PPE) and doffing areas (place to take out PPE after work) in the hospital should be placed afar.

There should be different corridors for staffers and patients. Some wards had no toilets and it was suggested that patients should not be admitted in these wards to avoid crowding in the open area, she said.

Srivastava added that the IMCT also visited the Humayun Nagar containment zone which was barricaded and house-to-house surveillance was on.

Important goods and services are being provided at door steps for which a WhatsApp group has been created comprising municipal officials and the residents of the area, she said.

In Chennai, the officer said the IMCT that toured the city suggested that social distancing norms should be strictly followed at public places and it was "very important" to spread coronavirus awareness in fishermen's villages.

The team found that the recovery rate is much better as out of 2,058 infected, 1,168 have recovered meaning 57 per cent people have been cured, she said quoting the IMCT.

It found facilities were good for migrant labourers and the workers are satisfied with the facilities provided.

Test reports are provided in 24 hours which was found commendable, she said.

To curb domestic violence, Srivastava said quoting the IMCT feedback, that women police constables were "proactively" visiting those houses where such incidents are expected to take place.

It was suggested that in crowded places, banks and slums, strong steps should be taken for social distancing.

It is very important to increase awareness about COVID-19 in fishing villages, she said.

In hospitals relatives waiting or using lifts need to undertake social distancing very strictly and there is a need to enhance PPE usage among health care workers.

Truck drivers should also be screened it was suggested, she said.

"We hope that with this joint effort of the Centre and states, we will be able to control the pandemic situation successfully," the officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Harvest is aplenty. But farmers do not get to eat the fruits of their labour. Credits: lockdown due to coronavirus. Farmers witnessed a bumper yield of black gram this season compared to the previous year.

Among all other pulses, black gram takes up a larger share of the area used for cultivation in the district, which are nearly 8,000 of the 12,000 hectares.

With the schemes initiated by the National Food Safety Mission, the farmers were able to reap a bountiful harvest (around 800 - 1000 kilos per hectare), according to agriculture department officials.

However, their joy was only short-lived as little did they expect of the shortcomings in the post-harvest phase - shortage of labour and price drop in the market.

Rajendran, a farmer from Tiruchy, said, "Due to lockdown, we are unable to find workers to separate pods from the plants. We ourselves have to pluck the whole plant, dry it out in the sun and bet the crop using sticks to separate the pod from the plant. Then, we take it to the markets."

He said that the market prices too dropped and fetched only Rs 50 per kg.

"I'm waiting for the lockdown to get over to sell it for a decent price in the market," he added.

Agrimarketing department offers help

In aiding the farmers, the Agriculture marketing department has asked them to bring black grams to the regulated markets in the district for selling it with the traders and food processing companies.

Sugumar, a senior official from Agriculture marketing department stated that the department has asked the farmers to bring their black grams to Manaachanallur regulatory market where it would be sold at Rs 70 per kg.
[April 30, 2020] CIOE 2020 VIP Buyer Program launched to upgrade sourcing efficiency at the world's premier optoelectronic exhibition

SHENZHEN, China, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CIOE 2020 VIP Buyer Program has been launched now. As the biggest optoelectronic sourcing platform, CIOE (China International Optoelectronic Exposition) will be held at Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center from September 9 to 11, 2020. It'll attract 80,000 industry peers and buyers to source the latest optoelectronic products and technologies, for CIOE being known as the must-attend event to the industry. It covers information and communication, laser, infrared, precision optics, lens and camera module, optoelectronic sensor and photonic innovations. Among all the visitor service CIOE offered, CIOE VIP Buyer Program is exclusvely designed for key buyers and senior decision makers from the optoelectronic industry, and it is especially popular for overseas buyers who decides or influences the procurement, in the positions such as top management, project managing, supply chain management or R&D. The program aims to help accelerate buyers' sourcing efficiency by providing free privileges and amenities.



VIP Buyer will enjoy the exclusive benefits to help them with better sourcing experience at CIOE including the fast entry at VIP Buyer counter, welcome gift, visitor guide, VIP lounge with refreshments, tea and coffee served, special rate for CIOE conference ticket, especially the One2One Business Match-making service. The match-making service is popular with VIP buyers, which helps them to connect with suitable suppliers matched to their tailor-made needs and pre-schedule an optimal meeting before the show. What's more, qualified suppliers and products will be recommended accordingly so CIOE's VIP would enjoy worry-free experience, saving the time on search for the target products quality manufacturers in a long list. Mr. Wang, Regional Sourcing from Volkswagen Group said: "Thanks to CIOE's VIP detailed visitor guide and road maps for applications, we can identify our target products and exhibitors. The onsite services are also very helpful. We are very grateful to the organizers for their arrangement."

Register as a VIP buyer now to enjoy premium service exclusively for VIP buyers. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cioe-2020-vip-buyer-program-launched-to-upgrade-sourcing-efficiency-at-the-worlds-premier-optoelectronic-exhibition-301050017.html SOURCE CIOE

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West Australians will once again be able to camp in their local national parks, reserves and state forests from midday tomorrow, following the lifting of some restrictions.

While the relaxed restrictions announced this week by the Premier allow the community to stay connected through activities such as camping, the intrastate travel restrictions remain in place; which means people will only be able to visit and camp within their regional boundaries.

The change applies to most of the 268 campgrounds managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and includes camping in huts along the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail.

A section of the Bibbulmun Track near Paulls Valley. Credit:Glenys Smith

The community is urged by the department to show caution when using shared facilities by adhering to the four-square-metres rule and maintaining social distancing and good hygiene.

For now, key attractions, tours and facilities, such as the Tree Top Walk and the Monkey Mia experience, remain closed. The closures will be re-assessed in the coming weeks.

Mirima National Park and surrounds in Kununurra, Minyirr Park and surrounding conservation reserves in Broome and Geikie Gorge National Park remain open.

All remaining remote national parks in the Kimberley, which were due to open in April at the end of the wet season, will remain closed until changes are made to the Kimberley intra-regional travel arrangements.

DBCA will work closely with WA Police to ensure a successful and safe reintroduction to camping in national parks.

For further information and to make a booking, visit exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 00:52:09|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday condemned the latest unwarranted remarks by U.S. politicians and urged them to immediately stop meddling with Hong Kong affairs.

The spokesperson of the commissioner's office condemns and firmly opposes the latest unwarranted remarks by U.S. politicians who keep talking nonsense about Hong Kong affairs, said a statement released by the commissioner's office late Thursday.

The spokesperson said that Hong Kong is part of China and no foreign country is allowed to interfere.

Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland, policies of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy have been earnestly carried out, said the spokesperson.

Hong Kong residents enjoy extensive rights under the law and their freedoms are fully safeguarded, said the spokesperson, adding it is a fact universally recognized and not to be distorted.

Upholding national security is crucial to fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" policy, the spokesperson emphasized, adding that it is also the HKSAR's constitutional obligation under the Basic Law, and the fundamental guarantee of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability in the long run.

The irresponsible remarks and mud-slinging tactics by the U.S. politicians have only exposed again their vile intention to undermine "one country, two systems," mess up Hong Kong, and use Hong Kong as a platform to carry out infiltration, sabotage, secession and subversion activities against China's mainland and hold back China's development as a whole, said the spokesperson. "But such pipe dreams are doomed to be shattered into pieces." Enditem
Earlier today, Rishi Kapoor passed away after battling cancer for two years. It came as a shock when Amitabh Bachchan tweeted about the veteran actor's demise. According to reports, Ranbir Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor were present in the Hospital at the time of Rishi Kapoor's passing. As soon as the news broke, actress Alia Bhatt was seen arriving at the hospital, to show her support during these difficult times.

Alia's car was snapped arriving at the hospital earlier today. The actress has been dating Ranbir Kapoor for some time now and has been his pillar of strength, even when Rishi Kapoor was undergoing cancer treatment. Alia was often seen visiting the family in New York, and spending time with Ranbir, Neetu and Rishi whenever she could. Back then, pictures of Ranbir, Alia, Neetu Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni went viral on social media.

A report in TOI quoted a source close to the couple as saying, "Ranbir is a recluse. He isn't very expressive unless he's with his mom or someone very close to him. With Alia he could just be himself. And she also offered him all the support to deal with his dads illness as any girlfriend would."

The source added, "Alia had his blessings and that meant the world to Ranbir. Alia's warmth, her energy and spunk cheered up Rishi. She stayed by Ranbir's side for the last three weeks, not leaving him even for a minute." Ranbir and Alia were rumoured to get married in 2020. It is also speculated that the two have been living together amid the lockdown.

The official statement from the Kapoor family about Rishi Kapoor's demise read, "Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last." It also asked fans and well-wishers to respect the lockdown rules in place.

Later on, Rishi Kapoor's niece Kareena Kapoor and husband Saif Ali Khan were also spotted outside the hospital, wearing masks. Saif reportedly drove them to the hospital. Kareena and her sister Karisma are the daughters of Rishi Kapoor's older brother Randhir Kapoor.

Some of the other celebrities who visited the hospital to pay their respects also include, Armaan Jain, Abhishek Bachchan and more amid heavy security.

5 Most Interesting Tweets From Rishi Kapoor's Twitter Timeline

Rishi Kapoor Passes Away: Amitabh Bachchan Says 'He's Gone, I'm Destroyed'
File this one under things to do when travel is safe again. A new attraction at New York Citys Hudson Yards rises over 1,100 feet in the air, officially making it the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Suspended in mid-air 100 floors above street level, Edge grants visitors unprecedented views of the city, Western New Jersey, and New York State spanning up to 80 miles.

Images of the new

The open-air observation platform aims to take visitors out of their comfort zone, not only by virtue of its sheer height, but also through a partial glass floor and angled glass walls. Designed by architecture firm KPF/Kohn Pederson Fox, along with the rest of the 30 Hudson Yards skyscraper, the deck can be accessed through the shops and restaurants within Hudson Yards indoor shopping mall.

Visitors entering the complex are treated to a multimedia arrival experience designed by LAB at Rockwell Group before zooming up to the outdoor viewing area via a 52-second elevator ride. The deck itself extends nearly 80 feet from the building, spiking out in an angular shape, with the glass floor set at the very edge. Daredevils can lean against the decks nine-foot-tall glass walls to enjoy whats probably the closest to a birds eye perspective of New York City you can get without a parachute.

In a recent press release, Hudson Yards stated that a champagne bar, located on the 100th Floor, will offer a glass of champagne or signature cocktail and light bites to enjoy indoors or outdoors on the sky deck. The champagne bar will be operated by London-based rhubarb hospitality group. Rhubarb will also operate Peak, the restaurant, bar, cafe, and event space located on the 101st Floor. Peak will serve lunch and dinner offering a one-of-a-kind dining and social experience.

Inside the modern

Images of the new

Designed by William Pedersen and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) and extending out 80 feet from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, Edge redefines the New York skyline. A marvel of modern engineering and structural design, the 765,000-pound observation deck is comprised of 15 sections, each weighing between 35,000 and 100,000 pounds, all bolted together and anchored to the east and south sides of the building. The 7,500-square-foot outdoor viewing area is surrounded by 79 glass panels, each weighing 1,400 pounds, manufactured in Germany and finished in Italy. [The] interiors of Edge and Peak are being designed by Rockwell Group.

Story continues

Edge will be a major focal point of Hudson Yards, the 28-acre neighborhood on Manhattans West Side that brings together fashion, dining, and cultural experiences along with the headquarters of dozens of leading corporations, thousands of residences, 14 acres of public parks and open space, and interactive public landmarks including Vessel designed by Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio.

Images of the new

Edge was open for a mere two days before temporarily closing to visitors on Friday, March 13th due to COVID-19, but those thrilling views arent going anywhere. You can get more info and reserve tickets for the reopening at EdgeNYC.com.

The platform is the latest tourist attraction to open at the new $25 billion complex Hudson Yards. Vessel by architect Thomas Heatherwick is a beehive-shaped public sculpture full of virtually endless staircases to nowhere in particular, with over 2,000 individual steps and 80 landings.
It has just been announced that events attracting more than 500 visitors cannot take place until 15 August, meaning major festivals like Sziget, Ozora, Valley Of Arts and more are affected.

The organisers of Balaton Sound, Sziget and Volt have already contacted XpatLoop to let us know that with the greatest regret they have cancelled those festivals.



Tamas Kadar, the chief organiser of the Sziget Festival, said work was under way on how best to compensate ticket holders. The Sziget Festival has been cancelled for the first time in its 16-year history, he said.



We have no ready-made solution for this situation, he said. This state of affairs is causing serious damage to the festival sector and endangering jobs and companies, Kadar said.



Representatives are in talks with decision-makers on an aid package, he added.



Also scheduled big concerts in Hungary will have to be cancelled, such as the Pearl Jam gig, plus beer and wine festivals must be shelved or at least postponed.



In his press briefing of today, Gergely Gulyas, Minister of the Prime Ministers Office, also announced the compulsory wearing of face masks in shops, markets and on public transport will be implemented nationwide, as well as the continuation of online teaching until the end of May.



The Minister stressed that in the countryside movement restrictions will be replaced with new rules which are looser than before, and still everyone is expected to respect the protective measures regarding Covid-19.



From 4 May the garden areas and terraces of hotels; coffee shops and restaurants will be allowed to operate according to new conditions in the countryside.



Waiters will have to wear masks and gloves, plus tables have to be placed at least 1,5 meter apart.



Public beaches, strands, zoos and open-air museums will also be allowed to open.



In addition to everyone being asked to wear a mask or cover their mouths in such public places, people need to keep a distance of 1.5 meters, he added.



Weddings, funerals, masses, worship services can be held according to the previous rules.



Free parking will remain throughout the country, a measure that has proved its worth and has not resulted in a significant increase in traffic. It allows people not use public transport, which helps to limit the spread of the infection, he said.



The elderly are asked to leave their homes only when absolutely necessary, with the 9am to 12 noon shopping period provided for them being maintained.



MTI Photo of Karoly Gerendai, Founder of Sziget Festival
Diverging from strategies of some competitors, Markel Corp. established a big reserve for a chunk of its potential COVID-19 exposure for the entire yearputting up $325 million for direct potential losses.

The holding company for specialty insurance and reinsurance, ILS and venture businesses, announced the insurance loss reserve Wednesday, mainly for incurred-but-not-reported claims related to COVID-19 on UK business interruption and worldwide event cancellation coverages. The underwriting charge and investment losses of $1.7 billion contributed to a bottom-line net loss of $1.4 billion for the quarter, compared to $576 million of profit recorded to first-quarter 2019.

Going over the underwriting numbers during an earnings conference call, Markel Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Noble noted that the $325 million pretax reserve provision accounted for 24 points of the combined ratio, which came in at 118 for first-quarter 2020, up from a combined ratio of 95 for first-quarter 2019. Minus the COVID-19 loss provision, the combined ratios for both years would have been roughly the same.

Richie Whitt, co-CEO, described the COVID loss provision as Markels best estimate of ultimate direct COVID-19 insurance losses.

That is our best estimate of business interruption losses and event cancellation losses through the remainder of the year, Whitt said, when an analyst asked if whether he should expect Markel to record provisions of a similar magnitude in subsequent quarters.

Whitt also noted, however, that many assumptions are baked into that best estimate. For example, our event cancellation book goes from wedding cancellation to the Olympics and Wimbledon. It runs the gamut. And we have tried to look out for the rest of the year in terms of what we think the potential exposure could be, and weve tried to book that in the first quarter, he said.

Markels 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission details the types of assumptions needed to arrive at best estimates for business interruption and event cancellation, and describes the inherent uncertainty that creates a potentially wide range of variability.

These include: assumptions with respect to scope of coverage, which Markel views at broader under its international policies currently: assumptions about potential reinsurance recoveries; assumptions about the ability of insureds to mitigate losses (by holding virtual events rather than cancelling them, for example); assumptions about the expected duration of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting on duration of disruption, Markel has assumed it will extend, in varying degrees, beyond the government directives currently in place and may impact certain covered events through the end of the year, the 10-Q says, outlining a strategy that seems consistent with a historical approach to reserving described by Whitt during the earnings conference call.

Inherent in our reserving practices is the desire to establish loss reserves that are more likely redundant than deficient, he said. He added, however, that while the same tack applies for setting COVID-19 loss reserves, theres no certainty that things will pan out that way. There are simply too many unknowns at this time given the unprecedented and ongoing nature of the event, he said.

Whitt went on to note that other insurers reporting first-quarter results have taken a variety of approaches, and that some are planning to more fully reflect their COVID-19 exposures in the second quarter.

While Whitt didnt share any examples, during a recent earnings report, Chubb included a much smaller loss provision in its first-quarter earnings$13 millionnoting in a press release that the company anticipates that this global catastrophe event will have a meaningful impact on revenue as well as net and core operating income in the second quarter and potentially future quarters as a result of an increase in insurance claims due to both the pandemic and recessionary economic conditions

With regards to claims, we expect an increase in claims relating to various property and casualty lines, Chubb added in its 10-Q filing published yesterday.

For Markel, beyond variability in the assumptions used to determine its best estimate, Whitt distinguished between direct losses and indirect secondary losses to lines like directors and officer liability that will arise from disruption to the economy and financial markets over time.

The thing that is not represented here in this [$325 million] number is the secondary losses or the indirect losses. Thats things like the potential for D&O around bankruptcies or E&O for brokers. That were going to be dealing with, just like after 2008, over the next several quarters, he said, referring to the longer term emergence of such losses in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Belt and Suspenders

During the call, Whitt also provided details of some of the coverage assumptions related to business interruption claims based policy-level reviews of its U.S. and international books of business.

Our U.S. property policies are not expected to respond to COVID-19-related business interruption losses, although we will be investigating each claim on its own merit, he said, describing a belt and suspenders approach to underwriting the coverage.

All of our U.S. property policies require a physical damage to occur before business interruption coverage is triggered, he said, referring to this as the belt at several points during the call. And almost all of those policies also include a communicable disease or virus exclusion, he said, referring to the suspenders which further support the lack of coverage.

That is not something new, by the way. Those exclusions have been going on those policies since 2007. So thats over a decade that that has been in those policies, he said, also asserting that COVID-19 is not physical damage.

The $16 million provision for business interruption losses in the U.S. relates to some policies that do have an affirmative coverage grant, often sublimited at $25 million, Whitt said, noting estimates are also included for another subset of U.S. policies with affirmative coverage and no sublimits, often in thin hospitality industry.

Explaining the $92 million provision for business interruption outside the U.S., Whitt said that while UK policies also require physical damage to trigger coverage, virus or exclusions have historically not been prevalent.

Going forward in terms of underwriting, Whitt said he expected there will be less grants of coverage related to communicable disease and viruses in the international markets, more like the U.S. markets.

Where appropriate, we are taking steps to mitigate future exposure to pandemic losses by raising prices and adding policy terms and conditions, including additional exclusions, he said.

He also noted that Markel is prepared for elevated litigation expenses related to business interruption claims in both the U.S. and abroad. Asked whether that meant the IBNR included a provision for such expenses, Whitt said, Its more implicit than explicit in terms of the numbers that we have put up.

Heres the reality: The economics that are at stake, the economic damages that have been done by this situation are just so large [that] people have incentive to attempt to recover that even if their coverage was not granted. So, we just simply expect, given the size of the economic damage, the political backdrop, the emotion involved [that] theres going to be more litigation. And so we are preparing for that. That is implicit to the numbers. As we go forward, itll probably be more explicit to the numbers.

Whitt also said there isnt much in the $325 million related to workers comp losses at this point. I dont know that we had any claims in yet as we were establishing the number, but we would expect claims as we go forward in workers comp.

He noted that the nature of the event makes it difficult to quantify comp losses. Usually, you have a hurricane or something and its over and you start adding up your exposure. But this one is ongoing. So there are people who will get sick, who have not gotten sick yet who will claim for workers comp.

He did note, however, that Markels workers comp book is not weighted towards first responders, although other essential workersinvolved in restaurants and retailare included. So we would expect to see claims, he said, also stating that workers comp claims tend to rise with unemployment.

Million Dollar Question

In summary, while it is early and there are many unknowns, we believe the impact of COVID-19 to our insurance businesses is meaningful but also are manageable, Whitt said, wrapping up his opening remarks by noting Markels diverse insurance business portfolio, solid liquidity and capital position.

During the call, co-CEO Tom Gaynor discussed investment losses and changes in Markels equity security holdings. According to Gaynor, at the start of the year, equity securities represented about 69 percent of equity capital, but by the end of the quarter, that fell to 58 percent from a combination of modest sales as well as the overall market decline.

During the quarter of 2020, the value of overall investment portfolio declined 7 percent while the equity portfolio declined 22.4 percentthe biggest quarterly decline since 2008-09.

While investment losses pulled overall operating revenues down, insurance premiums rose during the quarter. Gross written premiums were $1.9 billion, 13 percent higher than the $1.7 billion recorded in first-quarter 2019, with the insurance segment driving the increase. Insurance gross written premiums grew 19 percent to $1.4 billion, while reinsurance premiums were flat at $513 million.

What will the top-line look like going forward? Will positive rate momentum and narrower underwriting appetites in the admitted market outweigh the impacts of economic contraction to the benefit of E&S insurers like Markel?

Thats the million-dollar question, said Whitt, noting that Markel did indeed see E&S business pick up in April, perhaps because of changing appetites resulting from all the disruption. Weve got certain areas of our book where rates are up substantially and our writings are up substantially. In April, that did offset the decreases we saw in small business and places that you would expect to be hit hard by COVID-19.

Ive got to believe we havent seen all of the impact from COVID-19 yet, however, he added.

On the reinsurance side, its a hard market. Appetite is down, demand is up, and youre going to see more people looking for coverage and pricing going up accordingly, he asserted.

Another analyst expressed similar hopes related to the ILS market later in the call, suggesting that pensions funds unable to achieve desired yields given the level of Treasury bond rates and stock market volatility would turn to insurance-linked securities.

Thats our view exactly, Whitt said. We recognize in the short-to-medium term, everything about the situation is negative on so many levels. But this just again proves why the ILS investment is valuable: It has very, very low correlation to the rest of the market, he said.

Topics COVID-19 Claims Workers' Compensation USA Profit Loss Reinsurance
Tennessee Congressman Chuck Fleischmann addressed a bevy of COVID-19-related issues during his Thursday town hall meeting on Facebook Live. Rather than taking calls, the congressman looked to the comments section of the live chat, answering several over the course of the 40-minute stream.

Were working very hard to get the money into the hands of the American people, said Congressman Fleischmann.

But lets face it, its time to kick start our economy, get us back to work, and bring back the economic vibrancy that existed before this coronavirus pandemic hit us.

He made consistent allusions to a fourth stimulus bill, one not yet solidified but at the moment is being discussed. Rep. Fleischmann said there is a high probability this bill will focus on improving the infrastructure of the country and state, something he said has bipartisan support.

We dont know exactly what the next bill will entail, and as we work through this process, we try to fix problems and we hope the economy comes back, said the congressman, but if there are areas where we need help, we will step up and do this.

Several viewers had questions about receiving aid, such as the $1,200 stimulus check approved by the government weeks ago. He said that if a citizen is having difficulty or is not receiving their allotted sum of money, they should contact Rep. Fleischmanns Congressional office, and then that issue will be worked out.

Congressman Fleischmann preached a message of unity, asking viewers to set aside their partisan beliefs. However, he occasionally alluded to his disagreement with how particular states operated, especially fiscally. Rep. Fleischmann praised Tennessee for having a balanced budget.

Some states are not responsible, and they have been funding things that for years have put them in the red. And candidly, they will never be financially solvent, said the Congressman. Its unfortunate they have not managed their funds well, and Im very concerned that you will see calls from those larger states, typically in the North, asking for a federal bailout. And Im against that, plain and simple.

Congressman Fleischmann also spoke about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and how that department has had to handle the pandemic. Because of health concerns, Rep. Fleischmann said ICE has released an unspecified number of undocumented immigrants back into the community. Rep. Fleischmann is the highest-ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Appropriations Committee.

That is a concern for law enforcement, and it is a concern as these people get let out into the United States, said the Congressman. Fortunately, our northern and southern borders have been closed, and I think this is a good thing. I have long advocated for border security, and yes, building the wall is part of that.

One person asked about possibly giving raises to public servants or those who are on the front lines of this pandemic. While Rep. Fleischmann expressed appreciation for those who are serving, he said giving raises may not be fiscally possible.

Local budget and state budgets are being very adversely affected, said the Congressman. States are having to spend a lot more money right now because of the coronavirus on a host of different areas, so theyre spending more money. At the same time, revenues are dropping because people are not out spending in restaurants and stores like they typically do.

Rep. Fleischmann ended his livestream by giving a positive message to those watching.

Im going to continue to work hard whether Im in Washington, D.C. or here in East Tennessee. Im going to continue to take your phone calls. Im here for you, and I thank you so much. Lets get through this together, and God bless each and every one of you.
Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), the nations first mayor-led guaranteed income initiative, has released spending data through March 2020, highlighting how guaranteed income payments were spent as Stockton recipients prepared for and weathered the global COVID-19 crisis.

This data show that recurring guaranteed income allowed recipients to weather the first month of pandemic, said Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. I am proud to be in partnership with the Stockton community to further demonstrate how unconditional cash provides people the agency to make the right decisions for themselves and their families, especially in times of crisis.

Findings

Food

The most striking change in spending as COVID-19 news escalated was a sharp increase in food spending. Data show food spending peaked in March at 46.5 percent of overall tracked spending, a nearly 25 percent increase over the monthly average and a full 36 percent over March of the prior year. That money came out of Sales and Merchandise and Services spending, which each decreased significantly.

The SEED money has allowed me to purchase food for my family, so I had enough when the pandemic hit. Its only 500 dollars, but it does make a big difference to a single mother supporting a family. It allows my kids to eat. - Lorrine

I am able to buy better things, like fruit, which is very high in cost. - Laura Kidd Plummer

Sales and Merchandise

Sales and Merchandise spending decreased by approximately 20 percent in March 2020. Services spending also decreased significantly to 3.38 percent from 6.95 percent, down to less than half the average. As households have moved to secure necessities like food, likely in response to COVID-19, their contribution to the goods and services economy dropped significantly.

SEED has given me peace of mind. I don't need much since the pandemic, but I have confidence that well be ok. For now, I am focused on saving each month so Im not at zero when this is over. - Virginia Medina

I have been able to buy essentials like toilet paper, paper towels, sanitizers and bleach for around the house. Laura Kidd Plummer

Transportation

Transportation spending decreased by approximately 26 percent in March 2020. This drop could be in response to the widespread stay at home orders and/or job losses that took place in California in March. Although spending on transportation has decreased, we know anecdotally that the guaranteed income has allowed recipients to get to work and avoid public transportation during this public health crisis.

The SEED money has allowed me to get my car repaired. Even though I am not going many places right now, having my car means I dont have to take the bus when I do leave. - Laura Kidd Plummer

The SEED money has helped pay for the gas that I need to take my son to and from work every day, which is the only time I leave the house. - Virginia Medina

Without the SEED money, I wouldnt be able to afford my car payment. Without a car, I wouldnt be able to get to work. - Lorrine

Guaranteed income payments have allowed SEED recipients to make critical purchases without delay, such as food and housing, in the wake of COVID-19, said Sukhi Samra, Director of SEED. This data reveals how guaranteed income payments support people in crisis and enable their upward economic growth.

SEED will continue to update the dashboard through its final disbursement in July 2020. The SEED Community Data Dashboard is live here: http://www.stocktondemonstration.org/dashboard.

About SEED

The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) is the nations first mayor-led guaranteed income initiative. A collaboration between the office of Mayor Michael Tubbs, the Reinvent Stockton Foundation, the Economic Security Project, and the residents of Stockton, California, SEED is born out of the simple belief that the best investments we can make are in our people. In February 2019, SEED began giving 125 Stocktonians a guaranteed income of $500/month for 18 months. This income is unconditional, meaning there are no strings attached and no work requirements.

SEED research is led by Dr. Stacia Martin-West, University of Tennessee, and Dr. Amy Castro-Baker, University of Pennsylvania, with funding by the Evidence for Action program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal of the SEED research is to determine if guaranteed income can reduce stress and thereby unleash potential and opportunity.

To learn more visit https://www.stocktondemonstration.org/

SEED Press Contact:

Martha Shaughnessy

media@stocktondemonstration.org

415-987-0285
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Luxury Folding Carton Market is accounted for $1.70 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $2.98 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 5.8%. Factors such as rising demand for quick turnaround and customized packaging from many retailers, growing demand for carefully printed cartons are expected to propel the market growth. However, luxury folding carton innovation expenses are growing which is hampering the growth of the market. Additional, introducing technological advancement in the luxury goods is considered as the growth opportunities for the market growth.

Luxury folding carton are utilizing digital printing innovation to print engaging illustrations which will attract the client's attention. The utilization of computerized printing innovation is further fueled by the accessibility of different kinds of advanced carton presses.

Amongst end user, apparel segment has lucrative market share during the forecast period. As most of the end users are focusing on shelf appeal and customer engagement at point of sale and providing delightful service to retain their customers. By geography, Europe region is driven by owing to the presence of well-known luxury goods brands, whereas Italy is expected to witness fast-paced growth during the forecast period.

Request For Report Sample@ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11112



Some of the key players in Luxury Folding Carton market include Mondi Group , DS Smith, Amcor, Coveris Holdings, Smurfit Kappa Group, Sonoco Products , Sunrise Packaging, Oji Holdings, Bell Incorporated, WestRock, Rengo Co., Ltd, Graphic Packaging International , Mayr Melnhof Karton, AR Packaging Group, and Stora Enso.

Structures Covered:

 Tuck Top Auto-bottom

 Double Glued Sidewall

 Tuck Top Snap-lock Bottom

 Straight Tuck End

 Full Seal End Cartons

 Reverse Tuck End

 Other Structures

Material Types Covered:

 Solid Unbleached Board

 White Line Chipboard

 Folding Boxboard

 Solid Bleached Board

Request For Discount@ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11112



Inserts Covered:

 Paper or Paperboard Insert

 Without Insert

 Foam Insert

 Plastic Insert

End Users Covered:

 Tobacco

 Cosmetics & Personal Care

 Consumer Goods

 Food & Beverages

 Confectionery

 Healthcare

 Apparel

 Electrical & Electronic

 Other End Users

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:

- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

- Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

More Info of Impact Covid19@ link https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/analysis/SMRC/luxury-folding-carton-market
A convicted human smuggler failed to appear at the halfway house he was supposed to report to, according to court documents.

Rodolfo Villarreal Jr., 51, was charged with escape from custody, states an arrest affidavit filed on Monday.

On April 10, 2018, Villarreal was arrested in Laredo for conspiracy to transport undocumented people within the United States. On Oct. 18, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo sentenced Villarreal to 33 months in prison followed by a three-year supervised release.

Villarreal was released from prison in Beaumont on March 25 via furlough transfer to the residential re-entry center known as Dismas Charities in Laredo.

Villarreal was supposed to arrive at 10:10 p.m. March 25, but he failed to report, according to Dismas Charities staff members. Villarreal was later served with an arrest warrant.

Conviction

Regarding the conviction, it was reported on April 10, 2018. A white International tractor-trailer arrived at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 35.

An agent conducted an immigration inspection on the driver and identified him as Villarreal. A K-9 unit then alerted to possible contraband within the trailer area during the inspection. Agents instructed Villarreal to drive to the secondary area for further inspection.

Villarreal, however, continued driving north on I-35. A pursuit ensued. Villarreal exited the interstate on Exit 38 and stopped. He got out of the cab and laid down on the ground.

Agents opened the trailer and discovered 33 immigrants who had entered the country illegally. Homeland Security Investigations special agents investigated the case.
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Electronic cigarettes are touted by some as safer than smoking tobacco. But a new study finds they damage blood vessels just like traditional cigarettes do.

Among hundreds of healthy young adults, researchers found that vaping and smoking cigarettes cause the same harm to arteries that leads to heart attacks, strokes and heart disease.

"The evidence is growing that e-cigarettes may not be a reduced harm product when it comes to heart disease," said lead researcher Jessica Fetterman, an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.

Abnormalities in artery stiffness persist in e-cigarette users, and no evidence shows that e-cigarette use reduces cardiovascular injury, dysfunction or harm associated with the use of combustible tobacco products, the study authors said.

For the study, Fetterman and her colleagues collected data on more than 400 men and women, aged 21 to 45, without heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.

Ninety-four were nonsmokers, 285 smoked traditional cigarettes, 36 used e-cigarettes and 52 used both traditional and e-cigarettes. All of the e-cigarette users had smoked tobacco in the past.

Fetterman's team found that smokers who switched to e-cigarettes and those who smoked cigarettes and also vaped had stiffening of the arteries. This can damage small blood vessels and lead to heart disease.

The investigators also found that endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, had the same degree of damage whether people used e-cigarettes, traditional cigarettes, or both.

Fetterman said longer-term research is needed to study whether arterial damage from e-cigarettes alone changes over time.

Stanton Glantz is a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco's Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. He said, "Adults take e-cigarettes up because they think they're not as dangerous as tobacco cigarettes. But what this study is showing is that in terms of these very important measures of vascular function, they are basically the same as a cigarette."

Glantz thinks it's time for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take action to warn people of the dangers of vaping.

"The FDA has been completely asleep at the switch on this," said Glantz, who wasn't involved in the new study.

The FDA still clings to the idea that e-cigarettes are better than tobacco cigarettes, Glantz said.

"Everybody thought, including me, that because you didn't have combustion, e-cigarettes had to be a lot better," he added.

But this study and others show that, even though there's no combustion, vaping floods the body with chemicals that cause the same harm as regular tobacco cigarettes, Glantz said.

Dr. Naomi Hamburg, a co-author of the study, urges people not to vape or smoke, especially now during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are not seeing any evidence that electronic cigarettes are a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes," said Hamburg, an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.

"During the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to know that both vaping and smoking traditional cigarettes lead to lung damage and may worsen pneumonia," Hamburg said. "As a heart doctor, I encourage everyone to quit vaping and smoking."

The report was published online April 29 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

More information

For more on the dangers of e-cigarettes, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the OSCE SMM data, Russian mercenaries have violated ceasefire in Donbas over 7,000 times since the beginning of 2020.

"Despite the ceasefire agreements reached, the invaders continue to fire for effect on the Joint Forces units. Thus, since the beginning of 2020, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has recorded in its daily reports more than seven thousand cases of ceasefire violations committed by Russian armed formations. Small arms, mortars and anti-tank missile systems are widely used throughout the contact line, Joint Forces Commander Volodymyr Kravchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform.

He noted that the purpose of the armed formations of the Russian Federation was to try to inflict losses on the Armed Forces of Ukraine and prevent the restoration of territorial integrity of Ukraine and the restitution of control over the temporarily occupied territories.

The Joint Forces Commander noted that the occupying forces had not removed much of the heavy weapons at safe distances and grossly violated the Minsk agreements by their actions. The enemy occasionally fires artillery from covered positions which are found within the occupied villages and towns usually.

Blatantly violating the international humanitarian law, militants systematically shell inhabited localities, killing civilians, damaging houses and critical infrastructure facilities. The enemy is most active in Severodonetsk, Popasna, Avdiivka and Mariupol directions, Kravchenko said, adding that the occupying power continues to prevent OSCE SMM from impartial assessing the Minsk agreements violations. In particular, the enemy regularly prevents OSCE monitors from entering their military facilities and uncontrolled border crossing points with the Russian Federation. To this end, Russian-occupation troops regularly announce the closure of certain areas, for example, for the purpose of conducting exercises and demining operations that is untrue. Recently, the invaders have explained such actions with measures to counteract the spread of coronavirus infection.

At the same time, Kravchenko assured that the enemy provocations received an adequate response from the Ukrainian military. In 2020, the elimination of 143 Russian mercenaries has been confirmed, 273 militants have been wounded, 28 pieces of equipment have been destroyed. In total, over the course of conduct of JFO, the losses of the Russian-occupation forces have totaled 1,234 persons killed and 2,074 persons wounded.

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COVID-19 restrictions meant Brisbane Airports billion-dollar new parallel runway was completed very, very quietly after eight years of construction.

There was no ceremony, no champagne and very few people present to mark the significant state milestone.

Celebrating the end of the runway's construction are (from left) deputy project manager Ben Garnett, Brisbane Airport Corporation chief Gert-Jan de Graaff, project director Paul Coughlan and airport assets general manager Krishan Tangri.

The runway is one of Brisbane's biggest infrastructure improvements, but sadly, it is unlikely that planes will arrive or depart before its official opening on July 12 because of COVID-19 restrictions on domestic and international flights.

The new runway will slowly double Brisbane Airport's passenger numbers from 23.4 million in the 2018-19 financial year to more than 50 million by 2040.
Ireland is one of 12 countries that have called on the European Commission to change the rules on refunds for cancelled airline flights.

A joint letter from the 12 countries calls for the rules to be changed temporarily to allow airlines to issue vouchers instead of refunds.

It comes after Ryanair and Aer Lingus refused to comment when asked if they were lobbying the Government to have the rules changed because of coronavirus.

The joint letter, also signed by France and the Netherlands, argues European Commission Regulation 261/2004 and its obligation to reimburse cancelled tickets in cash, if the passenger so decides, places airlines in a difficult situation where they are facing a serious cash flow challenge.

The letter says: "We believe that regulating the temporary issuance of vouchers is possible and acceptable for consumers, if some key principles are taken into account: transparent information to the passenger, non-discrimination, a common length of voucher validity, maximum flexibility of use, and a clear right of reimbursement immediately at the end of validity in the event of non-use of vouchers."

Other countries who have added their names to the request are Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Portugal.

Transport Minister Shane Ross denied he was supporting airlines over consumers.

He said there would be "carnage" in the European airline industry if flexibility on refunds was not extended to airlines.

"We need a uniform system across Europe that protects the long-term interests of consumers and looks to the solvency of airlines.

"We don't know how long this [the virus and lockdowns] will go on for. We can't have a situation where carnage in the airline industry affects connectivity to Ireland," he said.

But the EU's Transport Commissioner, Adina Valean, said she thought such a move was a bad idea.

"It's not an option for me," she said. "I don't think that this is the right path.

"I think companies have to put their energy and thinking into making the vouchers more attractive if they want to use mainly this instrument, but allow passengers to exercise their right to be reimbursed."

The latest moves come after Ryanair again changed its refunds policy for cancelled flights. It now says passengers who accept a voucher instead of a refund can exchange the voucher for cash if it is not used within 12 months.

The airline had initially said it would offer refunds to passengers after it cancelled thousands of flights.

But it enraged its customers who had applied for refunds when it wrote to them last week offering vouchers for flights that were cancelled due to the virus. These people had understood that their refund applications were being processed by the airline, and said they were enraged to be offered vouchers instead of refunds.

Yesterday Ryanair sent out more emails telling customers that they had previously received an email "with a voucher code to the value of your original booking". It said the voucher is valid for 12 months.

Ryanair said the processing time for cash refunds is taking longer due to the fact it is having to process 10,000 times the usual volume of cancellations.
He's one of the most memorable stars to ever appear on Married At First Sight.

And on Thursday, Nasser Sultan, 52, begged fans to make sure they tune in and watch his upcoming appearance on First Dates Australia.

'Hello guys. I hope you can tune in next Tuesday for what I think is one of the best shows out at the moment called First Dates,' he told his 33,500 followers.

Remember me? On Thursday, reality star Nasser Sultan (pictured) begged fans to tune into his upcoming appearance on First Dates Australia next week

Before adding, 'I'll be appearing in your lounge rooms with my beautiful date. I'm not going to give away too much,' he teased.

'Hopefully you can sit back, grab some popcorn and watch the Nas do his thing.'

Nasser, who rose to fame after he appeared on the 2018 season of MAFS, has been trying to return to reality television for years.

Flashback: Nasser was the breakout star of Married At First Sight's iconic fifth season back in 2018. (Pictured with 'wife' Gabrielle Bartlett)

In November, he officially applied for Seven's upcoming reboot of Big Brother.

Before that, he appeared on Channel 10's Trial By Kyle in an attempt to sue Sydney paparazzo Jayden Seyfarth.

After failing to win $15,000 in damages to his '$100,000' brand, he chucked a tantrum and stormed out of the courtroom.

Controversy: The controversial reality star took equally controversial paparazzo Jayden Seyfarth to TV court in 2018

He attempted to later enter Love Island Australia as an intruder in a bid to shake up the show.

The former MAFS star has also dabbled in a music career, releasing a dance called Blue Tick about his struggle to get verified on Instagram.

Nasser won't be the first Married At First Sight star to appear on the show, with both Davina Rankin and Steve Burley starring on the show before their respective stints on MAFS.
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Emergency Situations is denying media reports that the plane seized by authorities in Russia on April 25 belongs to them.

In a statement released on April 30, the ministry said they dont have a plane at all.

Mass media, citing Russian sources, are circulating information that the transit plane seized on April 25 in Russia belongs to the Ministry of Emergency Situation. We are informing that the Ministry of Emergency Situation doesnt have an airplane, the statement said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced his governments plans for a gradual end to COVID-19 confinement measures in Spain, even as new infections mount. The return-to-work policy is part of the criminal drive of the international financial aristocracy to resume production and send workers back to work, risking the health and the lives of thousands.

On Tuesday evening, Sanchez outlined his governments plan under the name Transition Plan to a New Normal.

The only target is to reach the new normal, he said, claiming that his plan consists of an asymmetrical, gradual and flexible de-escalation.

The plan was developed by the Coronavirus Management Technical Committee. Chaired by Sanchez, it included four deputy prime ministers, six ministers and four senior officials of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and of the petty-bourgeois populist Podemos party. From now on, Sanchez declared, this committee will be called the De-escalation Technical Committee, as if the raging pandemic were over.

People walk along a boulevard in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 26, 2020 (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The plan sets four stages for lifting lockdown measures, without setting clear dates. It begins on May 4 and lasts until the end of June. Sanchez explained that phase 0 will begin on May 4. It involves reopening small businesses such as restaurants that can offer takeaway and hairdressers. Customers will have to call and make an appointment to be able to buy products.

Phase 1 will allow the partial reopening of small businesses under strict safety measures, but not large shopping malls, where big crowds could form. Restaurants will open terraces without exceeding 30 percent of normal capacity, and hotels and tourist apartments, excluding common areas, will open also. Churches will open at 30 percent of usual capacity. Retail premises will select times dedicated to serving people over 65, who are at special risk from COVID-19.

In Phase 2, restaurants will be able to open indoors, at a third of normal capacity and with service only at tables. Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and exhibition halls will also open, limited to one third of their capacity. Indoor cultural performances will be possible but limited to fewer than 50 people and less than a third of normal capacity.

Schools will not fully reopen until September.

In Phase 3, general mobility and transport will be made more flexible. In retail premises, capacity will be limited to 50 percent and a minimum distance of two metres between people will be imposed. In restaurants, there will be further easing, and beaches may be open.

Sanchez said that By the end of June, as a country we will be in the new normal if the evolution of the epidemic is under control in all territories.

The New Normal is not based on science, nor on mass demands to lift confinement, but on the reckless drive to operate business as usual and extract profits from workers amid a pandemic. Millions more workers, who have sheltered at home due to the lock-down, will now be forced to return to work. Millions more are being told, incorrectly, that it will be safe to be outside.

Sanchez claimed, If we have to choose between prudence and risk, we opt for prudence.  Science still doesnt know a lot of things about this virus. As such, we are facing something that we dont know, and that is why we have to be cautious.

This is a political lie: the PSOE-Podemos policy has nothing to do with prudence or being cautious. The truth is there is no need to lift confinement when the pandemic is nowhere near controlled.

Spain has suffered the worlds third-highest death toll after the United States and Italy. After more than six weeks of lockdown, the Health Ministry reported 301 more COVID-19 deaths and 1,308 new infections yesterday. In total, Madrid has identified 210,773 infections via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and 23,822 people have died. This makes Spain the second country with the highest number of cases after the US, which has about a third of the global total, according to Johns Hopkins University data, with a million infections.

The Spanish government even failed to protect health care workers at the forefront of the struggle against COVID-19. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports 20 percent of registered coronavirus cases in Spain are health care workers.

Significantly, the so-called De-escalation Technical Committee has admitted that it has still not come up with indicators to assess the de-escalation of the disease.

Yesterday, Fernando Simon, an epidemiologist serving as director of the Centre for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies of the Health Ministry and the only scientist in the Committee, said de-escalation will not be based on unique indicators and predetermined thresholds, as it depends on many factors.

Acting as Sanchezs propaganda machine, the press has uncritically parroted the new normal thesis. Typical in the liberal media are articles such as When can I go to a friends house? And visit my parents? This what we know of the new social life (El Pais), or This is how de-escalation will be in different stages for bars, restaurants and beaches (Publico) or Seeing family or friends, having a beer or going to the beach: when can you start doing these things in de-escalation? (Eldiario.org). El Pais also worries about How Spains coronavirus lockdown could be endangering wildlife.

The Stalinist Workers Commissions (CCOO) and social-democratic General Union of Labour (UGT) unions, which enforce the PSOE-Podemoss criminal back-to-work policy, supported Sanchezs latest measures. Mimicking his words, CCOO General Secretary Unai Sordo said: The return to activity should be governed by prudence to prevent a rebound in COVID-19.

A UGT statement declares that once the magnitude of the health crisis we face subsides, as it seems in the last days, we should proceed to returning the activity of those production processes that are still paralysed, in order to mitigate, as far as possible, the damage that this pandemic is causing to our economy.

As usual, Podemos was the biggest cheerleader of the policy. Podemos parliament spokesperson Pablo Echenique described the plan as prudent and sensible and hailed it for going in the right direction.

These forces speak not for the working class, which they are recklessly endangering, but for the financial aristocracy. Yesterday, Spains main stock exchange rebounded 3.21 percent and crossed the 7,000-point threshold it had fallen through earlier this year.

On the other side stand workers, who oppose reckless lifting of confinement measures. A poll published by El Pais reported that 59 percent of those asked thought that the lockdown should be maintained as it is for the time being.
NEW YORK  Police were called to a Brooklyn neighborhood Wednesday after a funeral home overwhelmed by the coronavirus resorted to storing dozens of bodies on ice in rented trucks, and a passerby complained about the smell, officials said.

Investigators who responded to a 911 call found that the home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses, according to a law enforcement official. No criminal charges were brought and the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation, spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home was cited for failing to control the odors. The home was able to obtain a larger, refrigerated truck later in the day, the official said.

Workers suited up in protective gear could be seen in the afternoon transferring bodies into the refrigerated truck.

Workers move a body near the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York on April 29, 2020. Police responded to a report of human bodies in vehicles, which they determined were connected to the nearby funeral home.

A person who answered the phone at the funeral home hung up without speaking. Subsequent calls went to voicemail, which was full.

New York City funeral homes have struggled in the city since late March.

'It's carnage': Crematoriums run around the clock to meet demand from coronavirus

Aerial images: New graves being dug on Hart Island as New York coronavirus deaths surge

The city set up temporary morgues. Hospitals used refrigerated tractor trailers to cart away multiple bodies at a time, sometimes loading them in public view on the sidewalk. Crematoriums have been backed up. Funeral directors across the city have pleaded for help as they have run out of space.

The NYPD notified the state Department of Health, which oversees funeral homes, about the situation at the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home. It did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams went to the scene on Wednesday evening. He told the Daily News, While this situation is under investigation, we should not have what we have right now, with trucks lining the streets filled with bodies.

He said it was people who walked by who saw some leakage and detected an odor coming from a truck.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus deaths push NYC funeral home to store bodies in trucks
CLEVELAND, Ohio  An exterminator discovered a dead body in the air duct of a grocery store in the citys Mount Pleasant neighborhood, police said.

Cleveland police Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said it appeared that the man entered the ducts on his own and that investigators noted no obvious signs of violence on the mans body. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has not released the identity of the man, nor his cause of death.

The pest exterminator discovered the body about 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Save A lot on Kinsman Avenue and East 143rd Street, police said.

A store manager called the exterminator on Wednesday after noticing a foul odor emanating from the ducts, according to police. Investigators have not determined how the man managed to climb into the ducts.

Cleveland firefighters used a large electric saw to cut a hole in the top of the roof to help recover the mans body. Cleveland police homicide investigators also used a hatch on top of the roof to access the ducts while investigating the death.

A statement from Save A Lot President and CEO Kenneth McGrath said the company is working in full cooperation with Cleveland police and that the store will be temporarily closed.

We are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, McGraths statement said.

Albert Collins, who lives in the neighborhood, said his 53-year-old brother, Daniel, went missing on April 21. Missing person fliers were posted at several businesses in the area.

Daniel Collins lived directly behind the store, his brother said. Albert Collins and other family members remained at the scene in the hopes of learning more from investigators.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Cleveland police investigating after dead body found at grocery store in Mount Pleasant neighborhood, police say

Demolition contractor to plead guilty to bribing Cleveland official for quick inspections

As Cuyahoga County Jail inmates died in record numbers, county investigations into the deaths were minimal, records show
The Supreme Court on Thursday sought CBIs response on a plea of former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, serving life term in an 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, seeking grant of either interim bail or parole for eight weeks in view of Covid-19 pandemic. Khokhar and former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar are serving life imprisonment in Tihar jail in the case after the Delhi high court convicted them on December 17, 2018.

A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and justice Aniruddha Bose took note of the submissions made by Khokhars counsel that prisons need to be decongested to contain the pandemic as has been suggested by courts as also the government. The bench, hearing the plea via video conferencing, then asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, to file the response. Khokhar was earlier granted 4-week parole on January 15 by the top court following the death of his father.

Senior advocate HS Phoolka, who represented riot victims and was in his native village in Punjab, opposed the bail plea.

Earlier, the top court had said that it would hear the bail plea of other convict Sajjan Kumar in the case during summer vacation. Khokhars life sentence was upheld by the Delhi high court in 2018, while it had reversed the acquittal of Kumar by the trial court in 2013, in a case related to the killings of five Sikhs in the Raj Nagar Part-I area in Palam Colony in southwest Delhi on November 1-2, 1984, and burning down of a gurdwara in Raj Nagar Part-II.

The anti-Sikh riots had broken out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by her two Sikh bodyguards.

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The state has decided that from Monday it will allow the plying of private buses along with the reopening of electronics, stationery, paint and hardware stores, reports Avishek Rakshit.

IMAGE: A man crossing barricades placed to restrict the movement of people at a coronavirus containment zone on Raja Dinanda street in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

West Bengal has decided to provide further relaxation from Monday, when the extended lockdown is scheduled to end, and has even allowed plying of private buses.

Besides government-run bus networks, such as West Bengal Transport Corporation, South Bengal State Transport Corporation, and North Bengal State Transport Corporation, the private bus network is a key lifeline for daily commuters. In Kolkata alone, more than 9,000 buses ferry passengers daily.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said: Private bus operators are also facing economic hardship. We have decided to allow private buses to ply, provided they obtain necessary permissions from the transport department and district magistrate. Social distancing, including wearing of masks, is a must and not more than 20 people will be allowed.

However, private buses may ply only within the same district. It would imply opening up the public mass transport system from May 4, to an extent. Operator unions suggested that more clarity was needed regarding red and orange zones, as buses may have to cross such zones during the course of their permitted routes.

The CM, however, cautioned that violation of social distancing norms would lead to revocation of permissions. Banerjee added that taxi services would re-start in a phased manner. At present, the state government has permitted around 100 taxis to operate in a centralised manner, controlled by the police, to address emergencies.

Standalone shops of electronics, stationery, mobile and battery recharge, and hardware, along with laundromats, tea stalls, and betel leaf kiosks have been permitted to open their shutters from Monday. Micro-small neighbourhood stores will also reopen.

However, hawkers and roadside stores are not allowed. We will open things in a phased manner depending on the situation, Banerjee said.

Industries such as iron and steel, and construction, have also been given the nod to operate from Monday in green zones.

However, the lockdown will continue in red zones. In Kolkata alone, 227 sensitive areas have been identified.

Banerjee, nevertheless, clarified that experts and doctors have opined that restrictions imposed to check the spread of the virus should continue in the state till May-end.

The decision comes even as the state continues to have the 10th highest number of cases and the pace of new cases having increased.
NEW YORK (AP) - A Navy hospital ship is leaving New York City a month after it was sent to relieve stress on hospitals at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

After arriving to great fanfare, the USNS Comfort treated just 182 people as a surge in cases in the hard-hit city fell short of the worst-case projections.

The last dozen patients on the ship were discharged or transferred to other hospitals over the weekend. Eleven people treated on the ship died, the Defense Department said.

The Comfort and its 620 doctors, nurses and other crew members are returning to their homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, where the ship will be restocked and be readied for another possible assignment. Its due to depart New York around noon Thursday.
Police have said they are concerned that an increase in violent crime by younger unemployed men and gangs looking to reclaim their turf will follow the relaxation of lockdown measures.

A 'toxic mix' of young men out of work, public gatherings being permitted again and later, the opening of licensed venues such as pubs and clubs, has police taking steps to prepare for the days when the UK starts to lift its lockdown restrictions.

London police are also said to be bracing for a surge of gang related activity, such as drugs and knife crime, as gangs grapple to regain control of their territories after weeks off the streets.

Police in London, pictured cordoning off an area in Canning Town after a murder on April 29, have said that gang violence could increase after the lockdown is lifted in the city

Speaking to The Times, West Midland's police commissioner David James said: 'I fear that we may be facing a summer crime wave. Young men out of work, venues reopening and large groups congregating is a toxic mix for crime.

'I am particularly worried about public order offences, antisocial behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence,' he added.

He said that if there were to be hundreds of thousands of young men in the West Midlands finding themselves with no employment over the summer, there could be a lot of young men on the street with nothing to do. This, he says, often results in 'crime of various sorts'.

Furthermore, reopening pubs could also see people drink more than usual, he warned, which could prove to be trouble if people's potentially celebratory mood turns violent.

Another police official, Ken Marsh, who is the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said there was 'massive concern' among the police about a post-lockdown surge in knife crime and violence in London.

'Gangs are not out at the moment because of the virus, but ultimately they will want to reassert their position, Marsh said to The Times. 'We have seen a big drop in knife crime. But when lockdown is over, drug dealing and gang fighting will increase again.'

The UK has seen less reported crime during the lockdown as people have remained indoors,and police have been tasked with enforcing the restrictions put in place by the government. Pictured: Metropolitan Police speak to sunbathers in Greenwich Park

Marsh said that the Metropolitan Police were already discussing how best to confront the issue as the government continues to look at how to lift the country out of the lockdown safely.

The impact the coronavirus has had on the economy could well result in a more 'volatile and agitated' society, said Paul Griffith, president of the Police Superintendents' Association.

He explained that as with any case of economic downturn and deprivation, there is a risk levels of crime and disorder will increase, and that there would be a natural rise in crime as pubs, bars, clubs and other licensed premises reopen, and as public gatherings were permitted again.

Police also fear that when licensed premises reopen there could also be a surge in violent and anti-social behaviour. Pictured: A pub in North London is bordered up during the lockdown

He added that its possible crime figures could also spike post-lockdown as evidence of domestic violence, child sexual exploitation and other crimes committed during the lowdown come to light.

The economic ramifications of the coronavirus could also lead to more desperate crimes, such as theft, in order for people feed themselves, and Andy Cooke, chief constable of Merseyside police, argued that unemployment was more likely to cause this than violent crime.

'In recession you see an increase in the lower end of crime. For example, acquisitive crime might rise because people steal to feed themselves,' he said.

Cooke said that all police forces were taking the 'common sense' approach of planning for increase in crimes as restrictions are relaxed.
Michael Castor predicted the coronavirus pandemic when most investors were dismissing the threat. S&P 500 Index lost nearly 20% during the first quarter, yet Castor's healthcare focused hedge fund Sio Capital returned more than 7% during the same period.

Most equity hedge funds aren't truly hedge funds. They are almost never 100% hedged. That's because they can't generate pure alpha high enough to justify their 2-and-20 fee structure. A typical hedge fund manager these days can outperform the market by an average of 2-3 percentage points in its long portfolio. So, if the market returns 10%, a typical hedge fund will probably return 12-13%. This isn't bad, but no investor in their right mind would pay 2% fixed annual fee plus a 20% performance fee for such a performance (the net return would fall to 8% after these outrageous fees). So, they try to confuse investors by reducing their net exposure to 50% and claiming that what they return is pure alpha.

[caption id="attachment_315176" align="aligncenter" width="450"]

Michael Castor of Sio Capital

Michael Castor of Sio Capital[/caption]

Michael Castor isn't like this. On average his portfolio has been actually 5-10% net short over the last 7-8 years. His fund returned more than 11% annually over this period and all of this is pure alpha. There are very few hedge fund managers left who can deliver this type of alpha over very long periods of time.

We interviewed Michael Castor this weekend and shared the video below. In the first half of this video we talked about Sio Capital, markets, and the coronavirus pandemic. We shared his views on Gilead and efficacy of remdesivir earlier today here. "We're actually at probably our max short position. I'm finding very little that's cheap and a large number of stocks that are outrageously expensive," Castor said in the interview below.

The second half of the video was dedicated to Michael Castor's opinions on most of the large healthcare stocks. We asked him about the health insurance stocks like Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH). Castor said he has a slight preference for Anthem Inc over UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. He thinks UnitedHealth has the advantage of having a diversified base of income (providing not only insurance but healthcare IT, analytics, and consulting businesses), however Anthem Inc is slightly more attractive. Sio Capital currently have positions in both stocks.

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Castor also revealed in the interview that he is fond of Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH). Molina Healthcare serves the Medicaid population and Castor thinks Molina Healthcare will benefit from the increasing number of people who now qualify for Medicaid because of huge job losses. "Molina is poised to really benefit from those," Castor said.

We also questioned Castor about hospital stocks because hospital stocks such as HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) and Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) lost about 25% year-to-date. Castor said COVID-19 is a disaster for hospitals because they are losing massive amounts of money. Their profit centers (elective surgeries, cardiology, and orthopedics) can't operate, yet their costs went up because of additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 inside the hospitals. The near-term outlook for hospitals is bleak, but Castor doesn't think especially community hospitals will be allowed to go bankrupt.

In terms of individual stocks Castor thinks HCA Healthcare Inc is "by far is the best run of any hospital chain that I have come across". HCA Healthcare won't avoid a drop in profit but other hospitals will be in worse shape. Castor expects HCA to take advantage of the aftermath of the pandemic and pick up some assets on the cheap.

He also shared his best U.S. and European healthcare stock ideas with us. You can find out the name of his top European stock towards the end of the interview. We have been recommending a position in his top U.S. healthcare stock pick in our monthly newsletter, so I had to cut that part of the video out. However, you can still find out his top European healthcare stock pick which he expects to double.

If you are interested in finding out Michael Castor's top healthcare stock pick, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter. The portfolio of our stock recommendations in the monthly newsletter returned 71.8% since March 2017 (through April 28th) vs. 27.9% gain for the S&P 500 ETFs. There aren't a lot of fund managers whose picks beat the market by 44 percentage points in the last 3 years.

Disclosure: No positions in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS), Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH), Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH). This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Press Release

April 30, 2020 Stressing the elderly, jailing quarantine violators in cramped cells will worsen COVID spread: Pangilinan "Our emergency situation now is about health. All proposed and enforced measures should answer 'yes' to the following questions: Mahihinto o mapapabagal ba nito ang pagkalat ng COVID? Makakabuti ba ito sa kalusugan ng mga mamamayan at ng buong pamayanan? That's why on the guidelines concerning our senior citizens, nananawagan tayo sa IATF na bigyan ang lahat ng senior ng financial aid sa ilalim ng Bayanihan social amelioration program, kahit na yung nakakatanggap ng SSS or GSIS pensions o may mga nagtatrabahong anak. According to SSS and GSIS 2018 data, 3 out of 4 SSS pensioners and less than 1 of 4 get P5,000 and below in pension. The Coalition of Services of the Elderly and Senior Citizens' Organizations Nationwide say most pensioners continue to work after retirement to augment their meager pensions. With the lockdown, most of their working children have stopped earning livelihood. On the arrest and detention of 120,000 who have violated community quarantine and non-use of facial mask, we suggest that: 1. Turuan sila ng mga angkop na health protocols sa physical distancing at bigyan sila ng facial masks. This will also prepare everyone (both the quarantined and the quarantine enforcers) when the quarantine is lifted because these health protocols and accessories will be part of the new normal. 2. Siguruhin ang physical distancing sa lahat ng city jails at madaliang i-decongest ang mga ito. Start with the release of those who have committed minor offenses but could not post bail because they are poor, and those who have served more time than their possible sentence because the justice system moves criminally slow. Recent news reports said that 185 in Cebu City Jail, nine in notoriously teeming Quezon City Jail, at one in Mandaue City Jail tested positive for COVID. Two detainees died of COVID in Women's Correctional, where 18 other detainees at one Correctional staff tested positive of the virus. 3. Quarantine enforcers who indiscriminately, needlessly, and wantonly use violence must be punished. They include those who beat up the fish vendor in Quezon City. Huling araw ng Abril at mahigit 40 araw na tayong nasa ilalim ng quarantine. Kailangang holistic o big picture ang pagtingin sa pagsugpo ng sakit. Magdamayan tayo, huwag magtakutan. Fear leads to stress leads to compromised immune system leads to vulnerability to COVID leads to a high curve, not flat.
Sweden is planning to ask the European Union to probe the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, in a move that would potentially add further strain onto the Nordic nation's already tense relations with China.

This follows similar remarks made by US, Australian and German leaders who demanded further information on the virus's origin from the Beijing authorities, who have insisted the task should be left to scientists, not politicians.

"When the global situation of Covid-19 is under control, it is both reasonable and important that an international, independent investigation be conducted to gain knowledge about the origin and spread of the coronavirus," Sweden's health minister Lena Hallengren wrote in a reply to the parliament on Wednesday.

"It is also important that the entire international community's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the World Health Organisation, is [to be] investigated," said Hallengren. "Sweden is happy to raise this issue within the framework of EU cooperation."

Sweden's health minister Lena Hallengren said it is important for have an investigation to know "the origin and spread of the coronavirus". Photo: Zuma Press via dpa alt=Sweden's health minister Lena Hallengren said it is important for have an investigation to know "the origin and spread of the coronavirus". Photo: Zuma Press via dpa

Sweden's foreign minister Ann Linde suggested that any investigation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) should take place after the pandemic is over.

"We think the WHO is doing an important job now, so we think it's not the time right now for accountability, but for letting them do their work in this pandemic," Linde said in a webinar hosted by the think tank Atlantic Council on Wednesday, stressing that it did not mean Sweden was "happy" about the organisation's work.

Sweden has previously criticised a Chinese state media report that condemned the Swedish response to the coronavirus.

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Without referring to the incident, Linde said: "It's also important that [Europe and the US] together go against the tendencies of using the pandemic for authoritarian governments and regimes to hinder democracy, rule of law, freedom for journalists ... including quite a lot of disinformation.

"Sweden has also seen that rather clearly ... from some of the big countries who want to give a picture of a fragmented Europe, of [a] government that is not taking responsibility because it's in their ... political interest, that after the pandemic those regimes seem stronger, for example being able to say it's more easy for an authoritarian government to solve those problems than for a democratic government."

Sweden's ties with China were already tense before the outbreak of the coronavirus. Stockholm has repeatedly asked for Beijing's release of Gui Minhai, a Swedish national who ran a publishing business in Hong Kong.

In February, Gui was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Chinese court. An official statement added that Gui would not appeal.

"Sweden probably had the worst relationship with China in Europe when the pandemic struck earlier this year. The health crisis didn't so far provide opportunities for mending ties," said Bjorn Jerden, head of the Asia programme at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

"Rather, the important issues of disagreement are still there and Sweden's public debate on China has hardened further."

It is unclear if other EU countries will follow Sweden's call for an investigation, but a general mood of hostility between Europe and China is growing.

In France, the Chinese ambassador, Lu Shaye, took to Twitter on Wednesday to criticise French journalists based in China.

"French journalists posted in China always report something else. This gives an impression to the French public that China is a very bad country; everything happens there is against humanity, lack of human rights, lack of freedom," the embassy quoted him as saying.

Lu also accused the French media of lacking independence, in an interview with French newspaper L'Opinion.

"In my impression, the French are independent, the French media are independent. But this time, they are still following the Americans very closely. Each time, the Americans launch an accusation, throw an allegation, the French media certainly report them a day or two days later."

Earlier this month, Lu was summoned by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian after the embassy spread disinformation about French health care workers abandoning their job and leaving old people to die.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
HAINES, Alaska  When I first saw the big electronic sign at the corner by the school and Mountain Market flashing Stay Home and Save Lives, it was like a warning light for my heart. When a refrigerated shipping container was placed behind the fire hall to serve as a temporary morgue (our regular one can hold only two people), I felt I couldnt breathe. The fire chief said he didnt mean to frighten anyone.

In this small coastal town (pop. 2,500) where I have lived for more than 35 years, I have been hunkered down at home since March 18. So has everyone else here. No school, no sitting in bars or coffee shops, no church services. You know the drill.

Haines is in southeast Alaska, on a fjord at the top of the Inside Passage, about 1,000 miles north of Seattle and about 70 miles north of Juneau. Most trips south mean a ferry ride or small-plane flight to Juneau, and then a jet to Seattle and points beyond.

So when the coronavirus hit Seattle hard and early, mayors in this part of Alaska shut things down, and the governor acted swiftly, too. Haines has a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone coming to town and does not have any confirmed Covid-19 cases. In Juneau, there are about 27 confirmed cases. Sitka just reported its first.
Early signs are that the Covid-19 virus poses a greater direct health risk to men, and particularly older men. But the pandemic is exposing and exploiting inequalities of all kinds, including gender inequality. In the long term, its impact on womens health, rights and freedoms could harm us all.

Women are already suffering the deadly impact of lockdowns and quarantines. These restrictions are essential  but they increase the risk of violence towards women trapped with abusive partners. Recent weeks have seen an alarming global surge in domestic violence; the largest support organisation in the UK reported a 700 per cent increase in calls. At the same time, support services for women at risk face cuts and closures.

This was the background to my recent appeal for peace in homes around the world. Since then, more than 143 governments have committed to supporting women and girls at risk of violence during the pandemic. Every country can take action by moving services online, expanding domestic violence shelters and designating them as essential, and increasing support to frontline organisations. The United Nations partnership with the European Union, the Spotlight Initiative, is working with governments in more than 25 countries on these and similar measures, and stands ready to expand its support.

But the threat to womens rights and freedoms posed by Covid-19 goes far beyond physical violence. The deep economic downturn accompanying the pandemic is likely to have a distinctly female face.

The unfair and unequal treatment of working women is one reason why I went into politics. In the late 1960s, as a student volunteer doing social work in poor areas of Lisbon, I saw women in very difficult situations, doing menial jobs and carrying the weight of their extended families. I knew this had to change  and I have seen important change in my lifetime.

But decades later, Covid-19 threatens to bring back these conditions and worse for many women around the world.

Women are disproportionately represented in poorly paid jobs without benefits, as domestic workers, casual labourers, street vendors and in small-scale services like hairdressing. The International Labour Organisation estimates that nearly 200 million jobs will be lost in the next three months alone  many of them in these sectors.

Just as they are losing their paid employment, many women face a huge increase in care work due to school closures, overwhelmed health systems and the increased needs of older people.

And lets not forget the girls who have had their education cut short. In some villages in Sierra Leone, school enrolment rates for teenage girls fell from 50 to 34 per cent after the Ebola epidemic, with lifelong implications for their wellbeing and that of their communities and societies.

Many men, too, are facing job losses and conflicting demands. But even at the best of times, women do three times as much domestic work as men. That means they are more likely to be called on to look after children if businesses open while schools remain closed, delaying their return to the paid labour force.

March for Women's Lives: History in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 March for Women's Lives: History in pictures March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights Getty Images March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Demonstrators participating in the March for Women's Lives make their way over the Brooklyn Bridge to a rally at New York City Hall on 28 August 2004 AP March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 A demonstrator punches an effigy of President Bush as thousands take part in the March For Women's Lives Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Anti-abortion counter-protesters oppose the March For Women's Lives in Washington DC Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 A police officer stands between two priests outside the US Supreme Court during the March for Women's Lives in Washington DC AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Pro-choice activists shout slogans during the March For Women's Lives Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 The 2004 March for Women's Lives on the National Mall in Washington DC Jfruh March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 A woman shouts as she attends the Womens March on New York on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold up placards during the Women's March in London on 21 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold signs as they attend the Womens March on New York on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold signs near the White House following the Women's March on Washington on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 A young protester hold up placards during the Women's March in London on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2019 Protesters rally at the Womens March on Washington on 19 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2019 Protesters rally at the Womens March on Washington on 19 January AFP/Getty

Entrenched inequality also means that while women make up 70 per cent of healthcare workers, they are vastly outnumbered by men in healthcare management, and comprise just one of every ten political leaders worldwide. We need women at the table when decisions are made about this pandemic, to prevent worst-case scenarios like a second spike in infections, labour shortages and even social unrest.

Women in insecure jobs urgently need basic social protections, from health insurance to paid sick leave, childcare, income protection and unemployment benefits. Looking ahead, measures to stimulate the economy, like cash transfers, credits, loans and bailouts, must be targeted at women  whether they are working full time in the formal economy, as part-time or seasonal workers in the informal economy, or as entrepreneurs and business owners.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made it clearer than ever that womens unpaid domestic labour is subsidising both public services and private profits. This work must be included in economic metrics and decision-making. We will all gain from working arrangements that recognise peoples caring responsibilities, and from inclusive economic models that value work in the home.

This pandemic is not only challenging global health systems, but our commitment to equality and human dignity.

With womens interests and rights front and centre, we can get through this pandemic faster and build more equal and resilient communities and societies that benefit everyone.

Antonio Guterres is the secretary general of the United Nations
BERLIN (AP)  Derided by many economists for years for insisting on a balanced budget and criticized for a health care system seen as bloated and overly expensive, Germany has found itself well equipped now to weather the coronavirus pandemic.

Already applauded for early actions such as social-distancing regulations and aggressive testing seen as helping keep the death toll comparatively low, Europes largest economy has had the financial flexibility to launch a massive rescue plan to help businesses and keep workers paid.

As the country moves to relax some restrictions this week, Chancellor Angela Merkel is pointing to the example of South Korea, which relied on its experience fighting a different coronavirus five years ago to combat COVID-19, as the way forward.

Meantime in the U.S., some protesters have taken to the streets  supported by President Donald Trump's tweets  to demand an end to virus-related shutdowns to help the faltering economy, which has caused tens of millions to lose their jobs, even if it could lead to an increase in deaths as the health care system struggles.

This is a crisis which, on the one hand, has probably hit the U.S. where it is most vulnerable, namely health care, said Carsten Brzeski, ING banks chief Eurozone economist. While at the same time it has hit the German economy where its the strongest.

Brzeski was among those who argued for Germany to spend more to stimulate the economy as growth ground toward stagnation, but concedes now the country is in a fortunate position.

For years, balanced budget proponents argued it was prudent during good economic times to bring Germanys house in order to be prepared for a crisis. So in announcing a 1 trillion euro ($1.1 trillion) rescue plan for the countrys 83 million people last month, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was able to assure there was more money available, if needed.

And while Italy and Spain were faced at the height of the crisis with having to decide whether to allocate precious ICU beds to elderly patients with the most urgent need or to younger patients with the greatest chance of survival, Germany has never had a shortage and has even taken in patients from other European countries.

Story continues

They had the means, but then they also had the political will, and also the very good analytical insights to use the means, Brzeski, said, noting Merkel was a scientist before entering politics.

I cant imagine any government better than Angela Merkels to deal with this.

Germany is now taking baby steps to ease restrictions, allowing smaller shops to reopen this week while sticking to strict social-distancing guidelines and requiring face masks on public transport and in stores. The effect will be analyzed after two weeks to see whether infections have again started to significantly climb.

We must not overwhelm our health care system, Merkel said, warning restrictions could be snapped back. The best path is one that is careful, and not taken light-heartedly.

The far-right Alternative for Germany party has criticized Merkels go-slow approach as ruining our country, but the chancellors popularity has been steadily rising and Germans overwhelmingly see her governments crisis management positively.

Opening her Berlin toy store Wednesday for the first time in over a month, Galina Hooge said she had already received government aid and the process was surprisingly quick and uncomplicated.

She said it only covered the stores rent and bills, but she felt relatively secure thanks to Germanys universal health insurance and strong social safety net.

The main thing is that everyone stays healthy and the situation doesnt become like America, she said, referring to the large number of cases and deaths in the United States.

Besides help for small businesses, Germany's aid package is designed to keep the unemployment rate down and allow workers to return quickly when possible. While Washington is sending out one-time stimulus checks to Americans, the German government plan pays at least 60% of the salary of employees who are on reduced or no hours.

As restrictions are eased, Merkel has pointed to South Korea as an example of how Germany will have to improve measures to get ahead of the pandemic with more testing and tracking of cases to slow the infection rate.

Experts say one reason South Korea has managed to avoid lockdowns or business bans was because of its aggressive testing and contact-tracing program that draws from its experience of fighting a different coronavirus  MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome -- in 2015.

Following that outbreak, which killed 36 people and sickened around 200, South Korea rewrote its infectious disease law to allow health authorities quick access to a broad range of personal information to fight infectious diseases.

Amid criticism from privacy advocates, authorities have fully exercised such powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, aggressively tracing virus carriers' contacts with tools such as smartphone GPS tracking, credit card records and surveillance video. People's movements before they were diagnosed are published on websites and relayed via smartphone alerts to inform others whether they have crossed paths with a carrier.

The government is also using smartphone tracking apps to monitor the tens of thousands of people placed under self-quarantine at home and plans to use electronic wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders.

South Korea on Wednesday reported 11 new cases of the coronavirus, the 21st day in a row that the daily jump in infections came below 100.

The approach has meant South Korea has managed to slow the spread of the virus without imposing massive lockdowns or banning nonessential businesses, so there has never been any debate over reopening its economy.

In the U.S., there has been growing impatience over virus-related shutdowns that have led tens of millions to lose their jobs, and the U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved nearly $500 billion in new aid for businesses, hospitals and testing, on top of a $2.2 trillion package passed last month in the country of some 328 million.

Trumps administration has issued guidelines advising relaxation of restrictions only after prerequisites, like a two-week downward trajectory of cases, are met. Trump himself, however, has grumbled our country wasnt meant to be shut down and has tweeted support for anti-shutdown protests, and some states are moving ahead with plans to begin reopening as early as this week.

The U.S. has registered more than 825,000 infections and 45,000 deaths so far, including some 15,000 fatalities in New York City alone. Often at odds with Trump, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned against relaxing restrictions too early and risking a new spike in infections, no matter how badly the economy is faring.

Were not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable, Cuomo said. And were not going to put a dollar figure on human life.

Germany has registered some 150,000 infections, not far behind the worst-hit European countries of Italy, with more than 180,000 cases, and Spain with about 205,000. But where around 5,000 people have died in Germany, Spains toll is nearly 22,000 and Italys has passed 25,000.

At the height of the crisis in Spain and Italy the sheer numbers overwhelmed their health care systems, and painful decisions had to be made on who to treat.

Domenico Arcuri, Italys extraordinary commissioner for the COVID-19 crisis, told reporters Tuesday that for the first time during the pandemic the nation now has more respirators than patients in ICU beds, and lamented the anguish officials faced deciding who to treat in the early weeks.

Each night, we had to decide where to send these instruments, which, in the end, save lives, he said. Ill keep that with me for all my life, and I wouldnt wish anyone else to experience the dilemma of choosing which hospital received them.

With the numbers of new infections now stabilizing, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte confirmed Tuesday that Italy can start reopening on May 4, but he doused any hopes of a total loosening of some of the strictest lockdown measures in a Western democracy.

Spain, which has turned hotels into makeshift hospitals and converted a Madrid skating rink into a morgue, has not yet announced plans on relaxing restrictions, with Health Minister Salvador Illa saying it will hinge on advances made in treatment and vaccines to ensure theres no second wave.

Spain is still in a difficult place, with some hard weeks ahead, he said Tuesday.

In announcing a tentative easing of restrictions in the Netherlands, allowing elementary schools to reopen with reduced class sizes starting May 11, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he had faced devils dilemmas in trying to decide how to move forward.

The Netherlands was projected to have a budget surplus of 3.4 billion euros in 2020, however, and Rutte said the government could afford to take a cautious approach as he ordered bars and restaurants to remain closed until at least May 19.

Thanks to the governments good financial position, it can offer first aid to companies, independent business owners and affected sectors, his government said.

____

Frank Jordans in Berlin, Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and reporters around the world contributed.
WERE HERE 9 p.m. on HBO. In last weeks debut episode of this new reality show, the hosts  Shangela Laquifa Wadley, Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka OHara, all of RuPauls Drag Race fame  helped locals in Gettysburg, Pa., put on a drag show. It involved lipstick, glitter and I Will Survive. This week, theyll do the same in Twin Falls, Idaho. Expect more glitter and lipstick (no guarantee of more I Will Survive, though).

LONDON HAS FALLEN (2016) 10 p.m. on TNT. In a trailer for this thriller, the vice president of the United States (played by Morgan Freeman) delivers a televised warning to the bad guys threatening democracy. Make no mistake, he says. We will find you, and we will destroy you. If you hear in those words an echo of the Liam Neeson line I will find you, and I will kill you from Taken  well, maybe be generous. Consider labeling it a homage, instead of an imitation. Indeed, the very setup of London Has Fallen, a sequel to Olympus Has Fallen (2013), borrows heavily from its own predecessor: Just like the first film, the sequel casts Gerard Butler as a Secret Service agent charged with protecting the American president (Aaron Eckhart), who gets captured by terrorists. Will this hard-luck president again defy death while his stoic sidekick vanquishes the nasty, uncivilized terrorists? Neil Genzlinger asked in his review for The Times. Its hard to care when a movie is this formulaic and moronic.
Bhopal/Ujjain: Ujjain has recorded the highest death rate--17.51%--in Madhya Pradesh with 17 Covid-19 related fatalities there over the last seven days, according to the government data. Seven out of 76 Covid-19 patients had died in Ujjain until April 23 and every fourth patient has succumbed to the disease over the last seven days.

Ujjain, which is known for famous Mahakal Temple and hosts one of four Kumbh fairs every 12 years, had reported 137 Covid-19 cases as of Thursday and 24 fatalities. Indore, the worst-hit place in the state by the pandemic, had a death rate of 4.40 until Wednesday followed by Bhopal (2.89%). Madhya Pradesh, with 130 deaths, has a death rate of 4.88%. It is 3.19% nationally.

Officials said the government has now involved a private medical colleges laboratory in Ujjain for testing as a delay in getting reports is one of the reasons behind the high death rate in the district.

Ujjains first Covid-19 case came to light on March 25 after a woman tested positive for the disease after her death. It had reported just six cases until March 31 and two deaths. On April 15, Ujjain had 30 Covid-19 patients and six fatalities. The number of cases rose after April 22 and so did the deaths.

A health department official, who did not wish to be named, said the situation was alarming right from the beginning when five members of the family of the first patient were found infected. Ujjains situation was similar to that of Indore. The hotspots were identified early and the administration thought the situation could be controlled with the lockdown and curfew restrictions.

The official said there was hence no focus on surveys, screening and collection of samples. The state government did not pay attention to the problem... [it did not] upgrade any lab here for Covid testing. The administration in Ujjain heavily relied on labs in Indore and Bhopal, which were already overburdened... The result was the reports were delayed by 10 to 15 days. In between, the administration also sent samples to labs in Pune, Ahmedabad and certain other centres but it hardly helped.

HP Sonaniya, the nodal officer for Covid-19, said about 90% of the patients who have died were suffering from other diseases. Only two to three young patients have died. The rest were above 60. There were at least seven to eight who died within two hours of their admission to hospital as they were admitted in a very serious conditions. Also, seven to eight patients were brought dead but their numbers were added to the list of deceased as their samples were collected for tests as per protocol.

Ujjain division commissioner Anand Sharma said mostly Covid-19 patients in Ujjain are from containment areas as they are able to trace them. As we have got a lab in Ujjain now, it will clear the backlog... The situation will improve.

Public health expert Amulya Nidhi said Ujjain is a classic case of a state governments failure in assessing the ground situation and inaction. Besides lack of required surveys, screening and testing, the administration relied on a private facility for treatment of patients without trying to know if it had enough infrastructure. That there was no government laboratory till now and a private lab was engaged on Thursday, 35 days after the first case, speaks volumes about the bureaucratic approach in dealing with the pandemic.
ALTON  Unemployment rates right now are the highest theyve ever been as most of the country continues to battle the global coronavirus pandemic.

But area residents are also finding that theres no shortage of ways to give back to their communities and take care of peoples needs.

Morrisons Irish Pub, at 200 State St., Alton, is no exception. A legend among Altons small businesses for its resilience in surviving several regional floods, Morrisons has now built a small 24-hour food pantry where residents can take what they need and give what they can, at will.

It kind of goes back to what a pub is, said owner Mary Morrison. A pub is really a public house and its meant to be part of the community. We were looking for a way we could help and my daughter, Katie, came up with this idea.

Wanting to give back to the community that has done so much for them, Morrisons owners and staff built the pantry last weekend and quickly set out to stock it with a variety of non-perishable items.

When weve fallen on hard times, said Mary Morrison. This community has given us so much love and support and we were just looking for a way that we could give back to the community too and help the community out.

We just painted it yesterday and stocked it, and we had an overwhelming response  mostly from a lot of people who know us and come to the pub wanting to donate, also, she said.

Not only has the group stocked the pantry with paper products, cleaning supplies and canned goods, but contributions from others have been pouring in since construction of the pantry was posted on Morrisons social media account.

Weve been trying to figure out what people need and stock up, said Mary Morrison. This morning I got a phone call from one of our regulars and she asked me if she could bring masks down since shes been making masks.

Unlike a traditional community food pantry that may have limited open hours, Morrisons pantry is available and accessible at any time of the day for people to give and take responsibly as they see fit. Under the states stay-at-home order, Morrisons Pub remains closed for business.

We are not open and arent going to police this in any way, shape or form, said Mary Morrison.

If you need something, please come get it, she said. Were just hoping we can bring a little love and some things to people who need them.
New central reference lab equipped to test close to 1000 samples per day

Medall Diagnostics, a leading integrated diagnostic services provider has announced the receipt of approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for conducting COVID-19 tests.

Speaking on the approval received last evening, Arjun Ananth, CEO, Medall, said There is an urgent need to bring in more and more private laboratories for testing the samples. Reliable testing to screen for the disease is becoming increasingly apparent. As a quality focused, integrated diagnostic service provider, Medall is uniquely placed to meet the growing demand for reliable and quick testing of Coronavirus samples using the standard, state-of-the-art Real Time Polymerise Chain Reaction (RTPCR) testing methodology. We also look forward to working closely with the Government of Tamilnadu to enhance its testing capacity further.

With a new 15,000 square feet central reference lab at Guindy in Chennai, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, Medall has the capacity to process close to 1000 samples every day, positioning it as amongst the largest COVID-19 testing providers in the state.
You might want to make sure theres not a rat living (or recently dead) in your cars engine.

Why are you still reading? Check your car for a rat, I said. Thats the tip. Rats like it in there, and while they could take up residence in a car engine at any time, anecdotal reports (and mankinds modern if imperfect knowledge of rat behavior) suggest the phenomenon may be occurring more frequently right now.

Three line breaks into this story, it is becoming increasingly clear that the depth of your interest in rats plunges far deeper than basic car maintenance tips. You are a person who seeks to understand rats in a way that rats may not even understand themselves. You want to read the invisible instruction encoded in a rats brain that compels him to abandon the deli dumpster where he has spent the majority of his short life and, all of a sudden, carry a leaf and perhaps some twigs into the engine of your Jetta. OK. Here is more rat information:

What Happens When Rat Meets Engine?

Tuesday was the first time in about a week that Kelsey Snell and her husband had attempted to drive their car. A clue that something was amiss came from the vehicles internal alert system.

It gave us a really weird error message as we were driving away, said Snell, 36, a congressional correspondent for NPR who lives in Washington.

The second clue was the rat fleeing their driveway.

Ive never seen rats in our driveway before, said Snell, and then we started driving a little bit further and the error message  an alert about the cars exhaust system  got a little more insistent.

Snell and her husband abandoned their errand (a birthday flower delivery). Back in their driveway, they popped the hood, revealing, she said, poop all over the engine, as well as a puddle of rat urine, leaves, sticks and small bones.

WE HAVE RATS LIVING IN THE ENGINE, Snell wrote in a cautionary tweet about the incident. The dealership said we are the FIFTH people to call this week with this problem.

Snell, who has never previously shared her car with a rat, confirmed by phone that an employee at her local service center told her that such incidents have become all of a sudden super common within the past two or three weeks.

Her bill for the replacement of chewed-through wires was around $400. Its not uncommon for such repair costs to run into the thousands.

What Does a Rat Want With Your Engine?

Michael Parsons, a visiting research scholar at Fordham University who studies the city rats of New York, said that car engines evoked rats ancestral homes: dark, warm burrows with easy access to chewable roots. (The common brown rat appears to have arrived in North America around 1775, perhaps when European ships docked at Manhattans South Street Seaport; the species is believed to have originated in Asia.)

To rats, said Parsons, state of the art vehicular wiring systems are surrogate roots. Not because they provide the moisture or nutrient access of real roots but because they somewhat resemble them and are chewable.

Rats get a certain amount of comfort by just chewing, said Michael Deutsch, an urban entomologist and the technical director of the Arrow Exterminating Co., headquartered on Long Island.

In fact, the word rodent comes from the same Latin root as erode  rodere, meaning to gnaw. Rats must gnaw, and constantly, because their sharp, hard incisors grow continuously throughout their lives  around 4 or 5 inches a year.

If they dont keep them trimmed, said Deutsch, they might not be able to open or close their jaw. In some extreme cases, their bottom incisors have grown up into the upper roof of their mouth. And, of course, they died.

Because of their impulse to chew, rats frequently destroy material that offers no nutritional value to them. The inherent appeal of car wiring, Parsons said, is complemented by the fact that, in recent years, many car manufacturers have switched from petroleum-based wire insulation to the greener, less expensive soy-based kind.

Yum, he said.

While rat infestations in car engines are not rare occurrences, researchers are attempting to determine whether they are increasing in areas where rats usual food and harborage sites have been disrupted by pandemic distancing efforts. A restaurant that is no longer serving food to humans is also no longer producing large quantities of human food garbage  sustenance for city rats. (Rural rat populations, which are less likely to rely on commercial food waste, may not be experiencing the same scarcity.)

Movement distances and patterns are really tightly linked to the availability of resources like food, places to burrow and mates, said Kaylee Byers, a doctoral candidate at the University of British Columbia who works with the Vancouver Rat Project, an urban research initiative. With fewer resources, rats will move further than they would normally or may migrate from places that previously had food to areas where food is more plentiful.

Parsons said that while usual rat migration is primarily limited to omega males (the lowest rung of the rat social order, ranked below alpha and beta male rats), it now appears that all affected rats are migrating  a circumstance that greatly increases competition, and stress, and presumably causes rats to be more aggressive and visible during daylight hours.

The bad news, then, is that an increased number of rats may be looking for food in your vicinity, and these rats may be more stressed, desperate and aggressive than usual. The good news is that at least some of them may have a certain elan, relative to other rats.

Parsons is working on a study that draws on accounts from other researchers and pest control experts in North America, Europe and Asia that detail how rats are migrating en masse from closed restaurants, delis and arenas to new environments. An alternative pandemic hypothesis, he said, is that nothing is happening, and people are just noticing rats more perhaps because they are spending more time than usual walking around their neighborhoods or exercising outdoors.

Can You Keep a Distressed Rat Out of Your Engine?

You might decrease the odds of harboring rats in your car, Parsons said, by avoiding parking over sewers and drainage catch basins as rats utilize these to move above and below ground. He also recommended starting your car and moving it from time to time, and inspecting under your cars hood (while wearing a mask) for obvious gnawings and rat droppings.

However, his primary concern when it comes to rodents and coronavirus is less car-specific than rat-general: that people will overlook rat control while preoccupied with airborne virus transmission.

Rodents can carry leptospirosis, toxoplasma, hanta, salmonella and ostensibly COVID-19, he said. While there is currently no evidence rats can become infected with the virus, they can transmit from paws or fur. Besides spreading disease, rats can cause house fires by chewing through electrical wiring  and, of course, they can disable vehicles.

Their nature, said Deutsch, is to explore. They do exhibit a behavior called neophobia, which is fear of new things. But they can overcome that.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
A section of servitors from



Puri's Jagannath temple has urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to grant permission for low-key observance of annual Rath Yatra amid the restrictions in place for COVID-19.

Daitapati Nijog, an association of the servitors that perform the Rath Yatra rituals, reasoned that the festival had never been cancelled before in the face of crisis



be it the two world wars or the Bengal famine.

In a letter to Patnaik on Wednesday, the association requested him to allow the observance of the car festival without the participation of devotees, ten of thousands of whom gather at the temple town every year on the occasion.

"We pointed out in the letter that the Rath Yatra was never called off in the past, no matter what the crisis. It was held during 1866 Great Bengal Famine and also during Bombay Influenza, which continued from 1918 to 1920. About 10 lakh people had died of Bombay Influenza," said 'Daitapati Nijog' secretary Durga Prasad Dasmohapatra.

The yatra was also held during World War I and II, India-Pakistan war of 1947, 1948 and 1965 and even when pandemics struck before and after Independence, he said.

"Some medieval scripts suggest that during Muslim invasions in the 16th and 17th century, the car festival was forced to come to a halt, and rituals were symbolically observed. Such incidences, however, should not be exemplified," the letter by the servitors said.

Dasmohapatra said the association has suggested the state government to conduct COVID-19 tests of those involved in performing the rituals.

Devotees should witness Rath Yatra on television on June 23, he said.

Another associate of the 'Daitapati Nijog', Ganesh Dasmohaptra, said the members will soon meet 'Gajapati Maharaja' (scion of erstwhile royal family) Dibya Singh Deb and Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati to discuss the matter.

Earlier, the Mukti Mandap, the highest religious dispute-resolving body at the 12th century shrine, had said there was no harm if the Rath Yatra was not held this year in the wake of the pandemic.

At the same time, it had also suggested that the government might conduct the festival with limited number of servitors, and in total absence of devotees.

Dibya Singh Deb, who is also the chairman of the Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee, had earlier clarified that the temple would abide by the guidelines imposed by the central and the state governments.

He had appealed to the Centre and the state to revise the guidelines once the lockdown is lifted, with a view to facilitate smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra festival.

According to sources, Patnaik recently held telephonic discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the matter. The details of the discussion, however, were not available.

Around 10 lakh people congregate in Puri every year for the annual Rath Yatra.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Rishi Kapoors daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni has been issued a pass by the Delhi Police to travel to Mumbai for the veteran actors last rites. Riddhima is married to industrialist Bharat Sahni. The family stays in South-East Delhis Friends Colony area. The passes were issued at 10.30 am on Thursday morning after Rishi Kapoors death. Apart from her, Bharat has also been allowed to travel, along with their daughter Samara and two other family members.

With flights and trains suspended due to coronavirus lockdown, the Sahnis will travel 1,400 kilometres by road to Mumbai.

Rishi Kapoors last rites will be held at the Chandanwadi Crematorium, Marine Lines. Tight security has been deployed amid the lockdown restrictions. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police has requested his family to perform the last rites directly at the crematorium from the hospital and not take him to home.

Rishi Kapoor died today morning at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He battled leukaemia for two years. Last night, he was rushed to the hospital after he complained of breathing problem.

He had travelled to the US in September 2018 for medical treatment and returned to India in September 2019.

Rishi Kapoor was married to veteran actress Neetu Kapoor. Apart from Riddhima, they are also parents to son Ranbir.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corp.'s (FHN) board of directors has approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable July 1, 2020 to the common shareholders of record on June 12, 2020.



The board also approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $1,550.00 per share on First Horizons Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A ("Series A Preferred Stock"). This equates to a cash dividend of $0.387500 per Depositary Share (NYSE:FHN PrA), which each represent a 1/4000th interest in a share of the Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable July 10, 2020 to shareholders of record on June 25, 2020.

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

Contact:

First Horizon Investor Relations, Aarti Bowman, (901) 523-4017

First Horizon Media Relations, Silvia Alvarez, (901) 523-4465
More than 25 accused members of the Latin Kings snared in a massive sweep in December have petitioned to be released from federal custody while their cases are pending due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling this week released a list of more than 200 names of defendants, people who were convicted of federal crimes, or have cases pending who have petitioned the courts to be released amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The list spans across Massachusetts and contains a number of people facing a variety of different criminal charges.

Some of the people released are accused members of the Latin Kings facing racketeering charges. At least 27 of the more than 60 accused have filed petitions for their release with many pointing to concerns over being infected with COVID-19 while in federal custody. All of their cases are still pending.

In December, law enforcement arrested more than 60 people in a sweep of the Almighty Latin Kings and Queen Nation. The sting was part of a four-year investigation and tied the gang members and associates to drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder and other violent crimes, authorities said.

Records released by Lellings office show some of the Latin Kings were released while others had their petitions denied. Some are still waiting for decisions.

Some people snared in a September sweep called Devils Highway have also filed motions to be released. Marino Amador Baez, who was busted in the drug investigation in the Merrimack Valley, had his petition denied.

Out of the more than 200 names on the list, 49 people had motions to be released or delay serving sentences allowed, records show. Some of those released had been convicted or have their cases pending on drug charges.

Others released were convicted or have their cases pending on a variety of charges ranging from illegal firearms possession to kidnapping to wire fraud.

Some people busted in the nationwide college admissions scandal have already filed motions and had their sentenced tweaked to allow them to be released early.

While he is not on Lellings list, Kevin Perry Jr., the convicted Worcester restaurateur and drug dealer who was sentenced to serve 14 years in federal prison in 2018, filed a motion seeking early release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is the entire list released by the U.S. Attorneys Office:

Related Content:
The Indian Army has issued a warning to its personnel against Pakistani agencies' nefarious designs to hack the phones of Indian military personnel through a malicious application similar to the AarogyaSetu app.

"Inimical intelligence agencies have developed a malicious app by the name Aarogya Setu.apk. Such apps were found to be sent by Pakistan-based Pakistani Intelligence Operatives to WhatsApp groups of Indian Army personnel," the army has stated in its warning.

Senior army sources said that Pakistani agencies are using social media accounts with Indian names to target the Indian personnel.

"Known Pakistani Intelligence Operative account under the fake name of one 'Anoshka Chopra' also found sending the malicious application to Indian Army personnel," the sources said.

The army in its warning has asked personnel about the need to be sensitised about the Pakistani spy agencies' designs while downloading the application.

The army has also told its men and women that the Aarogya Setu application must be downloaded only from the Indian government website (mygov.in) or Android Play Store or IOS Apple Play Store.

All forces personnel have been asked to download the AarogyaSetu application to help in the detection and checking the spread of COVID-19. The application has been developed by government agencies and is being used by almost all government employees.

Recently, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane had stated that while India is busy fighting coronavirus both internally and globally, Pakistan is busy in exporting terrorism in India and other places.
Were going to be somewhat smaller than we intended to be a year from now, Parker said in an interview. Because were going to need to be smaller, were going to need to do something with the number of employees we have.
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By Bill Hughes

Apr. 29, 2020 | PADUCAH

By Bill Hughes Apr. 29, 2020 | 09:28 PM | PADUCAH

The Kentucky primary election has been moved from May 19 to June 23, but that's not the only change that voters should know about.



Secretary of State Michael Adams and Governor Andy Beshear announced Friday that strict requirements are being waived so people can vote by absentee ballot if they are worried about catching or transmitting COVID-19. They are also allowing in-person voting by appointment at courthouses beginning June 8. On June 23, any remaining in-person voting will take place, but most precincts will not be open as they usually are. These practices are to make sure social distancing guidelines are followed.



McCracken County Clerk Julie Griggs told West Kentucky Star voters should arrange to get an absentee ballot, based on what she's heard so far. The state board of elections is getting an online portal ready for people to apply to receive the ballot, but it's not quite ready yet, and she doesn't yet have the ballots, either.



"We're supposed to be receiving our ballots sometime this week from our election vendor, and the requests that we've received up to this date, we'll go ahead and mail the ballots out," Griggs said.



State law requires absentee ballot requests be received in her office by June 16, and completed ballots must be received by 6:00 pm on June 23.



As for election day, she's not sure what in-person voting is going to look like, because the Kentucky Board of Elections and the Secretary of State's office have been meeting, but haven't yet told the Commonwealth's 120 county clerks how everything will be done.



Griggs said, "They are suggesting that we just have one centralized voter location set up for people that either don't want to vote by absentee ballot or that couldn't for some reason - for a disability or something. We have not yet determined where that location will be."



She is hoping that information will be provided soon, so her staff can get busy with preparations.



Griggs said her office is already getting calls from voters who want an absentee ballot, and anyone is welcome to do that. Once she gets guidance from Frankfort, her office will announce when people can call to make appointments to vote June 8-23.



The number for the voter registration and elections department at the County Clerk's office is 270-444-4702.



Griggs suspects that voter turnout may be lower than normal, even though it's a presidential election year, because people won't be as familiar with how it will be done.



"In the primary, the turnout is always lower than what it is in the general election. I do think the voter turnout will be heavier in the city precincts because of the mayor and city commission race," she said.



When asked if she has heard of any concerns from voters about how secure their absentee vote would be, Griggs said not yet, but if she does, she'll give reassurance that her office has handled absentee ballots in every election.



Griggs said, "We'll still do that part of the process the same as far as keeping them in a secured vault, locked, that sort of thing. So, the voters can definitedly be assured. I don't want people to think there's more room for voter fraud or anything like that. Our process will still be the same, just on a much larger scale."



Griggs said when she gets the needed information from state officials, she will pass it on to voters so everyone is informed and prepared to participate in the election.
Chances, amounts of weekend snow still up in the air
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A potential coronavirus vaccine being trialled by UK researchers will be rapidly produced in vast numbers if it proves effective.

A not-for-profit partnership was announced between Oxford University, which is leading the trials, and UK-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. It guarantees large-scale production of the vaccine  and early access for Britons.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world. Bringing together the best British science and the best of British business will give us the best possible shot at a vaccine.

The science is uncertain, and no vaccine may work, but this deal gives the UK the best chance we can of a breakthrough that could defeat this awful virus.

It is the first such partnership to be formed since the Government, which is backing the trial with 20million, launched a Vaccines Taskforce two weeks ago.

Volunteers began receiving the test vaccine last week. Hammersmith and St Georges hospitals in London are also taking part in the trials.
The Supreme Court on Thursday (April 30) refused to stay the Central Vista project costing worht Rs 20,000 crore that plans to a new parliament and other central government offices in Delhi's iconic Lutyens' zone.

"A similar petition against the project is pending in court. During COVID-19 situation, nobody is going to do anything and there is no urgency," Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said during the hearing.

It is to be noted that a plea agaisnst the project has already been filed by petitioner Rajeev Suri and that petition is still pending. "A similar petition is pending and there's no need to duplicate it," the Chief Justice said, adding he can amend the petition.

In his plea, Suri had challenged land use for the Central Vista project claiming that the project seeks to cover 86 acre in Lutyens' zone which will ultimately end the open and green spaces in the area.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, said, "Parliament is being constructed... Why should anyone have any objection?" The petition was heard by a two-judge bench of the Chief Justice of India and Justice Aniruddha Bose through video conferencing.

The apex court on Thursday also declined to pass any order and disposed off a petition filed by a lawyer, seeking appropriate directions to the Bar Council of India (BCI) to assist and help those lawyers facing financial crisis due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 in India.

The SC also refused to interfere in a plea seeking for directions to Twitter to do away with communal hashtags trending on the social media platform.

How can the court stop this? You are saying that people are saying wrong things on Twitter. That is like saying people are saying wrong things on phone. Can we direct MTNL then? said CJI Bobde.

The petitioner submitted that he was not seeking to stop anything, but merely seeking direction for the Twitter to drop hashtags that can be inflammatory in nature.
Grounded Virgin planes are seen parked on a tarmac at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Australia, on April 21, 2020. (Jono Searle/Getty Images)

$7 Billion in Debt, Virgin Australias Creditors Meet

Deloitte will hold the first meeting of Virgin Australias creditors on April 30 as a buyer is sought from 10 parties for the debt-laden carrier which entered voluntary administration last week.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide creditors with information on the process and confirm if they want to form a committee.

Deloitte will then investigate the affairs of the airline (pdf) and report their findings back to creditors and employees, and make recommendations about the future of each of Virgins many subsidiaries, except for Velocity which remains solvent.

The administrators will seek an extension of the standard 25 days from the first meeting to report their findings.

Deloitte has retained Houlihan Lokey to advise them on restructuring and finding a new buyer as soon as possible. It is estimated that Virgin owes nearly $7 billion (US$4.5 billion) to more than 12,000 creditors.

More than 10 parties are reported to have expressed interest in the airline, including Melbourne-based BHG Capital and U.S. private equity firms Apollo Global Management and Oaktree Capital Management.

On April 30, the Australian Financial Review reported that billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest is putting together a consortium via his Mindaroo Foundation to put in a bid.

Shares in Virgin lost nearly 44 percent of their value in 2020 and were priced at just 8.6 cents per share when the airline suspended trading on the ASX on April 14.

It stood down 8,000 staff in March to try and stay afloat but went into freefall on the back of strict travel bans caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Today is the first Virgin Australia creditors meeting.

This is a critical step in the administration process and the ASU will be there with a seat at the table to get the best outcome for our members. #SaveVirgin #SaveAviation #VirginAustralia pic.twitter.com/ggfN48QmZx  Australian Services Union (@ASUnion) April 30, 2020

As Australia faces a gloomy economic outlook with 1 million job losses recorded in a 4-week period between March and April, the federal government asked Virgin to turn to its wealthy foreign investors and the free market for a solution.

Unions and the Labor Party have pressured the government to buy a stake in the airline to prop it up in order to protect the jobs of its 10,000 employees.

The Australian Services Union wrote on Twitter to assure its Virgin members on April 30: This is a critical step in the administration process and the ASU will be there with a seat at the table to get the best outcome for our members.

The airline is 90 percent foreign-owned by Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Chinese state-owned conglomerates HNA Group and Hanshan, while Richard Bransons Virgin Group owns 10 percent.
Major supermarket chains are beginning to report their first coronavirus-related employee deaths, leading to store closures and increasing anxiety among grocery workers as the pandemic intensifies across the country.

A Trader Joe's worker in Scarsdale, a greeter at a Giant store in Largo, Md., and two Walmart employees from the same Chicago-area store have died of COVID-19 in recent days, the companies confirmed Monday.

Though more than 40 states have ordered nonessential businesses to close and told residents to stay home to stem the spread of the virus, supermarkets are among the retailers that remain open. Thousands of grocery employees have continued to report to work as U.S. infections and death rates continue to climb, with many reporting long shifts and extra workloads to keep up with spiking demand. Many workers say they don't have enough protective gear to deal with hundreds of customers a day. Dozens of grocery workers have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks.

Industry experts say the rise of worker infections and deaths will likely have a ripple effect on grocers' ability to retain and add new workers at a time when they're looking to rapidly hire thousands of temporary employees. Walmart, the nation's largest grocer, is hiring 150,000 workers, while Kroger is adding more than 10,000. Many are offering an extra $2 an hour and promising masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. But finding workers willing to work on the front lines for little more than the minimum wage could be an increasingly tough sell, according to supermarket analyst Phil Lempert.

"One of the biggest mistakes supermarkets made early on was not allowing employees to wear masks and gloves the way they wanted to," he said. "They're starting to become proactive now, but it's still going to be much tougher to hire hundreds of thousands of new workers. We're going to start seeing people say, 'I'll just stay on unemployed instead of risking my life for a temporary job.'"

Some companies have begun installing plexiglass sneeze guards and requiring customers to stand 6 feet apart in line. The country's two largest grocers, Walmart and Kroger, are beginning to check employees' temperatures at the beginning of each shift.

The added precautions come amid a wave of worker strikes and petitions aimed at getting employers like Amazon, Trader Joe's and the grocery delivery service Instacart, to take additional steps to protect workers. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Those efforts are likely to take on new urgency, analysts said, as supermarket workers across the country begin to see colleagues fall ill. More than 356,000 Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Monday afternoon, and nearly 10,500 have died.

A Trader Joe's employee with underlying health conditions died Monday morning, spokeswoman Kenya Friend-Daniel said. The Scarsdale store where the employee worked is closed until Thursday to give workers "time to process and grieve," Friend-Daniel said. Employees will continue to be paid during the closure, and will receive an additional two days of paid leave, she said.

Trader Joe's stores in Brooklyn and Philadelphia also were temporarily closed Monday, for additional cleaning and sanitizing.

In Illinois, Walmart employees Phillip Thomas, 48, and Wando Evans, 51, both of whom worked at a store in Evergreen Park near Chicago, died in late March, according to labor advocacy group United for Respect.

A Walmart spokesman said the company is heartbroken. The grocery giant has hired an outside company to sanitize "high-touch" areas, such as front entrance, carts, registers and bathrooms. It has also started installing sneeze guards at cash register and begun limiting the number of customers who can shop at one time.

In Maryland, Leilani Jordan, 27, a greeter at the Giant's Campus Way South store in Largo, died last week.

"She said, 'Mommy, I'm going to work because no one else is going to help the senior citizens get their groceries," her mother, Zenobia Shepherd, told The Washington Post. "She only stopped going to work when she could no longer breathe."

Her last day at work was March 16, according to Giant spokesman Daniel Wolk. Jordan tested positive for the coronavirus in late March and died Wednesday.
Connecticut State Police

DERBY  The disposition hearing of the Newtown man accused of sending explicit images of his ex-girlfriend has been rescheduled from May 21 to July 2.

Paul Carpenter, 57, of Parmalee Hill Road, was arrested in February by state police after several women said he texted them sexually explicit videos and images of his ex-girlfriend.
A growing number of studies, including one published this week in the journal Nature, have found evidence that the coronavirus can remain suspended in the air in aerosol particles. That raises anew the question of whether and to what extent the virus can be transmitted as an aerosol  although the evidence is far from conclusive and no such infections have been documented.

The consensus so far is that the virus, although very contagious, spreads through respiratory droplets generated when people breathe, speak or cough and doesnt infect people through particles that can linger in the air for hours, in the way that measles and some other viral diseases can.

But the research is fuelling a scientific debate over one of the most basic questions about the novel coronavirus  how it spreads  and doing so at a time of high anxiety and rattled nerves. Outbreaks linked to crowded indoor environments such as prisons, meatpacking plants, a cramped call centre and a restaurant may serve as warnings about the perils of reopening.

The scientific literature is full of alarming questions: could ventilation systems spread the virus? Could removing clothing shake virus particles back into the air?

Research has shown that the virus typically is transmitted from person to person through relatively large respiratory droplets that travel only a few feet before falling to the floor or ground. People can also become infected by touching contaminated objects  known among scientists as fomites  and then, for example, touching their face.

Airborne spread has not been reported for Covid-19 and it is not believed to be a major driver of transmission based on available evidence, concluded a comprehensive report by researchers from China and the World Health Organisation published in February.

But that report went on to say that some medical procedures in health-care facilities, such as intubating a patient, can generate virus aerosols. And research at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, showed that virus particles aerosolised with laboratory equipment remained viable  still capable of growing in a cell culture  for up to three hours while suspended in the air.

The Nature paper, authored by scientists at Wuhan University in China, reported that aerosolised traces of viral genetic material, called RNA, were found in two hospitals  particularly in poorly ventilated spaces. The highest concentration of the aerosol particles were found in a single-person mobile toilet that lacked ventilation. Viral RNA was also found in an area where hospital workers took off their protective gear.

The report, however, did not establish whether the airborne coronavirus samples were viable  that is, capable of generating a new infection.

Although we have not established the infectivity of the virus detected in these hospital areas, we propose that Sars-Cov-2 may have the potential to be transmitted via aerosols, the authors wrote. Our results indicate that room ventilation, open space, sanitization of protective apparel, and proper use and disinfection of toilet areas can effectively limit the concentration of Sars-Cov-2 RNA in aerosols.

The public should view the new China airborne virus study with caution because the PCR test cannot distinguish viable virus from genetic fragments that arent infectious, said Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist at the University of California at Irvine.

The test for viable virus is a much-more-painstaking cell culture test, which the present study did not perform, Mr Noymer said.

An alarming report from a restaurant in Guangzhou, China, showed that one infected person who had not yet developed symptoms infected nine other diners. Researchers suggested that an air-conditioning unit recirculating the air could have spread droplets, carrying the virus between tables.

This just demonstrates the terrible confusion that is created by the common misconception that theres somehow a bright line between aerosols and respiratory droplets, said Donald Milton, professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. First of all, they are all respiratory droplets  some are larger and some are smaller, all the way down to microdroplets less than a single micron in diameter. It is true that larger droplets will behave as aerosols as the velocity of air increases, countering the pull of gravity so that they dont fall out.

A study from an 11th-floor South Korean call centre found that 94 people were infected in a single outbreak, most of them clustered in one half of the office. The authors wrote that the outbreak highlights that the virus is exceptionally contagious in crowded office settings such as a call centre.

That does not necessarily mean aerosolised particles caused the infections.

Im sceptical. To my knowledge we havent really seen evidence of transmission occurring that way, said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The transmission studies from the call centre and restaurant suggest that regular airborne droplet transmission in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces is itself a transmission risk without needing to worry about small particle aerosols, too.

To test whether aerosolised particles are spreading the virus, researchers will have to grow live virus from those samples and not simply recover viral RNA, which could just be residual genetic material not capable of seeding new infections.

A report, not yet peer-reviewed, from the University of Nebraska Medical Centre found virus RNA on the surfaces of cellphones, toilets, bedside tables and exercise equipment used by 13 patients with confirmed cases of Covid-19. Samples from the hallway outside patient rooms were also positive for viral RNA, suggesting that aerosols could be spreading the virus, but again the research did not conclude that the hallway samples were infectious.

Outside researchers remain sceptical of this fragmentary data.

Vincent Munster, a virologist at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories who led the research on aerosolised coronavirus, said Wednesday it is possible aerosolised particles are capable of spreading the virus  but this could be a very minor element in the pandemic.

The question is, What is currently driving the pandemic? If its mostly droplet transmission, and if we do have airborne or aerosol transmission, what is the relative role? These are all big questions that I still think need to be addressed, Mr Munster said.

Milton is planning studies with a contraption that measures the droplets expelled when infected people point their heads into a cone-like device called the Gesundheit Machine. Those studies could help definitively answer questions about whether fine aerosolised particles are routinely generated when people breathe or cough, and whether they are likely to spread disease.

The Washington Post
They split briefly last month after she had a drunken sleepover with 2019 Love Island contestant Michael Griffiths.

And Rebecca Gormley has opened up on her now rekindled romance with Biggs Chris following the drama with the fireman, stating that 'If the shoe was on the other foot, I would get how he feels.'

Speaking on FUBAR Radio on Thursday, the model, 21, also revealed why she and the body repair specialist, 27, are yet to go official with their relationship.

Honest: Rebecca Gormley has opened up on her now rekindled romance with Biggs Chris following the drama with Michael Griffiths, stating that 'If the shoe was on the other foot, I would get how he feels.'

The couple, who met on this year's winter edition of the show, recently reunited amid rumours she had cheated on him.

Opening up about the drama to Joanna Chimonides and Stephen Leng on Access All Areas, Rebecca confessed: 'If the shoe was on the other foot I would get how he feels. I get it.'

However, the Newcastle native happily reports that things are better than ever between the pair and that they talk everyday amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

She continued: 'You know what, I love it! Theres literally not a day that goes by that we dont chat.

Not there yet: Speaking on FUBAR Radio on Thursday, the model, 21, also revealed why she and the body repair specialist, 27, are yet to go official with their relationship (pictured last month)

'We just go on Facetime and literally when were doing our day, Im just there in the background and hes there in the background and we just chat and laugh about every day.'

However, despite things going well between them, Rebecca said they are yet to make things 'official'.

Explaining the reasons why, she said: 'If Im totally honest, obviously when we came out the villa weve spent quite a bit of time together, but I dont think its enough time for us to say, "right lets make it official".

'So the way that I put it across to people is like, were more than friends but we just dont have a label of being in a relationship.

Chat: Opening up about the drama to Joanna Chimonides and Stephen Leng on Access All Areas, Rebecca confessed: 'If the shoe was on the other foot I would get how he feels. I get it'

'Obviously now were in isolation Im not gonna make something official  thatd just be weird.'

Rebecca then went on to explain why her and Biggs were never shown to be close on the show, she added: 'Me and Biggs just had so much more in common but by this point, Id already been sort of wifed off with Jordan. So me and Biggs never had that, you know the chat.

'I remember being in the villa and you get these nipple stickers and I was pulling them off in bed and we were laughing our heads off about it!

'When I left I thought, I cant believe what Ive done. I really should have spoke to him on that level. And because I didnt, thats when I regretted it.

'But things happen for a reason I guess and now, me and Biggs we chat every day!'

Back on track: 'We just go on Facetime and literally when were doing our day, Im just there in the background and hes there in the background and we just chat and laugh about every day' (pictured in February)

The pair first sparked relationship rumours after they left the Mallorcan villa in February, following Rebecca's short fling with administrator Jordan Waobikeze, 24.

However, their fresh romance was rocked by claims the brunette bombshell cheated on the Scotsman with former firefighter Michael, 28 - a rumour they both deny.

Biggs previously admitted his love interest 'f***ed up' after drunkenly spending the night on Michael's sofa, but decided to give her a second chance before they eventually drifted apart.

The Casa Amor star, who had gone home from the night out in question early, was left confused after he woke to find the Geordie beauty absent from their hotel room.

The reality star said the incident has made him want to take their relationship 'slower', especially after receiving messages saying he needed to be 'careful' about dating Rebecca.
The world-famous Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra will hold its final performance next year.

Organizers for the annual event say it has been pushed back to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. This July would have been the Pageants 83rd and final performance. The annual Mormon event is free and draws thousands of visitors to Upstate New York.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced in 2018 that theyre discontinuing large productions and will focus on more-locally oriented church efforts.

The final Hill Cumorah Pageant will run July 8-10 and 13-17, 2021.

The Hill Cumorah Pageant brings people from all over the world, and this just isnt the time to do that, Pageant President Neil Pitts said. We are happy to know that it has been moved to another year. It would have been heartbreaking to have ended with a cancellation.

The crowds at The Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra, NY.Courtesy of The Hill Cumorah Pageant

Its 2019 season wrapped with about 46,000 people attending the Pageant. Each year, an all-volunteer cast of about 750 and 150 staff and technical crew work to stage the production. It started as a humble reenactment of the Book of Mormon and Bible by local missionaries on makeshift stages lit by car headlamps.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe their first prophet, Joseph Smith, found metal plates in the hills of nearby Palmyra in 1823 that became the Book of Mormon. The annual Pageant has grown to be the largest outdoor theatrical event in North America and has also became a Western New York tradition.

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GP and academic Dr Liam Glynn, who has been tracking the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland, has said that contact tracking apps will have to be considered to determine the level of community transmission of the virus.

Dr Glynn, who is the Professor of General Practice at the Graduate Entry Medical, University of Limerick, and who also practices as a GP in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare told Newstalk Breakfast that while the speed of testing had improved, there was still an issue with delays in contact tracing.

The issue of the virus in nursing homes and residential care homes was being tackled, he said, but the issue of community transmission was still a concern as for every person identified there were still 10 to 20 that had not been identified.

The problem is we have to continue to suppress the virus to save lives, but we cant suppress it too much or we wont have herd immunity, he explained.

Dr Glynn said he recently sent a patient for testing, he made the appointment in the morning, the patient was tested that afternoon and the result was back the next day. But testing was only one link in the chain, he said. The weakness in the chain is tracing. It is taking six days and that is too long.

A contact tracing app that can identify 50 per cent of a persons contacts at the touch of a button would have to be considered despite concerns about privacy, he said.

The whole system is as weak as the weakest link.

The only way to improve and speed up contact tracing was by using technology, he said. It was essentially a hand shake between phones using Bluetooth technology. That will allow us to ramp up efficiency.

Dr Glynn said that the efforts taken to date by the government and the response of the public had helped suppress the virus. If that had not happened hundreds more lives would have been lost and there would have been more pressure on the health system.

Tackling community transmissions was going to be a complicated decision, he warned. There is no good way to do this.
[April 30, 2020] Esri Publishes Second Volume of Women and GIS, with Foreword by Jane Goodall

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced the publication of Women and GIS, Volume 2: Stars of Spatial Science. The second volume of Esri's recognition of women's contribution to the field, it details the inspiring stories of diverse women using geospatial technology to advance science and help resolve important issues facing the world. The book features a foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), United Nations (UN) Messenger of Peace, and one of the world's foremost voices for environmental conservation. Like the first volume, Women and GIS, Volume 2: Stars of Spatial Science tells how 30 women in many different science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields overcame obstacles and used maps, analysis, imagery, and geographic information system (GIS) software to make extraordinary contributions to their professions and the world. In this second volume, readers will hear stories from planetary scientists, civil engineers, entrepreneurs, and urban planners. Each story shares the experiences of these women-their childhoods, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned-and how they have gone on to improve the planet. Throughout history, women have greatly enriched fields from science to education, leading research and directing decisions across myriad appications. Women and GIS, Volume 2: Stars of Spatial Science continues to celebrate those individuals who are shaping this important field today.



Women and GIS, Volume 2: Stars of Spatial Science is available in print (ISBN: 9781589485945, 274 pages, US$19.99) and as an e-book (ISBN: 9781589485952, 274 pages, US$19.99). Both editions can be obtained from most online retailers worldwide. The print edition is available for purchase at esri.com/esripress or by calling 1-800-447-9778. If outside the United States, visit esri.com/esripressorders for complete ordering options, or visit esri.com/distributors to contact your local Esri distributor. Interested retailers can contact Esri Press book distributor Ingram Publisher Services. About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, offers the most powerful geospatial cloud available, to help customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, all 50 state governments, more than half of all counties (large and small), and 87 of the Forbes Top 100 Colleges in the US, as well as all 15 Executive Departments of the US Government and dozens of independent agencies. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright  2020 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005540/en/

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Israel: agricultural enclave in desert returned to Jordan Yaalon says 'Netanyahu has eroded King Abdallah's trust'

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, APRIL 30 - Israel has completed the evacuation of the small enclave of Zofar (Ghumar, in Arabic) - 90 hectares of agricultural land in the desert of Arava (Neghev) - which has returned on Thursday under total Jordanian sovereignty, military radio reports.



Based on peace agreements, Israel had obtained to use the land for its farmers for a renewable period of 25 years. But once the deadline expired, in November 2019, King Abdallah of Jordan announced that he wanted to recover full sovereignty over the area, leaving a few months for Israel to completely reorganize Zofar. Previously, the enclave of Baqoura (Naharaym, in Hebrew) was also returned to Jordan.



In an interview to the radio, former defense minister Moshe Yaalon, of centrist opposition party Yesh Atid, said on Thursday that Jordan would not have asked to regain sovereignty over the two enclaves if Netanyahu's government had not previously eroded the trust of King Abdallah.(ANSAmed).




The platforming of our lives on social media apps  like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter  is usually met with criticism. Interactive technologies, like video games and social media, were told, make us anti-social. Now, as a result of social distancing efforts in response to the coronavirus pandemic, online social networks and video conferencing platforms like Zoom are redefining what it means to be social through our technologies.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The platforming of our lives on social media apps  like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter  is usually met with criticism. Interactive technologies, like video games and social media, were told, make us anti-social. Now, as a result of social distancing efforts in response to the coronavirus pandemic, online social networks and video conferencing platforms like Zoom are redefining what it means to be social through our technologies.

In a less-than-ideal situation, the Zoom conferencing platform has become central to many peoples everyday life during the crisis. Quarantining has forced us to move our social gatherings online; hangouts with friends and family have, for the past month, become virtually possible thanks to new media. My family, like many others, participated in a Zoom Passover seder this year.

Jamie Lee Finch / Columbia Daily Tribune / TNS People gather on Zoom, a video-conferencing app whose popularity has increased exponentially during the pandemic.

Video-sharing apps like TikTok also help us to relieve boredom. The platforms dance challenges and lip-syncing memes provide a sense of fun and comic relief.

Social media networks and conferencing platforms may be compensating for the loss of social life in a moment of crisis, but perhaps we are getting more than we bargained for.

Remote working

Working from home, and homing while at work, has become part of the routine for many white-collar workers: work life and family life are blending into one.

A couple of weeks ago, my five-year-old son wandered into my home office during a Zoom meeting. This embarrassing scenario is something now familiar to many of us working remotely via Zoom or other video conference platforms. An hour later, both of my children logged onto Zoom meetings of their own for a session of remote schooling.

Work-life balance was hard enough before the crisis. Now, social media is blending private life and work. For parents and caregivers, the extension of the office into personal space can be an added cause of stress. With no separation, we are forced to do it all at once.

The double duties of care and work, what feminists refer to as the "double shift," isnt new. But bringing the office space into the home while managing care and the health crisis can be daunting.

Zoom may enable work life during the crisis. But is this really the best way to use our social technologies and media? Maybe this situation gives us an opportunity to see the problems of our culture differently through the prism of social technology.

Anti-social media?

Social isolation may have changed the way we interact online, but apprehensions about social media and other cloud-based social interaction technologies and platforms are justified. Not only do we fear the anti-social effects of social media, many of us are also worried about online surveillance, manipulation and trolling.

Zoom, too, is not exempt from these kinds of security fears. Like other cloud-based technologies, Zoom is not immune to the threat of data mining and surveillance, even from other platforms.

Using social technologies as a lifeline during the ongoing crisis helps us to see beyond the anti-social aspects of the technology. Looking past the interface, we should interrogate online anti-social behaviour less as a problem with the technology and more as having to do with the broader culture of neoliberal capitalism.

Like all media, platforms amplify the social, political and economic conditions in which they are used. Since corporate platforms profit from our usage and data, they all have an interest in keeping our attention and our active participation. This is what makes data mining, for instance, essential to all platforms.

Data has become a staple resource for the new economy of 21st century capitalism. And algorithms are designed to keep us plugged in, whatever the emotional cost.

As critical media scholars have said for years, if the product is free, chances are the commodity is you.

Scholars point to "communicative capitalism" or "platform capitalism" to identify the harmful aspects of platforms and social media. Platforms rely on user-generated content and data mining as part of their profit models.

Like traditional news media and communicative technologies, platform conglomeration risks limiting information freedom and media democracy. Already, Zoom appears to have cornered the market for video conferencing platforms.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The context of using social technologies during the coronavirus crisis should therefore force us to question the future of our media. Will platforms like Zoom help us to enhance our social relationships and the public good, or will they do more to amplify the needs of platform and neoliberal capitalism?

Social media and public culture

Against the background of the COVID-19 crisis, we see just how essential social networking platforms and online communication technologies have become for our social life. At the same time, these technologies extend and embed work into the home.

Can we imagine social media networks and apps designed for the public good? What might it look like if we removed platforms and social media from their corporate setting? Perhaps a social media that lived up to its name.

Given the ways were using social technologies and platforms to maintain our social lives during the crisis, we should reconsider our relationships to technology. Maybe technologies and social media dont make us anti-social, after all, and the cause of the problem lies in a culture that prioritizes profit making over people making.

Matthew Flisfeder is an associate professor of rhetoric and communications at the University of Winnipeg.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
Tesla boss Elon Musk has branded virus lockdown measures 'fascist' and warned they pose a 'serious risk' to his company.

The electric car maker's factory in Fremont, California, has been closed since March 24 as part of a government clampdown, requiring people to stay indoors to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

But Musk claimed the move was 'not democratic' and called on authorities to 'give people back their goddamn freedom'.

Tesla boss Elon Musk claims US lockdown measures are 'not democratic' and called on authorities to 'give people back their goddamn freedom'

The 48-year-old said Tesla  and a host of other businesses  would suffer 'great harm' if they were not allowed to resume production soon.

The billionaire accused authorities of 'breaking people's freedoms in ways that are horrible and wrong and not why people came to America or built this country'.

He added: 'To say that they cannot leave their house, and they will be arrested if they do, this is fascist.'

Tesla said it made a 13million profit after revenues of 4.8billion, up from 3.6billion a year previously, in the first three months of 2020, the third quarter in a row it remained in the black.




PHILADELPHIA, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Integral Molecular announces the launch of SARS-CoV-2 Reporter Virus Particles (RVPs) to test patients for the presence of neutralizing antibodies, determine the effectiveness of vaccines, and measure the efficacy of drugs to enable expedited testing of new vaccines and therapeutics. As part of its commitment to supporting COVID-19 research, Integral Molecular will provide scientists with access to samples of SARS-CoV-2 RVPs at no cost.

Traditional diagnostic blood tests can only detect the presence or absence of antibodies. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 RVPs assess the ability of antibodies to neutralize (block) virus infection. This distinction is crucial since neutralizing antibodies are the ones that typically offer protection from disease. SARS-CoV-2 RVPs eliminate the need to use live virus for neutralization assays and are safe using standard (BSL-2) laboratory conditions, quantitative, and amenable to high-throughput screening.

"With 20 years of virology experience, Integral Molecular is the industry leader in providing RVPs for therapeutic antibody development and vaccine clinical trials," said Benjamin Doranz, President and CEO of Integral Molecular. "Like our other reporter viruses, we expect that coronavirus RVPs will be used to determine if serum from vaccinees contain protective antibodies, if new therapeutic antibodies can kill the virus, and if convalescent COVID-19 patients have protective serum that can be used in therapy."

SARS-CoV-2 RVPs contain the coronavirus spike protein, which is the primary target of the human immune response, and carry a non-infectious genome that produces an easily measured fluorescent or light emitting signal upon cellular infection. Integral Molecular has extensive experience producing large-scale batches of quality-controlled RVPs for dengue and Zika viruses (Mattia et al., 2011, and Whitbeck et al., 2020), which are being used as critical reagents in vaccine clinical trials.

Integral Molecular has already begun shipping SARS-CoV-2 RVPs to partners, and will be discussing the SARS-CoV-2 reporter viruses at a webinar on May 12. Partners interested in using SARS-CoV-2 RVPs for their research or diagnostic assays should contact Integral Molecular.

About Integral Molecular

Integral Molecular (www.integralmolecular.com) is the industry leader in discovering and characterizing therapeutic antibodies against membrane proteins, an important group of drug targets found on the surfaces of cells and viruses. Integral Molecular's technologies have been integrated into the drug discovery pipelines of over 300 biotech and pharmaceutical companies to help discover new therapies for cancer, diabetes, auto-immune disorders and viral threats such as SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Zika, and dengue.

Press Contact:

Integral Molecular, Inc.

Soma Banik, PhD, Director of Communications

215-966-6061

[email protected]

www.integralmolecular.com

SOURCE Integral Molecular

Related Links

https://www.integralmolecular.com


National Alliance of Peopleas Movements

National Office : 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110014

Phone : 011 24374535 Mobile : 09818905316

Web : www.napm-india.org | napmindia[at]gmail.com

Facebook : www.facebook.com/NAPMindia

Twitter : @napmindia

NAPM demands Immediate Withdrawal of

Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Notification (EIA) 2020

Environment Ministryas draft attempt to further weaken environmental regulations

in name of aEase of Doing Businessa, a sure Doom for Environment!

Even as the country is reeling under the impacts of the lockdown and coping with a pandemic, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has made a time-bound call for comments on the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Notification (EIA) 2020, published on its website on 12th March, 2020. The National Alliance of Peopleas Movements condemns this ill-timed move aimed at complete dilution of existing provisions that are meant to protect the interests of the environment and project affected people.

The EIA Notification, first issued in 1994, under the Environment Protection Act 1986, is a critical mechanism which regulates clearances granted to all kinds of development projects and economic activities in the country. It is one of the environmental decision-making processes that makes it mandatory for project developers and companies to not just study the socio-economic, ecological and other impacts of a proposed project but also place them in front of the affected communities for their opinions and objections, i.e free, fair and informed consent. However, this notification has been amended several times, in the last two decades, in favour of aeasing the normsa for business. The latest draft continues to move in the direction of rendering the EIA process anti-people, anti-nature and against the spirit of the Constitution. There are various problematic dilutions and changes in the draft which include:

a allowing post facto approvals a i.e. starting construction without clearance in certain conditions (which is currently a violation), this reduces clearance as mere formality

a expanding the list of projects exempted from public consultation, including modernization of irrigation projects, all building, construction and area development projects, inland waterways, expansion or widening of national highways, all projects concerning national defence and security or involving aother strategic considerationsa as determined by the central government, all linear projects like pipelines in border areas and all the off-shore projects located beyond the 12 nautical miles.

a extending the validity period of clearance granted to mining project from 30 to 50 years

a absence of a post clearance compliance and monitoring strategy. Decreasing the monitoring requirement from a6-month monitoringa requirement of the projects cleared to aannual monitoringa, leading to further reduction in accountability.

The proposed changes make our country more vulnerable to unprecedented environmental disasters by decreasing public participation and giving free reign to polluting industries.

Under the guise of increasing the aease of doing businessa, the mockery being made of existing environmental regulations threatens the ecology of the nation and makes the people more vulnerable to unforeseen environmental disasters. Past experiences have shown that the economic claims which generally accompany such devastating changes in the environmental policy almost never benefit the affected communities. The communities directly affected by such crippling changes to the environmental policy are the ones whose lives are closely intertwined with nature: the Adivasis and other forest dependent people, pastoralists, Farmers, Fishworkers, and women. These are the same communities who have historically been a victim of the growth at any cost model of development.

It is equally bizarre that while our planet is poised at the brink of a catastrophic climate crisis, the Ministry of Environment is pushing such regressive environmental policy. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has also been linked to unrelenting destruction of natural ecosystems and globalisation, has given us a wakeup call to mend our relationship with the Earth. The Government of India must heed this alarm bell and strengthen environmental protection laws and governance in India, in the interest of the ecology, the economy and the millions of people whose lives and livelihoods are deeply linked to natural resources.

This notification was published just as India reported its first death due to corona virus. The timing of this notification and the fact that the deadline of 60 days has not been removed is telling of the apathy of the MoEF & CC. The restrictions imposed by the lockdown make it impossible to disseminate information about the notification to the communities which will be directly affected by the new amendments. Asking the people for objections and suggestions regarding such a crucial notification at this time of a public health, social and economic crisis is a complete travesty of justice and democracy.

We strongly demand,

1. That the government immediately withdraw this draft notification immediately.

2. That the government issue a revised notification only after giving due consideration to the environmental concerns that have been raised by various environmental groups and communities.

3. That such revised notification, if issued, be issued only after the country has recovered from the lockdown and the pandemic and that an appropriate amount of time be given to the people for objections and suggestions. The procedure in the Pre-Legislative Consultative Policy of 2014 needs to be fully complied with.

4. That the government should create a robust environmental regulatory and governance regime that makes project proponents accountable and keeps the affected communities and ecological concerns at the centre of the EIA and environmental decision-making process.

5. That the central government consider a rethink of its economic policies in the light of global climate crisis and the vulnerability of natural ecosystems, focusing on non-polluting and local livelihood generating small and medium businesses.

NAPM strongly believes that the blatant sidelining of the public consultation process proposed by this draft, while virtually giving big industries a free hand over our land and natural resources, unencumbered by the need to get environmental clearances or to consult the affected communities, surely spells doom for protection of the environment in our country. This must be opposed by all.
The Italian economy suffered a quarter-on-quarter contraction of 4.7 per cent in the first quarter of the year, official statistics agency Istat said on Thursday.

The major drop was expected as a result of novel coronavirus lockdown measures.

Italy is one of the countries in the world that has been worst hit by the pandemic.

The ANSA news agency quoted Istat as saying that the quarterly contraction was the largest ever since the start of the current historical time series in the first quarter of 1995.

Italian bank UniCredit had been expecting an even larger drop of 5 per cent.

App for Coronavirus contact tracing

The Italian government has approved the use of a mobile phone app to support contact-tracing efforts in the fight against the spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The decision was taken in an overnight cabinet meeting, the government said on Thursday in a statement.

The use of the app, known as Immuni, will not be compulsory, but officials say it will be effective only if at least 50 per cent of the population downloads it.

The app allows a user who tests positive for the novel coronavirus to warn people he or she has been in close contact with via an anonymous message.

To ensure privacy, Immuni will not use geolocation technology but is expected to detect nearby mobile phones using Bluetooth, which should therefore always be turned on.

The government said people who refuse to use the app will not be penalised in any way, and said only public or state-controlled institutions will store and handle data from the app.

According to media reports, the app should be ready by mid-May.

According to Vittorio Colao, a former Chief Executive of Vodafone and Head of a Government Advisory Panel on Lockdown Exit Plans, It is important to launch it by the end of May.

If everybody or nearly everybody has it by the summer, good; otherwise it will not be of much use, Colao told the Corriere della Sera newspaper on Wednesday.

Italy is one of the countries in the world worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 27,682 deaths and 203,591 infections reported as of Wednesday.

(dpa/NAN)
The military service branches may fall short of their end-strength goals this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has slowed how many new recruits come into its basic training centers across the country, according to a top defense official.

Matt Donovan, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, expressed that officials are bracing for impacts to the force in light of pandemic response and containment efforts, and cited specific concerns in end-strength and retention likely affected by weeks-long pauses in training as well as travel restrictions on some domestic travel until at least June 30.

At Air Force Basic Military Training, for example, "they've had to drop their [recruit] intake ... which of course leaves us with a gap if people are retiring and separating at the same level," Donovan said Tuesday during a video conference call, hosted by the Mitchell Institute.

Overall class sizes at BMT have been whittled down to 460 due to social distancing requirements; previously, groups of 650 to 800 prospective airmen would arrive at Lackland Air Force Base, in Texas each week.

Related: The Air Force Is Already Planning for the Return of Coronavirus, Top General Says

"I think because of the efforts put in place with the original travel restrictions [in March], that sort of clamped down, the services had to pause and figure out how they were going to do their throughput," Donovan. "I think though, in reality, we're probably going to be somewhat short of the end-strength goal."

Echoing other military leaders including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Donovan said operations will be limited in various ways until a vaccine is developed.

"Constraints are going to be with us until we have a vaccine where it becomes more like smallpox or polio was, here once you got the vaccine, and you got the majority of the population vaccinated, then it kind of fades into the background," Donovan said.

"The services have all been very resilient with this and they immediately have put these social distancing or isolation plans into place.

"Whether it's for deployment or whether it's for basic training ... Is there going to be impact? Yes. But I think they're completely manageable," Donovan said.

The coronavirus pandemic has not altered the Pentagon's plans to keep tabs on troops in non-deployable status, even though operations and physical fitness requirements have been sidelined, Donovan added.

"There's been no halt to the [deploy-or-out policy]," he said. "[The Defense Department] has always had retention standards."

While the coronavirus has not affected the policy so far, Donovan didn't rule out future changes.

"I'm not saying that it never will," he said, "depending on what we learn about the virus and the effects on people, but at this point, no."

In 2017, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced a new policy -- known as "deploy or out" -- requiring each service to track and report non-deployable service members on a monthly basis to determine whether the troops were in a temporary or permanent status.

The policy, officially known as DoD Instruction 1332.45, "Retention Determinations for Non-deployable Service Members," took effect Oct. 1, 2018.

Since the policy took effect, officials have said that it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how many service members are affected because the "temporarily non-deployable" list fluctuates on a daily basis.

Pentagon officials could not provide the number of currently non-deployable troops, saying the decision to separate service members lies with the individual military branches.

"The services would have their numbers of non-deployable individuals, as they have the authority to make the final decision," DoD spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell told Military.com on Wednesday.

Even as the branches have cut or postponed programs -- like the physical fitness test -- amid the COVID-19 outbreak, officials have instructed personnel to still remain attentive, take necessary precautions, and maintain healthy and fit lifestyles.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read More: Dozens of Marine Recruits at Boot Camp in San Diego Have COVID-19
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

Madeline Kripke, who kept one of the worlds largest private collection of dictionaries, much of it crammed into her Greenwich Village apartment, could be defined this way: liberal [adj., as in giving unstintingly], compleat [adj., meaning having all the requisite skills] and sui generis [adj., in a class by itself].

Beginning with the Websters Collegiate that her parents gave her in the fifth grade, she accumulated an estimated 20,000 volumes as diverse as a Latin dictionary printed in 1502, Jonathan Swifts 1722 booklet titled The Benefits of Farting Explained, and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys 1980 guide to pickpocket slang.

Ms. Kripke (pronounced KRIP-key) died on April 25 in Manhattan at 76. Her brother, Saul Kripke, a noted philosopher and professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, said the cause was the coronavirus and complications of pneumonia.
[April 30, 2020] Grange Insurance Announces Additional COVID-19-Related Support for Small Business Owners

Today, Grange Insurance Company announced its Businessowner Policy (BOP) payback, which will return 20% of April and May premiums to its BOP customers. This support is an expansion of the customer relief the company recently unveiled for its personal auto customers. "Now more than ever, small brick-and-mortar businesses need our support," said John Ammendola, Grange Insurance President and CEO. "Grange is taking this and other important actions because it's the right thing to do during this difficult time for our loyal small business customers, many of whom have been financially impacted by the pandemic. We are dedicated to our mission of providing peace of mind and protection during life's unexpected events for these small business customers and playing our part in helping local economies." With stay-at-home orders and other social distancing measures in place across the country, the risk for insured losses at insured locations has been reduced. Grange Insurance BOP customers will receive a 20% payback for the months of April and May for policies in-force as of March 31, pending regulatory approval. Paybacks will be issued by check and mailed to customers in May. The payments will happen automatically, and customers do not need to do anything to receive the payback. Additional Relief for Our Customers The small busines paybacks announced today are in addition to the relief Grange is already providing to customers during this pandemic. This includes:



Personal Auto Payback: Providing a 25% premium payback for April and May for personal auto customers related to the various COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, with an estimated $25 million impact in relief.

Billing Flexibility: Offering a grace period to pay premiums and waiving late fees for personal and commercial policyholders directly impacted by the circumstances surrounding COVID-19.

Food Delivery: Supporting our commercial restaurant insureds and our personal auto policyholders who work in the restaurant industry by temporarily adjusting coverages to provide flexibility for food delivery exposure.

We have been and will continue to work with our agents and customers on a case-by-case basis to reflect the exposure changes our customers are experiencing during these stay-at-home orders for their Commercial Package, general liability and workers compensation policies, which are easily adjusted for changes in exposures and reduction in business. We are also working with agents and customers to adjust or suspend certain coverages on insured commercial vehicles that are not being used as a result of stay-at-home orders. About Grange Insurance Grange Insurance Company, with $3 billion in assets and in excess of $1 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home and business insurance protection. Life insurance offered by Grange Life Insurance and Kansas City Life Insurance. Established in 1935, the Grange Insurance Company and its affiliate Integrity Insurance Company serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit https://www.grangeinsurance.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005696/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 11:41:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Qi, a former senior official of south China's Hainan Province, has been indicted on charges of taking bribes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Thursday.

Zhang, a former member of the Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and former secretary of the CPC Haikou municipal committee, was accused of taking advantage of his various former positions to seek profits for others and illegally accepting vast sums of money and gifts in return, the SPP said in a statement.

Zhang's case was handed over to the Guangzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate in south China's Guangdong Province for review and prosecution upon the designation of the SPP after the National Supervisory Commission concluded its investigation, it said.

The local procuratorate has filed the case in the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court, according to the SPP. Enditem
Percentages represent fraction of the global cultivated area in each category. Shading indicates croplands affected by blue water scarcity (BWS) that can be sustainably irrigated with deficit irrigation. These areas are then reclassified as suitable for sustainable irrigation [i.e., with no blue water scarcity (NO BWS)], considering different deficit irrigation scenarios. Lack of irrigation in these areas is interpreted as agricultural EWS. Credit: University of California - Berkeley

Water scarcity, a socio-environmental threat to anthropogenic activities and ecosystems alike, affects large regions of the globe. However, it is often the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations that suffer the severest consequences, highlighting the role of economic and institutional factors in water scarcity. In this way, researchers generally consider not only the physical constraints but socio-economic determinants as well.

Agriculture, which accounts for 90 percent of global water use, is the largest driver of water scarcity worldwide. In a recent study published in Science Advances, environmental science, policy, and management professor Paolo D'Odorico and PhD candidate Lorenzo Rosa investigate water scarcity over global agricultural lands, assessing various geographical factors and presenting the data in high resolution maps.

D'Odorico and Rosa draw distinctions between the physical and societal constraints to water access in the analysis. "While some scarcity is associated with insufficient freshwater availability in the physical environment, economic water scarcity has been defined as renewable water resources being physically available, but with a lack of economic and institutional capacity that limits the ability of a society to use that water," says Rosa.

Using data intensive computer models, the researchers quantify the water currently provided to crops. They determine the optimal amount of water needed to grow these crops under normal conditions with ample water. Then using hydrological models, the authors compare water demand with availability, to measure scarcity and determine the regions of the world where additional water could be made available through expanded irrigation.

The findings suggest that there is enough locally available water to expand irrigation over 140 million hectares of agricultural lands. However, for socio-economic reasons, irrigation infrastructure is not currently available for much of this cropland. The authors note that such irrigation expansion could have significant implications in a changing climate. "A sustainable expansion of irrigation over economically water-scarce lands could be an important adaptation strategy to climate change, contributing to more reliable and resilient crop production," says D'Odorico.

The authors also find that two-thirds of land suitable for irrigation expansion is located in sub-Saharan Africa, East Europe, and Central Asia. In these regions, the expansion of sustainable irrigation could boost food production and feed an additional 800 million people.

The study was conducted in collaboration with a team of scientists from Politecnico di Milano and University of Amsterdam.

Explore further Gauging the effects of water scarcity on an irrigated planet

More information: Lorenzo Rosa et al. Global agricultural economic water scarcity, Science Advances (2020). Journal information: Science Advances Lorenzo Rosa et al. Global agricultural economic water scarcity,(2020). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz6031
Dr Clement Apaak, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South is asking the Electoral Commission (EC) to donate the PPE given to it to health workers to carry out their frontline duties in the fight against COVID-19.

He said the health professionals need the PPE more than the EC.

Dr Apaak noted in a statement that PPE have been donated to the EC to enable the elections management body prepare for its voter registration exercise ahead of the 2020 polls.

Folks, it's my candid view that the Electoral Commission of Ghana should donate its PPE to frontline health workers.

Despite government claims, healthcare professionals are crying for PPE. So far, we have a record of 13 medical doctors testing positive for the coronavirus. Only God knows how many more could be infected in their line of duty, as they relentlessly lead as Generals in the war against COVID-19 without adequate PPE?

Logically, as the number of cases go up and across several regions of Ghana, more healthcare professionals would be exposed without PPE. So, at a time when our nation has recorded over 1,600 cases, should the EC, like many other institutions/organisations and persons, public and private, not be supporting the fight against COVID-19 with the PPE it has procured?

I wish no harm befalls anyone, but should an officer of the EC become infected, who will attend to him/her, a needless newly-compiled voter register or frontline medical personnel?

EC, donate your PPE to a medical facility, it's the moral and right thing to do in this COVID-19 war. Remember that dead people don't vote, and dead people can't compile a new voter register. Let's win the COVID-19 war first, his statement said.

---classfmonline
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's parliament approved on Wednesday amendments to the country's emergency laws that give expanded powers to the presidency and the military prosecution as authorities try to counter the new coronavirus outbreak.

The amendments allow the state to take and enforce a series of measures, some of which have already been deployed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

These include suspending schools, banning public or private gatherings, quarantining returning travelers, prohibiting the export of certain goods and placing restrictions on the trade or transfer of commodities, according to a parliamentary report on the amendments.

The state will also be allowed to direct private hospitals and their staff to help with general healthcare for a specific period, and to convert schools, companies and other publicly- owned sites into field hospitals.

Egypt has routinely renewed at three-month intervals a state of emergency imposed in 2017 after two church bombings that killed several dozen people.

Since it detected its first clusters of coronavirus infections last month, Egypt has shut schools, closed places of worship and imposed a night curfew.

During the day much activity has continued, with many workers depending on daily wages to make ends meet.

The government has confirmed 3,659 cases of the new coronavirus including 276 deaths.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged Egyptians to follow public health guidance as Muslims prepare for the holy month of Ramadan, starting on Friday.

"If we achieved success during the past period, during the next few weeks we don't want to lose what we succeeded in," he said in a televised speech.

"Please be alert with us and help us more with the culture of prevention, disinfection, and protection, and keeping away from gatherings whether in public transport or elsewhere."

(Reporting by Nashat Hamdy and Omar Fahmy; Writing by Aidan Lewis, editing by Ed Osmond)
Following the announcement by Governor Doug Ducey which extended the stay at home order through at least May 15, officials with Mountain Line announced buses will continue operating with a reduced level of service and following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control into the foreseeable future.

In a media release, Mountain Line officials said the following measures will remain in effect indefinitely:

 Weekend service levels seven days a week

 Fare-free service

 Rear door boarding (except for those requiring a ramp)

 Chain separating the driver from the rest of the bus by at least six feet

 Increased disinfecting of vehicles

 Monitoring ridership to ensure riders have enough space for social distancing and deploying larger buses or shadow buses behind the first bus to allow for more space when needed.

During this time of transition, Mountain Line continues to operate for essential trips only, and those who have another means of transportation or are not taking an essential trip are being asked to not ride transit at this time. For those who are riding for essential trips, a face mask is recommended, as is appropriate social distancing on vehicles and at stops.

As parts of the economy start to reopen, officials say Mountain Line staff will work with public health officials and constantly monitor ridership levels to determine when partial or full service levels need to be reinstated.

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While most air shows have been cancelled/postponed for the foreseeable future, some aviation events are taking place. The Lone Star Flight Museum has planned a special flyover event in Houston, Texas on May 8th to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe. Although it wont be an air show per se, it will be a welcome opportunity to help celebrate the lives and sacrifices of the Greatest Generation in a meaningful way. We must obviously be very careful to respect the health needs of our communities, especially in these times, but it shouldnt be too hard to watch the flypast in a socially responsible way. For more details on this event, please see the Lone Start Flight Museums press release below

In honor of those that served and sacrificed during WWII, and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the Lone Star Flight Museum and its supporting partners will fly nearly 30 rare and historic warbirds over the City of Houston in an epic aviation event called the Fight to the Finish Flyover.

Take off will occur at 11:45 a.m. from Ellington Airport. The aircraft will fly a 120-mile flight plan over the skies of the Greater Houston area. This historic flight will last just over one hour, landing back at Ellington Airport at approximately 1:10 p.m. We will be flying over Pasadena, the San Jacinto Museum & Monument, University of Houston, Downtown Houston, Memorial Park Conservancy, Acres Homes, Houston National Cemetery, Spring-Cypress, Cinco Ranch, Mission Bend, West Memorial, West University Place, Bellaire, Missouri City, Alvin, Pearland, Friendswood, Dickinson, Kemah and many communities within the flight plan.

The fleet of more than two dozen historic warbirds will include a B-25J Mitchell, HU-16 Albatross, P-51 Mustang, P-63 King Cobra, SB2C-5 Helldiver, the CAF Tora Group, C-45 Expeditor, T-6 Texan, BT-13 Valiant, L-17 Navion, T-34 Mentor, Yak-52 amongst others

All partners have volunteered their time and resources to make this event possible. Some of the organizations involved include the CAF Houston Wing, CAF Gulf Coast Wings B-17G Texas Raiders, CAF Highland Lakes Squadron, Wings Over Houston Airshow, Signature Flight Support, Houston First, Iheart Media  Houston, individual warbird owners, pilots and volunteers.

An event program will be available at www.lonestarflight.org the week of the flight for download.
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Tortilla Chips Market Introduction:

Tortilla is made from freshly ground maize or wheat flour. Global trend of snackification has been one of the prominent factor responsible for the rising demand for snacking food products where, such food products are replaced by traditional meals. Tortilla chips are largely consumed in Mexico and are prepared from corn flour and are gaining immense popularity in the recent past years. Tortilla chips are made from yellow corn, red corn, blue corn and are available in different flavors. The global tortilla chips is expected to witness significant demand from countries such as, U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, certain Asian countries attributable to increasing consumption of organic tortilla chips in the near future.

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Tortilla Chips Market Segmentation:

The global tortilla chips market is segmented on the basis of nature, source, by product type, by sales channel and region. On the basis of nature, the global tortilla chips market is segmented into, organic and conventional. Organic tortilla chips are made from organic ingredients and are available in different varieties. The organic tortilla chips segment is expected to witness considerable growth among consumers due to growing trend of clean label across the globe. Based on source the global tortilla chips market is segmented into, wheat and corn. The corn segment is further sub-segmented into yellow corn, white corn, blue corn and red corn. On the basis of product type the global corn chips market can be segmented into, masa flour based tortilla chips and cooked corn based tortilla chips. Masa flour is a flour which is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution. The segment is expected to deliver significant revenue generation in the global tortilla chips market. On the bases of sales channel the global tortilla chips market is segmented into, store based retailing and non-store retailing. The store based retailing segment is further sub-segmented into, modern grocery retailers and traditional grocery retailers. Modern grocery retailers segment can be sub-segmented into, hypermarkets/supermarkets, convenience stores, discount stores, departmental stores, and specialty stores while the traditional grocery retailers segment is sub-segmented into, food and drinks specialists, independent small grocery retailers.

Tortilla Chips Market Regional Outlook:

On the basis of the region the global tortilla chips market is segmented into, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and the Middle East and Africa. U.S., China, Brazil, Mexico are some of the leading producers of corn worldwide which is expected to enhance the market share of tortilla chips across these countries. Latin America is expected to hold a considerable market share in the global tortilla chips market. Tortilla chips are first choice of consumers in mexico and has become one of the staple snack in other countries including U.S. and Canada. As per data reveled by snack food association, the slaes of tortilla chips in the U.S. has witnessed tremendous growth in recent past years mainly due to increasing consumption of tortilla chips among Mexican-American population in the U.S. Changing taste preference and growing demand for healthier snacks is expected to push the revenue generation in the global tortilla chips market. Europe is one of the prominent leader in the global tortilla chips market.

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Tortilla Chips Market Drivers and Trends

Snacks are considered to be cheaper and traditional meals among consumers globally which is expected to contribute towards the increasing consumption of tortilla chips. Manufacturers are offering tortilla chips in different flavors and varieties as per consumers need and taste in order to cater maximum revenues globally. Also, growing demand for ready to eat snacks and demand for organic gluten free tortilla chips among consumers across the globe is expected to result in increasing market revenue generation in the global tortilla chips market

Tortilla Chips Market Key Players:
By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he believes China's handling of the coronavirus is proof that Beijing "will do anything they can" to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

In an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office, Trump talked tough on China and said he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for Beijing over the virus. "I can do a lot," he said.

Trump has been heaping blame on China for a global pandemic that has killed at least 60,000 people in the United States according to a Reuters tally, and thrown the U.S. economy into a deep recession, putting in jeopardy his hopes for another four-year term.

The Republican president, often accused of not acting early enough to prepare the United States for the spread of the virus, said he believed China should have been more active in letting the world know about the coronavirus much sooner.

Asked whether he was considering the use of tariffs or even debt write-offs for China, Trump would not offer specifics. "There are many things I can do," he said. "We're looking for what happened."

"China will do anything they can to have me lose this race," said Trump. He said he believes Beijing wants his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, to win the race to ease the pressure Trump has placed on China over trade and other issues.

"They're constantly using public relations to try to make it like they're innocent parties," he said of Chinese officials.

He said the trade deal that he concluded with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at reducing chronic U.S. trade deficits with China had been "upset very badly" by the economic fallout from the virus.

A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that an informal truce in the war of words that Trump and Xi essentially agreed to in a phone call in late March now appeared to be over.

Story continues

The two leaders had promised that their governments would do everything possible to cooperate to contain the coronavirus. In recent days, Washington and Beijing have traded increasingly bitter recriminations over the origin of the virus and the response to it.

However, Trump and his top aides, while stepping up their anti-China rhetoric, have stopped short of directly criticizing Xi, who the U.S. president has repeatedly called his friend.

Trump also said South Korea has agreed to pay the United States more money for a defense cooperation agreement but would not be drawn out on how much.

"We can make a deal. They want to make a deal," Trump said. "Theyve agreed to pay a lot of money. Theyre paying a lot more money than they did when I got here in January 2017.

The United States stations roughly 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty.

Trump is leading a triage effort to try to keep the U.S. economy afloat through stimulus payments to individuals and companies while nudging state governors to carefully reopen their states as new infections decline.

Trump sounded wistful about the strong economy that he had enjoyed compared with now, when millions of people have lost their jobs and GDP is faltering.

"We were rocking before this happened. We had the greatest economy in history," he said.

He said he is happy with the way many governors are operating under the strain of the virus but said some need to improve. He would not name names.

Trump's handling of the virus has come under scrutiny. Forty-three percent of Americans approved of Trumps handling of the coronavirus, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll from April 27-28.

But there was some good coronavirus news, as Gilead Sciences Inc said its experimental antiviral drug remdesivir was showing progress in treating virus victims.

Trump has also seeking an accelerated timetable on development of a vaccine.

"I think things are moving along very nicely," he said.

At the end of the half-hour interview, Trump offered lighthearted remarks about a newly released Navy video purportedly showing an unidentified flying object.

"I just wonder if it's real," he said. "That's a hell of a video."

(Reporting by Steve Holland; additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Sandra Maler, Grant McCool and Gerry Doyle)
Asmara, a Sumatran tiger that has lived in Fuengirola Bioparc since it opened in mid-2001, has died at the age of 19.

She was the longest living tigress in the European conservation programme and the third oldest in the international Sumatran tiger conservation programme.

Asmara, who had several offspring and lived with several males, had never suffered with any health problems until well into her old age.

According to her vet, Jesus Recuero, Asmara had a firm and confident character in front of her fellow tigers but at the same time she was relaxed and confident in the presence of her usual carers.

In 2014 she was diagnosed with a degenerative disease for which she has been treated ever since.

However, four weeks ago her health deteriorated and her passing has left a huge void in the park.
Reliance Industries, the country's largest listed company by market capitalisation, on April 30 reported a consolidated profit of Rs 6,348 crore for the January-March quarter 2020, registering a decline of 45.5 percent QoQ and 38.7 percent YoY.

The consolidated profit in the previous quarter was Rs 11,640 crore and in the corresponding quarter last year, it was Rs 10,362 crore.

The bottom line was hit by an exceptional loss of Rs 4,267 crore due to fall in oil prices and demand destruction post COVID-19, but healthy growth in Reliance Jio limited the profit decline.

Here are key takeaways from RIL's Q4 scorecard:

Jio business

For this segment, standalone revenue from operations, including access revenues, stood at Rs 14,835 crore while standalone EBITDA came at Rs 6,201 crore and EBITDA margin at 41.8 percent.

Standalone net profit came at Rs 2,331 crore. Subscriber base as on March 31, 2020, was 38.75 crore (26.3 percent YoY growth). ARPU during the quarter stood at Rs 130.6 per subscriber per month.

The company saw a gross addition of 24 lakh subscribers in Q4FY20. The quarter saw a strong financial performance from Jio vertical with improvement in EBITDA margins.

Also Read | Received 'strong interest' from global investors for a Facebook-type deal for Jio Platforms: RIL

Jio platform signed a strategic partnership with Facebook in which Facebook will infuse Rs 43,574 crore for a 9.99 percent equity stake.

Jio platform will launch a nationwide video platform called 'Jiomeet'.

Petrochemicals business

Q4FY20 revenue from the petrochemicals segment decreased by 24.1 percent YoY to Rs 32,206 crore ($ 4.3 billion) due to lower price realizations along with disruptions in local and regional markets.

Petrochemicals segment EBIT was at Rs 4,553 crore ($0.6 billion), down 42.8 percent YoY, with a significant decline in margins. The impact of lower product margins was mitigated to some extent by optimizing

feedstock mix during the quarter.

For FY20, revenue from the petrochemicals segment decreased by 15.6 percent to Rs 145,264 crore ($19.2 billion). Petrochemicals segment EBIT was at Rs 25,547 crore ($3.4 billion), down 21.1 percent as compared to the previous year, due to lower margins in key products - Paraxylene, MEG, PET, Polypropylene and Polyethylene.

Digital service business

The company said there has been zero impact on network performance despite disruptions due to a high degree of virtualization and network automation. Traffic surge has been handled with a combination of capacity augmentation and technology.

Standalone revenue from operations, including access revenues, increased to Rs 14,835 crore, with standalone EBITDA of Rs 6,201 crore and EBITDA margin of 41.8 percent.

Also Read | RIL says will achieve zero net debt status ahead of schedule

Standalone net profit was at Rs 2,331 crore during the quarter and at Rs 5,562 crore for the full year, showing an annual increase of 88 percent.

Subscriber base as on March 31, 2020, was at 387.5 million (26.3 percent YoY growth), with ARPU during the quarter of Rs 130.6 per subscriber per month.

Retail business

Reliance Retail- ranked as the fastest-growing retail company in the world (Global Powers of Retailing 2020, a Deloitte report) - now operates 11,784 stores covering 28.7 million square feet with over 1,500 stores opened in the year and a record 30 percent retail space added. Footfalls at 640 million, were up 17 percent YoY with 125 million registered and loyal customer base, up 40 percent YoY.

For Q4FY20, the revenue of the segment grew by 4.2 percent YoY to Rs 38,211 crore while EBITDA for Q4FY20 grew by 32.9 percent YoY to Rs 2,556 crore.

Find All Earnings Related News here

Segment's revenues for FY20 grew by 24.8 percent YoY to Rs 162,936 crore. EBITDA for FY20 grew by 56 percent YoY to Rs 9,654 crore. Segment Revenue

The company said the year had been a growth year with March being a tepid month due to the COVID-19 lockdown impact.

Announced India's biggest rights issue

Reliance announced India's biggest rights issue of Rs 53,125 crore, in the ratio of 1 equity share for every 15 equity shares held by shareholders, at a price of Rs 1,257 per share against Thursday's closing of Rs 1,467.05 per share. The proposed rights issue would be the first by RIL in three decades.

Dividend

The company's board recommended a dividend of Rs 6.50 per equity share of Rs 10 each for the financial year ended March 31, 2020.

Talks with Aramco on track

The company said in spite of the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdowns, the due-diligence by Saudi Aramco for the planned investment in the oil-to-chemical business is on track as both the parties are committed and actively engaged.

Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd)
In 2017, a series of tweets by Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West turned the campaign to commute one young womans life imprisonment into the global hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown. The new Netflix documentary Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story is the long-form version of that narrative, and a moving reflection of what criminal justice reform means in personal terms.

In 2004 at the age of 16, Brown was arrested on charges of shooting and killing Johnny M. Allen at his home in Nashville. Brown (who has since married and goes by the name Cyntoia Brown-Long), under pressure from her then boyfriend and pimp, met the 43-year old real estate agent outside a fast-food restaurant, where he was soliciting sex. Brown testified that she acted in self-defense when she thought Allen was reaching for a gun. She was tried and convicted as an adult and eventually sentenced to life in prison. In November of 2017, in the midst of the #MeToo movement, a Nashville local TV news story about the case went viral, drawing the attention of celebrity activists and the governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam. In one of his last acts in office, the Republican leader granted Brown clemency and commuted her sentence.
Connor Radnovich/The Chronicle

A judge on Wednesday signed off on Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosens push to clear more than 13,000 marijuana convictions, officials said.

The expungements affect more than 9,000 people and come after the 2016 passage of Proposition 64, which legalized marijuana in California and allowed convictions for minor marijuana offenses, including sale and possession, to be removed from peoples records. The convictions reach back to 1973, officials said.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio came under an onslaught of criticism on Tuesday night when he tweeted his reaction to the overcrowded funeral procession for a rabbi from the Satmar Hasidic sect of ultra-Orthodox Jews. The first tweet called the crowd that had assembled in South Williamsburg, in violation of statewide bans on gatherings of 10 or more people, unacceptable. But de Blasios subsequent message sent Twitter into a spasm of rage because it began, My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups.

The mayor of the most Jewish major city outside of Israel was then widely derided as an anti-Semite who is looking to start a second Holocaust. Oh look everyone, the Democrat Mayor of New York is an anti-semite who wants to round up Jewish People like hitler did, began the hysterical response from conservative media personality Tim Young, which gathered thousands of likes and retweets. De Blasio even brought together left and right. Young concluded, I won't wait up for the outrage from the left  but, in fact, plenty of online progressives criticized de Blasio for, as one put it, singling out the Jewish community, blaming an entire religion for actions of a few, for threatening to round us up.

All of these critics are right to fault de Blasio for blaming the Jewish community, but they are right for the wrong reason. The problem with de Blasios tweet isnt that he dared to speak directly to a community that flouted social distancing regulations, which are needed to stem the spread of COVID-19. The problem is that he conflated some members of a small, idiosyncratic sect of ultra-Orthodox Jews with all 1.1 million Jews in New York City  an offensive error he repeated in a press conference on Wednesday.

First a primer, for the apparently ignorant mayors benefit: American Jews are significantly less likely than the general public to say religion is important in their lives or to regularly attend religious services, according to Pew Research Center polling. Politically, as The Washington Post notes, American Jews are disproportionately clustered on the liberal/Democratic side of the political spectrum. Only 10% of American Jews are Orthodox, although 40% of New York City Jews are. When it comes to religion and politics, Pew observes, Orthodox Jews more closely resemble white evangelical Protestants than they resemble other U.S. Jews.

Within that subset are the extremely conservative ultra-Orthodox, who live in close-knit communities that often eschew secular culture  no TV, no web browsing  and adhere to very strict social norms around marriage and courtship and so on. Whereas Jews as a whole are more educated and higher-earning than the general public, ultra-Orthodox Jews are typically less educated and more likely to live in poverty. Hasidim are a subset of the ultra-Orthodox who belong to sects that each have unique beliefs and practices  the Satmars, for instance, are anti-Zionist. Even among Hasidim, there are multiple communities: The Lubavitchers are distinct from the Satmars, who are themselves divided between communities that follow rival brothers.

There are also ethnic variations among New York City Jews: Russian-American Ashkenazi Jews are not exactly the same as Uzbekhi-American Bukharian Jews, and they are different from Sephardic Syrian Jews and so on.

So there is no singular Jewish community, but de Blasio directed his response to the actions of one non-representative, extremist group to all of New York Jewry. Certainly the Mayor is smart enough to know the full breadth and diversity of the Jewish community in New York, and should not have used such a sweeping description for the actions of a subset of the Hasidic community, much less the entire Jewish community as a whole, wrote Doug Forand, a New York-based Democratic strategist, in an email to City & State. I don't believe his intentions were to be anti-Semitic, but using this type of unfortunate choice of words does give anti-Semites more fodder for their hateful rhetoric, and he should know better.

While many on Twitter seem to believe that its bigoted scapegoating to say anything at all about what happened in Williamsburg, there are legitimate concerns about the failure to social distance among some ultra-Orthodox communities in Brooklyn. As Gothamist reported earlier this month, the NYPD has repeatedly had to break up Hasidic funerals in Williamsburg and Borough Park  neighborhoods that have been especially hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Theres nothing inherently wrong with confronting that issue directly.

But theres something very wrong with taking the actions of some members of one Hasidic sect and imputing them to 13% of New Yorkers spread all across five boroughs. Can anyone imagine de Blasio lazily tarring any other religion with the actions of a fringe group? Suppose it had been the Amish  would de Blasio direct his response to the Christian community?

One might be tempted to give de Blasio a pass for not knowing about the manifold Jewish communities, were it not for the fact that he has lived in New York City and worked in New York politics for his entire adult life, represented part of Borough Park on the City Council, held citywide office for 15 years, and been elected citywide four times. Also  and perhaps this has something to do with why de Blasio used such wildly overbroad, misleading language  hes a longtime ally of the ultra-Orthodox. Whether its repealing public health regulations on circumcision rituals or slow-walking any effort to make their religious schools teach secular subjects, de Blasio has been happy to oblige the requests of leading ultra-Orthodox rabbis. And their communities have repaid him in kind, donating, for instance, to his ill-fated presidential campaign.

In fact, de Blasios favoritism for the Hasidim may have contributed to the funeral crowds existence in the first place. As Gothamist reported, according to Hasidic community leaders, the police department actually approved and helped coordinate the procession . A police spokesperson would not say why the funeral was allowed to take place, or how the department decides to enforce social distancing laws.

Maybe the mayor has grown so close to the ultra-Orthodox leadership that hes forgotten about the existence of all other Jews in the city. This is the most visible Jewish community, said one former de Blasio speechwriter, who requested anonymity to theorize about the mayors intentions. It's the one he knows best. He interacts with them the most. He has a long history with them. So it was easy for him to not be careful with his language, and to mistake one part for the whole.

The de Blasio administration denies that his political relationship with Hasidic communities in Brooklyn had anything to do with his response. He was upset and tweeted an impassioned message, wrote de Blasios press secretary Freddi Goldstein. He did so out of concern for the health and safety for the ultra-Orthodox community and concern for the health and safety of all New Yorkers. There was no time spent considering a voting bloc.

However relevant it is to the current controversy, de Blasios transactional relationship with ultra-Orthodox Jews has been criticized by many more liberal Jewish New Yorkers. He has been a friend to (the ultra-Orthodox) when it has been convenient, said Ester Fuchs, a professor of public affairs at Columbia University and a former advisor to ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He was perfectly happy to sacrifice the health and educational well-being of kids in these communities when it was valuable to his reelection.

If anything, some might say, de Blasio should be applauded for confronting his allies  had he called them out by name instead of unfairly maligning a bunch of unrelated people.

Fuchs, who is Modern Orthodox, argues that a unifying leader wouldnt have made it about any single group at all. This is an isolated incident now, said Fuchs about the rabbis funeral. Fuchs added that compliance with social distancing regulations in ultra-Orthodox communities have really improved dramatically, compared to early on in the crisis when word had not gotten out to the isolated Hasidic communities. (De Blasio) spoke about it as if this was representative of the entire Hasidic and Haredi community and the entire Jewish community, said Fuchs, who is a member of the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Its not effective leadership. Singling out communities is not the way to go here, period. As the city leader, he needs to be more careful with his language.

City Hall did not directly answer questions as to why de Blasio used the language he did. Initially, Goldstein, the mayoral spokeswoman, simply defended his making the statement and directed City & State to review the mayors Wednesday press conference.

In that press conference, de Blasio referred repeatedly to the Satmar Hasidim from one synagogue who filled the street on Tuesday as the Jewish community and the Orthodox community. He did not explain at all why he chooses to portray a mostly secular, liberal and assimilated cohort of New Yorkers as coterminous with a sharply segregated, intensely devout, theologically unique sect. When pressed on why the mayor was doing so, Goldstein wrote in an email to City & State, As the mayor said, he tweeted in the heat of the moment. He was very frustrated by what had gone on and moved quickly to get his message out. He apologizes to anyone he has offended  that certainly was not his intention. However, he wasnt in the heat of the moment at the press conference a day later, and yet he continued to offend.

In fairness, de Blasio is not the only one who uses this sloppy, misleading terminology. News outlets that should know better, from lowbrow local tabloids to upper middlebrow national magazines and the self-proclaimed newspaper of record do the same. Consider the New York Posts story on the funeral, which reported, Mayor Bill de Blasio criticized the Jewish community in Williamsburg, after hundreds of Orthodox Jews gathered in the streets near the intersection of Rutledge Street and Bedford Avenue to pay their respects for the rabbi.

What Jewish community in Williamsburg? The many hipsters who happen to be Jewish and live in the neighborhood? Orthodox Jews like Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump?

No, and no. They mean the Satmar Hasidic sect of ultra-Orthodox Jews, specifically, and they should say so.

There are real consequences to this inaccuracy. The failure by media and elected officials to accurately distinguish between Hasidim and other Jews led to the widespread, false assumption among New Yorkers, including de Blasio, that the spate of anti-Semitic hate crimes last year was the work of far-right hooligans, presumably influenced by President Donald Trumps friendliness with white nationalists.

In fact, the victims of most of the attacks were Hasidim in Hasidic neighborhoods, and the perpetrators were mostly African Americans and Latinos from adjacent communities. In other words, instead of white Trump voters attacking mostly liberal Jews for not being really white, it was non-white New Yorkers attacking Trump-supporting ultra-Orthodox Jews.

On Wednesday, the Jewish Community Relations Council issued a statement noting, in part, This was a single event, planned by one congregation. The mayor, however, isnt listening. Members of the Jewish community were putting each other in danger, de Blasio said Wednesday. They were putting our police officers in danger. It will come as a surprise to secular Jews from the Upper West Side to de Blasios own beloved Park Slope, Brooklyn, to learn that their community did anything of the sort.
SBI Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of State Bank of India (SBI), on Thursday said it has committed Rs 30 crore to implement various COVID-19 relief measures across the country.

The fund will be utilised for providing food to the needy, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, capacity building of healthcare workers and research on coronavirus-related projects along with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), according to a release.

To implement these initiatives, SBI Foundation has set up a new flagship programme on health theme.

Distribution of ventilators and personal protective equipment to hospitals and supply of 10,000 freshly cooked meals daily at four centres of the country have already been initiated, it said.

It is providing training and mentoring to five lakh healthcare professionals across various states.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LANSING, MI -- With one day to go before Gov. Gretchen Whitmers state-of-emergency order expires, tensions ran high in Lansing on Wednesday. Whitmer firmly said she will not negotiate with Republican leaders regarding the reopening of the states economy in order to extend the order.

Protesters looking to sit in on Wednesdays legislative sessions were forcibly removed for not complying with orders in the gallery. Meanwhil,e another protest is planned Thursday at the Capitol to encourage the end of the state of emergency and the stay-home orders.

Whitmer also announced an executive order to reopen construction in the state, a plan to provide free college tuition to front-line workers and grants for child care.

And late Wednesday, a judge ruled in the governors favor in a lawsuit that claimed the stay-home order is unconstitutional.

Below is a look at the most recent developments related to the crisis.

Michigan sees 100 more coronavirus deaths, 1,100 new confirmed cases

State officials confirmed another 1,137 COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday, bringing the total in Michigan to 40,399 confirmed cases. Officials also announced another 103 deaths in the state, bringing that total to 3,670 deaths.

There were 6,505 tests done on Monday, April 27  the most recent data available. Of those tests, 12.3% came back positive, marking the fifth consecutive day Michigans rate of positive results was under 15%.

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Showdown brewing between Whitmer, Michigan Republicans over coronavirus state of emergency

Whitmer and Republican lawmakers appear to be headed for a clash in the coming days as the state-of-emergency order is set to expire Friday, and neither side appears willing to budge. Whitmer says regardless of whether or not the legislature extends the order, Michigan will remain under the stay-home mandate.

Whitmer publicly refused a proposal sent by Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake that called for two one-week extensions of the state of emergency in exchange for a public agreement that future stay-at-home orders be enacted through the legislative process instead of an executive order.

Emails made public by Whitmers office Wednesday showed the governor responded to the offer by saying "Michigan remains in a state of emergency regardless of the actions you decide to take or not take.

Whitmer announces plan for free college tuition for front-line workers

Inspired by the G.I. Bill post World War II, Whitmer announced a plan Wednesday to provide free college tuition to essential workers in Michigan working on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle. The program, which will be funded through federal grants will provide a tuition-free pathway to college or a technical certificate for those essential workers who dont have a college degree.

Historically when Americans put their lives on the line to defend the rest of us from a foreign enemy, we have shown our gratitude by giving them educational opportunities to improve their lives, Whitmer said during her press briefing Wednesday. Our enemy in this instance is a virus. But our frontline workers are just as heroic. And thats why its important for us to extend some gratitude, and some opportunity, once we are beyond this moment.

Protesters of Michigans coronavirus response removed from House gallery

A handful of people who were protesting the state response to the COVID-19 pandemic were forcibly removed from the House gallery Wednesday after refusing to leave the area. The gallery was being reserved for lawmakers who needed to be present for the upcoming sessions and members of the media.

Normally the gallery is open to the public, but in order to maintain social distancing, the gallery was closed off so lawmakers could sit there. One of the protestors could be heard shouting, Youre not allowed to touch me" from outside the House chambers, and another fell to the ground after being pushed out.

U.P.s painful dilemma: Almost no coronavirus now, but at what cost?

The normally tourist friendly Upper Peninsula is typically gearing up for trout season this time of year. However, with the spread of COVID-19, towns that depend on that tourism are now empty. This story looks at the delicate balance officials in the U.P. need to maintain between keeping residents safe and keeping the local economy going.

Protest over Michigans state of emergency to go on, despite Facebook removing 2 events

Protesters say they are still planning a rally at the Michigan Capitol on Thursday despite two Facebook events promoting the event being cancelled. The social media platform says it will remove content that advocates for in-person gatherings that defy health guidance.

Regardless, organizers say they will be at the Capitol at 9 a.m. Thursday to spread the message.

The message is this: Were asking Republicans in the Senate to vote not to extend the state of emergency order, said Jason Howland, one of the organizers of the rally.

Laura Cox: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer owes Michiganders answers on coronavirus handling

In this guest column from Laura Cox, chair of the Michigan Republican Party, Cox makes the argument that Michganders deserve answers regarding the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just a day after Gretchen Whitmer appeared with Joe Biden at a rally in Michigan, the state recorded its first case of coronavirus. Unfortunately for Michiganders, Gretchen Whitmer never left campaign mode, and has far been more interested in auditioning to be Bidens running mate during the pandemic than protecting Michiganders against COVID-19, Cox writes.

Construction to resume May 7 in Michigan

Whitmer confirmed Wednesday that she will sign an executive order this week to allow for construction work to begin again in Michigan, starting May 7. Much of the states non-essential construction work has been on pause since March 23, when Whitmer signed her first stay-at-home order.

During her press briefing Wednesday, Whitmer said the reason she isnt opening construction right away is so the state can continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and for construction businesses to prepare to return to work next week.

Jackson triplets donate face mask adapters throughout country to help fight COVID-19

A set of teenage triplets from Jackson are doing their part to help in the battle against COVID-19. Karson, Landon and Mason Schroeder are using their 3D printer to make 25 to 30 face mask adapters daily to help essential workers. The adapters relieve tension for workers who are wearing masks for hours at a time.

The adapters have gone to nurses, doctors, corrections officers, truck drivers, medical staff, mental health workers, office secretaries, dental staff, infectious disease staff and any essential workers that need them.

Henry Ford doctor who nearly died of COVID-19 now home

Dr. Scott Kaatz knew his chances of coming off a ventilator while battling COVID-19 were slim. But with other treatments not working, he had no choice but to give it a shot. The ventilator was unable to improve his condition, so doctors -- his colleagues at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit -- gave him an experimental treatment plan that included injecting him with convalescent plasma.

Eight days later, he was off the ventilator.

Read more about Dr. Kaatzs story and how the team at Henry Ford Hospital is continuing trials on the treatment plan in hopes of finding a cure or vaccine for the virus.

Michigan offers money to childcare providers to reduce rates

Michigan will begin providing grants to child care providers who agree to reduce their weekly rates by at least 10 percent during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Whitmer announced the plan Wednesday, saying the program will help essential workers by making child care more affordable while they continue to work during the crisis.

Child care providers have been critical partners in helping our state respond to COVID19, and we are extremely grateful for their service, Whitmer said in a prepared statement. Every child care provider and early educator is important in giving parents some peace of mind while they are delivering essential services to our state at this challenging time.

Michigan doctor charged with fraud accused of ordering nurses with coronavirus to treat patients

Dr. Charles Mok II is facing charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, accused of ordering his medical spa to incorrectly bill Medicare for treatments administered at his offices. That includes an alleged COVID-19 treatment that used high doses of Vitamin-C.

The complaint also says nurses that worked at the facility who Mok knew tested positive for COVID-19 were allowed to continue treating patients. Many of the patients at the facility are older than 50 and have other health problems, according to the complaint.

Whitmer mass quarantining the healthy, Sothebys franchise says in lawsuit

Whitmers stay-at-home order has led to another lawsuit claiming it violates the constitutional rights of people in Michigan. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by lawyers representing Signature Sothebys International Realty Inc., in Birmingham; Executive Property Maintenance of Ann Arbor; Intraco Corporation of Troy; Casite Intraco LLC of Troy; and Hillsdale Jewelers.

For the first time in our States history -- indeed, in our nations history -- the State government is mass quarantining healthy people instead of the sick. As a free people, we have the unalienable right to pursue happiness, which includes the freedom to make our own choices about our safety and welfare without unconstitutional interference," said attorney Daniel McCarthy of Butzel Long who represents the businesses.

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesnt infringe on constitutional rights

A Michigan judge on Wednesday found that while Whitmers stay-at-home order does temporary harm to the constitutional rights of Michigan residents, the harm doesnt outweigh the public health risk posed by the coronavirus outbreak.

Our fellow residents have an interest to remain unharmed by a highly communicable and deadly virus, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray wrote in his opinion. And since the state entered the Union in 1837, it has had the broad power to act for the public health of the entire state when faced with a public crisis.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus
Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, faces rising pressure to respond to former Senate staffer Tara Reades allegation that he sexually assaulted her 27 years ago.

One of several women who last year accused Biden of uncomfortable kissing, hugging or touching, Reade made the new allegation during a podcast interview in March. The campaign team for Biden, who considers the Violence Against Women Act one of the hallmarks of his political career, has said the assault claim is false.

But the former vice president has not directly responded to Reades story, which was corroborated this week by a former neighbor who said Reade told her about the incident at the time.

After debating for almost a month how to address Reades allegation against someone they support politically, several liberal activist groups and womens rights advocates drafted a public letter, The New York Times reported Wednesday evening. The letter praised Biden as an outspoken champion for survivors of sexual violence but pressed him to respond to Reade in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Vice President Biden has the opportunity, right now, to model how to take serious allegations seriously, the groups wrote, according to The Times. The weight of our expectations matches the magnitude of the office he seeks.

After the Biden campaign learned of the groups effort almost two weeks ago, they put the letter on hold and started pressing Bidens advisers directly, according to The Times.

Its difficult for survivors to see that a woman who has more corroborating sources than most survivors have in similar situations is being tossed aside and actively being weaponized by cynical political actors, Shaunna Thomas, a founder of womens rights group UltraViolet, told The Times. It would be an incredible moment of leadership for Joe Biden to show up.

But no new statements have come from Biden or his campaign; nor have the advocates published their letter.

Kate Bedingfield, a deputy campaign manager for Biden, previously said that the former vice president "firmly believes that women have a right to be heard  and 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.

The Daily Beast reported on Wednesday that many womens groups and leading feminists  including some who argued the Democratic Party should have better handled sexual assault allegations against President Bill Clinton  have remained silent on Reades claims.

Ten top nationwide pro-women organizations, including Emilys List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the National Organization for Women either did not respond to The Daily Beasts detailed request for comment on Reades allegation or responded and declined to provide a statement.

Earlier this month, Reade told The New York Times she came forward on her own and not to help Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders or President Donald Trump.

Trump, whos faced sexual assault and other allegations by more than a dozen women, has not yet referenced Reades allegations against his likely foe in the general election. But his re-election campaign, including manager Brad Parscale, has made Reades story a focal point.

I nominate Tara Reade. https://t.co/5VIUViFH6f  Brad Parscale - Download our Trump 2020 App today! (@parscale) April 27, 2020

In several interviews, Reade has said she complained to top Biden staffers about his behavior around her, which allegedly included looks and touching that made her uncomfortable. She said she received no response and was fired, prompting a harassment complaint with a Senate human resources office.

In a report filed with Washington, D.C., police, Reade alleged that in 1993, Biden pinned her against a wall, kissed her and placed his hand under her skirt. Reade said he propositioned her but stopped after she pulled away.

A next-door neighbor of Reades in the mid-1990s, Lynda LaCasse, recently told Business Insider that, This happened, and I know it did because I remember talking about it."

Another woman, Lorraine Sanchez, who worked alongside Reade for a California state senator in the 1990s, told Business Insider that she remembered Reade saying her former boss in the nations capital had sexually harassed her, and that she was fired in retaliation.

News of two on-the-record sources corroborating Reades accusations came a week after video surfaced of CNNs Larry King receiving a call from a woman Reade says is her mother. The caller seeks advice for what a staffer can do besides go to the press, because her daughter wasnt getting anywhere with concerns through the senators office, according to the video.

Reade had mentioned in interviews with The Intercept that her mother had called Larry King Live about the incident; the Intercept reported that the call occurred in August 1993, the month Reade left the senators office.

Top Biden aides maintain the accusation is untrue, and The Times reported that they are assuring allies the allegation wont impact voters view of the candidate.

Buzzfeed News reported that the campaign had shared talking points with supporters making clear the allegation did not happen."

Heres the bottom line, read the talking points, which were sent to Democratic operatives and obtained by Buzzfeed. Vice President Joe Biden has spent over 40 years in public life: 36 years in the Senate; seven Senate campaigns; two previous presidential runs; two vice presidential campaigns; and eight years in the White House. There has never been a complaint, allegation, hint or rumor of any impropriety or inappropriate conduct like this regarding him  ever.

The Times earlier this month interviewed almost two dozen Biden staffers during the 1990s, including many who worked alongside Reade. Several said they did not recall any discussion of the incident or similar behavior by Biden toward her or other women. A pair of interns who worked directly with Reade told the Times they were unaware of her accusation or any concerns about Bidens behavior.

Reade said she complained to Marianne Baker, Bidens former longtime executive assistant, following the alleged assault. Baker in a statement said she "never once witnessed, or heard of, or received, any reports of inappropriate conduct, period  not from Ms. Reade, not from anyone. I have absolutely no knowledge or memory of Ms. Reades accounting of events, which would have left a searing impression on me as a woman professional, and as a manager.

Yvette Simpson, chief executive of the progressive group Democracy for America, told The Times that the organization would back the Democratic nominee, but Biden needs to respond directly.

While it is absolutely essential that we defeat Donald Trump in November, trying to manage the response through women surrogates and emailed talking points doesnt cut it in 2020  especially if Democrats want to continue to be the party that values, supports, elevates, hears and believes women," Simpson said.

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US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened China with fresh tariffs as he stepped up his attacks on Beijing over the coronavirus crisis, saying he had seen evidence linking a Wuhan lab to the contagion. The diatribe from the Republican incumbent came as data showed the United States shed more than 30 million jobs in six weeks, as lockdown measures began to bite across the nation. The gloom in the world's largest economy found its parallel across the Atlantic, where experts warned of an unprecedented financial catastrophe in Europe. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has so far killed more than 230,000 people and forced more than half of humanity to live under some kind of lockdown, which has crippled economies. The virus is believed to have originated late last year in a market in the Chinese city of Wuhan that sold wild animals for human consumption, but speculation has swirled about a top-secret lab in the ground-zero city. Asked if he had seen anything giving him a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source of the outbreak, Trump replied, "Yes, I have." Pressed by reporters at the White House for details on what made him so confident, Trump replied: "I cannot tell you that." Trump is increasingly making Beijing's handling of the outbreak a major issue for his November re-election campaign. When asked about reports that he could cancel US debt obligations to China, Trump said he could "do it differently" and act in "probably a little bit more of a forthright manner." "I could do the same thing but even for more money, just putting on tariffs," he said. Despite a truce in the long-running trade war between Washington and Beijing reached in January, tariffs are already in place on two-thirds of trade between the economic powers. - Eurozone gloom - European and US markets finished the day in negative territory, as a spate of figures confirmed fears about how the COVID-19 crisis is pulverizing global growth. The latest jobless claims by another 3.84 million Americans translate into a jarring conclusion -- roughly nine percent of the US population has filed for unemployment benefits in six weeks. In the midwestern US state of Michigan, protesters -- some of them armed -- stormed the state capitol building, demanding that the Democratic governor remove strict lockdown rules, which they say hurt the economy and represent governmental overreach. The depressing US jobs data compounded the tough message from European Central Bank Christine Lagarde. "The euro area is facing an economic contraction of a magnitude and speed that are unprecedented in peacetime," she warned. ECB economists expect output in the 19-nation currency club to shrink by "five to 12 percent" this year, she added. Eurostat figures showed the eurozone economy was estimated to have shrunk by 3.8 percent in the first quarter. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, "will experience the worst recession in the history of the federal republic" -- founded in 1949 -- Economy Minister Peter Altmaier warned, predicting it would shrink by a record 6.3 percent. - Drug trial boosts hopes - The coronavirus virus has infected at least 3.2 million people so far, with Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin becoming the latest high-profile figure to test positive as his country's caseload surged past 100,000. But there was some reason for cheer. American scientists reported positive tests for an improved treatment, and with deaths and infections starting to drop in some hotspots, countries looked at the next phase in their plans to lift crippling lockdown measures. On Thursday, Germany accelerated plans to start lifting its anti-virus lockdown, preparing to ease curbs on public life and reopen religious institutions, museums and zoos -- having restarted shopping last week. A decision on when to reopen schools is to come next week. "It remains absolutely important that we stay disciplined," said Chancellor Angela Merkel. In South Korea, where COVID-19 was detected in mid-February, no new infections were reported for the first time, suggesting its aggressive test-and-trace strategy is working. South Korea's death toll is around 250 -- vastly lower than that of Italy, Britain, Spain and France, which have each recorded at least 24,000 fatalities. The United States tops the table with nearly 63,000 deaths. It recorded more than 2,000 deaths for the third day running Thursday. Italy, once the world center of the outbreak, said it was hoping to reopen two major airports next week, but -- like Spain -- plans a cautious reopening. "We cannot allow the efforts made to be in vain because of rashness at this delicate stage," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said. And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself battled COVID-19, said the country was "past the peak" of its outbreak. - 'Clear-cut effect' - Meanwhile, in the first evidence of successful treatment, a US clinical trial of the drug remdesivir showed that patients recovered about 30 percent faster than those on a placebo. "The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery," said Anthony Fauci, the top epidemiologist in the United States. But it is a treatment, not the much-sought-after vaccine that might allow a full return to normal life. More than 130 virus therapies are currently being investigated, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations said Thursday. Most are still in the early stages of testing, but more than 25 clinical trials have begun, IFPMA director Thomas Cueni said. burs-sst/caw/
For months, scientists, spies and government officials have wrestled with varying theories about how the outbreak began, and many agree on the importance of determining the genesis of the pandemic. In government and academia, experts have ruled out the notion that it was concocted as a bioweapon. And they agree that the new pathogen began as a bat virus that evolved naturally, probably in another mammal, to become adept at infecting and killing humans.
O ne of Londons most popular celebrity nightspots will be allowed to open a Parisian-style pavement cafe despite dozens of complaints from neighbours.

Westminster council approved plans for Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone to host an outside seating area at a meeting this week.

The Grade II-listed venue was granted permission to put out 10 tables and 20 chairs, half the number it had originally requested. The committee said the plan would be reviewed after 12 months. The new cafe areas operating hours were also scaled back from 11pm to 8pm and nine environmentally-damaging outdoor heaters were removed from the application.

The application attracted 88 objections and 128 letters in support, but councillors said they had received a barrage of emails against the plans in the hours before the planning meeting.

Stars at Chiltern Firehouse - in pictures 1 /20 Stars at Chiltern Firehouse - in pictures Keeping it casual Bradley Cooper and model girlfriend Suki Waterhouse were seen at The Chiltern Firehouse in London together on wednesday night. Splash News Effortless Model Suki Waterhouse displayed effortless beautyon a night out with boyfriend Bradley Cooper at Chiltern Firehouse Splash News Bare all Lily Allen captures people's attention outside the celeb hideout in a naked torso designed top Splash News Birthday boy Suki Waterhouse, Lily Allen and a dressed down Kylie Minogue attended Noel Gallagher's birthday at the venue Romantic night Charlie Brooker and wife Konnie Huq enjoyed a night out at the star studded venue (Photo credit: Blitz Pictures/REX) Blitz Pictures/Rex Singing the restaurant's praises Pop starlet Ellie Goulding sported a crop top and mini skirt on a night out at 34 in Mayfair Model behaviour Jo Wood arrives at the celeb hotspot for a night out Rex Sporty spice Rita Ora dressed down in a trendy tracksuit Check it out Actress Margot Robbie teamed a cute dress with casual pumps Hear her roar Katy Perry arrives at the capital's hottest Firehouse Must visit Where there is a cool London hangout, there is Sadie Frost Social butterfly Jemima Khan arrived without boyfriend Russell Brand in tow Hat's on Aaron Paul has a giggle Happy couple Kelly Brook and David Mcintosh look loved up Splash News BFFs Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne seen arriving together at Chiltern Firehouse Splash News

Committee chairman James Spencer said: I really do empathise with residents because by all accounts the Firehouse has not been a good neighbour... But I struggle to see any policy which we could use to refuse this application that wouldnt be overturned on appeal. The plans were passed two votes to one.
Millions of Americans are now on their sixth or seventh week of their stay-at-home orders, and lets face it, many are feeling a bit restless.

But as health officials continue to stress the need to stay in, people across the country are anxious to get out, with some flocking to open businesses and others defying social distancing rules.

Good Morning America turned to Karin Jansdotter and billy barr, who are thriving while in isolation by choice, not because of circumstance. From them, we learned how they both stay positive, productive and motivated.

PHOTO: Karin Jansdotter is living what she calls 'a dream' while working as a chef at Troll, a remote Norwegian scientific-research base in Antarctica. (Courtesy Karin Jansdotter)

Jansdotter is living what she calls a dream while working as a chef at Troll, a remote Norwegian scientific research base in Antarctica. Jansdotter, who is from Sweden, is on a one-year assignment working alongside a small team of five others and has been living in Antarctica since November 2019.

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.

1. Solitude leads to creativity

I think with solitude comes a lot of creativity, said Jansdotter. So when you have silence around you, solitude, then you free something within yourself so you can be creative and curious about other things.

MORE: Tips to manage loneliness, anxiety while social distancing during coronavirus

And for Jansdotter, she says early mornings are best. For me, I like to get up early. Thats when Im the most creative and I like the silence, so I guess I picked the right place to live for the year. I sometimes read or write in my diary and have a cup of coffee.

2. Discover new interests

Barr, who has spent 48 years living in solitude and is the only permanent resident in Gothic, Colorado, also encourages people finding themselves bored at home to discover new interests.

I think people need to find activities and things they enjoy, and try to work them into their life, he said. Theres a lot of stuff thats interesting, you just have to find what works for you.

Story continues

PHOTO: billy barr, who has spent 48 years living in solitude, is the only permanent resident in Gothic, Colorado. (Courtesy billy barr)

Barr's interest in tracking the daily weather patterns over the course of 46 years is now a source of incredibly valuable data on climate change.

Keeping track is something Ive always done and thats how I started to doing my weather data stuff, he said. I was surrounded by weather. Weather controls everything I do -- did then, does now. So I started writing it down.

PHOTO: billy barr, who has spent 48 years living in solitude, is the only permanent resident in Gothic, Colorado. (Courtesy billy barr)

And after a long period of time, barr says he started seeing trends. He suggests others start keeping track of things as well. They may be surprised by what they find on anything from weather, to even their grocery bill to monitor their own eating habits over time.

The whole idea of citizen science is people keeping track of nature, he said, but you can do it with anything that interests you. I find it enjoyable.

MORE: Make these 5 choices to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus

3. Create a routine and reward yourself with small pleasures

Ive been at this for so long I have a routine and its comforting to look forward to things, barr said.

On a typical day, he will get up early, track the weather, go for a ski, work in his greenhouse or tasks around his home, and prepare his meals from his winter food supply. He also maintains a part-time job as an accountant at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.

As for those less-than-pleasant tasks? Barr suggests creating your own rewards system to help get through them and mixing fun tasks with the tougher chores.

PHOTO: billy barr, who has spent 48 years living in solitude, is the only permanent resident in Gothic, Colo. (Courtesy billy barr)

For me at least, it helps to have that kind of routine where I know if something is not going that well now, the thing I do next will or could, he explains. And, he says, theres nothing like the satisfaction of checking things off your list.

For barr, he says, no matter how bad the day may be, he looks forward to watching a movie every evening. Some of his favorites?

Princess Bride, Notting Hill, Love Actually  light-hearted, sweet movies," he said. "Just get the pleasures out of the little things and there is a lot in them.

4. Eat well, and stay active and connected

For Jansdotter, she says maintaining a healthy balance between body and mind helps her feel well. Like barr, she also finds keeping a daily routine helps with her productivity and mentality.

Wake up at the same time if you can, dont stay in bed too long, Jansdotter says. Have that routine going with meals, [too].

For Jansdotter and her team members, she says meeting up around the dining table helps build connection.

MORE: Best online streaming at-home workouts: Discounts, online classes, and what to know amid coronavirus

When we meet around the dining table, we talk, she said. Its our own therapy session. We talk about everything and nothing really.

PHOTO: Karin Jansdotter is living what she calls 'a dream' while working as a chef at Troll, a remote Norwegian scientific-research base in Antarctica. (Courtesy Karin Jansdotter)

Jansdotter also keeps up a regular social calendar with her family, friends and boyfriend back home.

"Reach out to loved ones, family and friends" Jansdotter suggests. "Call someone you haven't talked to in a while."

As for her own routine? Jansdotter says she relies on her daily yoga and meditation practice, eating well and goes for runs or hikes when weather permits.

If you feel healthy, it makes you feel happy, she says.

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

Quarantine got you stir crazy? Take 4 lessons from people living in extreme isolation originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
State and local health departments do not publish the occupations and living conditions of everyone who tests positive, so there is no comprehensive analysis of who is getting sick. But interviews with doctors and public health officials, and data that has been made public, paint a portrait of a pandemic that increasingly is infecting those who have limited ability to socially distance.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Geneva, Switzerland  Thu, April 30, 2020 08:12 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd516bdc 2 World economic-impact,global-crisis,pandemic,ILO,workers,livelihood,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Nearly half of the entire global workforce is in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic, the International Labor Organization warned Wednesday.

The ILO said the risk fell on those workers in the informal economy, and three-quarters of them, some 1.6 billion people were at risk in the second quarter of 2020.

The UN agency said an expected further sharp decline in working hours, due to the COVID-19 crisis, meant that these workers were in "immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed".

In its third report on the coronavirus crisis and the world of work, the ILO warned of the impact on the most vulnerable in the labor market, who are often in the hardest-hit sectors.

The 1.6 billion people stand in line to suffer "massive damage to their ability to earn a living," said ILO director-general Guy Ryder.

The ILO said the global workforce was 3.3 billion people, of which more than two billion worked in the informal economy -- in jobs characterized by a lack of basic protections, no possibility to work from home and no income replacement during the lockdown.

No income, no food

"Staying home means losing their jobs, and without wages, they cannot eat," the report said.

It said that almost 1.6 billion informal economy workers, accounting for 76 percent of informal employment worldwide, were significantly impacted by lockdown measures imposed to combat the spread of the virus, "and/or working in the hardest-hit sectors".

More than 95 percent of them are working in units of fewer than 10 workers.

The ILO said the worst-affected sectors would be accommodation and food services, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate and business activities.

"As the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve, the need to protect the most vulnerable becomes even more urgent," said Ryder.

"For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future.

Working hours plunge

The ILO said the crisis was causing an unprecedented reduction in economic activity and working time.

It estimates that global working hours declined by 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the last three months of 2019.

Global working hours in the second quarter of 2020 are expected to be 10.5 percent lower than in the last pre-crisis quarter, due to the extension of lockdowns.

The ILO said this was the equivalent to 305 million full-time jobs, representing a major deterioration on a previous second-quarter estimate of 195 million.

It said the Americas (down 12.4 percent), followed by Europe and central Asia (down 11.8 percent each) would be the regions losing the most working hours over the second quarter.

"We all have to think of the human suffering, the human need that stands behind that extraordinary figure," said Ryder.

The ILO found the proportion of workers living in countries with recommended or mandatory workplace closures has decreased from 81 to 68 percent over the last two weeks -- mainly driven by the lifting of workplace shutdowns in China.

However, the situation has worsened elsewhere, with workplace closure measures increasing.
Brett Callaghan, above, was arrested and charged with allegedly detaining and sexually assaulting the 12-year-old

A father who allegedly abducted a girl, 12, from a skate park and raped her has been accused of plying her with drugs - as a chilling timeline of the apparent ordeal emerges.

Brett John Callaghan, 37, allegedly approached the girl at Thornleigh Skate Park in north-west Sydney on Tuesday afternoon and luring her to his granny flat in Dural.

Court documents claim Callaghan abducted the girl from the skatepark about 3.30pm. He was with his own child at the same time, police claimed.

Callaghan then allegedly assaulted the girl during the drive to his house, and again when they returned to the granny flat.

Hornsby Local Court magistrate Bruce Williams was told on Wednesday that Callaghan had allegedly 'administered' drugs to the girl after collecting her from the park. As of Thursday afternoon, Callaghan had not been charged with drug-related offences, but a police spokeswoman said 'that is still subject to an ongoing investigation'.

In court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia, police shared chilling details of what they allege occurred.

Callaghan allegedly raped her between 4.30pm and 1am at Dural, the court heard.

The child was reported missing at 5.30pm after she failed to meet her parents at Hornsby Westfield as they had planned. Detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad eventually arrested Callaghan just after 1.15am on Wednesday morning.

The 12-year-old girl was allegedly taken to Callaghan's granny flat in Dural (pictured) on the back of his parent's property

The 12-year-old girl had been at Thornleigh's skate park (pictured) when she went missing on Tuesday afternoon

Police released images of the offender being taken into custody on Wednesday

Police allege the schoolgirl had left friends at the Westfield earlier in the afternoon to meet Callaghan and his child at the park, meaning she was missing for about 11 hours in total.

'We will allege that once they left in the car and went to a home at Dural, she was sexually assaulted,' child abuse and sex crimes squad detective superintendent John Kerlatec said on Wednesday.

A court hearing shortly following his arrest yesterday heard evidence from a sex crimes squad detective who said Callaghan was 'quite obviously under the influence of illicit drugs'.

Prosecutors were seeking permission from the court to take his DNA but the officer said 'he's shown he's clearly not capable of giving consent in his state,' according to the Hornsby Advocate.

Callaghan was then charged with three separate offences, including aggravated sexual intercourse, and sexually touching another person without consent, as well as another count relating to the alleged abduction.

A police prosecutor told Parramatta Local Court on Thursday that police had obtained DNA samples from Callaghan under an interim order. Prosecutors are still seeking the final approval of the court so those samples could possibly be used as evidence against Callaghan.

Callaghan's Legal Aid lawyer signalled he would fight the forensics order in court in two weeks' time and that his client will consider applying for bail. He did not appear in court on Thursday and he was formally refused bail.

The alleged victim was taken to hospital for an assessment and the other child is now in the care of relatives.

A crime scene was established at his home and a car was seized a short distance away, which will be forensically examined.

TIMELINE OF ALLEGED THORNLEIGH ABDUCTION 3.30pm Tuesday: Brett John Callaghan allegedly collects the girl from a skate park at Dartford Rd, Thornleigh and takes her home to his granny flat at Dural Just before 5.30pm: The girl's family members report her missing to police after she failed to show at Westfield Hornsby, as planned 1.15am Wednesday: Police swoop on Callaghan's property, allegedly rescuing the girl and taking her to hospital for assessment Wednesday afternoon: Police are granted interim order from the court to take DNA samples from Callaghan, with the court hearing she was drugged Thursday, 1pm: Callaghan's lawyer appears in court and signals the accused man will fight a final court order for DNA samples. He is formally refused bail Advertisement

Child abuse and sex crimes squad detective superintendent John Kerlatec said on Wednesday the family of the young girl were 'distraught'

Detective Superintendent Kerlatec told reporters police believe the 12-year-old left with the man 'thinking she was in the care and custody of somebody she felt safe with'.

'We sense seeing the other young girl may have given her a sense of comfort, a sense of safety,' he said.

'There is concern for all parents at this time when restrictions are being lifted that we have people preying on vulnerable children.'

Detective Kerlatec said the family of the pre-teen girl were 'distraught'.

Police allege she was found in the home and was taken to hospital for assessment.

A crime scene was established at the home and a car was seized a short distance away, which will be forensically examined.

Callaghan was not known to the girl.

The man was taken to Hornsby Police Station, where charges are expected to be laid.

The other child remains in the care of family.

The search was conducted by detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, with assistance from Kuring-Gai Police Area Command.
Leading African financial institution, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) held its Annual General Meeting virtually by proxy on Wednesday, April 29, 2020  a first in UBAs seventy-one-year history.

The meeting, which had in attendance shareholders, management and staff members, together with representatives of relevant regulatory bodies, was held using an online meetings platform, in accordance with Guidelines issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Opening the meeting, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, noted this was a very special meeting, held in extraordinary circumstances.

It was only right at the outset to express the Groups deep appreciation to all the health workers across Africa, who are at the forefront of fighting the deadly pandemic.

The Group Chairman also commended the federal and state governments in Nigeria and governments across Africa, for their rapid actions against the threat.

He acknowledged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele for his various initiatives in mobilising the private sector to provide support, medical care and palliatives to reduce the effect of the scourge on citizens.

Mr Elumelu said Our commitment to improving lives in Africa is a long-term one, which we do not take lightly, as we assist governments in Africa to curb this pandemic and help sustain employment across the continent. I want to also thank the UBA Board of Directors, who have been responsive in this time of crisis, as the Group donates $14m to assist governments to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria and Africa.

He also thanked executive management and members of staff, as he assured shareholders that despite the pandemic, UBA had delivered an impressive performance in its just released first quarter results. He also noted that the Group was well prepared for the crisis, having put in place effective measures to ensure that its operations continue smoothly.

Mr Elumelu underlined the fact that the Groups exposure to the oil and gas sector was well within prudential guidelines.

Shareholders at the meeting commended the Board of Directors and management for the proactive role that the Group has been playing in helping to lessen the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic across the African continent and its robust financial performance, despite a difficult macroeconomic outlook.

UBA shareholder and President of Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigeria Shareholders, Dr Umar Farouk applauded the Group for the contribution of N5bn (USD14 million) to the fight against Covid19, adding that the move was unprecedented and will substantially support governments, as they work to tame the scourge. He also hailed the twenty per cent increase in dividends that the Bank proposed to pay to shareholders.

He said, I am also happy that you fulfilled the promise you made at the AGM last year to pay dividends in Naira and not kobo, by paying N1 per 50 kobo shares to shareholders, in this difficult time. We have seen the first quarter results, and we are particularly happy about the performance of our subsidiaries across Africa.

READ ALSO:

Detailing how UBA has reacted effectively during the pandemic, the GMD, Kennedy Uzoka, said, As you know, UBA is a learning organisation, we are not a Nigerian bank, but a pan-African Bank operating in 20 African countries and also in the UK, the USA and France. When we learnt about this pandemic, we immediately activated our business continuity plan.

All the investments we have made over the years in the area of technology will begin to yield now, because already we have continued to meet the needs of customers in terms of digital patronage, owing to the growing traffic we have been receiving in the past few weeks. We are well prepared for all situations, Mr Uzoka assured.

While expressing hope that a vaccine is found for the coronavirus, Mr Uzoka disclosed that UBA will continually do business in a way to ensure that customers do not have to physically be in the bank. We are set to take our business to the customers wherever they are and however they want it, he said.

As our first quarter results indicate, we can produce robust results, despite the challenges. We are buoyed by our significant geographic diversification, our historic investment in efficiency and the dedication of our staff. Our commitment to our loyal shareholders is amply demonstrated in our progressive dividend policy.

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.
A major study shows the experimental drug remdesivir to be effective in fighting the new coronavirus, American health officials say.

The United States National Institutes of Health led the study. It compared treatment with remdesivir to usual care in 1,063 hospitalized coronavirus patients around the world.

Anthony Fauci is the NIHs leading infectious disease expert and a member of President Donald Trumps COVID-19 task force.

Dr. Fauci said the remdesivir reduced recovery time. He said patients who received remdesivir recovered on average four days earlier than those who got usual care.

What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus, Fauci said. This will be the standard of care.

He also said there were fewer deaths among those who took remdesivir. The full results of the study will be published in a medical journal soon, Fauci added.



Nearly 225,000 people have died of COVID-19 and over 3 million have been infected with the coronavirus, which first appeared in China late last year.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it has been talking with remdesivir maker, Gilead Sciences. The agency wants the company to make the drug available to patients as quickly as possible...

However, the drug has not been approved for any use anywhere in the world. Other possible treatments continue to be studied.

Earlier, animal studies showed remdesivir was effective against SARS and MERS, two diseases also caused by coronaviruses. It helped prevent infection and some symptoms when given early enough in the disease process.

Remdesivir is administered directly to the bloodstream through IV, a continuous fluid flow device.

We are excited and optimistic, said Dr. Mark Denison of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His laboratory tested remdesivir against other coronaviruses in 2013. It was not involved in the NIH study.

Its active against every coronavirus that weve ever tested, Denison said. It was very hard for the virus to develop resistance to remdesivir. That means the drug would likely be effective over longer-term use, he said.

A less promising result came from an incomplete study of remdesivir on severely sick patients in China. That research found the drug did not speed recovery. However, that examination was halted early, after only about half the expected patients were registered for the study. The incomplete results were reported Wednesday in the British medical journal, Lancet.

In France, a group of hospitals reported success with use of another drug, Acetemra, against COVID-19. In a study of 129 coronavirus patients, 65 were treated with the drug while the other patients received usual care. The doctors did not release details, but said they were preparing to publish results. Acetemra is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

Health officials believe any vaccine for COVID-19 is at least a year away.

I'm Caty Weaver.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Associated Press news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

standard - n. something that is considered acceptable or desirable

journal - n. a magazine that reports on things of special interests

symptom - n. a change in the body which indicates that a disease is present

optimistic - adj. expecting good things to happen
By Michael McGough





Some leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States have been on the phone with President Donald Trump in recent days. The encounters seem to promise political dividends for the president, and that could be a problem for the church.



On April 17, Trump spoke with leaders of various faiths about when public worship might resume following the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the participants in that call were Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, who is the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.



Catholic prelates also joined a call with Trump last Saturday in which Catholic education was discussed. According to the Catholic publication Crux, Trump took advantage of the call to declare that he was the best president in the "history of the Catholic Church."



Certainly, Dolan seemed to have warm feelings for the president. On Sunday he effusively welcomed Trump's online attendance at a Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. (Trump had tweeted praise for Dolan for a "great call" and a "great service.")



On Monday, appearing on "Fox & Friends," the cardinal lauded the president's response to the coronavirus crisis. Although Dolan also praised two Democrats, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, he was especially admiring of Trump. "Everybody has really come through," Dolan said, "but the president has seemed particularly sensitive to the, what shall I say, to the feelings of the religious community."



It's true that the Trump administration has been solicitous of the concerns of religious groups about the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on public worship. (The Justice Department earlier this month intervened on behalf of a Mississippi church that was ticketed for holding drive-in services.) Trump also has been supportive of Catholic schools and religious liberty _ though he exaggerates what he has accomplished with his efforts to make it easier for churches to engage in politics.



Most important for Catholic bishops, Trump is an opponent of abortion, albeit a late convert to the cause.



Trump apparently expects that these positions will help him win Catholic votes in November. He also may think that schmoozing with Catholic leaders will aid in that effort. But there are dangers for bishops in cozying up to this president.



First, Trump's support for Catholic positions is highly selective, making him the presidential version of the much-derided "cafeteria Catholic." Catholic leaders may welcome his opposition to abortion and his promotion of religious liberty, but his treatment of immigrants is anathema to the bishops, who have come close to endorsing an "open borders" policy.



Last week the bishops' conference released a statement criticizing Trump's proclamation announcing a temporary halt to some immigration. The statement noted, "Pope Francis teaches us that to live through these times we need to employ and embody the 'creativity of love.'" But Trump's action, the bishops said, "threatens instead to fuel polarization and animosity."



Bishops who lavish praise on Trump for endorsing some of the church's priorities (but not others) both expose and exacerbate divisions within the church about which teachings should be paramount in the church's witness in the public square. For example, there has been controversy over a document issued by the bishops' conference describing opposition to abortion as the church's "preeminent priority" in advising voters.



The perception that some bishops are siding with Trump could have other consequences. In 1960, Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy told an audience of Protestant ministers: "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote."



Kennedy was pushing back against a widespread perception that the Catholic hierarchy would manipulate their flocks in the exercise of the duties of citizenship. That anti-Catholic prejudice has ebbed considerably in the past 60 years, partly because many Catholic politicians, including prospective presidential nominee Joe Biden, have broken with the hierarchy by supporting abortion rights. But it hasn't disappeared.



Certainly, many Catholics pay attention when bishops seem to be weighing in on candidates for public office. For example, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia raised eyebrows in 2016 when he seemed to portray Trump and Hillary Clinton as equally objectionable. (Interestingly, Chaput has criticized JFK's 1960 speech as "sincere, compelling, articulate _ and wrong.")



Obviously, the Catholic bishops need to engage with the Trump administration and should be free to comment on public policies that affect the church. But when it comes to praising this president, a vow of silence might be appropriate.





Michael McGough is the Los Angeles Times' senior editorial writer, based in Washington, D.C. His commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


The National Assembly adopted a new law on terrorism on 28 April. The main innovation: the new text abolishes the death penalty which was reintroduced in the summer 2015 following the terrorist attacks of Boko Haram.

In June 2015, when the country had just suffered the first attacks of Boko Haram, the government passed an anti-terrorism law providing for the death penalty for terrorists.

But since then, only one execution has been carried out. Ten members of the jihadist movement arrested after the attacks have been executed. In 2017, the new Penal Code abolishes the death penalty for ordinary crimes but maintains it for terrorism. A provision that complicates the task of Ndjamenas allies in the fight against terrorism within the framework of the G5 Sahel.

Judicial cooperation, for example, is complicated for some countries that will have to extradite terrorists to Chad, which could execute them, explains an expert, who adds that the situation in Chad also hinders Western partners who risk being accused of financing a country that applies the death penalty.
Syrian state media said on Friday that Israeli helicopters fired several rockets from Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on targets inside southern Syria.

The attack, one of several attacks by Israel this month that Western intelligence sources say have targeted Iranian-backed militias that have a growing presence inside Syria, caused only material damage, according to state media.

Bases and convoys run by Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia which has a strong presence in the Syrian Golan Heights have been hit by Israel in recent years.

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KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2020 - 23:21 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Firms in Japan are likely to accelerate changes to their April recruitment schedules if the government decides to push the start of the academic year to September in the wake of school closures due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.

While most companies in Japan hire in line with graduations held in March, the government places restrictions on their schedules to prevent them from recruiting early in an attempt to get all the best students.

Companies can only hold information sessions from March of a student's third year in university, interviews from June of their fourth year, and make offers from October that same year.

Should the start of the academic year be pushed back to September, company officials say they are prepared to take a more flexible approach, such as recruiting throughout the year.

Other firms, which say all graduates should be recruited at the same time to maintain balance in the age of their employees, consider the change to simply be a readjustment in schedule.

Many expect the move will also result in an increase in the recruitment of global talent.

While Japan's academic year starts in April, a September start is common in many other parts of the world including Europe, the United States and China.

The matching schedules will likely entice more foreign students to study in Japan, while Japanese students studying abroad will also have an easier time job hunting when they return.

"In some sense, we can't move forward without a change to the environment. I think this is something we should actively pursue," Sojitz Corp. President and CEO Masayoshi Fujimoto said Thursday at a press conference on the trading company's earnings results for the year through March.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, as well as many other prefectural governors, have expressed support for the September start.

"Our education will follow international standards," Koike said Thursday in an online streaming, while Yoshimura, who appeared as a guest in the video, agreed saying, "It's important we make it easier for our youth to be active in the world."

The fiscal year for many Japanese firms, which also currently ends in March, is likely to be indirectly affected by a change to the academic year.

Even though the fiscal year and the academic year's September start are not directly connected, firms "may move to match their business years to world standards amid globalization," an employee of a midsized securities company said.

According to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, although over 60 percent of listed companies still end their fiscal year in March, many have begun to shift to December, which is more prevalent internationally.

Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. moved up the end of its fiscal year to December in 2018, while Inpex Corp. made the change last year. Kose Corp. also said Thursday it will have its fiscal year end in December in a bid to simplify operations with overseas subsidiaries.

Related coverage:

Japan begins distributing cash handouts for virus relief

Japan enacts 25.69 trillion yen extra budget for coronavirus package

Abe to consider Sept. start of school year amid coronavirus closure
In a stern warning, the Delhi government on Thursday ordered private hospitals in the city to not deny treatment to non COVID-19 patients, saying flouting of the directives will invite punitive measures, including cancellation of license.

The order came amid reports of some private hospitals denying critical services like dialysis, blood transfusion and chemotherapy on account of contracting COVID-19.

The health department has issued an order warning all non-COVID private hospitals and nursing homes against denial of treatment to patients and said their license will be cancelled for non-compliance of its directives.

"It has come to notice that some hospitals in the private sector are hesitating in providing critical services such as dialysis, blood transfusion, chemotherapy and institutional deliveries to their regular patients either on account of fear of contracting COVID-19 or they are keeping their hospitals/clinics closed," the order said.

"It is also noticed that in many places the hospitals/clinics are insisting on a COVID-19 test before providing services," the order stated.

"All the hospitals/clinics, especially those in private sectors, are hereby directed to remain functional and ensure that anyone needing any essential critical services, including dialysis, blood transfusion, chemotherapy and institutional deliveries, is not denied such service," it said.

It said non-compliance will be viewed seriously and action as per provisions of law, including cancellation of the registration of the defaulter hospital or nursing home, will be initiated without further notice.

In an order issued on April 15, the Ministry of Home Affairs had also provisioned that all health services should remain functional during the lockdown period.

The number of coronavirus cases in Delhi increased to 3,515 on Thursday, with three fresh deaths being reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As an organization based on promoting employee engagement and communication, this award is a true testament to the work we do to invest in our growing Bay Area employee base and work culture.

Simpplr, the employee communications and engagement platform marketed as todays modern intranet, has been recognized as a winner of the 2020 Bay Area Best Places to Work, an awards program presented by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Simpplrs technology, which helps connect and align distributed employees, has seen increased attention during COVID-19.

Select employers from the Bay Area were named winners of the award on April 24, 2020. These winning organizations were honored for having created exceptional workplaces that their employees value highly.

Were really proud to be recognized by San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal based on a survey from the people who matter the most  our employees, said Dhiraj Sharma, Simpplr Co-Founder and CEO. As an organization based on promoting employee engagement and communication, this award is a true testament to the work we do to invest in our growing Bay Area employee base and work culture.

Covid-19 has brought renewed attention on employee communication technologies like intranets. As many employees work from home for extended periods of time, organizations are forced to change their work habits - there has never been a stronger need for technology to keep employees up to date, help people stay socially connected, and help companies maintain a cohesive culture and corporate identity.

Award applicants were evaluated and ranked across 5 categories according to the number of Bay Area employees. The ranking found companies in the region whose employees rate them as the highest on such values as fun, collaborative culture, solid compensation and benefits offerings and other amenities as well as management practices. The rankings were unveiled in the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journals.

Currently, Simpplr is running a Two-Week Rapid Deployment Solution to support organizations with its enterprise-wide internal communications platform. For more information, please visit: https://www.simpplr.com/rds-2020/

About Simpplr

Simpplr is todays modern employee intranet. Our software helps companies engage their workforce by streamlining internal communication and forging employee connections.

Simpplr partners with many leading brands, including Workday, AAA, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, DocuSign, Eurostar, and Columbia University. Our customers are improving productivity, increasing employee engagement, and reducing employee turnover. More importantly, the improved internal communication is helping employees find work meaningful and fulfilling.

Simpplr is headquartered in Redwood City, CA with an office in Gurgaon, India, and is backed by Norwest Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures, and Still Venture Capital. Visit simpplr.com and join the conversation on Twitter @simpplr.

About 2020 Bay Area Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work is an innovative publication and awards program produced by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The rankings were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. The survey was administered online by the employers and through a service provided by Quantum Workplace, our research partner. The rankings are numeric based on Quantums scoring process. By ranking companies and sharing best practices we facilitate idea sharing and help other companies learn from the best.


A man was arrested after he mistakenly deposited two bags of cocaine with his cash to a teller at a Colorado bank.

David Pangallo, 34, was at a drive-thru bank in Jefferson County on Friday when he attempted to deposit cash through a tube, according to the sheriffs department.

Included with the cash was allegedly two bags of cocaine.

The teller immediately called the authorities about the suspected drugs were deposited.

According to the sheriffs office, Pangallo did not intend to deposit the cocaine, only the cash.

Additional drugs were located in his car and he was booked through on the pending charges and released, the sheriffs office said.

It is unclear what charges Pangallo will face after being released from police custody, but officials did warn residents against drug use.

Moral of the story: Dont do drugs. Also, the bank cannot store your drugs for you, the sheriffs office said on its Facebook page.
TRENTON  Theyre the forgotten bunch among New Jerseys incarcerated population.

Although New Jerseys executive and judicial branches of government have called for certain inmates to be released during this public health crisis, defense attorneys say more needs to be done for those detained awaiting trial.

Recently, the New Jersey Supreme Court and Gov. Phil Murphy have issued extraordinary orders providing early release of prisoners who were convicted and serving jail sentences due to COVID-19, Edward Harrington Heyburn said. What they have glaringly ignored are the thousands of inmates warehoused in county jails who face an even greater risk of contagion and even death due to the deadly virus.

Indeed, Murphys executive order and Chief Justice Stuart Rabners consent agreement do not address the pretrial detainee population.

Generally, pretrial detainees are being held without bail while maintaining their legal presumption of innocence.

So, I applaud the New Jersey Supreme Court and Gov. Phil Murphy for addressing the risks COVID-19 poses to convicted prisoners, Heyburn said via email. In the same breath, I ask why havent you addressed the same risks presented to the presumed innocents. Do they not deserve the same, if not more humanitarian consideration?

Another attorney, Robin Lord, made the same point.

I have many defendants who are presumed innocent and in jail on nonviolent offenses, over 60 years of age, preexisting medical conditions and are particularly vulnerable to not recovering should they contract the virus, she said in a statement. For weeks I have been arguing these motion and not one judge has granted a release to my client despite the recognition that they are particularly at risk to dying.

One of Lords clients is William Laster, 63, who remains incarcerated at the Mercer County Correction Center on pretrial detention.

Laster was charged with numerous drug offenses in October 2019 on allegations he intended to distribute controlled dangerous substances in Trenton.

A judge ordered Laster detained last fall, but Lord filed a motion on March 31 calling for Lasters detention hearing to be reopened and for him to be promptly released from jail due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In her motion, Lord cited an infectious disease expert who had concluded that people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

Specifically, there is now presently a pandemic that poses a direct risk that is far greater if Mr. Laster remains detained for the duration of this public health crisis, Lord argued. Moreover, Mr. Laster is at a heightened risk if infected due to his vulnerable status: he is presently 63 years of age.

While Lord applauds Murphy for issuing Executive Order No. 124, she calls upon the state to remember the inmates who are innocent until proven guilty.

This pandemic has caused the courts to halt the jury system, she said in her statement, yet the only directives regarding release involve those not awaiting a trial in a paused system that is supposed to offer it to them expeditiously.

The Mercer County Correction Center was housing at least 336 detainees as of December, according to court filings. The facility is currently housing about 239 inmates on pretrial detention, Mercer County confirmed on Thursday.

Data from the NJ Administrative Office of the Courts show the Garden State as of March 31 had 4,270 pretrial inmates statewide. As of Tuesday, April 28, there were 4,079 pretrial inmates statewide, according to a Judiciary spokesperson.

The problem is people are just stuck, defense attorney John W. Hartmann said Wednesday in an interview with The Trentonian. You are stuck in jail without having any sort of chance of getting out. Thats like due process 101. They refuse to give them any hearing to get out.

Hartmann represents pretrial detainee Frederick Ingram, 42, of Trenton, who remains incarcerated at the county jail without bail on drug and weapons offenses.

Police arrested Ingram last November on allegations he possessed a Taurus .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and methamphetamines. Hartmann earlier this month filed a motion calling for Ingram to be released pending trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the motion, Hartmann says part of the New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Act is unconstitutional because it allows the courts to delay or temporarily suspend jury trials for exceptional circumstances without giving defendants any notice or any opportunity to be heard.

The courts deem the COVID-19 public health emergency to be an exceptional circumstance, which effectively delays a speedy trial for defendants like Ingram, keeping them incarcerated longer while the virus continues to spread in New Jersey and beyond.

N.J.S.A. 2A:162-22 is unconstitutional, Hartmann argues in his motion, as it violated procedural due process because it does not provide for notice and an opportunity to be heard before it limits a defendants right to a speedy trial.

They are keeping people in jail, Hartmann told the newspaper. They are extending a persons incarceration and Ive got no recourse, and that is unconstitutional. I am supposed to just sit and take it, or my client is supposed to sit in jail and take it.

Although the governor and New Jersey Supreme Court have paved the way for certain inmates to be released early as the state confronts COVID-19, it appears pretrial detainees like Ingram and Laster will get no relief any time soon.

Defense attorney Jack Furlong suggested Murphys executive order is not worth the paper its printed on.

I reviewed EO-124, but only because during the court shutdown, I had a spare three hours to read its dense prose, riddled with legalese, caveats, exceptions to exceptions, and restrictions on restrictions, Furlong said via email. In short, my sense is they dont really want to let anyone out of prison, but they do want to look like they are trying, in case DOC suffers a catastrophic outbreak.

We are hip-deep in a pandemic, he added. New Jersey features many inexpensive motels currently with 100% vacancy rates, and older, sicker inmates should be moved to these or similar housing, well, YESTERDAY.

Editors Note: This article was updated to include current incarceration data for pretrial detainees.
Sie fought unceasingly for the principles that all people count, regardless of type or degree of disability, said Lydia X.Z. Brown, a disability justice advocate and writer, and that all people deserve to exercise their own agency and to receive necessary care and support, even and especially if others do not understand why. Mel also emphasized constantly that it was most important for hir, and others, to be regarded and recognized as a whole human being rather than reduced to being only the relevant labels or categories.
Four Amish children are dead and another is missing in Kentucky after floodwaters swept away the buggy they were riding in while crossing a bridge Wednesday, police said.

State police officers responded to a 911 call in Bath County about multiple people caught in the currents of a swollen tributary around 4:20 p.m., authorities said. They discovered that an Amish family of five children and one adult were riding in a horse-drawn buggy and tried to cross a bridge during a storm.

MORE: Attorney arrested over social media threats against Kentucky governor

The waters swept up the buggy with everyone inside. An adult made it to shore and alerted authorities, according to the police. Four children were found dead a few hours later, police said.

PHOTO: A crime scene is depicted in this undated stock image. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

"I ask that you please remember these individuals, and their families in your prayers this evening, and the days ahead," Bath County Judge Bobby C. Rogers said in a statement.

MORE: Heavy rain, gusty storms hit Central Plains as heatwave begins in Southwest

Several other agencies, including the Kentucky National Guard, have joined police in searching for the missing child.

4 Amish children dead, 1 missing after horse-drawn buggy swept away by flood originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Im doing it right now. I will be on TV. I will be talking to reporters. I will be doing tweets and emails and other things to get the message out there. Its an unusual campaign because many of us are at home, but I think this gives an opportunity for this message to get out there because a lot of people will be paying attention, and a lot of people are being hurt right now and they want an alternative.

Youve been very critical of President Trump since before he was elected. How concerned are you that running on the Libertarian ticket will help him win re-election?

Its impossible for anyone to know how things will shake out when you add a candidate or remove a candidate. The math is way too complicated. People claim to know. They dont know.

A lot of the hype in that direction is based on a few people who are well known  former Republicans who are supporting Joe Biden  and they falsely assume that everyone must be like them, that every person who was a Republican or is a Republican and doesnt like Trump, is looking strongly at Biden. And I dont think thats the case. I think actually a lot of people who like Biden but are Republicans will still vote for Trump because hes closer to their policies. Thats just the way politics works.

For a lot of those people, their first choice might be me and their second choice is Trump. Its hard to know. I dont try to overanalyze that because no person could possibly know. Its arrogant to think you could know how things will shake out. There are a lot of people who wont vote for either one regardless, and the entrance of a major candidate provides them an opportunity to vote when they otherwise would not have voted. Nobody really knows. My goal is to win this race and provide an opportunity for people to vote for somebody they believe in.

Michigan, your home state, was a key state in President Trumps 2016 victory and will be closely contested by both major party candidates again. Do you think you will help Trump carry Michigan?

There are lots of people in history who came in as underdogs who faced a big uphill climb, and they got their message out there and it resonated with the people. I believe thats what will happen in this race. Give me months on the campaign trail and I think people will recognize that I am the more qualified candidate for president than either of the two major party candidates. So Im not worried about that.
Jay and Kate Larson, with their children Reid, 6, and River, 4, started posting a riddle on the front lawn each day to brighten the lives of Mar Vista neighbors after the lockdown began. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Back before everyone wore masks in stores, back before elbows were needed to press crosswalk buttons, back before it was clear the school year was history and bad hair days were the new norm, the Larson family started pondering ways to spread some cheer in their neighborhood.

The epiphany came in mid-March when one of their two kids, 6-year-old Reid, suddenly offered up a riddle.

"Dad, do you want to know a difficult question?" Jay Larson recalls Reid as saying. "What letter holds the most water?"

Thus the riddles were born.

Soon after, the Larsons started posting riddles on a sign board on their lawn, far enough away from their front door that they could safely interact with neighbors. Kate Larson and their kids, Reid and 4-year-old River, hand-paint the riddles each day, posting the answers on the back of the sign. This was the first one:

1. What letter holds the most water? (Answers at the end).

Soon it took off. Others in their Mar Vista neighborhood started adorning their yards with riddles, jokes and brain twisters. Stir-crazy house dwellers organized their daily walks around visiting the yard displays, often meeting neighbors they had never met before.

The family has been posting riddles for 40-plus days, but Kate Larson said it has yet to get old. She looks forward to awaking each morning and helping her kids choose and paint that day's riddle. She's incorporated it into their home-schooling routine, and feels good about creating a conversation starter.

"At times like this you are craving the social interaction you are lacking everywhere else," said Kate. "It is so important to have those distanced relationships that are still meaningful and fun. Something lighthearted."

Across Los Angeles and beyond, sheltered-in-place people are finding ways to cope and connect with others amid the coronavirus pandemic. Yard art, dad jokes, sidewalk chalk drawings and poetry are all part of the mix.

Story continues

For the Larsons, they initially thought they'd be posting their riddles for two weeks or so. But the lockdown dragged out, and things took a turn for the worse.

Two weeks in, Kate learned that her employer, a New York-based jewelry company, was furloughing her and hundreds of other employees nationwide. Jay, a stand-up comedian, no longer had gigs, but had fortunately just started a job writing for a streaming service, which suddenly was in high demand.

"First it was like  two weeks. OK, two weeks. We can handle that. And then  boom  everyone is furloughed. Then, boom, it is going to be another month. And then everything was shut down. And then masks."

2. What are the best kind of jokes during a quarantine?

The Larsons, like many Americans, have struggled through the reality that friends and coworkers are sick, and that some may not survive the pandemic. But they say they've tried not to dwell on the darker sides of the moment.

"I dont think I ever let my mind get there," said Kate.

"We were like, lets not get upset about things we cant control," said Jay. "Lets focus on the things we can control, and make that our best world."

3. Where do you take a sick pirate ship?

Nearly every day, Kate takes her kids on a walk through Mar Vista, where she and Jay have lived since they married a decade ago.

Sandwiched between Santa Monica and Culver City, Mar Vista is one of many L.A. neighborhoods in transition. On many blocks north of Venice Boulevard, speculators are buying up modest ranch houses, tearing them down and replacing them with lot-filling, multi-story modern homes that sell for $3 million or more.

The most expensive homes have a vista of the mar, perched on palm-lined streets such as Grand View Ave. But the 90066 area code also includes families of more modest means. Nearly two-thirds of the area's 42,000 households are renters.

Liz Goldman walks her dog, Charlie, past Jabba the Hutt in her Mar Vista neighborhood. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

During her walks with the kids, Kate makes a circuit by other joke and riddle houses that have sprung up.

Dayna and Robbie Schwartz and their two kids have started posting daily jokes, inspired by the Larson's handiwork.

On Monday, they posted this joke on their tree.

4. What happened when the butcher backed into his meat grinder?

Hanging out on the front lawn, their kids Nina, 11, and Peter, 8, have been known to pepper passersby with jokes.

5. Why couldn't the koala get a loan?

Peter burst into giggles while sharing this one, more edgy than some others.

6. What borders on stupidity?

From there, the Larsons stroll by the "AT-AT house," so named because its front yard includes a giant blow-up replica of the All-Terrain Armored Transports in the Star Wars movies. Then they stop by the "chicken house," where the Rodriguez family has three chickens scratching around the front yard.

Eleven-year-old twins Canaan, left, and Caleb Rodriguez handle chickens as they visit with the Larsen family. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

On Monday, Caleb Rodriguez, age 11, showed off his latest hand-drawn posters that describe the three chickens, named Cargo, Frankie and Rocky. "I thought it would make people happy," he said of his sign.

Kathy Rodriguez, who works as a nurse at UCLA, said the neighborhood is starting to feel like it did back in the 1990s, when they first moved there. People are out and about more, and have more time to chat  from a distance.

"We have met so many lovely people," said Rodriguez, still in her nurses scrubs after getting back from a shift. "Kate being one of them."

As she was talking, a neighbor, Kelly Covato, stopped by with a bag of flour for Kathy.

"This has been the hit of the neighborhood," said Covato, pointing to the chickens and Caleb's hand-drawn sign.

Back at the Larson home, the school lessons are done, Jay's workday is behind him and the sun is starting to drop in the sky. The family sometimes sits out on the lawn and chats with whoever is strolling by.

Marina Bonanni, walking her dogs Milo and Louis, checks out the answer to the riddle of the day posted in the Larsen frontyard. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

"So many good things have come out of this," said Kate, who said she previously would travel for work about 80 days each year, leaving little time for the family. "Now I sit with these kids every day, and I realize how many things I missed out about their lives, because I was gone all the time."

Asked to share their favorite riddles, the Larsons included this one.

7. When times get tough, what do you have that you can always count on?

Answers:



1) C; 2) Inside jokes; 3) To the dock; 4) He got a little behind in his work; 5) Because he wasn't koala-fied; 6) Canada and Mexico; 7) Love.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who died in Mumbai after a two-year battle with leukaemia, was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium. His daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni got special permission to travel to Mumbai earlier on Thursday.

The mortal remains of Rishi were taken to the crematorium from Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, where he died. Rishis son Ranbir Kapoor and his girlfriend Alia Bhatt, niece Kareena Kapoor Khan with her husband Saif Ali Khan, nephew Armaan Jain, Abhishek Bachchan and industrialist Anil Ambani were at the crematorium.

Ranbir Kapoor at Chandanwadi crematorium for Rishi Kapoors funeral. (Varinder Chawla)

Alia Bhatt at Chandanwadi crematorium for Rishi Kapoors funeral. (Varinder Chawla)

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan at Chandanwadi crematorium for Rishi Kapoors funeral. (Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times)

Abhishek Bachchan at Chandanwadi crematorium for Rishi Kapoors funeral. (Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times)

Neetu Kapoor at Chandanwadi crematorium for Rishi Kapoors funeral. (Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times)

Armaan Jain, Abhishek Bachchan and Anil Ambani at Chandanwadi crematorium for Rishi Kapoors funeral. (Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times)

Rishi Kapoors mortal remains taken to Chandanwadi crematorium for the funeral. (ANI)

In a statement released by Rishis family, they urged everyone to respect the laws of the lockdown. In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force, the statement said.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor, Bollywoods original chocolate boy, dies at 67, Amitabh Bachchan says hes destroyed

Rishi was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and travelled to New York for treatment. He returned to Mumbai in September last year, and announced that he was cancer-free. He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday after his health deteriorated.

Follow @htshowbiz for more


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Lagardere (LGDDF.PK) reported first quarter Group revenue of 1.36 billion euros compared to 1.52 billion euros, prior year, a decline of 10.4% on a consolidated basis and of 12.5% like for like. The company said its revenue fell mainly as a result of the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on Lagardere Travel Retail's operations from mid-February, and despite a good performance at Lagardere Publishing for the first two months of the quarter.



To mitigate the impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic, Lagardere is reducing costs across all of the Group's business in order to curb the impact of the decline in revenue on operating profit. The Group reduced the remuneration payable to the Executive Committee by 20%. Also, the Group is cancelling the proposed 2019 dividend to be paid in 2020.



The Lagardere group estimates that the adverse impact on the 2020 recurring EBIT of Lagardere Travel Retail could be in the region of 20% to 25% of the decrease in its revenue. For Lagardere Publishing, the Group estimates that the adverse impact on full-year 2020 recurring EBIT could be in the region of 35% to 40% of the decrease in its revenue.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The Commission on Human Rights received around 300 complaints so far on alleged illegal arrest, detention, or punishment and requests for assistance during the quarantine period.

Commssion Spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia said on Thursday the body formed a task force to handle quarantine-related concerns.

Nakikita natin na malaki ang effort ng pamahalaan. Kaya lang syempre, nagkaroon ng limitasyon at kahirapan sa pagpapatupad ng mismong lockdown, said De Guia.

[Translation: We see that the government exerted a great deal of effort. So of course, there were limitations and difficulties in implementing the lockdown itself.]

The commission reminded law enforcers and local governments to also follow the law in implementing quarantine rules after a resident in Roxas, Palawan was flagged for allegedly spreading fake news in the distribution of cash aid.

De Guia said while spreading fake news should be punished, the expression of legitimate grievanceis is a constitutional right.

Ang nakalagay kasi sa Bayanihan Act ngayon, ang bawal lang ay yung pagkakalat ng fake news o kaya misinformation, hindi naman yung pagbatikos, told De Guia.

[Translation: What is prescribed the Bayanihan Act is it prohibits the spread of fake news or misinformation, not the act of criticizing.]

De Guis said the CHR is investigating the incident in Roxas, Palawan.

She said the commission launched Tanggol Karapatan Online, an electronic platform to give legal advices and counselling.

Another portal called Gender Ombud Online address legal issues including domestic violence.

Even in the time of a national emergency, our right to be free from torture or cruel, inhumane, degrading treatment or punishment is not suspended, De Guia said.

She said punishments on quarantine violators such as long exposure to sunlight, placing juvenile offenders in dog cages, and forced obscene dancing and kissing may be grounds for violating the anti-torture law.

Hindi yan pinapayagan ng batas na ipataw bilang parusa, she said.

[Translation: The law does not allow those acts to be imposed as punishment.]

She said the CHR is coordinating with local government and other concerned agencies in providing help to citizens who have not received any form of assistance from the national government.

The enhanced community quarantine is extended up to May 15 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON regions. The provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet, Iloilo, and Cebu are also covered by the extension.
After several weeks of closure, many businesses in the area will be reopening Friday and the Montgomery County Hospital District is advising residents on how to best take care as the coronavirus outbreak remains ongoing.

People are going to have to be more cognizant, said Dr. Robert Dickson, MCHD medical director.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Texas A&M system plans to reopen in the fall, including football

Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing retail stores, restaurants and movie theaters to begin reopening by capping occupancy at 25 percent.

Dickson and MCHD EMS Chief James Campbell are recommending people going out to continue frequent hand washing, to carry portable hand sanitizer for use after touching common-contact surfaces and to practice social distancing with a 6-foot space in between.

Those are probably the biggest things that we can do to keep the spread of this thing, Dickson said. I would assume every person out there is a potential carrier of this virus. You dont know who youre standing in line next to at the H-E-B.

REOPEN TEXAS: Abbott announces which Texas businesses can and can't open May 1

He and Campbell are reminding people to use disinfectant wipes on handles and all areas of contact on shopping carts at the grocers. Dickson and Campbell are recommending those with respiratory symptoms or who are coughing to wear cloth masks.

When Ive been out in public and Ive had a cloth mask on, it reminds me, James, dont touch your face. Its a barrier for me rubbing my cheek or scratching my eye, Campbell said.

Besides, he noted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends the use of the masks in public. He also stressed those who feel sick stay home, as well as those 65 or older and individuals with comorbidities, or chronic diseases which have been found present in many COVID-19 fatalities.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY: COVID-19 case total now at 582

Its not time to go out yet, Campbell said about those at greatest risk.

Texas economic reopening is underway ahead mid-May, which is when MCHD previously discussed would bring a peak of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Texas, which includes Montgomery County.

Could we see more cases? We absolutely can. I mean, thats a possibility. Did it plateau yet? I dont think so. I dont think that anyone really thinks so, Dickson said.

The hospital volume, Campbell assured, has the capacity to manage an increase in cases. And though Dickson and Campbell said MCHD has been preparing for a sharp increase since the March 10 start of the outbreak, its timing is not easily projected.

I think its been really hard the longer that this has gone on to try to predict what the actual peak is going to be, Campbell said. I think as our area has become fortunate enough to start being able to test more people  statistically if youre testing more people, theres a likelihood you have more people come up confirmed positive.

As Mothers Day approaches, Dickson has words of advice for families looking to celebrate moms whose age may make them more susceptible to COVID-19.

I would not take my mother out for Mothers Day lunch. I would order in. I would do a small family gathering at home, Dickson said.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

twitter.com/jrgzztx
Joe Giudice has lost his fight to return to New Jersey. His third appeal of a 2018 deportation order has been denied, meaning that he must remain in Italy.

Giudice, 47, rose to fame in 2009 alongside his wife, Teresa Giudice, on the Bravo reality show The Real Housewives of New Jersey. On the show, the couple showcased their daughters and home in Towaco.

Giudice, who has lived in Salerno since the fall of 2019, was born in Italy and came to the U.S. with his family when he was 1, but never became a citizen.

In 2014, Joe and Teresa Giudice pleaded guilty in federal court to bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Teresa was released from prison in 2015 after almost a year and Joe reported to prison in 2016, serving three years and five months.

Permanent U.S. residents who commit aggravated felonies or crimes of moral turpitude are subject to deportation.

Giudice argued that he was not convicted of an aggravated felony offense because there was no loss to a victim exceeding $10,000.

But an opinion from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals notes that Giudice pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of bankruptcy fraud and willful failure to file a federal tax return after fraudulently obtaining two home equity lines of credit from Wells Fargo (then known as Wachovia). The opinion points to the fact that Giudice was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $414,588.90 for the losses to Wells Fargo.

Teresa and Joe Giudice have reportedly separated, but have not filed for divorce.Harrah's Resort Atlantic City; Gia Giudice via Instagram

The RHONJ personality was originally ordered to be deported following the completion of his prison sentence in March. He chose to stay in the country in the custody of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Pennsylvania in order to appeal the decision. His first appeal was unsuccessful.

After a second appeal failed and Giudice was denied bond, he decided to go to Italy rather than stay in ICE custody.

We have always maintained that Joe Giudice belongs in the United States with his family, not in Italy, Giudices attorney, James Leonard Jr., said in a statement to multiple outlets. The immigration laws in our country are both draconian and antiquated and need to be revisited by forward thinking members of Congress."

Leonard told People that Giudices immigration attorneys would address the possibility of another appeal.

In November, Joe reunited with Teresa, 47, and their four daughters when they traveled to Italy with Bravo cameras in tow.

Following Joe and Teresas reported separation (they have not filed for divorce), their daughters, Gia, 19; Gabriella, 15; Milania, 14; and Audriana Giudice, 10; spent Christmas in Italy with their father.

Since moving to Italy, where he initially stayed with family, Joe Giudice has provided updates on his life via Instagram. He said he moved to his own home and started renovation work on property owned by his father-in-law, Giacinto Gorga. Gorga, 76, died earlier this month.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

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An enigmatic predatory dinosaur that lived in northern Africa about 95 million years ago possessed a long, powerful tail that may have propelled it through water, new fossils suggest.

If true, this beast, close to 40 feet long and not yet fully grown when it died, was a rarity: a dinosaur that swam.

What we have here is a dinosaur that was not just a wader but an animal that was actively pursuing prey in the water column, said Nizar Ibrahim, a professor of biology at the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan.

In a paper published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, Dr. Ibrahim and his colleagues described the skeleton of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus  its name means Egyptian spine lizard. Long spines rose vertically from the bones in the 15-foot-long tail, forming a fin-like structure that, the scientists theorize, could undulate back and forth.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic warned Thursday that Croatia's economy could shrink 9.4 percent this year as the coronavirus pandemic keeps tourists away.

Plenkovic said Thursday the first aim would be to open borders at an EU level while acknowledging that the situation was not the same in all counties due to the level of infections.

The European economy shrank a record 3.8 percent in the first quarter as lockdowns emptied cities and plunged nations into recession.

The drop was the biggest since eurozone statistics began in 1995 and compares to a 4.8% contraction in the United States.

Croatia has reported 2062 coronavirus infections and 67 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.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said that the government has decided to bring in new guidelines to provide jobs to migrant workers in their villages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

A "karya yojna" (work scheme) is being prepared for this, Soren said.

The chief minister has observed that approximately five lakh labourers are held up in different parts of the country due to the nationwide shutdown and ensuring livelihood to them at home will be a tough challenge.

During a video conference with MLAs and MPs of Palamau and Kolhan divisions, Soren informed them that preparations are underway to bring back students and migrant workers stranded in different states.

The Centre on Wednesday relaxed the lockdown guidelines enabling the states to bring back people stranded at different places across the country.

"The state government will make efforts to provide work to labourers and it is preparing karya yojana (work schemes)...the government is preparing a new guideline for MGNREGA to generate work so that labourers can get work in their villages," an official release said quoting Soren's video conference with MPs/MLAs.

Nodal officers have been appointed to carry out the process of return of migrants, he informed them and sought their suggestion for the same.

"We have to bring them back safely and defeat coronavirus," Soren said and appealed to lawmakers and legislators to assure the migrant workers that they will definitely be brought back.

A day before May 1 (labour day), Soren sought to reach out to the migrant workers, asking them to have patience and said the government is reaching them with the support of big social institutions.

He said representatives of the people should alert officials about those coming from outside so that the infection could be contained.

Soren lauded all the frontline workers in their fight against the virus.

Referring to the recent thunderstorm that hit various districts in the state, Soren assured farmers that they will be paid compensation if their crops have been damaged.

He also urged the MPs/MLAs to ensure uninterrupted regular vaccination of children even during the lockdown.

Participating in the video conference, Independent MLA from Jamshedpur (East) Saryu Roy called upon the Centre to assist the state in bringing back its people as better results would come if everyone work in unison.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Easton Sanders Apr. 29, 2020 | 08:29 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY





On a Wednesday Facebook post, Marshall County Judge Executive, Kevin Neal, announced that he has made the decision to no longer fund a full time Emergency Management Director position within the county after citing budget issues.







Neal says the decision was not made lightly, and hopes the department can move forward in a way that allows for more financial flexibility as the county works to overcome budget issues.







Neal thanked Bryan Crawley for his service as the Emergency Management Director over the last few months, indicating that Crawley has decided to pursue other full time employment.







You can see the post on the Marshall County Fiscal Court's Facebook page linked below.

Marshall County officials will no longer fund a full time Emergency Management Director.

On the Net:
: Telangana Minister for IT and



Industries KT Rama Rao on Thursday urged the Centre to regulate seating space in IT companies to ensure that each of their employee has 100-125 sq ft of space.

This request to the Centre comes in the wake of social distancing norms in force since the COVID-19 spread.

Rao, in a letter to IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, said, "A lot of IT/ITES units are operating in tightly packed environments wherein the average square feetper employee in some cases is less than 80 sq ft per employee."



In the USA and other western countries, the average is around 150 sq ft per employee. Currently, there is no regulation in India on the minimum sq ft for the employee, he said.

The Central government may regulate that a minimum of 100- 125 sq ft space for each worker needs to be utilised by any IT or ITeS unit registered under SEZ or STPI, Rao said in the letter.

According to him, more spacewould ensurehealthy distance among employees on the IT campuses and parks and hence should be strictly enforced.

The Minister also requested the union minister to come out with standard health code to be followed at all IT parks such as STPI and SEZs.

The health code includes employee hygiene, social distancing at the workplace including common areas and possible contact points.

The IT Park health code should be similar to the fire department norms and strictly enforced, he added.

Rao also urged the minister to see to it the clearance of income tax refund dues upto Rs 25 lakh to MSMEs for the year 2018-19 is doneimmediately.

He urged the Centre to enhance the line of credit for SMEs from banks to take care of their payroll for three to four months to control the layoffs during the COVID-19 times.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SIU has donated several items, including laboratory gowns, examination gloves, and face mask respirators like the one shown above, to local agencies during the health emergency. (photo provided)

SIU campus donates needed items to local health and safety agencies

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondale has donated a range of items to support those on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle.

Laboratory gowns, face mask respirators, examination gloves and other items have found their way from various SIU departments and programs to local agencies such as the Jackson County Health Department, Southern Illinois Healthcare and SIU Family Medicine, among others. SIU's Department of Public Safety has coordinated most of the donations, and Public Safety Director Ben Newman said SIU has an important role to play in the well-being of the area during the current health emergency.

Personal protective equipment is in short supply, and there is an international demand for it. Supplying health care workers and first responders with essential equipment benefits us all, Newman said. SIU is a regional partner to many in the pandemic response effort. We will share resources and equipment. The need is real, and it is now.

Emergency plans activated early

At the start of the emergency, SIU activated its Emergency Operations Center, also known as its all-hazards team, Newman said, which addresses threats to the health and safety of members of the SIU campus and community. The EOC works in coordination with SIH, Jackson County Health Department and others agencies in responding to emergencies.

With that in place, the SIU faculty and staff began doing their part. There are many examples of SIU reaching out in this way.

Digging deep to help

The School of Biological Sciences, for instance, donated 150 medical gowns that found their way to the Jackson County Health Department and 40 badly needed N95 respirators to Carbondale Memorial Hospital. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry also donated 20 N95s to Jackson County Health Department.

The Department of Public Safety also has received from various university departments and subsequently donated thousands of latex examination gloves, at least 100 N95 respirators, some 50 surgical masks, 13 pairs of safety glasses, and four face shields.

SIU also stepped up to provide a chemical needed to fit-test N95 respirators when the local supply ran low.

In addition, Lingguo Bu, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, with support from the SIU STEM Education Research Center, has delivered dozens of 3D printed face shields to SIH. He is one of several faculty and students using 3D printing technology housed at the university to manufacture the shields in the face of growing demand.

Investment in the region

Gary Kinsel, SIU vice chancellor for research, said PPE isnt just important for minimizing transmission of the virus in the general population, but also is essential for the health and safety of our front-line medical providers.

They are heroically putting their lives on the line every day as they deal with infected and potentially infected patients, Kinsel said. As an institution, SIU has always invested itself in the well-being of the Southern Illinois region and is proud to play this important role as a supporter of our regional medical service providers.
MILWAUKEE, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To support the evolving safety needs of healthcare providers and patients, Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, is contributing more than $200,000 to Children's Wisconsin for COVID-19 relief efforts. This donation includes the creation, retooling and manufacturing of personal protective equipment, including masks and gowns, as well as meal gift cards to staff and families at the MACC Fund Center.

Children's Wisconsin is a longstanding partner of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation through its Childhood Cancer Program, which is committed to finding cures, providing family and patient support and aiding survivors who struggle with the late effects of treatment.

"Currently, there is no greater need than helping to ensure the health and safety of our community members," said Eric Christophersen, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "Providing hospitals with access to these essential supplies is just one way we can support our healthcare professionals as they work to protect patients and families, including those in the fight against childhood cancer."

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, there is a growing need for personal protective equipment across the country. Northwestern Mutual provided $100,000 for replacement lenses for Controlled Air Purifying Respirators (CAPR), the preferred protective apparel when treating patients, to be used by the team at Children's. Scottish Rite Valley of Milwaukee donated an additional $10,000 to support this effort.

for replacement lenses for Controlled Air Purifying Respirators (CAPR), the preferred protective apparel when treating patients, to be used by the team at Children's. Scottish Rite Valley of donated an additional to support this effort. Northwestern Mutual is also supporting the hospital by funding a unique partnership with local arts organizations. The Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the Florentine Opera and First Stage have repurposed their costume-making skills to sew masks, gowns and face shields for use by hospital staff. These critical supplies will help protect hospital healthcare workers, in addition to keeping vulnerable young patients, including those battling childhood cancer, safe.

Food Relief and Support

Every day since the pandemic began, frontline workers  doctors, nurses, therapists and support staff  have been providing essential care for patients and their families. Northwestern Mutual has donated more than $6,000 in Grubhub meal gift cards to help cover food costs for these workers and inpatient families at the Children's Wisconsin MACC Fund Center.

in Grubhub meal gift cards to help cover food costs for these workers and inpatient families at the Children's Wisconsin MACC Fund Center. The company has also contributed vouchers for childhood cancer families to use to purchase meals at the hospital in response to the closing of its family center cooking areas.

As part of its recent $1.5 million donation to local and national nonprofits in response to COVID-19, the company also supported the expansion of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's Travel for Care fund to help further address the challenges facing childhood cancer families. With the help of employees and financial advisors nationwide, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation's Childhood Cancer Program has contributed more than $30 million, which includes funding over 400,000 hours of research to accelerate the search for a cure to pediatric cancer.

About Northwestern Mutual Foundation

The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in need. The Foundation has given more than $370 million since its inception in 1992 and is designed to create lasting impact in the communities where the company's employees and financial representatives live and work. We accomplish this by combining financial support, volunteerism, thought leadership and convening community partners to deliver the best outcomes. Our efforts are focused nationally on curing childhood cancer, and locally on education, neighborhoods and making our hometown of Milwaukee a great destination. Visit Northwestern Mutual Foundation to learn more.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years. Through a holistic planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With $290.3 billion in total assets, $29.9 billion in revenues, and $1.9 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.6 million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. The company manages more than $161 billion of investments owned by its clients and held or managed through its wealth management and investment services businesses. Northwestern Mutual ranks 111 on the 2019 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2020. Northwestern Mutual also received the highest score among individual life insurance providers in the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Life Insurance Satisfaction Study.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (securities), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance).

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual
IRVINE, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CandleBudz, LLC today announced the launch of its inaugural set of branded cannabis terpene-infused candles. Whereas other cannabis candles exist on the market, what makes CandleBudz unique is that their candles are the first to incorporate cannabis strain-specific terpenes. Brands including Josh D, Sherbinskis, and The Original Jack Herer are among the first to partner with CandleBudz.

Whereas other cannabis candles exist on the market, CandleBudz candles are the first to incorporate cannabis strain-specific terpenes. Terpenes are the main organic ingredient that gives essential oils their aromas, flavors, and medicinal benefits. CandleBudz candles feature the precise aromas of the proprietary marijuana strains produced by major cannabis brands. CandleBudz candles are made from soy wax and all ingredients are organic and/or naturally derived. CandleBudz candles CandleBudz candles

Terpenes are the main organic ingredient that gives essential oils their aromas, flavors, and medicinal benefits. CandleBudz candles feature the precise aromas of the proprietary marijuana strains produced by cannabis brands. Because terpenes contain no federally-controlled properties, they can be mailed worldwide and face no legal or age restrictions. Domestic cannabis brands are eager to tap into international markets where marijuana products cannot be manufactured or sold.

With notable big-brand license agreements in place, CandleBudz candles have become an effective and popular product offering for cannabis brands to expand a global footprint. From the jar type and size to packaging and aroma, CandleBudz candles are designed to accurately and authentically represent each brand.

"Our candles in many cases represent the first opportunity for people to be able to experience the aroma of cannabis flowers," said Bryan Jordan, CEO of CandleBudz. "Now a cannabis brand follower in Japan will be able to experience the aromatic qualities of a global cannabis brand first-hand."

CandleBudz candles are made from soy wax and all ingredients are organic and/or naturally derived. They are produced in partnership with Abstrax , the leader in the research, development, and production of botanically-derived and cannabis-inspired terpenes .

"We collaborated with industry leaders and master cultivators to analyze the most popular genetics," said Max Koby, CEO of Abstrax. "We have mapped over 400 terpene and aroma compounds to truly replicate the aromas and flavors of each brand's cannabis strain. Through this process, we discovered previously unknown compounds that allow us to produce more precise cannabis terpene aromas for mainstream commercial products."

"CandleBudz candles are a great way to light up a whole new generation of cannabis lovers," said Dan Herer, founder and CEO of the celebrated cannabis company, Jack Herer Brands. "While we've been limited to selling our products domestically, we can now share our terps with canna-curious people as well as with cannabis connoisseurs across the globe."

CandleBudz candles will be available starting April 29, 2020, at an MSRP of $19.95 at ( candlebudz.com ). The company is in the process of finalizing new licensing agreements with popular brands to release more candles.

About CandleBudz

Blending the science of cannabis with ancillary consumer products, CandleBudz works closely with cannabis brands to reach untapped markets where marijuana cultivation and manufacturing are unavailable. Headquartered in Orange County, California, the company has established licensing and manufacturing relationships with some of the world's top cannabis brands, including Josh D, Sherbinskis, and The Original Jack Herer. For more information, visit www.candlebudz.com.

About ABSTRAX

Leveraging its proven background in cannabis research, ABSTRAX is the leader in the research, development, and production of botanically-derived and cannabis-inspired terpenes that create unforgettable sensorial sensory experiences. Headquartered in Irvine, California, the company owns and operates a state-of-the-art type 7 licensed research and manufacturing lab where its award-winning product developers and scientists leverage the most advanced strain analysis technology to extract and study aroma compounds via three-dimensional analysis, allowing for each and every compound within a plant to be named and studied.

Product development inquiries and media relations: Judy Campbell, [email protected], 541-410-9113

Product media assets: bit.ly/CandleBudz1 Credits: Scotty Avalos ( @kelektive )

SOURCE CandleBudz LLC

Related Links

http://www.candlebudz.com


A tourist visits the Yellow Crane Tower, or Huanghelou, a landmark in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 29, 2020. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, Wuhan's landmark Yellow Crane Tower was partly reopened to public on Wednesday. For the time being, there is still a visitor number limit (300 tourists are allowed into the main building every half hour) and online booking is needed. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)




BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

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 30.

The Armenian armed forces were using sniper rifles and mortars of different calibers.

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.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has agreed to let former primary rival Bernie Sanders keep hundreds of delegates he would otherwise forfeit by dropping out of the presidential race in a deal designed to avoid the bitter feelings that marred the party in 2016 and helped lead to Hillary Clinton's defeat.

Under party rules, Sanders should lose lose about a third of the delegates he's won in primaries and caucuses as the process moves ahead and states select the people who will attend the Democratic National Convention. The rules say those delegates should be Biden supporters, as he is the only candidate still actively seeking the party's nomination.

However, in a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the Biden campaign says it will work with Sanders and state parties to fill those positions with Sanders supporters. The joint memo from the Biden and Sanders campaigns was being sent to state Democratic parties on Thursday.

"We must defeat Donald Trump this fall, and we believe that this agreement will help bring the party together to get Trump out of the White House and not only rebuild America, but transform it," the two campaigns said in a joint statement.

In some ways, the delegate count is a moot point. While Biden has yet to formally win the 1,991 delegates needed to claim the Democratic nomination on the first ballot at the convention, he is the Democrats' presumptive nominee. All of his rivals  including Sanders  have endorsed him after ending their own campaigns.

The deal, however, is a major step in the two camps avoiding the acrimony between the Democratic establishment and progressive insurgents that marked Sanders' 2016 primary fight with Clinton, the eventual nominee.

In that campaign, Clinton and Sanders battled for delegates until the end of the primary calendar and then jousted over the party platform and rules well into the summer.

Biden and his advisers have been intent on avoiding a repeat of the disunity that left Clinton unable to attract some Sanders supporters in a fall campaign that Clinton ultimately lost. Sanders, likewise, has pledged since he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden weeks ago to do everything he can to help Biden defeat Trump in November.

Democratic candidates win convention delegates based on their share of the vote in the party's primaries and caucuses. Nearly two-thirds of delegates are won based on results in individual congressional districts, and they stay with the candidates all the way to the convention.

It's the other third of delegates  won based on statewide results  that are at issue. To keep these delegates, candidates must still be running for president when the people who will serve as convention delegates are selected, usually at state party conventions, according to the party's delegate selection rules.

Under the delegate agreement, Sanders would get to keep a little more than 300 delegates that, under party rules, he sacrificed when he suspended his campaign.

Officially, they would remain Biden's delegates, but Sanders' supporters would get to fill those seats. Both the Biden and Sanders campaigns will have the authority to approve or reject the people who want to fill those delegate slots.

Biden leads with 1,428 delegates to the national convention, while Sanders has 952, according to the AP count. The AP stopped awarding statewide delegates to Sanders after he suspended his campaign but did not remove the delegates he would have lost under party rules because of the ongoing negotiations between the two campaigns.

Sanders delegates would also get seats on key convention committees that will enforce convention rules and draft the party's platform. This would allow Sanders and progressives to maximize their influence on key convention committees this summer and on the convention floor - whether virtual, because of the coronavirus pandemic, or an in-person gathering as planned in Milwaukee.

The deal came out of a series of talks led by Anita Dunn, a senior strategist for Biden, and Jeff Weaver, Sanders' top political adviser.

Separately, Biden aides remain in negotiations with Sanders and grassroots progressive groups over a range of policy matters. When Sanders endorsed Biden, the two men announced six such policy working groups on health care, immigration, the economy, criminal justice, climate action and education.

Biden has noted for months that his policy slate already is to the left of previous Democratic nominees, including Clinton and former President Barack Obama. His challenge is making that sale while navigating a progressive flank that remains skeptical of his decades in the party establishment and reaching out to independents and even moderate Republicans disenchanted with Trump.

As part of that process, Biden has moved toward Sanders on college tuition proposals, calling for four-year public college and university to be tuition-free to students from households earning up to USD 125,000 in annual income. Biden had previously called only for two-year colleges to be tuition free.

The former vice president also has embraced the bankruptcy law overhaul proposed by another erstwhile rival, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Biden has made clear that he won't move all the way to Sanders' position on single-payer Medicare for All health insurance. Biden maintains that his proposed public option, a government plan that would compete with private insurers but not supplant them, is the next step toward universal coverage.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 13:21:06|Editor: huaxia

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Haj Saleh Shushan (2nd R) works with volunteers to prepare free meals at his restaurant in Tripoli, Libya, April 29, 2020. Haj Saleh Shushan's restaurant is open daily in the center of the capital city of Tripoli offering free meals to those plagued by the ongoing armed conflict and the raging COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Mohmad Arhoma/Xinhua)

TRIPOLI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Haj Saleh Shushan's restaurant is open daily in the center of the capital city of Tripoli offering free meals to those plagued by the ongoing armed conflict and the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

The 65-year-old Libyan kept his restaurant open in the oil town during the holy month of Ramadan, although the Libyan government imposed a ban on running restaurants amid the pandemic.

Shushan offers more than 100 free meals and hot drinks every day.

"My restaurant, like other restaurants, has been closed for nearly two months, but I do not want to close it permanently. I want to continue to provide fresh food, but for free," Shushan told Xinhua, while filling plates.

"The war left thousands of people stranded," he continued. "The recent epidemic increased their suffering, and caused financial problems for them that they can't even afford their daily food."

Shushan said offering free meals "is the simplest thing that we can do with love and dedication in solidarity with one another."

While domestic politics has "torn" the Libyan people apart, "humanity unites them and makes them feel the importance of providing help and sharing happy moments with others," Shushan added.

To fight COVID-19, Libyan authorities have taken drastic measures, such as closing the country's borders, imposing a curfew, and banning public gatherings.

The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Saturday said the total confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 61, with two virus-related deaths.

Osama al-Balazi recently lost his job in a private company where he had worked for two years.

"Two months ago, things were going well with me. I had been working as a driver for a real estate company," the young man said.

"However, I was laid off a month and a half ago when the company informed me and a number of my colleagues that they were unable to pay our salaries until the anti-coronavirus measures end," al-Balazi told Xinhua.

"I am the only child to my parents and we have no income. I had to come to this restaurant to get food for me and my family," he said.

Al-Balazi expressed his thanks to Shushan for helping his family in such a difficult time.

Muhannad Darbash, who fled from his hometown due to the armed conflict, said the war and the pandemic put the Libyans in a difficult situation, especially during the month of Ramadan and with the poor security and economic conditions.

"For more than six months, my family of four children and my wife have been moving from one house to another," Darbash said, adding that free meals have helped his family overcome the difficulties.

Shushan said his free meals would not be possible without kind donations.

"Every day, I receive calls from donors and some merchants who ask me about my daily needs to prepare the food. Every day I receive all my needs without delay. This keeps me going despite my old age," Shushan said.

"Libya is still fine despite the pain of war and pandemic."
Carlisle 1975.

The MJ Mall and Carlisle Plaza were still prime attractions for shoppers. Kids still spun themselves dizzy on the stools at the Woolworth lunch counter and Bosler Memorial Library was a single, ancient building.

Into this world stepped the Tran family. Recent refugees from Vietnam, the family settled into an apartment with the help of Carlisle residents willing to give them a hand.

And young Phuc Tran, barely a toddler, started on his journey navigating American culture as an outsider looking for ways to fit in.

Tran tells his story in a memoir released last week by Flatiron Books. Sigh, Gone: A Misfits Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In begins with Trans earliest memories in Carlisle and continues through his high school graduation.

Writing his story

The road to a memoir began with a 2012 TEDx talk in Maine that was picked up by NPR. The positive response to the talk inspired Tran to do more live storytelling.

It was the first time, in that TEDx talk, where I really spoke publicly about the refugee experience and growing up in a small town in PA, all in 12 minutes, Tran said.

After the TEDx talk, Sarah Levitt, a literary agent in New York, called to talk to him about writing a memoir. He sent a sample, which she loved, and work on the book began.

It was luck, really, he said. I feel really fortunate. Its so counter to our cultural narrative.

Too often, Tran said, people are reluctant to admit the place of luck in their lives, but its one way he understands the story of his familys departure from Vietnam, a story he shares early in his memoir.

Part of his family had already boarded a bus out of Saigon when Tran, not yet 2, started to shriek. The family decided to wait for the next bus and watched as the bus from which they had disembarked was hit by mortar fire, killing everyone on board.

The memoir finds its structure around the books Tran used to make his way in Carlisle of the 1980s, a time that he said was less diverse than it is now. His family was, for example, the only Vietnamese family in town for 13 years.

I love books. They really are such a fundamental part of who I am, he said.

He structured the prologue around Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray in which the main character maintains his youthful physical appearance while his portrait, hidden away in an attic, reflects the worsening condition of his soul.

When Levitt saw the prologue, she asked if he would write the entire memoir through the lens of books. Its something Tran said he does every day.

It was baked into how I process my own experience. Im sure lots of people do it, too, he said. It was just a reflex.

Honest and unwavering

In 1995, The Sentinel talked to Chanh Tran, Phucs father, about their experience in coming to Carlisle and the contrast it provided to what their lives would have been like under the communists in their home country.

His parents tell a story of tolerance, job security and education. Trans story, on the other hand, is one with an acute awareness of being different and the struggle to fit in.

Tran said all he could hope for is that people will be curious about his story and come to it with an open heart and a sense of curiosity. Its a story he says he wrote as honestly as he could in all its complexity in a culture that struggles with complexity.

I hope that they accept the invitation to read about someone elses complexity and think about their own, he said. If it feels paradoxical, thats OK. We dont have to square every angle and make everything totally smooth and level. That lumpiness, that incongruity is part of what makes us unique and human.

Jane Krebs, Trans high school English teacher, said her former student captures his life with an honest, unwavering lens in the memoir.

He acknowledges his flaws but, without being maudlin, he also acknowledges this debt to the books he read and collected in his own library and the intelligent sense he made of so many pieces of literature, Krebs said.

Krebs said Tran understood beyond many of his peers that education was his way toward becoming the person he wanted to be.

Of all the people mentioned in the book, Tran was most concerned about how his brother would react to his honesty. As it turned out, his brother thought Tran captured their childhood perfectly.

I think my friends will be surprised, or, if anything, maybe I might confirm some things they might have wondered about, he said. High school is not the time when people reveal those things. I think were just trying to survive high school, put on a happy face, fit in with everybody and get to third period.

John Jurgensen, now a journalist at the Wall Street Journal, has known Tran since they were in the same kindergarten class.

It was cool and sometimes uncanny to read his descriptions of people, places and events that I also grew up with, and to match up his memories with mine, Jurgensen said. At the same time, I was surprised at how much I didnt know about Phucs family life and the things he struggled with. Goes to show how wrapped up in our own stories we can be, especially when were young.

Krebs, too, was surprised at some of the stories in the memoir: the brushes with the law, the many part-time and volunteer jobs or the friends Tran had in so many different groups in the school.

I didnt know how incredibly difficult the assimilation into America had been for the Trans. I didnt know how protective he was of Lou, his younger brother, she said.

The level of detail in the memoir opens up a time capsule to Carlisle in the 1970s and 1980s, Jurgensen said, but its message reaches much further.

Its really an American memoir, about the impossible process of assimilation for immigrants, and the tools outsiders can use to find their place in the world. In Phucs case, those tools just happened to be punk rock and great books,he said.

Tran is reluctant to say or believe that his book will be helpful in addressing todays immigration issues or to hold a mirror up to the way immigrants have been treated in the past.

That certainly is not my intent. I think all I can do is tell my story, he said. The thing that I cant control is how people receive it and how they interpret it. Every reader brings a different set of expectations and assumptions, and thats true for any book or work of art or literature.

Both Krebs and Jurgensen are proud of what Tran has accomplished in bringing his story to print.

The book captures so much of who Phuc was as a young person and what it took to propel him to education and achievements that mattered to him. Its very exciting, Krebs said.

Im just proud of my buddy. Any of his friends will tell you how sharp, funny and unique he is. The book pulls off the magic trick of conveying that to people who dont know him, Jurgensen said.

After Carlisle

After graduation from Carlisle, Tran attended Bard College with the intention to double major in art and English. That morphed into a major in classical languages and literature followed by graduate school in New York.

Trans family moved away from Carlisle so theres no family to draw him back. Hes been in town a few times for class reunions, a fact-checking visit and to show his wife around town to find that Bosler Library expanded and the All-American Truck Stop had vanished.

For 22 years, Tran has been teaching Latin and working as a tattoo artist before taking this year off in preparation for his anticipated book launch and tour. Some of the events have been canceled outright due to the coronavirus while others moved to a virtual format.

His book launch would have included a book signing at Whistlestop Bookshop and an event at Bosler Memorial Library, where he once worked, on May 4. Tran was disappointed at the cancellation.

Maybe we can loop around when the paperback comes out. Its OK. Its a pandemic, right? I just hope people are safe, Tran said.

Email Tammie at tgitt@cumberlink.com. Follow her on Twitter @TammieGitt.

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Amy Willerton has admitted she felt guilty and worried after having a cesarean.

The beauty queen, 27, welcomed baby Demelza in January, but had a traumatic birth when her daughter became 'wedged' on a nerve in her back.

In light of Cesarean Awareness Month, Amy shared a candid post on Instagram on Thursday as she called on women to support each other and not worry about the method in which they gave birth.

Adorable: Amy Willerton has admitted she felt guilty and worried after having a cesarean. The beauty queen, 27, welcomed baby Demelza in January but had a traumatic birth

Amy shared a picture of her caesarean scar as well as an adorable snap of the moment she welcomed Demelza alongside a lengthy caption.

She penned: 'I don't think anyone can prepare you for the mental , physical , emotional journey motherhood through any form of birth takes you on... truth be told , despite being unplanned,I loved my cesarean...

'After 3 days of non progressive but aggressive labour that spinal block was my dear glorious friend and my baby girl arrived safely so I have nothing but praise for this procedure. [sic]'

Important: In light of Cesarean Awareness Month, Amy shared a candid post on Instagram on Thursday as she called on women to support each other

Despite insisting she has no regrets about undergoing the procedure, Amy revealed she would not choose to have another caesarean, as she struggled in the aftermath.

Amy continued: 'Do I want another one - No I don't. For me the hardest past was afterwards ... dealing with the guilt, the recovery, worrying I hadn't bonded with her , worrying I had given up too soon during labour ?

'What if ? Unfortunately as amazing as our minds are ... they are sometimes our WORST ENEMY.

'I think we have all spent many hours worrying about things that simply aren't true or don't actually matter.. But it doesn't stop us from doing it.

'As time has progressed I've been able to love my Demy scar and #markofmotherhood and EVENTUALLY acknowledge that I'm a bad**s mother even if I didn't physically push her out. [sic]'

Candid: Amy shared a picture of her caesarean scar as well as an adorable snap of the moment she welcomed Demelza alongside a lengthy caption

Explaining that she now knows that her decision was the right one, Amy continued: 'As she grows and smiles and grabs at me ... I know in my heart we have a beautiful bond that is not affected in anyway by the way she was born.

'I did so many birthing classes before I had my baby, that I think it was in my head that a natural birth was 'best' way, the truth is there is no best way, there is only what way YOU as a woman feel safe, and wherever or whatever that is ... home , theatre , birth centre, labour ward... that's where you should be.

'I think the main thing with #cesareanbirth is protecting the mothers feelings about the birth , letting her know she is enough.

'Letting her know there is no failure and your baby will be proud of you because you brought them into this world , you grew them, you nourished them and you fought for their place in the world whether they entered it through the sunroof or not.

Candid: Despite insisting she has no regrets about undergoing the procedure, Amy revealed she would not choose to have another caesarean, as she struggled in the aftermath

'I was born by cesarean so it's all I knew in regards to birth growing up... & since Dem I have loved learning about birth and being inspired by its strength, love and courage. [sic]'

Amy previously spoke about her traumatic birth with HELLO! magazine, revealing that after 46 hours of labour she opted for a 'semi-elective' Caesarean.

She explained: 'I said: "Take me to theatre." I just wanted to know our baby would be safe...'

Amy announced she was expecting her first child with fiance Daniel Day back in October. The family are currently isolating in Valencia after the coronavirus pandemic made it 'unsafe' to travel back to the UK.
L.A. County Leadership say that Testing Accessibility is their Biggest Defense against Disproportionate COVID-19 Death Rate among African Americans

Wednesday, April 29, the Los Angeles Emergency Operations Center resumed their gathering after an adjusted schedule yesterday, The L.A. Board of Supervisors held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss an action plan. The plan outlines a foreseeable future in the post pandemic era. Aligned with the California State Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles is looking to open low risk brick-and-mortars within the next coming weeks. L.A. County Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer, provided the most recent data behind the ethnicity relationship and fatal outcome of COVID-19. There is an undeniable call for action to close the gap in resources within underserved communities. High anticipation is surrounding the images envisioned around the new economy and city infrastructure in the post pandemic era.

There has always been a level of inequality within the resources for underserved communities. Coronavirus has illuminated a preexisting problem, that is now escalating in deaths within the African American communities. There is a correlation of where a person falls on the poverty line and the fatal outcome coronavirus can have. There is nothing that can be done about the transgressions acted out in the past. The predominant issue behind racial inequality has always been swept under the political rug, along with other discriminatory obstacles that create a gap between the haves and the have nots. There is a raising alarm due to this pandemic, over 20-50 lives are lost daily. There is a plan in place to reopen the economy before the plan to recover the hardships and lack of resource in the African American community.

Dr. Ferrer shared the latest updates on the COVID-19 Virus on Wednesday. There were 56 additional deaths, 41 of these individuals were between the ages of 65 and over, 34 of them with underlining health conditions. 9 people who died were between the ages of 41-65, 6 of these victims had preexisting health concerns. 2 people were younger than 41 with underlining health issues. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 1,056. Barbara disclosed as of April 29.

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There are 1,541 new COVID-19 reports. In summary, there is a total amount of 22,485 coronavirus cases in the Los Angeles region.

For the 977 fatal cases where race and ethnicity were identified; 13% were African American, 18% were Asian, 38% were LatinX, 28% were white, and 1% were identified as another ethnicity. The disproportionate death rate within the African American community has been recognized. The Public Health Services claim that they are working with community partners to address issues related to access to testing and providing accurate information around COVID-19.

When the focus was brought to the post pandemic plan that prioritizes underserved communities, the answers were stuck in their present outline of what is being done to combat the spread of COVID-19. The public officials pointed to the testing capacity. They noted that they increased testing accessibility in highly populated African American areas in the city. Ferrer stated, The most immediate focus, however, is to make sure that there is good access to testing. She acknowledged that there needs to be better care and resources available within vulnerable demographics. But one factor remains, there are plans in place to open the economy, before there are plans to deliver better resources to African American communities and other underserved groups within L.A.
Remember the advertising campaign, Incredible India that has been promoting Indian tourism since 2002? Well, it seems it is not our tourist destinations that make India incredible, but our people. Amid the lockdown a man in Uttar Pradesh went out to get groceries for his home and instead returned with a bride.

 iStcck

The incident took place in Ghaziabad, where a man was sent by his mother to get some groceries. Instead of returning with the groceries, the 26-year-old man came back home with his wife, which came as a shocker to his mother. This, of course, did not go well with the mother of the groom, who proceeded to kick both, the groom and the bride, out of her house.

 ANI

This is the second incident when a man getting married during the lockdown has made headlines. Earlier this month, a man from Rohtak made headlines when he married his Mexican fiance, by getting a special court to convene well after their regular office hours.

 ANI

Some reports have cropped up which say that the man actually had eloped with the woman a few months ago and had to bring her to his house now, because of the lockdown. The mother on learning this proceeded to kick them out of the house and approached the police to dissolve the marriage.



While we feel sorry for everyone in the situation, we could not stop ourselves from laughing at Desi Twitters reactions and comments to the situation -

Apart from the circumstances, whats wrong with this?

Oh not this meme again. (Embed -

We have a better idea, why not play Ludo instead?

Well if you have to wait 2-3 hours in line to get into a grocery shop, you might as well find someone and marry them to kill the time.  NameCanBeBlank (@bornindwrongera April 29, 2020

Poor PawPaw

All Single Launde Now like me pic.twitter.com/O2cN9QRJqp  bi (@Mumbaichaamulga April 29, 2020

Not convinced though...

Yeah, thats kinda true

Wow what a hero pic.twitter.com/A2aiIssbgj  ASHOK KUMAR (@iamdakbabu April 29, 2020

Was that really necessary?

Don't worry lockdown 3.0 ke bad divorce ho jaayega enka bhi..  jakhar kuldeep (@j4kh4rkuld33p April 30, 2020

Say what you will, as mean as Twitter can get, it is damn funny at times.
After the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, three DACA recipients and Athens residents reflect on the program and the opportunities it gave them.
Installation view of Billy Childish's exhibition "wolves, sunsets and the self" at Lehmann Maupin Seoul / Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin



By Kwon Mee-yoo





Billy Childish / Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin

As social distancing eases amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Lehmann Maupin Seoul unveils multi-faceted artist Billy Childish's latest pieces in new exhibition "wolves, sunsets and the self" which will run through June 27.



Multi-talented Childish is a painter, poet, author, filmmaker, musician and record producer. Known for his introspective and confessional writing, Childish is a cult figure in many fields.



The exhibit features seven paintings, shedding light on the artist's "radical traditionalist" approach.



"I make a picture in the same way a child does  something 'out there' interests me. Making a painting of that 'something' then joins me with the universal creator/creation in a more intent way than just being an observer," Childish once stated.



Childish does not follow a specific artistic trend, though he founded the Stuckist art movement back in 1999. The Stuckists were against conceptual art, saying "Artists who don't paint aren't artists." However, Childish left the group in 2001 and has pursued his own creative path since then.





"wolf, trees and road" by Billy Childish / Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin



Childish respects long-standing traditions in art, but integrates his personal style into it, which is described as "radical traditionalist."



The artist works in an intuitive way, painting a piece in a single session without any revisions. Such a process is portrayed in his brushstrokes and unique perspective which confuses the point of view.



The paintings are titled in a rather simple, ordinary way, as the artist wants the viewers to appreciate the artwork as it is, not prejudiced by the title. Instead of interpreting his work verbally, Childish hopes that the paintings would act like a window that bridges the audiences and nature.



Along with the title of the exhibition, two wolves appear in paintings "wolf in birch trees" and "wolf, trees and road." His landscape paintings range from an idyllic sunset to an ominously clouded sky.



Childish's flower paintings "chrysanthemums in June's pot" and "irises" features flowers in earthenware created by Childish's mother June, which shows an artistic connection between mother and son. He brings personal objects into the traditional genre of still life.



"His style is often compared to the expressionist painters of the late 19th/early 20th century, such as Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch, but for Childish it is the embodiment of these artists' spiritual and creative integrity, and how this informed their roles within society, that is most compelling," the gallery said in a statement.




Workers arrive at drive-through COVID-19 testing centre in Gdansk, Poland - Adam Warzawa/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

Eastern European countries are beginning to lift lockdown measures after appearing to have coped better than the west with the coronavirus crisis.

Several former eastern block countries, such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, have seen far fewer cases of Covid-19, along with a lower death toll, giving them hope of avoiding a second wave of infection.

The spread of the virus has been contained in the Czech Republic and the government will continue to cautiously open up the economy, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Thursday.

The country has seen the number of new cases drop below 100 for the past eight consecutive days, and the number of active cases has also been on the decline.

The ministry said the reproduction rate of the virus has dropped to 0.7, which means every newly infected person passes the infection to less than one other person.

Similarly, despite being at the centre of Europe and bordered by five countries Slovakia saw just 22 deaths by the end of April, and according to the John Hopkins University now has the lowest death-per-capita rate in Europe.

In contrast, despite having a population size similar to Slovakias 5.4 million, the Irish Republic saw 1,190 deaths.

A key factor of the success of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the other eastern European states at curtailing the worst excesses of the virus appears to have been speed.

Perhaps aware that their lack of resources compared to the west could leave their health systems vulnerable, they were all quick to bring in lockdowns and social distancing.

Healthcare systems in Central Europe have suffered from underfunding for years, with many hospitals in Poland, for example, struggling with debt. They have also had to deal with highly-trained medical staff packing their bags for better paid work in the UK and EU countries, leaving over-stretched colleagues to fill the gaps.

The Slovakian government established a crisis management team in February, and ordered the start of screening people at airports. It started closing schools on March 6, people began to wear masks before they became compulsory on March 16.

Story continues

On that date it also shut down most public services and enforced social distancing measures, while three days earlier the authorities had imposed a 14-day quarantine for people coming into the country.

Big employers such as Volkswagen also shut their doors quickly, and so helped contain the virus.

The Czech Republic saw its first coronavirus case on March 12, and declared a full lockdown on March 16, closing schools and non-essential businesses, and even introducing a controversial ban on its own citizens leaving the country.

It has managed to keep deaths to 227, and has recently seen a fall in the rate of infections. Such has been its success that last month a Czech hospital treated six French citizens seriously ill with Covid-19 because it had excess capacity.

The Czech Republic is now being watched by the UK to see if any of its lessons can be applied.

Poland, by far the biggest country in the region with a population of 38 million, was also quick to lockdown, and by the end of April had seen just 628 deaths attributed to Covid-19.

This figure has raised some eyebrows in the country and prompted accusations that the government is massaging the figures. There has even been speculation in the media that the actual death rate to Covid-19 may be 25-30 per-cent higher than the official statistics.

But even if this were true the death rate would still be lower than some smaller countries in Western Europe.

While speed and the need to protect brittle health services have helped keep deaths low, a cultural legacy leftover from the days Central Europe languished under the rule of communism might also have played its part.

We are a relatively small country in the region of just 5.4 million people but we had socialism for 30 years, and we have inherited a culture of strict discipline from those years, Associate Professor Margita Spalekova, head of Bratislavas Institute of Epidemiology, told The Telegraph. Slovaks have been strict about following the rules, she continued, joking that she had seen drivers wearing masks even though they are alone in their cars, adding:.

Another inheritance from the past is how to fight infectious diseases with determination. Czechoslovakia was one of the first countries to vaccinate against diseases such as polio, diphtheria and whooping cough. We learnt how to deal with diseases.
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - Rockcliff Metals Corporation (CSE: RCLF) (FSE: RO0) (WKN: A2H60G) ("Rockcliff" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a new high-grade Nickel-PGE discovery on its 100% owned Tower Property. This new discovery, termed the TGR Nickel-PGE Prospect ("TGR"), has returned significant assay results. TGR is located only 600 metres south of the Company's high-grade, copper-rich Tower Deposit. The TGR mineralization was discovered in a previously unexplored area and is associated with ultramafic rocks of the Thompson Nickel Belt ("TNB"). The TNB is a world class + 300 kilometre long mining belt with over 60 years of production from high-grade nickel mines with associated copper and cobalt.

Discovery hole TSA20-002 intesected significant Nickel-PGE mineralization at a down hole depth of 244.8 metres. Drilling intersected high-grade nickel, palladium and platinum mineralization over a downhole interval of;

2.40 m grading 2.53% Ni, 3.08g/t Pd and 1.04g/t Pt (3.82% NiEq) including

1.25 m grading 4.46% Ni, 5.61g/t Pd and 1.87g/t Pt (6.79% NiEq)

Alistair Ross, President & CEO commented: "The Tower Property has surprised us yet again with this very significant high tenor Nickel-PGE mineralization. Our high-grade, copper-rich Tower Deposit is associated with rocks from the Flin Flon-Snow Lake Greenstone Belt. The high-grade TGR Ni-PGE mineralization is associated with rocks from the Thompson Nickel Belt and is a very exciting development for Rockcliff and its shareholders. We have several additional untested high priority targets along a significant strike length of 12 kilometres to the west. This new discovery is truly a testament to the continued commitment of management and our shareholders who have supported us over the last 15 years. We believe our perseverance will be rewarded as we continue to convert targets into discoveries, discoveries into deposits and develop deposits into mines. We will be busy at Tower once spring breakup is complete as we continue exploration and the advancement of our high-grade Tower Deposit through a Preliminary Economic Assessment in preparation of making a construction decision as soon as it is feasible."

TGR Nickel-PGE Prospect

The TGR discovery hole was the last hole drilled in the Company's 2020 winter drill program. Drill Hole TP20-002 intersected high tenor, high grade Nickel-PGE mineralization beginning at a hole depth of 244.8 metres. A down hole width (not true width) of 2.4 metres graded 2.53% nickel, 3.08g/t palladium and 1.04g/t platinum including 1.25 metres that graded 4.46% nickel, 5.61g/t palladium and 1.87g/t platinum. The hole was designed to test the centre of a large Time Domain Electromagnetic geophysical anomaly interpreted to have dimensions of 400 metres by 350 metres. Additional geophysical surveys will be completed to determine the relationship between the high-grade interval and the geophysical anomaly. Borehole geophysics completed in TSA20-002 identified an additional off-hole geophysical anomaly that has yet to be tested.

Mineralization of the TGR is associated with disseminations and net texture sulphides of pendlandite(nickel bearing), millerite(nickel bearing), pyrrhotite as well as magnetite in altered ultramafic host rocks. Only up to 15% sulphides were observed within the TGR indicating a very high nickel metal tenor relative to the amount of observed sulphides. Additional assaying for total sulphur content and other types of PGEs in drill core are presently being conducted.

The location of the TGR is approximately 600 metres south of the high-grade, copper-rich Tower Deposit. The geological relationship between the Tower Deposit and TGR is unknown at this time.

The Nickel Equivalent values calculated for the TGR used US$6.10/pound for nickel, US$1,450/ounce for palladium and US$865/ounce for platinum. No process recoveries or smelter payables were included in the calculation.







Figure 1: Location map for the Tower Property and the Thompson Nickel Belt

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/55199_bd67e4cd14ffe8b9_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Plan view of Tower Property highlighting the location of the Tower deposit, TGR Nickel-PGE Prospect and additional geophysical targets (#1, #2, #3)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/55199_bd67e4cd14ffe8b9_002full.jpg











Figure 3: Plan View of Tower Deposit (Copper) projected to surface and TGR Nickel-PGE Prospect

Tower Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/55199_bd67e4cd14ffe8b9_003full.jpg

A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. (P&E) with an effective date of March 2, 2020 and filed on SEDAR on April 16, 2020 is summarized below. The 2020 drill holes were not included in the current Mineral Resource Estimate.

Tower Deposit Updated Mineral Resource Estimate at 1.5% CuEq cut-off(1-10)

Classification Tonnes

(k) Cu

(%) Zn

(%) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) CuEq

(%) Cu

(Mlbs) Zn

(Mlbs) Au

(koz) Ag

(koz) CuEq

(Mlbs) Indicated 1,026 4.69 1.32 0.85 23.7 5.74 106.0 29.8 28.1 783 129.8 Inferred 367 3.53 1.05 0.57 18.0 4.29 28.6 8.5 6.8 212 34.7

1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues.

2) Mineral Resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council.

(3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.

(4) Approximate Jan 31/20 two year trailing average US$ metal prices used were $3/lb Cu, $1.10/lb Zn, $1,350/oz Au and $16.50/oz Ag. The US$: CDN$ exchange rate used was 0.77.

(5) Respective process recoveries for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 95%, 80%, 80%, 80%

(6) Respective smelter payables for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 96.5%, 85%, 90%, 90%.

(7) Respective USD Cu and Zn smelter treatment charges used were $80 and $250/tonne with concentrate freight of CDN$65/tonne.

(8) CuEq% was calculated as follows: Cu% + (Zn % x 0.220) + (Au g/t x 0.673) + (Ag g/t x 0.008).

(9) The 1.5% CuEq cut-off is approximately equivalent to a C$100/tonne project operating cost.

(10) Contained metal totals may differ due to rounding.

Neither Rockcliff's Qualified Person, Ken Lapierre, P.Geo., nor P&E's Qualified Person, Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., nor management of Rockcliff are aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues that may materially affect the estimate of the Mineral Resource.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Samples of exploration half core were packaged and shipped directly from Rockcliff's core facility in Snow Lake to TSL Laboratories (TSL) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. TSL is a Canadian assay laboratory and is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025. Each bagged core sample was dried, crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh and a 250g pulp was pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh for assaying. A 0.5g cut is taken from each pulp for base metal analyses and leached in a multi-acid (total) digestion and then analyzed for copper, nickel, lead, zinc and silver by atomic absorption. Gold, palladium and platinum concentrations were determined by fire assay using a 30g charge followed by an atomic absorption finish. Samples greater than the upper detection limit (3,000 ppb) were reanalyzed using fire assay gravimetric using a 1 Assay Ton charge. Rockcliff inserted certified blanks and standards in the sample stream to ensure lab integrity. Rockcliff has no relationship with TSL other than TSL being a service provider to the Company.

Ken Lapierre P.Geo., VP Exploration of Rockcliff, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release.

Visit Rockcliff's YouTube channel with a message from the President and CEO, Alistair Ross. To access the video, please visit:





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW1b77obNyI

About Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Rockcliff is a well-funded Canadian resource development and exploration company, with a fully functional +1,000 tpd leased processing and tailings facility as well as several advance-staged, high-grade copper and zinc dominant VMS deposits in the Snow Lake area of central Manitoba. The Company is a major landholder in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt which is home to the largest Paleoproterozoic VMS district in the world, hosting mines and deposits containing copper, zinc, gold and silver. The Company's extensive portfolio of properties totals over 4,500 square kilometres and includes eight of the highest-grade, undeveloped VMS deposits in the belt.

For more information, please visit http://rockcliffmetals.com

Youtube: Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Twitter: @RockcliffMetals

Linkedin: Rockcliff Metals Corp

Instagram: Rockcliff_Metals

For further information, please contact:

Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Alistair Ross

President & CEO

Cell: (249) 805-9020

contact@rockcliffmetals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Rockcliff believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55199
US President Donald Trump threatened to remove US troops from Saudi Arabia if oil production did not decrease, according to a report from Reuters.

Reuters reported today that Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in an April 2 phone call that if OPEC did not cut production, he would not be able to stop the US Congress from passing a law to remove US troops from Saudi Arabia.

Trump also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of his mediation to negotiate an end to the oil price war, which was hurting US oil companies.

Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer in the world and a leader of OPEC. This year, it flooded the global market with oil amid a price war with Russia.

The United States sought a decrease in production, however; the coronavirus crisis and accompanying lockdowns and downturns in international travel greatly decreased global energy demand and threatened the US oil industry. On April 10, OPEC announced a slash in production.

Trumps remarks were part of the US strategy to force OPEC into cutting production, according to Reuters. Support for Saudi Arabia in Congress has waned under Trump, with many congressmen seeking to end US support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which is fighting Iran-backed groups. The oil price war also drew criticism from some Republicans in Congress who are usually supportive of Saudi Arabia.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have a longstanding military alliance. The strength of the relationship increased when Trump took office, and Saudi Arabia signed a monumental deal in 2017 to buy billions of dollars' worth of US weapons. Washington and Riyadh have similar interests in the Middle East, notably opposition to Iranian policy in the region.

In 2003, the United States removed its troops from Saudi Arabia, restationing them in Al Udeid Air Base in neighboring Qatar. The American presence was opposed by many in the conservative Muslim kingdom and was a rallying cry for Osama bin Laden. In 2019, US troops returned amid heightened tensions with Iran after the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal.
30 Apr  Vivien Yeo has recently surprised many by announcing that she has given birth to her first child.

As reported on Mingpao, the TVB actress shared a photo of her baby's tiny hand on Instagram and wrote, "This year's Mother's Day, I can finally celebrate as a mother. I had received the most precious Mother's Day gift ahead of schedule."

"Due to the pandemic situation and the movement control order in Malaysia, being pregnant was really not easy at all, and there were many variables and emergencies. But fortunately, my daughter was born safely," she added.

Vivien also thanked the Malaysian medical staff for their care, and wished all the frontliners the best in battling the pandemic.

The Malaysia-born actress tied the knot with boyfriend of eight years in secret last year, before returning to Hong Kong to register their marriage.

(Photo Source: Vivien Yeo Instagram)
A New York woman was speeding when she struck the median on a Jersey City highway early Tuesday morning and set off a chain reaction that has left a Port Authority police officer in critical condition, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

Amandeep Tiwana, 27, of Flushing, New York, was arrested by members of the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit Wednesday afternoon and she was charged with assault by auto, a fourth-degree crime, Suarez said. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 9 a.m. on May 20.

Port Authority Police Officer Peter Siano, III and three Jersey City Police Officers were securing the scene of an earlier crash and doing traffic control on the depressed roadway of Route 139 when Tiwana struck the divider, a JCPD radio car and then struck Siano. Two of the Jersey City police officers, detectives Christopher Monahan and David Valente, sustained minor injuries in the second crash.

9 Port Authority police officer critically injured in crash, April 28, 2020

In the initial crash, which occurred just after 12:30 a.m., a 32-year-old New York woman overturned her vehicle on eastbound side of depressed Route 139. She was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center with minor injuries and has been released.

After the second crash, Tiwana was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for examination and was released.

The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit is actively investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/.

All information will be kept confidential.
Shell has cut its dividend for the first time since the Second World War in a 'devastating' blow to savers with pensions and other investments.

The energy supermajor will slash its first-quarter payout by two-thirds to 12.6p per share after the coronavirus crisis triggered a slump in oil prices.

It will hand shareholders 934million, down from 2.9billion in the same period of 2019. The company raised fears this could become the norm after it said the 'prudent' move was part of a plan to 'reset' the dividend.

Shell will slash its first-quarter payout by two-thirds to 12.6p per share after the coronavirus crisis triggered a slump in oil prices

Last year Shell was the most generous dividend payer in the UK, handing pension funds and investors 11.6billion.

That amounted to 15.5 per cent of all payments made by FTSE 100 firms.

If all four of its quarterly payouts were cut by 66 per cent this year, investors would lose out on a whopping 8billion compared with 2019.

Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden said it had been 'quite a monumental decision' for him to introduce the first cut to the 'iconic' dividend since 1945.

But he said it reflects the fact that the company has 'no idea really what could happen' in the coming months.

Shares fell 11.4 per cent, or 165p, to 1286.4p after the announcement.

The unexpected cut flies in the face of the 'never sell Shell' adage taught to generations of stockbrokers.

And it suggests the company is preparing for the oil price slump to be a lot worse than it previously expected.

Shell has already announced plans to cut costs by 8billion this year. Profits at the Anglo-Dutch group almost halved to 2.3billion between January and March  down from 4.3billion a year ago  though it was not as bad as analysts feared.

Earnings from its oil production and exploration arm fell 82 per cent in the quarter.

And it has cut activity at its refining business by up to 40 per cent as demand for oil has plunged.

Oil companies are in crisis as governments all over the world have brought in lockdown measures that have disrupted transport and industry, grounding planes, taking cars off the road and closing factories.

Brent crude hit a 21-year low last week and is now trading at around $24 a barrel, down from almost $70 at the start of this year.

Many pension funds, stock market-linked savings accounts and investment trusts all over the world invest in Shell. Earlier this year, van Beurden said lowering the dividend is 'not a good lever to pull if you want to be a world-class investment case'.

The decision means the company has ruled out using debt to pay the dividend.

But it flies in the face of predictions by analysts that Shell would not need to cut the dividend in the first quarter.

Goldman Sachs had predicted it would be safe for at least a year, while others had expected it to come under more scrutiny in the second quarter.

But Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'Shell's actions will affect so many people who are trying to earn a good return on their hard-earned savings.'

JP Morgan analyst Christyan Malek said: 'The 66 per cent dividend cut is a necessary evil to reinforce Shell's capital frame and position it for the offence on the energy transition.'
Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)

Elon Musks emotional eruption on a conference call with analysts Wednesday followed a couple of high-stress events. It burst forth when a financial expert asked the Tesla chief executive about how much cash the company has on hand right now.

The day started off with a video chat between Musk and Li Qiang, a powerful Chinese Communist Party politburo member, whose main job is party secretary for Shanghai, China's biggest city, where Tesla's new China factory sits.

The meeting was cordial, according to Shanghai media. But both men know Tesla has agreed to repay Chinese financial backers almost $1.6 billion its Shanghai subsidiary is borrowing to build and equip the factory and use for working capital. Tesla could be forced to forfeit its operations if the money is not fully repaid by December 2024.

Soon after the chat, six Bay Area counties announced an extension of their shelter-in-place orders. Musk had planned at least a partial opening of the plant on May 4. But the extension announced Wednesday runs through the month of May. Teslas Fremont factory closed down March 25, barred from building cars after it challenged a county order to shut down and lost. Eight weeks-plus of no production will crush revenue and cash flow. The second quarter could be brutal.

Then came the analyst conference call. One question in particular triggered Musk.

Adam Jonas, stock analyst at Morgan Stanley, asked for a real-time update on company liquidity at the end of April. Thats a polite Wall Street way of asking if a companys flush enough to pay its bills.

Musk lit into the county lockdown. "Outrage. Its an outrage! he said.

The order, he claimed, is forcibly imprisoning people in their homes against all of their constitutional rights, which is not why people came to America and built this country.

After lauding Chinas infrastructure, and criticizing the U.S. for the state of its airports and its crumbling highways and bridges, Musk launched back into the close-down order: If somebody wants to stay in the house, thats great  but to say they cannot leave their house and they will be arrested if they do, this is fascist. This is not democratic. This is not freedom. Give people back their goddamn freedom!

Story continues

Musk had already vented his frustration over the closures on social media, tweeting the previous evening "FREE AMERICA NOW."

FREE AMERICA NOW  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2020

In fact, the county orders allow people to leave their homes, though theyre required to wear masks and keep a safe distance from others.

If Musk is a bit tetchy about Teslas current financial state, you cant blame him. COVID-19 and the collapse of automobile sales has the whole industry worried.

Tesla, which had forecast production of 500,000 cars this year (up from 378,000 in 2019) said in its earnings update letter to investors it cant forecast net income and free cash flow given current conditions, and it put its 500,000-car goal on ice.

The companys first-quarter results, which were detailed in an official 10-Q filing Thursday, were mixed. The company hit $5.98 billion in revenue, 32% higher than the same quarter last year. Because Musk continued to build cars through most of March, a week of that in defiance of county close-down orders, the effect on quarterly sales was minor.

Tesla posted net income of $16 million, scoring for the first time a profit three quarters in a row. But that profit was based on $354 million in regulatory credits that the electric-car maker sold to other auto companies to meet environmental regulations, compared with $216 million in 2019's first quarter. Sans those credits, the performance of Teslas core auto and energy businesses would have forced a reported loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Free cash flow available for reinvestment wasnt pretty, with a negative $895 million flowing out to pay debt and bills, and not in to fund company growth.

Teslas top numbers man, Zachary Kirkhorn, told analysts much of that shortfall is due to late deliveries caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak. He said the next 18 months will bring some ups and downs in liquidity but was silent on details.

The company reported about $8 billion in cash on hand as of March 31 but wouldnt say how much of thats left now. I dont have any more color to provide, Kirkhorn told analysts.

Thursdays 10-Q report said that Tesla has assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and is not aware of any specific events or circumstances that require the company to update the value of its assets and liabilities.

Where new money will come from is unclear. In Musks early days at Tesla, he claimed each new line of vehicles would be so profitable the company could fund the next line of vehicles internally. That hasnt come close to happening.

The company has never registered an annual profit since it went public in 2010. But its stayed alive so far because Musk has proved himself a master at raising money. While losses have mounted, Musk kept selling stock and issuing debt, a total of $18.45 billion to date. That includes a $2.3-billion stock sale in February.

Workers coming off the March 17 night shift wait to board buses at Tesla's Fremont factory. (Russ Mitchell / Los Angeles Times)

A new stock issue or debt offering could shore up Teslas cash balance and provide enough capital to keep Musks growth story alive. That future-is-bright narrative has lifted Tesla's share price by 87% this year, to $781.88 Tuesday, albeit down from its all-time high closing of $917.42 in mid-February. That gives the company a market value of $144 billion.

Before his outburst, Musk spent much of the conference call painting a rosy picture of Teslas future. He said a 50% compound year-over-year growth rate in vehicle production for the next decade is likely, though he added: Its possible that its 40%. I will be very shocked if its less than 40% even with a force majeure, short of World War III.

At 40%, that would mean the company would be making 14.46 million vehicles a year worldwide by 2030.

The company is erecting a new Model Y SUV assembly line in Shanghai and a new factory in Brandenburg, Germany, both scheduled for completion next year. The Shanghai plant is currently assembling Model 3 sedans, with a new building to house a Model Y assembly line under construction. Musk has also hinted at a Texas site for the Cybertruck, its planned electric pickup truck.

Meantime, Musk is anxiously waiting for Fremont to reopen.
What Matters Most for Inglewood Children? High Performance or Politics?

The great Maya Angelou said, Hope is born again in the faces of children. This sentiment should be a guiding theme throughout school districts nationwide, especially the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD).

I reject the idea that an Inglewood ZIP code is a burden. I embrace it as a blessing. Our children are wrapped in the arms of loving families, churches and communities. Our children are meant for great things!

Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) and Todays Fresh Start Charter School  Inglewood (TFSCS-I) have a community of dedicated teachers who inspire, motivate, and encourage as they patiently educate our children. Understanding the daunting situation IUSD faced a decade ago, the teachers diligently work on meeting those challenges with continuous improvement. We owe our thanks and gratitude today, and every day, to our teachers.

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One of the crowning jewels of IUSD is Todays Fresh Start Charter School-Inglewood, a K-8 charter school with a 98% African American and Hispanic/Latino student population. Todays Fresh Start Charter School-Inglewood has maintained steady enrollment for the last decade and high-performance test scores in the district.

Todays Fresh Start Charter School  Inglewood does not present a threat to our childrens education. Now, Todays Fresh Start Charter School  Inglewood is at risk of not having its charter renewed by the California State Board of Education (SBE). Our community must collectively call for the continuation of the Todays Fresh Start Charter School  Inglewood as an option for local parents.

I want to be clear that the threat of non-renewal is not based on lack of high performance. High performance is not in question. The CDE staff report recognizes that renewing the TFS-Inglewood charter is consistent with sound educational practice.

Almost 10 percent of all K-12 students in California are in charter schools. Todays Fresh Start Charter School-Inglewood provides an option for parents whose children need a more personalized learning experience and it complements the options of our other public schools. Todays Fresh Start is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The same institution that accredits UCLA and USC.

I firmly believe that the State Department of Education values charter schools in Inglewood just as it values schools in cities like Santa Monica or Pacific Palisades. In all things, there is always room for improvement, even in the best of programs. If there are concerns that need to be resolved between the State and Todays Fresh Start Charter School-Inglewood, I believe that a spirit of collaboration and agreement will lead to successful resolution. These matters can be resolved upon charter renewal as the school continues to operate, allowing the school to fulfill its mission uninterrupted: preparing students as life-long learners to participate responsibly in a diverse and changing world.

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With the challenges of COVID-19 and distance learning looming in the United States, the last thing parents and children need is to worry about is finding a new placement for children who will be displaced if the charter is not renewed. And the last thing our children need is disruption in their excellent education.

We will never give up the hope and belief that our children are transcendent beings, blessed by the Lord and made to accomplish great things in His Name. The State Department of Education can ease that path and put our children first by swiftly granting a 5-year renewal of approval of Todays Fresh Start Charter School  Inglewood.
At Monday's White House briefing, Trump said that the United States might seek damages from China, stating that "There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable." Trump's remarks build on recent efforts to use legal means to hold China accountable for the novel coronavirus pandemic, including proposed legislation by Republican senators from Missouri, Tennessee and Arizona to work around sovereign immunity - and lawsuits by Republican attorneys general in Missouri and Mississippi.

I reached out to several experts on whether these legal efforts are likely to bear fruit, what risks they run and how China is likely to respond. Here are their views:

- - -

Efforts to use U.S. courts to hold China accountable for coronavirus-related harms are legally flawed and politically fraught. U.S. law - following international law - generally grants foreign states immunity. Exceptions exist for commercial activities with direct effects in the United States, wrongful acts (not just harmful consequences) occurring in the United States, and state-sponsored terrorism. But courts aren't likely to see the accusations against China as falling within these narrow categories.

The legal hurdles go beyond immunity. Courts typically reject class-action suits on behalf of claimants with diverse interests, and government suits for impacts on state budgets or diffuse public and economic harms. The lawsuits make claims that likely fail on the merits - that China has affirmative duties to protect U.S. citizens in the United States or is liable for very indirectly inflicted injuries.

Proposed legislation changing the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FISA) to authorize suits against China over covid-19 would overcome some of these barriers, but Congress would be reprising highly controversial amendments removing Saudi Arabia's immunity for its role in 9/11. Amid deteriorating U.S.-China relations, such a move risks retaliatory immunity-stripping as well as further damage to the battered U.S. reputation for respecting international law.

- Jacques deLisle is Stephen A. Cozen Professor of Law, professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary China at the University of Pennsylvania, and director of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

- - -

Under international law, countries are sovereign equals. This means that one country can't ordinarily exercise jurisdiction over another. The spate of private class-action lawsuits filed against China for allegedly concealing the initial outbreak of a novel coronavirus neglect this basic principle, and aren't likely to succeed.

There is also no realistic possibility for the state of Missouri to obtain a favorable judgment and force China to pay damages. At most, there will be a legal battle in U.S. courts about whether suing the Chinese Communist Party comes under the Foreign Service Immunities Act - which codifies the immunity of foreign states from civil suits in U.S. courts, subject to limited exceptions that do not apply here.

Interpreting or amending the FSIA to allow these suits could prompt other countries to allow reciprocal claims against the United States. It could also deter foreign-owned companies from doing business in the United States or using U.S. banks out of fear that their assets could be seized.

Diplomatic and economic measures, deployed in coordination with other countries, offer a more promising path for pressuring China to acknowledge its role in this crisis.

- Chimene Keitner (@KeitnerLaw) is Alfred & Hanna Fromm Professor of International Law at University of California Hastings Law in San Francisco and a former counselor on international law at the State Department.

- - -

Republicans in Congress have drafted at least four bills to enable lawsuits against China. These measures seem spurred by a 57-page National Republican Senatorial Committee strategy memo that urged Republicans to "attack China" and portray Democrats as "weak on China."

Expect to see retaliatory lawsuits on U.S. covid-19 failures leading to new cases in China from those returning to China, as well as on climate change, military interventions and other issues. Indeed, Chinese lawyers have already filed coronavirus lawsuits against the U.S. government. One lawsuit alleges a U.S. government cover up, and that covid-19 originated in the U.S. Another suit seeks damages for reputational damage caused by President Trump's use of the phrase "Chinese virus."

Of course, any further escalation of China-blaming also exacerbates the risk of anti-Asian and Asian American harassment and violence. The GOP strategy memo suggests that Republicans paint concerns about such discrimination as "political correctness," evincing an unwillingness to hold China to account.

Here's an alternative approach: The U.S. government could commission an independent investigation into the causes of the coronavirus pandemic in China and the United States once the virus is under control, and develop a comprehensive set of reforms to prevent a recurrence.

- Alex L. Wang (@greenlawchina) is a professor of law at University of California at Los Angeles School of Law.

- - -

Legislation to strip China's sovereign immunity for covid-19 could backfire spectacularly.

It's easy to imagine that China would refuse to participate in legal proceedings if named as a defendant in a lawsuit under one of the statutes now being floated in Congress. That's what Beijing did in the South China Sea arbitration brought by the Philippines, a judgment China continues to reject with impunity.

But even if China didn't show up to court, plaintiffs would still have to prove that the Chinese state "discharged a biological agent" or "deliberately concealed" the virus, according to language employed in two of the Senate bills. That could be a steep challenge, as would any effort to enforce a favorable judgment by seizing Chinese assets in the United States.

The United States' rule-of-law system and its global presence are strengths that can also be vulnerabilities. Lacking the support of a multilateral coalition behind Congress's pursuit of accountability through litigation, Washington could see retaliation by Beijing that won't be subject to the same "due process" constraints that apply in U.S. courts.

- Robert D. Williams is a senior research scholar, lecturer, and executive director of the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School.

- - -

The Chinese government faces a dilemma: It can either take these lawsuits seriously and therefore politically legitimize American legal authority - or it can refuse to respond and risk losing the lawsuit in absentia on procedural grounds. If Beijing refuses to respond, some of China's significant economic assets in the United States could be vulnerable if the lawsuits proceed.

What's more likely is that Beijing will work to have the lawsuits dismissed - but also line up Chinese firms to sue the U.S. government in Chinese courts as a political countermeasure. After all, officials in Beijing can argue, quite plausibly, that the U.S. federal government has also been highly negligent on coronavirus. Beijing could claim, for instance, that the U.S. mounted an extraordinarily slow and inept response to the pandemic, with deeply inadequate testing and little federal coordination and guidance even after it was clear the coronavirus was spreading in multiple U.S. locations. The U.S. could therefore find itself in Chinese court facing accusations of re-exporting the virus and causing economic collateral damage.

This kind of lawsuit would be just as frivolous as its American counterparts, and even more materially meaningless, when there are far fewer U.S. government-owned economic assets operating in China than there are Chinese state-owned assets operating in the United States. But if the point is to seek retaliatory humiliation in the eyes of the Chinese public or the international community, then this could be an attractive path for Beijing to follow.

- - -

Taisu Zhang is a professor of law and history at Yale Law School. He writes on comparative legal and economic history, private law theory, and contemporary Chinese law and politics.

For other commentary and analysis from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage
WASHINGTON - Senior U.S. officials are beginning to explore proposals for punishing or demanding financial compensation from China for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, according to four senior administration officials with knowledge of internal planning.

The move could splinter already strained relations between the two superpowers at a perilous moment for the global economy.

Senior officials across multiple government agencies are expected to meet Thursday to begin mapping out a strategy for seeking retaliatory measures against China, two people with knowledge of the meeting said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to disclose the planning. Officials in American intelligence agencies are also involved in the effort.

President Donald Trump has fumed to aides and others in recent days about China, blaming the country for withholding information about the virus, and has discussed enacting dramatic measures that would probably lead to retaliation by Beijing, these people said.

In private, Trump and aides have discussed stripping China of its "sovereign immunity," aiming to enable the U.S. government or victims to sue China for damages. George Sorial, who formerly served as a top executive at the Trump Organization and is involved in a class-action lawsuit against China, told The Washington Post he and senior White House officials have discussed limiting China's sovereign immunity. Legal experts say an attempt to limit China's sovereign immunity would be extremely difficult to accomplish and may require congressional legislation.

Some administration officials have also discussed having the United States cancel part of its debt obligations to China, two people with knowledge of internal conversations said. It was not known if the president has backed this idea.

Asked about this on Thursday, Trump said "you start playing those games and that's tough." He said canceling interest payments to China could undermine the "sanctity of the dollar," but he added that there were other ways to levy extreme penalties on China, such as raising $1 trillion by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports.

Administration officials strongly cautioned that many of the discussions are preliminary and that little formal work has begun on turning these initial ideas into reality. Other administration officials are warning Trump against the push to punish China, saying the country is sending supplies to help the American response.

"Now is just not the right time," one senior administration official involved in the talks said. "There will be a time to do it."

But in recent days, some believe the battle between the administration's economic advisers' cautious approach to China and national security team's push to retaliate against Beijing has begun to tilt toward the national security position.

"Punishing China is definitely where the president's head is at right now," one senior adviser said.

Some political advisers have also encouraged Trump to take a more forceful swing at China because they think it will help him politically.

White House officials and multiple congressional lawmakers have become increasingly fixated on China's response to the outbreak and failure to contain it, asserting Chinese officials concealed key information and refused to cooperate with international health organizations. Chinese officials have repeatedly rejected allegations that they did not act swiftly enough to confront the virus.

U.S. officials spoke on the condition of anonymity for this story to discuss private and internal negotiations.

A spokesman for the White House National Security Council said in an email: "We don't comment on internal deliberations."

On Monday, Trump suggested at a White House news conference that the United States will seek hundreds of billions of dollars in damages from China. The president also said he is considering additional measures to punish China, but did not specify what they are. "We can do something much easier than that," Trump said in response to a question about demanding financial compensation from Beijing. "We have ways of doing things a lot easier than that."

On Thursday, Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, told reporters: "The U.S. should know that their enemy is the virus, not China. . . . They should focus on containment at home and international cooperation, instead of smearing China and shifting the blame onto China."

He added: "As for punishment or accountability, as I have repeatedly stated, such rhetoric has no legal basis, and there's no international precedent. . . . At this time, undermining others' efforts will end up undermining oneself."

The White House discussion around retaliatory measures reflects the increasing conviction among some administration officials about China's alleged culpability in the spread of the virus, as well as political considerations. Recent polling suggests Americans' opinions of China are at a low, and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has released an ad that paints Trump as being weak on Beijing.

Critics say the administration's efforts to punish China amount to little more than political theater that also risks endangering the American economy and American lives, as China is likely to retaliate against measures taken by the United States. The coronavirus has killed more than 60,000 Americans and cost the nation trillions of dollars in economic activity.

"The chances of getting the Chinese to pay reparations is somewhere between zero and none," said Scott Kennedy, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a foreign policy think tank. "If your goal is to actually understand the origins and spread of the coronavirus, end this pandemic, restore economic growth, and prevent future crises, you have to get governments and different stakeholders to work together."

When the virus first emerged, Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping's handling of the outbreak, saying Xi is doing "a very good job with a very, very tough situation." More recently, Trump concentrated his attacks on the World Health Organization. "If it was a mistake, a mistake is a mistake," Trump said earlier this month of China and the coronavirus. "But if they were knowingly responsible, yeah, I mean, then sure there should be consequences."

Trump has appeared to step up his attacks on China more recently. "We are not happy with China. We are not happy with that whole situation because we believe it could have been stopped at the source," Trump said at a White House news conference Monday. "It could have been stopped quickly, and it wouldn't have spread all over the world."

The potential recourse for U.S. action has been unclear, even as congressional Republicans such as Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have increasingly demanded the United States "make China pay big time" over the damage. One senior Trump adviser said the "sovereign immunity" issue has been a particular focus of the president's, as it could allow states and the federal government to sue China for damages.

Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., are among members of Congress who have drafted legislation to strip China and other foreign governments of immunity if they took intentional acts to conceal or distort information about the coronavirus that led to damage to other countries. Trump has spoken to Hawley and other Republican senators about punishing China, two people with knowledge of the conversations said.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., has also floated waiving interest payments to China for any holdings of U.S. debt, "because they have cost our economy already $6 trillion and we could end up being an additional $5 trillion hit."

Bipartisan proposals have emerged in the Senate to try to move jobs from China to the United States.

The Berman Law Group, a law firm that has launched the first major class-action lawsuit against China over the damage done by the virus, has been consulting with several senior Trump advisers in recent weeks on what they consider the most fruitful way to punish China. The team is both sharing information they learn about China's actions in the case and stressing the value of a massive global lawsuit to make China pay for failing to warn other countries about a lethal virus.

Sorial, the former Trump Organization lawyer who has partnered with the Berman Law Group, has been the point man in communicating with top administration officials that the most effective way to compensate Americans for their losses is a civil suit and that curbing sovereign immunity could ease their path in court.

Sorial said in an interview that the president and White House are right to examine every method to make America whole for trillions of dollars in losses to businesses small and large and tens of thousands of deaths. Lead attorney Matthew Moore said the lawsuit is probably shielded from dismissal by current case law, which holds that governments that intentionally fail to warn of danger cannot claim immunity from a lawsuit. Moore added that restricting China's immunity would make the case easier to pursue.

"I commend the president for what he is doing. We are now finally at the point that that kind of action is necessary," Sorial said. "No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, if you are being generous, the government of China and the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] were grossly negligent."

Chinese officials have said they did all they could to mitigate the risk and spread of the virus. They have also pointed to the country's decision to lock down Wuhan earlier this year and other major cities to contain the spread of the virus.

China has attempted to aggressively stave off the prospect of a coordinated push by Western governments to hold it accountable. After Australian officials proposed a joint international investigation into the origins of the virus that would include sending inspectors into Wuhan, the Chinese ambassador to Australia this week threatened Australia with economic retaliation, sharply inflaming tensions.

China's foreign minister, meanwhile, adopted a softer tack and thanked French President Emmanuel Macron after he expressed reservations about immediately launching the U.S.- and Australia-backed inquiry.

In early February, when American cities in Washington and California were seeing their first confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection, U.S. media reported that the virus originated in an exotic market that sold wild animals and described in detail the steps China had taken to lock down Hubei province to prevent it from spread.

As the weeks have passed, evidence has mounted that Chinese government officials sought to silence doctors who raised alarm about the virus' human-to-human transmission and potential lethality.

Some White House officials and some Republicans also think that new information has emerged to suggest that a low-security Wuhan virology lab that analyzed dangerous coronaviruses - and located near the market - may have been the original source of the virus's release and that Chinese officials sought to cover up information pointing to that source, according to two government officials.

But so far those theories have not been widely accepted or backed up with any material evidence. Many experts who have studied the outbreak do not think there were ties to the Wuhan lab, but U.S. officials continue to investigate the matter.

Trump weighed in on the controversy on Thursday. He was asked by a reporter whether he had seen intelligence that suggested with a high degree of confidence that the virus originated in the Wuhan lab, and he responded "yes I have."

But he later said "there's lots of theories" and that he wasn't "allowed" to tell reporters why he was confident the virus might have come from a lab.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued its own statement on the matter, saying that it "will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."

Senior Trump administration officials - both in the National Security Council and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - have been furious at the Chinese government's lack of transparency and failure to follow security protocols amid the virus's march across the globe. That included China's resistance in January to letting U.S. officials visit China to investigate the virus's origins.

In a sign of the general shift toward taking on China, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, appeared on "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday, emphasizing the president is eyeing options to punish those responsible for the damage the virus has wreaked on the United States.

"He has asked the team to look into very carefully what happened, how this got here, and to make sure he will take whatever actions are necessary to make sure that the people who caused the problems are held accountable for it," Kushner said.

- - -

Shih reported from Seoul. The Washington Post's Michael Birnbaum in Brussels and Ashley Parker in Washington contributed to this report.
R&M, the global Swiss developer and provider of connectivity systems for high-quality, high-performance network infrastructures, recently participated in founding the Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) Alliance with Phoenix Contact, Weidmuller, Fluke Networks, and Telegartner. These leading technology companies are bundling and exchanging SPE expertise and knowledge in a targeted manner.

Presently, the groups main goal is to drive development of SPE for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and collaborate on related technological challenges. The companies aim to accelerate development of their SPE technology expertise, ensuring this can be implemented in their products faster and more reliably. Recently, Datwyler, Kyland, Microchip Technology, Rosenberger, SICK, O-Ring, Draka/Prysmian Group, and University4Industry also joined the Alliance. The breadth of this lineup means the Alliance covers a wide range of industries, applications and application areas. Together, these parties are preparing the market for SPE.

SPE and its main application areas

SPE, based on xBASE-T1, uses a single twisted pair for data transmission and miniaturized connectors. SPE can replace the traditional field bus, helping realize high density, fast connections and ease of installation. It offers uniform manufacturer-independent connectivity instead of introducing connectivity for each application. Ranges of up to 1000 m and transmission speeds of up to 1 Gbps enable use across applications, and installation is fast and easy, aiming to reuse and extend existing cable installations.

Passive industrial cabling . SPE provides consistent IP communication from sensor to cloud, revolutionizing industrial data transmission. Standardized pin connector patterns form the basis for the barrier-free networking of a wide range of components and devices, providing an alternative to todays fieldbus systems.

Building automation . Smart buildings and factories can be cost-effectively realized by connecting devices to the building management system via LAN networks and the cloud. Application-specific fieldbus systems are no longer required, making gateways, complex interfaces, and different protocols obsolete. SPE is an ideal solution for connecting numerous small sensors and actuators in Digital Ceiling zones. Sensors, controls, WLAN access points and other distributed services are simply plugged in and instantly powered and connected to the network.

Sensor technology . Sensors and actuators are increasingly supplying data to IIoT applications. SPEs miniaturized, standardized connection technology makes it possible to quickly and easily connect smaller sensors to Ethernet networks and power these.

SPE cables and lines . SPE transmission channels can be created from a wide variety of cables and plugs. Channel parameters such as bandwidth, attenuation, return loss, and shielding dimensions are currently specified in the system standards (such as ISO/IEC 11801) and connectors and cables are tailored to respective channels.
Lord Burnett. head of judiciary in England and Wales, is considering slashing the number of jurors from 12 to as low as seven to get the justice system going again

Juries could be reduced in size for the only time since the Second World War or trials carried out online to maintain social distancing when the lockdown is eased, it was revealed today.

Lord Burnett, head of judiciary in England and Wales, is considering slashing the number of jurors from 12 to as low as seven - a level only seen when Britain was fighting the Nazis.

He also said that trials could even be held in lecture theatres or large halls to keep people two metres apart, because traditional courts such as the Old Bailey in London are too small.

All jury trials in the UK were halted in March due to the coronavirus crisis with a backlog of 37,434 cases building up already, which will take months or even years to clear.

Discussing restarting the justice system, Lord Burnett told the BBC: 'There is blue-sky thinking going on at the moment. It is going to be necessary to look at more radical measures to enable jury trials to continue.

'I would support a move to reduce the number of jurors. That was done during the Second World War. Plainly, it would be easier to ensure a safe trial for everybody, with social distancing and other precautions.'

12 jurors are required for trials in England and Wales. Northern Ireland also has a 12 juror rule except for certain terrorist offences linked to the Troubles, where it is still trial by judge. In Scotland there are 15 people on the jury.

A working group chaired by High Court judge Mr Justice Edis is looking at measures that could be taken amid calls from lawyers for 'clean, hygienic and safe' courtrooms.

'The use of big venues, all of this I can assure you is already being thought about,' continued Lord Burnett.

'You can't have juries sitting together cheek by jowl, you can't have them expectorating towards each other in a tiny jury box.'

Experts are also testing remote jury trials using online tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams (pictured)

Others have said there could be advantages to measures such as virtual trials for victims giving evidence.

'They don't have to come to court, they don't have to face the pomp of it, when they're not sure what's going on,' Dame Vera Baird QC told the BBC.

'They might run into the defendant, the defendant's brother might deliberately bump into them.

'If you can go to remote evidence somewhere in a suburban house... and give your evidence there and be cross-examined across a television link from a relatively comfortable place... then that can add a great deal of confidence to people coming forward.'

Prosecutors are being told to give 'special consideration' to the impact on the justice system when deciding whether to charge a suspect during the pandemic.

Guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) a fortnight ago said discontinuing proceedings or offering no evidence, or proposing suspected offenders are given an out of court disposal, such as cautions, community resolution and on-the-spot fines, might be more 'appropriate'.

Prosecutors are also being encouraged to ditch charges for more serious crimes if the accused is willing instead to plead guilty to some, but not all offences, or to less serious ones.

And indictments could be dropped depending on whether a defendant has spent too long on remand in custody, their age and maturity.

CPS chiefs are keen not to 'expand the pipeline' of cases entering the courts, which have virtually ground to a halt during the epidemic.

Delaying cases may reduce the chance of a conviction, while having an 'adverse impact on victims, witnesses and defendants', say temporary guidelines.

The new measures could hit hundreds of cases, although they will not affect the most serious or violent types of crime.

Traditional courts such as the Old Bailey (sketched during the trial of Ian Huntley) are too small to maintain social distancing so could be swapped for large lecture theatres

Nor will they affect attacks on emergency workers, which the guidance states should be treated as a priority.

But campaigners are horrified at the latest example of 'soft justice' that raises the prospect of many criminals in England and Wales escaping with a slap on the wrist.

Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill said: 'We know very well the impact crime can have on people's lives, so we want the public to be confident that - even in these very difficult circumstances - justice will be done.

'But we cannot ignore the unprecedented challenge facing the criminal justice system.

'We must focus is on making sure the most dangerous offenders are dealt with as a priority as we adapt to challenging circumstances.

'And in less serious cases, it is right that we consider all options available when weighing up the right course of action.'

But David Spencer, of the Centre For Crime Prevention think-tank, said: 'While tackling the coronavirus outbreak is everyone's top priority at the moment, it is completely unacceptable for the CPS to suggest that criminals should be let off the hook because of the virus.

'Being a victim of crime is devastating at any time, but right now it will hit home more than ever.

'The law should reflect this and, far from letting criminal get away with offences, punishments should be ramped up to deter offenders.

'Other workplaces are coping with the lockdown by moving online and there is no reason why courts and the CPS cannot do the same.

'Even if this slows things down, the idea that we should let criminals get away with their crimes as a result will rightly anger every law abiding citizen in the country.'

Lawyers are already duty bound to assess whether a prosecution is in the public interest.

However, the latest guidance urges extra consideration of the impact of Covid-19 when deciding the most proportionate response to a case.
The late Afrobeat Maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang a hit song titled Colonial Mentality. Some of the words in the evergreen song went thus: Dem don release you but you never release yourself. He lampooned the African elite and Middle Class for now looking inwards to solving the problems of the continent but rather the ridiculous act in outsourcing their solutions to the west who in the end give them what doesnt take into careful consideration their local peculiarities.

The world is battered left, right and centre by the covid 19 which began as an innocuous virus from faraway Wuhan. Nobody thought during the New Year Celebrations of this year that it will metamorphose into a global pandemic which will greatly overwhelm the west with her hitherto world class medical facilities.

Nigeria is still waiting for a vaccine from the west with the lockdown being a copycat syndrome from the same west that they still worship close to six decades after obtaining political independence from Great Britain.

While we are waiting with bated breath for the Almighty vaccine to come, our African brother  Madagascar has taken the bull by the horn by critically having an introspective look at their natural resources to tackling the pandemic. Their scientists used herbs to make a cure for the dreaded disease and the elixir has worked despite the initial criticism that the World Health Organization (WHO) on the use of the herbs to find their cure.

Their President Andry Rajoelina stood his ground and insisted that the local scientists had what it took to get the cure for it. He ignored the WHOs warnings and provided the enabling environment for them to operate.

Rajoelinas rare trait of able leadership which has long eluded Africa paid off as the herbal cure is now responsible for ensuring that the country is now a hundred percent free of the virus and there are talks of increasing their capacity of the production so that they can export it and diversify her revenue base.

The President ensured that his people got the drug free of charge as his contribution to fighting the pandemic and ensuring that the citizens dont get it at the cost of an arm and leg.

Tragically, what is Nigeria doing to fight the ailment? The scientists are not holed up in one place to find a home grown cure to it. What we have is daily briefings from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and some nauseating unsolicited text messages. This hasnt stopped the figures of both the people infected with it and the deaths from it from increasing at an alarming rate. President Buhari has addressed the nation twice during the hilarious lockdown and he hasnt told Nigerians of the governments plan to mobilize her scientists from Nigeria and the Diaspora in finding a solution to the challenge whether its through the western medicine or with the use of herbs.

Our country is littered with a vast collection of herbs. You just need to drive round the country to see how these herbs that can be converted into medicine are wasting away with reckless abandon because of a nauseating visionless leadership.

It is not enough for the government to create mass awareness about the ailment. She should go a step further by ensuring that the intellectual property of her teeming number of scientists is put to good use in the best interest of the nation. Who says that Nigeria cannot massively export the cure if its in the form of herbs to the rest of the world? Why must we be satisfied in being a mere dumping ground for substandard goods from the west and lately from China? Why cant this cursed continent have a local clone of a Lee Kuan Yew model of leadership that can drive her from being a third world to a first world nation?

It is sad that our successive leaders especially of this cruel mockery of The Giant of the Continent are bereft of pragmatic ideas that can move the continent forward.

Even if the vaccine for the cure is found, the ruthless capitalist west will not give it freely to Nigeria and the remaining countries of Africa excluding Madagascar. For them its business just in a similar way that China is making a killing running into billions of dollars from the global nightmare. Where does that leave Nigeria who is currently bogged down with foreign loans that the next generation may not be able to repay?

Necessity is the mother of invention goes the age-long cliche and the stark reality staring Nigeria in the face is the misery that will come to her as a result of the oil price crash. For how long with the Giant with the feet of clay be an import dependent nation? For donkey years, pundits have been leading a loud clamour for the diversification of the economy in order to avoid the curse of oil. Now it is crystal clear that the chickens have come home to roost as things are so bad that we are facing an uphill task in selling our crude oil.

We need a leadership that can see opportunities in crisis and this covid 19 can be one such rare opportunity to tap into the trillion dollar healthcare sector which has an inelastic demand.

Nigeria should learn from Madagascar as the new world order is shifting away from wealth inherent in natural resources to one embedded in human resources.

Nigeria should wisely prepare herself for this new world order so as not to be left behind in the race for economic prosperity.

Time they say waits for no man and the clock is fast ticking away.

Tony Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos and edits www.africanbard.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 05:20:50|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of sailors testing positive for COVID-19 aboard U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Kidd, has risen to 78, representing nearly 25 percent of the ship's complement, according to a CNN report on Wednesday, citing two Navy officials.

The warship on Tuesday docked at a naval base in San Diego, California, where the crew are in the process of being isolated and quarantined and the ship will be disinfected and cleaned.

The Navy destroyer was the second U.S. warship hit by an outbreak of the coronavirus while at sea following the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier.

Prior to the outbreak, the Kidd had been assigned to the recently enhanced counter narcotics mission in the Eastern Pacific aimed at countering illicit drug trafficking.

A senior Navy official told CNN last week that there were coronavirus cases on 26 U.S. Navy warships, and another 14 had been hit by the virus but the crew members impacted had recovered. Enditem
Stars far and wide are working hard to help the in the fight against COVID-19.

And TOWIE stars Bobby Norris and Saffron Lempriere took the chance to do their bit on Wednesday as they headed to local hospitals in Essex to dish out goods to frontline workers in collaboration with online retailer ISAWITFIRST.

The clothing giant has launched a huge charity effort to help those on the frontline as well as patients, and bosses enlisted the ITVBe stars this week.

Working hard: TOWIE stars Bobby Norris and Saffron Lempriere took the chance to do their bit on Wednesday as they headed to local hospitals in Essex to dish out goods to frontline workers in collaboration with online retailer ISAWITFIRST

Bobby and his co-star delighted staff at Rivers Hospital in Sawbridge on the Essex-Hertfordshire border, where he was snapping selfies while working.

Sporting a protective mask, he flew the flag for the T-shirt collection.

Saffron was also working hard at the Queen's Hospital in Romford, where both her aunty and cousin are working in the coronavirus ward.

She sported one of the T-shirts from the Isolation With The Nation collection adorned with the inspirational and encouraging words: 'Social distancing is a mood'.

Hard times: Saffron was also working hard at the Queen's Hospital in Romford, where both her aunty and cousin are working in the coronavirus ward

Let's do it: Stars far and wide are working hard to help the in the fight against COVID-19

Snap happy: Bobby and his co-star delighted staff at Rivers Hospital in Sawbridge on the Essex-Hertfordshire border, where he was snapping selfies while working

QuaranQueen: Sporting a protective mask, he flew the flag for the T-shirt collection

'A mood': She sported one of the T-shirts from the Isolation With The Nation collection adorned with the inspirational and encouraging words: 'Social distancing is a mood'

100% of the profits from the collection are going to the NHS with thousands already raised by those supporting the cause.

As well as dishing out T-shirts, ISAWITFIRST.com have also donated thousands of water bottles, masks, hand sanitisers and snacks to staff at both hospitals.

The company have donated over 30,000 bottles of water, hundreds of boxes of food supplies to Royal Children's Hospital in Manchester and Nightingale in London, as well as hand sanitisers and surgical masks to other hospitals around the UK.

The patient well-being packs handed out have included 2,000 + Bottles of water, 3,000 + Bottles Of Hand Sanitiser, 2,000 + Masks, 400 Weetabix on the go drink, 6 boxes of soap, 5 cases of fizzy drink, 60 boxes of assorted crisps.

Work hard: 100% of the profits from the collection are going to the NHS with thousands already raised by those supporting the cause

Dishing out: The staff seemed delighted to scoop their tees

Posing up a storm: Bobby was working all his best poses for the camera

Heads up! He was chucking the boxes and working away

Their work comes after it was revealed Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to signal lockdown will stay until June as he gathers Cabinet to thrash out an 'exit strategy' - and then fronts a daily coronavirus briefing for the first time since falling ill.

The Prime Minister is expected to dash hopes of an imminent end to the draconian curbs crippling the economy, stressing that allowing the killer disease to run rampant again would do even worse damage.

Government sources have indicated he will also defy calls to treat the public like 'grown ups' by spelling out ways in which the lockdown might be eased, saying it is 'too early'.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said in interviews that the mood among ministers was 'extreme caution', endorsing a strong hint from Nicola Sturgeon that restrictions will be extended for another three weeks when the formal review takes place on May 7.

Working on it: The patient well-being packs handed out have included 2,000 + Bottles of water, 3,000 + Bottles Of Hand Sanitiser, 2,000 + Masks, 400 Weetabix on the go drink, 6 boxes of soap, 5 cases of fizzy drink, 60 boxes of assorted crisps

Shocker: Their work comes after it was revealed Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to signal lockdown will stay until June as he gathers Cabinet to thrash out an 'exit strategy' - and then fronts a daily coronavirus briefing for the first time since falling ill

No rest for the wicked: She was in comfy trainers to get down to work
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is, according to the official Chinese narrative, an "enemy of humankind" practicing "highly venomous" diplomacy. He's a "super-spreader" of a "political virus." He's a "rumor monger" with a "dark mind."

This past week, the organs of the Chinese state have unleashed personal salvos against America's top diplomat in a manner reminiscent of the way North Korea spoke about then-national security adviser John Bolton. (He's "human scum," according to Pyongyang.)

In response to Pompeo's criticism of Beijing over the coronavirus outbreak - including unsupported claims that the virus could have leaked from a Wuhan lab - China's most-watched nightly news broadcast has devoted prime airtime to lambasting the secretary of state.

The People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, has spent whole editorials attacking him. TV screens on Beijing's subway have even been showing photos of Pompeo with "liar" stamped in big red letters across his face.

The tirades underscore the baleful state of relations between the world's two superpowers.

China and the United States are not only battling in areas of competition, such as trade and technology, but also in areas where they should be cooperating, like combating the coronavirus pandemic and planning in case the rumors about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's incapacitation turn out to be true.

Analysts in both countries are now describing the worst state in relations since President Richard Nixon began the process of rapprochement with China in the 1970s.

"The quality of the relationship has deteriorated," said Stapleton Roy, who became the U.S. ambassador to China at another particularly difficult time - two years after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

"We are damaging our interests. We are dealing with real problems but using the wrong methods," Roy said, pointing to the outdated tool of tariffs in a trade war as an example.

Some Chinese experts agree. "The bilateral relationship is arguably at its lowest point since 1972," said Xie Tao, professor of international relations at Beijing University of Foreign Studies.

"I was expecting that this covid-19 would be an opportunity for nonpolitical cooperation . . . but this is making the two countries get into even worse arguments with each other," Xie said on the "China in the World" podcast this month. "[With these] accusations and conspiracy theories, I feel very bad about the trend of the relationship."

- - -

As the coronavirus continues to wreak devastation in the United States, Pompeo has emerged as the leading public proponent of the accusations that the virus could have leaked from a top-security laboratory in the outbreak epicenter of Wuhan. No evidence has emerged, however, to support the claims about a lab leak.

U.S. intelligence agencies added another blow to the claims Thursday. A statement by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concluded that the coronavirus was "not manmade or genetically modified." It said it was still evaluating theories linking the outbreak to the lab.

Pompeo is pressing China to allow inspectors into the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab that has previously done research on bat-related coronaviruses. "The Chinese Communist Party tells us they want to be our partners. . . . There is a continuing obligation on the part of reliable partners to share this information," he said Wednesday.

This comes on top of Pompeo's insistence on calling covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, the "Wuhan virus." He refused to sign a Group of Seven communique unless it used the label.

Pompeo's hard-line approach toward China is not new. He has repeatedly castigated the nation over human rights abuses and suppression of religion, military expansionism and trade practices, and increasing encroachment on Hong Kong's semi-autonomy.

But the pandemic and the need to find a vaccine against it has not led to an outbreak of cooperation. It has created more friction, said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"From their point of view, Pompeo is on a daily campaign to paint China as having been the evil perpetrator of a coverup from day one, and to make China look bad," she said.

Analysts say Pompeo is acting as a whipping boy for the Trump administration as a whole and the president in particular.

"Obviously they really mean it against Trump, but they're not going to say it directly," said Bill Bishop, the publisher of the Sinicism newsletter.

"Since the trade war started, they've never gone after the president, they've always gone after his proxies or his tweets. But Pompeo is an easy target because he's taken the lead on pushing the origin question," said Bishop, referring to the allegation that the virus leaked from the Wuhan lab.

- - -

China is particularly sensitive that, once the crisis passes, affected countries seek a reckoning over the origin and spread of the coronavirus. Trump has publicly expresses the desire to exact some form of compensation from China over the coronavirus, but has not made clear what steps he could take.

For that reason, Beijing has been seeking to refashion itself as a responsible global power, supplying medical equipment to the world and sharing its experiences in containing the virus while disseminating conspiracy theories of its own, such as the one about American soldiers planting the virus in Wuhan.

Secretaries of state are often prime scapegoats for gripes about U.S. policies around the world; Colin Powell was in the aftermath of the Iraq invasion in 2003, and Henry Kissenger was during the Vietnam War. But China's hostility toward Pompeo has taken on a deeply personal nature that was dialed up this week.

Beijing is now accusing the secretary of spreading a "political virus" that is just as dangerous as the new coronavirus.

On Monday morning, the People's Daily said Pompeo had "fabricated rumors with prejudice and ignorance" and had shown his "most twisted and ferocious face." That evening on the main 7 p.m. news bulletin, anchor Hai Xia labeled Pompeo an "enemy of the humankind."

On Tuesday, anchor Ouyang Xiadan took it further. "Never in U.S. history has there been a secretary of state like Pompeo," she said. "He is bringing those 'lying, cheating, and stealing' tricks that he had mastered in his CIA times into American diplomacy, causing a freefall in the U.S.'s reputation."

Next came an editorial in the People's Daily asking whether Pompeo was "planning to 'make America great again' by bullying?"

With Wednesday's criticism, viewers starting congratulating the news bulletin for scoring a "Pompeo hat trick."

Come Thursday, the People's Daily ran an editorial saying Pompeo's rhetoric was making the United States look like it had a "colossal moral deficit." And China's state-run news agency Xinhua tweeted a biting animation with Lego figures - China depicted as a medical worker and the United States as the Statue of Liberty - debating the pandemic.

China: We made our data public.

United States: You lied to us.

- - -

The name-calling over the pandemic has illustrated levels of suspicion between the world's two leading powers. Roy, the former ambassador, compared the current moment unfavorably to the United States' aversion to working toward a goal shared with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

"If they put their minds to it, big powers can find they have common interests and can work with enemies and rivals on those common interests," Roy said, citing as an example a mutual interest in avoiding nuclear annihilation.

The speculation about the North Korean leader provides a further example of an area where the United States and China have been able to at least talk about shared problems. A sudden change in the North Korean regime would have significant implications for both China, its benefactor and neighbor, and the United States, its chief adversary.

"I think that the Chinese mistrust of the United States is so deep and so broad right now, that they could not help but assume that the United States would take advantage of a demise of Kim Jong Un, and that could potentially be very dangerous," said CSIS's Glaser.

Despite these common interests, the war of words between Pompeo and Beijing means veteran China watchers are not expecting any improvement in the bilateral relationship any time soon.

"It doesn't seem like there is any way we can get back to a normal healthy relationship," said Bishop, "and these kinds of attacks make that increasingly obvious."

- - -

The Washington Post's Lyric Li in Beijing contributed to this report.
Hyderabad, April 30 : Jacqueline d'Arros Hughes, a well-known plant health expert and leader in international agricultural research, on Thursday took charge as Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

Due to travel restrictions, Hughes assumed office from the Philippines during a virtual event, where she outlined the priorities for the institute during and post the Covid-19 pandemic.

The virtual event was attended by ICRISAT staff and the governing board of the institute. Hughes took charge from Peter Carberry, who has returned to Australia.

"We need to help where we can in the short-term with the Covid-19 response. ICRISAT's help will be in assuring productivity in the Semi-Arid Tropics. Risk to people, staff, communities, stakeholders, and the research on which many of our stakeholders depend, has to be minimised as the lockdown lifts," a statement from ICRISAT quoted her as saying.

At the moment, Hughes is focused on mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on agriculture by supporting smallholder farmers in the Semi-Arid Tropics of Africa and Asia in finding ways to safely return to their farms and ward off food crisis.

She also said the year 2020 must be observed with greater resolve as the International Year of Plant Health, as declared by the United Nations.

After earning a doctoral degree in microbiology/virology and spending her early research years in the UK, Hughes, a British national, moved to Ghana in the early 1990s to work with the Cocoa Research Institute and then to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria, where she took on increasingly challenging roles in virology, germplasm and plant health management She was then appointed Councilor for IITA's highest research management body. She then joined the World Vegetable Centre in Taiwan as its Deputy Director General-Research.

Before joining ICRISAT, Hughes was the Deputy Director General-Research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. IRRI and ICRISAT are sister institutes in CGIAR -- the world's largest agricultural research for development body.
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) -Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (ASX: LLO) ("Lion One" or the "Company") announces that three diamond drill rigs are being mobilized in preparation for the Company's aggressive 2020 dry season exploration campaign at Lion One's 100% controlled, fully permitted Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project, Fiji. At least 10,000 meters of drilling is planned.

Key Points:

Three drill rigs to focus on exciting new targets, new potentially mineralized structural zones, and depth extensions of known gold lode mineralization

Drill Rig One: this Company-owned rig has been operational throughout the latest seasonal wet season in Fiji, and is currently drill testing down dip extensions at Tuvatu West; 1500m depth capability drilling NQ-sized core

this Company-owned rig has been operational throughout the latest seasonal wet season in Fiji, and is currently drill testing down dip extensions at Tuvatu West; 1500m depth capability drilling NQ-sized core Drill Rig Two: this Company-owned rig has been reconditioned and is currently ready for mobilization to the Kingston-Biliwi prospect 2km north of Tuvatu in the newly acquired tenements covering the northern half of the Navilawa caldera; 250m depth capability drilling NQ-sized core

this Company-owned rig has been reconditioned and is currently ready for mobilization to the Kingston-Biliwi prospect 2km north of Tuvatu in the newly acquired tenements covering the northern half of the Navilawa caldera; 250m depth capability drilling NQ-sized core Drill Rig Three: recently purchased rig (anticipated 6-week delivery from South Korea) designated for new targets within the new Navilawa tenements including Banana Creek, a Tuvatu-style target displaying multiple high-grade outcropping lodes; 1500m depth capability drilling NQ-sized core

Exciting pipeline of drill targets to further confirm large-scale alkaline gold system within the Navilawa Caldera High-resolution subsurface controlled-source audio magnetotelluric ("CSAMT") survey data generates detailed interpreted structural network underlying the Navilawa Caldera to depths beyond 1,200m Such structures are potential pathways for mineralizing fluids that ascended from the underlying magma chamber beneath the Navilawa Caldera Potassium radiometric signature reveals 7km diameter surface footprint of interpreted hydrothermal alteration suggesting potential to expand the mineralized system by multiples above its currently defined limits



Lion One CEO Walter Berukoff commented "We believe that Tuvatu is part of a massive gold system inside the Navilawa Caldera. Results from our recent CSAMT survey reinforce that view. We're excited about our upcoming aggressive drilling campaign, in our efforts to find similarities with the world class Vatukoula deposit located approximately 40 km northeast of Tuvatu."

"We're very excited to have to consolidated ownership of the entire Navilawa Caldera and be the first team to apply modern exploration techniques across the entire mineralized system. All evidence points to a large high-grade alkaline gold system of which Tuvatu forms a small part", commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh, technical advisor to Lion One. "With more drilling we hope to gain a better understanding of the underlying plumbing system that allowed gold-rich fluids to ascend from the underlying magma chamber and ultimately discover the root feeder or feeders that gave rise to this lode complex. Alkaline gold deposits are known to extend to great depths, so we have plenty of room to explore. And thanks to our recent encouraging BLEG results, we now know we have an extensive anomalous area within the northern part of the Navilawa caldera to explore for extensions of this robust gold system".







Figure 1: Interpreted CSAMT NE Section across existing Tuvatu resource highlighting (in yellow) the drill target area beneath Tuvatu West and situated on an untested CSAMT structural anomaly.

(maximum depth of survey readings 1,200m)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/55222_6b1ab5f4a437a9d8_001full.jpg







Figure 2: Potassium radiometric survey highlighting (in red) the distribution of anomalous concentrations of alkaline elements in host rock, across the 7km diameter Navilawa Caldera.

(Tuvatu resource area outlined in white).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/55222_6b1ab5f4a437a9d8_003full.jpg

Recent Results

The Company has completed three out of the four planned holes with one rig active during this 2019-2020 wet season. The program targeted deeper extensions of the Tuvatu resource at depths from 500-1,000m below surface, and to further test the broader alkaline gold system geological model.

TUDDH493: intersected 33.22 g/t Au over 4.29m from 422.53m, including 322 g/t Au over 0.31m from 423.41m, interpreted to be 70m below current resource. Other notable intercepts included 21 g/t Au over 3.83m from 322.17m, including 56.70 g/t Au over 0.12m, and 105 g/t Au over 0.35m from 177.25m. This drill hole confirmed a deep extension of high grade mineralization 70m below the limits of the current resource, encountering hydrothermal breccia unlike any mineralization previously observed at Tuvatu, but closely resembling that seen in some lodes at the Vatukoula Gold Mine approximately 40 km to the northeast. In this area, several lode structures appear to be converging, potentially forming a root feeder. (see the Company's news release dated December 18, 2019)

TUDDH494: intersected 13.12 g/t Au over 3.60m from 188.8m in the upper part of the hole, drilling was halted at 748.60m due to the depth capacity of the rig to drill HQ-size core but will be extended to fully test the deeper target zone at approximately 850-1,000m depth once smaller NQ-sized drill rods arrive in Fiji later this month.

TUDDH495: also stopped above target depth (800-1,000m) due to rig capacity to drill HQ-size core. This hole, currently at a depth of 768.70m, will be continued when new NQ-sized drill rods arrive. Notable hydrothermal alteration is evident in both TUDDH494 and TUDDH495 near their current ends.

Current Hole TUDDH496: targeting a depth of approximately 600m, should further highlight high-grade potential of the Tuvatu West area, targeting mineralisation 100-250m below previously identified high-grade intersections. The current drill hole, TUDDH496, targets open areas along the high-grade east-west trending Murau and Snake lodes, both of which have previously returned spectacular high-grade intersections. Planned drill holes targeting the high-grade Tuvatu West zone are oriented to intersect these structures at depth.

High-Grade Tuvatu West Lodes

The east-west striking Tuvatu West Lodes pose an exciting target because of numerous high-grade intersections returned to date. Some of these are included in Table 1 below.

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) True Width (m) Au (g/t) Lode TUDDH 341 148.54 150.86 2.32 1.49 62.81 Snake incl 149.50 149.85 0.35

420.00 Snake TUDDH347 121.99 125.77 3.78 2.51 16.15 Murau 1 incl 124.00 124.09 0.09 0.06 248.00 Murau 1 TUDDH348 155.05 162.54 7.49 4.97 23.03 Murau1 incl 161.37 161.54 0.17 0.11 855.00 Murau 1 TUDDH 349 130.92 138.75 7.83 6.57 17.69 Murau1 TUDDH 350 78.99 81.24 2.25 1.70 25.53 Murau Flat incl 79.96 80.43 0.47

20.00 Murau Flat incl 80.68 81.24 0.56

72.20 Murau Flat

89.43 90.82 1.39 1.00 10.56 Murau 2

142.00 145.66 3.66 2.76 15.68 Murau 1 incl 142.00 142.44 0.44

27.50 Murau 1 incl 143.84 144.55 0.61

49.70 Murau 1 TUDDH 356 89.70 93.29 3.59 2.44 15.43 Snake FW TUDDH 359 130.69 133.80 3.11 2.50 14.31 Murau 1 TUDDH 364 202.93 209.36 6.43 5.52 12.74 Murau 2 FW incl 202.93 207.32 4.39 3.77 18.34 Murau 2 FW TUDDH 365 164.55 168.86 4.31 3.10 14.95 Murau1 HW TUDDH 371 185.69 200.68 14.99 9.95 14.28 West 2 HW

203.68 205.31 1.63 1.09 38.38 West 2 TUDDH373 99.55 100.40 0.85 0.52 26.23 West 2

105.46 106.68 1.22 0.75 28.27 West 2 TUDDH374 26.27 27.00 0.73 0.52 14.90 West 2

Table 1: Previous select high grade drill intersections from Tuvatu West Lodes











Figure 3: Section 1875860E highlighting the location of TUDDH496 beneath existing drilling including historical reverse circulation and diamond drill holes, and Lion One's TUDDH371

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/55222_6b1ab5f4a437a9d8_004full.jpg

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed, prepared, and approved by Mr. Stephen Mann, P. Geo, Managing Director of Lion One, who is a qualified person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI-43-101).

About Tuvatu

The Tuvatu gold deposit is located in on the island of Viti Levu in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji. The mineral resource for Tuvatu as disclosed in the technical report "Tuvatu Gold Project PEA", dated June 1, 2015, and prepared by Mining Associates Pty Ltd of Brisbane Qld, comprises 1,120,000 tonnes indicated at 8.17 g/t Au (294,000 oz. Au) and 1,300,000 tonnes inferred at 10.60 g/t Au (445,000 oz. Au) at a cut-off grade of 3 g/t Au. The technical report is available on the Lion One website at www.liononemetals.com and on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One's flagship asset is 100% owned, fully permitted high grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project, located on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. Lion One envisions a low-cost high-grade underground gold mining operation at Tuvatu coupled with exciting exploration upside inside its tenements covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, an underexplored yet highly prospective 7km diameter alkaline gold system. Lion One's CEO Walter Berukoff leads an experienced team of explorers and mine builders and has owned or operated over 20 mines in 7 countries. As the founder and former CEO of Miramar Mines, Northern Orion, and La Mancha Resources, Walter is credited with building over $3 billion of value for shareholders.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Lion One Metals Limited

"Walter Berukoff"

Chairman and CEO

For further information

Contact Investor Relations

Toll Free (North America) Tel: 1-855-805-1250

Email: info@liononemetals.com

Website: www.liononemetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55222
A former Senate staffer named Tara Reade has accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993, an accusation which gained further credibility on Monday when Business Insider reported that one of Reades former neighbors recalls Reade having told her about the alleged incident in detail in the mid-90s.

Bidens defense, so far, has involved keeping his distance from the story. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has said, through a spokeswoman, that he did not assault Reade, but he has yet to address the accusation himself in public. His campaign has meanwhile signaled its confidence in Bidens good reputation to an extent that reads as arrogance.

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On Tuesday, for example, the candidate made an online appearance with Hillary Clinton, who was reportedly involved in some of Bill Clintons efforts to discredit women who said (truthfully, in at least some cases) that theyd had extramarital affairs with him or suffered unwelcome advances. The subject became an issue during her presidential raceand while that was to some extent because it was raised in bad faith by Donald Trump, she is, regardless, not widely seen as a credible character witness for men accused of misbehavior. On Thursday, the Biden campaign announced that its vice presidential selection committee will include former Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, a longtime friend and political ally of Bidens whose own history on the subject of sexual assault is, at the least, unsavory.

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Most directly, its public record that a D.C. waitress named Carla Gaviglio accused Dodd and the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy of sexually assaulting her at the restaurant where she worked in 1985. According to Gaviglio, Kennedy and Dodd were both drunk in a private room when Kennedy threw her into a seated Dodds lap and rubbed his genitals against her until other staffers intervened.

Its not the only account in which Dodd served as Kennedys lecherous wingman: The late actress Carrie Fisher, in a memoir, wrote that she went on a group date in 1985 with Dodd during which Kennedy asked her leeringly if she would be having sex with Chris and/or would have sex with Chris in a hot tub, behavior which she says Dodd observed with an unusual grin hanging on his very flushed face. In 1990, a writer at the D.C. paper Roll Call described Kennedy and Dodd to GQ magazine as two guys in a fraternity who have been loosed upon the world.

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Dodd, moreover, was a leading Democratic recipient of donations by Harvey Weinstein, whom he referred to as his good friend in a 2011 New York Times interview. After he left the Senate in 2011, Dodd became the chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America. Ive known Harvey for 25, 30 years, and weve been friends, Dodd told the Hollywood Reporter in 2012. He was very helpful to me as a candidate for Congress and as a senator over the years. Informal accounts of Weinsteins frequent sexual misconduct were widely, widely circulated well before they were ultimately made public in New York Times and New Yorker exposes, and he is now in prison after having been convicted of third-degree rape and first-degree commission of a criminal sexual act (forced oral sex).

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Defenses of Biden that have been made by his campaign and by Democratic surrogates have emphasized not just that he denies Reades allegations but that he embodies the decency of a person who could never be associated with such acts. That message is undermined by his decision to remind the public of his long association with Dodd, who at best was passively adjacent to, and at worst complicit in, the behavior of two notorious, powerful men during the era in which Bidenthen, himself, one of the most prominent politicians in the countryis accused of assaulting Reade.

For more on the allegation against Biden, listen to this weeks Political Gabfest.
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CALGARY, AB and SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Nexera Energy Inc. (TSXV:NGY)(OTC PINK:EMBYF) (the "Company" or "Nexera") provided the following update on the Company's production plans during current commodity pricing conditions. The Company has added additional storage tanks on certain leases and, on most leases, the Company has the ability to continue to produce and store oil for up to six months without having to shut wells in. Additionally, the Company has the resources in place to efficiently maintain operations, even in the unlikely scenario that the Company does not sell any oil in a given month.Shelby Beattie, President and CEO of Nexera commented: "We are fortunate to have the flexibility and sustainability to maintain operations during these unprecedented times. In addition to acquiring additional tanks, we are also in the unique position of owning our own tank hauling equipment which allows us to move tanks from lease to lease as needed, at no cost. We are confident that we will see better commodity pricing in the coming months which we will take advantage of as we continue to produce and store our oil until that time." About Nexera Energy Inc.Nexera Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: NGY) is an energy company with oil producing properties in Southwest Texas. Nexera is owner and operator of the Lavernia, Wooden Horse and Nash Creek Projects. Additionally, the Company owns and operates various working interests in the HugoCellR, Cotulla, and MarPat partnerships. The Company also owns 75% of Production Resources Inc., a South Texas oil company.For further information, please contact:Nexera Energy Inc. President, Shelby D. Beattie, by telephone at (403) 262-6000Email: info@ ebyinc.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Nexera Energy Inc.
BOSTON (Reuters) - One day after Tesla Inc posted its third quarterly profit in a row, hedge fund manager David Einhorn, one of the electric carmaker's best-known critics, lobbed questions about the company's financials at its two top executives.

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Einhorn asked Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk and chief financial officer Zach Kirkhorn about Tesla's accounts receivable, costs, idled factories and the impact of currency market movements on the company.

"Can you or (Zack) explain," Einhorn wrote, misspelling the CFO's first name in the tweet. Without answers, the investor added, he would continue to wonder "if not only your accounts receivable are suspect, but your income statement as well."

Einhorn has 48,000 followers on Twitter and his message hit a nerve after Musk on Wednesday overshadowed his company's strong first quarter results with comments about stay-at-home restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Musk called for an end to California's stay-at-home orders, describing them as "fascist" and a "serious risk" to his business.

The hedge fund manager's Thursday tweet was retweeted nearly 700 times and liked more than 2,500 times. Representatives for Einhorn and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Einhorn and Musk have a history of taunting each other on social media.

Greenlight Capital's Einhorn has long bet that Tesla's share price would drop, holding onto a view that has hurt his portfolio. In January, Einhorn told his investors in a letter that his negative view on Tesla is reflected by his purchase of put options. In the first quarter Greenlight Capital lost 21.5%, an investor said.

Tesla reported a first quarter profit of $1.24 per share, beating analysts' forecasts for a loss of 36 cents per share. Strong demand for its Model 3 vehicle and the sale of regulatory credits helped fuel the gain. Tesla's share price has surged 91% since January, recovering quickly from a sharp slump in March when stocks tumbled amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
Foreign governments have much to gain from the protests, which are propelled by Western media smearing Beijing.





Despite escalating violence between protesters and police in Hong Kong, I believe it is extremely unlikely the Beijing government will take retaliatory measures against the protesters in 2020.

This is because the Beijing government has learned that a crackdown will not reverse their long-term failure to address the growing distrust Hong Kong youth feel towards both the Hong Kong and Beijing governments.

Through a combination of Western propaganda and foreign funding, the protesters are being led to believe false promises of freedom and democracy made by countries who actively profit from their unrest. I only hope they realise this before it is too late.

Foreign governments have much to gain from the Hong Kong protests. The US, engaged in a trade war with China, has taken the opportunity to safeguard its own economic interests under the guise of promoting human rights and democracy with the 2019 Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-wen, received a surge in young voter support for her lagging presidential bid prior to the 2016 Taiwanese presidential election by allying herself with the Hong Kong protesters. Taiwan has even become the primary source of funding for the 2019 protests through organisations like church and activist groups, citing fears over Chinese influence in the region.

Signs of unrest in Hong Kong arrived in late 2014, when the Occupy Central movement blocked major intersections in Hong Kong for 79 days in order to sway the election committees nomination of the now-Chief Executive, Carrie Lam. Occupy Central protesters opposed her nomination on the grounds that she received majority backing from what they deemed a biased, pro-Beijing election committee.

But in 2019, the protests were different. They were better coordinated, better funded, and more violent.

The popularity of these protests is undeniable.

I believe many of those in the protests were propelled by the constant smearing of the Beijing and Hong Kong governments by Western media sources. They exposed the long-term failure of the Chinese governments propaganda department to ensure young people were adequately aligned with and supportive of their goals. This led to a deep-rooted distrust in the Hong Kong protesters hearts that will not be quelled by retroactive measures like withdrawing the anti-extradition bill or open dialogue sessions with academics and politicians. The protesters are not satisfied, even as we see Lam continually negotiate with or obey their demands.

Contrast this with the protesters reactions to US President Donald Trumps decision to sign the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in 2019.

This law has had zero action taken on it since being enacted on November 27 and has done nothing to help Hong Kongers on the ground. Instead, the Act assesses whether Hong Kong is and will continue to be beneficial for US business interests, hinting at a potential reclassification of its special trade status with the US under the 1992 United States-Hong Kong Policy Act if conditions worsen. Under the guise of promoting human rights and democracy, they are protecting the more than 1,300 US companies that operate in Hong Kong; companies who benefit from Hong Kongs proximity to China, our independent judiciary, and our rule of law. Furthermore, it grants US President Donald Trump visa and asset-blocking permissions on Chinese citizens he deems responsible for undermining fundamental freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong.

How does this increase our freedoms as Hong Kongers?

Yet, the passing of this Act delighted the protesters. Nathan Law, a former politician and prominent Hong Kong protester, called it a timely Thanksgiving present. Jimmy Lai, another prominent protester, media tycoon and founder of anti-China publication Apple Daily, has said to the US in an interview with Freedom House, We are fighting your battle for you. In an interview with 60 Minutes, he said the values in Hong Kong are closer to those of the West because of our colonial past. This is the extent to which they are loyal to Western governments and mistrustful of their own.

According to a Reuters poll released on December 31, 2019, only 17 percent of Hong Kongers say they want independence from China, with just 20 percent saying China has abused the one country, two systems model to favour Beijing.

Most citizens, especially after the coronavirus, do not envy the Americans. Wuhan, a province of 60 million people, was swiftly and effectively quarantined to control the spread. A new hospital was built there in 10 days, the first of a total of 16 temporary hospitals that have now closed since Wuhans partial reopening.

Meanwhile, the US has the highest number of coronavirus deaths worldwide.

In a free Western society, people have their individualism, their own determinations and they decide if they want to listen to their government. These were all qualities that held them back during the pandemic.

To treat the violent anti-government sentiment in Hong Kong from the root, defensive, preparatory measures, and an overhaul of local media and education are needed; not just punitive measures once crimes have been committed. The existing Chinese propaganda philosophy, which seeks to inform and inculcate belief through principle-based doctrine must learn from the subtlety of Western propaganda sources. This was key to its success with the Hong Kong protesters.

The law cannot reverse the erosion of trust and ensuing violence between protesters and police that has already happened. It can only penalise it. Despite any foreign countrys actions, the internal security of Hong Kong is threatened most by the distrust alive in the hearts of its people. The protesters are being used to further their own ruin, but I fear they will only see this in the aftermath.

This episode of #AJOpinion is a response to our previous episode with Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong student activist and secretary-general of the Demosisto party. You can watch that here.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

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Mumbai Police has reportedly requested the family of late actor Rishi Kapoor to take the actors mortal remains directly to a crematorium near the hospital where he breathed his last, not to home owing to the lockdown.

His body will be driven directly to a crematorium in Marine Lines Chandanwadi, close to HN Reliance Foundation Hospital where he was admitted, reports timesofindia.com. The last rites are expected to be performed around 3-4 pm today.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor, Bollywoods original chocolate boy, dies at 67, Amitabh Bachchan says hes destroyed

Rishi breathed his last on Thursday morning after a long battle with cancer. Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last, confirmed his family in a statement.

His wife Neetu Kapoor was by his side when he breathed his last in the morning. Rishi Kapoor is survived by wife, actress Neetu Kapoor, daughter Riddhima and son Ranbir.

Riddhima lives in Delhi and had to secure a special pass from the police to travel to Mumbai. With all forms of public transport such as trains and flights suspended, she will travel on road by car over 1400 kilometres from Delhi to Mumbai.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
P olice have been left "horrified" after finding swastikas sprayed onto signs urging people to stay at home and "protect the NHS".

Vandals attacked a number of yellow "car park closed" signs along the coast between Seaton Sluice and Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

At least five locations over two miles were vandalised overnight, including a sign saying "Car park closed, stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives".

Council teams were sent out to remove the swastikas.

Northumbria Police officers are now appealing for information about the incident.

Council teams were sent out to remove the swastikas / PA

A police spokesperson said the officers were "horrified".
On this last day of April, the UK should be carrying out 100,000 daily tests for coronavirus, under the timetable set out by Matt Hancock, the health secretary, four weeks ago.

There is next to no chance of the target being hit  threatening severe embarrassment for Hancock, when confirmed within days  but the real question is not simply how many people are being tested. It is who is being tested  and where, and why?

And to explain that, say the fiercest critics of the testing saga, we have to go back to a decision taken, almost without being noticed, seven weeks ago.

It was barely mentioned at the time, failing to hit any headlines as the terrible crisis unfolded, but it is a twist crucial to understanding the troubled tale of testing for coronavirus that followed.

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

On 12 March, a sombre Boris Johnson rose to warn the nation that Covid-19 was taking grip, that many more families would lose loved ones and people with symptoms should stay at home for seven days.

The UK was still almost two weeks away from lockdown, but it was the day that efforts to contain the spread of the disease were abandoned  in favour of delay  which meant community testing and the tracing of the contacts of positive cases was stopped.

If we hadnt stopped it on 12 March, our epidemic would have been much less. They effectively allowed it to spread, says Anthony Costello, a professor of global health at University College London.

Over the next two weeks, the death toll for the UK would rise sharply  it now stands at third highest in the world  and, amid a storm of criticism that the government was failing badly, Hancock made his pledge of 100,000 daily tests on 2 April.

At the time, just 10,000 people a day were being tested and staff absence levels in the NHS were soaring as medics with symptoms were forced to stay home, when they were badly needed on emergency wards.

The government had set a target of 25,000 daily tests by mid-April  which it was to miss by a mile  and Johnson had once pledged the wildly implausible 250,000 a day, with no deadline attached.

From the moment he spoke on 2 April, it seemed clear the health secretary was winging it, as observers were left scratching their heads about exactly what he was promising.

Would the tests be to establish who has the virus now, or an antibody test to establish who had previously had Covid-19? The health secretary had also promised home fingerprick tests and immunity certificates for people given the all-clear to return to normal life.

Hancock was unclear. He also announced a five pillar plan with one measure, creating a German-style mass diagnostic industry from scratch  during a pandemic  seemingly plucked from thin air in desperation to reach the magic tally of five.

Before too long, hopes of fingerprick tests had evaporated, as they were found to be inaccurate, whereupon ministers  thanks to The Independent  had to publicly commit to 100,000 daily virus tests.

From that moment, Hancocks fate was sealed, not least because sick NHS and care workers, and care residents, were expected to drive for hours to distant testing centres in order to establish whether they had Covid-19. Those centres stood idle as a consequence.

There are still only 16 mobile testing labs, with the remaining 80 that were promised not set to be up-and-running until the weekend at the earliest.

As a result, more than two weeks after everyone in a care home with symptoms was promised a test, many are still missing out  even as deaths in those homes rise sharply.

Nevertheless, Hancock can claim some successes. There is now capacity for 73,400 tests and 52,249 were carried out on Wednesday  although on only around 33,000 people, after retests  which meant he could offer them to millions of other key workers, although the online booking system immediately crashed.

He has now expanded the offer to all over-65s and workers who need to leave their homes with symptoms, and their household members. By the end of the week, 25,000 a day could be carrying out home tests.

It is striking that the man credited with Germanys testing miracle  a virology expert named Christian Drosten  said this week that the UK was really gaining momentum and now coordinating testing efforts better than Germany.

But  it is the gap between testing capacity (73,400) and actual tests (only 52,249) that exposes where the UK misfired.

If everyone agrees testing is critical  and spare test kits are literally lying around  why are they not being put to use?

The answer is that Hancock has been testing only NHS and care workers and their families (now other key workers), because community testing was stopped on 12 March.

He finally switched tack on 23 April, announcing that an 18,000-strong army would be recruited to trace and potentially isolate the contacts of suspected cases who would now, finally, all be tested  admitting it was the key to conquering the virus and easing the lockdown.

But the mass programme came a full five weeks after the World Health Organisation urged all nations to test, test, test  a plea explicitly rejected by the UK at the time. And, crucially, it will not begin until mid-May, at the earliest.

Now, ministers have been criticised for using the phrase following the science as a shield for ducking hard decisions, but on this occasion they had a ready defence.

Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, on 26 March, explained the decision to halt community work: There comes a point in a pandemic where that is not an appropriate intervention. And that is the point where we moved into delay. And, although we still do some contact tracing and testing, for example in high-risk areas like prisons and care homes, that is not an appropriate mechanism as we go forward.

Ministers have justified last weeks U-turn on the grounds that community testing and tracing can only be successful after infections drop sharply, which was news to nations such as South Korea, Germany, Singapore and Vietnam, where it never stopped.

Perhaps worse, the evidence was growing that the experts at this were sitting around twiddling their thumbs when they could at least have been recruited for when testing restarted.

There are round 5,000 local council environmental health workers  and thousands more in the private sector, now furloughed in the shutdown  with years of tracing the victims of salmonella, Legionnaires disease and even norovirus.

But Public Health England had made no effort to deploy them, a missed opportunity said Gary McFarlane, of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Earlier deployment would have boosted testing numbers towards the magic 100,000 figure. Moreover, scientific opinion  in contrast to Ms Harriess cast-iron certainty  is split down the middle on the wisdom of halting community testing in the first place.

McFarlane said it was too early to pass judgment, telling The Independent: Now is not the time to have that autopsy, it would be a distraction. We are where we are.

But he added: Testing and contact tracing are fundamentally linked and we cannot start to relax the lockdown until we have a robust system of tracing the cases really fast and isolating them.

If we dont do that we will end up exactly where we were a week ago. The virus hasnt gone away, its still out there and we havent got a vaccine yet.

But Allyson Pollock, professor of public health at Newcastle University, is scathing, blaming the way disease control services have been decimated over the decade of austerity.

She said, even now, local councils were being denied information on the number of new infections in their areas, which could have allowed testing and tracing to be under way already.

Hancock had, the professor said, also been distracted by his dream of a smartphone app to guide tracing, which even its developer has warned it requires a daunting 60 per cent take-up to be successful.

We have announcements that they are going to track and trace, but we dont yet know how, Ms Pollock said.

I cannot understand why contact tracing  which is the key guidance of the World Health Organisation  is not being followed and why the UK appeared to be making it up as it goes along, rather than using the standard international advice that has been followed in every other country which has managed to deal with this virus well.

The Independent has put these criticisms to the Department of Health and Social Care but has not received a response.

Hancock will hit his 100,000 target, albeit late, but that scarcely matters by itself. The who, where and why are so much more crucial.
India continues to get criticized for its new citizenship laws. The basic problem has always been illegal Moslem migrants. This was most acute in the northeast (Assam) where four million Bengalis, most of them (or their ancestors) illegal migrants, are being denied citizen status. The tribal locals have long resented the illegal migrants, and more so than the legal migrants the government encouraged to settle in Assam because the area was thinly populated. India sees this citizenship crackdown as a way to reduce support for local tribal separatist rebels. What brought the Bengalis into Assam initially were Indian politicians, mainly from the ruling BJP party, who encouraged the illegal migration after 1948 so these new residents of Assam would show their gratitude by registering to vote and do so regularly for BJP candidates. This is an old problem and India passed a law in 1950 making it clear that these Bengali migrants were illegal and not to be considered citizens. Now another law has been passed to enforce the original 1950 who is a citizen act. Bangladesh considers this an unfriendly (to Bangladesh) act. What this really demonstrates is that Bangladesh has long been very poor and very overpopulated. Illegal migrants have long been a problem as Bengalis fled to more affluent neighbors. This problem persists. Efforts to enforce the new law ran into problems because of many Indians, especially in rural areas, lack IDs confirming their status as citizens. Few Indians pay their taxes and the government until recently, was not trying to deal with those problems either. Now the Bengali illegals are invoking anti-Moslem persecution to halt government effort to identify and deport illegals. The new law does make it more difficult for Moslems to become legal migrants but in this case, India is following the example of most Moslem majority nations that openly refuse to take Moslem refugees because such migrants often bring Islamic radicals and other troublesome types with them. Non-Moslem migrants are preferred. India ignores foreign criticism.

While Indian Moslems, about 15 percent of the population and the largest number of Moslems in any country, had some problems with Islamic terrorism beginning in the 1990s, that has largely diminished as distaste for Islamic terrorism grew among Indian Moslems, including the young men who were most likely to participate. Potential Indian Moslem recruits for Islamic terror groups found that their Moslem kin and neighbors were generally quite hostile to Islamic radicalism because that sort of thing always brought death and desolation for Moslems. Moreover, a Moslem had more economic and educational opportunities than in Moslem majority nations and why endanger that by attacking other Indians.

One part of India where Islamic terrorism is still a problem is in the northwest (Kashmir) where Pakistan continues to use border violence against Indian border guards and civilians living near the border. Pakistan-based (and supported) Islamic terrorists still come across the border armed with weapons with orders to kill as many non-Moslem Indians as possible.

Communist (Maoist) rebels are still a problem in eastern India, where the once radical political ideas have morphed into desperate efforts to survive or, increasingly, quit.

India suffered 621 deaths from Islamic, separatist and communist violence in 2019 and so far it appears that the number deaths will be the same in 2020. In other words about .5 deaths per million population. Pakistan managed to reduce terrorism related deaths by 90 percent since 2015 and in 2019 the annual total was less than India for the first time. This year the number of Pakistani deaths are on track to decline still more, but not as much. Even with that decline, the Pakistan deaths per million population is 1.6, more than three times what India suffers. Pakistan still has more religious and separatist violence than India and is not making much progress in eliminating these corrosive attitudes. Worse, Pakistan is still plagued by a military establishment that refuses to abide by civilian control. Such civilian control has always been the case in more affluent and less violent India. The Pakistani military has been trying to depict India as a threat to Pakistani independence and prosperity. India is neither. Worse, India considers Pakistan more of a nuisance than a threat and never considered Pakistan a glittering potential conquest. This enrages the Pakistani generals who have tried and failed, for decades, to make their illusions come true.

The Other Commies

The other communist problem, Chinese territorial claims on Indian border areas and much of northeast India, have been on hold for several years while China deals with economic and domestic problems. The longer China is distracted the better for India, which is desperately trying to close the economic and military gap between the two countries. China spends nearly four times as much on defense as India because China has an economy (GDP) that is nearly five times larger. Indian emphasis on economic growth since the 1990s has paid off because that growth has been spectacular lately, with GDP nearly doubling in the last decade from $1.7 trillion to the current $2.9 trillion. This made India the fifth largest economy, recently surpassing Britain and France. The rest of the top five are the U.S., China, Germany and Japan. Chinese GDP growth is slowing although in the last decade it more than doubled from $6.1 trillion to $14 trillion. But for once the annual Indian GDP growth has been faster than in China, where GDP growth rates have been declining over the last five years.

April 25, 2020: The Pakistani military has continued its violence on the Indian border despite the covid19 pandemic. So far in April Pakistan has violated the ceasefire at least 250 times. That puts the year-to-date total at about 1,400. The total number of violations in 2019 was 3,168 and in 2018 it was 1,629.

In the northeast India (Assam) two NCSN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) tribal separatists based in Kachin state crossed the Burmese border and were arrested by an Indian army patrol. Indian and Burmese Naga rebels continue to maintain bases on the Burmese side of the border. The Burmese Sagaing region has long been used as a refuge for Indian rebels but since early 2019 Indian and Burmese forces have been coordinating efforts to shut down the border camps for good, or at least for a long time. While this effort hurt the Naga rebels it did not destroy the rebel groups, who returned to the border area once the troops had ceased their activity. Most of the Naga people are Indian but some live in the Burmese far north (Sagaing Region). The NSCN which wants to form an independent Nagaland including Indian and Burmese territory and Naga people from both countries. Many of the camps being sought in Sagaing belong to the NSCN-K faction of the NSCN. At the start of 2019 there were believed to be about 5,000 active rebels in NSCN with about ten percent of them Burmese Naga. Operation since then sought to reduce the size of NSCN by a significant amount. These operations are not just going after the NSCN but also smaller groups like the Ulfa-I, NDFB and Manipur rebels. The Naga are actually about two million people from a collection of tribes that share many ethnic (Burma-Tibetan) characteristics and traditions. About ten percent of the Naga live in Burma but most of the rebel violence occurs in Indian Nagaland.

April 23, 2020: In Pakistan the military overruled the elected government and imposed a nationwide quarantine to deal with the covid19 virus. Yesterday the government had announced it would not continue to shut down the economy and put millions of workers, many of them barely surviving, out of work. Current thinking worldwide is that this is the way to go as covid19 has not been as lethal as feared. Nations that refused to institute an economically disastrous quarantine did not suffer sharp increases in overall death rates. Nations that did enforce widespread quarantine saw total deaths per week decline and then spike but never surpassing years in which the annual influenza was doing m0re damage that usual. These facts were hidden for a while as the media put the spotlight on deaths attributed to covid19. The Pakistani military has, in effect, staged another coup and replaced the civilian government while also doing great damage to the already fragile economy. Pakistan has been getting by with foreign loans for nearly a decade and that source of cash has disappeared along with Pakistans credit rating. Despite all these economic problems the military refuses to allow cuts in defense spending demanded by parliament and elected officials.

India has so far had 24 confirmed cases of covid19 per million population and 0.8 deaths per million. Pakistan had had 111 cases per million confirmed cases and 2 deaths per million. Pakistan has the highe r infection and death rates because there are more Chinese in Pakistan, working on the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative). This currently involves an $8.2 billion upgrade of key Pakistani rail lines that will allow freight and passenger trains to nearly double their safe speed to as much as 100 kilometers an hour. This allows more, and faster traffic on existing lines. Most of the work will be on 1,800 kilometer line from the port of Karachi to the inland city of Peshawar. China is financing the project and supplying much of the workforce. There will also be a lot of Pakistani laborers and technical personnel put to work alongside the Chinese. All this began in late 2019, just in time for covid19 to spread from Wuhan via Chinese workers travelling to places like Pakistan for BRI projects.

Elsewhere in the region Bangladesh has 39 covid19 cases per million and 0.9 deaths per million. In Burma its three cases per million people and 0.09 deaths. Thailand has 42 cases per million and 0.8 deaths. China, where the virus began, stopped releasing covid19 cases and deaths data as part of a government program to try and blame the U.S. for the virus. Few (Chinese or foreigners) believe that and it is taken for granted by neighbors of China that the Wuhan Virus, as it was first known, indeed came from China. By now it has also become known that covid19 is not much more dangerous than one of the deadlier annual influenza epidemics. The flu is taken for granted and it is unclear if covid19, which is genetically almost identical to the 2013 SARS virus, another Chinese corona (trans-species) virus, will be an annual event or disappear like SARS and similar diseases. Covid19 is unique in that it attacks the lungs and is often mistaken for pneumonia. As such it is particularly dangerous to the elderly or anyone with weakened immune system or other illnesses. Most healthy adults and children do not notice covid19 at all even if exposed to it.

April 22, 2020: The 2020 World Press Freedom ratings were released showing Pakistan at 145th place (out of 180 nations). This is largely because of a military effort to silence all criticism of corruption and political interference they are notorious for. While that was bad, some of the neighbors were worse. Bangladesh was 151, China 177 and Iran 173. Some were better as in Afghanistan at 122, India at 142 and Burma 139. In contrast, Britain was 35, France 34, United States 45, Canada 16 and Germany 11. The top five were Norway in first place followed by Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Netherlands. Bottom five were Djbouti, China, Eritrea, Turkmenistan and North Korea in last place. These rankings are mainly about professional journalists and play down the impact of the Internet and many non-professional, but often well qualified, individuals who are now supplying a lot of the news, especially accurate reports of what is actually happening. The conventional media, which employs most professional journalists, has lost more than half its staff in the last twenty years as more people prefer non-professional or semi-pro reporters on the Internet. Governments find it easier to restrict the professional journalists, leaving the Internet based reporters as the main source of accurate reporting in many countries, like Pakistan.

April 21, 2020: India became the third largest defense spender in 2019 with its $71.1 annual defense budget. That was notable for several reasons. For the first time, India had a larger defense budget than Russia, which had long been in the top three for nearly a century, usually in 2nd place. But after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 China was able to eventually move into second place. In 2019 China spent nearly $300 billion on defense, still far behind the American $732 billion. Indias most aggressive neighbor, Pakistan, spent $10.3 billion.

April 19, 2020: In Pakistan the government suffered another defeat in a dispute with conservative Islamic clerics. The government agreed to allow radical clerics to keep their mosques open to worshippers if the mosques followed 20 rules of conduct. The radical clerics will not follow the rules, even though they said they would. The rules were a face-saving way for the government to admit defeat. The majority of Pakistanis, including a majority of clerics, criticized the government for once more giving in to threats from radical clerics. In fact neither the government nor the military wanted to start a fight with the radical clerics over this. The radical clerics won a financial as well as political victory because mosques collect the most donations (to support the mosque and its staff) during the four weeks of Ramadan, which begins on the 24th.

In March Pakistan ordered a nationwide quarantine to deal with the covid19 virus. While Pakistan has, to date, recorded a low number of virus caused infections and deaths, China has warned that losses could be heavy, identified or not, if precautions were not taken. China also pointed out that the more covid19 infections there were the more likely that senior political, military and business officials were likely to get infected and die. Pakistanis can see how bad that can get next door in Iran. Retail and manufacturing operations are allowed to supply the nightly feasting after fasting during daylight hours. Restaurants will remain closed, along with schools and most mosques. The government does not want anti-government demonstrations by followers of the radical clerics.

April 18, 2020: In Northwest Pakistan (North Waziristan) troops clashed with seven Islamic terrorists who had come from a base across the Afghan border in Khost province. All seven of Islamic terrorists were killed and found to be Pakistanis. Four soldiers were also killed. Much equipment and documents were seized. The seven men were planning attacks in Pakistan.

April 11, 2020: The Pakistani Taliban released a video honoring a former leader, Hakeemullah Mehsud, who was killed by an American missile in 2013. A member of the Mehsud clan, Hakeemullah Mehsud led the Pakistani Taliban at its peak, before the 2014 Pakistani military operation that shut down the Islamic terrorist sanctuary in North Waziristan. The video made some interesting points that are not usually emphasized in the media. For one thing, the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban actually get along rather well, despite the Afghan Taliban being largely Afghans and beholden to the Pakistani military for sanctuary and support. Both Talibans are largely Pushtun and that counts for something in this part of the world. Both Talibans work with al Qaeda and both hate ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). Both Talibans also get along with the Haqqani Network, another Pushtun Islamic terror group from that formed during the 1980s Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Haqqani has since gone gangster and still works for the Pakistani military. That means that sometimes Haqqani hitmen are ordered to kill Afghan Taliban personnel. This is not frequent because both Talibans and Haqqani are Pushtun and the Pakistani military has found there are limits to what it can pay or coerce Pushtun to do to each other.

Most of the leaders of the Pakistani Taliban have come from the Mehsud tribe, which is largely in South Waziristan. This tribe was instrumental in forming the Pakistani Taliban. In late 2013 an American UAV used a missile to kill Hakimullah Mehsud, the man Mullah Maulana Fazlullah succeeded as head of the Pakistani Taliban. That attack took place in Pakistan (North Waziristan) and in light of the subsequent (2014) Pakistani army offensive into North Waziristan the Pakistani Taliban moved their headquarters across the border into Afghanistan. At the same time, there was a civil war within the Pakistani Taliban over the selection of Fazlullah as leader and strategy in general. Fazlullah proved effective in reuniting the Pakistani Taliban and dispersing its operations after leaving North Waziristan. That worked despite the fact that some Pakistani and Afghan Taliban did not get along. Those antagonisms have mellowed since 2014 and that has been noted by the Pakistani military which now fears popular efforts to create a united Pushtun movement are a growing threat to Pakistan more than Afghanistan.

April 10, 2020: In northwest Pakistan, an Afghan army raid across the border in Afghanistans Nangarhar Province, but near the main crossing from Pakistan, found and seized a recently arrived (from Pakistan) truck that was carrying ten tons of explosives. The two men on the truck said they were paid to deliver half the load to someone in Nangarhar and the rest to someone in Kabul. Meanwhile, Pakistan has closed most of its Afghan border crossings to prevent the spread of the covid19. The crossings are expected to remain closed for at least another week.

April 9, 2020: In southwest Pakistan, on the Afghan (Kandahar province) border Pakistani soldiers and border fence workers were forced to retreat from the Spin Boldak area where they were building the Pakistani border fence. Although guards stood watch as workers began building the fence and border outposts on what the Afghans consider the Afghan side of the border, armed Afghans opened fire on the workers. This attack took place south of Kandahar City, the original "home town" of the Taliban. Most of the construction work takes place at night but the construction sites are guarded day and night because local Afghans will sometimes attack.

About half the 2,500 kilometer long Afghan border fence has been completed. Many Afghans dispute where Pakistan draws the border and the need for a border fence itself. Gunfire from the Afghanistan side of the border regularly kills or wounds soldiers and workers building the fence. Construction has been underway since 2017 and the attacks from the Afghan side have become particularly intense at times. So far Pakistan has had over a hundred soldiers and workers killed or wounded. Most of the Afghan-Pakistani border is still called the Durand Line. This was an impromptu, pre-independence (1893) invention of British colonial authorities and was always considered temporary, or at least negotiable, by locals. The need for renegotiation was mainly about how the line often went right through Pushtun tribal territories. However, the Afghans are more inclined to demand adjustments to the Durand Line and fight to obtain what they want. Thus recent Pakistani efforts to build more fences and other structures on their side of the border was an attempt to make the Durand line permanent and no longer negotiable.

April 8, 2020: Pakistan had agreed to reopen Torkham and Chaman, the main border crossings with Afghanistan, three days a week starting April 10th. Afghan needs the cargo but Pakistan also wants the Afghans in Pakistan to go home. That was a problem because Afghanistan lacked the medical personnel to screen all those coming across. Pakistan has a lot of covid19 and Afghanistan has a lot less because it is so hard for anyone to get across the border.

April 6, 2020: In southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan) the covid19 virus has not slowed down the local Baluchi separatists. For the first three months of the year, there were 26 violent incidents where the separatists attacked Pakistani security forces. There were even more incidents where these security forces attacked, arrested, kidnapped or murdered civilians during efforts to suppress the separatists. This Baluchi separatist violence has been going on for decades. To make matters worse there are also Baluchi separatists across the border in southeastern Iran. Pakistan keeps getting blamed by Iran for the continued presence of Iranian Sunni separatists in Pakistani Baluchistan. Pakistan tries but the Baluchis live on both sides of the border and Iranian and Pakistani Baluchis want to create an independent Baluchistan that includes a chunk of southeast Iran where most of the Iranian Baluchis live. One of the usual suspects, Iranian separatist group Jaish al Adl, is particularly hated by the Iranians. In late 2018 Iran threatened to send troops across the Pakistani border to find and destroy Iranian Jaish al Adl camps in Pakistan if the Pakistani security forces did not take action and neither did the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps). Keeping the peace between Iran and Pakistan over the Baluchi violence consumes a lot of effort by diplomats in both countries.
BOSTON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by both Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, and Wells Capital Management Incorporated, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1380 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of April 13, 2020, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) with important information concerning the distribution declared on April 1, 2020, and payable on April 30, 2020. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: April 2020



Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.1380

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable April 30, 2020, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.















For the period 4/1/2020-4/30/2020

For the fiscal year-to-date period

11/1/2019-4/30/2020 1 Source

Current

Distribution ($)

% Breakdown

of the Current Distribution

Total Cumulative

Distributions ($)

% Breakdown

of the Total

Cumulative

Distributions Net Investment Income

0.0723

52%

0.6893

83% Net Realized Short-















Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0%

0.0000

0% Net Realized Long-















Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0%

0.1387

17% Return of Capital or















Other Capital















Source

0.0657

48%

0.0000

0% Total per common share

0.1380

100%

0.8280

100%

















Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on March 31, 2020

3.26%





Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of March 31, 2020

8.75%





Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through March 31, 2020

-27.44%





Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of March 31, 2020

4.38%







---------------------------- 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2019, and will end on October 31, 2020.

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the April 2020 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.1380 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial

John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services group that helps people achieve their dreams and aspirations by putting customers' needs first and providing the right advice and solutions. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States and as Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups, and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over CAD$1.2 trillion (US$900 billion) as of December 31, 2019. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and education savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
It'll be a lonely few months for the single entry to this year's Rose of Tralee.

Christine Smyth, from Ohio, was the only woman officially selected to compete in Tralee's festival this August before it was cancelled.

'Rose Selections' around the world had been put on ice as a result of Covid-19.

This week, organisers announced with heavy hearts that, for the first time in its 61-year history, the festival would not be taking place.

Now we'll all have to wait 16 months to listen to Rose sisters sing 'The Parting Glass', or play the spoons, or watch Daithi O Se try to limbo across the stage in The Dome.

Ms Smyth (22), a managerial arts student, decided to sign up to the festival last year, and was chosen to represent Ohio in the US in February.

Expand Close Christine took up Irish dancing to connect with her Irish background / Facebook

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Whatsapp Christine took up Irish dancing to connect with her Irish background

Instead of heading to the Kingdom this summer, she will automatically go through to the 2021 festival instead.

"I have a lot of unique and unusual feelings about the cancellation, which makes sense as we are living in such a unique and unusual time," she said.

"I'm disappointed that I won't get to celebrate with my Rose sisters this year but I'm also relieved.

"My 91-year-old grandpa John will be coming over with me, so it's safer for everyone to wait until next year."

Expand Close Delight: Christine Smyth celebrates being Ohio Rose with her family / Facebook

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Whatsapp Delight: Christine Smyth celebrates being Ohio Rose with her family

Ms Smyth was born in the US but her father Colin was from Feakle in Co Clare.

Tragically, Colin died of a brain aneurysm when she was a child.

She entered the competition to reconnect with her Irish roots.

"I took up Irish dancing so I would have that connection with my Irish background, and set up my own Irish Dancing School to keep the memory of my dad alive.

"I first heard about the Rose of Tralee when I was rehearsing a dance show. I was actually playing a Rose in that performance, and I decided to apply," she said.

Ms Smyth added she was not entirely surprised the festival was cancelled, given its reliance on overseas competitors.

"It was in the back of my mind when I saw how things were going. In a way I'm happier it's been postponed rather than delayed as I'm going into my final year in college in Cleveland so it would have been a bit disruptive," she said.

"There's a great sense of anticipation now. And I think the wait will make me appreciate getting to Tralee even more."

She will attend next year's festival with her grandfather and mother Diane.

In the meantime, she has put her sash to one side and is acclimatising to life under lockdown in Ohio.

In the US, and other countries, there have been numerous demonstrations against the lockdown restrictions.

"There are two different extremes over here, those people keeping entirely to themselves and others objecting. It's a mixed bag. But I think most people are just looking forward to a return to normality," she said.

The cancellation of the festival will have a huge economic impact on Co Kerry.

It estimated to be worth more than 50m in terms of spending, overseas publicity and follow-on tourism.

The Rose of Tralee traces its history back to the old Tralee Carnival Queen but was resurrected as a modern event with a budget of IR750 following a meeting of Kerry businessmen in 1957.

It was first broadcast on Telefis Eireann in 1967 and was hosted by Joe Lynch, who played Dinny in 'Glenroe'.

Since then it has been a permanent and popular fixture in RTE's summer schedule.

This week, Anthony O'Gara, executive chair of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, said he was sad to postpone the festival but it was "the right decision as we all play our part right now in keeping each other safe and well".
[April 30, 2020] Mass Job Losses Opens New Opportunities in Self-Employment

Canadian business consultants launch an online program for self-employment training. EDMONTON, April 30, 2020 /CNW/ - Every day, the number of Canadians losing their jobs rises, as does the uncertainty of what the job market will look like once the COVID19 pandemic subsides. Many people are getting laid off temporarily, but there isn't a guarantee that their job will exist in several weeks, understandably causing stress for a lot of people. Still, many are turning to more creative solutions. "We will likely see a surge in small businesses starting up in our communities, and the ones who upskill through training are the ones who will see the most success," states Edmonton entrepreneur and small business start-up expert, Shauna Madsen.



According to StartUp Canada, 85% of start-up businesses survive their first year, 70% survive their second, and only 51% survive for five years. So how can you ensure the longevity of your company? "It boils down to proper planning," Shauna Madsen explains. "If people are willing to put the time in and research their target, understand their industry, monitor trends, and communicate effectively, they are going to see more success."

A small business consulting firm in Alberta has recently launched a Canada-wide online program that focuses on training people to start their own business. It takes them through modules that teach valuable business skills like goal setting, marketing planning, sales, pricing products and services, operations management, and action planning. It's entirely online and designed to help the budding entrepreneur build a solid foundation for their business. The program is entitled Encore:CEO. Madsen explains, "People change jobs seven times on average in their lifetime. The title "Encore" speaks to the next step you are taking in your professional journey." Anyone looking to start their own business can find this online training at www.encoreceo.com . Encore:CEO is a production of Madsen Avenue, an award-winning consulting, marketing and design firm that has called Edmonton home for more than 15 years. www.madsenavenue.com SOURCE Madsen Avenue

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The Covid-19 crisis has spurred a new wave of online and phone commerce, powered by millions of kirana stores, or local mom-and-pop shops, small merchants, cycle-riding delivery men, distributors on scooters, even farmers.

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered mom-and-pop shops in the US. In India, these retail stores, rich on legacy business skills, are emerging intact, albeit a little bruised.

The dependability, deep trust and unique relationships of these neighbourhood enterprises with millions of middle-class consumers have made them resilient and a darling for big tech. These shops account for 80% of the countrys retail sector.

As a punishing lockdown broke the back of big online retail in Indian cities, the countrys 8 million kirana stores have kept supplies going, thanks to their human and often personal network with consumers, suppliers, vendors and distributors.

Small stores have been able to home deliver goods profitability, or at least without incurring losses. One analyst, who did a survey for a large firm said on condition of anonymity that this is a surprising discovery. They have well established rules. For example, no delivery beyond a radius 3 km. Some deliver using cycles. That makes economic sense.

On April 22, social media giant Facebook announced a $5.7-billion investment in Jio Platforms Ltd, owned by Reliance Industries Ltd, aimed at leveraging WhatsApps 400 million subscribers to connect small stores and consumers. According to a report by JP Morgan this week, with this, WhatsApp could soon offer a shopping option to users.

Our focus will be Indias 60 million micro, small and medium businesses, 120 million farmers, 30 million small merchants and millions of small and medium enterprises in the informal sector, Reliance Jio said in a statement.

When in January of this year, the worlds richest man, Amazons Jeff Bezos, visited India, he too promised $1 billion in new investments to bring small businesses online.

So, how will this work? asked Delhis Mohit Aggarwal, the proprietor of Santoshi Stores, when a surveyor called him this week, seeking to on-board his store on to a bigger online retailing platform. The surveyor was hired by a retail company that Aggarwal did not want to name.

Aggarwal says he received an online tutorial that revealed an ambitious plan to bring millions of shops online. A dummy site explained how. The retailers site essentially acted like an online aggregator of hyperlocal mom-and-pops. After a shop is on-boarded, its inventories are monitored real time. While the front end connects the small shops to consumers, the back-end connects them to distributors.

Consumers can click for orders and also send their shopping list via WhatsApp, which will also act as a payment transaction app.

JioMart platform, the e-commerce venture of Reliance Retail, plans to have 5 million digitised mom-and-pop stores by 2023. Its mega deal with Facebook gives it a ready consumer base of 400 million WhatsApp users in India.

The platform has started trials for grocery orders on WhatsApp in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan, according to a report by Credit Suisse Ltd.

The customer initiates the interaction on WhatsApp, checks out the grocery order on JioMart webpage, gets connected with a retail store on WhatsApp and then customer picks up the order from Kirana and pays in cash,the report added.

Analysts see a revolution similar to the one preceding it in the digital payments ecosystem. On the one hand, JioMart could enable inventory and back-end supply chain for small shops, on the other, the WhatsApp platform could enable ordering and payment providing seamless customer experience, Edelweiss Securities Ltd said in a report on the deal.

Amazon India already features a Local Shops on Amazon to take local shops live. Flipkart said it is working with 37,000 kirana shops and ramping up further to serve the new set of consumers who are more tech-savvy and want personalized services.

According to a report by Deloitte India and Retail Association of India, Indias e-commerce market is growing at an annual clip of roughly 51%, the highest globally.

As more people join the internet economy (internet penetration is expected to almost double to 60% by 2022) and continue to get accustomed to their new online lives, the e-commerce industry is expected to grow into a 100 billion USD market by 2022, said Sankalpa Bhattacharya, partner and leader, PwC India.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a traders lobby, and the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) have also decided to launch an e-commerce platform for local retailers and grocery stores, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.

CAIT has often complained about predatory pricing of large e-tailers. Its entry into the kirana game could level the playing field and bring more options to small stores.

A federal push to free up agricultural markets, opaque and tightly controlled by layers of intermediaries, has come as a shot in the arm, said Amit Kakkar of Comtrade. He said the biggest upshot of the new push, from a consumer perspective, is quick deliveries and turnaround times because it is a hyperlocal transaction.

Under the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act, farmers could previously only sell their harvest at designated markets. This rule has been suspended, giving farmers the freedom to sell to remote buyers.

The new e-commerce model plans to get on board farmers and millers too so that its actually a farm-to-fork supply chain.

Kirana stores have the right enterprising quality and a very loyal customer base. The only missing thing was technology. This is where we come in to make them more efficient, said Samarth Agarwal, founder and CEO of MaxWholesale, an online platform for kirana stores to place inventory orders.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 14:52 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd538129 1 City flooding,North-Jakarta,Jakarta-administration,BPBD,tidal-flooding,tidal-floods Free

Several parts in North Jakarta are at risk of tidal flooding as the water level at a nearby floodgate rose following hours of heavy rainfall on Wednesday afternoon, inundating at least 20 community units (RW) across the capital.

The Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) recorded an increase in water level at the Pasar Ikan floodgate in North Jakarta to 210 centimeters, raising the standby alert status early on Thursday.

Although the water level receded later in the morning, the agency warned that there might be more heavy rainfall in several parts of Jakarta on Thursday.

Beware of the potential rainfall accompanied by lightning in the South and East Jakarta areas in the afternoon until late at night, and in the Thousand Islands regency at night until early morning, the agency tweeted on Thursday morning.

Read also: High intensity rain triggers flooding in parts of Aceh, Central Kalimantan

BPBD Jakarta said areas that were at risk of tidal flooding included Kamal Muara, Kapuk Muara, Penjaringan, Pluit, Ancol, Marunda, Cilincing and Kalibaru in North Jakarta, as well as Kamal in West Jakarta.

The agency has disseminated information on the water level increase and potential rainfall to residents living on the coast of North Jakarta and the Thousand Islands in order for them to anticipate flooding.

Following heavy rainfall on Wednesday afternoon, at least 20 community units in Jakarta were flooded, according to the BPBD Data and Information Center.

Data showed that at 3 p.m., 20 community units were inundated, center chief Insyaf told tribunnews.com on Wednesday.

The affected community units were spread across 10 subdistricts in East and South Jakarta, consisting of Bangka, Kebon Baru, Duren Tiga, Rawa Jati, Batu Ampar, Cililitan, Cipinang Cempedak, Jati Padang, Pejaten Timur and Bintaro.

Water levels in residential areas ranged from 10 to 90 cm deep.

After the heavy rainfall, Mampang and Pulo Rivers in South Jakarta overflowed and caused flooding in some areas, including Bangka and Jati Padang. (syk)
AMVETS has scrapped plans to carry on the Rolling Thunder tradition in Washington, D.C. this Memorial Day because of the coronavirus restrictions on large gatherings, but pledged to hold similar events next year.

"Legally, it's not possible and it just would not be responsible" for safety reasons this Memorial Day, Joe Chenelly, national executive director of the AMVETS veterans service organization, said in a video statement on the group's website.

He stressed that action by AMVETS was not a formal "cancellation." Instead, AMVETS will sponsor virtual events during the Memorial Day weekend on the POW-MIA issue and other veterans' causes and also promote a "Rolling To Remember" challenge.

The challenge is for those with motorcycles to ride 22 miles wherever they are on Sunday, May 24, the day before Memorial Day, to call attention to the average of 20-22 veteran suicides daily, Chenelly said.

Related: Thunders End: Rolling Thunder to Mark Final Memorial Day Event

"As always, the health and safety of our riders and the veteran community is our top priority," In AMVETS said in a statement. "Due to the federal and state restrictions on public gatherings and the guidance of public health officials amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rolling to Remember motorcycle demonstration will not take place in Washington, D.C."

Last September, American Veterans, better known as AMVETS, secured a National Park Service permit for Memorial Day events in D.C. similar to the annual three-day rallies of thousands of motorcyclists in the nation's capital sponsored by Rolling Thunder.

Chenelly said at the time that the events would be held to "to make the nation, especially our voters, aware of what is happening, what isn't happening and what needs to happen to address our POWs, our MIAs, and our veterans and active-duty service members who are dying by suicide."

He said AMVETS would not use the Rolling Thunder name and instead would call the events "Rolling To Remember."

AMVETS acted after Artie Muller, long-time leader of the Rolling Thunder rallies that rumbled through Washington for 32 years, stating that the 2019 rally would be the last, although local chapters around the country might sponsor their own events. He cited the escalating costs of holding the event.

"It's just a lot of money," Muller, a Vietnam veteran who served with the Army's 4th Infantry Division, told Military.com. He estimated the annual cost of the Rolling Thunder weekend in D.C. at $200,000.

President Donald Trump, who was on a visit to Japan last Memorial Day, expressed hope that the Rolling Thunder tradition would be renewed.

"The Great Patriots of Rolling Thunder WILL be coming back to Washington, D.C. next year, & hopefully for many years to come. It is where they want to be, & where they should be," he said in a tweet at the time.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read More: In First, DoD Awards Massive $7.2 Billion Contract to Single Company for PCS Moves
The report 'Advancing the 2030 Agenda in African cities through knowledge co-production', sheds light on what it takes to co-produce urban knowledge through transdisciplinary (TD) research across different scientific disciplines and with societal actors.

It has been drafted by a team of early-career African scientists funded through the Leading Integrated Research for Agenda 2030 in Africa programme (LIRA2030), which is run by the ISC together with the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and with the financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

By sharing initial findings from some of the programme's research projects, the report provides concrete examples of how scientists, communities and policy-makers are working together to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Africa's cities.

"Africa is urbanizing at an unprecedented level, raising some of the biggest challenges but also offering enormous opportunities for advancing equitable, sustainable development on the continent and globally. Responding with impact to those opportunities will require the effective mobilization of diverse types of knowledge and the integration of such knowledge in decision-making and practice at all levels of governance. The LIRA projects presented in this report demonstrate the value of cross-sectoral dialogue, learning, and action for advancing transformative change in African cities. Investing in a new generation of African scientific leaders to take this work forward is imperative."

Heide Hackmann, Chief Executive Officer of the International Science Council.

"Capacity building and learning is a lifelong venture. It involves not just learning new things or new ways of doing the same things, but also 'unlearning' old ways of doing things. This report reminds us that time has come to put that capacity into practice by unlearning conventional ways of doing science in Africa. Through transdisciplinarity, our early career scientists were able to move research from the lab into new spaces of policy and society. They co-produced knowledge with communities and policymakers to become relevant actors of social change in Africa's urbanization narrative. Now that's impact!"

Jackie Kado, Executive Director of NASAC.

Released as the world is facing an unprecedented global pandemic, the report sheds light on the kind of research and action needed to better address complex threats.

"Societal challenges - and today, the COVID19 pandemic - call upon us to bring down the walls that have long separated the different tribes of science, policy and practice, to talk to each other without pride or prejudice and to back up policy decisions with evidence and data, if we are to address the unique speed of unfolding global challenges together. This path-breaking report contains projects that have enabled researchers in and from Africa to transition from focusing on individual excellence in scientific research to believing in bridging different sources of knowledge for deeper engagement with societal challenges, so that we can lead the shift to universities as problem-solvers, and to bring about social change in our cities."

Kareem Buyana, Makerere University, Uganda, and a co-author of the report.

"The greatest value of the TD approach to my research has been re-centring "service" as the raison d'etre of science, be that service to practice or service to our collective societal imagination. By recognizing that diverse sources of expertise are often rendered invisible, the TD approach has challenged conventional wisdom, pushing boundaries to develop innovative new methodologies and partnerships that are inclusive and equitable, and which contribute contextually relevant knowledge. The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the realities of health inequalities and poor resilience in cities across the world. It has highlighted the short-sightedness of failure to consider the implications of the cities we build for the health of people and planet. The responses to this pandemic have also shown the importance of integrating context for the effective implementation of public health control measures. By increasing the pool of researchers trained on TD approaches, it is my hope that science and societal leaders of tomorrow will be better positioned to integrate the diverse knowledge sources and systems into strategies to prevent and address the complex global challenges that lie ahead."

Tolu Oni, University of Cambridge, UK, and a co-author of the report.

However, the report emphasizes that a number of fundamental shifts in practices of academic and funding institutions are required in order to enable scientists in Africa to respond to the challenges and opportunities of sustainable urban development. Most importantly, it concludes that the building of scientific capacity, especially of the next generation of scholars, to co-produce knowledge on sustainable urban development must be an ongoing, long-term process, with flexible funding mechanisms and appropriate recognition for researchers involved.

The report is available to download open access here: https://council.science/publications/advancing-the-2030-agenda-in-african-cities-through-knowledge-co-production-2/

###
What happened

Shares of outlet-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) Tanger Factory Outlet Centers (NYSE:SKT) dropped as much as 12.5% within the first half hour of trading on April 30. That loss had been pared to the mid-single digits by lunchtime, but it was still a change from recent days when Tanger and its enclosed mall peers were steadily rising.

So what

Tanger recently announced that it was extending the contract of its current CEO Steven Tanger, who plans to step down from the position at the end of this year. Tanger, a highly respected figure in the retail space, will remain with the company as executive chair until the end of 2023. This, however, isn't the type of news that pushes a stock price down 12.5%.

The news that made the difference today was another large increase in unemployment claims. Tanger is a retail landlord, and with roughly 30 million people applying for unemployment in just six weeks, the retail environment is getting harder, not easier. While Steven Tanger likes to say that outlet centers provide bargains to shoppers during difficult financial times, which is true, the current environment is well outside of the norm. In fact, even after non-essential businesses are allowed to reopen across the country, COVID-19 health concerns coupled with unemployment could be a one-two punch that keeps many consumers sitting at home.

It wasn't just Tanger that fell, of course; enclosed-mall owners like Macerich (NYSE:MAC), Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG), and Pennsylvania REIT (NYSE:PEI) also dropped in early trading, though only Penn REIT fell more than 10%. Interestingly, the highly leveraged Penn REIT was still down around 12% at lunch time despite the other names here managing to recoup some losses (Simon and Macerich were lower by about as much as Tanger, around 5%, in the middle of the day). Bankruptcy rumors surrounding competitor CBL & Associates, which is the only mall owner with more leverage than Penn REIT, might be causing some to question Penn REIT's turnaround potential.

Now what

The last few days have seen dramatic gains in the mall REIT space. But today shows that the situation in this niche of the retail property market is still in a state of flux. Only investors with very strong stomachs should be looking to invest here.
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. California Governor Gavin Newsom plans to close all beaches and parks starting May 1 after crowds ignored the social distancing rules to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, RIA Novosti reports.

The Governor plans to adopt a respective decision as many citizens do not follow the self-quarantine regime.

Earlier the California Governor said they plan to tighten the coronavirus-related restrictions.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19.

According to the data of the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in more than 210 countries and territories.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
WASHINGTON - As a sudden drop in demand decimates the oil industry, international efforts are underway to ride the lull in fossil fuel consumption to expedite the cleanup of the worlds energy sector.

Even as the coronavirus pandemic keeps countries under lockdown, world leaders view the sudden shock to the global economy as an opportunity to reduce reliance on the crude flowing from Texas and other regions and combat climate change.

At a meeting organized by the International Energy Agency last week, energy ministers from 13 nations including Canada, the United Kingdom, India and Italy discussed how to go about directing the trillions of dollars central banks and governments are spending in fiscal stimulus toward clean energy technologies such as electric cars, solar panels and advanced batteries.

In the face of human tragedy and the plethora of consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also been handed an opportunity to rebuild society in a manner that makes it more resilient to future crises, said Dan Jrgensen, Denmarks minister for climate, energy and utilities, who co-hosted the event. The choices we take now to kick-start our economies will also determine our ability to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

CRUDE CRISIS: The great Texas oil shutdown has begun

There is far from consensus on such a plan. Missing from that meeting were the worlds two largest economies and carbon emitters, the United States and China, both of which have resisted past efforts to curb emissions in line with other countries.

But around the world, the massive checks expected to be written for infrastructure and other public projects are seen as a potentially once in a generation opportunity to get the world on track to prevent catastrophic climate change, said Sarah Ladislaw, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

What theyre trying to do is try to create some movement or momentum within their own governments, she said. Theres a ton of people positing and thinking about if theres going to be big stimulus packages how do you make them green.

Unprecedented plunge

An expedited move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would speed up the count down on an oil industry already under threat. Some forecasters within the industry predicted that petroleum demand would peak within the decade even before coronavirus.

The oil industry has experienced an unprecedented plunge in demand  analysts estimate as much as 35 million barrels of crude a day  as social-distancing measures keep people at home and broad swaths of the global economy are shut down. People have also gotten a glimpse of a world burning less fossil fuel: blue skies over Beijing, less smog in Milan and reduced ozone in Houston.

For the oil industry, however, falling demand has led to mounting layoffs and looming bankruptcies, in Houston and across the country.

For now, the oil industry is confident its role in producing the worlds energy is secure even if expanded climate policies come into force, said Aaron Padilla, climate policy manager at the American Petroleum Institute.

WHAT TO DO: As governments scramble on oil crash, not a lot of good options

Our member companies continue to see estimates with a strong and growing demand for oil and natural gas, he said. Any efforts policymakers make to incentivize investments in energy infrastructure that makes energy less greenhouse gas intensive, we also see a role for oil and natural gas.

But some energy companies are signaling the future of fossil fuels is limited, as they increase their commitment to adapt their business to climate change.

Even as stock prices are battered by the collapse in oil prices, Royal Dutch Shell announced it planned to get the companys carbon footprint to net zero by 2050, something British major BP said it would do in February. And New Jersey-based utility PSEG announced a new plan to develop a power supply with net-zero carbon emissions within three decades.

Its encouraging to me, said Bob Perciasepe, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. They know in the long term they have to have their plans in place to deal with reduced carbon emissions.

No one spared

Clean energy companies, however, arent escaping the dramatic fall-off in energy demand either.

Plans for wind farms and rooftop solar systems are being put on hold, as social distancing measures make new sales difficult and financing becomes increasingly difficult to obtain amid fears of a prolonged global recession, said Nat Kreamer, CEO of the clean energy group Advanced Energy Economy.

With a massive infrastructure bill under discussion in Congress, clean energy companies are making their pitch for upgrades to the U.S. power grid to advantage clean energy, including grid-scale batteries that store wind power generated at night and electric vehicle charging stations along highways.

Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox

Any time you have a crisis or a disaster you shouldnt waste the opportunity to do things better the next time, Kreamer said. Were not going backwards when this is all over.

The inspiration is the stimulus packages passed by countries around the globe following the financial crisis of 2008, which purposely focused on expanding the manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines.

Old normal

And while emissions did initially dip - the consequence of decreased economic activity - they later rose as business returned to normal.

It catalyzed a lot of investment in green energy, but at the same time it didnt bend the curve on emissions, Ladislaw said. The question now is if you are really going to stimulate the economy to be more green, what do you need.

james.osborne@chron.com

twitter.com/osborneja
Guidelines have been drawn up that offer a glimpse of what Walt Disney World might be like when it reopens.

The Florida resort has been shut since mid-March as a result of the coronavirus crisis and there is no indication when it will welcome guests again.

But when it can admit visitors once more they will step into a world of magic, plus face masks, temperature checks, social distancing and hand sanitizer dispensing points at every ride.

Guidelines have been drawn up that offer a glimpse of what Walt Disney World might be like when it reopens

That's according to guidelines drawn up by the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force, which has been charged with plotting the Florida area's route to normality.

The plan would include specific rules, which could be implemented at large-scale theme parks in the area, such as Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.

In phase one of the reopening, parks would only be permitted to run at 50 per cent capacity and tape markings six feet apart would be required to show where guests would have to stand in lines, reports Disney news site WDW News Today.

All employees at the parks would have to wear face masks and undergo temperature checks with any staff recording a reading of 100.4F/38C or above sent home.

And staff with flu-like symptoms would be required to stay at home, as would any employees over the age of 65.

Touchless hand-sanitizer dispensers would be required at ticket gates, turnstiles and the entrance and exit of every attraction.

If all goes well and coronavirus cases in the area continue to decrease, phase two of the reopening will begin and parks will be allowed to run at 75 per cent capacity.

The task force has also laid out guidelines for the reopening of hotels and restaurants, which would also affect Walt Disney World.

Walt Disney World has been shut since mid-March as a result of the coronavirus crisis and there is no indication when it will welcome guests again

Measures would include limiting housekeeping services, room service only being delivered to hotel room doors, the use of mobile check-in where possible and no self-service food on offer.

In restaurants, menus would be disposable, hand sanitizer would be available on entry and takeaway orders would be encouraged.

All of the guidelines set out in the task force's report are open to being revised as the pandemic progresses.

The other closed Disney parks are the Disneyland Resort in California, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. Disneyland Shanghai in China partially reopened last month.

Last week, it was reported that Disney's theme parks might not open again until 2021.

This month, the Walt Disney Company announced it had ceased paying 100,000 staff to save $500million a month. The five-week shutdown has impacted more than 50 per cent of its workforce.
Harry and Francesca get to know each other on the Netflix reality show "Too Hot to Handle." (Netflix)

In Too Hot to Handle, the latest grippingly bonkers reality show from the evil geniuses at Netflix, a group of horny, attention-hungry twentysomethings hole up a at a beachfront Mexican villa and attempt to forgo sexual contact of any kind in a bid for a $100,000 prize. Each violation of the rules  which, by the way, also bar self-gratification  brings a fine, starting at $3,000 for a kiss.

Like Love Is Blind, which followed couples as they dated in "isolation pods" and got engaged before meeting face to face, Too Hot to Handle is strangely well-timed in an era of social distancing and involuntary celibacy for millions.

But while Love Is Blind became a pop culture sensation thanks to its deranged earnestness  couples talked about the magic of being back in the pods as if theyd just returned from a honeymoon in Tahiti, not a windowless room on a soundstage in Atlanta  Too Hot to Handle puts a knowing twist on the guilty pleasure of dating shows.

Theres no host, just snarky narration (by comedian Desiree Burch) targeting the contestants  an international crew of inked-up, musclebound bros and Kardashian clones wearing bikinis that look like fetishwear Spanx  for being vapid, manipulative, excessively libidinous or all of the above. Along with the usual day drinking and poolside lounging, there are group challenges designed to encourage personal growth and/or torment the randy singles, such as a session in Shibari, Japanese rope bondage.

Theres also an Alexa-like talking robot named Lana that plays the role of referee, announcing every time someone has breached the rules, taking what is the subtext in most other reality dating shows  slut-shaming  and making it explicit.

And no one got in more trouble with Lana than Francesca Farago, a 27-year-old Canadian who captured the heart  or at least hormonal longings  of baby-faced Australian Harry Jowsey. The Instagram model managed to rack up $32,000 in fines over the course of the production, including $20,000 in a single night with Jowsey.

Story continues

When she signed up to do the show last year, she was "very single" and had little idea of what she was in for  contestants only learned the rules once they'd arrived at the "retreat," as they call it  but she left in a relationship. She and Jowsey briefly broke up after leaving Mexico but have reunited and are still very much together, though currently isolating in different countries. Farago spoke by phone from Vancouver about her unlikely journey to enlightenment.

"Too Hot to Handle" on Netflix. (Ana Cristina Blumenkron / Netflix)

So you didnt know the rules of the competition before you signed on. How was this show pitched to you?

I was reached out to via Instagram DM by someone in production. She said, Hey we have this new reality show on Netflix, we thought youd be perfect for it. She was asking me about my sex life, about my previous relationships. It was very sexually oriented. I was telling my friends about it and they're like, Youre not allowed, youre going to get kidnapped. It was very sketchy at the beginning.

They basically pitched it to me as a nice months vacation in the sun with attractive people. Everybody's single. That's all I knew. I was like, I hope this isnt like 'Survivor.'" My initial thought was this would be Influencer Island and theyre going to put a bunch of influencers on an island, they're going to take away our Instagram, and we're going to have to compete for something. I was prepared for some weird concept.

When I got there and the rules were [explained] I was like, OK, this is not what I was expecting at all, but also this makes sense." I'm single for a reason. Were all very horny people. We all had commitment issues.

I was so mad, though. I was like, You guys, I hate you all. How could you do this to me?" I was not feeling it. I was being a little bit dramatic. Not being able to have sex isn't the end of the world. But it went from being a hot, fun summer with single people to an experience of learning and personal growth, so we were all confused.





Where were you in your personal life when you signed up for this show?

Its hard for me to find love given the circumstances of my life and also to find a partner whos OK with the social media and me posing in provocative lingerie and posting it on Instagram. Once I found out it was more of a dating show, I thought it would be easier for me to find someone who would understand my lifestyle. Which is exactly what I found with Harry.





Tell me about Lana.

Oh, Lana.  Its very strange to call her a "she." But she was a person for us. She spoke to us, she planned our lives, she paired us with people in group challenges, she revealed our secrets, she gave us rewards. She was like our little host. At the end of the day, even if we didn't like what she was doing at the time, she knew what was best for all of us and every single situation allowed us to grow. She was a little sneaky devil and was watching everything but she genuinely had our backs.

"Lana," the contestants' Alexa-like guide on "Too Hot to Handle." (Netflix)

You're portrayed as the man-eating villain, especially in the first few episodes. And you definitely spent the most money. How did you feel about that depiction?

When we finished filming I was prepared to be the villain. I was prepared to come across a lot worse. The people in the house were not necessarily my biggest fans. I thought the viewers were not going to like me either. But I was pleasantly surprised with the positive response I've gotten. ...

I was alienated very quickly from the group. I was a hothead and I was being selfish. I was like, "They dont like me, they dont want to know me, theyre assuming the worst of me." At that point I was like, "I don't owe these people anything." It took me a week and then a few group challenges to realize thats not the way I should be going about things.





So those challenges were effective?

The challenges were insane. ... We were there for like a long time tapping into our inner emotions. You saw the guys challenge with the mud [in which the men had to share their vulnerabilities while covered in mud]. I cried when I watched that. It was so awakening. Even the "yoni" challenge [where the women looked at their vulvas with mirrors and then painted pictures to represent them] united the girls. Those challenges were the ones that made me realize, "I just need to keep it in my pants."

A "Too Hot to Handle" challenge from Episode 5. (Netflix)

So that was your takeaway from this experience  that you should keep it in your pants?

The main thing it taught me was to consider other peoples feelings. And to have a bit more respect for myself. I did learn that you can form a deeper connection with somebody if you don't put out right away. That's obviously a given. I think a lot of people know that. It's just hard when you're interested in someone to not want to rip their clothes off. Every lesson that Ive learned I've taken and applied to my personal life. So it's just been the most amazing experience.





Its surprising that it was such a meaningful experience. The show seems ... pretty lighthearted.

Especially from seeing Episode 1, we all just look  silly, two-dimensional. You would never guess from Episode 1 that we would all develop so much and really learn about ourselves. Its a very emotional show. It really does tug your heartstrings.





So you and Harry spent $20,000 in a single night. Was it worth it?

It was definitely worth it. Like Harry said, it was a bargain. Of course we were being selfish and of course we could have kept it in our pants if we really wanted to, but we just felt like that was the right step to take in our relationship. It was very romantic. That was the night we decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend.
The patriarch of 20th century Scandinavian literature, Enquist is known for powerful stories that weave his own melancholic life into the dark side of history.

In his more than 20 novels, plays and essays, he drew heavily on his own experience as an oppressed child in a strictly religious home, as an athlete, a journalist and a destructive alcoholic, his leftwing convictions filling his writings.

Born in 1934 in Hjoggbole in Sweden's far north, his books -- including "The Crystal Eye" (1961), "The Parable Book" (2013), "The Magnetist's Fifth Winter" (1964) and "The March of the Musicians" (1978) -- have been translated into a dozen languages.

He won the 2001 August Prize, Swedish literature's top honour, for "The Visit of the Royal Physician", which earned him broad international acclaim and tells the story of a romance between the physician of the mad Danish King Christian VII and the queen.

Enquist, known in Sweden by his initials P.O., won a second August award for his autobiography "A Different Life" (2008), its name an homage to "A Life" by August Strindberg, the father of modern Swedish literature.

"P.O. Enquist's importance for Swedish cultural life since the 1960s can't be exaggerated. He was the model for the socially-engaged poet who influenced generations of younger writers. It feels empty and unthinkable that he is gone," wrote Bjorn Wiman, culture editor of the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, on Sunday.

His publisher Norstedts also posted a memoriam on its website: "Few have, like him, inspired other writers, renewed the documentary novel, revitalised Swedish drama and touched readers for more than half a century."

- 'Didn't give up' -

The process of writing "A Different Life", he said, allowed him to work through and leave behind painful memories of sleeping in a bed meant for his still-born brother, of the void left by a father who died when he was not yet a year old, and of a strict mother who pushed him to invent sins to confess.

Known for his Gregory Peck-like frown and silver crown in his later years, Enquist broke free from his family, competing in high jump in high school before attending Uppsala University, where he discovered journalism and writing.

He just missed qualifying for the Rome Olympics in the high jump in 1960. But as a journalist he covered the 1972 Munich Olympics when Palestinian militants took hostage and then killed members of the Israeli team.

Enquist's transition to adulthood was scarred by depression, self-doubt and existential questions. He was 18 years old when Swedish author Stig Dagerman, whom Enquist admired, published "Our Need for Consolation is Insatiable" (1952). Enquist was 20 when Dagerman committed suicide.

"I think I wanted to be a writer all my life and I didn't give up," he told AFP in a 2011 interview, even though "it wasn't so easy to survive" much of the time.

An entire wall of his large Stockholm apartment at the time was taken up with a bookshelf containing his poetry, plays, novels and fairytales, in the original Swedish as well as English, French, German, Russian and other translations.

"It's my egocentric bookshelf," he said with a laugh.

"Every time I feel depressed that I'm not doing anything, I look at this bookshelf and say to myself 'well, that is seven metres (yards) and I have done a little bit, so I can die'."

Swedish literary critic Per Svensson said Enquist "finds executioners, victims and traitors wherever they are in the world, in history and literature, to bring them back to his village.

"And the result is magnificent," Svensson said.

Enquist battled alcoholism for several years. After two failed attempts to kick the habit, and after not writing anything for 13 years, he succeeded on the third try after convincing his caregivers to let him use his computer and discovering to his delight that "I was still a writer".

"The most terrible thing about being a writer is not to write but to not write."
Vietnam records no new Covid-19 cases Thursday morning, marking the sixth day without one, and the 14th day without community transmission.

But two more treated patients relapsed on Wednesday evening, bringing the total number of relapses to 11. Of the 270 confirmed cases, 51 are now active while the remaining 219 people have been discharged from hospitals. 14 have tested negative at least once.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on Wednesday instructed the Ministries of Science and Technology and Health and other related agencies to research to develop a vaccine against the disease.

Medical experts have yet to identify the causes of relapse. The health ministry has said a weak immune system could be the cause, enabling the virus to remain in the body.

It said on Tuesday that tests of samples taken from five relapsed patients showed the virus is "inactive" in their bodies, which theoretically means the chances of them spreading the infection to others are "very low."

Other countries in the world have also reported relapses. In South Korea, at least 222 people have tested positive for the virus after recovering. China and Brunei have reported relapses too.

Some 42,000 people are in quarantine in Vietnam, 323 in hospitals, 6,600 at quarantine facilities and the rest at home.

The health ministry said on Wednesday it had noticed Realtime PCR machines for testing Covid-19 selling at abnormal prices in some localities and asked the Ministry of Public Security to investigate.

The pandemic has spread to 210 countries and territories, claiming more than 227,000 lives.

The time between exposure to the new coronavirus and manifestation of symptoms is usually five to six days but can range from one to 14 days, according to the World Health Organization.
Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva met with Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza on April 29, the presidents press service has reported.

"The parties discussed the implementation of the agreements reached during previous contacts between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau," the report reads.

The interlocutors discussed topical issues related to the implementation of Canadian investment projects in Ukraine, the facilitation of Canada in the implementation of internal reforms and strengthening of Ukraine's defense capability, as well as the attraction of international financial assistance by our country.

Zhovkva separately noted the priority of the issue of liberalization of trips of citizens of Ukraine to Canada and the interest in intensifying the relevant bilateral dialogue.

The parties also discussed the investigation into the Ukrainian plane crash in Iran, which happened in January 2020.

As reported, the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on January 8. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). They all died.

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

ish
AMC serves over 9,000 families in Southern California AMC is taking extra steps to reduce the financial and physical tolls COVID-19 is taking on residents and essential employees.

Advanced Management Company (AMC), a full-service property management company that serves nearly 9,000 apartment homes across Southern California, has introduced measures to lighten the health and economic pressures on employees and residents. In addition to increasing the wages of nearly 300 essential workers by $2 per hour, AMC will distribute free washable face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer to all employees and residents. This follows an offer extended earlier this month: $100 off April rent for residents at qualifying communities.

We know this crisis has impacted everyone and we want to do what we can to lighten the stress load for our residents and team members, said Frank Holloway, president of AMC. Our residents and employees are our family. We want to treat them as such and share a message of hope, unity and compassion. We know we will get through this together and we are grateful for everyone who plays a role.

From April 27 through May 15, employees who work on-site in management, leasing, maintenance and construction roles at nearly 50 Southern California AMC communities will receive an additional $2 an hour in pay.

This emergency assistance program represents an appreciation for the relentless dedication and personal sacrifice required to serve our VIPs and maintain our communities during the pandemic, Holloway said.

AMC has been proactive and generous with its support programs to both residents and employees. In addition to the $100 off April rent, AMC is offering rent deferment programs to residents and free rent incentive programs for things like referrals and lease re-signings. For leasing professionals, who are primarily offering virtual tours, commissions have been more than tripled. To assist in the effort of minimizing infections, AMC will distribute 9,000 washable face masks and 9,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to residents and employees.

About AMC

Started in 1982, Advanced Management Company is a privately owned property management company built on a foundation of ethical business practices. Those same principles are in place today, serving over 9,000 families in Southern California. Named a Top Workplace in Orange County for five years, AMC aims to deliver the highest-quality apartments and first-class customer service you can find. Find out more about careers, apartments for rent or investments at amcliving.com.
The airline reportedly plans to cut 1,130 of its 4,346 captain and co-pilot jobs in a bid to slash costs.

More than a thousand pilots could be laid off by British Airways (BA) if the airline succeeds in its plan to slash costs amid the coronavirus crisis, according to a letter reportedly sent to a pilots union.

BA, which had the slogan the worlds favourite airline for two decades and which is owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), intends to cut a quarter of its flight captain and co-pilot jobs, the head of flight operations for the airline told the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) union in the letter, seen by Reuters.

Under plans that began to emerge on Wednesday, the United Kingdom flag carrier is also planning significant cuts to its 16,500 cabin crew in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has all but grounded several airlines across Europe and beyond.

In a short space of time the situation has significantly deteriorated, BAs flight operations chief said in the April 28 letter to pilots. There are no clear signs of improvement in air passenger demand.





BA declined to comment on the planned layoffs  thought to amount to 1,130 of its 4,346 captain and co-pilot jobs  which were first reported by Sky News.

The aviation industry has been hit hard everywhere. United States planemaker Boeing said on Wednesday that it planned to lay off around 10 percent of its 160,000 staff and further reduce production of its 787 Dreamliner passenger jet. It expects the sector will take years to recover.

Our industry is going to look very different as a result of this pandemic, Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun told investors. We will be a smaller company for a while.

State support previously declined

BA rivals Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are putting off redundancies until they finalise government bailout deals worth billions of euros. But IAG has set a different course  pursuing 12,000 job cuts and productivity gains from the remaining 30,000 employees, without seeking rescue aid.

The BA letter invoked rivals aid to justify pilot layoffs that go deeper than proposed fleet reductions, with fewer flight crews assigned to each plane through more flexible contracts.





It is worth noting that many of British Airways competitors in Europe and globally are receiving state aid in various forms, the flight operations executive wrote to BALPA union negotiator John Moore.

The resulting competitive environment will create a distorted market where some of those competitors will have the option to provide overcapacity and lower fares.

That argument for job cuts left the pilots union unmoved.

The company has declined government support, claiming it is financially secure enough to survive the coronavirus crisis, so its hard to see how these cuts can be justified, BALPA General Secretary Brian Sutton said in a statement.

BALPA is fighting to save every pilot job at BA, he said.

IAG, which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling airlines, has reaped the rewards of past cost-cutting that its main European rivals have struggled to match.

Chief Executive Willie Walsh, who postponed his retirement to steer the group through the crisis, has been a vocal opponent of state support over the years. Like many other major carriers, however, BA has used public funding to furlough tens of thousands of staff.





In a move that some union officials described as provocative, BA told pilots they should expect no more than their minimum entitlements in severance pay.

Under the current circumstances, the cost of delivering any enhanced voluntary redundancy programme will now be prohibitively expensive, the letter said.

Subject to consultation, we are proposing to meet minimum statutory obligations only, along with any contractual notice pay.

Besides reducing its planned fleet, BA told pilots it was pursuing flexibility and efficiency changes that would account for 15 percent of the redundancies. Those remaining in employment are also likely to be impacted, the letter added.

In a separate message to British Airways staff this week, the airlines CEO Alex Cruz had warned there was no government bailout standing by and jobs would have to go.

BA has overcome many crises in our hundred-year history, Cruz wrote.  We must overcome this crisis ourselves, too.
TEHRAN, Iran, April 30

Trend:

Iran's Health Ministry has recently received credit for hiring some 2,280 contract workers, and some 3,000 more are expected to be hired in the coming months, said the Head of Plan and Budget Organization of Iran Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, Trend reports via Mehr News Agency.

"The workers will be hired if they reach specific score during the employment exam," he said.

"The employment in country's healthcare system should have structure and the number of those hired in the health sector would certainly increase," he added.

Nobakht also said that Plan and Budget Organization of Iran will use $2.3 billion to even the pensions in the current Iranian year (started March 20,2020) while $30,000 is planned for supplementary insurance for the retired.

The official has indicated on Instagram that the salaries of healthcare workers have increased by 50 percent since February, while it's on the agenda to offer extra pay for services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran continues to apply measures to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 infection.

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.
Many notice distinct smelling urine after eating asparagus. (Getty Images)

Asparagus season has arrived in the UK, with many Britons rushing to enjoy the springtime vegetable.

The popular accompaniment is only on our doorstep for a limited time, with supplies running out by the end of May.

Read more: Asparagus: Health benefits and meals to make with the versatile spring vegetable

Whether you enjoy them roasted or steamed, many notice an unusual after-effect with the side dish  potent urine.

This is no new phenomenon. In 1731 the Scottish mathematician and doctor John Arbuthnot wrote asparagus gave his liquid waste a foetid smell.

The French novelist Marcel Proust said the vegetable transformed his humble chamber pot into a bower of aromatic perfume.

Why does asparagus make our urine smell?

Eating asparagus can give your urine an unpleasant odour of rotting cabbage due to the breakdown of asparagusic acid, Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director of Healthspan, told Yahoo UK.

The culprit in smelly wee is thought to be cased by sulfur compounds such as methanethiol.

While smelly urine is synonymous with asparagus, less than half of consumers are said to be affected.

Interestingly, whether or not you produce these smelly products is a genetic trait that some researchers believe occurs in around 40% of people, said Dr Brewer.

Read more: How to store asparagus (the best way)

A 1987 study of 800 people found 43% produced odorous urine after the ingestion of asparagus.

Family studies suggest that the ability to produce the odorous urine is inherited, wrote the scientists.

Dr Brewer added: Another genetic trait means at least one in two of the population are unable to detect the smell of these asparagus breakdown products, even if they do produce them, due to a mutation in a cluster of genes that code for smell receptors.

A 1980 study found 10% of 307 people could smell it at high dilutions, suggesting a genetically determined specific hypersensitivity.

So, in order to smell asparagus pee after you have eaten asparagus, you must both be able to produce the culprit compounds and have inherited the odour receptors that allow you to detect them via your nose, said Dr Brewer.

Story continues

Too much coffee may similarly give your urine a potent odour. (Getty Images)

Other foods that make urine smell and when to see a doctor

If food has a strong odour on the plate, chances are you may notice it after using the toilet.

Other foods that can affect urine odour include: Brussels sprouts, onion, garlic, coffee, fish  especially salmon - and foods that have a high content of vitamin B6, said Dr Brewer.

Vitamin B6 is found in a variety of foods, including pork, poultry, eggs, milk and peanuts. Supplements containing the nutrient can also be to blame.

A healthy person should produce clear or pale yellow urine with a mild odour.

Smelly urine can also be a sign of dehydration or a side effect of certain medications.

Read more: How to grow and harvest asparagus at home

Although usually nothing to worry about, Dr Brewer urged people to see their GP if they continue to produce smelly urine.

If the problem persists, seek medical advice in case you have a urinary infection or liver or kidney problems, she said.

It is particularly important to see a GP if the smelly urine is accompanied by a sudden need to urinate or going more often than normal, pain when passing urine or blood in the toilet bowel.

Lower abdominal pain, fatigue, generally feeling unwell and becoming confused or agitated are also causes for concern.

Less commonly, persistently smelly urine can be a sign of type 2 diabetes, kidney stones or liver failure.
PATCHOGUE, NY  Suffolk County car dealers are working to help donate thousands of face masks to Suffolk County residents during the coronavirus pandemic. Franchise car auto dealers across the county have been working through the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) to donate 50,000 face masks to local residents during the pandemic. The donation was part of a larger donation of half a million masks  including 100,000 for Long Island  that GNYADA is making to 12 downstate counties.

On Wednesday, GNYADA delivered 50,000 3-ply paper masks to County Executive Steven Bellones office, who will then give them out to individuals who need them in the area, including seniors, essential workers, and other vulnerable populations.

Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order mandating New Yorkers to wear some sort of facial covering such as a bandana or mask when they're in public and cannot socially distance themselves from others. This created a bigger needs for face masks, particularly for the more vulnerable residents, so car dealers decided to step up and find a way to help.

Photo by Dominick Totino



"When New Yorkers are in need, time and again, franchise new car dealers and their employees are always there for the communities where they live and work. Auto dealers are the brick-and-mortar backbones of Main Streets and neighborhoods throughout the region, supporting little leagues, hospitals, schools, senior centers, and many charities large and small," GNYADA President Mark Schienberg said. "During this extremely challenging time, when so many New

Yorkers are suffering, losing loved ones, losing jobs, and struggling, car dealerships are once again here to contribute."

New car dealers are still considered essential businesses. Service departments must fix cars and perform roadside assistance not only for other essential workers like doctors and nurses, but also for ordinary people who need to go to the grocery stores, the pharmacy, and carry out the necessities of daily lives.

This article originally appeared on the Patchogue Patch
COLE BAY:--- As a long-standing corporate citizen, Motorworld Group stands with the community of St. Maarten/ St. Martin, and the world, during these trying times in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our commitment to the community has remained steadfast through the highs and lows of life. Therefore, Motorworld has gone above and beyond to purchase these masks and give them away free of charge to these major organizations that are working on the frontlines in order to protect their workers, our Frontline Heroes, and also, the community that they serve. We are truly glad that we could help alleviate the burden caused by mask shortages and increased costs of personal protective equipment island-wide, while also helping to protect against the life-threatening spread against COVID-19," shares Tariq Amjad, Managing Director, Motorworld Group of Companies.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), face masks are a vital form of personal protective equipment that has been proven to serve as essential barrier against the spread of the coronavirus. With the health, safety, and protection of all residents, particularly our frontline workers at heart, Motorworld Group has donated over 15,500 masks to approximately 30 organizations that are working diligently to keep the community safe.

This includes the following key entities, throughout both the Dutch and French parts of St. Martin, that are on the frontlines battling the coronavirus:

Government of St. Maarten  Ministry of Justice

Collectivity of St. Martin

Louis Constant Fleming Hospital

Maarten Medical Center

SLS  St. Maarten Laboratory Services

White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation

Bethany Home

More than 20 Dutch and French Pharmacies

All recipients expressed heartfelt appreciation and sincere gratitude for this thoughtful contribution which was presented along with a Thank You letter from Motorworld as a token of appreciation for their sacrifices, courage and hard work to keep the community safe.

St. Maarten Governments Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, expressed the following:

During this very trying time, wearing masks is our new normal. Having corporations within our community such as Motorworld considering ways on how they can assist the staff of the Justice chain, especially those on the front line and at our prison, is highly appreciated by our Ministry of Justice and the staff alike. Due to the high usage of masks on a daily basis by Police, Customs, Prison Guards, Coast Guards, and other members of staff, receiving such a donation is highly valued, and thus, we say THANK YOU to the management and staff of Motorworld for thinking of us.

This effort also extended to the Northern, French side of the island, with contributions made to the Collectivity of St. Martin, the hospital, several pharmacies and Bethany Home for the senior citizens.

Vice President of the Collectivity of St. Martin, Valerie Damaseau shared the following:

"During these difficult and challenging times, our only hope is that we remain strong, focused, and united as we tackle it all together. All gestures of solidarity are steps closer to overcoming this fight. Thank you very much for your donation. We will share this with our district councils who will help distribute to the population. For this we say thank you."

The Centre Hospitalier Louis Constant Fleming in Saint Martin has been active on the frontlines in the plight against COVID-19 and shared the following heartfelt sentiments to Motorworld:

On behalf of the Centre Hospitalier Louis Constant Fleming in Saint Martin, I would like to thank you for your generous donation of protective face masks, delivered last week to our medical and paramedical teams. Your support makes a difference and contributes to help our teams fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in a more secure and protected condition. These 3,000 masks received will directly be used in an emergency, medicine, pediatric, and maternity department and ultimately, add major benefits to help us take care of more patients at the hospital. Thank you again for your support. We appreciate your interest and commitment to help the Centre Hospitalier Louis Constant Fleming hospital, Mrs. Marie-Antoinette LAMPIS, General Hospital Director.

The Sint Maarten Medical Center, as well as the White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation, also expressed genuine gratitude in person, as well as on their social media pages for Motorworlds contribution, which will be used in the care of the numerous patients and clients who receive their dedicated medical and care services.

Based on the guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), for maximum effectiveness, there are simple steps to follow on when and how to wear masks to protect against the coronavirus. If you wear a mask, please be sure to follow those guidelines on how to use and dispose of single-use face masks properly. Wear a mask as often as possible for your protection, particularly if you are coughing, sneezing, or taking care of someone with COVID-19.

Motorworld Group will be distributing additional personal protective equipment, including face masks to additional organizations in the coming weeks, as well as to staff and customers once the dealerships reopen.

Additionally, Motorworld Group has launched a Frontline Heroes Facebook campaign to recognize and reward frontline workers who are going above and beyond the call of duty in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit the Motorworld St. Maarten/ St. Martin Facebook page for further details on how to participate in the campaign.

With the community working together to stay safe, using proper hygiene with personal protective equipment, frequent hand-washing, practicing social distancing, and following the Government mandates to stay safe at home, we shall overcome these trying times.
'Investors should restrict themselves to a few category schemes with high quality portfolios apart from overnight and liquid funds.'

When Franklin Templeton announced last Thursday, April 23, that it was shutting down six of its credit strategy-oriented debt mutual fund schemes -- Franklin India Credit Risk Fund, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund, Franklin India Low Duration Fund, Franklin India Short Term Income Fund, Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund and Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund -- mutual fund investors went into a tizzy fearing for their investments.

While the long-term impact of this sudden closure of six debt mutual funds worth about Rs 28,000 crore will play out in the time to come, for the time being investors in these funds won't be able to redeem their investments.

Omkeshwar Singh, head of RankMF, Samco Securities, explains to Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com what debt mutual funds are all about, the Franklin Templeton fiasco, the hope for those invested into these funds, the impact this closure will have on investors sentiments and offers advice for mutual funds investors.

What is a debt mutual fund and how does it work? How safe are these debt mutual funds?

Debt mutual funds pool money from investors and then lend money to issuing entities for generating interest income and capital appreciation.

Debt mutual funds are positioned to provide better returns with high liquidity for its investors.

Debt funds are mutual funds that invest in debt instruments like Commercial Papers (CPs), Corporate Bonds, Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs), money market instruments like treasury bills (or government bonds), repurchase agreements, Certificate of Deposit (CDs), and banker's acceptance.

There are 16 different categories of debt mutual funds in India with various degree of credit risk and duration risk.

The safety of the debt fund is completely dependent upon the quality of debt instruments that it holds in the portfolio.

Investment in mutual funds are subject to market risk. This is not just limited to equity mutual funds, but to all mutual funds schemes across categories including debt funds.

Fund managers have to find optimally trade-off between credit risk and duration risk vis-a-vis yield to maturity (YTM), that is, risk-return trade-off.

What kind of investors usually invest in debt MFs and why?

Investments in debt mutual funds are dominated by corporates and HNIs; institutional investors dominate liquid and money market schemes (84%), debt oriented schemes (56%).

Since current accounts earn no interest, institutional investors invest short term surplus funds in debt mutual funds to generate returns on idle funds available with them including working capital and redeem as per their cash flow requirement.

What are credit strategy-oriented debt MFs and why has Franklin Templeton closed six of its debt MFs belonging to this category?

As the name goes, credit strategy-oriented debt mutual funds are open-ended debt schemes that invest substantial portion of funds in lower-rated debt instruments including unlisted debt instruments.

The returns are superior and so are the risks for these strategies; disproportionate risk has cascading downward spiral as liquidity is very low for such instruments and default risk is higher.

There has been constant redemption pressure in debt funds from March 2020 and post COVID-19 lockdown the situation aggravated as most of the corporates redeemed these debt funds to meet their cash requirements.

The continuous redemption pressure coupled with absence of liquidity of credit risk debt instruments of these six schemes of Franklin Templeton, the AMC was not able to fund these redemptions on a sustainable basis and therefore winded up six schemes under redemption pressure.

Now as and when the money is realised, the same will be credited to unit holders.

Investors have no choice but to wait till liquidity gets back into the lower end of the system as and when the lockdown is over and economic activities begin.

Only then the AMC will be able to pay back the realisable money.

What went wrong with these six debt MFs? Are there any chances that Franklin Templeton AMC will revive these schemes?

Does Franklin Templeton run other such debt MFs and what would be your advice to investors invested in these MFs?

All these six schemes had substantial portion of funds invested in lower-rated debt instruments including unlisted debt instruments. The liquidity dried up due to COVID-19 lockdown and there were no takers of these lower-rated debt instruments and the continuous redemption pressure on these funds completely dried up any funds for the AMC to pay for redemption. Therefore, these six schemes were wound up. The likelihood of revival of these six funds is very bleak; the trust and sentiments of investors have been badly hit as Rs 28,000 crores has got stuck. Presently, these six schemes have got highlighted, but investors must sanitise their (debt) portfolio and must evaluate the quality and strength of the mutual fund's holdings and act accordingly. What happens to investors's money who had bought these debt MFs?

Should investors withdraw money from FT debt MFs in particular and debt MF schemes of other AMCs? Investors cannot redeem the units in these 6 schemes, and they have no choice but to wait so that the liquidity gets back to the lower end of the system as and when the lockdown is over and economic activities starts and returns to normalcy, only then the AMC will pay back the realisable money. Blanket withdrawal is not a good strategy. Instead, investors must evaluate and review their portfolio and seek professional advice accordingly. What kind of impact can the closure of these six Franklin Templeton debt MFs have on investors's psyche about investing in mutual funds in general and debt MFs in particular? There is loss of trust in the short term. Safety first will take over returns to protect the capital. There will be flight of funds towards safer investments. Earlier, only corporates were taking out money for cash management. Now, high networth individuals and retail investors will go for panic redemptions. It's only when the lockdown is lifted and normalcy comes into debt markets towards the lower end of credit MFs, then only we can see easing of pressure on mutual funds with risky debt holdings. Your advice to MF investors... Investors should be prudent while investing in debt funds and always look only for the quality of the portfolio. They should completely ignore past performance, big names and big brands while making investments decisions. Investors should restrict themselves to a few category schemes with high quality portfolios apart from overnight and liquid funds, that is: Money market funds for investment up to one year

Short-duration funds for investment from 1 to 3 years

Corporate bond funds of any duration

PSU and banking funds of any duration

Gilt funds: Short to medium term duration

Photograph: Arko Dutta/Reuters. Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational reasons.
In shaping the trajectory of the shape-shifting Irrfan Khan, theatre played a tremendous role. Not only his performances but also stories of his so-called struggle to break into the mainstream inspire actors priming themselves for careers in an unforgiving profession.

The origin stories of superheroes populate a graphic novel (and lately, film) genre all of their own, with narratives that strike at the very core of a superheros raison detre. The greatest of actors, no less than superheroes for their admirers, emerge from a similar wellspring, with its peculiar interplay of nature and nurture. Irrfan, the actor par excellence who shall no more roam among the living legends of our time, has an origins story that takes us back to his roots in theatre. Its a little-known legacy that deserves as much of an airing as his greatest successes.

Although Irrfan was clear from the outset that his holy grail was the larger-than-life canvas of cinema  to gallivant with the stars rather than suffer through the precious privations of the stage  he has always acknowledged the immense fillip his dreams got due to his unexpected entry into the National School of Drama in 1984. While his early influences included Naseeruddin Shah and Mithun Chakraborty (who he felt he resembled), his desire to join the school stemmed from watching Shyam Benegals Junoon, in which the NSD-trained actor Rajesh Vivek played the uncredited part of a minstrel soothsayer with such compelling verisimilitude that it stunned a then sixteen-year-old Irrfan. It was magical, I couldnt figure out whether he was an actor or an actual dervish. I wanted to be taught this kind of acting, he told his namesake anchor, Syed Mohd Irfan, in a 2015 interview.

The odds were certainly stacked against him when it came to admission at the premier theatre institute. He had even fabricated the list of plays the school had requested as evidence of past theatre experience, of which he had none. At home, he had told his mother (Saeeda Begum, whom he would outlive by merely four days), that he would become a professor after completing drama school just so [that] shed let me go. Somehow, he convinced the school of his sheer honesty of drive and unimpeachable sincerity, even if he had to feign a commitment to theatre as a lifelong career.

In a 2015 interview with fellow alumnus Anupam Kher (one decade his senior), he said, It was something I knew was very necessary, and I must say, it turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of my life till date. As he trundled out, bedding holdall and possessions in tow, on a rickshaw from his home in Jaipur, he excitedly felt absolutely anything was possible. It would take another odd decade and a half for the world to truly become his oyster, but the seeds for an exhilarating journey as a working actor had been sown.

During his time at drama school, Irrfan was part of several student productions that were also open to the public, and memories of those performances still endure, as evinced by a stream of heartfelt social media tributes. A photograph of his sometimes exhibited at the NSD Gallery, depicts him as a workman intently bent over his bench, fitting old keys and locks. That still was from Talghar, a Hindi translation of Russian playwright Maxim Gorkys The Lower Depths, directed by Ram Gopal Bajaj. It was a play about impoverished Russians living in a cramped hideaway and Irrfan played Kleshtch, an embittered locksmith forced to sell his tools to cover his dead wifes funeral costs. In a Facebook post, actor Joy Sengupta wrote, [In Talghar], in a state of motionless action and minimal lines (very tough on stage), [Irrfan] conveyed the deepest of pathos, dragging your sight away from other actors.

Another significant outing was Fujiyama  Prasanna Heggodus Indian production of The Ascent of Mount Fuji, written by Central Asian playwrights Chingiz Aitmatov and Kaltaz Mohammajanov, and translated by Kalpana and Bhisham Sahani. It was a play on Soviet-era social morality. That was the main play in drama school that gave me at least a kind of sense in which direction I should go as far as acting is concerned. The process of this play gave me a little glimpse into what it means to be involved when doing a performance, said Irrfan, in an interview. Another fallout of Fujiyama was that it partly prompted a member of the audience, Tigmanshu Dhulia, to join the drama school. Dhulia would later cast Irrfan in two milestones  2003s Haasil, which featured his breakthrough performance, and Paan Singh Tomar in 2011, which established him as a leading man with box-office cred.

Also produced around then was Prasannas Hindi teleplay Lal Ghas Pe Neele Ghode, based on Mikhail Shatrov's Blue Horses on Red Grass, in which Irrfan played an intense Lenin in a naturalistic turn which, according to Sengupta, communicated the deepest of human experiences, without a trace of craft, only empathy. The cast included his batchmates Mita Vashisht and Sutapa Sikdar  whom he married in 1995. Prasanna, a visionary of our times who Irrfan regarded as a mentor, wrote on Twitter, Irrfan has walked with us first as a student, then as a friend, and then as a social worker, referring to his Badanwal Satyagraha for sustainable living that both Sikdar and Irrfan have long supported.

After graduating, Irrfan was lapped up by the world of television, working with directors who had crossed over from the parallel cinema movement, now in its last legs. He did act in another teleplay, telecast on Doordarshan as Prasanna's had been. This was Govind Nihalanis series Jazeere, a modern take on Henrik Ibsens Little Eyolf, in which Irrfan played Alfred, the father of the eponymous character, a young boy paralysed in one of his legs. Irrfan acted opposite Ratna Pathak-Shah and Vashisht.

Given these antecedents, the theatres role in shaping the shape-shifting Irrfans trajectory was tremendous. Not only his performances but also stories of his so-called struggle to break into the mainstream inspire actors priming themselves for careers in an unforgiving profession. Perhaps, some consolation at this time of national bereavement can be taken from the fact that Irrfan was an actor who audiences got to experience in his absolute prime, even if there were undoubtedly many more innings left in the man. His best roles were total masterclasses, and the flavours and nuances of his performances will certainly linger on forever.
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They have been called the forgotten front in the war against Covid-19.

Diligent, devoted but under-equipped, they are the staff of Britain's embattled care homes. But no one was feeling forgotten yesterday when Mail Force arrived at Shedfield Lodge care home bringing vital personal protection equipment.

Following a six-week ban on all visitors, the new charity  created by the Mail and its partners  could not have been more welcome.

'This is a huge weight off all our minds. It's just amazing,' said Maria Willis, 32, head of care at this home near Southampton for 29 elderly residents with dementia. 'It's very touching to think that so many people out there want to help.'

We've got you covered: Maria Willis and Megan Wills with David Stephenson, 88, at Shedfield Lodge care home in Hampshire

Many of the duty staff, along with beaming resident David Stephenson, 88, came out to see the Mail Force van arriving with boxes of coveralls and masks. As it turned out, they could not have come a moment too soon.

The last remaining supplies of face masks were due to run out on Sunday after multiple failures by the care home's PPE suppliers which yesterday reported they had been 'scammed' by a fraudster and were going into liquidation.

HERE'S HOW TO DONATE Mail Force Charity has been launched with one aim to help support NHS staff, volunteers and care workers fight back against Covid-1 in the UK. Mail Force is a separate charity established and supported by the Daily Mail and General Trust. The money raised will fund essential equipment required by the NHS and care workers. This equipment is vital in protecting the heroic staff whilst they perform their fantastic work in helping the UK overcome this pandemic. If we raise more money than is needed for vital Covid-1 equipment, we will apply all funds to support the work of the NHS in other ways. Click the button below to make a donation: DONATE NOW If the button is not visible, click here Advertisement

Having been scrupulously Covid-free for three weeks  since losing one resident to the virus  the staff had been seriously worried how they were going to keep things that way.

Staying safe is now going to be a great deal easier thanks to Mail Force's intervention. The charity, created by the Mail and its partners, Salesforce and Marshall Wace, continued to attract an extraordinary response from the public yesterday.

Contributions from Mail readers sailed past the 300,000 mark while the businessman and philanthropist Michael Spencer donated 250,000, taking the total raised so far to an incredible 4.2million. The campaign began in earnest only on Tuesday night.

That was when Mail Force flew an airliner packed with 20 tons of PPE from China to London before delivering its 1million cargo straight to the NHS distribution centre in the Midlands.

Thanks to the speed and scale of public support, plans are now underway to bring further airlifts in the days and weeks ahead.

The charity has worked with the Department of Health to identify key products and then seek fresh supplies from reliable sources.

Three things are in huge global demand  isolation gowns, coveralls and masks  and NHS staff have voiced their deep appreciation for these efforts.

However, Mail Force is determined the care sector is included in this process, too.

Last night, Nadra Ahmed, executive chairman of the Care Association, which represents small and medium-sized independent homes, expressed her thanks for the charity's work.

'We're enormously grateful that this campaign has recognised this critical gap,' she told the Mail.

Five star: Maria Ponteaux, Megan Wills, Maria Willis, Lisa Smith and Nikki McCrudden applaud their new kit at the Shedfield Lodge care home, near Southampton, yesterday

Special delivery: This Mail Force van brought boxes of much-needed equipment to The Meadow, a care home in Muswell Hill, north London

Suited and booted: Head of care Maria Willis, 32, and Megan Wills, 21, wear protective coveralls

'But it is an indictment of policy that we have to rely on donations to safeguard our residents and our amazing workforce.'

There was further good news for the care sector, however, following the Government's decision to exempt all PPE products from VAT for the next three months, a decision worth 100million to the adult care and charitable sectors.

'We know we're no longer on our own' By Sam Greenhill for the Daily Mail A consignment of Mail Force medical masks last night helped lift the 'daily fear' for staff at a care home. The dedicated carers at The Meadow in Muswell Hill, north London, have been terrified of PPE stocks running low as they tend to elderly residents' needs. But thanks to a Mail Force delivery, they can now look forward to 9,000 masks and 80 full-body protective coveralls to help keep them safe. Pictured: Muswell Hill, North London Andrew White, a director of MHA, the charity which manages the home, said: 'Getting this PPE is a massive deal for the staff, just to know the stuff is there for them. 'The care that they give to our residents is amazing. But it is donations like this that allow them to do it. 'You cannot do it if you're afraid and in fear every day. The residents pick up on that. This makes life so much easier for them too. You can't put a price on that.' The Meadow is a residential and dementia care home with 40 rooms, 16 of which are designated for dementia specialist care. Nestled in well-manicured grounds, the home recently had a 460,000 refurbishment. MHA is a registered charity which provides care, accommodation and support to more than 18,000 older people across the UK and has 7,000 employees and 5,000 volunteers. Mr White said: 'We appreciate whatever the Government is able to give us, but when the PPE supply chains become erratic and we are not guaranteed a supply, that puts a real sense of fear that we might run out. 'It is absolutely amazing to get 9,000 masks  that is really significant, those masks will probably last about nine weeks. 'But it is worth much more than that  it is the support that our people have got from you, knowing somebody has gone out of their way to raise funds, source PPE and then give it to them. Just knowing they are not doing this on their own. It's hugely appreciated.' Mr White added: 'It gives the staff assurance that they are protected, because it is very difficult day after day for a member of staff from a home with the virus to go to their own homes knowing that they could spread it up to their families.' More than 2,000 people a week are dying from Covid-19 in care homes and some experts fear more are dying from the virus outside of hospitals than in them. The Office for National Statistics, which collates mentions of the disease on death certificates, said earlier this week the toll in care homes had doubled on the previous week. Mr White said: 'Quite a lot of our homes are badly affected by the Covid virus. At Meadows we haven't had any significant breakouts. One of the crucial elements in that is making sure we've got PPE available.' Advertisement

That is, of course, if they can find PPE to buy in the first place, given the severe global shortages that have pushed up prices and emptied shelves everywhere.

Britain's 15,000 care homes, which look after more than 400,000 elderly residents, have been especially vulnerable to Covid-19, not least because of a lack of virus testing and PPE.

The scale of the problem has been obscured by the fact that, until now, coronavirus deaths have not even been formally recorded in many cases.

There have been numerous reports of severe staff shortages through sickness. At the same time, many GPs refuse to set foot inside homes. Little wonder that so many care workers say they feel abandoned.

That is certainly not the case at Shedfield Lodge where staff numbers are impressively high, thanks in no small part to the support of the local community.

When several members of staff decided it would be safer for the elderly residents if they isolated themselves on site, a local appeal brought an instant supply of caravans.

The lawn at the back of the home is now a cosy camp site with five vehicles wired up to the mains.

'We try to keep a happy atmosphere going so that things feel the same for the residents,' said Maria Willis.

'It was a little strange at the start of the outbreak when we started wearing masks but now they are used to it.'

There would have been no masks available starting from this weekend, however, were it not for the efforts of Mail Force.

Now the home also has an emergency supply of coveralls for its 'outbreak box' come any sudden burst of infection.

'We had just enough masks to last us until Sunday,' explained owner Andrew Geach.

'I don't know what we'd have done next.' Having carefully pre-planned for this situation back in January, when he made two bulk PPE orders, he has since been let down repeatedly by his suppliers.

A 2,000 delivery, scheduled for yesterday, failed to appear.

Mr Geach showed me the email from his regular PPE providers informing him that they were no longer able to stay afloat.

Another supplier has given him a vague promise of more masks in June.

'The whole situation is appalling. Everyone seems to be running out of masks,' he said.

His care home, like most, is private but half of the residents are funded by their local authorities.

Yet he has been told there is no emergency recourse to local authority supplies, unless he reports a Covid infection  and that is precisely what he is trying to avoid.

'Of course we are used to paying for things,' said Mr Geach.

'The problem comes when there is nothing to buy. Then you really start to worry.'

Here, at least, that worry is over for the moment.

It's flying high! Donations to Mail Force charity that organised PPE airlift mission reach 4.2million in just two days

By Arthur Martin for the Daily Mail

City grandee Michael Spencer donated 250,000 to the new Mail Force charity yesterday.

The philanthropist and former Tory party treasurer described the campaign to supply frontline staff with protective gear as 'a hugely important issue'.

His support came as the donations from generous Daily Mail readers soared past 300,000 in just two days.

More than 7,400 of you have pledged money to the Mail-backed charity which will use the funds to provide NHS staff and care workers with more personal protection equipment.

Generous: Michael Spencer and wife Sarah, who donated 250,000 to the new Mail Force charity yesterday

Contributions from private benefactors and our partners have now reached 3.9million.

It means that a total of 4.2million has been raised to buy crucial equipment to protect staff fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Spencer, who helped bankroll Boris Johnson's Conservative Party leadership campaign, said he was delighted to contribute towards Mail Force.

'Making sure our health workers have the right equipment is a hugely important issue,' he said.

'I feel very strongly about the people who are working in the health service on the front line and who are doing their best to minimise the fatalities. They are taking considerable risks themselves to do it. I think it's only right and proper that we try and help our health workers and minimise the risks that they are facing from their frontline work.

'So I thought this was a very good cause, a very good project.'

Why the crucial supplies had to come from China By James Salmon for the Daily Mail Some Daily Mail readers, while applauding the Mail Force airlift, have questioned why the charity has sourced the much-needed equipment from China. The answer is simply that there was little choice when it comes to procuring a bulk supply of PPE fast. Scores of British manufacturers have adapted their production lines to churn out gowns, gloves, coveralls, visors, caps and masks instead of luxury cars, clothes and other goods. First consignment: PPE being loaded in Shanghai Despite their valiant efforts, the NHS is still facing a desperate shortage  and demand is high across the world. China is the leading supplier of PPE. Manufacturers there use an army of low-paid workers to mass-produce this type of clothing cheaply, before exporting it. With a dramatic spike in orders, there have been bottlenecks in supply. However there are plenty of smaller manufacturers and Mail Force was able to team up with Salesforce, the US software giant now one of the charity's backers. Its team used their contacts in China to help US hospitals source PPE. Now it is the turn of the UK. Frustratingly, millions of pieces of PPE that were stockpiled in UK warehouses have been shipped to the rest of Europe. Wholesalers claim they had no choice after their offers of help were ignored by Whitehall. Advertisement

The 64-year-old is founder and former chief executive of Nex Group, one of the world's largest inter-dealer brokers, formerly known as ICAP. Mr Spencer, who is married to Sarah, formerly the Marchioness of Milford Haven, has generously donated millions to charities throughout his career.

As well as helping Mail Force, he has been supporting a range of charities which have been struggling to raise funds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: 'The whole of the virus has been such a tragedy for so many countries and so many people. The implications of this will be quite long-lasting and very sad and tragic in every way.

'I'm lucky, I haven't been through it yet, but I know many people who have. Fortunately all of them, with the exception of our Prime Minister, have avoided hospitalisation. It has been a dreadful, dreadful time for this country and for many other countries as well.'

Last year Mr Spencer donated 1million to a Daily Mail campaign which raised funds for a British Normandy Memorial overlooking Gold Beach. The memorial honours the 22,442 sailors, soldiers, airmen and medical staff under British command who were killed in the relentlessly violent 77-day battle which followed the D-Day landings.

Mr Spencer also founded the ICAP Charity Day, an annual event in which royalty and celebrities run trading desks at ICAP.

The broking firm donates the day's revenue to good causes.

The event, which was launched in 1993, has raised an incredible 149million and has backed more than 2,200 charitable projects. Mr Spencer has said that the ICAP Charity Day is his proudest achievement in business, alongside breaking into the FTSE100.

Yesterday, during the second full day of fundraising, Mail Force received donations from another 3,400 generous readers on its online appeal page.

Echoing the feelings of many, Keith Marshall, who donated 100, wrote: 'Well done for creating this charity! The work being done by NHS staff is vital in the battle against Covid-19. The selfless acts by medical personnel in putting their lives at risk to help others cannot be over-emphasised. They need vital PPE to continue.'

Another reader called Polly, who pledged 500, wrote: 'Fantastic way to support all NHS workers, we all need to do our bit to help.'

Every donation to Mail Force, no matter how small, will be spent on masks, gowns, and coveralls which NHS and care workers so urgently need. If there is any money left over, the charity will use it to support the NHS and care workers in the best ways it can. So far, more than 100 NHS workers and carers have died with the virus. They include consultants, nurses, cleaners, porters and care assistants.

Fresh supplies of PPE are constantly needed because most protective clothing should be worn only once.

Washing them at temperatures high enough to kill coronavirus weakens their effectiveness.

Care chief's battle with health bosses over safety advice

By Sophie Borland for the Daily Mail

Care homes are struggling to source protective clothing because suppliers cannot be reached at weekends and the guidelines keep changing, an industry expert warned last night.

Martin Green, who heads Care England, said some organisations tasked by the Government with delivering stocks were 'useless'. He also accused health officials of issuing six different versions of advice on PPE over the past few weeks.

And he said a helpline set up by the Government to support care homes in sourcing equipment was of little value.

His remarks coincided with a survey of 231 care providers that found two-thirds were facing difficulties obtaining the necessary levels of PPE.

Martin Green (pictured), who heads Care England, said some organisations tasked by the Government with delivering stocks were 'useless'

The Independent Care Group, which represents firms in northern England and carried out the poll, said supplies were 'patchy' and overpriced.

Two weeks ago, Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised to intervene amid concerns  highlighted by this newspaper  that care home residents were the forgotten victims of the pandemic.

He vowed to improve the supply of equipment and ensure all residents and staff with symptoms were offered tests.

But Professor Green, who speaks for the largest representative body in the care industry, said: 'There are still areas where people are finding it difficult to access PPE.

'People are really concerned about whether the supplies are consistent. Part of the issue is people are a bit nervous about whether they've got enough for a week on Wednesday, say.

Two weeks ago, Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) promised to intervene amid concerns  highlighted by this newspaper  that care home residents were the forgotten victims of the pandemic

'We're at about version six of the guidance from Public Health England which is completely confusing.

'What we need is literally simple and clear guidance saying what we need to use when somebody is a Covid-19 patient or symptomatic and what is the PPE we need to use for people who are not symptomatic of Covid-19 so we know how to secure the right level of PPE. It's not rocket science.

This is an organisation who call themselves Public Health England but what I've realised is that they understand acute hospitals and they should be called Acute Hospitals England.'

He described the organisations charged with supplying PPE to care homes, the Local Resilience Forums, as useless and hard to contact. Public Health England insisted its guidance had not been changed six times but pointed out that separate advice may have been issued by the Department of Health and the NHS.

Victory as 100m VAT slashed off medics' PPE

By Daniel Martin for the Daily Mail

Care homes were given a huge boost last night after the Chancellor agreed to slash taxes on vital personal protective equipment.

The tax break, which will apply from today until July 31, is worth more than 100million to care homes, businesses and charities.

Rishi Sunak said a zero rate of VAT will apply to sales of PPE such as face masks and gowns to help combat the spread of coronavirus.

It will also help individuals who decide to buy a facemask to protect themselves after they return to work.

Pictured: A tester wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) holds a test swab at a drive through coronavirus testing site at IKEA in Wembley, north London

Many in the care sector have complained about the exorbitant cost of PPE, with some care operators saying they are being charged 12 per face mask compared to the 8p cost before the crisis. Treasury officials said the Government acted as soon as possible to bring the measure into force.

During the Brexit transition period, the UK is bound by European law on VAT which the Treasury said required the UK to charge VAT on the equipment. But the European Commission has indicated support for member states to introduce their own temporary VAT reliefs to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ministers have already removed import duties from PPE to ensure more essential equipment can get to the front line quicker.

The move will particularly benefit care providers, who are often unable to reclaim the 20 per cent VAT they incur on their purchases.

In addition, the Government is providing the NHS with the funding to purchase PPE and has committed to providing extra funding to ensure the NHS has whatever it needs to tackle coronavirus.

National guidance states that staff in hospitals and care homes should wear PPE when they come into contact with those showing symptoms of coronavirus. But many are still warning of shortages of the vital equipment, which they say puts health and care workers at risk of catching and spreading the disease.

Pictured: A medical worker gives a thumbs up to a motorist at a drive-through coronavirus testing centre in London today

The difficulties in securing PPE stocks were highlighted last week when a shipment from Turkey arrived three days late as hospitals ran out of equipment

The move comes two weeks after the National Care Association called on ministers to take action over unsustainable PPE costs for care homes.

Chairman Nadra Ahmed said one provider had paid 8,500 for just one week's worth of PPE  and said the fact the NHS was taking most of the stocks made the situation worse.

'To be told at the very beginning of this by our suppliers that all supplies were being requisitioned to the NHS, which we absolutely understand but what did it do for our sector?' she said.

'Absolutely nothing but drive the prices up. My mailbag is absolutely full every single day with members asking us where they can get PPE.'

The difficulties in securing PPE stocks were highlighted last week when a shipment from Turkey arrived three days late as hospitals ran out of equipment.

Care bosses facing severe shortages have had to turn to private companies charging a premium due to 'unreliable' Government supplies. MHA, a charitable trust which runs 220 care homes, has had to spend 200,000 on masks at five times the usual price.

Karl Silvester runs Awarding Care, which looks after 170 adults in their own homes in the Black Country area. He contacted a number of suppliers but found a box of gloves which normally sells at 2 to 3 each was priced at 15, while plastic aprons which were typically 2 pence an item were up to 2 a piece.

NHS procurement managers were forced to waste hours of working time ruling out dubious suppliers from the black market, and have accused fraudsters of profiteering that 'beggars belief'. Healthcare experts said they are being inundated with offers from supposed suppliers 'trying to make a quick buck'.

Donate... in their memory: Without adequate PPE, these selfless NHS staff died on the front line. Their stories will make you weep - and move you to shield those battling on

The cancer nurse

Donald Suelto died after nursing a virus patient while short of personal protective equipment, his family claim.

The 51-year-old, who worked on a chemotherapy ward in Hammersmith, west London, is one of 25 Filipino NHS staff thought to have died of Covid-19.

Niece Emylene Robertson said: 'It's a concern he was facing a patient recovering from coronavirus short of PPE.'

Donald Suelto (left) died after nursing a virus patient and grandfather Gareth Roberts, 65, died after contracting coronavirus

The caring grandad

A nurse 'paid the ultimate price' due to a lack of PPE, a friend has claimed.

Grandfather Gareth Roberts, 65, who died after contracting coronavirus, worked extra shifts to help cover the wards at Llandough Hospital near Penarth in Wales.

Childhood friend Janette Leonard said: 'He said he was wearing a pinny, plastic gloves and a paper mask. I am absolutely furious about it. It's like lambs to the slaughter.'

Mum 'denied proper kit'

The death of Josiane Ekoli may have been prevented had she been given the right PPE, her family say.

The mother of five from Leeds, who had dedicated herself to the NHS for more than 30 years, died of the virus on April 13.

Her children say the 55-year-old was given only a surgical mask, gloves and apron while treating virus patients.

Daughter Aalijah said: 'I don't want to blame anyone but I feel if the people in charge did their job properly it wouldn't have turned out the way it did.' Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We're doing all we can.'

The death of Josiane Ekoli (left) may have been prevented had she been given the right PPE, her family say (Pictured right: Sara Trollope, who died after bravely continuing to work despite a lack of PPE)

Brave matron kept working

Matron Sara Trollope died after bravely continuing to work despite a lack of PPE, a friend says.

The mother of four was months from retirement at Watford General Hospital after 33 years in the NHS.

But the 51-year-old  who had diabetes and asthma  died of the virus after being let down by a lack of protective kit, the friend said.

Tracy Woods, who set up a fundraising page that has generated more than 15,000, said: 'Sara completely loved her job. Sadly it was this job that cost her life. She had to work with insufficient PPE and contracted Covid-19.'

Her father Gordon said: 'I love her dearly and have always been proud of her.'

Nurse on a 12-hour shift

John Alagos, 23, died just hours after treating coronavirus patients without access to PPE.

He told colleagues he was feeling unwell but was told to stay and complete a gruelling 12-hour shift at Watford General Hospital. The nursing assistant, who did not have any underlying conditions, died the following morning on April 3. His mother Gina Gustilo, 49, said her son had returned to their home in the town suffering from a headache and high temperature and turned blue in bed.

Miss Gustilo, an NHS mental health nurse, said colleagues had raised concerns about her son's PPE. She added: 'They wear PPE, but not totally protective of the mouth.'

Tracey Carter, chief nurse at the hospital, said staff had the right level of protection.

John Alagos (left), 23, died just hours after treating coronavirus patients without access to PPE and Thomas Harvey, whose relatives say he had only 'gloves and a flimsy apron' for protection

Apron for protection

Devastated relatives of Thomas Harvey, 57, say he had only 'gloves and a flimsy apron' for protection.

The healthcare assistant and grandfather of three, 57, fell ill after helping a patient who later tested positive for Covid-19 at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, east London, and died at home on March 29. He had been otherwise healthy.

Paramedics twice refused to take him to hospital, referring his family instead to the NHS 111 helpline.

His daughter Tamira, 19, said: 'He was let down in so many ways. If he had just had the right equipment it wouldn't have escalated in the way it did.'

Doctor who warned PM

Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, died less than three weeks after writing a Facebook post warning Boris Johnson about the lack of PPE.

The consultant urologist at Homerton hospital in east London wrote on March 18: 'We have to protect ourselves and our families/kids in this global disaster/crisis by using appropriate PPE and remedies.' He died of coronavirus on April 8 at a hospital in Romford.

On Tuesday, the eldest of Dr Chowdhury's two sons, Intisar, 18, confronted Health Secretary Matt Hancock on a radio phone-in, asking him if he regretted not taking his father's concerns 'seriously enough'. Mr Hancock told him he was 'really sorry' about his father's death.

Abdul Mabud Chowdhury (left), 53, died less than three weeks after writing a Facebook post warning Boris Johnson about the lack of PPE. The death of NHS doctor Peter Tun (right) would have been avoidable had he been given the right PPE, his son says

Dad's plea for masks

The death of NHS doctor Peter Tun, 62, would have been avoidable had he been given the right PPE, his son says.

Dr Tun died of Covid-19 on April 13, three weeks after warning superiors it would be 'too little, too late' if Reading's Royal Berkshire Hospital did not provide vital kit.

He was unable to persuade them to provide his team with surgical masks as there were no confirmed cases on his ward  despite two members self-isolating.

The son of the associate specialist in neurorehabilitation, Michael, said: 'When a doctor of 40 years' experience has had to literally beg for surgical masks, and it is denied, something has gone seriously wrong.'

The Royal Berkshire said it had correctly applied NHS-wide guidance on PPE.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 19:49:54|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia is facing a greater challenge from the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of accumulated cases in the country reached 106,498 on Thursday, with a daily record tally of 7,099.

Russia now ranks as the world's eighth worst-hit country by COVID-19 in terms of infections, though its fatality rate remains low with a current death toll of 1,073 and 11,619 recoveries, according to the country's coronavirus response center.

Moscow, the country's epicenter and most populous city, has confirmed 3,093 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total to 53,739.

However, the Moscow-to-nation ratio has been declining, indicating that smaller cities in Russia are facing rising risks.

Official data showed that 208,236 were under medical observation nationwide as of Wednesday.

The situation is very tense and Russia is in the most difficult stage of the fight against the epidemic, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday at a meeting with senior officials and regional heads.

BATTLE AGAINST DISEASE

On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry commissioned six multifunctional medical centers for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Two others have already entered operation and another eight will be completed by May 15.

The Russian government has earmarked 8.8 billion rubles (120 million U.S. dollars) to build these 16 medical centers, which will be able to accommodate a total of 1,600 patients.

Russia has concentrated and mobilized its industrial resources to produce medical and personal protective equipment.

According to Putin, the country produced over 800 ventilators in April and will produce 2,500 more in May, up from less than 70 at the beginning of the year. Mask production has surged more than 10 times, from 800,000 per day early this year to 8.5 million in April.

All citizens, except those working for essential institutions and establishments, are on paid leave from March 30 till May 11 as part of the country's efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

People are only allowed to go out to receive medical care, travel to work, shop at the nearest store or pharmacy, or walk a pet.

A 10-member Chinese medical team carried out work in Russia on April 11-18, sharing experience with the Russian side and offering training for medics on the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

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The Russian central bank last week expected the country's gross domestic product to decrease by 4-6 percent this year due to virus-related restrictions.

The bank cut its key lending rate by 0.5 percentage points to 5.5 percent, the lowest since September 2013, to "support lending, including in the most vulnerable economic sectors."

COVID-19 has forced Russians to cut their consumption of goods and services by 90 percent, results of a recent survey showed.

Earlier this week, Putin signed a decree allocating 200 billion rubles to support individuals and companies. Russia has already rolled out tax breaks for small and medium-sized enterprises and allowances for families with young children.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that the government may introduce a new package of measures to bolster the economy. Enditem
Egyptian health authorities recorded on Thursday the first coronavirus case in the border North Sinai governorate, a local health department said.

The patient is being isolated at a central hospital in the town of Bir El-Abd to receive treatment, the provincial health directorate said in a statement.

Health teams have sanitised the patients house and examined those who were in contact with him, it added.

North Sinai had been Egypts only governorate with no confirmed coronavirus cases since the detection of the first infection in the country in mid-February.

Meanwhile in Upper Egypt, the health directorate in Sohag announced it had put around 50 families in the Saflaq village in home-isolation for 14 days after one person tested positive for the virus.

The patient is a 68-year-old man who is believed to have contracted the virus during a visit to a Nile Delta governorate a few days ago, it said.

He has been transferred to a quarantine hospital in the city of Esna, Aswan.

Egypt has 5,268 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 380 deaths. Of those, 1,335 have recovered.

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The Startup Association of India has requested the government to set up a Rs 25,000- crore fund to help companies struggling to raise fresh capital due to the slowdown brought by the coronavirus and the lockdown.

In a letter to commerce minister Piyush Goyal, the industry body representing the startup ecosystem of the country also called for a relook at the recent changes made to the foreign direct investment (FDI) guidelines, saying those should not be applied to existing investors.

Moneycontrol has seen a copy of the letter that was written on April 28.

Indian startups havent had the benefit of access to capital due to a lack of domestic venture capital, whereas over 90% of the capital for startups in India is capital from overseas. This pandemic has significantly hurt future business prospects of Indian start-ups which were already reeling under financial pressure, Startup Association of India chairman Mahendra Swarup said.

The corpus could include Rs 10,000 crore of Fund of Funds lying with SIDBI and Rs 15,000 crore additional funds from the government, said the letter.

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

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The fund could be registered as an AIF Category 2 fund on the lines of the National Investment Infrastructure Fund. It could raise a few billion US dollars from sovereign funds of friendly nations and also bring in CSR funds from large corporates. The money could be used to boost the Fund of Funds as well as investment in startups directly, it said.

Indian startups are facing two big challenges. One is the loss of investor interest and second, existing business revenues are down due to the nationwide lockdown which is in its sixth week. The outbreak has dealt a big blow to the already slowing Indian economy and start-ups are feeling the heat.

The association, which has more than 2,000 members, is worried that many of its members will not be able to survive this period.

The governments recent decision to amend foreign investment guidelines mandating all investments coming from neighbouring countries to flow in after its approval has added to their worries.

With a global recession increasingly looking inevitable, the traditional source of capital from the US and Europe will dry out, which makes a strong case for the government to step in.

The government has tightened scrutiny of money flowing in from countries like China, one of the most prolific investors in the startup ecosystem of the country. Ant Financial, Tencent are few of the most active Chinese investors in unicorns in India like Byjus Paytm, Zomato, Swiggy and others.

The body has also requested a relook into certain aspects of the revised FEMA guidelines like it should not apply to existing investors. Secondly, investments for a minority stake should be allowed to flow unhindered.

If investments from neighbouring nations are less than 49% of the corpus set up outside India, then they should be allowed to invest directly. The body has requested for a free flow of investments from Hong Kong, which is a special administrative region under Chinese control.

These relaxations and support structures were needed for Indian startups as they can transform the business environment and create jobs, the letter said.

Citing Nasscom data, the body said startups had already created between 3.9 lakh and 4.3 lakh jobs and could open up 12.5 lakh jobs by 2025.
The federal government has asked states to make provision of more bed spaces for coronavirus patients. Speaking at the media briefin...

The federal government has asked states to make provision of more bed spaces for coronavirus patients.





Speaking at the media briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 on Wednesday, Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, said there would be more cases of the disease due to the scaling up of testing.





He said the rise in the number of confirmed cases can be attributed to community transmission and improved testing capacity.





The increasing figure of confirmed cases underscores the ongoing community transmission, which is a major challenge and again necessitates a call on all citizens not to take this COVID-19 lightly; but to take ownership of the initiatives for non pharmaceutical interventions with strict adherence to public health advisories: maintain social distance, practise hand and respiratory hygiene, avoid crowded places and wear your mask or a face covering when you leave your house, he said.

These and other related measures are critical, and an integral part of the strategy to ease restrictions as from 4th of May. Failure to comply can have undesirable effects.





Another pressing urgency is the need to provide and prepare Isolation centers and more bed spaces in all States of the Federation. I wish to appeal each State authority and the FCT to give first line attention to this requirement, in order to meet expectations and obligations.





The health minister also appealed to federal lawmakers to assist in ensuring compliance with guidelines of health authorities in their various constituencies.





He urged those who test positive for the disease to go on isolation so as not to constitute a risk to other members of the public.





As testing ramps up, the need will become more and more obvious. It should therefore be prioritized, so that we are not taken by surprise. I should take the opportunity to request Distinguished Senators, Hon. members of Houses of Representatives and Assemblies to also get involved in the disease surveillance and notification efforts in their constituencies and to actively support the drive to rapidly increase bed spaces for Isolation and treatment in their States. I shall also strongly urge those who test positive for COVID-19 to cooperate with the directives of authorities, on Isolation, so as not to constitute a risk and a cause for public concern.




Frontline healthcare workers will not get special paid leave to mind their children at home.

The government was warned yesterday that childcare support available "falls far short of what's required to assist essential health staff" after it emerged they will not be paid to undertake caring responsibilities.

However, they may be permitted to work from home if all other flexible working options, including different rostering arrangements or weekend working, are exhausted.

Forsa said last week's Government announcement that public servants who are partners of essential health staff could be given paid leave to assist with childcare is of little help to single parents, parents who are both essential workers, or health staff with partners in the private sector.

A new approach was signalled following a meeting at which some union sources claimed the possibility of paid leave was mentioned.

This raised the prospect of large-scale absenteeism as the health service tries to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

But a circular from the HSE national director of human resources, Anne Marie Hoey, to managers yesterday ruled out the possibility.

"There is no special paid leave available for Covid-19 caring arrangements during this time," she said.

She said all forms of flexible working, including adjusted hours, should be examined first.

"If employees are not set up for remote working at present, they need to continue to remain available to work, and their employer/manager should identify work that can be given to them," she said.

"Employers/managers are required to identify and engage with employees on alternative arrangements, eg, staggering hours, wider opening hours including weekend work, and temporary assignment to another role.

"If employees cannot work outside the home and cannot perform their current role remotely, the employee is still to be considered as actively on duty and available to work."

Ms Hoey said employers and managers are required to be flexible and innovative to ensure employees remain as productive as possible.

She said this may include assigning work outside the employees' usual core duties, "ie, potentially a new role".

She said this should be continuously reviewed by management to ensure workers are placed where most needed to deliver critical services.

Forsa said in an update to members that the HSE circular confirmed it will not give staff with childcare responsibilities paid leave.

It said maintaining existing arrangements "falls far short of what's required to assist essential health staff, and to maximise the numbers available in hospitals, community health services, and nursing homes.

"The HSE has today confirmed that it is essentially following Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on childcare supports for essential workers," it said.

General secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, welcomed the HSE clarification that means all public servants are treated equally.

She said where it was not possible to safely balance childcare and work, it was welcome that staff could continue to work from home and take care of children.
LIMA, April 29 (Reuters) - Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by Congress earlier this month that would have let people withdraw up to 25% of their holdings in private pension funds and vowed to send a full pension reform plan to lawmakers.

He said he would push to have his reform bill passed within six months. The proposal approved by the legislature in early April was aimed at increasing liquidity to help the economy cope with fallout from nationwide lockdown against the coronavirus.

"Let's go straight to the heart of the issue," the president said during a news conference, in which he agreed the economy was in need of liquidity, but that to release 25% of private pension holdings would be too expensive.

Four private pension fund companies operate in Peru, managing about $46 billion in assets. Vizcarra had in the past promised to reform the system, accusing companies in the sector of "abusive" behavior.

Peru has confirmed 33,931 cases of coronavirus, 943 of which have been fatal.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino, writing by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Eliminated MasterChef contestant Harry Foster has hit back at unfair criticism against judge Melissa Leong.

The show's first female judge, 40, has faced a barrage of trolling, with haters taking aim at everything from her behaviour on set to her fashion sense.

Despite being eliminated on Tuesday night's episode, Harry had nothing but good things to say about the Melbourne-based food writer.

'This could not be further from the truth': Eliminated MasterChef Australia contestant Harry Foster (pictured) has hit back at unfair criticism against judge Melissa Leong

'She's a queen, I love her,' Harry told HuffPost Australia. 'She is energetic, passionate and really just vibrant.'

When asked about accusations Melissa was rude and biased on the show, he said: 'This could not be further from the truth.'

All three judges have received an overwhelmingly positive response from fans, but Melissa has copped a backlash from a vocal minority.

'She's a queen': The show's first female judge, 40, has faced a barrage of trolling, with haters taking aim at everything from her behaviour on set to her fashion sense

While many have praised her for her fashion sense and positivity, others claim she waits for feedback from Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen before repeating it as her own.

'Any chance Melissa Leong has an original idea on MasterChef? Or just continue to wait for others to tell her what to think about the dish,' one viewer tweeted.

Another added: 'New judge Melissa speaks like an affected Melbourne millennial, and as an affected Melbourne millennial myself, I am in a good position to note how grating that is.'

Mixed: All three MasterChef judges have received an overwhelmingly positive response from fans, but Melissa has copped a backlash from a vocal minority

Kind words: 'She is energetic, passionate and really just vibrant,' said Harry (left), who was eliminated on Tuesday night's episode

'I love MasterChef bringing back the old contestants but loathe the new judges, especially Melissa Leong. I've only been watching for ten minutes and she's already irritating,' a third fan wrote on Twitter.

Others claimed she was biased towards certain contestants, such as Hayden Quinn and Khanh Ong.

MasterChef continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Slate's Who Counts? series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.

The Supreme Courts 54 decision in Rucho v. Common Cause opened the floodgates for lawmakers to draw egregious partisan gerrymanders without fear of federal lawsuits. By declaring that gerrymandering presents a political question beyond the competence of the federal courts, SCOTUS ensured that the 2020 redistricting process will be infected with extreme partisan bias in most states. That ruling was harmful enough on its own terms. On Wednesday, however, an influential federal judge suggested that Ruchos rule should be expanded to prevent judges from intervening when lawmakers manipulate the outcome of elections through voting laws. If more courts adopt that theory, it will become harder than ever to challenge partisan prejudice in the administration of elections.

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Wednesdays decision in Jacobson v. Lee involves a Florida law that dictates that candidates who share a party with the current governor are listed first in every race on every ballot. Because Republicans have long held the Florida governorship, this law grants a huge benefit to GOP candidates. As U.S. District Judge Mark Walker explained when he blocked the measure in November, the first candidate listed on a ballot benefits from the primacy effectvoters tendency to favor the first choice at the top of a list. Political scientists calculate that in Florida the primacy effect gives Republican candidates a 5-percentage-point advantage over their competitors. This windfall is called the donkey vote, and it will give President Donald Trump a significant advantage in the must-win state come November.

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Walker found Floridas system to be a discriminatory burden on citizens constitutional right to cast an equal vote in a free and fair election. The law, he concluded, systematically advantages candidates of one party, putting an illicit thumb on the scale in favor of the party in power. Walker ordered the state to adopt a neutral scheme for ballot placement, like alphabetical order or a random lottery (as some other states do).

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed on Wednesday in an opinion by Judge William Pryor, a George W. Bush appointee who was one of the most conservative judges in the country before Trump infused the judiciary with underqualified reactionaries. Pryors majority decision did not address the merits, instead holding that the plaintiffsvoters and Democratic organizationslacked standing to bring the suit. No plaintiff, Pryor wrote, had proved injury in fact, or a concrete harm inflicted by the law. As a result, federal courts have no authority to address their claims. Under that holding, a different plaintiff could still contest the lawincluding, perhaps, a candidate whom it handicaps.

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In a strange move, though, Pryor went much further in a separate opinion concurring with his own majority opinion. Rucho, he asserted, was about more than gerrymandering: It stood for the broad principle that federal courts cannot resolve a complaint of partisan advantage in election law. When a law benefits one party but does not directly burden a citizens ability to cast a ballot, Pryor wrote, it does not implicate any constitutional rights. Instead, it asks courts to determine a standard of fairness, presenting a question that is political, not legal. Moreover, courts lack the ability to answer the determinative question: How much partisan advantage from ballot order is too much? When courts have to decide basic questions of fairness and figure out how much partisanship is too much in election administration, theyve entered the political thicket and must butt out.

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Pryors concurrence telegraphs to the rest of the judiciary that judges skeptical of voting rights lawsuits should use Rucho to throw them out of court. (In an apparent dig at Walker, a frequent critic of Floridas voter suppression laws, Pryor wrote that his principle may seem counterintuitive to federal judges who are used to usurping the authority of state legislatures to regulate elections.) It gives conservative judges a powerful weapon against such suits, allowing them to claim that voters are asking for political fairness, not constitutional equality, and therefore have no business in federal court.

As Marc Elias, the voting rights attorney who brought this case, noted in the Washington Post, this sweeping interpretation of Rucho could let lawmakers inject even more partisanship into each election. Legislatures could insist that candidates of one party are always listed first. They could concoct a formula that ensures candidates of the minority party are buried beneath third-party candidates. They could keep straight-ticket voting for one major party but not the other. None of these laws would impose a direct burden on a citizens ability to cast a ballot; they would merely affect the fairness of the election. According to Pryor, thats not enough to justify a federal lawsuit.

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Depending on Pryors understanding of what constitutes a burden on individual voting rights, states could go further. A Republican-controlled legislature could allow more early voting days in GOP-heavy counties. It could place ballot drop boxes in predominantly Republican neighborhoods. It could require voter ID, then permit IDs more likely to be held by Republicans than Democrats (like a gun permit). A governor could even cancel a special election if she feared her preferred candidate might lose. All these cases would turn on the constitutionality of state efforts to benefit candidates from one party without denying the ballot to voters from the opposite party. And Pryors theory suggests that, under Rucho, federal courts could not decide them.

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Its notable that Pryor raised Rucho in a separate concurrence rather than his majority opinion. One judge, Jill Pryor (a Barack Obama appointee, no relation to her colleague), rebuked him in a partial dissent, insisting that Ruchos reasoning was specific to the gerrymandering context. The other judge on the panel, Robert Luck (a Trump appointee), simply signed on to the majority. Pryors theory, then, has not yet gained support on his courts.

But Trump has appointed plenty of judges, including at least one on the 11th Circuit, who are clearly gunning for voting rights. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has totally abdicated its responsibility to protect the franchise. Whenever a new theory hostile to equal suffrage floats up from the lower courts, its a trial balloon that may well catch the justices attention. Rucho was a terrible decision by itself. But it will be so much worse if conservative judges use it to shield countless partisan election laws from judicial scrutiny.
In the days before Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her decision to back away from some COVID-19 mitigation efforts in 77 of the states 99 counties, a team of experts advised her not to relax social distancing rules, warning that doing so at this point could cause a second wave of infections and that Iowa could suffer catastrophic loss of life even under strict limits.

While maintaining mitigation efforts such as social distancing in restaurants and fitness centers and limiting operations to 50% of capacity for restaurants, fitness centers and retail establishments in those 77 counties, she also opened the door to in-person church services and farmers markets to resume statewide.

Reynolds said Monday that the state must learn to live with the coronavirus and balance health and economic concerns.

Clearly, reopening churches has nothing to do with restarting the states economy. In our view, Reynolds only foolishly included reopening churches as an attempt to lessen the appearance of whats really happening, which  as is the case of so many of President Donald Trumps recommendations concerning the pandemic  is putting the almighty dollar above everything else.

The warning to Reynolds came in a research paper authored by seven professors of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Iowas College of Public Health. The governors office released the paper Tuesday after Reynolds outlined her rules to reopen restaurants, fitness centers and retail businesses this Friday.

The researchers warned that their modeling found a huge degree of uncertainty in how the pandemic will unfold, from relatively low fatalities to catastrophic loss of life.

One model predicted that Iowa could see 747 deaths by May 28, and that a range of 316 to 965 by then seemed likely. Underscoring the relative dearth of knowledge about potential medical impact of the coronavirus, researchers warned that death tolls in the thousands were also plausible, even assuming that business closures and other limits remained in effect.

In her press conference Wednesday, Reynolds reported 12 additional deaths, bringing to 148 the number of deaths statewide and more than 6,843 confirmed cases statewide. One of those 12 deaths was a Council Bluffs man with no pre-existing health conditions who contracted the virus as the result of community spread. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many Iowans have not been tested, and studies suggest that people can be infected without feeling sick.

The report from the researchers indicated that while the spread of the virus in Iowa appears to be slowing, it had not peaked.

There is considerable uncertainty still in how many cases and deaths Iowa could eventually have, with possible projections between 150 and 10,000 deaths, the researchers wrote. Therefore, prevention measures should remain in place. Without such measures being continued, a second wave of infections is likely.

During her press conference Wednesday, Reynolds defended her decision to relax mitigation efforts in the 77 counties.

With 93% of the positive cases in the 22 Iowa counties where she did not relax mitigation efforts, Reynolds said its not sustainable to keep the state locked down and pointed to the need to protect the states economy as well as the health of Iowans.

In yet another paper released Tuesday, researchers warned that a widely-cited Washington model likely underestimates the potential for significantly more severe outcomes in Iowa. That model projects that Iowa will have 349 COVID-9 deaths through Aug. 4.

Public reaction to Reynolds loosening of mitigation guidelines has not been widely positive. While some restaurants have lauded the opportunity to open under relaxed mitigation standards, others have chosen not to reopen. Many cite staff and community safety as a priority.

On Wednesday, religious leaders representing a wide range of denominations announced they are recommending that churches remain closed to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The leader of the Iowa United Methodist Church strongly recommended that congregations not gather in-person for the time being. Bishop Laurie Heller said in light of the expectation that COVID-19 cases will peak in the coming weeks, she encourages Methodist parishioners to refrain from attending in-person services until June 1.

Heller is among 21 denominational leaders from 10 denominations who signed a statement urging congregations and members to refrain from in-person gatherings, including worship. Iowas Catholic Church leaders also agreed it was too soon to open in-person Mass to the public.

In light of the expectation that positive cases of COVID-19 will peak in Iowa in the next few weeks, we have decided it would be most prudent for now to continue to follow the liturgical restrictions we have in place, including the suspension of public Mass, the bishops of the Davenport, Sioux City, Des Moines and Dubuque dioceses wrote in a joint statement.

While we understand Reynolds focus on reopening the states economy, that focus should be secondary to protecting the health of Iowans in this unprecedented situation. Between Reynolds beginning to reopen the state before the virus even peaks in Iowa, and our president forcing meat plants to remain open, Iowas death toll number will probably skyrocket.

Reynolds said Monday that the state must learn to live with the coronavirus and balance health and economic concerns. We hope Iowans are able to actually live with the results of her decision.

At this juncture, we question that will be the case.
TIRANA -- Albania says it has arrested a Tajik citizen sought by Germany for suspected membership in a cell of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

The announcement on April 30 comes two weeks after German authorities announced they had detained five Tajik nationals suspected of forming an IS cell that plotted attacks on German soil. Two individuals in the cell were alleged to have traveled to Albania with plans to carry out a contract killing.

Albanian police said on April 30 that the countrys Antiterror Directorate arrested a 24-year-old Tajik national, identified only as K.Z., in a joint operation with Interpol.

A statement said the detained is subject to an international arrest warrant issued on April 21 by a federal court in Karlsruhe, Germany.

It said the suspect is accused of being a member of a terrorist cell in Germany that had been set up to carry out violent acts on behalf of the IS group.

The case was referred to prosecutors in the capital, Tirana, in order to carry out further legal procedures for the detainees extradition.

A news website in Albania identified the suspect as Komrom Zukhurov and said he was detained in Tirana late on April 29. It also posted a photo of the man.

The suspect is said to be part of the same group whose members were detained in Germany earlier this month for allegedly planning attacks, including on U.S. Air Force bases in the country and an unidentified individual they deemed critical of Islam.

German prosecutors said four of the suspects -- all from Tajikistan -- were arrested on April 15 in the city of Siegen and in the towns of Heinsberg and Werdohl in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The fifth suspect, also a Tajik national believed to be the leader of the terror cell, was already in custody after being detained in March 2019. The men are all aged between 24 and 32, and came to Germany as refugees.

The men joined IS in January 2019 and were instructed by the IS group to form a cell in Germany, prosecutors said.

They said the attacks were not planned for the immediate future but that the group had already acquired firearms and ammunition, as well as secured directions and precursors for making a bomb from the Internet.

To help finance the terror plans, prosecutors said the ringleader, identified as Ravshan B., and another suspect traveled to Albania to carry out a $40,000-contract killing, but the operation fell apart and they returned to Germany, the statement added.

The men are alleged to have been in contact with two high-ranking IS figures in Syria and Afghanistan.

In recent years, Germany has seen several terrorist attacks claimed by IS, including a truck rampage through a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016 that left 12 people dead.
Rishi Kapoors Last Rites: Daughter Riddhima Gets Permission To Fly Via Private Jet, Funeral Begins At 4PM
As schools and businesses closed and residents were asked to stay home and socially distant to stop the spread of COVID-19, one group that has continued to operate is the Friends of Texas Wildlife rehabilitation center.

The nonprofit, which is almost completely volunteer-run, is still accepting animals even as its operations must change to keep volunteers safe.

The intake center in Magnolia is operating under restricted hours and is asking people to contact them before interacting with a wild animal that may be hurt, or before heading to the center with a wounded animal. Bring in an animal for intake is by appointment only.

Intakes at the center are actually up by around 20 percent, said Lisa Wolling, executive director of the Friends of Texas Wildlife.

Typically they would be at school or work and wouldnt be finding things as readily as they are, Wolling said of why she thinks people are bringing in more animals.

Injured animals

Something that the center has always dealt with, but has seen an increase of, is people bringing them injured animals that they thought they could take care of using advice from the internet. But after a few days when the animal wasnt improving, the center gets a call.

Were getting things in that are more critical care than they would maybe necessarily normally be because theres been something going on where people are playing home-rehabber with stuff they can find on the internet, Wolling said. Its created a whole other set of problems that we always deal with but not on as large a basis as we are now.

To combat this, the organization has put out PSAs on its social media and created a new email (ftwl.help@gmail.com) for people to use when looking for advice or in case of emergency. When someone has an animal to bring in, all the paperwork is done remotely so that the animal can just be dropped off with as little human interaction in between as possible.

But even as people are home more often, Wolling said this has not resulted in the nonprofit being able to find or use trained home-rehabilitators. Its around this time of year that FOTW normally would be hosting training for volunteers to learn how to rehabilitate an animal from their home.

Its not really something that you can effectively tell somebody remotely how to do it, she said. It really has to be at least a couple of hands-on trainings.

Early interventions

The early intervention has come in handy and helped the center from avoiding unnecessary intakes.

One thing Wollings hopes the emergency email will do in the coming weeks is stop people from bringing baby deer to the center that werent actually abandoned. Each year, well-meaning individuals kidnap fawns they found that they thought were abandoned but were actually left by the mother in a place she thought they would be safe.

Fawns are always one of the species that is most commonly kidnapped because of their normal behavior, Wolling said. Were kind of worried that with everybody being out walking and out in their yards that its going to be bad with fawns this year.

Its normal for fawns to be left by their mothers during the day until theyre a couple of weeks old. Sometimes fawns like to follow other animals or humans, which often makes people believe they have been abandoned. Wollings encourages people to just leave fawns alone unless there are clear signs of abandonment.

When in doubt, contact FOTW for advice before interacting with any abandoned animals. The FOTW can be reached at 281-259-0039.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
The Treasury Department today announced that Bank Hapoalim, Israels largest bank, has agreed to pay the United States more than $900 million to resolve two high-profile cases.

First, the department announced that criminal charges had been filed against the bank for its participation in a conspiracy with US taxpayers and others to hide more than $7.6 billion in more than 5,500 secret Swiss and Israeli bank accounts and related income from the IRS.

The banks Swiss subsidiary, Bank Hapoalim (Switzerland) Ltd., pleaded guilty.

Israels largest bank, Bank Hapoalim, and its Swiss subsidiary have admitted not only failing to prevent but actively assisting U.S. customers to set up secret accounts, to shelter assets and income, and to evade taxes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman said in a press release. The combined payment approaching $1 billion reflects the magnitude of the tax evasion by the Banks U.S. customers, the size of the fees the Bank collected to provide this illegal service, and the gravity of the illegal conduct.

According to the Justice Department, it was the second-largest recovery by the department in connection with its investigations into how foreign banks facilitate offshore tax evasion. The biggest was Credit Suisse, which agreed to pay $2.6 billion in 2014.

In another case  the resolution of which was also announced today  Bank Hapoalim and its Swiss subsidiary admitted to conspiring with sports marketing officials to launder more than $20 million in bribes and kickbacks to officials with the international governing soccer body FIFA and other soccer federations.

The bank agreed to pay a $9.3 million penalty and forfeit $20.7 million in connection with that case.

This announcement illustrates another aspect in the spider web of bribery, corruption and backroom deals going on behind the scenes as soccer games were played on the field, said William F. Sweeney, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs New York field office, in a press release. Bank Hapoalim admits executives looked the other way, and allowed illicit activity to continue even when employees discovered the scheme and reported it.
US President, Donald Trump, has confirmed his government will be gifting Nigeria 200 ventilators as the nation battles the Coronavirus pandemic.



Recall President Buhari had a telephone chat with the US President who promised to give Nigeria ventilators.



President Trump had a press conference where he confirmed his government will be giving Nigeria 200 or more ventilators. According to him, we will do anything for ventilators.



''I spoke today to Nigeria. They will do anything for ventillators. We are going to send at least two hundren ventillators to Nigeria, probably more than that'' he said.









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North Adams Budget Projections Raise Specter of Great Recession

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The administration is looking for guidance in the past it tries to project a budget for fiscal 2021  the past as in the Great Recession.

The novel coronavirus pandemic is presenting similar grim financial picture for the state and communities as the global economic collapse did just over a decade ago. That's the worst-case scenario that Mayor Thomas Bernard said he and his financial team are keeping in mind as they look at possible losses on the order of $2.6 million.

"I'll talk about how we're using what happened from 2008 onward as a guide for some of the assumptions that we're making, but again, tax revenues dropped 10 percent  greater than 10 percent and aid was cut by more than 20 percent," Bernard told the Finance Committee on Tuesday.

He told the committee, meeting virtually on the Zoom platform, that there will likely be many unanswered questions because of the "tremendous level of uncertainty," particularly at the state level.

"But I want to walk through a little bit of what we know, what we guess, and how we're using that to shape and build the budget," he said. Normally the budget process would be well under way at this point, "but we're just honestly not there yet because there's just too many too many unknowns."

Referring to a roundtable held more than a week ago by the state's Ways & Means chairmen, the prognosis was distressing. The budget process started in January has basically gone by the wayside as lawmakers seek to rebuild a spending plan with an expectation of declines in revenue of more than 14 percent, or more than $4 billion.

"There are projections that go to $5 billion, which I think is the reasonable starting point," Bernard said. "But, as the budget process at the state level moves forward, we could imagine that number going higher."

The depth and length of the crisis will depend on how fast the region can rebound from the COVID-19 outbreak. Numerous businesses and cultural institutions have been shuttered or are operating in a limited capacity since mid-March while record numbers of residents have sought unemployment benefits. Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday extended the lockdown another two weeks to May 18.

Bernard said his financial team was working with placeholder numbers until there was more certainty from the state. In the meantime, a hiring and spending freezing was instituted three weeks to help buffer the current budget until it ends on June 30.

The Great Recession had opened the door for communities to begin levying surcharge taxes on rooms and meals. But the closure of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the nearby Clark Art Institute, along with restaurants, shops and some hotels has severely damaged a tourist trade that's helped bring in more than a half-million in revenue a year.

"Those revenues are threatened, because the longer we are closed and the longer we get before our summer tourist season begins," the mayor said. "That first quarter, in particular, we're going to be very strained on those on those receipts."

He anticipated a decline in unrestricted local aid and Chapter 70 state education aid as well that could total $2.6 million

Administrative Officer Michael Canales said he took a look a the lowest quarterly payments received from the state and then revenues from the first quarter, usually the lowest out of the year to calculate an estimated reduction.

"We assume that right now based with everything shut down, we're going to lose about 80 percent of that first quarter payment," he said. "Then assume that we're going to get back to normal operations, or semi normal operations, by the fall, then we would just base it on our lowest other three quarterly payments from the state, and that gave us a number loss of $266,000."

Canales said it was just an estimate and noted the city had been tracking about 10 percent above estimates from last year. But, he added, "this is going to be a substantial reduction across the year." Bernard said Canales had run those numbers through several models so they felt the projections were pretty close.

Committee member Keith Bona, however, thought differently. "I would say that's actually sort of optimistic, to think that in the fall, you know, we move back to regular," he said. "A lot's going to depend on the colleges, Mass MoCA and some other culturals."

It's not known if Fresh Grass, the annual weekend folk music festival at Mass MoCA, will be held and colleges are considering how they will be able to open, particularly as scientists and infectious disease experts are warning of a second and possible even third wave of the pandemic that's killed more than 60,000 Americans and more than 3,000 Baystaters to date.

As for new growth, the mayor also said a number of projects may not move forward immediately, such as slow-moving Cumberland Farms construction on Ashland Street.

So far, tax collections are holding at 97 percent but the administration is keeping a close eye on that figure.

"Every point we lose on the collection rate is $200,000," the mayor said. "So a 5 point drop is a million dollars."

The city has little levy capacity to make up the difference, a problem shared across the state as municipalities are closing in on their levy limits. North Adams expects its budget to exceed its levy ceiling by fiscal 2023.

"I think a good opportunity for the state to look at these levy ceilings because that is something dictated by the state," said Canales. "There's other cities that are in worse shape than us and we know some of them are going to hit sooner sooner than others but I'm just saying it's an opportunity for them to realize this could become a real crisis for them."

Bernard said the city has a couple of options: pass a budget by June 30 based on projected reductions or do a continuing appropriations budget based on monthly needs.

A budget is being developed with department heads and the administration will be following how the state and federal government approach municipal needs, but Bernard said he didn't want to rely on any "magical thinking" of a federal stimulus.

"We will continue to carefully monitor the current year's budget to prepare for the year's close out," he said. "We want to end this year in as solid a position as we can, protecting as many or as much of our reserves as we are able to, and not dip into those unnecessarily."

He and Finance Committee Chairwoman Marie T. Harpin said they will continue to be in contact on a regular basis and would bring the committee back when there was more to report.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradigm, the industry leader in solving catastrophic and complex health care challenges and improving lives, today announced a new partnership between its Catastrophic Care Management division and AiRCare Health, a leader in data-driven behavioral health care. The partnership will deepen Paradigm Catastrophic Care Management's psychosocial support for injured workers and their families. By enhancing their longtime Whole Person, Whole Family approach, Paradigm will strengthen its focus on quickly identifying and predicting underlying behavioral health issues to support the optimal recovery of catastrophically injured workers and their families.

"As the industry leader of the biopsychosocial approach for treating catastrophically injured workers, Paradigm recognizes now more than ever that the level of complexity of these cases calls for more advanced social and behavioral capabilities," said Kevin Turner, CEO, Paradigm Catastrophic Care Management. "Working together with AiRCare Health, Paradigm can bring an even greater set of resources and amplify our approach in order to deliver outcomes that exceed expectations for injured workers and their families."

Through this collaborative partnership, Paradigm will utilize AiRCare's data capabilities to stratify risk and identify the best clinical interventions and care for injured workers. Each Paradigm management team will include an AiRCare community support specialist from day one. These highly skilled behavioral health professionals will work closely with the dedicated Paradigm network manager and injured worker to provide behavioral health support, remove barriers to recovery, and proactively identify and coordinate additional community support resources. Behavioral health support services will assist in the injured worker's recovery across a broad spectrum of needs: mental illness, substance abuse, financial burdens, food scarcity, childcare, and more. The care management team may recommend mental health, pain, substance abuse, or other necessary services, when appropriate, to achieve optimal outcomes.

Paradigm has a deep appreciation for what it takes to manage today's heightened behavioral health challenges. It costs three times as much to treat the physical health of a patient with underlying behavioral health issues.1 As pioneers of the Whole Person, Whole Family approach, Paradigm uses assessment tools that cover medical, surgical, and biological issues alongside a person's emotional wellbeing, family, and community dynamics. This approach is built on a substantial outcomes database curated over the last 30 years to serve individuals with catastrophic injuries. With these tools, Paradigm creates financial value and certainty, returning the injured worker to the best possible life.

The new partnership with AiRCare Health complements Paradigm's Expert-Driven, Data-Guided (EDDG) platform, a first-of-its-kind, proprietary system to inform its approach and deliver insights and analytics to aid the recovery process by identifying proven methods to achieve the maximum restorative recovery possible for catastrophically injured workers. Additionally, the Paradigm Biopsychosocial Indicator, a predictive assessment tool used at the outset of new cases, provides insights into whether an injured worker is at high-risk for psychosocial challenges that may complicate recovery. The indicator, which serves as a key input for the EDDG platform, identifies patterns of risk and seeks to illuminate a patient's resilience, family and peer support, economic situation, and other factors that could impact recovery and functional outcomes.

"AiRCare Health and Paradigm have a shared commitment to supporting the emotional health of the individuals we serve, as well as their families," said Jaclyn Wainwright, Chief Executive Officer of AiRCare Health. "We look forward to working together with Paradigm in the treatment of injured workers. Through our combined set of services, we will provide optimal support for injured workers and their families during the recovery process, making a measurable difference in their lives."

To learn more, visit: https://www.paradigmcorp.com/catastrophic-care-management-hands-on-behavioral-health-support

About Paradigm

For almost 30 years, Paradigm has been the industry leader in solving catastrophic and complex health care challenges and improving lives. With the most connected and experienced team in health care, we define and deliver outcomes that exceed financial and health expectations for our clients, as well as for individuals and their families.

Paradigm delivers its solutions through three divisions: Catastrophic Care Management, Complex Care Solutions, and Specialty Networks. The Paradigm divisions are built on expertise from six best-in-class businesses: Paradigm Outcomes, The ALARIS Group, Encore Unlimited, Restore Rehabilitation, ForeSight Medical, and Adva-Net. Founded in 1991, Paradigm is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California with offices across the U.S. For more information, please visit https://www.paradigmcorp.com/ .

1 "The Five Most Costly Conditions, 1996 and 2006: Estimates for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population," Soni, A., Statistical Brief #248. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2009. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st248/stat248.pdf.

SOURCE Paradigm

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More than two dozen US states moved ahead with plans to relax restrictions on business and social life, hoping to reverse the economic blows of the coronavirus that caused another 3.84 million Americans to file jobless claims last week.

With White House guidelines for social distancing expiring on Thursday, states have been grappling with when and how to revive their economies while keeping residents safe with stay-at-home and social-distancing policies.

Some states planned to ease restrictions without the "Opening Up America Again" safeguards that the White House itself had recommended, including declines in the infection rate and expanded virus testing.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a White House task force member, warned states not to move too fast, a refrain of many public health officials since states, led by Georgia, started easing restrictions.

"You can't just leap over things to a situation where you're really tempting (the virus) to rebound. That's the thing I get concerned about. I hope they don't do that," he told NBC's "Today" show.

The number of coronavirus cases is still climbing in many parts of the country, although peaks already have been reached in New York, the US epicenter of the outbreak, and other places.

Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania reported record daily death tolls on Wednesday and the total number of US deaths topped 61,000 with well over 1 million confirmed cases as of Thursday.

The sense of urgency with which states were looking to reopen was highlighted on Thursday by Labor Department data showing that 3.839 million people filed claims for unemployment benefits in the week ended April 25.

That was down from 4.442 million the prior week, but still lifted the number of people who sought unemployment benefits to around 30 million since March 21. That represents roughly 18.4% of the working age population.

Data on Wednesday showed that the US economy in the first quarter suffered its sharpest contraction since the 2007-2009 Great Recession.

New Industries Hurt

The numbers suggested that layoffs were spreading to industries not directly hurt at first by business closures and disruptions related to the coronavirus.

Florida on Wednesday became the latest state, and one of the largest, to announce steps to ease restrictions that crippled business activity.

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel," Governor Ron DeSantis said as he unveiled his phase-one plan due to start on Monday to relax mandatory workplace closures and stay-at-home orders imposed four weeks ago.

Earlier in the week his Texas counterpart, Greg Abbott, another governor closely aligned with their fellow Republican, President Donald Trump, announced a similar reopening strategy due to take effect this Friday.

In California, however, Governor Gavin Newsom was expected to announce the closure of all beaches and parks in the state after crowds jammed beaches last weekend, according to a memo seen by Reuters.

A Democrat, Newsom has said that curbside retail, manufacturing and other "lower-risk workplaces" should reopen in California within weeks as testing and contact-tracing improve.

In Michigan, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer requested an extension to a state of emergency due to expire on Thursday. Republican lawmakers in Michigan oppose the extension.

Hundreds of demonstrators, including militia group members carrying firearms and people with pro-Trump political signs, gathered on the steps of the Michigan state Capitol in protest against Whitmer's action.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said his state would hire thousands of people to trace the contacts of people who test positive for the coronavirus. He also announced a halt to New York City subway service from 1 to 5 a.m. to disinfect trains.

Hospitalizations and deaths from the coronavirus declined slightly on Wednesday in New York, the worst hit of the 50 US states with more than a third of all deaths.

Fauci, the top US infectious-disease official, shared more promising news on Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental antiviral drug remdesivir, which has shown an improved recovery rate for patients of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Fauci said it was possible that millions of doses of the drug could be available by January as the Food and Drug Administration is reportedly set to grant emergency approval to remdesivir.

We want to go quickly, but we want to make sure its safe and its effective. I think thats doable if things fall in the right place," Fauci said.

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The coronavirus (Covid-19) has claimed more than 1,000 lives in India. The country is conducting more tests to detect people who have the virus as a lockdown ends on May 4.

Business Standard takes a look at regional editions of Hindi newspapers to provide you with a picture of the Covid-19 situation in the hinterland. Special care for patients during Ramzan National Cancer Institute at Badsa, Jhajhar is doing a little more than just treating the patients. As it is the holy month of Ramzan, the 120 Tablighi Jamat patients in the institute are getting due care and attention while ...
Toronto, Apr 30 (UNI) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed in a statement that a Canadian military helicopter had gone missing off the coast of Greece.

On Wednesday, Greek outlet militaire.gr reported that a Canadian Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopter, with six people on board, disappeared 52 nautical miles (60 miles) west of Cephalonia island in the Ionian Sea. According to the outlet, one service member was killed, with the rest still missing.

A Canadian helicopter involved in [Operation] REASSURANCE with NATO allies has gone missing off the coast of Greece. I have spoken with Minister [of National Defense] Harjit Sajjan, and search and rescue efforts are currently underway. Updates will be provided as soon as possible, Trudeau said via Twitter on late Wednesday.

The helicopter was part of Operation REASSURANCE, a NATO mission in Central and Eastern Europe.

According to Canadas Department of National Defense, the operation is the countrys largest military operation abroad, with up to 915 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed at any time.

UNI RHK0833
A control room set up by the DPIIT to monitor issues of trade and industry has resolved as many as 1,739 matters as on April 28, an official statement said on Thursday.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) established the control room on March 26 to monitor the issues of industry and trade, and take up such matters with the concerned state government, district and police authorities as well as other concerned agencies.

It monitors the issues in internal trade, manufacturing, delivery and logistics of essential commodities and difficulties faced by various stakeholders during the lockdown to resolve supply chain issues.

"Out of the total number of 1,962 queries registered till April 28, 1,739 have been resolved/settled. 223 are currently under resolution. Out of 1,962 queries registered, more than 1,000 queries were received from five states/UTs -- Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat," the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.

It added that a dedicated team has been put in place to monitor and tracking the disposal of queries and to generate daily reports for information of senior officers in the department.

The team also closely tracks the important queries by calling up the affected people and obtains their inputs while taking up the matter with the concerned agency.

"This also helps in making an assessment about the efficacy of various agencies involved in resolution of issues. This team of professionals helps senior officers to know the impact of their interventions and thus keeps everyone apprised of the status of resolution of grievances," it added.

It also said that the queries are being received in the control room through telephone calls as well as email.

Any manufacturing, transporter, distributor, wholesaler or e-commerce companies facing ground level difficulties in transportation and distribution of goods or mobilization of resources can inform to the department through a telephone number + 91 11 23062487) and email id controlroom-dpiit@gov.in.The telephone number is functional from 8 AM to 6 PM.

"The control room has been receiving queries regarding ground level difficulties as well as the procedural and policy issues being faced by the manufacturers, transporters, distributors, wholesalers and e-commerce companies," the statement said.

After registering the queries, the DPIIT control room staff forward it to the state level control rooms and the Chief Secretary of the State with the request to initiate necessary action and ensure that the required relief is provided to the querists at the earliest.

It added that all the senior officers of the DPIIT have been assigned specific states with which they continuously interact and urge upon the state functionaries to initiate action on pending issues.

On March 24, the central government had announced a nationwide lockdown with a view to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus, while putting in place arrangements for ensuring that supplies of essential goods and services remain available to all citizens.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Gov. Tate Reeves and state agriculture commissioner Andy Gipson both said Thursday Mississippians should stop panic buying food, that the state is not in any danger of running out of meat or other necessities.

The two spoke during the governors Thursday afternoon press conference updating the states response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The trucks are running, the food is coming. Dont panic, Gipson said. There are no signs of us running out of food any time soon.

Gipson, in fact, said there is a surplus of food, noting that now-closed restaurants and schools account for about 50 percent of demand.

He acknowledged there is an issue at some plants, but its not with supply, it with having the number of available workers to process meat and other items.

Reeves, meanwhile, thanked Mississippians for "their resolve in the face of tremendous suffering. We know -- we know this virus is real. We know it is a threat. We know it is a deadly threat. It is not, however, the only deadly threat we face.

I want to be clear -- very, very clear -- we are not at immediate risk of any shortage. You do not need to hoard. You do not need to empty the shelves of your local grocery store. That will do more harm than good. You will get what you need. The supply chain is still working, although stressed.

Meanwhile, Thursdays update from the Mississippi Department of Health reported 246 new cases of COVID-19 statewide, with 11 new deaths, bringing the states totals to 6,815 and 261, respectively.

For the first time, the MDH reported the number of Mississippians who are presumed to have recovered from the coronavirus. According to the data, 3,413 -- 50 percent of the total -- have recovered. With the 261 deaths included, 53.9 percent of the states COVID-19 cases have reached a resolution.

Locally, there were four new cases reported in Jackson County and once again no new deaths along the Mississippi coast. Jackson Countys four new cases brings the total to 259. Harrison County had three new cases for a total of 174, while Hancock County had one new case for a total of 63.

The coast total now stands at 496 -- or 7.3 percent of the state total. The coast death count remained at 17, or 6.5 percent of the statewide total.

Just north of the coast, however, the picture is far more grim. Pearl River County had one new death reported, bringing the total number of deaths there to 19, just one fewer than Lauderdale County, which has the most COVID-19 deaths in the state with 20.

Lauderdale County, however, has had 349 total cases, compared to just 163 in Pearl River County, meaning 11.7 percent of all cases in Pearl River County have ended in death.

Also, Singing River Hospital System updated their case information, showing that of the 176 cases treated by SRHS and involving Jackson County residents, 58 percent have come from Moss Point. Pascagoula is next at 18.2 percent, followed by Ocean Springs at 11.9 percent, Gautier at 8 percent and Vancleave at 7 percent. The cases are sorted by zip code.

Since the hospital systems previous report on April 20, Moss Point has seen an increase of 12 cases, with six new cases in Pascagoula, three in Gautier and one in Ocean Springs. There have been 83 total cases in Jackson County treated somewhere other than the hospital system.

Statewide, African-Americans continue to comprise the majority of cases at 52.1 percent, with 33.2 percent white. In Jackson County, 48.3 percent of all cases have involved African-Americans, with 42.1 percent white. Four of the countys six COVID-19 deaths have been African-Americans.
Here is good news for Bengalureans, especially for motorists whose vehicles have been seized till date for violating the lockdown. The Bengaluru police have decided to return the seized vehicles from May 1. However, all vehicles will not be released on the same day. They will be released according to the seizure date. The vehicles seized first will be released first.

Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao has tweeted about the decision to release seized vehicles. Its decided to return the corona seized vehicles from 1/5/20 onwards. Those seized first will be returned first. The documents will be verified and vehicle returned. This has approval of Hon CM and HM. We are doing the paperwork to ease the process, it said.

According to the police, they have seized more than 50,000 vehicles across Bengaluru after the lockdown was imposed. These seized vehicles include cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers. The vehicles were seized because motorists had come out during lockdown without having a valid pass or without any emergency.

We seized vehicles of mischievous people who came out for no reason. Many of them had come out in search of tobacco products and liquor, said an officer who was part of seizing operations. But the motorists used to tell that they are on their way to purchase essentials like groceries, milk and medicines.

The seized vehicles are parked near the respective police stations or in nearby vacant places. The police have maintained the records of seized vehicles along with the registration number, owner name and the rider who was caught. They have even maintained the time, date and place of seizure. So, we will return the vehicle to the right owner only after verifying the documents. If anyone fails to produce documents, vehicles will not be released, a senior officer said. The entire process may take at least a week, the officer added.

Initially, the police had decided to release these vehicles after May 3, but since the Karnataka government relaxed the lockdown, they decided to release the vehicles, an officer said.
All corners of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been filled with the Vietnamese national flags as the country marks the 45th anniversary of Reunification Day (April 30) this year.

In order to celebrate the grand holiday, authorities in Hanoi have decorated major streets with national flags and banners as well as prepared a series of activities from April 22 to May 10.

The citys authorities also wanted to raise awareness among local residents of the importance and historic meaning of the Reunification Day, especially on the occasion of the 45th anniversary.

Thanh Nien Street in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi is decorated with national flags on April 30, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, about 2,000 banners have been added to the streets in downtown areas.

Such streets as Dien Bien Phu and Thanh Nien in Ba Dinh District and Xa Dan in Dong Da District have become vibrant thanks to the red color of many national flags.

Multiple banners are hung along Hoang Van Thu Street in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi to mark Vietnams Reunification Day on April 30, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

Citizens were also encouraged to hang a national flag in front of their houses to become part of the celebration.

The neighborhood seems to brighten up despite the ongoing novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, said Hoang Ly, a resident in Ba Dinh District.

A poster marking the 45th anniversary of Vietnams Reunification Day on April 30, 2020. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

A similar spirit can also be observed in Ho Chi Minh City, as major streets are decorated with the countrys flags.

Each household was asked to hang national flags to mark the date.

A shop sells national flags and T-shirts in Hanoi. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

Residents hang national flags in front of their homes along a street in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate Vietnams Reunification Day on April 30, 2020. Photo: Nhat Thinh / Tuoi Tre

National flags are seen along a major street in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2020. Photo: Nhat Thinh / Tuoi Tre

National flags are seen along Tran Quang Khai Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2020. Photo: Nhat Thinh / Tuoi Tre

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Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor has been hospitalised at H N Reliance Hospital in Mumbai. His brother Randhir Kapoor shared his health update and said the actor is suffering from cancer and has difficulty in breathing.

Actor Rishi Kapoor was admitted in Mumbais H N Reliance Hospital late last night after facing difficulty in breathing. His brother Randhir Kapoor confirmed the development to a news portal and said that Rishi Kapoor is hospitalised. His wife Neetu Kapoor is by his side. He is unwell. Post which, Randhir Kapoor told another news agency that the actor is currently in the hospital. He is suffering from cancer and has difficulty in breathing. However, he is stable now.

Reports also said that Rishi Kapoor was put on a ventilator after being admitted in the hospital. Randhir Kapoor has denied any such reports. Soon after the news broke out, fans all around the country started praying for his speedy recovery.

Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. He underwent treatment in New York for about a year. During these trying times, his wife Neetu Kapoor was right by his side. His son Ranbir Kapoor and his girlfriend Alia Bhatt also made frequent visits to him. Several actors including Priyanka Chopra, Vicky Kaushal, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar among many others paid him a visit in New York.

Also Read: French envoy Emmanuel Lenain mourns Irrfan Khans death

Also Read: Rashami Desais latest Instagram post with her niece is unmissable!

Come on god's don't be so cruel. Our teenage heart throb #RishiKapoor is too young & so take care of him. #GetWellSoon Chintu. A whole generation prays for you.  Ravindra Vasisht (@rvasisht) April 30, 2020

He is in the hospital.

Let's all pray for his quick recovery.#rishikapoor  pic.twitter.com/YtdBST2fz8  Sara Ali Khan (@mysarakhan) April 29, 2020

Rishi kapoor is in bad health once again.

Keep the tweets coming.

We are all praying silently.#RishiKapoor .  anukul bansal (@AnukulBansal) April 30, 2020

#Bollywood is going through serious hard times. We have lost #IrrfanKhan already and now #RishiKapoor is hospitalised! I pray for his speedy recovery and good health.  Shaheed Bhagat Singh (@bhagatsingharmy) April 30, 2020

Hope you get well soon #RishiKapoor sir  Wishing you a speedy recovery and may God bless you with good health   Chirag Seth (@sethchirag1412) April 30, 2020

On the professional front, Rishi Kapoor was recently seen in the film The Body alongside Emraan Hashmi. Post which, he has signed the Hindi adaptation of The Intern in which he will be seen alongside Deepika Padukone. The film is slated for a release in 2021. Speaking about the film, Rishi Kapoor had earlier said that The Intern beautifully captures human relationships and is quite relevant for modern-day Indian workplace milieu.

Also Read: Irrfan Khan no more: Arvind Kejriwal, Prakash Javadekar, Ashok Gehlot, Rahul Gandhi express shock over actors sudden demise

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Here's the new twist: The burgeoning pandemic promises to shake up dictatorships by radically reshaping the resources that disparate groups hold at their disposal. Most authoritarian regimes - like democracies - are facing major economic slowdowns due to the pandemic. This will shrink the size of the economic pie. It will also generate new winners and losers as some groups bear more of the economic shocks than others.

These shocks will in turn provide grist for leadership challenges and perhaps even rekindle dormant civil conflicts, if the balance of power between opposing groups changes on the ground. Research shows that all of these factors can spur leadership change within dictatorships. Furthermore, if critical groups like the military feel like they are getting short shrift in a new age of austerity, they may be willing to turn against their patrons.

- For example, consider Venezuela

For the past two years, Venezuela has been mired in a nearly unparalleled peacetime economic crisis. Its economy has shrunk by half. Diseases long thought eradicated have returned to ravage the population, hunger is widespread, and over 50 countries do not recognize its president, Nicolas Maduro.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of two different helicopters to the Philippines, in advance of that countrys final decision on what system to buy.

The Philippines was cleared to buy six AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and related equipment, produced by Bell, with an estimated price tag of $450 million.

A much more expensive option, for six Boeing-made AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment, comes with an estimated cost $1.5 billion.

The Philippines is considering either the AH-1Z or the AH-64E to modernize its attack helicopter capabilities, according to a notification posted to the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The proposed sale will assist the Philippines in developing and maintaining strong self-defense, counterterrorism, and critical infrastructure protection capabilities.

DSCA notifications are not final sales; once cleared by Congress, the sales enter negotiations, during which quantities and costs can shift. In this case, the choice of either American-made platforms is not guaranteed; Manilla is also considering the Turkish-made T129 ATAK. However, the U.S. State Department often preapproves potential sales of systems to foreign countries so that if the foreign partner does select an American-made weapon, the process will move more quickly.

Should the Philippines select the AH-1Z package, it would come with 14 General Electric T700-401C engines, seven Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation with Precise Positioning Service, six AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles, and 26 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System all-up rounds, among other equipment.

The AH-64E package would come with 18 General Electric T700-701D engines, 15 Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation with Precise Positioning Service, 200 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 300 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System kits, and 200 FIM-92H Stinger missiles, among other gear, equipment, U.S. government and contractor technical assistance, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.

In either case, industrial offsets are expected to be part of the winning package; such offsets are negotiated directly between the customer nation and the industry partner.
Madcapping and Conning with Trump: Feeding Americans Addiction to Illusions

The current and seemingly consensual wisdom is that this pandemic has exposed the fault lines of injustice and inequality in society. But it has also added in the problematic person of Trump another blow to the racist conception of Whiteness, its claims of superiority in leadership, salvational power, divine election and a perfect union. At the risk of seeming racially insensitive to White people, it would seem that if anyone wanted or needed living and life-long proof that White people arent superior and can be willfully ignorant, woefully incompetent and alarmingly unworthy of positions they hold and the praise they receive, then Trump offers abundant and unarguable evidence. But, lets face it, whatever Trump is, America has made him. Indeed, it elected him to be its racial representative, a kind of great White hope, its corporate captain and collaborator, and the central symbol of its longed-for misconceived manhood regained and reasserted at the expense of all others at home and abroad.

Trump is Americas carnival barker and racial bully, hawking and holding high Americana sights and scenes under the re-pitched Big Top, whose central act is MAGA. And stripped of its mystification and manufactured fog, MAGA is little more than a mad and toxic mixture of racist nostalgia, meanness, pettiness and patriotism misperceived, packaged and promoted as justifiable hatred, hostility and phobia towards different others, especially the vulnerable. Therefore, the White House has morphed into the Mad House with Trump madcapping and conning his way through problems he cant handle, silencing and sidelining scientists and experts when the country needs them most, and pretending knowledge and intelligence he does not have and can only wishfully witness and envy in others.

The man is certifiably mad by any rational criteria. He is the monster side of America with presidential power and autocratic ambitions, a fantasizing male interrupted by reality, but refusing to accept it. And to keep his supporters, enablers and admirers in line and looking for another lemming-like rush to the edge, he continuously feeds Americas addiction to illusion. These illusions are an interlocking web of self-deceptions about being the greatest with no unpleasant historical memories or current regrets, no reason to reflect, only to react, especially negatively and aggressively. And then, there is the twin myth to the unblemished greatness  that of having achieved perfection as a society and simply striving to achieve a more perfect union, in spite of race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, age, religious and other contradictions to the contrary. Joined to illusions of grandeur, exceptionalism and excellence without an ounce or iota of self-interrogation or the modesty which would invite it, there is the colonial, enslaving and imperial tradition of savaging the history and humanity of others different, denying their dignity, equal worthiness, and their equal right to the common and shared goods of society and the world.

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Some, maybe many, might want to deny it, but at the heart of Trumps perverse hold on so many White American minds is his ability and wanton will to pimp, pander and play on their illusions about this country, themselves and others, and to cultivate and cater to their misinformed grievances, confusions and fears. And this is joined to an astonishing unawareness of the world they actually live in and whose plunder, pollution and depletion they collaborate in and cosign. Conceptually imprisoned in these primal and founding myths and illusions of unsoiled greatness and sanitized history, it is hard for these fellow Americans to accept vulnerability, rather than invincibility and immunity in terms of the coronavirus 19. They cannot see the morality or meaning in their having to stay home, stand back, wash their hands repeatedly, wear a mask or consider the consequences of their actions on others.

Nurturing and asserting the narrowest and most degraded forms of individualism, they find it difficult to feel for others, delay gratification and think seriously about the consequences of their actions and those of their monster mentor. Afterall, Trump has assured them he needs no mask, argued early that the virus was a hoax, dismissed it for months and made no national preparations for it. Instead, he has offered them safety and salvation behind apartheid walls, bans on Muslims, Africans  Continental and Caribbean, Latinos and Asians, imprisoning and packing immigrants together in unsanitary and disease producing conditions, and urging them, his followers, to rush into the streets and rage against restrictions and rules instituted to save lives, including their own.

Trump bragged early in his quest for the White House that he could shoot someone in plain sight on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. But, if not stopped and removed from office and held accountable, he will get away with criminal neglect in allowing the preventable spread of Covid-19 and thus, an undetermined number of avoidable deaths. For it is he who dismissed reports from U.S. intelligence services in November about the emergence of the virus; notification from China in December and from the World Health Organization in January; and briefings, memos and reports from various government agencies and officials in January and February. But again, he engaged in criminal neglect and denial and people have lost health and lives and continue to die deaths that could have been prevented, as medical experts and researchers attest. And in the midst of this pandemic of disease, death and dying, Trump, with no shame, floats the madcap and dangerous idea of injecting and ingesting disinfectant to treat the virus causing a spike in calls and cases concerning this. This was also the case with his recommendation of chloroquine, causing some to try it with disastrous results. But like the Mad Hatter, he is known for switching places and positions and talking nonsense in short phrases or tweets.

Another of Trumps defining features is his seemingly being morally incapable of conceding wrong or mistakes and his lying as a way of life. Such a person should not be president, not even for the Whites who worship him. For there is more at stake than them; there is the whole people to consider: Native Americans, Africans, Latinos, Asians and those Europeans who oppose him and also his disastrous effect on the world. He is leading the country to ill health, unnecessary suffering, needless deaths and an avoidable disaster. And he must be confronted, removed from office and called to account. Trump, after all, can be compared to a mad chef, hooked and hyped up on his spiked and toxic witches and warlocks brew and stew, raring to feed his followers medication for mindlessness. His call to lessen the restrictions too quickly would dismiss and undo the awesome efforts and sacrifices which the essential and frontline workers, healthcare providers, health workers and people in general have made. And thus, we must resist him, remain in place, hold the line and push back.

Given his aversion to knowledge, learned women and men and experts of every kind, Trump refuses to learn the lessons from past pandemics, plagues and man-made disasters. And since he refuses to learn the lessons of history, he will continue to cover up his mistakes until they consume him. And whereas his worshippers see him as a savior and might turn to him for deliverance from evil, we know he will not and cannot do it, for he is the evil himself. Also, he and they are in a self-deluding, self-destructive co-dependency which addicts and their enablers find unavoidable. Thus, it falls on the radical and progressive peoples of the country to recognize there is no remedy for his illness except resistance and removal. And in this process of a radically transformative struggle, we must set aside all illusions and craft and pursue an agenda for a new society rightfully attentive to shared human good and the well-being of the world.

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Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, The Message and Meaning of Kwanzaa: Bringing Good Into the World and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org.

04-27-20
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Lashauna Blanks is an inmate at the California Institution for Women (CIW) in Corona. She has a job washing the prison ambulance and other vehicles that transport sick inmates to the hospital.

There's no way to say for sure, but Blanks fears she gave the virus to her cellmate.

"There's over a thousand women in here, and it just so happens that my roommate gets COVID-19," she told us in a phone interview. "That's just crazy."

Blanks -- incarcerated since 2012 for voluntary manslaughter and slated for parole in a year -- said she was informed about her cellmate's illness and quarantined two days after she disappeared from their cell.

Still, Blanks was not tested, per state prison policy. Neither was fellow inmate April Harris, who lives on the same floor.

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"They took our temperatures twice a day, slammed us down, brought our food and our medication to the doors," said Harris, who's been behind bars for more than 26 years for second degree murder. She said it was weeks before she was able to use the phone and pick up items at the prison commissary.

California Correctional Health Care Services policy, developed by medical experts following CDC recommendations, is to only test close contacts of positive cases if they develop symptoms of the virus, or if there's a significant outbreak at a prison.

Still, Harris and Blanks feel overshadowed by the higher numbers of cases and more media attention at men's prisons experiencing larger outbreaks.

'IT'S PATRIARCHY. IT'S SEXISM.'

Romarilyn Ralston spent 23 years incarcerated herself and is now the program director for Project Rebound, a program that assists formerly incarcerated people at Cal State Fullerton.

"It's this invisible population behind bars," Ralston said of female prisoners. "Let's just keep it real: It's patriarchy. It's sexism."

"Women are still considered second-class citizens, and when we become incarcerated, we're forgotten," she said.

There are over 5,000 female inmates in the state prison system, with the vast majority at CIW and the Central California Women's Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla.

There are more than 113,000 male state prison inmates.

While there are far fewer women prisoners, data from the prison reform nonprofit The Prison Policy Institute shows that women's incarceration has grown at twice the rate of men since the 1980s.

'A TICKING TIME BOMB?'

Only 17 of CIW's 1,566 inmates have been tested for COVID-19, along with four of CCWF's 2,689 prisoners.

Those ratios are not dissimilar from most of the men's state prisons.

But Blanks and Harris are worried, given the relative lack of attention paid to women's prisons.

"I feel like we could be sitting on a ticking time bomb right now with so many more people affected that we don't know," Harris said.

Ralston of Project Rebound said she's also keeping a close eye on the number of cases among staff at women's prisons. As of Wednesday, four employees in the two largest women's facilities had tested positive.

"As their numbers go up, our numbers will go up," she said.
An aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media matters, Lauretta Onochie, has reacted to reports that President Muhamadu Buhari...





An aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media matters, Lauretta Onochie, has reacted to reports that President Muhamadu Buhari appointed a dead person into the board of one the federal government agencies.





Chief Tobias Chukwuemeka Okwuru is one of the member-nominees (Ebonyi State) in Buharis letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.





The President in the letter to the senate on Tuesday, requested for Okwurus confirmation as a board member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).





But on Wednesday, NigerianEye reliably reported that the appointee died on February 27, 2020.





Reacting to the development, Onochie on her Twitter page said the federal government was not aware that Okwuru was dead.





According to her, he was alive when Buhari appointed him but died before the Senate screening.





Hon Tobias Okwuru was very much alive when President @MBuhari appointed him as the Ebonyi State Member in d Federal Character Commission





He came to update his CV, in readiness for the appointment after the Senate screening.





When he sadly passed away while waiting for the screening by the Senate, that information was not communicated to the federal government.





His remains are not yet buried. May his soul rest in peace.
For most people, coffee is a necessary start to the day. For three scientists based in Toronto, coffee is a good research subject in a world with a changing climate.

These scientists explored the tissues of coffee roots to look for signs of a "core microbiome," or for signs of microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, that form partnerships with the coffee plant.

The existence of consistent microbes within a certain plant microbiome is strongly indicative of beneficial relationships and a better understanding of coffee microbial partnerships is helpful in determining best management practices and predicting coffee responses to changing conditions.

To enhance our knowledge of the coffee plant microbiomes, these ecologists used next generation sequencing methods on samples from a number of Central American farms that differed drastically in environmental conditions and management systems. They discovered 26 bacterial and 31 fungal species that met their criteria for belonging to the core microbiome. Some of these species are known to have plant-beneficial properties and should be investigated in more detail.

"The bacterial core microbiome is much stronger and consistent, while the fungal microbiome is more sensitive to environmental conditions that are expected to expand in range with climate change," said Roberta Fulthorpe, one of the scientists behind this research. "We also found that fungi appear to be related to coffee root characteristics while bacteria are not."

The finding that a number of highly abundant microbial species consistently persist in coffee is a remarkable one. As team member Adam Martin explains: "That the same species are found across a huge range of temperatures, precipitation, soil conditions, and light availability, is novel evidence of a core microbiome that actually exists in real-world conditions."

"Our results open the door for understanding if or how microbiomes can be managed in real-world cropping systems. Our work also leads to interesting questions on whether or not the flavor of our morning cup of coffee is influenced by the plant's microbes."

###

To learn more about first in-depth molecular study of the bacterial and fungal microbiome of coffee roots, read "Root Endophytes of Coffee (Coffea arabica): Variation Across Climatic Gradients and Relationships with Functional Traits" published on February 20th in Phytobiomes Journal.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has denied using the coronavirus pandemic to score political points as she called for the Government to press for an all-Ireland approach to tackling Covid-19.

Ms McDonald called for more harmonisation between politicians in the Republic and Northern Ireland during the pandemic.

She told RTE radio: We need a single harmonised regime across the island to keep people safe and ensure compliance with necessary measures and to ensure this virus does not sweep through our population.

We have consistently made the point that to protect the population on this island, that for public health purposes  we are a small population living on a small island.

Ms McDonald said the Irish Government should press more for an all-island approach.

I have been concerned that the system in the south has been a bit passive to that end and ensuring everyone on the island is safe, she said.

We need a single harmonised regime across the island to keep people safe and ensure compliance with necessary measures Mary Lou McDonald

Of course I have huge concerns, particularly in the early phases at the approach that the system (UK Prime Minister) Boris Johnson and his Government were pursuing.

Asked if it was appropriate time to use coronavirus to make political points, she said: It is time to make points that are important in terms of protecting peoples health.

People will recall when we discussed Brexit, people may not have considered the issue of the border and suddenly the penny dropped that decisions being taken in London were going to have huge ramifications for the Irish economy.

I have made the point that if Brexit caused concern then certainly a public health emergency is of greater concern, when you have someone in Number 10 Downing Street who was pursuing a reckless and dangerous policy, and then there was concern that recklessness would be replicated in the north eastern part of Ireland. No responsible person would countenance that.

We need a single harmonised regime across the island to keep people safe and ensure compliance with necessary measures and to ensure this virus does not sweep through our population.

Meanwhile, a further three-month payment break for loans and mortgages is close to being announced, Irelands banking federation has said.

The first three-month repayment holiday was announced in March to help borrowers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ali Ugur, chief economist with Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), told RTE radio there has been progress towards widening the payment break, adding: They are very close to it.

We have done a significant amount of work by introducing the first payment break in a way for mortgage holders and SME customers.

We recognise it has been an ongoing issue for a lot of people.

Expand Close Chief medical officer Tony Holohan (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA) PA / Facebook

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With more than a million people receiving some form of state income support, applications for the scheme are expected to increase.

We recognise that its an ongoing issue for a lot of people and I can say theres been significant progress achieved, added Mr Ugur.

On Wednesday night, chief medical officer Tony Holohan gave his strongest indication yet that Covid-19 restrictions will not be lifted next week.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is due to issue advice on restrictions to Government on Friday.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there are still too many patients in intensive care to ease restrictions and the numbers of deaths and new cases remain too high.
Why it matters: Apple fans have long enjoyed the seamless integration within Apple's ecosystem of devices. Google is trying to emulate that for headphones by adding new Bluetooth features for Android. These features should make it much easier to pair and use Bluetooth headphones with Android devices.

Google's second generation Pixel Buds have started shipping, about six months after they were first announced. These truly wireless earbuds have generally been reviewed well and even use a similar pairing process as AirPods called Fast Pair. However, Google is looking to add more AirPods-like Bluetooth headphone features to all of Android, not just the Pixel line.

One feature Google is adding is the ability to easily find lost Bluetooth headphones. Just like in Apple's ecosystem, Android phones will be able to find accessories like headphones by ringing them. Google says that they're also adding the ability to check the last known location in the Find My Device app "in the coming months."

There will also be new notifications for Bluetooth headphones including the battery level for each supported component (right/left earbud and case). Your phone will notify you when the battery is running low. The aforementioned Fast Pair will notify you of any nearby devices that you want to pair with, giving an option to "tap here to pair."

To personalize your devices even more, Google's adding the automatic renaming of paired devices. For example, if you pair your phone with the Pixel Buds, the name will change to [your name]'s Pixel Buds.

These new features will be enabled for Android phones running version 6.0 and up. However, those with Android 10 will gain the ability to adjust headphone settings and link to the Google Assistant directly from the device details page.

While these new features will obviously work with the new Pixel Buds, Google is also working with third-party headphone makers to add them as well. So far, only Harman Kardon has officially implemented them in the Harman Kardon Fly truly wireless earbuds.

Based on Google's blog post, it seems that they'll all fall under the "Fast Pair" umbrella as extended features of the original pairing technology. There doesn't appear to be any specific branding or badges so it's unclear how consumers will know which headphones support the new features. Regardless, it's encouraging to know that Android users will be able to enjoy benefits that those in the Apple ecosystem have long enjoyed.
UNCW Alumna to Teach English in Ecuador Through Fulbright Program

Rachel Castro 17 will travel to Ecuador next year as part of the Fulbright-funded English Teaching Assistant Program. ETAs help teach the language in their country of placement while serving as cultural ambassadors for America.

The child of immigrants from Ecuador and Colombia, Castro explains that most of her time will be spent assisting in a university English as a Second Language classroom.



I've been working for a large public library system in Minneapolis for the past few years and thinking about how public institutions, like libraries, shift their attention and reassess their resources in response to community needs, Castro said. Ecuador has become a destination country for refugees from Venezuela. Depending on which city I'm placed in, I'll be volunteering or doing research with a library program or refugee protection organization that connects displaced communities with social services.

The Fulbright Program is a highly competitive, merit-based grant for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists. The U.S. Student Program is designed to give recent graduates and masters and doctoral candidates opportunities for personal development and international experiences.



Year after year, UNCW students remain highly competitive for prestigious fellowships, including Fulbrights, said faculty member and CSURF director Nathaniel Grove. It is a testament to the quality of the educational experience they receive. Rachel will join an elite club with other top students from across the United States.

-- Caroline Cropp

#CAS

#GLOBAL

#HONORS
UPDATE: U.S. Marshals took Phillips back into custody shorty after 1 p.m. in Ohatchee.

EARLIER: A search is underway for a prisoner who cut and burned his way out of an Alabama cell early Thursday.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to the recapture of Timothy Allen Phillips. The 38-year-old Trussville man was being held in the Talladega County Jail on federal firearms charges.

Timothy Allen Phillips, who escaped from the Talladega County Jail, was recaptured in Ohatchee. (Special to AL.com)

Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said the escaped happened about 2 a.m. Video showed Phillips cutting a bar and then burning the heavy plastic window. Lawmen have been searching for Phillips all morning and are following up several leads.

Hell be back, Kilgore said, and for a longer period of time.

U.S. Marshal Marty Keely said Phillips is dangerous and should not be approached. He is a white male, 5-feet, 11-inches tall weighing 175 pounds.

Phillips has skull and snake tattoos on his arm. Anyone who sees him should call 911 immediately. Anyone who has information on his whereabouts can call the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-800-336-0102.
MOSCOW -- When Anna Lopatina, a 41-year-old nurse at a hospital in Astrakhan, a city in southern Russia, fell ill in late March, she immediately took a test for COVID-19. It returned negative several days later, and Lopatina continued to go to work, living with her elderly parents, her sister, and her child. Then her fever returned.

A doctor came to her home and diagnosed Lopatina with flu. But her condition continued to worsen, and on April 10, she was delivered to the city's infectious-disease clinic with pneumonia. "I'm dying," she wrote in a text message to Maria Ledzhiyeva, a friend.

Struggling to breathe, Lopatina was connected to a ventilator. But doctors could not save her. An autopsy at a local morgue determined the cause of her death on April 14 as pneumonia. But Lopatina was buried like a carrier of the coronavirus, her coffin wrapped in plastic and interred by workers in protective overalls.

Because her initial coronavirus test returned negative, friends and relatives flocked to visit her family and pay respects. It wasn't until April 19, after another test, that the regional Health Ministry requalified Lopatina as the Astrakhan region's fourth confirmed coronavirus victim. By that time, both her elderly parents and her sister had been hospitalized with suspected COVID-19.

Lopatina's name was added this week to a running, unofficial tally of Russian medical workers who have died fighting the pandemic, a list updated daily by a group of doctors skeptical of government figures. The story of her deterioration and death, recounted by Ledzhiyeva to the Russian investigative outlet Proyekt, is typical of many that are helping fuel suspicions that Russia is wittingly or unwittingly underestimating its death toll from the pandemic -- which as of April 30 had sickened more than 106,000 people in the country and killed 1,073, according to the official count.

Accurate Numbers?

Government figures on mortality rates by country, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, indicate that Russia, at 0.9 percent, has by far the lowest case-fatality ratio from COVID-19 among the 10 countries with the highest number of confirmed infections. The figure for the United States, which has officially passed 1 million cases, is 5.8 percent. For Italy, it's 13.6 percent. In Germany, praised for its widespread testing and robust health-care system, the case-fatality ratio of 3.9 percent is more than four times that of Russia.

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko praised the low death toll on April 22 and reported that the country's overall mortality rate in 2020 -- despite the pandemic -- had actually fallen year-on-year by 4.5 percent.

But critics point to official figures on cases of pneumonia, which is often caused by the coronavirus, as evidence that the confirmed COVID-19 death toll does not reflect reality. Moscow recorded 7,312 cases of pneumonia in February, 53 percent more than in February 2019; January saw a year-on-year increase of 37 percent. A Moscow deputy mayor, Anastasia Rakova, announced on April 27 that the number of patients hospitalized with pneumonia had risen 70 percent in the space of a week. "This cannot but provoke concern," she said.

When Anastasia Petrova, a 36-year-old journalist in the Urals city of Perm, died on March 31, health officials changed the official cause of death from double pneumonia to "double pneumonia brought on by coronavirus" only after a friend of Petrova's made public a text message in which Petrova revealed her second COVID-19 test had come back positive.

In Daghestan, in Russias North Caucasus, one doctor said on April 28 that at his hospital alone, 12 people had died of pneumonia in the previous four days: "80 to 90 percent [of those cases] are most certainly coronavirus," he said. But Daghestan as a whole had officially recorded only 11 COVID-19 deaths as of that date.

Due To Prompt Action?

Others defend the official tally, asserting that Russia's active testing regimen has resulted in a markedly lower case-fatality ratio. According to official statistics updated daily by the Russian government, almost 3.5 million tests for COVID-19 had been carried out as of April 30.

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.

"The more infections we uncover, the more the mortality rate declines proportionally," Yevgeny Timakov, a Russian infectious-disease specialist, said in a telephone interview.

Another argument cited in defense of the official numbers is that elements of Russia's response were implemented ahead of time. In January, Moscow restricted flights and closed its 4,000-kilometer border with China, and the following month it required people arriving from a growing list of countries to self-isolate for two weeks. With new cases rising slowly, Russia began imposing lockdowns later than many countries, starting on March 30 in Moscow, and shut all borders to most travellers the same day.

"Very early on, Russia was taking epidemiological measures and continues to do so," Melita Vujnovic, the World Health Organization's (WHO) representative in Russia, said in an interview. "There hasn't been an overwhelming of the health system, so quite a number of people can be treated." She added that Russia had "taken into consideration all the guidelines and all the recommendations given by the WHO."

WATCH: Trade, study, and tourism have ground to a halt between the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk and the Chinese city of Heihe since Russia closed the border amid coronavirus fears.

Suspicions about the death toll are driven in part by a lack of clarity over how and when deaths are classified as occurring from COVID-19. Confusion has reigned since the outset of Russia's epidemic, when the deaths of two Muscovites who were initially reported as victims of the new virus were subsequently chalked up by officials to other ailments. Russia reported its first death from the coronavirus on March 19, then quickly backtracked, saying the 79-year-old woman had died from a detached blood clot.

"The government is openly lying," Anastasia Vasilyeva, head of the Doctors Alliance labor union and a vocal critic of the Russian state's handling of health-care issues, told RFE/RL at the time.

A Changing Scale

Russia is not alone in facing accusations of inaccurate accounting. Because the attribution of death to COVID-19 depends on confirmation that the victim was a carrier of the virus, the lack of widespread testing undermines the reliability of death statistics across the world.

Analyses of official mortality figures around the world suggest the pandemic may be responsible for "all-cause excess mortality" indicative of a global death toll from the virus far higher than official numbers show. "All-cause excess mortality" is the figure for deaths above the long-term average, and is widely seen as the most reliable gauge for measuring the costs from a pandemic.



Some countries, like Italy and the United States, include in their official tally of COVID deaths all deceased patients in whom the virus has been detected, regardless of whether it was the proximate cause of death, Inna Danilova, a Russian demographer, told RFE/RL's Russian Service. Russia does not do that.

WATCH: Scheduled surgeries for patients in Russia are being canceled as resources are diverted to fight the COVID-19 epidemic. Treatments are being delayed or denied for patients with conditions like cancer, hepatitis and cystic fibrosis.

So far, there is no universal system for ascertaining mortality rates from the virus. In Russia, the common practice is to collect statistics and release them as part of an annual report with the final, underlying cause of death cited. But the current situation calls for a running tally of deaths. In Britain and Belgium, for instance, officials began collecting daily numbers of deaths from hospitals, and stood accused of overlooking deaths in care homes. In Italy and Spain, many deceased people were tested for COVID-19, with positive diagnoses added to the death record.

On April 16, the WHO published new guidelines on "coding" mortality during the pandemic -- confirming and classifying COVID-19 as the cause of death, part of an effort to institute a more uniform standard across the world as the pandemic continues to take lives.

"Coding of deaths is not a straightforward process," Vujnovic said. "In any country, the death certificate includes the immediate and underlying cause of death." She said that Russia had been receptive to the new guidelines and was translating them for use by doctors across the country.

But some Russian experts argue that the new guidelines are a case of too little too late. "The instruction is rather vague," Vladimir Shkolnikov, a demographer at Moscow's Higher School of Economics, told RFE/RL's Russian Service. "What the WHO is proposing now contradicts the usual method of ascertaining cause of death."

Shkolnikov, a co-author of a new paper in The Lancet medical journal that argues for weekly reports on excess mortality, said WHO guidelines that COVID-19 should be listed as the cause of death even if it is accompanied by another underlying condition that contributed to the fatal outcome may be misleading.

He cited flu epidemics that affected Russia in 2015 and 2018 and caused a spike in mortality rates of 12 to 17 percent. "We see in that data higher-than-expected all-cause excess mortality," he said. "But if we look at deaths specifically from flu or pneumonia, we see very small numbers not comparable to that overall spike. Why? Because among those who die of the flu, there's a large number of elderly people who suffer from cardiac or respiratory problems, cancer, and other chronic illnesses, without which it's unlikely that so many of them would die during a flu epidemic."

So in many cases, he said, doctors listed the causes of death in 2015 and 2018 not as flu but as "death from serious underlying illness" that was exacerbated by the flu. The same tendency not to record coronavirus as the cause of death may be impacting official statistics in Russia as the country battles the latest epidemic.

"With what we know about the disease, we know the deaths can come from the third day to three weeks later. So we have to monitor in the coming weeks to be able to say for sure what the exact situation is," Vujnovic said. "We are expecting more deaths, but that will come proportionally with the rise in cases and the length of the pandemic."

Struggling To Cope

The unofficial tally of Russian medical workers stricken by the pandemic now lists 74 names. The number had always exceeded the official figure provided by the authorities, but on April 29, Health Ministry epidemiologist Nikolai Briko cited the medics' list in a statement lamenting "multiple clusters of coronavirus infection first and foremost in medical organizations."

In a televised conference with officials on April 28, President Vladimir Putin issued his most somber assessment to date of the country's battle with the coronavirus.

"We are facing a new and perhaps the most intense stage in countering the epidemic," he said. "The risk of infection is reaching its peak, and the threat and the mortal danger of the virus remain."

If Putin's prediction proves true, Russia may be facing the toughest challenge in its effort to fight the coronavirus and keep the death toll down -- at a time when its hospitals are already stretched to capacity.

"So far, the health-care system has reacted adequately," said Timakov, the infectious-disease specialist. "But no health-care system in the world can handle a huge spike in infections."
"If I keep my distance, stay healthy, keep my immune [system strong], even if I am sick, I will get better." Like many tourist hotspots across south-east Asia, Bali's economy has been smashed by the coronavirus crisis. A Gojek driver waiting for an order at the end of Popies Lane 1 in Kuta. Credit:Amilia Rosa Hundreds of thousands of workers have been laid off or stood down and hotel occupancy rates have crashed to as low as 1 to 2 per cent. Bali has so far reported just 215 positive cases including four deaths, a small fraction of Indonesia's 9771 total infections.

Around 1.3 million Australians and 1.2 million Chinese tourists travelled to Bali in 2019 - the two nations are the island's biggest fans. But those visitors just aren't there anymore. Indonesia's borders are largely shut to foreigners, barring long-term visa holders, diplomats, medical workers and air and sea crew. Domestic flights have been grounded temporarily too. As a result, the streets are mostly deserted, hotels are struggling and beaches are empty - and closed off anyway. About 1.2 million Balinese work directly in tourism, and according to Putu Astawa, the head of the Balinese government's tourism department, more than half of the island's 4.2 million locals have some connection to the industry. Putu said that average hotel occupancy rates were "almost zero. Those that are still open, like hotels in Nusa Dua, they have maybe one or two per cent occupancy rate. No tourists, no guests, what's left behind are mostly stranded tourists," he said.

Loading "In February [when the Indonesian government was still promoting itself as a coronavirus-free holiday destination] arrivals were almost normal, just a small decline. In March, it was down around 60 per cent. In April there were almost none, zero." Putu said it was too early to calculate the exact financial impact on the island from the crash in tourism but "even those people not directly affected are linked to tourism, like supplying rice or fresh produce to hotels and restaurants. Everybody in Bali is in some way affected". Kuta beach closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit:Amilia Rosa Luh Putu Rena Widyarti, the general manager of the four-star Aveda Boutique Hotel in Kuta said the hotel's occupancy rate was currently 9.2 per cent and that while rooms usually cost $60-$70 per night, it was now offering a monthly rate of $625.

Loading "The company decided to offer the package not with profit in mind. It was just to keep the hotel running, keeping our staff earning some income," he said. Andreas Lelanoh, the general manager for Swiss-Belhotel Rainforest in Kuta, said rooms could currently be booked for $360 per month, well down on usual prices. The steep discounts on hotel rooms in some of Bali's most popular tourist spots such as Kuta, Canggu, Nusa Dua are the rule rather than the exception - for the hotels that have managed to remain open - according to the head of the Hotel Managers Association, Nyoman Astama. Nyoman said more than 80 per cent of hotels are shut and that "by offering monthly packages, they [hotels] can keep their staff on some salary and save on the cost of re-opening when it's back to normal, the new normal, whenever that may be in the future".
Its time to be there for our medical professionals. They have always taught us to be healthy and take action to prevent potential physical and mental ailments. Nurses, doctors and medical staff are used to evidence, data and certainty. Right now, they dont have it.

The lack of certainty combined with lack of medical supplies and staff is reason for us to take ownership and be there for health care professionals. We have always looked to them to heal us, guide us, or even bring us back to life. This consistent crisis is something new and the anxiety can be viral. Employers and employees can work together to flatten the anxiety curve with growth so we can keep people out of the hospital.

Anxiety is as contagious as COVID-19. Anxiety is the most common mental illness for adults. It affects 40 million adults. Adults with anxiety disorders are three to five times more likely to go to see a doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders. Anxiety plays a role in lowering your immune system and ability to fight off sickness. If we work together to lower our collective anxiety, we can decrease the chances that people will have compromised immune systems and therefore lessen the strain on health care professionals.

Lets face it, we can turn on the news and be impressed or disheartened by what we see our American CEOs doing and saying. What leaders do now is a magnifier of your brand. People will always remember how you treated them in the worst of times and if done with a value-based approach it can lead you to the best of times. There are so many companies getting it right, LL Bean, Comcast, Cisco, Microsoft, Google and many others. These companies are willing to be people focused and they sacrifice so we can all gain.

What about the smaller businesses? Haddonfield Fitness in New Jersey has a community who thrive on working out and immediately let clients know that no one will lose their class passes. They took a step further and set up virtual classes. They gave people what they needed: A connected place to work out and a focus on keeping the community connected.

Emotion is contagious, so be intentional in your interactions and focus on helping people feel connected, positive, motivated and in control. Growth Leadership is a people-first approach that starts with yourself so you can help others. Focus not only on the needs of the moment but building people and business for the future. Employees who see their leaders focusing on doing whats right will remain loyal and engaged for years to come. Dont let navigating the crisis become a greater crisis.

Despite popular opinion, people can be directly motivated and appreciate diversity. The work of Harvard University psychologist David McClelland on social motives taught us that we all have innate needs that drive us in our work lives. This leads to the four motivators of motivational currency: performance, people, power and purpose. Successful motivational leadership is about being able to recognize primary motivations, read what motivates your team, and lead with intention so you can motivate others quickly and efficiently.

Our minds are like computers. Positive input leads to positive output. The idea of work-life balance has become work-life integration. Our minds need a rest. You cannot sustain being a firefighter if there is a fire every day. Be realistic and realize that we need to practice the three Rs. Recognize our stress triggers; Reset with active stress management, humor or self-care; and Rebuild our strengths, enjoyment and growth.

Based on their research of families of 9/11 and 18 years of experience helping people grow through adversity, trauma, loss and crises, the nonprofit Hold the Door For Others created the OTHERS(S) framework. The Growth Resources and a self-awareness tool are designed to not only buffer the negative effect of crises, but lead you to growth. The eight resources are: Optimism, True Meaning, Humor, Emotional intelligence, Resilience, Spirituality, Self-confidence and Other(S).

According to Deloitte, 77% of Americans will face burnout with many of them having more than one burnout experience. Anxiety is a pandemic, but we have the solutions: socially connecting, growth and people focused leadership, and taking steps toward our personal growth. Lets all learn and pass it on. America values life. Its time to stop the political attacks and declare war on mental illness.

Leaders matter and you are one. We can all take our own stress temperatures and take growth steps to flatten the anxiety curve.

Rob Fazio is the founder of Hold the Door, a nonprofit focused on growth through adversity. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

The Fairfield County Bar Association is accepting entries for its annual Law Day Art and Essay contest, which is open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Entries must be received by May 15.
Twenty-five people have died and 51 were injured in clashes in the northeast of the perennially unstable Central African Republic, the communications minister said Thursday.

Fighting between armed groups in Ndele led to the deaths of 21 civilians, Ange-Maxime Kazigui said, adding: "The situation remains confused." Humanitarian workers, however, said that members of the Popular Front for CAR's Rebirth (FPRC) had clashed in Ndele on Wednesday.

The FPRC last year split into two factions: the Runga ethnic group on one side, including FPRC's military chief Abdoulaye Hissene, and rival fighters from the Gula and Kara ethnic communities.

They are fighting for control of the region's resources including its vast diamond deposits.

CAR struggles with violence despite a peace deal signed between the government and 14 armed groups. Rival militias battling over resources control more than two thirds of the country.

There have been clashes between Runga and Gula in Ndele, which is under FPRC control, since the start of March.

"The Gula wing of the FPRC attacked the Runga faction" in Ndele on Wednesday, an official from the UN mission in CAR, known by its French acronym MINUSCA, told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"There were about 100 Gulas who entered the town wearing civilian clothes," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added there exchanges of fire with MINUSCA troops before the Gula pulled back.

Tensions between the ethnic groups had spilled over last September in the town of Birao on the Sudanese border and then again in Bria, a diamond centre in the east of the country, last January.

Thirteen people -- most of them fighters -- were killed in further clashes at Ndele on March 11.

One of the world's poorest and most unstable nations, the former French colony has suffered several crises since 2003 when former president Francois Bozize seized power in a coup.

The country spiralled into bloodshed after Bozize was overthrown in 2013 by the mainly Muslim rebel Seleka alliance.

Seven years of fighting since then has forced nearly a quarter of the country's 4.5 million people to flee their homes.

After the latest unrest a government spokesperson noted it was "only a few days ago that there was a meeting between the different protagonists with the prime minister in the presence of Mr Hissene in order to find a means of restoring calm."



The FPRC for its part issued a statement saying Gula fighters had joined up with other armed groups with government support.

The FPRC's spokesman Aboubakar Silick Ali said the group is calling for an international investigation as well as for the resignation of two ministers it accuses of complicity with Gula rebels.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the response of the central government in a plea to regulate the cost of treatment for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at private hospitals across the country.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, issued notice to the central government in the petition filed by a lawyer, Sachin Jain, who claimed that private hospitals are exploiting Covid-19 patients by charging exorbitant amounts for their treatment and were making a fortune out of their miseries amid the nationwide healthcare emergency.

The state should combat the commercial exploitation by private hospitals and bring in necessary regulations on the tariff structure for regulating private hospitals for treatment of Covid-19 patients, the petition prayed.

Jain, in his petition, referred to a news report published on April 3, which had stated that insurance companies revealed that private hospitals were saddling customers with inflated bills that were, in turn, passed on to the insurance firms.

A reputed insurance company confirmed that it had, till April 2, settled 41 insurance claims of Covid-19 and the maximum amounted to Rs 6.5 lakh. Another well-known insurance company has stated that it has been receiving an average claim size of Rs 5-6 lakh for treatment of Covid-19 patients at private hospitals, the petition stated.

The size of the claims, the petitioner submitted, was a matter of grave concern and the insurance companies had stated that the bills were highly inflated and unreasonable.

One such incident cited by an insurance firm was where a private hospital used personal protective equipment (PPE) units such as 300 gloves and one coverall suit on a Covid-19 patient in a single day.

The insurance companies have even started rejecting claims of Covid-19 patients by up to 50% of the amount, the petitioner submitted.

If such inflated bills can become a cause of concern for the insurance industry, what will be the plight of the common man, who neither has a fat wallet nor an insurance coverage plan? the petition said.

Jain also sought a direction from the apex court to be issued to these private hospitals, who are functioning on public land, to treat Covid-19 patients pro bono or on a no-profit basis.

Jain prayed that the central government should bear the expenses incurred at private hospitals by poor and vulnerable people, who dont have any insurance coverage plan.

Medical treatment owes a constitutional duty to treat the have-nots and a person cannot be refused treatment merely on the ground that he is not in a position to afford the fee payable for such expensive treatment, the petition added.
Bollywood veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away in Mumbai on Thursday after losing his fight with cancer. Kapoor, 67, breathed his last at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Brother Randhir Kapoor confirmed the news.

Scores of politicians and diplomats took to Twitter and expressed their grief on the passing away of the great actor.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Kapoor entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career.

What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul, Kejriwal tweeted.

Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 30, 2020

Union minister Smriti Irani recalled her last meeting with the actor. ... and thats how ill remember him. Prodding you to do your best, caring for the little things, teaching you the craft no matter how old you were on the job, Irani tweeted.

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote, This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.

In 2014 he told me bhag jaldi Dilli pagal  for he knew Ive been summoned to take oath. The last I saw him was on a set and thats how il remember him. Prodding you to do your best, caring for the little things, teaching you the craft no matter how old you were on the job.. pic.twitter.com/ZDtGr7etxH  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) April 30, 2020

Congress MP and senior leader Shashi Tharoor condoled the sad demise of his senior schoolmate at Mumbais CampionSchool.

Saddened to hear that my senior schoolmate at Mumbai's CampionSchool, Rishi Kapoor, whom i competed with in "inter-class dramatics" in 1967-68, has gone to a better world. From the romantic hero of "Bobby"to the mature character actor of his last films, he evolved remarkably. RIP pic.twitter.com/9eyzE0qP38  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor, whom i competed with in inter-class dramatics in 1967-68, has gone to a better world. From the romantic hero of Bobbyto the mature character actor of his last films, he evolved remarkably. RIP, Tharoor posted on Twitter.

You made a little hut in Gulmarg an iconic place with one song, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid her tribute to the actor. She said that Rishi Kapoor endured his illness with dignity and grace.

From Bobby to Karz to Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, your movies & some of the dialogues have been such an integral part of my childhood. You made a little hut in Gulmarg an iconic place with one song. Farewell @chintskap & thankyou for the memories. #riprishikapoor  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 30, 2020

Deeply shocked & saddened at the demise of the iconic & versatile film actor #RishiKapoor. A National Film Award winner, he acted in more than than 150 films. He endured his illness with dignity and grace. My condolences to his family, friends, fans & the entire film fraternity.

A message released by Kapoors family said, Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukaemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

National Film Award winner Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. The actor was in New York for more than a year for treatment and returned to India in September 2019. His health had frequently been in focus ever since his diagnosis.
CBILS form a core part of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak speaks during a media briefing on coronavirus in Downing Street, London, Monday April 20, 2020. (Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street via AP)

Banks, fintechs, and building societies have now lent 4.1bn to small businesses under the government-backed coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS).

The latest figures published by industry body UK Finance on Thursday show an additional 1.3bn has been lent to small businesses over the last week.

25,262 loans have now been approved by the schemes 52 accredited lenders. Collectively, they have received more than 50,000 completed applications.

The banking and finance sector recognises the role we must play in getting the country through these tough times, and staff are working incredibly hard to get money to those viable businesses that need it, UK Finance chief executive Stephen Jones said in a statement.

CBILS forms a core part of the governments 330bn package of support for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses can borrow up to 5m under the scheme, with the state guaranteeing 80%of the loan.

While Thursdays figures show solid momentum, the scheme has been consistently criticised for the slow speed at which it is getting cash to businesses.

A concerningly high number of firms continue to struggle to access this crucial lifeline, the British Chamber of Commerces head of economics Suren Thiru said in response to Thursdays figures.

Business-owners have complained about complex and confusing application processes and a lack of communication from banks.

Banks, meanwhile, have struggled to quickly get lending programmes up and running at the scale required. Barclays (BARC.L) chief executive Jes Staley said this week the intent of the banks has been in the right place but the operations have put our people under enormous stress and strain.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak overhauled the scheme on Monday to make the application process simpler in a bid to speed up lending. The chancellor also announced a new scheme, dubbed Bounce Back Loans, for micro-businesses that provides 100% state-backed loans of up to 50,000.

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The changes to the scheme announced by the chancellor this week will enable lenders to streamline their application processes and help even more businesses access the support they need, Jones said.

This extensive support will be complemented by the new Bounce Back Loans scheme targeted at smaller businesses, which lenders are now working at pace to get up and running from Monday.

RBS (RBS.L) has been the most active CBIL lender, extending 1.4bn-worth of loans to 7,400 businesses.

Lloyds (LLOY.L) has lagged other major banks, approving 3,752 CBILS loans to a value of 500m. Chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said on Thursday he expects lending to accelerate further but said customers vastly prefer working capital support and overdraft extensions to taking on more debt.
HOUSTON (AP)  Two guards at an immigration detention center in Louisiana have died after contracting the coronavirus, raising new questions about whether the U.S. government is adequately protecting 30,000 immigrants in custody and the staff guarding them.

Relatives of both Carl Lenard, 62, and Stanton Johnson, 51, said the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, had at one point prevented them from wearing masks as the virus spread through the facility.

GRIM MILESTONE: Harris County eclipses 100 deaths due to coronavirus

Lenard died early Saturday, according to his family. He tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, though his cause of death is still undetermined. His widow, Margarette Lenard, said she now has COVID-19 as well and several relatives have symptoms of the virus.

Johnson died Tuesday, according to his mother, Joyce Johnson, who also said that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Both families believe the men contracted the virus working at Richwood, which has 45 detainees confirmed to have COVID-19. There are 425 confirmed cases among detainees nationwide in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, a figure that has steadily risen in recent weeks. No detainee deaths from COVID-19 have been reported at Richwood or other ICE facilities.

ICE has about 30,000 people detained and tested just 705 detainees, according to its publicly released figures. The agency recently said it would receive 2,000 tests a month from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ramp up testing of detainees.

LaSalle Corrections, the private prison company that operates Richwood, did not immediately respond to a question for comment about the guards. It also did not say how many guards at its immigration facilities are sick. ICE referred questions about the jail guards to LaSalle.

As an employer, if you employ a person, you have a mandate to protect them, said Margarette Lenard, the widow of Carl Lenard. She added that she also blamed the national shortages of protective equipment and the re-use of masks and other gear.

On April 21, prison officials at Richwood told employees they would be required to work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week due to staff shortages caused by a high number of positive COVID 19 staff cases. The memo was provided to the Associated Press by an employee who was not authorized to speak publicly. LaSalle did not respond to a question about the memo.

Another Richwood employee who also spoke on condition of anonymity said in early April that guards were being told not to wear their own masks or gloves to avoid spreading panic among detainees, as many have pleaded for their release to avoid contracting the virus and more than 20 lawsuits have been filed against ICE.

Two days after the AP asked LaSalle Corrections about its personal protective equipment policy, the jail staff was told on April 8 they could start to wear masks and other equipment, according to the Richwood employee. LaSalle executive Scott Sutterfield told the AP that protective equipment is provided as necessary and employees can bring and wear masks.

OPEN FOR ANXIETY: Houston-area restaurant owners have mixed feelings about reopening

In the meantime, detainees were being brought in from other facilities in Texas and Louisiana to Richwood, the employee said. Some of them were suspected of having the coronavirus.

One detainee, Salomon Diego Alonzo, was hospitalized shortly after being required to dial into an immigration court hearing where he struggled to speak, according to his attorney, Veronica Semino. A guard standing near Alonzo told the judge during the hearing that the 26-year-old from Guatemala does not have the lung capacity.

Margarette Lenard confirmed that her husband was concerned about being around detainees without the necessary protective equipment. She eventually obtained three cloth masks for him to wear.

Carl Lenard died unexpectedly in his home about 2 a.m. Saturday, she said. He started having a fever Monday, six days before his death, she said. She gave him Tylenol and called a medical clinic, which had him come in Wednesday for a coronavirus test. His fever eventually broke, though he had a small cough.

He woke at about 1 a.m. Saturday and was talking to his wife and grandchildren. About 1:45, according to his widow, he started praying. Shortly afterward, he gave a single cough, then stopped breathing, she said.

Margarette Lenard, who is a nurse practitioner, tried to resuscitate him until the paramedics arrived but was unsuccessful.

Joyce Johnson, the mother of Stanton Johnson, said he died Tuesday. He initially started to have a fever and other symptoms last week, she said.

Both men had diabetes, their families said. 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.

SHOPPING RULES: These Harris County malls are reopening first with new rules in place

On Tuesday, lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and Southern Poverty Law Center called on ICE to improve conditions at Richwood.

"The ballooning number of positive COVID-19 cases at Richwood, and the reports of poor medical care that accompany this outbreak, demand your immediate attention to the conditions in that facility," the lawyers said.
Castro, Duboce Triangle

Everett Middle has been proposed as a 'safe sleeping site'. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

Yesterday both the Board of Supervisors and San Francisco Board of Education voted in support of establishing Safe Sleeping Sites for unhoused people.

The resolution, proposed by District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, received unanimous support. Mandelman, whose district includes the Castro, Mission, Noe Valley and Diamond Heights, proposed creating Safe Sleeping Sites in now-vacant parking lots. Locations mentioned include Castro's Everett Middle School and Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park.

Tent encampment along 16th St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

Mandelman said he introduced the legislation in part to better manage the encampments that already exist near some of the proposed sites.

Tent encampments in the neighborhoods I represent are happening right next to, and in some instances on the campuses of, public schools like Everett Middle School, Sanchez Elementary School and Mission High School, Mandelman said in a statement.

The sites would follow public health best practices, including maintaining adequate distance between tents and providing access to sanitation facilities, food, and water.

Im proud of our Board and our District for stepping up and leaning in to do our part to help out in a citywide effort to confront the epidemic of homelessness that has become a deeper crisis during the Coronavirus pandemic, said Board of Education President Mark Sanchez.

Encampment along Market St. | Photo: Terry Beswick/Facebook

The vote comes as public health officials across the country struggle to deal with the challenges of unhoused people during the crisis. Last month the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued guidance regarding protocols for tent encampments during the COVID-19 emergency.

Protocols include not clearing encampments, encouraging people staying in encampments to set up their tents with sufficient space between them and ensuring nearby accessible and adequately stocked restroom facilities.

Hoodline spoke with one unhoused individual who supported the proposal. Todd Karpel, who's been unhoused for 16 years, said he believes the sites would provide more stability and security. "Hopefully it will lead to permanent housing," he said.

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Encampment at 16th and Prosper Streets. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

In recent weeks, Castro business owners and residents have reported an increase in homeless encampments in areas like Market Street and 16th Street.

"In the Castro and many other neighborhoods in San Francisco, tent encampments are growing," Mandelman said, "with encampment residents largely unable to achieve adequate social distancing or access hygiene and sanitation, creating a public health hazard to encampment occupants and neighbors.

He added, In order to protect all of us during the COVID-19 crisis we need to embrace new and different strategies to provide safer alternatives to unsheltered people for whom we do not currently have an apartment, a hotel room or a shelter bed available."

Castro Merchants President Masood Samereie told Hoodline the organization fully supports the resolution.

"During this critical pandemic that we are facing, we need to protect all citizens including homeless population who are part of most vulnerable," Samereie said. "It not only protects the homeless, it also helps protecting residents and merchants and their employees who are operating during SIP."

Everett Middle School parking lot would be used as a safe sleeping site. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

While a firm deadline has not been set, Mandelman tells Hoodline he's hopeful they can get sites opened by mid-May.

Hurdles to opening the sites include creating safety plans and securing 24/7 staffing, janitorial services, and other services to maintain the health and safety of those at the site and the surrounding neighborhood.

I look forward to working with City departments, the School District and neighbors to open a Safe Sleeping Site to serve the Upper Market/Castro area as quickly as possible," Mandelman said.
New Delhi: Actress Alia Bhatt, who is dating Rishi Kapoors son Ranbir, rushed to the hospital soon after the veteran actor died. Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on Thursday morning at Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He was battling cancer for two years. He was taken to the hospital last night after he complained of breathing problems. The paparazzi stationed outside the hospital spotted Alias car entering the hospital. Soon, Abhishek Bachchan was also pictured outside the hospital

Take a look at the pictures here:

(Images Courtesy: Yogen Shah)

Rishi Kapoors last rites will take place later today at Chandanwadi Electric Crematorium amid tight police security. Mumbai Police has requested his family to perform the last rites directly at the crematorium from the hospital and not take him to his home.

Alia has been by the familys side like a pillar. She frequently visited Rishi and wife Neetu Kapoor in the US while he was undergoing cancer treatment there.

Rishi Kapoor is survived by Neetu, children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Ranbir. Riddhima is married to an industrialist and she is based out of Delhi.

The Kapoors released a statement soon after his death and said Rishi Kapoor should be remembered with a smile and not tears.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," read a statement released by the Kapoor family after his death.

"He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears. In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way," it further read.

"He would not have it any other way," the statement concluded.
"Bhag jaldi Dilli pagal," were the words of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor to Union minister Smriti Irani in 2014 when he came to know that she had been summoned to the national capital take oath after formation of a new government.

Paying a moving tribute to Kapoor, Irani remembered her last meeting with the actor on a movie set.

"In 2014 he told me 'bhag jaldi Dilli pagal ' for he knew I've been summoned to take oath. The last I saw him was on a set and that's how I will remember him. Prodding you to do your best, caring for the little things, teaching you the craft no matter how old you were on the job," she said in a tweet.

"Khannas, Kapoors and Malhotras he said will always love the good life, will always laugh gregariously ... make the heavens happy Rishi Sir. Will miss you," she said in another tweet, sharing a picture of herself with the actor. Malhotra is the minister's maiden name.

Kapoor died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday, his brother Randhir Kapoor said. He was 67.

Kapoor, who was suffering from cancer, was taken to the H N Reliance hospital by his family on Wednesday.

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year. In February, he was admitted in hospital twice.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Free COVID-19 testing is set this weekend at the Riverfront Parkway Emissions Testing Center.

Emissions testing has been suspended by Governor Bill Lee until May 15.

Spanish interpreters and American Sign Language service will be available.



The Heath Department reminds the public:

- No appointment needed;

- No referral needed;

- No symptoms needed;

- No insurance or money needed;

- Drive-through or walk-up;

- Questions 209-8383; and

- Hours are 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.






Despite being best known for portraying Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Johnny Depp was one of the most famous actors in the 90s. Depp had many great roles in the 90s, but one of his best ones was as Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

What some people dont know is that Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was written by Hunter S. Thompson, and that he wrote Raoul Duke based on himself. This was one of the first collaborations between the two men that would eventually lead to Johnny Depp receiving a vintage Corvette as a gift.

Johnny Depp | Paul Treadway/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Johnny Depp and Hunter S. Thompsons friendship

Depp and Thompson first met in 1994, back when Depp was in his early 30s and Thompson in his late 50s. Despite the age difference, the two men connected quickly due to what they had in common. Both men were born in Kentucky and both men had a love of literature.

This would be the start of a friendship that would last a long time. In fact, according to Newsweek, while preparing to shoot Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Depp moved in with Thompson to study him as a person.

Indeed, when Thompson died by suicide in 2005, Depp was devastated. That said, Depp knew that Thompson wanted his ashes to get shot out of a cannon. As Newsweek reported, Depp said that, Jesus Christ, weve got to build this 150-foot cannon to shoot him into the stratosphere. I think Hunter knew that I was the only one dumb enough to take it on.

And, with a $3 million price tag and many Hollywood stars in attendance, thats what Depp did for his friend.

Johnny Depp in The Rum Diaries

In 2011, Depps movie, The Rum Diaries came out in theaters. It was directed by Bruce Robinson and it was based on the novel of the same name, which was written by Thompson. Just like the character of Raoul Duke, Depp played the character Paul Kemp, which is also loosely based on Thompson.

For reference, Thompson wrote The Rum Diaries back in the 60s, and he wrote Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in the 70s.

This resulted in Depp portraying Paul Kemp differently than Raoul Duke. According to Newsweek, Depp said that, Raoul Duke is the fully realized Hunter Thompson, and this character, Paul Kemp, is the Hunter teetering on locating that voice, pre-Gonzo.

The movie itself is exactly as Depp described it to Newsweek. Paul Kemp is a struggling journalist whos trying to find his voice and become the writer that he knows he can be.

This movie was a passion project for Depp, as it was a way for him to work with Thompson even after Thompsons death. That said, despite the love and care that went into the film, critics and audiences didnt really like it.

It wasnt as successful as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But, at the very least, its currently available on Netflix for Depp or Thompson fans.

Johnny Depps 1959 Corvette

Regardless, the director knew how important the film was to Depp, and so, he decided to give Depp a gift after they were done with filming. According to Motor Authority, after they had finished filming, Robinson gave Depp the 1959 Corvette that was used in the movie.

Depp said that he was blown away by the gift. This Corvette, while it was vintage, was obviously restored for the film as the movie took place in the 60s. As a result, its only estimated to be worth about $50,000 or so, which is about average for the car.

That said, it carries a lot more value in terms of sentiment.
[April 30, 2020] LOLA Energy II Continues Investigation into Alleged Trespasses by EQT Corporation; Litigation Ramping Up

LOLA Energy II, LLC (together with its affiliates, "LOLA Energy" or the "company") today announced the company's escalating concerns regarding, and resulting investigation into, EQT Corporation's (NYSE: EQT) (together with its affiliates, "EQT") alleged trespass and infringement activities in Greene County, Pennsylvania, which has severely impacted LOLA Energy and its lessors. The results of LOLA Energy's investigation, thus far, has revealed that: EQT has engaged in a pattern of trespass and infringement on numerous leased properties owned by LOLA Energy, and others.

To date, 26 EQT permitted long lateral horizontal wells are actively infringing on, or would infringe upon if drilled in accordance with their respective permits, LOLA Energy's leased mineral and property rights; with at least 11 wells currently producing natural gas that rightfully belongs to LOLA Energy and then sold by EQT every day that their activity continues.

Unlike some other oil and gas producing states, the Pennsylvania regulatory and legal regime does not allow for forced pooling or compulsory unitization. As such, any of EQT's drilling activities that infringe upon LOLA Energy's mineral properties in Pennsylvania constitute unlawful trespassing, allowing LOLA Energy to pursue damages and potential other remedies at law.

LOLA Energy advised EQT's Board of Directors of this conduct, but EQT has not provided a meaningful or satisfactory response to date. LOLA Energy has filed four separate lawsuits against EQT in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and at least three more are in the process of being filed. The lead lawsuit ( David C. Balint, Kayla D. Balint, Bruce E. Grandel, Stephanie Grandel, and LOLA Drilling II, LLC v. EQT Production Company in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Docket No. 527-2019, filed July 5, 2019) survived EQT's substantive preliminary objections and will proceed when the Pennsylvania courts reopen. At the heart of this complaint are the following allegations: EQT acknowledged in writing that EQT's leae on the property had expired; The landowners leased their oil and gas rights with LOLA Energy instead of EQT; Nevertheless, EQT proceeded to trespass under these tracts by both drilling well bores and hydrofracturing to develop the same oil and gas rights that only LOLA Energy had the legal right to develop; and EQT continues to unlawfully take natural gas from under these tracts.

in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Docket No. 527-2019, filed July 5, 2019) survived EQT's substantive preliminary objections and will proceed when the Pennsylvania courts reopen. At the heart of this complaint are the following allegations:



Balint complaint: "Despite recording the William Lane 2 Declaration on December 27, 2018 and signing the William Lane 2 Declaration on December 19, 2018, EQT backdated the William Lane 2 Declaration with an effective date of July 1, 2018 in part to make it appear that it had commenced operations under the Range Resources Lease and held it prior to the primary term of the lease expiring on July 23, 2018." LOLA Energy has filed three other lawsuits in Greene County, Pennsylvania, which reflect a similar pattern of trespass and infringement on the part of EQT. The additional lawsuits filed by LOLA Energy are: LOLA Drilling II, LLC v. Rice Drilling B, LLC, EQT Production Company and Lightning Creek Holdings, LP in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Docket No. 1067-2019, filed December 31, 2019; LOLA Drilling II, LLC v. Rice Drilling B, LLC, EQT Production Company and Ridgetop Royalties, LLC in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Docket No. 80-2020, filed February 4, 2020; and LOLA Drilling II, LLC v. Rice Drilling B, LLC, EQT Production Company and Robert V. Kelley , in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Docket No. 209-2020, filed March 18, 2020.

LOLA Energy's Chief Executive Officer Jim Crockard stated, "We are profoundly disappointed that EQT management and its Board have not yet agreed to a workable business solution to EQT's ongoing trespass and infringement. We understand they have their hands full in this liquidity constrained environment, but we believe their exposure to our claims, both in terms of now at-risk investments and significant monetary damages, is substantial."

"We also cannot comprehend how EQT intends to execute Toby Rice's 'combo development' plans in Greene County without cooperative access to our other leased acreage that impedes those plans absent a continuation of this pattern of unlawful trespass," said Mr. Crockard. "A comprehensive settlement is what is needed for a 'win-win' for everyone involved. Unfortunately, EQT and its Board have not taken these matters seriously, so LOLA Energy may be forced to take additional steps to protect its own investments in Greene County." LOLA Energy is represented in these matters by Blank Rome LLP out of their Pittsburgh, PA offices and White & Case LLP out of their New York, NY and Houston, TX offices. About LOLA Energy II, LLC: LOLA Energy II, LLC is an oil and gas operating company focused on horizontal development of Appalachian natural gas resources, currently focused in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Based in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, LOLA Energy is led by a talented team of experienced oil and gas professionals who have successfully developed horizontal shale oil and gas drilling and completion programs before founding the company. More details about LOLA Energy II, LLC are available at www.lolaenergy.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005152/en/

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Albany, N.Y.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo today offered a first look at the states plan for implementing a massive new system to trace the contacts of those who test positive for coronavirus.

The effort will draw employees from state, city and county health departments, Cuomo said today during a press briefing in Albany. Other public employees could be drafted into the effort as well.

Even after that, new workers will need to be hired, trained and deployed.

Cuomo has been saying for weeks that any plan to reopen New York's economy must involve widespread testing. An "army" of tracers would then work to track down people who were in close contact with positive individuals.

The infected and their contacts will be isolated to slow the spread of the virus further.

"It's not rocket science to do it on an individual basis," Cuomo said. "The problem is the scale that we have to do this at.

"That's why this is so hard."

Yesterday alone, over 4,600 people tested positive for the virus in New York and the total since the crisis began is over 300,000. The numbers yield an exponential increase in contacts that need tracing, Cuomo said.

The state needs a baseline of 30 tracers for every 100,000 people, plus additional tracers depending on the projected number of cases in a given region. In total, New York will need 6,400 to 17,000 tracers statewide, Cuomo said.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is helping the state design the tracing system. He appeared at Cuomo's briefing today over video.

The state is working with a staffing organization and the State University and City University of New York to identify potential applicants for the tracing effort. New hires will have to complete an online curriculum that covers epidemics, tracing procedures and privacy and pass a test at the end.

Bloomberg also said the state is working with nonprofit public health group Vital Strategies to develop multiple mobile apps for use in tracing. One app will help tracers find data and information quickly and another will allow the pubic to provide information to health departments.

A third will give people in quarantine access to guidance and services and let them report symptoms, Bloomberg said.

The state is also working on a tracing playbook with a step-by-step approach. That'll eventually be released publicly so other states and nations can benefit from New York's experience, Bloomberg said.

The tracing effort will be coordinated with New Jersey and Connecticut, Cuomo added.

This problem is bigger than any one of us, but it is not bigger than all of us, he said. We will do this.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

A problem for NY businesses: Workers wont return when they can get unemployment on steroids

Heroes of CNY: Physician assistant spends weekends in NYC to fight coronavirus face-to-face

Onondaga County coronavirus: 35 new cases, more ongoing infections now than ever; 30th death

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a meeting in the cabinet room in no.10 Downing Street in London, April 27, 2020. Johnson has returned to work for the first time after being treated for coronavirus at St. Thomas' Hospital. EPA



British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged his lockdown-weary nation to be patient Monday, arguing that easing social and economic restrictions too soon would create a second deadly spike of coronavirus infections.



On his first day back at work in three weeks after a bout of COVID-19 that left him dangerously ill, Johnson said Britain had reached the moment of ''maximum risk'' in its outbreak.



Speaking outside his 10 Downing St. office, Johnson said the country was reaching ''the end of the first phase of this conflict'' but warned that a quick end to a lockdown due to last at least until May 7 was not in sight.



''I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the (health system),'' said Johnson.



The 55-year-old leader appeared thinner but better-rested than when he was last seen in public early this month.



As of Monday, Britain had recorded 21,092 deaths among people hospitalized with COVID-19, the fifth country in the world to surpass 20,000 deaths. Thousands more are thought to have died in nursing homes during the pandemic.



Despite the death toll, Johnson's government is under mounting pressure to set out a blueprint for easing the lockdown that has sharply curtailed business and daily life since March 23.



The government is paying 80% of the salaries of almost 4 million people who have been furloughed by their employers, more than 1.5 million Britons have applied for welfare benefits in the past month, and the government's economic watchdog says the economy could shrink by 35% by June 1.



In signs the country may be experiencing lockdown fatigue, the volume of road traffic has begun to creep up, and businesses including construction sites and home-supply stores have begun to reopen after introducing social distancing measures.



As other European countries begin to reopen businesses and schools, Johnson said he shared Britons' impatience to get back to normality. But he said ''we simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made.''



Johnson indicated that any loosening of the lockdown would happen in stages, as authorities ''begin gradually to refine the economic and social restrictions and one by one to fire up the engines of this vast U.K. economy.''



Johnson spent a week in St. Thomas' Hospital in London earlier this month, including three nights in intensive care. When he was discharged on April 13, he thanked medical workers at the hospital for saving his life, saying his condition ''could have gone either way.''



During his absence, Johnson's Conservative government has struggled to counter criticism over shortages of protective equipment for medical workers and a lack of testing for the virus. The government has promised to conduct 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month _ which arrives Thursday _ but remains far off that target, conducting 37,024 tests on Sunday.



The government can point to some successes. The National Health Service has been stretched but not overwhelmed by coronavirus cases, and several temporary hospitals built to take an overflow of patients have barely been used.



Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that medical services put on hold during the outbreak would be re-started from Tuesday, beginning with cancer and mental health treatments.



Countering claims that the government has been secretive in its handling of the crisis, Johnson promised decisions about ending the lockdown would be made ''with the maximum possible transparency'' and in consultation with businesses, regional authorities and opposition parties. (AP)


The internet might have shrunk the world in terms of communication, but the internet itself is pretty vast. And it's getting bigger each day. Anybody who's spent any time in marketing knows that failing to establish a recognizable brand can be a death sentence for many startups, even the ones who aren't necessarily competing for website clicks. That's particularly tough when a single Google search can expose how many entrepreneurs are essentially competing for the same big idea.

That's particularly true for tech entrepreneurs. It's easy to see why there was such competition among tech firms for a fancy website with a standout domain name in the dawn of the dot-com era. It's just as easy to see why so many went down in flames just a few months later. The marketplace was too vast then, and it's only getting bigger.

Rather than compete for a flashy dot-com address, a lot of entrepreneurs are making a lateral move by not getting a dot-com at all. Why would they, when .tech domain extensions are a wide-open frontier just waiting to be colonized?

It's easy to see the appeal. Shop for .com availability on even the most obscure business name, and you're likely to settle for a string of numbers and letters that barely resembles your original choice. By contrast, .tech domain extensions are still relatively untouched. That means it's easier to snag a recognizable name that actually matches that of your company.

What's more, there's now a domain extension at the end of it that says something more than "I'm a website." It narrows down the search drastically for an audience, letting them know that the company is in the tech field - and has an eye to the future.

Want proof? You can browse the myriad of .tech domain extensions available here.
Hyderabad, April 30 : The Telangana cabinet will hold a crucial meeting on May 5 to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the state and take a decision on the lockdown, ending on May 7.

The meeting to be presided over by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao will be held at his official residence Pragati Bhavan at 2 p.m. It is likely to take a decision whether to continue the lockdown or announce some relaxations.

At its previous meeting held on April 19, the cabinet had extended the lockdown till May 7 from April 30 announced earlier.

Telangana had thus become the first state to extend the lockdown beyond May 3 as announced by the Centre.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, social media and videoconferencing apps are the only ways people can connect and mourn.

They stood distanced from each other, two metres apart. The seven of them held their hands open, palms facing upwards in Muslim prayer, as they prepared to lay Sajid in his final resting place.

On other ends of the internet, some 80 of us watched via the videoconferencing app Zoom.

Sajid, my cousin, died after a long battle with cancer. He lived longer than the doctors had predicted, fighting it as hard as he could. Those of us fortunate to know him remember him as a larger-than-life character and a happy, jolly fellow from Manchester, England.

When I heard the news I instinctively reached for my phone to book a flight to the United Kingdom from Qatar, where I live. But as soon as I opened the flight booking app I realised I could not travel because of COVID-19 restrictions.

I spoke to my parents in the UK who were also upset that they could not make the journey north to say goodbye.

On my phone I got a notification. I had been added to a WhatsApp instant messaging group designed to keep us all updated on the funeral arrangements. A WhatsApp group; a place normally reserved for the trivial, for the daily flotsam of communication between family, friends and colleagues.

A few hours later, a Zoom link was posted in the group. Six weeks ago I had never even heard of this app, and now it was embedding itself in this personal and intimate moment of grief.

This link, an impersonal piece of code made up of a seemingly random list of numbers, is now the way we mourn.

The Zoom link does not care if we use it for a business meeting, to share recipes, or to catch up with friends. It is a piece of code. Sajid, a techie to the end, would have smiled at the thought of his funeral taking place on an app.

I was upset, though. I would not be there in person to observe custom and throw three fistfuls of dirt over the coffin and say a last goodbye. If I felt this, then how would his immediate family feel? His other friends and cousins?

Mourners watched Sajids funeral and burial via videoconference [Imran Khan/Al Jazeera]

At the appointed time, I switched on the link. Up popped people from all over the world. The United States, Pakistan, England, the Middle East. It was quite something to watch. Some 80 people gathered together in digital solace to watch those few who were physically present do what we would have liked to do in person.

As the proceedings unfolded, we watched and prayers were given. We did not talk to each other out loud. We watched in silence as we would do if we there physically. People left text messages of condolences in the message section of the app, a section that became the de facto book of condolences.

As I watched all this occur, I became less upset and more grateful that I was at least able to witness and take part in this outpouring of grief digitally.

I would never have thought I would take part in a funeral for someone via an app. It is the kind of thing you would expect to read about in a dystopian novel far removed from your own reality.

But perhaps we are all living a dystopian reality. One that stops us from having the one thing that technology will never replace: the embrace of family in a time of grief; the ability to sit and share memories together in person.

Human contact is the one thing that will always define our humanity.

As the funeral finished, I said a prayer and with it the words From God we come, to God we return.

The screen went blank and I was left alone in my apartment, thousands of miles away. One of the many across the globe who has lost a loved one and, because of the restrictions, has been denied mourning in person.

Technology had allowed me to say goodbye. But not in the way we should say goodbye.
100 Years Ago  1920: Mayor W.T. Ramsey and the other members of City Council are holding a conference today with President Pew, of the Sun Shipbuilding Company, in reference to the effort on the part of the great shipbuilding industry to close Morton Avenue from the Reading Railroad to low-water mark in the Delaware River. The shipbuilding company recently acquired the track of river-front land owned by the Stewart Distilling Company. If Morton Avenue remains an open street between the points named, the plant of the Sun Ship Company will be divided and make it very inconvenient in protecting and improving the property.

75 Years Ago  1945: Chester auto accidents rose sharply over the weekend-end, nine mishaps in various parts of the city resulting in five persons being hurt. Most seriously injured was Dr. John Nelson, of 116 Morton Ave., Ridley Park, who suffered a broken collar bone, a fractured rib and concussion last night in a three-car collision at Seventh and Lloyd streets. Also injured in the triple crash was Anthony Alenski, 56, of 2924 W. Sixth St., who was treated for cuts of the forehead and a bruised knee.

50 Years Ago  1970: The country-rock sound of Country Funk and the rural blues jazz blend of The Insect Trust will kick off the annual rock festival at Swarthmore College on Friday. Quill, a hard-rock band, and the white southern blues of The Allman Brothers Band will be featured on Saturday. Both performances will begin at 8:15 p.m. in Clothier Hall. The festival is open to the public. Tickets may be obtained at the door.

25 Years Ago  1995: At a recent Brookhaven council meeting, 16-year-old Joseph Platt was recognized for designing the 50th anniversary banner that hangs on Edgmont Avenue. While Platt won the boroughs contest for his illustration of a map of Brookhaven, borough resident Philip Ruth, who is an engineer, designed the actual banner, including the lettering above Platts map.

10 Years Ago  2010: Redevelopment of the MacDade Mall is on the agenda for the township, according to a report at a recent Ridley Township commissioners meeting. Commissioner Dave White said the developer is putting together drawings for the mall that would include a Marshalls, a health club and a major pet store. A Sonic drive-in restaurant, which is part of a national chain, is planned for the front of the mall, near Ruby Tuesday. White said the Acme supermarket at the Glenolden end of the mall, and the K-Mart, which is in the township, will remain.

 COLIN AINSWORTH
Ukrainian MPs have approved an appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Some 309 MPs voted for the document at the parliaments meeting on April 30, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"The Verkhovna Rada calls on the parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn the actions of the Russian Federation against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as such that contradict the generally recognized principles and norms of international law, to increase political, diplomatic and sanction pressure on the state-occupant until the complete cessation of armed aggression and the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized national borders, reads the document.

In addition, in the resolution "On the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn the continued armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and the occupation of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, political repressions of citizens of Ukraine and release of political prisoners - citizens of Ukraine"(No.3068), the Ukrainian parliament calls on world parliaments to continue the policy of non-recognition of the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and to condemn the violation by the Russian occupation administration of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the temporarily occupied territories.

The Verkhovna Rada calls on foreign parliaments and parliamentary assemblies to use all possible international political-diplomatic and sanction mechanisms against the Russian Federation in order to immediately release all persons captured during the ongoing Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as all other Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Sevastopol, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in the Russian Federation.

In addition, the Ukrainian parliament calls on the Russian Federation to refrain from extending aggressive actions in the Black Sea region, practices of blocking commercial navigation in some areas in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov under a pretext of military exercises, practices of blocking Ukrainian ports using hybrid methods, and to follow all norms and provisions of international maritime law.

The Ukrainian MPs insist on lifting of the ban on the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and providing access to education in Ukrainian, condemning the Russian Federation's persecution of individuals for expressing their views, opinions, conscience and religion, participating in peaceful meetings, associations, and demanding the free development of traditions and cultural identity in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian parliament calls on the Russian Federation to stop the deportation of civilians in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as movement of Russian citizens to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, which leads to a change in the demographic composition of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The Verkhovna Rada also calls on foreign parliaments to condemn the illegal construction by the Russian Federation of a bridge across the Kerch Strait and calls on the Russian Federation to provide full access for international human rights organizations to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine for human rights monitoring.

iy
Citizens, this is still our country, and we still have a government of the people."

Conformity driven by fear and social responsibility driven by guilt about the coronavirus pandemic cannot be Americans idea of freedom. That is akin to living under a Communist regime.

If the goal of COVID-19 testing is to prevent people from getting sick from the virus, we may wasting our time and money with no end in sight. The goal must be to prevent people who are infected from dying, which is more easily attainable. Theres evidence that this could be done by isolating the vulnerable population while the rest of America goes about its business.

Keeping healthy people away from contact with the virus could guarantee an upsurge in COVID-19 cases when these people, with no acquired antibodies, are released from captivity. Even with an annual flu vaccine, the United States has 12,000 to 60,000 influenza-related deaths every year.

It is noticeable that our expert" government doctors rarely mention that estimates suggest about 98% of people worldwide diagnosed with having the coronavirus will survive related illness.

Several countries, notably Sweden, are using the herd immunity strategy described above isolation at-risk populations, but not shutting down businesses and public gatherings. Theyre no worse off and, by some measures, better off than countries that ordered full lockdowns.

Joe Hegarty, Mullica Hill

Help out a sidelined hair stylist

Just a positive thought:

So many people are suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the news today is negative. I know many people have lost their jobs and are, at best, receiving unemployment compensation.

After thinking about those who work as hairdressers and barbers, whose workplaces have closed because of self-distancing policies, it occurred to me that many of these people are self-employed and without access to benefits.

I have just sent the cost of my next hair appointment to my cosmetician. It is not much, but maybe, if others do the same, it might save a small business. For anyone who can afford to do so financially, this would be a positive act.

Luci Webb, Woodstown

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Irrfan's end came furtively for his admirers. Almost as quietly as Irrfan himself had entered into our lives through his movies. Irrfan Khan had always been something of an enigma. He was obviously a very talented actor. And versatile too. But he was nothing like the cookie-cutter stars that abound in showbiz. Slowly and steadily the small-town boy from Tonk, an NSD graduate had created his own brand of a genteel sort of stardom that did not hanker for the top slot in the numbers game.

Nor did he crave constant attention. Irrfan had been out of the public eye for over a year since he was diagnosed with cancer. That news that had quite shocked everybody. And, when he returned to shoot for Angrezi Medium, we all cheered believing that maybe the actor would be able to bounce back. Although he was only meeting a close circle of people and hardly doing any press, one did not read it as a sign of what was to come.

Director Homi Adajania who helmed Irrfan's last film Angrezi Medium recounted this incident to me, "When Irrfan walked onto the set on the first day of the shoot, it had been a year since he had acted as he was undergoing treatment for his cancer. I jokingly asked him if he remembered how to act. He seriously replied that he really wasnt sure. We didnt just laugh at this, we cracked up hysterically. Then we looked at each other, abruptly stopped laughing and he said that he wasnt sure about what he was going to do, but he was very sure that he wasnt going to use any process that he had used earlier. He claimed 'that Irrfan Khan' didnt exist anymore."

It's true. Irrfan had often reiterated that he didn't like taking himself too seriously. Though he had reached the heights of stardom and was successful even as an international actor in Hollywood, his personality was one with an endearing, unassuming outlook. As an artiste, he often indicated that he preferred being known for his work and not the accompanying trivia.

During the course of an interview I did with him a few years ago, he explained his view of his stardom thus, When I started out in movies, I observed that there was a kind of disparity which comes when you watch a film and you start feeling that the on-screen creatures are special and you (the viewer) are a substandard creature. There is something ugly in creating that disparity which reinforces the notion that I (the actor) am something special. To me, the most important thing is to communicate that whatever I am doing on screen, is possible for you (the viewer). Only then it is worthwhile to be an actor. There are people working tirelessly, just to change other peoples lives. Those are the real heroes. For a healthy society, aspirations should be directed in the right direction. And Irrfan truly lived life by this philosophy. He has accomplished the impossibleof being remembered by the impressive legacy of powerful films he co-created, and not for his personal life or lifestyle.

Most often we bring up associations and salutations of all the famous people that an actor has worked with, to make the point about their worthiness. Or their importance in the larger scheme of things. With Irrfan, somehow it seems unnecessary or irrelevant. His relationship with cinema and the audience was always about crafting characters of such finesse that they would be imprinted in our collective memories for posterity just as Maqbool, Paan Singh Tomar, Saajan Fernandes (The Lunchbox), Ashoke Ganguli (The Namesake) are. Almost every eulogy that is pouring in from his peers and colleagues is a tribute to him as an actor. Akshay Kumar hailed him as One of the finest actors of our time" while veteran film-maker Subhash Ghai said, You will be marked as an institution in the art of acting in transforming a theatre-style acting to improvisational style acting on Indian screen."

I think that had he been alive, these would bring him some happiness. Because he had struggled not for work as much, but for the industry to value him. That did not come easy in an industry propelled by a stereotypical singing-dancing formulaic hero. When Irrfan shared the Best Actors trophy at the Screen Awards for his performance in Paan Singh Tomar with Ranbir Kapoor for his performance in Barfi, he had a tinge of disappointment on his face. But, he didnt let that hold him back. He graciously acknowledged his colleague's victory along with his own. And thereafter went on to hone his craft further. Irrfan chiseled his own easy-going persona for the more mainstream filmswe saw him perfect it in films like The Lunchbox, Karwaan, Hindi Medium, among others. And, when he won the Best Actor Award in the Popular category for Hindi Medium at both the Star Screen Awards and Filmfare Awards where all mainline male stars were in competition, he knew he had ultimately shattered the acceptance barrier. Almost parallely he had also become famous in big-ticket Hollywood productions like Life of Pi, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Jurassic World, as an international actor.

I shall always remember this one time that I went to meet him and his wife Sutapa at his office in Andheri. I was impressed by what I saw- the office was not a homage to a star's vanity. It was a tastefully done space with high ceilings, an assortment of books and knick-knacks he had collected over the years. But, what struck me the most was that unlike other offices of actors, he had not displayed even a single photo of himself. When I brought it up, he said, "Life is transitory, so to freeze something and depend on that is very limiting. I would rather connect to the transitory nature of life and be okay with it.

And that I believe, was the essence of Irrfan, the actor, and the man.

Follow @News18Movies for more
Chinese investors could stop Australia's property market from collapsing despite diplomatic tensions over coronavirus.

Australia's economy is widely expected to plunge into recession in 2020 for the first time in 29 years as COVID-19 shutdowns pushed unemployment into the double digits.

The sharpest downturn since the 1930s Great Depression was also expected to cause a plummet in Sydney and Melbourne house prices - with SQM Research forecasting a 30 per cent plunge in median real estate values this year

Nonetheless, China expert Professor James Laurenceson said cashed-up property investors from there were likely to maintain an interest in Australian apartments, which could minimise a real estate downturn.

Chinese investors could stop Australia's property market from collapsing despite diplomatic tensions over coronavirus. China expert Professor James Laurenceson said cashed-up real estate investors from there were likely maintain an interest in Australian apartments, which could minimise a real estate downturn. Sydney Harbour Bridge pictured

'Traditionally they have focused on the big capital cities, so it would be Sydney and Melbourne with the Gold Coast a close third,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

Professor Laurenceson, the acting director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology, Sydney, said the Chinese economy would also better withstand COVID-19 - giving its citizens more money to spend abroad.

'Despite the coronavirus shock to the Chinese economy, its wealth hasn't disappeared,' he said.

'There's been no property price collapse in China and property is one common form of asset for Chinese households.'

He added calls from Cheng Jingye, China's ambassador in Canberra, for Chinese people to boycott Australian goods and services would be unlikely to stop them from buying Australian assets.

Professor Laurenceson described Mr Cheng's threat as 'more bluff', following calls for an independent inquiry into COVID-19 from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

Cheng Jingye, China's ambassador in Canberra, has suggested Chinese people could boycott Australian goods and services

'We have seen these kind of possibilities raised by the Chinese embassy before,' he said.

How COVID-19 could hit house prices SYDNEY: Median price plunges by 30 per cent from $1,020,849 in March to $714,594 by early 2021 MELBOURNE: Median price plummets by 30 per cent from $819,611 in March to $573,728 within a year SQM Research chief executive Louis Christopher did not expect median house prices in Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide to fall by the same level as those cities were less dependent on skilled immigration before COVID-19 Source: SQM Research forecasts mixed with CoreLogic data Advertisement

'We saw them in 2018. Chinese students and tourists were told to be careful of their safety in Australia.'

Previous diplomatic tensions did nothing to diminish Chinese demand for Australian iron ore, coal, tourism and agricultural exports.

Despite China being a one-party Communist state, Professor Laurenceson said its citizens were more likely be persuaded by friends already in Australia and social media sites like WeChat and Weibo.

'Chinese consumers get their information not only from official Chinese government sources,' he said.

'Many Chinese households know students who are already here, they know family members who've been to Australia for tourism activities before so they've got their sources of information.'

Former Labor foreign minister Bob Carr said Australia's economic recovery would depend on its biggest trading partner, China.

'There is no scenario for economic and budget recovery in Australia that is not dominated by Chinese demand,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Nothing takes its place. India and Indonesia do not come close.'

The International Monetary Fund is expecting China's economy to grow by just 1.2 per cent in 2020, as India expanded by 1.9 per cent.

Professor Laurenceson described Mr Cheng's threat as 'more bluff', following calls for an independent inquiry into COVID-19 (bats at a Chinese wet market pictured) from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Foreign Minister Marise Payne

By comparison, Australia was expected to shrink by 6.7 per cent, compared with a 5.9 per cent contraction in the United States.

Earlier this month, SQM Research predicted a 30 per cent property price plunge in Australia's biggest cities, with the market bottoming out later this year or in 2021.

That would see Sydney's mid-point house price plummet from $1.02million in March to $714,594, hitting a last unseen since late 2014, going by CoreLogic data.

This would see Melbourne's equivalent values fall from $819,611 to $573,728, the lowest since late 2013.

CoreLogic real estate data for April is being released on Friday.
It has recently been reported that another celebrity has just passed away and while the global pandemic is claiming lives left and right, it was confirmed that the star did not die of coronavirus.

Irrfan Khan, the star of Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire, and even Jurassic Park has reportedly passed away at the age of 53 after a long battle with colon infection, according to BBC. The confirmation was given by Khan's own agency saying that he died in a certain hospital in Mumbai, India.

The Mirror has also reported that the Life of Pi star was previously rushed to the Mumbai's Kokilaban Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital last Tuesday with this infection and immediately ended up in the intensive care unit.

According to NDTV, this actor was able to spend his final hours being surrounded by the people he loved, his family, for whom he cared most deeply.

Slumdog Millionaire

In slumdog millionaire, Irrfan Khan plays the police inspector tasked to interrogate the protagonist to find out whether or not he is lying. Their suspicion stems from the main character being able to answer every single question in "Who wants to be a millionaire?" which is a TV game show where contestants try their luck at answering every single question to win one million dollars!

Although this sounds not as attractive as it makes out to be, the brilliantly written film follows the tragic childhood of a young boy who has tried all his life to steer clear from crime and do the right thing despite being the victim on multiple occasions.

This emotional action-thriller film is packed with a brilliant story and also a bittersweet "happy" ending.

Read Also: Video Suggesting Kim Jong Un's Funeral Went Viral Amid Claims The Dictator Isn't Dead and May be Trying to Avoid Coronavirus

Life of Pi

The struggles of isolation are dealt with on a psychological basis in this film and as the film progresses, the magic of imagination comes to life. The whole movie is a very colorful and vivid film with cinematic brilliance which is hard to expect from the plot being a man stuck on a boat with a Tiger.

The Life of Pi could also be considered as a philosophical and psychological film on top of its amazing visual effects and color scheme. The brilliant portrayal of this film is in no way boring topping all expectations from this simple plot.

The beauty of the simple plot allows the audience to pay more attention to detail, emotion, and Irrfan Khan's acting in general.

Other roles

Aside from these two roles, Irrfan Khan also plays Simon Masrani in Jurassic Park all the way to Jurassic World as a billionaire, philanthropist, and scientist concerned in both preservation of the dinosaurs and the advancement of their species.

Irrfan Khan is a well-respected actor in both Bollywood where he hails, and Hollywood where he was also quickly noticed. The actor has passed away not from coronavirus but rather from his battle with colon infection.

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The migrant workers in



Gujarat, who have been finding it difficult to survive as they were left with no source of income ever since the lockdown came into force over a month ago, are now gearing up to go back to their native places after the Centre decided to allow them to do so.

The Centre's decision has brought cheer to the migrant workers, who were stuck in the state and facing different kinds of hardships. Many of them struggled with loneliness and became homesick as they were away from their loved ones.

Officials said that following the issuance of guidelines for the inter-state movement of stranded people by the Centre on Wednesday, the Gujarat government stepped up its efforts to send back the migrant labourers, who are mostly from Uttar Pradesh.

In Ahmedabad, the stranded migrants have already started packing their bags to return home.

"Life became very difficult for me and my family after the lockdown as I was left with no money. I used to earn around Rs 13,000every month. But, there has been no income since over a month now," said Shyam Singh, a native of Morena in Madhya Pradesh, who is currently living in Ranip area of Ahmedabad.

"Though we were eager to go back home, it was not possible. I even borrowed money from my friends to meet the daily expenses," Singh, who sells children's apparel on his bicycle, said.

He said he was glad that they were now allowed to go back to their home state.

"I can at least do some farming there to help my family. I have already packed the luggage for the journey. If I find some better work in my home state, I do not wish to return here," he added.

Kulbhushan Sharma, a native of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, sells panipuri in Chandlodia area of the city.

He said he has been surviving on whatever savings he had kept aside.

"I once thought of walking to Agra. But, my family back home asked me to wait. I am glad that the government has now understood our pain. It's not always about money. Many of us are actually feeling lonely here. We can deal with such situation in a better way if we have the company of our relatives and family members," he said with tears in his eyes.

According to officials, apart from such migrants scattered in different parts of the state, around 4,000 others are kept in shelter homes, who are waiting for their return.

Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment, Vipul Mitra, said that around 4,000 migrant workers kept at various shelter homes in the state will be sent back to their home states soon.

Of them, around 2,300 are from Uttar Pradesh alone, while others are from neighbouring states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

"We have already started the process to send 500 labourers to Maharashtra in the coming days. We will drop them at the border, from where, authorities of that state would ferry them into their buses. District collectors are also issuing permits to shift such workers in private buses with the help of local NGOs and industries," Mitra said.

"Since UP is far from Gujarat, we have urged that state to send thier own buses to shift 2,300 migrants. We have planned to send all the stranded migrants to their respective places in coming days," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kolkata, April 30 : West Bengal now has 444 containment zones, a majority of which are in Kolkata, where complete lockdown was being observed to battle the Covid 19 pandemic, a senior official said here on Thursday.

"There are 444 containment zones in the state. Of them, 264 are in Kolkata, 70 in 24 Parganas North, 72 in Howrah districts and 38 in rest of the state," Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha told media persons at the state secretariat Nabanna.

He said 37 new cases were detected over the past 24 hours. Most of them were from the three worst-affected districts. Some cases were reported from Hooghly district also.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at the age of 67 at Mumbai's HN Reliance Hospital on April 30. The actor breathed his last after a two-year battle with leukemia. Amid the nationwide lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports state that Rishi's daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni has been given permission to travel by road to Mumbai for his funeral.

Rishi Kapoor   Riddhima Delhi  Mumbai ,       | FilmiBeat

As per an NDTV report, Riddhima, who is married to businessman Bharat Sahni and stays in Delhi, had asked the Union Home Ministry last night for permission to fly to Mumbai by a chartered flight.

A source told the portal that she was told permission to fly could only be given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. As an option, she asked to be allowed to drive to Mumbai and the permission was granted.

A senior police officer told NDTV, "She sought permission late at night. We had it within minutes." He further said that the Delhi Police has always given permission in such circumstances.

Reportedly, Riddhima will roughly cover a 1400 km journey by road, to attend Rishi Kapoor's last rites. Due to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, flights, trains and inter-state travel has been banned in the country.

Meanwhile, Riddhima took to her Instagram page to mourn her father's death and wrote, "Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you everyday I will miss your FaceTime calls everyday! Until we meet again papa I love you ."

Check out her post here.

Coming back to the NDTV report, it further stated that yesterday, over a month into the shutdown, the centre allowed the movement of stranded migrants, students and tourists desperate to return home. Others are allowed to travel by road in case of emergencies, with special passes.

Rishi Kapoor is survived by his wife Neetu and children, Ranbir and Riddhima. In a statement, his family said that he "would like to be remembered by his fans with a smile and not with tears."

This is the second loss for the film fraternity within two days. Yesterday, another critically-acclaimed actor, Irrfan Khan breathed his last. The actor was admitted at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital for colon infection. Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018.

Rishi Kapoor No More: These Rare Pictures Of The Bobby Star Will Leave You Teary-Eyed!

Rishi Kapoor's Last Tweet Goes Viral; Fans Mourn And Ask 'Why Does God Need These Actors'
What instructions did the late Barry Sherman leave regarding his multi-billion-dollar fortune and was his wife Honey updating her own will before the couple was killed?

Are the Toronto Police any closer to solving the high-profile Sherman murder case?

Why do police say there is a connection between the Sherman estates and their homicide investigation?

Legal challenges to try to get answers to those and other questions are delayed until at least July, in one case, and the fall in another, due to postponements of most court hearings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Toronto Star is challenging sealing orders on court files related to the Shermans and cases that would have been heard in March and May will now be heard in July and October.

Barry and Honey Sherman were found dead in their Toronto home on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Police have said they were targeted and killed two days earlier, on Wednesday, Dec. 13, in what appears to be a three-hour window between when the couple arrived home separately from a meeting and midnight. How police were able to pinpoint the time of death, given that the Sherman bodies sat undiscovered for almost 36 hours, is just one of the many questions police will not answer.

Toronto Police said this week the Sherman case is active and ongoing and workplace restrictions for detectives (who in some cases are working from home) have had no impact on the progress of the investigation. The Star has previously reported that Toronto homicide detectives are in an analysis phase, with most interviews completed well over a year ago.

It has been almost two-and-a-half years since a real estate agent touring clients and another agent through the Sherman home on Old Colony Road discovered a macabre scene in the basement swimming pool room: Barry and Honey in a seated position, belts around their necks holding them upright. They were clothed, and jackets they were wearing were pulled down off their shoulders. The Shermans died of ligature strangulation, police have said. Honey had some damage to her face. Barrys face was untouched and his glasses were perched neatly on his nose. In a nearby room were two life-sized art figures the Shermans had owned for decades, which family members found creepy. The Shermans were in a similar seated position and like the male art figure, Barry had one leg crossed over another. Police have not answered questions from the Star regarding the art figures, which the Star has been told (by a Sherman family member) were buried when the house was torn down.

The deaths of Barry, founder of the generic drug giant Apotex, and his wife Honey  both prominent philanthropists  were originally probed as a murder suicide. Six weeks into the investigation, police announced it was a double murder. Private autopsies organized by the Sherman family had earlier determined it was a double murder, with the pathologist noting that it appeared the wrists of both of the Shermans had been bound prior to their deaths. No ties were found at the scene.

During the investigation by police, more than 250 witnesses have been identified and while most have been interviewed, police have told the Star some would not speak to officers and some could not be located. Several witnesses were re-interviewed in 2019 after the individuals discovered additional information and provided it to police.

While many details regarding the Sherman case have been made public in a series of Star stories, a vast amount of information related to the lengthy police investigation and the Sherman estate are sealed by two separate types of court orders.

The first relates to the estates of Barry and Honey Sherman. Six months after their deaths, Sherman family lawyers filed the necessary documents related to the Sherman estate in probate court. A Star reporter went to court to obtain the Sherman estate file (these files are normally public documents) and was told by a clerk that the files were sealed. Justice Sean Dunphy of the Superior Court of Justice had made the sealing order following a request from the Sherman lawyers and without notifying the media.

The Star argued in front of Justice Dunphy that the files should be public. Dunphy ruled against the Star, maintaining his own sealing order. An affidavit from an unnamed person, and provided under seal to the court, said there was a risk of kidnapping and violence if the identities of the Sherman beneficiaries and trustees were made public.

The Star appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal and a three-justice panel ruled the entire file should be public, but gave the Sherman family time to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Canadas highest court agreed to hear it and the case was scheduled for March 26 in Ottawa. The pandemic has postponed all in-person hearings at the court and the case will now be heard in the fall, sometime after Oct. 5, the Supreme Court said this week.

The sealed estate files are believed to contain Barrys will, information on how some of his assets were to be distributed, and possibly information relating to Honeys wishes. The Star has previously reported that according to three people who have seen Barrys will, the estate is divided between Sherman children Lauren, Jonathon, Alexandra and Kaelen, but that there is a provision for Honey to be financially looked after and a provision for money to be provided to some other family members at the discretion of the estate trustees. As to whether Honey had a will, none was apparently found but a confidant of Honeys told the Star that three weeks before the murders Honey stated that she was updating her will.

The other type of court file the Star is seeking to have unsealed relates to the police investigation. In support of search warrants and production orders in the Sherman case, homicide detectives have filed more than 600 pages of documents in court. This is known as an ITO  or information to obtain  a judicial order to search a premises or obtain banking or other data. The documents in these ITOs include synopses of police interviews and typically provide a detailed account of what police have learned each step of the way, including whether they have a suspect or suspects. The point of the ITO is to convince a judge that the police have enough information to violate a persons privacy and access their records or to search a property.

The Star has gone to Ontario Court of Justice roughly every six months, asking Justice Leslie Pringle (who has sealed all of the search warrant documents) to either release the full file or selected portions of the file. While Pringle (the last time the Star was in court on this matter was October 2019) has maintained her sealing orders, saying that to release the records would harm the ongoing investigation, she has allowed a Star reporter to cross-examine one of the lead homicide officers, Det.-Const. Dennis Yim.

Through that process, information has been made public. The Star was next scheduled in court on this matter next Monday, May 4. That date was recently postponed to July 13, when a new date for the next hearing will be scheduled.

In previous hearings, Yim has provided some information, including: That the Toronto Police intelligence squad conducted a major review of electronic data seized by police and their detailed report was a major step forward in the case last year; that more than 2,000 hours of surveillance camera footage has been seized and reviewed; that he is cautiously optimistic the case is moving towards a resolution; and that all companies (cellphone, internet providers, etc.) asked to produce records for the Sherman case have been ordered by the court not to reveal to anyone that they provided information.

Yim, who said he was speaking in general terms, explained during cross examination that if there is only one perpetrator and that perpetrator knows that he is the only one ... if I answer that we have a person of interest or a suspect then that may alert the perpetrator that the police are onto him.

Yim also revealed last October that there is a connection between the Sherman estate files and the homicide investigation.

The information from the (Sherman) estate files is embedded  it is embedded within the ITO, Yim told the Ontario Court of Justice hearing.

What that connection is Yim would not say.

The Star has over the past few weeks asked Toronto Police to provide updates on the Sherman investigation. Speaking for Homicide Insp. Hank Idzinga, spokesperson Meaghan Gray said police would not be providing an update, even to answer questions from the Star as to whether any more warrants or production orders had been granted by Justice Pringle, or whether police were closing in on a suspect.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Unfortunately, we will not provide an update on the numbers you have requested. I can say the investigation continues to be active and ongoing, Gray said.

Kevin Donovan is the Stars chief investigative reporter based in Toronto. He can be reached at 416-312-3503 or via email: kdonovan@thestar.ca

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EFFINGHAM  A Mason man wanted for the murder of a 29-year-old woman in Effingham County has been arrested in Indiana.

According to the Illinois State Police, Christopher E. Glass, 36, was taken into custody by the Indiana State Police and Terre Haute Police Department and is in their custody pending extradition to Illinois.

The body of Kimberly A. Mattingly of Paris was discovered Wednesday in rural Beecher City, a news release stated. Mattingly, who had ties to Shelby County, was last seen on April 5 leaving with a man in a blue Chevrolet Cobalt, according to information shared following her disappearance by the Missing Person Awareness Network. The group also noted on its Facebook page that her phone last pinged in Effingham.

An investigation led to arrest warrants being issued for Glass on preliminary charges of first degree murder, concealment of homicidal death and a parole violation warrant from the Illinois Department of Corrections. His bond has been set at $5 million.

A second man, Aaron M. Kaiser, 37, of Beecher City, was arrested and has been charged with concealing a homicidal death. Kaiser is being held in the Effingham County Jail. An arraignment hearing is set for 9 a.m. Friday.

The Illinois State Police said it was assisted by multiple law enforcement agencies during the course of the investigation including, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office, Edgar County Sheriffs Office, Effingham County Sheriffs Office, Paris Police Department, Edgar County States Attorneys Office, Indiana State Police and Terre Haute Police Department.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Illinois State Police at (217) 278-5004 (tip line) or by email at ISP.DCI.Zone05@Illinois.gov.

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Labour leader Keir Starmer on Thursday made the first moves to rebuild trust with New Delhi and the Indian diaspora by insisting that controversial issues such as Jammu and Kashmir should not be allowed to divide communities in the United Kingdom.

The Labour party under former leader Jeremy Corbyn came in for stringent criticism from large sections of the Indian community in the UK and India for passing a resolution at the partys conference in September last that called for external i ntervention in the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

While the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi rejected the resolution, calling it uninformed and unfounded, the party raised hackles in the UK before the December election when some of its members were perceived as supporting violence before the Indian high commission.

The developments had some impact on the fortunes of Labour candidates during the election, while the resolution remains part of its approach to the Kashmir dispute. Starmers olive branch was received with cautious optimism in Indian circles.

Starmers overture came following a meeting with the executive of the Labour Friends of India, a lobby group within the party, co-chaired by Rajesh Agarwal, deputy mayor of London. The leader also promised to work towards fielding more Indian-origin candidates in elections.

Starmer said: Britons of Indian origin contribute so much to the UK and to the Labour party. Im committed to working closely with Labour Friends of Indian to rebuild trust with the community.

We must not allow issues of the sub-continent to divide communities here. Any constitutional issues in India are a matter for the Indian Parliament and Kashmir is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully. Labour is an internationalist Party and stands for the defence of human rights everywhere.

Starmer, who was seen as a unifying candidate during the party leaders election, is due to meet the Indian high commissioner shortly. The shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy had an interaction with envoy Ruchi Ghanashyam this week.

Starmer added: A Labour Government under my leadership will be determined to build even stronger business links with India and to co-operate on the global stage on issues such as climate change. I look forward to meeting the Indian high commissioner in due course to open a renewed dialogue between the Labour Party and the people of India.

Traditionally the party of choice for the Indian community, Labour has been haemorrhaging support in recent elections, with many young, aspirational members gravitating towards the Conservative party, particularly since David Cameron became party leader in 2005.

Agrawal said: I really welcome his commitment to rebuilding strong links between the Labour party and the Indian community. This has been a great start and Keir has achieved a lot in the short span of couple of weeks.

Labour Friends of India will work closely with him and will continue to promote UK-India ties as well as continuing to raise any issues from the community to the leadership.

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Despite running out of Kilkenny as soon as she could in order to see the world, Dee Murphy came back home to settle down with her Dublin husband Fran in tow, 17 years ago.

Speaking to Dee this week, she told me the happiness of my childhood memories growing up in the Kilkenny countryside helped me make the decision to raise my own two children here. We now live in the beautiful surrounds of Burnchurch and have been very happy here.

I first met Dee a year ago through her involvement in Cois Nore and I couldnt help loving her energy and vibrancy. This woman has a great get up and go attitude to life.

At the end of 2018 she discovered she had breast cancer and started the journey through what she calls her Cancer Year.

Earlier that summer, she founded the great Lady Desart Choir & Musical Society with Liam McCabe. In just two years the Choir has become well known for their beautiful uplifting performances. This month they released their spine-tingling version of Run by Snow Patrol in honour of our healthcare workers. Eighty members of the choir contributed virtually to the number, which is sure to move you to tears.

Here is a glimpse into Dees world

Dee, how did you manage to record 80 choir voices with social distancing?

It wasnt easy, it took two weeks of hard work by our wonderful Choir Director Gillian Coulter.

Members of the choir cant get together at the moment, because of the coronavirus social restrictions, so we pulled out the stops and put together an amazing virtual choir performance in honour of our hero frontline workers. The piece is led by beautiful soloists Sebastian Rodriguez Benavente and Gemma Downes.

We all recorded it individually at our homes. My husband and I recorded it from our hot press, after discovering it was pretty good for acoustics!

Little did you know when you founded the choir that you would produce such uplifting music in these poignant times.

Thats for sure. Its gone viral - we cant believe it. RTEs Operation Transformation want to feature it too, so we are thrilled.

The choir was founded in the summer of 2018. I heard that there was talk amongst the Cuffesgrange, Burnchurch and Danesfort community of people wanting a choir. I jumped at the chance to get involved and set up The Lady Desart Choir with Liam McCabe. We started as a small group of neighbours singing songs with a guitar in Cuffesgrange National School. This quickly grew to what is now a wonderful secular choir of 80 members with a wait list of over 40 people who want to join us.

We range in age from 26 to 72. Most of our members are from Kilkenny and everyone has a broad range of musical influences. I love this choir and work hard along with our wonderful Committee to make us bigger and better each year.

This is all made possible by our amazing Choir Director, Gillian Coulter. I dragged Gillian to a practise, promising that she would just give us a few ideas to work on. Once we had her on board, we didnt let go and she has made us the Choir we are today.

So lets reel back the years. What happened when you headed off to see the world?

I started my career out of college in TEAM Aer Lingus, where I met my husband Fran. I started working in Finance and Administration in various companies in Dublin. Then I decided to move with my best friend to Jersey, as the word on the street was that the pay was amazing, along with the weather and the nightlife! I spent two years in Jersey and, along with a lot of other Kilkenny natives, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Then came the time to settle down and I moved back to Dublin to work in Davy Stockbrokers. Fran and I bought our first house in Phibsboro, where we spent three very happy years there before deciding to grow up and get married and settle down!

I decided to leave the financial services sector when I moved home to Kilkenny. I started to work in a field I had great interest and love for, Estate Agency. However as my husband travels a lot for work, we decided that I would stay at home and raise our children until our youngest was through First Class.

You were ready to go back to work when you got some shocking news.

I was at the stage of thinking of returning to work after being a stay at home mum for over 10 years. Then just like that, the week before Christmas, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer in 2018.

What followed was a year of chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiation. Whilst this is not what anyone wants to hear, I can honestly say that when I was diagnosed I never thought Why me?. I just thought Why not me!. I had already lost a very dear friend to the disease and knew many people who had been dealing with themselves. It was a tough year but I feel that my natural positive attitude and upbeat disposition got me through it beautifully.

I will be living with the after-effects of Cancer for the rest of my life, but I take a very proactive approach to my health and well-being. Pilates and strength training have been instrumental to me in my recovery. I feel that every person who has gone through cancer needs to be informed about the wonders that Pilates can do for your body and mind. Luckily one of my close friends, Mafra Looby, is a Pilates instructor and she has helped me get to the stage I am at today.

The Lady Desart Choir were also an amazing support to me during treatment and I was so thankful to them.

You also credit Cois Nore for getting you through what you call your Cancer Year.

I approached it like a job and called it my Cancer Year. During this time my family benefited greatly from the wonderful people in Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre. My children, Daisy and Albie, attended their climb club programme to help them deal with the fact their mum had cancer.

After my treatment was finished I also received classes, which were wonderful. Cois Nore is an amazing local service for anyone dealing with cancer or their families and friends. It is a walk-in service, providing counselling, therapies, classes, mens groups; basically a listening ear for anyone who needs it.

I made a promise to myself that once I was well enough, I would commit a year of my life to volunteering in Cois Nore. I have been involved now for over six months with my marketing hat on and I have enjoyed my work and the camaraderie with the staff, volunteers and friends I have made from my time there.

So how is Cois Nore surviving with no funding at the moment?

With great difficulty. They depend mainly on fundraising and we had a huge event calendar planned for this year. The ground work is all done and we have two wonderful brand ambassadors on board - Jackie Tyrrell and Evanne Ni Chuilinn. However, everything is put on hold for now.

We had planned a Camino Walk for October as a fundraiser. With the pandemic we are postponing it until April 2021. Theres six places left on our walk if anyone is interested. Everyone will have to raise 1,500 each and the trip will cost around 700, with the balance going to Cois Nore.

Your attitude to life is great. From your personal experience do you have any advice for people not feeling so upbeat during this pandemic?

Today, I am happy, healthy, busy and making sure to take time for me as much as I can. I treasure to be able to just sit back, appreciate the life I have, the amazing husband, children and friends I to be able to just keep going on.

I would advise people to consider how this could be worse. It could be raining every day but it has been beautiful; our hospitals could be overrun but they have managed really well with the pandemic and all you are being asked to do is stay home.

A quote I was most struck by during all of this is Your grandparents were asked to go to war, you are being asked to stay on your couch.

This says it all for me. We are all too comfortable in our lives and its no harm for us to be reminded of the bigger picture once in a while. We are all in this together.

We must all look out for each other and family and great friends are the most important things in life. I am so lucky to have the most amazing friends and family around me and I am thankful for this every day.

Contact manager@coisnore.ie for information on the Cois Nore Camino.
Lucknow, April 30 : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has started making preparations for the return of migrant workers to Uttar Pradesh after the Union Home Ministry allowed movement of interstate workers.

According to the government spokesman, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, directed officials to draw up an action plan for the return of migrant workers from different states.

The Chief Minister asked officials to arrange quarantine shelters and community kitchens for an estimated six lakh workers who will be brought back.

The Yogi government will be asking other state governments for details of migrant workers who have been stranded due to the lockdown in order to draw up an action plan for bringing the workers back.

The government has also sought names, addresses, phone numbers and medical reports of migrant workers in other states.

The Chief Minister also appealed to migrant workers to remain patient and not to start walking towards their homes.

"I appeal to all to maintain the level of patience you have shown till now. We will soon be contacting the various state governments to make an action plan for your return," he said.

The Uttar Pradesh government has already brought about four lakh migrant workers from Delhi in the last week of March.

The government has also brought back over 11,000 students from Kota.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

The spread of the coronavirus infection is declining in Iran, said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Trend reports citing Iranian President offices website.



Rouhani made the remark today (April 30), at the event dedicated to the commissioning of several facilities of the Iranian Ministry of Energy and Agriculture Jihad in the Ilam province in western Iran.



According to Rouhani, most of the beds in the hospitals for the treatment of coronavirus patients are already empty.



Today, a water network was put into operation in Iran's Ilam province, thanks to 11 trillion rials (about $261 million) from Iranian Ministry of Energy and 4.82 trillion rials (about $114 million) from the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

Iran continues to apply measures to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 infection. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 93,600 people have been infected, 5,957 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 73,700 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 company stressed that the drug has demonstrated positive outcomes in COVID-19 treatment globally.

Strides Pharma Science Ltd on Wednesday said it has developed and commercialised Favipiravir antiviral tablets and stressed that the drug has demonstrated positive outcomes in COVID-19 treatment globally.

"Favipiravir is an antiviral medication that was initially developed to treat influenza in Japan. In February 2020, post the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Favipiravir was studied in China and several other countries as an experimental treatment of COVID-19.

"The drug has demonstrated positive outcomes, including a reduction in the duration of COVID-19 and improved lung conditions for the patients," the company said in a filing to the BSE.

The product is a generic version of Avigan of Toyama Chemical, Japan.

The filing said Strides is the first Indian company to have commenced export of Favipiravir tablets.

The company said it will immediately apply to Indian Drug Authorities to commence necessary studies and make the drug available to Indian patients expeditiously.

Strides have developed Favipiravir tablets in 400mg and 200mg strengths for convenient dosage administration.

The product is currently being exported to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to treat patients under their treatment programme for COVID-19.

"Favipiravir tablets are being manufactured at Strides' flagship facility in Bangalore, India. The facility can produce up to 6 billion units of solid orals annually and is approved by the USFDA, MHRA, WHO, TGA, among others,"it said.

Strides has also entered into a preferred arrangement with a leading Indian API manufacturer for the supplies of Favipiravir API(active pharmaceutical ingredient).

"The partner has already commercialised the Favipiravir API from its USFDA, KFDA, PMDA and WHO approved manufacturing facility and has capabilities to manufacture the Favipiravir API from its Key Starting Material (KSM) in-house," it said.

Company's CEO and MD R Ananthanarayanan said: We are pleased to be the first Indian company to develop and commercially launch Favipiravir tablets for the global markets. This development reinforces our commitment to play a substantial role in society by bringing affordable and quality healthcare to millions of people around the globe."

Favipiravir has already demonstrated positive outcomes in several studies on COVID-19 patients, and the company is hopeful that the treatment regime with Favipiravir would brace up the fight against this virus, he said.

"Favipiravir is a complex drug to make, while we are manufacturing the tablets in-house, we are also excited to partner with the API manufacturer such that our supply chain remains secured up to the key starting material," he added.
The cast of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" honored their late co-star James Avery during their virtual reunion this week.

Will Smith was joined remotely by Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Joseph Marcell and DJ Jazzy Jeff for the reunion, which aired Wednesday and Thursday on Smith's Snapchat show, Will From Home.

While sharing their favorite memories of shooting the beloved '90s sitcom, the actors celebrated the memory of Avery, who died of complication from heart surgery in 2013 at age 68.

Avery played Philip Banks, a married dad of three (later four) who does his sister-in-law a favor by letting her son Will (Smith) come and live with his family in Bel-Air to escape trouble in urban Philadelphia.

"That just makes me teary," Smith says as the cast watches footage of Avery in character. Smith wasn't alone. Several of the actors struggled to hold back tears as scenes of Uncle Phil sharing words of wisdom to his family played in front of them.

Will Smith reunited with 'Fresh Prince' castmembers at 'Aladdin' premiere (Getty Images)

Smith shared a video of the emotional tribute Thursday on Instagram, writing,"Our show wouldnt have been HALF what it was without the talent and light that was James Avery. We all love and miss you, James."

During the reunion, cast members also shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes and answered long-running questions about the series, such as why Smith's character was also named Will Smith. Turns out, Ribeiro, who played Will's cousin Carlton, advised the star to use his real name on the show.

"It was such a deep insight that you had," Smith said. "You said, because people are going to call you that for the rest of your life!"
As some states move to reopen after weeks of shutdowns, infectious disease experts say the prevention of future coronavirus outbreaks will depend on scaling up testing and identifying asymptomatic carriers.

Now, eight Labrador retrievers - and their powerful noses - have been enlisted to help. The dogs are the first trainees in a University of Pennsylvania research project to determine whether canines can detect an odor associated with the virus that causes covid-19. If so, they might eventually be used in a sort of "canine surveillance" corps, the university said - offering a noninvasive, four-legged method to screen people in airports, businesses or hospitals.

It would not be surprising if the dogs prove adept at detecting SARS-CoV-2. In addition to drugs, explosives and contraband food items, dogs are able to sniff out malaria, cancers and even a bacterium ravaging Florida's citrus groves. And research has found that viruses have specific odors, said Cynthia M. Otto, director of the Working Dog Center at Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine.

"We don't know that this will be the odor of the virus, per se, or the response to the virus, or a combination," said Otto, who is leading the project. "But the dogs don't care what the odor is. ... What they learn is that there's something different about this sample than there is about that sample."

A similar effort is underway at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where researchers previously demonstrated that dogs could identify malaria infections in humans. In a statement, James Logan, head of the school's disease control department, called canines a "new diagnostic tool [that] could revolutionize our response to covid-19."

On Tuesday, Logan said his research team expects to begin collecting covid-19 samples "within a matter of weeks" and working with the charity Medical Detection Dogs to train canines soon after. The goal is to initially deploy six dogs to airports in the United Kingdom, he said.

"Each individual dog can screen up to 250 people per hour," Logan said in an email. "We are simultaneously working on a model to scale it up so it can be deployed in other countries at ports of entry, including airports."

The Working Dog Center typically trains dogs, which live with foster families, at its facility in Philadelphia, but the pandemic is forcing it to adjust. To minimize social contact, the project is instead working with Labs at a K-9 training firm in Maryland, Tactical Directional Canine, Otto said.

Miss M., Poncho and six other chocolate, yellow and black Labs began the first stage of training - learning to identify an odor for a food reward - this month, she said. Next, the dogs will train using urine and saliva samples collected from patients who tested positive and negative at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The following step is trickier, Otto said: learning to detect the virus in a human.

"That's going to be the next proof of concept: Can we train them to identify it when a person has it and that person's moving? Or even standing still?" Otto said.

Exactly how covid-19 detection dogs might be put to use in the United States would depend on demands, Otto said, though no one's talking about stationing a dog in every hospital or testing site.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

If the need is lots of tests, then Penn chemists and physicists might be able to use what they learn from the dogs to create an electronic "nose," or sensor. The goal of the Working Dog Center's research on ovarian cancer-detection dogs, for example, is to produce "an electronic test where thousands and thousands of samples could be screened in a short period," Otto said.

Other settings, such as fields where the center has trained dogs to detect the eggs of invasive spotted lantern flies, call for actual canines that can quickly roam and sniff, she said.

"The exciting area is the sort of convergence with what dogs are currently doing with TSA and screening for explosives," she said. "If we can do a similar approach for screening humans, then there will be a large interest" in using dogs to help flag people for testing, she added.

One potential complication: Explosives detection dogs are already in short supply.

"We don't have enough detection dogs. And if now, all of a sudden, everyone wants a covid detection dog? It's going to be challenge to figure out where are the priorities," Otto said. "But there's a lot of opportunity."
In scenes reminiscent of the gathering of labourers in Mumbai and Surat but on a smaller scale, around a 100 migrant labourers defied the lockdown gathered outside a railway station in Pernem in North Goa following rumours that trains have been arranged to take them home, police said.

Although the Central Government has relaxed norms to allow for stranded people to return to their native states in buses, the labourers converged at the Pernem Railway Station in North Goa in the hope that they could board a train. They stayed put for a few hours before police dispersed them.

The labourers were from Betim (a jetty and hub for fishworkers) and they were hoping to get home. However, with the help of the local police we arranged transport to take them back home, police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar said.

Thousands of labourers stranded in Goa because of the lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19 are becoming increasingly desperate to return home after having lost their jobs. While the state government has set up labour camps, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant conceded that despite being provided with food and shelter, the labourers were pining for home and growing frustrated.

The workers hail from different states including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The Goa government has meanwhile begun preparation to help stranded persons return to their home states.

Transit passes for stranded migrant workers will be issued by the Goa administration from Friday. All those who have the money to pay for their journey, we will send them first, Michael Lobo, a minister in the Goa government, told reporters.

We are worried about these people. They are just moving around here and there in search of food and groceries. Some of them do not have money. We plan to send them back, Lobo said adding that the people were mainly employed in the tourism industry either as handymen for beach shack operators or as waiters, dishwashers, etc in the tourism industry.

For those who cannot pay for their travel, the Goa government will reach out to the respective states where the people hail from to help them return home.

The Goa government has directed those who wish to return home to visit the collectors office or apply for a transit pass online.
Kolkata, April 30 : After a month's gap, India-Bangladesh trade through the land border of Petrapole in West Bengal's 24 Parganas North district began on Thursday, an official said.

The trade through the border had come to a halt late last month after the labourers refused to join duty fearing infection due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, the Central government convened a meeting where the local administration officials also took part.

The meeting came up with an acceptable solution by announcing that for the time being, no truck from either country would cross the border, and consignments would be unloaded at the zero point.

"We have arranged to resume exports from today following the initiatives taken by the Central and state governments. We have pressed into service five trucks today. The goods will be transferred to trucks from Bangladesh at Zero Point," said Suvojit Mondal, Manager, Land Port Authority of India, Petrapole.

Kartick Chakraborty, Secretary, Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association, said social distancing and all other lockdown norms were being adhered to at Petrapole.

"For long, export-import business had been stalled due to the Coronavirus infection. Today exporters, importers and clearing agents have taken some risk to begin loading and unloading of goods at Zero Point. We are adhering to all social distsncing norms," he said.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is deploying extra staff on its streets dedicated to ensuring that its public transit system  the Muni  does not get overcrowded while coronavirus social distancing measures are in place.

Yellow-vested Ambassadors wearing face masks are directing customers to maintain safe physical distance at curbside bus stops and boarding islands, working throughout the day to help San Francisco flatten the curve.

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Though ridership has decreased dramatically thanks to people staying home in observance of the shelter-in-place, Muni continues to serve approximately 100,000 customers daily. These customers are largely hospital workers, social service providers, grocery store workers and other essential workers.

Although overall ridership is down, during peak times in certain areas there is some crowding at bus stops and on buses. If a bus is too crowded, operators are not picking up new passengers until there is enough room for more.

The Ambassadors encourage customers to practice good public health behaviour throughout the entire Muni experience  waiting, boarding, riding  as well as informing customers about alternatives to Muni like the new ETC discount taxi program for older adults and people with disabilities. They also have information on the temporarily modified routes or can explain why a bus may have just passed up riders.

In some places, SFMTA has added markings on the ground at bus stops to signal where customers can wait at an appropriate physical distance from one another.

To encourage customers to give each other space on and off Muni, when buses arrive about half full or more, Ambassadors may ask customers to wait for the next bus. And, once a bus arrives the Ambassadors remind waiting customers to give space to those offloading, explain that customers are required to wear a cloth face covering or mask, and ask customers to maintain physical distance inside the bus throughout their ride.

SFMTA has also launched new onboard announcements and two social media campaigns encouraging customers to #stayhome and use Muni for #essentialtripsonly. New signs inside Muni buses and ads on the outside of buses are coming soon to remind customers to give space and wear face coverings or masks.

Now that wearing face coverings is a citywide order, customers are required to wear these when riding Muni. Operators may skip stops if those waiting dont have face coverings. Operators have been instructed that they may also skip stops if the bus is already more than half full to maintain appropriate physical distancing on board.
[April 30, 2020] OTC Markets Group Welcomes Orezone Gold Corporation to OTCQX

NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX.V: ORE; OTCQX: ORZCF), a Canadian development company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Orezone Gold Corporation upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market. Orezone Gold Corporation begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "ORZCF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice coporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.



Patrick Downey, Orezone's President & CEO commented, "We are pleased to enhance our market presence in the U.S. by trading on OTCQX which will immediately improve accessibility and liquidity for our existing U.S. shareholders and enhances our ability to effectively communicate new developments at our Bombore Gold Project to a broader U.S. audience of retail and institutional investors." Dorsey and Whitney LLP acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Orezone Gold Corporation

Orezone Gold Corporation is a Canadian development company which owns a 90% interest in Bombore, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Burkina Faso. Bombore hosts a large oxide resource underlain by a larger, open sulphide resource, and will be developed in two stages. About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/otc-markets-group-welcomes-orezone-gold-corporation-to-otcqx-301049968.html SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

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New Delhi: Union minister Prakash Javadekar held a meeting with the captains of auto industry to discuss means for bringing the auto industry back on track during the post-lockdown period.

The video conference was attended by representatives of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), auto major like Maruti, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hero MotoCorp, Hyundai Motor and Toyota Kirloskar.

Passenger vehicle sales in India declined by 51 per cent in March, hit by lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The industry leaders suggested that their product demand should increase while the supply chain should be restored. A reduction in the Goods and services tax was also suggested but that would be later discussed with the concerned ministry.

Some auto representatives suggested batch testing of workers when they resume work post the lockdown period. They said it is very important to maintain sanitation at work hence physical separator should be introduced at workplace.

Another major suggestion that came up was promotion of online sales of vehicles.

The Auto leaders also demanded that the time period for registration of BS-IV (March end scheduled) should be further enhanced.

Appreciating the steps taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Industry leaders said that the PM's decision has helped save lives and now it is time to maintain livelihood.

India has been under lockdown since March 25 to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has infected more than 33,000 people and killed 1,074 people in the country so far.
NEW YORK, NY  For the last month, Brooklyn drag queen Miz Jade has traded the packed New York City bars where she would perform as many as six nights a week for a new venue: her apartment.

Christmas lights framing an Amy Winehouse tapestry backdrop, a folded futon pushed to the side and a paper taped to the wall that reads "Tip Me," she joined a group of other nightlife performers for her first online show April 16.

"I've been turning my bedroom into a performance space every time I'm teaching or performing," said Miz Jade, who also works as a dance teacher. "I have to move everything, get the right lighting, play DJ  Ive had to learn how to be a jack of all trades."

Miz Jade, who lives in Bushwick, is one of thousands of New York City drag queens, and other nightlife performers, who have had to reimagine their careers as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down the bars and venues where they typically perform.

(To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in NYC, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.)



But the shutdown has created what is perhaps a new art form: the at-home livestream.

Drag queens across the city are taking to their own Instagram pages or banding together for virtual group performances, sometimes several nights a week, complete with links to PayPal, Venmo or other online methods for tips from viewers.

And, as with any performance, they are getting creative.



"I like the rawness of the digital performance," said Williamsburg queen Merrie Cherry. "If I'm doing a rock and roll song and roaming through my kitchen, whatever it looks like at that moment, that's how it's going to look."

Merrie Cherry joins an online performance from her couch. (Courtesy of Merrie Cherry).



But, the at-home performances aren't without their challenges.

Miz Jade said one of the first obstacles was wondering whether, with everything else going on in the world, if people would tune in. It took her a few weeks before she said yes to requests for performances, she said.

Story continues

"After being told everything I had planned in the next month was not happening, I needed a moment," Miz Jade said. "I was in my room for days  I wasn't sure if people were doing that or if they were looking for artists to uplift and entertain."

Miz Jade said she slowly made her way into the virtual space with online dance classes, then a digital version of the Brooklyn Library's Drag Queen Story Hour and eventually, a group livestream.

(Courtesy of Miz Jade).



Another challenge, though, is that the virtual gigs have taken away perhaps the most important source of energy for the performer, the crowd. Performing directly to a camera instead of to a packed bar was an adjustment, the artists said.

"I have never done a live stream drag show until the shutdown began about six weeks ago," said drag artist Marti Gould Cummings. "It took some getting used to as there isnt a live audience to feed off of."



But, even if they aren't in the room, the performers have found people are still watching  perhaps in even bigger numbers than would be possible in-person.

Merrie Cherry said one of her group performances had about 2,000 people tuning in. For Miz Jade, her dance classes have brought viewers all the way from Ohio and California.

"Having it virtually, more people have access to it," Miz Jade said. "You don't have the 'oohs and aahs' of the crowd, but people are commenting and giving you hearts. People are finding ways to support."

Both drag queens said because of the online success they personally haven't had to worry about their finances yet, but that that day may soon come.

Merrie Cherry  who said each online performance brings $60 to $100 instead of the hundreds from in-person gigs  said her biggest worry is that drag queens might be one of the last people to go back to work. Even as bars or restaurants open, the fear of large crowds might keep them from in-person performances until at the earliest September, she said.

The online performances and savings are enough to get by for now, but likely won't pay the bills for months, Miz Jade agreed.

"I wasnt nervous until recently, because it just keeps getting extended," Miz Jade said. "That constant flow of income revenue isnt happening...It's scary because I dont know how long its going to last."

(Courtesy of Marti Gould Cummings).



Cummings, who is also running for City Council, has taken to advocating for a rent freeze, both to help nightlife performers and those who may have lost their jobs or are self-employed.

"The nightlife industry is collectively very scared right now," they said. "Everyone in the business is unemployed at the moment and the fear of not being able to pay rent, bills, or for food is very real."

A source of hope, though, has come from banding together to support each other, Cummings added.

Many of the online performances include fundraisers for workers at certain bars or venues and donations for individual performers.

The best way to support the industry, and the many LGBTQ artists who are part of it, is to keep tuning in, the performers said.

"There are drag queens, drag kings, burlesque performers, DJS, security guards  It takes a lot of people to have a successful bar night," Miz Jade said. "We are all looking to each other right now."





Coronavirus In NYC: Latest Happenings And Guidance



Find out more about each of the artists' live shows on their Instagram pages, linked above.



This article originally appeared on the New York City Patch
New Delhi, April 30 : India's domestic air passenger traffic crashed by over 33 per cent in March on a year-on-year basis, as the Covid-19-caused disruption heavily impacted the sector.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), passengers ferried by domestic airlines during March declined to 77.62 lakh as against 1.15 crore for the corresponding period of the previous year.

"Passengers carried by domestic airlines during Jan-Mar 2020 were 329.12 lakh as against 354.52 lakh during the corresponding period of previous year, thereby registering annual growth of (-) 7.16 per cent and monthly growth of ( -) 33.06 per cent," the DGCA report said.

As per the DGCA data, air passenger traffic growth rate in February 2020 rose to nearly 9 per cent on a year-on-year basis to 1.23 crore.

"The passenger load factor in the month of March 2020 has shown a sharp decline due to suspension of air operations because of Covid-19 outbreak," the report said.
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she has "a great comfort level" with how former vice president Joe Biden has addressed an allegation of sexual assault from the mid-1990s and praised him as "a person of great integrity."

Pelosi's comments - in a morning television interview and later at a news conference - amounted to her strongest defense to date of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, whose campaign has denied the allegation of Tara Reade, who worked for Biden while he served as a senator from Delaware.

"I want to remove all doubt in anyone's mind: I have great comfort level with the situation as I see it, with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward, with all the highest regard for Joe Biden," Pelosi said at a weekly news conference.

She added that she is confident that Biden "will be a great president of the United States."

Her comments matched those from a couple of hours earlier, during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," when Pelosi said she has "great sympathy" for women who bring forward sexual assault claims and considers herself a "big strong supporter of the #MeToo movement."

"And I do support Joe Biden," Pelosi added. "I'm satisfied with how he has responded. I know him. I was proud to endorse him on Monday, very proud to endorse him. And so I'm satisfied with that."

Pressed on whether Biden should speak out himself about the accusation, Pelosi did not directly answer.

"It's a matter that he has to deal with it, but I am impressed with people who worked with him at the time saying they absolutely never heard one iota of information about this," she said. "Nobody ever brought forth a claim or had anybody else tell them about such a claim."

Pelosi then pivoted to talking about the importance of the upcoming election against President Trump, the Republican incumbent.

"We have an important election at hand, one of the most important ones we've had . . . and I supported [Biden] because he's a person of great values, integrity, authenticity, imagination and connection to the American people," she said.

Reade, who worked for Biden for nine months ending in 1993, said in interviews with The Washington Post last year that Biden put his hands on her shoulders and neck when she was working in his Senate office.

She said she had complained about it to three senior aides in the office, but those aides told The Post they had no recollection of Reade making a claim.

Last month, in a podcast interview, Reade alleged that Biden assaulted her after pushing her against a wall somewhere on Capitol Hill.

Separately Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., predicted that Biden would have to release Senate documents housed at the University of Delaware that are currently private and could shed light on whether Reade issued a complaint at the time.

"Well, look, when you run for president of the United States, your life is an open book," McConnell said during an appearance on Fox News. "And I can't imagine that vice president Biden is not going to have to participate in releasing all of the information related to the allegations. It's a very challenging thing to run for president, and I think everyone who's done that has realized that their entire life is opened up to scrutiny. And I think that's happening to vice president Biden, and they shouldn't be surprised."

On Wednesday, Lynda LaCasse, a former neighbor of Reade's, told The Post in a text message that when they lived near each other in 1995 and 1996, Reade told her that "Joe Biden sexually assaulted her."

"She said that he had put her up against a wall, put his hand up her skirt and his fingers inside her," LaCasse said.

She did not offer other details, referring The Post to Business Insider, which published an interview with LaCasse on Monday.

Lorraine Sanchez, who worked with Reade in California, was quoted by Business Insider as saying that Reade had told her she "had been sexually harassed by her former boss while she was in D.C. and as a result of her voicing her concerns to her supervisors, she was let go, fired."

A 1993 call to Larry King's CNN talk show also has surfaced in recent days. In the clip, a woman whom Reade identified as her now-deceased mother called to report unspecified "problems" her daughter was having with her employer, whom she called "a prominent senator." The caller said her daughter did not want to go public with her account "out of respect for" the unnamed senator.

The Post published an in-depth examination of her account two weeks ago, in which one of her friends confirmed that Reade had told her of the incident shortly after she said it occurred.

Reade's brother, Collin Moulton, also told The Post that she had told him in 1993 that Biden had touched her neck and shoulders. Several days after the interview, he said in a text message that he recalled her telling him that Biden had put his hand "under her clothes."

Several women last year said Biden had been overly affectionate in a way that made them uncomfortable. Reade's accusation that Biden had penetrated her was the first allegation of sexual assault made against him.

- -

The Washington Post's Amber Phillips and Matt Viser contributed to this report.
The federal government has said it is exploring financial models to help the media industry fulfill its functions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, the minister of information, Lai Mohammed, said the government is not oblivious of the fact that the creative industry is the most hit by COVID-19 pandemic.

He said efforts are ongoing to ensure the resurrection of the industry.

We are not oblivious of the fact that the creative industry, which comprises the media is the most badly affected in the COVID-19 pandemic and that we are already working towards alleviating the challenges.

Yesterday, a stakeholders committee held in Lagos on the creative industry and we are almost about getting ready the list of special stakeholders committee that will address the issue of the post-COVID-19 creative industry.

As soon as we get the terms of reference, we would announce the membership and the terms of reference, he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting every industry, which includes the media and creative industry.

Due to some challenges faced, there are indications some media organisations might not be able to meet their financial commitments or even pay staff salaries in months ahead.

Recently, broadcast stations in South-west Nigeria lamented the decline in revenue and said they may have to shut down their operations.

Outside Nigeria, Gannett, which owns USA today, recently announced plans to cut salaries and lay-off some staff temporarily after a major loss in advertising revenue amid the economic downturn spurred by the coronavirus pandemic.

Efforts

Mr Mohammed said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had set aside creative industry financing to ensure the industry is resurrected post-COVID-19.

Sometimes in 2018, I led a team of the creative industry stakeholders to meet the Central Bank on how to provide finance for the industry.

The CBN creative industry financing initiative was as a result of that effort. What we need to do is leverage this particular fund made available by the central bank to revive the industry, he said.

He also said that the digital switch over in broadcasting would be a panacea to the creative industry as it was capable of creating thousands of jobs in the country.

The minister noted that engagements are ongoing with various sectors of the media.

The broadcasting organisation will be meeting with my ministry to explore ways of helping the broadcast industry which we will all agree is one of the biggest victim of this pandemic.

I have been in contact with leadership of newspapers to get a solution to the ailing economy of the newspapers and the entire media industry, he said.
Mikheil Saakashvili may not become Ukraine Vice PM - GeorgianJournal
The doors will open at the Daphne Antique Galleria for the first time in a month at 10 a.m. Friday, but shoppers will have to be mindful of the new rules: 6-feet of social distancing throughout the store and at the cash register, plexiglass protecting employees, and a store that cannot have more than half of the stores capacity inside at once.

Sally Dunckley, the store manager, isnt concerned about the restrictions, saying she is highly excited to get back to work. And the 50% store capacity requirement wont be a problem.

We have 29,000 square feet here, she said. We wont have a problem with the capacity limits.

Shoppers who head out to stores either at 5 p.m. Thursday or, most likely on Friday, will encounter stores with signage detailing their emergency maximum occupancy rate. According to Alabama Gov. Kay Iveys safer at home order on Tuesday, the stores that do reopen will need to have staff monitoring the occupancy rates at the entrance and exits of their buildings. Employees within the stores are also required to ensure that strict 6-foot social distancing separations are being obeyed.

The 50% requirement has created some confusion among retailers who have reached out to seek clarity from the Alabama Retail Association, Attorney General Steve Marshalls Office, county commissions and city halls.

We actually surveyed our members a few weeks ago about questions on whether they knew what their 50% capacity was, said Nancy Dennis, spokeswoman with the retail association said. Many of them did not.

Occupancy loads

The Retail Association is telling its 4,300 members that the maximum number of people inside a store is simply half of what is permitted by the State Fire Marshals office.

State Fire Marshal Scott Pilgreen laid out how an occupancy rate is determined in an April 6 letter at a time concerns were raised about crowded big box stores and other retailers viewed as essential.

According to Pilgreens letter, the occupancy is determined by taking the total square footage of a stores retail space and dividing it by the occupant load factor - generally 60 square feet per occupant in a retail space, and 300 square feet per occupant in a storage, stock and shipping area. The occupant load is then determined by dividing in half to meet the current requirements of the State Health Officer.

For example, to determine the occupancy rate for a 3,000 square foot small retail business, divide 3,000 square feet by 60 square feet and that equals 50 (the occupancy rate). Then for purposes of the state health order, cut that occupancy in half, which means no more than 25 people (customers and employees) are allowed inside that size store during the time frame of the state health order.

Confused retailers are encouraged to contact the Attorney Generals Office Response Team that has been taking questions from business owners, among others, since early April. Those with business orders about the latest order can call 1-800-232-8520, and pressing 4.

The retailers we have talked with are using the health order as a template, said Dennis. Many other factors, though, will determine how many customers they allow in their particular building  number of people they have on a given shift, the layout of their store, the habits of their customers, etc.

She said, Many will use the states emergency maximum occupancy rate and many will allow fewer people in their stores than is what is permitted under the health order. Some will be open by appointment only. Others will continue to do what they have been doing  curbside, online ordering and shipping and delivery.

Common sense

In Baldwin County, questions about the 50% occupancy requirements within the unincorporated areas are being referred to Pilgreens office, while retailers in incorporated cities are being encouraged to contact their citys fire department.

Foley City Administrator Mike Thompson said the citys Police Department put together a small team focused on working with local businesses to answer questions and to help owners and managers to determine where they fall within the governors order. The retail-rich city includes the Tanger Outlet Mall and a host of big-box retailers.

Foley Police Chief David Wilson said they have been trying to help businesses understand areas in which they are confused about, and that there are no plans to go into stores and count heads to make sure the 50% capacity is kept.

In Fairhope, a city that lures visitors with its trendy boutique stores, there are few who are worried about violating the 50% store capacity requirement, according to Mayor Karin Wilson. Simply put, the shop owners are happy to get their businesses reopened.

I think the small businesses will really be the responsible ones, said Wilson, who, herself, is a small bookstore owner in downtown Fairhope. They want to keep their employees safe as well as the shoppers.

In Orange Beach, where small store openings will coincide with the beaches being reopened, city officials are encouraging self-policing and common sense.

A limited occupancy may be as simple as one spouse remaining outside a small business while the other goes inside to purchase the item, said City Administrator Ken Grimes. Simple, common sense methods are appropriate for how to operate. Wear a mask if you can, sanitize your hands, and wash them often and avoid going into what appears to be a busy location by waiting a few minutes outside or shopping next door till it clears out.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson speaks during an update into the city and county's handling of COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at Government Plaza in Mobile, Ala. (screenshot photo from City of Mobile's website).

Mobile city and health officials have wrestled with the issue of store capacity concerns during the past month with large crowds of shoppers flocking to big-box retailers such as Lowes and Home Depot that were allowed to remain open during the stay at home order. City and health officials, as recent as April 14, had contemplated limiting store capacity to 10% at big-box retailers and grocery stores. At the time, Mobile didnt allow more than 20% of a stores capacity inside at one time. Retailers like Costco have limited the number of shoppers into stores at one time by requiring visitors to stand outside in line 6-feet from each other before being allowed inside to shop after shoppers inside have left the store.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said, If you go to one of the big box stores, it would be 1,200 to 1,800 people inside and packed and youd be thinking, it has to be more than 50% capacity and actually, it wasnt.

Stimpson said that if someone was writing best practices for limited crowd gatherings inside stores during a future pandemic, the 50% limit would be reassessed.

Most them, when full, dont even reach 20% capacity based on the fire code, said Stimpson.

Self-police

Elsewhere in Alabama, city officials are preparing to address to the capacity questions, but are relying on self-policing. In Birmingham, city officials and police are handling calls about overcrowded stores on a case by case basis, according to city spokesman Rick Journey.

In Auburn, if someone makes a complaint, the city will follow up on it.

There is no way for us to proactively enforce this order, said James Buston, city manager in Auburn. But we do expect retailers to self-police as best they can and to set up procedures to allow only 50% capacity in their stores. We will follow up on any complaints we receive and we will investigate.

In Montgomery, emergency manager crews are prepared to field phone calls from concerned residents who might encounter overcrowded stores.

Trust me, citizens will call and report anyone they feel are in violation, said Christina Thornton, director of Montgomery EMA. If the Emergency Operations Center, or 911 receive a call of a violation, a police unit will be dispatched to verify. We will maintain a log via our Virtual EOC Board of any businesses that are found in violation.

Public health officials dont believe the 50% requirement will mean much to the general public since  like most retailers  the public is unaware of the capacity inside most stores.

Dr. Jodie Dionne-Odom, assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birminghams Division of Infectious Diseases, said it will be more important for stores to enforce the 6-foot social distancing restrictions as much as possible. She said of greater concern will be stores with small spaces or spaces with poor ventilation where COVID-19 transmission is risky from person to person.

Dennis, with the Retail Association, said that by having smaller retailers reopened, it will help disperse the large crowds that have been bunched into the essential businesses under the stay at home order Ivey signed on April 3.

It is more likely that the newly opened stores will have fewer customers in their stores than what is allowed by the state, she said. The safety of their customers and employees is retailers top concern. The customer-retailer relationship is paramount to any retail business. It was before COVID-19, and it is now.
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

30.04.2020 LISTEN

How exactly is the lockdown helping to halt the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria? Or put another way, how is the Buhari regime which announced the lockdown in three locations, Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ensuring that the measure unleashed is at least achieving a reasonable percentage of the purpose for which it was declared?

Has there been any thorough audit of the exercise? Who is also undertaking such an assessment in the various states that are equally on lockdown? What is the level of compliance at the various places and what percentage of the anticipated gains has so far been achieved?

One may never get a coherent answer. That is the problem a people must learn to live with when they are stuck with a regime that appears to derive some kind of strange animation from maintaining an icy distance from the people it claims to be governing, a leadership that seems to have become incurably estranged from the people, their problems and feelings, and appears to be trapped in abject lack of the capacity to muster any empathy and fellow-feeling either when speaking to the populace or taking actions that are sure to harshly affect their lives.

What discerning Nigerians see out there are mere perfunctory and aimless exercises by a regime that appears to be mainly interested in demonstrating that it is also doing or has done something. Whether the measures undertaken eventually achieve the desired results or not do not seem to be among the things that bother it. What appears to matter only is that the governments megaphones are now armed with strong evidences of some actions undertaken by the regime and are using them to torment the ears of a terribly famished and frustrated populace by broadcasting them on rooftops and equally deploying them to great effects to launch ferocious attacks on those who try to call attention to the howling inadequacies and failures of the authorities.

Despite locking down Lagos, Ogun, the FCT and some other states for some weeks now, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is still rising. Due to the lockdown, the people cannot go out to work to earn a living in one of the harshest economies in the world, but is that all that is required to be done to combat the virus? What sincere efforts are being deployed to cushion the effects of the stay-at-home order so that people who are prevented from working to earn a living are not allowed to die of hunger? Has the government tried to identify with the peoples suffering in order to attract sufficient sympathy and cooperation from them for its strategy for halting the spread of the virus? Is the movement-restriction order, which most of the populace may just be seeing as punitive, helping to achieve the required social distancing which has been proved to be the most effective measure for the containment of coronavirus?

As I move about, I see groups of people in large numbers, gathered here and there, sitting or standing very close to each other, holding lively discussions  often almost speaking into each others face. From the few words you could pick from their discussions, you would see immediately that government and what is widely perceived as its uncaring nature is usually the topic of discourse. Obviously, these people are tired, hungry and angry. These gatherings, therefore, have become some kind of tranquilizer, a way of relieving tensions and removing attention from the biting problems associated with the action of a government they believe merely emerged from its seclusion, imposed a lockdown on them, and returned to its hideout without caring about the searing effects of the policy.

But, these gatherings, sadly, only serve to sabotage the very purpose of the restriction of movements and stay-at-home order. How many of the people attend these gatherings uninfected, but go home eventually carrying the virus? So, what then are we achieving? Is it just to keep the people starving at home so that the rest of the world can see that the Nigerian government is also doing something to contain the spread of the virus, even though all the efforts being clumsily and aimlessly undertaken appear like pouring water in a basket?

I have been saying it for some years now that Nigeria presents the best picture of how a country could look like and exist in the absence of any form of government. The average Nigerian has learnt to exist without expecting anything good, edifying or exciting happening to remind him about the existence of the government. Nigerians have learnt to endure the bad roads and dilapidated public infrastructures like hospitals and schools. In most cases, they help themselves by making the roads that lead to their homes, providing potable water for themselves and generating their own electric power  by spending so much on petrol daily and polluting the atmosphere with ear-splitting noise and thick, harmful smokes. Even security which should be the most basic obligation any government owes its people since it controls the instruments of force and violence is almost non-existent. People are left at the mercy of criminals and bandits. So, in order to safeguard their lives, Nigerians spend so much to arrange for their own security.

Many Nigerians, therefore, have grown to see government as some irrelevant, indifferent or even a perennially absent entity. Government only compels them to remember that it exists when it constitutes a nuisance to their lives like coming to extract taxes from them without giving anything beneficial in return or demolishing structures and displacing many people who have managed to find shelters for themselves in the absence of any viable housing policies for the masses, or even like the imposition of a movement-restriction order on the people and callously abandoning them to their fate as is currently being experienced in the country.

The people feel that their leaders are too immersed in their business of primitive accumulations to have any time left to seek to make them happy or try to attract their friendship and sympathy. And so, even though the restrictions are inevitable, the people are not able to buy into it. And so, the objective is largely defeated.

Even the government that is preaching social distancing is seen everywhere often flagrantly observing it in the breach. For instance, shortly after the Bauchi State Governor, Mr. Bala Mohammed, was released from isolation following his recovery from Covid-19, pictures of an event he featured in were released and people were scandalized that they should convoke such a crowd where people interacted very closely and social distancing requirements were flouted with outrageous impunity.

All over the country, the people are witnessing top government functionaries brazenly failing to lead by example by obeying the very restrictions they had imposed to check the spread of the virus. As they do this, they deemphasize the importance and seriousness of those measures before the people. The worst example was egregiously advertised during the recent burial of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari. First, the corpse was flown from Lagos to Abuja, thereby endangering the lives of those who were obligated to convey and receive it. The burial was aired on television and the crowd was not, in my estimation, less than 200. This was a brazen violation of the extant crowd regulation policy of the government which stipulates that no gathering should exceed 20 people. Every requirement about social distancing was rudely flouted with utmost impunity. It was as if there was a deliberate effort to spread the coronavirus. Many Nigerians must have wondered at the kind of government we have that honours the dead at the expense of the safety of the living, and makes a law with one hand only to flout it with the other?

Has anybody seen where the often very miserable palliatives are shared to hungry Nigerians? Because the people are conscious of the fact that what is being distributed are not always enough for everyone to get some bit, the fight in the usually intimidating crowd can only fill any decent person with great disgust and dread. And the videos of these shameful displays are all over the social media embarrassing and further diminishing Nigeria before the rest of the world.

So, it is not possible to, for once, treat ordinary Nigerians like human beings, undertake the distribution of these food items a little more decently and avoid the sorry spectacle of people fiercely fighting, wounding themselves and falling over each other to get the items being thrown at them by officials as though they were animals?

How many healthy people come for those food items only to go home infected with coronavirus? So, why the lockdown if the sharing of palliatives only help to further spread the virus? Unless the government undertakes a comprehensive audit of the gains of the lockdown, adopts a more creative and humane approach to its implementation, people will only be kept at home dying of hunger while the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 keeps increasing. Instead of assessing the gains of the four weeks people have already endured and design a better way of achieving the desired results, what we are hearing is that the president and governors have resolved to impose another two weeks of restrictions!

I will keep hoping that there is nothing in the corridors of power that makes those there incapable of realizing when they have become confused, overwhelmed and totally bereft of any workable ideas!

So far, the government has got so much money from donations from Nigeria and abroad. It is not enough to just sit somewhere in Abuja and announce the billions you claim to have shared out to people. Please, come down from your high horse, face reality and do the right thing. You are merely preparing a time bomb by keeping people at home and refusing to financially empower them so they can feed themselves and their families. If other countries, even in Africa, can successfully do it, Nigeria can. Let the cash disbursements go round. Let the food items reach everyone that is in need of them.

If leaders hope to succeed, they must strive to connect with the people and see them as human beings who have genuine needs and feelings, and not as mere statistics. Please, this is the 21st Century! This also is not an election season, so let all the propaganda end. They neither change the price of fish in the market nor fill the stomach of the starving. They are simply exasperating and nauseating. The Buhari regime should endeavour to puncture by practical actions the growing impression that it is helplessly overwhelmed. That is, if it is not!

*Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye is a Nigerian journalist and writer ( [email protected] ). His articles are archived at www.ugowrite.blogspot.com . He is the author of the book, NIGERIA: Why Looting May Not Stop(Email: [email protected] )
Researchers have provided detailed insights and recommendations to help one of the UK's largest police forces recognise, report and analyse instances of violence from children towards parents.

Northumbria Police commissioned a study to improve its understanding of the concept of child to parent violence and the associated risk, following a domestic homicide review of a case involving a mother and son.

At the time of this case, the young person involved was 16 years old, which meant the mother's death was classed as domestic abuse. However, risks in cases such as this are usually present for many months or years before.

Agencies need to act on this behaviour when it is first brought to their attention and work in partnership with others to minimise the long-term impact on families.

Researchers from Northumbria University and the Children's Emotional Language and Thinking (CEL&T) organisation began working with Northumbria Police in 2018 to research what is often called Childhood Challenging Violent or Aggressive Behaviour (CCVAB).

The study aimed to explore better ways to understandchild to parent violence and highlight the need to formally recognise this within law enforcement and social services. Their aim was to develop new ways to prevent such abuse in the home and provide appropriate support to families.

The results of their research have now been made public and highlight that addressing CCVAB requires a multi-agency partnership approach.

The research team found a lack of coordination and information sharing between health, mental health, education, social care and criminal justice services. This meant that the police are often unaware of known concerns or follow-on actions that have been identified but are still required to respond to calls.

In particular, they found that link between school exclusion and attendance and incidents of CCVAB in the home requires further examination. They also identified the need for adult and child safeguarding teams to work more closely in these cases.

The study also recommends that recognising and recording CCVAB is an essential first step in understanding the extent and profile of this form of abuse.

The recommendations led to Northumbria Police becoming the first force in the country to manually record these cases in March 2019, responding to more than 500 calls in the first nine months.

The data now being collected will help to piece together a much clearer picture of the scale of this problem. It is hoped that the systems the force has put into place in response to the findings will be rolled out at a national level.

Jeannine Hughes, a senior lecturer in Northumbria University's Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, has been researching domestic abuse for two decades and has a background in youth offending social work.

We know that there are a lot of families living with this in silence. This is a form of abuse that exists, and we need to be able to provide targeted interventions to help people who find themselves in this situation. The police get called when it reaches crisis point, which is too late. As much as the police want to be able to help, we really need local authorities, health and education partners to be working together on an early response before such behaviours are entrenched. Without recording it accurately we can't fully understand the scale of the problem or the underlying causes of this form of abuse." Jeannine Hughes, Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, Northumbria Universitys

Jeannine added: "The recording of these statistics will help us to develop a much better understanding of the underlying causes of CCVAB and the key links to adversity. Importantly, it will also help agencies to collect the dots between cases and bring a focus back to local authorities and others.

"This will lead to a growing recognition for all those affected that this is something that many other families are experiencing and so they should not be afraid to talk about it and ask for help."

Al Coates MBE, Director of CEL&T, added: "While the police service is willing to support families, they are being called out to incidents that they should not be called out to because of their need to respond. They are the service that can't say 'no' and families are forced to turn to them when other services have not met their needs or are not available.

"Thanks to gathering this data, we now know that the force has responded to more than 500 call outs from parents and carers with crisis over a 9-month period, due to the violent and aggressive behaviour of the children in their homes.

"Our report builds on a steadily growing body of research that considers the underlying issues that impact on children who display extreme aggressive and violent behaviour. During this process we've been given access to records and, having worked as a social worker, I thought I'd become hardened to the challenges that children and families face.

"Yet I confess to being rendered speechless reading some of the incident reports. Stories of incredibly vulnerable children with mental ill health, special educational needs, substance misuse, adversity, trauma and more are all playing out in homes across the region.

"This is a complex issue that matters for many families. For every police call out, there are multiple incidents that don't reach the extreme of 999 call hidden in a veil of silence. There is a need to change the discourse from one of problematising to one of support to enable this to happen and we hope that this report will help to shine a light into a dark room of many family lives."

Dr Wendy Thorley, Director of CEL&T and a key exponent of the need for workers to consider the impact of Special Educational Needs and the Adverse Childhood Experiences, said: "There is a need to recognise that a child's chronological age does not necessarily match the child's developmental age, which can compound the challenges of managing the situations."

Describing the research as "ground-breaking," Detective Chief Inspector Louise Cass-Williams said: "It's hard for victims to report abusive partners - let alone their own child. Child to parent abuse exists in many forms, it can be emotional or financial, it can see children damaging property or their home and, of course, it can be physical and violent. It's in a parent's nature to protect their child but sometimes it's the parent, sibling or family member who needs to be protected from the child.

"This research is a vital first step in understanding this aspect of abuse more than ever before and making sure parents, carers and family members have the best possible support from police and every other agency. It is important that when dealing with cases of child to parent violence, there is a focus by police on appropriate intervention by partners rather than progressing solely down a criminal justice route.

"This study, and the systems Northumbria Police are implementing, mean we will now have the data to be able to do this at a regional level, and we hope that we will be able to translate these to a national level in due course."

Northumbria Police have already taken part in multi-agency awareness raising sessions with their colleagues from the six local authority areas and have, since March, been referring cases on via the MASHs (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs) to allow partner agencies to review and offer appropriate intervention.
A police force issued over 60 fines last weekend to people making unnecessary journeys to the North Yorkshire countryside, some from as far as Kent.

Despite numerous warnings to day-trippers to avoid the county, police confirmed they fined dozens of people who were not following government Covid-19 guidance.

It comes as hundreds of farming businesses across the country report problems with public access during the virus outbreak.

Some farmers have highlighted their 'untold anxiety' over an increasing amount of people who are ignoring guidelines on exercise and permissible distances to travel to do so.

North Yorkshire, the largest rural authority in the UK, has seen some walkers 'blatantly ignoring' the coronavirus lockdown, according to police.

Thirty-one fines were issued on Saturday 25 April to people visiting from West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and as far away as Kent.

Seventeen fines were issued in Malham alone  with 13 being written in an hour, as day-trippers thronged to the North Yorkshire village.

A further 30 fines were issued on Sunday 26 April, with officers issuing six fines in Brotherton to people gathering to go off-road biking.

Other unnecessary journeys included a man travelling from Yarm to Wakefield to pick up paint and two men travelling to Bradford to view a car.

North Yorkshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said the force is simply trying to stop the spread of a deadly virus.

We are definitely starting to see a turning of the tide in some areas, with some blatantly ignoring the reason why we have been in a lockdown situation for the past five weeks and making a decision to no longer stay home and save lives.

The police have their role to play in protecting both the public of North Yorkshire from the spread of Covid-19 and our valuable health service and we remain fully committed to continuing this task."

Chief Constable Walker said the police 'needs the support' of the public as the virus 'is not yet beaten' and the threat of a second peak of infection is 'very real'.

"Thats why we must keep on going  to protect our love ones; our children, partners, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters.

As I have previously mentioned, this is not about finding loopholes in the guidance to justify having a day out. This is about keeping your elderly, vulnerable grandmother safe, your asthmatic child safe or your diabetic father safe.

"So please think about why its important to you personally to stop the spread of this virus," he said.

Many farmers in the county have seen a rise in livestock worrying incidents as well as mounting concern over the spread of Covid-19 to vulnerable and remote rural communities.

The problem has led farming unions to produce posters for farmers which urges the public to take care and responsibility when accessing the countryside.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said he was "dismayed" after The White House unfollowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Twitter. He urged the Ministry of External Affairs to take note.

"I'm dismayed by the "unfollowing" of our President and PM by the White House. I urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take note," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

I'm dismayed by the "unfollowing" of our President & PM by the White House. I urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take note. - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 29, 2020

The White House unfollowed Prime Minister Modi's and President Kovind's official account on Twitter on Wednesday. The official residence of the President of the United States of America has also unfollowed PMO India, US Embassy in New Delhi and the Indian embassy in the US on the social media platform.

A few weeks ago, media reports surfaced that White House had started following PM Modi, PMO India and President of India's Twitter accounts on April 10. Modi and Kovind became the only world leaders who were followed by the White House on Twitter. The rare move was viewed as a reflection of the bonhomie shared by PM Modi and US President Donald Trump. Back then, the White House used to follow a total of 19 Twiiter accounts. However, now it has been reduced to 13 accounts now.

Also read: Rajasthan hikes excise duty on liquor as coronavirus lockdown hits revenues

Also read: Supreme Court orders I-T dept to refund Rs 733 crore to Vodafone Idea
The Supreme Court Thursday refused to pass any direction on changing treatment guidelines for seriously ill COVID-19 patients who are receiving a combination of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) saying that it is not an expert on the matter.

A bench of Justices N V Ramana, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B R Gavai asked the plea filed by an NGO, 'People for Better Treatment' (PBT), to be considered as representation to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

During the hearing, Ohio-based Indian origin doctor and PBT President Kunal Saha said he has not challenged the treatment line for Covid-19 per se but the use of HCQ and AZM combination has side effects and people are dying due to it.

Saha, appearing through video conferencing, said that a serious warning about the side effects has been issued by an American heart institute, which should be considered.

The bench said that as of now there are no medicines for the treatment of Covid-19 and doctors are trying different ways.

It said the type of treatment guidelines to be followed is up to the doctors to decide as courts are not experts and it cannot decide what type of treatment can be prescribed.

The bench asked Saha to take his petition as representation to the ICMR, which can examine its suggestions.

Saha said he was not saying whether a particular line of treatment is correct or not, but was asking for precautions as people are dying of side effects.

He said there should be an informed consent as a patient has a right to know that there is a risk involved in a particular line of treatment.

Shah contended that the doctors should explain to the patient about the risk involved in the particular line of treatment and take his or her consent.

The bench said that court cannot ask for providing particular line of treatment and asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, to provide the petition to ICMR which shall look into the suggestions.

The PIL said the use of HCQ and AZM was recommended for the most serious COVID-19 patients by the Health Ministry based primarily on anecdotal evidence and not as a specific therapy.

The petition has also sought directions for taking necessary steps for immediate implementation of all the specific preventive measures recommended in hospitals across India to protect the lives of COVID-19 patients who are being treated with HCQ and AZM.

It said the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare published comprehensive 'Revised Guidelines on Clinical Management of COVID-19' on the website on March 31 that included detailed description of how to test, diagnose and treat COVID-19 patients.

"Ministry of Health has specifically advised that although no specific anti-viral medicines are available against COVID-19, a combination of HCQ and AZM may be administered as an 'off-label' use to the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients who are in ICU," it said.

Many doctors have started using the combination to treat their most critically ill COVID-19 ICU patients across India following the ministry's guidelines, it said.

"Off-label use of HCQ and AZM in acutely ill COVID-19 patients has been highly controversial from the very beginning. However, both HCQ and AZM were studied extensively prior to FDA approval for their use in indicated medical conditions and both drugs are known for occasional and serious adverse reactions, particularly on the cardiovascular system in humans," the plea said.

It said an extraordinary joint bulletin issued on April 8 by leading American cardiology societies have cautioned that use of HCQ and AZM in COVID-19 patients can pose serious dangers due to its inherent adverse effects.

Canadian Medical Association Journal published a very similar warning for using HCQ and AZM to patients with COVID-19, the plea said, adding that they also increased the risks of heart failure and cardiac mortality.

"The petitioner-organization submitted an urgent written representation to Ministry of Health intimating it about the serious and potentially life-threatening dangers for using HCQ and AZM in COVID-19 patients and urging it to immediately adopt the precautionary measures.

It has also sought directions to the health ministry to obtain "informed consent" from all COVID-19 patients for treatment with HCQ and AZM by bringing necessary changes in the treatment guidelines.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A temporary site for COVID-19 testing opened Wednesday in Sunnyside, a predominantly black and low-income neighborhood with one of the highest rates of confirmed novel coronavirus cases.

The drive-thru facility at Worthing High School opened at noon, about three hours behind schedule because of a large swath of thunderstorms that swept through the region hours earlier.

Because the site is considered a pop-up, it will run through Sunday with supplies to administer nasal swabs up to 750 people  or 150 people a day.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said appointments are required to be tested at the school.

The Sunnyside neighborhood in south Houston has roughly 3.1 cases per 1,000 residents, according to a Chronicle ZIP code analysis that Turner cited during a news conference.

This will bring vital COVID-19 testing resources closer to vulnerable communities, Turner said. We know that African-Americans and Hispanics, as well as the elderly and people with underlying health conditions are disproportionately getting sick and dying from COVID-19.

The Houston Health Department is operating the site with the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

Another pop-up site at the Kashmere Multi-Service Center ran out of tests for the day around 2:30 p.m., health officials said.

Around the same time, a long line of cars could be seen snaking around the parking lot at Butler Stadium, another city-operated testing site.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
2020 First quarter

Press release - Paris, April 29th, 2020

Sales performance in line with expectations

Q1 2020 sales down -16.7% as reported; -20.4% on an organic 1 basis

Following good start to the year, Q1 sales impacted by Covid-19 in all regions from end of January

China traffic and sales gradually improving since March, showing early signs of recovery

Closure of 6 DOS 2 in Q1 20, driven by a slowdown of international store openings and the French network optimization plan

Execution of action plans to mitigate the impact of crisis and protect cash position

Good performance in e-commerce driven by China; teams mobilized to foster digital sales

Commenting on the report, Daniel Lalonde, SMCPs CEO, stated: Following a good start to the year, all regions have progressively been impacted by the lockdown measures due to the Covid-19 epidemic. In this context, SMCPs key priority has been to ensure the safety and health of its employees and stakeholders around the world. I would like to express my gratitude to them, as they have been fully mobilized and done amazing work in the last few weeks. The Group has also taken a large number of measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on its activity and balance sheet, reducing capital expenditure to the essential, reducing operating expenses, adjusting inventories and collections, securing liquidity position and fostering operations in e-commerce. Our team are now mobilized to prepare for the post lockdown period. In line with our values and commitments, it was also important to think about others and contribute to the collective effort through solidarity actions from our brands. Looking forward, although the pandemic will have a strong impact on our Q2 performance, the early signs of recovery in China are encouraging. I am confident that SMCPs strong fundamentals and brands will enable us to emerge from this period in a stronger position.

Unaudited figures

Sales in m except % Q1 2019 Q1 2020 Organic sales change Reported sales change Sales by region France 96.0 85.7 -19.4% -10.7% EMEA3 79.4 70.9 -11.9% -10.8% Americas 31.7 26.9 -17.4% -15.1% APAC4 67.5 45.2 -33.4% -33.1% Sales by Brand Sandro 132.5 105.5 -20.9% -20.4% Maje 106.9 85.7 -20.5% -19.9% Other brands5 35.2 37.5 -18.4% +6.6% TOTAL 274.6 228.7 -20.4% -16.7%





Story continues

2020 FIRST QUARTER SALES





In the first quarter of 2020, consolidated sales reached 228.7 million, down -20.4% on an organic basis. Reported sales were down -16.7%, including a positive currency impact of +0.5% and De Fursacs contribution of +3.7%. This performance reflected the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, which resulted in extensive store closures in Asia from the end of January, and then in Europe and North America from mid-March, as well as the suspension of tourism (especially Chinese tourism).

Over the last twelve months, SMCP net openings6 amounted to +77 directly operated stores (DOS). This includes +29 net openings in APAC, +38 in EMEA and +20 in the Americas. Meanwhile, the Group has pursued the optimization of its network in France with -10 net closings (DOS). In Q1 2020, SMCP closed 6 DOS7 globally, reflecting 6 store closures in France and a slowdown of international store openings.





Sales breakdown by region and by brand





In France and EMEA, sales were down -19.4% and -11.9% respectively on an organic basis. Following a good start to the year, performance has been impacted by a sharp decline in tourism from February (especially Chinese tourism), followed by a total closure of stores from mid-March. Meanwhile, the Group generated a solid performance in Digital in EMEA. Finally, further progress has been made in the French network optimization, with 6 closures in Q1 2020 vs. Dec 19.

In the Americas, sales were down -17.4% on an organic basis also impacted by the Covid-19 epidemic. Since February, the Group has seen a slowdown in tourism (especially Chinese tourism) and has experienced further deterioration in sales in March following the store closures. The Groups distribution centre continues to operate normally to ensure e-commerce operations. At this stage, digital sales performance remains soft.

In APAC, sales were down -33.4% on an organic basis. Following a strong start to the year, sales were significantly impacted in February by the lockdown in most Asian countries, especially mainland China. Since then, the Group has seen some early signs of recovery in mainland China with a gradual improvement in sales and traffic from March. In parallel, the e-commerce channel which remained open throughout the crisis, recorded strong results in mainland China (+39% of sales growth in Q1 2020). In other regions, traffic remained weak in Hong-Kong and in Singapore where all stores are closed. In parallel, South Korea, Taiwan and New Zealand recorded better resilience in sales.

On an organic basis, Sandro (-20.9%), Maje (-20.5%) and the Other Brands division (-18.4%) recorded a strong decline in sales, impacted by the Covid-19 epidemic. Over the quarter, SMCPs brands showed a dynamic approach on social media, with a change of tone to adapt to the current global environment, and to maintain a close connection with their community and prepare for the post lockdown period.





UPDATE ON COVID-19 OUTBREAK AND 2020 OUTLOOK





Since SMCPs last communication on March 25, 2020, the situation regarding its stores network has slightly evolved. While most of stores are closed in France, EMEA and Americas, all stores in Greater China have since reopened.

As of today, 82% of DOS stores are closed:

In APAC, all stores have re-opened in Greater China, while they have been closed in Singapore since April 22. In the meantime, the regions distribution centre continues to operate normally. In countries operated by partners, stores are open in South Korea and partially closed in Australia.

In France and EMEA, most stores are closed in Europe, except for Scandinavia. Germany has just started to gradually reopen from April 23. In countries operated by partners in the Middle East, all stores are closed. In parallel, the European distribution centre remains open to ensure exports and e-Commerce.

Finally, in Americas, all stores have been closed since March 18. The Groups distribution centre continues to operate normally to ensure the e-commerce operations.

Against this backdrop, the Group has taken immediate measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis and protect its cash-flow, including:

Selecting essential capital expenditure (c.-40%) with several infrastructure investments postponed, along with the reduction of 2/3 of its store openings plan (c. 20 DOS net openings expected this year)

Reducing operating expenses : Renegotiation of commercial leases Almost all retail teams in Europe and North America are on temporary unemployment since the end of March, with support from local governments Strong adjustment in Selling, General & Administrative Expense (mainly overheads costs optimization and discretionary spends decrease such as A&P in H1 2020 and travel expenses)

Adjusting inventories and collections with a strong reduction of the FW20 collections buy and some adjustments in the SS20 collections.

Fostering operations in e-commerce alongside brands initiatives to engage customers on digital, and all teams fully mobilized in distribution Centers

SMCP drew the full capacity of its Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) in March and benefits from a secured liquidity position of more than 200 million at the end of Q1 2020 to face the crisis period. In addition, the Group has initiated discussions with its banking partners to further strengthen its financial flexibility.

In this unprecedented situation, SMCP stands more than ever alongside its employees, partners and all of its stakeholders. The global crisis management team, whose priority is to ensure the safety and health of teams around the world, is currently working to organize and prepare for the coming transition period. In order to ensure their protection when stores and headquarters reopen, the Group has ordered all the necessary protective equipment including surgical masks, hydro-alcoholic gel and gloves.

Considering the uncertainties around the duration and the severity of the epidemic, it is not relevant to provide forecasts for the full-Year 2020 at this stage, both in sales and profitability. The Group will monitor the situation closely and will update the market in due course.

The Group remains confident in its business model and the attractiveness of its brands. The dedication of its teams towards ensuring a strict control of its costs will contribute to mitigating the impact of COVID-19. SMCPs financial structure and level of liquidity put the Group in a solid position to face these exceptional circumstances.





FINANCIAL CALENDAR





June 4, 2020 - Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

July 29, 2020 - 2020 H1 sales

Sept. 4, 2020 - 2020 H1 results









APPENDICES





Breakdown of DOS

Number of DOS Q1-19

(excl. DF) 2019

(incl. DF) Q1-20

(incl. DF) Var. Q1 20

vs. Dec. 19

(incl. DF) Var. Q1 20

vs. Q1 19

(excl. DF) By region France 476 528 522 -6 -10 EMEA 372 413 413 - +38 Americas 144 162 164 +2 +20 APAC 188 219 217 -2 +29 By brand Sandro 505 550 554 +4 +49 Maje 414 444 443 -1 +29 Claudie Pierlot 214 224 222 -2 +8 Suite 341 47 44 38 -6 -9 De Fursac n.a. 60 59 -1 n.a. Total DOS 1 180 1 322 1 316 -6 +77

Breakdown of POS

Number of POS Q1-19

(excl. DF) 2019

(incl. DF) Q1-20

(incl. DF) Var. Q1 20

vs. Dec. 19

(incl. DF) Var. Q1 20

vs. Q1 19

(excl. DF) By region France 476 530 522 -8 -10 EMEA 491 535 531 -4 +37 Americas 176 189 191 +2 +15 APAC 342 386 388 +2 +46 By brand Sandro 653 707 711 +4 +58 Maje 549 577 576 -1 +27 Claudie Pierlot 236 250 248 -2 +12 Suite 341 47 44 38 -6 -9 De Fursac n.a. 62 59 -3 n.a. Total POS 1 485 1 640 1 632 -8 +88 o/w Partners POS 305 318 316 -2 +11





FINANCIAL INDICATORS NOT DEFINED IN IFRS





The Group uses certain key financial and non-financial measures to analyse the performance of its business. The principal performance indicators used include the number of its points of sale, like-for-like sales growth, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin.

Number of points of sale

The number of the Groups points of sale comprises total retail points of sale open at the relevant date, which includes (i) directly-operated stores, including free-standing stores, concessions in department stores, affiliate-operated stores, factory outlets and online stores, and (ii) partnered retail points of sale.

Like-for-like sales growth

Like-for-like sales growth corresponds to retail sales from directly operated points of sale on a like-for-like basis in a given period compared with the same period in the previous year, expressed as a percentage change between the two periods. Like-for-like points of sale for a given period include all of the Groups points of sale that were open at the beginning of the previous period and exclude points of sale closed during the period, including points of sale closed for renovation for more than one month, as well as points of sale that changed their activity (for example, Sandro points of sale changing from Sandro Femme to Sandro Homme or to a mixed Sandro Femme and Sandro Homme store).

Like-for-like sales growth percentage is presented at constant exchange rates (sales for year N and year N-1 in foreign currencies are converted at the average N-1 rate, as presented in the annexes to the Group's consolidated financial statements as at December 31 for the year N in question).

Organic sales growth

Organic sales growth corresponds to total sales in a given period compared with the same period in the previous year, expressed as a percentage change between the two periods, and presented at constant exchange rates (sales for period N and period N-1 in foreign currencies are converted at the average year N-1 rate) excluding scope effects, i.e. excluding the acquisition of De Fursac

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin

Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Group as operating income before depreciation, amortization, provisions and charges related to share-based long-term incentive plans (LTIP). Consequently, Adjusted EBITDA corresponds to EBITDA before charges related to LTIP.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a standardized accounting measure that meets a single generally accepted definition. It must not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flow from operating activities, or as a measure of liquidity.

Adjusted EBITDA margin corresponds to adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales.

***





METHODOLOGY NOTE





Unless otherwise indicated, amounts are expressed in millions of euros and rounded to the nearest million. In general, figures presented in this press release are rounded to the nearest full unit. As a result, the sum of rounded amounts may show non-material differences with the total as reported. Note that ratios and differences are calculated based on underlying amounts and not on the basis of rounded amounts.

***





DISCLAIMER: FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS





Certain information contained in this document include projections and forecasts. These projections and forecasts are based on SMCP management's current views and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Group. Actual results or performances may differ materially from those in such projections and forecasts as a result of numerous factors, risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified under Chapter 4 Risk factors of the Companys registration document (document de reference) filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers - AMF) on 26 April 2019 and available on SMCP's website (www.smcp.com).

This document has not been independently verified. SMCP makes no representation or undertaking as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. None of the SMCP or any of its affiliates representatives shall bear any liability (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss arising from any use of this document or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with this document.

***





A conference call to investors and analysts will be held today by Daniel Lalonde, CEO and Philippe Gautier, CFO and Operations Director from 9.00 a.m. (Paris time).

Related slides will also be available on the website ( www.smcp.com ) , in the Finance section.









ABOUT SMCP





SMCP is a global leader in the accessible luxury market with four unique Parisian brands: Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and De Fursac. Present in 41 countries, SMCP is a fast-growing company which reached the milestone of 1bn in sales in 2018. The Group comprises a network of over 1,500 stores globally plus a strong digital presence in all its key markets. Evelyne Chetrite and Judith Milgrom founded Sandro and Maje in Paris, in 1984 and 1998 respectively, and continue to provide creative direction for the brands. Claudie Pierlot and De Fursac were respectively acquired by SMCP in 2009 and 2019. SMCP is listed on the Euronext Paris regulated market (compartment A, ISIN Code FR0013214145, ticker: SMCP).





CONTACTS





INVESTORS/PRESS PRESS

SMCP BRUNSWICK

Celia dEverlange Hugues Boeton

Tristan Roquet Montegon

+33 (0) 1 55 80 51 00 +33 (0) 1 53 96 83 83

celia.deverlange@smcp.com smcp@brunswickgroup.com









1 All references in this document to the organic sales performance refer to the performance of the Group at constant currency and scope, i.e. excluding the acquisition of De Fursac







2 Including De Fursac







3 EMEA covers the Group's activities in European countries excluding France (mainly the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Russia) as well as the Middle East (including the United Arab Emirates).







4 APAC includes the Group's Asia-Pacific operations (mainly Mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Australia).







5 Claudie Pierlot and De Fursac brands







6 Excluding De Fursac







7 Including De Fursac







Attachment
Drivers have escaped a devastating collision after a truck tyre came loose and rolled across three lanes of a busy highway at 100km/h.

The 150kg tyre rolled along the M1 at Worongary on Queensland's Gold Coast before bouncing in front of cars and coming to a stop on the median strip.

Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler told Nine News if a car had hit the tyre there could have been a horrific accident.

Drivers have escaped a devastating collision after a truck tyre came loose and rolled across three lanes of a busy highway at 100km/h

Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler told Nine News if a car had hit the tyre it could have been serious

'The weight of those tyres and the velocity it was travelling at could have had a really poor outcome for anyone involved,' Superintendent Wheeler said.

The wheel was rolling in front of traffic for about 30 seconds before hurtling across the three lanes, hitting a concrete barrier and then bouncing back in front of several cars.

Drivers put on their hazard lights and pumped their brakes as they narrowly avoided hitting the dangerous obstacle.

Tyler Rowson was travelling along the highway when he captured the footage of the incident.

'It was just so dangerous.. the truck driver didn't seem to have any idea what was going on ,' Mr Rowson said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asked officials to keep ready quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens as the state prepares for the return of migrant workers stranded in different parts of the country due to the coronavirus-forced lockdown.

The chief minister's office also put out the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of nodal officers appointed by the state government for facilitating the return of the migrant workers.

The Union Home Ministry, in an order issued on Wednesday, allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people, who are stranded in different parts of the country, to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions.

The order stated that buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating.

On Thursday, CM Adityanath appealed to those stranded in other states to be patient and not start walking towards their homes.

"Maintain patience that you have shown till now. A detailed plan is being prepared after contacting states concerned to ensure that all return to their homes safely. Therefore, stay where you are and remain in contact with the respective state governments. Do not start moving on foot," he said in a tweet.

An official spokesperson said the state government has written letters to different states seeking detailed data on migrant labourers and workers of UP along with their names, mobile numbers and addresses as well as medical reports.

The spokesman said workers stranded in Madhya Pradesh will be brought back on Thursday and those in Gujarat on Friday by buses.

The UP government had on March 28-29 facilitated the return of around 4 lakh people from Delhi.

The government has also ensured the return of about 50,000 people from Haryana and Rajasthan. Around 13,000 people are being brought back from Haryana.

Earlier the government brought back 11,500 students of the state from Kota in Rajasthan and ensured that 15,000 students from Prayagraj return safely to their homes in different districts of the state, the spokesperson said.

In a meeting with senior officials, the chief minister said an effective work plan should be made to bring back migrants from other states.

He instructed officials to seal state borders so that no one can enter the state without permission. The chief minister also asked officials to prepare quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens to facilitate 10 lakh people.

Adityanath suggested that these quarantine centres and shelter homes could be set up in college buildings and must have a proper facility of community kitchens, toilets and security among other things



He directed setting up committees to maintain a vigil on those in home quarantine for which help of Nehru Yuva Kendra, NSS and NCC could be taken.

Assistance of women self-help groups could be taken for preparing food. Proper medical examination of these migrant labourers must be conducted before sending the migrant labourers back home from quarantine centres or shelter homes, the chief minister said.

Besides bringing back students from Noida, he said a list of the students returning to different parts of the state from Noida, Ghaziabad and Aligarh must be prepared. Different state governments must be contacted to facilitate the return of students from there to Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Roger Stone to Appeal Criminal Conviction, Judge Denial of Retrial

Roger Stone filed a notice on April 30 to appeal his criminal conviction and a judges order denying his request for a new trial.

Stone, a longtime associate and former adviser to President Donald Trump, was sentenced on Feb. 20 to three years four months in prison.

Hes one of several associates of Trump who faced charges as a result of Robert Muellers investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He was convicted in November 2019 on all seven counts he was charged with, including obstruction, witness tampering, and making false statements to Congress.

The charges (pdf) were related to allegations that Stone had made false statements to the House Intelligence Committee during its probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, and that he attempted to persuade a witness to give false testimony and withhold pertinent information from investigators.

His lawyers filed a notice to appeal (pdf) all seven convictions and Stones motion for a new trial over concerns about a jurors bias.

On April 16, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an appointee of President Barack Obama, rejected Stones claim that that the jury forewoman was biased against Trump and therefore couldnt be impartial in deciding Stones guilt or innocence during the trial.

The Court finds that the foreperson did not answer questions falsely on the questionnaire or during voir dire, she did not engage in misconduct during the trial, and the defendant did not use diligence to discover the information present in his motion, Jackson wrote in her order (pdf).

She described Stones request for a new trial as a tower of indignation, but at the end of the day, there is little of substance holding it up. She gave Stone 14 days to file an appeal or report to serve his sentence at the institution designated by the Bureau of Prisons.

Stones retrial request comes after media reports that found that a woman who identified herself as the foreperson of the jury that convicted Stone had previously posted critical posts about Trump on social media and defended four prosecutors who withdrew from the case following the Justice Departments decision to revise the sentencing recommendation.

Trump has been critical of the case against Stone and has voiced his discontent on social media. On April 30, the president wrote on Twitter raising concerns about whether Stone was treated fairly during the case.

Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly. How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias. Same scammers as General Flynn! Trump wrote.

Stones case garnered significant attention and controversy at the Justice Department (DOJ) after it announced revised sentencing recommendations for Stone. Prosecutors originally recommended 7 to 9 years in prison. The DOJ then later asked for a sentence of incarceration far less than 87 to 108 months imprisonment without offering a specific prison recommendation.

The departments announcement to revise its sentencing recommendation came hours after Trump weighed in on Twitter about the 7-to-9-year recommendation. DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told media outlets that the department didnt consult with the White House about Stones sentencing. She added that the decision to change the sentencing request was made before the president wrote on Twitter about it. Barr also maintained that the decision to revise the sentencing recommendation came before Trumps Twitter post.

Isabel Van Brugen and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
A woman from the High Commission for Pakistan delivered flowers to 10 Downing Street twice in one day wearing both glasses and safety goggles.

On her first visit, the diplomatic official got out of a Mercedes car clutching a huge bouquet and a large envelope to 'Hon Mr Prime Minister & Ms Symonds, 10 Downing Street'.

She returned later that day kitted out with even more PPE on to deliver another bouquet of flowers to No10 from a Pakistani dignitary.

A woman delivers flowers to 10 Downing Street twice in one day, the second time wearing a face mask and gloves as well as safety goggles

She was wearing a face mask and rubber gloves on her second visit as well as the safety goggles from her first delivery.

This is despite strict lockdown measures only allowing people out for exercise, shopping and other essential travel.

Delivery drivers are still allowed to work but many companies have introduced 'no contact' deliveries to protect their staff.

Both bouquets were delivered as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds were congratulated by political figures on the birth of their son.

The woman rings the bell as she delivers flowers to 10 Downing Street in Westminster today

Officials open the door to the same diplomatic official twice in one day as she rings the doorbell to deliver bouquets to the PM and Carrie Symonds

On her second delivery, the diplomatic official waved at the camera as she approached 10 Downing Street with another gift for the PM.

The flowers were among a series of deliveries to Downing Street today, along with other bouquets and a huge Fortnum and Mason luxury hamper.

This comes after Britain announced 674 more coronavirus deaths in hospitals, care homes and elsewhere, taking the UK's official death toll to 26,711, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the nation is past the peak of the outbreak.

NHS England declared 391 COVID-19 victims, while more were announced outside of hospitals and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Bouquet of flowers were delivered to Downing Street today for Mr Johnson and Miss Symonds from Pakistani dignitaries

The woman from the High Commission for Pakistan wore glasses and safety goggles as she completed her deliveries today

The diplomatic official appeared for a second time wearing a face mask for her delivery to protect herself from coronavirus amid lockdown

Ms Symonds, 32, gave birth to a boy at an NHS hospital in London early yesterday morning and both mother and baby are said to be 'doing very well'.

Mr Johnson returned to work in Number 10 following the birth yesterday, but missed Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons int he afternoon.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister, who is currently grappling with the coronavirus crisis, would take a 'short period' of paternity leave later in the year.

The new family plan to live in their Downing Street flat along with their dog Dilyn. Mr Johnson was present throughout the birth of the baby, whose name is not known.

A woman gets out of a car with a diplomatic number plate clutching a huge bouquet of flowers and a large envelope for the couple

She held a large envelope to 'Hon Mr Prime Minister & Ms Symonds, 10 Downing Street' today

The news comes just weeks after the PM was discharged from intensive care where he had been battling the virus. Miss Symonds also suffered symptoms of the disease.

She returned to Downing Street after joining Mr Johnson as he convalesced at his country residence of Chequers in Buckinghamshire.

The couple announced in February that they were expecting a baby in 'early summer' and that they had become engaged at the end of last year.

The Prime Minister's father, Stanley Johnson, said he was 'absolutely delighted' and 'thrilled' by the birth of his grandson.

A large Fortnum and Mason hamper and other boxes are delivered to Downing Street today

A bouquet of flowers is delivered to 10 Downing Street in Westminster by a man today

The man delivers the flowers to 10 Downing Street today following the birth of the baby boy

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds announced the birth of their son on April 29.

The Queen has sent a private message of good wishes to congratulate the couple on the birth of their son, Buckingham Palace said.

Labour leader Sir Keir said it was 'wonderful news', while acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey wished the couple 'many congratulations'.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said it was 'great to hear Downing Street is getting a new resident', while former PM David Cameron sent his 'heartfelt congratulations'.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images of A peptide samples in the presence of the A nanodevices (scale bar: 200 nm). The lack of grains in the image indicates the effectiveness of the nanodevice in trapping the peptides. Credit: Argonnes Center for Nanoscale Materials

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, affecting one in 10 people over the age of 65. Scientists are engineering nanodevices to disrupt processes in the brain that lead to the disease.

People who are affected by Alzheimer's disease have a specific type of plaque, made of self-assembled molecules called -amyloid (A) peptides, that build up in the brain over time. This buildup is thought to contribute to loss of neural connectivity and cell death. Researchers are studying ways to prevent the peptides from forming these dangerous plaques in order to halt development of Alzheimer's disease in the brain.

In a multidisciplinary study, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, along with collaborators from the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), have developed an approach to prevent plaque formation by engineering a nano-sized device that captures the dangerous peptides before they can self-assemble.

"The -amyloid peptides arise from the breakdown of an amyloid precursor protein, a normal component of brain cells," said Rosemarie Wilton, a molecular biologist in Argonne's Biosciences division. "In a healthy brain, these discarded peptides are eliminated."

In brains prone to the development of Alzheimer's, however, the brain does not eliminate the peptides, leaving them to conglomerate into the destructive plaques.

"The idea is that, eventually, a slurry of our nanodevices could collect the peptides as they fall away from the cellsbefore they get a chance to aggregate," added Elena Rozhkova, a scientist at Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a DOE Office of Science User Facility.

Decorating the surface

The researchers covered the surface of the new nanodevice with fragments of an antibodya type of proteinthat recognizes and binds to the A peptides. The surface of the nanodevice is spherical and porous, and its craters maximize the available surface area for the antibodies to cover. More surface area means more capacity for capturing the sticky peptides.

To find the optimal coating, the scientists first searched previous literature to identify antibodies that have high affinity to A peptides. It was important to choose an antibody that attracts the peptides but doesn't bind to other molecules in the brain. Then the team, led by Wilton, produced the antibodies in bacteria and tested their performance.

A full antibody molecule can be up to a few dozen nanometers long, which is big in the realm of nanotechnology. However, only a fraction of this antibody is involved in attracting the peptides. To maximize the effectiveness and capacity of the nanodevices, Wilton's group produced tiny fragments of the antibodies to decorate the nanodevice's surface.

Engineering and testing the nanodevice

The scientists at CNM constructed the base of the porous, spherical nanodevices out of silica, a material that has long been used in biomedical applications due to its flexibility in synthesis and its nontoxicity in the body. Coated with the antibody fragments, the nanodevices capture and trap the A peptides with high selectivity and strength.

"Many attempts to prevent Alzheimer's have focused on inhibiting enzymes from cutting -amyloid peptides off of the cell's surface," said Rozhkova, who led the project at CNM. "Our elimination approach is more direct. We've taken building blocks from nanotechnology and biology to engineer a high-capacity 'cage' that traps the peptides and clears them from the brain."

At CNM, the scientists tested the effectiveness of the devices by comparing how the peptides behaved in the absence and presence of the nanodevices. Using in vitro transmission electron microscopy (TEM), they observed a notable decline in peptide aggregation in the presence of the nanodevices. They further analyzed the interactions using confocal laser scanning microscopy and microscale thermophoresis measurement, two additional techniques for characterizing interactions at the nanoscale.

The scientists also performed small-angle X-ray scattering to study the processes that make the nanodevices porous during synthesis. The researchers performed the X-ray characterization, led by Byeongdu Lee, a group leader in Argonne's X-ray Science division, at beamline 12-ID-B of the lab's Advanced Photon Source (APS), a DOE Office of Science User Facility.

These studies supported the case that the nanodevices sequester the peptides from the pathway to aggregation by more than 90 percent compared to the control silica particles without the antibody fragments. However, the devices still needed to demonstrate their effectiveness and safety within cells and brains.

Joonseok Leewho originally proposed this experiment at Argonne as a Director's Postdoctoral Appointee and pioneered the design for the nanodevicecontinued the study of the therapeutic potential of this device at KIST and KAIST.

"The Director's Postdoctoral Position is a rare opportunity offered at Argonne that allows for unique research projects and cross-field collaborations that might not otherwise be possible," said Rozhkova. "We have incredible minds at the lab who want to explore topics that don't fall under a predefined area of research, and this program encourages this creativity and innovation."

The in vivo experimentsexperiments that took place in living cellsperformed by Lee and his collaborators showed that the nanodevices are nontoxic to cells. They also tested the effectiveness of the devices in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's, demonstrating around 30 percent suppression of plaque formation in brains containing the nanodevices compared to control brains. The research on mice was conducted at KIST and KAIST in South Korea with appropriate government approvals.

This study combined the strengths of antibody engineering and nanotechnology, the power of two DOE User Facilities at Argonne and innovative collaboration resulting from the laboratory's postdoctoral program to explore a technological approach to preventing Alzheimer's.

Using a similar approach, scientists may also be able to pair the silica nanoparticles with different antibodies that target molecules related to other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease, which also involve abnormal protein aggregation. The porous nanoparticles may be further upgraded for use in imaging applications including fluorescent imaging and magnetic resonance imaging.

A paper on the research, titled "Silica nanodepletors: Targeting and clearing Alzheimer's -amyloid plaques", was published in the April issue of Advanced Functional Materials and was featured on its cover.

More information: Huijin Jung et al. Silica Nanodepletors: Targeting and Clearing Alzheimer's Amyloid Plaques, Advanced Functional Materials (2020). Journal information: Advanced Functional Materials Huijin Jung et al. Silica Nanodepletors: Targeting and Clearing Alzheimer's Amyloid Plaques,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201910475
In an impressive display of international collaboration, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have come together to launch a virtual hackathon running between May 30 and May 31, with the aim of using open data to develop innovative solutions to problems arising from the global COVID-19 pandemic.

All three space agencies obviously work together on a regular basis, but this effort, dubbed the "Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge," aims to pool their resources for a 48-hour concentrated sprint to employ Earth observation data gathered by satellites, info which should provide useful in examining how the virus spreads, and what kind of impacts it's having on the Earth, ecosystems and cities.

Each agency involved is providing access to data gathered from satellites they respectively operate. And while Space Apps has run previously as a regular challenge offered by NASA to encourage use of its data for innovative problem-solving and product development, this is the first time that all agencies are collaborating on a global virtual hackathon.

NASA has also used its own internal crowdsourcing platform to seek ideas for ways that the agency can address the COVID-19 crisis and issues stemming from the coronavirus and its spread. The Space Apps Challenge is open to outside participants, however, and often sees participation from student, science and engineering teams around the world.
African naked mole-rats are sometimes referred to as animal superheroes. They resist cancer, tolerate pain, and live a remarkably long time. They're also known for their ability to handle high levels of carbon dioxide and can go for several minutes without oxygen. But researchers reporting in Current Biology on April 30 say they may have found the mole-rats' kryptonite: they need high levels of carbon dioxide to function.

"While they thrive in their cramped nest quarters, the air composition just above the surface of their burrows in East Africa makes them vulnerable to seizures," said Dan McCloskey of The City University of New York. "Because that's what happens when naked mole-rats lose carbon dioxide."

In other words, the mole-rats don't just tolerate high levels of carbon dioxide in their crowded nests; it appears that they actually require it. When they reach the hot surface and start heat-induced hyperventilation in the fresh air, it sends them into seizures. In the study now reported, the researchers found that this curious need for carbon dioxide is explained by the presence of a missense mutation in a gene that encodes the major neuronal chloride transporter known as KCC2.

The researchers came to this discovery in an unexpected way. Naked mole-rats have little control over their body temperature and also are prone to seizing in response to heat, they knew. McCloskey and first author of the new study Michael Zions had been exploring this susceptibility to fever-like conditions as a model for fever-induced (febrile) seizures in human children.

The team joined forces with Kai Kaila and Martin Puskarjov, University of Helsinki, Finland. Kaila, an expert in febrile seizures, and Puskarjov had earlier found a mutation affecting KCC2 in families of people prone to them. What they now know is that mole-rats and those families with a genetic predisposition for febrile seizures carry the very same genetic change.

"We knew there was some value in the line of inquiry, but we had no idea that the similarities would go all the way down to the genetic level," Kaila said.

"The identification of the genetic polymorphism in the naked mole-rat KCC2 was a surprise," Puskarjov added. "Aside from a small subset of humans, naked mole-rats are now the only other mammals known to harbor this variant."

Further study yielded more surprises. When the researchers gave a naked mole-rat the anti-seizure drug diazepam, the drug triggered a seizure rather than preventing one. While the result was unexpected, it helped them make sense of years of unusual behavioral and electrophysiological data: the naked mole-rats were relying on carbon dioxide to help them compensate for deficiencies in their brain's inhibitory GABAergic system.

KCC2 is a chloride transporter: its normal job is to control the amount of chloride inside of neurons. In a typical adult mammal, chloride levels in central neurons are kept low. When the neurotransmitter GABA binds to a neuron, chloride enters and blocks the activity of the neuron. This ability to reduce neural activity is essential for many thousands of neurons to work together in coordinated fashion and avoid becoming overexcited. In the naked mole-rat and people with the mutation, KCC2 doesn't clear chloride from neurons as effectively. As a result, this inhibitory cascade doesn't work as well.

"Naked mole-rat brains lack some of the inhibition that a mammal needs. Instead, they're using the carbon dioxide to get back to where they have to be," Zions said. "They prefer CO2 levels that would panic a person, but are troubled by fresh air. They've leveraged a liability to literally dig themselves a niche."

As the researchers explain, an inhibition-impaired brain would normally be a handicap as it is in people prone to febrile seizures. It works for naked mole-rats because they rely on their carbon dioxide-rich environments to help keep their brain within normal parameters. "We believe they are utilizing nest carbon dioxide to offset their impoverished GABA system," Kaila said.

The researchers think the findings may provide an essential clue as to why the naked mole-rats are one of only two mammalian species to evolve eusociality, living together in highly cooperative colonies.

"Low carbon dioxide areas may cause hyperexcitability and overstimulation or anxiety. Their brain physiology urges them to go back to the nest rather than set out on their own," McCloskey said. Support for this idea comes from the researchers' discovery that the only other eusocial mammal, the Damaraland mole-rat, has a slightly different mutation in the exact same location on the KCC2 gene as the naked mole-rat.

In addition to the insights into mole-rat evolution, the findings may also have implications for people who carry the KCC2 variant, including those prone to febrile seizures and people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, schizophrenia, or autism who in some cases also have the variant, according to the researchers. "The breathing patterns and carbon dioxide needs of these individuals is something to consider," Kaila said.

###

This work was supported by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Academy of Finland, and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.

Current Biology, Zions et al.: "Nest carbon dioxide masks GABA-dependent seizure susceptibility in the naked mole-rat" https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(20)30478-4

Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.
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Al-Mashat underlined the need to enhance collaboration among all development stakeholders, especially during difficult times

Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat held Thursday a virtual roundtable with representatives of international financial institutions and the private sector in the fields of manufacturing, energy, agribusiness and logistical services sectors to discuss efforts to limit the Covid-19 crisis.

The meeting was organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and attended by officials from the World Bank, IFC, European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and African Bank for Development (AfBD).

Al-Mashat asserted the key role of private sector as a catalyst for development and the need to enhance collaboration among all development stakeholders, especially during difficult times.

Al-Mashat urged private sector participants to raise the challenges they encounter as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, including supply and demand disruptions, as well as their views on the measures needed to overcome these challenges and identify potential opportunities.

During the meeting, Al-Mashat said her ministry fosters multilateral partnerships with the Egyptian government, international financial institutions and the private sector, to mitigate the adverse economic and social effects of the pandemic, leveraging partnerships in priority sectors as part of a wider strategy in sustainable development.

Al-Mashat thanked the World Bank, IFC, EIB, EBRD and AfDB for their support for the Egyptian government and Egypts private sector.

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(Update: In an unfortunate development to this story actor Rishi Kapoor passed away aged 67 early morning on April 30.

You can read about it here in our story: Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passes away aged 67 )

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is not keeping well and has been admitted to a city hospital here, his elder brother Randhir Kapoor said. The 67-year-old actor was taken to H N Reliance hospital by his family on Wednesday morning.

"He is in the hospital. He is suffering from cancer and he has some breathing problem, so he has been admitted to the hospital. He is stable now," Randhir told PTI.

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

In February, Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues.

He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At the time, Kapoor had said that he was suffering from an "infection".

After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after.

Kapoor, who has been quite active on social media, hasn't posted anything on his Twitter account since April 2.

The actor recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film "The Intern", also featuring Deepika Padukone.
The native northern flying squirrel has disappeared from Massachusetts as its larger competitor, the southern flying squirrel, has moved north with climate change. Credit: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife/Bill Byrne

For many years, the conservation community has embraced the idea that improving connectivity, that is, creating corridors so species can follow their preferred climate, will benefit biodiversity, says Toni Lyn Morelli at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Climate Adaptation Science Center.

But, she adds, "I also work with invasive species experts and conservationists who know that new species can be problematic. So one community is saying yes, species arrivals are good, the other one says species arrivals are bad, and so far they aren't talking much."

In a new perspective paper out today, with co-first author Piper Wallingford at the University of California, Irvine, Morelli and other colleagues address that disconnect. Writing in Nature Climate Change, they propose that reconciling these differing views will allow for better management of species that are shifting their ranges because of changing climates.

Morelli says, "This is us saying let's be thoughtful about this, let's have a dialogue. We're going against two decades of established wisdom and we expect some pushback, but really any discussion will be helpful. We're not saying that no species should move around. In fact, most species will have to move to avoid extinctions from climate change. But let's look at what that means."

To that end, Morelli, Wallingford and colleagues suggest using a tool like the Environmental Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (EICAT) - developed by the International Union for Conservation of Natureto assess risk and develop management priorities. They write, "By adapting existing invasion risk assessment frameworks, we can identify characteristics shared with high-impact introductions and thus predict potential impacts." Further, "Ecological impacts of range-shifting species could be predicted by leveraging knowledge of invasion ecology and existing risk assessments."

The authors also point out that "with the exception of some problematic species, few studies have assessed the community and ecosystem impacts of species tracking their climate into new areas. The lack of studies on range shift impacts is surprising given that the introduction and spread of new species is often viewed by ecologists through the lens of invasion biology, where the primary concern is the potential for negative impacts on the recipient community."

They recommend considering the ecological costs and benefits to recipient communities and ecosystem processes. Morelli adds, "If species that would have massive impacts are expected to move, we could know ahead and potentially take steps to stop or slow that."

Wallingford adds, "Our point of view is that more information is better. We can weigh the risks for both range-shifting species and the communities they're moving to and then use those assessments to develop a strategy. In some cases, we may want to limit the extent of a range shift, but other range shifts may need to be helped alongwith endangered species, for example."

Morelli notes, "The effects of new range shifters are already being seen. We used to have the northern flying squirrel in Massachusetts, but with climate change the larger southern species has recently moved north. It carries a parasite that is fatal to the northern species. Now the northern flying squirrel is gone from Massachusetts."

The authors point out that as species from many taxonomic groups and ecosystems are redistributing towards higher latitudes and elevations in response to climate change, range shifts can no longer be seen as overwhelmingly beneficial to biodiversity conservation.

They urge more attention to "the importance of considering the ecological impacts of range-shifting species in terms of both the benefits, particularly to their persistence, as well as the potential costs to recipient communities and ecosystem processes."

Explore further Climate change not the only threat to vulnerable species, habitat matters

More information: Piper D. Wallingford et al, Adjusting the lens of invasion biology to focus on the impacts of climate-driven range shifts, Nature Climate Change (2020). Journal information: Nature Climate Change Piper D. Wallingford et al, Adjusting the lens of invasion biology to focus on the impacts of climate-driven range shifts,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0768-2
A care home chief has demanded an apology from Matt Hancock for the zero support the sector has had from the Government.

Rachel Beckett, chair of Wellburn Care Homes, said coronavirus testing has arrived too little, too late for elderly residents and staff.

The Health Secretary announced the rollout of testing for over-65s and all residential home occupants, carers and visitors earlier this week.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been under fire over deaths and lack of testing in care homes / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

But Ms Beckett, who runs 14 care homes in north east England, said the 24 cases among her residents could have been prevented if testing was available sooner.

I'll be so bold as to say I would quite like an apology from Matt Hancock actually, she told Sky News.

His sweeping statement saying that he, Public Health [England] and CQC (Care Quality Commission) were doing everything they could to support the care sector since day one...

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She added: Weve had zero support from any other regulatory body All were asking for is for the promises that are being made to actually happen.

For instance, [in] one of our other homes that is being hit, if testing was available three weeks ago - we now have 24 confirmed cases - if wed had that testing facility back then, we could have contained it and we could have isolated it and we wouldnt have so many cases. It all feels like too little, too late.

Ministers are under fire for not acting fast enough to prevent and record care home deaths in the community amid mounting concern over a lack of testing and PPE (personal protective equipment).

Yvonne Doyle, Public Health Englands medical director, has warned that the care home deaths are likely to be projected up even higher, raising fears Britain could be the worst-hit in Europe.

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JACKSON, Mich., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of CMS Energy has declared a quarterly dividend on the company's common stock.

The dividend for the common stock (CUSIP: 125896100) is 40.75 cents per share. It is payable May 29, 2020, to shareholders of record on May 15, 2020.

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based company that has an electric and natural gas utility, Consumers Energy, as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com.

To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

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GLOBAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE UNDER ATTACKS

NATIONAL BENEFITS WEBSITES HAVE BECOME TARGETS

E-LEARNING MAY PUT STUDENTS AT RISK

SUCCESSFUL RANSOMWARE INCIDENTS ARE DOWN, BUT NOT OUT

OTHER TYPES OF ATTACKS HAVE DECREASED

Even as government agencies around the world stretch themselves thin to battle the novel coronavirus, they have also had to defend themselves against an apparent surge in interest from hackers.With a large uptick in government telework, the fear and anxiety surrounding cyberattacks has risen, and reports from state and federal authorities consistently indicate hackers are trying to take advantage of the current chaos for their own gain.At the same time, in certain areas where experts had predicted catastrophic effects, recent reports have shown that those concerns may have been overblown. Here's a run down of the current trends and the ways hackers are targeting governments as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold.Health organizations have seen a lot of activity at the national and international level. Reports show that hackers are consistently targeting large health organizations, often in an apparent bid to disrupt their response to the virus outbreak. A recent attack leaked thousands of passwords from email accounts attached to some of the world's largest health organizations , including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Researchers say the culprit behind the breach is a mysterious hacker with conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19.Of the 6,835 email addresses that were leaked, 2,712 were from WHO, of which 457 are valid and active addresses, a WHO representative toldA check on the active accounts found that none of them had been compromised, though their passwords have been changed anyway to ensure security, he said.The organization further commented that hackers have targeted WHO workers using a variety of techniques that exploit "the current Covid-19 situation via multiple impersonation approaches (vishing [voice phishing], email phishing, WhatsApp phishing, social media)."As joblessness has climbed at an alarming rate, unemployment benefit websites have apparently become major targets for hackers "Attackers, whether cybercriminals or nation-state adversaries, are always looking for stress points and cybervulnerabilities," said Marcus Fowler, director of strategic threat at Darktrace, whose company recently published research on this trend. "The current global disruption and implosion of what was once normal is exposing, and at times even creating, new stress points and attack opportunities."Fowler, a former CIA agent with a background in cybersecurity and data analysis, said that benefit websites have become one such stress point. Their increased political importance paired with a lack of cyber-readiness makes them appealing targets."Every government is suddenly having to manage massive unemployment spikes and an unprecedented number of benefits sign-ups as COVID-19 disrupts economies around the world. U.S. unemployment application numbers have reached over 26 million. Just this week, Reuters has reported that millions of Americans have been completely locked out of U.S. unemployment sites," said Fowler."Previously, these sites were not as critical to countries ability to move forward as they are today. This likely means they also were not resourced adequately from a cybersecurity standpoint. Much like the saying 'you dont start digging the well when you are thirsty,' you want to avoid trying to scale up security only after your site has become a target," he said.Some experts are warning that schools may become one of the biggest public-sector targets for hackers during the outbreak. Earlier this month, the FBI warned that remote education platforms were targets for hackers, and numerous schools have reported incidents in recent weeks, as the flood of "zoombombing" reports shows.Schools have traditionally been a target because of poor cybersecurity staffing and training. Some 350 K-12 breaches were reported during FY19 alone, a number that could grow given the circumstances, said James Yeager, CrowdStrike's public sector expert. Schools may be particularly susceptible to social engineering attacks, which have risen in prominence since COVID-19, he said."Ed tech is at risk of falling victim to these schemes, as students and/or parents may click on a link thinking its a virtual classroom or some other method of electronic curriculum when instead its a cybercriminal attempting to gain login credentials," said Yeager.Many schools will likely have to rely on families' personal devices, which are more insecure and aren't under the same rigorous compliance standards in terms of security patching, he said."While school systems may not have the IT infrastructure, tools and manpower that large enterprises do, they can still do their part to ensure teachers and students can safely keep class in session as we get through this crisis," said Yeager.Not all the cybernews is bad, however. As odd as it might seem, successful ransomware attacks on municipal entities have actually "taken a nosedive" since the coronavirus outbreak, said Brett Callow, threat analyst with Emsisoft.A precipitous drop in successful attacks on health care, education and other government entities marked the first quarter of 2020, Emsisoft research shows . Of those, schools are being hit the hardest, but overall numbers for entities are down across the board since this time last year."Despite COVID-19 and WFH [work-from-home], or, more accurately, because of them, the number of successful ransomware attacks on the U.S. public sector, including health care, has declined significantly. In fact, the number of incidents has reduced to a level that we have not seen for several years," Callow said, explaining that with entities reducing their organizational footprint they may be effectively reducing the attack surface.However, this doesn't mean that you can't still get hit, as is evident by recent events involving the city of Torrance, Calif. , which was struck by DoppelPaymer ransomware in January and is now having its stolen data leaked online.Also, the Emsisoft report notes, this relief is "only temporary," and successful attack levels are likely to revert to normal levels once society returns to normal. Callow warned against an "uptick" in successful attacks in the coming weeks.Several other indicators show a potential decline in successful activity since the shelter-in-place orders have taken effect, said Guy Propper, head of threat intelligence for Deep Instinct.Propper said that while media coverage of cyberattacks has risen since the virus outbreak, the attacks being carried out are not fundamentally different than before the crisis. Furthermore, several indicators of successful attacks have seen declines, according to his company's research. These include "droppers," which are programs that inject malware."Office droppers are regarded to be highly indicative of infection rates as they are the main initial infection vector, particularly in phishing email attempts," said Propper. "When compared to January, March saw a 66 percent decrease, and when compared to February the decline was 50 percent. At present, the numbers for April are dramatically reduced again, pacing at only 19 percent of January infection figures and 27 percent of those for February."The other trend that saw declines were malicious portable executables (PE), which are a particular file format and are also used to spread malware in computer systems."The number of malicious PE in March decreased by 38 percent compared to January and so far, April is pacing at only 76 percent compared to the same number of days into the month as January," Propper said.Why these attacks have declined isn't totally clear. Some of it may have to do with the shifting landscape of the attack surface, while it could also potentially be attributed to hacker altruism. Some hackers may legitimately be restraining themselves during this crisis as an odd gesture of good will, the researcher offered."It would be a mistake to generalize that all hackers behave the same, because there are many different groups and individuals acting (or not acting) for different reasons and who tend to have different targets," said Propper. "Many will adapt to generate profit no matter the circumstance, while others operate with a moral compass."
Some Republican House legislators said Wednesday they are concerned Gov. J.B. Pritzker extended a stay-at-home order without first talking to legislative members.

Going past that 30 days of emergency power, whether you agree with the governor or disagree with the governor, we believe that a separate but equal branch of government, the General Assembly, should have input in the direction of the State of Illinois, state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said during a conference call Wednesday.

State Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, and state Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, also were part of the call.

The Illinois House of Representatives was scheduled to be in session this week, but the session was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home order.

During the meeting, all three representatives expressed that they are the ones listening to constituents on a daily basis and they feel they should have a say in decisions like the stay-at-home order so they are able to fairly represent the people of Illinois.

I am not here to criticize the governor amid this crisis, but to bring attention to the fact that the states legislature needs to be part of the decision-making process, Ugaste said. The governor cant continue to act alone in these decisions and our General Assembly cannot be sidelined and not heard through this crisis  to ignore this process is to ignore the people of Illinois.

The representatives feel the governor is exceeding his authority and at least a limited opening of state legislature is needed.

Hammond said legislators are the ones hearing from constituents, answering questions about what constitutes an essential business and whats non-essential, questions about the executive order, questions about unemployment claims  and Firearm Owner Identification card renewals.

The litany goes on and on, Hammond said. Thats why the governor should be consulting with us, the lawmakers, so he can hear about the issues that we are dealing with.

We want to work with the Executive Branch and our state agencies  to help provide a balanced budget, a responsible state budget, make a plan on how we can safely, and regionally, reopen our state, and any additional legislation thats needed to offer support for our families during the pandemic.

Hammond said she feels that counties downstate should have the ability to open, with the option of closing again should a peak in COVID-19 cases happen in a specific county.

According to the representatives, weekly meetings and updates have occurred but their opportunity for input has been limited.

As members of the legislature, we have actively tried to engage the governor in this process to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect the health of the public and begin the process, safely and responsibly, in re-opening our state, and its economy, if only on a regional basis, Hammond said.

During Pritzkers daily news briefing Wednesday, he addressed the issue of the legislature meeting in session.

Under the executive order, the legislature has the ability to meet, theres nothing barring them from meeting, Pritzker said. Obviously, they have to follow social-distancing guidelines and other things, but they are considered essential.

Pritzker said legislative leaders need to decide for themselves whether to meet, and how. He said he has suggested to legislators that guidance is available on how they can meet safely.

Thats the most important thing, we just dont want anybody getting sick, he said.

Pritzker also suggested that the Illinois Department of Public Health could offer guidance in how to meet safely. Virtual meetings were suggested as one option, though certain requirements would need to be met to make a virtual legislative session legal.

Its not allowed by law today, but absolutely they could, Pritzker said. But, in order for that, they would need to meet in person and pass a law to allow distance meetings.
George Poikayil By

Express News Service

KASARGOD: Alkesh Kumar Sharma, principal secretary, Industries, and managing director of Kochi Metro, is becoming the state governments go-to man to contain the fast-spreading COVID-19.

After reining in the coronavirus spread in Kasaragod, from 60 per cent of the total cases in the state once to only 13 active cases now, the government on Wednesday ordered him to take charge of Idukki and Kottayam districts which has seen numbers rising from 0 to 17 each in seven days.

A backroom boy who shuns the limelight, Sharma believes in peoples empowerment and awareness in fighting the viral disease. Containment of Covid is a concerted effort of different arms of the government but the most important role is played by the people, he told TNIE in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts.

Q. Were people of Kasaragod willfully ignoring physical distancing and lockdown rules? How did you start your Kasaragod stint?

A. People were aware of the disease and were cooperating. The need of the hour was to regulate the movement of people to stop community spread. The district set up ward-level awareness committees, teams of health workers and volunteers were formed to influence the people to change their routine and bring in social distancing and break the chain a part of the lifestyle. It reflected on the ground. I saw supermarkets setting up washbasins with running water at the entrance. Then, clusters and buffer zones were set up by the police to limit movement.

Q. Several primary contacts in Kasaragod transmitted the disease to their close relatives. Was the district in danger of a community spread?

A. Kasaragod was never at risk of a community spread. The numbers were high, but that was because most of them returned from Naif in Dubai. The district administration did well in identifying Naif as a hotspot and effectively quarantining them and their families. Kasaragod was one of the first districts to implement the cluster-based containment strategy to minimise the movement of people and ensuring effective home quarantine. It was a focused approach to contain the spread.

Q. Will we see a spurt in active cases in Kasaragod?

A. It is too difficult to predict. We do not have enough data to do a trend analysis. However, we have to be extra vigilant and not take the eye off containment strategies.

Q. In China and South Korea, people who recovered from Covid were getting a second bout of infection. Do we have a plan for such a situation under Care for Kasaragod?

A. We cannot predict that now either. The second round of infection could be from a different strain of the virus. But what we have is a protocol in place to avoid getting infected. We have to maintain physical distance and continue with break the chain movement. Personal and social hygiene is the key to contain the virus.

Q. What impressed you most in Kasaragod?

A. I believe Kasaragod saw success in containing Covid because of the compassion and awareness of the people. That made things amazing. I saw three woman councillors in Nileshwar cooking food in the community kitchen. The municipality did not have even one case of Covid. But they were cooking for migrant workers locked inside. So much of solidarity. That showed the commitment of people and peoples representatives.
Franklin Templeton, which closed six debt schemes last week in a shocking announcement to investors, has agreed to give moratorium to three Future Group companies under the scheme announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to help borrowers tide over the Covid-19 phase. Franklin has given moratorium to Rivaaz Trade Ventures Pvt Ltd, Nufuture Digital India Ltd, Future Ideas Co Ltd. Franklin has funded these companies through non-convertible debentures (NCD).

Future Group has requested Fixed Income schemes managed by Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund , relief under the moratorium benefit announced by the RBI. This relief is applicable for the following issuers (three companies mentioned above), whose NCDs are held under various schemes of FTMF, said Franklin in an update on Wednesday night.

A former executive director at a public sector bank who spoke to Moneycontrol on anonymity, however, said RBI circular on moratorium was not applicable to mutual funds NCD investments but for banks and Non-banking finance companies. This circular was not applicable to mutual funds at all. It is not clear how they can give moratorium to NCD investments, which are technically investments and not term loans under the RBI moratorium circular, the banker said.

Franklin said the decision to give moratorium was taken well before the announcement of winding up of our 6 yield-oriented fixed income schemes on 23 April, 2020. Templeton had announced closure of six funds  Franklin India Low Duration Fund (FILDF), Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund, Franklin India Credit Risk Fund, Franklin India Short Term Income Plan, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund, and Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund (FIIOF) effective April 23. Total assets under management of these funds are estimated around Rs 25,000 crore.

On 27 March, the RBI had announced moratorium facility for all terms loans given by banks and NBFCs. This was done to help struggling borrowers on account of the Covid-19 impact.

Follow our complete coverage of Franklin Templeton India crisis here.
Yves here. Even though this post, being VoxEU, is pretty dry, it addresses a hot topic: the idea that the economic devastation of skyrocketing unemployment and failing businesses is due to government action to tamp down the spread of coronavirus. In fact, it concludes that reactions to coronavirus are the main driver.

My small sample from a not-terribly-sensitive area (a liberal pocket in the heart of Trumpland) doesnt lend strong support. On the one hand, when the national news started braying about infections in New York (and then in neighboring states), pretty much everyone in the geriatric age group at my gym stopped attending. But even though I started doing take-out at our favorite restaurant (which would normally never do that but the chef knows us), it was packed when Id go to the bar (wearing a mask even then) for pick-up, and the average age was over 40. And I doubt this spot will make it; I dont see how the better independent restaurants get back on their feet. But more generally, I saw almost no changes in behavior here, even after the governor closed all the schools. Only when non-essential businesses were shuttered as well did some people seem to internalize the message that coronavirus might be serious.

The flip side is that by being self-employed, I have little contact with worker-driven demands to shutter operations if necessary safety measures arent taken. Remember the closure of auto plants due to union pressure. And see in our companion post today on how meatpacking plant workers dont want to come in and risk getting sick if their employer wont ante up to provide adequate protection.

So that may weigh heavily in the data, as well as knock-on effects from supply chain disruptions. For instance, an auto-industry supplier I know said Mercedes closed its US plants a week sooner than they had wanted because they were unable to get a critical part from Europe due to coronavirus disruptions there.

And Alabama is one of the five worst states in observing social distancing,1 so being a a less bad section may not make much difference.

By ChaeWon Baek, Peter B. McCrory, Todd Messer, and Preston Mui, all PhDs candidate in Economics, University of California, Berkeley. Originally published at VoxEU

Stay-at-home orders have been imposed in many countries to flatten the COVID-19 pandemic curve, but its not clear how much economic disruption is caused directly by the orders and how much by the coronavirus. This column disentangles the two by comparing the implementation of stay-at-home policies across the US and high-frequency unemployment insurance claims. The direct effect of stay-at-home orders accounted for a significant but minority share of the overall rise in unemployment claims; unemployment would have risen even without such orders. Unless the underlying public health crisis persists, undoing stay-at-home orders will only bring limited economic relief.

Closing schools, restricting economic activity, and promoting social distance are necessary to flatten the pandemic curve (Ferguson et al. 2020), but the economic costs of implementing such lockdown policies are difficult to pin down. In the US, the most prominent of these policies is the stay-at-home (SAH) order, which typically requires people to remain at home except for tasks and work deemed essential.

Researchers have already begun quantifying the general economic disruption in the US associated with the coronavirus pandemic in terms of economic uncertainty, reduced economic activity, increased firm risk, job losses, and reduced labour-force participation (see, respectively, Baker et al. 2020, Lewis et al. 2020, Hassan et al. 2020, and Coibion et al. 2020). However, little work exists quantifying the economic effects of stay-at-home policies themselves.

Starting in mid-March, state and local officials in the US implemented stay-at-home policies in order to limit the spread and severity of the coronavirus disease. Between 16 March 2020 (when the first was issued in the Bay Area, California) and 4 April, the share of the US population under stay-at-home orders rose from 0% to 95% (see Figure 1). In the same period, 16 million US workers filed for unemployment-insurance benefits.

Figure 1 Cumulative share of population under stay-at-home order in the US

Sources: Census Bureau, The New York Times; authors calculations.

These orders have recently come under public criticism for exacerbating the economic disruption. However, it is unclear how much of the disruption was due to the stay-at-home orders themselves and how much is due to factors that would have occurred in their absence.

In Baek et al. (2020), we take a first step in disentangling the direct effect of stay-at-home orders from the general economic disruption brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. We do so by studying the impact of such policies on initial claims for unemployment insurance, a high-frequency, regionally disaggregated indicator of real economic activity in the US.

Implementation of Stay-at-Home Orders in the US

We use data from the New York Times to track implementation of stay-at-home orders in cities, counties, and states, measuring a states exposure to stay-at-home orders as the average number of weeks a states workers were subject to the orders. By 4 April 2020, California had the highest exposure to stay-at-home orders, with workers exposed on average to two-and-a-half weeks of such orders. Conversely, five states (Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota) had no counties under stay-at-home policies by 4 April. Figure 2 reports exposure to stay-at-home orders for workers in each state in the US, showing that there was considerable variation between states.

Figure 2 Employment-weighted state exposure to stay-at-home policies through week ending 4 April 2020

Sources: Census Bureau, The New York Times; authors calculations.

The Effect of Stay-at-Home Orders on Unemployment Insurance Claims

To provide evidence of a causal link between the implementation of stay-at-home policies and the observed increase in unemployment insurance claims, we couple the spatial and regional variation in stay-at-home implementation with high-frequency unemployment claims data by state. This allows us to isolate the economic disruption resulting from the stay-at-home policies. To make states comparable, we scale initial claims by state employment as reported in the 2018 Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

We compare the evolution of scaled unemployment insurance claims of early adopters, defined as those states being in the top quartile of exposure to stay-at-home orders through 4 April, to those of late adopters, defined as those states being in the bottom quartile. As shown in Figure 3, in the first few weeks, early adopters initially had a higher rise in unemployment claims relative to late adopters. By the week ending 4 April, the relative effect of adopting stay-at-home orders early largely disappears, reflecting the fact that by this point approximately 95% of the US population was under a stay-at-home order.

Figure 3 Box plots by week of initial unemployment-insurance claims relative to employment for early and late adopters of stay-at-home policies

We find a positive correlation in cumulative unemployment insurance claims and our measure of stay-at-home exposure, both measured through 4 April (Figure 4). Each bubble in the figure represents a state, with the size of the bubble indicating population and the colour indicating the severity of the local, reported coronavirus outbreak.

Figure 4 Scatterplot of stay-at-home exposure to cumulative initial weekly claims for weeks ending 21 March thru 4 April

We formalise this methodology and find that an additional week of exposure to stay-at-home policies increases unemployment insurance claims by approximately 1.9% of a states employment level (using 2018 employment levels by state, as reported in the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). This result is robust controlling for factors potentially related to both stay-at-home implementation and the magnitude of new unemployment insurance claims. For example, we control for sectoral composition related to job losses occurring in the week before the first stay-at-home policy went into effect, the share of jobs likely able to be done at home, and the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak in the state.

We calculate that the direct effect of stay-at-home orders is accountable for 4 million unemployment insurance claims between 14 March and 4 April, which accounts for approximately a quarter of the overall rise in unemployment claims in that period. The direct effect of stay-at-home orders on unemployment is therefore small relative to the aggregate increase in unemployment insurance claims, suggesting that a large majority of the increase in unemployment may have occurred in the absence of such orders.

Corroborating Evidence from the Google Community Mobility Index

Along with unemployment claims, we also investigate the effect stay-at-home orders have on mobility using the Google Community Mobility Index, which tracks visits to different categories of locations (e.g. grocery stores, workplaces, or parks). We focus on mobility to retail establishments, as the main goal of stay-at-home orders was to limit non-essential business activity. The Google mobility data provide additional evidence of the effect of stay-at-home orders as it relates to a demand channel.

Figure 5 shows how a countys retail mobility changes when stay-at-home orders are implemented (x-axis equal to 0). The extremely high-frequency nature of this data allows us to address the concern that our results are driven by anticipation effects, whereby people expect policymakers to implement stay-at-home policies imminently and reduce retail activity because the public health threat is much more salient. We find no evidence of this type of anticipation effect.

Before stay-at-home orders were implemented, retail mobility evolved similarly across counties, as evidenced by the flat line. The day they were announced, the orders reduced retail mobility by 5%. For the following two weeks, retail mobility stayed close to 10% lower relative to other counties as a result of the stay-at-home orders. Considering that during this period mobility fell by 40%, this data suggests a similar share of economic decline attributable to stay-at-home orders as the unemployment insurance data.

Figure 5 County retail mobility index

Sources: Google, The New York Times; authors calculations.

Policy Implications

Our results support the idea that flattening the pandemic curve implies a steepening of the recession curve in the absence of any government support (Gourinchas 2020). Stay-at-home orders account for a significant but minority share of the overall rise in unemployment claims during the pandemic, implying that much of the rise in unemployment during this period would have occurred in the absence of these orders.

This suggests that any economic recovery that arises from undoing stay-at-home orders will be limited if the underlying pandemic is not resolved. Weak consumer confidence, supply-chain disruptions, and self-imposed social distancing are just a few examples of economic headwinds that could persist even in the absence of stay-at-home orders. At the same time, the orders are likely to have public-health benefits from slowing the spread of the coronavirus. 1 Taken together, our results caution policymakers not to expect the reopening of the economy to be an economic panacea.

See original post for references

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1 This metric has some problems. Home health care aide, nurse, and physical therapist visits to my mother would all incorrectly be deemed non-essential, as would visits by relatives to pick up or care for children of essential workers when they had to start their shifts. I would assume the people keeping track would argue it nets out across states but does it?
NHS workers from black or ethnic minority groups should be removed from the frontline over concerns they are more vulnerable to coronavirus - but it will heap pressure on their white colleagues, the Royal College of Surgeons has said today.

Professor Neil Mortensen, president-elect of the RCS, said until experts work out why almost two-thirds of NHS staff killed by Covid-19 are from BAME groups they should be shielded.

It came as new guidance sent by NHS England to hospitals nationwide asked that BAME staff are 'risk-assessed' on a 'precautionary basis' and potentially taken out of high risk areas if they are considered 'vulnerable'. They should also get priority access to PPE.

Prof Mortensen has admitted that while he backed the new advice from NHS England - it would inevitably put pressure on other staff.

He told Sky News today: 'They [BAME people] are a particularly at-risk group. Like other at-risk groups, I think they need to not be put in positions where they're not quite so at risk. We don't really quite know why yet, but it's important they are removed from - if you like - from danger.'

Figures have shown 63 per cent of the 100-plus health and social care workers who have died from coronavirus were BAME. The first ten doctors in the UK to die from coronavirus were all of BAME background, with many born overseas.

And almost 50 per cent of all NHS medic and one in five of the health service's entire 1.3million staff are from ethnic minorities. But in big cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester some trusts have approaching half of all workers from these groups, and removing many of them from their roles would put huge strain on the rest of the workforce.

Doctors and nurses from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus. Pictured are those that have died from the virus. NHS England has asked trusts to

BAME staff and their families will also be able to access testing within the first five days of developing any symptoms, and any who require an FFP3 mask - which offers greater protection than a normal surgical mask - will be supported to be fit-tested as soon as possible.

Hospitals received a letter from NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens (pictured earlier this week in Downing Street) and its chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard

And in terms of patients an Imperial College study found that 40 per cent of Covid-19 patients in three London hospitals were from ethnic minorities - when in the UK 19.5 per cent of the population is from those groups.

BAME patients also made up 16 per cent of all virus hospital deaths in England up to April 21.

Data from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre has suggested 34.5% of critically ill Covid-19 patients have BAME backgrounds.

This is despite just 10.8% of the population being black or Asian, according to the 2011 census.

The Government has since launched an urgent inquiry into the alarming statistics.

Today's letter from NHS England urges health trusts to make 'appropriate arrangements', which could include moving those from ethnic minority backgrounds away from the front line to non-patient facing roles.

The official guidance says UK data is showing these workers are being 'disproportionately affected by Covid-19'.

Susan Tay, a community matron at Mersey NHS Care, stands in front of the 'Liver Bird Wings' artwork by Paul Curtis at Liverpool's Baltic Triangle

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said Public Health England had been asked by the Department for Health and Social Care to look into the issue.

He added: 'In advance of their report and guidance, on a precautionary basis we recommend employers should risk assess staff at a potentially greater risk and make appropriate arrangements accordingly.'

It could mean BAME health workers being relocated to different roles within the NHS or ensuring they are adequately fitted with personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Department of Health and Social Care announced on April 16 that a review would take place to look into why BAME people were being affected disproportionately.

Recently, bosses at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust wrote to BAME employees establishing how they can be supported during the pandemic.

The letter encouraged staff to ensure they are properly fitted with appropriate PPE and to access testing for themselves and family members.

Peter Lewis, chief executive at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We recognise how worrying it is at the moment for our colleagues and we want to provide them with as much support as we can.

'Our BAME colleagues make a significant contribution to our Trust and the care we provide to patients. We are grateful for their ongoing commitment.'

Yvonne Coghill, director of NHS England's workforce race equality standard unit, tweeted 'many should follow the lead of Somerset FT,' describing the trust as 'compassionate' with strong leadership.

The Government has launched an inquiry into the 'devastating disparity' which means BAME patients are at disproportionately high risk of becoming critically ill with coronavirus.

Scientists say the disparity may be because they are more likely to suffer from conditions including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Social and demographic factors also play a role, as BAME people are more likely to live in densely populated areas which may make social distancing harder.

The British Medical Association (BMA) also suggested that BAME doctors may feel less able to raise concerns about inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), as they report higher levels of bullying and harassment in the workplace.

Pictured: Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, part of the Somerset Foundation Trust that is making sure BAME staff get better access to facemasks

Earlier this week the Somerset Foundation Trust became the first in the country to prioritise BAME staff for access to facemasks (staff pictured wearing full personal protective equipment at Royal Liverpool University Hospital)

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA chairman, said a survey showed doctors from ethnic minorities were three times more likely to feel pressured to treat patients without adequate PPE.

He said: 'These figures are staggering. They are worrying and disturbing. In fact these doctors have come from other parts of the world to provide vital care and save other people's lives in our health service and now they have sadly paid the ultimate sacrifice.'

Dr Habib Naqvi, the NHS director for workforce race and equality, said: 'The fact that a high number of black and minority ethnic staff are dying from this pandemic is a worry for us.'

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, said: 'It's critical that we find out which groups are most at risk so we can help to protect them.'

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'We have commissioned work from Public Health England to understand the different factors that may influence the way someone is affected by this virus.'
More men are succumbing to the coronavirus outbreak in India than women.

According to the Health Ministry data, of the 1,075 COVID-19 deaths reported across the country, 65% were men, while the remaining 35% were women.

For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here

Also, 78% of the 1,075 coronavirus patients who succumbed to the infection were also suffering from illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney transplant or cardiovascular disease.

As on Thursday, India reported 33,610 confirmed cases of COVID-19, a jump of 1,823 cases since Wednesday. The death toll also rose to 67 to touch 1,075. On the brighter side, the 8,372 persons have recovered from the disease since it was first reported in India on January 30.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

A look at the age distribution among the 1,075 COVID-19 deaths showed that 51.2% of the casualties were in the age group of 60 years and above, while 34.8% deaths were in the age group of 45-60. Those below 45 years of age accounted for 14% of the deaths.

A closer examination of the numbers showed that in the 60 years plus age group, 42% casualties were in the age group of 60-75 years, while 9.2% of the dead were in the age group of 75 years and above.

A study by researchers in China, the first country to report COVID-19 infections, also found that while men and women were equally likely to contract the infection, men were significantly more likely to suffer the severe effects and die.

The researchers found that the virus causing coronavirus attached itself to ACE2 protein found in cells it attacked, which was similar to the behaviour of the virus that led to the SARS outbreak of 2003.

Interestingly, levels of ACE2, the protein involved in the viral attack in both SARS and COVID-19, tends to be present in higher levels in men, and also in patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, said the research carried out by doctors at the Beijing Tongren Hospital and published in open-access journal Frontiers in Public Health.

Health Minister Harshvardhan has written to the health ministers of all the States/UTs to ensure uninterrupted blood donation and transfusion services for people with blood disorders such as thalassemia, haemophilia and sickle cell anaemia.
WA Premier Mark McGowan has backed Kerry Stokes' intervention on China relations and urged the federal government not to "cut off their nose to spite their face" in its dealings with the state's major trading partner if it wanted an economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

WA media mogul Kerry Stokes used the front page of his own newspaper on Thursday to call on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to "quell" China's anger over an international coronavirus inquiry, which is gathering global support.

Meanwhile, WA mining magnate Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest has been accused of blindsiding Health Minister Greg Hunt at a press conference on Wednesday by inviting a top Chinese diplomat to speak.

In press briefing on Thursday Mr McGowan said both billionaires were entitled to their views.
NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE T he technology industrys rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed appreciation for platforms and tools like Facebook and Zoom and given advocates a triumphant narrative to trumpet. But the techlash is far from over. COVID-19 and its long-term fallout may mark only the beginning, not the end, of heightened scrutiny of tech.

The techlash comes in many forms. The industry has been operating under the gimlet eye of politicians, regulators, and the media since the 2016 election. Social-media companies face charges that they amplify disinformation or censor marginal opinions, and their executives are hauled before congressional committees. Elsewhere, critics argue that the U.S. is in the middle of a long-term technological stagnation  that despite game-changing inventions like the Internet or smartphones, the industry has failed to deliver meaningful benefits to ordinary people. The brightest minds of the Gen-X and Millennial cohorts, these critics say, are addicting children to mental-health-threatening social-media platforms and creating increasingly derivative and frivolous applications.

Criticism has been bipartisan. Some on the right say that tech companies systematically discriminate against them. Others on the left say that the leading companies have become monopolies, using their power to subvert reform, subsume and destroy the competition, violate privacy, exploit gig-economy workers, and move fast and break things without consequence. Gone are the days when President Obama described the U.S. as the nation of Google and Facebook in his 2011 State of the Union address.

But the techlash, and in particular the argument that the tech industry cannot deliver tangible innovations, is momentarily on pause. During the current COVID-19 shutdown, tech companies big and small have made it possible for a considerable portion of the workforce to become fully-remote in a way unimaginable even 15 years ago, let alone during the 1960s. Gig-economy jobs are the only lifeline serving the skeletal remains of the restaurant and broader service industry. For many locked-in city-dwellers, an Amazon Prime membership, Netflix subscription, and the local Amazon-owned Whole Foods are the only stable features of their lives.

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Those hit hardest, including shuttered small businesses fighting for PPP loan scraps and the millions of workers filing for unemployment, are struggling precisely because they cannot avail themselves of digital tools to weather the lockdown. Neither a flying car nor a more dispersed tech industry would change that. My organization has created a Wiki highlighting the ways that the industry has mobilized to confront the virus. Initiatives vary from Apple and Googles contract-tracing project to Discords offer of free, invite-only class space for educators, and Facebooks $100 million commitment to support the news industry as it suffers from the collapse of advertising during the pandemic. Likely a result of these initiatives, polling indicates that Americans are beginning to hold more positive views of the tech industry since the start of the crisis.

This warm reaction by the market combined with the early polls illustrates an important truth: the techlash was never about mass-consumer or voter rebellion against tech companies. Instead, it was an elite-level conflict between competing industries, governments, regulators, and the media.

Indeed, politicians who framed their campaigns around confronting the tech industry, like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang, failed to catch on with voters. To be sure, polls often demonstrate frustration with privacy issues and a lack of trust in the leading tech companies. But there is no evidence that such beliefs affected consumer behavior or are especially salient to American voters.

Which means that ordinary Americans gratitude for the tech industry is unlikely to assuage elite concerns. The current COVID-19 shutdown and forthcoming recovery will deepen, not arrest, the trends driving the techlash.

First consider the fallout from the economic crisis. Small and medium-sized businesses have been devastated, furthering the anti-consolidation arguments of antitrust advocates. Right on cue, Senator Warren and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation to prevent major mergers and acquisitions during COVID-19. In a turn from recent history and legal precedent, 21st century antitrust arguments are focusing less on consumer welfare and more on the power wielded by tech companies over industries and American society. No one is accusing Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg of price-gouging consumers. Amazon has not used its market position and the literally captive at-home audience to hike the price of Amazon Prime. As Zuckerberg has pointed out, Facebook makes money through advertising, not by charging its users. But, as critics have noted, duopoly dominance of the advertising market with Google has made it difficult for news publishers to compete for revenue. All of this occurs against the background of local, state, and federal government incompetence in the face of COVID-19. Consumers and voters may benefit from the status-quo, but techs elite-level critics and competition will be even more inflamed than before.

Meanwhile, the viruss geopolitical consequences will intensify the terms of the conflict over tech. The Chinese Communist Partys obfuscation about COVID-19s origin and spread combined with its influence over the supposedly neutral World Health Organization makes U.S.China great-power competition all the more relevant. As the new bipartisan consensus hostile to China emerges, tech companies whose workforces refused to work with the U.S. military yet held no qualms about entering the Chinese market will be unprepared to confront this dynamic. Consider Zoom, whose meteoric rise was hampered by the revelation of its ties to China. Tech companies unable to make the mental shift from the postCold War era of globalization and stability to one of zero-sum competition will find themselves in the crosshairs of government and public scrutiny.

The tech industry has performed admirably over the past few months. For the moment, even the industrys critics acknowledge the importance of its products. However, it would be a mistake to conclude such sentiments neutralize the broader dynamics that have challenged tech since 2016. Rather than alleviate the pressure, this may usher in a heightened phase of the techlash.

More from National Review
If two black holes tango in space but astronomers cannot see them, can we still admire their flashy dance moves?

Because black holes have such a strong gravitational pull that not even light can escape, they can't be observed directly and are therefore difficult to study. But one pair of black holes has enamored astronomers with a complicated celestial dance that periodically produces extremely bright flashes of light  outbursts that are brighter than a trillion stars and even the entire Milky Way galaxy.

By studying the timing of these bright flashes of light, researchers have attempted to map out the complex choreography of the black holes' movements and predict exactly when the system will flare up again. After more than 120 years of observations and decades of building computer models, astronomers have finally figured out what these black holes are up to, thanks to data from NASA's now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope.

Video: Black Hole pair produce flares 'brighter than 1 trillion stars'

Related: Spitzer's greatest exoplanet discoveries of all time

This artist's impression shows two massive black holes in the OJ 287 galaxy. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

The two "dancing" black holes are located 3.5 billion light-years from Earth at the center of a galaxy called OJ 287. The larger of the two is one of the biggest black holes ever found, weighing in at more than 18 billion times the mass of the sun. Orbiting around this big black hole is a much smaller black hole that's about 150 million times the mass of the sun. Twice every 12 years, the smaller black hole passes through the larger one's accretion disk, or the flat band of dust and gas falling into the black hole, creating brilliant flares of light.

Because the small black hole's orbit is irregular  its position shifts with each 12-year loop around its partner  these flashes don't occur on a regular schedule. Sometimes they might occur just one year apart, while other times up to a decade passes between flares. The seemingly random timing of the flares has made it difficult for astronomers to figure out exactly what kind of "dance" these black holes are doing.

One computer simulation in 2010 was able to predict the flares within one to three weeks. In 2018, another group of researchers led by Lankeswar Dey, a graduate student at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, published a new model that they claimed could predict the flares' occurrence within four hours. In a new study, published Tuesday (April 28) in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Dey's group reports that Spitzer's observations of a flare on July 31, 2019, confirm that their model is correct.

This animation shows the orbit of the smaller black hole around its larger black hole companion in the OJ 287 galaxy. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

The Spitzer Space Telescope, which NASA decommissioned in January, just happened to be in the right place at the right time to observe the flare on that day, when no other telescopes on Earth or in space were able to see it. At the time, OJ 287 was on the opposite side of the sun from Earth's perspective.

Spitzer was 158 million miles (254 million kilometers) away from Earth at the time, and from its vantage point the telescope had a clear view of OJ 287 for a little over a month, from July 31 to early September, NASA officials said in a statement.

"When I first checked the visibility of OJ 287, I was shocked to find that it became visible to Spitzer right on the day when the next flare was predicted to occur," Seppo Laine, a scientist at Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California, who oversaw Spitzer's observations of the system, said in the statement. "It was extremely fortunate that we would be able to capture the peak of this flare with Spitzer, because no other human-made instruments were capable of achieving this feat at that specific point in time."

This artist's concept shows NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

To come up with this accurate prediction, the researchers didn't just look at the orbital mechanics of the system. They also had to account for gravitational waves, or ripples in space-time created when massive objects move through space, warping their surroundings. Astronomers expect the black hole system in OJ 287 to generate gravitational waves that are strong enough to alter the smaller black hole's orbit, according to the statement.

By incorporating gravitational waves into their calculations, the researchers were able to predict a 1.5-day time frame in which the system will produce a flare. But they narrowed that down even further, to just four hours, by taking into account the "no-hair theorem" of black holes  an idea that Stephen Hawking famously doubted. This theorem posits that black hole surfaces are featureless and symmetric, rather than bumpy and irregular. (Black holes don't literally have a "surface," but rather an invisible boundary known as the event horizon, where not even light can escape the black hole's gravitational pull.)

If the large black hole at the center of OJ 287 were bumpy, with its mass unevenly distributed, its gravitational pull on the smaller black hole would be inconsistent, which would affect the smaller black hole's orbit and the timing of the flares. But the smaller object's symmetrical, spirograph-shaped orbit supports the no-hair theorem, the new study claims.

"It is important to black hole scientists that we prove or disprove the no-hair theorem," Mauri Valtonen, an astrophysicist at University of Turku in Finland and a coauthor of the study, said in the statement. "Without it, we cannot trust that black holes as envisaged by Hawking and others exist at all."

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
ANDREW Tan-led property giant Megaworld Corp., registered a net income of P19.3 billion in 2019, up 22 percent compared to P15.8 billion the previous year.

Excluding non-recurring gains of P691 million, its net income grew 18 percent to a new record high of P18.6 billion. Net income attributable to parent company stood at P17.9 billion, up 18 percent from P15.2 billion the year before. Consolidated revenues grew at a robust pace of 17 percent to P67.3 billion in 2019 from P57.4 billion in 2018.

The healthy growth was underpinned by the strong performances of all of its key businesses.

Megaworlds rental business posted another record growth last year, soaring 18 percent to P16.8 billion from P14.3 billion in 2018.

Its office leasing arm Megaworld Premier Offices, primarily contributed to the record growth in rentals, soaring 20.5 percent to P10.5 billion from P8.7 billion the previous year. The company was able to complete around 192,300 square meters of new leasable office spaces last year. This has brought the firms current inventory of leasable office spaces to 1.3 million square meters.

Undoubtedly, our strongest rental business still comes from our leases of prime office spaces across the Philippines. This excludes the office spaces that we have already sold and are currently selling. The good news is that we still continue to see growth in the business process management and information technology sectors, which comprise majority of our office rentals to date. Also, I would like to point out the growth in the demand for office spaces outside of Metro Manila, in which we are in the best position to provide to space seekers because of our adequate office inventory in the provinces including those that are still in our pipeline, said Kevin Tan, chief strategy officer at Megaworld.

Megaworld is continuously building more office towers, primarily to cater to the growing BPO sector in Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, Cavite, Laguna and Pampanga.

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This remains to be a very strong sector and very sustainable, and even with the emergence of artificial intelligence, we will also see the emergence of new companies that would require spaces, Tan added.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, on the other hand, grew its income by 14 percent to P6.3 billion from P5.5 billion in 2018. Around 20,600 square meters of leasable spaces were added to the companys retail space portfolio, bringing the total leasable space to 453,000 square meters.

The companys real estate sales in 2019 grew 12 percent, ending the year at P42.6 billion from P38 billion during the previous year.

Last year, Megaworld also registered a record level sales reservation amounting to P149 billion.

The companys hotel business under the Megaworld Hotels brand also registered phenomenal growth as hotel revenues soared 67 percent to P2.5 billion compared to the previous years P1.5 billion. This after the company opened three new hotel properties: 93-room Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila; 442-room Belmont Hotel Boracay in Boracay Newcoast, Aklan, and the 547-room Savoy Hotel Mactan in Mactan Newtown, Cebu. (PR)
The death of a Dubai-based Indian industrialist, who died after falling from a high-rise building last week, was a case of suicide over financial problems, police confirmed after an investigation, according to a media report.

Joy Arakkal, who hailed from Kerala and was the managing director of Dubai-headquartered Innova Group of Companies which had diverse businesses, with major focus in the oil sector, committed suicide on April 23 by jumping from the 14th floor of a friend's building in Business Bay, Dubai police told Gulf on Wednesday.

The businessman committed suicide over financial problems, Brigadier Abdullah Khadim Bin Sorour, director of Bur Dubai Police Station, said, ruling out any criminal suspicion behind the death.

Police said they are coordinating with the businessman's family for the repatriation of his body.

Arakkal is survived by his wife and two children who live in Jumeirah.

Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul told Gulf that Arakkal's family is set to fly home with his body after Indian authorities gives them special permission to travel in a chartered air ambulance.

They have received the NOCs (No Objection Certificates) from India. We have taken it up with the UAE MoFAIC (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) for necessary permits from the UAE side, Vipul said.

Once the approval is received, a chartered air ambulance will fly in from Bangalore to carry the family and the mortal remains of Arakkal.

A few social workers and community leaders, who were coordinating with Arakkal's family for the repatriation procedures, attended the embalming service on Tuesday.

Arakkal's's funeral will be held in his hometown in Mananthavady in Wayanad district.

His companies include oil refineries, petrochemical trading, ISO tank cleaning services, shipping services and a telecom company working for infrastructure projects in the UAE.

He had received many awards including a lifetime achievement award from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during his visit to Dubai.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tesla's Elon Musk could soon be taking $750 million through his unique pay structure offering him zero in salary or cash bonus. Tesla's stock has been breaking the shackles caused by the Coronavirus and plummeting oil prices.

Soaring past $800 per share on Tuesday, Teslas stock performance has hit the minimum requirement for Musk to receive his bonus -- requiring a six month average of $100 billion in market cap. It reached $145 billion this week, and around $96 billion for the latest six-month count.

In this two-year old contract with Tesla shareholders, Musk has the option to buy 1.69 million Tesla shares at $350.02 each. Taking Monday's Tesla closing stock price of $798.75, Musk could sell those shares for a profit of $758 million  once it reaches that $100B/6-month average mark. If Musk were to tap into the entire extent of the agreement from 2018, it would eventually be a full payoff for Musk that would surpass anything previously granted to U.S. executives.

Shareholders will be looking at the financials and the electric automakers overall performance during the quarterly report scheduled for Wednesday. Theyll participate in the usual Q&A with Tesla management after the financials are released.

Shareholders will want to hear about the status of the companys Fremont, Calif., plant, which may continue to have its shutters drawn during the Covid-19 pandemic that started with its March 23 closure. Tesla stock leaped more than 10 percent after Musk teased that the Fremont plant could be re-opened as early as Wednesday of this week; that was later softened after a CNBC report claimed the company had canceled plans to bring some employees back to work with state and local enforcement being strict. San Francisco Bay area health authorities want to extend the shelter-in-place orders.

Musk has been playing off public pressure for governments to open up their social distance mandates through a series of tweets late Tuesday.

Give people their freedom back! Musk posted, as he promoted Wall Street Journal analysis that suggested closures dont save many lives. Bravo Texas! Musk tweeted, highlighting a Texas Tribune story that said the states restaurants and other businesses can reopen Friday.

In another tweet, the Tesla chief agreed with another user who said the U.S. should carefully peel back restrictions  while continuing to keep social-distancing measures in place.

For an early performance evaluation ahead of the shareholders call, vehicle deliveries have looked very good. The company had already released its first quarter numbers stating that it had reached its best first-quarter ever 88,400 deliveries and the production of 102,672 cars. Those numbers have been crucial for the company, since vehicle sales represent the automakers main revenue stream at this time. It helped that the electric carmaker beat Wall Street expectations after the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the US.

Tesla did cut staff at its Nevada battery factory by 75 percent last month, around the same time it shut down its California vehicle assembly plant. Other automakers have kept their vehicle production assembly plants closed during this time, and most of them have been making announcements about April and May reopening having to be rescheduled for now.

Dealers have been reporting steep drops in visits to its showrooms, and purchases of new and used vehicles.

Analysts think that Tesla starting production at its Shanghai plant has helped, along with interest in its upcoming Tesla Model Y crossover vehicle. Theres also expectations that its investments in even more Model 3s being produced, its battery energy storage unit, electric pickup and commercial truck concept vehicles, and overseas plants spreading its share in China and Europe, offer long-term potential for strong market valuation.

Other major global automakers  such as General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and BMW  have witnessed the typical corporate stock drop this year following emergency notices about Covid-19. One competitor, BYD, has been closer to Tesla in stock price fluctuation and performance over the past six months. BYD has been taking a similar approach, although more gradual and quiet than Teslas, by expanding it product lineup and gaining a foothold in electric buses and commercial vehicles.

By Jon LeSage for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Safehaven.com:
Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, right, and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha participate in a session of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said, Tuesday, that there were no unusual signs regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health amid swirling rumors that he had fallen ill or even died after undergoing cardiovascular surgery.



In addition, the minister said Kim's disappearance from the public eye is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the government has knowledge of his current state and whereabouts.



Kim has been out of the public eye since April 11, when he presided over a political bureau meeting of the ruling Workers' Party. He skipped an annual visit to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, April 15, marking the 108th anniversary of the birth of his grandfather, North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung, raising the speculation over his health.



"The government's official position is that there is no unusual activity related to Kim's health in the North. We can say this with confidence," the minister told lawmakers of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.



Kim missed the key ceremony as part of the North's quarantine measures against the coronavirus, the minister added.



"Although Kim did not participate in the anniversary ceremony, for the first time since he took the reins (in 2011), relevant events were also canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and visits to the palace were scaled down."



As to Kim's "disappearance" for over two weeks, the minister said this was not unusual, compared to the past.



"Earlier this year, the North Korean leader stayed out of public sight for 21 days at one time and 19 days at another time. At this point, we do not see it as unusual," he said.






Robert Irwin is following in his late father Steve's footsteps as a Wildlife Warrior.

On Thursday, the 16-year-old shared a photo of himself with two carpet pythons he found while out on his bike in Australia Zoo.

In the photo, Robert is seen in a black T-shirt and shorts as he sits cross-legged on the floor, holding the slithering creatures.

In his element! On Thursday, Robert Irwin (pictured) channelled his late father Steve as he proudly posed with two 'grumpy' carpet pythons he found on his 'afternoon bike ride'

Robert explained in the caption: 'Found these two grumpy little guys on my afternoon bike ride around.'

'Carpet Pythons along with many other native species roam wild at Australia Zoo, but these two were a little too close to our bird aviaries!

'We'll be relocating them to a safer place where they wont eat our birds or accidentally end up in a crocodile enclosure,' he added.

In action: He also shared a short slow motion clip of one of the snakes striking the camera. Fortunately, carpet pythons are non-venomous to humans

Robert also shared a short slow motion clip of one of the snakes striking the camera. Fortunately, carpet pythons are non-venomous to humans.

Robert's enthusiasm for the snakes was reminiscent of his late father, Steve, who often educated people about learning and understanding all kinds of animals, particularly those native to Australia.

Back in 2002, Steve fascinated audiences at an event in Las Vegas where he showed a snake.

Crikey: Back in 2002, Steve fascinated audiences at an event in Las Vegas where he showed a snake

Family: Steve was 44 when he tragically died on September 4, 2006, after a stingray attack at Batt Reef near Port Douglas, Queensland. Surviving him is his wife Terri, children Bindi and Robert (pictured with Chandler Powell)

Steve was 44 when he tragically died on September 4, 2006, after a stingray attack at Batt Reef near Port Douglas, Queensland.

Surviving him is his wife Terri, children Bindi and Robert.

Bindi recently tied the knot with her long-term boyfriend Chandler Powell.
LANSING, MI  Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge is undeterred by the global coronavirus pandemic as it seeks approvals for controversial plans to build a $500 million tunnel to house its Line 5 oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac.

Enbridge submitted three applications this month for state permits needed to begin construction and is asking the Michigan Public Service Commission to declare that it already has the authority to relocate the pipeline in a tunnel.

The applications are filed jointly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which separately reviews such requests to build structures within navigable waters.

The public service commission is taking public comment until May 13 on a request that it declare Enbridge already has authority to re-site its pipeline under bedrock because the commission originally approved the Line 5 site back in 1953.

Pipeline opponents call the request ridiculous and accuse Enbridge of taking advantage of a crisis to obtain crucial regulatory approvals while public participation is hindered. They are calling on the state to delay full consideration and public review of the tunnel applications until Michigan emerges from its coronavirus shutdown.

This is a strategic decision to move forward aggressively on all permitting, said Liz Kirkwood, director at FLOW, a Traverse City-based environmental group that wants Line 5 to be shuttered. When you have a state of emergency, its a fact theres going to be less public engagement because people are physically not able to gather together.

Enbridge counters that its working under a timetable laid out under 2018 agreements with the state under former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Company spokesperson Ryan Duffy says the applications have occurred in consultation with state agencies. Enbridge hopes to start tunnel construction next year in order to finish by 2024.

Enbridge recognizes these submittals are happening at a very challenging time as Michigan and the country continue to engage in the COVID-19 response, Duffy said. Throughout the past several months, we have been regularly communicating with state and federal agencies to ensure we remained aligned in terms of the timing of this application.

For the tunnel project, Enbridge is seeking three permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE); a Part 303 permit for construction in a protected wetlands area, a Part 325 permit for use of Great Lakes public trust bottomlands, and a Part 31 pollutant discharge permit for its pipeline pressure test wastewater.

EGLEs application reviews will likely stretch into the fall, although any public hearings are likely to occur this summer. The agency says it has a month to review the applications (received April 8 and 17), another couple weeks to schedule public hearings and about three to six months to issue or deny Enbridges requests, depending on hearing schedules.

EGLE spokesperson Scott Dean says the agency has been adapting during the coronavirus pandemic, but work must continue on permitting decisions. We are adapting our processes to handle these and other permit requests in a way that protects public health, complies with the law, and allows meaningful public participation and input, Dean said.

If the public service commission decides that Enbridge needs approval to relocate its pipeline in a tunnel, that could take about a year. The commission is giving two weeks after public comment ends for a reply period before making any decisions.

Assuming Enbridge received all its regulatory approvals, the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority would oversee the construction and operation of the tunnel.

Opposition to the tunnel project centers around the potential threat of a leak the 67-year-old line poses in the meantime and the overall contribution of fossil fuel infrastructure to global climate change. Enbridge says Line 5 is in good condition and is monitored closely, but nonetheless agreed to build a replacement.

Kirkwood said Enbridge is trying to argue its 67-year-old siting authority for a dual pipeline covers its plans to build a new single pipeline 60 to 200 feet below the lakebed. She called it preposterous.

Its a completely different pipeline in a totally different location, she said.

By seeking a declaratory judgement from the public service commission, Kirkwood says Enbridge is trying to sidestep a years worth of debate about whether a new fossil fuel pipeline is actually in the public interest or not. Those conversations could be more difficult in light of new energy market volatility that recently saw oil futures plunge into the negative.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office is considering a task force report on the propane supply in the Upper Peninsula that includes recommendations such as creating a strategic propane reserve, taking steps to upgrade railroad lines and review ways to diversify our supply infrastructure. Line 5 carries a lot of propane used to heat U.P. homes.

The U.P. Energy Task Force plans to further review alternatives to meet energy needs, with a focus on environmental soundness. Its final report is due next March.

While Enbridge is moving forward with tunnel permitting, its existing pipeline is tied up in court. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a lawsuit calling Line 5 a public nuisance and environmental hazard, and demanding it be shut down.

The Michigan Court of Claims last year rejected Nessels challenge to the 2018 agreement between Enbridge and former governor Snyder to construct the tunnel. In January, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Enbridge can proceed with tunnel construction.

A legal challenge filed by tribes and northern Michigan property owners to Enbridges permits for anchor supports on Line 5 is also pending in the state administrative court system.

On Line 5s southern end, Enbridge is currently replacing the pipeline portion that runs in a tunnel under the St. Clair River between Marysville and Sarnia, Ont.

Related stories:

Enbridge offers assurances it would pay for Line 5 cleanup

Michigan requests Enbridge Line 5 documents going back to 1953

Line 5 is bent and deformed where Enbridge wants to anchor it
TEHRAN,Iran, April.30

Trend:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has provided Iran with two x-ray machines as part of helping the country fight the coronavirus, said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran(AEOI) spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, Trend reports citing ISNA.

Previous news reports said Iran also received two RT-PCR systems for detecting coronavirus.

"The IAEA has agreed to provide four RT-PCR systems to Iran, and so far it has delivered two, with high precision, and each device can run 1,000 tests in less than three hours," said Kamalvandi.

He added that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is doing its part to confront the coronavirus spread.

"Three radiation centers are working in three shifts to provide services in fighting coronavirus in the country free of charge," he added.

Iran continues to apply measures to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 infection. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 93,600 people have been infected, 5,957 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 73,700 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 14:48:10|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Two intelligence officials and five civilians have been killed in two roadside bomb explosions in two Afghan provinces, authorities said Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Mohammad Ismahil, head of intelligence office of Nawa district of southern Helmand province, and his bodyguard were killed when their vehicle touched off a Taliban roadside bomb in the province, 555 km south of Kabul, the provincial government confirmed.

On Wednesday evening, five civilians, including two women and a child, were killed in a similar incident in Andar district of eastern Ghazni province, 125 km south of Kabul, the provincial government said in a statement.

The victims were members of a same family who were travelling from neighboring Logar province to visit their relatives in Ghazni.

The next of kin of the victims were notified, the statement added.

The explosions come as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Monday announced that more than 500 civilians were killed due to fighting in Afghanistan in the first three months of 2020.

A total of 760 civilians were also wounded in the conflict during the same period of time, the UNAMA said.

The mission has attributed 55 percent of civilian casualties to the Taliban and other insurgent groups, 32 percent to security forces over the period while the rest 13 percent were caused by other reasons. Enditem
Many Muslims in Hyderabad are getting ready to celebrate this years Eid without new clothes in solidarity with the poor, devastated by the nationwide lockdown enforced to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

A campaign of sorts to this effect has been run on the social media in Hyderabad with a call to all Muslims: I am not buying clothes for Eid. Will you? The call has evoked good response.

Wearing new clothes on Eid-ul-Fitr, which is likely to fall on May 24 this year, is an age-old tradition for the Muslims. However, it is still not clear whether the lockdown will be lifted by then, allowing the garments shops and showrooms to be thrown open to the public.

In an open appeal to fellow Muslims of Hyderabad through WhatsApp, Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, descendent of last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, asked not to buy clothes for Eid, even if the lockdown is lifted.

Let us pledge to exclude our materialism and gloating and be mindful of the underprivileged around us. Lets say no to excessive and unnecessary shopping for Eid. Keeping in mind the current situation due to the ongoing lockdown for Covid-19, most of us are at home, but the poor and needy are left to fend for themselves without a job as everything is shut down, he said.

Stating that it was disheartening to see so many people face difficulties in fulfilling their daily needs, Khan asked the Muslims to donate as much as they could towards the daily expenses of the poor. The money that we spend on our extravagance, can be used to help a family survive and live without this fearful uncertainty, the Nizams descendant said.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

Muslims are also being advised against extravagance and in favour of saving for the future. Please save the money and realise that in future, we may need money for medicines, food and education, one of the messages said.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

During Ramzan, the Muslims practice the tradition of Zakat Al-Fitr. While Zakat involves parting with 2.5 per cent of money saved in a year to help the poor and the needy, Fitr involves the distribution of around 2.5 kgs of staple food to the poor to help them celebrate Eid.

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In the days following the capture of an American contractor in Afghanistan earlier this year, Navy commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network while the US intelligence community tried to track the cellphones of the man and his captors, The Associated Press has learned.

While the circumstances surrounding the abduction remain unclear, the previously unreported operation described by multiple American officials over the past month shed new light on early efforts to locate Mark R Frerichs.

The disappearance several months ago of the contractor from Illinois has been shrouded in mystery, and the case has been the subject of minimal public discussion by the US government.

The new details emerge as violence and political infighting in Kabul threaten to scuttle a Taliban peace deal with the US.

Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced frustrations after a failed attempt to mediate a power struggle between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political rival Dr Abdullah Abdullah. The Trump administration said it would cut USD 1 billion in aid to Afghanistan.

Washington has urged Kabul to release Taliban prisoners, which is part of the peace agreement, arguing the detainees were at risk of spreading the coronavirus.

But there are no public indications Frerichs, a Navy veteran, has been part of negotiations between the US and Taliban leadership, or that his release is part of any peace deal.

"The Taliban kidnapped my brother in January. In February, the US signed a peace deal with the Taliban. My brother wasn't part of the deal. Now we are arranging for the Taliban and Afghan government to exchange thousands of prisoners, Charlene Cakora, one of Frerichs' sisters, said in a statement provided to the AP. Why can't we make an American hostage be one of them?



Frerichs' father, Art, said in a statement that though he has faith in President Donald Trump and Pompeo, I just need them to tell their people negotiating with the Taliban that America won't lift a finger until my son comes home. He's a veteran. This is America. We don't leave people behind.

The Pentagon and US Special Operations Command declined to comment on the SEALs raid.

The rescue effort is being coordinated through the FBI-led, multiagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which said in a statement that it was working with its partners to ensure that Mark Frerichs and all Americans held hostage abroad are returned home. It encouraged anyone with information about the case to come forward.

The State Department said it was aware of an American who'd been abducted in Afghanistan.

The welfare, safety and security of Americans is the Trump Administration's highest priority, the department said. The United States will continue to push for the safe return of this and all other US citizens through all relevant channels.

A former US national security official who is advising the Frerichs family said he urged Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to resolve the situation and that "he is aware of Mark's presence, but it does not appear yet that he understands that he needs to get him home.

The former official insisted on anonymity to speak candidly since the official sometimes works with the Trump administration.

US officials believe Frerichs, 57, of Lombard, Illinois, was held for at least some time in Khost, an eastern province along the border with Pakistan and its so-called tribal regions, a mountainous area that has historically been a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

The former national security official said Frerichs has been in Afghanistan for about a decade working on commercial projects and was not a US government contractor.

The first 96 hours is crucial, a senior US government official briefed on the case told the AP on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

If they're not recovered in the first few days, it becomes harder every minute after.

Though no formal demands are known to have been made, US intelligence officials believe Frerichs was captured by members of the Haqqani network, a militant group aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Haqqanis have strong links to North Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan, south of Afghanistan's Khost province.

The Obama administration designated the Haqqani network as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012 for its ties with the Taliban and the group's attacks on US military and civilian personnel. Though the Haqqanis are known to carry out assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, Taliban leadership has not acknowledged Frerichs' capture.

I have not received any information about him, said a Taliban source who asked not to be named. There has been no clue despite my contacts with every side to get information.

In November, the Afghan government released three prominent members of the Haqqani network in exchange for an American citizen and an Australian professor abducted in 2016. Pompeo characterized the prisoner swap as a goodwill gesture.

Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and Army veteran who led the teams that searched for Bowe Bergdahl after the Army soldier abandoned his post in 2009 and wound up captured by the Taliban, said the Taliban frequently hides American hostages until they can move them over the border into Pakistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man has been jailed for spitting at a London bus driver and a police officer.

Willam Cawley, 23, spat at the TfL worker at Uxbridge station after becoming aggressive when he was told to use the middle door in line with social distancing rules.

After the driver called nearby police officers for help, he ran away. He was detained after a short chase on foot.

He was arrested and taken into custody where he became violent again and spat at a police officer, telling officers he was infected with Covid-19.

Dozens of London bus workers have died during the coronavirus pandemic / PA

Cawley, of Uxbridge, was sentenced to 10 months behind bars after pleading guilty to two counts of common assault at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on April 22.

Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Martin said: I am pleased with this sentence as it reflects the gravity of the offences Cawley committed

Whether the victim is a bus driver, a police officer or of any other occupation, such offences are never acceptable. Spitting is a vile and disgusting act, and will be dealt with severely, especially in these unprecedented times.

Siwan Hayward, director of compliance, policing and on-street services at TfL, said: We welcome Cawleys sentencing and hope it sends a strong message.
Symeons Greek Restaurant has kept 25 people working through the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to a brisk takeout business and loyalty to a Utica-area institution that dates back nearly half a century.

But as the nation copes with the biggest surge in unemployment since the Great Depression, owner Symeon Tsoupelis Jr. worries he wont have enough people to fill jobs when he reopens the restaurants dining room.

Tsoupelis said some of the 55 employees he furloughed in March are reluctant to return to work because of an unprecedented boost in unemployment benefits approved by Congress.

A bill signed into law by President Donald Trump in March raised unemployment insurance payments by $600 per week, a bonus on top of what states provide as a weekly benefit. In New York, the state benefit tops out at $504 per week.

For small businesses like Symeons, that means workers who were paid a minimum wage of $11.80 per hour are now collecting about twice as much money in their weekly unemployment checks.

Its easy to see why people would not come back right away, Tsoupelis said. You have people, especially in the New York service and hospitality industry, who are making more than they ever have.

The extra $600 per week from the federal government  the equivalent of almost $32,000 per year  will be added to state unemployment benefits through July 31. In the interim, it has been tough for small business owners like Tsoupelis to convince some employees to return to work.

You cant find people right now, he said. And if youre a busy place, this is not the time to train people. This is a whole new business model.

To keep key workers on the job, Tsoupelis said, hes had to raise wages 20 to 25% even as his business takes a steep downturn. Hes working without pay and taking on some of the cooking duties simply to keep the restaurant open.

Small businesses across the nation are having similar problems, an example of the unintended consequences of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill that Congress passed as an emergency measure to keep the economy from falling into a depression.

The crisis has added fuel to calls for structural reform in a U.S. economy where some 7 million people are among the working poor who live below the poverty line, and where millions more are living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Some of the low-wage workers have volunteered to take temporary furloughs during the pandemic because theyll make more money on unemployment, according to groups representing small businesses.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the Senate Democratic leader, fought for the extra $600 in unemployment benefits last month during negotiations with Republicans over the relief bill.

The bill extended unemployment benefits in all states by 13 weeks. Most states, including New York, offer a maximum of 26 weeks of benefit.

The idea was to provide unemployed Americans with at least 100% of the nations median wage. The additional $600 per week from the federal government, when combined with the average state unemployment benefit, matched the median weekly wage of $957.

With the swift drop in the economy, 26 million Americans unemployed and long lines at food banks, Congress wanted to give those who lost their jobs a fast replacement for up to four months of pay.

We call it unemployment insurance on steroids, Schumer said as he touted the extra benefits. Every American worker who is laid off will have their salary remunerated by the federal government so they can pay their bills.

Congress also guaranteed that those who lost their jobs would be given the extra $600, no matter where they live.

Most states are not as generous as New York when it comes to unemployment benefits. While New York pays a maximum of $504 per week, Florida and Alabama top out at $275 per week.

The concept for boosted benefits had wide bipartisan support in Congress. But four Republican senators raised concerns about the extra $600, warning the additional compensation would be a disincentive for people to return to work.

Its going to be a nightmare if we dont fix this, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in early April. Its going to be hard for employers who pay less than $23 an hour to hold on to their people.

Graham and the three other senators tried  but failed  to amend the bill with a requirement that unemployment compensation could not exceed what workers were paid by their employer.

Now, as small businesses start planning how to re-open after stay-at-home orders are lifted, owners are confronting the reality that some laid-off employees wont be ready to return to work.

At Mannys clothing store in Syracuse, a Marshall Street business thats been selling Syracuse University merchandise for 70 years, about a dozen employees were paid an average hourly wage of $13 before retail stores were ordered to close in March.

Michael Theiss, the stores general manager, said he understands why those laid-off employees may not want to return to work right away.

The retail jobs dont pay a tremendous amount, so most of our staff is staying home doing nothing, he said. I dont blame them. Its tricky. I dont know how were going to bring people back. The extra $600 is the killer.

Theiss, who also owns University Sport Shop stores at Destiny USA and Great Northern Mall, succeeded in securing a $39,000 emergency loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help keep the business afloat during the shutdown.

The low-interest 1% loan is forgivable for businesses that spend at least 75% of the money keeping employees on their payroll in the eight weeks after receiving the loan.

Theiss said hes resigned to the fact that he wont be able to bring back enough employees to meet the terms for a forgivable loan. He said three of his employees are over age 65, and he understands why they wouldnt want to return to work and risk their health for less money.

Unemployed workers who refuse to return to work, or quit their jobs, dont normally qualify for unemployment benefits. The bill passed by Congress makes an exception for those who quit their job as a direct result of COVID-19.

Theiss said it wouldnt be fair for him to make his employees decide if they want to risk their unemployment benefits or health.

I dont want to call them back and make them lose their unemployment, Theiss said. It puts me in a bad spot. I dont want to do something that puts them at risk.

Small businesses across New York are in a similar predicament, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

NFIB is hearing more and more from small businesses across New York who are worried that workers wont want to return because of the generous federal unemployment insurance supplement, said Greg Biryla, NFIBs state director.

He said small business owners who cant meet the 75% threshold to have their loans forgiven will end up taking on new debt when they can least afford it.

Schumer and Central New Yorks House members  Reps. John Katko and Anthony Brindisi  agree that Congress needs to revisit the issue in the next coronavirus relief bill that will be negotiated in May.

Schumer said hes considering reforms on loan forgiveness for small businesses that addresses the problem with retaining minimum- or low-wage workers.

Katko, R-Camillus, said he supported the idea of raising unemployment compensation during the pandemic. But he acknowledges it has created some new problems.

Im totally open to some sort of fix, Katko said. Im looking at some creative ways to get people back to work.

Katko said hes had early talks with House Republican leaders about coming up with extra incentives for the jobless to return to work. That could include a one-time bonus payment for those who return to their previous employer.

The bottom line is we recognize this is an issue, he said. And we have to find some sort of incentive.

Brindisi, D-Utica, said he also would consider providing incentives for the unemployed to go back to work. But he said Congress must be careful about how and when it makes changes to unemployment compensation.

I want to be mindful that there are a lot of people out of work who dont have the opportunity to go back, Brindisi said.

More than 1.4 million New Yorkers have applied for unemployment benefits over the past five weeks as the states unemployment rate soared to about 13%, the highest since the Great Depression.

The state Department of Labor said it has distributed about $3.1 billion in unemployment benefits since the coronavirus pandemic began taking a toll on the states economy on March 9.

Marc Goldwein, an economist who follows federal fiscal policy in Washington, D.C., said he understands why Congress acted quickly to provide extra compensation to those who lost their jobs.

When a large part of the economy is shut down, we want to make sure people have enough money because there arent enough jobs, Goldwein said. But I think we went a little bit too far.

He said the idea of replacing a $600 median wage was really a mistake in retrospect.

That means half of the people are making more on unemployment, and thats not good, said Goldwein, senior vice president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Goldwein said the challenge for Congress will be to figure out ways to gradually phase down the extra $600 in unemployment compensation and come up with incentives for low-wage earners to return to the workforce.

The last thing we want is to discourage people from working in the jobs we need to have people working at during a recession, he said. Certainly, before the end of July, were going to need to figure this out.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Cuomo on reopening after coronavirus: Keep hospital beds free, transmission rate low

Coronavirus economy: New Yorkers going weeks with no job, no call from unemployment

NY State Fair wont happen unless whole state can reopen: Breaks my heart, Cuomo says

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Uddhav Thackeray has understood that bypassing all these legal hurdles to continue in the office would not an easy task hence has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to sail through this constitutional crisis.

Article 164 (4) of the Indian Constitution clearly states that A Minister (that include Chief Minister of the State) who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister."

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who took the oath of the office on 28 November 2019 has to become a member of either of the two houses of State Legislature -- Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council, by 28 May.

An easy way for Thackeray would have been entering the legislature by getting elected to Legislative Council. But biennial polls to Legislative Council has been postponed due to coronavirus outbreak.

Now, the other probable options available with Thackeray is to get nominated by the Governor to the Legislative Council.

Article 171 of the Indian Constitution provides the manner in which the members to Legislative Council are elected.

It states that (A) One-third shall be elected by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and such other local authorities in the state as Parliament may by law specify; (B) One-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons residing in the State who have been for at least three years graduates of any university in the territory of India or have been for at least three years in possession of qualifications prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament as equivalent to that of a graduate of any such university; (C) as nearly as may be, one-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons who have been for at least three years engaged in teaching in such educational institutions within the State, not lower in standard than that of a secondary school, as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament; (D) as nearly as may be, one-third shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State from amongst persons who are not members of the Assembly; (E) the remainder shall be nominated by the Governor.

The members to be nominated by the Governor shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely; Literature, science, art, cooperative movement, and social service.

Thackeray does not directly fit into any of the criteria mentioned above. But social service has a wider scope and interpretation and he can be appointed from this field.

Maharashtra Legislative Council has 78 members, which means 12 are appointed by the Governor. There are two vacancies due to resignations of NCP MLAs  Rahul Narvekar and Ramrao Wadkute  who joined the BJP before the Assembly polls last year.

The Maharashtra cabinet has already written to Governor seeking Thackerays appointment at one of these two seats.

But, here Section 151A in The Representation of the People Act, 1951 can create a major hurdle for Thackerays appointment.

Section 151 A states that bye-election for filling any vacancy shall be held within a period of six months from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy: Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply if(a) the remainder of the term of a member in relation to a vacancy is less than one year, or (b) the Election Commission in consultation with the Central Government certifies that it is difficult to hold the bye-election within the said period.

As the term of the two seats is to end in June, there is no compulsion upon the Governor to nominate someone on that seat for the remaining period of time.

Another way for Thackeray to continue as Maharashtra chief minister is to resign and again takes the oath of the office. But, this shall face strict legal scrutiny.

In landmark case named SR Chaudhuri v. State of Punjab an important question was raised that whether someone who fails to get elected during the period of six consecutive months after he is appointed as a minister be reappointed as a minister without being elected to the legislature.

The Supreme Court held that the privilege to continue as a minister for six months without being an elected Member is only a one-time slot for the individual concerned during the term of the Legislative Assembly concerned.

The judgment stated, As already noticed Article 164(4) in terms provides only a disqualification or a restriction for a Minister, who for any period of six consecutive months, is not a Member of the Legislature of the State to continue as such. It expressly provides that he shall on the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister unless he gets elected during that period by direct or indirect election. We must also bear in mind that no right is conferred on the concerned non-member Minister even during the period of `six months', when he is permitted to continue in office, to vote in the House. The privilege to vote in the House is concerned only on Members of the House of the Legislature of a State (Article 189). It does not extend to non-elected ministers. He may address the house but he cannot vote as an MLA. None of the powers or privileges of an MLA extend to that individual. Though under Article 177, the individual shall have a right to speak and to otherwise take part in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, he does not carry with him the usual "free speech" legislative immunity as provided by Article 194(2). The individual cannot draw any of the benefits of an MLA without getting elected. All these disabilities also clearly go to suggest that `six consecutive months' in Article 164(4) cannot be permitted to be repeatedly used for the same individual without his getting elected in the meanwhile.

It added, It would be too superficial to say that even though the individual Minister is a person who cannot even win an election by direct or indirect means, he should be permitted to continue as a Minister for a period beyond six months, without being elected at all and represent the electorate which has not even returned him. It would be subversive of the principle of representative Government and undemocratic. It would be a perversion of the Constitution and even a fraud on it.

Perhaps, Thackeray has understood that bypassing all these legal hurdles to continue in the office would not an easy task hence has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to sail through this constitutional crisis.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Nine hundred seventy-five people have died from the novel coronavirus, the Ohio Department of Health announced Thursday, including 77 probable cases.

The department said at least 18,027 people have been infected, including 742 probable cases.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith discussed coronavirus at state prisons at his daily briefing Thursday.

As of Wednesday, 17,303 Ohioans were infected with the novel coronavirus and 937 had died.

PPE going to prisons

Correction officers and other state prison staffers are on the frontline of a contagious situation, DeWine said.

We want to do everything we can to keep them safe," he said.

In recent weeks, the state has delivered over 1.1 million pieces for employees and inmates, including 108,000 N95 masks, 256,000 gloves and 100,000 cloth masks for inmates.

Report on prisons

Chambers-Smith joined DeWine on the briefing Thursday via Skype.

She said theres been pandemic preparation since H1N1, also known as the swine flu.

To respond to the coronavirus pandemic, inmates have been making hand sanitizer, face shields and other equipment.

We normally dont allow hand sanitizer with alcohol," Chambers-Smith said. "We normally only allow a certain type of wipes... its just different in a prison environment. Little things like that were changed.

According to Ohio Department of Health data, 3,658 inmates have COVID-19. There have been 29 deaths among inmates as of Wednesday.

There have been 419 staffers who have COVID-19 and two deaths as of Wednesday.

Every inmate gets their temperature taken each day, she said.

All inmates at Marion Correctional Institution in Marion, Pickaway Correctional Institution near Columbus and Franklin Medical Center in Columbus have been tested, Chambers-Smith said.

We have started testing staffers, she said.

About 2,000 DRC employees are telecommuting from home, she said.

Although groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union are pressing the governor to release more inmates due to close quarters, Chambers-Smith received praise for how shes managing the situation.

We know its a difficult situation in any congregate setting, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said.

THREAD



Our response to today's press conference:



"We learned very little from ODRC Director Chambers-Smith report at todays press briefing, and we are incredibly disappointed and concerned that members of the Ohio news media were denied the opportunity...  ACLU of Ohio (@acluohio) April 30, 2020

Prevalence testing

While there is still a shortage of tests for coronavirus, more testing is available in Ohio by the week. On May 6, 1,500 coronavirus tests will be run a day. By May 27, it will be 22,000 a day DeWine has previously said.

Also, different kinds of testing are becoming more readily available, including tests to determine if someone has developed antibodies for COVID-19 -- which would indicate they have previously had the illness.

We have a team of researchers lead by OSU but using faculty across the state that will actually go out into our communities," Acton said, with 1,000 tests.

They will use serological tests as well as blood tests that will, in effect, test the accuracy of the serological antibody tests, since research has shown they arent near 100% accurate.

DeWine said that the testing, which is expected to begin Monday, will be explained in detail during the briefing on Friday or Monday. It takes about two weeks to do and then a week to analyze data.

A second look at flu patients

More research is being conducted on emergency room data and the existence of influenza-like illnesses, Acton said.

The state will compare the numbers of people who died of influenza-like illness last year and this year, she said.

Theres a lot of data that my peers and I are starting to look at to try to get deeper and deeper into our understanding of this disease," Acton said.

Other coverage:

Gov. Mike DeWine provides coronavirus update: Watch live

State crime lab can now distinguish between marijuana and hemp, allowing more pot cases in courts

7,303 Ohioans now infected with coronavirus, 937 dead: Gov Mike DeWines Wednesday briefing

Jimmy Dimora among 837 Elkton inmates eligible for release, transfer due to coronavirus per federal judges order

Coronavirus restrictions, cancellations and reopenings in Northeast Ohio for Thursday, April 30, 2020
The incident was reported in the center of Kyiv on April 29.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir has expressed concern over a police attack on hromadske journalist Bohdan Kutiepov.

"Worried by police violence against @HromadskeUA journalists Bohdan Kutiepov & Nikita Mekenzin, obstructing their reporting outside the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv. I urge Ukraine authorities to investigate the incident & ensure journalists can report freely on public protests," he said on Twitter on April 29.

Read alsoUkraine's SBU completes probe into fatal acid attack on Kherson activist Handziuk

According to hromadske, while streaming live outside the Cabinet building in central Kyiv on April 29 Kutiepov was assaulted by law enforcement officers who broke his equipment  due to him "standing on the green zone," a patch of grass in Mariinsky Park near the building.

Kutiepov, and cohost Nikita Mekenzin, were streaming a protest outside the government's building, rallying against quarantine restrictions. They were then accosted by a group of law enforcement officers from the TOR subdivision [created in 2017 for the purposes of maintaining public order] who demanded they step off the grass. The hromadske journalist attempted to explain that he had a professional need to stand there, as that patch gave the best view of the protest being elevated and directly behind the protest itself.

While trying to ascertain the police officers' motives for telling them to move, the TOR officers replied that the journalists, "Either remove [their camera] or I'll break [it]." And then they forcibly ejected the journalists from that space.

According to hromadske, one of the law enforcement officers can be seen on camera being concerned about the fact that Kutiepov had continued to stream the encounter, and threatened to break the camera once more, but only broke the camera's stabilizer.

Kutiepov said he had ended the stream and called more law enforcement agents to the scene in order to write a formal criminal complaint. Kutiepov said he would like to see funds returned for his broken equipment and an apology for the use of force against him and his fellow journalist.

The National Police of Ukraine later released a statement regarding the assault. "We have received information from a hromadske journalist about employees of TOR interfering with his professional activities...In order to clarify the details of the incident, an investigative group from the Pechersk police department has been dispatched. They will conduct a check and then transfer their findings to the State Bureau of Investigation for a procedural decision," the police said.
Washington: US intelligence agencies are debunking a conspiracy theory, saying they have concluded that the new coronavirus was "not man-made or genetically modified" but say they are still examining a notion put forward by the US President and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab.

The statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the clearinghouse for the web of US spy agencies, comes as President Donald Trump and his allies have touted the as-yet-unproven theory that an infectious disease lab in Wuhan, the epicentre of the Chinese outbreak, was the source of the global pandemic, which has killed more than 220,000 people worldwide.

Trump has blamed China for not doing enough to contain the coronavirus. Credit:AP

In recent days the Trump administration has sharpened its rhetoric on China, accusing the geopolitical foe and vital trading partner of failing to act swiftly enough to sound the alarm to the world about the outbreak or to stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. US officials have said the Chinese government should "pay a price" for its handling of the pandemic.

The new statement says: "The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified."
Worldwide Business with kathy ireland Streaming LIVE Sun. 5/3 and Weds. 5/6 Worldwide Business with kathy ireland is pleased to announce that they will be LIVE streaming this weeks episode of their successful business program with multiple streaming times on Sunday, May 3, 2020 and Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

Worldwide Business with kathy ireland is pleased to announce that they will be LIVE streaming this weeks episode of their successful business program with multiple streaming times on Sunday, May 3, 2020 and Wednesday, May 6, 2020  including a dedicated stream this Sunday for international viewers in Belgium and Australia! The episode will exclusively feature Qcify CEO, Raf Peeters as he discusses how the company is transforming quality control for the food processing industry with their advanced 3D imaging technology.

The science behind Qcify makes automated inspections 6 to 12 times faster than a typical worker that can only analyze one food sample for quality every 15 minutes. Automation helps with convenience and offers less pressure, helping people evolve from an execution role to one of supervision. The Qcify 3D vision system records whole images of products and is analyzed using AI to look at products like humans do. This helps increase grow production volumes while operating more efficiently. A network working 24/7, the system collaborates with machines around the world to eventually have every machine in every location viewing everything the exact same way.

To see more on how Qcify is providing maximum efficiency in the food processing industry with their fully automated system, click here on Sunday, May 3, 2020 and Wednesday, May 6, 2020 to catch their interview on this weeks episode of Worldwide Business with kathy ireland! Streaming schedule:

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Belgium Viewers: 9:00am CEST

Australia Viewers: 5:00pm AEST

U.S. West Coast Viewers: 5:30pm PT

U.S. East Coast Viewers: 8:30pm ET

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

U.S. West Coast Viewers: 5:00pm PT & 8:00pm PT

U.S. East Coast Viewers: 8:00pm ET & 11:00pm ET

About Worldwide Business with kathy ireland

Worldwide Business with kathy ireland is a weekly half-hour show featuring global executives sharing their business insights and framing the opportunities shaping their industries. Hosted by a business mogul, Kathy Ireland interviews some of the brightest minds in business today. The show broadcasts on Fox Business Network as part of their sponsored content line up and globally on Bloomberg Television. Worldwide Business with kathy ireland extends beyond the weekly on-air program with digital content delivered on various video platforms and across social media.
(Natural News) Groundwater sources all over the United States are going dry, and new wells are being dug deeper and deeper to try and find more water. However, advocates are concerned that drilling deeper for water isnt the solution.

Researchers Debra Perrone and Scott Jasechko from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara) published the first ever comprehensive account of groundwater wells across the United States. Their analysis involved data gathered from nearly 12 million wells all over the contiguous 48 states, with records that stretch as far back as several decades. According to Perrone, they spent four years collecting and quality-assuring all their data sources before publishing their work in the journal Nature Sustainability.

What were finding is that in places where water levels are declining, some people are drilling deeper, maybe to avoid having their primary water supply go dry, said Perrone.

Regardless of the reasons why Americans are drilling deeper, we suggest that deeper well drilling is an unsustainable stopgap to groundwater depletion.

The problems with drilling deep for water

Perrone and Jasechko laid out four major factors that explain why drilling deeper for water isnt the solution. Firstly, it takes a lot of investment and energy to drill deeper and deeper and to pump the water from its underground source into the well. Secondly, deeper levels of rock arent very conducive to groundwater extraction.

Lastly, groundwater gets saltier the deeper its found, potentially making it costly to treat the extracted water. In many regions across the country, theres a floor to how deep a drill can go until it becomes too unproductive to be worth the investment. (Related: New Washington state bill takes aim at bottlers looking to tap local water supplies.)

However, Perrone and Jasechko pointed out that drilling for water is important, especially for rural communities where groundwater is a crucial resource. But their data showed that rural sources of groundwater are the most vulnerable to deeper and deeper water extraction.

Furthermore, rural communities are less likely to have the capability to upgrade their groundwater infrastructure to further support their drinking needs, as well as the water they need for irrigation.

Proper governance and management needed to maintain freshwater levels across the country

Perrone and Jasechko are hoping that their data will help policymakers improve the way the country manages its groundwater resources. So we know people are going deeper, said Perrone. And lets make sure that we protect the quality of that deep groundwater.

The hope is for government authorities and policymakers to become a lot more conscientious about how the groundwater is used, monitored and regulated. Further research is already being done on how to manage groundwater recharge, or the way surface water travels farther down the earth to become groundwater, refilling aquifers. Learning how to use aquifers in a sustainable fashion can help rural communities and other less affluent areas across the United States from resorting to deeper, costlier and more dangerous drilling for water.

Perrone and Jasechkos work is crucial since, as their previous research has found, there may be less usable groundwater in the United States than previously thought. They and their colleagues plan to do more research in the future to look at possible legal frameworks that policymakers and activists can use to manage the withdrawal of groundwater.

Their goal is to understand what types of laws are being passed in many states across the western United States that have to do with sustainable management of groundwater withdrawal.

Theres many ways to manage groundwater better, said Perrone, and one way is to improve our water laws.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

PSMag.com

Nature.com
The Chinese regime has been claiming no new CCP virus cases in the epicenter for the past 25 days. But local residential notices say otherwise.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded to Chinas state media slandering him again.

One of the most prominent officials in the Czech Republic died suddenly before a planned visit to Taiwan. His family suspects pressure from Beijing led to his death.

Intelligence agencies are currently investigating two Chinese scientists linked to the Wuhan lab. They previously studied live bats in Australia.

And Amazon is raising red flags by using high-tech security cameras from a Chinese firm blacklisted in the United States.

NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more first-hand news from China

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) Some companies, slated to reopen under the new general community quarantine rules, may require health declaration and even COVID-19 testing for their employees, the Trade Department said Thursday.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told CNN Philippines that while testing for employees is not mandatory, some companies have already started "making arrangements" on the move.

"Some would require their employees or workers to have the testing first, some are not. Ang importante doon (the important thing is), they have to make sure that only the healthy workers will be allowed inside," Lopez said in an interview with The Source, stressing how the government is prioritizing the testing for suspected or probable COVID-19 patients.

"Some are making arrangements. Some are covering for their expenses, some will charge it to PhilHealth. Depende sa coverage noong mga health insurance nila (it depends on the companies' health insurance coverage)," he added.

Lopez earlier disclosed that some private sector firms have pledged to set up their own testing facilities for employees, in a bid to ramp up the country's testing capacity.

The Trade chief added that some reopening companies may also hand out health history forms to workers prior to resumption of operations, in an effort to secure health safety in the workplace.

"That will now be a new norm practice moving forward filling up certain forms, whether nakatabi ng (came in contact with) COVID positive, or there are some exposure, or if they're not feeling well," Lopez said.

While the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other high-risk COVID-19 areas has been extended, other regions and provinces will slowly start to reopen their economy under the general community quarantine.

Under the GCQ, select industries such as manufacturing, retail, malls (essential, non-leisure stores), food and beverages, and electricity , among others will be allowed to open, but still subject to health standards. Construction work and activities under the government's flagship infrastructure program "Build, Build, Build" may also resume.

Lopez said the companies and services would still have to practice strict health protocols including social distancing, temperature scanning, and setting up of sanitation stations. Stores inside malls will also impose maximum capacity of customers, he added.

Roving officers will likewise be deployed to make sure citizens are practicing social distancing.

Lopez noted the agency, together with the Labor and Health departments, will be finalizing a set of guidelines for reopening companies to follow amid the disease pandemic.
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford today announced an agreement for the global development and distribution of the Universitys potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection from SARS-CoV-2.

The collaboration aims to bring to patients the potential vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, being developed by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, at the University of Oxford. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca would be responsible for development and worldwide manufacturing and distribution of the vaccine.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: As COVID-19 continues its grip on the world, the need for a vaccine to defeat the virus is urgent. This collaboration brings together the University of Oxfords world-class expertise in vaccinology and AstraZenecas global development, manufacturing and distribution capabilities. Our hope is that, by joining forces, we can accelerate the globalisation of a vaccine to combat the virus and protect people from the deadliest pandemic in a generation.

Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, said: The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca have a longstanding relationship to advance basic research and we are hugely excited to be working with them on advancing a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 around the world. We are looking forward to working with the University of Oxford and innovative companies such as Vaccitech, as part of our new partnership.

Alok Sharma, UK Business Secretary, said: This collaboration between Oxford University and AstraZeneca is a vital step that could help rapidly advance the manufacture of a coronavirus vaccine. It will also ensure that, should the vaccine being developed by Oxford Universitys Jenner Institute work, it will be available as early as possible, helping to protect thousands of lives from this disease.

Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, said: Our partnership with AstraZeneca will be a major force in the struggle against pandemics for many years to come. We believe that together we will be in a strong position to start immunising against coronavirus once we have an effective approved vaccine. Sadly, the risk of new pandemics will always be with us and the new research centre will enhance the worlds preparedness and our speed of reaction the next time we face such a challenge.

Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, said: Like my colleagues all across Oxford, I am deeply proud of the work of our extraordinarily talented team of academics in the Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group. They represent the best tradition of research, teaching and contributing to the world around us, that has been the driving mission of the University of Oxford for centuries. Like people all across the country, we are wishing them success in developing an effective vaccine. If they are successful, our partnership with AstraZeneca will ensure that the British people and people across the world, especially in low and middle income countries, will be protected from this terrible virus as quickly as possible.

The potential vaccine entered Phase I clinical trials last week to study safety and efficacy in healthy volunteers aged 18 to 55 years, across five trial centres in Southern England. Data from the Phase I trial could be available next month. Advancement to late-stage trials should take place by the middle of this year.

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19

Developed at the University of Oxfords Jenner Institute, and working with the Oxford Vaccine Group, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 uses a viral vector based on a weakened version of the common cold (adenovirus) containing the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, which primes the immune system to attack COVID-19 if it later infects the body.

The recombinant adenovirus vector (ChAdOx1) was chosen to generate a strong immune response from a single dose and it is not replicating, so cannot cause an ongoing infection in the vaccinated individual. Vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have been given to more than 320 people to date and have been shown to be safe and well tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects such as a temperature, flu-like symptoms, headache or sore arm.

AstraZeneca
Two women sit on a bench at a promenade of the western seaside town of Loutraki as the 954 cabin, ten deck Oosterdam line cruise ship is seen at the background in 2003 (file photo).

REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis

Up to 80,000 crew members are stuck on 120 cruise ships on US waters, and it's unclear when they'll touch land again.

Because of a no-sail order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, crew members need government permission to disembark.

Crew members say the order has effectively trapped them on their ships. One compared it to prison, and others say it's "embarrassing" that the US wouldn't let them disembark.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Thousands of cruise workers are still stuck aboard ships on US waters, and the government won't let many of them disembark.

According to a report from CBS News, up to 80,000 crew members are stuck on 120 cruise ships on US waters. The Guardian estimated that more than 100,000 crew members were stuck around the world.

The ships aren't allowed to let staff disembark in the US because of a no-sail order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which bans crews from touching land without government approval.

The order is designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but crew members say it's added practical challenges. Staff members who do receive permission to leave ships are banned from interacting with the public and using hotels, public transportation, or commercial airlines, which makes it practically difficult to disembark, according to CBS News.

"We're on a ship with 1,300 other crew members from 60 different nationalities, and our nation is the one that's not letting us back into the country," Sky Princess crew member and Broadway actor Dan Domenech told CBS News. "It's embarrassing."

The Oosterdam, a Holland America Line cruise ship, was also prevented from porting this week when it tried to let staff members disembark in Los Angeles.

The ship has been at sea since March, with no COVID-19 cases, USA Today reported.

"I'm not sick. I've offered to take a COVID test. I've offered to quarantine for 2 weeks ashore, but the CDC won't let us in, and our ship is trying everything they can to get us home," Crew member Melinda Mann told Fox 11.

Story continues

Cruse performer on the Oosterdam Ryan Driscoll told CBS News that the ship feels like a "prison."

"The fact that they won't let us off is extremely frustrating, irritating, especially for ships that just have crew members that have been quarantined for much longer than 14 days and have no COVID-19 cases," he said. "I want to go home. I want to see my family."

The Coast Guard is currently monitoring the 120 cruise ships on US waters. It remains unclear how many Americans are on board, and how long they will have to be at sea.

Read the original article on Insider
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

The volume of natural gas supplied by Turkmenistans Lebapgazupjunchilik company in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to 959 million cubic meters, Trend reports with reference to online newspaper of the Oil and Gas Complex of Turkmenistan.

About 645.4 million cubic meters of the total amount of gas were sent for the needs of the population this year, the report said.

The total length of gas pipelines running through the territory of the Lebap region is about 8,456 kilometers. Services for maintenance of 451 gas distribution stations and technical supervision of 3,797 units of gas control equipment are provided.

Compared to last year, the length of gas pipeline networks in the Lebap region increased by 47.6 kilometers. In addition, four gas distribution stations and 51 units of gas control equipment were put into operation.

The coverage of the residential areas in the region supplied with gas by Lebapgazupjunchilik is increasing. As reported, currently, 1,257 people are supplied with natural gas.

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
In an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and support frontline workers, Mary Kay Inc. has contributed nearly $10 million in monetary donations, product donations, and distribution support in the countries where it operates and communities in critical need around the world.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005893/en/

David Holl, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mary Kay Inc. (Photo: Mary Kay Inc.)

The wide-ranging impact of this pandemic on our economies, populace and the world at large may not be truly known for some time, said David Holl, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mary Kay Inc. But heres what were sure of right now: people are suffering, and an unprecedented crisis requires everyones support. Its our responsibility to help those affected by this viruseither directly, like our frontline workers, or indirectly, like women and children impacted by the alarming uptick in domestic violence cases.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mary Kay Inc., its subsidiaries around the world, and along with its four company-sponsored Foundations in Canada, Brazil, China and the United States, have taken the following actions targeted at supporting global and national relief efforts:

Supporting the Frontlines:

Refocused global manufacturing efforts on the production and donation of essential items only, including personal care and hygiene products, as well as hand sanitizer that was donated to nearly 20 healthcare systems, 1,000 hospitals and 1.5 million combined frontline responders, physicians, and staff around the world.

In an effort to support the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), Mary Kay has made a donation of hand sanitizer to the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). The donation will support countries of the Americas in the response to COVID-19.

Donated hand sanitizer to CARE (an international humanitarian agency) to support its critically needed COVID-19 response efforts in 63 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East regions combating the crisis with scarce resources.

Joined the World Economic Forums new COVID Action Platform created with the support of the World Health Organization. The global platform, the first of its kind, aims to convene the business community for collective action, protect peoples livelihoods and facilitate business continuity, and mobilize support for the COVID-19 response. The platform will support mechanisms for donation of hand sanitizer to the public health response in regions throughout the world where much-needed essential supplies are not readily accessible.

Coordinated with the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and Feeding America to donate hand sanitizer to organizations in need.

Donated hand sanitizer to healthcare systems and hospitals in the top ten hardest hit cities in the United States.

Local support for areas surrounding Mary Kays global headquarters and manufacturing facility: Near Mary Kay Inc.s global headquarters (Dallas, Texas), supplied hand sanitizer and other supplies to Dallas County First Responders, Addison Police Department, Tenet Healthcare, Baylor Scott & White Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Steward Health Care, HCA Hospital Network, Christus Health, Medical City Dallas, Parkland Health and Hospital, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Pop-Up Hospital. In Lewisville, Texas, home of the companys global manufacturing facility, Mary Kay Inc. supplied hand sanitizer to the Lewisville Police Department and First Responders. Mary Kay Inc. supplied hand sanitizer to neighboring Tarrant County First Responders and public health needs.



Supporting Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Needs:

The Mary Kay Foundation (United States) announced the opening of COVID-19 grant relief applications, offering unrestricted monetary grants for domestic violence shelters in need. Three local domestic violence shelters in or around Dallas (Denton County Friends of the Family, The Family Place and Hopes Door New Beginning Center) received $25,000 each to support their emergency shelter services and impact programs. The Foundation also donated $75,000 to Genesis Womens Shelter & Support and its Conference on Crimes Against Women efforts (CCAW) in collaboration with the Dallas Police Department, supporting the mission of ending all violence against women.

The Mary Kay Foundation (United States), Independent Mary Kay National Sales Directors and Independent Mary Kay National Sales Directors Emeriti donated hand sanitizer to nearly 500 domestic violence shelters across the United States to ensure a healthy and safe environment for women and children seeking refuge from shelter-in-place orders that trap them in abusive situations. The nearly 500 domestic violence shelters support over 1.5 million women and children annually in the United States.

donated hand sanitizer to nearly 500 domestic violence shelters across the United States to ensure a healthy and safe environment for women and children seeking refuge from shelter-in-place orders that trap them in abusive situations. The nearly 500 domestic violence shelters support over 1.5 million women and children annually in the United States. Earlier this year, The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (Canada) issued $100,000 in domestic violence grants to ten domestic violence shelters. To continue relief efforts, the Charitable Foundation will issue smaller donations to nearly 40 more shelters and supply the almost 50 shelters in total with hand sanitizer.

Instituto Mary Kay (Brazil) donated to the NGO Fala Mulher so the organization could buy the necessary prevention equipment (such as hand sanitizer, gloves and masks) to ensure the continuity of care for survivors of domestic violence.

Supporting Additional Efforts:

The Mary Kay China Charity Fund donated to the Amity Foundation (an independent Chinese social organization dedicated to public health, social welfare, disaster relief and other philanthropic undertakings), and made early contributions to COVID-19 relief efforts in Wuhan, China. Mary Kay China also donated nutrition, skincare and hand care products to frontline female health workers and volunteers.

Mary Kay Brazil and Instituto Mary Kay donated to the FIOCRUZ  Oswaldo Cruz Foundation to help produce 5,000 modern COVID-19 tests for public hospitals; donated to Sao Paulo State Fund to support efforts to purchase ventilators; and donated to the State Health Department to support special protection aprons for ICU workers in public hospitals.

Mary Kay Mexico will donate hand sanitizer units to support lower economic communities: Bancos de Alimentos de Mexico (Mexicos Foodbank Network), Unidas Contigo Monterrey (breast cancer awareness) and Fondo Semillas Mexico (domestic violence prevention).

Mary Kay Russia donated hygiene products to the frontline workers at The N.V. Sklifosovsky Scientific Research Institute of First Aid and the A.S.Puchkov ER of the Moscow Health Department.

There are many more efforts happening around the world in countries where Mary Kay operates to support local COVID-19 relief efforts.

Quotes from Partners/Supporting the Frontlines:

Dr. Ciro Ugarte, Director of PAHO Health Emergencies

We are thankful for Mary Kays generous donation of hand sanitizer to the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). This donation will support the Organizations response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the countries of the Americas in slowing the virus spread in healthcare settings and protecting health workers who are at the forefront of the response to this pandemic.

Michelle Nunn, CARE President and CEO

CARE is working every day in vulnerable communities across the globe where healthcare systems are the most fragile. In times of pandemics, life becomes even more perilous in these communities. Hand sanitizers are an important resource in stopping the spread of COVID-19, particularly in places with limited access to water and sanitation, and where social distancing is a challenge to survival. Thats why we are grateful for Mary Kays generous donation to help keep communities safe.

Pat Drury, WHO Manager, Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN)

The mission of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), acting in collaboration with WHO, is to provide international public health resources to control outbreaks and public health emergencies across the globe. The network is connecting partner institutions for better health outcomes and networking international public health resources to support communities, and save lives in times of major outbreaks and public health emergencies. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, our mission resonates now, more than ever. On behalf of those who will benefit most from this generosity, we are thankful to Mary Kay for its donation.

Zara Ingilizian, Head of Consumer Industries and the Future of Consumption Platform, World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum, in partnership with the World Health Organization, is mobilizing all stakeholders to protect lives and livelihoods through its COVID-19 Action Platform. The spread of this disease demands global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business community. Consumer Industries companies, such as Mary Kay, and their donations of life-saving sanitation products are playing a vital role in protecting the health and wellbeing of workers, healthcare professionals and consumers.

Quotes from Partners/Supporting Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Needs:

Michelle Nunn, CARE President and CEO

When combined in countries experiencing war, poverty, and instability, COVID-19 creates a perfect storm of factors that will exacerbate existing challenges many women and girls in these settings experience, including gender-based violence (GBV). We need to ensure that the emergency response to COVID-19 doesnt forget societys most marginalized and vulnerable people. The Mary Kay Foundations generous donation will help to keep women and girls safe from GBV and other threats during this time of crisis.

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her beauty company more than 56 years ago with three goals: develop rewarding opportunities for women, offer irresistible products, and make the world a better place. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skin care, color cosmetics, and fragrances. Mary Kay is committed to empowering women and their families by partnering with organizations from around the world, focusing on supporting cancer research, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Mary Kay Ashs original vision continues to shineone lipstick at a time. Learn more at MaryKay.com.

About The Mary Kay Foundation

Guided by Mary Kay Ashs dream to enrich the lives of women everywhere, The Mary Kay Foundation raises and distributes funds to invest in breakthrough cancer research to find a cure for women-related cancers and ending domestic violence against women. Since 1996, The Mary Kay Foundation has contributed more than $80 million to organizations aligned with its two-fold mission. In addition, the Foundation supports awareness initiatives, community outreach programs, and advocates for legislation to ensure women are healthy and safe. Together, we can make the world better for women. To learn more about how to educate, advocate, volunteer and donate, and join life-saving work to support and empower women, visit marykayfoundation.org, find us on Facebook and Instagram, or follow us on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005893/en/
Engineering giant SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is considering layoffs at its Candu Energy unit after talks with the union representing scientific and technical workers at reactor power stations aimed at averting cuts broke down this week, the union said, citing a memo to employees Wednesday.

We are now forced to implement measures that include permanent job loss in this current economic climate along with other cost measures, which could have been avoided. I deeply regret this, said Bill Fox, CEO of Candu Energy, a unit of Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin, in an internal blog post.

Our senior leadership team is currently working through the figures to determine the necessary cost-saving actions, reads the memo, provided to the Star by the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA), adding that the numbers are not expected to be large.

A spokesperson for SNC-Lavalin said in an email, We have already disclosed that we stand ready to take additional cost action through the second quarter and beyond should the situation demand.

This is troubling as these are essential workers who are working tirelessly to support both our domestic nuclear energy supply and that of other countries that use CANDU nuclear reactors. said SPEA staff representative Michelle Duncan.

Significant layoffs at Candu would be a huge blow for Canadas nuclear energy industry, with much of that brain trust likely leaving Canada after things settle.

She said the 900-member union represents workers at CANDU reactor stations in Canada and around the world, including those involved in refurbishing work at reactor sites in Ontario. The CANDU (Canada deuterium uranium) reactors were first developed in the late 1950s and 1960s through a partnership that included Atomic Energy of Canada and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.

The union says Candu has lost no business to date though work has been postponed due to COVID-19, so the work demands have not gone down for most employees. It says the workers are considered essential by Ontario and the federal government, with many still required to work full time on-site to support critical energy infrastructure. Candu Energy is not experiencing significant losses in revenue, which comes from long-term energy contracts, the union says, and does not qualify for the governments 75 per cent wage subsidy program or other support measures.

Fox in his memo said SNC has asked all its employees  47,000 around the world  to take some short-term pain through salary cuts and temporary layoffs. Recognizing that for most Candu Energy employees, this fell outside the bounds of our normal collective agreements, we put no less than four offers on the table; all of the comprehensive proposals were rejected by SPEA.

SNC in late March confirmed that it was taking cost-cutting measures amid a slowdown in decision-making on new business or projects due to COVID-19.

It said executives have agreed to 20-per-cent salary cuts and referred to an unspecified number of employees being furloughed. The union says the company has approached non-unionized employees asking them to agree to voluntary pay reductions and subsequently issued layoff notices to a number of those staff.

SNC chief executive Ian Edwards in an internal memo to employees in late March said the company is asking all of its employees to take a pay cut for the next three months.

Clarification - May 1, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to clarify an initial statement from the union representing workers at SNC-Lavalins Candu Energy unit which stated that almost no projects have been put on hold at CANDU due to the COVID-19 crisis. The union later clarified its initial statement following publication to say that CANDU has not lost any buisiness but work has been postponed as a result of the crisis.

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The YouTube channel The Shows Must Go On has already screened the musicals Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Ends

A celebratory tribute to the musical compositions of Andrew Lloyd Webber, performed at London's famed Royal Albert Hall, will be available to watch online starting Friday 2 May at 7pm on the YouTube channel The Shows Must Go On.

The screening of the concert will be available globally for 48 hours from 2 May, 7pm UK time, 2pm ET, 11am PT.

Click to the screening here

The celebration, which took place in 1998 on the occasion of Lloyd Webber's 50th anniversary, featured many stars performing some of Lloyd Webber's most renowned productions, such as Starlight Express, Evita, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and more.

The famed cast included names such as Tina Arena, Michael Ball, Antonio Banderas, Sarah Brightman, Marcus Lovett, Donny Osmond, Elaine Paige, Kiri Te Kanawa, Bonnie Tyler, Boyzone band, and others.

Every Friday, The Shows Must Go On channel screens Lloyd Webber musicals in an initiative that aims to bring culture to audiences confined to their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic. The free broadcasts on YouTube are part of a collaboration between the composers Really Useful Group and Universal.

The channel has already screened the musicals Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Ends.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Wellington: Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters wants a trans-Tasman travel bubble created in time for the snow season, but warns that any quarantine regulations would deter any tourists.

As winter approaches and snow-field operators sense the chill of a lost season, Mr Peters gave skiers cause for optimism, while taking a swipe at the rival market.

"I know what the skiing is like in the Snowy Mountains. The Snowy Mountains are not a big place for skiing compared with South Island," he said on Thursday. "Given that 55 per cent of our tourists come from Australia, the sooner as we get some sense of normalcy ... the better."

Mr Peters said the resumption of regular travel depended on community transmission ending in both countries, which would negate the need for current quarantining arrangements.
Heres Whos Still Waiting for Stimulus Money

More than half of eligible Americans have received their stimulus payments since they started going out earlier this month, but tens of millions of people are still waiting for their cash.

That includes many low-income families who dont normally file tax returns, people who receive Supplemental Security Income, and some veterans who receive pensions from the federal government.

But it also includes people like wedding photographer Michelle Hans, who is self-employed and whose business has evaporated since the shutdowns due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Like many who are self-employed, Hans usually owes taxes when she files each year. That means the Internal Revenue Service didnt know her bank account number, shutting her out of the first round of payments.

The Pennsylvania resident said she tried numerous times over the past two weeks to use an IRS online tool that allows people like her to input bank account information so that she wouldnt have to wait for a check in the mail. But she had trouble with the site.

I was dead in the water, said Hans, who is currently working for the grocery delivery service Shipt.

But after an update was made to the IRS tool last weekend, Hans tried again and successfully transmitted her bank account information, but she still doesnt know exactly when her money will arrive. A scheduled payment date wont likely be available for more than a week, according to guidance posted on the IRS website.

Hans is also planning on applying for unemployment benefits this week but isnt expecting an easy process. Pennsylvania wasnt even accepting unemployment applications from self-employed workers until April 18and like other states across the country has had trouble keeping up with the record number of filings.

I heard there were so many issues with the system that I decided to wait until it was maybe working better, Hans said.

Blank Social Security checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia, Pa., on Feb. 11, 2005. (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

Who Already Got Their Money?

Nearly 90 million of the 150 million eligible for stimulus money had received their payment by April 17, according to the governments latest numbers.

The IRS started by sending money to the people it could reach the fastest. This was anyone who had direct deposit information already on file with the agency because they were due a refund on either their 2018 or 2019 federal tax returns.

But even some people who dont fall into that bucket have already received a paper check in the mail. The IRS began sending those out last week, starting with low-income individuals.

In some cases, families have received money for deceased relatives. This can happen when someone has died since filing their 2018 or 2019 tax return. Families are expected to pay back that money, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Wall Street Journal April 28.

Whos Next?

This week, payments are being delivered to millions of Social Security recipients who dont file tax returns. They can expect the money to automatically arrive however they normally receive their benefits, whether by a check in the mail or direct deposit to their bank account or debit card.

Supplemental Security Income recipients and low-income veterans who receive pensions from the Department of Veterans Affairsand who dont file returnscan expect to see the money in May.

There is one caveat for these groups. If they have children, theyre due an actual $500 per dependent. But they wont get this money until next year unless they give dependent information to the IRS. Supplemental Security Income recipients and veterans have until May 5 to input the information online.

For Social Security recipients, the date has already passed for getting the additional money for dependents. Theyll have to file a full return in 2021 to get the additional money.

Whos Left?

Others could be waiting for months as the money goes out in phases. The government can process roughly 5 million checks a week.

Some people have told CNN that the money was sent to closed bank accountsand that the bank transferred the money back to the IRS. In that case, the payment will likely come later by a check in the mail.

The IRS online tool allows users to input new bank account informationbut only if the agency doesnt already have an account on file from a 2018 or 2019 tax return and hasnt yet processed a stimulus payment.

Filing a 2019 return now is the only way to update direct deposit information that the IRS has on file from a 2018 return. Tax Day was moved from the traditional April 15 to July 15 this year to give filers more time.

Then, there are millions of low-income people who are not normally required to file tax returns that will have to take some action before receiving their stimulus money.

Generally, these are individuals who did not earn more than $12,200 last year or married couples who did not earn more than $24,400.

But they wont have to file a whole new form, as earlier guidance from the IRS suggested. Instead, it created an online tool for non-filers that asks for basic information including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers for the person filing and his or her dependents. They wont have to provide any income information.

The tool allows you to input bank account information for a direct deposit, or an address to receive a paper check.

Whos Not Eligible?

Eligibility is largely based on income, and it excludes individuals earning more than $99,000, head of household filers with one child who earn more than $136,500, and married couples without children earning more than $198,000.

Families earning a little more may still be eligible if they have children. The phase-out limit depends on how many children they have. For a typical family of four, the amount is completely phased out for those with incomes exceeding $218,000.

Those who can be claimed as a dependent for tax purposes, like many college students, are also ineligible for the payments, as well as undocumented immigrants who dont have Social Security numbers.

The CNN wire and Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
Progesterone is almost a 250 MT annual market spread over demand of over several Indian formulators including pharma mnc's

API major, Lasa Supergenerics Ltd has forayed into the hormone and steroid API segment for Human application with its approval from the Food and Drug Administration authorities to manufacture Progesterone, a steroid hormone, at its WHO GMP certified facility at Mahad Industrial Area.

Commenting on the development, Dr Omkar Herlekar, Chairman, Lasa Supergenerics Limited, said The trial batches have already been carried out and we are in good stead to start manufacturing from the current month itself. This foray may lead us to expanding the existing facilities to add capacities and capabilities to manufacture other hormonal drugs too

Additionally mentions The progestin hormone is naturally occurring to women but growing demand for this drug comes due to increasing occurrences of infections to the likes of amenorrhea, uterine tumor, breast cancer and lifestyle caused issues such as infertility, absence of menstrual periods besides its use in contraceptive pills. The market for this drug has been anticipated to grow at a 14% CAGR and is dominated by the North American markets followed by Asia Pacific and Europe

Anticipating a shortage in domestic requirements, Progesterone is 1 of the 26 drugs that had a restriction for exports due to the COVID 19 situation due to Indias import dependencies on Chinese Suppliers. Though the ban was lifted by the DGFT on April 6, except for paracetamol, it seems in the times to come there is going to be a huge demand supply gap to be addressed in the times to come. The Hubei province of China caters to more than 2/3 of the $400 mn hormone and steroid API market which has a huge demand even in ROW countries.

Progesterone is almost a 250 MT annual market spread over demand of over several Indian formulators including pharma mnc's. Currently local demand is catered mostly by imports from china. Other than domestic business, export potential is almost to the tune of 150 MT in ROW countries which anticipates the total market of progesterone at approximately $80 mn.

Lasa had earlier announced its collaboration with ICT to work on the Favipiravir molecule considering it as a promising antiviral to treat the deadly COVID 19 virus due to its RNA capabilities against many viruses such as influenza and Ebola. Its efforts are underway, it currently seeks necessary permissions from DCGI for conducting bioequivalence clinical trials in India to showcase its effectiveness and get into full scale production with the support of the government or strategic investments or tie-ups.
Texan music legend Willie Nelson is lending a helping hand to a Houston-based group making face masks to help protect healthcare workers from the coronavirus.

Houston resident Monica Cabazos, a pediatric home health nurse, founded Houston Mask Makers in late March.

PET PROTECTION: How to protect your pets from coronavirus at home and at play

I saw that people were running out of personal protective equipment. I wanted to do something about it, said Cabazos. I created a Facebook group of healthcare workers and people willing to sew. We now have nearly 2,000 members."

To date, the all-volunteer group, which uses donated materials, has delivered nearly 4,000 free masks to local medical facilities.

To help create awareness of the mask makers, member Tanya Boike came up with the idea to send a few masks to Nelson, 86, via her friend Noelle Ward. Ward, who lives in Mont Belvieu, is Nelsons granddaughter.

OPEN ANXIETY: Houston-area restaurant owners have mixed feelings about reopening

They were originally meant for his use. Instead, he signed and sent them back to us to raise money so that we can keep making masks, said Cabazos.

The two Willie Nelson autographed masks, made of red bandana material, are up for bid in an online auction that ends today.

As of the time this story was published, bids were at $2,275 and $2,520.
The United Nations-recognised government says it will continue with its legitimate self-defence.

Libyas internationally recognised government has rejected a truce unilaterally declared by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a statement on Thursday that it did not trust Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which launched an offensive on the capital, Tripoli, in April last year.

We confirm our fixed position that we will continue with our legitimate self-defence and strike the source of threat wherever it is, the statement said.

Earlier, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari had said the ceasefire came at the request of the international community and friendly countries.

Haftars fighters suffered a series of setbacks in recent weeks in their year-long campaign to seize Tripoli, with pro-GNA forces expelling them from two key coastal cities west of the capital.

Sami Hamdi, the editor-in-chief of the International Interest, a current affairs analysis magazine, told Al Jazeera that Haftar was announcing the truce now because the tide of the Tripoli offensive has altered.

Now his two main bases, the spine of the Tripoli offensive, is under siege  thats al-Watiya airbase where the supplies come in from the east, and Tarhuna, he said.

It seems Haftar is concerned that he might not be able to hold on to them for much longer. But more importantly, Haftar believes that domestically the situation needs attention. He needs to cement his authority in the east.

Hamdi added Haftar wanted to use the time to clean up the political mess in the east.

He made a unilateral declaration that he would rule Libya by a popular mandate. It was done to cut off any potential opposition that might take advantage of the reversal in the offensive.

Last week, the UN, European Union and several countries called Libyas warring sides to lay down their arms during Ramadan.

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 GNA and the eastern-based House of Representatives allied to Haftar.

Haftar launched a war to capture Tripoli a year ago, advancing into the southern suburbs before his offensive stalled, and his forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, have continually bombarded the capital.

The pro-GNA forces have pushed the LNA back from some areas in the northwest and repeatedly attacked its supply lines with the help of Turkish-supplied drones.

Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday the UAE had last year targeted a biscuit factory with a drone strike in support of the LNA, killing eight civilians in an attack it called apparently unlawful. The UAE and the LNA have not commented on that report.
Our goal is to band together and take the Catch 22 out of delivery. With our online portal, consumers have access to a modern-day version of the yellow pages for small businesses.

Catch22Delivery, an online portal for small businesses, is excited to announce the launch of its on-demand delivery service for food and beverages for both the United States and Canada (Catch22Delivery.ca). It was the brainchild of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2020 Washington Small Business Person of the Year, Olga Sagan. Within one month of launching, the online portal has over 190 participating restaurants in four states with over 30,000 unique visitors to its website.

When small businesses use third-party delivery apps, businesses can lose an average of 33% in profit to service fees. Sagan, the owner of Piroshky Piroshky, a hand-crafted Russian pastry bakery in Pike Place Market, noticed a decline in her customers by 90% at the turn of the pandemic of COVID-19. She also noted the liabilities associated with third-party platforms such as poor drivers, incorrect order deliveries, and third-party platform glitches.

Catch22Delivery was born out of necessity. The idea is that instead of having a third-party vendor handle the transactions from online orders, the small business can do it themselves. This lets the business owner keep their staff employed. After launching Catch22Delivery.com my online business went from bringing in $200 a week to bringing in $4,000 a day, said Sagan.

Collaborating with other small businesses, Sagan founded Catch22Delivery in March 2020 and now consumers can support their favorite local businesses without the extra fees and in return, small businesses increase their visibility by being a member of the online portal.

Catch22Delivery is available in the following cities and their surrounding areas:



Seattle, Washington

San Jose, California

Irvine, California

Chicago, Illinois

Lena, Wisconsin

Food and beverage brands including Macadons, Pike Place Fish Market, Halal Guys, Pho Bac, Metropolitan Grill, Theo Chocolate, and Ivars have all joined the site. Customers in these cities can order delivery from their favorite participating restaurants directly through the online portal, and 100% of the proceeds from their orders go to the restaurant.

As consumers, we have picked up delivery habits from large retailers and third-party platforms and its easy to lose sight of favorite local businesses, said Sagan. Our goal is to band together and take the Catch 22 out of delivery. With our online portal, consumers have access to a modern-day version of the yellow pages for small businesses.

For more information about Catch22Delivery, please visit https://www.catch22delivery.com/.

For Canadian companies and consumers looking to join Catch22Delivery, visit https://catch22delivery.ca/.

About Catch22Delivery

To connect consumers with local businesses, Catch22Delivery was founded in March 2020 as an online hosted directory exclusively for small restaurant businesses in one convenient, easy to find spot. Designed and operated by the University of Washington undergrad and graduates, the portal directs customers to existing websites of participating restaurants. This ensures the businesses consumers are supporting have complete control over their own product and revenue.
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Subscribe/follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app.

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | April 30, 2020

Pennsylvanias coronavirus death toll increases by 479. Meanwhile, Governor Wolf vetoes a bill promoting telemedicine and pregnant moms will be tested for COVID-19 at one Pennsylvania hospital system. Over in Pittsburgh, a researcher helps unearth details about a creature thats been extinct for millennia.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
When Rishi Kapoor Admitted That Ranbir Was A Far Superior Actor Than Him; Watching Sanju Teaser Made Him Emotional
Radisson Hospitality AB (publ), one of the largest hotel companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and part of the Radisson Hotel Group, published today its 2019 Annual Report, along with Radisson Hotel Group's Annual Responsible Business Report.



This year's Annual Report highlights how the company has delivered results in line with our motto of Every Moment Matters and our five-year operating plan. The Global Responsible Business Report describes Radisson Hotel Group's achievements and initiatives around its three pillars: Think People, Think Planet, Think Community, such as the launch of carbon neutral meetings and its partnership with ECPAT-USA to fight human trafficking.

The reports are 100% digital to support our commitment to sustainability and can be downloaded as PDFs from: https://www.radissonhospitalityab.com/investors/financial-information

Radisson Hospitality AB will release its Financial Report Q1 2020 on 29 May 2020 and will host its quarterly webcast on 2 June 2020.

For more information, please visit: https://www.radissonhospitalityab.com/investors

INVESTOR RELATION CONTACT

Sergio Amodeo, Executive Vice President & CFO

sergio.amodeo@radissonhotels.com

ABOUT RADISSON HOSPITALITY AB

Radisson Hospitality AB (publ) is one of the largest hotel companies in Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and a member of the Radisson Hotel Group.

Through a master franchise agreement with Radisson Hospitality, Inc. USA - Radisson Hospitality AB operates and develops hotel brands across EMEA - including Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED and Park Inn by Radisson. It also operates the Radisson Rewards loyalty program for frequent hotel guests.

Radisson Hospitality AB features a portfolio of 387 hotels, with 84,800+ rooms in operation and 125 hotels, with 24,900+ rooms under development in 80 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Radisson Hospitality AB and its brands employ 44,000+ team members. Radisson Hospitality AB has an industry-leading Responsible Business Program and has been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the US think-tank Ethisphere nine times.

Radisson Hospitality AB is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

For more information on Radisson Hospitality AB, visit www.radissonhospitalityab.com

For more information on Radisson Hotel Group, visit www.radissonhotels.com/corporate

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Actor Leslie Jordan is speaking out about the time he heroically confronted a group of men for making a slew of homophobic threats in a predominantly LGBTQ neighborhood back in 2015.

Taking to his Instagram account on Thursday, the Will & Grace star recalled the incident as he went to get an iced tea from Starbucks in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, where the scuffle took place.

"This is the Starbucks in West Hollywood where I acted out," Jordan explained. "Years ago there were these boys, three rowdy boys came in... they were acting out and the manager asked them to leave."

Not today, Satan: Actor Leslie Jordan is speaking out about the time he heroically confronted a group of men for making a slew of homophobic threats back in 2015.

"One of them stood up and turned around, said, 'A lotta f***ots in here,' which is when I got right in his face said 'Nuh uh, you've got to leave, not in my house," the actor said.

The four feet 11 ins star then detailed how he ended up throwing his iced tea drink over the men, after they allegedly began spitting on the store outside, continuing to make homophobic threats and slurs.

Eyewitness Joseph Daniels told WeHoville at the time: "[The man] was screaming and pointing "you will die f***ing f***ots." It was very scary and unexpected."

Attacks: Police were called to take control of the situation back in 2015 (pictured above)

Don't mess with Leslie: Jordan heroically took matters into his own hands

"The guy lunged at Leslie to hit him" he told the website. "Then Leslie threw his drink at the guy. Then (another) guy threw his drink to hit me."

LA County Sheriff's deputies were called and the three men were handcuffed because they would not calm down.

They were then interviewed but not arrested as they had not committed a crime.

However the men's names were taken and the incident was documented as a 'hate crime' incident.

Jordan - who says in his Instagram video that he was 'absolved' when the cops arrived - was not arrested for his actions.

The actor has won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor for his role as Beverley Leslie, Karen's rival on Will and Grace.

Watch every episode of Will & Grace on NCB, or on Stan in Australia.
A University of Miami professor has resigned after students noticed a porn bookmark describing 'busty college girls' on his internet browser during a Zoom video conference class and footage of his screen went viral on Tik Tok.

Business analytics lecturer John Peng Zhang, who has taught at the school since August, left his post after the students exposed his embarrassing blunder last month.

The professor was having a Zoom class with his students on March 26 when they noticed he bookmarked a page entitled 'Busty college girl fu'.

A student filmed video of his browser and posted it on the video app Tik Tok, where it went viral. The story was exposed by student newspaper the Miami Hurricane this week.

University of Miami business professor John Peng Zhang has resigned after he was caught having a porn bookmark in his browser for 'busty college girls'. Students noticed his browser during a March 26 Zoom class and made a Tik Tok out of it that went viral

A student posted a Tik Tok of the porn bookmark, which went viral with over 800,000 views

One student left his microphone on and pointed out the bookmark tab to other students, but Zhang didn't notice and continued teaching as normal.

Hours later the clip went viral with more than 800,000 views. In the clip the URL for miami.edu was visible, linking the professor to the University of Miami.

'It was insaneit blew up,' freshman business law major Samantha Hill, a student in one of Zhangs classes, said to the Miami Hurricane.

'I had friends sharing it with me from other schools who saw it,' a freshman business student who was in the business analytics class when the bookmark was first noticed said.

The student who posted the Tik Tok instantly regretted it after seeing how Zhang was being removed from the class. 'I felt bad about the attention it was getting. I didnt want him to lose his jobI thought he would be fineI felt really bad for him,' the student said

The original has been deleted but has circulated on social media by college-humor media outlets like Barstool.

The day after the Tik Tok blew up Zhang addressed the matter with his students saying: 'I dont know how it happened. I didnt see it, Im pretty sure everybody else didMy apologies to the class.'

He sent an email to his pupils saying he was 'investigating' the matter and encouraged students to not share images of the link.

Students received an email from business analytics department chair Robert Plant informing them class was cancelled, but no further explanation was offered. Days later students were emailed about new instructors and syllabi for the class.

'[My] first thought was this is super funny,' one student said. 'I felt guilty afterwards for even sharing it with my close friends.'

The student who posted the Tik Tok instantly regretted it after seeing how Zhang was being removed from the class.

'I felt bad about the attention it was getting. I didnt want him to lose his jobI thought he would be fineI felt really bad for him,' the student said.

According to Zhang's online resume he has worked as a business school lecturer at UM's Coral Gables, Florida campus since August following positions at the University of Oregon and Florida International University

'He was one of my only professors who seemed to care,' Jade Johnson, a junior marketing major in Zhangs class said. 'I think firing him is a little extremeHe didnt do anything illegal.'

The university confirmed Wednesday that Zhang left the university after his gaffe was exposed.

'The University of Miami aggressively investigates all complaints of inappropriate behavior or sexual harassment,' according to a school statement.

'After receiving a complaint through the University's ethics hotline, the incident was investigated by the Office of the Provost, Title IX investigator and Miami Herbert Business School. The University can confirm that John Peng Zhang resigned and is no longer employed at the University of Miami.'

According to Zhang's online resume he has worked as a business school lecturer at UM's Coral Gables, Florida campus since August following positions at the University of Oregon and Florida International University.

A Change.org petition has been launched for his reinstatement with more than 1,000 signatures.
Americans are getting married at the lowest rate ever recorded, according to a report by the National Center for Health Statistics, with the lead author for the report calling the moment historic.

The U.S. marriage rate fell 6 percent in 2018 to only 6.5 new unions formed for every 1,000 people, the lowest number since the government began keeping data in 1867. The number is nearly 10 points lower than the peak rate during World War II, with 1946 (the first post-war year) having the record-high of 16.4 marriages per 1,000 people. Marriage rates steadily declined from 1982 to 2009, before steadying and slightly increasing in 2014.

Sally Curtin, a statistician at the National Center for Health Statistics and the lead author of the report, warned that the rate could be further impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

A lot of it is the economy, and the extent to which Covid has a lasting effect on the economy, it might affect family formation, Curtin told the Wall Street Journal.

The economy has taken a nosedive since vast swaths of the country were forced to shut down in March, with gross domestic product contracting 4.8 percent in the first quarter  the worst since 2008  and economists estimating a further fall of approximately 20 to 40 percent in the second quarter.

The Department of Labor also reported Thursday that 3.8 million Americans filed new jobless claims last week, bringing the total number to over 30 million claims, or 18 percent of the total workforce, since the lockdowns began.

More from National Review
Two persons who fled isolation centers after testing positive for Coronavirus have been found, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced.

He said the two who were diagnosed at Old Fadama, a suburb of Accra, and Tamale reportedly took to their heels after their Covid-19 test results came back positive.

Dr Aboagye, speaking at the Ministry of Information's Covid-19 press briefing said, the Fadama case I am aware, they've been found and those in Tamale have also being found. They are all being taken care of.

It would be recalled that the incidence in Accra involved a commercial head porter who eluded contact tracers after her test results came in on Monday, April 6.

She was one of two people who had their samples taken at Old Fadama but could not be located when contact tracers returned for them to commence their supportive care.

One of them was found with the assistance of the Chief Executive Officer of Accra Metropolitan Assembly on April 9 while the status of the former was unknown until today.

The Tamale incident involved a Guinean lady in her 20s, who scaled the wall at the back of the hotel where she and nine others were being held in mandatory quarantine back in March.

Ghana's Covid-19 tally is 1,671 with 188 recoveries and 16 deaths.

---Daily Guide
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. Journalists and news outlets no longer have to pay a state duty for accessing the information kept in the State Registry Agency of Legal Persons as the Ministry of Justice introduced a new regulation.

From now on the information will be provided free of charge, a move which the ministry of justice described will strengthen guarantees of investigative journalism and media freedom, and will contribute them to providing the public with more accurate and comprehensive information.

The reform is in pursuance of the governments 2019-2023 Action Plan.

The legislative package covering the matter was approved by parliament in March 2020.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
New product awaiting FDA approval for emergency use could save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, thanks to a compact, mobile and inexpensive design

A research collaboration and ensuing friendship between a trauma surgeon in Oregon and a handful of engineers in Florida has resulted in a new ventilator design that requires no electricity and could be a game-changer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Albert Chi, who specializes in critical care and prosthetics, was keeping a close eye on COVID-19 during the early days. He immediately began working with his team at Oregon Health and Science University to develop a new, easy way to replicate ventilators that could be deployed anywhere. Specializing in trauma, Chi as a retired commander of the U.S. Navy Reserve and well versed in extreme conditions.

When Chi had a design, he called his friend and clinical-trial collaborator Albert Manero CEO and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions in Orlando, Florida.

Manero '12 '14MS '16PhD leads the nonprofit based at the University of Central Florida. The team creates prosthetics for children and has been conducting a clinical trial with Chi since 2018. Currently the trial is being adapted for telemedicine per FDA guidelines for responding to COVID-19 to mitigate participants' travel. In the interim, Limbitless pivoted its manufacturing capabilities to produce hundreds of 3D-printed face shield components for local hospitals through a national coalition led by 3D company Stratasys.

"Dr. Chi called me and said, 'Hey Albert, I have an idea,'" Manero says. "When Dr. Chi has an idea, we listen. We were happy to support in any way we could."

That's when Manero called Limbitless' engineers together to tackle this new challenge. Limbitless printed the pieces in its laboratory for the prototype, which exceeded expectations when it was tested in Chi's lab in Oregon. Within days, OHSU submitted a request to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization to make the 3D-printed ventilators available to support hospitals worldwide battling high caseloads in hot spots due to the pandemic.

Limbitless this week also produced pieces for the first 10 ventilator prototypes, which Chi says will be sent to hospitals nationwide to test and collect feedback while he awaits FDA approval.

How the ventilators work

Chi's ventilator is unique, because it does not require electronics and uses 3D-printed parts, which can be potentially manufactured at hospitals.

Limbitless used printers in its lab at UCF to print the pieces necessary for high quality prints and large-scale distribution. Limbitless key engineers and co-founders, Dominique Courbin '18 and John Sparkman '13 '15, optimized the production of the critical pieces at UCF. The pieces fit perfectly when assembled at OHSU. The coordination between the two teams was critical to rapidly prototype the design, Manero said.

Depending on the printer used, a single ventilator could 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, Chi said.

Limbitless shipped the first ventilator pieces back to OHSU on April 17. Chi and his team assembled the first prototype and placed it on an oxygen tank to test it. The goal was to see if it would work for at least 24 hours without any durability issues. Chi's team had already performed extensive modeling and testing in the lab, but the next 24 hours were to determine if OHSU would go after FDA emergency approval.

On April 24, Chi filed with the FDA because the ventilator was still pumping air with no issues 120 hours later.

"Hearing the machine 'breathing' during testing was a really moving experience," Manero says. "The sound is such a reminder of why we continue to do everything we can to support our community in any way we can. It is an example of what teamwork can accomplish to change the world."

OHSU stopped the durability testing of the first ventilator after seven continuous days with zero issues.

"They did such a good job producing the pieces," Chi says "I knew the quality of their work. I knew I could trust them to produce the first 10 prototypes. Our teams are kindred partners just wanting to help save lives. This is the power of heart, mind and a cooperative spirit."

When the ventilator design is approved, Chi said it would not only help hospitals now, but in the future. The ventilators could be used during another pandemic or in remote regions or after a natural disaster when electricity is scarce.

"I feel like all my experiences until this point -- being in the Navy, working in trauma critical care, meeting Limbitless - they all led me here to this moment, where together we can make a difference," Chi says. "It's not just about being a doctor, it's wanting to give back and help anyone in need, which is what I think makes Albert and I such good partners."

###
A personal letter from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was delivered today to his counterpart Donald Trump as part of Turkeys COVID-19 relief package for the United States.

I hope that in the upcoming period, with the spirit of solidarity we have displayed during the pandemic, Congress and the US media will better understand the strategic importance of our relations, Erdogan wrote in the letter, released today.

Why it matters: Turkey has used personal protective equipment exports to 55 countries as part of a diplomatic charm offensive while it seeks to cope with more than 118,000 coronavirus cases of its own. The US Embassy in Turkey praised the shipment, which includes more than 500,000 masks, 4,000 overalls, 2,000 liters (528 gallons) of disinfectant, 1,500 goggles and 500 face shields.

However, Congress has taken a more antagonistic approach than Trump in the face of myriad challenges between the two NATO allies.

The US president has so far refused to implement legally mandated sanctions on Ankara for purchasing the Russian S-400 missile defense system. But the House overwhelmingly passed a broad Turkey sanctions bill 403-16 after Trumps withdrawal of US forces at the Turkish-Syrian border paved the way for Erdogans offensive against the Syrian Kurds last year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has refused to put the sanctions bill on the floor, but Congress did pass legislation in December to lift the Cyprus arms embargo  a move vociferously opposed by Turkey. And for the first time in US history, both chambers passed resolutions last year recognizing the Ottoman Empires massacre of more than 1 million Armenians beginning in 1915 as a genocide.

Whats next: Earlier this month, Turkey once again postponed activating the Russian S-400 system. The timing coincides with Ankaras request to organize a currency swap with the US Federal Reserve.

Know more: Want the full story behind Turkeys personal protective equipment shipment to the United States? Amberin Zaman has it covered here.
(Photo : Mpho Mojapelo) The steering wheel of a Hyundai vehicle

Automobile maker giant Hyundai teased car lovers on the new look of its renowned sedan. It recently introduced its upcoming Hyundai Elantra N Line.

According to CNET, the newly released teaser photos of Elantra N Line give us a few glimpses on the looks of this upcoming car. The Elantra shares some similarities with another member of the Hyundai car line, the redesigned Sonata sedan. Sonata is a mid-size offering of Hyundai. However, compared to the Sonata, the Elantra seems to have more dramatic styling.

READ ALSO: COVID-19 Update: Pfizer's Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be Ready in the Autumn - Reports

Turbocharged Engine

The new Elantra model boasts a turbocharged engine that makes more power than the ordinary car. But how much power is still unknown. CNET suggested that with a turbocharged engine, Elantra N Line will more likely outperform the 147-horsepower of a standard car's 2.0-liter engine. So, in terms of engine performance, it will be better than the existing Elantra model. The standard Elantra has a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle inline-four.

Cars.com suggested that the engine of Elantra N Line will be more powerful, but what type of engine it has is still unspecified. Cars.com offered some clues. "The existing engines of Hyundai include a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 201 horsepower, which seems like a strong candidate for the Elantra N Line - it is already offered in the Elantra GT N Line hatchback," a report said in its website.

Sporty Appearance

Other than the engines, the new Elantra N Line boasts a sporty appearance compared to the standard Elantra sedan. CNET expected that the new car would have sportier design elements and some chassis upgrades to make the N Line model livelier than its counterparts.

On its interior, it is anticipated that there will be several upgrades, such as having racier touches. The teaser photos do not offer much on the new features of the N Line model. Based on the teaser photos, it is hard to tell how different this new vehicle is. "We can't see if there are different colored accents at the front or rear compared with the regular Elantra, but there are some telltale differences between the N Line and vanilla Elantras," Cars.com explained. Cars.com noted that the wheels of the N Line model are a slightly different and more aggressive five-spoke design. The website also remarked that the N Line model has dual exhaust tips at the rear instead of a single exhaust commonly found in the standard Elantra.

Although quite similar to the Sonata sedan, the more powerful engine, dual-clutch transmission, and small suspension tweaks found in the Elantra N Line model makes it sportier than a Sonata.

The new Hyundai sedan will more likely compete with Honda Civic Si and Volkswagen Jetta GLI. CNET said that it will take a little longer for the Elantra N Line to become available in the market. The car manufacturer will produce the new sedan at its plant in Alabama. And its eyes to begin manufacturing the new Elantra by fall. "We should see the car reach dealers by the end of this year with the N Line not too far behind it," CNET added.

Also Read: Hyundai rolls out hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in the U.S.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A NYPD officer walks up beside rental trucks and a hearse that have their back-ends covered by a tarp outside Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home, Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Police were called to the funeral home Wednesday after it resorted to storing dozens of bodies on ice in rented trucks. The scene was the latest example of funeral homes struggling with thousands of deaths caused by the coronavirus. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
On This Day When Myanmars Dictator Revealed the Burmese Way to Socialism

General Ne Win.

YANGONOn this day in 1962, one month after seizing power in a coup, Myanmars new military regime announced on the radio its ideology: the Burmese Way to Socialism, which would later throw the country into abject poverty.

The ideology stemmed from an economic treatise written by the Revolutionary Council, which was led by General Ne Win, and consisted of 21 points, including mandates to nationalize every major industry in the country.

Over the next 26 years, the Burmese Way to Socialism led to the demise of democracy in Myanmar, greatly lowered the social, economic and educational standards of the people, and forced workers and students to take to the streets frequently to voice grievances.

Veteran Burmese communist Thakin Pe Htay once told reporters from The Nation, a prominent English language newspaper in Myanmar at the time, I, Thakin Pe Htay, do hereby announce that if I entered Ne Win through the anus it would be more likely for him to conceive and be with child than for his asinine policies to amount to socialism, according to the memoir of Wendy Law-Yone, the daughter of The Nation founder U Law Yone.

As dictator, Gen. Ne Win faced strong opposition for his actions and a group of military officers led by Captain Ohn Kyaw Myint attempted to assassinate him in 1976.

The Burmese Way of Socialism described the socialist economy as the only means for the people to rid themselves of social woes, enjoy mental and physical well-being and create a new prosperous society but by 1987, Myanmar had become the one of the poorest countries in the world. This forced Gen. Ne Win to introduce some political and economic reforms but it took the pro-democracy uprising in 1988 to break apart the countrys socialist foundations and topple the one-party dictatorship.
The Delhi Police and city government are working on preparing a standard operating procedure on the movement of migrant labourers and other stranded people during the coronavirus-forced lockdown in pursuance of the Union Home Ministry guidelines on the matter, officials said on Thursday.

The MHA, in an order issued on Wednesday, allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people, who are stranded in different parts of the country, to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions.

The order stated that buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating.

"The MHA has issued guidelines regarding the movement of migrant labourers and other people stranded at different places, including students, tourists and pilgrims. The government and Delhi Police are finalising its modalities and are working on the standard operating procedure (SOP)," Delhi Police's Public Relation Officer Mandeep Singh Randhawa said.

"We are in regular touch with officials of other states and talking to them. According to the MHA guidelines, people will have to register themselves so that their movements till their homes can be regulated," he said.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the Delhi government was in touch with other states and they would come out with a proper plan in the next one-two days.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal asked migrant workers to stay indoors and follow the lockdown till the time the plan is executed.

The Delhi police PRO on Thursday said, "Till the time the SOP is finalised, we request stranded people not to pay attention towards any social media post. The Delhi Police is regulating social media and will take strict actions against those who spread rumours."



On March 28, thousands of migrant workers thronged Anand Vihar bus terminus on the Delhi-UP border to go back to their villages.

Similarly on April 14, the last day of the first phase of the lockdown, several hundred migrants had assembled on the west side of Bandra suburban station demanding trains to take them to their native places, just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of the lockdown till May 3.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SEBI said that the existing open ended mutual fund schemes need to comply with the revised limits for sector exposure by 30 June.

New Delhi: Markets regulator SEBI on Thursday gave three more months till 30 June for liquid funds to comply with the requirement of holding at least 20 percent of their assets in liquid assets like cash and government securities.

Besides, the timelines for submission of cyber security audit reports as mandated by SEBI has been extended by two months till 31 August, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said in a circular.

Also, the timelines for filing scheme annual reports for 2019-20 has been extended by one month till 31 August, it added.

SEBI, in September last year, made it mandatory for liquid funds to hold at least 20 percent of their net assets in liquid assets.

The new rule, aimed at improving risk management and ensuring sufficient liquidity, was to become effective from 1 April.

Now, the regulator has extended the deadline to comply with the new rule by 30 June.

SEBI said that the existing open ended mutual fund schemes need to comply with the revised limits for sector exposure by 30 June.

Further, the regulator has given more time till 30 June for complying with the norms pertaining to amortisation based valuation for money market and debt securities.

Under the norms, all money market and debt securities, including floating securities, with residual maturity of 30 days need to be valued at average of security level prices obtained from valuation agencies.

In case, security level prices given by valuation agencies are not available for a new security (which is currently not held by any mutual fund) then such security needs to be valued at purchase yield on the date of allotment.

A money market fund, in market parlance, is an open-ended mutual fund which invests in short-term debt securities like treasury bills and commercial papers. Debt securities funds invest in fixed income securities like bonds and treasury bills.

Earlier this week, SEBI had extended the deadline by six months for mutual funds to comply with the maximum limits of investment in unlisted Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs).

At the same time, the regulator has eased compliance norms with regards to grandfathering of existing unlisted NCDs.

The move would give breather to the mutual funds as they will not be forced to stress sell these existing unlisted NCD.
The Trump administration may announce as soon as Thursday a plan to offer loans to the ailing oil industry possibly in exchange for a financial stake, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette have already briefed President Donald Trump on a plan to provide financial aid to oil drillers beset by a historic crash in prices, the people said.

Brouillette, during a conference call Tuesday with an industry group, said Mnuchin was leaning toward aid that includes two separate programs -- bridge loans and emergency lending authority through the U.S. Federal Reserve -- designed to help smaller and medium sized companies.

This is not going to be a bailout, Mnuchin told reporters in the White House Wednesday. He said a team at both the Treasury and the Energy department are talking with people around the world and are considering a lot of different strategies.

Trump said an announcement would come shortly.

The move comes as companies coping with a devastating plunge in prices have been laying off tens of thousands of workers and idling drilling rigs while asking for government assistance as they seek to stave off bankruptcies. Trump last week vowed to make funds available to oil and gas companies, saying he would never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down.

More storage

Mnuchin said the administration was also exploring the opportunity to store another several hundred million barrels of oil, which would exceed the current physical capacity of the governments Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The administration has been considering a way around that physical barrier, by buying undeveloped oil reserves and making them part of the U.S. emergency stockpile. Under the approach, the government would effectively pay some domestic drillers to halt production indefinitely -- or at least until prices rebound.

Trump earlier helped broker a deal by top international oil producers to pull nearly 10 million barrels of crude from the market. Yet demand has collapsed by at least twice that amount and storage tanks will keep filling with crude as long as coronavirus restrictions keep planes grounded and drivers off the roads.

If the federal government steps in, some forms of lending would involve it taking a stake in the companies -- a condition oil companies are likely loathe to accept, according to the two people familiar with the discussions.

There are some in the industry who are more in need of these types of resources then others, Brouillette said in a phone call Tuesday, a recording of which was posted on North Dakota Petroleum Councils website.

The White House referred queries to the National Security Council which declined to comment. The Energy and Treasury Departments declined to comment.

Eligible companies

The Trump administration has been working to identify oil companies that would be eligible for loans under the existing Main Street program without being forced to establish a new industry-focused initiative that could be unpopular with the public, said a person familiar with the matter who, like the other people, asked not to be named detailing private deliberations.

The administration intends to focus the efforts on small to medium oil companies that had strong or fair credit ratings before the pandemic.

Mnuchin earlier this month authorized the Fed to establish a so-called Main Street lending program, aimed at supporting mid-sized businesses with as many as 10,000 employees and less than $2.5 billion in revenues.

The Fed has not yet launched the program. It will purchase as much as $600 billion in loans from banks, and could buy even more if Mnuchin commits more Treasury funds to backstop the program, which he said he is willing to do.

The Fed will expand the Main Street program, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday at a press conference, adding that it would add sectors and lending products to address credit needs across the broader economy.

Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and the Independent Petroleum Association of America have stressed that oil companies need flexibility to use Main Street loans to repay existing debt.

The program bars recipients from using loan proceeds to finance pre-existing debt and places restrictions on the size of loans for businesses with large amounts of debt. Those limitations are enough to prevent small- and medium-sized oil companies from taking advantage of the program to gain the short-term liquidity they need to avoid bankruptcy, Cruz said in a letter to Mnuchin and Powell last week.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:28:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson said Thursday that the military medics dispatched to Hubei Province have successfully completed their missions to treat COVID-19 patients, and none of them is infected.

Three hospitals supported by military medics provided 2,856 beds and admitted 7,198 patients from Jan. 24 to April 16, said Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference.

They cured 346 COVID-19 patients aged 80 or older, including one centenarian, Wu said.

A vaccine developed by researchers with the Academy of Military Sciences has been approved to enter clinical trials, Wu noted.

Chinese military medics also accumulated rich experience in epidemic prevention and containment, laying a solid foundation for international cooperation against the epidemic, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 09:38:41|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Wang Lei

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- More than a century ago, then U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase "bully pulpit" when inviting journalists to the White House to share his thoughts on public policy.

The term has been commonly used to describe a prominent position of authority that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to. As the world's sole superpower, the United States has with little doubt an unparalleled power to sway or shape global public opinions for its own purposes.

In recent years, as Washington has turned ever reckless in the international arena, its mega bully pulpit seems becoming a strong-arm bully's pulpit. The most recent case is some Washington politicians' incessant rhetorical attacks that smear China amid a ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

Over the past months, it seems that some beltway politicians like U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House trade advisor Peter Navarro seldom open their mouths without defaming China. Using groundless and brazen theories, they have tried to promote ridiculous conspiracies about the origin of the virus, accused Beijing of craving a bigger global role, and tried to let China take the blame for the outbreak.

Washington has treated the World Health Organization (WHO), the backbone of the global public health response system, in a worse manner. This U.S. administration has not only bombarded the global health body with similar gratuitous verbal attacks, but also moved to defund it at a time when the WHO needs more, not less, support to do its job.

Sober minds around the world know that those politicians are launching their desperate misinformation campaign to cover up Washington's botched response since the outbreak, and to turn the pandemic into an excuse to legitimize their strategy to contain China.

Just as some U.S. citizens did ingest bleach or other cleaning agents after the White House hinted it might help kill the virus, those malicious allegations could not only kill cells of common sense in some people's brains, and even claim lives, but also fan fears, feed racist sentiments, help grow mistrust globally and undermine solidarity, which is extremely crucial to stamping out the virus at the moment.

Washington in fact has a history of abusing its power for global domination. One infamous example is former Secretary of State Colin Powell's UN presentation, in which he used fabricated "evidence" to prove to the world that Iraq was concealing weapons of mass destruction, paving the way for America's invasion of the Mideast country, and a long-running war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. Powell later called this episode a "blot" in his life.

When Theodore Roosevelt came up with the term "bully pulpit," he meant to use the influence of his power to command attention, and to inspire his people with high-minded ideals.

Today, the United States, with all of its mighty military, economy and technological prowess, can still easily command the attention of the world, yet what those Washington politicians did by smearing others in the high-stakes global fight against the pandemic shows that the country has failed to inspire and lead in a way a responsible superpower should do.

With great power comes great responsibility. The Peter Parker principle has never been so relevant at this challenging moment when the world is plagued with the deadly virus, which so far has infected more than 3 million people and claimed over 200,000 lives worldwide.

These U.S. politicians should purge themselves of those outdated mindsets that might always makes right, call off their blame game, and join the rest of the world to beat the pathogen and save as many lives as possible. Otherwise, Washington's bully pulpit will only serve to expose the abusive and high-handed nature of a U.S. hegemony. Enditem
Adapting to his Southern California surroundings, the new Los Angeles Angels third baseman, Anthony Rendon, purchased a Newport Coast mansion for $6.1 million in January.

After helping lead the Washington Nationals to a World Series win last fall, the slugging infielder hit the free-agent market.

His services were in high demand, and he signed a seven-year, $245 million-dollar contract with the Angels in December.

Shortly thereafter, he closed on the purchase of a four-bedroom, 4.5 bathroom home, with scenic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Built in 2017, the 4,653-square-foot residence sits on one of the largest lots available in an exclusive gated development. It was designed by architect Bob White of Forest Studio in Laguna Beach, and comes complete with resort-style amenities and chic design throughout.

Highlights include soaring wood-beamed ceilings, marble and quartzite countertops, and gorgeous tile floors.

Exterior realtor.com

Gourmet kitchen realtor.com

The residence has an open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling retractable doors, which open the kitchen and living room to the outdoors. For an owner who loves options, there are two master suiteseach on a different floor.

A spectacular, oversized, quartz-topped island, state-of-the-art appliances, custom cabinetry, and premium fixtures make the kitchen a showstopper.

For an after-dinner drink, the dining area comes equipped with dual Sub-Zero wine cellars. A breakfast nook and office extend into the massive outdoor space.

The beautifully laid-out outdoor space boasts lush landscaping, terraces, ocean viewing areas, and a Pebble Tec pool with a hot tub.

The home is also outfitted with smart features, including an Smart Systems Technologies security system, Savant Home Automation, and Sonos surround sound.

Living area realtor.com

Entertaining area realtor.com

Pool realtor.com

The home is close to shops, schools, and nearby restaurants, and within walking distance of Crystal Cove State Park. This luxe O.C. community is about a 30-minute commute to Angels Stadium.

Rendon, 29, broke into the big leagues in 2013 with the Nationals, and went on to become an All-Star and Silver Slugger. He capped his Nats career with a spectacular postseason performance, which helped propel the team to its first title ever.

The post Now With the Angels, Anthony Rendon Scores $6.1M Newport Coast Mansion appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
The first of four police officers killed in a senseless truck crash last week has been farewelled in a solemn send-off at Victoria's police academy.

Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, 60, had been on the job for 31-years when her life was cut short in a truck crash that claimed the lives of three of her colleagues.

On Thursday, police stopped in their tracks to pay tribute to their fallen comrade who has just left the Victoria Police Academy - in Melbourne's southeast - for her final journey.

Senior Constable Taylor leaves the Victoria Police Academy on her final journey. The skies opened as the hearse pulled out. About a dozen people lined the street as she was taken away

Senior Constable Taylor, 60, is the first of four Victoria Police officers to be farewelled. Two of her colleagues will have their funerals at the police academy on Friday. The final funeral will take place next week

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and the police chaplin escort Senior Constable Lynette Taylor out of the police academy

Three police officers on motorcycles accompanied the hearse as it left the service - a lone piper playing 'Amazing Grace'.

The skies opened with hail as the hearse prepared to pull out of the iron gates of the academy.

Scenes from the funeral were a far cry from days gone by where officers lined View Mount Road in guards of honour for their fallen colleagues.

When Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rod Miller were gunned down in Moorabbin - southeast of Melbourne - in 1998, police lined and marched the streets in their honour.

Only 10 of the fallen officer's friends and family were able to participate in the service due to the tough distancing restrictions brought on by the coronavirus crisis.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was among those present at the academy on Thursday after joining the police chaplin to officiate the service.

The remainder of Senior Constable Taylor's colleagues, friends and family were forced to watch the hour-long service from their computer screens via a live stream.

Her funeral marks a bitter four days for Victoria Police officers, who will farewell Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Kevin King at the academy on Friday.

The funeral for Constable Josh Prestney will take place at Xavier College on Monday.

Police across the state stopped to pay tribute to Senior Constable Taylor at the conclusion of Thursday's service.

The word was put out across the police radio by Mr Ashton, who called his troops to attention.

Police walking the beat across Melbourne's quiet streets paused while police cars came to a halt and turned on their headlights.

South Australian Police are seen outside the Police headquarters in Adelaide where they stopped to pay tribute to the fallen officer

Police officers across Australia stopped to honour the four Victorian police officers that were killed on duty on Wednesday last week

Victorian Police gather outside Richmond police station upon getting the call over the radio that their colleague's funeral had concluded

Officers at police stations across Victoria congregated outside to form guards of honour.

At Richmond, not far from where the four officers were killed, members formed-up outside in a touching tribute.

Tonight the police academy will be bathed in blue light in tribute to the officer and in preparation for the services that will come.

All four of the officers were killed when Mohinder Singh allegedly drove his refrigerated chicken truck into the them on the Eastern Freeway.

The 47-year old has been charged with four counts of culpable driving over the deaths and remains behind bars for now.

Mourners farewell the Senior Constable Lynette Taylor as the hearse pulls away

Officers are seen gathering outside Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor's funeral

Only 10 of the fallen officer's friends and family were able to participate in the service due to the tough distancing restrictions brought on by the coronavirus crisis

Richard Pusey, 41, also faces charges amid allegations he filmed Sen-Constable Taylor dying before fleeing the scene.

He too remains in jail.

Last week, Mr Ashton said the dead officers would be honoured in full once the distancing restrictions were lifted.

'We've got to stick at it at the moment. We've got to make sure that we're still doing the right thing so that we don't encounter reinfection rates that make this an even more tragic emergency than it already is,' he said.

Mr Ashton said he could not provide a date or a month as to when the formal ceremonies would be held.

Police from Richmond Police Station line up for a minute's silence after the funeral of Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor

Flowers have been placed outside of the Victoria Police Academy where Senior Constable Lynette Taylor was farewelled on Thursday

'One thing I am determined is that it is as soon as we can. I don't want any big delay. As soon as it is possible to do something - significant, meaningful - that people can attend, I intend that we do that,' he said.

'As soon as it's possible, we'll have the plans in place and we'll get the go button, get it done as soon as we can.'

Senior Constable Taylor had been a respected member of Victoria Police dating back to 1989.

She was recognised by the Chief Commissioner for good work while performing duties at the traffic camera office.

She also earned the National Medal first clasp, National Police Service medal and the Victoria Police Service medal fourth clasp.

Senior Constable Taylor is survived by her husband, a former Victoria Police officer, Stuart Schultz and their two sons, Nathan and Alexander.

Mohinder Singh (left) is accused of killing the four police officers after crashing his truck into the emergency lane of a Melbourne freeway. Police had just pulled over alleged mongrel Richard Pusey (right) who is accused of filming and taunting a dying police officer

Police escort the bodies of the fallen officers along the Eastern Freeway last week directly after the crash

When not working for good, the dedicated officer had loved to travel and spent a year sailing around the South Pacific on a yacht.

She and her husband had been in the process of building their dream retirement home overlooking Bass Strait on Victoria's south east coast.

There she had hoped to spend her days travelling and fishing.

Her colleagues said she had a reputation of going into bat for others and challenging decisions that she believed were unfair.

'She had a great sense of humour and her colleagues will fondly remember seeing her smiling face every day,' one officer said.

Despite the allegations against Pusey, Dr Amanda Sampson said she immediately pulled over and comforted Senior Constable Taylor until her final breath.

'All of the officers were treated with dignity and respect that they deserve,' she said.
Burma Myanmar Military Condemns EU and UK Moves to Continue Sanctions

Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends a parade to mark Armed Forces Day in 2018 in Naypyitaw. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAWThe Myanmar military said a recent decision by the European Union to extend sanctions against Myanmar military officers, and the UKs support for those sanctions, have hurt the position and dignity of the military as it works to implement its Standard Army reforms.

The EU on April 23 decided to keep sanctions in place against 14 top-ranking Myanmar security personnel. The UK Treasury made the decision public on April 27. The UK left the EU on Jan. 31 but is bound under its exit agreement to continue applying the blocs sanctions for the rest of this year.

The sanctions freeze any UK assets held by the officers and criminalize financial transactions with them, for anyone in the UK. The officers are also barred from entering the UK.

The UK and other Western countries imposed sanctions on the group of 14 military leaders over alleged human rights violations during military operations in northern Rakhine State in 2017.

Myanmar military spokesperson Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told The Irrawaddy that the sanctions were in keeping with Western countries usual practice. He stressed that they are just continuing with the usual pattern.

Our Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] is building a Standard Army that meets international norms. [The extension of sanctions] tarnishes our political image and afflicts our position and dignity, he added.

The UK follows what the EU does; I havent seen other EU members separate statements on the sanctions, he said.

Former Lieutenant General Aung Kyaw Zaw, one of the 14 individuals targeted by the sanctions, was the commander of the Bureau of Special Operations No. 3 until the end of 2017, overseeing the armys Western Command in Rakhine State.

He was allowed to resign from his position by the Tatmadaw in 2018 due to his role in alleged human rights violations. Among the other high-ranking officers sanctioned are former Major General Nyi Nyi Swe and former Police Brigadier General Thura San Lwin of the Border Guard Police Force.

U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank formed by ex-military officers, said he didnt think the extension of the sanctions would have any particular impact.

He claimed that the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic rebel group fighting the Myanmar military in northern Rakhine State, was recently active in the west of the Mayu Mountain Range, where the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) was previously active.

He added that the Tatmadaw now has to brace for possible ARSA operations in Rakhine and must be careful as it may come under additional international pressure if and when the ARSA is active again.

According to the information we have, ARSA is gathering its forces to launch operations again, said U Thein Tun Oo.

According to political researcher and former military officer Dr. Aung Myo, sanctions from Western countries will do more harm than good. He said that such actions will push the Myanmar military further away from them as well as from the practices and norms of international armies.

There is little transparency in our country. The Tatmadaw has no tradition at all [of transparency]. It is the job [of Western countries] to talk the Tatmadaw into establishing that tradition, not to isolate them, said Dr. Aung Myo.

The more they shun, the further the Tatmadaw will move away from that tradition, the further [the Tatmadaw] will be from what they want, he added.

The US Treasury Department has also imposed equivalent sanctions against the same Myanmar military officers.

Myanmar expert Bertil Lintner wrote in an article for Asia Times in 2018 that the US sanctions have no impact because the sanctioned officers dont have plans to travel to the US and have no assets there. He suggested that such sanctions will only push Myanmar toward China.

Note: This story was updated on May 1, 2020 to clarify that the decision to extend sanctions was made by the EU, not the UK.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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DeVos expands experimental college prison program backed by evangelical ministry

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Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has doubled the size of an experimental program praised by the nations largest evangelical prison ministry designed to make it easier for inmates to access college courses and degree programs to help prepare them for life after their release.

The Education Department announced Friday that it has selected 67 new higher education institutions to join its Second Chance Pell Experimental Site Initiative. The new participants include at least 11 Christian and Catholic nonprofit private institutions.

The expansion allows incarcerated students to use federal Pell Grants (awarded to low-income students to pay for post-secondary education) at over 130 schools in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

"I've had the pleasure of visiting several Second Chance Pell institutions and have seen firsthand the transformative impact this experiment has on the lives of individuals who are incarcerated," DeVos said in a statement.

"By expanding this experiment, we are providing a meaningful opportunity for more students to set themselves up for future success in the workforce. The stories I've heard from students and institutions engaged in the experiment are very encouraging, and we look forward to seeing how this expansion will help even more students achieve a better future."

The temporary initiative was created in 2015 by the Obama administration in which 63 schools from 23 states were initially selected to participate in the program, 13 of which were colleges affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

So far, the program has helped bring college programs to about 12,000 incarcerated individuals across the U.S. In the past three years, over 4,000 credentials, including post-secondary certificates, associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. have been awarded to Second Chance Pell students.



Pell Grant access offers people in prison the opportunity to develop new skills and practice living as good citizens inside and outside of prison, James Ackerman, president of the evangelical prison ministry Prison Fellowship, said in a statement.

Secretary DeVos action expanding Second Chance Pell sites will solidify her legacy as a leader who stands up for the dignity and potential of the least of these and fosters safer communities.

The Education Department received over 180 letters of interest from colleges and universities after it announced last May that it would extend the Second Chance Pell program and reopen the application process. The schools chosen to join the program were determined to be the most qualified.

The Education Department believes the addition of the new institutions will ensure institutional, programmatic, and geographic diversity among new participants. Almost two-thirds of the schools added to the experiment are two-year institutions, while one-third are institutions that are minority-serving.

Eight of the newly accepted institutions will deliver instruction through innovative and distance delivery methods while 18 other schools have proposed hybrid models of instruction.

The program uses the authority of the Experimental Sites Initiative granted under the Higher Education Act to circumvent a 1994 crime law banning inmates from receiving Pell Grants.

Prior to the 1994 law, advocates say, there were hundreds of partnerships between prisons and higher education institutions.

Criminal justice activists and Christian groups have supported bills aimed at removing the 1994 ban in order to make the Second Chance Pell more permanent and not reliant on an Education Department experimental program.

A bipartisan bill that was introduced in Congress last year has not received much momentum. Among many advocacy groups, the bill is backed by Prison Fellowship, the National District Attorneys Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a nonprofit that mentors currently and formerly incarcerated individuals called From Prison Cells to PhD.



Lawmakers should take a page from the secretarys playbook and move the ball down the field, said Prison Fellowship Vice President of Government Affairs and Church Mobilization Heather Rice-Minus. Before the end of the calendar year, we hope to see Congress finally take action to make Pell Grants available to men and women who are serving their time and working toward a second chance.

Proponents contend that expanding access to Pell Grants will help reduce the countrys recidivism rate over time as inmates will have increased access to vocational courses and other degree programs.

According to a study by the RAND Corporation, inmates who participate in correctional education programs had 43 percent lower odds of recidivating than inmates who did not.

A January 2019 report from the Vera Institute of Justice estimates that over 463,000 incarcerated individuals would be eligible to receive Pell Grants if the ban on Pell Grants for inmates is lifted.

The institute also reported that data from 2014 suggests that only 9 percent of incarcerated people received a certificate from a college or trade school while in prison.
R everend Richard Coles is mourning the loss of his sister-in-law Louise Coles, after she died of coronavirus.

Her tragic death comes just four months after the former Strictly Come Dancing star, 58, lost his partner David Coles, following an ongoing illness.

Announcing the news on his Twitter page last night, Coles wrote: My lovely sister in law died this afternoon with Covid-19.

She made lots of people very happy, not least @RevDavidColes, with whom she went on extravagant and unauthorised expeditions to her beloved North Africa. RIP, darling woman.

He also shared a picture of his partner with Louise.

Thousands of Twitter users flocked to offer their condolences to Coles, with presenter Matthew Wright writing: So, so sorry.

Bridget Jones Diary actor Sally Phillips added: Im so sorry Richard.

Comedian Jenny Eclair wrote: Sending love, strength and sympathy  Im so sorry.

Louise had been suffering from an aggressive form of brain cancer, and had also been diagnosed with lung cancer before her tragic death.

Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers 1 /9 Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers Daniel Craig and Phoebe Waller-Bridge were among stars featuring in celebrity show of thanks to the NHS NHS/Twitter PA PA PA PA PA Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was among stars who join in a show of thanks for NHS workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis NHS/Twitter

Coles has since added that his niece Ellie is shaving her head to raise money for Cancer Research UK in memory of her aunt.

Coles has had a difficult few months, following the death of his partner of 12 years David back in December.

He wrote at the time: Im very sorry to say that Rev David Coles has died. He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at Kettering General Hospital.

The pair met in the early 2000s after a sermon and had a civil partnership shortly after.

David Coles, here pictured with Mary Berry, died in December / Twitter

Coles touchingly revealed back in February that David had previously organised secret Valentines Day plans before he died.

Speaking on Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, keyboard player Coles explained: With remarkable foresight he arranged for me a Valentines card before he departed, and Im very touched and grateful. And a bit surprised, because in widowhood you think your days of wine and roses are done. Not so.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is ready to start testing cannabis plants and oils in drug cases, thanks to new equipment that will help technicians distinguish between hemp and marijuana.

For the past nine months suspected illegal marijuana cases werent prosecuted in numerous cities across the state -- such as Columbus and Hunting Valley in Northeast Ohio -- because the Ohio General Assembly legalized hemp and there were no public crime labs in the state that had the testing ability to distinguish between the two plants, which are part of the same cannabis genus.

But that has changed, said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who oversees BCI and its crime lab.

BCIs new ability to differentiate between marijuana and hemp creates a valuable resource for officers who depend on our laboratory services, offered at no cost to them, Yost said in a statement.

Under Ohios new hemp law, which went into effect July 30, hemp can have only trace amounts -- no more than 0.3% -- of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical that produces the high. Anything above that is illegal in Ohio unless part of the state-regulated medical marijuana program.

Before the new equipment, cannabis was identified through chemical color testing and microscopic examination, said Steve Irwin, a BCI spokesman.

Weve got the staff and equipment in place to continue to process the cases, he said. Its just a different process.

Although numerous cities and courts dropped marijuana prosecutions after the hemp law went into effect, some still did continue to pursue the cases by sending evidence to private labs.

Yosts office provided law enforcement agencies $3,972 in grant funding to test samples in eight cases tied to over 20 felony charges.

The state provided $968,602 for drug testing equipment. To date, $700,000 has been spent on the instruments necessary to conduct quantitative analysis, Irwin said. The remaining money will be used for additional drug testing equipment.

BCI did significant research on instruments and methodology, including on other states (that test for THC levels), the National Institute of Standards and Technology, cannabis labs, and various vendors, Irwin said.

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein is not changing his policy to not pursue low-level marijuana cases, he said Thursday.

Our decision to stop prosecuting low-level, misdemeanor marijuana possession was based on many factors, including the lack of testing capabilities at the time, our city councils decision to institute a low-dollar fine for violations, and overall disparities and inequities in the criminal justice system," he said. "If anything, in light of the spread of the coronavirus in our jail and prison system, we believe our policy reflects a real-world approach that focuses on incarceration for only those that should be behind bars.

Other Ohio prosecutors feel differently, saying such testing is necessary to keep the state safe.

Since the legalization of hemp last summer, law enforcement has struggled to enforce Ohio marijuana laws due to an inability to distinguish between marijuana and hemp, said Louis Tobin, executive director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, in the statement. Expensive private testing was often the only solution.

Next, the state crime lab will work on testing for marijuana edibles, which Irwin said is more complicated since there are so many products.

Related coverage:

Marijuana and hemp in Ohio: Whats legal and whats not?

Gov. Mike DeWine signs bill legalizing industrial hemp, CBD products

Ohio General Assembly passes bill to legalize hemp and CBD products
The Bord na Mona (BNM) Group of Unions has condemned the decision of management at the semi-state company to attempt to proceed today with the removal of workers from its payroll.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: Management has decided to select workers unfairly and without any logic for removal from its payroll while it has allowed others access to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).

The BNM Group of Unions has instructed workers which the company has sought to remove from the payroll to report for work as normal today. We are calling on the company to adhere to the Government policy of using the TWSS to keep workers on payroll and in employment as much as possible. The position of the Group of Unions is that workers who want to exit voluntarily should be allowed to do so and that as many workers as possible are kept on payroll with the support of the TWSS.

Workers are particularly concerned that the CEO has informed employees that a decision on peat burning regulations expected from An Bord Pleanala on May 12 has nothing to do with the immediate impact of Covid-19. This will result in a situation where workers facing lay off in the event of a negative decision will be unable to avail of either the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or the TWSS.

He added: On Tuesday, the BNM Group of Unions brought to the attention of management that it had issued notice of lay-off to workers last week who supply peat to Derrinlough Briquette Factory in county Offaly and to Dublin Port. Those notices have now been withdrawn. We are also concerned that the ESB may be unable to utilise Shannon Bridge Power station next week, if needed, as the BNM workers required to supply it have been issued with notice of lay-off.

The BNM Group of Unions includes SIPTU, Connect Trade Union and Unite.
While the Snowden revelations opened journalists eyes to surveillance and ways to encrypt information, the cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) brought home how easy and how devastating it is to be hacked.

Between February and December 2019, I conducted thirty semi-structured interviews with journalists, information security technologists, and media lawyers from national and local news organizations in the United States, as well as individuals from nonprofit organizations and academic institutions. I selected the subjects via a snowball sample (in which I began with a small population of known individuals and then expanded the sample by asking my interviewees for suggestions of others to interview) because of the sensitivity of the topics discussed. Interviewees represented a wide variety of organizations in terms of sizes and cultures. The aim was to obtain a diverse sample that reflected a range of perspectives and practices among journalists and adjacent actors in the newsroom. I also interviewed individuals associated with nonprofit news organizations and academic institutions, including OpenNews, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and the New School, because of the interviewees experiences with information security or systems thinking at the organizational level.

In my new report for the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, The Rise of the Security Champion: Beta-Testing Newsroom Security Cultures, I examine the rise of information warfare, not just as a topic of reporting, but as an assault on newsrooms themselvesand the DNC hacks represent a major flash point.

Rising interest following the DNC hacks

According to a national security reporter, interest in information security among media professionals peaked again following the DNC hacks, partly because we all saw how relatively straightforward the hack was to start with, the phishing emails that were sent to people like Podesta. Weve all seen emails like that in our inboxesand just the huge damage and impact that could result from athoughtless click on one of these phishing emails.

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As one data journalist put it, the DNC hack was a wake-up call for journalists because even though it was simple, it was sophisticated. Its no longer the guy from Nigeria asking you for $5 million. Thats not what theyre doing anymore. Its much more sophisticated than that. Another journalist said that the DNC hacks should provide motivation to newsrooms to implement information security practices:

Have them recall what Russia did with the emails that they hacked from the DNC and then later from John Podesta. What they did was to weaken them institutionallythey published the most embarrassing, the most cringeworthy, and the most internally divisive things they could. Unless you make this [information security] your priority, its a matter of time before that happens to you.

Often, these concerns manifested in more journalists and sources being willing to download and use the encrypted messaging service Signal. A national security journalist said he saw an increase in the expectation that Signal would be used for communications from people he didnt know or expect would be interested in using it, and that this expectation surged in November 2016. I definitely remember a spike in using it after Trumps election, and I mean immediately after. Another journalist, who became the de facto information security trainer in her newsroom, said that the 2016 election was really a big wake-up call for a lot of people. Her newsroom already had some folks who were using ProtonMail. We started pushing folks pretty heavily toward Signal. And thenafter the new year, after the election, was when we really did, like, a big sweep. We taught everyone how to use Signal and taught everyone how to use ProtonMail. And then the following year, in 2017, we implemented SecureDrop.

An information security director for an investigative outlet agreed. He said that the election of Trump was a turning point for many journalists. I think that when Trump got electedeveryone was like, Oh, fascism is almost here.

Ongoing breaches

The increase in the number and scale of data breaches and scandals in recent years has also raised journalists awareness of the risks and repercussions of nonsecure practices by companies, agencies, and individuals. One cybersecurity reporter said the 2014 Sony hack in particular was a big catalyst that showed everyone that it could happen to anyone. He continued, I mean, were literally talking about a company that makes moviesno disrespect, but its not the NSA, its not the DNC. And they got all of their emails plastered on WikiLeaksit was a great case study for saying, Hey guys, this could literally be us next week. We need to take this seriously. 

Another shocking moment was the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Since then we have been asking some more pointed questions in the media, but also as citizens, just about the nature of these tech companies, an information security technologist said. Like, what kind of access do they have? Should they have that access? Under what circumstances should they have access to our personal data? I see people asking themselves about alternatives more than ever.

For other journalists, the regularity of these breaches has increased their awareness, as distinct from any one incident. Said another national security reporter, The steady drumbeat of slightly scary infosec stories has just made people much more aware in general that their data is probably fragile and slightly precarious and that people shouldnt automatically assume its secure.

Intensifying harassment and doxing

And, of course, there have been intensifying online harassment and doxing campaigns against journalists. Domestically, there has been, over the last two or three years, an increasing number of online threats, email threats, phone threats, usually targeting reporters who have for whatever reason made somebody unhappy, usually because of coverage of the Trump administration, said a media lawyer at an elite news organization. Sometimes its other topics, but it tends to be reflective of the partisan divide in the country today. And sometimes not directly Trump. It can be about perceptions of political correctness, about writing articles sympathetic about immigration or any of the other topics that tend to be hot-button ones.

Journalists across a range of beats receive threats, but female and minority journalists tend to be targeted more intensely and frequently. And journalists who cover local or national politics or extremism receive more sustained and severe abuse. A journalist at a local media organization said her managers started to care more about doxing once the news organization diversified its staff.

When I joined it was whiter than it is now, she said. And this isnt a problem that white people face as much as brown and black people do. You hire a bunch of people and they start complaining about it so youre suddenly hearing more.

This journalist soon found that whenever she had a story, regardless of whether it had to do with race or diversity, she would receive harassing emails. I finally told [my editor] that we needed to do something about it when I was doing stories that had nothing to do with any controversial topic, really. But people would still find a way to connect it with something.

Contributing to the likelihood of online harassment and doxing is the availability of ones personal information online. A cybersecurity reporter said that doxing was the most likely scenario for most journalistsbecause its easy to do and all it takes is angering a source or somebody connected to the source. And the damage can be very high, especially in terms of stress, remediation in terms of, like, maybe you have to worry about how you go home, what bus you take, what public venues you attend. He added that the danger has been underestimated for a long timebecause it seemed like it was something that gamers did against each othermaybe journalists thought they were off-limits, that no one would dox them. Maybe we got cocky or we got overconfident that no one cared about our lives. But we now know that thats not the caseand it seems like some journalist gets doxed or threatened to get doxedalmost every week.

This reporter said that part of the reason that doxing appears to be intensifying is because it is literally kids play and its challenging to know how to successfully counter it:

Theres no app that saves you from doxing. Its something that you have to sort of worry about all the time and defend against all the time. And the only way to do that is by having someone that keeps up with how doxing works and what to do to prevent doxing. And also, again, you need to train journalistsI guess, worry less about the NSA or Russia hacking your email and worry more about random people on the internet publishing your home address on Twitter.

Anyone can dox a reporter, and some journalists expressed concern that they could be targets for online harassment or doxing from upset sources. Said one reporter, Ive certainly pissed off sources, and not necessarily even sourcesbut people in that world who Ive been uncomfortable having pissed off. So far, he said, Ive been pranked, but not hacked.

DDoS, hacking, and source exposure

As in other cases, journalists and news organizations begin to care more about information security when they are targeted directly by distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks or nation-state hacking attempts. A couple years ago. We pissed somebody off on the internet, and our email system was hit by a denial-of-service and nobodys email worked, said one journalist and news apps developer. At that point, I think, at least at [our news organization] everybody started learning about secure alternative ways of communicating. People started to realize that we are vulnerable to threats like anybody else.

According to one information security technologist, nation-states and powerful individuals dont want to be written about, so they hire people to dig into who is writing stories about them, learning who they are and what their motivations might be in order to compromise them in different ways and to discredit them. Another information security technologist concurred. He said that nation-state actors like to have a leg up when it comes to understanding whether or not youre reporting on them, and if so, how? What do you know? Who are you talking to?

Cases in which sources have been exposed, arrested, or charged with espionage have also resulted in raised awareness and concern among journalists about the need to learn and successfully implement information security technologies. One security technologist said that his organization had sources who were charged with espionage, which was definitely a flag and a concern for journalists in the organization. Another cybersecurity reporter said, We dont want to do that. We dont want to be the next guy that exposes a source, who gets the source arrested.

Media lawyers said contemporary legal realities often left them out of the loop. When the government launches a leak investigation, They dont need to come to [the outlets being investigated], said one. They run into a variety of complications when they come to us, and theres the optics of it and everything else. I think that they would prefer not to, and if they dont need to, they dont.

Instead the investigations are more centered on looking at government employees own electronic footprints. Another media lawyer agreed: They dont bother subpoenaing us anymore, and I think thats because of information security reasons. They can just go get the data elsewhere. They can subpoena it from third-party providers. They can capture it using technological methods if reporters dont protect themselves.

Read the full report here.

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Jennifer R. Henrichsen is a PhD candidate at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. A former Fulbright research scholar, she has been a consultant to UNESCO and is a coauthor or coeditor of three books about journalism.
The coronavirus ground nearly all business in Canada to a temporary halt. Now its also threatening one of the nations main drivers of long-term growth: foreign students.

While Canadian universities are still admitting international students for the fall, theres growing unease among applicants over the halt in travel and visa processing.

Asfar Lathif recently accepted an offer from the University of British Columbia masters program in genome science. But the 21-year-old, who lives in Chennai, India, is worried about getting all his approvals in time since its been difficult to gather the necessary documents amid government shutdowns.

Its a problem. With the COVID-19 situation, Im finding it difficult to get through the study permit process, Lathif said. I am hoping lockdown is over before July.

There were more than 642,000 foreign students in Canada at the end of last year, helping power the biggest increase in immigration in more than a century. Encouraged by Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus open-door policies, the flood of newcomers has won praise as a form of human stimulus. Any reduction could worsen the economic blow from the pandemic.

The government, which had been planning to increase immigration levels until the virus hit, has stopped issuing student visas while shutdown restrictions remain in effect. That means any foreign student accepted into a Canadian education program will have to remain in their home country until further notice.

A date for resuming visa service will depend on how the pandemic develops. But even once the government begins processing them again, its possible a cohort of students will choose to take a semester off or a gap year.

Its not just going to be a function of regulatory barriers but also a willingness of people to cross borders, Andrew Agopsowicz, an economist at Royal Bank of Canada, said by phone. I would not be surprised to see declines in international enrollment in the fall if this continues.

The 2019 foreign student tally marked a 13 per cent increase from the prior year and a 95 per cent jump since 2014. Overall, the country took in a net 488,000 people from abroad last year, driving the fastest population growth in three decades.

Many Canadian universities say its too early to tell whether enrollment figures will drop, with final numbers not due until classes start in September. McGill University in Montreal is among those that have pushed deadlines for students to confirm admission back to June 1, while others like the University of Toronto and UBC have kept their May 1 cutoffs.

Memorial University in St. Johns has been fielding calls and emails from foreign students about whether theyll be able to get their study permits, travel to Canada and attend in-person courses. Its those questions that we dont necessarily have hard and fast answers to because they are so dependent on the public health situation, said Sonja Knutson, director of Memorials internationalization office.

Lathif said he is considering delaying his arrival at the Vancouver school until January if the situation doesnt improve. Students like him are crucial to Canadas higher educational institutions as they pay higher fees. They make up more than a fifth of the post-secondary student body and bring in close to $6 billion ($4.3 billion U.S.) in tuition annually, according to a Royal Bank of Canada report.

Theyre also seen as a natural pipeline into the Canadian labor force. International students contribute $21 billion annually to the nations economy, according to government data. India was the top country of origin for students, with a total of 139,740 study permits issued last year. China, South Korea and France rounded out the top four.

Modi call

The issue is being discussed at the highest levels of government in both Canada and India. Trudeau spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday about the pandemic and the agenda included Indian students already in Canada and those hoping to arrive this year, according to New Delhis envoy in Ottawa.

High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria has been in touch with federal authorities, the provinces and universities regarding the study permit concerns of incoming students. In terms of intention, Canada continues to be very welcoming, he said in an interview Wednesday.

Trudeau has announced a series of measures aimed at helping post-secondary students who face declining employment opportunities this summer. A monthly stipend is available and students can also get paid for volunteer work, but those programs apply only to citizens and permanent residents. Limits on the number of hours international students can work while classes are in session, however, have been lifted.

Schools are stepping in to fill the gaps. The University of Toronto has provided over $2.3 million in emergency bursaries to more than 2,000 students and is working on offering micro grants over the summer that would allow them to get paid for doing COVID-19 related work. Other universities are offering virtual job fairs and online career-planning discussions for students.

One of the priorities of the university is to keep them engaged as best we can, said Joseph Wong, U of Ts vice-provost of international student experience. Our skilled labor market is dependent on international talent having been educated here. So for the Canadian economy, its critical.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Thursday criticised regional chiefs for defying the government and lifting lockdown measures early, saying it risked undoing efforts to prevent a second coronavirus wave.

He also rebutted opposition accusations that he was robbing Italians of their constitutional rights.

Initiatives involving less restrictive measures are contrary to national rules and are therefore to all intents and purposes illegitimate, Conte told parliament.

Regions south of Rome have suffered relatively few deaths from Covid-19 and local officials have been among the most vocal opponents of the two-month shutdown.

Calabria in the south allowed bars and restaurants with outside tables to open to the public on Thursday.

But areas of the north have also begun to open up.

Veneto region, which was among the first to be hit by the virus but has suffered far fewer deaths than neighbouring Lombardy, lifted a range of restrictions including on takeaways, pizzerias and some shops on Monday.

We cannot allow the efforts made to be in vain because of rashness at this delicate stage. Moving from the policy of lets close everything to lets reopen everything, would risk irreversibly compromising these efforts, Conte said.

While some businesses have been allowed to reopen, the lockdown will not begin to be lifted nationwide until May 4 and even then it will happen gradually over a series of weeks.

Freedom

Conte said officials would carry out some 150,000 tests in May to see how many people were developing antibodies to fight the virus. An app to trace contacts between potentially infected people would be voluntary, he said.

Evidence of a rise in infections could lead to restrictive measures being reintroduced locally.

The virus reproduction number (R0) in Italy was currently between 0.5 and 0.7 -- meaning 10 virus sufferers infect between five and seven other people. Should it rise again to 1.0, intensive care units would once again be overwhelmed, he said.

Contes speech to the lower house was delayed after opposition members complained that the prime minister was not wearing a mask.

The League party, whose members took off their own obligatory masks, forcing the speaker to temporarily suspend the session, spent Wednesday night occupying both chambers of parliament.

The far-right partys head Matteo Salvini has accused Conte of extending the lockdown because it was the easy option and stripping Italians of their fundamental freedoms.

He has said his party was deliberating whether to join grassroots protests called for Saturday.

Conte said the accusations were profoundly unjust and the saving of lives was a primary good that trumped other rights.

His lockdown may be unpopular but it was not an electoral programme designed to please anyone, he said.
NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --



The impact of COVID-19 on food safety testing market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.6% in terms of value.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05889779/?utm_source=PRN







The realistic COVID-19 impact on the global food safety testing market is estimated to be valued at USD 10.5 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 12.3 billion by 2021, recording a CAGR of 16.6%. Growing concerns among consumers for processed food due to the outbreak of COVID-19 across the globe will increase the security and safety of food products, thus driving the food safety testing industry growth.

 By testing technologies, the DNA-based segment accounted for the larger share in 2019.



The DNA-based segment accounted for a majority share in the food safety testing market. DNA-based technology is used to manufacture multiple copies of genetic materials of microorganisms.This helps in testing the contamination of food products in less duration of time. Due to its ability to test multiple targets simultaneously,it is an effective technology resulting in the segment accounting for a significant share in the food safety testing industry.



By targets tested, the pathogen segment in the impact of COVID-19 on food safety testing market is estimated to account for the larger share.



Based on the targets tested, the market is segmented into pathogen, GMO, mycotoxin, and allergen.The pathogen segment is estimated to account for the larger share of the market,because of growing consumer concern towards pathogen outbreaks. The illness triggered by the prevalence of pathogens in food can be range from mild to severe. Hence, the demand for pathogen testing is expected to rise due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

North America accounted for the largest share of the food safety testing industry, due to the stringent regulations to control the outbreak of food-borne diseases.



The impact of COVID-19 on the food safety testing market in the North American region is driven primarily by growing consumer awareness toward the safety of food products.The region is also among the largest consumers of packaged and processed food. Strong investment in R&D and technological advancements for laboratories and test kits are expected to have a positive impact on the food safety testing industry in North America.

The COVID-19 impact on the food safety testing marketis segmented region-wise, with a detailed analysis of each region. These regions include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific,and RoW (South America, the Middle East, and Africa).



Break-up of Primaries

 By Company Type: Tier 1 -45%, Tier 2 -30%,and Tier 3 -25%

 By Designation:C-level - 25%,D-level -40%, and Others*-35%

 By Region:Asia Pacific - 55%, Europe - 20%, North America - 15%,and RoW**- 10%

*Others include sales managers, marketing managers, and product managers.

**RoW includes South America, the Middle East, and Africa.



Leading players profiled in this report include the following:

 Eurofins (Luxembourg)

 SGS (Switzerland)

 Intertek (UK)

 Bureau Veritas (France)

 TUV SUD(Germany)



Research Coverage

This report segments the impact of COVID-19 on the food safety testing market, based on testing technologies, targets tested, and region. In terms of insights, this research report focuses on various levels of analysescompetitive landscape, end-use analysis, and company profileswhich together comprise and discuss the basic views on the emerging & high-growth segments of the food safety testing industry, high-growth regions, countries, industry trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.



Reasons to buy this report

 To get a comprehensive overview of the impact of COVID-19 on food safety testing market

 To gain wide-ranging information about the top players in this industry, their product portfolio details, and the key strategies adopted by them

 To gain insights about pessimistic, realistic, and optimistic scenarios of COVID-19 impact on the food safety testing market.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05889779/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Indian cinema lost two of its gems in a span of 24 hours. Bollywood and fans are heartbroken. Veteran Bollywood star Rishi Kapoor has passed away at the age of 67 and his sudden demise, a day after Irrfan Khan's death, has left everyone devastated.

Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time in 2018. Following this, he was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment.



Twitter

Rishi Kapoor died this morning, his brother Randhir Kapoor told the Press Trust of India on Thursday morning.



The 67-year-old actor had been admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Wife Neetu Kapoor was by his side.



indulgexpress.com

From Bollywood stars to fans and politicians, everyone is mourning the death of the veteran star.

In past 24 hours we have been Robbed off some great future performances of these two.

I guess God is Launching a New project up there & he needed our Best two actors for it @chintskap @irrfank #RIPLegends pic.twitter.com/haRLyBpe5u  Pradyumna Upadhyaya (@SargasmicNinja) April 30, 2020

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

It seems like were in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, its heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family   Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 30, 2020

Heartbroken ... Rest In Peace ... my dearest friend #RishiKapoor  Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 30, 2020

Just cant believe this. Woke up to the shocking news of #RishiKapoor Ji passing away. Condolences to the Kapoor family. We will miss you Rishi Ji.  Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) April 30, 2020

Saddened to hear that my senior schoolmate at Mumbai's CampionSchool, Rishi Kapoor, whom i competed with in "inter-class dramatics" in 1967-68, has gone to a better world. From the romantic hero of "Bobby"to the mature character actor of his last films, he evolved remarkably. RIP pic.twitter.com/9eyzE0qP38  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 30, 2020

The world is truly depleted with #RishiKapoor ji gone. Deepest condolences to Ranbir and Neetuji, and the whole Kapoor family.@chintskap Sir's 2nd innings was definitive of a new wave in Indian cinema. To lose both @irrfank & him in 2 days feels like a hard kick in the chest.  VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) April 30, 2020

This is heart breaking. #RishiKapoor   Vir Das (@thevirdas) April 30, 2020

It's shocking to hear about the sudden demise of #RishiKapoor ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.  May his soul rest in peace  pic.twitter.com/pAfOGhdzm0  Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) April 30, 2020

Dear Universe, Please find a way to get us out of this adversity.A beautiful, encouraging soul, phenomenal actor is gone. You will be fondly remembered #RishiKapoor Sir   Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (@Ashwinyiyer) April 30, 2020

Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 30, 2020

The sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti  Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) April 30, 2020

Saddened to know veteran actor #RishiKapoor has passed away. It is a devastating news for his family, friends & fans. My heartfelt condolences to his close ones. May they find strength in this most difficult time. He would always be remembered for his iconic roles...  Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 30, 2020

No way ! I dont want to believe this news !!!! Heartbroken @chintskap Rishi uncle no more!  RIP   Esha Deol (@Esha_Deol) April 30, 2020

Both tragedies have happened in ths terrible time of corona & it is too much to digest.Such a wonderful actor,Rishi, snuffed out just whn we thot he was recovering.Sad tht we cannot pay our last respects to this lovely person.We are all with the Kapoors in spirit in ths tragedy  Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) April 30, 2020

Cant believe it. Chintu ji @chintskap. (Mr.Rishi Kapoor) was always ready with a smile. We had mutual love and respect. Will miss my friend. My heartfelt condolence to the family.  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 30, 2020

Cant believe it. Chintu ji @chintskap. (Mr.Rishi Kapoor) was always ready with a smile. We had mutual love and respect. Will miss my friend. My heartfelt condolence to the family.  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 30, 2020

This is unreal and unbelievable. Yesterday Irrfan Khan and today Rishi Kapoor ji. It's hard to accept this as a legend passes away today. My condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace   Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) April 30, 2020

I'm at an absolute & total loss for words.Holding this phone in disbelief. Yesterday Irrfan and now .... Gutted , sad , heartbroken .I truly believed you'll come out of this .You will be missed , Sir . RIP . Om Shanti.  Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) April 30, 2020

Unspeakable grief. Another legend passes away! Blessed to have worked briefly with #RishiKapoor sir in Aurangzeb -a great actor, he was as engaging a ranconteur! An artist whose craft grew & sustained across generations! #RIP sir!

There cannot will not be another like you! pic.twitter.com/IOCcqWS35p  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) April 30, 2020





In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.



Post return to India, Kapoor's health had frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to hospital in quick succession in February. Amid speculations about his health, he had been hospitalised in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi.
A 25-year old male patient has died from coronavirus infection in Lagos State, Akin Abayomi, the commissioner for health, has said.

Mr Abayomi, a professor, said the deceased was brought in at a state of breathlessness due to the severity of the coronavirus infection.

He did not say whether the patient had underlying medical conditions before his death.

We regret to announce additional #COVID19 related death involving a 25year old male who at the time of admission was in a state of severe breathlessness.

Total number of #COVID19 related deaths in Lagos is now 20,  the Commissioner said via his Twitter handle.

It is the first death from COVID-19-related ailment in Lagos this week.

Mr Abayomi urged Lagos residents to remain committed to observing necessary precautionary measures to stop COVID19 infection.

He advised residents to be vigilant and report any concern about COVID-19 infection in communities to the Ministry of Health using the toll-free line; 08000CORONA.

As of Thursday, Lagos has 947 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 722 active cases, 187 discharged cases, two evacuated cases, 16 transferred cases, and 20 deaths.

On Wednesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled details of how the month-long lockdown would be eased, starting from May 4.
In a conference call on Thursday, the attending congressional physician, Brian P. Monahan, told GOP senators that his office does not have enough tests for every senator every day, the way the White House does with anyone coming in close proximity to President Trump. The physician will continue the practice of limiting tests to those showing symptoms of the disease, according to a Republican who was on the call and requested anonymity to speak freely.
Instead of making Jeff Bezos even richer, try out the Good e-Reader Bookstore.

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Good e-Reader has recently launched the Good e-Reader Bookstore, an online bookstore that stocks hardcovers, paperbacks, ebooks and audiobooks by publishers and authors that are well known. Many of the titles are current or former bestsellers, appearing on the New York Times Bestseller list or are considered trending and topical. Currently, Good e-Reader has a library of over 30,000 titles. Instead of making Jeff Bezos even richer, try out the Good e-Reader Bookstore.

The Good e-Reader Bookstore has a main page, where curated books are updated once a week. This includes New and Notable, Featured, Best Books of the Month and New York Times Bestsellers. Readers can also engage in the robust search engine that will assist in finding a specific title or author. The category system is also available, to look for books that matches a customers favorite genre or sub-genre.

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If a customer is looking for the latest book, by an author they know, the Good e-Reader Bookstore is the only choice. It is a store you can trust, brought to you directly from the staff at Good e-Reader, who know books better than anyone.

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Today

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High around 75F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 77F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Hubble, NASA's Space Telescope has been into Earth's orbit in 1990.

In 2020, 30 years later, it is still operational and functional, and still telling us more about the universe than we ever knew.

In a YouTube video of #AskNASA, Sr Project Scientist of Hubble, Jennifer Wiseman reveals how there is so much more than the Hubble telescope is still telling us.

While its earliest discoveries were how a comet crashed into Juipet, its still continuing to tell us new stuff, including expansion of dark matter, 30 years later.

Hubble is controlled from NASA's space Godard center and communicates with the telescope by transmitting commands.

Wiseman also explains how Hubble captures images and colours which is beyond the range of human eyes, including colours like infrared and ultraviolet parts.

At the 30 years mark, NASA explains how Hubble is still revolutionizing modern astronomy for scientists, while taking the public on a wondrous journey of exploration and discovery. Hubble's never-ending, breathtaking celestial snapshots provide a visual shorthand for Hubble's top scientific achievements.

Unlike any space telescope before it, Hubble made astronomy relevant, engaging and accessible for people of all ages. The space telescope's iconic imagery has redefined the view of the universe and our place in time and space.

You can watch the full video below.
The Chinese diplomat was reporting with some satisfaction on his countrys action in containing the Wuhan outbreak. My diary records our meeting as being on February 6, early in the crisis. Yes, thats fine as it goes, I remember saying, but there is the question of how it all started. And beyond a full accounting for its early management, Chinas role is clear: it must close every last remnant of the trade in wild animal meat.

A wet market in Macau, China. Live animals, including wildlife, are often sold in such markets. Credit:Getty Images

Wet markets are a misnomer. It's the wild meats that are the most likely villain. Getting to the origins and early management of the crisis  and insisting that Beijing enforce bans on wild meat in every last county and city  is an entirely legitimate goal of Australian diplomacy. But every diplomatic goal presents us a spectrum of means to advance it. Once again we have settled on the clumsiest and find ourselves out in front of every Western country.

Once again we look like diplomatic amateurs with only one international personality: not a roaring lion, but a puppy rolling over to have our tummy tickled by our great ally, after being sent yapping around the yard to return with the rubber bone.
Rishi Kapoor, a widely popular film actor from one of Bollywoods most celebrated families, died on Thursday in Mumbai. He was 67.

The family confirmed his death in a statement, which did not list a cause. Mr. Kapoor learned he had leukemia in 2018 and was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The news rocked India just a day after the death of another Bollywood figure, the character actor Irrfan Khan.

[Read the obituary for Irrfan Khan here.]

Mr. Kapoor was best known as a romantic hero, and his charm and charisma quickly made him one of Bollywoods leading men of the 1970s and 80s. He later began taking on more supporting roles and character parts.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc cut its dividend for the first time since at least the Second World War as the oil slump triggered by the coronavirus pandemic reshapes the energy industry.

The surprise move is the latest illustration of how the international spread of the deadly disease is causing the biggest upheaval for generations. Energy consumption is undergoing a historic plunge, as is GDP growth in many countries. The global economy that emerges from the other side of the crisis may look very different.

This is a big moment in the history of Shell and the oil industry. The company was by far the biggest payer in the FTSE-100, providing a reliable income to millions of pension fund investors. The two-thirds reduction in its dividend to 16 cents a share -- much worse than many investors wanted or expected according to Redburn analyst Stuart Joyner -- underscores the gloomy outlook for the year.

EARNINGS: Exxon freezes dividend for first time in 13 years

It is of course a difficult day, but on the other hand its also an inevitable moment, Shell Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. We have reset our dividend to a level we believe is affordable.

The pandemic will result in lasting changes to the worlds energy consumption and its hard to say if oil demand will ever return to levels seen in 2019, van Beurden said.

Slashing Shells once-sacrosanct payout is a significant U-turn for van Beurden. Only three months ago, he touted the high dividend as a key attraction for shareholders and said he wouldnt cut it.

I think lowering the dividend is not a good lever to pull if you want to be a world-class investment case, so were not going to do that, the Shell CEO said on Jan. 30.

LOSSES: KBR posts first loss in years on oil & gas downturn

Big Oil has long been synonymous with big payouts. Take that away and it becomes harder to justify investing in an industry whose core business needs to change drastically if the world is to prevent damaging climate change.

The worlds top international listed companies have already stopped share buybacks. Now Shell has reduced a payment that many long-term investors had come to view almost as an annuity, while also opening the door for other oil majors to do the same.

The move dramatically changed the investment proposition of Shell. An attractive dividend yield north of 10% has dropped to 3.8% -- on a par with companies such as retailers that can struggle to attract shareholders. Shell B shares fell as much as 9.2% and were 8.6% lower at 1,326 pence as of 1:09 p.m. in London.

Shell took the decision because it faces a crisis of uncertainty about energy consumption, prices and maybe even about the viability of some of its assets, van Beurden said. The dividend cut was based on quite a bleak scenario and we dont know what will be on the other side of this pandemic.

Weak earnings in the first three months of the year are expected to be followed by an even tougher second quarter as lockdowns all over the world cause a historic slump in demand. Shell warned that its refineries and chemical plants may run at about 70% of capacity and upstream oil and gas production could fall by as much as a third.

FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox

BP Plc and Eni SpA already reported big drops in profit and growing financial stress. Exxon Mobil Corp. has frozen its dividend for the first time in 13 years, but until Thursday only Norways Equinor ASA had gone as far as cutting its payout.

This is the new normal. Shell looks to be preparing for a prolonged downturn and wants to maintain its financial health, said RBC analyst Biraj Borkhataria. In the long term, it could be seen as a positive move allowing Shell to pivot more easily through the energy transition, and not be tied to a $15 billion dividend to service each year.

Not Prudent

The Anglo-Dutch companys shareholder returns were already looking unaffordable before the virus hit. The company said in January that it had slowed the pace of its share buyback program and was unlikely to hit its $25 billion target this year. In March, it announced the cancellation of the next tranche of purchases as the severity of the pandemic became clear.

Shareholder returns are a fundamental part of Shells financial framework, Chairman Chad Holliday said in a statement. But in the current circumstances the board believes that maintaining the current level of shareholder distributions is not prudent.

Shell defended the dividend cut as an unavoidable decision due to the unforeseen pandemic. However, its critics have long warned that the company was too leveraged after its 2016 acquisition of BG Group, a big natural gas producer. Despite the high level of debt, the board approved the share buyback program, further straining the balance sheet.

The problems have been building for a while, said Alastair Syme, oil analyst at Citigroup Inc. All roads lead back to the high price paid for BG and the burden that this acquisition put on the companys financial structure.

Shell will save $10 billion annually from the dividend cut, having already taken measures to make $14 billion of savings this year, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Will Hares.

The companys adjusted net income was $2.86 billion in the first quarter, down 46% from a year earlier but exceeding the average analyst estimate of $2.29 billion. Estimates had been revised significantly down since March, when the pandemic began to accelerate.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Dozens of Louisiana's philanthropic organizations have begun pooling their efforts to try to steer money to where it is needed most during the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael Tipton, president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Foundation, said the coordination began organically about six weeks ago and has grown to include as many as 90 organizations, which so far have accounted for more than $50 million in community relief efforts.

"Most states have a philanthropic coordinating organization but Louisiana does not," which left a need for some kind of forum to help organizations avoid overlap and to share best practices, said Tipton.

He said there are now about 40 organizations, running the gamut from well-known groups like United Way, to corporate giving units of Exxon Mobil or Hancock Whitney, to family foundations like those for the Wilson and Pennington families, that have been holding weekly conference calls since mid-March to help direct funds and highlight opportunities in different parts of the state.

There has been an outpouring of community relief efforts as the crisis has hit individuals and families in myriad ways, from leaving people jobless and short of food, to families without the technology needed to allow their children to participate in remote schooling.

On Wednesday, Hancock Whitney, which has been participating in the coordination effort, said it would be making another $2.5 million available for community relief efforts.

The bank said $1 million will be directed at local food pantries; $800,000 will be for housing relief, including money for legal services to organizations like Southeast Louisiana Legal Services to fight illegal evictions; and another $600,000 will be for personal protective equipment for residents in low-income areas.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

John Hairston, Hancock Whitney's president and CEO, said it was important that the companies and organizations that are able to give find ways to get those funds to the right groups.

"We didn't want this to be just us standing in a parking lot handing out masks or anything like that," he said. "We're going to depend on the organizations that are already doing this and know how to make a dollar go a long way."

Denise Durel, president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Louisiana, points to another way the coordinating effort has paid off for the nonprofit, which is itself a coalition of charitable organizations.

On a call two weeks ago, she talked about an initiative with T-Mobile whereby low-income families are able to get home internet and an eight-inch tablet for $10 a month.

Durel said she was able to connect a half dozen other organizations helping families in other parts of the state with Dan McGovern, who is running the program out of New Orleans for Louisiana, Mississippi and Houston.

Tipton said the effort during the current crisis should be a catalyst for a more formal coordinating forum in future.

"I had been talking with a few colleagues about the need for this before all this," he said.

"We had thought we should try to get people together once or twice a year," he said. "But I think now our intention would be that we'll continue these weekly calls for as long as it is needed and then evolve this into formal, consistent gatherings for the future."
Stay Connected Ministries Helps Hospital Patients

In a move to help coronavirus victims, Stay Connected Life Ministries, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and local organizations recently partnered with Best Buy to donate 200 cell phone chargers to Centinela Hospital Medical Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital.

The Rev. Douglas E. Nelson, pastor of True Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles and president of Stay Connected Life Ministries, spearheaded the initiative to help patients stay in contact with family, friends and loved ones while in quarantine.

Nelson said he experienced being disconnected first hand when an 81-year-old church member was quarantined after contracting the virus. I received a call from one of my members who had just been checked in to the hospital with the virus, Nelson recalled. We were praying and she explained to me she was in the hospital without her Bible and as we were praying, the phone died.

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After a week of calling her and trying to connect, I finally heard back from her. She had been released from the hospital and was sent home to finish up her quarantine. She said she did not have a charger and as a result had no way to stay in touch with anyone, he said.

The experience made the pastor realize that there was a need that no one was addressing or even considering. So, Nelson called on 20 pastors and fraternity leaders, from Ohio to Texas to Arizona and throughout Southern California, and they agreed with him that this was an important issue to work on together.

Among the national and statewide ministries collaborating with Stay Connected Life Ministries were WHW Ministries, Inc., the California Southern Baptist Convention, the Western Baptist State Convention, and the National American Mission Board.

Pastor Gregory Perkins of The View Church and a leader in the California Southern Baptist Convention said, We are pleased to join Pastor Nelson and Stay Connected Life Ministries in this effort. I also had a member contract COVID-19 and Pastor Nelsons counsel and experience helped me to advise my member on how to survive and remain connected to me and her family.

Mohammad Abdelnaser, interim CEO of Centinela Hospital Medical Center, said, While these items are small, this is a very big donation for us because they will be used long after COVID-19 has passed.

And the impact will reverberate because there is not a time in the lives of our patients where they dont desire to be connected to their loved ones. We are so pleased to receive this donation, he added.

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Nelson encouraged people that are interested in donating to visit the website at stayconnectedlife.com. With so many African Americans and Latinos being so disproportionately affected by this virus, it is paramount that our friends and family members dont die or suffer alone, but are connected to us, he insisted.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attended the April 22 inauguration of a number of national projects in Sinai designed to boost the countrys economy amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The projects include the last phase of drilling for the strategic Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel 2 in the Suez Canal. It is the fifth tunnel to be constructed beneath the canal, to link Sinai, an area of 60,000 square kilometers or about 6% of Egypts territory, with the rest of the country.

The tunnel was named after an Egyptian general who was killed while crossing the Suez Canal with his soldiers during the October War against Israel in 1973. The other four tunnels are located in the Ismailia and Port Said coastal governorates.

Sisi also attended the opening of the Mahsama water treatment plant in the northeastern city of Ismailia, east of the canal.

The inauguration of these national projects coincides with the 38th anniversary of Sinai Liberation Day, April 25. Israel occupied Sinai during the Six-Day War in 1967. When Egypt defeated Israel in 1973 six years later, President Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a peace treaty in which Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula in stages. April 25, 1982, marked the departure of the last Israeli forces from the peninsula.

Days before the projects opened, local media outlets were busy talking about the controversial articles published in Al-Masry Al-Youm, written by founder Salah Diab under the pseudonym Newton. Diab had proposed the isolation of Sinai from Egypt and allowing it to select its own ruler as a free industrial zone not subject to Egyptian laws.

Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation stated that the paper had violated the Egyptian Constitution, Egypt's laws and codes of ethics, as well as negatively impacted the countrys cohesion. The council fined the newspaper 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($15,835) and referred the case to the public prosecutor.

Sisi said during the April 22 inauguration ceremony that those who are talking about Sinai should be aware about what the state has achieved there in the past six years. He said that the state has spent 600 billion Egyptian pounds ($38 billion) on Sinai infrastructure projects, highlighting the states commitment to reconstructing Sinai.

Our national security is not valued in money, he said. Sisi also encouraged investors and businesses to invest in Sinai.

Businessman Mohamed Farag Amer told Al-Masry Al-Youm April 23 that he is very pleased with what the president said about the achievements and plans that have been implemented in Sinai.

The Egyptian state did the impossible in Sinai, especially in the agriculture and investment sectors, Amer said.

Mutasim Rashed, an economic adviser at the Egyptian Federation of Investors Associations, told the newspaper there are many fields ripe for investment in Sinai, especially agriculture such as fish farming and the production of olives and medicinal herbs.

Economists hailed the national projects in Sinai, saying they will have a positive impact on the Egyptian economy.

The development of Sinai is a major focus within the framework of the states general strategy to improve its infrastructure, provide new job opportunities for the youth and attract investors, economist Rashad Abdo, head of the Egyptian Forum for Economic and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor.

The development of Sinai is an important means to fight terrorism, Abdo added.

North Sinai has witnessed a number of terror attacks since 2012, when late President Mohammed Morsi took over. After he was ousted in 2013, the attacks gradually decreased.

Sisi has made an infrastructure revolution in Sinai to link it to the rest of the country after it was a hub for terrorists, Abdou said, adding that Sinai will soon be inhabited by millions of Egyptians in search of a better future.

Among the projects implemented in North Sinai in the last two years are the construction of 11 integrated residential agricultural development clusters, the new city of Rafah, the construction of a desalination plant in el-Arish city and the an industrial complex in the Jafafa area.

Passant Fahmy, an economist and member of parliament's economic affairs committee, told Al-Monitor that such megaprojects send an important message both inside and outside Egypt.

For the Egyptians, it gives them hope that life goes on and reassures them about their future after the coronavirus [crisis]. For the world, it shows the country can face and manage crises, Fahmy said. She went on, The necessary protection measures needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic are severely impacting economies worldwide. But I am in totally agreement with the states plan of continuing working in parallel with taking precautionary measures to save peoples lives.

Fahmy explained, Life must go on. I believe that continuing the work, despite the risk, is better for people than locking the country and facing death due to lack of food.

On April 1, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization warned in a joint statement of potential global food shortages if governments fail to manage the crisis appropriately. Many countries have imposed lockdowns on their populations to limit infections, but the measures have also decreased international trade and affected food supply chains.

Sinai is rich in tourism, agriculture, industry, mining, pastures and sheep. Inaugurating such important projects means that the state is aware of the importance of that area for its economy and for the future generations. I expect that the future will be great, Fahmy added.
Srinagar, April 30 : A teenager was killed in Pakistani shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Thursday.

According to sources, 16-year-old Gulfaraz was killed in the Mankote area, while Zaffer Iqbal, 35, sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.

There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC over the last few weeks. It has been targeting defence positions and civilian areas in Mendhar, Kasba and Kirni sectors of Poonch.

Indian Army says it is giving a befitting response to Pakistani aggression.
As it teased earlier in the week, NASA has awarded contracts in its quest for a Moon landing  and its a big win for the upstarts in the spaceflight industry. The administration has chosen Blue Origin, SpaceX and IT firm Dynetics to compete against each other in developing lunar landing systems for the Artemis program. Blue Origin received the largest award due to its significant early progress, receiving $579 million, while Dynetics team-up with Sierra Nevada earned it $253 million. SpaceX received $135 million to help with its Starship-based project.

The contracts last through February 2021 and task the companies with performing initial demonstration missions. After that, NASA will pick at least two of the companies to develop more mature systems on its way to final landing hardware.

Its equally notable whos missing. While NASA has typically leaned on more established companies like Boeing for contracts, theyre no-shows in this process. The space agency didnt tell the Washington Post why Boeing wasnt on the shortlist, but its Starliner and SLS woes didnt help matters. NASA clearly wasnt convinced by the companys proposed landing system.

Whichever projects succeed, the companies involved will be under a lot of pressure. NASA and the White House still want a crewed Moon landing by 2024, even with a wary Congress and the COVID-19 pandemic potentially influencing plans. Thats not a lot of time to develop and test a lunar landing project even with some of the work already done. Still, the competing companies are known for being agile compared to incumbents  they might stand the best shot at success.
The condition of North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un has been making headlines recently. His absence in many major events and the lack of response from the regime amidst rising several speculations have fueled rumors that the dictator is not in good shape.

According to a latest development on the Supreme Leader's current state on Tuesday, which came from a South Korean and U.S. sources, Jong-Un may be sheltering from coronavirus resulting to his disappearance from the public eye.

The speculations about the dictator's deteriorating health first sparked when he missed making an appearance in the rogue state's most important holiday, The Day of the Sun, which is also the birthday of North Korean founder and his great grandfather, Kim Il Sung.

In a statement by Kim Yeon-Chul, South Korean Unification Minister, he said that it is possible that the dictator did not attend the said celebration due to the threat of coronavirus, despite the fact that the regime has repeatedly insisted that the country has not been invaded by the deadly disease.

Yeon-Chul also added that despite the fact that Jong-Un never missed a Day of the Sun celebration since he took over the regime, many anniversaries and celebrations have already been canceled in the country due to concerns over coronavirus. He also said that he does not believe that it is unusual given the current health crisis.

Where is Kim Jong-Un?

In addition to Yeon-Chul's statements, a source who is familiar with US intelligence also said that there have been credible reports to the U.S. government suggesting that Jong-Un's train may be in Wonsan because that is where the dictator is hiding from the virus.

However, U.S. government experts said that they lack evidence that could prove the said claims. But they stated that this is more plausible than the media reports which suggest that the dictator is currently gravely ill.

Both the South Korean Minister and the U.S. government view the reports that Jong-Un went through a heart procedure that has gone awry as fake news.

Read also: Missile Testing Accident Left Kim Jong-Un Gravely Injured, Reports Say

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump also said that he has a good view of the North Korean leader's current state and that he hopes that he is fine but did not give further information. The following day, he was asked by a reporter regarding his comments, but he refused to give any more details saying he just wished the dictator well.

According to Yeon-Chul, Jong-un has also disappeared from the public eye for nearly 20 days in the past, the latest happening in mid-January. Based on reports, Jong-un was last seen on April 11 when he presided over a meeting.

Moreover, South Korean officials said that they have not detected any unusual movement in the rogue state and have disagreed with reports which claim that the dictator is gravely ill.

According to Reuters, there have been reports last Saturday claiming that China sent a team of medical experts to North Korea to see the Supreme Leader, however, there is no evidence which indicates that the trip had something to do with his health condition.

Related article: Kim Jong-Un's Sister Gets Promoted Among Pyongyang's Elite, Fuels Rumors of the Dictator's Demise

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Sudhir Srinivasan By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Something about Irrfans very being  from his films, from his interviews  seemed always to radiate a wisdom from beyond our world, a joy that surpassed the mundane. His bulbous eyes hinted always at a profundity that in eclipsing the limits of the material he worked with, he somehow managed to improve it.

Those eyes seemed to hold a thousand emotions that could rise and fall as he willed, sometimes within mere seconds, sometimes at once. He could play a dacoit (Paan Singh Tomar) and somehow, not evoke hate. He could play the madcap owner of a dinosaur theme park (Jurassic World), and somehow, make the job seem relatable. He could help murder someone (Maqbool), and somehow, evoke empathy. This was possible because in playing one of us in a film, he somehow managed to fill the character with every one of us.

Is it a surprise then that his passing away feels as personal  like a reminder of our own mortality? Actors, even if we think otherwise, are mortals too, and like us, are forced to leave this world. Their filmography is often intertwined with our lives, serving as milestones of change. Maqbool (2003), The Namesake (2007), Slumdog Millionaire (2008), The Lunch Box (2013), Qissa (2015), Piku (2015), Hindi Medium (2017) Such films dotted our lives, tracing our highs and lows. While we mourn the death of most actors by sinking into nostalgia before swiftly moving on, Irrfans passing away doesnt feel like a distant loss. This is because his value isnt only in the excellence of his performances.

His value stems from some of his personal choices too. His regular downplaying of the importance of fame, for one. Or how he stands as a contemporary example of how Bollywood success neednt always be inherited. Or how about the fact that his excellence spanning years doesnt suffer the stain of a single controversy?

In describing good actors, the word effortless is often easily used. If this word werent so overused, it would be a fitting summary of Irffan as an actor. He could communicate grief, joy, confusion, surprise, elation, reflection without ever being fussed. In Shoojit Sircars Piku, he sells a heart full of love and vulnerability, as they say, effortlessly. Akshay Kumar (who acted with him in Thank You), mentioned this facet in an interview. As Akshay described Irffans ease in performance, the latters understated response  a beautiful mixture of pride and humility  is why hes as loved, as missed.

Fame and greatness aside, he remained till the end a person who had the ability to laugh in the face of danger. Upon learning of his cancer diagnosis, he wrote, Little did I know that my search for rare stories would make me find a rare disease. This is rare humour from a person rarer still. This loss hurts, and its only appropriate that we take refuge in a line from one of his own films: I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.
Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia has reported improved first quarter profit but said the COVID-19 pandemic dented sales by around EUR200 million (USD 218 million) mainly due to supply issues associated with disruptions in China.

The company based in Espoo, Finland, reported Thursday net profit of 33 million euros for the January-March period, in comparison to a loss of 116 million euros the previous year. Sales were down 2 per cent at 4.9 billion euros.

CEO Rajeev Suri said Nokia didn't see a decline in demand in the first quarter but noted that as the coronavirus situation develops an increase in supply and delivery challenges in a number of countries is possible and some customers may re-assess their spending plans.

Nokia is one of three main providers of the ultra-fast, new-generation 5G networks along China's Huawei and Sweden's Ericsson. Suri said Nokia expected the COVID-2 impact into its operations to be largest in the second quarter, noting that our industry is fairly resilient to the crisis, although not immune.

The COVID-19 crisis has made vividly clear the critical importance of connectivity to keep society functioning. We're continuing to advance our 5G roadmap and product evolution, as planned, and our COVID-19 mitigation actions in R&D have been very successful. Nokia said it has now recorded 70 commercial 5G deals with 21 live networks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, we've asked readers what they most want to know about its impact, prevention and treatment. This is an answer to some of those questions.

When is COVID-19 most contagious? When are you no longer considered contagious?

People sickened by COVID-19 are most infectious when they are showing symptoms, including fever, coughing and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But new research confirms that those without symptoms are playing a significant role in spreading the virus. A study of cruise ship passengers found that nearly 18% of them tested positive and had no symptoms. State of Minnesota and University of Minnesota researchers modeling the pandemic's effects now estimate that one infected person is spreading it to as many as four others. That's up from two to three transmissions per infected person, reflecting the greater role of asymptomatic transmission, according to Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

That's why public health officials recently changed guidelines on masks to suggest that people who are out in public should wear a homemade mask to lower the chances that they will make someone else sick.

The virus is still thought to be primarily transmitted by breathing in the respiratory droplets released by an infected individual.

"Person-to-person transmission occurs when an individual with the infection emits droplets containing virus particles while coughing, sneezing, and talking," according to a recent article published on the Journal of the American Medical Association website.

The virus can also exist on surfaces. "Survival of the virus on innate surfaces has been an important topic of discussion. While there are few data, the available evidence suggests that the virus can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces at room temperature for up to 9 days," the JAMA article said. That's why it is important to wash your hands and try to avoid touching your face.

After a person recovers, it is unclear how long they remain contagious. Genetic material of the virus may be detectable up to two weeks after infection, but that "does not necessarily mean that infectious virus is present," according to the CDC.

Is there an average length for COVID-19 illness to run its course?

It really depends on how bad the symptoms are and whether any serious complications develop. "About 80% are mildly to moderately symptomatic," said Dr. Timothy Sielaff, chief medical officer at Allina Health. "That can mean fever, cough, muscle aches and lethargy, which last a few days and improve over several more; typically 2 weeks or so."

These mild cases can recover at home because there is no treatment for COVID-19.

When complications develop, such as pneumonia, hospital care may be needed so doctors can monitor symptoms and provide support to stabilize the situation and hopefully keep things from getting worse.

"Severe illness can last longer especially if hospitalization or intensive care is needed; on the order of 3-6 weeks," said Sielaff.

What is the criteria is to be listed as "recovered?" Do they assume if your fever and cough is gone you're recovered?

The Minnesota Health Department so far has kept in contact with all people who have tested positive. Each case differs, so recovery depends on the guidance provided by a doctor or a public health official. But generally, people are considered recovered when the symptoms go away.

"If you are sick, we are asking people to stay home for at least seven days and you need to be fever free for at least three days without the aid of fever reducing medications," said Kris Ehresmann, infectious disease director at the Health Department.

The World Health Organization considers two negative COVID-19 tests taken 24 hours apart to be part of its official definition of recover, but a shortage of tests makes that difficult.

"It will be useful to the individual and the community to have negative testing to confirm, but we do not have enough tests available right now," said Dr. Timothy Sielaff, chief medical officer at Allina Health.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Cambodian NGOs and opposition figures are urging government authorities to demand that Vietnam remove a string of military shelters set up in a disputed border area, calling the tents presence on the border an attempt to encroach on Cambodian territory.



The nine shelters, housing from five to six Vietnamese soldiers each, were discovered on April 26 by Cambodian police patrolling the border in Kandal province, who asked that the tents be taken down.



Vietnam has meanwhile remained silent on the issue, though soldiers present on the border said they had been stationed there to guard against illegal border crossings amid fears of the spread of coronavirus.



Cambodia Watchdog Council member Rong Chhun told RFAs Khmer Service on Thursday that Vietnams presence in the disputed border region is an attempt to invade Cambodian territory, and urged the government to quickly build infrastructure and increase patrolling in the area.



The government needs to ask for [international] intervention in this matter and file a complaint with the signatories to the Paris Peace Accord, Rong Chhun said, referring to the 1991 agreement ending a war between Cambodia and then occupier Vietnam.



We must do this to resolve the dispute and protect our territorial sovereignty, he said.



Also speaking to RFA, Muong Sonypresident of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Associationblamed weak government policy for what he called Cambodias failure to defend its border with Vietnam.



We can see that the government has no clear policy to defend our borders, so Vietnam is always able to encroach, he said, adding that he will lead a delegation to visit the disputed area this weekend.



Meanwhile, former opposition party lawmaker Um Sam An, who once served a prison term for his Facebook postings criticizing government handling of the border issue, said Cambodia should clearly define its border using a map prepared by former colonial power France.



We want the Vietnamese to remove their tents, and we need to demarcate the border using the French map, he said. France was the colonial ruler of both countries from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries.



Investigation continues



Replying on the Telegram messaging service to a request by RFA for comment, Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhon said on April 29 that his Ministry will consider filing an official protest over the border issue after he has concluded an investigation.



We are awaiting reports from the relevant ministries and institutions so that we can make the appropriate diplomatic response, he said, adding, These kinds of events happen from time to time.



Unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam have sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh.



In June 2015, activists from Cambodias now-banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) were attacked by Vietnamese villagers when they went to inspect an area in Svay Rieng province where they said a road built by authorities in Vietnams Long An province had encroached into Cambodian territory.



A joint communique signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 stipulates that neither side can make any changes to border markers or allow cross-border cultivation or settlement pending the resolution of outstanding border issues.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Platform and Technology Revenue Increases 1% Year over Year to 67% of Total Revenue

RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Issuer Direct Corporation (NYSE American:ISDR) (the "Company"), an industry-leading communications and compliance company, today reported its operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Brian Balbirnie, CEO of Issuer Direct, commented, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ended the quarter making it a priority to protect our employees, their families and our communities. Our work from home process began in mid-March and still remains in effect and likely will continue throughout Q2. Our employees have done an outstanding job not only ensuring our current customers continue to receive excellent care but also gaining new customers, both for our platform as well as entirely new products developed to address this global emergency."

"Q1 2020 is the final quarter we are reporting a year-over-year revenue comparison against prior year revenues that include a full quarter of the discontinued press release commentary business. Removing the $335,000 of discontinued commentary business revenue from Q1 2019 our total revenue during the first quarter of 2020 grew 4% year over year and our ACCESSWIRE revenue grew 36%. We are pleased that our Q1 2020 EBITDA increased 11% and net income grew by 10% year over year."

Mr. Balbirnie concluded, "We have done a good job pivoting several areas of our business, to address customers' needs during this challenging time. Specifically, we upgraded our conference platform and refocused our annual meeting business to take advantage of new business opportunities in response to the coronavirus. Neither of these products had a robust virtual component prior to March, but our teams quickly delivered solutions that will become an important part of our business for the foreseeable future. While in-person events may not be held for many months, our newly enhanced product platforms allow investor conferences to be held virtually and annual shareholder meetings to be done in a remote, real-time, compliant manner. We believe revenue from these offerings will help offset revenue loss from other segments of our business during this uncertain period."

First Quarter 2020 Highlights:

Revenue - Total revenue was $4,016,000, a 4% decrease from $4,179,000 in Q1 2019 and a 1% increase from $3,959,000 in Q4 2019. Platform and Technology revenue increased 1% from Q1 2019 and 1% from Q4 2019. The increase in Platform and Technology revenue was due to an increase in revenue from subscriptions of Platform id. Platform & Technology revenue increased to 67% of total revenue for Q1 2020, compared to 64% for Q1 2019. Services revenue decreased $183,000, or 12%, primarily due to a decrease in revenue from transfer agent services, print and proxy fulfillment services due to a one-time project in the prior year and continued decline of revenue from our ARS services.

- Total revenue was $4,016,000, a 4% decrease from $4,179,000 in Q1 2019 and a 1% increase from $3,959,000 in Q4 2019. Platform and Technology revenue increased 1% from Q1 2019 and 1% from Q4 2019. The increase in Platform and Technology revenue was due to an increase in revenue from subscriptions of Platform Platform & Technology revenue increased to 67% of total revenue for Q1 2020, compared to 64% for Q1 2019. Services revenue decreased $183,000, or 12%, primarily due to a decrease in revenue from transfer agent services, print and proxy fulfillment services due to a one-time project in the prior year and continued decline of revenue from our ARS services. Gross Margin - Gross margin for Q1 2020 was $2,763,000, or 69% of revenue, compared to $2,877,000, also 69% of revenue, during Q1 2019 and $2,653,000, or 67%, in Q4 2019. Platform and Technology gross margin was 74%, compared to 75% in Q1 2019 and 71% in Q4 2019.

- Gross margin for Q1 2020 was $2,763,000, or 69% of revenue, compared to $2,877,000, also 69% of revenue, during Q1 2019 and $2,653,000, or 67%, in Q4 2019. Platform and Technology gross margin was 74%, compared to 75% in Q1 2019 and 71% in Q4 2019. Operating Income - Operating income was $248,000 for Q1 2020, as compared to $147,000 during Q1 2019. The increase in operating income despite the decrease in gross margin is the result of lower operating expenses. General and Administrative Expenses decreased $145,000, or 11%, due to a decrease in bad debt expense and a decrease in acquisition related expenses incurred in Q1 2019. Product development expense decreased $143,000, or 42%, due to a decrease in headcount.

- Operating income was $248,000 for Q1 2020, as compared to $147,000 during Q1 2019. The increase in operating income despite the decrease in gross margin is the result of lower operating expenses. General and Administrative Expenses decreased $145,000, or 11%, due to a decrease in bad debt expense and a decrease in acquisition related expenses incurred in Q1 2019. Product development expense decreased $143,000, or 42%, due to a decrease in headcount. Net Income - On a GAAP basis, net income was $226,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, during Q1 2020, compared to $205,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, during Q1 2019.

- On a GAAP basis, net income was $226,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, during Q1 2020, compared to $205,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, during Q1 2019. Operating Cash Flows - Cash flows from operations for Q1 2020 were $602,000 compared to $536,000 in Q1 2019.

- Cash flows from operations for Q1 2020 were $602,000 compared to $536,000 in Q1 2019. Non-GAAP Measures - Q1 2020 EBITDA was $622,000, or 15% of revenue, compared to $558,000, or 13% of revenue, during Q1 2019. Non-GAAP net income for Q1 2020 was $397,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to $518,000, or $0.13 per diluted share, during Q1 2019.

- Q1 2020 EBITDA was $622,000, or 15% of revenue, compared to $558,000, or 13% of revenue, during Q1 2019. Non-GAAP net income for Q1 2020 was $397,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to $518,000, or $0.13 per diluted share, during Q1 2019. Stock Repurchase Plan - The Company repurchased an additional 21,700 of its shares at a total aggregate value of $202,000, under the Company's $2,000,000 share repurchase program originally announced on August 7, 2019 and increased on March 16, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, we have purchased a total of 97,780 shares under the stock repurchase plan.

Key Performance Indicators:

During the quarter, the Company worked with 1,473 publicly traded customers, compared to 1,482 during the same period last year.

During the quarter, the Company worked with 1,289 privately held customers compared to 764 during the same period last year.

During the quarter we signed 30 new Platform id. subscriptions to new or existing customers with a total annual contract value of $181,000.

subscriptions to new or existing customers with a total annual contract value of $181,000. Total Platform id. subscriptions as of March 31, 2020 were 273, with an annual contract value of $2,098,000, compared to 255 subscriptions with an annual contract value of $2,033,000 as of December 31, 2019.

Non-GAAP Information

Certain Non-GAAP financial measures are included in this press release. In the calculation of these measures, the Company excludes certain items, such as amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation, integration and acquisition costs, the impact of discrete items impacting income tax expense and tax impact of adjustments. The Company believes that excluding such items provides investors and management with a representation of the Company's core operating performance and with information useful in assessing its prospects for the future and underlying trends in the Company's operating expenditures and continuing operations. Management uses such Non-GAAP measures to evaluate financial results and manage operations. The release and the attachments to this release provide a reconciliation of each of the Non-GAAP measures referred to in this release to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered a substitute for the corresponding GAAP financial statements and investors should evaluate them carefully. These Non-GAAP financial measures may differ materially from the Non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

CALCULATION OF EBITDA

($ in "000's)

Three Months ended March 31, 2020 2019 Amount Amount Net income: $ 226 $ 205 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 374 412 Interest expense (income) (58 ) (72 ) Income tax expense 80 13 EBITDA: $ 622 $ 558

RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

($ in "000's, except per share amounts)

Three Months ended March 31, 2020 2019 Amount Per diluted share Amount Per diluted share Net income: $ 226 $ 0.06 $ 205 $ 0.05 Adjustments: Amortization of intangible assets (1) 172 0.04 191 0.05 Stock-based compensation (2) 45 0.01 137 0.03 Integration and acquisition costs (3) - - 112 0.03 Tax impact of adjustments (4) (46 ) (0.01 ) (92 ) (0.02 ) Impact of discrete items impacting income tax expense (5) - - (35 ) (0.01 ) Non-GAAP net income: $ 397 $ 0.10 $ 518 $ 0.13

1) The adjustments represent the amortization of intangible assets related to acquired assets and companies.

2) The adjustments represent stock-based compensation expense related to awards of stock options, restricted stock units or common stock in exchange for services. Although the Company expects to continue to award stock in exchange for services, the amount of stock-based compensation is excluded as it is subject to change as a result of one-time or non-recurring projects.

3) The adjustments represent legal and accounting fees and other non-recurring costs in connection with the acquisition of VisualWebcaster Platform.

4) This adjustment gives effect to the tax impact of all non-GAAP adjustments at the current Federal rate of 21%.

5) The adjustments eliminate discrete items impacting income tax expense. For the period ended March 31, 2019, the discrete items relate to either the excess stock-based compensation benefit recognized in income tax expense during the period.

Conference Call Information

To participate in this event, dial approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call.

Date: April 30, 2020

Time: 4:30 PM ET

Participant: 877-407-8133 | 201-689-8040

Live Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/842/34408

Conference Call Replay Information

The replay will be available beginning approximately 1 hour after the completion of the live event, ending at midnight eastern on May 14, 2020.

Toll-free: 877.481.4010

International: 919.882.2331

Reference ID: 34408

Web replay: http://www.issuerdirect.com/earnings-calls-and-scripts/

About Issuer Direct Corporation

Issuer Directis an industry-leading communications and compliance company focusing on the needs of corporate issuers. Issuer Direct's principal platform, Platform id. , empowers users by thoughtfully integrating the most relevant tools, technologies, and services, thus eliminating the complexity associated with producing and distributing financial and business communications. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, Issuer Direct serves thousands of public and private companies globally. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "prospects," "outlook," and similar words or expressions, or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "should," "would," "may," and "could," are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, performance, or achievements for many reasons including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Company disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, a future event, or otherwise. For additional risks and uncertainties that could impact the Company's forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, including but not limited to the discussion under "Risk Factors" therein, which the Company filed with the SEC and which may be viewed at http://www.sec.gov/ .

For Further Information:

Issuer Direct Corporation

Brian R. Balbirnie

(919)-481-4000

brian.balbirnie@issuerdirect.com

Hayden IR

Brett Maas

(646)-536-7331

brett@haydenir.com

Hayden IR

James Carbonara

(646)-755-7412

james@haydenir.com

ISSUER DIRECT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

March 31, December 31, 2020 2019 ASSETS (unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 16,197 $ 15,766 Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $534 and $700, respectively) 2,172 2,051 Income tax receivable - 48 Other current assets 241 141 Total current assets 18,610 18,006 Capitalized software (net of accumulated amortization of $2,323 and $2,153, respectively) 964 1,134 Fixed assets (net of accumulated amortization of $213 and $181, respectively) 867 899 Right-of-use asset - leases 2,053 2,127 Deferred tax asset 294 256 Other long-term assets 67 77 Goodwill 6,376 6,376 Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $5,109 and $4,937, respectively) 3,343 3,515 Total assets $ 32,574 $ 32,390 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 383 $ 266 Accrued expenses 1,060 1,151 Note payable - short-term (net of discount of $13 and $19, respectively) 307 301 Income taxes payable 374 310 Deferred revenue 1,879 1,812 Total current liabilities 4,003 3,840 Deferred income tax liability 137 141 Lease liabilities - long-term 2,226 2,309 Total liabilities 6,366 6,290 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. - - Common stock $0.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 3,772,700 and 3,786,398 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. 4 4 Additional paid-in capital 22,117 22,275 Other accumulated comprehensive income (loss) 24 (16 ) Retained earnings 4,063 3,837 Total stockholders' equity 26,208 26,100 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 32,574 $ 32,390

ISSUER DIRECT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2020 2019 Revenues $ 4,016 $ 4,179 Cost of revenues 1,253 1,302 Gross profit 2,763 2,877 Operating costs and expenses: General and administrative 1,216 1,361 Sales and marketing expenses 896 820 Product development 194 337 Depreciation and amortization 209 212 Total operating costs and expenses 2,515 2,730 Operating income 248 147 Interest income, net 58 71 Income before income taxes 306 218 Income tax expense 80 13 Net income $ 226 $ 205 Income per share - basic $ 0.06 $ 0.05 Income per share - fully diluted $ 0.06 $ 0.05 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic 3,788 3,850 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - fully diluted 3,824 3,869

ISSUER DIRECT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2020 2019 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 226 $ 205 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 374 412 Bad debt expense 93 224 Deferred income taxes (42 ) 6 Non-cash interest expense 6 7 Stock-based compensation expense 45 137 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable (219 ) (869 ) Decrease (increase) in other assets 32 (273 ) Increase (decrease) in accounts payable 118 254 Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses (105 ) 218 Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue 74 215 Net cash provided by operating activities 602 536 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of VisualWebcaster Platform - (2,788 ) Purchase of fixed assets - (6 ) Net cash used in investing activities - (2,794 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Payment for stock repurchase and retirement (203 ) - Net cash used in financing activities (203 ) - Net change in cash 399 (2,258 ) Cash - beginning 15,766 17,222 Currency translation adjustment 32 (3 ) Cash - ending $ 16,197 $ 14,961 Supplemental disclosures: Cash paid for income taxes $ 10 $ 37 Non-cash activities: Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities $ - $ 260

SOURCE: Issuer Direct Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587462/Issuer-Direct-Reports-First-Quarter-2020-Results
Across the globe, refugees are trying to settle into new surroundings and are running into new challenges thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

But too often news coverage of refugee issues doesnt include the peoples own voices. We coordinate the Refugees in Towns project, which is a network of refugee researchers and humanitarian workers who we train to conduct research and then write about their experiences in the cities where they live.

We asked members of our network to tell us how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting their lives. Here are dispatches from South Africa, Serbia, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Denmark and Jordan, written by our refugee researchers and aid workers.

Denmark

Denmark hosts 39,000 refugees and asylum seekers, from countries such as Syria, Iraq and Somalia. Abdullah, a Syrian refugee in Aarhus, wrote:

The Ministry of Health has published fliers and educational videos in multiple languages to help refugees understand the new rules (ed: about the coronavirus). The Danish Refugee Council used Facebook to help refugee students with their homework by matching them with local volunteers. Refugees took initiatives  through social media groups created to translate information, news and new rules.

Refugee parents with kids in school experience new challenges with remote teaching, and try to use the (refugee council) groups to help. My friend Reem told me about her difficulties communicating with her daughters school through the school app because it is in Danish.

The refugees and the Danes say the coronavirus crisis is creating a kind of unity among people. It shows how the world is interconnected and everybody learns lessons about taking care of each other.

Zimbabwe

In recent years, some of the people who fled Zimbabwe during then-President Mugabes dictatorship have begun returning. But the economy, power supply and health care system are all in desperate straits. Tash came back to Zim 17 years after her family was forced to leave their farm during Mugabes expulsions of white farmers. She wrote from Harare:

Story continues

Zim has been in lockdown now for three weeks and only critical industries like food stores and farming are allowed to operate. The government is applying the rules to both formal and informal sectors, which is a relief. Many people are concerned about our dilapidated health system, but I think we could prevent a major outbreak if people continue to take the lockdown seriously  which they have been doing, amazingly. Social media has reached the rural population.

Perhaps because our economy is so broken, shutting down has not had such a big impact. Our private sector is good at self-regulating and caring for their employees. Many businesses gave hand sanitizer and masks to their workers and some even closed before the lockdown so their staff wouldnt have to risk travel on public transport. Businesses and money transfers dont require physical transactions  things continue through WhatsApp. If anything, the shutdown has made life easier, with less pressure on ZESA (Zimbabwe Electrical Supply Company), we have had power all week!

Most people dont have the means to panic-buy so the shops are still in good stock. People dont stress about finding fuel (we are only allowed within 5 km radius; the police check and arrest people who go beyond) and many people are walking as they have the time. However, I feel removed living in the suburbs with a pantry full of food.

Serbia

Serbia has almost 9,000 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who are seeking to move deeper into Europe but are stuck in Serbia. Our Serbian researcher, Teodora, wrote from Belgrade, with a description of how aid organizations, known as NGOs, stopped working after the pandemic began:

Almost all humanitarian NGOs withdrew from the field, the Commissariat and one NGO in Belgrade are the only ones working. MSF (Doctors Without Borders) have also withdrawn  they were providing showers and laundry for migrants who live outside reception centers. Migrants in reception centers have water and soap, but not gloves and masks (except what they sew themselves). Lots of people live in a same room (up to 10). They are completely isolated and not able to go anywhere. There are often demonstrations and sometimes violent protests organized by migrants in reception centers. They dont understand that Serbian people are in quarantine too, and the shops are closed. So, they are angry, thinking that they are simply victims of racism (which is not completely untrue).

Canada

Canada has resettled thousands of Syrian refugees. One of them, Noor, reflected on what the pandemic and lockdown is like for refugees living with past trauma and psychosocial problems:

Its not like the war; the war was easier. When we were in Syria, we knew where the attacks would be, and we could move or hide. Not with a virus  We cant see it. We dont know where the danger is. During the war we didnt isolate (ourselves).

South Africa

South Africa hosts almost 273,000 refugees and asylum seekers from different African countries, including Zimbabwe, Somalia and Eritrea. Barnabas, a Zimbabwean university student living in Makhanda, wrote:

The best decision I made this year was to move out of the university residence. When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced South Africas lockdown the university administration ordered those in residence to vacate in less than 24 hours. International students were ordered to leave even though there were hardly any flights and some countries were already under lockdown. There was panicking and anxiety among us, even though we were eventually allowed to stay.

Since the lockdown, I have remained holed up at my place. Videos of soldiers and the police kicking those who have dared to walk on the streets during the lockdown have been circulating on social media. As an immigrant, I would not want to be on the streets.

Many immigrants work as Uber drivers and waiters, but Uber service is barred, and those depending on tips have no income. Most spaza shop (an informal convenience store) operators in the townships are Somalis and Ethiopians. However, when the Minister of Small Business Development announced which shops should remain open, it was only shops owned by South African nationals, and only they would be compensated for losses. That means immigrants will struggle to raise money to rent the premises they occupy in townships.

Its interesting how unity has emerged among Zimbabweans here. They are usually a divided community, but now they are mobilizing resources using social media groups like 'Zimbabweans in Cape Town and helping each other buy food and pay rent.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica officially has 37,000 refugees and asylum seekers, but so-called irregular migrants, many from African countries, fly to a South American country, then travel north and transit Costa Rica en route to the U.S. On March 18, the government closed its borders and began enforcing strict controls. Michelle, an aid worker in San Jose, wrote:

Im pretty annoyed with border controls and government double talk, its obvious that when they close borders many migrants are going to transit through the blind spots. The president has ordered that any migrant resident that leaves the country in the next months will lose [their residence] condition, i.e. permission to be in the country.

As of March 22, the migration police have deported 511 migrants across the northern border with Nicaragua. At the southern border with Panama, the government accepted 2,600 African and Haitian migrants and took them to a detention center in the north, because Costa Rican authorities apparently could not contain the flow.

Jordan

Jordan hosts some 745,000 mostly Syrian refugees. This is a high number, but not as high as Lebanon, which hosts some 1.5 million Syrian refugees. More than 80% live outside refugee camps, in Jordans towns and cities. Ruby, a Jordanian aid worker in Amman, writes:

Prices of essential items have increased with serious consequences for both refugees and poor Jordanians. The Jordanian government has set price ceilings for essential goods like groceries and announced penalties for noncompliance. Some landlords show understanding and have accepted delaying rents for the current month. Some restaurant owners provide free meals for volunteer youth  Students continue their education through the electronic platforms launched by the Ministry of Education, and through the private TV channel, but some Syrians struggle to pay for internet cards.

[Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.]

<p>Este articulo se vuelve a publicar de <a href="http://theconversation.com/es?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link0&utm_content=article-136925">The Conversation</a>, un medio digital sin fines de lucro dedicado a la diseminacion de la experticia academica.<p> <p><strong>Lee mas:</strong><br><ul><li><a href="http://theconversation.com/support-for-refugees-increases-when-refugees-participate-in-integration-programs-99270?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link0&utm_content=article-136925">Support for refugees increases when refugees participate in integration programs</a></li><li><a href="http://theconversation.com/are-syrian-refugees-a-danger-to-the-west-113803?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link1&utm_content=article-136925">Are Syrian refugees a danger to the West?</a></li></ul></p>

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
We've documented here Tara Reade's allegation that Joe Biden, when still a powerful senator, sexually assaulted her in the Senate building. The fact that she has told the same story over the years  rather than inventing it now for political or monetary advantage  gained credence when a recording turned up of her mother calling into the Larry King show in 1993 to ask for advice about a daughter wronged by a powerful senator. The credibility factor shot up even more when two people who knew Reade in the mid-1990s confirmed that she told them back then about the alleged assault.

Biden hasn't spoken up about the allegations, nor has anyone in the mainstream media asked him directly. Currently, according to BuzzFeed, the Biden campaign is pushing talking points claiming that the New York Times has absolved him of wrongdoing:

"Biden believes that all women have the right to be heard and to have their claims thoroughly reviewed," the talking points read, according to a copy sent to two Democratic operatives. "In this case, a thorough review by the New York Times has led to the truth: this incident did not happen."

The Times, however, says these talking points are inaccurate:

A New York Times spokesperson says Biden campaign talking points inaccurately suggest that the Times investigation found that Tara Reades allegation did not happen. Response to this scoop from @rubycramer @RosieGray https://t.co/ZUD6f2WSEE pic.twitter.com/LNaHvH0ZxF  Jonathan Easley (@JonEasley) April 29, 2020

I would side with Biden on this one. When the Times finally addressed Reade's allegations, the reporters went out of their way to dismiss her. As I wrote:

The article isn't journalism. It is, instead, a brief for the defense in a legal case. The Times is cleaning up after a candidate who has a long history of peculiar and creepy behavior around women and little girls. Rather than "believing all women," it's an effort to show that Reade is a liar and a Putin pawn. Indeed, the Times is so desperate to salvage Biden's reputation against charges of sexual impropriety that it stealthily edited the article after publication to remove language that initially acknowledged creepy Joe's sexually abusive propensities.

Here's a tweet showing that infamous edit:

In other words, while the Times reporters couldn't actually absolve Biden of sin, they came as close to doing that as they could. The Biden camp can be forgiven for thinking the Times was helping him out.

The Times wasn't the only one giving Biden a pass. With reporters finally, reluctantly, catching up with the story, outlets such as The Daily Beast are acknowledging that women's groups have been peculiarly silent about Reade's allegations.

Other outlets are even more aggressively challenging Biden. Damon Linker, a writer notoriously hostile to Trump and Republicans, wrote an article about the way Reade's allegations threaten Biden's campaign. In it, he linked to a 2008 article in the leftist CounterPunch about Biden's abusive sexual habits:

Vanity is the most conspicuous characteristic of US Senators en bloc, nourished by deferential acolytes and often expressed in loutish sexual advances to staffers, interns and the like. On more than one occasion CounterPunch's editors have listened to vivid accounts by the recipient of just such advances, this staffer of another senator being accosted by Biden in the well of the senate in the week immediately following his first wife's fatal car accident.

Further evidence that Democrats are trying to disentangle themselves from Biden while they can still finagle some way to anoint another person as the Democrat presidential candidate can be seen in a Washington Post editorial calling on Biden to address the allegation directly, in a Times report about women's rights groups and other activists demanding to hear from Biden, and a surprisingly hard-hitting Don Lemon interview with veep wannabe Stacey Abrams in which he asks her about the allegations. There is an alternative spin, though, for what Lemon was doing. He might have been giving Abrams a chance to recite the party line to reinforce it with credulous viewers. If that was Lemon's goal, he failed, for Abrams looked ridiculous trying to ignore the allegations and contort herself into believing Biden and complying with #MeToo requirements:

If I were a betting woman, I'd say that this is the beginning of the end for Biden. I also wonder whether Michelle Obama is considering stepping in. If not Michelle, I imagine an Amy Klobuchar/Pete Buttigieg ticket because those two are not hardcore socialists, they meet some identify politics metrics, and both managed to make it to the final rounds of the Democrat primaries.

At day's end, there's something terribly ironic about the fact that the Democrats thought they could destroy Trump because he talked about the fact that women let powerful men "grab 'em by the p----" (that is, consensual), only to nominate a powerful man who grabbed a woman by the p---- entirely against her will.
The Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) has proudly announced that it has opened its 2020 Bursary and Scholarship program for application.

Now in its 14th year, the GRAS Scholarship/Bursary program is designed to provide financial assistance for students residing in Wellington and Perth Counties, and the Region of Waterloo. Students who are entering, or currently enrolled in, college or university agricultural programs in the field of agriculture or environmental related programs are eligible to apply.

This year, more than ever, we are hoping to support students with the cost of their higher education," comments Paul Walker, President of the Grand River Agricultural Society. "We know that in light of the COVID-19 outbreak many students have been left without summer jobs that they rely on to support the cost of schooling, and we want to do everything we can to help.

GRAS will present awards of up to $2,500 in 2020. Since its inception in 2006 the Grand River Agricultural Societys Bursary/Scholarship program GRAS program has awarded $216,500 to 118 students.

The program, launching this week, is open until July 1, 2020 and awards will be announced in mid August.

For additional information, click here.

The scholarship and bursary program is one of GRASs many philanthropic commitments. For application information or more information on other programs please visit www.grandriveragsociety.com/giving or reach out to [email protected].

For ongoing information and updates follow GRAS @grandriverag on Facebook.

(GRAS)
EventBot has the potential to access key business data, including financial data. Mobile malware is no laughing matter and it is a significant risk for organizations and consumers alike, said Assaf Dahan, Senior Director, Head of Threat Research, Cybereason.

Cybereason, creators of the award-winning Cyber Defense Platform today, unveiled new research from its Nocturnus Research team, titled 'EventBot: A New Mobile Banking Trojan is Born,' an investigation into new Android mobile malware targeting users of more than 200 financial apps, including banking, money transfer services and crypto-currency wallets. EventBot is targeting the users in countries across Europe and the United States.

EventBot is a new type of Android mobile malware that Cybereason has been investigating since March 2020. EventBot abuses Androids accessibility features to steal user data from financial applications, read user SMS messages and steal SMS messages to allow the malware to bypass two-factor authentication. The more than 200 financial apps targeted include: Paypal Business, Barclays, UniCredit, CapitalOne UK, HSBC UK, Santander UK, TransferWise, Coinbase and many more.

Cybereason believes EventBot could be the next influential mobile malware because of the time the developer has already invested into creating the code and the level of sophistication and capabilities is really high. By accessing and stealing this data, Eventbot has the potential to access key business data, including financial data. Mobile malware is no laughing matter and it is a significant risk for organizations and consumers alike, said Assaf Dahan, Senior Director, Head of Threat Research, Cybereason.

Organizations can protect themselves from the growing mobile threat by improving their security hygiene, launching a security awareness training program and these additional measures, including:



Keep your mobile device up-to-date with the latest software updates from legitimate sources.

Keep Google Play Protect on.

Do not download mobile apps from unofficial or unauthorized sources. Most legitimate Android apps are available on the Google Play Store.

Always apply critical thinking and consider whether you should give a certain app the permissions it requests.

When in doubt, check the APK signature and hash in sources like VirusTotal before installing it on your device.

Use mobile threat detection solutions for enhanced security.

About Cybereason

Cybereason, creators of the leading Cyber Defense Platform, gives the advantage back to the defender through a completely new approach to cybersecurity. Cybereason offers endpoint prevention, detection and response and active monitoring. The solution delivers multi-layered endpoint prevention by leveraging signature and signatureless techniques to prevent known and unknown threats in conjunction with behavioral and deception techniques to prevent ransomware and fileless attacks. Cybereason is a privately held, international company, headquartered in Boston, MA with customers in more than 30 countries.

Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/

Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Media Contacts:

Bill Keeler

Senior Director, Global Public Relations

Cybereason

bill.keeler@cybereason.com

(929) 259-3261
An image from the drone light show that happened over University City this week. Read more

A high-tech light show lit up the skies over University City on Tuesday night to thank front-line workers in the fight against the coronavirus.

The show was designed by the drone light show creator Verge Aero, which is based at the University of Pennsylvanias Pennovation Works offices and labs. The fast-flying drones formed images of medical symbols, a flattening curve, a waving American flag, a ringing Liberty Bell, the LOVE sign, and the message Thank u heroes."

Part of the local #PhillyShinesBlue campaign and the international #LightItBlue campaign, the show featured about 136 illuminated drones whizzing 400 feet over Franklin Field, according to Pennovation Works.

The display was staged close to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Childrens Hospital of Pennsylvania, and its creators said they hoped doctors, nurses, and health workers across the city would see it.

The show was planned to ensure maximum visibility for those inside the hospital and allow them to view the show while maintaining social distance, Verge Aero CEO Nils Thorjussen said in a statement. There was no advance publicity. We flew the show solely for these heroes and wanted them to enjoy it in a safe environment without crowds.

The show was coordinated with officials from the university and nearby hospitals with helipads. The Federal Aviation Administration was also on site to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

The show occurred just hours after the Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds staged an aerial tribute to thank health-care workers in the Philadelphia area.
HENDERSON, Nevada, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BRK, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC: BRKK) the Company wishes to inform its shareholders that Michael Kovacocy has been appointed Director of Recapitalization and Restructuring initiatives and Investor Relations. This follows the successful implementation of the first part of BRK's turnaround plan, in which Mr. Kovacocy played a key role as an advisor and capital markets intermediary. In light of current market conditions, the expected continued effects of the coronavirus on the economy and the capital markets and as a sign of respect and alignment to shareholders, Mr. Kovacocy has offered to work for the shareholders of BRK for a yearly cash sum of $50,000, with total compensation being weighted towards equity remuneration. Daniel Serruya, CEO of BRK, commented, " I would like to welcome Michael to the BRK team and thank him for his critical efforts to date. He is fully aligned with our mission of delivering both shareholder value and market leading products into a challenging marketplace."

The Company is also pleased to announce that difficult and onerous debt has been extinguished allowing for a declining outstanding share profile over the near term, supported by previously announced buyback efforts. This has been accomplished through various credit and cash injections stemming from collaborations with new strategic partners on more favourable terms. Daniel Serruya further commented, "In the upcoming months, BRK expects to execute its previously announced spin off and shall be updating shareholders regarding news on both historical litigation and expected monetary recoveries and new developments on operational initiatives in its core hardware, broadcasting and live-streaming business. Thank you to all our loyal shareholders for their continued support and trust."

BRK Inc. (OTC PINK: BRKK), established in 2008, is owner of the Helmet Camera intellectual property (patents-pending) that make the RefCam possible. With the acquisition of the live broadcast helmet camera patent, BRK is poised to enter sports marketing in a big way. iSee Sports Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of BRK, Inc.

The foregoing contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as "will," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is targeting," "may," "should," ''poised,'' and other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management's current expectations and beliefs and are not guarantees of future performance. Our actual business, financial condition or results of operations may differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties which include, among others, those described in any of our other filings with the SEC. In addition, such statements could be affected by risks and uncertainties related to: (i) commercialization of our newly-acquired helmet camera, (ii) continuing development and protection of our intellectual property, (iii) unexpected industry competition, (iv) the need to raise capital to meet business requirements, and (v) our ability to sell our products in order to generate revenues. Forward-Looking Statements are pertinent only as of the date on which they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any Forward-Looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Any future public statements or disclosures modifying any of the forward-looking statements contained in or accompanying this news release, will be deemed to supersede such statements in this news release. Information on BRK Inc.'s website, http://www.brkincorporated.com does not constitute a part of this release.

Contact:

[email protected]

brkincorporated.com

1-855-702-8275

SOURCE BRK, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.brkincorporated.com


Viruses do have a positive side to them, they have taught us how to engineer nanostructures.

In his announcement Chairman of CVMR Corporation, Kamran M. Khozan stated, As the world deals with the current COVID 19 pandemic, we should be mindful of the fact that viruses do have a positive side to them. They have taught us how to engineer self-assembled nanostructures by imitating their structures in building nanodevices that generate energy, store electricity, construct extremely small and complex electronic devices and a myriad of other technical tools. So far, over 5,000 viruses have been discovered and each one has inspired a new invention.

What a virus needs in order to replicate is the DNA of the host cell. In its reproduction process, a virus RNA copies its genetic information into the host cells DNA, inducing it to replicate the viral genome. This process allows a virus to multiply rapidly. The newly created viruses are then released from the host cell, causing the cell to break apart and die.

Scientists and engineers at CVMR exploit the viral replication process by engineering nanostructures that are compatible of replicating themselves similar to the structure and modus operandi of viruses. It is now possible to engineer nanostructures that, like viruses, self-assemble their scaffoldings and are able to modulate the assembly of their own nanostructures. As such, viruses guide us in the manufacture of virus-like or even virus-based materials that can self-assemble into precise positions and organize themselves with novel material properties at nanoscales. The application of such materials ranges from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, sunscreens, food packaging and disinfectants, to lasers, artificial joints, solar panels, high-power rechargeable batteries, lightweight vehicles and antireflective, ultraviolet resistant glasses.

The properties of particles at nanoscales differ significantly from those in their bulk form. Small particles have an increased surface area which markedly changes their original physical and chemical characteristics.

Nanometal Powders with Antibacterial Properties

The toxic effect of some metal ions, such as copper, silver and cadmium on bacteria, algae, spores, and fungi, was discovered as far back as 1893. These metal ions bind to essential cell components such as bacterial DNA, preventing them from performing their most basic functions. The impact of these metals on bacteria is enhanced when they are presented in the nano-powder form.

The morphology of the microbes and the morphology of the copper being used affect the mechanism and the speed of coppers toxic effect against bacterial infections. Nanoparticle size copper particles with an average size of 150 to 200 nanometers used in various alloys have proven to have highly effective antibacterial properties on the surfaces we touch.

The ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Persian soldiers would pour filings of their bronze swords on their wounds to prevent infection. Hippocrates in Greece and Aztec healers treated skin infections with various pastes made from copper powder . French vine-growers prevent fungal infection of their vines by applying a mixture of copper and lime to their vines, known as the Bordeaux paste.

Nanostructures that Generate Electricity from Solar Heat

One of the most famous nanostructures, graphene, is a single layer of carbon atoms in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice. It is the basic building block of graphite and carbon nanotubes. It has anti-corrosion properties when used in paints. It improves the efficiency of various sensors, improves the speed and efficiency of electronics and increases their memory capacity while improving their screen display. It can be used in drug delivery and DNA sequencing and it can create more efficient solar panels.

The sustainability of solar panel power generators, which use nanotechnology in their structures, is well known. However, their production cost of electricity is twice as much as that of natural gas. To overcome this barrier, a team of scientists and chemical engineers at CVMR laboratories in Toronto, Ontario, have developed a series of graphene coatings, which are formed from captured CO2 emitted by various industrial operations. The nanomaterial properties of these coatings allow the capture of solar heat (not light) and its conversion to electricity. A thin layer of self-assembled graphene sheets vertically align themselves, like the pages of a microscopic book. The captured solar heat through this assembly of graphene sheets is converted to kinetic energy and ultimately to electricity. The cost estimate for such a device is far less than the current solar panels. Moreover, it is more robust, dust does not reduce its efficiency, requires very little maintenance and can produce electricity, off grid, 24/7, by storing the surplus energy it produces in vanadium batteries.

More importantly, it converts a green-house gas (CO2) that is harmful to the environment to valuable and highly in-demand graphene and graphite, in effect creating a source of income for the polluters while reducing their carbon footprint and saving them from the carbon tax. All this thanks to what we have learned from viruses.

CVMR Corporation was awarded two matching grants from the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) in 2017 and 2018-2019 for the capture of CO2 and its conversion to graphene and graphite.

Daniel J. Howard

CVMR Corporation,

(http://www.cvmr.ca)
MONACO, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) (Scorpio Tankers or the Company) announced today that it has commenced mailing materials to its shareholders for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting), scheduled to be held on June 9, 2020. The Company has been advised by the service provider engaged for mailing the Annual Meeting materials that, due to limitations relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mailing of full sets of proxy materials to shareholders who have elected to receive hard copies of such materials is delayed but will be completed as soon as possible prior to the Annual Meeting.



The Companys proxy statement and related materials, including the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F, are, or will be, available on the Securities and Exchange Commissions website at www.sec.gov.

About Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Scorpio Tankers is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. The Companys fleet consists of 137 owned, finance leased or bareboat chartered-in product tankers (42 LR2 tankers, 12 LR1 tankers, 62 MR tankers and 21 Handymax tankers) with an average age of 4.5 years. The Company also has a leasehold interest in an MR product tanker that is currently under construction. Additional information about the Company is available at the Companys website www.scorpiotankers.com, which is not a part of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forwardlooking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forwardlooking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forwardlooking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, target, project, likely, may, would, could and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

The forwardlooking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although management believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forwardlooking statements include unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, the length and severity of the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including its effect on demand for petroleum products and the transportation thereof, expansion and growth of the Companys operations, risks relating to the integration of assets or operations of entities that it has or may in the future acquire and the possibility that the anticipated synergies and other benefits of such acquisitions may not be realized within expected timeframes or at all, the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with the Company, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of offhires, and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of certain of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Contact Information

Scorpio Tankers Inc.

(212) 542-1616
A Royal Navy patrol vessel has shadowed a Russian warship as it sailed through the English Channel amid heightened tensions with Moscow.

HMS Mersey was on security patrol when it was scrambled to track the Steregushchiy-class corvette RFS Boiky, after taking over from the French Navy.

Portsmouth-based Mersey 'watched every movement' as the corvette linked up with RFS Akademik Pashin, an auxiliary vessel, to refuel and transfer stores.

HMS Mersey (right) was on security patrol when it was scrambled to track the Steregushchiy-class corvette RFS Boiky, after taking over from the French Navy

Commanding Officer of Mersey Lieutenant Commander Will Edwards-Bannon said: 'Working to preserve the maritime security of the UK has always been one of the Royal Navy's very highest priority missions throughout our long history.

'The need to fulfil this mission hasn't changed with the coming of the Covid-19 pandemic so, although we are living and working in slightly different ways on board to limit the risk from the virus, HMS Mersey's fantastic ship's company continues to work hard to protect our nation's interests.

'This work includes the close monitoring of foreign warships operating near to our shores, which is what we ... have been doing so far on this patrol.'

Portsmouth-based Mersey 'watched every movement' as the corvette linked up with RFS Akademik Pashin, an auxiliary vessel, to refuel and transfer stores

Royal Navy vessels (pictured, HMS Mersey) have tracked Russian ships sailing through the Channel as relations between Moscow and London cool to their worst since the Cold War

What vessels were in the English Channel? HMS Mersey - - A river-class offshore patrol vessel that weighs 1,700 tonnes, is 260ft long, and sails at 20 knots (23mph). - She was built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton to serve as a fishery protection vessel within the UK's waters, to replace the five older Island-class patrol vessels in 2003. - Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence Harriet Baldwin said Mersey would be decommissioned in 2019. RFS Boiky - - A Steregushchiy-class corvette that weighs 1,800 tonnes, is 343ft long, and sails at 27 knots (31mph). - The first vessel of this kind was commissioned in November 2007. They are designed to engage enemy submarines and surface ships. - An additional order of 10 corvettes was under consideration in 2019, to be laid down at Amur Shipyard and commissioned into the Pacific Fleet, according to Deputy Commander of the Pacific Fleet Igor Korolev. Advertisement

The English Channel separates Great Britain from continental Europe. It is the busiest shipping area in the world, at 350 miles long and 21 miles wide at its narrowest with northern France.

Despite its name, the Channel is an international waterway. This means that foreign ships are allowed to sail through - whether from the Atlantic Ocean out to the North Sea, or vice versa.

The Royal Navy has tracked Russian ships in the Channel as relations between Moscow and London deteriorate to their worst since the end of the Cold War.

The British Government has accused two Russian GRU operatives of using chemical weapons in Salisbury in 2018.

It claims that Russia has behaved in an aggressive and destabilising manner since its war with Georgia, which it invaded in 2008. That conflict - the culmination of a years-long effort by NATO and the EU to deneutralise Georgia and flip it to the Western camp - led to the secession of two provinces.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea in Ukraine, and helped to fuel that country's civil war by supplying money and weapons to separatists fighting in the south and east of Ukraine. The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Armed Forces was triggered by the deposition of the pro-Moscow Government by Euromaidan protestors committed to taking Ukraine into the EU.

Russia has also found itself at loggerheads with the US, Britain, and France in Syria, where it has supported Bashar al-Assad with airpower since 2015.

It has been accused by Western powers of attacking hospitals and civilian sites in rebel-held enclaves of the country, though a recent UN ruling that apportioned blame on the Assad regime did not name its allies Russia and Iran.
In this article F

Headquarters of the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. In a recent survey of 30,000 workers, the auto giant found a majority never want to come back to the office five days a week, and it is taking that data seriously. James Leynse | Corbis | Getty Images

Ford Motor expects to begin calling back salaried employees who have been working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic beginning in late June, executives said Thursday. About white-collar workers are expected to be in the "final group" of employees to return to their offices, according to Ford Chief Human Resources Officer Kiersten Robinson. She said employees will gradually return starting in late June and into early July. Plant workers are expected to gradually return to work as early as next month as the company plans to begin reopening its U.S. plants in the second quarter. The facilities have been shut down since last month due to Covid-19. Ford has not announced an exact start date for plants as it negotiates with the United Auto Workers union about safety and protocols. However, the company when discussing its first-quarter earnings Tuesday said it expects the process to begin in the second quarter. General Motors and Fiat Chrysler also are in talks with the union, which has opposed an early May reopening.

"We want to restart as soon as we can and do it safely," Ford Chief Operating Officer Jim Farley said Thursday during a call with media. Farley and other executives said Thursday both groups of workers will return to work with extensive safety measures and protocols in place.

New protocols

The plans include extensive cleaning; mandatory face masks and, in some cases, face shields. Employees will need to clear health assessment and temperature checks, including thermal body scanners and handheld readers, when entering the building. Ford is also redesigning workplaces to allow for social distancing where possible. There also will be protocols in place for how people enter and exit facilities, which can be a complicated process at large manufacturing facilities with thousands of workers on multiple shifts. The process will include audits of the facilities and staff monitoring the entering and exiting of the plants, Chief Manufacturing and Labor Affairs Officer Gary Johnson told CNBC.

Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company Executive Vice President and President of Global Markets, reveals the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 at the 2019 North American International Auto Show during Media preview days on January 14, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Bill Pugliano | Getty Images

The actions are similar to those being implemented by Ford at international operations in Europe and China as well as its domestic facilities currently producing ventilators and personal protection equipment. Regarding negotiations with the union, Johnson said he feels the sides are "aligned" on what needs to be done "from a protocol standpoint" as state governments end or lessen stay-in-place or shelter-in-place orders. "I'm confident we're addressing everything we know now," he said. "It's just going through and next step and how do we go forward?" UAW President Rory Gamble, in a statement, said the union continues "to engage in talks with Ford on an ongoing basis regarding protocols for the health and safety of our members in the workplace."

Covid-19 testing
A man has been charged with murdering his wife of 17 years after allegedly attacking her from behind with a cut-down sledgehammer.

The body of Jacqueline Sturgess, 45, was discovered when police arrived at a home in Narangba, north of Brisbane about 4pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Shaun Robert Sturgess, 50, who she shared two children with, faced court on Thursday morning charged over her death.

Police allege he hit her from behind with the sledgehammer and fled the scene in a taxi.

She was allegedly found dead in a pool of her own blood while clutching a screwdriver tightly in her hand.

The body of Jacqueline Sturgess was discovered when police arrived at a home in Narangba north of Brisbane about 4pm on Wednesday afternoon

Police said Sturgess is believed to have separated from his wife in December.

Police had arrived for a welfare check after a friend reported she had not heard from Ms Sturgess, 7 News reported.

Her death was initially not treated as suspicious, but further investigations led to the man being arrested at a friend's home in Rocklea.

Magistrates at Pine Rivers Court have adjourned the case until June 25, when it will be mentioned at Caboolture Magistrates Court.

A neighbour said they heard nothing from the property despite being at home all day, adding the area was considered safe and friendly.

'They had blocked the street off last night, so out the back there is a walkway that goes out to New Settlement Road and there was a pile of cops with torches doing a search, the neighbour told The Courier Mail.

'Yesterday we saw cop cars everywhere and when it happens in your street, you think, did we miss something?'
SHENZHEN, China, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Creality, a global 3D printer manufacturer based in Shenzhen, China, was providing 3D printed medical supplies for hospitals. According to Jack Chen, the CEO and co-founder of the company, Creality was utilizing 100 3D printers and TPU filaments to produce 3D printed face mask buckles, achieving a daily output of 1600 pieces. By March, the company donated 43,000 pieces of buckles to hospitals.

"The COVID-19 has taught us a lesson that 3D printing is so helpful to strategically address manufacturing risk by optimizing the agility of the supply chain. It carries out production at a lower economic scale and any point of need. We are glad that 3D printing is unleashing great potential during this crisis, and Creality is taking the lead to contribute more," said Jack Chen. Creality has achieved a monthly shipment of over 50,000 pieces in March, which means that more makers are getting involved in making PPE on 3D printers.

The COVID-19 is becoming such a challenge for countries across the world as the situation is getting more severe. During the time, 3D printing has played an important role in mitigating personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage. Enterprises and civil communities are united to make 3D printed medical supplies for hospitals and clinics.

The Supply Chain Challenge During COVID-19

The rapid development of globalization enables developed countries to relocate production into other countries with lower labor costs or sufficient raw materials, which is so-called offshore manufacturing. However, the present global crisis is exposing the vulnerabilities concerning this-type supply chain. The lockdowns have multiplied the problems of the slowdown in production and suspensions in transportation. Therefore, countries that highly rely on offshore manufacturing are facing problems of improper resource allocation and incomplete manufacturing chain, and countries in less developed areas such as Africa are encountering plight of insufficient production capacity and technology limit.

Many manufacturers are finding temporary alternative solutions to ride out this worldwide challenge. Thanks to the advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, robotics, and Additive manufacturing, enterprises can effectively avoid negative effects caused by "black swan" events like COVID-19.

3D Printing is Making a Difference

Recently, positive reports about 3D printed PPE to help combat COVID-19 have unveiled great advantages of 3D printing.

During the pandemic, researchers made 3D printed COVID-19 infected lung model to perform studies, enterprises made 3D printed isolation wards to accommodate patients, and civil communities made 3D printed face shields to mitigate the PPE shortage.

David Sims, the BBC news reported 3D printing enthusiast in Wales, UK, worked on making 3D printed face shields on Creality Ender-3 together with local volunteers to protect local NHS doctors fighting at the epidemic frontline. The team has donated thousand pieces of face shields to the local NHS.

It is proven that 3D printing is an extremely helpful stopgap in rapid design and manufacturing tools for both organizations and individuals, making it possible to produce large batches of equipment in a short period. During the COVID-19, 3D printing has unleashed great power in providing self-made daily supplies such as door handles, toys, or gifts.

Long-run Benefits of 3D Printing

Expect for the known-to-all advantages like cost-saving, time-saving, rapid-prototyping, 3D printing also accelerates digitalizing the traditional mass manufacturing and infrastructure construction. 3D printing breaks the limits of time and space to improve production capacity and reduce risks to fluctuations in demand. With the advantages of distributive manufacturing, 3D printing can realize customizable production and ensure production safety at the same time. As an additive in mass manufacturing, it will greatly improve business flexibility, allowing manufacturers to increase their ability to quickly respond to the possible crises.

In April, Creality announced to make a big investment to Wuhan to build the world's largest 3D printer production facility in recent years, aiming to achieve a total output of 2 million pieces of 3D printers within the next three years. Now the company is holding a Kickstarter campaign for its latest product CR-6 SE featuring an innovative leveling-free tech, which will be priced lower than 300$ at its super early bird price. Bearing the spirit of 3D printing industry evangelist, Creality has always devoted to spreading the convenience of 3D printing technology with the most affordable and accessible 3D printing solutions.

About Creality

Creality has accumulated more than 5 years of experience in 3D printing industry since its establishment in 2014. The company dedicates to providing customers the most affordable 3D printing solutions in high quality. Creality achieves an annual shipment of 800,000 units, and exports the products to over 100 countries.

For more information, please access to CRAELITY official website: http://www.creality.com

SOURCE CREALITY 3D

Related Links

http://www.creality.com


The Pentagon's latest report on sexual assaults in the military showed a 3% increase in the number of sexual assaults reported last year with 6,236 reports in fiscal year 2019.

Pentagon officials will have to await the results of an anonymous survey next year that will show whether the increased numbers reflect an increase in crimes or additional reporting prompted by education efforts among service members.

The 6,236 reports of sexual assault were reported in fiscal year 2019, up from the 6,053 reports filed in fiscal year 2018. It reflects the trend in increased reports of sexual assault involving military service members over the last decade.

Pentagon officials often attribute the annual increases to better awareness among service members about the importance in reporting assaults so they can lead to prosecutions and care or the victim. As an under-reported crime, Pentagon officials want victims to step forward, the numbers reflect incidents involving service members which occurred during or prior to their military service.

MORE: Sexual assaults in military rise to more than 20,000, Pentagon survey says

This years report only provides a snapshot because the fuller picture comes from an anonymous prevalence survey that is carried out every two years and gives an indication as to whether the crime rate has gone up or down.

Last year the results of that survey disheartened Pentagon officials because it showed an increase to an estimated 20,500 sexual assaults a year from the close to 12,000 assaults in fiscal year 2016 that indicated progress was being made. For context, the first prevalence survey conducted in 2006 estimated 34,000 sexual assaults, so the numbers in recent years have gone down.

PHOTO: In this 2010 file photo, US Marines are shown in Afghanistan. (Patrick Baz/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

"We generally view more reporting of the crime, as a positive thing, because it helps us connect victims to services," Dr. Nate Galbreath, the acting director of the DoDs Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office told reporters Thursday. "It also helps us and gives us a chance to hold offenders appropriately accountable."

Story continues

Galbreath said the slight increase in reports made him "cautiously optimistic" that efforts to educate service members are having an effect.

The Pentagon's focus over the last year has been on educating young enlisted service members since the 2018 prevalence report showed most assaults targeted enlisted female service members who are 17-24 years old. There has been a major effort to educate young, non-commissioned officers about what they can do in their units to prevent behaviors that could lead to sexual assault.

Earlier this year the number of sexual assaults at the three military service academies spiked by 32% over last year with 149 reports of sexual assault involving a cadet or midshipman as a victim and/or subject during the 2019-2019 academic year. At the time, officials also cautioned that it was prudent to await the results of next year's prevalence study to determine if the crime rate had actually increased.

MORE: Sexual assault numbers spike at military academies

"Our work to eliminate sexual assault reflects our ongoing commitment to advance a culture of trust, respect, and inclusion within the force." said Dr. Elizabeth Van Winkle, executive director of the Office of Force Resiliency, said in a statement. "We are acutely aware of the high cost of not succeeding, not only for the readiness of our countrys defense, but for the individual Americans who step forward and volunteer to serve our Nation. We cannot, and will not, waver in our commitment to eliminate these behaviors from our force and ensure that all who serve are treated, and treat others, with dignity and respect."

The Air Force led all four services in the number of sexual assaults with a 9% increase over the 2018 numbers, while the Army showed the lowest increase. The Marine Corps was the only service to show a decrease over the previous year's reporting as the number of reports decreased by 6%.

PHOTO: In this 2011 file photo, female US Marines are shown marching. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images, FILE)

Marine officials took a cautious approach in trying to explain the decrease and noted that victim choice is a big factor in whether a victim decides to step forward with a report. Of the 71% of the 1,149 sexual assaults in 2019 that occurred during military service, male victims made up 22% of all the reported sexual assaults.

"While the Marine Corps continues to eradicate these criminal behaviors from our ranks, provide victims with care, and hold offenders accountable, senior Marine leaders do not necessarily equate lower reports of sexual assault with lower instances of this offense," said Maj. Craig Thomas, a spokesman for the Marine Corps' Manpower & Reserve Affairs.

"Knowing that sexual assault is traditionally an underreported crime and the 2018 annual report showed an increase in prevalence, the Marine Corps remains committed to improving its prevention methods and continuing to foster a climate and culture of dignity, respect, and trust," said Thomas. "Marines are being provided knowledge, skills, and tools to take action and prevent destructive and inappropriate behaviors that can lead to sexual assault. Bottom line, Marines have a fundamental right to live and work in a healthy environment free from sexual assault and harassment.

EDITORS NOTE: Dr. Nate Galbreath, the acting director of the DoDs Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, was misidentified as Dr. Nate Schaefer in the original version of this article.

Pentagon report shows 3% increase in sexual assaults originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Prashant Nagre, CEO, Fermenta Biotech shares his views on the ongoing COVID-19 situation

"We firmly stand by the steps taken by the health authorities as well as state and central government for controlling the spread of COVID-19. We also suggest including the below mentioned actions:

Setting aside a substantial fund for the purpose of tackling COVID-19 cases

Mass testing, in order to immediately detect positive cases

Empowering private hospitals to treat patients, thereby reducing the burden on government funded institutions

Forming a coalition between hospitals, research institutions, diagnostics industry and drug manufacturers for a comprehensive approach against COVID-19

Creating a stimulus package for India Inc to overcome any economic slump."

-Prashant Nagre, CEO, Fermenta Biotech
ALBANY  After a month in which the number of traffic citations and arrests plummeted across the state, troopers have been instructed to resume "routine traffic enforcement" on Friday.

"This pause was a necessary and precautionary step to ensure our members' health and safety," states a memorandum sent to troopers who patrol the state Thruway. "Now that there is additional information known about COVID-19 transmission, and the issuance of necessary PPEs (personal protective equipment) to our members has been ongoing, Division (headquarters) believes it is now reasonable to resume our traffic enforcement initiatives."

State Police vehicle and traffic citations dropped year-over-year from 85,106 in April 2019 to 10,212 this month. Crashes also declined from 4,928 a year ago to 2,232 this month, and arrests fell from 4,727 to 2,717. State Police make thousands of arrests annually during traffic stops.

The memorandum, which was obtained by the Times Union, noted that there has been "an increase of aggressive drivers" noted by troopers during the pandemic. It had been apparent for weeks that State Police, and many local law enforcement agencies, had eased their enforcement of vehicle and traffic violations and other minor offenses. That resulted in troopers and other police officers often stationing their patrol vehicles along roadways but not pulling over speeding vehicles.

A trooper interviewed by the Times Union said the softening of enforcement had also been a result of individual troopers  who have discretion on when to issue tickets or make arrests  declining to target doctors, nurses, first responders and other essential workers who may be driving to or from their jobs.

There have been many exceptions. On Tuesday afternoon, troopers ticketed a 34-year-old Spring Valley man they said was driving his Audi sedan at 142 mph on the Palisades Parkway in Rockland County.

In a statement late Thursday, the agency denied that the internal memo referred to "regular traffic enforcement."

"As Troop T personnel, this effectively is your advisement that you need to go out and do what we always have been expected to do before this started," stated a supervisor's email sent this week to Thruway troopers in southern New York, with the Division's memo attached. That missive added that "routine traffic enforcement and traffic enforcement initiatives shall 'unpause' starting May 1."

The agency, however, said the curtailed enforcement only involved "grant funded traffic initiatives that are conducted every month, which were suspended during the onset of the pandemic."

"Troopers have been out on the regular patrols and posts since the start of the pandemic, and the reduction in tickets is a direct result of the significant decrease in traffic following the closure of all non-essential businesses," the statement reads.

The pause in traffic enforcement had been done, in part, to protect troopers from being infected with the coronavirus, according to the internal memo shared with the Times Union. Many troopers have been receiving PPE from their union, the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, and are being instructed to continue wearing masks or face coverings when interacting with the public, including during traffic stops.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

More than 90 troopers have tested positive for COVID-19, and roughly two-thirds have returned to duty after recovering.

"Thats good news, and it appears as though the protocols urged by the NYSTPBA and implemented by Division have worked," PBA President Tom Mungeer wrote in a union newsletter last week. "It also appears as though our members are taking precautionary steps seriously and protecting themselves and their families."

Mungeer also notified his members that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who this week said that first responders  including police  will be widely tested for antibodies of COVID-19, has assured the union that troopers will receive those tests first.

During a phone call with Cuomos office, "I was notified of his plan to test first responders for the COVID-19 antibody starting with every sworn member of the New York State Police," Mungeer wrote in a newsletter sent to his members on Tuesday. "These tests are voluntary and will involve having a small amount of blood drawn. Results will be provided to the individual member, not the Division, and will be available within a week of being tested."

Figures provided to the Times Union by State Police on Wednesday indicated that calls for service this month compared with April 2019 had increased by nearly 1,000 to 48,523. Those calls included nearly 200 trips in which state troopers had delivered coronavirus samples to laboratories.

Many law enforcement agencies have also reported an increase in domestic violence calls during the pandemic.
New Delhi, April 30 : Hollywood stars, including Chris Pratt, Salma Hayek and Bryce Dallas Howard, are mourning the demise of actor Irrfan Khan by not only remembering him for his exceptional talent but also his good nature.

"So sad to hear that Irrfan Khan passed away, I was a big fan and had the honour to meet him. He was a great actor and a lovely man, may he Rest In Peace," Hayek posted on Instagram.

Pratt, who worked with Irrfan on their 2015 blockbuster "Jurassic World", called him an "exquisite human being".

"So sad to hear about the passing of screen legend @irrfank . Irrfan Khan played Masrani in 'Jurassic World'. He was an exquisite actor and human. He will be missed," Pratt tweeted.

"Jurassic World" Howard posted two pictures of herself with Irrfan from the Colin Trevorrow-directed adventure thriller, and condoled his death.

"Irrfan, you are an exquisite human being and we will all miss you dearly. These images are from the first and last day of filming, and I was lucky enough to spend them working with you. Love to you and your family always," she posted.

Irrfan breathed his last early on Wednesday at the age of 54. He was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection earlier this week. However, unfortunately he succumbed to his ailment.

The Academy also mourned the loss.

"A mainstay of Bollywood cinema and incredible talent in films like 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'Life of Pi' and 'The Namesake', Irrfan Khan left his imprint on global cinema. An inspiration to millions, he will be greatly missed," read a post on the official twitter account of The Academy.

According to deadline.com, filmmaker Marc Webb, who directed Irrfan in 2012 superhero hit "The Amazing Spider-Man", will always be a "dedicated" fan of the actor's work.

"In Irrfan, power and gentleness co-existed perfectly. When he sings to his new wife at the bathroom door in 'The Namesake' or speaks of his father in 'Life of Pi' his talent is positively mystical. He is the most nuanced actor I've worked with. I am forever his dedicated fan," he tweeted.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee called Irrfan "a great artist, a true gentleman and a brave fighter" while mourning his demise.

"His passing away is cinema's loss. We will miss him dearly. May you Rest In Peace my dear friend," said the director of "Life of Pi".

Indian-origin Hollywood star Mindy Kaling is "devastated" after hearing the news of his demise.

"The loss of Irrfan Khan - at such a young age - is devastating. He was my favorite actor. I can't think of someone who gave such layered and thoughtful performances but was also a movie star; you couldn't take your eyes off of him onscreen. Love and peace to his family," Kaling said in a post on Twitter alongside a photo of Irrfan.

"Suits" star Gabriel Macht recalled his meeting with Irrfan when his wife, Jacinda Barrett, who worked with the actor in "The Namesake".

"I met Irrfan Khan when he worked with @JacindaBarrett on 'The Namesake'. One of the most pleasant, down to earth, and gentle beings in the few times I had with him. What a beautiful actor as well. Blessings to he and his family. #RIPIrrfanKhan" he tweeted.

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman has sent her love to the near and dear ones of Irrfan.

Remembering Irrfan, Portman took to Instagram to share a photo of herself with the actor. In the photo, she is in a white bridal wear and is held by Irrfan, who is in a black and white suit with a hat.

"Sending love to Irrfan Khan's loved ones today," she captioned the snap.

The two had featured together in Mira Nair's segment of "New York, I Love You", a 2008 American romantic comedy-drama anthology film.

Earlier, Hollywood star Angelina Jolie had also expressed her condolences, in a message shared with IANS.

"I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of 'A Mighty Heart'. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him. I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world," Jolie said in her message.
Medical workers spray antiseptic outside of the main gate of Shanghai Stock Exchange Building in Shanghai on Feb. 03, 2020. (Yifan Ding/Getty Images)

Leading Global Index Provider MSCI Has No Plans to Decouple From China

WASHINGTONMorgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), one of the largest index providers in the world that influence how investors deploy their funds, has no plans to adjust its global indexes to exclude companies owned by the Chinese Communist regime, despite mounting concerns over national security and human rights.

During the annual shareholder meeting on April 28, MSCI Chairman and CEO Henry Fernandez expressed no plans to consider removing Chinas state-owned companies from its indexes.

In response to a question by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a Washington-based conservative think tank, Fernandez said that fund managers are free to choose any index as a benchmark. He avoided directly answering the question about the rising concerns over U.S. federal pension investments in Chinese stocks.

In general, I will say that all clients of MSCI around the world have a choice of any index benchmark they wish to use pursuant to their stated investment objectives, he said. Some of them may use our standard indices, which include all companies, whether state-owned or not state-owned, that are publicly listed, whether they are in China or in France or in the U.S., and those are the standard indices that we offer.

Based in New York, MSCI Inc. provides investment data and analytics services to institutional investors. The company is best known for its benchmark indexes such as the MSCI Emerging Market Index, which influences the investment decisions of funds. More than $1.8 trillion in assets globally are benchmarked against the index as of September 2018.

Last year, the firm quadrupled Chinas weighting in the emerging-markets index. The company announced in December 2019 that the index included 472 China A-share companies and Chinas weight in the index rose to 33 percent from 28 percent in 2017.

In February last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that MSCI came under heavy pressure from the Chinese government, which tried to curtail the companys business in the country.

The index provider, as a result, had to increase the weighting of Chinese shares in its global benchmarks, leading billions of dollars to flow into Chinese shares, the report said.

Thrift Savings Plan

Almost all investments by U.S. pension funds in global stocks are benchmarked against MSCI indexes, and this includes the federal workers retirement fund, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

In October, a group of bipartisan senators led by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called on TSP to stop its plan to use the MSCI index as a benchmark for its investments.

The companies included in the index assist in the Chinese governments military activities, espionage, and human rights abuses, as well as many other Chinese companies that lack basic financial transparency, they warned in a letter.

Among the Chinese companies in the index are the Aviation Industry Corp. of China and China Unicom, which are contractors to the Peoples Liberation Army, supporting Beijings aggressive military activity in the South China Sea.

The other companies include Hangzhou Hikvision, which is blacklisted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and ZTE Corp., which was fined last year for violating U.S. sanctions.

Several Republican lawmakers and former U.S. officials have called on the Trump administration to end federal pension investment plans in Chinese companies due to national security concerns or human rights violations, Reuters reported on April 21.

A senior administration official told The Epoch Times that no decision has been made yet by the White House to prevent the TSP from investing in the Chinese-held entities.

Contrary to an actively managed fund, a passive index fund mimics a benchmark such as MSCI. Trillions of dollars worldwide passively track such indexes.

One of the nations largest public pension funds, the New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) said that the funds investment in Chinese stocks isnt chosen by a portfolio manager, but instead automatically selected to match an index.

As of June 2019, NYSTRS held 81,802 shares of Hikvision, which came under scrutiny for its involvement in human rights violations in China, including mass detention, surveillance, and racial profiling.

NYSTRS exposure to Hikvision continues to be primarily tied to a passively managed portfolio that seeks to match its benchmark index, the funds spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

The number of shares held in this passively managed portfolio have remained relatively steady from quarter to quarter, with any changes related to index weighting. We continue to monitor the situation.
A new trend is emerging on Ukraine's power generation market: the more expensive solar and wind energy, which has been prioritized, replacing the cheaper nuclear and coal. UNIAN has learned what this will mean for Ukrainian consumers.

On sunny April days, record generation of electricity from renewables, primarily the sun, for the first time began to push from the Ukrainian market the electricity generated by coal and nuclear power plants. In certain hours, solar stations enjoying a priority in supplies to the grid generated almost a quarter of all electricity in the country.

At first glance, this is a great step towards meeting the environmentally friendly and safe future for the country, which has great potential to live off the inexhaustible energy of the sun and wind.

But, unfortunately, in Ukrainian realities, a new trend on the electricity market puts the financial and functional stability of the country's energy system at great risk. The fact is that, according to current legislation, the price of electricity from renewables is several times higher than that produced by traditional means.

The "Greens" pushed aside coal-fired power plants and also devalued the price for coal-fired thermal power plants, Energoatom nuclear operator, and other manufacturers operating on the market. Such a pricing situation didn't affect the Greens' business though because they pay four to five hryvnias per kWh under their green tariff," said Andriy Herus, head of the parliamentary committee on energy and utilities.

Thus, it's not only coal energy polluting the environment that's being displaced from the market, but also neutral  and cheapest  generation by the state-owned Energoatom (70 kopiykas per kWh).

This means that citizens should be prepared for larger electricity bills.

Switching off nuclear power units

Alternative energy from renewable sources creates another obvious problem: it's not very predictable, depending on nature. In this regard, the safe functioning of the country's energy system is becoming an increasingly difficult task.

The operator of the electricity grid, the state-owned Ukrenergo, at peak hours of solar energy release, is like a balancer on a thin rope, evening out the balance, while operations of other power plants gets constrained.

Energy experts say that due to the fact that the country has been in quarantine for the past month and a half, the structure of national electricity consumption has somewhat changed  there have been no pronounced consumption peaks, which slightly facilitated the work to maintain a balance in the energy grid.

A few months ago, it was possible to maneuver the system due to the alternate limitation of coal, nuclear, and renewable energy. But on the last weekend of April, for the first time due to low consumption, generation at Energoatom's nuclear units was forced to be limited. And this is a very alarming signal for a country that survived the Chornobyl disaster!

Considering that the operation of power units at reduced capacity leads to negative consequences for the equipment of nuclear power plants, and in order not to play with fire, Energoatom decided to put in reserve mode two of the fifteen power units it operates.

Paradoxes on domestic energy market

You have to pay for everything. This step will inevitably lead to an increase in the share of more expensive generation.

"Limiting the available capacity of nuclear power units (the cheapest electricity of all types of generations) will automatically lead to an increase in the share in the overall balance of more expensive types of generation (thermal and renewable energy), which will generally negatively affect the level of electricity prices and may lead to socio-political unrest," Energoatom believes.

It is no secret that the largest share  up to 20% percent of the renewable energy market  belongs to DTEK energy holding owned by Rinat Akhmetov. Next come the Swedish, Chinese, and Ukrainian companies that have decided to build windmills and entire fields of solar panels in Ukraine because of the highest "green" tariff in Europe.

The market has overheated. Businessmen who are used to making superprofits are at risk of being left with nothing soon because the state has no money for settlements.

With DTEK energy holding, a paradoxical situation arises where one part of the company is engulfing another one. Since April 20, this company was forced to suspend operations at DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia and a number of concentration plants due to an excess of coal reserves and market imbalance.

According to estimates of the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection, as of the end of April, the debt for electricity generated from renewables amounted to more than UAH 4.5 billion. And by the end of the year it could grow up to UAH 26 billion.

There's a twist

Meanwhile, the government is looking for solutions to the problem of debts on the electricity market. One of the possible ones is increasing the amount of funds collected from the market primarily at the expense of the households.

The main arguments are as follows: electric tariffs for the households are 50% lower than economically justified. In addition, they have not increased since 2017, and the difference is covered by the price of electricity for the industry, which is 2.5 times higher. Ultimately, this holds back the development of the national economy.

The relevant ministry estimated that abolishing preferential electricity prices for households (90 kopiykas for the first 100 kWh) and establishing a single price for households at UAH 1.68 per kWh will allow collecting more than UAH 10 billion from the market over the year.

For consumers, such an increase will cost a maximum of UAH 78 per household a month. But amid a crisis and falling solvency of citizens, the decision will be extremely painful.

"It is difficult to make such a decision politically. While, prior to quarantine, many supported this and believed that this should be done, now during quarantine I'm not sure what to do, because many people simply have no money. It's necessary to do the increase at a stable period, and when it comes, it is not yet clear," Ilya Poluliakh, an expert with Clean Energy Lab, has told UNIAN.

But it is obvious that due to the increase in electric tariffs for households alone, problems related to debts and the lack of funds on the market cannot be resolved. This would be unfair, to say the least!

Owners of large solar and wind stations should take a step in response. The government is asking renewable energy investors for voluntary restructuring, that is, a deferral of payments for electricity generated. The issue of agreements between the authorities and businessmen has not moved any forward since year-start.

There's hope that the appointment in mid-April of a new acting head of the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection, Olha Buslavets, will become an impetus for finding a compromise that would take into account the interests of investors and consumers.

It is noteworthy that the public has already suggested Buslavets is loyal to DTEK energy holding. Therefore, the solution to the issue of "green" tariff will be a litmus test to evaluate her work.

Bright green future

Ukrenergo, a state-owned energy grid operator, predicts that by the end of 2020, the share of renewables in electricity generation will almost double, up to 10.3 billion kWh. This is 12.8% of generation at nuclear power plants and up to 24.4% of that at coal-fired power stations. So, balancing the system will become even more difficult.

"We now have a green tariff issued for 7GW, while only 4.5 GW has been put into operation that's actually connected to the system. So now this is their maximum capacity at peak hours. Over time, when all 7GW worth of capacities have completed connection lines, the situation with balancing will become more complicated by an order of magnitude," said energy expert Poluliakh.

He believes that until all declared solar and wind power plants are connected to the grid, the country must have additional maneuverable generation. One of the solutions could to build a new type of power plants  gas-driven ones, which are a cheaper alternative to energy storage systems.

"Gas-driven power stations are more energy-efficient than storage. We don't have them in Ukraine, while there are many worldwide. The principle of operation is simple: it starts up, quickly generates power, and then halts. There's high range and regulation speed. It doesn't consume much gas," he explained.

But here another serious issue arises. To build such stations, Ukraine has to attract investors who will also require repayment. So the question again rests on the lack of budget funds that aren't enough even to cover the "green" tariff.

Of course, an ideal option would be to legally oblige investors who built solar and wind power plants to build maneuvering capacities at their own expense since this is precisely the root cause of the system's imbalance.

Incidentally, the current Ukrainian legislation exempts power plants from monetary liability for imbalances, in contrast to how this is done on European markets.

Despite the heap of financial and systemic problems that green power plants are creating today, with effective government solutions, solar and wind could definitely work for the country's good.

Ukraine, like all civilized countries, announced plans to have 70% of electricity generated on renewables in 30 years. So the country shouldn't turn from this path, because the lessons of our Mother Nature show how terrible can the consequences be of human fatal errors.

Anna Bredikhina
The longtime composer of The Simpsons Alf Clausen filed a lawsuit last August alleging he was fired from the series because of his age and a perceived disability.

But in court documents filed by Fox and Simpsons executives, and seen by The Hollywood Reporter, producers say Clausen was let go because he was unofficially delegating his work to others, including his son.

On Wednesday, THR.com revealed that Fox's defense argues that the media company's decision is protected under its First Amendment rights.

Fox has responded to a lawsuit brought by The Simpsons former composer Alf Clausen. In court documents, the company says he was fired because he was delegating work to others including his son

Clausen, pictured in 2014, was let go from his gig creating original music for the animated series in August 2017 after 27 years on the job. He filed a lawsuit in August 2019 alleging age discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation

Fox is seeking to have Clausen's suit dismissed under California's SLAPP statute which permits media companies to make staffing decisions based on protected free speech.

Attorneys for Fox also argue that Clausen is unlikely to prevail in his complaint because he was an independent contractor and not an employee.

According to THR.com, the situation came to a head in November 2016 when work had begun on an episode of the animated series titled The Great Phatsby, a hip-hop spoof of F. Scott Fitzgerald's celebrated novel The Great Gatsby.

Simpsons producer James L. Brooks 'questioned whether Clausen was the right person to prepare rap music and questioned his work more generally', Simpsons producer Richard Sakei says in a statement filed with the court.

Sakei went on: 'Around that time, I learned that Clausen had been delegating some of the work of composing music for The Simpsons to others, including his son Scott Clausen.'

Sakei says he thought this unauthorized delegation of work by Clausen was 'unacceptable' and notified Simpsons showrunner Al Jean about it.

Following a meeting between Sakei, Jean, Brooks and showrunner Mat Selman, Sakai states: 'We decided that we could improve the music on the show by replacing him.'

Simpsons producer Richard Sakai, pictured in 2007, states in court documents he learned Clausen was outsourcing some of his composing work to others in late 2016, He says he thought it was 'unacceptable' and notified Simpsons showrunner Al Jean about it

Clausen, 79, created original music for The Simpsons for 27 years before he was let go in August 2017.

During his tenure, he garnered 23 Emmy nods for his work, taking home the trophy in 1997 and 1998.

At the time of his firing, Clausen, who used a 35-piece orchestra, told Variety that he'd been called by producer Sakei who told him they wanted 'a different kind of music' going forward.

Prolific film and TV composer Hans Zimmer was hired to replace him.

Then in August 2019, Clausen, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, filed his lawsuit claiming age discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation.

THR.com reported that the defendants court papers declare: 'Apart from the considerable evidence supporting the legitimate creative reasons for the decision, Clausens claims are undermined by several facts: He was 48 when he was first engaged as a composer and continued to work through his 50s, 60s and into his 70s.'

'Clausen admits his disability was not affecting his work and that he needed no accommodations; and he fails to identify any comments showing animus based on his age, disability or any protected activity.'
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Performance and Arts Group will unveil its first online season of shows on May 5 for audiences kept at home amid the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The two-month season will start with a concert themed "Summer Night" on May 5, which will stage 12 music works including Chinese folk song "Summer Palace" and American rock classic "Hotel California."

On May 12, International Nurses Day, troupes of the group will stage a performance to pay respect to medical workers. On May 20, the group and its counterpart in Hubei Province, the province once hardest hit by the virus, will jointly hold an online concert.

On June 1, the Beijing Children's Art Theater will invite children to join in an online event. On June 13, an orchestral suite "Central Axis" will be aired to drum up support for the central axis of Beijing to be listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. On June 25, the Dragon Boat Festival, audiences can watch performances delivered by inheritors of intangible cultural heritage.

The shows will be broadcast on media platforms including Kuaishou, TikTok and the Beijing Daily app.
A family that was one of Perths first to self-isolate, proactively going into lockdown in a team with another family more than five weeks ago, has shared the reasons for their decision to keep going as long as possible.

Danielle Loizou-Lake, her husband and two children self-isolated as a team with a neighbouring family according to a comprehensive plan, acting as one family since before the social isolation restrictions were put in place, and maintaining that isolation throughout the restriction period.

The 'Granny Flat COVID-19 School'. Credit:Danielle Loizou-Lake

Their aim was to take pressure off the system as the state was gripped by fears of health system overwhelm. But now those fears have eased, the family is considering permanently altering their way of life to maintain some of the unexpected benefits they have experienced.

Mrs Loizou-Lakes children are aged five and seven and normally attend public school, but now have a new Monday-Friday timetable.
Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Bellway p.l.c. (LON:BWY) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. I will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Bellway

The method

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF (, Millions) -UK7.0m UK368.4m UK280.1m UK245.0m UK224.3m UK211.4m UK203.2m UK198.0m UK194.8m UK192.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Analyst x1 Est @ -8.45% Est @ -5.76% Est @ -3.87% Est @ -2.55% Est @ -1.63% Est @ -0.98% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 6.5% -UK6.6 UK325 UK232 UK191 UK164 UK145 UK131 UK120 UK111 UK103

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK1.5b

Story continues

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the intial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 10-year government bond rate of 0.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK193m (1 + 0.5%)  6.5% 0.5%) = UK3.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK3.3b ( 1 + 6.5%)10= UK1.7b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is UK3.3b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK28.0, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

LSE:BWY Intrinsic value April 30th 2020

The assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Bellway as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.979. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, DCF calculation shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Bellway, We've put together three pertinent factors you should further research:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Bellway . Future Earnings: How does BWY's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every GB stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
South Dakota's chief justice seeks $5 million for courthouse security

In Chief Justice Jensen's State of the Judiciary Address, he mentioned courthouse security, sexual harassment training and a lack of court reporters.
 Amazon's new Chinese thermal spycam vendor was blacklisted by U.S. over allegations it helped China detain and monitor Uighurs and other Muslim minorities

At Reuters, reporting by Krystal Hu and Jeffrey Dastin found that Amazon and Jeff Bezos went to a Chinese technology company on the United States' national security blacklist for its thermal camera needs  to monitor Amazon warehouse workers for fever, a sign of COVID-19.

Amazon is buying thermal cameras and other surveillance equipment from a variety of vendors, and one of them is Zhejiang Dahua Technology.

Dahua was blacklisted by U.S. over allegations it helped China detain and monitor Uighurs and other Muslim minorities, "three people familiar with the matter told Reuters."

Excerpt:

China's Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co Ltd shipped 1,500 cameras to Amazon this month in a deal valued close to $10 million, one of the people said. At least 500 systems from Dahua  the blacklisted firm  are for Amazon's use in the United States, another person said. The Amazon procurement, which has not been previously reported, is legal because the rules control U.S. government contract awards and exports to blacklisted firms, but they do not stop sales to the private sector. However, the United States "considers that transactions of any nature with listed entities carry a 'red flag' and recommends that U.S. companies proceed with caution," according to the Bureau of Industry and Security's here website. Dahua has disputed the designation, and Beijing has denied mistreatment of the minority groups. The deal comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned of a shortage of temperature-reading devices and said it wouldn't halt certain pandemic uses of thermal cameras that lack the agency's regulatory approval. Top U.S.-based maker FLIR Systems Inc (FLIR.O) has faced an up to weeks-long order backlog, forcing it to prioritize products for hospitals and other critical facilities. Amazon declined to confirm its purchase from Dahua, but said its hardware complied with national, state and local law, and its temperature checks were to "support the health and safety of our employees, who continue to provide a critical service in our communities."

Dahua is one of the world's largest surveillance camera manufacturers, and says it is committed "to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19" through technology that detects "abnormal elevated skin temperature  with high accuracy," it said in a statement.

More:

Exclusive: Amazon turns to Chinese firm on U.S. blacklist to meet thermal camera needs
Kalsekar Hospital in Mumbra, which had been sealed for a few days after some of its employees were tested Covid positive, has reopened and converted into a Covid-19 hospital.

Thane has almost 300 Covid positive cases, with infections increasing exponentially in the last two weeks. Mumbra has the most positive cases at 50 and the Kalsekar hospitals proximity to Mumbra will benefit residents of this area.

Thane Municipal Corporation has said the hospital will admit only symptomatic patients and those who can afford to pay their own medical expenses.The hospital is a 120-bed hospital and 80 Covid patients can be accommodated.

A TMC official said, The hospital has all the modern amenities, like ICU and ventilators, which can treat critical patients. The hospital should ensure that Covid and non-Covid patients are properly separated.

Covid positive patients are treated in Thane civil hospital, Horizon Hospital, Kaushalya Hospital and Vedant Hospital. Fifty beds of Bethany Hospital are dedicated for patients suspected to be infected with the virus and have comorbidities.

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A 40-year-old man facing extradition to the UK on 39 charges of manslaughter and a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration has been refused bail by the High Court in Dublin.

Ronan Hughes, from Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan, wore a mask as he watched proceedings by video link from Cloverhill Prison in Dublin.

He faces 39 charges of manslaughter and a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration in connection with the deaths of 39 migrants found in a refrigerated container in Essex.

Mr Justice Paul Burns said on Thursday there was a serious risk he would abscond if he was granted bail.

He said that Hughes has significant connections across Europe through his haulage business.

Mr Justice Burns said that, while Hughes said he would abide by any conditions, he would not grant him bail.

He said aspects of Hughes evidence about his financial affairs, movement of lorries and his Northern Irish driving licence was unconvincing and lacking in credibility.

The judge added that the the publics reaction to the deaths was one of revulsion, outrage and anger.

Expand Close Floral tributes at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry on the industrial estate (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Floral tributes at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry on the industrial estate (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The court was told on Wednesday that Hughes was described as the ringleader of a criminal gang involved in smuggling people illegally into the UK.

Detective Sergeant James Kirwan said that Hughes had a large number of vehicles, and that 210,000 euro (183,400) of his money was frozen across 33 banks accounts connected to Hughes and his family.

On April 8, Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in London.

Robinson will be sentenced at a later date.

Sgt Kirwan stated that police in the UK said Hughes paid Robinson 25,000 for his involvement in people smuggling.

Mr Justice Burns told the court on Thursday that Hughes has connections in Europe, has a business registered in Bulgaria and has good knowledge of ports.

He also said that he has ties to the Republic as he lives at home with his wife and two children.

He added that his parents live next door to him and that his father is ill.

However, he told the court that the travel restrictions around Covid-19 did not prevent him from absconding as ports were still open.

He also said that Hughes has access to a significant amount of money and this was evidenced by his ability to buy his home without a mortgage and buy a 2019 BMW at the value of 108,000 euro.

The court heard that the car has been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

The 39 Vietnamese nationals were found in a lorry container parked on an industrial estate in Grays on October 23 last year.

Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among those found dead.

Four other men will stand trial at the Old Bailey in connection with the investigation on Monday October 5.

Another man, 22-year-old Eamonn Harrison, from Mayobridge, Co Down in Northern Ireland, is appealing against his extradition from the Republic of Ireland to the UK to face charges related to the Essex lorry discovery.

The charges include 39 charges of manslaughter and a charge of conspiracy to traffic people, as well as conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Hughes was remanded into custody until May 15.
A man who was sent home to serve the rest of his kidnapping sentence as the Argentine government seeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus in prisons decided to walk back to the jail after he was beaten by his neighbors.

At least a dozen men chased Pablo Sommaruga throughout a neighborhood street in the Chubut municipality of Esquel on Wednesday.

Video recorded by a bystander showed Sommaruga being kicked and punched while he was on the ground as several police officers attempted to stop the vigilantes.

In a separate video, he is seen running away from his attackers, including one who hurled a round object at him.

Pablo Sommaruga was recently placed under house arrest by the Argentine government as part of an ongoing measure to contain the coronavirus, but while walking to his home Wednesday in the Chubut town of Esquel, a group of neighbors beat him down

Pablo Sommaruga (second from the right, lying on the ground) was punched and kicked by neighbors in Esquel, a city in the Argentine province of Chubut on Wednesday.

Sommaruga suffered a non-life threatening head wound during the beating and then demanded authorities in the town of Baden return him to the Federal Penitentiary System's Unit 14 prison complex.

Since nobody obliged, Sommaruga, whose wife is expecting the birth of the couple's first child next week, decided to walk back by himself, although he hasn't been confined again. His wife experienced contractions and had to be hospitalized.

The beating allegedly took place after rumors surfaced on social media that linked him to a rape, which he denied.

'I understand people, the situation got out of hand but they used social networks to say that it was for something else,' Sommaruga told Argentine news outlet ADN Sur. 'I was given house arrest for good behavior, I'm doing things right, I don't know why they are so cruel to me.'

Pablo Sommaruga suffered a head wound as a result of the beating and tried to return to the local prison from where he had been recently released. He was sentenced to 16 years for his role in the October 2002 kidnapping of a local businessman's son and was slated to be released from jail June 4 before he was awarded early release

Pablo Sommaruga (pictured second from the right) tries to run away from his attackers as local cops attempt to keep them at bay

Pablo Sommaruga was one of six suspects who were found guilty and sentenced to as many as 22 years in prison for the October 16, 2002 of Ariel Strajman, who had one of his fingers cut off.

Sommaruga had been placed in a special program six months ago, permitting him to leave and return to the prison.

'The idea was to live here. I would be free June 4,' he said. 'I made mistakes and paid for them. I understand the pain and the things they are experiencing, but they were wrong. I hope they reflect and don't commit a crime so as not to end up like me.'

Sommaruga was one of six suspects who were found guilty and sentenced to as many as 22 years in prison for the October 16, 2002 kidnapping of Ariel Strajman, then 29, who had one of his fingers cut off.

He and his associates had held Strajman for ransom and collected some jewelry and about $1,000. Authorities have said Strajman was burned with cigarettes and abused for his Jewish faith while he was being held.

Sommaruga received a 16-year sentence in May 2006. He was scheduled to be released in June but was selected for home confinement as part of Argentina's plan to prevent the massive outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the overpopulated prisons.

As of Thursday, 1,700 inmates had been transferred to house arrest from penitentiaries in the province of Buenos Aires along with an additional 320 prisoners from the Federal Penitentiary System's 35 facilities located across the nation.

Argentina has reported 124 deaths, including two prisoners, and 4,285 sickened patients due to the coronavirus pandemic.


Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report

Perth, April 30, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cardinal Resources Limited ( ASX:CDV ) ( FRA:C3L ) ( OTCMKTS:CRDNF ) ( TSE:CDV ) a Ghana gold focused exploration and development company, is pleased to present its Quarterly activities report for the period ended 31 March 2020.HIGHLIGHTS- On January 29, 2020 the Company announced that together with its appointed advisers, Cutfield Freeman & Co, have received a number of term sheets from banks and financiers regarding Project Financing for its 5.1Moz Namdini Gold Project in Ghana, West Africa.- On February 27, 2020 the Company announced that it has been granted important Project Water Extraction Permits by the Ghanaian Water Resources Commission.- On March 11, 2020 the Company announced that it has received the approval for the Resettlement Action Plan for its Namdini Gold Project in Ghana, from the Minerals Commission of Ghana.- On March 26, 2020 the Company announced that it has received the approval for the expansion of the current Mining Licence from 19km2 to 63km2 for a renewable term of 15 years, commencing in 2020, for its Namdini Gold Project in Ghana, West Africa.- On March 30, 2020 the Company updated its shareholders and provided commentary as to how the Company is managing the current COVID-19 pandemic.To view the full quarterly report, please visit:About Cardinal Resources Ltd

Cardinal Resources Ltd (ASX:CDV) (TSE:CDV) (OTCMKTS:CRDNF) is a West African gold exploration and development Company that holds interests in tenements within Ghana, West Africa.

The Company is focused on the development of the Namdini Project with a gold Ore Reserve of 5.1Moz (0.4 Moz Proved and 4.7 Moz Probable) and a soon to be completed Feasibility Study.

Exploration programmes are also underway at the Company's Bolgatanga (Northern Ghana) and Subranum (Southern Ghana) Projects.

Cardinal confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in its announcement of the Ore Reserve of 3 April 2019. All material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning this estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed.
Born Andrea Owusu, better called Efia Odo a Ghanaian video vixen, actress and a socialite has sounded a word of caution to bloggers and other celebrities in Ghana to support female artists when they release their singles instead of beefs.

According to her, the kind of energy pumped by bloggers and other celebrities when it comes to beefs should be repeated when a female artist release a single.

In a post sighted by A2zgh.com, the socialite expressed her worry about the recent beefs that have set in the music industry especially the female ones.

In her lengthy post, she described bloggers and some Ghanaians who support beefs as fake and a stop must be done.

Apparently her comment comes in the wake of the recent misunderstandings between some female entertainers in the country.
MOUSHUMI CHATTERJEE and RISHI KAPOOR were not just colleagues. They were neighbours and close buddies.

BY MOUSHUMI CHATTERJEE Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) Chintu has been my friend, co-star, director and neighbour. I really have no words to express my sorrow and how I feel exactly. It is a great loss to the film industry. Nobody can be like him.

I have worked with him not only as a co-star but he has also directed me. I worked in his directorial "Aa Ab Laut Chalen". He was very caring on the sets as director and producer. Being an actor, he understand the difficulties that actors have to go through.

I was also his neighbour. The last time we met was when my daughter Payal passed away. He had even attended Payal's wedding. We had invited only select people from the industry because my daughter wanted it to be a private affair. But all my neighbours including Chintu came.

When he was in the US for treatment, we used to chat over phone. I even spoke to Neetu. Every year they used to invite us for Ganpati puja.

The news of his death is extremely shocking. First Irrfan and now Chintu. Both of them were not only great actors but also very good human beings. Yesterday and today are very bad days. On both days, I opened my eyes in the morning and heard such shocking news. I also feel very bad for Irrfan and his wife Sutapa because I know them personally.

Today I am thinking about Neetu, Ranbir and the entire family. The Kapoors are full of love and affection.

I will always remember Chintu as a foodie. He used to love good food and drinks. I remember one day he came to the sets of "Aa Ab Laut Chalen" at 5 in the evening. I asked him if he would like to have tea or coffee. He asked me if I hadn't made fish curry today? I said of course I did. He replied he first wanted fish curry and rice and then he would think about tea and coffee! I had to get fish curry and rice from home and he enjoyed it so much! Such was Chintu, always a true admirer of good food! I have been telling Rishi since the morning that now that he is up there he should meet Payal. My daughter left us a few months ago. After that shock as a mother, very few things affect me anymore. That is a pain I cannot express in words.

As a person, Chintu was very outspoken and he awalys told me I was like him.

He used to tease me, calling me "moti" (obese) when I was pregnant with my daughter. But he used to take care of me during our outdoor shooting, I can never forget all that. He was a buddy. We would often get into fights and make up soon after! During our fights, Neetu would support me. Today, all such memories are flashing in my mind.

I am shattered to learn that he is no more. Even though I knew he was not keeping, he was a very positive person, so I strongly believed that he would fight back.

When I worked in the movie "Piku" after a long time a few years ago, he took to the public platform to encourage me and wrote Moushumi is such a good artiste! That was Rishi, a true friend.

I remember when Vinod Khanna died, Rishi was very upset because not a lot of industry people turned up to attend his last rites. He had an outburst saying people lack gratitude. But look at the irony that Rishi passed away at such a time that even if people want to go, they cannot due to this lockdown.

Today all I am left with are memories which are flooding on my mind. I have so many memories of Rishi that I can keep talking about him for hours and yet it would remain incomplete! May you rest in peace my dear friend.

(As told to Ahana Bhattacharya)
Hyderabad, April 30 : After a drop in Covid-19 cases for the last few days, Telangana on Thursday saw a spurt in infections with 22 new cases and three deaths.

Officials said three persons died of Covid-19 and co-morbidities. They include a 44-year-old female and two males, aged 48 and 76. All the three belonged to Greater Hyderabad.

With this, the number of fatalities in the state rose to 28.

With the 22 new cases, the total number rose to 1,038. For last three days the state was reporting cases in single digit but there was sudden spurt on Thursday.

According to officials, the virus from two infected persons spread to three shops owners in Malakpet Gunj Market in Hyderabad and they, in turn, infected their family members. The family members of the shop owners were isolated in hospitals.

Health Minister E. Rajender said Pahadi Shared from where the two infected men hail and Gunj were declared containment zones.

He announced that 33 Covid-19 patients were recovered and discharged on Thursday. They included a 50-year-old doctor.

With this the number of people who recovered and discharged rose to 442. Currently, 568 people are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Due to sudden jump in number of positive cases on Thursday, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao alerted the Health Department. At a high level meeting, he directed the officials to contain the spread of virus in Greater Hyderabad.

Following this, Rajender called a meeting of senior officials and decided to take strict measures in containment zones.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has told President Vladimir Putin that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, and has temporarily stepped back from his work as he begins a period of self isolation.

Speaking during a televised meeting, Mishustin recommended to Putin that First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov should become the acting Prime Minister for the duration of his absence, a proposal that Putin supported.

'I have to observe self-isolation and follow orders of doctors. This is necessary to protect my colleagues,' Mishustin told Putin during the conference call, and said that he would be in constant contact 'on all the main issues.'

According to the Moscow Times, 54 year-old Mishustin has played a leading role in Russia's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He was appointed Prime Minister in January.

Following the news, Putin warned during a televised call that what has happened to his Prime Minister could happen to anyone.

Another Russian news outlet, Proekt Investigative, said any Russian ministers who had come into contact with Mishustin are being regularly tested for the virus, while staffers are required to wear face masks.

Putin himself has been working remotely since the start of the month following a visit to Russia's main coronavirus hospital in Moscow. The chief doctor at the hospital tested positive for the coronavirus soon after the president's visit, according to the Moscow Times.

Mikhail Mishustin, Russia's Prime Minister, pictured taking part in a video conference meeting in Moscow on April 30 with President Vladimir Putin, in which he told the president that he had has tested positive for the coronavirus and will begin a period of self isolation

On the other end of the conference call, Russia's President Vladimir Putin listened to the Prime Minister's announcement that he has been diagnosed with coronavirus on April 30

Meanwhile, Russia's coronavirus death toll today reached 1,000 and its total number of cases broke through 100,000 today after another record day of new infections.

The 7,099 new cases - surpassing the previous high of 6,411 on Tuesday - bring the total from 99,399 to 106,498, the eighth-highest tally in the world.

The daily death toll was over 100 for the second day running, as 101 new deaths took the overall tally from 972 to 1,073.

Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia is entering 'the most intense stage' of the epidemic as medics report shortages of protective gear.

This graph shows the daily number of coronavirus cases in Russia, which reached a new peak of 7,099 today - bringing the total past 100,000

Russia's daily death toll was above 100 for the second day running as the number of fatalities passed 1,000 today

Russia spans 11 time zones, but the crisis has been most severe in Moscow which accounts for 53,739 of the 106,498 cases - just over half.

Moscow has also seen 611 of the 1,073 deaths, while the region which surrounds the capital is responsible for another 93.

St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, has recorded 4,062 cases while the Arctic region of Murmansk has 1,227.

In Siberia, the region of Krasnoyarsk has also seen more than 1,000 cases including 20 fatal ones.

Official figures say 11,619 people have recovered from the disease in Russia, but 93,806 cases are still considered 'active'.

Russia is rising up the table in confirmed cases, passing Iran and China this week to move into eighth - although there are doubts about those countries' figures.

However, Russia's death rate is low compared to many hard-hit countries, with only one death for every 100 confirmed cases.

The equivalent figure is 13.6 per cent in Italy, 11.4 per cent in Spain and 15.8 per cent in Britain, although only 4.0 per cent in Germany.

Medical workers wearing protective gear carry a suspected coronavirus patient on a stretcher outside the Kommunarka hospital near Moscow yesterday

Russia says it has carried out nearly 3.5million tests including many people with mild symptoms who are often missed elsewhere.

Russia is now in its fifth week of a lockdown which has put the economy on course for a 4-6 per cent contraction, the country's central bank says.

The collapse in oil prices because of vanishing global demand has also battered the country's economy.

Putin has extended the lockdown until at least May 11, warning that the peak of the outbreak was still to come.

'The situation is still very difficult,' said Putin. 'We are facing a new and perhaps the most intense stage in countering the epidemic.'

Putin said Russia had managed to slow the spread of the epidemic but cautioned that 'this should not reassure us.'

A Russian Emergencies Ministry worker wearing an orange protective suit and a mask sprays disinfectant at a railway station in St Petersburg yesterday

Separately, prime minister Mikhail Mishustin has extended a ban on entry for foreigners into the country, which had been due to expire on Thursday.

The measure will continue until 'the fight against the infection is over and the epidemic situation has improved,' the government says.

Medics in Russia have complained of shortages of protective gear and testing kits, while hospital staff are becoming concerned about deaths in the medical community.

The pandemic has also thwarted Putin's plans for a massive military parade on May 9 commemorating 75 years since the Soviet victory in World War II.

The Kremlin also postponed an April 22 vote on landmark constitutional reforms, which could paved the way for Putin to stay in power until 2036.

Putin is currently set to reach his two-term limit in 2024, but Russia's parliament has backed a proposal to reset the clock and allow him to run twice more.
Anger in Gulf region as right-wing Hindus target Muslims, accusing them of a conspiracy to spread coronavirus.

In the past couple of weeks, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Kuwait government, a royal princess of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as a number of Arab activists have called out Islamophobic hate speech by Indians seen to be accusing the countrys Muslims of spreading the novel coronavirus.

A barrage of tweets and statements from individuals and institutions in the Gulf expressing their outrage over the hateful social media posts forced the Indian government to respond, including a Twitter post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he stressed that COVID-19 does not see race [or] religion.

It started with right-wing Hindus accusing Muslims of a conspiracy to spread the coronavirus after dozens of cases were linked to a congregation of Tablighi Jamaat, a Muslim missionary movement, at their headquarters in New Delhi in the middle of March.

Hashtags such as #CoronaJihad trended for days on Twitter and panellists in TV debates called them human bombs, while many called for a ban on Jamaat. Its New Delhi office has been sealed.

We call on international organizations, especially the United Nations, the Security Council, the Organization of islamic cooperation and all human rights organizations, to intervene immediately to stop the violations committed against our Muslim brothers in India #India    (@alsuwaifan) April 20, 2020

On April 19, Indias Ministry of Home Affairs said more than 4,000 of the nearly 15,000 cases detected until that day were linked to the Jamaat, whose chief Mullah Saad Kandhalvi was charged with culpable homicide and money laundering and is likely to be arrested.

On Thursday, the total number of coronavirus cases in India was more than 33,000, with more than 1,000 deaths.

A policeman stands as Indian Muslims shop during a three-hour relaxation of lockdown restrictions to buy essential items during the holy month of Ramadan in New Delhi [Manish Swarup/AP]

Arabs flag hateful posts

Following the Jamaat issue, a wave of Islamophobic posts was unleashed on social media by right-wing Hindus, some of them employed in Gulf countries.

Dubai-based Indian, Saurabh Upadhyay, asked Muslims to accept they were the source of the pandemic and called for the death of Jamaat members, describing them as terrorists. He deleted his tweets after social media users in the Gulf and India called him out.

Anyone that is openly racist and discriminatory in the UAE will be fined and made to leave. An example; pic.twitter.com/nJW7XS5xGx  Hend F Q (@LadyVelvet_HFQ) April 15, 2020

An old tweet by Tejasvi Surya, a young member of parliament belonging to Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also resurfaced, provoking further outrage.

In his 2015 post, Surya had quoted a Canadian-Pakistani writer as claiming that 95 percent of Arab women have never had an orgasm in the last few hundred years.

Such Islamophobic comments are particularly hurtful when originating from individuals who have lived and worked in the Gulf. Sultan Barakat, Doha Institute

The level of hubris of the Hindutva fascists shocked people throughout the world, changing previously held opinions, Dr Farhan Mujahid Chak, who teaches political science in the Gulf Studies programme at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera.

Princess Hend al-Qassimi, a member of the UAE royal family, warned openly racist and discriminatory Indians in the Gulf that they will be fined and made to leave the country.

In the past month, at least six Hindus working in the Gulf region have lost their jobs or have been charged for their social media posts.





About 8.5 million Indians live and work in Gulf countries, a significant number of them Hindus.

Indias trading relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states  Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE  has transformed considerably over the years, with the bilateral trade volume surpassing the $100b mark.

Every year, more than $55bn are transferred to India from the Gulf countries, and more than 120 billion annually from all Muslim countries. Indians (mostly Hindus) are treated well in these countries, Kuwait-based activist Abdur Rahman Nassar tweeted.

In return, how are Muslims treated in India? he asked.

Another Kuwait national, lawyer and director of International Human Rights group, Mejbel al-Sharika, tweeted that he will adopt the cause of Muslims in India at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for free.

India and UAE share the value of non-discrimination on any grounds. Discrimination is against our moral fabric and the Rule of law. Indian nationals in the UAE should always remember this. https://t.co/8Ui6L9EKpc  Amb Pavan Kapoor (@AmbKapoor) April 20, 2020

Diplomatic tensions

On Monday, in what was a clear sign of the issue escalating in the Arab world, Kuwait expressed its deep concern over the treatment of Indias Muslims and asked the Organisation of International Cooperation (OIC) to intervene.

Did those who commit crimes against humanity against Muslims in India and violate their rights think that Muslims in the world will remain silent about these crimes and do not move politically, legally and economically against them? a statement by the general secretariat of the Kuwait Council of Ministers said.

Earlier, on April 18, the OIC had issued a statement, urging India to take urgent steps to stop the growing tide of Islamophobia in the country.

A day after the OIC statement, Modi tweeted: COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood. We are in this together.

In the week after Modis call for communal harmony, at least three Indian embassies in the Gulf region  Qatar, the UAE and Oman  tweeted about the shared values of tolerance and pluralism between India and the Arab world.

It is clear that fake identities are being used by forces inimical to India, to create divisions within our community. Please understand the reality and do not get swayed by these malicious attempts to sow discord. Our focus right now needs to be on COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/dVJnAr0Z4N  India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) April 21, 2020

Country of particular concern

Princess al-Qassimi, who has emerged as one of the most prolific Arab voices against Islamophobia in India, last week wrote a column for the Gulf News, in which she said: The world doesnt need another Hitler, but it needs another hero like Martin Luther, Nelson Mandela, or Gandhi.

Killing your brethren doesnt make you a hero, it makes you a dictator and murderer. A snowballing movement has been started, which has reverberated across the Arab world, she wrote in her piece, titled I pray for an India without hate and Islamophobia.





On Sunday, Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the far-right Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in an apparent reference to the Jamaat congregation in New Delhi, said in an online speech from the groups headquarters in Nagpur that it was not right to blame the entire community for the mistakes of few individuals. The RSS is the ideological mentor of Modis BJP.

Sultan Barakat, director of the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies at Qatars Doha Institute, told Al Jazeera that people in the Gulf countries felt outraged over the way Indian Muslims were being blamed for the coronavirus pandemic.

Such stupid assertions angered people here, not only because it is Islamophobic but more importantly, because it is counterproductive to a global pandemic that is blind to religion and recognises no borders, he said.

Millions of Indians have been living in Arab countries for decades with hardly any discrimination against Indians  Hindu, Muslim or any other. Such Islamophobic comments are particularly hurtful when originating from individuals who have lived and worked in the Gulf.

Indias former ambassador to the UAE, Talmiz Ahmed, called the Indians who posted comments against the Arabs and Muslims in India extremely foolish individuals with very limited knowledge of politics or international affairs.

However, BJP spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao told Al Jazeera the issue will not have a negative effect on Indias relationship with the Arab countries. Because it is part of a propaganda and not real, he told Al Jazeera. This is part of anti-India and anti-Hindu propaganda by inimical elements.

Raos optimism appeared to be shortlived.

On Tuesday, in its worst rating since 2004, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom urged the State Department to designate India as a country of particular concern over severe violations of religious freedom.

Although India rejected the US report, calling it biased, it will be hard for the countrys Hindu nationalist government to ignore a growing global concern over the targeting of Indias Muslims.
Many of our neighbors are struggling during the outbreak of the dangerous coronavirus. The economic impact has been deep, with massive layoffs due to the large-scale job closures.

In fact, as of Thursday, the Connecticut Department of Labor had received about 440,000 applications for unemployment compensation, equaling to 26 percent of the working population.

With so many living paycheck to paycheck, many are running out of cash to pay their rent, cover bills and buy groceries. The job losses are especially deep among health aides for the elderly, gym employees, restaurant servers, and childcare workers.

Help-A-Neighbor, a new emergency drive, was created to help residents who cannot pay their basic expenses.

The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time worked with Family Centers, Person-to-Person, Domus, and Building One Community to create and administer this fund.

In the weeks to come, we will publish stories about neighbors in crisis. Included with each story will be an estimated dollar amount to meet their needs. The four nonprofit agencies  which serve some of the most vulnerable members of our community  will channel 100 percent of donations to the clients.

Family Centers provides human service programs to more than 20,000 residents in Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, and Darien.

Person-to-Person serves those communities as well as Norwalk, Wilton, Weston, and Westport. Among other things, it provides food and clothing to families in need.

Domus provides services for at-risk youth, and Building One Community delivers assistance to immigrants. Both are based in Stamford.

To donate, go to helpaneighbor.isecuresites.com.

Here are the stories of some of our neighbors in need:

Case No. 81  Ana, a devoted mother, has lost her job as a result of the coronavirus crisis. She worked two jobs to provide shelter and security for her daughter. Ana is afraid that this crisis will continue for many months and her situation will worsen. A grant of $500 would help ease her mind and pay her bills.

Case No. 82  Rachel works as a CNA but is now at home with her three young children, who are distance learning during the pandemic. Rachel is worried about her youngest daughter, who has a preexisting health condition. She is doing her best to keep all her children safe, healthy and actively learning while constantly worrying about her rent and other living expenses. A gift of $500 would help Rachel and her family.

Case No. 83  Doris is a single mother whose work in the service industry was shut down due to the coronavirus. Doris is now unemployed and has two children who depend on her to meet all their needs. She has applied for unemployment benefits but has not received any word on whether she has been approved. Doris is worried and the bills are piling up. A grant of $500 would make a big difference to her family.

Case No. 84  Rita is a single mother who works to provide for her three boys. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, her hours were cut, and she is not working. Since then, it has been difficult for Rita to provide groceries for her children and maintain her monthly expenses. A bequest of $500 for Rita would significantly help her with groceries and other bills.

Case No. 85  Nancy works hard to maintain her health and monthly expenses. She provides private care for the elderly, and due to the outbreak, Nancys patient asked her to stop working. Now that she is no longer working, Nancy is experiencing high anxiety over her monthly bill payments. A gift of $250 for Nancy would help her pay her monthly expenses.
VICTORIA - Premier John Horgan says he will outline details next week about reopening British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic as workers at two additional poultry processing plants were reported to have tested positive for the virus.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

United Poultry is pictured in Vancouver's downtown eastside, Thursday, April 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

VICTORIA - Premier John Horgan says he will outline details next week about reopening British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic as workers at two additional poultry processing plants were reported to have tested positive for the virus.

Horgan said the reopening guidelines will be different than other provinces, mostly because B.C. didn't fully lock down its economy, allowing construction, agriculture and other industries to continue operating.

"The approach in B.C. was to focus on how could we keep sectors operating safely, rather than shutting them down until such time as we could open them up again," he told a news conference.

Horgan said the reopening plan will focus on ensuring health orders on physical distancing and self-isolation are being practised so that new COVID-19 cases are kept to a minimum.

"It's not just going to be the flick of a switch," said Horgan, who also announced the province's state of emergency has been extended by another two weeks.

He said the public must have confidence about safely entering businesses and workers must have assurances about their safety as the province takes a "slow, methodical, phased-in approach" to reopening.

"The only way we build that confidence is to have a set of common protocols, common guidelines, in place to protect workers, in place to protect consumers," he said.

Horgan said he doesn't expect regular classes at schools to resume until at least September.

The government said Wednesday 13 outbreaks of COVID-19 are over, but four more people died from the illness in the province. A total of 109 people have now died from COVID-19 in B.C.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said the four people who died were seniors living in long-term care homes.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 34 new positive tests COVID-19, for a total of 2,087 cases, with 1,305 people having recovered.

Horgan expressed concern that workers at four poultry processing plants have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since last week.

Horgan said provincial sick pay standards are being reviewed after the province heard workers at one plant told health inspectors they went to work sick because they couldn't afford to lose a day's pay.

"That just can't continue," he said.

Sofina Foods Inc. in Port Coquitlam and Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry in Chilliwack said Wednesday each of their facilities has one worker who has tested positive.

Sofina Foods said in a statement its employee lives with relatives who work at another plant that was recently closed after several workers tested positive for COVID-19.

The company, which employs more than 400 workers, said the plant remains fully operational, and that disinfection protocols and physical distancing measures are in place.

Fraser Valley Specialty said its employee had been off the job since Friday with mild flu symptoms and tested positive on Tuesday.

Two other poultry operations in Metro Vancouver were ordered closed by health officials recently when workers at the plants tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the government said 50 people at Superior Poultry Processors Ltd. in Coquitlam and 42 at United Poultry Co. Ltd. in Vancouver have tested positive for COVID-19.

Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has said there is no indication food is a source of transmission of the virus.

Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, which produces organic and specialty chicken, duck, squab and free-run geese, said in a statement that similar businesses have not been required to recall products after COVID-19 outbreaks.

Its office and farm store remain open, but the company said its plant was closed on Wednesday while it met with officials to determine what happens next.

Sofina plant manager Kuljeet Chahal said the company was prepared and acted quickly to assess the risks.

"Combined with the fact that the employee wore protective personal equipment at all times, we are confident that we had the right measures in place to help mitigate risks to other employees," Chahal said in the company's statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2020.
Beijing, April 30 : Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has filed a new patent for a foldable smartphone with a zoom lens.

Huawei filed a design patent in China on July 12, last year and the patent was granted on April 28, this year.

Looking at the images, the upcoming device can be unfolded to reveal a larger tablet size. The device bends inwards features no selfie camera, with most fo the front being covered by the display, GizmoChina reported on Wednesday.

The patent smartphone has a quad camera module similar to the Mate Xs but also features a zoom lens for magnified shots this time around.

The company is likely to release a new foldable smartphone around October 2020, when the Mate 40 series is also expected to be released.

Earlier, Huawei filed a new patent for an extendable smartphone design.

The patent was filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and was discovered in WIPO''s global design database.

According to images, the phone will adopt a foldable panel just like the Mate X and Mate Xs, but instead of an in-folding design, the new patented model has a pull-out display design.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday warned that the coronavirus crisis could continue for months and lockdown was not a solution to the pandemic, as the total number of the COVID-19 infections rose to 16,117 with 358 deaths so far in the county.

"We don't know if the current situation will continue for six months or a year. I know that the worst hit due to the lockdown will be poor," Khan said while addressing the media along with his top advisors.

Khan said that the government so far disbursed 81 billion rupees among 6.6 million deserving families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme. He said that the third category of the programme covered all provinces and Sindh was given the maximum relief funds under the Ehsaas programme.

He said that the COVID-19 brought major devastation in counties like the United States and Italy, but the circumstances are quite different in Pakistan. He said that the death rate in the country from the virus was lower than feared.

ALSO READ| COVID-19: Pakistan International Airlines gets approval to operate direct repatriation flights to US

Khan said that the COVID-19 Tigers Force would be made operational from next week and would be asked to go the rural areas and help the people.

Planning Minister Asad Umar said that the coronavirus was still under control in the country. "It is true that we have a big number of cases and deaths. The number of deaths will increase in the coming days but our situation is not as bad as other countries," he said.

He said that easing of the lockdown after May 9 will depend on whether people were following the restrictions and social distancing measures or not. Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Health Service said that Pakistan's coronavirus cases jumped to 16,117.

It showed that Punjab reported 6,061 cases, Sindh 6,053, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,313, Balochistan 978, Gilgit-Baltistan 333, Islamabad 313 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 66 cases. It said that 12 more patients died on Thursday, taking the death total toll to 358.

ALSO READ| Media reports about presence of jihadi camps in PoK 'baseless': Pakistan Foreign Office

So far 4,105 patients had recovered. The authorities so far conducted 174,160 tests, including 8,249 on 29 April. The ministry also said that local transmission was 84 per cent and foreign travel 16 per cent. The government said that 3,560 patients were admitted across the country in 717 hospitals with COVID-19 facilities, while others were isolated at their homes.

Meanwhile, the aviation ministry said that the suspension of domestic airline operation will continue until May 7. Separately, Islamabad administration sealed some areas in I-10 Sector after several cases of the coronavirus were found there.
Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries PSC (Julphar), one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Middle East and Africa, has announced that the companys exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will resume again.

The announcement comes after the successful inspection of Julphars manufacturing facilities by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)

.

Sheikh Saqer Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Board, Julphar, said: We are pleased to announce that more than 100 products registered in Saudi Arabia will again be available in the market. We would like to thank the SFDA and UAEs Ministry of Health and Prevention for their continued guidance and support as we worked together to implement further improvements in our manufacturing processes as per recommendations highlighted in their report. We will continue to strengthen our partnership and cooperation with all relevant regional authorities today and in the future as our products continue to be successfully sold in 50 markets around the world. This is testament to our legacy and success as a company with a 40-year history that is firmly rooted in the soil and history of the region.

In addition to the lifting of the suspension, Julphar had already started supplying the Saudi Arabian market from Julphars new production facility at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) during the end of 2019. The plant has an installed annual capacity for one billion tablets, 300 million capsules, 30m bottles of syrups/suspensions.

In 2019, Julphar began its operational transformation including an internal restructure and a cutting-edge revamp of all quality processes. This included a key focus on the companys quality assurance, regulatory and development activities steered by over 200 scientists, medical professionals and regulatory experts to ensure Julphar delivers impactful and accessible healthcare solutions that respond to the needs of people and governments across the region and beyond. -- Tradearabia News Service
Social Commentator and former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Allotey Jacobs has jabbed some young members and activists in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who, to him, have suddenly grown wings in the party.



Stopping short of pinpointing exactly who those characters are, Allotey Jacobs bemoaned the conduct of some of these young generation in politics, asking them to lift the political discourse.



He was contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' Morning Show on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.



Earlier on, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, speaking on the same platform, had treated with disdain President Akufo-Addo's promise to construct 88 district and 6 Regional hospitals in the country.



To him, the President is only taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to solicit votes from Ghanaians in order to win the 2020 elections.



He doubted the President's commitment to the project saying ''this promise made by President Akufo-Addo is a grand deception calculated for votes and not intended to be kept. President Akufo-Addo has realized that he has failed Ghanaians. He couldn't utilize the power given him about four years now for development especially in the health sector regarding the health of Ghanaians. He has failed Ghanaians woefully but he has realized this year is an election year and is more concerned about deceiving the people to win their votes. The first point I want to make and make very forcefully is this promise is an absolute lie...The President doesn't have any good intention to put it into good use''.



Sammy Gyamfi made further claims that the Akufo-Addo government had abandoned hospital projects by erstwhile Mahama administration citing the Bank of Ghana hospital which, to him, was established by former President John Dramani Mahama; an assertion that was repudiated by seasoned journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako who was also on the panel.



Sammy Gyamfi and Kweku Baako entered into a heated debate over ownership of the Bank of Ghana hospital.



Taking his turn to address issues on the programme, Allotey Jacobs reminded the young generation that he has been in their position before saying ''when we were young, we behaved as children but now we have grown''.



He therefore advised young politicians to listen to wisdom from their elders because having an adamant posture to corrections won't help them in their political journey.



''We are in a political age of maturity. So, we should look at Ghana first when issues are raised but with the young people today, I don't know whether it is personality cult, personality worship; so when you express your view about this COVID-19, then it means you either supporting this or against this. So, they have to get on your nerves...When you explain yourself, it appears the young ones who have come up, I don't know the force pushing them but they will not listen to wisdom or reasoning...This country has to move forward'', he exclaimed.







.





Social Commentator and former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Allotey Jacobs has jabbed some young members and activists in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who, to him, have suddenly grown wings in the party.



Stopping short of pinpointing exactly who those characters are, Allotey Jacobs bemoaned the conduct of some of these young generation in politics, asking them to lift the political discourse.



He was contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' Morning Show on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.



Earlier on, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, speaking on the same platform, had treated with disdain President Akufo-Addo's promise to construct 88 district and 6 Regional hospitals in the country.



To him, the President is only taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to solicit votes from Ghanaians in order to win the 2020 elections.



He doubted the President's commitment to the project saying ''this promise made by President Akufo-Addo is a grand deception calculated for votes and not intended to be kept. President Akufo-Addo has realized that he has failed Ghanaians. He couldn't utilize the power given him about four years now for development especially in the health sector regarding the health of Ghanaians. He has failed Ghanaians woefully but he has realized this year is an election year and is more concerned about deceiving the people to win their votes. The first point I want to make and make very forcefully is this promise is an absolute lie...The President doesn't have any good intention to put it into good use''.



Sammy Gyamfi made further claims that the Akufo-Addo government had abandoned hospital projects by erstwhile Mahama administration citing the Bank of Ghana hospital which, to him, was established by former President John Dramani Mahama; an assertion that was repudiated by seasoned journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako who was also on the panel.



Sammy Gyamfi and Kweku Baako entered into a heated debate over ownership of the Bank of Ghana hospital.



Taking his turn to address issues on the programme, Allotey Jacobs reminded the young generation that he has been in their position before saying ''when we were young, we behaved as children but now we have grown''.



He therefore advised young politicians to listen to wisdom from their elders because having an adamant posture to corrections won't help them in their political journey.



''We are in a political age of maturity. So, we should look at Ghana first when issues are raised but with the young people today, I don't know whether it is personality cult, personality worship; so when you express your view about this COVID-19, then it means you either supporting this or against this. So, they have to get on your nerves...When you explain yourself, it appears the young ones who have come up, I don't know the force pushing them but they will not listen to wisdom or reasoning...This country has to move forward'', he exclaimed.

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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BLOOMINGTON  Mark Brodl, provost and dean of faculty, was supposed to read the names of this years graduates at Illinois Wesleyan University's commencement.

Instead, he wrote their names in chalk on Thursday morning, one of several activities designed to help make up for the traditional commencement ceremony being postponed until Aug. 2 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Were calling out each student visually instead of orally, said President Georgia Nugent.

Brodl, Nugent and Karla Carney-Hall, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, were among several people writing the names of each of the 392 graduates who would have been part of Sundays commencement. Forty-one are December 2019 graduates, the rest are spring 2020 graduates, including May term and summer graduates.

The students have made their mark at Illinois Wesleyan, said Carney-Hall. We wanted to help them make that mark in a tangible way.

The idea for writing the name of each graduate around Aspiration Fountain came from Kevin Carey, director of student involvement.

As freshmen, we invited them to write their goals for their time at Wesleyan around the fountain, said Carney-Hall. We would have asked them to consider their next goals during commencement.

This years graduating seniors were the second class of freshmen to write their goals around the fountain in the Egbers Quadrangle, dedicated in 2015.

This wraps a Wesleyan tradition around another Wesleyan tradition, said Brodl, after chalking his share of names.

Each student will get a video of the event, one of several virtual activities designed to help make up for cancellation or postponement of events traditionally held as part of graduation.

On Wednesday, 19 international students from seven countries took part in a virtual international students graduation via the Zoom teleconference platform.

Its an event IWUs International Office hosts every year to which each graduating international student invites a faculty or staff member, receives a commemorative stole specific to their country and has their picture taken with IWUs president.

Its a way to recognize their journey and adventure and bring them together one last time, said Robyn Walter, international student/scholar adviser.

Walter said, Our IT wizards enthusiastically partnered with us to make this happen.

The event included remarks by Nugent and others as well as a video with music and photos of the students during their years at IWU.

After each put on their stole, the individual student and Nugent were paired on the computer screen to have their picture together, said Walter. It ended up being very meaningful for them.

Nevertheless, after numerous virtual meetings, it was nice to get together face to face, even if the faces were behind masks on a chilly campus. Chalking duties were spaced so no more than 10 people were gathered at any given time.

You begin to think the world comes in two dimensions, said Nugent.

Its fun to actually see other people again, she said. This is good for us and good for the students.

Photos: Names of Illinois Wesleyan University graduates recognized in chalk during coronavirus

Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota

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Company Continues to Grow its Ability to Expand and Manufacture New Nanoproducts to Complement its Core C-Bond Patented Technology and Product Suite

HOUSTON, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- C-Bond Systems, Inc. (the Company or C-Bond) (CBNT), a nanotechnology solutions company, today announced its manufacturing facility has received registration from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Company continues to grow its ability to expand and manufacture new nanoproducts to complement its core C-Bond patented technology and product suite.



C-Bond received notification of registration for a pesticide-producing establishment from the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention of the EPA, pursuant to Section 7 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Any production of pesticides, active ingredients or devices must be conducted in a registered pesticide-producing or device-producing establishment.

EPA facility registration is an important step in the Companys growth strategy as we look to add EPA registered products to our product portfolio to address our customers diverse needs, said Scott R. Silverman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of C-Bond Systems. We are facing these challenging times head on, doing everything from adapting our manufacturing facility to produce hand sanitizer, to adding a photocatalytic coating that kills pathogens on contact when exposed to natural or UV-A light, and potentially offering other innovative products going forward.

While we look forward to a return to normal and an increased demand for our core products, we are continually evolving our business to meet the times and are proud that we have remained nimble and expanded our business in ways that we believe will be beneficial over the long-term, concluded Silverman.

About C-Bond

C-Bond Systems, Inc. (CBNT) is a Houston-based advanced nanotechnology company and marketer of the patented C-Bond technology, developed in conjunction with Rice University and independently proven to significantly strengthen glass in key automotive and structural applications. The Companys Transportation Solutions Group sells C-Bond NanoShield, a liquid solution applied directly to automotive windshields, sold through distributors. The Companys Safety Solutions Group sells ballistic-resistant glass solutions and FN NANO Coating directly to private enterprises, schools, hospitals and government agencies. For more information, please visit our website: www.cbondsystems.com , Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbondsys/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBond_Systems .

Story continues

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about our future expectations, including the likelihood that EPA facility registration is an important step in the Companys growth strategy as we look to add EPA registered products to our product portfolio to address our customers diverse needs; the likelihood that the Company will potentially offer other innovative products going forward; the likelihood that the Company has expanded its business in ways that will be beneficial over the long-term; constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and our actual results could differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, C-Bonds ability to raise capital; the Companys ability to successfully commercialize its products; as well as other risks. Additional information about these and other factors may be described in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including its Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2020, its Forms 10-Q filed on November 14, 2019, August 12, 2019, and May 10, 2019, and in future filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Investor Contacts:



Luke Zimmerman

Senior Vice President

MZ Group - MZ North America

949-259-4987

CBNT@mzgroup.us

www.mzgroup.us



Allison Tomek

VP, Corporate Communications

C-Bond Systems, Inc.

atomek@cbondsystems.com

832-649-5658
President Donald Trump answers questions during an interview with Reuters about China - REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Donald Trump believes China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic is proof that Beijing "will do anything they can" to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

In an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office, the US President talked tough on China and said he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for Beijing over the virus. "I can do a lot," he said.

Mr Trump has been heaping blame on China for a global pandemic that has killed more than 60,000 people in the United States and thrown the country's economy into a deep recession, putting in jeopardy his hopes for another four-year term.

The Republican president, often accused of not acting early enough to prepare the United States for the spread of the virus, said he believed China should have been more active in letting the world know about coronavirus much sooner.

Asked whether he was considering the use of tariffs or even debt write-offs for China, Mr Trump would not offer specifics. "There are many things I can do," he said. "We're looking for what happened."

"China will do anything they can to have me lose this race," he said.

He believes Beijing wants his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, to win the race to ease the pressure Mr Trump has placed on China over trade and other issues.

"They're constantly using public relations to try to make it like they're innocent parties," he said of Chinese officials.

The Chinese government denied having any interest in interfering with the US election. "The U.S. presidential election is an internal affair, we have no interest in interfering in it," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a daily briefing. "We hope the people of the U.S. will not drag China into its election politics."

Trump said the trade deal that he concluded with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at reducing chronic US trade deficits with China had been "upset very badly" by the economic fallout from the virus.

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A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that an informal truce in the war of words that Mr Trump and Mr Xi essentially agreed to in a phone call in late March now appeared to be over.

The two leaders had promised that their governments would do everything possible to co-operate to contain coronavirus.

In recent days, Washington and Beijing have traded increasingly bitter recriminations over the origin of the virus and the response to it.

However, Mr Trump and his top aides, while stepping up their anti-China rhetoric, have stopped short of directly criticising Mr Xi, who Mr Trump has repeatedly called his friend.

Mr Trump also said South Korea had agreed to pay the United States more money for a defence co-operation agreement, but would not be drawn out on how much.

"We can make a deal. They want to make a deal," Mr Trump said. "Theyve agreed to pay a lot of money. Theyre paying a lot more money than they did when I got here [in January 2017]."

The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty.

Mr Trump is leading a triage effort to try to keep the US economy afloat through stimulus payments to individuals and companies while nudging state governors to carefully reopen their states as new infections decline.

Mr Trump sounded wistful about the strong economy that he had enjoyed compared with now, when millions of people have lost their jobs and GDP is faltering.

"We were rocking before this happened. We had the greatest economy in history," he said.

He said he is happy with the way many governors are operating under the strain of the virus but said some need to improve. He would not name names.

Mr Trump's handling of the virus has come under scrutiny. Forty-three per cent of Americans approved of Mr Trumps handling of the pandemic, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll from April 27-28.

But there was some good coronavirus news, as Gilead Sciences said its experimental antiviral drug remdesivir was showing progress in treating virus victims.

Mr Trump is also seeking an accelerated timetable on development of a vaccine.

"I think things are moving along very nicely," he said.

At the end of the half-hour interview, Mr Trump offered lighthearted remarks about a newly released Navy video purportedly showing an unidentified flying object.

"I just wonder if it's real," he said. "That's a hell of a video."
A rheumatoid arthritis drug may help treat severely ill coronavirus patients, early results of a new study find.

Tocilizumab, sold under the brand names RoAcemtra and Actemra, typically sells for about $870 a dose.

Patients given injections of the drug were less likely to be put on life support and less likely to die than those given a placebo.

With no approved treatments specifically for the virus, there is a pressing need to test both existing medicines and experimental therapies to stop the disease - that has killed more than 61,000 Americans - in its tracks.

Half of 129 severely ill coronavirus patients were given two injections of tocilizumab (pictured), a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis

Those given the shots were less likely to be put on life support and less likely to die than those given a placebo. Pictured: A doctor examines a patient being monitored for coronavirus at Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, April 22

Researchers believe the drug mitigates cytokine storms, which occur when the body doesn't just fight off the virus but also attacks its own cells and tissues. Pictured: US Army service members transport a patient to the ICU at the Javits New York Medical Station, April 18

Tocilizumab belongs to a class of drugs called interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors that could help mitigate a dangerous overreaction to the virus by the body's immune system called a cytokine storm.

These so-called storms occur when the body doesn't just fight off the virus but also attacks its own cells and tissues.

In cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, cytokine storms can trigger respiratory distress.

Currently, tocilizumab is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in coronavirus patients.

For the study, conducted by Paris Public Hospitals (AP-HP), the team recruited 129 people who had moderate to severe cases of COVID-19.

Sixty-five were given two shots of tocilizumab along with antibiotics, while the remaining 64 received standard antibiotic care.

Results showed that those given the arthritis drug were less likely to die and less likely to need life support in comparison with the control group.

'The study has shown comprehensively that fewer patients on oxygen with breathing difficulties needed to be transferred to intensive care [after being treated with tocilizumab],' Dr Jacques Eric Gottenberg of the department of rheumatology at Strasbourg University Hospital told RFI.

AP-HP said the results are being submitted to a peer-reviewed journal but that it chose to share preliminary findings because the drug showed a clear 'clinical benefit.'

The hospital did note that further research is needed to test the safety and efficacy of treating coronavirus patients with tocilizumab.

'If these results are confirmed, the advantage of this drug is that it is already available in all hospital pharmacies and can be used very quickly. It's one or two injections for each patient,' Gottenberg said.

AH-HP did not have anyone immediately available to speak with DailyMail.com by the time of publication.

The results are welcome after a study on another arthritis drug, Kevzara, proved to be disappointing.

Preliminary findings showed that the medication had virtually no effect on 'severely ill' patients, meaning they needed oxygen

However, it did help patients deemed 'critically ill,' meaning they were on mechanical ventilation or high-flow oxygen therapy.
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed, paradoxically, that we all share a common fate, yet our population is more divided than ever into haves and have-nots. A viral nemesis traverses the globe, oblivious of race, color, or political division. At the same time, the well-off, mainly of white European origin, shelter in place and largely avoid exposure.

Social distancing may have its downsides, but it is the ultimate luxury good. The others of the world are linked by a different fate  constant exposure to a potentially deadly microbe. While Covid-19 ignores superficial human differences, governments have created a social hierarchy that makes those differences a primary determinant in who gets sick and who dies.

Under international human rights law, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, every individual is guaranteed access to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Public authorities must provide care across social divides and without discrimination or bias, including care for for institutionalized populations and those trapped in refugee camps. It requires the protection of health workers and other essential workers. We must today look in the global mirror and acknowledge that the ugly realities of racism, xenophobia, mass incarceration, and occupation are creating the conditions for a human rights catastrophe.

In the United States, we incarcerate approximately 2.3 million people  more per capita than any country on earth. While some non-violent offenders are being released, millions remain without the ability for social distancing and without access to adequate medical care. This is an overwhelmingly black and brown population, many of whom have co-morbidities that make them more vulnerable.

Meanwhile, on the streets and in the supermarkets, grocery workers put their lives on the line to stock shelves and deliver food, with an average wage of approximately $11 per hour, not enough to feed their own families. Data from urban centers show people of color dying from coronavirus in disproportionate numbers, a function of inability to isolate, poor health care infrastructure, poor nutrition and poor access to human capital for centuries.

In the West Bank and Gaza, Israel has a duty under the Geneva Conventions to ensure that Palestinians receive essential information and health services.. Until recently, information on the spread of Covid-19 has been published in Hebrew, with little to no Arabic materials. Longstanding restrictions on freedom of movement interrupt Palestinians ability to access healthcare facilities and services. This affects both patients who need treatment and cannot get to hospitals and clinics, as well as healthcare workers who can provide treatment but cannot get to work. In addition, detention of Palestinians in the West Bank without charge or trial adds to the overcrowding of facilities and increases the risk of exposure to Covid-19.

The situation in Gaza is more severe, given a near-complete absence of health infrastructure and delays in the import of medical equipment. Hospitals in Gaza have an estimated 40 per cent of basic medication needed, and reports estimate between 50 and 100 ventilators and 40 functioning beds for adults. There are 700 Personal Protective Equipment kits in the whole of Gaza, and Israel has sent a few hundred Covid-19 testing kits for approximately 1.8 million people.

Whatever ones views on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Israel cannot ignore a healthcare crisis over the millions of Palestinian human beings under its political control and in need of pandemic response.

It would be wrong to focus only on Palestine or the Israeli authorities in looking at the human rights crisis in the Middle East. In Yemen, a five-year proxy war has worsened what was already the worst humanitarian crisis in decades. Only 51 per cent of hospitals in Yemen are functional, with a limited supply of medicine, equipment, and personal protective gear for healthcare workers. There are only two testing centers to accommodate some 28 million people. Nearly four million people have been displaced since the start of the conflict, with many ending up in camps or informal settlements, where dire conditions make it difficult to prevent infection.

With over 12 million refugees and internally displaced people in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, the refugee and migrant crisis in the Middle East has presented unique health challenges for the countries that host these communities. Long-term refugees often have the most compromised immune systems, and so are especially vulnerable to severe infection. Refugees in camps have limited access to even the most basic sanitation needs and are crammed into small spaces, sharing bathrooms, bathing areas, food, and cooking areas.

Beyond the risk for infection, political responses to the pandemic often discriminate against the refugee and migrant sectors of society. In Lebanon, the government imposed a special curfew on Syrian refugees, despite the fact that 93 per cent of those sick are Lebanese, not Syrians. The curfew and other measures like it are especially untenable given that struggling refugees cannot afford to miss work. The age-old fear that outsiders will bring disease to larger segments of society prompts discriminatory travel bans and border restrictions that endanger those escaping violence and persecution.

Inside Syria, particularly in Idlib province, the situation is worse. The healthcare infrastructure of the region has been destroyed by the bombing campaigns of the past decade, leaving facilities with little to no equipment or resources to manage widespread infection (the entire region has about 100 ventilators.) In Egypt, the authoritarian Al-Sisi regime has detained peaceful protestors calling attention to the governments inadequate response to mitigate the spread of the virus, and specifically to the condition of Egyptian prisons and the high rate of infection in primitive and abusive conditions.

Most countries are overwhelmed by their own healthcare challenges, but some members of the international community have stepped up. Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated $150m to aid to Gaza and the World Health Organization has brought 1,500 testing kits to Gaza and 300 to Idlib. UNICEF has taken a leading role in managing pandemic response in refugee camps across the world. The Government of Portugal is taking progressive measures to ensure access to adequate healthcare to all residents, regardless of their status in the country. However, other countries have yet to take this step, leaving their refugee and migrant populations vulnerable to the infection and without viable options for treatment.

The international response has been far too little, too late and many more will die  not only because of a merciless microbe, but because of a global community that funnels resources upwards to the wealthy and white, and suffering downwards to the black, brown, displaced and poor.
JSC Ukreximbank and the State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) have signed an agreement on financing of road construction in the amount of more than UAH 5.7 billion.

The document was signed with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the press service of the head of state reports.

"With the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, an agreement was solemnly signed between JSC Ukreximbank and the State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) regarding the provision of the first tranche of financing for road construction in the amount of UAH 5.782 billion," the statement reads.

The total funding amount will amount to UAH 19.3 billion.

"Despite the quarantine measures in our country, the most important thing is that the state is working and, together with the banking sector and construction companies, building kilometers of roads and "sews" our country together! As I said, roads and bridges are a priority," the president said after signing the agreement and expressed gratitude to all its participants.

ish
Company aims to undertake Genome Sequencing of COVID-19 for routine surveillance and outbreak response

In a bid to contribute towards the ongoing research and development around COVID-19, Redcliffe Lifesciences has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health, Government of India and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).

The diagnostic company who is also into therapeutics drug discovery and infectious disease testing aims to undertake Genome Sequencing of COVID-19 for routine surveillance and outbreak response.

The company aims to utilize its revolutionary technology for this purpose and provide a major boost to governmental efforts in tackling the pandemic.

The biggest challenge during any outbreak for scientists is to predict the pattern or evolution and disease spread, especially with RNA viruses such as the COVID19, which have very high genetic variability. This makes it difficult to understand the transmission pattern, number of active strains and their geographical locations, or if a person is affected with multiple strains.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is a globally accepted practice and can prove to be a gamechanger in this regard by providing the highest possible resolution information about an organisms genome. It has the potential to transform infectious disease management and help combat the disease in a better manner.

Speaking about this, Ashish Dubey, Co-Founder, Redcliffe Life Sciences, said, It is our endeavor and mission to assist in the efforts being made by the Government of India and other authorities in combating this pandemic. By providing our scientific input and using our technology, we believe that we can assist them evaluate most of the available information. Our aim is three-fold: understand the various strains of COVID-19 if any, found in the Indian public; evaluate the spread patterns of these mutations in different geographic areas, and predict the response of drugs on each such viral strain. We are positive about the opportunity offered by whole genome sequencing in taking quick treatment decisions for combating COVID-19.

Redcliffes assay approach is helpful in targeting the entire coronavirus genome and can cover more than 99% of the viral genome and its variants. They have a proprietary computational pipeline that can automatically analyze the sequences and identify various viral strains based on patient samples. The enhanced understanding of the genetic makeup of this virus can eventually help in saving lives given the urgency and in forming strategies for public and clinical healthcare. It will also lead to the creation of therapies and vaccines to combat the virus.
Groove Belt Ive hated wearing belts my whole life. They were uncomfortable and never fit right. I wanted a belt that was flexible, yet durable and low profile, Goodwin says. We knew if we could make a belt more comfortable and at the same time easy to buckle, wed knock it out of the park.

Its hard to imagine improvements in a belt that would create a buzz among the already crowded mens accessory market, but Groove Life lived up to their legacy, fully funding their Kickstarter campaign in less than 4 hours. On April 27th, Groove Life Inc, the company that revolutionized the silicone ring, launched the most innovative belt in the outdoor and active lifestyle market.

Like the Groove Ring, the Groove Belt is ultra-comfortable and extremely durable. The Groove Belt rarely needs adjustment, and is the first belt to use Neodymium Magnets. A belt may seem simple but through some innovation, Groove utilizes clever design to remove all the frustrations of other belts.

While most belts include a complicated adjustment process, excess slack, or show wear and tear after just a few uses, the Groove Belt is durable, usable with just one snap, and looks awesome!

Peter Goodwin, owner and founder of Groove Life, loves to innovate products that fix existing problems. When he thought about traditional belts, the negatives were endless. Ive hated wearing belts my whole life. They were uncomfortable and never fit right. I wanted a belt that was flexible, yet durable and low profile, Goodwin says. We knew if we could make a belt more comfortable and at the same time easy to buckle, wed knock it out of the park.

Groove Life has done just that. The belt combines maximum comfort with the best style. Neodymium magnets hold the buckle in perfect place with a satisfying snap. While most belts are stiff and uncomfortable, the Groove Belt provides the perfect blend of durable, stiff webbing and stretch for comfort while holding its shape. It is fold-proof, requires a one-time adjustment, and includes a coated, A380 aluminum alloy buckle.

In addition to these super innovative features, Groove Life will back this product with an iron-clad 94-Year No BS warranty. If the belt breaks, they will replace it every time. For life!

The Groove Belt is the perfect belt for adventurers, athletes, or simply those who appreciate comfort. The average man adjusts a belt 5+ times per day why not make the process as simple as possible? Belts dont have to be stiff, uncomfortable, and difficult to use. The Groove Belt is ready to stand up to every other belt on the market.

Back the Groove Belt on Kickstarter right now and explore other products at Groove Life.

About

Groove Life launched in 2016 with the release of their flagship product, the Groove Ring, through a successful Kickstarter campaign. Founder Peter Goodwin wanted to wear a ring that showed his commitment to his family while meeting the demands of his work as an Alaskan guide and wilderness lodge owner. His creation not only offers durability and functionality, but rugged good looks, as well. The company has since moved its headquarters to Tennessee and now offers other products including the first truly breathable watch band.
At the Golden Tip service station, somewhere in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, they pump more than gas. Drive up, tell the handsome attendant I want to go to Dreamland, and hes yours, for a fee.

Everybody wants to go to Dreamland, right? Thats why people go to the movies, and why they go into the movies. This is how Jack (David Corenswet), a war veteran who wants to be a screen star, ends up at the Golden Tip in Netflixs Hollywood, hustling to support his pregnant wife (Maude Apatow) while he chases his other hustle.

Jack is struggling, unconnected and of questionable talent. Yet hes one of the lucky ones: Hes white, straight and easy on the eyes. The seven gilded episodes of Hollywood, arriving Friday, introduce a broad cast of would-bes and coulda-beens  black, gay, female  in a vivid but unconvincing ensemble fantasy about who gets to go to Dreamland and who has to keep dreaming.

Hollywood is the latest from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, a co-creator, with Murphy, of Glee. Beyond that musical hit, Murphy has often explored ambition and its discontents, in series as varied as The Politician, Pose, Feud: Bette and Joan and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
Spains Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell 5.2% in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of coronavirus confinement measures, according to an advance report released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) on Thursday. This is the largest quarterly drop in nearly a century. The last time such a figure was seen was after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), based on the estimates of specialist historians.

The biggest quarterly drop in recent times occurred in 2009, during the recession, when the Spanish economy fell 2.6% between January and March. The GDP is the best indicator to measure production in the country, and in turn, its wealth.

Trade, transportation and hostelry were among the worst affected sectors

In April, the Bank of Spain estimated that the coronavirus crisis would lead to a 4.7% fall in the first quarter. More alarm bells were sounded this week when the INE released figures on retail trade and active employment.

According to the INE, retail trade fell by 15% in March  a monthly figure that usually falls or rises by a few tenths of a point. This blow occurred despite the fact that Spain had only been under the coronavirus lockdown for two weeks, and that January and February were good months for business.

On Tuesday, the INE released the EPA active workforce survey which shows that employment figures in Spain fell by 285,600 people between January and March  the greatest drop since the recession of 2012. The survey also found that the number of hours worked had fallen 4.25% in the first quarter.

Worst yet to come

The figures from the second quarter are expected to be even worse. The outcome for the year will depend on the deescalation of the confinement measures, which have been in place since the Spanish government declared a state of alarm on March 14 in a bid to slow the coronavirus outbreak. According to the governments plan, which was announced on Tuesday, businesses will be able to gradually reopen under strict conditions. But there is still great uncertainty, and the Bank of Spain estimated in April that Spains GDP could fall by anywhere between 6.6% and 13.6% this year. This would be an unprecedented fall: during the recession, between 2008 and 2013, Spains GDP gave up 9.5 points.

In a press release, the INE said that it had gone to extra lengths to accurately represent the impact of the confinement measures on economic activity in the last two weeks of March. Most indicators only offer results until February, so the institute included other sources, such as the use of credit cards. According to the Spanish bank BBVA, consumption has fallen by half since the declaration of the state of alarm.

A breakdown of the INE figures indicates dramatic falls across all areas. According to the quarterly report, consumption fell by 5.1%, household spending by 7.5%, investment by 5.3% and exports and imports by 8.4%. Public administration was the only area to see a rise in spending, increasing 1.8% in the first quarter, a rise not seen since 2007.

The sectors worst affected were trade, transportation and hostelry, which fell 10.9% in the first quarter. Artistic and recreational activities dropped by 11.2%, scientific and professional activities by 8%, information and communication by 5.5%, and construction by 8.1%. Public administration, health and education rose by 0.8%. Financial and insurance activities experienced growth of 1%.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
" " Pexels The history of the gin and tonic is about as fascinating, subtropical and wild as the drink is light, refreshing and simple to make.

Every cocktail has an origin story that adds an element of history and romanticism with every single sip. Take the dark 'n' stormy  a go-to cocktail that came out of post-World War I Bermuda after American sailors sampled local ginger ale mixed with Gosling's Black Seal Rum. Then there's the cosmo. Made famous 50 years before "Sex and the City," the cosmopolitan was initially called a 'vodka gimlet' before a splash of cranberry juice turned it fancy.

Finally, the gin and tonic, a two-ish ingredient cocktail that pairs perfectly with early summer weather. To some, the combination of tonic water and gin seems like a no-brainer, but the origins of this drink can be traced back to pre-1900s India as  wait for it  a cure for malaria. Here's how it all went down.

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From the 16th-century Netherlands to 19th-century India

"Gin's long and somewhat murky history gets going in the 16th-century Netherlands," says Alfonso Morodo, co-founder of Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin, "though mentions of gin's precursor, 'jenever' (Dutch for juniper) have been found in writings going back to the 13th century. Dutch gin as it was commonly known was later refined in and around London during the 17th and 18th centuries giving us the now ubiquitous London Dry gin, which is the dominant juniper-forward style available."

By the early 1700s, gin was all the rage in England, with an estimated quarter of households in London making their own gin. Soon after, gin's popularity led to an all-out path to insanity  now dubbed "mother's ruin"  as the liquor was blamed for all manner of troubles, from crime and madness to higher death rates and lower birth rates throughout the country.

Fast forward to 1857, when the British Empire took control of India. As the English forced their way through the country, they found their guns were no match for the powerful mosquito-borne disease, malaria. When left untreated, malaria can cause a host of terrible symptoms like fever, chills and flu-like illness, true even today with an estimated 228 million cases of malaria occurring worldwide in 2018 alone.

The indigenous peoples of Peru discovered that bark from the South American cinchona tree seemed to cure fever and chills, symptoms associated with malaria. In 1817, two French scientists  Pierre-Joseph Pelletier and Joseph-Bienaime Caventou  discovered how to extract the bark's powerful medical compound, quinine, quickly monetizing their find and selling it as a means to cure malaria.

Jumping back a decade later, British officers under the threat of malaria in India found a way to make this bitter medicine a bit more palatable. How? They combined it with water, sugar, lime and gin: the very first iteration of the gin and tonic.

The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen's lives and minds than all the doctors in the Empire. Sir Winston Churchill

"Quinine is super bitter and is balanced by sugar in tonic water," says writer and educator, Camper English, in an email interview. "That bitterness makes the g & t a more sophisticated (from a flavor perspective) version of a basic highball. Tonic water is quinine-flavored soda ... and it turns out tonic is delicious with a splash of gin in it. The drink caught on after that and traveled with the British, and later came to America after WWII when Schweppes spent a lot of money advertising the drink  now as a casual rather than medicinal beverage."

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Gin and Tonic Spreads to America

The popularity of the gin and tonic quickly spread throughout America before splashing down in other countries.

"The next big evolution in gin started in Barcelona in the early 2000s, with the explosion of the Spanish Gin Tonic," says Maurice Chevalier IV, educator at Hotaling & Co., the San Francisco producer of Junipero Gin, by email. "Developed in the high-end restaurant scene, this new style of drinking gin has spread from Spain to Italy and much of western Europe."

So, what is a Spanish gin and tonic? With an almost endless number of variations off the gin and tonic base, it's usually served in a wine glass filled with ice, and loaded with seasonal fruits or complementary veggie garnishes topped with herbs and spices. According to Chevalier, Americans are experiencing a gin and tonic renaissance  especially with the Spanish gin and tonic  but the manner in which you enjoy your gin and tonic is entirely up to you.

"A perfect g & t is going to be crisp and refreshing, while still a touch boozy," continues English. "It should be super carbonated so that the bubbles almost sting your tongue and leap into your eyes. All of these things are inviting and thirst-inducing: It's a drink you want to take a huge first gulp of rather than a dainty sip."

Now That's Interesting "In Japan, particularly in the bar industry, the g & t is often said to be an indicator of the bar's style," says Naoki Tomoyoshi, the international business representative for Nikka Coffey Gin, by email. Their particular brand of gin incorporates Japanese Sansho peppers for a tangy hint of heat.

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Originally Published: Apr 30, 2020
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump erupted at his top political advisers last week when they presented him with worrisome polling data that showed his support eroding in a series of battleground states as his response to the coronavirus comes under criticism.

As the virus takes its deadly toll and much of the nations economy remains shuttered, new surveys by the Republican National Committee and Trumps campaign pointed to a harrowing picture for the president as he faces reelection.

While Trump saw some of the best approval ratings of his presidency during the early weeks of the crisis, aides highlighted the growing political cost of the crisis and the unforced errors by Trump in his freewheeling press briefings.

Trump reacted with defiance, incredulous that he could be losing to someone he viewed as a weak candidate.

I am not fing losing to Joe Biden, he repeated in a series of heated conference calls with his top campaign officials, according to five people with knowledge of the conversations. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private discussions.

The message to the president was sobering: Trump was trailing the former Democratic vice president in many key battleground states, he was told, and would have lost the Electoral College if the election had been held earlier this month.

On the line from the White House, Trump snapped at the state of his polling during a series of calls with campaign manager Brad Parscale, who called in from Florida; RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, on the line from her home in Michigan; senior adviser Jared Kushner; and other aides.

Echoing a number of White House aides and outside advisers, the political team urged Trump to curtail his daily coronavirus briefings, arguing that the combative sessions were costing him in the polls, particularly among seniors. Trump initially pushed back, pointing to high television ratings. But, at least temporarily, he agreed to scale back the briefings after drawing sharp criticism for raising the idea that Americans might get virus protection by injecting disinfectants.

Trump aides encouraged the president to stay out of medical issues and direct his focus toward more familiar and politically important ground: the economy.

Even as Trump preaches optimism, the president has expressed frustration and even powerlessness as the dire economic statistics pile up. Its been a whiplash-inducing moment for the president, who just two months ago planned to run for reelection on the strength of an economy that was experiencing unprecedented employment levels. Now, as the records mount in the opposite direction, Trump is feeling the pressure.

We built the greatest economy in the world, Trump has said publicly. Ill do it a second time.

Trumps political team warned that the presidents path to reelection depends on how quickly he can bring about a recovery.

I think youll see by June a lot of the country should be back to normal, and the hope is that by July the countrys really rocking again, Kushner told Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning. But other aides, business leaders and economists predict a far longer road toward recovery.

Representatives for the RNC and the Trump campaign did not comment on the polling or last weeks phone calls. In a tweet just after midnight Wednesday, Trump denied that he had recently shouted at his campaign manager and said that he is doing a great job.

According to people familiar with the incident, Trump vented much of his frustration at Parscale, who served as the bearer of bad news.

Trump has long distrusted negative poll numbers  telling aides for years that his gut was right about the 2016 race, when he insisted that he was ahead in the Midwest and Florida. At the same time, Parscale and other Trump aides are talking up the sophistication of their data and voter outreach capabilities this time.

The president and some aides have had simmering frustrations with Parscale for a while, believing the campaign manager  a close Kushner ally  has enriched himself from his association with Trump and sought personal publicity. Trump had previously been angered when Parscale was the subject of magazine profiles. This latest episode flared before the campaign manager was featured in a New York Times Magazine profile this week.

Aides have grown particularly worried about Michigan  which some advisers have all but written off  as well as Florida, Wisconsin and Arizona.

Trump announced Wednesday that he will visit Arizona next week  his first trip outside Washington in a month  as he looks to declare that much of the nation is ready to begin reopening after the virus.

The president has mocked Biden, his presumptive general election rival, for being stuck in his basement in his Delaware home during the pandemic.

Trump said Wednesday that he hopes to soon visit Ohio, a battleground state that Trump carried handily in 2016 but that aides see as growing slightly competitive in recent weeks.

Aides acknowledged that the presidents signature rallies would not be returning anytime soon. Some have privately offered doubts that he would be able to hold any in his familiar format of jam-packed arenas before Election Day, Nov. 3.

___

Lemire reported from New York.
As the United States pressed Saudi Arabia to end its oil price war with Russia, President Donald Trump gave Saudi leaders an ultimatum.

In an April 2 phone call, Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started cutting oil production, he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The threat to upend a 75-year strategic alliance, which has not been previously reported, was central to the U.S. pressure campaign that led to a landmark global deal to slash oil supply as demand collapsed in the coronavirus pandemic - scoring a diplomatic victory for the White House.

Trump delivered the message to the crown prince 10 days before the announcement of production cuts. The kingdom's de facto leader was so taken aback by the threat that he ordered his aides out of the room so he could continue the discussion in private, according to a U.S. source who was briefed on the discussion by senior administration officials.

The effort illustrated Trump's strong desire to protect the U.S. oil industry from a historic price meltdown as governments shut down economies worldwide to fight the virus. It also reflected a telling reversal of Trump's longstanding criticism of the oil cartel, which he has blasted for raising energy costs for Americans with supply cuts that usually lead to higher gasoline prices. Now, Trump was asking OPEC to slash output.

Threat: Donald Trump told Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman that he would end U.S. military aid and withdraw troops from the kingdom if he did not lead OPEC into an oil production cut to prevent an oil price collpase

In charge: Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince and de facto Saudi ruler, appears to have acted after the talks with Donald Trump

A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the administration notified Saudi leaders that, without production cuts, 'there would be no way to stop the U.S. Congress from imposing restrictions that could lead to a withdrawal of U.S. forces.' The official summed up the argument, made through various diplomatic channels, as telling Saudi leaders: 'We are defending your industry while you're destroying ours.'

Reuters asked Trump about the talks in an interview Wednesday evening at the White House, at which the president addressed a range of topics involving the pandemic. Asked if he told the crown prince that the U.S. might pull forces out of Saudi Arabia, Trump said, 'I didn't have to tell him.'

'I thought he and President Putin, Vladimir Putin, were very reasonable,' Trump said. 'They knew they had a problem, and then this happened.'

Asked what he told the Crown Prince Mohammed, Trump said: 'They were having a hard time making a deal. And I met telephonically with him, and we were able to reach a deal' for production cuts, Trump said.

Saudi Arabia's government media office did not respond to a request for comment. A Saudi official who asked not to be named stressed that the agreement represented the will of all countries in the so-called OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations, which includes OPEC plus a coalition led by Russia.

'Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia have played an important role in the OPEC+ oil cut agreement, but without the cooperation of the 23 countries who took part in the agreement, it would not have happened,' said the Saudi official, who declined to comment on the discussions between U.S. and Saudi leaders.

The week before Trump's phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed, U.S. Republican Senators Kevin Cramer and Dan Sullivan had introduced legislation to remove all U.S. troops, Patriot missiles and anti-missile defense systems from the kingdom unless Saudi Arabia cut oil output.

Support for the measure was gaining momentum amid Congressional anger over the ill-timed Saudi-Russia oil price war. The kingdom had opened up the taps in April, unleashing a flood of crude into the global supply after Russia refused to deepen production cuts in line with an earlier OPEC supply pact.

Crucial aid: The U.S. has troops on Saudi soil and its presence in the Gulf - such as this patrol led by the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Straits of Hormuz in November - is critical to regional stability. Ending its presence in Saudi would sever a 75-year-old alliance

Defense: Among the assets which Trump's threat would have removed were Patriot missile defense batteries like these seen in Israel last September

On April 12, under pressure from Trump, the world's biggest oil-producing nations outside the United States agreed to the largest production cut ever negotiated. OPEC, Russia and other allied producers slashed production by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd), or about 10% of global output. Half that volume came from cuts of 2.5 million bpd each by Saudi Arabia and Russia, whose budgets depend on high oil-and-gas revenues.

Despite the agreement to cut a tenth of global production, oil prices continued to fall to historic lows. U.S. oil futures dropped below $0 last week as sellers paid buyers to avoid taking delivery of oil they had no place to store. Brent futures, the global oil benchmark, fell towards $15 per barrel - a level not seen since the 1999 oil price crash - from as high as $70 at the start of the year.

The deal for supply cuts could eventually boost prices, however, as governments worldwide start to open their economies and fuel demand rises with increased travel. Whatever the impact, the negotiations mark an extraordinary display of U.S. influence over global oil output.

Cramer, the Republican senator from North Dakota, told Reuters he spoke to Trump about the legislation to withdraw U.S. military protection from Saudi Arabia on March 30, three days before the president called Crown Prince Mohammed.

Asked whether Trump told Saudi Arabia it could lose U.S. military support, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told Reuters the president reserved the right to use every tool to protect U.S. producers, including 'our support for their defense needs.'

The strategic partnership dates back to 1945, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Saudi King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud on the USS Quincy, a Navy cruiser. They reached a deal: U.S. military protection in exchange for access to Saudi oil reserves. Today, the United States has about three thousand troops in the country, and the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet protects oil exports from the region.

Saudi Arabia relies on the United States for weapons and protection against regional rivals such as Iran. The kingdom's vulnerabilities, however, were exposed late last year in an attack by 18 drones and three missiles on key Saudi oil facilities. Washington blamed Iran; Tehran denied it.

Trump initially welcomed lower oil prices, saying cheap gasoline prices were akin to a tax cut for drivers.

That changed after Saudi Arabia announced in mid-March it would pump a record 12.3 million bpd - unleashing the price war with Russia. The explosion of supply came as governments worldwide issued stay-home orders - crushing fuel demand - and made clear that U.S. oil companies would be hit hard in the crude price collapse. Senators from U.S. oil states were infuriated.

On March 16, Cramer was among 13 Republican senators who sent a letter to Crown Prince Mohammed reminding him of Saudi Arabia's strategic reliance on Washington. The group also urged Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to investigate whether Saudi Arabia and Russia were breaking international trade laws by flooding the U.S. market with oil.

On March 18, the senators - a group that included Sullivan of Alaska and Ted Cruz of Texas - held a rare call with Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Cramer called the conversations 'brutal' as each senator detailed the damage to their states' oil industries.

'She heard it from every senator; there was nobody that held back,' Cramer told Reuters.

The Saudi embassy did not respond to requests for comment.

Cramer said the princess relayed their comments to officials in Saudi Arabia, including the energy minister. The senators told the princess that the kingdom faced rising opposition in the Senate to the Saudi-led coalition that is waging a war in Yemen against Houthi rebels.

Oil superpower: Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter, with this tanker at Ras al-Khair part of its economic strength

At odds: Russia and Saudi Arabia faced off over an oil price war when Saudi Arabia revealed plans in Match to step up production

Saudi and U.S. officials have said the Houthis are armed by Iran, which Tehran denies. The backing of Senate Republicans over Yemen had proved crucial for Saudi Arabia last year. The Senate upheld Trump vetoes of several measures seeking to end U.S. weapons sales and other military support to Saudi Arabia amid outrage over the Yemen conflict, which has caused more than 100,000 deaths and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

Cramer said he made a phone call to Trump on March 30, about a week after he and Sullivan introduced their bill to pull U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia. The president called Cramer back the same day with Energy Secretary Brouillette, senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on the call, the senator said.

'I said the one person that you don't have on the call that can be very helpful is Mark Esper,' the defense secretary, Cramer recounted, saying he wanted Esper to address how U.S. military assets in Saudi Arabia might be moved elsewhere in the region to protect U.S. troops.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on whether Esper was involved in discussions of pulling military assets out of Saudi Arabia.

Trump's oil diplomacy came in a whirlwind of calls with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed and Russian President Vladimir Putin starting in mid-March. The Kremlin confirmed Putin's conversation with Trump and said they discussed both oil supply cuts and the coronavirus pandemic.

On the April 2 call with Prince Mohammed, Trump told the Saudi ruler he was going to 'cut them off' the next time Congress pushed a proposal to end Washington's defense of the kingdom, according the source with knowledge of the call. Trump also publicly threatened in early April to impose tariffs on oil imports from Saudi Arabia and Russia.

After the conversation with the Saudi crown prince, and another the same day with Putin, Trump tweeted that he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to cut output by about 10 million barrels, which 'will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!'

Riyadh and Moscow later confirmed they had restarted negotiations.

On April 3, Trump hosted a meeting at the White House with senators Cramer, Cruz, and Sullivan, and oil executives from companies including Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron Corp , Occidental Petroleum Corp and Continental Resources.

During the public portion of the meeting, Cramer told Trump that Washington can use the billions of dollars it spends defending Saudi Arabia on other military priorities 'if our friends are going to treat us this way.'

The prospect of losing U.S. military protection made the royal family 'bend at the knees' and bow to Trump's demands, a Middle Eastern diplomat told Reuters.

After prolonged and fractious negotiations, top producers pledged their record output cut of 9.7 million bpd in May and June, with the understanding that economic forces would lead to about 10 million bpd in further cuts in production from other countries, including the United States and Canada.

Trump hailed the deal and cast himself as its broker. 'Having been involved in the negotiations, to put it mildly, the number that OPEC+ is looking to cut is 20 Million Barrels a day...' he tweeted shortly after the deal.

Riyadh also took credit. Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz told Reuters at the time that the crown prince had been 'instrumental in formulating this deal.'
US President Donald Trump has said his historic first official visit to India in February reaffirmed the commitment of the two countries to build a comprehensive global strategic partnership grounded in shared interests and common purpose.

In a proclamation issued on the occasion of Asian American And Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, 2020, Trump said the US remains committed to strengthening its ongoing relationships with Asian and Pacific partners.

Last year, I was proud to stand alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in Houston, Texas, and earlier this year I made my first official visit to India as a demonstration of our Nation's enduring friendship with one of the world's largest and most diverse countries, Trump said on Wednesday.

During this historic visit, I had the honour of speaking about the importance of the relationship between our two countries before more than 110,000 Indian citizens, he said referring to his joint address with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The visit also reaffirmed that India and the United States are committed to building a comprehensive global strategic partnership grounded in shared interests and common purpose, benefitting both of our countries, Trump said.

The president made his maiden visit to India in February.

Trump said that during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the country celebrates the indelible mark these people from this community have left on America's culture and pay tribute to the myriad ways in which they continue to strengthen our Nation.

This month, we recognise the more than 20 million Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who make irreplaceable contributions to our Nation's economy, security, and culture," Trump said.

He said the US is grateful for those who have served and are currently serving in our Armed Forces, and those serving their communities as first responders.

Together, we will continue to live out the promise of our founding and build a better future for all Americans, Trump said.
A Monaghan haulier alleged to be "the ringleader" and "chief organiser" of an organised crime group who trafficked 39 migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex last year has been refused bail by the High Court pending an extradition hearing.

The deaths of the migrants hidden in the refrigerated trailer, inside which police found bloody handprints, was a "tragedy which rightly attracted public revulsion, outrage and anger", Mr Justice Paul Burns said today.

The court was told at yesterday's (Wednesday's) bail hearing that Ronan Hughes is alleged to have "organised, paid for the travel and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants."

Gardai gave evidence that Mr Hughes has "huge connections" and familiarity with various ports throughout Europe and had the "wherewithal to flee the jurisdiction at the appropriate time".

Evidence was also given at the hearing that 200,000 had been frozen in 33 bank accounts linked to Mr Hughes and his family and that the accused had last year bought a 2019 BMW X5, valued at 108,000, which has since been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

Mr Hughes (40), of Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan is wanted by UK authorities to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Returning judgment today, Mr Justice Burns said that the alleged details of the case made out against Mr Hughes indicate he had carried out a "controlling role" in the illegal operation, which had resulted in the tragic death of the Vietnamese nationals.

The High Court judge said that a person awaiting trial has a presumption of entitlement to bail unless the prosecution fails to satisfy the court to the standard of proof required. Furthermore, the State's objections must be satisfied by cogent evidence, he said.

The prosecution do not have to prove Mr Hughes will abscond as a matter of certainty but rather they must satisfy the court that the risk of him absconding is not a possible risk but a probable one, he explained.

The judge said the deaths of the 39 migrants was a tragedy which rightly attracted public revulsion, outrage and anger. However, the seriousness of the offences cannot automatically disentitle a person to bail, he added.

Referring to Mr Hughes, Mr Justice Burns said that undoubtedly he faced extremely serious charges and he could expect to receive a very significant custodial sentence if he is convicted of the offences.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter in the UK is life imprisonment, he indicated. "It's common sense that the greater the potential sentence, the greater the incentive to abscond," he said.

The case against Mr Hughes appears to be "a strong one", said the judge, albeit that it has not yet been subject to challenge through a trial.

The judge noted that the Minister for Justice had placed emphasis on the fact that Mr Hughes operates an international haulage business with extensive contacts abroad, has a detailed knowledge of ports, a history of smuggling and access to extensive funds.

Counsel for the respondent had relied on the fact that he had not gone into hiding prior to his arrest, his assets were frozen, he had significant ties in this jurisdiction, had no history of taking bench warrants and previously stood trial when he was prosecuted in the UK, he said.

However, Mr Justice Burns emphasised that Mr Hughes has significant ties outside the jurisdiction, operates an international haulage business for many years, travels extensively and has a business registered in Bulgaria.

The judge said it was difficult to disagree with Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan's evidence that Mr Hughes would have knowledge to flee through a port without the law knowing and pointed to the fact that the ports were still open despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

He took into account that Mr Hughes has access to considerable funds and said he may still do so as the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigation is ongoing. He uses a Northern Ireland driving licence and did not give any convincing explanation for this, he said.

Mr Hughes had not sought to abscond the jurisdiction since the date of the alleged offences and his recent arrest and this must stand to his credit, observed the judge.

In summary, Mr Justice Burns said there was a risk of absconding in every case, which runs from very low to very high. He said he was satisfied that the prosecution had met the burden of proof required. Mr Hughes was a probable flight risk if bail was granted and there was a very serious risk of him absconding, he said.

Unfortunately, there were no conditions that could allay the court's concerns, he said. Mr Justice Burns said he noted Mr Hughes' evidence that he would abide by the terms and conditions set by the court but he said the unfortunate reality was that every person granted bail gives this certainty and some do abscond.

He described Mr Hughes' evidence as unconvincing and lacking in credibility and in particular he noted Mr Hughes' lack of knowledge concerning his business affairs, the previous movement of vehicles from his yard at Tyholland on October 24, 2019 and the fact his driver's licence is registered to an address in Northern Ireland. "Even if he had not given evidence I would have refused bail in this matter," he said.

Mr Justice Burns remanded Mr Hughes in custody to May 15, when the full hearing of his extradition to the UK will take place.

The haulier was joined by video-link from Cloverhill Prison today and wore a face mask for the short hearing. He is the second man from Northern Ireland to be arrested here on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) as part of the Essex police investigation.

Mr Hughes, who owns a haulage firm, was arrested on the evening of April 20 at his home in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a EAW issued by the police in Essex.

Mr Hughes and his younger brother Christopher (34) have been wanted in connection with the deaths since the beginning of the investigation, with Essex Police making an extraordinary live appeal last November for the siblings to hand themselves in. Their trucking firm is based in Tyholland, about 7km from the Armagh border.

The eight women and 31 men had arrived in England last October on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The youngest of the victims were two boys aged 15.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 23:26:11|Editor: huaxia

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BANGUI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Over 50 people were killed in clashes between armed groups on Wednesday in Ndele in the northeastern part of Central African Republic, according to local media.

The clashes were triggered around the central market of Ndele. 53 bodies were buried after the conflicts, including 25 civilians and 28 armed rebels, according to local media.

The causes of the clashes are still unknown. However, Ndele, along with Birao (north-east) and Bria (center-north), are often confronted with inter-ethnic clashes of armed groups between the Goula and the Rounga peoples. Enditem
Automobile dealers might well be forced to look at new ways of doing business and some may face an "existential crisis" in case the coronavirus pandemic continues for a prolonged period, a top official of industry grouping FADA said.

While auto dealers are already working on contactless sales, the pandemic has accelerated implementation of such practices and priority is also on maintaining safety protocol.

As the auto industry continues to battle challenging times, FADA President Ashish Kale said auto dealership models would have to undergo changes.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association of India (FADA) represents over 15,000 automobile dealers having 25,000 dealerships,with 30 associations of automobile dealers at the regional, state and city levels, accounting for 90 per cent of automobile sales and service in the country.

"How long does this threat of coronavirus remain and is this going to be a way forward for us? If this is going to be a prolonged threat for customers, then it will affect the way we work also," he told PTI.

In such a scenario, Kale said probably dealership models would also have to be changed.

"We will also have to look at new ways of business, in which safety and health and social distancing protocols are maintained," he added.

Earlier this week, German automakers Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes rolled out online sales initiatives in India in order to help customers book vehicles from the safety of their homes.

According to Kale, there would be some new methods for selling vehicles once the lockdown is lifted. The industry would also have to see what are the kind of threats from coronavirus infections in order to maintain safety protocols, he noted.

"We will develop new ways of selling a vehicle. Virtual drives could be one, besides new ways of deliveries and contacting a customer. In a way, methods which do not involve too much of a physical visit by the customer.

"So, new ways of selling a vehicle will definitely develop post COVID," he said.

The automobile industry is already in the process of coming out with these initiatives. The combined investment across automobile dealerships stands at around Rs 50,000 crore, as per Kale.

Regarding difficulties faced by dealerships, Kale noted that at this stage, it was difficult to say how many dealers would be in a tough spot.

"But both the demand and money supply are not going to be the same as it was before COVID-19. So, there will be dealers who would get affected by this. Yes, some may face an existential crisis as well," he warned.

Earlier this month, FADA said auto dealers' business ranges from Rs 10 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, with majority of them being family-run small scale businesses.

More than 275dealerships have already shut shop in the last 15 months due to demand slowdown, which also resulted in thousands of job losses.

Kale wondered what would happen to so many people associated with the industry if the demand does not pick up.

"Many dealers will be in distress if demand drops drastically and there is no abundance of liquidity in the auto companies. And there is also the possibility of some of them going out of business altogether.

"It will depend on dealer to dealer, how much leveraged he is, what is his cost structure. There are so many things which are unknown in this situation at the moment," Kale said.

The automobile dealership industry employs over 40 lakh people at dealerships and service centres. These include 25 lakh direct employees and another 15 lakh who are dependent on dealerships for their livelihood, as per FADA.

"So not only every dealer but every business will have to regulate his whole business plans based on the demand. I don't think in the immediate future there is any threat to jobs in the (dealerships) industry.

"But after opening up, if we don't see demand picking up or dropping very drastically, then there will be job losses," he said.

The grouping has sought a number of relief measures, including working capital support and reduction in GST, to help the industry post the lockdown.

The nationwide lockdown, which began on March 25 to curb spreading of coronavirus infections, is scheduled to end on May 3.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rishi Kapoor passes away: After Irrfan Khans death, Rishi Kapoors unfortunate demise was not less than a shock for the entire nation. The veteran actor was battling against cancer for almost two years and was admitted to the hospital some days back after reporting shortness of breath. The news was confirmed by Amitabh Bachchan and since then the social media has flooded with condolence messages. Rishi Kapoors last rites will be held in Mumbai on Thursday afternoon in Chandanwadi Crematorium.

Ever since the news has come, his family members, relatives, and close friends have been visiting the hospital to support Neetu Kapoor and his son Ranbir Kapoor. Recently, there were reports that Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan visited the hospital in the grave situation. Recently, both the actors were spotted in their cars entering the hospital. Earlier, to the Pataudi couple, even Alia Bhatt went to the hospital for supporting Ranbirs family.

Rishi Kapoor is known for his phenomenal acting and contribution to the world of Hindi cinemas. The actor astonished his fans by first appearing in his debut film Bobby in 1973. With his ease and spontaneity in front of the cameras, Rishi Kapoor became one of the most loved actors as he appeared in more than 92 films in the role of a romantic hero.

Also Read: Rishi Kapoor no more: Rakesh Roshan reveals veteran actor was in hospital since last 3 weeks

In his last tweet, Rishi Kapoor appealed to all brothers and sisters not to resort to violence and stone-throwing on the medical staff. All doctors, nurses, policemen are helping the nation in the fight against coronavirus. In the official statement issue, Kapoors said that Rishi Kapoor wanted everyone to remember with a smile, not by tears.

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By PTI

LONDON: Indian-origin and other ethnic minority healthcare workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic within the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) should be risk-assessed for greater susceptibility to the deadly virus, according to new guidance issued to employers on Thursday.

NHS England has advised hospital trusts to make "appropriate arrangements" to ensure black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) doctors and nurses are shielded as best as possible on the job.

The move follows the government setting up a Public Health England (PHE) inquiry into the higher proportion of BAME deaths among the over 100 NHS workers who have died from the deadly virus as well as the wider community.

"In advance of their [PHE] report and guidance, on a precautionary basis we recommend employers should risk assess staff at a potentially greater risk and make appropriate arrangements accordingly," NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said.

In guidance issued to all trusts, NHS Employers notes that emerging UK and international data suggests that people from BAME backgrounds are being disproportionately affected by coronavirus.

While there are no specific guidelines on the kind of risk assessment to be carried out for the workforce, each trust is expected to put in place the most feasible measures such as redeploying of some staff to areas or services away from the frontline where they would have less chance of becoming infected.

ALSO READ| United Kingdom admits it could miss 100,000 daily coronavirus tests target

They may also be given priority for testing if they develop symptoms. "Employers should ensure that line managers are supported to have thorough, sensitive and comprehensive conversations with their BAME staff," notes the guidance.

"They should identify any existing underlying health conditions that may increase the risks for them in undertaking their frontline roles, in any capacity. Most importantly, the conversations should also, on an ongoing basis, consider the feelings of BAME colleagues, particularly with regard to their safety and their mental health," it adds.

The reasons behind higher Covid-19 risk posed to the BAME workforce, which makes up 40 per cent of doctors and 20 per cent of nurses in the NHS, are still a matter for review. One hypothesis is that people from BAME communities have higher rates of underlying health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and this may increase their vulnerability and risk.

The Research and Innovation Forum of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) found in a survey soon after that medical and healthcare professionals from Indian and minority ethnic backgrounds fall into a higher risk category of contracting the novel coronavirus in the UK.

BAPIO has been among the many medical associations lobbying the government for steps to protect this vulnerable category of the NHS workforce.

ALSO READ| Coronavirus impact: British Airways set to cut up to 12,000 jobs

"The pandemic has brought into sharp focus the immeasurable contribution of our multicultural NHS workforce, without whom our health service would literally not have the staff to look after our nation's health," said Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the Council Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA), another body lobbying the government over the safety of health workers.

"We have a moral duty to protect them and to recognise the vital role played by BAME workers within our health service, which will continue well beyond this pandemic," he said.
Jose Jimenez, the Oregon nurse who received a possible life-saving plasma infusion, remains hospitalized and on life support at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, but he is beginning to show signs of recovery after a long battle with COVID-19.

Jimenez, 48, a veteran and mental health nurse who works in Roseburg and lives outside of Oakland, first started showing symptoms of coronavirus on March 20, according to his wife, Holly Jimenez.

Holly Jimenez, who is also a nurse, said Jose Jimenezs first symptoms were fever, chills and extreme fatigue.

He slept about 20 hours per day, she said.

It isnt clear where he contracted the illness, she said, and no one else in the family has been tested or shown any symptoms.

Jose Jimenez was admitted to a Springfield hospital on March 28, Holly Jimenez said, but his condition deteriorated, and on April 4 he was intubated and put on a ventilator. He was moved to Portland on April 13.

On that day, Jose Jimenez was started on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO at Legacy Emanuel.

ECMO takes the blood outside of the body, oxygenating it and bypassing the heart and lungs. Its a powerful tool to help patients whose lungs and other organs are not responding well to a standard ventilator, said Dr. Joseph Deng, the medical director who oversees ECMO at Legacy Emanuel.

It allows very sick patients time to rest and heal.

Sometimes that time is lifesaving, Deng said.

For Jose Jimenez, that time seems to have helped.

A week on ECMO," Holly Jimenez said, "his chest x-ray showed improvement,

Along with ECMO and a special ventilator, Jose Jimenez received a unit of convalescent blood two weeks ago.

Holly Jimenez cant point to one treatment that is helping her husband improve.

I think theyre all playing a role in helping him get better, she said.

She called the process a rollercoaster.

Holly and Jose JimenezCourtesy of Holly Jimenez

The Jimenez family has six children. Holly Jimenez and the children are still in Oakland, unable to visit Jose Jimenez in the hospital.

We all miss him, she said.

We have been able to do some video chat where hes able to open his eye, she added. We can see him, we can talk to him.

She said the community has shown her family great support. A GoFundMe for the family has raised more than $13,000.

Holly Jimenez knows that the process is far from over.

Its just a long road, she said,

According to Deng, Legacy Emanual, most patients with COVID-19 that end up on ECMO are on the machine for one to two weeks.

In that time, actually most of our COVID patients on ECMO have gotten better, Deng said.

Deng cautioned that ECMO is not a silver bullet against the disease.

Its important to wash your hands and not touch your face and to social distance, Deng said. This technology is not the solution for the pandemic. Its for a few people who just dont respond to anything.

There are only 24 machines in the entire Pacific Northwest. Legacy, which has one of the biggest programs in the area, has eight machines.

When a vaccine comes out, he added, get the vaccine.

After ECMO, most patients do go back to normal life, Deng said. But the post-intensive care rehabilitation can take months.

For the Jimenez family, normal will mean raising kids and traveling.

As a family, we like to travel, Holly Jimenez said. Weve seen a lot of the United States. We just have a few more to see before we see all 50.

The family was supposed to visit Hawaii over spring break. It didnt happen this year but, maybe next year.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  High water has forced the closure of roads in northern Muskegon County, including the main link between Whitehall and Montague.

Business route U.S. 31, also known as Thompson Street, between Whitehall and Montague is closed due to flooding, according to an alert sent by the Michigan Department of Transportation on Wednesday, April 29.

High water previously forced the closure of the same stretch of road, which includes a bridge, in late May 2019. That section is the only crossing over the White River and White Lake, other than the U.S. 31 freeway, to which traffic will be detoured.

In addition, Lorenson Road between Michillinda and Todd roads in Fruitland Township is impassable due to water over the road, according to a notice from the Muskegon County Road Commission. There is no signed detour.

A section of Staple Road north of Riley Thompson Road in Dalton Township also is closed due to water over the road, and there is no detour posted, according to the road commission.

It is unclear how long the roads will be impassable.

The Muskegon County area was inundated with rain Tuesday and Wednesday.

More on MLive:

At least two more frosts or freezes coming with near-record cold in Michigan

U.P.s painful dilemma: Almost no coronavirus now, but at what cost?

Michigan in line for a decent spring rain; Heres when, how much
The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday extended regulatory benefits to all banks including those deploying their own resources to extend liquidity support to the mutual funds under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF) scheme.

Earlier in the week, the Reserve Bank had announced Rs 50,000-crore SLF-MF scheme to bailout the mutual funds facing redemption pressure. The scheme was announced in the backdrop of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund deciding to shut several schemes.

"Based on requests received from banks, it has now been decided that the regulatory benefits announced under the SLF-MF scheme will be extended to all banks, irrespective of whether they avail funding from the Reserve Bank or deploy their own resources under the ...scheme," Reserve Bank of India said in a release.

The RBI further said banks meeting the liquidity requirements of MFs by extending loans and undertaking outright purchase of and/or repos against the collateral of investment grade corporate bonds, commercial paper (CPs), debentures and certificates of deposit (CDs) held by MFs, will be eligible to claim all the regulatory benefits available under the scheme.

The banks claiming the regulatory benefits would be required to submit a weekly statement containing consolidated information on entity-wise and instrument-wise loans and advances extended or investment made to eligible entities to Financial Markets Operations Department and to Department of Supervision on every Monday till the closure of the scheme, the RBI said.

The Rs 50,000 crore liquidity window came days after, the Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, which has been operating in India for 25 years, decided to shut down 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.

Last time, RBI had opened a special borrowing window of Rs 25,000 crore for banks to help meet the cash requirements of mutual funds in July 2013.

Post the collapse of Lehman Brothers, RBI, in October, 2008, had provided a similar additional liquidity support exclusively for mutual fund industry.

The central bank also stressed it remains vigilant and will take whatever steps are necessary to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and preserve financial stability.

Under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF), the RBI will conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As a sign of respect for healthcare professionals, the Delhi Police on Wednesday performed 'Parikrama' of the All-India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) through 51 COVID-19 patrol bikes, which included female cops too.

The police personnel of South District performed 'parikrama' to express their gratitude to medical professionals for their selfless services in the fight against the coronavirus.

"A parikrama of the AIIMS hospital was conducted as a mark of gratitude. This is in continuation to the ongoing visits to various hospitals and medical professionals by the staff of south district to thank them in this campaign to safeguard citizens of our country," said Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) to PTI.

On Monday (April 27), the Delhi Police had performed a 'parikrama' of Gurudwara Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara for providing food to nearly one lakh people daily amid the ongoing lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 in the country.

The convoy of 100 vehicles, including 35 police vans and 60 motorcycles, was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Eish Singhal. It is learnt that some senior officers of Delhi Police also paid obeisance at Gurudwara Sahib and did 'seva' (service) by helping in preparation of 'langar'.

Taking to twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded the gesture and said, "Good gesture by the @DelhiPolice. Our Gurudwaras have been doing exceptional work in serving people. Their compassion is appreciable."
Were you turned down for unemployment benefits? Youre not alone.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has denied unemployment benefits to about 20% of the 1.6 million new applicants since the coronavirus lockdown began in mid-March.

That means more than 300,000 workers had their claims rejected, usually because they were financially ineligible.

What can be done, a lot of you have asked us.

Advocates say the first thing is to make sure you filled out the application forms completely and accurately. Any errors can derail your application.

Heres what you need to know.

What if I havent received a Personal Identification Number?

The PIN is used to access your account online. If you havent received one, it probably means theres a specific problem verifying your identify. It could also mean you entered your address incorrectly. If you dont get a PIN three weeks after filing an application, you can request a new one at https://www.uc.pa.gov/ or at this direct link.

Ive tried to get answers on the states website. Can I call on the phone?

Call 888-313-7284 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. But you may have to wait. The state says to be prepared for heavy call volumes, busy signals, and potential delays in getting through. Some callers say theyve tried hundreds of times without success. According to the unemployment office, the best times to call are Thursdays and Fridays. Want help in Spanish? Call 877-888-8104.

How do I get help online?

You can connect to the unemployment office through LiveChat by calling 888-313-7284 to get a secure six-digit LiveChat code. Then you can reach staff online Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How about email?

Because of the high volume of calls and LiveChat requests, the state says the best way to get help is to email the office at uchelp@pa.gov. Dont expect a speedy response: The current wait time for a response is 30 calendar days, according to the states website.

I work in New Jersey. What can I do?

You file for unemployment in the state where your employer is domiciled. If you work in New Jersey, you should contact the NJ Department of Labor and Workplace Development. Your best bet is to go online. South Jersey residents can also call 856-507-2340.

What if the state says Im not eligible for benefits?

The state assesses your eligibility by looking at your highest quarterly wages, total base-year wages, and credit weeks during the base year.

What is the base year? Its the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately before when you apply for benefits. So, if you applied in March, the base year would start on Oct. 1, 2018, and go through the end of September 2019. If you filed in April, the dates would be for the calendar year 2019.

Some people are rejected because they didnt earn enough during the base year. But heres something to try: Some advocates recommend refiling your application starting with weeks after April 5, which changes the dates that are considered for your eligibility.

Philadelphia Legal Assistance has assembled a plain-language flow chart that can help you break down the complicated process. That link also includes the same information in Spanish and in Chinese.

I was turned down because Im self-employed. What are my options?

Theres a new program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, aimed at gig-workers and self-employed. If your employer reports your earnings in a 1099 form rather than a W-2, the PUA program may be for you. For many people being denied right now because they are ineligible, the best answer is probably to apply for PUA.

Pennsylvania launched a new web portal for the PUA on April 17. Initially it was a mess, overwhelmed by demand. But more than 107,000 people have successfully applied. The state has not yet paid out any benefits, but it expects to start sending payments soon. Apply here.

If you are eligible for PUA, you can receive benefits for up to 39 weeks of unemployment beginning on or after Jan. 27, 2020. Pennsylvania says it will make good on any past payments that are due.

NJ Labor and Workplace Development also offers online instructions for filing PUA claims.

Can I appeal?

The Financial Determination letter includes instructions on how to appeal. They can also be found online at www.uc.pa.gov/appeals.

An appeal is a formal legal process that involves a hearing before a referee, and can include witness testimony. Worker advocates say its not a good idea to appeal a decision simply because you dont like the determination. Youll need to establish that the state made a demonstrable error or miscalculation.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.

If you want to appeal, you need to file within 15 calendar days after the mailing date of the Financial Determination. Some people say they got the Financial Determination after the appeals date deadline had passed. If that happens to you, its a good idea to save the postmarked and dated envelope to demonstrate to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review that you have good cause for filing a late appeal.

Some people are calling elected officials to get help. Does that work?

Some exasperated people are reaching out to lawmakers and their staff members and trying to pull strings. This tactic, which assumes an elected official is more responsive to constituents than a bureaucrat, seems to get limited results. But it may have therapeutic value if youre not getting anywhere. And it definitely does send a message to elected officials that could mean policy changes in the future that improve the system.

Whats a not-so-clever strategy?

Losing your cool. A Bucks County man on Monday allegedly called Gov. Tom Wolfs office and threatened his family after police said he was upset due to not receiving his unemployment money and being unable to make contact with anyone in the unemployment office.

Brian Rafferty, 61, was charged with terroristic threats and harassment, and was jailed with bail of $20,000.

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.
Two men were injured in a shooting in Sydney's west on Thursday night in what police believe to be a targeted attack.

Police say two men with firearms approached two 24-year-old men sitting in a parked car on Badham Street in Merrylands about 9.30pm on Thursday and fired shots into the vehicle.

One man was shot in the chest, and was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition. The other man was shot in the arm, and was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The two victims are known to police.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 02:30:00|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- One Canadian military member was killed and five others are missing after their helicopter serving with NATO crashed in international waters between Greece and Italy, said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday.

"On behalf of all Canadians, I want to offer my deepest support to their families, their friends, their shipmates, and their fellow CAF members," said Trudeau at a press conference in Ottawa Thursday noon with his Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Chief of the Defence Staff Jonathan Vance.

The six people include four Royal Canadian Air Force members and two Royal Canadian Navy members. They were on a six-month deployment that began in January.

The Canadian CH-148 Cyclone lost contact during an allied exercise over the Ionian Sea on Wednesday, crashing in the sea about 80 kilometers off the Greek resort island of Cephalonia.

Trudeau said the Royal Canadian Navy helicopter was flying from Halifax-based Canadian naval frigate HMCS Fredericton as part of NATO's Operation Reassurance.

The Canadian HMCS Fredericton frigate recently sailed from Souda, Greece, as part of a "mission of maritime situational awareness in the Mediterranean," including exercises with the Turkish Navy and Greece's Hellenic Navy and Air Force in the past week.

There will be many questions in the coming days about how the tragedy occurred, Trudeau said. "I can assure you, we will get answers in due course."

Sajjan said efforts are underway to find the five missing members and the cause of the crash is unknown.

Vance said that crash's debris area is large and the exact position of wreckage is not yet known. The voice and flight data recorders broke away from the helicopter and have been retrieved, he said.

Aircraft from Canada, Italy and Turkey, with support from Greece and the United States, are reportedly searching for the Canadian CH-148 Cyclone helicopter. Enditem
Its a question almost all of us have faced at one time or another: what to do about that inconsiderate neighbour?

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its a question almost all of us have faced at one time or another: what to do about that inconsiderate neighbour?

How do we deal with the next-door nemesis who holds late-night hot-tub parties right outside our bedroom window, or refuses to address the noxious-weed infestation that sends wind-wafted seeds onto our meticulously mown lawn, or has made an ill-considered mid-life decision to honour his cultural roots by taking up the bagpipes?

Its a grind living next to the inconsiderate neighbour (and if you insist youve never experienced one, it might be time to ponder the possibility that you are one).

Travel to and from the U.S. remains restricted. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The same stresses that apply to individual homeowners can also be experienced by entire countries  including, for example, cautiously health-protective ones that reside across a continent-spanning border from a neighbouring nation that insists on ignoring the scientific wisdom that its imprudent to open up the economy, relax health-emergency restrictions and send citizens careening into close-quarters contact while a pandemic still rages unabated in many states.

Thats the position in which Canada finds itself, geographically, politically and epidemiologically.

As provinces across the country  including Manitoba  reveal their measured plans for reopening economies and easing citizens slowly toward a new kind of normalcy, regional and national leaders must surely be casting concerned eyes toward the chaotic manner in which COVID-19 responses are rolling out in the United States.

Canadians no doubt watched with a mixture of bemusement and horror as leaders in numerous U.S. states either refused to institute significant pandemic restrictions or declared that restarting the economy must begin immediately even if the cost is a resurgence of COVID-19 and more deaths in affected communities.

Restaurants in some parts of Georgia opened again after restrictions were lifted in the state on Monday. (John Spink / Atlanta Journal-Constitution files)

Recent reports have revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump was made aware, in daily briefing books, of the looming COVID-19 danger as early as last January, but repeatedly denied its seriousness and refused to take decisive action until March, when the pandemic had firmly taken root.

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In addition to refusing to take any responsibility for his governments inadequate response, Mr. Trump has of late also promoted quack cures that may have endangered the lives of Americans who take his "advice" at face value.

Several U.S. states  including Georgia, Colorado, Michigan, Florida and Minnesota  have hastily announced relaxation of physical-distancing and business-closure restrictions, in defiance of objections from many civic officials and health-care experts that such measures are being implemented much too soon.

This despite a continuing coronavirus wave in the U.S., with this week having the doubly dubious distinction of confirmed cases passing the one-million mark and total U.S. deaths eclipsing 59,000  more American fatalities than in the entirety of the Vietnam War.

As neighbours go, not the best to have in a pandemic.

As Canada charts its cautious course forward, how will federal and provincial officials deal with the issue of international travel across the aforementioned sea-to-sea border? Its hard to imagine reopening Canada as a tourist destination for travellers from a nation that has yet to successfully flatten its curve, sufficiently control its rate of COVID-19 infection or institute sufficient testing to ensure its pandemic levels have retreated into a "safe" zone.

Not surprisingly, Premier Brian Pallisters announcement Wednesday of Phase One of Manitobas restoration of services included the notation that travel restrictions  including to and from the United States  will remain in place. In the coronavirus context, its best these neighbours remain safely in their own yards for the time being.
W hen my brother Matt arrived in London on March 4, I was ecstatic.

Having been back home in New Zealand a couple of weeks prior for a family wedding, it hadnt been long since wed caught up, but I was excited for him  it was the start of his post-university gap year.

He and his friend Simon had flown in from Bali. Coronavirus was just starting to infiltrate Italy but, in the blissfully unaware state we were in, we thought his plans of travelling through Europe for the next six weeks before starting his summer job on the English coast would still go ahead.

Little did we know that three weeks later, wed be on a train to the northwest, decamping to my boyfriends family home in a small town just outside of Stoke-on-Trent. Late April has come and gone, the summer job on indefinite hold.

Its been nearly a decade since I last lived in the same country as my brother, let alone shared a house with him. I left New Zealand in 2012 to move to Australia for university, then on to London four years later. He was 15 when I left home, and weve just celebrated his 24th birthday  the first Ive spent with him in nine years.

Living away from home, away from New Zealand, has meant Ive missed a lot of his milestones: his 18th and 21st birthdays, graduating from high school, watching him grow throughout university, and a couple of Christmases, too.

Its been a decade and a lot has changed. Hes not the teenager he was when I left. He has a degree in political science, a diploma in radio broadcasting. Hes fluent in the political happenings of the most obscure nations, hes charismatic, quietly confident, opinionated. Instead of wallowing during lockdown, hes spent the time learning Arabic, and honing his Spanish.

This past month or so, instead of stolen snippets of conversation during summer holidays, we get to chat at length, daily, about whatever's on our minds. We reminisce about childhood moments, still annoy each other with the triggers only siblings know, and hes teaching me more about the world, about history, conflicts, and cultures.

Theres been a subtle, but seismic shift in our relationship. Instead of feeling the urge to carry him under my wing  as Im sure a lot of older siblings feel growing up  Im recognising and admiring the adult hes become. Its a marvellous thing, really.

When I look back at this strange time period in our lives, Ill cherish this time that I could spend with him. Its unlikely that well have an opportunity like this again.
RaShall Brackney, the chief of Police in Charlottesville, has just affirmed for America that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can reduce the likelihood of being infected, but what it cannot protect is heroes like Dr. Lorna Breen, or our first responders, against the emotional and mental devastation caused by this disease. And, as her shaken father wrote in an email, she tried to do her job  and it killed her.

I have found in a half-century as a writer that it is impossible to compare one persons pain with another, and equally impossible to match any persons life or sorrow with the next, but of the nearly 60,000 Americans who have died of the coronavirus, Dr.

Breens death is the one that rips your heart out and stomps it flat  this brave and precious doctor died on Sunday  from self-inflicted wounds. Yes, she took her life.

Bright and talented, the 49-year-old was the medical director over all emergency medicine at the prestigious New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital. For the past two months the hospital has been over-flooded with COVID-19 patients; at one point with 175 of its 200 beds filled with the virus, and 59 of those in the endless flood actually dying at Allen. It has been widely held that there is a 100 percent chance that those on the front lines fighting the pandemic in New York City will become infected with the disease. Lornas turn came about three weeks ago, and she spent about 10 days in quarantine before she could no longer sit idle and rushed back to the hospital to help.

She immediately got caught by her loving colleagues and was sent back home. Her family in Charlottesville got wind of it and brought her back to the family home in Virginia with the tender admonition, Well let you know, Doctor, when youre ready to go back. She told her father, Dr. Phillip Breen, how devastating the 24/7 weeks had been, how unmerciful the virus truly was, and described some of the horrors. While at home, she told how some people were dying before they could be taken from the ambulances. Make sure shes praised as a hero  because she was, her dad said in an email to the New York Times. Shes a casualty just as much as anyone else who has died.

Dr. Breen had never shown signs of mental illness  to the contrary she was an avid snowboarder, a member of New Yorks jazzy Salsa Club, and an accomplished cellist. She was on schedule to get her MBA from Cornell, and  as a devout Christian -- volunteered at a senior living facility one afternoon a week. Her death left many friends and her co-workers shattered. Not only was she well-like and well-respected, She was a lively presence, outgoing and extroverted  she was really fun to be around, said a fellow physician.

She brought devotion and compassion to all areas of her life, remembered a close friend. I was in awe she could juggle being a full-time ER doctor, a demanding graduate school curriculum and all else she did. Her smile was radiant, and she lit up every room Ive ever been in with her. The friend, Abby Siegel, remembered a time the NY Ski Club was coming back home from Colorado and a man cried out in the Denver airport. Lorna jumped over this people mover where the man was unconscious and literally resuscitated this man right there and then and saved his life. We begged the flight attendants to hold the plane for her (the pilot announced calmly, This plane is going nowhere until that girl is aboard.) and when she came running the entire plane cheered and clapped. Lorna was so brave, compassionate and dedicated to her position as a doctor  Breen will be missed.

Her father was interviewed by CNNs Chris Cuomo on Tuesday: "She was a doctor, every bit of the word that a doctor should be," the elder Breen said. "She put her life on the line to take care of other people. She was in the trenches, so to speak, right in the front line as people were dying left and right around her."

He said his daughter probably didnt take enough time off when she became sick with COVID-19. "I think she felt an overwhelming sense of wanting to help her colleagues and her friends who were still fighting the good fight, and so she strapped on her harness and took the bit in her mouth and she went back," Breen said. "I talked to her just before her final 12-hour shift. And during the time she was on that shift, she basically went down in the traces like a horse that had pulled too heavy a load and couldn't go a step further and just went down."

When Lorna got to Charlottesville, her mom  also a doctor  immediately admitted her to the UVa Hospital for exhaustion. After about a week, she left the hospital to stay with her mom, her father said. Then, last weekend, she went to stay with her sister, and that is where she died.

As in almost every suicide, there are questions without any answers. Her dad told CNN, As of Sunday, she took her own life because I think she was tired and she was the kind of person  as somebody has very aptly put it, she was like the fireman who runs into the burning building to save another life and doesn't regard anything about herself. So, she has paid the price  after she's been in the trenches."

In the first chapter of the Bibles book of Job we read, The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.

But on this one, bang the drum slowly.

* * *

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE *** 1-800-273-8255 ***

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness. You will talk to a real person within seconds, representing many millions who care about you. Just dial 800-273-TALK (8255)

No matter what problems youre dealing with, whether or not youre thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline. Do not think you are alone. Trained professionals are standing by to help. Right now. We care about you.

People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness, to name a few. It is confidential and the service is absolutely free.

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In Tennessee, at 7 p.m. yesterday, there were 284 new cases of COVID-19. There were seven more deaths reported, there were 119 new hospitalizations, and 219 recoveries. And in the same 24 hours, there were 6,621 tests administered.

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Highlights Last week Facebook invested over Rs 43,000 crore in Reliance Jio platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg said that the investment will help the company build similar products around the world.

Zuckerberg also said that the company is looking to merge all of its apps to help small businesses drive transactions.

Facebook's recent investment of $5.7 billion which is over Rs 43,000 crore in Jio platforms will help the social-media giant build similar products for other markets around the world, according to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, news agency IANS reported.

"Certainly all the products and technology that we're building to enable that (Jio) partnership are going to be things that we want to do around the world. So we're very excited about working with them to drive this vision forward and then extending it everywhere over the coming months and years," Zuckerberg told the analysts during an earnings call.

Zuckerberg further said that Jio has had the Jio Mart vision for a while. "There are millions of small businesses and shops across India and they want to try to help get them on to a single network that you'll be able to communicate with through WhatsApp and do payments online through WhatsApp," Zuckerberg said.

Last week Facebook invested 9.99 per cent in an equity stake in Reliance Jio becoming its largest shareholder. Facebook intends to bring Reliance's Jio Mart to its messaging app, WhatsApp.

It has piloted the project in some suburban Mumbai areas of Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan.

Jio launched JioMart last December and with WhatsApp's backing, it can now reach 400 million users.

JioMart has given a WhatsApp number 88500 08000 which is to be added for customers to place orders on JioMart. JioMart then sends a link to the customers which is active for 30 minutes. The link then directs the user to a new page where details are to be filled. Once this is done, the customers can get access to the list of products.

Zuckerberg said that Facebook is looking to merge the family of apps including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger. This will help small businesses have a presence on all the apps. Through this integration, the small businesses "can communicate organically and then increasingly can do things that can help them drive transactions," Zuckerberg said.

"We started rolling out things like catalogs in WhatsApp, we're working on payments to be able to complete transactions and we've rolled out a new ad format, click to messaging ads, where basically small businesses and different businesses are finding that their message threads with people perform better for driving sales than their websites or other presences; they buy ads inside Facebook or Instagram and send people through chat threads," Zuckerberg elaborated.
Goal Typical

A vaccine would be the ultimate weapon against the coronavirus and the best route back to normal life. Officials like Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the top infectious disease expert on the Trump administrations coronavirus task force, estimate a vaccine could arrive in at least 12 to 18 months.

The grim truth behind this rosy forecast is that a vaccine probably wont arrive any time soon. Clinical trials almost never succeed. Weve never released a coronavirus vaccine for humans before. Our record for developing an entirely new vaccine is at least four years  more time than the public or the economy can tolerate social-distancing orders.

But if there was any time to fast-track a vaccine, it is now. So Times Opinion asked vaccine experts how we could condense the timeline and get a vaccine in the next few months instead of years.

Heres how we might achieve the impossible.

Assume We Already Understand the Coronavirus

Options to shorten the timeline Start trials early Rely on work from studying SARS and MERS to shorten preparations before clinical trials Click to turn on Dont wait for academic research Skip to clinical phases using what we know about the coronavirus so far

Normally, researchers need years to secure funding, get approvals and study results piece by piece. But these are not normal times.

There are already at least 254 therapies and 95 vaccines related to Covid-19 being explored.

If you want to make that 18-month timeframe, one way to do that is put as many horses in the race as you can, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Companies with vaccine trials underway Dozens of vaccines are starting clinical trials. Many use experimental RNA and DNA technology, which provides the body with instructions to produce its own antibodies against the virus. Select vaccines by clinical trial start date RNA and DNA vaccines Other vaccine types 2020 Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. CanSino and the A.M.M.S. Moderna BioNTech and Pfizer Inovio Pharmaceuticals Sinovac Wuhan Institute and Sinopharm U. of Oxford Uses 1 microgram of mRNA, meaning it could be more easily mass produced Imperial College Novavax CureVac Sanofi and GSK Exploring a new form of oral vaccine, which has never been licensed Vaxart Altimmune Janssen Select vaccines by clinical trial start date RNA and DNA vaccines Other vaccine types Jan. March May July Sept. Nov. CanSino and the A.M.M.S. Moderna BioNTech and Pfizer Inovio Pharmaceuticals Sinovac Wuhan Institute and Sinopharm Uses 1 microgram of mRNA, so it may be more easily mass produced U. of Oxford Imperial College Novavax CureVac Sanofi and GSK Vaxart Altimmune Janssen Exploring a new form of oral vaccine, which has never been licensed Note: Clinical trial start dates are approximate. Compiled by Robert van Exan.

Despite the unprecedented push for a vaccine, researchers caution that less than 10 percent of drugs that enter clinical trials are ever approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The rest fail in one way or another: They are not effective, dont perform better than existing drugs or have too many side effects.

Less than 10 percent of drug trials are ultimately approved Probability of success at each phase of research 37% fail Phase 1 69% fail Phase 2 42% fail Phase 3 15% fail New Drug Application Approved 37% fail Phase 1 69% 42% 15% Phase 2 Phase 3 New Drug Application Approved Note: Between 2006 and 2015. Source: Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Biomedtracker, Amplion.

Fortunately, we already have a head start on the first phase of vaccine development: research. The outbreaks of SARS and MERS, which are also caused by coronaviruses, spurred lots of research. SARS and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, are roughly 80 percent identical, and both use so-called spike proteins to grab onto a specific receptor found on cells in human lungs. This helps explain how scientists developed a test for Covid-19 so quickly.

Theres a cost to moving so quickly, however. The potential Covid-19 vaccines now in the pipeline might be more likely to fail because of the swift march through the research phase, said Robert van Exan, a cell biologist who has worked in the vaccine industry for decades. He predicts we wont see a vaccine approved until at least 2021 or 2022, and even then, this is very optimistic and of relatively low probability.

And yet, he said, this kind of fast-tracking is worth the try  maybe we will get lucky.

Years and years, at minimum The vaccine development process has typically taken a decade or longer. Varicella 28 years FluMist 28 Human papillomavirus 15 Rotavirus 15 Pediatric combination 11 Covid-19 goal 18 months Varicella 28 yrs. FluMist 28 H.P.V. 15 Rotavirus 15 Pediatric combo 11 Covid-19 goal 18 months Note: Rotavirus and HPV vaccines include time from filing of the first investigational new drug to approval. Source: Plotkins Vaccines (7th edition)

The next step in the process is pre-clinical and preparation work, where a pilot factory is readied to produce enough vaccine for trials. Researchers relying on groundwork from the SARS and MERS outbreaks could theoretically move through planning steps swiftly.

Sanofi, a French biopharmaceutical company, expects to begin clinical trials late this year for a Covid-19 vaccine that it repurposed from work on a SARS vaccine. If successful, the vaccine could be ready by late 2021.

Move at Pandemic Speed Through Trials

Options to shorten the timeline Use pandemic speed timeline Start subsequent steps before previous phases are completed Push to large-scale tests sooner Move more swiftly to Phase 3 trials by combining phases Use emergency provision Vaccinate front-line and essential workers early

As a rule, researchers dont begin jabbing people with experimental vaccines until after rigorous safety checks.

They test the vaccine first on small batches of people  a few dozen during Phase 1, then a few hundred in Phase 2, then thousands in Phase 3. Months normally pass between phases so that researchers can review the findings and get approvals for subsequent phases.

But if we do it the conventional way, theres no way were going to be reaching that timeline of 18 months, said Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunobiology at Yale University School of Medicine and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

There are ways to slash time off this process by combining several phases and testing vaccines on more people without as much waiting.

Last week the National Academy of Sciences showed an overlapping timeline, describing it as moving at pandemic speed.

Its here that talk of fast-tracking the timeline meets the messiness of real life: What if a promising vaccine actually makes it easier to catch the virus, or makes the disease worse after someones infected?

Thats been the case for a few H.I.V. drugs and vaccines for dengue fever, because of a process called vaccine-induced enhancement, in which the body reacts unexpectedly and makes the disease more dangerous.

Researchers cant easily infect vaccinated participants with the coronavirus to see how the body behaves. They normally wait until some volunteers contract the virus naturally. That means dosing people in regions hit hardest by the virus, like New York, or vaccinating family members of an infected person to see if they get the virus next. If the pandemic subsides, this step could be slowed.

Thats why vaccines take such a long time, said Dr. Iwasaki. But were making everything very short. Hopefully we can evaluate these risks as they occur, as soon as possible.

This is where the vaccine timelines start to diverge depending on who you are, and where some people might get left behind.

If a vaccine proves successful in early trials, regulators could issue an emergency-use provision so that doctors, nurses and other essential workers could get vaccinated right away  even before the end of the year. Researchers at Oxford announced this week that their coronavirus vaccine could be ready for emergency use by September if trials prove successful.

So researchers might produce a viable vaccine in just 12 to 18 months, but that doesnt mean youre going to get it. Millions of people could be in line before you. And thats only if the United States finds a vaccine first. If another country, like China, beats us to it, we could wait even longer while it doses its citizens first.

You might be glad of that, though, if it turned out that the fast-tracked vaccine caused unexpected problems. Only after hundreds or thousands are vaccinated would researchers be able to see if a fast-tracked vaccine led to problems like vaccine-induced enhancement.

Its true that any new technology comes with a learning curve, said Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. And sometimes that learning curve has a human price.

Start Preparing Factories Now

Options to shorten the timeline Make vaccines early Build and manufacture early, anticipating that factories will be useful for a future vaccine and that the product will clear regulatory hurdles Take a bet on a successful mRNA vaccine This experimental technology may be faster to produce than traditional vaccines

Once we have a working vaccine in hand, companies will need to start producing millions  perhaps billions  of doses, in addition to the millions of vaccine doses that are already made each year for mumps, measles and other illnesses. Its an undertaking almost unimaginable in scope.

Companies normally build new facilities perfectly tailored to any given vaccine because each vaccine requires different equipment. Some flu vaccines are produced using chicken eggs, using large facilities where a version of the virus is incubated and harvested. Other vaccines require vats in which a virus is cultured in a broth of animal cells and later inactivated and purified.

Those factories follow strict guidelines governing biological facilities and usually take around five years to build, costing at least three times more than conventional pharmaceutical factories. Manufacturers may be able to speed this up by creating or repurposing existing facilities in the middle of clinical trials, long before the vaccine in question receives F.D.A. approval.

They just cant wait, said Dr. Iwasaki. If it turns out to be a terrible vaccine, they wont distribute it. But at least theyll have the capability to do so if the vaccine is successful.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says it will build factories for seven different vaccines. Even though well end up picking at most two of them, were going to fund factories for all seven, just so that we dont waste time, Bill Gates said during an appearance on The Daily Show.

In the end, the United States will have the capacity to mass-produce only two or three vaccines, said Vijay Samant, the former head of vaccine manufacturing at Merck.

The manufacturing task is insurmountable, Mr. Samant said. I get sleepless nights thinking about it.

Consider just one seemingly simple step: putting the vaccine into vials. Manufacturers need to procure billions of vials, and billions of stoppers to seal them. Sophisticated machines are needed to fill them precisely, and each vial is inspected on a high-speed line. Then vials are stored, shipped and released to the public using a chain of temperature-controlled facilities and trucks. At each of these stages, producers are already stretched to meet existing demands, Mr. Samant said.

Its a bottleneck similar to the one that caused a dearth of ventilators, masks and other personal protective equipment just as Covid-19 surged across America.

If you talk about vaccines long enough, a new type of vaccine, called Messenger RNA (or mRNA for short), inevitably comes up. There are hopes it could be manufactured at a record clip. Mr. Gates even included it on his Time magazine list of six innovations that could change the world. Is it the miracle were waiting for?

Rather than injecting subjects with disease-specific antigens to stimulate antibody production, mRNA vaccines give the body instructions to create those antigens itself. Because mRNA vaccines dont need to be cultured in large quantities and then purified, they are much faster to produce. They could change the course of the fight against Covid-19.

On the other hand, said Dr. van Exan, no one has ever made an RNA vaccine for humans.

Researchers conducting dozens of trials hope to change that, including one by the pharmaceutical company Moderna. Backed by investor capital and spurred by federal funding of up to $483 million to tackle Covid-19, Moderna has already fast-tracked an mRNA vaccine. Its entering Phase 1 trials this year and the company says it could have a vaccine ready for front-line workers later this year.

Could it work? Yeah, it could work, said Dr. Fred Ledley, a professor of natural biology and applied sciences at Bentley University. But in terms of the probability of success, what our data says is that theres a lower chance of approval and the trials take longer.

The technology is decades old, yet mRNA is not very stable and can break down inside the body.

At this point, Im hoping for anything to work, said Dr. Iwasaki. If it does work, wonderful, thats great. We just dont know.

The fixation on mRNA shows the allure of new and untested treatments during a medical crisis. Faced with the unsatisfying reality that our standard arsenal takes years to progress, the mRNA vaccine offers an enticing story mixed with hope and a hint of mystery. But its riskier than other established approaches.

Speed Up Regulatory Approvals

Options to shorten the timeline Fast-track federal approvals Shorten approval window from a year to six months

Imagine that the fateful day arrives. Scientists have created a successful vaccine. Theyve manufactured huge quantities of it. People are dying. The economy is crumbling. Its time to start injecting people.

But first, the federal government wants to take a peek.

That might seem like a bureaucratic nightmare, a rubber stamp that could cost lives. Theres even a common gripe among researchers: For every scientist employed by the F.D.A., there are three lawyers. And all they care about is liability.

Yet F.D.A. approvals are no mere formality. Approvals typically take a full year, during which time scientists and advisory committees review the studies to make sure that the vaccine is as safe and effective as drug makers say it is.

While some steps in the vaccine timeline can be fast-tracked or skipped entirely, approvals arent one of them. There are horror stories from the past where vaccines were not properly tested. In the 1950s, for example, a poorly produced batch of a polio vaccine was approved in a few hours. It contained a version of the virus that wasnt quite dead, so patients who got it actually contracted polio. Several children died.

The same scenario playing out today could be devastating for Covid-19, with the anti-vaccination movement and online conspiracy theorists eager to disrupt the public health response. So while the F.D.A. might do this as fast as possible, expect months to pass before any vaccine gets a green light for mass public use.

At this point you might be asking: Why are all these research teams announcing such optimistic forecasts when so many experts are skeptical about even an 18-month timeline? Perhaps because its not just the public listening  its investors, too.

These biotechs are putting out all these press announcements, said Dr. Hotez. You just need to recognize theyre writing this for their shareholders, not for the purposes of public health.

What if It Takes Even Longer Than the Pessimists Predict?

Covid-19 lives in the shadow of the most vexing virus weve ever faced: H.I.V. After nearly 40 years of work, here is what we have to show for our vaccine efforts: a few Phase 3 clinical trials, one of which actually made the disease worse, and another with a success rate of just 30 percent.

Deaths per year The number of deaths from Covid-19 in 2020 has surpassed the number of deaths per year from H.I.V./AIDS during the height of the crisis in the 1990s. 60k deaths Deaths from Covid-19 in the U.S. 50k 40k Deaths from H.I.V./AIDS in the U.S. 30k 20k 10k 0 1990 2000 2010 2020 60k deaths Deaths from Covid-19 in the U.S. 50k 40k Deaths from H.I.V./AIDS in the U.S. 30k 20k 10k 0 1990 2000 2010 2020 Note: No H.I.V. death data available after 2018. Covid-19 deaths as of April 29. Source: Mortality Informatics and Research Analytics

Researchers say they dont expect a successful H.I.V. vaccine until 2030 or later, putting the timeline at around 50 years.

Thats unlikely to be the case for Covid-19, because, as opposed to H.I.V., it doesnt appear to mutate significantly and exists within a family of familiar respiratory viruses. Even still, any delay will be difficult to bear.

But the history of H.I.V. offers a glimmer of hope for how life could continue even without a vaccine. Researchers developed a litany of antiviral drugs that lowered the death rate and improved health outcomes for people living with AIDS. Todays drugs can lower the viral load in an H.I.V.-positive person so the virus cant be transmitted through sex.

Therapeutic drugs, rather than vaccines, might likewise change the fight against Covid-19. The World Health Organization began a global search for drugs to treat Covid-19 patients in March. If successful, those drugs could lower the number of hospital admissions and help people recover faster from home while narrowing the infection window so fewer people catch the virus.

Combine that with rigorous testing and contact tracing  where infected patients are identified and their recent contacts notified and quarantined  and the future starts looking a little brighter. So far, the United States is conducting fewer than half the number of tests required and we need to recruit more than 300,000 contact-tracers. But other countries have started reopening following exactly these steps.

If all those things come together, life might return to normal long before a vaccine is ready to shoot into your arm.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has mourned the death of a number of soldiers who were killed in an IED explosion in Bir El-Abed city in North Sinai governorate on Thursday.

"The evil forces are still attempting to take this country hostage. But thanks to God, Egyptian citizens and the strong military, [we are] steadfast with strength and faith and able to destroy the hopes of these malicious souls," said El-Sisi in a statement.

Ten Egyptian military personnel were killed or wounded when an improvised explosive device was detonated in North Sinai on Thursday, the Egyptian military said.

An officer, a non-commissioned officer, and eight soldiers were killed or injured when an IED detonated under their armoured vehicle in southern Bir El-Abed city in North Sinai governorate, according to a military statement.

The military has been carrying out Operation Sinai 2018, a counter-terrorism campaign, since February 2018. The campaign involves land, naval, and air forces, as well as the police and border guards.

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WASHINGTON - Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, on Thursday appealed his November conviction for lying and witness tampering in a congressional investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The longtime GOP operative and Trump friend filed a two-page notice of his appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced him in February to a 40-month prison term and this month denied his request for a new trial.

Stone remains out on bail awaiting a prison designation by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

"I, Roger Stone, hereby appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from the above-stated judgment and order, the sentence imposed, and all underlying orders," Stone wrote in the notice filed with appellate attorney Seth Ginsberg.

Stone, 67, was convicted by a federal jury in Washington of lying during his September 2017 testimony to the House Intelligence Committee to conceal his central role in the 2016 Trump campaign's efforts to learn about Democratic computer files hacked by Russia and made public by WikiLeaks to damage Trump's general-election opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Stone, the last defendant charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into 2016 election interference, lost his motion for a retrial on April 16. Jackson rejected the claim that the jury forewoman in Stone's trial, formerly a Democratic school board member and congressional candidate from Memphis, Tennessee, was biased against Stone because of his association with Trump.

Jackson called Stone's motion "a tower of indignation" with "little of substance holding it up." The judge concluded that while the juror might have expressed strong opinions about Trump on social media, the assumption that she could not fairly consider the evidence against Stone "is not supported by any facts or data and it is contrary to controlling legal precedent."

"While the social media communications may suggest that the juror has strong opinions about certain people or issues, they do not reveal that she had an opinion about Roger Stone, which is the opinion that matters," Jackson wrote.

Stone's appeal comes after Trump issued public statements stoking controversy over Stone's case by attacking the integrity of the judge, jurors, federal prosecutors and the judicial system. The attacks were punctuated by the president's blasting of the forewoman and Jackson as biased before and during a February hearing - despite warnings by Attorney General William Barr to stop tweeting about Justice Department criminal cases.

"There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case," Trump tweeted during a hearing this year in which federal prosecutors were defending the jury verdict. "Look at her background. She never revealed her hatred of 'Trump' and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge. Roger wasn't even working on my campaign. Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!"

Trump has hinted on Twitter that he might pardon Stone. After Jackson's ruling this month, he wrote, "This is a disgraceful situation!"

On Thursday, Trump again railed against the Justice Department prosecution.

"Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly," Trump tweeted. "How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias. Same scammers as General Flynn!"
Controversy over domestic helper sparked anger in Taipei after Dutertes spokesman said Taiwan was part of China.

The Philippines has backed down from its demand for Taiwan to deport a Filipina worker it accused of cyber-libel against President Rodrigo Duterte, saying it respects Taipeis decision.

Dutertes spokesman, Harry Roque, issued the statement even as he sparked anger in Taiwan over his comment that China should have a say in the deportation, because the island is part of China.

Deportation is really a decision to be made by Taiwan authorities  in the same way [that] we will enforce our law on all foreigners while they are under our jurisdiction, Roque told reporters on Wednesday.

Taiwans foreign ministry said the woman had not violated any law and would not be sent back to the Philippines.

Stressing that it was a democratic country, Taiwan said all foreign workers were treated the same as Taiwan citizens and that their rights are protected, including freedom of speech.





The controversy first erupted when the top Philippine labour representative in Taipei sent a letter to Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding the expulsion of a Filipina caregiver, accusing her of making nasty and malevolent posts on social media criticising Dutertes handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Philippine media also reported that labour representatives had met the worker, her employer and broker to enlighten her, claiming her actions amounted to a crime.

Under a new emergency law in the Philippines, the dissemination of fake news during the national health emergency has been classified as criminal. But critics say that the government is using the law to silence legitimate criticism of the Duterte administration and his response to the crisis.

One China policy

Taiwans foreign ministry spokesman Joanne Ou said the Philippines should follow legal procedures through bilateral judicial assistance channels if it believed the worker in question had violated Philippine law.

She said other countries should respect our system pointing out that no agency has the right to exert pressure on this worker or her employer or labour broker.





Although the Philippines observes the one China policy, it continues to maintain relations with Taiwan through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

As of 2019, there were an estimated 154,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan, representing more than a fifth of the migrant workers on the island.

Taipei was further angered, when Roque, the spokesman of Duterte earlier said Taiwan forms part of China.

In a separate statement, Taiwans foreign ministry said the Philippines should stop misrepresenting Taiwan as a part of China, adding they had instructed its representatives to lodge a protest about Roques statement.

My country expresses strong dissatisfaction and high regret over Philippine government officials wrongly accusing Taiwan as part of China, Ou said.

China has never ruled Taiwan for one day, and only the popularly-elected Taiwan government can represent the countrys 23 million people internationally.

The latest incident follows another spat in February, when a senior Philippine health official said Taiwan is part of China, as he announced the inclusion of Taiwan in a ban on arrivals from China to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

In response, Manila said the travel ban was not linked to the one China policy, and the next day, the restrictions on arrivals from Taiwan were removed.

Taiwan has been frequently cited as one of the most successful in containing the spread of the coronavirus.
China on Wednesday set the new opening dates for its key annual political gatherings in May, sending a strong signal that the country is recovering from the coronavirus epidemic.

Known as the "two sessions," the annual sessions of the country's national legislature and political advisory body are usually convened in early March to decide on important state affairs.

But this year, the gatherings of about 5,000 people in Beijing were postponed due to the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak.

The postponement will allow efforts to be concentrated on epidemic control and put people's lives and health at the top of priority, the top legislature said in February when making the decision.

On Wednesday, the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, announced that it will hold the annual session starting on May 22.

The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, on the other hand, said its annual session was proposed to open on May 21.

The dates were set at a time when the domestic transmission of COVID-19 has been basically curbed.

According to the health authorities, there were only 647 patients still being treated on the mainland while 77,578 people had recovered by Tuesday.

"The COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control situation in China is improving steadily and the normal economic and social life is gradually resuming," said a statement issued by the NPC Standing Committee after it decided on the annual legislative session's opening date.

"With various factors taken into consideration, the conditions for convening the NPC annual session at an appropriate time are ready," it added.

Lawmaking for public health

For this year, national lawmakers will consider China's long-expected draft civil code, the government work report and other staple documents at the annual legislative session.

However, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, health is expected to be heatedly discussed by lawmakers when they meet.

A slew of public health-related legislation is in the making, according to the top legislature.

On Wednesday, the NPC Standing Committee adopted a revision to the law on the prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid waste, which stresses the management of medical waste, especially the management work in handling major infectious disease outbreaks.

Local health and environmental authorities should, within their respective jurisdictions, strengthen the supervision over and management of how medical waste is collected, stored, transported and disposed of, it stipulates.

The revision also stipulates that necessary funds should be earmarked by governments at all levels for hazardous waste disposal in case of emergencies such as major infectious disease epidemics.

In the pipeline

During the session, lawmakers also heard a report on strengthening public health legislation, including a specific legislative plan that involves 17 health-related laws to be formulated or revised in 2020 and 2021.

China already has a public health legal system involving over 30 laws, said Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee.

But the COVID-19 epidemic has exposed some problems in legislation and indicated the need for systematic law revisions and improvements, he added.

The top legislature is working on a biosecurity law and a revision to the law on animal epidemic prevention.

Lawmakers will also expedite revising the frontier health and quarantine law, while carefully assessing the revisions to the law on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, the emergency response law and others.

Legislation task forces will be formed by NPC special committees and relevant State Council departments to work on the health-related laws.

"A strong line of defense of laws and regulations will be fortified to protect people's life and health," Shen said.
Pompeo says no sight of North Korea's Kim, real risk of famine in country U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a news briefing

By David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has caught no sight of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and is watching reports about his health, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, adding there was a real risk of famine in the country amid the coronavirus outbreak.

North Korean media has not reported on Kim's whereabouts since he presided over a meeting on April 11, provoking speculation about his health and raising concerns about instability in the nuclear-armed country that could affect other North Asian countries and the United States.

"We haven't seen him. We don't have any information to report today, we're watching it closely," Pompeo told Fox News after being asked about conflicting reports about Kim's health.

Pompeo said the United States was also monitoring the situation more broadly in North Korea, which borders China, given the risk presented by the coronavirus.

"There is a real risk that there will be a famine, a food shortage, inside of North Korea too," he added. "We're watching each of those things closely, as they have a real impact on our mission set, which to ultimately denuclearize North Korea."

Officials in South Korea and the United States have said Kim may be staying at North Korea's coastal resort of Wonsan to avoid exposure to the new coronavirus, and have expressed skepticism about media reports that he had some kind of serious illness.

They caution, however, that Kim's health and location are closely guarded secrets and reliable information is difficult to obtain from secretive North Korea.

On Saturday, a U.S.-based North Korea monitoring project, 38 North, said satellite images showed what was believed to be Kims personal train parked at a station reserved for his use in Wonsan on April 21 and 23.

New images taken on Wednesday showed a train in the same position, but it was unclear whether it had been there since last week, 38 North said.

Story continues

On Tuesday, another North Korea-monitoring website, NK PRO, reported that commercial satellite imagery showed boats often used by Kim had moved in patterns suggesting he or his entourage may be in the Wonsan area.

38 North said that in its new images, the train did not appear to be prepared for departure as the engine could no longer be seen parked alongside its south end.

It said the trains presence did not prove Kim's presence, but the station was reserved for the exclusive use of the Kim family, "lending weight to the multiple reports that Kim has been staying in the Wonsan area."

Pompeo told a later State Department news conference the United States would continue to focus on North Korean denuclearization, "no matter what transpires there."

President Donald Trump met Kim three times in 2018 and 2019 in an attempt to persuade him to give up a nuclear weapons program that threatens the United States. While talks have stalled, Trump has continued to hail Kim as a friend.

Pompeo did not elaborate on the risk of famine in North Korea, but a North Korean economic delegation was due in Beijing this week to discuss food supplies and trade issues as the coronavirus outbreak has severely disrupted the country's food supply, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Impoverished and isolated North Korea is prone to food shortages. As many as 1.1 million people died during the famines of the 1990s, according to South Korean estimates.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; additional reporting by Jonathan Landay; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Hello, Ms. Weinberger.

In better times, it might be impressive when a security guard youve never met before opens the door of a five-star hotel and greets you by name. It might mean that youre important, or at least that someone is trying to make you feel important. But during the coronavirus pandemic, this sort of personalized greeting comes with the sinking realization that you may well be the only guest to have checked in that day.

It was just after 5 p.m. at the Trump International Hotel, and in normal times, guests are greeted by white-coated doormen, but this day it was just the security guard, followed by a cheery blonde wearing a mask at the reception desk. (When Jana Winter showed up an hour or so later, the greeting outside was initially chillier; a different staff member cracked open the door and demanded photo identification. But once identified as a guest, she was quickly let inside.)

We were offered bottles of water, escorted up to our executive room on the fifth floor and then left to figure out what exactly we should do. We envisioned perhaps dozens of staff devoted to the remaining few guests, perhaps a stranded Gulf prince or a few devoted GOP insiders.

We saw none of that.

The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. (AP/Mark Tenally)

If we imagined wed be like Eloise at the Plaza, under the lockdown the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., is more like a scene from Cheers in hell: You can sit at the bar, but no drinks are served, and everybody knows your name because youre the only ones there.

Much has been written about the Trump International Hotel, located just a few blocks from the White House in the historic Old Post Office, which the presidents business transformed from a dank food court into a five-star hotel decorated in ornate fabrics, crystal chandeliers and ubiquitous gilding. Until mid-March, it also served as a meeting place for D.C.s Republican power brokers.

The hotel has also faced a slew of lawsuits, and allegations that the president is using his office to benefit his business, particularly since it has attracted foreign guests who are in Washington to lobby the Trump administration.

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Now, however, the near-empty hotel is faced with a different dilemma: It is, like so many businesses during the pandemic-forced shutdown, facing genuine economic hardship, but any attempt the Trump Organization makes to seek relief comes with an inherent conflict of interest. After all, how can a hotel owned by the Trump family business ask for help from a government run by Trump? But that is exactly what its done.

Eric Trump, the third child of the president and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, confirmed to the New York Times last week that the business was in discussion with the General Services Administration, the government agency in charge of the lease, to modify its terms. (Eric Trump did not respond to a request for comment from Yahoo News. The GSA did not respond to multiple requests for comment.)

The American flag hangs in the Trump International Hotel on Feb. 3. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

We wanted to see just how badly the hotel had been hit by the shutdown, and knowing that with the bars and restaurants closed, staying overnight seemed the only way to get inside, we booked a room. In a lobby usually bustling with politicians, GOP glitterati and Trump world figures, the bar had been stripped down: the velvet throne-like barstools are gone, and the tables have been moved apart in anticipation of social distancing guidelines when things reopen.

We were later told we were the only ones on our floor, and no one was on the floors below us. The floors above us, where the more expensive suites are located, did have some guests, but it was unclear how many. (Slower than we would like, the friendly blond woman at the receptionist desk said when asked during check-in how things were going at the hotel.)

Once we were settled in the room, we faced the question most guests at the hotel likely now face. What can you do at the Trump hotel during a pandemic? The restaurants are all shut; so are the gym and The Spa by Ivanka. Sometime after 6 p.m. we noticed that downstairs, Trumps then-daily coronavirus task force briefing was playing on the televisions, so we asked if we could sit in the lobby near the closed bar.

As long as you socially distance, the front desk told us.

That wasnt hard, since when we got downstairs the only other person in the lobby was the hotels managing director, Mickael Damelincourt, hunched over his computer, next to what appeared to be a bottle of disinfectant. And there we sat, in the empty lobby  two reporters on one side (socially distancing from each other), the hotel manager on the other  as the president spoke, his voice echoing inside his empty interior.

Mickael Damelincourt, managing director of Trump International Hotel, at a table in the near-empty lobby on April 22. (Sharon Weinberger/Yahoo News)

These trends demonstrate that our aggressive strategy to battle the virus is working and that more states will soon be in a position to gradually and safely reopen, Trump said as Damelincourt remained hunched, immobile over his computer. Its very exciting. It was very exciting even today, watching and seeing whats happening, and people are getting ready and theyre all excited.

As the press conference drew to a close, we headed back to our room, to look at the temporary room-service menu printed out on a few stapled-together pages. With the restaurants closed, the hotel is down to a bare-bones menu that includes six entrees, including chicken tenders with french fries and cheese pizza. Even so, the food that arrived was very good, served under multiple cloches and accompanied by tiny bottles of ketchup and mustard.

Who does stay at the Trump International Hotel in the middle of a pandemic, other than a couple of curious reporters? From Instagram there are clues to some recent guests, and not surprisingly, they are some of the same characters who frequented the establishment pre-pandemic.

Yahoo News reached out to eight different Instagram accounts that appeared to feature recent stays at the hotel. The only people who responded were Harlan Hill, a Republican strategist and Trump campaign advisory board member, and his girlfriend, Caroline Rocha.

Hill, a frequent guest at the hotel, stayed there the evening before we did, to celebrate Rochas birthday. He received a personal text from the manager and the promise of a special room.

During Hill and Rochas stay they both posted photos on Instagram, including what looked like professional shots of their corgi, named Hamilton, sitting on a Trump hotel bed, of their room service food and of Rocha in a bubble bath dusted with rose petals.

The hotel said, Please keep posting on social media, she told Yahoo News. So she did, a lot.

Was this a publicity stunt? Maybe, she replied.

In an interview with Yahoo News, Hill said the manager told him that things were starting to pick up, and that occupancy had doubled week over week. Though if that doubling is from, say, two to four guests, or four to eight, is impossible to know.

According to Hill, the long-term guests  meaning those who often lived at the hotel on weekdays and headed home on weekends  arent yet returning, but other regulars are coming back into town for business.

Rocha, his girlfriend, gushed about their treatment; the hotel upgraded them to a better suite and brought up a birthday cake with a sparkler. The dog-friendly hotel even accommodated their corgi, who was given the signature bacon from BLT Prime, one of the hotels closed restaurants, chopped into pieces.

We go to seek refuge, she said in an interview with Yahoo News, adding that its the one place where Republicans go and can feel safe.

We call it the mothership, she joked.

Televisions in the hotel's lobby showing President Trump speaking during a White House coronavirus task force briefing on April 22. (Sharon Weinberger/Yahoo News)

The mothership for now, however, is more like the empty spaceship of Hollywood movies, where a few humans move around aimlessly inside living quarters meant for hundreds.

Yet Hill thinks that ultimately, the Trump hotel, with its cavernous interior, is better situated than others to come back once the lockdown is ended. Unlike other hotel power bars in Washington, the Trump hotel has enough space to keep the tables far apart. At most places there isnt a lot of space. There is at Trump. Everything is spread out.

Hill and his girlfriend arent the only GOP members to remain loyal to their former stomping ground, even during a pandemic.

Republican Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins showed up at the hotel last week, before our stay, with Matt Busbice, who has previously appeared in an A&E reality show called Country Buck$.

Normally in old cowboy movies, the bad guys wear masks, Higgins, with a bandanna over his face, says in a video posted on Busbices Instagram account. Right now, everybody gotta wear a mask.

Higgins, who has previously raised hackles for filming inside a gas chamber at Auschwitz to make the case for a strong national security, said in the Instagram video that he and other congressmen would be gathering at the Capitol the next day to push to open the economy.

Many of us have come from across the country. The most conservative congressmen and congresswomen will be gathering tomorrow, he said. Well see if we can move the needle in the right direction and open our country back up. 

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., in 2018. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Louisiana has one of the highest death rates in the country for those infected with the coronavirus, and Higgins in particular has faced criticism for referring to government oppressors amid the shutdown. Neither the congressman nor Busbice responded to multiple interview requests.

A spokesperson for Higgins did not respond to a request for comment about his stay at the hotel.

Zach Everson, who writes the newsletter 1100 Pennsylvania, which follows the Trump hotels conflicts of interest, says he fully expects previous visitors to be back. This is a market segment that is downplaying the risk of COVID-19, he said in an interview. If youre going to tie yourself to the president, and you think its important enough to go to the hotel, youre not going to let fear of pandemic keep you away.

In his latest newsletter, Everson, who is also tracking Instagram posts of people at the hotel, writes that while occupancy at D.C. luxury hotels has slowed to a trickle, at least one party of apparently recent customers included a commercial sex worker. (Yahoo News reviewed the Instagram posts of a woman working at a local strip club who had posted pictures last week appearing to show her at the hotel.)

We have absolutely no knowledge of this and would caution you [not] to publish baseless claims made by Mr. Everson in his newsletter, wrote Patricia Tang, the hotels director of marketing and sales, in response to a question about Eversons claims.

Everson points out that though the hotels occupancy rates, even in the past, may have been low, it has likely made up for them through its food and beverage sales, its event space and by charging rates above other competitors in D.C. (Our executive room with two queen beds, which included breakfast, cost us $615 plus taxes for the night; the cheapest non-discounted room was just shy of $400.)

During our night at the hotel, however, we spotted neither lawmakers nor GOP movers and shakers, just a bearded man dressed in a Gap sweatshirt who we assumed was the quarantined version of David Burke, the New York chef who runs BLT Prime in the hotel (Burke did not respond to an email requesting comment).

One thorny issue facing the hotel is that its occupancy problems predated the pandemic. Though it might be a favorite for Republicans and some foreign clients, it has been nearly half empty on average, according to a Washington Post report from last fall, and the Trump Organization has been seeking to sell its interest in the lease. And if President Trump loses in November, the hotels appeal as a GOP hot spot could fall even further.

In other words, the pandemic may simply have accelerated the downfall of an already troubled business.

The empty lobby of the Trump International Hotel on April 22. (Sharon Weinberger/Yahoo News)

In the morning we ordered room service, which arrived promptly, served by a friendly staff member whose tone was upbeat, even if his message was a bit dismal. We are the only five-star hotel in Washington, D.C., and we are owned by Mr. Trump with a capital T, so everyone is panicking, he said. But what can you do? Theres nothing you can do.

After breakfast we stood in the open corridor on our floor looking down at the empty lobby, where Damelincourt was working from the same table he had been at the night before, when Trump beamed from the televisions.

We wrote Damelincourt an email, explaining we wanted to interview him for an article about the hotel before we checked out, and watched as he appeared to read our email and immediately leave his table in the lobby. He emailed back almost immediately with an effusively polite reply, wishing us a nice stay. I am unfortunately in back to back calls today but we will be happy to answer any question you have if you send them to me, he wrote.

Later, in response to our questions about occupancy, the status of staff members, including any layoffs or furloughs, and plans for the future, we received a written statement in Damelincourts name from a Trump International Hotel representative.

Our incredible team of Associates continue to deliver five-star service, going above and beyond to provide the finest luxury experience despite what we are all enduring, it read. We look forward to returning to our vibrant, bustling atmosphere as soon as it is safe for everyone.

_____

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:
In much of Louisiana, restaurant owners are cautiously looking forward to opening some outdoor tables, and mall stores to beginning curbside service. But New Orleans wont be participating in those slight relaxations of rules set up to slow the spread of the new coronavirus  even though Gov. John Bel Edwards cited it as meeting federal guidelines for a wider reopening.

Edwards has extended Louisianas stay-at-home order through May 15, with those two tweaks to start May 1. But New Orleans stricter rules will continue through May 15, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.

Restaurants will not be allowed to host curbside seating and stores will not be allowed to open curbside delivery, she tweeted on April 28.

In a statement she said, It is absolutely critical for the safety of our people that residents continue to STAY HOME at this time, and not move prematurely to resume public activity.

The changes will be allowed in neighboring Jefferson Parish, Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said.

Edwards has said that localities are free to enact rules tighter than the states.

New Orleans has had about 6,400 of the states 27,300 COVID-19 cases, and 410 of the 1,758 deaths from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, the state health department reported on April 28. Jefferson Parish has seen 6,100 cases and 340 deaths.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people havent been tested, and studies suggest that many infected people never feel sick. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. But for others, the disease can be severe, even fatal.

The federal government will provide 200,000 test kits in May so Louisiana should be able to meet testing guidelines, Edwards said.

That will also allow tests of residents and staffers without symptoms in nursing homes, prisons and other facilities where people must live close together and the disease cropped up, Assistant Health Secretary Alex Billioux said.

There are still some facilities with no COVID-19 cases, he said.

Edwards was scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on April 29, White House spokesman Judd Deere confirmed.

I look forward to having a substantive conversation with President Trump about Louisianas response to the COVID-19 outbreak, our plans to re-open additional businesses next month, and our ongoing needs as we surge our testing capacity to 200,000 tests per month beginning in May, Edwards said in a statement.

The health department reported that 154 of Louisianas 279 nursing homes and 73 of the 157 other adult residential care providers have reported at least two linked cases, with a total of about 2,900 cases and 580 deaths.

Billioux said its not clear how often to test symptom-free people at such places, since someone free of COVID-19 one day could become infected the next day.

Nick Hufft, who owns Curbside hamburger restaurant in Baton Rouge, said he was excited by the possibility of outdoor seating but wasnt sure if his courtyard will open on May 1, The Advocate reported.

We are going to take the proper protocol to make sure we are ready to go. Were not going to rush that, he said. First and foremost, the safety of our guests is top priority to us.

Even widely spaced outdoor tables will allow more diners, putting more people back to work, Hufft said. Weve got too many good people not to give it a go, he said.

Edwards said the New Orleans areas falling rates of infections, hospitalization and testing capacity meet White House criteria for reopening, but those indicators continue to rise in the Baton Rouge area, northeast Louisiana and Acadiana.

Nonetheless, the changes to be allowed Friday mean many businesses are able to, and should, safely and smartly return to commerce, Baton Rouge Area Chamber President Adam Knapp said in an emailed statement.

Edwards said that if Louisianas infection rate keeps falling, he expects to begin loosening the reins on May 16, allowing churches, more retailers and some restaurant dining rooms to open at one-quarter of their legal occupancy rates.

Small business owners are going to look at that and say, Its not worth my time or cost to get to that level to reopen. So theyll stay closed or with curbside service, said Dawn Starns, Louisiana director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Until mid-May, however, Edwards March 23 order banning gatherings of more than 10 people, limiting restaurants to takeout and delivery and closing casinos, gyms, bars, theaters, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors and salons will largely remain in place.

Businesses allowed to stay open during the virus outbreak have shown they can take steps to protect the public, and more should be allowed to do so now, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack said in an emailed statement.

Edwards said he consulted infectious disease specialists and other public health experts, as Louisiana ranks sixth in the nation for confirmed virus cases per capita. The Democratic governor said they used the White House guidelines for phased reopening, and Louisiana doesnt yet meet the first phase.

Edwards first small step began on April 27, allowing time-sensitive elective medical procedures, such as colonoscopies, biopsies and dental procedures.

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System is scheduling such patients for treatment at branches in Shreveport, Bossier and Coushatta, Dr. Steen Trawick, the systems chief executive officer and chief medical officer, told The Times of Shreveport.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
A new study published on the cover of Science could bolster the development of batteries, fuel cells, 3D printing technologies and more

College Park, Md. -- Scientists in the University of Maryland (UMD)'s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) have reinvented a 26,000-year-old manufacturing process into an innovative approach to fabricating ceramic materials that has promising applications for solid-state batteries, fuel cells, 3D printing technologies, and beyond.

Ceramics are widely used in batteries, electronics, and extreme environments--but conventional ceramic sintering (part of the firing process used in the manufacture of ceramic objects) often requires hours of processing time. To overcome this challenge, a Maryland research team has invented an ultrafast high-temperature sintering method that both meets the needs of modern ceramics and fosters the discovery of new material innovations.

The study, led by Liangbing Hu, Herbert Rabin Distinguished Professor of the A. James Clark School of Engineering and director of the Center for Materials Innovation at UMD, was published on the May 1 cover of Science. Chengwei Wang, an assistant research scientist in Hu's group, served as first author on the study.

Conventional sintering techniques require a long processing time--it takes hours for a furnace to heat up, then several hours more to 'bake' the ceramic material--which is particularly problematic in the development of electrolytes for solid-state batteries. Alternative sintering technologies (such as microwave-assisted sintering, spark plasma sintering, and flash sintering) are limited for a variety of reasons, often because they are material-specific and/or expensive.

The Maryland team's new method of ultrafast high-temperature sintering offers high heating and high cooling rates, an even temperature distribution, and sintering temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Celsius. Combined, these processes require less than 10 seconds of total processing time--more than 1,000 times faster than the traditional furnace approach of sintering.

"With this invention, we 'sandwiched' a pressed green pellet of ceramic precursor powders between two strips of carbon that quickly heated the pellet through radiation and conduction, creating a consistent high-temperature environment that forced the ceramic powder to solidify quickly," Hu said. "The temperature is high enough to sinter basically any ceramic material. This patented process can be extended to other membranes beyond ceramics."

The study was conducted through close collaboration with Yifei Mo (associate professor, UMD), J.C Zhao (professor and department chair, UMD), Howard Wang (visiting research professor, UMD), Jian Luo (professor, UC San Diego), Xiaoyu Zheng (assistant professor, UCLA), and Bruce Dunn (professor and department chair, UCLA).

"Ultrafast high-temperature sintering represents a breakthrough in ultrafast sintering technologies, not only because of its general applicability to a broad range of functional materials, but also due to a great potential of creating non-equilibrium bulk materials via retaining or generating extra defects," said Luo.

The rapid sintering technology is being commercialized through HighT-Tech LLC, a UMD spinoff company with a focus on a range of high temperature technologies (http://www.highT-Tech.com).

More about this research:

"This new method solves the key bottleneck problem in computation and AI-guided materials discovery," said Mo. "We've enabled a new paradigm for materials discovery with an unprecedented accelerated pace."

"We are delighted to see the pyrolysis time reduced from tens of hours to a few seconds, preserving the fine 3D-printed structures after fast sintering," Zheng said.

###

The A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland serves as the catalyst for high-quality research, innovation, and learning, delivering on a promise that all graduates will leave ready to impact the Grand Challenges (energy, environment, security, and human health) of the 21st century. The Clark School is dedicated to leading and transforming the engineering discipline and profession, to accelerating entrepreneurship, and to transforming research and learning activities into new innovations that benefit millions. Visit us online at eng.umd.edu and follow us on Twitter @ClarkSchool.
Residents on a small island off the coast of Belize have begun harvesting fresh drinking water from the air after shipments from the mainland were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The residents of Caye Caulker Island, 20 miles off the coast of Belize City, are using 23 solar-powered hydropanels from Zero Mass Water to convert moisture in the air into potable water.

The hydropanels use a similar set of principles as dehumidifiers to harvest water, drawing in air into a compartment with fans, where it's heated by the solar panels to convert the water molecules into steam.

Residents on Caye Caulker Island off the coast of Belize are relying on 23 solar-powered hydropanels for drinking water, which transform water molecules in the air into liquid water

The steam is passed through a special hygroscopic material that channels it into a collection reservoir where it's cooled into liquid water, according to a report in Newsweek.

The panels were initially installed on the roof of the local Roman Catholic School and Community Center in later 2019 as part of the Caribbean Climate Smart Island Program, and funded in part by the Inter-American Developmeent Bank.

According to Zero Mass, they can produce around around 911 gallons a month under optimal conditions, or the equivalent of about 30 gallons a day.

Caye Caulker is just five miles long and one mile across, and was formed by a mix of sand and limestone coral that does a relatively poor job of filtering salt from water that's drawn into the ground from the sea.

As a result, locals relied mostly on large shipments of bottled water that came by cargo ship from the mainland.

The hydropanels, developed by Zero Mass Water, cost between $5,500 and $6,500 for a two-panel unit, and the 23 units installed on Caye Caulker will produce an estimated 911 gallons of water a month

Those shipments were delayed in early April after the government closed its borders and declared a state of emergency as COVID-19 began to spread across the country.

Some have criticized technologies like Zero Mass Water's as being too costly for the relatively small amount of water they generate compared to what's available through public utilities in less susceptible regions of the world.

The average cost of 1,000 gallons of water through an American utility company is around $1,50, far less than the cost of producing the same amount with an array of $5,500 panels.

Caye Caulker is five miles long and one mile wide, and has few natural sources of fresh water in part because the ground is composed of sand and limestone coral

The average American, for instance, consumes around 300 gallons of water every day between drinking, bathing, doing dishes, and using the toilet, among other uses.

That's about one-third the ideal monthly output from the 23 hydropanels on Caye Caulker.

Yet, the technology seems to have a clear use as fallback source of water in emergencies, rather than a primary source to replace public utilities.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic caused shipping delays, Caye Caulker relied on large shipments of bottled water from Belize to keep residents hydrated

Zero Water says they've installed hydropanels in over 40 countries around the world that experience some form of water vulnerability.

According to a recent UN report, close to half of the world's population will live in regions with high water stress by 2030.

'Access to clean water is a human rights issue, the better access people have to clean water, the more happy, fair and productive their lives can be,' Zero Mass Water's Cody Friesen told Newsweek.

'The biggest concern over the coming decade is that climate change will compound the challenges we see today, with extreme weather, pollution and increased global conflict over clean water sources.'
A former Asbury Park bartender says a flood of social media posts accusing him of drugging drinks and sexually assaulting women cost him his job and ruined his life last year.

But a New Jersey judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by the bartender, Brent Comyack, against the whisper network of women who posted warnings about him on Facebook, Instagram and other websites.

Judge Thomas Miller tossed out the civil lawsuit last week that Comyack filed in October against four of the women who helped spread the allegations on social media and two male bartenders who repeated their warnings on Bartenders Guild, a popular industry website.

Miller ruled on April 21 that the lawsuit should be dismissed without prejudice. The judges detailed 78-page opinion analyzed the legal issues around dozens of online comments that said Comyack was allegedly a rapey bartender who preyed on women.

The courts thoughtful and thorough dismissal of Brent Comyacks lawsuit is a huge win for my clients and the First Amendment, and a huge loss for people like Comyack who seek to use the legal system to silence speech they dislike, said J. Remy Green, an attorney representing four of the women.

The women were dubbed a whisper network" in legal papers because that came together on social media to gather stories about Comyack and warn others about the bartender, even though some had never met him or his alleged victims.

While the dismissal tosses Comyacks lawsuit against the four women and two fellow bartenders he accused of spreading false rumors about him online, it does not affect the suit agains the seventh person he sued -- the woman who initially went to police to accuse him of drugging her drink last summer.

The lawsuit against that woman, who NJ Advance Media is not naming because she is an alleged victim, continues. Her attorney did not join the other defendants in the motions to dismiss the case, likely because she did not post her comments on social media and would have different legal arguments to get the lawsuit dismissed.

Comyacks attorney said the bartender, who is now living in Florida, is considering his next steps.

We are evaluating our options, said Paul Rizzo, Comyacks attorney.

Because the judge dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice," Comyack has the option of refiling the suit against the whisper network women and fellow bartenders with new legal arguments. He could also appeal the judges dismissal of the case.

An image from a Facebook post accusing a New Jersey bartender of drugging a woman. The image is included in court papers in a civil lawsuit filed by the bartender, who denies any wrongdoing.

Comyack, 28, denies he did anything wrong and says the woman who initially accused him of drugging her drink went to police and told her friends about her allegations. But she never filed charges or proved she took a drug test. Comyack was never arrested.

He said he lost his job at Modine, a popular Asbury Park restaurant, because of the online comments and struggled to find jobs in Tennessee and North Carolina because the rumors followed him.

Through her continuous pursuit of publicity, attorney Green and her clients continue a campaign of harassment despite knowing these facts. It is shameful, all the more so because the court is allowing it to continue and denying my client the right to discover the facts, which attorney Green and her clients are desperately working to prevent, Rizzo said.

In the #MeToo era, Comyacks suit is one of a series of lawsuits filed around the world accusing women of defamation for accusing men of sexual harassment, sexual assault or misconduct.

Some of the men who filed lawsuits say civil suits are their only defense in an environment where reputations can be destroyed by unproven allegations of sexual misconduct that can follow them online for the rest of their lives.

But some women say the lawsuits can have a chilling effect on women who fear being taken to court for defamation if they call out someone for sexual harassment or speak out against sexual abuse.

Comyacks problems began last June when he said a female friend asked to meet him after he got off work in Asbury Park, according to court papers. The woman arrived extremely intoxicated, but agreed to go with Comyack to a birthday party being held at another bar.

Comyack said he encouraged her to keep drinking water to sober up. She later told friends she thought the water he gave her tasted acidic and she began to feel drugged as Comyack encouraged her to go to a hotel room with him, according to the legal papers.

The woman, who later went to police chose not to press charges. But she told friends she got an independent drug test that showed she had methodone in her system. Methodone is a narcotic that can be used to treat opioid addiction and can increase the feeling of intoxication if alcohol is in your system.

The woman declined to comment through her attorney and asked that her name not be used.

When the womans friends posted about the alleged drugging, several women commented accusing Comyack of rape and sexual misconduct over the last decade, according to court papers.

Comyacks attorney said he denies all of the allegations.

He adamantly maintains that what they have written is untrue. They have not attempted to support their allegations with any records or other documented proof, Rizzo said.

Green, the attorney representing the four women in the whisper network, said they hope the judges ruling helps set a precedent that allows people the right to speak up when they feel a moral duty to warn others about a potential danger.

Of course, Comyack may still appeal and this dismissal may not be the end of this case. My clients are still raising funds to pay for their increasing legal costs  costs that they will have to pay no matter how vindicated they are by the legal system  on GoFundMe, Green said.

So far, the GoFundMe page has raised about $7,000 toward a $75,000 goal.

Even with a court having recognized that my clients vital speech rights are implicated in the case, Comyack can force them to endure a lengthy (potentially years) and expensive appeal process if he simply spends enough money, Green said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com.
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to pay an additional Rs 10,000 for each month of delayed salary payment to teachers of its schools in the national capital.

Many of the teachers were no paid salaries in the DSGMC-run schools since January this year.

Justice C Hari Shankar directed the DSGMC and its schools to "continue payments of salary and other emoluments, to which petitioners (teachers) are entitled, on a monthly basis, during pendency of the petitions (seeking implementation of Seventh Pay Commission)."



The order, passed on April 27 in proceedings held via video conferencing, came on applications moved by several teachers in their respective petitions seeking implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission.

In their applications, the teachers had said that they have not been paid salaries from January 2020 to March 2020.

The court said that it had earlier on August 22, 2019, in its order had said



that in case of default in salary payment, the schools would have to pay 10,000 per month extra to the petitioners.

"In as much respondents (DSGMC and the schools) are in default of the said fees, the order, dated August 22, 2019, passed in the present proceedings, would kick into action and the respondents would also be liable to pay an additional amount of Rs 10,000 per month to the petitioners," the court said and listed the matters for hearing on May 13.

During the proceedings, advocate Jasmeet Singh, appearing for DSGMC, said parents of several students are in default of fees and that is why the teachers were not paid.

However, the teachers have claimed that the schools have already collected tuition fees from students till March 2020, but are pleading absence of funds to avoid paying their salaries.

Earlier on April 24, a division bench of the high court in similar matters involving five DSGMC-run schools had directed that salary arrears be paid in two weeks.

The court had also said "there can be no justification for non-payment of salaries" when fees was being charged from the students.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Natural News) One of the methods being used to treat Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients at American hospitals is to hook them up to ventilators, which are designed to automatically move air in and out of the lungs. But this approach seems to be failing, as a whopping 88 percent of coronavirus patients on ventilators at New Yorks largest hospital system end up dying.

Editors note: Its likely because the ventilators are killing the patients. Theyre damaging the patients lungs with forced respiration while ignoring the real issue of oxygen deprivation due to impaired hemoglobin function.

A paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals that while 20 percent of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients die overall, a substantially higher number  nearly all, to be clear  who are put on respirators end up not surviving. This suggests that perhaps ventilators are causing death rather than preventing it.

While it certainly could be the case that the types of patients being put on ventilators are already high-risk individuals who would have died regardless, there is a growing suspicion among some that ventilators simply are not the right choice when it comes to treating severe cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Prior to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), the death rate among those put on ventilators was around 80 percent. But that figure jumped another eight percent once the pandemic kicked into full swing, which is concerning considering that many critical care doctors had more optimistically hoped for about a 50 percent death rate.

For those who have a severe enough course to require hospitalization through the emergency department it is a sad number, says Karina W. Davidson, lead author of the new study and a professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell.

Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses what he calls the 10 stages of coronavirus, as well as provides a detailed analysis and his own personal projections for the future of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) going into 2021:

Ventilators are depriving many patients of oxygen, effectively killing them

For their research, Davidson and her colleagues looked at the electronic medical records of 5,700 patients who were infected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) between Mar. 1 and Apr. 4, and treated at one of Northwell Healths 12 New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County hospitals, all of which are located in the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.

Sixty percent of the patients were male while 40 percent were female, and the average age was 63, indicating that most were on the older end of the spectrum. Based on this analysis the team determined that, at best, ventilators did not exactly help these folks recover.

This is the largest and most comprehensive investigation so far into the effectiveness of ventilators. It also represents an important metric in evaluating the effectiveness of Americas approach to addressing the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, specifically in the American context.

Its important to look to American data as we have different resources in our health care system and different demographics in our population, Davidson contends.

The paper also found that an astounding 70 percent of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients sick enough to be admitted to the hospital did not even have a fever. This makes fever checks certifiably pointless as they clearly are not a valid or reliable indicator of whether or not a person might have the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Davidson and her colleagues are now recommending that people with underlying health conditions who believe they may have been exposed to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) contact a doctor sooner rather than later to be evaluated.

Another thing worth pointing out is that many Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients who are supposedly dying from pneumonia are actually dying from oxygen deprivation, which is a direct consequence of the damage caused by improper ventilator use.

More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

MSN.com

NaturalNews.com
We asked for your stories from the outdoors.

And you delivered, responding with some darn good ones.

So this weeks episode of the Peak Northwest podcast  the fourth in our series of campfire tales  features several great stories submitted over the past few weeks.

Some highlights:

Our boss shares in a story about a wolverine encounter in Glacier National Park.

We learn about a freelance environmental journalists assignment in South America and an encounter she had upon her return to southern Oregon.

Listeners provide a pair of bear stories that will leave you laughing.

Jim gives an update about a story he shared on a previous episode.

Heres the full episode.

Want to submit an outdoors or adventure story of your own?

Leave a message on our podcast hotline, 503-221-4345, or send a voice memo to podcasts@oregonian.com. Were hoping to feature more submitted stories in future episodes, and wed love to hear from you.

Need some inspiration?

Listen to previous shows from our series of campfire stories.

Check out these stories from Emma Marris, who submitted a campfire story for this weeks show.

Watch Jims latest Peak Northwest video or catch up on past episodes.

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Follow Peak Northwest on Instagram at @PeakNorthwest.

- Jim Ryan and Jamie Hale
Photo: (Photo : pixabay.com)

A three-week-old Houston baby in critical condition recovers from COVID-19 after spending nine days at The University of Texas Health Science Center.

The four-week premature born baby boy was experiencing nasal congestion and rapid breathing when taken to the emergency room.

The baby was suspected of having contracted COVID-19

The infant was immediately transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit, where doctors discovered that the baby had low blood pressure, a high pulse, and hypothermia. When the doctors saw the X-ray of the lungs of the baby, they immediately suspected the contraction of COVID-19.

Dr. Alvaro Coronado Munoz, assistant professor of pediatric critical care medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, said that they thought the child was sicker than a normal child. The doctor added that the baby tested positive for a virus that causes the common cold as well.

The infant who was then suffering from severe respiratory failure was transferred to a negative-pressure room in the pediatric intensive care unit. The baby was intubated and placed on a mechanical ventilator for five days.

Physicians also treated the infant with a five-day course of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. This treatment is to prevent respiratory infection.

The doctors tested the baby by conducting a nasal swab. The X-rays on the baby's lungs also showed the partial collapse of the right upper lobe.

The tests confirmed that the baby had COVID-19.

The Baby's Recovery

After five days in PICU and an additional four days at the hospital, the baby boy recovered enough to be sent home without supplemental oxygen.

Dr. Coronado reminded the parents that it is crucial to understand that they should not delay seeking medical care for their children, especially if there is any presence of fever or trouble breathing. The doctor added that they are still very early in the research and data available on COVID-19, and as medical providers, they need to be aware that children can get critically ill from the said virus.

On the other hand, medical professionals believed that the baby contracted the virus after being in contact with a 49-year-old woman, who manifested symptoms but was never tested for the coronavirus, in the same household. The baby's household is home to eight persons who were never tested from the coronavirus.

The infant's 21-year-old mother tested positive for Group B Strep when she was pregnant but not COVID-19. Group B Strep is a common bacterium often carried in the intestines or lower genital tract. According to the CDC or The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it usually is harmless and could come and go; however, it can cause severe infection in newborns.

As more data is released about the COVID-19, the original belief that pediatric patients are spared from the worst of the disease has been proven wrong.

Dr. Coronado finally said that while the case was limited to a single patient, it shows that severe COVID-19 cases in children are possible, although it can also be successfully managed through standard PICU protocols.
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...
Under conditions of the worldwide spread of COVID-19, strong opposition among students in Germany to the reopening of schools is developing. Under the slogan average grade 2020, students are demanding the suspension of final exams and the closing of schools so long as the lives of students, teachers and their relatives are at risk. A petition which obtained 150,000 signatures in a short period of time called instead of exams for students to receive an average grade based on the work they have already completed during the school year. Students who want to improve their grade could take part in an oral exam via video conference, the petition suggested.

Members of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality spoke to organisers of the initiative from several federal states.

Vicky, 19, a final year high school student from North Rhine-Westphalia, said, The politicians would like 'normality' to return but in my opinion, it's much too soon for that. Although the infection curve is declining a little bit, this flattening off will not last long if so many people come together in a location where its impossible to stick to the hygiene regulations.

I think it is irresponsible, commented Nova, 19, angrily, a final year student from Bavaria. It feels like an experiment to meand in a few weeks we'll see the effect and what happens when so many people come together in one place. Above all, I am personally affected by it, since I live with my grandparents, who both belong to the high-risk group. I don't want to go into school every day with a bad conscience and worry about infecting them when I come home. Additionally, many students and teachers are also members of high-risk groups. What about them?

Nova, who sent a protest letter to political parties and politicians, firmly opposes the reopening of schools under these conditions. It is a paradox for me when mass gatherings are banned and restrictions are rightly imposed on people going outdoors, but hundreds of us have to go to school. And the politicians decide all of this on a telephone conference!

If all final exams are held, Nova believes this will increase inequality in education. Some students don't have the chance to prepare for the exam, because, for example, they have to share a computer with someone else. The upper class naturally has an advantage there, because they can afford better equipment.

Joshua is a ninth year student at a private high school in Nurnberg. The government's argument that an average grade is unfair is dishonest and actually just inhumane, he said. In Berlin, where the supposedly 'left' Social Democrat/Left Party/Green coalition governs in the State Senate, letters from students calling for exams to be delayed are being rejected with the claim that it's just the way it is and nothing can be done about it. In addition, the safety measures are not being observed anywhere. In most toilets, there is no disinfectant or soap, and some of them are closed for weeks due to maintenance. I don't want to think about how bad it is in the dilapidated state-run schools.

Clemens, who is a ninth year student at a secondary school in Bavaria, reported, We have to go back to school on Monday. They are trying to divide us up into smaller groups with reduced hours. Otherwise, we know nothing about how things will work. There are no cleaners at my school. It is a listed building that requires substantial repairs in several areas. The toilets are unusablesoap is often not refilled for weeks, the paper rolls for drying your hands are often used up or don't work. There are no additional protection measures and no provision for disinfectant has been made.

Adrian, 14, attends a public high school near Hannover and told the IYSSE that the required social distancing cannot be observed. There are 1,000 students at our school alone, so the risk is high. Even during normal times, nobody wants to go to the toilet, soap and paper towels are usually lacking. There will be a requirement to wear a mask, but the school management has repeatedly said that there is no money to buy masks. I'm supposed to start again in mid May.

Olivia, 22, who attends a professional college in Cologne, said, The schools are already poorly equipped, and nothing much is going to change. I have to go to school again tomorrow, and even the route there is risky, because the buses and trains are always full. My school is largeI feel very pessimistic. Olivia does not own a mask. She said that she has to use a scarf.

Schools in terrible condition

It has to be said that they're acting from the standpoint of business, said Vicky. It's not a secret that schools have been in a terrible state for years. Something should have been done long ago about the lack of hygiene measures in educational institutionswhether primary schools, secondary schools, or professional colleges. Now, where we have a pandemic, there is a lot of catching up to do. And not just at a few schools, but at lots of them.

That means, according to Vicky, there is a very high demand for hygiene products, like disinfectant and paper towels. I noticed that some pictures of the state of hygiene in the schools were shown in the media. But in a subsequent interview with (North Rhine-Westphalia's education minister) Mrs. Gebauer, she said that she had received great feedback from students. So the whole truth is not being taken into account by the politicians in public.

We are being ignored and just not taken seriously, acknowledged Olivia. Are the final exams so important that we should put ourselves and our families at risk? She added that she feels like a guinea pig... that's how we all feel! She is certain that the government is deliberately accepting that students will get infected, and remarked, We are of course young and not part of a 'high-risk group.

Like Olivia, Adrian said he has the impression that the government wants to use students as guinea pigs. He went on, What they're concerned about is that students can graduate so they can go to work. They don't want to slow down this process. That also explains why the older years are being sent back first. It is criminal and inhumane to expose young people to such a risk in order to see when it will be possible to get the economy up and running again. There are definitely class interests behind it: the ruling elite wants to rake in profits, while everyone else just wants to survive. An abyss is really opening up.

Joshua pointed to the recommendations of leading virologists. Its a fact that since some restrictions were lifted, the reproduction rate in Germany has risen from 0.7 to 0.9, he said.

If a further 'easing' of the restrictions is enforced, it will be a huge threat to us students and the workers in factories. Thousands would die! If the measures recommended by scientists are not imposed, the virus will also spread unhindered to Africa and the rest of the world. Millions of people could then die. You can see in the coronavirus apps how there aren't many infections in the countries in Africa and Oceania. If the virus also spreads there due to globalisation, we will have another health disaster with possibly hundreds of millions of deaths.

Joshua added that he finds it horrifying how German politicians claim that the situation here is different than in Italy or the US. Leading scientists and the Robert Koch Institute warn that similar things could happen in Germany if we are too lax on the issue. If the reproduction rate rises above 1.0, there will be another period of exponential growth here. According to health experts, that would lead to the entire health system collapsing sometime between July and October, and we would have conditions akin to war, like in the United States. Then we would also be digging mass graves and the military would be transporting away dead bodies.

Clemens agreed that this danger exists, commenting, If there really was progress in combatting the virus, as they claim, they will quickly be gambled away. I would not be surprised if pictures come out of Germany in a few weeks like they did from Italy and the US, where bodies were collected by forklifts and deposited in mass graves.

A policy of controlled infection

Several students expressed their fear to the IYSSE that the opening of the schools is part of a policy of controlled infection like that pursued by the governments in Sweden and Britain.

The reopenings are just the first step in a herd immunity strategy, said Adrian. In regions where the health care system is not good, it will have catastrophic results. The lives of millions of people will be at risk as a result of this. When Angela Merkel stated at that press conference that her government expects 60 to 70 percent of the population to get infected, I was shockedat how negligently they responded even though they could see the situation they were heading towards.

The government is certainly accepting that risk, stated Vicky. (North Rhine-Westphalia's Education Minister) Gebauer spoke specifically on this issue. She stated, to paraphrase, that you have to deal with the deaths of students, teachers, acquaintances or relatives. I think this statement is totally inappropriate. If people die who are close to us and we are potentially responsible for that, it can be extremely hard to cope with psychologically. If I knew that I had the life of someone else on my conscience, I would probably have a breakdown. I have no idea how exams should be written then. I also have no idea how returning to school and taking exams will affect the course of the pandemic.

The opening of the schools shows how much the 'foot soldiers' are worth to the government, added Joshua. It is really assuming a fascistic character. They are declaring once again that human life isn't really worth that much and it can be easily sacrificed for profits. It is a natural process, as that Gill wrote in Der Spiegel.

The sociologist Bernhard Gill advocated a policy of herd immunity in an article in the news magazine Der Spiegel on April 13, in which he wrote that it would create space for new life.

Vicky also believes it is conceivable that the German government has decided behind closed doors to pursue a policy of herd immunity, even though this would result in thousands of deaths.

Unfortunately, I don't know what was discussed behind the closed doors of the conference room, what was told to the people and what is being hushed up, she remarked. However, she was in no doubt that the revival of social Darwinist and eugenicist views is repulsive.

I don't understand how in this day and age one can take that standpoint. It is fatal that such people still have influence in politics. In the course of history, these positions were applied twice: once during the colonisation of Africa, when it was used, among other things, to justify slavery, and also by the Nazis on the Jews, she stated.

Charles Darwin's original positions, said Vicky, have been torn out of their context twice before. If those positions are still held today, then I am very disappointed that nothing has been learned from historyto be honest, there are many other issues where nothing has been learned from history. You never know when this could have a huge impact on modern-day Germany.

Elements of a fascist ideology

Clemens said that the policy of herd immunity certainly bears elements of a fascist ideology.

It says that we should allow as many people as possible to get infected, and kill tens of thousands or millions in the process. While the development shocks me, Im not surprised. Fascistic conceptions have long been prevalent within the ruling elite and are constantly propagated. Human life is worth nothing to them, just their own profits.

Over recent years we've had a crazy counter-revolution in Europe and other countries, he added. Social standards that were fought for by workers in the major struggles of the 20th century have been abolished.

Clemens believes the source of the aggressive back-to-work campaigns by governments in the United States and Europe is to be found in the class struggle. Now that they have plundered the state treasuries, they want to start making profits again, and they couldn't care less about the lives of the workers and their children. As soon as the children have been stowed away in the schools, the parents can be sent back to work. That's the calculation.

Olivia stressed that the impact of the pandemic on students is international in character. I have relatives in France, Britain, Switzerland, and the United States. My cousins' exams in France and England were cancelled. In Switzerland, they still have a curfew. Nobody knows what will happen next, she commented.

This movement can only achieve anything if it links up internationally, said Joshua towards the end of the discussion. Students around the world face the same questions. They have to align themselves with other sectors of society, like workers in the factories, who are now supposed to start producing profits once again. At the same time, the demands must be connected to a socialist program, he added.

Capitalism cannot deal with any of the catastrophes we face, whether it's the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, or even the outbreak of a third world war, he said. While a tiny minority enriches itself under capitalism, the needs of the majority are prioritised under socialism. Concretely, this would mean that workers would no longer have to risk their lives to produce profits. Instead, huge sums should be invested in testing and into health care to create a vaccination.

I also think that an international and socialist programme is necessary to defeat the pandemic, said Adrian. In contrast to their governments, young people and workers in every country have the same interests. If other countries follow Germany's approach, movements among students will develop there. I hope that students realise this and are prepared to cooperate across national borders. Instead of investing in wars and rescuing banks, money must be made available to strengthen the health care sector, upgrade schools, and other public services.

In conclusion, Clemens directed an appeal to his fellow students and their relatives, We cannot allow everyone to go back to work now. Human life is more important than profit, in contrast to the ruling elite's claims. Students must form committees to enforce their demands. That can, for instance, be done online. It is important to reach agreement internationallyif students in Germany take action, for example, they must immediately make contact with students in France, the United States, and other countries.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) fights among students and young people for a socialist programme against war, nationalism, and social inequality. Read our statement of principles and make contact with us today to get involved.
Tuesday afternoon, in the wake of last weeks announcement by the European Union (EU) of a general policy of ending the coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented his project for the end of the lockdown in France in the National Assembly. The plan proposes to reopen schools on May 11 and an overall return to normal in workplaces not essential to the fight against the disease. The Assembly voted 368 to 100 in favour of the plan, with 103 abstentions.

The end of the lockdown announced throughout Europe and in France in particular is premature and will have disastrous consequences. China lifted the containment of Wuhan, the first epicentre of the COVID-19 virus, on April 8, two and a half months after the start of that citys lockdownand when no more new cases were recorded there. France has waited only six weeks to lift the containment. Some 23,785 new cases were recorded yesterday in Europe, including 2,638 in France, and the epidemic is not at all under control on the continent.

Given the virulence of COVID-19, scientists warn that the end of strict health measures will result in an outbreak of new infections. German virologist Christian Drosten has given interviews to the British and Belgian press to warn of the danger of a new epidemic overwhelming already overcrowded hospitals. I regret what has been happening in the last few days. We are on the verge of losing our lead over the disease completely, said Drosten, who regretted the political and economic pressure to return to normal.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, second left, presents his plan to exit from the lockdown at the National Assembly in Paris, Tuesday, April 28, 2020. (David Niviere, Pool via AP)

Drosten added, Im afraid the breeding rate will increase again, and well be facing a second wave. ... Tanker trucks full of disinfectant will be on the streets, as this will be the only desperate measure [able] to fight the virus.

These fears are confirmed by the analysis of biostatistician Chloe Dimeglio, from the laboratory of the University Hospital of Toulouse, based on a model of the pandemic. She says the containment has saved more than 100,000 lives in France: At present, we count about 22,000 deaths. First, we compared the actual mortality to that obtained through our model, they are comparable. So, we looked at what the model would have given if there had been no containment. According to our model, we avoided more than 100,000 more deaths.

Andrea Ammon, the director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Solna, Sweden, told El Pais: I know that in January, when the Chinese locked down Wuhan and the surrounding towns, I was told that it would be impossible in Europe. At that time, we had 20 cases. At that time, if we had introduced tough control measures, we would not have stopped the spread of the disease, but the peak would have been much lower.

In his presentation, Prime Minister Philippe brushed aside these warnings to insist on a rapid return to work. While admitting he was launching an end to the lockdown that is as expected as it is risky, and that collective immunity is not enough, he claimed that the prolonged halt in the production of entire sections of our economy presented France with the risk of collapse.

In fact, if the lockdown has caused difficulties for workers, it is because of the reactionary policy of the EU, and the inaction and lies of the French government. The EU and the European Central Bank have given 2,290 billion [US$2.49 billion] to the recovery plans, but as after the 2008 crash, they want to give almost all of this money to the banks, while workers and small businesses receive little or nothing, and temporary workers go hungry. As for the Emmanuel Macron government, it has long covered up the shortage of masks due to its refusal to order them before the pandemic and its claim that COVID-19 was just another flu.

The lockdown itself, which was endorsed by workers in mid-March, was adopted only in the face of an international wave of wildcat strikes and walkouts, especially in Italy and the United States. Now the governments, and behind them the financial aristocracy, which is being showered with public funds by the EU, are hoping to force people back to work in the midst of the pandemic, with no regard for human lives.

Philippe insisted that at the end of containment the virus would still be present: We will have to live with the virus ... its not a good thing but its a fact. He announced a strategy based on the three-part plan, Protect, test, isolate. Each element of this plan is a political fraud.

For protection, Philippe said that wearing a mask in certain situations would be added to the usual barrier gestures to limit the spread of the virus. But the government has been saying since the beginning of the pandemic that wearing a mask was not usefulessentially because it had allowed strategic stocks of masks to run out in order to make possible its tax gifts to the rich. Now, it is proposing that individuals make their own cloth masks, which do not guarantee an optimal obstacle to the virus, because the more efficient FFP2 masks are not accessible.

Philippe had the dishonesty to say that his government had screened massively at the beginning of the epidemic when the very first cases occurred. In fact, France is one of the countries that has detected the least: 7,103 tests per million inhabitants, 2.5 times less than the USA and more than 4 times less than Spain, Italy and Germany. Macron disregarded the WHOs urgent calls for mass screening of the population. But a screening strategynow possible thanks to the mobilization of public laboratories demanding the government authorize them to perform testingis useless if it does not go hand in hand with a strategy to isolate and treat the cases that are discovered.

It will be next to impossible to organise the isolation of patients and new cases in view of the governments plans. While admitting that the French are afraid to take public transport, Philippe claimed it would be possible to enforce prevention measures. But if the government organises a return to work, the rush to use transport will make any attempt to maintain the minimum distance of two metres between passengers meaningless.

According to Philippe, those who test positive for COVID-19 will have to choose between being isolated at home, which will result in the confinement of the entire household for 14 days, for obvious reasons, or in a place made available to them, such as a hotel requisitioned by the government.

Having admitted that the children are spreading the virus, the government will nonetheless reopen schools starting May 11. According to Philippe, the reopening will be gradual from May 11, on a voluntary basis throughout the country. Classes will have a maximum of 15 pupils, and several health measures will be put in place, including the provision of hydro-alcoholic gel. The creches will also be reopened with groups of up to 10 children. All shops, except restaurants and cafes, will also be allowed to reopen on May 11.

Philippe again stressed that his policy was closely coordinated with the trade unions.

Workers cannot trust the policy of the government and the union apparatuses, which is made up of repression, lies and gifts to the rich. In order to give themselves the best chance of avoiding a second epidemic wave, workers must see to it that containment is extended. But this requires a political mobilisation to expropriate the vast sums of money stolen by the EU to finance the banks and turn them into the financial, food and medical aid needed to make containment tolerable for workers and small businesses.

This requires first of all the organisation of workers, independently of the unions, to exercise their right to walk out on a massive scale to avoid situations where they are forced to work in conditions that will spread the disease.
David Pangallo (pictured) was arrested by Jefferson County deputies on Friday

A man has been arrested after allegedly attempting to deposit two bags of cocaine along with some cash into a Colorado bank Friday.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said that David Pangallo, 34, was visiting a local bank in the 8300 block of Continental Divide Road when he pulled into the drive-thru to deposit cash.

When a drive-thru bank teller opened up a tube from Pangallo, they reportedly found two bags of cocaine mixed in with the cash.

The bank teller then contacted local authorities who arrived at the scene to take Pangallo into police custody.

Further investigation into the incident revealed Pangallo did not mean to deposit the cocaine, cops said.

Authorities said Pangallo was formally booked after they discovered additional drugs inside his car.

Pangallo allegedly deposited two bags of cocaine and cash into a bank in the 8300 block of Continental Divide Road (pictured)

He was released from police custody pending charges.

'Additional drugs were located in his car and he was booked through on the pending charges and released,' Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.

The department then cautioned residents against using drugs irresponsibly.

'Moral of the story: Dont do drugs. Also, the bank cannot store your drugs for you,' authorities said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 09:26:44|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A small mining town in western Namibia said Wednesday it was deploying a drone to monitor if residents are complying with COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

The rone will take aerial pictures which are used by law enforcement officers to punish those violating lockdown regulations, Irene Jacobs, spokesperson of the Arandis town, told local media.

"This is in fact an efficient and inexpensive intervention that will not call for additional resources, cost or cause any disturbances," Jacobs said.

Namibia has recorded 16 cases of COVID-19, of which eight cases have recovered. The government has extended the country's lockdown until May 4 to slow the virus' spread. Enditem
Ask Frida Kahlo. She made this double portrait in San Francisco in the spring of 1931, two years after marrying Rivera. Its a simple image, in the same way that marriage is a simple idea  only it turns out to be a hall of mirrors: Whos up, whos down, whos doing the real work, whose heart is most fitted out for love?
Thinking back to the last financial crisis, Warren Buffett played a big role in calming chaotic markets. While sensationalist analysts were calling for the end of public equities as we know them, Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) (NYSE:BRK.B) was taking his own advice by exercising greed while others chose fear.

Buffett is not a stock trader. Instead, rigorous quantitative analysis, an artistic touch, and extensive management evaluation are all time-consuming prerequisites for Berkshire Hathaway deciding on an investment. To put it plainly, Berkshire Hathaway covets a time horizon longer than most.

In 2009, Berkshire Hathaway used the financial crisis as a chance to initiate large investments in American banks, the sector at the root of all economic pain. While Buffett called a stock market bottom nearly a full year too early, it did not matter. The call showed confidence and inspired tranquility in financial markets desperately trying to find their footing. In the previous crisis, he stuck to his guns as an investor, and inspired anxious investors to do the same. He did not subscribe to frightening current events; instead, he tuned out the noise.

Buffett's Coronavirus Strategy

The Coronavirus pandemic offers us our next case study of Buffett functioning in a global crisis. The current pandemic is similar to the financial crisis in that both are overwhelmingly frightening, and temporary. Neither catastrophe enjoys a definitive end date, but an end date is inevitable, nonetheless.

Berkshire Hathaway bought aggressively in 2009 after the market's historic crash, but not during this tumble. So far, Buffett has sold, at a sizable loss, stakes in Delta Airlines (NYSE:DAL) and Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) just weeks after adding to them. The dichotomy of reactions when comparing the 2008 crisis to this one is notable to say the least.

Warren Buffett's behavioral change is not a matter of financial health. Berkshire Hathaway has the liquidity to make mammoth investments. Its balance sheet boasts zero long term debt and features a $124 billion cash and equivalents position, compared to just $59 billion in 2009. The result is a publicly traded company with a massive amount of funds available for investment, not one strapped for funds.

So what happened?

Dissecting Recent Moves

Since we know Berkshire's financial health isn't in question, it is important to note that Buffett sold just enough stock in each of the two airlines to reduce the stake below 10% of the float. Under SEC regulations, any stockholder owning over 10% of a public equity is considered an affiliate. Affiliate status subjects an investor to Second-Step Acquisition (SSA) oversight by the Federal Government. Importantly, this affiliate status induces regulatory oversight for any subsequent affiliate acquisition of the same company, or of a related company. This means if Berkshire Hathaway wanted to make a large purchase in the aviation industry, affiliation status with Delta or Southwest would have jeopardized the process.

By avoiding affiliation status, Buffett gains more flexibility to make a big splash elsewhere. But the company's continued silence raises questions. I believed the sales were setting them up for something big, but it has been weeks since the abrupt airline trades, and markets have strongly recovered from wash-out lows.

The inaction in Nebraska could be a less favorable outlook on this crisis than the past one, but I don't see it that way. Instead, I think the Warren Buffett playbook is being complicated by historic federal intervention. The federal government has shelled out record levels of liquidity over the last few weeks, via fiscal and monetary easing, trillions of dollars in liquidity has been granted to corporations and individuals to try and ease the pain of the Coronavirus. Airlines are receiving payments to keep employees on payroll, and the federal reserve continues to expand their lending programs to include more companies.

Most of the hard hit industries are being supported by Washington D.C, meaning Warren Buffett must compete with federal disaster loans carrying low to zero interest coupons. That is steep competition, compared to the favorable terms Buffett and his firm locked in during the financial crisis. To compare, Berkshire was paid 6% by Bank of America preferred shares to take a stake more than a decade ago. This time around, If Berkshire Hathaway opted to compete with the more involved federal government, the real return would have been inferior. It is possible that Buffett wants to wait for the dust to settle to identify industries not already aided by the government.

Interesting Weeks Ahead

Each morning, I open my computer, half expecting to see a headline about Berkshire Hathaway buying a struggling blue-chip company. S&P multiples have been trimmed dramatically from February highs, iconic brands have seen their stocks crumble, but I still see it as a possibility. Perhaps federal intervention prevents Buffett from getting the terms he wants, or maybe his view on the American economy has finally soured, but I don't think so. I think there are things in the works and he is biding his time. Regardless, following the activities of the Oracle of Omaha is always a fascinating practice.
The positioning of the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass 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 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market - Premium Insight, Competitive News Feed Analysis, Company Usability Profiles, Market Sizing & Forecasts to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871464/?utm_source=GNW





The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market including are Flat Glass Co. Ltd., Guangdong Golden Glass Technologies Limited, Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd., Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp., Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd., AGC Solar, Borosil Glass Works Ltd., Guardian Glass, Saint-Gobain, and Sisecam Flat Glass.



On the basis of Type, the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market is studied across AR Coated Solar PV Glass, TCO Coated Solar PV Glass, and Tempered Solar PV Glass.



On the basis of Application, the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market is studied across Non-residential, Residential, and Utility.



On the basis of End User, the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market is studied across Crystalline Silicon PV Modules and Thin Film PV Modules.



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 Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market

2. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market

3. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets for the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market

4. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new products launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market

5. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size of Solar Photovoltaic Glass market in the Global?

2. What are the factors that affect the growth in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market over the forecast period?

3. What is the competitive position in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market?

4. Which are the best product areas to be invested in over the forecast period in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market?

5. What are the opportunities in the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market?

6. What are the modes of entering the Global Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871464/?utm_source=GNW



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One third of the sons and daughters of top businesspeople have been given opportunities to run businesses, and most of them have initiated reforms.

A PwC survey about the second generation of famous businesspeople found that 44 percent of Vietnamese NextGens are actively participating in family businesses; 31 percent are given power to lead businesses; 16 percent want to run subsidiaries belonging to family-run companies; and 74 percent said technological innovation tops the list of agents for change.

Tan Hiep Phat President Tran Quy Thanh and his daughter





According to Hoang Hung from PwC Vietnam, the survey found that Vietnamese NextGens are ready to cope with difficulties and have confidence in their own abilities. They believe they can become the "transformer" that the family businesses need.



Currently, 28 percent of the NextGens in Vietnam are in the posts of enterprise management, of which 16 percent are managing directors.



The Vietnamese NextGens also show a positive sign when committing to accompany the businesses in the next five years, with 27 percent of polled NextGens saying they intend to participate in business activities in the future.

The Vietnamese NextGens also show a positive sign when committing to accompany the businesses in the next five years, with 27 percent of polled NextGens saying they intend to participate in business activities in the future.

Forty one percent of surveyed want to take on a management role by 2025, while 38 percent want to hold the position of CEO.



The survey also found an increase in the number of Stewards, especially for the non-executive director/member of the board of directors (from 3 percent in 2019 to 13 percent in 2025).



The best known Next Gens are Do Quang Vinh, the eldest son of Do Quang Hien, president of T&T Group and SHB Bank; Dang Huynh Uc My, the daugher of the Sugar King Dang Van Thanh; Tran Uyen Phuong, the daughter of Tan Hiep Phat President Tran Quy Thanh; and Nguyen Ngoc Nhat Hanh, the daughter of REE President Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh.



Vinh is the shining successor of T&T Group. In 2015, he went to the US with the task of developing the groups business in the country. Four years later, he came back to Vietnam to get ready for a transfer in T&T Group.



T&T Group gained certain achievements in the last four years in the US. There are two outstanding projects, one on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles and the other with 25 shops for rent in Orange County.



Meanwhile, Thanh of Tan Hiep Phat has been preparing for power transfer by allowing Phuong to manage some business divisions of the group for a few years.



Phuong reportedly came forward and established subsidiaries in the real estate sector with chartered capital of nearly VND20 trillion.



Meanwhile, My is now deputy chair of SBT and president of Thanh Thanh Cong Investment JSC.

Kim Chi

Billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong honoured by Forbes in COVID-19 fight Forbes Asia has recognised Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong as an influential figure who has notably contributed to joint efforts to halt the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Heres a recap of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic for Thursday, April 30, 2020.

More than 3.2 million people worldwide have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Over 230,000 have died.

In the U.K., British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared at his first news conference since being hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications, and vowed to release next week a "comprehensive plan" to reopen the U.K. economy.

In the United States, there have been over 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. More than 60,000 Americans have died. A Northeastern University lab now predicts 100,000 American deaths by the end of the summer. Another 3.8 million workers filed for unemployment benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, with more than 30 million claims in the last 6 weeks. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to order beaches closed after tens of thousands of people flocked to the seashore last weekend.

For the latest live updates, click here.
General Electric Co. said it will close its New Orleans technology center and lay off all 100 employees in its Place St. Charles office, dealing a blow to the city's technology sector amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus.

The news came on the same day that GE announced $2 billion of cost-cutting and sweeping job cuts, including 700 at its power division, as the global pandemic hit revenue and profit in major areas of industrial conglomerate's business.

In a letter to employees at the tech center at 201 St. Charles Avenue, the company said employees would be kept on the payroll until the office officially closes at the end of June. The New Orleans office has had employees from both the aviation and gas power divisions, as well as general corporate employees. GE couldn't immediately provide a breakdown.

"It's not a move we take lightly, but the impact of COVID-19 is being felt globally and GE is not immune to it," said Adam Tucker, a GE spokesperson. "This is a difficult decision, particularly at this time, but we are providing employees with 60 days notice and comprehensive benefits to help during this transition."

The layoffs come as tens of thousands of Louisiana workers have lost jobs in recent weeks as stay-at-home orders aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in the state have closed restaurants, bars and other businesses.

On Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said that he expected to begin a phased reopening of the state May 16, but in recent days business groups and some political leaders have warned that waiting too long could lead to further economic calamity.

Many of the initial layoffs occurred in the tourism and hospitality industry, where empty hotels and a lack of conventions meant no customers for the often lower-wage workers employed in that sector. The closure of the GE office underscores that the jobs of higher-paid workers are also under threat as the economy of New Orleans, as well as most of the U.S., screeches to a halt.

It's also a setback for the city's still nascent technology sector. GE's arrival in New Orleans in 2012 was touted by former Mayor Mitch Landrieu, former Gov. Bobby Jindal and business leaders as a key cog in plans to grow the tech industry and bring big-name companies  along with high-paying jobs  to the New Orleans metro area.

Economic development officials lured what was then GE Capital, the conglomerate's financial arm, with an offer of $10.7 million in grants along with millions more in tax rebates through the state's Quality Jobs program. Announcements touted salaries of $60,000 to $100,000 a year and estimated that the 300 GE jobs would indirectly create 300 more.

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General Electric chooses New Orleans for 300-job tech office Appliance giant General Electric plans to open a corporate office in New Orleans that will provide software development and information techno

At the time, New Orleans was still seeing an influx of post-Katrina arrivals and the city was viewed as a potential up-and-comer in the tech world, with growing companies like online market-research firm Lucid, then known as Federated Sample, and several tech incubators and promotional organizations, like The Idea Village, beginning to generate a national profile. GE offered a stamp of approval from a multinational conglomerate.

Since then, the sector's growth has remained steady, attracting some new firms and jobs  including HP spinoff DXC Technology in 2017  even if it never saw the explosive growth experienced in other tech hubs that many leaders had envisioned.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson said the state agency is reviewing GE's compliance with its obligations under the incentive program.

"By any measure, the GE Digital Solutions Technology Center in New Orleans marked a significant step forward for Louisianas growing software, IT and digital sector," Pierson said. "The companys presence helped establish the Software Engineering Apprenticeship Program at UNO and build essential STEM career skills at schools throughout the area."

Michael Hecht, president and chief executive of economic development agency GNO Inc., was one of a number of officials who lured GE to New Orleans eight years ago. He was hopeful that employees might find jobs at other local tech firms and said the office closure was another sign of the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.

GE New Orleans was known for being a high-productivity office within GE  and GE has been an important part of New Orleanss growing tech scene," said Hecht. "Clearly, the impact of coronavirus is beginning to hit home."

GE still will have a total of about 500 employees in the state of Louisiana, including about 100 at its LM Wind Power unit located on the NASA Michoud campus in New Orleans East. The company said the wind power facility will not be affected by the layoffs.

GE's chief executive, Larry Culp, said Wednesday that the company's revenue in the quarter was down by about 8%, at $20 billion, and he blamed the pandemic for a $1 billion hit to free cash flow, which was negative $2.2 billion.
Opinion Article

30 April 2020

"The death rate in the Navy during Spanish-American War," writes Darrell Huff in his classic, How to Lie with Statistics, "was nine per thousand. For civilians in New York City during the same period, it was sixteen per thousand." The American Government used these statistics to entice young people to join the Navy, proving that, paradoxically, "it was safer to be in the Navy than out of it."

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Photo: Travel Singularity

The argument is, apparently, linear, but the Navy was (and still is) composed mostly of healthy young people, while the civilian population includes infants, the elderly, and the sick, who have a higher mortality rate regardless of where they are. But this information, although methodologically crucial, was omitted from the recruitment campaigns.

The problem with COVID-19 is similar: we are asked to make predictions with limited, fragmented, sensationalized, simplified, inflated, confused, politicized, prejudicial, instrumentalized, contradictory, and poorly aggregated data sets. The most striking example? Each country is calculating the mortality rate with arbitrary and unscientific metrics. To date, the (real) fatality percentage can be anywhere between 0.0001% and 99%, depending on how the (already scarce) data are interpreted. This makes any rational argument impossible, let alone a prediction.

Photo: Travel Singularity

There is a saying in tech: garbage in / garbage out, meaning that, if the original data is garbage, then any consideration and evaluation based on those data will also be garbage . Anyone who has the arrogance to make predictions on COVID-19 based solely on information currently in the public domain is shamelessly lying or has access to data unknown to the rest of the world. Or (and this scenario, in its wicked banality, is even more frightening) he is used to interpreting reality based on fallacies, using a methodology that is not too different from flipping a coin.

So my point of view on the future of travel? I don't have any.

And every (honest) consultant should give the same answer. It is not intellectual nihilism, but, as I do not create a marketing strategy until I am sure of the accuracy of the data I have, I do not feel deontologically (nor ethically) justified in providing guidelines and indications on the future of travel, knowing what I know today about coronavirus. Remember that a prediction is no better than the data sample on which it is based. There are no exceptions. And, without data (or with garbage data like the ones we have), what we are left with are only opinions, sworn enemies of the scientific, rational, and anti-emotional model to which all of us have (or should have) sworn an almost Hippocratic loyalty.

To conclude: the American writer Henry Felsen said that "if cured, a cold passes in just seven days but, if left untreated, it can last up to a week." This is the level of "science" to which most of us are using when invited to the (useless, if not harmful) endless webinars on the subject. The virus, along with its implications on our industry, scares me much less than this suspension of common sense.
Australia's health authorities are confident the country can fight off a potential second wave of coronavirus when restrictions are eased.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged a national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders in mid-May as crucial to lifting some social and economic clamps.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says if outbreaks occur, Australia will have a detailed response to deal with the disease.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly (pictured) says if outbreaks occur, Australia will have a detailed response to deal with the disease

Australia's health authorities are confident the country can fight off a potential second wave of coronavirus (Pictured: Workers being screened at a drive through Mineral Resources testing facility)

'If a second wave does occur, we'll deal with it quickly and we'll respond to it,' he said.

Infection rates have grown overseas after strict lockdown measures were lifted, with Germany the latest example after easing rules last week.

But Mr Morrison is adamant Australia can lift restrictions in a safe way.

'Of course, there will be outbreaks. That is what living with the virus will be like,' he said.

'That is why the protections that we put in place for a COVID-safe Australia are so important.'

Testing, contract tracing and quick, effective responses to outbreaks are considered key benchmarks in edging back towards normal life.

There are 10 million new testing kits set to flood into Australia, giving authorities scope to screen people in a targeted but more widespread way.

The COVIDSafe tracing app has been downloaded by almost three million Australians, putting it on course to achieve an effective take-up rate.

Health authorities are also confident there is capacity within intensive care units to treat outbreaks of the disease.

Professor Kelly said it was likely rules would be eased in the lead-up to May 11, a key date for reviewing bigger restrictions.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged a national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders in mid-May as crucial to lifting some social and economic clamps

'There will be many announcements about changes in the way we'll be living our lives and hopefully getting back to some sort of new normality in living in a COVID-19-safe society,' he said.

Australia's death toll sits at 90 after a 12th Newmarch House resident succumbed to the virus on Wednesday.

More than 5600 of the 6746 people diagnosed with coronavirus nationally have recovered.

The national cabinet will meet on Friday to nut out guidelines for elite and community sport to return as debate continues over the AFL and NRL restarting.

The meeting of state and federal leaders will also look at the expanded testing regime to be conducted with the new kits.
A senior MP who has criticised the Chinese government's handling of the coronavirus has warned a 'pretty sophisticated hacker,' is trying to target him.

Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, sparked a furious response from the Chinese government last week when he accused it of 'tyranny' and 'falsifying' its coronavirus death toll statistics.

In a tweet sent earlier today, the Tonbridge and Malling MP told followers: 'If you receive an email claiming to be from me - please check and do NOT open attachments unless youre sure. A pretty sophisticated hacker is seeking to impersonate me and hack others. Any ideas who it could be?'

Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, warned Twitter followers a 'pretty sophisticated hacker' was seeking to impersonate him

A number of Tory MPs, including Mr Tugendhat, have demanded an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One programme earlier this this week, the British Army veteran said: 'All countries have struggled with data, all countries have struggled with knowing how to respond because this is a new outbreak.

'But the one thing that really marks out the Chinese communist party is not that they didn't have sufficient data but that they deliberately falsified the data.

'This is very different from other countries.'

Mr Tugendhat said his criticism is 'nothing to do with China as a country, it is all to do with tyranny'.

'All communist dictatorships share a similar pattern as we saw in the Soviet Union where they put the survival of the regime over the interests of the people,' he said.

The comment sparked a furious response from Chen Wen, minister and first staff member of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, who hit back and said such accusations are 'dangerous' and driven by 'deep-seated bias' against China.

Mr Tugendhat has previously criticised Chinese company Huawei's potential involvement in building Britain's 5G network, commenting: 'We should be beware of strangers and the gifts they bear.'
You might want to make sure theres not a rat living (or recently dead) in your cars engine.

Why are you still reading? Check your car for a rat, I said. Thats the tip. Rats like it in there, and while they could take up residence in a car engine at any time, anecdotal reports (and mankinds modern if imperfect knowledge of rat behavior) suggest the phenomenon may be occurring more frequently right now.

Three line breaks into this story, it is becoming increasingly clear that the depth of your interest in rats plunges far deeper than basic car maintenance tips. You are a person who seeks to understand rats in a way that rats may not even understand themselves. You want to read the invisible instruction encoded in a rats brain that compels him to abandon the deli dumpster where he has spent the majority of his short life and, all of a sudden, carry a leaf and perhaps some twigs into the engine of your Jetta. OK. Here is more rat information:

What Happens When Rat Meets Engine?

Tuesday was the first time in about a week that Kelsey Snell and her husband had attempted to drive their car. A clue that something was amiss came from the vehicles internal alert system.

It gave us a really weird error message as we were driving away, said Ms. Snell, 36, a congressional correspondent for NPR who lives in Washington.

The second clue was the rat fleeing their driveway.

Ive never seen rats in our driveway before, said Ms. Snell, and then we started driving a little bit further and the error message  an alert about the cars exhaust system  got a little more insistent.
Pfizer and BioNTech Complete Dosing for First Cohort of Phase 1/2 trial of COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates in Germany

By HospiMedica International staff writers

Posted on 30 Apr 2020



Image: Pfizer and BioNTech complete dosing for first cohort of phase 1/2 trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidates in Germany (Photo courtesy of BioNTech SE)

Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY, USA) and BioNTech SE (Mainz, Germany) have announced that the first cohort of BioNTechs Phase 1/2 clinical trial has been dosed. Twelve study participants were dosed with vaccine candidate BNT162 in Germany since dosing began on April 23, 2020.



BioNTech and Pfizer are jointly developing BNT162. During the clinical development stage, BioNTech will provide its partners clinical supply of the vaccine from its GMP-certified mRNA manufacturing facilities in Europe. BioNTech is collaborating with Fosun Pharma to develop BNT162 in China, where the companies expect to conduct trials.



The current trial is the first clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Germany. The dose escalation portion of the Phase 1/2 trial will include approximately 200 healthy subjects between the ages of 18 to 55 and will target a dose range of 1 g to 100 g, aiming to determine the optimal dose for further studies as well as to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine.



The study will also assess the effects of repeated vaccination following a prime injection for the three vaccine candidates that contain uridine containing mRNA (uRNA) or nucleoside modified mRNA (modRNA). A fourth vaccine candidate, which contains self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) will be evaluated after a single dose of vaccine. Subjects with a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease will be included in the second part of the study. Pfizer and BioNTech also plan to initiate trials for BNT162 in the US upon regulatory approval, which is expected shortly.










Boston University is investigating whether students in chemistry and physics classes cheated on quizzes and exams that they are taking online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The university is trying to determine if students have used tutoring service Chegg, and other online resources, to see if they can get test answers while taking them.

The potential cheating scandal is bringing up one particular issue colleges across the country could run into as they deal with their new reality under COVID-19.

The university is trying to determine if students have used tutoring service Chegg, and other online resources, to see if they can get test answers

Chegg is a $14.95-a-month subscription service that offers online tutors that help students with homework

BU officials stress that the same standard and policies they have in classrooms also apply online.

'The conduct code clearly spells out the university's expectations and policies, and all aspects of it remain in effect with the shift to remote learning,' BU spokesman Colin Riley said, the Boston Globe reports. 'The investigation into this particular issue is active and underway.'

It is unknown how officials were informed of the potential cheating.

'The conduct code clearly spells out the university's expectations and policies, and all aspects of it remain in effect with the shift to remote learning,' BU spokesman Colin Riley said

Chemistry professor Binyomin Abrams sent an email to his class on Saturday warning them that he had become aware of students cheating on quizzes.

'We have learned that some of you have used various means, including websites such as Chegg, to get help during the quizzes given remotely,' Abrams wrote. 'Doing so is a clear violation of the academic conduct code.'

The professor shared that the university was working with Chegg to 'identify students who have participated in this cheating, either directly or using Chegg to view solutions to our questions on our quizzes.'

Abrams described the situation as an 'aberration.' He has been conducting classes via video-conference in an empty BU lecture hall.

'My colleagues and I knew the transition to remote teaching would present new challenges,' Abrams said. The professor acknowledged that students were under a lot of pressure and stress since their lives have been upended by the virus.

The school is allowing students to take the class for credit or no credit at all, instead of letter grades, in an attempt to help them adjust.

Chemistry professor Binyomin Abrams sent an email to his class on Saturday warning them that he had become aware of students cheating on quizzes

Faculty still expects students to behave ethically, the professor added.

'Online learning presents challenges in conducting assessments that are not the same as in the classroom,' Abrams said. 'I'll leave it at that.'

Chegg is a $14.95-a-month subscription service that offers online tutors that help students with homework.

Students can send tutors photos asking questions and getting an answer that includes a complete explanation.

Students can send tutors photos asking questions and getting an answer that includes a complete explanation

Spokesman Marc Boxser said Chegg could not comment on any specific investigation. The company has come under fire in the past for helping students cut corners on their work.

'Chegg strongly supports academic integrity and partners with every institution that approaches us as part of their official investigations into these matters,' Boxser said.

He added that the company has not seen a relative increase in honor code issues since the coronavirus pandemic closed American school campuses.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the death of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, describing him as a "powerhouse" of talent.

"Multifaceted, endearing and lively. This was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media," the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

Kapoor was passionate about films and India's progress.

"Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti," Modi said.

Naidu recalled that the talented actor essayed many roles with aplomb and was popular for his romantic films.

"In his passing away, the nation lost a beloved son and film industry lost a gem," Naidu's office tweeted.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the veteran actor was not only a great actor but also a good human being.

"The sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti," Javadekar said in his tweet.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also remembered Kapoor as a wonderful actor, while noting that it has been a terrible week for Indian cinema with the passing away of another legend.

In a tweet, Gandhi said, "This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor."

"A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends and fans all over the world, at this time of grief," he said.

Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also condoled the demise of Kapoor.

"Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul," Kejriwal tweeted.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that Kapoor had endured his illness with dignity and grace.

"Deeply shocked & saddened at the demise of the iconic & versatile film actor #RishiKapoor. A National Film Award winner, he acted in more than 150 films."

"He endured his illness with dignity and grace. My condolences to his family, friends, fans & the entire film fraternity," Banerjee tweeted.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar saID the Indian film industry has lost a versatile and charismatic artist.

"Saddened to know about the sad demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor. Indian film industry has lost a versatile and charismatic actor. My sincere condolences to Kapoor family, Pawar tweeted.

Pawar's daughter and NCP Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule also expressed grief over the untimely demise of Chintu, as Kapoor was fondly called.

She said Kapoor was a highly talented and acclaimed actor and a very fine human being and friend.

"My Deepest Condolences to Neetu, Ranbir, Daboo, Rima, Chimpu and the rest of the Kapoor family. RIP Chintu, you will be missed," Sule said on the micro-blogging site.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said Kapoor's stellar performances will be remembered.

"Shocked by the passing of another legend, and veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor. His way of mesmerising us with his stellar performances will be remembered and missed. Prayers to his family and loved ones. RIP," Yediyurappa tweeted.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu too expressed his condolence.

"Deeply saddened by the demise of wonderful actor and legend Shri #RishiKapoor. The cine world would be poorer by his absence. My sincere condolences to his family and friends," Sriramulu tweeted.

Multilingual film actress and Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh expressed her grief, stating the year 2020 is turning out to be the worst nightmare.

"Woke up to this absolutely devastating news, 2020 is turning out to be the worst nightmare @chintskap #RishiKapoor. Stole our hearts with his performances right from Bobby until now."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday called the veteran actor was the torch-bearer of an illustrious legacy whose contribution to the film industry is unparalleled.

He was not only a good actor, but also a straight forward human being, Thackeray said in a condolence message.

"In his death, we have lost a link to connect two generations of artists. He was the torch-bearer of an illustrious legacy of his family whose contribution to the Indian film industry is unparalleled," Thackeray said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also expressed grief over Kapoor's death, saying a pleasant personality full of life has been lost.

"The actor gave his fans happiness with his performances and carried forward the legacy of Kapoors in the field of cinema," he said.

Pawar said the news of Kapoor's death is shocking and heart-breaking, especially since it comes a day after the demise of another talented actor Irrfan Khan.

"Rishi Kapoor was unwell but he never let his fans know about his pain. He was an artist who remained in constant touch with his fans. He will live through his work in the film industry," he said.

Kapoor, the romantic star of many a Bollywood film who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2018, died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday, his brother Randhir Kapoor said.

He was 67.

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.
Its built on a flu vaccine backbone that has already been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in humans, in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials

Bharat Biotech has announced that a unique intranasal vaccine for Coronavirus CoroFlu is under development. An international collaboration of virologists at the University of WisconsinMadison and the vaccine companies FluGen along with Bharat Biotech has begun the development and testing of a unique vaccine against COVID-19 called CoroFlu.

CoroFlu will build on the backbone of FluGen's flu vaccine candidate known as M2SR. Based on an invention by UWMadison virologists and FluGen co-founders Yoshihiro Kawaoka and Gabriele Neumann, M2SR is a self-limiting version of the influenza virus that induces an immune response against the flu. Kawaokas lab will insert gene sequences from SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, into M2SR so that the new vaccine will also induce immunity against the coronavirus.

Sharing details about CoroFlu far-reaching collaboration Dr.Raches Ella, Head of Business Development, Bharat Biotech said, Bharat Biotech will manufacture the vaccine, conduct clinical trials, and prepare to produce almost 300 million doses of vaccine for global distribution. Under the collaboration agreement, FluGen will transfer its existing manufacturing processes to Bharat Biotech to enable the company to scale up production and produce the vaccine for clinical trials. Raches added, Bharat Biotech has commercialized 16 vaccines, including a vaccine developed against the H1N1 flu that caused the 2009 pandemic.

Refinement of the CoroFlu vaccine concept and testing in laboratory animal models at UWMadison is expected to take three to six months. Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad, India will then begin production scale-up for safety and efficacy testing in humans. CoroFlu could be in human clinical trials by the fall of 2020.

Four Phase I and Phase II clinical trials involving hundreds of subjects have shown the M2SR flu vaccine to be safe and well tolerated. This safety profile, M2SRs ability to induce a strong immune response, and the ability of influenza viruses to carry sequences of other viruses make M2SR an attractive option for rapidly developing CoroFlu as a safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

We are going to modify M2SR by adding part of the coding region for the coronavirus spike protein that the virus uses to latch onto cells and begin infection, says Gabriele Neumann, a senior virologist in Kawaokas lab and co-founder of FluGen. CoroFlu will also express the influenza virus hemagglutinin protein, which is the major influenza virus antigen, so we should get immune responses to both coronavirus and influenza.

M2SR is a unique form of the flu virus. It lacks a gene called M2, which restricts the virus to undergoing only a single round of replication in cells.

The single replication means the virus can enter the cell, but it cant leave, says FluGen co-founder, president and CEO Paul Radspinner. So, in essence it tricks the body into thinking its infected with flu, which triggers a full immune response. But since it cant replicate further, you dont get sick.

CoroFlu, like M2SR, will be delivered intranasally. This route of administration mimics the natural route of infection by coronavirus and influenza and activates several modes of the immune system. Intranasal delivery is more effective at inducing multiple types of immune responses than the intramuscular shots that deliver most flu vaccines.

The Kawaoka group will insert genetic sequences from SARS-CoV-2 into M2SR and then assess CoroFlus safety and efficacy in animal models at UWMadisons Influenza Research Institute. The institute has a high-level biosafety facility designated Biosafety Level 3 Agriculture with the ability to safely handle and study pathogens like highly pathogenic influenza viruses and the novel coronavirus.

M2SR was developed by FluGen and includes technology exclusively licensed through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which manages patents for UWMadison. To confront a global challenge, this is collaborative discovery at its best, says Erik Iverson, CEO of WARF. The partners in this endeavor  University of Wisconsin researchers, a biotech startup, and an international vaccine developer  are moving forward with a sense of urgency and integrity incumbent upon us as scientists and world citizens.

The core mission of Bharat Biotech is to apply innovative technologies in addressing the healthcare concerns of the developing world and to provide them with affordable, high quality vaccines and therapeutics, Raches Ella, expressed. Ninety percent of our vaccines are sold in lower middle-income countries with affordable pricing being core to our business model. We will fervently work toward the successful development of an efficacious COVID-19 vaccine.

THE BIG DIFFERENTIATOR OF COROFLU

Mucosal immunity (derived in the lining of the nose and respiratory tract) is very critical for respiratory illness. CoroFlu is based on the influenza vaccine and will provide immunity to the H2N2 strain of seasonal influenza. Bharat Biotech is confident CoroFlu will be the most effective in the prevention of COVID-19.

Today, infectious diseases not only kill people, but hurt the economy of the country, says Dr. Raches Ella. Of Late, we have more seasonal flu problems in the country which is also getting into pandemic as recent evidence indicates in Delhi, Hyderabad, and other cities. We are attempting to solve both the problems together with a new approach for the first time in the world.
Hong Kong will fly back the first batch of more than 5,000 residents stuck in Pakistan and India on Thursday, and quarantine them at government facilities, as it celebrates a four-day streak of no new Covid-19 infections.

For the sixth time in 10 days, the city on Wednesday recorded no increase in the number of cases, its tally standing still at 1,037. Nineteen more patients, meanwhile, were discharged.

But the Centre of Health Protection was investigating a confirmed overseas infection, according to a spokesman.

It concerned a 32-year-old man who tested positive in Britain, before taking Cathay Pacfic flight CX252 to return to Hong Kong on April 28.

The Hong Kong resident developed a fever on March 20 and was admitted to hospital for treatment between April 10 and 11 in the UK.

Upon arrival in Hong Kong, he was transferred immediately to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan, after declaring his previous illness. He was in a stable condition.

Cathay said through a spokesman that it was following the health authorities prescribed procedures in conducting disinfection of the aircraft, as well as informing staff and and customers who may have come into contact with the infected passenger. It did not reveal how many employees and passengers would be affected or required to go into quarantine.

About 300 Hong Kong residents stranded in Pakistan were scheduled to take a chartered flight back home on Thursday, a spokesman for the Security Bureau said, each passenger covering the HK$6,000 (US$775) cost of their flight.

The Immigration Department earlier revealed 3,200 residents stranded in all parts of India had reached out to them, while another 2,000 were stuck in Pakistan.

A Department of Health spokesman said all returnees from Pakistan would have to quarantine at Chun Yeung Estate, a public housing site turned isolation facility in Fo Tan. A source familiar with the arrangements said that would also apply to any returnees from India.

Story continues

As of Wednesday morning, only 39 of the 1,398 units at the estate were occupied.

Thursdays returnees included people stranded in the Pakistani capital Islamabad and its surrounding areas, as well as those with illnesses and pregnant women. They are the first batch to be repatriated among the 1,600 people caught in lockdown there who Hong Kong immigration officers have managed to contact.

Upon arrival, the 300 will have their saliva tested for Covid-19 at AsiaWorld-Expo, near the airport. They will then be transferred to Chun Yeung Estate, where they will spend 14 days in isolation.

The Security Bureau spokesman said the government had to adopt a phased approach to the repatriations, due to the large number of people requesting assistance and having regard to the quarantine arrangements for the returnees and the capacities for testing and the quarantine and treatment facilities.

No immigration officers will fly to Pakistan to offer assistance, the Post has learned, unlike in previous missions during which officers were deployed to help those stranded in Japan and mainland China, and no preliminary health checks will be performed before the travellers board.

Zain Ali, an 18-year-old student who was expected to board the flight, said he expected life would remain difficult. A candidate of this years Diploma of Secondary Education exams, the 14-day quarantine meant he would still miss out on the university entrance test.

A total of 34 candidates did not complete the English-language exam on Wednesday, with 26 absent due to health concerns and eight others leaving prematurely after feeling unwell.

A flight carrying about 170 Hong Kong residents who made their own arrangements to return from Pakistan via Doha landed on Wednesday afternoon. The bureau said the travellers would be subject to the same quarantine requirements as the others.

In addition, the Security Bureau spokesman said, the Immigration Department had recently contacted 3,100 of the Hong Kong residents stranded in India and was arranging their return.

But a source familiar with the arrangements said chartered rescue flights from India would not be arranged this week.

Mohan Chugani, president of the India Association Hong Kong, said the rescue mission there was trickier because of a much more stringent lockdown than Pakistans, with each state and territory imposing their own rules.

He has also advised the government to opt for isolation at quarantine centres as opposed to home quarantine, so that those returning would not risk being accused of bringing back the virus.

Additional reporting by Gary Cheung

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Twenty-three year old Amir Sohail wants to hug his son and get a good nights sleep on his charpai in the courtyard of his house in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. He is just waiting for the promised bus to take him there. After a nearly 40-day ordeal of skimming for food, Sohail, a migrant worker, is tired and all his hopes are now depended on the bus the government has said will ferry him home from Surat in Gujarat where he has been stranded due to the lockdown. I just want to go home now. We have been struggling here. There is hardly any food. I keep thinking if I should have tried to return earlier like the others. But I am no good to my family if dead. I just hope I can return to my son. I want to hug him, Sohail, who stitched clothes at a factory before the lockdown told PTI on the phone. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday issued a fresh set of guidelines to let migrant workers, students, tourists and pilgrims stranded in different parts of the country to get back home.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

The inter-state movement of these stranded people will be facilitated by the state/UT governments by road only, the order stated. Anyone willing to be transported back home will have to be medically screened at the source as well as destination and will be kept in a home or institutional quarantine on arrival, the home ministry guidelines said.

Suman who works as a labourer in Nagpur, Maharashtra had decided to walk back to his home in Meghnagar, Madhya Pradesh but was restrained by fellow workers after they got to know that some like them had been detained by the police. I was ready to walk it. I was tired of waiting for food and basic necessities. When we earned, whatever little we did, we lived on our own terms. Here, we have to beg for everything. Now, when the buses come, I want to be the first to get on it. While I have been here for seven months, never have I longed for home like this, he said.

Click here for the latest updates from the coronavirus outbreak

This uncertainty of the lockdown has made me long for the safety of my house.

The first thing I would do when I get home is eat food cooked by my mother, the 22-year-old said.

While the protocols for ferrying these migrants will be chalked out in the next couple of days, workers stranded in distant lands are restless and want to ensure that their names feature on the lists of those granted access to the buses. I was told we need a pass for it. Where will I get the pass? Can you tell me please. I dont want to miss this opportunity to go home, said 34-year-old Ramnath, a labourer from Bihars Muzaffarpur who is stuck in Mangalore with 21 other migrant workers since the lockdown.

Ramnath, who has two children back home, never again wants to come back if he gets work in his home state.

The MHA in its order has stated that state governments need to coordinate with each other to facilitate the movement of the migrant workers. It is not clear how that will be achieved, but migrants from different parts of the country hope that their respective chief ministers wont let them down. We saw on TV that our CMs will help us get back. I hope they do something quickly. I am ready to go however they take me, on a bus, train or car. I just want to leave. There is no food and no money, said 23-year old Avinash Kumar from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh who works as a labourer in Nagpur. Others like him -- Ramashankar and Guddu stuck in Surat, Urmila Devi from Lakhisarai stranded in Faridabad, Anita Devi in Gurgaon -- are all waiting for the buses to take them home to their loved ones.
Berlin-based Nigerian artist Emmanuel Eni (aka Blackman in European kitchen) is one of the worlds most outstanding contemporary artists. Recently, he was listed in Forbes as one of the most famous and popular artists in 2020. Eni, who is famous for his fearless, soul-searching, philosophical art is described as an iconoclast of uncommon proportion. He is writer and performer of Blackman in European kitchen, creator of Basic Metric Scale For Art Products (BMSFAP) as represented in his Death of the Curator drama. The inventor of Light Paintings art speaks about his works and how he is creatively utilising his time in the studio during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown. Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme reports.



Artist as a philosopher

An artist ability to predict the future is a function of an inbuilt system where art works evoke the thoughts and coherence of things to come. The harder part is the philosophical laydown depicting the essence of artistic clairvoyance without necessarily relating the characteristics of such, as time always varies. Nonetheless, the table turns like in relation to the account of time its self. As at now it is most challenging, almost irrelevant to create, as emotions and happenings need more than spontaneous outbursts, to carefully understand the machinery of crises.

Then there is a bank that has been built by the artist as a seer, for example through my works with titles like The burning Earth I saw, Hope-fully and The Queen of loneliness and the sun all sculptures and Black Lisas jubilation under light in African beauty, among my New Light Paintings Art in 2020.

Studio activities

You cannot talk about life without talking about war. Life is incomplete without conflicts, pains, sicknesses and death. As I talk to you now, my studio is full of a thousand sculptures and a million notes in drawings on paper starched in giant wooden boxes and a hundred paintings. As my works and installations adorn several cities and countries, it has taken almost 30 years for Forbes and IMDB to rate me amongst the best and most popular artists in the world.

That is why art survives when all things fail.

Creating art in these trying times like other occupation is with great constrains and strains. Also, the fact that when countries unite in ideology like in European Union, with only trade and tax as aim, failing during war or plague make things difficult and almost impossible to run.

In the case of Europe, most member countries at early stages of the pandemic forgot the European alliance while many forgot their own folks.

It is hard to make art with such a reality. There were talks by European and western governments that the lives of the old be sacrificed for that of the young as medical equipment like masks, ventilators as advised were meant to be forfeited by the old in preference for younger citizens. In other words, the old can die in place of the younger generation because of inadequacy of health materials.

So, it was much of a twisted concept, non-logic and reasoning as any can be. At lockdown, people are still expected to go to work here in Germany, not only essential services. They are expected to pay their rents, health insurances, essentials services, water, light and all the 1001 taxes at this time.

Effect of lockdown on your art

I have been working on the composition, drawings, technical analyses and model sculpture for my new 2000 kilogram multiple- figure bronze composition, of a daring universal title- theme, that I want to cast and present this year in major museums of the world. I am also delving into the compilations and finishing the signing of my approximately 1 million paper works done over twenty eight years, with poetry writing and new philosophical literature.

Also, the lock down has allowed me to reflect all night by searching for the hidden meanings of a troubled and changing world, helping me to spiritually regenerate to activate unknown facets of my creative ability, like to produce this meaningful 2000 kilo bronze- piece, which will be a major gift in all terms to the art world. And for the creative artist, a piece encompassing beauty with its importance, among all recorded existing art, from the beginning of time.

The lockdown, which affected arts community and made material sourcing very difficult, was done individually with every European country closing its boarders separately without unanimous consultation or a united reaction. I was so disappointed and heart broken and I kept pondering on the question: Of what use is the EU?

Alas at night and day, citizens pay for every drop of water, every grain of rice, piece of bread, every form of artificial light, every form of warmth, every form of pleasure and fire.

Western powers can connive, betray and scam not minding their citizens when they want to. For example, they can form amongst themselves another order to gain total control.

Creating of artworks now is under reservation to save my energy from creating negative art because I have experienced that under a states power that is based solely on profit, gain and taxes. But an opponent like COVID- 19 is indomitable as the true cures cannot be found.

In the studio today, Im stretching canvases, scaling frames and amateurs for sculptures and installations. In the evenings and nights I am writing texts and poetry, accessing and compiling them. Yes, I am signing hundred thousands of paper works, propounding on the basic metric scale for art products that I developed.

As an artist, the lockdown has assured me of my old knowledge  that when everything fails, art succeeds. Re-learning from the public that ask at all times, about the kind of art Im creating. The people ask because they search for healing and reassurance at this trying time.



New Light paintings

Which painting can light the night and bring sight to the dark? Who can see outer image from inside?

New Light Paintings art is not stained glass and not lithography. LightPainting is light painting art discovered and patented with Universal Sole patent awarded to me for this technique encompassing all works rendered and described as LightPaintings and drawing technique.

The style described has another material and technique different from all other paintings both in colours, materials and the canvas. I described it as making a perfect picture that allows the ultimate freedom to play in the discovery of hidden aspects of pictorial composition and its reflection of the outermost and innermost feeling.

Light Paintings art reveals what the light says in pictures when they are in the dark. It shows the kindest and visually most favourable images behind vivid pictures and strong themes.

In my Light Paintings, the source is its drawing and form. It is art that arises from the neutrality of their surface colour and reveal vibrant life behind neutral pictorial reference frames. Since 12 years, I have experimented and discovered Light Paintings art, which prys into the innate nature of my paintings, playing down aggressiveness of primary and secondary colours within the evocative genre of every particular work. Thus showing the soul of the colour and painting as the inner light surpasses the light outside of it. In my development and assessment of material durability, Light Paintings has been able to remove the memory of matter. In combine use of colour pigment and canvas and types of materials in conventional paintings, it develops multiple memories during ageing, making paintings wear down rapidly over prolonged time.

The special canvas and colour pigments used in making Light Paintings are combined to seal the memory of materials and enhance the life of the painting. It enables a painting in New Light Paintings art method to be folded and rolled without damage to the materials. My Light Paintings expand and contract to climate, weather, time and light. Like a healer, it diagnoses through vision of sight of the inner and outer self.

The Light Paintings evoke very happy surprising feelings, reserving the satisfaction of full-breed life behind delicacy of colours and light for the viewer, in the transparency of its pictures. They welcome the Audience with a gentle and bright fascination

***

Source: The Nation
L'APPART AIR FOOD was born in Los Angeles, last September 2019. Marc and Chef Thierry, French entrepreneurs invested whatever they could to make this new restaurant a real success. The 2 best friends with the same culinary vision, also wanted to live the American dream.

L'Appart Air Food is the trip to French gastronomy with a pleasant itinerary towards its own French-American fusion signature. And, when you get their onion soup, their Escargots de Bourgogne, homemade Snails stuffed with garlic parsley butter and bread crumble, you definitely say Yes. L'Appart Air Food also reveals its special "Boeuf Bourguignon", Burgundy Beef cooked for 6 hours in a red wine sauce and carrots cream, served with gnocchi. The fresh fish lovers will appreciate the "Fish of the Day" such as Sired Salmon marinated with beets topped with yuzu pearls, served with eggplant caviar cream and roasted asparagus.

L'Appart is the place where you evade to just relax and fly.

Then, came COVID-19 with its collateral lockdown.

"It was like slamming your restaurant's door in your own face. You don't want to let your baby die," said Marc. Any entrepreneur knows what it means and what it costs. So, L'Appart took its responsibility to implement a drastic sanitary plan to keep their community safe and healthy.

And, they started a special takeout and delivery menu.

However, the second step to leadership confirmation was the current one : launching L'APPART RELIEF FUND to raise funds to get more business visibility during some days, some weeks.

Marc said : "we believe our community deserves to enjoy our Culinary vision : fine food passion and pleasure of senses. Today, it's about our community and us, to send the most positive message to everyone to say "Yes, keep on dreaming, keep on serving your community. We believe in your local business, in your entrepreneurship journey"."

Anyone can support and donate on the DALENDO's crowdfunding platform through their secured project page.
A coalition of Michigan renters groups are calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to suspend rent payments for tenants across the state, as the coronavirus pandemic breaks open the financial wounds of vulnerable residents.

Michigan should waive the damn rent if it wants to avoid mass evictions, said Tristan Taylor, an organizer with Detroit Renter City, which is part of the coalition. The coalition doesnt have a cost estimate on how much the move would cost landlords or the state.

The groups  which are from Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Grand Rapids  are circulating an informal, online petition to raise support and say they have collected more than 1,000 signatures so far. Besides rent suspensions, theyre also calling on state orders to be extended that bar evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic.

A spokesperson for the governors office couldnt be reached for comment.

Executive Order 2020-28 forces communities to restore water service to occupied homes, while Executive Order 2020-54 bans evictions.

They sent their requests to Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court Bridget Mary McCormack. The coalition says it hasnt heard back yet, Taylor said.

"We're at a stage where, we're turning to the state and saying, 'What are you going to do?'" said Casey Jung, organizer with No Rent Michigan, also part of the coalition. "And if they don't do anything, they're going to have to answer for it in a really big way."

Rent suspensions could come in a variety of forms, Taylor said, including the state partially or fully reimbursing landlords. But however it happens, the payments should be forgiven  not delayed  he said.

Taylor argues that governments have found money to help businesses during the pandemic and should be able to find money for rent relief, too.

"Everyone would always ask Bernie Sanders, 'Where are you going to get the money to pay for Medicare for All?' But when these big companies needed money, they just found it. There was no question about where they were going to get it from," Taylor said. "If we only had the will to take care of normal people."

More than 1.2 million Michiganders filed for unemployment between March 15 and April 25. A chunk of those people havent received pay yet, and are having to decide whether to buy food or pay their rent, Jung said.

"Renters are on the lowest rung. They're the last to be thought about and they have the fewest protections," Jung said. "We're not responsible for paying the mortgages of our landlords."

As of Wednesday, April 29, Michigan had 40,399 confirmed cases of COVID-19, leading to 3,670 deaths.

No Rent Michigan started in March, with organizers considering what a rent strike would look like in Michigan during the pandemic. Theyre not calling for people to stop paying their rent, yet, Jung said.

A rent strike is a dangerous thing to do on your own without structure, without organizing behind it, Jung 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 30: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

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A Wayne County parole absconder and his girlfriend are being held on numerous felony charges in connection with a shooting that took place in Warren last week during a robbery set up through social media, according to police and prosecutors.

Daniel Wargo, 21, of Lincoln Park, and his 24-year-old girlfriend Summer Desjardin, of Greenwood, were arraigned Wednesday morning in 37th District Court.

Judge John Chmura set bond at $1 million for Wargo and $250,000 for Desjardin  both cash or surety only  and the two were remanded to the Macomb County Jail.

According to a news release, Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Dean Alan authorized charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, assault with intent to murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of felony firearm for Wargo.

Desjardin is charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and felony firearm.

Warren police said the incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday in the 2000 block of Jeannie Court, in the area of Nine Mile and Dequindre roads.

A 22-year-old man had arranged over social media for Desjardin to come to his house. When she arrived, she was accompanied by a masked gunman who announced a robbery. After words were exchanged, Wargo allegedly shot the victim in the stomach, and the couple fled in a Chevrolet Cavalier.

Police said the victim currently is reported to be in stable condition at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Detectives were able to determine the identity of the woman via social media and identified her boyfriend from her social media page. They were able to determine her phone number and tracked the phone to Wayne.

The Special Operations Unit responded to Wayne in pursuit of the suspects. Both were found inside the Cavalier on Monday afternoon.

As officers surrounded the vehicle, Wargo made an attempt to pull his gun out, according to police Lt. John Barnes.

(Wargo) was reaching for a revolver, Barnes said, adding the officers struck the suspect in an attempt to dislodge the weapon from him.

Undisclosed stolen goods were recovered from the car, police said.

According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Wargo absconded from parole on March 19. He had served time in prison for second-degree home invasion, larceny from a building, and weapons convictions in Wayne County.

MDOC records show at the time of his conviction in 2018, he had been granted status under the Holmes Youthful Training Act (HYTA), which gives offenders ages 17-23 a chance to keep criminal offenses off their records. His HYTA status was revoked when he was convicted on new charges in Wayne County.

Both are due for probable cause conferences on May 12 and preliminary examinations on May 19, police said.

The malls of Macomb County remain closed, site of little activity

All hands on deck: What was the orthepedic floor is now COVID-19 unit

One suspect found hiding in tree after Detroit-to-Clinton Twp. chase
Mumbai, April 30 : Covid-19 continued its deadly march in Maharashtra with 27 new deaths and 583 new cases, taking the state's tally to above 10,000, health officials said here on Thursday.

While the toll has risen to 459, the total number of patients from 9,915 to 10,498.

Of the total 32 deaths on Thursday, 20 were recorded in Mumbai, taking its toll to 290 and the number of Covid-19 positive patients in the city shot up from to 7,061, with the 417 new cases.

Pune recorded 3 fresh deaths, Thane 2 , and Raigad and Nagpur one each - the latter which recorded only its second death in over a fortnight.

The dead included 19 men and 8 women, and more than 80 percent of them suffered from other serious ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, heart problems and asthma.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (Thane Division) continued to lead way ahead with 313 Covid-19 deaths and 8,244 patients, followed by Pune Division follows at a distant second slot with 96 deaths and 1,379 patients.

The next area of concern is Nashik Division with 27 deaths and 315 positive cases, followed by Nagpur's 143 patients and 2 deaths, and Aurangabad Division with 150 patients and 7 deaths.

On the positive side, 180 fully cured patients returned home on Thursday, taking the number of those discharged to 1,773.

Following the Centre's directives, the state government on Thursday issued guidelines on movement of stranded migrants within and outside the state.

However, any person/group entering the state would be shunted to compulsory 14 days' quarantine, all buses/vehicles must be sanitised before/after travel with strict physical distancing norms to be followed.

A high-level three-member panel, comprising Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Kareer, Principal Secretary Idzes Kundan and State Disaster Management Director Abhay Yawalkar, will oversee the procedures.

Any such movement would be subject to mutual agreement with the states/Union Territories concerned with a compulsory authorisation letter to be issued for all incoming and outgoing migrants and their vehicles, and a mandatory medical check-up.

Meanwhile, the number of people in home quarantine shot up from 162,860 to 168,266, while those in institutional quarantine decreased from 10,813 to 10,695, and the state's containment zones increased from 723 to 733.

As many as 10,092 surveillance squads have fanned out to survey a population of nearly 4.21 million around the state.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
NEW HAVEN  Police have identified the man stabbed and killed on Congress Avenue earlier this week.

Secundino Ramirez, 29, was fatally wounded following an altercation on Congress Avenue at Cedar Street just after midnight on Tuesday, Capt. Anthony Duff said in a release.

Ramirez was most recently residing in West Haven, Duff said, but lived in New Haven prior to that.

Officers responded at approximately 12:01 a.m. Tuesday to a reported stabbing on Congress Avenue near its intersection with Cedar Street and adjacent to a medical building, police said in a prior release.

A man, now identified as Ramirez, was found wounded and transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officers learned there had been a dispute and physical altercation between two men prior to one man stabbing the other and fleeing on foot, police said.

Police said the crime scene included sections of Congress Avenue, Cedar Street, and Gilbert Street.

Ramirezs death is the third homicide in the city to date in 2020, police said.

The second homicide of the year was the death of 24 year old on March 25. Dashown Myers, 18, was the citys first homicide victim of the year; he died on February 23. Nathaniel Henry, 24, was the second homicide victim of 2020; he died on March 25.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304 or text NHPD and a message to 274637, officials said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
The shops are open and families cycle along in the sunny spring weather in the Netherlands, which has opted for what it calls an "intelligent lockdown" to curb the coronavirus pandemic. In contrast to most other European countries where people are virtually housebound, the Dutch authorities have merely advised people to stay home and to keep 1.5 metres (five feet) of social distance. While restaurants, bars, museums and its infamous sex clubs remain shut, and the famed cannabis 'coffee shops' are open for takeaway only, the outdoors-loving Dutch are otherwise allowed to leave home when they want. Schools meanwhile start to reopen from May 11. "My friend in Belgium has to stay at home and is only allowed to go out to walk her dog in the street. I mean, come on, be serious," says Bianca Kragten, who runs a bike shop in The Hague. Cheerfully ignoring the absence of the tourists who would normally be a major part of her business, Kragten hires out bikes in front of the shop, which she has decorated with little flags to "cheer up" people. "It was total panic for our business in the first few weeks. Then we realised that we were among the lucky ones who were allowed to remain open," she said. - 'Difficult to stay home' - Her neighbour, bookstore owner Marijn de Koeijer, agreed. "I think it would be very difficult to stay at home all day. I'm very happy with the opportunities we have, even if they are limited," he said among his bookshelves a few minutes walk from the central railway station in The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government. The government itself has won the "support of the population" with its measures as they are "easier to defend and explain to the people", said de Koeijer. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte -- who came up with the phrase "intelligent lockdown" -- has been clear on the policy. "We don't work like that in the Netherlands, where the government says 'you have to do this, you have to do that," Rutte told a press conference at the end of March. The authorities have admonished the public when the country's beaches have become too crowded, but while police have closed car parks to stop crowds flocking there at the weekends, they remain open. The Dutch position -- very similar to Sweden's -- also reflects a wider philosophical split in both Europe and the world on how to balance the need to curb the disease against the catastrophic economic damage caused by harsh lockdowns. Rutte, for example, has previously said that it was important to build "herd immunity" and that much of the Dutch population would get the disease -- a controversial concept that appeared to have been backed by the British government at one stage. Dutch policy has not always gone down well with its neighbours though, with Belgium -- one of the worst affected countries -- initially grumbling that the Netherlands was not strict enough. - 'Convince the population' - But the Dutch believe they have made the right choice compared to countries like Italy, Spain, France and Belgium as the lockdowns there drag on and governments struggle to work out how to ease the restrictions. So far, compared with the very heavy death toll and high number of infected in these countries, the Dutch approach seems to be working, with 4,711 lives lost and 38,802 cases reported for a population of just over 17 million. "Governments need to convince the population that these are good measures," said Frits Rosendaal, a professor of clinical epidemiology at Leiden University. The number of coronavirus patients currently in hospital is falling, which shows the Dutch approach "has absolutely had an effect" and that its decision to observe less strict measures than other European countries was "responsible -- medically and economically," Rosendaal said. "The two aren't exclusive. You can't have a healthy economy if half the population is in hospital." At his bookstore, Marijn de Koeijer says business is now down by about half from normal, whereas at the start of the coronavirus crisis it was down by about 70 to 80 precent. "Every book we sell counts," he says. In contrast to most other European countries where people are virtually housebound, the Dutch authorities have merely advised people to stay home and to keep 1.5 metres (five feet) of social distance
Andrea Circle Bear, the first female federal prisoner to die of COVID-19, was on a ventilator when she gave birth.

The recent death in federal custody from COVID-19 of a 30-year-old woman who had recently given birth has sparked outrage from politicians, justice monitoring groups and civil liberties organisations, with some calling for an investigation into how authorities handled the vulnerable prisoner during the pandemic.

Andrea Circle Bear, 30, of South Dakota, died on Tuesday while in federal custody in Texas, about a month after she was hospitalised while serving a 26-month sentence for maintaining a drug-involved premises. She had given birth just weeks ago while on a ventilator.

Circle Bear is the first known woman to die in federal custody in the United States since the outbreak began. Authorities have reported 30 other federal prisoner deaths from COVID-19 since the outbreak first reached the US. More than 1,500 inmates and 343 employees have been infected, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Prisoner advocates say Circle Bears death underlines the need to reduce the federal prison population in light of the pandemic, which has killed more than 60,000 in the US.

Measures already taken by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which oversees the BOP, have come too late and have lacked clarity over who qualifies for early release and home confinement, critics say.

Kevin Ring, the president of FAMM, a criminal justice advocacy group, called Circle Bears death a national disgrace and called for an investigation into the authorities handling of the high-risk prisoner.

FAMM calls for an investigation into the death of Andrea Circle Bear who died of COVID-19 in Federal Bureau of Prisons custody | FAMM https://t.co/9sYbd7H45J  Kevin Ring (@KevinARing) April 29, 2020

Not every prison death is avoidable, but Andrea Circle Bears certainly seems to have been  she simply should not have been in a federal prison under these circumstances, Ring said in a statement.

In fact, nothing better demonstrates our mindless addiction to punishment more than the fact that, in the midst of a global pandemic, our government moved a 30-year-old, COVID-vulnerable pregnant woman not to a hospital or to her home, but to a federal prison.

Death in custody

Circle Bear pleaded guilty in January to maintaining a drug-involved premises for distributing methamphetamine on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The case stemmed from a confidential informant twice purchasing meth from Circle Bear at the location, the Rapid City Journal reported.





The pregnant Circle Bear was transferred from a local jail in South Dakota to FMC Carswell, a federal prison medical facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 20.

At the federal facility, she was quarantined as part of the Bureau of Prisons policy.

On March 28, she was taken to a local hospital for potential concerns regarding her pregnancy but was discharged from the hospital the same day and brought back to the prison, according to a BOP statement.

Three days later, prison medical staff members decided she should be brought back to the hospital after she developed a fever, dry cough and other symptoms. Circle Bear was put on a ventilator on March 31, the same day she arrived at the hospital. Her baby was born the next day by caesarian section, officials said.

The new mother tested positive for COVID-19 on April 4.

Unclear guidance

While Circle Bears pregnancy made her high risk if she contracted the virus, it was unclear if she would have qualified for home confinement or expedited release, as outlined by BOP and DOJ as part of measures to stop the spread of the virus.

Attorney General William Barr in late March ordered the BOP to begin working to release non-violent federal inmates into home confinement if they met certain criteria, including increased medical vulnerability.

An April 3 memo expanded the pool of those considered eligible, although there has since been confusion over who qualifies under the guidelines.

Andrea Circle Bear should be alive. Holding her newborn baby in her arms. Instead, she died in prison from #COVID19. Every day @OfficialFBOP refuses to act puts lives in danger #decarceratenow #sayhername #restinpower https://t.co/6geNwuKotJ  Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) April 29, 2020

More recently, on April 22, DOJ issued a memo saying they were prioritising the release of prisoners who have served at least half of their sentences, or who have 18 months or less left and have served 25 percent of their sentences.

Circle Bear was already on a ventilator by the time the April 3 memo was issued.

In a tweet, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called for more at-risk prisoners to be released.

Andrea Circle Bear should be alive. Holding her newborn baby in her arms, she said. Instead she died in prison from #COVID19. Every day @OfficialFBOP refuses to act puts lives in danger.

Andrea Circle Bear delivered her baby while on a ventilator due to COVID-19 and died 4 weeks later. She shouldnt have been in prison in the first place, let alone 1,000 miles from home. The cruelty of the federal prison system is staggering & breathtaking https://t.co/gCAMN4hpTl  Udi Ofer (@UdiACLU) April 29, 2020

Udi Ofer, the director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Justice Division, in a tweet, echoed that sentiment.

She shouldnt have been in prison in the first place, let alone 1,000 miles from home, he wrote. The cruelty of the federal prison system is staggering & breathtaking.
When shoppers return to their local Simon mall or outlet, they'll likely find food courts with less seating, directional signs and dividers to control the flow of foot traffic, and free temperature testing via infrared thermometers.

The safety protocols are outlined in a comprehensive guide that Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, the nation's largest owner and operator of shopping malls, published on its website after the document leaked to media outlets Tuesday.

The document offers the first look at how retailers and malls could operate in the era of the novel coronavirus. States are beginning to reboot their economies after shuttering nonessential businesses and implementing shelter-in-place orders.

New York & Company is the latest retailer to exit Circle Centre, which over the course of the last year has lost stores like Charlotte Rouse, Payless ShoeSource and several restaurant tenants.

But it remains to be seen whether mall retailers will reopen as well.

How soon could mall stores return?

Initially, Simon plans to reopen 49 properties in Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana and Missouri. The reopenings are slated to take place from Friday and Monday. In Indiana, Simon's 10 properties could reopen on Saturday.

Simon closed all of its properties last month as states grappled with coronavirus outbreaks.

If properties open this weekend, it's unclear how many stores customers could visit.

A sign on Forever 21, with an optimistic reopen date, on the day of the temporary closure of Circle Center Mall amid fears over coronavirus and COVID-19, Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

For example, Indiana-based Vera Bradley said it was not reopening its store at the Fashion Mall at Keystone in Indianapolis if the shopping mall opens on Saturday. But the company is assessing all retail locations to determine whats best for each store.

Ongoing discussions about the reopening of businesses in several states do not mean that Vera Bradley will reopen its stores right away, said Holly Ryan, a spokeswoman for the company.

"As in all decisions, we try to weigh what is best for the physical and financial health of our associates and financial well-being of our Company," Ryan said.

To Vera Bradley, this means assessing the local status of the pandemic, seeking guidance from government officials and talking to mall owners and other retailers.

Story continues

The company also plans to measure community sentiment, evaluate its own operational readiness to reopen, estimate the financial impact and talk to its associates about returning to work, she added.

The Gap Inc., the parent company of Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic, said it has no plans to open any of its U.S. stores this weekend.

When asked whether it planned to reopen stores at Simon properties in Indiana on Saturday, a spokesperson for Macy's Inc. said the company looks forward to reopening its department stores, but did not say when that would occur.

"As we plan to reopen, we are looking at a number of factors including state and local government ordinances," the spokesperson said. "We anticipate that not all stores will reopen at once, with openings staggered based on geographic recoveries."

On Thursday, Macy's said it would reopen some stores next week in states where coronavirus restrictions have been eased.

Safety protocols for shoppers and workers

While Simon's plans are subject to change, the company's memo, signed by malls president and chief administrative officer John Rulli, says it plans to reopen as quickly and as safely as possible when allowed.

The reopening memo includes a page of key COVID-19 guidelines for tenants, a 10-page document of exposure-mitigation protocols and a separate 47-page document with examples of signs for shoppers and employees.

The company said its protocols have been reviewed and approved by epidemiological and environmental health and safety experts.

Other protocols include limiting store hours to allow for the overnight cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting of high touchpoint areas. Business hours will be limited to 11 a.m to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Areas targeted for cleaning include restrooms, seating areas, escalator and stair handrails, trash bins, doorknobs and handles, directories, food court tables and chairs. Retail tenants are encouraged to appropriately clean their spaces.

A lone person walks with a mask about an hour before the temporary closure of Circle Center Mall, amid fears over coronavirus and COVID-19, Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

All shoppers will be encouraged to wear masks or facial coverings and frequently wash and sanitize their hands. Simon also said it plans to make sanitizing stations available to shoppers. Free masks would be available upon request.

When paying with a credit or debit card, customers should use credit card machines without handing the card to a store employee, according to Simon protocols. Employees and customers should maintain at least 6 feet of separation during each transaction or be separated by a clear barrier.

Employees also should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer after each transaction. Retail tenants also should provide masks, facial coverings and sanitizing products to their employees.

Children's play areas will be temporarily closed. In bathrooms, every other urinal and sink will be taped off to encourage social distancing.

No reusable trays, utensils or cups will be allowed in food courts. Regular public announcements will be made to remind shoppers to maintain a safe distance from each other.

A janitor walks by a sign on Aeropostale about an hour before the temporary closure of Circle Centre Mall, amid fears over the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

As for Simon's employees, contractors and vendors, they'll be required to screen themselves at home before going to work. Anyone with a temperature exceeding 100.4 degrees or exhibiting flulike symptoms will be required to stay home.

Employees exposed to COVID-19 will be required to quarantine at home until they are symptom free for at 72 hours and satisfy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements prior to returning to work.

When does Simon plan to reopen stores?

Friday, May 1

Alaska

Anchorage 5th Ave

Arkansas

McCain

Georgia

Calhoun Outlet Marketplace

Lenox Square

Mall of Georgia/Village Shops

North Georgia Premium Outlets

Phipps Plaza

Sugarloaf Mills

Town Center at Cobb

Mississippi

Gulfport Premium Outlets

Oklahoma

Penn Square Mall

Woodland Hills Mall

South Carolina

Gaffney Outlet Marketplace

Haywood

Tennessee

West Town Mall

Texas

Allen Premium Outlets

Barton Creek

Broadway Square

Cielo Vista

Firewheel Town Center

Grande Prairie Premium Outlets

Grapevine Mills

Houston Galleria

Houston Premium Outlets

Ingram Park Mall

Katy Mills

La Plaza Mall

Lakeline Mall

Midland Park Mall

North East Mall

Rio Grande Valley PO

Round Rock Premium Outlets

San Marcos Premium Outlets

Shops at Clearfork

The Domain

University Park Village

Saturday, May 2

Indiana

Castleton Square

Circle Centre Mall

College Mall

Fashion Mall at Keystone

Greenwood Park Mall

Hamilton Town Center

Indiana Premium Outlets

Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets

Tippecanoe Mall

University Park Mall

Monday, May 4

Missouri

Battlefield Mall

St. Louis Premium Outlets

Osage Outlet Marketplace

Contact IndyStar reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com or call 317-617-2690. Follow her on Twitter: @allyburris.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Coronavirus: Here's how shopping malls could change when they reopen
As you enjoy crisp English apples over the coming months, local blueberries or tomatoes from Kent, give thanks to bees and beekeepers. Without their extraordinary  and largely unnoticed  efforts, supplies of fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts would be at risk due to measures to slow the coronavirus pandemic.

Its a side effect of the crisis few of us consider. We know bees are vital to pollinate crops; an estimated one-third of the food we eat depends on it. But whats not widely appreciated is the crucial role beekeepers and commercial pollinators play in food production around the world.

There are rarely sufficient bees in the environment to pollinate commercial quantities of crops, so nature needs a helping hand.

In California, almond growers truck in most of the bees in the US to pollinate their crops each spring. And in the UK, up to 30,000 bee colonies, each containing 30,000 insects, are transported to fruit and vegetable growers across the nation to do the job.

Just as humans went into coronavirus-induced lockdown, bees emerged from winter hibernation ready to search for nectar. This window of opportunity to pollinate crops now faces unprecedented challenges

In turn, beekeepers import queens and other bees each spring to replenish their colonies, which naturally decline over winter. These imports are also vital because some crops need pollinating early in the year, before home-grown colonies have had a chance to breed to a sufficiently large size.

The US and Canada import their queens from as far afield as Western Australia and New Zealand, while the UK sources mostly from southern Europe. Normally, bee producers simply pack the insects securely and send them by air to beekeepers around the world who need them. But lockdowns, quarantine requirements, border closures and other restrictions have disrupted this delicately balanced interplay between farmers, beekeepers and bees, according to experts.

In the UK and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, the beekeeping season is now in full swing. Just as humans went into coronavirus-induced lockdown, bees emerged from winter hibernation ready to search for nectar to feed their young. This window of opportunity to pollinate crops has opened amid unprecedented challenges  and only for a short time.

Professor Norberto Garcia, an expert from Apimondia, the international federation of beekeepers, says tending and transporting bees is regarded as essential, so is still legal under lockdown restrictions in most parts of the world, including the UK. But its anything but business as usual.

The situation is most severe in Canada, where bee imports from the US are banned. But there are also problems in Greece and Italy, where the UK sources many of its queens. There, lockdown restrictions have been severe, with beekeepers sometimes banned from travelling long distances.

This has made pollination difficult and sometimes prevented bees bred in the warmer southern regions from reaching beekeepers who need them. Also, the regular beekeeping activity that keeps the supply of bees going has been curtailed, Garcia says.

Some beekeepers are finding it difficult to tend their hives as frequently as they normally do. And beekeeping shops are closed, so some cant find the materials and equipment they need to manage their bees as normal. Greek apiarists say that in some cases bees will starve.

Bees pollinate crops in early spring, like this rapeseed oil crop (iStock)

Cancelled flights, airport closures and paperwork jams have also made it difficult for beekeepers to import queens in time to pollinate crops. There is a risk to food production, absolutely, and also the production of bees themselves might be affected, Garcia says. But its too early to know how big this effect will be.

Travel restrictions have caused a critical shortage of seasonal agricultural workers and haulage drivers globally, including in the UK. In Scotland, for example, fruit farmers are suffering a crippling shortage of labour, according to Murray McGregor, one the of the UKs largest bee farmers and a member of the British Bee Farmers Association. As a result, some crops have been delayed and there have been shortages of workers to manage bees.

One positive is that countryside verges are not being cut back at the moment, and instead are blooming areas for the insects (Trevor Dines, Planlife)

But the industry is rising to the challenges where it can. McGregor recently drove a truck and trailer to northern Italy to collect 460 packages of queens and workers from bee farmers who produce the insects for him in Tuscany and Piedmont. These bees have filled depleted UK hives and are used to pollinate crops  mostly apples, blueberries and honeyberries. McGregor will return to Italy shortly to collect another crucial load.

Hes never done the trip under such challenging circumstances. To minimise risks, his partners in Piedmont handed over the bees just inside the Italian border, and social distancing and strict hygiene precautions were maintained at all times. I was not at all afraid to do the trip, McGregor says. My clients are dependent on us, so I feel obligated to do it if it is at all possible. I do not feel in the slightest bit brave. Its my life and what I do.

Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Show all 30 1 /30 Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS staff at the Mater hospital in Belfast, during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak. PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Shoppers observe a minute's silence in Tescos in Shoreham Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Firefighters outside Godstone fire station PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Hospital workers take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE across Britain for all workers in care, the NHS and other vital public services after a nationwide minute's silence at University College Hospital in London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A school children's poster hanging outside Glenfield Hospital during a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A man holds a placard that reads "People's health before profit" outside St Thomas hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus University College Hospital, London Hospital workers hold placards with the names of their colleagues who have died from coronavirus as they take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff at Waterloo Station in London, stand to observe a minute's silence, to pay tribute to NHS and key workers who have died with coronavirus AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Medical staff at the Louisa Jordan hospital stand during a UK wide minutes silence to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus in Glasgow Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London An NHS worker observes a minute's silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London AFP via Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Belfast, Northern Ireland NHS staff observe a minutes silence at Mater Infirmorum Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Plymouth NHS workers hold a minute's silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS Frimley Park Hospital staff at the A&E department observe a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Mater Infirmorum Hospital People applaud after a minutes silence in honour of key workers Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Waterloo Station, London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Wreaths laid outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A group of trade unionists and supporters standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew's House in Edinburgh to observe a minute's silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London Police officers observe a minutes silence at Guy's Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A woman standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Royal Derby Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Leicester, NHS workers during a minute's silence outside Glenfield Hospital Getty

Beekeepers in cities are facing difficulties too. Luke Dixon, from Urban Beekeeping, maintains hives on the rooftops of hotels, office blocks and other buildings, including the Bank of England. Hes scrambled to move them to sites where they can be easily managed during lockdown.

Its been a massive operation, Dixon says. At this time of the year bees need to be cared for and husbanded, and they need to be visited once a week. Some hives are being temporarily housed in a school playground. The Bank of Englands bees, meanwhile, have a new home in Essex where the nations banknotes are printed. Theyre in the Fort Knox of England, secured and cared for in a beautiful meadow, Dixon says.

Along with the challenges facing beekeepers and the threats to food production, there are silver linings to the crisis too. Wildlife experts believe the lockdown could be a boon for bees and other pollinators, as councils leave roadside verges, parks and other open spaces uncut due to staff shortages.

Plantlife, Europes biggest conservation charity, says the mini-meadows popping up around the country in an explosion of colour could help declining bee populations recover.

Garcia says there has also been a welcome global boom in demand for honey and royal jelly as consumers stock up on the products for their health benefits. He also hopes the pandemic may deepen our understanding of the crucial role of bees and beekeepers in food production. Beekeepers and bees are responsible for the apples that we eat, he says. Many consumers dont realise that.
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 30 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 17,371 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,688 pence 21.28 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,642 pence 20.70 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,662 pence 20.96 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 30 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 5,000 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 20.80 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 20.80 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 20.80 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 30 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 24,106 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 21.00 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 20.55 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 20.77 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 29.27 USD 23.78 GBP which was calculated as of 21 April 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 198,950,952 Public Shares outstanding, or 204,719,834 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 12,005,798 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005907/en/

Contacts:

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
Team of researchers and officers of the Brazilian Navy preparing to leave Wanda Glacier beach and return to Comandante Ferraz Station, Enseada Lussich, on January 04, 2020 in King George Island, Antarctica.

Global sea levels have risen 0.55 inches since 2003 due to ice melt in Antarctica and Greenland driven by climate change, according to new data measurements from several NASA satellites.

Scientists found that Greenland's ice sheet lost an average of 200 gigatons of ice per year and Antarctica's ice sheet lost an average of 118 gigatons of ice per year. One gigaton of ice can fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Previous studies of ice loss typically analyze data from multiple satellites and airborne missions. The new study, published in the journal Science, took a single type of measurement  height measured by an instrument that bounces laser pulses off the ice surface  to give the most accurate measure of ice sheet change to date.

"If you watch a glacier or ice sheet for a month, or a year, you're not going to learn much about what the climate is doing to it," said lead author Benjamin Smith, a glaciologist at the University of Washington. "We now ... can be much more confident that the changes we're seeing in the ice have to do with the long-term changes in the climate."

Last year, Greenland's ice sheet, the biggest in the world, contributed to a sea level rise of about 1.5 millimeters in a year of record melting driven by hotter temperatures. The country has seen a significant amount of coastal glacier thinning, with some glaciers losing up to 20 feet of elevation each year as hotter temperatures melt ice and warmer ocean temperatures erode the ice at their fronts, according to the study.

In Antarctica, satellite measurements showed that increased snowfall has actually thickened some part of the ice sheet in the continent's interior, though ice loss in West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula outweighed the affects of snowfall.

"In West Antarctica, we're seeing a lot of glaciers thinning very rapidly," Smith said. "There are ice shelves at the downstream end of those glaciers floating on water. And those ice shelves are thinning, letting more ice flow out into the ocean as the warmer water erodes the ice."
"The other day a man in his 50s came to the ER dying from a heart attack, says Avir Mitra, an emergency medicine physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and a spokesperson for ACEP. He'd experienced symptoms for three or four days before coming to the ER. He pulled through, but we struggled to keep him alive.

Some people, however, don't survive delays in treatment. There's been an uptick in 911 calls from people who were ultimately found dead in their homes due to neglected symptoms, says Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.

Medical experts stress that there's no need to fear the ER. Nearly all hospitals have separated coronavirus patients from those with other conditions. At many facilities, there are different areas of the ER, intensive care units (ICUs), operating rooms and cardiac catheterization rooms for people with and without COVID-19, says Athena Poppas, chief of cardiology and professor of medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University; director of the Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute of Rhode Island, Miriam Hospitals and Newport Hospitals; and president of the American College of Cardiology.

Here are life-threatening symptoms doctors say should lead you to immediately call 911, now or anytime.

Chest discomfort, nausea, difficulty breathing and/or lightheadedness

Symptoms of a heart attack  in which blood flow to an artery in the heart is blocked or reduced, starving the organ of oxygen  can be subtle, and they often differ for men and women. Classic signs include heaviness, tightness or a squeezing sensation in the chest that may radiate to the neck, arms and jaw. The discomfort can be mistaken for indigestion.

These symptoms often occur along with trouble breathing, sweating, nausea and lightheadedness. Women may experience less chest discomfort than men but may have nausea and shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms for more than 10 to 20 minutes, call 911. For every hour that you delay medical attention, you reduce the chances of the heart muscle surviving, Poppas warns.
At the height of the outbreak in April, a New Yorker was dying almost every two minutes  more than 800 per day, or four times the citys normal death rate. And though the daily toll has recently slowed, hundreds of bodies are still emerging each day from private homes and hospitals.

While hospitals bore the initial brunt of the crisis as sick people flooded emergency rooms, the sheer volume of human remains has pushed the system for caring for the dead to its limits, too: Hospital morgues, funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories are all overflowing and backed up.

The scale of the problem was brought into sharp relief on Wednesday afternoon, when the police found dozens of decomposing bodies stashed inside two trucks outside a funeral home on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The owner, Andrew T. Cleckley, said he had nowhere else to put them, adding simply: I ran out of space.

What happened in Brooklyn appears to be an extreme case, and state health officials said on Thursday they would investigate the matter. But in the last two months, funeral home directors have begun to store bodies in viewing rooms and chapels, turning up their air-conditioning systems to avoid decomposition. Some are transporting bodies to other cities and states to be cremated.

Some hospitals ran out of body bags  the city has since distributed 20,000  and others have used forklifts to transfer piles of corpses into makeshift mobile morgues. So many people have been dying at home that the medical examiner's office has turned to teams of soldiers working around the clock to pick them up.
US president says Beijing wants his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, to win to ease pressure over trade and other issues.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he believes Chinas handling of the coronavirus is proof that Beijing will do anything they can to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

China will do anything they can to have me lose this race, Trump said in an exclusive interview with Reuters news agency at the White House.

Trump said he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for China over the virus, also known as COVID-19.

I can do a lot, he said.

The Republican president, often accused of not acting early enough to prepare the United States for the outbreak, said he believed China should have been more active in letting the world know about the coronavirus much sooner.





Asked whether he was considering the use of tariffs or even debt write-offs for China, Trump would not offer specifics.

There are many things I can do, he said. Were looking for what happened.

Before the coronavirus pandemic began, the US and China were already engaged in a trade war that has resulted in billions of dollars in tarrifs.

Shifting blame to China

For weeks, Trump has been heaping blame on China for a global pandemic that has killed people nearly 61,000 people in the US according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and thrown the economy into a deep recession undermining his campaign for a second four-year term.

On Tuesday, he had said he wants to conduct serious investigations into Chinas handling of the pandemic.

Were doing very serious investigations  We are not happy with China, Trump said. There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable.

Trump has reportedly erupted in anger in recent days after seeing opinion polls suggesting that he could lose the November 2020 elections [Carlos Barria/Reuters]

Trump had previously referred to COVID-19 as Chinese virus, igniting a war of words with Beijing, which accused the US military of bringing the disease to Wuhan.

Meanwhile, in the Reuters interview, Trump dismissed latest opinion polls suggesting that his probable Democrat rival Joe Biden was leading in the November 2020 race.

Trump said he did not expect the election to be a referendum on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and expressed surprise that the former vice president was doing well in the polls.

I dont believe the polls, Trump said. I believe the people of this country are smart. And I dont think that they will put a man in whos incompetent.





Trumps public statement contradicts with a New York Times newspaper report, which said that the president had reportedly erupted in anger during a phone call with his campaign manager over the recent polling.

Trump also told Reuters news agency that South Korea had agreed to pay the US more money for a defence cooperation agreement but would not be drawn on the amount of the contribution.

The US president had publicly complained in recent weeks against Seoul and rejected a sum it offered to the cost of US military forces deployed in South Korea.

At least 28,000 US troops are stationed in South Korea.

South Korean legislators said US officials had demanded up to $5bn a year, about five times the 1.04 trillion won ($896m) Seoul agreed to pay in 2019.
Read what is in the news today:

Society

-- Two more novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relapse cases brought the total number of people retesting positive after previous recoveries in Vietnam to 11 on Wednesday evening, while the countrys infection tally remained at 270 as of Thursday morning.

-- Non-essential services like clothes and cosmetics shops have been barred from opening earlier than 9:00 am every day in Hanoi to reduce morning traffic density, per an order from the Vietnamese capital citys chairman Nguyen Duc Chung on Tuesday.

-- The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is working with the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases to formulate guidelines on receiving, storing, and transporting plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients as a possible treatment for the disease.

-- The Ministry of Transport on Wednesday evening allowed private inter-province bus lines to resume their full daily journeys after previously cutting them by half to meet the high travel demand during the two public holidays of Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1).

-- Police in the northern province of Lao Cai, which borders China, on Wednesday started legal proceedings against two local men for illegally organizing the transportation of Vietnamese people across the Vietnam  China border.

Business

-- Vietnam imported about one million metric tons of petroleum products in April, spending US$145 billion, according to the General Department of Customs. The figure demonstrates a sharp increase by 105 percent in volume, but a decline by 27.6 percent in value from last month.

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a directive to deregulate the export licensing policy for medical masks that was issued on February 28 to ease the shipment of the grain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

-- Attractions and hotels in tourism hotspots across Vietnam, including the coastal central city of Da Nang, Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam, Hue City in the central province of Thua Thien  Hue, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc Island off the southern province of Kien Giang, have offered discounts and promotions to attract tourists as the COVID-19 social distancing rules have been relaxed in the country.

Education

-- Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung allowed elementary schools and kindergartens to welcome students back from May 11, as he chaired a meeting of the municipal steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control on Wednesday afternoon.

World News

-- The novel coronavirus has infected over 3.2 million people and claimed more than 227,500 lives around the world as of Thursday morning, according to statistics. About 997,200 people have recovered from COVID-19.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Sabics recently held Ordinary Annual General Meeting in Riyadh approved SR6.6 billion ($1.75 billion) cash dividends for the second half of 2019 at SR2.2 per share, representing 22% of the nominal share value.



The dividends will be distributed on May 12, 2020, a Sabic statement said, adding that the total proposed dividend for 2019 is SR13.2 billion at SR4.4 per share, representing 44% of the nominal value per share.



Speaking at the meeting, Dr Abdulaziz Aljarbou, Sabic Chairman, said: Our annual performance demonstrates our long-standing ability to respond to market uncertainties. We continue to plan for the future, with the strength of our global scale and our customer-focused investments that help drive sustainability and innovation.



Yousef Al-Benyan, Sabic Vice Chairman and CEO, said: The year 2019 was full of achievements as Sabic has proven once again its ability to foster success and maintain a global leading role in the petrochemical industry. We continued to improve performance and increase revenues for shareholders.



We are also proud of the growing strength of our global brand value, which increased by 9.3% to $4.33 billion this year according to Brand Finance rating.



We are proud to lead and support our stakeholders and communities we serve. By the end of March, our donations to help the global response to the crisis totalled more than SR150 million, Al-Benyan added.  TradeArabia News Service
An artist's depiction of a lander carrying humans to the surface of the moon.

NASA has a plan to put humans on the moon in 2024: Launch astronauts to a moon-orbiting station, then use a commercially built lander to ferry them to the surface. But who will build the lander?

Today (April 30), NASA chief Jim Bridenstine will announce the companies that will compete to design that lander at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) during a news teleconference that you can watch it live here and or directly on NASA's website . The initiative is part of the agency's Artemis program, for which President Donald Trump mandated the 2024 landing date.

NASA has previously said that the 2024 mission will ride the human lander that is completed first from among the contestants announced today, with a 2025 mission going to the second completed lander. Applications to join this selection pool were due in November 2019.

Related: NASA unveils plan for Artemis 'base camp' on the moon beyond 2024

During the event, Bridenstine will be joined by Doug Loverro , associate administrator of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate; Lisa Watson-Morgan, program manager for the human landing systems program; and Tyler Cochran, contracting officer for the program.

Two companies publicized their submissions during the entry period. Space hardware behemoth Boeing is already building major portions of the NASA Space Launch System rocket that will send astronauts to the moon, as well as the crew capsule Starliner that is completing the testing process for flights to the International Space Station. Upon submitting the design, Boeing said its focus was on avoiding building more complexity into the Artemis program.

The second known entrant is Blue Origin , the private spaceflight company created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The company has so far focused on suborbital flights with its New Shepard rocket and spacecraft; to date these missions have been uncrewed. Blue Origin recruited three additional companies , Draper, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, to join the team; all three companies have long histories in spaceflight. The coalition will support Blue Origin's proposed lander, a variant on the uncrewed Blue Moon lander the company announced in May 2019.

NASA's current model of commercial partnerships relies on recruiting companies to submit concepts for a specific class of mission  in this case, landing humans at the moon's south pole . The selected companies aren't guaranteed any flights; today's announcement simply flags which companies will be considered eligible to take part.

The agency is using the same model for cargo deliveries to the moon through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. NASA has contracted with companies for the first two missions in that program, in which agency payloads are due to fly next year on cargo landers developed by Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend:

The availability of life insurance is important not only for doctors, but also for those involved in other spheres in Azerbaijan, Musa Guliyev, chairman of the Azerbaijani parliaments committee on labor and social policy, told Trend.

"It would be better if those involved in all spheres, insure their lives, the chairman said. This insurance is especially important for those working in emergency conditions, namely, the representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, doctors, etc."

Guliyev stressed that life insurance can be applied in both mandatory and voluntary forms.

While commenting on the need for new workwear for doctors, the chairman stressed that this is not required.

The main thing for a patient and a doctor not to transmit infection to each other, Guliyev added. "For this purpose, it is necessary to comply with hygiene standards. In accordance with the current conditions, protective clothing should be worn. The World Health Organization regularly recommends which protective clothing should be used in a particular situation.

However, there are epidemics of such diseases that are transmitted through blood, insects, rodents and so on, rather than through respiratory droplets, Guliyev said. In this case, there is no need for doctors to wear a special uniform. Taking the above mentioned aspects into account, it would be more correct to choose a uniform and protective tools in accordance with the nature of the infection."

Meanwhile, chief infectiologist of Azerbaijan Jalal Isayev believes that a life insurance system for doctors is a good idea.

The doctors are in direct contact with patients, and therefore, despite wearing uniform, the safety issue remains extremely important, Isayev said.

"Wearing uniform during a pandemic is extremely important, he added. However, after the pandemic is over, there is no need for doctors to wear uniform. This also applies to infectious disease doctors. Wearing a traditional white coat will be sufficient. A doctor must accurately diagnose a patients disease and accordingly take protective measures."
Google announced today it is providing $2.3 million in funding to 18 news organizations in the Asia Pacific region, the latest in its ongoing effort to support publishers globally.

News organizations from 11 nations, including Australia, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan are receiving the grant as part of Thursdays announcement, the company said, which began accepting applications for the new innovation challenge fund in the region late last year.

The search giant said more than 250 organizations had applied for the funding. Those that are selected showed variety and creativity of their ideas to explore ways to increase reader engagement that would drive greater loyalty and willingness in readers to pay for content.

The $2.3 million innovation challenge fund is not evenly distributed among the 18 hand-picked organizations, a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch. The company additionally also offers mentoring and training sessions to these organizations, the spokesperson added.

Gaon Connection, a news organization based in Lucknow, one of the biggest cities in India, focuses on the issues that affect people in rural regions of the country. It is one of the four recipients to receive the grant from Google in India.

Veteran journalist Neelesh Misra, the founder of Gaon Connection, told TechCrunch in an interview that the capital would help his seven-year-old firm to pivot from a rural media platform to a rural insight firm.

"We have been looking to bring much greater statistical data depth to our work. We feel that if we could back the voice of rural India with surveys and insights, it would amplify their reach. We often hear from people in the village that they don't have a say," he said.

"I am a content person, but not familiar with tech. We have done the difficult battle first: We today have community journalists in more than 300 districts in India. And now those journalists will be able to use the platform that we will build because of Google funding to do surveys, record video, audio and text content, and crunch the data. This platform will give people in rural India a say so that policymakers and others in urban India have a better understanding of people in rural regions and their desire," he said.

Story continues

The Morning Context, another organization picked from India, covers internet, business, and chaos beats in the worlds second largest internet market. Earlier this month, the Morning Context also closed a seed financing round.

The Current in Pakistan covers news that is woke and celebrates the fact that hey, youre not supposed to know everything. In Korea, the Busan Daily, Maeil Daily and Gangwon Daily that are the recipients of the funding are collaborating on real-time insights to create customized experiences for their readers, Google said.

Australian Community Media, another recipient, is developing a new platform for classified ads that will better support local newspapers and small businesses. Japans Nippon TV is using AR to bring its news archives to life.

A strong Asia Pacific news industry has never been more important, and were looking forward to seeing the selected applicants put their ideas into action, said Fazal Ashfaq, News and Publishing Lead for Google in APAC, in a statement.

Thursdays announcement is part of Google News Initiatives $300 million that it unveiled in May 2018. The company has so far run five innovation challenges globally: 2 in APAC, one in North America, one in LATAM, and one in Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.
By David Tizzard





Chairman Kim Jong-un is alive. Chairman Kim Jong-un is dead. He is both, and he is neither. In fact apart from a very select few of the world's 7.8 billion people, no one truly knows.



Certainly not this Englishman.



I specialize in British policy vis-a-vis the DPRK, with a particular focus on the years 1991 to 2000. So you'll understand if this latest event is a bit out of my wheelhouse.



Yet despite that no one really knowing, the world's media and the internet have been ablaze with speculation regarding the DPRK's leader. There have been claims he has had heart surgery, brain surgery, he's on a train, he's in Wonsan, he's merely in hiding, and so on. The hashtag confirming his death has over 300,000 retweets.



Where in the world is Kim Jong-un? And why the fascination when he is but one man and elsewhere millions of our loved ones are living through harder times than any would have predicted.



Essentially, because he is the world's youngest head of state to possess a nuclear arsenal. Moreover, many 'experts' have been predicting the fall of the state since its formation in 1948.



And it is the nuclear issue that is the reason for all the speculation. For leaders live and die all the time, just like us normal citizens. But were there to be a power vacuum in North Korea, it would spark a power struggle both internally and externally.



While many perceive of the North as a monolith, all existing under the supreme totalitarian control of an omniscient leader, the reality is seemingly far from that Benthamite depiction: There are factions, there are those with contrasting views of engagement, those who truly hate the western world, those seek power, and those who merely seek the luxuries and elegances to which they have become accustomed in Pyongyang.



Externally, China, South Korea, the United States, Russia, and Japan  as well, perhaps, as a few of the world's largest companies  would all be keen to be involved in whatever happens next. Only South Korea would seemingly have a legal ground to do so as it claims jurisdiction over the territory.



One of the more interesting tidbits of information is that the capital of North Korea until 1972 was.Seoul.



All the states will be carrying out briefings, placing contingency plans, discussing information regarding possible military maneuverers, psychological observations of those possibly next in-line, and  if you'll pardon my French  crapping their pants a little bit.



But I would like to share one recent development that hasn't had much coverage elsewhere.



We know that North Korea watches western media reports. And we know that they occasionally react to them through their state-run news and television operations.

Recently, however, they have begun changing how they are communicating. They've gone online and are using social media. Myers' three-track framework has a new addition.



What's Buzzfeed in Chosun-mal?



Earlier this week, reports came out that there had been "panic buying" in some of Pyongyang's popular grocery shops and malls. Whether this was linked to the Covid-19 pandemic or the leader's health was not clear. The story was, to my knowledge, first reported by Chad O'Carroll in NK News who cited "multiple informed sources".



It was later picked up by Bloomberg, the South China Morning Post, and many more.



But the response was most interesting: Posted by the twitter account "@coldnoodlefan", who seemingly has ties to the country's state media, it was a video of a street reporter in Pyongyang named Un A who was "responding to claims in the western media" regarding the shortages.



She did so in English and in an effort to combat "fake news".



The video shows well-dressed men and women, the elites of Pyongyang, shopping in fully-stocked supermarkets, wearing masks, and commenting on the prices of the products. For the most part, perhaps predictably, they said that products had in fact been getting cheaper, particularly the Taedonggang brand goods.



The interviewees are all young women, wearing make-up, and truth be told, appearing as if they would look just as at home in a Chongdam-dong brunch cafe. More evidence that, alongside the crafted appearances of Kim Yo-jong and Ri Sol-ju, the country is using social media to try and appeal to the western world and dispel the narrative and notions that it is a gerontocratic patriarchy.



It's slick, well-edited, has a chill soundtrack, and shows the affluence in which some in North Korea live. Importantly, it shows that the people there have lives, dreams, children, and shopping lists just like you and I.



The North Korean state reads western reports. It keeps an eye on the global narrative and it responds when it feels necessary.



So I wonder what the next video will be like?



More of the elites flexing in their designer goods while shopping? Wailings of millions as they mourn a loss?



Or footage of Chairman Kim Jong-un atop a white horse majestically riding up to Baekdu Mountain to reinforce his family's control over the nation?



To tell you the truth, none of them would surprise me.





David Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) is an assistant professor at Seoul Women's University and lectures in politics and history and Hanyang University. He presents economic and cultural issues on "Business Now" on TBS eFM (101.3FM) live every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


Despite the suspension of interstate movement across Nigeria, some travellers from northern Nigeria have entered Osun State by hiding in trucks carrying essential goods, an official said.

This was communicated to journalists on Wednesday evening by the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Adeyanju Binuyo.

He, however, said the youth had been tracked down by the government and will immediately be sent back to their home states.

Government is aware of a huge influx of non- Osun residents into the state, especially from Zamfara. They were coming majorly through the Ondo axis, accompanying trucks that are carrying food materials purportedly to be sold around the South West generally.

The intelligence that weve gathered in the last few days is such that they usually have two or a maximum of three people attached to a truck to assist in discharging the goods. But now we have sometimes ten of them hidden among the goods.

Sometimes the trucks would stop and drop some of them off along Ife express road where they are received by their fellow northerners already resident in the state. The government has been receiving a lot of such reports most especially now that Amotekun has been properly set up. This portends a great danger especially at a time like this when Osun is doing everything to avoid community transmission of COVID-19. This is not the time to be reckless and allow safety or security breaches at our borders.

Although, Mr Binuyo said security agents in the state including Amotekun have been mandated to identify and man all the entry points. He reiterated that only food, medical, beverages, petroleum, agriculture and construction supply trucks are exempted but they cannot have more than three persons per truck.

The official said any security official found guilty of compromise at any boundary would be made to face the full wrath of the law as a deterrent to others while vehicles caught in violation of the orders would be forfeited to the state and the passengers prosecuted.
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has defended backing airlines in the battle over customer refunds saying the government doesn't want to see airlines fail.

Mr Varadkar told the Dail he wants to see Ryanair and Aer Lingus operating later in the summer and doesn't want to be in a position where the State has to bail out airlines.

Ireland is one of 12 countries that have put their names to a letter calling on the European Commission to change the rules on refunds for cancelled airline flights.

Rise TD Paul Murphy claimed the government has taken the side of airlines in seeking to "scrap normal consumer rights".

Some airlines have been offering vouchers rather than refunds.

Read More

He claimed the government's actions are an indication that the "mistakes of the past" will be repeated and "big businesses will be bailed out.

Mr Varadkar said the major actions government has taken has been to bail out people and workers.

He pointed to the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Mr Varadkar said that as he understands it the law has not changed and people are entitled to a cash refund for cancelled flights.

He added: "However, we have to be practical about this. I dont want to see airlines fail...

"I want to see Ryanair and Aer Lingus operate some time later in the summer and some time in August, and I would not like to be in a situation whereby we have to bail out airlines because they failed."

Mr Murphy said Ireland has written to the EU calling for the law to be changed.

Mr Varadkar said the government has not taken a formal position on the issue of vouchers or refunds.

He said: "There maybe something at Department level so I will have to check but even so, I doubt that any law could be changed retrospectively.

"I may be wrong about that but I have never come across anyone changing a consumer protection law retrospectively.

"It might be changed prospectively but I do not see how it could be changed retrospectively."

He said: "I will get a briefing on that issue but there is no Government decision on it."
File Photo

Chandigarh: The Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government resumed construction work on the prestigious Shahpurkandi dam project, after due assessment on the ground with respect to labour availability at the site and Covid-19 safety precautions.

Coronavirus

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The work, which had been suspended due to the nationwide lockdown, resumed in the presence of A. Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department Punjab, who guided the resumption process on the directives of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

The national level project, being constructed on river Ravi by the Punjab Government at an estimated cost of Rs 2700 crore, will reduce the outflow of the river water to Pakistan, while benefitting both Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, once it is completed.

According to an official spokesperson, the Chief Minister and Minister of Water Resources Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria had directed the District Administration, Pathankot, to examine the feasibility of restarting of the constructional activity on the project, after the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI issued guidelines on April 15, allowing resumption of construction activities on irrigation projects beyond municipal limits, provided the site did not fall under a containment zone.

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PhotoThe District Administration immediately swung into action and constituted a three-member team of officers to examine the situation. The team had visited the site on Tuesday, and found it feasible to resume work since the labour involved in the construction stayed at site sheds, in the confined area, with the single entry point duly barricaded. The team further found that the agency - Soma- Bureya JV  was taking adequate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Based on the inputs of the team, the District Administration gave the go-ahead for resumption of construction after taking assurance from the agency, in the form of an undertaking, that they will adhere to the guidelines issues with respect to Covid.

Giving details of the project, the spokesperson said that of the total estimated balance cost as on 2014, Rs 1,408 crore would be spent on the power component, with 100 per cent share of the Punjab government. A sum of Rs 685 crore would be spent on the irrigation component, with a share of Rs 485 crore to be contributed by the central government and Rs 179.28 crore by the state government.

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PhotoOn completion, the project will generate 206 MW of power, besides having the potential to irrigate 5,000 hectares of land in Punjab and 32,000 hectares of land in Jammu and Kashmir's Sambha and Kathua districts.

The Shahpurkandi Dam Project will provide a balancing reservoir to ensure uniform water supply takes to canal system, taking off from Madhopur Headworks. It will also ensure optimum power benefits from Ranjit Sagar Dam by using it as a peaking station.

Asserting that the border belt up to Shahpurkandi would be one of the most prominent tourist destinations, the Water Resources Minister said the project would also give impetus to tourism, besides supplementing the income of residents in the region, both in Punjab and J&K.
[April 30, 2020] Amid COVID-19 Crisis, UBS Americas Provides Financial Support to Address Food Insecurity and Aid Frontline Healthcare Workers

As part of UBS Group's $30 million commitment to fund COVID-19 relief efforts globally, UBS Americas announced today that $3.3 million will be directly distributed across the US, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. In the Americas, UBS will fund immediate relief and longer-term recovery efforts in local communities affected by the unprecedented health and economic impacts of the virus. Emergency aid will be provided to organizations that focus on combatting food insecurity, supporting frontline healthcare workers and enabling access to life-saving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for first responders. The funds will be distributed in three tranches. The firm prioritized the first tranche of $1 million to provide funding to emergency aid organizations that focus on food insecurity and medical assistance. From this, $800,000 has been donated to Feeding America, the nation's largest network of 200+ food banks, and $200,000 has been donated to Medicins Sans Frontieres, who are deploying medical teams across Brazil, Canada and Mexico. The second tranche of $1.175 million will be provided to the firm's client-facing businesses to support select relief organizations across the US. The firm will also provide targeted support for local relief efforts in the New York Tri-State area and Nashville. The organizations that will receive funding through this tranche include Feeding America and its local affiliated food banks, No Kid Hungry, Americares, edicins Sans Frontieres, NY State First Responders Fund, Mayors Fund for NYC, New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, Connecticut COVID-19 Charity Connection, and the Nashville COVID-19 Response Fund.



The final $1.125 million tranche will focus on longer-term recovery and resiliency efforts in communities that have been severely impacted by the virus. All UBS employees are able to donate to the above organizations, and will have their donations 100% matched by UBS with no financial limitations. "We're proud to partner with a number of incredible organizations to help address some of the most pressing issues that our region is experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Tom Naratil, President Americas and Co-President Global Wealth Management at UBS. "Our clients and colleagues are passionate about making a difference, and we are committed to giving back to our local communities and playing a lead role in helping those who are most in need."

"The coronavirus outbreak has had a devastating impact in every community and is unfortunately impacting low-income communities the hardest," said Jamie Sears, Head of Community Affairs & Corporate Responsibility Americas at UBS. "It is incredibly heartening to see colleagues working together to support the immediate needs of those impacted by this pandemic and support the resiliency efforts that will help our communities rebuild once the crisis is over." On April 9, 2020, UBS announced that it was expanding its current referral lending network enabling small business owners to access the US Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). The firm also expects to make up to $2 billion available through UBS Bank USA to support America's small businesses looking to gain access to the benefits provided by the CARES Act and the PPP. Fees UBS earns from the referral initiative are being redirected to provide relief through emergency grants and funding to small business owners in underserviced populations. UBS is working through its network of community partners to manage this effort. Additionally, the Group Executive Board as a whole will donate an equivalent of 50% of their salary over the next six months to COVID-19 aid projects. Notes to Editors About UBS

UBS provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as private clients in Switzerland. UBS's strategy is centered on our leading global wealth management business and our premier universal bank in Switzerland, enhanced by Asset Management and the Investment Bank. The bank focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their targeted markets, are capital efficient, and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook. UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 regions and locations, with about 31% of its employees working in the Americas, 32% in Switzerland, 19% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 18% in Asia Pacific. UBS Group AG employs over 67,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).  UBS 2020. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005830/en/

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On a sunny Sunday in April, 20 people were enjoying a barbecue in the city of Schwerin in northern Germany. The police promptly intervened, slapping them with a fine for breaking new social distancing rules to limit the spread of COVID-19. They were alerted to the festivities by a neighbour, "outraged by such behaviour", who also proceeded to boast about her efforts on social media, opening up a heated debate about the return of denunciation to Germany and whether it is acceptable in the current crisis. Telling on your neighbours is a highly sensitive subject in a country still haunted by memories of Nazism and the former communist dictatorship in East Germany, two regimes under which informing on others was practically a national policy. The term "Denunziant" ("snitch") has been trending on Twitter, fuelling a surge in references to the Third Reich and the Stasi secret police. "All of this appears to confirm a deep-seated prejudice that Germans have against themselves: That when in doubt, a part of the population is willing to become an extension of state power," psychology professor Christian Stoecker told Der Spiegel weekly. But Germany is not the only country to have seen a rise in the number of people reporting fellow citizens to the authorities for breaching virus-related social distancing rules. Similar observations have been made in countries around the world where lockdowns have been imposed: In New Zealand, a dedicated website was deluged with reports; in South Africa, a wedding was interrupted after an anonymous call; and in France, the emergency number 17 has been overrun with calls. - Universal phenomenon - "The phenomenon is universal, but with different regional characteristics. It happens more often in urban areas, where many people depend on each other, than in less populated areas where you have more space," said Rafael Behr, a professor of criminology and sociology at the Hamburg Police Academy. "Acts of denunciation will increase, as will acts of solidarity," he predicts. "The longer the state of emergency goes on, the more antisocial people will become and the more mistrust and suspicion will develop, for example about whether your neighbour is contagious." In Germany, police are receiving several hundred complaints a day via phone calls, emails and social media, according to an AFP tally. In Munich alone, "around 100 to 200 citizens are calling every day" with violations to report, according to Sven Mueller, a spokesman for the city's police force. In the state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, police intervened in 2,930 violations of social distancing rules between March 20 and April 7. "Around two thirds of these cases were linked to reports from citizens," said police spokeswoman Stefanie Klaus. The majority of complaints are about people entering public spaces such as stadiums, parties in private homes or cars with licence plates from outside the area. - Poisoning social relations - "Not all of the calls lead to police intervention," said Heidi Vogt, a spokeswoman for the police in Berlin. At the end of March, overwhelmed by complaints, police in the German capital appealed to residents on Twitter to stop calling the 110 emergency number, stressing that it was "not designed for lockdown breaches". Andreas Geisel, interior minister for the city-state of Berlin, called on citizens to restrain themselves. "We don't want any snitching," he told RBB radio. "With a soft lockdown like we have in Germany at the moment, people's continued freedom depends on their ability to contain themselves," political historian Klaus-Peter Sick told AFP. "If a group of young people are behaving in an undisciplined way, some people will see that as irresponsible and not thinking about others," which can lead to frustration and denunciation, he said. But some informers are motivated less by social responsibility and more by the desire to settle personal scores. "This is always the case in times of crisis, especially when they give rise to new regulations that make it possible to invoke justice: anyone who is jealous of their neighbour now has the opportunity to denounce them for the slightest violation of the coronavirus rules," said Behr. "That poisons social relations."
For much of the past 50 years, the United States has relied on foreign oil imports to power our economy. But thanks to American innovation and improved technology, we have reversed that status by and become an energy superpower.

The shale revolution dramatically expanded our production in a short period of time, but a critical piece of our longer term superpower status is oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, which is home to some of the best reserves in the world. In 2013, production on federal leases in the Gulf yielded 1.1 million barrels a day. Thanks to innovation and ingenuity, production is now up to 2 million barrels a day. Today, the Gulf accounts for 17 percent of American oil output.

Its proof that the Gulf of Mexico is a reliable anchor of the American oil portfolio and is a key reason why the United States became a net oil exporter for the first-time last year. With the right policies, we can solidify that status for decades to come.

Put a different way: we cannot be an energy superpower without the Gulf of Mexico.

OIL CRASH: Diamond Offshore files for bankruptcy

Our superpower status is in jeopardy, and not because American innovation somehow stalled overnight. We still have the best and brightest engineers and technicians on the planet.

Instead, were threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic that has severely curtailed demand as governments around the world combat the outbreak. Social distancing and work-from-home orders mean energy consumption across the board is down.

Prices crater

Adding to the unprecedented market conditions, American production is dealing with the fallout from the price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. An artificial glut of oil generated by state-backed companies has flooded the market, and cratered prices below the breakeven price for free market companies.

Normally, global demand is around 100 million barrels a day. Its now estimated to have dropped to 65 to 80 million barrels a day. The result is that West Texas Intermediate has dropped from $61 a barrel at the start of the year to the May futures contract going negative, and June and July contracts hovering around $20 a barrel.

Thats an unprecedented decline with catastrophic consequences. With historically low prices, operators cant break even, which means capital-intensive operations in the Gulf - such a critical part of our domestic energy portfolio - could shutter for good.

IN THE RED: Oil prices poised to go negative again

Its time for the private sector and the government to work together to address this challenge.

Oil companies drill on federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico, and in normal times, royalties are paid to the federal government to help support key public priorities like coastal restoration. But these are assuredly abnormal times.

Royalty relief

Fortunately, the Interior secretary can grant relief under the existing law, providing immediate support to our Gulf economy. Temporary royalty relief can ensure that American offshore production survives, and continues to provide revenues for the federal government, coastal states and programs like the Land & Water Conservation Fund. Otherwise, there wont be royalties because there will not be production.

Royalty relief for companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico is not just about the producers. Protecting this critical source of American energy will protect service and supply companies and manufacturing across the Gulf Coast.

FUEL FIX: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox

Throughout the Gulf of Mexico service and supply chain, drilling contractors, marine vessels and construction firms and hundreds of other types of companies are part of the energy ecosystem. Forty-nine states have companies that support offshore production. Not to mention hotels and restaurants throughout the Gulf states depend on the health of the energy industry.

Life or death

Relief that happens now versus relief that doesnt come until later could be the difference between an American company that survives the storm and one that shuts down for good. Its the difference between an economy thats powered by American-made energy and one thats dependent on imports.

The hundreds of thousands hardworking men and women who make up the Gulf of Mexico energy ecosystem are a critical part of our economy and our national security. While the Trump administration has taken remarkable steps in the near-term to help them, more action is needed in the long-term. We cannot afford to leave these workers behind.

Erik G. Milito is president of the National Ocean Industries Association.
The Government has fulfilled its pledge to provide GH200 million for the desilting of drains across the country, Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, Minister for Works and Housing said on Tuesday.



The release of funds, he said, had paved the way for the commencement Ghanas Desilting Programme nationwide as the rains set in this year.



Speaking at the Information Ministrys Media Briefing, on Tuesday, Mr. Atta Akyea said with the emergence of COVID-19, the country could not afford to suffer double jeopardy with casualties from floods.



Mr. Atta Akyea recalled that the Ghana Metrological Agency had forecasted the country would experience heavy rains this year.



He explained the countrys open drainage system had done evil than good because some citizens continued to throw rubbish into these open drains thereby choking them.



We have challenges with drains in the entire country, he said, adding that, the construction of drains over the years had caused the State a lot of money.



In the year 2012, the Minister said, the State spent GH17.6 million cedis, while in 2013, it cost 32.3 million cedis.



Also, in 2014, it cost GH24.8 cedis, while in 2016 and 2017 the State spent GH23.2 million and GH12.2 million cedis respectively.

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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How Canada is helping international students Since March, Canada has sought to help international students experiencing disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

How Canada is helping international students Since March, Canada has sought to help international students experiencing disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

How Canada is helping international students Since March, Canada has sought to help international students experiencing disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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International students are extremely important to Canadas society and economy. The 640,000 international students in Canada help to create a vibrant learning environment on campuses across the country. They also contribute some $22 billion to the economy each year which supports around 200,000 Canadian jobs.

Recognizing that international students have also been impacted by COVID-19 disruptions, Canada has announced a variety of special measures to help the international students already in the country, plus international students who would like to come to Canada in the near future.

Implied status

Current and former international students (e.g., a former international student who now holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit) who need to extend their stay in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic may be eligible for implied status.

Such individuals may benefit from implied status while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews their work/study permit extension application, and hence, they may continue studying or working in Canada as per the conditions of their original permit while IRCC makes a decision on their pending application.

Find out how to stay in Canada

Working hours

International students are usually restricted to working no more than 20 hours per week while class is in session. However, IRCC recently lifted this restriction. As a result, international students working in 10 priority sectors that are helping to fight COVID-19 are able to work more than 20 hours per week until August 31. These 10 sectors are:

Energy and utilities

Information and Communication Technologies

Finance

Health

Food

Water

Transportation

Safety

Government

Manufacturing

CERB

The federal government has launched the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to provide income support to those in Canada who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. The CERB offers $500 per week for up to 16 weeks to eligible workers. International students who meet the CERBs eligibility criteria may receive such income support.

PR pathways

In recent years, more international students have transitioned to permanent residence. International students possess the key human capital characteristics that federal and provincial governments look for when selecting immigrants. They are young, have high levels of education and English/French proficiency, and possess Canadian experience. Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, both levels of government have issued more invitations to apply for permanent residence to those with Canadian experience.

More time to submit immigration applications

IRCC has also become more lenient towards immigration applicants, given that the coronavirus may impact their ability to submit a completed application. IRCC has stated it will not refuse incomplete applications and will provide applicants affected by COVID-19 with an additional 90 days to complete the missing steps.

PGWP

The Post-Graduation Work Permit is critical to helping former international students gain the Canadian work experience that they may need to transition to permanent residence. In early April, IRCC announced that international students who were approved for a study permit to begin their program in Canada in May or June will be able to begin their program online without affecting their eligibility to eventually apply for a PGWP. In addition, the PGWP eligibility of international students already in Canada will not be affected by the online courses they are taking in the absence of in-class instruction.

More support for international students on the way?

Canadas response to the coronavirus has been impressive, as it has gone above and beyond to accommodate immigrants, international students, and temporary foreign workers. Canadas efforts to accommodate foreign nationals highlights significant differences between it and other countries, such as the United States.

One of the key takeaways since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis is that Canada has constantly sought new reforms to accommodate foreign nationals. The measures discussed above were not all rolled out at once, but rather, were gradually announced as IRCC and other Canadian government authorities considered how they can help foreign nationals in need.

As such, it is safe to say that the Canadian government will be open to introducing more help for the likes of international students if and when it is necessary.

Find out how to stay in Canada

Kareem El-Assal is the Director of Policy & Digital Strategy at CanadaVisa.

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
Women's Soccer star Megan Rapinoe was excoriated on her Instagram page after hosting a discussion with Joe and Jill Biden and not once addressing the sexual assault allegation levied against the former vice president.

'Was hopeful you'd use your remarkable platform & influence to #BelieveSurvivors and role model solidarity with survivors of sexual assault. Like you & Biden said, 'We all fight for each other.' It's a nice sentiment and yet actions speak louder than words,' one Instagram user commented on the 45-minute video.

'You've always been my hero. Why didn't you ask him about the sexual assault allegations? I'm really disappointed in what I thought you were,' a second user wrote.

'You forgot to ask about Tara Reade, Megan,' another user pointed out.

Instead of asking about Tara Reade's allegations, the three engaged in a friendly chat where Rapinoe asked the Bidens how they adapted to campaigning during a pandemic while criticizing Donald Trump for his response to coronavirus and touching on several policies they agree on.

Rapinoe, Biden noted during the talk, is not just an athlete but a female leader and role model  and she endorsed Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren's run for president before she dropped out of the race earlier this year.

Several Instagram users expressed were hoping she would be the one to directly ask Biden about the allegations after a month of silence on the matter. Many comments implored Rapinoe to explain why she didnt ask about Reade, or insisted her silence was complacency in saying she did not believe survivors of sexual assault.

Megan Rapinoe was bashed on Instagram for failing to force Joe Biden to respond to a sexual assault allegation levied against him during a 45-minute live-streamed discussion

One user wrote: 'Was hopeful you'd use your remarkable platform & influence to #BelieveSurvivors and role model solidarity with survivors of sexual assault'

'You forgot to ask about Tara Reade, Megan,' another reminded

Rapinoe, Biden noted during the interview, is an athlete and 'leader'

The athlete asked Biden about a plethora of other issues, including the new normal with campaigning, distanced visits with his kids and grandchildren and the decline of bipartisan in Washington, D.C.

Biden has not yet addressed the claim, which was made public on March 25 in a podcast interview. His campaign, however, has asserted the allegation is not true, pointing to the fact that she did not immediately disclose the incident when it happened.

While some recent polling shows Biden pulling ahead of Donald Trump in November as the president deals with handling fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic candidate is facing his own challenges with mounting pressure to address the allegation.

At the end of March, Tara Reade, a former Biden staffer, went public with allegations that he sexually assaulted her while she was working in his Capitol Hill office in 1993.

Reade, who was 29 at the time of the alleged assault, said Biden pushed her up against a wall and penetrated her with his fingers.

Biden has not yet been forced to answer for the claim, but his campaign has denied the allegations and dismissed any credibility of Reade.

Earlier on Thursday, Biden posted a video from his yard taken on Wednesday where he vowed that if he became president he would fly flags at the White House at half-mast to honor those who lost their lives from coronavirus.

In that 40-second video Biden also ignored calls for him to respond to sexual assault allegations levied against him.

'I think the president should lower the flag at the White House to half-mast to recognize their loss and all they leave behind  all those families leave behind,' Biden said in a video filmed outside the day before.

'Many of them were first responders who gave their lives trying to save other lives. Folks, I think if he does not do that  if I'm president, I promise you, that's what I'll do,' the former vice president vowed. 'They should be recognized.'

The video was filmed outside, when usually any virtual interviews, videos or events Biden holds remotely are filmed in front of a bookshelf in the make-shift basement studio at his home.

Joe Biden demanded in a video released Thursday that Donald Trump lower the flags at the White House to half-mast to honor those who lost their lives from coronavirus. 'If I'm president, I promise you, that's what I'll do,' he said of lowering the flag

The flag atop the White House, seen here in a picture from Wednesday, has been flying high and has not lowered, like some other buildings, to honor coronavirus victims

Biden made the assertion as the death toll in the U.S. continues to surge and has now surpassed the levels of the Vietnam War, where 58,220 Americans lost their lives.

'It's April the 29, by the end of this month we will have lost more people from coronavirus  dead  than we lost in the entire Vietnam War  Americans lost in the entire Vietnam war,' Biden stumbled in the pre-recorded video.

More than 61,500 people have died in the U.S. from coronavirus and there are more than 1.06 million confirmed cases.

Biden has been highly critical of Donald Trump's response to coronavirus, claiming he exacerbated the outbreak by ignoring intelligence reports and warnings from health experts.

'Donald Trump either read his daily briefings and ignored the warnings, or didn't read them at all. Either way, it's a complete and unjustifiable dereliction of duty,' Biden tweeted Thursday.

The former vice president became the presumed Democratic nominee earlier this year when his remaining competition, progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, suspended his campaign and threw his weight behind Biden's campaign.
Simon Harris (left) and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Covid-19 Community Assessment Hub in DCU Collins Avenue (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA)

The Health Minister has urged the public to remain vigilant as the reproductive number for Covid-19 in Ireland remains stable.

Speaking in the Dail, Simon Harris said the modelling work in relation to the virus shows the reproductive rate remains between 0.5 and 0.8.

He said that the country has saved more than 3,500 lives by complying with the coronavirus measures.

Our modelling work estimated 4,800 people would have died today if we had not supressed #COVID19 in our community. Sadly, 1,190 have lost their lives today. Thanks to the efforts of the Irish people, over 3,500 lives have been saved. That is 3,500 reasons to #StayAtHome  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 30, 2020

He added: Between three to four people every day are being admitted to intensive care unit, the sickest patients in our country.

We must finish the job. If we want to give this country the very best chance of success we must continue with the work.

Mr Harris said people must guard against any sense of invincibility.

Some people are more vulnerable to this virus, but everyone is vulnerable to this highly infectious disease, he added.

Maybe in the last couple of days weve heard a growing commentary that its only people of a certain age or only people with certain conditions  its not.

Were all vulnerable to this virus so we must remain cautious and we must remain vigilant as individuals and together as a country.

150,000 #COVID19 tests done in Ireland so far, so sixth in EU. Thank you to all the staff making this happen. pic.twitter.com/WJdqShwRqh  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 30, 2020

I know that people want us to map out what the next phase looks like for Ireland, and we will tomorrow.

But weve got to get the timing right. Moving too quickly will set us up for failure and that failure will have real human consequences, devastating consequences that were all too aware of.

Earlier on Thursday, the Taoiseach identified five criteria for future decision making on lifting or easing Covid-19 restrictions, as he warned progress would be slow and gradual.

Leo Varadkar said a roadmap would be published in the coming days.

He said the five criteria were progress of disease; healthcare capacity and resilience; testing and contact tracing capacity; ability to shield at-risk groups; and risk of secondary morbidity.

The Taoiseach said: A plan is being developed to ease the lockdown and a roadmap to re-open Ireland.

Unfortunately for those who would like an immediate return to pre-Covid-19 levels, it will be slow and gradual.

'Extraordinary asks of our citizens have been made in recent weeks. So it is very welcome that a roadmap for exiting these emergency restrictions and measures in a safe manner will be set-out by the acting government tomorrow'  @MaryLouMcDonald#WEareInThisTogether #StayHome pic.twitter.com/lMSgdWvEOn  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) April 30, 2020

It will be done in a step-wise, tiered manner and will require continuous efforts to try and suppress the virus.

I know the lockdown is difficult and people feel cooped up and are feeling frustrated and trapped.

We must keep doing what we are doing because it is working.

We owe it to those who fight the virus every day and we owe it to the memory of those who have lost their lives and as a country we owe it to each other.

Mr Varadkar described the deaths in nursing homes and residential settings as a tapestry of sorrow, suffering and loss for a nation.

As always we are grateful to our nurses, doctors and healthcare staff who are giving their all to save lives and bring us through the worst of this emergency.

As a country we owe them so much and when this is over would like to take the opportunity to thank them properly.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was unfair for some members of the Government to hold up May 5 as a red letter day when restrictions could lift.

Critical discussions have to be more systematically opened up to inclusive participation Micheal Martin

She said: It has been most unhelpful that members have engaged in thinking out loud, and kite flying, and giving the impression that May 5 would be a red letter day and we would all be liberated from these restrictions.

That caused confusion, it was unfair and I think it was doubly unfair to have done that and then go and criticise complacency among the public.

On Wednesday night, chief medical officer Tony Holohan gave his strongest indication yet that Covid-19 restrictions will not be lifted on May 5.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is due to issue advice on restrictions to Government on Friday.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said there is widespread unease about the manner in which some decisions around Irelands handling of Covid-19 have been made.

No-one expects a perfect response and everyone understand the pressures key parts of the civil service are working under.

However critical discussions have to be more systematically opened up to inclusive participation.

There is simply a wish to be told in direct terms what the triggers are for certain key policy decisions as we see in other countries.
By Associated Press

BANGKOK: Sri Lanka's government is reimposing a 24-hour curfew across the Indian Ocean island nation Thursday after a recent resurgence of coronavirus cases.

Sri Lanka has 649 COVID-19 patients including seven deaths. Of the total, 308 cases were reported after April 22 and many of them are navy sailors or their close contacts.

The virus is believed to have entered a navy camp after sailors were deployed to search for a group of drug-addicted people who had contact with a COVID-19 patient and were evading quarantine

Authorities have isolated the camp and taken steps to quarantine about 4,000 troops there after infections rose.

The blanket curfew resumes at 8 p.m. It was originally imposed March 20 but had been eased in recent days for about two-thirds of the country.

The easing of the curfew had allowed movement by people in districts where the spread of the virus had been low.

The capital, Colombo, is among the districts considered high-risk and its 24-hour curfew was never eased.

Police strictly enforce the curfew and have arrested more than 41,000 violators since last month.
30.04.2020 LISTEN

The Director, Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) of the University of Cape Coast Dr. Mrs. Georgina Oduro has said that coronavirus and its subsequent Lockdown has unfortunately increased gender-based violence at home instead of encouraging unity and family togetherness. She explained that CEGRADD is a centre that does research and use the findings to do advocacy within the University community and also across the country. He said that coronavirus is a pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization and because of this "I have stopped watching international news because the death toll are scary". She continued that in her fair view, we ought to have closed our borders a little early than we did but the major problem is the stigmatization of people who have infected by the virus. "Prince Charles, the monarch in waiting was infected with the virus and as such the stigmatization isn't necessary and that can debar people from voluntarily opting to test for Covid-19" Dr. Oduro added.

She said looking Covid-19 and the workforce situation, Dr. Oduro said women are more in the service sector as compared to men, and during this pandemic, women are at more risk than men who normally are in the manufacturing and industry sectors of our economy. Because of Lockdown which necessitated the closure of schools, all kids are at home and the caring role of women have increased she added.

Dr. Theresah Addai Mununkum who is the Co-ordinator, Advocacy and Outreach of CEGRAD of the same University also in the panel advised that all shop owners should make sure that all customers adhere particularly to the hand washing protocols before entering their shops. "I was in a shop and had to compel some two gentlemen to wash their hands before entering the shop even though, the shop isn't mine".

Dr. Samuel Agblorti who is the Co-ordinator, Research of CEGRAD also adding his voice to whether we have done well or not said, since this is major pandemic and most countries haven't experienced such things before, he thinks we have done very well as a people. "Those who had Ebola problem might have some experience in how to deal with Covid-19". When people are hungry, they are tempted to look for food than to be thinking about coronavirus and these are some of the practical challenges that affected our partial Lockdown".

Responding to how gendered is Covid-19, Dr. Oduro said 60 percent of men are infected as compared to 40 percent being women. She continued that the notion of masculinity is part of the problem why coronavirus might be affecting more men than women. Women normally tend to go to hospital earlier than men and most time men go to hospital when their conditions are worsening and are at a critical stage as compared to women. "Research has proven that women are more well-protected biologically than men because that is linked to hormonal differences".

Dr. Theresa Addai Mununkum added that men tend to be very skeptical about things than women and might not take precautionary measures seriously to avoid being infected in their workplaces and other places which contributes to men being infected by Covid-19 than women. "From conception, the female foetus don't normally get miscarriaged as compared to male foetus but once we are born the burden of disease shifts to men as compared to women" Dr. Agblorti added.

Explaining how important Education is key during these times, Dr. Oduro said possibly men never knew that they are suffering from Covid-19 than women. She further added that men should stop being men and accept that all of us are vulnerable and as and when men feel unwell, they should seek help from the health facilities. "There is no shame in being careful and men shouldn't be too masculine in their posture and all should adhere to the safety protocols" Dr. Addae added.

All laws regarding safety protocols must be applied without fear or favour. Humans by their nature are deviant whether Whites or Blacks but the application of the law is what makes others law-abiding than others" Dr. Agblorti said.

Reacting to how market women are educated during this pandemic Dr. Addae Mununkum said our attitude of examining food stuff before buying should not be encouraged. She narrated an experience where she was going to buy cowhide which is locally called 'coat or weele'. She added that people come, pick, squeeze before buying. She was compelled to query the seller why she allowed that, the market woman retorted that, the buyer has a right to examine in order to buy what pleases him or her neglecting all the safety protocols surrounding Covid-19.

Dr. Samuel Agblorti added that, these are the times most married couples must interact a lot because all kids are home and the house chores should be shared between man and wife in order to ease the burden on the women. This is a positive experience which normally doesn't happen. "This is the first time I have all the complement of my family at home and that is increasing our bond and interaction. But, one problem is sometimes seeing one face for too long a time can also have it's problems".

Adding her voice on how to manage the home during this Covid-19 era, Dr. Georgina Oduro said she saw a video on social media where a lady was saying that President Akufo Addo should prepare for post coronavirus abortion care. The reason being that, sexual activity is high because most men and women have nothing doing and at home. Indeed some women are complaining that all their men do is eat and after eating they demand sex.

She added that surprisingly, gender-based violence is also going up. This is happening between people who already have marital issues and now that they are together because of coronavirus, the tensions are escalating leading to violence. "Some women are complaining that, their partners only eat and have sex with them and when the women complain of tiredness sometimes violence ensues" Dr. Oduro added.
The first batch of 217 migrant workers, stranded in Gujarat's Surat, returned to Odisha after undertaking a 60-hour-long journey, officials said on Thursday.

Four buses carrying the migrant workers, who hail from the Ganjam district, reached late on Wednesday night and were immediately quarantined at a facility, said collector Vijay Amruta Kulange.

The primary health screening of all the returnees have been done, he said.

We request all the residents of Ganjam to refrain from visiting these quarantine centres. Strict action will be initiated in case of any violation, Kulange said.

Around two lakh people from the district, stranded in different parts of the country due to the nationwide lockdown, have registered their names on the government portal to return home, he said



We have appealed to the people not to panic. The government has made all arrangements for safety of the returnees. All returnees will be quarantined for two weeks, the collector said.

The first batch of returnees are lodged in quarantine centres at Seragad and Dharakot, he said, adding that arrangement has been made for the collection of their swab samples for COVID-19 testing.

They cannot meet their family members during the stay in the quarantine centres, Kulange said.

The migrant workers paid for their journey, while the state government facilitated their travel.

Official sources said four more buses carrying migrant workers have already left Surat and are likely to reach the state by Friday morning. Most of them hail from the Ganjam district, while some are from Bhadrak, Kenbdrapara, Khurda and Jagatsinghpur districts.

We have got information that some people from Bhadrak are returning from Surat. As none of them have registered so far, they and their family members are requested to do the needful, said Bhadrak collector Gyan Das.

The Prabasi Odia Parivar Trust (POPT) in Surat has arranged for 10 more buses to help the stranded workers to return home.

Of the estimated 5 lakh Odias living in Surat, at least 3.5 lakh people have registered on the government portal, an official said.

Official sources said 116 students stranded in Kota in Rajasthan also started their journey to Odisha on Wednesday night.

The students are returning in four buses and maintaining social distancing, they said.

The buses will be travelling through Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and are likely to take 30 hours to reach Rourkela.

The state government has allowed 975 students to return to Odisha following their appeal.

The rest of the students will leave Kota in batches and arrangements have been made for their safe return, an official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dr Anthony Fauci, though, told reporters during a White House meeting with Donald Trump that the data on the drug, Remdesivir, needs to be further analysed.

Washington: US president Donald Trump on Wednesday greeted as good news reports that a Gilead Sciences Inc experimental antiviral drug might help fight the coronavirus, and infectious disease official Anthony Fauci said data shows it appears to help patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Fauci, though, told reporters during a White House meeting with Trump that the data on the drug, Remdesivir, needs to be further analysed.

Some trial data for the drug will likely be announced later on Wednesday at a White House task force briefing, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Gilead on Wednesday said Remdesivir helped improve outcomes for patients with COVID-19 in a clinical trial, and provided data suggesting it worked better when given earlier in the course of illness caused by the virus. The closely watched drug has moved markets in the past few weeks following release of partial information on several studies that painted a mixed picture of its effectiveness.

Former US Food and Drug Administration chief Scott Gottlieb said on Twitter there was now enough data to support authorising the drug for emergency use.

Fauci told reporters the data shows the drug had benefit in reducing the time to recover from the virus. While the data still must be peer-reviewed, he said it is opening the door to the possibility of a treatment.

There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for the highly contagious novel coronavirus, but many approaches are being tried while awaiting an effective vaccine to prevent infection by the virus.

Trump said it is a beginning that can be built upon.

Asked by Fox Business Network earlier if the results announced by Gilead were a positive for the economy, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said: Has to be a tremendous positive.

These are confidence-inspiring things that will help open the economy and get folks back to work, he said of any drug trials that show promise.
Jean Asselborn told RTL he received complaints from municipalities and residents regarding Belgian border controls.

Closures at the German border have caused consternation and chaos for weeks, but over the last few days, problems have increased at the Belgian border. Among the issues are additional checks occasionally leading to fines, strict protocol and a situation fraught with confusion and mixed messages. The minister has now contacted Belgian authorities to discuss the issues.

Asselborn said they had not experienced any trouble at the Belgian border until a few days ago, when complaints began pouring in. In recent days, the Belgian side of the border has strengthened checks on the Luxembourg border, as Belgium have not yet implemented an exit strategy from confinement.

Border officials are not just checking those entering the country, but also those leaving. Belgians need a good reason to leave the country, and grocery sopping in Luxembourg is not deemed to be a valid reason.

Asselborn said one must accept that the Belgian rules are different to Luxembourg's. As an example, if a Luxembourg resident went for a walk into Belgian territory without good reason or permission, they would have to accept the consequences.

 Domingos Oliveira

However, Asselborn criticised the recent events at the shopping complex in Schmiede, which lies on the border in the north of the Grand Duchy. He said in a shopping zone of this nature, it was impossible to tell where Luxembourg ends and Belgium begins, and it would therefore not be fair to fine people for crossing the border in this instance.

 Geoportail Grenz Letzebuerg-Belsch

As a result, Asselborn has contacted the Belgian authorities and advised the embassy that people are right to complain about the issues. He highlighted the need for understanding in such turbulent times and said the actions at the border did not foster a good atmosphere, comparing it to the closures at the German border. Asselborn's intervention with German authorities had led to several small border crossings reopening between the Grand Duchy and Germany, despite differences of opinion within the German government.

A meeting between European Interior and Foreign Ministers on Tuesday confirmed that border reflexes, as occurred in mid-March, would not happen again in future.
Thursday, April 30, 2020

Kimberly Daniels, a member of our Emerging Fellows program identifies players that could likely affect the world-power game in her fourth blog post. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members.

India, Iran, and Turkey are three regional powers being wooed as part of U.S., Russian, and Chinese geopolitical agendas. How they align their aspirations with the civilizational values of the U.S., Russia, and China may upset the balance of power. One of these or other stakeholders could influence a world-power pivot to Eurasias Heartland.

To advance their respective civilizational values, the U.S., Russia, and China have extended their rivalry through India, Turkey, and Iran. The U.S., an ally to Israel, firmly defends the values of Western European civilization. She seeks to cozy up with India in Asia and desires Turkey to support her interests in the Middle East. Russia is a self-described Eurasian civilization state. Shes friendly with Iran, pursues an alliance with India, and is improving relations with Turkey. China has been characterized as a civilization state due to her historical heritage, religious diversity, and distinct cultural identity. Despite border disputes with India, she aims to preserve their cultural and economic exchange, dating back to the Old Silk Road. She sweetens relations with Turkey through increased trade and wants Iran as a strategic partner. These regional powers could play critical roles in shifting the balance of world power.

An aspiring emergent global superpower determined to safeguard her borders, India has civil relations with the U.S., Russia, and China. Her foreign-policy agenda is aligned

with a multipolar power balance. Supposedly, India is moving away from some Western values  liberalism, individualism, and secularism  that conflict with traditional Indian culture. Yet, she may promote U.S. and Japanese interests in Asia. India could counter Chinas encroachment into Central Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Still, for her security, India will make nice with China, including joining Chinas Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Recently, India purchased Russias S-400 missile defense system against strong U.S. objections and sanctions. Her bilateral relationship with Russia across mutual interests likely will mean continued economic, political, security, and nuclear cooperation in the future.

Turkey is a wild card and complicates the rivalry between the U.S., Russia, and China with her own aspirations. A NATO member and Western ally against communism during the Cold War, she aspires to be a major regional power. Even so, she faces a Kurdish rebellion, Greek territorial disputes, and threatening Iranian power. Potentially, Turkey may stabilize the Middle East and contain Russias expanding influence. Still, she defied U.S. expectations and joined Russia in backing rebels in the Syrian War. Having secured Russias S-400 missile defense system, she is abandoning Western liberal democracy and embracing authoritarian rule. Plans to connect Turkeys Middle Corridor transportation network with the BRI supports Chinas trade ambitions in Eurasia. But how they address a bilateral trade deficit that favors China could better or sour their relationship.

Supported by Russia and China, Iran seemingly has hegemonic aspirations of being the central regional power in the Middle East and Central Asia. However, her increased involvement in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria has incited Israels military opposition. She rejects westernization and strategizes to limit U.S. influence in Central Asia. Trade with Russia is Irans saving grace, given the destabilizing impacts of U.S. economic sanctions to deter her from amassing nuclear weapons. Yet, despite their reciprocal friendliness, Russia refused Irans request for a S-400 missile defense system. While Iran sought but was denied full membership in the SCO, its likely she will stay connected to China through economic and cultural exchanges along the BRI. Their bilateral relationship could solidify Iran as Chinas strategic partner in the area.

India, Turkey, and Iran add to the complex rivalry between the U.S., Russia, and China.

Will these regional powers or other stakeholders influence a world-power pivot to the Eurasias Heartland? Understanding the forces that could drive or block change is key to reducing uncertainty.

 Kimberly Kay Daniels 2020
Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mame Yaa Aboagye has warned members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stop dragging the ruling partys name in the affairs of the Electoral commission.



According to Mame Yaa, the Electoral Commission (EC) is an independent body that has the right to make decisions without interferences.



She made these comments following allegations that the ECs recent meeting was backed by government.

Some EC officials held a meeting Saturday morning despite a court injunction on a planned workshop by the Commission.



The NDC believes the EC was empowered by the NPP to hold the meeting.



Mame Yaa wants the NDC to note that the EC is not controlled by any political party, hence the NPP has no influence on their decisions nor activities.



She stated that the government is busy fighting against the novel coronavirus pandemic and has no time to succumb to NDC dirty politics.



As a good citizen, one thing I know is Ghana does not belong to one political party that is why we chose democracy. If EC is doing something wrong, NDC should use the appropriate channel to resolve their issue and stop dragging NPP names into their affairs.



What a confused partyleave NPP out of your wahala because government is focused in fighting against COVID-19; hence will not be distracted. Does it mean that the former EC boss, Madam Charlotte OseI was controlled by the NDC when they were in powerIf not, then, why the blame game?...EC is an independent institution that is capable of making its own decision and the earlier NDC understands this the better for them









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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Robert Bapooh Lipot archives

Hon. Bapooh Lipot Robert, Secretary General of the opposition Union of the Peoples of Cameroon known in French as lUnion des Populations du Cameroun (UPC) has been appointed Member of the Board of Directors of the countrys Debt Recovery Company, SRC.

According to decree no. 2020/242 signed by President Paul Biya Thursday, April 30, 2020, Lipot will be Member of the Board of Directors of the Debt Recovery Company for a three-year mandate renewable once.

The third class traditional ruler in the countrys Centre Region and former Member of the National Assembly had his ambition to renew his stay at the law-making house squashed when the Constitutional Council disqualified his list for the February 9, 2020 parliamentary elections as UPC factions battling for supremacy presented parallel lists for the said election.

Leaving the Constitutional Council after the verdict last December, Lipot said he remains respectful of state institutions and those who incarnate them.

Hear Lipot: I am respectful of the institutions of the Republic and of those who embody them. I inherited from Augustin Frederick Kodock, a political testament that is not easy to assume. But I was trained to assume it. It is in this sense that when the Constitutional Council takes decisions that can, and even, infringe the rights of the individual that I am, I have a thought for Augustin Frederick Kodock who would never have realized great works for the UPC if he was interested in his political bruises; just as I have a thought for Ruben Um Nyobe who could never have fulfilled this great destiny for Cameroon if he had at any one moment been concerned with his own political bruises. I am a Republican; I remain entirely at the service of the cause of the UPC as Secretary General, but also in the service of the higher interests of my nation."

Thursdays appointment may well be in a bid to take Lipot out of the political wilderness, given that the UPC is an ally of the ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) where President Biya is National Chairman.

Created in 1989, the Cameroon Debt Recovery Company (SRC) was reorganised by Presidential Decree No. 2020/016 of January 9, 2020. Same day, decree no. 2020/017 approved its statutes. The structure has its place as the operational instrument of political restructuring in Cameroons banking sector.

Cameroon-Info.Net notes that decree no. 2020/243 signed Thursday appointed Madame Diffo nee Tchunkam Justine President of the Board of Directors of the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency, ART.
Oja also notes that squats can strengthen the pelvic floor, thereby helping with urinary incontinence and urinary frequency. Do's and don'ts Geromel advises people who are unfamiliar with squatting to "think like you're sitting in a chair." Begin by standing with your feet about hip-width apart and bending forward from the hips while keeping your shoulders back and your chest up. While leaning forward, bend your knees while keeping them over your toes. Keeping your knees aligned with your toes prevents them from falling inward, which can put undue strain on your knees. It's also important to keep most of your weight in your heels, as opposed to the balls of your feet. Having trouble keeping your heels on the ground? First, make sure you're really hinging at your hips, Geromel says. If your heels are still coming up, she suggests seeing a physical therapist to address the culprit (typically tightness in the calf, Achilles' tendon or ankle joint).

Although you'll feel the burn mostly in your glutes and quads, if you feel it in your abdominals as well, Oja says, that's a sign that you're doing it right. Many people "have a tendency to let their core just kind of hang out and roll their shoulders forward," Oja says. She says to "roll those shoulders back" before initiating the squat and to keep the core tight throughout. If you have never performed a squat or have any safety concerns, Geromel and Oja recommend squatting in front of a countertop that you can hold onto with a sturdy chair behind you, particularly if you live alone. That way, if you do fall, you will fall onto a chair. That said, if dizziness or a tendency to fall interfere with your ability to squat safely, you should address those issues with your medical provider before beginning to add squats to your workout routine. Loading Although it's normal to feel some discomfort with any exercise, pain signals a problem. "When you're moving, there shouldn't be pain unless it's muscle soreness," which typically feels like fatigue or burning in your legs and glutes, Oja says. But if you're experiencing stabbing sensations or a dull ache in your joints, Geromel and Oja suggest consulting a health-care provider to address the cause. If you're cleared to go ahead with workouts, they say, then consult a physical therapist or personal trainer who can give you exercises that target the same muscle groups without causing pain. Oja and Geromel suggest working with a physical therapist before you add squats into your routine if you have a history of knee problems, including a total or partial knee replacement, a torn ACL or any other knee injuries. Anyone with knee issues, Geromel says, should be especially mindful of their form. But, she says, "depending on why they have the knee pain, squatting can actually be a really healthy exercise." She explains that for people with mild chronic knee pain (as long as squatting doesn't exacerbate the pain), doing squats can strengthen the muscles surrounding the joints, thereby reducing pressure on them and alleviating the pain.

Creating a routine Geromel performs an initial assessment with her patients to see how many times they can safely stand up from a chair in 30 seconds. If you can safely perform 12 repetitions or fewer in the allotted time, she recommends squatting without weights and holding onto a sturdy table or counter for additional support if needed. Try building up to four sets of 12 to 25 repetitions, with 15 to 30 seconds of rest between sets. Once you can comfortably perform more than 12 sit-to-stands in 30 seconds, you can add weight to your squat. "And it can be anything," says Geromel, who suggests holding a heavy encyclopaedia or a gallon jug of water (which weighs a little more than three kilograms when full) to your chest if you don't have dumbbells. When using additional weight, Geromel suggests shooting for three to five sets of six to 10 reps with about a minute of rest, or more if you need to catch your breath, between sets. If you find six reps to be too challenging  if you cannot maintain good form or you need to pause to catch your breath  the weight is too heavy. If 10 feels easy, Geromel says, "it's time to bump it up."
LANSING, MI -- A pair of state senators say the actions of Sen. Dale Zorn last week are cause for change in the Senate and on the grounds of the state Capitol.

Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, said Wednesday she was introducing legislation to ban the Confederate symbol on Capitol grounds. The proposal comes days after Zorn, R-Ida, wore a face mask on the Senate floor that resembled the Confederate flag, and two weeks after the flag was flown during a protest of the states stay-at-home order.

During a Wednesday floor speech, Santana said the flag is often misrepresented and said its presence at the Capitol minimizes the contributions of the 15,000 Michiganders who died during the Civil War.

The Confederate battle flag is viewed by many  regardless of gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation  as a symbol of hate and racism," Santana said in a statement following the Senate meeting. It represents a tragic time in American history that led millions of Americans to fight and die against the oppression of slavery. Some claim it is a symbol of southern pride, however, Michigans role as a stalwart member of the Union during the Civil War should preclude those in Michigan claiming southern pride.

Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, said the Senate should censure Zorn for his conduct.

We cannot make progress or change by ignoring issues of race, or by tolerating examples of hatred, whether overt or covert, by microaggression or by accident, Geiss said on the Senate floor. I rise today to urge the Michigan State Senate to formally censure the gentleman from the 17th Senate District for his knowing and willing adornment of a Confederate flag pattern on a face mask to the meeting of this body.

Zorn initially denied wearing a mask depicting the flag, but eventually apologized for it, saying he did not intend to offend anyone. However, he also told WLNS that he thought it might get second looks after his wife gave it to him.

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.

Geiss also said the Senate should amend its rules to prohibit the adornment, display or promotion of symbols, attire, logo or insignia of the Confederacy and or white supremacy in any legislative chamber by its members. She went on to say that she was aware of Zorns apology, but that it was not enough.

Now while we acknowledge that the gentleman from the 17th District issued apologies days after being confronted on this issue, that apology was hollow and was insufficient to reflect the consequences and gravity of the actions, Geiss said.

Senate rules provide for the censure of a member determined to have violated the provisions of the rules regulating ethics and conduct. Geiss did not point to a specific rule Zorn violated, but said the bodys rules needed to be updated so similar actions do not occur again.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the decision earlier this year to remove themselves from the royal family. There were several factors involved in their decision to step back, but one was that the two wanted to give their only child, Archie, a more private life. But at what expense? Archies three cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, now live thousands of miles away. Will he ever be close with them?

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Archie | Reuters/Toby Melville/Pool

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family in March

When the new year started, Harry and Meghan had just returned from a six-week break on Vancouver Island in Canada. The two had taken a step back from royal life after a fairly difficult year. Meghan had been at the center of negative press that ultimately led to a lawsuit, and her relationship with the public had diminished as a result.

When the two returned to the United Kingdom in January, though, it wasnt back to business as usual. Rather, they made the surprising decision to step down as working royals and carve out a new place for themselves away from the royal family. Meghan and Harry then returned to Canada for several weeks. They came back to the U.K. to finish their final round of royal duties in early March, and their royal offices officially closed on March 31.

Harry, Meghan, and Archie are now living more than 5,000 miles from Archies cousins

Harry and Meghan took Archie to North America, where he would be able to live a more private life. Without the royal title and the ties to the royal family, Meghan and Harry felt that Archie had a better chance at achieving the privacy Harry was never given. In March, the two relocated from Canada to Los Angeles, California  about 5,400 miles from Archies cousins in the U.K.

Archie reportedly had only met his cousins a handful of times before he moved across the pond, according to ET Online. Since he is still so young, he wont remember those moments he shared with his cousins, which is why its important that he continues to make more memories with them through the years. But that wont be easy with the families so far apart.

Meghan Markle holds Archie as Prince George stands nearby | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

It will likely be extremely difficult for Archie to develop a close relationship with his cousins

Though Archie will certainly have some kind of relationship with George, Charlotte, and Louis, it will likely be difficult for the four to grow up with a close bond. Yes, there are means of communication such as phone calls and video chats, but possibility of days playing in the yard and enjoying lunch together seem to be off the table.

Harry and Meghan feel they have Archies best interests at heart, and its possible they have a solution for helping their son maintain a close relationship with the Cambridges. Their royal split is fairly new, and we dont yet know how often Harry and Meghan will return to the U.K. now that theyve left.

Its important for kids to develop close relationships with their siblings and cousins. According to the Chicago Tribune, relationships with cousins are good for emotional and mental health as well as personal growth. But if Archie only met the Cambridges a few times when they were living just a few miles apart, it speaks volumes for the kind of distance thats between them now  and what it means for their relationship down the road.
LONDON (Reuters) - Banks are dusting off their no-deal Brexit plans as concerns deepen that Britain and the European Union wont agree a trade deal by December as the COVID-19 pandemic compounds fundamental disagreements over future relations.

Financial services exports to the EU are worth about 26 billion pounds ($32.51 billion) a year, and although Britain left the bloc in January it still has unfettered access until the end of December under a transition agreement, allowing banks, asset managers and insurers to continue serving their biggest export market.

But that leaves the UK with just a few months to negotiate a trade deal with the EU that would come into effect in January to avoid a cliff-edge in business activity. If it wants an extension to the transition period, it must ask Brussels by the end of June.

Brexit is firmly back up the agenda, people are talking about it and are very conscious of the very short time to get any deal agreed, said Catherine McGuinness, political leader of the City of London financial district, adding that financial industry groups met in recent days to discuss preparations.

I dont think anybody is expecting a transition extension at the moment, but the timetable is very tight. We are dusting down our papers on the various solutions to the cliff-edge problems.

Despite fundamental disagreements in the talks and political focus shifting to the pandemic, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted he wont request an extension.

Brexit has not gone away. Its full steam ahead. The trade negotiations are not going smoothly and we have to assume some chance of an exit without a deal, a source at a major global bank said.

The governments firm no-extension stance has killed off lobbying efforts by the financial industry, the source added.

Miles Celic, chief executive of TheCityUK, which promotes Britain as a financial centre, said the government had to be taken at face value, and bankers said the sector would not ask for an extension.

People are looking at no deal preparedness again, said Rachel Kent, a financial services partner at Hogan Lovells law firm who was present at the industry talks on Brexit.

Banks are largely reviving plans they had when a no-deal Brexit loomed several times in 2019 before Britain and the EU signed off on a divorce settlement and transition period.

Under the plans banks would move more staff and activities to their new EU hubs to serve customers inside the bloc rather than from Britain.

A source at a second major global bank said that although the coronavirus pandemic had eclipsed Brexit for now, its no-deal plans were still at hand.

All the plans are there, its not like they didnt exist, the source said.

JUNE MILESTONE

The source at the first major global bank said everybody was aware that financial market access under the EUs patchy equivalence system was the best the sector could expect.

Brussels grants direct financial market access if it deems a foreign countrys regulations are in line with its own. The EU has said it would look to complete its assessment of UK equivalence also by the end of June.

June is a key time politically and the key priority is those equivalence assessments being in place sufficiently in advance of the end of the transition period, a European banking industry official said.

Obtaining equivalence is critical for clearing houses in London to avoid them having to tell EU clients in September to move positions worth billions of euros out of Britain by the end of the year.

Although we would love to see progress by June, I am not holding my breath because, lets deal with COVID first, the City of Londons McGuinness said.

There is already talk that Britain may prefer not to have a trade deal to avoid having its hands tied while supporting an economy thrown into deep recession by the pandemic, Hogan Lovells Kent said.

There is a feeling that can best be done without the constraint of being in the EU with issues like state aid and the need to have consent before supportive measures can be taken.

Britain also has to decide whether to grant equivalence type access to EU financial firms that want to serve UK customers.

Bankers and McGuinness said Britain should go ahead and grant such access regardless of what the bloc decides on financial market access for Britain in coming months.

We should be an open trading nation, we always have been and ought to remain so. It would be cutting our own nose to spite our faces if we keep people out, McGuinness said.
A Cork drug dealer who was caught getting off the Dublin train with more than 100,000 worth of heroin had texts on his phone showing he was recruiting others to deal drugs in Cork city.

Judge Helen Boyle said this recruitment of others by Gary Cambridge, 35, was an aggravating factor in the case and she sentenced him at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to seven years with the last year suspended.

You were recruiting other people to  I wont call it a line of work  that can only bring misery to others, Judge Boyle said.

Detective Garda Paul Leahy, who caught Cambridge with the very large stash of heroin together with almost 2,000 worth of cocaine, gave evidence of drug-related text messaging on Cambridges phone.

One message to a young lady was encouraging her to sell drugs and feed her own habit and he said he would give her a good price, Det Garda Leahy said.

As well as this active encouragement of the young woman, there was also a warning to her by way of text. The detective said the message was to the effect that, If payment was not forthcoming the Dubs would be down.

Det Garda Leahy had charged Gary Cambridge of 6 Mount Brosna, Mayfield, Cork, with a number of counts related to the drugs seizure at the railway station.

The most serious charge to which Cambridge pleaded guilty was one of having heroin and cocaine with a combined street value exceeding 13,000  the threshold figure that allows for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Det Garda Leahy received confidential information about Cambridge trafficking large quantities of heroin from Dublin to Cork on a regular basis. We believe his dealing was from a high level all the way down to street level, he said.

Det Garda Leahy monitored passengers disembarking at Kent Station in Cork from the Dublin train on September 4, 2019.

I saw Gary Cambridge with a backpack on his back and a mobile phone in his hand. I identified myself as a member of An Garda Siochana, the detective said.

Cambridge admitted there and then that he had gear in the bag. Five packets in the backpack, each one tied at the top, contained heroin. There was a sixth bag of heroin tied in the same way in his pocket, along with the smaller bag of cocaine.

At interview, he said he was under duress to repay a drugs debt of 6,000 to 8,000 and later said the debt amounted to 10,000.

He admitted that he had travelled to Dublin for heroin on two other dates before September 2019.

When his phone was examined it showed his activity from a high level to street level. There was a tick-list of nicknames and aliases.

"We believed that he could have transported four to five kilos of heroin to Cork from May 2019 to when he was arrested (in September 2019). He tried to play down his involvement, Det Garda Leahy said.

Siobhan Lankford, defence senior counsel, said Cambridge pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, he was on a methadone treatment programme in prison and he had undergone a drug treatment programme lasting 18 months in Coolmine but relapsed afterwards.

Ms Lankford said that a key part of his cooperating was telling gardai the PIN number of his phone so they could examine the contents.
[April 30, 2020] ENR Rankings Put Black & Veatch at the Heart of Digital Transformation

At its heart the world's digital transformation relies on clean energy and the rapid, resilient transmission of data and information. Securing top four finishes in three key Engineering News-Record's (ENR) rankings puts Black & Veatch (News - Alert) at the center of enabling the digital society. This marks the fifth year in a row that Black & Veatch has ranked #2 in Power in the ENR's Top 500 Design Firms report. In industries being reshaped by digital transformation, Black & Veatch continues to be a strong presence, securing a #3 ranking for Telecommunications and #4 for Water. The company is successfully fulfilling clients' drive for greater sustainability - be it through more energy-efficient water services, greater use of renewable power generation, or widescale distributed infrastructure deployment to advance power utilities, commercial and industrial customers. "One of the things that sets us apart is our highly innovative culture that gives us the ability to add value for our clients at every point of the infrastructure life cycle. As digital transformation cuts across traditional boundaries, we are also increasingly able to foster new ways of working by sharing the deep institutional knowledge within our business across new elements of our client base," said Steve Edwards (News - Alert), CEO of Black & Veatch. "The engineering and construction sectors in which we operate are evolving rapidly. Our continued success in the ENR rankings demonstrates how well we are able to help clients stay ahead of these changes." In today's digital era success requires proven expertise in the design, construction and management of critical infrastructure; underpinned by leading-edge capabilities in data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Utilities, commercial enterprises and governments need partners able to plan and deliver a physical asset base fully augmented with sensors, wireless connectivity and data analytics to create cyber-physical systems which enhance planning, operation and management. Here are some current examples of the ways in which the Black & Veatch is driving innovation across critical infrastructure markets: Black & Veatch provided the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services on a new onshore wind facility for Capital Power, a North American power producer. The Cardinal Point Wind Project is a new 150-megawatt (MW) onshore wind facility located in McDonough and Warren Counties, in Illinois.

Black & Veatch was selected by PowerSouth to engineer and manage construction of a combined cycle gas turbine facility that will deliver clean and efficient energy to customers across Alabama and northwest Florida.

A leader in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, Black & Veatch has pioneered new mobility from the earliest stages. As of early 2020, the company has deployed 1,455 high-power DC Fast Charger posts for 332 Electrify America sites in eight U.S. regions. Black & Veatch's end-to-end knowledge of transportation, power distribution and integrated infrastructure systems led to a rapid scale to meet Electrify America project timelines.

The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems migrated to a digital, internet protocol system to ensure their 24/7 critical communications reliability and future-readiness. Black & Veatch designed the upgraded statewide communication system, integrating separate technologies into one cutting-edge system that supports bandwidth-intensive apps like telemedicine, location mapping and sensor-collected field data.

Black & Veatch's water business is developing one of the world's first artificial intelligence-enabled water industry digital twins, for Anglian Water in England. What separates the digital twin from a conventional model is that the twin is in constant dialogue with its physical counterpart, enabling Anglian Water to simulate and scenario test options before actioning them in the real world.

Through its Oil & Gas business the company commenced jointly outfitting Golar LNG-owned LNG carrier, Gimi, with Black & Veatch's patented PRICO liquefaction technology. Black & Veatch teamed with Keppel Shipyard Limited to convert the Gimi into a floating LNG vessel supporting the development of Phase 1 of BP's Greater Tortue/Ahmeyim field, located off Mauritania and Senegal.

The company also successfully completed the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract to create India's first east coast LNG terminal. The facility, at Ennore, has a send-out capacity of 5 million metric tons per annum.

Black & Veatch's Federal business was selected as the Designer of Record Joint Venture Partner on the design-build team for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District's Next NGA West (N2W) campus. It's the largest contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the past decade.

Using an analytics platform developed by Black & Veatch, the City of Lawrence, Kansas, can aggregate and visualize large amounts of data from diverse sources including SCADA, LIMS and weather to optimize process performance and better manage energy and chemical use across multiple water and wastewater treatment plants. The platform is AI-enabled, and machine learning is conducted on selected datasets to provide early warning of upcoming issues.

Black & Veatch helped the Board of Public Utilities of Kansas City, Kansas (Kansas BPU) implement an advanced metering system that integrates AMI consumption, SCADA supply data and cell-based logger information in near real-time to create an automated daily water loss report. This integration improved the understanding of leakage in the system and enabled calculation of the actual volume and savings associated with water loss reduction activities.

A large U.S. utility replaced their 30+ year Customer Information and Billing Mainframe System with Oracle (News - Alert) Utilities Customer to Meter (C2M), a comprehensive system to support the entire Meter to Cash lifecycle. Black & Veatch Management Consulting deployed their team of experts focused on project management, system functionality and organizational readiness to allow the client to become one of the first utilities to successfully deploy C2M and to successfully deploy the companion Oracle Utilities Mobile Workforce Management (MWM) System. The success of this partnership has positioned the client to continue offering exceptional service to the 1.8 million residents that they serve.



About Black & Veatch Black & Veatch is an employee-owned engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries by addressing the resilience and reliability of our world's most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2019 were US$3.7 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005618/en/

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Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) requesting it to declare polls to the nine vacant seats of the state Legislative Council 'at the earliest'.

Koshyari's decision to request the poll panel to hold elections comes despite the state cabinet's two recommendations to the him to nominate Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the Upper House of the state legislature through the Governor's quota.

He has to get elected to either House of the legislature by May 27.

The Election Commission is likely to discuss holding legislative council polls in Maharashtra, which were deferred due to the spread of the coronavirus, on Friday.

Sources in the poll panel said though they have not received the communication of the Governor so far, the issue could be discussed on Friday as all three ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra -- the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress -- have appealed to the EC to conduct the Legislative Council polls, saying social distancing and other precautions can be taken during the voting procedure.

Since the Raj Bhavan has written, the communication would also be on the Commission's table on Friday, the sources said.

A statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said a letter written by Uddhav Thackeray requesting the Governor to write to the ECI regarding holding of the biennial elections was handed over to him on Thursday evening.

The letter was handed over by state Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena secretary Milind Narvekar, it said.

The biennial elections to the nine seats from the MLAs' quota, which fell vacant on April 24, were postponed by the ECI in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thackeray was sworn in as the chief minister on November 28 last year when he was not a member of the legislature. As per the rule, he has to get elected as legislator within six months.

The tenure of the two vacant seats from the governor quota ends by mid-June.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat, the legislature party leader of the Congress said that Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress have written separate letters to the ECI requesting it to hold elections to the nine vacant council seats to avoid uncertainty over continuance of Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister.

Thorat said the letter mentions that the Maha Vikas Aaghadi, comprising Sena, NCP and Congress, enjoys a clear majority in the Legislative Assembly and Thackeray has won the vote of confidence in the 288-member state assembly.

Thorat said that in his letter to the ECI, he has mentioned that social distancing norms and all lockdown protocols will be followed during the election process.

Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the decision of the governor to write to the ECI.

He said the Governor has followed the constitutional norms and precedent that a Governor-nominated member should not be a minister or a chief minister.

"I am confident that the ECI will consult the Ministry of Home Affairs and announce the election dates soon. I wish the chief minister well. Ina democratic process, solutions can be found through dialogue. There is no point in criticising a person holding a constitutional post," he said.

Among the nine seats which fell vacant the Bharatiya Janata Party had three, Congress two, NCP three and Shiv Sena one.

But according to the present numbers in the Assembly, BJP is slated to get four, Shiv Sena and NCP two each and Congress one.
How can I rebuild my business as fast as possible?"

Its the one question all founders and CEOs are considering right now.

And it's the wrong one.

Instead, we should be asking, If I were starting my business today from scratch, what business would I build?

Mid-crisis, I spoke to a New York Citybased founder who runs a wildly successful national brick-and-mortar and ecommerce business  that is, it was wildly successful until the coronavirus laid waste to her entire industry. Its natural to want to fight the carnage, to take up the clarion call of resistance and defiantly get those stores reopened as soon as possible. After all, this is our generations Independence Day (albeit the alien is within, but same outcome).

But what if the coronavirus didnt just close this companys doors? What if it actually opened an aperture to an alternative universe  one where her products fly off supermarket shelves faster than ever?

RELATED: 6 Strategies You Need to Run Your Company Through Uncertainty

I asked her, Rather than fighting to reopen your own stores (which come with high operating costs) as soon as possible, and selling your product online (which comes with high customer acquisition costs), what if you redeployed those resources to find more supermarkets to sell in? Less capex, less infrastructure and more cash runway to stay alive.

Explore the answer, and your next question might just become: What if Im actually better off in this new world than the one Im trying to go home to?

Now is the time all leaders should resist the reflex to preserve the status quo. Every business was built for the time before COVID-19. If you dont act intentionally, you could end up rebuilding a business that is actually a relic.

So clear some mind space, light a candle, reimagine their business as a blank slate and run through this simple self-audit:

1. Give yourself permission to challenge every assumption.

Block out the mirage of frenetic stock market swings and forecast what the world will actually look like in one year. What I know for sure is that seemingly conservative assumptions of today will end up naively optimistic in retrospect.

RELATED: Top 5 Crisis-Response Steps for Entrepreneurs

Qatalyst Partners points out that both the 1929 and 2000 crashes lasted three years and saw five false rallies of 20 percent before reaching the bottom. You should assume consumer sentiment will be in the tank for longer than anyone projects, because thats just how it always goes.

But don't be afraid to accept this downside scenario. With self-awareness comes the greatest arbitrage in business: the ability to iterate before youre forced to.

2. Write down how your business has evolved since launch.

In retrospect, the biggest upside that materialized within your operation was probably never on your radar  and it definitely wasnt in your pitch deck. Most companies ignore the true nuggets of gold that are waiting to be mined within their own four walls.

RELATED: The Light at the End of the Tunnel: 50 Reasons to Be Hopeful During This Crisis

Need inspiration? Remember that Kodak actually invented the digital camera in 1975  then blew off its inventor and shoved the patent in a draw until it was too late to stave off bankruptcy.

Before COVID-19, were you treating a product or service as a mere tinkering when it should have been the main event? Reorient version 2.0 of your business to go after it!

3. Before this crisis, were you really happy with how things were going in your business, or at least, were you happier than your peers who have a boss?

If the answer to either question is no, then youve just diagnosed a misalignment between your dreams and reality. A few years back, Wharton School of Business conducted a study of 11,000 graduates that found the number one predictor of happiness was not money, but entrepreneurship. They say cash is king, but being your own boss is checkmate. Don't rebuild the same business to satisfy your ego; rebuild it to satisfy your soul. Life is too short, as we are being reminded once again.

RELATED: How to Stabilize & Fortify Your Business in a COVID Economy

No one has all the answers in these uncertain times, but I do believe theres no chance of finding them if you start out asking the wrong question. The stakes  and the opportunities  have never been greater. The federal government has approved $2 trillion in stimulus and will loan billions of dollars in cheap capital to help rebuild businesses. Don't squander it by making a carbon copy from a bygone era.

Related:

Free Webinar | May 18: Franchise Bible: Financial Mastery

3 Easy Ways to Stay Productive in Stressful Times

3 Ways to Give Back That Don't Require a Financial Investment



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Julie Baxter Payer, deputy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, said she could not comment on specific cases but noted that coronavirus tests were more scarce in the early days of the pandemic and that the rules for who got tested were more strict  symptoms had to be present and tests could be done only in hospitals, for instance. But she emphasized that whenever a doctor ordered a test for a patient, the home made sure a test was administered.
Pavinya Nithiyakumar, left, and Nigish Nithiyakuma, right, were stabbed to death at their home in Ilford. (PA)

A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after two toddlers were stabbed to death in east London.

Nineteen-month-old Pavinya Nithiyakumar and three-year-old Nigish Nithiyakumar died after suffering knife wounds at their home in Ilford.

A man currently receiving treatment in hospital was arrested on Wednesday and remains under police guard.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to the scene at an address on Aldborough Road North at around 5.30pm on Sunday to reports of a man and two children having been injured.

Police attending the scene of the stabbing in Aldborough Road North, Ilford. (PA)

Pavinya was pronounced dead at the scene and Nigish was taken to hospital where he later died.

Detective chief inspector Vicky Tunstall called their deaths "extraordinarily tragic" and has called for anyone with any information to come forward.

She said: The ending of these innocent young lives is extraordinarily tragic and we are working hard to fully understand what may have caused this to happen.

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

Coronavirus: Remote parts of UK could be allowed out of lockdown earlier

Nurse, 66, who died from coronavirus fell ill three days before retirement

How many coronavirus cases are there in your area?

"Whilst I know the effects of this crime are reverberating throughout the local community, please be reassured that we are not seeking any other person in connection with the deaths and there is no cause for the community to be fearful or alarmed.

Scotland Yard are not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident.
Basel, Switzerland, April 29, 2020

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) reported today that Ms. Savitha Ram Moorthi will be appointed Head of Global Quality Management and a member of the Extended Management Committee of Basilea as of June 1, 2020. Ms. Ram Moorthi joined Basilea from Novo Nordisk Health Care, Zurich, Switzerland, on February 1, 2020, as Head of Quality Compliance Systems & Safety. She holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and a Masters in Pharmacy from Nagpur University, India. At Novo Nordisk, Ms. Ram Moorthi served as Director Clinical Quality and Pharmacovigilance responsible for the oversight of Quality Management Reviews, clinical quality and pharmacovigilance for International Operations. Prior to this, she worked as Director Clinical Operations for Region Europe.

David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer, commented: We are very pleased that Ms. Ram Moorthi will assume the role of Head of Global Quality Management at Basilea. She has extensive experience in the fields of quality management, clinical operations, regulatory and pharmacovigilance, demonstrating both leadership and project oversight. We wish her continued success in her new role.

Ms. Ram Moorthi will succeed Dr. Anne Stehlin, who has been Head of Global Quality Management since October 2018 and will be leaving the company to pursue another opportunity. David Veitch added: We thank Dr. Stehlin for her valuable contribution to Basileas progress over the last 18 months and wish her all the best in her future career.

About Basilea

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on the development of products that address the medical challenges in the therapeutic areas of oncology and infectious diseases. With two commercialized drugs, the company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com .

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This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com

investor_relations@basilea.com

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com .

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Nestle Ghana Limited is supporting various institutions and communities in Ghana, in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, through several donations valued at a total of GHC 2.4 million.



Managing Director of Nestle Ghana, Philomena Tan, stated Nestle is part of the social fabric in Ghana having operated here for more than 62 years. Throughout this tough period, our workforce including our factory and distribution network have shown tremendous commitment to ensure that the population continues to have access to affordable nutritious food and beverages. There is no business without society and the health and wellbeing of society is a key priority of responsible business. The opportunity to offer help to the vulnerable in society and supporting the government effort to mitigate the challenges resulting from COVID-19 is apt.



She also joined the calls of many to appreciate the immense contribution of frontline workers including the Health Care Professionals across the country, working tirelessly to keep all of us safe.



Partnering with the Ghana Red Cross Society



Through the global partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC), Nestle has donated cash, food and beverages to the Ghana Red Cross Society, to support COVID-19 relief in Ghana.



Nestle food and beverages were distributed to 50,000 families in selected communities in Accra and Kumasi along with information on COVID-19 precautionary measures, healthy-eating tips and messaging on prevention of iron deficiency.



The additional funds will be used to undertake Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activities in selected deprived communities impacted by COVID-19 and for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers and medical equipment for health facilities.



Contributing to other relief efforts in the country



Nestle Ghana also contributed to a collective donation by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to the National COVID-19 Relief fund.



The company also donated beverages for distribution to vulnerable people as part of the Relief Boxes Programme initiated by the Rebecca Foundation.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Tauranga photographer Alisha Taylor has managed to raise even more money for the Tauranga Community Foodbank and got the shock of her life while doing it.

Alisha thought she was going into a zoom meeting with the Tauranga Foodbank board as a thank you for the money she has helped raise but was greeted by Hilary Barry and Jeremy Wells from TV Ones Seven Sharp instead.

Shes this weeks winner of the ASB Good as Gold competition and the foodbank will be given $2500. She receives the same amount for herself.

Upon hearing the news, Alisha burst into tears causing Hilary to start crying as well.

It was all just a bit overwhelming, it's really unexpected, but also really beautiful to be acknowledged.

Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown Alisha has been walking the streets of Otumoetai photographing families for the Front Steps Project.

The global project, started by Cara Soulia and Kristen Collins in the United States, portrays people living in their bubble and raises money for charity.

To abide by alert level four rules, Alisha has walked to every family she has photographed and taken photos from a safe distance.

The professional photographer has taken photos for close to a hundred families and walked countless kilometres.

In exchange for the photographs, families are asked to donate as little or as much as they like to the Tauranga Foodbank.

We didn't want to put pressure on people financially at this time, so it's just purely whatever they want to donate.

Todd and Katie Hunter with their daughter Tillie. Image: Alisha Taylor Photography.

Since bringing the project to Tauranga, Alisha has been joined by six other photographers and together they have raised $4815 for the foodbank - not including the prize money.

She says having the other photographers join the project has made it even more worth it because theyve all put in effort as well.

Alisha has really enjoyed capturing memories for people and winning the competition is the icing on the cake.

All the hard work and effort that's gone into it, I just loved every minute of it. Now to have this [win] on top, made it extra special.

It's just amazing to be acknowledged like that and I'm just out there doing my own little project.

Tauranga Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin helped set up the surprise for Alisha and says she giggled all day thinking about the shock she would get.

It was so exciting, because Alisha has put in many hours to this project with no thought of receiving anything in return. No motivation there for her whatsoever.

It was just to share some love with families in her neighbourhood with them having a memory and then asking for support for us, which she has done an amazing job with.

Knowing that she was going to be surprised with some reward, even though that probably doesn't sit very comfortably with her, was brilliant because she deserves it.

Nicki is grateful to all the photographers involved in the project and says the money raised will enable them to buy all the staple food items needed to ensure their food parcels are useful and nutritious.

The demand for help from foodbank has increased during lockdown and Nicki thinks it will continue to grow.

Another win from the Front Steps Project is the awareness it has raised in the community about foodbank, she says.

Maybe some of the people that Alisha photographed weren't even aware of our charity or what we did and now they are. So that's huge, that's priceless.

The Drinnan Family had fun capturing their lockdown memory. Image: Alisha Taylor Photography.

Alisha says the money she receives will help her business because her work came to an abrupt stop when lockdown started and will take time to build back up again as the restrictions ease.

She also plans to take her family out to celebrate when they can and have a separate soiree with the six other photographers that took part in the project.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente

The Wall Street produced an intriguing piece the other day, The Secret Group of Scientists and Billionaires Pushing a Manhattan Project for Covid-19, which while picked up and signal-boosted by other venues  Business Insider, Daily Mail, Newsweek, Beckers Hospital Review (the best)  doesnt seem to have generated any additional reporting. The scientists, billing themselves as Scientists to Stop COVID-19, have produced an oddly untitled deliverable[1] (PDF, seventeen pages) dated March and April 2020. Its worth a read. (Two hours ago, news came that the administration has initiated Project Warp Speed, which seems inspired by this project, but theres no reporting on personnel, and its not clear they adopted the recommendations of the scientists. Im guessing that the issues I am about to raise for the deliverable of the Secret Group will also apply to Project Warp Speed[2].)

Given that personnel is policy, Ill first reduce people mentioned in the Wall Street Journal story, and the scientists who signed the March-April deliverable to tabular form. After that, I will take a quick look at the scientists deliverable, focusing especially on issues of governance and restoring our economy.

As a sidebar, I must protest at the PR-driven use of Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project cost $23 billion in US dollars and employed 130,000 people. I dont think anything of that scale is being proposed, unfortunately. End sidebar.

Now lets look at the billionaire and multimillionaire backers of well, whatever the project is really called; Ill call it, following the Wall Street Journal, the Secret Group. In addition to backers, there are also fixers, who connect the backers and the scientists to the administration, agencies, and other firms, primarily in Big Pharma. I have ordered the backers and fixers not alphabetically but by net worth.

Table I: The Backers (and Fixers)

Non-Scientists Firm(s) Net Worth Other Michael Milken Milken Family Foundation $3.7 billion Convicted felon Peter Thiel Clarium Capital, Palantir $2.2 billion Venture capitalist Brian Sheth Vista Equity Partners $2 billion Private equity Jim Palotta Raptor Group, Tudor Investment $1 billion Private investor Thomas Hicks, Jr. Hicks Holdings, LLC $700 million Private equity, Chair, Republican National Committee, Trump National Finance Co-Chairman Steve Pagliuca Bain Capital $450 million Private equity David Solomon Goldman $100 million CEO Nick Ayers America First Policies $12-$54 million Aide to Pence

In essence, the country would be betting on venture capitalists and private equity specialists to solve the COVID-19 epidemic; oligarchs, in other words. Im not entirely sure thats a good bet, even leaving aside debacles like Uber; private equity is, after all, responsible for a range of social ills, including surprise billing from practices in privatized emergency rooms, to our collective difficulties in getting a good nights sleep on a decent mattress. The presence of fixers in the form of Trumps finance chair, in addition to Pences gofer, is also interesting. It is rational to develop connections to the current administration; however, the backers may well regard saving the Trump administrations bacon as the first priority  he has, after all, done very well for them  with the successful taming of SARS-COV-2 as a happy by-product, but a nice-to-have, not a have-to-have. But perhaps Im too cynical.

Now let us turn to the scientists. I have listed them in alphabetical order, but I removed all their degrees because they messed up the table.

Table II: The Scientists

Scientist Primary Base Serial Entreprener Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Howard Hughes Medical Institute Dr. Thomas J. Cahill Newpath Management Dr. Benjamin Cravatt Scripps Research Institute  Dr. Lynn R. Goldman Milken Institute School of Public Health Dr. Akiko Iwasaki Yale  Dr. R. Scott Kemp MIT Dr. Michael Z. Lin Stanford Dr. David Liu Harvard    Dr. Michael Rosbash Brandeis  Dr. Stuart Schreiber Harvard   Dr. Edward Scolnick Merck  Dr. Jonathan W. Simons Prostate Cancer Foundation Dr. Ramnik Xavier Harvard 

This certainly is a list of the best and the brightest (If I had a column headed Nobel, there would be two). Nevertheless, in essence, the country would be betting a committee dominated by serial entrepreneurs in the biomedical field and by two institutions  the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute  to come up with the correct recommendations to solve the pandemic. That seems more than a little risky. Where, for example, is Johns Hopkins? And why are there no epidemiologists?

Having looked at personnel, Im going to look at two policy recommendations. (Im skipping over the Committee prioritizing remdesivir[2]; my laypersons sense is that there are a lot of potentia treatments out there, and it makes more sense to accelerate many rather than one. I also note that the stock market just had a massive pop based on a preliminary remdesivir result from Gilead, and I certainly hope that none of the backers were front-running it.)

First policy recommendation: Massive testing. From the Taleb-adjacent New England Complex Systems Institute, Chen Shen and Yaneer Bar-Yam, Massive testing can stop the coronavirus outbreak:

At this time in many places in the world, including the US, there are insufficient tests to achieve widespread testing. This limits our ability to use this approach. Still, it is possible in principle for the test to be produced rapidly and cheaply and then applied massively to identify cases limiting the need to use other approaches such as lockdowns. Once a large number of tests are available, massive specific testing can achieve the desired outcome of stopping the outbreak.

The scientists write on page 12 (footnotes omitted):

All employees and students must certify (via smartphone app), before leaving home, that they are not experiencing enough of the following COVID-19 symptoms to exceed a calculated risk, weighted by symptom frequency, of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 (incidence frequency and standard error areshown, with data sources): a. Fever (0.640.030)24 b. Sinus pain (0.500.18)4 c. Cough (0.460.032) 24 d. Reduced or altered sense of smell or taste (0.440.17) e. Expectoration (0.320.036) f. Stuffy nose (0.250.15) g. Chills (0.18.044) h. Fatigue (0.180.025) i. Sore throat (0.130.039) j. Headache (0.130.037)2,4k. Difficulty breathing (0.110.034)2,4l. Joint or muscle pain(0.0990.023)3,4m. Diarrhea (0.0560.015) n. Vomiting (0.0260.018) This certification should detect the vast majority of symptomatic cases, including mildly symptomatic ones, among those who accurately respond. None of these individual symptoms are specific to COVID-19, but in aggregate they can be used to assess an individuals risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, and even if caused by other pathogens are a prudent basis for staying at home. The acceptable level of calculated risk may differ among occupations (for example, nursing home caregivers could be subject to a very low risk threshold).

First, the Complex Systems Institute lists five approaches to mass testing: Self-reporting and diagnosis, contact tracing, lockdowngeographic community identification, neighborhood generic symptomatic testing, massive specific testing, and targeted random sampling. The scientists have opted for the first approach, but I would expect some discussion. Instead, they simply self-reporting and diagnosis via an app.

Second, what on earth could certify possibly mean? What is the certifying authority? Local health agencies? The State? The Federal Government? Facebook? What is the penalty for a false claim? Or is this simply a nudge theory endeavor, with the certification performing the function of the Close Door button on an elevator that does not actually function?

Third, what happens to the data, which includes a persons idenity, their home  or, I suppose, wherever they slept last night  and medical data? Given Peter Theil of Palantirs presence as a backer, one might suspect nothing good.

Fourth, only 81% of the United States population has a smart phone. What about them? Will lthere be a subsidy to buy them? And what about people who prefer to use contract phones? What happens if you lose your phone? What happens if you lend your phone? What happens if a whole family has one phone?

Fifth, surely this depends on each individual having a unique identifer? That amounts to a national ID, which is, to say the least, controversial.

Sixth, a mere certification, in the absence of free testing and free treatment, is simply an incentive to game the system. If people need to feed their families, certification will be a secondary consideration.

All in all, one might speculate that the backers and the scientists are both a little detached from the majority of the population.

Second policy recommendation: An empowered council. From page 12:

We propose that the federal government appoint an empowered council that will work with U.S. and global stakeholders to coordinate the required development and investment actions in an efficient, time-sensitive, and non-partisan way. The proposed centralized approach has proven effective in the past while responding to global emergencies. A similar approach effectively accelerated the development of a polio vaccine in the 1950s. In this celebrated case, the private National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (later known as the March of Dimes) provided centralized funding and technical decision-making to ensure the development and availability of a vaccine for what was at the time a devastating infectious disease. Such coordination requires centralized decision making to manage the activities across multiple individual promising approaches, and among the supporting functional and funding effortsthus our recommendation to appoint an  empowered council . A prospective agreement must be established primarily among the regulators, the key funders, and key global stakeholders to ensure that the empowered council has the authority to direct the overall enterprise. The empowered council should have a strong technical/scientific background with direct experience in the previous development of infectious disease vaccines. Such a central coordinating and decision mechanism can ensure alignment among regulatory requirements for clinical and pre-clinical evaluation of vaccine candidates and can effectively manage the large at-risk scaleup and manufacturing investments needed to ensure ready availability of a vaccine as soon as its safety and efficacy has been demonstrated. It can also manage the complexities of the multiple parallel technical approaches that will be required.

They really do love that phrase, empowered council, dont they? (It reminds me of how, back in the day, affirmative debaters would propose a magic board to solve whatever problem the status quo had been unable to solve). Note, however, that the federal government doesnt appoint anybody; the executive branch typically does, the legislative branch sometimes does, and I suppose the judicial branch might. So already I think that the empowered council has stumbled coming out of the gate. Anyhow, I have questions.

First, will the proceedings of the empowered council be open to the public? Will minutes be published? Will there be any democratic accountability at all?

Second, can the authors really believe that the March of Dimes is an appropriate precedent? It was legitimated by FDR and it was in existence for twenty years (not warp speed). It proposed that every child in the United States contribute a dime  thats why theres an FDR dime  for the eradication of polio. (Industrial production of the vaccine was also organized by  gasp  the Soviet Union, which led to testing in the United States). Whats obvious about the March of Dimes is its deep small-d democratic roots, which I can only think would be very useful in vaccine compliance. The scientists propose nothing like that.

Third, who enforces the prospective agreement and what form does it take? Is it an international treaty?

Fourth, what on earth is a global stakeholder? What kind of document can Bill Gates, Giliead, the United States, and the Wellcome Foundation all put their names to, as if Bill Gates (say) were a sovererign, and the United States was a private person? (Lawers in the readership?_

Fifth, what are the conflict of interest requirements?

Sixth, for vaccines and treatments developed under the aegis of the empowered commitee, what are the intellectual property rights? Will they be equivalent to the Salk and Sabine vaccines, given that the March of Dimes has been cited as a precendenty?

Seventh, how long can members of the empowered committee serve, and will the committee be sunsetted?

* * *

I must conclude, but I dont think I can say much more than I have already said. These matters seem to be moving very fast. Its not clear to me that efficiency, as neoliberals understand it, should be the primary goal. The Manhattan Project, after all, was very different institutional from this proposal, and had a very different social basis, as did the March of Dimes.

NOTES

[1] Opening sentence: We are a group of passionate citizen-scientists. Ugh, passionate. What is this, an interns cover letter? As for citizen scientists, please refer to Table I.

[2] Infection Control Today: Those close to the project have requested to remain anonymous because it hasnt been officially unveiled to the American public. Oh. Another secret group? Or the same one?

[3] The words patent and intellectual property do not appear in the scientists deliverable.

Table I: The Backer and Fixers
At a coronavirus task force briefing last week, President Donald Trump floated the possibility of injecting bleach as a cure for the coronavirus. Soon after, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Twitter that disinfectants can cause health problems and should be used only according to their instructions. The apparent clash raised the question: What if the president threatens to fire officials who refuse to echo his dangerous speculations?

The Trump administration has been using the presidents power over personnel (the power to hire and fire federal workers) to prevent government officials from sharing facts about the coronavirus that are inconsistent with the administrations preferred message. Its actions underscore the dangers of increasing presidential control over an administrative state that could otherwise be guided by expertise and facts: Autocratic presidents can use the personnel power to suppress facts and mislead the American people. Notwithstanding that threat, the Supreme Court appears poised to give the president more power over personnel, not lessand prevent Congress from protecting federal officials in the future.

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Its not hard to see how the presidents use of the personnel power runs the risk of confusing and harming Americans. On April 21, the Washington Post reported that CDC Director Robert Redfield had warned that a subsequent wave of the virus next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through. That warning is inconsistent with the presidents preferred message that things are getting better. Thus, at the next days coronavirus task force briefing, Donald Trump trotted out the CDC director to cast doubt on the story. (The director maintained that while the quote was accurate, the headline [of the story] was inappropriate. The headline stated, CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more devastating, rather than more difficult.) The White House press secretary subsequently suggested Redfield was merely talking about the need for flu shots.

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Also on April 22, the official who led the federal agency involved in developing a vaccine, Dr. Rick Bright, claimed that his superiors had removed him from his post after he questioned the viability of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus. A recent study by Veterans Affairs hospitals found more deaths among coronavirus patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine than those who were treated with other care. But the president had previously described the drug as a game-changer and expressed hope that the drug would be used more broadly.

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These examples illustrate some of the troubling consequences of the presidents power over personnelor at least this presidents power over personnel. Presidents can exercise the power to hire and fire federal officials in ways that both obscure facts and endanger livessuch as by minimizing the looming specter of another major coronavirus outbreak in the coming fall or winter or by touting bleach as a cure for the virus. Presidents can put their employees to the choice of staying on message or losing their jobs.

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What if Congress wanted to do something about thatand tried to protect expert health officials from a president who is allergic to the facts?

More than 75 years ago, the Supreme Court allowed Congress to insulate federal officials from presidential removal. In Humphreys Executor v. United States, the court said that Congress could prevent presidents from removing Federal Trade Commissioners except for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. These restrictions are sometimes called for cause removal restrictions because they prohibit presidents from removing an official for mere policy disagreements. (Indeed, no head of any agency has ever been removed for cause.) In Humphreys Executor, the court reasoned that being independent of executive authority was necessary for officials to exercise the trained judgment of a body of experts, rather than being subject to political whim.

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But Congress might not be able to rely on that decision for much longer. Conservative judges, including one of Trumps nominees to the Supreme Court, have started to question the wisdom and correctness of Humphreys Executor. They have maintained that the Constitution requires the president to exercise unfettered discretion over the power to fire high-level executive officers. When Justice Brett Kavanaugh was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, he claimed that agencies led by officers protected by for-cause removal were an anomalyand questioned whether Humphreys Executor was correctly decided.

They have maintained that Article 2 of the Constitution vests all executive power in the president and that the executive power includes the ability to fire the heads of administrative agencies. (My colleague Julian Mortenson has debunked this interpretation of Article 2 in a series of papers.)

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This term, the full Supreme Court may very well agree with Kavanaughs aggressive interpretation of Article 2. The court is poised to decide a case about the constitutionality of the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In the course of urging the court to find the bureau unconstitutional (the bureau is led by a single director who is removable for cause), the Trump administration is asking the court to either overturn Humphreys Executor or to limit the decision to its facts. Either route would ensure that presidents, including this one, have the authority to remove, for any reason, the heads of any agencies that are exactly the same as the FTC.

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That would mean that Congress could not insulate agencies or departmentsincluding a new office of pandemicsheaded by single individuals from presidential removal. A decision along those lines could also limit Congress ability to protect existing offices and office heads from presidential control.

Critics of the administrative state like to say that increasing presidential control over agencies would be good for the health of our democracy and the rule of law. But as the coronavirus has made clear, there are costs to increasing presidential control as well: What if the president can simply fire every official who says that injecting bleach could kill you?
Under the revised foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, Indias bordering countries will require mandatory government approval for investing in any sector.

This policy change is only applicable for FDI; other routes of foreign investments, such as foreign portfolio investment (FPI), remain unchanged. However, media reports indicate the government also intends to scrutinize FPIs in the future.

Experts assume the government will approve new FDI proposals in non-sensitive sectors, such as manufacturing and technology in 8 to 10 weeks  which is the prevailing case under the government approval route.

Indias official trade and investment regulator, the Department of Promotion for Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notified changes to the countrys foreign direct investment (FDI) policy  making government approval mandatory for FDI inflows from Indias neighboring countries through Press Note No. 3(2020 Series), dated April 17, 2020.

In the notification issued by DPIIT  transfer of ownership of any existing entity or future FDI in an entity in India, directly or indirectly, resulting in beneficial ownership falling within this restriction will require mandatory government approval.

Basically, this means that investors from Indias neighboring countries  Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan  will need to seek the Indian governments approval before taking forward their FDI investment  for the foreseeable future.

The revised FDI policy will impact Chinese investment the most  as investors and firms from China have invested in various sectors in India.

For instance, China has heavily invested in the technology sector, including, start-ups, mobile apps, and smartphone manufacturing as well as in sectors such as automobile, manufacturing, renewable energy, power, and industrial machinery. There is also a considerable investment by Chinese firms in Indias digital ecosystem, especially in-e-commerce, online payments, and healthcare.

Here we answer the most common questions on this topic.

Does the FDI policy change apply to other forms of foreign investment?

No, the notification issued by DPIIT under Press Note No. 3(2020 Series) is only applicable for FDI.

However, media reports in recent months seem to indicate that India is also working on tighter scrutiny of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). The FPI mechanism merges two modes of investment  Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) and Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI)  and there are three categories of FPI. FPI includes securities and financial assets held by foreign investors, and do not result in their ownership of the corporate entity. FPI holdings include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ADRs (American Depository Receipts), and exchange-traded funds.

One reason given for the Indian governments attention to the FPI route is the worry that investors from China and Hong Kong could increase their purchase of company securities like equities to gain control. As reported by Reuters in late May, Indian government sources stated that a draft proposal made in consultation with the trade ministry and the capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), is currently under review by the Union finance ministry. The clearest implication, if such a proposal were to be approved, will be an extra layer of security clearance.

China has 16 FPIs registered in India  15 are in Category I, which is for government and government related foreign investors, such as Central Banks and Sovereign Wealth Funds. Category I have easier compliance, lower taxation, and disclosure requirements. One FPI from China is registered under Category II, which typically comprises of hedge funds.

Through FPI, Peoples Bank of China held a 1.01 percent stake in HDFC, an Indian banking and financial services company, until end-March. (However, as of end-June, PBoC has dropped off the list of investors holding at least one percent stake in HDFC.) Other examples include CIFM Asia Pacific Fund, a joint venture with JPMorgan Asset Management Co., which holds 13.5 percent stake in Indian banks and infrastructure firms, among others.

There are 111 registered FPIs from Hong Kong; it is understood that a substantial amount of Chinese investment is routed through Hong Kong.

FPI registration is permanent in nature and FPI investors pay the prescribed fees every three years to their designated depository participant (DDP). Foreign portfolio investors are crucial to Indias financial markets; net FPI inflows in 2019 stood at US$18 billion.

According to reporting by the Indian Express: the market value of all FPI investments from China stood at INR 7.74 billion (US$103.32 million) at the end of December 2019, but jumped sharply to INR 32.57 billion (US$434.79 million) by March 2020.

Latest update*

India has formalized the changes to its FDI policy introduced in April 2020, in its Consolidated FDI Policy 2020, which it announced on October 28, 2020. FDI applications involving investments from an entity of a country sharing a land border with India or where the beneficial owner of an investment into India is based in or is a citizen of any such country, will need mandatory government approval. Again, it is clarified that such investment is not banned, only subject to greater scrutiny. The latest FDI policy (see official document here) has retrospective effect from October 15, 2020.

Additionally, a 26 percent cap on FDI is introduced in the segment that covers digital news (uploading or streaming of news and current affairs through digital platforms).

The latest FDI policy also makes it mandatory for e-commerce entities with foreign investment to obtain and maintain a statutory audit report by September 30 every year for the preceding financial year, which indicates their compliance with Indias laws.

The previous Consolidated FDI Policy was released in 2017 and was effective from August 28, 2017. The latest FDI policy consolidates the changes introduced in the past three years.

How will the policy change impact existing Chinese investment in India?

Existing investment from China will not be impacted as it has already been processed by the DPIIT / government authorities.

However, industry experts are of the understanding that in certain cases of investment, investors may have to seek government approval. For example, if there is further capital infusion in the company by a Chinese investor  either to maintain their stake in the company or to increase their FDI stake  then the Chinese investors will have to seek Indias regulatory approval.

Even global transactions by Chinese investors can be impacted in certain cases. For instance, a European target company, which has an India subsidiary, proposed to be acquired by a Chinese investor, will now require prior approval in India  in addition to the applicable approval process for investment from Europe. This is because the beneficial ownership of the Indian entity will be deemed to have been transferred to the Chinese investor.

In terms of FDI inflows, FDI from Hong Kong jumped from US$1.2 billion until March 2014 to US$4.4 billion by end-March 2020; FDI from China amounted to US$404 million till March 2014 and jumped to US$2.378 billion by the end of March 2020.

Startups in India who have counted marquee investors Alibaba and Tencent among their backers include Zomato, Paytm, Byjus, Ola Cabs, BigBasket, etc. In fact, of 30 unicorn startups in India worth at least US$1 billion, more than half reported major investments from Chinese firms.

However, just last month, in July, it was reported that the food delivery aggregator Zomato had been facing difficulty in receiving the second tranche of US$100 million in equity capital from Ant Financial  an affiliate of the Chinese internet technology giant Alibaba.

The situation is in stark contrast with earlier in the year, when 13 out of 15 deals, which saw Chinese investment pour into Indian startups, were signed until April. This included Alibabas injection worth US$150 million into Zomato in January and Tencents investment of nearly US$20 million as part of food delivery platform Swiggys US$150 million round in February.

How does the policy impact Indian entities where Chinese investors hold a major stake?

In case of entities where Chinese investors are a major stakeholder, or in case of a wholly owned subsidiary of a Chinese firm, the revised policy may not affect anything  as there will be no change in the ownership of the company. It is important to note that the purpose of these changes in the FDI policy is to prevent hostile takeovers of Indian firms by foreign investors from Indias neighbors, including China.

But if a Chinese investor wants to increase their stake in the company  despite being a shareholder  they will likely have to seek approval from the government. However, the approval process time may be shorter in such cases.

On the other hand, the Indian government has taken issue where the existing Chinese presence is considered to be a security and privacy threat. This has been the explanation behind Indias recent ban on 59 Chinese developed apps from use in the domestic market, including popular products, such as short video platform TikTok, owned by the Chinese internet technology giant ByteDance Ltd., messaging platform WeChat, and apps developed by Xiaomi and Alibaba.

India had over 200 million users on TikTok before the June 29 ban and is the companys largest market outside China. The latest development in this segment appears to be that ByteDance may be in talks with Indias Reliance Industries Limited since last month for backing the technology companys business in India. The deal is reported to be valued at US$5 billion. (Reliance and Bytedance have both denied any information on the reported deal.) Separately, ByteDance is in discussions with Microsoft Corp. to sell part of its overseas operations; US President Donald Trump has given ByteDance until September 15 before a ban could come in effect in the American market. Interestingly, Trump has demanded a cut of any sale, which has complicated prospects for a deal.

What is the expected timeline for the governments approval process?

While the government is yet to announce the processing time, it is expected that it would range between eight to 10 weeks for non-sensitive sectors, such as assembly and manufacturing. It may take longer for sensitive sectors, such as defense and technology.

Investment from China may also be subjected to security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which may take additional one or two weeks.

Since all FDI inflow from Indias neighboring countries will be scrutinized by the government, the overall approval time may increase. However, it is expected that the government will clear proposals swiftly as it does not want foreign investment to India to slow down.

What clarifications are needed from the government?

The notification does not clarify the status of investments from Hong Kong, which is treated as a special administrative region. DPIIT tracks investment data from Hong Kong and China separately, so it is unclear if this revised policy is applicable to investment from Hong Kong or if the beneficial owners are based in Hong Kong.

Clarity is also needed on how the beneficial ownership test will be applied in cases where the entity seeking to invest in India under the FDI route is a private equity fund. Chinese investors should seek expert advice from foreign investment professionals as they plan their investments into India under the revised FDI policy.

What is Indias position on bidding for government projects, tenders?

On July 23, the Indian government amended its public financing rules, erecting barriers for companies from bordering countries to bid on government tenders and projects. Such companies would now have to register with a committee set up by the DPIIT where their eligibility will be assessed. Political and security clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will also be mandatory.

According to the press release by the Union finance ministry:

Any bidder from such countries sharing a land border with India will be eligible to bid in any procurement whether of goods, services (including consultancy services and non-consultancy services) or works (including turnkey projects) only if the bidder is registered with the Competent Authority.

The Order takes into its ambit public sector banks and financial institutions, Autonomous Bodies, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and Public Private Partnership projects receiving financial support from the Government or its undertakings

Bordering countries to whom India currently offers lines of credit or to countries with which the Indian government has established a joint development project, such as Bangladesh and Nepal, will be exempted from the need to register with the DPIIT or seek security clearance. That shortens the list of affected countries.

For more information and assistance, please feel free to email us at india@dezshira.com.

(Editors Note: This article was originally published on April 30, 2020. It was last updated on October 28, 2020.)


Counterfeit goods make up a multi-billion dollar industry. Anything and everything from money, pharmaceuticals, music, film and fashion are copied and sold on the black market. Watches, of course, are not immune from counterfeiters either, and the Federation of Swiss Watches claims theyre the second most counterfeited good behind textiles, and estimate that from as far back as 2012, fake watches have been generating at least $1 billion each year.

You may find a Rolex or a Breitling or any other luxury brands timepieces being sold on whats known as the grey market. Watches sold here are usually the real deal, but theyre not sold to you by an authorised dealer. They may be used or could have been sold to the dealer from an authorised retailer, and then passed on to you. You probably wont get the original box or paperwork, but you will have a genuine article.

Rolex is widely perceived to be the brand most susceptible to counterfeiting, largely due to its desirability among watch enthusiasts and wannabe enthusiasts alike, not to mention its global brand awareness. The counterfeiting of Rolex watches has become so common that the term Fauxlex has been coined.

As Forbes points out, the real vs fake watch industry in a vicious cycle: brands spend money on marketing to increase brand awareness and sales, they become more popular with the wider community and more desirable, and therefore become more susceptible to being imitated.

Counterfeit watches  and all counterfeit goods for that matter  could one day be put to a stop however thanks to a new technology developed by researchers at the University of South Australia. Research fellow Dr Nicolas Riesen lead author of the paper Ultra-high-resolution fluorescence images in thin phosphor films  found that exposing certain inorganic nanocrystals to ultraviolet (UV) light will activate the nanocrystals, essentially turning on their fluorescent properties.

When those nanocrystals are exposed to blue light, the regions that have been activated by the UV light will emit red fluorescent light.

Dr Riesen reasons that small images could be placed on items most likely to be replicated  he initially suggests banknotes or medical packaging  that are difficult to forge. Suspicious items could then be exposed to UV light at customs, for example, and the small images would emit red light to prove they are genuine. Its not a costly procedure either, as Dr Riesen adds, Expensive chemicals are not required to make the nanocrystals, rather the difficulty comes in their application.

The cost would come in paying specialised workers to apply the nanocrystals to whatever the item may be. And because its such an intricate process, it makes it harder to forge.

The good news is Dr Riesen confirms the technology can be applied on different consumer products. We reached out to him to ask if he believed this could include luxury watches. The good news is, yes, it definitely could.

There are a few trade secrets behind synthesising the nanocrystals for them to be efficient at emitting fluorescence, and this would take years for someone to successfully replicate. This would make it an ideal anti-counterfeiting measure for the luxury watch market.

And for any doubters out there who think the small images could be forged by some master counterfeiters, Dr Riesen adds,

There are also tricks that can be played with tweaking the fluorescence signature that add a further layer of complexity that is so specialised that the prospects of forgery are vanishingly improbable.

Manufacturers could apply a small image to the caseback or somewhere inside the case, or on the strap for example, which could only be seen when placed under a microscope with UV light.

With the number of fake watches being produced each year, it would definitely take some time to put an end to the fake watch market, although realistically bringing it to a complete stop is unlikely, but it could certainly deter a large number of forgers out there, meaning youre less likely to get ripped off when buying a new timepiece.

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[April 30, 2020] Sartorius Closes Acquisition of Selected Assets of Danaher Life Sciences

GOTTINGEN, Germany, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sartorius, a leading international partner of life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry, successfully closed the acquisition of selected life science businesses of Danaher Corporation. The transaction was completed on April 30, 2020, after receiving the required regulatory approvals. "The acquisition of this portfolio is a further milestone for Sartorius. The assets we purchased are an excellent strategic and operational fit with both our divisions. We are very pleased to welcome approximately 300 new Sartorius employees and to combine our expertise to become even more relevant together for our biopharma and life science customers," said Sartorius Executive Board Chairman and CEO Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg. Sartorius paid a purchase price of 825 million U.S. dollars for the acquisition and, upon execution of the purchase agreement on October 19, 2019, has been preparing for integration of the acquired businesses into the two divisions of the Sartorius Group. Despite the special conditions prevailing during the pandemic crisis, integration can therefore be initiated immediately following the closing. The businesses acquired by Sartorius generated revenue of approximately 170 million U.S. dollars in 2019 and cover various laboratory and bioprocessing technologies, which are complementary to the portfolio lineups of both Sartorius divisions. The company's broader offering as a result of the acquisition will support customers even more comprehensively in the development of biotech medicines and vaccines, as well as in the safe and efficient production of such pharmaceuticals. Sartorius is thus extending its market position in bioanalytics as well as in key areas of the manufacture of biotech medications. The ForteBio business for label-free biomolecular characterization includes innovative protein analysis instruments, biosensors and reagents that are used in drug discovery and will be integrated into the Bioanalytics unit within the Sartorius Lab Producs & Services Division. The products are based on patented biolayer interferometry technology and perform real-time analysis of various biomolecular interactions. ForteBio employs approximately 200 people worldwide, has production sites in Fremont, California, USA, and Shanghai, China, and accounts for close to half of the revenue generated by the acquired businesses.



With the chromatography systems and resins business also acquired, Sartorius is expanding the portfolio of its Bioprocess Solutions Division in the downstream processing area. This business addresses an essential step in the purification of biopharmaceuticals and encompasses both reusable and single-use equipment, columns and resins. Furthermore selected product groups in the areas of stainless steel hollow fiber and single-use technology tangential flow filtration systems and single-use flow kits will additionally strengthen the division's portfolio lineup in downstream processing. A further asset to be allocated to the Bioprocess Solutions Division is the SoloHill business covering microcarrier technology and particle validation standards used in cell cultures and other bioprocesses. Together, these various business entities employ approximately 100 people at their sites in Portsmouth, U.K.; Cergy, France; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; and Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA. Sartorius already provided information on the impact of this transaction on its financial forecast for the current year in its first-quarter earnings release of April 21, 2020. You will find this publication here at https://www.sartorius.com/en/company/newsroom.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future development of the Sartorius Group. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sartorius assumes no liability for updating such statements in light of new information or future events. This is a translation of the original German-language press release. Sartorius shall not assume any liability for the correctness of this translation. The original German press release is the legally binding version. A profile of Sartorius The Sartorius Group is a leading international partner of life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry. With innovative laboratory instruments and consumables, the Group's Lab Products & Services Division concentrates on serving the needs of laboratories performing research and quality control at pharma and biopharma companies and those of academic research institutes. The Bioprocess Solutions Division with its broad product portfolio focusing on single-use solutions helps customers to manufacture biotech medications and vaccines safely and efficiently. The Group has been annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. In fiscal 2019, the company earned sales revenue of some 1.83 billion euros. At the end of 2019, more than 9,000 people were employed at the Group's approximately 60 manufacturing and sales sites, serving customers around the globe. Follow Sartorius on Twitter @Sartorius_Group and on LinkedIn. Contact

Petra Kirchhoff

Head of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

+49 (0)551-308-1686

[email protected]

https://www.sartorius.com/en View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sartorius-closes-acquisition-of-selected-assets-of-danaher-life-sciences-301050296.html SOURCE Sartorius AG

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Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is holding a two-day workshop for teachers on usage of digital learning platforms, starting today.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is holding a two-day workshop for teachers on usage of digital learning platforms, starting today.

Vice-chancellor of the university Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, posted a message on Twitter, writing, JNU conducts workshop on "Design, Develop and Deliver Online Courses with Moodle Learning Management System" [April 30  May 1, 2020].

JNU conducts workshop on "Design, Develop and Deliver Online Courses with Moodle Learning Management System" [April 30  May 1, 2020]. More than thousand participants from across India. JNU playing an active role in training teachers to use digital platforms during COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/b4GZIMcadp  Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) April 30, 2020



He added that more than 1,000 participants would attend the workshop from across the country.

Laying emphasis on the importance of digital platforms, Kumar said even after lifting of coronavirus lockdown this mode (digital) of teaching and learning is going to play a key role.

Time has come to decide which part of education can be online and which can be in the classroom," news agency ANI reported the vice-chancellor as saying.

Moodle is a learning platform that offers a single robust, secure and integrated system to educators, administrators and learners to create personalised learning environments.

The learning platform has more than 90 million users globally and offers more than 2.4 crore courses.

JNU on 27 April started the mid-semester exams online. The assessments will continue till 4 May.

Academic council of the university recently endorsed a resolution through online circulation, validating the holding of classes and providing research guidance to students.

The council gave nod to the recommendation submitted by the dean of schools and chairperson of special centers on conducting semester exams in their respective schools/centres.
I want to hear more ideas on how to safely get back to normal instead of the how to stay at home without going crazy ones. I have had enough of the melancholy music. Every commercial is pandemic-focused, and if I hear, We are all in this together, one more time, I really will go crazy. And why are jobless figures so shocking? We are in a lockdown. Everyone who is preaching, consoling and advising us is working!
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

President Donald Trump reiterated previous comments that he is weighing whether sanctuary states should receive federal aid, stating Wednesday that the decision will "be discussed" but that "I dont see helping cities and states if theyre going to be sanctuary."

During the Q&A portion following a roundtable of industry executives discussing their plans to reopen businesses, a reporter asked Trump whether he would try to restrict aid to sanctuary cities and states, which includes the state of California.

"I dont think you should have sanctuary cities if they get that kind of aid," Trump said. "You know, if youre going to get aid to the cities and states after the kind of numbers youre talking about, billions of dollars, I dont think you should have sanctuary cities."

The president then said that residents in California and other places "don't like sanctuary cities" and that "they want security, they want safety."

"We shouldnt have to pay anything anyway, because all they do is make it very hard for law enforcement, so thats number one," Trump said, referring to states with sanctuary policies in place. "But I think in the bigger picture, I dont see helping cities and states if theyre going to be sanctuary, because all sanctuary means to me is its protecting a lot of criminals. And others. Many people. But there are criminals."

"We dont want people that are criminals  and criminals from other countries, in many cases, protected  and you cant get to them, and then were supposed to make massive payments to those states, to bail out what theyve done wrong over a 25-year period," Trump later added. "So, well see, thatll be a subject that will be discussed."

Trump had broached the topic at a White House event Tuesday, saying in part that the federal government would "want certain things also, including sanctuary-city adjustments" in exchange for federal aid.

Dianne de Guzman is a Digital Editor at SFGATE. Email: dianne.deguzman@sfgate.com
Food stamp recipients in many states can now use their benefits to buy items online from Amazon and Walmart.

The changes currently affect Alabama, California, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, Oregon and Washington, according to the federal government.

Other recipients in additional states are expected to be eligible starting in April or May, including Missouri, North Carolina and Vermont and others.

They apply to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.

Alabama's SNAP recipients can also buy items online from Wright's Market, and New York participants can also do so at ShopRite.

Government officials said they hope to expand the online purchases to more businesses.

States are also unveiling pandemic electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that will assist families who receive free or reduced meals at schools.

The pandemic EBT cards come through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a bill Congress passed in March that's estimated to be providing some $192 billion. States currently participating are Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia.

California's program will provide $365 to families for each eligible child. It acts like a debit card and can be used on groceries and food. In Massachusetts, it will provide $5.70 per child per day.

Cards will be sent by mail to families who receive certain assistance programs. Others need to apply.
Nurses work at the nurses' station inside a COVID-19 intensive care unit at Temple University Hospital's Boyer Pavilion in North Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the hospital converted all of Boyer Pavilion into a treatment space for COVID-19 patients. Read more

In 1987, I was an intern in a Bronx hospital when death caved in on me. Young patients collapsed in acute respiratory distress. The diagnosis: AIDS. The treatment: aerosol pentamidine. The outcome: quick death.

How did I feel as a physician working through a health crisis? Helpless, impotent, and overwhelmed. Courses in microbiology had failed to prepare me for this onslaught. And, yes, I also heard whispers of a gay disease at the nurses stations  fueled by government officials and others nationwide who were scapegoating this community.

Yet, there were things I never felt during that unforgettable year. I never felt unsupported by the hospital administration, nor lacking in equipment such as gloves, needle caps, or masks. I never for one instant doubted that I belonged right there with those patients, whether at their bedside on admission, whether holding their hand when they were being intubated, or whether hugging them when I told them they were going to die. I had taken the Hippocratic oath, and undergirding me was the medical community and a national government that supported my development as a physician.

Fast-forward to 2020. While Americans offer symbolic support for at-risk workers, posting #HealthCareHero on social media and applauding them at nights, the reality is that frontline caretakers  including doctors, nurses, and other health professionals  are in an impossible position. While being asked to care for patients with respiratory symptoms, just as we were during the AIDS crisis, they lack structural support. Sometimes they lack basic equipment, access to crucial testing tools, and even the training necessary to deal with COVID-19.

Recently, I began to hear interviews with distraught ER nurses and to read op-eds written by frightened clinicians. My internist friend was told to keep quiet when he verbalized his fears at a meeting with hospital administrators. Another was fired when he granted an interview to a local newspaper to discuss safety. Another was told to go home when she purchased her own protective equipment after finding the one N95 mask given to her by her department inadequate.

 READ MORE: Healthcare workers dont need Blue Angels. They need green money. | Solomon Jones

So what do I feel now? Furious. If I were in a frontline post, rather than a psychiatrist, I would respond reflexively to the sick person in front of me. But in my spare moments, before my head hit the pillow, I would feel conflicted about my obligations. What if I contracted the illness because I couldnt protect myself? What about my obligation to my family, friends, students, and patients for whom I am responsible? The frontline health-care worker doesnt have the luxury of ethical rumination. But the rest of us  non-frontline workers, leaders of clinical personnel, and the public  must claim it, including on their behalf.

Even when I accidentally stuck myself with a dirty needle from an infected patient in 1987  and had to wait six months for a negative HIV test  I never felt as abandoned as our clinicians are now.

The woeful protection we are seeing for our health-care workers exposes several problematic dynamics in U.S. hospital systems. For one, hospital administrators have been co-opted by the business class. They have been given responsibility for the hospitals bottom line, and are paid according to their performance in this domain. They are also responsible for planning, ordering, and stockpiling equipment for hypotheticals such as pandemics, but lack clinical background.

Moreover, clinicians rarely have the power to decide how hospital resources are spent, despite having the most intimate knowledge of patients and what is needed to take care of them. Within hospitals, administrators and clinicians rarely work in collaboration. Wouldnt the system work better  and more ethically  if administrators sometimes worked rounds in the ICU and came face-to-face with unconscious patients, while clinicians were trained to balance their one-on-one obligation to the patient with their public health commitment to the communities they serve?

The public has not fully absorbed what will happen should our health-care workers become ill at high rates during this pandemic, which is likely given their exposure. If clinicians are home sick, who will take care of our citizens? I worry that effusive public support for health-care workers inadvertently relieves officials of their responsibility for the damage caused by lack of preparation for the pandemic. Praise for the workers, on its own, will not ultimately protect any of us.

Our political climate of division, in which President Donald Trump sees fit to undercut the experience and expertise of medical professionals, prevents our citizens from understanding their vulnerability. When health-care workers have reported that they lack essential protective equipment, the president has called their testimony fake news. Because physicians havent been trained to organize, they struggle to present their desperation cohesively.

Where is our collective anger? It is entwined with our helplessness and silence. Anger is a vital engine for mobilization. It can be scary, and easily gets turned inward or directed at the wrong target. Now is the time to aim it squarely where it belongs: at the health-care administrators and public officials failing our frontline workers. The health-care worker should never end up in this spot. Even when I accidentally stuck myself with a dirty needle from an infected patient in 1987  and had to wait six months for a negative HIV test  I never felt as abandoned as our clinicians are now, and I never wanted to be anywhere else.

Andrew I. Smolar is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Temple University School of Medicine, and a training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. ahzsmolar@verizon.net
American Pastor and author, Max Lucado was recently featured on Mike Huckabee's TBN show as a guest. Lucado's book, You'll Get Through This relates with society today throughout the current COVID pandemic. The important figure in his book indicates a message to the world to point out 'faith over fear."

Lucado mentions Joseph in the old testament regarding the prime minister of Egypt during the time of global catastrophe. Stating that God used him to guide the world, the story of Joseph relates to the world today by encouraging individuals to remain in faith and trust of God.

"He knew exactly what to do because he listened to God. God will get us through this. He knows that it's now time for faith and not fear. God will use this to develop our character and to reveal his personality."

As Mike Huckabee questioned how people are dealing isolation and feeling abandoned, Lucado quickly answered by comparing the idea of isolation and feeling abandoned with the disciples when Christ came walking to them on the water. Lucado emphasizes the powerful meaning of Jesus Getting people through storms.

Lucado also mentions that many people are misinterpreting the character of God today by mistaking the image of him. Especially due to the coronavirus outbreak, individuals tend to misunderstand God in different ways. He sets off an example of having doubts such as believing that, "God is simply not true. God has forgotten us, God has abandoned us, God has punished us."

Lucado shares what we should be doing throughout the time of suffering. He continues to remind individuals that God is always loving and fair.

"And then we say, Lord, I trust in you, what are you teaching me? What do you want me to learn? Faith is not much about what I know what God is doing, but faith is more I know who God is and I'm going to trust him and listen to what he's teaching."

Lucado shared a post on Instagram to encourage Christians to be motivated throughout the pandemic and have faith in the Lord. He gives hope and spreads love through external trials and tribulations.

"This is a Time of Testing. This is a great test. In the Bible, a test is an external trial that purifies and prepares the heart. A trial is an external trial and produces internal fruit. Just as fire refines precious metal from impurities, so our Heavenly Father tests us to purge from us that which is not helpful for his glory or our character."
Dr. Priti V. Warke, M.B.B.S., M.S Director- Cell Culture, Head- Regulatory Affairs Hi Media Laboratories Private Limited in an Interaction with BioSpectrum India Exclusive COVID 19 reports.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise all across the globe, BioSpectrum brings together a panel of healthcare industry experts to identify gaps and work together towards making India COVID-19 free.

Watch Dr. Priti V. Warke, Sharing her Views on " How to make India COVID-19 Free "

Dr. Priti V. Warke, M.B.B.S., M.S

Director- Cell Culture, Head- Regulatory Affairs

HiMedia Laboratories Private Limited

Dr. Priti V. Warke is the director of Cell Culture division of HiMedia Laboratories. She also heads the Regulatory Affairs of the company. She completed her M.B.B.S. from B.J.Medical College, Pune and M.S. from the Catholic University of America, Washington DC. She has been involved in Research & Development, operational and administrative activities of Cell Culture wing of HiMedia.

She has been instrumental in starting the stem cell and regenerative medicine division in HiMedia. Presently she is actively involved in developing serum free media, Assay kits, cells required for manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies for cancer.

She also developed the Viral transport Medium (VTM) for H1N1 during the 2009 epidemic in a short span of 2 months. This media was later used during the pandemic all over India for transporting patient samples. The VTM kit is currently being used for collecting samples to test for coronavirus infections. HiMedia is Indias largest validated and certified manufacturer of the VTM kits. Apart from handling the business humdrums, Dr. Priti is an avid yoga practitioner and believes in meditation.
A recent graduate student of the University of Massachusetts Amherst died from the coronavirus Monday at 30 years of age after twice being denied testing for the viral respiratory infection, officials said.

Rana Zoe Mungin, a beloved teacher in New York City, had been battling COVID-19 for more than a month before her death, according to a statement from UMass Amherst.

ABC News reported that Mungin repeatedly showed symptoms associated with the virus but was denied testing at Brooklyns Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center. One of Mungins friends claimed her condition was dismissed as a panic attack by an EMT, according to the news outlet.

Her sister, a registered New York City nurse named Mia Mungin, had been chronicling Rana Zoes fight with the disease over social media since late March. Rana Zoe was taken off a ventilator on April 23 but placed back on it a day later after having difficulty breathing. She died less than a week later, Mia said.

It is with heavy heart that I have to inform you all that my sister Rana Zoe Maybe has passed away today at 12:25pm due to COVID-19 complications, Mia tweeted on April 27. She fought a long fight but her body was [too] weak.

Rana Zoe was an alumna of the UMass Amherst Department of English and an educator in the universitys writing program. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in 2015, the department said.

She was a devoted and inspiring social studies teacher at Ascend Academy in Brooklyn, a talented writer and a committed activist, according to the department.

Her literary work struck a deep chord with many readers and scholars and contributed to national conversations about racism in MFA programs, the department wrote. Mungin brought subjects of justice and equity into the classroom and wrote stories that appeared in several prominent publications.

She was a 2013 winner of the prestigious AWP Intro Journals prize in fiction," the department said. She pushed the needle here at UMass on conversations about institutional racism; our programs, faculty, and students owe her a debt of gratitude for having spent time here and shared her knowledge, experience, and perspective. She will be missed by this community and beyond.

The department noted that Mungins battle with the coronavirus highlights the systems of racial, gendered, and class bias - entrenched power dynamics - that she sought to expose and change in her work.

The dismissal of her symptoms points to the long history of economic and racial barriers to health care Black women in the U.S. face., according to a statement from the department.

The department added that Mungins death has garnered national attention regarding racial bias and COVID-19 care and treatment.

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Minutes from meetings of Irelands public health team which is advising the Government on the coronavirus pandemic have been published following concerns raised over transparency.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is a group of health experts which meets twice a week and provides crucial advice on Covid-19 and how the Government should respond to the health outbreak.

Controversy surrounding transparency has been raised in recent weeks about its decision-making process, particularly after it emerged that minutes from the NPHETs meetings were not published since March.

On Thursday, the Department of Health published a range of minutes, including letters from chief medical officer Tony Holohan to Minister for Health Simon Harris.

Citizens want to see a transparent decision making process. Transparency isnt a luxury in our democracy - @alankellylabour #Dail pic.twitter.com/cm28Hhf4Ww  The Labour Party (@labour) April 30, 2020

Labour leader Alan Kelly told the Dail that he asked a number of questions regarding transparency of decision-making last week.

He accused Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of failing to answer those questions.

I still dont know why minutes are not recorded at the beginning of every meeting and signed off on, he told the Dail.

I still dont how people are appointed to NPHET.

You still havent published the letters from the HSE chairperson and chief executive to the minister and the Department of Health regarding their concerns on governance.

Transparency isn't a luxury in our democracy Alan Kelly

Will you please publish these letters. Whats there to hide behind?

Since last week, I have been inundated with people asking me about issues regarding transparency of decision-making, so people are concerned now more than ever.

Transparency isnt a luxury in our democracy. I think the odd time they (the NPHET) need to appear in front of these Houses.

He also accused Mr Harris and the NPHET of legally overstepping the mark on decision-making on coronavirus testing.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett also called for the Government to release further details about the advisory group.

He told the Dail that he also asked on six occasions for the minutes, written advice and papers of the expert advisory group that advises the NPHET and the Government.

Will you publish those minutes and papers they have produced, he added.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said there is a real and growing uncertainty about the lack of clarity around the next steps to ease restrictions.

He added: As things stand today, there is widespread unease about the lack of clarity on the basis upon which decisions will be taken.

This is not the same as a demand for certain decisions  simply a wish to be told in direct terms what the triggers are for certain key policy decisions.

Such clarity has been provided by governments in many countries.
'Germany will never forget what you have done for us," is how then German chancellor Helmut Kohl described his feelings 30 years ago when talking to Taoiseach Charles Haughey at the end of a decisive Special European Council in Dublin. We gratefully remember the important role Ireland played in helping us to complete German unification and in welcoming Germany as a reunited country to the European project.

On April 28, 1990, half a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, German unification was one of the main items on the agenda of this Special European Council. The question still hadn't been answered whether the territory of the German Democratic Republic would be allowed - along with the Federal Republic of Germany - to become part of the European community. Mr Kohl pushed for a quick unification, stressing however that it could only be part of the wider process of European integration. For us, German unity and our European identity were two sides of the same coin. However, some European countries struggled with the idea of German unification. Others, such as Ireland, welcomed German unification and saw it as both "desirable and inevitable".

It was very much thanks to Ireland and Mr Haughey, who chaired the Dublin meetings, that European leaders agreed on a common approach, welcoming German reunification and - as a very decisive step - setting the path towards the integration of the territory of the German Democratic Republic into the European Community.

In the conclusions of the council meeting, the Irish presidency declared: "The community warmly welcomes German unification. It looks forward to the positive and fruitful contribution that all Germans can make. We are confident that German unification - the result of a freely expressed wish on the part of the German people - will be a positive factor in the development of Europe as a whole and of the community in particular.

"We are pleased that German unification is taking place under a European roof."

Shortly after the negotiations had ended, Mr Kohl visited the Irish delegation and thanked Mr Haughey wholeheartedly.

Expand Close Flashback: Helmut Kohl with Angela Merkel in 1991. Photo: Getty / Facebook

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Whatsapp Flashback: Helmut Kohl with Angela Merkel in 1991. Photo: Getty

He and many others repeated those thanks on many occasions, for example when Mr Kohl addressed the Dail in 1996 or when German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed President Michael D Higgins on his State visit to Germany last summer.

Thirty years on, I would like to reiterate our gratitude and our sincere thanks to Ireland.

We are truly grateful for the support we received from our European friends which helped us to reunite as a country, as a people and to contribute to this important common peace project - the European Union.

The Covid-19 pandemic once more proves how important, how indispensable, European co-operation and solidarity are to tackle these immense joint challenges. We need each other and, as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar put it, we are in this together. The many recent examples of support between EU member states prove that we want to make it work. Tackling the enormous challenges ahead, we need to work together with our partners internationally towards the same goals. Strengthening such a multilateral approach is the core principle of the alliance. We are grateful for this support of our Irish friends.

The Special European Council in Dublin, 30 years ago, was not only an important landmark for German unification and German-Irish friendship. It is an example of how we as Europeans can be stronger together and jointly shape history and our future.

That same spirit of friendship, co-operation, courage, support, solidarity and dedication will, no doubt, help us to master what lies ahead.

Deike Potzel is German Ambassador to Ireland
Foreign Minister S.K. Jaishankar spoke to the foreign ministers of Lebanon, Colombia, Granada, Zambia, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago. During this, they discussed the coronavirus epidemic as well as increasing mutual cooperation and partnership. Jaishankar tweeted that issues of economic cooperation including agriculture were discussed with Lebanese Foreign Minister Nasif Hittite. Jaishankar reviewed the ongoing talks in the field of trade and energy with Colombia's Foreign Minister Claudia Blum de Barbieri.

Indore artists pay tribute to TI Devendra Chandravanshi's by carving it face from stones

During this time the Foreign Minister assured the citizens of Colombia to cooperate in sending them to their country. Jaishankar spoke with Granada Foreign Minister Peter David on medical cooperation in dealing with the coronavirus. The Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, along with Denis Moses, held talks with the Indian Foreign Minister on working together in the fields of information technology and health.

Entry of new prisoners closed after getting corona infection in Indore Central Jail

Jamaican Foreign Minister Camina Johnson Smith, Jaishankar discussed the challenges caused by the coronavirus. The External Affairs Minister assured him that India would become his reliable supplier of medicines. He spoke with Uruguay Foreign Minister Ernesto Talvi on the possibilities of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Dada Saheb Phalke spent relaxing moments at this place
A health-care worker conducting a swab test, which may soon be swapped out for less-intrusive saliva tests. Photo: Getty Images

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Its awful, Im sorry, one health-care worker told a 17-year-old Utahn in March while conducting a coronavirus test in which a swab is placed deep into the nostril cavity. I wish there was a better way to do it. In addition to being uncomfortable, the nasopharyngeal swabs that have so far been necessary to conduct coronavirus tests often cause patients to cough or sneeze after the swab is removed, which makes full-body personal protective equipment necessary for those performing the test. But a new form of testing, in which patients spit their saliva into a cup, close the lid, and hand it to a health-care worker, could be an important tool in expanding COVID-19 testing  a necessity for safely reopening the country. Below is everything we know about the promising saliva tests, which may soon prove to be that better way.

How do saliva tests work?

Unlike the intense, one-on-one experience of the nasopharyngeal swab, a saliva test can be done on your own, reducing the risk of exposing others. A patient spits in a sealable cup  where it is immersed in a preservative  and hands it over to a lab technician, who determines if COVID-19 genetic material is in the sample. Results are available within 72 hours.

Are there any saliva tests currently in use?

In mid-April, after the Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency-use authorization to a lab from Rutgers University, the tests have been offered at a walk-up site in New Brunswick, New Jersey, drive-throughs in Somerset and Edison, in 30 long-term care facilities like nursing homes, and in some state prisons. The Rutgers lab has already processed almost 90,000 tests, and the labs head, Andrew Brooks, told the New York Times that it expects to be able to conduct as many as 30,000 per day.

The tests could soon be available in other states: Oklahoma is working with Rutgers to build its own version, and the lab has been in talks with the White House coronavirus task force and the states of Indiana, Illinois, and California for potential opportunities to expand. Currently, there are no at-home saliva tests, though Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, told the Times that would be the likely next step for the technology: If we can do nasal swabs unsupervised, theres no reason why we cant do these tests unsupervised as well.

How can they help expand testing across the country?

While the painlessness of the procedure could make it more likely for people to seek treatment, saliva tests have also proven to be more reliable in lab studies: Swabs are more likely to produce false negatives and saliva tests appear to be more sensitive to genetic material in the sample. According to one Yale study, saliva tests were more accurate in testing mild cases. The nasopharyngeal swab is subject to so much more variability in how well its obtained, Anne Wyllie, the Yale teams leader, told the New York Times. Part of that variability involves how well the health-care worker administers the swab, which can change based on the comfort levels of the patient getting a long Q-tip-like object stuck in their nose, and the resoluteness of the provider executing the uncomfortable routine.

If people are going back to work, and theyre going to be tested presumably on a regular basis, we really do need to less invasive sampling methods than the swabs, Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, told the New York Times. To have to do nasopharyngeal swabs twice a week? No, thanks.

Are there any potential problems with the tests?

While Rutgers researcher Andrew Brooks told the Washington Post that he anticipates saliva testing will allow three times as many people to get tested per day while reducing the need for PPE among those testing by 90 percent, the Times notes that the thermal cyclers used for saliva tests  machines which amplify viral genetic material for testing  require labs to use chemical supplies made by the manufacturer. According to Dr. Rasmussen, that could potentially be a supply issue as states hope to implement the testing. And though Brooks expects that they will be able to shorten the wait for results, the 72-hour delay is a far cry from some swab tests which can identify a coronavirus-positive patient in minutes.
House Democrats and Republicans met for more than five hours but were unable Thursday to compromise on emergency rules or pass legislation authorizing short-term borrowing to ensure that government services are funded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House gaveled in at 10 a.m. and more than five hours later rejected, for the second straight day, a Republican proposal that would sunset rules allowing members to participate in sessions remotely after consideration of the borrowing bill. House Democrats want to put the temporary rules in place throughout the state of emergency, or for the rest of the year.

Earlier in the session, Rep. Sean Garballey, an Arlington Democrat, objected to an attempt by House Minority Leader Brad Jones to take up the borrowing bill proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker and return to the disputed rules later. Republican Rep. David Vieira said it was a real shame the bill was not allowed to advance.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo hoped the full House would hold its first remote session on Thursday, but has run into trouble coming up with a rules plan that Republicans will let pass during an informal session when any one member is able to stop any bill or bring a session to an end by doubting the presence of a quorum, as Jones did on Wednesday, and again on Thursday.

Republicans have suggested passing the borrowing bill on to the Senate during an informal session to give the legislation some momentum while work continues on internal House rules. House Democrats appear intent on passing the rules first.

Ultimately, the borrowing bill will need roll call votes in each branch. The House is not currently set up to do that but Senate leaders think they will be able to do so soon, while they work on plans to resume formal sessions sometime in June.

The borrowing bill is intended to safeguard the states cash flow, but Baker administration and state Treasury officials have not said whether there is any deadline for passage of the bill, or consequences for not passing it.There were about three dozen people in the House Thursday, well above the 10-person limit called for in Gov. Bakers order aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19.

Jones said he is not encouraging his caucus to attend informal sessions and recognizes Bakers limit on gatherings, from which the Legislature is exempt.

I specifically told my members Im not requesting that they come in. They are free to come in or not come in, Jones said. I appreciate Gov. Bakers order in people gatherings over 10 but last time I went to the grocery store ... there was a lot more than 10 people.

Assistant Majority Leader Joseph Wagner of Chicopee watched Thursdays House session online and said he views the emergency rules proposed by Democratic leadership as fair to all members, including House Republicans."I think its a little frustrating at this point. I thought it would be resolved today," Wagner said.

The Chicopee Democrat allowed that the proposed rules structure of having people sign up to debate and getting only one chance to speak would be more limiting than during normal times, but he said these are uncharted waters and unprecedented times."

There necessarily has to be guidelines that provide more structure than might otherwise be the case, but they apply equally to every member," he said.

Wagner said he wasnt sure how a Rep. Jones proposal to give the speaker and minority leader each a block of speaking time to yield to members of their caucuses would be fair.

Their agenda, which serves a minority number of members, disadvantages the majority and on that basis it doesnt make a lot of sense. Why should somebody who represents 40,000 people in Plymouth gain an advantage over someone representing a similar number of people in Chicopee?

After the session, Jones expressed optimism about negotiations. Thursdays conversations were a helpful back and forth that I hope will continue tomorrow and over the weekend to allow us to get to a place that we can move forward on the order."

Obviously, its the clear preference of the leadership that we get the order done first," Jones told the News Service. That being said, there were some helpful, and Ill even go as far as to say hopeful, discussions about maybe some modifications to the order that might lead us to a consensus that people can live with or tolerate, even if they dont necessarily completely like it.

Second Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Paul Donato said negotiations were very close and hopes that House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Jones might come to an agreement in the next few days.

Were ready to start the formal session as soon as we can get this out of the way, Donato told reporters.The House and Senate both plan to meet again on Monday.

Matt Murphy contributed reporting
The Colorado Department of Public Health has reclassified three nursing home deaths as caused by coronavirus, overruling attending physicians who said they were not related to the virus.

The three deaths at Someren Glen, a senior living community in Centennial, were reclassified earlier this month, and added to four deaths at the facility that doctors said were coronavirus-related, KCNC-TV reported.

Across the country, opponents of state lockdowns have accused doctors and health officials of inflating coronavirus death statistics, while others contend that the death toll of the virus has actually been under-reported.

Tim Rogers, the facility's executive director, told the outlet: 'We have never seen a situation where the health department overrules a physician's findings.'

The three deaths at Someren Glen, a nursing home in Centennial, were reclassified by the state and added to four deaths at the facility that doctors said were coronavirus-related

Colorado says that only deaths with a positive COVID-19 test result are included in its tally

'However, these are unprecedented times and the health department official did not share their motivation for changing physicians orders,' Rogers added.

It comes as controversy mounts about alleged improper coding of deaths in the outbreak.

Sensationally, two medical doctors in California, Dan Erickson and Artin Massihi, claimed in a video that has since been removed by YouTube that doctors are under pressure to add COVID-19 as a cause of death in unrelated cases.

Others point out that deaths classified as coronavirus typically require a positive test result -- as opposed to flu deaths, which are estimated by surveillance of symptom prevalence and statistical models.

They say that the strict requirements for reporting coronavirus deaths mean that the number of people who died with the infection is probably being under-reported.

The Colorado case sheds additional light on the controversies surrounding how deaths are classified in the pandemic.

Rogers, the nursing home director, told the CBS affiliate that the facility had four residents die with their deaths directly tied to coronavirus, and they were listed as such on the official state health department website.

But, speaking of the three additional cases, he said in a statement: 'Other residents have passed, but the attending physician has ruled their death as a result of other ailments for which they were receiving care for including hospice services.'

The state of Colorado's official three-day moving average of coronoavirus cases is shown. Recent data may be partial and incomplete due to delays in reporting

Tim Rogers, executive director at Someren Glen nursing home (above), said: 'We have never seen a situation where the health department overrules a physician's findings'

'We were informed of their (CDPHE) intention to override some of our physician's rulings and reclassify some resident passings we have experienced in the last few weeks,' he said.

The state's database of COVID-19 deaths was changed to raise the number at Someren Glen from four to seven, including the three cases that a doctor said were not related to the virus

The state says all the residents included in its count tested positive for COVID-19, though it's not clear whether the tests were before or after death.

CDPH did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

'The department follows the CDCs case definition of COVID-19 cases and deaths,' a spokesman told the local news station.

Nursing homes across Colorado have been hard-hit. Above, the casket of George Trefren, a 90-year-old Korean War veteran who died of the coronavirus in a Denver nursing home, is lowered into the ground by cemetery technicians as his family watches from a distance

'When a person with a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 dies, their death is automatically counted as a COVID-19 death unless there is another cause that completely rules out COVID-19, such as a fatal physical injury,' he added.

'A pre-existing illness would not rule out COVID-19.'

Colorado has reported 14,758 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 766 deaths, with more than 320 of those deaths occurring in nursing home residents.

Nationwide, nursing homes have been ravaged by the virus, which mostly causes mild or no symptoms in younger people, but can be deadly for the elderly or those with underlying health issues.

More than 1 in 6 nursing home facilities across the country have reported outbreaks among residents or staff, according to a Washington Post analysis.

In five states - Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia and New Jersey - the virus has struck a majority of nursing homes, the data shows.

In New Jersey, second only to New York in total number of confirmed coronavirus cases, health officials have reported infections at 80 percent of the state's homes.
Mayra Beltran, Staff / Houston Chronicle

Texans who become peace officers can now receive up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness under a new state program.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board plans to launch a loan repayment program in September to help recently appointed peace officers with student debt.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) - As the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) ends its 36-day ceasefire tonight, it ordered its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), to resume its offensive attacks against government forces.

The CPP said it is impossible to extend the truce claiming the military forces continued its counterinsurgency operations.

The refusal of the Duterte regime to relent in its attacks against the NPA, despite calls for a 'global ceasefire' has made the further extension of the NPA ceasefire impossible, said the CPP in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte called for a ceasefire on March 16. The communist party extended the ceasefire until the end of the month in order to focus on the fight against the pandemic.

Duterte, however, closed the doors for the resumption of peace talks early this week after two soldiers were gunned down by NPA rebels in Aurora Province during the duration of ceasefire.

The CPP, however, said the NPA complied with the ceasefire and merely defended themselves from the military.

All units of the NPA have observed the ceasefire and desisted from mounting any tactical offensives," the CPP statement said. "The party also commends NPA units for successfully defending themselves and the masses and thwarting the raids and treacherous attacks mounted by the AFP in their relentless counterinsurgency operations."

The party also said the rebels conducted public health campaign on COVID-19 during the ceasefire.

As the truce ends, the CPP ordered the NPA to immediately shift "from an active defense posture to an offensive posture."

The NPA must always be ready to seize every opportunity to strike at the fascist troops of the AFP, PNP, the CAFGU and all armed groups attached to the reactionary state," it said. "The NPA must mount tactical offensives especially against the most notorious human rights violators and those who have subjected people to abuse. The NPA must target the isolated and weak units and detachments of the AFP and its armed auxiliaries."

The communist group also said they will punish any military or police personnel committing human rights abuses during the lockdown.

Units of the NPA must receive reports of fascist abuses perpetrated under Dutertes lockdown and exert efforts to take action to punish the abusive officers and troops of the AFP and PNP, it added.

Despite the end of ceasefire, the CPP instructed all NPA units to continue helping "facilitate the distribution of relief aid for the masses who are suffering gravely from the Duterte regime's military lockdown."
A team of South Korean researchers found that lactation can lower the incidence and reduce the risk of maternal postpartum diabetes. The researchers identified that lactation increases the mass and function of pancreatic beta cells through serotonin production. The team suggested that sustained improvements in pancreatic beta cells, which can last for years even after the cessation of lactation, improve mothers' metabolic health in addition to providing health benefits for infants.

Pregnancy imposes a substantial metabolic burden on women through weight gain and increased insulin resistance. Various other factors, including a history of gestational diabetes, maternal age, and obesity, further affect women's risk of progressing to diabetes after delivery, and the risk of postpartum diabetes increases more in women who have had gestational diabetes and/or repeated deliveries.

Diabetes-related complications include damage to blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, and problems with the nerves, eyes, kidneys, and many more. Since diabetes can pose a serious threat to mothers' metabolic health, the management of maternal metabolic risk factors is important, especially in the peripartum period. Previous epidemiological studies have reported that lactation reduces the risk of postpartum diabetes, but the mechanisms underlying this benefit have remained elusive.

The study, published in Science Translational Medicine on April 29, explains the biology underpinning this observation on the beneficial effects of lactation. Professor Hail Kim from the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering at KAIST led and jointly conducted the study in conjunction with researchers from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) and Chungnam National University (CNU) in Korea, and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the US.

In their study, the team observed that the milk-secreting hormone 'prolactin' in lactating mothers not only promotes milk production, but also plays a major role in stimulating insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells that regulate blood glucose in the body.

The researchers also found that 'serotonin', known as a chemical that contributes to wellbeing and happiness, is produced in pancreatic beta cells during lactation. Serotonin in pancreatic beta cells act as an antioxidant and reduce oxidative stress, making mothers' beta cells healthier. Serotonin also induces the proliferation of beta cells, thereby increasing the beta cell mass and helping maintain proper glucose levels.

The research team conducted follow-up examinations on a total of 174 postpartum women, 85 lactated and 99 non-lactated, at two months postpartum and annually thereafter for at least three years. The results demonstrated that mothers who had undergone lactation improved pancreatic beta cell mass and function, and showed improved glucose homeostasis with approximately 20mg/dL lower glucose levels, thereby reducing the risk of postpartum diabetes in women. Surprisingly, this beneficial effect was maintained after the cessation of lactation, for more than three years after delivery.

We are happy to prove that lactation benefits female metabolic health by improving beta cell mass and function as well as glycemic control. Our future studies on the modulation of the molecular serotonergic pathway in accordance with the management of maternal metabolic risk factors may lead to new therapeutics to help prevent mothers from developing metabolic disorders Professor Hail Kim, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering at KAIST
NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --



Contraction in global oil consumption is one of the driving factors for the renewable energy market







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05889778/?utm_source=PRN





The global renewable energy market size is projected to grow from USD 184.3 billion in 2020 to USD 226.1 billion by 2021. The coronavirus pandemic is adding to the uncertainties that the global oil industry face as it contemplates new investments and business strategies. The pressures on companies are increasing, as they need to show that they can deliver not just the energy that economies rely on but also can reduce emissions that the world needs to tackle the climate change challenges.



The solar segment dominated the renewable energy industry during the forecast period

The solar segment, by technology type, is expected to dominate the global renewable energy market during the forecast period.The solar energy producers' product portfolio includes inverters, cells, and modules.



Some of the major solar energy producers are Canadian Solar (Canada), Jinko Solar (China), SunPower (US), and Tina Solar (China). These manufacturers are still operating with limited production capacities.



The solar producers are negotiating contractual scheduling with their customers.Canadian Solar, which has its substantial PV manufacturing operations in China, has limited cases where the company has to change the shipping schedules.



The company is largely able to deliver its orders on-time. This shows that the manufacturers are trying to deliver on time, which is expected to fuel the overall solar segment in the renewable energy market.



The utilities/power producers segment is projected to be the largest renewable energy market during the forecast period

The utilities/power producers segment, by end-user type, is expected to dominate the global renewable energy market during the forecast period.Strict lockdown regulations are stopping people and goods from a free movement, thereby creating a heavy blow to the demand for transport fuels.



This is the right time for the utilities to make the transition to 100% renewable energy.



Utilities/power producers, who had already shifted or are planning to shift to the renewable energy sector will be the gainers during the forecast period. Also, the long-term and reliable government policies and increased energy independence are expected to be the key motives for utilities making the transition to 100% renewables in the future.



Asia Pacific is projected to be the largest and optimistic market during the forecast period

Asia Pacific is the largest renewable energy market, by region, during the forecast period.China and India are two big renewable energy markets in the region, which is the reason for market growth in the region.



Several of the top ten solar PV manufacturers (in terms of module shipments) are based in China, including Jinko Solar, JA Solar, Trina Solar, LONGi Solar, Risen Energy, GCL System, and Suntech.These companies are expected to resume their operation by the end of April 2020 because of limited COVID-19 cases in China.



This is likely to drive the renewable energy market in the region because North America and Europe are still under strict lockdown regulations.



In-depth interviews were conducted with CXOs, managers, and key executives from various key organizations operating in the renewable energy industry.

 By Company Type: Tire 1: 65%, Tire 2: 24%, and Tire 3: 11%

 By Designation: C-level: 30%, Directors: 25%, and Others: 45%

 By Region: Asia Pacific: 33%, North America: 27%, Europe: 20%, Middle East & Africa: 13% South America: 7%



The renewable energy market includes major players, such as Siemens Gamesa (Spain), Goldwind (China), General Electric (US), Orsted (Denmark), Canadian Solar (Canada), Jinko Solar (China), Vestas (Denmark), and SolarEdge (Israel). The study includes COVID-19-focused long- and short-term strategies, recent development, and various drivers and opportunities in the overall renewable energy market globally.



Research Coverage

The study covers the renewable energy market across segments.It aims at estimating the market size and its growth potential across different segments such as technology type, end-user, and region.



The study also includes an in-depth COVID-19-focused long- and short-term strategies in the market, along with key observations related to disruptions in the renewable industry, customer analysis, recent developments, and key market strategies to cater to the growing market demand during the current pandemic.



Key Benefits of Buying the Report

The report will help market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall renewable energy market and subsegments.This report will help stakeholders in gaining more insights to position their businesses better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.



It will also help the stakeholders to understand the pulse of the market and will provide them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05889778/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Karnataka: The corona virus was found in a cameraman of a Karnataka media channel. Samples of five ministers who came in contact with the journalist were sent for investigation. On Wednesday, the report of four ministers turned out to be negative. They are now in self-quarantine.

CoronavirusIn this case, it was reported b?y a media channel that the five ministers had come in direct contact with the journalist but they were not planning a Home Quarantine Protocol for them, after which the ministers quarantined themselves.

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Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar in which Deputy CMN Ashwath Narayan, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Kannada and Culture Minister Citi Ravi tweeted that the reports of the four ministers were negative and that they were self-quarantined at home.

PhotoNo virus was found in their report but caution must be exercised and all necessary precautions must be taken. Bomai said his investigation report turned out to be negative. He said he is a self-quarantine and is healthy.

Ravi said that even though he (the cameraman) came to their meetings but they did not have any close contact with him (the cameraman) and they got their investigation done on April 28. He was happy to share that her corona virus test report is negative.

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It is pertinent to mention her that the 34-year-old journalist met five ministers between April 21 and April 24. Following the journalist's corona symptoms, his sample was sent for testing on April 23 and his test report came back positive on April 24.
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Mel Baggs, a disabled writer and artist who became an influential champion of a powerful idea - "that all people are valuable" - through candid blog posts and videos that brought them to the fore of the neurodiversity and self-advocacy movements, died April 11 in Burlington, Vermont, at age 39

The cause was respiratory failure, said their mother, Anna Baggs.

In blog entries, YouTube videos, poems and watercolors, Mel Baggs documented and explored a personal identity that eluded easy labels. "Usually, when people assume things about me, they're wrong," they once wrote. "My life is complicated, and it does not follow the standard stories that people expect either of disabled people in general, or of people with my specific conditions."

Baggs identified as genderless and used the pronouns sie and hir, although they had little interest in policing people's language. Some friends and female members referred to Baggs with more traditional female or they/them pronouns; in general, Baggs seemed more interested in what people had to say than in the words they used to say it.

Their main focus was on promoting self-advocacy for people with developmental disabilities. Baggs was autistic and nonspeaking - they used a communication device for most of their adult life - and also used a feeding tube, a cane or wheelchair, and supplemental oxygen to treat frequent lung infections. Seizures remained a lifelong challenge, and severe muscle weakness and an adrenal condition led Baggs to drop out of college and kept them in bed for months at a time.

It did not keep them from building an independent life, devoted in large part to upending what Baggs described as "the idea that there is only one kind of real language, real communication, real person." Their writing and videos placed Baggs at the vanguard of the neurodiversity movement, which emphasizes the diversity of human experience and minds and rejects the idea of a single "normal" condition.

"Sie fought unceasingly for the principles that all people count, regardless of type or degree of disability," said Lydia X.Z. Brown, a disability justice advocate and writer, "and that all people deserve to exercise their own agency and to receive necessary care and support, even and especially if others do not understand why. Mel also emphasized constantly that it was most important for hir, and others, to be regarded and recognized as a whole human being rather than reduced to being only the relevant labels or categories."

Baggs spoke at conferences on developmental disabilities, worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists researching autism and - although they were not Jewish - advised Rabbi Ruti Regan, a visiting scholar at the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, on bar and bat mitzvah rituals for adolescents with language disabilities.

"The Torah taught me that we are all created in God's image," Regan said in an interview, "and Mel taught me more than just about anyone else how to mean it."

Baggs wrote frequently on their blog Cussin' and Discussin' (its tagline: "Mel being human in a world that says I'm not"), publishing poems, photos of their beloved cats Fey and Igor, analysis of their experiences in institutional care settings and reflections on the sexual abuse they said they faced as a child.

But they were perhaps best known for a 2007 video, "In My Language," which showed them speaking in their "native language" - not through words but through actions, including waving their hands, rocking back and forth, rubbing a laptop and running their fingers through water. Baggs went on to offer a voice-over "translation," explaining through a computer that they were in a "constant conversation" with their environment.

"The way I naturally think and respond to things," they said, "looks and feels so different from standard concepts or even visualization that some people do not consider it thought at all, but it is a way of thinking in its own right. . . . Only when the many shapes of personhood are recognized will justice and human rights be possible."

Baggs' nearly nine-minute video drew more than 1 million views online, as well as coverage from media organizations such as CNN and Wired. But much of the public response focused on autism and seemed to treat Baggs as an object of pity, trapped in their own world. Such viewers missed the point, Baggs said, writing in a CNN essay that the video "applies to anybody who gets written off because their communication is too unusual," including "signing deaf people" and schoolchildren who aren't fluent in English.

"We perceive the world differently," Baggs had previously told NPR. "We think differently. And we respond to the world differently. And that goes for all of us, not just some of us."

Amanda Melissa Baggs was born in Mountain View, California, on Aug. 15, 1980. Their mother, the former Anna Lynch, was a respiratory practitioner; their father, Ronald Baggs, was an electronics engineer who designed equipment for high-energy physics experiments.

Mel, who later adopted the name Amelia Evelyn Voicy Baggs, grew up "with a complicated relationship to speech and receptive language," by their account. They were raised in a rural section of La Honda, California, surrounded by redwood trees that became a fixture of their poetry and watercolors.

Baggs studied at De Anza College in California and Bard College at Simon's Rock in Massachusetts before continuing their education through books. They soon emerged as a fiery online activist, notably through a website they created in response to an Autism Society of America campaign, Getting the Word Out, which Baggs viewed as perpetuating stereotypes about autistic people through its black-and-white photos and dour captions.

With the release of "In My Language," some critics questioned whether Baggs had exaggerated or faked their disabilities - accusations that Baggs, and those who knew them from conferences and other events, fiercely denied.

"Sie had a tremendous influence on the commitment in the neurodiversity community that exists today, that this is for everybody, that nobody doesn't matter and nobody doesn't have rights," said Cal Montgomery, a disability rights advocate and longtime friend of Baggs. "Most of us do not live our values," he added, "but Mel lived hir values as completely as anybody I've ever known."

Baggs's blogs included Ballastexistenz, named after a German eugenics term that was used, as Baggs put it, "to make us seem like useless eaters, lives unworthy of life." Many physicians and nurses seemed to treat Baggs that way, family and friends said.

"For several years prior to her death, Mel was engaged in an escalating fight to convince a failing local support system that her life had value," Anna Baggs wrote in an email. "It became more and more difficult to secure adequate assistance with necessary activities."

Last year, Baggs moved in with a friend, autistic rights activist Laura Tisoncik, whom Anna Baggs described as Baggs' "second mother." Baggs had been increasingly frail after being hospitalized for the flu in March - they had tested negative for the novel coronavirus - and died at Tisoncik's home in Burlington.

In addition to Baggs' mother, survivors include two brothers and a grandmother.

Almost until the end, Baggs passed the time with crochet, sometimes making gloves and scarves that they put in plastic bags and left on park benches, accompanied by a note: "If you are cold please take these. I made them for you."

The handicraft was a way to ease their mind, Baggs explained in a Ballastexistenz post, and was less physically demanding than painting and violin, their other hobbies. "It gives me something to do with my hands," they said. "And I need things to do with my hands. I need things that are concrete, things outside the world of words, things that are useful, things that are beautiful."
New York, April 30 : New York state, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, has reported nearly 300,000 coronavirus cases, while its daily death toll fell to the lowest since early March, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

In his daily briefing, Cuomo said on Wednesday that with 4,585 additional cases, the state's overall tally reached 299,691, and the daily death toll fell to 330, the lowest since early March.

An antibody survey has shown that at least 10 per cent of police officers and first responders in New York City had been infected with COVID-19 and recovered.

The survey was conducted with 1,000 New York City Fire Department (FDNY) officers and 1,000 New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers from across all five boroughs, according to Cuomo.

Preliminary results show that 17.1 per cent of FDNY officers and emergency medical technicians and 10.5 per cent of NYPD officers have COVID-19 antibodies.

Same tests were conducted with 1,000 transit workers in the state on Wednesday, and more will be done by race and gender in the future to further determine the spread of COVID-19 infections, said the governor.

Meanwhile, the capacity of the daily diagnostic testing has increased to 30,000 in the state, halfway to Cuomo's goal of doubling the capacity from 20,000 per day to 40,000 per day.

"We know testing is key to re-opening New York. It is the indicator that will show if we are keeping the infection rate down throughout the re-opening process," said Cuomo.

He has directed the Metropolitan Transit Authority to issue a full plan by Thursday on how it will clean and disinfect every subway train every night, as the conditions of the system deteriorated during the pandemic.

Media reports showed that many New York City subway trains have become homeless shelters, with trash scattered around and homeless people sleeping on the seats, while thousands of essential workers in the city still need to commute by public transit.

To support healthcare workers and first responders on their mental health, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday a new program in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD) and other local health agencies.

The program, which includes elements of DoD's combat stress management and resilience program, is expected to be available by the end of this month.

The program builds upon the city's existing "Help Healers Heal" program, which offers frontline healthcare workers direct mental health support in the form of a 24/7 behavioral health helpline staffed by psychiatrists and psychologists.

"Our frontline heroes are fighting a war on two fronts," said de Blasio.

"They have been through so much to protect their fellow New Yorkers, and we will not allow them to shoulder the mental toll of this pandemic alone. To those who are struggling: your city hears you, we see you, and help is on the way." The US currently accounts for the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, as well as deaths.

As of Thursday morning, the country recorded 1,039,909 cases, with 60,966 deaths, according to the latest tally by the Johns Hopkins University.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The job description for Joe Bidens running mate has suddenly become more complicated: The Democratic vice presidential nominee must now defend him against sexual assault accusations without looking hypocritical.

Its a particularly vexing problem for Bidens potential picks, many of whom played lead roles in opposing the Senate Supreme Court confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. Democrats vigorously applied a believe all women standard as they rallied to support his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, leaving a trail of unambiguous statements at sharp odds with the role theyll need to play for Biden in a general election.

The job of being the vice presidential candidate is always hard and now its just harder because of this. But they dont really have a choice, said Susannah Randolph, a top Florida progressive activist and former congressional candidate.

The fact is, to be a running mate, you have to be a team player and step up where your team is weak or fill that role where they need you, she said. This comes with the job.

Advisers to four of the potential candidates who spoke to POLITICO  none of whom would go on record  expressed what they described as a sense of frustration that accusations against Biden are being examined more intensely than the more numerous allegations against President Donald Trump.

The advisers all said they hoped Biden would speak out soon, but conceded theres no way he  or those in contention to be his running mate  can continue to avoid the subject as they run for office or jockey to be on the Democratic ticket.

Believe the woman didnt mean believe all women, all the time. But this is an era of slogans and were paying the price for that, said an adviser to one of the women under consideration, noting Reades story changed over the time.

The #MeToo movement was an over-correction to decades of ignoring women and not believing them. And what were seeing now is a result of that over-correction, the adviser said. Its not ideal. Its not what we want to be talking about.

Story continues

That means for many of the top veep prospects  all of whom are women  the job will entail squaring their earlier stances with the allegation against Biden. Since former Biden staffer Tara Reade accused Biden of assault last month, their reactions have been markedly different than during the Kavanaugh hearings: theyve either stood with the former vice president or said nothing.

Few are in a more potentially awkward position than California Sen. Kamala Harris, who used the hearings as a springboard to her own presidential campaign and made clear she believed Fords accusations in 2018.

Harris later told reporters that after the Kavanaugh hearings, her biggest fear is that there will be a group of people who retreat, right? Thats my biggest fear, that there will be people who will decide that if they speak out it doesnt matter, and will feel deflated by what happened in a way that causes them to recede.

Earlier this month, however, Harris stuck with Biden.

The Joe Biden I know is somebody who really has fought for women and empowerment of women and for womens equality and rights, Harris told the San Francisco Chronicle , though she made sure to say Reade has a right to tell her story. And I believe that and I believe Joe Biden believes that, too.

Harris defense of Biden has been joined in recent weeks by many of the top veep contenders  among them Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin)

Whitmer, a sexual assault survivor who tweeted in 2017 that Im saying #MeToo in hopes that future generations won't have to and a year later tweeted I believe Dr. Ford , avoided voicing clear support for Reades allegations.

I think women should be able to tell their stories, she told NPR earlier this month. I think that it is important that these allegations are vetted, from the media to beyond. And I think that, you know, it is something that no one takes lightly. But it is also something that is, you know, personal. And so it's hard to give you greater insight than that, not knowing more about the situation.

Other prospects on Bidens shortlist have chosen silence. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who similarly believed Ford, hasnt spoken out about Reade. Nor has Florida Rep. Val Demings, who in 2018 wore black to Trumps State of the Union speech to stand in solidarity with harassment and abuse victims. She, too, supported Ford.

As a law enforcement officer, I saw how hard it is to come forward after a sexual assault. I am so proud of everyone who is sharing their stories today about #WhyIDidntReport. I believe you, and I stand with you, Demings tweeted in September 2018.

So far, Biden has refused to comment on Reades allegations, declining media interviews or granting those where he was not asked about Reades accusations.

He had a chance to address the issue Wednesday night during a Florida virtual fundraiser where an activist wanted him to comment on sexual assault in the military.

Look, we have to change the culture of abuse in this country, Biden said, sticking tightly to the issue of assault in the military. One donor on the Zoom meeting told POLITICO he thought Biden was going to talk about Reade because I thought the question was put on the list with that in mind.

A Senate Democrat who supports Biden said the allegations have not affected the vice presidential search and that Biden is not seeking people who can defend him.

Thats not Joe, the senator said. This has been thoroughly, deeply researched by The Washington Post, New York Times, AP. If in several weeks of having several reporters each on it theyve concluded theres nothing to suggest theres a case here? That certainly satisfies me.

The Biden campaign more than a week ago gave surrogates talking points revolving around deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfields denials of the charges and a false characterization claiming the Times found this incident did not happen  a determination the paper never made.

Former Georgia 2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams also repeated the campaigns talking points on CNN Tuesday and gave the clearest statement about where she stands: I believe Joe Biden.

For now, the campaign is relying on a formula that has worked since he announced his candidacy: dont rush, dont overreact and dont try to get ahead of a crisis that might be consuming activists and the news media on Twitter but that voters arent talking about.

Biden also doesnt want to appear to demonize Reade because it would hurt the broader cause of supporting women who are accusers, said an adviser to the former vice president. But the campaign expects hell eventually discuss the issue publicly.

The reaction by Bidens campaign and surrogates to the accusations from Reade have disappointed some womens rights activists and others.

Denise Krepp, a former U.S. Maritime Administration chief counsel who said she was pressured to quit her job in 2012 during the Obama administration because she called for an independent investigation of sexual assault allegations at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, tweeted Wednesday that she wouldnt participate in an Obama Alumni fundraiser Friday for Biden until he spoke about Reade. Krepp said the potential running mates for Biden also need to be more vocal, although she understands that could be complicated.

They could end up being in the situation I ended up in, where youre accused of being disloyal. But disloyal to whom? she said. Your job is not to be quiet. Your job is to answer these questions.

Burgess Everett contributed to this report.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Washington, United States/London, United Kingdom  Thu, April 30, 2020 11:11 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd524c9e 2 World UK,Britain,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,WHO,pandemic,Origins Free

Britain's ambassador to the United States on Wednesday backed calls for an investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus and the response of the World Health Organization, but said the first priority should be containing the outbreak.

The comments came after Britain's foreign affairs parliamentary committee asked the government whether it plans to use international bodies to hold China to account over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cross-party body asked for the government's strategy in dealing with China, taking into account Beijing's role in giving early information on the pandemic, its role within medical and industrial supply chains and the reliance of the UK and its partners on the country.

The committee asked if the government planned to make representations at international gatherings such as the World Health Organization, Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies or Group of 20 (G20) major economies to "hold China accountable for its attempts to mislead the international community in order to control the narrative around COVID-19."

Asked about the issue during an online event with The Washington Post newspaper, British Ambassador Karen Pierce said an investigation was certainly needed into how the virus emerged and the health risks associated with wet markets in China, which have spawned at least three virus outbreaks since 2000.

The British government also favored a review of the WHO's handling of the outbreak and reforms of the organization, she said. "We need to learn after all these crises, just as we did after Ebola in 2014. We need to learn how we can always do things better," she said.

However, she underscored that it was crucial now to focus on bolstering international cooperation to respond to the pandemic.

"We would see these sorts of reviews and reforms and investigations as something to come later," she said.

The US government has repeatedly criticized China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which began late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has grown into a global pandemic. The outbreak has killed nearly 217,000 people globally, including more than 27,000 in Britain and over 58,000 in the United States, according to a Reuters tally.

US President Donald Trump has suspended US funding of the WHO, accusing the U.N. agency of promoting China's "disinformation" about the outbreak. WHO officials have denied this and China has said it has been transparent and open.
New Delhi, April 30 : Taking note of reports that various state authorities insisted on separate passes for vehicles carrying goods, the Centre on Thursday clarified that "no separate passes are required" for goods cargo.

The order, issued by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to all state and Union Territory Chief Secretaries, stressed free movement of all goods cargo, including empty vehicles after delivery or for pick up of goods.

The order says that local authorities "must not insist on separate passes at inter-state borders across the country".

In the communication, it has been stressed that this free movement is essential for maintaining the supply chain of goods and services across the country during the lockdown period. It has been clearly mentioned that the movement of "through traffic of trucks and goods carriers, including empty trucks, is allowed without any hindrance".

The order said that this is essential to maintain the supply chain of goods and services in the country to boost the economy as well as to meet the demand of people amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing nationwide lockdown.

Issued on the 37th day of the second phase of the lockdown, the order said: "All goods traffic will be allowed to ply. Movement of all trucks and other goods and carrier vehicles with two drivers and one helper subject to the driver carrying a valid licence, an empty truck or vehicle will be allowed to ply after the delivery of goods or for pick up of goods." The Home Ministry issued the order following inputs that at inter-state borders in different parts of the country, movement of trucks was not allowed freely and local authorities were insisting upon separate passes. On April 3 and April 12, the ministry had issued similar letters.

The order said that there is no "ambiguity" at the ground level and movement of traffic of trucks and goods carriers must allowed without any hindrance.
Pilgrims to the holy grounds of Goka carry with them a legend that: before the Goka people believed in the seership of Maame Sarah as one sent by the heavens, there was this Hawk who swooped on the chicks, livestock, of the people.

In a single strike, with swiftness, this ravenous Hawk could prey on a dozen chicks. Some impaled in her talons and others in the stranglehold of the Hawk's beak.

The Goka people mustered every art of hunting to kill this Hawk but none was successful.

Not even after employing the renowned hunter Bomofo Adu who not long ago had used his single barrel gun to shoot down a highflying eagle when the Chief of Goka needed feathers to make the hat worn by the Okra, Ntakrakyehene, or what we'll otherwise call: the powerful young lad who sits in front of the Chief in the palanquin, at durbars.

To kill that eagle, Bomofo Adu won a wager or bet with it by aiming his gage at the eagle by looking at it flying above in the skies in a basin containing water and placed on the ground at the Townsquare. As the shadow of the eagle was spotted in the water, the pellets from the hunter's gun brought it down with one trigger pulled.

That history should make killing the Hawk, a less evil to the eagle, the easiest.

In the Hawk's case, the Goka people were not lucky. Bomofo Adu's hunting tactics were not successful. Disunity meant, even though he's not known to wrong others, but he was nonetheless hated by those who thought his killing of the Hawk will boost his fame. Those enemies of human progress either shout to alert the Hawk of the hunter's presence or appear unannounced to meet the bullets if he was to fire at the Hawk.

In all these, the Goka people never gave ears to the prophetess Maame Sarah lamenting that if they don't bury their divisiveness and selfishness, the Hawk will forever feed fat on their sweat, preying on their chicks, their livelihood.

The very divisive actions of the people empowered the Hawk in her preys, the very delicacy of chicken was now eluding the Goka people.

It was when the Hawk trespassed to the territory of Maame Sarah's prayer camp, where chicks peck about, that it was held motionless by an unseen hand in the skies. Within minutes, the world reached every ear in Goka telling about the miraculous trapping of the hated Hawk.

Whiles there, before a pebble from a young boy's catapult brought down the Hawk to be used as a hunting trophy, they learnt the Maame Sarah was a unifier, and none of her associates had animosity against any soul. So, the trapping of the Hawk by the unseen hand could only be interpreted as the doings of the heavens to teach mankind that where there's unity, the powers above intervene in our battles.

This Hawk said about, the sworn enemy of the Goka people, is not any different from the ravaging coronavirus, Covid-19, that is threatening the lives of the Ghanaian people. In countries with better health facilities than Ghana's, the; America's, Italy's, Germany's, French's, and the British's, the novel virus is exposing their limitations. That alone should have given the Ghanaian the hint that this battle is beyond the might of man and for that matter it's time we live as a one Ghana with common aspiration for spoils from a battlefront. But no, Ghana is now turning this battle into a divisive partisan politics combat.

The actions of the major political party leaders derisively hoodwink their followers that it's their special interventions that's winning Ghana the battle against the Covid-19.

The chasm is already created, and the followers of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will listen to the President when he speaks in his late-night broadcasts. Not so with those of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In the marketplace and at large gatherings, after lifting the lockdown restrictions, it's the NPP faithful who are more likely to use the personal protective equipment (PPEs), ie; the nose masks, gloves and the others. The opposition didn't give ears, or would not give credence to the word of the incumbent, President Akufo-Addo. The story wouldn't have been different if it was the NDC that's occupying the presidency.

The *One Ghana Movement (1GhM)* is not reneging on its clarion call to the Ghanaian populace that: in this crisis time, let's learn it the bitterest way that if we don't bury our divisiveness and unite at the battlefront, the Covid-19 will leave our shores, but with it would be dragged the name of Ghana, making her desolate.

A united Ghana is the proverbial combined spiderwebs that traps the lion in Covid-19.

Long live Ghana!

*Written by Charles Yeboah (Sir Lord)*

*The Founder Of One Ghana Movement (1GhM)*

*Contact/WhatsApp: +233249542111*

*Email: [email protected]*
That will allow five months for the bureau to collect the remaining 39.5 percent of responses. But collecting data over such a long period, and at different times based on location, creates its own set of concerns. The count is based on the number of people living in a household as of April 1; the more time that passes between that date and when households are counted, the more possibility there is for error, especially among traditionally undercounted populations that may be more transient.
The United States recorded another 2,389 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday after a brief lull in new fatalities.

The national death toll is now 61,568 with 1,065,245 confirmed cases.

Daily deaths were on the decline in recent days, dropping below 2,000 on Saturday and continuing to fall on Sunday and Monday.

New deaths recorded fell to 1,315 Monday, the first time daily fatalities in the U.S. had been this low since April 5.

It began to climb again Tuesday, as did new cases reported. Cases spiked Wednesday with 28,259 new infections.

The sudden return to daily death tolls over 2,000 comes as more states announce they are planning to begin phased reopening even and experts identify as many as 22 new outbreak hotspots across the country.

Data researchers found that there are emerging coronavirus hotspots in small cities and rural counties across eight US states that are lifting lockdown restrictions.

An analysis conducted by data firm Dataminr used artificial intelligence to examine social media posts related to coronavirus and predicts the smaller areas where infections are set to increase.

The firm identified the areas based on clusters of public social media posts that directly referenced, among other things, firsthand accounts of symptoms, relatives who have been infected and testing supply shortages.

The small cities or counties - located in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas - had all seen an increase in the number of social media posts related to COVID-19.

There could be up to 22 emerging coronavirus hotspots in small cities and rural counties across eight US states that are lifting lockdown restrictions, data researchers have found

Those areas where the social media clusters were identified had not yet had a spike in COVID-19 infections, which the analysis suggests could point to them being emerging coronavirus hotspots.

In most cases, the data analysis shows the increase in social media posts occurring several days before the number of infections started to increase.

It aligns with CDC warnings that COVID-19 symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

The data used in the analysis only accounts for infections reported up until April 21.

In the week since, figures independent from the analysis show that infections have spiked in some of the 22 areas.

All eight of the states where the 22 areas were identified have either partially lifted, or didn't have, lockdown measures related to coronavirus.

In Florida's Volusia County there are currently 445 infections. Infections increased there last week by 79. The week prior cases increased by 123. Social media posts in this area spiked about two weeks prior to cases increasing

Vigo County in Indiana currently has 62 infections. It increased last week by just two infections but rose by 17 the week prior. Social media posts increased about two weeks before cases started to spike

In Indiana's Tippecanoe County, there are currently 95 infections. That's an increase of 36 cases in a week. Social media posts spike about a month prior to infections rising

Summit County, Ohio currently has 542 cases. The number of infections there increased by 157 in the past week and 91 the week prior. Cases started increasing about a week after social media posts there, according to the data

St. Joseph County in Indiana has 602 infections. Cases increased last week by 160 and 169 in the week prior

Polk County, Florida currently has 457 infections after increasing by 101 in a week. Infections spiked about two weeks after an increase in social media posts

Montgomery County in Ohio has 266 infections after increasing by 29 cases in a week. Infections increased about three weeks after an increase in social media posts

Monroe County, Indiana currently has 122 infections. The number of cases appeared to increase about three weeks after a spike in social media posts

Manatee County, Florida now has 563 infections. Infections increased by 120 in the past week and 166 the week prior. The number of cases appeared to increase about three weeks after a spike in social media posts

Lucas County, Ohio currently has 1166 infections. Infections increased by 313 last week and 257 the week prior. The infections appeared to spike about a week after an increase in social media posts

Lubbock County, Texas currently has 504 infections. Cases increased by 46 last week and 91 in the week prior. Cases appeared to spike about three weeks after an increase in social media posts

Infections in Jefferson County, Texas have risen to 288 infections. They have increased by 74 over two consecutive weeks. Infections appeared to increase about a month after social media posts started increasing

In Jackson County, Michigan the infections have increased to 342. Cases increased by 62 last week and 85 the week prior. The infections appeared to increase about a week after social media posts started increasing

In Horry County, South Carolina infections have now risen to 211. Infections appeared to increase around the same time social media posts started to also rise

THE US STATES REOPENING: Florida: From May 4 Montana: From May 4 Missouri: May 4 Maine: From May 1 Ohio: From May 1 Iowa: May 1 Alabama: From April 30 Minnesota: From April 27 Mississippi: From April 27 Tennessee: From April 27 Colorado: From April 27 Michigan: From April 24 Alaska: From April 24 Georgia: From April 24 Oklahoma: From April 24 South Carolina: From April 20 Texas: From April 20 Advertisement

There are two areas in Georgia, which reopened last week, that the analysis says are hotspots.

In Chatham County, infections increased by 32 in the past week. The week prior saw 25 new infections.

Clarke County saw an increase of 26 infections last week and 14 new cases the week before.

In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp is pushing one of the most aggressive reopening plans in the US. Barbershops, gyms and nail salons were allowed to reopen Friday and dine-in restaurant service and movie screenings were freed to resume Monday - despite warnings that, without sufficient testing, the state could see a surge in infections.

In South Carolina's Charleston County, infections jumped 35 in the last week and 50 the week prior.

Greenville County in South Carolina recorded 144 new infections last week and 117 cases the week before.

In Lucas County in Ohio, infections spiked by 313 last week compared to the 257 cases the week before.

Indiana's St. Joseph County recorded 160 new infections last week and 169 a week earlier.

Last month, Dataminr, which tracks real-time data for the United Nations and other firms, correctly predicted 14 states where COVID-19 infections would spike within two weeks.

Chatham County in Georgia currently has 217 infections. The number of cases appeared to increase about a month after social media posts spiked

Hidalgo County, Texas currently has 310 infections. The number of infections appeared to spike about three weeks after social media posts started increasing

Greenville County, South Carolina currently has 661 infections. The number of infections appeared to increase about a week after social media posts appeared to spike

In Escambia County, Florida the current number of cases is 485. Cases appeared to increase about three weeks after the number of social media posts spiked

Clarke County in Georgia currently has 142 infections. The number of infections appeared to spike about two weeks after social media posts increased

In Charleston County, South Carolina the currently number of infections is at 438. The number of cases appeared to increase about a month after social media spiked

Bay County, Florida currently has 70 infections. Cases appeared to spike about a month after social media posts increased

Hamilton County in Tennessee currently has 149 infections. The number of cases appeared to spike about two weeks after social media posts increased

It comes as a number of states - mostly in the South and Midwest - lift coronavirus restrictions following weeks of mandatory lockdowns that have thrown millions of American workers out of their jobs.

Florida was added to the list Wednesday after Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state will begin to lift its coronavirus shutdown from Monday, May 4.

Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties will remain under restrictions as they continue to report the most cases of COVID-19 in the state.

Earlier on Tuesday, Maine became the first Northeastern state to partially reopen its economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The state will allow some businesses - including drive-in theaters, barber shops and hair salons, dog groomers and car dealerships - to reopen from Friday.

Meanwhile, Michigan will allow its construction industry to resume work from May 7. The state's governor extended the stay-at-home order last week until mid-May but lifted restrictions on some businesses amid criticism by some that she had been too restrictive in her lockdown.

They joins a number of other states - mostly in the South and Midwest - to lift coronavirus restrictions following weeks of mandatory lockdowns that have thrown millions of American workers out of their jobs.

Alabama, Ohio, Missouri, Montana and Iowa will slowly start opening their economies this week.

Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Colorado, Alaska, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas have already partially reopened.

Public health authorities have warned that increasing human interactions and economic activity may spark a new surge of infections just as social-distancing measures appear to be bringing coronavirus outbreaks under control.

Stay-at-home orders issued by governors across the US and subsequent decisions to slowly reopen state economies have turned into highly charged political issues in recent weeks as the shutdowns have hammered the nation's economy.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 10:45:52|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ADEN, Yemen -- Yemen registered its first two deaths from COVID-19, Yemen TV quoted the country's health minister as saying on Wednesday.

Earlier, Yemen reported five new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the southern port city of Aden.

- - - -

BEIJING -- There is no evidence of manipulation of China's COVID-19 data using Benford's law, and its data should be used not only for calibration of models to inform policy measures to slow infection, but also guide policy in other countries, researchers have claimed.

The study dated Tuesday was conducted by Christoffer Koch, a senior research economist at the Federal Research Bank of Dallas and Ken Okamura, a researcher with the University of Oxford's Said Business School.

- - - -

HARARE -- Zimbabwe on Thursday said it has confirmed 40 COVID-19 cases after eight new infections were recorded in the past two days.

Two positive cases were recorded on Tuesday in Bulawayo, the country's second largest city, and six in the capital Harare on Wednesday.

- - - -

BRASILIA -- The Brazilian Health Ministry reported Wednesday that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has risen from 71,886 to 78,162, an increase of 9 percent and the largest daily growth since the outbreak of the epidemic.

In the last 24 hours, the death toll rose from 5,385 to 5,466, with a fatality rate of 7 percent.

- - - -

WUHAN -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in central China's Hubei Province Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.

This marks that Hubei has had no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for 26 consecutive days since April 4.

- - - -

TOKYO -- Tokyo stocks opened sharply higher Thursday, following U.S. shares advancing overnight on reports the antiviral drug remdesivir is showing promise as an effective COVID-19 treatment.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 513.38 points, or 2.60 percent, from Tuesday to 20,284.57.

- - - -

GENEVA -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) has exceeded 3 million worldwide, according to the latest statistics from the WHO on Wednesday.

The WHO COVID-19 dashboard updated at 11:00 pm CET showed that globally a total of 3,024,059 confirmed cases, including 208,112 deaths, have been reported to the organization.

- - - -

NEW YORK -- The number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States topped 60,000 on Wednesday afternoon, reaching 60,207 as of 4 p.m. (2000 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

A total of 1,030,487 cases have been reported in the country, according to the CSSE. Enditem
His other assignments in his 32-year civil service career included executive secretary of the Peace Corps, national security assistant at the Treasury Department and deputy secretary of the Cabinet in the Eisenhower administration. He wrote Ring of Power and two other books on the inner workings of the White House while employed for 11 years, until 1988, as a senior staff member of the Brookings Institutions Center for Public Policy Education.
While WA restaurant and pub owners WAtoday spoke to were supportive of the new COVID-19 hygiene training, hundreds of the state's sporting, social and recreational clubs across the vast state were less enthused. While I support this online course, the last thing we want is to add more red tape to already struggling businesses. Opposition tourism spokesperson Alyssa Hayden Clubs WA chief executive Karen Giles said her organisation, which represented almost 1000 licenced clubs such as sporting, social, yachting, cultural and RSL venues, was well established with more than 400,000 members but heavily reliant on volunteers, a significant proportion of whom had difficulty accessing and using online training. "In addition, many of our clubs are unable to utilise the government's COVID-19 incentives due to our volunteer model, she told WAtoday on Wednesday. "The club industry may be part of the hospitality sector yet we go beyond this  providing services to members and the local community. Our industry has different needs.

"We expect the government will now consult us regarding the dynamics of COVID-19 training for the club industry and look forward to working with them on this." The state government told Ms Giles on Thursday morning the new training initiative would also be available free in hard copy format. "Clubs WA is pleased this is the case as we had been previously informed from his office that only online training was available," Ms Giles told WAtoday late on Thursday afternoon. "Having hard copy distribution of the free training sent in a timely fashion to clubs that require it, by the training provider, will be of great assistance and we await further details." Mr McGowan on Wednesday said no other state to his knowledge had implemented such an initiative, with WA well ahead of most other states in curbing the COVID-19 spread.

AHA WA CEO Bradley Woods said the course was proposed to the WA government two weeks ago, with content drawn from the World Health Organisation, state health authorities and other reputed scientific and health sources. "This is a training commitment by the hospitality industry to reopening in the best possible hygiene environment  its not just training in food hygiene, its handling, sanitation and best practice in social distancing, he said. "The mandated required for on-premise activity is this course, so its probably wise to start now and get ready. This is not a hygiene course, this is a COVID-19 hygiene course." Mr Woods said his members would love to open as soon as possible "but we also want to be open responsibly and when its the safest time to do that". Its been a terrible time for our industry over the past two months; weve seen tens and tens of thousands of jobs disappear but they will come back and well be a more resilient industry," he said.

The great opportunity for us if weve got nearly two million West Australians who would love to holiday and they'll be able to once we see more and more venues able to open. "The aim should be that every job thats lost is recovered in time  but we need to recognise that our tourism will be coming from our locals. WA government washing its hands of helping smaller players Opposition tourism and small business spokesperson Alyssa Hayden said the training was good but illustrated the government had again washed its hands of really helping small business. "The state government still needs to explain how small and family-run businesses and tourism operators are expected to stay afloat during this difficult time, Ms Hayden said.

"Its devastating to think that they have fallen through yet another crack left open by the government." Ms Hayden said the government should provide financial support to hospitality and tourism businesses during the crisis by cutting taxes, fees and charges to keep them afloat so they could make it to the other side and have doors to reopen. Its all well and good for the state government to spend $1.8m on a refresher course on hand washing, but many of these businesses have either been forced to close, or are hanging on by a thread and they need more than that, she said. While I support this online course, the last thing we want is to add more red tape to already struggling businesses. A government spokesperson said on Thursday it had cut severals fees and charges already.

United Workers Union state secretary Carolyn Smith said the training came at a welcome time for an industry hit hard by job losses during the crisis. Hospitality workers have had their jobs and hours vanish overnight with many not eligible for JobKeeper support given the high levels of casual and visa workers in the sector, she said. These workers want to get back to work, but they want to get it right to keep themselves and the public safe. Western Australians should be really proud that we are even having this discussion when we look around the world. The Court hotel owner Bree Maddox says she has already taken the new COVID course. The COVID-19 Hygiene Course would help the sector reduce risks associated with COVID-19 in respect to hygiene, cleaning and social distancing measures and cover the following modules:

Understanding COVID-19 and venue restrictions

Reporting personal health issues

Maintaining personal and work environment hygiene practices, specific to COVID-19

Reducing cross-contamination through procedures, specific to COVID-19

Effective cleaning and sanitising practices, specific to COVID-19 All staff will be required to complete the basic training, while a second more detailed hygiene officer course will be required for managers and supervisors, Mr Woods said. When re-opening occurs, each venue must have one hygiene officer on duty at all times to ensure venue compliance. Here's what two of WA's most experienced hospitality operators said of the new COVID-19 training: Bree Maddox, The Court: "The hospitality industry has already demonstrated how responsive and responsible it is in regards to directives and challenges. The industry is appreciative of the initiatives so far but the government needs to do more to support the industry now and in the future to ensure the future economic and cultural contribution of the industry to the state is protected. If restaurants are able to open soon it stands to reason that taverns would also be able to open, given that larger venues are in a better position to provide for social distancing.
A youth was killed and another injured when the Pakistan Army violated ceasefire and resorted to mortar shelling in forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday, an official said.

"About 7 pm today, the Pakistan Army initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Mankote sector," he said.

He said Indian troops retaliated to the shelling, which led to an exchange of fire.

Eighteen-year-old Gulfraz Ahmed was killed and another youth was injured when shells hit their Tain hamlet in Mankote sector, the police official told PTI.

The injured youth was rushed to a nearby hospital, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CAIRO - The Arab League has declared a ''war crime'' and ''flagrant violation'' of international law an Israeli annexation plan of the West Bank. In a resolution issued in Cairo after a video conference of foreign ministers of the organization, the League announced that it will ''support the decisions of the Palestinian State through all political, juridical and financial means faced with Israeli plans to perpetrate this annexation crime'', according to the text of the resolution.



The definition of ''war crime is added to an Israeli list full of horrible crimes against the Palestinian people'' and is referred to the ''annexation by the Israeli government of occupation of part of the Palestinian land occupied in 1967 including the north of the Dead Sea and the territories on which Israeli settlements are located'', the statement said. The ''flagrant violation'' allegedly committed by Israel according to the Arab League is instead of ''the Charter and UN resolutions and of international law''.



The extraordinary meeting of the organization's foreign ministers was summoned after Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz signed an agreement for a national unity government which could accelerate the premier's annexation plans for the West Bank in the coming months.
Dame Karen Pierce, the U.K. ambassador to U.S.,weighed in on the British government's response to the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday.

In an interview with The Washington Post Live, Dame Pierce said the primary focus of the UK government was to keep global trade moving.

The British diplomat also indicated the UK was prepared to aid developing countries with their health infrastructure as well as the development of a vaccine to treat COVID-19.

The U.K. has the third-highest coronavirus death toll in the world after the British government published new figures Wednesday that include deaths outside of hospitals.

Dame Pierce said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had requested plans to be drawn up for a phased reopening of the British economy.

The UK government set out five tests on easing the lockdown restrictions imposed as the pandemic swept across the British isles.

Among those tests are a sustained and consistent fall" in daily coronavirus-related daily deaths, and reliable data showing that the rate of inflection has moderated to manageable levels.
(Natural News) Very little has been said about how the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting South America. But reports are emerging out of Brazil, where one citys fight against the pandemic is being described in terms of a horror movie.

The city of Manaus is said to have the highest Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mortality rate in the entirety of Brazil, which has created mass chaos in many areas of the city. Reports claim that bodies are piling up in refrigerated trucks outside of overwhelmed hospitals, many of which do not have enough doctors to treat the influx of new patients.

There is also a crisis at the citys cemeteries, which apparently cannot handle the barrage of corpses that need to be buried or cremated. Consequently, bulldozers are reportedly having to dig mass graves in order to deal with this onslaught.

Despite all of this, the worst is yet to come, according to the AFP  though one could argue that the worst thus far has already arrived. In Manaus, the daily death rate associated with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) has spiked from around 20-30 per day to about 100 per day. This came just weeks after the city reported its first case of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 13.

Not only is the city being bombarded, but so are vulnerable indigenous communities throughout the region, some of which are only accessible by boat. Reaching infected individuals in these areas is tough, and the health care system in Manaus simply cannot handle it.

It is a scene out of a horror movie, stated Manaus Mayor Virgilio Neto to the AFP. We are no longer in a state of emergency but rather of absolute calamity. People are dying at home, some perhaps because they [have] no medical care.

Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how, based on his computations, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is between 56 and 100 times more deadly than seasonal influenza:

President Bolsonaro summons doctors from around Brazil to go to Manaus

While many of these home deaths have not been officially verified as Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths, Neto fears that they are based on what is being reported about the severity of the pandemic.

Brazil has 27 state capitals, and Manaus is one of them with a population of around 1.7 million. And while other areas of Brazil may have more cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), Manaus is said to have the highest mortality rate of them all.

Early on, President Jair Bolsonaro was not too concerned about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). But now, there are officially more cases of it in Brazil than in any other Latin American country.

And the official numbers could be too low because very little testing for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is taking place in Brazil. Because of this, some public health experts believe that the true number of cases could be around 15 times higher than what is being reported.

Local authorities have tried to overcome the rising number of cases by building a new field hospital. Brazils federal government has also called on doctors from around the country to come to Manaus to provide assistance.

But it could be too little, too late as Manaus is where all of Amazonas intensive care units (ICUs) are located, as well as 80 percent of its specialized doctors. This means that there are no additional doctors or facilities available to deal with any more Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients.

The system is truly centralized in the capital, stated Bernardo Albuquerque, an infectious disease expert at Amazonas Federal University, to the AFP.

To keep up with the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

Yahoo.com

NaturalNews.com
An entrepreneurial couple have been reaping the benefits of the COVID-19 lockdown, making millions of dollars from selling their blue light blocking glasses while the population work from home.

Katie and Andy Mant, from Perth, said they first became aware of the relationship between blue light exposure and screen use several years ago when they were looking after their health in preparation for their wedding.

'I bought a pair of blue light blocking glasses, but they were cheaply made, horrible, ugly things - like workman's goggles,' Andy, 35, told FEMAIL.

Realising there was a gap in the market for attractive glasses which also protect your eyes, the couple looked into it and launched their own eyewear brand, BLUblox.

They are now on track to have made $6million by the end of this year.

An entrepreneurial couple have been reaping the benefits of the COVID-19 lockdown, making millions of dollars from selling their blue light blocking glasses (Katie and Andy pictured)

Katie and Andy Mant, from Perth, said they first became aware of the relationship between blue light exposure and screen use several years ago when they were looking after their health in preparation for their wedding (Katie and Andy pictured)

When Andy and Katie, 34, originally started BLUblox as a side hustle in 2017, they knew they needed some rules if they wanted their business to be a success.

They ruled that they wouldn't borrow a cent to start their business, and so used a $1,500 investment of money they had received from work bonuses as recruitment managers - and established their project on the side of their regular jobs.

'I think the companies that fail are the ones which over-invest upfront in the bells and whistles and use up all of their investment,' Katie told Daily Mail Australia.

They used the money for a basic website which Katie designed, alongside their first products and packaging.

They saw a gap in the market for attractive-looking glasses that block artificial blue light and so started developing them (Katie and Andy pictured in the glasses)

Once BLUblox was underway, Andy and Katie said they thought about how they were going to market their glasses.

Instead of paying for advertising, they kept a dozen pairs of glasses from the first run and sent them to influencers within the health and well-being sphere.

'Thought leaders and wellness experts who were interested in the science behind them,' Andy said.

Blue light blocking glasses (pictured) help to block artificial blue light, thereby restoring the natural sleep/wake cycle and not disturbing your circadian rhythm

What is blue light? * Blue light is the shortest wavelength of light on the visible light spectrum. It is is uniquely disruptive to sleep and circadian rhythms. * Natural blue light comes from the sun and helps to determine our sleep-wake cycle. * Artificial blue light comes from screens - including televisions - as well as lightbulbs. * Too much of it can cause digital eyestrain, which can progress over time into macular degeneration. * Exposure to a lot of blue light in winter can raise stress levels and trigger anxiety and depression * It is not that any and all exposure to blue light is harmful, but we get too much of it, especially before bed. * Blue light blocking glasses block this powerful light, restoring the natural sleep/wake cycle. Advertisement

The response was unanimously positive, with many of the influencers sharing their glasses on their social media profiles.

But that doesn't mean the business wasn't without hard graft, as for the first two years, neither Katie nor Andy took a cent from the business.

'It's all too easy, when the money starts coming in, to spend it, thinking "I'm a millionaire, I can live the rich life now",' Andy said.

'Then you have no money to invest back into the business. We didn't start taking a salary until a month after we'd left our full-time jobs after two years, and even then, it was very modest - just enough to pay our mortgage and cover everyday costs like food.'

Instead of taking a big cut, the pair poured the money back into the business through marketing, education, sponsoring and buying new products.

'The sustainability and long-term growth might not be there if you dont have enough money to invest in developing it,' Katie said.

In September 2019, the pair (pictured) left their full-time jobs as recruiters, and since then, business has been booming, with COVID-19 only having a positive impact on sales

In September 2019, the pair left their full-time jobs as recruiters, and since then, business has been booming.

BLUblox's revenue in 2019 was $1.5million, and the impact of COVID-19 has only made it soar so they are now on track to make $6million this year.

'We are currently working 15 hour days, seven days a week to meet the demands of our business and we are in the process of looking to move office and warehouse to a much larger space to accommodate the growth and extra staff members since coronavirus has hit the world,' Katie said.

'In addition, we are doubling the size of our frame collection due to the growth, with 20 new frames launching over the coming weeks.'

What are Andy and Katie's top business tips? 1. You dont have to create a whole new product. You can create rapid growth by looking at what products already exist and how can you improve them. 2. Don't worry too much about getting everything perfect when you launch a product. Get your product out there and start selling. Start marketing it the best that you can with the resources you have. 3. Look at how you can market your product for free. BLUblox began by marketing entirely through influencers and Andy developed a reputation as one of the worlds blue light experts, invited onto more 60 podcasts. 4. If you're doing your business with a wife or partner, ensure that both have clear, defined roles  distinct lanes that each of you stays within. 5. Recognise who you are and what your skill sets are, what you're good at and what you're not. Don't waste your time when it could be better spent. Outsource. 6. Have a huge amount of integrity and have the knowledge to back up your products. Really know your products and back up your claims. Use your brand to empower people and spread education. Devote effort and attention to your customer service. 7. Give back. It's always important to give back to others to make a world a greater place. Katie & Andy have partnered with the NFP, Restoring Vision, and sponsor a brand new pair of reading glasses to an individual in need for every pair of glasses sold. Advertisement

The couple also shared their tips for your business success, and how you don't have to completely invent a new product, but just improve something existing (the glasses pictured)

The couple also shared their tips for your business success, and how you can make money - even in times of financial crisis.

'You don't have to create a whole new product. You can create rapid growth by looking at what products already exist and how can you improve them,' Katie said.

In a similar vein, they said the most important thing is getting your product to market - you don't need to worry about it being perfect as the best thing to do is get it out there and start selling.

'If you're working with your partner, make sure that you both have distinct lanes that you stick to,' Andy said.

'Couples' businesses often fail because there is no structure and you end up arguing and nothing gets done. Each of you must play to your own strengths.'

Finally, if you aren't good at something, then consider giving it to someone else or out-sourcing. You don't have to do everything.

To find out more about BLUblox, please click here.
JUNEAU, Alaska  ConocoPhillips Alaska plans to reduce its North Slope production for the month of June by about 100,000 barrels a day, or nearly half its total output, though no layoffs were included with the announcement, the company said Thursday.

The company said the decision is in response to unacceptably low oil prices resulting from global oil demand destruction caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with a global oversupply of oil.

This move comes on top of a request by trans-Alaska pipeline system operator Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. that companies deliver 90% of what they had been delivering in anticipation of high inventory in May.

Natalie Lowman, a spokeswoman for ConocoPhillips Alaska, said that should be lifted by late May, which is when she said the production ramp-down announced Thursday is expected to begin.

These are two separate actions that should not overlap, she said by email. She said Thursdays announcement did not include layoffs.

We continue to monitor the market situation. But at this time, based on our current outlook, we chose to maintain organization capacity so we can resume programs in the future, she said.

For the first quarter of the year, Houston-based ConocoPhillips said its Alaska operations produced the equivalent of 218,000 barrels a day.

During April, North Slope oil prices have been below $30 a barrel and more recently have hovered around $10 a barrel. Oil is a major economic driver for the state, and one of the sectors reeling from the impacts of the coronavirus.

Four oil field service companies have notified state officials of plans to lay off around 275 workers at their North Slope operations, Alaskas Energy Desk reported Wednesday. The layoffs include heavy equipment operators, engineers, technicians and mechanics, the outlet reported.

Meanwhile, initial unemployment claims topped 10,000 for the most recent reporting week, according to the Alaska labor department. During the same period a year ago, such claims totaled 863.

State officials have begun taking steps to reopen parts of the economy that had been restricted or ordered to close in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has said reopening decisions will be guided by science and data.

ConocoPhillips said it will decide on a month-to-month basis whether it needs to reduce production beyond June. It said its decision is not expected to affect the operation of the 800-mile pipeline.

The curtailment will essentially leave the oil stored in the reservoirs, available for resumption of production at a later date, the companys statement said, explaining its actions underscore the extraordinary challenges currently facing the oil and natural gas industry in Alaska and elsewhere.

The operations involved are the companys Kuparuk River unit and the Greater Mooses Tooth and Colville River units on the western North Slope.

Alyeska reported nearly 456,000 barrels of oil moved through the pipeline on Sunday, the most current daily total available. The average throughput in March was about 503,000 barrels per day, according to the company.

___

Associated Press reporter Mark Thiessen contributed from Anchorage, Alaska.
As some of the most visible frontline employees in the federal workforce, the coronavirus has hit Transportation Security Administration officers hard.

According to statistics from the TSA, five transportation security officers (TSOs) have died from COVID-19. As of April 30, 505 officers had contracted the illness, while 212 had the illness and recovered. TSA statistics showed that workers at airports all over the country, including one in the U.S. Virgin Islands, had tested positive, the majority of whom are screening officers.

This has raised further concerns that more could be done to protect screeners who face high risks of being exposed to the virus through close contact with airline passengers.

Democratic members of the House Homeland Security Committee want to include a slate of legislative proposals in the next coronavirus relief package that would grant COVID-specific benefits to TSA workers.

In an April 30 remote roundtable held with American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley, Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) touted Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson's (D-Miss.) Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act.

Correa said the bill had been introduced for inclusion in the next coronavirus relief package.

"COVID-19 has really presented beyond a doubt, that TSOs are frontline warriors," he said. The bill would reclassify TSA workers under Title V of the U.S. Code, granting them rights such as collective bargaining and to appeal adverse employment actions before the Merit Systems Protection Board, among other provisions.

Kelley also said he supported the bill. He added that TSA had been inconsistent in communicating to its workforce what the agency's COVID-related policies were for workers.

"TSA's [personal protective equipment] and masks policy [for TSOs] was not communicated until after the first three TSOs contracted COVID-19 at San Jose airport," he said. "TSA initially said that they presumed [TSOs] who had COVID were presumed to have gotten it on the job, but then backtracked and said it was up to the Department of Labor. They've done some things well, but those are some areas where they were slow and inconsistent."

"Use of nitrile gloves has always been required PPE during screening procedures, and was reinforced to the workforce specifically related to COVID-19 beginning on January 23 and again on January 28," a TSA spokesman told FCW via email. "TSA authorized employees to wear surgical masks on January 31."

In response to Kelley's claim that it had reneged on the presumption that COVID-positive TSOs had contracted the illness while on the job, TSA said: "The Department of Labor adjudicates all claims and benefits due to employees and survivors filed under the Workers Compensation Program. TSA will work with COVID-19 victims and families to ensure the proper paperwork is submitted."

Kelley expressed a wish to see legislation that would provide survivor benefits for the families of TSA workers who had died from the coronavirus.

"We cannot further endanger our TSOs," he said, stating that he believed airline passengers should be mandated to wear masks when flying.

"We've already lost five officers. We need to provide their survivors with benefits and recognition for public servants fallen in the line of duty."

He added that AFGE has set up a program to assist such families with filing claims for survivor benefits.

Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) said that she planned to introduce legislation in the near future that would make it easier for both sickened TSOs and the families of those who died to access benefits. The bill will establish the presumption that any TSO who contracted the illness and whose duties require regular contact with the public did so while on the job.

"If you die [in] the line of duty and it's due to COVID-19, the presumption should apply," she said.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) added that she and Correa would also introduce legislation in the coming days that would allow the federal government to cover all health care premiums for TSA workers, including part-time officers.

Last fall, the TSA announced that part-time TSOs hired after Oct. 1 who worked 32 hours a week or less would pay a higher percentage of health care premiums.

"Out of pocket costs should be zero when it comes to TSOs," Titus said.
A problem with a Lebanon County electrical line left nearly 7,000 people without power on Thursday morning.

Met Ed spokeswoman Tricia Ingraham said the company had an issue around 4 a.m. with an electrical line serving multiple substations in the Lebanon area.

Lebanon City, Cleona Borough and North Cornwall Township had more than a thousand outages each as of 7 a.m., according to Met Eds power outage map.

About 12,500 customers were initially without power, Ingraham said.

Met Eds website estimates the outages will be resolved by 7:30 a.m., but Ingraham put the completion time closer to 10 a.m.
1980 - Jessica Leeds

Jessica Leeds, a 75-year-old former businesswoman who lives in Manhattan, told the New York Times last year that she was 'assaulted' by Trump on a flight when she was 38.

Leeds explained how she was sat beside Trump in first class on a flight, when the Republican nominee lifted the arm-rest between then and allegedly began touching her.

'He was like an octopus,' she told the Times. 'His hands were everywhere.'

1989 - Ivana Trump

The Donald's first wife claimed she was 'violated' by him after a violent attack, documents filed as part of the couple's divorce claimed, according to the Daily Beast.

Ivana distanced herself from the claims last year when Trump started his campaign.

Early 1990s - Kristin Anderson

Kristin Anderson was out with friends, chatting up a storm at a Manhattan nightspot, when she felt fingers creep up her miniskirt, slide up her inner thigh and then touch her vagina through her panties.

Anderson, now 47, told the Washington Post that it was Donald Trump who touched her at the nightclub.

She said the incident took place in the early 1990s, when she was in her early twenties and an aspiring model.

1993 - Jill Harth

Jill Harth, a makeup artist, accused Trump of 'attempted rape' stemming from an incident in 1993.

Harth told the Guardian the incident in question took place during a visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion in January of that year.

'He pushed me up against the wall, and had his hands all over me and tried to get up my dress again,' she told the newspaper. 'I had to physically say: 'What are you doing? Stop it.''

1993 - Vendela Kirsebom

Former supermodel Vendela Kirsebom exclusively told DailyMail.com that Donald Trump's 'vulgar' and 'sexist' remarks about the size of women's breasts forced her to switch tables at a White House dinner party.

The Sports Illustrated cover model claims her night at a 1993 Vanity Fair event was ruined because she was sat next to the billionaire.

Recalling the 'excruciating' night, Kirsebom, 50, said: 'Everything he said was so vulgar.

'I couldn't listen to his nonsense for an entire night so I asked if I could be moved.'

1995 or 1996 - E. Jean Carroll

E. Jean Carroll, who accuses Trump of an attack in late 1995 or early 1996

Advice columnist E. Jean Carroll claims that in fall 1995 or spring 1996 she met Trump by chance as she was walking out of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan and she was walking in when he said 'Hey, youre that advice lady!' and asked her to help him buy a present for a 'girl,' which was 'lingerie.'

Carroll, who was 52 at the time, claims she and Trump shopped together and he tried to persuade her to model the underwear.

She says she told him to try it on and they ended up in a changing room where he grabbed her, held her both arms, ripped down her tights and sexually assaulted her. Carroll refused to use the word rape but said she was forcibly penetrated and 'it hurt.'

1996 - Lisa Boyne

Lisa Boyne, CEO of a health food company, claims that in the summer of 1996 she saw Trump make a series of women walk up and down a restaurant table so that he could announce whether they were wearing underwear.

'It was the most offensive scene I've ever been a part of,' she told The Huffington Post last year. 'I wanted to get the heck out of there.'

According to Boyne, she and friend Sonja Tremont - better known today as Sonja Morgan of 'Real Housewives of New York' - had been invited to dinner in Manhattan with Trump and late modelling agent John Casablancas.

1997 - Four Miss Teen USA contestants

Mariah Billado and three other contestants claimed to Buzzfeed that Trump walked into dressing rooms prior to the pageant while competitors were naked.

'I remember putting on my dress really quick because I was like, "Oh my god, there's a man in here",' she told Buzzfeed

Bilado told the website that Trump then said something like: 'Don't worry, ladies, I've seen it all before'.

1997 - Miss USA contestant Temple Taggart

Temple Taggart, a former Miss Utah, told the New York Times last year that Trump kissed her on the lips during the pageant.

'I thought, "Oh my God, gross"... I think there were a few other girls that he kissed on the mouth. I was like "Wow, that's inappropriate",' she told the newspaper.

Taggart has also sat down for an interview with NBC News.

'When I first heard the leaked tape, it's very unsettling... you don't want to hear anyone talking about women like that,' she said in a promotion clip for the interview.

1997 - Cathy Heller

Cathy Heller, now 64, claims the billionaire kissed her on the mouth without her consent in 1997 while she attended a Mother's Day luncheon with her family at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

She told The Guardian last year: 'He took my hand, and grabbed me, and went for the lips,' she said.

She claimed she held back but he persevered. 'And he said, "Oh, come on". He was strong. He grabbed me and went for my mouth and went for my lips.'

Trump denied the accusation, claiming she was motivated by a personal vendetta to have her family's membership fees reimbursed.

2000 - Miss USA contestant Bridget Sullivan

Bridget Sullivan told Buzzfeed last year that the then-owner of the pageant walked through the backstage area to wish contestants good luck, despite the fact many of them were naked at the time.

'The time that he walked through the dressing rooms was really shocking. We were all naked,' Sullivan said.

She went on to describe Trump as a 'creepy uncle', saying he would 'hug you just a little low on your back.'

Buzzfeed spoke with four other contestants from that year - none whom remembered Trump walking through the dressing room when contestants were naked.

2001 - Miss USA contestant Tasha Dixon

Tasha Dixon told CBS News last year walked into the changing rooms at the pageant without warning, meaning many of the competitors were naked or not fully dressed.

'Our first introduction to him was when we were at the dress rehearsal and half naked changing into our bikinis,' Dixon said in an interview. 'He just came strolling right in.

'There was no second to put a robe on or any sort of clothing or anything. Some girls were topless. Other girls were naked.'

2003 - Mindy McGillivray

Mindy McGillivray, 36, told the Palm Beach Post that Trump grabbed her backside after she helped a photographer who was covering a concert at Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion.

McGillivray, who was 23 at the time, said she was with Ken Davidoff at the Mar-a-Lago on January 24, 2003.

'All of a sudden I felt a grab, a little nudge. I think it's Ken's camera bag, that was my first instinct,' she told the newspaper.

'I turn around and there's Donald. He sort of looked away quickly.'

2004 - Trump discussed what he thought it would be like to have sex with a teenage Lindsay Lohan on the Howard Stern Show

'She's probably deeply troubled and therefore great in bed,' Trump told Stern when asked by the shock jock if he could imagine bedding 'troubled teen' Lindsay Lohan.

Trump went on to say: 'How come the deeply troubled women, you know, deeply, deeply troubled, they're always the best in bed?'

At the time of the interview, Lohan was just 18 years old. Trump was 58.

The conversation continued with Trump speaking about a friend he described as 'a great Playboy' and who he said only wants to date 'crazy' women.

2005 - Rachel Crooks

Rachel Crooks was a 22-year-old working as a receptionist at Bayrock Group, a real estate company based in Trump Tower in Manhattan, when she says Trump kissed her on the mouth without permission while in an elevator in 2005.

'It was so inappropriate,' Ms. Crooks told the New York Times. 'I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that.'

Crooks told the newspaper the incident took place after she shook hands with Trump in an elevator and he allegedly refused to let go.

She says he then began kissing her on the cheeks, before then kissing her lips.

2005 - Donald Trump admits he would 'inspect' pageant contestants backstage

Donald Trump bragged about the extra power he had during an interview with Howard Stern in April 2005, the tapes of which have been released by CNN.

'I'll tell you the funniest is that I'll go backstage before a show and everyone's getting dressed,' Trump said about the pageant.

'No men are anywhere, and I'm allowed to go in, because I'm the owner of the pageant and therefore I'm inspecting it. "Is everyone OK?" You know, they're standing there with no clothes. "Is everybody OK?"

'And you see these incredible looking women, and so I sort of get away with things like that.'

2005 - Trump brags about being able to grope women without consent to Billy Bush on the set of Access Hollywood

'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful - I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait,' he was heard saying to Billy Bush on the set of Access Hollywood in 2005 in a recording published by the Washington Post last year.

'And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p****. You can do anything.'

2005 - Natasha Stoynoff

Natasha Stoynoff recounted how she had traveled to Mar-a-Largo to interview Trump and his wife, Melania, in December 2005.

She said Donald took her into a room he really wanted to see, before forcing himself on her.

'We walked into that room alone, and Trump shut the door behind us. I turned around, and within seconds, he was pushing me against the wall, and forcing his tongue down my throat,' she wrote for People.

Stoynoff went on to say how she was rescued when a butler walked in, however when the two were alone again shortly after Trump told her they were 'going to have an affair'.

2006 - Samantha Holvey

Samantha Holvey claims that as a 20-year-old representing North Carolina in the 2006 Miss USA pageant, Trump would inspect her and other contestants before the competition.

She has said she was 'disgusted' by the now-president's repeated behavior.

It was 'the dirtiest I felt in my entire life,' she told CNN last year. 'He would step in front of each girl and look you over from head to toe like we were just meat, we were just sexual objects, that we were not people.'

2007 - Summer Zervos - contestant on The Apprentice

Summer Zervos, who was a contestant on the fifth season of The Apprentice, said Trump groped and kissed her in his room at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2007.

She claims that she reached out to Trump a year after she left the show to speak about possible business opportunities, and when she met with him he kissed her 'open mouthed' multiple times, and at one point placed his hand on her breast.

She claims he then had her lie in bed with him she said telling her he wanted to watch 'telly telly', but soon after began 'thrusting his genitals' at her despite her pleas asking him to stop.

Zervos said during a press conference about her accusations: 'You do not have the right to treat women as sexual objects just because you are a star.'

2009 - Called Khloe Kardashian 'a fat piglet'

Trump made rude and offensive comments about Khloe Kardashian's physical appearance and weight while she filmed Celebrity Apprentice back in 2009, according to multiple people who worked on the set.

'He said: "Why don't we fire Khloe? She is a fat piglet. Why did we get the ugly Kardashian?"' a source told Huffington Post.

2010 - Friend of CNN anchor Erin Burnett

Erin Burnett detailed an encounter that a friend had with Trump in March 2010 in the boardroom at Trump Tower, when he allegedly tried to kiss her without permission.

The woman told Burnett, according to CNN: 'Trump took Tic Tacs, suggested I take them also. He then leaned in, catching me off guard, and kissed me almost on lips. I was really freaked out.

'After (the meeting), Trump asked me to come into his office alone. Was really unsure what to do. ... Figured I could handle myself.

'Anyway, once in his office he kept telling me how special I am and gave me his cell, asked me to call him. I ran the hell out of there.'

2013 - Miss USA contestant Cassandra Searles

Searles, who won Miss Washington in 2013, said Trump tried to seduce her, groped her, and treated the women in the pageant 'like cattle', according to Yahoo News.

'Do y'all remember that one time we had to do our onstage introductions, but this one guy treated us like cattle and made us do it again because we didn't look him in the eyes?' she wrote last year.

'Do you also remember when he then proceeded to have us lined up so he could get a closer look at his property?

'Oh I forgot to mention that guy will be in the running to become the next President of the United States.'

She then added: 'He probably doesn't want me telling the story about that time he continually grabbed my a** and invited me to his hotel room.'
The NSE Nifty 50 index ended 3.2 percent higher at 9,859. The index was up 7.7 percent this week.

The rally continued on the domestic bourses for the fourth consecutive session and ended the week with the gain of 7 percent. The market made a gap-up opening in today session tracking positive trade in global indices amid optimism of vaccine discovery for COVID-19 in the near-term.

Investors also seemed to participate in market ahead of the long weekend as some positive development on coronavirus front could take the market further higher. While, some volatility was seen in the last half an hour of trade, the markets regained strength again and ended over percent supported by strong gains in financials.

#MarketAtClose | Market ends at fresh 7-week highs, #Sensex & #Nifty gain over 3% each. Nifty gains 307 points to 9,860 & Sensex 997 points to 33,718. Nifty Bank adds 444 points to close at 21,534 & Midcap 275 pts to 13,502 pic.twitter.com/HD35vN3QC7  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) April 30, 2020

Sectorally, all indices ended in green except pharma and media. The BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices rose over 1 percent each. However metal, IT and auto indices ended with a gain of more than 5 percent. Tata Motors, UPL and ONGC lead the gains while Cipla, HUL and Sun Pharma traded as top laggards.

Shares of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd rose almost 9 percent in early trade after it said it had become the first company in India to receive approval from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct clinical trials of Favipiravir antiviral tablets for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.Shares of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals pared some gains and were trading up 4.8 percent at mid-session.

The govt announcement on economic lockdown, PMI data, auto sales numbers and coronavirus update would be the key events for market when it opens on Monday.

The markets are closed tomorrow for May Day.

The benchmark indices ended higher for the fourth consecutive day with Nifty ending April series above 9,850 level.

At close, the Sensex was up 997.46 points or 3.05 percent at 33717.62, and the Nifty was up 306.55 points or 3.21 percent at 9859.90. About 1316 shares have advanced, 1084 shares declined, and 165 shares are unchanged.

Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director Choice Broking, said, "Finally, the index settled its weekly closing as well as Monthly Expiry at 9,860-level witha gain of 300 points which is a good sign for an upside movement. Moreover, all the large cap constituents have given a good spurt during the trading session based on which the Index managed to give a jovial closing near to its 9900 level. Due to monthly expiry, we have seen a highly volatile trading session during the starting of the 1st and 2nd trading session. At present levels, the index has strong resistance at 1,0125 while downside good support comes at 9,620-level," he said.

Equity indices ended the shortened week on a high, ending with gains for the fourth straight day, said Deepak Jasani, Head Of Research, HDFC Securities. "The NSE Nifty 50 index ended 3.2 percent higher at 9,859. The index was up 7.7 percent this week. The index has posted its best monthly gain since April 2009, registering gains of over 14 percent. Buying was seen among huge volumes on weekly F&O expiry day with Old economy stocks (including auto, oil and gas, metals) advancing well accompanied by IT stocks. Technically, with the Nifty moving up further, the short term trend remains up. Further upsides are likely once the immediate resistance of 9889 is taken out. Crucial supports to watch for resumption of weakness are at 9,734-level," Jasani said.

Most major global markets have rallied in the current week as several countries have started to talk about lifting the lockdown, said Sanjeev Zarbade, VP PCG Research, Kotak Securities to PTI.

"Reports of encouraging results about Gilead's drug in treating COVID-19 as well as starting of human trials on a vaccine also fuelled the rally," he said.

Top US epidemiologist Anthony Fauci said that Gilead Science's remdesivir "has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery".

Rupee settles 57 paise higher at 75.09

The Indian rupee surged 57 paise to close at 75.09 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, amid higher domestic equity markets and a weak American currency in the overseas market.

Forex traders said a positive start of domestic stocks supported the local unit. Moreover, investor risk appetite is improving as India could relax restrictions in many areas from 4 May.

This is the fourth consecutive day of gain for the rupee, during which it has appreciated by 137 paise.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 75.17. During the session it touched an intra-day high of 74.94 and a low of 75.20.

The domestic unit finally settled at 75.09, registering a rise of 57 paise over its previous close.

--With inputs from agencies
The top U.S. infectious disease official said Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental antiviral drug remdesivir will become the standard of care for COVID-19 after early clinical trial results on Wednesday showed it helped patients recover more quickly from the illness caused by the coronavirus. Preliminary results from a U.S. government trial showing that patients given remdesivir recovered 31% faster than those given a placebo, were hailed by Dr. Anthony Fauci as "highly significant."

"This is really quite important," Fauci told reporters at the White House, likening it to a moment in 1986 "when we were struggling for drugs for HIV and we had nothing." "This will be the standard of care," he said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has been in discussions with Gilead (GILD.O) about making remdesivir available to patients as quickly as possible, but the agency declined to comment on any plans to grant the drug regulatory approval.

"I want them to go as quickly as they can," President Donald Trump said, when asked if he wanted the FDA to grant emergency use authorization for remdesivir. "We want everything to be safe, but we would like to see very quick approvals, especially with things that work."

The closely watched drug, given by intravenous infusion to hospitalized patients, has moved markets in the past few weeks following the release of data from several studies that painted a mixed picture of its effectiveness, and Fauci cautioned that the latest data still needs to be analyzed.

Gilead's shares rose more than 5% on Wednesday to close at $83.14 and are up 27% so far this year. Interest in remdesivir has been high as there are no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19, and doctors are desperate for anything that might alter the course of the disease that attacks the lungs and can shut down other organs in severe cases. Doctors have been eager for results from the NIH study because it is a large trial in which patients were randomized to treatment with the drug or a placebo without participants or doctors knowing which group they were in - the gold standard for clinical trials.

Gilead earlier this month said it was prepared to donate to hospitals its existing supply of 1.5 million doses of remdesivir, which it said was enough for more than 140,000 patients, although that number would increase if the drug could be given for a shorter duration. Regulatory approval of the drug would clear the way for commercial sales.

"We are working to build a global consortium of pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers to expand global capacity and production," Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O'Day said in an open letter on Wednesday. He also said Gilead is looking at ways to potentially bring the treatment to a broader patient population by investigating other formulations and means of delivery.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, said partial results from its 1,063-patient trial show that hospitalized COVID-19 patients given remdesivir recovered in 11 days, compared to 15 days for patients given a placebo.

The study showed a trend toward better survival for remdesivir - 8% of patients given the drug died compared with 11.6% in the placebo group - but the difference was not statistically significant so may not be due to Gilead's drug. The trial's lead researcher told Reuters on Friday that full results could come by mid-May. "The full dataset will provide more clarity on how remdesivir can best be used," said Dr. Aneesh Mehta, a researcher on the NIH trial from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

'GLIMMER OF HOPE'

Despite the excitement, Dr. Lawrence K. Altman, global fellow at The Wilson Center in Washington, DC, was not ready to celebrate the preliminary findings. The new data "offers a glimmer of hope" that remdesivir has an effect against COVID-19, but more scientific analysis is needed "comparing them to other studies of the drug that have shown mixed results," he said in a statement.

Also on Wednesday, results were published by the Lancet medical journal of a trial conducted in China that concluded remdesivir failed to improve patients' condition or reduce the pathogen's presence in the bloodstream. Gilead said previously that those findings were inconclusive because the study was terminated early.

"The drug seems to have antiviral activity - how much is as yet unclear," Dr. Daniel McQuillen, an infectious disease specialist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, told Reuters. "Seems likely that it might need use with another antiviral agent." Combination antiviral treatments have proven highly effective against other diseases.

Gilead also provided data on a study in severe COVID-19 patients it has conducted in dozens of medical centers, which does not have a placebo comparison but tested the drug under five-day and 10-day regimens. In that 397-patient trial, Gilead said clinical improvements were similar regardlesss of treatment duration, and patients treated early on with remdesivir did better than patients who were treated later in the course of infection.

Remdesivir, which previously failed as a treatment for Ebola, is being tried against COVID-19 because it is designed to disable the mechanism by which certain viruses make copies of themselves and potentially overwhelm their host's immune system. The company is also studying the drug in patients with less severe COVID-19, but those results are not expected until later next month.

Also read: Coronavirus India live updates: 33,050 total COVID-19 cases, 1,008 deaths; lockdown 3.0 in cards?

Also read: Gilead may tie up with Indian firms to produce Remdesivir
ALLENDALE, MI  More than two months ago, Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella announced a new online, accelerated degree program with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that has appeal amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Official said Wednesday, April 29 that academic advisors are fielding calls and emails from prospective students who  now home with perhaps more time on their hands  are looking for a next step.

Business leaders expect the COVID-19 outbreak to lead to new job opportunities as well as a fundamental shift in how people work.

The accelerated degree program described as flexible and customizable allows students to shape a bachelors degree in integrative studies, while, at the same time, earn a certificate in a high-demand area: leadership, applied data analytics, project management or global communication. Students can enroll in a certificate program only.

"The workforce seems to be shifting very fast and this program, whether it's the degree or a certificate, makes it easy for students to get credentials to match with the needs of employers," said advisor Kate VanDerKolk in a statement.

Registration for program, announced Feb. 12, is now underway. The classes run for six weeks and begin August 31. Learn more about the program at gvsu.edu/complete.

VanDerKolk and other advisors at Grand Valley locations in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Holland and Traverse City are available to meet virtually with people to discuss incorporating past college credits earned, available courses and university resources.

The program aligns with Whitmers goal of 60% of adults in the state having a post-secondary credential by 2030.

"They (students) have the convenience of online learning, but the value added of a community experience and the program doesnt require you to pick a path, but allows you to shape your path,'' Mantella said Feb. 12.

Mark Schaub, interim dean of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, said faculty members are eager to offer this integrative studies degree, a staple of GVSU's curriculum since the 1980s, to a wider audience online.

"The key to this degree has always been building or customizing your own program, yet still learning critical thinking and leadership skills that employers today seek," Schaub said in a statement

Classes are generally three credit hours with a cost of $500 per credit hour.

Grand Valley alumni can take advantage of the Laker Lifetime Learning (L3) account  $1,000 is available to use for certificate or degree programs. Learn more about L3 online at gvsu.edu/l3.

More on MLive:

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesnt infringe on constitutional rights

Michigans unemployed say they fear for the future, struggle to receive loans

Grand Rapids restaurant employee tests positive for coronavirus prompting temporary closure
Beijing announced the date for its long-delayed annual legislative session on Wednesday, after the first disruption of China's most important political event for decades, in a display of confidence that the new coronavirus outbreak is under control. EPA-Yonhap




Following are the realities, positive and negative, informed by conversations weve had with on-the-ground Indian sources.

Indian tech leaders now face the unprecedented challenge of continuing to sustain business operations uninterrupted while facing the onslaught of the global pandemic. Even the best disaster recovery and business continuity plans could not have fully anticipated this complex health, economic and technological disruption.

Like the U.S., the situation varies greatly between states and major cities across India. It is essential to dig beneath the headlines to understand the situation where your specific providers are based, and to monitor the situation over time.

COVID-19 arrived in the Indian subcontinent several weeks later than Europe and North America, and Indias numbers remain muted to-date based on early, aggressive government policies. However, Indias population density, healthcare capacity, and infrastructure gaps leave the country exceptionally vulnerable if COVID-19 is not closely contained.

Editors note: This article is the first in a three-part series to help information technology leaders who depend on partners and suppliers in India for core information technology services better understand the current status of COVID-19 in India, the impact on offshore IT service relationships, and what actions can be taken to protect and support U.S. enterprises.

Editors note: This article is the first in a three-part series to help information technology leaders who depend on partners and suppliers in India for core information technology services better understand the current status of COVID-19 in India, the impact on offshore IT service relationships, and what actions can be taken to protect and support U.S. enterprises.

COVID-19 arrived in the Indian subcontinent several weeks later than Europe and North America, and Indias numbers remain muted to-date based on early, aggressive government policies. However, Indias population density, healthcare capacity, and infrastructure gaps leave the country exceptionally vulnerable if COVID-19 is not closely contained.

Like the U.S., the situation varies greatly between states and major cities across India. It is essential to dig beneath the headlines to understand the situation where your specific providers are based, and to monitor the situation over time.

Indian tech leaders now face the unprecedented challenge of continuing to sustain business operations uninterrupted while facing the onslaught of the global pandemic. Even the best disaster recovery and business continuity plans could not have fully anticipated this complex health, economic and technological disruption.

Following are the realities, positive and negative, informed by conversations weve had with on-the-ground Indian sources.

Factors to watch

India, like the U.S., is tracking the virus spread, hot zones, number of cases, and mortality rates. As of April 20th, India reported 14,255 cases and 559 deaths. Nationally mandated 21-day lockdown protocols enacted on March 24th are credited with early containment. India also shut down all international travel, closed all railroads for the first time in 167 years, and restricted interstate travel. With the lockdown period now extended through May 1st, and potentially well beyond, Prime Minister Modi has strictly restrained even local movement to stem the spread.

U.S. CIOs should be aware that aggressive national and local governmental policies to limit COVID-19s impacts, are constraining the abilities of some offshore service providers to fulfill their obligations.

Indian authorities also have ramped-up screening procedures to ensure better detection of the COVID-19 disease and minimize the risk of community transmission or widespread outbreak. The health authorities continue to monitor and contain over twenty clusters across the country. To date, the highest number of cases have been detected in larger cities including Delhi, Noida, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, with the high-tech center of Bangalore reporting a lesser infection rate than the remainder of Indias IT hub cities.

Strict control measures are widely expected to be maintained in the large population centers for the foreseeable months with relaxation of rules focused largely on rural, agricultural areas. With over a billion people, India reports just 0.7 hospital beds per thousand residents, well below the 2.9 beds per thousand in the U.S., 3.0 in Spain and 3.4 in Italy according to World Bank data. Many urban areas are extremely crowded, with limited sanitation and healthcare capabilities.

Watch for updates on the following to inform your exposure and potential actions:

Lengthening of state or national lockdown periods. National policies are widely reported in the international press.

Extension of travel restrictions, both rail and air, which are enforced rigidly. At the local level, police enforce foot travel which is limited primarily to local markets.

Continued widespread migration from the city to smaller villages, potentially including your high-tech support resources. Fear of food shortage in large cities haven driven some to return to family homesteads for access to food and eldercare. However, often basic telecom infrastructure is absent or deficient.

U.S. technology leaders must stay abreast of ongoing developments and limitations impacting Indian IT and business sectors. Expect continuing conflict between a challenged health system and economically-driven desires to migrate the technology sector back to work and resume pre-COVID business as usual.

The following sites provide Indian national case statistics, updates on policies and focused news coverage:

India outlook

Indias economic outlook remains suppressed as the government assesses health and economic policy tradeoffs. India continues to assess and lock down hotspots and highly exposed larger cities with serious concern especially for the poor residing in expansive slum areas. Eventually, an expected gradual easing of lockdowns is anticipated, similar to the U.S. but on a different timeline.

U.S. CIOs should understand that IT and IT Services may be the last industry sector to be allowed to function on-premises again. Understanding your outsourcing partners remote work capabilities is important to assess risks to your companys operations.

Next steps

U.S. CIOs should immediately seek transparency and confirmation on the operational realities in India. Validated deeper awareness will enable tech leaders to make essential tactical changes to mitigate future risk. Consider the following:

Assess business continuation plans (BCP) and status. Demand detailed information on your vendors actual BCP and implementation outcomes. Some providers had robust BCPs in place and executed seamlessly, while others were woefully unprepared, either not having a formal plan, not testing it, or were ill-equipped to actually support their clients through a disaster. Confirm team members (contractors) work locations and infrastructure access. With mass migration from cities to villages or lower tier cities, key vendor personnel may not have access to equipment or stable internet access to perform essential functions. Request a team roster to validate continuing capability. Evaluate productivity of remote work. Prior to COVID-19, offshore IT workers commonly worked in well-supervised large office environments. Under Indias current restrictions, assess how work is being performed, how supervision is done in a highly-distributed working mode, and how collaboration and communication are supported.

The second article in this series will expand on these points and address offshore technical and contractual commitments.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The government has decided to ease the rules on the movement of the elderly during the community quarantine following a public outcry over the severe restrictions.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said the government has decided to allow those under 21 years old, 60 years old and above, pregnant women, and those with high health risk to go out of their houses for essential errands or to go to work.

"Mga lolo at lola, hindi naman po kayo completely kulong, pero uulitin ko po, sa pag-aaral especially vulnerable po ang mga elderly. Pwede lang po kayong lumabas para kumuha ng essential goods and services o para magtrabaho sa pinapayagang industrya," he said in a public briefing.

[Translation: To the elderly, you won't be restrained from leaving your house. But let me remind you that you are vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. You are now allowed to go out for essential goods and services or go to work.]

On April 24, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the measure to bar these vulnerable sectors from leaving their homes regardless of whether their area is under general or enhanced community quarantine.

People who violate quarantine rules are arrested by the police without being meted a warning first, so the earlier decision on the elderly was met with great disapproval.

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, who is 71, said the initial guideline was "downright insensitive and irrational."

Roque admitted to receiving criticisms himself.

"Huwag na pong magrebolusyon ang mga lolo't lola dahil ang Presidente natin ay senior din," he quipped.

[Translation: Do not be mad, because even our own President is a senior citizen.]

Varying degrees of quarantine restrictions will be imposed nationwide from May 1 to 15 to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.

This is the second extension of the enhanced community quarantine. Duterte originally scheduled the Luzon-wide quarantine to last only until April 12, but eventually decided to extend it until April 30, and subsequently until May 15.
San Francisco, April 30 : Apple has agreed an $18 million deal to settle a class-action lawsuit in California that accused the tech giant of intentionally breaking FaceTime on older iPhones, specifically the iPhone 4 and 4S.

Over 3.6 million devices are said to have been affected by the update and each class member will receive an estimated $3, reports 9to5Mac.

Thirty per cent of the settlement fund will go to the class counsel.

The lawsuit's two class representatives, Christina Grace and Ken Potter, stand to gain up $7,500 each as an incentive award for their participation in the case.

To recall, FaceTime launched in 2010 as a first-party videoconferencing technology for iPhone.

The class-action lawsuit in California accused Apple of intentionally breaking FaceTime on iPhones running older versions of iOS.

According to the lawsuit, that breaking FaceTime in iOS 6 allowed Apple to save money because it would no longer need to support users who did not upgrade to iOS 7.

Apple originally agreed to reach a settlement deal back in February.

The Cupertino based tech giant was also hit with a similar class action in Florida which was dismissed by federal court.
Hundreds of Michigan residents demonstrated outside the state Capitol Thursday with signs, flags and guns protesting against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's coronavirus restrictions. Some were successful in pushing inside the building.

Why it matters: State lawmakers are expected to vote Thursday on whether to extend the state of emergency for another 28 days before it expires at midnight. Protesters in Michigan and throughout the country are calling on states to reopen businesses and resume work, though the majority of Americans support lockdown measures.

By the numbers: Michigan has reported 41,379 confirmed coronavirus cases and 3,789 deaths  the third most out of any state.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Protestors try to enter the Michigan House of Representative chamber and are being kept out by the Michigan State Police. Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

A protestor with a sign that has Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer depicted as Adolf Hitler. Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Ryan Kelley, a protest organizer for the American Patriot Rally organized by the Michigan United for Liberty. Photo: Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Protestors try to enter the Michigan House of Representative chamber. Photo: Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Go deeper: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to lift state's shelter-in-place order at midnight
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. - River Road hugs the curves of the Mississippi River, past sugar-cane fields and chemical plants, on the way to this semirural community 50 miles upstream from New Orleans. Epidemiologists believe the coronavirus quietly made this journey after taking root in the city during Mardi Gras in late February.

St. John Parish confirmed its first case of covid-19 - the disease caused by the novel coronavirus - on March 13, four days after a New Orleans hospital reported Louisiana's initial patient. Officials tried to act quickly. Parish President Jaclyn Hotard declared a state of emergency. The sheriff imposed a nightly curfew for teenagers, later expanding it to everyone. The local veterans home, where 144 of the parish's most vulnerable residents lived, had shut down to visitors the day before.

As the nation focused on the growing outbreak in New Orleans, the disease spread with especially lethal effect through its less populous neighbor. By early April, St. John - population 42,837 - had more covid-19 deaths per capita than any other county in the nation, according to Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, with a rate of 27.8 per 100,000 residents.

"We have a serial killer on the street that we cannot see," Hotard told masked reporters assembled in a parking lot last week.

With the virus's spread diminishing in urban hot spots, rural and exurban communities such as St. John are drawing more concern from state leaders. In some cases, limited access to testing allowed the virus to proliferate for weeks in such areas with minimal detection.

St. John residents did not have easy access to testing until April 15 - nearly five weeks after the parish's first covid-19 case - when two federal locations opened in adjacent river parishes. Across St. John, at least 765 people have been infected and 68 have died as of Wednesday.

Among Louisiana's 64 parishes, St. John ranks sixth in number of cases but 14th in the number of tests.

State officials believe a lack of testing is a major contributor to St. John's alarming morbidity rate, which stands at nearly 9%. The parish might have many nonfatal cases that have not been identified, which could bring the mortality rate closer to the statewide rate of more than 6%, said Alexander Billioux, Louisiana's assistant secretary for public health.

High morbidity also can result from having a larger proportion of residents with conditions that make people vulnerable to the virus, such as diabetes and hypertension - though Billioux says that cannot fully explain the discrepancy.

"We're concerned that we're seeing this outsize level of death because there's undiagnosed covid," Billioux said of the sparsely populated "river parishes" between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, of which St. John has been the hardest hit. "And that's the reason to surge testing capacity there. . . . Make sure that our rural communities, which is 80% of the state, are getting enough testing."

The virus's deadly impact weighs heavily on residents here. Madeline Jasmine, the only African American state court judge in the majority-black parish, spoke through tears last week as she detailed the virus's toll.

"We have a small church, and we lost our senior deacon, we lost our pastor's mother - and now my two sisters," Jasmine, 67, said as she sat on her porch, a scarf pulled over her face. Her three brothers and two of her nephews tested positive but have recovered. That morning, a woman on the next street had died.

Jasmine's family attributes the death of one of her sisters to anxiety over the pandemic.

"This is a close community," Jasmine said. "We know the Lord loves us and is not picking on us - but we want it to stop."

State public health officials have shifted some testing capacity from New Orleans to the three more-rural river parishes. And through partnerships with community clinics, corporations and the National Guard, they have placed near small towns mobile testing units where nasal swabs can be gathered and sent to central locations for quick processing, Billioux said.

St. John now has seven testing sites, including one in a Walmart parking lot. Anyone can get a free test, and some sites do not require people to have symptoms.

The state also is producing more of its own testing-kit components, including 3-D printing of nasal swabs at a Louisiana State University lab in Shreveport.

Louisiana has administered 156,000 tests in more than seven weeks since the state's first positive case on March 9, according to the state health department. It ranks fourth in the nation for number of tests per capita, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

During a conference call this week with governors and the White House coronavirus task force, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committed to providing Louisiana 200,000 test kits in May, Edwards said Tuesday at a news briefing. The kits will help the state meet its goal of administering 150,000 to 200,000 tests per month, which Edwards says is necessary to sustain a safe reopening of the economy.

James Comeaux, senior vice president of Access Health Louisiana, a nonprofit network of community health centers, said "bringing [testing] sites outside of the city and into the rural areas is extremely important to provide that access for folks." He has supervised the testing of 216 people on a gravel lot beside a volunteer fire department in Wallace - population 707 - since early last week. Clinic staffers handed residents nasal swabs through their car windows to apply themselves and stored the samples in a cooler for transfer to a processing center.

The test site was intentionally located on the Mississippi's west bank, the more sparsely populated and heavily African American section of the parish - part of the state's effort to address racial health disparities highlighted by the pandemic, Billioux said.

African Americans account for 58% of the deaths statewide, despite being 33% of the population. In St. John, black people make up 55% of the deaths from covid-19 and constitute 58% of the population.

The agricultural west riverbank retains more of the parish's heritage as a sugar production hub and features plantation museums dedicated to the story of slavery. Chemical plants and an oil refinery provide many jobs, dispersed along both banks of the river.

"Every two to three days, we lose a few people" to covid-19, said Darrell Butler, a construction worker who lives on the west bank. "We don't know why it's happening to us."

He was relaxing with a half-dozen friends Wednesday afternoon, spaced a safe distance apart outside the Club Grocery store - a gathering spot affectionately known as "the Club." Butler had spent the morning helping pack 400 meals of red beans and rice, baked chicken and salad for a covid-related food distribution outside the elementary school.

Butler said he was glad for the chance to get tested at a nearby site the week before. His uncle had just spent 21 days in the hospital before recovering from covid-19, and his sister, whom he lives with, was still in the hospital with the disease after nine days. Butler tested negative.

"People didn't know it was as serious as it was, because they were still having the backyard parties," he said. "This is the country - you're used to cookouts."

Now everyone takes precautions. Several of the men outside the Club were wearing masks. Butler said he was missing his because the elastic band had popped.

Everyone, it seems, knows someone who has been hit by the virus. The hot-meal distribution had been co-organized by Ronnie Feist, president of the West St. John Civic Association. Feist, a nephew of Jasmine, had spent 15 days in the hospital, including nine on a ventilator.

Feist had been home for several days and was just getting his voice back when he launched the "motivational Wednesday" meal drive. He wanted to give residents a reason to come out and see one another - even if it was only from inside their cars - as volunteers in masks and gloves handed food containers through the car windows.

"We've been hit real hard," Feist said. "And for some reason, it's more than one in a family. I know of several families that have lost two."

His mother, Marion Jasmine Feist, 82 - one of the sisters Judge Jasmine lost during the pandemic - died while he was in the hospital. She was never tested and did not have symptoms when she failed to wake up from a nap. The family attributes her death to her fears about the virus that has invaded her family and her community.

Joslyn Jasmine Gastearl, 65, the second sister who died, was hospitalized on the same day one of her brothers came home after his recovery from covid-19. Gastearl suddenly had trouble moving and couldn't talk. The hospital told the family she tested positive for covid-19.

"We have been working our brains" to figure out how the virus penetrated the family, said Judge Jasmine, who tested negative when she came down with a fever shortly before her younger sister fell ill. "This is going to end soon, hopefully - but it's not going to end for us," she said, thinking of those who have died.

The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home - a residential nursing center in the east-bank community of Reserve - has been ground zero for the St. John's outbreak. Subtracting the cases of infected veterans, the parish's morbidity rate falls closer to the state average, though still higher than the national average.

Residents' relatives say they cannot understand how the virus became so rampant in the home - 79 positive cases, 26 deaths, 20 staffers infected - when three of the state's other veterans homes had no positive cases and the fourth had only one.

"How negligent was the nursing home so that that number of people could get infected with coronavirus?" said Neal Hebert, whose father, Berlin Hebert Jr., died of covid-19 at the home April 3. "He couldn't move well enough to touch anyone else. So if my dad caught it, everyone must have been exposed."

Lack of testing may have obscured the extent to which the virus was taking over the veterans home in the early days of the pandemic. The first veteran tested positive on March 23 - 11 days after the home had closed to visitors.

Six days later, Barbara Serpas received a call from the home informing her that her father, Raymond Doran, 98, had died. Serpas suspected covid-19, calling her father's health previously "perfectly fine."

She asked for a posthumous test for her father, who had repaired B-24 bombers during World War II, but she said the veterans home and the parish coroner turned her away. She then approached the coroner in another parish, where the funeral home handling the burial was located, to ask for a test. The result was positive for covid-19.

"I just wanted to know: What did my daddy pass away from?" Serpas said. "I would always be wondering if I didn't have him tested."

Julie Baxter Payer, deputy secretary of Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, said she could not comment on specific cases but noted that coronavirus tests were more scarce in the early days of the pandemic and that the rules for who got tested were more strict - symptoms had to be present, for instance, and tests could be done only in hospitals. But she emphasized that whenever a doctor ordered a test for a patient, the home made sure a test was administered.

Now tests are more plentiful. All of the residents have been tested at least once, and last week, the home secured enough kits to have 57 patients tested for a second time, Payer said.

Joey Strickland, the state secretary of veterans affairs and a Vietnam veteran, said in an interview that the sickness and death at the home "just tears my guts out." But he defended his agency's handling of the crisis. He said CDC guidelines were closely followed once the outbreak was detected, including measures such as quarantining, screening for symptoms and extensive sanitizing.

One of the home's earliest precautionary measures - shutting down visits - had the consequence of cutting families off from dying loved ones.

Neal Hebert, who teaches high school theater in Baton Rouge, had not been able to visit his father since the beginning of March, though they talked on the phone. On each of the first two days that the coronavirus was detected at the home, Hebert received notifications from his father's nurse. He asked whether his father was going to be tested.

"I was told there was no reason to give him a test," Herbert recalled.

On the third day, March 25, he received another call: This time, the nurse told him his father was suddenly very sick with covid-19 symptoms and needed to be hospitalized.

Berlin Hebert, a 74-year-old who lost his leg to a land mine in Vietnam, hung on until April 3. A few days before, when all medical hope was lost and the former soldier had been moved back to the veterans home for palliative care, the nurse called the son one more time.

"She said, 'Your dad just got back here, and I don't think he's going to live until hospice gets there,' " Neal Hebert recalled. "So she asked me if I'd talk to him over her cellphone and tell him goodbye."

The nurse held the phone where the veteran might hear his only child's voice: "Dad, I love you. You don't have to hold on anymore. . . . It's going to be OK."

The son could hear his father making sounds, struggling to speak, unable to form words. And he could hear the nurse sobbing.

- - -

The Washington Post's Julie Tate in Washington contributed to this report.
The chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday condoled the demise of actor Rishi Kapoor.

Shocked by the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor Ji. An actor par excellence who charmed millions, he will be deeply missed by all. My deepest condolences to his family & fans all over the world. RIP., Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar too expressed grief over the passing away of Rishi Kapoor as well as actor Irrfan Khan, who died on Wednesday.

We have lost two cine stars yesterday it was Irrfan Khan and today it was Rishi Kapoor. Their demise is irreparable loss to the cine world, their thousands of fans and to the nation, Khattar said in a tweet, describing Khan and Kapoor as versatile actors.

Rishi Kapoor, the romantic star of many a Bollywood film was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018 and died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday morning. He was 67.

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

Kapoor's death comes a day after Khan passed away at a Mumbai hospital after a two year fight with a rare form of cancer. He was buried at the Versova graveyard.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 13:07:29|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writers Yan Liang, Wu Hao

MEXICO CITY, April 29 (Xinhua) -- In the name of protecting American citizens against COVID-19, Washington has recently stepped up deportation of illegal immigrants from Mexico and central American nations.

U.S. policy makers seem to have paid no regard that such moves at the time of a ravaging pandemic may overwhelm the often vulnerable public health systems in the recipient countries and thus pose a grave danger to the global anti-pandemic response.

According to the Guatemalan Health Ministry, at least 100 migrants deported from the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 since late March. Mexico and Haiti have also reported COVID-19 infections among migrants deported from the United States.

Out of fear of growing imported cases, Guatemala suspended regular deportation flights from the United States earlier this month. President Alejandro Giammattei said the flights will remain suspended until the United States can guarantee that the deportees are free of coronavirus.

Dismissing the Central American country's concern, the U.S. threatened reprisals, including visas denials, tariffs and the reduction of economic aid, thereby adding to the severity of the pandemic.

Having long viewed Latin America as its backyard, the United States has so far demonstrated little responsibility toward its smaller neighbors facing the COVID-19.

Slack virus testing or proper isolation before flying the migrants home has put the families of thousands of migrants and others at high risk.

Immigrants, either from Central American countries or elsewhere, contribute greatly to U.S. growth, but many occupy low positions on the socio-economic ladder with lengthy working hours and low pay. Their vulnerability allows for easy exploitation by politicians, especially during an election year.

In implementing such a ruthless deportation policy, the Trump administration aims to win over voters by showing the importance it attaches to public health concerns.

Exporting contagion risks by deportation dampens efforts by Latin America to control the virus. If the coronavirus overwhelms under-resourced Central American countries like Guatemala, it would be a big blow to the global anti-pandemic fight and stall a full victory, which harms everyone, including the United States.

Under the selfish doctrine of "America First," which forms the centerpiece of U.S. foreign policy, the Trump administration has isolated itself from the world, where coordinated efforts have never been more important in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, a common threat to all humanity. Enditem
Super 30 founder and noted mathematician Anand Kumar has urged the HRD ministry to launch a 24x7 channel Doordarshan Education' for students belonging to different sections of society as not everyone has access to online learning amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

Known for his highly successful and famed Super 30 programme, which nurtures 30 students from underprivileged sections every year for IIT-JEE entrance test with a phenomenal success rate, Kumar has reached out to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' saying an exclusive channel from DD would be of immense help to students across the country.

"India, like rest of the world, is in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic. The much-needed lockdown to save lives has worked, but it has caused huge disruption in of our students, Kumar said.

Though many institutions are trying to adopt online means, it is not immediately feasible keeping in view the huge variation in the socio-economic condition of a large section of students, with a good chunk barely able to continue their studies due to low-cost government education system," he said.

"Under these circumstances, expecting all the students cutting across different economic strata to avail the facility of online education and equally benefit does not seem practical. It requires a decent system or a smart phone and good internet connectivity, all of which come at a cost. All the institutions are also not prepared for online education, though many of them are trying their best," he added.

Kumar further said he has urged the HRD minister to come up with an exclusive 24x7 Doordarshan education channel, like DD Kisan, which is totally devoted to the needs of farmers.

"It could be a game changer for the students without any extra cost to them. Every household now a days has a television set and having an exclusive DD education channel, with separate time slots for different classes, will be easily accessible to people of all economic strata across the country.

"It can also have motivational talks and counselling sessions for students and teach them about online benefits to groom them for future. But most importantly, it can cater to educational needs of students," he said.

Kumar's current batch, is yet to appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) as it has been postponed due to COVID-19 lockdown.

"I usually start the process for selecting next batch in April but it has been delayed. I am conducting various classes through different mediums and will soon come up with a reasonable solution about how to select the next batch and the timeline," he said.

Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16 when the central government announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as one of the measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

Later, a nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24, which has now been extended till May 3.

The HRD ministry is reaching out to students through its SWAYAM PRABHA which is a group of 32 DTH channels providing quality educational curriculum-based course contents covering diverse disciplines such as arts, science, commerce, social sciences and humanities subjects, engineering, medicine and agriculture to all teachers, students and citizens across the country interested in lifelong learning.

While earlier these channels were available only on DD-DTH, Dish TV and Jio TV App, Tata Sky and Airtel DTH had agreed to government's request of airing three of these channels during lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Stabilis Energy, Inc. (OTCQX:SLNG) ("Stabilis") today announced that it will release first quarter 2020 financial results on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 after the market closes. In conjunction with the release, Stabilis has scheduled a conference call on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. eastern time (9:00 a.m. central). Individuals in the United States and Canada who wish to participate in the conference call should dial +1 844-602-0380.? International callers should dial +1 862-298-0970.

Participants may also participate in a live audio webcast by visiting the following website at: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2256/34622.

A replay of the call will be available until May 14, 2020. Individuals in the United States and Canada who wish to listen to the replay should dial +1 877-481-4010; passcode 34622. International callers should dial +1 919-882-2331; passcode 34622.

A replay of the call also will be available on the Stabilis website (www.stabilisenergy.com).

About Stabilis Energy

Stabilis Energy, Inc. is a vertically integrated provider of distributed liquefied natural gas ("LNG") production, distribution and fueling services to multiple end markets in North America. We have safely delivered over 200 million gallons of LNG through more than 20,000 truck deliveries during our 15-year operating history, which we believe makes us one of the largest and most experienced small-scale LNG providers in North America. We provide LNG to customers in diverse end markets, including the industrial, energy, mining, utility, pipeline, commercial, and high horsepower transportation markets. Our customers use LNG as an alternative to traditional fuel sources, such as distillate fuel oil and propane, to lower fuel costs and reduce harmful environmental emissions. Our customers also use LNG as a "virtual pipeline" solution when natural gas pipelines are not available or are curtailed. To learn more, visit www.stabilisenergy.com.

Stabilis Contact:

Andrew Puhala

Chief Financial Officer

832-456-6500

ir@stabilisenergy.com

SOURCE: Stabilis Energy, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587608/Stabilis-Energy-Announces-First-Quarter-2020-Earnings-Release-Call
Viral Video: People forced to quarantine in metal boxes as China enforces zero Covid policy

India Covid cases up by massive 2,47,417 infections, positivity rate at 13 per cent

COVID-19: Medicines should be given rationally says Centre

Lata Mangeshkar health update: Veteran singer still in ICU, but there has been a slight improvement

Maharashtra likely to see rise in COVID-19 hospitalisations by Jan-end or early Feb

COVID-19 cases in India rise to 33,610, death toll at 1,075

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Apr 30: India's Covid-19 tally breached to 33,610 on Thursday while the death toll rose to 1,075. The country recorded the number of active cases 24,162 while 8,373 have been cured.

It can be seen that India has registered a record jump of 71 deaths in 24 hours.

Country's doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the last three days slowed down to an average of 11.3 days with only 0.33 per cent people on ventilator support, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Wednesday.

COVID-19: Death toll in Pakistan rises to 327

Vardhan said the total testing capacity for the coronavirus would be increased to 1 lakh per day soon.

The minister also said 288 government labs and 97 private lab chains with around 16,000 sample collection centres were operational around the country and together they were testing around 60,000 samples per day.

The Union home ministry on Thursday relaxed the norms for travel of stranded migrant workers, tourists, students and others to facilitate their return home.

Meanwhile, USA witnessed more than 2,000 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally of death due to COVID-19 to 61,656.
CHICAGO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT: A National VIRTUAL Town Hall Addressing Our Response to COVID-19 and the African American Community

Health Access

Economic Effects of the Pandemic

Protecting of Vulnerable Populations

International and Global Concerns of the Pandemic

The CARES Act and Stimulus Packages I & II

Criminal Justice Project

Effect on other At-risk Communities and Communities of Color

WHO:

Convener: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Founder and President, Rainbow PUSH Coalition



Moderator: Mark Thompson, veteran journalist, Host, Make It Plain



Panelists:

Hon. Bill de Blasio, Mayor New York City INVITED

Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Dallas, TX

James Gomez MPA, Director of International Affairs, Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Attorney C. K. Hoffler, Partner & CEO, The Hoffler Firm/Chairwoman, Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Santita Jackson, Host, Santita Jackson Show; Exec. Producer, Keep Hope Alive with Rev. Jackson

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) House Armed Services Committee and Oversight Committee

Hon. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) United States Senate

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Chair, Bipartisan Congressional Coronavirus Task Force

Leon McDougle MD, MPH, President-elect of National Medical Association

Spencer Overton, Esq., President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Dr. Rashawn Ray, David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Brookings Institute

Chris Smalls, Former Amazon employee

Hon. Sylvester Turner, Mayor, Houston, Texas INVITED

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chair, House Financial Services Committee

Rev. S. Todd Yeary, J.D., Ph.D., SVP and Chief of Global Policy, Rainbow PUSH Coalition

WHEN: Thursday, April 30, 2020 | 7:00  8:30PM EST | 6:00  7:30PM CST | 4:00  5:30PM PST

WHERE: ZOOM

Webinar ID: 990 0535 8202 | Password: 731937

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://zoom.us/j/99005358202?pwd=bTlkZFVYVzBVazRyWWI4b3BlU2RaQT09

* MEDIA: If you have a question, please add it in the Q & A at the bottom of the screen on ZOOM once the Q & A starts. By your name add (MEDIA & your outlet).

You can also send your question to [email protected].

**Available upon request: DRAFT run of show (subject to change) for where guests will appear

PRESS: We are asking media to connect in ZOOM at 6:45PM EST | 5:45PMCST to hold your place. There are limited spots. To RSVP and if there are questions, please email [email protected]

BACKGROUND:

On April 15, 2020 the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, National Bar Association and the National Medical Association jointly released "Joint Statement on the Response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic: A Public Health Manifesto." The strategy proposal outlines corrective action needed to address the national and global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with emphasis on the African American community and other communities of color.

The twelve-point strategy focuses on areas ranging from access to testing and care, to essential collection of public health data, to protecting vulnerable populations, and the ongoing global concerns surrounding COVID-19. Tonight's conversation speaks to many of these issues, particularly as they relate to the African American community. While not intended to be an exclusive conversation about the effects of the pandemic on one community, it is plainly obvious that the numbers of positive cases and deaths among African Americans is another troubling reminder of the disparities we continue to see in America.

In addition to the current public health crisis, these racial disparities are found in access to healthcare, education, housing, employment, voting rights, access to capital, and the criminal IN-justice system. While the reach of COVID-19 may not be discriminant, the inequality deeply embedded in the American landscape continues to reveal the persistence of race in America.

Our purpose, goal and mission for this evening's conversation is to engage in constructive dialogue, provide important information, and to explore ways to best move forward with an action plan for combatting the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, both medically and structurally. At the end of our conversation, we will collectively frame a proactive plan that we can all participate in, while answering the question, "What can I do now?"

SOURCE Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Related Links

http://www.automotiveproject.org


At last count, 33,610 people had tested positive for COVID-19 and the death toll is now 1,075. About 1,718 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

In the latest press briefing, the Indian Health Ministry said that the recovery rate is now over 25% in the country and is progressively getting better. The doubling rate is also improving, and is just over 11 days; before the lockdown, it was around 3.4 days.

At last count, 33,610 people had tested positive for COVID-19 and the death toll is now 1,075. About 1,718 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The case fatality rate in the country is 3.2%; about 65% of them are males and 35%, female.

Over 58,000 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, with an average of 49,000 tests being conducted daily.

Considerable relaxations after May 3rd

The Union Home Ministry said there will be considerable relaxations following the lifting of the lockdown after May 3rd. Migrant labourers and tourists stuck in various states will be allowed to go to their homes in an organized manner.

Further details about what considerable relaxations entails are awaited. In hotspots and containment zones, restrictions are likely to continue and local administration will decide how to gradually resume normalcy.

Of the 736 districts in the country, the Health Ministry has classified 177 as hotspots.

As for transporting migrants, the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said that transport will be decided based on mutual agreements between states. Physical distancing will need to be maintained, and sanitised buses will be used. Further, only those with no symptoms will be allowed to travel and adequate testing facilities need to be made available on arrival.

Rajasthan moved around 40,000 migrants back to their home states today, mainly in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

Ten out of 11 districts in Meghalaya are green zones

Meghalaya has reported only 12 COVID-19 cases and one death - from the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong, the capital, falls in this district.

Given that the rest of the districts have not reported cases, local authorities have been given the go-ahead to allow inter-district travel, signalling a break from the stringent lockdown. However, transport still cannot travel freely through East Khasi Hills where some form of restrictions will remain.

Azadpur Mandi, Asias largest wholesale fruit and vegetable market, sees a rise in cases

Azadpur Mandi in North Delhi now has 15 cases linked to it after four more traders tested positive today. Contact tracing of the four traders is now being carried out.

Over 30 people are quarantined in shops in the market complex as they await their test results. According to media reports, some of the traders had their samples taken over a week ago and are yet to hear back. Further, there have been reports of a shortage of food and water in the market complex. The high pendency of test results has already been flagged as an issue in the pandemic response; local authorities acknowledged the slow turnover and added that steps are being taken to improve the situation.

Plan to administer hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) prophylactically to Dharavi residents shelved

Dharavi, Asias largest slum located in Mumbai, remains a huge concern as an outbreak there could spell disaster.

Health officials had previously suggested that one lakh doses of HCQ be given to residents there in an effort to sidestep an outbreak. On March 22, the Health Ministry gave the green light for HCQ to be given to frontline health workers even when there was no evidence of effectiveness.

It has now been decided to not administer HCQ after preliminary studies have shown that its effects are modest, even casting doubts on whether it works at all. A trial in Brazil had to be stopped after some participants died from cardiac conditions - one of the side effects of high doses of the drug.

For more information, read our article on Is hydroxychloroquine effective against COVID-19?

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
Dairy giant Amul came through with yet another heartwarming Amul Topical, this time to pay tribute to late actor Irrfan Khan. The new artwork shows Irrfan in his multiple roles from Angrezi Medium, The Lunchbox, Paan Singh Tomar and other films.

#Amul Topical: Tribute to one of our finest actors, they wrote in a tweet. Fans got emotional on seeing Irrfan in the topical. We all will miss him, wrote one. Yes absolutely Finest Actor, read another tweet. Fans also demanded a topical for actor Rishi Kapoor, who died just a day after Irrfan on Thursday.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor dies at 67, Live Update

Delhi Police paid tributes to both the actors on Twitter. Sharing their pictures, they wrote, Two amazing personalities of film industry who made us laugh and cry with their art, are not among us today. Delhi Police offers their heartfelt tribute to them. The photos show Rishi and Irrfan next to special dialogues from their films.

     ,          ,               pic.twitter.com/o4tDgVUlB9  #DilKiPolice Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor died at the age of 67 at 8.45 am after a two year-long battle with leukemia at H N Reliance hospital in Mumbai. His family said the actor remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

Actor Irrfan Khan died at the age of 53 on Wednesday, after being admitted to Mumbais Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital where he was under observation for colon infection. The actor had announced in 2018 that hed been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
One person is dead and five are missing after a military helicopter operating off a Canadian frigate during a NATO exercise crashed into the sea between Greece and Italy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.

Trudeau said one body was found, and the five others aboard the aircraft are missing.

We hold out hope to find the missing, Trudeau said.

The Cyclone helicopter was deployed on board the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Fredericton and was participating in a NATO exercise off the coast of Greece when the incident occurred, according to the Canadian Armed Forces.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, Canada's top military official, said the ship lost contact with the aircrew on Wednesday evening and that flares were spotted from the water minutes later.

Vance confirmed the body of Abbigail Cowbrough has been recovered. Tanya Cowbrough said on Facebook her daughter had been killed.

My beautiful daughter has been in a military accident and passed away," she wrote. Nothing can replace her. Shane Cowbrough said he lost his oldest daughter.

"I am broken and gutted," he posted. There are no words. You made me forever proud. I will love you always, and miss you in every moment. Canadian Defense Minister Harjat Sajjan said they have recovered the flight data recorder but said the cause of the accident remains unknown at this time. Multiple NATO countries are in an ongoing search-and-rescue operation in the Ionian Sea, hoping to find the five others.

Vance said the voice and data recorders floated away from the wreckage. He said they have placed Canada's Cyclone helicopter fleet on operational pause."



We have to rule out that there is a fleet-wide problem, he said.

The Royal Canadian Air Force's Cyclone helicopters carry a crew of four, including two pilots, a tactical operator and a sensor operator with space for several passengers. They are primarily based on naval vessels and used for hunting submarines, surveillance and search and rescue.

The Canadian military only started using them on missions in late 2018 after more than a decade of developmental challenges, delays and cost overruns. The crash is also likely to raise questions about the aircraft.

The military was originally supposed to have received 28 Cyclones from manufacturer Sikorsky starting in November 2008. But the first helicopter wasn't delivered until June 2015 and even then, they were missing vital equipment and software and only suitable for training.

Lockheed Martin, which owns Sikorsky, said in a statement that Sikorsky is sending an investigator to assist at the request of the Canadian military.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With Lockdown Learners initiative, UNODC engages youth confined by COVID-19

24 April 2020  The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis that has affected billions of people around the world so far and impacted all aspects of life and society. In the area of education, for instance, nearly 165 countries have implemented country-wide school and university closures, as indicated by the Secretary-General in his report Shared responsibility, global solidarity: responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. More than 1.5 billion children and youth are currently out of school or university, representing 87 per cent of the worlds enrolled student population. In addition, over 60 million teachers are no longer in the classroom.

This unprecedented situation, with so many children out of school at the same time, could have an adverse impact on childrens education and mental health; moreover, the risks of exploitation and abuse are higher than ever, for girls and boys alike. There is therefore also a need to sensitize children on issues such as discrimination, gender-based violence, misinformation and cybercrime, among others, issues which are at the core of UNODCs mission to promote peace and justice.

UNODC believes that the crisis cannot be overcome without education, in line with the United Nations principle of Leaving No One Behind and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A key area of focus is on the evolving implications of COVID-19 for children and youth, especially pertaining to human rights, health, peace, security and the rule of law, explained Sergey Kapinos, UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia.

Responding to the global crisis, UNODC has launched the Lockdown Learners series of online dialogues with students and educators in India on COVID-19 and its impact on SDGs, peace and the rule of law. Developed under the Education for Justice Initiative (E4J, a component of the Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration), these dialogues aim to sensitize students on concerns of vulnerable groups and issues such as cybercrime, misinformation, gender-based violence, discrimination, and corruption, among others. The Lockdown Learners series also provide a platform for students to receive mentorship and knowledge support through activity-based learning, and to use their talents and skills to promote awareness and share ideas and solutions to address some of these problems.

Over the past week, educational resources have been shared with partner schools in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and focused interactions convened with hundreds of students and educators, said Samarth Pathak, UNODCs Communications Officer for South Asia. UNODC welcomes schools to join these efforts in creating a positive framework for students to be productive and engaged during this period of lockdown, to reduce stress through positive messaging, and to empower young people to become champions of tomorrow.

E4Js educational tools put great emphasis on values, on helping children build skills which empower them, and on teaching them to think. These varied products include free-to-use educational material, comics, board and online games, The Zorbs cartoon series, and other modules and videos that may be used by teachers, parents and students at home to develop an understanding on peace and the rule of law.

UNODC believes that respect for human rights and the rule of law must be the fundamental element of a youth-focused strategy, with evidence-based and balanced responses. In this direction, E4J seeks to prevent crime and promote a culture of lawfulness through education activities designed for primary, secondary and tertiary levels. These activities help educators teach the next generation to better understand and address problems that can undermine the rule of law and encourage students to actively engage in their communities.

Additional information:

UNODC Regional Office for South Asia

Education for Justice
After a number of complaints of hospitals denying admission to patients or delaying treatment, the Maharashtra government on Thursday issued an order that no hospital can turn away any patient without examination and required intervention under any circumstances. All private and government hospitals in the state have also been directed to check any patient who is entering hospital premises and after scanning may be shifted or admitted depending on the patients medical condition.

To decongest hospitals, the government has also ordered shifting of all asymptomatic patients without co-morbid conditions to Covid Care Centres whereas private hospitals can send such patients for home quarantine but after proper counselling, states the order issued by chief secretary Ajoy Mehta on Thursday.

The order will come in to force from May 2.

The hospitals have been warned of action in case directives are not followed scrupulously.

Any patient entering hospital premises for any treatment of Covid-19 or non Covid-19 ailment should be immediately checked in to casualty or screening clinic. After triage the patient may be shifted or admitted. Depending upon the site condition, the staging area may be created for screening and triage of patients in isolation so that infections are not transmitted. No patient is to be turned away without examination and required intervention under any circumstances, the order reads.

The government has asked the directors of health services to prepare the standard operating procedure (SOP) for screening, transferring, admitting and discharging of patients. Each patient needing hospital admission will be assigned a unique id by the round-the-clock onsite team of the disaster manage department (DMD) of the local body such as BMC, without which admission cannot be granted. DMD should use this as a more accurate and efficient bed management in all hospitals, it further states.

For this, the state government has given them two days of time and hence the provisions of the order will come in to force from May 2, said a senior official.

All the Covid-19 and non-Covid 19 hospitals are also directed to ensure that no admission is granted to asymptomatic positive patients without co-morbidity. Similar patients in private hospitals should be stamped and sent away for home quarantine after proper counselling, according to the Government of India guidelines, it adds.

The hospitals are also directed to collect swabs of all the suspected Covid-19 patients admitted on top priority and ensure that reports are collected within 12 hours and ensure that the patients are diagnosed as per clinical conditions and shifted to CCC, Dedicated Covid Health Centers (DCHC) for patients with mild symptoms and Dedicated Covid Hospitals (DCH) for serious patients.

In case of death of a Covid-19 positive patient, the hospital administrations are also directed to ensure that the body is shifted from the ward within 30 minutes and disposed off within 12 hours for which necessary processes have to be defined keeping in view the prevalent regulations.

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WPCCU Sunset Branch member service Our employees are financial first responders who have already helped thousands of members maneuver through this financial crisis by extending payment due dates, granting home mortgage forbearances, and approving emergency loans.

As a financial institution, WPCCU is an essential business service that remains open during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Standing by their brand during this unprecedented time, the credit unions slogan, Human-centered banking, means that theyre doing everything they can to take care of their members and employees.

The credit union is helping those who are helping others  teams that keep the water and power flowing to homes, medical facilities and businesses. Theyre helping members who are healthcare first responders, grocery cashiers, delivery drivers, and the thousands of others who are working from home and adapting to the new normal. Now with their emergency Here4You Loan, members have a safer financial option than a high-interest Payday Loan with expensive fees.

Our employees are financial first responders, said Barry Roach, President/CEO of WPCCU. Theyre taking care of the financial needs of those who are first responders. In fact, they have already helped thousands of our members maneuver through this financial crisis by extending payment due dates, granting home mortgage forbearances, and approving emergency loans. Additionally, WPCCU frontline employees are being compensated with a 25% premium for stepping up to serve during this unprecedented time.

To help stop the spread of Coronavirus, frontline staff has been provided with masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer; plus social distancing protocols have been implemented. Most recently, germ barriers were installed at the desks of member service representatives to keep everyone safer. Bandit barriers at teller lines have already been in-place, helping with staff and member protection.

Members may perform everyday banking transactions through online digital channels and get help to navigate with at least 11 online tutorial videos. The tutorials cover how to register for online banking, how to mobile deposit a check, how to transfer funds, and how to make payments to their credit card. If needed, members can still call 24 hours a day at 800-300-9728, or visit a branch for in-person, financial assistance. Branch hours have been modified and can be found at wpccu.org.

About Water and Power Community Credit Union

Water and Power Community Credit Union (WPCCU), headquartered in Los Angeles, is committed to the safety and well-being of the Los Angeles Community, its members and staff. WPCCU was formed in 1936 by a group of employees of the Department of Water and Power in downtown Los Angeles. All people who live, work or go to school in Los Angeles County can open an account. Currently, assets are over $750 million and the credit union serves nearly 40,000 members.
Virginia Tech scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have manipulated genes to link an undiagnosed human disease with a rare mutation in the PHETA1 gene.

Using CRISPR genome editing and other research tools in zebrafish, the scientists found that zebrafish PHETA1-like proteins are necessary for renal function and craniofacial development in zebrafish -- consistent with kidney and craniofacial problems observed in the human patient. The study was published in the current issue of Disease Models and Mechanisms.

The research began after a study of a 6-year-old girl identified through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undiagnosed Diseases Program, which focuses on the most puzzling medical cases referred to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

"When a family takes a child to a family physician and a specialist, and no one can figure what is causing the health problem, it creates a real burden," said Albert Pan, an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, who led an international team of investigators in the study. "We focused on this disease because it is hard to manage and difficult to treat because its underlying cause is unknown."

In collaboration with the NIH team -- along with an assembly of researchers from national and international institutions -- Pan investigated how patient-associated mutations may contribute to the clinical phenotypes; in other words, the physical properties and appearance.

The patient, who had developmental delays and facial and renal abnormalities, had a mutated version of the PHETA1 protein. Researchers generated similarly mutated or deficient versions of the PHETA1-like proteins in zebrafish to find that they were interacting in a harmful way with OCRL, the causative protein for Lowe syndrome.

Deficiency in the PHETA1-like proteins resulted in impaired renal physiology and craniofacial development in zebrafish, resembling the renal and craniofacial characteristics in the patient. The craniofacial deficits in zebrafish were likely caused by a dysregulation of cathepsin K, which degrades collagen and is known for a role in osteoporosis.

A broad range of research groups collaborated during the study on matters of genome analysis, protein modeling, craniofacial development, and undiagnosed diseases.

"It was a complex, cross-disciplinary project that came together at the end," said Pan, who is also the Commonwealth Center for Innovative Technology Eminent Research Scholar in Developmental Neuroscience and an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Virginia Tech. "We linked a phenotype in an individual with an underlying gene. We have provided medical scientists a starting point to define a common syndrome and develop of preventions and treatments."

###

The study involved researchers from the Greenwood Genetic Center, the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, the Karlsruhe (Germany) Institute of Technology, Augusta University, and the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Computing Unit of the Division of Information Technology.

Several current and past members of the Pan lab participated in the research, including first author Kristin Ates, Tong Wang, and Manxiu Ma.

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Commonwealth of Virginia Center for Innovative Technology, Virginia Tech, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and Augusta University.
Guwahati/Shillong, April 30 : After a few days of respite, Assam recorded five new coronavirus cases on Thursday and seven cases in 48 hours taking the state's total count to 42, though only 12 of them are active.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the media that four more Covid-19 positive cases (including two women) were reported from Bongaingaon district (in western Assam) and one was found in Karimganj (southern Assam) on Thursday.

"The number of Covid-19 positive cases found so far in Assam now stands at 42 with one death and 29 recovered from the disease and discharged from the hospital. Currently, the state's active cases are 12, who are undergoing treatments in various medical colleges and hospitals," he said.

According to the Assam health officials, the sources of the diseases of the four fresh cases in Bongaingaon district are not yet known.

Assam's total positive case of 42 exclude a 33-year-old trader from Nagaland's Dimapur who is undergoing treatment at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) since April 12 after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Sarma also told the media that most of the patients undergoing treatments in various medical colleges and hospitals are expected to be released within few days.

Out of the five 'red zone' districts, Golaghat and Nalbari are expected to come out of the zone over the next few days.

Of Assam's 42 cases, 37 people directly or indirectly participated in Delhi's Nizamuddin Tablighi Jamaat congregation last month while one patient, with a history of foreign travel, died in southern Assam on April 10.

The first patient to test positive for coronavirus in Assam - 57-year-old ex-trooper of Border Security Force, who was detected on March 31, is still undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and Hospital. He is a cancer patient too.

The dreaded disease has already been tamed in other seven states of northeastern states.

While no cases have been reported from Sikkim and Nagaland, three other states - Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura become coronavirus free.

In Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday tweeted: "All 8 family members (out of 11 active cases) ..... are found negative in the second tests." The state government also declared 10 of its 11 districts as 'green zones' and allowed inter-district movement as no Covid-19 case was reported from these 10 districts.

All the 12 coronavirus positive cases, including of a senior doctor who subsequently died, have been reported in capital city Shillong that falls under East Khasi Hills district.

"All Deputy Commissioners in the green zones may allow inter-district movement, provided that both district of origin and destination are in the green zone. No transit movement would be allowed," Political Department Secretary C.V.D. Diengdoh said in a letter to the Deputy Commissioners.

In Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Health Minister Alo Libang on Thursday launched the state's first laboratory at a hospital in Naharlagun for conducting tests of samples, making it the sixth state in northeastern region after Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram to have such testing facilities.

Libang said the works are going on for strengthening infrastructure at 10 hospitals across Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China.

In Agartala, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, whol also holds the Health Department, after holding an all party meeting, said the state government is not considering complete withdrawal of the ongoing lockdown in near future but has been providing relaxations on restrictions in certain areas in a phased manner.

Deb, who last week announced Tripura as coronavirus free, said in a tweet "Wearing of face cover mask is compulsory in Govt PSUs, offices as well as public places. Anyone found violating the norm will be fined Rs 100 for first offence and Rs 200 for subsequent offence."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A new metal fence has been erected around the Chinese Consulate on the Malone Road, Belfast

A metal fence erected at the Chinese Consulate in south Belfast which has been branded an "eyesore" has been "raised with the British Foreign Office".

Belfast City Council is understood to have contacted officials in the Foreign Office about the 'ring of steel' which appeared around the Malone Road building in recent weeks.

Officials took the step after it was built without planning permission, the Irish News has reported.

Residents are said to be "furious" about the fence being erected in a conservation area.

Belfast City Council said it understands the wall, which replaced a hedge, is "temporary".

But concerns have been raised that the consulate may seek to ignore planning rules by claiming diplomatic immunity.

The consulate had submitted a plan in May last year to build an almost 10-feet-high boundary wall, but it was later withdrawn.

The council has now launched a planning enforcement investigation.

Yesterday the Belfast Telegraph did not receive a response for comment from the consulate, however, in a previous statement it said authorities here and the Government had been "notified" of the works.

The Chinese Consulate is based at MacNeice House, which dates from 1889.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered all beaches in Orange County to close after 'disturbing' images showed masses of residents flocked to the sands over the weekend ignoring the state's stay-at-home order.

The governor had been expected to shutter all beaches and state parks across California from Friday, after a leaked memo from Newsom's administration to the California Police Chiefs Association surfaced Wednesday.

But Newsom announced during a press conference Thursday the new order only applies to state and local beaches in Orange County.

'Orange County has been on our list of health concern and they've done a wonderful job down there, I just think we can tighten that up a little bit. So we're going to have a temporary pause down there,' he said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered all beaches in Orange County to close after 'disturbing' images showed masses of residents flocked to the sands over the weekend ignoring the state's stay-at-home order

The move to increase restrictions, while many states across the US move to relax their lockdowns, has been met with resistance from officials in the coastal area.

Newsom said the 'hard close' of Orange County beaches is necessary to flattening the curve of coronavirus after soaring temperatures drove the public to soak up the sun over the weekend.

Photos showed masses of sun-seekers flocked to the beaches to enjoy the 80F heatwave.

'The images we saw on a few of our beaches were disturbing - I was very candid about that. We have been very consistent about that,' he said.

'We had anticipated a week ago today concerns with that weather coming back up and wanting people to be vigilant. Unfortunately as I say just at a couple of our beaches we didn't see that happen.'

These actions are putting 'people at risk', he said, in what has been one of the hardest-hit areas of the state.

Huntington Beach in Orange County on Saturday: Soaring temperatures drove the public to soak up the sun over the weekend

Huntington Beach in Orange County Saturday: The governor had been expected to shutter all beaches and state parks across California from Friday, after a leaked memo from Newsom's administration to the California Police Chiefs Association surfaced Wednesday

Huntington Beach, Sunday: Newsom said images of people flouting social distancing on beaches was 'disturbing'

Newsom added: 'My job as governor is to keep you safe, and when our health folks tell me they can't promise that if we promote another weekend like we had then I have to make this adjustment.

'Why undo all the great progress? Let's move this state forward together,' he said

The governor praised and thanked leaders and communities across LA and San Diego where he said people continued to comply with social distancing guidelines despite the weekend's heatwave.

There was 'incredible leadership in LA County city and local level from Mayor Garcetti - great work being done in San Diego - their county and partnerships... so many outstanding examples where people met the moment,' he said.

Huntington Beach in Orange County Thursday: Surfers head to catch the waves. Newsom announced during a press conference Thursday the new order only applies to state and local beaches in Orange County

People sit on beach chairs on Newport Beach, Orange County Thursday: 'Orange County has been on our list of health concern and they've done a wonderful job down there, I just think we can tighten that up a little bit. So we're going to have a temporary pause down there,' Newsom said

Another 95 people were killed by coronavirus in California Wednesday, taking the death toll to 1,982.

Confirmed cases reached 48,917, with 3,497 people hospitalized and 1,192 of those in the ICU.

The leaked memo to law enforcement Wednesday had suggested Newsom was planning to shut all beaches statewide.

'After well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newson's shelter in place order, the governor will be announcing tomorrow that beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1,' the memo, leaked by Fox11, read.

In the memo, Newsom said he was concerned that California had the fourth highest number of hospitalized patients due to coronavirus.

On Thursday, Newsom denied there had been plans to close beaches statewide.

Newport Beach, Orange County Thursday: Newsom said the 'hard close' of Orange County beaches is necessary to flattening the curve of coronavirus after soaring temperatures drove the public to soak up the sun over the weekend

Newport Beach, Orange County Thursday: Another 95 people were killed by coronavirus in California Wednesday, taking the death toll to 1,982

He said the targeted shutdown of Orange County beaches was 'exactly the conversations we were having.'

Local officials criticized the plans saying the open spaces are essential for the public's health and wellbeing.

Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner said adding to restrictions would be an 'overreaction'.

'Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far,' he told Fox 11.

'I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information.'

Newsom also announced new efforts Thursday to support Californians during the pandemic - including making modifications to guidelines about activities permitted under the order and the launch of a new portal to help parents find safe and licensed childcare.
When the bronze statues are cast to commemorate the COVID-19 pandemic they should depict health professionals clad head to toe in personal protective equipment. Visually anonymous in their PPE, it is these highly trained combatants in the new order of warfare who have earned a gratitude and respect once reserved for military heroes.

The national cabinet in action, a triumph of political leaders listening to expert advisers. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

And its an attitude spilling beyond those on the front line. Anecdotally doctors across a range of clinical professions are reporting unprecedented praise and gratitude from patients. Its been a long time coming. Doctors spend at least a decade of rigorous, time-consuming, family-sapping training to reach their speciality. In our semi-socialised medical system they obtain well above average incomes but nothing like the fortunes available in the corporate and celebrity world over the past few decades.

The same gratitude should go to the nurses, scientists, academics, civil servants, schoolteachers and the plethora of well-trained professionals who until now have got little credit for keeping our communities civil and safe.

Its not only the relative incomes of these professions that have been squeezed in the Kardashian era of celebrity and excess but the respect and value society accords them. Because social media provides equal if not more weight to the conspiracy theories of the uninformed amateur or the rapacious swindler, accumulated experience and knowledge have struggled to compete.
Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not interested in making a backdoor entry into state politics and it will be very happy to see Uddhav Thackeray being nominated to the Council and continuing as chief minister, The Indian Express has reported.

Fadnavis comment came a day after a delegation of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, met governor BS Koshyari with a fresh cabinet recommendation to nominate Thackeray to the Legislative Council through the governor's quota.

We are confident that the Governor will take an appropriate decision, conforming to legal and constitutional framework, and accordingly nominate Uddhav Thackeray to the Council, Fadnavis was quoted as saying.

He further said the BJP would be "very happy to see Thackeray being nominated to the Council and continuing as the CM" as the party does not want instability in the state.

We are neither interested in engineering instability nor making a backdoor entry, added Fadnavis.

Thackeray, who is not a member of either house of the state legislature, was sworn in as chief minister on November 28, 2019. He has to become a member by May 28 when he completes six months in office. Otherwise, he will cease to be the chief minister.

Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had accused BJP of misusing Raj Bhawan to serve its political interests, said the report. However, a source at Raj Bhavan told the publication that the Governor is consulting constitutional and legal experts, adding that the process is on.
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Officers from the New York City Police Department were seen ordering homeless people off the subways on Thursday just a day after officials pledged to take action against them sleeping on empty trains during the coronavirus pandemic.

Photos showed officers wearing masks and gloves as they woke up individuals who were laying down or sleeping in the train cars.

Other images showed the people gathering their belongings as they walked off a train at the 207th Street A train station in Manhattan.

New York City became the epicenter for the coronavirus outbreak in the US on March 20. Gov Andrew Cuomo was forced to extend stay-at-home orders to May 15 in a state that has recorded 304,372 coronavirus cases and 18,321 deaths.

The stay-at-home order has caused a 90 per cent decrease in ridership in New York City, where officials have reported more than 165,000 coronavirus cases and at least 12,774 deaths.

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Officers from the New York City Police Department were seen ordering homeless people (pictured) off the subways on Thursday just a day after officials pledged to take action against them sleeping on empty trains during the coronavirus pandemic

Photos showed officers wearing masks and gloves as they woke up individuals who were laying down or sleeping in the train cars

Other images showed the people gathering their belongings as they walked off a train at the 207th Street A train station in Manhattan

An officer is seen waking up a passenger on an A train at the 207th Street station in Manhattan

NYPD officers wake up sleeping passengers and direct them to the exits at the 207th Street A-train station on Thursday

A social worker holds the hand of a passenger found sleeping on a subway car as NYPD officers clear the trains and direct riders to the exits at the 207th Street A train station

Officers were also forced to subdue a passenger on Thursday after he attempted to jump in front of a moving train while police were clearing out the train cars at the 207th Street A train station.

Photos and video showing the homeless seeking shelter in the Big Apple's underground transit system have circulated widely on social media this week, sparking outrage.

'The cars were filthy, they were disgusting, homeless people were there with all their belongings,' said Cuomo, lamenting a 'deterioration' in the conditions of the network.

He ordered the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the independent body which runs the subway, to come up with a plan to scrub every train every day.

Cuomo said it was not safe for the homeless people on the trains to be there without protective equipment, nor was it fair to the essential workers who rely on the trains to get to work.

'Any essential worker who shows up and gets on a train should know that that train was disinfected the night before.

'The trains have to be clean,' Cuomo told reporters, adding that the homeless should also be able to get the services that they need.

On Wednesday, Cuomo went further, saying: 'The trains are filled with homeless... to let homeless people stay on the trains in the middle of a global health pandemic with no masks, you're not helping the homeless by letting them endanger their own life and the lives of others. It's not helping anyone.'

Officers are seen standing near a man on the A train at a station in Manhattan on Thursday

NYPD officers help a person in need of an ambulance after he was found at the 207th Street A train station

Officers were also forced to subdue a passenger (pictured) on Thursday after he attempted to jump in front of a moving train while police were clearing out the train cars at the 207th Street A train station

A man had to be subdued by officers after he attempted to take his own life on Thursday morning

Officers are seen speaking with a homeless person in Manhattan on Thursday morning

NYPD and MTA officers are seen walking through the 207th Street A train station on Thursday morning

New York's lockdown has freed up space on trains and in stations for people who would usually sleep on the streets.

One video shot by a conductor showed multiple people sleeping on benches in various cars of a single train. Piles of boxes, bags and luggage lay beside them.

'This is what they making me do, transporting the homeless and the virus at the same time thru every Borough of NY,' Torry Chalmers wrote in a caption for the footage shared on his Facebook page.

One video shot by MTA conductor, Torry Chalmers (pictured), showed multiple people sleeping on benches in various cars of a single train

'Transit workers need Hazard Pay ASAP. The Gov, Mayor or High official Transit personnel don't care about us. Make these videos go viral, maybe we can stop the spread of this killer virus.'

Chalmers is heard saying on the recording: 'I got to send this to the governor, let him see this s**t. This is what I gotta do. I gotta go to work in this. It's not making any sense. It's nasty, nasty.'

'There could be seven homeless spread out in each car,' Chalmers, who is based in the Bronx area and has worked for the MTA for 25 years, said.

'They trash the train  it's too many of them and every day it's getting worse,' Chalmers told the New York Post about how the situation has escalated.

'I get on the train and hope and pray there aren't a lot of homeless people.'

Chalmers added that passengers are worried about the homeless people on the train too.

The MTA has been the subject of a tussle between the mayor and the governor for years with both passing the buck for who is responsible for investing in the much-maligned metro.

On Monday, the MTA's acting president, Sarah Feinberg, called on Mayor Bill de Blasio not to let the underground become a shelter for the homeless.

'The city has failed our most vulnerable who are in desperate need of mental health care and housing services.

'NYC Transit will continue to do everything in our power to address this important issue, including working closely with all partners, but it is outrageous that a transportation agency is conducting social services in place of the city,' Feinberg said.

'Respect the essential workers. That is disgusting what is happening on those subway cars. It's disrespectful to the essential workers who need to ride the subway system', New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday

De Blasio announced a proposal this week to close 10 end-of-line stations between midnight and 5am to allow carriages to be cleaned and police to empty stations of any homeless people.

'Everyone has to get out of the stations, instead of what's happened for years and years  that a homeless person just sits on the train, or maybe gets off the train temporarily, gets right back on it, goes then the whole way back,' he said on Tuesday.

It would also allow outreach workers to help move the homeless into shelters. But many homeless people are concerned that going to a homeless shelter will increase their exposure to the virus.

'It's hell out here. They tried to kick me off but I got different ways to get back on. I agree with them, I get off, get out, and I get on the next train. The shelters are hell with coronavirus. I have nowhere else to go,' Jeremiah McIntosh, 35, told The New York Daily News earlier this week.

Earlier this month, de Blasio announced that the city will use 11,000 empty hotel rooms as coronavirus quarantines.

De Blasio said New York City will use hotel rooms as quarantine sites for people in vulnerable communities but priority will be given to healthcare workers at the city's 56 hospitals.

Sick elderly New Yorkers living in multi-generational homes in lower income neighborhoods and people in homeless shelters will also be given priority to the hotel rooms. The city and community health workers started moving people in on April 22.

That measure was introduced five days after the mayor announced his administration would move 6,000 New Yorkers facing homelessness to hotel rooms.

This graphic shows the number of New York deaths per day since March 18. There are more than 18,000 deaths in the state of New York

There are more than 1 million coronavirus cases in the US with 61,658 deaths

It also comes after relentless prodding from homeless advocacy groups like Vocal-NY, Picture the Homeless and Neighbors Together which demanded he place 30,000 homeless individuals in the citys over 100,000 vacant hotel rooms.

The hotel strategy is also a preventative measure to aid in minority communities that lack access to health care, after preliminary city data revealed black and Hispanic New Yorkers are dying at twice the rate of other races.

Though ridership has decreased by 90 per cent, the subways have become a hotbed for crime.

The spike in crime on the network of trains includes complaints of nudity, sexual activity, human waste and even arson.

In just 10 hours on Monday, MTA officials received reports of arson, a person smothered in human waste and lewd activity on the subway system.

One incident involved a man masturbating on a 6 train in the Bronx at 1.13am.

At 10am, in Flatbush, Brooklyn, police were called to remove a man from a train who had covered himself in human feces.

At 11am, a homeless man was arrested for lighting pieces of cardboard on fire at the Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum station in Brooklyn.

On Wednesday at around 1am, cops hauled people off of a Q train at the 96th Street Station. They were given the choice of going to the hospital or going to a homeless shelter.
The gains now at risk are a stark reminder of global inequality and how much more there is to be done. In 1990, 36% of the worlds population, or 1.9 billion people, lived on less than $1.90 a day. By 2016, that number had dropped to 734 million people, or 10% of the worlds population, largely because of progress in South Asia and China.
TAMPA, Fla., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Phase One of his plan to re-open Florida's economy that has been devastated by COVID-19. Calling the plan "Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step." Governor DeSantis said, "Florida will take a step; small, deliberate, methodical and based on consultation with some of our greatest physicians towards a much more hopeful future." Phase One of the re-open Plan begins Monday, May 4th.

While some industries will remain closed and others allowed limited operations, the Governor did call for elective surgeries to resume as long as hospitals retain surge capacity in the event of a COVID-19 spike, maintain adequate PPE materials for safe treatment and work proactively with long term care facilities and nursing homes to be able to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.

Tampa General Hospital President and CEO, John Couris, serves on the Executive Committee of the Re-Open Florida Task Force and advised the Governor on today's announcement saying, "Governor Ron DeSantis has implemented a data-driven and thoughtful approach to keeping Florida families safe during these uncertain times. Now, it's time to re-open. He's taking a measured approach to re-opening our state and getting people back to work while considering the health and wellness of those who are vulnerable. We're grateful to have had a seat at the table, and I look forward to working with him in the coming months."

For the past eight weeks, Tampa General Hospital has provided essential life-saving care to COVID-19 positive and non-COVID infected patients. Now, TGH is ready to offer the same level of medical expertise to patients seeking elective surgeries and procedures; all with the highest level of patient and physician safety in place.

Ongoing safety measures include:

Access to Tampa General Hospital remains limited so everyone who enters has their temperature taken and is screened for known COVID-19 symptoms.

All new patients scheduled for surgery and other specific procedures are tested for COVID-19 48 hours before their procedure. Tampa General Hospital offers testing at the main campus and three TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track locations across Hillsborough County . Using in-house testing allows for quicker turnaround of results.

. Using in-house testing allows for quicker turnaround of results. All existing and new patients began receiving surveillance swab testing to identify potential asymptomatic carriage of COVID-19.

Patients being treated for COVID-19 are isolated in a negative-pressure unit that is separate from other areas of the hospital.

All visitors are restricted from entering the hospital, except for Pediatric cases and laboring mothers. Please visit the TGH website at tgh.org for real-time updates.

All patients, team members, and physicians are required to wear a mask as a precaution.

TGH has strict infection prevention protocols in place, including the use of UV disinfection (Tru-D technology) to clean all rooms where infectious disease patients are treated, including COVID-19 patients.

All clinical teams are adhering to the infection prevention method of donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

In anticipation of questions regarding COVID-19 or specific procedures, Tampa General Hospital has opened a TGH Helpline. People can call to ask questions about COVID-19 and safety measures in place at the hospital or inquire about their upcoming surgeries and procedures. That number is 813-844-8084.

Tampa General Hospital wants everyone to make their health a priority, but understands the financial challenges caused by this pandemic. For patients who have had their surgeries or procedures rescheduled, TGH is working to update authorizations or resubmit them entirely to prevent payment authorization issues. For any patient concerned about out of pocket expenses, please contact TGH Financial Assistance at 813-844-8084 for the latest information on specific cost sharing estimates and payment options.

As we enter this "new normal" together, Tampa General Hospital wants to assure the community that one thing has not changed: the health and safety of our patients, team members and physicians, has and always will be, our number one priority.

Media Contact: Karen Barrera

Assistant Director of Communications & Partnerships

(813) 844-8725 (direct)

(813) 928-1603 (cell)

[email protected]

www.tgh.org

SOURCE Florida Health Sciences Center, Inc. d/b/a Tampa General Hospital

Related Links

http://www.tgh.org


A triple tragedy has claimed the lives of a son, mom, and dad from coronavirus just 16 days apart - leaving behind a daughter who beat the killer bug.

Mario Mayorga Jr, 42, developed a fever and dry cough in mid-March and was told by a doctor to self-isolate at home.

His health rapidly deteriorated, however, and he was hospitalized with symptoms so severe he needed bypass surgery and a ventilator, the New York Post reported.

After testing positive for coronavirus in hospital his family, who all lived in the same home, were tested.

Mom Esperanza 72, dad Mario (also 72) and sister Violeta (45) all initially returned a negative result but were retested and told they had the virus a week after Mario Jr's diagnosis.

Mario Mayorga (left) pictured with his father (center) and mother (right) have all died within weeks of each other from coronavirus

His parents - who were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary - and sister were also hospitalized because of their symptoms.

Dad Mario died first on April 10 followed by his wife Esperanza just nine days later. Their son Mario Jr. died Sunday, leaving sister Violeta devastated.

The single mom, who is now unemployed, is recovering at the family's Miami home quarantined from her eight-year-old son, Local10 reported, after losing three of her family members in the space of just 20 days.

Mario Mayorga (left) and wife Esperanza (right) were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary but tragically died before that could happen

Mario Jr's cousin Marcela Lastre, 33, said: 'They all lived together so her entire world has been flipped upside down at this point.'

'It was about three to five days from one person showing symptoms to the next one,' Lastre added. 'We thought they would all show symptoms at the same time.'

Lastra said they don't know where Mario Jr. was infected with the virus.

He was a frontline supervisor for a cleaning service that includes Miami's Mt. Sinai Medical Center among its clients.

Single mom Violeta Mayorga, above, was the only member of the Mayorga family to survive testing positive for the virus

She said Mario and his parents' health deteriorated so rapidly that she wasn't sure if he was ever told his parents had died before his own passing.

'Between the ventilator and the sedatives, I don't know how much he was aware of in the last few weeks,' she added.

The family had lived in the US for around 20 years, having immigrated from Nicaragua in the 1980s.

Mario Sr. worked in a funeral home and Esperanza as a nanny for many years before becoming a homemaker.

The family had lived in the US for around 20 years, having immigrated from Nicaragua in the 1980s. Mario Jr (above left) was so poorly from coronavirus he received bypass surgery and was put on a ventilator but tragically succumbed to the virus on Sunday

'They were grateful to be here and become US citizens,' Lastre said. 'This has been a family who has been together for so long and built so much together.'

A fundraising page set up in their memory has so far raised more than $37,000 to help with funeral costs.

Florida has seen close to 33,200 confirmed cases of the killer bug and more than 1,200 deaths so far.

The statewide stay-at-home order is due to expire on May 4, when phase one of Gov De Santis' re-opening will begin.

Schools will remain closed and face masks recommended - but not enforced - when outside the home.

Hospitals will resume surgeries will resume and restaurants have been told they can offer outdoor seating with six-foot space between tables and operate at 25 per cent of indoor capacity.
The U.S. is working on ways to expand storage space to add several hundred million more barrels to it, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at a White House briefing, as quoted by Reuters.

Were also exploring potentially having the ability to store another several hundred million barrels, so were looking at lots of different options, Mnuchin said after announcing that the federal government was drafting a plan to prop up troubled local oil producers.

The federal government already leased out 23 million barrels worth of storage space in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to nine energy companies, and oil is already flowing into the SPR. In April, over 1 million barrels were sent to the SPR.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve could hold up to 714 million barrels of crude. Currently, its occupancy is about 636 million barrels, Reuters notes.

The Cushing, Oklahoma, hub is also filling up. The current occupancy rate of the complex is about 70 percent, but according to traders, it is actually fully booked by companies seeking storage space for their oil. Cushings maximum capacity is about 80 million barrels, but its working capacity is 76 million barrels, according to Reuters. As of April 17, the amount of oil stored there stood at 53 million barrels.

Oil is being stored offshore as well. Off the coast of California alone, there are tankers loaded with some 20 million barrels of crude, idled offshore with the oil nowhere to go.

Its unbelievable. Its prices that are so low, and in some cases were storing oil and getting paid for storage because we have a tremendous capacity for it, President Trump said. So whats happened with these strategic reserves is incredible.

Trump also told the media that he will be announcing his plan for helping the oil industry soon without providing any details. According to reports, the plan will boil down to a loan lifeline, although Mnuchin told reporters, This is not going to be a bailout.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The African Well Fund (AWF) is excited to announce its 18th annual Build a Well for Bonos Birthday campaign. Beginning May 1, AWF invites U2 fans from around the world to donate funds in honor of the musicians 60th birthday. The funds raised will be used to build a new well serving 2500 in Nsiama, a village located in western DRC where there is currently no potable water. AWF hopes to raise $20,000 to build a solar powered well to serve the community.

Since 2003, AWF has joined together with the U2 fan community to celebrate and honor Bonos birthday by raising funds for clean water and sanitation projects. This year we reached out to that community to collaborate on the theme for the annual fundraiser. The overwhelming favorite, There is a Light was submitted by long-time U2 fan and AWF supporter, Tassoula E. Kokkoris. Kokkoris explains the inspiration behind her submission, Since its inception, Ive always contributed to the African Well Fund Build a Well for Bonos Birthday campaign because the projects chosen always significantly improve the lives in the communities for which they are completed. The added factor of honoring Bono and signing the annual card for his birthday is the icing on the cake. Inspired by the lyric in U2s Song for Someone, I initially submitted the theme as a nod to Bono and the light he brings through his music, humanitarian work, and by extension, African Well Fund. But now, considering what were all facing during this pandemic, the lyric has evolved into something much more poignant.

In a further collaboration with the U2 fan community, AWF reached out to award-winning artist, U2 fan and long time AWF supporter Kelly Eddington to create artwork for the campaign. Eddington created a beautiful original painting inspired by the theme There is a Light Eddington says, I was delighted and honored to create this painting of Bono for the annual birthday well fundraiser. Ive painted him so many times over the years that I know his face by heart. I wish him many, many more happy birthdays and I hope people will be inspired to build many, many more wells in his name.

From May 1 to May 31, fans may donate through the AWF website https://africanwellfund.org/build-a-well-for-bonos-birthday-2020/. As always, all donors are invited to add their name and a message to a birthday card that will be sent to Bono upon completion of the fundraiser. Since 2003, more than $280,000 has been raised in Bono's honor to fund the construction of clean water and sanitation projects that are benefiting more than 86,000 people in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The African Well Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of funding clean water and sanitation projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its founding in 2002, the organization has raised more than $1 million to fund over 30 projects in 15 countries, benefiting more than 350,000 people.
Kids favourite character, Chhota Bheem is back on television in a brand new Kung Fu avatar. A new series of 10 episodes of Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka premiered on television on 25th April and will be aired every day at 12.30 pm.

Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka movie was released last year and became the 1st 3D movie released by an Indian company. The movie received a great response from the audience and narrated the journey of the Dholapkur gang, consisting of Chhota Bheem and his friends and how they helped in saving the life of princess Kia in China as they defeated Zuzu. The new series of "Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka" will focus on the individual adventures of Chhota Bheem and his friends as the story continues further.

Rajiv Chilaka, Founder & CEO, Green Gold Animation Pvt. Ltd, said, Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka movie has been well accepted theatrically by kids all over India, Middle East as well as South Korea. The series carries on the adventures of Bheem and team in China. With a completely new setting and all-new adventures, we hope the kids will love watching the series and be entertained.

Speaking on the announcement, Abhishek Dutta, South Asia Network Head for Cartoon Network and POGO, said, We are excited to launch this new Chhota Bheem series on POGO this summer along with fun-filled, relatable content starring kids superhero Bheem that will keep our young viewers engaged and entertained.

Amidst the COVID19 outbreak, with kids being the most challenging of the lot, the premiere could not have happened at a much better time. These are tough times for kids as they can no longer go out to play and are looking for something new always. The return of Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka will surely help kids keep entertained and busy as they stay during this time.
In a sweet gesture, Panchkula police surprised senior citizen, Karan Puri with a cake to cheer him up on his birthday. Inspector Neha Chauhan, says, We saw a Facebook post by his children tagging us and asking if we could do something for his birthday. So with the help constables Neha, Parvin, Aarti and driver Mahavir, we bought a cake and went to celebrate his birthday.

As soon as these police personnel spotted the old gentleman in his house, Puri started to retreat back in his house, fearing that they would reprimand him on not following the guidelines of the lockdown. He tells us on phone, the video not only went viral but went into overdrive. Though politically incorrect, but it spread like coronavirus, says Puri.

As the global pandemic has brought a host of new experiences, including working from home, home-schooling and online socialising, it has also, unsurprisingly, increased the loneliness of all people. Puri says, Like everyone else, even I hadnt stepped out of my house at all due to the lockdown. But seeing so many people after a month with a cake for my birthday made me emotional and tears of happiness rolled out of my eyes. He jokingly adds, I have just turned 69 years young and anyone is bound to become emotional at such a celebration.

For loneliness, he says all of us have to bear it as we have no other choice. He says, Its not just senior citizens, but everyone is battling the demon of isolation. We all are social beings and thrive on interactions and meeting new people.

Senior citizen gets birthday surprise from Haryana Police, video goes viral via @htTweets https://t.co/v7AeGebfpL  Navdeep Virk IPS (@nsvirk) April 29, 2020

Puri, owner of Atma Ram and Sons publishing house, says, All my family including my granddad has been in publishing. At this time, I am missing my daily routine. More than anything, I miss travelling 11km to my store at Punjab University. Never thought I would say this but I miss the traffic and of course seeing new faces and meeting old acquaintances.

He has two sons, one settled in Australia and the other in Delhi who had requested Panchkula Police to surprise his father. He says, I thank ACP Nupur Bisht, who planned the surprise. Question him on whether he would like to celebrate his birthday like this every year, with the cops, and he laughs and says, Are you kidding me?As an afterthought he says, Well, of course! I have celebrated my birthday in different continents but this was very different and I will cherish it for many years.

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S urging demand from covid-conscious shoppers for Dettol and Lysol detergents triggered a near 13% sales leap at consumer goods giant RB and led it to increase sales its profit forecasts for the year.

However, sales of Durex condoms fell as locked down couples felt too anxious to feel intimate despite spending so much time together.

The company formed from the historic Reckitt & Colman group also saw a leap in sales of medicines like Nurofen and Lemsip during the first three months a pantry loading shoppers stocked up ahead of the lockdown.

RB saw sales growth of 10% and more in its hygiene products in Europe, North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America as the coronavirus threat swept the world.

Demand was so strong that RB had to ramp up its production plants ,which include Dettol plants in Hull and Northampton, to increase output.

Like many factories seeing surges in demand from covid, Reckitts had cut its numbers of product lines to speed output and get more volumes out into the shops.

This came with a cost, as well as the huge disruption the virus had brought to its supply chain around the world.

While detergents and disinfectants shot up in demand, Durex sales slipped slightly, with new chief executive Laxman Narasimhan saying couples either could not get together due to the lockdown, or were not in the mood due anxiety about the virus and money worries.

"What you see is this virus is having a toll the number of intimate occasions in the UK," he said.

Numbers of "intimate occasions" were also sharply down in Italy, he said.

Sales had been partly offset by the success of Durex online, a home delivery service.

The figures in a first quarter trading statement today came as a relief to investors following Narasimhans decision in February to slash the value of Reckitts baby milk business by a hefty 5 billion following the poor performance of an $18 billion acquisition of Americas Mead Johnson.

That deal had gone sour due to poor sales in China, which continued into the quarter.

Narasimhan said: Despite the significant pressures presented by Covid-19, our global teams have worked around the clock to ensure continuity of supply, while prioritising the safety or our employees, partners and the communities where we live and work.

The companys performance in 2020 is now expected to be better than original expectations, although it added that the outlook was still uncertain with significant Covid-19 challenges across our markets. More details will be given at the half-year point, it said.

Narasimhan added that the key uncertainty was whether people would keep shopping at the same levels now they had filled their cupboards.

He stressed that the difficulties of producing such high volumes of product was likely to continue for some time.

Narasimhan paid tribute to his staff around the world who had managed "heroic" feats to increase production.

The company was now geared up to produce more hand sanitiser in May than it did in the entirety of 2019.

Measures have included cutting the number of versions of the same product to allow factory lines to run continuously.

"You see all sorts of heroics in the supply chain," he said. "If an ingredient for a product is not available, we will airfreight it. That happened in Wuhan, where we flew out a key ingredient from Europe which was not available to our factory there due to the lockdown.

One component in China we had to source from Vietnam then took it by road to China."

Overheads increased as the company took measures to protect workers in factories around the world. That included refitting canteens and communal areas and even in some cases providing sleeping accommodation.

The company has given millions of pounds in donations and free products to frontline workers across the world, including free Dettol care packages to NHS workers.

.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Sindh government has approached the Supreme Court, seeking an early hearing of its appeal which challenged the provincial high court's verdict that acquitted British-born top al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi in 2002.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

The Sindh government last week challenged in the Supreme Court the provincial High Court's April 2 dated order that overturned the murder conviction and found Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping.

It also acquitted three other persons namely Sheikh Adil, Fahad Naseem and Salman Saqib, who had earlier been sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi.

In the new application filed on Tuesday, the Sindh government apprised the Supreme Court that there was apprehension about Sheikh's absconsion as there was strong evidence of his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of the American journalist, the Dawn newspaper reported.

"The matter is of great urgency, therefore, the application for the suspension of April 2 Sindh High Court judgement be heard as early as possible," the fresh application stated.

It requested the apex court to fix the hearing as early as possible, preferably in the coming week.

In 2002, Omar Sheikh was arrested after a graphic video showing the American journalist's decapitation had been delivered to the US consulate.

Subsequently, Sheikh was sentenced to death by the trial court.
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Linkedin Matthew Lavietes (Reuters)  Thu, April 30, 2020 13:37 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd530e78 2 Environment Greta-Thunberg,children,coronavirus,COVID-19,unicef Free

Teen climate-change fighter Greta Thunberg aimed her activism at the coronavirus on Thursday, helping launch a campaign with the United Nations to help protect children from the pandemic with the purchase of soap, masks and gloves.

Thunberg used funds she has raised to combat climate change to donate $200,000 to the UN's children's agency, UNICEF, as did the Danish anti-poverty group Human Act to kick off the campaign, UNICEF announced.

"Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child-rights crisis," Thunberg said in a statement.

"It will affect all children, now and in the long-term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most."

Read also: Greta Thunberg says she 'likely' had new coronavirus

Children will be affected severely by food shortages, strained health care systems, violence and lost education caused by COVID-19, she said.

Proceeds from the campaign will be used to provide children with soap, masks, gloves and hygiene supplies, according to UNICEF.

The UN issued a report recently warning that while children have been largely spared from the direct health effects of the virus, the global economic downturn could result in hundreds of thousands of additional child deaths in 2020.

Also, as many as 66 million additional children could fall into extreme poverty this year due to the pandemic, adding to the estimated 386 million children in dire destitution in 2019, the report said.

"Children and young people are among the most severely impacted by the knock-on effects of COVID-19," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

The Swedish 17-year-old donated the funds through her non-profit organization, the Greta Thunberg Foundation, which she established in February to help battle climate change.

Thunberg first attracted attention when she started her one-person protest outside the Swedish parliament in 2018, and she has since risen to international renown, taking center stage at the United Nations, the Global Economic Forum in Davos and elsewhere.
STEPANAKERT.  President of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic, Bako Sahakyan, stated during Thursdays plenary sitting of the National Assembly that there will be no return to the past, both in terms of territories and status, according to ArtsakhPress.

Referring to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's recent statement that plans that assume a phased option for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict had been presented to the parties to the conflict, Sahakyan said that their colleagues in Armenia partners have already officially stated that there is no document such document being discussed, and the Artsakh authorities will continue to use diplomatic capabilities, as well as to continue the work with the organizations operating on the common national front.

"When reflecting on the Karabakh issue, we are talking about our destiny," Sahakyan said, in particular. "I have had the opportunity to present the views of our country. I have repeatedly stated publicly that I respect and will continue to respect the mission which the OSCE Minsk Group is carrying out, as I believe that relative peace is ensured also thanks to their mission."

The President of Artsakh stated that during the meetings that were held he had noted that the security and independence of Artsakh are not subject to bargaining.

"During these years, we [Artsakh] have not deviated in any way, either from our position or from the principles," Bako Sahakyan added. "The Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, in my deep conviction, is one of the most complicated issues in the world, which includes many demands. And taking all this into account and respecting the interests of the international community, we are obligated to achieve a peaceful resolution of the issue; however, continuing to remain in our position. We have respected and will respect the proposals of the Co-Chairs, their sincere efforts to resolve the conflict."
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 17:08 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd545781 1 Business private-equity,Southeast-Asia,investment,technology,Internet,outlook,2019,COVID-19,coronavirus Free

Private equity investment in Southeast Asia declined to US$12 billion last year after reaching a record high of $14 billion in 2017, with COVID-19 posing a risk to investment this year, a global consulting firm says.

According to Southeast Asia Private Equity Report published by Bain & Company, last years private equity investment in Southeast Asia was driven by the internet and technology sector, which represented over 60 percent of all deals, especially in Indonesia.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the global recession in 2020 will challenge private equity investment this year as investors look for ways to protect their investments and reemerge stronger after the crisis, the report said.

In preparation for this period, general partners are looking at the global financial crisis as an indicator of what to expect moving forward, said Bain & Company partner Usman Akhtar.

During the global financial crisis, the number of funds raised in Asia Pacific countries flat-lined and were significantly smaller, Akhtar said. While investors are likely to remain committed to private equity during this crisis, fundraising will slow.

The report said that before COVID-19, investors regarded Southeast Asia as a challenging environment for private equity with high multiples and a lack of deal opportunities in Thailand and the Philippines.

With the current pandemic, we expect a sustained impact on the PE industry throughout the year with more companies looking for financing given the cash flow situation.

Investment recovery will depend on how long it takes to reopen the economy as well as what social-distancing measures are still in force, Bain said.

Bain expects deal making to slow in the near term. However, the record amount of dry powder in the market will continue to serve as the driving force for ongoing investment.

Returns for private equity will likely decline sharply in short term, but new deals could have potentially good returns, the report said. With public markets volatile and corporates holding onto cash, private equity is well positioned to be the buyer of any asset that comes up for sale.
By Online Desk

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at 67 in HN Reliance hospital, he was admitted there by his family on Wednesday morning.

"He is no more. He has passed away," Rishi's brother Randhir Kapoor told PTI.

Rishi was taken to the H N Reliance hospital by his family on Wednesday.

His death comes a day after his "D-Day" co-star Irrfan Khan passed away, also of cancer.

Three months ago, the disease claimed his sister Ritu Nanda.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukaemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last."

"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," the family said in a statement.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan took to twitter to share the news:

T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away ..

I am destroyed !  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 30, 2020

Rishi returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for his cancer in the US for almost a year.

In February, he was hospitalised twice.

He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function.

At the time, he had said he was suffering from an "infection".

After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever.

He was discharged soon after.

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to express his grief over the death of the actor:

Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor. He entertained several generations of Indians throughout his career. What a terrible loss.. My condolences to the grieving family. May God bless his soul.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 30, 2020

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar offered his 'Heartfelt condolences to his family'

The sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti  Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) April 30, 2020

Rishi, a third-generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, actor son Ranbir and daughter Ridhima.

Rishi made his first screen appearance as a child artiste in his father Raj Kapoor's film "Shri 420", where he appeared in the song "Pyaar hua ekraar hua."

This was followed by "Mera Naam Joker".

But it was in 1973, with the blockbuster "Bobby", again directed by his father, that he made his debut as a romantic hero.

He continued to be a favourite romantic hero for almost three decades.

His notable films as a romantic hero are "Laila Majnu", "Rafoo Chakkar", "Karz", "Chandni", "Heena" and "Saagar".

He was, however, more proud of his second innings as an actor, which he found more satisfying.

His notable films as a character artiste are "Do Dooni Chaar" with wife Neetu, "Agnipath" and "Kapoor & Sons".

The actor recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film "The Intern", also featuring Deepika Padukone.

(With PTI Inputs)
British supermarket group Sainsbury's estimated a profit impact of 500 million pounds ($623 million) from the coronavirus pandemic and said it would defer any dividend payment decisions until later in the financial year.

Sainsbury's, number 2 to market leader Tesco, said on Thursday that under its base case scenario the hit to profit would be broadly offset by stronger grocery sales and approximately 450 million pounds in business rates relief from the UK government.

That would mean group underlying profit before tax for the year to March 2021 would be broadly unchanged from the 586 million pounds reported for the 2019-20 year, it said.

Sainsbury's base case assumes that lockdown restrictions would have eased by the end of June, but that the business would continue to be disrupted until mid-September. It also assumes that consumer demand, particularly for general merchandise and clothing, would be impacted by weaker economic conditions thereafter.

Profit would be hit by significant costs associated with social distancing and safety measures to protect customers and staff, weaker sales of fuel, general merchandise and clothing, and lower financial services profitability, it said.

"Given the wide range of potential profit and cash flow outcomes, the board believes it is prudent to defer any dividend payment decisions until later in the financial year, when there will be improved visibility on the potential impact of COVID-19 on the business," it said.

Sainsbury's confirmed the results would be the last presented by Chief Executive Mike Coupe, who will step down as CEO on May 31. He will be succeeded by Simon Roberts, the current retail and operations director.
A man who led deputies on a lengthy pursuit in and around Houston Wednesday night was injured in a shootout after he opened fire on several police officers, authorities say.

Harris County Sheriffs Office deputies spotted the driver speeding along Interstate 10 near Uvalde and attempted to stop his car, but he refused to pull over, according to Baytown Police Department Lt. Steve Dorris. The pursuit ran west along I-10 toward the West Loop, where the driver hopped on the Loop and drove around to I-10 East again.

CHIEF REACTS: Houston's top cop addresses video showing fatal shooting of kneeling man

There, Baytown officers joined in the pursuit and deployed spike strips to stop the car. As the driver stopped, he allegedly pulled a gun and started shooting at the officers, Dorris said.

One Baytown officer and three HCSO deputies returned fire, striking the suspect in the legs. He was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he is expected to survive, Dorris said.

Officers found a firearm in the car but little else to indicate why the man fled from officers in the first place.

Sometimes, we never know the reason why, Dorris said.

This is at least the sixth officer-involved shooting in and around Houston in April.

MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Houston man charged after 3 killed during late-night robbery

On April 3, a Houston police officers executing an arrest warrant inside a southwest Houston home shot a suspect who popped out from hiding behind insulation in the houses attic. Then on April 16, a Harris County sheriffs deputy shot a man in the legs after a short pursuit in the north part of the county.

Both of those suspects were expected to survive.

On April 21, a 27-year-old man who was allegedly stabbing himself in the arm was shot and killed by Houston officers, who say the man reached for a stun gun and lunged toward the officers.

That same day, a man was killed by a plain-clothes Harris County sheriffs deputy after the two exchanged words. The deputy was part of a task force waiting to arrest a capital murder suspect in a southwest Harris County neighborhood when he was approached by a neighbor who was trying to protect a home on his block.

On Monday, Houston police killed a man who taunted them with gunfire after sitting on his porch and firing at random for nearly 30 minutes. Officers said the man eventually pointed the gun at them, which is when they opened fire.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
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Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Jerusalem if elected, Trend reports citing Xinhua

"The move shouldn't have happened in the context as it did, it should happen in the context of a larger deal to help us achieve important concessions for peace in the process. But now that is done, I would not move the embassy back to Tel Aviv," Biden said during a virtual fundraiser.

The former vice president also said that he would reopen a U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem to engage the Palestinian leaders in talks about a "two-state solution," which has been a long-standing view of Washington regarding the Palestinian issue.

U.S. media reported that Biden, then a senator of Delaware, voted for the passage of the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995, which authorized moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. However, the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administration had all deferred the move.

In December 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Washington moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in May 2018, drawing condemnation and opposition globally.
The city of Madrid has continued honoring victims of the coronavirus with a daily minute of silence at noon, captured in this video on April 29.

This video shows a deserted Puerta del Sol plaza as seen from the upper floors of Hotel Europa. Spanish officials stand in front of the Palacio de Correos beneath the flags of Madrid, Spain, and Europe.

The moment of contemplation  when tolling bells are followed by Samuel Barbers Adagio for Strings played over loudspeakers  was first held on March 30.

As of April 29, Spain had reported 236,899 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 24,275 deaths. Credit: Hotel Europa via Storyful
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - (TSXV: BZ) Benz Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "Benz"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amending agreement (the "Amending Agreement") in connection with the Eastmain Mine project pursuant to which it has acquired an option to earn a 100% interest in the Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East properties, located west of its high grade Eastmain gold mine project in James Bay District, Quebec.

Ruby Hill West includes one block of 180 contiguous mining claims totaling 9,485 hectares which includes more than 30 km of strike along a favourable volcano-sedimentary greenstone sequence within Upper Eastmain River greenstone belt. The concessions are approximately 25 km west of the main Eastmain gold mine project.

Ruby Hill East includes one block of 88 contiguous mining claims totaling 4,640 hectares and which are immediately west and contiguous to the flagship Eastmain gold mine project concessions.

The principal exploration targets on the Ruby Hill West and East properties correspond to volcanic-hosted lode gold deposits characterized by stratabound, disseminated and massive chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pyrite veinlets associated with fine grained chert units.

Including the Eastmain Mine Project, Benz now controls more than 22,100 hectares of ground in the highly prospective Upper Eastmain River greenstone belt.

Miloje Vicentijevic, President and CEO, commented, "We are extremely excited about the addition of the large Ruby Hill West and East concessions to our flagship Eastmain gold mine project as it adds a considerable exploration component in a highly prospective area to our company".

Mr. Vicentijevic, continued, "With our recently closed financing, we intend to aggressively advance the Eastmain gold mine project while also developing an exploration program to include our new Ruby Hill targets."

Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/55235_9a59e0836467e998_001full.jpg

Transaction Terms

Pursuant to the Amending Agreement entered into with Eastmain Resources Inc. ("Eastmain"), the terms of the original option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Eastmain gold mine project were amended to remove the Company's obligation to incur $500,000 in exploration expenditures by October 23, 2020 and add such expenditures to the work requirement for the period ending October 23, 2022.

The Amending Agreement also adds the Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East properties to the Eastmain gold mine project. Benz can earn a 75% interest in such properties on the following acquisition terms:

Cash payments totalling $375,000 as follows: $75,000 within three business days of TSX Venture Exchange approval; $50,000 on October 23, 2020; $50,000 on October 23, 2021; $100,000 on October 23, 2022; and $100,000 on October 23, 2023, which can be paid in shares at the election of Eastmain based on the prevailing VWAP of the Company's shares up to a maximum of 500,000 shares.

A share payment of 2,000,000 common shares of Benz or a cash payment in an amount to enable Eastmain to acquire 2,000,000 common shares of Benz within three months.

The issuance of 4,000,000 share purchase warrants, each warrant enabling the holder to purchase one common share of Benz at a price of $0.12 until April 27, 2023.

Benz will have the right to earn an additional 25% interest in the Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East properties by paying an additional $100,000 to Eastmain by October 23, 2025, which can be paid in shares at the election of Eastmain based on the prevailing VWAP of the Company's shares up to a maximum of 500,000 shares.

Following the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East properties Eastmain will retain a 1% net smelter return royalty, of which one half may be purchased for $500,000 thereby reducing it to a 0.5% net smelter returns royalty. The net smelter returns royalty is also offset by any pre-existing royalties which may reduce the royalty burden.

The overall effect of the Amending Agreement is to modify the existing option agreement to eliminate the requirement to meet a minimum expenditure requirement for 2020 while expanding the property package and facilitating cash payments to Eastmain.

The acquisition of the Project is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Eastmain Gold Project

Benz entered into an option agreement with Eastmain Resources Inc., to earn a 100% interest in the former producing Eastmain gold mine project located 316 km northeast of Chibougamau, Quebec. Accessible year round by road, the project includes 152 claims totalling 8,014 hectares in size plus one industrial lease permit.

In 1994 to 1995, MSV Resources mined 118,356 tonnes grading 10.58 g/t Au and 0.3% Cu by room and pillar mining. The mineralization was processed at the Copper Rand Mine in Chibougamau and 40,000 oz of Au was recovered.

A 43-101 resource estimate prepared for Benz, includes Indicated resources totalling 899,000 tonnes grading 8.19 grams gold per tonne and 0.13% copper for gold and copper resources of 232,000 oz and 2.57 million pounds respectively.

Inferred resources total 579,000 tonnes grading 7.48 grams gold per tonne and 0.16% copper for 152,000 oz of gold and 2.04 million pounds of copper.

The resource estimate is based on a gold price of US$1,288 and a US$0.77 exchange rate.

Additional information about the Eastmain gold mine project is available in a 43-101 report dated September 3, 2019 by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. and available at www.sedar.com

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Nick Tintor, a Qualified Professional Member of the Mining & Metallurgical Society of America and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

This news release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Units in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. person. The Units (or any underlying securities) have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. person unless an exemption from such registration requirements is available. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

About Benz Mining Inc.

Benz Mining Corp. brings together a veteran team of engineers, geophysicists, geologists, and finance professionals with a focused strategy to acquire and develop mineral projects with an emphasis on safe, low risk jurisdictions favorable to mining development. Benz is earning a 100% interest in the former producing high grade Eastmain gold mine project, including Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East in Quebec.

Benz has 57,215,118 million shares issued and outstanding.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benz Mining Corp.

Miloje Vicentijevic, President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information please contact

Benz Mining Corp.

Telephone: 604.617.1239

Email: info@benzmining.com

Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55235
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Shopify on Tuesday unveiled Shop, a consumer app that lets users discover local businesses, receive relevant product recommendations from their favorite brands, check out effortlessly, and track all their online orders.

It can gather and track orders and receipts automatically, but it also works without auto-tracking.

Consumers can list their favorite stores to get a customized feed with deals, trending items and customized recommendations.

The app has a search feature that lets consumers find local stores and access their pickup and delivery options.

The Shop app makes it easy for consumers to ask a question or make a return.

Auto-tracking of orders and receipts, storing them in a single place, and accessing policies and returns with one tap are par for the course for any mobile shopping app, observed Rebecca Wettemann, principal at Valoir.

The difference I see is its exposing shoppers to smaller retailers that cant necessarily offer their own app to remain competitive, she told the E-Commerce Times. This is particularly important right now, with the pressures on smaller retailers and consumers desire to support local businesses.

The coronavirus pandemic has sent online purchases skyrocketing.

Consumers are very resistant to downloading e-commerce apps for small retailers because its just not worth the hassle, said Mark Lewis, CEO of Netalico.

The Shop app is available for both iOS and Android.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Bringing It Together

The Shop app integrates features from Shop Pay, a one-click accelerated checkout, and Arrive, a Shopify app to track online orders. Shop Pay has processed more than US$8 billion in sales so far, while 16 million shoppers have used Arrive to track their e-commerce orders.

I stumbled onto Arrive about eight weeks ago and have to admit I was skeptical at first, remarked Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research. Why in the world did I need an app to track all of this when I can do the same thing within each retailers e-commerce site?

Now, shes a believer. Multiple retailers, multiple shippers, all in one spot, including details on my order, stock availability, multiple packages  right there, she told the E-Commerce Times.

Im in on using Shop based on how easy my checkout experience has been at Shopify retailers and then with this app, Miller said.

Privacy and Security

Consumers personal details will not be sold, and they can delete their account at any time, said Shopify. Its servers meet PCI compliance standards for storing credit card information, and consumers personal and payment details are encrypted end to end.

The Shop app has been verified independently to handle emails securely in accordance with Google API Services, Shopify said.

My guess is that Shopify will make personal data available, at a cost, to its stores, commented Nicole France, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

PII may not be included, but its not clear from these announcements how easy that might be to reconstruct based on available information, she told the E-Commerce Times.

Deconstructing the Shop App

Existing Shopify merchants will love Shop because it lets them offer an app experience to their customers without any work on their part, Netalicos Lewis told the E-Commerce Times.

However, consumers wont really care about it or know that it integrates into merchants they shop from unless Shopify or merchants push it to them, he added.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Still, the app puts customers in the drivers seat, where they should be, Constellations France pointed out. This is crucial. So is the fact that customers personal details wont be sold.

The Shop app may well prove a fundamentally different and revolutionary model for connecting customers with brands on digital platforms, she said.

In addition to making things easy for both buyers and sellers, the Shop app provides value, France observed. As shipping options and times have been upended in the midst of stay-at-home orders, the ability to choose among them and track progress is more important than ever.

Going Head to Head With Square

The local search feature is not likely to be utilized heavily, Lewis said.

Its much more about Shopify trying to break into the brick-and-mortar market, which Square already dominates, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Square earlier this year partnered with UPS to integrate its shipping solutions into Squares platform for sellers, a move that could help it compete with Shopify.

Shopify is definitely more e-commerce oriented and e-commerce first than Square  and particularly as consumers shift their buying to online shipping, theyre in a good position to help merchants, Lewis noted.

Local merchants need these capabilities more than consumers, contended Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

This is the ability to scale out local capabilities globally, he told the E-Commerce Times. Bringing small merchants together and giving them the tools of a Google and Amazon at scale.

The Shop app gives small businesses enterprise-class capabilities at the SMB level, Wang said. It is the bridge between brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce. Its Shopifys push to go even further downmarket to local retailers and bring them into the e-commerce age.
BEIJING The novel coronavirus ground the world to a halt, and restive Hong Kong was no exception. Protests dwindled, social distancing took hold, and the citys tear-gassed streets and incendiary politics seemed to fade from the worlds attention.

In mainland China, all energy turned to the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began. Tens of thousands of doctors and nurses rushed to stem a flood of infections. They were followed by legions of propaganda workers dispatched to silence questions about why the virus spread was so bad, and to replace grief with praise for the governments success.

But Hong Kong never faded from Beijings larger designs. At the height of Chinas COVID-19 crisis, while central authorities fired party bosses in Wuhan and Hubei province, they also installed new representatives in Hong Kong, bringing in Communist Party hard-liners known for crackdowns on corruption and religion to oversee the former British colony.

Now that Chinas virus crisis has calmed  and the rest of the world is distracted by the pandemic  Beijings newcomers in Hong Kong are trying to stop the likely return of last years protests, which evolved from resistance to an extradition bill to a citywide anti-government movement.

Theyve taken an aggressive approach, calling for a national security law to stifle dissent, criticizing opposition lawmakers in Hong Kongs Parliament and claiming for the first time that they have supervisory power over the regions legal and political systems. When 15 prominent pro-democracy figures were arrested in a single day, legal and political entities spoke with one voice, accusing the activists of promoting separatism with help from the United States.

Tensions are rising: Last weekend, police clashed with several hundred protesters who had gathered in a mall to sing revolutionary anthems and demand amnesty for the recently arrested activists. Police have refused to grant permission for a protest on May 1, citing coronavirus concerns. Authorities have delayed decisions on an annual vigil June 4 to mark the Tiananmen Square massacre and planned marches later in June and July.

The city seems poised for another explosive summer. But this time, mainland authorities are getting more directly involved.

The Hong Kong Liaison Office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Beijings two representatives in the city, caused an uproar when they claimed this month that a law barring central government departments from interference in Hong Kongs internal affairs does not apply to them.

The two offices have supervisory power, they said, over how Hong Kong implements the Basic Law, its quasi-constitution, and the one country, two systems agreement that Beijing will leave most of Hong Kongs internal affairs alone until 2047, when China regains sovereignty over the city.

The supervisory power move was a radical departure from how law has long been interpreted in Hong Kong.

Its basically a declaration on the part of Beijing that Basic Law doesnt constrain their power at all, said Angeline Chan, convenor of the Progressive Lawyers Group.

Hong Kong legal experts say Beijings representatives are claiming an authority not found in any legal text.

Where do you get this supervisory power? asked Johannes Chan, former dean of the faculty of law at the University of Hong Kong. It gives rise to a vague and undefined notion of power, and it completely destroys (Hong Kongs) high degree of autonomy.

From Beijings perspective, the answer is simple: The power comes from the Communist Party.

Rule of law absolutely does not mean weak leadership, but strengthened party leadership, improvement of party capacity to rule through law, and strengthening of the partys governing role, Chinese President Xi Jinping said last year in the party journal Qiushi. Law should be used to turn party ideas into national will, Xi said, and should avoid Western ideas such as constitutionalism, balance of powers or judicial independence.

Those three ideals are pillars of Hong Kongs legal system, supposedly protected by one country, two systems until now.

Beijing and Hong Kongs relationship is laid out in the Basic Law, which allows Beijing to give final interpretations on what the law means and to appoint Hong Kongs top officials, said Johannes Chan.

The sudden assertion of supervisory power sidesteps the law altogether, he said, and could allow meddling in matters including parliamentary sessions and upcoming elections.

That becomes rule of man rather than rule of law, said Chan. Its even worse than rule by law. Now, its simply: The law means what the politicians want it to mean.

The Liaison Office and HKMAO have long been involved in Hong Kongs internal affairs, but usually through indirect channels, said John Burns, former dean of the faculty of social sciences at the University of Hong Kong.

Beijing is pulling back the curtain a little bit, and saying: We have the authority and power to direct things in Hong Kong, Burns said. It is a calculated shift after Hong Kongs government failed to contain mass protests last year, timed for a moment when countries battling the coronavirus are unlikely to pay attention.

But without addressing core problems police brutality, lack of government accountability and unequal political representation that favours Hong Kongs pro-Beijing corporations over its citizens this approach is likely to further incite protesters.

Theres a certain point at which the legal system cant bear the load anymore, and a fundamental trust in the system breaks, said Antony Dapiran, Hong Kong-based lawyer and author of a book about last years protests.

That loss of faith in the system drove many of last years protesters. Asserting party supervision is likely to spark more unrest. It may also threaten financial interests vital to both Hong Kong and the mainland, as foreign banks and companies depend on Hong Kongs rule of law to guarantee their business safety.

For lawyers like Angeline Chan, who is assisting some of the more than 7,000 arrested protesters while only one police officer has been reprimanded, and none arrested the law is worth defending, even as its foundations are being undermined. She has seen 13-year-old girls arrested on their way to school, first aid volunteers arrested while helping injured protesters.

Theyre facing the legal process. Theyre facing trials and jails. They need representation, she said.

Hong Kongs protesters hold no illusions about Beijing, Chan added. They know they are facing a major international power that shows no signs of change. Yet lawyers, doctors, social workers, teachers, teenagers, parents and civil servants protested in the millions.

If we dont, then thats conceding ground willingly, she said. Things are not as they should be. But within the system, weve still got to protect what weve got left.

Read more about:
Tom Campbell

Lib, my retired Methodist Pastor wife, and I have been married for 55 years and our household has always been filled with interesting, sometimes differing but generally entertaining conversations about current issues. A recent afternoon discussion on our deck raised the question as to how we will emerge from this COVID-19 pandemic. I hope you find it interesting.Are Americans more willing to fight a war with bullets against a foreign nation than we are for our own health? Before answering I remembered the stories my parents told about how people willingly rationed butter, gas, sugar, and other items for the war effort in World War II. Our people were willing to sacrifice to win that war.For the first time since World War II every North Carolinian has been asked to sacrifice. But thirty days into stay-home orders - designed to reduce the spread of a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease - a growing number are rebelling by protesting, leaving our homes and disobeying crowd size limitations, face masking, and cleanliness suggestions. Partisanship, rumors, anger, ugly rhetoric, and blame increase daily.Without question, COVID-19 has been painful for everyone, but the anger is being fueled by those who neither believe how potent this coronavirus is nor accept the restrictions as solutions. They claim the economic damage is worse than the deaths they consider a small price to pay to earn money.We have become skeptical, distrustful, unwilling to sacrifice, and, apparently, selfish instead of selfless. We are a far different people than those in the 1940s.We no longer trust elected officials, business leaders, or much of anyone - sometimes for good reason. Leaders too frequently filibuster, pivot remarks to evade direct questions or shade the truth. Too frequently the media, which increasingly has staked out philosophical and political alliances, permits leaders' behavior and sensationalizes stories. We follow social media, where people can say anything, true or not.To come out of this COVID-19 pandemic we need leaders who tell us unvarnished truth, whether it benefits them, their political party, or business interests. They must demonstrate they serve the common good, not just a narrow constituency. But we must be willing to follow their lead, not just when it is convenient or serves our best interests or our affiliations. They usually see a bigger picture than do we. Untruthful and untrustworthy leaders should be turned out of the office or punished in other ways.In World War II we were united in fighting for freedom. We won't come out of this crisis until we do the same today.The 1918 deadly H1N1 flu came in three waves, killing nearly 700,000 people in the United States. Farther back in history, another pandemic changed the world. The Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, decimated Europe in the 14th century. Millions of Europeans, including half of the population of Florence, Italy, died brutal deaths. Those who remained were shaken. Their grief and disruption of life were compounded by financial ruin that threatened their future.History tells what happens next. The people of Florence rose up. Out of their pain, a new thing was born. We know it as the Renaissance. Re-birth, re-generation, reformation, re-set, and Resurrection are the story of life that emerges beyond pain and even death.How we come out of this pandemic as whole people depends on how we respond to what we have learned. The pandemic shutdown has exposed cracks, shortcomings, and failings of our culture. Inequality, racism, hate, and anger are right at the fore and we see clearly how we have failed one another. Poverty, healthcare, and education issues are exposed as serious unsolved problems. The rural divide is stark, and nobody seems to have a vision or interest to solve problems for the good of all. We will come out of this if we can awaken to the truth that we are only as strong as our weakest; only as rich as the poorest among us. We will come out of this when we begin to examine our own souls. Where is empathy? Where is compassion? What is enough? Who is being left behind?We will come out of this as we look to those who are innovating a future. Somebody told me once, "Creativity springs from a restful mind." We, who are made in the image of God, have a great capacity for creativity. The unleashing of creativity in the world will be part of coming back from the pain of the pandemic. Our time of rest and sheltering seeds creativity. God is always doing a new thing. If we see it, claim it, and work to live into it, we will come out of this. Who knows, maybe we will be better for it all.
Be happy: Even if its the last thing you want to do, give a smile in case someone needs it. Photo: Ariana Cubillos/AP

An employee sprays disinfectant in a BTS commuter train carriage as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 in Bangkok. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP)

Independent.ie reporters keeping you up to date with the latest coronavirus news in Ireland and across the world.

22:55 30/04/2020

Taoiseach: Laws will not be amended to stop Northern Ireland day trippers

No changes to emergency Covid-19 laws are needed to prevent day trippers from Northern Ireland travelling to the Republic, the Taoiseach has said.

Concerns have been raised about visitors from Northern Ireland travelling south of the border ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend as the restrictions do not apply to people visiting the state.

Day trippers from Northern Ireland cannot be arrested because of the legal loophole.

Leo Varadkar told the Dail he had consulted with the Attorney General in relation to the loophole and it was determined that no changes to the emergency laws are needed.





22:35 30/04/2020

More than 9,000 fines for coronavirus lockdown breaches in UK

More than 9,000 fines have been issued for flouting UK Covid-19 lockdown rules as police warn people will get restless stuck at home with summer approaching.

Data released by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) on Thursday shows 8,877 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) have been recorded by forces in England between March 27 and April 27, while 299 were issued in Wales over the same period.

Deputy Chief Constable Sara Glen said reports of anti-social behaviour more than doubled to around 215,000 in the four weeks to April 27, compared to about 106,000 in the same period last year.

But she said enforcement of the Governments restriction of movement regulations remains relatively low with more than 200,000 coronavirus-related calls received and just 0.02% of the population issued with a fine.





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21:55 30/04/2020

West African countries on alert for child labour spike due to coronavirus

Ivory Coast and Ghana should be on alert for a spike in child labour due to the coronavirus, experts said, with schools closed and monitors unable to access villages in cocoa harvest season.

The two West African countries together produce about 65pc of the world's cocoa and child labour has been a longstanding problem in the sector, despite pledges from chocolate companies including Nestle and Hershey to reduce it.

Fairtrade Africa said it had received reports of possible cases in Ivory Coast's eastern and western regions in recent weeks and flagged them to the government.

"In normal circumstances children are already vulnerable, and now they are not going to school," said Anne-Marie Yao, regional cocoa manager for Fairtrade Africa.





21:35 30/04/2020

Denmark says coronavirus spread has not accelerated since easing of restrictions

Denmark, the first country outside Asia to ease its coronavirus lockdown, said on Thursday the spread of Covid-19 has not accelerated since the gradual loosening of restrictions began in mid-April.

The Nordic country began reopening day care centres and schools for children in first to fifth grade two weeks ago followed by hairdressers and other small businesses on April 20 after seeing number of infections and deaths decline.

"There are no signs that the COVID-19 epidemic is accelerating," said the State Serum Institute, which is responsible for preparedness against infectious diseases.

The so-called 'R rate', which shows the average number of infections one person with the virus causes, has increased slightly in the past two weeks but remains below 1.0, it said.





21:15 30/04/2020

A back garden pool, swimming parachute and a bungee cord - How a Dublin teenager is keeping Olympic dream alive

Expand Close Mia Whelan-OConnor is put through her paces in her back-garden plunge pool using a swimming parachute and a bungee cord with the assistance of her dad Michael and mum Carol. Photo: Sportsfile / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mia Whelan-OConnor is put through her paces in her back-garden plunge pool using a swimming parachute and a bungee cord with the assistance of her dad Michael and mum Carol. Photo: Sportsfile





Long-distance swimmer Mia Whelan-O'Connor hopes to keep her Olympic dreams alive by using a back-garden plunge pool to maintain her training regime.

The ESB club swimmer, who lives in Dublin's Inchicore, has had to adopt an innovative way of swimming as her normal training base at Ringsend remains beyond her 2km limit.

Whelan-O'Connor trains in the inflatable pool using a swimming parachute and a bungee cord attached to the wall or can be held by dad Michael to offer more resistance.

"I was just desperate to get back in the pool because I missed swimming so much and my brother came up with the idea," she says.

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20:55 30/04/2020

Five prison officers in Northern Ireland tested positive for Covid-19

Five prison officers in Northern Ireland have tested positive for Covid-19, the NI justice minister has said.

Naomi Long said her thoughts with are with the individuals and their families.

Giving evidence to Stormonts justice committee, Ms Long also revealed that so far no prisoners in the region have tested positive for the virus.

There are just over 1,500 prisoners in Northern Ireland, but a number were given temporary release amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Of the 120 prisoners given temporary release, eight have been returned to custody for not complying with regulations, Ms Long added, with most of the contraventions relating to drugs and alcohol.





20:35 30/04/2020

European Central Bank looks to bolster Covid-19-ravaged economy

The European Central Bank is ramping up its measures to cushion the economy against a record downturn caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.

The monetary authority for the 19 countries that use the euro currency on Thursday lowered the interest rate on cheap loans it provides to banks.

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

It also offered new credit lines to banks to cushion the economy, which suffered its biggest contraction in the first quarter since records began in 1995.

The new ECB measures announced on Thursday come on top of already announced stimulus efforts that include an ongoing 750 billion euros in bond purchases.





20:15 30/04/2020

"Major difficulties" in using predictive marking for Leaving Cert, Dail told

There would be major difficulties in using predictive marking for Leaving Cert students Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dail.

The Leaving Cert has been postponed until July 29 due to the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Varadkars remarks came after People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett asked why the government is continuing with the Leaving Cert given the uncertainty being experienced by students.

He said most students want a certification that doesnt require them to got through the stress of sitting the exam.

Mr Varadkar said there was a debate on the Leaving Cert in the Dail last week and most TDs agreed with the plan to continue with the exam.

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19:55 30/04/2020

TD calls for private consultants to be allowed to treat non Covid-19 patients

Private consultants should be allowed to treat their emergency non-Covid-19 patients, an Independent TD has said.

Last month the government reached an agreement with private hospitals to use all of their facilities during the Covid-19 crisis.

Marian Harkin told the Dail she fully supports the action taken by the state to take over private hospitals but said patients of private consultants are being left in limbo.

Nineteen private hospitals are being used to treat public patients throughout the outbreak for a three-month period.





19:35 30/04/2020

'It's devastating for family pubs' - Publican calls for pubs to reopen along with cafes and restaurants

The owner of a family pub has called for pubs to be reopened at the same time as cafes and restaurants.

It has been reported this week that restrictions on the operating of cafes and restaurants will be loosened in the coming weeks however, Simon Harries previously told Independent.ie that "I can't see people in packed pubs again as long as this virus is with us".

Wayne Harding owner of the Village INN, a pub in Slane Co Meath, which has been in his family for 33 years, said that the same loosening of these restrictions should apply to pubs, who are "already suffering".

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19:15 30/04/2020

GAA announce more wage cuts as it reveals inter-county games programme 'increasingly unlikely' in coming months

The GAA have announced a further round of cuts to staff wages, admitting in a correspondence to effected employees that "it is increasingly unlikely that there will be a significant programme of inter-county GAA games before the end of the financial year" due to the ongoing Covid-19 emergency.

Many staff will be cut by 30% of their monthly income for May and 40% for June, with the GAA choosing to avail of the government's Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.

In a memo to staff, the GAA have outlined how the expected lack of income from inter-county matches means "there will be no significant revenue generated or cash received over the coming months.

"Such prospects mean that the GAA faces a serious financial predicament which, unfortunately, necessitates further reduction of all costs incurred by the GAA including payroll costs."

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19:05 30/04/2020

Crime gangs using food delivery services to transport drugs during coronavirus pandemic, gardai warn

Gardai have issued a warning that organised crime gangs are using food delivery services to transport drugs during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

The warning has been sent out in tandem with a similar Interpol alert, based on intelligence supplied by the Garda and police in the UK, Malaysia and Spain.

Officers from the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau seized cocaine with an estimated street value of 2.5m after stopping and searching trucks, carrying food products, in the Blakes Cross area of north county Dublin last weekend.

The seizure was made following an intelligence-led operation.

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18:55 30/04/2020

Irish triathlete prepares to do full Ironman at home using skip for swimming

Irish triathlete Stephen Donnelly is set to do a full Ironman from his back garden on Saturday, raising funds for Meals on Wheels Ballina, and Mayo University Hospital Covid Fund.

You can support Stephen Donnelly through his GoFundMe page here.





18:45 30/04/2020

GSOC has notified garda management of more than 70 complaints about enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions

Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) notified Garda management of more than 70 complaints from members of the public in which an aspect of garda enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions is mentioned as a factor.

While many of these complaints have yet to be assessed to see if they meet the criteria set out in law to be investigated by GSOC, GSOC took a decision to share information about these complaints with the Garda Siochana in order to assist Garda management in identifying issues which may be emerging in the enforcement of the restrictions.

The identities of people making these complaints and the identities of gardai complained of are not included in the information being shared by GSOC with Garda Internal Affairs.

One in three of the complaints which appear to be related to the Garda enforcement of the restrictions or in which Covid-19 is specifically mentioned, allege gardai were not observing social distancing or were not using gloves and/or masks.





18:35 30/04/2020

Irish Patients with severe Covid-19 infections had 'abnormal' blood clotting

Irish patients with severe cases of Covid-19 had abnormal blood clotting which contributed to some deaths, research has found.

The study found that patients with higher levels of blood clotting had a significantly worse prognosis and were more likely to require intensive care.

Scientists from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) said their findings show Covid-19 is associated with a unique type of blood clotting.

The study, carried out by the RCSIs Irish Centre for Vascular Biology (ICVB) and St Jamess Hospital, Dublin, has been published in the British Journal of Haematology.





18:25 30/04/2020

Frontline community gardai praised for helping the vulnerable

Expand Close Paula McCadden, from Ballygall, receives her shopping from Community Garda Louise OSullivan (right) and probationer Garda Anna Szczepan (PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Paula McCadden, from Ballygall, receives her shopping from Community Garda Louise OSullivan (right) and probationer Garda Anna Szczepan (PA)

Frontline gardai have been praised for their help in delivering shopping and medication to people cocooning during the coronavirus crisis.

Gardai have been deployed in communities across the country to assist in a range of roles.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, members of An Garda Siochana have been at the forefront, delivering medicine for people self-isolating, collecting pensions and food shopping for people cocooning.

Community Garda have been hailed for their work in helping vulnerable people during the crisis, and providing much-needed company to those who have been confined to their homes.





18:15 30/04/2020 Taoiseach lists criteria for easing restrictions but warns progress will be slow The Taoiseach has identified five criteria for future decision making on lifting or easing Covid-19 restrictions as he warned progress would be slow and gradual. Speaking in the Dail on Wednesday, Leo Varadkar said a roadmap would be published in the coming days on lifting or easing restrictions. He said the five criteria include: progress of disease; healthcare capacity and resilience; testing and contact tracing capacity; ability to shield at risk groups; and risk of secondary morbidity.



18:05 30/04/2020

Breakdown of latest figures

Data from the HPSC, as of midnight on Tuesday (20,111 cases), reveals:

58pc are female and 42pc are male

The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years

2,706 cases (13pc) have been hospitalised

Of those hospitalised, 360 cases have been admitted to ICU

5,684 cases are associated with healthcare workers

Dublin has the highest number of cases at 9,967 (50pc of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,193 cases (6pc) and then Cork with 1,146 cases (6pc)

Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 63pc, close contact accounts for 33pc, travel abroad accounts for 3pc





17:55 30/04/2020

Harris says more than 3,500 lives may have been saved by coronavirus restrictions

More than 3,500 lives may have been saved by the coronavirus restrictions, Health Minister Simon Harris has told the Dail.

But he cautioned "we must finish the job" and "stay united" if we want to continue to save lives.

Mr Harris's remarks come as the government is tomorrow expected to set out a roadmap for easing restrictions.

He said that when the restrictions were first announced the virus was spreading faster with an 'R' rate of 2.4.

Now that is down to between 0.5 and 0.8 meaning that less than one additional person is being infected by someone who has coronavirus.

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17:42 30/04/2020

Ireland's death toll from Covid-19 increases to 1,232 as 43 further deaths and 359 new Covid-19 cases confirmed



Dr Tony Holohan has confirmed 359 new Covid-19 cases in Ireland.

In total in the Republic, 20,612 have now tested positive for the virus.

A further 43 patients in Ireland have died after contracting the coronavirus.

It brings the total number of deaths associated with Covid-19 here to 1,232.





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17:25 30/04/2020

Mary Lou McDonald denies using coronavirus pandemic to score political points

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has denied using the coronavirus pandemic to score political points as she called for the Government to press for an all-Ireland approach to tackling Covid-19.

Ms McDonald called for more harmonisation between politicians in the Republic and Northern Ireland during the pandemic.

She told RTE radio: We need a single harmonised regime across the island to keep people safe and ensure compliance with necessary measures and to ensure this virus does not sweep through our population.

We have consistently made the point that to protect the population on this island, that for public health purposes  we are a small population living on a small island.

Ms McDonald said the Irish Government should press more for an all-island approach.

I have been concerned that the system in the south has been a bit passive to that end and ensuring everyone on the island is safe, she said.





17:15 30/04/2020

Belfast Lecturer transforms study to make more than 1,000 face shields

An engineering lecturer has produced more than 1,000 face shields for healthcare workers after transforming his study into a PPE production line

Aaron McConville, a lecturer in electronic engineering at Ulster University in Belfast, is using 3D printers he has built and assembled at home over the years to print protective face shields for frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originally printing 20 per day, Dr McConville increased daily production to more than 100 following donations from the university, friends, family, colleagues and the public.

With the help of his partner Alice, Dr McConville has produced more than 1,000 visors and distributed them to a number of care homes, hospitals and hospices in urgent need of PPE in Northern Ireland and England.

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16:55 30/04/2020 Police called after passerby complains about smell as New York funeral home puts bodies in rented trucks Police have been called to a New York City neighbourhood after a funeral home overwhelmed by coronavirus resorted to storing dozens of bodies on ice in rented trucks, and a passer-by complained about the smell, officials said. Investigators who responded to a 911 call found that the home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses, according to a law enforcement official. The Andrew T Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn was cited for failing to control the odours, but no criminal charges were brought. The home obtained a larger, refrigerated truck later in the day, the official said, and workers in protective gear could be seen in the afternoon transferring bodies into it. Expand Close Workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York (Craig Ruttle/AP) / Facebook

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16:35 30/04/2020 Varadkar: I have not discussed coronavirus or Brexit with Boris Johnson in weeks Leo Varadkar has admitted he has not discussed Brexit or coronavirus with Boris Johnson for several weeks. The UK Prime Minister and his fiancee Carrie Symonds announced the birth of a son on Wednesday. Mr Johnson, who has just recovered from coronavirus and spent three nights in intensive care, has returned to work at Downing Street where he is leading the response to the pandemic. He is expected to take a short period of paternity leave at some point later this year.



16:15 30/04/2020

A miracle baby and gifted teen, Sally Maaz (17) loses her fight for life after Covid-19 diagnosis

Expand Close Close family: Ibrahim Rahmani, Janna Maaz, Gany Maaz, Abdullah Maaz, Amir Maaz, Roula Rahmani and Sally Maaz / Facebook

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Sally Maaz was a courageous, ambitious, warm, and deeply loved young girl, who dreamed of becoming a doctor. She was a miracle baby who survived and thrived against all odds.

But last Friday, at the age of 17, she died, leaving her family, friends and community devastated.

Days before her death at Mayo General Hospital, where she spent most of the final weeks of her life, she was diagnosed with Covid-19.

Her passing was recorded as a coronavirus death. But that is not her story. Her life and the battle she fought could never be described in a cold statistic.

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15:55 30/04/2020 Covid-19 is not man-made or genetically modified, US spy agencies say US intelligence agencies have concluded that Covid-19 was not man-made or genetically modified. But they say they are still examining whether the origins of the pandemic trace to contact with infected animals or an accident at a Chinese lab. The statement came on Thursday from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the clearing house for the web of US spy agencies. It comes as President Donald Trump and his allies have touted the as-yet-unproven theory that an infectious disease lab in Wuhan, the epicentre of the Chinese outbreak, was the source of the global pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 worldwide.



15:35 30/04/2020

Child abuse calls to helpline up almost a fifth during lockdown

Reports from adults concerned about child abuse have increased by almost a fifth during the coronavirus lockdown, the NSPCC has said.

Its helpline received 2,216 calls about children facing neglect, physical and emotional abuse in the first four weeks of the lockdown.

This compares with 1,867 calls made in the four weeks prior.

Lockdown measures are likely to be intensifying abuse and increasing the impact it has on children who cant escape it, the child protection charity said.

In particular, concerns around children receiving emotional abuse such as threats and verbal abuse have increased by 50%, with 792 made up to April 19.





15:13 30/04/2020

McDonalds takes a financial hit from Covid-19 lockdown

Global lockdown orders have taken a bite out of McDonalds first-quarter sales.

Although most restaurants in the US and China are available for drive-through and deliver, the burger giant said its sales fell 6pc to 4.71 billion US dollars in the January-March period.

Declines have persisted in April.

Approximately 75pc of the fast food giants 39,000 stores globally are open.

In China, where 25pc of stores were closed in February, nearly all have reopened; 99pc of US stores are open as well, offering limited menus and takeout food.





13:40 30/04/2020

Government to decide on roadmap for 'new normal' tomorrow

THE government is to decide on a roadmap for reopening Ireland to "a new normal", Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dail.

Mr Varadkar warned that any easing of coronavirus restrictions will be slow and gradual and he set out five criteria that will feed into the decision making.

These are:

The progress of the disease;

The capacity of the health care system;

The capacity for testing and contact tracing;

Shielding at-risk groups like the elderly;

The risk of secondary morbidity and mortality.

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11:33 30/04/2020

Covid-19 lockdowns take their toll with record fall for Eurozone economy

The European economy shrank by a record 3.8 pc in the first quarter as business activity from hotels and restaurants to construction and manufacturing was frozen by shutdowns aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.

The drop in the 19-country eurozone was the biggest since statistics began in 1995 and sharper than the plunge in the midst of the global financial crisis in the first quarter of 2009 after the bankruptcy of US investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The drop compares to a 4.8 pc contraction in the US during the first quarter as the shock from the outbreak hits economies around the world.

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10:00 30/04/2020

'Wait will make me appreciate Tralee even more' - only Rose selected for cancelled festival

Christine Smyth, from Ohio, was the only woman officially selected to compete in Tralee's festival this August before it was cancelled.

Ms Smyth (22), a managerial arts student, decided to sign up to the festival last year, and was chosen to represent Ohio in the US in February.

Instead of heading to the Kingdom this summer, she will automatically go through to the 2021 festival instead.

"I have a lot of unique and unusual feelings about the cancellation, which makes sense as we are living in such a unique and unusual time," she said.

"I'm disappointed that I won't get to celebrate with my Rose sisters this year but I'm also relieved."

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7:30 30/04/2020

Reopening primary schools presents 'particular challenges', warn teachers

Teachers' leaders have warned that any plans to reopen primary schools in May or June would present "very particular challenges".

Schools say they cannot reopen without very detailed planning about the practicalities of how it would work.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Boyle has written to the Department of Education outlining a range of concerns.

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7:20 30/04/2020

Nine patients die of Covid-19 at hospital for elderly

Nine elderly patients have died of Covid-19 at a long-term care facility in West Cork where there has been an outbreak of the virus, the HSE has confirmed.

Officials at the Clonakilty Community Hospital in West Cork confirmed the deaths took place between April 1 and 28. The families of the deceased were given the opportunity to say goodbye in person, albeit while observing social distancing and wearing protective gear, a hospital spokeswoman said last night.

"It is with great sadness that we can confirm that nine residents at Clonakilty Community Hospital passed away with Covid-19 to date this month.

"We wish to express our sincere sympathies to the families and friends of residents who have passed away," the hospital said in a statement last night.

It conceded that the facility, which caters to elderly patients, was dealing with an ongoing outbreak of the disease. But it moved to reassure families that it was doing everything possible to provide "both compassionate and quality care to all residents".

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7:00 30/04/2020

Holohan: We can't ease coronavirus restrictions as it stands

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he will not be able to recommend a relaxation of lockdown measures to combat the coronavirus crisis tomorrow.

Speaking at a briefing last night, he said that as of yesterday he could not advise there be any relaxation of emergency measures.

"The number of people in intensive care and in a hospital bed are still too high. There are a few days left between now and May 5 and I hope things will change."

But he said he does not anticipate any additional change in the coming days in deaths, hospitalisations, or admissions to intensive care.
Days afer the Maharashtra cabinet



recommended to him proposing Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's appointment to the Legislative Council, Governor B S Koshyari on Thursday requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to declare polls for nine vacant seats of the Upper House of the state Legislature.

A statement from Raj Bhavan said that Koshyari requested the ECI to declare elections to the nine vacant seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council "at the earliest".

The governor made the request to the poll watchdog to fill the nine seats that have been lying vacant since April 24, with a view to end the current uncertainty in the State.

In his letter, the governor stated that the Centre has announced many relaxation measures regarding the enforcement of lockdown in the country.

"As such the elections to the Council seats can be held with certain guidelines," he said in the letter.

Since Uddhav Thackeray is not a member of either house of the State Legislature, he needs to get elected to the the Council before May 27, 2020, the statement said.

The Election Commission had withheld the election process for these nine seats due to the coronavirus crisis.

Thackeray was sworn in as chief minister on November 28, 2019. He has to become a member of the House by May 28 when he completes six months in office. Otherwise he will cease to the chief minister.

The state cabinet had on April 9 recommended Thackeray's nomination as one of the governor nominees in the Legislative Council.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ST. JOHN  The town's farmers market is set to open Sunday.

It's from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Community Outpatient Center, 9660 Wicker Ave.

Recently, Town Council members discussed whether to open the farmers market during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's stay-at-home order, farmers markets are considered an essential business.

Councilman Wayne Pondinas said during a Town Council meeting last week that was streamed via YouTube that members should consider pushing the opening date back.

"I think we should defer it to a later date, and I don't think this area has reached the peak for the pandemic yet. I think we've got a few more weeks," said Pondinas, who was present via Zoom.

"I think the safety of our residents and the people coming to that, in my heart of hearts, I don't think that's a good idea right now."

Pondinas said he doesn't want to see the market canceled for the year, but doesn't think it's a good idea for the market to open just yet.
The mysterious Chinese diplomat who 'hijacked' a ministerial press conference to lavish praise on Beijing is a former top cyber spy for Beijing.

Long Zhou used to work in a secretive cyber cell inside the Chinese Communist Party, helping it wage war against western governments and pump out propaganda.

He is now China's Victorian consul general, and inexplicably gatecrashed a joint press conference between Health Minister Greg Hunt and businessman Mr Forrest on Wednesday.

The billionaire mining magnate, nicknamed 'Twiggy', was announcing his foundation's securing of 10 million coronavirus testing kits, but is accused of 'ambushing' Mr Hunt with the Chinese official.

He even invited Mr Zhou to speak, who seized the opportunity to praise China for being 'open, transparent and responsible' with officials, including the World Health Organisation.

The stunt comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between Canberra and Beijing over Scott Morrison's calls for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has backed the PM's push for an investigation, saying on Thursday that all countries should support Australia's initiative.

'We would urge every country, all of our partners, to demand that we get answers for what happened here ... and that the world gets the transparency it needs,' he said in Washington.

'Who in the world wouldn't want an investigation of how this happened?'

Victoria and Tasmania Consul-General of China Long Zhou (pictured, centre) is seen departing a press conference where he spoke of the relationship between China and Australia

Mr Zhou is a former official in China's secretive network of state-sponsored cyber spying, The Australian reported.

Before moving to Australia, he was co-ordinator of cyber affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, helping Bejing's global digital attacks.

His controversial former job is understood to have further soured relations between Mr Forrest and the government, who are furious about the unannounced guest.

Mr Hunt is understood to have assumed the Chinese diplomat had helped Mr Forrest obtain the testing kits as one of his business contacts.

'Twiggy will find the door to Canberra is closed,' a senior source told the newspaper, after he helped the Chinese diplomat ambush Mr Hunt.

China has been accused of covering up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak when it began, not sharing key information with foreign governments which could have saved lives.

A wet market is seen up and running in Wuhan, where the COVID-19 pandemic broke out (pictured on April 29) despite scientists warning this is how the outbreak began

Mr Forrest (pictured at the April 29 conference) invited the Chinese diplomat to speak - but said he did so 'with the full authority' of the health minister

Another joint press conference, scheduled at a children's cancer centre, has since been cancelled.

It is believed the government feared questions about China and the gatecrashing officials would overshadow proceedings.

'The announcement was issued by media release so as not to distract focus from the importance of this lifesaving program for children,' Mr Hunt's spokesman said

The press conference was going to announce $67 million worth of investment in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Forrest was taken to task on the issue on Thursday on Today.

'You didn't tell the PM's office - you didn't tell the health minister's officer - it's almost like you've performed an act of treason,' Today host Karl Stefanovic told Mr Forrest.

Victoria and Tasmania Consul-General of China Long Zhou (pictured) is during the press conference at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Melbourne on April 29

A wet market is seen after being quickly reopened in the Chinese city of Wuhan (pictured on April 29) despite health officials saying this is how the COVID-19 outbreak began

But Mr Forrest said backlash over the unexpected appearance was a 'complete non-story'.

'China has really stepped up so I brought the Chinese consulate along because they've helped Australia,' he said.

'Mums and dads and boys and girls are now able to get tested across our country.

'I brought the consulate along when we broke the back of the PPE [personal protective equipment] crisis in Perth so I brought him along again in Melbourne.'

There are increasing tensions between China and Australia after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an inquiry into China's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Despite this, Forrest he would continue working with China, which has threatened Australia's economy for pushing for a coronavirus inquiry.

China is accused of covering up the severity of the epidemic after it started in a live exotic animal market in Wuhan (pictured, a bat in a wet market in Indonesia)

Mr Forrest (pictured with wife Nicola on Today on Thursday) called the backlash over the unexpected appearance a 'complete non-story'

'Yeah, and I see pandemics coming out of Europe mate, I can see them coming out of Africa,' he told Perth radio station 6PR.

'This one came out of China. You might even cop one coming out of Australia one day.

'The pandemic starts somewhere. It is how you react to them and I really say to any leader mucking around blaming people, taking up people's precious airtime throwing blame, throwing criticism and not getting on with the job of fixing it, well, you are defining yourself as a pretty crap leader.'

He insisted that his securing of testing kits showed 'I'm the most Australian person I know.'

A similarly unexpected visit was made by the Chinese Consul Madam Dong to an event in Perth when Mr Forrest secured medical supplies for Western Australia.

Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest (pictured) is seen looking on at the controversial press conference in Melbourne on April 29

Vendors wearing face masks as they offer prawns for sale at a market in Wuhan (pictured on April 15) where reports of the virus first emerged in December

Mr Forrest earlier denied claims Mr Zhou's appearance represented a hijacking and said the health minister was aware the Consul-General would be in attendance.

'I invited the Consul-General to speak, with the full authority of the Minister for Health, and he gave such a strong speech about nations working together, ' he told news.com.au.

It came as broadcaster Alan Jones joined former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in slamming the businessman for inviting Mr Zhou on his morning radio show.

'Andrew Forrest, you better go and hide and not appear for a while,' he said on Thursday morning - while calling the invitation 'appalling'.

Before the Melbourne press conference, Mr Forrest had inked a deal worth $320 million to bring the additional 10 million coronavirus testing kits to Australia, increasing the country's capability 20-fold.

Mr Forrest earlier denied claims Mr Zhou's appearance represented a hijacking and said the health minister (pictured at the announcement) was aware the Consul-General would be there

Mr Zhou took the opportunity on the podium to praise Beijing's handling of the crisis.

'The Chinese government has released information related to COVID-19 in open, transparent and a responsible manner,' he said.

'We have worked closely with the WHO and other countries. Including sharing experiences  and providing assistance within our capacity.

'China very much appreciates and is thankful to the compassion, support and sympathy of the Australian people.'

The deadly respiratory virus has infected more than three million people globally, including 6,746 Australians. So far, 212,000 people have died worldwide.

Mr Zhou said during a speech that COVID-19 could well be 'the biggest crisis faced by mankind since world war two,' before urging people from every nation to work together.

'Solidarity is the only way to overcome this public health challenge. All countries should work together as one,' he said.

It comes as China insisted claims that the coronavirus was released from a laboratory are 'unfounded and purely fabricated out of nothing.'

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Thursday the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the centre of the allegations 'does not have the ability to design and create a new coronavirus, and it has never done so.'

Mr Shuang cited the institute's director, Yuan Zhiming, as saying the lab strictly implements bio-security procedures that would prevent the release of any pathogen.

'I would like to point out again that the origin of the virus is a complex scientific issue, and it should be studied by scientists and professionals,' Mr Shuang said.
New Delhi, April 30 : A special committee constituted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday extended permission to Ph.D. and M.Phil research scholars for submission of research work by six months. This came after the scholars requested for more time to submit their thesis and dissertations in universities across the country amid the lockdown in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its recommendation sent to the UGC, the committee has said that M.Phil and Ph.D. students should be given six months extension for submission of thesis.

Along with this, the committee has also recommended to conduct the test online and after assessing the universities' situation, an open book examination will be conducted if the circumstances demand.

A Ph.D student Nupur said "Researchers are facing problems in submitting their thesis. As per UGC rules and ordinances of University of Delhi, many researchers seeking seminars, thesis have to submit their paper within the stipulated time as per the university ordinance." Giving the additional time of six months, the committee said "Six-month extension period should be added for PhD, MPhil scholars to complete the degree and submit the thesis."
The Nigerian Presidency has issued a statement on President Muhammadu Buharis appointment of a dead man into the Federal Character Commission board.

On Tuesday, the President sent a list of nominees for appointment to the Senate for confirmation. Amongst this list was Tobias Chukwuemeka Okwuru, an Ebonyi state Lawmaker that died in February 2020.

However, in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, shared by Presidential aide on social media, Lauretta Onochie, the presidency claims that Mr Okwuru was alive when President Buhari appointed him a member of the FCC.

Read: Again, Buhari Appoints Dead Man Into Office

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Hon Tobias Chukwuemeka Okwuru was very much alive when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as the Ebonyi State Member in the Federal Character Commission.

He even came to update his CV, in readiness for the appointment after the Senate screening. When he sadly passed away while waiting for the screening by the Senate, that information was not communicated to the Federal Government. His remains are not yet buried. May his soul rest in peace. the statement read.
'Anyone know if/where you can buy a fiddle leaf fig in Ireland?"

So read one of the tweets that popped up in the last month, as those in lockdown seek any opportunity to bring the longed-for outdoors in. Monsteras, alocasias, banana trees - these are the houseplant equivalents of an It bag, and they're more in demand than ever.

With everyone confined to their homes, the quarantine has ushered in a new wave of status symbols.

Before the shutdown, fashionistas may have been gearing up to parade their spring-summer acquisitions: a pair of Bottega Veneta pumps, a tiered Cecilie Bahnsen dress or perhaps Loewe's leather-encased raffia bag. Now, with nowhere to go, and little need to wear anything other than leggings and slippers, the style set are reframing their status symbols for the age of coronavirus.

It's a tricky time for those with exhibitionist tendencies. Where we may once have flippantly deemed a slouchy clutch or bedazzled headband a 'must-have', the pandemic has restored that term to its literal origins. But the need to flaunt one's taste level is strong, which means dedicated followers of fashion will adapt to any situation.

The Covid-19 crisis is no exception - it has merely prompted a recalibration of stylish status symbols. Here, we chart the trending objects that have emerged as lockdown luxuries.

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The posh candle

Flickering softly in the background of a grainy Zoom call or artfully posed in an Instagram post, these aren't your ordinary Yankee Candles. Rosie Huntington Whiteley favours Byredo's Safran (which sells for 62), Poppy Delevingne prefers Jo Malone, and the Man Repeller's Leandra Medine is such a fan of Le Labo's Santal 26 that she has two on the go at once (at a cost of 58 each). But king of them all is Diptyque, the status candle.

The French favourite has popped up in the homes of everyone from Holly Willoughby to Tracee Ellis Ross, while Justin Theroux had one centre-stage for a candlelit dinner with his dog (quarantine does strange things to people). Priced at 75, some may feel you'd be as well off setting fire to a wad of cash, but when you're shut inside, the woody scent of Feu de Bois is the next best thing to a real camp fire. Total - albeit pricey - escapism.

The hipper slipper

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The most covetable shoe of the moment is not a barely-there sandal or kitten-heel boot: it's a pair of slippers. Derry designer JW Anderson's unisex felt loafer mules are the stars of the quarantine wardrobe, with prints based on a countryside sunset and a seaside sunrise.

The sold-out 450 slippers have been hailed as "the cult shoe of lockdown" by Vogue, and are a popular choice on @wfhfits, the Instagram account chronicling work-from-home looks. But they're not the only footwear hit of the coronavirus era: Birkenstock's shearling-lined sandals have been a runaway success, spotted on Kaia Gerber, Michelle Pfeiffer and Millie Mackintosh. There's life in the 'ugly' trend yet - who needs pretty shoes right now?

The rainbow bookshelf

Scouring a celebrity's shelves has become one of our top pastimes in quarantine, and book snobs reserve their harshest judgements not for a Fifty Shades Of Grey or a row of Penguin Classics with unbroken spines, but for the colour-coordinated bookshelf - the hallmark of a literary poseur.

Which was why book lovers gasped when JK Rowling unveiled the fruit of her lockdown activity: a vast home library arranged by colour. So what if it's style over substance? That kind of showiness is what status symbols are all about.

The light relief

Homemade masks are having a moment - it's somewhat comforting to know even a pouting Kendall Jenner can't make a DIY avocado mask sexy - but LED light therapy devices offer top bragging rights. The Storm Trooper-like masks were all over social media five years ago; now they're back and creepier than ever, as seen on Chrissy Teigen in a recent Instagram Story. The robotic masks, with their ominous red lights, are designed to help boost collagen, but they also function as a useful prop: Suki Waterhouse styled her CurrentBody mask with a vape and a script, while January Jones wore her Deesse Pro mask while dancing and drinking a Coors Light.

In a different time, It girls had their photos taken at all the hottest parties. Today, the It girl takes photos of herself at home with a vape, a beer and a 1,850 face mask.

The gallery wall

While TV host Jimmy Kimmel has been lampooned online for his art prints, the fashion set is more savvy: Bella Hadid posed in front of a trio of framed portraits of Audrey Hepburn, but Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford pulled a major flex with their backdrops on Naomi's YouTube series No Filter. Their interview revealed that both supermodels have decorated every inch of their walls with pictures of themselves - well, if we had originals by Herb Ritts and Helmut Newton lying around, we'd do the same.

The kitchen kit

The shutdown has driven many of us to the kitchen. And fans of The Great British Bake Off will know the 590 KitchenAid stand mixer is the ultimate baking accessory. Reese Witherspoon's is classic cream, Holly Willoughby's got a copper version to match her kitchen utensils, while Glossier founder Emily Weiss showed hers off alongside her homemade loaf. Never mind that they can afford the very best artisanal baked goods, they want to let us know they're star bakers too - and they have the gadgets to prove it.

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The robes of home office

Forget red carpet gowns - the most photographed gown of the moment is the dressing gown, preferably Tekla's cult terry bathrobes. The Danish brand is beloved for its organic cotton towels, virgin wool blankets and cotton percale bedding (all isolation status symbols in their own right), but its unisex robes are the only ones to be seen in, favoured by Harry Styles and Alexa Chung. Soft, oversized and available in a chic palette of muted pastels and neutrals, they allow the wearer to feel like a slob while looking like a fashion plate - all for a cool 179.

The power plants

Fashionable foliage has reached its peak in lockdown. Darren Kennedy has been flaunting his monstera, while elsewhere, the fiddle leaf fig reigns supreme, peeking out behind the couches in selfies from the likes of Angela Scanlon and Tracee Ellis Ross. But perhaps the top status symbol is one you can't get by express post: a garden. In confinement, the promise of your own private patch, with no one else around to social distance from, is the one thing guaranteed to make just about anyone green with envy.
San Antonio, TX, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Biglari Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BH.A; BH) announced today that its 2020 Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held in San Antonio on Thursday, June 25, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. Shareholders will be able to attend the meeting in person. We plan to file the proxy statement on May 21, which will contain further information regarding the annual meeting.

About Biglari Holdings Inc.

Biglari Holdings Inc. is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities, including property and casualty insurance, media and licensing, restaurants, and oil and gas. The Company's largest operating subsidiaries are involved in the franchising and operating of restaurants.

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British Airways plans to cut the jobs of a quarter of its pilots and could abandon Gatwick Airport altogether in a bid for post-coronavirus survival, it was revealed today.

The news was revealed in a memo, written by the head of BA's Gatwick operation and seen by BBC News.

This comes as it was revealed the beleaguered airline is seeking to cut pilot numbers by a quarter as it slashes costs to weather the coronavirus crisis, according to a separate letter sent to union leaders.

The airline has already been crippled by the outbreak and just two days ago, owners IAG announced some 12,000 redundancies - after it furloughed more than half of its 45,000 workers.

British Airways planes seen parked up on March 31 at Gatwick airport

Will air travel get more expensive? According to analysis by US-based Dollar Flight Club, we can expect lower airfare prices in the short term, before prices rise dramatically by 2025. Through to 2021, the flight deals service found there would be a 35 per cent decrease in prices on average, as airlines desperately attempt to draw customers back in. But over the next four years, prices would then rise by over a quarter above pre-crisis levels as demand outstrips a significantly reduced supply. The data indicates more severe drops and subsequent price hikes than were experienced either during 9/11 or from the financial crash. 'Passengers in smaller or short-haul markets can expect significant cuts in scheduled air service as airlines downsize operations,' read the report. 'This will make it significantly more expensive and harder for these passengers to travel. In these markets, we can expect train and bus travel to see significant growth.' The club found that over the next year, customers could get a roundtrip from Los Angeles to London for $329, or a roundtrip from New York to Amsterdam for $278. Advertisement

Under the plan, BA would cut 1,130 captain and co-pilot jobs from its headcount of 4,346, the IAG-owned airline's head of flight operations told the BALPA union in the letter.

The letter, written on April 28, reads: 'In a short space of time the situation has significantly deteriorated.'

It adds that BA may yet be forced to suspend the few services still running from London Heathrow.

'There are no clear signs of improvement in air passenger demand,' it adds.

A spokeswoman for BA did not immediately return calls and messages seeking comment on the planned cuts, which were first reported by Sky News.

BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton said: 'As far as BALPA is aware there is no truth in the rumour that British Airways will pull out of Gatwick and there has been no indication of that from BA to us. However, it is on our list of questions to ask them.'

In a statement on Tuesday, IAG said: 'In light of the impact of Covid-19 on current operations and the expectation that the recovery of passenger demand to 2019 levels will take several years, British Airways is formally notifying its trade unions about a proposed restructuring and redundancy programme.

'The proposals remain subject to consultation but it is likely that they will affect most of British Airways' employees and may result in the redundancy of up to 12,000 of them.

'As previously announced, British Airways has availed itself of the UK's Covid-19 job retention scheme and furloughed 22,626 employees in April.'

Passenger numbers are expected to halve compared to 2019, with the likes of Flybe already going into administration before full lockdown measures were in place in Britain.

In a letter written on April 28, British Airways CEO Alex Cruz said the airline was 'preparing for a new future'.

He wrote: 'Yesterday, British Airways flew just a handful of aircraft out of Heathrow. On a normal day we would fly more than 300.

'What we are facing as an airline, like so many other businesses up and down the country, is that there is no normal any longer.'

His letter continued: 'There is no Government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely.

'Any money we borrow now will only be short-term and will not address the longer-term challenges we will face.'

'Preparing for a different future': British Airways CEO pens letter warning of uncertain times ahead Alex Cruz, British Airways' CEO, told staff in a letter the airline company was taking 'every possible action to conserve cash' Letter to colleagues from Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO at British Airways Yesterday, British Airways flew just a handful of aircraft out of Heathrow. On a normal day we would fly more than 300. What we are facing as an airline, like so many other businesses up and down the country, is that there is no normal any longer. The global aviation body, IATA, has said that the industry has never seen a downturn this deep before, and that full year industry passenger revenues could plummet 55% compared to 2019, while traffic falls 48%. Many airlines have grounded all of their planes. Sadly, we will see some airlines go out of business with the resulting job losses. Our very limited flying schedule means that revenues are not coming into our business. We are taking every possible action to conserve cash, which will help us to weather the storm in the short-term. We are working closely with partners and suppliers to discuss repayment terms; we are re-negotiating contracts where possible; and we are considering all the options for our current and future aircraft fleet. All of these actions alone are not enough. In the last few weeks, the outlook for the aviation industry has worsened further and we must take action now. We are a strong, well-managed business that has faced into, and overcome, many crises in our hundred-year history. We must overcome this crisis ourselves, too. There is no Government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely. Any money we borrow now will only be short-term and will not address the longer-term challenges we will face. We do not know when countries will reopen their borders or when the lockdowns will lift, and so we have to reimagine and reshape our airline and create a new future for our people, our customers and the destinations we serve. We have informed the Government and the Trade Unions of our proposals to consult over a number of changes, including possible reductions in headcount. We will begin a period of consultation, during which we will work with the Trade Unions to protect as many jobs as possible. Your views matter and we will listen to all practical proposals. The scale of this challenge requires substantial change so we are in a competitive and resilient position, not just to address the immediate Covid-19 pandemic, but also to withstand any longer-term reductions in customer demand, economic shocks or other events that could affect us. However challenging this is, the longer we delay difficult decisions, the fewer options will be open to us. I want to pay tribute to the thousands of British Airways colleagues who are playing a vital role in the global response to the Covid-19 crisis. Whether you are supporting our repatriation flights or the transport of essential cargo; or one of the hundreds of colleagues volunteering with organisations such as the NHS, you have my sincere respect and thanks. This has been a difficult message to write and one I never thought I would need to send. I know how tight-knit the BA family is, and how concerned you will be, not just for yourself but for your colleagues, too. We must act decisively now to ensure that British Airways has a strong future and continues connecting Britain with the world, and the world with Britain. Thank you. Alex Advertisement

Furloughed cabin crew member Karen said she was 'heartbroken,' over the news on LBC on Tuesday evening.

She said: 'I'm cabin crew, I've been there thirty years and to hear from you that me and millions of my colleagues may be losing our jobs is just heartbreaking.'

General secretary of pilots' union Balpa, Brian Strutton, said the decision had come as a 'bolt out of the blue,' adding the union did not accept BA had a case for the proposed job losses.

He said: 'BALPA is fighting to save every pilot job at BA. The company has declined Government support claiming it is financially secure enough to survive the coronavirus crisis so it is hard to see how these cuts can be justified.

'There are many options to ensure BA can continue its business and survive coronavirus and BALPA does not accept that job losses are the only answer. Pilots want evidence that all options have been explored fully.'

News that thousands of people will lose their jobs comes weeks after the airline company's Spanish owners axed a controversial 300million payout to shareholders earlier this month.

Madrid-based International Airlines Group proposed a dividend of around 17p per share in February, when the ravages of the killer virus on society and the global economy were already apparent.

But chief financial officer Stephen Gunning said the cash would instead be used to keep the company going through the virus crisis.

Other airline companies have felt the strain of internationally travel all but grounding to a halt during the global pandemic.

Flybe went into administration in March, while Sir Richard Brnason is reportedly looking for an investor for Virgin Atlantic.

He failed to secure a government bailout with his 80 million private island as collateral, reports indicate

Low cost airline Wizz Air will resume flights from Luton airport to Spain, Portugal and other destinations tomorrow - even though some are to countries that won't let foreigners in

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air said it will be resuming flights from London Luton tomorrow.

The flights will service airports in Spain, Portugal, Israel, Slovakia, Serbia, Romania and Hungary.

The airline is promising low fares to stimulate demand, however, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office still advises against all foreign non-essential travel.

Passengers won't be able to get refunds if they wish to cancel their flight, even if they know they won't be let into the country they are flying to.

Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air said it will resume flights from London Luton airport tomorrow morning after implementing new Covid-19 guidelines for staff and passengers

The airline's chief executive Jozsef Varadi, pictured, said he hoped to have 70 per cent of services back between July and August

The airline is planning to resume services to locations such as Tenerife, Lisbon, Slovakia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Israel

According to research produced by Bank of America, Wizz Air is currently sitting on massive cash reserves and could refund all passengers three times over.

Passengers on the resumed services will also be obliged to wear face masks and in-flight magazines will not be available.

Wizz Air's UK 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 airline is also preparing to resume flights to Italy - including the Covid-19 hotspot of Milan,

According to the company's chief executive Jozsef Varadi, the airline will run 10 per cent of its services during May and hopes to have 70 per cent of its jets in the air by August.

Mr Varadi told the Financial Times: 'While today looks like a huge concern, a life changing moment, in a year or two nobody remembers.'

How airlines bend the rules British Airways: The refund option has been removed from its website but the option to claim a voucher remains. The customer service line is frequently engaged or puts callers on hold for hours. Customers are being encouraged to apply for a voucher equal to the value of their flight but must pay more if it ends up being more expensive. BA says customers should call to rebook, refund or choose a voucher. Refunds can be requested up to 12 months after the original departure date. EasyJet: The refund option was taken off the website, but reinstated after customer complaints. The airline is trying to refund customers within 28 days, but admits it could take longer. A spokesman says: 'We assure customers these entitlements will be available long after their cancelled flight was due to fly.' Ryanair: Offered full reimbursement within 30 working days, then did a U-turn and is 'highly recommending' customers apply for a voucher instead. Says customers will be able to exchange vouchers for cash after a year. A spokesman says: 'Customers who choose a voucher but don't redeem it within 12 months may still apply for and obtain a refund. Customers who choose not to accept a free move or voucher will be refunded in due course, once this crisis is over.' Virgin Atlantic: Credit notes are being issued but can be rejected in favour of a full refund, with claims processed within 90 days. A spokesman says: 'The credit [equal to the value of the cancelled flight] can be used to rebook on alternative dates, allowing for a destination and name change, for travel until May 31, 2022. If the rebooked date is before November 30, 2020, we'll waive any fare difference.' Refunds will take longer than normal. Tui: Customers can choose a refund or credit note but can only apply for their money back once their refund credit has been received  up to four weeks after the departure date. A spokesman says requested refunds will take about four weeks. Jet2 is offering cash refunds but with delays because of an 'unprecedented' number of calls. Advertisement

He said: 'Whatever crisis we look back on in history, one conclusion you can certainly make is peoples' memories tend to be very short. While today looks like a huge concern, a life changing moment, in a year or two nobody remembers.'

A spokesperson for London Luton Airport told MailOnline: 'The safety of our passengers and staff is our number one priority and we continue to rigorously implement all Government guidance.

'This includes deep cleaning, the installation of sanitiser across the airport and floor markings to remind customers to maintain a safe distance, as well as segregating staff shift patterns where practical.

'Air links for both passengers and freight have been recognised as a key service and the Government has asked airports to remain open where possible, to ensure these services are not interrupted.

'The decision to operate individual flights is a matter for each airline and any passengers using these services will need to adhere to all restrictions imposed both in the UK and in the country of travel.'

However customers who have booked flights and holidays with various airlines are finding it incredibly difficult to secure cash refunds.

Tui, the UK's biggest tour operator, has extended the suspension of its holidays for the next six weeks.

The company said all trips would be cancelled up to and including June 11, and warned customers wanting cash refunds that its call centres are 'incredibly busy'.

It had previously suspended its operations up to May 14.

Tui also cancelled its Marella Cruises sailings up to the end of June, and postponed the launch of its river cruises until late November.

A total of nearly 900,000 people have had their holidays cancelled, a spokeswoman said.

The firm told affected customers that they will receive a refund credit for the full value of their holiday.

This can be used to book another trip taking place before the end of October 2021.

Package holiday customers will receive an additional credit worth up to 20 per cent of their booking.

Tui said customers who are 'unable to accept' a refund credit can apply for a cash refund, but warned that its call centre staff are 'incredibly busy' so waiting times are 'considerably longer than usual'.

Simon Cooper, founder and chief executive of rival travel agency On The Beach, told the PA news agency last week that failing to pay cash refunds is 'a bad idea for everyone concerned' as struggling companies will be forced to 'massively increase' their prices for next year's holidays to avoid bankruptcy.

UK laws state that full refunds should be given within 14 days for cancelled package holidays.

Consumer group Which? found that none of the UK's 10 biggest holiday companies or 10 most popular airlines are offering full refunds within the legal timeframe, and some are refusing to provide refunds altogether.

Many travel firms are suffering huge financial losses due to the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential international travel since March 17.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said Tui 'must ensure it is making the refund process as straightforward as possible'.

He added: 'The travel industry is under unprecedented strain, and the lack of action from the Government on measures to support operators to process refunds is unacceptable.'
As states start lifting their lockdown orders, Americas burger joints, pizzerias, taquerias and diners find themselves on the reopening economys front line. Whether theyre ready or not.

Restaurants are among the first businesses allowed to throw open their doors in many places easing virus-fighting restrictions. And after weeks of laying off staff and living off takeout orders, owners cant wait  even if theyre not quite sure how to make it work.

Cutting the number of seated customers by half or more, as some states are requiring, will devastate finances already in terrible shape. Servers in masks dont make for an inviting atmosphere. Forget salt-and-pepper shakers on the tables. One restaurant in Iowa plans to start dine-in service by seating only truckers, because they tend to eat alone.

In Texas, the biggest of the mostly southern states leading the way, the Mexican restaurant Hugos is waiting until after Cinco de Mayo  an occasion not made for social distancing. Thats a pretty raucous time, said Tracy Vaught, who owns the establishment and three others in the Houston area with her husband, award-winning chef Hugo Ortega. I was worried about opening up and us not being very experienced with the new protocols.

Major restaurant chains are making adjustments as well. Dine Brands Global Inc. is getting rid of condiments like its signature syrup containers on tables as IHOP locations begin opening. Its Applebees restaurants have also nixed shared condiments like ketchup, chief executive officer Steve Joyce said in an interview.

Plastic plates and forks, knives and spoons are available if customers want those instead of porcelain plates and silverware. Kitchens are opening with fewer staff members, allowing for social distancing, he said.

Weve got team members that are probably a little nervous about coming back, and we want them to know were doing everything we can to keep them safe, Joyce said. And this will be a gradual reopening process. It gives us time to make sure were getting this right.

No margarita bar

Brinker International Inc. is spacing tables 6 to 8 feet apart in its Chilis restaurants that are allowed to reopen, executives said on its earnings call Wednesday. They said the chains fairly large dining rooms give them an advantage. Workers will be wearing masks and gloves, and there will be a table at each restaurants entryway stocked with hand sanitizer and paper towels for guests.

But patrons wont be allowed to sit at Chilis iconic margarita bars  its too hard to do social distancing there, the company says.

While Starbucks plans to reopen most of its U.S. stores next week, they will just be for drive-thru, delivery and pickup orders. Even in states like Texas that will allow sit-down service, Starbuckss dining areas will remain closed, a company spokesperson said.

With coronavirus deaths still rising in many places, restaurateurs worry about safety for their customers and their staff  which often includes their family. They plan in fear that the virus could strike their own kitchens, or that another infection spike in the larger community could force them to shut down all over again.

I dont want to open prematurely and, two weeks later, theyll say, Oh no, we have to close again, said Crystal Peterson, who owns Yo Mamas in Birmingham, Ala., with her mother.

For now, Alabama is limiting restaurants to takeout and curbside service. That works for Peterson, who is concerned about protecting her staff and her 63-year-old mother, Denise, typically found grilling burgers, catfish and pork chops.

When we come back, were only going to use paper products for the first 60 days, Peterson said. Everything will be disposable.

The coronavirus lockdown has devastated American restaurants, which employ 15.6 million people, according to the National Restaurant Association.

One word to describe the impact is catastrophic, said Emily Williams Knight, CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. The industry went off a cliff the day our dining rooms were closed across the state, she said. Her association estimates that 10 per cent of Texas restaurants will have shuttered permanently by the end of April.

The County Line, which has served barbecue to Austin residents since 1975, started getting calls for reservations the day after Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced restaurants, retailers and other businesses could open on a limited basis this Friday, said owner Skeeter Miller.

Its going to be so busy its unbelievable, said Miller, which has five County Lines in Texas and one in New Mexico. People just want to get out.

Miller was able to keep 150 of his 500 employees by offering orders to go and selling fresh grocery items, including eggs, flour and frozen meat, after Texas relaxed the usual retail restrictions on those items. Still, hes at only about 30 per cent of his normal revenue.

Miller and his team have already devised a plan to keep patrons six feet apart, use disposable menus, keep condiments off the tables and sanitize after folks leave. Staff will be wearing masks, and guidelines for customers to follow will be posted at the front door. If the restaurants reach the 25 per cent capacity limit, theres room outside for people to wait, sip a margarita and stay apart, he said. Millers paring his menu a bit, but barbecue ribs and peach cobbler will be on there.

The gradual opening is the responsible thing to do, Miller said.

This 25 per cent opening up is good, Miller said. We felt like that if you tried to open this thing up all at one time, youd see a spike in the COVID, and the next thing you know theyre going to shut us down again.

Even if its better than takeout alone, restaurants may struggle to make ends meet with drastically reduced seating.

A restaurant thats designed for a certain size cant make money at 25 per cent capacity, said Niel Morgan, owner Legacy Restaurants, which owns and operates The Original Ninfas on Navigation in Houston. A number of expenses go on whether youre open or not. Just looking at it marginally, which is mainly labor costs, as long as we can at least break even were satisfied.

Truckers first

In northern Iowa, restaurant owner Amanda Weig says shes looking forward to welcoming her customers and employees back. But even though her county will let restaurants reopen on Friday, shes going to wait a few weeks.

Resuming service in her 120-person eatery in Algona, a town of 5,500 people, isnt safe right now because she and her husband wont be able to ensure that diners are following social-distancing guidelines. When they do eventually open their doors to dine-in customers, only truckers will be allowed in first, she said. It will be easier to spread them apart because they often eat alone or with just one other person, she added.

We cant police our customers, said Weig, who has been offering takeout service at her Chrome Restaurant and Catering during the shutdowns. Following guidelines is going to be very new for customers at the beginning, so wed rather wait until they get it right.

Christy Hackinson, the owner of The Alley on Main in Murfreesboro, Tenn., plans to seat every other table when she opens the dining room back up on Friday, and she expects all those tables will be full.

Tennessees governor said restaurants in most counties could reopen earlier this week with restrictions. Just a half-hour or so drive from Nashville, The Alley on Main has been serving customers outside  on picnic tables spaced six-feet apart  with waiters wearing gloves (and masks upon customer request).

The restaurant will take phone numbers of those waiting in line, so customers can sit in their cars until their table is ready or stand in one of the many chalk-drawn squares on the sidewalk meant to encourage distancing.

Were planning on trying to make things feel as normal as possible here, Hackinson said.

Frank Stitt, an award-winning chef who operates four restaurants in Birmingham with his wife, Pardis, is planning to open on Thursday after being shut down since March. Out of 150 employees, all but 15 have been furloughed. The remaining crew will start serving food curbside at his Bottega Restaurant and Cafe in the citys Southside neighbourhood.

We dont want to open up and for our staff to become sick, he said. We have to be very cautious. So we decided to do curbside. We were able to develop protocols and systems.

The staff must wear masks and gloves and stay six feet apart. There are disinfectants everywhere, he said. My wife is extremely tough on these protocols. They will also suggest customers don masks when they pick up the food. As you know there are still people not wearing masks, Stitt said. We think its a mistake.

Eventually Stitt, whose Highlands Bar & Grill won the 2018 James Beard award, hopes to be able to use the patios outside of Bottega and his bistro Chez Fonfon as an outdoors sit-down dining option.

We are solution-finders, he said. We try to be creative. To make things work as a chef, you want to be frugal and be able to utilize everything you can.
In response to COVID-19, a 1,000-bed facility with telehealth services was established within a week in Boston, thanks to a partnership between local, state and private entities.The facility, called Boston Hope, is split into two 500-bed halves: one for COVID-19 patients, who otherwise might overload local hospitals, and one for the unsheltered population, a group at high risk of infection. The project, which began construction in early April, was a joint effort between the city of Boston, the state of Massachusetts and the Boston-based nonprofit Partners HealthCare. The latter entity operates the facility, which is housed within the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.Brian Golden, director of the Boston Planning and Development Agency, said that even though the city is one of the medical Meccas of the globe, officials projected that a metropolitan area of approximately 5 million people would run into a hospital capacity problem given that the region is a COVID-19 hot zone.He suggested that other local areas with projected increases in infections should, if possible, follow Bostons lead sooner rather than later.Once you understand whos paying and whos doing and what kind of facility you need to develop, move very expeditiously because you dont have time, Golden said. If you have a COVID problem, sooner or later youre going to have a COVID problem  that will overwhelm your health-care facilities. So move quickly.Knowing your potential partners and where the money will come from is key to jumpstarting such a project. The brainstorming for Boston Hope occurred during March and into April. The city initially talked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to learn about potential building and funding options.Later, with the help of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Boston learned that the vast majority of the spending for the facility could be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency if the city decided to carry out a plan without USACE. The build-out for Boston Hope amounted to about $12 million, Golden said.In regard to COVID-19 patients, Boston Hope is primarily intended for those who have already been treated by medical professionals  in other words, well enough to leave a hospital, but not well enough to go home. The facility houses only 10 beds for acute or critical care.Other than this limitation, Boston Hope has the full works when it comes to technology, Golden said.If you walked in there today, I think youd be very impressed by what that hospital looks like, he said. It has all the sophisticated technology and capabilities of any major American medical center.Industry analyst Craig Settles toldin an email that Boston Hopes telehealth capabilities go beyond mere video chats and basic health monitoring. The facility is able to facilitate a continuum of care through the Internet. Professionals at Boston Hope can observe, diagnose, initiate or otherwise medically intervene, administer, monitor, record and/or report in a way that leads to the full recovery of patients.Be clear that Boston Hope would not have happened as easily or as quickly  if the feds and probably the state of Massachusetts had not removed the ridiculous restrictions on telehealth or digital health care, Settles said. With any similar type endeavor in any part of the country, state and federal governments have to jettison the antiquated rules that impede technologies progress while maintaining regulations that ensure security, safety and privacy.As Golden put it, Its not just about sheetrock and framing with two-by-fours. Boston Hope required active leadership from Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who received daily construction reports and listened to what both local hospitals and human service advocates had to say. Golden also gave a lot of credit to the state of Massachusetts. States can help municipalities find partners for solutions quicker, he said.Probably the most amazing thing about [the] Boston Hope project is that you have the local and state governments pulling in the same direction soon after the crisis broke, Settles said. The key was that  government entities and Partners HealthCare had several meetings and trial runs.Settles also unpacked the idea of a nonprofit like Partners HealthCare coming into the fold.Perception is an issue here, Settles said. Everything in our mind about what we think a hospital should be has been dictated by tradition, expediency, cost, and marinated in the belief that only a corporate hospital can deliver health care well. A project like Boston Hope is possible once we step outside of our perceptions. Just never confuse competency with expediency.In an interview with Settles, John Campbell, a CIO working under Partners HealthCare, said telehealth will be essential to overcoming the threat of COVID-19 in the near and distant future.This virus is not going to be solved for 12 to 18 months, Campbell said. So we have to figure out how to continue to take care of patients for that 12 to 18 months, how to keep them safe, how to keep our physicians and our nurses and our other health-care workers safe. So, you know, we need to be able to continue to see patients by telehealth for an extended period. And I think it's going to require the federal and the state government to enact some kind of emergency legislation."
E ven though everything else seems to have ground to a halt, album releases are  at least for now  carrying on as usual.

Many of the new releases due this month were done and dusted well before everything kicked off, which means we're still being treated to a steady stream of fresh material.

What's more, the lockdown has provided a creative spark for some musicians, with a number of the albums in our list created purely during quarantine.

This the new music you need to know about in May.

Ghostpoet  I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep (May 1)

Obaro Ejimiwe is back with his fifth album as Ghostpoet, leaning even deeper into the dark, rocky sounds hes favoured on his recent output.

Car Seat Headrest  Making A Door Less Open (May 1)

It looks like Car Seat Headrest  the indie-rock project of Will Toledo  is going to change things up on this latest album, ditching the lo-fi aesthetics for a more electronically charged sound.

JoJo  Good To Know (May 1)

JoJo, best known for her teenage hit Leave Get Out all the way back in 2004, is back with some fresh material. Judging by the first two singles, we can expect some sultry R&B on this latest effort.

Little Simz  Drop 6 EP (May 6)

Islington rapper Little Simz, who released one of the very best albums of 2019 with GREY Area, has been keeping busy during lockdown, writing and recording this brand new, five-track EP.

Hayley Williams  Petals For Amor (May 8)

The Paramore frontwoman is stepping out as a solo artist with Petals For Armor  and 10 of the 15 tracks have already been released, across two separate EPs. But May 8 is the day that fans get to hear the album as one body of work.

Kehlani  It Was Good Until It Wasnt (May 8)

Oakland R&B favourite Kehlani is back with a new release, following up on the success of her 2019 mixtape While We Wait. The tracklist is unconfirmed, but it looks as if her slick new single Everybody Business will feature.

Charli XCX  How Im Feeling Now (May 15)

Another artist to keep themselves occupied during the quarantine by making new music, Charli XCX set herself the challenge of recording an album from scratch. May 15 is the target  check out the first singles Claws and Forever for a sound of things to come.

Moses Sumney  gr Part 2 (May 15)

Moses Sumney released the first instalment of gr back in February. It was a dazzling success, blending countless genres for something special  and it means this second part has a lot to live up to.

Perfume Genius  Set My Heart On Fire Immediately (May 15)

Perfume Geniuss first single off this new album was huge and shoegaze-y, while the second is a funky piece of synth-pop. Expect the unexpected when the full project drops.

The 1975  Notes On A Conditional Form (May 22)
All states and union territories (UTs) will have to 'strictly follow' the home ministry's latest guidelines allowing cross-country movement of stranded migrant workers, students and pilgrims during the ongoing lockdown, a senior official said on Thursday.

IMAGE: Migrant workers from Madhya Pradesh who were stranded in Prayagraj due to lockdown board a specially scheduled bus to reach their respective hometowns, on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Union government had on Wednesday issued fresh directives allowing states to transport stranded students, migrant labourers, tourists and pilgrims to their home states or destination by strictly following guidelines meant to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

Asked during a press briefing if special trains and private vehicles will also be allowed to transport these people as demanded by some states and others, Joint Secretary in the Union home ministry Punya Salila Srivastava said the orders issued at present were for 'using buses and for group of persons'.

Asked if e-commerce activities will resume post May 3, when the extended lockdown is scheduled to end, Srivastava said 'we should wait' for the new orders to come.

"State governments have to keep in mind certain things while arranging their movement. All states and UTs will appoint their nodal officers who will develop standard protocols for such stranded people."

"They will also register such people and concerned states will discuss among themselves for ensuring these movements by road," Srivastava told reporters during the routine briefing on updates related to the virus outbreak and lockdown measures.

Every person will be screened and asymptomatic ones will be allowed to go.

Buses will be used for travel and these vehicles will be sanitised and social distancing rules will be strictly followed while seated in the bus, she said.

All states in transit route will allow such movement and on reaching the destination, local health officials will check the travellers and if they are not required to be kept in institutional quarantine then they will be allowed to go in home quarantine for 14 days, the official said, quoting the order issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA).

Their (travellers) health check-up will be done regularly and monitored. Travellers will be encouraged to use the 'Aarogya setu' app, she said.

"All states will have to strictly follow these directives," Srivastava said.

The officer also briefed the media about the feedback given by the inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs) that went to Hyderabad (Telangana's capital) and Chennai (capital of Tamil Nadu).

The teams are headed by an additional secretary-rank officer of the central government and comprises experts from health care, disaster management and other fields and are mandated to review the progress of COVID-19 containment in worst affected districts of the country.

In Hyderabad, the IMCT toured hospitals, central drug stores, shelter homes and 'mandis', Srivastava said.

It found that the state has adequate numbers of test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) and is using an end-to-end IT (information technology) dashboard that tracks a patient from testing to discharge, she said.

The team also visited the hospital which is the state nodal centre for COVID-19.

They found all protocols are being followed there. It has a lab where 300 tests can be done everyday and about 97 per cent of cases of the state have been treated here.

The team also visited the district hospital at King Koti and found all protocols were being followed.

It was suggested that donning (area to wear PPE) and doffing areas (place to take out PPE after work) in the hospital should be placed afar.

There should be different corridors for staffers and patients. Some wards had no toilets and it was suggested that patients should not be admitted in these wards to avoid crowding in the open area, she said.

Srivastava added that the IMCT also visited the Humayun Nagar containment zone which was barricaded and house-to-house surveillance was on.

Important goods and services are being provided at door steps for which a WhatsApp group has been created comprising municipal officials and the residents of the area, she said.

In Chennai, the officer said the IMCT that toured the city suggested that social distancing norms should be strictly followed at public places and it was 'very important' to spread coronavirus awareness in fishermen's villages.

The team found that the recovery rate is much better as out of 2,058 infected, 1,168 have recovered meaning 57 per cent people have been cured, she said quoting the IMCT.

It found facilities were good for migrant labourers and the workers are satisfied with the facilities provided. Test reports are provided in 24 hours which was found commendable, she said.

To curb domestic violence, Srivastava said quoting the IMCT feedback, that women police constables were 'proactively' visiting those houses where such incidents are expected to take place.

It was suggested that in crowded places, banks and slums, strong steps should be taken for social distancing.

It is very important to increase awareness about COVID-19 in fishing villages, she said.

In hospitals relatives waiting or using lifts need to undertake social distancing very strictly and there is a need to enhance PPE usage among healthcare workers. Truck drivers should also be screened it was suggested, she said.

"We hope that with this joint effort of the Centre and states, we will be able to control the pandemic situation successfully," the officer said.
Kerala has asked the Centre to run special trains to take migrant workers to their states because buses are not feasible for such long journeys, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday.

He said the majority of 3.60 lakh workers in the state are from West Bengal, Assam and Odisha and trains are ideal to ferry them back to their states. On Wednesday, the Union home ministry had suggested that states arrange buses to ferry home workers who have been stranded in the lockdown.

In the prevailing situation, bus journeys are not safe. And there is a limit to keep social distancing in buses. So we want the railways to run non-stop trains for them. The state chief secretary has written to the cabinet secretary in this regard and we are waiting for an early reply, Vijayan said.

Follow coronavirus latest updates here.

There have been reports that in some areas migrant workers are getting restless.

In Malappuram the police launched a mild baton charge to control about 100 workers who took out a procession seeking immediate travel arrangements for them. The CM said some forces are deliberately provoking them.

The government calls the migrants guest workers and has introduced many welfare schemes including insurance for them. Most of them work in the construction sector, hotels and small-scale units. Though the government is taking care of the food, lodging and necessities like phone recharge coupons the migrants say calls from their kin make them worried.

Kerala reported two fresh cases off Covid-19 on Thursday taking the total to 497 out of which 384 have been discharged leaving 113 in hospitals, the CM said.

He said at least 70 areas are in hotspots and there is no plan to ease restrictions in those places. Two senior police officers (IGs) and Kasaragod collector are in self-quarantine after a TV reporter who interviewed them tested positive on Wednesday.
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"A manhole cover is a removable plate forming the lid over the opening of a manhole, to prevent anyone or anything from falling in, and to keep out unauthorized persons and material. Manhole covers are made from cast iron, concrete or mixture of both. These manhole covers are inexpensive, heavy and strong. The global manhole covers market will reach 4.37 billion USD by 2025 from 3.56 billion USD in 2018 at a CAGR of 2.98% during the period.

Request Report for Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/4010

Growth by Region

Asia Pacific will dominate the market owing rapid economic growth and infrastructural development with huge amount of investments. Europe and North America have significant share in the market and will grow at a slow rate as they are already developed regions.

Drivers vs Constraints

The growing construction sector is the major factor for the growth of the market. With a rising population and growing real-estate industry, the need for manholes has also increased. However, the long life of manhole covers makes the replacement rate of the manhole covers low, which decreases the demand for manhole covers.

Request Report for Discount : https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/4010

Industry Trends and Updates

The manhole covers in Japan are being transformed from smelly and ugly image to elaborately designed and colorful manhole covers.

Covid 19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/4010
COLUMBIA  Gunmen firing more than two dozen rounds into a north Columbia home killed a 7-year-old boy and injured his 13-year-old sister in a shocking crime striking one of the state's hardest hit areas for the coronavirus.

The shooting came at 11:24 p.m. Wednesday at the Tarragon Drive home where the victims' mother and grandmother were staying with seven children, Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said in a news conference joined by Mayor Steve Benjamin and city council members.

Police do not know exactly why the shooting occurred but they have a number of theories, including a possible social media fight.

The boy, Knowledge Sims, died from a gunshot wound to his upper body after being transported to a Prisma Health hospital, according to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts. The girl, whose name was not released, is in stable condition after undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to her arm.

North Columbia is an area of the Capital City historically plagued by a disproportionate amount of gun crime and police have seen an uptick in incidents during the coronavirus outbreak. Law enforcement has taken several steps in recent years to curb violence, including a warning system when shots are fired.

"Quite frankly we're mad; its the loss of another life," Holbrook said. "When is enough enough?"

Casings were recovered from two different handguns, leading police to believe two people are likely behind the shooting in the Capital Heights neighborhood.

"We know as we speak, right now, there are people who know exactly who did this and why it occurred," Holbrook said. "We know that they know where the weapons they used are at this time. We're just asking for some help."

Those with information are asked to call the tip line at 1-888-CRIME-SC or 1-888-ATFTIPS.

"To just imagine what this family is going through right now, it breaks my heart," said Benjamin, who is himself a father of two. "We're here to make a plea to the people of the Midlands to ask them to step up right now to give this child and this family justice. Help make those cowards accountable for what they've done."

In summer 2019, the city launched Project Safe Neighborhoods in north Columbia, the latest in a series of initiatives meant to reduce violent crime in neighborhoods around this mostly African American section of the city largely outlined by the 29203 zip code.

According to the FBI 2017s crime report, the six counties that make up the Midlands area ranked 25th in the nation when it comes to violent crime, with 558 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Violent crime in Columbia is twice the national average, former U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon told Free Times in July.

Police erected surveillance cameras around the city and continued to use its new ShotSpotter technology, which works by using sensors placed within the six-square-mile area with the most prolific number of shootings to detect the acoustic sound of gunfire, and triangulate, within feet, where shots occur.

The widespread coronavirus pandemic, which has hit the north Columbia communities particularly hard, also seems to have led to a rise in criminal activity, especially in the last two weeks, Holbrook said. He said his department has seized 71 guns since the public health state of emergency began.

Since the beginning of the year, Holbrook said his department has responded to 353 ShotSpotter alerts this year with nearly one-third taking place in April. The 29203 ZIP code has South Carolina's seventh-highest number of cases, according to the latest state public health data.

"This is a time when communities come together, when the entire world indeed is struggling under the weight of an unprecedented pandemic," Benjamin said. "It's amazing again at times like these you still find (expletive) that would take a life, any life, but especially the life of a child."

Prior to this, Columbia's violent crime rate had been tracking down by 22 percent compared to last year, Holbrook said. There have been five homicides in the city so far this year, compared to nine during the same time period last year.
The Academy and Golden Globe Awards have paid tributes to late actor Irrfan Khan on his death on Wednesday. Irrfan died in Mumbai at 53 after a two-year-long battle with neuroendocrine tumour.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (Oscars) remembered the internationally acclaimed star and shared a tweet about him. A mainstay of Bollywood cinema and incredible talent in films like Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi and The Namesake, Irrfan Khan left his imprint on global cinema. An inspiration to millions, he will be greatly missed, tweeted the Academy. Khans Slumdog Millionaire was a recipient of the Oscar award in many categories.

A mainstay of Bollywood cinema and incredible talent in films like "Slumdog Millionaire," "Life of Pi" and "The Namesake," Irrfan Khan left his imprint on global cinema. An inspiration to millions, he will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/o21DMMC2o5  The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 29, 2020

Golden Globes also took to Facebook to share their condolences. Sad news: Actor IRRFAN KHAN passed away yesterday at the age of 53 in Mumbai, India. He had been hospitalized the day before with a colon infection. Irrfan Khan was best known to international audiences for his roles in films like Life of Pi, The Lunchbox, Puzzle, Jurassic World and the Golden Globe winning Slumdog Millionaire. He first appeared on the big screen in the Golden Globe nominated film Salaam Bombay. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

Also read: We abused your uninvited guests: Irrfan Khans Angrezi Medium director Homi Adajania pens emotional tribute

Irrfan died at Mumbais Kokilaben Hospital on Wednesday while battling rare cancer. The last rites of the Life of Pi actor were performed at the Versova cemetery on Wednesday.

Irrfan was last seen on screen in Angrezi Medium. He was not a part of the films promotions owing to his ill health. With critically acclaimed films like The Lunchbox and Paan Singh Tomar to his credit, Irrfan was regarded as one of the finest actors in Hindi cinema.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Contribution part of its CSR strategy

To help fight the current coronavirus pandemic in India, specialty chemicals company Lanxess today donated INR 20 million to the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) as part of its CSR initiative.

The company has adopted a multi-pronged approach to support the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus. The comprehensive support includes product donation (Rely+On Virkon) and essential supplies donation, besides the financial support to the PM Cares fund.

Lanxess India has pledged an additional INR 3 million for donation of material such as face masks, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, liquid soaps, groceries, etc. in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, around the areas in which its sites operate. Based on the local requirements, the material will be procured locally at each location and will be handed over to the respective Municipal Corporations and Government agencies.

It had recently donated its highly effective surface disinfectant Rely+On Virkon to Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to reduce cross contamination of COVID-19 in civic hospitals and other establishments.

Commenting on the contributions, Neelanjan Banerjee, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, LANXESS India said, The coronavirus continues to cause new fatalities every day across the globe. We hope that our contribution to the PM CARES Fund and material donation will support the government in fighting the disease and help communities get immediate relief from COVID 19. We believe that the current crisis needs our undivided support and are doing our best to help the Government in its efforts.
NASA today announced three companies  Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Dynetics and Elon Musk's SpaceX  will continue developing their lunar landers designed to bring astronauts to the Moon.

Why it matters: In spite of the coronavirus pandemic, NASA is moving forward with its plans to send humans back to the surface of the Moon by 2024 as part of its Artemis program.

The big picture: These kinds of government contracts are key for space companies hoping to make it through the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Those types of funds could help them stay afloat as other means of financing dry up.

Details: Blue Origin's system also brings together Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper Labs  powerhouses in the space industry  to develop the key components to take astronauts down to the lunar surface.

SpaceX will use Starship  a craft currently in development that the company hopes to one day use to send people to places like Mars  to bring crew and cargo from orbit around the Moon to its surface.

Dynetics' design hinges on a structure that can both land on and ascend from the surface of the Moon.

NASA is awarding a combined total of $967 million to these companies.

This is the first time since the Apollo era that NASA has direct funding for a human landing system, and now we have companies on contract to do the work for the Artemis program."

 NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement

What's next: The companies will now continue to study and develop their plans over the coming months before NASA starts to make decisions about which landing systems will continue on in the process.
A 99-year-old war hero who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day has urged people to clap for veterans on VE Day.

Stanley Northeast served in the RAF 6074 Squadron, known as the Tigers of the Middle East, during the Allied invasion in 1944.

He served throughout Europe and was stationed on the Belgian-German border when victory in Europe was announced on May 8, 1945.

Now he and his son Mike are calling for people to remember the heroes of the Second World War in the same way they are clapping for the NHS heroes of today.

Stanley Northeast, 99, (pictured) served in the RAF 6074 Squadron, known as the Tigers of the Middle East, during the Allied invasion in 1944. He and his son are calling on people to clap for veterans on VE Day like they do for health care workers

The great-grandfather, who lives in Rustington, West Sussex, said: 'I think it's very important because we haven't got much to celebrate at the moment, but I will also be remembering all those poor comrades who didn't survive to see this day.

'I'm sad that I won't be able to meet up with some of the other old veterans because we are all getting on a bit now, and this is probably the last chance we have of a get-together like we did for the D-Day celebrations last year.'

Stanley Northeast is calling on the public to clap at 7.45pm on VE Day to celebrate war veterans.

His son Mike, 65, said: 'His generations are being denied their 75th anniversary because of Covid and I thought this would be a good way as a nation to honour them.

Mr Northeast (pictured) was with the Signals Corps during the Allied invasion in 1944 and served across Europe as British forces pushed towards Berlin

Stanley (right) during his service days, with his brother Fred (left), who was evacuated from Dunkirk and his sister Wyn (middle), who worked on Lancaster Bombers

'They were our heroes back in '45 just like the NHS are our heroes now.'

Although VE Day celebrations are looking increasingly unlikely as the coronavirus lockdown continues, he said there are still ways to commemorate the events of 1945.

He said: 'Let's do some of the things they did in 1945 - make bunting and make flags. With modern-day technology we could have a virtual street party.

'I know it's a cliche, the Dunkirk spirit, but I am sure that's the way we are going to get through this now.'

Stanley was one of the first to be flown home 10 days later when his name was pulled out of a hat, flying out of Antwerp with others aboard a packed Dakota plane.

Stanley with his son Mike (pictured behind Stanley) are calling for people to remember the heroes of the Second World War in the same way they are clapping for the NHS heroes of today

Stanley said the clap is a 'brilliant idea because it gives us all something a bit more positive to think about than this blinking virus all the time'

Looking back to 1945 he said: 'The news was met with cheering which was fairly low key because we still had an important job to do.'

He said he is as scared now during the pandemic as he was landing on the beach on D-Day.

Asked about the Clap 4 VE Day 75 campaign thought up by his son, he said: 'Brilliant idea because it gives us all something a bit more positive to think about than this blinking virus all the time.'

More information can be found on the Clap 4 VE Day 75 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Clap4VEDay75/
Theyre not offering to put me on TV  theyre just doing stories, Ms. Reade told me. No anchors, no nothing like that. Shed most like to tell her story to a network television anchor she admires  CBSs Gayle King is one, she said  but they havent called.

So shes planning to accept Fox Newss offer for an interview to air this weekend, she said, with someone a little more up the middle. She declined to say who, but a person who has spoken to her said Ms. Reade is in talks with Chris Wallace.

The booking would be a coup for the conservative network, and give its on-air hosts a club with which to beat a mainstream media that cant quite explain why it wont book Ms. Reade, while Julie Swetnick, a woman with a shaky claim against a Supreme Court nominee, got airtime during a prime time evening broadcast.

Some of the reasons this story seems muffled right now are fairly straightforward: The global coronavirus pandemic has eclipsed almost everything else. Theres also the way Ms. Reade first tried getting attention, mostly on Twitter, stumbling forward with no P.R. person and no attorney, she said.I emailed Ronan Farrow like four times to the point of stalking and I didnt hear back, she added. Now of course hes one of the investigative reporters on this. After The Timess story was published Thursday, Ms. Reade said that she had meant that Mr. Farrow had not initially responded to her, but they were now actively communicating.

Then she found partisans willing to hear her out. First it was among supporters of Bernie Sanders, like the podcast host Katie Halper, who put Ms. Reade on her show. Then The Intercept, an anti-establishment liberal news website, reported that a friend and brother of Ms. Reades recalled her describing the incident.

The traditional media, including the Times reporters Lisa Lerer and Sydney Ember, waded in carefully. Then the fast-moving news site Business Insider reported other details that gave further weight to Ms. Reades story. The reporter, Rich McHugh, had taken the story to Vanity Fair first, which declined to publish it, a spokesperson for Vanity Fair confirmed. The broadcast television networks, CNN and MSNBC have covered the story on their websites, while Fox News has covered developments breathlessly on air and online.

Theres still no clear explanation, however, for why Ms. Reade hasnt been on mainstream TV. Representatives for CNN and MSNBC declined to explain why they havent booked a woman who is, whether you believe her or not, one of the few newsmakers right now who could cut through the pandemic.
We all love going on holiday. A few days  even a couple of weeks, if we are lucky  away from regular life, catching some sun and splashing about in the sea or hotel pool.

And in a European spring characterised by lockdowns, border closures and a well-founded fear of being near anyone else, thoughts of getting away from it all are never far away.

But while many of us will have long-since dismissed any thoughts of actually heading off to foreign climes for a summer break this year, Croatia still plans to attract peak-season tourists.

The Adriatic hotspot hopes to earn nearly a third of its previously expected annual tourism revenues this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli said on Thursday.





Tourism accounts for nearly 20 percent of the Balkan countrys gross domestic product (GDP), with holidaymakers drawn to its beaches and warm summers.

But tourism has been hugely affected by travel restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, and the government expects the economy to shrink 9.4 percent this year because of the pandemic.

We will try to reach 30 percent of our tourism receipts from last year, if possible, as we still have a possibility to think about July, August and September arrivals, Cappelli told Reuters in an interview.

Last year, Croatia earned 10.5 billion euros ($11.5bn) from foreign tourists, and 12 billion euros ($13.1bn) from tourism overall  about 10 percent more than in 2018.

Cappelli said the main potential markets for Croatia this year included Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy  even though Italy has been severely hit by the virus.

Croatia can be reached easily by car from those countries. If the epidemiological situation allows and the situation in those countries corresponds to ours, we could devise some model for the safe arrival and stay of our guests, he said.





He also said talks were under way in the European Union on the possible movement of people among member states, including Croatia, but bilateral agreements between member states could not be excluded.

Under lockdown restrictions, Croats, unless specially authorised, are not allowed to travel abroad, and foreigners who enter must spend two weeks in quarantine.

I hope we will be able towards the end of May to meet the conditions and find a solution for reopening our border, but of course pending the epidemiological situation at the time, Cappelli said.

Croatia has had 2,076 cases of COVID-19 and 69 deaths.

Cappelli said Croatia was working on adapting tourist facilities such as hotels, camping sites and marinas to a new way of tourism adjusted to the safety measures needed against the coronavirus.
File photo shows a Chinese H-6K bomber patrolling islands and reefs including Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Liu Rui)

By Chen Xiangmiao

The US Navy said on April 21 that the USS America and two other vessels entered the South China Sea. In the face of the raging coronavirus epidemic in the US, Washington has shown no intention to halt pressuring China on the South China Sea issue.

The USS America, the most important operational naval asset in the South China Sea, was carrying out the latest operation when the coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked in Guam.

Washington's decision-makers have clear and definite expectations over the South China Sea, which is to maintain US dominant position in setting the agenda and leading discourse that is aimed at securing its leadership in the region.

Yet, even as the deadly coronavirus spreads around the world and international political and economic order is about to significantly adjust, Washington seems determined to intervene in the waters.

US recent moves in the South China Sea seem weird from the perspective of both its operational capability and actual security needs. The US military in the Western Pacific has been severely affected by the coronavirus. Reports show over 40 US navy warships have had sailors test positive of the virus.

Meanwhile, China - the imaginary enemy of the US - has restricted its involvement in the South China Sea since the end of January, as it spared no effort in curbing the epidemic, resuming work and production, and participating in international assistance.

In addition to pursuing regional leadership, Washington hopes to stabilize its alliance and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region and other parts of the world through its excessive engagement in the South China Sea during the outbreak.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on April 23 that China is "taking advantage" of the worldwide pandemic to promote its territorial ambition in the South China Sea. The accusation exemplifies US attempts to hype the so-called China threat by linking COVID-19 outbreak with the South China Sea issue in order to boost relations with its allies and partners.

US allies and partners doubt the super power is willing and capable of maintaining its leadership due to Trump administration's pursuit of unilateralism in the global economy, security and governance, and the power evolution between China and the US in the Asia-Pacific region. The Trump administration has not offered timely help to the EU and other countries during their COVID-19 fight. Instead, Trump has vented his anger at the World Health Organization and constantly blamed China over the origin of the virus without solid proof. These moves have disappointed the international community.

Meanwhile, China has been proactively sharing its anti-virus experience and medical resources with other countries. The South China Sea issue has thus become one of the most important tools for the US to show its strength and determination in maintaining the US-dominated security architecture in the Asia-Pacific.

The US claims that democracy and freedom are the basis for its leadership. But the most important aspect of the US alliance is perpetuating the so-called threat from Russia and China that is a leftover from the Cold War.

Since former US president Barack Obama administration, the US has been hyping China's so-called threat for its "expansion" in the South China Sea. The Trump administration is going further on the path. It has been trying to rope in its allies and partners, hoping they will pick sides in the geopolitical competition in the South China Sea. The Trump administration has portrayed China's South China Sea strategy as a common threat facing US allies, in an attempt to make up for the losses caused by its unilateralism.

US allies and partners will not lose confidence in the US in a short time. Washington cannot easily regain its prestige, and it will thus maintain its strategy regarding the South China Sea issue as a leverage in the region.

Avoiding potential conflicts and crises between China and the US in the South China Sea is now more urgent than ever. It seems that the existing US-China Memorandum of Understanding On the Rules of Behavior for the Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters no longer meets the two countries' needs in preventing and controlling conflicts in the region. China and the US still need to establish a high-level consensus.

The South China Sea issue should be differentiated from China-US competition, to prevent their contradictions from escalating out of control. It is hoped that decisions-makers from the two countries could establish a strategic consensus to avoid a possible arms race as the two compete for spheres of influence.

The author is an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
Nine members of a family, including newly-wed couple, were quarantined after they returned from Ghaziabad to Khatauli town of Muzaffarnagar in a hired ambulance in the guise of patients, police said on Thursday.

Police have also registered a case against ambulance driver, groom and his father in Khatauli police station on Wednesday.

The accused have violated rules of lockdown therefore a case has been registered against them under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), said Santosh Singh, station house officer (SHO), Khatauli.

Meanwhile, nine members of the family, including the newly-wed couple, have been placed under home quarantine for 14 days.

Hazi Israr is a resident of Islam Nagar locality, which has been declared hotspot following five corona positive cases in the area. Hazi had fixed marriage of his son Irfan in a family of Dasna in Ghaziabad.

Hazi contacted an ambulance driver Mehtab and they hired his ambulance to visit Dasna in guise of patients and returned with the newly-wed couple on Tuesday.

SHO said that cops on the way didnt stop the ambulance and they took advantage of it.

However, someone from Hazis neighbourhood informed police about their mischievous act on Wednesday and their misdeed was exposed.
Honey  the woman could hear fear tightening her husbands voice as he called out to her  I think your mother just died. She ran into the living room. Her 78-year-old mother sat rigid in a chair, her skin gray and lifeless. Her eyes were open but all white, as if she were trying to see the back of her own skull. Then her arms started to make little jerking movements; her lips parted as saliva seeped out the corner of her mouth onto her chin. Then her body slumped. She seemed awake but confused after this seizure-like episode.

Should I call an ambulance? the husband asked. No, his wife responded. Her mother had a complicated medical history, including a kidney transplant 12 years before and an autoimmune disease. An ambulance would want to take her to the nearby Hartford Hospital. But her doctors were at Yale New Haven Hospital  some 30 miles from their home in Cromwell, Conn. They helped the woman into the car. It was only a half-hour drive to the hospital that March 10 evening, but it seemed to last forever. Would her mother make it? Her eyes were closed, and she looked very pale.

Her other daughter worked at the hospital and was waiting with a wheelchair when they arrived. The daughters made sure that the doctors and nurses knew that their mother took two medications to keep her immune system from killing her transplanted kidney. Because of those immune-suppressing drugs, shed had many infections over the years. Six months earlier, she nearly lost her kidney to a particularly aggressive bacterium. Shed been well since then, until a few days earlier when she came down with a cold. It was just a sore throat and a runny nose, but the couple were worried enough to move her into their home to keep an eye on her. She didnt want to eat because of the pain in her throat, but otherwise she seemed to be doing well.

A Possible Urinary-Tract Infection

The exam in the emergency room was mostly unremarkable, though she was a little confused at times. Her kidneys were no worse than usual. Her chest X-ray was fine; there was no sign of pneumonia. The CT scan of her head was normal and provided no explanation for her seizure. Studies of her urine showed what might be an infection. And the womans white-blood-cell count, which would usually be sky-high if she had an infection, was instead dangerously low. There was no obvious cause of the low white-blood-cell count or the earlier seizure and current confusion. She was admitted to the hospital and started on intravenous antibiotics for a presumed urinary-tract infection.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 30) expressed deep shock over the demise of multifaceted actor Rishi Kapoor and said that the actor was a powerhouse of talent who will always be remembered.

PM Modi took to Twitter to express his profound grief over the death of veteran popular actor, who had been part of several notable Bollywood films.

"Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti," tweeted the prime minister.

Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also expressed sadness over the demise of Rishi Kapoor and said that the "the nation lost a son and industry lost a gem."

Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of veteran Hindi film actor, Shri Rishi Kapoor. The talented actor essayed many roles with aplomb & was popular for his romantic films. In his passing away, the nation lost a beloved son and film industry lost a gem. pic.twitter.com/vpXvfLO29Q  Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) April 30, 2020

"Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of veteran Hindi film actor, Shri Rishi Kapoor. The talented actor essayed many roles with aplomb & was popular for his romantic films. In his passing away, the nation lost a beloved son and film industry lost a gem," he tweeted.

Rishi Kapoor died on Thursday (April 30) morning at Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He was 67. Rishi was admitted to hospital on Wednesday night after he complained of some breathing problem. Rishi Kapoor was battling cancer since 2018. He got treated in the US for a year and had returned to India in September 2019.

Rishi Kapoor, son of Indian cinema legend Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor, had starred in several blockbuster films. He was also a filmmaker. He is survived by wife Neetu Kapoor and children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.
A man who had recently returned from Delhi tested positive for novel coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Mahrajganj district, which had not reported any infection for over three weeks, an official said.

District Magistrate Ujjwal Kumar said the sample of the man, who had returned from Delhi six days ago to his native Ratanpurwa village in Paniyara area, tested positive in the report received from the Gorakhpur medical college late on Wednesday.

"The family members and all those who came in contact with him will be quarantined. The entire area has been sealed and sanitised," Kumar said.

The district had not reported any new COVID-19 case after six people had tested positive on April 4.

Maharajganj was declared having zero active cases after the recovery of the six patients.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The question whether theres life on the other planet is debatable. A series of inexplicable UFO sightings and occurrences has led many to believe that aliens have existed among us for many years.

ufo-Representative Image Unsplash

People continue to explain these events, while eyewitnesses who have witnessed 'UFO sightings' couldnt be more certain about the existence of aliens. The most bizarre UFO sightings in the world have remained unanswered and added to the mystery. Here are some of these.

Here are top UFO sighting in the world:

1. Civilian pilot flying past Washington

In 1947, a civilian pilot was flying through Washingtons Mount Rainier when the pilot reported that nine blue, glowing objects flew past him in a V formation, travelling at a speed of 1700 mph according to reports.

While he first believed that the flying objects he had seen were military-owned airplanes or any other machine, the government stated that no one had been near Mount Rainier that day.



2. Green lights over Germany

In 1990, six weeks before Germany was set to become one nation, a mysterious incident happened over the Greifswald power plant. According to the local resident, seven green lights appeared in a line which were hovering above the sea. They stayed visible for about 30 minutes, some believed this to be a protest against the upcoming reunification. However, there was no proof of anyone taking such actions and many viewers believe it was not some UFO.

3. Roswell - a cover up?

Representative Image Unsplash

Currently, you can visit Roswell, New Mexico which includes the international UFO Museum and Research Center, an annual UFO festival. In the year 1947, a rancher was examining his pastures when he encountered a series of debris such as metallic rods and chunks of plastic. When soldiers from the Army Airforce Base were called in to retrieve the wreckage, some media outlets claimed that it was a total cover up of a crashed UFO. In the year 1997, the government admitted to the cover but not for the flying object.

4. Kolkatas morphing UFO

In the year 2007, The TOI had released an article reporting that several people had witnessed an object which looks like a saucer over Kolkata, India. It claimed that the object was able to morph its shape which was changing spherical to triangular with ease.

5. The New Jersey sighting

Representative Image Pixabay

In the year 2001, a resident in New Jersey spotted orange and yellow lights around midnight flying in a shape V according to a History report. It is unclear what could have caused the lights as air traffic controllers denied the kets and various other aircrafts could have caused the lights.

6. The disappearing pilot

In the year 1970, a Royal Air Force pilot was flying over the North Sea when it was reported that he spotted some sort of object which was hovering over the water in front of him. According to the news report Telegraph, he went ahead to see what the object could be but shortly after the conversation was lost with the radio in the aircraft. The plane was found near the North Sea but the pilot was nowhere to be found.

7. Pilot saw a UFO in Mexico

In February, two pilots, one for American Airlines and one for Learjet, radioed each other to discuss an object they saw flying objects near their planes according to Travel and Leisure.
With dining room shutdowns set to continue through mid-May, with some adjustments in areas outside New Orleans, many restaurants have been finding their own ways to reopen. A growing number of restaurants that had earlier shut down are reopening for takeout. Many operators report they've used the time to reassess and reconfigure.

Weve been showcasing different plans from a wide range of restaurants as they get back to business. This latest crop includes some New Orleans classics and a range of newer additions to the scene.

Hansens Sno-Bliz

4801 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-891-9788

Reopens Thursday, April 30: Established in 1939, and hardwired into local cravings and memories ever since, Hansens has been closed since March 15 but reopened April 30 with some changes to format. Call ahead to order at 504-891-9788, pay by credit card and request a pick up time for curbside service (call on arrival). The shop opens with a smaller menu (cream of nectar, satsuma, lemonade, strawberry, blueberry, ice cream, strawberry cream, blueberry cream, cream of ice cream, cardamom) and plans to expand flavors and hours over time. Thu.-Sun. noon- 6 p.m. to start.

Angelo Brocatos Ice Cream & Confections

214 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-486-0078

Reopens Friday, May 1: The old school Sicilian dessert emporium shut down just after St. Josephs Day (when its beautiful altar was positioned in the window for walk-up viewings). The shop reopens Friday with a limited menu of gelato and pastries (wholesale for groceries and restaurants is underway again too). Look for a new takeout window to be operational in the next week of so. Order ahead online here. Fri.-Sun., noon-6 p.m. to start.

Marjies Grill

320 N. Broad St., 504-603-2234

Reopens April 30: Chef Marcus Jacobs and Caitlin Carney reopen their South-by-southeast Asia hot spot with takeout and delivery from a menu of slow-grilled meats, salads and sides, plus bottled sauces, country ham by the pound and cracklin' by the bag, and wine and cocktail set ups (without alcohol). Pick up of produce boxes from Poche Family Farm continues on Tuesdays (see pochefamilyfarm.com) and more grocery items coming soon. Call to order or order online here. Open Thu.-Mon., pick up from 4-8 p.m.

Cure

4905 Freret St., 504-302-2357

Reopens Thursday, April 30: The restaurant portion of this Freret Street pioneer returns Thursday, with a takeout menu of bar snacks (pimento cheese, pate, charcuterie) for a happy hour at home, plus packaged wine and beer and frozen specialty drinks to go. Daily 3-7 p.m.

Cane & Table

1113 Decatur St., 504-581-1112

Reopens Thursday, April 30: The French Quarter sibling to Cure gets going again with large format daily dishes from its Latin/Caribbean style menu (ropa vieja, arroz con pollo), smaller dishes (empanadas, seafood cocktails) with bottled wine and frozen drinks. Call ahead or order online here. Thu.-Sun., 3-7 p.m. (orders from 1-4 p.m.)

The Company Burger

4600 Freret St., 504-267-0320

Now open: The original Uptown location of the popular homegrown burger brand is back, starting with a limited menu of the mainstays. Call in orders in advance of order online here. Wed.-Sun. noon-7 p.m.

Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Court of the Two Sisters

613 Royal St., 504-522-7273

Now open: Best known for Jazz brunch and its courtyard, this French Quarter stalwart is returning with a takeaway catering menu of Creole staples and sandwiches to feed groups (etouffee, jambalaya, bread pudding, muffulettas). See the menu here. Daily, call to pre-order.

Daiwa

4100 Veteran Blvd., Metairie, 504-875-4203

Reopens Friday, May 1: The Metairie expansion of this longtime West Bank sushi bar made a splash when it opened last summer. It returns Friday with its full menu of sashimi, sushi and house creations. Plans to reopen the original Marrero location are taking shape. Call ahead to order. Wed.-Mon. 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Here are other reopenings of note from earlier this week:

Napoleon House

500 Chartres St., 504-524-9752

Reopens Tuesday (April 28): The old house originally offered as refuge to French emperor Napoleon himself during his exile returns with its "eating in exile" menu, with muffulettas, po-boys and quarts and pints of staples like red beans and rice and gumbo, plus a frozen version of its Pimm's Cup cocktail in sizes from pint to half gallon and gallon. Call ahead to order. Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pascal's Manale Restaurant

1838 Napoleon Ave., 504-895-4877

Open now: The Uptown Creole-Italian classic reopened Monday with a takeout menu of many house specialties (yes, including the BBQ shrimp, a dish created here), and family-style meals to serve 6. The renowned oyster bar remains closed in these curbside days, though longtime shucker Thomas Stewart is now cooking in the kitchen. Mon.-Fri. 3-8 p.m.

Caffe Caffe

3547 N. Hullen St., Metairie, 504-267-9190

Reopens Tuesday (April 28): The Beck family's popular Metairie cafe has been slinging salads and sandwiches alongside its coffee drinks since 1992. The North Hullen Street location is back for curbside service. Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Order at caffecaffe.com (beginning April 28)

GW Fins

808 Bienville St., 504-581-3467

Reopening Tuesday, April 28: The upscale seafood restaurant returns with three-course meals for curbside pick up, drawn from menu signatures (like lobster dumplings, parmesan-crusted sheepshead and scalibut, the scallops/halibut combo). The restaurant will also sell fresh fish and sauces to cook at home, prepared foods by item (soups, salads, sides, desserts) and bottles from its wine list. Open Tue.-Sat., meal pick up 4:30-7:30 p.m. (phone orders begin at 11 a.m.), fresh seafood and prepared foods pick up noon-7:30 p.m.

+29 With Jazz Fest canceled, heres how to get classic Jazz Fest dishes direct from vendors You can hear the news that the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has canceled this year by the coronavirus fight, gulp, and accept it a

+4 Brennan restaurant familys Commissary debuts with new mission for changed times New Orleans restaurant group Dickie Brennan & Co. has been quietly developing a multifaceted new project called the Commissary. It starts 

+2 LaToya Cantrell: No outdoor seating at New Orleans restaurants yet despite state's change Changes to Louisiana's extended stay-at-home order announced Monday by Gov. John Bel Edwards do not apply in New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrel

+7 How Jazz Fest's last original food vendor is carrying a Creole tradition through shutdowns Sausage po-boys from the Vaucresson family have been part of every Jazz Fest since the first one in 1970. Theyll be part of this years fest
A man was sprayed in the face with an "unknown substance" before a thief stole his bag on a London bus.

Police were called to reports that a man had been injured on a bus travelling on London Road, South Norwood at around 6.45am on Thursday.

Metropolitan Police said the victim was reportedly approached by another man who "sprayed an unknown substance in his face before stealing his bag and getting off the bus".

The victim was taken to hospital where his injured were assessed as non-life changing.

The London Fire Brigade also attended the scene.

No arrests have been made and police continue to investigate the incident.
London: Scientists working on a vaccine against coronavirus could know within six weeks whether it will work, they have said.

A person is injected as part of the first human trials in the UK to test a potential coronavirus vaccine. Credit:Oxford University

Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, said "several hundred" Britons have now been given the experimental jab, with hopes that "signals" about whether it works could emerge by mid-June.

Human trials began last week, and the team working on the vaccine hope that if it works a million doses could be given to the public from September. A successful vaccine is key to lifting social distancing measures.

Ministers announced a partnership between Oxford University and AstraZeneca, which aims to ensure that a successful vaccine is rapidly rolled out.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - City View Green Holdings Inc. ("City View" or the "Company"), trading through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CVGR" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "CVGRF", and further to the press releases dated February 26, 2020 and April 21, 2020, is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced asset purchase transaction (the "Transaction") with Infusion Works Inc. ("Infusion").

Infusion is a consumer goods food company with the goal of leading in the development of cannabis-infused brands in several food categories. The company utilizes high-quality automated manufacturing practices from the food industry, resulting in low cost production of high-quality, consistent food products. To create these high-quality cannabis-infused food products, the company has invested significantly in food research and development as it relates to cannabis-infused foods. In addition, the company is developing its "white label" co-manufacturing and co-packing services to a growing list of current producers who are licensed by Health Canada to cultivate and/or produce cannabis and cannabis-related goods. These services include co-manufacturing of cannabis-infused baked goods, chocolate and sugar confectionery, hemp-based CBD pet snacks and co-packing of dried cannabis and pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates and extraction capabilities.

The strategy for the advancement of City View after the Transaction will be to rapidly integrate the two companies and aggressively pursue the unified City View/Infusion business plan.

Pursuant to the Transaction, the Company has acquired equipment for the production of cannabis-infused food products including certain intellectual property related to the production thereof. In addition, Infusion shall pay a deposit of CAD$439,238 (the "Deposit") to the Company to be used towards the purchase of certain new food manufacturing equipment and shall assign to City View the economic benefit of all existing contracts and future contracts or the contracts themselves at the time the Company receives the Licence (as defined hereinbelow).

In consideration, the Company will issue to Infusion an aggregate of 46,462,114 common shares ("Shares") in the capital of the Company ("Consideration Shares") issuable in three tranches, subject to an adjustment (the "Adjustment"). The first tranche (the "First Tranche") was issued on April 30, 2020 and consisted of 9,042,422 Shares. The second tranche (the "Second Tranche") shall be issued upon receipt of the Company of the Deposit, which is expected to occur not later than June 30, 2020 and shall consist of 13,938,635 Shares. The third and final tranche (the "Third Tranche") shall be issued upon the receipt by the Company of a Health Canada licence under the Cannabis Act (the "Licence") and shall consist of 23,231,057 Shares. Pursuant to the Adjustment, at the time of the Third Tranche, the Company will issue to Infusion such number of Shares equal to 19.99% of the amount by which the issued and outstanding number of Shares on the date of issuance of the Third Tranche Shares exceeds the sum of 232,926,785 and the number of Shares issued under the Offering (as defined hereinbelow). Moreover, the Company and Infusion have entered into a profit sharing agreement pursuant to which the Company shall pay to Infusion 10% of its EBIT for a period of three (3) years commencing on the date of receipt of the Licence, payable in Shares at a price equal to the fifteen (15) day volume weighted average price of the Shares on the CSE prior to the applicable period.

In connection with the Transaction, the Company and Infusion have each paid to a finder a finder fee of 500,000 Shares, for a total of 1,000,000 Shares (the "Finder Shares"), for introducing the Company and Infusion and facilitating the Transaction, issuable in two equal tranches. The first tranche of Finder Shares was paid on April 30, 2020 and the second tranche of Finder Shares shall be paid at the time of the Third Tranche.

As previously announced on April 21, 2020, in connection with Closing, Mr. Don Robinson has been appointed as a director of City View. Upon receipt of the Licence, it is anticipated that Mr. Karl Wirtz will be appointed as a director of City View.

Rob Fia, CEO & President Commented: "We are excited to report the closing with Infusion Works Inc. and the addition of a solid management team. We expect to move things forward quickly to become a leading cannabis-infused food company and to report back to investors in the near future as we progress with our build out and licensing."

The Consideration Shares, the Finder Shares, and the Shares issuable under the Adjustment (collectively, the "Transaction Shares") are subject to a four month and one day hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). All Transaction Shares are subject to an escrow agreement pursuant to which 1/8 of all such Transaction Shares shall be released from escrow every three months, for a total term of two years. In addition, Infusion has entered into a lock-up agreement in respect of the Consideration Shares and Adjustments Shares, for a twelve-month period. The Completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of all regulatory approvals.

Financing

City View has also completed a first tranche closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), pursuant to which it has sold and issued 10,600,000 units ("Units") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $530,000. Each Unit is composed of one Share and one Share purchase Warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $0.05 per Warrant for a period of three (3) years from the date of issuance, subject to an acceleration provision whereby, after one year from their date of issuance, if the closing price of the Shares on the CSE is equal to or exceeds $0.15 for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days, then the Company may, at its option, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date which is thirty (30) days following the date upon which notice of the accelerated expiry date is provided by the Company to the holders of the Warrants.

City View intends to the use proceeds from the Offering for general working capital purposes. All securities issued or issuable pursuant to the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE. Completion of the Offering is subject to the receipt of all regulatory approvals.

Related Party Transaction

Rob Fia is an executive officer and a director of the Company and Tim Peterson is a director and the chairman of the board of the Company, and they are acquiring 1,000,000 Units and 600,000 Units, respectively, under the Offering. These are "related party transactions" as such term is defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transaction ("MI 61-101"), requiring the Company, in the absence of exemptions, to obtain a formal valuation for, and minority shareholder approval of, the "related party transaction". The Company is relying on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements set out in MI 61-10 as the fair market value of the participation in the Private Placement by Messrs. Fia and Peterson do exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

Early Warning Report

In addition, this press release is being issued in connection with the filing of early warning reports (the "Early Warning Report") pursuant to the requirements of National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues regarding the change in the ownership and control of Shares of City View by Infusion. City View's head office address is located at #132-1173 Dundas St. East, Toronto, ON M4M 3P1.

On April 30, 2019, the Company completed the Transaction, pursuant to which Infusion shall be entitled to beneficially ownership or control over 46,462,114 Shares in addition to the Shares issued pursuant to the Adjustment, which shall be determined at the time of the Third Tranche (the "Acquisition"). Prior to the Closing Date, Infusion owned or exercised control or direction over nil Shares and following the Acquisition of the Third Tranche, Infusion beneficially shall own or exercise control or direction over 45,962,114 Shares, representing approximately 18.87% of the issued and outstanding Shares on both an undiluted and diluted basis, assuming no further Shares are issued under the Offering or otherwise.

A copy of the early warning report for Infusion will be filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About City View

City View Green is a leading cannabis-infused food company focused on the development of food brands, extraction and distribution. Upon the anticipated receipt of its Cannabis Act processing and sales licences ("Cannabis Licences"), City View will incorporate cannabis-infused food production and extraction at its Brantford, Ontario facility. Once operational, it is our expectation that City View will produce high quality cannabis-infused food, oils, distillates, and water-soluble products for the food and beverage markets. In addition, City View owns a 19.9% stake in Budd Hutt Inc. ("Budd Hutt"), a retail-focused cannabis company with access to cannabis cultivation and production licences in Alberta and other retail opportunities across Canada. Through its relationship with Budd Hutt, the Company anticipates securing shelf space, product placement, and distribution opportunities for City View's products. For more information visit www.cityviewgreen.ca.

For further information contact:

City View Green Holdings Inc.

Rob Fia, CEO & President

Email: rob@cityviewgreen.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding a definitive agreement with Infusion Works including future revenue and cash flow, deposits, the Transaction, the Offering, receipt of the Licence, and build-out of the Brantford Facility that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55200
Reverend Richard Coles has announced that his sister-in-law, Louise, has died from COVID-19.

The former Strictly star, 58, took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the devastating news just four months after his partner David passed away during an operation for internal bleeding as a result of an underlying health condition.

Richard posted a picture of Louise, who was married to his older brother Andy, and David together in North Africa as he paid tribute to his 'lovely' sister-in-law, who was a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston in Peterborough.

Sad: Reverend Richard Coles has announced that his sister-in-law, Louise, has died from COVID-19 (pictured in April 2019)

He wrote: 'My lovely sister in law @lozaamandine died this afternoon with COVID19.

'She made lots of people very happy, not least @RevDavidColes , with whom she went on extravagant and unauthorised expeditions to her beloved North Africa. RIP, darling woman.'

Richard's partner, Reverend David Coles, passed away in December aged 42 after battling an underlying health condition for more than a year. He never recovered from an operation for internal bleeding after being rushed to hospital.

Louise, a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, Peterborough, had been unwell 'for some time' with cancer and had caught COVID-19 while shielding from the pandemic. She had been elected onto the council in May 2019.

Heartbreaking: The former Strictly star, 58, took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the devastating news just four months after losing his partner David during an operation for internal bleeding (pictured with Louise)

Tribute: Richard posted a picture of Louise, who was married to his older brother Andy, and David together in North Africa as he paid tribute to his 'lovely' sister-in-law

Richard's older brother and Louise's husband, Andy, also a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, paid tribute on his own account.

He added in a statement posted to LinkedIn that Louise had just finished a course of radiotherapy for a brain tumour and he was shocked she had caught COVID-19 due to their careful isolating during the pandemic.

Andy shared that Louise had passed away at a special coronavirus ward at Peterborough City Hospital on Wednesday. He added that he is currently symptomless but fears he may now too catch the deadly virus.

Sharing a photo of the two of them together, he tweeted: 'I am very sorry to have to report the death of my wife Louise this afternoon.

'She had been unwell for some time with cancer, but caught coronavirus even while shielding. Thankfully we had time to prepare, but this was too soon.'

Tragic: Louise, a former French teacher and Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, Peterborough, had been unwell 'for some time' with cancer and had caught COVID-19 while shielding from the pandemic. Her husband, Andy, also paid tribute to his wife (pictured)

He added in a statement posted to LinkedIn: 'I'm sorry to say my beloved wife Louise died yesterday in a coronavirus ward at Peterborough City Hospital.

'She has just completed a course of radiotherapy on a brain tumour and we were hoping to have more time together.

'But two days after admission with breathing problems she was gone. Thank you to the amazing NHS staff on ward B12 for doing all they could to treat her.

'We had been shielding so carefully it was a shock to learn that the virus had infected her - who knows how, but possibly during our last trip to hospital for radiotherapy. I'm still symptomless but imagine I'm going to be unwell soon.

Statement: He added in a statement posted to LinkedIn that Louise had just finished a course of radiotherapy for a brain tumour and he was shocked she had caught COVID-19 due to their careful isolating during the pandemic

'This virus is so easy to catch and it is so difficult to know when you get exposed. If you know of someone who has an underlying condition, please be aware that they are so vulnerable and make allowances.'

Louise was a retired French teacher and head of sixth form at The Peterborough School, where she had worked for 17 years.

Prior to settling in Peterborough, she had lived in Egypt for 10 years and travelled to Libya, France and Germany as part of her previous job as a publisher.

In recent months, she had been working as a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, in Peterborough. She had been elected onto the council in May 2019.

Just weeks before her death, Louise had shared a sweet Mother's Day surprise from her daughter and brother-in-law while self-isolating.

Surprise: Just weeks earlier, Louise had shared a sweet Mother's Day surprise from her daughter and brother-in-law while self-isolating

Self-isolating: With Louise's husband adding that they had also been self-isolating after displaying symptoms, he tweeted: 'They are #selfisolating too as Sam works at the hospital and picked up a bit of a cough and temperature a week ago.'

Posting a picture of a cardboard sign saying 'happee muvvers dae innit!' with a heart left on her fence, she had quipped: 'Yes. It's lovely having the kids living next door.'

With Louise's husband adding that they had also been self-isolating after displaying symptoms, he tweeted: 'They are #selfisolating too as Sam works at the hospital and picked up a bit of a cough and temperature a week ago.

'They will be able to go out in a week. We're going to be doing this for three months minimum. Weird times we live in.'

On Wednesday, Louise's husband Andy also shared Richard's announcement and added: 'And don't forget that weekend 'house hunting' in France.

Comforted: Andy added that he is being comforted by their two pet dogs, Ramsis and Noot, as he shared a photo of them cuddled up to him at their home

'We nearly ended up with two farmhouses and an eighteenth century cider press to share! The naughty step in heaven sounds like the place to be.'

Andy added that he is being comforted by their two pet dogs, Ramsis and Noot, as he shared a photo of them cuddled up to him at their home.

Richard's followers sent their support and own tributes to Louise after announcing the news.

Presenter Matthew Wright put: 'So, so sorry x.'

Heartache: Richard's partner, Reverend David Coles, passed away in December aged 42 after battling an underlying health condition for more than a year. He never recovered from an operation for internal bleeding after being rushed to hospital

Radio host Shelagh Fogarty said: 'So sorry to hear this Richard. My sympathy to you and your family.'

Comedian Jenny Eclair commented: 'Sending love,strength and sympathy- I'm so sorry.'

While author Catherine Mayer noted: 'I'm so very sorry. To lose someone else right now, especially someone so integral to your shared history with David, is too much to bear. Except that you will...'

To which Richard replied with: 'Yes, what else are you going to do?'

Support: The former Celebrity MasterChef star's followers sent their support and own tributes to Louise

In December, Richard announced that his partner David had passed away aged 42 having been 'ill for a while'.

His death had been unexpected and he died from an operation for internal bleeding as a result of an underlying health condition. He never returned home after being rushed to hospital.

Richard, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, entered into a civil partnership with David after the Church of England allowed it in 2005 - but they were celibate.

The couple lived together with their dogs Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio in the vicarage of St Mary's in Finedon, Northamptonshire.

Richard wrote at the time: 'I'm very sorry to say that Rev David Coles has died. He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at Kettering General Hospital. Funeral details to follow'.

Partner: Richard entered into a civil partnership with David after the Church of England allowed it in 2005 - but they were celibate

Home life: The couple lived together with their dogs Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio in the vicarage of St Mary's in Finedon, Northamptonshire (pictured in 2014)

He then quoted Isaiah 60:20: 'The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended', but did not reveal the cause of David's death.

Richard often spoke with love about David and their life together, particularly on his Radio 4 show: Saturday Live. But their dream of retiring to Scotland with their four dogs will now not happen.

While David was ordained, he was no longer working as a priest, however, the supportive role he has played for his partner has been considered vital for the Rev Coles, his parishioners said.

In his previous life Richard had been the instrumentalist half of the Eighties pop duo The Communards with Jimmy Sommerville, who had a Number One single Don't Leave Me This Way, and a number of other hits which made him millions.
Investigations are ongoing into the mysterious death of a man whose car burst into flames on Wednesday morning in Nairobis Buruburu Estate.

Terance Korir, 36, was burnt beyond recognition outside his home in Buruburu Phase V, Maimahiu Court, with the cause of the fire yet to be established.

Witnesses said the car, a Subaru Impreza, exploded after the man ignited the engine as he was heading to work at around 8.30 am.

Cyrus Chege, the Chairman of Mai Mahiu Court, Katulo Road, said he was alerted by security guards that there was a car on fire at the parking yard.

Neighbours tried to put out the fire but their efforts were in vain. It took the intervention of Nairobi County firefighters to contain the inferno.

Buruburu police boss Adamson Bungei said that while investigations are ongoing, it was strange that only the cars interior was destroyed by the fire.

When he ignited the vehicles engine, the car burst into flames at the bonnet section. The cause of the fire is yet to be known. It is strange how the vehicles interior was the only part that was destroyed by the explosion.

The engine and rear part of the car is intact and the fire concentrated inside. We dont know what happened but experts are on the case for now, said Bungei.

The OCPD also noted that witness accounts indicated that there was an explosion right before the car caught on fire.

We have since towed the damaged car to Buruburu Police Station for analysis, said Bungei.

Korir who worked at a bank in Nairobi is survived by his 29-year-old wife and two children.
Nearly 15,000 miles of new Asian roads will be built in tiger habitat by mid-century, deepening the big cat's extinction risk and highlighting the need for bold new conservation measures now, according to a new study.

University of Michigan conservation ecologist Neil Carter and his colleagues used a recently developed global roads dataset to calculate the extent and potential impacts of existing and planned road networks across the nearly 450,000-square-mile, 13-country range of the globally endangered tiger.

Fewer than 4,000 tigers remain in the wild. They are found mainly in South Asia and Southeast Asia, regions that will experience accelerating pressure from human development in coming years.

Road construction often exacerbates all three of the main threats to tigers: prey depletion, habitat degradation and poaching.

The U-M-led study showed that existing roads are pervasive throughout tiger habitat, totaling 83,300 miles (134,000 kilometers) in Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TCLs), blocks of habitat across the animal's range that are considered crucial for recovery of the species. Carter and his co-authors called this finding "a highly troubling warning sign for tiger recovery and ecosystems in Asia."

The researchers calculated three measures -- road density, distance to the nearest road and relative mean species abundance -- to characterize how existing road networks influence tiger habitat. They calculated current road densities for all 76 TCLs and summarized those estimates by country and protection status.

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In addition, they used published forecasts of global road expansion to calculate the length of new roads that might exist in tiger habitat by 2050, for each of the 13 tiger-range countries.

The study, scheduled for publication April 29 in Science Advances, found that:

The 83,300 miles of current road networks within tiger habitat may be decreasing the abundance of tigers and their prey by more than 20%.

43% of the area where tiger breeding occurs and 57% of the area in TCLs are within 5 km (3.1 miles) of a road, a proximity that can negatively impact tigers and their prey.

Nearly 15,000 miles of new roads will be built in TCLs by 2050, stimulated through major investment projects such as China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Road densities are, on average, 34% greater in nonprotected portions of TCLs than in strictly protected parts, indicating that road density increases with the relaxation of protection status.

Road densities varied widely across tiger-range countries. China's mean road density in TCLs is nearly eight times greater than Malaysia's, for example.

"Our analysis demonstrates that, overall, tigers face a ubiquitous and mounting threat from road networks across much of their 13-country range," said U-M's Carter, an assistant professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability.

"Tiger habitats have declined by 40% since 2006, underscoring the importance of maintaining roadless areas and resisting road expansion in places where tigers still exist, before it is too late. Given that roads will be a pervasive challenge to tiger recovery in the future, we urge decision makers to make sustainable road development a top priority."

The world's remaining tigers are concentrated in a small number of source populations -- areas with confirmed current presence of tigers and evidence of breeding -- across the animal's geographic range. Even a small amount of road construction could disproportionately impact tiger recovery by permanently isolating tiger populations, creating tiger "islands," according to the researchers.

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Protecting tigers is a global conservation priority, exemplified by a landmark international initiative, called TX2, with the goal of doubling global tiger numbers between 2010 and 2022. And tigers are considered a conservation flagship species, a popular, charismatic animal that serves as a symbol and rallying point to stimulate conservation awareness and action.

Even so, few studies have assessed the impacts of roads on tigers and their recovery, limiting the impact of tiger conservation planning.

And most previous "road ecology" studies of tigers have focused on localized patterns of wildlife mortality or behavior associated with road design. The new study by Carter and his colleagues, in contrast, estimates road impacts on wildlife at broad scales. It is the first study to include baseline indices on the threat from existing and future roads in tiger habitat.

"This research opens the door to build partnerships at the regional scale to better mitigate existing roads and to develop greener road designs for the next century of infrastructure development," said study co-author Adam Ford, a wildlife ecologist at the University of British Columbia.

The researchers say their metrics provide tools to support sustainable road development, enabling rapid risk assessment for roads passing through tiger habitat, including roads planned as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The BRI is a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 involving infrastructure projects in dozens of countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. The rush to build major new roads throughout the forested regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia, financed through the initiative, could have severe impacts on tigers, according to Carter and his colleagues.

But the BRI could become an important partner in tiger preservation, according to the researchers, by adopting biodiversity conservation as one of its core values. That would set the stage for the BRI to plan and implement a network of protected areas and wildlife corridors to safeguard tigers from road impacts.
The Migration Information Centre of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has refused entry of 53 Ivoirians who attempted to enter the country through Ghana-Cote DIvoire border towns in the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region.



The Ivoirians attempted to enter the country through 19 unapproved routes in the District, but the vigilance of the GIS officials in the area exposed them.



Superintendent Haruna Alhassan, the Head of the Centre, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the GIS had intensified monitoring in all the approved and unapproved routes in the area to ensure migrants from neighbouring Cote dIvoire would not enter the country to spread the COVID-19.



He said apart from the six approved routes in the area, the GIS had mounted additional two check points, and appealed to residents along the border towns to assist the Service to check unlawful entry of migrants into the country.

Source: GNA









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ALBANY  The state Education Department will convene a statewide task force, made up of superintendents, principals, teachers, parents, school board members, and other stakeholders, to devise a guide for reopening schools after the coronavirus pandemic, state officials said Wednesday.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has placed a tremendous amount of stress and uncertainty on New Yorkers in every corner of the state," Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and Interim Education Commissioner Shannon Tahoe said in a statement. "Despite the challenges we are all facing every day, it is time we begin to look at how we can successfully and appropriately reopen our schools."
T heres some debate as to whether God created woman, but its a fact that Preston Sturges created Eve. Eve Sidwich  one of the naughtiest heroines ever  has a magnificent nose, quick wits, sexual confidence, a British drawl and a tendency to torture men who dote on her. She is, in my opinion, a Pre-Bag  that is, a forerunner of TVs Fleabag. But lets not get ahead of ourselves.

In this 1941 screwball comedy, Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyck; sublime) and her pa, Colonel Harrington (Charles Coburn; expertly louche), are US con merchants on board an ocean liner, who target millionaires son and virginal ophiologist, Charles Poncefort Pike (a perfect Henry Fonda; sexy and nuanced, he turns the word ponce on its head).

Charles ignores the women who drop at his feet, yet responds with enthusiasm when Jean brings him to his knees (literally; she sticks out her foot and sends him sprawling). Hes passive, shes aggressive; its a match made in heaven. Later, through no cleverness of his own, Charles discovers that Jean is an adventuress and dumps her. At which point, she pretends to be an English aristocrat (the Lady Eve Sidwich), and he falls for her all over again.

Via Eve, Jean escapes even the Colonels authority, which adds yet another dimension to this alt-bible story. Along with snakes and apples (did I mention the bit where Jean throws an apple at Charles head?) the film serves up a self-made Eden. Jean embraces transgression, acquires gads of wisdom and is often cockeyed with lust. But no man rules over her, no siree.

You keep expecting her to be humbled by Lady Luck  in this genre, thats how things usually work. Yet Jean/Eve never gets taught a lesson. As Sturges slyly suggests, to be female, let alone working class, is to have already suffered enough.

Sturges, in between the zip and sparkle, delivers cruel truths. In the films first half, he shows ordinary folk fawning over the rich. In the second half, he shows the rich fawning over the titled.

Jean gets the idea to re-invent herself from an enterprising low-life called Willie (the wonderful Eric Blore). Willie, having assumed a new identity, is now surrounded by millionaires. Jeans dad asks how Willie meets these chumps and Willie replies, When ones name is Sir Alfred McGlennan Keith, one doesnt have to meet them. One fights them off with sticks!

The Lady Eve is an indictment of the class system that makes you want to swoon, a romance with its brain in the right place. Ah, me! Id give anything to know if Phoebe Waller-Bridge loves it, too.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has termed China's battle against COVID-19 as a major strategic achievement, as the ruling Communist Party is all set to hold the postponed Parliament session on May 22 amid a steady decline in the coronavirus cases.

IMAGE: Two Chinese paramilitary policeman wears a protective mask stands in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Life in Beijing is slowly returning to normal following a city-wide lockdown to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

China's National Health Commission on Thursday said the country reported only four new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total number to 82,862, while no death due to the disease was registered. The virus has claimed 4,633 lives in the country.

China's arduous efforts to contain the coronavirus have brought a decisive outcome to the fight of defending Hubei and its capital city Wuhan, Xi told a high-powered Central Committee meeting of the ruling Communist Party of China on Wednesday.



The nationwide battle against the epidemic has gained major strategic achievements, the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying.



Xi said Hubei, including Wuhan, should continue strengthening community-level epidemic prevention and control.



He asked officials to make efforts to contain the virus case at Heilongjiang Province bordering Russia, where a large number of Chinese returning from Russian cities were tested positive for coronavirus.



The meeting emphasised the need to accelerate work resumption and business reopening, help companies especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises address difficulties, and promote the recovery of pillar industries such as auto manufacturing, electronic information, new materials and bio-medicine, the report said.

The meeting stressed accelerating farm production and expanding sales channels for agricultural products to boost income for farmers.

The Hubei province and its capital Wuhan -- where the COVID-19 first emerged in December last year -- were the epicentres of the deadly virus, which later turned into a pandemic, bringing the world to a standstill.



The COVID-19 pandemic continues its explosive growth overseas, Xi said, noting the mounting pressure to prevent imported infections and the growing complexity of stemming domestic epidemic resurgence.



Xi demanded no relaxation in epidemic control to safeguard the hard-earned achievements, the report said.



According to the NHC, all the four COVID-19 patients reported on Wednesday were imported cases.



The number of imported cases rose to 1,664, including 13 patients in severe condition, it said.



The CPC Central Committee meet was held amid mounting pressure for an international inquiry into the origin of coronavirus and the allegations that the deadly virus was originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology before it spread across the world and wreaked havoc.



China has come under increasing global pressure over lack of transparency in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far infected over 3,193,960 people and claimed more than 2,27,640 lives across the world.



State-run CGTN TV on Wednesday reported that American scientists are working with their Chinese counterparts to investigate the origin of the novel coronavirus, a prime demand of US President Donald Trump and several other countries.

The report said the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is facilitating the cooperation between Dr Ian Lipkin, Director for Centre for Infection and Immunity of Columbia University, and Prof Lu Jinhai of Sun-Yat-Sen University of Guangzhou to conduct the probe.



"The two are working together to determine whether the virus emerged elsewhere in China before Wuhan in December" last year, the report said.



It is not yet clear whether the investigation has the official consent of the US government, it said.



Besides the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany have also called for more transparency from Beijing on the COVID-19 origin.



China on Wednesday announced to hold the annual meeting of its Parliament -- National People's Congress, which was postponed in March due to COVID-19, from May 22, signalling that the pandemic which paralysed the country for over three months is finally under control.



Official media said the meeting period of the NPC, which has over 3,000 deputies, could be shortened and held through video link. However, no official announcement has been made so far.



The annual session of the national advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, is also expected to be held in Beijing on May 21, official media reported.



Dubbed as the annual political season, the NPC and CPPCC sessions -- which together have over 5,000 members, are held every year in early March during which the CPC unveils its national agenda for the year, including the annual budget and formulates new laws.



According to the National Health Commission, 77,610 coronavirus patients have been recovered so far.
Daily figures on coronavirus deaths and testing are released by the DoH (Ben Birchall/PA)

The UK Statistics Authority has written to Richard Pengelly, the Department of Health's permanent secretary, noting the "serious public concern" over the reporting of Covid-19 statistics in Northern Ireland.

Over the last two weeks, there have been several changes to how coronavirus figures, including deaths and the number of tests carried out, have been reported.

On April 19, to DoH released a coronavirus dashboard to display daily statistics, replacing the daily surveillance reports released by the Public Health Agency.

In a letter to Richard Pengelly, Ed Humpherson, director general for regulation at the UK Statistics Authority, said: "This dashboard was suspended two days later on the grounds that a figure in it was incorrect, with limited explanation of the nature of the error."

Since the dashboard was suspended, the DoH has been releasing "less complete" daily statistics through their website and social media, Mr Humpherson said.

He said it is clear the DoH wants to address these issues and published comprehensive figures, which are of "huge public interest", "once you are assured of the quality of the data".

In order to do so, Mr Humpherson advised Mr Pengelly of four guidelines to assist in this process.

These are:

Daily surveillance statistics should be released in a transparent, easily accessible and orderly way. A news release on the departmental website and Twitter are not sufficient.

There are gaps in the data and daily time series have been lost since the statistics began to be issued through DoH news releases. These gaps and losses need to be addressed.

Data and statistics should be accompanied with clear information on data sources, definitions and explanations. Users should be provided with appropriate context and explanation, particularly now, where different statistics from different data sources are being produced and used in relation to COVID-19.

Communication to users of the statistics should be improved so they know in advance about any changes and where and when they can find the changed statistics.

Mr Humpherson concluded his letter by stating: "The advice of the Senior Statistician within the Department should always be sought in matters relating to statistics and data, and they should have sole authority for deciding the methods, standards and procedures and the content and timing of the release of official statistics.

"I know there is serious public concern about the changes that have been made to the COVID-19 statistics and I look forward to your reply. I would be happy to discuss."
In a worrisome trend, Covid-19 cases in the city have doubled in the last 96 hours. Chandigarh had reported 36 cases on April 26, while the tally stood at 73 on the morning of April 30.

Five people tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Thursday, taking the UTs count to 73.

The patients are a 24-year-old man from Bapudham Colony, a 14-year-old boy and 39-year-old woman from Sector 52, and a 10-year-old boy and 32-year-old woman from Sector 30.

UT health secretary Arun Kumar Gupta said positive cases from Bapudham Colony and Sector 52 are the contacts of a 30-year-old man from Bapudham Colony who had tested positive on April 24.

The Sector-30 patients had come in contact with those who had tested positive during a door-to-door screening.

As many as 61% cases reported in Chandigarh have been detected in last six days. However, the source of infection, which started the transmission, has not been ascertained yet.

79-YEAR-OLD ADMITTED TO ICU

Doctors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, said barring a 79-year-old woman from Sector 38, who has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Covid-19 centre, all other patients are stable.

One 79-year-old woman from Sector 38, who had been shifted from the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital is being assisted through nasal prongs, an official spokesperson said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 19:01:31|Editor: huaxia

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VIENNA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) daily basket price increased to 14.36 U.S. dollars a barrel on Wednesday, compared with 12.41 dollars on Tuesday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations released on Thursday.

Also known as the OPEC reference basket of crude oil, the OPEC basket, a weighted average of oil prices from different OPEC members around the world, is used as an important benchmark for crude oil prices.

It currently averages the oil prices of 13 countries, namely Algeria, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Enditem
The Donmar Warehouse will stream an online production of Adam Brace's Midnight Your Time.

Directed by the venue's artistic director Michael Longhurst with assistant direction by Thomas Bailey, the piece will star Diana Quick (Electra) and be presented on the venue's YouTube channel from 7pm on 13 May 2020. It will then be available for a week.

The show originally premiered in 2011 and follows retired London lawyer Judy, who regularly communicates with her Palestine-based daughter online.

Quick's performance was recorded via webcam in isolation, with Longhurst directing remotely.

Longhurst said: "I am thrilled to be able to share this remotely rehearsed and filmed version of Adam's exquisitely crafted portrait of a distanced mother-daughter relationship. I had the great joy of directing Diana Quick a decade ago in this role, written especially for her, and wanted to revive this play as soon as Lockdown began.

"Adam's prescient presentation of a then-burgeoning method of digital communication is so entirely a part of our lives under lockdown; and its commentary on ageing and isolation resonate even more profoundly at this time. It has been a privilege to revisit the role of Judy with Diana  a formidable and funny retired European lawyer, struggling to understand why her refrain of drop us a line and stay safe' is falling on deaf ears - and a delight to capture her performance in this new medium and in the intimacy of her own home.

"I am determined that the Donmar continue to tell important stories that offer us connection in this moment when we cannot gather together in our theatre."
With the Union Home Ministry allowing inter-state movement of persons stranded across the country due to the coronavirus lockdown, all states are bracing up to handle the task of screening and quarantining thousands.

But before that happens, the Assam government is ensuring that thousands stranded across the state travel from one district to another to reach their homes, workplaces or bring back family members.

Inter-district travel within state

The process, which started on April 25 and will continue till May 2, involves coordination between various departments, huge logistical support and use of technology to ensure social distancing and safety norms related to Covid-19.

Till Wednesday, 48,770 people had taken permissions from district authorities and used their vehicles to travel from one district to another. Applications of 50,626 others are under process.

Similarly, around 28,000 persons were helped to reach their destinations within the state by over 1,200 buses belonging to the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) till Wednesday. The free service, which will continue till May 2, will benefit 13,000 more people.

This has eased one of the biggest problems we faced due to the lockdown. We will soon have to think about bringing back people stranded outside the state. But we need to be careful not to aggravate the Covid-19 situation in Assam, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

Assam has recorded 41 Covid-19 positive cases. While 1 patient has died, 29 others have recovered and 11 others are under treatment.

Transporting people while ensuring safety

The exercise to allow people to travel and also transport them from one place in the state to another was a huge task. A website was started for those travelling on their own to register themselves for passes. WhatsApp numbers for each of the 33 districts were also given for applicants to register. For those travelling in ASTC buses, the department gave a helpline number where people could call and register. This was followed by the allocation of e-tickets, coordinate routes of buses, ensure travel on particular dates etc.

We have been able to undertake this challenging task in a short span of time due to a beautiful combination of human brain, technology and coordination between persons and departments involved, said ASTC managing director Anand Prakash Tiwari.

There were some routes on which there were just one or two travelers and it was not feasible to send a bus for that. We had to keep every data in mind without getting confused as it could hamper operations on the ground, he added.

With a dedicated team of nearly 4,000 people - including call centre operators who handled queries to drivers and cleaners of buses who sanitized them - the department was able to plan routes of buses, passenger allocation and issue of e-tickets.

Despite the scale of the exercise, there was no laxity in the compliance of safety norms. Every passenger was screened before they boarded the buses. The police were present to ensure order and only 15-20 passengers were allowed to travel in each bus while maintaining social distance, said Tiwari.

Getting ready for those from outside

With travel and transportation of people stranded within the state done, Assam is now gearing up for the arrival of those stranded outside the state.

Once lakhs of people start coming back to the state from outside, our health experts apprehend that a second wave of infections could close in on us in Assam, Sarma said.

The minister had earlier said that the state government wanted to take care of those stranded within the state first before those from outside come in and the health machinery gets busy in screening and quarantining them, if needed.

The governments initiative to reach-out to people stranded outside Assam has led to nearly 6 lakh people giving missed calls on a helpline number. It is assumed that 20% to 30% of them could return once travel between states is allowed.

Assam is already planning a staggered entry of people from outside. Those who want to return will have to register themselves first following which they will be given permits allowing their return on specific dates. This will help keep a check on the number of people coming back and also ensure that they were quarantined properly.

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Former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop has criticised China for threatening Australia as the countries clash over coronavirus.

The Morrison government has called for an inquiry into the origins of the virus and accused China of not being 'transparent' about how it dealt with the outbreak.

On Sunday, the Chinese ambassador in Canberra warned Chinese consumers may boycott Australian goods to damage our economy in revenge.

Speaking to Sunrise host David Koch, Ms Bishop backed calls for an inquiry and criticised the ambassador's behaviour.

'The stability of our region depends on good relations between nations and exchanges between nations should be respectful and reasoned,' she said.

Ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop (right) greets the Chinese Ambassador Jingye Cheng while attending a Far North Queensland Trade and Investment Showcase in May 2017

'This is no time for threats or coercion by any nation against another because we are in the midst of a global pandemic.'

Ms Bishop said China should welcome an inquiry because it is a permanent member of the UN security council.

'The security council is required to uphold international peace and security and I believe this pandemic has been a threat to international security because of the profound disruption to the global economy, trade and society,' she said.

'There must be an investigation into how the virus first got into human populations, wherever it was first reported.'

Ms Bishop's comments came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also criticised the Chinese ambassador to Australia and again backed calls for an inquiry.

Ms Bishop's comments came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also criticised the Chinese ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye (pictured) and again backed calls for an inquiry

He said: 'I saw comments from the Chinese foreign ministry talking about coercive activity with respect to Australia, who had the temerity to ask for an investigation.

'Who in the world wouldn't want an investigation of how this happened to the world?

'We would urge every country, all of our partners, to demand that we get answers for what happened here, but also that we continue to have  we get the transparency, that the world gets the transparency it needs.'

Ms Bishop giving a talk in Sydney in November

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly called for a coronavirus investigation and has demanded changes in the 'upper echelons' of the World Health Organisation after it praised China's handling of the outbreak.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was 'seriously concerned and firmly opposed' to an inquiry and slammed foreign minister Marise Payne after she suggested China withheld information regarding the spread of the virus.

On Sunday, the Chinese ambassador to Australia Jingye Chen warned of a consumer backlash if Australia continues to push for an inquiry.

He told the AFR: 'The tourists may have second thoughts. The parents of the students would think whether this is the best place to send their kids.

'It is up to the people to decide. Maybe the ordinary people will say "why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?"

China is Australia's largest trading partner by far, buying around a third of our exports.
Why do bad things happen to good people? This vexing question was posed long before the events that are recorded in the Book of Job, which some scholars believe might be the oldest book in the Bible. Indeed, from time immemorial myriad calamities have befallen the morally upright, the elderly, the feeble and the young  those who seemingly dont deserve to suffer greatly. As Rev. Martin Luther King said, unearned suffering is redemptive. There is a name for this spiritual dilemma: theodicy. Theodicy can be defined as a vindication of Gods righteousness in a world that is filled with evil. In other words, God has a purpose for our pain  even though we might not understand it.

Agnostics and skeptics see things differently. They assert that god either is (1) willing, but not able, to stop evil or (2) is able, but not willing, to do so. The former, in their view, would indicate that God is arbitrary or even sadistic (i.e., not all-loving); the latter would indicate that he is impotent (i.e., not all-powerful). There are several variations on this theme, but I dont have space to offer a comprehensive theological treatment. You get the point 

For those who are not familiar with Job, he was a very wealthy man whom God extolled for his morality and faith. Yet, God allowed the devil to afflict Job in order to demonstrate his faithfulness. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Jobs experience is the fact that God initiates the dialogue with the Devil that results in this mans unfathomable suffering. (We use the phrase the patience of Job to indicate some peoples ability to endure hardships without complaint, but that phrase would be more accurately worded as the perseverance of Job. Job wasnt patient, but he did endure until God restored what he had allowed to be taken.) Some argue that God hustled the devil at Jobs expense  like the pool sharks or expert gamblers who initially lose on purpose in order to entice their opponents into being overconfident.

Recently I read about Martin Weingarten, who resided in Carmel. Weingarten was 100 years old when he died on April 16. As a child, he had survived the Spanish flu. As a young man, he had survived the Nazis. As an old man, he was surviving dementia. Yet, he succumbed to COVID-19. According to his nephew, Weingarten was very friendly, very happy and always the nicest guy in the room. For anyone who possesses even modest compassion, this elderly gentlemans death from the coronavirus seems like a cruel irony. Some will look at his passing and see Gods arbitrariness or even failure. Others will look at it and see Gods sovereign will, which is not subject to our approval  or even our understanding. Where we fall along that spectrum depends on the degree to which we have allowed God to form a relationship with us. (Note: God does not force his way into our lives.)

Of course, all of us suffer to some degree, irrespective of our level of iniquity. Thus, whether we are as pure as the driven snow, or as guilty as sin, it often feels as though our pain is disproportionate to any transgressions that we have committed. No matter who we are, the cosmic scales often seem to be out of balance (just as our all-too-human judicial scales often seem to be weighted against us). We imagine that Lady Justice is peeking out from under her blindfold.

In the end, I believe that it is critically important to understand the role that free will plays in human suffering. Our suffering can generally be traced back either to our actions or the actions of others, whether were discussing lung cancer, famine or climate change. (And its important to remember that the first two people, Adam and Eve, messed things up for everyone who has been born since.) It would be wrong to blame Toyota if we got drunk and injured ourselves or others in a car crash. Likewise, it is wrong to blame God for the consequences of our actions, whether as individuals or as humanity collectively.

Regardless of what we go through, it is important to learn  and always to bear in mind  that we have a heavenly father who cares for us. Jesus, in his model prayer (often referred to as the Lords Prayer), entreats us to acknowledge God as our Father. Similarly, the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:15 affirms the right of Gods children to address him by using the word Abba. An appropriate translation of that word is daddy. Some Christians might be surprised, or even taken aback, by what appears to be a colloquial  almost disrespectful  description. But I agree with theologian William MacDonald, who wrote  He who is infinitely high is also intimately nigh.

Christians should not consider it paradoxical that Gods absolute holiness does not contradict his desire to be close to us. (Please note the use of masculine pronouns for God is a biblical construction; God is not and has never been human, except in the person of Jesus Christ while he walked among us 2,000 years ago. Assigning a gender to God is an anthropomorphism that helps us to relate to him better.)

As a minister, I have long wrestled with these and other questions, both because of my personal inquisitiveness and because distressed people frequently turn to the clergy for solace and clarity in times of crisis. In trying to help people navigate the currents of life, there are times when it is appropriate to be a theological analyst; there are other times when it is infinitely better to be a sympathetic comforter. The reality is that it is often difficult to judiciously apply unvarnished truth and patient compassion at the same time, or even to discern when to apply one as opposed to the other. Above all, my role is to stress that God  our daddy  loves us more than we can possibly imagine. Admittedly, that is often difficult to believe given what we experience (directly or indirectly). But, in the wise words of our ancestors, we can take refuge in the knowledge that well understand it better by and by.

Larry Smith is a community leader. Contact him at larry@leaf-llc.com.
A great-great-grandfather who lived through the Spanish Flu, Great Depression and World War II has now conquered coronavirus - just in time for his 107th birthday.

Rudolph 'Rudi' Heider battled the deadly virus for weeks while quarantined at a nursing home in Chesterfield, Missouri.

On Tuesday his family finally received the joyous news that he'd been cleared to come out of isolation after reaching the two-week mark without any symptoms.

Rudolph 'Rudi' Heider officially triumphed over coronavirus on Tuesday - just in time for his 107th birthday. He is pictured with grandson Matthew Heider and his wife Janet

Rudi's grandson Matthew Heider said he and his wife Janet, who live in Bremerton and recently welcomed a grandchild of their own, spent the past month praying that he would recover whilst knowing the odds were not in their favor.

Janet fought back tears as she recounted getting the call that Rudi was sick last month.

'He was fighting fevers, I think he was at 102 and he had said he wanted to die.... I cried,' Janet told 11 Alive.

But just as he had done during many other trying times over his long lifetime - Rudi pulled through.

Rudi has been through a myriad of trying times over his lifetime - surviving the Spanish Flu, Great Depression and World War II. His grandson Matthew posted the photo compilation above, showing Rudi in his youth compared with in recent years

Asked what his grandfather's 'secret' was, Matthew Heider said: 'I think a lot of it is definitely having a positive attitude and his mind is so active.'

Rudi thanked the couple for their support when they called him on Tuesday to wish him a happy birthday.

'I love you very much,' Rudi said. 'Thank you, everyone, for all the help you've given me.'

His family shared the heartwarming story in hopes that it will inspire others to keep fighting even when it feels like there's no chance.

At 107 years old, Rudi is believed to be one of the oldest people on earth to recover from coronavirus.

He joins at least two other centenarians who have triumphed over the virus, which is known to have a much higher fatality rate among aging populations.

Earlier this month, 101-year-old Angelina Friedman of Westchester, New York, beat the virus after previously overcoming cancer and surviving the Spanish Flu.

Before Angelina, Connie Titchen, 106, was given a standing ovation as she was discharged from a hospital in Birmingham, England, three weeks after she tested positive for COVID-19.

And before Connie, 104-year-old Ada Zanusso was believed to be the oldest person in the world to recover after falling ill at her nursing home in Biella, Italy.

Angelina Friedman, a 101-year-old from New York who was born in the height of the Spanish flu in 1918 and went on to survive cancer, beat the novel coronavirus this month
NEW YORK/GENEVA/PARIS, 30 April  UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP, and World Bank today issued new guidelines on the safe reopening of schools amidst ongoing closures affecting nearly 1.3 billion students worldwide.

The guidelines caution that the widespread closures of educational facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present an unprecedented risk to children's education and wellbeing, particularly for the most marginalized children who rely on school for their education, health, safety, and nutrition. The guidelines offer practical advice for national and local authorities on how to keep children safe when they return to school.

While many students are falling behind in their learning journey because of prolonged school closures, the far from a straightforward decision of when and how to reopen schools, should be a priority, said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Once there is a green light on the health front, a whole set of measures will need to be in place to ensure that no student is left behind. These guidelines provide all-round guidance for governments and partners to facilitate the reopening of schools for students, teachers, and families. We share one goal, to protect and advance the right to education for every learner,

Rising inequality, poor health outcomes, violence, child labour, and child marriage are just some of the long-term threats for children who miss out on school, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. We know the longer children stay out of school, the less likely they are to ever return. Unless we prioritize the reopening of schools  when it is safe to do so  we will likely see a devastating reversal in education gains.

The guidelines note that while there is not yet enough evidence to measure the impact of school closures on disease transmission rates, the adverse effects of school closures on children's safety and learning are well documented. Gains made in increasing access to children's education in recent decades risk being lost and, in the worse cases, reversed completely.

In the poorest countries, children often rely on schools for their only meal of the day. But with many schools now closed because of COVID, 370 million children are missing out on these nutritious meals which are a lifeline for poor families. They are also being denied the health support they normally get through school. This could do lasting damage, so when schools reopen it is critical that these meal programmes and health services are restored, which can also help to draw the most vulnerable children back to school, said David Beasley, WFP Executive Director.

The best interests of children and overall public health considerations  based on an assessment of the associated benefits and risks to education, public health and socio-economic factors  must be central to national and local authorities' decisions to reopen schools, the guidelines say.

Schools must look at how they can reopen better  with improved learning and more comprehensive support for children at the school including health, nutrition, psychosocial support and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

As countries grapple with when to reopen schools, UNESCO, UNICEF and WFP  as part of the Global Education Coalition  urge governments to assess the benefits of classroom-based instruction compared to remote learning, and the risk factors related to reopening of schools, noting the inconclusive evidence around the infection risks related to school attendance.

Jointly presented for the first time during a meeting of education ministers convened by UNESCO yesterday on planning for the reopening of schools, the guidance includes:

Policy reform: Policy implications address all dimensions of the guidelines, including clear policies for school opening and closure during public health emergencies, reforms needed to expand equitable access for marginalised and out of school children as well as strengthen and standardize remote learning practices.

Financing requirements: Address the impact of COVID-19 on education and invest in strengthening education systems for recovery and resilience.

Safe operations: Ensure conditions that reduce disease transmission, safeguard essential services and supplies and promote healthy behaviour. This includes access to soap and clean water for safe handwashing, procedures on when staff or students feel unwell, protocols on social distancing and good hygiene practices.

Compensating learning: Focus on practices that compensate for lost instructional time, strengthen pedagogy and build on hybrid learning models such as integrating approaches in remote and distance education. This must include knowledge on disease transmission and prevention.

Wellness and protection: Expand the focus on students' well-being and reinforce the protection of children through enhanced referral mechanisms and the provision of essential school-based services including healthcare and school feeding.

Reaching the most marginalised: Adapt school opening policies and practices to expand access to marginalised groups such as previously out-of-school children, displaced and migrant children and minorities. Diversify critical communications and outreach by making them available in relevant languages and in accessible formats.

"Once schools begin to reopen, the priority becomes reintegrating students into school settings safely and in ways that allow learning to pick up again, especially for those who suffered the biggest learning losses. This is a critical moment as it is the launching pad for a new normal that should be more effective and equitable. To manage reopenings, schools will need to be logistically prepared with the teaching workforce ready. And they will need to have plans specifically for supporting learning recovery of the most disadvantaged students. The guidelines offer a framework for moving forward that the major UN agencies are aligned around," said Jaime Saavedra, World Bank Global Director for Education.

About UNESCO

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

About World Food Programme

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
The legislative article of Alabamas 1901 Constitution says "The doors of each house shall be opened, but Alabama lawmakers will return to work Monday in a State House thats mostly closed to the public.

Legislative officials said it would be almost impossible to follow social distancing rules while allowing the usual access for lobbyists, advocacy groups, and the general public.

The legislative session has been on hold since March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The restart will come with safeguards like moving some lawmakers to a balcony normally used by spectators and wearing masks.

House Clerk Jeff Woodard and Senate Secretary Pat Harris said technology upgrades, with help from Alabama Public Television, will help people follow the proceedings without being inside the State House.

The House plans to offer live stream video from the House chamber over the Legislatures website, ALISON. Previously, the House has offered only audio. The Senate will continue to offer live stream video on ALISON.

ALISON and the Alabama Public TV website plan to live stream video of committee meetings in the two main meeting rooms.

Were taking every step we possibly can to make sure people have access in some form or fashion, Woodard said.

The press will be allowed but some will be in different locations than normal because of the need to spread legislators out.

The main business for legislators is to pass the education and General Fund budgets for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. The session must end by May 18.

Some legislators, including House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels and Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, have said it was too soon to restart the session because of uncertainties over how the pandemic will affect state finances and the risk of spreading infection to members and staff.

Gina Maiola, press secretary for Gov. Kay Ivey, said the governor has told legislative leaders she is surprised that they want to pass budgets now because of uncertainty about tax revenues. The governor and the Department of Revenue extended the deadline for filing state income taxes to July 15.

Republican leaders said its important to pass the budgets and that there will be a chance to revise them in a special session this summer if needed.

Section 57 of Alabamas 1901 Constitution says: The doors of each house shall be opened except on such occasions as, in the opinion of the house, may require secrecy, but no person shall be admitted to the floor of either house while the same is in session, except members of the legislature, the officers and employees of the two houses, the governor and his secretary, representatives of the press, and other persons to whom either house, by unanimous vote, may extend the privileges of its floor.

Othni Lathram, director of the Legislative Services Agency, said Section 57 is one part of Alabamas heavily amended Constitution that hasnt changed. Lathram said he does not think it has been interpreted by a court.

Lathram said he thinks the intent is that the work of the Legislature should be as open and transparent as possible. He said he believes the plan for next week meets that standard considering the COVID-19 crisis.

I guess the bottom line is, I cant point to a case that says what were doing comports with Section 57, Lathram said. "I think under the circumstances it does. And I think its kind of a best appropriate effort to get the business of the state done in as responsible a manner as possible under the circumstances.

Harris said people can meet with senators by appointment in the State House. Senators will escort their guests from the State House lobby to their offices and back.

Woodard said appointments with House members will have to be held somewhere other than the State House.

Social distancing is more of a challenge in in the House because it has 105 members to the Senates 35.

Woodard said about 53 House members will be spaced out in the chamber. Most of the rest will be seated in the gallery on the sixth floor. Two overflow rooms are also available.

Normally on legislative days, lobbyists wait in the hallways to speak to legislators and watch the proceedings from the galleries overlooking the House and Senate floor.

Jess Brown, a former professor of political science at Athens State University and a former lobbyist for the University of Alabama System and the city of Huntsville, said the live streaming is not a substitute for being inside the State House and having fast access to a copy of an amendment or watching the interactions between lawmakers that arent captured on the video.

You can see a lot if you can see the rest of the room, Brown said.

Brown said he understands the health crisis forced some change in procedures. He said its probably a close call whether virtual access, properly implemented, lives up to the intent of Section 57.

Brown said another possibility would be to rotate small groups from the public in for specific time slots, like he said was done for some of the Watergate proceedings.

Tom Dart, lobbyist for the Automobile Dealers Association of Alabama, said he believes legislative officials are trying to make the best of a tough situation and does not have a problem with the plan. Dart said it would be a concern if the Legislature was planning to consider a large number of bills on multiple topics. But legislative leaders have said they will stick mostly to the two budgets, local bills, and a bond issue for education.

Everybody Ive talked to is relieved they dont have to go down there, Dart said.

This story was updated at 9:16 a.m. on May 1 to say that Gov. Kay Ivey was surprised by the move to pass budgets now.
CBC

The U.S. inflation rate is at its highest level in 40 years and shows no signs of slowing down, new data revealed on Wednesday. The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.5 per cent in December alone, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, enough to push the annual inflation rate to seven per cent for the first time since 1982. The figure was in line with what economists were expecting, but up from the previous 40-year high of 6.8 per cent in November. Higher prices for shelter and for used cars
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 02:26:56|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed 10 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total to 384.

Mercy Mwangangi, Chief Administrative Secretary of Health, said the cases were detected from 508 samples which were tested in the last 24 hours.

She said that out of the 10 cases, nine are from the coastal city of Mombasa and one from Nairobi city.

"All the nine cases in Mombasa were picked from amongst the communities by our disease surveillance teams," Mwangangi told journalists during the Ministry of Health's daily briefing.

She said five more patients have since recovered from the deadly virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 129.

The official said that one person died while undergoing treatment, bringing the number of fatalities to 15 since the outbreak of the disease in Kenya on March 13.

Mwangangi, however, expressed rising concern about Nairobi and Mombasa counties being the main sources of infections in the country, adding that the ministry may be forced to increase the containment measures.

"Even as the spotlight is directed at the two counties, it is not licensed for the other counties to celebrate and for their guard. Rather, it is a call to action for the rest of the country to enhance containment measures and ensure that the virus is at bay, and the curve flattened," she added.

Mwangangi said that the government is organizing additional surveillance and management support among other interventions to Mombasa County and cautioned Kenyans to desist from stigmatizing people who have recovered from COVID-19.

"While we celebrate these recoveries, we are disturbed that re-integration has not been easy for others because of being stigmatized. We have reports of stigmatization by members of the community for our recovered cases. This is unfortunate considering our constant appeal and massive education to ensure that people are accepted back in the community," said Mwangangi. Enditem
With his 2019 novel, Sanctify (published by AuthorHouse), William Reynolds offered readers a work of fiction rife with fresh historical perspective examining the mystery surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy.

This year, the author launches a new press campaign for the book to reach out to a wider audience and invite them discover what Jesus Ortega has got to do with this incident whose impact on American history was incalculable.

James Ortega was 15 when his Cuban half-brother, Jesus, was a buried casualty of Vietnam. Not until he meets his brothers fiancee, the beautiful and enigmatic Kathy Shine, does he entertain the possibility that Jesus is still alive and the buried casket is empty.

Frustrated on all fronts, James finally contacts Paul Deland who holds a high position in naval intelligence. So begins the search for the mysterious Jesus, a search that forces readers to examine their own disturbing times, in light of tenuous yet highly evocative, connections with history.

What forces  either emergent or centrally planned  have subtly changed American life? Reynolds explores this question and more in Sanctify. In this fictionalized biography, he examines every aspect of the assassin, including the forces high into the American government and military intelligence, who controlled the planning for what amounted to a coup.

Never has anyone dared to write a book which confronts not only the truth about the assassination, but it captures the entire changing wave of the 60s and 70s, the author states. (I want readers) to take an exhaustive research and learn about topic.

Visit https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/799532-sanctify to purchase copy.

Sanctify

By William Reynolds

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 426 pages | ISBN 9781728320847

E-Book | 426 pages | ISBN 9781728320830

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

William Reynolds was born in Nashville in 1951. He received his bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee and now holds a masters in English. In 1983, he co-wrote The Murder Of Che Guevara. In 2001, after taking a teaching position, he wrote the critically acclaimed World War II novel, The Reich Mutiny. Five years later, he published Sanctify. Reynolds retired in 2012 and subsequently published his fourth novel, MENA.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrates over 23 years of service to authors. For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 1-888-519-5121.
President Moon Jae-in greets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ahead of their summit in Chengdu, China, Dec. 24, 2019. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae



By Do Je-hae



Korea's model responses to the COVID-19 have resulted in rising calls from many countries for help with crucial tools such as test kits and masks. The crisis has given Korea a chance to extend its cooperation with other countries not only in relation to the pandemic but also in other fields in the future.



With Japan, however, the cooperative mood is going backward. The relations between the two countries, which soured over historical and trade-related disputes, are becoming even worse as Japan continues downplaying Korea's quarantine models and Korea in return opposes humanitarian aid to Japan.



According to a recent Asahi Shimbun report, the Japanese health authority hinted that they will first test the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits for detecting COVID-19 infections before using possible supplies from Korea. This is seen to reflect a mistrust in the accuracy of Korean test kits, which have been praised worldwide for their efficiency.



Following the report, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said during a briefing on April 27 that the two countries had not discussed cooperation on COVID-19.



Korea is not showing the level of enthusiasm for offering support to Japan as has it has done with other countries.



"Our government is receiving requests from many countries for exports and humanitarian aid regarding our quarantine products. For this, we have created a taskforce team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the overseas expansion of goods related to COVID-19," Yoon Tae-ho, head of the quarantine team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, during a briefing, Tuesday.



"But we are not considering support for Japan at this time," he said, adding Korea decides on support by comprehensively considering various factors such as the level of stock of test kits or other quarantine items in the countries that seek help.



The ministry also said that it had no plans to send masks to Japan. This came in response to a local media report that the Korean government could consider delivering masks to Japan via the Korean-Japanese community.



Yet some Koreans continue to display negative sentiment toward supporting Japan. Close to 10 petitions have been posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website claiming it was inappropriate to consider providing masks to Japan, gaining tens of thousands of signatures.



"First, Japan is a country that can solve its mask shortage problem by expanding mask production facilities or increasing imports from China," one petitioner wrote. "Japan has ridiculed Korea's COVID-19 response until recently. If Korea has enough masks, it needs to provide them to other countries with the exception of Japan."



Such responses came as Japan had previously dismissed the efficacy of Korea's COVID-19 response. Now reporting a large number of confirmed cases, Japan has adopted many of Korea's response models, including drive-thru testing.



Japan also tightened entry restrictions for travelers from Korea in early March at the height of infections here. In response, Korea also toughened entry rules on travelers entering the country  temporarily suspending visa waivers for Japanese citizens and strengthening the screening process for new visa issuance. On Monday, Japan announced an extension of its entry ban on travelers from Korea and other countries until the end of May.



The delay of the Tokyo Olympics due to the international spread of COVID-19 is also seen as a major hindrance to improving Korea-Japan relations.



Before the pandemic, the Tokyo Summer Olympics Games had been eyed as an occasion for high-level exchanges between the two countries. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Korea to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. During a New Year's press conference, President Moon Jae-in said that a high-level delegation could be sent to the Olympics.



Since the outbreak of the virus, Moon has spoken to 30 heads of states on the phone regarding COVID-19 responses, starting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Feb. 2, according to the presidential office. U.S. President Donald Trump has called twice asking for Korea to export test kits. But Moon and Abe have not spoken on the phone yet.



Bilateral relations have been strained since October 2018, when Korea's Supreme Court ruled in favor of surviving Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea. Since then, the two countries have additionally clashed on trade and security issues.


Former governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Dr Raghuram Rajan, has said that if India has to go for a second or third lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus disease Covid-19, it will be devastating for the countrys economy.

Its very important to have as much information about the issue as possible. We have to start thinking about starting peoples livelihoods, and it has to be sequenced. The reopening is not just about office, it is also about following social distancing on the way to and coming back from your workplace, Dr Rajan said while speaking to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on a video dialogue.

Second or third lockdown will be devastating. It does diminish our credibility. We dont have to aim for 100 per cent success - it is not possible too - we have to manage the reopening, Dr Rajan added.

The dialogue with Rajan was first in the series that Gandhi plans to hold with public intellectuals. It included a detailed discussion on the state of the economy and how to revive it in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

To really be confident about reopening up of economy, you have to triple up the number of tests which is currently happening in India. You have to have about a million tests, if you want a confidence like the United States, Dr Rajan added.

The dialogue was pre-recorded and disseminated by the Congress on social media.

A slew of changes in the Congress party has recently been interpreted by many party leaders as a sign of Gandhis return to presidency. Most recently, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi constituted an 11-member consultative group under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs leadership to deliberate on matters related to the Covid-19 pandemic and to formulate the partys views on them.

The group also includes Rahul Gandhi, Randeep Singh Surjewala, KC Venugopal, P Chidambaram, Manish Tewari, Jairam Ramesh, Praveen Chakravarty, Gaurav Vallabh, Supriya Shrinate and Rohan Gupta. This is the first time Rahul Gandhi has become a member of a party panel since he stepped down as the Congress chief last year. The group has been holding extensive meetings and offering suggestions to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on how to address the Covid-19 crisis.
Yesterday Gazprom agreed to change the price conditions for gas supplies to Poland through the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline established by the Stockholm arbitration court, the head of the Polish state concern PGNiG informed. In November last year, Warsaw said it was not going to extend the Yamal contract, which expires by the end of 2022. PGNiG intends to increase LNG supplies from the USA and Norway.

The Yamal-Europe gas pipeline passes through the territory of Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. Its construction began in 1994, and with the commissioning of the last Yamal-Europe compressor station in 2006, it reached its design capacity of 32.9 bln cubic meters per year. The mainline originates from the Torzhok gas transmission hub in the Tver region, the gas is supplied from the Northern Regions of the Tyumen Region (SRTO) - Torzhok pipeline. The Belarussian section is 575 km long, the Polish - 683 km. The westernmost point of the gas pipeline is the Malnov compressor station in the Frankfurt region near the German-Polish border, where the gas pipeline connects to the YAGAL-Nord gas transmission system, which, in turn, connects it to the STEGAL-MIDAL-Rehden UGS.

European gas consumers, especially in Germany, are dependent on Polands willingness to set reasonable transit tariffs for the Polish section of the Yamal gas pipeline. But a deadline looms, and the risk of disruption exists, writes Danila Bochkarev in the article Another Russian pipeline deadline approaches  this time with Poland in focus for Euractiv. In December 2019, Russias Gazprom and Ukraines Naftogaz signed a new gas transit agreement which put an end to 18 months of EU-backed negotiations and the issue of energy transit disappeared from the EU energy agenda. However, there is another gas deadline approaching with no Brussels bureaucrats lending a hand this time, to bring the parties towards a mutually acceptable deal, as the transit contract for the volumes shipped via the Polish section of the Yamal  Europe pipeline expires in May 2020.

Poland has a long history of successful cooperation with Gazprom both as a consumer and a transit state. As of 1 January 2020, around 335.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Gazprom gas have been sold in Poland. In 1993 Gazprom and Polish state-owned gas company PGNiG established a joint-venture company (EuRoPol Gaz S.A) to build and operate the Yamal-Europe pipeline. In this respect, PGNiG was the first European company to create a new joint gas transportation company with Gazprom after the end of the Soviet Union. The pipeline was commissioned in 1996. Upon completing the last compressor station in 2006, the pipeline became fully operational and reached its planned capacity of 33 bcm/year.

Polish and Russian companies agreed to offset Gazproms investment against transit fees (with prices of Gazprom gas supplied to Poland also being part of the equation) which kept Polands transit revenues within certain limits. The transit deal was followed by a supply agreement signed in 1996. In November 2019, PGNiG formally declared its intent not to renew the contract which is expiring in 2022. From the very beginning, Poland and Russia disagreed on the transit fees methodology. Gazprom stressed that the pipeline should just recover costs and not make any significant profit, while the Polish side insisted on the higher transit fees and consider the project primarily as an additional source of income.

In 2020, transit capacity of the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe pipeline are available through auctions and therefore subject to the EUs Third Energy Package rules as elsewhere in the EU. Poland already declared its intention to increase transit tariffs, potentially even exceeding the current Ukraine transit fee.

Should Poland decide to follow this path, they would infringe the EU energy acquis. For example, high fixed ship-or-pay commitments and the level of transit fees in Ukraines transit deal are hardly compatible with the letter and the spirit of EU energy law and plans for gas infrastructure investment in Ukraine.

European network codes also stipulate that gas transport companies should cover a reasonable return on their investment, operating costs but should not generate excessive revenues.

The issue of transit itself also became increasingly politicised. In 2002-2014, Poland and Russia had been discussing the enlargement of the gas corridor and building a new pipeline towards Slovakia and Hungary via Poland.

In April 2013, Gazprom and EuRoPol Gaz signed an MoU to build Yamal-Europe-2 pipeline, but then Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk reacted negatively and the project got stalled. Following Tusks statement, Poland started to reduce its reliance on Gazproms gas and has already achieved a high diversification of its transport and could meet over 90% of its gas demand from non-Russian.

Poland rapidly emerges as a regional gas hub aimed at re-exporting LNG to the neighbouring countries and sees other regional infrastructure projects (for example, such as Nord Stream 1&2 pipelines) as competitors, also threatening the gas flows via the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe pipeline by making the use of this pipeline commercially less attractive.

Generally, Poland is a pioneer in legal attacks against competing infrastructure projects. In May 2018, Polands Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has initiated proceedings against Gazprom and five international entities responsible for financing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

The General Court  on Polands request annulled the exemption regime for the operation of the OPAL gas pipeline. The delay in the Nord Stream  2 construction was also at least partly due to active Polands (Polish daily Rzeczpospolita published a report covering this issue) and Naftogaz of Ukraines lobbying in the United States.

Last but not least: Polish gas company PGNiG requested German energy regulator Bnetza to be included in the consultation on the derogation for the Nord Stream 2.

European gas consumers, especially in Germany, are therefore becoming depended on Polands willingness to set reasonable transit tariffs for the Polish section of the Yamal  Europe pipeline as the price they pay for their gas imports will be partially dependent on the transportation costs.

The EU consumers vulnerability is increased by the fact that there is an objective contractual and, going forward, physical cap limiting the volumes which could be shipped via Ukraine as transit flows will decrease to 40 bcm/year as of January 2021.

In March 2020, the CEO of Ukrainian gas TSO Sergiy Makogon announced that his company plans to maintain and refurbish only around 40 bcm/year of a transit pipeline capacity and decommission the remainder.

In this situation, Poland might be tempted  as Ukraine did in the past  to use this quasi transport monopoly (in relation to Yamal-Europe pipeline) to ask for additional concessions. Poland has already an improved negotiation position: Ukraine capacity is settled at a capped rate, while Nord Stream 2 is dragged through every possible legal battlefield to extend the delay or undermine the projects business case.

The continuation of a stable and affordable gas transport via Poland is, however, a matter of strategic importance both for Germanys and the EUs energy security. Warsaw should remember that European energy solidarity is a two-way street and also applies to other EU member states, not solely to Poland and the Baltics.

Furthermore, if the Polish transit tariff is too high, it would be difficult for Poland and PGNiG to argue that the Nord Stream -2 is detrimental to Polands/EUs energy security by making the use of the Yamal-Europe pipeline less attractive and ultimately unsustainable.

In fact, introducing excessive transit fee could be hardly seen as a gesture making the pipeline more attractive for the customers.
(Natural News) Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco have discovered a mysterious group of neurons in the amygdala  the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing and for governing social behaviors and interactions. These neurons, they noted, remain in an immature state throughout a persons childhood.

While most of these neurons mature quickly once a person reaches adolescence, suggesting that they play a role in the emotional development of the brain, some stay in their immature state throughout life. For this reason, the researchers gave them the moniker Peter Pan neurons.

During adolescence  long after most of the brain has finished growing  the amygdala continues to expand. It gains as many as two million new neurons. Research on the amygdala suggests that this late growth spurt plays a key role in the emotional development of humans. However, this development can also go wrong.

Studies have found that it is around this time that many mood disorders, such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder, usually emerge. Children with autism also lack this expansion of the amygdala. (Related: Children with autism appear to lose neurons related to social and emotional behavior as they age, study finds.)

Researchers examined postmortem brains

According to Shawn Sorrells, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, most of the cells in the brain are already mature by the time a person is born.

Its fascinating that these [the Peter Pan neurons] are some of the very last cells to mature in the human brain, and most do so during puberty, precisely when huge developments in emotional intelligence are going on.

In their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, Sorrells and his team tried to understand the Peter Pan neurons and their role in the rapid growth of the amygdala during childhood. To do this, they examined the amygdalas of 49 human brains postmortem. The age of these brains ranged from 20-weeks old to 78-years old.

Using molecular and anatomical techniques, the researchers determined the function and maturity of the Peter Pan neurons. They found that the majority of them are concentrated in the paralaminar nucleus during childhood; but this population declines rapidly during adolescence. This, according to the researchers, could help explain the rapid growth of the amygdala during adolescence. However, Sorrells and his team werent able to uncover the exact role these cells play in the rapid emotional development undergone by adolescents.

The brain may be keeping Peter Pan neurons as reserves

The number of immature cells in the paralaminar nucleus declines from around 90 percent to 70 percent between birth and the age of 13. But by the end of adolescence, only about 20 percent of the neurons in that brain region remain the same.

Sorrells and his team noted that as the immature Peter Pan cells disappear, they are replaced by mature excitatory neurons  neurons that trigger a positive change. This suggests that when the Peter Pan cells mature, they take their place in the amygdala, where various emotions are processed. The timing of their development suggests that they may be part of the brains emotional processing circuitry, but Sorrells is quick to point out that their study didnt have enough evidence.

You could imagine these immature cells let the brain continue to sculpt the structure of neural circuits and their growth once you are out in the world experiencing what its like, said Sorrells. Of course, thats just speculation at this point  one of the fascinating questions these findings open up for future study.

On the other hand, the researchers also found that some neurons in the amygdala remain immature even until old age. In their previous study, Sorrells and his colleagues reported that the formation of new neurons in the brain declines during childhood and occurs very rarely in adulthood. Their new finding, therefore, suggests that the brain may be keeping these Peter Pan neurons as reserves because of this decline. The researchers hypothesized that these new cells may be used in old age to maintain the flexibility of the brains emotional responses.

For more exciting research about how the human brain functions, be sure to check out the articles at Brain.news.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

Nature.com
Donald Trump has issued an optimistic assessment of the worlds route out of the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting Covid-19 will be eradicated with or without a vaccine.

If you dont have a vaccine, if the virus is gone, we are like we were before ... Having a vaccine would be a great thing, and I think we are going to get there in this case. I want to get back with or without, the president said during a White House meeting with business leaders. But obviously we have to wait until it is gone. And it will be gone.

Pressed by a reporter who asked why he believed that even without a vaccine the virus will just be gone, Mr Trump replied: Its gonna go. Its gonna leave. Its gonna be gone. Its gonna be eradicated.

And it might take longer, it might be in smaller sections  Again, if you have a flare-up in a certain area, if you have a  I call them burning embers  boom. You put it out. We know how to put it out now. But we put it out.

The presidents remarks repeated an assertion he made at another briefing earlier this week, where he said: I think what happens is its going to go away. This is going to go away. He acknowledged that the virus might come back in a modified form, but said the US was now prepared to put out spurts.

He made a similar prediction in late February at a meeting to mark Black History Month. Its going to disappear, he reassured his audience. One day  its like a miracle  it will disappear.

This notion does not appear to be supported by experts, including those advising the president directly. Dr Anthony Fauci recently predicted that the US could be in for a bad autumn and winter depending on how effectively the country moves to protect itself.

Its inevitable that we will have a return of the virus, or maybe that it never even went away. When it does, how we handle it will determine our fate, the expert said.

Other countries are making clear that they consider the development of a vaccine a prerequisite for returning to normal life. The UKs chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, told a press conference last week: In the long run, the exit from this is going to be one of two things, ideally. A vaccine, and there are a variety of ways they can be deployed... or, and or, highly effective drugs so that people stop dying of this disease even if they catch it, or which can prevent this disease in vulnerable people.

The US government is reportedly attempting to fast-track the development and testing of a coronavirus vaccine via a programme called Operation Warp Speed. Its goal is to accelerate the development of a vaccine from 12-18 months to a mere eight, and to build up enough stocks to vaccinate the bulk of its population by January 2021.

More than 58,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the US  the highest total anywhere in the world, notwithstanding claims that China is underreporting its own death toll. Some 1 million people have been infected.

Until the pandemic struck Mr Trump had made the strength of the American economy the central pillar of his re-election campaign, but coronavirus has forced a massive reduction of activity and an associated spike in unemployment. The president is now urging states to re-open their economies after weeks of lockdown.

At the same time as he has lost his main campaigning tool the president is fighting widespread criticism of his administrations uneven response to Covid-19. In the face of those attacks, the presidents son-in-law and close adviser Jared Kushner insisted yesterday on Fox and Friends that the governments response had been a great success story, and talked up Americas capacity to test for the virus.
[April 30, 2020] Mary Kay Canada Donates Tens of Thousands of Hand Sanitizers Units to Federal Government, First Responders Battling COVID-19

In late March, Mary Kay Inc. announced the company would dedicate part of its global supply chain and manufacturing capabilities to producing much-needed hand sanitizer. Today, Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd., the brand's Canadian market, announced it will donate tens of thousands of hand sanitizer units to the Canadian federal government and Canadian first responders. The much-needed supplies will reach the front lines in the next week. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005112/en/



Lynda Rose, Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd. General Manager and board member of the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (Photo: Mary Kay Inc.)

"We have a responsibility to assist the frontline workers battling COVID-19 in the communities where we live and work throughout Canada," said Lynda Rose, Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd. General Manager. "As an essential manufacturer of hygiene and self-care products, we're uniquely positioned to support those who are working tirelessly to mitigate and end the pandemic." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to prevent infections. But because of consumer demand, there's been a great shortage in CDC-recommended hand sanitizer in homes and healthcare settings. Along with the units distributed through the federal government, Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd. will provide hand sanitizers to healthcare systems and first responders in its headquarter city, Mississauga, ON (News - Alert). Thousands of units will be donated to Trillium Health System, William Osler Health Partners, and Peel Region First Responders. "It's our hope that with Mary Kay's ability to quickly produce hand sanitizer, combined with the federal government's swift action in securing logistics and distribution channels, we'll be able to provide some relief to those who need it most," added Rose. About Mary Kay One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her beauty company more than 56 years ago with three goals: develop rewarding opportunities for women, offer irresistible products, and make the world a better place. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skin care, colour cosmetics, and fragrances. Mary Kay is committed to empowering women and their families by partnering with organizations from around the world, focusing on supporting cancer research, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Mary Kay Ash's original vision continues to shine-one lipstick at a time. Learn more at MaryKay.ca. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005112/en/

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Authorities have released the name of the young man killed Wednesday in a shootout at an east Birmingham apartment complex.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the victim as Quanderius Decarlos Amison. He would have turned 19 today.

The shooting happened at 2:45 p.m. at Devonshire Apartments off Sunhill Road in the Center Point area. Police received multiple calls about gunfire in the area and then another call from a woman saying there was a body in the parking lot.

Amison collapsed in the parking lot next to a sidewalk. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 3 p.m. by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.

Sgt. Rod Mauldin said Amison died in a shootout but it wasnt immediately clear if he was directly involved. A motive has not been released.

As of late Wednesday night, two people were in custody but they were questioned and released.

The deadly shooting is Birminghams 39th homicide so far in 2020. Of those, five have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 59 homicides, including the 39 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information in Amisons slaying is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
An enigmatic predatory dinosaur that lived in northern Africa about 95 million years ago possessed a long, powerful tail that may have propelled it through water, new fossils suggest.

If true, this beast, close to 40 feet long and not yet fully grown when it died, was a rarity: a dinosaur that swam.

What we have here is a dinosaur that was not just a wader but an animal that was actively pursuing prey in the water column, said Nizar Ibrahim, a professor of biology at the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan.

In a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature, Ibrahim and his colleagues described the skeleton of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus  its name means Egyptian spine lizard. Long spines rose vertically from the bones in the 15-foot-long tail, forming a finlike structure that, the scientists theorize, could undulate back and forth.

Think of it as a cross between a lizard and an eel  at the scale of a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Its an animal that really has no modern-day equivalent, Ibrahim said. Youre working on an extraterrestrial from outer space in many ways.

In a water tank, the scientists showed that a plastic cutout in the shape of the tail was better at generating propulsion than the tails of other dinosaurs. The thrust and efficiency was comparable to contemporary aquatic creatures like crocodiles, the scientists said.

In addition to the tail being weird-looking, it also made perfect sense, said Matthew C. Lamanna, a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, who was one of the reviewers of the Nature paper.

David Hone, a paleontologist at Queen Mary University of London in England, who was not involved with the research, lauded the fossil specimen. We dont have too many good dinosaur tails, generally, he said. Its really quite weird in lots of ways, which is really interesting and really neat.

But, he added, Im extremely unconvinced by some of the ecological interpretations that they placed on it.

Hone said the small-scale experiments were intriguing, but that it was too much of a stretch to claim that Spinosaurus was a fast enough swimmer to chase down prey in the water.

Its not that theyre wrong, he said. Its just I dont think you can support that argument with the available data.

Dinosaurs, which arose nearly a quarter billion years ago, ruled land on Earth for 180 million years and then, evolving into birds, they also ruled the skies. But for all of that time, dinosaurs appeared to stay out of the water. (Other reptiles of the era, like plesiosaurs and mosasaurs, did swim in the seas, but they were not dinosaurs.)

Spinosaurus is definitely a dinosaur. Its classified among a group known as theropods, which also include tyrannosaurs and velociraptors.

But Spinosaurus was a strange theropod.

In 2014, Ibrahim described a well-preserved fossil unearthed in Morocco, arguing that it possessed features  crocodilelike jaws, dense bones that might have served as ballast, flat feet that resembled paddles  that seemed suited for life in water. Today, this region is the Sahara, the largest desert in the world. But in the days of the Cretaceous period, when Spinosaurus roamed, it was a vast system of rivers and lakes.

But not everyone was convinced that this dinosaur was truly aquatic. Scientists studied one incomplete skeleton that did not look like an adept swimmer, leading many paleontologists to presume that Spinosaurus lived a life similar to grizzly bears today: on land most of the time, occasionally wading into shallow water to snare some fish to eat.

We didnt really have a motor, a propulsive structure that would really plausibly demonstrate how this animal would actually move through the water, Ibrahim said. It was met with quite a bit of resistance, and thats because there is a deeply entrenched dogma that essentially says dinosaurs never truly invaded the aquatic world.

From 2015 to 2019, Ibrahim returned several times to the site in Morocco. Little did we know that the most exciting part was still buried in the rocks when we described the first part of the skeleton, he said.

The team removed more than 15 tons of rocks on a steep slope, persevering through sandstorms, snakes, flooding and 120-degree heat. Ibrahim recalled when they found a bone near the end of the tail that had a long spine sticking upward. I just thought, This is really weird, he said.

Unlike the tails of most carnivorous dinosaurs, Spinosaurus tail bones were not interlocked, and that suggests the tail could wiggle more, undulating back and forth in a snakelike motion.

To buttress that assertion, Ibrahim reached out to Stephanie E. Pierce, a professor of organismic and evolutionary biology at Harvard who reconstructs the motions of extinct animals.

Pierce and a Harvard colleague, George V. Lauder, who studies the biomechanics of fish, used an apparatus in which a two-dimensional piece of flexible plastic in the shape of the tail  about 8 inches long, not life-size  was attached to a robotic arm lowered into flowing water. They measured the amount of thrust produced as the tail moved back and forth.

It produced way more thrust than other dinosaur tails; more in line with what you expect to see in a modern semiaquatic animal like a crocodile or a salamander or a newt, Pierce said. Other theropod tails were horrible. They were inefficient.

Donald M. Henderson, curator of dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, Canada, said it was likely that Spinosaurus lived at the edges of water and ate fish  the grizzly bear lifestyle  but he remained doubtful that Spinosaurus was much of a swimmer.

No way, he said. My first thing is, they havent actually demonstrated that this tail could produce enough force to propel a 6 1/2-ton body through the water.

What the researchers should have done, Henderson said, is taken the experimental results and scaled them to the full size of the dinosaur.

He said the researchers should have also considered whether Spinosaurus could have enough muscles to move such a long, heavy tail, and how much drag the giant sail on its back  its most characteristic feature  would have produced.

You try dragging a big billboard through the water, Henderson said. It doesnt work.

He said the shape of Spinosaurus also appeared too buoyant and prone to tipping over, unlike the wider bodies of crocodiles. They havent properly addressed this capsizing problem, Henderson said.

Pierce said Henderson did have a valid point, but the more detailed calculations are not simple. This is definitely the first pass at this, she said. Its going to ruffle some feathers. And Im sure its going to lead to all sorts of cool analyses.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Turbulence on the stock market brought on by the coronavirus crisis has led to a surge in online trading.

It has also boosted demand for shares in companies that specialise in this industry.

Billionaire Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder Stephen Lansdown found the companys stock was so sought after that, when he launched his latest sale of shares, he had to increase the amount up for grabs twice.

Stephen Lansdown found the companys stock was so sought after that, when he launched his latest sale of shares, he had to increase the amount up for grabs twice

The 67-year-old was intending to sell 100million of stock but this was increased to 135million and then, finally, to 160million.

Landsown, who set up the company 40 years ago with Peter Hargreaves, sold 10.32m shares  or a 2.1 per cent stake in the group.

He originally owned 27 per cent of the company when it floated in 2007 but has pared this down to what is now a 6.5 per cent stake, worth around 440million at current prices.

Lansdown said the decision to sell off another chunk now was so that he could free up money to make other investments and spread the risk. Shares in Hargreaves Lansdown, which drew criticism for its close ties with disgraced fund manager Neil Woodford, fell 12.6 per cent, or 208.5p, to 1440.5p last night.

Pharmaceutical company investors, on the other hand, were given a shot in the arm by more coronavirus-related advances.

Stock Watch - Conroy Gold and Natural Resources Conroy Gold and Natural Resources shares bounced after it found another outcrop of gold in an area it is exploring in Ireland. The deposit is in a zone of land close to its Glenish gold target where the company wants to build its first mine. AIM-listed Conroy has also been scouring local archives, uncovering historical data that shows there could be even more of the yellow metal in the area. Shares jumped 17.2pc, or 1.65p, to 11.25p.

Astrazeneca rose 1.4 per cent, or 115p, to 8322p after it signed a deal with Oxford University to develop a Covid-19 vaccine together.

Under the partnership  which would prioritise the UK  Cambridge-based Astrazeneca could produce 100m doses by the end of the year if a treatment currently undergoing trials is successful.

And Oxford University spin out, Oxford Biodynamics, rose 15.3 per cent, or 9.75p, to 73.5p after some of its technology was selected to be used in a Glasgow University study focused on understanding how different people respond to treatments.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals stock also climbed, rising 1.7 per cent, or 39p, to 2370p after it committed to its final dividend and reported a pandemic-driven spike in demand for its products in the first quarter.

Glaxosmithkline secured a win after US regulators approved its ovarian cancer treatment Zejula for use in all women regardless of their genetics  vindicating Emma Walmsleys decision to buy Tesaro, a Massachusetts-based pharmaceuticals firm, in late 2018. But shares fell 1 per cent, or 16p, to 1661p.

The wider stock market was also in the red, dragged down by an 11.4 per cent slump in Shell shares, which fell 165p to 1286.4p.

The FTSE 100 fell 3.50 per cent, or 214.04 points, to 5901.21, while the FTSE 250 fell 2.26 per cent, or 380.88 points, to 16454.46.

Cost and dividend cuts were the dominant theme on the stock market yesterday, which was overrun by companies reporting first-quarter results.

Security services giant G4S rose 5.1 per cent, or 5.25p, to 109.2p as it eyed 100million in savings this year and cut its dividend.

Wealth manager St Jamess Place lost ground (down 5.6 per cent, or 50.8p, to 851.4p) after trimming a third of its final dividend, while Glencore (down 4.9 per cent, or 7.62p, to 147.1p) said it would cut spending by as much as a quarter to manage during the pandemic.

Elsewhere, coronavirus disruption continued to bite Tui (down 8.1 per cent, or 27.9p to 316.5p) after it extended holiday cancellations until mid-June.

Shareholders in aerospace and defence group Meggitt (down 6.6 per cent, or 19.7p, to 279.3p) werent roused by the company inking a contract to equip a live-fire training facility in the Middle East.

Gulf Marine Services, however, rocketed 68.3 per cent, or 2.56p, to 6.32p after receiving a takeover proposal from Dutch group Seafox.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 09:25 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd51d915 1 Politics KPK,Firli-Bahuri,death-penalty,DeathSentence,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,corruption,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asserted that those found guilty of corruption relating to COVID-19 relief funds could face the death penalty.

"Public safety is the highest law. We have no choice but to punish those who commit corruption during a disaster with the death penalty, KPK chairman Firli Bahuri said on Wednesday in a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs.

The 2001 Anticorruption Law stipulates that those found to have committed corruption or self-enrichment offenses that cause state losses during a national disaster may be sentenced to death.

He added that the antigraft body had identified four areas of the governments COVID-19 response that were prone to corruption, namely goods and services procurement, third party donations, budget reallocation and aid distribution.

The KPK had also formed a task force to oversee these sectors.

"We collaborate with ministries and various agencies. Weve also asked for the National Polices assistance to monitor the use of the budget and the distribution of social aid to remote areas.

The government has allocated an extra Rp 405.1 trillion (US$24.6 billion) in funds to handle the COVID-19 outbreak, which includes Rp 75 trillion for healthcare spending and Rp 110 trillion for social safety net programs.

Read also: Activists warn of potential graft as govt sets aside billions for COVID-19 relief

However, anticorruption activists have raised concerns that the KPK may be powerless to investigate acts of corruption because of the strict bureaucratic arrangements introduced through the revised KPK Law.

Commission III lawmakers have urged the KPK to take firm action against corruption during the outbreak, following the governments issuance of Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2020, which gives it leeway to fund its COVID-19 battle.

The regulation enables the government to widen the state budget deficit threshold to about 5 percent of the GDP from 3 percent at present. With the higher deficit threshold, the government can increase spending on relief efforts.

Arteria Dahlan of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the KPK should use this moment to show the public its new style, which focuses on prevention over the prosecution of graft suspects.

In addition to overseeing the procurement of goods and services and the use of donations, the KPK should oversee the policymaking process. Prevention is needed. [] We want the KPK to protect the government and provide recommendations for bad policies. he said.

He added that the KPK should also monitor the governments appointment of partners for its programs.

Read also: Weakened KPK may face hurdles in probing social aid graft: Activists

Arteria referred to governments choice of education startup Ruangguru for its preemployment card project. The CEO of the company, Belva Devara, is a former special aide to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Other lawmakers have also called on the KPK to monitor such matters.

Vendors have been appointed without proper tenders. This is uncommon for a Rp 5.7 trillion project in a time of crisis, especially when the program participants only receive access to basic virtual classes that they could get for free on the internet, said Aboebakar Alhabsyi of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
US-MAP is working together to boost US commercialization of perovskite technology in partnership with leading domestic companies

Advancing our country's global leadership in solar energy technologies, The University of Toledo is a founding member of a new organization called the U.S. Manufacturing of Advanced Perovskites Consortium, which is focused on moving a breakthrough new technology out of the lab and into the marketplace to enhance economic and national security.

The group is working together to accelerate U.S. commercialization of perovskite solar cell technology in partnership with leading domestic companies, including First Solar, one of the world's largest manufacturers of solar cells and a company that originated in UToledo laboratories.

Known as US-MAP, the consortium's founding members are UToledo's Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization; the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) located in Golden, Colorado; Washington Clean Energy Testbeds at the University of Washington; and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"Perovskites have the potential to become a game-changer for solar and many other fields," Martin Keller, NREL director, said. "By combining our research efforts, this new consortium will bring this technology to market sooner than if we were all operating alone."

Perovskites are compound materials with a special crystal structure formed through chemistry.

Dr. Yanfa Yan, UToledo professor of physics, has had great success in the lab drawing record levels of power from sunlight by using two perovskites in a so-called tandem architecture on very thin, flexible supporting material.

Yan's efforts have increased the efficiency of the new solar cell to about 23 percent. In comparison, silicon solar panels on the market today have around an 18 percent efficiency rating.

Dr. Michael Heben, UToledo professor of physics and McMaster endowed chair, also is a leading researcher in this field working on studying the reliability of perovskite solar cells.

"We have a talented team of physicists on faculty making significant advancements using perovskites to make solar energy more affordable, working closely with students and our industry partners," Heben said. "UToledo is already well known internationally for its work on cadmium telluride solar cells, which are already being manufactured at large scale by First Solar. We are proud to share our resources and expertise to support U.S. companies in the face of international competition and help the country have control over our energy infrastructure."

"I applaud The University of Toledo and the National Renewable Energy Lab for their new and exciting partnership advancing U.S. leadership in solar energy technology," Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur said. "The U.S. Manufacturing of Advanced Perovskites Consortium will move our country and region forward in solar energy development at a time when it is needed more than ever. As the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, I will continue to prioritize Department of Energy programs that help fund these important programs through competitively awarded grant opportunities. I thank The University of Toledo, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and other partnering organizations, including First Solar, for their commitment to solar energy."

In addition to harnessing sunlight to generate electricity, perovskites have shown promise in a range of other applications, including solid-state lighting, advanced radiation detection, dynamic sensing and actuation, photo-catalysis and quantum information science.

Early research investments by DOE's Solar Energy Technologies Office, its Office of Science, the Department of Defense and by the domestic industry partners have enabled the United States to engage at the forefront of many of these technology areas and has fostered a vibrant community of industrial leaders.

US-MAP founding members will form the executive board that will oversee successful completion of projects. The executive board and the member institutions will be informed and guided by an industrial advisory board (IAB) composed of new U.S. startups and established companies in the perovskite area. The founding members of the IAB are six U.S. industry players: BlueDot Photonics, Energy Materials Corporation, First Solar, Hunt Perovskites Technologies, Swift Solar and Tandem PV.

US-MAP capability providers will share research and development, validation, and pilot manufacturing capability and experience, which should reduce development costs and times to minimize technology risks for potential investors. The main focus areas of the consortium include durability, development of advanced analytical tools, scalable manufacturing tools, in-line metrology and more with each partner providing capabilities according to their areas of strength. The commercial members will have access to the array of research facilities at the four founding members or other capability providing institutions.

The organizers and members of US-MAP have already begun expanding this network to include the University of Colorado at Boulder and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

The founding organizers of the US-MAP consortium will explore funding from a variety of sources including industrial members and the federal government.

Leadership of the consortium will be provided at NREL by Dr. Joseph J. Berry, senior scientist and perovskite team lead, and Dr. Jao van de Lagemaat, director of the Chemistry and Nanoscience Center, who will work with the key points of contact of the other founding members institutions and industrial advisory board.

"Forming this collective will enable innovation in the U.S. that will strengthen our position in these important materials and associated technologies," Berry said.

###

For more information about US-MAP, visit http://www.nrel.gov/research/us-map.html. NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
Kellogg Company K) reported first-quarter 2020 results, with both earnings and sales surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, both metrics declined year over year due to impacts from the divestiture of the cookies, fruit snacks, pie crusts and ice-cream cone businesses (concluded in July 2019). However, results gained from a considerable increase in global demand for packaged foods in March, as the coronavirus-led stay-at-home trend has been leading consumers to hoard stocks.



Kellogg reiterated its guidance for 2020, expecting a shift in sales and earnings toward the first half of the year.



Quarter in Detail



Adjusted earnings of 99 cents per share dipped 2% year over year, though it beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 94 cents. Results were hurt by the absence of divested businesses, partly compensated by growth in other businesses. On a constant-currency (cc) basis, adjusted earnings came in at $1 per share, which dipped 1% from the year-ago quarters figure.

Kellogg Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Kellogg Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Kellogg Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Kellogg Company Quote

The company delivered net sales of $3,412 million, which slipped 3.1% year over year. Nevertheless, the figure surpassed the consensus mark of $3,356 million. The year-over-year downside was caused by impacts from the divestiture of the companys cookies, fruit snacks, pie crusts and ice-cream cone businesses. Absence of the divested businesses affected sales by about 9%. Also, currency headwinds had a roughly 2% impact on the top line.



Organic sales (excluding currency and divestitures) moved up 8% to $3,464 million. Management highlighted that more than half of the first-quarter growth was attributable to increased buying of consumers due to the coronavirus-led stockpiling. Apart from this, organic sales were backed by underlying business growth across categories and regions.



Adjusted operating profit fell 5.7% to $439 million, owing to currency headwinds and the absence of the divested businesses. The metric dropped 4.4% to $445 million at cc.



Segment Discussion



Sales in the North America segment amounted to $2,097 million, down 8.4% due to divestiture impacts. Sales grew 6% on an organic basis, courtesy of consumption gains in core brands and categories along with increased shipments to support burgeoning demand for packaged food amid the coronavirus-led lockdown. Moreover, adjusted operating profit declined nearly 7% at cc.



Revenues in the Europe segment totaled $526 million, up 5.9% year on year, despite currency headwinds. Further, sales rose about 9% on an organic basis, on the back of increased packaged food demand. Adjusted operating profit improved roughly 7% at cc.



Revenues in Latin America totaled $226 million, up 0.8% year on year even amid major currency woes. Sales grew 11% on an organic basis, thanks to the coronavirus-led stock hoarding of packaged goods. Adjusted operating profit improved by 4% at cc on the back of improved sales.



Revenues in the Asia, Middle East & Africa segment totaled $562 million, up 10% year over year, despite currency headwinds. Sales improved about 13% on an organic basis, backed by strength in emerging markets, especially Nigeria. Further, sales were backed by increased demand for packaged foods amid the coronavirus crisis in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Africa. Thanks to higher sales, adjusted operating profit rose 5% at cc.



Other Financials



Kellogg ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,016 million, long-term debt of $7,163 million and total equity of $3,212 million. In the first quarter, the company generated cash from operating activities of $391 million.



Cash flow from operating activities is likely to be $1.5-$1.6 billion in 2020. Capital expenditures are expected to be roughly $0.6 billion and cash flow is still expected in the range of $0.9-$1 billion.



2020 Guidance



Management reiterated its 2020 guidance. The company now expects sales and profits to flow in more during the first half. Organic sales in 2020 are still expected to grow 1-2%. Adjusted operating profit is expected to decline 4% at cc and adjusted earnings to drop 3-4% at cc due to divestiture impacts.



Price Performance



This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has dropped 6.1% year to date compared with the industrys decline of 10.9%.



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Arrivals at the "Tech for Good" Summit in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) - Orange is in intense discussions with Apple over developing France's smartphone app for tracing people who are at risk of coronavirus infection, CEO Stephane Richard said on Thursday.

"There are meetings almost every day. It's not a done deal yet (...) but we have a discussion dynamic with Apple that is not bad", Richard added.

Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of France's biggest telecom operator, said that the app should be ready by the end of May.

(This story corrects first name of Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere in paragraph three)

(Reporting by Sarah White; Writing by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Gareth Jones)
New coronavirus testing in Port Arthur, Orange County

The six-county Southeast Texas Regional Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday announced the addition of one day of testing for up to 100 individuals in Port Arthur and Orange County. Read more here.

LSCO to open application for federal money

Lamar State College Orange will open applications for federal grant dollars meant to support students impacted by the coronavirus. Read more here.

Southeast Texas' new normal

Click through this photo gallery to see how Southeast Texans have adjusted during the coronavirus pandemic. See more here.

Nearly half of coronavirus deaths in Texas linked to nursing homes, assisted living facilities

More than 40% of coronavirus-related deaths in Texas have been linked to nursing homes and assisted-living centers  a spike from just 30% two weeks ago, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of state data. Read more here.

By the numbers

Click through the slideshow to see a by-the-numbers look at coronavirus in Southeast Texas. Read more here.
Models pose with DJI's new drone Mavic Air 2. / Courtesy of DJI Korea



By Baek Byung-yeul



Leading drone maker DJI has launched its new Mavic Air 2 that has a longer flight time and enhanced filming ability, targeting beginners and novice pilots who want to produce images and videos with high resolution, the Korean unit of the Chinese maker said Monday.



The world's largest consumer drone maker with a market share of roughly 90 percent said the Mavic Air 2 is a compact and easy-to-use folding drone with an 8K camera. It weighs 570 grams and has a maximum flight time of up to 34 minutes.



"The Mavic Air 2 is another milestone for DJI, demonstrating that our smartest consumer drone does not have to be the largest," Roger Luo, president of DJI, said in a statement. "While the Mavic Air 2 bears all the hallmarks of the Mavic drone family, we had to completely rethink its design and development process. Our goal was to create a drone that offered the best overall experience possible to even the most novice pilot."



For the new drone, DJI upgraded its video transmission technology, OcuSync 2.0, which allows the controller to maintain contact and receive high-definition video streams at a distance of up to 10 kilometers.



"Given the Mavic Mini, our smallest drone, has a maximum distance of 4 kilometers, the Mavic Air 2 can stably transmit videos over a longer distance," Jung Kyoung-ryoon, policy and communication head of DJI Korea, told reporters during a media conference in Seoul.



The Mavic Air 2 is available in two options. One is a standard package, priced at 990,000 won ($807), that includes the Mavic Air 2, one battery, remote controller and cables. The other is a 1.32 million won-priced Fly More package that includes all items from the standard package as well as natural-density filters, a carrying bag, charging hub and three batteries. For Korean consumers, the new drone will be available from May 11.



Despite the coronavirus spreading worldwide, DJI Korea said the company decided to introduce the new drone as scheduled.



"We are being cautious about the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have seen no change in our product roadmap. As we have prepared for the launch of the Mavic Air 2 for a long time, we decided to launch it as scheduled," he said.



When asked if the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will affect sales of the new drones, DJI Korea said it was hard to say whether this was the case.



"Though there's no statistical data, we've heard that consumers in North America use drones more frequently than before as countries there are imposing a lockdown to combat the virus. I think it depends on situation of each country," Jung said.


More and more Sahrawis from the Tindouf camps are trying to flee to northern Mauritania to avoid coronavirus infection and the growing food shortages in the camps and other nearby locations close to the security wall.

In recent days, many Sahrawi families have escaped from the Tindouf camps and headed to the so-called liberated territories (buffer zones), east of the berm, before driving to the Mauritanian wilayas of Tiris Zemmour, Adrar and Dakhlet Nouadhibou, said Mauritanian media.

However, most of these fugitives were intercepted by Mauritanian soldiers who forced them to turn back to Tindouf. This was the case of a group of Sahrawis, including women and three children, who tried on Tuesday to sneak into the town of Zouerate aboard their vehicle but they were intercepted and expelled to Algerian territory, according to Mauritanian press reports.

Two days earlier, two women and a child from the Tindouf camps were arrested by the Zouerate police and handed over to the Polisario armed militia, the media reported, adding that two other escapee families were intercepted at the border crossing point of Oum Grine.

The closure of the land border between Algeria and Mauritania over fears of Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult for Sahrawis of Tindouf to cross to Mauritania where they used to sell their goods, including fuel and smuggled products.

The coronavirus pandemic and the lack of food aid have deteriorated the living conditions in the Tindouf camps and forced their inhabitants to flee their unbearable situation and hardship.

Furthermore, with the sharp drop in oil prices, the Algerian government, the main provider of funds to the Polisario, has stopped its aid.
Macys has announced some of its locations will reopen Monday in states with looser restrictions for non-essential businesses.

The New York Times reported that Macys plans to open 68 stores on Monday, with another 50 to follow on May 11.

Macys also owns the retailers Bloomingdales and Bluemercury. Its unclear if any of these stores will be reopening in the next two weeks.

However, Macys expects to have all 778 of its locations open in the next six weeks, as long as state restrictions and coronavirus infection trends, the companys CEO told The Wall Street Journal.

There are other stipulations that stores must meet in order to reopen. According to The New York Times, Macys has said locations must be financially attractive and have minimum viable staffing" available, in addition to meeting necessary health and safety standards.

New safety measures will include staff training, and the use of sanitation supplies and sneeze guards.

Macys closed all of its stores on March 18 and furloughed the majority of its workers.

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On 20 May 2020, Burundians head to the polls to elect a new president. Incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza has promised to step aside after 15 years in office. The ruling party has selected an army general , Evariste Ndayishimiye, as its candidate.

Nkurunziza's election in 2015 was controversial . It triggered a failed military coup d'etat and a crackdown on opposition. Many journalists and human rights defenders went into exile.

Three years later in 2018 he announced that he would not stand for re-election.

It's 15 years since Burundi emerged from a 12-year civil war between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups. Initially the peace agreement reached between the two groups was hailed as a success. But in the intervening years the country has experienced deterioration in both human rights and economic conditions .

Most observers expect Nkurunziza will peacefully relinquish office after the 2020 poll. But it is unlikely to spell the end of social, political, and economic instability.

While the ruling party remains in power, the expectation is that there will be a further tightening of authoritarian rule and declining living conditions. The ruling party is determined to safeguard its hold on power, even at the cost of a collapsing social order.

Nkurunziza's legacy

Nkurunziza, a Hutu former rebel leader, was elected by parliament as the president at the end of the 1993-2005 Burundi civil war between Hutu and Tutsi forces. He served a second term in 2010 after re-election by popular vote.

Burundi's democracy index shows that Nkurunziza and the ruling party (the National Council for the Defence of DemocracyForces for the Defence of Democracy) became gradually more authoritarian over time, increasingly involved in intimidation of political opponents, electoral fraud and human rights violations.

The constitution of Burundi initially set a two-term presidential limit. But in April 2015, Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office. He based this on a disputed interpretation of the constitution. The country's high court eventually backed the decision.

Burundi was plunged into political and economic crisis . This was accompanied by increasing authoritarianism in 2015. The subsequent abortive coup and anti-Nkurunziza protests led to violent clashes with the government. Independent media were shut down and many political opponents joined an exodus of over 350,000 Burundians to neighbouring countries.

Amid low voter turnout, Nkurunziza won a third five-year term with about 70% of the vote .

Read more: Beyond political violence in Burundi: an economy in crisis

The end of an era

Nkurunziza's third term has been marked by heightened authoritarianism and repression, shown by further declines in the democracy index since 2015. In 2019, a UN commission accused the government of orchestrating widespread human rights abuses, including forced recruitment into the ruling party, extortion of goods and funds, executions, arbitrary arrests, torture, and sexual violence.

Many of the atrocities were committed by the ruling party's youth wing, the Imbonerakure .

The government has muzzled the press and other critics, notoriously banning the BBC for documenting these atrocities. Burundi also became the first country in the world to leave the International Criminal Court.

In May 2018, constitutional amendments allowing Nkurunziza to hold office until 2034 were passed in a referendum tainted by intimidation and fraud. It also concentrated power in the presidency.

Despite this, there are strong incentives for Nkurunziza to step down. Not least, he will receive a series of perks. Burundi's parliament passed legislation for a presidential retirement package that will see Nkurunziza receive a lump-sum of $530,000, a luxury villa, a salary for the rest of his life, and the title of Paramount Leader.

Nkurunziza leaves Burundi isolated and at a precipice. He has alienated the African Union and the United Nations by rejecting special envoys and forbidding human rights investigators from working freely in the country.

What next?

Six candidates have registered for the presidential elections. But the ruling party's Evariste Ndayishimiye is the near-certain victor following years of the party's repression and intimidation of political opposition.

Ndayishimiye is already an influential politician. He is the ruling party's secretary-general, previously served as minister of interior and security, and acted as a key signatory in the Arusha peace settlement that brought the civil war to an end.

But Ndayishimiye is unlikely to open space for political opposition, civil society, and the media. Instead, the ruling party is expected to push for reforms that consolidate a gradual de facto transition to a one-party system .

Agathon Rwasa, a candidate for the National Freedom Council, is the main challenger. A former leader of Hutu rebel group the National Liberation Forces, Rwasa is better known to the electorate than Ndayishimiye, having served as perennial figure in previous elections.

The ethnic question

There are fears that the upcoming election could reignite old Hutu-Tutsi tensions. But set against the broader picture of Burundi's transition from civil war, the likelihood of large-scale ethnic violence is low.

Burundi's civil war came to an end through a negotiated settlement that re-engineered state institutions on the basis of ethnic power-sharing across political and military positions. Political parties formed that were not divided along ethnic lines. Indeed, the main adversaries at present are warring Hutu-dominated political groups.

Read more: Burundi edges closer to the abyss in 2016

The power sharing system has been extremely resilient. For example, political opposition to Nkurunziza's third term transcended ethnic boundaries. Throughout, the military did not divide along ethnic lines. Even the coup plotters included both Hutu and Tutsi members.

The Imbonerakure and the constitutional changes represent a risk to this system, but it is not clear to what extent. The Imbonerakure are not subject to the ethnic quota requirements, so are primarily recruiting ethnic Hutu. Yet both Hutu and Tutsi are suffering from their violence.

Constitutional changes neutered the vice-presidency, typically held by a Tutsi. But ethnic quotas stating government and parliament must be made up of 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi were maintained. They were also extended to the judiciary.

Adversarial politics and hegemonic power

Violence based on political partisanship is likely to continue. The ruling party will further tighten political space in an attempt to future-proof its grip on power. Facade elections will be held, rigged so that the ruling party wins. And political opposition will face the threat or actuality of violence.

The ruling party may retain power for several years in this fashion. But in the long term it will have to put in place strategies for cementing its power if it is to avoid persistent bouts of destabilising social unrest. It will need to win the hearts and minds of Burundians so that they come to accept that there is no alternative.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Thomas Stubbs, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Royal Holloway And

Pamela Abbott, Director of the Centre for Global Development and Professor in the School of Education, University of Aberdeen
Sarah Silverman has criticised Kirsten Gillibrand for her public defence of Joe Biden against sexual assault allegations.

Tara Reade, a former Senate aide, alleges that Biden assaulted her in the Nineties. Biden has denied the accusation.

Gillibrand on Tuesday expressed her support for Biden during a call with reporters, stating, according to The Hill: So when we say believe women, its for this explicit intention of making sure theres space for all women to come forward to speak their truth, to be heard.

And in this allegation, that is what Tara Reade has done. She has come forward, she has spoken, and they have done an investigation in several outlets. Those investigations, Vice President Biden has called for himself. Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations, and I support Vice President Biden.

Silverman tweeted a link to a news story about Gillibrands response and added: But u called on @alfranken to resign w/out the ethics investigation HE asked for??

Gillibrand was one of several Democratic senators to ask for Al Frankens resignation from the Senate after he was accused of sexual misconduct.

Franken, also a Democrat, disputed the allegations and later told The New Yorker that he regretted resigning without appearing in front of the Senate Ethics Committee.

Gillibrand has said she does not regret her decision to call for Frankens resignation at the time.

Id do it again today, she told The New Yorker last year, adding: If a few wealthy donors are angry about that, its on them.
Women wearing masks and plastic gloves to prevent contracting the coronavirus cast their absentee ballots for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, on April 10, 2020. (Heo Ran/Reuters)

South Korea Reports No COVID-19 Transmission From Election as Pelosi Pushes Mail-In Voting in US

SEOULSouth Korean health authorities have concluded no local transmission of COVID-19 occurred from a parliamentary election this month, where authorities took safety measures, including requiring voters to wear masks and plastic gloves when casting ballots.

Twenty-nine million voters participated in the April 15 parliamentary election  Not one case related to the election has been reported during the 14 days of incubation period, Yoon Tae-ho, director general for public health policy, told a briefing.

Yoon thanked staff and voters who disinfected polling stations across the country and maintained a 1 metre (40 inch) distance between each other.

A woman wearing a mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus leaves a voting booth to cast her absentee ballot for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, April 10, 2020. (Heo Ran/Reuters)

Meanwhile in the United States, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has clashed with President Donald Trump, saying that she will push for funds in the next COVID-19 relief bill to support mail-in voting at the upcoming general election in November.

We have to have an important chunk of money in this next bill that will enable us to protect the integrity of our elections, as well as enable the American people to vote-by-mail, especially at this time of a health danger in going to the polls, Pelosi told MSNBCs Morning Joe program on April 22, referring to the potential risk of contracting COVID-19 by voting in person amid the pandemic.

Democrats and voting rights advocate groups say mail-in balloting is a way to protect voters from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus They say a failure to guarantee that option amid a pandemic will disenfranchise millions of Americans.

Trump, supported by Republican lawmakers, has challenged the idea of expanding mail-in voting, arguing that it is vulnerable to fraud.

No New Domestic Cases

After grappling with the first major outbreak outside China, South Korea has largely managed to bring the outbreak under control without major disruptions with a massive testing campaign and intensive contact tracing.

South Korea on Thursday also reported no new domestic coronavirus cases for the first time since February, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

KCDC reported four new infections, all imported cases, taking the national tally to 10,765. The death toll rose by one to 247, while 9,059 have been discharged.

Of the total, 1,065 were imported cases, where more than 90 percent were Koreans, according to a KCDC statement.

By Sangmi Cha. With additional reporting by Epoch Times staff.
Irrfan Khan acted in one South Indian film 'Sainikudu' directed by Gunasekhar. I heard that he was hospitalised and I hoped that he would return soon; I was shocked to hear the bad news, Gunasekhar said, reacting to the actors untimely demise.

Referring to the 2006 movie in which he directed, Irrfan, Gunasekhar recalls that At the time when I wanted to cast him in my film, he was one of the busiest actors. I knew that he had rejected many offers from the South, but when I met him and narrated the story, he accepted it.

He had seen my earlier film Okkadu, and had a good opinion of me, which was why he agreed to do Sainikudu. Describing Irrfan as One of the best actors that Indian cinema has had, Gunasekhar said, He was a dedicated and committed actor. Though he did not know Telugu, he asked me to send all the dialogues well in advance.

He took trouble to understand the meaning of all the dialogues and then he prepared himself for the scenes. The director added that Irrfan would ask him a lot of questions about the background of his character, so that he could really get into the part. Gunasekhar recalls one particular scene with Kota. Kota Srinivasa Rao is one of the best character actors; he also acted in Hindi and Irrfan knew about him. In my film, Irrfan had a scene with Kota. Irrfan prepared himself one day in advance for that particular scene, because he wanted to compete with Kotas performance. Thats the dedication of Irrfan.

The director also remembers how Kota had praised Irrfan. Kota generally doesnt praise non-Telugu actors, because he feels most of them come without much preparation, and just say something instead of the actual dialogue for their lip sync. But after that particular scene, Kota praised Irrfan immediately for his performance.

Delving into his memories again, Gunasekhar says, After we had completed a few schedules, Irrfan got an offer for a Hollywood film (A Mighty Heart) and he told me about the film. He had already given us bulk dates, so he asked me whether I would agree to adjust here so that he could do that Hollywood film.

We all felt proud about that offer and I immediately spoke to Mahesh (lead actor) and Ashwini Dutt (producer) and rescheduled his dates. We advanced most of his shooting; he was supposed to work for 30 days, but we made it 20.

The director notes that although Irrfan was then one of the most in-demand and busy actors, he only made a gentle request when he got the Hollywood offer, and added, he was very happy that we relieved him so quickly.

Gunasekhar also remembers that Irrfan was always health conscious. When Sainikudu was being shot, he came to know that my wife used AMC cookware which allows very little oil to be used in cooking, and he asked her to get him a set of those utensils, Gunasekhar said.

I shared a good rapport with Irrfan throughout the shooting, the director says. However, he didnt get a chance to speak to the actor after his film was completed, as Irrfan was very busy. A few years ago, when he was shooting in Hyderabad, he messaged me, but we couldnt meet, Gunasekhar rues.
Nokia Corporation NOK is scheduled to report first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 30, before the opening bell. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 30.8%.



The Finland-based telecom gear makers aggregate revenues are likely to have risen on a year-over-year basis despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This is likely to have been driven by overall industry demand including growth within enterprise vertical.



Lets discuss the factors that are likely to get reflected in the upcoming quarterly announcement.



Key Developments



At the beginning of the first quarter, Nokia had 63 commercial 5G contracts worldwide. Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited deployed Nokias technology to expand the capacity of a 100G transport network to 200G optical network for domestic and international traffic. The company was selected by Orange France, one of the largest mobile operators in Europe, to evolve its mobile access network toward 5G.



The company launched the Network Operations Master to provide communication service providers (CSPs) with highly-automated and scalable software for managing their 5G networks. Nokia was selected by Orange Slovensko, the leading operator in Slovakia, to prepare its Radio Access Network for 5G. Nokia provided end-to-end 5G portfolio to SoftBank Corp. to become first in the world to have completed tests to demonstrate that non-standalone 5G technology can be used to commercially operate connected cars. These factors are likely to have had a positive impact on the companys first-quarter performance.



Nokia inked a contract with Telecom Argentina allowing it to offer IoT services to its enterprise customers in the country and across Latin America using Nokia Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING). It extended its long-standing partnership with mobile operator, IIiad Group, to roll out 5G networks across France and Italy. Nokia and KDDI Corporation, a leading telecom company in Japan, completed a 5G core standalone network trial, moving the operator closer to being able to provide 5G-enabled services. Nokia introduced cloud-native Assurance and Experience software to help CSPs move toward experience-driven and automated 5G network operations.



Nokia and Japans mobile network operator Rakuten Mobile collaborated to enable the operators implementation of a fully-automated operations environment for the 5G era. Nokia and Lufthansa Technik, the leading provider of technical aircraft services, deployed a 5G industrial-grade private wireless network to accelerate a project that enables remote engine parts inspection for its civil aviation customers. Nokia expanded its fiber access portfolio to include new solutions and innovations that enable service providers to deliver a gigabit experience to everyone. The companys first-quarter performance is expected to have benefited from these developments.



Nokia, along with leading operators Telenor and Telia, deployed the worlds most advanced shared wireless network that supports a Multi-Operator Core Network feature. The network is designed for wireless technologies spanning from 2G to 5G. Nokia collaborated with Intel on technological advancements for its 5G radio portfolio. The company was selected as a 5G RAN vendor by Chunghwa Telecom, a leading mobile operator in Taiwan.



What do Estimates Indicate?



For the March quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for total revenues is pegged at $5,776 million that indicates a rise of 1.1% from the year-ago quarters reported figure. Adjusted earnings per share are pegged at 1 cent, which calls for an improvement from a loss of 2 cents recorded in the prior-year quarter.



What Our Model Says



Our proven model doesnt predict an earnings beat for Nokia 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: Nokias Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -100.00%.



Nokia Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Story continues

Nokia Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Nokia Corporation price-eps-surprise | Nokia Corporation Quote

Zacks Rank: Nokia currently has a Zacks Rank #3.



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:



Church & Dwight Co., Inc. CHD is slated to release first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 30. It has an Earnings ESP of +3.56% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Southwestern Energy Company SWN is scheduled to release first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 30. The company has an Earnings ESP of +3.90% and carries a Zacks Rank #2.



VICI Properties Inc. VICI has an Earnings ESP of +1.60% and carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The company is set to report first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 30.



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It's one of the most eagerly-anticipated events of the fashion calendar, where A-listers run wild with outfits ranging from the extravagant to the downright outrageous.

And in the absence of a Met Gala this year, fans have been recreating their favourite looks from years gone by, after it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The #MetGalaChallenge was launched last week by Pose actor Billy Porter and Vogue Magazine, asking people to recreate their favorite looks in the 'fashion challenge to end all fashion challenges.'

From the isolation of their homes, participants put on some great DIY looks, taking inspiration from standout Met Gala looks from years past, from Lena Waithe's rainbow cape to Cardi B's relegion-inspired gown from 2018.

The Met Gala traditionally takes place the first Monday of May each year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, however, the fashion event was postponed this year after the city was put under a strict lockdown in order to limit the spread of the disease, with 165,000 confirmed cases and 12,774 deaths.

This year's Met Gala theme would have been About Time: Fashion and Duration, inspired by Virginia Woolf and the theories of the French philosopher Henri Bergson.

Here Femail shares some of the best efforts at recreating the stars' most outlandish looks from recent years.

Actor Billy Porter and Vogue Magazine have challenged people to recreate their favourite Met Gala looks in an online challenge in light of the event's postponement this year. Pictured, left: Aili Adalia recreating a look Janelle Monae wore at the Camp: Notes on Fashion Met Gala in 2019 (right)

New York City's Aria De Chicchis (left) recreated Lena Waithe's statement rainbow cape (right) with her dad's halloween cape and some paper (pictured)

Toronto-based voiceover artist Janna Polzin recreated Frances McDormand's elaborate green cape and headress at home for the online challenge (left). For the Heavenly Bodies theme of 2018, Oscar winner Frances McDormand donned an eye-catching blue and lime green number with a statement headpiece (right)

Parenting blogger themilffiles from Philadelphia, as Cardi B at the 2019 Met Gala (left). Rapper Cardi B stunned in a blood red Thom Browne gown collaboration with British milliner Stephen Jones for the Camp theme of 2019 (right)

Child influencer Aili Adalia from Detroit, who loves to dress up, recreated Caradi B's 2018 look with the help of her mother (left). In 2018, Cardi B, pregnant at the time, wore a Catholicism-inspire gown for the Heavenly Bodies theme (right)

Memphis art consultant Anna Wunderlich had her daughter take part in the challenge, recreating Lily Collins' 2019 camp look (left). For the camp theme, Love Rosie actress Lily Collins donned a ruffled white gown and a beautiful butterfly headband (right)

In another colourful snap, Aili Adalia wore a fruit-print dress like the gown Zendaya wore to the 2017 event (left). The Spiderman Homecoming and Euphoria actress Zendaya Coleman looked beautiful in this gown at the Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between' Met Gala of 2017 (right)

In New York, fashionista Sanja Nestorovic recreated the Jenner look using plastic bags (pictured), and she didn't forget the much-talked-about glasses (right)

New York city resident Queenglowjob (left) took six hours to recreate the metallic look Ambrosio (pictured right) sported in 2016
Burbio features tens of thousands of virtual events from across the country. "A few days after shutdown orders occurred, we noticed a transformation in the way community organizations engaged and entertained residents as they introduced a wide variety of creative and engaging virtual programming," said Burbio co-founder Julie Roche.

Burbio.com, the industry leader in aggregating community event information for digital media, consumers and civic partners, today announced the launch of a virtual events resource featuring a database of tens of thousands of virtual and online programs from local community organizations across the United States.

As stay-at-home orders took hold across the US, traditional local life as we know it came to a halt, said Julie Roche, Burbio co-founder. After a few days, we noticed a transformation in the way community organizations engaged and entertained residents as they introduced a wide variety of creative and engaging virtual programming.

Burbio tracks public event information across all 50 states from over 100,000 library, arts, government, volunteer, and recreation organizations - plus K-12 schools - automatically updating for changes and additions. The Burbio.com website and mobile app allow consumers to follow important local calendars, sync personal calendars, and receive updates via email about changes and upcoming activities. Burbio also delivers content to digital media and civic partners to keep residents informed.

With this new feature, Burbio.com users can search for online events from groups in their towns or nationwide, by interest, as well as events running at a specific time or always available. Programming is wide ranging, from virtual tours of national parks, foreign countries, and monuments, to exercise and meditation, foreign language instruction, art history, book club discussions, open mic nights, story times, zookeeper discussions, children story times, and music and singalong events led by local performers.

It was both fun and inspiring to see all the energy and innovation that went into all this great programming appearing  much of it literally overnight, said Roche. We fully expect in-person community life to resume in the coming weeks and months, but we also think that many of the great innovations around remote programming that have been developed will continue long after this crisis has past.
Coronavirus & Remote Learning

Updated: Free Arts Resources for Schools During the COVID-19 Outbreak

(Updated May 6) Education technology companies and organizations have stepped forward to help educators bring STEM and STEAM experiences to students in virtual ways during the COVID-19 closures. The following is a list of free resources in the arts. We have a separate listing for crafting and making. This will be updated regularly as announcements are made. (If you know of a company that should be included on this list, please send details to [email protected].)

The Academy of Art University is hosting a free series of online events, including guest experts in art and design speaking through Zoom, movie afternoons and nights, and virtual workshops on sketching and the use of various software programs. https://www.academyart.edu/admissions/upcoming-events/

Adobe is offering free access to Creative Cloud tools through May for home use by students attending schools that currently only provide lab access through May. https://helpx.adobe.com/enterprise/kb/covid-19-education-labs.html

Adobe and Time Magazine have teamed up to provide a weekly art lesson online. The "Draw with Drew (and Rosie!)" sessions take place at 10 a.m. Pacific time on multiple websites. Drew Willis is the creative director of "Time for Kids" and a book illustrator; Rosie is his 10-year-old daughter; and both are "avid artists." Each episode includes a new drawing assignment, and participants vote on what they'd like the next assignment to be. https://time.com/5820518/draw-with-us/

The Annenberg Space for Photography is offering educational resources to teachers, including 10 documentaries from previous photographic exhibitions that educators can use for free. The films run between 20 and 25 minutes and cover climate change, refugees, Cuban history, wildlife and hip-hop. Each film comes with discussion questions, and museum experts are volunteering to visit classrooms virtually for remote discussions. https://annenbergphotospace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Documentary-Licensing-Form-Agreement_FINAL.pdf

BrainVentures, an initiative of the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula, is making daily learning adventures free. These are crafted by classroom teachers to give students choices of learning activities; they accommodate different learning preferences and engage the learner in constructing animations, videos, photo albums and stories while taking them on field trips and having them play games and run simulations. https://cdc.engin.umich.edu/daily-brain-venture/

Mazaam is making its classical music app for children ages four to six free until Jun. 30, 2020. The music is intended to promote the development of emotional, cognitive and psychomotor skills. The app is available in English and French. There are versions for iOS and Android.

Pantone is offering free access through July 2020 to Pantone Connect. The tool enables designers and artists to build and share color palettes, convert and cross-reference colors and match Pantone colors through Adobe Creative Cloud. https://www.pantone.com/products/digital-apps/pantone-connect-for-adobe-creative-cloud

Pencils and Plums, a drawing site, is offering a free 125-page ebook titled, "2,500+ Drawing Ideas," with hundreds of printable drawing pages for elementary and older students. https://pencilsandplums.com/free-ebooks/free-ebook-2500-drawing-ideas/

The Seattle Symphony is livestreaming rebroadcasts of previous concerts, led by Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, as well as two "family-friendly" educational broadcasts: "Meet the Instrument" and "Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots." Those are available through Facebook and the Symphony's YouTube channel. https://seattlesymphony.org/live

Soundtrap for Education, an online recording and editing studio, is extending its free trial for any school that signs up to try it with students this semester. Using the program, teachers and students can create, communicate and collaborate with "creative sound-making" through audio stories, music creation, podcasting and literacy training. Free access is available to support distance learning initiatives for 120 days and up to 500 seats per school with a trial account. To set up a free school trial account, visit the company's website and select " Start as a Teacher." https://www.soundtrap.com/edu/

Unity Technologies is providing free access to Unity Learn Premium, a 3D development platform, through Jun. 20, 2020. Registration provides access to live sessions with Unity experts and 350-plus hours of tutorials, hands-on projects, and courses for game developers, covering topics from "Game Mechanic Design Fundamentals" to "Getting Started with Post-Processing Stack for VR." Unity is also delivering virtual classes through "Create with Code Live," free for students, instructors and anyone else interested in learning to code; those sessions kick off on Mar. 23 at 9 a.m. Pacific time or 5 p.m. Pacific time. https://unity.com/products/learn-premium

WURRLYedu is offering 30 days of access to a web-based version of its teaching software and creation tools for students. According to the company, the program includes access to lessons on general music, modern band, vocal ensemble and jazz, along with non-music subjects; and a recording studio to let students and teachers adjust the key and speed of the track, select instruments, apply one-touch audio and video filters and perform remote duets. The students don't require access to musical instruments. https://www.wurrlyedu.com/distance-learning

Find more resources for schools during the COVID-19 crisis here. Or return to the main list of free resources.
U.S. President Trump talks with Reuters in interview at the White House in Washington

Reuters

The US intelligence community agrees with the "wide scientific consensus" that the novel coronavirus was not "manmade or genetically modified," the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement.

The statement continued: "The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."

Thursday's development comes after weeks of speculation in the far-right and right-wing media that the coronavirus was created in a Wuhan lab.

The intelligence community has also been investigating whether the virus was collected by researchers and accidentally leaked from a Chinese lab.

There is no hard evidence to date backing either of those theories up.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Related Video: Why Some Viruses Jump From Animals to People and Some Don't

The US intelligence community agrees with the "wide scientific consensus" that the novel coronavirus was not "manmade or genetically modified," the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement Thursday.

"As we do in all crises, the Community's experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to US national security," the statement continued. "The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."

Thursday's statement comes after weeks of unfounded speculation in the far-right and right-wing media that the coronavirus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19, was created in a lab in Wuhan.

The US intelligence community has also been investigating whether the virus was collected by researchers and then accidentally leaked from a Chinese lab but has found no proof to date backing it up, according to Politico, which cited multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Story continues

The New York Times reported on Thursday that senior administration officials have pressured American spies to dig for evidence proving the unsubstantiated theory that the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab.

Intelligence agencies are skeptical that conclusive evidence exists linking the virus to a lab, according to The Times, and some analysts are worried that pressure from the White House will lead to distorted intelligence assessments which could be weaponized in a brewing battle with China over the disease outbreak.

Indeed, President Donald Trump and his allies have ramped up public speculation about the Wuhan lab theory in recent weeks.

"More and more, we're hearing the story, and we'll see," Trump said earlier this month.

When asked on April 18 "how active" the investigation was into whether the virus escaped a lab in Wuhan, China, Trump said: "We are looking at it. A lot of people are looking at it. It seems to make sense."

"A lot of strange things are happening, but there is a lot of investigation going on and we're going to find out," Trump added.

At that same briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious disease expert, threw cold water on the theory and pointed to a recent scientific study that found evidence that strongly indicated the virus was transmitted from an animal to a human, rather than created or enhanced in a laboratory setting.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Coconino Community College will be holding both its Commencement and Nurse Pinning ceremonies virtually this year, following recommendations the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arizona Department of Health Services to cancel the events to minimize the threat of the COVID-19 outbreak.

CCC President Colleen Smith said she wanted to offer the graduating students recognition with a "virtual" ceremony, which will be available on the CCC homepage on Friday, May 15, beginning at 2 p.m., at www.coconino.edu.

"We will also send out a 'Graduation in a Box' to all students that will include the program, their tassel, a newly designed alumni pin and several other items to help them remember their time at CCC," Smith said in a message to the CCC community. She noted that any students interested will be welcome to attend next years Commencement ceremony.

The theme for this year's virtual commencement is "We Are All in this Together." Smith and members of the college administration staff will introduce faculty and student speakers. CCC District Governing Board Chair Patricia Garcia will be virtually present on behalf of the Board to confer degrees and certificates.

This years CCC Nursing students will also take their Nightingale Pledge of service from home and have a virtual Nurse Pinning ceremony, with a visiting guest speaker and a chance to offer answers to questions the Nursing faculty believes are important to the profession. The students will also receive a customized box that will contain the program, their Nursing pin and a Learning Lamp, which is traditionally lit during the ceremony while the students recite the Nightingale Pledge.

The Nurse Pinning virtual ceremony will be available on the CCC homepage on Thursday, May 7, beginning at 5 p.m. at www.coconino.edu.
U.S. Postal Service trucks are seen parked near the loading dock at the U.S. Post Office sort center in San Francisco, Calif., on Aug. 12, 2011. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mail Carrier Shot and Killed Over Stimulus Check, Man Arrested: Officials

Police have arrested an Indianapolis suspect in connection with the shooting death of a postal worker.

Tony Cushingberry, 21, was taken into custody in the death of Angela Summers, 45, who was shot while delivering mail in the city. She later died at the hospital, police told WXIN.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offered $50,000 for information leading to an arrest, according to the agency in a statement earlier this week. It also confirmed that Cushingberry was arrested.

Paul Toms, the president of the local branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers, told the news outlet that Summers had concerns about people living in the house where the shooting happened.

Toms said the incident may have taken place over a person inside the home not getting their stimulus check from her deliveries. It came after their mail was stopped for about two weeks after Summers called on the owners of a dog to keep it away while she delivered mail.

Yes, there was a history on this for quite a while, as I understand it, Toms said. I want something like this to never happen again. It should never happen.

The National Association of Letter Carriers, meanwhile, said in a Facebook post on Monday that Summers was shot by a customer because they were upset that mail was being held at the post office.

Alondra Salazar, 19, told The Indianapolis Star she was at home Monday and heard a loud noise. When she opened her door, she found Summers, who was wounded, on the porch.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, four postal workers were killed in workplace-related homicides between 2013 and 2018, the New York Times reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 08:22:23|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported 4 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Wednesday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,664, the National Health Commission said Thursday.

Of the total imported cases, 1,139 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 525 were being treated in hospitals with 13 in severe conditions, the commission said.

No deaths had been reported from the imported cases. Enditem
By Kim Jae-heun



Samsung Group has offered to aid expansion of face mask production facilities amid supply shortages. The company is sharing its experience in building smart factories with small- and medium-sized businesses to help them increase the production output of face masks.



Starting from March, Samsung has been sending manufacturing experts to three mask makers: E&W, Evergreen and Loesstech. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Federation of SMEs recommended the three companies to receive the advisory assistance.



The experts aim to streamline processes by giving instructions on techniques to improve manufacturing procedures that will ultimately maximize output without requiring additional equipment.



Companies have had difficulty securing resources needed to manufacture masks, leading Samsung to decide to provide assistance to the firms.



Samsung developed the necessary manufacturing components at its production facility in Gwangju Metropolitan City and distributed them to the mask manufacturers in order to avoid delays in imports.



Prior to this, Samsung had already sent its smart factory experts to another mask maker HJ Tech in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province, in February and it saw a drastic increase in product output from 40,000 to 100,000 masks per day.



Samsung secured 330,000 masks overseas from global business partners and donated them to the city of Daegu through the Korea Disaster Relief Association.



A total 284,000 of the masks were sourced through its oversea branches in Canada, Colombia, China and Hong Kong.



Samsung Electronics' semiconductor clients in China originally sent the remaining masks  close to 50,000  to be supplied to employees here. But the company instead decided to donate them to the Daegu Medical Association which was in dire need of the gear.



The group is also working to secure more masks from other countries.



"We have decided to give out masks to those who are in more desperate need of them than us. They are medical staff in Daegu who are devoting themselves to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," a Samsung Electronics official said.


- Kenyan has so far confirmed 396 cases of COVID-19 while Uganda has recorded 81

- Though the two countries have adopted almost similar measures to curb the virus, Uganda went an extra mile to embrace a total lockdown

- On several occasions, Kampala has recorded zero infections while Nairobi has been recording new cases each day since the first case was confirmed on March 13

- The Museveni-led country has also not recorded any fatality while Kenya has 17

- Kenya has, however, recorded more recoveries at 144 while Uganda has 50

As countries across the globe continue to implement stringent measures to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic, Kenyans have shown little confidence in what President Uhuru Kenyatta and his administration have done so far in comparison to Uganda under President Yoweri Museveni.

In a poll conducted by TUKO.co.ke to establish what Kenyans thought about the strategies deployed by the two neighbouring countries to combat COVID-19, 79% of those who responded felt Uganda had done much better than her neighbour.

READ ALSO: Afueni kwa Eko Dydda baada ya DPP kumuondolea shtaka kwa kukiuka kafyu

President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo: State House

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Senator Stewart Madzayo becomes first politician to defend Kilifi DG Saburi after his COVID-19 case

While Kenya has the highest number of infections currently standing at 396 compared to Uganda's 81, the question posed to TUKO.co.ke social media pages fans asked responders to base their answers on strategies deployed rather than the number of confirmed cases.

"Which of these two countries (Kenya and Uganda) has shown better strategies in fighting COVID-19 regardless of their current numbers on the virus?

Kenya has put in place a string of strict measures to curb the virus including cessation of movement in counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Mandera and the Nairobi Metropolitan area which have recorded the highest number of infections.

Other measures include the imposition of dusk to dawn curfew, social distancing policy, mandatory quarantine for those travelling in the country from affected states and compulsory wearing of masks when in public places among others.

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. Photo; Yoweri Museveni.

Source: Facebook

While Uganda has equally adopted most of the above measures, Museveni went an extra step to put the country on total lockdown for 14 days and later extended the same for 21 more days.

The country has also put stringent measures around her border points with truck drivers being required to undergo a COVID-19 test and wait for results before being allowed to drive in or denied entry depending on the outcome.

The measures have helped Uganda to significantly flatten the curve with most of the recently reported cases coming from neighbouring countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

While Kenya has been recording new cases on a daily basis, Uganda has not, and at one point, the Museveni-led country recorded zero infections for five consecutive days.

Despite these promising results, Museveni has remained cautious on opening up the country's economy, warning Ugandans against celebrating prematurely.

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.

Kenyans come through for elderly couple kicked out by landlady over rent arrears | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Dubai, April 30 : The death of a United Arab Emirates-based Indian industrialist last week was a suicide, Dubai Police has confirmed.

Dubai Police told Gulf news on Wednesday that Joy Arakkal, originally from Kerala, committed suicide on April 23 by jumping from a building in Business Bay.

"We received a report about a man plunging to his death from the 14th floor of a friend's building on Thursday. The businessman committed suicide over financial problems," Brigadier Abdullah Khadim Bin Sorour, director of Bur Dubai Police Station, told Gulf News.

The police ruled out any criminal suspicion behind the suicide and said they were coordinating with the businessman's family for the repatriation of his body.

A UAE Gold Card visa recipient, Arakkal was the managing director of Dubai-headquartered Innova Group of Companies which had diverse businesses, with major focus in the oil sector.

Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul confirmed to Gulf News that Arakkal's family was set to fly home with his body after Indian authorities gives them special permission to travel in a chartered air ambulance.

"They have received the NOCs from India. We have taken it up with the UAE MoFAIC (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) for necessary permits from the UAE side," Vipul added.
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - China accused Australia of "petty tricks" on Wednesday in an intensifying dispute over Canberra's push for an international inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak that could affect diplomatic and economic ties between the countries.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his proposed inquiry into how the coronavirus developed and spread would not be targeted at China but was needed given COVID-19 had killed more than 200,000 people and shut down much of the global economy.

"Now, it would seem entirely reasonable and sensible that the world would want to have an independent assessment of how this all occurred, so we can learn the lessons and prevent it from happening again," he said.

Australian government ministers have repeatedly said China, the country's largest trade partner, was threatening "economic coercion" after its ambassador, Cheng Jingye, said this week that Chinese consumers could boycott Australian products and universities because of the calls for the inquiry.The head of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) called Cheng to express concern. The Chinese embassy then released a statement detailing what it said was discussed on the call, prompting another rebuke from DFAT.

On Wednesday, the Chinese embassy returned fire, saying on its website that details of the call had first been "obviously leaked by some Australian officials" and it needed to set the record straight.

"The Embassy of China doesn't play petty tricks, this is not our tradition. But if others do, we have to reciprocate," an embassy spokesman said in the statement.

Chinese state media has fiercely rounded on Morrison, with Australian studies scholar Chen Hong writing in the Global Times tabloid on Wednesday that Australia was "spearheading" a "malicious campaign to frame and incriminate China".

And Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of the paper which is affiliated to the Beijing-controlled People's Daily newspaper, said on Chinese social media that Australia was always making trouble.

Story continues

"It is a bit like chewing gum stuck on the sole of Chinas shoes. Sometimes you have to find a stone to rub it off," Hu wrote.

New Zealand, which also has China as its largest trading partner, on Wednesday sided with neighbouring Australia in supporting an inquiry into the pandemic.

"It's very hard to conceive of there not being a desire by every country in world, including the country of origin, for an investigation to find out how this happened," Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said.

Australia's call for an inquiry has so far only received lukewarm support more widely, with France and the United Kingdom saying it was not the right time to focus on an inquiry.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said China could have stopped the coronavirus before it swept the globe and that his administration was conducting "serious investigations" into what happened.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Additional reporting by Praveen Menon in WELLINGTON and Colin Packham in SYDNEY; Editing by Robert Birsel and Michael Perry)
Thuan Pham, hired as Ubers chief technology officer by former CEO Travis Kalanick back in 2013, is leaving the company in three weeks, the ride-share giant revealed today in an SEC filing that came out just as The Information reported that massive layoffs at Uber are being proposed to preserve some of the company's dwindling capital reserves.

The outlet suggests the discussed cuts could impact upwards of 20 percent of Uber's 27,000 employees, roughly 800 of whom could theoretically come from Pham's engineering team, which currently comprises 3,800 people.

Said an Uber spokesman to The Information's Amir Efrati: "As you would expect, the company is looking at every possible scenario to ensure we get to the other side of this crisis in a stronger position than ever."

Uber has been hard hit as much of the country and world remains at home, awaiting a vaccine for -- or at least more testing around -- COVID-19. Last Thursday, Uber said it expects an impairment charge of up to $2.2 billion in the first quarter due to the outbreak and for revenue to nosedive by $17 million to $22 million in the quarter. (The company will report its first quarter results next Thursday.)

Pham has meanwhile become the longest-serving top executive at Uber, outlasting not just Kalanick, who was forced to resign as CEO back in 2018, but also the members of Kalanick's so-called "A team" of trusted advisors. Included in this circle: Ryan Graves, who was one of Uber's first employees and a board member of the company until last May; Uber's former head of product, Daniel Graf, who has since started his own company; Eric Alexander, who was Ubers president of business in Asia and was fired in 2017 over his handling of a rape investigation in India; and Emil Michael, Uber's controversial former SVP of business who left the company in 2017, though it remains unknown if he resigned or was fired.

His career at Uber might have ended in 2017, after former Uber engineer Susan Fowler publicly accused Pham and Uber's HR department of ignoring her complaints about workplace sexism. An external investigation cleared him, however.

Story continues

Pham -- who was recruited by Kalanick from VMWare, where he'd spent the previous eight years -- stood to make more than $200 million from Uber's IPO last year, according to Business Insider. At the time, he owned 5.4 million shares.

His is an American success story. At age 12, Pham escaped Vietnam with his mother and brother in a fishing boat that was reportedly carrying dozens of other refugees. After first spending 10 months at camp in Indonesia that he has described as having no sanitation and offering only a tarp over their heads, his family later arrived in Maryland and Pham, an excellent student, wound up studying at MIT.

Pham would go on to nab a master's degree in electrical engineering from the university before being drawn to job in Silicon Valley, at the research lab of Hewlett Packard.

He only stayed three years. In an extensive interview with CNN in 2016, he said grew "bored" at HP so joined Silicon Graphics, whose cofounder, Jim Clark, would later cofound Netscape with a young Marc Andreessen.

"It was a significant move," he told the outlet, "but I broke my mom's heart. She thought I was reckless. In her view, I should have stayed to build a career at a stable company like HP for 30 years and retire with a gold watch."

Pham spoke at a startup event in February, roughly one month before the Bay Area instituted its shelter-in-place rules. You can check out the talk below.
The Tamil Nadu government was keen



on sending back migrant labourers stranded in the state and expecting "clear-cut" guidelines on the logistics from the Centre so that it can start the process, an official said on Thursday.

Migrant workers, tourists, students and others stranded in different parts of the country were on Wednesday allowed to move to their respective destinations by the Centre with certain conditions, giving a big relief to the distressed people.

The state government was expecting guidelines by Thursday evening on the logistics involved in the process, the senior labour department official said.

"The issue of students from other states stranded in Tamil Nadu also arose while discussing about the migrant workers, at a meeting of an expert committee constituted by Chief Minister K Palaniswami. We are expecting guidelines from the Centre by this evening on the logistics of shifting them," the official said.

The state government was keen on sending them home and would wait for clear cut instruction from the central government on the mode of transportation and the wherewithal involved in the process.

Hosiery town of Tiruppur, which accounts for two lakh migrant workers, and Chennai with 1.34 lakh work force, have the highest concentration of such labourers in the state.

In neighbouring Kancheepuram district, around 38,000 migrant workers have been identified by the administration.

About a month into lockdown, the home ministry had on Wednesday relaxed lockdown measures to allow movement of migrant workers across states but with strict health protocols.

Listing the conditions, the ministry said all states and union territories should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons.

The Tamil Nadu government, taking the plight of the workers into consideration, has announced the distribution of Covid-19 relief kit containing 15 kg of rice, one kg each dal and oil to lakhs of migrant workers from Assam, Odisha, West Bengal and Gujarat stranded in the state.

The stranded workers also seem to be in a mood to go back home.

"We are very keen on going home. This coronavirus lockdown has not only denied us work but also separated us from our family," said Kans Ram, one among five construction workers from Basti in UP who got stranded at his work site in Maduravoyal here.

Like him, the other four too want to return home.

"But we have not received any intimation from the government or police on being sent home. We hope this ordeal will end soon and we reunite with our family," he added.

Some of the workers said they could not even receive the state government's relief of Rs.1,000, as they don't possess family ration cards here.

"We were not even able to obtain this sum during this hard times when we are hardly receiving any support from the industry, especially in terms of wages. We have no option but to get back to our state," says V. Singh, another construction worker from Jharkhand.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NASA astronauts Bob Behknen (left) and Doug Hurley will be the first to fly on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft during the Demo-2 mission, which is scheduled to launch on May 27, 2020..

Like most historic achievements, this one will be hard-won.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch its first crewed flight on May 27 , sending NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the company's Crew Dragon capsule.

The mission, known as Demo-2, will mark the return of orbital human spaceflight to American soil for the first time since July 2011, when NASA retired its space shuttle fleet after 30 years of service. The plan was to have private vehicles such as Crew Dragon fill the shuttle's shoes, but it was far from clear that everything would work out, said former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman.

Related: How SpaceX's Crew Dragon space capsule works (infographic)

"It was an uphill battle," said Reisman, a professor of astronautics practice at the University of Southern California who spent three months aboard the ISS in 2008 and also flew on a shuttle mission in 2010.

"If I'd had to bet" back then, he told Space.com, "I probably would have bet against it."

Reisman was in the trenches for this uphill battle. He joined SpaceX after leaving NASA, working for Elon Musk's company from 2011 to 2018 and serving as director of crew operations during the latter part of that run. He remains a consultant for SpaceX (but stressed that his views are his own; he does not speak for the company).

The transition to the post-shuttle era began in 2010, when NASA's Commercial Crew Program awarded its first contracts to private companies. (SpaceX didn't get a contract in that first round but did snag money the next year, and in the major rounds that followed.) This type of public-private partnership represented a new approach to human spaceflight for the nation, and not everyone was on board with it.

"There were a lot of skeptics back in the day, and a lot of uncertainty about whether or not this model was a good idea even," Reisman said. "You had government, industry and NASA administration all, at various different times, looking like they were going to shut this down."

For example, Congress repeatedly granted far less money for commercial crew than had been allocated in federal budget requests. NASA officials have identified these budget shortfalls as a major cause of delays for the program, which originally envisioned its first crewed flight in 2015.

It was also difficult to get everybody on the same page, at least initially. A significant cultural gap existed between NASA and the private sector, which tended to approach problems in different ways, Reisman said.

"Frankly, there was a lot of mutual distrust and suspicion," he said. "And difficulty bridging that gap, I think, was the most challenging thing."

But the gap was bridged, in what appears to be a lasting fashion, Reisman said. Much of the credit for that success, and the overall progress that commercial crew has made to date, goes to NASA's commercial cargo program, he added.

That program, which was announced in 2006, helped get two private robotic resupply craft up and running. SpaceX's cargo Dragon and Northrop Grumman's Cygnus freighter first visited the ISS in 2010 and 2013, respectively, and both vehicles routinely resupply the orbiting lab today.

Commercial cargo "really paved the way," Reisman said. "I think if that program was not successful, we wouldn't be here getting ready to put Bob and Doug into space on a SpaceX rocket."

And that success has snowballed. SpaceX isn't the only company prepping to fly NASA astronauts; Boeing holds a similar commercial crew deal, which the aerospace giant will fulfill using its CST-100 Starliner capsule .

And there's much more going on in the world of private human spaceflight. For example, both Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos' company Blue Origin have flown multiple test missions with their suborbital crew-carrying vehicles; both could begin flying paying customers soon.

Blue Origin also has plans to launch people to orbit or beyond, and Colorado-based company Sierra Nevada has crewed ambitions for its Dream Chaser space plane. And we could soon have commercial space stations operating in Earth orbit, run by companies such as Axiom Space.

"The time is right for private companies to take a more active role in human spaceflight," Reisman said. "It's really been a team effort."

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 .
Right to access the internet is not a fundamental right and the state can curtail the freedom of speech and the right to trade through the internet, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has told the Supreme Court while opposing the restoration of 4G services in the union territory.

New Delhi: Right to access the internet is not a fundamental right and the state can curtail the freedom of speech and the right to trade through the internet, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has told the Supreme Court while opposing the restoration of 4G services in the union territory.

The administration told the apex court that a very reasonable quantum of restrictions have been imposed by reducing the speed of the internet to protect the sovereignty, integrity, and security of the country.

"It is submitted that the right to access the internet is not a fundamental right and thus the type and breadth of access for exercising the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and/or to carry on any trade or business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India through the medium of the internet can be curtailed," an affidavit filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.

The submissions were made in response to a plea filed by Foundation for Media Professionals seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the union territory in view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

The administration told the apex court that contentions raised by the petitioners in respect of alleged deprivation of access to education, healthcare facilities, and justice itself with 2G internet speed are incorrect and it is taking all possible steps to ensure that minimum impact of COVID-19 situation is felt.

The increase in internet speed is verily apprehended to lead to swift uploading and posting of provocative videos and other heavy data files, the affidavit said.

"High-speed internet services (4G) decrease the time of circulation of various photographs, videos, propaganda audios, and hence enable the associated content to go viral, with the reaction time of law enforcement agencies to such situations decreasing.

"Various Pakistan-based terror outfits are leaving no stone unturned to exploit the present situation as seen by recent infiltration attempts in the handling of which many personnel of security forces have lost their lives," it said.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is taking all possible steps to ensure that minimum inconvenience is caused to citizens while keeping the vital issues of national security and internal security as a paramount consideration, it said.

The misuse of data services, applications like WhatsApp and Facebook for mobilising crowds by anti-national elements has the potential to cause large-scale violence, disturb public order, and indeed threaten the security of the country.

"It is submitted that the administrative authorities concerned are the best suited to assess and handle the situation depending upon the peculiar needs and facts brought within their special knowledge," the affidavit said.

The administration said that the restoration of 4G mobile data services will substantially increase the use of social media and other online platforms in uploading or downloading videos and other propaganda material and their fast circulation, with resultant deterioration in law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.

It added that miscreants were using different VPNs, but because of low-speed mobile data services, they were not able to upload files of heavy data containing incriminating and other objectionable videos.

"Pakistan-based terrorism handlers like TRF and TMI, instigating youth to join terrorism, are using messaging applications to communicate as also to raise the morale of terrorists; however, 2G mobile data services considerably restrict the use of such applications," the affidavit added.

The administration further submitted in the court that restoration of 4G mobile data services will substantially increase the use of social media and other online platforms in uploading/downloading of videos and other propaganda material and their fast circulation, with resultant deterioration in the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.

Internet is being used to support fallacious proxy wars by raising money, recruiting and spreading propaganda/ideologies and prevalence of internet provides an easy inroad to young impressionable minds, the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.

Giving details, it said that till 25 April, 108 terrorism-related incidents took place with 99 incidents being reported from Kashmir province, while nine others from Jammu province.

"Thirty civilians lost their lives, while 114 civilians were injured in terrorist-related incidents. Twenty Security forces personnel were martyred and 54 SF personnel were injured. Seventy-six terrorists were killed apart from arrest of 132 terrorists/ suspects," it said.

The administration also said the right to access the internet is not a fundamental right in itself but an enabler of the right to free speech and carry out trade and business.
The Delhi High Court is mulling switching to fans from centralised air conditioners as there is every likelihood that if a COVID-19 infected person enters the AC area, the particles of virus exhaled by him may remain there and infect others.

A committee, constituted by the high court and comprising its four judges, is holding deliberations on a 'graded action plan' to meet the challenges likely to be faced by it and the trial courts once they commence normal functioning after the withdrawal of lockdown.

The committee, headed by Justice Hima Kohli, was briefed by the officials of the Public Works Department on whether centralised AC plant can run in the high court buildings post-lockdown and the steps to be taken so that the circulated air does not become a reason for the spread of coronavirus.

The committee's minutes of the meeting, held on April 28, said according to the inputs and report by PWD officials, even if the high court incurs massive expenditure on procuring and installing Ultra Violet Germicide Irradiation devices, there would not be complete certainty of eradication of all the virus, germs and particles including COVID-19.

The committee, also comprising justices Vipin Sanghi, Rajiv Shakdher and Talwant Singh, was apprised by the PWD engineers that such a device can only disinfect the air received in AHU for re-circulation and if any COVID-19 infected person enters the area having central air conditioning, there is still every likelihood that the particles of such virus, exhaled by such person, may remain airborne and may, in turn, infect others.

The minutes record, It has been informed by them that even in the Supreme Court, the central air-conditioning system has not been switched on so far and, therefore, they suggest that instead of investing huge amount in procuring these devices, whose utility is still not amply clear, the court may rather procure sufficient quantity of pedestal fans/wall fans and to install them at appropriate places in all the (building) blocks.

The engineers informed the committee that they would try to find out whether previously installed hooks, meant for ceiling fans, are still available so that they can be re-installed.

Let PWD conduct a survey in this regard and submit a proposal regarding the required quantity of all such types of fans in every block. Since the windows and doors of the court building may be required to be left open for proper circulation of air during the working hours, PWD shall ensure that all such windows have proper net/mesh so that no insects/mosquitoes etc. enter inside the court building, the committee resolved.

The committee has directed the registrar general to get in touch with the Director General of Health Services and Chief Medical Officer and to apprise it about the possibility of conducting pool-testing for COVID-19 for staff and visitors.

Following the lockdown, the functioning of the high court and trial courts have been suspended till May 3 and matters of extreme urgency or urgent nature are being heard through video conferencing.

The committee was set up for preparation of such a graded action plan for the high court and trial courts for which several issues are required to be addressed, including gradual expansion of the nature of cases to be put in 'urgent' category for hearing, ensuring availability of proportionate court infrastructure during all these phases till restoration of complete normalcy.

The other issues highlighted by the high court while setting up the committee are making guidelines for restricting entry into courts and social distancing norms to be followed in the court complexes for all the stakeholders including Judges, court staff, lawyers and litigants, preparing guidelines for restricting entry into lawyers' chamber areas in the court complex and social distancing norms to be followed in such areas.

Running of public utility services and canteen etc. in court complexes. Availability of Infrared Thermometer, Masks, gloves, sanitizers for all the stakeholders. Installation of sensor-based devices, wherever possible to ensure minimum hand-contact. Appropriate alternate to centralised air-conditioning system, the high court's earlier letter stated.

Further issues to be discussed include putting in place a mechanism for handling the deluge of fresh filing of cases once the suspension of functioning of courts is withdrawn, creation of well-equipped permanent video conferencing courts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chapter 3 Operation Grapple The bomb tests moved to a desert island in the South Pacific, where Britain exploded the most powerful weapon it has ever built

In 1958 Eric Denson was 26 years old, a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, and handsome and sexy as hell. He was married to Shirley, then 24, and father to daughter Suzanne, 2. He was one of the best pilots they had, said Shirley. Thats why they chose him. They had no idea what it would be like in that cloud, and he knew every inch of the Canberra bomber he flew. He even trained others. If you wanted someone to fly through a nuclear bomb, he was the one who would be able to do it. Erics job usually involved high-altitude patrols of the border with Iron Curtain countries in Eastern Europe. His favourite trick was to evade the radar of other countries, and was so good at it he even managed to twice fool the Americans based at Lakenheath in Suffolk. Eric Denson in the cockpit One day he came home and told Shirley he had to go away on a top secret mission for six months. Shirley said: He looked very worried as he told me, and I knew he wasnt telling me everything. But at that time there was real fear the world was coming to an end, or the Soviets would invade. We were loyal to our country, so we had to make the best of it. When Eric left Shirley for Christmas Island with the rest of 76 Squadron, it was for a six-month mission they believed would keep them, and Britain, safe. Eric and Shirley at the christening of their daughter Nicola who is now deceased

1,000 times more powerful than the blasts that leveled Nagasaki and Hiroshima

Operation Grapple was what the entire nuclear testing programme had been building up to. The atomic devices that had been developed were to be used as triggers for even bigger, thermonuclear explosions  the hydrogen bomb. It had the potential to be 1,000 times more powerful than the blasts that leveled Nagasaki and Hiroshima. And a million times more terrifying to Britains enemies. An H-bomb uses an atom bomb to tear atoms apart in a process called fission, using a conventional bomb to explode highly unstable radioactive uranium or plutonium. All of that energy is then directed onto a second bomb within the same warhead to smash the atoms back together again  called fusion. Its the same reaction that powers our Sun, only on a much smaller scale, and an awful lot closer. But public clamour for an end to nuclear tests was growing. Top secret documents from planning meetings in 1955 revealed officials were concerned to get an H-bomb quickly, and that to quell objections they would need to be arranged in great haste and introduced by very careful publicity. The officials and scientists even decided to spin their plans when presenting them to government  warning it should be phrased in a manner calculated least to alarm ministers.

It all went disastrously wrong

And so Britain launched its biggest military operation since D-Day. Servicemen from all three armed forces, scientists from the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, and even ladies from the Womens Royal Voluntary Service were sent to Christmas Island in the South Pacific  today renamed Kiritimati. Engineers built water tanks, distillation systems, runways and roads with the help of local islanders; the RAF provided aircraft and meteorologists to produce extensive weather forecasting over vast areas of ocean; technicians converted bombers to sampling planes, ground crew set up decontamination facilities; bulldozers and fire engines were shipped from Britain; and army signals built communication systems while the navy provided ships to patrol and guard the test zones so no-one could observe what Britain was up to. Royal Engineers construct the airfield runway on Christmas Island Wikipedia Grapple was to consist of three separate bombs  codenamed Short Granite, Green Granite, and Orange Herald. All were dropped by Valiant bombers over uninhabited Malden Island, 400 miles away, and all went disastrously wrong. The first, dropped in May 1957, had a yield of 300 kilotons  much less than expected. It was also 418 yards off-target. Penney cancelled Green Granite and rebuilt the bomb with extra uranium. Meanwhile they fired Orange Herald  720 kilotons, but the bomber crew almost died when their plane stalled. The bomb was on a clockwork timer and they would have been caught in the blast were it not for the quick-thinking pilot. The rebuilt bomb, now named Purple Granite, did even worse. At just 200 kilotons, it was an abject failure. All three were declared H-bombs in the hope of fooling US observers into restoring co-operation. That didnt work either.

A dress rehearsal for the death of the world

The Press had been invited to watch the blasts, and took the MoDs assertion of success on face value. The Daily Mirrors famous columnist Cassandra  real name William Connor  watched from aboard HMS Alert. Daily Mirrors famous columnist Cassandra He wrote: It was a dress rehearsal for the death of the world... through closed eyes, through dark glasses and with my hands covering my face, I saw the flash. Brighter than the sun, hotter than the sun, and ripped out of the secrets of the heart of the universe... AND THERE IT HUNG BEFORE US, A BOILING RED AND YELLOW SUN LOW ABOVE THE HORIZON. IT WAS AN OIL PAINTING FROM HELL, BEAUTIFUL AND DREADFUL, MAGNIFICENT AND EVIL.

He was never sick a day of his life... he came back he wasted away to nothing and died Billy Morris' sister Rachel

Billy Morris was the first to die  a strapping lad of 20, reduced to skin and bone only months after being rated A1 fit. His sister Rachel said: I remember him in his uniform  he was so handsome and such a lovely boy. He was never sick a day of his life. He went to Christmas Island on National Service and a few months after he came back he wasted away to nothing and died. Billy pictured second from the left Billy, from Swansea, was a sapper in the Royal Engineers. He was seen by 5 doctors when he enlisted, who recorded he was in peak condition. He was one of 2,500 to witness the first three Grapple tests in 1957, but reported sick on January 1, 1958 with nosebleeds and swellings in his neck. Billy's sister Rachel He was flown back to the UK, where he was diagnosed with an organic disease of the glands and then allowed home. He collapsed and was readmitted, diagnosed with leukaemia, and died on June 14  just 13 months after the Grapple began. His girlfriend Sylvia was pregnant. His inquest heard Billys only protection at the tests was a pair of dark glasses. Asked about the risk of contamination by rainwater, an officer admitted that water did enter the mens tents but the beds were all at least 12 inches above the ground. The verdict was death from natural causes, on the grounds his type of leukaemia was not linked to radiation. Studies have since shown there may be a connection. Rachel said: The Royal British Legion wanted to use Billy as a test case for compensation. But his girlfriend lost the baby and my mother found it all too upsetting, so we decided to pull out.

Im one of the lucky ones. Its not going to kill me. All I want is to hear the word sorry Derek Fiddaman was ordered on deck to watch the explosions

Derek Fiddaman was also there in 1957  a 21-year-old naval rating on guard ship HMS Cossack, stationed west of the island. He was ordered on deck to watch the explosions, and believes prevailing winds later dropped fallout on the crew. He said: I plotted the position of the ship at the point the bomb was dropped  and the wind was from the east. In 1975 he developed lumps on his face that were diagnosed as basal cell carcinomas  cancers rooted in the deepest layer of skin. In the 43 years since he has had 1,000 hospital visits and more than 200 tumours removed. Derek Fiddaman has about five tumours cut out every year Derek, now 80, of Horsham, West Sussex, said: I have about five cut out every year, so if I live another 20 years therell be 100 more. Each time they cut one out I go back and theres another one growing in the scar. After a long fight with the MoD he won a 60% war pension on the grounds his cancers were caused by radiation  from the sun. He said: Im one of the lucky ones. Its not going to kill me. All I want is to hear the word sorry. They never will, but thats all I want.

Codenames X, Y and Z

At home, politicians were aghast at the failure of the blasts. The test ban treaty was expected within a year, and without an H-bomb Britain would never again be a global power. Air Vice Marshal Wilfrid Oulton Wikimedia Task force commander Air Vice Marshal Wilfrid Oulton was recalled to London and told to conduct more tests. In his memoir Oulton said that on his return he and chief scientist Bill Cook walked on the beach one evening, gin and tonics in hand, and realised they did not have enough time to do it at a distance. This time, the bomb target would be 1.5 miles off the south-east tip of Christmas Island  where the servicemen lived. He wrote: We knew we couldnt do it from Malden again because that was 400 miles away. We thought it would be safe at Christmas Island because the dropping point was 30 miles away from the main camp. Chief scientist Bill Cook Wikimedia Later, on December 4, 1957, Oulton reported to the Atomic Weapons Trials Executive moving the test to Christmas Island had made the mounting of the operation much easier and had resulted in savings which might be as much as 2m. The Grapple X blast Wikimedia The new tests were codenamed X, Y and Z. Servicemen who were expecting to go home were told they would be staying an extra year. Another airfield was built, and further laboratories and bunkers. Officers combated sinking morale by organising leave in Fiji and Hawaii, evening radio programmes and regular propaganda sessions telling the men how vital the tests were to national security. There were fewer safety checks. While AWE records show that 96% of those at Hurricane had film badges to record their radiation dose, the proportion dropped to just 8% at Grapple X and 3% at Grapple Y. Veterans who had overalls and balaclavas at earlier tests now wore everyday shirts and shorts as they were mustered to witness the bombs. The first bomb was supercharged with extra uranium in the core, surrounded by a jacket of beryllium to concentrate the force of the initial explosion and magnify the power of the blast. Grapple X was dropped at 8.47am on November 8, 1957, with a yield of 1.8 megatons. Britain finally had the H-bomb. Grapple Y blast Grapple X had needed a lot of enriched uranium, which was expensive to produce. Grapple Y aimed at using less of it by increasing other radioactive components. This new bomb was dropped at 10.05am on April 28, 1958. Flt Lt Densons Canberra was in a fleet of sniff planes that had been specially converted to collect samples so scientists could determine the strength of the blast. Records show he entered the mushroom cloud 49 minutes after the blast, and spent 6 minutes flying through the incredible turbulence. Into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell, rode the six hundred... A quote from Charge of the Light Brigade that Eric Denson repeated as he flew into the mushroom cloud Shirley remembers: Eric never discussed with me what had happened on Christmas Island. I once overheard him talking about it with my father. He said he had almost lost control as the plane went into the mushroom cloud. They were tossed about by the most incredible forces. He said he just held on, and recited that line from the Charge of the Light Brigade, Into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell, rode the six hundred... over and over again. This time the bomb went according to plan. It had a yield of 3 megatons, 112 times greater than Nagasaki. It was clear to governments worldwide that the British now had the most powerful weapon on Earth. Whole body dose of radiation In 1958 AWE scientists wrote a document titled: Determination of the whole body dose of radiation acquired by Aircrew members while on Cloud Sampling detail. Its purpose was to compare readings on the Charlie meter, mounted inside the cockpit, with film badges worn by the three crew. It says: Care was taken to ensure that as little shielding effect as possible was given by the ejector seat and that no equipment of any description shielded the badges. Open the radiation document Four badges were placed around the pilot, wireless operator and navigator  one on the headrest, two on each armrest, and the last in seat pan 1 inch from testicles. It says using feedback from the first sampling mission, the second sniff plane was able to stay in the mushroom cloud longest, and states: Thus the initial experiment was carried out on personnel flying the Secondary sampler. Eric Denson was pilot of the second plane. The experiment proved the Charlie meter was inaccurate, and found the pilot was the most exposed crew member. The badge behind Erics head recorded a dose of 18 Roentgen, equivalent to 165 years worth of normal background radiation. The badge next to his testicles had a dose of 8.8 Roentgen, which is about 30 years worth of natural exposure. The document proves scientists were aware Erics family might be affected. It says the lower testicular readings are of interest and cheer in relation to the possibility of genetic damage. Eric's log book After the flight, Eric vomited for 48 hours. His log book  signed off by two squadron leaders, one of them a holder of a Distinguished Flying Cross - shows that he was ordered back into the same plane two days later on April 30 for radar calibration and formation flying. A navigator on his squadron, Joe Pasquini, claims the plane had not been decontaminated but left alone on an isolated patch of airfield. He also says using an expensive, and radioactive, bomber to calibrate ground radar would be ridiculous when there were many smaller, safer aircraft on the island. He adds: We never flew in formation. The only reason I can think of to send Eric back up, with another plane to observe him, would be to see how a RAF pilot and plane would operate after being irradiated. Seeing as he was used in an initial experiment, perhaps that was the second. The MoD says it has no record of the flight.

The bomb that went wrong

Scientists were well aware of the risks of radiation. Gamma and beta radiation from the initial burst  and to which Eric was exposed while flying through the cloud - could be followed by fallout, when material sucked up and irradiated by the blast drops back to Earth below. These alpha particles are so weak they cannot pass through skin or paper. But if they are ingested in water, food or air, they cannot escape again. And thousands of servicemen were living next to the testing grounds. Scientists believed that if the bombs were detonated high enough, they would not draw sand, soil or sea water into the maelstrom. But Grapple Y took place in the wet season. The AWE document on Erics experiment mentions the wet weather encountered during the trial. Veterans, observers, and contemporary accounts all say the bomb dropped lower and closer than it should have done, and that black rain fell on the island immediately afterwards. More than half of those who have joined the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association, which has campaigned on claims of radiation-related health issues since 1982, were present at Grapple Y. Among the survivors, it is known as the bomb that went wrong.

The risks were known Britain was aware of the risks before the tests began. Historical documents released from the state archives show that in 1951 Penney demanded insurance for scientific staff in case any developed radiogenic diseases. Admiral Arthur Torlesse said he would only order his men into danger in the knowledge that the Admiralty accept liability for those killed or injured on duty. And on May 20, 1953, the Defence Policy Research Committee discussed how troops would be affected by the blasts. It said: The Army must discover the detailed effects of various types of explosion on equipment, stores and men with and without various types of protection. Prime Minister Anthony Eden In 1955 Prime Minister Anthony Eden was warned that if the scientists were to build an H-bomb, it could damage troops DNA. A letter headed 10 Downing Street and dated November 14 says: The Prime Minister saw the report from Sir Harold Himsworth about the report of the Committee considering the genetic effects of Nuclear Radiation. His comment was: A pity, but we cannot help it. In a draft report ahead of Grapple Y, Air Commodore Denis Wilson, the senior medical officer on the task force, said he expected servicemen to die. He wrote: It is emphasised that in the event of the expected yield being obtained or increased there will almost certainly be in addition to considerable material damage, casualties to individuals, and this should be taken into consideration. He goes on to say the servicemen face significant increases in radiation exposure compared to previous tests, should be dug into shallow foxholes to shelter from the blast and given protective clothing. The Grapple Z Burgee blast YOU are about to experience something no-one else in the world will ever see, the senior Army officer told a ship full of Royal Engineers. Raymond Webber was a 21-year-old sapper when he heard it, and 60 years later remembers it ironically. When the ship finally docked at Christmas Island in the South Pacific in 1958 he not only witnessed 5 massive nuclear bombs, but one of his tasks was to drive a truck through the fallout to collect heavily-contaminated equipment while wearing nothing but shorts and sandals. Raymond Webber in the Royal Engineers. Raymond, 81, of Gillingham, Kent, said: A couple of senior types came and grabbed me one day, told me to drive them into the forward area. That was the sharp end of the island where all the bombs were exploded. It was a huge truck, kicked up tons of dust and we had the windows down because it was so hot. We drove to a shed that had three generators in it to run the monitoring equipment that took readings during the explosions. I waited while they loaded some stuff in the back. I asked what it was and they said I didnt need to know. When we left there was a mobile decontamination point that they had to go through, and they had shower after shower because their readings kept showing radiation. They washed me down too but we all put our uniforms back on, which must have been contaminated. And the truck wasnt washed, and we all climbed back in that. Raymond had joined the Army as a 16-year-old apprentice. On returning home he married and had children, eventually leaving the Army in 1965. Her said: It wasnt long after I came back that I was wearing false teeth, and Ive got osteoarthritis in my knees and neck. But Im not worried about me. Its my children. Raymond Webber. Raymond had 5 sons, all now in their 50s. The oldest was diagnosed with arthritis while undergoing Army basic training, and now has crumbling discs and cluster migraines. The second son has arthritis, a deformed lung and chronic condition lymphodoema. Another son has generalised arthritis and a thyroid condition, and the youngest child is the healthiest. Third son Philip, 55, has arthritis in all major joints, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, diverticulosis, cellulitis, depression and insomnia. His daughter, aged 26, has pain in her knees and hands already. Raymond said: Radiation knows no time limits. None of us knew what we were letting ourselves in for, and we had absolutely no protection. Ever since weve tried to get people to believe that what went on should never have happened. Roy Kirkland RAF sergeant Roy Kirkland was ordered to sleep just half a mile from Ground Zero. In a memoir, he wrote about living in a tent next to a target area that was turned to glass by the bombs, and said he was also told to clean and pack contaminated instruments used by scientists to monitor the blast. It reveals that after a few months his unit was ordered to move from the main camp, which was 30 miles from the blast zone, to B site, right next to the target area. Roy wrote: "Scientists were going to explode an A-bomb. This was to be done by putting the bomb in a large basket slung under a flying barrage balloon tethered to the floor by steel cables rooted in large concrete pads. Now we knew what those concrete pads half a mile from our tent lines were for. He said they were not moved back to main camp during the actual explosions, but to a level area near B site. He wrote: We huddled together in total terror, stunned and silent by this phenomenon. There are not enough words to describe everything at that moment in time. I would say it took at least half an hour for us to contemplate even talking in any semblance of normality. What right had the British government of that day to subject me and thousands more to that torture without facts being explained to us first about the after-effects? We stayed at B site as life went on, writing letters home and yearning for the day when we could go home. Melissa (left) Claire (right) Roy returned home to Burton-on-Trent, his wife Angela and baby Denise, who was born while he was away. The couple went on to have four more children, two with chronic health problems. Daughter Melissa Cooke has severe thyroid and joint issues, and her son was born with a faulty heart valve. Another daughter, Claire Kinson, has had skin cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, and has unexplained lesions on her legs. But it was Claire's son Wayne who paid the highest price. He was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer of the nervous system, called a neuroblastoma, aged just 3. He underwent four years of aggressive treatment before dying when he was 7. Wayne Wayne's aunt Denise Venning told the Mirror: My dad used to say all they had on was a pair of shorts and when the bombs went off they were simply told to look the other way. Afterwards he was told to clear the beach of all the dead birds and debris from the bombs using their bare hands. He was devastated to see the illnesses in our family and particularly when Wayne was diagnosed he would say I wonder if it was anything to do with me. There were still 4 more tests to come  known as Grapple Z, they were aimed at refining the weapon to get as big a blast as possible out of a bomb weighing no more than a ton, and to do so before an international moratorium began in October 1958. They took place in August and September. Pendant, which used different ingredients to prime the bomb, was suspended from barrage balloons. Flagpole was dropped from a plane using blind radar techniques. Halliard had a three-stage design to trigger the blast and used pilot visual targeting, while Burgee was exploded using barrage balloons and tritium gas. They had a combined yield of just over a megaton, and were the last full-scale nuclear weapons Britain ever fired.

Nuclear weapons decommissioned all over the world
SHAMOKIN DAM  More than 4,000 gallons of milk will be given away free Monday in Snyder County as a cooperative effort by several organizations.

This is primarily about supporting our agriculture sector in the valley and in particular the dairy farms which have been devastated by this COVID-19 economic slowdown, said Bob Garrett, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Providing the free milk is a way for the chamber to help the community and, in particular, those who might be going hungry because they are out of work, he said.

Also, we prefer milk to go to people not in the ground, he said in reference to farmers nationwide having to dump milk because there is no market for it.

The pop your trunk giveaway will take place between 2 and 6 p.m. in the former Kmart parking lot along Route 15 in Shamokin Dam.

Volunteers wearing the required protective equipment will place a maximum of two gallons in each vehicle. That means at least 2,000 people will have the opportunity to get free milk, Garrett said.

Social distancing will be practiced and those receiving milk must stay in their vehicles, organizers said.

The milk distribution was the idea of Micah Miner, general manager of the National Beef plant in Hummels Wharf, who saw on television a similar giveaway in Syracuse, New York.

Knowing about the surplus of milk on the market, he said he contacted Dairy Farmers of America to see if it would consider donating milk in central Pennsylvania, he said.

He got others involved so it became a community event, he said. National Beef has been trying to keep grocery store shelves filled and its employees safe but Miner said there is only so much it can do in the community.

The free milk is a great way to help the area and make the National Beef name more recognizable, he said.

Its really a great opportunity to pull together a variety of resources, said Joanne Troutman, president and CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way. The United Way will also be distributing fabric masks.

RELATED: UMPC doctor argues COVID-19 not as deadly as feared, says its hospitals will shift back to normal

RELATED: Pa. health secretary talks about coronavirus, lifting restrictions and the need for data on race

The Dairy Farmers organization has already donated more than 100,000 gallons of milk throughout five states including Pennsylvania.

As a dairy cooperative owned by family farmers across the country, we are dedicated to helping provide nutritious food for family tables, spokesperson Jennifer Huson said.

Organizers of the event say those who arrive before 1:45 p.m. Monday will be asked to leave and return.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  Groups are taking their Labor Day protests online as the government continues to prohibit mass gatherings to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

Kilusang Mayo Uno on Thursday said a "virtual rally for workers and peoples solidarity" will be held via Zoom and Facebook Live Friday morning.

"Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Karapatan, Ipaglaban! Sugpuin ang COVID-19! Singilin si Duterte! (Let us fight for Health, Livelihood, Rights! Fight COVID-19! Hold Duterte accountable)," the KMU said in its Facebook post.

It also called on protesters to make noise; wear red face masks, red shirts, and red armbands; and post streamers and placards to make their voices heard.

In a statement on Tuesday, KMU said its members are ready, along with other groups such as NAGKAISA, to hold noise barrages from their respective homes. They said that instead of mass arrests of quarantine violators, the government should expand coronavirus testing and give aid to displaced workers.

The Labor Department has said more than 2 million workers have lost their jobs due to the temporary closure of businesses and modified work arrangements to comply with the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine and lockdowns in other areas.

The Concerned Artists of the Philippines said its Lockdown Sessions will be live at 6 p.m. to express "solidarity with the most vulnerable sectors who need our support and consolation during these uncertain times."

Despite assurances from labor groups that they will not take to the streets, the Philippine National Police Chief General Archie Gamboa in a briefing said they have been made "aware of plans by militant cause-oriented groups to stage public assembly and mass action in several venues on May 1 in commemoration of Labor Day."

Gamboa stressed that mass gatherings are banned as the entire country is placed under general community quarantine starting Friday. Metro Manila and several provinces and cities are under a stricter enhanced community quarantine, marked with suspension of mass transportation, and closure of non-essential businesses, among others.

In all areas, mass gatherings are prohibited, except for essential work. Gamboa warned that protesters can be arrested for violating any of the quarantine rules.

READ: Govt finalizes rules for areas under enhanced, general community quarantine

"Arrests, detention, fines and other penalties for violating the state's ECQ rules are imposed to hold violators accountable," Gamboa said, as he discouraged public assemblies.

The PNP last week said it will be enforcing a zero tolerance policy for quarantine violators. Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield Commander PLt.Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said they will face immediate arrest, unlike in previous weeks when some were sent off with a warning.

The United Nations has raised concern over some countries' repressive measures to implement lockdowns, citing the Philippines' "highly militarized response" to contain the coronavirus spread.

Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 8,488 on Thursday, with 1,043 recoveries and 568 deaths.
COVID-19: Increasing number of undocumented Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia by illegal routes at sea

by Nova P

April 30,2020 | Source: The Online Citizen

20 undocumented Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia were caught illegal-border crossing at sea after sneaking past the Indonesian Navy in the early hours on Sunday (26 April).



Border authorities caught them aboard a fishing vessel near Asahan, north Sumatera. There were seven women, 13 men, and a toddler on the vessel.



Commander of Tanjung Balai Asahan Naval Base, Com. Dafris Datuk Syahrudin told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the vessels passengers are now being tested for COVID-19.



He added that the migrant workers appeared healthy on the outset and did not show any symptoms of COVID-19.



Belawan I Naval Base commander Adm. Abdul Rasyid said that there has been an increase in the number of undocumented Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia by sea through illegal routes.



In recent weeks, weve caught many undocumented Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia through illegal routes. We have tried to catch them so that they dont enter the country without going through medical check-ups. Its important to curb the spread of COVID-19 from overseas, he said.



On 20 April, the local authorities also caught 22 undocumented Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia on a fishing vessel in Asahan regency, North Sumatra.



We dont want to take any chances in this difficult time, as the country is on alert for the COVID-19 pandemic and its transmission  especially from overseas. The Indonesian Navy will increase border patrols, especially in suspected illegal routes, Abdul told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.



According to the government data as of 21 April, there are more than 64,000 Indonesian migrant workers who had returned from Malaysia since the country imposed COVID-19 lockdown.



Around 46,000 of them are reported to have travelled by sea.

Theme(s): Others.
Aishwarya Mourns Rishi Kapoors Death

While reacting to his sudden demise, Aishwarya shared a heartfelt note on her Instagram page along with some lovely pictures with Rishi Kapoor. She captioned the pictures saying, "So much love for you...and from you my dearest Chintu uncle...ALWAYS... so heartbroken..."

She Further Wrote..

"May your Soul Rest in Peace God Bless There will never be another... just TOO SPECIAL.. and the memories... Precious... Miss you and Love you Forever," added the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam actress, who is as devastated as everyone with the final goodbye of Rishi Kapoor.

The Entire Bachchan Parivaar Is Heartbroken

Just like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan also shared a very warm equation with the Bobby actor. In fact, it was Big B, who broke the news of Rishi Kapoor's demise on his Twitter page.

He had tweeted, "T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed!"

For The Unversed, Abhishek Attended Rishi Kapoors Funeral

While many B-town celebrities paid tribute to the veteran actor through their social media accounts, owing to the ongoing nationwide lockdown, actor Abhishek Bachchan made sure to make his presence felt at Rishi Kapoor's funeral. The Kapoor & Sons actor was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium in the evening.
Christina Segundo-Hernandez (right) and her family live in Fort Worth, Texas. (Courtesy of Christina Segundo-Hernandez)

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If they haven't already, most American taxpayers will soon be finding letters in their mailboxes emblazoned with President Trump's signature in simulated bold black Sharpie pen. The notes declare, "Your Economic Impact Payment Has Arrived" and explains that recipients are getting a check worth up to $1,200 to offset the economic hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But there's a group of Americans left off the mailing list: U.S. citizens who are married to immigrants using an ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, and file a joint tax return with their spouse to the IRS. (Often, immigrants without legal status will use an ITIN to pay income taxes, but ITIN users can also be immigrants in the U.S. legally who haven't gotten a Social Security number.)

According to the IRS, both filers must have a valid Social Security number to be eligible for the money.

A civil rights group has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the Trump Administration has acted unconstitutionally by denying the taxpaying spouses of immigrants those federal stimulus checks.

The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund or MALDEF, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, filed the lawsuit on behalf of six plaintiffs. They are U.S. citizens living in Texas, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Utah, and Washington state. Most have children who are U.S. citizens also denied benefits because of the policy.

In the lawsuit, MALDEF estimates there are 2 million people nationwide who are U.S. citizens or green card holders and are married to someone who files taxes using an ITIN. There's no indication, however, of how many of these people file jointly with their spouse and are being denied a stimulus check -- or how many dependent children those couples have.

"Your whole family is excluded if you file a joint return," said plaintiff Christina Segundo-Hernandez, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband and four children.

She started organizing families in a similar situation on the Facebook page "Mixed Status Families United," which she says has grown to over 10,000 members, including doctors, nurses and other frontline workers.

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A Congressional Research document updated April 17 states that "taxpayers who provide an individual taxpayer number (ITIN) are ineligible for the credit. Hence, married couples in which one spouse has an SSN and another had an ITIN are generally ineligible for the credit."

"These are taxpaying couples who are being denied a stimulus check for one reason: to discriminate against immigrants," said Thomas Saenz, MALDEF's president and general counsel.

The group contends the policy amounts to unlawful discrimination against married couples under the 5th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law -- and is also a violation of the couples' 1st Amendment rights. (The argument echoes the marriage equality case of United States vs. Windsor that went before the Supreme Court.)

"I think it's horrible that we're being excluded simply based on who we married, fell in love with and chose to spend our life with," said Segundo-Hernandez, whose husband, Jose, is from Mexico.

"I've always believed in doing everything the right way, and we are doing it the right way," said Anastasia Campos, who lives near Sacramento. She took to Facebook Live to share her family's experience.


The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), which represents 31 nursing certification boards and over 920,000 board certified LPNs, RNs and advanced practice nurses, today announced that its 2020 Nursing Certification Advocacy Award winner is The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey. This annual ABNS award recognizes employers who go above and beyond in their support of specialty nursing certification for their nursing teams.

It is very clear that The Valley Hospital is deeply committed to providing safe and reliable high-quality care to their patients and their community and sees specialty nursing certification as a major way to achieve their goals, said ABNS President and Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing Executive Director Janie Schumaker, MBA, RN, CEN, CPHQ, CENP, FABC. Valleys nurse leaders serve as certification champions and role models for their respective specialties by being certified themselves and encouraging their staff to get board certified.

ABNS chose The Valley Hospital for its strong organization-wide commitment to nursing certification at all levels, which has led to a 100% certification rate. Magnet-accredited since 2003, Valley also has the most holistic certified nurses of any hospital in the nation.

The many system-wide ways Valley demonstrates a commitment to improving their standard of care through nurse certification include:



Robust support for professional development in the areas of continuing education necessary for nurses to acquire and maintain the knowledge required for specialty certification.

Providing certified nurses with an annual bonus each Certified Nurses Day, which removes financial barriers for nurses to certify and recertify.

Celebrating nurses when they achieve professional milestones such as specialty certification through recognition coordinated by shared governance councils, which further encourages staff to get and stay certified.

The ABNS board of directors commends The Valley Hospital on their outstanding advocacy and support for certification, said Schumaker. Valley is a true role model and we are inspired by their support for specialty nursing certification.

About ABNS

The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) is a not-for-profit membership organization governed by an elected group of member representatives. With a mission to promote the value of specialty nursing certification, ABNS also serves as a forum for nursing credentialing organizations to connect and dialogue about the specific issues that certified nurses and those seeking certification face.

About The Valley Hospital

The Valley Hospital, a 431-bed, acute care, not-for-profit hospital located in Ridgewood, New Jersey, is part of Valley Health System, which also includes Valley Home Care and Valley Medical Group. Valley is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Gold Seals of Approval from The Joint Commission in 6 clinical areas. Valley is in alliance with the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, and is an academic and clinical affiliate of the Mount Sinai Health System. Key services include cardiology, oncology, womens and childrens services, emergency care, orthopedics and neurosciences.
Local News, Business & Finance, Health & Wellness

By Andrew Hazen Published: April 30 2020

Governor Cuomo's Daily COVID-19 Briefing Summary

Notes from Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 Briefing

There were 18,015 total deaths in NYS as of yesterday.

 Hospitalizations and new cases are down.

 306 total deaths yesterday:

o 287 (hospitals); and

o 19 (nursing homes).

Summer Camps Reopening?

 Department of Healths Concern: COVID-19 infects the lining of blood vessels and lungs.

o Some kids are having strange, adverse effects to this.

 Camps would like to open at the end of May.

o Some may be able to open in a limited basis.

 Cuomo says that the federal government is not providing enough funding for schools, rental assistance, etc.

Regent Tests

 August 2020 High School Regents are Cancelled.

Reopening NY

 Gov stressed two points about reopening:

o Closely monitor the rate of transmission, keep it below 1.1.

o Maintain 30% or more available hospital capacity.

 The state has collaborated with the federal government to increase testing to 30,000 tests per day. The goal is 40,000.

Testing & Tracing

 When you get a positive case of COVID-19, you must trace by identifying who they have been in contact with in the last 14 days.

o Yesterday, there were 4,681 positive cases.

o Over 300K (to date)

 The state needs help as there are too many people to contact at once.

 Collaboration with city and county health departments to find tracers

Michael Bloomberg

 Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended today's hearing via video conference.

 We must use contact tracing as we relax social distancing protocols.

 He announced partnerships with Johns Hopkins University, Vital Strategies, and Resolve to Save Lives, staffing organizations, and SUNY/CUNY.

 These organizations will help with tracing training, recruitment, guidance, and app development.

 Guidelines will be publicly available to provide a model for others and spread best practices.

 There must be 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 cases.

 Statewide, we will need about 6,000 tracers.

 There will be tri-state collaboration for contact tracing.

 People are usually in contact with a lot of people in two weeks.

 People have to be isolated, but they have roommates, family, etc.

o The state must then find hotels/isolation centers.

 The problem is the scale of people who need to be traced and isolated.

Health Care Facilities

 There is a case involving improper treatment of corpses at a Brooklyn funeral home.

o State is still investigating this case. No other details were provided.

 People are concerned that hospitals that resume elective surgeries will be swarmed.

 Cuomo reiterated that hospitals must maintain a "buffer," which means they must have 30% available capacity at all times.

NYC Public Transit

 NYC Subway conditions have rapidly deteriorated as a result of COVID-19.

 Overall MTA ridership is down 92%.

 MTA employees and NYPD officers are sick, so there are less people available to maintain the subway.

 There are less people to provide outreach for homeless people.

 The MTA has been cleaning the trains and buses every 72 hours.

 Unfortunately, the virus can remain on surfaces for days.

 Cuomo stated that trains and buses should be disinfected every 24 hours.

 The state, city, and local governments will partner up to disinfect trains/buses.

 The scale of work is unprecedented, but it must be done.

 The MTA will also disinfect the Metro North and LIRR without service disruptions.

o The slowest hours are from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.

o The MTA will provide free transportation during these hours.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio attended the briefing via video conference.

 Cuomo & the Mayor had a moment where they agreed to work TOGETHER

 Cuomo smirked.

 de Blasio applauded Bloomberg for stepping up to trace COVID-19.

 He thanked first responders, healthcare workers, and other essential workers for their service during the crisis.

 Homeless outreach has been stymied in the past but support for outreach workers is crucial right now.

The Plight of the Unemployed

 The state and DOL are doing everything they can to move unemployment checks faster.

 Gov stressed that nobody can be evicted for non-payment of rent.

 Montana is providing rental assistance.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported there were 45,763 confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus in all 67 counties as of 12 p.m., April 30, 2020. There are at least 2,292 reported deaths from the virus.

Click the image to see a data page including an interactive maps for the state. (Please click the link in the previous sentence if you cant see the image)

Click here for a ZIP code breakdown of cases provided by the Pa. Department of Health.

The state is also providing detailed hospital and respirator data here for desktop users and here for mobile users.

PennLive is monitoring the new cases over a two-week period, part of the Wolf administrations criteria for reopening the state. A map and a database for these are below. If you cannot see either embed, please click here for the map and here for the database.

Adams County

137 positive cases and 1,531 negative results with 4 deaths.

Allegheny County

1,289 positive cases and 15,815 negative results with 94 deaths.

Armstrong County

51 positive cases and 675 negative results with 2 deaths.

Beaver County

405 positive cases and 2,055 negative results with 65 deaths.

Bedford County

24 positive cases and 193 negative results with 1 death.

Berks County

2,698 positive cases and 5,471 negative results with 117 deaths.

Blair County

23 positive cases and 958 negative results.

Bradford County

31 positive cases and 678 negative results with 2 deaths.

Bucks County

2,870 positive cases and 8,232 negative results with 205 deaths.

Butler County

178 positive cases and 2,170 negative results with 6 deaths.

Cambria County

28 positive cases and 1,169 negative results with 1 death.

Cameron County

1 positive cases and 49 negative results.

Carbon County

175 positive cases and 1,042 negative results with 15 deaths.

Centre County

96 positive cases and 895 negative results with 1 death.

Chester County

1,375 positive cases and 5,249 negative results with 111 deaths.

Clarion County

23 positive cases and 480 negative results with 1 death.

Clearfield County

16 positive cases and 423 negative results.

Clinton County

31 positive cases and 238 negative results.

Columbia County

283 positive cases and 597 negative results with 13 deaths.

Crawford County

19 positive cases and 687 negative results.

Cumberland County

343 positive cases and 1,449 negative results with 16 deaths.

Dauphin County

584 positive cases and 3,515 negative results with 25 deaths.

Delaware County

3,696 positive cases and 8,677 negative results with 235 deaths.

Elk County

3 positive cases and 156 negative results.

Erie County

87 positive cases and 1,892 negative results with 2 deaths.

Fayette County

80 positive cases and 1,765 negative results with 4 deaths.

Forest County

7 positive cases and 29 negative results.

Franklin County

284 positive cases and 2,813 negative results with 6 deaths.

Fulton County

5 positive cases and 83 negative results.

Greene County

26 positive cases and 419 negative results.

Huntingdon County

38 positive cases and 274 negative results.

Indiana County

63 positive cases and 693 negative results with 4 deaths.

Jefferson County

4 positive cases and 311 negative results.

Juniata County

83 positive cases and 139 negative results with 1 death.

Lackawanna County

913 positive cases and 2,409 negative results with 82 deaths.

Lancaster County

1,765 positive cases and 7,590 negative results with 104 deaths.

The county is reporting 170 deaths as of 1:45 p.m. April 29. Those deaths are in the following municipalities:

Christiana: 12 deaths

Columbia: 1 death

East Cocalico Township: 2 deaths

East Hempfield Township: 6 deaths

East Lampeter Township: 1 death

Ephrata Township: 1 death

City of Lancaster: 3 deaths

Lancaster Township: 89 deaths

Lititz: 5 deaths

Manheim Township: 32 deaths

New Holland: 2 deaths

Paradise Township: 1 death

Penn Township: 3 deaths

Providence Township: 1 death

Rapho Township: 5 deaths

Salisbury Township: 1 death

Warwick Township: 1 death

Three non-residents also passed away in Lancaster County.

Lawrence County

65 positive cases and 724 negative results with 6 deaths.

Lebanon County

676 positive cases and 2,535 negative results with 9 deaths.

Lehigh County

2,796 positive cases and 7,138 negative results with 74 deaths.

Luzerne County

2,143 positive cases and 4,849 negative results with 88 deaths.

Lycoming County

68 positive cases and 1,098 negative results.

McKean County

6 positive cases and 162 negative results.

Mercer County

65 positive cases and 715 negative results with 1 death.

Mifflin County

38 positive cases and 665 negative results.

Monroe County

1,127 positive cases and 2,652 negative results with 54 deaths.

Montgomery County

4,307 positive cases and 17,072 negative results with 351 deaths.

Montour County

47 positive cases and 2,957 negative results.

Northampton County

2,050 positive cases and 6,247 negative results with 94 deaths.

Northumberland County

93 positive cases and 553 negative results.

Perry County

30 positive cases and 213 negative results with 1 death.

Philadelphia County

12,297 positive cases and 27,510 negative results with 424 deaths.

Pike County

378 positive cases and 1,208 negative results with 14 deaths.

Potter County

4 positive cases and 80 negative results.

Schuylkill County

100 positive cases and 511 negative results with 5 deaths.

Snyder County

33 positive cases and 192 negative results with 1 death.

Somerset County

26 positive cases and 581 negative results.

Sullivan County

1 positive cases and 31 negative results.

Susquehanna County

84 positive cases and 272 negative results with 8 deaths.

Tioga County

16 positive cases and 246 negative results with 1 death.

Union County

36 positive cases and 527 negative results.

Venango County

7 positive cases and 246 negative results.

Warren County

1 positive cases and 170 negative results.

Washington County

115 positive cases and 2,079 negative results with 2 deaths.

Wayne County

100 positive cases and 511 negative results with 5 deaths.

Westmoreland County

391 positive cases and 4,447 negative results with 25 deaths.

Wyoming County

20 positive cases and 150 negative results with 2 deaths.

York County

641 positive cases and 6,965 negative results with 9 deaths.

This data is compiled from the Pa. Department of Health. The state will not be providing recovery data at this time.

Several counties have released their own data maps. Information reported at the county level may not be consistent with the state numbers. Those counties include:

Some medical systems have begun releasing discharge data. Those medical systems include:

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Looks like Prabhas' wedding rumours are here to stay. The actor, who was linked to his Baahubali co-star Anushka Shetty, was recently rumoured to be dating Niharika Konidela. It was also said that the actress, who is Chiranjeevi's niece would apparently tie the knot with Prabhas soon. Well, during an interview, Niharika rubbished the rumour and said, "I am not going to tie the knot with anyone and all these are just baseless rumours. Even in the past, there were so many reports about my marriage with Sai Dharam Tej.

The media started speculating Prabhas' future wife, thanks to his uncle's Krishnam Raj's announcement. Krishnam had declared that the Pan-India star will soon get married. Well, the actor has now broken his silence on the wedding rumours and said that he is not against the idea of marriage. Prabhas was quoted as saying, "I am not averse to the idea of marriage. I will definitely tie the knot but I don't know when will this happen."

When asked about the link-up reports with Anushka Shetty and Niharika Konidela, he said, "More than my family members, it is the media that is interested in me getting married."

Earlier, there were rumours that Prabhas and Anushka had bought a new house in Los Angeles and the actor organised a special screening of Saaho for his ladylove, among others. With fans hoping for the Baahubali actors to reunite in real life, we wish the very best to both of them for their wedding.

Talking about Prabhas' future projects, he will next be seen in Radha Krishna Kumar's directorial, which is tentatively titled, O Dear. The movie, which is slated to hit the screens in mid-2020, might get delayed due to the Coronavirus lockdown.

He will be seen romancing Pooja Hegde in the romantic thriller. He is also a part of Nag Ashwin's yet-to-be-titled movie.

Prabhas Has Been Video Conferencing With Anushka Shetty During Lockdown?
The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider broadening the definition of essential goods and include information and communications technology (ICT) products while deferring to a plea from the mobile manufacturing industry.

On Wednesday, IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the ministry has taken note of mobile manufacturers concerns and has drawn the MHA authorities attention to them. The minister made the statement after holding a meeting with industry players, associations, and chambers of the electronics goods market.

The mobile manufacturing industry, which is staring at an estimated loss of over Rs 20,000 crore because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, has urged the MeitY for broadening the definition of essential goods in a bid to allow online and offline sales of mobile device and networking products.

They have also pleaded with the ministry that all authorised sales and service centres of all electronics goods be allowed to resume their services.

Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman of the Indian Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), said that the industry is facing a severe crisis due to the viral outbreak. The industry is in deep trouble. Production losses are estimated to be around Rs 20,000 crore. All companies plants are closed. Exports losses have gone up to Rs 2,500 crore and 2.5 crore mobile phones are lying unrepaired. Our meeting with the minister ended on a note of cautious optimism. Hopefully, the government will take immediate action by including the mobile manufacturing industry as an integral part of essential goods, Mohindroo said.

Prasad announced during the meeting that Aarogya Setu, a Covid-19 tracking mobile application developed by the MeitYs National Informatics Centre, has been downloaded a record eight crore times. The minister said that electronics factories should be opened in a calibrated manner.

Prasad has asked the electronics goods companies to ramp up production of medical electronics such as ventilators because of the equipments growing demand to treat Covid-19 patients. He also urged the IT sector to take advantage of three new government schemes that would be launched soon to attract global investments and strengthen the industry in a post-Covid-19 world.

The minister said that the countrys domestic demand is going to be huge, as the lockdown restrictions have increased peoples dependence to transact via the digital medium. He asked the industry to increase exports to cater to growing global demands, said an official, who was present at the meeting.

Industry players told Prasad that major electronics manufacturing clusters in Noida, Greater Noida, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are facing local restrictions because of their presence in high-risk Covid-19 zones. Prasad, however, allayed their concerns and told them that he has already had a word with respective states seeking their cooperation.

Mobile phone manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Foxconn, Lava, Wistron, Oppo, Flex, Sterlite, Micromax, Deki Electronics, Tejas Networks Ltd, and, Panasonic, etc., attended Wednesdays meeting, which took place a day after Prasad held talks with all his state counterparts.

Industry bodies, including the ICEA, Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAIT), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD), Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (TEMA), Ph.D. Chambers, and Indian Telephone Industry Limited (ITI), among others, also attended the meeting.
30.04.2020 LISTEN

It takes many good deeds to build a reputation, and only one bad one to lose it. - Benjamin Franklin 6th U.S. President

SOME OF US ARE QUITE PRAYERFUL, and we have great respect for people who go by the name and title Reverend, Father, Pastor, Evangelist, Bishop, Pope; Mallam, Alhaji, et cetera  that is, anyone who goes by the title Man of God. To the extent that some of us were enthused when a day was declared for prayer to get rid of the pandemic now hovering above our heads. Some of us are also so politically mature (NOT matured) and respectful that we shudder to spite anyone who goes by title honourable.

Covid-19 had captured our attention so much that some of us could hardly do anything apart from listening to BBC, CNN, local radio, France 24, Radio France International, plus all the local TVs and radios, especially during the lockdown. So you will hear the French calling coronavirus coronavirus (corona-veeroos), instead of the usual French transposition of English words virus-corona. Then you will hear everybody talking about having people suspected to have arrived from the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, France, Spain or Italy quarantined (kwaranteened) for 14 days. So, you ask yourself how come Ghanaians pronounce the word (kwarantained; tained like fined). Then you will ask yourself why a whole President (Trump) of the whole great America will dream of advising his countrymen and women to drink Dettol, DDT, pesticides, weedicides, penicillin to fight coronavirus! Perhaps, the admonition is for us to chase the virus wherever it goes, including our tummies!

And during the lockdown, there would be time on your hand to read everything, yes, everything. But curse your stars when you do not get the daily newspapers to read. Your eyes will flash on a headline, Obinim is an occultist, Eish! You ask, Who is accusing God's 'angel' in such a reckless manner? Then you read, An outspoken politician, Kennedy Agyapong who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, has taken his war against controversial pastor, Prophet Daniel Obinim to another level by saying the leader of the International God's Way Church is an occultist.

You are forced to swallow your words, but, again, forced to ask: Why has Obinim and people around him provoked the petulant and irascible Kennedy Agyapong? Then you remember the story of the farmer who picked a singing tortoise from the forest and caused the chief of his village to summon the villagers to listen to the singing tortoise. The wager was that if the tortoise would not sing, the farmer would suffer death. On the D-Day (NOT the Battle of Normandy), the tortoise would not sing. It was after the farmer had been executed that the tortoise started: Asem mpe nipa, nipa na ope asem (lit. Trouble does not look for man; it is man who seeks trouble). Obinim is alleged to have said he can take care of Kennedy, provide him with funds, and that if Kennedy dared him, he would use his macho-men to discipline him. You can choose to call Kennedy a braggart who relishes braggadocio but you cannot take it from him that he is as resolute and fearless as he is intrepid and audacious.

But we thought Obinim had made peace with Kennedy Agyapong. Obinim had asked bloggers and Facebook writers of his church to cease writing scurrilous matters about Kennedy immediately effect (with immediate effect). But, no, Kennedy would not be appeased: It won't work, says he, especially when people like Appiah Stadium had threatened to curse him by the river deity, Antoa, if Kennedy should apply the brakes. Appiah Stadium is enthused about the revelation of Obinim having taken one Adwoa's gold and keeping it for five years: Metu kye ma wo, so says Appiah Stadium.

Among the allegation against Obinim are: he uses human parts for sacrifices; he lures (seduces) pretty girls who attend his church; A mallam at Akyem Tafo provides him with human skulls to prepare 'Crowd Puller', soap, Obinim engages in money laundering, uses people like Isaac Opoku and other church members to transfer moneys into his accounts in Spain through one Esther of Fidelity Bank; Obinim uses sperms wiped after sex with women for his occult practices. Honourable Kennedy Agyapong appears to have captured Obinim in a video in which he (Obinim) states that human eyes, human fingers, fresh babies and pregnant women could be effectively used as sacrifices to enable someone to become very rich, alleging that you will bury the pregnant woman alive and the money will start flowing. You will see a lot of money in your washroom without working for it.

A lot of these video shots from Net2 TV have gone viral. Obinim is said to have hypnotised the members of his church and claims great spirituality when one goes to bed with his biological sister, or practises homosexuality. The honourable Kennedy Agyapong is alleged by Daily Guide to have yelled unprintable words at Obinim for being evil, and also that Obinim's time is up. He further claims to report Obinim's character to the police and EOCO, and insists on having Obinim jailed, Obinim will go to jail Obinim will go mad Obinim's church will collapse Obinim dare not open his church

One is enjoined to be very circumspect before commenting on the unfolding drama. The allegations against Obinim appear overwhelming, and the evidence on the face of the docket so palpable, but one should be careful not to fall flat of the law on libel and defamation. With the repeal of the criminal Libel Law (2001), now libel cases fall under civil torts, and the penalties are atrocious. The police and EOCO are there to take up the criminal aspects of cases like the ones alleged by Honourable Kennedy Agyapong against Obinim. Obinim, sorry, Angel Obinim, will certainly have his defences, and no one can trample upon his human rights. Of course, it is everybody else's duty to expose fraudsters and tricksters who walk about in the name of God to do all kinds of evil things. Who is next after Obinim? Some people are pointing fingers at Badu Kobi, Agradaa

Marcus Antonius in William Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' in a speech after the murder of Julius Caesar said, Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones; so let it be with Caesar Your good deeds will be buried with you when you die, while the bad ones, even if they are few will linger on long after your repose.

[email protected]

From Africanus Owusu-Ansah
As the coronavirus outbreak and



resultant curbs bring sweeping changes in life, ministers and politicians in Maharashtra have taken to technology in a big way to keep in touch with their constituents, conduct meetings and carry out official responsibilities.

With social distancing becoming the new way of life and lockdown forcing people to stay indoors, they are extensively tapping social media platforms and new-age tools to reach out to members of the public and political workers.

Abhijit Sapkal, general secretary of the Maharashtra Congress and head of its social media cell, said the lockdown has made politicians take the corporate sector route to conduct their activities.

For long, the corporate sector has been using technology to conduct meetings and remote working, which is now a buzzword, was a norm in some segments, especially IT.

Face-to-face interaction and political gatherings have been replaced by virtual meetings.

The 'Zoom' app has emerged as one of the most favoured technology platforms for such sessions since it has some key features like an admin being in command of meeting and sharing of data in theform of PPT (power point presentation).

During the last one month, the app, a paid service, has become immensely popular.

Sapkal said this app is used to hold political meetings of the Congress.

"The party has subscribed to this serviceand has got the licence to use it. If you havent subscribed, there are security issues and you get only 40-minute time," he said.

A recent meeting of state leaders with AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge lasted for five-and-a-half hours on this app, he said.

Meetings of the state Congress task force on COVID-19 and sub-committee on the pandemic have also been held on Zoom, Sapkal said.

"Initially, the social media team had to call up all participants to inform them about the password, ID and to give other instructions. Now, most leaders and office-bearers have got used to the system," Sapkal said.

State PWD Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan, who is in his hometown Nanded, told PTI over phone that video conferencing is the new means of communicationas it is much easier.

Video conferencing had been widely used in the corporate world, but not in Now, various apps have emerged as the new tools of communication and are used for ministerial works and party meetings.

"My daughter helps mein case I need assistance with this new technology, even though I do useiPad and other digital platforms for communication," Chavan said.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said he uses 'Zoom' for internal party meetings and the audio bridge to interact with a larger group of workers.

The senior BJP leader uses 'Webinar', a software tool, to interact with representatives of different sectors like health, agriculture and realty.

"I will compile a report on their recommendations on how to revive the economy post the coronavirus and submit it to the central and state governments," Fadnavis said.

The former chief minister said despite the lockdown, he has been able to reach out to 50,000 people through digital platforms like Skype, Facebook Live, Twitter and Instagram.

"Everyday BJP core committee meets via 'Zoom' in the morning. Then some Webinar or category-specific interactions are held. I have a packed day even in the lockdown," he said.

"It's true we have to be among people, but we can use technology wherever travel is not required. This is one positive side of the lockdown," Fadnavis said.

State Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray holds video conferences with bureaucrats, district collectors and also ministers whenever needed, an aide said.

"Thackeray communicates with the general public on Twitter and Facebook," the aide said



State NCP president and minister Jayant Patil said he is using audio conferencing and 'Zoom' for political meetings.

For official meetings with respective departments and other ministers as well as Cabinet meets, the official video conferencing platform is being used, he said.

The NCP leader said he has been usingaudio conferencing since the 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign.

"I (at that time) addressed booth-level presidents. Here you speak to an audience of 200 to 300 people. If the audience wants to ask questions, they have to dial a number. Political parties and politicians have been now introduced to this 'Zoom' app which is a new featurefor us," Patil said.

The minister, however, doesn't think technology like 'Zoom' is a convenient way to communicate politically.

"We are habituated to meeting people in person. But we will have to usetechnology for communication for a while now due to the coronavirus," he said.

Use of technology is good for government meetings and it should become a regular feature after the state becomes free of the coronavirus, Patil said.

"Government officials from the nookand corner of the state need not come to Mumbai for meetings, especially for briefings during the legislature sessions. Technology will save crores of rupees which are otherwise wasted on travel of officials," the NCP leader said.

Ministers can take briefings from officials through video conferencing during legislature sessions, he said.

Maharashtra minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat and NCP leader Supriya Sule, who is the Lok Sabha member from Baramati in Pune, have also been using 'Zoom' to interact with their respective party workers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Returning to the podium Thursday for the first time since recovering from the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he could confirm that the U.K. is "past the peak of this disease."

Why it matters: The U.K. has Europe's second-highest death toll, behind Italy, and the number of active cases continued to tick upwards last week even as it fell in other hard-hit countries like France and Spain. With the situation now improving, Johnson said he'll announce a "comprehensive plan" next week for re-opening the economy, schools and transportation.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As hospitals continue to battle rising cases of COVID-19 across the United States, health systems are operating under supply chain shortages and difficult circumstances. GreenLight Medical, Inc., a leading healthcare supply chain technology company, is launching a COVID-19 Supply Chain Toolkit with urgent and timely resources.

Healthcare technology CEO solving supply chain and value analysis challenges.

The resources are designed to help health systems and healthcare providers access the data, collaboration platforms and product expertise they need to serve physicians, hospital personnel and patients in the midst of this pandemic. GreenLight will be providing complimentary access during these unprecedented times to its Virtual Value Analysis Platform, Product Research Library, Clinical Evidence Research, and supply chain best practices webinars and white papers.

COVID-19 Product Education & Sourcing Challenges

Due to extremely limited inventories of essential medical supplies including personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators, GreenLight has prioritized the expansion of the PPE and COVID-19 product database to provide partners with rapid access to product information, FDA compliance, clinically equivalent alternatives, and safety and recall data. The GreenLight platform provides a direct connection to verified suppliers of COVID-19 products to streamline product access for healthcare systems and providers.

"Our hospital partners need support along multiple fronts, including technology, data and frameworks to develop resilience in the healthcare supply chain. As we innovate our software solutions to keep pace with hospital demands, we are also expanding our value analysis advisory services to ensure that facilities can implement a fully operational virtual value analysis program and governance structure within a few weeks' time," said Austin Dirks, CEO, GreenLight Medical. "We have a responsibility to prioritize the development of features and resources that equip hospitals to directly manage COVID-19 supplies. Newly released tools from GreenLight will provide vetted and comprehensive product information, product sourcing, and processes that will ensure available inventory and adherence to hospital new product policy. Our commitment is to ensure high-quality medical products are reaching physicians and hospital personnel."

GreenLight's data, research and engineering teams have built a responsive and relevant repository of COVID-19 products and medical information to ensure all stakeholders have the data they need to drive actionable insights and source necessary supplies. Non-partnered hospitals and health systems will be able to leverage GreenLight's medical device research to accelerate the identification and acquisition of medical devices, product equivalents, clinical evidence and FDA guidelines on COVID-19 products.

Related Files

COVID19 Product Research Database.pdf

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Austin Dirks

Healthcare technology CEO solving supply chain and value analysis challenges.

Related Links

Complimentary Access

Product Research Library

SOURCE GreenLight Medical

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The Marine Corps has halted training for a company of recruits who arrived at boot camp on the West Coast last month after about four dozen of them tested positive for the illness caused by the coronavirus.

Members of Bravo Company, 1st Training Battalion were about five days into their training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego when one began showing symptoms for COVID-19. That recruit tested positive and was immediately moved into isolation, said Capt. Martin Harris, a spokesman for the training base.

That led to follow-on testing and contact analysis to identify anyone who'd been in close contact with the sick recruit. All of Bravo Company eventually tested, Harris said, leading to about four dozen recruits testing positive for the virus.

Most of those recruits showed no symptoms for the illness, he added. That has led the training depot to change the way it's receiving shipments of new recruits.

Related: Recruits Who Carried COVID-19 to Boot Camp Had Passed Temp Checks, Screenings

"While these positive cases are currently isolated to one company and in quarantine, the increase of asymptomatic positive tests has prompted the testing of all personnel in quarantine and all recruits that arrive on the depot in the future, whether or not they present symptoms," Harris said. "All the recruits that have entered the 14-day staging period are healthy and are being screened by medical personnel several times each day and remain in contact with their families to keep them informed."

It's a similar approach being taken on the East Coast, where the Marine Corps had already battled dozens of COVID-19 cases at boot camp. Two asymptomatic recruits there are believed to have spread the virus to other members of their training company, along with drill instructors, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina.

The new outbreak in San Diego was first reported by Marine Corps Times. No one outside Bravo Company has tested positive for COVID-19 in San Diego, Harris said. A couple drill instructors assigned to the company have also tested positive and have been moved into isolation, he added.

The Marine Corps has put a host of new safety measures in place at its entry-level training camps for new enlistees and officers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. That was after several recruiters in New York, the epicenter of the country's coronavirus outbreak, sounded alarms about the service's decision to continue shipping new trainees to boot camp -- especially from states with high case rates.

Recruits and drill instructors are now required to wear face masks and practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet of space between people when possible. The Marine Corps has also canceled graduations and other family day events that typically bring hundreds of people onto the depots at a time.

Entry-level training camps and Navy ships have proven to be some of the trickiest places for the military to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the global pandemic. At least two Navy ships, where sailors live in tight quarters, have been sidelined as the vessels are evacuated.

All the military branches this month put a pause on sending new shipments of recruits to boot camp as facilities were prepared to house them in isolation before officially beginning training.

That hasn't happened at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego yet, but officials will be closely monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases new recruits might bring to the base.

"We continue to take deliberate and proactive measures as we continue to adapt and react to the changing situation," Harris said.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: 'We Are Putting Lives in Danger': Recruiters Urge Boot Camp Closures Amid Pandemic
Photo: RCMP

RCMP seized 25 firearms, including a pistol with a silencer and a loaded carbine rifle, along with cocaine and more than $9,000 in cash while executing three search warrants at separate sites.

The April 24 operation came after investigators conducted covert surveillance and collected evidence of drug trafficking.

The searches were carried out at residences in Sooke, Langford and Saanich that are believed to be connected to a sophisticated drug ring.

Also found were a prohibited sawed-off shotgun and two vehicles used in trafficking drugs.

A 25-year-old woman and men ages 36 and 46 were arrested.

This was a lengthy and complex investigation requiring many police resources, said Cpl. Ryan Walsh of the Drugs and Organized Crime Unit.

We seized a significant amount of cocaine packaged and ready to be sold. We also seized numerous firearms as well as three sets of soft and hard body armour with hundreds of rounds of ammunition and prohibited magazines.
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KIRKLAND  A former Albertsons store at 9826 N.E. 132nd St. in Kirkland sold for $4.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was WAL Properties LLC, which had owned the property for decades. The grocer closed circa 2014.

The buyer was BRFII Kirkland LLC, which is associated with Balboa Retail Partners of Los Angeles.





. . .
Xueqing Shen has been the CEO of Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. (HKG:6196) since 2012. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid.

Check out our latest analysis for Bank of Zhengzhou

How Does Xueqing Shen's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

At the time of writing, our data says that Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. has a market cap of HK$22b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of CN1.8m for the year to December 2019. That's less than last year. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at CN830k. We examined companies with market caps from CN14b to CN45b, and discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was CN3.5m.

Pay mix tells us a lot about how a company functions versus the wider industry, and it's no different in the case of Bank of Zhengzhou. On an industry level, roughly 63% of total compensation represents salary and 37% is other remuneration. Bank of Zhengzhou does not set aside a larger portion of remuneration in the form of salary, maintaining the same rate as the wider market.

At first glance this seems like a real positive for shareholders, since Xueqing Shen is paid less than the average total compensation paid by similar sized companies. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Bank of Zhengzhou has changed from year to year.

SEHK:6196 CEO Compensation April 30th 2020

Is Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. Growing?

On average over the last three years, Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. has shrunk earnings per share by 23% each year (measured with a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 6.6%.

Story continues

Unfortunately, earnings per share have trended lower over the last 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. These factors suggest that the business performance wouldn't really justify a high pay packet for the CEO. Although we don't have analyst forecasts shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Has Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. Been A Good Investment?

Since shareholders would have lost about 51% over three years, some Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. shareholders would surely be feeling negative emotions. It therefore might be upsetting for shareholders if the CEO were paid generously.

In Summary...

It looks like Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. pays its CEO less than similar sized companies.

Shareholders should note that compensation for Xueqing Shen is under the median of a group of similar sized companies. But then, EPS growth is lacking and so are the returns to shareholders. While one could argue it is appropriate for the CEO to be paid less than other CEOs of similar sized companies, given company performance, we would not call the pay overly generous. CEO compensation is an important area to keep your eyes on, but we've also identified 5 warning signs for Bank of Zhengzhou (2 are potentially serious!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Bank of Zhengzhou, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The patent, approved in March, covers a vaccine that targets the most vulnerable point in a coronavirus's structure, through which it penetrates human cells

Researchers worldwide are racing at breakneck speed to develop potential vaccines and drugs to fight the novel coronavirus, SARS-Cov-2. Now, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent to Tel Aviv University's Prof. Jonathan Gershoni of the School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology at TAU's George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences for his innovative vaccine design for the corona family of viruses.

The vaccine targets the novel coronavirus's Achilles' heel, its Receptor Binding Motif (RBM), a critical structure that enables the virus to bind to and infect a target cell.

According to Prof. Gershoni, the vaccine would reconstruct the coronavirus's RBM, a tiny feature of its "spike" protein. Though the virus uses many different proteins to replicate and invade cells, the "spike" protein is the major surface protein that it uses to bind to a receptor -- another protein that acts like a doorway into a human cell. After the spike protein binds to the human cell receptor, the viral membrane fuses with the human cell membrane, allowing the genome of the virus to enter human cells and begin infection.

"We have been working on coronaviruses for the last 15 years, developing a method of reconstructing and reconstituting the RBM feature of the spike protein in SARS CoV and subsequently in MERS CoV," explains Prof. Gershoni. "The moment the genome of the new virus was published in early January 2020, we began the process of reconstituting the RBM of SARS CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and expect to have a reconstituted RBM of the new virus soon. This will be the basis for a new vaccine, which could be ready for use within a year to a year and a half."

The spike protein is quite large, containing about 1,200 amino acids. Some researchers have limited their research to a region of the spike known as the receptor binding domain (RBD) that comprises some 200 amino acids. However, the problem is that these relatively large areas have a variety of targets, and the immune system produces antibodies for all of them indiscriminately -- reducing the effectiveness of a potential vaccine.

The RBM, a highly complex three dimensional structure, is only 50 amino acids long. Functionally reconstituting such a structure would be very challenging, but it would be an extremely effective basis of a vaccine, says Prof. Gershoni.

"The smaller the target and the focus of the attack, the greater the effectiveness of the vaccine," he adds. "The virus takes far-reaching measures to hide its RBM from the human immune system, but the best way to 'win the war' is to develop a vaccine that specifically targets the virus's RBM."

Prof. Gershoni's team has completed their initial steps toward reconstituting the new SARS CoV2's RBM. The reconstitution of the new SARS CoV2's RBM and its use as a basis for a new vaccine is covered by an additional pending patent application, filed by Ramot, TAU's technology transfer arm, to the USPTO.

"Now that we have received serum samples we should be able to isolate RBM-based vaccine candidates in the next month or two," concludes Prof. Gershoni. "The discovery and production of a functional RBM for the new coronavirus is fundamental and critical for the production of the vaccine we propose.

"Our successful isolation and reconstitution of such a functional RBM will allow the industry to incorporate it into a vaccine, which will be produced by a pharmaceutical company. Development of such an RBM-based vaccine should take months and then would need to be tested in Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials which would then take up to a year."

###

American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Israel's most influential, comprehensive and sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU). TAU is recognized and celebrated internationally for creating an innovative, entrepreneurial culture on campus that generates inventions, startups and economic development in Israel. TAU is ranked ninth in the world, and first in Israel, for producing start-up founders of billion-dollar companies, an achievement that surpassed several Ivy League universities. To date, 2,500 US patents have been filed by Tel Aviv University researchers -- ranking TAU #1 in Israel, #10 outside of the US and #66 in the world.
European Union lags fly outside the headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. (Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The eurozone economy shrank at its sharpest pace ever in the first three months of the year, as the coronavirus pandemic swept the bloc and forced its largest economies into shutdowns.

The common currency areas gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 3.8% in the first quarter of the year compared to the previous quarter, according to Eurostat, the European Unions statistics agency.

Overall, the European Unions economic output declined by 3.5%, which was also the sharpest decline since 1995, when the agencys data series begins.

The stark declines, which were worse than analysts had forecast, are markedly lower than those seen in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

READ MORE: Sainsburys takes 500m coronavirus hit despite grocery boom

However, on a seasonally adjusted basis, output fell by 3.3% in the eurozone and by 2.7% in the EU compared with the first quarter of 2019, the sharpest declines since the third quarter of 2009.

While spillover effects from the spread of the virus in Asia likely dented the eurozone economy in the first half of the quarter, it was not until the final weeks of the period that countries initiated sweeping lockdowns designed to contain the spread of the virus.

Analysts thus expect data from the second quarter to be even worse, with a series of closely watched economic indicators suggesting the blocs economy suffered an unprecedented collapse as businesses across the bloc shut down.

First-quarter data from Italy, which was the first European country to enter lockdown on 9 March, has not yet been released.

The first quarter decline in the eurozone economy is the worst for the economic bloc since at least the start of the 1970s, said Bert Colijn, a senior economist at Dutch financial services firm ING.

Almost all of the damage happened in the final two weeks of the quarter, showing how remarkably deep a contraction can become under mandated lockdowns, he said.

This time it really is different  a recession like the one were currently in is unprecedented.

Story continues

The decline may put pressure on the European Central Bank, whose latest monetary policy decision will be announced later on Thursday.

READ MORE: Dettol and Lysol owner Reckitt Benckiser sees 'exceptional growth'

The eurozone data came after both France and Spain, two of the blocs largest economies, also recorded their sharpest drop in quarterly economic growth ever.

France officially fell into recession on Thursday after recording its steepest drop in quarterly GDP since records began in 1949.

Frances statistics agency INSEE said GDP contracted by 5.8% in the first quarter of 2020, with the caused in part by the strict lockdown introduced in France on 17 March to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The lockdown caused household consumption to drop 6.1% in the quarter, while empty factories meant exports slumped by 6.5%.

Spains national statistics office, INE, said GDP fell by 5.2% in the first quarter. That was also the worst reading ever recorded, although official records only stretch back to 1995.

Oscar Williams-Grut contributed reporting.

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Downing Street has backed the parents of Harry Dunn in their plea to US President Donald Trump to review the decision to block an extradition request for their son's alleged killer.

The letter, addressed to Mr Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, comes after it was reported that lawyers acting on behalf of 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas had opened up a dialogue with the Foreign Office earlier this year to work towards a 'resolution'.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn urged Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo to reconsider the decision to refuse the Home Office's request to extradite Mrs Sacoolas, saying that the UK justice system has 'fairness at its heart'.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn have written to President Donald Trump to ask him to review the decision to block an extradition request for their son's alleged killer, Anne Sacoolas

Asked if the UK backed the Dunns' efforts to lobby the US president, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: 'Yes, we are very clear that we want Harry's family to get the justice they deserve.'

The move was revealed after it was reported that lawyers acting on behalf of 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas had opened up a dialogue with the Foreign Office earlier this year to work towards a 'resolution'.

Mr Dunn's parents urged Mr Trump and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo to reconsider the decision to refuse the Home Office's request to extradite Mrs Sacoolas, saying that facing the UK justice system would have 'fairness at its heart'.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn met the president at the White House six months ago, where he had hoped they would meet the suspect, who was waiting in a room next door, but they declined to see her.

Asked if the UK Government back the call from the parents of Harry Dunn (pictured), Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said they support them getting 'the justice they deserve'

They took their campaign for justice to the US in October, two months after Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike collided with a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire.

Mrs Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

She was charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of the 19-year-old in December but an extradition request was rejected by Mr Pompeo in January.

The Foreign Office has since come under fire after documents revealed a senior diplomat sent a text message to their US Embassy counterpart saying there was 'not much mileage' in Mrs Sacoolas and her family staying in the UK, adding: 'I think you should feel able to put them on the next flight out.'

Anne Sacoolas (pictured back in the US) was granted diplomatic immunity and fled Britain nearly three weeks after the car she was driving allegedly collided with 19-year-old Harry's motorbike outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27

Urging Mr Trump to reconsider the decision to refuse the extradition request, the teenager's parents said: 'It is now six months since we met with you, Mr President, in the Oval Office. We hope you are as well as can be in the current difficult circumstances.

'When we parted last October, you kindly mentioned that you would take a different look at the case and we have not heard from you since.

'Of course, since then, the UK have sought Mrs Sacoolas' extradition which has been rejected by Secretary Pompeo.

'We note from the British press that Mrs Sacoolas' lawyer has reached out to the Foreign Office here in London and that she is attempting to seek a resolution to the problem. We understand that Mrs Sacoolas must be suffering too.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn met the president at the White House six months ago, where he had hoped they would meet the suspect, who was waiting in a room next door, but they declined to see her

'The purpose of this letter is to ask you please to review your decision to not allow her to return to face the justice system, which as you know has fairness at its heart.

'As we are sure you can appreciate, it is really the only way forward in the interests of both families and of relations between our two nations which have suffered as a result of the decision.

'If you allow her to return, we are sure only good can come from it. Otherwise, the problem will never go away. No one is above the law.'

PA Media have reported that the letter has been acknowledged by a senior official at the White House.
Britain now has Europe's second highest official COVID-19 death toll with more than 26,000, according to figures published on Wednesday that raised questions about Prime Minister Boris Johnson's response to the outbreak.

Some 26,097 people died across the United Kingdom after testing positive for COVID-19 as of April 28 at 1600 GMT, Public Health England (PHE) said, citing daily figures that included deaths outside of hospital settings for the first time.

That means the United Kingdom has suffered more COVID-19 deaths than France or Spain have reported, though less than Italy, which has Europe's highest death toll and the second worst in the world after the United States.

"We must never lose sight of the fact that behind every statistic there are many human lives that have tragically been lost before their time," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told reporters. "We are still coming through the peak and...this is a delicate and dangerous moment in the crisis."

Such a high UK death toll increases the pressure on Johnson just as opposition parties accused his government of being too slow to impose a lockdown to limit contagion from the new coronavirus, too slow to introduce mass testing and too slow to get enough protective equipment to hospitals.

Johnson returned to work on Monday after recuperating from COVID-19, which had left him gravely ill in intensive care at the peak of the coronavirus outbreak. He celebrated the birth of a baby son on Wednesday.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer criticised Johnson's response to the world's worst public health crisis since the 1918 influenza outbreak. Johnson had spoken of Britain's "apparent success" in tackling COVID-19 in a speech to the nation on Monday.

"We are possibly on track to have one of the worst death rates in Europe," Starmer told parliament. "Far from success, these latest figures are truly dreadful," he added, referring to previously published data.

Starmer said his calculations showed 27,241 had died in the UK from COVID-19, the lung disease caused by the coronavirus. In mid-March the government's chief scientific adviser said keeping Britain's death toll below 20,000 would be a "good outcome".

UK AND ITALY

Johnson initially resisted introducing the lockdown but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Yvonne Doyle, PHE's medical director, said the new figures put the UK roughly in line with its peers in Europe, adjusted for population.

Although international comparisons are difficult, the updated figures confirm Britain's place among the European countries worst hit by the viral pandemic.

Italy said on Wednesday its death toll had risen to 27,682.Like Britain, its figures are based on deaths following positive coronavirus tests in all settings.

Spain reported 24,275 deaths at the last count, less than Britain's new toll published on Wednesday. Spain's population is around 20 million smaller, so it has a higher prevalence of deaths per capita.

Still, early evidence for "excess deaths" - the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year - suggest Britain has fared poorly in comparison to other countries.

Although it takes a long time to form a full picture, academics prefer this measure to gauge the impact of an epidemic and the measures taken by countries to control it, since it is easier to compare across countries.

Official data published this week offered a flavour of the true human cost of the pandemic in Britain: 22,351 people died from all causes in England and Wales in the week to April 17, the biggest total since comparable records began in 1993.

While this was 11,854 more than average for the week, only 8,758 cases mentioned COVID-19 in death certificates, suggesting even this more comprehensive data may be undercounting the true toll.

Also read: Coronavirus in US: COVID-19 deaths exceed Americans killed in Vietnam War

Also read: Coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases, deaths and global impact
The Scott Memorial Library located at the Thomas Jefferson University campus at 1000 Walnut Street opened in 1970. Photographed from the Walnut Street entrance on February 12, 2020. ( ED NEWTON / For the Inquirer ) Read more

Many local universities say its too soon to determine whether in-person classes can be held in the fall or students can return to campus and live in the dorms.

Thomas Jefferson University is sending a different message.

We  plan to resume on-campus classes and operations this fall, the school announced earlier this week. In delivering your education in-person, we will operate within a framework that maximizes safety and abides by local, state and federal regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The university intends to open the residence halls  with reconfiguring  and resume clinical rotations, said the message from Stephen K. Klasko, president, and Mark L. Tykocinski, provost, both medical doctors.

At the same time, Jefferson is offering students the choice of returning to campus or continuing online learning. For those who choose campus, things will be different: Some large lectures may be delivered online and class schedules will be expanded, allowing for smaller classes, labs, and studios with social distancing, the university said. Students also will have the option of spreading their classes over fall, spring, and summer.

Tykocinski said the university wanted to send a decisive message about fall plans, while allowing for flexibility and acknowledging that factors out of Jeffersons control, such as governmental direction, could require change.

We heard loud and clear from many of our students that they really want to get back to campus, that they really value that residential academic experience, Tykocinski said. We want to do that, too, but we want to do that safely.

Jeffersons decision comes at a critical time; Friday is the deadline for students at some schools to make a deposit if they intend to enroll, though Jefferson has granted extensions to June 1 to students who asked.

Around the country, many colleges have said they will decide on fall plans in May or June. Some say that they are planning for multiple scenarios including a delayed fall semester, online learning, or a hybrid and that a return to campus would depend on things like the availability of testing.

 READ MORE: Colleges holding on-campus classes in the fall? Maybe.

Some have made declarations similar to Jeffersons. Purdue said it would bring students back in August if government authorities allow it.

Elsewhere in the city, Temple said it will make a decision by the end of May. University of Pennsylvania leaders said they are planning for a likely combination of in-class and virtual teaching (particularly for large lectures). Penn has established a group that is looking at the elements that would need to be in place to allow a safe return to more normal campus operations," but officials there noted, "At this point, it is too early to say exactly when or how that will happen.

St. Josephs University president Mark Reed also said Thursday in a message to the campus that the university intends to start the semester on ground and on time  barring any restrictions that prevent us from doing so."

In any cases, classes will begin Aug. 24 and faculty could pivot to online in a few days as happened this spring if necessary, he wrote. He outlined four likely scenarios: A return to campus with social distancing and safety measures. A return to campus in August, the elimination of fall break and then a transitioning to virtual classes after Thanksgiving to limit travel. A virtual start to the semester because of government restrictions, then transitioning to on campus. Virtual instruction for the semester.

We look forward to starting the fall semester and seeing our community back on Hawk Hill soon, Reed wrote.

Several Jefferson faculty applauded its approach.

Its that light at the end of the tunnel weve all been searching for, said engineering Professor Chris Pastore.

Tod Corlett, an industrial-design professor, said prospective and returning students have been asking faculty for weeks if Jefferson had a plan. He was glad to see the statement, knowing how hard it was to do, given the uncertainties of the virus.

There is some expectation that people need to make some decisions soon about which school to attend, and its very difficult  if youre not seeing a clear statement, he said.

 READ MORE: Charging full tuition for online classes? No, say some students, despite the coronavirus.

It also helps having a health system with a public health department and its experts, he said. In 2017, Jefferson, with its medical college, hospitals, and health system, acquired East Falls-based Philadelphia University, best known for its design, engineering, and health science programs. Collectively, they enroll about 8,100 undergraduate and graduate students.

Tykocinski said residence halls will include more single units and transportation options for those who take off-campus studios. Dining halls and other facilities also will be reconfigured for social distancing, he said.

Brittney Bell, student body president and a junior from Southampton, is looking forward to the fall.

Students are eager to get back on campus with proper precautions taken, she said.
GREENWICH  A new testing site for the coronavirus will be open for one day on Friday in Wilbur Peck Court in Greenwich.

The testing site will be in the housing complexs clinic, which is run by Family Centers. The area nonprofit is running the pop-up testing site. The tests will be done at no cost to the patient.

To be tested, a person must either be showing symptoms or have been exposed to a positive case of coronavirus.

The tests will be done between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday and will be by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 203-717-1760.

The test results will be known quickly, said Dennis Torres, vice president of Health Care Programs at Family Centers. Positive results for coronavirus can be determined within three minutes, and negative results within 15 minutes.

The mobile testing van can do 60 tests a day, and Torres said he expects all the slots to be filled.

The testing is done through the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, which is working with the state Department of Public Health as a pilot program in Greenwich and other communities to provide more access to tests.

It is a one-day testing site, but Torres said Family Centers is hoping for more.

Were going to see how it goes, he said. We want to bring additional testing to the community because there still isnt enough of it.

Family Centers is also trying to educate residents through the clinic about the need for testing, how to access the test and symptoms of the virus, Torres said.

Some people cannot return to work without a clean test, he said, but it is hard to get tested. The more availability of testing there is, the better it is.

We are making this a priority, Torres said.

The goal of the clinic in housing complex, which is owned by the Housing Authority of Greenwich, is to meet the needs of low-income and underserved residents in town who might not otherwise have access to health and dental care.

Greenwich Hospital has been operating a testing site in its employee parking lot since last month. As of Wednesday, the hospital reported that 4,732 people have been tested, with 1,646 coming back positive. That number includes people from all over the region and not just from Greenwich.

The town Department of Health reported that as of Wednesday, 673 residents have tested positive for coronavirus.

Symptoms of coronavirus include a cough and shortness of breath, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as any two of these symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and/or a loss of taste or smell.

Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions such as heart or lung disease and diabetes appear to be at higher risk of developing more serious complications from coronavirus.

Children can also exhibit similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illnesses.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
Imani Rivera has dreamed her entire life of working in the fashion industry. However, the stark reality of COVID-19 has forced high school students like her to reassess their path toward higher education.

The coronavirus pandemic has left the 17-year-old's parents unable to work. Her mother, an Uber driver, and her father, a maintenance worker, have both been trying for over a month to receive unemployment.

"Every morning I hear them wake up at 7 a.m., and call unemployment right away. The other day, my dad was left on hold for three hours before they hung up on him," Rivera told ABC News. "It's back-to-back disappointment every day, and it's really frustrating when there's literally nothing you can do to help your family."

MORE: Coronavirus pandemic brings staggering losses to colleges and universities

Rivera, who lives in New York City housing and will be a first-generation college student, has been accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology, one of the top fashion schools in the country and one she has wanted to attend since fourth grade.

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.

"I have put everything into this. I just didn't really imagine it would be like this," she added.

In an effort to prevent her from being completely overwhelmed with loans, her parents had planned to help their daughter finance college, however, any additional help from her parents now seems unlikely.

"I am really stressed about everything," she added. "What am I going to do? Am I even going to be able to go?"

PHOTO: Imani Rivera, 17, of New York City, remains unsure if she will be able to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in the fall. (Imani Rivera)

If she is unable to gather enough funds to attend, Rivera said she is considering attending a community college before transferring when the economy improves.

As the number of Americans filing for unemployment climbs to more than 26 million, many middle- and lower-income students are now wondering whether their dream of a higher education is out of reach.

Story continues

Given the years of escalating college costs, the pandemic has greatly affected their ability to pay for their education.

Much like their parents, many students who had been working and saving for college are now also unemployed, further paralyzed by mounting debts and the pandemic.

MORE: More students are now considering college gap year because of COVID-19

Jayne Fonash, president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, told ABC News that there are "thousands and thousands of middle class families who thought they had a reasonable plan for their child to get to college with a minimum amount of debt." For those who are currently experiencing unemployment, "that plan goes out the window and now they need to rethink how their students can pursue a college education and still be able to be safe and do it at an affordable cost."

The uncertainty has also left many parents uncertain of how they will pay bills, while keeping their children in school.

"It's taken a lot of stress on us as a family," said Chrisy Neff, who lives in Pittsburgh and has three daughters, two of whom are in college.

Neff and her husband own a construction company, and in an effort to bring in supplemental income, Neff also works at Dave and Buster's on the nights and weekends. It took over a month for her and her husband to get the paperwork necessary to file for unemployment.

PHOTO: In this March 18, 2020 file photo, a pedestrian walks through campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Gerry Broome/AP, File)

The family is now making one-third of its normal income, and is anxiously awaiting for the state to reopen so that construction can resume.

"We are dying here," Neff said. "Our savings have been depleted."

Chrisy worries about helping her daughters finish college. "It's hard," she said. "We have depleted our savings, and we have college payments that we have to make."

Tosha Lewis, vice president of partnerships, DC College Access Program (DC-CAP), a nonprofit that assists first-generation and low-income students through the college process, said "the extent to which our parents may be unemployed now or underemployed as a result of COVID-19, has greatly exacerbated the financial stress of sending a student off to college."

In addition to their academic workload, she said, many of these students have picked up additional work hours to help support their families during the pandemic. A large number are also experiencing anxiety around their own personal health and that of their family members.

High school senior Anaiya Allen, 19, of Washington, D.C., a member of the DC-CAP, has been accepted to attend school in Louisiana, however, the virus has forced her to delay her education for at least a year.

"It's very hard trying to not only do my own classes, but also to not worry about what's going to happen in the next couple months," Allen said. "Coronavirus has messed up my entire plan for my life, and now I have to start all over again."

Allen, who dreams of becoming an attorney so she can start a pro-bono organization for minorities who cannot afford representation, explained that her family cannot justify the cost of what might turn out to be an online education if colleges choose to teach remotely in the fall.

"Taking time off will give me extra leeway, and extra savings in my pocket, and then I can go when I'm really sure it is over," added Allen.

PHOTO: Anaiya Allen, 19, of Washington, D.C., has been accepted to attend school in Louisiana however the coronavirus pandemic has forced her to delay her education for at least a year. (Anaiya Allen)

This sentiment is echoed by the family of another member of the DC-CAP. Jewel Smith, a mother of three young children, and the aunt to current college student Kali Thompson, told ABC News that if her niece is not getting the in-person experience, "It's not gonna be worth paying the money."

Lewis' organization seeks to support these students by ensuring that if the family is no longer able to financially contribute to the student's education they "aren't postponing or abandoning college in favor of staying home to help with employment and supporting the family, and that families understand the resources available to them, especially if they faced underemployment or unemployment as a result of COVID-19."

MORE: Coronavirus crisis will burden economy for 'years to come,' OECD chief says

One option, Lewis said, is to reach out to a college's financial aid office to inform them that the financial situation has dramatically changed so that needs can be reassessed and potentially, more aid offered.

Rivera is still fighting for her dream of attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. She has found an unconventional way of seeking funds for school by creating a GoFundMe page, in the hope of garnering enough donations to partially pay her tuition.

"I feel like I would be denied so many opportunities, if I could not attend," she said.

What to know about coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map

Coronavirus erodes dreams of college for low-income students originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Daylong Conversation With Ava DuVernay and Dozens of Directors

Noon on Twitter

The Oscar-nominated director Ava DuVernay is hosting a Twitter takeover via her arts collective, Array. For more than 10 hours, over 50 filmmakers who represent multiple genres and perspectives  including Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water), Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), Jill Soloway (Afternoon Delight) and Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love)  will convene to share information about their craft and latest projects, take questions from film lovers and encourage people to stay home for public safety. The event is Arrays fourth since 2015, and the conversation will use the hashtag #ARRAYNow.

When: Noon to 10 p.m.

Where: Twitter, using the hashtag #ARRAYNow.

Remembering Amy Winehouse

5 p.m. on Instagram

The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles will host an Instagram Live event to mark the 13th anniversary of the release of Amy Winehouses platinum single Back to Black. The hourlong event will focus on Winehouses impact on music and fashion, and feature those who worked with her and were influenced by her  including the pop-R&B artist JoJo and Winehouses stylist Naomi Parry. On Friday, the museums exhibition Beyond Black  The Style Of Amy Winehouse will go live on the Museums website. The virtual exhibition is a retrospective of Winehouses career, biggest influences and iconic fashion moments. It includes displays of some of her outfits, as well as never-before-seen handwritten lyrics and journal entries.

When: 5 p.m.

Where: The Grammy Museums Instagram page.

Ode Makes Its Streaming Debut

7 p.m. on YouTube

Thursday is International Jazz Day, and to honor it Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will, for the first time, stream its performance of Ode, from Jamar Roberts, the companys first resident choreographer. The work, about gun violence  which is set to music by the jazz pianist Don Pullen  was a New York Times critics pick in December. In his review, Brian Seibert called the performance delicate, daring and heartbreaking and said Mr. Roberts is a choreographer with talent and guts.

When: 7 p.m., and it will be available through May 7.

Where: The Alvin Ailey All Access website and the Alvin Ailey YouTube channel. Those who go to the website will get access to companion materials, including a conversation with Mr. Roberts.

Peter Libbey contributed research
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Announces Date for Release of First Quarter 2020 Results

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (NYSE: PMT) will announce results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 in a news release to be issued after the market close on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The release will be available online at www.PennyMac-REIT.com.

The Company's executives will review the results in a recorded presentation. The recording and accompanying slide presentation will be available on the Company's wesite concurrently with the news release.







Individuals who are unable to access the website but would like to receive a copy of the slide presentation should contact the Company's Investor Relations department at (818) 224-7028.

About PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is a mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests primarily in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets. PMT is externally managed by PNMAC Capital Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: PFSI). Additional information about PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is available at www.PennyMac-REIT.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005831/en/
[April 30, 2020] DataGrail Research Finds CCPA Compliance Starts at $200K

SAN FRANCISCO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, DataGrail , a leading privacy management platform, released the results from its first ever State of CCPA report, a Look Back at Early Trends Shaping the Privacy Landscape . The research shows that organizations who plan on manually processing CCPA data subject requests (DSRs) or data subject access requests will spend between $140k - $275k per million consumer records they have in their systems. The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) went into effect on January 1, 2020, giving consumers the right to know the data collected about them, to delete data about them, and ensure their data is not sold to third-parties. DataGrail offers a platform that automates the process of fulfilling these requests, giving it unique insight into the number of requests processed by companies. To that end, it analyzed the number of requests that went across its platform in Q1 2020 to understand how CCPA will impact organizations in the long-run. The early learnings from the first few months of CCPA should help businesses plan and predict the future of privacy regulation. Highights include:



Privacy headlines (and COVID-related emails) in March & April likely drove an increase of CCPA privacy requests.

(and COVID-related emails) in March & April likely drove an increase of CCPA privacy requests. B2C companies should prepare to process approximately 100 to 194 requests per million consumer records each year.

each year. Processing CCPA privacy requests will likely cost B2C companies $140,000 to $275,000 per one million consumer records, if done manually.

if done manually. January 2020 saw a surge of privacy requests, most likely due to the law going into effect and privacy policy updates.

most likely due to the law going into effect and privacy policy updates. Deletion requests were the most popular requests (40%) in Q1 2020, followed by DNS (33%), and access requests (27%).

were the most popular requests (40%) in Q1 2020, followed by DNS (33%), and access requests (27%). Do Not Sell (DNS) requests will likely become the most dominant privacy request after analyzing early trending data. Looking forward to the remainder of 2020, DataGrail expects the number of CCPA privacy requests to stabilize around the February and March numbers (8 requests per million consumer records). However, as privacy related issues make headlines or a company updates their privacy policy, organizations should expect a surge of requests. For example, in April, the number of requests has been trending higher, most likely due to the number of COVID-related emails sent, and headlines about the privacy of remote work and conferencing apps. In July and August we may see a surge once again as CCPA enforcement begins on July 1, 2020. DNS requests will likely dominate, with deletion requests not far behind, which means companies should prepare for the complex task of reaching out to their network of processors and sub processors to successfully perform a hard delete.

New regulations cause a lot of uncertainty and anxiety - especially when they involve a lot of complexity and associated fines. Amidst this uncertainty and the daily changes in our macro environment due to COVID-19, our aim with this research is to establish a simple baseline for what to expect in the realm of data privacy. You can download the entire State of CCPA Q1 2020 Report here . About DataGrail

DataGrail helps companies comply effortlessly with existing and emerging privacy laws, such as GDPR and CCPA. With more than 200+ enterprise pre-built connectors currently in place, the DataGrail platform provides a 360-degree, real-time view of the applications used and maps the personal data associated with each of those systems. DataGrail also allows customers to manage their privacy request workflows and email preferences across applications. To learn more about DataGrail, please visit www.datagrail.io or follow DataGrail on Twitter and LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/datagrail-research-finds-ccpa-compliance-starts-at-200k-301049918.html SOURCE DataGrail

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Brussels: The European Union is striving to save the continent's summer holidays and a tourism sector left devastated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The EU's tourism sector is worth 10 per cent of the bloc's gross domestic product and provides more than 27 million direct and indirect jobs. It faces the loss of at least half of its turnover in 2020, with countries in southern Europe particularly badly hit, the European Commission said.

A view of the clock at an almost empty main square because of the coronavirus lockdown in Zagreb, Croatia. Credit:AP

The commission is pinning its hopes on encouraging tourism between the member states. More than three-quarters of trips made by EU citizens are to other EU countries but travel restrictions continue to apply across the bloc.

Vera Jourova, a vice-president in the EU executive, called on member states to lift travel bans and border controls thrown up in response to the pandemic "as soon as possible" after scientists deemed it safe.
Google Cloud today announced the official opening of its Las Vegas data center region. With this, Google Cloud now operates four regions in the western U.S., with Las Vegas complementing Google Cloud's existing data centers in Los Angeles, Calif.; The Dalles, Ore. and its recently opened Salt Lake City, Utah region.

In total, Google now offers its customers the option to host their applications in 23 regions globally; with the opening of this new region, it now has seven U.S. regions.

Like all of Google's new regions, Las Vegas will offer three availability zones and access to most of Google Cloud's services. In Vegas, though, developers won't be able to use relatively new services like Cloud Functions and Cloud Run yet. Some other features, including Cloud HSM and Secret Manager, are also not available yet.

The company first announced the Vegas expansion in July 2019. And while it's eerily quiet in Las Vegas right now, the idea behind these new regions is always to give companies the option to be close to their customers and offer them low-latency access to their applications, as well as the ability to distribute workloads across a wider geographic region.

Earlier this year, Google also announced that it would open its regions in Jakarta, Seoul and Warsaw over the course of 2020. So far, it doesn't look like the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing down these plans.

For Las Vegas, Google's launch partner is Aristocrat, which fittingly offers digital products for the gambling industry.

"Cloud technologies enable two important outcomes for us," said James Alvarez, CIO of Aristocrat. "First the ability to securely, consistently and immediately enable and disable game development platforms; and second, our ability to expand and contract our infrastructure based on demand. Both of these capabilities allow us to flex our technology to fully support the demands of our customers and our business. The Las Vegas region gives us the opportunity to more directly engage Google Cloud services and take advantage of an entry point into the network."
Mr Novihoho Afaglo

29.04.2020 LISTEN

THE CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Marrer Ghana Limited and Susatgad Boat Building and Fishing Industries, Mr Novihoho Afaglo, is appealing to government to order the telcos to reduce the cost of internet usage in Ghana at this critical covid-19 times.

Mr Afaglo said it is a step in the right direction, particularly where students at this critical moment rely on the internet to access lectures and course materials through online platforms due to Covid-19.

According to him, to make the online teaching and learning effective to much up with the rest of the world, the government of Ghana must think of absorbing the cost of internet usage just it did for water and electricity.

It is my humble plea that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Ministry of Communication call the various communication networks to order to reduce the cost of talk time and internet charges in this period, Mr Afaglo stated.

He added that when the internet and talk time charges are reduced, it will lessen the pressure in the system and also help students catch up with their studies.

He noted that information going round suggests that the amount of money wired outside the country by communication networks on a daily basis is awesome and the sad thing is they get to dictate the rate at which they are selling prices to the banks when government can put tough measures in place to restrict the wire of such billions in a day.

The CEO stressed that it is time the governor of the Bank of Ghana gives the telcos a rate that will make them reinvest the money back into the country than ripping the people off and sending the money abroad.

Some of these telcos will blame the high cost of internet usage on charges on taxes remitted to the government but the real issue is that these companies are ripping the country off, he stated.

Mr Afaglo added Ghana can do better if all these investors that come in are just allowed to invest back some percentage of the monies into the country for the benefit of all.

For the sake of continuity, government should be able to take tough decisions in restructuring all contracts with previous investors in all areas to ensure equity in the system, Mr Afaglo stated.
A Vietnamese man from the northern province of Ninh Binh allegedly killed his lovers little daughter by kicking the four-year-old child so hard in the chest, according to police in the northern province of Phu Tho.

Police officers said on Wednesday that they were finalizing documents to start legal proceedings against Phan Doan Thao, 28, whose registered address is in Phu Long Commune, Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh Province, on 'murder' charges.

His wife and three children are living there.

Currently residing in Minh Nong Ward, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, Thao is having a love affair with Ha Thi Hai Y., 25, living in Nong Trang Ward in the same city.

On April 20, Y. took her four-year-old daughter, N., to No. 128 Hung Quoc Vuong Street in Minh Nong Ward to stay with Thao.

Thao yelled at N., dragged her out of the bathroom on the second floor, and started hitting the child when she was playing with water there at around 3:00 pm on April 23.

During the incident, Thao kicked N. so hard in her chest with his right foot that she slammed into the wall.

The child could barely make a hiccup after the strong kick, before passing out.

As he could not revive N. with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Thao took her to Phu Tho Provinces Pediatric Center for emergency treatment, where she was pronounced dead.

The autopsy results showed that there were several abrasions, bruises, and hematomas on N.s face and neck.

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The Union Ministry of Health on Thursday stated that the national average of doubling time of coronavirus COVID-19 cases currently stands at 11 days, compared to 3.4 days before lockdown, highlighting that India is inching towards flattening the pandemic curve. "If we look at the doubling time of COVID-19 cases, we find that the national average is 11 Days now, compared to 3.4 days before lockdown," said Health Ministry Joint Secretary Luv Agarwal, addressing a press conference.

It is noteworthy that a total of 16 states across the country has better doubling rate of COVID-19 cases than the national average. The state with the highest number of doubling rate of COVID-19 cases is Himachal Pradesh at 191 days and Delhi records the lowest with 11.3 days.

A total of seven states has doubling rate between 11 days to 20 days--Delhi (11.3 days), Uttar Pradesh (12 days), Jammu and Kashmir (12.2 days), Odisha (13 days), Rajasthan (17.8 days), Tamil Nadu (19.1 days), and Punjab (19.5 days). Another five states have doubling rate between 20 days to 40 days--Karnataka (21.6 days), Ladakh (24.2 days), Haryana (24.4 days), Uttarakhand (30.3 days), and Kerala (37.5 days).

Four states have doubling rate above 40 days--Assam (59 days), Telangana (70.8 days), Chattisgarh (89.7 days) and Himachal Pradesh (191.6 days).

The Ministry has also stated that the recovery rate of COVID-19 has improved from 13.06 per cent to above 25 per cent in 14 days which is a positive sign. Agarwal said that 8,324 COVID-19 patients, which is 25.19 per cent of total cases, have recovered so far. In the last 24 hours, 630 patients have been cured.

The total number of cases till now in India stands at 33,050, with 1,718 new cases in the last 24 hours. Of these, 23,651 positive cases are under active medical supervision.

On the deaths so far, the Ministry said that the case fatality rate is 3.2 per cent with 65 per cent of deaths are male and 35 per cent are female. An analysis of the age-wise distribution show that the case fatality rate of those less than 45 years is 14 per cent; 45 - 60 year age group is 34.8 per cent; more than 60 years is 51.2 per cent; 60-75 years: 42 per cent; and above 75 years: 9.2 per cent. It has also been witnessed that 78% per cent of cases have comorbidity.

He said that the RT-PCR tests are available in 292 Government and 97 Private facilities across the country. A total of 49,800 tests have been conducted on average in the last 5 days, added Agarwal.

The Health Ministry has issued guidelines regarding measures to be undertaken if a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case is detected in a non-COVID-19 health facility. Services can be continued in such health facilities after due disinfection procedure, he added.

Agarwal said, "COVID-19 tests prescribed by any health facility should be as per protocol. Treatment should not be denied to any patient, citing the requirement of additional testing beyond what is prescribed in the testing protocol. Health Minister has written to state Health Ministers on ensuring adequate availability of blood transfusion services, especially for patients needing a regular blood transfusion. The Ministry had prepared a Standard Operating Protocol for dialysis services, in the wake of COVID-19."

Health Ministry has written to states asking them to ensure that non-COVID-19 essential services continue to be provided to those who need them. "We have to ensure physical distancing becomes a norm so that the chain of transmission is broken; equally important are containment measures for the disease," further added Agarwal.

The MHA spokesperson said, "Centre has issued orders to states/UTs to facilitate Inter-State movement of stranded people, as per guidelines laid down and as per protocols developed by states."
Facebook users in the US and Canada can now transfer their photos and videos to Google Photos thanks to a new data portability tool. The feature is part of the Data Transfer Project, an agreement between Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter to simplify data transfers. Its meant to make it easier to move information between services, so that users arent locked in to one platform.

Facebook introduced the tool late last year, and it is already available in several other countries. It is rolling out to users in the US and Canada today. To transfer your photos, click Your Facebook Information in settings. Youll see an option to transfer your photos and videos. Theres a drop-down menu to select where you want to send those files, but for now, the only option is Google Photos.

The Data Transfer Project was announced following the introduction of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the EU. That legislation requires that companies inside the EU offer data download tools to users. It could also ease antitrust concerns. A few senators are pushing for legislation that would require data portability, and according to Reuters, Facebook is scheduled to appear before the Federal Trade Commission in September to discuss the benefits and challenges.
E.U. opens new case against Poland over judges: The European Union's executive has opened a new legal case against the nationalist Polish government over what it said was the muzzling of judges in the bloc's largest ex-communist country. The E.U. has long accused the ruling Law and Justice party of undermining Polish democracy by increasing direct state control over the courts, media and civil society. The European Commission said it was giving Poland two months to address concerns about a law introduced this year that would allow the government to punish judges who criticize the changes to the judicial system. If Warsaw refuses to budge, the commission would sue it in the European Court of Justice.
Newport, N.Y.  An 18-year-old Herkimer County man was arrested and accused of threatening multiple people with a rifle in a road rage incident Wednesday, according to New York State Police.

Thomas V. DeJohn, of Middleville, faces a felony charge for stealing the rifle and multiple other charges for threatening to use it, police said.

On Wednesday, DeJohn stole a rifle from a home in Fairfield and drove to a home in Newport, where a road rage incident happened, police said. DeJohn got out of his vehicle, damaged another car and displayed a rifle, according to police.

DeJohn was then arrested in the Town of Herkimer, where troopers were told he made threats toward several people with the rifle, police said.

He has been charged with:

Fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony

Second-degree menacing

Second-degree reckless endangerment

Fourth-degree criminal mischief

Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon

DeJohn was arraigned and released.

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Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (Iata) have today come together to call for governments to quickly grant financial relief to assist airport operators and airlines during the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis and support the essential connectivity the industry will provide for economic recovery.

The industry is united with governments around the world in efforts to stop the spread of the virus, and, in the face of massive government imposed travel restrictions, the industry is doing all it can to maintain air cargo operations vital to supporting global supply chains, including medical shipments critical to fighting Covid-19.

The economic impact of these measures on all involved in the global air transport industry has been severe. With passenger demand plummeting to unprecedented levels, revenues are falling beyond the ability of even the most extreme cost-cutting measures to mitigate. Airports and airlines continue to face a financial liquidity crisis.

The current state of the global air transport industry risks the loss of millions of jobs. The aviation industry supports 65.5 million jobs around the world, including 10.5 million people employed at airports and by airlines, and supports $2.7 trillion in world economic activity. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to unfold, airports and airlines around the world are engaged in a battle to sustain essential operations and to preserve jobs.

ACI and IATA are calling for urgent balanced support to the industry via:

 Taxation relief, including alleviation of payroll taxes, corporate taxes, concession fees or other government incomes from the industry

 Loans, loan guarantees or direct support to maintain financial liquidity across the aviation ecosystem.

Some governments have recognised the urgency of action but time is running out for other governments to provide the necessary financial relief to keep the whole industry viable and ready to support a balanced recovery including ground handlers and other service providers at airports.

The financial impact of the current crisis is unlike anything we have ever seen and requires urgent action by governments to assist the aviation industry to protect jobs, ensure essential operations, and plan for recovery, ACI World director general Angela Gittens said. Urgent tax relief and direct financial assistance that is to the benefit of the entire aviation ecosystem is needed to help preserve millions of jobs, protect essential operations, and foster a balanced recovery. Preserving the continuity of operations for airports and airlines and protecting aviation jobs today will result in a faster economic recovery tomorrow.

Iatas director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said the situation could not be more dire.

Governments will depend on aviation to be ready to lead an economic recovery when this pandemic is behind us, de Juniac said. Governments must act now with financial lifelines that only they can provide for airlines and airports to see them through these extraordinary times. Airlines and airports are in this together. The more financially stable our airport partners are, the more they can help the industry to drive a recovery in air travel that will jump start the global economy. - TradeArabia News Service
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 20:38 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd551cc9 1 Entertainment Yayasan-Anak-Bangsa-Bisa,Gojek,Slank,Kitabisa,kitabisa-com,fundraising,COVID-19,#COVID19,coronavirus,#coronavirus,charity Free

Legendary rock band Slank has launched an initiative to raise funds for informal workers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in collaboration with the Anak Bangsa Bisa Foundation, which was founded by local tech giant Gojek and crowdfunding platform Kitabisa.

The initiative, called Sumbang Suara (donating voices), will run until June 30 with a target of Rp 15 billion (US$979,112.27), with proceeds going to angkot (public minivan) drivers, small-scale vendors and other informal workers in the country in the form of packages containing the nine basic commodities (Sembako).

People can also send donations through Slanks Sumbang Suara page and the GoGive feature on the Gojek app.

Anak Bangsa Bisa is said to have teamed up with around 10 organizations that will distribute the food packages, including the National Alms Agency, Indorelawan.org, NU CARE-LAZISNU and Rumah Zakat.

Were still open to other organizations who want to collaborate with us, the foundations head, Monica Oudang, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, adding that the initiative also encouraged people to share uplifting words that will be curated and displayed on the Gojek app. Sometimes moral support can be highly important to get through a hard time. No matter how short the message, it certainly can be meaningful for [the workers].

Read also: [UPDATED] Indonesian beauty brands aid medical workers

Slank's Sumbang Suara page on Kitabisa (left) where people can submit encouraging messages (right) after specifying their donation amount. (Kitabisa.com/File)

[The messages are] for those who are still working on the streets, while were staying at home, said Slank drummer Bimbim. We want them to realize that theyre heroes; they must be proud of themselves. Their lives may be simple but theyre able to help a lot of people.

According to Bimbim, the band is set to compose special music about the informal workers. Wed like to produce a single about them to lift their spirits, he said. During this pandemic, hope is something that we should hold on to. Hopefully they will remain hopeful due to our song. (kes)
Wyoming's second Beyond Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop teaching the basics of hunting in a field classroom combined with the opportunity to hunt pronghorn is being offered this fall.

The workshop will be held Sept. 8-13 at the Safari Club Ranch in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Jackson.

Beyond BOW is designed for women who have an interest in learning how to hunt big game or game birds who have little to no hunting experience, said Kathryn Boswell, Game and Fish hunter and angler participation coordinator. All classes are taught at the entry level in a safe, non-intimidating outdoor setting.

The training will include marksmanship, how to choose and care for your hunting equipment, field dressing, meat processing, how to plan a hunt from start to finish, Wyoming regulations, knife skills, outdoor survival and hunting ethics. Everyone will participate in a simulated hunt, and those interested in applying for a pronghorn license have the chance to go on a mentored hunt. More details on the camp are available in the application packet.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - FUCHS PETROLUB SE (FUPEF.PK) reported that its first quarter earnings after tax declined by 7% to 51 million euros. Earnings per share was 0.36 euros compared to 0.39 euros. EBIT was down 6% year-on-year at 72 million euros. First quarter sales revenues were 616 million euros compared to 643 euros, previous year. The company said, as a consequence of the COVID-19-pandemic, it will be unable to meet its previously announced full year expectations. For the second quarter, the company anticipates a significant drop in earnings in the order of 50%. This represents a significant decline in earnings of around 30% year-on-year for the first half of the year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MEXICO CITY  The Trump administration and major U.S. manufacturers have successfully pressured Mexico to keep factories that supply the United States operating during the coronavirus pandemic, even as outbreaks erupt and waves of cases and deaths sweep the companies.

The lobbying group for large manufacturers in the United States pressed Mexico to reopen plants south of the border, effectively putting American interests ahead of Mexican public health measures.

And in a blunt warning, the U.S. ambassador said that if Mexico did not respond to American needs, it would lose the jobs these factories provide.

You dont have workers if you close all the companies and they move elsewhere, Ambassador Christopher Landau said on Twitter. Of course health comes first, but to me it seems myopic to suggest that economic effects dont matter.
US Sen. Tammy Baldwin has asked the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate Trump's promotion of hydroxychloroquine, a drug he claimed could treat COVID-19.

Baldwin wrote a letter (copied in full below) requesting the Principal Deputy Inspector of Health and Human Services to look into the matter. Among other questions, she asks about shipments on April 6 and April 8 from the National Security Stockpile to Milwaukee of over 335,800 tabs of the drug.

"...The agency has failed to provide any clarity regarding distribution or final delivery locations in Milwaukee, or justification for its prioritization of a shipment of an unproven therapeutic over other requested supplies, including swabs for use in COVID-19 testing and ventilators.

Wisconsin still hasn't received supplies that are critically needed.

For decades, hydroxychloroquine has been used for malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. But no clinical trials had tested the value of the drug for COVID-19 patients.

At a White House press briefing, however, Trump touted hydroxychloroquine, especially when used in conjunction with the anti-biotic azithromycin, as one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine.

In response, seemingly, to pressure from the White House, as well as Fox News and its followers, the FDA on April 7 issued an emergency use authorization allowing doctors to use the drug on COVID-19 patients. Trump's hype prompted massive requests for the drug, creating a shortage for patients who relied on it for their conditions.

Pull Quote Wealthy Republican Trump donors who placed ads on Fox News promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine have financial stakes in the drugs, and Trump has a small investment, according to The New York Times.

The drug was made available for hospitalized patients, and small studies were hastily put together, although they didn't follow prescribed FDA protocol. Thirty million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate were donated to the Strategic National Stockpile by a division of Novartis, and Bayer Pharmaceuticals donated 1 million doses.

But neither anecdotal reports of the hospital patients or results from the limited studies demonstrated that it worked. In fact, the FDA is now warning about serious side effects from the drug, including heart rhythm problems and increased heart rate.

Trump and Fox News suddenly fell silent about their purported "game changer."

Dr. Rick Bright, who was in charge of the federal agency working on development of a COVID-19 vaccine, fought back against White House pressure to release the drug. Instead of making it available to the general public, he limited its use to hospitalized patients who could be constantly monitored by physicians.

Bright was demoted and he has hired an attorney, demanding the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General investigate whether his demotion was motivated by politics or financial gain.

In a letter calling for an investigation of his ouster, Bright writes, These drugs have potentially serious risks associated with them, including increased mortality observed in some recent studies in patients with Covid-19. Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public health crisis.

Wealthy Republican Trump donors who placed ads on Fox News promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine have financial stakes in the drugs, and Trump has a small investment, according to The New York Times.

Baldwin's letter

The full text of Baldwin's letter, including annotations is below;

Office of the Inspector General

Christi Grimm

Principal Deputy Inspector General HHS Office of Inspector General 330 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201

April 28, 2020

Dear Principal Deputy Inspector General Grimm,

I write to request that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigate the Trump Administrations promotion of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention and treatment of malaria, as well as certain autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.1 It is not, however, approved for the treatment of COVID-19. At the time of this writing, no FDA-approved treatment for COVID-19 exists.

Pull Quote "Please describe the body of scientific evidence used to inform the presidents public statements starting on March 19, 2020, which promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine."

However, on March 19, 2020, President Trump began advertising and promoting hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 to the American public.2 In a tweet from March 21, the president described the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, a common antibiotic, as one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine,3 and on March 23, he noted in a White House press4 briefing that the federal government was working to obtain large quantities of the drug at his direction. On April 4, the president expressed his support for usage of the drug, adding that individuals had nothing to lose,5 and on April 11, he suggested that he might take it himself.6 This list constitutes only a summary of the presidents statements promoting hydroxychloroquine over the past six weeks.

Federal agencies also appear to have lent credibility to this campaign. On March 28, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allowing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine phosphate products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to be distributed and used for certain hospitalized patients with COVID-19.7

In mid-April, a spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that the agency had distributed almost 20 million tablets of hydroxychloroquine to cities around the country, including to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.8 After my staff requested more information on this shipment, FEMA confirmed that Milwaukee received two rounds of shipments from the SNS on April 6 and April 8, containing over 335,800 tabs of hydroxychloroquine. The agency also noted that Milwaukee had been included in a hot zone list on April 8 for the distribution of hydroxychloroquine.

It remains unclear as to how FEMA deemed Milwaukee a hot zone or if the agency has any information regarding the entities in Milwaukee that requested this shipment. Further, the agency has failed to provide any clarity regarding distribution or final delivery locations in Milwaukee, or justification for its prioritization of a shipment of an unproven therapeutic over other requested supplies, including swabs for use in COVID-19 testing and ventilators.

Pull Quote "I am extremely concerned that the promotion of hydroxychloroquine exemplifies another effort to prioritize the misguided whims of the White House over science and public health."

Finally, last week, Dr. Rick Bright was removed from his position as the director of HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and was then demoted to a role at the National Institutes of Health. This change came after reportedly expressing the need for a more in-depth assessment of the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID- 19.9 In a statement following his dismissal, Dr. Bright said the following:

I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit.

Time and again, this administration has demonstrated a lack of competence in managing our response to this pandemic. I am extremely concerned that the promotion of hydroxychloroquine exemplifies another effort to prioritize the misguided whims of the White House over science and public health. While the president has touted the benefits of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19, the evidence remains inconclusive. A recent study from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found that patients with severe cases of COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine alone showed a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality over either supportive care or a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.10 And, a study in Brazil was ended over concerns regarding patient safety after COVID-19 patients taking a higher dose of hydroxychloroquine developed irregular heart rates that increased their risk of a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia.11

I strongly support efforts to develop a treatment for COVID-19 that is safe, effective, and approved by the FDA, however, I am incredibly concerned that the actions of the administration have distracted us from this effort and jeopardized the health of thousands of Americans in the process. Therefore, I request that HHS OIG examine the following questions:

1. Please describe the body of scientific evidence used to inform the presidents public statements starting on March 19, 2020, which promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine and the extent to which such statements were supported by public health officials within the administration.

2. Please describe the scientific evidence used to inform the FDAs decision to issue an EUA on March 28, 2020, the officials involved in approving this decision, and the impact of this decision on use of hydroxychloroquine as an experimental treatment for COVID-19.

3. How did FEMA determine which cities would receive shipments of hydroxychloroquine from the SNS? Were shipments made in response to formal requests from states, localities, or health systems? And, were shipments intended to bolster the availability of hydroxychloroquine for individuals with chronic conditions for which the drug is an approved treatment or was this an effort to promote the drug as a possible treatment for COVID-19?

4. To the extent possible, please provide a comprehensive and detailed list of all entities in the state of Wisconsin that requested a shipment of hydroxychloroquine from the SNS.

5. To the extent possible, please provide a comprehensive and detailed list of all entities in the state of Wisconsin that received a shipment of hydroxychloroquine from the SNS.

6. How did FEMA prioritize shipments of hydroxychloroquine to hot zones over other requested supplies, such as personal protective equipment, ventilators, and testing supplies?

7. On April 24, 2020, the FDA issued a drug safety communication cautioning against the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems.12 Please describe the body of scientific evidence used to inform this communication and the officials involved.

8. Please examine the extent to which administration officials may have benefitted financially or otherwise from increased distribution and use of hydroxychloroquine.

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the overall health and safety of families across the country, in every single state. In the words of Dr. Bright, to combat this deadly virus, science  not politics or cronyism  has to lead the way. Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter, and I look forward to the findings of this report.

Sincerely,

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Annotations

1 https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601240.html

2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus- task-force-press-briefing-6/

3 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1241367239900778501?s=20

4 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus- task-force-press-briefing-9/

5 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus- task-force-press-briefing-19/

6 https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/05/health/trump-lupus-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus-protection/index.html

7 https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use- authorization#covidtherapeutics.

8 https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/14/fema-ships-out-hydroxychloroquine-tablets-186102

9 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/politics/rick-bright-trump-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus.html

10 https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/hydroxychloroquine-takes-another-hit-failed-small-scale-covid-19-study 11 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/health/chloroquine-coronavirus-trump.html
Homeless outreach personnel assist passengers found sleeping on subway cars at the 207th Street A-train station, in the Manhattan borough of New York, Thursday, April 30, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)

NYC Subway Will Halt Overnight Service Due to Virus

NEW YORK New York City will shut down subway service each day from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. to increase the cleaning of trains and stations during the CCP virus crisis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said April 30. The announcement came two days after he called conditions in the system disgusting.

New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during his daily Coronavirus press briefing at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., on April 28, 2020. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a Navy hospital ship sent a month ago to relieve stress on hospitals has left New York City, and the city said it would hand out free face coverings while increasing enforcement of social distancing measures.

Here are the latest CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus related developments in New York:

Subway Shutdown For Cleaning

Subway trains, which had been disinfected at least once every 72 hours, will be cleaned once every 24 hours starting May 6, Cuomo said. Buses, vans, and other alternative transportation will be provided at no charge for essential workers to get around while the system is closed, he said.

Cuomo said the increased cleaning is a daunting challenge, but vital to keeping the subway safe as it continues to be a place of high density while the rest of society practices social distancing. Images posted on social media in recent weeks have shown packed subway cars.

NYPD and MTA officers wake up a sleeping passenger before directing him to exit the 207th Street A-train station, in the Manhattan borough of New York, April 30, 2020. (John Minchillo/ AP Photo)

Dozens of transit employees have died of the CCP virus and the system has become a haven for homeless people during the crisis.

You have to disinfect every place a hand could touch on a subway car. Every rail, every pole, every door, Cuomo said. Or, coughing, sneezing, wherever droplets could land.

Cuomo highlighted a front-page report Tuesday in the New York Daily News chronicling incidents of indecent exposure, filth, people stretching out on seats, and other problems.

He said the situation was disrespectful to essential workers who need to commute and unsafe for homeless people who are congregating in trains without face masks or other protections.

Subway ridership has plunged by 92 percent since the start of the pandemic, and most of the people commuting are health care workers, first responders, and other front-line workers whove been keeping the city running.

The cleaning shutdown affects the slowest part of the day for the subway system, in terms of ridership. Around 10,000 people ride the system during that period of time, Cuomo said.

Commuter trains serving Long Island and the citys northern suburbs will also be disinfected every 24 hours, he said.

NYPD stand around a passenger who was subdued after he attempted to jump in front of a moving train during an operation to clear cars of sleeping passengers at the 207th Street A-train station, in the Manhattan borough of New York, April 30, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)

City buses will continue to run around-the-clock but will be rotated out of service for cleaning.

Think about it, the entire public transit system in downstate New York will be disinfected every 24 hours, Cuomo said. Were doing a lot of things here that weve never done before.

Betsy Plum, executive director of the advocacy group Riders Alliance, said the closures must be strictly temporary while a longer-term solution is developed and implemented.

The homeless have long taken refuge on the citys subways, but their plight, and the problems the subway shutdown poses for them and others, have become more visible during the pandemic. Advocates for the homeless say some are taking to trains because they worry about contracting the virus in shelters.

Mayor Bill De Blasio said the city would send more outreach workers to end-of-the-line stations to try to persuade homeless people to go to shelters. Police officers have increased enforcement, removing more than 100 homeless people from trains on Monday alone.

This has been a heartbreaking experience for all of us. An entire population has been left to fend for itself, interim transit president Sarah Feinberg said.

Navy Ship Sails Off

The 1,000-bed USNS Comfort hospital ship left New York City for its homeport of Norfolk, Va., on Thursday having treated just 182 CCP virus patients. A surge in cases in the hard-hit city fell short of the worst-case projections.

The USNS Naval Hospital Ship Comfort departs via the Hudson River, in the Manhattan borough of New York, April 30, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)

Eleven people being treated on the ship died from the CCP virus and several ship personnel came down with the disease, the Defense Department said.

The situation has changed but were not done, Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy, commander of U.S. Northern Command, said as he saw the ship off.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last week that he and President Donald Trump agreed the Comfort was no longer needed in New York City.

I believe Comfort not only brought comfort but also saved lives, Cuomo said.

The Navy sent the Comfort to New York last month as projections showed the state needing to double hospital capacity to 110,000 beds by the end of April.

NYPD officers salute the USNS Naval Hospital Ship Comfort as it is pushed out into the Hudson River by tugboats, in the Manhattan borough of New York, April 30, 2020. (John Minchillo/ AP Photo)

Disease-related hospitalizations peaked far below thatat 18,825 on April 12and have ticked down considerably since then. The number of new hospital admissions fell Wednesday to 933, the lowest since March 24.

More than 18,300 people in the state have died from the CCP virus, though the total doesnt include more than 5,300 deaths in the city that were attributed to the virus on death certificates but werent confirmed by a lab test.

On Wednesday, 306 people died from the disease, the lowest daily total since March 29, when there were 253 fatalities. The state peaked with 799 deaths in one day on April 9.

The Comfort arrived in New York on March 30, originally intended to care for patients who were not COVID-19 positive, while the citys hospitals tackled the virus. That changed days later when hospital officials said virtually all of their patients had the disease.

City To Give Out Free Masks

New York City is assigning more than 1,000 employees to enforce social distancing guidelines and distribute 275,000 face coverings at parks and other public spaces as the CCP virus pandemic stretches toward summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

The city is also ramping up CCP virus testing and the production of surgical gowns for health care workers treating virus patients. He said 11 CCP virus testing sites will perform 14,000 tests this week, increasing to 43,000 tests at 30 sites by the week of May 18.

City businesses are now making 125,000 surgical gowns a week, de Blasio said, up from zero before the pandemic. Officials arranged for millions more gowns to be made at a Vietnamese factory and flown to New York.

We are now confident we will have enough surgical gowns to get us through the middle of May, de Blasio said.

By Michael R. Sisak and Jennifer Peltz

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
NEW DELHI : India on Thursday said countries in the Gulf region are deeply committed" to friendly relations with India and do not support any interference in its internal matters.

The comment from foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava followed reported expressions of concern from some quarters in some Gulf countries as well as on social media over the alleged vilification of Muslims in India.

Stray tweets cannot be used to characterize relations (between India and the Gulf countries)," Srivastava told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and foreign minister S Jaishankar have been in regular touch with the leaders of the region, he said. There have been requests for medicines and medical teams, there are requests to send doctors and nurses from India," he said adding that India had sent one such team to Kuwait recently.

These countries also want a priority discussion with India on the post covid-19 economic recovery," Srivastava said adding that all countries in the region were deeply committed to friendly relations with India and they do not support interference in internal affairs of India."

The last was a reference to calls for intervention by organizations like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation allegedly from some quarters in Kuwait via Twitter.

Indias transformed ties with the Gulf region  particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirateshas been seen as a key success of the Modi governments foreign policy since it took office in 2014. In recent times however, there have been some posts on social media that seem to have cast a shadow on ties especially over the alleged targeting of Muslims in India.

On evacuation of Indians stranded in the Gulf due to the covid-19 crisis, Srivastava said plans are still being drawn up for their evacuation. People aware of the developments said earlier that the government is looking to use several naval ships as well as military and commercial aircraft to evacuate thousands of citizens in the Gulf and other regions after the lockdown ends.

Srivastava said about 60,000 foreign nationals from 72 countries were evacuated so far from India.

On reports that Oman has asked state-run companies to fire expat workers and replace them with local Omanis, Srivastava said this policy was not new and did not seem directed at India or Indian nationals working there.

The media reports have said that some of the 800,000 Indian workers in the kingdom were to be impacted by the latest order seen as a step to ensure jobs for locals over expatriates.

The government of Oman had been sensitive to the plight of Indian nationals in the country not able to return following the lockdown, Srivastava said.

On reports of the White House unfollowing the Twitter handles of prime minister Modi and president Ram Nath Kovind, the spokesman said that the White House had clarified that it was customary to follow such handles during visits by top US officials and leaders so that posts could be retweeted.

US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were on a brief visit to India in February.

When asked about Chinas criticism of the decision by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to stop use of covid-19 rapid anti-body testing kits supplied by two Chinese companies, Srivastava said the matter was being looked into by the premier medical body.

Chinas criticism followed the ICMR asking states and Union territories to stop using the test kits procured from Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics due to wide variations" in their performance.

Gulf countries have requested for deployment of medicines, doctors from India, said MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava.

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Next week, Y100 morning listeners will hear a new voice on their radios.

The country station announced host Joe Pesh will join longtime favorite Beth Boehm and Chris Cardenas on the morning show. Pesh, known as "Big Joe," starts May 6.

Big Joe's predecessor on the mic, J.R. Jaus, left the station late last year.

Boehm introduced her new coworker to her fanbase via Facebook on Wednesday.

"Ive never been more excited to do a show every morning with someone who shares the same work ethic, passion, and drive for radio as I do - its a surreal feeling," she said. "It seems like weve all been friends for years & thats one of my favorite parts so far."

Pesh matched the enthusiasm online by saying he's "blessed" to join the San Antonio team. Pesh previously worked for a radio station in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
After wearing face masks was made mandatory from May 1 by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, health experts are of the view that the move could help check the spread of coronavirus if all the norms are adhered to by the people.

Of 87 cases reported in Srinagar district, 34 are active. The administration is now making efforts to provide relaxation in some parts of the city in the coming days.

In the coming days, these instructions could be extended in other districts of the Valley. Currently, Covid-19 cases have been reported from all 10 districts of Kashmir, with Bandipore topping the list with 129 cases.

Srinagar deputy commissioner Shahid Choudhary said that it shall be mandatory to wear a face mask at all public places from May 1. We will ensure to make masks available to everyone. Do remember that the use of masks is just one of various precautions needed.

He said the district administration shall make available for the public use 15 lakh masks produced.

Dr Suhail Naik, president of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) said that Covid-19 is a long drawn battle for 2021. Masks are now part of our clothing. Social distancing should be strictly maintained and we should make handwashing a habit.

In fact, many health experts here have been advocating for the use of masks especially when people venture out of their homes.

Wearing masks would help in preventing transmission of the infection to some extent if other norms like social distancing and hand washing are not followed properly, said Dr Salim Khan from Government Medical College Srinagar.

Many NGOs are distributing masks made of two layers of cloth that could be reused after washing and ironing, said Dr Amjid Ali, a doctor at Government Medical College Baramulla.
Legislation to give employers immunity in these situations has been proposed, but its "very unlikely that anything like that will be enacted soon at the federal level, Tanick said. He said such measures might be easier to achieve at the state level, because its less burdensome. Without specific legislation immunizing employers, they act at their own risk.
The number of people battling acute hunger and suffering from malnutrition is on the rise again. The upheaval set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic may push even more families and communities into deeper distress.

In 2019, over 135 million people in 55 countries faced a food crisis requiring urgent assistance, according to the freshly published Global Report on Food Crises 2020 of the Global Network against Food Crises.

The figure is the highest in the past four years. Over half of the affected population were in Africa.

The situation has since deteriorated in key conflict areas, notably in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, and remains extremely dire in Yemen.

The worsening droughts and economic shocks have led to increasing acute food insecurity in countries such as Haiti, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, Nigeria and Haiti are the world's 10 hungriest countries.

Together they are home to 88 million people and account for 65% of the total population affected by food crises according to the Integrated food security Phase Classification (IPC) and the Cadre Harmonise (CH) frameworks.

In 2019, the growth and development of an estimated 75 million children was impaired by poor nutrition.

About 17 million children under 5 years of age were acutely malnourished.

Food-insecure countries most vulnerable to the health and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is having an unprecedented impact around the world, both in health and socioeconomic terms.

While COVID-19 does not discriminate, the most vulnerable to the consequences of this pandemic are the 55 countries and territories that are home to 135 million acutely food-insecure people in need of urgent humanitarian food and nutrition assistance.

They have very limited or no capacity at all to cope with the health and socioeconomic aspects of the shock.

Higher rates of underlying health conditions, including non-communicable diseases and malnutrition that weaken the immune system, are likely to increase the risk of people developing severe symptoms in these areas.

In addition, the pandemic may drive up acute food insecurity levels in countries that are dependent on food imports, oil exports, tourism and remittances for income.

Rising unemployment and decreasing purchasing power will have serious consequences for poor and vulnerable populations in countries already dealing with conflicts or ongoing economic and political turmoil.

Displaced people living in camps, as well as the elderly, young children, pregnant and lactating women and the disabled, are particularly vulnerable to the far-reaching impacts of this disease.

COVID-19 could also have negative effects on social and political stability, creating conditions for unrest especially in the countries most vulnerable to food crises.

Urgent need for coordinated action

To prevent tens of millions of people from succumbing to the virus or to its economic

consequences, all actors need to mobilize and coordinate along a set of operational and strategic priorities.

The report identifies the following key areas of action:

Accelerate efforts and hasten progress to tackle hunger's root causes. Collect and share high-quality data to improve evidence on food security and nutrition. Make serious strategic investments in food security and resilience at the country and regional level. Tackle the recurrent issues that obstruct food security and adequate nutrition, and draw attention to the factors that drive food crises. Address people's vulnerabilities before, during and after crisis with sustainable context-specific responses and solutions. Rethink food and agricultural systems so as to make them flexible and able to deliver food security and nutrition in a way that corresponds to the current realities. Recognize the importance of health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and social protection in food systems. Ensure people are the focus of structural changes.

JRC support to data analysis and intelligence

The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) is part of the technical team that analyses the data of the report each year.

This year, given the unprecedented nature of the crisis, creating a better understanding of the potential impacts of COVID-19 on food security and related vulnerabilities is of paramount importance and urgency.

The Global Network against Food Crises will closely monitor the situation and strive to provide timely data, analyses and intelligence on the impact of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition.

The JRC will support the regular monitoring of the situation, including through the Integrated food security Phase Classification (IPC) and the Cadre Harmonise (CH) frameworks.

The IPC is a global initiative that provides decision-makers with consensus-based food security and nutrition analysis.

The CH is a regional framework that aims to prevent food crises by quickly identifying affected populations and proffering appropriate measures to improve their food and nutrition security.

The Global Report on Food Crises is based on information provided by the IPC and CH.

About the Global Network

Launched by the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2016, the Global Network against Food Crises seeks to better link, integrate and guide existing initiatives, partnerships, programs and policy processes to address the root causes of food crises.

The Global Report on Food Crises is the flagship publication of the Global Network.

The JRC published the first Global Report on Food Crises in 2016 in collaboration with the European Commission's DG for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO).

Since then, the annual report has become an international multi-partner initiative under the Global Network against Food Crises.

Today, the Global Report on Food Crises 2020 is the result of a joint, consensus-based assessment of acute food insecurity situations around the world by 16 partner organizations.
World famous restaurateur and philanthropist Jose Andres is among a group of independent restaurant owners pleading with Congress to create a $120 billion stabilization fund to keep restaurants afloat through the coronavirus pandemic and spiraling economic crisis.

"I don't think we realize how restaurants are the backbone of many communities all across America," Andres said in a Zoom news conference Wednesday.

Andres estimated that members of the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), formed to save local restaurants affected by COVID-19, contribute more than $1 trillion to the economy.

"We are fighting to give restaurants a fighting chance," he said.

IRC co-founder Naomi Pomeroy, owner of Portland-based Beast and Expatriate, has had to lay off the entire staff of her James Beard Award-winning restaurant. Although she secured a small business loan through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, she said she's worried that she may not be able to repay it even with a low 1% interest rate.

MORE: Ben's Chili Bowl, iconic DC business, obtains critical federal loan

"It's not enough. Loans are not the answer," Pomeroy said, pointing to a longer-term need. "We need the stabilization fund. It's a small price to pay. Until we have a vaccine (against the coronavirus), this is going to be a long-term problem, and we need a long-term fix."

In a letter to bipartisan leadership in Congress, the IRC requested that the fund operate through the end of the year with grant amounts based on the level of need per business, and that the fund be targeted only to independent restaurants, not big chains or publicly-traded companies.

PHOTO: A block of closed restaurants on a deserted street, April 4, 2020, in Boston. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

The group is also asking that a portion of the fund be set aside for women and minority owners.

"We need Congress to act or we will not be able to survive," the letter reads. "Small restaurants are scrappy and entrepreneurial; we run on thin margins and optimism. We are the places you meet your constituents, we are the places that donate to schools, we are the places feeding our frontline workers today. If these requirements are not met, our country will not only permanently lose 11 million jobs, but also these vital cornerstones of our communities."

Story continues

Last month restaurant workers made up 60% of the unemployed in the U.S., according to estimates. All told, the industry normally employs some 11 million people -- up to 55 million when indirect employees ranging from fishermen to beekeepers are included.

"The losses that our industry has incurred have wiped out all of the gains of the last two years," said IRC founding member Andrew Zimmern, a James Beard award-winning chef and host of "What's Eating America" and "Bizarre Foods."

Zimmern said it would be "a huge financial tragedy" if scores of restaurants vanished, saying his industry is the number-one employer of young people entering the workforce, as well as a top employer of single mothers, newly-arrived immigrants, and those leaving prison for the first time.

MORE: Luxury hotels benefited from PPP loans. So did the investment trusts that own them

Federal rescue programs -- specifically the Paycheck Protection Program with its forgivable loans designed to keep employees on payroll for two months -- just aren't built for the unique restaurant business model, the IRC says.

PHOTO: Tables sit empty at the closed restaurant Duo amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Brattleboro, Vermont, April 19, 2020. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Many restaurateurs say they have no idea when they'll be able to reopen or how they will operate with a vastly-reduced customer base due to social distancing. Andres and many other owners say they expect about a 50% reduction in customers for an undetermined period of time, which could be devastating to an industry that tends to operate on a very low profit margin. And when restaurants do reopen, staff will first have to be trained in virus mitigation.

Advocates say the numbers are staggering, and for many the outlook is bleak.

"Things like the PPP, my husband and I looked into that," said Nina Compton, New Orleans-based owner of James Beard award-winning Compere Lapin and Bywater Bistro. "It doesn't work for us. The origin of the loan -- eight weeks with all the staff back on payroll?" She said she and her husband had done the math for various scenarios and were genuinely fearful as they faced cutting back one of their restaurant's capacity from 72 seats to around 35.

"To turn a profit in a restaurant is very difficult, and with those margins, with less volume, sales being down, my husband and I have run the numbers a thousand times, and it's daunting," said Compton, who also wondered aloud how she would pay for insurance for workers and if she would have to cut menu prices in hard-hit New Orleans. "I know a lot of people are asking 'Can I reopen?' Do they take on a loan they can't pay back? Will it be worth everything required before they can reopen?"

In a recent survey by the National Bureau of Economic Research, restaurant owners said they had just a 30% chance of survival in a three-month crisis -- in this case, lasting through mid-June -- and only a 15% chance if it continued into six months.

PHOTO: A sign in a restaurant window reads 'we are closed for coronavirus but we will be back soon!!!' during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 21, 2020 in New York. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images, FILE)

The new IRC coalition, created in the wake of the pandemic, includes celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, co-founder of Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and Chef Kwame Onwuachi, owner of Afro-Caribbean restaurant Kith/Kin in Washington, D.C.

Andres has been trying to create opportunities and boost revenues for his fellow restaurant operators through his non-profit World Central Kitchen, which normally helps feed the needy during natural disasters. And just this week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he is creating a state-financed meal delivery program -- hiring restaurants to feed the vulnerable elderly population in his state.

But Pomeroy said these measures, while worthwhile, are only temporary and not nearly enough.

Rosa Garcia, owner of Mott Haven Bar and Grill in the Bronx borough of New York City, was recently able to rehire five staffers by collaborating with World Central Kitchen. But she says she's desperately awaiting approval for a PPP loan after being denied in the first round of funding.

"If we aren't able to get this fund," Garcia said of the proposed IRC stabilization fund, "I don't think we'll be able to survive."

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Jose Andres among restaurateurs pushing Congress for $120 billion lifeline originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The FATF has found that there is a high risk that criminals will try to launder money or finance terrorism through the UAE.

An international watchdog has warned that the United Arab Emirates is not doing enough to crack down on money laundering and terrorist financing.

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) says the UAE could find itself on a watchlist along with countries like Syria and Yemen unless it improves.

Al Jazeeras Bernard Smith reports.
United Nations, April 30 : The UN Security Council has expressed strong concern over the declaration of self-rule in southern Yemen by the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

In a statement on Wednesday, the members of the Security Council expressed their concern that the STC actions could distract from the efforts of UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to secure a nationwide ceasefire, confidence-building measures, and the restart of a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned inclusive political process, reports Xinhua news agency.

The STC, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, on April 26 declared self-rule in the country's southern port city of Aden and other key southern provinces.

In the statement, the council members reaffirmed their strong commitment to Yemen's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and called for the expediting implementation of the November 2019 Riyadh Agreement, a power-sharing deal between the STC and the internationally recognized government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia.

The Council also members urged the Yemeni government and the Houthis to reinforce their engagement with a view to reaching agreement on the UN special envoy's proposals as soon as possible.

They welcomed the announcement of the Saudi-led military coalition of its extension of a unilateral ceasefire in support of the UN peace process, and urged the Houthis to join the government of Yemen in reciprocating immediately, in order to stop ongoing hostilities and counter the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis since March 2015 in a bid to restore the Yemeni government.

The Houthis are believed to have the support of Iran.
Health officials in Ecuador are stacking bodies seven high as the country becomes the new epicenter for the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America.

In Guayaquil-a city, they now dub as Ecuador's Wuhan-medical staff are forced to store dead coronavirus patients in hospital toilets as morgues turn bodies away after running out of space.

A 35-year-old nurse working for one of the country's health care facilities said many patients came in at a critical condition, with most succumbing to the virus.

"We had to wrap up bodies so many times. We store them in the bathrooms," she said.

In another hospital, the staff had to wrap up bodies and store the corpse. This allows staff to disinfect the space so other patients can use the beds.



Never-Ending Nightmare

As of Thursday, health officials have recorded more than 24,675 coronavirus cases in Ecuador, with 883 dead. The real toll, however, is thought to be far higher than reported.

Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno acknowledged the country's official figures "are short." Experts suggest the cases may have exceeded 35,000.

The country's health system has also started to get overwhelmed. Many were discharged or referred to other hospitals to create spaces for COVID-19 patients. Medical staff also replaced anesthesia machines with ventilators- a piece of equipment that is now facing a shortage in supply.

The patients also suffer from mental torture as they are surrounded by others who have worse symptoms. Some are also subjected to seeing the patient next to them suffocate and scream for oxygen.

Health care workers have spoken up about the trauma that continues to haunt them as they serve a never-ending stream of patients. Nurses went from caring for 15 patients to double the number within the first 24 hours.

When restrooms ran out of space for the corpses, the staff piled them on the floors and in armchairs. In emergency wards, the corridors were filled with more than 25 bodies. Some bodies were stored for up to 10 days. By then, fluids were oozing out of the bodies, creating a sanitary crisis.

In family homes, dead relatives were left outside on the streets as funeral homes were unavailable for burials. Local governments created a task force to collect the bodies. They pick up more than 100 bodies a day, with hundreds still lying on the streets.

Horrifying photos surfaced on social media platforms showing the dead covered by the cloth as families wait for collection. Authorities handed out cardboard coffins where residents can temporarily store their loved ones.



Outbreak

Guayaquil makes up for 65 percent of the country's total number of cases, making it Ecuador's epicenter. The outbreak, which began in February, was said to have come from infected people returning from Spain.

The surge in coronavirus cases prompted Ecuador's officials to impose strict social distancing measures and containment policies.

Ecuadorians are not allowed to leave their home between 2 PM and 5 AM. Outside of the strict curfew, residents can only step out of their houses to get food and necessities, for essential work, and medical reasons. They are also required to wear masks and gloves. All public transportation has been canceled.
YPSILANTI, MI - The Washtenaw County Health Department is enhancing an emergency order requiring essential service providers and businesses, including childcare centers, to use recommended screening and social distancing to protect everyones health to the greatest degree possible.

Businesses and other operations open under the recently relaxed Stay Home Stay Safe order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are being required to screen employees for symptoms of the novel coronavirus and to post the order at facility entrances so it is visible to customers and employees, the health department said in a Thursday, April 30 news release.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends stay-at-home order through May 15, relaxes certain restrictions

The order takes effect at midnight Friday, May 1, and expires on May 15, in line with Whitmers order.

All essential services and businesses must implement a daily screening program for staff right before or just as they arrive to work sites, according to the order. The screening must ask if the employee has a fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or diarrhea, excluding any known medical reason other than COVID-19. A touchless thermometer is preferred to determine if an employee has a fever above 100.4 degrees, but verbal confirmation is permissible if one is not available.

The screening must also ask if the employee has traveled outside of Michigan or had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient in the last two weeks, the order states.

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesnt infringe on constitutional rights

If employees have symptoms of COVID-19 or have traveled outside of the state, they must be excluded from the work site for three full days with no fever, had improvement of other symptoms and are at least seven days removed from when symptoms first appeared.

Workers who have traveled outside of Michigan -- except to commute to a home location outside the state -- should all stay away from the work site, except for travel related to the supply chain and critical infrastructure.

Employees who have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case can continue to work at the employers discretion, according to the order, as long as they are asymptomatic. The employer should measure the employees temperature and check for symptoms before they start work. If they begin to experience symptoms during a shift, they should be sent home immediately.

The employee should wear a face mask at all times in the workplace for 14 days after their last exposure, according to the order. They should also remain six feet away from others, as work duties permit.

3 more deaths, 17 more coronavirus cases in Washtenaw County

We know it is difficult to continue staying home for many reasons, and many of us cannot stay home. But social distancing is working, Jimena Loveluck, Washtenaw County Health Officer, said in a statement. We are slowing the spread of illness. But we continue to see new cases of COVID-19 every day in Washtenaw County, and we must be cautious moving forward.

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Real estate heir Robert Durst, shown during his murder trial in Los Angeles, wants a mistrial declared due to the lengthy delay in court proceedings. (Robyn Beck / AFP)

Robert Durst's defense team has asked for a mistrial in the real estate scion's Los Angeles murder case, arguing that delays in court proceedings caused by the coronavirus will make it impossible for him to receive a fair trial.

Durst was standing trial in the 2000 murder of his longtime confidant Susan Berman when the pandemic paralyzed most of the nation. Prosecutors contend that Durst killed Berman to prevent her from spilling incriminating information about the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen, whose body was never found.

Durst, 77, was charged with Berman's murder in 2015, around the same time an HBO documentary reignited national interest in the case. He has pleaded not guilty.

Trial testimony was suspended March 12 due to the virus.

Even in the best case scenario, assuming it will be safe to resume trial in early June, more than eighty days will have elapsed before the jury reconvenes," the 29-page motion said.

Durst's defense team argued that the gap in time would make it "unrealistic" to believe jurors could retain important details from earlier testimony or avoid outside influences.

The risk that jurors will not be accurately able to recall the evidence introduced prior to adjournment is heightened here. The trial is expected to be a long and complex one, lasting approximately four to five months," the motion said. "The Peoples witness list contains approximately 115 names.

Durst's attorneys also expressed concerns about health risks if the trial were to proceed: Five jurors are older than 65, and two members of the defense team are over 75, according to the motion. Durst also has a history of medical problems.

At this time, forcing a relatively large group of trial participants, including several high-risk individuals, to congregate in facilities ill-equipped for social distancing would create an unjustified risk of serious illness," the motion said.

Story continues

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office declined to comment.

The coronavirus outbreak has frozen most court proceedings statewide. On Wednesday, California's chief justice, Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, extended a previous emergency order delaying trials up to 90 days. Other operations have been curtailed to limit the risk of spreading the coronavirus in the cramped confines of most courtrooms.

Concerns about the pandemic had been raised in the Durst trial before it was suspended.

Durst's brother invoked the coronavirus to avoid answering a subpoena ordering him to travel from the Bay Area to Los Angeles to testify. Thomas Durst, 70, said he presented a note to prosecutors in which his personal doctor strongly advised against any travel, particularly airplane travel, citing unspecified medical issues. The younger Durst ultimately appeared and took the stand sporting latex gloves.

In a motion filed Wednesday, prosecutors sought to have Judge Mark E. Windham declare several witnesses unavailable to appear personally because of the pandemic. The four witnesses, all of whom are older than 65 and reside in New York or New Jersey, were questioned in Los Angeles in 2017 so their testimony could be preserved via videotape should they die or become unavailable before the trial.

Among those witnesses was Nick Chavin, a longtime friend of Durst who said the defendant admitted to killing Berman after they had dinner in New York City in 2014.

We must not put these witnesses health in peril when there is prior sworn testimony that was memorialized precisely and in preparation for the situation we face today," the prosecution's motion said.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 23 in the Airport Courthouse.
Top insurers such as AXA, RSA, QBE and Zurich face a potential multi-million-pound lawsuit from British pubs, hotels, restaurants and leisure groups, who allege that legitimate business interruption claims have been rejected.

A new Hospitality Insurance Action Group (HIGA) on Wednesday issued a call to arms to the sector to step forward and have their policies checked for free in the latest move to tackle insurers over their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The most stringent government lockdown in peacetime history, ordered in March to slow the spread of a disease that has caused more than 24,000 British deaths to date, has left businesses struggling for survival and the economy facing a deep recession.

Lawyers at Mishcon de Reya  who are already advising a separate action group against Hiscox, a leading insurer of small-and-medium-sized businesses  said the hospitality sector had been particularly hard hit by the lockdown.

In times of crisis, they expect their insurance to respond, said Sonia Campbell, the head of the insurance disputes practice at the firm.

Yet I am hearing time and time again that insurers are either stone-walling, unfairly limiting or simply point-blank refusing to pay out under business interruption (BI) policies.

Trevor Ayling, the owner of five Renoufs Cheese and Wine Bars in Dorset and Hampshire, in western and southern England, said he had registered with HIGA because he did not have the money to fight his insurers after they ignored or denied his claims.

A pay-out on our policy would go some way to making reopening a reality, helping to secure Renoufs future, he said.

Any successful claim will hinge partly on whether the lockdown triggers a clause in business interruption policies designed for insured premises that cannot be used because of restrictions imposed by a public authority, experts say.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said earlier this month that most insurance policies bought by smaller British companies do not cover the coronavirus-related disruption, but that those that do should pay out quickly.

AXA, RSA and Zurich said on Wednesday that very few businesses would have BI cover that would extend to the pandemic, but that they were paying valid claims.

QBE also said it was paying valid claims and that its policies did not cover a global pandemic where general movement and business restrictions had been imposed by national governments.

Mishcon de Reya said it hoped to review insurance policies by the end of May before assessing how best to bring a fully-funded group claim.

Across the Atlantic, restaurants and other companies have already filed class action lawsuits.

Meanwhile, at least three more groups of UK policyholders are considering a lawsuit against Hiscox.

Hiscox said last week it would work with the industry, regulators and customers to seek means of expediting resolution through the range of independent mechanisms available.

Law firm Fieldfisher also said it was advising policyholders with RSA, QBE and Lloyds of London insurer Argenta.

Argenta said it was committed to paying all valid claims.

(Reporting by Kirstin Ridley and Carolyn Cohn; editing by Kirsten Donovan)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits Carriers Claims




By Park Si-soo







Police are investigating a man in his 40s who is suspected of killing his mother and son and hiding their bodies in vinyl at his home.







Dongjak Police Station said Thursday detectives detained the man at a motel in Seoul and are investigating him on suspicion of homicide and parricide.







Police found the bodies in a walk-in closet at the man's home on April 27. The visit was made at the request of his sister-in-law who told police she had not heard from the mother-in-law for days.






SHENZHEN, China, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Shenzhen Daily on the 5th anniversary of the inauguration of the Qianhai & Shekou Free Trade Area.

Qianhai-headquartered WeBank has grown into a top private bank in China over the past five years since its establishment, servicing over 200 million individual clients with its inclusive financial system.

Set up in December 2014 as one of the country's first private banks and the first Internet-only bank, WeBank has become the world's leading digital bank, as claimed by the Massachusetts-based Forrester Research, one of the most influential research and advisory firms.

Figures show that the digital-only bank had 220 billion yuan (US$31.03 billion) in assets by the end of 2018. Its net profit reached 2.47 billion yuan in 2018, surpassing the total profit of 1.98 billion yuan by the 16 other private banks set up at the same time as WeBank.

The digital bank would not have made it without the innovation-oriented business environment in Qianhai, part of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone inaugurated April 27, 2015, said Wan Jun, chairman of the board of supervisors of WeBank.

WeBank is one of the enterprises that have gone through rapid development in Qianhai, which Shenzhen Special Zone Daily said has become the core engine for high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, in the past five years.

Official statistics show that the added value of Qianhai-registered enterprises has grown 150 percent over the past several years, while its tax revenue has doubled. The fixed asset investment in Qianhai has gone up 90 percent, and it contributed 2.4 percent of the 2019 GDP of Guangdong Province. The 2019 Guangdong GDP topped the nation at 10.77 trillion yuan.

Qianhai has reported a 152 percent growth in foreign trade over the past five years. The total volume of imports and exports in its Qianhaiwan Bonded Free Trade Port Area reached 128.55 billion yuan last year, up 233 percent from 55.2 billion yuan in its inaugural year.

Liu Yuli, deputy general manager of YHGlobal based in Qianhaiwan port, said her company recorded over 200% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of the year despite the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The total volume of imports and exports of YHGlobal, a Hurun-listed unicorn engaged in the global supply chain, reached 59.4 billion yuan last year, topping Shenzhen's supply-chain enterprises and ranked No. 13 nationally, according to Liu.

She attributed the eye-catching growth of YHGlobal to a series of innovative customs policies adopted to facilitate cross-border trade.

"Take the global central warehouse initiation as an example," Liu said. "The global central warehouse allows the storage of different kinds of goods -- including bonded and nonbonded goods, and imported and exported goods -- in the same warehouse in the Qianhaiwan port, greatly reducing the operational costs and facilitating the flow of cross-border goods."

Liu said Shekou Customs has created many other favorable policies to address the actual needs of importers and exporters within their business operations, which also helps them lure more new clients.

The high-quality economic development in Qianhai is due in large part to institutional innovations that the Qianhai authority has committed to since its establishment.

According to official statistics, Qianhai has rolled out 106 institutional innovations last year, bringing the total number to 520 in five years' time. Of them, 50 have been promoted nationwide, five in the Greater Bay Area, 69 in Guangdong Province and 166 have been duplicated for use in Shenzhen.

Qianhai has topped the country for the past two consecutive years in the national innovation index compiled by the Guangzhou-based Sun Yat-sen University.

Efforts by the Qianhai authority to create a fair, transparent business environment has paid off. The actual use of foreign investment in the free trade area has grown 187 percent in five years, accounting for 21 percent of the total foreign investments made in Guangdong last year, up from the 8.3 percentage points in the first year of its establishment.

Nearly 1,400 new Hong Kong-funded enterprises were registered in Qianhai last year, bringing in 88 billion yuan in registered capital. By the end of 2019, Qianhai had become home to 12,102 Hong Kong-funded companies, up 420% from 2,313 at the end of 2015. The Hong Kong-funded companies have brought in a total of 1.3 trillion yuan in registered capital.

Qianhai was ranked 51st in the world business environment list by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2017, then jumped to 31st in 2018 and 23rd last year.

Over the past five years, a total of 59 new roads, 36 kilometers in length, have been opened to traffic and 179 new office buildings have been put into use, offering companies 3.13 million square meters of office floor space in Qianhai.

http://szdaily.sznews.com/PC/layout/202004/27/node_02.htmlcontent_851012

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The Metro West will reduce crowding on some of Sydneys busiest train lines by 30 per cent, says an Environmental Impact Statement, but the report warns construction work risks damaging houses and buildings along the route.

The NSW government report says the $20 billion-plus project, providing a 20-minute link between the CBD and Parramatta, will reduce crowding on the T1 Western Line at Parramatta by 32 per cent by 2036.

Workers walk down a section of the metro beneath Sydney Harbour. Credit:Nick Moir

Despite being less than half funded and with no concrete completion date, the government expects the Metro West to take more than 80,000 vehicles off the road while employing more than 10,000 people during construction.

The government is seeking planning approval for tunnelling and station excavation between Westmead and the Bays Precinct, with boring scheduled to begin by the end of 2022.


South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus Thursday, but all of them were imported cases, marking the first time that local infections have fallen to zero since the coronavirus outbreak began more than two months ago.



The four new cases brought the total to 10,765.



It was the lowest daily increase in more than two months, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The figure peaked on Feb. 29 at 909.



Despite the signs of a slowdown, local health authorities remain on the alert over the ongoing holiday, when people are expected to make trips locally.



South Koreans celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Thursday, which will be followed by May Day on Friday and Children's Day on Tuesday next week.



The nation's death toll from COVID-19 rose by one to 247. In total, 9,059 people in South Korea have recovered from the virus, up 137 from a day earlier.



The rising number of imported cases is still a concern for South Korea. All four cases announced Thursday were imported, raising the country's total number of such cases to 1,065.



Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region located 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, added no new cases. The city accounts for 64 percent of the nation's total COVID-19 cases.



Should the number of new infections continue to plateau by the end of the holiday, South Korea plans to ease its social distancing drive.



The country eventually plans to move on to what it calls "everyday life quarantine," which means schools and workplaces will mostly return to their normal routines with precautions.



Health officials, however, earlier said they are pessimistic that things will fully go back to the days before the pandemic amid looming concerns over a second wave of infections later this year. (Yonhap)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 19:36:44|Editor: huaxia

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-China will embrace an opportunity for tourism and consumption in the upcoming International Labor Day holiday under regular epidemic prevention and control.

-Among comprehensive prevention and control measures during the holiday, tours to all of Shanghai's top tourist attractions should be reserved to avoid gatherings of people.

-Internet technologies have also empowered tourism with online booking, live-streaming sessions and "cloud tourism."

By Xinhua writers Chen Aiping, Sun Wenji

SHANGHAI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming five-day International Labor Day holiday will be an opportunity for tourism and consumption since China entered the phase of regular epidemic prevention and control.

The number of domestic trips to be made in the holiday is estimated to be over twice the number of that made in the three-day Tomb-sweeping Day holiday in April, said major online travel agencies in China.

How will the country guarantee healthy and safe travels while boosting tourism and consumption in the holiday?

Tourists visit the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 29, 2020. Wuhan's landmark Yellow Crane Tower partly reopened to the public on Wednesday. For the time being, there is still a visitor number limit and online booking is needed. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

BOOMING RESERVATIONS

Among comprehensive prevention and control measures during the holiday, tours to all of Shanghai's top tourist attractions should be reserved to avoid gatherings of people.

"Safety comes first," said Yu Xiufen, head of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.

The city, with 84 major tourist attractions and over 5,200 hotels reopened, will be the largest tourist destination as well as the largest tourist source for the holiday, according to booking data from Trip.com Group.

However, reopened tourist sites should receive no more than 30 percent of their daily or real-time visitor capacity, according to a circular jointly released by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Health Commission on April 13.

People enjoy themselves at the Shanghai Happy Valley in east China's Shanghai Municipality April 5, 2020. (Shanghai Happy Valley/Handout via Xinhua)

"Better travel planning is needed if you don't want to gather inside the attractions or outside waiting for entry," said Zheng Bing, a 33-year-old visitor who has booked trips to Zhujiajiao Old Town and Shanghai Happy Valley for her family.

"I can book through the attractions' official online channels or call them with the required information for a limited number of family members, and check the real-time passenger flow on the WeChat accounts of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism," she said, adding that nearly 200 attractions, museums, art galleries and public cultural centers have launched booking access through Visit Shanghai, an online platform with Shanghai's cultural and tourism resources.

"In April, the number of tourists who made online bookings increased by 300 percent from March," said Yu Xiaojiang with Trip.com Group, noting that over 4,000 tourist attractions in China have launched online booking access.

"Nearly 2,000 visitors have booked for May 1, marking the largest daily volume during the holiday. We will take more precise epidemic prevention measures," said Zhao Shuai, marketing director of Shanghai Happy Valley.

PREPARED DESTINATIONS

China has urged the safe and orderly opening of tourist sites across the country, noting that efforts should be made to control passenger flows, prevent the gatherings of crowds, implement reservation systems and raise public awareness of epidemic prevention and control.

China's resort island Hainan Province recently announced 20 specific epidemic-control measures in tourism, transportation, dining and shopping sectors while launching holiday promotions to boost consumption.

A customer tries out a pair of sunglasses at a duty-free experience shop in a resort in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

"Tourists are required to wear masks, show their health codes and have their temperature checked. All the sales staff are required to wear masks and gloves," said Zhang Ke, an employee with a duty-free shop in downtown Haikou, capital of Hainan.

One-meter bars were set at the shop's sales counters and sanitizers were provided, while staff will keep customer flows at a safe distance and disinfect public areas regularly every day, Zhang said.

Over 85 percent of hotels across China have resumed operations, according to Tongcheng-eLong, another online travel agency giant. Over 110,000 hotel suppliers have joined the Safety Hotel Initiative of Tongcheng-eLong in adopting more safety measures, including disinfecting public areas and popularizing coronavirus control knowledge.

In popular destinations such as Shanghai, Yunnan and Hainan, restaurants are encouraged to serve separate dishes. In Shanghai, some 30 percent of restaurants now offer separate dishes for diners.

Tourists will also shoulder more responsibilities with better travel plans and behavior, said He Jianmin, an expert with Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

INTERNET EMPOWERMENT

"Epidemic-control measures including online booking are also important for ensuring the tourism sector's high-quality long-term development," said Zhao Shuai, adding that China will eye booming smart tourist attractions empowered by Internet technologies.

5G infrared thermal imaging temperature measurement has been implemented in public areas including metro stations, commercial centers, airports and train stations in Shanghai and many other cities to monitor people's body temperature.

A visitor receives body temperature check at the entrance of Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai Municipality, March 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Ren Long)

The Old Town of Lijiang in southwest China's Yunnan Province implemented a big data system to monitor passenger flows and prevent the gathering of crowds.

Although group tours across provinces were still suspended, online consumption for tourism boosted.

Shanghai has taken measures to promote the recovery of epidemic-hit culture and tourism, and exhibitions, cooking competitions and tours have been held online. Trip.com Group said its sales of travel products had reached 200 million yuan (28.33 million U.S. dollars) in seven recent livestreaming sessions as of Wednesday.

Tour guide Zeng Hongjuan (R) introduces an exhibit via livestreaming on a cellphone platform at the Beijing Auto Museum in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2020. Livestreaming shows for this auto museum will be staged from April 30 to May 3 for the upcoming International Labor Day holidays. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Scenic spots in Yunnan have cooperated with video platforms to livestream their natural beauty to attract more tourists.

"Go-Yunnan," an online travel platform, has launched more than 1,400 live feeds allowing people to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yunnan from home.

"Online tourism, or 'cloud tourism,' as a new mode of tourism, helps scenic spots attract more tourists and aids the recovery of Yunnan's tourism industry," said Yang Wenwen, head of the platform's content operation. "I expect 'cloud tourism' to drive the future upgrading of China's tourism industry."



The number of netizens in China had reached 904 million as of March 2020 and 897 million of them access the Internet through mobile phones, according to the China Internet Network Information Center. 

(Xinhua reporters Zhou Huimin, Liu Xinyu, Xu Xiaoqing also contributed to the story. Video reporters: Zhang Mengjie, Li Haiwei, Zhou Xuan; Video editor: Lin Lin)
The agency issued on Sunday new guidelines, such as spacing workers and implementing temperature checks, for meat-processing plants after many closed following COVID-19 outbreaks among their workers.

Unions and Democrats in Congress have been pressuring OSHA to issue emergency temporary standards that they have said would be easier to enforce than the guidance issued by OSHA, which they argue lacks teeth.

Pandemic job actions offer hope for renewed labor movement Peoples fears of sickness and death are finally stronger than peoples fears of their employer.

Scalia said employers, relying on OSHA'S flexible and tailored guidance, are already doing the very things the unions want to accomplish through an emergency standard.

"Employers are implementing measures to protect workers, in workplaces across the country," he wrote.

Scalia also rejected Trumka's request that all employers be required to report COVID-19 infections, saying that doing so would "burden employers and overwhelm OSHA."

The agency in March eased the requirements for determining when an employer has to report an infected worker, a change businesses had pushed for because they said it was difficult to determine if an employee had become infected at work. Worker advocates have said the change could undermine a sick employee's access to workers compensation insurance.
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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 09:09 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd519b2e 1 Opinion #commentary,labor-issues,labor-law,labor-policy,employment,workforce-in-indonesia,workforce,omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,commentary Free

In the good times, businesspeople, government officials and even international institutions have slammed Indonesias labor legislation, calling it rigid and an obstacle to investment.

The World Banks 2020 Ease of Doing Business Report highlighted Indonesias rigid employment and minimum wage regulations as among the factors that caused the countrys ranking to stagnate. The World Economic Forums 2019 Global Competitiveness Report lowered the labor market score for Indonesia to 57.5 points as the countrys scores for flexibility and hiring and firing practices dropped.

Indonesian businesspeople have also complained repeatedly about low productivity and the high cost and complexity of firing an employee. The government therefore submitted the omnibus bill on job creation in February to create greater labor market flexibility.

The controversial bill lowers the ceilings of severance payment and payments for recognition of service period (UPMK) and scraps the employers obligation to pay compensation for rights (UPH) for laid-off workers. It also deletes rigid calculations on rights for severance payments, the UPMK and the UPH, each differentiated based on the layoff reasons as stipulated in the prevailing Labor Law. Thus employers would only have to pay basic severance payments and the UPMK to laid-off workers.

If passed into law, the bill would also relax permits for foreign workers in start-ups and enable outsourcing agencies to hire employees, including freelance and full-time workers, for various tasks.

Flexible-hours work, as well as easy hiring and easy firing principles will be discussed. The technicalities will be the responsibility of the Manpower Ministry, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, a businessman himself, said on Dec. 30.

Following threats of labor rallies on April 30 despite the quarantine, President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced on Friday that the deliberations of labor-related provisions in the bill would be postponed to provide us with the opportunity to explore substantial issues within the bill and also to accommodate input from stakeholders.

But does the labor legislation really need to be changed?

During bad times, as in the COVID-19 crisis, the rigid labor legislation has prevented an unemployment spike and saved the government from another economic and social disaster.

So far, Indonesias unemployment rate has not shot through the roof as in the United States, for example. Around 2.8 million people have lost their jobs so far, according to the Manpower Ministry and the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), with over half of them furloughed on paid or unpaid leave rather than being laid off. This figure led Indonesias unemployment rate to increase to around 7.4 percent from around 5.3 percent of the 133.6 million workforce in last August.

Some 2.9 million to 5.2 million jobs may be lost during the pandemic, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on April 14. That means Indonesias unemployment rate could jump to around 9.2 percent this year, higher than the 7.5 percent projected by the International Monetary Fund in its latest World Economic Outlook report.

The outlook is bleak but still way better than in the US, which has looser labor regulations. Around 26.5 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits since mid-March as unemployment rose to 4.4 percent from a 50-year low of 3.5 percent a month before.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has reportedly warned Republican senators that the unemployment rate could increase to 20 percent if the government does not act fast with Oxford Economics forecasting a 16 percent rate by May, which would be the highest level since 1940.

Indonesias labor legislation does indeed stipulate high-cost firing, requiring employers to pay basic severance pay and other compensation, as described above. Such rules ensure the protection of workers rights and makes employers think twice before firing a worker.

Labor regulations in Japan and South Korea are also seen as rigid and mass layoffs are frowned upon. Japans unemployment rate remained at 2.4 percent in February as the pandemic spread while South Koreas unemployment rate fell to 3.3 percent.

Bloomberg economist Justin Jimenez said on March 30 that structural labor market rigidities in economies like South Korea and Japan had historically kept increases in unemployment relatively manageable during crises. Low unemployment could be a factor in helping economies recover somewhat quicker, he said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Therefore, the government should accept the fact that rigid labor regulations not only protect a strong workforce during hard times but also benefits the government, which is struggling to keep macroeconomic and social indicators, including unemployment rates, in check. The unemployment rate can be kept as low as possible because businesses will choose to furlough employees instead of dismissing them.

This fact should encourage the government to scrap altogether the labor-related provisions in the omnibus bill on job creation rather than simply delaying their deliberation, and focus on cutting red tape and clearing bottlenecks to ease doing business. Investment is needed to shore up economic growth but it should not be gained at the cost of largely vulnerable citizens. Investment and economic growth must benefit everyone, not just a handful at the top of the pyramid.

Indonesia does not need to loosen its grip on labor regulations, instead it should improve workforce skills and abilities in order to boost productivity, strengthen the social safety net while pushing corporations to improve crisis protocols. Workers help businesses and the country reap economic gains during sunny days, we should not abandon them when the rain comes.
In response to the growing need to fortify the nation's critical infrastructure, Burns & McDonnell continues to design and build the systems and structures that will keep the U.S. moving forward. Across the nation, the firm is currently working on nearly 13,000 projects that touch the 16 critical infrastructure categories identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"We have always stayed very diversified in our service offerings, so we can quickly pivot to develop unique solutions as our clients' challenges evolve," says Ray Kowalik, chairman and CEO of Burns & McDonnell. "During this tumultuous time, we are making decisions that best protect our families, employees and communities, and we carry that same commitment with our clients. Make our clients successful: These four words have served as the guiding mission of Burns & McDonnell for 122 years. And today, these words seem to have more meaning than ever before.

"We have been in the trenches with our clients for disruptions in the past. We are ready to navigate these challenges together in the coming months  whether that means reprioritizing work, expediting critical projects or helping to devise contingency plans."

Heightened demand for electrical transmission, distribution and generation services propelled Burns & McDonnell to a No. 1 ranking in the Power category for the fifth consecutive year.

"The need for reliable, resilient power and communications systems has never been more critical," says John Olander, COO and president of the firm's Transmission & Distribution Group. "Many industries including ours have shifted to remote operations during this pandemic and such work arrangements are sure to influence workforces in the future. The ability to stay powered, online, healthy and productive is vital to stay connected globally."

Along with its No. 1 ranking in Power, Burns & McDonnell ranks among the top 20 firms in five categories, including:

No. 14 in Manufacturing

No. 15 in Sewerage & Solid Waste

No. 7 in Industrial Process/Petroleum

No. 18 in Hazardous Waste

No. 5 in Telecommunications

For photos and support materials, please visit our MEDIA KIT.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities with more than 55 offices, globally. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to be on Fortune's 2020 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn how we are on call through it all.

Contact: Mary Young, Burns & McDonnell

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Montgomery County Memorial Library System administrators are navigating how to best serve library patrons while keeping library users and staff members safe from the COVID-19 virus.

The countys seven libraries closed on March 18 over concerns of the virus spreading in the community.

On Monday, library staffers will return to their respective libraries. Then what follows is a phased approach to returning the libraries to service.

Were looking at a wide variety of options so that we can continue to provide services, but preserve the safety of the library customers and staff, said MCMLS Library Director Jerilynn Williams.

The library administration is adhering to guidelines from the CDC, the governor, the national and state library associations and its governing body the Montgomery County Commissioners Court.

Opening in phases

The first step to reopening the libraries involves the library book drops. They were closed along with the library facilities on March 18.

More Information Library locations Central Library - Main Branch 936-539-7814 104 I-45 N. Conroe, TX 77301 Charles B. Stewart-West Branch Library 936-788-8314 202 Bessie Price Owen Dr. Montgomery, TX 77356 George & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library? 936-442-7728 8125 Ashlane Way The Woodlands, TX 77382 Malcolm Purvis Library 936-442-7704 510 Melton St. Magnolia, TX 77354 R. B. Tullis Branch Library 281-577-8968 21569 US Hwy 59 New Caney, TX 77357 R. F. Meador Branch Library? 936-442-7740 709 W. Montgomery Willis, TX 77378 South Regional Library? 936-442-7727 2101 Lake Robbins Dr The Woodlands, TX 77380 See More Collapse

The library book drops opened at six of the locations on Thursday and Friday. The exception is the South Regional location of the library in The Woodlands. Due to construction in the parking lot, that book drop is inaccessible and will open at a later date. The South Regional Library will also be about 10 days to two weeks behind the other locations in opening due to the construction.

Williams said all returns must come back to the libraries through the book drops.

Those items will then be in a quarantine period for two to three days before returning to the shelves.

She said that any materials that were due during the time that the libraries were closed would not incur fines.

We want to be careful that no one is limited in their privileges unless they have far exceeded the limits for use which is $25, Williams said.

She added that no paper money or checks will change hands during this time and that the library would not be forgiving fines, but for an indefinite period of time the library would not collect payment for fines and fees.

The fines will become a part of the patrons record, but will not deter someone from borrowing materials because they had a prior fee.

Williams has ordered plastic health shields to be placed at the circulation desks and information desks of all seven libraries. The shields would be similar to those in grocery stores.

When the facility opens back up is dependent on when those shields arrive and can be installed.

Limited capacity

If those safety measures are in place by May 11, then the libraries will open on a limited basis and at a limited capacity.

Its Williams plan for the week of May 11-15 to encourage patrons to call their local library and request the item to be pulled from the shelves.

A staff member will locate the item and then have it available for the person to retrieve. Library administrators are working on a plan where the material will either be available through a lobby service or a curbside type service similar to what the grocery stores use.

Williams is also being mindful to the senior population that is most at risk from the virus.

Staff members will also be encouraged to wear masks, but wearing a mask cannot be enforced.

At the end of the week of May 11-15, more guidelines are expected from Gov. Greg Abbott and the staff will move forward based on those recommendations.

Library hours will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.

The computer lab will not open until further guidelines from the state and meeting spaces will remained closed until further notice.

Williams does not anticipate having programming inside the library or the meeting spaces being available until the fall.

However, childrens libraries have been doing Facebook story times and that has been very well received Williams said.

The Youth Services staff is also working to host the summer reading program virtually.

After 23 years serving Montgomery County, this is the biggest challenge weve every had to try and provide services to our customers in a positive way but preserving safety as well, Williams said. Were working to set up a new norm that will be satisfying to both sides of the desk.

Visit countylibrary.org for more information on the Montgomery County Memorial Library System.

shernandez@hcnonline.com
The department of health has said it is readying its own business case for medical expansion in Northern Ireland but gave no assurances that a medical school will be based in Derry.

Long-running plans for a medical school at Ulster Universitys Magee campus have been plagued with set-backs.

The revised timeline was for enrolment to commence in 2021.

The Derry News asked the department whether it expects the medical school to be approved and for medical students to enrol at Magee next year.

In response, a Department of Health spokesperson said: The establishment of a Graduate Entry Medical School is one of the priorities of the restored Executive in New Decade, New Approach.

The Department of Health has been clear that there are two separate business case processes in relation to the development of a Graduate Entry Medical School.

The first process, which has been under way since 2017, has involved significant assistance from departmental officials on the development of Ulster Universitys own business case.

Ulster University has been grateful for this assistance, which has ensured that their business case meets the standards within government financial guidance.

He added: The second process is the development of the Department of Healths own business case which will outline the need to be addressed by any expansion of medical education.

That business case will be formally submitted to the Minister very shortly. It will be appreciated that the departments immediate and overriding priority has been the local response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Health must ensure that any proposal represents value for money for health and social care. It is for the Executive to collectively decide on the best approach for Northern Ireland as a whole.

There was renewed optimism in January of this year when a deal was agreed by Northern Irelands political parties to restore devolved government three years after it collapsed.

The New Decade, New Approach document contains firm commitments to a Magee Medical School from both the British and Irish governments.

It states: The Executive will expand university provision at Magee in line with commitments made by the previous Executive, including through the establishment of a Graduate Entry Medical School.

Furthermore, under the section outlining the UK governments financial and economic commitments to Northern Ireland it says: Capital and resource funding for the Medical School in Derry

subject to the Northern Ireland Executives approval of the project.

While the Irish government adds that it is willing in principle to contribute to capital investment to support expanded provision at Ulster University Magee Campus, alongside the commitment made as part of this agreement by the UK Government.

COMMITMENTS

The commitment referred to above by the previous Executive was for 10,000 full-time students at Magee.

In 2019/20 there were 3,456 full-time students enrolled at Magee  4,237 overall.

Five years previous, 2014/15, there were 3,883 full-time enrolments  5,098 overall.

Shortly after the New Approach document was published it emerged that the exact financial package on the table was unknown.

When revealed it was described as woefully inadequate by Sinn Fein finance minister Conor Murphy.

At the end of January, the Department for the Economy (DfE) said it was committed to delivering expansion of Ulster Universitys Belfast campus and would provide UU with a 126m bailout to complete the build.

In February, DfE was asked what funding the UK and Irish Governments have committed towards realising 10,000 undergraduate places at the Magee campus.

DUP economy minister Diane Dodds said: No funding has, as yet, been formally committed by the UK or Irish Governments towards increasing undergraduate places at the Magee Campus as outlined in New Decade, New Approach.

The Department of Finance remains in discussions with Her Majestys Treasury (HMT) on the UK Government financial package associated with the priorities in New Decade, New Approach.

For the past month all government departments have understandably been focused on their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Finance and the Economy were both asked for comment but did not provide any at the time of publishing.
The global market of insulation panels was valued at $423.6 million in 2018 and is expected to reach $640.4 million by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research, a U.S. based market research and consulting company. The products compound annual growth rate index (CAGR) for the 2020-2025 period is estimated at 6.1 percent per year. The growing market size demonstrates market reception for insulation panels, the report says. This light-weight and high-tech material possesses outstanding characteristics, like soundproofing, heat insulation, heat protection and fireproofing. It fits all designs and is more economical than traditional construction materials. Insulation panels also contribute to minimizing operating costs through lower consumption of fuel and power for cooling and lighting systems, maintenance or crack and mould services.

More and more customers are convinced of the insulation panels benefits like cost savings, endurance and convenience. Demand is also boosted by governments support for environmentally friendly, quickly-built constructions particularly amid the Covid-19 crisis. While it is a leading construction material for industrial and civil constructions in developed countries in Europe and North America, rapid growth in demand for insulation panels is forecast for the Asia Pacific region. One of the reasons is the increasing number of countries focusing on producing and consuming packaged foods, which requires cold storage facilities to be installed quickly, reducing costs, the Grand View Research report says.

"In Vietnam, the market potential for insulation panels is still untapped," said Giap Van Thanh, General Director of the Phuong Nam Soundproofing Insulating Co. He said one of the biggest challenges to exploiting this potential is consumer psychology, which is still suspicious and hesitant.

Thanh also noted that the traditional methods are unlikely to meet investment efficiency and eco-friendly criteria for sustainable development. Meanwhile, high-tech materials such as insulation panels and eco-roofing panels are highly durable and resistant to tough external environments and the impact of internal production activities. In addition, he remarked that the production and use of green building materials contributes to saving resources, reusing them many times and saving energy, thereby minimizing environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, a main factor for climate change.

The potential demand for smart construction materials prompted Thanh and his team to look for solutions that suit Phuong Nam's production capacity and meet "tailor-made" needs of Vietnamese enterprises. After several years of research and development, they came up with the Pisocy panel, an upgraded version of the sandwich panel with two-sided polyurethane thermal and soundproof insulation. After three years of innovation, Pisocy has now become the companys flagship product, with a high insulation coefficient, ensuring deep cold storage up to 50 degrees Celsius, preventing heat loss and freezing when installed.

Pisocy panels also meet fire protection standards of level B2, EI ~ 60 of the Fire Department with the ability to withstand heat of 300 degrees Celsius for up to 150 minutes. These panels can be used for a wide range of industrial and civil projects, including offices, factories, workshops, cold storage facilities, freezers, loading stations and food storage facilities, as also pharmaceutical and medical facilities such as operating rooms, waiting rooms clinics, labs and disinfection rooms. They can also be used as ceilings, walls and partitions. The panels meet GMP and WHO clean room standards. Contractors who select Pisocy panels for large constructions enjoy a huge advantage in their flexibility. Being a light weight (density 48 kilogram per m3) material, it is easy to install and offers flexibility in design and application.



Moreover, Pisocy panels can combine easily with other materials to reduce structural load and pile pressure, especially when foundation soil is weak, and ensure safety for high-rise buildings.

The construction process is also accelerated, taking one-third of the time taken by traditional methods. The cost of construction when the material is used for walls and ceilings is only about one fifth of usual construction methods.
As Nigeria continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, its government has launched a free virtual learning academy for Nigerians especially students and youth staying at home as a result of the lockdown.

Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the closure of all schools across the country, in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

The move, though lauded at first, soon met with criticism over what many termed the countrys inability to embrace virtual learning as an alternative during the stay-at-home period, at least for students and pupils.

However, on Wednesday, the government said it was making efforts to leverage on the digital sector to address the problem.

It then launched a virtual learning academy to cushion whatever effects the shutdown may be having.

The launch was commissioned by Minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami, during a virtual meeting with the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) in Abuja.

Considering the rapid change of things across the world as a result of the pandemic, the academy became necessary, Mr Pantami said, adding that Nigeria cannot be left behind.

He said the the academy will enable the ministry create a pool of trained and skilled youths and encourage continuous learning at home.

Other benefits include: building, upgrading and integrating the capacity among Nigerians as well as bridging the gap between the academia and the industry, he said.

He said the academy will add value to millions of skilled and unskilled Nigerians to prepare them for the post-COVID-19 economy.

According to him, the training is free and comes in three categories and is meant to enable public servants to acquire prerequisite skills they may need to fit into the emerging post-COVID-19 economy.

It also comes with a pack of various courses that will lead to certification from CISCO, Oracle, Huawei and even Havard among others.

The commissioning of the academy being unprecedented, we are working to conduct the FEC virtually. Particularly, if there is a critical issues, the President will GI online and conduct meeting virtually. If that is approved, we will go on to to conduct the FEC meetings virtually, he said .

Mr Pantami called on Nigerians to utilise the opportunity to build their capacity and skills.

He encouraged students in secondary schools and institutions of higher learning to leverage the platform provided by the NITDA academy to acquire more skills, insisting that the era when certificate counts over skills is over.

I feel there is no better time to utilise this platform to build peoples capacity than now. It has so many benefits.

I encourage our students in key into this initiative because today, it is no longer about the skills they acquired but about the skills and capacity, he said.

Meanwhile, the director general of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, said the academy was conceptualised to mitigate against the effects of the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

He said NITDA would promote digital literacy strategy for the post-COVID-19 world in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy of President Buhari.

The country Manager of CISCO, Olakunle Olatimeyi, said the launching of the academy is an important journey for Nigeria not just now we are faced with COVID-19 but for the future.

He advised the ministry to make sure it carries service providers along and also offer them subsidy so as to make their services affordable for more Nigerians.
MORE than 3,500 lives may have been saved by the coronavirus restrictions, Health Minister Simon Harris has told the Dail.

But he cautioned "we must finish the job" and "stay united" if we want to continue to save lives.

Mr Harris's remarks come as the government is tomorrow expected to set out a roadmap for easing restrictions.

He said that when the restrictions were first announced the virus was spreading faster with an 'R' rate of 2.4.

Now that is down to between 0.5 and 0.8 meaning that less than one additional person is being infected by someone who has coronavirus.

Mr Harris said that if the higher rate had continued 4,800 people would have lost their lives by now and there would be 2,200 people seriously ill in critical care units.

He said that "very sadly" 1,190 people have died but the modelling suggests that thanks to the "incredible efforts" of the Irish people, more than 3,500 lives have been saved.

Mr Harris said: "That is 3,500 reasons to stay at home, 3,500 reasons to stay the course and 3,500 reasons to keep with us on this journey."

He said progress has been made but that can't mask the reality that up to 40 people-a-day are still being hospitalised and three to four are entering intensive care units (ICUs).

Mr Harris said: "We must finish the job. If we want to give the country the very best chance of success, we must continue with the work.

"If we want to continue to save lives, we must stay united. We must stick together."

He said he understands "fatigue" with the restrictions but "we must remain cautious and we must remain vigilant  as individuals and together as a country."

Mr Harris said: "I know that people want us to map out what the next phase looks like for Ireland and we will tomorrow."

He said: "We will provide a clear sense of direction but in the meantime our collective objective remains to suppress this virus.

"We must do everything we can to stay safe and protect each other."
Labour unions in Ekiti State have appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi not to contemplate salary reduction of the state public servants despite the slump in the revenues of the state government.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said the lockdown by the government to combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic had continued to take its effect on the people of the state.

The unions spoke at a press conference jointly addressed by the Chairmen of NLC, Kolapo Olatunde and his counterpart from the TUC, Sola Adigun in Ado Ekiti ahead of the annual Workers Day normally marked on May 1.

The unions pleaded that the government should not consider slashing workers salaries.

They also requested the immediate payment of outstanding salaries by Mr Fayemi to ease the effect of the ongoing lockdown on the workers.

Mr Fayemi had, on Tuesday, announced the slashing of his salary; those of his Deputy, Bisi Egbeyemi, and other political appointees by 50 per cent.

Mr Olatunde, in his address said COVID-19 had been affecting every worker.

He said this time was most appropriate for the state government to assuage the sufferings of the workers by promptly paying their salaries as well as the palliatives.

We are still owed three months salary arrears, outstanding leave bonuses, backlog of promotion arrears, while the minimum wage is yet to be implemented across board.

As of today, the local government workers and primary school teachers are owed six months salary arrears while secondary school teachers and civil servants are owed three months respectively.

We have waited for over one year and we have done our best and made the right sacrifices.

The national president of the NLC gave me a matching order to tell our governor that the salaries of our workers cant take them home and there shouldnt be any reason for the government to think of a pay cut in Ekiti.

Mr Olatunde appreciated the government and health workers in Ekiti for working hard to reduce the number of victims of COVID-19 to eight.

The reduction in the number was because the government woke up early to take precautionary measures.

Mr Adigun, said what workers were collecting in Nigeria was never a living wage, expressing optimism that they would breathe a sigh of relief someday.

We thank the governor and members of his cabinet for sacrificing part of their living wage to fight the menace of COVID-19. Workers are not collecting a living wage, so we are not expecting any reduction in our salaries.

Mr Adigun advised the government to deploy more energy toward promoting the welfare of the people and devise ways to defeat COVID-19 pandemic, Boko Haram insurgents, kidnapping, corruption and all manners of criminalities.

The TUC boss advised the Ekiti government to encourage farming among civil servants, in the spirit of diversification, to halt sole dependence on Federal allocations.

(NAN)
(UPDATED) Two persons were hurt and three vehicles were damaged by falling debris after a portion of a Makati condominium collapsed shortly before noon Thursday, April 30.

Residents of the Jazz Residences condominium complex were immediately asked to evacuate while a bomb squad from the Makati City Police searched the building.

Gideon Ines, Makati City Police Station deputy chief for operations, said the two injured individuals were brought to the hospital. No serious injuries were reported.

In a statement, condominium developer SM Development Corporation (SMDC) said the two persons sustained only minor abrasions.

The company also assured that all four towers of the condominium complex, located along Nicanor Garcia Street in Makati, are safe for occupancy.

Fire Inspector Joseph Richard Sajulga, chief of operations of the Makati Fire Station, said witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion prior to the collapse.

Ines, however, said no evidence of an explosion was found.

Siguro sa ingay nung pader na bumagsak akala nung mga residente pagsabog nap o yun kasi pag tinignan po malaking tipak ng batao ang bumagsak kaya maingay po ang impact nun, he said.

In its statement, SMDC said the facade wall of the parking level at Jazz Mall sustained damage that caused its outer slab to collapse to the driveway at around 11 a.m. Thursday.

As a safety precaution, residents were directed to stay near Metropolitan Avenue, it said.

Ines said around 300 residents of the four towers of the condominium complex emerged from their units apparently to seek safety following the incident.

He ssured that social or physical distancing was observed during the evacuation.

Yung iba na hindi naman apektado, papabalikin na namin sa mga unit nila, yung sa tower D mga 100 residente yun ina-assess pa natin kung pwede na sila pabalikin, he said.

In another statement, SMDC said its structural consultant, Sysquared & Associates, and representatives of the Makati City government conducted a walkthrough of the mall premises and residential buildings Thursday afternoon to check structural integrity.

It was concluded that the incident does not affect the structural integrity of the development and that the buildings are safe for occupancy, the company stated.

The incident is still under investigation. SMDC said it was taking necessary measures to ensure that it will not recur. (SunStar Philippines)
In a galaxy far, far away, two black holes share a unique relationship. While a single black hole is enigmatic enough, the OJ 287 galaxy, which is 3.5 billion years away from Earth, has TWO black holes that 'dance' around each other  linked by relative gravitational interactions. The main black hole at the centre of this system is one of the largest ever dying stars ever observed by us, and carries a staggering mass of 18 billion times that of our Sun. Around the central black hole, orbits a 'puny' black hole that is 120x smaller than the behemoth at the centre. This too, however, is 150 million times the mass of our Sun. Now, an group of Indian scientists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai have contributed to creating the most accurate model of predicting how the two black holes react to each other.

The sight is super rare, and so far, the only one of its kind that we have seen so far. The central black hole exerts an incredible amount of gravitational force around its periphery, and also has enormous gas discs surrounding it. Every 12 years, the smaller black hole crashes through these discs twice in irregular intervals. The resultant is a flash of light that is brighter than the peak brightness of over one trillion stars. In fact, the forces of the behemoth black hole at the centre is so gargantuan that the orbit of the smaller black hole changes with completion of every circle. It is this that raises curiosity regarding the binary system, and a fortuitous observation made by Spitzer, the now-retired legendary NASA space telescope, is to be largely thanked for it.

On July 31, which is when the team of TIFR scientists had predicted the next collision of the black hole dance to happen, the OJ 287 system appeared to be situated on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth, or behind it. This made it impossible for any telescope on ground or in Earth's orbit to observe OJ 287's supposed clash. The scientists were attempting to better the model of studying binary black hole interactions, and their new model had claimed to be accurate to within four hours of the collision observation point. Luckily, in came an old friend to the rescue.

Spitzer, which happened to be at 254 million kilometres away from Earth on July 31, 2019, was the only object accessible to mankind with a vantage point to view OJ 287. Fortuitously, the observations made proved that scientist Lankeswar Dey and his TIFR team's model was indeed accurate. This gives mankind's space research a new capability, and will help better understand how gravitational waves can alter trajectories of bodies in outer space. It further lends information to research around the surface of black holes, giving us a conclusion that at least our basic understanding of black holes is roughly on point.

The incredible interaction has been illustrated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and can be seen in the cover image above (click to expand). Safe to say, this is about the most incredible image that you would see today.
There were no new cases of coronavirus reported in Ector County as of late Wednesday afternoon, according to the health departments website. The total remains 78, and there are three probable cases. ECHD reported that 48 people have recovered. There have been 1,173 tests taken, with 1,044 negative results and 51 pending results. ECHD has contacted 1,034 people during contact tracing.

Medical Center Health System president and CEO Russell Tippin said MCH has done 689 tests, with 51 positive cases, the same number of positives as Tuesday. Three positive coronavirus patients remain at MCH, with two being treated on the isolation floor and one in critical care. MCH has received 614 negative tests and has 24 pending tests. Two patients at MCH are under investigation on the isolation floor.
Photo: Paul Sancya/AP/Shutterstock

Hafsa Hassan lives at home with her parents and seven siblings. Out of her family, she is the only person currently able to work. But Hassan, who works at an Amazon warehouse in Shakopee, Minnesota, took a professional risk early on Sunday morning: She joined dozens of others in a spontaneous walkout to protest the firing of Faiza Osman, a co-worker. Though Amazons rationale for firing Osman remains unclear, local activists say she had been staying home from work to avoid sickening her two children.

The Minnesota protest is a flash point amid a growing wave of national worker unrest. Amazon associates like Hassan have real reason to fear retaliation at work. On Monday, New York attorney general Letitia James sent a letter to the e-commerce giant warning it that it may have violated whistleblower protection laws by firing Chris Smalls hours after he led a protest at his Staten Island warehouse. In the same letter, James said her office was also investigating other, unspecified cases of potential illegal retaliation, NPR reported. In addition to Smalls, three Amazon employees in other states lost jobs after participating in protected organizing activity at work.

Amazon denies that it has retaliated against any employees for their activism. But the companys stringent anti-union stance threatens to undermine its defense of its actions, and so does its haphazard response to the pandemic. Osman wasnt fired after leading a protest. She simply stayed home from work, which company policy theoretically allowed her to do. Under Amazons unlimited unpaid time off policy, which it instituted as a response to the pandemic, Osman had the freedom to stay home if she felt uncomfortable about working, said the Awood Center, which organizes East African workers in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. Business Insider had previously reported that Amazon told associates in Indiana by text that absences would not be penalized as a result of the policy.

Osman also had good reason to worry about infection, Hassan told Intelligencer. Many, including Hassan, had worked the same shift as an associate who had left work ill on Friday evening. After several watched a manager spray down the area where the associate had worked, we were all very suspicious, Hassan said. Workers later received text messages informing them of three new coronavirus cases at the warehouse.

One thing led to another, kind of like how a spark starts the whole forest fire, she added. News of Osmans firing pushed frustrated night-shift workers into action. Firing someone for staying home, where we are supposed to be having unlimited unpaid time off for that specific reason, is just incredible, said Tyler Hamilton, an associate who also participated in the protest. Hamilton, Hassan, and their co-workers punched out and filed into the parking lot, where Hassan says a member of the facilitys safety team berated them for protesting. Organizers said 50 associates participated in the protest. Amazon, in a statement to Vice News, claimed the number was half that many, but it did reinstate Osman.

That probably wont be enough to prevent new walkouts. In fact, Amazon seems determined to push workers over the brink and into a pit. On May 1, the company will discontinue the very same unlimited unpaid time off policy Osman used to stay home. That shows me that they value their bottom line more than our lives, Hamilton said. The only reason that they have to roll that back is to force attendance up. Workers like Osman, who want to avoid risky conditions on the job, now face a higher risk of termination. In normal circumstances, Hamilton continued, associates who run out of time off get fired. So if someone does not feel safe going to work in the middle of a pandemic, Amazon will fire them for that, he explained. Associates will still be able to apply for a leave of absence, but on a press call organized by the Athena coalition, a campaign demanding better working conditions at Amazon, associates said that the guidelines are unclear. I was not even able to complete the form and answer the questions that it requires to formally file for a leave of absence, said Rachel Belz, who works at a New Jersey facility.

In a statement to Intelligencer, Amazon spokesperson Jen Crowcroft said the company is simply transitioning a universal policy into a more targeted program. Weve extended the increased hourly pay through May 16. We are also extending double overtime pay in the U.S. and Canada. These extensions increase our total investment in pay during COVID-19 to nearly $700 million for our hourly employees and partners, she said. In addition, we are providing flexibility with leave-of-absence options, including expanding the policy to cover COVID-19 circumstances, such as high-risk individuals or school closures. We continue to see heavy demand during this difficult time, and the team is doing incredible work for our customers and the community.

Documents obtained by Recode on Wednesday also show that Amazon is cracking down on internal communications among corporate employees in what resembles a draconian, and probably doomed, attempt to prevent them from organizing. Employee moderators must now approve messages to listservs with over 500 subscribers. While Amazon told the website that the rule has always existed, sources said it had not been regularly enforced. As Recode explained, the companys listservs have become places for workers to critique the companys operational handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in how it treats warehouse workers, who have asked for higher pay and more safety protections.

As matters pertain to the associates in its warehouses, Amazon has been eager to downplay the protests, positioning them in statements to the press as the acts of a few disgruntled employees. But those arguments are losing their power. The Shakopee warehouse has long been a place where the cracks in Amazons anti-organizing campaign are acutely visible. Associates, many of them Somali immigrants, have repeatedly and successfully protested against unreasonable work quotas and for time to pray at work. The facilitys Sunday-morning protest is also the latest in a series that affected facilities in New York, Chicago, and Detroit. Meanwhile, other stressors burden associates. Since the start of the pandemic, they have consistently complained that, although the company now requires them to practice social distancing in sorting facilities, an influx of new employees makes it difficult to follow the guidelines. And Hamilton worries the new rules create opportunities for managers to retaliate further against troublesome employees. When Amazon fired Smalls, it cited as its justification his alleged failure to follow a quarantine order.

Realistically, everyone violates [social distancing] constantly. All it takes is going down the wrong staircase because youre in a rush, or passing too close to someone. And theres cameras everywhere in the facility, Hamilton said. If they dont like you, they just have to pick out those moments, and they can use those to write you up.

Amazon disputes this. Thats simply not true. We respect the rights of employees to protest and recognize their legal right to do so, but these rights do not provide blanket immunity against bad actions, particularly those that endanger the health, well-being, or safety of their colleagues, Crowcroft told Intelligencer.

In these circumstances, associates may, like Hassan and Hamilton, continue to protest despite the risk to their jobs. May Day, the international labor holiday, is on Friday, and workers have planned protests to mark the occasion. The Intercept reported on Tuesday that Amazon workers will join others from FedEx, Walmart, Target, and the Amazon-owned Whole Foods in a nationwide walkout. Daniel Steinbrook, a Whole Foods employee, told the Intercept that organizers act in conjunction with workers at Amazon, Target, Instacart, and other companies for International Workers Day to show solidarity with other essential workers in our struggle for better protections and benefits in the pandemic.

All the workers who have protested are doing so out of concern for their safety and the well-being of their loved ones, Hassan said by text. If we are retaliated against by Amazon then they prove that our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech are no concern of theirs. And that profit is more important than the basic human rights of U.S. citizens.
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SEATTLE (AP)  Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has sent a letter warning a Seattle-based business to halt selling a so-called COVID-19 vaccine.

Ferguson said in a news release Tuesday that if the company, North Coast Biologics, or its owner, Johnny T. Stine, don't stop making false or unsupported claims about the product, they could be sued under the state Consumer Protection Act.





. . .
There will be 11,000 fewer deaths in European countries under coronavirus lockdown due to a sharp drop in fossil fuel pollution during April, according to research released Thursday. Measures to halt the spread of coronavirus have slowed the region's economies to a crawl, with coal-generated power falling by nearly 40 percent, and oil consumption by a third. "This will result in 11,000 avoided deaths from air pollution," said lead author Lauri Myllyvirta, senior analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Globally, oil use has declined by about the same amount, with drops in coal consumption varying by region. An unintended boon of shuttered factories and empty roads has been more breathable air. Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and small particle pollution known as PM2.5 -- both toxic by-products burning coal, oil and gas -- fell 37 and 10 percent, respectively, according to the findings. "The impacts are the same or bigger in many other parts of the world," Myllyvirta told AFP. "So we are looking at an even larger number of avoided deaths." In China, for example, NO2 and PM2.5 levels declined by a 25 and 40 percent during the most stringent period of lockdown, with an even sharper fall in Hubei Province, where the global pandemic began. Air pollution shortens lives worldwide by nearly three years on average, and causes 8.8 million premature deaths annually, according to a study last month. The World Health Organization (WHO) calculates 4.2 million deaths, but has underestimated the impact on cardiovascular disease, recent research has shown. Worst-hit is Asia, where average lifespan is cut 4.1 years in China, 3.9 years in India, and 3.8 years in Pakistan. In Europe, life expectancy is shortened by eight months. "Our analysis highlights tremendous benefits for public health and quality of life that could be achieved by rapidly reducing fossil fuels in a sustained and sustainable way," Myllyvirta said. - Pollution and COVID-19 - The happenstance evidence that less air pollution saves lives should guide governments deciding on how to reboot their economies, noted Maria Neira, the WHO's director for Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. "When we eventually take off our face masks, we want to keep breathing clean air," she said, commenting on the findings. "If we truly care about the health of our communities, countries and global commons, we must find ways of powering the planet with out relying on fossil fuels." Compared to other causes of premature death, air pollution worldwide kills 19 times more people each year than malaria, nine times more than HIV/AIDS, and three times more than alcohol. Another study comparing more than 3,000 US counties, meanwhile, found that PM 2.5 pollution is directly linked with higher COVID-19 death rates. One extra micron per cubic metre corresponded to a 15 percent jump in COVID-19 mortality, researchers at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported earlier this month. The results "suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution increases vulnerability to experiencing the most severe Covid-19 outcomes," they wrote. PM 2.5 particles penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular respiratory problems. In 2013, the WHO classified it as a cancer-causing agent. In India's Uttar Pradesh -- home to 200 million -- small particle pollution by itself slashes life expectancy by 8.5 years, while in China's Hebei Province (population 74 million) the shortfall is nearly six years, according to the Air Quality Life Index, developed by researchers at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago. All but two percent of China's cities exceeded WHO guidelines for PM2.5 levels, while 53 percent exceeded less stringent national safety limits. The UN says PM2.5 density should not top 25 microgrammes per cubic metre (25 mcg/m3) of air in any 24-hour period. China has set the bar at 35 mcg/m3. The new analysis from CREA matches weather conditions and changes in emissions to data on the damages to health linked to exposure to air pollution.
WARREN, N.J., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergen-C announced today the launch of the "Emerge Our Best" campaign to offer much-needed inspiration during this challenging time of isolation and missing loved ones, as well as to provide protective supplies and supportive resources for hard-working health workers on the frontlines. Emergen-C is grounded in promoting everyday wellness and daily behaviors that create healthy habits and now, more than ever, is focused on aiding overall wellness and lending a hand to help others emerge their best.

Central to "Emerge Our Best" is the brand's commitment to help the community through this tough time. As the need for essential protective medical supplies grows, Emergen-C is donating $500,000 to Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with medicine, medical supplies and health programs. The donation will help Americares deliver much needed protective supplies  masks, gowns, gloves and disinfectants  and provide skill-building workshops and emotional support for health workers.

"With so much strife and strain in our communities right now, we sought to help by providing support and essential supplies and Americares is the perfect partner to achieve that," Emergen-C Brand Director, Karen Bouhadana said. "Emergen-C promotes daily wellness and by helping health workers who are tirelessly committed to protecting us, we are doing our part to help the collective emerge our best from this trying time."

As a brand that many have turned to in good times and trying times, Emergen-C is giving communities something to look forward to with the emotional and hopeful "Emerge Our Best" campaign video, which is inspired by moments in the hopefully near future when simple actions like holding hands, enjoying meals with friends and waiting in line will be commonplace physical connectors once again. The video will live online and on the campaign microsite, EmergeOurBest.com, which will also house details about the charitable donation and a program enabling site visitors to encourage others to emerge their best by inviting friends and family to visit the site to be entered into the chance to win a gift card to be used to help support themselves, their loved ones or local businesses in their area.

"Frontline health workers need support now more than ever," said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. "We are incredibly thankful for the generous donation from Emergen-C, which will help us provide critical protective gear and training to this essential workforce and allow them to continue their life-saving work."

For additional information, please visit www.EmergeOurBest.com

About Emergen-C

With more than 20 flavors and a variety of special formulas, Emergen-C products offer a wide range of wellness benefits. From helping you get vitamins and minerals for immune support to maintaining your energy, Emergen-C products are a delicious way to reach your everyday wellness goals. For further information please visit www.emergenc.com.

About Americares

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, Americares reaches more than 90 countries, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Americares is the world's leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org.

SOURCE Emergen-C

Related Links

https://www.emergeourbest.com


[April 30, 2020] Perigon to Broadcast Wausau Political Debate, Ensuring the Continuation of the Election Season Despite COVID-19 Disruptions

EAU CLAIRE, Wis., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perigon ( PerigonLive.com ), a webcasting event platform powered by WIN Technology, will broadcast the Wisconsin 7th Congressional District political debate live at 7 p.m. CDT on Monday, May 4.

The event, hosted by Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce and Wisconsin Public Radio, will feature Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat Tricia Zunker. The live debate and webcast will give the public a chance to hear from the candidates on critical issues and allow the election season to continue without fear of endangering the lives of voters. Wisconsin Public Radio hosts Robin Washington and Shereen Siewert, also publisher of the Wausau Pilot & Review, will emcee the debate and use Perigon to field questions from the public. ( To watch and submit questions, just register ahead of time here ) . Our goal is to ensure the democratic process continues despite COVID-19 and the impact its had on everyday life, said Petro Tsrehradsky, vice president of marketing and sales for Perigon. During this difficult time in our country, weve used the platform as an information pipeline to give organizations and businesses access to their customers. A political debate is a perfect opportunity to continue that practice and ensure that life as we know it continues despite the challenges.



Organizers expect thousands to login and watch. Perigon is uniquely designed to manage large-scale events as seamlessly as small meetings and webinars. As a cloud-hosted platform, Perigon scales bandwidth up or down, so participantsno matter how many thousandsdont experience delays and interruptions widely common on other streaming and webcasting platforms. Given the uncertainty of the times, relying on a platform to deliver an important community event plays an essential role in ensuring voters are well represented, especially now.

In a time of national crisis, as our country fights a collective war against COVID-19, it is more important than ever to maintain and support our democratic institutions, says Dave Eckmann, president CEO of the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce. The 7th Congressional District, having been without an elected representative in the US House of Representatives at this critical time, needs to be represented. This debate will provide the citizens the opportunity to learn about the candidates. About Perigon

Perigon is the first and only webcasting solution that combines multifaceted communication with data-driven audience segmentation, allowing you to separately engage with multiple target groups in one singular, powerful event. Perigon transforms traditional webcasting into interactive, branded experiences with lasting impact and value. Beneath the surface, it combines comprehensive existing data with cumulative real-time insight, enabling marketers and communicators to shape the right messages and interactions to the right people at the right timebefore, during and after the event. Built by WIN Technology, reflecting its ongoing commitment to innovation in communication, Perigon isnt just breaking the mold; its casting a new one. Experiences that empower business and inspire possibilities. Visit PerigonLive.com About WIN Technology

Founded in 1997, WIN Technology provides fiber networks and management, information security and enterprise information technology (IT) services. Additional information about WIN Technology is available at wintechnology.com. Perigon LLC offers the only webcasting solution that combines multifaceted communication and data-driven audience segmentation that can separately engage multiple target groups in one singular, powerful event. For more information, visit PerigonLive.com. Contact: Patricia Maldonado

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German researchers have a surprising suggestion for speeding coronavirus testing: pool patients' samples together.

Researchers at Saarland University in Homburg, Germany, say that with a sensitive enough tests, they can detect just one positive in a single test tube samples taken from 30 patients.

However, if the group tests positive, then each sample has to be individually tested in order to work out which one or more tripped the test for the pooled sample.

It's a method that's commonly used in blood banks, they say, to help consolidate and speed screening.

The German team says the method can be applied to testing nasal swabs for coronavirus, too, according to their research.

German researchers say that 'pooling' samples to test them for coronavirus could help expand and speed testing by a sort of process of elimination: If a batch of up to 30 samples tested together is negative, they can all be considered negative - but one positive means retesting each (file)

In the US, coronavirus testing priority is being given to people with symptoms and health care and front-line workers.

Still, there simply aren't enough being done.

Nearly 5.8 million Americans have been tested for coronavirus. Of those, more than 17 percent were positive for the infection.

But those millions of people who have been tested represent just 1.7 percent of the total US population.

And in an effort to save the tests for those who need them most, US officials and hospitals are still advising that people with symptoms get tested.

The German research team is encouraging an inventive way to try to test more people more quickly and less expensively.

They took a cue from a method called 'pooling' used in blood banks.

When they know their tests offer highly sensitive detection of a pathogen, blood banks including the Red Cross will combine small amounts of samples taken from multiple donors and test them collectively.

If sample mixture tests negative as a group, then each member sample is deemed negative, too.

But the Saarland University team says their test could detect one positive sample in a group of up to 30 people's nasal mucus.

The downside is that a positive in that batch would mean testing each member sample separately to work out which one or several contained coronavirus.

Nonetheless, they've begun implementing this method for testing staff and residents at 131 nursing and care homes in Saarland. The researchers say they've received many urgent inquiries from within Germany as well as from abroad.

'To protect those groups with a high mortality risk from the coronavirus,we need to prevent the introduction of the virus from asymptomatic individuals, including the medical and care staff that look after them,' said Sigrun Smola, professor of virology at Saarland University and one of the study's authors.

'Prevention is only possible if we use large-scale testing to identify asymptomatic individuals and thus avert infection of the most vulnerable.'

In Germany there is now capacity for labs to do this mass screening.

That's likely the case in the US, too, where many labs say they could be running more tests - but they're not getting more samples than they have capacity to analyze from hospitals and clinics, according to the Wall Street Journal.

'Early on in the pandemic, we started to explore whether the pool testing approach used in blood banking could be adapted to increase testing capacity in coronavirus diagnostic,' said Smola.

'Testing capacity limitations are proving to be a critical issue at this moment.'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday a hard closure of beaches in Orange County after crowds flooded its coastline over the weekend amid a heat spell. The governor called the new order a "targeted and focused move" with the aim "to solve a public health problem."

The news came as a surprise: Newsom was expected to order a closure of all beaches across the state due to a memo sent Wednesday evening to police chiefs around the state.

The governor said in the conference that state officials reached out to counties on Wednesday about closing beaches, but added the plan was never to shutter the entire coastline. "I can't square what others may have said," he commented.

Newsom said Orange County will be responsible for enforcing the temporary closure. "The application of these rules have to happen at the local level but, when it doesnt, we have to provide guidance. We dont want to be heavy-handed, but we have a framework of engagement and a way to develop heightened awareness, more of public campaign and doing our best to let people know whats at stake."

Earlier this week Newsom targeted beachgoers in Orange and Ventura counties, calling them an example of what not to do if the state wants to continue its progress fighting the coronavirus. While many beaches and trails throughout the state have been closed for weeks, others have remained open with warnings for visitors to practice social distancing and more have reopened.

In Newport Beach, some 80,000 visitors hit the beach over the weekend, although lifeguards said most people exercised social distancing. With criticism swirling, the Newport Beach City Council met Tuesday and rejected a proposal to close the beaches for the next three weekends.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Russia's Supreme Court clarifies procedure for granting loan and mortgage grace periods

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

15:49 30/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 30 (RAPSI)  Banks are obliged to grant grace periods to individual borrowers whose finances were gravely affected by the measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak, Russias Supreme Court materials on specifics of proceedings amid the pandemic read.

The grace period is defined as suspension of obligations of borrowers, according to the Court.

However, the Court said the number of such cases is to be limited citing the changes to the federal law on the national Central Bank. Grace periods are not to be granted if loans are above the caps set forth by Russias government; a borrowers income declines less than 30% in comparison with the figures registered in the respective period of the preceding year; or a grace period has been already granted.

Borrowers, the Supreme Court observes, may be granted a six months-long grace period on the basis of an application submitted not later than September 30, 2020.

The grace period is not to begin more than 14 days prior to the date of submission of a respective application to a bank, or one month prior to the date of submission of an application if it concerns mortgage. In cases concerning consumer credits or credit cards, grace periods are not to begin on any date earlier than that of the submission of the application.

Banks are not obliged, but have the right to request and examine the documents confirming the decline in a borrowers income, the Supreme Court clarifies.

Grace periods, according to the Court, are not to bar recognition of the fact that obligations have not been met because of force majeure.
NEW HARTFORD  Town leaders held a budget discussion this week, including concerns surrounding the Northwest Region 7 spending proposal for 2020-21.

First Selectman Dan Jerram and Selectmen Alesia Kennerson and David Rosengren were joined Tuesday night on Zoom by members of the Board of Finance, the town clerk and residents.

New Hartfords proposed $5.402 million municipal budget for 2020-21 represents an increase of $28,589 or 0.05 percent, over the approved 2019-20 budget of $5.372 million. New Hartfords combined town/education budget totals $25.812 million.

The Northwest Region 7 school districts proposed budget is $19,073 million for 2020-21, an increase of $960,339 or a 5.3 percent over the approved $18,113 million 2019-20 budget.

The Region 7 Board of Education presented its budget on YouTube Monday night. Based on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in layoffs and furloughs for many people across the state, selectmen agreed that any increase  particularly salaries  was too much to ask.

Region 7 has $180,000 in salary increases, Jerram said. My request to them was simple  these are tough times. Trying to compare a request for concession for someone whos out of work is too much. I think people should just be happy to be employed. I know I am, and people working in Town Hall are happy to have work. Its better than getting a pink slip.

Board of Finance Chairwoman Regina Wexler called Mondays Board of Education meeting confrontational.

I agree with Dan on salary increases, Wexler said. We have people who are having a hard time, people who have lost their jobs.

Jerram and Wexler suggested the school board ask unions to waive contracted salary increases for teachers and other school staff and administrators, which were negotiated and agreed upon prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Selectman David Rosengren disagreed.

This is a labor contract, he said. It was set in stone three or four months ago. Were dealing with a union here. ... The union likely will never give up that pay raise.

While its a noble idea to ask for that ... the Board of Education members dont know how the unions are going to respond, he said.

Jerram responded, There are ways to negotiate these union contracts; they can be delayed. We ought to approach the unions and ask them.

Selectmen and the finance board are scheduled to meet with the school board again May 6, followed by a public hearing with the finance board May 12.

New Hartford is following Gov. Ned Lamonts executive order that allows towns to pass a budget and set a tax rate without a public hearing. Comments from the public can be emailed to town@newhartfordct.gov in advance of the May 12 hearing, or mailed to Town of New Hartford, P.O. Box 316, New Hartford, CT 06057.

The public can participate in the hearing on Zoom, Jerram said. Materials that will be discussed at (the May 12) meeting will be posted on the town website in advance of the meeting, Jerram said. Please take time to review the proposed budgets and offer your commentary. The selectmen and the finance board members need your input regarding the budgets.

Residents also can call Jerram at 860-379-3389 if they have questions.
The biggest challenge for the Christian faith today comes the Realist who thinks what is real is what is most real. Realism knows nuclear power but it is a fading power for the Christian, as the Realist is a fading position. The Christians vision is kingdom vision, not Realism.

As Lee Camp, in his new manifesto Scandalous Witness, puts it,

In contrast, political realism assumes that the brokenness of the world is most real. The political realist insists that interests must always be balanced by counterinterests, and coercive power must always be checked by countercoercive power, and when nec-essary, that threats be checked by the threat of or actual employment of violence. But the gospel claim  that the kingdom of God has been inaugurated  redefines reality. It redefines what is most real. What is most real is not the scheming of tyrants or the lies of those in power. What is most real is not that might makes right or that greatness is defined by the size of ones arsenal. What is most real, we Christians claim, is the power of God revealed in one who suffers in love and trusts that right has been made right not through might but through mercy, repentance, and resurrection. This new reality fundamentally reorders the ways of life and death, politics and power. The significance of this claim is hard to overstate. It makes all the difference in whether we Christians do, in fact, understand our own faith.

How did we, however, as Christians succumb to something like Christian realism? How did the most real become what matters to the Kosmos and its Powers and power-brokers? How did we succumb to political process as kingdom of God movement? How did who became president become our eschatological hope?

Camp finds four steps:

We bought into the Western notion that religion is a private affair, unrelated to politics and history and sociology. But knowing that history and politics and social structures still matter a great deal, we cast about to find some bearer of meaning. Not finding it then (as we had already supposed) in Christianity, we yielded this role to the nation-state, as the primary player in the unfolding of history. Finally, convinced of the importance of being politically and socially relevant, we had to get on the side of the right (that is, correct) political partisan agenda, nation-state, or power-entity.

So, what to do? We need to be reminded of what we are as a faith. We live by a way of looking at all of history, and if anything the Book of Revelation teaches this very thing  or assumes it and imposes its way upon as we read it:

As noted, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all share the important conviction that history has a goal and direction. While the particulars may vary, this end of history entails the righting of wrongs, setting all things to rights. A second step in configuring a Christianity that is neither right nor left nor religious is found precisely at the place where Christianity, Judaism, and Islam differ: Christianity proclaims Jesus of Nazareth inaugurated the end of history for which Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all wait. Judaism and Islam reject this. Consequently, we may better understand Christianity by calling it an interpretation of history instead of a religion. For Christians the resurrection of the crucified Christ is the central historical claim on which Christians stake their lives: it ushers in the end of history, vindicates the way of Christ, and inaugurates a new political possibility in the world. We are invited by the resurrected Christ to live according to the end of history already inaugurated, but not yet fully realized, not yet consummated.

What guides us today? The Christian devaluation of its own faith may be what makes too many Christians realists to the core.

This is not simply something we (cognitively) believe but something we are to embody, and the embodiment is the lived theology.
The COVID-19 pandemic is putting severe growth pressure on the economies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) and may cause the region's growth to slip to a historical low, according to a Maybank Kim Eng report.

Illustrative image (Photo: businesstimes.com.sg)

CLMVs GDP growth is forecast to slow sharply to 3 percent in 2020, down from 6.9 percent in 2019, before recovering to 6.5 percent in 2021, the report said.

Vietnam is expected to do better than the rest with 3.6 percent growth, thanks to a more diversified economic structure, and a healthier fiscal position and macro fundamentals, though that figure is still a sharp fall from 7 percent growth last year.

Vietnam also appears to have successfully brought the COVID-19 pandemic under control, and became the first country in ASEAN to start easing social distancing measures on April 23, with trade and retail businesses allowed to reopen, and public transport resuming.

In contrast, Cambodia will be worst hit with just 0.5 percent growth, down from 7 percent in 2019. This is due to a high reliance on tourism, with tourism and transport-related sectors accounting for 12.3 percent of its GDP, and exports of textiles and garments.

Cambodia has yet to impose nationwide lockdown measures, though a state of emergency bill was recently passed, which will allow the government to impose restrictions.

Myanmar is expected to see growth of 2 percent this year, down from 6.8 percent in the previous year. The country is highly reliant on tourism, with tourism and transport-related sectors accounting for up to 11.2 percent of its GDP  a figure which could be even larger if accommodation and food services are taken into account.

It is also most vulnerable to the collapse in manufacturing and export demand, with manufacturing accounting for 24.2 percent of GDP.

Laos may be more immune, with manufacturing accounting for just 7.5 percent of GDP and tourism and transport, 3.9 percent. But its heavy reliance on electricity and gas instead (10.8 percent) could hurt the economy as factories shut and travel slows.

Growth in Laos is predicted at 2.4 percent in 2020, down from 4.7 percent last year./.
[April 30, 2020] Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta Receives Funding to Help Expand Critical Services in Response to COVID-19

ATLANTA, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta (JF&CS) has received an infusion of funding from local nonprofit, federated funding leaders, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta (Federation), the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. In response to the unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19, Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) Atlanta has expanded telehealth options for several critical services and has also put into place new programs to help those in need. JF&CS was among the first five organizations to receive funding from Federation's COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which donated $220,000 to JF&CS to spport the purchase of increased food and the resulting administrative costs, the increased need for emergency financial assistance for members of the Jewish community, and expanding capacity to meet increased needs for mental health services.



"We have committed ourselves to be a shining light for the community during this time, and JF&CS staff are working around the clock to make sure we meet the dynamic challenges confronted by so many during this pandemic," says Terri Bonoff, CEO, JF&CS Atlanta. "We are grateful to Federation for quickly convening a coalition of Jewish organizations and launching this emergency response fund to help us continue our mission to help our community through these challenging times." JF&CS also received $200,000 in funding from the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, a joint effort from Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta.

"In response to the coronavirus pandemic, we have implemented telehealth and alternate options for critical services, as well as expanded emergency assistance services," said Bonoff. "Based on current call volume, we could provide $300,000 in emergency financial assistance in 90 days, as well as $50,000 to $100,000 in food costs. This grant will help support these increased costs. We appreciate the incredible generosity of the greater Atlanta philanthropic community, coming together to support those most in need." For more information about services available or to support JF&CS, visit http://www.jfcsatl.org. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jewish-family--career-services-of-atlanta-receives-funding-to-help-expand-critical-services-in-response-to-covid-19-301050459.html SOURCE Jewish Family & Career Services Atlanta

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Yesterday, you learned that New York mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted out an attack against Williamsburg's Jews for attending a rabbi's funeral on public streets, and he implicitly threatened to round them up for violating New York's lockdown. Threatening to round up Jews is never a good look for a politician.

The Hasidic Jewish community was stunned by de Blasio's response because they'd been in contact with the police immediately after their rabbi died and believed that they had permission to hold the funeral:

In a statement distributed to reporters, Jacob Mertz, a spokesman for the congregation that organized the funeral, said organizers had the streets closed for the funeral to allow mourners to participate while following social distancing guidelines. "Unfortunately, this didn't pan out, and NYPD had to disperse the crowds," the statement said. "We shall note that everyone followed the police officers' orders and the vast majority wore masks. Yet, the confusion and chaos led to scenes of large crowds. We understand Mayor Bill de Blasio's frustration and his speaking out against the gathering. As said, we thought that the procession will be in accordance with the rules, and we apologize that it turned out otherwise."

The Williamsburg community may have been conciliatory, but others were not. Many people, Jews and non-Jews alike, felt that de Blasio's conduct was especially grotesque because he targeted Jews with such specificity. While de Blasio later claimed he wasn't being anti-Semitic, but was engaging in tough love, he didn't seem to feel that same tough love for any other groups. Thus, under his "tough love" standard, de Blasio doesn't love the people on New York's crowded subways, or in Central Park, or standing on the streets watching the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds  and he especially doesn't love the city's Muslims:

Ted Cruz was quick to spot the difference:

Writing at the Tablet, Liel Leibovitz was justly furious about de Blasio's ignoring other crowd situations in New York. He believes that de Blasio was engaging in the oldest anti-Semitic game in the world  scapegoating Jews to avoid blame for his own conduct:

Also, you should probably ignore that the mayor's bungling of this crisis is already singled out as a world historical case study in disastrously inept management. After fighting parents, teachers, and his own advisers and insisting that the city's schools must remain open, de Blasio suddenly caved. On the morning of March 15 he went on television to assure New Yorkers that the schools won't be shut; that same afternoon, he shut them down. According to the NYC Department of Education, 68 school employees have died of COVID-19. The morning after he shut down the schools, Hizzoner hit the gym, flaunting the very social distancing guidelines his own administration had issued. The subway, as a recent MIT study has confirmed, continues to spread the virus quickly and efficiently to all corners of the city. Members of the mayor's own staff, according to multiple reports, are nearing revolt, describing a constantly quibbling boss who refuses to listen to evidence and is incapable of resolution. Multiple municipal agency heads have told Politico that the mayor did not provide any guidelines regarding how they were supposed to conduct their work remotely. His calculations, several aides reported, seemed motivated largely by how they might be interpreted by his political base.

Unfortunately, Comrade de Blasio is not the only leftist coming up with conspiracy theories about Jews and Israel and the Wuhan virus:

While much of the world languishes in coronavirus quarantine, anti-Israel forces around the globe scheme to exploit the crisis to attack the world's only Jewish state. From official Palestinian media to American Islamist activists and their enablers on the radical left, illiberal propagandists have come together to exploit the pandemic panic. Those allied with the BDS movement against Israel are using COVID-19 as a rhetorical cudgel to delegitimize the Middle East's only thriving democracy. After spending years bashing the Jewish national home and hoping to force the Jews who live there to subsist as a defenseless minority, BDS proponents have predictably turned their attention to the coronavirus, seeking to manufacture links between the pandemic and Israel. Linda Sarsour, former co-chair of the Women's March and a surrogate for Bernie Sanders's now ended presidential campaign, served as the keynote speaker for a Zoom meeting hosted by Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that, despite its name, is widely documented as anti-Jewish and anti-Israel. In her remarks, she portended Gaza's COVID-wrought demise, calling the virus a potential "entire death sentence for over 2 million people." "That blood," she continued, "will be on the hands of the American people ... and Israel."

Things are so bad that even NPR has noticed an uptick in Wuhan virusrelated anti-Semitism, although it naturally blames conservatives and Christians. What NPR misses is that, as always, the anti-Semitic conservatives and Christians are fringe figures, while the leftists  people such as de Blasio and Sarsour  sit in the center of the Progressive power system in America.

All these anti-Semites should probably avoid any future plasma treatments for the Wuhan virus. Those Orthodox Jews who have recovered from the virus (perhaps because they got the hydroxychloroquine treatment) have been donating blood for plasma treatments.

And as always, there's still humor to be found in almost any situation:
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 07:32 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd515214 1 National staple-food,social-aid,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Several companies in Greater Jakarta that the government has appointed to help pack staple foods to be distributed to families affected by COVID-19 have reported delays caused by a shortage of special bags printed with a message from the President.

Jakarta-owned food security company PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya has recently been busy packing staple foods into red-and-white cloth bags with the printed message: Aid from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Together We Fight COVID-19.

One of the firms workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said his company had received an order to pack 20,000 bags per day since mid-April, but they did not meet the target recently because of insufficient packaging.

Were supposed to pack 20,000 aid packages per day. But we can only do 5,000 because of the number of cloth bags available, the worker told tempo.co on Tuesday, adding that the company was trying to keep the aid distribution going.

There are about 300 workers in Food Station working in three shifts, each consisting of 100 people and divided into 10 groups. Besides packing, workers also load the aid packages onto trucks, before officials distribute them to residents.

Food Station president director Arief Prasetyo Adi declined to comment on the matter, saying only that they were focused on working fast so that the community could receive the aid as soon as possible.

The companys operational director, Frans M. Tambunan, said the Social Affairs Ministry had tasked them with preparing a total of 277,649 aid packages to be distributed every two weeks for six distribution periods.

Frans said that the aid packing began on April 16 and would end on June 29. The aid packages would be distributed to East Jakarta residents by state-owned postal company PT Pos Indonesia.

Read also: Govt to give cash aid to 4.1 million people affected by COVID-19 in Greater Jakarta

The government plans to provide aid packages for 3.7 million poor families in Jakarta, with the central government preparing food for 2.6 million families, while the Jakarta administration handles the remaining 1.1 million.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo recently said he had allocated Rp 2.2 trillion (US$138 million) for the distribution of staple food packages, each worth Rp 600,000 per month, for three-month assistance to Jakarta residents.

The central government has also allocated a budget of Rp 1 trillion for similar food-package distribution to 1.6 million people living in Jakartas satellite cities including Bogor, Depok and Bekasi in West Java and Tangerang in Banten.

In addition to Food Station, the government is also working closely with logistics companies and warehouses in North Jakarta, Tangerang and Bekasi and Karawang, West Java, to help prepare the staple food distribution.

In Marunda Center, Bekasi, a source told tempo.co that the aid distribution had once stopped, after only reaching 5 percent of target, because Sri Rejeki Isman (Sritex), a textile factory in Sukoharjo, Central Java, was late sending the packaging bags.

Sritex president director Iwan Setiawan Lukminto confirmed that his company was one of the bag providers, but denied the claim that there had been delays in production. We are always on time, he said.

Iwan declined to detail the volume of production the factory was responsible for. The Social Affairs Ministry handles those calculations, he added.

Presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman was not immediately available to provide clarification or comments regarding this matter when contacted by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Read also: Staple food imports arriving in May to safeguard stocks, prices: Airlangga

Indonesia Corruption Watch said the main problem lay in the way many social aid programs were split between the central government and regional administrations, so each responsible party felt the need to put their mark on their assistance.

I think, what the government should do to prevent chaotic management is to simplify these various assistance efforts and make them into a single social program, ICW coordinator Adnan Topan Husodo told the Post on Wednesday.

Under one program, he added, the government could also update the beneficiarys data and avoid incidents such as one family receiving multiple aid deliveries through similar programs, or those not affected by the virus receiving assistance.

Otherwise, I think problems like this will continue to emerge. If the central government packs the aid [this way], the regional administrations will certainly do the same in their own way, he said. (syk)
Roger Stone.

Screenshot via Netflix

Roger Stone, a longtime friend and former top adviser to Donald Trump, ran a sprawling network of fake Facebook accounts starting in 2016, according to newly unsealed FBI search warrants.

The search warrants, published in response to a joint petition from five news outlets, also show that Stone communicated with WikiLeaks' Julian Assange as early as 2017.

A source identified as Stone's "right-hand man" told the FBI that Stone used the fake Facebook accounts to circulate WikiLeaks stories and, later, to defend himself against charges of Russian collusion.

Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress and witness intimidation, but was never charged with aiding Russia in its attempt to influence the 2016 election.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Roger Stone bought hundreds of fake Facebook pages in 2016, which he used to circulate news articles that would damage his political rivals and, later, to defend himself against charges of Russian collusion, according to newly unsealed FBI records.

The FBI unsealed over 30 search warrants into Stone' s communications this week in response to a joint petition from The New York Times, CNN, the Associated Press, The Washington Post, and Politico. Stone was under investigation as part of a federal probe into Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 election.

Stone, a longtime friend and former top adviser to President Donald Trump, was never found guilty of colluding with Russia but was sentenced to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress and witness intimidation during the probe. He recently said he's "praying" that Trump will pardon him before he begins serving his prison sentence.

According to the FBI records, a source who described himself as a former "right hand man" to Stone told law enforcement that in 2016, Stone told him to buy hundreds of fake Facebook accounts, including both new and existing accounts, with instructions to make them seem like real accounts.

Story continues

In the years that followed, the accounts bought dozens of ads on Facebook to promote stories including Wikileaks' publication of emails stolen from Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta. Later, as Stone himself became a focus of the federal Russia probe, the fake Facebook accounts bought ads defending Stone.

Ads bought by the Facebook pages had titles including "Stone Rebuts Charge of Russian Collusion" and "I am not in touch with Russians..." according to excerpts published in the FBI warrants.

Stone did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. He said in a statement to Politico that the unsealed FBI warrants "prove no crimes."

"I have no trepidation about their release as they confirm there was no illegal activity and certainly no Russian collusion by me during the 2016 election. There is, to this day, no evidence that I had or knew about the source or content of the WikiLeaks disclosures prior to their public release," Stone said in the statement.

Stone's use of Facebook pages violates the social media's policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior. A Facebook spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse. (Annie Ray)

Tim League, the founder of quirky movie theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, is stepping aside as its chief executive, the company said Thursday.

League, who founded the Austin, Texas-based exhibitor in 1997 with his wife Karrie, said he started looking for a replacement CEO six months ago so he could focus on the creative aspects of the business, including the eclectic programming for which Alamo Drafthouse is known.

Alamo Drafthouse named United Planet Fitness Partners President Shelli Taylor as its new chief, effective Friday. League will become executive chairman of the company, where he will focus on marketing and creative initiatives for the theater circuit, as well as its sister company, pop culture collectibles firm Mondo, and the genre film festival Fantastic Fest.

Taylor, who has also held roles at Walt Disney Co. and Starbucks, will be tasked with growing the theater company once business is able to resume. The appointment comes at a time when all of Alamo's cinemas are closed and its employees are furloughed during the coronavirus outbreak. An Alamo spokesman said Taylor's salary will be deferred during the closures.

Alamo Drafthouse is the only leadership role Ive ever known," League said in a statement. "I am excited to partner with her to rise from the current challenges that our industry faces and continue to drive towards our company vision, to be the best damn cinema that has ever or will ever exist.

Alamo Drafthouse operates 41 locations and last year opened its long-awaited downtown Los Angeles theater. The chain is known for its dine-in auditoriums, craft beer and cinephile-centric special screenings, such as its Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday events. The company is also famous for its strict no-talking and no-texting policies.

League's tenure as CEO was not without its blemishes. The company was sharply criticized in 2017 for its muddled response to sexual harassment allegations against the editor of its film journalism website Birth.Movies.Death. League eventually apologized for his handling of the situation.

It's unclear when Alamo Drafthouse will reopen its theaters. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week declared movie theaters would be allowed to resume as early as Friday. But Alamo Drafthouse said it needed more time to enact new safety procedures and retrain employees. "This is something we cannot and will not do casually or quickly, the company said.
BEIRUT - The Lebanese government on Thursday unanimously approved a long-awaited economic reform plan to deal with the country's worst economic crisis in 30 years.



President Michel Aoun, who on Thursday morning met with Premier Hassan Diab, spoke about an ''historic'' day. The International Monetary Fund and international organizations including the United Nations had repeatedly urged the Lebanese government to speed up the approval of reforms after Diab at the beginning of March officially announced the country's default.



Lebanon has been shaken for months by unprecedented protests against the rising cost of life and corruption. Demonstrations have recently resumed with episodes of violence and clashes between demonstrators and the army despite restrictive measures imposed as part of the coronavirus crisis. According to media reports, the reform plan approved on Thursday by the government includes, among other measures, the restructuration of public debt and an intervention to support banks, which are under pressure from local and foreign investors and have been partly blamed for the economic crisis.
Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan on Thursday said that the coronavirus lockdown cannot go on forever and the government must plan an exit and manage it well. Another round of lockdown would have a devastating impact on the Indian economy, Raghuram Rajan said in an online interaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "A lot of work needs to be done both on creating the structures, as well as ensuring that the work place is relatively safe. As well as ensuring that if there are accidents, if there are fresh cases, how do we isolate quickly without having to go to a second or a third lockdown. Those will be devastating if we have to go there," Raghuram Rajan also said.

India needs to be 'cleverer' in reopening the economy since any resurgence in coronavirus cases could dent the credibility of the government, he said.

"There are ways countries can take advantage of the situation. There will be rethinking. In this situation India can find opportunities for its industry," Rajan said when asked if India is in a position to get strategic benefit post-coronavirus. Rajan, now a professor of finance at University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, also said, "India can play a role in shaping the dialogue. It is big enough to make sure its voice is heard. It can try and mould the dialogue towards one which has place for more countries in a multi polar world order."

On being asked about what's needed to help the poor population in India, the noted economist said,"India will need a budget of Rs 65,000 crore to help the poor. India should do this." Raghuram Rajan also raised concerns on the current coronavirus testing rate in India. He said that the rate of testing is nowhere close to the US, which now has the highest number of coronavirus cases. The rate of testing needs to be increased much more, he added.

Rajan also raised worries around the gig economy in the country. He said that the jobs in that sector are most vulnerable in times of a pandemic. The former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and Rahul Gandhi were discussing the economic crisis looming over India due to the ongoing lockdown and measures to tackle the problem.

Also read: Coronavirus India live updates: 33,050 total COVID-19 cases, 1,008 deaths; lockdown 3.0 in cards?

Also read:Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67
Visa just connected to Africa's most powerful mobile payments network. The global financial services company and Kenyan telecom Safaricom  operator of the M-Pesa mobile money product  announced a partnership today on payments and tech.

The arrangement opens up M-Pesa's own extensive financial services network in East Africa to Visa's global merchant and card network across 200 countries.

The two companies will also collaborate "on development of products that will support digital payments for M-Pesa customers," according to a Safaricom release. The partnership is still subject to regulatory approval.

Safaricom's M-Pesa app is arguably the most recognized fintech product in Africa and has become a global case study in using mobile money to increase financial inclusion.

On a continent that is still home to the largest share of the worlds unbanked population, Kenya has one of the highest mobile-money penetration rates in the world. This is largely due to the dominance of M-Pesa in the country, which stands as Africas sixth largest economy. Across Kenyas population of 53 million, M-Pesa has 24.5 million customers and a network of 176,000 agents. The product's mobile money market share in the country has hovered above 75% for years.

M-Pesa Sector Stats 4Q 2019 per Kenya's Communications Authority

Since launching M-Pesa in Kenya in 2007, Safaricom has expanded the product to additional East African countries and added to the platform financial options, such as lending and small business services.

M-Pesa is as ubiquitous to Kenyan culture as Coca-Cola is in the U.S. The product's easy to use and allows transfers and payments on any basic mobile phone via SMS .

Image Credits: Getty Images

The details are still vague, but Visa and Safaricom also said they will use the partnership to facilitate online commerce. The two payment providers aim to "offer an expanded set of mobile e-commerce capabilities to merchants and consumers by enabling secure and convenient cashless payment solutions," according to a Visa release sent to TechCrunch.

Story continues

Visa has been on a VC and partnership spree with African fintech companies over the last year. The company announced collaborations with payment startups Paga and Flutterwave and invested $200 million in Nigerian financial services provider Interswtich. In its 2020 Investor Day presentation, Visa named working with the continent's payments startups, in particular, as part of its strategy to expand on the continent.

As one of the most well-capitalized and profitable companies in Kenya, Safaricom is no startup. But the reach of its M-Pesa network will certainly give Visa an extended presence in Africa. The partnership will also expand the global financial services offered to Safaricom's large East African consumer and small business network.
Amnesty International urged Algerian authorities Thursday to free imprisoned journalist Khaled Drareni and end the "targeted harassment of independent media".

Drareni, the founder of the Casbah Tribune website, is a correspondent for French-language channel TV5 Monde and press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

He had been arrested on March 7 while covering an anti-government protest, accused of "inciting an unarmed gathering and damaging national integrity", then released and re-arrested.

"The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Khaled and end the outrageous prosecution" against him, Heba Morayef, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director, said in a statement.

"He is being punished simply for daring to do his journalistic work independently and bravely. Journalism should never be a punishable crime."

At the end of March, Drareni was ordered to be held in pre-trial detention, and is currently incarcerated in the Kolea prison, west of the capital Algiers.

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Amnesty called for an end to "the unjustified restrictions imposed on journalists and independent media in Algeria".

This month, authorities have blocked three news websites that have covered Algeria's anti-government protests.

Two of them, Maghreb Emergent and Radio M, are accused of "defamation and insult" against Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Algeria ranks 146 out of 180 countries on RSF's world press freedom index for 2020.

Weekly anti-government protests have rocked the North African country for over a year and only came to a halt due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, with the authorities banning marches and the opposition suspending them.

According to prisoners' support group CNLD, 51 people are currently detained over links to the Hirak protest movement.

Earlier this week, Amnesty urged the authorities to end "arbitrary prosecutions aimed at silencing Hirak activists and journalists" during the pandemic, and called for the release of detainees.

The rights group said Thursday that authorities were endangering detainees' health, "given the risks of a COVID-19 outbreak in prisons and places of detention".
The guided missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) conducts underway operations near the Paracel Islands on April 28, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Ens. Samuel Hardgrove)

Unfazed by Beijing, US Navy Sends 2nd Warship Through Disputed Islands

Two U.S. warships in two days have sailed through separate disputed island chains in the South China Sea in a challenge to territorial claims, in what the U.S. Navy calls freedom of navigation operations.

Beijing on April 28 said it had expelled the USS Barry, a guided-missile destroyer, from the seas around the Paracel Islands, which it claims as its own territory, saying Chinas sovereignty had been violated.

The U.S. Navy disputed the story, however, saying that the warship had carried out its operation successfully.

The following day the Navy dispatched a larger cruiser, the USS Bunker Hill, through the Spratly island chain, where Beijing has built up militarized bases.

The USS Bunker Hill on April 29 asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law, said Commander Reann Mommsen, a spokesperson for the Navys 7th Fleet, in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.

The guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), front, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) transit the South China Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas V. Huynh/Released)

This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging the restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, said Mommsen. The United States demonstrated that innocent passage may not be subject to such restrictions.

Islands, reefs, and rocks in the South China Sea are disputed by a number of countries, including Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

As long as some countries continue to claim and assert limits on rights that exceed what is provided for under international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention, the United States will continue to demonstrate its resolve to uphold these rights and freedoms for all, said Mommsen. No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms.

Some China observers have said that the communist party has notched up aggression in the South China Sea during the pandemic, while others say its too early to tell.

Within the U.S. leadership, there also appears to be a difference of opinion.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned over the weekend: Youve seen, too, China become aggressive even during this crisis, moving ships to the South China Sea, taking down a fishing vessel in the South China Sea. These authoritarian regimes are the kinds of regimes that hope to benefit in times of crisis, in this case a crisis that emanated from one of their countries.

Pentagon leaders have given general warnings that adversaries may seek to take advantage of the pandemicbut have held back from saying that any country has yet dialed up the tempo.

The Pentagons chief spokesperson, Jonathan Hoffman, last week downplayed the perception of Chinas rising aggression in the Pacific during the pandemic.

Chinas been very active in the South China Sea for years, said Hoffman, listing various incursions. Whether theyre taking advantage of a crisis, a global crisis for which they were on the front end of, I wont say that. I think that they are continuing with their destabilizing activities that we have seen for many years.

In the last two years, the U.S. military has increasingly sought to blunt Chinas aggression in the region.

U.S. Freedom of navigation operations in the disputed Spratly and Paracel islands have become more frequent in the last two or three years, according to data collected by one South China Sea Navy researcher.

The back-to-back missions of the two U.S. warships within two days are indicative of a new U.S. strategy outlined in the 2018 strategy which demands strategic predictability, operational unpredictability.

The presence of the USS Barry near the Paracels on April 28 was confirmed by a message on the Navys official social media account the following day.

The Chinese military authorities labeled the actions of the USS Barry as provocative saying that they seriously violated Chinas sovereignty and security interest. The PLA said that the United States should focus instead on getting to grips with the pandemic and helping more internationally with fighting the virus.

Chinese military leadership said that they had organized sea and air forces to track, monitor, verify, and identify the US ships throughout the journey, and warned and expelled them, according to a PLA statement

However, USNI News, run by the Naval Institute, said that the USS Barrys operation proceeded as planned without encountering any unsafe or unprofessional behavior from Chinese military aircraft or warships, according to an official.

Correction:

An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of the Pentagons chief spokesperson. The correct spelling is Jonathan Hoffman. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Montana will establish a target of 60,000 tests for COVID-19 each month, Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday, adding that it's a goal the state will need to work up to by increasing testing supplies.

The state also plans to test all residents of nursing homes and assisted living centers, as well as employees who work in those facilities. Older people are especially susceptible to severe outcomes from COVID-19, as shown by six of the state's 16 deaths tied to an assisted living center in Toole County.

Given the challenges Montana has faced  along with essentially every other state in the country  in getting the supplies necessary to both collect samples from people and process those tests, Bullock acknowledged it will take time to build up to that testing goal. Existing testing numbers illustrate how heavy of a lift it may be: by Wednesday, Montana had processed tests for 13,528 at the state public health laboratory in Helena since the start of March. More than 2,500 tests have also been sent to private labs.

"I'd like to see 15,000 a week. Do I think that'll happen next week as we start ramping up? Absolutely not, but that's the goal and we'll get there as soon as we can," Bullock said in a call with the press. He said later Wednesday that the federal government has committed to providing Montana with 12.7 million of the swabs needed for testing in May.

The governor also emphasized that 60,000 tests does not necessarily mean 60,000 people will be tested, as some may be tested more than once in the period.

"If we go out and in the first month are successful in testing all of our Montanans in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, that doesn't mean they're all done and they have nothing to worry about," Bullock said.

The news on testing comes as the state is a few days into Phase 1 of a gradual lifting of some of the regulations residents have been under, including a stay-at-home order. Some churches held services Sunday, and retail shops around the state could open with a reduced capacity Monday. On May 4, restaurants can start to open at half capacity. However, counties have the option of imposing more stringent restrictions.

Bullock said it's a "tall order that I'm asking" to reach the 60,000 threshold, which was developed based on feedback from public health experts and compares to what other states are aiming for. But he said the federal government has indicated it will support states' testing plans.

The state would move to do surveillance COVID-19 testing in tribal communities once it increases capacity, Bullock said.

"There's a real concern (in Indian Country and urban centers with Native populations) because there's often multi-generational living and there are tribal members that have challenges and (health) compromises that can make them vulnerable to COVID-19," Bullock said.

Following that, the state will start to do surveillance testing in places where people are confined, such as the state hospital in Warm Springs and the men's and women's prisons.

And after that stage, the state will advance toward a longer-term goal of community health centers around Montana doing surveillance testing for representative populations in their communities, as well as front-line health workers. He said surveillance testing should begin early next week.

Bullock said health experts generally estimate asymptomatic spread is low in Montana because of the low percentage of positive tests and minimal hospitalization rates.

The state is also continuing to ask providers to test anyone with one or more symptoms of COVID-19, following an expanded list of symptoms from the Centers for Disease Control, including chills, shaking, muscle pains, headaches, a sore throat and loss of sense of smell or taste.

"We must continue to treat the virus with the vigilance that we have up until now," Bullock said. "The more protective actions that Montanans take now and in the coming weeks, the more likely that we're going to keep that curve flat, the more likely that we can deploy resources to where they're needed to conduct enhanced surveillance testing."

Bullock also announced the formation of five strike teams that can assist with outbreaks at facilities like nursing homes, and a $5 million grant accessible to public health departments to enhance contact tracking and other tasks.

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Kolkata, April 30 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed deep shock and sadness at the passing away of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, whom she described as "versatile" and "iconic".

"Deeply shocked & saddened at the demise of the iconic & versatile film actor #RishiKapoor. A National Film Award winner, he acted in more than than 150 films," Banerjee said on her twitter handle.

Referring to Kapoor's long battle with cancer, she said he endured his illness with dignity and grace.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Agencies have defined short-term solutions to partially settle air pollution, but Vietnam needs national long-term strategies, experts say.

Dr Do Nam Thang from the Australian National University believes that now is the time to prioritize the application of strategies by amending the Law on Environmental Protection to be submitted to the National Assembly for ratification by the end of 2020.





If Vietnam can set up regulations carefully and thoroughly, it will be able to settle its problem of air pollution, Thang said.



The expert has suggested long-term solutions.



First, improving urban development planning. There are many multi-story buildings in high density areas in Hanoi and HCM City. The cities need more greenery and airy spaces.

Agencies have defined short-term solutions to partially settle air pollution, but Vietnam needs national long-term strategies, experts say.

The municipal authorities should think of relocating crowded complexes, such as government agencies, universities and hospitals, to the suburbs.

The relocation of industrial production complexes such as Rang Dong Light Source and Vacuum Flask factory will help ease dangerous air pollutants.



Second, its necessary to improve the public transport system and set up new systems. The setting up of the regulations on green construction works and electricity feed-in-tariffs (FIT) prices will encourage buildings use energy effectively or use solar energy.



Vietnam now has 3.6 million cars and 58 million motorbikes, mostly in large cities. These include old vehicles which have low emission control technologies. Vehicles cause traffic jams every day and emit huge volumes of pollutants.



Vietnam can create policies to encourage green vehicles. For example, it can try to reduce outdated polluting vehicles by subsidizing used car buying/selling facilities. The money for the subsidization could be from the imposition of higher taxes on new vehicle purchases.



This method can lift concern about the distribution effects, because the owners of used vehicles are mostly low-income families.



The government can also set up a policy on encouraging the use of electric vehicles by reducing the income tax on electric vehicles to make the products prices more reasonable.



Carbon valuation, or making polluters pay through carbon credits, will also help reduce the production and consumption of carbon-derived products, thus accelerating low-carbon economies, including the circular economy.



At the same time, Vietnam needs to switch to using renewable energy. Wind and solar power policies, including the FIT and reverse auction mechanism, will help maintain Vietnams recent solar power boom.



Finally, the reform in fossil fuel subsidy scheme will help reduce the use of dirty fuel and save annual allowances by up to $612 million, equivalent to 0.3 percent of Vietnam's GDP, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Chi Mai

Hanoi air pollution remains bad Air pollution in Hanoi is still bad despite social distancing regulations.
President Trump has not gotten the steep polling bump other Western leaders and proactive U.S. governors have seen as they fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and in fact, more Americans disapprove than approve of Trump's coronavirus response, probably feeding a drop in his overall approval rating and electoral standing. But any Republican candidates who fail to defend Trump's coronavirus handling will pay a price, the Trump campaign told the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Monday, Politico reports.

Last week, Politico and The Washington Post reported that a 57-page memo prepared by GOP strategist Brett O'Donnell's consulting firm advised Senate candidates that when asked about the pandemic, "don't defend Trump, other than the China Travel Ban  attack China." When pressed, the candidates should respond: "I wish that everyone acted earlier  that includes our elected officials, the World Health Organization, and the CDC." The NRSC distributed the memo to Republican campaigns.

The Trump campaign was furious, and top officials  including campaign manager Brad Parscale, communications director Tim Murtaugh, and political advisers Justin Clark, Bill Stepien, and Chris Carr  expressed their displeasure to the NRSC, Politico reports. "Candidates will listen to the bad advice in this memo at their own peril," Clark said in a statement. "President Trump enjoys unprecedented support among Republican voters," and GOP candidates "who want to win will be running with the president."

Underscoring his point, NRSC executive director Kevin McLaughlin insisted Monday "there is no daylight between the NRSC and President Trump" and GOP Senate candidates aren't being advised to not defend Trump's response. O'Donnell issued a similar statement: "I never advise candidates not to defend the president, and the media shouldn't take one line out of context." Democrats would have to pick up four seats to win a majority in the Senate, and that no longer seems implausible.

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Funeral homes have been overwhelmed amid coronavirus outbreak in hard-hit US state of New York.

Dozens of bodies have been discovered in trucks outside a funeral home New York City after a passer-by complained about the smell.

Workers, suited up in protective gear, were seen on Wednesday in the neighbourhood of Brooklyn, transferring the corpses into a refrigerated vehicle.

It was not clear how long the bodies had been stored in the U-Haul trucks or whether any were COVID-19 victims.





Investigators who responded to a 911 call found that the funeral home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses, according to a US law enforcement official.

No criminal charges were brought against the funeral home and the official, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the investigation, spoke to The Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity.

ABC News reported about 100 bodies were stored in the vehicles. A person who answered the phone at the funeral home hung up without speaking.

Funeral homes say they are facing weeks-long backlogs to bury or cremate the dead.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams went to the scene and told the New York Daily News: While this situation is under investigation, we should not have what we have right now, with trucks lining the streets filled with bodies.

Adams said: It was people who walked by who saw some leakage and detected an odor coming from a truck.

The New York Police Department declined to comment. The Department of Health could not immediately be reached for comment.

The US coronavirus death toll topped 60,000 on Wednesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

New York City has been at the epicentre of the global coronavirus pandemic and the citys funeral homes have been overwhelmed. As of Wednesday, more than 18,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the USs biggest city.

New York has set up temporary morgues and hospitals have used refrigerated tractor-trailers to cart away multiple bodies at a time, sometimes loading them in public view on the sidewalk.

Crematoriums have been backed up and funeral directors across the city have pleaded for help as they have run out of space.
The US Huawei ban has hurt Shenzhens pride financially, but a change to Americas Foreign Direct Product Rule would hurt the Chinese OEM even harder.

US Product Rule change would hit Huawei even harder

The current US Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) places control on shipped content that is at least 25-percent American-made.

This means that if the content contains at least 25-percent of American parts, such as a smartphone, for example, there are limits on just how much American-made content is eligible for exportation to foreign countries.

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The new proposal to the FDPR will change the 25% threshold to just 10%. At the new percentage level, companies producing goods that are at least 10% American-made would pose even stiffer restrictions on foreign imports.

How the new US Product Rule affects foreign companies

The new rule would deal an even larger blow to Shenzhens Pride by denying Huawei access to its Kirin SoC chips and its 5G Balong modems. Kirin processor chips and Balong modems are manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (or TSMC). TSMC relies on American chipmaking equipment to churn out Huawei mobile chips.

Huawei is one of TSMCs greatest clients, with the company coming in second only to Apple in terms of its investment to TSMC (36.1 billion yuan versus Apples 58.3 billion yuan in 2019).

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If Huawei can no longer work with TSMC, then it will have to turn to another manufacturer for its phone components. Additionally, TSMC will suffer because it will lose its second, highest-paying client. Thats never a good sign for any business.

The US doesnt see TSMCs turning from Huawei as a bad thing. A good reason for this pertains to Americas direct investment in TSMC. The US invests 60-percent of all TSMC chipmaking profit. With the USs huge investment, it appears as though Americas deeper pockets could very well win the day against the Chinese OEM.

Huawei sees the writing on the wall

TSMC would lose one of its top clients in the US-China war, but the company would come out on the other side. Huawei is the ultimate target in all of this. The US doesnt want to hurt TSMC but is really keen on reducing Huaweis power in the 5G space.

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After all, Huawei does own 15-percent of all standards-essential 5G patents globally. Even after the US ban on the company, its 5G clientele list continues to grow.

Some countries such as the United Kingdom are restricting Huawei to 35-percent peripheral access to its 5G network but dont want to release Huawei from 5G altogether. The US is having some small success (small, though present) in convincing some countries to abandon Huawei in 5G networks.

TSMC cant afford to lose its American investment. And Huawei knows that Americas pockets are too deep for TSMC to refuse its offer. This will ultimately leave Huawei in a bad position.

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Huawei is already aware of its small chances in the matter. The company is reducing its reliance on TSMC by partnering with Chinese entity Semiconductor Manufacturing International Company (SMIC).
Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor's passing away just a day after another Bollywood giant, Irrfan Khan died, is hard news to digest. Celebrities from the Hindi film industry and elsewhere are mourning the death of Rishi Kapoor, who died on April 30. A number of politicians such as Shashi Tharoor, Smriti Irani, Rahul Gandhi, Omar Abdullah, Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to their social media handles to express their grief over the demise of Rishi Kapoor.

Shashi Tharoor tweeted, "Saddened to hear that my senior schoolmate at Mumbai's CampionSchool, Rishi Kapoor, whom i competed with in "inter-class dramatics" in 1967-68, has gone to a better world. From the romantic hero of "Bobby"to the mature character actor of his last films, he evolved remarkably. RIP."

Saddened to hear that my senior schoolmate at Mumbai's CampionSchool, Rishi Kapoor, whom i competed with in "inter-class dramatics" in 1967-68, has gone to a better world. From the romantic hero of "Bobby"to the mature character actor of his last films, he evolved remarkably. RIP pic.twitter.com/9eyzE0qP38  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 30, 2020

Smriti Irani shared a throwback picture with Rishi and wrote, "In 2014 he told me 'bhag jaldi Dilli pagal ' for he knew I've been summoned to take oath. The last I saw him was on a set and that's how il remember him. Prodding you to do your best, caring for the little things, teaching you the craft no matter how old you were on the job.."

In 2014 he told me bhag jaldi Dilli pagal  for he knew Ive been summoned to take oath. The last I saw him was on a set and thats how il remember him. Prodding you to do your best, caring for the little things, teaching you the craft no matter how old you were on the job.. pic.twitter.com/ZDtGr7etxH  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) April 30, 2020

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah tweeted, "From Bobby to Karz to Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, your movies & some of the dialogues have been such an integral part of my childhood. You made a little hut in Gulmarg an iconic place with one song. Farewell @chintskap & thankyou for the memories. #riprishikapoor."

From Bobby to Karz to Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, your movies & some of the dialogues have been such an integral part of my childhood. You made a little hut in Gulmarg an iconic place with one song. Farewell @chintskap & thankyou for the memories. #riprishikapoor  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 30, 2020

Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief."

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot tweeted, "Saddened to know veteran actor #RishiKapoor has passed away. It is a devastating news for his family, friends & fans. My heartfelt condolences to his close ones. May they find strength in this most difficult time. He would always be remembered for his iconic roles..."

Saddened to know veteran actor #RishiKapoor has passed away. It is a devastating news for his family, friends & fans. My heartfelt condolences to his close ones. May they find strength in this most difficult time. He would always be remembered for his iconic roles...  Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 30, 2020

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa wrote in a tweet, "Shocked by the passing of another legend, and veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor. His way of mesmerising us with his stellar performances will be remembered and missed. Prayers to his family and loved ones. RIP."

Shocked by the passing of another legend, and veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor. His way of mesmerising us with his stellar performances will be remembered and missed. Prayers to his family and loved ones. RIP.  B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) April 30, 2020

MP and actress Kirror Kher tweeted, "#RishiKapoor is no more. Heartbreaking. I would like to celebrate his life. Larger than life, outspoken & cheerful right to the end. Great actor, good friend. So many memories of you flow through my mind. You lived a full life. Well played Sir. Condolences to the family. #RIPSir."

#RishiKapoor is no more. Heartbreaking. I would like to celebrate his life. Larger than life, outspoken & cheerful right to the end. Great actor, good friend. So many memories of you flow through my mind. You lived a full life. Well played Sir. Condolences to the family. #RIPSir pic.twitter.com/hOzyNM4OyI  Kirron Kher (@KirronKherBJP) April 30, 2020

Amit Shah wrote on Twitter, "Pained to know about the passing away of legendary actor Rishi Kapoor ji. He was an institution in himself. Rishi ji's demise is an irreparable loss for Indian cinema. He will always be remembered for his exceptional acting skills. Condolences to his family & followers. Om Shanti."

Pained to know about the passing away of legendary actor Rishi Kapoor ji. He was an institution in himself. Rishi jis demise is an irreparable loss for Indian cinema. He will always be remembered for his exceptional acting skills. Condolences to his family & followers. Om Shanti  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 30, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, "Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India's progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti."

(All social media posts are unedited.)

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor No More! Bollywood Expresses Shock Over Chintu Ji's Death

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor's Death: Kiku Sharda, Mouni Roy, Devoleena, Ekta & Other TV Actors Offer Condolences
The bus driver was taken to Northwestern Hospital where she was listed in good condition, as were the two injured passengers, according to police. The driver of the sedan also was taken to Northwestern and he also was listed in good condition. Details about injuries werent immediately released by police.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-29 05:05:41|Editor: huaxia

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City workers prepare food aid kits in a distribution center in Pikine, Senegal, on April 28, 2020. The Senegalese government on Tuesday launched a food aid distribution operation to help 1 million vulnerable households affected by COVID-19. So far, Senegal has reported 823 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 9 deaths and 296 cured cases, since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country on March 2. (Photo by Eddy Peters/Xinhua)

DAKAR, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Senegalese government on Tuesday launched a food aid distribution operation to help 1 million vulnerable households affected by COVID-19.

"We have just launched officially the delivery of food kits. This operation marks the start of operations across the country," said Minister of Community Development, Social and Territorial Equity Mansour Faye at a launch ceremony in the presence of several beneficiaries as well as local administrative authorities and elected officials in Pikine, a city east to Dakar.

The minister said the distribution of food kits across Senegal is a large-scale operation that involves the whole population, civil society, and politicians.

He explained that this food aid would be distributed to 1 million households, representing around 8 to 10 million Senegalese. Each beneficiary household will obtain a total of 100 kilograms of rice, 10 kilograms of sugar, 10 liters of oil and 18 pieces of soap, which is worth about 66,000 Francs CFA (approximately 109 U.S. dollars).

In Guinaw Rail Sud, a town in Pikine, where the food distribution debuted on Tuesday, some 3,207 households have picked up this food aid from the Senegalese government.

Senegalese president Macky Sall announced in March the creation of a Response and Solidarity Fund to deal with the impact of COVID-19, which would be endowed with 1,000 billion FCFA (approximately 1.6 billion U.S. dollars), funded by the state and donors.

According to the Senegalese head of state, some 50 billion FCFA will be devoted to the purchase of food for emergency food aid. About 900 trucks are mobilized to transport 38,755 tonnes of rice across the country.

So far, Senegal has reported 823 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 9 deaths and 296 cured cases, since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country on March 2.

Senegal has suspended since March 20 all of its international flights, while the state of emergency and the dusk-to-dawn curfew have both been extended to May 4. Enditem
Unsealed FBI documents show officials discussed whether to get former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn 'to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired' during his controversial White house interview.

The bombshell notes reveal the bureau discussed how to approach its investigation into Flynn's involvement with Russia and whether to confront him over intercepted conversations he had with then-Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak.

Agents also discussed the possibility of Flynn admitting to breaking the Logan Act and warned of the importance the White House did not think the bureau was 'playing games' with the investigation.

The release of the notes comes just days after President Trump retweeted a social media post claiming Flynn will be 'completely exonerated'.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI during its investigation of ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia but has since claimed he was 'set up and framed' by the bureau.

Unsealed FBI documents show officials discussed whether to get former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (above) 'to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired' during his controversial White house interview

Four pages of internal documents penned ahead of the January 2017 interview were released to Flynn's lawyers last week and unsealed Wednesday by a federal judge.

The notes were handwritten by FBI's former head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap after a meeting with then-FBI Director James Comey and then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, according to Fox.

The notes reveal how top bureau officials discussed their plans for interviewing Flynn over the allegations and whether the 'goal' was to get him to tell the truth or catch him in a lie so he could be charged over the allegations.

'What is our goal?' one of the notes dated January 24 2017 - the day of the interview - read. 'Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?'

In another note, the agents discussed the possibility of Flynn admitting to breaking the Logan Act.

'If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ and have them decide  or, if initially lies, then we present him [REDACTED] and he admits it, document for DOJ, and let them decide how to address it,' the note read.

The Logan Act bans private citizens from engaging in unauthorized correspondence with foreign governments.

The notes reveal how top bureau officials discussed their plans for interviewing Flynn over the allegations

The FBI officials went on to consider whether to let Flynn know they were aware of his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, the then-Russian ambassador to the US, after they had intercepted his communications.

'We regularly show subjects evidence with the goal of getting them to admit their wrongdoing,' the notes said.

'I don't see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is going easy on him.'

The agents did not confront him about the conversations during the interview, according to FBI official reports.

Flynn did not admit to any wrongdoing in the interview but pleaded guilty later in 2017.

The agents also spoke about the importance that the White House did not think the FBI was 'playing games' with the investigation, the notes reveal.

Donald Trump waded into the matter Wednesday, showing his support for his former aide by retweeting two news articles on the documents and a Twitter post by Flynn which simply showed a video of an American flag waving in the wind in a rural setting

'If we're seen as playing games, WH will be furious,' the notes read.

'Protect our institution by not playing games.'

Flynn's lawyers and supporters have claimed the documents show the former security adviser was set up by the FBI.

Flynn's lawyer Sidney Powell told Fox News' 'Hannity' Wednesday night the notes were 'damning'.

'It's just absolutely appalling what these agents, and then special counsel operatives, did to General Flynn,' he said.

'It's abuse of their authority at every turn. I interpret the notes as absolutely damning of their conduct and their plan.'

Donald Trump waded into the matter Wednesday, showing his support for his former aide by retweeting two news articles on the documents and a Twitter post by Flynn which simply showed a video of an American flag waving in the wind in a rural setting.

His eldest son Donald Trump Jr. also tweeted his support of Flynn: 'Flynn doesn't need to be pardoned, he did nothing wrong, he needs to be fully exonerated with all charges dropped immediately!'

On Sunday, Trump retweeted a post from Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo who claimed Flynn would be 'completely exonerated'.

'Breaking News: sources tell me [Flynn] will be completely exonerated this week. It was a total fraud. A Set up. More tomorrow,' Bartiromo tweeted on Sunday.

Trump and Flynn at a rally during his 2016 presidential campaign. Flynn is one of six Trump aides and associates charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign

The president also retweeted a clip of a Fox News interview with Devin Nunes, the Republican congressman from California, which claimed 'possibly exculpatory evidence' showing the government 'framed' Flynn was submitted to the court Friday.

Last month, Trump - who fired Flynn saying he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI - said he was considering a full pardon for Flynn.

'I am strongly considering a Full Pardon!' Trump tweeted.

Flynn is one of six Trump aides and associates charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.

He pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period and provided extensive cooperation to Mueller's team of investigators.

But Flynn now claims he did not lie and attempted to withdraw the guilty plea in January.

He alleges federal prosecutors acted in 'bad faith' and broke their end of the bargain when they sought prison time for him.

His attorneys are asking a federal judge to consider the new evidence as part of their request to withdraw his plea.

Flynn's lawyers Powell and Jesse Binnall have that the new material 'proves Mr. Flynn's allegations of having been deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.'

Jeff Jensen, the US attorney in St. Louis, is leading a Justice Department review of the Flynn case

'The government has deliberately suppressed this evidence from the inception of this prosecution  knowing there was no crime by Mr. Flynn,' according to his lawyers.

Flynn has also accused his former attorneys from the law firm Covington & Burling of misleading him by allowing him to plead guilty in order to cover up its own errors.

Earlier this year, Attorney General William Barr ordered an external review into Flynn's case headed by Jeff Jensen, the US attorney in St. Louis.

Jensen is a former FBI agent with a long background in battling white-collar crime.

A Justice Department official said Jensen is working with Brandon Van Grack, a member of special counsel Robert Mueller's team, to review the Flynn case.

Prosecutors had initially said Flynn was entitled to avoid prison time because of his extensive cooperation, but the relationship with the retired Army lieutenant general grew increasingly contentious after he hired his new set of lawyers.

Following Flynn's attempt to withdraw his plea, the Justice Department abruptly offered a more lenient sentencing recommendation.

The latest sentencing filing still seeks a sentence of up six months, but unlike before, prosecutors explicitly state that probation would be a 'reasonable' punishment and that they would not oppose it.

A second set of 11 pages of notes, which Flynn's lawyers have called 'more appalling' and totaled 11 pages, were also released Wednesday but have not been made public.
BERNE  A virtual public hearing over a proposal to expand the town Planning Board from five to seven people devolved in to an acrimonious shouting match filled with technological glitches, unmuted microphones and Zoom-bombing before being adjourned for another date.

The raucous and unruly video-conferenced debate over a move to allow convicted felon and ex-judge Thomas Spargo to serve on the board featured insults between board members, confusion over who was speaking and ultimately a foreign language being typed on the screen.

The meeting was also largely unmuted, which meant that anyone who wanted to speak at any time could do so  and on at least two occasions, open microphones caught people cursing loudly in the background. Eventually, town attorney Javid Afzali muted everyones microphones except for those of Town Board members.

At one point, Town Board member Bonnie Conklin and former town supervisor Kevin Crosier began insulting each other after Crosier accused the board of wrongdoing.

After realizing there were clear difficulties in ensuring everyone could be heard during the hearing, the Town Board voted to adjourn the public hearing and reopen it next month during an in-person meeting so they could discuss the proposal.

The board then went into executive session, during which several unidentified people joined the main meeting and began writing nonsensical comments in Spanish.

The Town Board heard from roughly a dozen residents over Zoom on the proposed local law, which proponents have argued would allow the Planning Board to update the towns 2017 comprehensive plan and tackle issues such as the possible creation of a water district.

The majority of those who spoke during the public hearing came out against the law, accusing the Town Board's majority of trying to stack the Planning Board in its favor. The Town Board and Planning Board have been at odds for several months after the Town Board tried to demote Planning Board member Emily Vincent to an alternate seat and appoint Spargo, a former judge convicted of bribery, to the chairmans position.

The Town Board has not publicly laid out why it believes Spargo needs to be on the board sooner rather than later, beyond saying they believe he is a better fit for their vision of the town. But two of the current Planning Board members' seats expire at the end of the year. The addition of Spargo and a seventh board member would make the current Town Board's appointees a majority of the Planning Board in 2021.

Spargo is a former state Supreme Court justice who was convicted in 2009 of shaking down attorneys and soliciting a $10,000 bribe. Spargo was disbarred by the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court and sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

Current Planning Board member Mark Sengenberger pointed out that for the past two years, the biggest issue before the board had been a Dollar General store application. Sengenberger also questioned why the Town Board believed the Planning Board should be the avenue to update the towns comprehensive plan.

Inexplicably, the Town Board has not had a single discussion with the current Planning Board members about the need for updating the comprehensive plan, or the apparent decision to assign it to the Planning Board, he wrote.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The popularity of Zoom and other teleconferencing apps has soared since social distancing for the coronavirus forced many employers to have workers labor at home and use such apps for group meetings.

But the programs have been plagued by embarrassing situations  and in some cases hackers spewing racist remarks. Webcams used on the conferences have caught everything from parents yelling at their children to people appearing nude when they thought the video function was switched off.

Many government meetings held on teleconferencing apps have been similarly marred by poor-quality audio and lost service.

The town board did not discuss the proposal to expand the Planning Board after coming out of executive session.

Town Supervisor Sean Lyons reiterated during the meeting his belief that expanding the board was his second choice: He would have preferred the town had appealed a March decision that reinstated Vincent to the board and removed Spargo.

It wasnt clear whether Spargo attended the virtual meeting, but he did submit a letter for the record. In it, Spargo said the board at its current size can handle routine matters well, but that during his three meetings as chairman, he came to believe that adding more members would give it flexibility.

Adding two members would also allow the board to create subcommittee to tackle various issues, he said.

I sensed that a Planning Board could be much more effective and proactive, if it could take up the issues and proposals set forth in the comprehensive plan, he wrote.
The World Health Organization has come under fire for its response to the global coronavirus pandemic, with threats of funding cuts and investigations into its conduct.

But experts say that while the WHO may have made some missteps in its handling of the crisis, the organization is only as powerful as its weakest link.

The United Nations agency was founded in 1948 with a mandate to act as an authority on international health.

Its 194 member states fund the agency and set Its policies, and it is accountable to them. Conversely, it has discretionary power to investigate members' handling of public health crises, but it relies on their co-operation and information sharing.

"An organization like the World Health Organization can only be as strong and as effective as its member states want it to be," said Steven Hoffman, director of the Global Strategy Lab and a global health law professor at York University in Toronto.

"So, one of the challenges that the World Health Organization has faced over the last decades is that it keeps on getting new responsibilities and no new resources."

In 2005, its responsibilities increased with the adoption of the International Health Regulations (IHR), a legal agreement signed by all members that requires countries to report emerging disease outbreaks that are at risk of spreading worldwide.

WATCH | WHO defends its record on COVID-19

In doing so, experts say the WHO took on a more political role in juggling the domestic interests of its individual members with the interests of the rest of the world.

"They have never performed well in that function  not once," said Amir Attaran, a professor in the Faculties of Law and School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa, who told CBC's Sunday Edition the WHO should never again preside over a pandemic.

"They cave to diplomatic pressure. Or even if there is not diplomatic pressure, they self-censor."

Story continues

Attaran said an agency entrusted with ensuring compliance with an agreement like the IHR cannot also operate with the "attitude of a diplomat."

Naohiko Hatta/Reuters

"It cannot simultaneously be constantly begging countries for co-operation in certain areas where it's expected at the next moment to turn on them severely and possibly fault them for hiding an epidemic."

Hoffman says the agency is "doomed by its institutional design."

"The criticisms that WHO has faced are not fair in the sense that WHO is not an independent entity, it's essentially acting on behalf of its member states, who control it," he said.

"So, the criticism is really a criticism of those national governments' inability to create the kind of strong public health agency that the world needs in this globalized era."

Early response to pandemic criticized

On Dec. 31, China alerted the WHO to a mysterious outbreak of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in the central Chinese province of Hubei.

But it would be weeks before the WHO declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Jan. 30, a key designation that determines whether a country's response to an outbreak has been effective and if more resources are needed.

The timing of that emergency declaration is critical at the beginning of an epidemic and can have ripple effects on how quickly countries around the world respond.

"I think that happened probably a week too late," said Hoffman, adding that the organization was "hung" over whether the outbreak constituted an emergency.

While the WHO considered the emergency declaration, Chinese officials acted swiftly to silence early informal releases of information from health care workers sounding the alarm in Wuhan, opting instead to carefully manage the release of information in the weeks before the WHO would be allowed on the ground.

Former Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney said that information was put through a "political prism" in China and delayed as local officials determined how to put the best possible face on the crisis before sending it up the line to Beijing.

"You never want to give bad news to your boss in China," he said.

China Daily/Reuters

Mulroney said that problem highlights an inherent issue within the WHO: it can be "stonewalled" by a member country on the release of information  posing a "significant risk" at a critical time in an outbreak.

Lynette Ong, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto and a China specialist, said the WHO needed to maintain a diplomatic relationship with China in order to encourage the conducting of investigations and the sharing of key data.

When Chinese health officials quickly genetically sequenced the virus from an infected patient, the WHO lauded the effort, calling it a "notable achievement" that "demonstrates China's increased capacity to manage new outbreaks."

"But you do not also want to overdo it, to be too deferential and too friendly to the extent that you cannot take a step back and then question the things that they share with you," she said.

"WHO is being criticized, rightly so, and a lot of the criticism is justified to my mind because they have probably gone a little too far to the other side of being too deferential."

Ong said that while the WHO was "outwardly praising" China for its capacity to build hospitals and put in place strict lockdown of millions of its citizens that helped flatten their epidemic curve, the country did so by casting aside privacy and human rights with Draconian restrictions on citizens.

STR/AFP/Getty Images

"The other side of the criticism, which I also think is justified, is the cover-up at the beginning, which I don't think the WHO has actually addressed at all," she said, adding the world lost two to three weeks at a "very crucial time" in tackling the outbreak.

"Had there not been any cover-up, I think the world probably, we would be in a different position."

Should the WHO be held accountable?

Calls for the WHO to be held accountable for its response to the global coronavirus have been been growing. Australia says it will call for an international investigation into the origin of the pandemic at next month's annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO. And U.S. President Donald Trump has already cut funding to the organization, saying it "failed" in its duty.

Still, the U.S. is working with the agency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has, since late January, had a member on the WHO's emergency committee, which also includes Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam as an adviser.

Tam said that while she would welcome a review of the pandemic advice provided by the WHO, she does not fault it for its initial response because health experts all over the world "underestimated where this could go."

WATCH | Dr. Theresa Tam says it would be 'worthwhile to examine' the WHO's response to COVID-19

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would continue to work with the WHO because the virus "demands a global, co-ordinated response."

He added there will be "plenty of time to reflect on challenges" in the future.

Former interim Liberal leader Bob Rae and Canada's special envoy on humanitarian and refugee issues said that while the WHO does act as a source of information, alert and guidance for countries in a pandemic, that doesn't take away the responsibility of governments to take the steps they feel necessary.

"You could never say, 'Well, you know, [the WHO] didn't tell us how serious it was.' Of course they did," Rae said. "The question as to how each country should respond to the information is entirely up to each country. It's not up to the WHO."

The WHO doesn't issue directives "to say you should carry out a lockdown, you should limit transportation, you should cut off all flights."

Rae said that while it can be difficult for the WHO to navigate the challenges of the Chinese political system, there's no evidence to suggest the organization actively suppressed the release of any information on the pandemic.

He says the criticism of the WHO is "completely misguided" and that cutting funding to the organization at a critical time is a strategic "mistake."

"I think every crisis such as this one will prompt every governmental agency, both domestic and international, to reflect on what happened and to see how it can be improved," he said.

"That is an issue that is going to be quite legitimately placed at the doorstep of the WHO."
TOPEKA, Kan. - Dr. Beth Oller would like Kansas to remain under a stay-at-home order a while longer, even as some neighbours in her rural northwest county are restless to see business return to normal.

Oller and her husband are family physicians in their late 30s in Stockton, a town of 1,300 people roughly halfway between Kansas City to the east and Denver to the west. They watched as the coronavirus pandemic crept ever closer from those two metropolitan areas, each some 300 miles (480 kilometres) away.

The first positive case in Rooks County was one of Ollers patients, confirmed on Palm Sunday, April 5. A few days after Easter, the doctors husband displayed mild symptoms. He later tested negative.

Just before Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced plans to allow many Kansas businesses to start reopening next week, Oller worried that the restrictions are being abandoned too soon, with potentially deadly consequences. Meanwhile, neighbours worry that tight restrictions in a rural county with few coronavirus cases will kill their livelihoods.

I think we need to extend the orders a bit longer, Oller said in a Zoom interview, adding that she is prepared for a reopening thats not going to look like what those of us in the public health sector would love it to look like.

Kansas reported more than 4,200 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Thursday  a jump of 500, or 13.4% in a single day  along with 129 COVID-19 related deaths. Rooks County, with about 5,000 residents, has had six confirmed cases and no deaths. The actual number of coronavirus cases is likely far higher because of limited testing.

Stan Morin said he can operate safely by wearing a mask and limiting customers to one or two at a time in his barbershop a few storefronts from Main Street in Plainville, the largest town in Rooks County, with about 1,900 residents.

The 78-year-old has cut hair there for nearly 60 years. People like to gather at his shop for morning coffee and political chatter. Hes had to shutter it and burn through savings while he and his wife live on their Social Security. He hopes the states economy starts to reopen next week.

Im just going nuts, he said. Its hurt our economy, big time.

Most infected people have mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two or three weeks, such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, or death. Kansas confirmed its first case March 7.

Since then, Kelly has ordered the states K-12 schools closed. The Rooks County health officer issued a stay-at-home order March 27, ahead of the first confirmed case there. Kelly announced her order the next day.

She outlined a plan Thursday evening for a phased-in reopening of the states economy by June 15 with many businesses  but not bars, gyms or barbershops like Morins  allowed to reopen Monday, when her stay-at-home order has expired. Even businesses reopening first face some restrictions, and Kelly is allowing officials in each of the states 105 counties to impose stricter rules.

Some Rooks County residents saw the stay-at-home order as extreme. Glen Eickleberry, the 48-year-old owner of G&S Roustabout oil field services company in Palco, with roughly 270 residents, called the economic shutdown ridiculous and a catastrophe that has reduced his small firms business by 80%.

Adam Bryant, a 41-year-old state park ranger, has lawn-mowing and sign-making businesses in Stockton.

I dont know how anybodys supposed to survive, without the economy reopening, he said.

Oller was preaching social distancing on live Facebook posts weeks before Rooks County confirmed its first coronavirus infection. She and other doctors faced skepticism about the outbreak, and even local residents who accepted social distancing weeks ago are more than ready for the stay-at-home order to expire at midnight May 3.

Oller supported the shutdown. Her countys only hospital, in Plainville, has 25 beds and no intensive care unit. She worried that a surge in coronavirus cases statewide would prevent her patients from being transferred elsewhere for treatment  the normal practice with serious trauma cases.

And a few days after Easter, she was struggling with the possibility of being a single parent to her four young children. Her husband was showing coronavirus symptoms and had isolated himself in a vacant rental home they own while waiting for his negative test result.

Even with only six confirmed cases as of Thursday, Rooks County had 1.2 for every 1,000 residents, putting it among the states top 20 counties. The states rate was 12% higher, 1.46 cases per 1,000 residents.

Small business owners are suffering, and I know that, Oller said. But my fear is, we open things up too quickly and we just have to end up shutting them down again because we have huge surges of numbers.

___

Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
An Indianapolis man has been charged with murdering a postal worker shot dead on her round, authorities said Wednesday.

Tony Cushingberry, 21, is said to have confronted Angela Summers, 45, on Monday afternoon when she did not deliver his mail because of his aggressive dog.

Cushingberry told authorities 'the letter carrier was not delivering the mail because she was having a problem with the dog at his residence', The Indy Star reports.

Summers had posted on her Facebook page two days before she was shot dead about her problems delivering a COVID-19 stimulus check to a house with a chihuahua on her round, according to Fox59.

Tony Cushingberry, pictured, has been charged over the murder of Angela Summers

Angela Summers, the mother of a 14-year-old girl, sprayed her alleged attacker with mace before being shot dead on Monday afternoon, police say

She had posted on her Facebook page two days before she was shot dead about her problems delivering a stimulus check, according to local reports

Cushingberry said he repeatedly asked for his mail while standing six feet from Summers on his neighbor's porch.

After being approached, Summers, the mother of a 14-year-old girl, sprayed her alleged attacker with mace.

He then pulled out his gun and she was shot dead, records state.

Cushingberry is said to have acknowledged the mace was not deadly, but led to discomfort from his asthma. He said he 'did not mean to kill the letter carrier, but wanted to scare her', court documents state.

The 21-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder, assaulting a federal employee and discharging a firearm during a crime.

Summers was shot about 4 p.m. Monday while she delivered mail on the citys east side

Angela began her career with the Postal Service less than two years ago

Postal Inspector Joseph J. De St Jean wrote: 'He said the letter carrier turned around, grabbed her mace spray and sprayed (him). Cushingberry-Mays then pulled his handgun from the right side of his waistband ... and fired one shot.'

Paul Toms, president of NALC Branch 39 told Fox59: 'The mail had been curtailed from what I was told very recently. On April 12 or 13, the curtailment of mail letter was sent to them.

'Yes, there was a history on this for quite a while, as I understand it. Dog letters had been sent. Thats a form to the patron when a dog is a nuisance or a danger or vicious.

'Three dog letters, one to warn them, a second one a second warning, and then a curtailment of mail. Thats what they had proceeded to there.'

Stimulus checks have been mailed to people who do not have information on file with the IRS to allow for direct deposits. The payments are part of the $2.2 trillion rescue package signed into law at the end of last month aimed at combating the economic free-fall caused by shutdown orders in the coronavirus pandemic.

Tony Cushingberry, 21, is said to have confronted Angela Summers, 45, on Monday afternoon when she did not deliver his mail because of his aggressive dog

Cushingberry has been charged with second-degree murder, assaulting a federal employee and discharging a firearm during a crime

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service had earlier offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

Indianapolis police homicide detectives along with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and FBI agents arrested Cushingberry on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the death of Summers.

Summers was shot about 4 p.m. Monday while she delivered mail on the citys east side, police said. She died at a hospital.

In a statement the national association of letter carriers president Fredric Rolando said: 'On behalf of the NALC, we mourn the loss of Sister Summers. Angela began her career with the Postal Service less than two years ago. She had her whole life ahead of her.

'She was dedicated to her customers as a letter carrier, and to her co-workers as a union representative. She served them both well.

'The senseless nature of her death breaks our hearts. We send our thoughts and prayers to Angelas daughter, the rest of her family, friends, coworkers, and loved ones.'
The Canada-Vietnam Friendship Society (CVFS) held a webinar on April 28 to connect Canadian friends with the overseas Vietnamese community, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Liberation of the South on April 30.

Participants join the webinar (Photo: VNA)

Philip Fernandez, a member of the Society, said Vietnam and its people have attracted global attention thanks to the remarkable achievements made in building an independent and autonomous economy.

Vietnams prestige in the international arena was demonstrated by it being elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for a second time and it taking on the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020, he went on.

After liberating the south and reunifying the country on April 30, 1975, the Vietnamese people focused on building a democratic socialist country. The decisive factor in achievements made has been the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as well as the solidarity and consensus of the people with the Party, he said.

Canadian friends truly admire Vietnams COVID-19 response, he continued. With a spirit of fighting the pandemic as if fighting an enemy, Vietnam has successfully curbed the outbreak and posted no fatalities.

Elizabeth McIninch, Director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council, said she was very happy to witness the closer ties between the two countries in recent times.

Vietnam has become a rising star in Southeast Asian, she said, adding that it has worked hard to achieve spectacular economic growth.

It has continued to be one of Canadas biggest trade partners in Southeast Asia, with two-way trade estimated at 7.8 billion CAD (5.98 billion USD). More than 21,000 Vietnamese students are studying in Canada.

She noted that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will be a new path forward for Vietnam and Canada to strengthen commitments and cooperation./.
A gargantuan hailstone that fell in Argentina may have set a world record, according to researchers. Credit: Victoria Druetta

A supercell thunderstorm pelted a city center in Argentina a few years ago with hailstones so large scientists suggested a new category to describe themgargantuan hail.

Researchers investigating the 2018 storm found one hailstone likely measured between 7.4 and 9.3 inches across, potentially setting a new world record. The current record belongs to a hailstone that measured 8 inches across, or about the size of a volleyball, that fell near Vivian, South Dakota.

"It's incredible," said Matthew Kumjian, associate professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmosphere Science at Penn State. "This is the extreme upper end of what you'd expect from hail."

The scientists proposed hail larger than 6 inches should be classified as gargantuan, and said more awareness of these events, while rare, could help piece together a better understanding of the dangerous storms.

"Anything larger than about a quarter in size can start putting dents into your car," Kumjian said. "In some rare cases, 6-inch hail has actually gone through roofs and multiple floors in houses. We'd like to help mitigate the impacts on life and property, to help anticipate these kinds of events."

The storm in heavily populated Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina, offered scientists a rare opportunity to study a well-documented case of gargantuan hail. As the storm unfolded, residents took to social media, posting pictures and videos.

Researchers followed up on the accounts a year later, interviewing witnesses, visiting sites where damage occurred, collecting photogrammetric data and analyzing radar observations. Using photogrammetrytaking measurements from photographsand video evidence, the scientists estimated one hailstone may have set a world record.

The scientists reported their findings in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

"Such a well-observed case is an important step forward in understanding environments and storms that produce gargantuan hail, and ultimately how to anticipate and detect such extreme events," Kumjian said.

Hail typically occurs during severe storms, which produce strong, sustained updrafts. The winds hold hailstones aloft long enough to grow in sub-zero temperatures high in the atmosphere. But predicting hail size remains challenging, the scientists said.

Rachel Gutierrez, a graduate student at Penn State and co-author of the paper, found a connection between a storm updraft's rotational velocity, or how fast it is spinning, and larger hail size, but much remains unknown about the relationship.

She said the data, especially from a storm outside the United States, is invaluable.

"There typically isn't a lot of data from storms outside the U.S.," Gutierrez said. "Having this shows us these crazy, high-impact events can happen all over the world."

Gargantuan hail events may be more common than once believed, but researchers need volunteers willing to report hail and provide accurate measurements, either by including a common item for scale, or a ruler, Gutierrez said.

Explore further Broader updrafts in severe storms may increase chance of damaging hail
MEXICO CITY, April 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department, the Treasury Department and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico are investigating at least two Mexican firms involved in an oil-for-food pact signed in 2019 with Venezuela's government, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Mexico-based Libre Abordo and an affiliated company, Schlager Business Group, have since late 2019 taken millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil for resale in Asia in exchange for corn and water trucks provided to Venezuela.

The deal has thrown a lifeline to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as Washington tightens punitive measures against his administration as part of a "maximum-pressure" strategy to oust him after critics decried his 2018 re-election as a sham.

Because the agreement was signed in mid-2019 after U.S. sanctions were imposed on Venezuela's state-run oil company, PDVSA, the United States is asking Mexico's government for help on the probe, according to the officials.

"We have inquired with the Mexican government. We are hopeful they will work with us," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a call with journalists. The content of the call was first reported by Mexico's Reforma newspaper.

In the same call, the U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said Washington had expressed its worry to the Mexican government over the deal as many firms involved in the trade of Venezuelan oil are fake or phantom companies.

Pompeo and Abrams did not disclose the companies' names. But a senior U.S. official told reporters last week the government was looking closely at a program involving Libre Abordo and affiliated firms.

"Those companies are clearly shells. ... They are surrounded by a veil of shadiness and secrecy," he said.

Libre Abordo told Reuters in a written response on Wednesday that its oil-for-food pact with Venezuela had been revised and supervised by legal experts to make sure it did not violate U.S. sanctions.

Story continues

"We can totally guarantee that the humanitarian aid contract signed with PDVSA fulfills all requirements to avoid any sanctions by the U.S. government," it said, adding that no cash or financing for the Venezuelan government was involved.

"We are open to verification by authorities," it said.

Managed by Mexican nationals Veronica Esparza and Olga Zepeda, Libre Abordo and Schlager Business Group have so far taken 24 million barrels of crude and fuel, according to PDVSA's export schedules seen by Reuters, becoming the largest intermediaries of Venezuelan oil.

The first shipment of water trucks agreed to as part of the exchange arrived in a Venezuelan port earlier this month.

(Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez and Marianna Parraga; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Timothy Gardner in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney)
As coronavirus infections increase in nursing homes throughout the state, Santa Clara County made the chilling discovery this month that dozens of staff members with no symptoms of the coronavirus had unknowingly infected the very people they cared for at three facilities experiencing big outbreaks.

The revelation raises questions about what Bay Area county public health departments  which oversee testing at nursing homes  are doing to prevent outbreaks. Many do not require workers to be tested before they interact with patients.

Weve been arguing for a long time now that the state needs to make nursing homes the No. 1 priority for testing because they are the most vulnerable group, but it still hasnt happened, said Dr. Charlene Harrington, a professor in the UCSF School of Nursing. We cant protect people otherwise. There are just way too many asymptomatic people.

Unless workers are screened for the coronavirus before entering a nursing home, Harrington and other medical experts warn, the virus will continue to spread through those facilities at alarming rates  which is what happened in Santa Clara County.

During the first week of April, reports of positive cases emerged from three facilities there: Canyon Springs Post-Acute Care Skilled Nursing and Ridge Post-Acute Care Skilled Nursing Facility, both in San Jose, and Valley House Rehabilitation Center in Santa Clara.

This prompted county officials to test workers there as well. The results showed that one-third of all COVID-19 cases at the three facilities were from staff members, said Dr. Jennifer Tong, who works with the countys public health department. And most had no symptoms.

They were contributing to the spread of infection within the facilities without realizing that they themselves were of risk to the vulnerable residents there, Tong said at last weeks county Board of Supervisors meeting.

But the nursing home operators shouldnt have been surprised.

The experts in long-term-care medicine and geriatrics have been warning government officials about this for a couple months now, said Dr. Michael Wasserman, president of the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine.

Nearly 33% of coronavirus deaths in California occur in nursing homes  residents and staff members, according to state figures, which are probably an undercount because the state relies on data from facilities, which often lag in reporting.

At the end of April, coronavirus infections among nursing home residents across California stand at nearly 4,000. In Santa Clara County alone, nearly 18% of 2,134 confirmed coronavirus cases are in nursing homes. And almost 35% of the countys 107 coronavirus deaths have occurred in nursing homes.

Workers are also sick. State data show that 2,594 nursing home workers have been infected with the coronavirus.

Although there are no data to prove it, it is unlikely that most of those workers were tested for the coronavirus before going to work. Most Bay Area facilities say they take staff members temperature before they enter the premises.

But medical experts say temperature checks arent good enough in determining someones coronavirus status, since so many are asymptomatic. Scientists believe that 20% to 50% of people with the coronavirus never show symptoms.

This month, scientists said asymptomatic transmission of the virus is driving the pandemic.

Without proper intervention, that silent threat is especially dangerous at chronically understaffed nursing homes, said Teresa Palmer, a retired San Francisco geriatrician.

Nursing homes are like cruise ships. They are just totally sitting ducks, she said. The progress from being sick to death can be very rapid in nursing home patients. You want early warning on someone who is delicate so they can be very closely monitored, and youre not going to get that if youre not testing asymptomatic staff to get a lead on where a hot spot in a nursing home might be.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

In response to revelations that asymptomatic workers were transmitting the virus in the three facilities, county and state workers, residents and staff at all three of the Santa Clara County facilities in question are now tested on an ongoing basis, said Tong of the county public health department.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

But county officials say that even after the discovery about asymptomatic staff, widespread testing at nursing homes isnt an option. They often blame a shortage of testing swabs and chemical reagents needed to process the tests.

The major limiting factor is the availability of reagent for the testing and swabs, said Jeffrey Smith, the Santa Clara County executive. So weve, until now, had to focus on sick people entering the system, but we are considering swabbing everyone.

The outbreaks at the three facilities have been significant.

At Canyon Springs Post-Acute Care Skilled Nursing, a spokesman said that 99 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, and five patients have died. Ridge Post-Acute Care Skilled Nursing Facility has reported 40 infected residents and 14 infected staff. And Valley House Rehabilitation Center has 38 residents and fewer than 11 staff testing positive. (For privacy, the state wont specify any number below 11.)

On April 17, the Service Employees International Union, which represents county health care workers, filed a complaint with Cal/OSHA alleging that county health care workers represented by the union had direct contact with infected patients without proper masks or isolation practices at Canyon Springs and Ridge Post-Acute.

Addressing the virus in nursing facilities has been an enormous challenge, Smith said. The county created a strike team to monitor the long-term-care facilities in the county, he said. So far, 21 skilled nursing homes have reported at least one coronavirus-positive patient, according to the countys figures.

So far, only one county in the state has called for testing of all residents and staff at nursing homes even if no symptoms are present: Los Angeles. On April 22, Barbara Ferrer, the countys public health director, said that nursing homes are advised to test everyone.

Experts throughout the state say they hope Santa Clara County will implement more testing at nursing homes.

Santa Clara County is trying to make some good decisions right now, said Wasserman, of the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine. It behooves us to focus a significant amount of our efforts on nursing homes, assisted living and group homes, and that means readily available testing.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
School District of Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite says the district is planning for "challenging circumstances" whenever students return to school. Read more

Even as they gear up for the start of the first day of new instruction since mid-March, Philadelphia School District officials have an eye on what next school year will look like, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Thursday.

Because of COVID-19, children may be brought to school in shifts, and could be required to wear masks, he said. Buses could need to make two or three runs and rules for social distancing on SEPTA, which thousands of students rely on to get to Philadelphia schools, will need to be considered. Lunches and recesses will also likely look different.

All of that is going to be informed by where we are in terms of the requirements based on social distancing, Hite said during a call with reporters. Do we stay in the current state in terms of delivering digital content, or do we try to come back and work through what will be some very challenging circumstances?

 READ MORE: Masks, staggered schedules, social distancing: When Pa. students return to school, things will look different

District officials have joined with a city working group to consider what school might look like when Gov. Tom Wolf allows Pennsylvania to reopen, Hite said.

We are trying to think through every single contingency, the superintendent said. The technology gives us some ability to think differently about where children need to be every single day at a given time. Now, all will have access to the information and to the content.

Teachers and students who are immuno-compromised might not be able to work face-to-face when school begins, Hite said.

The school system is in its second week of formal, teacher-led review and enrichment lessons; on Monday, teachers will begin covering new material.

The point, Hite said, is to hopefully stop the further regression from students.

The system of grading has not yet been determined, Hite said, but the point is not to be punitive for things that students cannot control, like whether they have access to the internet, are working or caring for family members.

 READ MORE: When children return to school, they will most likely need to wear masks, Philly superintendent says

To date, the district has distributed 81,000 Chromebooks, the superintendent said, though some students have not yet picked them up. At some schools, 100% of children have received the laptops, and at others the number is as low as 3%.

District-wide, an average of 71% of students have picked up Chromebooks, Hite said.

Some students still have no way to access the districts teachers and courses because they have no way to get online. The district is buying mobile hot spots for as many students as it can, but Hite has said the school system wont be able to purchase what is needed.

Those mobile hot spots cost as much as the machines do, Hite said. We are going to purchase those and distribute those to the most needy families.

 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.

Information about the number of families who lack internet access is being collected now, the superintendent said, adding that attendance figures should be available next week as the district shifts to mandatory new instruction.

And while the district has several months to plan what could happen in the fall, a more immediate concern is summer school, including programs for students with special-education plans who are required to have extended school year instruction and those who need to make up credits to graduate.

Virtual summer school is more of a likely option given where we are and given all the instructions that were getting from the health department at this time, Hite said.
#LockdownLessons: Mobiz keeps communication going during lockdown

#TheLockdownSeries explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses, how they prepared for lockdown and its impacts on operations and employees, as well as lessons learned that we can take into the post-Covid-19 era.

Greg Chen, CEO of Mobiz , an innovative South African startup combining the ubiquity of SMS with the visual power of the web to change the way South African companies talk to their customers.



As an example, a fashion retailer wouldnt just be restricted to sending out its winter specials. Instead, it could send out personalised deals and discounts based on a persons spending patterns, past purchases, and other characteristics.



Mobiz' mobile tools have made communication between businesses and their consumers a whole lot more convenient in a time of the nationwide lockdown.



Greg Chen, CEO of Mobiz, shares what business has been like amidst the Covid-19 pandemic...



How has Covid-19 impacted your business?



Covid-19 has actually had a positive impact on our business. In the run-up to the crisis, a lot of major South African companies realised that communicating with their customers would be imperative. While most customers used to do outbound communication with both email and SMS, during the lockdown most businesses are now focusing their time and resources on direct channels.

What became clear is that they needed something which could offer them a more immediate way of communicating with their customers without compromising on hyper-personalised, well designed messaging. That reaches all its intended recipients due to us being the one of the only business messaging that cost no mobile data to consumers. The number of messages sent using our SmartSMS platform has actually increased 150% since the beginning of the outbreak.

#AfricaMonth: Mobiz, the startup changing how SA corporates talk to customers

How did you prepare for the lockdown?



We were fortunate to have recent key hires that came from remote ready companies which brought in a lot of knowledge in remote work protocols. Being a tech-focused company, we were able to transition to remote work fairly seamlessly.



What's the biggest challenge you are facing during this pandemic?



We are a small, close-knit team. We do miss being in the office, especially when it comes to hashing out new ideas and plans in amongst some good-natured banter.



What sort of assistance will you need going forward?



Were fortunate in that we are able to maintain cash positive revenue and recently closed a funding round. While our clients may face some lean times, we strongly believe we play a key role in helping them return to prosperity in the months to come.



If you are able to operate, What steps are you taking to continue operating?



Were fortunate to be a technology-focused company. Outside of leaving the office behind, its largely been business as usual for us. Of course, one disadvantage is onboarding new team members. We are a tight-knit team and it is much more difficult to build rapport over Zoom and Slack.



What measures have you put in place for your employees?



We subsidize the cost of Covid-19 tests for any employees who wish to or qualify to get tested. Weve also prepared masks and hand sanitizers for when the lockdown has ended. Of course, the world we know has changed and so we will continue to promote remote work within our operations.



Are you communicating with your customers? If so, how?



Our business model is predicated on helping our customers communicate with their customers. We wouldnt be doing our jobs if we didnt provide the same level of communication. We regularly check in on our customers, ensuring that they are getting the most out of the Mobiz SmartSMS platform. We are also always on hand to answer any questions they might have, whether thats around creating campaigns, optimising their databases, or understanding the ultimate results.

 Mobiz update regarding the upcoming Covid-19 National Lockdown. pic.twitter.com/NWxG5iYB1c  Mobiz South Africa (@Mobiz_RSA) March 25, 2020

How are you offering assistance to your customers who rely on your services?



As a startup, we dont always have the resources necessary to help our enterprise customers beyond minor payment term extensions. We have also agreed to help smaller businesses with subsidizing their fixed platform cost for the next three months. What do you predict the next 6 months will be like?



The next six months will be challenging for all businesses, but the ones that prove most resilient are those that consistently communicate with their customers. Importantly, this shouldnt just be communication for the sake of communication but personalised and relevant to their customers individual and changing needs during this pandemic.



Now is the time to innovate and experiment. What is Mobiz doing?



We are working with the Silicon Valley B2B Accelerator, The Alchemist, to build better onboarding and user experience for enterprises of all sizes. We also recently concluded an internal brand audit, and will be relaunching our website and product messaging very soon.



What has been your biggest lesson from all this?



Business is always uncertain, but there are some things you simply cannot plan for. Every business needs to be able to quickly adapt to new kinds of normal as they appear. This is also where we have seen our recent successes in that our customers have leaned on the agility of our product to pivot their customer engagement. Mobiz , an innovative South African startup combining the ubiquity of SMS with the visual power of the web to change the way South African companies talk to their customers.As an example, a fashion retailer wouldnt just be restricted to sending out its winter specials. Instead, it could send out personalised deals and discounts based on a persons spending patterns, past purchases, and other characteristics.Mobiz' mobile tools have made communication between businesses and their consumers a whole lot more convenient in a time of the nationwide lockdown.Greg Chen, CEO of Mobiz, shares what business has been like amidst the Covid-19 pandemic...Covid-19 has actually had a positive impact on our business. In the run-up to the crisis, a lot of major South African companies realised that communicating with their customers would be imperative. While most customers used to do outbound communication with both email and SMS, during the lockdown most businesses are now focusing their time and resources on direct channels.The number of messages sent using our SmartSMS platform has actually increased 150% since the beginning of the outbreak.We were fortunate to have recent key hires that came from remote ready companies which brought in a lot of knowledge in remote work protocols. Being a tech-focused company, we were able to transition to remote work fairly seamlessly.We are a small, close-knit team. We do miss being in the office, especially when it comes to hashing out new ideas and plans in amongst some good-natured banter.Were fortunate in that we are able to maintain cash positive revenue and recently closed a funding round. While our clients may face some lean times, we strongly believe we play a key role in helping them return to prosperity in the months to come.Were fortunate to be a technology-focused company. Outside of leaving the office behind, its largely been business as usual for us. Of course, one disadvantage is onboarding new team members. We are a tight-knit team and it is much more difficult to build rapport over Zoom and Slack.We subsidize the cost of Covid-19 tests for any employees who wish to or qualify to get tested. Weve also prepared masks and hand sanitizers for when the lockdown has ended. Of course, the world we know has changed and so we will continue to promote remote work within our operations.Our business model is predicated on helping our customers communicate with their customers. We wouldnt be doing our jobs if we didnt provide the same level of communication. We regularly check in on our customers, ensuring that they are getting the most out of the Mobiz SmartSMS platform. We are also always on hand to answer any questions they might have, whether thats around creating campaigns, optimising their databases, or understanding the ultimate results.As a startup, we dont always have the resources necessary to help our enterprise customers beyond minor payment term extensions.The next six months will be challenging for all businesses, but the ones that prove most resilient are those that consistently communicate with their customers. Importantly, this shouldnt just be communication for the sake of communication but personalised and relevant to their customers individual and changing needs during this pandemic.We are working with the Silicon Valley B2B Accelerator, The Alchemist, to build better onboarding and user experience for enterprises of all sizes. We also recently concluded an internal brand audit, and will be relaunching our website and product messaging very soon.Business is always uncertain, but there are some things you simply cannot plan for. Every business needs to be able to quickly adapt to new kinds of normal as they appear. This is also where we have seen our recent successes in that our customers have leaned on the agility of our product to pivot their customer engagement.

Evan-Lee Courie's articles About Evan-Lee Courie Editor: Marketing & Media; Head of Content for Entrepreneurship

Editor: Marketing & Media; Head of Content for Entrepreneurship
The coronavirus may cause deadly blood clots, further scientific research has today revealed.

Irish doctors discovered the infection can cause 'hundreds of small' blockages in the lungs.

These clots may then damage lung function, which the scientists say is 'undoubtedly' causing deaths.

If respiratory failure occurs, it can cause low oxygen levels, putting strain on the organs which could ultimately fail.

The study follows reports from the US that blood clots are probably responsible for a 'large amount' of the coronavirus deaths - even after a patient is discharged from hospital.

Other studies have shown abnormal blood-clotting in COVID-19 patients results in a significantly increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

It's believed these risks are only coming to light now because ethnicity plays a major role in blood-clotting effects.

Chinese people are at a lower risk of blood clots generally, likely due to genetic differences.

It could even help explain why the coronavirus appears to be deadlier in Europe in comparison to countries like China, experts say.

The deaths per 100,000 people in the US was 15.27 on April 24, compared with a mere 0.33 in China, according to mortality analyses by Johns Hopkins University.

More evidence shows that the coronavirus may cause deadly blood clots, as Irish medics find hundreds of small blockages in the lungs. Pictured, an illustration of a blood clot in the lungs

Doctors looked at 83 severe COVID-19 patients at St James's Hospital in Dublin. Pictured, a woman wearing a mask in Dublin on April 28

The report, published in the British Journal of Haematology, comes after studying 83 severe COVID-19 patients at St James's Hospital in Dublin.

Eighty-one per cent were Caucasian, 12 per cent Asian, six per cent African, and one per cent Hispanic.

The patients were, on average, 64 years old, and 80 per cent had underlying health conditions.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) were admitted to ICU during their illness. At the time of the publication, 60 per cent had recovered and 15.7 per cent of patients died.

Doctors measured various aspects of the patients' blood to see how quickly it clots, called coagulation testing.

One indicator - called D-dimer levels - were above the normal range in 67 per cent of the total cohort on admission to hospital.

D-dimer is a substance left over in the blood when there has been a blood clot, so high levels indicate a problem.

Patients who showed increased blood clotting activity were more likely to require ICU admission, results revealed.

The scientists suggests the abnormal blood clotting occurs in the lungs specifically, causing many 'micro-clots'.

'Our novel findings demonstrate COVID-19 is associated with a unique type of blood clotting disorder that is primarily focused within the lungs,' said author Professor James O'Donnell, consultant haematologist in the National Coagulation Centre in St James's Hospital, Dublin.

HOW DOES THE VIRUS LEAD TO DEADLY BLOOD CLOTS? The coronavirus appears to cause blood clotting which can lead to deadly strokes, heart attacks or pulmonary embolisms. While experts are unsure why the virus causes the blockages, there are three main theories: CYTOKINE STORM Some say it could be the result of a an immune overreaction called a 'cytokine storm'. Cytokines are chemical-signaling molecules which guide a healthy immune response. They tell immune cells to attack viral molecules in the body. But in some people, this response goes into overdrive and immune cells start attacking healthy tissue as well, known as a cytokine storm. As blood vessels become damaged they can leak, causing blood pressure to drop and driving up the chance of clots forming. BYPRODUCT OF INFECTION Other scientists say the surge in strokes may be a byproduct of the way COVID-19 invades the human body. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'Covid binds to an enzyme called ACE2 which is on the surface of the cell. 'It simply uses it as a way of attaching itself but in doing so the enzyme function of ACE2 is reduced. 'The consequence of this is an imbalance of hormones called Angiotensin I and Angiotensin II which together regulate blood pressure. 'It could be related to the increase in strokes reported.' VIRUS' UNIQUE SHAPE Dr Robert Bonow, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern University, said it may be the coronavirus' unique shape that is causing the bloodclotting issues. He said the virus' spikes, which latch onto receptors in cells, can also attach to blood vessels. Once they dock onto these blood vessel cells, the viral particles can trigger damage to these as well as to heart muscle, Dr Bonow says. Advertisement

'[This] undoubtedly contributes to the high levels of mortality being seen in patients with COVID-19.

'In addition to pneumonia affecting the small air sacs within the lungs, we are also finding hundreds of small blood clots throughout the lungs. This scenario is not seen with other types of lung infection.

'Understanding how these micro-clots are being formed within the lung is critical so that we can develop more effective treatments for our patients, particularly those in high risk groups.'

The authors of the paper said its not clear how the virus leads to blood clotting, but one theory rests on ACE2 receptors.

ACE2 receptors have been said to work as the coronavirus's doorway into the body and to 'facilitate' infection.

And they have been causally linked to a lower risk of infection and disease severity in smokers, because nicotine is thought to impact expression of ACE2 in various ways.

Professor O'Donnell and colleagues said ACE2 receptors are expressed on cells within the lungs, including endothelial cells in the organs' blood vessels.

Endothelial cells play a huge role in the regulation of blood flow and preventing blood clotting. Therefore damage to them directly by the virus could cause rapid activation of clotting.

But another theory is that clots are formed as a result of a an immune overreaction called a 'cytokine storm'.

Cytokines are chemical-signaling molecules which guide a healthy immune response. They tell immune cells to attack viral molecules in the body.

But in some patients, this process goes into overdrive and immune cells begin destroying healthy tissues, known as a cytokine storm.

The cytokine storm associated with COVID-19 infection will have major impacts upon thrombin generation.

Thrombin is an enzyme which catalyzes blood clotting. It's involved in stopping a wound as small as a paper cut from bleeding.

It helps create a fibrous mesh that impedes blood flow with a protein called fibrin. Fibrin may be deposited in the lungs, causing excessive clotting.

All this considered, the scientists said the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) seen in COVID-19 patients may be the result of a 'double hit' of damage to the lungs.

Both the ventilation of lungs, which is the flow of air into the lungs, and perfusion, which is blood flow to capillaries on the outside of the lungs, may be damaged.

This, in turn, would lower oxygen levels in the body because it interrupts a vital process called gas exchange.

Gas exchange is when oxygen that is inhaled gets to the bloodstream and then vital organs.

It happens at a junction in the lungs between tiny sacs in the lungs called alveoli and blood of tiny vessels on the outside called pulmonary capillaries.

For effective gas exchange to occur, alveoli must always be ventilated and perfused properly.

The micro-clots 'explain why blood oxygen levels fall dramatically in severe COVID-19 infection', Professor O'Donnell said.

Other researchers investigating the link between blood clots and COVID-19 say the unique shape of COVID-19 may allow it to latch onto blood vessels when it invades the body, damaging them and causing leaks.

Or the cytokine storm can lead to damaged blood vessels which leak and cause blood pressure to plummet, driving up the chance of clots forming.

Dr Jamie Garfield, a pulmonologist from Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia who cares for COVID-19 patient, told Science Magazine this was 'probably' the real reason behind many coronavirus deaths.

Although this study primarily looked at clotting in the lungs, blockages near the heart can lead to a heart attack, another common cause of death in infected people. And clots above the chest can cause strokes.

Thirty-eight per cent of Dutch ICU patients had blood clotting in a April 10 study published in Thrombosis Research.

Between 20 and 40 percent of COVID-19 patients at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, have developed blood clots - even after being put on anticoagulants.

'One of the things that is being learned about COVID is how much it produces coagulation problems - i.e. thrombosis (blood clots) found in both large vessels as well as the microvasculature,' Dr Paul Saunders, a physician at Maimonides Medical Center, told DailyMail.com via Twitter direct message.

'That's been found in multiple sites in the body - for example, blood clots in the legs small clots all over the the lungs, as well as large pulmonary emboli.'

Other data suggests clots that start in the lower body can migrate to the lungs, causing a deadly blockage called a pulmonary embolism.

But an interesting point made by the team in Ireland is that blood clotting appears to be more of a risk for Caucasians, specifically venous thrombo-embolism (VTE).

The team did not explain why because scientists have previously struggled to pinpoint the differences on a genetic and/or clinical basis.

The team wrote: 'Ethnicity has major effects on thrombotic risk, with a three to four fold lower risk in Chinese compared to Caucasians and a significantly higher risk in African-Americans.

'Given these data, it is clearly important to determine whether there are differences in coagulopathic features in COVID-19 infected Caucasian compared to Chinese patients.'

'Given that thrombotic risk is significantly impacted by race... our findings raise the intriguing possibility that pulmonary vasculopathy may contribute to the unexplained differences that are beginning to emerge highlighting racial susceptibility to COVID-19 mortality.'

Professor O'Donnell said it would be worthwhile to investigate whether different blood thinning treatments could be given to severe COVID-19 patients.
Climate Change Alarmism Is No Friend to Ethanol

Sorting the wheat from the chaff

By Marc J. Rauch

Author of THE ETHANOL PAPERS

Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher

THE AUTO CHANNEL







Since at least 2009, I've been cautioning against using catastrophic man-made climate change as a tool or excuse for why America and most other nations should be adopting strong ethanol fuel programs. I've done this not just because I believe that the climate issue was a canard, but because I felt that ethanol's benefits as a cleaner, safer, healthier, and 100% domestically produced fuel should be sufficient to win the day. I argued that when and if the time ever comes that the climate change movement is exposed that it will have a severe repercussion against efforts to advance the use of ethanol fuel.

I saw this as a possibility due to the general appalling lack of knowledge of the historical and scientific evidence that proves ethanol's superiority. I've experienced this lack of knowledge with the general public, with our politicians, with media spokespeople, with many in the automotive industry who should know better, and sadly with many of the individuals involved in ethanol advocacy. Yeah, facts can be boring; lots of people hate history. I personally don't feel this way, but as a marketing and advertising expert I've encountered this dislike of information countless times over the years. Relying on terrifying graphical imagery of a world simultaneously flooded by water, yet bone-dry from diabolically rising temperatures is a much preferred way for many people to comprehend where we are and where we're going, even if the vision is false or misleading.

Well, the time has come, someone blew the whistle on Climate Change Alarmism and its comical sidekick, the radical green-at-any-cost movement.

It wasn't The Auto Channel who blew the whistle - Bob Gordon and I have tried, but unfortunately our efforts to do so now seem like we were just wheezing into a whistle's mouthpiece. It took an unlikely source with sufficient hot air to blow the whistle loud enough for the world to take notice. The blowhard in question is filmmaker Michael Moore, and he's the unlikely whistle blower because Moore has been such a heroic figure to those routinely genuflecting at the flag of Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) - even though Moore never previously produced a film specifically on the subject.

Michael Moore accomplished the feat by backing a new film called "PLANET OF THE HUMANS." The film is actually the brainchild of Moore's associates, Jeff Gibbs and Ozzie Zehner, but Moore's hot air is all over it. As I wrote in my review of the film last week, Moore and company has essentially kneecapped the alarmist climate change and environment movements, and the world is taking notice. For instance, aside from my published review there's now been several other opinion pieces that echo similar assessment of the film, such as:



The biggest slams, I think, are really reserved for wood, specifically vast deforestation that provides wood chips to power electric plants. If there's anything that is the holy of holies to "tree-huggers" it's trees. The scenes and examples of what their comrades are doing to trees are mind numbing. It reminded me of the old 1930's and '40's cartoons that are supposed to depict the future and technology. The cartoons show scenes of machines turning full trees into a single wooden toothpick and clothespin. It was funny back then, and maybe it would still be funny today, if it didn't ring so truthful.

Interestingly, I don't think that Messrs, Moore, Gibbs, and Zehner knew what this film would do to the issues of catastrophic man-made climate change and "Green New Deal" style schemes, nor that the film bites the hands that have fed them so well for so long. I think that Michael Moore's post-premiere efforts to apologize for the film and to try to blame capitalism for luring the alarmists to the "darkside" are a consequence of their misjudgment. I think guys like Al Gore have been corrupt most of their lives, and the objectives were so poorly planned out that regardless of the economic system (socialism, communism, feudalism) under which they plied their scams, the results wouldn't have improved - just look at the horrendous environmental conditions in the glorious (ugh) Peoples Republic of China...cough, cough, cough.

A PAT ON THE BACK, OR A KICK IN THE RUMP

It would be nice to say that Moore and company should be thanked for exposing the duplicity and fraud, but their actions to use capitalism as the scapegoat are reprehensible. If they were acting in good faith they would have simply let the story end with champagne toasts celebrating their coming-of-age realization of the truth (the truth being that we are not facing an apocalyptic end of the world in the foreseeable future, and that people like Gore, Kennedy, McKibbon, Bloomberg, Hayes, Branson, and entities like the Sierra Club have nothing of value to offer, in any event). The film ends with no attempt at solutions, other than implying that the majority of humans on Earth should drop dead.

From my position as a staunch advocate for ethanol, there are two significant downsides to the film: The first is the misuse of buzzwords and commonly used misnomers that make understanding the entire issue very confusing. The second downside is the misinformation leveled at ethanol, which undermines what I (needless to say) believe is the one real solution to most of our pollution woes...some of our health afflictions...and many domestic economic problems. I'll deal with the first downside first; and the second downside second.

Buzzwords and misnomers - The film and the post-commentaries about it (from the right and left) play too fast and loose with wrong or misleading terminology. For example:

Biomass - As I alluded to earlier, the idea that any self-righteous tree hugger would condone the cutting down of forests to fuel any purpose should be the most revolting thing they could imagine. I would reserve the term 'biomass' not for cutting down trees or whole forests, but to indicate decomposing and decaying organic matter; feces and rotting food comes to mind. The film contains a short clip of a zoo where the zookeepers thought that the dung from its resident elephants could be used as the raw material to heat the elephant enclosure. However, the zookeepers sarcastically say they would need lots more elephants. While I believe an elephant's bowel movements to be quite prodigious, I'm thinking more in terms of the waste that comes from humans and their pets on a daily basis. There are perhaps a total of 300-400 elephants in America today. By comparison we have about 330 million people and nearly 180 million pet dogs and cats. Virtually all humans and pets defecate at least once per day...now that's some serious "bio mass." If you're looking for a renewable raw fuel source - rain or shine and regardless of the wind condition - this is it. The overwhelming majority of human waste in developed countries flows into central sewerage and waste treatment plants. As long as it's being collected so efficiently, why not use it for methane and methanol? Pet excrement usually gets picked up, why not deposit it into a separate collectible bin that's sent to the waste treatment plants instead of just tossing it into everyday household garbage cans. To read a pretty good NPR story about this CLICK HERE. I included the topic of human and pet waste in an editorial I published last June (2019). You can read it by CLICKING HERE. I'm sure there will be more than one person who will want to point me to some studies that shitcan this concept (pun intended), and that's okay because I would be happy to review them. In fact, I might even review them while in the bathroom contributing to the cause, so to speak. Fossil Fuels - Fuels produced from crude oil are not "fossil fuels;" they (and coal) do not come from decaying fossils and living materials. They come from minerals. They are "abiotic fuels." The relationship between the term "fossil fuels" and petroleum oil fuels was made by Standard Oil to try to give some romance and dignity to their abiotic fuels. In reality, there is no dignity to these fuels, they are poison. All sides of the energy issue should stop using the term "fossil fuels" and they should use "abiotic fuels" instead (although getting the oil industry to abandon the use would probably require an act of Congress). Gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas and compressed natural gas, heating oil, and kerosene are abiotic fuels. Renewables - Renewable energy and fuels are created by man and can be duplicated by man. This primarily includes ethanol, methanol, and hydrogen fuels. Wind and solar power are not renewable energy sources. They do not renew themselves and humans can not do anything to help them to renew. Winds are caused by unequal heating from the sun. The sun is burning itself out (yes, we will probably never see this happen, nor will our grandchildren or great-great-great grandchildren - but it will happen). A much better all encompassing term for solar and wind energy is "NATURAL ENERGY" or "NATURALS" for short. (A colleague doesn't like the word "natural" because he thinks it's tainted by misuse related to the labeling of natural food and other natural products. That's a good point, so then maybe "UNIVERSAL ENERGY" or "UNIVERSALS" is better.) In any event, Naturals or Universals should be used, and the term would include water power and geothermal power. Technically, wood falls in the renewable category. The problem, however, is the time it takes to renew or regenerate wood. Corn grown for ethanol will reach its full maturity in one year's growing season. Some energy crops have more than one growing/harvesting season in a year. Seaweed can grow 18 inches per day. In ten days, seaweed can grow 15 feet. If you chop down a 15 foot tree it could take 5 or 10 years to replace it. I'm not a tree-hugger in the neo-traditional sense, but if you're gonna cut down a tree it should be used to build something of lasting value to humans or animals (i.e., a shelter). If you're cutting down the tree to turn it into wood chips to burn in order to power a generator or boiler (and you live in a developed country), just leave it the hell alone.



At this time, natural energy/fuels cannot replace the use of abiotic renewable fuels. Any thoughts and ideas put forward by proponents of the Green New Deal that natural energy can do this are absolutely, positively wrong. It is simply a childish fantasy (given the nitwits espousing the Green New Deal, it is literally a child-like fantasy) - maybe one day, but not now. Natural energy can supplement energy produced from abiotic fuels and renewable fuels, but not replace them. Alternatives - Alternative energy and fuels can include renewables and naturals and anything else that doesn't fit squarely in the abiotic category. The odd duck is nuclear energy because while it's an alternative to the traditional abiotics, its base source materials (uranium, plutonium or thorium) are abiotic. Raw Energy vs Usable Energy - All usable energies and fuels require great amounts of raw energy and fuels. ALL. Some usable energy and fuels may require less input energy and fuels than others, but they ALL require great amounts of raw energy. So it should never come as a surprise to anyone, anywhere, that there is no magical wand and no free lunch. Even in an asinine dytopian world where mass numbers of humans replace mechanical devices to accomplish tasks, the human machines require fuel, typically multiple times a day. This fuel is basically food. Producing this fuel requires enormous amounts of energy. Obviously, if we can create usable energy without killing millions of animals, or starting wars, destroying bucolic environments, or enslaving people to mine raw materials it would be good and moral and peaceful. With this in mind, we should immediately work to eliminate virtually all abiotic fuels and any fantasies of electric vehicles (until and unless all the issues related to electric vehicles are truly worked out). This will probably mean that many California politicians will have to forego whatever untold-riches and baksheesh they were expecting from China, but that's too damn bad. We don't need electric-powered vehicles; there's nothing wrong with internal combustion engines that a cleaner, safer, healthier fuel won't fix.

The instructive thing in all this is that we should have more clarity in how we communicate ideas about energy (it makes a good life lesson, too). Allowing conmen flim-flam artists - or should I say "film-flam" artists - to misuse such a lovely optimistic word like biomass should never be tolerated.

Ethanol Misinformation - Hey, ethanol production requires raw energy, it's a fact! But ethanol fuel production in America today is energy positive, while gasoline is energy negative. Moreover, no American service man or woman has ever died defending ethanol production or any foreign ethanol producing nation. I don't believe that any aircraft carrier has ever been built to protect the passage of harvested energy crops to distillation plants. No ethanol spills have ever resulted in ecological disasters that kill millions of birds, mammals, and fish. And while it is true that abiotic fuels are often used to power the machinery needed to create energy crops and distillation, the use of abiotic fuels can be entirely eliminated and replaced with cleaner, safer, healthier alcohol-based fuels.

Planet Of The Humans doesn't focus on ethanol and alcohol fuels. It makes some vile references and innuendos about ethanol, primarily by incorrectly lumping ethanol fuel together with the repulsive idea of horse fat and alligator fat biofuel.

This is what a corn field looks like:

This is what a petroleum fracking field looks like:

This is what a "green energy" Gore/McKibbon-type woodchip enterprise results in:

Algae, kelp, and seaweed represent a great potential for ethanol production. Because of seaweed's rapid growth, one acre of saltwater seaweed can yield up to 30,000 gallons of ethanol in a year (an acre of corn can yield 300 to 400 gallons of ethanol per year). Just after showing scenes related to horse fat and alligator fat biofuels, the film cuts to a scene of a white-coated General Electric spokesman who announces that he believes that liquid fuels and chemicals will have to eventually be made from sustainable raw materials. He says, "We believe that seaweed is one of the most attractive opportunities." The film then cuts to a beautiful underwater scene of seaweed and seahorses, and the narrator (Jeff Gibbs) wistfully intones, "Better hurry, one year after it was filmed, this seaweed forest was dead."

It sure looks and sounds ominous, but I'm unaware of any alligator or horse fat biofuels being pumped at filling stations, and the location of the underwater scene is not identified...nor is the "seaweed forest dead." As I write this, and you read this, seaweed is growing like a weed on steroids in the oceans and seas all around the world. Making it seem as if ethanol has killed off any seaweed forests is as fraudulent as Michael Moore's claim that capitalism is to blame for Al Gore being a hypocrite rat, or his recent anti-Trump rant that Trump has wrongfully trademarketed "Central Park" (thereby depriving the City of New York from using the name. There are currently 9 different live Federal trademarks with the two words "Central" and "Park," and about a dozen more trademarks that use "central" and "park" as key words in their marks, such as "Central Park West"). Even if one of Donald Trump's companies own (legally own) a trademark that uses the words Central Park, so what?

Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out what the heck a GE spokesman is doing talking about this subject. I've been covering ethanol and biofuels for many years and I've never come across any GE information of value related to ethanol since the company's co-founder Elihu Thompson gave testimony at the 1906 Free Alcohol Congressional Meetings. I am very aware of Exxon-Mobil's misguided attempts to encroach on the algae-biofuels space with what I've suspected is their hope to patent a super-algae formula. Algae doesn't need a super formula to grow, but that's another story.

The unfortunate end result of these aspersions is that ethanol is tarred and feathered alongside all of the harebrained scams created by Gore, McKibbon, the Koch brothers, Khosla, Bloomberg, the Sierra Club, and the rest of the film's skewed contingent. The problem is that I haven't seen where anyone in the ethanol industry has tried to correct these outlandish comments.

What I've encountered over the last few years are several so-called environmental organizations making bewilderingly stupid anti-ethanol misrepresentations. I've argued that these green entities are really just fronts or financial partners of anti-ethanol groups. Last December, I was challenged on this point by Marlo Lewis, Jr., bedfellow of the oil industry and long time ethanol basher. My published reply to Lewis enumerated multiple examples to prove my point, and now Michael Moore's new film provides the icing on that cake. You can read it by CLICKING HERE

Some ethanol advocates bought into the ideas of catastrophic man-made climate change and extreme environmental movements either because they believed in the underlying information or because they believed that by doing so that it would help sell the idea of ethanol fuels, or both. With the revelation that the people and the "science" behind both movements are liars and frauds, the affected ethanol advocates now have to contend with increased hostility from ethanol opponents plus the duplicitous backstabbing by the alarmist leaders who have been concocting and spreading lies against ethanol because ethanol is a threat to their own scams. With friends like the scammers involved in AGW and Green New Dealing, the ethanol industry will never be short on enemies. The difficult task is identifying and retaining real friends.

SEE ALSO: What Coronavirus Teaches Us About Climate Change
A southeastern Missouri man is facing state and federal charges for allegedly torching the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center April 24, the first full day of Ramadan.

42-year-old Nicholas Proffitt was convicted of felony property damage as a hate crime for vandalizing the same center more than a decade ago in 2009. In both crimes, investigators believe Proffitt targeted the center because of the religion of those who worship there.

mosque2.jpg

This Friday, April 24, 2020 photo shows damage to the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau, Mo, which suffered extensive damage in an arson fire. Jacob Wiegand/The Southeast Missourian via AP

"To people of faith in our nation, houses of worship are sacred places," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband said in a statement. "Attacks against houses of worship are attacks against people of faith and their right to exercise their religion freely and without fear."

Richard Quinn, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI St. Louis Division, said "the fact this fire damaged a place of worship during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is especially harmful."

In the latest case, Proffitt is facing charges of felony burglary, felony first-degree arson and first degree property damage enhanced as a hate crime, according to the Cape Girardeau Police Department. He is also facing federal arson charges.

According to a federal criminal complaint, investigators believe Proffitt is the man seen on the center's video surveillance system breaking a window by throwing multiple objects and two canisters inside. The man is then seen entering the building through the window, dousing the area with some kind of liquid from the two canisters and lighting the liquid on fire before fleeing.

mosque-suspect.jpg

A man is seen on surveillance video torching the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on April 24, 2020. Police identified the suspect as 42-year-old Nicholas Proffitt. Cape Girardeau Police

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Investigators responding to the scene immediately suspected arson because the blaze spread quickly to other parts of the building, which has space for religious services on the first floor and living units for several renters on the second floor. Some of the renters were home at the time, but no one was injured, according to the complaint.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to restore the center said it sustained $1 million worth of damage and was later determined a total loss.

"We are very sad about these things, but we believe we are going to be okay and we are going to rebuild," resident Baker Abo told CBS affiliate KFVS.

Investigators say the suspect was seen on surveillance video getting into a red Ford Escape he had parked in a county transit authority lot. Investigators found a truck that matched the description parked at Cape Girardeau apartment complex. The truck's owner, Profitt's fiancee, told investigators that Proffitt had used the truck the morning of the fire. Investigators also saw a Shell oil can inside, similar to the canisters found at the Islamic Center.

When they showed the fiancee the surveillance video, she identified the arsonist as Proffitt and said he lived with her at the home. Proffitt was later arrested at his workplace, a Perryville food processing plant. Officers found he had receipts for purchasing motor oil from a gas station the day of the arson, according to the complaint.

In the 2009 case, the Southeast Missourian reported that Proffitt was charged with property damage for throwing rocks at the center's front door and damaging a car in its parking lot. Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Welker told the paper Proffitt served a three-year sentence after the charges were enhanced as a hate crime. In the latest case, Proffitt is facing the maximum possible charges under the state's hate crime statute, Welker told the paper.

In a statement, the advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations praised the arrest, but called for hate crime charges at the federal level.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  A federal judge in Cleveland presiding over thousands of opioid lawsuits said he is planning to hold a trial in next year for claims made by two Ohio counties against pharmacy companies.

U.S. District Judge Dan Polster on Thursday selected lawsuits filed by Lake and Trumbull counties for another bellwether trial, or test case to see how similar trials would play out. He wrote in an order that he planned to have the trial in May 2021.

The trial is scheduled after another against in Polsters courtroom, currently set for November, for lawsuits filed against pharmacies by Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

Attorneys for those counties were scheduled to make their case regarding the pharmacies distribution and dispensing practices. However, a federal appeals court ruled earlier this month that the judge erred when he allowed the claims for dispensing  which involved painkiller prescription filled for patients  to be added to the lawsuits about two years after the lawsuits were first filed.

The counties lawyers said they will now proceed only with their distribution claims. Polster, following the ruling, said he would hold another trial for the dispensing claims.

Pharmacies  which include Walgreens, CVS, Rita Aid, Walmart, Giant Eagle and the Medina-based Discount Drug Mart  objected to the judge setting another trial date in Ohio. Trials in other courts across the country involve the pharmacies, they noted.

It is the third trial Polster, who oversees more than 2,700 federal lawsuits from across the country, is set to preside. The lawsuits, mostly filed by cities and counties, largely claim that drug companies did not do enough as the number of overdose deaths skyrocketed in the U.S. in the past two decades.

Cuyahoga and Summit counties were set to go to trial last October against several manufacturers and distributors. However, all but one company settled and the counties reached deals worth more than $325 million.

Manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies have denied any legal wrongdoing.

Trials in other courts are set for this year, including two in state courts in Ohio. Meanwhile, several large drug companies have entered into negotiations to try and settle all the lawsuits they face nationwide, something Polster has urged.
With social distancing on the sand, restaurants restructured to restrict crowding and temperature-taking at the door in hotels, Spain is looking for creative ways to lure back tourists in the post-pandemic era. As the world's second-most visited country, Spain usually moves into high gear in the run-up to Easter, but this year, all bets were off with the coronavirus epidemic dealing a devastating blow to the tourism industry which is now seeking ways to salvage the summer. "We want to be at the forefront of those destinations offering reassurance to our clients by being the safest and the most hygienic," said Daniel Barbero, the local official in charge of tourism in Almunecar, a seaside town some 80 kilometres (50 miles) east of Malaga in southern Spain. Although Spain is the second-most popular tourist destination in the world, it has been badly hit by the epidemic with the number of deaths in the country standing at more than 24,000. But with the epidemic in Spain peaking earlier this month, the government has laid out plans for a staged transition out of the lockdown, with the gradual opening of bars, hotels and restaurants to begin on May 11. And the stakes are high in a country where the tourism sector accounts for 12 percent of gross domestic product and 13 percent of employment, but which looks set to lose up to 60 percent of its annual income as a result of the lockdown, the Exceltur tourism association has warned. Incensed by the vagueness of the government's plans to roll back the restrictions, industry professionals have made a string of proposals aimed at drawing back the tourists. And Almuecar is hoping to pilot some of these proposals, with its highly-popular diving clubs working on detailed plans to avoid infections being passed on through breathing equipment that is rented out to divers. The town is also hoping to avoid crowding on its beaches with patrols by local police and civil protection officers, Barbero says. - Paella for one - On Spain's eastern coast, the town of Gandia is looking to recruit extra lifeguards to ensure sunbathers remain at least two metres away from each other on the beach. And it is mulling separate hours when children can go to the beach in order to avoid too much cross-over with older and more vulnerable people. "We're not thinking about putting up barriers... (because) you can't fence off an open space like a beach. We will keep people informed, and try ensure a sense of personal responsibility," explains Vicent Mascarell, the town's tourism councillor. They will also instal hand gel dispensers at beach access points, he says. Bars and restaurants are also looking to the future although for now, the country's main hostelry association has advised against the installation of perspex partitions as too costly. "We're going to have to reduce capacity by half. A restaurant with 15 or 20 tables won't be able to have more than eight or 10 with a metre or 1.5 metres (three to five foot) between them," says Jose Manuel Navarro, president of the town's hostelry association. To limit the financial impact, the town hall will facilitate the expansion of pavement terraces to allow bars to set out more tables. Making menus available online will reduce the need to pass around physical menus. And in a country where sharing food like paella or tapas is very popular, "we will see more individual portions," says Mascarell. "It has to be done because we're facing a new reality," he said. - Ultra-violet light - Hygiene measures will also be stepped up in hotels, in particular in Madrid, the worst-hit region, which is working on a "COVID-free hotel" quality seal. For visitors arriving at the RoomMate Hotels chain, they will step onto bleach-infused carpeting to ensure their shoes and suitcase wheels are clean and then have their temperature taken before being handed given a mask, gloves and sanitising gel. And at the VP hotel in Plaza de Espana in the city centre, guests will undergo a quick COVID-19 test before entering. "If the client tests positive, we will put them in a closed room before informing the health authorities," the group's director Javier Perez told AFP. If the guests are negative, they will be able to go up to the rooftop bar and restaurant which has panoramic views over the city with a 50-euro surcharge to cover the cost of the test carried out by a private clinic. The aim is to reassure the hotel's many guests who tend to be in their 60s and 70s. "We already have 600 lunch and dinner bookings. The first week we reopen, we'll be completely booked," says Perez, who says the hotel has invested 120,000 euros in ultra-violet light devices to ensure total disinfection. "But we don't know if people are coming just to be tested or to eat!" The big question, however, is when the borders will be opened to international visitors. For the moment, nothing has been decided at a European level, a government official told AFP. Spain is looking for creative ways to lure back tourists in the post-pandemic era Restaurants may have to cut dining capacity by half Some hotels will test guests for COVID-19 on arrival
Prince Charles has made an undisclosed donation to a charity which is combating COVID-19 among the worlds most vulnerable populations.

Charles, 71, recorded a video message in support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in which he discussed the threat of coronavirus to refugees in Syria and Cameroon.

He said IRC volunteers are working in areas of conflict and crisis where hospital beds and ventilators are a rarity, saying life is precarious enough without a global pandemic to manage.

He added: In these places, the situation is desperately grave. Some 70 million refugees and displaced people are vulnerable in ways few of us can imagine.

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Just think for a moment: How do you socially distance in a crowded, sprawling refugee camp? How do you protect yourself, and your family, from this virus when you dont have basic access to soap and water?

How do you keep up hope when doctors and nurses are nowhere to be seen? The answer lies in organisations with the experience, the expertise and the determination to help in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

Coronavirus could spread faster in overcrowded refugee and displaced persons camps according to the International Rescue Committee. (Getty Images)

The IRC is an humanitarian organisation founded by Albert Einstein and Charles is a UK patron.

While Charles was self-isolating in Birkhall, having tested positive for coronavirus, he had a video call with former foreign secretary David Miliband, who is now the president and CEO of the IRC.

Read more: Coronavirus: Prince Charles praises farmers, driver and shelf-stackers keeping food on the table

After the call, Miliband noted: I was very struck about how he was very concerned about the global picture as well as his first priority being in the UK

The IRC has estimated there could be one billion infections and 3.2 million deaths due to COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic in 34 crisis-affected countries where the IRC works, unless quick action is taken.

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Part of Charles's work in lockdown has included virtual hospital openings. (Getty)

Read more: Boris Johnson to give more details on how coronavirus lockdown measures to be lifted

Laura Kyrke-Smith, executive director of the IRC in the UK, said: There remains a small window of time to mount a robust response to COVID-19 while it is still in early stages in fragile countries, which is why we are so grateful to have the Prince of Waless support at this crucial time and would ask those who can to join him in supporting our work.

Charles has spoken for several weeks about the impact of coronavirus both on the earth itself and on the global population.

Back in early March, he called for governments to mobilise with the same urgency against climate change as they had done for coronavirus.

And on Earth Day, Charles said the retreat of humans into lockdown had proved the earth could heal, if people would let it.

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Bushfire hero Shane Fitzsimmons will be honoured as he steps down from his role as New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner after 12 years on the job.

Fitzsimmons was a key figure in leading the fight during Australia's summer bushfire crisis - spending months away from his family and working tirelessly to coordinate efforts and keep the public informed.

He will be farewelled with a small morning tea on Thursday, attended by RFS staff and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and be saluted as he officially walks out the door.

Fitzsimmons, who has two adult daughters, Lauren and Sarah, with his wife Lisa, is now taking on a new role after making the 'absolutely difficult and deeply personal' decision to step down from the RFS.

Bushfire hero Shane Fitzsimmons will be honoured as he steps down from his role as New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner after 12 years on the job

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons pinning a medal on Harvey Keaton after his father Geoffrey Keaton was posthumously awarded with the Commissioners Commendation for Extraordinary Service and a Commendation for Bravery

He will head up Resilience NSW, a new agency announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian in March, established to ensure the state was prepared and able to respond to crises.

The 51-year-old was widely praised for his leadership during the summer bushfires in which 5.5 million hectares of land was burned and 2,448 homes were razed in NSW.

He led a group of 70,000 volunteer firefighters with, at the height of the bushfires, about 2,500 firefighters working each shift to battles the flames.

Fitzsimmons also led tributes on numerous occasions to the 25 people who were killed in the blazes.

He said the decision to step down as commissioner and move on to a new role was 'absolutely difficult and deeply personal, but it's the right one'.

'It's been a privilege and an absolute honour to have served in this organisation alongside so many tens of thousands of wonderful individuals, and in particular a privilege to lead the organisation as commissioner for over a decade,' Mr Fitzsimmons said when he was announced as the new agency's new chief.

'I've seen very much this past season - the worst that mother nature can deliver - but I also saw the very best in our people.'

Mr Fitzsimmons said drought-stricken communities had been 'belted by bushfires' only for the extraordinary COVID-19 pandemic to then compound the situation further.

'I very much care about and am concerned for the people of NSW ... and there is no doubt in my mind that I take on this new role with a deal of trepidation of course,' he said.

'But I'm very open to the idea of continuing to make a meaningful difference in the lives and livelihoods of people, of communities, to help with business, to help with industry, and to help rebuild our economy.'

Mr Fitzsimmons and his wife Lisa (left) and daughter Sarah (centre)

Mr Fitzsimmons followed in his father George's footsteps. Pictured: George's plaque erected after his death during a hazard-reduction burn gone wrong in 2000 in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Mr Fitzsimmons joined the RFS in 1985 as a volunteer at just 15-years-old and held a number of senior roles until his appointment as commissioner in 2008.

His determination in the role was forged through personal tragedy after his father George, also a firefighter, was killed in an out-of-control hazard reduction burn in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park aged just 53.

Four National Parks and Wildlife Service officers also died in the incident and three more were injured.

The incident strengthened his resolve to ensure safety and logistics were paramount for those battling fires on the front lines.

'I have never found someone who is able to be as supportive to people in need as much as Shane,' deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said.

Rogers will take over the role of NSW RFS commissioner, after 40 years as a member and nine years as deputy.

NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons with his daughters Lauren (left) and Sarah (right)

Emergency Services Minister David Elliott also echoed the comments.

'I don't think there's a single person who would disagree that Commissioner Fitzsimmons' leadership was a beacon of hope during our State's darkest hour,' Mr Elliott said.

Resilience NSW will lead a whole-of-government prevention, preparedness and recovery efforts, and oversee emergency management policy, service delivery and all aspects of disaster recovery.

'Who would have thought that in 2020, NSW would be facing a pandemic. We don't know the challenges of the future but what I do know is that NSW, through Resilience NSW, will be able to focus on preparing and recovering from anything that comes our way,' Ms Berejiklian said.

At the height of the bushfires about 2,500 firefighters were battling blazes on each shift

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney, Monday, April 6, 2020




Crest View International Limited has announced that the company has completed the temporary relocation of its corporate headquarters to Taipei, Taiwan. The operation was concluded in April, 2020.

The initial plans were to facilitate and expand the company's research and analysis division in Hong Kong. However, due to the increasing pressure from the coronavirus pandemic and local unrest, an executive decision was implemented to temporarily relocate the corporate headquarters and new research division to Taipei.

"We are all extremely passionate about the work that we conduct here at Crest View International, and assisting our clients with financial management activities remain our top priority amidst the growing uncertainty of the economic climate. We are also concerned about the safety and wellbeing of our members of staff. The decision to relocate our headquarters temporarily was to enable our members of staff to continue to work and assist our clients in times of need," commented Mr. Cheng Kun, Chief Executive Officer at Crest View International.

Taiwan's handling of the coronavirus outbreak has received international praise for its effectiveness and preparation. Michael Ryan from the World Health Organization has recently highlighted Taiwan's "very good public health response" at a briefing in Geneva.

"Our new temporary headquartered office in Taipei will enable us at Crest View International to continue servicing our clients and handling their needs at such a crucial time in history," added Mr. Michael Kennedy, Head of Corporate Trading at Crest View International.

Financial markets have rallied higher in recent trading sessions, with client sentiment suggesting that investor confidence is growing, as they pin their hopes to a breakthrough treatment for COVID-19.

About Crest View International

Crest View International Limited is a private wealth management company headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Crest View International manages over $8.7 billion (USD) on behalf of its clients from around the world.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005652/en/

Contacts:

Mr. Nathan Hu, Head of Research

nathan.hu@crestviewcapital.com, +886-2-7741-4004
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 15:38:41|Editor: Lu Hui

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Over 117 million domestic trips are estimated to be made by Chinese passengers during the upcoming five-day May Day holiday, according to the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

Short inter-provincial journeys by private vehicles will be the most common, Wu Chungeng, an official with the MOT, said at a press conference Thursday.

Daily railway passenger trips during the holiday, running from May 1 to 5, are expected to reach 5 million, about one-third of the level seen during last year's same period. The number of daily road trips for the holiday is expected to reach 17.98 million.

An estimated 450,000 daily waterway passenger trips are expected to be made during the May Day holiday, about 50 percent of the number made during the holiday in 2019. Daily air passenger numbers are estimated to hit 580,000, about 33.2 percent of that for the same period last year. Enditem
A top Manhattan ER doctor who killed herself after recovering from coronavirus, had an 'altered' state of mind after contracting covid-19, said her sister.

Dr. Lorna M. Breen, 49, the medical director of the emergency department at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, died in Charlottesville, Virginia on Sunday.

In the days leading up to her death, the doctor reportedly recounted to family members a series of traumatic scenes she'd witnessed working in the Manhattan hospital, including an onslaught of patients dying in front of her before they could even be removed from ambulances.

Her sister Jennifer Feist told NBC News that she believes her sister's brain had been 'altered' by the virus, as well as haunted by the devastating sights she witnessed.

Dr. Lorna M. Breen, 49, with her sister Jennifer Feist on a New York City roof top. Mrs Feist said she believes her sister's brain had been 'altered' by the virus

Ms Feist told NBC: 'She had COVID. And I believe that it altered her brain. Then she went back to the most horrific, unimaginable conditions.

'For somebody whose life's calling is helping people, and she just couldn't help enough people, the combination was just untenable.'

Dr. Lorna M. Breen, the medical director of the emergency department at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, died in Charlottesville, Virginia on Sunday

Dr. Breen had recently contracted COVID-19 but had returned to work at Allen after a week-and-a-half of rest. After the hospital sent her home, she re-located to Charlottesville to recuperate under the instructions of her father, Dr. Philip C. Breen.

Ms Feist told of how her sister had been unwilling to leave the hospital, even after completing a 12-hour shift, as she felt it was her duty to stay and help.

She addded that she had begged her sister to sleep and rest to stay on fighting form: 'She would not give up. She would not let it break her, which, of course, it did.'

The doctor had returned to work after recovering from the virus and was told to return home as she was not well enough to work - a fellow doctor told The New York Post it was this which 'broke' Dr Breen.

On Sunday, officers from the Charlottesville Police Department responded to a call seeking medical assistance after Dr Breen made an attempt on her own life.

'Make sure she's praised as a hero, because she was,' father Philip Breen (seen left) urged. 'She's a casualty just as much as anyone else who has died'

The grieving 71-year-old father (center) said Dr Breen (left) had no history of mental illness, but during their final conversation together he noticed his daughter seemed detached and began to suspect something might be wrong

'The victim was taken to U.V.A. Hospital for treatment, but later succumbed to self-inflicted injuries,' department spokesperson Tyler Hawn told the New York Times.

Just days before, Breen's father recounted how she appeared troubled by the devastating scenes she had witnessed while working with coronavirus patients at Allen.

Breen had recently contracted COVID-19 but had returned to work at Allen after a week-and-a-half of rest. But after the hospital sent her home, she re-located to Charlottesville to recuperate under the instructions of her father

'She tried to do her job, and it killed her,' Phillip Breen told the Times. 'She was truly in the trenches of the front line.'

The grieving 71-year-old father said Breen had no history of mental illness, but during their final conversation together he noticed his daughter seemed detached and began to suspect something might be wrong.

'Make sure she's praised as a hero, because she was,' he urged. 'She's a casualty just as much as anyone else who has died.'
(Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration) A 3D printed Google logo is seen in this illustration taken April 12, 2020.

With the rising popularity of video conferencing, Google has decided to join the fun by launching their own platform, Google Meet.

This is after security and privacy issues began to emerge for Zoom. Google hopes to acquire users who have since been disenfranchised by Zoom's lapses in judgment.

Google is opening up its Google Meet videoconferencing service to anyone, instead of just having the enterprise and education customers through G Suite. Now, anyone with a Google account can hold free meetings with up to 100 people with no time limit until Sept. 30.

However, Google's account requisite is difficult. People need to be logged in to join a meeting, so meetings can be better controlled by the hosts.

Also, Google will introduce other safety measures. People added to a meeting via a calendar invite will be automatically be directed to a green room when they try to join. And they will only be let in when approved by the host. The free version will not offer landline dial-in numbers for meetings.

These security features are Google's answers to the issues being experienced by Zoom which, in the last few months, gained popularity among those who are working and studying from home.

Let Google Hangouts Retire

In the past, Google has doubted itself when it came to conferencing and messaging products. Google Meet used to be called Hangouts Meet, which the company is now trying to veer away from. Similarly, Hangouts Chat was also renamed to Google Chat.

Also, Hangouts Videochat, which is another legacy product, will also be switched to Google Meet. Until then, there will only be one platform for both consumers and enterprises.

Certainly, Google's steady progress has been a big benefit for enterprise clients, so it is now time for the tech company to fully retire the Hangouts brand.

Moreover, Google now supports the Gallery view where all participants are shown in a single screen which Zoom largely popularized. This new feature is available in both mobile apps and desktop browsers.

Capitalizing on Zoom's Security Issues

Unlike its competitors, Google is keeping G Suite and its related products as web-first apps. This allows them to be easily updated and managed than native Windows or macOS apps. However, the approach can lead to losing the meeting in a sea of tabs or accidentally leaving it.

Meanwhile, Google is unveiling a new tier for G Suite called "G Suite Essentials," which includes Meet and Google Drive, but not Gmail. All current G Suite customers will still have free access to Google Meet until September 30.

Both the regular and G Suite Meet accounts are not integrated into Gmail. Google is also fully utilizing Gmail's power to promote its video conferencing app.

Overall, Zoom may have received all the popularity. However, that will dwindle down unless it fixes all its security issues. It shouldn't be complacent because Google, Microsoft, and even Facebook, will make sure it will no longer take the biggest slice of the market.

Read Also: Experts Discover a New Way to Improve Video Streaming Through a New Algorithm

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Physical therapists at the Vall dHebron University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, danced with a coronavirus-diagnosed patient who the hospital said had been unable to move in the intensive care unit for 30 days.

Video from the hospital, posted to Twitter on April 26, shows the patient, identified as a man named Felipe, dancing to a song by Sergio Dalma.

There had been 23,822 confirmed deaths in Spain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic by 28 April, according to official figures. The countrys lockdown measures were due to be eased from May 4, when some small businesses would be allowed to reopen. Credit: Vall dHebron University Hospital via Storyful
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) is urging government to resolve the UNIPASS issue to avert possible fuel shortages in the country.

The failure of Ghanas new Customs Management System, Universal Pass (UNIPASS) to take off has even made matters worse with affected institutions calling on the government to bring back the Ghana Community Network System (GCNet).

In a statement from COPEC, they say the ongoing challenges in respect of revenue settlement following from a decision to migrate onto a new platform (UNIPASS) from the existing GCNet platform is leading to a lot of challenges with petroleum liftings across depots in the country.

While they lament over government failure to gradually roll out UNIPASS side by side with GCNet, they are warning that the challenges of the new system if left unresolved within the next 24 hours could and will certainly lead to serious fuel shortages across the country.

With the Oil and Gas companies experiencing serious revenue losses, COPEC is also calling on the government to provide support from the announced SME stimulus package.

We call on the State to ensure the various Oil and Gas Companies are not left out in the announced SME support as a lot are reeling heavily under the harsh effects of our 3 weeks lockdown and subsequent low volumes and revenues which can increase job losses and redundancy within the country.

Read the full statement from COPEC below:

RESOLVE THE GCNET/UNIPASS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY TO CURTAIL ANY FUEL SHORTAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

The ongoing challenges in respect of revenue settlement following from a decision to migrate onto a new platform (UNIPASS) from the existing GCNet platform is leading to a lot of challenges with petroleum liftings across depots in the country.

Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and the Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) that had orders for supply of fuel to various outlets could not load a single litre of fuel all day on Wednesday the 29th of April due to discrepancies in the migration onto the new customs system ( UNIPASS ) at the depots.

A communique issued earlier yesterday from the NPA indicating a swift response to resolve the issue to enable the liftings seemed not to have yielded as most Oil Marketing Companies and the LPGMCs had to make alternative arrangements to accommodate their drivers who had been dispatched to load products from the depots across the country.

This situation if left unresolved within the next 24 hours could and will certainly lead to serious fuel shortages across the country.

One would expect that the new system would have been rolled out gradually side by side with the old system in order to help in facilitating a gradual phasing out of the existing system (GCNet) but the seeming haste in abandoning the old system whiles the new system (UNIPASS) is not fully ready and integrated is clearly leading to discrepancies being witnessed and we wish for a speedy resolution to forestall any possible shortages across the country.

Our attention has further been drawn to the cutting of staff numbers by some of our Oil Companies due to the adverse effects of Coronavirus on volumes and revenues through a lot of others have refused to lay off.

In light of the above, we call on the State to ensure the various Oil and Gas Companies are not left out in the announced SME support as a lot are reeling heavily under the harsh effects of our 3 weeks lockdown and subsequent low volumes and revenues which can increase job losses and redundancy within the country.

We further call on the Regulator of the downstream ( NPA ) to also work out a mechanism to ease down on the heavy license renewal fees charged to these companies to enable them to adjust to the vagaries of the Coronavirus outbreak on their businesses with the view to ensuring they keep fuel prices lower for Ghanaians without the tendency to increase or collect their full margins which can only lead to increases in pump prices.

Finally, we will like to reiterate an earlier call on the Ghana Revenue Authority to give a moratorium for the next 6 months to Oil Companies instead of the current one spanning up to end of July to file their returns later than the current 45 days since sales volumes across the board has reduced significantly and any attempts to enforce the earlier 21 or 45-day collections could only mean going to the banks to borrow which eventually places undue pressures on them to engage in all manner of games to survive.

Signed

Duncan Amoah

Executive Secretary
PHOENIX, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Namecheap, the world's second-largest retail domain registrar and leading provider of online products and services for entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups, is launching its first ever "Powered by Namecheap" sponsorship program. With the new initiative, Namecheap is aiming to help create opportunities for dreamers, creators, innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to finally kickstart that big online idea.

Namecheap is looking for the most inspiring, unique and creative ideas from people who might be held back only by the initial cost of starting their new website. Whether it's an online business, a blog, an e-shop, a game, an app  even a drone pizza delivery service  whatever the idea, Namecheap would like to hear about it! Apply now for sponsorship consideration.

The sponsorship includes the following:

Any non-premium domain name to represent the new project online

to represent the new project online Web hosting best-suited to the website to keep the project up and running

to keep the project up and running Positive SSL certificate to provide the necessary website security

to provide the necessary website security Expert advice and tips from Namecheap's marketing and customer service teams

How to apply:

To be considered for sponsorship, participants need to complete a simple application form on the "Powered by Namecheap" page . Namecheap's team will review all completed applications and inform sponsorship finalists via email within 30 days of their entry. Only the best ideas will receive an invitation for sponsorship, and Namecheap is hoping to support as many amazing projects as possible. For more information and to view sponsorship terms and conditions, visit: https://www.namecheap.com/get-powered-by-namecheap/

About Namecheap

Namecheap is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar and technology company founded in 2000 by CEO Richard Kirkendall. Celebrating nearly two decades of providing unparalleled levels of service, security, and support, Namecheap has been steadfast in customer satisfaction. With over 10.5 million domains under management, Namecheap.com is among the top domain registrars and web hosting providers in the world. To learn more about Namecheap, visit namecheap.com.

Contact: Derek Musso, [email protected]

SOURCE Namecheap

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Residents of British Columbia are known throughout Canada for their fierce protectiveness of the provinces natural resources, so it should come as no surprise that a watch company based there prides itself on creating timepieces from reclaimed wood.

Tense Watches was founded in 1971 by Ken Lau, a self-taught clock and watchmaker who immigrated from Hong Kong with his young family and settled in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam. As someone who had an affinity for repurposing things, according to Taryn Liebholz, the companys marketing coordinator and spokeswoman, he decided to make watches from reclaimed wood, a decision that seems prescient in these environmentally conscious times.

The company is an advocate for sustainability and has been since the beginning, Ms. Liebholz said.

It generally buys wood from sources, like a furniture maker, that purchase scrap wood from logging enterprises. We can use much smaller pieces than they can, so it makes sense, Ms. Liebholz said. With a piece of wood the size of a notebook, we can make two watches.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 02:24:54|Editor: huaxia

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DUBLIN, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Dalata Hotel Group PLC, the largest hotel operator in Ireland, announced on Wednesday that it has laid off 3,500 employees due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The news was announced by the group's CEO Pat McCann at an annual general meeting conducted over a conference call, according to the Irish national radio and television broadcaster RTE.

McCann told shareholders at the meeting that those who have remained working in the group have seen significant cuts in their salaries.

In a statement issued ahead of Wednesday's meeting, Dalata said that the current crisis has had a very significant impact on its business.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Dalata's revenue per available room fell by nearly 25 percent at its Dublin hotels, 14 percent at its hotels in other parts of Ireland, and nearly 19 percent at its UK hotels, said the statement.

Last week, Dalata reportedly clinched a 65-million-euro (about 70 million U.S. dollars) deal on the sale and leaseback of Clayton Hotel Charlemont in Dublin to Deka Immobilien, a Belgium-based real estate company.

The company said that the deal will strengthen its cash resources and help it survive the current crisis.

Headquartered in Dublin, Dalata operates over 40 hotels both in Ireland and Britain, according to its website. Enditem
Ontario's COVID-19 death toll at 1,145, new cases jump to 459 after decline yesterday

Ontario reported 459 additional cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, a figure consistent with new daily case counts seen throughout much of April.

The news comes after the province saw its lowest daily increase in three weeks yesterday, prompting Premier Doug Ford to tell reporters during his daily briefing that Ontario is "getting close to opening up."

Ontario's top doctor has said health officials would need to see two to four weeks of declining daily case counts before emergency measures can be loosened significantly.

The cases push the cumulative total since the outbreak began in January to 16,187, though 63 per cent are now considered resolved by Ontario Public Health. About 14 per cent of those instances, or 2,292 cases, are health-care workers, while about 11.6 per cent ended up requiring treatment in hospital.

Some 35 per cent of total cases are known to have come from community transmission, according to the Ministry of Health, while details on more than 37 per cent are still "pending."

Ontario also confirmed 86 more COVID-19-linked deaths, bringing its official death toll to 1,082. However CBC News has compiled data from regional public health units and counted at least 1,145 deaths.

New workplace safety guidelines released

At his daily briefing on Thursday, Premier Doug Ford announced 65 new safety guidelines for businesses as the province prepares for a gradual reopening.

"We're on the path to reopening the economy because we see that curve is flattening," Ford said. "I'm laser focused on opening things up as quickly as we can."

The guidelines are meant to protect workers and customers specifically in manufacturing, food manufacturing and processing, restaurant and food service, and the agricultural sector.

The new guidelines include:

Ways to ensure appropriate physical distancing, like eliminating pay-at-the-door options, holding team meetings outdoors, staggering shift times and using ground markings and barriers to manage traffic flow.

Changes to the workplace, like installing plexiglass barriers, increasing the air intake on building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to increase air flow, and using boot sanitizing trays.

Promoting proper workplace sanitation, providing personal protective equipment, substituting dry dusting with vacuuming, ensuring customer-facing staff are given hand sanitizer, providing a place to dispose of sanitizing wipes and enforcing handwashing before and after breaks.

Story continues

The province also added 58 new labour inspectors. The employees, which include workers from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority and the Ontario College of Trades, will help outline COVID-19 safety guidelines to essential workplaces and will enforce emergency measures, including physical distancing.

'That's just wrong': Ford lashes out at window-visit ban

Ford lashed out at a move by Ottawa's director of long-term care to ban window visits at the facilities.

"That's just wrong," he said of the new restrictions announced Wednesday, which have since been condemned by Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson.

"Go visit your loved ones as far as I'm concerned. This is critical and hopefully it's not the last time you see them. I'd go to the window," Ford said.

The premier regularly visits his mother-in-law outside her long term care home. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 a week ago.

Watson says he wants a new plan in place by May 7.

Jean Delisle/CBC

Outbreaks in long-term care homes continue to spread, with health authorities now tracking infections in 190 of the province's 626 facilities  nine more than in the previous 24 hours. Some 835 residents have died from the illness  nearly three quarters of all deaths in Ontario  while 2,352 more have been infected, 264 more than yesterday.

The ministry also reported 1,430 staff members in long-term care facilities have tested positive, an increase of 322 since the last update.

Hospitalizations from COVID-19 went up again, from 977 to 999. However, the number of people being treated in intensive care units dropped slightly again, to 233 from 235. Patients on ventilators, a figure that has largely remained stable for several weeks, went down to 181 from 186.

Here's a look at how medical staff at one Toronto hospital celebrated after one COVID-19 patient recovered enough to be taken off a ventilator.

In the previous day there were 12,928 tests completed, despite a pledge from the province to reach 14,000 tests a day by now.

However, Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health said the number of test completed in the last 24 is "a new high for us."

Williams said the target is to get to 19,000 test per day and added he hoped to surpass that number eventually.

That's the target, but I don't think that's the end," he told reporters at his daily update on Thursday.

Ontario college 'optimistic' students will return to campus this fall

One Ontario college says it is "optimistic" students will be able to return on campus for classes in the fall.

Sheridan College says it is preparing to welcome students in September, but adds it is also working on contingency plans in case physical distancing measures meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 remain in place.

Those plans include remote learning and staggered access to campus.

Many schools have said it's still unclear what the fall semester will look like as the public health emergency changes daily.

Renewed calls for race-based data

There were also renewed calls Thursday for Ontario to collect race-based data around COVID-19, with Liberal MPP Michaeul Couteau issuing a letter to Ford.

"In the United States, we have seen how Black and other minority communities are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic," the letter says in part.

"We need to be able to analyze our own health data in the same way in order to make informed decisions to fight the crisis."

NDP leader Andrea Horwath sent a similar message in a letter to the premier April 16, saying "black, Indigenous and racialized Ontarians already face poorer health outcomes and barriers to accessing services."

"COVID-19 will only exacerbate these inequities unless we collect the data to guide our response."

Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, York and Caledon have already agreed to collect race-based data at the municipal level.

The province has said its Anti-Racism Act does not authorize health-care providers to collect such data, because of privacy considerations.

Canada also doesn't track race or ethnicity as part of its COVID-19 data collection at the federal level.

New 511 app for truckers

The province announced the launch of a free app on Thursday that will help truck drivers find rest stops and navigate construction areas along highways.

The "Ontario 511 app" allows truck drivers to see images from 600 cameras to get up-to-date information on construction, collisions and road closures, a release sent out by the province on Thursday said. It also has a map of open rest areas and fuel stops.

"The creation of the 511 app is much appreciated and comes at a perfect time for the hard-working drivers out on the roads helping to steer Ontarians out of this crisis," said Stephen Laskowski, president of the Ontario Trucking Association, in the release.
Acting Sergeant Philbert Chambers was cut down in the line of duty.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche has described fallen detective, Acting Sergeant Philbert Chambers, as "a star, while defence Attorney Grant Connell considered him to have been one of the "bright sparks in the Police Force.





Delpleche and Connell were among those who paid tribute to Chambers during a sitting of the Serious Offences Court on Monday. The remarks had followed one minute silence by the Court as a mark of respect for the fallen officer.





Reports are that Chambers was among a party of police officers who had gone to a house at Campden Park last Sunday morning to execute a search warrant in respect of firearms and ammunition, when he was allegedly shot and killed by a civilian, Gleason Lewis.





Lewis, 39, of Campden Park, also met his demise when the officers returned fire.





Chambers, a member of the Criminal Investigation Department attached to the Questelles Police Station, met his death only five days after testifying in a matter at the Serious Offences Court.





That matter involved Rennie Cruickshank of Campden Park who was charged with possession of a .25 semi-automatic pistol, two rounds of .25 ammunition, and 1,362 grams of marijuana with intent to supply, stemming from a police action at the Yorke Mountains, Campden Park, September 26, 2018.





While Chambers was giving evidence in the matter, the Senior Prosecutor, observing something unusual about the officers demeanor, inquired of him, "You are not your usual self today.





That trial has been adjourned to May 11.





Connell, who represented Cruickshank, told the Court on Monday, that despite his harsh cross-examination of Chambers, the officer greeted him outside the Court room and they exchanged pleasantries.





"He was undoubtedly one of the bright sparks of the Police Force. The Police Force has lost one of its bright sparks, he opined, adding that he trusts that whatever transpired on the scene during the incident, be properly investigated.





The Senior Prosecutor, in his remarks, described Chambers as a committed, dedicated and hardworking police officer who was also a community builder.





In the latter regard, Delpleche highlighted him as the founder of the Questelles Police Youth Club, which reflected his humanitarian side.





Delpleche said that Chambers was so committed that even when he was off duty, he would still go the extra mile.





Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne said that when she heard the news about Chambers death, she could not come to terms with it, and wished that it was not true. She had presided over the matter in which Chambers had testified on April 21.





Glowing remarks also came from Court Clerk Atnel Ash and Corporal Orlando Collins.





Chambers joined the Police Force at the age of 19, coming through the Police Youth Club. He was a member of the Constabulary for just over ten years, during which he moved up the ranks, and was recently promoted to Acting Sergeant.





He is on record as cracking numerous cases, but one which stands out involved the seizure of several high-powered guns and ammunition, including a submachine firearm, during a raid at a house at Lowmans Leeward on January 18, 2017, when Chambers was still a constable.





Randy Shallow and his girlfriend Friekesha Douglas, both of Lowmans Leeward, were charged in connection with the raid, and were sentenced to prison following a trial at the Serious Offences Court.




There is outrage in Luxembourg after some of its citizens were fined by France for inadvertently straying across the frontier.

The Luxembourg Times reports that unnamed residents of the border village of Rumelange unwittingly wandered into territory belonging to Ottange, the village just across the border in France.

They had strayed across the border without an Attestation de deplacement et de voyage  the certificate required for international travel into France.

Worse still, they were in a public park in the department of Moselle on a Sunday, breaching the local ban on access to open spaces at weekends.

The penalty is unknown. The Foreign Office warns British travellers to France: Fines are becoming increasingly severe, especially for repeat offenders.

Back in Rumelange, the mayor, Henri Haine, lamented that even the old European countries had not been able to stick together, while a left-wing politician, Marco Heil, called the incident a mess.

The Luxembourg Times says that citizens crossing into Belgium in the north of the country have also been fined.

The small Luxembourg frontier town of Schengen gave its name to the Europe-wide zone for borderless travel.

But with EU nations jealously guarding their territory, the notion of a Europe sans frontieres epitomised by the Schengen zone has vanished as individual countries impose their own versions of lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic.

Many international boundaries within the European Union are still unmarked, leading to cross-border disputes.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is easing its lockdown this week, with use of public transport permitted for passengers wearing some kind of face covering. Two months ago, Luxembourg became the first country in the world to offer free travel on trains, buses and trams for all.
(@FahadShabbir)

Russia has sent tonnes of medical equipment to two African countries fighting the coronavirus outbreak, the Russian embassies said Thursday

CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2020) Russia has sent tonnes of medical equipment to two African countries fighting the coronavirus outbreak, the Russian embassies said Thursday.

An Il-76 military cargo plane carrying infrared thermometers, medical masks and protective suits landed at an air base in northern Algeria on Wednesday, the diplomatic mission in Algiers said.

"This initiative promotes deeper cooperation between Russia and Algeria in various areas and reinforces their good relationship," the Algerian Defense Ministry said.

A further 13.5 tonnes of medical equipment were delivered to the capital of Djibouti on Wednesday, the Russian embassy in the eastern African country said.

"This humanitarian shipment was organized in response to an official request of Djibouti's authorities due to a serious sanitary and epidemiological crisis," it said.

Djibouti has been hit by devastating floods and the coronavirus outbreak. The shipment contained tents and equipment for two medical complexes capable of treating 200,000 patients.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Onondaga Countys proactive testing within senior living facilities has uncovered at least 50 coronavirus infections among people with no symptoms whatsoever, County Executive Ryan McMahon revealed Thursday.

The county is proactively testing more than 1,000 seniors in assisted and independent living facilities, whether theyve had symptoms of COVID-19 or not. (The state is in charge of testing at nursing homes.)

Whats not known is whether the findings are any indicator of the number of silent infections lurking in the community as a whole  the so-called asymptomatic cases.

RELATED: Onondaga Co. coronavirus: 3 deaths, now 33 total; another huge day of new infections among seniors

The state and Upstate University Hospital have independently estimated that 1.3%  or roughly 8,000 people  have been infected so far in Central New York. By comparison, there are just over 1,000 confirmed infections in CNY. That means the vast majority are carrying the virus without symptoms, but could pass it on to others.

McMahon has argued that the high number of asymptomatic cases within senior living centers cant be used to estimate the number of asymptomatic cases in the community at large. Hes accepted the 1.3% infection rate from the state, though suggested he believes the actual number may be lower.

As for the senior housing data, those tests are being done within the close quarters of a confined community. Youre going to find high concentrations of infections that wont be present in the community as a whole, hes argued. Its similar to infections passed among people within the same household.

McMahon has likened the spread within senior centers to a building on fire: knowing the asymptomatic cases can help put out the blaze.

Theres the potential for (asymptomatic people) to spread the virus to other individuals, McMahon said. Now we know who they are, we know where they are, and we can get them into quarantine.

Those hidden cases have driven up the countys daily totals of newly confirmed infections: there have been 79 confirmed infections on Wednesday and Thursday combined, the second-worst two-day total in Onondaga County since the pandemic began.

Of those, new cases in senior centers far outnumber those identified in the community at large.

McMahon said Thursday that, while contained, the number of asymptomatic cases is troubling.

Its sobering that there are people out there without symptoms, he said.

But hes still confident that Central New York  which has one of the lowest known infection rates in the state  will begin reopening on May 15, the earliest restart date set by the governor.

More tests, by their nature, are going to find more infections, he said. Thats why social distancing is so important: you may not be sick, but might be carrying the virus anyway. And we all need to get back to work long before the virus is completely defeated, hes stressed.

Proactively finding hot spots among the communitys most vulnerable should be encouraged, even if it makes the data look worse, he said.

There are fewer than 100 active known infections within the community as a whole, when subtracting outbreaks within senior centers and among households, McMahon noted. That leaves more than 200 active cases in senior centers and among household contacts.

But there has not been widespread testing within the community as a whole, outside of those who develop sickness. The overall infection number doesnt count asymptomatic cases, because those people havent been tested.

So how did the state estimate 1.3% have been infected, the vast majority of whom show no symptoms? That percentage was deduced by doing antibody testing  taking a small sample of people, sick or not  to see if theyd developed defenses to coronavirus.

More widespread testing is on its way soon: the state is proposing a requirement that 14,000 people a month get tested in Onondaga County once we reopen for business. Most of those tests will be proactive testing of healthy people, McMahon said.

That means well see more infections going forward. The question, McMahon said, is whether we can effectively treat the sick and quarantine their contacts once society reopens.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Possible coronavirus spread reported at grocery store, wireless dealer

A problem for NY businesses: Workers wont return when they can get unemployment on steroids

Struggling restaurant owner tried to help others. Now shes lost a lot of money

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
New Delhi, April 30 : Nine in ten urban Indians (89 percent) picked banks as the most essential service during the lockdown from a list of businesses providing non-essential goods and services. Respondents who are 40+ were more likely to say this than those between 18-29 years of age (91 percent vs 86 percent), says a survey.

Following this, around three-quarters (74 percent) think of online home repair services to be crucial during this time. The onset of summer and the need for AC and fridge servicing could be the reason for placing greater importance on this need, notes a survey by YouGov.

Many people consider newspapers and magazines as well as pet stores to be of higher importance (61 percent each) in the current scenario than the availability of alcohol- through delivery or at shops (16 percent) and cigarettes (12 percent).

However, among the different regions, East India is most likely to consider alcohol and cigarette shops as providing essential services, with 24 percent and 17 percent, respectively, saying this.

Residents of South India are most likely to give newspapers the highest consideration while residents of West India are least likely to do so (68 percent vs 49 percent). The demand for pet stores, however, is comparatively lower in South India. Similarly, the need for pet stores and services is more urgent for tier-1 residents (with 66 percent saying this) than tier-2 (57 percent) and tier- 3 (59 percent) residents.

The Home ministry's decision to cancel the permission to sell non-essential commodities on e-commerce platforms may add to the disappointment of many who consider the online sale of kitchen appliances (40 percent), gadgets (33 percent) and body care/ skincare products (35 percent) as essential.

There also seems to be scepticism towards some businesses that the government has allowed to trade during the pandemic. While 60 percent said they consider postal and courier services essential, people seem to be in a less dire need of local standalone salons and parlours, and only a meagre proportion counts salon services - either at home (15 percent) or at shops (13 percent), as 'essential'.

Lastly, the government's dilemma to revoke the restriction on the operation of gyms and fitness centres seems to match the divided public opinion on whether it is essential or not. Close to half (46 percent) think of them as key services, but almost as many (54 percent) feel they are unnecessary.

At an overall level, people seem happy with the availability of essential items in the lockdown, with 76 percent respondents saying they are satisfied with the available essential services and don't want any more amenities. 17 percent, on the other hand, are dissatisfied with the services and want more amenities during the lockdown.

As per a new order, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed some shops providing non-essential goods and services to reopen. However, many businesses still remain closed.
Ex-penitentiary officials embezzlement sentence mitigated as to holding public posts

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

00:10 30/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 30 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court on Wednesday permitted ex-deputy chief of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Oleg Korshunov convicted of the 263-million-ruble (about $4 million) embezzlement to hold public office after release, RAPSI learnt from the court.

The court considered the defendants appeal against sentence and excluded from it a ban to take managing posts in federal bodies for 3 years and deprivation of his service grade. However, his 7-year jail term was upheld.

In July 2019, Korshunov received the prison term and was fined 900,000 rubles (about $14,000). In addition, he was divested of his service grade and forbidden to hold public offices for 3 years.

The head of the state-run production company, the Industrial Production House of FSIN Russia Vitaly Morusov, an alleged accomplice of Korshunov, was sentenced to 5 years in a penal colony and fined 500,000 rubles (about $8,000); he was also forbidden to hold managing positions in commercial organizations.

Korshunov and Morusov pleaded not guilty.

Investigators claimed that in 2015 Korshunov had conspired with CEO of Russian footwear company Datse Group, Smbat Arutyunyan, and the head of state-run production company FSIN Russia Vitaly Morusov. Allegedly, Korshunov ordered to use prisoner labor to manufacture footwear from cheap materials provided by Datse Group. Later, he allegedly facilitated signing of a state contract with FSIN Russia.

Korshunov was appointed to the post of FSIN deputy head in March 2014. He has been bestowed the rank of Full State Counsellor 2nd Class of the Russian Federation. In October 2017, President Vladimir Putin relieved him of the post.
During his visit on April 28, Pence refused to wear a mask as he tromped around the Mayo Clinic. (Screenshot from CNN)

The coronavirus continues to rampage across the US, with the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the nation topping 1 million Tuesday. However, some US politicians continue to make groundless and irresponsible remarks about the virus that lack basic common sense, showing an urgent need to learn the basics of the coronavirus.

Vice President Mike Pence recently came under fire for visiting the Mayo Clinic without wearing a mask, a dangerous move widely condemned by people as sending an irresponsible public health message.

During his visit on April 28, Pence refused to wear a mask as he tromped around the Rochester, Minnesota Institution and met with hospital staff and a patient, flouting federal guidelines and Mayo Clinics rule that all patients and visitors wear a face covering or mask to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

His reason for doing so was that he and his team have been tested. Since I dont have the coronavirus, I thought itd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health-care personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you, Pence said Tuesday. It is unclear though how wearing a mask would have obstructed Pences vision, The Washington Post teased.

However, what Pence doesnt know is that COVID-19 tests may produce incorrect results, and that it is possible to carry the virus and not know it. Pences behavior jeopardizes the health and well-being of those around him and encourages others to engage in the same selfish and irresponsible behavior, said Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota.

This is not the first time Pence has done this. He has refused to wear masks in previous public appearances, including visits to the Air Force Academy and a GE Healthcare site last week, reported by Politico.

Besides Pence, many Republicans have refused to show common sense and acknowledge that wearing a mask is necessary, including President Donald Trump, who said that he will not wear a mask, even as more and more Americans have contracted the virus.

Trump should not only know to wear a mask, but also not to drink disinfectant. Last week, Trump improperly suggested that ingesting disinfectants or taking in sunlight could serve as a coronavirus treatment, which immediately drew a flurry of condemnation and ridicule from medical professionals and the public.

Though he later claimed that he was being sarcastic, his irresponsible suggestion already impacted the lives of those who took his words seriously. It is reported that at least 100 people in the US were hospitalized after taking Trumps advice, which immediately spurred doctors, lawmakers and the makers of Lysol and Dettol to respond with warnings against ingesting disinfectants, which are highly toxic.

While refusing to take responsibility for his disinfectant comments, Trump urged Americans to use common sense. Well, it seems that Trump is the one outside the realm of common sense.

Trump has previously suggested that a combination of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin could help in the fight against the virus. However, the drug showed no benefits in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, AP reported.

While putting the lives of Americans at risks, US politicians groundless remarks also serve as an attempt to distract from the governments failure to respond to the coronavirus. As the outbreak escalates in the United States, some US politicians continue to muddy the waters by smearing the WHO and China with senseless accusations, spreading conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently accused China of not being transparent about the epidemic, and renewed calls for the U.S. to be allowed access to Chinese virology labs in Wuhan, spreading the political virus of disinformation.

These conspiracy theories not only run counter to the international consensus, but have been debunked by scientists worldwide. A study published last month in Nature Medicine said that it is improbable the virus was made in a laboratory. According to the WHO, all the available evidence indicates that the novel coronavirus originated through natural processes and was not manipulated or produced in a laboratory.

In the fight against this global health crisis that has life-and-death consequences, common sense matters. Just as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, in this global fight against the coronavirus, everyone needs to respect facts, respect science, respect others and, above all, respect oneself. Where science cannot arrive for the time being, humanity will.

It is high time that US politicians learn the basics of the coronavirus, for the sake of the American people they serve, as well as the global community they belong to.
United States President, Donald Trump has alleged that China will do anything they can to make him lose his re-election bid. He sa...





United States President, Donald Trump has alleged that China will do anything they can to make him lose his re-election bid.





He said this in continuation of his criticism of China amid the coronavirus pandemic.





Trump disclosed that he believes Beijing wants his likely Democratic Party candidate, Joe Biden to win in Novembers election.





Biden has received support from top party stalwarts, including former President Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Bernie Sanders and Michael Bloomberg.





The coronavirus has claimed over 60,000 lives in the U.S. and ravaged the economy, Trumps main selling point for re-election campaign.





Trump said Beijing faced a lot of possible consequence from the U.S. for the outbreak.





The American leader insists that China should have informed the world about COVID-19 much sooner.





He told Reuters: There are many things I can do. Were looking for what happened. China will do anything they can to have me lose this race.





Trump also dismissed the polls in favour of Bidens emergence as U.S. President in November.





I dont believe the polls. I believe the people of this country are smart. And I dont think that they will put a man in whos incompetent, the President said.
Cardinal Blase Cupich and I are deeply saddened that these liturgical celebrations have to be postponed, said the Rev. John Kartje, rector of Mundelein Seminary. However, it is important that we abide by the current directives for large gatherings. We want these liturgies to be accessible to all, and they will serve as a joyful beginning for the entire archdiocese to celebrate when we come out of this situation.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks edged lower on Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of a European Central Bank meeting later today for direction. There are some expectations that euro zone policymakers will expand debt purchases to include junk bonds as part of a bond-buying stimulus scheme. The benchmark DAX was down 15 points at 11,093 after climbing 2.9 percent in the previous session. Banks Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank fell over 2 percent as benchmark 10-year Bund yield fell more than 2 basis points to -0.51%, its lowest level in over a week. Aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines rallied 2.4 percent. The company said it was too early to issue a new outlook to replace the guidance it withdrew in March. Technology company Aixtron fell over 2 percent after posting a loss in the first quarter and confirming full-year guidance. Chemical company BASF declined 2.3 percent after saying it won't be able to meet its full-year goals. On the data front, German unemployment rate climbed slightly to an adjusted 3.5 percent in March from 3.4 percent in February, data from Destatis revealed. In the same period last year, the rate was 3.2 percent. On an unadjusted basis, the jobless rate advanced to 3.8 percent from 3.4 percent in the previous month. After seasonal adjustment, the number of unemployed increased by 11,900 to 1.53 million in March. Another report showed that Germany's retail turnover fell by a real 5.6 percent on a monthly basis in March, in contrast to a 0.8 percent rise in February. This was the biggest fall since January 2007. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Acting head of state Say Chhum promulgated the controversial state of emergency legislation into law on Wednesday, despite severe concerns over its ability to abuse citizens human rights and freedoms.

The Royal Decree dated April 29 announced the promulgation which was signed by Say Chhum because King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath are on a medical visit to China. The draft legislation has been criticized by domestic and international rights groups for giving the government sweeping powers to curtail civil rights and liberties, such as freedom of movement, expression, association, and assembly  all enshrined in the Cambodian Constitution.

The law was drafted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but provides powers to the government in other situations as well, such as war, armed conflict, and the vaguely worded occurrence of a national security threat.

The new law is based on Article 22 of the Constitution which allows the King to declare a state of emergency after consultations with the prime minister and presidents of the Senate and National Assembly.

Rhona Smith, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, said in a statement on April 17 that the law endangers human rights including the right to privacy, free speech, and criminalized peaceful assembly.

The law should be more focused on addressing public health needs while also protecting fundamental freedoms, added Rhona Smith.

The government did not attempt to have any kind of public consultation with international stakeholders, civil society groups, and NGOs. On April 17, Justice Minister Koeut Rith defended the draft, calling the law very necessary and needed for the country.

The law is not enacted to restrict peoples rights and freedom, but the law is enacted to help the nation in the state of emergency, he said.
A US Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed through waters near the Paracel islands in the South China Sea challenging China's claim to the area, the Navy said Wednesday. The USS Barry undertook the so-called "freedom of navigation operation" on Tuesday, a week after Beijing upped its claims to the region by designating an official administrative district for the islands. The US sought to assert the "rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law," the Navy said in a statement. "Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose an unprecedented threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight and the right of innocent passage of all ships," it said. The move came amid a rise in US-China tensions over the novel coronavirus epidemic, in which Washington has accused Beijing of hiding and downplaying the initial outbreak in December and January in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The United States rejects China's territorial claim to much of the South China Sea, including the Paracels, also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. The region is believed to have valuable oil and gas deposits. In a statement on the People's Liberation Army website, the Chinese military said it had mobilized sea and air assets to track and warn the US vessel away from "Chinese territorial waters." The PLA accused the United States of "provocative acts" that "seriously violated international law and China's sovereignty and security interests." The US action was "also incompatible with the current joint efforts of international community to fight against the COVID-19," it said. Last week China sought to further advance its territorial claims when it announced that the Paracel and nearby Spratly islands, the Macclesfield Bank and their surrounding waters would be administered under two new districts of Sansha city, which China created on nearby Woody Island in 2012. It also announced official Chinese names for 80 islands and other geographical features in the South China Sea, including reefs, seamounts, shoals and ridges, 55 of them submerged in water.
Bindi Irwin's husband Chandler Powell is set to release a new range of merchandise.

Newlywed Chandler took to Twitter on Thursday, making the announcement proving he is now well and truly part of the Irwin clan.

'I'm excited to share the new Australia Zoo range Choose Chandler range,' he wrote, sharing a slew of photos of himself and new wife Bindi showing off the T-shirts.

Crikey, he's an Irwin! Chandler Powell, 23, launched his new 'Choose Chandler' clothing range for Australia Zoo alongside wife Bindi, 21, on Thursday, after tying the knot earlier this year

He went on to say they were sourced from cotton. Proceeds from the range will go to support the 1200 animals at the Queensland Zoo.

The American wakeboarder and Bindi went on to model the raglan style T-shirts, which featured the phrase 'Choose Chandler' along with a crocodile graphic.

Designs: Chandler and Bindi went on to model the raglan style t-shirts, which featured the phrase 'Choose Chandler' along with a crocodile graphic. Here with their dog Piggy

The couple looked every inch the loved-up newlyweds with Bindi nestled into her handsome husband while showcasing the designs.

Chandler has become a beloved member of Australia Zoo and this looks to be his first collection, showing his growing popularity.

Chandler and Bindi tied the knot earlier this year with the TV wedding special soon to air for Australian fans in May.

Team! The couple looked every inch the loved-up newlyweds with Bindi nestled into her handsome husband while showcasing the designs

Oh my! Chandler is clearly becoming a senior member of the zoo, with the apparel featuring his name alongside a crocodile with an open mouth

After suffering backlash from Australian fans due to its initial air date being in July, Animal Planet announced it had changed broadcast time this week.

'Australia, we've heard you and you won't need to wait long for the television wedding event of the year,' Animal Planet announced in a statement on Tuesday.

Despite the ceremony taking place at Australia Zoo on March 25, the episode debuted exclusively in America.

Save the date! Animal Planet has moved Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell's TV wedding special forward by two months for May 23 after intense fan backlash in Australia

The couple tied the knot in a last minute ceremony in March due to strict government lockdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The couple's wedding photos were printed in the American publication, People magazine, soon after the nuptials.

Crikey! It's The Irwins: Bindi's Wedding will now air in Australia on Saturday, May 23 at 6.30pm on Foxtel's Animal Planet
Starbucks Corporation SBUX reported second-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein both earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. While the bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second straight quarter, the top line beat the same after missing in the preceding quarter.

However, both the metrics declined sharply year over year owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Comparable store sales were down 50% in China on account of store closures and reduced working hours. Notably, comparable sales from China declined in the quarter after witnessing robust growth in the trailing six quarters. The company anticipates the impact of coronavirus to intensify in third-quarter fiscal 2020 only to moderate in fourth-quarter fiscal 2020. In the quarter under review, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the companys performance between two to three weeks. However, it anticipates an impact of 13 weeks in third-quarter fiscal 2020. The impact of the deadly virus is expected lessen in the month of May and June after wreaking havoc in April.

Starbucks expects substantial recovery in China by the end of fiscal 2020. Following the results, the companys shares declined 1.2% in after-hour trading session on Apr 28.

Discussion on Earnings, Revenues & Comps

In the quarter under review, adjusted earnings of 32 cents per share surpassed the consensus mark by a penny. However, the bottom line declined 47% on a year-over-year basis.

Total revenues came in at $5,995.7 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,736.5 million. However, the top line fell 4.9% from the year-ago level. The downside can be attributed to dismal global retail sales and comparable sales and decline in store traffic.

Global comparable store sales declined 10% against an improvement of 5% in first-quarter fiscal 2020. Global comps declined due to 13% decrease comparable transactions, marginally offset by 4% increase in average ticket.

Story continues

Starbucks opened 225 net new stores worldwide in the fiscal second quarter, bringing the total store count to 32,050. Global store growth came in at 6%, based on a year-over-year comparison.

Overall Margin Contracts in Q2

On a non-GAAP basis, operating margin contracted 660 basis points year over year to 9.2%. The downtrend can primarily be attributed to sales deleverage and rise in costs due to the coronavirus pandemic, mostly catastrophe wages, and heightened pay programs and additional benefits in support of retail store partners, inventory write-offs and store safety items.

Starbucks Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Starbucks Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Starbucks Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Starbucks Corporation Quote

Segmental Performance

Notably, in fourth-quarter fiscal 2019, the company realigned its operating segments. Specifically, the China/Asia Pacific segment and Europe, Middle East and Africa segment have been combined into one International segment.

Results of Siren Retail  which is a non-reportable operating segment consisting of Starbucks Reserve TM Roastery & Tasting Rooms, Starbucks Reserve brand and Princi operations  were previously included within Corporate and Other. It now reports within Americas and International segments based on the geographical location of operations.

Americas: Net revenues at this flagship segment came in at $4,330 million, almost flat year over year. Although the segment revenues in the quarter benefited from 552 net new store opening in a years time, it was offset by 3% comparable store sales decline primarily due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In the first ten weeks of the quarter, the company sustained strong comparable store sales momentum and improved 8%. However, in the final three weeks of the quarter, comparable sales declined sharply owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the outbreak, Americas second-quarter revenues were impacted by nearly $450 million. Moreover, the segments non-GAAP operating income was roughly impacted by $420 million.

Adjusted operating margin in the Americas segment contracted 590 bps to 14.4% due to sales deleverage and increase in costs on account of the coronavirus-induced crisis.

International: Net revenues declined 26% year over year to $1,134.6 million at this segment owing to decrease of 31% in comparable store sales due to the pandemic. Moreover, the decline can be attributed to 4% revenue-dilutive effect of transforming certain retail businesses to fully licensed markets. However, the downside was partially offset by 1,314 net new store openings in a years time.

Moreover, adjusted operating margin in the segment declined to 3.9% from 19.3% in the year-ago quarter owing to sales deleverage. Although stores in most of the markets were closed or operating under modified models, the company had to bear partner wages and benefits and occupancy costs. Margin decline can also be attributable to higher-than-normal sales mix of delivery transactions as customers shifted to off-premise consumption.

Comps in China declined 50%, including 53% transaction decrease owing to store closures and reduced traffic.

The company announced that 98% of its stores in China have commenced operations and anticipates continued improvement in traffic. It stopped new store openings in the second quarter but restarted development activities toward the end of the quarter. The company is on track to open at least 500 net new stores in fiscal 2020, which is over 80% of its original target.

Channel Development: Net revenues at this segment jumped 16% from the prior-year quarter to $519.1 million. The upside was due to robust performance of the Global Coffee Alliance, which includes additional product sales to Nestle to transition Foodservice order fulfillment, and benefits associated to the transfer of certain single-serve product activities to Nestle on a go-forward basis. Moreover, operating margin expanded 320 bps to 36.5%.

Fiscal 2020 Guidance

The company announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the company had closed nearly 50% of its company-operated stores in the United States, and above 75% in Canada, Japan and the U.K. Although 98% stores are open in China, these are operating under modified schedules and enhanced safety-related protocols, which includes limited cafe seating.

The company is unable to provide full financial impact the coronavirus as it is unable to ascertain the duration and impact of the outbreak. China comparable store sales, which declined 50% in the second quarter, are expected to decrease in the range of 25% to 30%. This suggests an improvement from the prior quarter. In fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, it will further improve to a decline of 10% to flat year over year.

The company anticipates Channel Development GAAP revenue decline in the range of 6% to 8%. For fiscal 2020, the company expects capital expenditure to be nearly $1.5 billion.

Other Financial Updates

The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2,572.3 million, compared with $2,686.6 million at the end of Sep 29, 2019. As of Mar 29, 2020, long-term debt stands at $11,658.7 million, compared with $11,167 million as of Sep 29, 2019.

Moreover, the companys declared a cash dividend of 41 cents per share, payable on May 22, 2020, to shareholders of record as of May 8, 2020.

Zacks Rank & a Key Pick

Starbucks, which shares space with McDonald's Corporation MCD and Domino's Pizza, Inc. DPZ, has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock worth considering in the same space includes Yum China Holdings, Inc. YUMC, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Yum China Holdings has an impressive long-term earnings growth rate of 8.1%.

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The former police chief of Stow facing a child enticement charge in court tried to hide evidence from police and used the handle Daddydearest on a dating app, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by MassLive.

Ralph Rusty Marino was charged in a criminal complaint in Leominster District Court with enticing a child younger than 16 after authorities said he drove his department-issued SUV to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy after sending sexually explicit messages to the person, according to court documents.

The meeting was on April 17 in Leominster. Marino, 63, thought he was meeting a boy but was actually chatting with a member of the Predator Poachers Massachusetts, a group not affiliated with law enforcement that claims to catch sexual predators on online dating sites.

The group who are adults confront the men they chat with and post the videos on YouTube.

Marino was confronted by a member of the group on April 17 in Leominster. Marino drove from the Stow Police Department that day in his department-issued SUV, authorities said.

Massachusetts State Police investigators assigned to Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.s office seized Marinos personal iPhone and an iPhone issued to him by the department. The iPhones were checked although the search warrant does not state what content was retrieved.

Investigators were looking for call logs, text messages, pictures, graphic images, video and more. The phones were examined on April 22.

Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Matthew Prescott said on April 17, Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Travers asked state police to investigate a child enticement case after Leominster police monitored the Predator Poachers Massachusetts YouTube channel, the search warrant affidavit states.

Leominster police saw the video in which a member of the group confronts Marino in the area of Lancaster and Central streets on April 17.

Leominster Police Officer Shane Crawford checked the license plate of Marinos SUV in the video and said it came back to the Stow Police Department. He also searched for photographs online of Marino and determined the chief was the man in the video, records said.

On April 18, state police detectives spoke to Jason Velasquez, a member of Predator Poachers Massachusetts who confronted Marino.

Velasquez told investigators he had been posing as a 14-year-old boy on a dating app and was chatting with Marino, the search warrant affidavit said. The chat log was recorded and handed over to state police.

Using the screen name Daddydearest and calling himself Mark, Marino allegedly spoke with Velasquez, who posed as the teen boy, beginning on April 11. The chats lasted for seven days.

Velasquez told Marino he was 14-years-old in the chat log. Marino began discussing sex, investigators said.

Sowould u want to get together? Marino allegedly wrote stating he was from Leominster.

During the conversations, Marino allegedly worked to arrange a meeting even asking if they could meet in a wooded area. Marino also sent a picture of himself fishing, according to investigators.

Velasquez, according to the chat record while posing at the teen, agreed to meet April 17 at a convenience store parking lot in Leominster. It was then Velasquez confronted Marino and recorded him.

State police investigators were unable to get copies of the chat from the app.

On April 18, state police detectives went to the Stow Police Department and arranged for Marino to meet them there.

Marino, who lives in Lancaster, was being watched by troopers, records show.

Marino left his home but before going to the station pulled onto a side street and walked into the woods, investigators said in the search warrant affidavit.

Troopers waited for Marino to leave then checked the woods and found a plastic bag containing a sex toy and lubrication, authorities said.

At the police station in Stow, Marino waived his rights and spoke to state police.

He first claimed he was going to the Leominster Walmart to buy toilet paper and decided to check the little store nearby first. Marino said he was then accosted by some guy.

Marino said he then went home and denied using any texting apps and offered to show investigators his phones. He unlocked the phones and handed the phones over to state police, the search warrant affidavit said.

State police investigators noticed there were little to no text messages, emails or phone calls on the phones.

Marino stated that he routinely deletes the messages and emails and call logs, authorities said.

As the interview progressed, the now-former police chief admitted to using dating apps and said he made plans to meet a person at the Leominster location on April 17.

When asked for what purpose Marino allegedly said, For whatever happens, happens. This could include sex, but also might not include sex.

Marino, according to the investigators, said he thought the person was 20-something and later acknowledged the person on the app said they were 14.

The former police chief also admitted to deleting the app and another app along with all text messages, emails and phone logs, authorities said. He then admitted to hiding the items in the woods before going to the police station to meet with investigators.

The search warrant affidavit said Marino told investigators he used his department-issued phone to text Velasquez and others on the apps.

The conversation was sexually explicit and includes language from the older man indicating that he wished to engage in sexual acts with the 14-year-old boy, according to the criminal complaint filed in court.

Marino, according to the criminal complaint, admitted he was the man in the video.

During the interview, Chief Marino made statements indicating that he did engage in conversation using a social media application and was aware that the person he was engaging with was identifying as being a 14-year-old boy, the complaint reads. Chief Marino admitted to leaving the Stow Police Department Friday afternoon in his department-issued Ford Explorer and traveling to Leominster for the purposes of meeting with a boy he believed to be 14 years old.

On April 18, Marino was relieved of duty and has had no official role or duties for the town since then, according to the Board of Selectmen, which discussed the allegations at a meeting Wednesday. Marino tendered his resignation on Wednesday.

The board said in a statement that neither state police nor the district attorneys office has given the board any reason to believe that other police department employees were aware of or aided in any illegal activities.

The Stow Police Department is much more than any one individual. It is comprised of several dedicated men and women who have spent years keeping the Town safe and earning the trust of its residents, the statement said. Though the events of this weekend are deeply troubling to all of us, there is no reason for residents to believe that the high quality of public safety services in Stow has changed at all. The men and women of the PD will continue to support us through this time, because thats their job. We should support them through this time as well, because theyve earned our support.

Marino was appointed chief in September after then-Chief William Bosworth retired. His arraignment is scheduled for June.

Related Content:
Computer models of merging neutron stars predicts how to tell when this happens

Neutron stars are among the densest objects in the universe. If our Sun, with its radius of 700,000 kilometres were a neutron star, its mass would be condensed into an almost perfect sphere with a radius of around 12 kilometres. When two neutron stars collide and merge into a hyper-massive neutron star, the matter in the core of the new object becomes incredibly hot and dense. According to physical calculations, these conditions could result in hadrons such as neutrons and protons, which are the particles normally found in our daily experience, dissolving into their components of quarks and gluons and thus producing a quark-gluon plasma.

In 2017 it was discovered for the first time that merging neutron stars send out a gravitational wave signal that can be detected on Earth. The signal not only provides information on the nature of gravity, but also on the behaviour of matter under extreme conditions. When these gravitational waves were first discovered in 2017, however, they were not recorded beyond the merging point.

This is where the work of the Frankfurt physicists begins. They simulated merging neutron stars and the product of the merger to explore the conditions under which a transition from hadrons to a quark-gluon plasma would take place and how this would affect the corresponding gravitational wave. The result: in a specific, late phase of the life of the merged object a phase transition to the quark-gluon plasma took place and left a clear and characteristic signature on the gravitational-wave signal.

Professor Luciano Rezzolla from Goethe University is convinced: "Compared to previous simulations, we have discovered a new signature in the gravitational waves that is significantly clearer to detect. If this signature occurs in the gravitational waves that we will receive from future neutron-star mergers, we would have a clear evidence for the creation of quark-gluon plasma in the present universe."

###

Publication: Post-merger gravitational wave signatures of phase transitions in binary mergers Lukas R. Weih, Matthias Hanauske, Luciano Rezzolla, Physical Review Letters DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.171103 https://journals.aps.org/prl/

Video: Visualisation of merging neutron stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj-r-YA9d6E&t=1s This simulation shows the density of the ordinary matter (mostly neutrons) in red-yellow. Shortly after the two stars merge the extremely dense centre turns green, depicting the formation of the quark-gluon plasma.

Pictures may be downloaded here: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/87973606

Caption Montage: Montage of the computer simulation of two merging neutron stars that blends over with an image from heavy-ion collisions to highlight the connection of astrophysics with nuclear physics. Credit: Lukas R. Weih & Luciano Rezzolla (Goethe University Frankfurt) (right half of the image from cms.cern)

Caption Simulation: Shortly after two neutron stars merge a quark gluon plasma forms in the centre of the new object. Red yellow: ordinary matter, mostly neutrons. Credit: Lukas R. Weih & Luciano Rezzolla (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Further information:

Goethe University Frankfurt

Prof. Dr. Luciano Rezzolla

Chair of Theoretical Astrophysics

Institute for Theoretical Physics

+49-69-79847871/47879

rezzolla@itp.uni-frankfurt.de

https://astro.uni-frankfurt.de/rezzolla/

Current news about science, teaching, and society can be found on GOETHE-UNI online (http://www.aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de)

Goethe University is a research-oriented university in the European financial centre Frankfurt am Main. The university was founded in 1914 through private funding, primarily from Jewish sponsors, and has since produced pioneering achievements in the areas of social sciences, sociology and economics, medicine, quantum physics, brain research, and labour law. It gained a unique level of autonomy on 1 January 2008 by returning to its historic roots as a "foundation university". Today, it is one of the three largest universities in Germany. Together with the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Mainz, it is a partner in the inter-state strategic Rhine-Main University Alliance. Internet: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de

Publisher: The President of Goethe University Editor: Dr. Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR & Communication Department, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel: -49 (0) 69 798-12498, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
In early April, Michelle Burnett, a single mother of two girls, asked her employer for time off to pick up a Google Chromebook from her youngest daughters school.

She was scrambling to set her children up to do their schoolwork in the living room of her Vallejo home while she worked as an administrative assistant and accounting clerk at a retirement home in Oakland. She kept an eye on them through a wall-mounted camera in the home.

When her daughters were in school, the 42-year-old Oakland native had help: She dropped 9-year-old Namarhianna and 12-year-old Alayjah off at a before-school day care at 6:30 a.m., then picked them up from an after-school program at 6:30 p.m. Even then, things were tough: In February, Alayjah was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

You cant tell, but she gets excitable, Burnett said. Shes an awesome chick.

Things got even tougher when day cares and schools closed due to the coronavirus.

So it was a blow when her employer denied her April 6 request for two hours off to pick up the Google Chromebook for Namarhianna, telling her she had no vacation time left.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Burnett was familiar with state and federal family leave policies, because in January and February she missed work to get Alayjah tested for learning disabilities. This time, she researched the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act, which provides, among other worker protections, up to 12 weeks of emergency child care leave for those whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.

She believed it would provide her family with some relief, so the next morning, she emailed her boss and insisted she needed to take the time because she had no one else to pick up the computer. She asked her employer to explain their coronavirus protocol for employees needing time off.

She was shocked by what happened next.

Her employer told her she couldnt take the time off. The Families First act, they told her, allowed them to deny her request.

Then they told her goodbye. She said she was told that the company was treating her email as a resignation letter.

She said the company asked her to sign a form stating she resigned. She refused.

I couldnt say anything, Burnett recalled in a recent interview. I hadnt even (missed work) yet and youre terminating me.

Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

The Families First act is ludicrously flawed because the U.S. Department of Labors rules allow exemptions that have left millions of workers like Burnett unprotected. For example, employers of health care providers or emergency responders can elect to exclude their employees from leave eligibility. Thats what Burnetts employer did.

Thats right  employers can refuse to grant the essential workers lauded as heroes time off to take care of themselves or their children. Burnett is out of a job for living up to the relief acts name: She put her family first.

Any politician who has ever preached that family values are the bedrock of American society should be rushing to rectify this. But thats not happening. Sadly, its common for the most vulnerable to have the least protection.

God bless America.

Katherine Wutchiett, a staff attorney for Legal Aid at Work, which provides free legal advice about workplace rights, told me theres been an uptick in calls for help. Since March 16, the day six Bay Area counties announced stay-home orders, Wutchiett said there have been more than 1,000 calls from workers seeking advice. In a regular year, the nonprofit legal services organization gets about 3,000 total.

Our office has heard from people working in the health care industry who have been denied safety protections at work or havent been permitted time off, Wutchiett said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Legal Aid at Work was part of a broad coalition of over 120 California labor, family advocacy, legal, civil rights and other groups that wrote to Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers in late March asking for expanded paid family leave and sick leave, among other requests.

These are the same stories that people have been dealing with, Wutchiett said. Its just that suddenly everybody is dealing with it at the same time. Its a big gap that policymakers didnt have their eye on before this, but now its certainly coming to light.

In a scathing report on the relief act, the Center for American Progress, a public policy research and advocacy organization, estimates in a best-case scenario that only 47% of private-sector workers are guaranteed emergency paid leave by the Families First act. If every employer took the exemption, only 17% of workers would be covered. The New York attorney general filed a lawsuit against the Department of Labor, alleging that the departments set of rules unlawfully narrows workers eligibility for emergency family leave and paid sick leave thats guaranteed by the act.

For years, state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, has been pushing to expand job protections for parents who need to take time off to care for their children.

No one should ever be forced to choose between keeping their jobs and their livelihood and caring for a sick family member or themselves if theyre ill or helping a child because now we see the schools are closed, Jackson said.

On March 11, the day the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, Sarah Jane Glynn was testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee on the need for more paid sick days.

I dont care what your job is. Every single person should be able to hold down employment and also take care of their children, Glynn, the senior fellow for the Center for American Progress who authored the report on the relief act, told me. That should be a basic piece of our society. Its sickening that people dont have the ability to do that.

When she received her last paycheck, Burnett got paid 22.56 hours of vacation time  time she had been told she didnt have available to use to pick up her daughters Chromebook. She has enough money saved to pay the $1,300 rent on her three-bedroom house for two months.

I was fortunate enough, before all of it happened, to have paid my bills, she said. But now Im pretty much like everybody else waiting to see what unemployments going to do for me.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
A day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone and sought his intervention to end the impasse in the state over the formers election to state legislature, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari requested the Election Commission of India to hold elections for nine seats to the state legislative council at the earliest with a view to end the political uncertainty in the state.

His call came shortly after he three members of the states ruling coalition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress wrote to the EC seeking the same. Council members are elected by members of the state assembly. The impending constitutional crisis in Maharashtra may be resolved if the EC accepts Koshyari and MVAs request. It also means Koshyari is not keen to nominate Thackeray on the council as his nominee despite a recommendation from the state cabinet and a reminder that he do so.

Thackeray was not member of the state legislature when he took oath as chief minister of November 28. As per the provisions under the Constitution, he was supposed to get elected to state legislative assembly or council within six months, that is by May 27. Thackeray planned to contest the election to the council as nine members were retiring on April 24. However the election was postponed by the EC due to the Covid-19 outbreak. On April 9, the state cabinet recommended that the governor nominate Thackeray on the legislative council as two out of 12 seats to the council that are nominated by governor were lying vacant. However Koshyari has not done this.

A person familiar with the matter in Koshyaris office said nominees are usually achievers in art, social service, literature and other fields and the governor doesnt want to nominate politicians. Koshyari had also indicated that he would seek Centers opinion on the issue since state cabinet had advised him to nominate Thackeray as a special case considering the current crisis.

It was then that Thackeray chose to talk directly to Prime Minister Modi. Following communication between a close aide of Thackeray and an official from PMO, Thackeray dialled Modi on Wednesday requesting his intervention. On Thursday afternoon, two Sena leaders, party secretary Milind Narvekar--who was Thackerays intermediary with Koshyari--and urban development minister Eknath Shinde met the governor and handed him letters written to the EC by the three parties. Koshyari then immediately wrote to the EC requesting early election for nine seats to the council.

Thackerays Shiv Sena fought the election in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party but differences over power-sharing saw the two go their separate ways after the elections. The Shiv Sena partnered with the Natonalist Congress Party and the Congress to form the government.

The call is now the ECs. The election authority is likely to seek union home ministrys opinion before deciding on the request.

The governor has made the request to the Election Commission to fill the 9 seats in the legislative council, that have been lying vacant from 24th April, with a view to end the current uncertainty in the State,said a release issued by Raj Bhavan on Thursday evening.

In his letter, Koshyari stated that the elections to the council seats can be held with certain guidelines.

Since Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray is not a member of either house of the State Legislature, he needs to get elected to the the Council before 27th May 2020,Koshyari said in his letter.

In their letters, the three members of the coalition have assured the EC that they would follow all guidelines regarding social distancing and other precautions that are required under the current circumstances.

A Sena leader said it is likely that the election will be held unopposed once EC clears it.

The developments have happened in less than a day after Thackeray spoke to PM Modi. If the election to council is held now, it would be clearly following the intervention by Modi. In that case, it is likely that the four parties--three ruling parties and BJP-- informally decide on fielding nine candidates between them so that the entie exercise of getting 288 members of assembly to Mumbai for voting in the middle of Covid-19 outbreak can be avoided,he added.

Todays developments mean Governor Koshyari is not accepting state cabinets recommendation to nominate Thackeray to council. If the Election Commission holds election for council, the issue would be resolved but what if it doesnt? Or what if it is legally challenged. The possibility of a constitutional crisis is not yet over, said political commentator Pratap Asbe.

At the end of the day, these are political moves. Center will play a role in this episode and the outcome would be guided by political motive,he said.

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi has named the seven Democrats who will sit on the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis that will oversee the government's roll-out of trillions of dollars in aid to states, small businesses, and health care workers.

They are:

Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who will chair the committee

Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters of California

Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York

Small Business Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez of New York

Bill Foster of Illinois, the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's sub-panel on investigations and oversight

Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the chairman of the Oversight Committee's sub-panel on civil rights and civil liberties

Andy Kim of New Jersey, the chairman of the Small Business Committee's sub-panel on economic growth, tax, and capital access

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is expected to appoint five Republicans to the committee later this week. Democrats established the oversight panel on a party-line vote last week.

Ms Pelosi has said her top priority for the more than $2.7trn Congress has spent to help the US health system and economy through the crisis is to ensure it is administered equitably.

"We must be sure that the money we put forth goes to those who need it most, in a way that addresses disparities in access to health care and credit," Ms Pelosi said in a Dear Colleague letter to House Democrats on Wednesday.

"We also owe it to the American people to prevent waste, fraud and abuse and to protect against price-gouging and profiteering," the speaker said.

In an introductory press conference on Wednesday, Mr Clyburn defended his record as a non-partisan investigator before he came to Congress and insisted he does not plan to turn his new panel into a partisan sniper's nest.

Ms Pelosi has sought to assure Mr McCarthy and Republicans that the select committee will not focus its resources on probing the Trump administration's preparedness and early response to the crisis even though it has that broad authority. Such politically touchy subject matter can wait for an "after-action review," Ms Pelosi has said.

Story continues

"Of course we're going to act in a non-partisan way on this," the speaker said on Wednesday. "This is about the here and now, and how we go forward," she said.

Mr McCarthy, who was reportedly given Ms Pelosi's list of Democratic panel members last week, does not appear impressed, calling the committee "impeachment 2.0," Fox News reported. He has previously panned the select committee as "pure politics."

Mr McCarthy has said the panel is redundant since the House's dozens of other committees all have oversight functions and subpoena powers.

But Ms Pelosi countered on Wednesday that it is important to have a singular "bright light shining on the implementation" of trillions of tax dollars to fight the coronavirus.

"This is not in any way a substitute for what the committees do," Ms Pelosi. "They all have an oversight responsibility," she said, but noted that they have other issues to focus on aside from coronavirus.

More follows
Toronto police say theyve charged an 80-year-old man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman after she asked him to keep his distance because of COVID-19.

Police say that on Tuesday at about 7:30 p.m. in the Lower Spadina Avenue and Queens Quay West area, the man approached the woman and tried to greet her

The woman told him that this wasnt allowed under physical distancing measures, police said.

Police said she tried to move away, but he approached her again and allegedly sexually assaulted her.

There could be more victims and police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Sadetin Kopliku, of Toronto, has been charged with sexual assault.
The Delhi government has directed all clinics, hospitals and nursing homes, including private ones, to remain open for the treatment of non-Covid patients. The hospitals have been threatened with cancellation of licence for not complying with the order.

Non-compliance will be viewed seriously and action as per provisions of law, including cancellation of registration of the defaulter hospitals and nursing homes will be initiated without further notice, the order stated.

Hospitals have been asked not to refuse treatment to anyone, other than suspected Covid-19 patients, and ensure essential services like delivery of children, haemodialysis, blood transfusion, chemotherapy, treatment of chronic as well as communicable diseases, such as TB and leprosy.

Several clinics and nursing homes started opening up and scaling up their services after April 20. However, we need to ensure that while people receive treatment, healthcare workers do not get infected. The government should provide masks and PPE kits to private clinics and small nursing homes as they are already in a lot of financial trouble because of the lockdown and this burden should not be added. Also, there should be aggressive testing to detect the asymptomatic carriers so that the chances of unknowingly getting exposed are reduced, said Dr Girish Tyagi, president, Delhi Medical Association.

Plus, the government has to sort out the border closure issues and ensure public transport for healthcare workers to ensure that the clinics remain open, he said.

For the treatment of Covid-19 patients, Delhi government has started two more paid isolation facilities at private hospitals in the city, adding 220 beds for Covid-19 patients  120-bed Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital on Pusa Road and 100 at the Maha Durga Charitable Trust in Model Town  taking the total to 412.

Those testing positive for the virus can opt to stay at these hospitals and pay the hospitals directly.

Until now, Indraprastha Apollo hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Kolmet and Max Super Speciality hospital in Saket were the designated private hospitals for treating Covid-19 patients.

In view of the shortage of isolation beds at private hospitals, following private hospitals are also declared as Covid hospitals for admitting confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19, the Delhi government order read.

Two of the hospitals  with 162 beds in total  affiliated with Sir Ganga Ram will now treat Covid-19 patients. The main hospital in Rajinder Nagar will remain for the treatment of non-Covid-19 patients only, the hospital said.

Two dedicated Delhi government hospitals for the treatment of Covid-19 patients  Lok Nayak and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality  have 2,500 beds in total for Covid-19 patients. There are at least 500 beds for Covid-19 patients in the four Central government-run hospitals  AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College.

The government has also directed Lok Nayak Hospital to run its dialysis centre all hours throughout the week, to provide services to kidney disease patients who also have Covid-19.

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Researchers are hoping the coronavirus pandemic will make people realise their phones are filthy, and to get into the habit of washing them like they wash their hands.

A review of research into phone hygiene led by Bond University researchers has found phones host a staggering number of germs  from bacteria and micro-organisms to live viruses.

Researchers are worried mobile phones are acting like Trojan horses, carrying a range of contaminants that possibly include the coronavirus. Credit:AP

Bond University Associate Professor Lotti Tajouri said across 56 studies from 24 countries, all showed mobile phones were crawling with contaminants.

"The bottom line is, all phones are extremely contaminated," Professor Tajouri said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Todays archive page is from Jan. 3, 1942.

The Advances group of newspaper boys will be taking orders for the regular delivery of 10-cent defense savings stamps.

The Treasury Department has set up a series of honor awards for the young salesmen.

For the sale of 1987 stamps, he will receive a bronze shield. When 375 more stamps are sold, the newspaper boy will receive a silver bar to add to the shield. And when he sells 750 more stamps, he will receive a gold bar. For each additional 750 stamps sold, he will receive an additional gold bar.

At the end of service, each participant will be granted the Treasury Departments grand certificate of merit award.

If you have trouble viewing the below page, click here to enlarge it.
The "routine"



transfer of the superintendent of Murshidabad Medical College Hospital has set off a political storm in West Bengal with the opposition Congress and the BJP claiming he was shifted after an internal communication"about COVID-19 deaths got leaked.

The state's ruling TMC dismissed the allegation as "baseless and politically motivated".

The matter was first raised by the leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha and MP from Murshidabad district, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who claimed Debdas Saha was shunted out after an internal communication asking doctors not to classify the death of coronavirus positive patients as caused by COVID-19 got leaked.

Chowdhury shared the purported duty roster signed by Das on social media which said, "In case of COVID positive: no mention of COVID in D/C (death certificate)."



The authenticity of the duty roster shared by Chowdhury could not be independently verified by PTI.

The state health department issued an order late Wednesday night transfering Das to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

"The MSVP (Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal) of Murshidabad Medical College Debdas Saha was transferred to North Bengal after this government order (duty roster) got leaked. He was replaced by another doctor of Murshidabad Medical college.

"This transfer is an attempt by the state government to hide the truth. The state government should come out with a clarification as to why he was transferred. Was it due to the secret order on COVID deaths that got leaked?" Chowdhury said.

The Congress lawmaker alleged the state government was "hiding" data on COVID-19 ever since its outbreak.

"This is unacceptable. This tendency to hide the truth is only aggravating the crisis," he asserted.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh shared his view, and alleged that instead of focusing on treating the patients, the government was "more keen on hiding the facts and figures".

The Trinamool Congress rubbished the accusations.

"The allegations against the state government are politically motivated and baseless. The opposition has no work other than to spread canards about routine transfers," a senior TMC leader said, insisting that he should not be named.

Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, when asked by reporters to comment on the issue, said such transfers are taken care of by the health department.

"You should ask this question to the health department," he said curtly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / World High Life Plc (LIFE.L)(WRHLF) announces that the Company has issued 960,000 ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") in settlement of fees to certain advisors (including George St-Pierre Enterprises Inc.) of the Company in lieu of cash at a price per share of 10p.

The Company has also issued a further 2,231,650 Ordinary Shares in lieu of cash in respect of outstanding debt repayments at a price per share of 10p.

Application will be made for the new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the AQSE Growth Market and admission is expected to become effective, and dealings in the new Ordinary Shares are expected to commence, on 6 May 2020.

Following this issue, the Company's has 145,600,730 Ordinary Shares in issue, each share carrying the right to one vote. The figure of 145,600,730 should be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

About Love Hemp

Love Hemp is one of the UK's leading CBD and Hemp product suppliers and has more than 40 product lines, comprising oils, sprays and vapes and a variety of edible and water-based CBD products. Love Hemp has established relationships with over 1,200 stores in the UK, including leading brands such as Ocado, Holland & Barrett and WH Smith.

About World High Life

World High Life was established by the founders of Supreme Cannabis (TSX:FIRE), and 1933 Industries (CSE:TGIF), both companies at the forefront of the legalized cannabis industry. LIFE was established to take advantage of the huge opportunities available in the UK and European legal cannabis space, which is set to be the largest in the world within five years.

Story continues

For further information please contact:

David Stadnyk Founder & CEO World High Life PLC +44 (0) 7926 397 675 info@worldhighlife.uk AQSE Corporate Adviser Mark Anwyl/Allie Feuerlein Peterhouse Capital Limited +44 (0) 20 7469 0930 ma@peterhousecap.com af@peterhousecap.com Financial PR Camilla Horsfall/Megan Ray Blytheweigh +44 (0) 20 7138 3224 Camilla.horsfall@blytheweigh.com Megan.Ray@blytheweigh.com

For more information on World High Life please visit: www.worldhighlife.uk

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.



This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.



SOURCE: World High Life PLC





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/587694/World-High-Life-PLC-Announces-Issue-of-Equity




Bottom line: Samsung is one of the companies that so far weathered the storm, mostly thanks to its diversified business and strong demand for its silicon across the entire hardware industry. The company is bolstering its online retail channels to cope with waning demand for consumer electronics.

Samsung posted revenues of 55.3 trillion won ($45.5 billion) for the three months ending in March, which is a positive result despite being a modest 5.6 percent year-over-year increase.

The Korean tech giant's biggest advantage is that it's highly diversified and produces both electronic components and finished products. It's what allowed it to shrug off the huge decline in smartphone demand and rake in 6.4 trillion won ($5.2 billion) in operating profit, which is 3.4 percent more than it managed during the same period in 2019.

Samsung says it saw a surge in orders for its memory products for PCs and servers, as many people now have to work from home and need to remove every possible bottleneck. The semiconductor business alone brought in 4 trillion won ($3.3 billion), which is almost two thirds of the company's total profits for the first quarter of 2020.

Interestingly, the company's OLED display business also had a contribution to the positive financial results, with 200 billion won ($165 million) in operating profit. That being said, Samsung's smartphone sales continued their decline, and the reason why the company didn't see a larger hit is the fact that the average sales price has increased thanks to strong demand for the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Samsung warned that while the trend of high DRAM and NAND demand will likely continue throughout the year, the company expects to see a decline in global sales for its smartphones, TVs, and home appliances. In the meantime, it will focus its attention on improving its online sales capabilities through promotions and optimized logistics.

In related news, the Korean tech giant is deeply invested in making the industry's most advanced NAND chip, in response to increased competition from Chinese companies that have already caught up with it in terms of storage density and speed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 19:12:36|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows an empty street in Yemen's southern port city of Aden. Yemen's health authorities announced registering the first two coronavirus-linked deaths earlier on Thursday, sparking fears among the citizens in the southern port city of Aden. (Photo by Murad Abdo/Xinhua)

ADEN, Yemen, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's health authorities announced registering the first two coronavirus-linked deaths earlier on Thursday, sparking fears among the citizens in the southern port city of Aden.

According to the country's Health Minister Nasser Baoum's statement released by the state-run television, "health departments in Aden registered the first two deaths caused by COVID-19."

The announcement prompted a number of private hospitals in Aden to shut down and stop receiving patients.

An official of Aden's health department told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that "some medical staff left hospitals after the announcement of coronavirus infection."

"Some emergency departments at the hospitals in Aden were noticed empty of nurses and doctors," he said.

He added that "the medical staff apparently left due to the lack of protectives or necessary equipment to deal with the risks of coronavirus."

The departures of medical staff and shutting down of some hospitals owned by local investors would confuse the already shattering health system in the impoverished Arab country, according to the official.

On Wednesday, Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared a three-day 24-hour curfew, in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country's southern port city of Aden.

Responding to the recording of five confirmed cases of COVID-19, the STC that's controlling Aden and the neighboring southern cities announced a series of measures to curb the spread of the disease in the main cities.

According to the STC's official website, the measures included imposing full curfew for 72 hours starting at midnight Wednesday local time in all the neighborhoods of Aden in addition to shutting down all the large shopping centers.

Main streets in different neighborhoods of Aden were seen empty following the 72 hours curfew.

All the stores, small businesses, and public markets were seen closed as citizens were forced to stay at homes.

The department of Yemen's Ministry of Endowment and Religious Guidance also banned congregational prayers and closed mosques in Aden until further notice.

On April 10, Yemen's supreme national emergency committee declared that a 60-year-old Yemeni man, who worked in Ash Shihr, was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Yemen's Ministry of Health announced Monday that the first confirmed case had recovered.

Plagued by cholera, malnutrition, and diphtheria, Yemen lacks the ability to cope with deadly epidemics as its five years of civil war has almost destroyed its healthcare system.

According to UN estimates, nearly 80 percent of the population in Yemen require humanitarian assistance and protection.

The country has 10 million people who are a step away from famine and 7 million people who are malnourished.
Large groups of young people have been flouting coronavirus social distancing laws at popular beaches on the Gold Coast.

Gangs of revellers have gathered at Burleigh Hill and Point Danger this week to drink and socialise.

One group of eight to 15 people have been meeting at Burleigh Hill every morning around 6.30am, The Courier Mail reported.

Pictured: A group of up to 15 young people have been flouting social distancing laws by gathering at Burleigh Hill on the Gold Coast every morning this week

A frustrated Burleigh Hill local said: 'It is same people who gather every morning at this time and fist, handshake and hug each other.'

The young adults were pictured socialising at the beach while completely disregarding the social distancing law that dictates a maximum group size of two.

Certain group members stood together and chatted while others sat on the grass to enjoy the view and a coffee.

A large group of young women were also photographed having a picnic at Point Danger on Wednesday afternoon.

One passer-by noted: 'A group of girls got together for a beach party and group photo completely ignoring the social distancing rules we should all be adhering to.'

'This was not a chance meeting as they had drinks, food and were set for a get-together for the afternoon.'

The five women were photographed with their arms around each other while posing for a picture.

Pictured: One group of young women ignored social distancing measures by taking pictures, drinking sparkling wine and picnicking at Point Danger on Wednesday

The group had brought sparkling wine and bags of food and picnicked while ignoring 1.5 metre social distancing rules.

COVID-19 laws in Queensland state individuals should only leave home for essential purposes and may only gather with one person who is not from their household.

Queensland Police have been notified of the gatherings and are investigating.

A police spokesperson said: The images showing what appear to be blatant breaches of the Chief Health Officers directive are very disappointing.'

'The people depicted have jeopardised their own safety and the safety of the wider community by their actions.'

'Police in the Gold Coast District are working incredibly hard to ensure Queensland Health directives, including social distancing are being followed, however we cannot be on every street corner, in every park and on every square metre of beach to ensure every person is acting responsibly,' the spokesperson said.
Say what you will about the government, no matter how many memes that say 'bik gayi hai gormint' you laugh at, you cannot deny the fact that when it comes to putting its foot down and coming to the help of its citizens, no matter where they are in the world, the government goes out, all guns blazing. This pandemic is no different.

 Reuters

Given the considerable size of the Indian diaspora who are stuck in foreign countries all over the world, and are desperately trying to get back home, the Indian government recently announced that they have a mega plan to rescue our fellow Indians who are stranded abroad, facing isolation and lockdowns that are getting worse by the day. Potentially, this operation can be much bigger than Operation Raahat, the last time such a courageous operation was carried out in Yemen a few years back, when roughly 6000 people were rescued in 2015.

 Reuters

The sheer size and proportions of the plan are impressive - about 8 million people can be potentially rescued, just from the Gulf regions, given how the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on economies that relied on crude oil. And this is just phase 1 of the rescue operation. In the later phases, Indians stuck all over the world, and those looking to come back home will be rescued.

 BCCL

Here are 5 key facts about the rescue mission that is making us proud.

Commerical + Military Venture

 Reuters

This rescue operation will be a joint venture between the military and several commercial entities, mainly airlines. Not only will we have commercial airliners and pilots carrying out this operation, we also know that the Indian Air Force has been put on standby to provide aircraft for the mission. India's commercial aviation on their own, are providing about 650 aircrafts, including both passenger carriers, as well as freight. On top of this, the Indian Air Force is keeping a number of its transport aircrafts ready for the mission.

Navy's Role

 Wiki Commons

Although the major point using which civilians will be rescued is aeroplanes, the Indian Navy has also been roped in, and they are providing the INS Magar, and the INS Jalashwa, both of which are specialised amphibious vessels. Of the two, INS Jalashwa has been designed as a transport dock.

Possibly The Largest Rescue Mission In History

 BCCL

The biggest rescue operation in India's history was the one that was carried out during the Persian Gulf War in 1990, by commercial Indian airliners wherein a total of 1,70,000 Indians were rescued. Given the effort and the scale of the planning, plus the fact that there are about 8 million Indian stranded there most of whom want to come back, this may turn out to be the largest rescue mission in history.

The Phases Of The Plan

 Reddit/indiandiaspora

Although the priority at first will be to clear out the Gulf and the middle eastern countries, the plan entails that soon after the rescue operations are wrapped up in that area, the focus will be shifted to other countries where Indians are facing insurmountable difficulties.

Leading By Example

 Reuters

No other country is doing anything remotely close to the kind of operation that we as a nation are planning on. Britain, for example, had a very systematic but excruciatingly slow plan to evacuate the 30,000 odd Brittons who were stuck in India.
Washington: As the coronavirus spreads around the world, countries that have received medical equipment donated by the United States for peacekeeping and counterterrorism missions are converting it to civilian use during the pandemic.

US Army tents in 2003. Credit:AP

Four expeditionary hospitals in Africa, each comprising 14 tents that can handle operations from surgery to dentistry, have been moved from military bases where doctors train in treating battlefield casualties to cities where coronavirus outbreaks have stretched health-care systems.

The State Department this week notified Congress that it plans to allow seven additional countries engaged in US-backed counterterrorism operations to use donated ambulances, tactical vehicles, cots, tents and other equipment in their domestic response to the virus.

The arrangements are in place until the pandemic ebbs, but scientists say cases of COVID-19, the disease the novel coronavirus causes, will continue to rise in countries with weak health systems, including many in Africa.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is no more, confirmed his family on Thursday.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last."

"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him."

"He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears," the Kapoor family said in a statement.

Upon hearing the news, Bollywood celebrities, in entirety, shared their condolences on social media. Amongst them was veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who got teary eyed while recording a video message on Rishi's demise. The two had worked together on cult-classic Karz (1980). He also shared several throwback images from the time they spent together. He even said that Rishi was one among the top five artists in India. "It never felt like he was unwell. He had so much energy," Subhash said in the video.

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A Communications Team Member of the National Democratic Congress in the Ashanti region has unleashed a scathing criticism against the president and the ruling New Patriotic describing them as the enemies impeding the national efforts to combat the fearful Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to Kwaku Kyerematen who sat in for the regular host of Fox Morning Drive, Agya Owusu, on Monday, Mr. Opoku alleged that the president's assertion that 'the virus is the enemy and not one another' can not be true.

The deputy secretary of the opposition NDC in the Asante Akim Central Constituency rebutted that, 'I dare say, the president and for that matter, the NPP is the enemy and not the virus'.

When challenged, Mr. Opoku defended his stance saying that despite a high court's injunction restraining the electoral commission from organising training workshop, the EC with impunity, defied the court order and held the workshop at the Escape City Hotel but the president looks on unconcerned.

But the host of the programme queried that the EC is independent of any governmental control so how is the president expected to intervene?

The NDC communicator, however, reacted that the President, by Executive Instrument, suspended all public and social gatherings by two weeks in his last address to the nation, hence, the EC's action violates E.I 64 of 15th March 2020.

He further averred that it is codified in the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana that it behooves the president to protect his citizenry; hence, the need for the institutions of state and for that matter, the president to crack the whip when the EC too violates the law. He believes that the virus can spread through such gatherings too.

On the president's call for intensification of policies to develop a local remedy to the fight against the virus, Mr. Opoku described it as a mere flamboyant speech.

According to him, a researcher, Dr. Jacob Samson Barnor, formerly with Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research but now with the World Health Organisation has stated that COA FS, a locally produced herbal medicine, has the potency to cure many diseases and also boost the immune system of victims to fight the COVID-19 but, surprisingly, the Foods and Drugs Authority, which is a creation of the state acting as an enemy has called for a withdrawal of this efficacious medicine from the market.

The communicator further claimed that according to the former Noguchi researcher, this locally produced medicine has received high patronage in other nations like Sierra Leone, Nigeria, South Africa, and China.

On the announcement to put up 88 health facilities, the communications team member of the major opposition party retorted that, 'government ought to have been proactive other than reactive'. He was also startled to read from the president's address that it is the virus that has revealed to him the unequal distribution of health facilities across the nation; he questioned whether the president's appointees were oblivious of this challenge.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 19:48:32|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a commercial street in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- An article by President Xi Jinping on poverty alleviation will be published Friday by the Qiushi Journal.

The article is a speech made by Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, at a symposium on poverty alleviation.

Carrying out targeted poverty alleviation is of great significance to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects on schedule, the article says.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has been leading the fight against poverty in full swing and has achieved the best results in China's history of poverty reduction, says the article.

The poverty eradication efforts have reached unprecedented levels in terms of their intensity, scale and impact, writing a new chapter in humanity's history of fighting poverty, it says.

The article cites six aspects of important experiences including upholding the Party leadership, targeted strategies, and social mobilization. It also demands full recognition of the difficulties and challenges in the battle against poverty and preparedness to respond to and overcome them.

With the fight against poverty completed with success on schedule, absolute poverty, a problem that has plagued the Chinese nation for thousands of years, will be resolved historically in our generation, the article says. 
PHOENIX - Musetta Vander has been to several of the most iconic national parks and landscapes in the U.S., capturing herself doing a yoga pose among the Joshua trees, driving on a tree-lined highway framed by Yosemite's towering rock formations and sitting at the edge of a cliff overlooking a horseshoe-shaped bend in the Colorado River.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PHOENIX - Musetta Vander has been to several of the most iconic national parks and landscapes in the U.S., capturing herself doing a yoga pose among the Joshua trees, driving on a tree-lined highway framed by Yosemite's towering rock formations and sitting at the edge of a cliff overlooking a horseshoe-shaped bend in the Colorado River.

Sometimes its so beautiful you want to share it with the world immediately, said Vander of West Hollywood, California. However, I feel that you miss out on the magical experience nature provides you when you dont let go of social media or whatever else is consuming your mind.

Vanders travels illustrate a long-running debate over how connected national park visitors can or should be to the internet. Parks are grappling with the best way to expand service while preserving the serenity of the outdoors.

While those plans are a lower priority because the coronavirus has closed parks, National Park Service officials are intent on resolving the connectivity issue as states gradually start lifting restrictions.

We are doing our best to maintain as many project timelines as possible, park service spokeswoman Vanessa Lacayo said.

The coronavirus shows the need for better internet service as more people work from home, said Christine Gale Reynolds, who lives in Yosemite Village within the park. The equipment also cant keep up with the summertime spike in visitors.

When my community expands to include a lot of tourists and travellers, its very competitive to get on the Wi-Fi, and people start getting bumped off, she said.

Kam Redlawsk points to service as a safety measure. She and her husband got lost visiting the federally managed Trona Pinnacles, massive rock structures in the central California desert, and couldnt get cell service. They got nervous as night fell but found a path out. She thinks about that in national parks and now amid the pandemic.

Access should be an equal right, especially in times of crises, she said.

Federal law requires parks to consider permits for infrastructure that could expand internet, cellphone and radio service.

That's playing out at the Grand Canyon, where park officials are mapping where to put new communications towers. Some of the existing ones are prominent in heavily touristed areas. Others can be spotted among the trees.

A proposal calls for adding up to five towers, none of them below the rim. The other option would be considering new infrastructure case by case. Officials will decide later this year.

In a wide-ranging 2016 survey, 83% of visitors said using electronic devices was at least slightly important to their stay at the Grand Canyon, which gets more than 6 million visitors a year.

The park knows people rely on cellphones and other devices for directions, reservations and more, said Elly Boerke, an environmental protection specialist at the Grand Canyon, and theres not an expectation that shouldnt occur.

But a group of Grand Canyon river guides advocated for keeping the backcountry free of cellphone service.

Cellular companies only care about increasing profits and expanding coverage, the groups board wrote.

AT&T said it supports the Grand Canyons plan but questioned whether multiple carriers should rely on the same equipment.

Upgrading communications equipment can help in emergencies and with traffic cameras, electronic message boards and visitor tracking, said Lacayo, the park service spokeswoman. It also helps attract younger visitors who grew up using cellphones, she said.

But the need to get a perfect shot for social media requires reminders for safety over selfie, as people sometimes venture close to cliff edges, Lacayo said by email.

Parks say outdated and inadequate service leaves people searching for signals. Most of their improvement plans focus on developed areas and try to camouflage towers as trees or within the landscape.

Officials at Death Valley National Park along the California-Nevada state line approved a plan last year to construct a new cell tower, but it's stalled until AT&T updates the proposal to meet environmental requirements.

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has approved a plan for more than 60 miles (97 kilometres) of underground fiber-optic line, with construction expected to begin this summer. The park known for its jagged mountain peaks also is considering a proposal for a cell tower.

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Yellowstone National Park is considering a permit to install radio antennae on existing infrastructure to increase Wi-Fi speeds near guest lodges and employee housing.

The interior of Yellowstone has been starved for bandwidth, said Bret De Young, branch chief of technology, adding that the popularity of smartphones meant equipment installed in 2008 was overburdened within a year.

At Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, officials are considering a request from Verizon to erect a 60-foot (18-meter) cell tower on a plateau near a canyon filled with spire-shaped red rock formations.

Visitor numbers have more than doubled in the past decade, and the park relies on social media to let people know about conditions like flash floods in slot canyons. But tourists can read those updates only if theyre at limited locations with Wi-Fi and cellular signals, many of them outside Bryce Canyon's boundaries.

___

Fonseca reported from Flagstaff. Associated Press writer Brady McCombs in Salt Lake City contributed to this story.
But many residents of the center have been in custody for longer than 30 days, which, generally speaking, is the longest a juvenile can be held pretrial under normal circumstances. As of last week, 99 youths had been held beyond that limit, though some may be in custody awaiting sentencing or on probation violations rather than awaiting trial.
The new building features a glass atrium entrance and windows that run nearly from floor to ceiling, allowing natural light to illuminate work areas. The innovative design of the office will enhance the ability of CPM attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff to collaborate and will include a flexible workspace with a fireplace.

The new space offers eight conference rooms of various sizes and a media room to accommodate meetings. CPM will offer one of its meeting rooms for community use. This room is named after founding partner, Richard V. Patchen, and can seat up to 10 people. The adjacent parking lot will also provide ample, free surface parking for clients and guests.

Moving a business is challenging at the best of times but moving during a pandemic made things a little more interesting for the firm. CPM Attorney and Administrative Partner Jane Higgins Marx said, "We had our air filters changed before we moved in, and we made sure our suite and common areas were disinfected with cleaning products approved by the CDC to kill COVID-19. We're also supplying masks to our staff."

Marx went on to add, "The good news is that our floor plan and furniture selections allow for social distancing to be achieved in all areas of our new office. Traffic will be one-way in all hallways of our suite, with one door as the entry and one door as the exit. Prior to the move, we provided our employees with virtual moving plans and assigned staggered packing and unpacking time. We even used FaceTime to clean out files."

Before the Ohio Department of Health issued its official stay-at-home orders, CPM had already acted to implement several safety precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its offices. In addition to social distancing and increased hygiene standards, CPM limited office access to employees only. The firm adopted technology in place of in-person meetings and asked employees and Partners who could work from home to do so. Deemed an essential business, CPM remained open during the stay-at-home orders and met with clients via telecommunications.

For over 50 years, Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP has concentrated on responsively serving the legal and business needs of Central Ohio businesses and their owners and executives. The attorneys at Carlile Patchen & Murphy provide skilled guidance in the areas of Business Law, Litigation, Employment, Family Wealth & Estate Planning, Real Estate, Banking, Taxation, Securities and Insurance.

All firm telephone numbers will remain the same; and you will still be able to reach CPM's main line at 614-228-6135. The Dublin office will continue to serve clients at 535 Metro Place South.

For more information, contact:

Catherine Roebuck | PR & Communications Lead

614-628-0789 | [email protected]

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP  366 East Broad Street  Columbus, OH 43215

535 Metro Place South  Dublin, OH 43017

On May 4, 2020, we are moving to 950 Goodale Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43212

www.cpmlaw.com

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"[W]hen we were approached by the founders of Food -Ek Chhoti Se Aasha, we were happy to support not only their fund-raising efforts but also develop the backend technology that will help ensure that food is making its way to the people most in need. - Imtiaz Mohammady

Nisum, a leading global digital commerce firm, today announced the completion of a project undertaken as a result of the companys pro bono initiative to provide free technology development services to organizations fighting the spread of COVID-19 and helping those affected by the pandemic. On behalf of Mumbai-based nonprofit, Food - Ek Chhoti Se Aasha, a team of Nisum developers created and implemented a technology platform in just eight days to optimized and automate the food distribution supply chain to manage the nonprofits inventory of food, identify areas in the region most in need, and coordinate meal delivery to those places and individuals.

The spread of COVID-19 has brought about unprecedented circumstances, said Imtiaz Mohammady, CEO, Nisum. Nisum has always valued service to our community and helping our neighbors, whether next door or across the globe. With two Nisum office locations and thousands of team members and partners in India, we are acutely aware of the situation there. As such, when we were approached by the founders of Food - Ek Chhoti Se Aasha, we were happy to support not only their fund-raising efforts but also develop the backend technology that will help ensure that food is making its way to the people most in need.

Nisums development team built the centralized technology platform for Food - Ek Chhoti Se Aasha volunteers with the following features and capabilities:



Order placement and allocation

Inventory tracking of all meals through a robust delivery management system

Geo-targeting features to avoid over saturation in certain areas and ensure meals are distributed to the locations most in need

A centralized volunteer platform for participating organizations to seamlessly communicate

Food - Ek Chhoti Se Aasha started as a small effort to feed 150 displaced individuals at the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown in India. However, after just one week, Food - Ek Chhoti Se Aasha founders realized that there were more than 500,000 daily wage workers and immigrant laborers going without food on a daily basis as they are not able to leave Mumbai and return to their homes and families.

The platform Nisum has built for us in just over a week has been instrumental in helping us to better coordinate our efforts, manage donations, and deploy deliveries to ensure that meals are getting to those most in need right now, said Nikhat Ashraf Mohamedy, one of the founders of Food - Ek Chhoti Se Aasha. With so many struggling in the face of this pandemic, helping to provide food to Mumbais displaced workers is one small thing we can do to immediately support those most impacted by the lockdown.

If your organization is working to stop the spread of COVID-19 or helping those affected by the pandemic and may benefit from Nisums pro bono technology development services, please apply here or paste this link into your browser's address bar https://www.nisum.com/covid-19-pro-bono-offer.

To donate, please visit Food - Ek Chhoti Se Aashas GoFundMe campaign, Feed Laborers Stranded in Mumbai During COVID-19.

For more information on Nisum, visit http://www.nisum.com.

About Nisum

A preferred advisor to leading Fortune 500 brands, Nisum enables clients to achieve direct business growth by building the advanced technology that B2C and B2B clients need to reach end customers in todays world, with immersive and seamless experiences across digital and physical channels. Whether youre a hot start-up or a major global brand, Nisums approach is the same: forge the most powerful connection possible between people, processes, and technology in order to achieve unparalleled success with fast time-to-market, scalable and cloud-based solutions. At the intersection of business and technology, Nisums combination of deep expertise, acceleration models, and global execution capabilities results in integrated solutions that deliver real and measurable growth.

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Toy maker Mattel launched a new toy line this week honoring workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The company, through its Fisher-Price brand began selling a 'Thank You Heroes' line of 16 new action figures.

The line includes nurses, doctors, EMTs delivery drivers.

Toy maker Mattel launched a new toy line this week, 'Thank You Heroes,' honoring workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured are figures from the nurses collection

Pictured are figures from the doctors collection from Mattel's new 'Thank You Heroes' toy line

The 'Thank You Heroes' toy line emergency medical technicians collection is pictured

Mattel's 'Thank You Heroes' line also features a delivery drivers collection (pictured)

Mattel, known for its iconic Barbie doll and Hot Wheels cars, sells each figure for $20 and pledges to donate $15 from the proceeds to First Responders First, a fund established to help pay for personal protective equipment, or PPE and other 'essential supplies,' needed by frontline workers during the outbreak.

First Responders First also will cover the cost of accommodations, child care, food, mental health support and other resources for frontline healthcare workers and their patients.

Fisher-Price also offers a five-character Little People set version of the figures complete for $20 that includes a grocery store worker.

The toys are scheduled for shipment to consumers by December 31.

So far there have been 1,065,245 confirmed cases in the US of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for more than 61,500 deaths.

Fisher-Price also offers a five-character Little People set version of the first responders (pictured), also for $20. Mattel pledges to send $15 from each sale of the new toy line to support First Responders First for essential supplies, equipment and resources

Mattel's website for the new toys invites consumers to 'Say thank you. Make a hero smile. #PlayItForward.'

The First Responders First fund, which is to benefit from sales of the toy line was started last month by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Thrive Global, a firm founded by Arianna Huffington that makes behavior change technology and media to support individuals struggling with stress and burnout; and the CAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of talent firm the Creative Arts Agency.

Mattel's Fisher-Price 'is an iconic brand and the products speak to something deep inside of us,' Huffington, who also co-founded Huffington Post told USA TODAY.

'It's wonderful to see that connection bringing joy to the children but also giving all of us one more way to honor (the frontline responders). I don't think we can have enough ways to honor them.'
In London, Lorraine Lloyd-Thomas (pictured left) and Cameron McCoy (pictured right) have joined the firm. Lloyd-Thomas joined from Marsh, where she spent 14 years, most recently as a managing director in Marshs UK private equity and M&A practice. She is a non-practising solicitor and, according to Beazley, was one of the first to join the M&A insurance market from the legal profession in 2002.

McCoy, meanwhile, is an experienced underwriter who will be responsible for the underwriting of UK and international M&A risks. Prior to joining Beazley, he worked as an M&A underwriter at AIG and previously as a corporate lawyer at leading international firms with a focus on cross border private and public M&A and private equity transactions.

In the US, Melanie Walker has joined Beazley in Atlanta to increase capacity for US domestic risks. She was most recently an associate with Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP where she focused on M&A. She previously worked at an international law firm in New York City, as part of its capital markets practice, where she worked on public and private capital markets transactions, including tender and exchange offers, IPOs, and debt issuances.

In addition, Tim Allen, Beazleys global head of M&A, has moved from London to Denver as the team looks to build its offering across the US mid-market.

Kirsten Windle-Wehrle, meanwhile, has joined the company in Munich, where she underwrites M&A transaction liability business on a global basis. An attorney-at-law, with expertise in M&A, private equity and corporate law, she previously worked at Frankfurt-based commercial law firm Oppenhoff & Partner Rechtsanwalte and Steuerberater, where she was a specialist M&A lawyer.

As part of Beazleys push in the Asia-Pacific region, M&A underwriter Jordan Schwarz will move to Beazleys Singapore hub from London within this year. This is due to increased demand there and in Australia and New Zealand. He will work with Jade Cummings in Singapore who joined Beazley last November from McAfee, LLC, where she served as a legal counsel.

We have seen increased interest in protecting transactions through insurance and we are expanding the team to meet this rising demand, said Tim Allen, Beazleys global head of M&A. We are especially pleased some of the top professionals in our business have decided to join Beazley.

Over the course of four years, we have grown from a team of three underwriters to the current level of 14 M&A professionals. With this expansion, we will have greater expertise and capacity for our clients.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 12:44 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd52e2b5 1 Business Indonesia,bank-indonesia,government-bond,state-budget,deficit,COVID-19,foreign-investors,multilateral-organization Free

Bank Indonesia (BI) has bought up to Rp 173.1 trillion (US$11.24 billion) worth of government bonds from primary and secondary markets in a bid to stabilize rupiah and support the governments financing needs.

BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said the central had bought Rp 166.2 trillion worth of government bonds from foreign investors in the secondary market since early this year amid the decline of the rupiah against the US dollar.

He said the Rp 2.3 billion worth of government debt papers were purchased during the governments regular auction on Tuesday. This is in addition to Rp 1.72 trillion worth of bonds bought by BI in a regular auction on Tuesday last week and Rp 2.93 trillion bought by the central bank in a "greenshoe option" on Wednesday last week.

We see that the governments financing needs will be fulfilled by the market, Perry told reporters in a virtual press conference on Wednesday, adding that bond investors should not bet on Indonesia selling debt at higher yields, as the amount to be raised for the rest of the year will be manageable and the inflow of foreign funds would push yields lower.

The government on Tuesday raised Rp 16.62 trillion, below the target of around Rp 20 trillion to Rp 40 trillion, despite total incoming bids of Rp 44.4 trillion as investors bid yields that were too high.

"The market will see, at the beginning they bid for yields that were too high, thinking the sum to be raised would be large, Perry said, suggesting that investors had bet the government would pay higher yields as it would need a large amount of funds to finance the extra spending for COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

The countrys budget deficit is expected to widen to 5.07 percent of GDP this year as the government would have to increase its gross issuance of debt to Rp 1.4 quadrillion this year to finance the COVID-19 mitigation and rescue program, according to Perry.

However, Perry says, the central bank sees only Rp 425 trillion in bond offerings for the rest of 2020 as the government maximizes spending from other sources, including its own cash, as well as loans from development banks, among others.

The government plans to provide another Rp 35.3 trillion in new tax incentives for 18 sectors, including those hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as tourism and the food and beverage sector.

This is on top of the Rp 436.1 trillion stimulus packages previously announced by the government to strengthen social safety nets, boost healthcare spending and for economic recovery programs.

The government raised another Rp 62.62 trillion from government debt papers on Monday and seeks to secure $750 million in loans from development banks, according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Finance Ministry data.

Previously, Indonesia had raised $4.3 billion in dollar-denominated bonds, including the longest-dated 50-year dollar bond ever issued by an Asian nation, earlier this month. It also sold around Rp 14 trillion in sharia sovereign bonds last week.

By early May, BI will have injected a total of Rp 503.8 trillion in additional liquidity to banks and the financial system to help cushion the economic impact of the virus outbreak and to strengthen the rupiah as part of its quantitative easing measures.

The rupiah gained against the greenback over the last few weeks, strengthening to Rp 15,394 per dollar as per 11 a.m. on Wednesday from this years low of 16,625 per US dollar, according to Bloomberg data.

The currency has depreciated as much as 18 percent this year before bouncing back to the current level as the central bank moved to support the rupiah by buying government bonds from foreign investors as they dumped Indonesian assets over fears related to COVID-19.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented upheaval of the U.S. health care system. For decades the United States has stood out among peer nations as the only country with no universal health care system. And now we are learning just how problematic it is to tie insurance to employment  an unintended consequence of employer workarounds of World War II wage freezes. Nearly 29 million Americans lacked insurance before the start of the pandemic. An additional 13.5 million individuals are projected to lose their employer-sponsored insurance by June 30th, 2020. As soon-to-be physicians, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects that lack of insurance can have on health.

Congress is now faced with two bills to address the growing ranks of the uninsured. The first, The Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, only addresses newly unemployed Americans who previously got insurance through their jobs. The second, the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act, is much more comprehensive and calls for Medicare, the government program that traditionally covers adults 65 and older, to step in to cover medical costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Worker Health Coverage Protection Act (WHCPA) expands coverage for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). COBRA is a program designed to allow people to stay on their employer-sponsored insurance in the event they lose their job. However, for many individuals, COBRA is prohibitively expensive; consumers must foot both their usual monthly health insurance premium and the amount their employer traditionally covers. According to a recent survey, the average family enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance pays roughly only 30 percent of their annual premium ($6,015 of the full $20,576). The average monthly COBRA premium would amount to $1,714, eroding a households entire federal stimulus check (up to $1,200 per adult, up to $500 per child) by month two.

WHCPA would alleviate the financial burden imposed by the loss of an employers health insurance subsidy, covering all premiums for 15 months. It would also cover the full cost of premiums for furloughed workers who are still responsible for these costs despite receiving lower or no wages. Notably, copayments would not be covered.

The second piece of legislation, the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act, has a much wider scope. Unlike WHCPA, HCEGA addresses both uninsured and insured patients. All uninsured Americans would receive coverage through Medicare to cover the cost of medically necessary health care. Insured Americans, on the other hand, would receive coverage of copayments and deductibles but not premiums. The legislation has additional provisions to reduce Americans health care spending: (i) limit surprise billing for all patients, (ii) for the previously uninsured population, reduce prescription drug costs by setting drug reimbursement rates at typically lower Veteran Affairs rates, and (iii) waive enrollment penalties for Medicare-eligible seniors who did not enroll in the program at age 65.

The bill would assist 270 million non-elderly Americans, approximately 20 times more Americans than WHCPA. Assistance would last until a coronavirus vaccine is approved by the FDA.

As medical students, we know many patients who have suffered unnecessarily because they were uninsured or underinsured. We have seen patients avoid seeking medical care and ration medications due to fear of the sky-high costs. With new studies emerging almost daily telling us that those with uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and other underlying conditions are at much greater risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19, we cannot afford to let health needs go unaddressed during this pandemic.

While The Worker Health Coverage Protection Act is a step in the right direction, it offers support for only a subset of Americans  those lucky enough to already have insurance through a job. Many employees of shuttered businesses, including restaurants or convenience stores, have fewer than 20 employees and typically do not offer employer-sponsored insurance. Undocumented individuals are also notably left out of this legislation. There is a strong moral and economic argument for changing this, as undocumented immigrants subsidize both public and private insurance for native-born Americans. Moreover, undocumented workers form the foundation of many essential industries, particularly Americas food supply chain.

HCEGA is more expansive, offering financial support to all Americans with health care needs. Its an ambitious bill aiming to meet the scale of the moment. A looming recession, projected to be far worse than the Global Financial Crisis in 2008-2009, means that many of the jobs lost to COVID-19 are unlikely to return soon. Despite the Affordable Care Acts expansion of coverage in the years since the Global Financial Crisis, the majority of Americans declaring bankruptcy cited medical bills as a cause. A study conducted in 2008 found that nearly 70 percent of individuals declaring medical bankruptcy had insurance at the time of filing. Additionally, it would be a boon for the 35 percent of Americans who report skipping needed care because they could not afford their copayment.

To prevent further COVID-19 cases and even deaths, we need more comprehensive health coverage that immediately enables all people living in the U.S. to manage chronic conditions, access medications, and, if necessary, be treated for COVID-19.

Isabel Ostrer and Chris Cai are medical students.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
(Natural News) In just three months, the COVID-19 pandemic has managed to kill more Americans than the Vietnam War, which raged for nearly two decades and claimed 58,220 lives. As of April 29, the U.S. death toll stands at 58,471, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. has a total of 1,014,568 confirmed COVID-19 cases, or a third of the global caseload. Spain and Italy, two of the worst-hit countries in Europe, are a far second and third, with 236,889 and 201,505 cases, respectively. The U.S. also accounts for over a quarter of all coronavirus-related deaths worldwide.

In the past 18 days, new cases in the U.S. have doubled, but health officials warn that the number could be much higher, given the shortage of trained workers and limited testing capacity. Currently, the country has run around 5.7 million total COVID-19 tests since the start of the pandemic. According to a recent study by Harvard University, the country would need to increase its testing capacity to five million tests a day by early June, and 20 million a day by late July, to reopen the economy. The countrys testing chief, Adm. Brett Giroir, however, blasted the findings, calling the assessment an Ivory Tower, unreasonable benchmark, while adding that the U.S. will be able to conduct eight million tests per month by May.

There is absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet, that we can do 20 million tests a day, or even five million tests a day, added Giroir.

New York state remains to be the epicenter of the outbreak  the state accounts for a third of all U.S. coronavirus cases  followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts and California. In particular, fatalities have been rising since the countrys first recorded death on February 29, with the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IMHE) model predicting over 74,000 deaths by August, an increase of over 9,000 from its forecast on April 22.

Aside from surpassing the death toll of the Vietnam War, the current coronavirus pandemic has topped the number of deaths from seasonal flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Listen to Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks more about the fatality rate of COVID-19, in particular, how its up to 100 times deadlier than the flu:

Long days ahead

The U.S. ranks among the nations with the highest incidence of COVID-19 at 3,169 cases for every million residents. Only Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain have higher figures among severely hit counties, with Spain leading at 7,764 cases per million.

Currently, many states in the U.S. have imposed stay-at-home orders in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. As the country continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19 on all sides, some states are already preparing to restart their economies.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his plan to reopen low-risk businesses and workplaces in the coming weeks, provided they strictly comply with social distancing guidelines. The number of new cases and deaths in the state is showing signs of decline despite posting record deaths just last week.

Meanwhile, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the state will consider reopening once hospital systems are at least 30 percent below capacity. On Tuesday, the governor allowed hospitals upstate to reopen elective surgical procedures. Harder-hit areas, including New York City, are expected to have lockdown measures in place. Paramedics, in particular, report being pushed to the limits as deaths in the city continue to rise.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot already eased the statewide stay-at-home order on April 27. In addition, restaurants, malls, movie theaters and retailers will be allowed to reopen starting May 1.

Pandemic.news has the latest on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Sources include:

NYTimes.com

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

CNBC.com

Worldometers.info

MercuryNews.com

LATimes.com

USAToday.com

APNews.com

TheEpochTimes.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 00:02:33|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The National Railway Administration (NRA) on Thursday released investigation results of two train derailment accidents.

The accident of train T179 in the city of Chenzhou in central China's Hunan Province was caused by natural disasters, said the NRA. The derailment happened on March 30 when the train from Jinan to Guangzhou ran into a landslide, killing one and injuring 127.

For the accident of train K7384 on April 12, the administration said China Railway Shenyang Group Co., Ltd. should be held responsible.

The train derailed in the city of Chaoyang in northeast China's Liaoning Province as it traveled from Chifeng to Shanhaiguan and reported no causalities.

After the accidents, railway departments have launched security inspections and supervision, and thoroughly investigated and rectified outstanding problems to ensure safe and stable railway transport. Enditem
April 30 : Fans were still reeling with Irrfan Khans untimely demise and now they are hit with news that much loved actor Rishi Kapoor has passed away due to cancer complications.

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who has had a glorious career in the world of Hindi cinema spanning over four decades, passed away at a Mumbai hospital on Thursday morning. He was 67.

South superstar Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan took to their social media profiles and expressed their grief over Rishis demise.

Heartbreaking to know that #RishiKapoor Ji is no more. Another stalwart of Indian cinema leaves us today. My deepest condolences and strength to the Mr. Kapoor's family. pic.twitter.com/Lhm9faiHew  Ram Charan (@AlwaysRamCharan) April 30, 2020

Actor Ram Charan wrote, Heartbreaking to know that #RishiKapoor Ji is no more. Another stalwart of Indian cinema leaves us today. My deepest condolences and strength to the Mr. Kapoor's family

Devastated to know Rishi Ji is no more. A great friend , A great artiste, heartthrob of millions. Carrier of a Great legacy. Feel so heartbroken at this loss. Farewell my friend #RishiKapoor. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/gBcdrIXvhO  Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) April 30, 2020

Superstar Chiranjeevi Konidela shared, Devastated to know Rishi Ji is no more. A great friend , A great artiste, heartthrob of millions. Carrier of a Great legacy. Feel so heartbroken at this loss. Farewell my friend #RishiKapoor. Rest in peace

The actor, who had charmed his way into millions of hearts with his scintillating debut in 1973's 'Bobby', had been ailing for a while. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2018, he underwent treatment in New York for almost a year. In September 2019, he returned to India but was rarely seen in public since.
Europe faces an economic catastrophe under the coronavirus unprecedented in the modern era, financial leaders warned Thursday, despite modest signs that the world is getting a handle on the epidemic as it plots a course out of lockdown.

Asian and Europe markets recovered slightly after South Korea appeared to have turned a corner, reporting no new coronavirus cases for an entire day, and American scientists reported positive tests for an improved treatment.

COVID-19: world toll. By Jonathan WALTER (AFP)

But US shares opened down on more bad news for jobs and growth, particularly in Europe, where European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde warned: "The euro area is facing an economic contraction of a magnitude and speed that are unprecedented in peacetime."

The novel coronavirus that emerged in China in December has now killed more than 227,000 people and infected at least 3.1 million people, though reporting standards vary across jurisdictions.

More than half of humanity has been under some sort of lockdown for weeks as governments scrambled to contain the deadly pandemic.

But with deaths and infections starting to drop in European hotspots, countries are looking to lift the shut-in rules that have kept their citizens at home and mothballed their economies.

Thursday brought stark official figures from Europe, where the locked-down EU economy was estimated to have shrunk by 3.5 percent in the first quarter.

Germany's jobless total soared to 2.6 million in April from 2.3 million last month, while France confirmed it had plunged into recession.

Healthcare workers outside a Barcelona hospital. By LLUIS GENE (AFP)

The country, Europe's biggest national economy, "will experience the worst recession in the history of the federal republic" -- founded in post-war 1949 -- Economy Minister Peter Altmaier warned, predicting it would shrink by a record 6.3 percent.

On Thursday, it accelerated plans to start lifting its anti-virus lockdown, preparing to ease curbs on public life and reopen religious institutions, museums and zoos -- having restarted shopping last week.

Over the year the eurozone economy could shrivel by five to 12 percent, Lagarde said, noting that a "sharp downturn in economic activity in April suggests that the impact is likely to be even more severe in the second quarter."

The European Union's commissioner for the economy, Paolo Gentiloni, dubbed the situation "an economic shock without precedent in modern times".

Test and trace

Most markets did not slip dramatically Thursday -- buoyed by news from Asia, where some of the formerly worst-hit countries have begun to reopen their economies and rebuild everyday life.

South Korea, where COVID-19 was detected in mid-February and for a period had the world's second-largest outbreak, reported zero new infections for the first time, suggesting its aggressive test-and-trace strategy is working.

Germany will further ease curbs on public life and reopen religious institutions, museums and zoos after some shops resumed business last week. By John MACDOUGALL (AFP)

"This is the strength of South Korea and its people," President Moon Jae-in said as he announced the milestone.

South Korea's death toll is around 250 -- vastly lower than that of Italy, Britain, Spain and France, which have each recorded at least 24,000 fatalities.

The United States tops the table with some 61,000 fatalities.

Spain may be past the worst of the crisis, however, and is among the European countries planning a staged return to normal economic and social life next month.

It recorded 268 deaths on Thursday, the lowest daily toll since March 20.

But in Russia, coronavirus cases surged past 100,000 and officials warned that infections had not yet peaked as they extended lockdown measures.

Stuck in cramped flats and struggling with fears of the coronavirus and its economic impact, many Russians are worried about the return of an old demon.

South Korea reported no new cases for the first time on Thursday. By Jung Yeon-je (AFP)

"When I found myself alone at home, the first thought I had was 'ah, it's a good time to get drunk'," said Tatyana, a recovering alcoholic on lockdown in Moscow.

Iran is also still suffering a serious outbreak. The number of deaths in the country officially passed 6,000 on Thursday.

But Italy, once the world centre of the outbreak, said Thursday it was hoping to reopen two major airports next week, after a nationwide lockdown expires on May 4 and restrictions begin to be lifted.

The return to work will be cautious, however, and Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Thursday criticised some regional chiefs for defying the government and lifting lockdown measures early.

"We cannot allow the efforts made to be in vain because of rashness at this delicate stage," he said.

"Moving from the policy of 'let's close everything' to 'let's reopen everything', would risk irreversibly compromising these efforts."

'Clear-cut effect'

Meanwhile, in the first evidence of successful treatment, a US clinical trial of the drug remdesivir showed that patients recovered about 30 percent faster than those on a placebo.

Scientists are racing to find a COVID-19 vaccine. By NICOLAS ASFOURI (AFP)

"The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery," said Anthony Fauci, the top epidemiologist in the United States.

But it is a treatment, not the much-sought-after vaccine that might allow a full return to normal life.

On Monday, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will host a telethon for governments, billionaire philanthropists and celebrities to try to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.17 billion) to fund the hunt for a vaccine, EU officials said.

On the economic front, news was just as grim out of the US.

Economic output collapsed 4.8 percent in the first quarter -- ending more than a decade of expansion.

Neighbouring Mexico's GDP shrank 2.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

The US Federal Reserve said Thursday it is expanding its business loan program to reach more and larger firms with annual revenues of up to $5 billion -- too big to qualify for an earlier Treasury scheme.

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The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the two people killed in an apparent murder-suicide Monday on the Northeast Side.

Claudia Garcia, 48, and Manuel Gonzalez, 23, were both killed by a gunshot to the head, officials confirmed.
Two sisters and former private school girls who took turns at slapping one of their former flames in a drunken attack at a Bondi bar will fight their charges on mental health grounds.

Irene, 25, and Nansia, 23, Koukounaris, from Randwick in Sydney's eastern suburbs, pleaded guilty to common assault after cornering Irene's ex-boyfriend Michael Ensor at Bondi Beach Public Bar on December 21.

The drunken altercation came after Mr Ensor and the boutique stylist ended their four-year relationship, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Irene Koukounaris (pictured) and her sister Nansia took turns at slapping Irene's former flame in a drunken attack at a Bondi bar

The sisters from Randwick in Sydney's eastern suburbs, pleaded guilty to common assault. Pictured: Nansia Koukounaris

The sisters were at the bar for their friends' birthday when Mr Ensor arrived at about 9.15pm, agreed facts tendered to Waverley Local Court said.

The 'moderately intoxicated' sisters confronted Mr Ensor soon after as he sat at a table with female friends.

Nansia yelled at Mr Ensor about how he treated her older sister and the pair ignored his requests to back off.

Mr Ensor tried to move away during the 'heated argument' and Nansia slapped him with her open palm on the left side of his face.

Court documents state Irene followed her sister's lead and lay a slap on the other side of her former partner's face before throwing her drink at him.

'Both parties were moderately intoxicated at the time, with emotions high over the break-up,' the facts said.

The pair assaulted Irene's ex-boyfriend Michael Ensor at Bondi Beach Public Bar on December 21

The arguing continued outside the bar and security were forced to intervene before police arrived at the scene.

'Yeah I slapped him,' Nansia told police upon arrival.

Irene was blocked by her ex-boyfriend on several social media platforms after she sent numerous messages.

Police took out an AVO on behalf of Mr Ensor against the sisters following the assault.

The sisters were going to be sentenced on Thursday but it has been pushed back a week as their defence lawyer waits for a forensic psychologist to provide reports on both sisters.

Defence lawyer Julieanne Levick apologised to Magistrate Alison Hawkins for the delay.

The sisters will return to court on May 5.
One practitioner wonders if that is why the state's new case numbers are so low

Hyderabad: The de facto decision of the government of Telangana to test only Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) patients for the nover coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is worrying doctors.

Within the fraternity, the questions being debated is why extensive testing is not being carried out during this pandemic.

In fact, according to sources in the TRS government, to test anyone other than SARI patients, you will require the permission of the director of health and medical education.

A senior doctor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Gandhi Hospital will have to be informed about all SARI cases in the state and details of the patients will have to be shared with them.

The patient is be shifted to Gandhi Hospital if the test turns out to be positive.

Random testing, contact tracing and identifying secondary contacts has been completely stopped. Government officials are not passing on any numbers or suspected cases list to district medical and health officials.

A senior district medical and health official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, We are not able to understand what the government is doing. We have been told that secondary contacts will have to henceforth approach hospitals only if they have Covid-19 symptoms. If they are mild, home quarantine is advocated. If they develop breathlessness or pneumonia, only then will tests be done. Not otherwise.

Both government and private doctors are very worried. They are expressing their displeasure privately that this is not the right way to go ahead. Tracing and testing has to be carried out as cases in lower numbers can be managed better than if and when the spread is high, doctors say.

A senior government doctor said, Oral instructions have been given to department heads in the Covid designated hospitals. These are creating a lot of confusion. We are not able to understand what must be instructed to a patient at the clinical level. There is a lot of fear already but stopping tracing and testing is going to only add to the problem.

In the past few days, Telangana's daily medical bulletin has been reporting new coronavirus cases in the single digits. This, according to the doctor, is clear evidence that there is no testing being done.

It is not evidence of reduced incidence of disease. Compare the situation of Hyderabad to Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Indore and other cities where tests are bringing in numbers and giving an idea of the spread. Here too, the same must be followed but it is not happening, the doctor said.

Non-Covid hospitals are anxious as not testing patients may lead to spread of the undetected infection. Healthcare workers would have to take extra care and they are not sure how can they plan a post-lockdown work strategy in such a scenario.

With the cost of personal protection equipment (PPE) high and safety guidelines entailing a lot of costs, they are not sure about the future for those who are in medical practice.

A senior government official said, Herd immunity is needed. The Telangana government is now looking at that option only. For this reason, we have reduced the testing process. We find the exercise costly. There has also been tremendous social and economic disruption due to the lockdown. By bringing the number to zero, the next move is to show 14 days without any new cases and end the lockdown in the state.

This, medical experts say, is a classic iceberg theory. Without testing kits at their disposal even though they are the frontline, they are unable to decide whether to stand by the strategy, or otherwise.
Dr. Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director, Orbis India talks about Cybersight and the role of technology in access to healthcare in todays scenario

Much of the current focus in health care is on the immediate challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and rightfully so. Those looking beyond the current crisis are already seeing a major shift in the way we experience health care in the future. Health care technology such as tele-medicine and the use of geographic data to track disease is already showing promising results and have the potential to become permanent realities.

About Cybersight

Cybersight is a boundary-pushing, not-for-profit telemedicine initiative founded by Orbis to help mitigate the shortage of skilled eye health professionals in low-and middle-income countries as well as help those in remote areas combat geographic isolation.

With advanced online training tools and access to international expert faculty and trainers, Cybersight is equal parts library, school and remote-medicine service. Cybersight is a global platform that helps eye health professionals improve their skills, collaborate on diagnosis and treatment of their patients and connect with a truly global community of practice that includes technicians, nurses, optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Cybersight Consult now supports Artificial Intelligence (AI) grading of color fundus images attached to consultation cases. The system is capable of detecting and visualising glaucoma, macular disease and diabetic retinopathy,

This service is available free of charge to eye health professionals in low- and middle-income countries.

All content on Cybersight is designed to be accessible to everyone, including people in remote locations, through computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, even under conditions of low connectivity.

The impact created by Cybersight and its relevance in todays situation

Honored with the highest award of the American Telemedicine Association Presidents Award for Health Delivery, Quality and Transformation in 2010, Cybersight continues to connect professionals, clinics, hospitals, health systems and NGOs to reduce the global burden of avoidable blindness.

Through Cybersight we have been able to train and teach eye health professionals in 183 countries out of the total 195 countries in the world. Besides, over 27,000 patient cases were managed and over 30,000 online courses were completed so far.

Few days ago, Cybersight saw its highest ever attendance for a single lecture - 700 people from 96 countries (700 being the maximum that we can host with our current licence).

Our previous record was set earlier in the week and stood at 398 for 3 days.

It is thanks to our investment in technology and innovation that we can continue to deliver best-in-class training, remotely. And it is great to see so many medical practitioners from around the world committed to learn and gear up for whats in store for us after the challenge has been overcome.

Futuristic vision  How will technology help in times to come

The future holds tremendous promise in making universal health coverage a reality by democratizing access to healthcare through the power of technology. In my opinion, focus should be on breaking geographic and socioeconomic boundaries by increasing access to early diagnosis and treatment, improving quality of healthcare and decreasing healthcare cost.
Vietnams Ministry of Transport has allowed long-haul buses in all provinces and cities to resume operations in order to meet travel demand during the holiday weekend.

Passenger buses were allowed to operate again from Wednesday at 100 percent their capacity along approved routes.

Operators have to make sure necessary measures are taken to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during their operations.

Accordingly, passengers have to be seated one meter or one seat apart.

Travelers are required to wear face masks during their journey and fill out health declaration forms.

All drivers and conductors have to wear face masks and gloves, as well as having their health monitored regularly.

Vehicles have to be equipped with hand sanitizers and properly disinfected after each journey.

Passenger bus lines are allowed to add extra vehicles to meet the rise in demand from April 30 to May 3, a four-day holiday marking Vietnams Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers Day (May 1).

On Wednesday, Ho Chi Minh City authorities also permitted the first bus to resume operations after nearly a month of suspension as part of the governments enhanced social distancing order.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 3.22 million people and killed more than 228,200 globally, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

Vietnam has confirmed 270 cases so far, with 219 having recovered.

No death from the disease has been recorded in the country.

The transport ministry banned all long-haul buses throughout the country from April 1 to implement the nationwide social distancing regulations.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he's confident in his government's plan to relax some restrictions around COVID-19 starting next month, despite two outbreaks of the illness and another death.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the spherical particles of the new coronavirus, colorized blue, from the first U.S. case of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP

REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he's confident in his government's plan to relax some restrictions around COVID-19 starting next month, despite two outbreaks of the illness and another death.

Health officials reported the province's sixth death Wednesday of a person in their 80s at a long-term care facility in La Loche, a remote village 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon that is at the centre of a cluster of cases in the region.

Lloydminster, a city on the Saskatchewan-Alberta boundary, is also dealing with an outbreak of 13 cases tied to its hospital, where there has been transmission in both patients and staff.

The hospital has workers and patients from both provinces.

"Despite these two isolated outbreaks, we're confident that by and large Saskatchewan is doing very well," Moe told a press conference.

"This is very different than if we had an increasing of 10 to 17 (cases) and then maybe continue going across the province and we were unaware of exactly where those sources were."

The province also reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its total number of cases to 383; 291 people having recovered.

The first stage of the province's plan to relax restrictions is to take effect Monday, when medical services like dental offices can begin seeing more patients.

Moe said because of the outbreaks, the first stage of the plan won't apply to Lloydminster and La Loche.

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.

He said he has asked for more testing to be done in and around La Loche and the health authority is in process of deploying up to 100 new staff to do the testing and contact tracing.

The minister of government relations was also set to speak with northern and Indigenous leaders Wednesday about what longer term travel restrictions could look like for the region.

Last week, Moe announced travel was being restricted to the far north and was not recommended between communities there.

"(Restrictions) very well may relax in some areas where we do not have a large number of positive cases at this point in time," the premier said. "But they very well may be enhanced in some areas in and around the La Loche area."

The Saskatchewan Health Authority also said an employee at the Beauval General Store, south of La Loche, has tested positive for COVID-19. It said customers who stopped there over the last two weeks should isolate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2020
The United States has ramped up its maximum pressure campaign against the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.The maximum pressure campaign aims to bring about a democratic transition in Venezuela. As the U.S. Department of States Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said, The United States remains firmly committed to the people of Venezuela and to the cause of freedom there.

On April 21, the U.S. Treasury Department issued an amended authorization regarding the Venezuela-based operations of Chevron, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and Weatherford.

While the previous authorization allowed these companies to broadly maintain operations in Venezuela, the new authorization only allows the limited maintenance of essential operations in Venezuela for safety or for preservation of assets involving Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA).The new authorization provides a wind-down period for companies to reduce their operations in Venezuela to these limited levels. Among other restrictions, Chevron and the other entities will no longer be authorized to drill, lift, sell, or ship Venezuelan crude.

Venezuelan oil exports have dropped by one-third since the United States and dozens of other countries recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president of the country in January 2019.

In February of this year, the United States ramped up pressure on Venezuela by imposing sanctions on Rosneft Trading, SA and its chairman, Didier Casimiro. The Swiss incorporated, Russian-controlled brokerage firm is a subsidiary of Russias energy giant, Rosneft.

Calling Rosneft Trading, SA the primary broker of global deals for the sale and transport of Venezuelas crude oil, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the company has propped up the dictatorial Maduro, enabling his repression of the Venezuelan people. Maduro has destroyed Venezuelas institutions, economy, and infrastructure, while enriching himself and his cronies through his abuse of state power and his welcoming of malign support from Russia, as well as from Cuba, Iran, and China.

In March, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned another Russian-controlled oil brokerage firm, TNK Trading International S.A., for its activity in Venezuelan oil sector.

Also, in February, the United States sanctioned the Venezuelan state-owned airline CONVIASA and its fleet, which Maduro and his cronies had commandeered as a personal shuttle service. This action further prevents the Maduro regime from profiting from its illegitimate usurpation of state enterprises.
SPRINGFIELD  City Councilor Jesse Lederman will hold an online Town Hall meeting with local labor unions Friday morning to discuss the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting at 11 a.m., and can be watched live on Ledermans Facebook page at facebook.com/JLLederman.

Labor groups expected to participate include representatives and workers from the Massachusetts Nurses Association, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459, the Service Employees International Union 1199, Western Mass. Area Labor Federation, and the Pioneer Valley Workers Center.

The meeting is aimed at discussing the impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, on front-line industries and workers, Lederman said. It coincides with International Workers Day.

While many of us are staying safe at home, frontline workers are keeping our country running, Lederman said in a statement. Caring for our sick, ensuring our grocery stores and supply chains stay operational, and protecting us and our neighbors.

Lederman said it is important to discuss the difficulties faced and what the public can do to support and assist the workers.

I want to express profound gratitude on behalf of the entire City of Springfield to all of the frontline workers, from our doctors, nurses, personal care attendants, EMTs, and other hospital staff who are keeping our healthcare system running and treating those who are in need," Lederman said. Our Police Officers, and Firefighters, who continue to work around the clock to keep us safe. Our National Guard, who have deployed to assist with emergency response. Our grocery store workers and distributors, who keep the supply chain operating and who are in desperate need of PPE (personal protective equipment). Our postal workers, emergency childcare providers, bus drivers, restaurant workers and delivery personnel, and all those who must continue to go to work every day. You are the heroes of this time.
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Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 16:22 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd5420c5 1 National civil-servants,mudik-ban,COVID-19,coronavirus,Administrative-and-Bureaucratic-Reform-Ministry Free

The central government has warned civil servants that they face sanctions should they participate in this year's Idul Fitri mudik (exodus), now that the state has officially banned the annual tradition to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Prior to the official mudik ban, the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry already prohibited civil servants and their families from going on mudik until the country is free of COVID-19.

The ministry issued a circular on April 9 stipulating that civil servants who disobeyed the ban faced mild to heavy disciplinary sanctions.

"The type of sanction depends on the impact the persons actions have on their work, their institution and society," the ministry's integrity and merit evaluation undersecretary's assistant, Bambang Sumarsono, told the press on Thursday.

Mild sanctions include verbal warnings and/or reprimand letters, while the second most severe sanctions include postponement of salary increases and demotion, Bambang said.

Under the most severe sanctions, civil servants face a three year demotion or termination of employment.

Read also: Explainer: Whats allowed and whats not in Indonesia's mudik ban

Records of the sanctions will be uploaded to the National Civil Service Agencys (BKN) online employment system. All sanctions will be recorded, which later will affect their careers, he said.

Aside from being prohibited from taking part in mudik, civil servants are also prohibited from taking leave during the pandemic, unless it is for urgent matters, including maternity leave, sick leave or family reasons such as the death of a close relative, Bambang added.

After President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced the mudik ban last week, the Transportation Ministry announced that travel restrictions would be effective from April 24 until May 31 that prevent private vehicles, bus, trains, ships and chartered and commercial flights from entering or leaving COVID-19-impacted areas.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 9,771 confirmed cases had been recorded, with 784 fatalities, according to the government's official tally.

The Idul Fitri mudik ban, coupled with the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) currently in place in a number of regions, will likely help to break the chain of transmission and possibly bring the outbreak to an end by June, according to the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI).
Chinese President Xi Jinping has termed China's battle against COVID-19 as a major strategic achievement, as the ruling Communist Party is all set to hold the postponed Parliament session on May 22 amid a steady decline in the coronavirus cases.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Thursday said the country reported only four new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total number to 82,862, while no death due to the disease was registered. The virus has claimed 4,633 lives in the country.

China's arduous efforts to contain the coronavirus have brought a decisive outcome to the fight of defending Hubei and its capital city Wuhan, Xi told a high-powered Central Committee meeting of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday.

The nationwide battle against the epidemic has gained major strategic achievements, the state-run Xinhua agency quoted Xi as saying.

Xi said Hubei, including Wuhan, should continue strengthening community-level epidemic prevention and control.

He asked officials to make efforts to contain the virus case at Heilongjiang Province bordering Russia, where a large number of Chinese returning from Russian cities were tested positive for coronavirus.

The meeting emphasised the need to accelerate work resumption and business reopening, help companies especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises address difficulties, and promote the recovery of pillar industries such as auto manufacturing, electronic information, new materials and bio-medicine, the report said.

The meeting stressed accelerating farm production and expanding sales channels for agricultural products to boost income for farmers.

The Hubei province and its capital Wuhan -- where the COVID-19 first emerged in December last year -- were the epicentres of the deadly virus, which later turned into a pandemic, bringing the world to a standstill.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues its explosive growth overseas, Xi said, noting the mounting pressure to prevent imported infections and the growing complexity of stemming domestic epidemic resurgence.

Xi demanded no relaxation in epidemic control to safeguard the hard-earned achievements, the report said.

According to the NHC, all the four COVID-19 patients reported on Wednesday were imported cases.

The number of imported cases rose to 1,664, including 13 patients in severe condition, it said.

The CPC Central Committee meet was held amid mounting pressure for an international inquiry into the origin of coronavirus and the allegations that the deadly virus was originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) before it spread across the world and wreaked havoc.

China has come under increasing global pressure over lack of transparency in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far infected over 3,193,960 people and claimed more than 227,640 lives across the world.

State-run CGTN TV on Wednesday reported that American scientists are working with their Chinese counterparts to investigate the origin of the novel coronavirus, a prime demand of US President Donald Trump and several other countries.

The report said the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDCP) is facilitating the cooperation between Dr Ian Lipkin, Director for Centre for Infection and Immunity of Columbia University, and Prof Lu Jinhai of Sun-Yat-Sen University of Guangzhou to conduct the probe.

"The two are working together to determine whether the virus emerged elsewhere in China before Wuhan in December" last year, the report said.

It is not yet clear whether the investigation has the official consent of the US government, it said.

Besides the US, the UK, Australia and Germany have also called for more transparency from Beijing on the COVID-19 origin.

China on Wednesday announced to hold the annual meeting of its Parliament --National People's Congress (NPC), which was postponed in March due to COVID-19, from May 22, signalling that the pandemic which paralysed the country for over three months is finally under control.

Official media said the meeting period of the NPC, which has over 3,000 deputies, could be shortened and held through video link. However, no official announcement has been made so far.

The annual session of the national advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is also expected to be held in Beijing on May 21, official media reported.

Dubbed as the annual political season, the NPC and CPPCC sessions -- which together have over 5,000 members, are held every year in early March during which the CPC unveils its national agenda for the year, including the annual budget and formulates new laws.

According to the National Health Commission, 77,610 coronavirus patients have been recovered so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[April 29, 2020] First Responders for San Francisco's Most Vulnerable: Homeless Shelter Workers are the Unsung Heroes on the Front Lines of COVID-19

On Saturday of Easter weekend, one of the homeless guests at the Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center went into labor and was transported to a San Francisco hospital to give birth to her new baby. The next day, a long-time couple stepped out in the courtyard between the two gray bunker dormitories at the waterfront center to say: "I do now." They tied the knot to the cheers of a handful of (socially distanced) guests. In the two weeks that have followed, the staff at Bayshore Navigation center and at the city's temporary hotel quarters for the homeless have raced to the rescue of two different guests who were overdosing outside on the street. Administering CPR and Narcan, they reversed the overdoses, giving both patients more time for paramedics to get them to the hospital. They saved their lives. At a time when a terrorist called COVID-19 has stopped the world in its tracks, the staff at The Embarcadero and Bayshore Navigation centers and other SF CBO city partners, are answering the call to care for the community of unsheltered homeless. The silver lining: the glimpses of light that shine through in moments big and small - a new life in the birth of a baby, love in a time of coronavirus, and the saving of two lives. "They are the unsung heroes of the pandemic," said Steve Good, Executive Director of Five Keys Schools and Programs, which has been tapped by city leaders to became a homeless shelter first responders' SWAT team to work alongside San Francisco's public health supervisors and homeless advocates to dramatically reduce density in crowded shelters. "Our navigation team and our fellow CBOs are not just staffing these emergency shelters, they are literally saving lives," said Good. Good called Five Keys navigation center employees and others manning the homeless shelters in San Francisco, "the unsung heroes of the pandemic." In the best of times, providing food, shelter, and safety to San Francisco's homeless population is a challenge. But as the COVID-19 outbreak continues, efforts have become more extreme. But through San Francisco's safety efforts, more than 900 homeless people have been moved into hotel rooms and a pop-up shelter at Moscone West, as the city struggles to keep the pandemic from racing through its 8,000-strong unhoused population. Spcifically, Five Keys was named by San Francisco city leaders to supervise operations at Site10, a 450-room hotel in the city's center that is housing 360 guests that were formerly in shelters but are most vulnerable to COVID-19 because of age or preexisting medical conditions.



"Unlike many of us, our residents experiencing homelessness cannot simply close their doors to this disease, and that's why San Francisco has ramped up efforts to de-escalate transmission of this disease within shelters, and ultimately save lives," said Good. Five Keys runs the Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center and the Bayshore Navigation Center. "Though no one is immune to COVID-19, this pandemic has all too clearly revealed the voids in our society and serves as a wake-up call on the life-and-death urgency of taking care of the most vulnerable in our population." Like nurses and doctors, the individuals on the front lines of San Francisco's homeless centers and now the hotel shelters, are risking their lives, said Good. He says from the start, the can-do attitude among Five Keys employees has been: "Whatever it takes. Sign me up."

Since 2003, Five Keys has been committed to getting the lives of people on the margins of society back on track - behind the walls of 20 county jails, in economically isolated communities, at two navigation centers for the unsheltered homeless, and more than 100 sites throughout San Francisco and southern California. Five Keys' navigation center directors like Meg O'Neill, who has been deployed to head operations at Site 10 hotel and almost 200 other Five Key employees who directly serve the homeless are true COVID-19 first responders. At the hotel and the navigation centers, they supervise teams that not only feed, shelter and provide education for guests, but respond to fights, seizures, overdoses, and episodes tied to addiction and mental illness. They de-escalate each situation and stabilize people until medical personnel arrives when necessary. They are literally saving lives. Already twice the staff at the centers have raced to rescue guests who are overdosing outside on the street. Administering CPR and Narcan, they reversed the overdoses, giving the patients more time for paramedics to get them to the hospital. They saved two lives. In many ways, the Five Keys' team's nimbleness, and ability to race toward the chaos of COVID-19 is because of the staff's firsthand experiences in confronting trauma and the resilience and grit they have gained in their personal lives, said Good. "Many of our staff in our navigation centers have spent serious time in prison and bring a very unique calm and ability to get through during a time of crisis like this," said Good. "At the same time, they are putting their own lives at great risk. But they do it, because they have a tremendous passion and determination to give back and serve." About Five Keys Schools & Programs Dedicated to getting people's lives back on track, Five Keys Schools and Programs and its more than 550 dedicated employees serve more than 25,000 individuals each year throughout the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles and nine counties through the state of California. Five Keys was founded in 2003 by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department as the first accredited charter high school in the nation to provide diploma programs for adults in county jails. Today its efforts have grown exponentially. The organization interrupts the cycles of homelessness, substance abuse, violence, literacy and incarnation through our 80 community learning centers, transitional housing shelters, career centers, and community-based workforce networks by investing in their humanity so that they can be self-determined to change their lives. Five Keys also hires people directly into our transitional employment positions for formerly incarcerated individuals and people currently or formerly experiencing homelessness. www.fivekeys.org TAX ID: 81-0622701 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005982/en/

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Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, on Thursday, extended the dusk-to dawn curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for another 14 days.

Mr Obaseki, had on April 19, announced a 10-day dusk to dawn curfew to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The governor announced the extension at a media briefing in Benin on the progress made so far to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Since my last public update about 10 days ago, we have made tremendous progress in the area of screening, testing and improving awareness on the pandemic for our people.

Working closely with the public and private hospitals, we have screened no fewer than 20,000 people and tested 297 of them.

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This increased screening and testing is the reason for the increased number of cases in the state.

We are aggressively pushing to screen our minimum target of about 500,000 people and test about one percent of them which is about 5,000 in the next few weeks.

As we increase testing, we are likely to see an astronomic rise in the number of cases in the state.

Of the 20,000 people we have screened and the 297 sample taken, we have recorded 37 confirmed cases as at today, discharged eight and lost three people.

It is worthy of note that late testing was a strong factor leading to fatality. That is why I am advising everybody to go out for screening at the numerous screening centres in the state.

Mr Obaseki said the various screening centres offered free medical services, free face masks and free multivitamins.

Am confident that we can beat this virus if we follow the measures put in place strictly.

I want to appreciate the good people of the state for their cooperation and compliance with the curfew which l imposed 10 days ago.

I know that the curfew has created inconveniences and loss of incomes to many families, however, this is the sacrifice we have to pay to protect the citizens and their families.

We have decided to begin another round of palliative distribution to the vulnerable groups in our communities.

With the lessons we have learnt in the past, we have put measures in place to make sure that only the targeted people receive these items, he said.

The governor, however, lauded the health workers as frontline workers.

He said the state government had approved the payment of hazard allowances ranging from N90,000 to N300,000 depending on their cadre.

According to him, only the health workers, who are participating in the fight against COVID-19 will benefit from the hazard allowance.

Mr Obaseki thanked the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for volunteering to serve in the state COVID-19 response committee.

He called on politicians to suspend politics and focus on how to contain the spread of the disease in the state.

The governor declared one Amaka Okoro, who tested positive for COVID-19 wanted for treatment.

According to him, the woman is a nursing mother and her baby is already coughing.

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She lives at No 2 Atoe Idubor Street, off 2nd Ugbor, Benin City and she has been unreachable since her results were positive, he said.

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Ruby Rose has undergone a drastic makeover while self-isolating at her Los Angeles home.

In a number of photos and clips shared to Instagram, the 34-year-old revealed photos of her newly-dyed hair.

One side of her head is bright pink, and the other is a bold teal-tinged blue.

Extreme! Ruby Rose has undergone a drastic makeover while self-isolating at her Los Angeles home

The Orange Is The New Black actress didn't explain her new look, but she did share a hilarious meme from a fan that compared her hair to a colourful toy.

This isn't the first extreme makeover that Ruby's done on her hair while in isolation.

Last Friday, the Australian actress shaved off most of her hair.

In addition to the buzzcut, the John Wick star's new cut featured a lone braid on one side.

Colouful: In a number of photos and clips shared to Instagram, the 34-year-old revealed photos of her newly-dyed hair

Funny: The Orange Is The New Black actress didn't explain her new look, but she did share a hilarious meme from a fan that compared her hair to a colourful toy

In one video shared to her Instagram page, Ruby stood inside her living room and showed off all angles of her new do.

'Slipped... fell on a shaver,' the Batwoman star joked in the post's caption.

Ruby also told American actress Elizabeth Tulloch in the comments section that it felt like 'freedom' to welcome a new look amid these challenging times.

Hair today, gone tomorrow! Ruby debuted a unique buzz cut last week after shaving her head

New chapter: Ruby also told American actress Elizabeth Tulloch in the comments section of one post that it felt like 'freedom' to welcome a new look amid these challenging times

Less than two weeks ago, Ruby was sporting a mullet hairstyle that she dubbed 'Gary the Mullet'.

After shaving off the dated look, she posted a photo of her chopped locks in the grass outside her home next to a power cord for a razer.

Ruby currently plays the first openly gay superhero in history - Karen Kane in CW's new Batwoman series.

Gone: Also taking to Instagram, Ruby said goodbye to 'Gary the Mullet', sharing a photo of her chopped off locks on the grass

The actress came out as a lesbian when she was 12, and identifies as gender fluid.

She quickly rose to fame in Hollywood after joining the cast of Orange Is the New Black in 2015 playing Stella Carlin.

Ruby has also starred in films such as Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, John Wick: Chapter 2, Pitch Perfect 3 and The Meg.
A Walmart cashier allegedly complained about shoppers coughing on her shortly before she fell ill and died from COVID-19.

Sandra Kunz, 72, who worked at the Walmart Supercenter in Aurora, Colorado, passed away from complications related to the coronavirus on April 20.

In an interview Thursday, Kunz's sister, Paula Spellman, said Kunz had told her that customers were following proper protocols in the midst of the pandemic.

'I wish she [Kunz] didn't work there. I wish she had taken leave. I get angry because she should have been more protected,' Spellman told CNN.

The Walmart Supercenter in Aurora was temporarily shut down late last this week, after a security contractor who patrolled the store also died from COVID-19.

Six other store employees have now tested positive for COVID-19, and several other workers are awaiting their lab results.

Sandra Kunz, 72, who worked at the Walmart Supercenter in Aurora, Colorado, passed away from complications related to the coronavirus on April 20. It's unclear whether she contracted the virus while working at the store. Kunz's husband, Gus (right), also tested positive to COVID-19, and died two days before she did

A Walmart spokesperson said in a statement: 'Our hearts go out to Sandy Kunz and her loved ones. Her loss shows the devastating impact of the COVID-19 virus.'

It is unclear whether Kunz contracted the virus while working at Walmart. Her husband, Gus, also tested positive to COVID-19 and has also passed away from the disease.

Kunz was a cashier, which experts say is the most dangerous job inside of a grocery store.

Brandon Brown, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Riverside told CNN: 'The cashier spot is still the most dangerous since every customer passes this area and stands there for some time while groceries are moving down the counter'.

Sandra Kunz worked at this Walmart Supercenter in Aurora, Colorado. She allegedly told her sister that shoppers were coughing on her

Some stores have added plexiglass sneeze guards to cash registers to keep employees safe during the pandemic

Spellman says her sister worried about not having access to a face mask while working at Walmart as she had a lung condition. However, the company says that face masks have been available for workers at the Aurora Supercenter since late March.

But Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist at the Harvard, told CNN that cashiers 'need N95 medical masks as much as health care workers.'

While some stores have implemented plexiglass shields around their registers, Fiegl-Ding says face shields would be more effective.

Last 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.

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.'

Spellman says her sister worried about not having access to a face mask while working at Walmart. However, the company said that face masks have been available for workers at the store since late March. All Walmart cashiers are now required to wear them

Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist at the Harvard says face shields should be used by all cashiers, such as the one seen in this photo

The letter also said Walmart locations haven't implemented safeguards they announced in a March 31 memo, such as regular temperature checks.

'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-old on April 12.
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said on Thursday that 105 Covid-19 patients had died in the state, 33 of them succumbing to the viral disease, and the rest to co-morbid conditions. The state government also reported 37 new cases on Thursday, taking to 795 the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19.

This new figure of fatalities was released six days after the state administration said 57 persons who tested positive for Covid-19 had died, and attributed 18 of the deaths to the disease and 39 to severe co-morbidity. Bengal is the only state that has formed a committee of doctors to determine the cause of death among Covid-19 patients.

Today I have received a report from the expert committee conducting audits into the deaths of Covid-19 positive patients. Altogether 105 cases have been examined by them, out of which they have said 33 died of Covid-19 infection. In 72 other cases, death was caused by co-morbid conditions and Covid-19 was only incidental, Sinha said.

Meanwhile, the number of containment zones increased. In Kolkata from 227 on Monday to 264 on Thursday, and in neighbouring Howrah to 70 from 56.

A controversy has raged over Bengals way of listing Covid-19 fatalities, with opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and the Left accusing the state government of manipulating the number of deaths.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had on Wednesday said that she and her government did not tamper with the numbers and that an expert committee of doctors was conducting the audit independently.

Over the past two days, a new controversy haS been brewing over an official order from the superintendent of Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital asking doctors not to mention Covid-19 in the death certificates of patients who had tested positive for the disease.

This government order from the medical superintendent-cum-vice principal of Murshidabad Medical College was dated April 25 and numbered Msd/MCH/MSVP/2006. While top health department officials remained tightlipped, the hospital superintendent, Debdas Saha, was transferred on Thursday.

The administration is trying to make the superintendent a scapegoat. The administration from the top is differentiating between the deceased persons to show a lesser number of deaths. There is a death audit committee for this purpose. The only mistake the super may have done was to put the governments viewpoints in the writing, BJP state unit president Dilip Ghosh alleged.

Congress Lok Sabha leader and Berhampore MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed Ghosh.

Chief secretary Sinha, refusing to comment on the transfer, said the death audit committee had nothing to do with death certificates.

This committee was not doing any kind of audit in death certificates; it was auditing the cause of death, Sinha said.

Senior doctor Rezaul Karim, a leader of the West Bengal Doctors Forum, said that he had raised the issue of death audit during the chief ministers meeting with eight doctors associations on Tuesday.

It is possible that a person testing positive for the presence of novel coronavirus in her/his body is not a Covid-19 patient. She/he may have no symptoms of the disease at all and might only be a carrier. But these fine differences could be part of academic debates within the boundaries of academic institutions. We told the chief minister that at the time of a pandemic, deaths of all patients testing positive for coronavirus infection should be attributed to Covid-19 in order to avoid confusion and controversy in the public sphere, Karim said.

On Thursday, senior Left leaders staged a demonstration in Kolkata to protest against the manipulation in the number of deaths, and alleged a scam in the public distribution system and mismanagement in reaching relief to the poor. They maintained social distancing while staging the demonstration with placards in their hands and faces covered with masks.
The Delhi government has sought details from states about numbers of their migrant workers stranded in the national capital due to the coronavirus-forced lockdown and said it will make arrangements for their screening before they leave for their native places.

According to an official, the government will set up medical camps where migrant workers and other people who are stranded here will have to undergo the screening process.

The Delhi government and police are working on preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) on the movement of migrant labourers and other stranded people during the lockdown in pursuance of the Union Home Ministry guidelines on the matter, he said.

"We are in talks with states and sought number of migrant workers and stranded people in Delhi. We will then make arrangements for medical camps for the screening of these people accordingly," he said.

The government has also appointed nodal officers to address issues related to migrant workers.

The MHA, in an order issued on Wednesday, allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people, who are stranded in different parts of the country, to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions.

The order stated that buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating.

Delhi Police's Public Relation Officer Mandeep Singh Randhawa said the government and Delhi Police are finalising modalities and working on the SOP.

"Till the time the SOP is finalised, we request stranded people not to pay attention towards any social media post. The Delhi Police is regulating social media and will take strict actions against those who spread rumours," he said.

On March 28, thousands of migrant workers thronged Anand Vihar bus terminus on the Delhi-UP border to go back to their villages.

Similarly on April 14, the last day of the first phase of the lockdown, hundreds of migrants had assembled on the west side of Bandra suburban station in Mumbai demanding trains to take them to their native places, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of the lockdown till May 3.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New York City doctors in residence have said that coronavirus patients are dying while they being made to work on intensive care units with no prior training in the field.

In March, one woman in her 60s died at Montefiore hospital in the Bronx after her ventilator was turned up to high, residents told the Wall Street Journal.

Trainees at Elmhurst in Brooklyn said that patients had passed away after being left floundering for days because they were not assigned to a team.

Although many are required to work in emergency medicine as part of their training, family medicine, diagnostic radiology, podiatry, psychiatry and ophthalmology residents do not have experience in critical care.

In March, a woman in her 60s died at Montefiore hospital in Bronx, New York after her ventilator was turned up to high by two family medicine residents

In an April email to the Elmhurst CEO, residents complained patients had died after being left floundering for days because they were not assigned to a team

A critical care physician in charge of Montefiore's 36-bed unit rushed into the room when a woman's heart stopped last month.

When she asked the two family medicine residents taking care of her whether they knew how to work the ventilator settings, they replied no and that they were only just getting to grips with it, according to residents who spoke to the Wall Street Journal.

The publication reported that residents are unlikely to refuse the responsibility as it could jeopardize their chances of getting a job and they lacked the support of a union.

WSJ also noted that residents are often paid just above minimum wage and that some at another hospital who had asked for hazard raises due to them exposing themselves to COVID-19 have been denied and criticized.

At New York-Presbyterian/Columbia, a first year student expressed concern about having to work 'as an MD, a nurse, a respiratory therapist, and a janitor all at once.'

The resident wrote in an April email that they felt the patients, whose ventilator settings they were trying to manage, were being treated as 'guinea pigs.'

Doctor Rita Morales, a psychiatrist who volunteered to help amid the pandemic said she had to get the help of another resident when she was thrown into operating a breathing machine first thing at the hospital.

'My initial reaction was shock and kind of thinking I can't do this. I was immediately put to go manage a ventilator,' she told the WSJ.

At New York-Presbyterian/Columbia, a first year student expressed concern about having to work 'as an MD, a nurse, a respiratory therapist, and a janitor all at once'

The hospital said that the residents are overseen by senior residents and senior residents are overseen by attending physicians.

At Elmhurst, 44 residents sent an email to CEO Dr. Katz complaining that patients had died because they'd been left floundering with no 'progress notes or team assignment'.

They noted many had died because their blood oxygen levels were not being monitored.

The CEO replied that he didn't expect the residents to be doing thorough medical histories or charting but only to give patients oxygen until they develop an immune response.

He added that 'those who don't develop their own immune response will not survive no matter what.'

Spokesman, Christopher Miller, said: 'Residents do not make decisions on their own without an attending [physician] concurring and signing off.'
As the world comes to terms with coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic which has put most of the countries on lockdown mode, people have been searching the internet for answers to their questions related to the disease, the symptoms of the infection, and the availability of vaccine to fight COVID-19.

Some of the top trended questions were; "When will flights resume in UK?" or "Drive by graduation party ideas in US" also "COVID toe rash" and "First dog with coronavirus".

While in the US some of the questions asked on the internet related to coronavirus was; "When will Disney reopen?", "What is pneumonia?", "What is coronavirus?".

The world trending questions were; "Who can be tested for coronavirus?", "How to make a face mask for coronavirus?", "When will lockdown end?".

People have been searching for symptoms of the disease and 'fever' is the most searched followed by sore throat.

In the US, people are worried about their jobs and the economic chaos which will follow the coronavirus crisis. The word 'unemployment' was one of two most searched words, the second word was stock market. The 'twc unemployment website' is one of the three most visited websites in the US.

Meanwhile, a US-based compnay Gilead Sciences Inc who has been conducting tests for the remdesivir drug as a suitable vaccine for the coronavirus has come up with significant results. Early results from a key clinical trial on Wednesday showed that the drug was helpful for patients to recover more quickly from the COVID-19 illness.

The company is also studying the drug in patients with less severe COVID-19, but those results are not expected until later next month. Since there are no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19 interest in this drug is high.
In fighting a virus that has yet to have a vaccine, doctors and nurses around the country and the world have stood up to the challenge and are heroes for all of us.

That is equally true in Central Texas as healthcare personnel face the COVID-19 pandemic first-hand, whether its in the Baylor Scott & White Health system, Ascension Providence, Family Health Center and long-term care facilities.

Dr. William McCunniff with the Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Midway Clinic said Healthcare chooses us. We have an innate desire to be there for our patients throughout their best times and during their times of greatest need.

McCunniff said living through a pandemic such as COVID-19 has certainly emphasized a desire to be present, adaptable and educated on the current threat in order to best care for the patients.

I feel blessed with the opportunity to help care for our community with an incredible team of other physicians, nurses, therapists and staff at our clinics and hospitals throughout the city, he added.

McCunniff, who graduated from Baylor University before going to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, has been in Waco since 2012 when he began as a resident at the Family Health Center.

As a physician in a family medicine clinic, these days his day starts early as the clinic is the initial point of contact for those with potential COVID-19 symptoms.

For anyone who may have symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath, we start with a video visit to triage the severity of their symptoms, he explained. If symptoms are severe or we have concern about possible pneumonia, then these patients are directed to our respiratory clinic at another physical location in the city.

For those with milder symptoms, they are tested for COVID-19 and told to self-quarantine at home while keeping in close communication with the doctor.

The clinic also tests each employees temperature twice daily along with every patient who enters the facility.

And while there are indeed health challenges as the pandemic continues, McCunniff is also quick to caution people to keep any other healthcare issues in check, too.

The continued threat of COVID-19 is still keeping people on edge about their healthcare, he said. Daily I am answering multiple questions about whether a cough or fever could be due to the virus or an alternative cause.

While we must continue to pay close attention to COVID-19, it is important that people do not ignore their other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and congestive heart failure.

Making sure that people continue to manage these conditions appropriately in the COVID-19 environment is a challenge, but the doctor said he has been having multiple conversations with patients about ensuring healthy outlets during periods of stress such as exercise, eating healthy, praying and getting sleep.

I have walked with several patients through this diagnosis and recovery period and am grateful that none of my patients have had to be hospitalized at this point, he added. This disease continues to affect people to differing degrees and those with certain medical comorbidities (chronic diseases or conditions) are at highest risk.

McCunniff does see his family at home, but takes precautions.

As soon as I get home, I change clothes in the garage and place my scrubs in the washing machine, he said. I sneak past the kids and shower before coming into contact with my three children or my wife.

We are all frequently washing our hands or using hand sanitizer and wiping down surfaces in our house. As long as I do not have a fever or cough, this is working for now although my wife may have other plans for me should I develop any symptoms.

McCunniff says he does have colleagues who have their family stay at another location during the pandemic. He has heard of others staying in an RV in the driveway.

Wacoans continue to support the clinicians in times of need, he said. Whether its sewing homemade masks, providing food and prayer, donating unused personal protective equipment and also just staying home to avoid overwhelming our health system, we have felt encouraged by our communitys persistent support.

Precautions

Dr. James Morrison, chief medical officer for Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center, says his hospital has been focused on preparation for the fight against COVID-19 while continuing the essential services it provides every day, including unexpected illnesses, trauma, and other issues the patients cant control and depend on them to treat.

Weve placed a heavy emphasis on increasing our capacity, especially in regard to critical care, as weve seen hospitals across the country struggle with patient surges, Morrison said. So, weve reoriented entire departments of our hospital to shift over in preparation for expanded critical care access.

This requires not only physical changes to the hospital but retraining and education for staff. At the same time, were focusing on safety for our patients and staff.

Morrison says they have worked tirelessly in a joint effort with all the hospitals in the health system to acquire adequate supplies to stop the spread of the illness and care for patients.

Additionally, this has truly been a community effort, he said. Weve worked to integrate with our other community resources to protect not only our hospital but our entire community. Weve developed a comprehensive community plan along with Ascension Providence, Family Health Center, city and county public health, and emergency management resources. We feel confident that this cooperation will be the key to protecting our community.

McCunniff agreed that the hospital system has been pivotal in protecting both the staff and patients.

They have directed the coordination of multiple monitoring stations and limiting access for visitors, he explained. The hospitals are striving constantly to provide adequate protective personal equipment for us and have developed multiple other mechanisms and provisions to ensure our safety.

Nurse Perspective

Registered nurse Amanda Grant said Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest has given them all the tools to be safe.

Grant has been a nurse for six years and has spent most of her time in the emergency room. She says she chose that department because it provides a constant learning experience.

During the outbreak the hospital has set up strict enhanced screening stations at all entries to keep staff safe, she said.

If the patient is symptomatic, we provide a mask to the patient to protect themselves and others around them, Grant said. We provide patient education upon discharge regarding signs and symptoms to be aware of, as well as self-quarantine practices. Our administration provides resources for the employees to monitor themselves throughout the day.

She says the CEO and executive leaders have done an amazing job sending out multiple emails, texts and messages educating and updating the staff in real time.

This has been extremely helpful as the information regarding the virus has changed continuously as we learn new things, Grant added.

Grant looks at the COVID-19 pandemic as an up-and-down roller coaster of emotions. Initially, the uncertainty of not knowing what to expect was trying. Our management has been extremely open and willing to answer or find the answer for all questions. I, along with our staff, have been vigilant in staying up to date on new practices.

She said everyone is acutely aware of the ever-changing environment and they work together to provide emotional support to each other.

We share funny memes with each other and attempt to keep our spirits high during what is an emotionally trying time, Grant added.

A day in the life includes arriving to work and picking up masks, receiving assignments, and sanitizing all the work gear.

Not much has changed other than weve changed our practice as far as what PPE (personal protective equipment) we wear into patients rooms, Grant explained. We have an extensive list of symptoms that we screen patients for. We wear gowns, gloves, masks, goggles into the patients room if they screen positive for any of the questions.

All our staff follow the same protocol, including our environmental services crew. This practice is implemented to not only protect our staff but our community as well.

Overall, the biggest challenge continues to be the uncertainty.

We walk in preparing for the worst, and so far, it hasnt happened, she said. The anticipation may be worse than actually trying to prepare.

She says most of her colleagues as well as herself have medical professional friends in areas that have been heavily hit, so were able to hear their stories, which is both a blessing and a curse. That being said, being able to actually have time to prepare and educate ourselves has been helpful.

When she goes home, she has a husband and three children.

My family lives in other areas of Texas so its just my husband and I here with my three kids under the age of 6. Therefore, were not able to quarantine away from each other. When I get home, I immediately undress in my garage, roll all of my clothes up together and go directly into a shower that we have right next to our garage.

Like McCunniff, Grant says she does not see her children until she is completely scrubbed down. She washes her clothes separately and she says she believes her entire departments is doing the same thing when they go home to their families, plus taking plenty of multivitamins, vitamin D and herbal supplements to help the immune system.

Community Support

Like McCunniff, Grant said the community has been amazing.

There really are no words to what they mean to us, she said. Weve had countless donations, thank you cards and well wishes, she said. I can speak for myself, but I believe others feel the same. Our community has lifted our spirits daily. Not only have they provided food and goods, but our community has greatly assisted in decreasing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Theyve heeded the warnings and practice shelter-in-place and we have seen the effects at our hospital.

All are thankful that McLennan Countys numbers have not been comparable to other communities with similar populations.

Were doing an amazing job as a community protecting each other, Grants said, adding that her colleagues are also like family, as they all have each others best interests at heart.

Grant cites the example of one of the physicians, Dr. Brett Marvel.

He comes in on his days off at 7 a.m. to pray for the off-going and on-coming staff, Grant said. This has provided peace to us as our day progresses, and we are so thankful for his sacred work.

Morrison says he is proud of his staff serving on the front lines throughout the pandemic.

Theyve been willing to quickly adapt to changing guidance and best practices, as our knowledge about this new virus evolves, he said. Theyve done this all while dealing with the same challenges the rest of the community faces; social distancing, disruptions in childcare and school, and all of the other difficulties that have arisen as we, as a community and as a nation, battle this illness.

This is a testimony to their commitment to selflessly take care of others, despite the obstacles they face. And this is not just the nurses and those who directly interact with patient care, this includes those cleaning rooms, serving food, and so much more. Their passion and sacrifice are an inspiration and displays the best of what makes our community thrive.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday it was "hard" to lift a nationwide state of emergency imposed over the coronavirus next week as local media reported he plans for an extension -- possibly by another month. The measure was initially declared on April 7 across seven regions experiencing a spike in infections, but was later expanded to cover the entire country. With the original month-long period coming to an end next week after the country's annual Golden Week holidays, local media reported that Abe was now expected to extend the measure, either until the end of May or for another full month until June 6. "Considering the burden carried by medical officials, I recognise the present situation as very severe," Abe told reporters. "It's hard to return to the days of the past, starting on May 7," the premier said. "I openly have to say that we must prepare for a battle of patience for a certain period," he said, adding that he will decide how long it should be extended after hearing from experts. Local media, including the Nikkei newspaper, reported the government would convene a panel of experts on Friday to discuss the virus and the state of emergency, adding that the experts had already informally backed a move to extend the measures. It was not yet clear when any extension would be announced, but Abe has said he will not wait until the last minute, to allow business and institutions including schools time to prepare accordingly. The declaration has limited legal power compared to measures seen in some parts of Europe and elsewhere. It allows governors to call on people to stay home and urge businesses to close, but there are no punishments for those who fail to comply. However, the emergency declaration has been effective at encouraging people to stay home, and Japan should expect to impose it again to deal with future waves of infections, said Tohru Kakuta, a vice president of Tokyo Medical Association. "The Japanese people tend to believe and follow the instructions that come from above... as well as to follow what others are doing to stick with the crowd," he told a press briefing. "We can also expect to see the second and third waves and so on. Therefore what would be important is to detect those at an early stage so that actions can be taken," he said, warning that the world was in for "a long fight" with the infection. Regional governors have already voiced support for the extension of the state of emergency, with many of them also suggesting that the school year start date should now be moved from its usual April to September, as schools in most of the country have been closed since March. Japan has so far seen a relatively limited outbreak compared to parts of Europe and the United States, with around 14,000 infections recorded and 415 deaths. But it has faced criticism for carrying out comparatively few tests, which some critics argue leaves the actual rate of infection in the country unclear. With the initial month-long period coming to an end next week, local media reported that Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was now expected to extend the measure, either until the end of May or early June
PARIS, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) kicked off the second season of the GFSI Experts Series, a curated collection of interviews with food safety leaders from industry, academia, the public sector and beyond. Launched in 2019, the series shares the diverse knowledge of GFSI's worldwide network of food safety experts in a free-to-access, digestible format.

The 2020 season of the GFSI Experts Series takes a forward-facing perspective, in keeping with the organisation's recent shifts in governance and strategy. Forthcoming episodes feature conversations with GFSI insiders well-placed to explain these shifts, including Director Erica Sheward and Co-Chairs Craig Wilson and Roy Kirby, all of whom were inducted within the past year. Viewers will also see updates on GFSI's work with partners such as CODEX Alimentarius and the World Trade Organization / Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), as well as debates with subject matter experts, such as Ignacio Gavilan, CGF Director of Environmental Sustainability on sustainable packaging versus food safety. Many of the interviewees were speakers at the GFSI Conference 2020 in Seattle.

"Not every GFSI stakeholder can attend our annual conference, but all can benefit from the insights that speakers share during the event," says Erica Sheward, who is featured in the first episode of the series. "The GFSI Experts Series allows us to make these insights available to everyone."

The series is set to run from April to September 2020, with over 20 interviews in total. Videos of the interviews, with full transcriptions, will be available on GFSI's Youtube channel, at the GFSI Library and on GFSI News. Viewers can stay up to date by subscribing to the GFSI News mailing list and following #GFSIexperts on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. All episodes are free to access.

For more information, email [email protected]

SOURCE Global Food Safety Initiative
MEDFORD, Ore.  The Jackson County Sheriff's Office says that a Medford man is in custody on Wednesday, accused of sharing child pornography online.

Detectives received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on April 13, letting them know that someone living in Jackson County had uploaded "multiple pornographic images of children" in September of 2019.

Following an investigation, detectives arrested 56-year-old James Scott Pyper in the 2300-block of Temple Drive in Medford on Wednesday.

Pyper was taken to the Jackson County Jail on ten counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse First Degree. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

JCSO detectives were assisted by Medford Police, Oregon State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case has now been referred to the District Attorney's office for prosecution.
A third person has died due to the effects of a suspected overdose of bad drugs which gardai suspect may have been sourced over the internet.

Named locally as Aaron Ging, the Portlaoise native passed away on Thursday afternoon, April 30, in the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. He lost his battle for life just over three days after being rushed to hospital after being discovered unconscious on Monday morning in the Clonamore House homeless hostel in Tullamore.

The deceased who was aged in his early 20s, was residing at the emergency accommodation used by councils in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.

He had been on life support for more than 48 hours and is the third person to die since the weekend of suspected drugs overdoses.

He was one of four people suspected of taking a bad batch of drugs last weekend at the hostel.

Gardai launched an investigation after being called to the scene in the early hours on Monday morning April 27.

On arrival, officers discovered the remains of Angela Andrea Kelly, aged 44. She is a native of Portlaoise. The alarm was raised after a man known to her discovered her body.

A second woman, Amy Mannix, who is originally from Kerry but had ties to Portlaoise, was subsequently found unresponsive and later died. She was aged in her late teens.

Aaron Ging was also found unresponsive.

A fourth man, aged 32, who was a partner to Amy Mannix, and who also discovered the remains of Angela Kelly, took ill on Monday morning and was removed to Tullamore hospital on Monday. He was described as being in a critical condition on Monday afternoon but is understood to have a greater chance of survival. He had previously lived in Portlaoise.

It is understood that he has since been admitted for care in Portlaoise.

While a link has yet to be established, Gardai are also investigating a possibility that a man who died at a separate homeless facility in Tullamore the previous week may have lost his life after taking a similar substance.

Gardai are examining the possibility that all the victims and those ill had taken a fake xanax drug on the dark web.

Health authorities in Ireland have issued an advisory notice warning people not to buy such substances online.

Gardai are keeping an open mind on the cause of death but say there is a common thread of purchasing of illicit substances online. It is also suspected that other drugs may have been taken.

Gardai are not understood to hold the location in any way responsible for the deaths. It is privately owned.

All of those who died or who have taken ill were known to gardai and the HSE's addiction service.

A Garda investigation is ongoing.
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New York, April 30, 2020  Swaziland police should stop intimidating and harassing local journalists for reporting critically about King Mswati III and should allow them to write freely without the threat of treason charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On April 23, police officers raided the home of Eugene Dube, the editor and publisher of the privately owned news website Swati Newsweek, and seized his three mobile phones, a laptop, and work documents, according to local news reports and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ by phone and messaging app.

Officers took Dube to a local police station in Nhlangano, the capital of Swazilands southern district, where they interrogated him for about seven hours about two recent articles in Swati Newsweek critical of Mswati III, and then brought him before a magistrate to record a statement, he said.

Dube told CPJ he was released without charge, but said the officers did not return his devices or documents.

On April 24, a police officer in Matsapha went to the home of Mfomfo Nkhambule, a Swati Newsweek reporter who wrote one of the articles that Dube was questioned about, brought him to a local police station, and interrogated him for two hours about the articles, Nkhambule told CPJ via messaging app and a phone call.

Dube told CPJ that police were unable to find Mthobisi Ntjangase, the reporter who had written the other article about the king.

Swazi police should stop threatening journalists like Eugene Dube and Mfomfo Nkhambule for writing critically about King Mswati III, and should instead champion their right to report freely, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. The era of the king can do no wrong has long been relegated to the annals of history, and the police should rather focus their resources on fighting real criminals, not the press.

The journalists said they were questioned about an April 8 opinion piece by Nkhambule, entitled King Reckless on Swazis Health, which accused the government of failing to adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and an April 14 article by Ntjangase, based on an interview with the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland, a radical political group, who said that removing the king is possible.

During his interrogation, police questioned Dube about why he gave a platform to the Economic Freedom Fighters, and insisted that the monarch was immune from criticism, saying he could face charges of high treason, Dube said.

At the polices request, Dube wrote a statement explaining the stories, and wrote that he was trying to alert the Swazi people and the government to lapses in the official COVID-19 strategy, he said.

After his release, police warned Dube that their investigation was still ongoing and said they would return if he continued to criticize the king, said Dube, adding that they kept his devices for further investigation.

Left: Mfomfo Nkhambule (Photo: Kirsten Nkhambule). Right: Eugene Dube (Photo from Dube).

Nkhambule told CPJ that the police questioning was exhausting, and said that the officers wanted me to understand that I had erred in writing about the king.

The officers threatened him with jail time and treason charges for his writing, and said they would return once their investigations concluded.

Nkhambule said that officers previously interrogated him at police headquarters in Manzini on March 12 and questioned him for four hours over articles he had written about the monarch last year for another online publication, Swaziland News. He said officers seized his laptop and two mobile phones during that arrest and had yet to return them.

During that questioning, an officer threatened to throw Nkhambule out of a second floor window and said that police would claim he had tried to escape, he said.

Dube said he and Nkhambule are hoping to raise funds for their legal support and to ensure that their laptops and telephones are returned and police stop harassing them.

Police commissioner William Tsintsibala Dlamini on April 24 threatened that authorities would come down hard on journalists who wrote negatively about Mswati III and said the law would take its course, the privately-owned weekly publication Independent News reported.

In a statement sent to CPJ, government spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini alleged that Dube operated an unregistered media outlet and denied that the journalists were being persecuted for criticizing the king.

The statement said that anyone who reported fake news about COVID-19 would face prosecution.

Under regulations passed last month, anyone found spreading false news about the virus is liable to face up to five years in jail or a fine of 20,000 emalangeni ($1,082),

His statement said that those regulations were in line with others in the region.

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic it is more important than ever that people rely on truthful, transparent information from their government, media and anyone with access to communication tools, he wrote. We find that journalists with integrity and ethical practises have no trouble abiding by these regulations.
The European Union's asylum agency says that the number of asylum applications in Europe plummeted by almost half last month as measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus kicked in.

The European Asylum Support Office said Thursday that just 34,737 applications for asylum were lodged in the 31 European countries it collects data for in March, a 43% drop over the previous month.

It said that just before the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe, applications had increased compared to the same period in 2019, with 65 300 applications lodged in January and 61 100 in February.

To halt the spread of the coronavirus, many European Union countries have temporarily closed parts of their borders, making it increasingly difficult for migrants to enter without authorization.

Greece, a main entry point for people seeking refuge or better lives in Europe, suspended all asylum applications for a month at the beginning of March after Turkey began waving migrants through to their common border.

Nationals from Syria, Afghanistan, Colombia and Venezuela continue to file the most asylum applications.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Organ-on-a-Chips are AA battery sized microfluidic chips designed accurately to recreate the natural physiology and mechanical forces that cells experience in the human body.

New York, April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Organ-on-a-Chip Global Market - Forecast to 2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05889763/?utm_source=GNW

Organ-on-a-Chip is gaining popularity as they are rendered crucial for prognosis and monitor disease progression; personalized medicine along with playing a vital role in discovery and development of target molecules and drug toxicity testing also to cut cost and time of drug development.



According to the analysis, the Organ-on-a-Chip global market is estimated to reach $193,316.9 thousand by 2026 growing at a very high double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026. The Organ-on-a-Chip market is classified into product, application, material type, end-user, and geography.



The factors driving the market are rising use of organ-on-a-chip in early detection of drug toxicity, increasing demand for personalized medicine, emergence of OOC as an alternative to animal testing, the significant increase in research funding and venture capital investments for the development of different types of organ-on-a-chips, whereas, factors such as technical uncertainty within the pharma companies, the lack of scaling and standardization, biological and technical challenges involved are restraining the market growth.



The Organ-on-a-Chip product market is further classified into chips & services. The services segment accounted for the largest revenue in 2019. The Chips market is further segmented into liver, lung, kidney, tumor, multiple-organ-on-a-chip, and others. Among these, liver-on-a-chip accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a strong double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026. The factors driving the market are increasing use of Liver-on-a-chip in drug discovery as a disease model (NASH) and also in toxicity screening of drugs, cosmetics, environmental pollutants, etc. The growth is also attributed to the increased interest shown by regulatory agencies, by the top pharma companies, other government organizations and venture capitalists for the development of the technology, whereas, factors such as lack of scaling and standards, the uncertainty of how regulatory bodies will adapt to technological changes, as OOC is in its infancy stage, they are still not efficient to replace the current methods followed, but, are used as an additional test for accuracy, complexity in the establishment of organ models, challenge to explore sample associated data requirement of ethical clarity, need for the establishment of well understood single mixed- cell models using universal media combined with the flow and supporting matrix are restraining the market growth.



Based on the application, the market is segmented into drug discovery, toxicity screening, and personalized medicine. Among these toxicity, screening accounted for the largest revenue of in 2019 and is expected to grow at a high double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026 due to increased failure of drugs due to their toxicity had lead to the accelerated use of organ-on-a-chip involving human-derived cells to check their toxic effects. Further engagement of various chips in environmental toxicity testing, cosmetic toxicity is driving the growth of the market.



The market by material type is segmented into PDMS, polymers, glass, and silicon, among these, polymers commanded the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a high double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026. Factors such as ease of access and inexpensiveness, optically transparent, biocompatible, inert, rigidity are the factors favoring their usage. The silicon segment is expected to grow at a strong CAGR from 2019 to 2026.



Based on End-User, the market is segmented into Pharma & Biotech, Academic & research institutes, and other industries. Among the end-users, Pharma & Biotech accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 growing at a strong double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026 due to extended research and development activities in biologics, drug development, and manufacturing.



Based on geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the world. Among these, the North American region dominated the Organ-On-A-Chip accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 growing at a high double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026. This is due to the accelerated technological advancements in analytical and informatics field, presence of major players, increased funding from both private and government agencies, growing awareness about benefits of Organ-On-A-Chip in development of personalized medicine, presence of advanced research institutes with specialized technologies, pharma biotech companies, government & private agencies concentrating on accelerating Organ-on-a-Chip research. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing region with a strong CAGR from 2019 to 2026. This might be attributed to increasing government funding towards Organ-on-a-Chip research, and the emergence of this region as the manufacturing hub for biologics drugs.



Some of the companies are coming up with new technological advancements to maintain their leadership status in the Organ-on-a-Chip, for example, Mimetas BV launched assay ready product line: OrganoPlate Caco-2 which serves customer to receive a fully quality-controlled, ready-to-use tissue model to ADME, safety-, toxicology- and mechanistic studies for drug development, but also in the food and dairy industry.



The key players in Organ-on-a-Chip Global Market include Mimetas BV (The Netherlands), Emulate, Inc. (U.S), TissUse GmbH (Germany), Hesperos, Inc. (U.S.), Insphero AG. (Switzerland), CN Bio Innovations Ltd (U.K.), Nortis Inc ( U.S.), AlveoliX AG (Switzerland), Organovo Holdings, Inc. (U.S.) and others.



The report provides an in-depth market analysis of the above-mentioned segments across the following regions:

 North America



 Europe



 Asia-Pacific



 Rest of the World (RoW)

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05889763/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asked officials to keep quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens ready for 10 lakh people as the state prepares for the return of migrant workers stranded elsewhere due to the coronavirus lockdown.

He also instructed officials to seal state borders so that no one can enter without permission. The UP government said it has already facilitated the return of four lakh people from its border with Delhi.

The chief minister's office also put out the names, phone numbers and email addresses of nodal officers appointed by the state government to help stranded workers who wish to return.

In an order issued on Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people stranded in different parts of the country to return to their homes following certain conditions.

On Thursday, CM Adityanath appealed to those stranded in other states to be patient and not start walking towards their homes.

"Maintain the patience that you have shown till now. A detailed plan is being prepared after contacting the concerned states to ensure that everyone returns to their homes safely. Therefore, stay where you are and remain in contact with the respective state governments. Do not start moving on foot," he tweeted.

An official spokesperson said the state government has written letters to different states seeking data on migrant workers from UP, including their names, mobile numbers, addresses and medical reports.

The spokesman said workers stranded in Madhya Pradesh will be brought back on Thursday and those in Gujarat on Friday by buses.

The UP government had on March 28-29 facilitated the return of around 4 lakh people from the Delhi border, he said.

The government has also ensured the return of about 50,000 people from Haryana and Rajasthan.

Earlier, the government brought back 11,500 students from Kota in Rajasthan. It also ensured the return of 15,000 students in Allahabad to their home districts in the state, he said.

At a meeting with senior officials, the chief minister said an effective work plan should be made to bring back migrants from other states.

Adityanath suggested that the quarantine centres and shelter homes could be set up in college buildings.

Adityanath directed setting up committees to maintain a vigil on those in home quarantine. He suggested taking help from organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra and National Cadet Corps.

Women self-help groups could help in preparing food, he said, A proper medical examination must be conducted before sending the migrant workers home from quarantine centres or shelter homes, the chief minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WIT is launching a new initiative aimed at supporting businesses across the South East during Covid-19.

This initiative is open to individuals (employed and unemployed) currently working in enterprises across the South East or those seeking work in the region.

This WIT Enterprise Support Initiative is a short-term measure: a suite of short programmes and support services to industry to address immediate needs. WIT Enterprise Support Initiative includes short online programmes in payroll management, finance and governance, digital marketing and managing stress and building resilience during these difficult times.

Enterprises across the South East are experiencing huge challenges as a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic. Businesses are under significant strategic, financial and operational pressures to review, re-assess and re-position in light of temporary business closures. This initiative is targeted at local companies who may wish to migrate some key business processes online, says Dr Helen Murphy, Head of the School of Education and Lifelong Learning in WIT.

The programmes have been developed by staff in the WIT Schools of Business, Health Sciences, and Education and Lifelong Learning.

The WIT Enterprise Support Initiative will launch in May 2020 and run through until September 2020. Participation on these short programmes is free of charge and places will be offered on a first come first served basis. Individuals can apply and eligibility will be checked by the WIT team. To book a place on any of the above programmes please visit www.wit.ie/parttime.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, 14 May 2020 with courses set to start the following week.

WIT will offer a full range of part-time programmes in September 2020. Many of these programmes will be fully or part subsidized under the Springboard+ initiative. Full details of all part-time programmes will be published in June 2020 with start dates from September 2020. See: https://www.wit.ie/schools/ education/parttime-courses

Dr Thomas O'Toole, Head of School (Dean) of Business adds Whilst our societal challenge is to stay safe and well, businesses and individuals working in them will need much agility and innovative ability to get back on track to recovery post-pandemic. This is why, in addition to all our ongoing programmes directed towards enterprise we have decided to reach out with some additional offerings.

Additional supports include business consulting services through the RIKON innovation centre and Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers through ArcLabs, the institutes research and innovation hub.

RIKON is an approved supplier for the Enterprise Ireland/IDA & LEO funded Business Continuity Supports for Enterprises as a direct response to Covid-19.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has halted harness racing across North America, many horses are still gearing up for their 2020 campaign. For one, Southwind Amazon is just wondering what is going on.

Trainer Paul Holzman has said that Southwind Amazon, the gutsy Camluck gelding that recently became a millionaire earner, is confused with the fact that no racing is currently taking place. The conditioner stated that this is the first break Southwind Amazon has had in four years.

Holzman currently has him on a different schedule of training once a week to keep him fit and allowing him a good amount of paddock and play time, which he enjoys.

Racing has come as second nature for Southwind Amazon, who doesnt take to training or jogging regularly, according to Holzman. Before COVID-19, Southwind Amazon's longest hiatus from racing was in 2016, a three-week break while travelling from Florida to Pennsylvania.

After a slow start to his career, Southwind Amazon began to turn things around in 2015 at age five while racing on the Ontario circuit. He banked $60,953 that season and won seven of his 27 starts.



Southwind Amazon, pictured coming from off the pace to win at Mohawk in 2015. Southwind Amazon, pictured coming from off the pace to win at Mohawk in 2015.

He was racing for a friend of mine at Rideau Carleton, said Holzman. When he started to get too good for the track, he called me up and asked me if I wanted to purchase him.

Southwind Amazon was purchased for $30,000 in February 2016 and wasted no time getting to work for Holzman. He quickly turned heads with a spine-tingling 1:49.2 performance just five starts into his tenure with his new connections.

Holzman attributes Southwind Amazon's breeding to the success of his career.

Every Camluck I have owned are very rugged and willing racehorses and able to overcome anything, he said, adding he has been impressed with Southwind Amazons toughness and versatility. He always tries 110 per cent, even if he isnt 100 per cent.

Southwind Amazon has gotten the opportunity to take on some of harness racings greatest champions in Grand Circuit events. While he hasnt always had the best racing luck, Holzman feels that Southwind Amazon can compete with the upper echelon. Currently, his schedule focuses on the Open circuit of Scioto Downs and Northfield Park, but Holzman doesnt count out attending some of the bigger events.

The plan is to go week by week with him. I tend to go wherever he goes, and my ears are always open to race as long as its feasible.

Northfield Park has been home for Southwind Amazon, as the northeast Ohio track has been the scene of 98 of his 126 starts since 2017. Southwind Amazon has become a hometown favourite, as he competes against some of the best horses not only in Ohio, but in North America.



Southwind Amazon, pictured at the wire at Northfield Park. Southwind Amazon, pictured at the wire at Northfield Park.

When youre talking about horses that I consider local or Northfield regulars, Southwind Amazon is the best horse I have seen in my 29 years here, said Dave Bianconi, the executive VP of racing and simulcasting at MGM Northfield Park. No horse has been as dominant as long in our top overnight classes as him.

Holzman feels that Southwind Amazon has put himself and owner Ameer Najor on the racing map.

Ive done a lot of great things at a smaller level, but its not been as fun as racing 'Amazon.'

At age 10, Southwind Amazon is still at the top of the conditioned game in Ohio, and the plan is to continue with him until his 14-year-old season.

(With files from the USTA)
Words of the Week  Hope When Life Seems Dark

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-5

Psalm 42 was written while David was in exile. He had been forced to flee Jerusalem because of the rebellion of his son, Absalom, who had declared himself king and was marching with an army on Jerusalem. (see II Samuel, Chapters 15-18.)

David chose to flee with his household and followers for a number of reasons: He did not wish to be in a civil war, he wanted to reconcile with his son, it was too late to fortify the city and the city did not have enough food and water to sustain a siege.

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Also, these were not foreign invaders, but his son, and he did not wish for the destruction of the city. In addition, David reasoned that if he must go to war against a large army, it was better to do it in the forest where he and his army can fight a guerilla war because they know the forest.

So, David is feeling a little anxious. He misses leading the crowd to worship and he was being heckled by the people as he and his followers tearfully left the city. But, David comes to himself, has a self-talk and declares that his hope is in the Lord. There is no need to be disquieted or downcast.

In this time of COVID-19, we have been told to shelter in place in order to be safe at home. No hugging, no kissing, and no human touch unless absolutely necessary. Kids are home 24-7, spouses are home 24 -7, folks are hording toilet paper and disinfectants, therere shortages of food items at the markets, six-feet of space between you and others with mask and gloves.

There are no in-person church visits, but we can visit by phone and through other uses of technology. In restaurants, dining has become take-out or delivered food and no beauty or barber appointments. We are being forced to become self-reliant, but we are to also help and look out for our neighbors and other at-risk persons. However, with God on our side, we will overcome this through hope.

There are two types of hope  secular and biblical. What is the difference? In secular hope, we are wising for something, hoping it will happen, such as I hope that the sun will come out tomorrow.

Biblical hope is grounded in the word and promises of God and we know that God does not lie. Psalm 23:1 states, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Lamentations 3:22-24 says, Through the Lords mercies, we are not consumed, for his compassion fails not, they are new each morning. Great is your faithfulness.

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One of the most popular hymns of the past 100 years is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. This hymn about the faithfulness and mercy of God was written by a frail, sickly man named Thomas Chisholm, who spent most of his life confined to bed because of illness.

He recognized that God was faithful and merciful in the face of his illness. He concluded that God was faithful and provided new mercies to his people every morning. This song assures us that even in times of great distress, brokenness and great suffering, we can find comfort as we trust in Gods faithfulness.

If the circumstances of your life seem to be going from bad to worst, sending you into depression and despair, remember that God always hears and answers our cries. Remember that the Christian biblical hopes foundation is faith in God.

Biblical hope carries no doubt. It is the foundation of our lives. Without biblical hope, we can literally become heartsick, sick in our minds and souls which can lead to depression, disengagement, hopelessness.

We may know in our hearts that God alone is our source of hope, but how do we get our hearts to believe it too? We can put hope in our hearts by: praying without ceasing, reminding yourself of who you are in Christ, let others help in times of distress and pray for them also, count your blessings daily, have your own praise and worship party and stay in Gods Word because it gives us strength.

Remember that God is always with you, guiding your actions even when you dont feel His presence. In your darkest moments and deepest pain, you can still have hope. We can praise God when everything seems bleak and dark. Our hope in God reveals that He is in control and He does everything for our good.

Hope gives us confidence, according to Psalm 25:13  No one who hopes in you will be put to shame, and strength says Isaiah 40:31  They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

Hope reveals the love of God that is within every believer. We are moved by the spirit of God to show love to others so that they will come to know God.

God planted hope in the heart of every believer so that we can build a strong relationship of love and trust with Him. Where is your hope?

Gwendolyn Williams is an ordained and licensed exhorter in the AME Church and a member of Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church in Los Angeles.
Fulphila is now available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

Biocon and Mylan has announced the launch of Fulphila, a biosimilar to Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) in Australia. Fulphila is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for the treatment of cancer patients following chemotherapy, to decrease the duration of severe neutropenia and so reduce the incidence of infections, as manifested by febrile neutropenia.

Fulphila is now available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The approval of Fulphila was based on a comprehensive package of analytical, nonclinical and clinical data, which confirmed that the product is highly similar to Neulasta and no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety and efficacy exist.

Dr Christiane Hamacher, CEO, Biocon Biologics said, We are extremely pleased to enable access to our high quality, affordable biosimilar pegfilgrastim for patients in Australia. Fulphila, co-developed by Biocon Biologics and Mylan, is the third biosimilar to be commercialized in Australia and we hope that continued penetration of our biosimilars will enable higher cost savings for the Australian healthcare system. We are committed to use our science, scale and expertise to shift the access paradigm for patients in need of biosimilars like pegfilgrastim across the globe.

Mylan Australia Country Manager, Sylvain Vigneault, commented, Mylan is proud to launch Fulphila, the third biosimilar to be offered through the Mylan-Biocon Biologics partnership in Australia, as part of its commitment to expand access to more affordable medicines. Biosimilars ensure patients have timely and affordable access to quality, safe and effective treatments in a way that is sustainable for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Globally, Mylan is a leader in biosimilars with one of the largest and most diverse biosimilars portfolios which includes 20 biosimilar and insulin analog products in development or on the market. Were pleased to continue to bring this experience and expertise to patients in Australia.

A suite of patient services will be available at launch to further support patients and caregivers with treatment.

Fulphila, co-developed by Biocon Biologics and Mylan, was the first biosimilar pegfilgrastim to be approved in the U.S. and was successfully launched in July 2018, thus expanding access for patients in need of an affordable alternative. Fulphila has received regulatory approval in more than 30 countries around the world.

More affordable treatment options such as biosimilars for healthcare providers and their patients enable savings for healthcare systems around the world, including the PBS in Australia.

The Australian government recognises the importance of driving biosimilar uptake to create a competitive and sustainable biosimilars market. In 2015, they committed to the Biosimilar Awareness Initiative and in 2018 they increased their commitment by supporting the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association through a $5 million grant to undertake not only increased education around biosimilars in general, but also activities that further promote the appropriate prescribing, dispensing and use of biosimilar medicines.

Biocon Biologics scientific expertise and world-class R&D and manufacturing facilities have enabled it to bring multiple biosimilar therapeutics to the US and Europe. It has a product pipeline of 28 molecules, including 11 with Mylan, several with Sandoz, and is developing many independently. The Companys therapeutic basket includes molecules from diabetes, oncology, immunology, dermatology, ophthalmology, neurology, rheumatology and inflammatory diseases.

Mylan and Biocon Biologics are exclusive partners on a broad portfolio of biosimilar and insulin products. Our biosimilar pegfilgrastim is one of the 11 biologic products being co-developed by Mylan and Biocon for the global marketplace. Mylan has exclusive commercialization rights for the product in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and in the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries.

Biocon has co-exclusive commercialization rights with Mylan for the product in the rest of the world.
India has sent 2.8 million hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets and 1.9 million paracetamol tablets as part of its assistance to other countries to fight the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on Thursday, April 30. India has also provided HCQ and paracetamol tablets on a commercial basis to 87 countries, added the MEA.

HCQ is a common anti-malarial drug that, in some quarters, has been touted as a possible miracle drug in the fight against COVID-19. India is the largest producer of HCQ.

READ | Tracing History Of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ): From Tipu Sultan To Potential COVID-19 Drug

"In terms of numbers, we have already provided 2.8 million HCQ tablets as grant assistance to 25 countries. We have also provided paracetamol, about 1.9 million tablets, in another form to 31 countries. In addition, consignments of HCQ and paracetamol are being sent to 87 countries on a commercial basis," MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said on Thursday. He added that these supplies are taking place both as humanitarian aid as well as on a commercial basis.

READ | US Secy Mike Pompeo Mentions India's HCQ Help In Global Battle Against COVID-19

HCQ as a COVID deterrent

India had initially blocked the export of HCQ, only to partially lift the ban days later on humanitarian grounds. The government had earlier said that it has listed 13 countries for the supply of HCQ including the US, Spain, Germany, Bahrain, Brazil, Israel, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, and Bangladesh.

India is a major producer of the anti-malarial drug and the Health Ministry had earlier this month stated that the government has more than enough stock of HCQ for meeting domestic requirements. Health workers involved in the treatment of coronavirus patients can use the drug as a preventive measure against COVID-19, following the Health Ministry's guidelines.

(With ANI inputs)

READ | Maharashtra Govt Gives Nod To Use HCQ For High-risk Covid Contacts; Panel Advises Caution

READ | HCQ To Be Given To Health Workers Treating COVID-19 Patients
A Russian woman has warned against fake online gynaecologists during the lockdown after she was blackmailed by a bogus doctor.

The victim, from the Kaluga, 160 miles south of Moscow, sought help from her hospital and an online forum but was refused an appointment due to the lockdown and a ban on nonessential consultations.

The woman in her 30s, named Maria, was soon afterwards approached online by a 'gynaecologist' named Arnold Karapetyan who offered her a web consultation.

Victim Maria (pictured) has warned against fake online gynaecologists during the lockdown after she was blackmailed by a bogus doctor

Maria used her smartphone camera for the intimate online 'appointment'

After an initial exchange he told her he suspected she had genital herpes, but advised 'a gynaecological check is needed to exclude other more negative options'.

This could be carried out online via her smartphone camera, he told her.

Before agreeing she tried to check him online and felt his site - which later was revealed as fake - appeared genuine, she told NTV.

He told her he would charge 33 for a private appointment and wrote to her: 'I have 30 years of work experience.

'Read the reviews. I GUARANTEE if something goes wrong, I will return you the money. I accept several online patients every day. This is today's reality.'

She later went back to him saying she was suffering from itching.

Lawyers found that the 'gynaecologist' had used a picture belonging to a real doctor and a false name. Pictured: The social media page of the fake doctor promoting his 'services'

Police are now looking into the lockdown fraud and there are suspicions the 'gynaecologist' who fluently used medical terms had other victims. Pictured: The Instagram account of fake gyneacologist

The intimate session filmed on her smartphone lasted 40 minutes and in advance he had told her to ensure strong lighting.

Immediately after it was over, the doctor messaged her: 'The session was recorded.

'If you do not want this video to be sent to all your friends, transfer me 200,000 roubles by noon.

'Time is running out.'

Distraught, Maria did not pay but turned to lawyer Timur Marshani who found that the 'gynaecologist' had used a picture belonging to a real doctor and a false name.

Lawyer Timur Marshani (pictured) found that the 'gynaecologist' had used a picture belonging to a real doctor and a false name

Police are now looking into the lockdown fraud and there are suspicions the 'gynaecologist' who fluently used medical terms had other victims.

Meanwhile, they highlighted the case on a major Russian TV channel as a warning.

'I don't even want to tell my close friends... because I'm ashamed,' admitted Maria, who wore dark classes and a lockdown mask.

'I'm just ashamed that I believed it.'

He instructed her exactly how to set up the camera for the session, she said.

'He told me how to install it (and) what position should I take so that he can see the problem that I had.'
When Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced a blueprint for reopening the commonwealth on April 24, he said contact tracing is a key to moving forward.

Northam isnt alone in this belief. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mike Bloomberg launched a contact tracing program April 22 to build an online curriculum and training program for contact tracers with help from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and in coordination with New Jersey and Connecticut. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced April 21 his states plan to have 1,500 people conduct contact tracing -- recruited from the Department of Health, local health jurisdictions, members of the Washington National Guard and volunteer health care providers. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced a program earlier in April that will tap public health college students to augment the contact tracing conducted by local boards of health.

Contact tracing, considered critical to slow the spread of the coronavirus, is a method by which public-health workers work with people who have an infectious disease to determine who they may have come in contact with while they were contagious. For a fast-moving virus such as COVID-19, it can help isolate only those people exposed, rather than everyone, as current shelter-in-place orders require.

Whats more, contact tracing can be effective, as efforts in Germany, Israel and South Korea have shown, but cash-strapped states are concerned about the number of trained tracers they might need. Additionally, questions about privacy protections, especially regarding medical information, have hindered use of the practice. Still, the benefits may outweigh the privacy risks during the pandemic.

Thats the tack the San Franciscos Department of Public Health (SFDPH), the University of California at San Francisco and software company Dimagi have taken in partnering to create a web-based platform for contact tracing there. Theyve trained 140 people to use the system, citing a need to mobilize a larger workforce to be effective.

Contact tracers log in and see case ID numbers, names, ages, contact information and days since exposure. They can click on people assigned to them to get additional information such as recent notes about the case and details on whether theyre symptomatic.

When adding someone to the system, contact tracers ask people with confirmed positive COVID-19 tests about their occupation in case they need to follow up on workplace exposure, living situations to alert roommates or neighbors, and health provider information should they need to be referred for care. Contact tracers do not ask for financial information, Social Security numbers or citizenship status.

Then, they use a flow chart to refer people for testing or quarantine based on their response.

Currently, the information is not shared beyond SFDPH, said Mike Reid, a professor at the universitys School of Medicine, although sharing data could help. I think it would be nice synergy if we were all using the same platform so that we could leverage data between counties, he said during an April 16 media demonstration.

Other companies are developing technologies that anonymize contact tracing data, which could expand tracking. Apple and Google, for example, have just released tools that will help health agencies build apps for contract tracing using Bluetooth signals in mobile devices.

Thats how the CovidApp system works, too. Developed a few weeks ago by HypeLabs, a networking company, for use for free by government entities, the system has three parts. One is an app that conducts anonymous contact tracing in the background and alerts other app users if they have come in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

Although health departments are asking COVID-positive patients about their contacts in the two weeks preceding their symptoms, people often dont know everyone they pass in the grocery store, for instance, but the app will -- if those other shoppers also have the app, HypeLabs CEO and Co-Founder Carlos Lei said. This is anonymous and private. No user information or personal information is ever required, he said.

The app assigns a unique device ID -- a random number different from the telephone number -- and stores the unique device IDs of nearby devices that also run the app. Records of the encounters are stored in the device for up to 14 days before going to a central server run by the government entity using the system. Whats more, the app connects to devices even when they dont have an internet connection.

The second part of the system is a health care web portal that aggregates the unique IDs from the smartphones. Medical workers can also upload results from people tested for COVID-19 and can adjust health statuses when there is a change. The data gives clinics and hospitals a way to estimate the number of people exposed so they can prepare.

The third part of the system is a government web portal that lets authorities distribute information to app users. Getting updates directly from the government helps avoid the spread of misinformation, Lei said.

To use it, government entities must implement the system on their servers and launch the application in app stores.

Not in use in the United States yet, CovidApp is being used by the Colombian government to reduce the spread of the coronavirus there, and Lei said 10 other governments are integrating the technology.

Some local governments are looking to a mobile app called Private Kit: Safe Paths developed by MIT. Available in app stores, its a location logger that uses GPS and Bluetooth to note the devices location every five minutes for 28 days and provides time-stamped records of where users have been. Diagnosed patients can opt to share their location data with health officials. Using the Safe Places web app, those officials redact personally identifiable information from the location trail, and then Private Kit: Safe Paths notifies users who came in close contact with a diagnosed patient.

Another organization that shifted its efforts to COVID-19 contact tracing is the National Coalition of STD Directors, which has long tracked the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. In April, it pivoted a majority of its 1,600 STD disease intervention specialists to following the virus.

The coalitions director expressed concern, however, about tracing efforts that arent administered by highly trained experts.

Our country has done contact tracing for more than half a century for STDs and other infectious diseases before the COVID-19 pandemic using disease intervention specialists, frontline public health workers, David Harvey, the coalitions executive director said in an email to GCN. We are fully supportive of digital contract tracing if it can be done in a way that respects peoples privacy and confidential health information. Right now theres no guarantee that can happen.

A report by Prevent Epidemics estimates that the United States would need 300,000 contact tracers to be effective, while the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials say in another report that our public health workforce needs to add approximately 100,000 (paid or volunteer) contact tracers. They call for $3.6 billion in emergency funding from Congress.
The actors are not just inhabiting their characters  theyre fully responsible for how they appear on screen. The cast members prepared the sets, such as they are, by populating their backdrops (their home bedrooms, in most cases) with personal belongings that felt in character. The performers also sent photos of their closets to the costume designer, who helped pick role-appropriate attire. And the technical crew offered the actors advice on how to best frame and light themselves on camera.
There has been no breakthrough in Moscows relations with the West amid the coronavirus pandemic, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with RTVI.



"I dont think that they [relations] have changed," the spokesman said.

According to Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin does maintain communication with his counterparts in other countries and this kind of contact has always been there as far as areas of mutual interest and mutual benefit are concerned. "I dont think it is right to talk about breakthroughs, everyone is in a rush to speak about a thaw," TASS cited him as saying.

"In this case, it is about crisis cooperation, which has always been there and will continue," Peskov pointed out, when asked how Russias relations with the West had changed.
A day after the Centre's



announcement to allow interstatemovement of stranded migrant workers, students and tourists, the Gujarat government on Thursday appointed 16 bureaucrats as nodal officers to facilitate the movement of such people across borders.

Of these 16 officers, eight are from IAS and an equal number from IPS.

The state government will also launch a web portal to allow persons stranded due to the coronavirus-enforced lockdown to apply online to get travel permission from respective district collectors, said secretary in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Ashwani Kumar.

"We have appointed eight IAS and eight IPS officers as nodal officers to coordinate with officials of other states and Union territories to facilitate movement of persons. Gujaratis stranded in other states can call 1070 state helpline number to get themselves registered," said Kumar.

"People wanting to move to other states from Gujarat need not rush to respective collectors' office for registration. We are launching a web portal for online registration," he said in a video message.

As a precautionary measure to stop the spread of coronavirus, people having COVID-19-like symptoms, such as cold or fever, will not be given permission to travel to other state, he said.

"People need to have patience as the entire process of shifting people will take 10 to 15 days.

"Moreover, the cost of travel will have to be borne by travellers and they will be required to furnish details about the vehicle while applying online," Kumar said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
University News

Angelica Cruz 21 is one of only 240 students nationwide to receive the David L. Boren Scholarship, which will support her studying Mandarin in China. She is now the fourth University of New Haven student to receive the prominent prize. By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Angelica Cruz 21 on the bridge to the Chernobyl reactor in Ukraine, which she visited as part of the WARCourse.

When Angelica Cruz 21 was taking the WARCourse, an innovative course taught by Matthew Schmidt, Ph.D., the experience included a simulation of D-Day in Normandy with a group of her classmates and a visit to Chernobyl. Dr. Schmidt says Cruz stood out for her ability to handle challenges and inspire others.

I encourage students to be leaders, and Angelica was one of those leaders, said Dr. Schmidt, an associate professor of national security and political science and Cruzs adviser. She was calm under pressure and her classmates gravitated to her.

A Puerto Rico native, Cruz has become the fourth University of New Haven student to earn the prestigious David L. Boren Scholarship, a program administered by the Institute of International Education that supports study abroad by U.S. undergraduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests. She is one of only 240 students nationwide to receive a Boren Scholarship this year.

Cruz (second from left) and her fellow national security students and faculty members in Prato, Italy this past fall.

After receiving the email that said Id been selected, I read it over and over again to make sure I was not reading it incorrectly or imagining things, said Cruz, a national security major. I couldn't believe it. Then it hit me, and I just couldn't stop smiling.

Cruz plans to use the $20,000 scholarship to travel to China to study Mandarin. She plans to spend the 2020-21 academic year in China  if circumstances due to the global COVID-19 pandemic allow.

Cruz visited the Coliseum in Rome as part of the WARCourse.

I am interested in specializing in East Asian affairs academically and professionally, and this scholarship will expose me to a culture and environment I aim to learn more about and understand, said Cruz, who hopes to work for the federal government in the intelligence field. Learning thoroughly about a country, its culture, and language requires a great extent of immersion, as I came to experience during my time at the University's campus in Italy.

Dr. Schmidt, the Boren Scholarship representative on campus, says students who receive the award must be able to handle the rigors of studying abroad and be able to persevere, even when their work proves to be difficult.

Angelica is brilliant, tough, and resilient  all qualities the Boren Scholarship committee looks for, said Dr. Schmidt, who also had Cruz as a student while teaching at the Universitys Tuscany Campus last fall. This scholarship is very prestigious, and she was competing against students from schools such as Yale. I hope more University of New Haven students will apply in the future.

Cruz (holding the red jacket) attended the Washington Internship Institute Spring 2020 Orientation.

For more information about the Boren Award, please contact Dr. Matthew Schmidt at MSchmidt@newhaven.edu. The deadline to apply for next years award is January 27, 2021.
Politicians are using a secret matrix code to decide which coronavirus restrictions will be lifted first, based on a risk versus reward model.

In New South Wales, where two people will be allowed to visit another household from Friday, officials are using the data to decide the best course of action.

The risk to people's health is being weighed up against the economic benefits of lifting certain restrictions, as well as its impact on well-being.

Since strict restrictions on Australians every day lives were brought in on March 23 to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, after case numbers spiked.

But with the rate of infection dropping, known as flattening the curve, state premiers are looking to ease some restrictions for economic and personal wellbeing.

Two women are seen walking in Brisbane (pictured) on April 29, with people ordered to keep 1.5 metres apart to stop the spread of coronavirus

Friends are seen enjoying Scarborough Beach in Perth on April 27 (pictured), with socially distanced groups of up to ten people now allowed in Western Australia

In the secret document which will come to guide NSW's journey out of lockdown, advisors rated the benefits to the economy and people's wellbeing against the risk of the virus spreading.

This data is being used to determine which restrictions will be lifted first to slowly get Australia back to normal, with fortnight-long breaks in between easing.

The easing of restrictions on outdoor gatherings is said to be NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian's next aim, as it has high economic and wellbeing benefit - and a medium coronavirus risk.

But for outdoor gyms and playgrounds to reopen, the risk of COVID-19 spreading is still 'medium', but with only a 'medium' economic benefit.

PATH TO FREEDOM: THE TOP SECRET COVID-19 MATRIX SCHOOLS Economic benefit: HIGH Well-being benefit: HIGH COVID risk: LOW RETAIL Economic benefit: HIGH Well-being benefit: HIGH COVID risk: MEDIUM HOME VISITS: Economic benefit: LOW Well-being benefit: HIGH COVID risk: LOW OUTDOOR GATHERING Economic benefit: HIGH Well-being benefit: HIGH COVID risk: MEDIUM OUTDOOR EXERCISE/PLAYGROUNDS Economic benefit: MEDIUM Well-being benefit: HIGH COVID risk: MEDIUM Advertisement

Schools, which are heading back to normal by the third week of term two, are rated as having a 'low' risk of coronavirus transmission, but high wellbeing and economic benefits.

The government is putting in a two-week break every time restrictions are loosened, to ensure they have long enough to track its impact - and draw back if infections spike.

This means any more lifting of restrictions is unlikely to take place until at least May 15, two weeks after people were allowed back into friends and family's homes.

The decision to allow two-person home visits came as it was decided to have a 'low' virus risk, and a high well-being benefits - despite limited economic advantages.

A sign telling people to 'surf and go' is seen at Sydney's Bondi Beach (pictured on April 28), with residents only allowed on beaches for essential exercise

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on April 29) is keep to get the state economy started again, but is weighing up the risks of coronavirus spreading

A future removal of the two-person limit on outdoor gatherings is likely to coincide with lifting bans on outdoor gyms and even playgrounds.

The plans were revealed as part of a top secret cabinet document, known as the COVID-19 Matrix, the Daily Telegraph reported.

By the time these restrictions are eased, likely in mid-May, it is hoped the state will have eased into the family visit restriction being lifted, with a limited increase in cases.

But reports suggested that there is a group of cabinet ministers in NSW pushing for a faster relaxation of lockdown laws, including Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello.

There has been no indication of when restaurants, bars and cafes will return to normal, as they are considered to have a high risk of spreading the virus.

Security is seen patrolling Scarborough Beach in Perth on April 27 (pictured), with socially distanced groups of up to ten people now allowed in Western Australia

Despite the huge economic benefit, health experts said it was difficult to manage the risks associated with these businesses - particularly as many people may have COVID-19 with no symptoms.

It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison reiterated that the ban on international travel is likely to be one of the last restrictions to be lifted.

It may not come until early 2021, with large sporting events and concerts also likely to be off the cards for some time to come.

'I cant see international travel occurring anytime soon,' he said on Thursday.

'I look forward to the time where they can sit down for a meal at a restaurant or a cafe or a pub again.

'I look forward to the time where they can see, whether it is the AFL, the netball, the NRL, or whatever code they support, and being able to watch that again.

City centres and shopping malls have been empty since the pandemic began (pictured, Melbourne on April 28)

'But I cant see them going along to a game for a while, those larger mass gatherings.'

He explained the 'only exception' to the travel ban was potentially New Zealand, but Jacinda Ardern has warned that she won't 'jeopardise' the nation's well-being.

'One thing I'm not willing to do is jeopardise the position New Zealand is in by moving too soon to open our borders, even to Australia,' the New Zealand prime minister said.

'The same goes for New Zealand's other Pacific Island neighbours critically dependent on the NZ tourism dollar.

'We do have to be particularly cautious. [Our] Pacific neighbours [have] not [been] inflicted by COVID in [a] large part and the last thing we would want is to risk that.'

Families are seen enjoying the sand at Cottesloe Beach in Perth on April 27, but such groups gatherings are still not allowed in other states

HOW HAS AUSTRALIA BEATEN COVID-19? Australia's infection rates are in stark contrast to those in many other G20 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and Spain. Australian health experts say the infection rate has been steadied due to several factors: - Widespread testing - The tracing of carriers - Self-isolation of those at risk - Strictly-enforced social distancing - Quick restrictions on travel - An early ban on travel from China - The isolation of all Australian arrivals The first case of COVID-19 infection in Australia - a Chinese citizen who had arrived from Guangzhou on January 19 - was reported in Melbourne on January 25. Six days later Australia banned the entry of foreign nationals from China and ordered citizens returning from that country to self-isolate for 14 days. That rule was further extended to anyone entering the country on March 15. Prime Minister Scott Morrison then took the decision to close the country's borders on Friday March 20. Advertisement

As the country continues its remarkable fight against COVID-19, infection rates remain low, encouraging state governments to lift some lockdown laws.

With many eager to escape their homes for the first time in weeks, some officials have warned 'this is not a holiday' and encouraged people to stay home if they can.

But some states have gone much further and lifted several restrictions, with others having changed very little - making it difficult for Australians to figure out the rules.

In Victoria, the state government is remaining prudent and has not announced any relaxation of lockdown laws, and will instead review them on May 11.

This is when the state of emergency ends, and also when the national cabinet is meeting to discuss any country-wide changes to the rules.

The rules staying in place in Victoria mean that people are still not allowed to leave home for non-essential reasons, and gatherings of more than two people are banned.

Essential reasons include going to work which can't be done from home, buying groceries, doing exercise, caring for others or attending a medical appointment.

In Queensland, the state border is still closed, meaning people cannot travel in and out.

But those already in the state will now be allowed a family picnic, a weekend drive or even a jet ski, with national parks open from Saturday.

Sports equipment is seen left outside at a primary school in Melbourne on March 23 (pictured) despite schools being deemed at 'low' risk from coronavirus

Residents can travel up to 50km from their home to do so, but must still practice social distancing and stay away from crowded areas.

The two-person rule still applies, meaning people cannot gather in groups or spend time with anyone from outside their household - unless they live alone.

Western Australia has eased several restrictions, and is crucially allowing groups of up to ten people at outdoor and indoor gatherings.

Residents can leave home for what officials call 'non-contact recreational activities', including picnics, fishing, boating, hiking and camping.

Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner said the territory would be lifting many restrictions in coming weeks as it was 'the safest place in Australia', with no new cases for three weeks.

Australians are keen to get back to normal life, but the government must weigh up the risks (pictured, swimmers on a reopened Bondi Beach on April 28)

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

From Friday, residents in the Northern Territory will be able to visit parks and reserves, as long as they maintain social distancing.

There have been no changes to social guidelines in ACT, with its chief minister Andrew Barr saying lifting restrictions was 'not a race or a contest'.

In South Australia, which has enjoyed its fifth consecutive day with no new COVID-19 cases, there has been no lifting of restrictions.

But the kind seen in Victoria, NSW and WA were never imposed in the first place.

SA never enforced a two-person rule, but 'strongly discouraged' gatherings of more than two people.

Tasmania is also not planning to ease any social restrictions for some time, with the reopening of non-essential retail in the island's north-west pushed back.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok testifies at the Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Joint Hearing on, Oversight of FBI and DOJ Actions Surrounding the 2016 Election" in Washington on July 12, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Strzok Scrambled to Keep Flynn Investigation Open When FBI Moved to Close It Jan 2017

On Jan. 4, 2017, the FBIs Washington, D.C., field office drafted a document outlining a closure of its investigation into Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, then-adviser to Donald Trump. In the afternoon that day, Peter Strzok, then-head of the bureaus counterintelligence operations, urgently reached out to agents handling the Flynn case, telling them not to close it, documents filed in a federal court on April 30 show.

Flynn, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to one count of lying to FBI agents during a Jan. 24, 2017, interview.

The newly released documents show that the FBI concluded there were no more leads to follow in the Flynn probe nearly three weeks before Strzok and another agent conducted the fateful interview.

The closing document details that the bureau opened an investigation on Flynn to determine whether he coordinated activities with Russia in a way threatening national security or in violation of Section 951 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) or related statutes.

The umbrella investigation, codenamed Crossfire Hurricane (CH), also targeted three other members of the Trump campaign. Flynn received the codename Crossfire Razor.

As reasons for the probe, the FBI cited public information about Flynns ties to various state-affiliated entities of the Russian Federation and his 2015 trip to Russia. Its not clear what the nature of the ties was. After leaving his DIA post in 2014 on bad terms with the Obama administration, Flynn signed with a speakers bureau that arranged paid speaking engagements for him. Among those were several for Russia-linked companies, including the U.S. subsidiary of Kaspersky Lab and the state-funded RT television. It was the RT gig that brought him to Russia in 2015, where he sat at the main table at an RT inaugural gala. Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly sat at the same table that night.

He received a DIA defensive briefing before the Russia trip and was debriefed after.

Other reasons cited by the FBI were Flynns advising the Trump campaign on foreign policy and holding a top security clearance.

Yet, by January 2017, the investigators had turned up empty handed.

They requested information on Flynn from two sources, whose names are redacted in the document, but are both likely to be government agencies. Both reported no derogatory information about him.

The FBI also reached out to one of its established informants for information on Flynn. This informant provided a story, heavily redacted in the document, saying he witnessed Flynn take a cab ride after an event and that a second person surprised everyone and got into the cab with Flynn and joined him for a subsequent train ride.

The account aligns with a story spread around the same time to the media by Stephan Halper, a Cambridge professor and longtime FBI informant.

The story detailed a dinner organized by the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar (CIS), an ongoing series of meetings for intelligence community members, academics, and researchers co-convened at the time by Halper.

Flynn went to the CIS diner in February 2014, when he was still head of the DIA. Among the roughly 20 attendees was Svetlana Lokhova, a Cambridge historian of Russian descent who specialized in Soviet intelligence. The informant said he believed Lokhovas father was a Russian oligarch. A 2015 Telegraph article said her father was a Russian shipping magnate. She denied her father was either an oligarch or a magnate, in a phone call with The Epoch Times. She took issue with having her family members dragged into media spotlight.

Lokhova disputed Halpers version of the story, saying she only spoke briefly to Flynn at the event and didnt join him for a cab ride, not to mention a subsequent train ride. They were never alone together, she said, adding that Halper didnt even attend the event.

Lokhova confirmed in an April 30 tweet it was her the informant was talking about and that she believes the informant is Halper.

The closing document says the bureau searched its databases and reached out to another source, possibly a government agency, but found no derogatory information about a person apparently related to the informants story, nor did any derogatory information turn up.

Following the compilation of the above information, the CH team determined that CROSSFIRE RAZOR was no longer a viable candidate as part of the larger CROSSFIRE HURRICANE umbrella case, the document said.

The document was sent via email on Jan. 4, 2017, at 1:49 p.m. Both the sender and the recipient are redacted.

About 25 minutes later, Strzok texted an FBI agent whose name is redacted in the released documents.

Hey if you havent closed RAZOR dont do so yet, Strzok wrote.

Okay, the agent replied.

Still open, right? Strzok asked. And youre [sic] case agent? Going to send you [redacted] for the file.

I have not closed it, Ill double check to see if [redacted] had done it, the agent said. Still open and Im still listed as the Case manager (had to double check).

Rgr. I couldnt raise [redacted] earlier. Pls keep it open for now, Strzok said.

Will do, the agent replied.

Strzok followed with a text to Lisa Page, his paramour at the time and also then-special counsel to the FBIs then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

Razor still open. @: but serendipitously good, I guess. You want those chips and oreos? he wrote.

Phew, Page replied. But yeah, thats amazing that he is still open. Good, I guess.

Yeah, our utter incompetence actually helps us. 20% of the time, Im guessing, Strzok said.

Its not clear on what grounds Strzok wanted to keep the case open.

There are indications, though, that the FBIs top brass, Strzok included, was contemplating a pivot to a shaky legal theory to keep the Flynn probe alive.

At 9:53 that morning, Strzok emailed Page a document titled Conducting Foreign Relations Without Authority: The Logan Act released in 2015 by the Congressional Research Service (pdf).

The Logan Act, passed in 1799, prohibits Americans from conducting diplomacy on their own with countries that the United States has a dispute with.

In January 2017, unnamed government sources leaked to media that Flynn made phone calls to then-Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak and may have violated the act because the two discussed the recent sanctions imposed on Russia by outgoing President Barack Obama.

The leaks put pressure on the Trump team, which had initially denied that Flynn discussed the sanctions during the calls.

But it was a paper tiger, according to Sidney Powell, Flynns attorney and former Texas prosecutor.

Nobody has ever been successfully prosecuted for violating the Logan Act. Moreover, it was Flynns job, as part of Trumps transition team, to establish relations with foreign officials and give them a sense of where the incoming administration stood on things.

The new documents come just a day after the judge presiding over the case, Emmet Sullivan, unsealed a page of handwritten notes that shows one of the FBIs top officials question the tactic the bureau wanted to use during the Flynn interview.

Whats our goal? Truth/Admission or toget him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? the official wrote, dating the notes Jan. 24, 2017, and signing with initials EP, reportedly standing for Edward William Priestap, then-FBI head of counterintelligence.

The notes were handed over to Flynn as a result of an ongoing review of his case by Jeffrey Jensen, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, who was directed in January to perform the review by Attorney General William Barr.

Flynn had asked Judge Sullivan in January to allow him to withdraw his original guilty plea, saying he only entered it because his former lawyers hadnt represented him effectively at the time.

Powell has stated for months that the case should be dismissed for government misconduct.

Judge Sullivan denied in December 2019 Powells request for a list of additional documents and for dismissal of the case.

New information, however, has turned up in the case since then.

The judge is going to have to dismiss the case, Powell told Fox News Sean Hannity on April 29. Trump wrote on Twitter on March 15 that he was strongly considering a pardon for Flynn given the evidence.

Update: The article has been updated to reflect that Svetlana Lokhova denied her father was an oligarch or a magnate and that she took issue with having her family members dragged into media spotlight.
Tesla Inc. was sued on Tuesday by the family of a Japanese man who was killed when a driver fell asleep behind the wheel of a Model X and the vehicle 'suddenly accelerated.'

The case concerns the 'first Tesla Autopilot-related death involving a pedestrian,' according to court documents.

Documents filed in San Jose federal court by widow Tomomi Umeda and daughter Miyu Umeda claimed Yoshihiro Umeda, 44, was the victim of a 'patent defect' in Tesla's technology.

In April 2018, Umeda was among a group of motorcyclists who parked behind a small van on the far-right lane of the Tomei Expressway in Kanagawa, Japan.

They initially stopped after a member of the group was involved in an accident.

Meanwhile, a resident driving a Tesla Model X turned on the vehicle's Autopilot technologies, including Traffic Aware Cruise Control, Autosteer, and Auto Lane Change features, when he entered the highway.

In this time the driver began to fall asleep behind the wheel and lost sight of the road ahead.

Yoshihiro Umeda, 44, was killed in April 2018 after a Telsa driving on Autopilot ran him over after the driver fell asleep behind the wheel

'At approximately 2:49 p.m., the vehicle that the Tesla had been tracking in front slowed down considerably and indicated by its traffic blinkers that it was preparing to switch to the immediate left-hand lane, in order to avoid the group of parked motorcycles, pedestrians, and van that were ahead of it,' court documents said.

When the vehicle 'cut-out' from the lane, the Tesla Model X accelerated from approximately nine miles an hour to 23 miles an hour.

That's when the Tesla ran Umeda over.

'The Tesla Model Xs sensors and forward-facing cameras did not recognize the parked motorcycles, pedestrians, and van that were directly in its path, and it continued accelerating forward until striking the motorcycles and Mr. Umeda, thereby crushing and killing Mr. Umeda as the Tesla Model X ran over his body,' documents said.

The Tesla also reportedly hit a van, other pedestrians and motorcycles.

Court documents allege that the incident occurred without any input or action taken by the driver, except for his hands on the wheel.

Tesla's Autopilot system was referred to as a 'half-baked, non-market-ready product that requires the constant collection of data in order to improve upon the existing virtual world that Tesla is trying to create.'

It went on to explain that Tesla's issues with the Autopilot feature stem from the uncertainty of the vehicle's ability to adapt to roadways in real time.

Pictured: Dash cam footage shows the Tesla Model X crash after Umeda was run over on Tomei Expressway

'The inherent problem and issue with Teslas Autopilot technology and suite of driver assistance features is that this technology will inevitably be unable to predict every potential scenario that lie ahead of its vehicles,' court documents said.

'In other words, in situations that occur in the real world but are uncommon and have not been perceived by Teslas system, or in fringe cases involving specific scenarios that the system cannot or has not processed before and pose a great risk to human safety such as in the instant case, actual deaths will occur.'

The plaintiffs claimed that Tesla should have known it was selling dangerous vehicles.

But 'Tesla has refused to recall its cars and continues to fail to take any corrective measures.'

Tomomi and Miyu Umeda revealed that they expect Tesla to 'lay all of the blame' on the driver.

'If Tesla's past behavior of blaming its vehicles' drivers is any example, Tesla likely will portray this accident as the sole result of a drowsy, inattentive driver in order to distract from the obvious shortcomings of its automated... technology,' court documents said.

'Any such effort would be baseless. Mr. Umeda's tragic death would have been avoided but for the substantial defects in Tesla's Autopilot system and suite of technologmarketing its vehicles with reckless disregard for motorists and the general public.'

The court documents make clear that the plaintiffs believe Tesla should be held accountable for its conduct and continual marketing of its product.

'Tesla should be held culpable for its conduct and acts committed in marketing its vehicles with reckless disregard for motorists and the general public around the world,' it said.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Umeda's attorney for further comment.

Autopilot, a feature available on new Teslas, allow the vehicle to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within a lane.

Drivers can completely disengage Autopilot in a Tesla by pushing up a stalk near the steering wheel or by tapping the brakes. They can also take control of the steering wheel to switch away from Autopilot.

Although 13 percent said Autopilot had put them in a dangerous situation, 28 percent said it saved their lives, according to Bloomberg.

61 percent of surveyors were 'very satisfied' with Autopilot Safety and 42 percent felt 'somewhat satisfied' with Navigate on Autopilot Reliability.

Pictured: a Bloomberg graphic that illustrates surveyors thoughts on the Autopilot feature in Model 3 vehicles

One person wrote: 'The car detected a pile-up in fog and applied the brakes/alerted driver and began a lane change to avoid it before I took over. I believe it saved my life.'

However, Tesla has received its fair share of disparaging media, including videos of cars narrowly missing highway medians and ignoring driver commands.

In 2018, an Apple Inc. engineer was killed when his Tesla Model X slammed into a concrete barrier in Silicon Valley while on Autopilot.

Walter Huang, a father-of-two, died in hospital following the fiery crash after his Tesla veered off U.S. 101 in Silicon Valley and into a concrete barrier.

Data from Huang's crash showed his SUV did not brake or try to steer around the barrier in the three seconds before the crash. The car also sped up from 62mph to 71 mph just before crashing.

Walter Huang, an Apple engineer and father-of-two, died after his Tesla veered off U.S. 101 in Silicon Valley and into a concrete barrier in March 2018. The wreckage of his Tesla is pictured above

The complaints Walter Huang made to his family and friends were detailed in a trove of documents released on Tuesday by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the March 2018 crash that killed him

Documents said that Huang was using his phone at the time of the crash and did not have his hands on the steering wheel.

According to the investigative documents, Huang had earlier complained to his wife that Autopilot had previously veered his SUV toward the same barrier where he would later crash.

Timeline of fatal crashes tied to Tesla Autopilot January 20, 2016 in China: Gao Yaning, 23, died when the Tesla Model S he was driving slammed into a road sweeper on a highway near Handan, a city about 300 miles south of Beijing. Chinese media reported that Autopilot was engaged. May 7, 2016 in Williston, Florida: Joshua D. Brown, 40, of Canton, Ohio died when cameras in his Tesla Model S failed to distinguish the white side of a turning tractor-trailer from a brightly lit sky. The National Transportation and Safety Board found that the truck driver's failure to yield the right of way and a car driver's inattention due to overreliance on vehicle automation were the probable cause of the crash. The NTSB also noted that Tesla Autopilot permitted the car driver to become dangerously disengaged with driving. A DVD player and Harry Potter movies were found in the car. March 23, 2018 in Mountain View, California: Apple software engineer Walter Huang, 38, died in a crash on U.S. Highway 101 with the Autopilot on his Tesla engaged. The vehicle accelerated to 71 mph seconds before crashing into a freeway barrier, federal investigators found. The NTSB, in a preliminary report on the crash, also said that data shows the Model X SUV did not brake or try to steer around the barrier in the three seconds before the crash in Silicon Valley. March 1, 2019 in Delray, Florida: Jeremy Banner, 50, died when his 2018 Tesla Model 3 slammed into a semi-truck. NTSB investigators said Banner turned on the autopilot feature about 10 seconds before the crash, and the autopilot did not execute any evasive maneuvers to avoid the crash. Advertisement

Last year, footage of a Tesla driving on Autopilot crashing into the back of a truck in California surfaced.

The driver wrote that the vehicle was only only going about 10 miles-per-hour and that the 'Autopilot' distance was set to three car lengths.

The driver added that the collision resulted after the 'cameras, radar, and sensors' the Autopilot relies on 'suddenly ignored the giant semi'.

In Delray, Florida, when Jeremy Banner's 2018 Tesla Model 3 slammed into a semi-truck, killing the 50-year-old driver.

NTSB investigators said Banner turned on the Autopilot feature about 10 seconds before the crash, and the Autopilot did not execute any evasive maneuvers to avoid the collision.

The three other fatal crashes date back to 2016.

Tesla, on its website, calls Autopilot 'the future of driving'.

'All new Tesla cars come standard with advanced hardware capable of providing Autopilot features today, and full self-driving capabilities in the futurethrough software updates designed to improve functionality over time.'

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration special crash program began probing the twelfth Telsa crash linked to Autopilot after a Model 3 car rear-ended a police car.

Tesla has continued to remind drivers that although Autopilot can handle certain navigation, drivers should always be alert and diligent behind the wheel.

As features like artificial intelligence continued to permeate different sectors of society, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that companies who use the technology should be regulated.

Musk's opinion on the dangers of letting AI proliferate unfettered was prompted by a report published in MIT Technology Review about changing company culture at OpenAI, a technology company that helps develop new AI.

Elon Musk formerly helmed the company but left due to conflicts of interest.

The report claims that OpenAI has shifted from its goal of equitably distributing AI technology to a more secretive, funding-driven company.

'OpenAI should be more open imo,' he tweeted. 'All orgs developing advanced AI should be regulated, including Tesla.'

In the past Musk has likened artificial intelligence to summoning the demon and has even warned that the technology could someday be more harmful than nuclear weapons.

Speaking at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AeroAstro Centennial Symposium in 2014, Musk described artificial intelligence as our biggest existential threat.

Musk tweeted that companies developing artificial intelligence should be regulated

Elon Musk (pictured) has warned about the dangers of developing AI in the past, saying its akin to 'summon the demon'

I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, its probably that. So we need to be very careful with artificial intelligence.

Im increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we dont do something very foolish.'

He continued by likening the act of creating an AI to a horror movie.

With artificial intelligence were summoning the demon. You know those stories where theres the guy with the pentagram, and the holy water, and  hes sure he can control the demon? Doesnt work out.

In February, Tesla's stock jumped 40 percent in two days to send the company's market value to more than $140billion.

It was the largest one-day gain since 2013.

After testing on public roads, Tesla is rolling out a new feature of its partially automated driving system designed to spot stop signs and traffic signals.

The feature will slow the car whenever it detects a traffic light, including those that are green or blinking yellow.

It will notify the driver of its intent to slow down and stop, and drivers must push down the gear selector and press the accelerator pedal to confirm that its safe to proceed.

The update of the electric car companys cruise control and auto-steer systems is a step toward Musks pledge to convert cars to fully self-driving vehicles later this year.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Five students of Delhi Universitys Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS) have won the Global Case Competition at Harvard University (GCCH) 2020, by beating more than 140 rival teams of top universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), John Hopkins University, HEC Paris and London Business School.

The teams are given three weeks to prepare and submit a solution and the competition is usually held at Harvard University in Cambridge. However, this year due to the pandemic situation, the competition was organised through video submissions and video conferencing, said an official.The students who bagged the prize are Sparsh Sehgal, Ojas Jhamb, Kunal Vats, Raghav Nath and Aanand Negi pursuing BMS and BBA(FIA) courses at SSCBS.

School of Business and Economics, Brazil and John Hopkins University were declared the first and second runners-up, respectively.It has been a dream come true for us. Winning it has been surreal. This edition was online as compared to the other rounds held at Harvard, and we were able to adapt to the new format effectively. Were really glad that this competition happened despite the ongoing pandemic, said a statement by the students.

The results were announced on April 26, through the official Facebook and LinkedIn handles of the competition, with a cash prize of $10,000.I am glad that our students are achieving international laurels and bringing positive news specially during such troubling times, said Poonam Verma, Principal, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.

Organised through video-conferencing

The global competition is usually organised at Harvard University in Cambridge. However, this year due to the pandemic, the competition was organised through video submissions and video conferencing.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Thursday approved a plan to raise Rs 53,125 crore via rights issue. It is said to be the biggest rights issue in India so far. The rights issue is priced at Rs 1,257, a discount of Rs 210 or 14 per cent from the previous close. One equity share can be subscribed for every 15 equity shares held by eligible shareholders as on the record date. Shares of RIL settled at Rs 1,464. up 37.05 points or 2.60 per cent, on NSE on Thursday.

"The board approved the issuance of equity shares of Rs 10 each of the company on rights basis to eligible equity shareholders as on the record date of an issue size of Rs 53,125 crore," RIL said. The promoters of the company will subscribe to their full entitlement of the rights issue and also to all the unsubscribed portions, the company further added.

RIL recorded a 0.1 per cent rise in consolidated profit (after exceptional item) at Rs 39,880 crore in the year ended March 2020. The oil-to-telecom conglomerate posted a profit of Rs 39,837 crore in complete FY19. RIL recorded a rise of 5.4 per cent in revenue at Rs 659,205 crore in FY20.

Reliance also announced that the company's Board had approved Mukesh Ambani's proposal to forego his entire salary until the impact of COVID-19 is over. "In light of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, which has exacted a huge toll on the societal, economic and industrial health of the nation, Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director, has voluntarily decided to forego his entire salary," the company said.

Also read: RIL results: Reliance Industries FY20 profit increases to Rs 39,880 crore

Also read: Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67
An Indonesian YouTuber has been slammed after he filmed himself offering Muslims $1,000 each to break their Ramadan fast by eating a slice of pizza.

The YouTuber, who goes by the username hasanjr11, shared the controversial video to his 4.9million subscribers earlier this week.

Hasan offered the equivalent of AUD$996 to low-income locals who were observing Ramadan - 30 days when Muslims are only allowed to eat when the sun goes down.

The YouTuber, carrying the cash in a briefcase, approached a farmer and offered him the deal.

The farmer looked confused and picked up a slice of pizza, before eventually refusing to eat it.

A YouTuber who goes by the username hasanjr11 shared a video to his 4.9million subscribers of himself offering the equivalent of AUD$996 to low-income locals who are observing Ramadan

Hasan, who is himself a Muslim, handed the man an envelope containing an unknown sum of money as a reward

Hasan, who is himself a Muslim, handed the man an envelope containing an unknown sum of money as a reward.

He then went up to a cleaner who didn't hesitate before declining the offer.

A group of young children and an office worker were also offered the cash, but turned it down.

They also received an envelope purportedly containing money.

Hasan's bizarre video drew outrage among the Muslim community, who called for his channel to be shut down.

'Apparently this Ramadan devil is not locked down, but again working from home through the body hasanjr11,' one person tweeted.

'This is the devil in human form. He said the month of Ramadan the devil is locked up, but this is the devil in human beings.'

'What does it mean to make people cancel their fast only because of 10 million [rupees]? Search for fame but make sin too,' said another.

Hasan has since taken down the video and uploaded an apology to his Instagram account.

'I apologise to everyone for my inappropriate YouTube video. I admit I was 100 per cent wrong and I don't want to justify myself in any way because I was wrong,' he told his followers.
With Amy Schumer about to celebrate her son Gene's first birthday, she's opening up about changing her son's name that had an inadvertent 'genital' sound.

Schumer and husband Chris Fisher gave birth to Gene Attell Fisher on May 5, 2019, with the middle name honoring the beloved comedian Dave Attell.

She soon realized, though, that when said together, her son's name Gene Attell sounds like 'genital,' opening up on Howard Stern Wednesday about the name.

Mistake: With Amy Schumer about to celebrate her son Gene's first birthday, she's opening up about changing her son's name that had an inadvertent 'genital' sound

Mother and son: Schumer and husband Chris Fisher gave birth to Gene Attell Fisher on May 5, 2019, with the middle name honoring the beloved comedian Dave Attell

Schumer showed Stern her adorable baby during the video conferencing interview, when Stern asked about the name, and she jokingly covered the baby's ears.

'Oh my God, don't tell him, we're not telling him,' Schumer said, while covering Gene's ears, adding, 'It's so embarrassing.

When Stern asked when she realized that her son's name sounded like genital, Schumer responded, 'Like a month in.'

Earmuffs: Schumer showed Stern her adorable baby during the video conferencing interview, when Stern asked about the name, and she jokingly covered the baby's ears

A month in: When Stern asked when she realized that her son's name sounded like genital, Schumer responded, 'Like a month in'

'You know, you're the new parents, just kind of tired and in ecstasy, and I don't know if like some troll on the internet, or somebody, and I read it and went, "Oh my God,"' she said.

She added that 'it never dawned on me' which surprised her because she described herself as 'a filthy person.'

The comedienne added that some of her friends chimed in and didn't think it was a big deal, but she disagreed.

Filthy: She added that 'it never dawned on me' which surprised her because she described herself as 'a filthy person'

'I'm like I Boy Name Sue Sue'd my son. And Chris's name is Fischer, so it's "genital fissure,' Schumer replied, adding it was the, 'first of many failures.'

She added that Dave Attell has been, 'a really good friend and I've known him my whole life, actually.'

She said he, 'was really moved' by the couple using his name, adding they did change Gene's middle name to David, Attell's first name.

Good friend: She added that Dave Attell has been, 'a really good friend and I've known him my whole life, actually'

Stern added that he thought Schumer might be 'going for the laugh' with the name, joking that the next kid might be named, 'Curly Pubes' or something.

'I know, everybody kind of gave me credit, and I'm like, "No, that's just a huge f*** up,' Schumer said.

Schumer will next be seen in The Humans alongside Steven Yeun, Beanie Feldstein and Richard Jenkins, which doesn't have a release date at this time.
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Today's Wake Up newsletter is longer than usual because it includes every coronavirus story from the last 24 hours. Read it and you're up to date on the crisis.

Weather

Showers are likely today and it will be windy, with gusts up to 24 mph. Highs will be in the upper 50s. It will be mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of showers as temps fall to the mid-40s. Read more.

The headlines

Mask flip-flop: Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday mandated masks for customers in retail settings. On Tuesday, he backpedaled, making masks a recommendation. On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said masks would be required for workers, aside from in specific situations. Cleveland.coms Seth Richardson unravels the confusion.

Municipal budgets: Although the federal CARES Act provided $4.5 billion to Ohios state and local governments to weather the coronavirus crisis, mayors say that money must all be spent on programs to specifically address the virus, so it cant be used to fix a drop in revenues. Cleveland.coms Sabrina Eaton reports on the strain of cities that rely heavily on income tax.

Subtext: Cleveland.com has started a new, free Subtext account to send coronavirus updates. Every day, the team covering the coronavirus will send three to four updates about the progress of the virus -- confirmed cases of the virus, major cancellations, the latest medical advice, relevant scientific information and more. You can even text us back. Go to https://joinsubtext.com/ohiocoronavirus and enter your phone number. Fill out the form below. Or send a text to 216-279-7784. Did we mention its free?

This Week in the CLE: Kris Wernowsky gives us a first-person account of the frustration of trying to register for unemployment on This Week in the CLE, the daily half-hour news podcast from cleveland.com.

Presidential primary: Insiders in Ohios vote-by-mail election say the process wasnt good. But it could have been much worse. Cleveland.coms Andrew Tobias reports the problems that arose  and the degree to which things worked  will be studied as Ohio considers how to prepare for the possibility of another coronavirus outbreak before the general election in November.

Counting votes: An unprecedented number of ballots arriving at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on election day and a limited number of scanners to process them led to results being posted much later than expected, cleveland.coms Courtney Astolfi reports.

Close races: Primary elections results arent final yet. Cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer reports that even though ballots in this years all-mail primary had to be postmarked by Monday, local boards of elections will wait until May 8 for last-minute entries to count, along with provisional ballots.

Graduations: Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday partially walked back earlier comments suggesting that in-person school graduation ceremonies could take place this year, saying that  at most  graduates can get their diploma only at events with a maximum of 10 people present. Cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer clarified that the Ohio Department of Health has issued new guidance to schools around the state about holding graduation events, stating that the most-preferred type of graduation event is an online ceremony.

The Ohio Department of Health reported the first three cases of coronavirus on March 9. On Wednesday, April 29, it reported 17,303.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

New numbers: The number of Ohioans who have contracted the novel coronavirus is now 17,303, with 937 people who have died, reports cleveland.coms Laura Hancock. This includes 702 probable infections and 81 probable deaths.

Cleveland numbers: The death of a man in his 70s and 18 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus were reported Wednesday by Mayor Frank Jacksons administration. Cleveland.coms Robert Higgs reports 33 people have died of the virus in Cleveland 647 have been infected.

Nursing homes: The Ohio Department of Health reported Wednesday that 2,095 nursing home patients and staff currently have the coronavirus at dozens of long-term care facilities across the state, up from 1,477 reported last week. Cleveland.coms Rich Exner reports 276 patients of long-term facilities have died, including highs of 33 deaths in Lucas County, 29 in Cuyahoga County and 28 in Franklin County.

Virus spread: A nursing home in Tallmadge shows that the virus can be more widespread than suspected by symptoms. Cleveland.coms Rich Exner reports that all 104 patients and 105 staff at CommuniCares Colony Healthcare Center were tested, and results came back positive for 59 of the 104 residents and several staff members.

Trends: Ohios 937 known coronavirus-related deaths are spread across 60 of the states 88 counties, with total cases now reaching 17,303. Cleveland.coms Rich Exner has maps and graphs of the latest numbers.

College campuses: Case Western Reserve University officials plan to offer courses both online and in-person in the fall, reports cleveland.coms Emily Bamforth. Its too early to speculate what will happen with coronavirus cases over the summer, but planning for fall cant wait.

Cancer patients: Cancer patients who contract the coronavirus have longer hospital stays, higher death rates and are more commonly ventilated than other coronavirus patients, reports cleveland.coms Emily Bamforth. Coronavirus is forcing health professionals to reconsider whether or not to bring cancer patients into hospitals for their cancer treatment because of the potential risk of contracting the virus.

A Costco customer buys cleaning supplies in Ridgeland, Miss. (Rogelio V. Solis, Associated Press file photo)AP

Cleaning tips: As workplaces around the nation start reopening for business, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control on Wednesday released guidance on properly cleaning public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes. Cleveland.coms Sabrina Eaton has the tip sheet on how to kill the virus.

Looking ahead: Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley said Wednesday that the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis had shined a bright light on key social issues that the city must address to move forward. Cleveland.coms Robert Higgs reports Kelley discussed the citys recovery from the coronavirus crisis during an online forum with the City Club.

Plea deal: A 15-year-old boy has reached a plea deal to admit to charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery in a crash that killed a 13-year-old girl in a police chase, reports cleveland.coms Evan MacDonald. Authorities previously identified the boy as a passenger in a stolen car that fatally struck Tamia Chappman on Dec. 20 in East Cleveland.

Cuyahoga jail: As inmates died in the Cuyahoga County Jail at historical rates, the investigations into their deaths lacked thorough reviews. It wasnt until a U.S. Marshals investigation that came after the first seven deaths that sheriffs detectives began to probe jail deaths more thoroughly, reports cleveland.coms Adam Ferrise.

Body found: An exterminator discovered a dead body in the air duct of a grocery store in the citys Mount Pleasant neighborhood, cleveland.coms Adam Ferrise reports. Police said it appeared the man entered the ducts on his own and that investigators noted no obvious signs of violence on the mans body.

Amazon overdose: Is Amazon.com liable under Ohios consumer-protection laws for the death of a Northeast Ohio teenager who overdosed on caffeine powder promoted by and purchased on the e-retail giants website? The Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday from attorneys on both sides of that question, reports cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer.

Bribery: A local contractor is expected to plead guilty to paying hundreds of dollars to a city of Cleveland official in exchange for favorable treatment during inspections, reports cleveland.coms Eric Heisig. The owner of Broadway Wrecking in Cleveland was charged in federal court Tuesday with three counts of honest services mail fraud.

Rite Aid: Rite Aid has expanded coronavirus testing criteria at its 25 drive-up, self-swab coronavirus testing locations across the country, including in Parma and near Akron. Cleveland.coms Robin Goist reports the test is available to all adults who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Restaurant workers: Rello Simmons was laid off in February from Ohio City Galley, and with the coronavirus he hasnt been able to find a job since. Cleveland.coms Marc Bona reports on restaurant workers facing the economic downturn.

Akron furloughs: Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan on Wednesday announced the citys plan to bring some furloughed employees back to work and to address financial concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic, cleveland.coms Robin Goist reports. The city announced Wednesday that the newly formed Budget Task Force expects a 20 to 35% drop in revenue for city services.

Mass gatherings: A poll by Reuters/Ipsos asked 4,429 Americans how comfortable they would feel about going to things like sporting events, movies, theme parks and concerts once they reopen to the public. Cleveland.coms Troy Smith reports that 55 percent said such events should not even take place until a vaccine is made available. Meanwhile, just 27 percent said they would go to a theater or concert when they reopen.

Rock Hall: Like other attractions, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is still playing the waiting game to learn when it can reopen. But cleveland.coms Troy Smith reports the museum is ready to restart once it gets the go-ahead.

Saving summer: How can you save your summer if the coronavirus cancels traditional events and attractions? Cleveland.coms Laura Johnston has 10 ideas for family fun.

Chocolate cake: Cleveland.coms sister site, Epicurious, challenged chefs of three different skill levels to bake us a chocolate cake. Food scientist Rose reviews their work.

Costco: Beginning Monday, all members and guests of Costco stores will be required to wear face coverings, reports cleveland.coms Kaylee Remington. The gear must cover the mouth and nose during the duration of a customers visit to the store, the company said. It noted that this rule does not apply to children under age 2.

Rally: Members of the Cleveland End Poverty Now Coalition and 11 other local organizations held a rally Wednesday afternoon asking Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and leaders of FirstEnergy and Dominion Energy to reconnect utilities to customers who had theirs cut off before the coronavirus pandemic started. Cleveland.com photographer Dave Petkiewicz has photos.

Indians games: The Cleveland Indians announced credit and refund policies for March and April games at Progressive Field. Cleveland.coms Marc Bona reports fans can receive a flexible bonus credit or refund for home games in March or April.

Other headlines

Coronavirus cancellations, restrictions and reopenings for Thursday, April 30, 2020 Read more

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Solon voters OK special-needs zoning; restaurant zoning, Orange renewal levy also approved Read more

Lakewood mayor hopes to avoid coronavirus-related layoffs; city puts up thank you signs for frontline workers Read more

Lakewoods Trikeable Treats turns frowns upside down with Intentional Acts of Kindness Read more

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Humane Society of Summit County to host virtual walk fundraiser Read more

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad canceling train rides until Sept. 30 Read more
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New York is facing the 'monumental' challenge of tracing everyone who has come into contact with known cases of COVID-19, with as many as 4,681 new cases being diagnosed as recently as Wednesday.

As part of the reopening plan, everyone who tests positive must give a list of all the people they have been in close contact with for the last two weeks to try to contain the spread.

Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg is leading the tracing program with John Hopkins. They say they will produce an 'army of tracers' to track down as many people as they can to try to stop them from passing it on.

But with huge numbers of people unaware that they even have the virus because they do not show symptoms, they are likely to pass it on to even more people without realizing.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed on Thursday that 4,681 new cases had been diagnosed across the state on Wednesday.

New York Gov. Cuomo was joined at Thursday's press briefing by former mayor Mike Bloomberg who is heading up the tracing effort in New York

He did not say whether the people were essential workers who have no choice but to leave their homes to go to work, but the continuous spread paints a worrying picture at a time when millions remain in lockdown and are not leaving their homes.

Once the tracing program is up and running, every person who is diagnosed will be asked to provide a list of who they came into contact with in the last two weeks who would need to be contacted.

Cuomo suggested that there would also be a 'high tech app' that would form part of the tracing program to track where a person's cell phone had been and how many others it had been near, but he did not give further detail.

There are now more than 304,000 cases of coronavirus in the state of New York and 18,321 people have died.

Across America, more than one million people have been diagnosed and more than 61,000 have died. Some experts predict that 100,000 people will die by August.

While the number of new coronavirus cases is still high, it is significantly lower than it was in New York several weeks ago. The death rate is also lowering. On Wednesday, there were 306 new deaths - which is the lowest since March 29.

'The new struggle is tracing,' Cuomo said on Thursday.

'Just think of the scale of the operation. It's a scale that has never been done before and we need it tomorrow. There's no time to get a university to do a study or make a blue print... we're literally doing it right now.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio video-conferenced in to the briefing on Thursday. He has agreed to shut down New York City's subways between 1am and 5am every night for cleaning

New Yorkers must now wear masks in public if they cannot maintain social distancing. Pictured, Main Street Park on April 28

The streets were still empty on Thursday as the city remained in lockdown. New York City is not likely to open again until June

'You need the tracing to come up to scale to meet what we're doing on testing,' he said.

The state is currently testing some 30,000 people a day. It gives the a new infection rate of the people being tested of around 13 percent.

Cuomo also announced on Thursday that he was creating isolation facilities in hotels for people who did not want to stay in the same home as their families or roommates after being diagnosed.

He did not say which hotels would be used.

New York remains on lockdown until May 15. Some parts of the state will start to gradually reopen after then, but downstate New York and particularly New York City still has some way to go before it meets CDC guidelines of a decline in cases for 14 days.

Cuomo was joined at Thursday's press conference via video conference first by Bloomberg and then by current Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Bloomberg said that once the framework for the tracing program was in place, he would publish it so that other governments may adopt it.

'As tough as these times are, we are New Yorkers and we've been through a lot together and we're going to get through this together again. Together we're going to get back to a normal life .

'We are so proud of the way the citizens of this state are behaving,' he said.


BEIRUT - Many Syrians were outraged by the choice of producers of a Syrian television series currently broadcast by State television to show an image of the face of a young woman who died in prison seven years ago, The image, shown in the series called ''Interview with MR Adam'', is one of thousands of photos of Syrian prisoners who were tortured to death in government prisons. The photos, whose authenticity has been verified by Human Rights Watch (Hrw), were released in 2015 by a former member of the Syrian services who deserted abroad.



He is known under the pseudonym ''Cesar''. Syrian President Bashar al Assad has called the photos provided by ''Cesar'' a ''groundless'' stunt.



The victim is Rehab Allawi, originally from the eastern Syrian city of Dayr az Zor, who was arrested in 2013 at the age of 25 for her activism. Her family recognized her when the photo was released: she is the only woman who has been identified from Cesar's photos.



As reported by HRW, which quoted her family, the Syrian government has admitted that the woman died in prison, claiming she had a heart attack. The family has never received a death certificate and her body was never given back to her loved ones.



Social media users and media outlets close to the Syrian opposition have criticized the fact that the show, which was approved by the government's censorship and broadcast on official channels, shows the image of the woman. Some commentators called it a ''provocation of the regime'' to show ''its impunity'' in the face of humanitarian violations.



(ANSAmed)
New York, US (PANA) - With classrooms closed due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, two UN agencies are urging governments to act now to shore up the futures of the 370 million children worldwide who depend on school meals
Two American amphibian landing ships that were sunk as they took part in an ill-fated D-Day rehearsal are to be protected.

Over 700 US troops were killed when they were intercepted by German E-boats off the Devon coast during Operation Tiger.

LST-507 and LST-531, which were carrying hundreds of American servicemen as well as tanks, vehicles and trucks, were torpedoed by the Germans and quickly sank.

They have been scheduled and added to the National Heritage List for England by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

It means recreational divers can still dive the wrecks, but the ships and contents are protected.

Ghostly wreckage of the upside down hull of LST 531 (Tritech/Gemini Sonar/Historic England/PA)

The US were practising manoeuvres on Slapton Sands, which had been chosen for its similarity to Utah beach where the Americans would land for D-Day on June 6 1944.

The bulk of the infantry had landed ashore when eight tank landing ships carrying engineers, quartermaster staff, signallers, medics, infantry as well as tanks, trucks, jeeps and equipment found themselves under attack.

A flotilla of nine German E-boats had been ordered to investigate unusual radio activity in the area and believed they had stumbled across several destroyers.

Vessels were bombarded and crews forced to abandon ship, many dying from shock or exposure in the early hours of April 28.

Operation Tiger was a series of ill-fated missions aimed at preparing the US and British forces for the Allied invasion of Normandy.

The day before the Slapton Sands incident, around 300 troops were killed in a friendly-fire accident when they were hit by live ammunition as they invaded a beach.

A sketch of the plan of the bow section of the LST 507 (Global Underwater Explorers/PA)

Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said: I am pleased that as we prepare to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe, these important relics will be protected.

D-Day is one of the defining moments of the Second World War and preserving these wreck sites is a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives in Exercise Tiger.

Story continues

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, which recommended the designation, added: The underwater remains of ships involved in the D-Day rehearsals are a tangible reminder of the sacrifices made in planning and delivering this huge military operation on a scale never previously attempted, 76 years ago.

By protecting the wrecks of two US landing ships we are remembering all of those who lost their lives in the struggle for liberty during the Second World War.

D-Day, codenamed Operation Overlord, was the greatest combined land, air and naval operation in history.

It was a massive assault by the allies to invade Nazi-occupied Western Europe and saw 156,000 soldiers from Britain, US, Canada and France land on the beaches of Normandy together with thousands of vehicles and supplies.
A federal trial has shown that treatment with remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug, can speed recovery in patients infected with the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Wednesday.

Of the 1,063 patients enrolled in the study, 21 were in San Antonio  undergoing treatment at University Hospital or Brooke Army Medical Center. Dr. Thomas Patterson, chief of UT Health San Antonio's infectious disease division and leader of the portion of the trial conducted in San Antonio, said the results, though early, are promising.

It gives us hope that we have a drug that may improve outcomes, Patterson said Wednesday after Faucis optimistic remarks about the trial.

The Food and Drug Administration is likely at some point to announce an emergency approval for remdesivir, a senior administration official told The New York Times. Eventually the drug, made by Gilead Sciences, could be the first approved treatment for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

The virus has killed at least 50,000 people in the United States and infected more than 1 million. Worldwide, the death toll is now at least 220,000. Doctors and patients are desperate for an effective treatment.

In a news briefing at the White House, Fauci and President Donald Trump hailed the early results, holding out hope that the drug could help very ill patients recover more quickly.

Patients were given remdesivir or a placebo, according to NIAID. The time to recovery averaged 11 days among those who got the drug, compared with 15 days for those who got the placebo.

There were fewer deaths in the remdesivir group, but the result did not reach statistical significance, Fauci said. Deaths were not a primary measure in the trial.

Fauci cautioned that the results of the study still need to be properly peer reviewed, but he expressed optimism that remdesivir would become the standard of care for patients with COVID-19.

Patterson said the studys methodology was significant. With this trial, we have a comparison with a control group of patients that received a placebo, so we can really say this drug is safe and effective in this population. Thats something thats really been missing in all this COIVD-19 trial data, he said.

About Faucis praise for the drug, Patterson said, I think his comments matter. The study group met on a teleconference last night, and people were really excited about the results. This gives up hope, that we may have a medication to offer our patients, at least those who are severely ill and in the hospital.

So far, studies of other drugs havent panned out. Whats different about remdesivir is that it directly targets the virus replication, he said, adding that it is a true anti-viral drug, unlike other medications being tested.

The next phase of the study is going to look at combining remdesivir with other drugs, to attack the virus other mechanisms, such as the inflammatory storm that can happen in some COVID-19 patients, Patterson said.

Dr. Robert Finberg, an investigator in the trial, noted that the sample was huge, and the results finished in record time.

But the disclosure of trial results in a political setting, prior to peer review or publication, is very unusual, said Dr. Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic who has conducted dozens of clinical trials.

Where are the data? he asked. Scientists will need to see figures on harms associated with the drug in order to assess its benefits, he added.

This is too important to be handled in such a sloppy fashion, Nissen said.

Dr. Michele Barry, global health expert at Stanford University, said she had faith in Faucis assessment. Still, she added, It is unusual to call a drug the standard of care until peer review of data and publication, and before studies have shown benefit in mortality.

Remdesivir has never been approved as a treatment for any disease. It was developed to fight Ebola, but results from a clinical trial in Africa were disappointing.

But as the coronavirus pandemic took hold, the drug emerged as one of the more promising potential treatments.

Earlier on Wednesday, Gilead had announced that the company was aware of positive data from the trial. Trading in the companys stock was halted before the market opened, and the glimmer of good news drove stocks higher, despite poor economic data.

Until now, high expectations for remdesivir have been fueled largely by anecdotal reports of COVID-19 patients who took the drug and recovered.

Two such reports were published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, lending credibility to what researchers said were actually uncertain results.

Without trials comparing the drug to a placebo, it has been impossible to know whether the drug made a difference or patients got better on their own with normal supportive care.

A separate study of remdesivir, published on Wednesday in the Lancet, found no benefit to the drug, compared with placebo.

Unfortunately, our trial found that while safe and adequately tolerated, remdesivir did not provide significant benefits over placebo, said the lead investigator of the new study, Dr. Bin Cao of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in Beijing.

This is not the outcome we hoped for, he added.

The results are hard to interpret, because the study was far smaller than planned  enrolling 236 patients instead of the 453 that had been expected, because there were too few severely ill patients now in China.

Dr. Eric Peterson, a clinical trials expert at Duke University, said that with too few patients, all you can say is it doesnt seem to work in this population. If there had been a big effect of the drug, he added, that would have been seen.

He added that the trial should not be repeated with this population, but instead in those who are less severely ill.

Barry said results might improve if the drug were given at a higher dose or earlier in the course of the disease.

Acceding to demands, Gilead has distributed the drug to hundreds of patients under so-called compassionate use, a regulatory exemption by which patients may receive a drug apart from a clinical trial.

Gilead itself published reports of uncontrolled studies. On Wednesday, in another news release, the company announced that a study comparing a five- to 10-day course of treatment with the drug showed that those getting the shorter course of treatment did just as well.

That study had no control group and was noninformative, Peterson said.

San Antonio Express-News staff writer Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje contributed to this story.
Michael Sitrick

In my decades of experience in crisis communications, I have rarely seen such uncertain times as this for corporations and businesses, even following 9/11 and the 2008 recession. Unless you are in the enviable position of running home delivery services or toilet paper manufacturing, there are few businesses that are likely to remain unscathed, presuming they survive. Adding to the uncertainty, consumers are bombarded every day with apocalyptic headlines and body counts, not unlike what we experienced during the Vietnam War when the evening news provided a running tally of American deaths.

Except now, the war is at home, and those deaths are not abstract numbers. They are our neighbors, family members and coworkers. The virus is a silent enemy that lives among us, not in some faraway desert or jungle. It has not only devastated our population and altered our lifestyles, perhaps irreparably, it has leveled our economy.

Few companies are unaffected, whether it affects sales or the health and wellbeing of employees. It has also upended the advertising and PR business, albeit with a few exceptions. Many companies have had to scramble to produce new marketing messages that strike a balanced tone of concern with branding, while avoiding sounding like they are tone-deaf. Hell hath no fury like a social media mob that thinks a commercial, or for that matter a social media posting, is out of touch, to say nothing of a journalist who sees such a commercial or posting or receives an awkward PR pitch.

Companies that survive the crisis are likely to be stronger and more nimble for the experience. But they will also be evaluated for how they survived. Were they honest with customers, employees, financial analysts and stakeholders? Or did they fumble and fudge? Despite the title of my first book, Spin," in that book and in my subsequent one, The Fixer, I stressed the importance of telling the truth and being honest in ones communications. I have done the same in my practice. Full disclosure of problems as soon as possible is often the best way to avoid giving a story legs, in which new revelations dribble out that create mistrust. While the up-front disclosure may create short-term challenges, a companys reputation will be better for it in the long term. And as I often counsel clients, if you dont tell your story, someone else will tell it for you.

Fundamentally, I do not believe the core aspects of communications will change after the crisis passes, even if it lays waste to some media outlets. All constituencieswhether customers, employees or shareholdersdeserve and demand transparency. Depending on the industry, regulators and politicians may impose it. Better to be ahead of the curve before the steering wheel is taken from you, and someone else is driving the narrative.

I have worked with both individuals and corporate clients throughout my career, many of them facing dire circumstances and make-or-break moments. Inevitably, the successful ones are those that dont underestimate the situation and plan in advance. While no one could have fully prepared for the crisis we are experiencing, there are several steps that should be taken.

 Communicating with employees should be a top priority. Take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the health and welfare of your employees and communicate with them on a regular basis. Keep them up to date on what is happeningboth good and bad. A number of companies have adopted the term team members. Whether or not you use that term, treat your employees like members of the team. The saying I adopted early in the life of my firm, If you dont tell your story someone else will tell it for you, does not only apply to dealing with the media. It applies to communicating with employees, customers, vendors and investors. You can fill the information void with facts, or you can leave it empty and it will be filled with rumors. If there have to be layoffs, explain to the entire employee base what you are doing and why, as well as how it is necessary for the current and future stability of the business. If you get a call from the media, whether about layoffs or the stability of the business, once again, if you say no comment, there is a high likelihood that void will be filled with a disaffected employee, competitor or expert talking head. And there is a good chance those quotes will be without attribution.

 How customers are treated is another area that gets outsized attention during this crisis. The airlines, concert promoters and vacation home rental industry were harshly criticized early on in this crisis for refusing to refund money when trips and events were cancelled due to government lockdowns. Many companies struggled to explain the policies that restricted refundsor at least that is what it looked like from the media coverage. Those that made amends, later on, saw their explanations and good deeds drowned out by the consumer outrage and media criticism. One of the ultimate penalties for this behavior is state-level and/or Congressional action, coming inevitably after politicians haul corporate executives into hearings where they are immediately put on the defensive.

 Companies need to make a hard analysis when faced with these circumstances: Is the cost of upfront goodwill less expensive in the long run than lasting reputational damage? If there is a legitimate reason for refusing the refunds legally, say so in a clear and understandable way. If you get a reporter who debates you on the law, get a company lawyer on the phone. You might also look at expanding the time period for reusing the tickets and perhaps waiving the penalty for changing flights or tickets if there is one. While there is no magic potion, I have assisted many clients where, in hindsight, the crisis could have been mitigated early on, before the headlines and negative stories.

 One group that is often overlooked in communicating during a crisis are the companys vendors. If you want to ensure that your goods and services continue to be provided on normal terms, make sure your vendors hear from you, as opposed to the rumor mill, which can be fueled by competitors. This is particularly important if your company has been the subject of media articles, which indicate that it is facing financial challenges, which could cause vendors to withhold shipments. An email from the companys CEO and/or a call from a senior executive can do a lot to ensure good relationships continue and unwarranted fears are assuaged.

 Finally, how companies respond as corporate citizens in their communities will also be remembered in the long run. There is no shortage of opportunities to donate to local food banks or assist first responders, in times of crisis. For companies with strong balance sheets, these are small, symbolic efforts that pay back far more than they cost. And, the charity recipients are often happy to do the work of publicizing the good deed.

***

Michael Sitrick is the founder, chairman and CEO of Sitrick And Company and author of Spin and The Fixer.
Doubts have been cast over the promising COVID-19 drug remdesivir that has shown 'fantastic results', after another study found it had no benefit.

Remdesivir was reported by US officials to have 'clear-cut' evidence that it can help people recover from COVID-19, shortening the time of recovery.

Dr Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, said unpublished results from an international study of 1,000 people showed the drug 'could block the virus'.

The results garnered huge traction overnight, and stocks for Gilead Sciences - the pharmaceutical that makes remdesivir - soared amid hope of it being a cure.

Other scientists were thrilled with the 'encouraging' and 'fantastic' result. Remdesivir is expected to be fast-tracked for licensing in the US, possibly as early as today.

But a separate trial carried out in China produced disappointing results. It was a randomised controlled placebo trial, seen as the gold standard of scientific evidence, the same as that reported by US officials.

The drug did not significantly benefit hospitalised patients because it did not speed up recovery or reduce deaths, compared with a dummy drug.

The study was published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal and involved 237 people. It was stopped early because the researchers had difficulty recruiting people when the outbreak was curbed in Wuhan.

Scientists believe the stark contrast in findings may come down to when remdesivir is given. It is thought to be more effective in the early stages of COVID-19 disease.

Doubts have been cast over the experimental Ebola drug remdesivir which had 'fantastic results' in a major trial, as another study found it had no benefit

After an international study of 1,000 people, which has not been published yet, Dr Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, said it proved 'a drug could block the virus'

A randomised controlled trial of remdesivir carried out in China and published in The Lancet produced disappointing results. The drug did not significantly benefit hospitalised patients because it did not speed up recovery or reduce deaths compared with a dummy drug

Remdesivir was thrust into the limelight in January when the WHO listed it as 'the most promising candidate' for a COVID-19 therapy.

Trials have shown the medication can fight against SARS and MERS, cousins of the new coronavirus, in the lab and on animals.

The new smaller study in the Chinese city, where the coronavirus was first detected back in December, was carried out over 10 hospitals.

WHAT HAVE THREE STUDIES SHOWN OF REMDESIVIR? 1. The Adaptive Covid-19 Treatment Trial How many people? 1,063, including 46 from the UK, over 70 hospitals globally. What did it trial? The placebo controlled study compared outcomes for hospitalised patients. What did it find? Patients given remdesivir had a recovery time that was almost a third (31 per cent) faster than those given a placebo. Preliminary results also suggested a survival benefit, with a lower mortality rate of 8 per cent for the group receiving the drug, compared with 11.6 per cent for the placebo group. But this is not deemed a significant difference. Is it published? No. You can find the preliminary findings on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) website. 2. Gilead Sciences' Phase 3 SIMPLE trial How many people? 397 hospitalised patients What did it trial? The study compared a five-day course of the drug with a 10-day course treatment. It looked at rates of patients recovering to the point where they no longer needed oxygen support and medical care or were sent home from hospital. It was not a placebo controlled study. What did it find? The pharmaceutical company reported that almost two-thirds of patients, or 129 out of 200 patients, recovered by day 14 after a five-day course of treatment. The longer treatment time didn't appear to provide any additional benefit, the company said. Is it published? No. Gilead plans to publish the full data in a peer-reviewed journal in the coming weeks. A summary of the findings were published on its website. 3. The Chinese study, led by Professor Bin Cao, from China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in China. How many people? 237 hospital COVID-19 patients at ten hospitals in Hubei, China. The study was supposed to recruit 400, but the trial was halted because not enough patients were available due to the epidemic being curbed in Wuhan. What did it trial? It was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - the golden standard - comparing recovery rates in patients either given remdesivir or a dummy drug. What did it find? Those on the placebo drug had similar outcomes to those given remdesivir. It took a shorter time for the remdesivir-treated patients to get better, 21 days compared with 23, but this is not statistically significant. There was a one per cent difference in mortality rate between the two groups, which again, it's not clear if this means anything important. Is it published? Yes, in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet. Advertisement

Chinese researchers launched two formal studies of remdesivir; one in severely ill patients, and another in people with milder disease, after Gilead agreed to supply remdesivir.

Those on the placebo drug had similar outcomes to those given remdesivir.

It took a shorter time for the remdesivir-treated patients to get better, 21 days compared with 23, but this is not statistically significant.

There was a one per cent difference in mortality rate between the two groups, meaning it didn't shower a clear benefit in survival rates.

It was also noted that a larger number stopped their treatment because of adverse events while on remdesivir.

Some 66 per cent experienced side effects including constipation and anaemia - but the doctors still classed it as safe.

Professor Bin Cao, from China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in China, who led the research, said it was not the outcome his team hoped for.

He said: 'Unfortunately our trial found that, while safe and adequately tolerated, remdesivir did not provide significant benefits over placebo.'

But the authors said because the trial was stopped early, the true effectiveness of remdesivir remains unclear.

The data safety monitoring board stopped the trial because researchers were unable to recruit enough patients following the steep decline of cases in China.

Commenting on the study, Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'The numbers in the trial are too small to draw strong conclusions, but certainly are not any indication of benefit for remdesivir and are slightly more compatible with possible harm.'

Professor Saad Shakir, director of the Drug Safety Research Unit, near Southampton, said it was 'not the end of the story for remdesivir'.

Indeed, the study came as the findings of an international remdesivir trial were also published light. This study was on more people and conducted across the globe.

More than 1,000 patients were recruited from 70 hospitals across the world. It included 46 patients from the UK.

The Adaptive Covid-19 Treatment Trial began at the start of April and 'positive data' has been revealed - but it has not published or subject to peer review, unlike The Lancet research.

Patients given remdesivir had a recovery time that was almost a third (31 per cent) faster than those given a placebo.

Specifically, the median time to recovery was 11 days for patients treated with remdesivir, compared with 15 days for those who received placebo.

Preliminary results also suggested a survival benefit, with a lower mortality rate of 8 per cent for the group receiving the drug, compared with 11.6 per cent for the placebo group. But this is not deemed a significant difference.

The results were announced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) in the US, which is running the study.

Dr Fauci said although the results weren't a 'knock out 100 per cent,' it was an important proof of concept.

'The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery,' he told reporters at the White House.

'This is very optimistic, the mortality rate trended towards being better in the sense of less deaths in the REM designate group. Eight per cent versus eleven per cent in the placebo group.

'So bottom line. You're going to hear more details about this this will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal, and will be peer reviewed appropriately.'

He added that the trial was proof 'that a drug can block this virus,' and compared the finding to the arrival of the first antiretrovirals that worked against HIV in the 1980s, albeit with modest success at first.

After the NAID findings were revealed, Gilead reported preliminary data of its own study of almost 400 patients - Phase 3 SIMPLE trial.

The study, set up to compare a five-day course of the drug with a 10-day course, looked at rates of patients recovering to the point where they no longer needed oxygen support and medical care or were sent home from hospital.

The pharmaceutical company reported that almost two-thirds of patients, or 129 out of 200 patients, recovered by day 14 after a five-day course of treatment.

The longer treatment time didn't appear to provide any additional benefit, the company said.

It plans to publish the full data in a peer-reviewed journal in the coming weeks, as well as a second part of the trial on 600 people.

But the study lacked a placebo controlled arm, making the results difficult to interpret.

World Health Organization documents leaked last week suggested the drug had failed to help patients in the Gilead trial recover.

But Gilead defended the trial, saying that it believed that the leaked data was a 'mischaracterization' of the results.

A table from Gilead shows that more than half of the patients in each treatment group recovered and were discharged from the hospital, although a total of 37 patients died

Pictured: A five-day view of Gilead stock shows the shares rising sharply at the open on Wednesday

Remdesivir, which was originally developed to treat Ebola, is one of a handful of experimental drugs undergoing clinical trials worldwide to treat coronavirus

WHAT IS REMDESIVIR AND DOES IT WORK AGAINST CORONAVIRUS? Remdesivir, an anti-viral drug first made to try and treat Ebola, has been used experimentally on COVID-19 patients since the outbreak's early days. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the drug on May 1, in response to the preliminary results of a notable study that was released at the end of April. According to Hackensack Meridian Health, initially only severely ill hospitalized COVID-19 patients were eligible to be treated with remdesivir, otherwise known as Veklury. On August 28, the FDA extended its authorization to all hospitalized adult and pediatric patients with suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, irrespective of their severity of disease. 'The FDA continues to make safe and potentially helpful treatments for COVID-19 available as quickly as possible in order to help patients. The data to support todays action are encouraging. The data show that this treatment has the potential to help even more hospitalized patients who are suffering from the effects of this devastating virus,' said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. 'We are working with drug developers to conduct randomized clinical trials to further study the safety and effectiveness of a number of potential therapies for COVID-19.' However in August, a report from the drug's California-based maker, Gilead Sciences Inc found that the effects of the medication may only be seen in those with severe infections. There are claims of miraculous recovery, improved survival odds and shorter illness, but other studies have found it makes no difference to patients in hospital with Covid-19. Remdesivir produced encouraging results earlier this year when it showed promise for both preventing and treating MERS - another coronavirus - in macaque monkeys. The drug appears to help stop the replication of viruses like coronavirus and Ebola alike. It's not entirely clear how the drug accomplishes this feat, but it seems to stop the genetic material of the virus, RNA, from being able to copy itself. That, in turn, stops the virus from being able to proliferate further inside the patient's body. Advertisement

Professor Mahesh Parmar, director of the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, who oversaw the EU portion of the Adaptive trial, said scientists will continue to gather further data while the early results are reviewed by regulators.

He said: 'These results are very promising indeed. They show that this drug can clearly improve time to recovery.

'Before this drug can be made more widely available, a number of things need to happen: the data and results need to be reviewed by the regulators to assess whether the drug can be licensed and then they need assessment by the relevant health authorities in various countries.

'While this is happening, we will obtain more and longer term data from this trial, and other ones, on whether the drug also prevents deaths from Covid-19.'

The announcement of promising preliminary remdesivir results sent the Dow soaring by more than 500 points, though Gilead's own stocks were halted pre-trading as it prepared to announce results of the trial.

Remdesivir, which was originally developed to treat Ebola, is one of a handful of experimental drugs undergoing clinical trials worldwide to treat coronavirus.

Its name is not capitalised because it is only an investigational agent, meaning it has not been produced into a marketed drug.

Remdesivir's go-ahead would make it the third drug approved under the EUA by the FDA after the agency approved anti-malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

After the drug is fast-tracked into licensing by the FDA, it is thought their next target will be the European Medicines Agency.

Remdesivir has been among the top contenders of existing drugs being trialed for treating coronavirus.

Abdel Babiker, professor of epidemiology and medical statistics at University College London, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'These are very encouraging results from the first large-scale randomised trial to report on any treatment of Covid-19.'

He said the group of hospitalised adults with advanced coronavirus who received Remdesivir recovered 'much faster' than the group that received a placebo.

He added that the Chinese study 'unfortunately was probably not large enough to be able to detect the benefit of the drug'.

Other experts said the Chinese study may have failed to find positive results because the drug was not given at the right time.

The trial protocol required patients to be entered into the trial within 12 days of the onset of symptoms.

Dr Penny Ward, Visiting Professor in pharmaceutical medicine at Kings College London and the Chair of the Education and Standards Committee of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, said viral load peaks at or within two days following symptom onset.

'This trial regrettably started treatment late, and for the most part at a time when the individuals will have been developing neutralising antibody,' she claims.

Data from the 400-cohort in the Gilead study also suggests that treating patients early, within 10 days of symptoms onset, may help them recover quicker.

Professor Evans said: 'It has been suggested that these drugs need to be started early in the course of disease, but it would seem that there are a number of days after infection before symptoms appear.

'If the drug only works well when given very early after infection, it may be much less useful in practice. We need appropriate randomised trials to test this hypothesis.'

Professor Philip Bath, head of the division of clinical neuroscience at the University of Nottingham, said more information is needed before the drug is used.
After Jennifer Laubach delivered her twins prematurely, doctors whisked them away to the neonatal intensive care unit. One of her newborn boys needed help breathing, and both required feeding tubes to help them gain weight.

Days passed and the babies became stronger. It seemed as if at least one of them might be ready to leave the NICU  but there was a catch. Both Laubach and her husband, Andre, had tested positive for COVID-19. That meant they could video chat with NICU nurses, but they had to remain physically isolated from their babies.

There is a feeling of, My child doesnt know my touch yet, Andre Laubach told TODAY Parents. When we take the kids home, are they going to be afraid of my voice?

Before Michigan issued its stay-at-home order, Jennifer Laubach started working from home because she was pregnant and did not want to contract COVID-19. She and her husband still became sick with the coronavirus. (Courtesy the Laubach family )

The NICU always has been a world of heartbreak and hope, but amid a global pandemic, moms and dads are facing challenges they never could have anticipated. As hospitals try to prevent the spread of coronavirus, their policies mean that parents are interacting with their children in the NICU very differently  or not at all.

Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.

Unexpected complications

Laubach, 36, panicked when her water broke on April 3. At 32 weeks along, she knew it was too early to deliver the twins  and, on top of that, she and Andre both had symptoms of COVID-19. As they prepared to leave the house, Andre fell into such a severe coughing fit that he could not drive. She urged him to call an ambulance as she drove herself to Troy Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan, 25 minutes away.

Literally, I didnt know if I ever was going to see him again because he was coughing and short of breath, Laubach recalled. It was heartbreaking. I could just see the look on his face  like, I want to go with you.

Paramedics evaluated Andre and said he did not need to be hospitalized, so he stayed at home and waited with the doors unlocked in case he needed emergency medical help again. Meanwhile, at the hospital, doctors stopped Laubachs labor with the hope that she could deliver at 34 weeks instead. But the next morning they discovered she was 5 centimeters dilated, and she delivered her baby boys Mitchell and Maksim soon after.

Story continues

From start to finish it was four hours, Laubach said. It was pretty amazing.

Jennifer and Andre Laubach's preemie baby boy, Maksim (Courtesy the Laubach family )

A few days after Laubach was discharged, though, she developed signs of postpartum preeclampsia, a rarer form of a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure. She returned to the hospital for care.

I felt really alone and isolated, she said. I couldnt have any visitors.

At such a challenging time, having the boys in the NICU felt like a bit of a relief for both ailing parents.

It was kind of a blessing because we were in no shape to take care of our little newborns, Andre said.

Still, it hasnt been easy. Laubach has tried pumping breastmilk, but she doesnt seem to be producing enough.

My body is like, Well, there are no babies, she explained. I get like a half an ounce of milk every time I pump, which isnt very much for two boys.

Baby Mitchell was able to go home with his parents, Jennifer and Andre Laubach, at the end of April. The first time his parents saw him in real life was 20 days after he was born. (Courtesy the Laubach family )

Mother's Day apart

On April 2, Stephanie Corbey, 31, gave birth to twins Cora and Timmy after 27 weeks of gestation. Doctors immediately took the babies to the NICU because they needed help breathing.

I didnt get to see either baby or hold them, Corbey told TODAY Parents. The first time I held the twins together in the same room was on April 18, and my husband wasnt there.

Stephanie Corbey delivered her twins at 27 weeks. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, she and her husband have to follow hospital restrictions and only one parent can visit the NICU at a time. (Courtesy Corbey family)

Unlike the Laubachs, Corbey and her husband, Tim, who live in Columbus, Ohio, have not tested positive for COVID-19 or had any symptoms. But as the hospital altered its policies to prevent the spread of coronavirus, visitation rules changed. Starting on April 6, only one parent could visit per calendar day. So Corbey goes to the NICU four days a week, and her husband goes the other three.

We feel defeated. There is nothing we can do to change the rules, Corbey said, stressing that shes eager to follow any rules that could prevent the twins from getting sick. Still, its a challenging situation for the first-time mom.

I have been preparing myself to not spend our first Mothers Day as a family, she added. My family cant go. Thats sad.

Stephanie and Tim Corbey said it's been tough not to be able to be together with their newborn twins as a family of four. (Courtesy Corbey family)

Doctors said the twins might be able to return home when they reach the 34-week mark, but the Corbeys are preparing themselves mentally for the babies to remain in the NICU until 40 weeks. That way if they come home earlier, it will be a wonderful surprise.

From my standpoint, I believe the rules are for the betterment of society, Corbey said. It is very difficult. I try not to be selfish.

Stephanie Corbey said her twins have only seen her face behind a mask. They've been in the NICU ever since they were born at 27 weeks. (Courtesy Corbey family)

Reunited at last

The Laubachs finally were able to meet their sons on April 23, 20 days after their birth. Mitchell went home with them that day; Maksim is still in the NICU.

It was very emotional. They seemed so tiny and fragile, Laubach said. I cried when I thanked the nurses for taking care of them when we were unable.

After 20 days, the Laubachs finally met their twin sons in person. (Courtesy Beaumont Health )

The couple are thrilled to be able to hold their sons. They said they hope their story encourages others to do everything they can to avoid becoming sick or transmitting COVID-19 to others.

People who dont take this seriously just really upset me, Laubach said. It is a serious things and people are dying from it.

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Heather Heckler was counting on buying census ads in four weekly newspapers that have long served Plumas County, located in the northern Sierra Nevada. As communications manager for Connecting Point, a public agency that received state funding, she hoped to boost the county's census participation rate, which was tracking below half the statewide average.

Then the Feather Publishing Company Inc. called to announce it was halting publication as the coronavirus pandemic gutted revenues. "That was a huge gut punch," Heckler said.

Now, she's at a loss for getting people's attention: "I think the census is very important, but it's not top of mind for a lot of people at this moment."

One month into the decennial population count, the statewide response rate is off more than 10% from the final 2010 count. Even with extensions, there's a possibility for a record low turnout. In some counties, as few as one in 10 households have completed the survey. And since the coronavirus upended much of the state's door-to-door canvassing effort, there aren't any plans for a headcount of people experiencing homelessness.

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Long before the outbreak, state and local officials were wringing their hands about a potential California undercount as the president's political rhetoric stoked fear in the state's sizable immigrant population. Now it turns out the deadly coronavirus could single-handedly sink the state's $187 million census campaign.

REDISTRICTING IN JEOPARDY

With each mile marker missed by the census, state lawmakers grow anxious about what comes after the count. California's independent redistricting commission is required to take public input before drawing new state and federal voting districts next year. But given how much the federal government pushed back deadlines, it may leave insufficient time for the public to vet new district lines.

"Even if you had a super computer that could spit out maps in two weeks, you can't do that," said state Sen. Tom Umberg, a Santa Ana Democrat and the co-chair of the Senate's select committee on the census.

Umberg said lawmakers may need to place a redistricting extension on the November ballot. If approved, the new deadline could bump up against the election cycle. In that case, it's conceivable candidates could be out campaigning before they find out who they will represent come Election Day.

"Right now as it currently exists, the redistricting maps won't be final until after the candidacy period opens," Umberg said. "So in other words, candidates will be potentially running in districts that haven't been finalized yet, which could create a huge amount of chaos."

CALIFORNIA WENT BIG ON CENSUS SPENDING

Nearly all states are struggling with low response rates due to coronavirus restrictions, but none have arguably invested as much as California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers injected the state's census office with a big budget and tasked the staff with coaxing reluctant and apathetic residents to answer nine questions about their households. Through media campaigns and community partnerships, the goal was to get to those hard-to-reach communities prone to historical undercounts.

But while the state is doing better than New Mexico and West Virginia, it only marginally leads others that didn't invest nearly as much.

As of this week, the Golden State has a 54.6% response rate, which is slightly better than the national average -- but well short of California's 68.2% response rate in 2010. Without course correction, the 2020 census could yield one of the lowest returns in recent memory.





AGENCIES OFFER CONFLICTING OUTLOOKS

Despite low participation and a number of delays, federal officials remain upbeat.

"From my perspective, we're on track," said Jeffrey Enos, a deputy regional director with the U.S. Census Bureau. "We've had to make adjustments due to the pandemic. I'm confident this will be a successful and accurate census."

State census officials don't share their federal counterpart's optimism, noting that ever-changing deadlines create bottlenecks for workers on the ground.

"We are working within their timeline," said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for California Complete Count. "There are still a lot of unanswered questions for us to ensure that we can pivot accordingly."

UNCERTAINTY HINDERS THE COUNT

The federal government had originally scheduled a count of people who are experiencing homelessness and living outdoors for March 30. After two delays, the Census Bureau has yet to set a new date.

The agency also delayed outreach for people with P.O. Boxes and addresses that can't be verified. For this group, census workers are required to physically find the homes and update addresses that couldn't be verified. They must also leave census information at the door.

And due to outdated practices, census questionnaires aren't sent to P.O. Boxes. But leaving off those delivery points could overlook rural communities or wildfire victims who remain displaced from their homes.

In response, community organizers are mailing out census information to P.O. Boxes ensuring people are at least aware that the census is happening.

GETTING CREATIVE ON THE HARD-TO-REACH

Though advocates traded community events for virtual outreach, they worry the hard-to-reach have only become harder to reach.

Michele Silverthorn said the United Way of San Diego's census partners found a way to hand out flyers by placing them at food banks and grocery stores. Others are being passed out at schools where people can still pick up meals for their children.

Even in San Mateo County, with one of the highest response rates, advocates worry about leaving behind vulnerable pockets without conventional canvassing and door knocking. Melissa Vergara said the county is targeting communities with TV ads in Spanish and Mandarin.

Initially, outreach workers hoped to man kiosks for people to fill out their census forms and ask questions in person. The access points were meant to target people without cell phones and internet access since the questionnaires are being submitted online for the first time.

Then coronavirus happened.

"There was a hope that folks could access computer kiosks in libraries, but people aren't permitted to enter those kinds of facilities right now," Umberg, the lawmaker, said. "All of that is hindered."

Heckler, the outreach worker in Northern California, said people can still phone in their responses, but there aren't enough operators.

"The wait times have been quite long for the phone," Heckler said. "I don't want to send people into a phone call black hole. It should be a 10-minute process."

This story originally appeared on CalMatters.
- A community in Chile has employed the use of drones to distribute medicine and preventive measures against COVID-19 to the elderly

- Zapallar has not recorded a single case of COVID-19, but efforts are being put in place to protect the people of the community

- With the use of drones, the elderly people, the poor and many who lack transportation are being put out of harm's way

The small Chilean beach enclave of Zapallar has employed the use of high-tech drones to deliver medications, masks and hand sanitiser to elderly people in remote areas.

According to weforum.org, the heavy-duty four-propeller drone, complete with landing gear, is loaded with a bag of supplies in the city centre then heads to areas that are two hours walk from the nearest pharmacy.

Legit.ng gathers that Zapallar is yet to report a single case of the deadly disease.

With the use of drones, the elderly people, the poor and many who lack transportation are being put out of harm's way. Photo credit: weforum.org

Source: UGC

Mayor Gustavo Alessandri said the drone programme is aimed at keeping elderly people, the poor and many who lack transportation, out of harm's way.

He said the drone programme could also help supply families in quarantine, should the outbreak hit closer to home.

Mayor Alessandri said: Now we have a solution to help them get their medications, without exposing a public worker or a member of the family of the person in quarantine."

In other news, a Brooklyn schoolteacher, Rana "Zoe" Mungin, has died from complications of coronavirus after she was initially denied tests, her family said.

The 30-year-old died on Monday, April 27, from the pandemic that has ravaged the world and brutalised New York City.

The deceased's sister Mia Mungin said Zoe showed her first symptom - a fever - on March 12 and went to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn on March 15 but she was told that she could not be tested for coronavirus.

Mia, who is a nurse, said: "I just feel like the health care system failed her on so many levels. The health care system failed us, something that I stood for for 20 years."

Zoe's condition was said to have worsened, which prompted her family to call 911 on March 19.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better

What will you do if your partner tests positive for Coronavirus? | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
CONWAY, Ark. (April 30, 2020)  The Hendrix-Murphy Foundation has announced five high school juniors as recipients of the 2020 Hendrix-Murphy Book Award:

Kinda Abou-Hamdam, Liberal Arts & Science Academy (Austin, Texas)

Maggie Batson, Conway (Arkansas) High School

Stella Burnett, Community High School of Arts and Academics (Roanoke, Virginia)

Ella Langridge, El Dorado (Arkansas) High School

Allie Parkinson, Little Rock (Arkansas) Christian Academy

The Foundation offers the Hendrix-Murphy Book Award to selected outstanding high school juniors who demonstrate distinguished scholarship or leadership in literary studies (English), creative writing, foreign languages, or dramaturgy, or achievement in community service relating to literature or language (such as literacy work, tutoring in language arts, translation, leading book groups or writing initiatives, etc.). Winners of the award must have a grade-point average of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale in a college-preparatory curriculum. Each honoree receives a copy of The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Poetry, edited by Rita Dove.

Students at participating schools may be nominated for the Hendrix-Murphy Book Award by their English, languages, creative writing, or drama teacher, or by their guidance counselor.

This award provides a way of recognizing high school juniors with demonstrated excellence in literature and language, said Hope Coulter, director of the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation. Currently we offer the award at 10 high schools around the region that have a strong relationship with Hendrix College. Our hope is that in addition to providing well deserved recognition for these individuals, the award raises the visibility of Hendrix and the Murphy Scholars Program for the winners as well as their classmates.

The Hendrix-Murphy Book Award began in conjunction with the Murphy Scholars Program, which provides selected students a variety of mentored, cocurricular experiences that deepen their knowledge of literature and language. Any Hendrix student with a passion for these subjects may apply to be a Murphy Scholar, regardless of their major. Murphy Scholars gain an added layer of distinction in literature and language that enriches their perspectives and their lives.

About the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation

Hendrix-Murphy Foundation programs enrich and enhance the study of literature and language at Hendrix College, both for the college community as a whole and for students with intensive interest in those areas. The late Mr. Charles H. Murphy, Jr., former Chair of the Board of Murphy Oil Corporation and former member of the Hendrix Board of Trustees, established the Foundation in 1978 in memory of his mother, Mrs. Bertie Wilson Murphy. A 1905 graduate of Galloway Womens Collegewhich later became part of Hendrix CollegeMrs. Murphy possessed a lifelong love of literature and language, to which these programs are exclusively dedicated.

About Hendrix College

A private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as one of the countrys leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.
The Bombay High Court directed



the Mumbai police on Thursday to file an affidavit in response to a habeas corpus petition seeking that a trade unionist illegally quarantined by the police last week be produced in court and released thereafter.

Justice CV Bhadang directed the police to submit the affidavit by May 5 following a petition filed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), seeking the release of activist trade unionist K Narayanan.

Habeas corpus is a writ seeking production of a person supposed to be in illegal detention before a court.

As per the petitioners lawyer Gayatri Singh, Narayanan was picked up by the police on April 21 while he was distributing food and essential supplies to migrant workers in suburban Andheri (West).

He and his colleagues were carrying some placards and flags as part of CITUs national protest to highlight the plight of migrant workers affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, the petition said.

As per advocate Singh, while two of Narayanas colleagues were let go, Narayanan was taken to a private lab in the Jogeshwari area and tested for COVID-19.

He was told that as per procedure, the result of his test would be sent to him on his phone within the next 48 hours.

However, instead of being allowed to go home, the police took away his phone and took him to a quarantine facility, Singh said.

He has no history of primary contact with any (coronavirus) affected person and has not stepped into any containment zone.

"On the one hand there is a shortage of quarantine facilities for affected persons, so why put an additional burden on the infrastructure by forcing non-affected persons into quarantine? Singh asked.

This is the same as a wrongful custodial detention, she said.

The court directed the police to return Narayanans phone to him and provide him with fresh clothes.

The police said it would do so but denied that it had detained Narayanan.

Instead, the police said the BMC might have picked him up and interned him at a quarantine facility, advocate Singh said.

Therefore, the court directed the police to file an affidavit by May 5 detailing were Narayanan was interned, when and why was he detained, among other details, she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 22:38:52|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- German aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines reported on Thursday that its revenues in the first quarter (Q1) of 2020 rose by 13 percent year-on-year to around 1.3 billion euros (1.41 billion U.S. dollars).

"Although the decline in demand as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is not yet reflected in the quarterly figures and capacity utilization remained high at our worldwide MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) locations, the first quarter was nevertheless affected by the coronavirus crisis," said Reiner Winkler, chief executive officer (CEO) of MTU Aero Engines.

While the adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margin still stood at 14.3 percent, 2.3 percentage points lower than in Q1 2019, the company's operating profit declined by three percent to 181.8 million euros, according to MTU Aero Engines.

The highest revenue growth for MTU was recorded in the commercial maintenance business, where revenues rose by 21 percent to 794.9 million euros. All divisions combined, MTU recorded an order backlog at the end of Q1 of 19.4 billion euros.

According to MTU, free cash flow was at a "normal level" of 68.7 million euros. Winkler said that MTU focused on "reducing expenditure at all MTU locations, postponing capital expenditure and discussing payment modalities with partners and suppliers."

MTU announced its intention to extend its existing credit line and add new credit facilities. "Naturally, in the present situation we are looking carefully at measures to safeguard liquidity," Winkler explained.

Since the coronavirus crisis became "significantly more marked in March," MTU decided to suspend the dividend, postpone its annual general meeting, suspend operations at its facilities in Germany and Poland for three weeks, and withdraw its guidance for the financial year.

"Given the dynamic global developments in connection with COVID-19, our expectations for the 2020 fiscal year can only be set out in detail at a later date," said Winker, stressing that MTU is "in a good position to weather the crisis." Enditem
Michigan politicians have decided to don bulletproof vests when going to work as armed protesters defy lockdown orders.

State Senator Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat, revealed the protective decision some of her colleagues were making when sharing a picture of protesters on Twitter on Thursday.

In the picture, multiple men in the Michigan State Capitol building were armed with guns.

She wrote: "Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bulletproof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today."

When contacted by The Independent, the senator shared a picture of her colleague Senator Sylvia Santana, a Democrat, wearing a bulletproof vest and face mask while working.

Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan Show all 11 1 /11 Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan A demonstrator shouts next to two masked security guards at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan during a protest against stay-at-home orders AFP via Getty Images Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan Armed members of a milita group at the state Capitol building in Lansing, Michiga, during a protest against coronavirus lockdown measures REUTERS Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan A protester at the state Capitol in Lansing holds a sign comparing Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer to Adolf Hitler during a demonstration against coronavirus lockdown measures AFP via Getty Images Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan An armed protester takes part in a demonstation against lockdown measures at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan AP Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan A protester holds a sign saying 'Bill Gates is evil' at a demonstration against stay-at-home orders at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a billionaire philanthropist, has warned of the dangers of viral pandemics AFP via Getty Images Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan Protesters take part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against stay-at-home orders AFP/Getty Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan A protester holds a pro-Trump sign at a demonstration against lockdown measures outside the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan AFP via Getty Images Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan Armed protesters take part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against lockdown measures during the coronavirus pandemic AFP via Getty Images Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan A protester holds a sign reading 'Every job is essential, get workers back to work safely now' during a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan over lockdown measures AFP via Getty Images Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan A protester with a US flag painted on her face takes part in a demonstration at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan against lockdown measures during the coronavirus pandemic AFP via Getty Images Armed protests against stay-at-home coronavirus measures in Michigan A protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask holds up a sign reading 'Stay Free' during a demonstration against lockdown measures at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan AP

A spokesperson with the Michigan police told NBC News protesters are legally allowed to carry guns in Michigan as long as it's done with "lawful intent" and the weapon is visible.

Hundreds of protesters have gathered inside and outside of the Capitol on Thursday to protest stay-at-home measures Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, put in place in March. The governor faced backlash after she extended the stay-at-home order until 15 May.

With over a month of staying at home to-date, protesters are pressing for Michigan politicians to lift the restrictions, and some have carried guns with them while addressing their points.

Video footage captured inside the Capitol showed protesters raising guns into the air as they shouted chants of "let us in" outside the House chamber. Most of them were not wearing face coverings or practising social distancing.

Prior to protesters being allowed into the Capitol building, police were seen taking the temperatures of everyone using a forehead thermometer, according to WOOD-TV.

The protest was named "American Patriot Rally" and was organised by Michigan United for Liberty group. They are asking for legislators to reopen businesses to put people back to work and boost the economy.

Ms Whitmer's state of emergency order was expected to expire at the end of Thursday, and she would need approval from legislators to extend the order. The Republican-controlled legislature has not said if they would approve an extension of the order or not.

A state of emergency is not the same as a stay-at-home order. The governor needed a state of emergency in order to put in place orders for residents to remain in their homes. Ms Whitmer said she expected the state of emergency to remain in place, though, even when the stay-at-home order expired, the Lansing State Journal reported.

The Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945 gives Ms Whitmer the power to declare a state of emergency without the needed approve from state legislators.

Senator Dayna Polehanki shared on Thursday some colleagues, like Senator Sylvia Santana (pictured), are wearing bulletproof vests to work as armed protesters storm the Michigan State Capitol (Senator Dayna Polehanki)

In recent weeks, Ms Whitmer has faced a fierce backlash for some of her orders amid the coronavirus pandemic. But she's defended her decisions in an effort to keep residents safe from the novel virus.

Coronavirus infections and hospitalisations are decreasing across Michigan, but the state has more than 40,000 reported Covid-19 cases and over 3,600 people have died from the virus.

Ms Whitmer did ease some restrictions, including allowing construction to resume on 7 May.

The protest on Thursday was similar to an "Operation Gridlock" demonstration held on 15 April, also against Michigan's stay-at-home order, with a majority of protesters appearing to support President Donald Trump. Some protesters wore Trump memorabilia, including "Make America Great Again" hats. Chants of "lock her up", aimed at Ms Whitmer and mirroring what Trump supporters said about Hillary Clinton, also reverberated through the crowd.

Heightened anger from the protesters could have sparked after a Michigan judge sided with the governor in a lawsuit filed by residents who claimed the stay-at-home order violated their constitutional rights.

"Although the Court is painfully aware of the difficulties of living under the restrictions of these executive orders, those difficulties are temporary, while to those who contract the virus and cannot recover (and to their family members and friends), it is all too permanent," Judge Christopher M Murray wrote on Wednesday.

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said on Wednesday he was "disappointed" that people continued to gather at the Capitol to protest.

"We all need to be practising social distancing by staying home or only working essential jobs in our own communities to ensure that we beat this virus, Mr Schor said, while acknowledging the protesters' rights. The Governors Executive Order recognises that people are still allowed to exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of speech."
Allegheny Health Network's Dr. Anil Singh We are hopeful that voice analysis may provide valuable information that could help doctors recognize oncoming distress and quickly get patients the treatment they need, potentially preventing critical illness."Anil C Singh, MD, MPH, MMM, FCCP, Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Health

Innovative Voice-based Diagnostic Technology May Help Detect Infection, Provide Clues on Whether a Patients Illness is About to Advance to a Critical Stage

Does the speech of a person infected with COVID-19 show unique vocal sounds, features and patterns  and do they change as the illness progresses? Thats the hypothesis of a new research study led by Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Pittsburgh-based voice diagnostic startup Telling.ai  and what they discover could change how COVID-19 and other novel coronaviruses are detected and monitored in the future.

Since the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in China in late 2019, and in the United States in early 2020, the coronavirus has proved to be a formidable adversary, causing severe acute respiratory distress and progressing in varied and unpredictable ways. Some patients have reported initial mild symptoms, followed by a feeling of wellness, and then the sudden appearance of severe respiratory symptoms.

Anil C Singh, MD, MPH, MMM, FCCP, System Director, Pulmonary/Critical Care/Allergy-Immunology/Sleep at AHN and Executive Medical Director, Clinical Transformation Office, Highmark Health, and his collaborators at Telling.ai believe that voice analysis could provide clues on whether a COVID-19 infection is about to progress to a severe illness that may require hospitalization  or even detect COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic patients. All monitoring could be done remotely, further reducing the possibility of infection spread.

For physicians treating COVID-19 infection, one of the most difficult questions has been determining when a patient needs hospitalization, Dr. Singh said. We are hopeful that voice analysis may provide valuable information that could help doctors recognize oncoming distress and quickly get patients the treatment they need, potentially preventing critical illness. It could also allow patients whose illness is not likely to worsen to stay home, decreasing the risk of exposure to others.

The collaboration between Dr. Singh and Telling.ai began before the emergence of COVID-19, studying whether analysis of voice recordings could replace lengthy lung function tests in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Initial results are showing a near 1-to-1 correlation between results of the traditional lung function test and testing done by analyzing voice recordings.

The emergence of COVID-19 redirected this promising research  and Dr. Singh and the researchers at Telling.ai are now exploring how voice analysis might play a role in improving detection and treatment of the novel coronavirus.

The ability to deliver instantaneous, accurate insights about respiratory health over the phone has the potential to save lives, said Telling.ai co-founder and CEO Raj Dhaka. Telling.ais algorithms demonstrate the very strong correlation between voice sounds and widely accepted lung function metrics. By donating their voice samples, patients suspected of having COVID-19 may help us open a new front in the war to detect and treat the infection.

The research is open only to AHN patients who are receiving a physician-ordered test for COVID-19. They will provide voice samples using a website accessed via their smartphones or other devices. If they subsequently test positive for COVID-19, they will report their symptoms and provide additional voice samples over a 30-day period. The researchers will examine how changes in the voice samples correlate with the patients symptoms, visits to an emergency department or physician appointments. The results will not impact the care they receive.

If the results are promising, Dr. Singh and Telling.ai will design a clinical trial for FDA approval, opening the way for broader use of the technology.

About the Allegheny Health Network:

Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org), a Highmark Health company, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 12 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, womens health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 2,500 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

About Telling.ai

Telling.ai is transforming respiratory care by developing technology to diagnose and monitor lung diseases and infections through analysis of voice and breath sounds. This capability will be a foundational tool for healthcare providers currently struggling to manage care for the over 70 million Americans and 1 billion people who suffer from chronic or acute respiratory disease around the world and it will be accessible to anyone with access to a mobile phone.

Telling.ai is a venture-backed company led by experienced entrepreneurs along with leading researchers from the Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science and Language Technology Institute. For more information, visit https://telling.ai.
After that incident, Ms. Lamparello begged him to take his medication, but he refused. He had also dropped his psychiatrist in December 2018, records show. When he finally returned to treatment in March, he was given a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Over the next few weeks, his mother said he began to read the Bible more. On April 15, 2019, he was arrested after he refused to leave Newarks Sacred Heart Cathedral after closing. I know all the sins the priests have committed, he told the officers. If you want me to leave tonight, you are going to have to handcuff me and arrest me and take me to jail.

Ms. Lamparello again pleaded with her son to take his medication, to no avail. I sensed there wasnt anything I could say to get through to him, she said. That was not my son. It was like something had taken possession of his body.

Two days later, Mr. Lamparello canceled his classes for the day. He bought a gold cross with a chain at a religious store, according to court documents. Then he took a three-mile walk in a park, purchased a one-way, $2,800 plane ticket to Rome for the next day and had lunch at the Saddlebrook Diner.

Later that day, he drove to New York City, parked his van near St. Patricks Cathedral and walked into the sanctuary with two cans of gasoline and lighter fluid. Ushers stopped him, and he said he was trying to take a shortcut through the cathedral to reach his van, which he said was out of gas.

Police officers questioned him as he left the cathedral and, discovering his van had gas, arrested him on charges of attempted arson and reckless endangerment.

At home, his mother watched a report on the evening news about an incident at St. Patricks. Her doorbell rang: It was New York City detectives.

Then, the nightmare began, Ms. Lamparello said.
(Newser)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed starting Friday after people thronged the seashore during a sweltering weekend despite his social distancing order, according to a memo sent to police chiefs around the state. Eric Nunez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said it was sent to the group's members Wednesday evening so they have time to plan ahead of Newsoms expected announcement Thursday. A message to the governors office seeking comment wasnt immediately returned, the AP reports. While most state parks and many local beaches, trails, and parks have been closed for weeks, Newsom's order is sure to ignite pushback from communities who argue that they can safely provide some relief to residents who are starved of fresh air.

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Newsom's beach order follows a weekend in which some 80,000 people flocked to Newport Beach in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, with additional thousands gathering at open beaches in Ventura County, north of LA. Lifeguards said most people appeared to be heeding social distance safety rules such as limiting groups and not lingering on the sand. But the crowds irked Newsom, who has said California's 40 million residents should try to stay home as much as possible. "This virus doesn't take the weekends off, this virus doesnt go home because its a beautiful sunny day around our coasts," he said Monday. (Click for more, including tensions between Newsom and local leaders.)
By producing its own testing kits, India will be able to meet its target of conducting one lakh tests per day by the end of next month.

Union Minister of Science & Technology, Health & Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, here today reviewed, through video-conferencing, the various initiatives undertaken by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and its Autonomous Institutes and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)  BIRAC and BIBCOL, to tackle the current COVID-19 crisis especially with respect to the progress made in indigenous development of a vaccine, Rapid Test and RT-PCR Diagnostic Kits.

Secretary, DBT, Dr Renu Swarup informed that DBT has evolved a multi-pronged research strategy and action plan for an immediate response as well as for long-term preparedness to tackle COVID-19. These multifaceted efforts include research towards the development of candidate vaccines, therapeutics, and suitable animal models for COVID-19 as well as the development of indigenous diagnostics and genomic studies on the host and pathogen. The DBT and its PSU, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has announced a COVID-19 Research Consortium Call to support Diagnostics, Vaccines, Novel Therapeutics, Repurposing of Drugs or any other intervention for control of COVID-19.

During interaction with DBT scientists, Union Minister was informed about various computational methods being developed by DBT labs/Autonomous Institutes to predict potential antiviral drug molecules. In another strategy, surrogates of the virus are being developed representing one or more critical steps in virus lifecycle and inhibitors are being tested. Work is in progress to isolate neutralizing antibodies either from the patients recovered from COVID-19 or from human antibody libraries. Also, various Autonomous Institutes of DBT are working on the development of candidate vaccines which are at various stages of pre-clinical studies with an overall aim to demonstrate the proof of concept and immunogenicity and safety evaluation prior to clinical testing. At the moment, at least 9 of these studies are in early stages and one delivery and adjuvant system for improving the immunogenicity of candidate vaccine is at the advanced stage of development.

The sincere efforts of DBT scientists will enable the country to be self-reliant in the production of RT-PCR and Antibody test kits by the end of next month. This will make it possible to meet the target of conducting one lakh tests per day by the end of next month

While discussing genetic sequencing, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, These genetic sequencing efforts remind me of Polio eradication movement 26 years back. Towards the fag end of the Polio movement, active surveillance of the country was done to find out the cases of acute flaccid paralysis. That time also, genetic sequencing was used to establish the travel history of poliovirus which eventually helped in the eradication of polio.

Interacting with autonomous Institutes of @DBTIndia thro Video Conf, I highlighted that in the last 14 days doubling rate of confirmed cases has been 8.7 & for last 7 days it has been 10.2 days. Last 3 days, doubling rate is approx 10.9 days, which is good news! @CovidIndiaSeva pic.twitter.com/Y4UlBDglsQ  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 28, 2020

After the presentation, Dr Harsh Vardhan appreciated the work being done by scientists and their innovative ways of finding solutions to mitigate COVID-19. The sincere efforts of DBT scientists will enable the country to be self-reliant in the production of RT-PCR and Antibody test kits by the end of next month. This will make it possible to meet the target of conducting one lakh tests per day by the end of next month, he said. He also exhorted scientists working on developing new vaccines, new drugs and medical equipment, to speed up their work. Out of at least half a dozen candidates supported for vaccines, four are in an advanced stage and regulatory platform at one place has been constituted for speedy clearances, he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan also appreciated the BIRAC efforts in supporting over 150 startup solutions of which over 20 are ready for deployment. He also released a Hand-Sanitizer developed by another PSU of DBT, Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Ltd. (BIBCOL) which is engaged in manufacturing of various biological, pharmaceutical and food products. It currently is manufacturing formulations of Vitamin C and Zinc tablets to contribute towards the solutions for COVID-19. A contribution of Rupee One towards the commercial sale of each single bottle of this Sanitizer will go to PM Cares Fund, Dr Harsh Vardhan said.

Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT, senior officials, Directors of DBT- Autonomous Institutes, Senior Scientists and senior officials from BIRAC and BIBCOL participated in the meeting.
A neighbors' feud between two elderly women living in rent-controlled apartments on Manhattan's Upper East Side took an ugly turn this week when their landlord filed a lawsuit over one of the tenants' incessant smoking, claiming that it was making the other violently ill.

The 12-page complaint, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday on behalf of the property management company J & P Reality, alleges that 74-year-old Deborah Schevill's smoking habit has long been a cause of complaints from her upstairs neighbor Marianne Spinelli.

And it says the problem has intensified since the outbreak of COVID-19, which has forced many residents 'to be home twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.'

Schevill and Spinelli both have lived in the building in the 400 block of East 83rd Street for more than 30 years, with the former occupying unit 4D and the latter 5C.

Scroll down to read lawsuit

A Manhattan property management company is suing Deborah Schevill, 74, a tenant at this five-story building on East 83rd Street, accusing her of chain-smoking inside her unit and causing harm to her upstairs neighbor, Marianne Spinelli

The lawsuit obtained by DailyMail,com says that the five-story apartment building in March adopted a no-smoking policy, barring tenants from indulging their nicotine habit anywhere on the property.

But according to the complaint, Schevill has continued puffing away on both tobacco and marijuana cigarettes inside her unit, claiming that she has an 'unfettered right' to do so.

As a result, the hallways and common areas inside the building have become permeated with the noxious smell of smoke.

The smoke is said to be so concentrated in her upstairs neighbor's unit it is 'constituting a physical assault, burning her lungs an sinuses and causing a loss of sleep.'

The lawsuit alleges that Spinelli, 66, who is said to be allergic to smoke, has been suffering from burning in her sinuses, eyes and lungs.

The 'heavy smoke' rising from Schevill's apartment allegedly has made Spinelli 'violently ill' with migraine headaches and forced her to sleep in a mask and scarf on her face.

The lawsuit also names Spinelli as a defendant alongside Schevill, claiming that the woman has been refusing to let anyone from the management company into her apartment to assess the situation and make repairs by sealing any openings.

According to the court filing, the 74-year-old Schevill has admitted to chain-smoking inside her apartment and has refused to take any steps to stop the spread of second-hand smoke to others in the building.

But in an interview with the New York Daily News, the woman claimed to have quit the habit 'some time ago.' She also blamed her upstairs neighbor's respiratory problems on mold, 'hallucinations,' or other smokers purportedly living in the building.

In March, the building adopted a strict no-smoking policy, barring tenants from smoking anywhere on the property, but Schevill allegedly has continued puffing away

'Schevill is aware of Spinellis complaints and allegations, but refuses to cease smoking within her apartment or to take steps to mitigate the spread of secondhand smoke emanating from her apartment,' states the lawsuit. 'Schevill insists that she is not in the wrong.'

The management company's complaint argues that Schivelli's smoking is 'objectionable in it [sic] of itself, and even mote so during the Coronavirus Pandemic,' when residents are confined to their apartments.

J & P Reality is seeking $10,000 in legal fees from Schevill and a promise that she will stop smoking inside the building.
Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, has appointed Femi Adeoye, the retired civil servant who refused his son entry into his home after he ...

Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, has appointed Femi Adeoye, the retired civil servant who refused his son entry into his home after he sneaked into the state from Lagos, as a response ambassador of COVID-19 in the state.





His new role will be to create more awareness about the disease in Ekiti as a member of the states COVID-19 task force.





A video which went viral on social media showed Adeoye saying his son, who had travelled from Lagos to Ekiti in violation of lockdown measures, should be kept in an isolation centre for 14 days because he did not have a place for him to be quarantined.





He said he had told his son to remain in Lagos but he refused. Adeoye was later seen driving off without his son.





By, in accordance with existing regulations, denying his son entry into his household having travelled from places under Federal lockdown against his fatherly advice, Mr. Adeoye has proved to be a worthy ambassador of Ekiti State resolve to end the #COVID19 pandemic. April 30, 2020

I am pleased to let you know that the State is very proud of your conduct which elevated the collective wellbeing of the state above your undeniable love for your dear son, Adeoyes appointment letter read.





In accordance to existing regulations, denying your son entry into your household having travelled from places under federal lockdown against your fatherly advice, you have proved to be a worthy ambassador of our collective resolve to end this pandemic.





Our Government and the good people of Ekiti State are very proud of this chivalrous act of courage and principle which are the hallmarks of the Ekiti person.





You represent the kind of self-discipline, selflessness and sense of collective responsibility that our state and nation need desperately today to progress.





For now, we would be most delighted, if you consent to being accorded the role of a COVlD-19 Response Ambassador in Ekiti state, helping to propagate the message as a member of the COVID19 Task Force in the state.




Washington: The Queen is preparing to address the nation in a televised speech for the second time in a month, to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

The 94-year-old monarch will deliver a prerecorded speech on May 8 at 9pm local time, the exact time her father, King George VI, made a radio address to Britain announcing the end of the war in Europe after what he called "nearly six years of suffering and peril".

The Queen will address the nation for the second time in a month on the same day as her father's famous radio speech. Credit:AP

This will be followed by a national singalong of Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again, during which people will be encouraged to open their doors and join in the singing of the hugely popular war-era song.

The Queen's address is to be recorded under the same conditions used for her unprecedented televised address about the COVID-19 pandemic on April 5: a single videographer, in full personal protection, standing two metres away from her in a room at Windsor Castle.
VANCOUVERAs countries around the globe begin encouraging companies to move their manufacturing out of China, industry experts in Canada say it is possible that some goods manufactured there by Canadian companies could be shifted back home.

They also said such a shift wouldnt be easy or on as large a scale as some may want.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to questions about whether the world is relying too heavily on mainland China as a producer of goods, particularly on essential products during the coronavirus pandemic, like medical equipment and food. The charge is mainly being led by the United States.

Many nations have been caught without enough ventilators or personal protective equipment, such as medical masks, to help fight the deadly virus and outsourcing production of such equipment to China is being partially blamed.

In Canada, at the request of the federal and provincial governments, companies pivoted their production lines to begin manufacturing some of the items in short supply.

Some argue the shift shouldnt be just for the duration of the pandemic, but that we should be encouraging manufacturing to be done in Canada once again.

In the longer run, we will be much better served if we can  as the Germans have done, as the Danes have done  develop much more higher-tech manufacturing, said Mark Rowlinson of the United Steelworkers Union. We could become an exporter of those manufactured goods and be less exposed to unfair trading practices of other countries.

Such initiatives are being taken abroad.

According to Bloomberg, in Japan the government has used financial incentives to encourage Japanese companies to move their manufacturing back home from China.

The policy comes as part of an economic stimulus from the Japanese government and is a response to mass disruptions in supply chains in China caused by the outbreak.

Meanwhile the U.S. has heard similar chatter, with Larry Kudlow, the director of the U.S. National Economic Council, floating the idea that the government could help pay some of the costs for companies moving their production back to the United States from China.

The U.S. and China have been engaged in a trade war in recent years, with Washington calling the relationship with China unbalanced.

Canadas trade deficit with China was about $44 billion in 2017, according to a report last year from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. China accounted for five per cent of Canadas exports and 13 per cent of its imports according to the study, Moving Beyond Rhetoric, which focused on trade between the two nations.

But Canada has not had any federal government plans to build up domestic manufacturing in years, Rowlinson said. Helping manufacturing to grow will be important for a robust economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

He said one place where Canada has missed out is wind turbines. Though Canada makes some parts for them, the turbines themselves are not manufactured in the country. Its technology such as this that Canada should be encouraging its industry to develop, he said.

At the same time, Rowlinson pointed to more low-tech products, such as steel, as being ripe for Canada to support with government policy. He said steel for major construction projects is being shipped into the country for projects such as bridges and dams in British Columbia, despite Canada having the capacity to produce all the steel the country needs.

You could easily ensure that all the steel going into construction projects in British Columbia comes from Canada, he said. That would promote the Canadian steel industry right here, right now, and would hopefully grow the industry.

Though some of the products Canada consumes could be repatriated to the country for manufacturing, it isnt as simple as it sounds, said Jean-Francois Letarte, a partner at consulting firm KPMG, who specializes in supply chains.

Letarte said that traditionally, Canadian industry has done well when clusters of manufacturing in some subsectors, for example the automotive industry, allow companies and suppliers to supply and feed off each other. Today there are some clusters in the automotive, aerospace and food processing sectors, but otherwise these would take time to develop elsewhere.

Lets say you have a manufacturing plant. Youre going to have a lot of different types of suppliers required very close to that plant, he said. Generally, the success weve had as a country in particular sectors were revolving around that industrial cluster concept. So, building such clusters that arent already existing in Canada would be a challenge in the near term.

Labour is another issue, he said. Canada has had historically high employment rates in recent years, making it harder for manufacturers to find the labour needed to scale up.

Twenty years ago the Canadian manufacturing sector accounted for 20 per cent of the federal GDP, he said, but even with that cut in half now it is still more productive than it was two decades ago.

While its a smaller share of the economy, it employs just over nine per cent of the countrys workforce, Letarte said in a followup email.

But he said due to an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, moving manufacturing out of China is not an unusual conversation to have with clients.

Many of them are starting to place a greater importance on balancing the risks in their supply chains and not focusing just on cost effectiveness, he said, adding trade arbitrage mimimizing the customs tariff and duties  is still an important factor.

A lot of companies that were adapting to globalization and had been for 20 years had developed supply chains that are global and integrated, he said. They are placing more weight on business continuity, agility and nimbleness, all characteristics of the concept of micro supply chains, which have been quickly gaining interest.

He said critical sectors such as pharmaceutical or food supplies will be most likely to think about a shift back to Canada.

Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution policy at Dalhousie University, said he suspects many countries will be looking at what they could be manufacturing more of domestically once the pandemic is finished, and also said food will be one area of interest.

Canada isnt good at creating new food products or producing them, Charlebois said, calling for more attention to be paid to innovation in the industry to add value to the food chain.

We could have more Canadian-made dried pasta, for example, he said. We basically export our commodities globally only to buy them back in a bottle or bag at 10 times the price.

But due to Canadas hard winters, it isnt realistic to expect the country to support itself with domestically produced food year-round without a return to canned vegetables all winter or giving up bananas and coffee.

The danger that I think well face post-COVID is to decide to become food sovereign and that is utopic in Canada, he said. If we decide to do that as a country in Canada our food prices would go up 20 per cent.

But, he said, with grocery stores running out of certain products as people stock up during the pandemic, the food industry is in the spotlight, and it could be used as an opportunity to create superclusters around food innovation.

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Libyan militia commander Khalifa Haftar ordered his forces to freeze operations during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as criticism mounts over his bid to consolidate power in the oil-rich east.

The cessation is a response to international calls for a humanitarian reprieve for the war-ravaged nation, Ahmed Mismari, spokesman for Haftar's Libyan National Army, said late Wednesday in a televised briefing. Haftar has been waging a campaign to seize the capital, Tripoli, from the internationally recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj for over a year.

While Haftar has largely brushed aside repeated international attempts to broker an end to fighting, his forces, which control the OPEC member's east and south, have suffered a series of losses around Tripoli in recent weeks. Backed by Turkey, Sarraj's Government of National Accord, has seized key western Libyan towns from Haftar, who's supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russian mercenaries.

Haftar is also facing an international backlash after this week ditching a 2015 political agreement that created the Presidency Council headed by Sarraj and the advisory State Council while allowing for the continuation of the rival legislature in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Haftar also said he was accepting a popular call from Libyans to rule directly -- a move interpreted by many as a soft coup against the eastern parliament that helped elevate him to power.

"Haftar's decision to formalize his direct control of eastern Libya is a sign of his rising desperation in the face of GNA successes" in the country's west," Hamish Kinnear, a Middle East and North Africa analyst at consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, said in a report earlier this week.

"By sweeping aside the authority of the House of Representatives and electing himself as undisputed leader in the east, Haftar is making himself central to any negotiated solution to the civil war."

Libya has been crippled by turmoil since the 2011 NATO-backed ouster and killing of Moammar Gadhafi. Political wrangling and conflict has left Libyans struggling to survive and triggered a 90% plunge in oil production, the country's chief source of foreign revenue. Both sides have been accused of flouting cease-fires and ignoring an arms embargo, according to the United Nations.

There's already been international fallout from Haftar's moves in the east. The U.S. and France have criticized what they described as an attempt to reshape the political framework and urged an adherence to internationally brokered efforts to end the conflict.

Mismari said Wednesday that the LNA would issue a constitutional declaration laying out the coming political blueprint. He didn't provide details.

In dismissing the 2015 deal and saying he would lead, Haftar has also created rifts in the east. He has ignored a political roadmap outlined by Agila Saleh, head of the Tobruk-based parliament that called for the reshaping of the ruling Presidency Council -- a bid that offered a compromise approach to ending the conflict and mending the country's fault lines.

The Obeidat tribe, the largest in the east and from which Saleh hails, said in a statement Wednesday that while it supported the LNA's fight against "terrorism" and Turkish interference in Libya, it saw Haftar as a military commander rather than the leader of a nation.

Tribal support is key in Libya, where power politics is often determined on a city and regional level and alliances are necessary for the success of any peace deal.
The coronavirus pandemic could change the way people work forever and some employees may never return to the office, an employment researcher claims.

Head of Research for Ray White Commerical Vanessa Rader said that Australians will see major changes to hygiene practices that will affect everyday life in the office.

She told Daily Mail Australia workplaces would see more employees working remotely, a reduction in hot desking and changes to office layout.

Ms Rader said: 'People are going to expect their employer to keep them safe.'

The COVID-19 pandemic will prompt significant changes in Australian workplaces and will see a greater focus on hygiene practices and a limit on personal contact in the office (file image)

An increased number of employees will work remotely (pictured above) after the pandemic

Ms Rader noted that increased hygiene awareness after the COVID-19 pandemic would force employers to reduce practices like hot desking.

'Hot desking isn't going to be favourable because that's sharing facilities,' Ms Rader said.

She said companies would most likely restrict employee movement and may also have to ensure each staff member has their own keyboard and mouse.

'Anything that involves touching is going to have to go,' Ms Rader said.

Ms Rader predicted offices would change their layouts and focus on reducing the number of small meeting rooms.

'There will be less of those because there's too many touch points and we've seen really clearly that any sort of virus is spread easily through your hands,' Ms Rader said.

Ms Rader also forecast more of an overall emphasis on workplace cleaning and hygiene.

She said employers would be expected to implement a thorough sterilisation of work surfaces on a regular basis.

Workplaces will limit hot desking and the sharing of office equipment (file image)

THE MAJOR CHANGES CORONAVIRUS WILL BRING TO THE OFFICE A stricter focus on hygiene and more thorough and frequent cleaning A reduction in hot desking and a limit on shared office equipment Office layouts will change to limit the number of small meeting rooms More employees will work remotely Vacancy rates will increase for commercial office spaces Advertisement

Ms Rader noted the sudden increase in employees working from home amid the pandemic would forever impact the future of the workforce.

'There will definitely be more people working from home than there ever has been before,' she said.

Ms Rader said employers would be pressured to adapt to remote work and provide the appropriate equipment to their employees.

Ms Rader said vacancy rates for commercial office spaces around Australia had been particularly low in recent years.

She noted this rate would now increase due to more staff working from home and a number of businesses going under during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 11:38 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd525fe3 1 World COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19,foreigners,Retno-Marsudi,Foreign-Minister-Retno-Marsudi Free

As many as 563 COVID-19 cases in Indonesia have been recorded among foreigners living in the country, with almost 100 currently receiving treatment, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has said.

During a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Retno said 98 foreigners were receiving treatment for COVID-19 at local hospitals, while 306 others were in quarantine.

Fifteen people have died and 144 others have recovered, Retno said.

The Foreign Ministry is consistently communicating with relevant embassies in Jakarta to give updates regarding their citizens, she said.

As of Wednesday, Indonesian health authorities had recorded 9,511 cases of COVID-19, with 773 fatalities. At least 1,254 patients have recovered.

She explained that 597 Indonesian nationals abroad had tested positive, with 383 currently receiving treatment, 179 having recovered and 35 having died.

Read also: US donates $3 million for COVID-19 relief to Indonesia

Retno reiterated that protecting foreign nationals in the country during the pandemic was a key focus of Indonesias foreign policy.

Citing previous directives from President Joko Jokowi Widodo regarding COVID-19 countermeasures, Retno said that Indonesia had stepped up its efforts to increase the countrys COVID-19 testing and tracing capacities.

The foreign minister also updated the media about the progress of the Global Solidarity Trial, an initiative by the World Health Organization that aims to develop therapeutic drugs for COVID-19. So far, she said, 22 hospitals in Indonesia are participating in the trial.
A romance mystery writer charged with murdering her chef husband in Portland must remain in jail pending trial, a Multnomah County judge ruled Wednesday.

Circuit Judge Christopher Ramras denied bail for Nancy Crampton Brophy, 69, after saying prosecutors showed sufficient evidence that she killed Daniel Brophy, 63.

The decision came at the end of two-day hearing colored by the coronavirus pandemic, which had prompted Crampton Brophy to seek her release from custody.

Many in the courtroom, including the defendant, wore surgical masks and lawyers remained seated at their tables during witness testimony. The crowd at the Multnomah County Justice Center was kept to fewer than six people to exercise social distancing.

The victims family, meanwhile, watched the proceedings remotely using Zoom, the video conferencing software.

Crampton Brophy has been behind bars since September 2018 after police say she gunned down her husband of 27 years in a kitchen at the Oregon Culinary Institute that June. Daniel Brophy had been a beloved instructor at the school in downtown Portland for more than a decade.

The case became international news after The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed Crampton Brophy once wrote an essay titled How to Murder Your Husband. Her self-published titles include The Wrong Husband and Hell On The Heart.

Earlier this month, her lawyers argued their clients age and history as a diabetic spelled her imminent death should she remain held at the Multnomah County Detention Center as the COVID-19 outbreak in Oregon continued to spread.

Ramras had said that the defendant would have to seek a bail hearing if she wished to be released from jail before her trial in September. Crampton Brophy had previously waived her right to have one and last made a court appearance in November 2018.

During their presentation this week, prosecutors cast the author as a woman whose dreams of adventure and a comfortable retirement ran up against financial hardship and a husband content with leading a more simple life.

So Crampton Brophy began taking out life insurance policies on her husband, prosecutors said. She purchased multiple firearms and related gun parts. Then she began plotting.

Ms. Brophy throughout this had attempted to plan the perfect crime and thought she could get away with it, said Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet.

To outline the evidence in the states case, Overstreet had Portland police Detective Anthony Merrill testify. He was hearings sole witness.

Brophy had gone to the culinary school on June 2, 2018, and was prepping for his day in a kitchen there when someone shot him through the back and chest with a 9mm handgun, said Merrill, who led the homicide investigation. Both bullets pierced the instructors heart, he said. Students found him unconscious and called 911.

The early morning shooting baffled the mans family, students and co-workers. Police found no apparent signs of struggle in the kitchen. The assailant never touched the chefs keys, wallet or phone. Nor was the chef known to have any enemies that would seek to hurt him, according to police.

Everybody we spoke with had the utmost respect for him," said Merrill.

But investigators soon zeroed in on Crampton Brophy, who appeared at the scene on the morning of the shooting, telling police a friend had called her after seeing a news story about an incident at the culinary school. According to a recorded interview that day with police, Crampton Brophy said she had been in bed when her husband left for work and had stayed at home.

Yet investigators said they found surveillance video that shows Crampton Brophy driving her Toyota minivan near the culinary school in the moments before and after the shooting. Some of that footage, as well as the police interview, was played in the courtroom.

Crampton Brophy had also told police in the interview about a 9mm handgun she had bought the previous February at a Portland gun show, which she later turned over to detectives. Ballistics testing couldnt tie that weapon to the murder, according Merrill.

But investigators would later discover she owned other weapons, police and prosecutors said. One was a build-it-yourself 9mm that Crampton Brophy purchased on Christmas Eve 2017, records show. Less than a week after her gun show purchase, she also bought the slide and barrel for another 9mm off eBay.

Police and prosecutors said they believe Crampton Brophy swapped the parts of the different guns to carry out  and later cover up  the alleged crime. However, the slide and barrel used in the killing has not been found.

Finally, there was the windfall of cash Crampton Brophy stood to collect should her husband suddenly die, Merrill said, a tantalizing prospect given that the couples financial records showed they had fallen behind on mortgage payments, had little in retirement savings and struggled to stay out of debt.

Police found the defendant listed as the beneficiary on six life insurance policies taken out in Daniel Brophys name totaling nearly $800,000. An additional accident insurance policy would pay Crampton Brophy up to another $440,000 if her husband died at work. Selling the couples house in Beaverton would fetch another six-figure sum.

All told, investigators believed Crampton Brophy could walk away with close to $1.5 million, Merrill said.

Lawyers for the defendant dismissed the states findings, arguing that the prosecution lacked any definitive proof that Crampton Brophy was behind her husbands killing.

Defense attorney Lisa Maxfield emphasized that investigators never recovered the gun used to shoot Brophy and couldnt show that his wife ever even bought the types of bullets used in the crime.

Maxfield also pressed Merrill to detail the attempts made by police to interview other people living or working near the culinary school.

The state basically has no murder weapon," she said. What they have is van that matches the description of Ms. Brophys van.

Maxfield tried to poke additional holes in the prosecutions case by revealing how Crampton Brophy had also taken out life insurance policies in her own name and suggesting that the defendant was unaware of the accident insurance policy that Brophy had through the culinary school.

The defense also provided statements from friends and family during the investigation that depicted a couple not prone to conflict, and submitted racy text messages that suggested they remained physically intimate up until Brophys death.

In the end, it wasnt enough for the judge to rule in its favor.

Crampon Brophys next court date scheduled for May 11.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories
I wrote about Joue back in January, right before the company participated in (and won) our CES pitch-off. The company was one of a handful of crowdfunded musical instrument startups at the show that were really worth getting excited about.

This week, the French startup is launch the campaign for Play, a more user-friendly version of the companys self-titled modular MIDI controller. As I noted in the earlier piece, the system operates similarly to Sensels Morph system, with silicone pads that slip on top of a touch interface to mimic a variety of different instruments, including a drum pad, piano, guitar and an electronic musical interface.

The new version of the instrument aims to lower the bar with a connected mobile app that works as follows:

The instruments are gathered in a circle in the middle

The timeline shows successive musical events simply and clearly

The mixer lets you adjust the volume of each instrument

Recording is accessible directly from the Pads, for maximum reactivity

In addition to the companion iOS/Mac/Windows app, the Play is also more than $100 cheaper than its predecessor (at least it is currently on Joues Kickstarter page). That price includes the board and five different silicone pads. Its a clever product and one designed for a broader audience than the original  which went over fairly well in its own right.

Unfortunately, the device wont be available while were all still cooped up inside. Its currently projected to launch in October.
Lata Mangeshkar health update: Veteran singer still in ICU, but there has been a slight improvement

Maharashtra likely to see rise in COVID-19 hospitalisations by Jan-end or early Feb

COVID-19 crisis: Kerala Governor gives nod to govt for temporary salary cuts to its employees

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 30: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has signed an ordinance brought by the state government to overcome a high court verdict and cut the salary of government employees to fund the fight against coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Earlier, Congress and the BJP had urged the Governor not to give his nod to the ordinance. The Opposition said that Kerala government was taking revenge on its employees after it suffered a serious setback in the court.

Kerala CM lauds Kasaragod hospital staff's efforts in reducing COVID-19 cases

According to reports, it is said that the state government was forced to bring the ordinance after the Kerala High Court stayed its order to slash employees' salaries for six days every month for the next five months. Through this, the government is planning to save Rs 2,000 crore.

Welcoming the Governor's decision, state finance minister Thomas Issac said, "It is sad that a big controversy was created over this. It should have been avoided at this juncture. Opposition also provoked employees' outfits."

Fake: Sadhus chillam in Jaipur did not infect 300 people with coronavirus

On Wednesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, "All are undergoing a difficult situation. So it is natural that employees will also be a part of the process. We have deducted 30 per cent salaries of ministers, MLAs, board chairmen and others for one year."

However, the minister made it clear that 25 per cent of the salary would not be deferred and the state government would go ahead with its initial six-day cut plan.

Meanwhile, the employees' outfits said that they would move the Supreme Court against the ordinance.
Wednesdays news of a promising coronavirus treatment sparked hope that lives could be saved if people contract the virus. However effective that treatment is, though, its still an after-the-fact treatment that happens through an IV in a hospital. There is still no COVID-19 vaccine.

The Trump administration is hoping to speed up the race to find one with a program its calling Operation Warp Speed. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says he believes the program could make hundreds of millions of doses of a vaccine available by January.

You always have to say you want to get a vaccine that is safe, thats effective, and you can scale up rapidly, Fauci said on NBCs Today Show, noting that possible vaccines are in the early phases of clinical trials. When you go into the next phase, were going to safely and carefully, but as quickly as we possibly can, try and get an answer if it works and is safe.

Based on early results, Fauci says manufacturers of the promising vaccines would start to ramp up production before the study is complete.

You do that at risk. In other words, you dont wait until you get an answer. You start manufacturing, he said. "You at risk, proactively, start making it assuming its going to work. And if it does, then you can scale up and hopefully get to that timeline. So we want to go quickly, but we want to make sure its safe and its effective. I think its doable if things fall in the right place.

One of the most promising of those vaccines is being developed by Oxford Universitys Jenner Institute in the United Kingdom. Like the COVID-19 treatment drug remdesivir, this drug was also developed to fight an earlier coronavirus. This head start has allowed them to show it is safe for humans, which is a key early hurdle. According to the report, emergency approval could allow them to produce millions of doses by September.

That would be months ahead of U.S. trials. The National Institutes of Health began its first clinical trial more than a month ago of a vaccine developed with Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna. Phase 2 of that trial is expected to begin soon and Phase 3 is expected to begin in the fall. That could fit the Operation Warp Speed timeline. While the name and goal of the program indicates the desire to move as fast as possible, Fauci says the development of the vaccine falls right in line with the original timelines.

I was saying in January and February that it would be a year to 18 months, he said. So January is a year, so it isnt that much from what I originally said.

Heres his full interview:

Watch @savannahguthries full interview with Dr. Anthony Facui about the potential breakthrough antiviral drug to treat coronavirus, and whether he thinks states are opening up too soon. pic.twitter.com/ihhFfgQx5n  TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 30, 2020

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By Associated Press

BERLIN: German police raided five sites linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, as authorities announced Thursday that they were banning activities by its political wing in Germany.

The raids, intended to prevent evidence about possible front organizations being destroyed, took place at mosques and community centers in Berlin, Bremen, Muenster, Recklinghausen and Dortmund.

German lawmakers last year called on the government to extend an existing ban on activities by the group's militant wing to include those of its political branch. At the time, officials had warned that such a move was legally difficult, because Hezbollah doesn't have any official presence in Germany.

The Interior Ministry said the decree issued Thursday bans all activities in support of the group in Germany, including the use of its symbols or publications. Hezbollah supporters have staged annual anti-Israel marches in Berlin for several years.

The United States and Israel welcomed Germany's move against the group, which is rooted in Lebanons Shiite community and has close ties to Iran.

U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell called on other European Union countries to also ban Hezbollah's activities, saying the group cannot be allowed to use Europe as a safe haven to support terrorism in Syria and across the Middle East.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Twitter that Hezbollah is a terror organization & must be treated as such. Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 that ended in a U.N.-brokered cease-fire.
Thousands of Lotto players have seen their winnings increased after no-one scooped Wednesday's 12.1 million 'must be won' jackpot.

It means more than 95,000 ticket-holders have now scooped 126, instead of 30, just by matching three main numbers.

And one player who matched five main numbers and the bonus ball is now a millionaire.

Some 68 ticket-holders won 12,677 by matching five numbers, and 3,988 players took home 667 by matching four numbers.

A single ticket holder in the UK has won 105 million on tonight's EuroMillions jackpot

Five players picked up prizes of 13,000 after matching four out of five numbers for the Lotto HotPicks draw, which uses the same numbers as the main draw.

Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at the National Lottery, said: 'It's great news for thousands of lucky Lotto players after the jackpot rolled down when no-one matched all six main numbers to win the 'must be won' jackpot tonight.

'95,116 ticket-holders scooped 126, instead of 30, just by matching three main numbers.

'One player who matched five main numbers and the bonus ball is now a millionaire.'

The Lotto rolldown means an estimated top prize of 3.8 million is up for grabs in Saturday's draw.

Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at the National Lottery, said thousands of lucky Lotto players would now get more money (Mr Carter is pictured during an appeal for a ticket holder to come forward in December)

Wednesday's winning Lotto numbers were 16, 17, 32, 36, 40, 47 and the bonus ball was 04.

The draw used set of balls seven and the machine was Guinevere.

The winning Thunderball numbers were 06, 07, 19, 34, 39 and the Thunderball is 04.

No-one won the top prize of 350,000 in the Lotto HotPicks or the 500,000 prize for Thunderball.
Search continues for Canadian military helicopter crashed in Ionian Sea Search and rescue operation continues for the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter after it has crashed into the Ionian Sea between Greece and Italy while serving with a NATO naval task force on April 30, 2020. A military helicopter operating off a Canadian frigate crashed into the Ionian Sea. Italian and Turkish frigates have begun search operations for the aircraft (Photo by TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTRY / HANDOUT/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crashed into the Ionian Sea on April 29. Six Canadians were on board: four Royal Canadian Air Force members and two Royal Canadian Navy members.

On Thursday, it was announced that Nova Scotia Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, a maritime systems engineering officer originally from Toronto, is confirmed dead. The search for the remaining five members continues in the international waters between Greece and Italy.

The helicopter crashed during a NATO task force mission, as part of Operation Reassurance. The six-member team was on six month deploy that began in January.

There is aircraft from Canada, Italy and Turkey currently looking for the downed craft and the team members, with support from Greece and the U.S.
Actress Marisol Nichols revealed that she was gang raped when she was just 11 years old in an emotional new interview about her efforts to combat child sex trafficking by volunteering in undercover sting operations targeting predators across the country.

Nichols, who currently plays Hermoine Lodge on the CW drama Riverdale and is perhaps best know for her role of Audrey Griswold in Vegas Vacation, recounted the horrifying experience in a feature published by Marie Claire on Thursday.

The Chicago native, 46, said she and a friend were at a party with some older boys in the mid-1980s when 'a few of the boys' raped her after she downed nearly an entire bottle of Seagram's Seven gin.

'It ended up being my worst nightmare,' Nichols said.

Actress Marisol Nichols (pictured in October) revealed that she was gang raped when she was just 11 years old in an emotional new interview about her efforts to combat child sex trafficking by volunteering in undercover sting operations targeting predators across the country

Thirty-five years later, Nichols said the memories still haunt her in fragments as she remembers 'waking up on a bed with no underwear on and everyone laughing'.

She said that after the rape she was 'kicked the sidewalk in my stomach in the middle of winter' as someone told her: 'Get up, b****.'

Nichols said she knows that the rape wasn't her fault, but she still struggles with the guilt of getting into that situation.

'What the hell is an 11-year-old doing putting herself in a position at a party with a bunch of guys smoking pot and drinking alcohol?' she asked rhetorically.

'It changed the entire trajectory of my life in a day.'

Today, Nichols' trauma serves as one of the main motivations behind her efforts to stop sex trafficking through the nonprofit she founded in 2014: Foundation for a Slavery Free World.

She frequently volunteers with law enforcement on stings, posing as a child to lure predators to waiting agents.

While she's proud of the work she's doing now - she's not so proud of where she was three and a half decades ago.

Nichols launched her nonprofit Foundation for a Slavery Free World in 2014. She is seen speaking at the Human Rights Hero Awards the following year

News of Nichols' rape quickly spread through the town in the days after it happened, prompting her to spiral into a cycle of substance abuse that would continue into her 20s.

Nichols currently plays Hermoine Lodge on the CW drama Riverdale

'I did a lot of [drugs],' she said, noting that she got most for free from older men. 'I would go to the city and scrape the [cocaine] block and weigh and measure and mix it.'

It wasn't until she enrolled in classes at the College of Du Page, a community college in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, that Nichols began acting.

She and a friend tried out for a play on a lark - and she had forgotten all about the audition when the director called and told her she'd received a call-back that would later earn her a lead role.

'These guys took a chance on me,' Nichols said of two of her drama teachers.

She eventually moved to Chicago to pursue a career in acting, and in 1995 moved to Los Angeles after she was cast in a pilot.

Two years later she made her silver screen debut in Vegas Vacation.

Nichols is perhaps best known for her role of Audrey Griswold in Vegas Vacation (1997). She is pictured second from the left in the film

Once in LA Nichols discovered the Church of Scientology, of which she is a member to this day.

She credits the church with getting her clean and helping turn her life around.

'Honestly, Scientology is what saved my freaking a**. I'd probably be dead,' she said.

Nichols would go on to star in a number of movies and TV series, including crime dramas CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Cold Case.

To research police roles, Nichols sometimes went on ride-alongs with homicide and narcotics detectives.

'It gave me mad respect for these guys,' she says. 'It sparked my interest in the trafficking world, realizing and really being on the other side of the underbelly of society.'

Nichols became interested in law enforcement whilst researching police roles. She is pictured on NCIS in 2014

When her career stalled around 2012, Nichols used the down time to explore the world of human trafficking and became inspired to do something to stop it.

Then in 2014, she launched her nonprofit - Foundation for a Slavery Free World - which hosts events and conferences to raise awareness.

Determined to be an authority on the subject, she agreed to witness an undercover sting that resulted in Department of Homeland Security agents asking her to apply her acting chops to another operation.

Nowadays, Nichols takes a more active role in organizing stings by reaching out to law enforcement agencies directly to offer her services in catching predators.

She's participated in half a dozen stings over the past five years - posing as a child over the phone or as a parent pimping out their offspring.

Marie Claire reporter Erica Hayasaki tagged along on one of the stings whilst writing her piece about Nichols, describing how the actress posed as an 11-year-old girl to entice a predator to a motel room in a Midwestern city where authorities were waiting to arrest him.

That sting ended up being unsuccessful - so Nichols turned her focus on the next one, knowing that each attempt is invaluable.
Strategies that treat households in the broad vicinity of a recent malaria case with anti-malarial drugs, insecticides, or both could significantly reduce malaria in low-transmission settings, a challenge with approaches currently in use, a study led by UT Southwestern scientists suggests. The findings, published in the April 25, 2020, The Lancet, could bring efforts to eradicate malaria worldwide closer to fruition.

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that annually infects more than 200 million people and kills nearly 400,000, used to exist in almost every inhabited location on Earth. However, explains Michelle S. Hsiang, M.D., a Horchow Family Scholar in Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, tremendous strides have been made in efforts to eliminate malaria in countries and worldwide, which accelerated in the early 2000s with the aid of more intensive efforts and new tools such as drugs and insecticide-treated bed nets.

Although many countries are very close to completely eradicating malaria, it continues to linger at low levels in some locations, emerging as outbreaks with the rainy season every year. The strategies that have been successful at decreasing malaria in high-transmission settings don't work as well in these low-transmission ones, says Hsiang, assistant professor of pediatrics.

These countries are left with the challenge of, do we keep doing business as usual, or do we do something different to interrupt transmission and potentially eliminate this disease? That requires a different and more aggressive approach." Michelle S. Hsiang, M.D., a Horchow Family Scholar in Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center

Some countries have approached this challenge using a strategy called reactive case detection (RACD), in which people in the immediate vicinity of a positive case are also screened and treated with anti-malarial drugs. However, says Hsiang, because the sensitivity of malaria tests is low, this strategy hasn't proved effective. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the World Health Organization recommends mass drug administration (MDA), treating all individuals in an endemic area with anti-malarial medications. But this strategy is expensive and can be difficult for large populations to accept.

Seeking a compromise between these two approaches, Hsiang and her colleagues from University of Namibia; University of California, San Francisco; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and Wits University tested strategies in which those in close vicinity to a positive malaria case - 500 meters from the positive household - received anti-malarial efforts: either medication (a strategy known as reactive focal mass drug administration, or rfMDA), insecticide spraying (a strategy known as reactive focal vector control, or RAVC), or both. The administered drug was artemether-lumefantrine, a drug with a long history of safe use. The insecticide was a new organophosphate known as pirimiphos-methyl, which can be effective for up to a year when sprayed on the walls and ceilings of affected homes.

The researchers chose the Zambezi Region of Namibia in Africa, a low malarial transmission setting, to study these interventions from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2017. They randomized 56 areas within this region to receive either RACD, rfMDA, RAVC, or a combination of rfMDA and RAVC. As soon as anyone in these areas tested positive, a mobile response team was dispatched to these locations to administer the assigned intervention. By the end of the study, 1,150 of these index cases triggered 342 interventions that covered 8,948 individuals. The researchers then followed the malarial caseload in these areas over the next few weeks and months.

Their results showed that rfMDA and RAVC cut the rate of new cases by 50 percent in each area where they had been administered compared with areas that received RACD. When the researchers administered rfMDA and RAVC in combination, the effect was additive, decreasing new cases by 75 percent.

Residents in each area found these interventions acceptable, Hsiang says, with few refusing to participate. In addition, the interventions appeared safe, causing no serious adverse events. Together, Hsiang says, these findings suggest that rfMDA and RAVC, separately or together, could offer hope to significantly reduce or potentially eliminate malaria in low-transmission settings and facilitate worldwide eradication.

"A child dies from malaria every two minutes, mostly in poor countries," Hsiang says. "We have the tools to get rid of this disease for good. We just need to learn how to wield them effectively."
Organizers say the move is due to circumstances "beyond our control".

An annual Atlas Weekend music fest based in Kyiv initially set to be held in July this year has been postponed until 2021.

"In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot endanger our guests, the festival team and our artists by having it this summer," organizers wrote on the festival's Facebook page.

New Atlas Weekend dates are July 6th-11th, 2021.

Read alsoGovernment explains whether Ukrainians to be able to spend summer vacations abroad

Tickets that were purchased for this years festival are valid for AW 2021, organizer say, adding they are currently negotiating with all artists to fully preserve the already announced line-up.

This year, Kyiv was set to welcome A$AP Rocky, Twenty One Pilots, Placebo, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and others.

Announcements of new artists who will join the festival next year are yet to come.
Rishi Kapoor passes away: Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who is best known for his glorious career in Hindi cinemas, passed away Thursday morning in Mumbai hospital. Take a look at his rare photos with his family

Rishi Kapoor passes away: Just a day after phenomenal actor Irrfan Khans death, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday morning. On Wednesday, Rishi Kapoor was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai after complaining uneasiness,.He was 67. Rishi Kapoor was battling cancer and spent almost a year in New York City under treatment. He returned back to India in September last year. According to the official statement by the actors family, Rishi Kapoor took his last breath at 8:45 am. His doctors and nurses at the hospital said that till his last moment, he kept all of them entertained.

During his last time, his major focus was his family, friends, food, and films and who so ever met him was astonished to see his willingness to fight from his illness. Not just this, after returning from New York, he also shot for some scenes in his comeback comedy film Sharmaji Namkeen in Delhi in February. Moreover, he also wanted to do the Hindi remake of Hollywood film The Intern.

This wont be wrong to say that Rishi Kapoors wife Neetu Kapoor had always been on his side in every thick and thin. Neetu accompanied him throughout his treatment in New York and also welcomed New Year on a positive note by sharing some family pictures.

Also Read: Rishi Kapoor no more: Kapoor family says veteran actor kept doctors, hospital staff entertained till his last

Take a look at some rare photos of Rishi Kapoor with his family

Talking about his journey, Rishi Kapoor had his own way of winning hearts with his acting. Given his spontaneity and ease before the lens, Rishi Kapoor knew how to perform his best without putting too much effort. While some of his professionalism was learned from his struggles and others were inherited. Kapoor once said that acting was in his blood and there was no escape from it. He loved portraying different roles and had his own grip on every character he played.

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As a gesture of respect towards the unwavering commitment of the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in the battle against coronavirus, Delhi Polices Covid Patrol performed a parikrama of AIIMS.

Shared on MyGovIndias official Twitter profile, a video of the incident has now tugged at peoples heartstrings. The tweet mentions that 51 personnel of South Delhi District Police took part in the event with female cops in the lead. They did the circumambulation on their bikes to express their gratitude and show solidarity to the frontline corona warriors of AIIMS. The post ends with lauding the medical personnel as the real heroes.

Today evening, 51 Covid Patrol motorcycles of South Delhi District Police expressed their gratitude & solidarity to our front line corona warriors AIIMS Doctors & paramedics. They are the real Heroes. And women cops in the lead.#IndiaFightsCorona #TogetherWeCan@DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/8zciBT413l  MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) April 29, 2020

The post received tons of appreciation from people. Many wrote that not just the medical workers but the policemen are heroes in this fight too.

This is brilliant!!! Hats off to the police force for their courage and standing shoulder to shoulder with doctors!! expressed a Twitter user. Hats off to our superheroes, tweeted another.

A few days ago, Delhi Police paid tribute to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib for feeding thousands of people every day amid lockdown. They performed a parikrama of the Gurdwara and their gesture impressed many, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What do you think of the gesture by Delhi Police?
Eight more persons, including a ward boy and three police constables, tested positive for coronavirus in Varanasi on Thursday.

With eight fresh cases, the tally of corona patients in Varanasi district jumped to 60.

Eight of them have been successfully cured, while one died and 51 persons are under treatment.

District magistrate (DM) Kaushalraj Sharma said of the eight new corona positive cases, one is a 58-year-old powerloom operator. He is a resident of Jaitpura and was referred to Banaras Hindu University by Jam
Rumor mill: We know that Nvidia is going to launch its Ampere-based RTX 3000 graphics cards this year, but it hasnt yet revealed when. According to a new report, they will arrive sometime in the third quarter, and add-in board partners are already clearing stock in preparation.

The claim comes from a now deleted China Times post, which stated that three new generations of Ampere cards would arrive in the second half of the third quarter, so we might see them launch sometime around September.

Its presumed that Nvidia will repeat what it did with the RTX 2000-series cards and reveal the RTX 3080 Ti, RTX 3080, and RTX 3070 first, with the RTX 3060 following quite a few months later.

The report also alleges that Taiwan manufacturers Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI are trying to clear their stock of current Nvidia cards. In the case of Asus, it has cut the price of the RTX 2060 to NT$10,000, or around US$330, while the RTX 2080 is down to NT$16,000, or US$538.

Its important to take the report with a grain of salt, especially as its been deleted. However, the third quarter of the year is when many expect Ampere to launch, mostly because its presumed that the Covid-19 disruption will be (hopefully) gone by that time.

Well find out about Ampere and Nvidias plans for its new architecture in two weeks from today, when the company will deliver a keynote at its annual Graphics Technology Conference (GTC) that has the byline get amped.
Wearing a weighted vest can help obese people rapidly lose weight by tricking the brain into thinking they are heavier than they are, a scientific study concludes.

Moderately obese people wore a vest filled with 24lbs (1kg) of weights for eight hours a day and lived their lives as normal.

After 21 days, these people lost 5.2lbs (1.6kg) while maintaining their muscle mass.

The Swedish researchers even think the novel weight-loss method could be more effective than some forms of physical exercise.

Scroll down for video

Moderately obese people wore a vest filled with 24lbs (11kg) of weights for eight hours a day and lived their lives as normal. Pictured, a person working out in the gym wearing a weighted vest

Professor Claes Ohlsson, from Gothenburg University, said: 'We think it's very interesting that the treatment with the heavier weighted vests reduced fat mass while muscle mass simultaneously remained intact.

'The effect on fat mass we found, from this short experiment, exceeded what's usually observed after various forms of physical training.'

The team think the added weight tricked the body's personal weighing machine or 'gravitostat,' which works to keep body weight and fat levels constant.

Sixty-nine people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30-35, the lowest obesity category, took part in the clinical study

Half the study group wore vests weighing just 2.2lbs (1kg) while the others wore the heftier vests.

By the end of the experiment those who wore the light vests had lost 0.6lbs (0.3kg).

Although the study proved a link between the weighted vests and weight loss, it was unable to ascertain where the body weight as lost from.

Moderately obese people wore a vest filled with 24lbs (1kg) of weights for eight hours a day and lived their lives as normal. After 21 days, these people lost 5.2lbs (1.6kg) while maintaining their muscle mass. (stock photo)

Obesity may impair brain function Obesity's affect on the brain is poorly understood and a growing area of research. A study by the University of Alabama suggests weight gain impairs our cognitive functioning even in those without dementia. And brain scans taken of morbidly obese patients reveal older people who carry dangerous amounts of weight have higher levels of degradation of the brain cells. However, whether this also occurs in younger patients is unclear. Obesity has also been linked to a reduced attention span, as well as slower motor speed and information processing. Older people are consistently found to be more affected, which may be due to cognitive function declining with age anyway. And reduced cognitive functions may affect an obese person's ability to lose weight. Poor memory and functioning has also been linked to patients 'slipping' from their weight-loss programme after bariatric surgery. Source: Psychology Today Advertisement

The team were not able to determine whether the reduction in fat was subcutaneous or from belly fat, which is linked to heart diseases and diabetes.

It is believed the weight loss phenomenon occurs by duping the brain into thinking it weighs more than it actually does.

The presence of the innate scale  the gravitostat  first sprung up from a 2018 study.

It proved its existence in mice but this study, published in the journal EClinicalMedicine, proves it also exists in humans.

They think the weighted vests raise the gravitostat reading, resulting in weight loss, but many questions about how the in-built function works remain unanswered.

Now the researchers want to see whether the weight reduction continues for the vest wearers over periods longer than three weeks, and whether the novel weight-loss method targets dangerous visceral fat.

They also want to delve deeper into how the vest works to see how it impacts energy expenditure, appetite and mobility.

The study was published by Gothenburg University.
BEIJING, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Chen Chao and Long Yun from Science and Technology Daily:

"COVID-19 is the biggest crisis the world has faced since World War 2," Mr. Zhou Weisheng, a Professor from College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University said in an interview with Science and Technology Daily.

Dr. Zhou believes that the spread of COVID-19 further proves that we live a community of shared future for mankind with common benefits and risks. In order to achieve the goal of maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks, international cooperation and mutual support are required in both prevention and control of the pandemic and the protection of the global industrial chain.

China's experience has raised alerts from two aspects for the world

Zhou said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, the efforts and spirit of the Chinese people, such as the spirit of self-sacrifice, perspective of overall situation and coordinated actions, have shown the strength of the Chinese people with solidarity, and won a great amount of time for the world to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

At the same time, Dr. Zhou noted, China has raised alerts from two aspects for the world from the statistical results.

First, during the battle against COVID-19, China obtained the first-hand pathological data, which made the world well-informed about the fact that COVID-19 was spreading around the world extremely quickly; Second, China had to take the strictest measures to prevent and control the situation through city lockdown, which has alarmed the world by these bold measures.

China has won the world time to combat COVID-19 with first-hand experience

Viruses know no national borders, and many countries had experienced infectious disasters in the past. Dr. Zhou also emphasized that China has made contribution to the world.

The first one is to gain time for the world to prepare for dealing with COVID-19. Zhou Weisheng's lab is carrying out research on the policy initiatives of various countries since the beginning of the epidemic. His research team aims to sum up experience and lessons through quantitative analysis for better prevention in the future.

Zhou made a detailed introduction on the results of his research that there are two Modes of outbreak. Mode A (Area A) is the Cruise Ship Mode (such as Diamond Princess cruise ship, which refers to the rapid outbreak of infection in areas with high population density). And Mode B (Area B) is the Urban Mode (Wuhan in China, Italy, etc.). From the statistical analysis, in Mode A, the incubation period from the detection of the first infected case to the outbreak of infection is about 7 days. When it comes to Mode B, the incubation period from the detection of the first infected case to the outbreak of infection is about 30 days. That is to say, it is extremely important to take decisive measures within one month after the discovery of the first infected case.

According to the World Health Organization's timeline against COVID-19, on December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in China reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A novel coronavirus was eventually identified. And on January 23, 2020, China took a series of decisive prevention and control measures, which marked by Wuhan lockdown. In the face of this previously unknown pandemic, China has tried its best to fight against COVID-19 without any delay.

Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that China reported information to the World Health Organization regarding the outbreak (January 3). In the same day, China began to inform the United States about the pneumonia of unknown cause. Starting from January 3, China has been regularly informing the WHO, relevant countries and regions about the pneumonia of unknown cause. On January 12, China shared the genome sequences of the novel coronavirus with WHO and other countries in a timely manner, Wu also said.

In response to COVID-19, China has promptly released relevant information, shared experience and promoted international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner.

Sino-US cooperation is the 'best option' for all

In that urgent scenario, China had no previous experience to draw on and had to take prevention and control measures with careful trials. However, some countries could take measures in their own way while referring to China's experience.

US now has most COVID-19 cases in the world, with more than one million confirmed cases.

"As the world's largest developed country, the United States should have guided and supported the world in the effective prevention and control on the basis of China's experience. Some countries have underestimated the importance of China's experience in preventing the spread of novel coronavirus," Dr. Zhou said.

He sincerely hopes that China and the United States could not only fight against COVID-19 for their own people, but also work together to lead the world, especially developing countries, out of difficulties and overcome the catastrophic challenge.

"Determining the origin and route of the infection of novel coronavirus requires scientific and objective research. The region where the infection information was firstly publicly disclosed is not necessarily the origin of the novel coronavirus. Because it is possible that other affected areas have not been announced or the patients in these areas have been treated for other diseases such as influenza. Searching the origin of novel coronavirus should be supported by solid scientific evidence and intensive research. Every country in the world shares the same responsibility," Dr. Zhou Weisheng emphasized in the end.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1162315/Zhou_Professor.jpg
By Trudy Rubin





In mid-April, as the world was distracted by COVID-19, Beijing arrested 15 of the leading pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. They included the 81-year-old veteran lawyer Martin Lee, known as the father of the democracy movement, and Jimmy Lai, the media tycoon who still dares to criticize the Communist Party.



Clearly, Communist Party leaders in Beijing see the coronavirus shutdowns as an opportunity to crush the movement that brought millions of protesters to the streets last year to defy Beijing's efforts to curb their freedoms.



But the threat to Hong Kong democracy also reflects the growing threat that China's agenda presents to the world.



As I saw in visits to Hong Kong in 2018 and last November _ when I interviewed Lee, Lai and other activists _ the pro-democracy movement was a huge frustration to Beijing.



In times past, Chinese leaders adhered to the "one country, two systems" accord, signed with Britain in 1997, and endorsed internationally, that promised Hong Kong could keep its civic freedoms for 50 years.



But Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pressed Hong Kong leaders to shred that 1997 commitment, including universal suffrage. The open Hong Kong system was an affront to his efforts to tighten Communist Party rule over China and shut down any sources of information that contradict the narrative from Beijing.



Yet Hong Kongers refused to be quiet. Last year's protests were sparked when the territory's leaders tried to pass legislation permitting their citizens to be extradited for trial in China, where courts operate at the dictate of the Communist Party.



Beijing was stunned by the hundreds of thousands who turned out for protests (mostly peaceful, but a few that deteriorated into violence). I interviewed teenagers, wearing gas masks for protection, who were passionate defenders of rule of law, having studied details of Hong Kong's basic law in high school. (Can you imagine that here?)



Beijing was equally stunned when pro-democrats won a majority of district election seats late last year _ in a true David-vs.-Goliath victory. And Xi Jinping no doubt blamed Hong Kong when Taiwan's voters re-elected a president who takes a hard line toward Beijing. That's because the Hong Kong demonstrations made clear China's disdain for the "one country, two systems" promise that Xi was also promoting for Taiwan.



But why arrest Martin Lee and other pro-democracy elders now (beyond the COVID-19 cover)? I put that question to Joshua Wong, the 24-year-old founder of the pro-democracy Umbrella movement, who faces trial for a previous arrest in May.



"Beijing's intention is to silence the voice of dissidents before elections for the Legislative Council (Hong Kong's lawmaking body) in September," Wong told me by phone from Hong Kong. "They want to suppress even prominent senior leaders, like Martin and Jimmy Lai, who could influence those elections."



Yet there is another reason to silence Lai and pro-democrats: Hong Kong's amazing success in controlling the coronavirus early, in sharp contrast to the early debacle on the Chinese mainland. This success was based on an informed civic society, not on a hapless Hong Kong government beholden to Beijing.



With a population of 7 million, Hong Kong has recorded just over 1,000 cases and four deaths, according to recent figures. "We were able to overcome coronavirus better because we had no trust in Chinese information," says Wong.



Doctors and nurses went on strike to force the Hong Kong government to close the border with the mainland. With a good health system, and a previous experience with SARS, Hong Kong citizens took it on themselves to social distance and wear masks. A still vibrant Hong Kong press reported details that the mainland press could not. Which brings us to the broader message of Hong Kong's freedom struggle to the world. It was expressed eloquently recently by the dignified Martin Lee on a webcast organized by the Foreign Press Association.



"The key to China is Hong Kong," he argued. "If China wants to expand its influence in the world, it is important to show the world it always keeps its promises, its international agreements (as with the 1997 accord on Hong Kong freedoms). Otherwise people will say, 'How can you trust them?' People will get afraid of China." Indeed.



On that matter of trust, Lee added: "It is important to keep Hong Kong free in order to support correct information on the virus and vaccines. Hong Kong people know the virus started in Wuhan." (Of course, that is why Beijing wants to see Lai, owner of the Apple Daily newspaper, put in jail.)



It would be too easy to dismiss Hong Kong's case as hopeless, 7 million vs 1.3 billion. Yet, as China promotes its authoritarian vision as superior to democracy, Lee's words cut to the heart.



Asked if he fears prison, the slim, soft-spoken barrister replied: "The important thing all these years is that I am fighting for democracy, for rule of law. I devoted all my life to that cause and I am quite prepared to continue. I am at peace."



"But I hope the world is watching," he added. And it should be, because the experience with China's dishonesty over COVID-19 is a reminder to world leaders of the need to stand up to Beijing's misbehaviors.



One way to do that is to stand with Hong Kong.





Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


InCadence Strategic Solutions Corporation was selected as the prime contractor for the $3.4M Detainee Information Management System-Fusion (DIMS-F) contract. DIMS-F is a web based Automated Information System intended to be located in Theater Detention Facilities. It provides the military police community with accurate, timely, and efficient automated detainee management and tracking. InCadence looks forward to providing technical, engineering, cybersecurity, help desk, and system training support over the contracts base year and four option years. InCadence has several employees that helped design and field the original DIMS System to CENTCOM Theater Detention Facilities in the early 2000s, and we are excited to continue assisting the Government with technical support and training of such a vital system.

About InCadence Strategic Solutions Corp.

InCadence Strategic Solutions Corp. provides cutting-edge technical solutions for government and commercial clients in the areas of Biometrics and Identity Management, Data Solutions, Tactical Communications and Operational Intelligence Solutions. Founded in 2009, InCadence is recognized as a top government contractor, innovator and best place to work. It received the 2018 Government Contractor of the Year award by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. InCadence also received the 2017 Innovation Award by the Washington Business Journal The company was recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a Best Place to Work for 2019 and received the number one ranking for the 2018 list. It received consecutive bi-annual rankings for the Great Places to Work list by Washingtonian Magazine in 2019, 2017, 2015 and 2013. InCadence maintains a DCAA-approved accounting system, and certifications and standards of CMMI ML2 Dev, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 20000 and ISO 27000. Headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, InCadence is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/PV/D. For more information, visit InCadencecorp.com.
The Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has filed an appeal against a ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, confining him to stay in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Sowore filed the suit alongside his co-accused, Olawale Bakare, on five grounds at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court on October 4, 2019, granted bail of N100 million to Mr Sowore and N50 million to Mr Bakare.

Ms Ojukwu said Mr Sowore should produce two sureties in like sum.

Of the N100 million, N50 million was to be deposited with the court while the balance was to be put in place should Mr Sowore jump bail.

The court said Mr Sowores sureties must deposit tax clearance certificates for three years, 2016 to 2018, and documents of landed properties in Abuja.

The sureties were also to deposit affidavit of means for their assets.

The court ruled that when released after meeting his bail conditions, Mr Sowore should remain in Abuja till the case is determined while his co-accused, Mr Bakare, should not leave his place of residence in Osogbo except for the trial.

The court also said Mr Bakare should present one surety and a bail bond of N50 million.

But Mr Sowore, in his reaction, described the conditions given by the court as stringent and filed for a variation of the bail conditions.

On October 21, 2019, Justice Ojukwu set aside one of the bail conditions requesting a N50 million security deposit by one of the sureties in the bank account of the court.

Still dissatisfied, Mr Sowore approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to set aside the conditions that restricted him from addressing public gatherings and leaving the FCT.

Mr Sowore and Bakare are facing a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, fraud, cyberstalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

They have pleaded not guilty.

The appellate court has fixed May 6 for hearing.
With his sights set on reopening the United States economy, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that federal social distancing guidelines aimed at stemming the spread of COVID1-19 wont be extended after they expire on Thursday, the Associated Press reports.

The guidelines will be fading out because now the governors are doing it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

The 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidelines encouraged Americans to work from home, while avoiding restaurants, groups and unnecessary travel, the AP reports. Older Americans and those with serious health conditions were advised to isolate themselves. The guidelines were initially supposed to last 15 days but were extended an extra 30 days to expire on April 30. The federal government and most states have urged residents to avoid large gatherings and to remain at least six feet apart.

Earlier this month, the White House issued guidance that lays out how states can gradually ease stay-at-home orders and reopen their economies as the rate of new coronavirus cases slows, the report said. The social distancing guidelines are incorporated in the reopening recommendations, Vice President Mike Pence said.

The U.S. has now recorded more than 58,000 deaths from the virus, surpassing the total number of Americans who were killed in the Vietnam War. More than 1 million people have now tested positive. In Michigan, the total number of confirmed cases is 40,399, as of Wednesday, April 29, with 3,670 related deaths.

Michigans stay-at-home order is due to expire on May 15, but has already begun to loosen in some aspects, even while the most recent order requires people to wear face mask while inside public buildings. Whitmer confirmed Wednesday that she will sign an executive order this week to allow for construction work to begin again in Michigan, starting May 7.

RELATED: Masks now required, motorboating is back and AirBnb rentals are banned: Heres what changed in Michigans latest stay-home order

Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here

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:

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesnt infringe on constitutional rights

Protesters pack into Capitol, chant let us in when blocked from House proceedings

Thursday, April 30: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan
Prisoners of Miguel Castro Castro Jail in Peru staged a riot after more than 600 inmates tested positive for coronavirus.



Prisoners Stage a Riot in Peru

Miguel Castro Castro Jail in Peru has a capacity of fewer than 2,000 people, but at present, it has more than 5,500 inmates. This is one of the places on earth where social distancing could never be implemented due to the vast number of people sharing such a small area.

It was reported that 600 inmates in the prison became infected with COVID-19. It raised fears so much in the inmates that it forced them to riot in hopes of a possible breakout. The riot happened on Monday night, but authorities said that prisoners are now under control.

Moreover, the riot led to the death of nine inmates, wounded 60 guards, and five police officers. However, the relatives of inmates who died due to the riot claimed that the police officers opened fire on the prisoners.

Meanwhile, the police authorities are yet to give any comments about the accusation but have said nine inmates have been taken to the morgue for examination and autopsy to determine the cause of death.



Inmates at Lurigancho Staged Also a Protest on Tuesday

Just one day after the riot at Miguel Castro Castro Jail, another riot at Lurigancho, the country's largest prison located north of Lima, occurred. The protest lasted for two hours, where inmates demanded protection against COVID-19.

A banner held by prisoners read, "We're dying. Don't let us die infected. We need medicine."

The protest only ceased after the warden signed an agreement with the prisoners concerning their medical needs and to protect them from COVID-19, according to a recently published article.

Moreover, Lurigancho jail is a very overcrowded place. It was designed and built for 2,500 prisoners, but at present, they hold more than 10,000 inmates. It's obvious that social distancing is impossible in a place like this.

It can be recalled that Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra announced last week that he would release 3,000 inmates who are vulnerable to the virus as part of the humanitarian pardon to ease the overcrowding and to avoid an increase in the number of infected prisoners.

Gerson Villar, Peru's National Penitentiary Institute, said that one of the reasons prisoners staged the riot was because they clamored to be included on the list. During the riot, inmates hung signs demanding for their release as they burned mattresses.

The INPE said that they urged the prisoners to maintain a peaceful coexistence as the country is facing the global pandemic. Villar also said that problems like riots are not new, but was only aggravated due to the fears brought by COVID-19.

At present, Peru has more than 33,000 cases of COVID-19 and the virus has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 900 according to the real-time website worldometers.



Read related articles:
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: A phone call by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the delay in the Governor's decision on his election to the Upper House appears to have paid dividends.

Thackeray will now continue as Chief Minister by being elected as a member of the state legislative council rather than through the governor's quota.

To expedite this, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission requesting it to declare elections to the nine vacant seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council at the earliest.

In his letter, the Governor said the Centre has announced many relaxations in the enforcement of the lockdown in the country. Hence the elections to the council seats can be held with certain guidelines.

He further stated that since Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is not a member of either house of the state legislature, he needs to get elected to the Council before May 27, 2020.

The Election Commission had withheld the election process for these nine seats following the COVID-19 crisis.

The Governor made the request to the Election Commission to fill the nine seats in the legislative council that have been lying vacant since April 24 with a view to end the current uncertainty in the state.

Earlier, the Maharashtra cabinet had decided to seek the appointment of Uddhav Thackeray as a member of the Upper House from the governors quota. But the governor did not reject or approve this proposal on the grounds that the duration of these seats would expire on June 10, 2020. Therefore, the governor was reluctant to appoint Thackeray as a member of the Upper House.

The Maharashtra cabinet had also written to the Governor and the election commission to conduct the elections to nine seats of the state legislative council so that Thackeray can continue as Chief Minister.

A highly placed source in the Shiv Sena said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays recent phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid off. Thackeray had expressed his displeasure over the delay in the Governor's decision at a time of crisis. He requested Modi to look into this issue and clarified that this is not the time for politics. He said power can come and go and that we extended all support during the COVID-19 crisis and expect the same. After that, things moved faster with the Governor, said the source.

Uddhav has to be a member of either house by May 28, 2020. So, the state legislative councils elections to the nine seats can be conducted in a minimum of 14 days or a maximum of 24 days after the filing of nominations and withdrawals. These elections are likely to happen unopposed like the Rajya Sabha elections to seven seats in Maharashtra. So they can be wound up in 14 days also, said a senior Congress leader.
The unit has been developed by DRDL in consultation with the doctors of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Hyderabad

Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad has added another product to the portfolio of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) by developing COVID Sample Collection Kiosk (COVSACK).

The unit has been developed by DRDL in consultation with the doctors of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Hyderabad. The COVSACK is a kiosk for use by healthcare workers for taking COVID-19 samples from suspected infected patients. Patient under test walks into the Kiosk and a nasal or oral swab is taken by health care professional from outside through the built in gloves.

The Kiosk is automatically disinfected without the need for human involvement, making the process free of infection spread. The shielding screen of kiosk cabin protects the health care worker from the aerosols/droplet transmission while taking the sample.This reduces the requirements of PPE change by health care workers.

After the patient leaves the Kiosk, four nozzle sprayers mounted in the kiosk cabin disinfect the empty chamber by spraying disinfectant mist for a period of 70 seconds. It is further flushed with water & UV light disinfection. The system is ready for next use in less than two minutes. Voice command can be given through two-way communication system integrated with the COVSACK. It is possible to configure COVSACK to be used either from inside or outside as required by the medical professionals.

The COVSACK costs nearly Rs one lakh and the identified industry based at Belgaum, Karnataka can support 10 units per day. The DRDO has designed and developed two units and handed over these to ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad after successful testing.
USCIRF urges State Dept. to name India on top religious freedom violators list Bipartisan commission releases 2020 annual report highlighting global persecution

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has, for the first time since 2004, recommended that the State Department add India to its list of countries that engage in or tolerate egregious violations of religious freedom.

USCIRF, a bipartisan panel of religious freedom activists and scholars tasked with advising the White House, State Department and Congress on religious freedom matters, released its 2020 annual report Tuesday morning.



"While we do see some positive developments in some countries, we noted a noticeable deterioration of religious freedom in others," USCIRF Vice-Chair Nadine Maenza said on a press call on Tuesday.

The report is shorter than it has been in years past to be more accessible to policymakers and it emphasizes key findings that justify the commissions reasoning for recommending that 14 countries be designated as countries of particular concern.

The CPC designation is the State Departments highest designation when it comes to the issue of religious freedom, which carries with it the potential for crippling sanctions and other negative consequences for violating countries.

Currently, the State Department has designated nine countries as CPCs: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

In its report, USCIRF called for the redesignation of those nine countries and again urged that Vietnam, Russia, Syria and Nigeria also be designated as CPCs. This year, India was newly added to USCIRFs list for CPC designation.

India took a sharp downward turn in 2019, the report reads.

India had, since 2009, been labeled by USCIRF as a Tier 2 country of concern, a designation category that the commission eliminated in 2020.

"Perhaps the steepest and most alarming deterioration of religious freedom conditions [in 2019] was in India, the largest democracy in the world," Maenza told reporters.

USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins said "the majority of the commissioners believe [India] is trending in a very negative direction."

According to the report, violence against Christians in India increased in 2019 and there were at least 328 reported incidents of Christian persecution in 2019. The commission said attacks frequently targeted prayer services and led to the widespread shuttering or destruction of churches.

Last year, the Christian group ADF India reported that there were at least 1,000 incidents of Christian persecution in India between 2014 and 2015. Thus far in 2020, the United Christian Forum in India reports that there were 56 threats against Christians and 78 incidents of violence between January and March of 2020 including mob attacks on religious leaders, Christians and churches.

In 2018, the Supreme Court urged the central and state governments to combat lynchings with stricter laws. When, by July 2019, the central government and 10 states had failed to take appropriate action, the Supreme Court again directed them to do so, the USCIRF report noted.

Rather than comply, Home Minister Shah called existing laws sufficient and denied lynchings had increased, while the Home Ministry instructed the National Crime Records Bureau to omit lynchings from the 2019 crime data report.

The recommendation comes as some religious advocates have been concerned with the lack of vocal opposition in Washington to escalating religious freedom abuses being committed by radical Hindu extremists emboldened by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.

India ranks as the 10th-worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA.

USCIRF also stressed that the Indian national government has used its strengthened parliamentary majority to institute national-level policies violating religious freedom across India, especially for Muslims.

USCIRF held a hearing in March to address concerns regarding recently enacted Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which was meant to provide protection for non-Muslim religious minorities, and how it could result in thousands of Muslim citizens being rendered stateless.

The CAAs passage in December sparked nationwide protests that police and government-aligned groups met with violence, the USCIRF report reads.

[I]n Uttar Pradesh, the BJP chief minister Yogi Adityanath pledged revenge against anti-CAA protestors and stated they should be fed bullets not biryani. In December, close to 25 people died in attacks against protestors and universities in UP alone. According to reports, police action specifically targeted Muslims.

According to the report, over 1 million Muslim residents were excluded from the National Register of Citizens in Indias Assam state.

According to Perkins, the intentions of the national leaders is to bring the National Register of Citizens to the entire country. He said that if the National Register of Citizens is extrapolated out to other states, it will make it difficult for Muslims to prove their citizenship and there could potentially be 100 million people, mostly Muslims, left stateless because of their religion.

USCIRF voiced concerns with how national and state governments have allowed nationwide campaigns of harassment and violence against religious minorities to continue with impunity.

As cows are seen as sacred animals by Hindus, cow vigilantes have targeted people accused of slaughtering cows or consuming beef.

Police often arrest those attacked for cow slaughter or conversion activities rather than the perpetrators, the report reads.

In addition to the CPC designation, USCIRF calls on the U.S. to impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for violations of religious freedom by freezing their assets and barring them entry into the U.S.

The USCIRF report also calls on the State Department to place 15 countries on its less-severe Special Watch List for governments that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom.

The State Department already lists seven countries on the SWL. Those include Comoros, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sudan (previously listed as a CPC), Nigeria, Cuba and Nicaragua.

USCIRF calls on the agency to also designate Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Central African Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Turkey as SWLs.

The USCIRF report also highlights global abuses and trends that took place in 2019 and in early 2020.

For the first time in history, USCIRF is not recommending Sudan be designated as a CPC as the African countrys transitional government has instituted historic reforms, such as the repeal of a strict public order law that restricted the rights of women. Sudans new transitional constitution has eliminated reference to Islam as the primary source of law and includes a provision protecting freedom of belief and worship.

But as much work remains to be done in Sudan to guarantee freedom of belief for all, the USCIRF report affirms the State Departments SWL designation.

For the first time since 2005, USCIRF is not recommending that Uzbekistan be designated as a CPC since the government has made progress in addressing longstanding religious freedom concerns. According to USCIRF, Uzbekistan has banned authorities from raiding religious communities for unregistered activity or possession of religious literature.

Although things are improving in Sudan and Uzbekistan, the situation still remains dire for many of the countries highlighted in the report.

In Russia, at least 313 Jehovahs Witnesses were charged, put on trial or convicted for involvement in the religious group by the end of 2019. USCIRF notes that there were at least 489 raids conducted against the homes of Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia.

Last year also saw an increase in political activism among people wanting reforms in the East African country of Eritrea. However, the government responded harshly to both registered religious groups and unrecognized organizations.

According to USCIRF, religious actors in Eritrea were accused of political interference just for defending their beliefs or speaking out for human rights.

Christians were arbitrarily arrested and detained, including in waves of arrests in May of more than 171 adults and children gathering for worship around Asmara, the report stresses. In August, another 80 were reportedly arrested for practicing their faith.

In Tajikistan, government officials burned over 5,000 Baptist calendars after they were seized at Dushanbe International Airport and deemed to be propaganda of an alien religion.

USCIRFs report also touched briefly on the Trump administrations refugee policies as the president set a refugee resettlement cap of 18,000 refugees for the fiscal year 2020. The figure is the lowest annual cap set since the establishment of the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

And it calls for the U.S. to return the annual ceiling for the United States Refugee Admissions Program to the previously typical 95,000 refugees per fiscal year.

However, USCIRF praised the Trump administration for designating $25 million for restoring and rebuilding religious sites and houses of worship across the world, a key recommendation in USCIRF's 2019 report.



USCIRF also praised the administration for appointing an adviser on international religious freedom to the National Security Council, the fulfillment of another USCIRF recommendation.
BATON ROUGE, La., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LWCC announces the formation of a private foundation to continue furthering its visionto be a catalyst for elevating Louisiana. The foundation will focus on the areas of health, wellness, and safety in the workplace, and its leading initiative, Louisiana Well Again, will include a $1.1 million, three-phased response package to help Louisiana respond to and recover from COVID-19.

"For the last 28 years, LWCC has driven positive change in over 20,000 Louisiana businesses insured by the company through its initiatives including our annual dividend program, safety services consultants, investment portfolio, and dedicated care for injured workers," said Kristin Wall, LWCC President and CEO. "We want Louisiana to be a state that attracts the top businesses and leaders in our country. We believe that LWCC is best positioned to contribute to this pursuit by leveraging our resources and expertise to make Louisiana home to the healthiest and safest workforce in America."

LWCC piloted an initiative called Safe Schools in two Louisiana school districts and after finding initial success, formed the foundation to scale this program and support additional initiatives elevating Louisiana.

In late 2019, funding for the foundation was provided by an initial endowment from the LWCC Board of Directors. The LWCC Foundation defined its visionto make Louisiana home to the healthiest and safest workforce in Americaand its missionto inspire and create transformational change in Louisiana businesses and workers.

The foundation quickly realized that playing a role in the fight against COVID-19 is filling an immediate need and aligned with the organization's purpose, vision, and mission. Therefore, resources have been immediately repurposed to help alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on Louisiana citizens.

"History has shown that Louisiana is filled with optimistic and resilient people, but they need resources to overcome adversity. With the outbreak of COVID-19, we saw the need for immediate action and have stepped forward to address both the short- and long-term impacts of this disease. Towards this end, we launched the LWCC Foundation with a three phase gift and grant package: Louisiana Well Again: COVID-19 Response Package," said John Hawie, LWCC Foundation Board Chair.

The three phases of the Louisiana Well Again: COVID-19 Response Package include:

Phase 1 is a $100,000 gift to Feeding Louisiana, a state-wide nonprofit organization that supports food banks across the state.

is a gift to Feeding Louisiana, a state-wide nonprofit organization that supports food banks across the state. Phase 2 is a $500,000 grants program that will help hospitals across the state support the work of COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers. Funds will be distributed by June 2020 .

is a grants program that will help hospitals across the state support the work of COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers. Funds will be distributed by . Phase 3 is a $500,000 grants program to fund initiatives focused on improving the health, wellness, and safety of Louisiana workers in the wake of the COVID-19 peak. These initiatives will implement long-term solutions targeting long-existing vulnerabilities in Louisiana workers. This grants program will begin later in 2020 once there is greater clarity on the impacts of COVID-19 on Louisiana's workforce.

"As a catalyst for elevating Louisiana and its workers, we're proud to join so many other companies and organizations stepping up to help during these unprecedented times," said Angele Davis, Chairman of the LWCC Board of Directors. "We hope others will be empowered to leverage their resources and expertise to ensure Louisiana comes out of this stronger than ever before."

More information on LWCC's vision for elevating Louisiana, the LWCC Foundation, and Louisiana Well Again, including a link to the grant application for hospitals and hospital foundations, can be found at louisianaloyal.com.

The LWCC Foundation

The LWCC Foundation is a private foundation created by LWCC to formalize the company's commitment to their vision of being a catalyst to elevate Louisiana's position in America. Our mission is to inspire and create transformational change in Louisiana businesses and workers by partnering with nonprofits focused on health, wellness, and safety. Today, the best way we can be true to our mission and purpose is to help fight COVID-19. We have immediately repurposed the foundation's resources through Louisiana Well Again: COVID-19 Response Package, a $1.1 million commitment to help Louisiana respond to and recover from COVID-19 in three phases. Information about the foundation and Louisiana Well Again can be found at louisianaloyal.com/foundation.

LWCC  Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation

LWCC is a champion of Louisiana business and proud to be headquartered in the state capital, Baton Rouge. As a model single-state, private mutual workers' comp company, we promote safety, security, and stability in our state. LWCC is dedicated to excellence in execution from underwriting to life-long care of injured workers. We are proud to partner with our agents and together deliver outstanding service to our policyholders and their workers. Our commitment is to be there for Louisiana. Always. Our mission is to help Louisiana thrive by bettering our state one business and one worker at a time. LWCC has been recognized by industry leading benchmarker, AON, and named to the Ward's 50 group of top-performing insurance companies for achieving outstanding results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance over a five-year period, 2014-2018. For more information on LWCC and its services, please visit www.lwcc.com.

Media Contact

Seth Irby

LWCC Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer

[O] 225-231-0934

[email protected]

SOURCE LWCC

Related Links

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All aboard the social distancing express.

The first of NJ Transits new articulated buses, the ones that bend in the middle, hit the road this week on routes that had experienced overcrowding before the coronavirus crisis hit.

Now, in the era of social distancing and reduced capacity on buses and trains, the longer buses are helping riders keep their distance without having to wait for the next bus.

The agency also followed through on a commitment made in March to deploy the new buses on six routes that had seen commuter complaints of long wait times and overcrowding. The first of 25 new articulated buses delivered started operating on the busy 126 route in Hoboken on Tuesday, officials said.

The buses will replace 17 and 16-year-old buses that mostly operate on local and New York bus routes that have required more capacity.

The articulated buses transport a maximum of 100 people, compared to 56 passenger capacity that a regular 40-foot bus can move, said Michael Kilcoyne, NJ Transit general manager of bus operations last month.

The larger buses also will help riders observe social distancing requirements after an executive order by Gov. Phil Murphy reduced the number passengers allowed on buses and trains by 50%. The agency has deployed articulated buses on routes with larger numbers of riders than a smaller bus can handle to maintain social distancing, Kilcoyne said.

In these times of social distancing, the additional capacity on these buses is critical," said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit CEO and President in a statement. "Once the COVID-19 crisis subsides, these buses will play a major role in accommodating more customers and reducing wait times on the routes with the highest ridership.

They will allow service to be added to these New York commuter routes: 123 Jersey City-Union City, 126 Hoboken, 128 North Bergen Kennedy Boulevard east, 156 Englewood Cliff-Fort Lee, 158 Fort Lee-Edgewater and 159 Fort Lee, officials said in March.

NJ Transit ordered 85 of the longer buses under a $65 million contract with New Flyer in January 2019. The agency exercised an option to buy an additional 25 buses for $19.6 million in March. That purchase was funded with a $17 million Federal Transit Administration grant awarded last December. NJ Transit funded $2.4 million to purchase extra parts for the buses.

The new articulated bused will increase passenger capacity by more than 65 percent, NJ Transit officials said.

The agency has had to juggle frequency of bus service to transport essential workers and comply with the executive order to reduce passenger capacity by half. Officials added extra service to address customer complaints on specific route, until a schedule change was made on April 18.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
President Donald Trump Wednesday termed the World Health Organization literally a pipe organ for China and said the United States will soon come out with its recommendations on the global body, followed by one on Beijing.

They misled us, he said of the WHO on the coronavirus outbreak. We will have a recommendation pretty soon but we are not happy with the World Health Organization, Trump told reporters at his Oval Office of the White House.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

Trump has launched an investigation into the WHOs role in the spread of coronavirus and have accused it of siding with China during the pandemic. Pending an investigation, the President has stopped US aid to the WHO. The investigation would look into the role of China and as to how coronavirus spread from its Wuhan city.

On world health with China to follow, Trump said when asked to clarity about his comment on recommendation. On the World Health Organization or a recommendation on China or what do you mean? he was asked.

What are you hoping to learn about China and the World Health Organization with this investigation you have commissioned with the intelligence agencies? he was asked.

It is coming in and I am getting pieces already and we are not happy about it and we are by far the largest contributor to WHO,...and they misled us. I dont know. They must have known more than they knew because they came after what other people knew that werent even involved, Trump said.

We knew things that they didnt know and either they didnt know it or they didnt tell us or you know right now they are literally a pipe organ for China. That is the way I view it, he said.

Trump said, while the US on an average has given the WHO a financial aid between USD400 and USD500 million, and China is giving USD38 million. And yet, they seem to work for China and they should have been in there early, they should have known what was going on and they should have been able to stop it, he said.

Responding to a question, the President said that there are lots of different people whom the US can give this money to. We can give this money to lots of different incredible groups. There are a lot of groups out there. It doesnt have to go to the WHO. We can give it to groups that are very worthy and get much more bang for your buck, but were going to make a decision in the not-too-distant future, Trump said.

You talk about stopping the spread or stopping the embers that could have been stopped there. And then why did China allow planes to fly out but not into China, he said.

They allow planes to come out and planes are coming out of Wuhan and theyre coming out -- they are going all over the world. They are going to Italy very, very big time to Italy but they are going all over the world but they are not going into China, he said.

As such Trump said his Administration is coming up with a very distinct recommendation. There is nothing positive about what happened in China having to do with this subject, he said reiterating that China could have stopped the virus at the source.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

They didnt have to let airplanes fly out and loads of people come out and we are lucky, he said. Trump had banned flights from China in the last week of January.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained why the U.S. is reassessing its relationship with China.

The Secretary of State says free societies will pull through with the solutions required of this crisis.
One of the problems faced by health officials today is the vast number of asymptomatic carriers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as they can still transmit the virus. Therefore the testing of as many people as possible is crucial for immediate isolation of cases to prevent the virus from spreading further.

Testing is still a huge problem across many countries due to the lack of testing kits and equipment. Now, a team of scientists from Germany has developed a novel way to increase coronavirus testing capacity.

The study, which is published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, highlights the development of a procedure wherein countries can boost coronavirus testing capacity to meet the high demand for testing. Mass testing is essential in the early identification and isolation of people who do not manifest symptoms.

Researchers at the Institute of Virology at Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany, propose the pooling of samples prior to RNA reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR testing). When a group sample returns positive, that is the only time people will then need to be screened individually. This pooling approach reduces the number of tests needed and, therefore, test kits.

What is pool testing?

Pool testing is a method wherein the virus can be detected in samples that are combined for faster results. In this method, the resources are maximized, being able to test more people for the virus. For instance, swab samples from the nose or throat are combined in a buffer solution and tested for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2.

If a group of samples tested positive for the virus, that is the time they test each sample again to see which one yielded a positive result. In the study, the team investigated the viral load during symptomatic infection with the novel coronavirus, to determine the effect of pooling samples on the sensitivity of RT-PCR.

To do this, they compared the cycle threshold (Ct) values of pools that were positive with the Ct values of individual samples that tested positive. They isolated RNA from the swabs using an instrument called the NucliSens easy MAG. They have been using the procedure at Saarland University Hospital since mid-March to protect vulnerable patients from infection, especially from those who are unaware they are infected.

Since the screening method has proven successful, it has been used to screen residents and staff at nursing care homes in the area.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Med. Sigrun Smola. Image Credit: Rudiger Koop / UKS

To protect those groups with high mortality risk from the coronavirus, we need to prevent the introduction of the virus from asymptomatic individuals, including the medical and care staff that look after them. Groups most at risk include chronically ill hospital patients, such as those with cardiovascular disease or cancer, the elderly, and, most especially, the residents of nursing homes and residential care homes. Prevention is only possible if we use large-scale testing to identify asymptomatic contact persons and thus avert infection of the most vulnerable, Sigrun Smola, Professor of Virology at the Saarland University and Director of the Institute of Virology at Saarland University Hospital, said.

Saving on test kits

The new procedure can help reduce the demand for test kits since many countries are grappling with the coronavirus pandemic. Ramping up testing in many countries is crucial to prevent the rapid spread of the virus, which has now left many countries in lockdowns for months.

In the study, the researchers found that generating a pool of 30 samples from three sub-pools of ten samples can reduce retesting. Also, if the large pool turns out positive, the three sub-pools are reanalyzed, and then the individual samples.

When they analyzed the results of the pool testing method between March 13 and 21, they found that of the 1,191 samples, there was only a need for 267 tests, detecting 23 positive individuals.

The researchers suggest that pooling of up to 30 samples per pool can also boost test capacity with existing equipment and test kits. Further, pool testing can be used for asymptomatic carriers, while it can detect positive samples with enough diagnostic capacity.

We must mention that borderline positive single samples might escape detection in large pools. We see these samples typically in convalescent patients 1421 days after symptomatic infection. The pool size can accommodate different infection scenarios and be optimized according to infrastructure constraints, the team wrote in the paper.

Since the team has started using the method at a hospital, it is now being used to screen residents in 131 nursing and residential care homes in Saarland, where most patients are vulnerable. The testing in those facilities will help protect elderly groups who are at most risk from COVID-19 infection. An estimated 22,000 people will be tested.

We have also received numerous urgent inquiries from hospitals in Germany and abroad, as testing capacity limitations are proving to be a critical issue at this moment, Smola added.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Thursday he has seen evidence suggesting the novel coronavirus originated in a virology lab in Wuhan, China.

Trump did not provide any evidence to support that assertion, and he seemed to hedge a bit by saying there were many "theories" about the origin of the virus. He has repeatedly called for an investigation into the origin of the virus, part of what critics say is an effort to shift blame to China amid growing criticism of Trump's missteps in response to the crisis.

The president's comment on Thursday came just hours after his director of national intelligence, Richard Grenell, issued a statement on behalf of the U.S. intelligence community stating there was broad agreement the virus was not man-made or genetically modified.

But that statement left open the question of whether the virus was accidentally released by a laboratory in China, where the virus first emerged before spreading across the globe, or whether it came from animals and then jumped to humans, as the Chinese government has stated.

The intelligence community "will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan," the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, led by Richard Grenell, said in a statement.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested, without citing evidence, that the virus may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology  a theory that many scientists have disputed.

President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Monday, April 6, 2020, in Washington.

Trump seemed to lend credence to that theory on Thursday, even though the national intelligence director's statement said that question was unresolved.

Asked if he had seen "anything at this point that gives you a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the origin of this virus," Trump responded: "Yes I have. Yes I have."

Story continues

The president said he could not divulge what gave him that high degree of confidence. And he seemed to hedge on his assertion later, saying theres a lot of theories about the origin of the virus. Were going to see where it is, were going to see where it comes from, Trump said.

'A near impossibility': Experts doubt North Korea's claim of zero coronavirus cases

The New York Times reported Thursday morning that Trump administration officials were pushing US intelligence agencies to search for evidence supporting the theory it escaped the lab in Wuhan. Pompeo has been one of the administration's most public China critics amid the pandemic, and he has repeatedly raised questions about the security at Chinese labs that study potentially dangerous viruses.

"We dont know precisely where this virus originated from," Pompeo said Wednesday during a State Department press briefing. He complained that the Chinese government had not allowed U.S. scientists to access the Wuhan virology lab, a high-security biomedical facility. Pompeo said it's unclear if the lab has adequate safety precautions.

In a March 17 paper published by Nature Medicine, five scientists from the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Australia, said the scientific evidence shows the virus was not purposefully manipulated and that it most likely came from an animal.

"We do not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible," they wrote, although they also said "it is currently impossible to prove or disprove" other theories.

Critics say the White House is trying to deflect attention from Trump's own missteps in responding to the pandemic and point the finger at at China as he faces a tough reelection campaign.

"This is all about manipulating intelligence for political ends," Ned Price, a former CIA analyst who worked in the Obama administration, wrote in a tweet Thursday. "Whether the virus originated in a market or accidentally escaped a lab would have had no bearing on the warnings Trump received  and ignored  nor on the preparatory steps he chose not to take."

WHO chief: Public health 'superstar' or pro-China propagandist? WHO chief lands in US political crosshairs

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a daily press briefing in Geneva.

Theories about a possible leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology have circulated since January, largely among right-wing bloggers, some conservative media pundits and pro-Trump China hawks.

The theory that it came from the Wuhan lab is based on circumstantial evidence, such as the Wuhan Institute of Virology's history of studying coronaviruses in bats, the lab's proximity to where some of the infections were first diagnosed and China's lax safety record in its labs.

The World Health Organization has concluded that the virus was not manipulated or produced in a laboratory and said it probably came from an animal, as Chinese officials have asserted.

"It is probable, likely, that the virus is of animal origin," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said April 22.

Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump intelligence chief says COVID-19 not man-made
International Jazz Day is observed to connect artists, communities, schools, academics, historians and jazz enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate jazz. The day also raises awareness about intercultural dialogue and the immense history and heritage of Jazz, which is an over a century-old music genre.

The day was declared by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2011. The idea to commemorate this day came from jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock. International Jazz Day also aims at highlighting the immense role the youth can play in enacting social change across the globe.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the International Jazz Day says, In the peculiar circumstances of this International Jazz Day, as the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic, music is bringing people together and helping to keep hope alive.

The official UNESCO site quotes Nina Simone: Jazz is not just music, it is a way of life, it is a way of being, a way of thinking.

This Day is intended to raise awareness of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for empathy, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people. Many governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and private citizens currently engaged in the promotion of jazz music will embrace the opportunity to foster greater appreciation not only for the music but also for the contribution it can make to building more inclusive societies, the official site says.

What to expect on International Jazz Day 2020:

On account of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, artistes from around the world will be uniting virtually this year. A virtual global concert, hosted by Herbie Hancock, will also feature artists from across the globe and will be streamed live on jazzday.com.

Cape Town, South Africa was initially chosen as the prime location of International Jazz Day which has now moved into the virtual universe.

The concert is scheduled to begin at 1500 hours US eastern time and will feature performances by Marcus Miller, Lang Lang, Charlie Puth, Cecile McLorin Salvant, John McLaughlin, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sibongile Khumalo, Alune Wade, John Beasley, Ben Williams, Lizz Wright, John Scofield, Igor Butman, Evgeny Pobozhiy, Youn Sun Nah, A Bu, Jane Monheit, and Joey DeFrancesco, among others. A free series of educational masterclasses, childrens activities and discussions via web conference featuring renowned educators and jazz artists will also be available for jazz aficionados.

To mark the 9th year of International Jazz Day, heres a list of quotes by famous musicians that you can share with fellow jazz lovers:

- Jazz is not just music, its a way of life, its a way of being, a way of thinking. ~ Nina Simone

- Im always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up in the morning and see the light. ~ Miles Davis

- If you have to ask what jazz is, youll never know. ~ Louis Armstrong

- If music is a place  then jazz is the city, folk is the wilderness, rock is the road, classical is a temple. ~ Vera Nazarian

- Jazz stands for freedom. Its supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and dont be a perfectionist  leave that to the classical musicians. ~ Dave Brubeck

- Life is a lot like jazz  its best when you improvise. ~ George Gershwin

- Jazz is a feeling, more than anything else. It isnt music, its language. ~ Enos Payne

- As far as playing jazz, no other art form, other than conversation, can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction. ~ Stan Getz

- Thats the thing about jazz: its free-flowing, it comes from your soul. ~ Billy Crystal

- Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time. ~ Ornette Coleman

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An Offaly band based in the US have picked up an international award for their latest album.

Posting on Facebook, JigJam said: "We just received the amazing news that Phoenix has won Album of the Year for Best Americana Album in the Independent Music Awards.

"Were absolutely over the moon to receive such a prestigious award and to get recognition from such a star-studded panel of judges is such a huge honour."

Made up of Jamie McKeogh, Daithi Melia, Cathal Guinan and Gavin Strappe, JigJam have taken the bluegrass scene by storm in the States.

McKeogh, Melia and Guinan are Tullamore lads while Strappe hails from Tipperary, completing the quartet of talented musicians.

JigJam keep Offaly at the heart of their music, evident through the names of one of their earlier albums being called 'Tullamore to Boston,' a foot-stomping, roof-raising love letter to their hometown.

Further reacting to their latest award win, the band said: "Huge thanks to everyone at The Independent Music Awards and congratulations to all the other award winners.

"Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the awards ceremony which was scheduled for June in New York City will not take place, however, a virtual celebration of the awards will be carried out online instead.

"Thanks again to everyone who supported this album along the way, its very much appreciated."
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain pleas filed by lawyers associations of the apex court which sought directions to the Centre for formulating a scheme to support advocates and other professionals in paying their office rent during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The top court said that prayers in the PILs filed by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and lawyers of Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), are unreasonable and no special consideration can be granted to the lawyers.

A bench of Justices N V Ramana, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B R Gavai dismissed the petition and granted liberty to senior advocate Kailash Vasudeva, appearing for SCBA to withdraw the plea.

During the hearing Vasudeva said they were not saying rent should not be charged but the non-payment of rent should not be made a ground for eviction during the lockdown.

The bench shot back, tomorrow engineers will come, architects will come. How can we give special consideration to lawyers? This is unreasonable for us to do. There may be old ladies, aged persons as landlords. How can we say this?



Vasudeva said there are high density areas and lawyers may lose their office spaces due to non-payment of rents during lockdown period.

The bench said it would not enter into this issue as lawyers are not entitled for any special consideration.

The senior advocate sought liberty of the court to withdraw the petition saying he would then make a representation to the government.

The SCBA had on April 22, filed an intervention application in a PIL filed by Aljo K Joseph, member of Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association (SCAORA), seeking direction to the Centre for formulating a scheme to support advocates and other professionals in paying their office rent during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The PIL filed by Joseph through advocate Sachin Sharma contends that due to the nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, they are not able to practice and make any money.

"Since there is no financial protection given to lawyers and other professionals by the government of India, the present petition has been filed to urge grievances and hardship caused to the lawyers and professionals in this country due to the COVID-19 and unavoidable lockdown pursuant to the epidemic situation in India," the plea has said.

It has said that the Centre declared the lockdown without any consultation with any of the professional associations and no specific steps have been taken by it to extend any help to support working professionals.

The plea has sought directions to the Centre to formulate an appropriate scheme to support advocates and other professionals in the country in paying their rent exclusively for the professional premises used for practice of the professions or office purpose.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kansas governor, 2 churches reach deal on allowing in-person worship

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Kansas has reached an agreement with two churches to extend a temporary restraining order that allows them to hold in-person worship services of more than 10 people despite a statewide stay-at-home order.

Governor Laura Kelly agreed with First Baptist Church of Dodge City and Calvary Baptist Church of Junction City to extend the order exempting them from the ban from May 2 to May 16.

In an agreed motion filed Saturday and pending official approval from a judge, the two parties allowed the extension due to the possibility that the governor will extend her overall executive order restricting in-person gatherings past the planned May 3 expiration date.

A one-time 14-day extension of the TRO would allow parties adequate time, if needed, to conduct limited discovery and briefing in the event the Plaintiffs believe new restrictions present in a new Executive Order are not constitutionally sound, says the agreed motion.

Kelly explained in a statement that she still was convinced that her executive order against all mass gatherings would eventually be vindicated.

While I am confident that we have the law on our side, the agreement with these two churches will allow us to move forward and focus our efforts on mitigating the spread of the disease and working to restart the economy, she stated, according to AP.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm representing the two churches, approved of the agreement but took issue with Kellys interpretation of the events.

The governor claims that she and her administration are confident that we have the law on our side, but if this were true, the governor would not be consenting to an agreed motion, stated ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker.

We reserve the right to continue litigating this matter if Gov. Kelly does not follow through with appropriately amending her mass gathering ban. This is a victory for the churches whose First Amendment freedoms the governor has repeatedly disrespected throughout this ongoing litigation.

Days before Easter Sunday, Kelly issued an executive order expanding an earlier ban on gatherings of over 10 people so that it included religious services.

In a statement defending the measure, Kelly explained that it was a difficult decision to reach, but considered it necessary to curb the spread of coronavirus.

As Holy Week gets underway  and with Kansas rapidly approaching its projected peak infection rate in the coming weeks  the risk for a spike in COVID-19 cases through church gatherings is especially dangerous, said Kelly.

Ive said repeatedly during this crisis that we will adjust to circumstances as they develop to make sure we do everything we can to protect Kansans.

The churches filed suit in response, with United States District Court Judge John W. Broomes of the District of Kansas granting them temporary relief from the order.

 while these executive orders begin with a broad prohibition against mass gatherings, they proceed to carve out broad exemptions for a host of secular activities, many of which bear similarities to the sort of personal contact that will occur during in-person religious services, concluded Broomes.

Plaintiffs have made a substantial showing that development of the current restriction on religious activities shows religious activities were specifically targeted for more onerous restrictions than comparable secular activities.
By IANS

BRASILIA: As the coronavirus pandemic has worsened in Brazil with the total of cases increasing to 79,685 with 5,513 deaths, President Jair Bolsonaro has blamed the state governors for the situation.

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry warned that the virus was relentlessly advancing in the country, but the President insisted on underestimating the severity of the epidemic, the peak of which is expected to arrive between May and June, reports Efe news.

Addressing the media outside the Palacio de la Alvorada, Bolsonaro's official residence in Brasilia, he said that "the invoice" of the deceased has to be sent to governors and mayors, who have been the main advocates of adopting isolation measures against COVID-19.

ALSO READ | Brazil's Supreme Court authorizes investigation of President Jair Bolsonaro

"They have to answer," he said, adding they could not make him shoulder the responsibility.

When asked what his responsibility would be in the crisis, the head of state replied: "The question is so idiotic that I am not going to answer you."

Bolsonaro, who has invited Brazilians to return to work, also generated controversy on Tuesday by insinuating that he could not do anything in the face of the increase in victims because, according to him, the Constitution does not allow it.

"So what? I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do?" he said, and added he could not "work miracles".

ALSO READ | Brazil edges toward being next big coronavirus hotspot

Bolsonaro, who has classified the quarantine measures as a "crime", on Wednesday decreed to expand the list of essential activities, which included tire shops or road hotels, although he said that the direction to allow the operation of these businesses is up to states and municipalities.

Since the beginning of the crisis, Governors and Mayors have largely ignored Bolsonaro and followed the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.

The President's anger has focused mainly on Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria, and Rio de Janeiro governor Wilson Witzel, who are at the forefront of the regions hardest hit by the coronavirus and have decreed "soft" quarantines in their territories.

Doria responded to Bolsonaro on Wednesday, inviting him to get out of the "bubble" of Brasilia and "his world of hate," and visit some hospitals to see the "dying people".

"You said that Brazil is experiencing a 'flu', and now? With more than 5,000 deaths, do you continue to say that the country is experiencing a pandemic of a little 'cold'?" Doria asked the far-right leader whom he supported in the 2018 electoral campaign.

According to the estimates of the government of Sao Paulo, the death toll from coronavirus, which is now 2,247, would have been 10 times higher in the region without isolation measures.

Health Minister Nelson Teich, who replaced Luiz Henrique Mandetta, a supporter of social distancing and fired by Bolsonaro, acknowledged two weeks ago that the curve is growing.

Brazil registered the first death due to coronavirus on March 17 and reached 1,000 deaths after 24 days.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many across Canada and around the world have faced urgent economic hardships, including university students.



Some students have suddenly been unable to return home or have required unexpected expenditures to get there. Others have struggled to acquire urgent housing or are dealing with the loss of expected summer employment. Many have already or will be able to receive help through government programs (such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and new initiatives just announced last week by the Government of Canada) but for others the need is outside those boundaries, or too urgent to wait.



Jenna Upshaw (pictured) was nearing the end of her internship in Health Promotion when the COVID-19 shutdowns began. She was able to complete the final three weeks at home, but with her post-graduation plans all radically changed, she found herself with no income and ineligible for the CERB.



I'm a single mother of a four year old who was born in my first year of university, so there was never any time to work, being a full-time student, and I really wanted to concentrate on getting good grades as well, she explains. So when I found out that I wasn't eligible, I was like, What am I going to do? I had a little bit of student loan savings for the rest of April, but after April I had absolutely nothing.



Through Dalhousies Student Emergency Relief Fund, she was able to acquire an emergency bursary to help her family in the short term  a bridge to help them get through until she can find work, ideally, in her field, or until other programs (like the new federal Canada Emergency Student Benefit) can provide support.



When I heard about the bursary I was ecstatic, says Jenna. I was like it will get me through at least another month.



Being there for our community



In mid-March, when the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit close to home for Dalhousie and its students, the university responded by developing a short-term emergency financial support program over and above its existing financial aid programs.



Some of those who reached out to Dalhousie for help were students who, for health reasons, were required to leave residence early. Some were international students who needed to urgently travel home or could not return home due to travel, while some required technology to complete their studies.



Immediately, Dal began redirecting available funds to the COVID-19 emergency bursary and short-term loan programs to meet this need. Within just the first couple of weeks, Dal had fulfilled 400+ requests for funding, getting money into students pockets as quickly as possible.



We have all been doing what we can to help our students in this unique scenario  as an institution, and as community, says President Deep Saini.

Learn more: COVID-19 Financial Resources



And its about more than just funding, as well. Dals team of advisors have been helping students identify external funding sources they might not be aware of, providing budgeting advice and many other sorts of one-on-one counsel.



Students are facing a variety of challenges, including financial stress, says Rebecca Koeller, associate director, student awards & financial aid. As new federal and provincial assistance is being announced or changed regularly, it can be difficult for students to know what applies to them. Were here to support them as they navigate the various supports available at Dalhousie, as well as in their communities, and through government programs.



In addition to individual advising, Dalhousie has created a new webpage  dal.ca/financialresources  to help guide students through their options and highlight helpful strategies in managing their expenses.



The outpouring of support extends beyond Dals walls as well.



Many of our alumni, friends and partners have reached out to ask how they can help our students during this trying time, adds Dr. Saini. Their compassion and generosity are a testament to the strength of our community and of their commitment to our students.



Generous support for Dals students



In response to these requests, Dalhousie launched a set of crowdfunding campaigns through its projectDAL crowdfunding site: a way for others to contribute to specific needs among Dals student community.

The Student Emergency Relief Fund is helping students facing urgent financial hardships for things such as travel, housing or food costs.

The Student Technology Fund has been supporting students with funds to help access technology needed to continue their studies remotely.

The Community Connection Project is about finding ways for the Dal community to offer support by means of jobs, mentorship or housing solutions.

Since launching on April 1, more than 350 donors have generously given to the campaigns. And thanks to Dalhousies relationship with its affinity partner TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, the universitys alumni office is able to direct $10,000 towards the Student Emergency Fund. Through all this generosity, Dalhousie has been able to provide financial support to more than 800 students and counting, helping them manage unexpected hardships in this pandemic.



For Vice-Provost Student Affairs Ivan Joseph, seeing the community unite behind Dals students has been truly inspiring.



During these trying times, my spirt has been buoyed by the tremendous outpouring of kindness and generosity our Dalhousie community has demonstrated to support our students as they try to navigate their way through this pandemic to continue their academic journey, says Dr. Joseph.



Working to help students



Currently, about 25 financial support inquiries are coming in each day. Advisors are connecting with students quickly to learn more about their unique situations to determine which sources of funding are most applicable to them.



Students are approved for funding based on their demonstrated need and their limitations in accessing other sources of funding. (As new government programs are announced or are expanded, Dalhousie is currently focusing its university financial support on students who may not be eligible for these programs as well as those in other areas of need.) The applications are reviewed by a committee of advisors and representatives of the Registrars Office, International Centre, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Student Affairs. Applications are being reviewed at least two-to-three times per week, with funding released within 48-72 hours of a decision.



For more information, international students should contact the International Centre at international.centre@dal.ca. (For immediate questions, students can leave a voicemail at the International Centre at 902-484-1566). Domestic students should contact the Registrars Office Financial Aid team at financialemergency@dal.ca.



Helping others



For Jenna, now at home with her son in Halifax, she hopes to find work in her field when she is able to and ideally move outside the city. I always wanted a more rural life.



And while shes disappointed she wont be able to cross the Convocation stage in May due to COVID-19, shes keen to do so in the future, and she hopes to connect with her classmates for a virtual graduation party at the end of May. Just being connected to classmates during this time because we're all going through it together is important.



How you can help

Fundraising continues to help students in need during this pandemic. Visit projectDAL.ca and learn how you can contribute. Every donation, no matter how large or small, makes a difference.
MIAMI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE:TIUM.U) (OTCQB: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company") today announced completion of the sale of the Company's non-core operations in Puerto Rico. Under terms of the sale, PRICH Biotech Corp. ("PRICH") acquired the operational assets, including applicable cannabis licenses, and assumed certain liabilities, in exchange for approximately $670,000 in cash. In addition, PRICH will pay the Company a royalty on future sales of Fluent-branded products, commencing on the closing date. The sale has already received regulatory approval.

Neal Hochberg, Executive Chairman of the Board, commented, "The sale of our Puerto Rican assets is consistent with our ongoing objective to generate value from the Company's non-core assets and to prioritize capital allocation toward large, profitable growth opportunities in Florida, where we currently operate 20 medical marijuana dispensaries under the Fluent brand name, and in other U.S. markets, including Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania."

About Cansortium Inc.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, and operating under the Fluent brand, Cansortium is focused on being the highest quality cannabis company in the State of Florida driven by unrelenting commitment to operational excellence from seed to sale. Cansortium has developed strong proficiencies in each of cultivation, processing, retail, and distribution activities, the result of successfully operating in the highly regulated cannabis industry. In addition to Florida, Cansortium is seeking to create significant shareholder value in the attractive markets of Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania, where the Company has secured licenses and established operations.

Cansortium Inc.'s common shares and warrants trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and "TIUM.WT.U", respectively, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol (OTCQB: CNTMF). Investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release, may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in the public documents of the Company available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For further information:

www.getfluent.com

SOURCE Cansortium Inc

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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 1, 2020 06:01 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd553adc 1 National digital-strikes,digital-protests,MayDay,omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,layoffs,THR,Idul-Fitri-bonuses,coronavirus,COVID-19,demo-buruh Free

A coalition of three major labor unions in the country calling itself the the Indonesian Labor Workers Assembly (MPBI) is preparing to organize May Day digital strikes, demanding an end to the deliberation of the omnibus bill on job creation.

The coalition previously planned to hold the rally on the streets on Thursday.



The unions agreed to cancel the street protests after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced last Friday that the government had reached a deal with the House of Representatives to delay deliberation of the labor provisions within the bill.

The May Day online protests are to take place on the Twitter, Facebook and Instagram platforms of the coalition members' accounts.

As of Thursday, a hashtag, #demodarirumah (rally from home), popped up in several social media platforms, mostly voicing opposition to the omnibus bill.

Said Iqbal, president of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI)  one of MPBIs members  said on Thursday that even without street protests, the coalition would still call on the government to withdraw the omnibus bill from deliberations.

"We ask the government to issue a Keppres [Presidential Decree] to allow trade unions to join the drafting team so that the bill will accommodate the publics interests, he said.

Di Saat Pandemi, Buruh Tetap Peringati May Day https://t.co/DEbEzzWQ8h  FSPMI KSPI (@FSPMI_KSPI) April 30, 2020

The coalition also demanded job protections amid the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that airlines, hotels, travel agents, restaurants, logistic firms, online transportation services, digital economic firms, as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) had seen the most layoffs.

"The number could reach 80 to 90 percent of the total number of layoffs amid the pandemic.

Manpower Ministry data show that more than 1.9 million workers in both the formal and informal sectors had either been furloughed or laid off as of April 19, as companies temporarily halt operations to comply with large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). However, Iqbal said, not all sectors had been equally hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Don't use the pandemic [as an excuse] not to pay full THR [Idul Fitri holiday bonuses], wages or severance pay [for laid-off workers]," he said.

The coalition also noted that many workers were forced to continue working as normal amid the pandemic and demanded that the government and employers ensure workers were better protected.

"Many of them have been infected with COVID-19, for example in PT Denso Indonesia, PT Eds Manufacturing Indonesia (PEMI) and PT Yamaha Music. They are giant companies. The workers have been infected [with the virus] and some of them have died," Iqbal said.

Read also: As COVID-19 bites, current labor rules can protect jobs

The coalition plans to display banners outside company offices and other strategic places in protest.

Andi Gani Nena Wea, president of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI)  also a MPBI member  said the three labor unions would also replace the May Day street rally with social service activities on Friday.

"We will distribute PPE and hand sanitizer to hospitals in Bekasi, Jakarta and Tangerang. Workers will do the same in their respective regions, he said.

Labor groups the Inter-Factory Laborers Federation (FBLP), the All-Indonesia United Workers Confederation (KPBI) and SINDIKASI, a trade union for media and creative industry workers, are also calling for deliberations on the job creation bill to be stopped so the government and the House can focus on COVID-19.

"We don't need them to delay deliberations of part [of the bill]. We demand deliberations of the entire bill be stopped, Ellena Ekarehendy of SINDIKASI said.
Today, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) committed $13.6 million to stand up a large-scale research collaboration between UC San Francisco (UCSF), Stanford University, and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZ Biohub) that aims to better understand the spread of COVID-19 across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Over the next nine months, the consortium will support two long-term studies. The first, which will sample a broad, representative population of the Bay Area, will provide data crucial for informing policy decisions about how to safely reopen California's economy and how to make sure transmission remains low while we await a vaccine. The second, which is focused on Bay Area healthcare workers, will examine whether COVID-19 antibodies protect individuals against reinfection, and if so, for how long. The information could be critical to protecting frontline healthcare workers around the globe.

To reopen society in the Bay Area and keep healthcare workers safe, we need to first understand the epidemiology of this disease. How much of our population is currently infected with COVID-19? How prevalent is asymptomatic spread? And how can we use this information to better understand who may still be at risk in the future? There is no shortcut to answering these questions -- it will require testing, retesting, and the sort of rigorous public health surveying this program is focused on in California. We're grateful to help accelerate this work and partner with Stanford and UCSF -- two of our state's and the world's greatest scientific research institutions -- to help find these answers." Dr. Priscilla Chan, CZI co-founder and co-CEO

Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary, said, "One of the critical steps for California to begin gradually reopening our economy is wrapping our arms around community surveillance, so that we continue to be guided by science. We are grateful to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, UCSF, and Stanford University for adding to this critical body of data."

In the first study, the consortium, led by Principal Investigators Yvonne A. Maldonado, M.D. (Stanford), and George W. Rutherford, M.D. (UCSF), will contact Bay Area residents by letter, with follow-up phone calls, to recruit a representative sample of roughly 4,000 Bay Area residents. To enroll in this study, participants must have previously tested negative for COVID-19 and be following state-required shelter-in-place guidelines now in place in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.

Members of the study cohort will be tested once per month through December 2020 using both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic testing to determine the rate of new infections, as well as serological ("antibody") testing to understand if participants had unknowingly been infected but recovered over the course of a given month. The viral genomes from all positive samples will be sequenced by researchers at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub in order to identify local transmission chains or introductions of virus from outside the Bay Area, in addition to informing whether co-infections with other pathogens play a significant role. Altogether, the combined data will provide critical insights into the changing rates of COVID-19 infections as the Bay Area begins to return to work.

In a second study--led by infectious disease specialists Sarah Doernberg, M.D. (UCSF Health), Marisa Holubar, M.D. (Stanford Medicine), and Vivek Jain, M.D., M.A.S. (Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital)--the consortium will examine the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems and their workforce.

Researchers will recruit a cohort of roughly 3,500 Bay Area healthcare workers who previously tested negative for COVID-19 and retest them weekly for at least 12 weeks using PCR and serological testing. The goal is to determine the rate at which healthcare workers acquire COVID-19 with or without symptoms. Healthcare workers found to be seropositive on recruitment will be followed in parallel through December 2020 to better understand their immunity and likelihood of reinfection. There are currently significant knowledge gaps regarding the nature of immunity to COVID-19. This study will help surface critical insights to better protect frontline healthcare workers.

"The knowledge we gain from these studies will be crucial to understanding the effects of COVID-19 on our region and protecting healthcare workers here and around the world. It's inspiring to see researchers engaging in the kind of robust collaboration we will need to better understand and manage this crisis," said Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne. "We are proud to work with UCSF and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, who are outstanding partners in advancing biomedical research to solve the world's toughest challenges."

UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood said, "Though we are still in the midst of responding to the first phases of this pandemic, we must also look to the future. By assembling reliable data on COVID-19 prevalence and exposure in our region, we can help protect our Bay Area healthcare workforce and better determine when and how we can safely begin to reopen our state's economy. Through this new partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, CZ Biohub, and our colleagues at Stanford, we will build a foundation for science-based policies that can guide California and the nation in the challenging months ahead."

"As California begins to move to a new normal, we need responsible, thoughtful and scientifically sound action to continue protecting our citizens," said Yvonne Maldonado, professor of pediatrics and of health research and policy at Stanford Medicine. "We are eager to partner with our colleagues at UCSF and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to learn whether and how the virus spreads in the coming months and if previous infection confers lasting immunity. This knowledge will be critical in coming months as we explore new treatment and prevention options for the novel coronavirus."

George Rutherford, professor of epidemiology, preventive medicine and pediatrics at UCSF, said, "The data produced by this study will be not only instrumental in deciding when and how to relax our stringent public health interventions but also to monitor the population for new transmissions going forward. These data will be crucial to informing rational public health practice."
PITTSBURGH, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

First quarter highlights:

Consolidated net sales of $2.0 billion , flat versus prior year

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales of 80.9%

Gross margin of 19.1%, up 50 basis points sequentially

Operating profit of $60.9 million , including $4.9 million of merger-related expenses

Earnings per diluted share of $0.82

Diluted EPS of $0.91 adjusted for merger-related transaction costs

Operating cash flow of $31.5 million

Free cash flow of $15.8 million , or 46% of net income

Anixter transaction on track to close in Q2 or Q3

Substantial progress made in integration planning

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC), a leading provider of electrical, industrial, and communications maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products, construction materials, and advanced supply chain management and logistics services, announces its results for the first quarter of 2020.

Mr. John J. Engel, WESCO's Chairman, President and CEO, commented, "In these challenging times, we are committed to super-serving our customers while ensuring the integrity of their supply chains. All of our branches remain operational and we have taken the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of our employees through implementing increased safety, sanitizing and social distancing protocols. Through the middle of March, our first quarter results were on track with our outlook. We had a strong start to the year with sales growth within our expected range and sequentially improving gross margins. In mid-March, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and government-imposed shutdowns impacted our customers and suppliers across all of our end markets. Through these difficult times, our top priority at WESCO is the health and safety of our employees and their families, our customers and supplier partners, our shareholders and the communities in which we operate. WESCO has been deemed an essential business and provides mission-critical electrical, industrial, utility and communications solutions that enable our customers to efficiently, effectively and safely operate their businesses. We have provided products to help maintain power to homes and essential businesses, connectors and cabling for broadband services to support virtual and remote work, and essential equipment for data center operations to meet the increased demand for bandwidth. We have also utilized our global scale and supply chain relationships to procure personal protective equipment for our customers and our employees. I would like to recognize and thank all of our WESCO associates for their inspirational dedication, commitment and hard work in managing through this crisis."

Mr. Engel continued, "Integration planning activities for the transformational combination of WESCO and Anixter are accelerating and we are more excited than ever about our opportunity to create the premier electrical and datacom distribution and supply chain services company. Our integration teams, comprising both WESCO and Anixter personnel, are working on numerous value creation initiatives for launch upon closing. We are highly confident in exceeding our three-year cost savings, sales growth and cash generation synergy targets communicated last month. We continue to be on track to close the transaction in the second or third quarter. With the challenging economic cycle we're facing near term, this strategic combination remains compelling as we're doubling the size of our company and will transform the new enterprise through execution of the integration plan and delivery of the synergies."

Mr. Engel concluded, "As we have in prior economic downturns, we are aggressively managing the business and have taken a series of cost reduction and cash management actions. We have successfully managed through every crisis we have faced over the last 25 years, and we will do so again. The duration of the current downturn and shape of the economic recovery remain uncertain, and as a result, we are withdrawing our prior guidance for the year. WESCO supports critical infrastructure needs and the essential businesses of our customers around the world, and benefits from the resiliency of our operating model and the counter-cyclical free cash flow generation of our business. We remain focused on what we can control  our strategy, our investments, our team, and our execution, and we are confident that we will emerge an even stronger company through this cycle, as we have in the past."

The following are results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019:

Net sales were $2.0 billion for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019. Organic sales for the first quarter of 2020 declined by 1.7% as the number of workdays and acquisitions positively impacted net sales by 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Net sales growth through the first ten weeks of the quarter were offset by declines during the last two weeks of March.

Cost of goods sold for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019 was $1.6 billion , and gross profit was $376.4 million and $382.5 million , respectively. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 19.1% and 19.5% for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively. Sequentially, gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased 50 basis points from 18.6%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $299.4 million , or 15.2% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $296.6 million , or 15.1% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2019. SG&A expenses for the first quarter of 2020 include $4.6 million of costs related to WESCO's merger with Anixter International, as announced on January 10, 2020 . Adjusted for these costs, SG&A expenses were $294.8 million , or 15.0% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2020.

Operating profit was $60.9 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $70.7 million for the first quarter of 2019. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 3.1% for the current quarter, compared to 3.6% for the first quarter of the prior year. Adjusted for merger-related costs of $4.6 million , operating profit was $65.5 million for the first quarter of 2020, or 3.3% of net sales.

Net interest and other for the first quarter of 2020 was $16.5 million , compared to $17.1 million for the first quarter of 2019. Net interest and other for the first quarter of 2020 includes approximately $0.5 million of interest for borrowings against our accounts receivable securitization facility to fund the $100.0 million termination fee described below.

The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2020 was 23.1%, compared to 21.7% for the first quarter of 2019. The higher effective tax rate in the current quarter is primarily due to the unfavorable effect of discrete income tax expense associated with stock-based awards. The effective tax rate for the current period would have been 21.4% without this discrete impact.

Net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. was $34.4 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $42.4 million for the first quarter of 2019.

Earnings per diluted share for the first quarter of 2020 was $0.82 , based on 42.1 million diluted shares, compared to $0.93 for the first quarter of 2019, based on 45.5 million diluted shares. Adjusted earnings per diluted share for the first quarter of 2020 was $0.91 .

Operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2020 was $31.5 million , compared to $28.9 million for the first quarter of 2019. Free cash flow for the first quarter of 2020 was $15.8 million , or 46% of net income, compared to $18.0 million , or 43% of net income, for the first quarter of 2019.

Webcast and Teleconference Access

WESCO will conduct a webcast and teleconference to discuss the first quarter of 2020 earnings as described in this News Release on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. E.T. The call will be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed from the Investor Relations page of the Company's website at www.wesco.investorroom.com . The call will be archived on this internet site for seven days.

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC), a publicly traded Fortune 500 holding company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading provider of electrical, industrial, and communications maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products, construction materials, and advanced supply chain management and logistic services. 2019 annual sales were approximately $8.4 billion. The company employs approximately 9,500 people, maintains relationships with approximately 30,000 suppliers, and serves approximately 70,000 active customers worldwide. Customers include commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities. WESCO operates 11 fully automated distribution centers and approximately 500 branches in North America and international markets, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements made herein that are not historical facts should be considered as forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expected completion and timing of the proposed transaction between WESCO International, Inc. ("WESCO") and Anixter International Inc. ("Anixter"), expected benefits and costs of the proposed transaction, and management plans relating to the proposed transaction, statements that address WESCO's expected future business and financial performance, statements regarding the impact of natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks, especially the outbreak of COVID-19 since December 2019, which may have a material adverse effect on WESCO's business, results of operations and financial condition, and other statements identified by words such as anticipate, plan, believe, estimate, intend, expect, project, will and similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs of WESCO's management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, WESCO's management, current market trends and market conditions and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of WESCO's and WESCO's management's control, and which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Certain of these risks are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as well as the Company's other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

These risks, uncertainties and assumptions also include the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction between WESCO and Anixter that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all, risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction, the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of WESCO's common stock, the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction, the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction, the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of WESCO or Anixter to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, customers and other business relationships and on their operating results and businesses generally, the risk that the pending proposed transaction could distract management of both entities and they will incur substantial costs, the risk that problems may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of the companies, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected, the risk that the combined company may be unable to achieve synergies or other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction or it may take longer than expected to achieve those synergies or benefits and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond WESCO's control.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In connection with the proposed transaction, on each of March 4, 2020 and March 9, 2020, WESCO filed with the SEC an amendment to the registration statement originally filed on February 7, 2020, which includes a prospectus of WESCO and a proxy statement of Anixter, and each party will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on March 11, 2020 and the proxy statement/prospectus has been mailed to Anixter's stockholders. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF WESCO AND ANIXTER ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WESCO, ANIXTER AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by WESCO or Anixter through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by WESCO will be available free of charge on WESCO's website at http://wesco.investorroom.com/sec-filings and copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Anixter will be available free of charge on Anixter's website at http://investors.anixter.com/financials/sec-filings .

WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended



March 31, 2020



March 31, 2019

Net sales $ 1,968,647





$ 1,961,267



Cost of goods sold (excluding 1,592,249

80.9 %

1,578,771

80.5 % depreciation and amortization)









Selling, general and administrative expenses 299,392

15.2 %

296,528

15.1 % Depreciation and amortization 16,093





15,242



Income from operations 60,913

3.1 %

70,726

3.6 % Net interest and other 16,472





17,120



Income before income taxes 44,441

2.3 %

53,606

2.7 % Provision for income taxes 10,266





11,656



Net income 34,175

1.7 %

41,950

2.1 % Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (232)





(419)



Net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. $ 34,407

1.7 %

$ 42,369

2.2 %











Earnings per diluted common share $ 0.82





$ 0.93



Weighted-average common shares outstanding and common









share equivalents used in computing earnings per diluted









common share (in thousands) 42,075





45,491





WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)



March 31,

2020



December 31,

2019 Assets







Current Assets







Cash and cash equivalents $ 342,560



$ 150,902 Trade accounts receivable, net 1,214,331



1,187,359 Inventories 950,521



1,011,674 Other current assets(1) 270,066



190,476 Total current assets 2,777,478



2,540,411









Other assets 2,453,478



2,477,224 Total assets $ 5,230,956



$ 5,017,635



















Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity







Current Liabilities







Accounts payable $ 804,330



$ 830,478 Short-term borrowings and current debt 24,476



26,685 Other current liabilities 211,699



226,896 Total current liabilities 1,040,505



1,084,059









Long-term debt, net 1,542,602



1,257,067 Other noncurrent liabilities 445,723



417,838 Total liabilities 3,028,830



2,758,964









Stockholders' Equity







Total stockholders' equity 2,202,126



2,258,671 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 5,230,956



$ 5,017,635





(1) As previously announced, on January 10, 2020, WESCO entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with Anixter International Inc. ("Anixter") and Warrior Merger Sub, Inc. ("Merger Sub"), pursuant to which Merger Sub will be merged with and into Anixter (the "Merger"), with Anixter surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of WESCO. Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, WESCO paid to entities affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC ("CD&R"), on behalf of Anixter, a termination fee of $100 million that was required to terminate Anixter's then-existing merger agreement with CD&R. As of March 31, 2020, the termination fee is recorded on the balance sheet as a component of other current assets. Upon consummation of the merger with Anixter, the $100 million termination fee will be accounted for as a portion of the merger consideration paid to the stockholders of Anixter.

WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended

March 31,

2020

March 31,

2019 Operating Activities:





Net income $ 34,175



$ 41,950

Add back (deduct):





Depreciation and amortization 16,093



15,242

Deferred income taxes 1,979



893

Change in trade receivables, net (53,944)



(76,696)

Change in inventories 37,807



(40,768)

Change in accounts payable (10,858)



68,085

Other 6,276



20,163

Net cash provided by operating activities 31,528



28,869









Investing Activities:





Capital expenditures (15,762)



(10,828)

Other(1) (94,503)



(27,689)

Net cash used in investing activities (110,265)



(38,517)









Financing Activities:





Debt borrowings, net 284,617



17,427

Equity activity, net (1,566)



(2,572)

Other (4,360)



4,391

Net cash provided by financing activities 278,691



19,246









Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (8,296)



159









Net change in cash and cash equivalents 191,658



9,757

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 150,902



96,343

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period $ 342,560



$ 106,100







(1) Other investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 includes the $100 million termination fee described above.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This earnings release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. These financial measures include organic sales growth, gross profit, gross margin, financial leverage, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), free cash flow, adjusted income from operations, and adjusted earnings per diluted share. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors as they provide a better understanding of sales performance, and the use of debt and liquidity on a comparable basis. Management does not use these non-GAAP financial measures for any purpose other than the reasons stated above.

WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(dollar amounts in thousands, except organic sales data)

(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended Organic Sales Growth: March 31,

2020



Change in net sales 0.4 % Impact from acquisitions 0.5 % Impact from foreign exchange rates  % Impact from number of workdays 1.6 % Organic sales growth (1.7) %



Note: Organic sales growth is a measure of sales performance. Organic sales growth is calculated by deducting the percentage impact from acquisitions in the first year of ownership, foreign exchange rates and number of workdays from the overall percentage change in consolidated net sales.





Three Months Ended Gross Profit: March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019







Net sales $ 1,968,647



$ 1,961,267

Cost of goods sold (excluding

depreciation and amortization) 1,592,249



1,578,771

Gross profit $ 376,398



$ 382,496

Gross margin 19.1 %

19.5 %











Three Months Ended Gross Profit: December 31,

2019



Net sales $ 2,099,452

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation

and amortization) 1,709,658

Gross profit $ 389,794

Gross margin 18.6 %



Note: Gross profit is a financial measure commonly used within the distribution industry. Gross profit is calculated by deducting cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization, from net sales. Gross margin is calculated by dividing gross profit by net sales.



WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)



Twelve Months Ended Financial Leverage: March 31,

2020

December 31,

2019







Income from operations $ 336,404



$ 346,217

Depreciation and amortization 62,958



62,107

EBITDA $ 399,362



$ 408,324











March 31,

2020

December 31,

2019 Short-term borrowings and current debt $ 24,476



$ 26,685

Long-term debt 1,542,602



1,257,067

Debt issuance costs(1) 8,211



8,876

Total debt 1,575,289



1,292,628

Less: cash and cash equivalents 342,560



150,902

Total debt, net of cash $ 1,232,729



$ 1,141,726









Financial leverage ratio 3.1



2.8





(1) Long-term debt is presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets net of debt issuance costs.

Note: Financial leverage measures the use of debt. Financial leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total debt, including debt issuance costs, net of cash, by EBITDA. EBITDA is defined as the trailing twelve months earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.





Three Months Ended Free Cash Flow: March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019







Cash flow provided by operations $ 31,528



$ 28,869

Less: capital expenditures (15,762)



(10,828)

Free cash flow $ 15,766



$ 18,041

Percentage of net income 46 %

43 %



Note: Free cash flow is a measure of liquidity. Capital expenditures are deducted from operating cash flow to determine free cash flow. Free cash flow is available to fund investing and financing activities.





Three Months Ended Adjusted SG&A Expenses: March 31,

2020

March 31,

2019







Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 299,392



$ 296,528

Merger-related costs (4,608)





Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses $ 294,784



$ 296,528



WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(dollar amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended Adjusted Income from Operations: March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019







Income from operations $ 60,913



$ 70,726

Merger-related costs 4,608





Adjusted income from operations $ 65,521



$ 70,726











Three Months Ended Adjusted Net Interest and Other: March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019







Net interest and other $ 16,472



$ 17,120

Merger-related interest expense (515)





Adjusted net interest and other $ 15,957



$ 17,120











Three Months Ended Adjusted Provision for Income Taxes: March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019







Provision for income taxes $ 10,266



$ 11,656

Income tax effect of merger-related transaction costs 1,183





Adjusted provision for income taxes $ 11,449



$ 11,656











Three Months Ended Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share: March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019







Adjusted income from operations $ 65,521



$ 70,726

Adjusted net interest and other 15,957



17,120

Adjusted income before income taxes 49,564



53,606

Adjusted provision for income taxes 11,449



11,656

Adjusted net income 38,115



41,950

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (232)



(419)

Adjusted net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. $ 38,347



$ 42,369









Diluted shares 42,075



45,491

Adjusted earnings per diluted share $ 0.91



$ 0.93



SOURCE WESCO International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.wesco.com


Citing supply chain strains and anticipated shortages as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the agency that manages military commissaries says some stores will start limiting how much fresh meat customers can purchase.

Starting May 1, commissaries within the 50 states and in Puerto Rico will limit purchases of fresh beef, poultry and pork, the Defense Commissary Agency announced Thursday evening. For fresh beef, pork, chicken and turkey, customers will be limited to purchasing two items per visit, according to the announcement.

"There may be some shortages of fresh protein products in the coming weeks," Robert Bianchi, a retired Navy rear admiral and the Defense Department's special assistant for commissary operations, said in a statement. "Enacting this policy now will help ensure that all of our customers have an opportunity to purchase these products on an equitable basis."

Military commissaries, located on military bases around the world, operate on a nonprofit basis and offer food items at cost. Considered a military benefit, they are open to active-duty troops, dependents, retirees and some other special veteran categories.

Related: Millions More Vets and Caregivers About to Get Commissary, Exchange Access

Individual stores will have the ability to increase or decrease limits based on their inventory, DeCA officials added in the release. Some commissaries have already been posting quantity limits on high-demand items, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

The move to limit meat purchases is a troubling one that comes on the heels of an announcement from Tyson Foods, one of the largest meat-processing companies in the nation, that it was being forced to close down plants due to the virus. Eventually, the company warned, the closures would lead to shortages in stores.

"The food supply chain is breaking," company chairman John Tyson said in a full-page ad that appeared in the New York Times April 26.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order ordering Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to "take all appropriate action under that section to ensure that meat and poultry processors continue operations," calling the plants "critical infrastructure for the nation.

To that end, the administration will purchase $3 billion in excess dairy, produce and meat "to be distributed in order to assist Americans in need as well as producers with lost markets," the White House said in an announcement accompanying the order.

In DeCA's Thursday announcement, Bianchi said the supply chain for commissaries overseas remained strong.

"In addition, we continue to prioritize quantities for our overseas shipments, so we should be able to support the demand," he said. "If we experience any unexpected major hiccups in the pipeline, we will look at expanding shopping limits to other locations."

The release noted that purchase limits were also intended to head off the phenomenon of panic buying, which has led to bare shelves in supermarkets all over the country. As demand spiked, DeCA issued a March 14 directive allowing store managers to implement shopping limits as they saw fit to maintain stock availability. That directive remains in effect.

"We know this is a potentially stressful time for all concerned," Bianchi said. "But together we will meet these challenges and support our service members and their families throughout the duration of this crisis wherever necessary."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Read More: In First, DoD Awards Massive $7.2 Billion Contract to Single Company for PCS Moves
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung, West Java  Thu, April 30, 2020 08:25 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd517025 1 National COVID-19-in-Indonesia,exodus,mudik-ban,checkpoint,West-Java,dilarang-mudik,Idul-Fitri Free

The West Java COVID-19 rapid response task force is mulling a plan to set up 24-hour checkpoints in the region to prevent mudik (exodus) travelers prior to the upcoming Idul Fitri holiday.

Task force secretary Daud Achmad said the roads connecting Jakarta and West Java were relatively empty during the day when authorities stood by at the established checkpoints. However, the roads started to get crowded during the night as the checkpoints were lifted.

"We find, after conducting evaluations, that [private vehicles] are using the roads at night. We certainly don't want this to happen," Daud said in a teleconference on Wednesday, adding that authorities would work harder to make the establishment of checkpoints effective.

West Java is the region second-worst hit by COVID-19 in Indonesia, with 1,009 confirmed cases as of Wednesday afternoon and 79 fatalities. The country's COVID-19 epicenter is Jakarta with 4,092 cases and 370 deaths so far.

Read also: Travelers in Java ignore mudik ban, bringing coronavirus home

To contain the further spread of the disease, the government has banned the mudik prior to the most-celebrated Islamic holiday, which usually sees millions of people traveling from urban centers to their hometowns.

Some checkpoints have been prepared 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.

Among the checkpoints are at the Puncak Pass, a tourist destination bordering Bogor regency and Cianjur in West Java, and the Kilometer-31 point on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, which is on the border of Bekasi and Karawang.

Authorities are deployed at the checkpoints to inspect vehicles passing through the area. Private vehicles leaving Jakarta are asked to return to the capital, while freight vehicles are allowed to pass. (vny)
With the launch of a new initiative that will assess the response and impact of COVID-19 in Latin American countries, the Observatory for the Advancement of Public Policy Against the COVID-19 Pandemic shared its findings of what is happening in Mexico, its first country-wide analysis, during a news conference on Wednesday.

In opening remarks, University of Miami President Julio Frenk emphasized the need for clear, accurate, consistent, and credible information regarding the spread of the pandemic and highlighted the collaborative nature of the observatory, which includes the participation of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics in Mexico, among other institutions.

The observatory offers a very valuable tool that will provide a daily portrait of a series of parameters and measures enacted by the different states in Mexicoand especially those relating to physical distancing, which has been shown to be the principal tool for governments to slow the spread of the virus, said Frenk.

Our purpose is to place this timely information at the disposal of the different levels of government in Mexico in order to help to make better decisions going forward, he added.

Felicia Knaul, director of the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas and an international health economist who has fueled the development of the consortium, offered a presentation that showed graphic indices of the impact of public policy on mobility in the 32 Mexican states.

The observatory has one main objective, and that is to help save lives, Knaul said. We are here to generate information, day by day and systematically, regarding the policies that national and state governments have made, are making, or will make to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and that have to do especially with physical distancing.

We are measuring the effectiveness of these policies in terms of their timeliness, date of implementation, and the publics response to the policy, Knaul added.

Using the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker facilitated by Oxford University, the consortium, or observatory, tracked seven public policy variables that determine physical distancing: school closures, suspension of business activities, cancellation of public events, suspension of public transportation, development of public information campaigns, restrictions on in-state travel, and international travel control.

Data collected beginning Feb. 27with the first registered COVID-19 case in Mexico through April 27, showed wide variation across the states that is only partially explained by varying degrees of economic development and has more to do with how energetically state governments shifted policy and enforced measures to restrict mobility, according to the observatory.

In addition to collecting data on multiple public policy responses by governments, the consortium measures the effectiveness of these policies in terms of population movement, compiles these scores into a common index, monitors the epidemiological situationincidence distribution, mortality, and control of COVID-19and provides this live stream of information.

Consortium members concurred that Mexico has been slow to prepare for the advance of the pandemic, that the delay will most likely be costly in terms of lives lost, and that the country has now entered a critical phase.

In a statement, they expressed their intention that the data helps to shore up reporting gaps and serves to drive better government responses in advance of an anticipated second wave of infections projected for the fall and beyond. These gaps need to be closed rapidly to help mitigate a tsunami of suffering and death as a result of the coronavirus, the observatory urged.

While Mexicos response was delayed and varied significantly across states, the first round of data indicated that the situation has begun to improve and stabilize as governments have implemented policy measures to slow mobility.

Frenk, however, cautioned that Mexico has one of the lowest percentages in terms of testing for exposure among countries in the hemisphere and that the lack of testing means much is unknown regarding the true situation.

Its really a problem of a lack of information and absence of transparency, which means there is enormous uncertainty regarding the number of cases and the number of deaths, Frenk pointed out.

The consortium expects to soon release data relating to the pandemic in Brazil and is continuing its examination of other countries in the hemisphere.
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) welcomed the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval this month of encorafenib in combination with cetuximab for patients with advanced BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer.

Research by the SU2C-Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) Translational Research Team: Prospective Use of DNA-Guided Personalized Cancer Treatment contributed to the development of this treatment.

This is the seventh FDA approval for a new cancer therapy supported by SU2C research. The work of this team demonstrates how SU2C's research accelerates development of new effective treatments showing promise in patients." Phillip A. Sharp, PhD, Nobel Laureate and Chair of the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee

Sharp is also the Institute professor, David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer is a hard to treat type of colorectal cancer that affects 10 to 15 percent of colorectal patients. Across the US and Canada, approximately, this new treatment could potentially help between 17,500-26,000 patients each year.

"Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined," stated SU2C CEO Sung Poblete, PhD, RN. "Stand Up To Cancer is proud to have contributed to the development of this new targeted treatment option for people with the historically difficult to treat colorectal cancer whose cancer has progressed, despite receiving prior therapy."

The SU2C-KWF Research Team participated in a Phase 1b/ Phase 2 multi-institutional dose escalation clinical trial (NCT01719380) which studied the effects of encorafenib, alpelisib and cetuximab in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancers.

The study compared a two-drug combination of encorafenib and cetuximab; and a triple-drug combination of encorafenib, alpelisib, and cetuximab. Both combinations showed promise for treating metastatic colorectal cancer characterized by BFAF mutations and were well tolerated by the patients.

The team made an important observation that patients carrying key mutations in genes associated with the MAP kinase signaling pathway were more responsive to the combination.

Supported by the team's findings, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designations for both the combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab and the combination of encorafenib and cetuximab for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer, which sped regulatory review.

"We now have clinical proof that science can guide smart treatment combinations which will further stimulate intelligent use of combinations of targeted anti-cancer drugs," said Emile Voest, MD, PhD, professor of Medical Oncology, medical director of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and leader of the SU2C-KWF Translational Research Team: Prospective Use of DNA-Guided Personalized Cancer Treatment.

"These results highlight how novel insights gained from basic research can lead to novel therapeutic options for cancer patients," said Rene Bernards, PhD, Netherlands Cancer Institute, and co-leader of the Research Team.

This Research Team engaged just over a dozen scientists from the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands, and University of California San Diego and UC San Francisco.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-28 20:23:55|Editor: huaxia

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KUWAIT CITY, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Tuesday reported 152 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death, bringing the total infections to 3,440 and death toll to 23, the health ministry said in a statement.

Among the new cases were 15 Kuwaiti citizens who returned from Britain, Turkey and France, the statement said, adding 128 new cases contacted with infected patients.

The cause of the infection for the other nine is still under investigation, it noted.

The new death case was a 61-year-old Indian resident who was in ICU, it noted.

Currently, 2,241 patients are receiving treatment, including 67 in ICU, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Minister of Health Bassel Al-Sabah announced the recovery of 164 from the coronavirus, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 1,176.

A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Kuwait on Monday night to help the Arab country fight coronavirus.

During their stay in Kuwait, the Chinese experts will exchange in-depth experiences with health experts and medical staff of Kuwaiti side, assisting them in the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment 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 spread of the virus. Enditem
Australia will have lost a lot of money because of this pandemic. (Image: Getty)

Australians will have paid a $130 billion price that they will never get back due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Financial ratings agency Moody's reported Wednesday that Australia's gross domestic product  the measure of how much economic activity it produces in a year  would shrink by 4.9 per cent in the current financial year.

That contraction, added to the pre-coronavirus growth forecast, adds up to at least a 7 per cent turnaround. This is equivalent to about $130 billion lost from the nation.

The economic hit was triggered by the pandemic's arrival and the subsequent business closures, unemployment and underemployment in every city and state.

Moody's report predicted recovery wouldn't fully come for years. The 2021 financial year was predicted to see Australia post a 3.7 per cent growth in GDP, which still falls short of making up for the 4.9 per cent contraction this year.

The good news was that Moody's retained Australia's AAA credit rating, despite the federal government's massive spending in relief measures.

"The credit profile of Australia is supported by the country's very high economic strength, reflected in its solid and stable growth history, as well as strong growth potential, notwithstanding current challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak," the report stated.

"A very robust institutional framework also underpins the credit, and offsets potential economic and financial stability risks."

However, the agency did warn that household debt, which is much higher in Australia per capita than comparable countries, was a risk.

"Challenges stem from high levels of household debt, which in significant housing downturns can contribute to weaker growth, and a large external liability position."

Sign up to the Yahoo Finance newsletter to access the free web series Yahoo Finance Breakfast Club.

Follow Yahoo Finance Australia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
In an attempt to get President Trump to stop holding daily coronavirus briefings, several advisers shared with him last week internal polling showing him lagging behind former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, in key swing states, three people with knowledge of the matter told The Washington Post.

Trump's poll numbers have been dropping over the last several weeks, and with the coronavirus death toll rising and the economy spiraling, advisers wanted to encourage him to hold fewer briefings and to stop taking questions from reporters. In a call last Wednesday with campaign manager Brad Parscale and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Trump was informed of two polls  one from his campaign, the other from the RNC  that showed him behind Biden.

Aides say Trump does not trust data that isn't good for him, and rebuffed the idea of not holding coronavirus briefings, saying people "loved" them and think he is "fighting for them," one person told the Post. During a briefing the next day, Trump suggested injecting bleach as a possible treatment for COVID-19.

The polling data put Trump in a horrible mood for the rest of the week, aides told the Post, and at one point he called Parscale to yell at him. He cursed throughout the phone call, they added, and said, "I'm not losing to Joe Biden." One aide told the Post that Trump said he might sue Parscale, but was joking. After the call, Parscale told others that Trump was just venting. On Tuesday, Parscale visited the Oval Office to deliver poll numbers that weren't so grim, aides said, lifting Trump's spirits. Read more at The Washington Post.

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The US planemakers CEO says the company will be smaller for a while due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Boeing Co said on Wednesday it would cut its 160,000-person workforce by about 10 percent, further reduce 787 Dreamliner production and try to boost liquidity as it prepares for a years-long industry recovery from the coronavirus pandemic that drove its second consecutive quarterly loss.

S&P lowered its credit rating for Boeing to BBB- after the market close, one step above junk, saying that earnings and cash flow over the next few years are likely to be lower than it had previously expected due to the effects of the coronavirus.

Chicago-based Boeing declined to say how much government assistance it may seek, or under which part of a significant United States stimulus package it would seek it.

Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday that Boeing is working with investment banks on a potential bond deal worth at least $10bn. Last month it drew down its entire $13.8bn credit line and is also weighing seeking government aid.

Boeing shares closed 5.9 percent higher at $139 after the company said it was confident of getting sufficient liquidity to fund operations and would have positive cash flow next year as it ramps up production of the grounded 737 MAX.

Planemakers, airlines and suppliers have been left reeling by the pandemic, which has crippled passenger travel and catapulted key economies into recession.

Our industry is going to look very different as a result of this pandemic, Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun told investors. We will be a smaller company for a while.

Many of the job cuts, to be completed by the end of the year through voluntary and involuntary layoffs as well as natural turnover, will be at the companys commercial aircraft division, where it was already grappling with a production freeze and year-long grounding of the 737 MAX following two fatal crashes.

Boeing expects to resume 737 MAX deliveries in the third quarter following regulatory approvals, Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said, with production restarting at low rates in the second quarter before gradually increasing to 31 per month during 2021.

Further gradual production increases will correspond with market demand. Meanwhile, Boeing will focus on delivering jets that it has already built in order to unlock frozen cash.

Aerospace analyst Josh Sullivan said Boeings comments on the 737 MAX and cash pleased investors.

They provided guideposts that people can sink their teeth into and gain confidence, he said.

Reuters reported Tuesday 737 MAX approval is not expected until at least August.

Wide-body slump

The pandemic has also aggravated a slump in demand for wide-body jets like the 787, sapping a key remaining source of cash for Boeing as the 737 MAX remains grounded.

Boeing plans to reduce the production of the 787 to seven a month by 2022  half the planned rate of just a year ago when it was implementing a record monthly rate of 14. It had already progressively reduced the target to 10 on the back of US-China trade tensions. It will also reduce the 777/777X combined production rate to three per month in 2021 from five.

The planemaker had $15.5bn in cash at the end of March after burning through $4.7bn in the quarter.

The companys adjusted loss stood at $1.7bn, or $1.70 per share in the first quarter, compared with a profit of $1.99bn, or $3.16 per share, a year earlier.

Over the weekend, Boeing cancelled a $4.2bn deal for Embraer SAs commercial aviation unit, prompting the Brazilian company to initiate arbitration.

It is also facing lawsuits related to the 737 MAX crashes and federal prosecutors aided by the FBI and the Department of Transportations inspector general are investigating the aircrafts certification. Boeing paid out $700m in 737 MAX compensation to customers in the first quarter.

Calhoun said it could be a while before the company rolls out a new jet design.

European rival Airbus on Wednesday posted a 49 percent slump in first-quarter core profit and called for an industry-wide campaign to restore confidence in flying.

In a memo to employees, Calhoun said: The aviation industry will take years to return to the levels of traffic we saw just a few months ago. We have to prepare for that.
A member of Bidens staff in 1990s has accused the US Democrat of assault in an allegation seized on by Trump campaign.

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the US presidential election, is facing growing calls to respond to a former aides allegation that he sexually assaulted her nearly 30 years ago, a claim Bidens campaign has denied.

Tara Reade, who worked as a staff assistant in Bidens Senate office between December 1992 and August 1993, has accused Biden of pinning her against a wall in 1993 and reaching under her shirt and skirt.

Bidens campaign has said the incident never occurred. Biden himself has not addressed the allegation, and the former vice president has not been questioned on the matter in recent interviews with national and local media.

Two more women corroborated part of Reades allegation in interviews with the Business Insider news website.

A Biden campaign spokesman declined to comment on Wednesday about the new sources or calls for Biden to respond.

Reuters news agency has not been able to independently confirm Reades allegation and was also unable to reach Reade or a representative for comment.





The New York Times newspaper said in a statement on Wednesday an investigation it conducted of the matter made no conclusion either way.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an influential liberal Democrat said during an online forum this week that Reades accusation deserved a fair examination.

Inconvenient truth

Nina Turner, who was national campaign co-chair for Bidens former White House rival, Bernie Sanders, told Reuters on Wednesday that Biden has to answer the question.

It cant appear that shes being ignored just because its an inconvenient truth for certain people in the Democratic Party, Turner said.

The Washington Post newspaper editorial board on Wednesday called on Biden, 77, to speak about the allegations and release papers from the relevant period, when he was a senator from Delaware, in case those documents might include a complaint Reade has said she filed over the incident.

Several prominent women on Bidens vice-presidential shortlist, such as Senators Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar and former Georgia state Representative Stacey Abrams, have stood by Biden. So has Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, another former presidential candidate, who has made aiding victims of sexual assault a centrepiece of her political career.

President Donald Trumps re-election campaign has increasingly tried to turn the allegations into a liability for Biden. In a memo to the media on Wednesday, Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said Biden was seeking to shield himself from criticism by avoiding personally addressing Reades allegation.

Trump, 73, has been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual assault and misconduct over the years, including during the 2016 campaign. He and his aides have denied the allegations.

Reade, 56, was one of eight women who last year came forward to say Biden had hugged, kissed or touched them in ways that made them uncomfortable, though none accused him of sexual assault. She publicly accused him of the assault on a podcast in March.

At the time of the womens statements last year about behaviour that made them uncomfortable, Biden, who had yet to launch his presidential bid, released a video promising to be much more mindful of peoples personal space.

During an online fundraising event on Wednesday night, Biden touted his work in getting the Violence Against Women Act passed, as well as his efforts to prevent sexual assault on college campuses.

Look, we have to change the culture of abuse in this country, especially in armed services, Biden said in response to a question about the issue of sexual assault that did not refer to Reades allegations.

I will order the Defense Department to take urgent and aggressive action to make sure survivors are in fact supported and abusers are held accountable for their crimes, he added.
MIAMI  The salty breeze and ocean waves have beckoned stir-crazy residents of the coast back to their beloved beaches, social distancing norms be damned.

But how to prevent beach blankets and lawn chairs from becoming new founts of coronavirus infection has become a flash point for governors in Florida, California and other coastal states, who must balance demands from constituents for relief from the escalating spring heat against the horrified reaction of the general public to photos of sweaty, swimsuit-clad bodies packed towel to towel.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California stepped in on Thursday to shut down the beaches in Orange County, rolling back earlier attempts at giving people there a chance to stroll along the shore while staying a safe distance away from one another. Broad swaths of sand were packed over the weekend with crowds, with many people flocking from neighboring Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, where the beaches had been off-limits.
The German league confirmed Thursday that clubs have started testing players for the coronavirus as part of plans for the Bundesliga to resume next month.

Testing for the virus, which has so far claimed over 6,000 lives in Germany, is a key component in the plans to restart the Bundesliga in stadiums without spectators.

The DFL confirmed to AFP subsidiary SID that regular testing has begun in the top two leagues amid hopes matches could be played from as early as May 9 or May 16.

However, the league still needs the go-ahead from Angela Merkel's government to resume.

The labour ministry, which has approved the plans, has demanded each player be tested twice before clubs resume team training, having so far trained mainly in smaller groups.

Players would be subject to strict hygiene measures, including testing for the virus every few days.

German Chancellor Merkel is chairing a video conference with the premiers of 16 states on Thursday with the Bundesliga set to be discussed, but a final decision is only expected next week.

According to German daily Bild, defending champions Bayern Munich, who were four points clear when the league was halted in mid-March, were among those who started testing Thursday.

Other clubs are expected to start testing in the coming days.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19--in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein (foreground) enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. On the virus model, the virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. Credit: NIH

In its May issue, The FASEB Journal is publishing a comprehensive review on the science and clinical experiences with the drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, first introduced as effective weapons against malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and the autoimmune disease lupus. Recent anecdotal reports suggested these drugs might be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new review describes the growing skepticism regarding adoption of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the respiratory infection caused by this virus.

The review's lead author is Mark Poznansky, MD, Ph.D., a Harvard Medical School associate professor and director of the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center in the Infectious Disease Division of Massachusetts General Hospital. "When I went on service a few weeks ago in the ICUs of Massachusetts General Hospital as an infectious diseases attending physician, it was evident to me and my colleagues that there were both risks and benefits of the widespread initial use of hydroxychloroquine in the context of COVID-19 infection. This was based on seeing patients who, for whatever reason, appeared to be doing poorly despite the use of this medication," Poznansky said.

"We chose to dive into this important matter in an expedited manner to create a science-based awareness of this subject," said Poznansky. "Beyond the known cardiac side effects of this drug, we aimed to reveal those aspects of the anti-viral and immune modulatory activities of hydroxychloroquine that could potentially help or, as importantly, impair a patient's response to the virus. The goal was to help physicians make data-informed decisions about how to use this drug for patients with COVID-19 infection within carefully designed clinical trials," he said.

The authors reviewed earlier anecdotal reports and poorly controlled clinical trials that raised considerable optimism about the widespread adoption of this therapy. However, the authors present mechanistic reasons why these drugs may fail for COVID-19. They point to fast-moving dataaccumulated through April 22that creates significant skepticism for therapy with either chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for which there was early optimism; namely, that these drugs reduced viral uptake by cells cultured in the laboratory, rather than in patients.

This ray of optimism overlooked something far more worrisome: the powerful immunosuppressive action of these drugs, which is the basis of their potency in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. But these drugs have failed in previous respiratory virus outbreaks, including influenza. The authors surmise that the drugs inhibit innate immune reactions critical to viral defense, as well as the generation of adaptive, cell-mediated immunity that is also necessary to control a virus like SARS-CoV-2.

The authors emphasize the need for all due caution in utilizing therapies involving these two drugs based solely on data from studies with lab-cultured cellsas opposed to studies in patients. They report that current clinical trial results are leading to a rapidly diminishing view of their utility for COVID-19.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Belagavi, April 30 : A police sub-inspector involved in scuffle with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commando Sachin Savant's in Karnataka's northwest region has been suspended.

"One sub-inspector has been suspended. Law will take its course," state northwest range Inspector General of Police Raghavendra Suhas told IANS, here on Thursday.

On April 23, a scuffle broke out between Savant and two policemen over wearing a mask. Savant was outside his home without a mask in Examba village near Sadalga town, 590 km northwest of Bengaluru.

Savant belongs to 207 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), one of the 10 elite units of the CRPF, formed for jungle warfare against Maoists.

Suhas said the matter was sub judice.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

Bazaar Corporate Radar

Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar.
In the first quarter of 2020, more than 88% of jobs posted by Virtual Vocations Employer Partners were fully remoterequiring no traveland 64.6% were available to jobseekers nationwide. With many workers experiencing unemployment, and the possibility of future layoffs still unknown, Virtual Vocations is dedicated to providing as much...information to our jobseekers as possible to help them make decisions related to the future of their careers. Virtual Vocations CEO Laura Spawn

In its latest report, one of the webs leading remote job boards is highlighting employers who are still hiring amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded in 2007 by CEO Laura Spawn and CTO Adam Stevenson, Virtual Vocations connects jobseekers with legitimate remote job openings from expert-vetted employers, including several that work directly with the Virtual Vocations team as part of the companys Employer Partner program. In its 2020 Q1 Employer Partners Report, Virtual Vocations puts the spotlight on businesses new to its Employer Partner program in the first quarter of 2020 that are still looking for qualified professionals to add to their remote teamseven in a global health crisis.

The release of our first quarterly report focused on the hiring trends of businesses we work closely with as partners comes at a time when people need definitive information about which employers are hiring right now, CEO Laura Spawn said. With many workers experiencing unemployment, and the possibility of future layoffs still unknown, Virtual Vocations is dedicated to providing as much insight and information to our jobseekers as possible to help them make decisions related to the future of their careers.

According to the companys report, Employer Partners shared nearly 6,000 remote job postings on the Virtual Vocations job board in 2019, with members representing fields like information technology, healthcare, and education.

In the first quarter of 2020, more than 88% of jobs posted by Virtual Vocations Employer Partners were fully remoterequiring no traveland 64.6% were available to jobseekers nationwide. Employer Partners were largely looking for jobseekers to fill permanent positions, according to Virtual Vocations report, and half of their listings in Q1 were for full-time remote roles.

Virtual Vocations also reported that 42.69% of job listings from its Employer Partners in Q1 were from 100% virtual companies.

Virtual Vocations considers the timely sharing of this information to be crucial to our mission of helping jobseekers find a job that offers economic and professional stability specifically through working remotely, Spawn said.

Virtual Vocations top 10 Employer Partners for Q1 of 2020 were as follows:

1. Achieve Test Prep

2. Honey Bar Media, Inc.

3. Uscreen

4. VirBELA

5. K12 Inc.

6. TTEC

7. Railroad19

8. Net Transcripts, Inc.

9. Aviacode, Inc.

10. SpeakWrite

To learn more about Virtual Vocations or view the companys full 2020 Q1 Employer Partners Report, visit: https://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/telecommuting-news/us-jobs-reports/businesses-still-hiring-amid-covid-19-q1-employer-partners-report/

ABOUT VIRTUAL VOCATIONS

Founded in 2007 by CEO Laura Spawn and her brother, CTO Adam Stevenson, Virtual Vocations is a small company with a big mission: to connect jobseekers with legitimate remote job openings. To date, Virtual Vocations has helped more than two million jobseekers in their quests for flexible, remote work.

In addition to providing a database that houses more than 20,000 current, hand-screened remote job openings at any given time, Virtual Vocations offers jobseekers a number of tools to aid in their job searches, including exclusive e-courses and downloadable content, and resume writing services. Virtual Vocations also releases several data-driven reports each year on current trends in remote work.

Virtual Vocations, Inc. is a private, family-owned, and 100% virtual company incorporated in Tucson, Arizona.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Michelle Rawlings

michelle(at)virtualvocations(dot)com

1 (800) 379-5092 ext. 703

VirtualVocations.com
NOT FOR PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO

Regulated information





Gosselies, Belgium, 29 April 2020, 7am CET  BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces that it secured EUR 11.0 million financing. The financing will be used to advance both of its key assets, ALLOB and JTA-004, through late stage clinical development. The financing operation consists of EUR 4.75 million bridge loans, EUR 1,26 million in equity private placement (immediate conversion of CBs) by existing shareholders and, on an as-needed basis, a EUR 4.99 million in private placement of convertible bonds (CBs). The bridge loans are still subject to obtaining a credit assurance, which is pending regulatory approvals expected in May 2020.

This current financing will allow us to continue the strong progress of the late stage development of our innovative treatment solutions. It will additionally provide support for our wider activity during the measures taken by international governments to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic, said Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics. This support results from the potential of our allogeneic cell therapy platform and enriched protein solution to transform the lives of patients with debilitating bone conditions. We will continue our preparations for when the sites selected for the approved clinical studies with ALLOB and JTA-004 can resume their normal operations on a country per country basis.

We are delighted by the continued support we have received from our current and reference shareholders, including SFPI and S.R.I.W. Their commitment is instrumental for the development of our innovative products, said Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer of Bone Therapeutics. The present fundraise allows us to retrieve funds on an as-needed basis rather than an immediate important dilution of a traditional share issuance. Conforming to our financing strategy, we will continue to explore funding options to further strengthen our cash position and to ensure a successful completion of the upcoming clinical trials.

Story continues

Subject to the completion of the current financing operation, supporting the companys further development and strengthen its balance sheet, Bone Therapeutics expects to have a runway into Q1 2021. The secured 11.0 million financing combines:

EUR 4.75 million bridge loans provided by commercial banks and Sambrinvest, conditional upon obtaining a credit assurance which is pending regulatory approvals expected in May;

EUR 1.26 million equity by existing shareholders and;

Flexible(1) EUR 4.99 million of convertible bonds to be used if and when necessary.

Bone Therapeutics intends to pursue a capital raise when favorable market conditions are met. Existing shareholders have already taken a pre-commitment to participate.

The specific terms of the CBs can be found in the Investor section of Bone Therapeutics website.





(1) The Company may at any time stop the program without penalty.





About Bone Therapeutics

Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and bone diseases. The Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapies and an innovative biological product in later-stage clinical development, which target markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation.

Bone Therapeutics is developing an off-the-shelf protein solution, JTA-004, which is entering Phase III development for the treatment of pain in knee osteoarthritis. Positive Phase IIb efficacy results in patients with knee osteoarthritis showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief compared to a leading viscosupplement. The clinical trial application (CTA) for the pivotal Phase III program has been approved by the relevant authorities allowing the start of the study.

Bone Therapeutics other core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell therapy platform (ALLOB) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital, and uses a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery, and are produced via a proprietary, scalable cutting-edge manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by the Belgian regulatory authority, the Company is ready to start the Phase IIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process.

The ALLOB platform technology has multiple applications and will continue to be evaluated in other indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy and maxillofacial and dental applications.

Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the BioPark in Gosselies, Belgium. Further information is available at www.bonetherapeutics.com.





Contacts

Bone Therapeutics SA

Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer

Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00

investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com

International Media Enquiries:

Image Box Communications

Neil Hunter / Michelle Boxall

Tel: 44 (0)20 8943 4685

neil@ibcomms.agency / michelle@ibcomms.agency

For French Media and Investor Enquiries:

NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications

Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Arthur Rouille

Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

bone@newcap.eu

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called out Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque for saying China can decide on the deportation of an overseas Filipino working in Taiwan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanna Ou reacted to the comment of Roque that China has a hand in the Philippine government's call to deport a caregiver for berating President Rodrigo Duterte online because Taiwan is a part of China.

"My country expresses strong dissatisfaction and high regret over Philippine government officials wrongly accusing Taiwan as part of China," Ou said on Wednesday, as quoted by Taiwan state media.

The Philippines' Labor Department has sought the deportation of Filipina Elanel Egot Ordidor, who works as a caregiver in Yunlin County, for her alleged "nasty and malevolent" criticisms against Duterte in a video posted on her Facebook page.

Taiwan has rejected the call, saying she did not violate its laws. But Roque insisted a decision can also be made by China, which has warm ties to the Duterte administration.

"It's really a decision to be made by Taiwanese authorities, which forms part of China. We leave that wholly to the jurisdiction of Taiwan and China. Taiwan is part of China," Roque said in an interview with ABS-CBN on Wednesday.

Ou reiterated Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country.

"China has never ruled Taiwan for one day, and only the popularly elected Taiwan government can represent the country's 23 million people internationally," she said.

This is the second spat in recent months between Taiwan and Philippines because the Duterte administration officials lumped the self-administered island with China.

In February, the Philippine government included Taiwan in the travel ban imposed on China to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. Philippine health officials reasoned out that the World Health Organization noted Taiwan as part of China.

China and Taiwan separated in 1949 following the victory of communist forces under Mao Zedong in a civil war that saw the Chinese Nationalists flee to the island. Since then, the two sides have been governed separately.

The Philippines follows a One China policy that recognizes Taiwan as a part of China. It limits ties with Taipei to economic, cultural and other unofficial dealings.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

Trend:

Based on the experience within the Azerbaijani system on obtaining and monitoring permits during the special quarantine regime, Turkestan region of Kazakhstan has developed an online registration system for movement of the citizens, Trend reports citing the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (ASAN) under the President of Azerbaijan.

Using this system, citizens can obtain online permission to go out for purchasing drugs, food and other goods for daily needs, to seek emergency medical care, to go to work and other places.

Information about this is published on the website of the Astana Center for Public Services of the UN Development Program (Astana Civil Service Hub) and other local information portals of Kazakhstan.

In addition to the experience of Azerbaijan, the report on the website also provides information about online systems used during the quarantine regime in Greece and the UAE.

In Azerbaijan, the system for obtaining and monitoring permits during the special quarantine regime was developed by E-Gov Development Center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan.
MPD file

Midland Police Department and the Midland Fire Department were dispatched at about 7 a.m. Thursday to the 3700 block of West Louisiana Avenue about an unresponsive male, according to a press release from the citys spokeswoman.

They found that the man  later identified as Peng Cen Lian  had died. The investigation is ongoing.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 29, 2020 | 01:42 PM | PADUCAH





Betty Dobson, owner of the Hotel Metropolitan, contacted the Paducah Police Department after receiving a call from someone claiming they had just seen a man crawling through a window into the hotel.







When officers arrived, they reportedly heard someone walking upstairs, and smelled food. Officers released a K9 and found 68-year-old Don F. Shaw, who was reportedly hiding under a bed.







Officers reportedly found a large bag of chicken wings which didn't belong to the hotel. In a separate incident, officers investigated another burglary in which a small amount of cash and a bag of frozen chicken wings were stolen. Officers say the frozen bag of chicken wings matched the one found in the hotel.







Shaw was taken to Baptist Health for treatment of injuries, then arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Jail. He is being charged with second-degree criminal mischief and two counts of third-degree burglary.

A local man is facing charges after an investigation into multiple burglaries.
When he was a boy growing up on his familys 40-acre Hemlock farm, Mitch Gilbert worked often with his hands, honing his industrious nature to build and fix equipment meant to cultivate corn and bale hay. As an undergraduate at Saginaw Valley State University, he sharpened his problem-solving and project-approaching skills considerably while studying mechanical engineering.

Now he is applying those life lessons to join the efforts of his colleagues  including other SVSU alumni  at Duro-Last, Inc. as the company has dedicated substantial resources to helping protect health care workers serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an engineer, you have to ask yourself, what can you do to help the world in the times were living in, Gilbert said. Were answering that question. Now were doing everything we can do.

Gilbert serves as Duro-Lasts director of continuous improvement and research and development. Its a department featuring nine staff members. Six of them are SVSU alumni, having completed degrees in mechanical engineering, engineering technology management, and chemistry.

Gilbert has played a key role in his companys effort to counter a shortage of equipment needed to protect doctors, nurses and first responders in danger of catching the virus from patients.

Duro-Last typically manufactures roofing products. But since the state reported its first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in March, the company has refocused its resources, so far manufacturing more than 40,000 protective gowns and 15,000 masks for some of the hardest-hit health care facilities in Michigan. And the products continue churning out of the manufacturing plant at a rate of 15,000 gowns and over 3,000 masks per week.

During its first few weeks of production, that personal protection equipment was shipped exclusively to Beaumont Health in metro Detroit, which for weeks has suffered as one of the worlds deadliest virus hotspots. When other companies started supplying Beaumont Health earlier this month, Duro-Last began shipping its gowns and masks to other health care facilities in need across the region and state.

Gilbert was involved in the companys earliest strategy sessions relating to the virus response.

We started with a broad list of items we could provide, and then narrowed it down to items we could manufacture with material we already were buying for roofing systems, Gilbert said.

Eventually, the company identified gowns and masks as the two products it could most quickly and efficiently produce.

One of the key ingredients in Duro-Last-produced roofing membranes is PVC film, otherwise known as polyvinyl chloride. When the PVC film is cut especially thin, it can be used to create gowns for hospital use. When combined with polyester fleece, the PVC film also can be utilized in the manufacturing of protective masks.

Gilbert designed engineering drawings for the gowns and masks with the help of consultants at Beaumont Health.

I probably drew 13 versions of the gown for Beaumont, Gilbert said. We had someone drive down there with the prototype, then we would receive feedback from their people. It was a great collaboration.

Once the final design was approved, Duro-Last worked to reconfigure tools typically used for creating roofing products. That re-tooling effort was supported by another SVSU alumnus, Austin Schroeder, a mechanical engineer with Duro-Last.

Schroeders challenge was to readjust machines so that tools built to create products for roofing  which typically deals with angles measuring either 45 degrees or 90 degrees  instead could manufacture products that fit snuggly on the complex curvatures of the human face and body.

This whole project started as a problem we needed to solve  and needed to solve quickly, said Schroeder, a Bay City native. The problem-solving I learned at SVSU really helped me.

Both alumni of SVSUs mechanical engineering program  Gilbert and Schroeder graduated in 2007 and 2018, respectively  credit their experience at the university in part for helping them tackle the challenge. They say SVSU faculty members equipped them with the knowledge and initiative to solve problems requiring an outside-the-box approach.

Among the educators they shared despite attending SVSU during different decades was Brooks Byam, professor of mechanical engineering.

One of the most important things I learned about these types of projects, I learned from Brooks, Gilbert said. He would tell us, When youre working on a project with uncertainties, and youre feeling stuck, take action. Turn a knob. Do something. It will lead to a solution.

Byam said he was proud of Gilbert, Schroeder and their fellow SVSU alumni at Duro-Last.

It is very gratifying to hear a story like this, Byam said.

Mitch serves SVSUs mechanical engineering program in many ways from advisory committees, capstone projects, giving seminars to students and hiring our graduates. It is truly gratifying to see Mitch and mechanical engineering graduates he hired make such a direct, demonstrable impact on society.

 Processed by Victoria Ritter, vritter@mdn.net
[April 30, 2020] RGA Foundation Commits $1.5 Million to Support COVID-19 Response

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) today announced that the RGA Foundation will donate $1.5 million to help support COVID-19 relief efforts. Through the RGA Foundation, a non-profit foundation formed in 2016, RGA is distributing funds to organizations around the world committed to addressing the needs of individuals and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The RGA Foundation is specifically providing grants to support programs assisting healthcare professionals and frontline workers, as well as other individuals impacted directly by COVID-19. Among the programs receiving funding are Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which is caring for patients suffering from COVID-19, offering health education and mental health support, and providing training for vital infection control measures in health facilities around the world, and the SSM Health Foundation - St. Louis Urgent Response Fund, which provides vital resources for the most critical needs of frontline healthcare providers and the patients they serve.



In addition to direct assistance to frontline workers, the RGA Foundation is distributing funds to programs operating in locations aligned with RGA's global operations, including the Red Cross and the St. Louis Community Foundation Gateway Resilience Fund and COVID-19 Regional Response Fund. The foundation is also matching RGA employee donations to charitable organizations helping those directly impacted by COVID-19. "We owe a debt of gratitude to healthcare professionals and other essential workers responding to the pandemic, and RGA is proud to support their selfless service to our communities," said Anna Manning, President and Chief Executive Officer, RGA. "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to place enormous strain on healthcare systems and economies around the globe, we are grateful for the organizations and individuals working to meet the needs of those most impacted. RGA will continue to look for ways to support their efforts as we work together to overcome this unprecedented crisis."

The RGA Foundation is a nonprofit entity established by RGA in 2016. The foundation supports charitable organizations focused on accelerating advances in health and longevity, supporting disaster relief efforts, and promoting science and math education in the communities where RGA employees live and work. For more information, please visit www.rgare.com. About RGA Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA), a Fortune 500 company, is among the leading global providers of life reinsurance and financial solutions, with approximately $3.5 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of $76.7 billion as of December 31, 2019. Founded in 1973, RGA is recognized for its deep technical expertise in risk and capital management, innovative solutions, and commitment to serving its clients. With headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, and operations around the world, RGA delivers expert solutions in individual life reinsurance, individual living benefits reinsurance, group reinsurance, health reinsurance, facultative underwriting, product development, and financial solutions. To learn more about RGA and its businesses, visit the company's website at www.rgare.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005841/en/

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GREENWICH  With many Greenwich residents at home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, state and town leaders are hoping they will use some of their time to fill out the 2020 census forms.

Forms have been mailed to people across the country who did not fill out the census online.

Completing the census can mean big dollars for Greenwich. On a local level, the census is used to determine how much federal funding comes to Connecticut and ultimately to municipalities such as Greenwich.

We really need to push this, First Selectman Fred Camillo said this week. This is something that only takes a few minutes and your information will not be shared with any other organizations or agencies.

Each missed person in the census equals a loss of nearly $2,900 in federal funding, Camillo said. It is more important than ever to complete the census form, Camillo said, because towns and states have cut their budgets due to the economic impact of the coronavirus.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz has been working with towns and cities to increase census participation. This week, she reported that the states average response rate is 56.2 percent. Greenwich has a 57 percent response rate.

The census can be completed online at www.my2020census.gov and entering a code that was sent in the mail, Bysiewicz said. Residents can also finish the census over the telephone, she said.

We are close to 60 percent ahead of where we were in 2010 because people can use the internet or the phone, she said. Now the challenge is to get the other 40 percent.

To do that, the state is working with first selectmen and mayors throughout the state to set up programs to encourage residents to either fill out the forms online, over the phone or on paper.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
MDOT virtual public meeting May 7 to discuss I-94 improvements project in Jackson County

MDOT virtual public meeting May 7 to discuss I-94 improvements project in Jackson County

Aaron Jenkins, MDOT Office of Communications, 517-243-9075 Transportation

WHAT:

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) invites the public to attend a virtual public meeting regarding the upcoming reconstruction and widening of I-94 from near the Airport Road interchange to just west of the eastern US-127/I-94 interchange in Blackman and Leoni townships in Jackson County beginning in 2021.

During this virtual meeting, there will be brief presentations followed by question and answer sessions. Questions can be submitted during the meeting using the chat tool. The link to the virtual public meeting will also be posted on the project website, www.Michigan.gov/I94Jackson.

WHO:

MDOT staff and contractors

Community stakeholders

Local businesses

Interested residents

WHEN:

Thursday, May 7, 2020

1 p.m.

How:

Go to https://bit.ly/2RDS8pB

To listen to the event only: 248-509-0316

Conference ID: 441 068 797#

Accommodations can be made for persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking ability. Large print materials, auxiliary aids or the services of interpreters, signers, or readers are available upon request. To make a request, please send it at least seven days prior to the event to:

Orlando T. Curry

425 W. Ottawa St.

Lansing, MI 48909

Phone: 517-241-7462

Fax: 517-335-0945

TTY: 844-578-6563

CurryO@Michigan.gov

BACKGROUND:

Work also includes upgrading the West Avenue/US-127/M-50/I-94 interchange to a diverging diamond interchange, the Elm Road interchange with roundabouts, and the Lansing Avenue bridge over I-94. The meeting will be streamed on Microsoft Teams Live to allow MDOT staff to present the details of this project.

For more information about the project, please visit www.Michigan.gov/I94Jackson.

Project map



I-94 project logo (MDOT Graphics)
Mexico and the European Union have just successfully concluded negotiations for a renewed and revitalized Trade Agreement, which will be vital to the post Conornavirus pandemic era, providing much needed economic recovery.

By James Blears

Mexico and the European Union have clinched a fresh and undated Free Trade Agreement, and now only the routine official rubber stamp ratification remains. It's a rare bright spot amidst a muted and bleak Corona Virus ravaged doom and gloom landscape, which even spans oceans and Continents.

This revamped Trade Agreement with Europe will initiate and generate a major impetus to Mexico's flagging economy, post Covid 19, which has exacted a terrible loss in human life and dealt a savage body blow to business, trade, finance, commerce and with it jobs.

Almost eighteen million jobs could be at risk in Mexico.

The EU confirms that from now on, almost all trade and goods between itself and Mexico will be entirely duty free. Current annual business tops 75 billion dollars. The EU is Mexico's third largest trading partner. Trade between them has more than tripled, since the original agreement was initialed, way back in 2001.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 13:51:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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SEOUL -- South Korea reported four more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of 0:00 a.m. Thursday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,765.

The daily caseload hovered around 10 for the 12th straight day. All the four new cases were imported from overseas, lifting the combined number to 1,065.

Local infection recorded zero for the first time in 75 days since Feb. 15.

- - - -

MALE -- Maldives has confirmed its first COVID-19 related death after an 83-year-old patient passed away from breathing difficulties, local media reported here Thursday.

According to the Health Protection Authority (HPA), the patient suffered from breathing difficulties and died while being transferred to the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) on Wednesday.

- - - -

LA PAZ -- The lockdown in Bolivia will be extended until May 10, the leader of the country's interim government said on state TV Wednesday.

Jeanine Anez, in a televised message to the nation, also announced the decision to relax the stay-at-home rules in some parts of the country little affected by the coronavirus epidemic starting on May 11.

- - - -

BEIJING -- Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said China firmly opposes so-called international investigation based on the presumption of guilt regarding the origin of the COVID-19 virus, according to a transcript released on the Foreign Ministry's website Thursday.

Le made the remarks in an exclusive interview with the National Broadcasting Corporation of the United States Tuesday.

"We are candid, and we are open. We support professional exchanges between scientists, including exchanges for reviewing and summarizing experiences," Le said.

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- India's federal health ministry Thursday said 66 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides fresh 1,263 positive cases were reported since last evening across the country, taking the number of deaths to 1,074 and total cases to 33,050.

"As on 8:00 a.m. (local time), today 1,074 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," information released by the ministry said.

- - - -

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican health authorities reported on Wednesday night that the death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic has reached 1,732, with 163 new fatalities in the last 24 hours.

The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the country reached 17,799, with 13,263 suspected cases, according to the General Director of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health Jose Luis Alomia.

- - - -

NEW YORK -- Nearly 300,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the U.S. state of New York by Wednesday evening, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said at his daily briefing that 4,585 additional cases were added overnight statewide, reaching 299,691 as of 9 p.m. (0100 GMT on Thursday), and the daily death toll fell to 330, the lowest since early March. Enditem
Annabelle and Dave Mirra watch their two children ride at the St. Denis Family Fun Fair in 2018. This year's fair has been canceled. Read more

Every summer, empty acres in all corners of Pennsylvania come alive, bursting with neon light and deep-fried delights. County fairs are ingrained in the commonwealth, like coal mines and dairy farms, but for the first time in more than a half-century, many organizers say opening the midways this summer seems like a long shot.

Some Pennsylvania fairs have already canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, something they havent done since World War II. Lycoming County would have been celebrating its 150th fair in July, but that milestone will be marked next year instead.

Imagine trying to go a fair and social distancing, or everyone wearing a mask and trying to eat concessions. Its hard to picture, said Rocky Reed, president of the Lycoming County Fair. And its really sad. I dont see a light at end of the tunnel. Maybe a speck."

Nearly 100,000 people attend the fair.

Sally Nolt, president of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, said five of the 108 fairs scheduled for the coming months have been canceled, including a maple festival in Somerset County, Delaware Valley Universitys A-Day in Doylestown, and the Schnecksville Community Fair in Lehigh County. Nolt said many more will likely cancel.

No one can say today that theyll be able to operate tomorrow, she said. They are all in jeopardy.

Nolt, also secretary of the Elizabethtown Fair in Lancaster County, said that event is still scheduled for late August.

The cancellation of summer fairs and carnivals would affect a wide range of small businesses and workers, including concessionaires, demolition derby operators, and amusement companies, even teachers who own french fry businesses in the summer. Many fairs bring in performers who require nonrefundable deposits. The Bloomsburg Fair, the largest in the state, often hosts major acts, but it doesnt commence until late September.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.

Many amusement operators have already paid costly insurance premiums and picked up the tab for H-2B work visas for temporary, non-agricultural workers from other countries.

At this point, weve canceled everything in May and everything in June, said Rick Feicht, owner of Full Pull Productions. I dont see myself generating any revenue at all until July.

Feicht, a retired high school principal, produces tractor pull shows, where high-performance farming equipment and semi trucks pull heavy weights on tracks. Feicht usually produces up to 50 shows per year, but half of that would be great this season, in light of the coronavirus. County fairs become a recreation oasis in rural areas for a week or so, he said, and that could be dangerous.

Take Jefferson County, for example. As of this week, they had four cases and no deaths,he said. It doesnt have a big population. Nobody goes there. But here comes the fair, and youve got people coming in from a 100-mile radius. Its right off I-80.

Jody Lambert, secretary of the Sullivan County Fair, said 8,000 people usually attend each summer. Thats more than Sullivans entire population of 6,071. In 1992, when country music legend Loretta Lynn performed, 14,000 people packed into the narrow fairgrounds by Loyalsock Creek.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania State Button Society holding it together for 73 years despite recent setbacks

That was a pretty special time. People came because theyd never seen someone so famous, Lambert said.

Sullivans fair, slated for early September, is still on, but Lambert cant imagine how it would operate if social distancing was still required.

You cant have that at a fair, she said. It wont work.

While county fair culture isnt as strong in more suburban and urban areas of the state, spring and summer is when Ferris wheels pop up in church parking lots for annual carnivals. Churches and other nonprofits that host the carnivals often count them as major fund-raisers, including St. Denis Catholic Churchs five-decade-old Family Fun Fair in Havertown in May, Its been canceled.

The timing of this thing couldnt have been any worse, said Jeffrey Good, owner of Goodtime Amusements in Hellertown, Northampton County.

Good, president of the Pennsylvania State Showmens Association, said there are as many as 50 amusement companies in the state, small and large, and theyre all in the same boat. Good operates a medium-sized company with 25 rides, putting on one event a week for 27 weeks. Right now, his usual bookings are canceled up until mid-June.

Im staring down the possibility of a full year without revenue, he said. Thats the bleakness were looking at."

Good said he was unaware of any amusement operation that has received money from the Small Business Administration.

Theres a lot of challenges here, he said. I just feel bad for everyone involved.

Revenue aside, a summer without corn dogs, belly aches, and bleating goats from the 4-H barn is an emptier one for people in rural Pennsylvania. They come to county fairs to get closer, the opposite of social distancing.

 READ MORE: A cardinal for every life lost: New Jersey man uses photography to memorialize states coronavirus deaths

I think the fair was one of the first dates I went on with my husband, Lambert said.

Nolt, of the states fair association, said county fairs are marked on calendars for life, but also etched deeper, through generations.

They are homecomings, she said. People often move away but come back, to be together.




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Iowas Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, is allowing most of the state to begin a partial reopening this Friday. Like the other states prematurely trying to send citizens back to work, Iowa does not come close to meeting the goals of declining infections set out in the Trump administrations guidelines. Reynolds, however, is one of a smaller number of governors who have announced that furloughed workers who are told to resume their jobs and refuse to do so  even out of justified fear for their health and that of their families  will have their unemployment benefits cut off.
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Published April 30, 2020

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BATON ROUGE  During a lecture on the Molecular & Cell Biology and Immunopathogenesis of coronaviruses attended virtually by more than 125 people, Konstantin Gus Kousoulas, Ph.D., head of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, revealed that the drug Nelfinavir mesylate (NFV, brand name Viracept), holds exceptional promise in limiting COVID-19 infections. Viracept was developed as a protease inhibitor in the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The work revealed that Viracept inhibited the ability of a key protein of the virus, the Spike Glycoprotein that protrudes from the surface of the virus and is also found on the surface of infected cells, to facilitate membrane fusion of adjacent cells.

Membrane fusion is crucial for virus entry into cells and spread of the virus from one cell to adjacent cells escaping the extracellular spaces and neutralizing antibodies. Viracept was able to inhibit membrane fusion at levels that are typically used in human patients to combat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections.

Molecular modeling by Professor of Pharmacy Seetharama D. Jois, Ph.D., and graduate student Achyut Dahal, both with the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy, showed that Viracept may directly bind to the viral S glycoprotein.

These results strongly suggest that Viracept should be investigated for ability to prevent virus spread especially during early stages of SARS-2 CoV infections. Also contributing to this work with Dr. Kousoulas and colleagues Vladimir Chouljenko, Farhana Musarrat and Rafiq Nabi.

ULM is a member institution of the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, IDeA Nttwork of Biomedical Research program. LSUs INBRE, named the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network was established in September 2001 with a $18.5 million grant matched by a $1.2 million supplement from the Board of Regents. This grant has been renewed every five years since 2001. LBRN provides infrastructure support, education, training, and research opportunities for students and faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions and fosters connections of primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) with biomedical research intensive universities and institutes within the state. Dr. Kousoulas is the Principal Investigator for LSUs LBRN.

For more information, contact Hope Young, ULM Office of Marketing and Communications, 318-342-5445, hyoung@ulm.edu. For information from LSU, contact Ginger Guttner, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, 225-578-9922 office, ginger@lsu.edu.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 10:19:23|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- There is no evidence of manipulation of China's COVID-19 data using Benford's law, and its data should be used not only for calibration of models to inform policy measures to slow infection, but also guide policy in other countries, researchers have claimed.

The study dated Tuesday was conducted by Christoffer Koch, a senior research economist at the Federal Research Bank of Dallas and Ken Okamura, a researcher with the University of Oxford's Said Business School.

Contrary to speculation that China has understated the numbers of those affected by coronavirus, "we find no evidence that the Chinese massaged their COVID-19 statistics," using Benford's Law, a statistical fraud detection technique, to assess the veracity of the statistics, said the study.

Benford's Law is used to detect fraud or flaws in data collection based on the distribution of the first digits of observed data.

Chinese data from February had already shown the effectiveness of the quarantine measures in slowing the progress of the disease, both within Hubei and in other Chinese provinces.

The study found that "China's distribution of first digits for confirmed cases is in line with Benford's Law ...it also matches the distribution found in the United States and Italy."

"To manipulate the Chinese data in this fashion would require someone to coordinate daily announcements across all provinces while accurately forecasting future infection rates. This is improbable," it said.

The paper pointed out that the ongoing doubts over the credibility of China's data are problematic as "it impacts subsequent policy choices by countries that saw epidemics later."

Since the policy choice of many countries has been to undertake social distancing, travel bans and lockdowns patterned after the successful choices made by China, "it is important that policy makers know the data is reliable," it said.

"Lack of confidence in the Chinese data may have led to a slower response in Europe to the emergent pandemic," it added. Enditem
Rien Fertel is the grandson of the late, legendary restaurateur Ruth Fertel, who parlayed a single Broad Street steakhouse into a coast-to-coast empire. Hell be the first to tell you that he has no connection with the current corporate owners, Ruths Hospitality Group. But that didnt stop him from recently giving them some coronavirus-era advice via Twitter.

The Ruth's Chris Steak House chain, which boasts 150 locations including franchisees scattered around the globe, received a $20 million loan through the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program, which was meant to support struggling businesses during the era of coronavirus social distancing. Most onlookers believed the loans were meant for smaller operations than Ruths Chris.

The COVID-19 contagion had certainly been unkind to the Ruths Hospitality Group, with restaurants shuttered and stock prices low. But after receiving a dose of shaming from the public and media, the corporation gave the money back on April 23.

Fertel thought they should do more.

"Ruths grandson here," he tweeted on April 24. "I salute the decision you made yesterday to return the $20 million small business loan. But its not enough."

"I urge you to do more," Fertel continued in a second tweet, "To give back like she did. To do better than what she was financially capable of back in 1965."

Fertel was referring to a long-ago act of civic consciousness that cemented Ruth Fertels place in the pantheon of Crescent City heroes.

Hurricane Betsy had battered the city and left swaths without power. As her grandson explained, instead of watching her prime steaks go to waste, Ruth Fertel cooked them up for first responders and folks from the neighborhood around North Broad and Ursulines Avenue. The original Ruths Chris Steak House had been in grandmas hands for roughly a year. But by the time the power came back on, its place in New Orleans lore was already assured.

Rien Fertel called on the corporation that sprang from that fountainhead to do something similarly generous.

"There're countless ways to give," Fertel wrote in a third tweet. "If you would like suggestions, if you would like to be put in touch with people in her beloved hometown of New Orleans, where I live today, please reach out."

His challenge to the luxury restaurant chain struck a chord in the so-called Twitterverse. Together, the three short posts were retweeted more than 1,000 times, receiving 16,000 heart-shaped symbols of approval and scads of positive comments.

Dear @RuthsChris, Ruth's grandson here. I salute the decision you made yesterday to return the $20 million small business loan. But it's not enough.  Rien Fertel (@rienfertel) April 24, 2020

Rien is a touch embarrassed by the popularity of his posts. He said hes not a slave to social media and, on most days, he doesnt really care very much about the restaurant chain forever associated with his name. He doesnt even care about steaks, having recently sworn off red meat.

But something about the news that the multi-million-dollar corporation considered itself in need of a government-sponsored coronavirus relief loan set him off.

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"I just said, Thats a bad look," he recalls.

Fertel composed the tweets in his head as he sat at a stoplight while daring to break quarantine long enough to breathe some fresh air and buy a snowball. He asked his girlfriend to proofread his posts as he issued them. It was cathartic.

Fertel, 39, is the son of Ruths son, Jerry, and Rosemary Parisi. He said that he grew up in the kitchen of the Ruths Chris Steak House in Lafayette, which his mom managed. He scrubbed and peeled potatoes, washed dishes and made salads long before he was old enough to work as an official employee.

Trips to grandmas place at the border of Treme and Mid-City in New Orleans were regular, Fertel said. And when he was a teen, he accompanied the restaurants founder to an ever-increasing number of opening celebrations for new locations near and far.

Eventually, Fertel left the restaurant life to pursue a career as a historian and author. He's written three books and has taught classes at Tulane University, Loyola University and recently at the Louisiana State Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel.

+7 How Jazz Fest's last original food vendor is carrying a Creole tradition through shutdowns Sausage po-boys from the Vaucresson family have been part of every Jazz Fest since the first one in 1970. Theyll be part of this years fest

In 1999, Ruth Fertel cashed out, selling the storied steak business to an investment firm. She passed away in 2002. In 2005, the restaurant chains flagship location at Broad and Ursulines was swamped in the watery aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The corporate owners never reopened, earning them the ire of recovery-era New Orleans. Worse yet, they moved the company headquarters from the restaurants gritty urban birthplace to faraway Florida.

"We all cant help feel a little Katrina flashbacky right now," Fertel said, offering a possible explanation for his uncharacteristic twitter takedown of his grandmas company. Maybe theres a touch of guilt at work. After all, Fertel said, he too left town after Katrina, to earn a masters degree in New York City, while New Orleans struggled to come back.

Whatever the emotional backstory may be, Fertel said he hopes the executives at Ruths Chris Steak House will see clear to help-out their ancestral starting point.

"I know that compared to all the other things going on, this is really small," Fertel said. "But I hope and pray the corporation is listening. Maybe naively, I still think they will do something."

Ruths Hospitality Group did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

+2 LaToya Cantrell: No outdoor seating at New Orleans restaurants yet despite state's change Changes to Louisiana's extended stay-at-home order announced Monday by Gov. John Bel Edwards do not apply in New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrel
FILE PHOTO: The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is seen while entering into the port in Da Nang, Vietnam, March 5, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - The US Navy said on Wednesday it is launching a broader inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, effectively delaying its recommendation to reinstate Captain Brett Crozier as commanding officer of the warship.

"After carefully reviewing the preliminary inquiry into the events surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Gilday, provided me with his recommendations. Following our discussion, I have unanswered questions that the preliminary inquiry has identified and that can only be answered by a deeper review," acting Navy Secretary James McPherson said in a statement.

"Therefore, I am directing Adm. Gilday to conduct a follow-on command investigation. This investigation will build on the good work of the initial inquiry to provide a more fulsome understanding of the sequence of events, actions, and decisions of the chain of command surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt," McPherson said.

The new inquiry is expected to be led by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Robert Burke who will have until May 27 to complete it, according to a CNN report.

Also on Wednesday, sailors from the Roosevelt began returning to the aircraft carrier for the first time since they were moved ashore because of COVID-19 , said the report.

The aircraft carrier had 940 active coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, compared with 955 on Monday, reflecting an increase in the number of sailors who have recovered, said the report.

US Navy on Friday recommended the reinstatement of Crozier's command of the warship following a week-long investigation but Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at the time that he had more questions about the investigation and could not yet make a decision, according to local media reports.

The Navy opened that 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 of near 5,000 crew members aboard the warship.
For more than three weeks, progressive activists and womens rights advocates debated how to handle an allegation of sexual assault against Joe Biden. The conversations werent easy, nor were the politics: Mr Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, faced one allegation; his opponent, Donald Trump, at least a dozen.

Finally, several of the womens groups prepared a public letter that praised Mr Bidens work as an outspoken champion for survivors of sexual violence but also pushed him to address the allegation from Tara Reade, a former aide who worked in Mr Bidens Senate office in the early 1990s.

Vice president Biden has the opportunity, right now, to model how to take serious allegations seriously, the draft letter said. The weight of our expectations matches the magnitude of the office he seeks.

Then Mr Bidens team heard about the advocates effort. According to people involved in the discussions, the group put the letter on hold as it began pressuring Mr Bidens advisers to push the candidate to make a statement himself before the end of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Along with liberal organisers, they urged him to acknowledge the importance of survivors and the need for systemic change around issues of sexism and assault.

Nearly two weeks later, Mr Biden and his campaign have yet to make that statement, and the advocates have not released their letter. The Biden campaign has said little publicly beyond saying that women deserve to be heard and insisting that the allegation is not true; privately, Mr Bidens advisers have circulated talking points urging supporters to deny that the incident occurred.

As two more women have come forward to corroborate part of Ms Reades allegation, the Biden campaign is facing attacks from the right and increasing pressure from the left to address the issue. And liberal activists find themselves in a tense standoff with a candidate they want to support but who they say has made little attempt to show leadership on an issue that resonates deeply with their partys base.

Its difficult for survivors to see that a woman who has more corroborating sources than most survivors have in similar situations is being tossed aside and actively being weaponised by cynical political actors, said Shaunna Thomas, a founder of UltraViolet, a womens rights advocacy group that is involved in the effort to push the campaign. It would be an incredible moment of leadership for Joe Biden to show up.

Since Ms Reade spoke out in March with her allegation  that Mr Biden penetrated her with his fingers in a Senate building in 1993  his aides and advisers have denied it, saying it is untrue. They have remained unconcerned about any significant political blowback from Ms Reades accusation, according to people who have spoken with the campaign, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Top Biden aides are telling allies that they do not see the allegation resonating with voters in a measurable way, these people say. Theyre confident that the allegation will not shake voters perceptions of Mr Bidens character as a devoted father and husband, with family ties forged through deep tragedies. They also believe that voters will view the allegation with great scepticism.

A Biden campaign spokesman declined to comment for this article on Wednesday. A Biden adviser said that the campaign was talking to activists and that Mr Biden considered their views important.

The Biden campaign talking points, which were first reported by BuzzFeed News, instruct supporters to describe the candidate as a fierce advocate for women who has never faced any complaint, allegation, hint or rumour of any impropriety or inappropriate conduct. The talking points also inaccurately suggested that an investigation by The New York Times this month found that this incident did not happen.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Times noted that the investigation made no conclusion either way.

In recent months, Mr Biden has taken steps that appear to show he understands how a commitment to representation and equity might resonate with women, who make up the majority of voters for Democratic candidates. He has pledged to pick a woman as a running mate and nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court.

Yet as he seeks to unite the Democratic Party after the primaries and pivot to a general election against Donald Trump, Ms Reades allegation remains a subject of intense discussion in the political world.

Joe Biden himself needs to respond directly, said Yvette Simpson, the chief executive of Democracy for America, a progressive advocacy organisation, which plans to back the Democratic nominee. While it is absolutely essential that we defeat Donald Trump in November, trying to manage the response through women surrogates and emailed talking points doesnt cut it in 2020  especially if Democrats want to continue to be the party that values, supports, elevates, hears and believes women.

Among Republicans, the years of allegations against Donald Trump have inflicted little damage with his base. He has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct by more than a dozen women. He has repeatedly denigrated women over their appearance and intellect. The Access Hollywood tape, in which he boasted about grabbing womens genitals, was released just weeks before his victory in the 2016 election.

In recent years, Democrats have sought to confront current and past misconduct in their own ranks and spoken bluntly about racial and gender inequalities.

Already, the allegation against Mr Biden has caused top female allies  including several widely considered to be vice-presidential prospects, like Stacey Abrams of Georgia and senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota  to face questioning about whether they stand with Mr Biden after the allegation. Privately, some female Democrats are growing frustrated with being put in the position of answering for Mr Biden when he has remained silent, and male progressive leaders, even outspoken allies in combating sexual assault, have not been pressured to address this point.

Recommended Tara Reade uses clip to back up sexual assault claims against Biden

Many have publicly defended him, including senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who helped lead the effort to push Al Franken, the former Minnesota senator, to resign over sexual harassment accusations in 2017. I stand by vice president Biden, Gillibrand said on a conference call, adding there needed to be space for all women to come forward to speak their truth, to be heard.

Last year, Ms Reade was one of eight women who came forward to say Mr Biden had kissed, hugged or touched them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable, but she did not raise the assault allegation then.

In an interview Tuesday, Ms Reade described herself as disappointed with the response from the Biden campaign, saying it had not contacted her. Ms Reade backed Bernie Sanders in the primary race and does not plan to vote in the general election. She told the Times that politics were not the reason she came forward with her allegation, saying she did not want to be used by the Trump campaign.

Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace is a huge gender, institutionalised problem in our country, and the fact that they are not addressing my allegations head-on and dealing with the corroborating evidence is simply a testimony to the hypocrisy, she said. There is no partisanship with sexual assault and harassment. It is an equal opportunity offender.

Last week, The Intercept published a transcript of a call that aired on a Larry King program between a woman living in California and King. The woman was seeking advice about what her daughter could do about problems she had while working for a prominent senator but did not specifically mention sexual assault or harassment. Ms Reade has previously said her mother, who has since died, called into the program after she told her about her experience.

Two women also came forward in an article this week in Business Insider to corroborate parts of Ms Reades account.

One of the women, Lynda LaCasse, a former neighbour of Ms Reades, said in an interview that Ms Reade told her around 1995 about her encounter with Mr Biden. Ms LaCasse said she and Ms Reade had been discussing their experiences with abuse and violence when Ms Reade mentioned Mr Biden.

She said that he put her up against the wall and he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her, Ms LaCasse said, adding that Ms Reade was devastated. She sounded really upset. She was crying.

Ms LaCasse, who is now 60 and lives in Oregon, said she was a Democrat and supported Mr Biden. But she said she wanted to come forward because that doesnt take away from what happened.

The second woman, Lorraine Sanchez, a former colleague of Ms Reades in the mid-1990s, said she recalled Ms Reade describing an incident of harassment by her former boss. She provided a statement outlining her account to the Times.

Former senator Barbara Boxer of California, who has endorsed Mr Biden, said in an interview that she thought the campaign had handled Ms Reades allegation well and that it had done everything that they can do. She said the Biden campaign had not given her talking points.

If they ask me my advice, she said, it would be to keep on doing what theyre doing.

New York Times
The Construction and Building Materials Workers Union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, has appealed to Government to intervene in the sector to protect jobs and salaries of employees.



It said with the country currently battling the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in some job losses, employers are likely to relieve workers of their jobs without pay, saying such act could be detrimental to workers if the government failed to intervene.



The Union sees the termination of appointments without the means to survive as unfair, immorally wrong and subversive of the efforts of Government, adding that starvation to death may be more dangerous than the pandemic.



A statement signed by Mr Pius Quainoo, the General Secretary, Construction and Building Materials Workers Union, and made available to the Ghana News Agency, appealed to the Government to prevail on employers who have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to send workers home without pay to rescind their decision and keep the workers on a pay as the largest single employer, Government, has done for civil and public servants.



The Union marked its International Workers Memorial Day, which falls on April 28 each year. This years event was marked by mourning workers who suffered workplace accidents, got injured or died from them.



The Union therefore used the Day to sensitize and create the necessary awareness for workers to learn about safety and health measures to avoid preventable accidents at work.



It said each year, more than 100,000 construction workers die from preventable accidents on work-sites.



It described the coronavirus period as abnormal times which trigger the figure higher as the pandemic ravages even more developed economies.

It said the situation was very scary for countries like Ghana where the people are all potential victims.



As groups and as individuals, we have a lot to do to break the cycle of infection. We all need to subject ourselves to the self-discipline that is required to keep all of us safer, it said.



We are grateful that the borders have been closed and that all measures are being put in place to contain the horizontal or community spread of COVID-19.



The Construction and Building Material Workers Union calls on all construction employers and employees not to compromise with health and safety standards and observe the preventive measures put forward by Government such as social distancing, frequent washing of hands (with soap under running water), using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and avoiding mass gathering.



It said these should be in addition to supply and use relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing and other requirements.



The statement urged Government to deal with the negative consequences of sub-contracting or outsourcing which undermines workers right, reduce them to penury and pushes them to more vulnerability.



To be fair to employers, the Government should roll out a stimulus package for contractors who have kept faith with the workers, and worked even during the abnormal time which resulted in the partial lockdown, it said.



The Union congratulated all employers and construction workers who risk their lives working to prevent the collapse of the economy of Ghana.



The Construction Union urges all Ghanaians to work closely together to get rid of COVID-19. We can all prevail together, it added.

Source: GNA









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Updated on May 5 to include AUM, Samford and UNA.

Alabamas college students have been learning online for almost two months. Theyve got a smidge longer on Zoom lectures, but the end is in sight.

The University of Alabama system, by way of an interview with Chancellor Finis E. St. John IV, announced students of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, UAH and UAB would return to campus for the fall semester, barring any additional safety concerns. Since the announcement, more colleges around the state are making similar calls.

Here are the universities we know of at the moment:

Auburn University

Auburn University will provide information about the second summer mini-term prior to June 1. Details for fall semester are not yet determined, although we are planning to welcome students back to campus. We hope to provide students, faculty and staff as much time as possible to prepare. Complete information for the fall will be announced no later than early July, perhaps sooner.

For more information and updates, click here.

Auburn University, Montgomery

Auburn University at Montgomery Chancellor Carl A. Stockton announced that AU Montgomery students would return to classes for the fall semester, and he has created a task force to ensure that the transition is safe.

We will continue to provide coursework and services virtually through the end of summer, enabling the task force to devote its full attention to addressing issues related to reopening the campus when the time comes, Stockton said in a release from the university.

For more on UAM, click here.

Spring Hill College

Spring Hill College President E. Joseph Lee II, announced [yesterday] that the College administration is planning for fall 2020 residential instruction to begin on August 20, barring any unforeseen health circumstances," according to a release from the university.

More on Spring Hill

University of Mobile

Dr. Lonnie Burnett, president of the University of Mobile, announced today the private Christian university plans to resume on-ground instruction and residential housing this fall. Faculty will report to campus August 10 with classes set to begin August 17. Move-in day for residential students will be August 14, according to a release from the university.

Click here for more information and updates.

University of Montevallo

The Shelby County-based university is looking forward to resuming in-person instruction on a regular schedule for the fall 2020 semester, with the understanding that the global climate surrounding COVID-19 remains a fluid situation, a spokesman for the school said in a statement.

Students will be allowed back on campus in the fall, the university said.

More information on Motevallos plan can be found here.

Troy University

In-class instruction is expected to resume in the fall, with all Troy campuses and locations reopening June 1, Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins said in a statement.

This spring has been a time of uncertainty and challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives and threatened health and safety. And yet throughout these days, I have been impressed but not surprised by the courage shown by our students, faculty and staff, who have carried on with the life of the University in inspired and innovative ways, Hawkins said. The Trojan Spirit remains undaunted, and it is in this same spirit Troy University now moves ahead to perform its mission of educating the mind to think, the heart to feel, and the body to act.

Online instruction is expected to continue through the summer, while new student orientation is scheduled to be held on campus beginning in June.

The latest updates on how COVID-19 is impacting the university can be found here.

Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State University is planning for normal operations for our students this fall. Our full plan will be available later this summer for our faculty, staff and students, according to an email from Don Killingsworth, acting president of JSU.

For more information on the universitys plans, click here.

Samford University

While we look forward to the return of in-person instruction, this experience will undoubtedly strengthen our integration of technology in the classroom and across all of our operations for years to come, said University President Andrew Westmoreland. "The pandemic has challenged us to think in new ways and to adapt our operations, but more than anything, it has reaffirmed the importance of our mission, which unites our Samford community and is what our students, alumni and employees value most.

For more information on Samfords plans, click here.

The University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama is making plans to reopen its campus and resume in-person classes and residential student living for the Fall 2020 semester, according to USA President Tony Waldrop.

The most important step in reopening is to ensure that we can conduct classes and activities in a safe manner, Waldrop said. There is always the possibility that the evolving health risks or other circumstances associated with COVID-19 may require that we change our plans, but we are laying the groundwork for reopening.

University of North Alabama

UNA announced its students would return to face-to-face instruction for the fall 2020 semester. The return will be a phased approach," according to a statement from the university. The employees will return to campus through the month of May and will be required to abide by social distancing guidelines.

We have been fortunate in the Shoals that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and rates of infection have been low, said UNA President Ken Kitts. "This, along with a leveling of confirmed cases and great work by our faculty and staff, gives us confidence as we look forward to welcoming our students back to campus.

For more, click here.
Seven has reached agreement with Racing Victoria, Racing.com and Racing Queensland to continue its Live broadcasts over the next 7 weeks.

From this Saturdays meets at Sandown and Morphettville, racing action in Victoria, Adelaide and Queensland will be shown live nationally.

Legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney will lead Sevens coverage alongside Jason Richardson, Hamish McLachlan and Chris Symons.

Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport Lewis Martin said, Were so happy to be working with the racing bodies and Racing.com to deliver more live and free thoroughbred racing for the fans. Its been a great collaboration and we can all look forward to some outstanding racing over the coming weeks.

In Victoria, fans will enjoy all the highlights from Sandown, Caulfield, Flemington and Moonee Valley, including the National Hall of Fame Race Day and Saturday at the Valley.

Seven in partnership with Racing.com will also bring viewers Adelaides Autumn Carnival, which features some of South Australias most prestigious races across Morphettvilles marquee Oaks Day, Derby Day and Goodwood Day meets.

And during the Brisbane Winter Carnival  Queenslands premier carnival  Seven will bring race lovers the big moments from Eagle Farm and Doomben, including the Stradbroke Handicap, Victory Stakes, Chairmans Handicap and Tattersalls Cup.

Racing fans can also keep across the action with @7horseracing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sandown  Ladbrokes Park Race Day

Morphettville  Oaks Day

Saturday May 2

Sydney 11.30am Live on 7TWO and 7plus, 12.00pm Live on Channel 7, 5.00pm Live on 7TWO

Melbourne 11.30am Live on 7TWO and 7plus, 12.00pm Live on Channel 7, 5.00pm Live on 7TWO

Brisbane 11.30am Live on 7TWO and 7plus, 12.00pm Live on Channel 7, 5.00pm Live on 7TWO

Adelaide 11.00am Live on 7TWO and 7plus, 11.30am Live on Channel 7

Perth 9.30am Live on 7TWO and 7plus, 10.00am Live on Channel 7
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A social studies teacher at a Brooklyn charter school has died due to complications from the coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a recent report.

Thirty-year-old Rana Zoe Mungin -- a teacher at Bushwick Ascend Middle School who tutored sixth-graders in social studies -- lost her fight to coronavirus, according to PIX 11. Her sister, Mia Mungin, made the announcement on Twitter on Monday.

It is with heavy heart that I have to inform you all that my sister Rana Zoe [Mungin] has passed away today at 12:25 p.m. due to COVID-19 complications. She fought a long fight but her body was [too] weak, she wrote on Twitter.

Mia Mungin, a registered nurse, came home with a fever on March 9 -- and Rana Zoe Mungin later developed coronavirus symptoms, according to the report. The teacher had underlying conditions of blood pressure and asthma, and tried to ride out the illness at home.

Her family called an ambulance because she was experiencing shortness of breath. Mia Mungin told PIX 11 that the EMTs insinuated that her sister was having a panic attack and her lungs were clear. She said Brookdale Hospital wouldnt give her sister a COVID-19 test, a time when there was a testing kit shortage.

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

She was later admitted to Brookdale Hospital on March 20, where she was intubated and put on a ventilator, according to PIX 11. Doctors tried to treat her with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, but were unsuccessful, the report states.

After a push from Sen. Chuck Schumer and a represtentative from Gilead Sciences, which produces the experimental drug Remdesivir, she was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan for treatment. She woke up about a month after she went on the ventilator and was beginning to get better, according to the report. However, she developed a sepsis infection and needed antibiotics.

She was transferred to a New Jersey facility last week for patients coming off ventilators, but her condition worsened and she began having heart arrhythmia, the outlet reported. Mia Mungin told PIX 11 that she doesnt know if her sisters condition was connected to her treatment with hydroxychloroquine.

She died on Monday afternoon, Mia Mungin posted on Twitter. She had just FaceTimed her sister the day before.

I told her I loved her, and I needed her to keep fighting, Mia Mungin told PIX 11. But I know shes tired and her body is worn.

Rana Zoe Mungin graduated from PS 202 in East New York, Brooklyn, and was valedictorian, according to the report. She attended Wellesley College and the University of Massachusetts.

DOE-RELATED FATALITIES

According to the most recent data released by the city Department of Education (DOE), 68 DOE employees have reportedly died due to COVID-19.

As of April 24, 68 employees have died as reported by family members and loved ones. Of the total, 65 were school-based employees -- comprised of 25 paraprofessionals, 28 teachers, two administrators, two facilities staffers, two school aides, two guidance counselors, two food service staffers, a parent coordinator, and a school computer technology specialist. Three were central office employees.

Of the 65 school-based employees, four were employed at Staten Island schools. Twenty-four employees worked in Brooklyn, 18 in the Bronx, 12 in Queens, and seven in Manhattan.

45 Photos of the pandemic in NYC: Our lives changed forever

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds up a photo during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on April 28, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Florida to Reopen Next Week With Restrictions, CCP Virus Hot Spots Excluded

Most of Floridas retail stores and restaurants can resume operating indoors at a limited capacity starting next week on Monday, May 4, as the first phase of reopening the economy kicks off in the state.

Indoor patronage will be allowed for up to 25 people, and outdoor seatings will be allowed with appropriate social distancing, such as tables being positioned six feet apart, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference on Wednesday as he announced phase one of the plan called Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Floridas Recovery (pdf).

However, virus hotspots in the South Florida metropolitan region, which consists of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, will not have such restrictions lifted for now.

The affected counties, which collectively account for 28.9 percent of Floridas 21.3 million residents, have seen a high number of cases and deaths from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus. Collectively, they account for 57.3 percent of the states deaths and 59.5 percent of the states cases. The state, which has 67 counties, has seen 33,193 total cases and 1,218 deaths attributed to the CCP virus as of Wednesday, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are very important to Floridas future, DeSantis said during a news conference in Tallahassee. We want to get them going. I think we have a good path to do it. But its going to be on a little bit different timetable than the rest of the state.

DeSantis issued a stay-at-home order on April 1 to limit movement to only essential activities. The order, which closed non-essential businesses, went into effect on April 3 and was set to expire on Thursday. The order has now been extended to the start of Monday, after which Phase 1 of reopening will begin.

Read More Florida Governor Says State Beat Back Virus Without Draconian Measures

Under phase one, medical practices can resume elective surgeries and procedures statewide, but movie theaters, bars, fitness clubs, and other personal care services such as hair salons will remain closed. Nursing home visits will be prohibited and schools will continue to be closed with online distance learning in place.

DeSantis encouraged residents to wear masks for face-to-face business.

He said that Florida would increase walk-up CCP virus screening sites to 11 throughout the state.

Part of our strategy in phase one is to expand testing  We want to be able to spot trends in the under-served communities. he said.

He added that there is currently more capacity than demand for testing, and encouraged those who have symptoms or believe they may have been exposed to be tested.

DeSantis said that Florida authorities have been contact tracing and that he believes this may have prevented large outbreaks outside of South Florida.

The contact tracing is going to continue in the state of Florida. It was always part of our strategy.  This saved a lot of spread, particularly in communities that did not have the widespread transmission like you saw in Dade and Broward, he said.

We did not ask to be put into this situation, DeSantis also said, referring to the overall effect of the CCP virus on Florida. This was thrust upon us largely because of the malfeasance of the Chinese communist party. We are where we are. But I think we can get through it, and we can build a foundation.

Read More Florida CFO Sends Letter to Chinese Ambassador, Demanding That China Pay for Causing Pandemic
Billionaire miner Andrew Forrest has been accused of ambushing the Australian government after he parachuted one of Chinas top diplomats into an official event, blindsiding Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Mr Forrest, the Fortescue chairman, surprised Mr Hunt by inviting Chinas consul-general for Victoria Zhou Long to speak alongside him on Wednesday after he secured 10 million coronavirus tests from China, a 20-fold increase in Australias testing capacity.

Health Minister Greg Hunt walks away from Chinese consul-general Zhou Long and Andrew Forrest after the press conference. Credit:AAP

The audacious bid to mend a deteriorating political relationship between Beijing and Canberra follows increasing pressure from corporate leaders for Australia to back down on its public threats to pursue Chinas role in the coronavirus outbreak.

Beijing has spent the past week accusing Australia of being a bully pushing US interests in the region and warned Chinese consumers could walk out on Australian brands if it continues to lobby for a global independent inquiry into the disease.
Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

A pregnant Native American woman incarcerated in a federal prison in Texas was diagnosed with coronavirus and died in federal custody on Tuesday, officials said.

Andrea Circle Bear, 30, had been sentenced to more than two years in prison on a drug charge this January. She delivered her baby by caesarean section while on a ventilator in a Texas hospital on 1 April, and died there on 28 April.

Related: Mass incarceration could add 100,000 deaths to US coronavirus toll, study finds

Circle Bears child survived, but officials declined to provide any additional information on the babys condition or where the child is now, out of respect for the family and for privacy reasons, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman said.

The 30-year-old woman had a pre-existing medical condition that made her more at risk for a severe case of coronavirus, according to federal officials, who did not specify what the condition was.

Andrea should never have been in jail in the first place. Period, the Democratic congresswoman Ayanna Pressley said on Wednesday during a discussion hosted by the Appeal, a criminal justice news site.

That she was there at all is cruel and negligent, Pressley said, calling Circle Bear one of many people trapped inside of prison systems because of systemic inequities and a failed war on drugs.

Rep. @AyannaPressley joins 'The Briefing' to discuss care for incarcerated people during COVID-19: "We have to have reentry support. We have to have housing support. We have to have healthcare support. What we already know from prison is that you can't treat trauma with trauma." pic.twitter.com/QeeguDznTi  The Appeal (@theappeal) April 29, 2020

Circle Bear had admitted to selling 5.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, over two different days in April 2018, according to court documents. She pleaded guilty to the charge of maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Story continues

This January, Circle Bear, who was already five months pregnant, according to court documents, was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison by Judge Roberto A Lange.

Her sentencing documents note that Circle Bear had a history of substance abuse and recommended her as a candidate for a prison substance abuse treatment program. The documents also recommended that she be placed in a prison medical facility, given that she was pregnant, and due to deliver her child in early May.

The Department of Justice touted Circle Bears sentencing in a January press release. Dont let yourself or your property get mixed up in the world of illegal drugs. It ends badly, the US attorney Ron Parsons said in a statement.

Circle Bear is the 29th federal inmate to die in the Bureau of Prisons custody since late March. As of Tuesday, more than 1,700 federal inmates have tested positive for Covid-19. About 400 of those inmates have recovered.

On 20 March, Circle Bear had been transferred from a local jail in South Dakota, to FMC Carswell, a federal prison medical facility in Fort Worth, Texas, officials said.

The prison medical facility was more than 1,000 miles away from Circle Bears home of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, which is part of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian reservation.

As a new inmate in the federal prison system, Circle Bear was quarantined as part of the Bureau of Prisons plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to a press release from the bureau.

Eight days after she arrived, she was taken to a local hospital for potential concerns regarding her pregnancy, but was discharged from the hospital the same day and brought back to the prison, officials said. Three days later, prison medical staff members decided she should be brought back to the hospital after she developed a fever, dry cough and other symptoms, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

Circle Bear was put on a ventilator the same day she arrived at the hospital and her baby was born the next day, officials said. She tested positive for Covid-19 days later.

Federal and state prison records listed Circle Bears race as Native American. A spokesperson for the Cheyenne River Sioux tribal government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An attorney who represented Circle Bear also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Circle Bears pregnancy made her high risk for the virus, but she would not be considered priority for release under the Bureau of Prisons and justice department guidelines on releasing prisoners to home confinement to help stop the spread. She was already on a ventilator when an expanded home confinement memo was handed down by the justice department in early April.

William Barr, the US attorney general, ordered the increased use of home confinement and the expedited release of eligible inmates by the Bureau of Prisons, with priority for those at low- or medium-security prisons, starting with virus hotspots. Under the Bureau of Prisons guidelines, the agency is prioritizing the release of those who have served half of their sentence or inmates who have 18 months or less left and who served at least 25% of their time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
She made history as Married At First Sight's first-ever lesbian bride.

And on Thursday, Tash Herz continued to promote the LGBTQ community by posting some explicit lesbian sex scenes on her Instagram page.

The raunchy footage was from drama series Vida, which is currently available to stream in Australia on Stan.

Raunchy: Married At First Sight's Tash Herz (pictured) continued to promote the LGBTQ community on Thursday by posting some explicit lesbian sex scenes on her Instagram page

The American drama has a diverse cast of queer characters, some of which identify as lesbian, queer, and non-binary.

Tash was watching the show on her laptop, which led her to film the scene on her phone and post it on her Instagram stories.

The former topless dancer is a huge supporter of the queer community, and regularly uses her Instagram page to highlight important issues among LGBTQ people.

Steamy: The raunchy footage was from the Starz drama series Vida, which is currently available to stream in Australia on Stan

Diverse: The American drama has a diverse cast of queer characters, some of which identify as lesbian, queer, and non-binary

She recently voiced her support for sex workers, whose trade has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an Instagram post, the 31-year-old wrote: 'Out here lighting a candle for my queer SW [sex workers] during this time.

'I don't dance anymore but I never forget where I came from and the sisterhood in a change room at midnight is unrivaled.

Support: She recently voiced her support for sex workers, whose trade has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic

'The magic in not feeling shame for who you are or your past is that no one has any ammunition when it comes to judging you'.

Alongside the caption, Tash shared a photo of her shapely, tattooed legs in a well-worn pair of platform heels, the kind often favoured by exotic dancers.

Earlier this year, footage resurfaced online of Tash performing a raunchy striptease on stage in front of a handful of people.

Icons: She made history as Married At First Sight's first-ever lesbian bride. (Pictured with Amanda Micallef)

The Adelaide bartender wore nothing but red and white striped bikini bottoms while covering her nipples with stickers.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia at the time, Tash said: 'I have absolutely no shame about my work as a dancer.

'I fully support all women working in the sex industry and I don't have time for anyone who judges that, I embrace my sexuality and I am proud of my past.'
Cal Fire - Santa Cruz Unit / Cal Fire - Santa Cruz Unit

Four months after an SUV catapulted off a cliff along Highway 1 in San Mateo County  an incident captured in a widely-circulated, horrifying video  officials have identified the woman who died behind the wheel.

The California Highway Patrol said on Wednesday that officials have confirmed the driver of the 2007 Lexus SUV was San Francisco resident Tracey Ivori Sinclair. Investigators used a missing persons report, DNA match and drivers license to solve the case.
The Arab League said Thursday Israels controversial proposal to annex much of the West Bank constituted a new war crime against the Palestinians, during a virtual conference chaired in Cairo.

The implementation of plans to annex any part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including the Jordan Valley and the lands on which Israeli settlements are standing represents a new war crime against the Palestinian people, Arab foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

The Arab League also urged the United States to withdraw its support in enabling the plans of the occupying Israeli government.

US President Donald Trump in January unveiled a controversial peace plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Rejected by the Palestinians and condemned by much of the international community, the plan gives Israel the green light to annex Jewish settlements and other strategic territory in the occupied West Bank.

An Israeli coalition government agreement reached last week includes a framework for implementing the annexations outlined in the plan.

Such annexations would violate international law and likely inflame tensions in the volatile region.

The Palestinians would be granted a sovereign but demilitarised state in the remaining parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, along with promises of major investment.

The Palestinian states capital would be on the outskirts of Jerusalem, the contested holy city, which would remain fully under Israeli sovereignty.

Palestinians fear the Al-Aqsa Mosque and surrounding compound  Islams third holiest site  would be effectively under Israeli control.

Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki cautioned against the annexation during the Arab League meeting, saying it would end the two-state solution.

He said the move would turn the battle from a political one to an endless religious war that will never bring about stability, security or peace to our region.

On Monday, the United States said it was ready to recognise Israels annexation of key parts of the West Bank, but also asked the new unity government to negotiate with the Palestinians.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 20:21:35|Editor: huaxia

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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (R) meets with Hu Wei, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 29, 2020. During the talk, Rajapaksa applauded China's remarkable achievement in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and assured Sri Lanka's firm support to the WHO's leadership. (Sri Lankan President's Media Division/Handout via Xinhua)

COLOMBO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Hu Wei, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, has handed over a list of medical supplies donation from China to Sri Lanka.

Hu, during his courtesy call to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday, discussed with the president on collaboration between the two countries on fighting COVID-19 and enhancing bilateral economic and commercial relations after the pandemic.

The charge d'affaires reiterated that China will continue to provide all possible assistance within its capacity to Sri Lanka to fight the pandemic, and announced that soon will arrive the next batch of China aid, including test kits, personal protective equipments (PPEs), N95 masks, protective goggles and surgical masks.

Hu also presented to the Sri Lankan president an experience report, titled "China's Fight Against COVID-19."

Rajapaksa, during the talk, applauded China's remarkable achievement in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, assured Sri Lanka's firm support to the WHO's leadership, and opposed any acts of politicization or stigmatization in the anti-pandemic battle.

Underlining that a friend in need is a friend indeed, the president said Sri Lanka will never forget all the enormous help from China during its hard times including the civil conflict, post-war development and reconstruction after the tsunami disaster.

The president said Sri Lanka expects further cooperation with China in combating the coronavirus and looks forward to China's further assistance in Sri Lanka's economy revival and a comprehensive development of the island nation in the post-pandemic era. Enditem
Mr Healy Rae told the Irish Independent he had not sought a medical certification as to his condition. Photo: Damien Eagers

INDEPENDENT TD Danny Healy-Rae has called for an international investigation into the origin of the coronavirus in China.

And he told the Dail that Ireland should not buy more equipment to help in the battle against the virus from China "until we know what's the truth".

Mr Healy-Rae asked Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: "Why are we not calling for an investigation into how and when this virus actually began in China?

"Is it the case that they dont want to know?

"Because I can tell you that all those who have lost loved ones to this deadly disease would like to know and be told the truth."

Mr Healy-Rae said the virus was in China "long before" January.

He claimed that some of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that Ireland bought from China and "went out of its way to publicly thank them for" was given to the Chinese by the Italians in early December.

Mr Healy-Rae did not outline the basis of this allegation.

He added: "I am asking the Government not to buy another bottle to contain this virus from the Chinese until we know whats the truth."

The Kerry TD said: "I am calling on the United Nations to carry out an international investigation into what happened because we need to know.

"If theyre culpable for anything, or whoever it is, they will have a job in compensating the world."

He said: "Theyll never compensate for the people that have died but they should be made to compensate for the money that countries around the world have lost and none more so than Ireland."
By Akbar Mammadov

On 30 April, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on relieving Makhir Guliyev from the post of head of the Executive Power of Bilasuvar district.

The text of the order has been published on the website of the president.

Earlier, local media reported that Azerbaijan's State Security Service carried out investigative and operational measures to detain officials of the Bilasuvar District Executive Authority who had committed numerous criminal offenses regarding violations of the rights of citizens, society and the state on 29 April.

Mahir Guliyev has held the post of the head of the Executive Power of Bilasuvar district since 2011.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Her students designed a 3.8 cubic-foot UV box consisting of six walls of  inch acrylic sheets, which were custom laser cut at the 1819 Innovation Hub. A T-slot framing system consists of aluminum while acrylic pegs adhered to side panels allow for easy hanging of N95 respirator masks in the UV box. A light bulb producing non-ozone UV-C light emits a wavelength of 254 nanometers, which works by destroying a microorganism's nucleic acid rendering bacteria and viruses inactive.

Our specific UV Box can disinfect a surface in as little as 39 minutes, explains Garbo, one of the students who designed the structure. The further an item is placed from the light, the longer it needs to be processed. With the N95 masks, they should be flipped after 39 minutes and processed again to ensure that all sides are disinfected.

Privitera said the students initially designed the UV box for Village Life Outreach to take to the Roche Health Center in rural Tanzania. That meant making sure the box could be readily assembled and disassembled and then shipped with ease. The Tanzanian community lacks many resources so every design detail was considered from the type of ultraviolet bulbs used to a detailed set of instructions for use.

The size of the UV box was based on how Village Life Outreach stores medical devices in Tanzania, said Crosby, one of the students who created the UV box. We designed panels so they are flat and used aluminum steel for framing to be deconstructed so they could be easily shipped like you were packing for a vacation.

This project arose out of the contextual inquiry research conducted by MDIEP students, Akiva Kirschner and Paige Sumser. Their research expressed a need for better sterilization conditions at Roche Health Center upon returning from a trip there in August. Their firsthand experience provided essential context to the problem that helped their classmates design a realistic solution. Crosby, Garbo, and Shanehsaz had hoped to send their prototypes over with them on their next trip. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic in process international travel by UC faculty, students and staff was put on hold. The Dis-box never made it on a plane.

With modifications that prototype was used to assist Crossroad Health Center with turnaround occurring within a week. Shanehsaz performed mathematical computations to ensure the ultraviolet light would be of sufficient strength by following guidelines from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and AAMI.

Instructions which use display pictures and simple text were adjusted so medical workers locally can assemble the UV box with ease.

Our initial project was to store and maintain devices when they went through the sterilization process in Tanzania, said Privitera. Their process was to boil the instruments and then lay them out on the ground and grass until they dry. Our solution was to create a box that used UV light that would maintain the decontamination properties they had when they went through the sterilization process. It would keep them clean until they are ready to use.

Privitera said the students wont forget there is still a need in Tanzania.

We are proud to supply Crossroad with this ultraviolet box and we will build another for Roche Health Center, said Privitera. Future MDIEP students will take on the challenge once travel bans are lifted.

Crossroad Health Center officials say the UV box will really make a difference.

Our goals at Crossroad during this crisis are to serve our patients by maintaining access while also protecting our staff, said ODea. When we looked at the inventory of masks, we were not sure we would have enough to keep our doors open, so we started looking for other options. When I reached out to Professor Privitera, she called me back immediately and we talked about how her students could help us. She was so amazing. How fortunate and blessed we are that it was her that I sent that email to.

The UV-C box allows us to decontaminate our masks regularly, so that we can continue to see patients who are sick but also protect our staff, said ODea.  It also means so much to us that there are so many out there that are supporting us as health care workers on the front line. It is true that everyone has a part to play whether it is taking care of patients, answering the phones, or building a UV box. We all can really come together during this time.

Featured image at top: UC engineering students, Allison-Joy Garbo and Kellen Crosby, are shown with their UV box and staff at Crossroad Health Center. Photo/provided
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Center for Financial Planning, Inc. ("The Center"), a privately held wealth management firm in Southfield, Michigan, today announced a series of awards that the firm has received over the past month. Center for Financial Planning has 12 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals on staff and 30 total employees. The firm was the recipient of three individual achievement awards and one workplace award from publications, adding to their long list of accolades.

WOMEN STAND OUT IN THEIR FIELD

Center for Financial Planning, Inc., which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, was recognized with several awards in the financial services industry, with women advisors blazing the trail.

Forbes 2020 Top Women Wealth Advisors list: Sandra Adams , CFP 

, CFP Forbes 2020 Top Women Wealth Advisors list: Laurie Renchik , CFP  , MBA

, CFP , MBA Financial Times 2020 Top Advisor: Timothy Wyman CFP  , JD

"The Center has a long history of women leadership. In fact, two of our three founders in 1985 were women.

"We take great pride in hiring and mentoring extraordinary women," said Tim Wyman, Managing partner and CFP. "Today, we are very fortunate to have half of our partner group consisting of women for the benefit of our clients and team members."

"This year's awards demonstrate the continued leadership, contribution and outstanding character of our team. It's an honor to receive this recognition and a reflection of our entire team's dedication to embracing leadership opportunities and personal growth," said Laurie Renchik, Partner, CFP, MBA.

BALANCE OF WORK AND PLAY

Over the years, the Center has been recognized through multiple local and national awards for its team-first culture, with focused team building and career development opportunities, and an inclusive environment with healthy work/life balance and activities to drive team engagement and promote fun. The most recent team award is:

InvestmentNews 2020 Best Place to Work for Financial Advisors

"I think for any company to be successful there must be a balance of work and play," said Wyman. "That's why our team continually focuses on cultivating an environment that attracts the right people. Part of a firm's success is finding people that truly believe in your mission. So when you find those individuals, it's important to keep them. Each employee benefits from a competitive salary, a strong customizable benefits package, a generous vacation policy, and a comfortable and team-oriented space that employees enjoy working in. Additionally, each team member has a professional development plan to help them achieve career objectives and grow within their role."

"Team member participation is encouraged in our health and wellness committee, a charitable committee and a creativity committee. Employees join in Center CARES, volunteering their time and talents, supporting numerous local charitable organizations," added Renchik.

ABOUT CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING, INC.

Located in Southfield, Mich., Center for Financial Planning, Inc. ("The Center") has been committed to assisting people with life's most important financial goals since 1985. With 12 financial planners offering various specialties, 29 team members and over $1 billion in assets under management, The Center partners with clients in 40 states and six countries to help them achieve their individualized financial goals. The firm has been ranked as #10 on Crain's Detroit Business 2019 Cool Places to Work list and was also honored in 2017 and 2018. The Center has also been included on the following lists: InvestmentNews' Best Places to Work for Financial Advisors (2018, 2019, 2020) and Detroit's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For (2017). The Advisors at The Center have been recognized by Forbes, Financial Times, and Investment News throughout the years. The firm has been recognized by Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisors (2015, 2017, 2018) and InvestmentNews Best Practices Award: Advisor Technology (2015, 2017).

Center for Financial Planning, Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor and independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. (member FINRA/SIPC). Investment advisory services are offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Center for Financial Planning, Inc. is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. For more information, please visit http://www.centerfinplan.com/.

Media Contact:

Leesy Palmer

Impact Communications, Inc.

913-649-5009

[email protected]

Branch address:

24800 Denso Drive, Suite 300

Southfield, MI 48033

248-948-7900

Investment News "2020 Top 50 Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers", April 2020. The Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers program is a national program managed by Best Companies Group. The survey and recognition program are dedicated to identifying and recognizing the best employers in the financial advice/wealth management industry. The final list is based on the following criteria: must be a registered investment adviser (RIA), affiliated with an independent broker-dealer (IBD), or a hybrid doing business through an RIA and must be in business for a minimum of one year and must have a minimum of 15 full-time/part-time employees. The assessment process is compiled in a two-part process based on the findings of the employer benefits & policies questionnaire and the employee engagement & satisfaction survey. The results are analyzed and categorized according to 8 Core Focus Areas: Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training, Development and Resources, Pay and Benefits and Overall Engagement. Best Companies Group will survey up to 400 randomly selected employees in a company depending on company size. The two data sets are combined and analyzed to determine the rankings. The award is not representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of advisor's future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors pay a fee in exchange for this award. Investment News and/or Best Companies Group is not affiliated with Raymond James.

The Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors is an independent listing produced annually by Ignites Research, a division of Money-Media, Inc., on behalf of the Financial Times (April 2020). To qualify for the list, advisers had to have 10 years of experience and at least $300 million in assets under management (AUM) and no more than 60% of the AUM with institutional clients. The FT reaches out to some of the largest brokerages in the U.S. and asks them to provide a list of advisors who meet the minimum criteria outlined above. These advisors are then invited to apply for the ranking. Only advisors who submit an online application can be considered for the ranking. In 2020, roughly 1,040 applications were received and 400 were selected to the final list (38.5%). The 400 qualified advisers were then scored on six attributes: AUM, AUM growth rate, compliance record, years of experience, industry certifications, and online accessibility. AUM is the top factor, accounting for roughly 60-70 percent of the applicant's score. Additionally, to provide a diversity of advisors, the FT placed a cap on the number of advisors from any one state that's roughly correlated to the distribution of millionaires across the U.S. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of advisor's future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. The FT, Ignite Research, and Money-Media, Inc. are not affiliated with Raymond James.

The Financial Times FT 300 Registered Investment Advisors 2018 award had about 39.5% of the 760 advisor applicants being recognized as a Registered Investment Advisor. The FT used the database of RIAs who are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and selected those practices reporting to the SEC that had $300 million or more in assets under management. Qualifying RIA firms complete an application that gave more information about their practices. That information was augmented with their own research on the candidates, including data from regulatory filings. The FT generated an internal score for each applicant based on six broad factors: advisor assets under management, AUM growth rate, the firm's years in existence, advisors' industry certifications (CFA, CFP, etc.), compliance record, and online accessibility. AUM comprised approximately 70 to 75 percent while asset growth comprised roughly 15 to 20 percent of each RIA's score. Additionally, to provide a diversity of advisors, the FT placed a cap on the number of RIA's from any one state that's roughly correlated to the distribution of millionaires across the U.S. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. The FT is not affiliated with Raymond James.

Investment News Top 50 Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers, April 2019. The Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers program is a national program managed by Best Companies Group. The survey and recognition program are dedicated to identifying and recognizing the best employers in the financial advice/wealth management industry. The final list is based on the following criteria: must be a registered investment adviser (RIA), affiliated with an independent broker-dealer (IBD), or a hybrid doing business through an RIA and must be in business for a minimum of one year and must have a minimum of 15 full-time/part-time employees. The assessment process is compiled in a two-part process based on the findings of the employer benefits & policies questionnaire and the employee engagement & satisfaction survey. The results are analyzed and categorized according to 8 Core Focus Areas: Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training, Development and Resources, Pay and Benefits and Overall Engagement. Best Companies Group will survey up to 400 randomly selected employees in a company depending on company size. The two data sets are combined and analyzed to determine the rankings. The award is not representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of advisor's future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors pay a fee in exchange for this award. Investment News and/or Best Companies Group is not affiliated with Raymond James.

Best Companies Group of Harrisburg, Pa., produced the ranking of Cool Places to Work in Michigan for Crain's. Any Michigan company with at least 15 employees could participate. First, the employer provided detailed information on its benefits and policies; next, its employees answered an 80 question confidential survey about workplace culture, company leadership and other aspects of work. The client survey accounted for 75% of the final ranking Companies paid for the survey; not all companies that applied were chosen as a cool workplace. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of advisors future performance. No fee is paid in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Best Companies Group of Harrisburg, PA or Crain's.

The Forbes ranking of America's Top 1,000 Women Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of 7 years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Research Summary (as of April 2019): 32,000 nominations were received based on thresholds (9,654 women) and 1,000 won. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Please visit https://www.forbes.com/top-women-advisors/#28abc5bd51f4 for more info

InvestmentNews Best Practices Award - This ranking is not based in any way on the individual's abilities in regards to providing investment advice or management. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Raymond James is not affiliated with Investment News.

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Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Announces Multiple Award Recipients, Including Top Women

Recognized as Best Place to Work, this Detroit-area wealth management firm boasts top female leaders on their team

SOURCE Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.centerfinplan.com


Another 3.84 million US workers filed for unemployment benefits last week: Report

Bundesliga to wait until May 6 for restart update

May need 'army' of 17,000 to trace contacts of Covid-19 patients, says New York Governor

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin

India has more than 33,600 cases of Covid-19 with Maharashtra being the worst-hit state with more than 10,400 cases. 1,070 people across the nation have succumbed to Covid-19, with 459 deaths being reported from Maharashtra.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

Over three million cases have been registered across the globe and the United States continues to be the hardest hit and however has begun reopening the economy in phases. Taiwan and Hong Kong have reported zero cases of Covid-19 over the last five days. South Korea also reported zero cases of Covid-19 infections on Thursday.

Follow latest updates on Covid-19 here:
The male gender has accounted for 91 percent of mysterious deaths in Kano, a new survey has revealed. According to the survey-base...





The male gender has accounted for 91 percent of mysterious deaths in Kano, a new survey has revealed.





According to the survey-based report, 41.3 percent of those involved had a fever  one of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).





Over the past few weeks, strange deaths have claimed a number of prominent figures in Kano, the second-biggest state in Nigeria (by population).





The state government admitted the strange deaths and its severity on Sunday but blamed malaria and other terminal conditions but not COVID-19.

Report of contamination and closure of the molecular laboratory testing for COVID-19 in the state exacerbated the situation, fuelling speculations linking the deaths to a pandemic that has affected over 1,500 Nigerians.





Muhammad Garba, the states commissioner for health, further stated that verbal autopsy, a method of determining the cause of death via information gathered from people who knew the medical history of the deceased, would be used to unravel the situation.





The World Health Organization approves verbal autopsy as a vital tool in places where undocumented deaths are rife  but has standards for conducting such.





Since the strange deaths took over the state, Yusuf Yau Gambo, a lecturer at the Department of Mathematics, Yusuf Maitama Sule University in Kano, carried out a community-based survey on reported increased mortality in Kano state, giving possible explanations with data.





Gambo, an applied mathematician and data analyst, stated that the report, which has received attention from Kano State COVID-19 task force, is an attempt to provide timely intervention to understand the situation and to halt false narratives.





The survey, based on a very small sample size of 260 households from over 17 local government areas, revealed that half of the respondents (130 families) have each witnessed more than five deaths in their vicinity in the two-week period before the report.





About 67 percent of the respondents said the strange deaths started from 13 April and have continued up until when the survey concluded on April 25.





LGA distribution of the deaths (based on survey responses)









The report also revealed that most of the reported death cases by respondents happened in Kano metropolis with a vast majority of the deaths occurring in Kano Municipal LGA followed by Gwale and Dala LGAs.





The report also showed that fever was predominant in the sick but only 22% confirmed hospitalization before death, and one-third of the victims were sick for less than five days.





COVID-19 CANNOT BE RULED OUT

Giving a clinical perspective of the report, Auwal Abubakar, a medical doctor and incident manager at Bauchi State governments Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), also noted the closeness of data with COVID-19.





Although its hard to point out the possible cause of death based on the data, however, the possibility of relating the situation to the current COVID-19 pandemic could not be ruled out, Abubakar said.





This is because the data strongly aligns with the current COVID-19 pandemic in terms of symptoms, incubation period, age group affected and other demographic characteristics.





Only one percent of deaths involved children, while about 50 percent involved adults  over the age of 60.





Gambo said the executive report meant for authorities concerned to take decisive action, recommending that the people remain calm and let the authorities concerned to get to the bottom of the situation.





Kano State currently has 115 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and President Muhammadu Buhari in his latest national address imposed a two-week lockdown on the northern State.




Bill Johnson: Every Christian called to give God 'opportunity' to work miracles through them

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Bethel Church pastor Bill Johnson said that while many Christians are uncomfortable with the supernatural and hold back from allowing God to miraculously heal the sick through them, the responsibility of every believer is to take some form of risk to give God a chance to show up and do what only He can do.

Johnson, pastor of the megachurch in Redding, California, that also runs a school of supernatural ministry, participated in Thursdays session of the Q 2020 Virtual Summit, an annual event that equips Christian leaders to thoughtfully engage culture from a Christian worldview.

During the session, the pastor was asked by host Gabe Lyons to address why we should lean into the supernatural more and trust God to do things that we might not ever understand in the supernatural realm.

If everything about [God] is something I understand, then I've reduced Him to my size, Johnson replied. I'm required to live with mystery. And if I'm a follower of Jesus, I need to at least attempt to do what He did and said that we would do.

Johnson referenced Matthew 10:8, where Jesus sends out the 12 Apostles and tells them: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

Part of what He imparted to His disciples was this mandate to heal the sick, raise the dead, whatever it might be, he explained. It's the miracle realm. The miracle realm is not the bonus, it's not the controversial side issue. It's the heart and nature of who Jesus was and what He displayed [on earth.] I may never do it well, I just don't have the right to change my assignment.

Johnson encouraged Christians to give Jesus the occasion to show up and do the extravagant thing.

My responsibility is to carry truth and to take some form of risk to give God a chance to show up and do what only He can do, the pastor said. I still want to present the Gospel so that people come to Christ. So my responsibility is to carry truth and to take some form of risk to give God a chance to show up and do what only He can do.

According to Johnson, two things hold Christians back from pursuing a lifestyle of allowing God to work extravagantly through them: Bad teaching where we're taught it ended some time ago, and "disappointment.

I think it's in our DNA as a believer, to see God do extravagant things through us, he said. It's a part of just a normal desire, ... we actually have to be taught out of that. And it's normal for us to long to see God use us in a significant way. The mistake comes when we take it to ourselves that it's because of our great faith or our great strength or courage, whatever it might be. That's an error, but it's also an error to go the other direction and to say, Well, if God wants it to happen, He'll just do it and I don't need to pursue a life of risk. It's just not the way it's played out in Scripture.

The California pastor also discussed his view of the presence of God, explaining that because the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift we've been given, the Holy Spirit in my life has to be better than Jesus standing right next to me at my side.

So Jesus next to me at my side is less than the Holy Spirit in my life growing in me, the pastor said. We need to learn to host Him so He rests upon us continuously.

The 12,000-member church is known for its focus on faith healing. Bethel currently hosts online healing rooms that are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Additionally, many of the 2,400 students at the churchs School of Supernatural Ministry approach and pray for people in hospitals and healthcare centers, though not without controversy.

In April, Bethel shifted their healing rooms to online events weeks after suspending their faith healing ministry at hospitals due to the coronavirus.

Chris Gore, the churchs head of healing, told The Washington Post that the most common ailment among the approximately 100 calls they get daily from around the world are mostly related to stress about the coronavirus.

Johnson urged the church to come alongside their local communities in the wake of the coronavirus, stressing that we have to erase the line between us and then we have to stop thinking that we're the inside group.

If we treat them like a project, then we will always try to change them instead of to love them, he said. What we've chosen to do is come alongside our civic leaders and the system, not try to change them but try to honor them for who they are, for God putting them in the position area and serving them for the well-being of our city.

We believe in miracles and we see extraordinary things happen ... but we can also serve and help them carry on their responsibilities, whatever it might be. We can offer our facilities for this pandemic to serve people in need. It doesn't matter. There's no separation.

COVID-19, Johnson emphasized, presents a prime time for the Church to experience significant breakthrough in its interactions with secular culture.

People are becoming more and more aware that they don't have an answer and they realize their politicians don't have the answers either, he said. We have to make sure that we maintain the hope in our life because people are crying out for hope ... And if we come under the influence of circumstances, instead of under the influence of the Almighty God and His heart for people, then we won't carry the message as we should. We won't hear the opportunity.

I think we're being positioned for a Great Awakening, and a mighty, mighty, mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he declared.

The large gathering of the church is where identity is established and prophetic direction becomes clear for the whole group; the small group is where the churchs authority and strength are displayed, Johnson said.

Fathers have to put aside any insecurity for somebody else getting the credit, getting the breakthrough ... and celebrate that this is the moment for the Church to really be strong where God has called us to be strong, and thats in the two or three.

The annual Q conference was founded in 2007 by Gabe and Rebekah Lyons. The two-day event featured a number of influential thought leaders, pastors, and notable members of the Christian community.
A detention deputy with the Bexar County Sheriffs Office who died Thursday after contracting the novel coronavirus had been stationed in several areas of the jail deemed virus hot spots by Sheriff Javier Salazar.

Timothy De La Fuente, a 27-year-veteran of the Sheriffs Office, had been tested Tuesday for COVID-19 as part of an effort to screen all detention deputies and inmates in the downtown lockup where there is a growing outbreak of infections.

The following day, De La Fuente, 53, began to feel ill, officials said. He called his supervisor, who urged him to stay home.

On Thursday, as his condition worsened, he decided to seek help at an emergency facility. As he got ready to leave, he collapsed in the bathroom of his North Side home.

His wife rushed to his aid and called 911. He later was pronounced dead.

Later that day, De La Fuentes body was escorted by first responders, as is customary for those who die in the line of duty, to the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office, where an autopsy will be conducted.

I would just ask the community to continue to pray for Timothy De La Fuente, Salazar said. We have several hundred deputies that are hurting right now. We lost a member of our community, possibly to this illness. We are in mourning right now.

Depending on the autopsy outcome, De La Fuente could be the first law enforcement officer or first responder in Bexar County whose death would be COVID-19-related. He also would be among the first statewide.

No local jails have reported staff deaths related to COVID-19. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which runs the state prison system, has reported four deaths of prison correctional officers and one chaplain.

Officials say De La Fuente had underlying health conditions, some of which he suffered after he was attacked by a jail inmate about three years ago. Salazar said he considers De La Fuentes death to be duty-related.

I have every intention of laying him to rest with all the honor thats due someone in that situation, Salazar said, pausing for a moment during a news conference to regain his composure. Were going to lay him to rest with full honors.

On ExpressNews.com: Inmates describe poor conditions in the Bexar County jail

Salazar remembered De La Fuente as a hardworking, kindhearted deputy, whom he met about three years ago, shortly after taking office. De La Fuente had been attacked by an inmate with a mop, and Salazar visited him at the hospital.

As the sheriff sat at De La Fuentes bedside, the deputy began making jokes. Then, he asked Salazar to take a selfie with him.

After he was discharged, De La Fuente was posted at the front door of the jail for several months while he continued to recover from his injuries. He made a point of shaking Salazars hand every day.

He was always very respectful and always very eager to say hello, Salazar said.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said it isnt clear where De La Fuente contracted the virus. He said its possible he caught the virus at the jail, where 129 inmates, 49 deputies and 11 staffers have tested positive. Some of them have recovered, officials say.

A magistrate judge who worked in the jail court also recently tested positive.

Wolff said De La Fuentes death underscores how the coronavirus can cause serious complications in people of all ages. No one is immune, he said, and as such, everyone should take precautions by practicing social distancing and wearing a mask in public spaces.

De La Fuentes death also shows how quickly the disease can progress, sometimes with no warning, even among young people with no serious health problems.

People think that just people that are older are dying, Wolff said. It can strike anybody.

Mass testing

De La Fuente reported to work Tuesday with no symptoms, Salazar said, though some inmates in one of the dorms where he was stationed said he was coughing while on the job earlier this week.

De La Fuente was tested that day as part of the jails push to screen all detention deputies and inmates  an effort that launched Saturday, 15 days after the first inmate tested positive.

Officials have focused the first round of testing on deputies who have worked in so-called hot spots  areas where several inmates have tested positive. Since De La Fuente recently had worked in such an area, he was among the first deputies to get tested.

Salazar said the mass testing, which is being conducted by the San Antonio Fire Department and University Health Systems, has identified a number of asymptomatic people  including 21 inmates from the same unit.

In the past two days alone, the number of inmates who have the virus has doubled, from 64 to 129. Of those, five are hospitalized.

What I can tell you is Im a big fan of mass testing, even though its going to give us some big numbers, Salazar said. We are going to get more positives. They are going to skyrocket. It will give us a fill grasp of whats going on inside this jail.

That said, officials have warned it could take some time to test all 3,000 inmates and 900 detention deputies. University Health System, which provides medical care at the jail, has the capacity to process about 150 tests a day, officials say.

At that rate, it would take close to a month to test everyone.

Salazar said that the Sheriffs Office has taken other steps to stem the spread of the virus, first by reducing the jail population.

In recent weeks, that effort has stalled, though, due in part to the decision by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to no longer accept transfers of new inmates to the prisons. Salazar said more than 200 inmates are ready to be transferred.

Last week, after inmates called attention to a number of issues inside the jail, Salazar announced a number of changes. He said each inmate would receive a new mask daily, and that soap would be distributed twice a week  more often if needed.

Jailers have been instructed to increase the amount of chemicals mixed in the peroxide-based disinfectant solution used to clean common areas, and meal service has been supplemented with free items from commissary, Salazar said.

Officials also have reopened several units inside the jail that previously were unpopulated, allowing more space for inmates so theyre not sleeping right on top of each other.

That said, Salazar said some aspects of detention deputies jobs are difficult to control.

For example, officials try to give deputies the same assignment every day  reducing the number of units the deputy is exposed to  but sometimes, that isnt possible.

This could be my workstation for five days a week, but at some point, someone is going to come in to relieve me. We try to minimize their exposure, but sometimes thats not possible, Salazar said.

Worst yet to come

Despite best efforts, officials warned that the situation could take a turn for the worse.

Wolff said the best way to prevent the virus spread, aside from mass testing, is to keep inmates segregated in units, not allowing transfers from one dorm to another. At last count, a third of the jail population  about 1,100 inmates  were segregated in units.

While some correctional facilities nationwide have constructed tents in recreational yards to house healthy inmates, that is not in the works here, Salazar said. The jail, which can hold a maximum of 5,100 people, has enough space to house inmates within a healthy distance of each other, Salazar said.

But Wolff warned it may be difficult to keep inmates spread out  especially if several deputies test positive for the coronavirus. Jail administrators need a certain number of deputies to keep each unit open, even if each unit isnt at capacity.

Wolff said its possible some deputies, if they are asymptomatic, could continue to work with an N-95 mask, if need be.

Salazar said he has no plans to increase the use of personal protective gear. Currently, deputies who come in contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19 are required to wear an N-95 mask and gloves.

At some point, he said, deputies may be required to wear a surgical gown, but he doubted any additional changes would be made  such as requiring deputies to wear a full-body hazmat suit.

Theres a lot more that goes into it. You have to realize how to put it on. How easy it is to have a pathogen get into the suit. You can only spend a certain amount of times in a suit.

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
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: Test reports of an elderly man in Kolkata was first declared to be COVID positive on April 25, then negative the next day and again positive a day before he died, alleged a family member of the deceased.

The family members fear that they may have contracted the virus because the man in his mid-sixties spent more than 24 hours with them before he was admitted for the second time to a hospital which had released him.

Sources in the health department said an inquiry was initiated to ascertain those responsible for the lapse.

The latest incident is likely to cause an embarrassment to the Mamata Banerjee government, which is at loggerheads with the Centre.

The patient, a resident of north Kolkata, had fever on April 18 and was taken to a private healthcare unit after four days. Doctors clinic suggested us to take my father to MR Bangur Hospital which have been designated for COVID. He was admitted there. The positive-negative seesaw started from April 25, said the elder son of the deceased.

He said a health department official informed him that his father had tested positive.

"He instructed us to quarantine ourselves at home. We followed the instruction. Next day, I received a call from authorities of MR Bangur hospital that my fathers test report came negative and that he would be discharged.

He then went to the hospital and brought his father home.

As the hospital authorities said the result was negative, we did not follow quarantine norms. I again received a call from headquarters of the health department on Monday informing that the hospital had released my father by mistake. We were instructed to admit him to the same hospital immediately. I admitted him and he died on Tuesday, the distraught son said.

The family members are now waiting to undergo COVID test.

"It was only because of the callousness on the part of the health department. If me, my wife and children test positive for COVID-19 and meet the same fate like my father, who will be held responsible? asked the son.
[April 30, 2020] Material Bank Announces Record-Breaking Growth and Series B Funding

NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Material Bank, the technology and logistics company revolutionizing the $140 billion architecture and design materials industry, today announced it has secured $28 million in Series B funding led by Bain Capital Ventures. This round, which also included existing investors such as Raine Ventures and Barry Sternlicht, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, brings Material Bank's total funding to date to $55 million. Merritt Hummer, partner at Bain Capital Ventures, and Jeff Sine, co-founder and partner at The Raine Group, will join Material Bank's Board of Directors. Material Bank will use the funding to accelerate expansion into new categories, build a new robotic logistics facility to support increased demand, and further develop its SaaS platform. For Q1 2020, Material Bank recorded 45% quarter-on-quarter revenue growth and the company is on track to grow revenue 200% and will double its participating brands in 2020. Material Bank is the world's largest material marketplace of its kind. It simplifies the complex process of material search and sampling by enabling architects, designers, and corporate buyers to search hundreds of thousands of materials such as paint, flooring, and textiles across hundreds of vendors. Material Bank's powerful database is combined with its propriety robotic distribution facility, allowing users to order samples until midnight (ET) to be delivered free of charge anywhere in the US, in one box, by 10:30 AM the next morning. Material Bank also significantly improves the sustainability of the design industry by reducing the number of inbound packages to firms by over 70%. "Our mission is to remove the friction that exists when searching and sampling materials. Material Bank has almost doubled its member base within the last six months and is rapidly transforming the architecture and design industry," said Material Bank founder and CEO Adam I. Sandow. "Our dramatic growth is a result of the changing demands of the industry and our ability to efficiently serve them. We're thrilled to announce support from Bain Capital Ventures during this time of rapid expansion." Material Bank has over 35,000 approved members who use the platform to source billions of dollars of materials for more than 75,000 construction and design projects since its oficial launch in January 2019.



"Material Bank is a perfect fit with Bain Capital Ventures' mission of investing in industry-leading B2B companies. We are excited about the potential of online marketplaces to transform the B2B commerce landscape, and Material Bank's exponential growth over the past year shows they are very well positioned to become the dominant marketplace in the materials industry," said Merritt Hummer, partner at Bain Capital Ventures. In today's rapidly changing environment, Material Bank is uniquely positioned to help drive the industry forward while design professionals adapt to working differently. Material Bank is used by architects, designers and corporate buyers from a wide range of industries, including real estate, government, retail, healthcare, education and hospitality.

About Material Bank Material Bank is a marketplace for design professionals and brands in the architecture and design industry, providing the fastest and most powerful way to discover and sample materials. The revolutionary platform powers complex searches across hundreds of brands in seconds. Samples ordered by midnight (ET) are delivered in a single box by 10:30 AM the next dayalways free for design professionals. With a rapidly growing community of members, Material Bank is the easiest way for brands to connect with thousands of vetted design professionals in the specification process. Follow Material Bank via LinkedIn and Instagram. About Bain Capital Ventures Bain Capital Ventures partners with disruptive founders to accelerate their ideas to market. The firm invests from seed to growth in startups driving transformation across industries, from SaaS, infrastructure software and security to fintech and healthcare to commerce and consumer tech. The firm has helped launch and commercialize more than 240 companies, including DocuSign, Jet.com, Kiva Systems, Lime, LinkedIn, Rapid7, Redis Labs, Rent the Runway, Rubrik, SendGrid and SurveyMonkey. Bain Capital Ventures has $5.2 billion in assets under management with offices in San Francisco, New York, Boston and Palo Alto. Follow the firm via LinkedIn and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/material-bank-announces-record-breaking-growth-and-series-b-funding-301050318.html SOURCE Material Bank

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Kim Brent / The Enterprise

The grand reopening of Texas got off to a good start in our region, and it had nothing to do with business  directly, that is. More testing is available for the coronavirus, and thats exactly what Southeast Texas needs to find the people who are infected with this virus so they can be isolated and treated.

On Sunday, testing will be available for up to 100 people at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center, 11475 Farm Road 1442, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, testing will available over the same time span at the Bob Bowers Civic Center, 3401 Cultural Drive. People who want to be tested do not have to have COVID-19 symptoms. However, they will have to show proof of residency.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said the World Health Organization encourages homosexuality and masturbation among young children, his latest clash with an organization whose advice on social distancing and other anti-coronavirus measures he has repeatedly questioned. The far-right leader made the claim, without citing a source, in a Facebook post he later deleted. "This is the World Health Organization whose advice on coronavirus some people want me to follow," he wrote late Wednesday. "Should we follow their education policy guidelines, too? For children zero to four years old: satisfaction and pleasure when touching their bodies, masturbation.... For children four to six years old: a positive gender identity... masturbation in early childhood, same-sex relations.... Nine to 12 years old: first sexual experience." The allegations appeared to stem from social media posts suggesting the WHO encourages such practices among young children. A Bolsonaro adviser, Arthur Weintraub, had earlier tweeted, "The WHO has guidelines recommending children zero to four years old be taught about 'masturbation,' 'pleasure and enjoyment,' 'touching one's body' and 'gender ideology.' Is that right?" The origin of the information appeared to be a 2010 guide called "Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe," published by Germany's Federal Centre for Health Education and the WHO's European office. Though not its main focus, the guide briefly explains that young children are typically discovering their bodies, and tells parents and educators that behavior such as touching oneself and curiosity about sexuality are normal in kids. But it does not call on them to encourage any of the behaviors mentioned by Bolsonaro. Sometimes called the "Tropical Trump," Bolsonaro, like his US counterpart, is an avid social media user, firing up his core supporters on Facebook and Twitter. He has regularly been at odds with the WHO since the coronavirus pandemic began. He says social distancing measures are needlessly wrecking the economy over a virus he compares to a "little flu," and recently fired Health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who was popular with his pro-confinement, pro-science handling of the crisis. The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Facebook post.
A 26-year-old man, who threw a Chicago house party for about 200 people in violation of the state's stay-at-home order while his first responder mother was working a 24-hour shift, has apologized for his actions.

Janeal Wright came forward during an interview with Illinois Rep. La Shawn Ford on Tuesday and admitted to throwing the house party, noting that he only invited about 20 to 30 people.

He said the partly quickly grew to 200 people packed inside his mother's townhouse in the 2000 block of North Narragansett.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Wright's mother is Chicago Fire Department commander, Christine Matthews. She was working a 24-hour shift as a first responder due to the coronavirus outbreak when the party occurred.

Scroll down for video

Janeal Wright (pictured), 26, who threw a Chicago house party for about 200 people in violation of the state's stay-at-home order while his first responder mother was working a 24-hour shift, has apologized for his actions

Wright came forward during an interview with Illinois Rep. La Shawn Ford (left) on Tuesday and admitted to throwing the house party, noting that he only invited about 20 to 30 people

Wright said the party was held Saturday night and video shows people standing shoulder-to-shoulder, dancing, and not social distancing. Some can also be seen wearing face masks, but not all.

Alderman Gilbert Villegas confirmed that Matthews owns the home where the party occurred, but put the blame on Wright who had a set of keys to his mother's building.

Matthews told NBC News that she had no idea that her son was hosting a party at her home.

When she arrived home, the house was clean and nothing seemed out of place until the police stopped by.

'And after that, some police came to my house and said, "Were you aware that it was a party at your house?"' And I was like, "No, I wasn't aware." And then they showed me the video,' she said.

She said she was horrified when she saw the video and even more furious with her son. Matthews said she hasn't seen her family in nearly two months because of the risk of exposure to coronavirus associated with her job.

About 200 people attended the party that was held at a Chicago townhouse on Saturday night

Some of the revelers were seen wearing face masks, but many were not

'So if I'm doing social distancing, then I most definitely don't condone this type of behavior,' she told NBC.

During the interview with Rep Ford, Wright said: 'Ive been totally oblivious to the stay-at-home message and everything.

'I really hadnt known anything about it. I looked at it like a scam or something like that. Like it wasnt real, but I see how serious it is now.'

Wright apologized for hosting the party and said he is encouraging all of those who attended to go to Loretto Hospital to get tested for the virus.

Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker also responded to the viral video, saying that everyone who attended put others in danger.

Pritzker said the partygoers in the video shared on Facebook Live had violated not only the 'intention' of the stay-at-home, 'but also violated the trust of friends and family'.

The video also received condemnation from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

The video received condemnation from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (pictured) who vowed to hold to account those who 'threaten our public health and risk erasing the progress we have made'

Lightfoot vowed to hold to account those who 'threaten our public health and risk erasing the progress we have made'.

Lightfoot took to Twitter to say the partygoers' behavior was 'reckless and utterly unacceptable'.

She added: 'I know this is a very difficult time for Chicagoans, but there is a reason we are asking you to stay home and socially distance: it saves lives.

'While most Chicagoans are doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, reckless actions like these threaten our public health and risk erasing the progress we have made. We will hold those responsible accountable. I am asking everyone to be in this together.'

Lightfoot said people can tip-off Chicago police about house parties, anonymously, at cpdtip.com.

'The fewer people who comply with the Stay At Home' Order, the sicker our residents will get and the harder it will be for us to recover,' Lightfoot said.

Chicago makes up more than 31,000 confirmed coronavirus cases of the state's more than 50,000. The city has recorded more than 1,300 deaths.

Data released earlier this month revealed the alarming death toll of black Americans.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) breakdown of COVID-19 case data by race, showed that 30 per cent of patients whose race was known were black.

There are more than 1 million cases of the coronavirus in the US with at least 61,568 deaths

The federal data was missing racial information for 75 per cent of all cases, however, and did not include any demographic breakdown of deaths.

But an Associated Press analysis of available state and local data shows that nearly one-third of those who have died are African American, with black people representing about 14 per cent of the population in the areas covered in the analysis.

Chicago has also released its own data that shows that more than half of Chicagoans who have died from COVID-19 are African Americans.

Black residents in Chicago accounted for 72 per cent of deaths from COVID-19 complications and 52 per cent of positive tests for the coronavirus, despite making up only 30 per cent of the city's population, according to the city's public health agency.

Data shows that in the entire state of Illinois, black people make up about 30 per cent of the state's cases and about 40 per cent of its coronavirus-related deaths, according to statistics provided by the state's public health agency.

However, African Americans make up just 14.6 per cent of the state's population.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 18:15:24|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The German Interior Ministry said on Thursday it has banned Lebanon's Hezbollah movement from operating in Germany, calling it a terrorist organization.

Dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah in Bremen, Berlin, Dortmund and Muenster in the early hours of Thursday morning, German media reported.

"Police measures are underway in several federal states concurrently," a spokesperson for Germany's interior ministry tweeted Thursday, adding that, "Even in times of crisis, the rule of law is capable of acting."

Established in 1982 during Lebanon's civil war, Hezbollah is now a major political party in the country, and fought a war with Israel in 2006.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency estimates that about 1,050 people in the country are linked to Hezbollah.

The group,backed by the Islamic Shiite community, has long been designated as a terrorist group by the United States and Israel. Enditem
[April 30, 2020] Veoci Partners with City of New Haven On COVID-19 Response

When the City of New Haven found itself fighting COVID-19, its Health Department needed to ramp up its monitoring and response capability quickly to respond to the pandemic. Their goal was to create a COVID-19 Unified Command System that allowed a centralized digital system to track the spread of the virus that could be shared within appropriate City Departments. They were able to address this urgent and unprecedented emergency management challenge with the help of Veoci, a global emergency management software provider based in New Haven. The Health Department needed to organize and track the flood of calls coming in due to the pandemic. Residents throughout New Haven sought information about the outbreak and those showing symptoms needed support. Aware (News - Alert) that Veoci software - developed by an experienced team from Yale and GE - had been used by the City of New Haven since Hurricane Sandy, the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Department turned to Veoci for help. Within hours of the City reaching out, the Veoci team was working with Brian Weeks, the Health Department's Epidemiologist and Director of Nursing Jennifer Vazquez to set up the solution and begin using it to systematically track reported infections and monitor symptoms on an individualized basis; track the number of calls per day and the details and resolutions of each call; and field any questions, suggest testing and provide support. "They also created a city-wide collaborative process for following up on symptomatic cases," added Nathaniel Ellis, Director of Strategic Solutions and Co-founder of Veoci. Responders filled out a customizable form feeding into a database where thedata was stored, shared, aggregated and displayed on a dashboard for a comprehensive view of information related to the outbreak. High priority calls were automatically pushed to the epidemiologist or head nurse.



Embedded maps displayed where each call was coming from, making it easier for officials to identify high risk areas, detect trends, and direct their efforts where they are needed most. Integration with text messaging and phone calls for follow-ups were also built in for 40 public health nurses and 140+ volunteers using the system. The solution also helped facilitate the department's contact tracing efforts - a focused strategy that involves identifying and contacting anyone an infected individual has come into direct contact with - to stop the spread of the disease.

"Veoci helped us quickly scale our system to better manage the onslaught of calls," said New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond. "With their guidance, we were able to make continuous and rapid changes internally, using feedback from everyone involved. Within a short time, department nurses, epidemiologists, and staff were fielding calls in an organized, efficient way despite the tumultuous nature of this public health emergency." With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, deployment of Veoci solutions has skyrocketed among Veoci's 300 customers in the United States and abroad. Since February 2020, Veoci customers have implemented over 400 new solutions. States and counties increasingly need to aggregate information from municipalities and organizations for seamless, real-time data sharing and message communication capability among entities by web, email, text messaging, phone, voice or video conferencing. Ellis said Veoci is both honored and proud to have created a software solution that enabled the New Haven Health Department to meet the emergent demands of the COVID-19 crisis with confidence, knowing every call was being documented, tracked, and followed-up on appropriately. "New Haven has been our home for nearly a decade, so supporting the City's response to this urgent public health crisis had special significance for us" he said. "That we were able to do so without upending the City budget means even more. No client or prospective client has decided against our solutions because of cost." In Connecticut, Veoci has 2,600 unique registered users at 22 organizations. These include Yale-New Haven Hospital and Hartford Hospital, which combined account for over 80 percent of healthcare services in the state. In addition, Veoci has worked with the City of New Haven in the City Plan Commission, Community Services Administration, Economic Development Administration, Finance, Fire, Office of Emergency Management, Public Works, Transportation, Traffic & Parking and Youth Services. Veoci also counts the City of Bridgeport, the towns of Guilford, Trumbull, and Kent among its clients in Connecticut. About Veoci: Veoci is a cloud-based platform for emergency management, team collaboration, and daily operations, designed to meet the decision-making and communication requirements of multiple teams at many locations. With stringent security, highest availability, and quickly scalable performance, Veoci is designed for governments, enterprises and organizations of every size and complexity. When failure is not an option, Veoci organizes the response so that teams can deliver the result. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005205/en/

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"We all make choices, but in the end our choices make us."

- Kenneth Levine

"When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action. When you desire a consequence you had damned well better take the action that would create it."

- Lois McMaster Bujold

After what appeared to be the overwhelming verdict of the majority of Nigerians on the stewardship of late Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari, that adjudged his actions in office as calamitous, catastrophic, woeful and grief-filled for the average citizen, some of his friends, both personal and official, have since bombarded the media space with "his other side."

There were pieces from Femi Fani-Kayode, Simon Kolawole, Geoffrey Onyeama, Segun Adeniyi, Waziri Adio, Reuben Abati, and a number of others. The obvious attempt by this group was to humanise a personality that was by reputation, a monster to the majority of Nigerian citizens. Their attempts were obviously to mitigate the notoriety and obloquies of Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff.

It must of necessity, be conceded to the individuals identified above and they're ilk that they are all entitled to their perspectives on their friend, Abba Kyari. They have every right to celebrate their friend who died. It was not a sin to go down memory lane to avail the rest of us of the beautiful experiences they had with him. "Kii buru titi ko ma ku enikan soso mo ni, eni ti yio ku la o mo," so goes the Yoruba aphorism. This aphorism, literally, would mean "No matter how bad one's situation is, there would be someone to sympathize, who that would be is unknown."

It is a good thing some or all of them had unfettered access to the late Chief of Staff. It was a great thing that they were able to discuss his private lamentation about some of the occurrences in the government. It was a great thing that they either worked together or they were classmates with Kyari. They regaled us all with the details of their personal relationships which had nothing to do with public interest.

Suffice to say that all of us have friends at different cadres of government. How we relate to them is up to us. What we discuss with them and vice versa is up to us. Those of us who are also relatives to those who hold public offices have the same rights of whatever type of relationship that mutually suit us. We are all entitled to such.

In such relationships, either with friends and or family, the variables are patently different from the variables that govern the relationship and expectations of the public on whose purse the public office holders are maintained. They live in government houses. They drive expensive cars. They fly in different types of jets. They have the law enforcement officers of various grades and genre at their beck and call. They enjoy a lot of special privileges. On our purse.

Thus, to whom much is given, much is highly expected.

The question that demands immediate answer from the apologists of Abba Kyari who are competing with themselves to tell us his "other side" was asked by Mark Twain in his book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", as follows:

"What's the use you learning to do right when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?"

When one is in public office, the basic expectation is one's responsibility to the people on whose financial account one is maintained in that office. The people on the street. The powerless. The voiceless. The vulnerable. The weak. Those who have no access and should not have needed it if good governance had been given the priority.

This also include responsibility to the businesses and the creation of conducive atmosphere for citizens to engage in whatever their interests are within the confines of the extant laws. Ensuring of social and economic stability is of great importance. With that, goes the most important of all - safety of lives and property with tools of justice, equity, balance and fairness.

In all the tributes from Abba Kyari's friends, trying to show us "his other side," there were too many sordid revelations about his person. As a public office holder, what came across most was his arrogance. His sense of irresponsibility. His "I don't care attitude." His meanness. His pettiness. His vindictiveness. His brutality. His cunningness. His duplicity. His manipulations. As posited elsewhere, Abba Kyari, with a mien akin to that of a dove, was a heinous hawk, a vicious vulture that is egregious and atrocious in its debauchery and cupidity.

In this conscious cascade into casual casuistry, Waziri Adio and Simon Kolawole, my colleagues in our days at TheNews and TEMPO magazines, did the most damage. Segun Adeniyi also is in this cadre of those who did as much damage. In an attempt to humanize a monster friend of theirs, they showcased his arrogance and putrid sense of irresponsibility. Acquiescing with Kyari's refusal to publicly defend himself was a demonstration of bad faith, first to him as their friend, and second to the Nigerian public.

Without any prejudice to their motives for so doing, they left their friend vulnerable to the harsh judgement of History by such acquiescence. They did Abba Kyari a lot of harm. On the other side of it, they also did a great disservice to the public who paid the wages for the comfort of Abba Kyari in office. On so many national issues that one would not want to repeat here, they did not tell their friend the truth and did not encourage him to be honest with Nigerians.

Also, one is flabbergasted by the mere expectations of theirs, that Abba Kyari's death should redeem him of his heinous acts against Nigerians; that his nicety to them as his friends should override his duty and responsibility to the public as a public office holder. As such, he, according to them, ought to be seen from that "other side" purview rather than be judged by his actions in office.

That they refused to separate personal relationships from responsibility of a public office was very troubling. By virtue of their profession, they are in the best position to realise that personal relationships with a motley crowd of fawning friends and flattering family members have no meaning to the ordinary man on the streets of Ilesa, Warri, Rano, Enugu, Calabar, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Owerri, Akure, Itire, Iwo, Sokoto, Yola, Port-Harcourt, Benin, Asaba and or elsewhere in Nigeria.

Mixing up the disposition of a tyrant to his family and friends with the expectations of the public from a public office holder is very gross and much more distressing coming from journalists of their caliber. They know and or ought to know that there is a big gulf between the two. The measurement of the performance of a public office holder is the happiness and progress of the people, not the happiness and progress of his crowd of friends, cronies and family members, immediate or extended.

Every tyrant has a friend. Every tyrant has a wife or concubine. Every tyrant, if he went to school would have a classmate. Every tyrant if he didn't go to school would have a street friend and playmate. Every tyrant would have people in his lives to whom he has shown a soft side at one time or the other. Every tyrant has a sense of justification for his actions. Every tyrant has a sense of self - righteousness, no matter how vacuous. Every tyrant almost always have the "other side."

But to the average citizens on the streets, he is still a tyrant. He is still a monster. He is still a wicked soul who has made their lives miserable. He is still that cruel person who never cared about their welfare. He is still that person who swims in the pool of arrogance of power. He is still that ignoble soul who took decisions that hurt the system and damagingly pulverized the man on the street. He is still the one responsible for their tears, their gnashing of teeth. He is still the one responsible, either in part or whole, for their povertization and squalorization.

To the man on the street, no matter the education of the tyrant, no matter "his other side," no matter his loyalty to his friends, his close allies and sycophants, he is still the one stultifying the voice of the voiceless. He is still the one pumeling the powerless. He is still the one hurdling the path of those without access. He is still the one creating anarchy within the system, inflicting it with more dysfunctionality.

Any public officer, whether elected or appointed, is accountable to the public, to the man on the street and not to his friends and family as well as cronies and sycophants. Whatever private communication between any public office holder and his friends is totally irrelevant and of no consequences to the perception, assessment and judgement of his performance in the office by the public on whose financial account he was maintained in office.

Those of us who are passing judgements on Abba Kyari are doing so on the account of his performance in the public office. His "other side" is of no interest to us. What is of interest to us is why and how he traumatized our lives so heartlessly without remorse. We are bothered as to why he could be so mean and cruel; cared so less, marinated in rancid arrogance and be so unconscionably corrupt.

This is the crux of the matter. They should please save us from the tales about his "other side." That should be left to his family and friends, with whom we also sympathize because of our own humanity. They are entitled to their accrued happiness as his bosom friends and family. But that is gulf apart from his duty and responsibility to the public at large.

Then I read Femi Adesina's piece about dreaming of Abba Kyari's death. In the concluding part of that piece, Femi made an appeal to sympathy, using religion and the vulnerability of us all to death, as his tools. He expressed disgust that many are dancing on the grave of Abba Kyari. But he forgot to remember that Abba Kyari himself danced on the graves of many Nigerians who died as a result of nidorous policies on which he collaborated with Mohammadu Buhari and the cabal. What some of us seek to know is whether the former Chief of Staff ever believed he would ever die while he was exercising power with such uninhibited disdain for his fellow human beings? Did he know that we are all made of dust and would return to dust?

I am sure if he did, Abba Kyari would have acted differently in so many circumstances in which he acted ruthlessly, without mercy, without fairness, without balance and with condescension and arrogance. No matter how we roll it, no matter how we dice it, no matter how we spin it, no matter how we twirl it, no matter how we turn it, no one among us would leave this life alive. We should all remember that.

And to Femi Adesina himself, before he begins to pity the rest of us, he should also remember that one day, like everyone else, he would bite the dust. Telling us to either give up our land or die, would one day be remembered by the relatives and victims of wanton murder, mindless maiming, rapacious raping, ferocious arson, destruction of farms and villages driven by ethnic cleansing of which he is a proud mouth piece.

All of us must always remember that we all have appointment with death. It is a necessary end to which we must all come. In or out of power, we must always be very careful what we do to others.

It was Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology and was influential in the fields of psychiatry, anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, as well as religious studies who admonished as follows:

"The wrong we have done, thought, or intended will wreak its vengeance on

our SOULS."

And I dare to add, "dead or alive."

Remi Oyeyemi
30 April 2020

Type Media Article



Get the latest advice on weed control in spring cereals, using sprayers efficiently and bean weevil control in spring beans. The Tillage edge podcast Teagasc/Boortmalt programme advisor Eoin Lyons discusses weed control in spring barley. View latest videos.



Using sprayers efficiently.

Spraying plant protection products (fungicides, insecticides and herbicides) is a critical operation on most crop producing farms.

The annual spend of a standard programme of plant protection products can vary from 171/ha for spring barley to 292/ha for winter wheat.

The products must be applied to the crop evenly at the correct rate, with the correct spray quality (droplet size) in the correct volume of water and all at the right time.

Loss of spray product to the environment through drift, spillages or incorrect sprayer cleaning has to be avoided.

Nozzles

Nozzles determine the spray quality (droplet size); the volume to be applied, the evenness of the spray pattern; and the susceptibility to drift.

To select a nozzle, consult product label for guidance on water volume and the required spray quality.

Nozzle charts and smart phone apps can be used to select the required nozzle and the required spraying pressure and forward speed.

Low drift nozzles allow more effective spraying in a range of weather conditions. Air induction nozzles produce larger droplets which drift less, they can give less coverage which may be important for contact type products being applied to small targets.

The best approach is to have standard and air-induction versions of the most commonly used nozzle fitted allowing switching depending on product and spraying conditions.

Pressure gauge forward speed and filters

An accurate and easy to read pressure gauge is essential for accurate spraying. While full gauge bench-testing is best, if a new nozzle gives an incorrect output, it often indicates an inaccurate gauge or transducer.

Accurate forward speed indication is also essential and it should be checked; many simple GPS guidance monitors give an accurate speed output.

Dont forget sprayer filters. Blocked, broken or incorrectly sized filters (suction, pressure or nozzle body) can result in huge inaccuracies in addition to immense frustration while spraying.

Dermot Forristal and Brendan Burke outline how to use sprayers efficiently in the accompanying video.

The full article written by Dermot Forristal can be viewed here.

Bean weevil damage in spring beans is common this year. Leaves of attacked plants show characteristic U shaped notches around the edges, but the main damage occurs as a result of the larvae feeding on the root nodules which limits the plants ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen to plant usable nitrogen.

Advice from PGRO is that sprays may be applied at the first sign of leaf damage and repeated after 7 - 10 days if necessary. Once the plant reaches five pairs of leaves control should not be required. Options for control include insecticides Karate Zeon, Decis Protech, etc. Check label for rates.

Martin Bourke tillage advisor in Wicklow outlines what bean weevil damage looks like in the field and gives advice on control.

Weed control in spring cereals. Best control of broad leaf weeds will be achieved by applying herbicides on small actively growing weeds. Thorough examination of the crop prior to herbicide application is important to establish what weeds are present but it is also important to note their size and distribution as this will influence the type of herbicide to be used and the rate required.

It is important to note the most competitive weeds in the field as they are the weeds that will cause the most economic damage and need to be prioritised for control. Examples of highly competitive weeds in spring cereals are charlock, cleavers and wild oats.

A mix of actives is recommended that have activity on the key weeds. For most farmers this will involve a sulfonylurea with a tank mix partner.

Wild oats are highly competitive and if abundant result large yield reductions when left uncontrolled. Recent research by Teagasc has found that resistance to some of the commonly used herbicides used in spring barley exists in Ireland. Worryingly the research found that where wild oats are resistant to Pinoxaden (Axial) they are also resistant to Fenoxaprop-P (Foxtrot), therefore a farmer will have no herbicide options in spring wheat or barley in these cases.

Applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques is vital to achieving good control and slowing resistance on your farm. Crop rotation and changing the active ingredient to control wild oats from season to season are important IPM measures. But in the short term it is vital to ensure the correct rate of herbicide is used, spray small actively growing wild oats and ensure the spraying operation is carried out effectively. Jimmy Staples advisor on the ECT project outlines some of the key points in achieving good control of wild oats.
Earlier today, a piece by Kevin Drum titled So, Tara Reade   existed on the Mother Jones website for less than an hour (you can read the archived version here). In it, Drum imagined a scenario in which Tara Reade, who has accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993, might have simply taken a Bidenesque shoulder squeeze or head pat the wrong way, ultimately blowing the incident up in her mind in the years that followed. As far as I can tell, this fantasy of Drums seems to be based almost exclusively on his own gut instincts. It was not hard to see why Mother Jones took the post down.

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In a statement to Slate, Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery acknowledged some of the posts shortcomings:

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This opinion blog post omitted some of the research and reportingincluding our ownthat need to be included in coverage of a sensitive issue like this. Kevin is rethinking it and we unpublished the post in the meantime. Were working on broader guidance on how to address sensitive topics in fast-moving blogs as thoughtfully as our reporters do in deeper pieces, like this one.

Its certainly true that the post lacked any identifiable basis in reporting or research. At one point, as hes describing how one might simply dream up a sexual assault, Drum writes, Along the way [Reade] told various friends and family about the incident, but without including much in the way of particulars. Just this week, a former neighbor of Reades explicitly told Business Insider that she had been informed of the details in the mid-90s, saying, And he kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her. This would match Reades own, most recent description of her encounter with Biden.

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Later, Drum writes that Reade has always been vague about some of the details of the assault, which is unusual for something so traumatizing. That is the exact opposite of the widespread understanding of the subject, as its incredibly common for sexual assault survivors not to be able to recall certain details of their trauma.

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More than just being poorly researched, though, the piece highlighted something thats become increasingly clear as evidence supporting Reades accusation mounts: The liberal arguments for believing Biden over Reade are repeating conservatives arguments for believing Brett Kavanaugh over Christine Blasey Ford.

In October of 2018, after Kavanaugh and Ford both testified in front of the Senate, Republican Sen. Susan Collins went on 60 Minutes and said the following:

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She was clearly terrified, traumatized, and I believed that a sexual assault had happened to her. What I think she is mistaken about is who the perpetrator was. I do not believe her assailant was Brett Kavanaugh.

Heres Drum from earlier today:

Generally speaking, Im not interested in defenses like it was a small thing and it happened a long time ago. Im interested in actual guilt and actual innocence. And all I can say is that my best guess right now is that Biden is actually innocent. But that doesnt mean Reade is lying. Again, this is just my best guess, but the totality of what Ive read about Reade leads me to believe that Biden perhaps treated her in a typically Bidenesque way once: that is, he put his arm around her shoulder, kissed her head, or something similar. This bothered Reade, but it wasnt sexual assault and she didnt report it that way when it happened. But over the years the incident grew in her mind until eventually her story gelled into what she says today: that Biden pushed her against a wall and stuck his hand up her dress. Along the way she told various friends and family about the incident, but without including much in the way of particulars.

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Both Drum and Collins emphasize that perhaps the woman in question believes shes telling the truth, the poor thingbut they know better.

Or take the New York Times Bret Stephens, who wrote this in September of 2018:

I believe that Blasey has yet to offer definitive evidence of what she alleges. Notes taken by her therapist that an unnamed man loosely fitting Kavanaughs description are marginally corroborative but not dispositive. The same goes for polygraph exams, which is why they are rarely admissible as evidence in court. I believe human memory is imperfect. I believe it deteriorates over time. I believe most of us have had the experience of thinking we remember something clearly, only to discover we got important details wrong.

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These arguments essentially boil down to: She remembers it this way, and he says it never happened. Memory sure is a funny thing! And just like aspiring vice presidential candidate Stacey Abrams defense of Biden this week, in which she falsely claimed that the New York Times did a deep investigation, and they found that the accusations were not credible, all these arguments refuse to grapple with the available corroborating evidence. They bemoan the lack of hard evidence (though its unclear what could possibly satisfy that requirement apart from video miraculously taken at the moment of the alleged assault) while refusing to grapple with the corroboration that does exist. They very much want to believe that this man theyve staked their hopes on is innocent, and so thats precisely what they do.

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Its not clear whether the rethinking Jeffery promised means Drums piece will reappear at some point in the future in a different form. Its hard to picture even an altered version of the argument that went up today lasting under any sort of scrutiny. I asked Mother Jones if Drums original article had undergone any editing before going live, to which a spokesperson said, The piece was not looked at by an editor beforehand, which is usually typical with our opinion posts.

Update 4/30, 8:45 p.m.: While the URL for the original post is once again live, the piece itself has been replaced with the following paragraph:

After getting some pushback on this post about the Tara Reade accusationsboth internally and externally, including from colleagues who report on sexual violenceI realized that it didnt fully acknowledge all of the latest reporting or the science of trauma, and this gave it a tone I didnt really intend. I may write again on this subject, but for now I think its best to take this one down. I apologize, and in the future Ill take more time to work through posts on such sensitive topics.

For more on the allegation against Biden, listen to this weeks Political Gabfest.
The Florida Department of Agriculture estimates that produce farmers like Scott have lost $522.5 million through mid-April. And they are not the only ones with a perishable product that will reach the end of its shelf life before it even leaves the farm. Dairy farmers and cooperatives across the country have dumped millions of gallons of milk down drains or onto fields as cheese plants and dairy producers contend with an unmovable surplus. Workers at pork and poultry manufacturing plants have been sickened by the coronavirus and in some cases died, placing a harsh spotlight on their working conditions during the pandemic and putting another kink in the supply chain with no resolution in sight.
Google and Apple have a cross-platform contact tracing solution in the works, and the two companies have now given an early version to certain developers for testing.

Google, Apple contact tracing early version given to select developers

The early version of the contact tracing solution comes with a test code. The test code lets developers see how the solution will work. The fortunate developers are working with public health authorities. Google and Apple say that only health authorities will have access to the information. The technology will stop tracking once the pandemic dies out.

Why is the test code release for Google and Apples contact tracing technology important?

It hasnt been all that long ago since Google and Apple announced their partnership to create a tool to aid the COVID-19 relief effort. Now, with a test code for developers and health authorities, the new solution is one step closer to public availability.

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Google and Apples upcoming solution will require two phases. First, the two companies will release the new solution as an update to their operating systems, Android (Google) and iOS (Apple).

Next, developers must write apps that embrace the new contact-tracing technology. Once developers publish apps, they will go public in their respective app stores.

iOS users will soon have access to them as they would any game or utility app. The new solution could be available in Google Play (Android) and the App Store (iOS) as early as mid-May.

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The new contact tracing solution will utilize Bluetooth. It will provide random, constantly changing keys for users and contacts. A person can report he or she is sick with COVID-19.

After a report, users who have come in contact with the sick person will receive an exposure notification. The solution will maintain privacy, lack location data, and never give away names or contact information.

From the sound of it alone, the new cross-platform solution will also be more privacy-friendly than Beijings Close Contact Detector app. Close Contact Detector (CCD) allows Chinese citizens to input their governmental ID to discover if theyre at risk. CCD doesnt need input from citizens themselves to reveal if a person is at risk for a disease. Just how CCD knows if someone has disease exposure remains a mystery.

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What name are Google and Apple giving to this solution?

The new contact tracing solution now has the name notification exposure. The new name places emphasis upon exposure and the word notification is an easy way to remind users that they will receive notification of exposure and risk in the event they cross paths with an infected individual.

Contact tracing is a generic name for the technology and seems to be easy to remember, but it could refer to a centralized solution (such as Google and Apples efforts) or to the efforts of individual persons who are simply curious about the people they encounter on an ordinary basis. In other words, contact tracing doesnt highlight the emergency nature the world finds itself in currently.

But there may just be a reason behind the generic name exposure notification for Google and Apples contact tracing. It may stick around as a valuable technology for future diseases and pandemics.

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While Google and Apples solution will have mass appeal, no doubt, the United Kingdom will not use it and will create a contact tracer of its own.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the taxpayers' money should not be used to subsidise fossil fuels or bail out carbon-intensive industries, stressing that revitalisation from the COVID-19 pandemic should accelerate "decarbonisation" of all aspects of the world economy.

The UN Secretary General asserted that the economic recovery from the COVID-19 should go hand-in-hand with climate action.

"COVID-19 continues its path of worsening destruction. We mourn the lives lost more than 200,000. We despair that many more will follow, particularly in places least able to cope," Guterres told reporters.

He stressed that the recovery from the COVID-19 must be such that it helps to steer the world on a safer, healthier, more sustainable and inclusive path.

"It will be critical to address the fragilities, inequalities and gaps in social protection that have been so painfully exposed, and place women and gender equality front and centre if we are to build resilience to future shocks," he said.

"I am calling on Governments to ensure that spending to revitalise economies should accelerate the decarbonisation of all aspects of our economy and privilege the creation of green jobs," the UN Chief said.

"Taxpayers' money should not be used to subsidise fossil fuels or bail out polluting, carbon-intensive industries," he said.

Guterres added that now was the time to put a price on carbon and for polluters to pay for their pollution.

"Public funds should invest in the future, not the past. Financial institutions and investors must take climate risks fully into account," he said.

Guterres also asked all countries, especially the big emitters, to present enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions and strategies to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

While this year's international climate conference has been postponed until 2021, Guterres said the nations' ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance "cannot be deferred".

Recalling French diplomat and political leader Jean Monnet's words, he said "it is not a time for blind optimism or paralysing pessimism. Now is the time to be determined. Determined to defeat the COVID-19 and to emerge from this crisis by building a better world for all."



Guterres, who had made a call for global ceasefire in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, said while the ceasefire call has resonated widely, "we know that mistrust remains high, and that it is difficult to move to implementation".

His call for a global ceasefire has received endorsement from 114 governments, regional organisations, religious leaders and more than 200 civil society groups spanning all regions. Among them are 16 armed groups.

However, the UN Chief stressed that all efforts for a global ceasefire depended on strong political backing.

"It is my hope the Security Council will be able to find unity and adopt decisions that can help to make ceasefires meaningful and real," the UN chief said.

He voiced regret that in Libya there has been an escalation despite the Un's efforts and those of many others in the international community.

In Afghanistan also, the UN is pushing hard for a humanitarian ceasefire between the government and the Taliban.

As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the world economy, Guterres advocated a global relief package amounting to a double-digit percentage of the global economy.

The International Monetary Fund has already approved USD 12.3 billion in emergency financing to a first group of 36 developing countries of the more than 100 that requested it.

The World Bank has indicated that with its existing resources, it can provide USD 160 billion of financing over the next 15 months. The G20 has endorsed the suspension of debt service payments for the poorest countries.

Guterres said these steps will not be enough and added that he has consistently urged the issuance of new Special Drawing Rights to increase the financial firepower of the Fund.

"The debt moratorium must be extended to all developing countries that are unable to service their debt, including several middle-income countries.

"That initial debt moratorium must be followed by targeted debt relief, and by a comprehensive approach to structural issues in the international debt architecture, to prevent defaults leading to prolonged financial and economic crises," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
30.04.2020 LISTEN

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is reminding its prepaid customers to either swipe or insert their cards into their meters before visiting vending points or ECG offices to purchase credit.

ECG in a statement said the directive is to enable it gather accurate consumption data to ensure a smooth implementation of the Government of Ghana (GoG) COVID-19 Electricity Relief.

The Energy Relief Package was announced by President Akufo-Addo as part of the interventions introduced by the government to alleviate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on people and businesses.

The Electricity Company subsequently said Ghanaians will begin to enjoy the reduction in their electricity tariffs by the end of April.

It further reminded its customers/stakeholders of how the relief policy will be implemented.

Lifeline customers shall have 100 percent relief of their consumption for the months of April, May, and June 2020.

All other customers shall receive 50 percent of their March 2020 consumption for the months of April, May, and June 2020.

April benefits will be realised in May, May benefits in June, and June benefits in July.

It further advised customers to contact its District offices or call centres to resolve any challenges with regards to GoG COVID-19 electricity relief.

Find below the full release from ECG

---citinewsroom
Empathy Concert & Perspectives! 4pm ET on Friday May 1 "Empathy is the most important role for Learning in the Pandemic. Supporting remote workers and front-line employees requires Empathy from Learning Leaders." - Elliott Masie, Host, "Empathy Concert & Perspectives! Concert

Empathy is the most important role for Learning in the Pandemic. Supporting remote workers and front-line employees requires Empathy from Learning Leaders.

Join colleagues from around the world at 4:00 pm EDT this Friday, May 1st, for an uplifting, high-energy hour: "Empathy Concert & Perspectives!". Enjoy songs and stories from Broadway Stars, and perspectives from Chief Learning Officer Frank Nguyen and our global audience.

Hosted by Elliott Masie, Chair of The Learning CONSORTIUM, this will be an upbeat, positive, and much-needed uplifting hour with colleagues from around the world. This is the fifth weekly Friday CONCERT with amazing artists and practical perspectives on leading in this Pandemic. Reserve your spot at https://www.masie.com/empathy501.

Four amazing Broadway stars will join Elliott to share songs from their homes, including:



Adam Pascal  Rent, Chicago, and Something Rotten

Kate Baldwin  Hello, Dolly! and Finians Rainbow

Telly Leung  Aladdin, Glee, Wicked, and Allegiance

Melinda Doolittle  Star of American Idol and National Tours

Learning industry colleagues and music fans alike will enjoy this entertaining, practical, and positive session. Plus, any children at home will love the songs and spirit of the event!

Please invite your colleagues in both life and learning to this free event!

Empathy Concert & Perspectives!

Elliott Masie, CLOs, and Broadway Musical Guests

There is no fee to participate!

Join us live via Zoom this Friday, May 1st from 4:00 pm  5:00 pm Eastern Time. There is a 3,000-person limit.

Reserve your spot at https://www.masie.com/empathy501

Access additional free events and resources at https://www.masie.com
Seventeen-year-old Rita expected her father to be back soon from Safdarjung hospital where he was admitted on April 16 for high sugar levels and fever, but destiny had other plans as he passed away the next day and it was later found that he was coronavirus positive.

Rita (name changed), her mother and her two siblings have been tested for COVID-19 and the results are still awaited.

On April 19, the hospital informed the family that he was COVID-19 positive and it would take care of his cremation. The contagion, if precautions are not taken, can spread.

None of us could see his face for the last time, said Rita, the eldest of her siblings one five years old and the other 13 years old. Oblivious to the situation the five-year-old has been told his father is away for work.

The victim's swab samples were taken for COVID-19 testing between 11 am and 12 pm on April 17. In about 12 hours, his conditioned deteriorated and he died, family members said.

His condition worsened the very next day after being admitted to the hospital, said the victim's brother-in-law.

The patient's body was kept at the hospital till April 19 when his reports arrived. He had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The hospital told us that they would take care of the cremation and we would not be allowed anywhere near the body. His body was wrapped in plastic sheets (protection used to contain the infection), the brother-in-law said.

The victim's wife was with him during the two days of his hospitalisation, he said.

After the reports came on April 19, family members, including the patient's brother-in-law, were tested the next day for the infection. The results came negative.

The body was taken to the Nigambodh Ghat and cremated. The ghat has an electric crematorium, and last rites of COVID-19 victims are being performed there.

Only my wife's brother was allowed for the cremation, and that too from a distance, fearing the spread of infection, the brother-in-law of the victim said.

Delhi so far has recorded 3,439 coronavirus cases and 56 have died due to COVID-19, while 1,092 have recovered, as per Union health ministry data.

Since the body was wrapped in protective sheets, it was never opened. We still have not got his ashes, the victim's brother-in-law said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cebu City (CNN Philippines, April 30) - The number of COVID-19 infection inside Cebu City Jail continue to surge after 126 new cases were confirmed Thursday, bringing the total to 333.

No information was available on the breakdown of inmates and jail officers who are part of the latest case count.

But the director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Central Visayas earlier said they are targeting everyone inside the jail, particularly all 6,600 inmates, to be tested for COVID-19.

Director Efren Nemeno said most of the positive cases in the facility either showed mild symptoms or were asymptomatic, which does not require hospitalization.

The BJMP regional director said those who were infected were isolated in the jails new annex building.

Cebu stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report
In January, the wife of Cambodias most senior police officer dropped 2.5 million (US$2.7 million) on a pair of two-storey villas on the coast of Cyprus, Radio Free Asia has learned.

Part of the Cap St Georges luxury development, where pop star Shakira also owns a home, the two-storey villas came complete with a shared swimming pool and majestic views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Hun Kimleng, whose uncle is Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, completed the purchase even as the Cypriot government attempted to revoke citizenships it had granted to her and her family in 2017.

Its the latest evidence of how members of Cambodias monied elite, including those with close family ties to the nations authoritarian leader, are scooping up foreign real estate. That trend is the focus of an ongoing investigative series by RFA.

Since 2013, Cyprus has controversially allowed anyone willing to invest 2 million (US$2.2 million) in the prosperous island nations business or real estate sectors to obtain citizenship.

The Cypriot government does not publish the names of individuals who become citizens by investment. However, an investigation by Reuters last October revealed that Kimleng and her husband, National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun, were among eight politically connected Cambodians to have become Cypriot by investment.

In Nicosia, the revelation prompted scrutiny of the citizenship-by-investment program. Less than a month after the Reuters investigation, the Cypriot government announced it would strip Kimleng, Savouen and 24 others of their citizenship.

LEFT: Hun Kimleng (R) and her younger sister Hun Chantha show off their rings in a photo posted by Chantha on Instagram in January 2018 with the hashtag #welovecrocodiles. RIGHT: Neth Savoeun sporting a similar style of crocodile ring in a photo leaked in 2017. Credit: Hun Chantha/Instagram Backdoor to the EU

The scheme has proven popular, enabling more than 4,000 individuals to gain Cypriot citizenship since 2013. After Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, its passport has been sought by international jet-setters and organised criminals alike seeking unfettered access to the 27-nation EU.

But those plans hit a snag when it emerged that the legislation underpinning the cash-for-passports program lacked a provision for revoking citizenship from individuals deemed problematic. Cypriot lawmakers are introducing an amendment to the law to resolve the issue.

In a January 2019 report on Investor Citizenship and Residence Schemes, the European Commission, the EUs executive branch, cautioned that programs such as Cyprus come with enhanced risks of infiltration of non-EU organised crime groups in the economy, money laundering, corruption and tax evasion.

Savoeun was among 12 senior Cambodian military and police officials termed the countrys Dirty Dozen in a 2018 report by Human Rights Watch. The report details a litany of abuses by the police chief dating back four decades since shortly after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Neth Savoeun of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police became a big shot because he was so awfully brutal at interrogation. He even shot people during interrogation, one police colleague is quoted as having told a human rights monitor in 1984.

Since then, he has remained a trusted ally and enforcer of Hun Sen, whose niece, Hun Kimleng, he married on Valentines Day, 1989.

Savoeun was among 12 senior Cambodian military and police officials termed the countrys Dirty Dozen for egregious rights abuses in a 2018 report by Human Rights Watch. Credit: HRW High-flying lifestyles

The couple have gone on to acquire properties across Europe and Asia. As Reuters reported last year, Kimlengs name is on the deeds to a serviced apartment in Singapore she paid $3.5 million for, as well as a London flat on the fifth most expensive street in Britain, for which she paid $2.5 million. In 2017, their eldest daughter acquired two adjoining apartments on the same street in London for a total of $6.8 million.

Kimleng and her daughters apartments are both within 50 meters of the $5 million London apartment of another of Hun Sens nieces, Kimlengs younger sister Hun Chantha, whose high-flying lifestyle was the subject of an earlier RFA investigation.

Inclusive of the Cyprus villas, the total amount of money currently known to have been spent on overseas real estate by Kimleng, Savoeun and their children clocks in at more than $15 million.

An unsigned early draft of the sale contract for Kimlengs villas was leaked online late last year. It detailed how Hustonia Limited and Celicandia Limited, subsidiaries of Korantina Homes, the company behind the Cap St Georges development, allegedly agreed to construct a 500-square-meter, six-bedroom villa with adjoining 20-meter-long swimming pool in return for 2.5 million (US$2.7 million).

Access to Cyprus property records is tightly restricted, and the nations privacy laws prohibit the sharing of official documents regarding a third party without their consent. However, RFA was able to commission a Cypriot law firm to inspect the relevant records on its behalf.

A.G. Paphitis & Co confirmed that the properties built on the plot of land referenced in the draft contract do indeed belong to a Hun Kimleng, who purchased it for 2.5 million from Hustonia Limited. According to records consulted by A.G. Paphtiis & Co, the plot houses two residential properties of two floors each as well as a shared swimming pool.

The same records indicate the sale was only completed on Jan. 17, 2020, almost four years after the date on the leaked draft contract. The late completion date leaves questions to be answered by Korantina Homes, which did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Cypriot law requires realtors to carry out due diligence on transactions. It is unclear how the purchase by Kimleng would have cleared any meaningful checks at a time when the Cypriot government had made public its intention to revoke her citizenship.

Kimleng did not respond to a request for comment. RFA also called her husband, Neth Savoeun, to ask about his Cypriot citizenship. He said he didnt have time to comment and referred the question to Cambodian National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun who declined to speak about his boss personal matters. Its unclear whether the family have spent much time in Cyprus since gaining citizenship in 2017.

Kimleng and Neth Savoeuns eldest daughter, Neth Vichhuna, visited the island in March 2018, her Instagram feed shows. Cyprus youve been AMAZING!! she wrote. She posted a series of photos, showing her and friends posing by rocky coastlines, azure seas and ancient ruins.

Citizenship-by-investment scheme

Korantina Homes makes no bones about the reason many of its customers are interested in real estate in Cyprus. Its website dedicates an entire section to the citizenship-by-investment scheme, boasting: Our stunning villas and our deluxe apartments fit the requirements you need to obtain the Cypriot citizenship or a Permanent Residence Permit.

When the scheme got a bad rap last year following the Reuters expose, Korantinas founder George Ioannou was among a group of Cypriot realtors who leapt to its defense.

Losing the scheme will have serious consequences on the economy, he warned in an interview with Cyprus Financial Mirror.

He did not, however, object to the governments plan to strip the 26 individuals featured in the Reuters investigation of their citizenships. We definitely dont want criminals in Cyprus, he told the Financial Mirror, describing them as old cases of investors who took advantage of the programme at a time when it was the only lifeline for the country.

He neglected to mention that his company was in the process of selling two villas to one of those 26 old cases.
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The facilities could be kept on standby for a possible second wave of infections or even be repurposed as testing sites or recovery centers.



By MICHAEL R. SISAK

Associated Press

Photo by Seth Wenig/AP [enlarge] In this March 30 photo, the USNS Comfort hospital ship passes lower Manhattan on its way to docking in New York. Uncertainty in planning for the pandemic has left the globe dotted with dozens of barely used or unused field hospitals.





NEW YORK  Gleaming new tent hospitals sit empty on two suburban New York college campuses, never having treated a single coronavirus patient. Convention centers that were turned into temporary hospitals in other cities went mostly unused. And a Navy hospital ship that offered help in Manhattan is soon to depart.





. . .
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 02:35:16|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Thursday welcomed the position of the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, to probe possible "war crimes" in the country, which falls within its jurisdiction.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki said in a press statement that this position means that the court has territorial jurisdiction in Palestine.

"Palestine and its people have faith in the international judiciary and its justice, it believes that the era of evading punishment has begun to fade away," said al-Maliki.

He urged the judges of the pre-trial chamber "to issue its position as soon as possible, in harmony with the principles of international justice, ending the impunity or those whose crimes fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC, including war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The top Palestinian diplomat said that Bensouda's report is "a legal argument that asserts Palestine's right to justice and to resort to the international judiciary, as well as confirming the transparency and integrity of the court."

Bensouda's report said that Palestine is a state, urging the pre-trial chamber I to confirm that the "territory" over which the court may exercise its jurisdiction under Article 12(2)(a) comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.

The report came after Bensouda announced that the preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine "has concluded with the determination that all the statutory criteria under the Rome Statute for the opening of an investigation have been met."

She had also requested the court investigate the parameters of its jurisdiction over the occupied territory, amidst highly politicized legal controversy.

Palestine joined the ICC in January 2015. Under the Rome Statute, Palestine should enjoy sovereignty over its territories including East Jerusalem along the 1967 borders. Enditem
A corporate landlord that's been the subject of numerous complaints over the deplorable living conditions at its apartments has been held in civil contempt and fined $1,000 a day by a Jackson County judge. Circuit Judge Joel P. Fahnestock issued the order Tuesday after an affiliate of T.E.H.
When you think about the American Dream," what probably comes to mind is getting a quality education and pursuing a successful career. As children, most minorities were encouraged to get a degree so they can land their dream jobs. However, achieving those goals didn't prepare us for substandard workplace environments, bad leadership, lack of equal pay and overall pervasive discrimination. Now, amid the COVID-19 crisis, we have to cope with the added challenge of toxic remote-work experiences.

However, there are many minority professionals making major strides in giving a voice to the voiceless. Take black, female tech innovators Jacinta C. Mathis and Netta Jenkins, who have created solutions platform Dipper, a digital safe place and community for minorities to share their workplace experiences  whether good, bad or in between  and navigate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

I had the chance to speak with Jenkins about how minority workers are feeling as unemployment rises, and how they can be the best advocate for themselves now and in the future.

Related: Considering a Career Change? Here's the Truth About the Messy Middle

That Sinking Feeling

"The possibility of being laid off and not having a consistent income is giving many of us an unsettling feeling in our stomachs right now," Jenkins acknolwedges. "Professionals have many questions, including: Who's getting let go first? What are our options? Since the coronavirus outbreak, [we] have received a significant increase in positive and negative workplace reviews from minority professionals, and they are happy that professionals are sharing their workplace experiences to help guide others."

Document Everything

"During these times of uncertainty, with millions filing for unemployment, professionals should document their bad work experiences," advises Jenkins. "Minority professionals should keep an accurate track record of situations where they feel like their employer is committing acts that go against workforce regulations, discrimination laws and compensation laws. When professionals keep a good track record, it enhances the distribution process when they have to escalate this information to their leadership, the human resources department and the EEO department."

Communicate Early and Often

"When you have properly documented your bad work experiences, you can expedite communication to the right officials early," Jenkins explains. "The Dipper community strongly encourages minority professionals to communicate their bad work experiences during COVID-19 as early as possible, because if professionals wait too long, they may be unlawfully laid off, receive unequal pay and may be mistreated for long durations. The world is already suffering from increased depression and anxiety. It's unhealthy to take on additional bad work experiences for long durations. Professionals can email documented information or properly file a complaint with the human resources department and the EEO department."

Related: 3 Tips for Making the Career Change You've Always Wanted

Share Anonymously

"[We] are encouraging minority professionals to share their experiences anonymously," Jenkins says. "The more professionals that share their bad work experiences during COVID-19, the faster everyone can access information on how to navigate these challenges during this crisis. This pandemic is unveiling employers who actually believe that talent is their greatest asset [versus] those who just say it."

As Jenkins and Mathis would surely agree, it takes courage for minority professionals to document bad remote work experiences and share them with their leadership teams, but it's essential so that they dont suffer in silence. The fear of job loss and having to home school for the foreseeable is already causing professionals anxiety and stress, and no one should compromise their mental health even more by working a toxic job and not informing their organizations of what they need to be successful. Everyone deserves to benefit from a positive company culture experience, no matter their background or where they're working from.

Related:

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The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on April 30.

Russia's hybrid military forces on April 29 mounted 15 attacks on Ukrainian Army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action.

"The Russian Federation's armed groups violated the ceasefire 15 times on April 29. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded as a result of enemy shelling," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said in an update posted on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on April 30.

The enemy opened fire, employing proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, weapons installed on infantry fighting vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, heavy machine guns, and small arms.

Read alsoRussia-led forces damage three houses in Zolote-4 on April 28 (Photos)

Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Verkhniotoretske, Novomykhailivka, Vodiane, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Starohnativka, Taramchuk, Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, and Novozvanivka.

Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy shelling. According to intelligence data, one member of Russia-led forces was killed and another two were wounded.

The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on April 30.

No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops on Thursday.
As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc across America, investment in qualified opportunity funds (QOFs) surpassed a milestone, and opportunity zones (OZs) investment is poised to play a key role to help spur a COVID-19 recovery in some of the nations hardest-hit communities.

QOFs on the Novogradac Opportunity Funds List surpassed $10 billion in equity raised (and the total invested in all QOFs is likely significantly more than that). Nearly all of the $10 billion-plus was raised before March 13, the date President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. Anecdotal evidence since March 13 suggests QOFs are seeing a pause in new investment as the nation struggles to react to the pandemic.

Its very difficult to say precisely how the market has been affected, said John Lettieri, president and CEO at the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a bipartisan public policy organization that champions the use of the OZ incentive. It certainly hasnt helped. COVID-19 has been massively disruptive to opportunity zones in the same way that its been massively upsetting to the entire economy.

However, OZ investment is situated to help some of the hardest-hit, low-income communities during the post-pandemic recovery.

There is significance to reaching this milestone of $10 billion invested, but the COVID-19 pandemic certainly puts this achievement in a different light, said Michael J. Novogradac, CPA, managing partner of Novogradac. Were most encouraged by the fact that hundreds of QOFs have raised billions of dollars, surpassing the federal governments initial expectations. That provides a broad base for investment in distressed communities, to help spur a COVID-19 recovery.

The latest figure of $10.09 billion raised by 406 QOFs compares to $6.72 billion in early January. The total number of QOFs on the list is now 621, compared to 502 in January. The 406 QOFs that report having raised funds compares to 292 in Januaryand the 406 QOFs have an average equity raise of $24.9 million. Twenty-two funds report having raised at least $100 million.

The COVID-19 pandemic looms large, but theres optimism that OZ investment will be crucial.

In the short term, its tough to gauge where the market goes, said Steve Glickman, founder and CEO of Develop LLC, a leading advisory firm for OZs and co-founder of EIG. Everyones more focused on the urgent  the first real test of the [OZ] marketplace will be this summer. Thats when capital gains from 2019 partnerships roll over, gains from public equities sales in February and March approach their deadlines and I expect some of the [COVID-19-related] restrictions will begin to be rolled back. There will be a lot of activity in Q3.

Novogradac, a national accounting and consulting enterprise, tracks QOFs, which invest in the economically distressed areas that were targeted for investment by the OZ incentive provision in 2017 tax reform legislation.

COVID-19 OZ investment deadline relief came April 10, when the Internal Revenue Service issued a notice that extended the deadline until July 15 for taxpayers whose 180-day deadline to invest capital gains falls on or after April 1 and before July 15.

Thats another reason to expect investment this summer, said Glickman. If someone had a rollover from last October or November, they now have until July to reinvest.

Novogradac partner John Sciarretti, CPA, is the head of the Opportunity Zones Working Group. He hopes the federal government provides additional temporary relief to assist OZ investors.

The Opportunity Zones Working Group submitted a letter to the Department of Treasury asking for a number of OZ-related deadlines to be extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Sciarretti. One example relates to the 180-day investment window for capital gains. As part of a more expansive list of tax-filing and payment deadline extensions to July 15, the IRS included an extension of the 180-day investment window for some investors to July 15. We asked for greater flexibility in the 180-day investment window and our hope is that Treasury will consider that and our other recommendations and will release more targeted OZ-related COVID-19 tax relief.

Residential and commercial investment continues to be the focus for the majority of QOFs on Novogradacs list. Of the $10.09 billion raised by QOFs on the Novogradac Opportunity Funds List, 73 percent was raised by those with at least some focus on residential investment and 61 percent was raised by those with at least some focus on commercial investment. Due to the number of QOFs with multiple areas of focus, the percentages add up to more than 100.

With the QOFs on the Novogradac list surpassing the $10 billion mark in equity raised and looming deadlines for investment, the OZ incentive may be in for a significant summer. An incentive that continues to surpass investment expectations is positioned to play an outsized role in helping some of the nations hardest-hit communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Novogradac publishes the 2019 Opportunity Zones Handbook, the Introduction to Opportunity Zones booklet, the monthly Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits and the weekly Tax Credit Tuesday podcast. Novogradac leads the Opportunity Zones Working Group, which regularly submits comments on the OZ incentive to the Treasury Department.

About Novogradac

Novogradac began operations in 1989 and has grown to more than 600 employees and partners with offices in more than 25 cities. Tax, audit and consulting specialty practice areas for Novogradac include affordable housing, opportunity zones, community development, historic rehabilitation and renewable energy.
An Irish University has announced delayed dates and online lectures for the new college year in September, in efforts to cope with the Covid-19 impact.

The changes will affect all years including new First Years waiting to sit the delayed Leaving Cert exams.

Limerick University say they are working "amid great uncertainty", in an email to students issued this Thursday, April 30.

"We have been working to bring our community back together for the academic year 20/21 amid great uncertainty as to the government restrictions that will remain at the end of this summer. The health of staff, students and the wider community is paramount in our considerations and for that reason our plans may have to be revised depending on government advice," they say.

Their first years will start in November, if the Leaving Cert takes place as planned in late July.

"The Autumn Semester will begin on September 28 for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year undergraduate students and all current and new postgraduate students, (some programmes, such as education and health will have different programme dates)," the university said.

"Our plans for first year students depend on the scheduling of the Leaving Certificate but if as planned it takes place from the end of July we anticipate welcoming our incoming first year students at the beginning of November. However, the date for entry of first years depends on many factors, including when the Leaving Certificate takes place as well as the completion of CAO offers and acceptance of places.

The second term will begin at the usual time for the University.

"At this stage it is hoped that Semester 2 will begin as planned on 25th January 2021 for all students," they said.

Online lectures are likely instead of in the lecture halls.

"There is little doubt but that some restrictions on the size of groups which will be permitted to gather will remain in place in Ireland in September, which will affect our ability to deliver lectures on campus. Therefore it is likely that there will be a requirement for lectures to be delivered online. However, we anticipate a blended delivery of programmes to allow students to spend some time on campus in the autumn to facilitate face to face laboratory classes, studio time, and some seminars/tutorials. This will be limited in order to insure the health and safety of our community and to work within the government restrictions. Any planned approach will need to take account of the possibility that future full or partial closures may well be called for at short notice," they said.

The university has major news also for Erasmus and Non EU Exchange Mobility Programmes.

"As a result of the current travel restrictions and with no indication of when these will lift, we have also had to examine the viability of the Erasmus and Non EU Exchange mobility programmes in the Autumn Semester. After much consideration and with regret, we have decided at this stage - so as to allow for alternative planning for our students - that the Erasmus and Non EU Exchange mobility programmes will be suspended for the Autumn Semester and alternative programmes will be put in place for those UL students who had been scheduled to study abroad for their autumn semester. We realise that this is very disappointing for students, but at present it is the only safe option," they said.

Limerick University says planning is continuing for both students and staff.

"Many of you understandably will be seeking more details on the Autumn Semester and in some cases we simply wont have all the answers at this stage. Significant planning activity work is underway to enable an enhanced online experience and to support our staff with online delivery in what is going to remain a challenging environment for all of us. We are also developing protocols to safely restart some of our research programmes on campus," they say.

"We will continue to work with our partner universities here in Ireland and to draw upon best practice and innovative approaches internationally to provide our students with the best university experience and learning environment while we live with this virus".

"As time goes on, more detail will follow from Deans, Heads of Schools/Departments and Course Directors and we will be in touch again with more decisions as they are made by COTEC and the UL Future Planning Group. Stay home and stay well".

The statement was issued by UL Critical Operations Team and Executive Committee.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The National Kidney and Transplant Institute confirmed on Thursday that 23 of its healthcare workers were infected with COVID-19 after being exposed to three patients in the hospital's intensive care unit who caught the coronavirus

"[M]ula noong March 13 hanggang April 28, nagkaroon kami ng mga health worker na 23 na nag-COVID(-19-positive)," NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete told CNN Philippines' Balitaan. "Hindi naman sila yung serious na sabihin natin. Ang karamihan doon ay asymptomatic nga, eh."

[Translation: From March 13 to April 28, we have had 23 health workers who were positive for COVID-19. They aren't what we could consider as serious. Most of them are even asymptomatic.]

However, she lamented how the delay in the results of swabbing tests for the patients the healthcare workers have interacted with and could have possibly gotten the virus from.

"Yung mga nurses namin, alam din naman nila na maski na-swab namin namamatay na, di pa namin nas-swab. Kung na-swab man namin, wala namang resulta. How would we know na yung mga pasyenteng nahawakan namin ay positive, di ba?," Rosete-Liquete explained.

She added that infected patients initially tested negative for the virus, but tested positive eventually.

[Translation: Our nurses know that despite us having swabbed the patients even if they have already died, they still haven't gotten swabbed. Even if we were able to swab some of them, how would we have known the patients we interacted with are positive, right?]

She added that NKTI initially sent swab tests for confirmation to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). After it had to scale down operations with some of its personnel testing positive for COVID-19, the hospital turned to the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) instead.

However, Rosete-Liquete said the over a hundred test results have been pending from LCP since April 7.

Eventually, the NKTI sent swab tests to the Philippine Red Cross for confirmation, where Rosete-Liquete said they finally found out some of their nurses and doctors did catch the deadly virus.

Infected health workers are immediately pulled out of duty and made to undergo quarantine, she said.

On April 8, NKTI released an advisory saying it can only accept kidney patients under investigation (PUI) "who are dependent on renal replacement therapy such as hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD)." They shall then be admitted in tents at the Emergency Room - COVID field until RT-PCR results come out negative, the hospital said.

The hospital wasn't able to follow the advisory anyway, said Rosete-Liquete.

"[H]indi namin nagagawa yun dahil aanhin mo kung andiyan na sa doorstep namin, ano? So naghalo rin yung mga di nagd-dialysis," she explained.

[Translation: We weren't able to do it because what could we have done if (the patient) was already at our doorstep? So even those not undergoing dialysis were added to the mix (of dialysis patients).]

"Ang bottomline is that if only we had the results early, mas madali naming na-cohort ang mga pasyente. And we could have helped also our frontliner na, o ito, positive pala ito, out ka na muna, rest. You know, quarantine agad," Rosete-Liquete said.

[Translation: The bottomline is, if only we had the results early, it would be easier to place patients in cohorts. And we could have helped our frontliners like, oh, this one is actually positive, so you must go out for now, rest. You know, (go under) quarantine immediately.]
If a third-party presidential candidate were going to have a spoiler effect anywhere in 2020, it would seem to be in Michigan, after Representative Justin Amash, a five-term congressman from Grand Rapids, said this week he was preparing a bid for the Libertarian nomination in the November election.

In 2016, after all, Donald J. Trump won Michigan by just 10,700 votes  and the Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson, won 172,000 votes in the state. Mr. Amashs likely entry into the race, as a native son in a state that is again likely to be a battleground, gave some Democrats and Never Trump Republicans overnight heart palpitations.

Nonetheless, strategists from both major parties in Michigan said on Wednesday that this years electoral landscape was so fundamentally altered from four years ago that Mr. Amash was not likely to have a major impact in the state, or on the general election as a whole. If Mr. Trumps surprising victories in Northern industrial states in 2016 were based on high levels of dislike for the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, which depressed Democratic turnout, those appear to be lesser factors this time around as he prepares to face Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Mr. Amash, who was the sole Republican to support impeachment before leaving the party last year to become an independent, said in an interview that he was not worried about easing the presidents path to a second term.
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)

Flynn Evidence Unsealed: Get Him to Lie So We Can Prosecute Him or Get Him Fired?

An FBI official involved in the decision to do a non-standard interview with Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn had questioned whether the bureau was trying to catch Flynn in a lie rather than get to the truth through their questioning.

The bureau shouldnt play games, the official said in handwritten notes released on April 29 (pdf).

Also released were several emails revealing that some of the officials involved in the interview had discussed beforehand the need to warn Flynn that lying to a federal officer is a crime. Flynn didnt receive that warning during the interview.

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 during the Jan. 24, 2017, interview.

The interview was aimed at Flynns phone exchanges with then-Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.

The FBI seems to have had access to the transcripts of calls between Flynn and Kislyak, but some of the top FBI officials at the time, including then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, decided that Flynn shouldnt be confronted with the transcripts if his recollection diverged from them during the interview.

Instead, the officials agreed on Jan. 23, 2017 that they would only use some key words from the transcripts and allow Flynn to fill in the rest according to his recollection, according to the emails.

Yet, at least one official questioned the suggested plan.

I agreed yesterday that we shouldnt show Flynn [redacted] if he didnt admit. I thought @ [about] it last night + [and] I believe we should rethink this, the official wrote in the notes dated Jan. 24, 2017 (it appears the date was corrected from Jan. 23, 2017).

The notes continue:

Whats our goal? Truth/Admission or toget him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?

The official seemed to believe that they should confront Flynn with their acquired transcript and question him on that.

The notes said:

We regularly show subjects evidence

 with the goal of getting them to admit their wrongdoing

 I dont see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is going easy on him.

Handwritten notes regarding the interview of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn written by an FBI official and dated Jan. 24, 2017. (Department of Justice)

The FBI officials had developed a theory that Flynn broke the Logan Act by conveying to Kislyak the positions of the incoming administration on several diplomatic issuesincluding new sanctions that would see the expulsion of Russian diplomats and a United Nations vote on Israeli settlements.

Unnamed government sources then leaked the theory and information about the calls to the media, putting pressure on the Trump administration, which had initially denied that Flynn discussed the sanctions.

The Logan Act theory was bogus, according to Sidney Powell, Flynns attorney and former Texas prosecutor.

The 1799 Act prohibits Americans from conducting diplomacy on their own with countries that the United States has a dispute with. Nobody has ever been successfully prosecuted for violating the law. It was Flynns job, as part of Trumps transition team, to establish relations with foreign officials.

The FBI official argued that if the FBI managed to get Flynn to admit to violating the law, the bureau should hand the matter over to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and let it decide how to proceed.

Or if he initially lies, then we present him [redacted] + he admits it, [we] document [it] for DOJ, + let them decide how to address it, he said.

The bureau was risking its reputation, he apparently warned.

If were seen as playing games, WH [White House] will be furious. Protect our institution by not playing games, he urged.

The notes belong to former FBI head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap, multiple officials confirmed to Just the News.

The initials in the top right corner of the notes appear to be EP, which would match Priestaps full name, Edward William Priestap.

A heavily redacted portion of the notes said, Our goal is to determine if Mike Flynn is going to tell the truth @ his relationship w/ [with] Russians.

In Flynns defense, Powell has argued that the lieutenant general never had any relationship with Russia that would warrant an investigation and that the whole process was a pretext to target Trump.

The notes and emails were unsealed by District Judge Emmet Sullivan at Powells request.

Two of the emails detail a Jan. 23, 2017, conversation between Lisa Page, McCabes then-special counsel, and an official from the bureaus Office of the General Counsel whose name is redacted. They pertain to the policy on admonishing (warning) interview subjects that lying to a federal officer is a crime under Title 18 U.S. Code  1001 for making false statements.

[Redacted], I have a question for you, Page starts. Could the admonition re [regarding] 1001 be given at the beginning at the interview? Or does it have to come following a statement which agents believe to be false? Does the policy speak to that? (I feel bad that I dont know this, but I dont remember ever having to do this! Plus Ive only charged it once in the context of lying to a federal probation officer). It seems to be if the former, then it would be an easy way to just casually slip that in. Of course as you know sir, federal law makes it a crime to.

The official replies:

I havent read the policy lately, but if I recall correctly, you can say it at any time. Im 90 percent sure about that, but I can check in the am.

One additional email detailed over a dozen possible questions that officials thought Flynn might ask when called to attend the interview.

The email was sent by Peter Strzok, the FBIs then-deputy assistant director for counterintelligence operations, on the morning of Jan. 24, 2017, to McCabe who made the interview request in a call to Flynn. Strzok would later co-conduct the interview with supervisory special agent Joe Pientka.

McCabe was to be ready to answer questions asking whether Flynn was in trouble or faced an investigation, and whether Flynn should inform the president about the interview request, Strzok wrote.

In reality, Flynn, who had readily agreed to have two agents over, was unguarded and jocular, and saw the agents as friends, Strzok said in a later interview report.

The notes and emails were handed over to Flynn as the result of an ongoing review of his case by Jeffrey Jensen, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, who was directed in January to perform the review by Attorney General William Barr.

Powell said in an April 24 court filing that the evidence in the new material proves Flynn was deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.

Flynn had asked Judge Sullivan in January to allow him to withdraw his plea, alleging he only entered it because his former lawyers hadnt represent him effectively at the time.

Powell has stated for months that the case should be dismissed for government misconduct.

Judge Sullivan denied in December 2019 Powells request for a list of additional documents and for dismissal of the case.

New information, however, has been turning up in the case since then.

Trump fired Flynn in February 2017, saying he misled Vice President Mike Pence about the Kislyak calls. Pence was one of the officials who publicly denied that Flynn had talked about the sanctions.

Trump wrote on Twitter on March 15 that he was strongly considering a pardon for Flynn given the evidence.
There is "huge unrest" in the Green Party's grassroots over Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's response to their government formation demands.

The letter sent by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in response to 17 questions posed by the Green Party has been heavily criticised by Greens around the country, sparking serious doubts that party members would approve a coalition deal.

Green Party TDs also have concerns about Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar's letter, and a decision on whether or not to rebuff the Civil War parties' invitation to talks could come as early as today.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael stopped short of committing to the Greens' key demand of a more ambitious 7pc-a-year target for reducing greenhouse gas. Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar invited Green leader Eamon Ryan to negotiations to discuss how the target can be achieved.

But they also warned that no party will want to introduce climate action measures that may jeopardise employment, increase poverty or affect rural and regional development.

Mr Varadkar last night said he didn't want to commit to "a target that can't be done".

But he also didn't rule out the 7pc target and said he was keen to enter talks.

A two-hour meeting of the Greens' parliamentary party ended with a decision to reflect further on the letter.

TDs and senators will meet again today to thrash out whether to seek further clarifications or reject the invitation to enter talks outright.

A Green Party source said there was "huge unrest" among the party's grassroots and, as things stand, they did not believe party members would vote with the two-thirds majority required to enter government.

Aside from the carbon emissions issue, there is said to be concern at proposals that would still see private homes built on State land and a "fudge" in the Greens' demand for a 2:1 breakdown in spending favouring public transport over roads infrastructure.

Reaction among TDs and senators was said to be "mixed".

Wicklow TD Steven Matthews told the Irish Independent the two larger parties "have committed to some of our objectives".

But he said "more detail and much firmer commitment is required" in relation to the Greens' demand for 7pc-per-year reduction in carbon emissions, as well as demands relating to housing and the scrapping of a planned Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal project.

Another TD, Neasa Hourigan, shared a Twitter post by Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin in which he criticised the housing proposals made by Fianna Fail/Fine Gael in their letter.

The party's youth wing, Young Greens, has argued that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael aren't interested in the climate crisis and just want "a mudguard". Prominent party member Saoirse McHugh said the letter was "absolutely wocious" and added, "what a joke".

Cork City councillor Lorna Bogue said if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are still not committing to the 7pc carbon emissions reduction target "it's clear the Greens should walk".
Corporate whispers. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare

Former AMP litigation boss Larissa Baker Cooks court pursuit of the financial services giant for unfair dismissal is turning into quite a spectacle. And the shows only just begun.

As CBD reported in April, AMP sacked Baker Cook after alleging she had bad-mouthed her boss, general counsel David Cullen, as well as his predecessor Brian Salter, corporate affairs executive Helen Livesey and government relations boss Alastair Kinloch.

Baker Cooks commentary, it was alleged, took place in front of partners from an external law firm. Unspecified. Until Thursday, when Baker Cooks barrister Kylie Nomchong SC revealed during a Federal Court teleconference that it was King & Wood Mallesons senior partner Alexander Morris.

Presumably Morris reported Baker Cooks alleged comments to AMP. Morris has an enviable curriculum vitae, having worked for Suncorp during the financial services royal commission, National Australia Bank during the bank bill swap scandal and Woolworths as it attempted to extract itself from a joint venture with American outfit Lowes.
EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Old National Bancorp (ONB) announced the election of Dan Hermann, 62, and Austin Ramirez, 41, to its Corporate Board of Directors.



Dan Hermann is the founding partner of Lechwe Holdings LLC, a family company involved in the startup and investing in companies. He is also a founder of AmeriQual Group, LLC, where he served as CEO from 2005 to 2015. Hermann has over 20 years of management experience with Black Beauty Coal Company. During his years at Black Beauty, he held various titles, including President and CEO. He also has experience in public accounting and was a licensed CPA.

Hermann earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Indiana State University Evansville. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deaconess Health System. In addition, he serves as a director of Foresight Energy, General Signals, Hermann Family Foundation, and Foundation for Youth. He is also a director Emeritus of the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Indiana as well as past Chairman of the Evansville Catholic Foundation.

Austin Ramirez is the President and CEO of Husco International, a global engineering and manufacturing company headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He has extensive management experience in the engineering and manufacturing field. He has also served as a White House Fellow on the National Economic Council in Washington D.C.

Mr. Ramirez graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in Systems Engineering and Economics. He also holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has volunteered on a number of education-focused boards including Teach for America, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the YMCA and the United Performing Arts Fund. He is a co-founder and board member of St. Augustine Preparatory Academy and a founding member of City Reformed Church. Austin has also served as a director of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

Story continues

Old National Bank is pleased to welcome Dan Hermann and Austin Ramirez to our corporate board of directors, said Jim Ryan, Old National Chairman & CEO. They will be outstanding additions as they bring strong leadership and technical skills that will allow us to elevate our performance. We look forward to their contributions.

About Old National

Old National Bancorp (ONB), the holding company of Old National Bank, is the largest bank holding company headquartered in Indiana. With $20.7 billion in assets, it ranks among the top 100 banking companies in the U.S. and has been recognized as a Worlds Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute for nine consecutive years. Since its founding in Evansville in 1834, Old National Bank has focused on community banking by building long-term, highly valued partnerships and keeping our clients at the center of all we do. This is an approach to business that we call The ONB Way. Today, Old Nationals footprint includes Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In addition to providing extensive services in retail and commercial banking, Old National offers comprehensive wealth management, investment and capital market services. For more information and financial data, please visit Investor Relations at www.oldnational.com.

Contact:

Media:

Kathy Schoettlin - 812-465-7269

Chief Communications Officer

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ccf51923-b2dd-48e1-91e2-4ab03c25aa8f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/588f4414-c3fb-474d-b90d-ce13ad1ff3d5
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Export of chemicals from Turkey to Turkmenistan dropped by 13.28 percent from January 2020 through March 2020 and amounted to $25 million, Trend reports citing the Turkish Trade Ministry.

In March 2020, export of Turkish chemical products to Turkmenistan amounted to $7.2 million, indicating a decrease of 33.21 percent compared to March 2019.

In 1Q2020, Turkeys export of chemicals to world markets dropped 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 $1.5 billion to world markets, which is 15.4 percent less compared to 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.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
High Death Toll In Tehran Casts Doubt On Iran's Official Coronavirus Numbers

04/30/20

Source: Radio Farda

A member of Tehran's City Council has revealed that during the first two months of the coronavirus outbreak the overall death toll in Iran's capital increased by 3,700, compared with the same period last year. Iranian officials have not released the epidemic toll in Tehran, but the nationwide death toll they have announced is just 6,000; too low to account for the increased number of deaths in the capital.



Graves prepared for coronavirus victims - Kashmar, Iran

(see more photos by ISNA)



Meanwhile, the Sharq newspaper reports that the number of people who died of other causes during the epidemic, such as road accidents has substantially decreased. Therefore, even more of the deaths in the capital can be attributed to Covid-19.



Earlier, a member of the Tehran City Council, Nahid Khodakarami, had said that between seventy to 100 deaths from coronavirus were buried in the city's cemeteries each day.



Therefore, it can be estimated that between 4,000 to 7,000 have died of the epidemic in Tehran alone since the outbreak in February.



Daily Sharq also reported that since the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran, the Civil Registration Department has "surprisingly" stopped announcing the number of new deaths in the country.



Earlier, on April 12, Tehran's deputy mayor for municipal services, Mojtaba Yazdani, had announced that a new plot of land had been prepared for the victims of the deadly coronavirus in Tehran's main cemetery, Behesht-e Zahra, and that 10,000 new graves had been excavated so far.



Nonetheless, the Islamic Republic Ministry of Health still insists that the number of people fallen victim to COVID-19 nationwide is around 6,000.



In the meantime, daily Sharq asserts that the statistics of the Ministry of Health are only based on the number of people who have visited the medical centers and tested for coronavirus.



According to daily Sharq, only 442,590 corona tests have so far been performed in Iran.



Earlier, some members of Majles (Iranian parliament) and Tehran City Councilors had accused the Ministry of Health of secrecy, and covering up the data related to the victims of COVID-19.



Official Iran's statistics on coronavirus as of April 30

Infections: 94,640

Deaths: 6,028

New Cases: 983

Recovered: 75,103
Story Highlights 21% say they are ready to return to normal activities "right now"

Republicans (44%) are most likely to say they are ready "right now"

12% say they would wait for vaccine development

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There is no consensus among Americans on when they would feel ready to return to normal life after the coronavirus outbreak. Asked how soon they would return to their normal, day-to-day activities without any government restrictions, U.S. adults fall into four camps.

About one in five (21%) are ready to return to normal right now; 36% say they would return to their activities once the number of new cases of coronavirus in their state declines significantly; 31% say they would return to normal life once there are no new cases in their state; and 12% say they will return to their day-to-day activities once a vaccine has been developed.

Two-thirds of Americans fall into the two camps that gauge their return to normalcy based on their state's progress in decreasing new cases to some degree -- but each of these camps has shrunk since Gallup's early April measure. Meanwhile, each of the two absolutist camps has expanded over the course of the month. The percentage of Americans who say they are ready to get back to normal routines right now is now up eight percentage points since early April. The percentage of those who won't return until a vaccine is developed is up five points.

U.S. Adults' Views on the Conditions Under Which They Would Return to Their Normal Activities If there were no government restrictions and people were able to decide for themselves about being out in public, how soon would you return to your normal day-to-day activities -- right now, after the number of new cases in your state declines significantly, after there are no new cases in your state for a period of time, after a coronavirus vaccine is developed? Apr 2-6 , 2020 Apr 20-26 , 2020 Change % % (pct. pts.) Right now 13 21 +8 After number of new cases in your state declines significantly 40 36 -4 After no new cases in your state 40 31 -9 After vaccine developed 7 12 +5 Gallup Panel

The latest findings were collected in a probability-based sample of 7,921 U.S. adults from the Gallup Panel, interviewed by web April 20-26, 2020. Gallup asked a similar question that refers to declines in new cases in the U.S., rather than respondents' states, and found similar results.

Many Americans are likely basing their assessments of when they would be willing to resume normal social interactions on the wide range of conditions required by U.S. states as well as international governments before reopening their economies. Some states that meet the federal government's criteria for low or declining numbers of cases have begun to ease restrictions in conformance with federal protocols.

Growing Numbers of Republicans Want a Return to Normalcy "Right Now"

The eight-point increase since early April in the percentage of Americans in the "right now" camp is driven largely by increases in this view among Republicans.

Republicans (44%) are the only subgroup among whom the plurality express readiness to return to normal activities right now. The percentage holding this position has climbed 19 points in recent weeks, the largest increase of any population subgroup. Republicans are now twice as likely as political independents (22%) to say they are ready to return right now. Few Democrats (4%) say they are ready to return to their normal activities right now.

Percentages Who Say They Are Ready to Return to Normal Activities Right Now, by Subgroup: Early vs. Late April 2020 If there were no government restrictions and people were able to decide for themselves about being out in public, how soon would you return to your normal day-to-day activities? Apr 2-6 , 2020 Apr 20-26 , 2020 Change % Right now % Right now (pct. pts.) National adults 13 21 +8 Democrats 5 4 -1 Independents 12 22 +10 Republicans 25 44 +19 18-44 13 17 +4 45-64 15 29 +14 65+ 9 18 +9 Urban 5 15 +10 Suburban 14 18 +4 Rural 16 28 +12 Gallup Panel

The second-largest increase in the "right now" camp has taken place among U.S. adults aged 45 to 64 (now at 29%). This age group is much more likely than both young adults (17%) and senior citizens (18%) to say they are ready to return to their day-to-day activities, whereas earlier in the month, they were on par with younger adults.

Urbanicity is another key factor: Americans living in rural areas (28%) are about twice as likely as those living in urban areas (15%) to report readiness for normalcy right now. Meanwhile, 18% of suburbanites say they are ready right now.

About One in Five Nonwhites, Democrats Want to Wait for Vaccine Development

Nonwhites (19%) are about twice as likely as whites (10%) to say they would be ready for a return to normalcy only after this milestone in vaccine development. The percentage of nonwhites with this view about doubled between early and late April, and grew much more than that of whites.

The percentage of suburbanites who say they would wait until after a vaccine is developed also grew substantially. The current 16% among residents of suburban areas is up 10 points from early April -- a much higher rate of growth than the three-point increases among residents of rural as well as urban areas.

The percentages of Democrats and independents taking the most cautious position each grew by seven points in recent weeks. Democrats (18%) are the most likely to say they would need to see a vaccine developed before returning to normal life, while 12% of independents say the same. Few Republicans (4%) say they need to wait for a vaccine, essentially unchanged from early April.

Views on Conditions Under Which People Would Return to Their Normal Activities, by Subgroup If there were no government restrictions and people were able to decide for themselves about being out in public, how soon would you return to your normal day-to-day activities -- right now, after the number of new cases in your state declines significantly, after there are no new cases in your state for a period of time, after a coronavirus vaccine is developed? Right now After new cases in your state decline significantly After no new cases in your state After vaccine developed % % % % National adults 21 36 31 12 18-44 17 40 31 12 45-64 29 32 28 12 65+ 18 34 36 12 Whites 25 35 30 10 Nonwhites 11 37 34 19 Democrats 4 35 42 18 Independents 22 35 32 12 Republicans 44 37 14 4 Urban 15 35 39 11 Suburban 18 38 28 16 Rural 28 34 28 10 Gallup Panel, April 20-26, 2020

Bottom Line

Americans' current feelings about when and how they are willing to return to their usual activities are speculative at the moment, as state and federal governments are still assessing the trajectories of the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, the timeline for vaccine development is uncertain. Some analysts say that the oft-repeated 12- to 18-month timeline is overly optimistic; others think there is reason to hope for an even quicker timeline.

But Americans' varied ideas about the timing of a return to normalcy illustrate the competing narratives emerging of caution versus immediacy, and the murkiness of which approach leaders and Americans themselves should emphasize.

Most see their state's reports of new cases as the true barometer, but there isn't an agreed-upon measure of how much progress a state would need to show before things can go back to normal. Meanwhile, growing factions of Americans are not basing their readiness on their state's progress in reducing new infections, but are opting either for a "right now" approach or a wait for a vaccine that still may be a long way off.

Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.
Mike Pence praises Publix for buying excess milk, produce from farmers to donate to food banks

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Vice President Mike Pence praised the decades-old Florida-based supermarket chain Publix on Friday for launching a new initiative to purchase fresh produce and milk to assist farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and donate the goods to food banks in need.

Thank you, @Publix for helping to support American farmers and the American people as we work through this pandemic together as a Nation, Pence noted on Twitter.

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the United States, announced on Friday that it will donate the purchases made from farmers directly to Feeding America member food banks in its operating area. Produce farmers in Florida as well as southeastern dairy farmers and the growing number of families looking to Feeding America for fresh fruits, vegetables and milk during the coronavirus pandemic are all expected to benefit from the initiative set to last several weeks.

As a food retailer, we have the unique opportunity to bridge the gap between the needs of families and farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, Publix CEO Todd Jones said in a statement. In this time of uncertainty, we are grateful to be able to help Floridas produce farmers, southeastern dairies and families in our communities.

Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization, received a $100 million donation earlier this month from Amazon founder, and the worlds richest man, Jeff Bezos.

As we respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Publix understands that more families are turning to us to help put food, especially fresh produce and milk, on their tables, Feeding South Florida President & CEO Paco Velez said in a statement responding to the Publix donation. Were grateful to Publix for not only supporting growers, but also for their years of support of Feeding South Florida.

The move by Publix comes as many farmers across the country have been forced to dump a staggering surplus of milk and fresh produce despite a growing demand for stock at food banks. The New York Times recently reported that while farmers have donated some of their surplus to food banks, there is a limit to the amount of perishable food these organizations can store.

Additionally, the costs of harvesting, processing and then transporting produce and milk to food banks or other areas of need would put further financial strain on farms that have seen half their paying customers disappear, the Times said. Exporting the excess food would also be unprofitable for the farmers so they are left with no other choice but to dump the food.

We are thrilled about Publixs initiative to buy additional milk from Southeast Milk for processing and donation to Feeding America member food banks, Southeast Milk Inc. President Joe Wright said in response to Publix decision. Its a win-win for our farmers who are feeling the impact of decreased demand and the families who are in need of nutrient rich milk during this pandemic.

Pero Family Farms Food Co. CEO Peter F. Pero IV also praised the move.

Like so many others right now, Florida farmers are in a time of need. We are humbled Publix is purchasing additional fresh vegetables from us and other local farms to donate to food banks throughout the Southeast, he said. Thank you to Publix, the participating food banks and their volunteers for making this initiative possible for those less fortunate while supporting local farms.
In America, retail stores have been on the decline for some time, with many of the old standbys getting squeezed out by online retailers. And one piece of the classic American landscape thats on the way out is the shopping mall. Once the hub of most suburban communities, today, many once-thriving shopping malls have since gone belly up, turning from a bustling social meeting place to eerie reminders of the decline of brick-and-mortar retail.

Take a look at what some of the abandoned malls of America look like now that the economy has passed them by.

Last updated: Oct. 9, 2020

1. Rolling Acres  Akron, Ohio

Rolling Acres, originally opened in 1975, once boasted a three-screen movie theater, full-service food court, 140 total stores and four major department stores, but things have been on the decline financially and otherwise for some time. The mall has changed ownership several times, had the lights shut off for nonpayment of its electricity bill in 2008, saw a man electrocuted while trying to steal copper wire in 2011 and, finally, the city of Akron started demolition of the space in October 2016.

Rolling Acres

Amazon purchased the site of the mall and started construction on a fulfillment center there in December 2019, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. The nearly 2.7 million-square-foot, four-story fulfillment center is expected to open sometime in 2020.

2. Cloverleaf Mall  Richmond, Virginia

The first phase of the Cloverleaf Mall had its grand opening in 1972 with 42 stores anchored by mega-retailers JCPenney and Sears, and a second phase opening a year later with what was, at the time, the largest JCPenney store in the state. However, the business began to erode in the 1990s when two clerks were murdered during an apparent robbery of an All for One store and the nearby Chesterfield Towne Center was renovated. Cloverleaf Mall closed its doors for good in 2008.

Cloverleaf Mall

The former site of the mall is now a multiuse residential and commercial property called Stonebridge, which houses a Kroger, Subway, Sweet Frog, Krispy Kreme, Panda Express, Qdoba, Starbucks, Panera, Chipotle and more. There is also a 400-apartment complex on-site, as well as a recreation center.

Story continues

3. North Towne Square  Toledo, Ohio

North Towne Square opened in north Toledo in 1980, anchored by a Montgomery Ward, Hudsons and Lion stores, but the mall went into decline, was condemned and eventually demolished in 2013.

North Towne Square

As of 2017, the former site  which was called Lakeside Centre at the time it shut down in 2005  has been rezoned for industrial use with an eye toward outdoor vehicular storage.

4. Dixie Square Mall  Harvey, Illinois

The Dixie Square Malls time as a retail center was short-lived: After opening in 1966, it closed just 13 years later.

Dixie Square Mall

The Dixie Square Mall should be familiar to plenty of cinema fans because it was featured in the famous scene where Jake and Elwood lead a police chase through a shopping mall in the 1980 classic comedy The Blues Brothers.

5. McFarland Mall  Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Opened by James Hinton, Sr. and Ward McFarland in February 1969, the McFarland Mall survived through the increased competition when nearby University Mall opened just eight years later. It had four anchor stores, a 12-screen movie theater, a food court and 40 other retail locations at its peak.

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McFarland Mall

Struggling business led to the malls slow decline, until, as of September 2019, a Dollar Tree was the only remaining store that was open, according to TuscaloosaNews.com.

6. Manchester Parkade  Manchester, Connecticut

The Manchester Parkade opened in 1957 and has been at Broad Street and Middle Turnpike ever since. However, its lack of proximity to the highway has proven to be a problem over the years.

Manchester Parkade

After the opening of the Buckland Hills Mall in 1990, business slowly eroded over the next decade. The site was torn down in 2012.

7. Macon Mall  Macon, Georgia

Built in 1975, the Macon Mall has been serving residents of Macon, Georgia, for over 40 years. However, while its still in business today, times have been tough. JCPenney closed in 2017, adding to the closures of Sears and Belk in 2012.

Macon Mall

The mall remains open, with Burlington now its sole major department store.

8. Charlestowne Mall  St. Charles, Illinois

The Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles, Illinois, actually has two of its anchors  Von Maur and Classic Cinemas  still open for business, but the interior closed in December 2017. There are plans to redevelop the property for a combination of residential, retail and commercial use.

Charlestowne Mall

As of January 2020, no redevelopment plans had been finalized, but St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina said during a Tuesdays Coffee Talk With the Mayor event that he feels positive that redevelopment plans for the Charlestowne Mall would move forward, possibly within the year, the Kane County Chronicle reported.

9. Metcalf South Shopping Center  Overland Park, Kansas

The Metcalf South Shopping Center held its grand opening in 1967, but it has since fallen into disrepair.

Metcalf South Shopping Center

The mall, largely vacant since 2014, was torn down in 2017 in favor of a Lowes and an office building.

10. Frederick Towne Mall  Frederick, Maryland

Frederick, Marylands Frederick Towne Mall has been vacant since 2013, but there are plans to bring back the location, which sold for more than $6 million in early 2017, as a Warehouse Cinemas.

Frederick Towne Mall

Warehouse Cinemas, described on its website as an eclectic mix of roughed out decor and architecture, first-run movies and interesting menu items, is expected to open its flagship location at the former mall site later in 2020.

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11. Blue Ridge Mall  Independence, Missouri

When the Blue Ridge Mall first opened in 1958 it was an open-air shopping center, but it transitioned to an enclosed space in the 1970s. However, fleeing retailers led to a long decline, and the mall was torn down to make way for Blue Ridge Crossing in 2005. Stores at the new shopping center include GNC, Lowes and Starbucks.

12. Nanuet Mall  Nanuet, New York

The 900,000-square-foot Nanuet Mall had some 120 stores in operation as recently as 1999, but it fell on hard times not long after that when the Palisades Center opened in nearby West Nyack and drew away business.

Nanuet Mall

The mall closed in 2012 for redevelopment into an outdoor shopping center. Its now The Shops at Nanuet, a Simon Mall.

13. ShoppingTown Mall  Dewitt, New York

The ShoppingTown Mall in Dewitt, New York, first opened in 1954 as an outdoor strip shopping center only to convert to an enclosed mall in 1975. At the time of the enclosure, 72% of the 99 tenants were retail stores, jumping to 122 tenants by 1991. However, that dipped to 64 tenants by 2016, only 37% of which were retailers.

ShoppingTown Mall

The ShoppingTown Mall filed for bankruptcy in August 2019, Syracuse.com reported. According to the plan it filed with the bankruptcy court in January, 144 of its 191 store spots are vacant, but the owners hope to continue to operate the mall and open it up to non-traditional tenants, such as healthcare, education and entertainment tenants.

14. Innsbruck Mall  Asheville, North Carolina

Built in 1966, the 213,000-square-foot Innsbruck Mall still had a 100% occupancy rate on its ground floor as recently as 2015.

Innsbruck Mall

As of October 2018, the mall was mostly vacant, and a commercial real estate firm was marketing the mall property as a mixed-use lifestyle center that would include townhomes, retail and a grocery store, Ashvilles local ABC affiliate reported at the time. A Candlewood Suites is also being built nearby the formerly thriving shopping mall.

15. Eastland Mall  Tulsa, Oklahoma

Eastland Mall near Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a dead mall until Gerry Chauvin  who has converted at least six dead malls into new businesses  redeveloped it into the Eastgate Metroplex. As of 2016, the space had an occupancy rate of 72% for its 900,000-square-foot facility.

Eastland Mall

According to the facilitys website, Eastgate Metroplex is currently undergoing a major renovation and is seeking new leasees for the space. Current tenants include Coca-Cola and HireRight.

16. Century III Mall  West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

The opening of Century III Mall in 1979 marked the end of a decade-long project to build a 1.6 million-square-foot retail hub that was, at the time of its completion, the third-largest enclosed mall in the world. However, the mall  named for the U.S. bicentennial in 1976 (the nation was entering its third century)  went into bankruptcy in September 2018 and was temporarily shut down by West Mifflin officials in February 2019 because it was deemed unsafe and uninhabitable after its sprinkler system was damaged, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Century III Mall

As of October 2019, JCPenney was the only store remaining in the mall, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. At that time, the owner of the Century III Mall had agreed to revise the plans to redevelop the property. The new plan involved building a mix of commercial, residential, office and entertainment venues on the property, Pittsburghs WPXI News reported.

17. Richland Mall  Columbia, South Carolina

The Richland Mall, first built in the 1980s, actually replaced another open-air mall, the Columbia Metropolitan reported. It became the home to a number of national chains including Dillards, Berrys and Belk. A third floor was added in 1988 and a seven-screen movie theater opened on the malls rooftop in 1990. That same year, mall owners rechristened the facility Richland Fashion Mall. The mall struggled in this new iteration, and it was eventually purchased by new owners in 2005, who gave the property a new name  Midtown at Forest Acres  and opened the property up to other types of businesses, including a Verizon Wireless call center. In 2010, it was sold and purchased again, this time by owners hoping to breathe new life into the original mall concept. They reverted it back to its old name as well.

Richland Mall

Today, the Richland Mall is home to such stores as Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Regal Cinemas, as well as Belk, one of its original tenants.

18. Fort Henry Mall  Kingsport, Tennessee

Originally opened in the mid-1970s, the Fort Henry Mall has changed its name back to the original after existing as the Kingsport Town Center for some time. The Hull Property Group purchased the mall in June 2016 with plans to renovate it and shift to an apparel-based retail strategy.

Fort Henry Mall

After taking over the property, Hull demolished the Sears store in hopes of attracting new retailers, grocers and restaurants to the space, the TimesNews reported. New additions to the mall since the rebrand include Sweet Spoon Frozen Treats and Charleys Philly Steaks.

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19. Westside Pavilion  Los Angeles

Los Angeles Westside Pavilion opened its doors in 1985 and was known to locals as the Clueless mall after the hit 90s movie filmed many of its scenes there. The mall was already declining when one of its major tenants, Nordstrom, relocated to a newer mall in 2017. By November of that year, the owners of the 755,000-square-foot property had put it up for sale, Curbed and the Wall Street Journal reported.

Westside Pavilion

In March 2018, Hudson Pacific Properties, which bought the mall, announced that it would be turning the Westside Pavilion into a creative office space, and in January 2019, it was announced that the property would be turned into Google offices. The construction project is expected to be completed in 2022, Curbed reported.

20. Hickory Hollow Mall  Antioch, Tennessee

Now known as the Global Mall at the Crossings, the two-tier Hickory Hollow Mall opened in 1978. However, after years of relative success, the mall started losing its anchor stores, with JCPenney exiting in 2006, Dillards in 2008 and then Sears and Macys in 2011.

Hickory Hollow Mall

In October 2019, a local developer presented plans to the community to turn the mostly vacant mall into modern technology offices and shops. However, just a month later, he decided not to move forward with the plan due to previously undisclosed entitlement issues related to the property itself, the Tennessean reported.

21. Berkshire Mall  Lanesborough, Massachusetts

Constructed in 1988, the Berkshire Mall once had 100 stores and restaurants. As of March 2019, the once-popular shopping destination was down to just 17 stores, including a Bounce House and a Victorias Secret. The malls department stores had been closing over recent years: Macys closed in 2016, and JCPenney and Sears closed the following year, Mass Live reported.

Berkshire Mall

In March 2019, the mall closed indefinitely after the Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield issued a writ of execution against the malls owners, Berkshire Mall Realty Corp., for the collection of $298,000 in back taxes and interest dating back to 2018, Mass Live reported. As of that time, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission was working on a redevelopment plan for the Berkshire Mall site that would suggest housing, agriculture or research and development uses instead of retail.

In July 2019, the mall was sold to a new owner for $1 million, though it appears to still be closed.

22. Burlington Center  Burlington Township, New Jersey

The Burlington Mall was built in 1982 and was an economic driver for Burlington Township for many years, the Burlington County Times reported. But when the Great Recession hit, the mall began to struggle, and its financial issues became insurmountable as more and more shoppers moved to online shopping. By 2014, two of its major anchors  Macys and JCPenney  had closed, and its nearly 100 other stores and restaurants soon closed as well. The mall shut down permanently in 2018.

Burlington Center

Real-estate investment firm Clarion Partners bought the mall in January 2019 and proposed a redevelopment plan in November of that year that included retail, restaurants, 400 to 500 housing units and several large warehouses, the Burlington County Times reported. As part of the plan, the existing, 670,000-square-foot mall would be demolished.

23. Brookdale Mall  Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

Built in 1962, the Brookdale Mall once housed an A&W drive-in, Woolworths, Macys, JCPenney and more, but all had closed over the years until the mall shut down and demolition began in 2011, the Star Tribune reported. The former mall site was purchased by Gatlin Development Co., which converted it into an open-style town center commercial development called Shingle Creek Crossing.

Today, Shingle Creek Crossing is home to a number of restaurants and retailers, including Applebees, Foot Locker and Michaels.

24. Carousel Mall  San Bernadino, California

Opened in 1972 as the Central City Mall, the mall was renamed in 1991 for the 36-foot carousel it housed, CBS Los Angeles reported. In its heyday, the Carousel Mall had over 50 stores and three major department stores. But in 2001, Montgomery Ward closed, followed by JCPenney in 2003  and since then the mall has become internet-famous as a ghost mall for its post-apocalyptic feel.

Carousel Mall

The mall officially closed in the summer of 2017, and a year later, the mall auctioned off its contents, including its famous carousel. The city of San Bernadino is hoping to redevelop the 42.7-acre site of the Carousel Mall as a mixed-use development.

25. Cortana Mall  Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Cortana Mall opened in 1976 and it was grandiose for the time. At roughly 1.3 million square feet, Cortana was the largest mall in the South at the time of its opening, Baton Rogue local news station WAFB 9 reported. It later expanded to 1.6 million square feet and housed over 100 stores, including JCPenney, Dillards and Macys. By 2009, the mall was struggling, and by 2017, both Macys and JCPenney had closed.

Cortana Mall

Cortana Mall closed for good in 2019, WAFB 9 reported. Local reports have speculated that Amazon will acquire the space and convert it into a fulfillment center, but no official announcements have been made.

26. Great Northern Mall  Clay, New York

The Great Northern Mall opened over 30 years ago. Its been on the decline in recent years, and with many of its tenants leaving, the mall owed over $3.2 million in back taxes and penalties for 2018 and 2019 as of August 2019, Syracuse.com reported.

Great Northern Mall

In recent years, Macys, Sears, Victorias Secret, Spencers Gifts, Yankee Candle and AT&T have left the Great Northern Mall, Syracuse.com reported.

27. Four Seasons Mall  Plymouth, Minnesota

This mall closed in 2011. The Four Seasons Mall had been sitting vacant for eight years before a redevelopment plan was approved in November 2019, the Star Tribune reported.

Four Seasons Mall

The Plymouth City Council approved plans for a mixed-use redevelopment project for the site, which includes three affordable apartment buildings  two for families and one for seniors  plus four commercial buildings and a park-and-ride ramp, the Star Tribune reported.

28. Knoxville Center  Knoxville, Tennessee

The Knoxville Center mall, also known as East Towne, was once a community staple, but it officially closed in January 2020, Knoxvilles 10 News reported. At the time of its closing, only two stores remained: Regal Tuxedo and LensCrafters.

Knoxville Center

Its anchor shops  Belk and JCPenney  had already moved out as the malls traffic slowed. The mall had been open for 35 years, Knox News reported. It remains to be seen what will happen to the site.

29. Logansport Mall  Logansport, Indiana

The Logansport Mall  which dates back to 1968  had lost nearly all of its tenants by the fall of 2019. Sears closed in 2013, Staples closed in 2014, and GNC Nutrition and JCPenney  the last major store to leave the mall  closed in 2017, the Pharos Tribune reported. That left only two stores remaining: Dunhams Sports and Oak Tree Lane Blades, a sword and knife shop. Oak Tree Lane Blades closed in April 2019, leaving Dunhams as the only remaining shop. In October 2019, the mall was sold to a new developer who hoped to bring in more tenants, as well as build a hotel on the malls property.

30. Northgate  Seattle

Northgate, the oldest mall in the Seattle area, began shutting down in July 2019. The mall is the future home of Seattles new NHL team, and the site will include three ice rinks, new offices, housing and a grocery store, KUOW reported.

Northgate

Construction was set to begin at the center of the mall, so the stores located in those sections closed first. That included major department stores, like Macys and Nordstrom, and smaller businesses, such as Alana Jewelry, which told KOUW that it would be closing for good.

31. Ponce de Leon Mall  St. Augustine, Florida

When Ponce de Leon Mall opened in 1979, it was the first enclosed shopping center in the county and home to the only Belk department store in the area, Metro Jacksonville reported. In addition to Belk, it was anchored by JCPenney and a six-screen Regal Cinemas.

The mall faced its first challenges in the 1990s with the opening of two other nearby malls and even more competition with the opening of a newer shopping complex in St. Augustine. The mall was also dealt a financial blow when it began implementing a curfew for patrons under 16 in an attempt to make it a more family-friendly spot. In 2010, a newer movie theater opened that put the malls Regal Cinemas out of business, and Ponce de Leon was now down to two anchors.

Ponce de Leon Mall

By 2015, most of the malls storefronts were empty, and its owners decided to permanently close the interior walkways. In 2016, The St. Augustine Record reported that a local church was attempting to buy and revive the mall, but it does not seem that they were able to raise the money to do so.

32. Promenade Mall  Tulsa, Oklahoma

In January 2020, JCPenney announced that it would be leaving the Promenade Mall, Tulsas News on 6 reported. The department store  which planned to close in April  was one of the only big names left in the troubled mall.

Promenade Mall

Many stores closed their doors in 2019, including Victorias Secret and Charlotte Russe. The Promenade Malls movie theater also closed that year.

The propertys value has declined steadily in recent years, from nearly $26 million in 2016 to about $4.5 million in 2019, according to court filings obtained by News on 6.

33. Rapids Mall  Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

After nearly 40 years in business, the Rapids Mall closed its doors in January 2018, the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune reported.

Rapids Mall

The mall site was purchased by the John E. Alexander South Wood County YMCA and Boys & Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area, who planned to convert the Rapids Mall into the site of a new, shared facility, the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune reported.

34. Regency Mall  Augusta, Georgia

When the Regency Mall opened in 1978, it was the largest mall in Georgia, The Augusta Chronicle reported. It once held over 70 stores, but within 25 years of its opening, all of its stores had closed, Metro Spirit reported.

Regency Mall

During the 90s, nearly all of its anchor stores closed, beginning with the closure of Uptons department store in 1993, Metro Spirit reported. Belk closed in 1996, and J.B. White and Piccadilly Cafeteria followed in 1998. Montgomery Ward was the last major store to close, leaving the mall in 2001.

Some areas of the mall had been converted from retail into office space, but even expanding to new types of tenants couldnt save the Regency Mall. In 2004, the malls last remaining tenant, the Richmond County Marshal, moved out.

The mall was gutted in 2013, but as of October 2017, the vacant mall structure remained intact, according to the SkyMall blog.

35. Silver City Galleria  Taunton, Massachusetts

The Silver City Galleria opened for business in 1992, and at one point had as many as 100 tenants, the Taunton Gazette reported. When the mall property was purchased in May 2019 at a foreclosure action, there were only around 40 tenants.

Silver City Galleria

In February 2020, mall tenants with license-at-will agreements received notice that their leases were being terminated, the Taunton Gazette reported. Other tenants had already made plans to leave at their own accord, including Victorias Secret. The mall owner stated that the mall was not closing  despite the front entrance being officially closed  but did confirm to the news outlet that a physical consolidation of the mall is underway.

36. Three Rivers Mall  Kelso, Washington

When the Three Rivers Mall opened in 1987, it had four anchor tenants: JCPenney, Sears, Macys and Emporium  but only JCPenney remains today, The Daily News reported. In 2003, Emporiums parent company went bankrupt. Sears closed next, followed by Macys in 2016.

Three Rivers Mall

The Three Rivers Mall was purchased by new owners in July 2019, The Daily News reported. The new owners plans for the mall are not public, so it remains to be seen what will happen to the space and its 36 current tenants.

37. Vallco Shopping Mall  Cupertino, California

Vallco Mall opened in the 1970s and became a popular Silicon Valley shopping destination. But the 60-acre shopping complex fell on hard times in recent years, and by the time it closed, nearly all of its tenants had left, Cupertino Patch reported.

Vallco Shopping Mall

The demolition of the mall began in the fall of 2018. Redevelopers are moving forward with plans to convert the former Vallco Shopping Mall site into a mix of office, retail, entertainment and housing, San Franciscos ABC 7 News reported.

38. Valley Plaza Shopping Center  North Hollywood, California

The Valley Plaza Shopping Center dates back to the 1940s and was a centerpiece of commerce for the San Fernando Valley through the 1970s, the Los Angeles Times reported. The 47-acre shopping center sustained heavy damage in the Northridge earthquake, and since then has had difficulty keeping many of its storefronts filled.

Valley Plaza Shopping Center

Sears, which was one of the few major tenants remaining in the mostly empty shopping plaza, announced in November 2019 that it would be closing its Valley Plaza location, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.

39. Wayne Hills Mall  Wayne, New Jersey

The Wayne Hills Mall was built in 1974 and was showing signs of struggle by the mid-2000s, NorthJersey.com reported. In 2006, the county commissioned an urban planner to study how to reinvigorate the dying shopping center. Five years later, only four tenants remained in the mall.

Wayne Hills Mall

Demolition of the mall began in February 2019, NorthJersey.com reported. The Wayne Hills Mall will be replaced by a new ShopRite supermarket and other retail outlets.

More From GOBankingRates

Joel Anderson and Rachel Farrow contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: American Malls That Have Fallen Into Ruin
The latest novel coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Thursday (this file is no longer updating. Click here to read the latest coverage). Web links to longer stories if available.

6.30 p.m. Alberta will take its first steps toward reopening the economy beginning May 4.

On Monday, some non-urgent surgeries will go ahead and some health-care workers, such as dentists, physiotherapists, social workers and occupational therapists, will be allowed to resume services under strict public health guidelines.

Premier Jason Kenney and Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical officer of health, laid out the plans.

Earlier today, Alberta reported 190 more cases of COVID-19, as the government launched a reopening plan for some businesses and services starting next week.

The total number of cases in the province is at 5,355.

So far, 2,161 people have recovered.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical health officer, says three additional people have died of the illness, bringing the provinces death toll to 89.

6.00 p.m. Toronto Council has voted unanimously to extend Mayor John Torys emergency powers, as well as the physical distancing rules in city parks and public squares.

Twenty-five members of council met for the first time since March 6 from separate home and city hall offices to deal with urgent business.

Tory declared an emergency in Toronto on March 23, following a provincial declaration, and first took action on April 2 using his powers under city rules (to enact) the social distancing by-laws. Those rules required him to report to council within 30 days of those actions the justification for using that authority, which was on Thursdays agenda.

The same city rules only give the mayor emergency powers for 30 days unless council decides to extend them.

More details here from the Stars Jennifer Pagilaro.

5 p.m. In Ontario, there are 17,469 cases of COVID-19, up 402 or 2.4 per cent up, which is the lowest yet. There are 1,176 dead, up 44.

2:27 p.m.: Manitoba is reporting two new COVID-19 cases, bringing the provincial total to 275. With 220 people recovered, the number of active cases in the province has dropped to 49.

Health officials say almost all personal care homes are ready for tomorrow, when new rules take effect limiting health-care workers to working at no more than one care home.

The province says six of its 127 care homes are still working to finalize their arrangements.

1:52 p.m.: For the 12th straight day, New Brunswick is reporting no new cases of COVID-19. The provinces chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, says of the total 118 cases so far, there are only four active cases and no one is in hospital.

Russell cautions there will be new cases in New Brunswick, but health officials are now more prepared for the next wave. She says provincial officials will be meeting with the business community to discuss a recovery plan.

1:30 p.m.: Parliaments budget watchdog says that its likely the federal deficit for the year will hit $252.1 billion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and could go even higher if emergency measures remain in place longer than planned.

The figure is an estimate based on the almost $146 billion in spending measures the government has announced to help cushion the economic blow from the pandemic, estimated declines in the countrys gross domestic product, and the price of oil remaining well below previous expectations.

1:30 p.m.: Quebec Premier Francois Legault says the province should expect the COVID-19 deaths in the provinces care homes to continue over the next days and weeks as seriously-ill people succumb to the illness.

There were 98 new deaths since yesterday, for a total of 1,859, and Legault said 92 occurred in care homes. There were also 944 new cases for a new total of 27,538.

Legault said there are concerning situations at three hospitals in the Montreal area, as well as the north-end neighbourhood of Montreal-Nord.

1:25 p.m.: Many Ontario businesses will be forced to install plexiglass barriers, revamp HVAC systems, provide hand sanitizer, and maintain physical distancing when they finally are allowed to reopen.

The Ministry of Labour is adding 58 inspectors to deal with COVID-19 workplace safety issues, and has now created sector-specific safety guidelines.

1:25 p.m.: Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos says nearly 500 members of the Canadian military have now been deployed to 13 long-term care homes in Quebec. That includes medical technicians, nurses and support staff to aide the facilities.

He said there will be more deployed soon to at least seven additional care homes in the province and the tasks that they are doing will depend on the needs of each individual facility.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier said military members are also on site at five long-term care homes in Ontario.

1:18 p.m.: Premier Doug Ford says its ridiculous that the City of Ottawa is stopping families from visiting loved ones at their windows in nursing homes over fears of speading COVID-19. Go visit your loved ones. Go to the window.

The four municipal homes administrators told families to stop coming to their grounds in letters sent out this week, saying there had been incidents of outdoor visitors not observing distancing rules.

1:15 p.m.: Ford says garden centres will be allowed to open soon. Good news is coming very, very shortly, he says. Its good for mental health. People get outside. Stay tuned.

1:15 p.m.: Newfoundland and Labrador announced no new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday as officials unveiled the provinces reopening plan, with some measures set to lift on May 11.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, chief medical officer of health, says the province has reached a turning point in its fight against the virus, with 30 active cases in the province.

If indicators remain the same, the province will move to the next alert level in May, allowing some low-risk activities like golf or hunting to resume, and some businesses like law firms and garden centres to open.

After at least 28 days at level four, more businesses and activities will be permitted to resume at each alert level, while some measures related to care facilities and self-isolation for returning travellers will remain in place for the long term.

12:55 p.m.: Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to address reporters at his daily 1 p.m. meeting. A livestream of his news conference will be available at thestar.com

12:50 p.m.: Prince Edward Island is reporting no new cases of COVID-19 today, with the provincial total remaining at 27, and 24 of the cases considered recovered.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says there were only six positive cases during the month of April.

She says despite the low numbers, it is still not the time for non-essential travel to the province.

Morrison says the province will allow temporary foreign workers on P.E.I and measures are in place to ensure they are healthy.

12:35 p.m.: Canadas chief public health officer says things have been a little flat this week on the COVID-19 epidemic curve, and acknowledges it is making everyone excited about when we are going to be able to get out of our houses.

Dr. Theresa Tam cautions that there are still significant challenges in some settings, including long-term care homes.

11:44 a.m.: Nova Scotia is reporting 12 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 947 confirmed cases. The province has recorded 28 deaths related to COVID-19.

Ten people are currently in hospital, and three of those are in intensive care. The provinces top public health official, Dr. Robert Strang, is urging Nova Scotians to stay the course.

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, the health units were reporting a total of 17,122 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, now claiming 1,139 lives.

11:30 a.m. (updated): Ontarios regional health units have reported another 80 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours as the day-over-day trend in new cases of the disease continues to slow down, according to the Stars latest count.

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, the health units were reporting a total of 17,122 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, now claiming 1,139 lives.

Most of those deaths were reported in Toronto, which announced its largest single-day increase in fatal cases  42  Wednesday afternoon.

The number of reported deaths in Ontario spiked to a new daily high Wednesday evening, but it is not clear what role reporting delays may have played in the jump.

Data on outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes has for several days shown that the death toll reported into the provinces central reporting system, the Integrated Public Health Information System, iPHIS, is not yet including hundreds of deaths that have already happened.

For example, as of Thursday morning, data from iPHIS counted 530 deaths in an Ontario long-term care home. Meanwhile, more current numbers from the Ministry of Long-Term Care listed 835 dead in these facilities.

The health units typically report a death only after first entering detailed case information into iPHIS, meaning several days can pass between when a death is reported to the Ministry of Long-Term Care and when it is added to the health units official outbreak tallies.

Earlier this week, Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos medical officer of health, said the work required to confirm COVID-19 in each case may cause reporting delays.

Meanwhile, with 467 new cases reported since the same time Tuesday, the province saw another day of relatively few new cases  an increase of just 2.8 per cent, up only slightly from the lowest single-day jump by percentage in the Stars count, recorded Tuesday.

Earlier Thursday, the province also reported 999 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, a number that has grown day-by-day this week. The province also says more than 10,000 patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus have now recovered from the disease  more than half the total infected.

Because many health units and publish case data before reporting to the province through a central reporting system, the Stars count is more current than the data the province puts out each morning.

The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of total deaths  996  may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date.

The Stars count, includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test.

11:25 a.m.: Ontario is reporting that 52 people are now dead at the Orchard Villa long-term-care home in Pickering, the provinces worst outbreak. The 233-bed facility is one of the five long-term-care homes where Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been sent to help remaining staff.

11:15 a.m.: Canadas airports are predicting around $2 billion in lost revenues this year. Travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a precipitous decline in demand for plane tickets and, by extension, airport services.

The bottom line, according to the industry, is anticipated losses of between $1.8 billion and $2.2 billion this year. Airports have resorted to terminal closures and layoffs, and at least six regional airports have lost scheduled passenger service altogether.

10:50 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to address reporters at his daily 11 a.m. briefing. A livestream of his news conference will be available at thestar.com

10:24 a.m.: Nunavut says it has its first case of COVID-19.

In a news release, the territorys chief public health officer, Dr. Michael Patterson, says the case was detected in the community of Pond Inlet.

The person is said to be in isolation and is doing well. Patterson says the territorys rapid response team is on the way to the community to help manage the situation.

Nunavut is the last Canadian jurisdiction to report a COVID-19 case.

Pond Inlet is located on the northern part of Baffin Island and has a population of about 1,600.

10:15 a.m. (updated with meeting started): For the first time in the history of Toronto city hall, council is meeting virtually on Thursday starting at 10 a.m. During the pandemic, council is meeting for the first time since March 6 to discuss urgent business, largely related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Follow along here with the Stars Jennifer Pagilaro.

10 a.m.: Toronto has shut the St. Lawrence antique market over COVID-19. Now the citys own rental policy may put the market out of business. Read the story from the Stars Francine Kopun.

9 a.m.: Mandatory face masks in some public settings could be part of Torontos COVID-19 recovery plan, Mayor John Tory said Thursday.

Tory made the comments on CP24 in response to a viewer question about some stores making face coverings mandatory to help prevent COVID-19 infections.

The mayor said mandatory face coverings in certain settings are being discussed by city and public health officials but no decision has been made.

Changing advice on how much cloth and other non-medical masks worn by people in everyday life limits COVID-19 spread has been a controversial facet of the pandemic.

Full story from the Stars David Rider.

8:45 a.m.: Can your pets get COVID-19? With the news of two pet cats catching the coronavirus from their owners in New York City last week, public health authorities have revised their advice on what people who are sick with COVID-19 should do with their pets.

Listen to the Stars This Matters podcast as reporter Raju Mudhar speaks with Scott Weese, an expert on infectious diseases in animals.

8:20 a.m.: The reported U.S. death toll on Wednesday crept past 60,000, a figure that President Donald Trump in recent weeks had suggested might be the total death count. He had cited the estimate as a sign of relative success after the White House previously warned the U.S. could suffer 100,000 to 240,000 deaths.

Trump also has repeatedly used the outer band of any estimate  the potential that 2.2 million Americans could have died had there been no interventions  to try to make his case most powerfully.

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 is certain to keep growing from here.

Read the full Associated Press story.

8:15 a.m.: Airbnb is extending its support program for front-line health workers to the Toronto region, partnering with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), to provide free housing to its members during the COVID-19 crisis.

Airbnbs San Francisco-based CEO Brian Chesky has committed $500,000 (U.S.) of his own money to pay for rentals in Toronto homes.

Read the story from the Stars Tess Kalinowski.

7:02 a.m. Most McDonalds restaurants in the U.S. and China are now open for drive-thru and delivery, but global lockdown orders still took a bite out of the companys first quarter sales.

McDonalds said Thursday its sales fell six per cent to $4.71 billion in the January-March period. Declines have persisted in April.

Approximately 75 per cent of the fast food giants 39,000 stores globally are open. In China, where 25 per cent of stores were closed in February, nearly all have reopened; 99 per cent of U.S. stores are open as well, offering limited menus and takeout food. But stores remain closed in some key markets like France, the United Kingdom and Italy.

McDonalds started the year strong. Through February, its same-store sales  or sales at stores open at least a year  were up 7.2 per cent worldwide and 8.1 per cent in the U.S. But sales tumbled in March as global lockdowns took hold. McDonalds ended the quarter with same-store sales down 3.4 per cent.

7:02 a.m. The European economy suffered a record drop amid the pandemic, shrinking by a record 3.8 per cent in the first quarter as business activity from hotels and restaurants to construction and manufacturing was frozen by shutdowns aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

The drop in the 19-country eurozone was the biggest since statistics began in 1995 and sharper than the plunge in the midst of the global financial crisis in the first quarter of 2009 after the bankruptcy of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The drop compares to a 4.8 per cent contraction in the U.S. during the first quarter as the shock from the outbreak hits economies around the world.

Unemployment rose only slightly, however, even amid the massive shutdowns that idled everything from florists to factories. The jobless figure rose to 7.4 per cent in March from 7.3 per cent in February, statistics agency Eurostat said Thursday. Millions of workers are being supported by temporary short-hours programs under which governments pay most of their salaries in return for companies agreeing not to lay people off.

6:45 a.m.: The British government has acknowledged that it may miss its self-imposed goal of conducting 100,000 tests for coronavirus a day by the end of Thursday. But officials insist the U.K. is rapidly expanding the countrys testing capacity as it prepares to gradually ease a nationwide lockdown.

The government has been criticized for failing to catch most cases of COVID-19 and now says wide-scale testing will be key to controlling the virus and lifting restrictions on business and daily life that were imposed more than a month ago.

5:30 a.m.: Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all California beaches and state parks closed Friday after tens of thousands of people flocked to the seashore last weekend during a heat wave despite his stay-at-home order, according to a memo sent Wednesday evening to police chiefs around the state.

Newsom this week targeted beachgoers in Orange and Ventura counties, calling them an example of what not to do if the state wants to continue its progress fighting the coronavirus. While many beaches and trails throughout the state have been closed for weeks, others have remained open with warnings for visitors to practice social distancing and more have reopened.

In Newport Beach, some 80,000 visitors hit the beach over the weekend, although lifeguards said most people exercised social distancing.

5:23 a.m.: China reported no new deaths from coronavirus and four new cases, all brought from outside the country. China has been testing and quarantining arrivals from abroad, who have accounted for many of its recent cases.

The National Health Commission said 619 people remain hospitalized with COVID-19. China has reported 4,633 deaths from the virus among 82,862 cases.

5:15 a.m.: South Korea reported four more cases of coronavirus infection in its first daily increase below five in about two months. The Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the countrys totals were now 10,765 cases with 247 deaths.

5 a.m.: The Australian Capital Territory has become the first of the countrys eight states and mainland territories to declare itself free of all known cases of the coronavirus.

Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said the territory surrounding the capital city Canberra was free of any recorded infection on Thursday for the first time in seven weeks after the last patient recovered.

There have been 106 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canberra and three patients have died. ACT has a population of only 420,000, the second-smallest of Australias states and territories, and its infection rate per head of population ranks in the middle of the field.

4 a.m.: Canadians will get an update today on two of the costliest emergency aid programs the federal government has initiated to help them weather the COVID-19 crisis.

The parliamentary budget officer is scheduled to post a costing note on the 75 per cent wage subsidy  a program the government expects to cost $73 billion and which it has called the largest economic policy in Canada since the Second World War.

Yves Giroux is also expected to post a costing note on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which is providing $2,000 a month for four months to Canadians forced out of work due to the pandemic.

The government has estimated the cost of that program at $35 billion, but has expanded the eligibility criteria several times to add those initially left out, including workers earning up to $1,000 per month, seasonal workers and those who have exhausted their regular employment insurance benefits.

4 a.m.: There are 51,596 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada:

Quebec: 26,594 confirmed (including 1,761 deaths, 6,048 resolved)

Ontario: 15,728 confirmed (including 996 deaths, 9,612 resolved)

Alberta: 5,165 confirmed (including 87 deaths, 1,953 resolved)

British Columbia: 2,087 confirmed (including 109 deaths, 1,305 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 935 confirmed (including 28 deaths, 529 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 383 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 291 resolved)

Manitoba: 262 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 209 resolved), 10 presumptive

Newfoundland and Labrador: 258 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 225 resolved)

New Brunswick: 118 confirmed (including 114 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 27 confirmed (including 24 resolved)

Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

Yukon: 11 confirmed (including 8 resolved)

Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)

Nunavut: No confirmed cases

Total: 51,596 (10 presumptive, 51,586 confirmed including 2,996 deaths, 20,336 resolved)

Wednesday 10 p.m.: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says hes confident in his governments plan to relax some restrictions around COVID-19 starting next month, despite two outbreaks of the illness and another death.

Despite these two isolated outbreaks, were confident that, by and large, Saskatchewan is doing very well, Moe told a press conference.

This is very different than if we had an increasing of 10 to 17 (cases) and then maybe continue going across the province and we were unaware of exactly where those sources were.

The province also reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its total number of cases to 383; 291 people having recovered.

Wednesday 9:35 p.m.: Mississauga city council has voted to allow mosques in the city to broadcast calls to prayer during Ramadan.

Council unanimously passed a motion Wednesday to temporarily relax city noise bylaws for the calls, which alert Muslims its time for prayer, up to the end of Ramadan on May 24.

Because the calls to prayer are broadcast on loudspeakers, they would normally violate city noise bylaw.

During the exemption, Mississauga mosques and other non-residential buildings regularly used for worship can send out only one call to prayer in the evening, according to the motion moved by Coun. Pat Saito.

The motion also said that calls cant be longer than five minutes or encourage people to physically gather, which would be a violation of COVID-19 emergency closures.

Click here to read more of Wednesdays coverage.
BRASILIA, April 30 (Reuters) - Brazil's unemployment rate could double due to the coronavirus crisis, privatization secretary Salim Mattar said on Thursday, adding that the outlook will only become clearer around July and August.

"We already had a high unemployment rate in Brazil. It may increase between 50% to 100% of what it was before," Mattar said in a live online event hosted by Credit Suisse. Earlier on Thursday, official figures showed that unemployment rose to 12.2% in the three months to March from 11.6%. (Reporting by Marcela Ayres Writing by Jamie McGeever Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Zoom's choice of Oracle as a cloud vendor was a surprise when the news landed Tuesday morning. But a day later, the pick made a lot more sense, after Google and Microsoft showed signs of moving more aggressively into Zoom's sweet spot.

Google, which is third in public cloud infrastructure market share in the U.S., behind Amazon and Microsoft, said on Wednesday that it's giving away its Meet video chat product for free starting in May. Zoom shares dropped 6.5% after the announcement.

And later on Wednesday, Microsoft said in its earnings report that its Teams collaboration suite, which includes video, now has 75 million daily active users, up from over 44 million last month. The spike in usage helped lift Microsoft's revenue in the quarter by 15%, despite a slowdown in licenses from smaller businesses and lower ad spend on LinkedIn.

The top video chat providers are all seeing a surge in demand with so many people working from home and uncertain about when they'll leave because of the Covid-19 crisis. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella began his earnings call by talking about the new "world of remote everything" and Microsoft's role in help powering it.

While Zoom is singularly focused on video, Microsoft and Google are massive tech conglomerates with the ability to lose money in certain areas  like video  if it means picking up market share. Zoom would rather not fund its rivals' cloud businesses, which have been growing rapidly as large enterprises move away from traditional data centers.

That's where Oracle comes into play.

Oracle has been touting its cloud infrastructure in recent years, though it remains in the category of "somewhat niche players," according to Synergy Research Group, and rarely wins a marquee deal in the cloud market. So it was unexpected on Tuesday to see a press release from Oracle, saying that Zoom had chosen its cloud "for its advantages in performance, scalability, reliability and superior cloud security."
If presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden were forced to live by the standards he wants to set for college students accused of sexual misconduct, he would already have been presumed guilty, have been denied a genuine opportunity to refute the charges leveled against him by Tara Reade, and had his life ruined.

While Biden has hundreds of pundits and an entire constellation of Democratic Partyaffiliated groups defending him, accused 18- and 19-year olds have no such recourse under Bidens preferred set of guidelines. As conservatives keep hammering the partisan double standards in the medias coverage of sexual-assault accusations  a wholly legitimate grievance  they should not forget that Biden has long championed stripping the due-process rights of college students accused of sexual misconduct.

In 2011, the Obama DOJs Dear Colleague letter directed institutions of higher learning to adjudicate sexual-assault and misconduct cases under Title IX not by a clear and convincing evidence standard, but by a preponderance of evidence. The letter also strongly discouraged cross-examination of alleged victims  one of the fundamental methods of determining truth  because it may be traumatic or intimidating to the alleged victim. After Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos proposed new rules to reinstate some semblance of impartiality in the process, Biden, and a number of other Democrats, engaged in a smear campaign against her.

The former vice president never actually spelled out his specific criticisms of DeVoss proposal. In a sycophantic 2017 Teen Vogue interview, in which Biden offered a number of rambling platitudes regarding sexual assault, he argued that DeVos is incentivizing assaults by proposing that colleges live by the traditional criteria of fairness. Let me tell you, he said, it bothers me most if Secretary DeVos is going to really dumb down Title IX enforcement. The real message, the real frightening message youre going to send out is, our culture says its OK.

Story continues

Arguing that unprejudiced hearings (and Im still not sure why these cases arent adjudicated in civil and criminal court) are a tacit approval of rape is repulsive. Even worse: We now know Biden believes that allegations against him should be evaluated using the precise principles that he would deny others.

Under the Obama administrations directives, an accused college student was often denied the ability to question his accuser, denied the right to review the allegations and evidence in an ensuing investigation, denied the right to present exculpatory evidence, and denied the right to call witnesses. Oftentimes a single investigator, with minimal training, would be deputized to be judge and jury. Bidens personal expectations are dramatically different. Indeed, he refuses to even open his own senatorial papers  which might contain evidence related to Reades accusations  or to allow the public to see them.

Biden is lucky that, in this case, media outlets chose to act in a professional manner, reporting and offering context to Reades allegations. Brett Kavanaugh was not so fortunate. Back then, journalists relayed every salacious, uncorroborated, and risible allegation thrown at them, leaving the Supreme Court nominee to prove his own innocence. The former vice president expects college students to live under the Kavanaugh standard while he enjoys his own.

Now, obviously Biden is to be judged by voters, not by a court or institutional tribunal. Reade hasnt filed criminal charges. But guess what? Most students arent under criminal investigation either, and yet their collegiate careers and reputations can be forever ruined by the prejudiced process that was forced on colleges by Biden. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education estimates that half of unfair-treatment lawsuits completed since 2013 have ended in the favor of the accused.

Every allegation of sexual assault should be taken seriously. But, as Ive argued elsewhere, due process isnt the opposite of justice, it is the prerequisite to it. Biden, whose campaign argues that he is falsely accused, should finally comprehend the importance of traditional tenets of justice. And no, not just for himself.

More from National Review
On April 30, pro-Kremlin militants opened fire in Donbas four times. They used 82 and 120 mm mortars, the use of which is forbidden by Minsk agreements. The press office of Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that on Thursday evening.

In Donetsk region, Russian mercenaries attacked Pavlopol and Pisky. They opened fire from heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, IFV armament and 82 mm mortars.

In Luhansk region, the enemy fired mortars, anti-tank missile launchers, mounted automatic grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms.

None of Ukrainian fighters were wounded or killed in action over the last 24 hours. No new cases of infection with coronavirus were reported during the period.

The number of residents of the occupied Donbas who could get Russian citizenship in 2020 could exceed 300,000. Volodymyr Kravchenko, the Commanding Officer of the Joint Forces Operation said so in an interview with Ukrinform news agency.

"One of the most destabilizing factors both in our country and the Joint Forces Operation area is the actions of Russian government in terms of provision of Russian citizenship to residents of separate areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. According to the official data of migration services, 136,000 residents of the temporarily occupied areas received Russian citizenship in 2019. Granted the activity level of residents of these quasi-states remains on the same rate, and the Russian migrations services expand their opportunities in 2020, the said figure may exceed 300,000 people", Kravchenko said.
The initiative will include screening of ten plays performed by Egyptian troupes and educative discussions around them and the playwright

The Egyptian Ministry of Culture will launch a new series on its YouTube channel called Laugh, Think, Know, according to a promo released on Thursday, which will involve the screening of ten plays inspired by short stories penned by famed Russian playwright and writer Anton Chekhov.

The theatre companies participating in the initiative include the Mowagha (Confrontation) troupe headed by Sameh Bassiouny and the national theatre troupe headed by Ehab Fahmy, who is also supervisor of the initiative.

The plays in the line-up will be directed by Hisham Awaat, Tamer Karam, Islam Imam, Mazen El-Gharabawy, and Sameh Bassiouny, among others.

The Laugh, Think, Know uploads are part of Stay at Home: Culture Between Your Hands, an initiative launched by the culture ministry to bring theatre, concerts and other cultural events to audiences at home given the current shutdown of theatres, cinemas and concert halls due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dozens of videos have been uploaded so far as part of the initiative, which began in March.



For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Los Angeles, April 30 : WE champion-turned-Hollywood star John Cena has paid a tribute to late Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor on social media.

Cena's tribute was a photograph of a smiling Rishi Kapoor. He did not caption it but fans have left comments on it.

One wrote: "Legend posting about legend." Another wrote: "Legend never dies #RipRishiKapoor." This is not the first time that Cena has posted a picture of a Bollywood celebrity. During "Bigg Boss 13", he had taken to Instagram to post a picture of season contestant, model Asim Riaz.

Back then, too, Cena did not caption the picture.

Prior to that, he had shared a special video message for Shilpa Shetty Kundra's son and later dedicated a post on his Instagram for the actress.
Biden Names 4 People to Oversee Search for Running Mate

Former Vice President Joe Biden has chosen four people to help him select a running mate, his campaign said on April 30.

Biden, 77, is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and Cynthia Hogan, Bidens former counsel, will lead the selection process.

These four co-chairs reflect the strength and diversity of our party, and will provide tremendous insight and expertise to what will be a rigorous selection and vetting process, Jen OMalley Dillon, Bidens campaign manager, said in a statement.

Biden has said he wants a woman younger than him as a running mate but hasnt committed to any other requirements, leaving the door open to a wide range of possibilities.

Former rivals Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have been mentioned as in the running, along with failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Biden said last week he would pick former First Lady Michelle Obama as his running mate in a heartbeat.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) speaks during a campaign rally at the Altria Theatre in Richmond, Va., on Feb. 29, 2020. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech in Lansing, Mich., on April 13, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP, Pool)

Garcetti, Rochester, Dodd, and Hogan will consult with Democratic Party leaders, Bidens campaign said.

Teams involved in vetting potential candidates for Bidens running mate will be in the loop as well. Former White House counsel Bob Bauer, former Homeland Security adviser Lisa Monaco, and Dana Remus, the Biden campaigns general counsel, will lead that network.

Biden told a virtual fundraiser earlier in April that hed put together a committee to look for running-mate candidates. The committee would be looking at someone to be a partner in the progress and who is simpatico, who is someone who, in the case of the vice president, ready to be president at a moments notice, he said.

Sexual assault allegations against Biden from Tara Reade, who worked for him while he was a U.S. senator in 1992 and 1993, complicate taking the position if offered.

While Biden hasnt been asked directly about the allegationsthe campaign hasnt responded to multiple requests from The Epoch Times for commentsome of his potential running mates have.

Klobuchar told NPR that all women in these cases have the right to be heard and have their claims thoroughly reviewed.

She directed people to a story from The New York Times about the matter, which was revised at the behest of Bidens campaign, before praising Biden as a leader on domestic abuse and a champion of abuses of power against women.

The New York Times article originally stated, The Times found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Biden, beyond the hugs, kisses, and touching that women previously said made them uncomfortable.

Abrams in a statement to The Huffington Post also cited The New York Times article before adding, Nothing in the Times review or any other later reports suggests anything other than what I already know about Joe Biden: That he will make women proud as the next President of the United States.
Responding to the brutal damage dealt to the nation's food supply networks by the coronavirus pandemic, Kroger (NYSE:KR) announced today that it plans to donate 200,000 gallons of milk to food banks through August. The grocery and drugstore chain is working with its dairy cooperative partners to get surplus milk, which would otherwise end up being poured out, to people who need it.

The move comes at a time when pork plants are reopening with skeleton crews to euthanize and bury tens of thousands of pigs daily, up to 15% of berry crops may end up thrown away, and 2 million chickens will be "depopulated" and disposed of in Maryland and Delaware alone as COVID-19 disrupts food processing and distribution. Even with everything from Oregon onions being buried in ditches to up to $1 billion worth of beer potentially ending up flushed down the drain, food producers typically lack the funding to process the surplus and move it to food banks.

Dubbing its initiative the Dairy Rescue Program, Kroger will work with its dairy suppliers in both the Midwest and the American South to pasteurize, process, and bottle milk that would otherwise go to waste. The milk will be placed in half-gallon and gallon jugs and delivered to Feeding America food banks, plus other local community organizations. Kroger expects to donate 50,000 gallons per month in May, June, July, and August as part of the program.

The "rescued milk" will receive logistical transportation aid from Kroger in some areas, too. Kroger VP of manufacturing Erin Sharp noted, "Kroger recognizes the growing need for fresh, highly nutritious food in our community, especially for children as schools remain closed."
After the president on Friday authorized another $320 billion in forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, which included $30 billion just for the nation's smallest lenders, banks began dispatching new loans Monday. By Tuesday, banks with $10 billion or less in assets had already hit that $30 billion marker--but they're eager to keep processing more loans.

That should be welcome news to business owners whose applications may have stalled at the country's larger banks.

"We've been using [the PPP] as a business development tool to pick up new relationships," says Justin Goldman, a commercial lender at the Bank of Greene County based in Catskill, New York. He noted that many of the bank's current PPP borrowers were first turned away by larger lenders.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, the agency in charge of the program, has faced towering criticism over its handling of the PPP. Not only was the first tranche wracked by chaos in the days following its launch, investigations into the program showed that more than 200 public companies accessed the program--collecting hundreds of millions in funding that was supposed to be reserved for small businesses.

Setting aside $30 billion in funds specifically for smaller lenders was based on the idea that they have closer relationships with local businesses and therefore are more likely to extend them loans. In a nod to improving smaller lenders' access to PPP loans, the SBA even set aside an exclusive eight-hour window Wednesday, between 4 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. EDT, to accept applications from financial institutions with asset sizes of less than $1 billion.

The most recent numbers suggest smaller lenders are, indeed, stepping up to make more loans this time around, but it's not entirely due to the new PPP provision. Not only have smaller lenders been more eager to lend in Round 2, they're also simply better prepared this time, says Jim Gallagher, CEO of Lucro Commercial Solutions, a credit union service provider that works with 100 credit union clients, mostly on the East Coast.

"I think everyone got their act together between the first and second rounds," he says, noting that the lack of guidance from the SBA early on in Round 1 caused confusion and delays. "We're much better prepared in terms of processes and procedures this time."

In Round 1, 27 percent of loans clocked in at $5 million or more. And a single lender--JPMorgan Chase--approved more than $14 billion in loans at an average loan size of $515,304. The average loan size overall during Round 1 was $207,000.

As of Wednesday evening, institutions with $10 billion or less had approved 587,000 loans valued at $43 billion. Larger lenders had approved 167,000 loans equating to $25 billion. The average loan size was $111,000 as of Tuesday.

And though smaller lenders have already hit the $30 billion marker of funds set aside for them, they're still processing loans. Plus, the latest stimulus deal also carved out $30 billion specifically for institutions with between $50 billion and $10 billion in assets. So there's still room to apply at a variety of lenders--not just the bank you've traditionally used.

Here are three things to consider before applying at a small lender:

1. Ask around

While it's true that banks across the country have been working diligently to understand the PPP and help business clients better access the program, not all banks are putting forth the same effort. When the PPP was first announced, Goldman says the Bank of Greene County quickly switched gears to focus mainly on the program. It reassigned branch staff, pulled people from different departments, and shifted hours depending on program needs. For instance, when the SBA system was down on Monday, staffers took files home and worked well into the night to get applications through once the system began working.

The best way to know if a bank is willing to go above and beyond is to ask around, says Goldman. "Talk to people. Find friends who've had success with it and ask where they got it," he says, adding that ultimately you need to be proactive. "Banging your head against Wells Fargo's door won't do anything."

2. Act fast

Regardless of the size of your lender, don't delay. PPP loans are offered on a first-come-first-served basis--and some estimates have the program running out of money within the week. As of Wednesday, the program had already authorized 960,000 loans worth more than $90 billion.

3. Act decisively
Woodside Petroleum has been hit with a record-breaking investor push to slash emissions and link executive pay to achieving bold new targets, as Australia's oil and gas industry emerges as the next front for shareholder pressure on climate change.

More than 50 per cent of investors backed motions on Thursday for Woodside to commit to hard targets to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and its vastly greater "indirect" emissions  known as Scope 3 emissions  from customers of its products such as power plants around the world.

Australian oil and gas giants Woodside and Santos have come under mounting investor pressure on climate change.

A similar revolt rocked Australia's second-largest oil and gas producer, Santos, last week when 43 per cent of investors voted in support of the same demands.

The climate motions, prepared by ethical investment group the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), called for Woodside to set emissions targets in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming well below 2 degrees. It also called for details of how the company's remuneration policy incentivised progress against these targets, and how Woodside's looming investments in dramatically expanding gas output in the coming years were aligned with the Paris goals.
The world is facing a crisis the likes of which has not been seen for generations. Businesses across the economy are grappling with extraordinary pressures brought about by stay-at-home orders and other government responses to coronavirus pandemic.

While every sector of the economy is impacted, it is particularly true for the oil and natural gas sector. The WTI crude oil benchmark recently hit negative prices for the first time in its history. We are a long way beyond business as usual and may be facing a wave of bankruptcies and consolidations before normalcy returns to the industry.

In addition to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 crisis, the oil and gas industry is under increasing pressure to meet corporate social responsibility requirements of asset managers like Blackrock.

Last month, BlackRock announced it would penalize companies that fail to meet its expanding disclosure requirements for a raft of social and political issues at shareholder meetings, irrespective of the difficulties firms are facing from the global pandemic and economic shutdowns.

Blackrock, the worlds largest asset management firm, has steadily ratcheted up pressure on companies to meet social responsibility goals, requiring them to divert resources from their core operations to address activists policy demands.

Continually changing the disclosure requirements that corporations must achieve may provide Blackrocks asset managers an opportunity to charge new fees, but it increases uncertainty and costs for business leaders at a time when many are just trying to maintain their workforce and supply chains.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has recognized the extraordinary strain companies are under given the pandemic. Commissioner Allison Lee recently noted that the SEC should proceed with great caution in considering whether to take regulatory action outside of that called for by the current dire and pressing public health crisis.

Blackrock CEO Larry Fink acknowledged this point as well in his most recent letter to shareholders, noting that the outbreak has impacted financial markets with a swiftness and ferocity normally seen only in a classic financial crisis.

In fact, BlackRock has benefitted from the crisis. The firm was awarded the prize job of managing the Feds bond-buying program.

In addition to a boost in share price, Blackrocks contract with the Fed may provide an opportunity for it to offload junk-rated exchange-traded funds to the Fed. The agreement has been criticized by a number of activist groups, including ESG Transparency Initiative, Greenpeace USA, and Public Citizen  all of which have argued that resilience to climate shock must be part of the Feds response to COVID-19.

The response is indicative of the pressure BlackRock finds itself under from progressive activists. Could this be why it is also suddenly requiring higher disclosure accounting during a crisis? Putting the screws to the oil and gas sector  an industry critical to national security  comes across as profoundly tone-deaf and self-serving.

The oil and gas sector supports roughly 10 million American jobs. That is nearly 6 percent of total U.S. employment at a time when unemployment is reaching levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis.

Some 4.4 million Americans filed initial unemployment claims in the week ending April 18, marking the fifth consecutive week over 3 million new claims, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The oil industry is especially vulnerable since it faces the double whammy of drastically reduced demand for oil due to the pandemic and an oversupplied market.

The U.S. rig count fell by 60 rigs for the third week in a row on April 24. There are now 526 fewer oil rigs actively drilling new wells than last year  a roughly 50 percent decrease. All those sidelined rigs mean their crews are at risk of being laid off as companies cut expenses and try to stay alive.

BlackRocks insistence that companies serve a social purpose beyond creating jobs, affordable energy and economic productivity is shockingly out of touch given the current situation. Millions of Americans are facing economic ruin as their jobs and the companies that created them disappear.

Oil companies are also retooling their facilities to produce medical supplies to help battle the pandemic, but these social benefits do not count because they do not affect Blackrocks bottom line.

Companies can either choose to give into BlackRocks demands or ignore them. Those that choose the latter will likely face negative recommendations on key resolutions from one of their largest shareholders at their next general meeting.

The alternative is even less palatable. Businesses that decide to dedicate their limited resources to meeting Blackrock's requirements could face an increased chance of failure.

Given the stakes, BlackRock should reconsider its position. A significant proportion of the energy sector faces bankruptcy at this moment. Demanding it to do any more than protect its employees and supply chain would be nothing short of predatory.
ALBANY  State corrections officials, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, said they will begin releasing incarcerated women who are pregnant or postpartum, if they have not committed a violent felony or sex offense and are within six months of release.

"The department will conduct an individualized review and re-entry plan for each eligible person to ensure suitable housing and health care for these expectant and current mothers, as well as their children," the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said in a statement.

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, a women's prison in Westchester County, has had 38 inmates test positive for COVID-19. One of those women died and 23 others have recovered.

The decision by DOCCS to release pregnant inmates came after 40 New York legislators signed a letter sent to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo this week urging him and top state corrections officials to improve conditions in prisons and release more inmates whose poor health may put them at risk if they contract COVID-19.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision on Thursday listed that 211 of its more than 41,100 inmates are currently positive for the infectious disease, and that there have been 10 fatalities. More than 1,000 of the department's 29,000 employees have tested positive, and two have died, the agency reported.

The figures from DOCCS place the rate of infection and deaths among inmates below the general population of New York.

But Dave George, associate director of Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, who helped organize the lawmakers' letter-writing effort, said there is not enough testing of inmates to present an accurate assessment and that the information they are receiving from inmates indicates it is a much more serious situation behind prison walls.

"Way more people have it than they are saying," George said, noting that prison infrastructure makes it difficult to quarantine and contain the spread of the virus. "We are really really scared  really nervous that that number jumps to hundreds, if not thousands. ... It's going to hurt a lot a lot of people if the governor doesnt act swiftly."

The letter's signatories include Assembly Majority Leader Crystal People-Stokes, Albany Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, Manhattan Sen. Brad Hoylman and Queens Sen. Jessica Ramos.

"Deplorable, unsanitary and inhumane conditions in our state correctional facilities guarantee that the spread of coronavirus will be rapid and lethal," the letter asserts. "Practices like frequent hand-washing, social distancing and self-quarantine are nearly impossible inside our prisons."

Cuomo has resisted calls for him to grant clemencies although he has been pressured by inmate advocates to consider using that power to release inmates at higher risk of complications from infection, including those who are elderly, pregnant or that have compromised immune systems.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

A 2017 state comptroller's report confirmed that New York's prison population, like other states, is aging rapidly. From 2007 through 2016, the inmate population fell 17 percent  11,000  but the number of inmates aged 50 or older rose 46 percent.

Inmate visitations were suspended in mid-March, when Cuomo's administration announced that inmates would be provided with five free postage stamps per week, two free secure messages via electronic tablets, and one free telephone call.

The letter signed by the lawmakers says that's not enough. They called on Cuomo to make coronavirus testing and medical treatment more readily available to all inmates, end solitary confinement, and to provide inmates unlimited access to phone calls, emails and mail, among other measures.

Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, D-Brooklyn, said New York should be doing "everything we can to protect New Yorkers - and that includes our most vulnerable in prison."

"It is difficult to think of any place more susceptible to the spread of COVID-19 than within our prisons where we know that social distancing can be particularly difficult," Lentol said. "These measures will go a long way to protect our vulnerable in addition to prison staff and their families."

DOCCS officials, in response to the pandemic, have taken steps to release parolees incarcerated on technical violations and granted early release to inmates age 55 and over who are within 90 days of release and do not pose a danger to the public.

"Hes been the national leader on the response to this virus," George said of Cuomo. "But he is doing far, far less than many other governors have done in other states."
An Indiana mechanic has been fired after management found out she was making amateur pornography.

Kirsten Vaughn, 24, was let go from the Don Ayres Honda dealership in Fort Wayne in mid-February, about a month after she created an account on the website OnlyFans and began posting explicit material.

OnlyFans allows users to share content behind a paywall, with 'fans' having to fork out for a paid subscription in order to gain access. The website has become popular for adult entertainers, who can easily earn money without going through a middleman.

Vaughn told BuzzFeed News Saturday that she was devastated to be let go from the dealership, stating: 'I was a phenomenal employee with a perfect record that never got in trouble.

'When I went to work and I was on the clock, I did my job and I was good at it. I was appropriate when I was at work. I wore my uniform. I did what I had to do.'

However, she did admit to sharing some explicit photos to her account while in uniform and inside the dealership's bathroom on her OnlyFans account. Vaughn told the publication 'she took pains to obscure any logos or identifying features'.

Kirsten Vaughn, 24, was let go from the Don Ayres Honda dealership in Fort Wayne in mid-February, about a month after she created an account on the website OnlyFans and began posting explicit material. She is pictured at left in her mechanic's uniform, and at right in more risque attire

Vaughn set up an OnlyFans account, where 'fans' can subscribe to her X-rated content for $15 per month

Vaughn says that she was sexually harassed by several of her co-workers at the dealership after they discovered her OnlyFans account.

'I had a coworker come up to me and... he was telling me how the salesmen were all huddled up in a group, and that he had come up to the group and they were on an OnlyFans page,' the mechanic told BuzzFeed.

'They literally would not shut up about my page. I begged them to not tell anybody, and they would laugh in my face and say, 'Ha ha ha, we're helping you make money. Shut up.'

Prior to being fired, Vaughn met with management, who questioned her about her explicit online account.

They allegedly discussed ' the harm Vaughn's OnlyFans account could do to the reputation of their business.'

In one recorded conversation, the dealership's HR manager said that Vaughn seemed to have create a situation which would encourage her coworkers to harass her.

'If there were coworkers over there who had access to your page, that might encourage them to approach you with unwanted sexual conduct or comments,' the manager is heard saying to Vaughn on the audio recording.

Vaughn was later terminated for 'violating company policy'.

Vaughn says that she was sexually harassed by several of her co-workers at the dealership after they discovered her OnlyFans account

Vaughn did admit to sharing some explicit photos to her account while in uniform and inside the dealership's bathroom on her OnlyFans account. In this tweet she writes that she 'got down at her dealership'

'To me it just does not make sense that they're so concerned about their image and they're so concerned about [my OnlyFans page], but they just let [other] things slide,' she said, referring to the workplace harassment to which she was allegedly subjected.

However, Vaughn is not the only Don Ayres Honda employee to appear in X-rated OnlyFans content.

One male worker allegedly appeared in a raunchy video uploaded to his girlfriend's OnlyFans page, and was not reprimanded.

Meanwhile, another female employee says she quit the dealership in February after she was harassed for uploading explicit content the website.

Vaughn says she does not regret creating an OnlyFans account, despite losing her job.

She says she is making more money from posting saucy content than she ever did as a mechanic. She wants to use the funds to open up her own dealership.

While Vaughn created her OnlyFans account prior to the coronavirus crisis, hundreds of out-of-work people have now also begun sharing their own explicit content on the site to make up for lost income.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle 60,000 of them new creators signed up during the month of March - although not all will be sharing X-rated images and videos. Others share music, art and their writing in exchange for money.

Vaughn says she is making more money from posting saucy content than she ever did as a mechanic. She wants to use the funds to open up her own dealership
GUATEMALA CITY - A planeload of 89 Guatemalan deportees that arrived Thursday all tested negative for the coronavirus before boarding their flight from Texas, Guatemalan officials said Thursday.

The major change in how the U.S. handles its deportation flights to Guatemala comes after two weeks in which Guatemala refused to accept more flights.

Guatemalas foreign ministry said Thursdays flight did not signify that flights had officially resumed and it did not know when there would be another one, perhaps suggesting it was a test.

Its under negotiation, the ministry said.

The government had suspended the flights after at least 44 deportees on an April 13 flight from Louisiana tested positive for the virus.

That had been the first day of resumed flights after a previous suspension that followed a March 26 flight on which the majority of the deportees also tested positive. President Alejandro Giammattei recently referred to it as that damned flight, showing his frustration with a topic that has become sensitive domestically as the countrys teetering health system tries to confront the virus spread.

In total, at least 100 Guatemalans deported from the U.S. between late March and mid-April have tested positive for the virus. The April 13 flight of infected deportees so unnerved Guatemalas government that the U.S. sent a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Guatemala to verify the tests.

Since at least March, the government had been asking its U.S. counterparts to certify the health of deportees before putting them on flights. Until now, that had meant only checking their temperature or looking for other symptoms.

It appeared Guatemalas two-week suspension finally moved the U.S. government to test deportees.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed in response to questions from The Associated Press that it tested the Guatemalans before they boarded the flight to their homeland.

ICE said it plans to test all migrants before they are deported from the U.S., as well as all those in its custody, but doesnt yet have enough tests to do so. Its receiving about 2,000 a month from the Department of Health and Human Services, it said.

The agency said it will prioritize testing based on evolving operational considerations, without providing details.

As of Thursday, ICE had confirmed 490 virus cases among detainees since the outbreak began and has conducted 1,030 tests. ICE has nearly 30,000 people in immigration custody across the U.S.

The issue had become sensitive for Giammattei at home in Guatemala, where there was a growing fear and accounts of harassment of deportees because people feared they carried the virus.

Last week, Giammattei said in an interview that some countries were helping Guatemala with financial and medical resources to confront the virus while others have sent us infected deportees, but not a dime.

Last Friday, President Donald Trump called the presidents of Honduras and El Salvador to offer encouragement and medical equipment while praising their assistance in controlling immigration. Giammattei was notably not included among those calls.

To the United States it sounds bad that a little country wants to push its luck and blame them for deporting infected deportees, even though its true, said Renso Rosal a Guatemalan political analyst.
MEDFORD, Ore -- 35 days ago, Governor Kate Brown issued the stay-at-home order for Oregon. Businesses needed to decide if they would stay open or close during this order.

One business decided to expand during this pandemic; by opening a food truck. "We just needed to get back to business truthfully." said Shawna Williams. One of the owners of Truffle Pig Craft Kitchen. "It was really awkward time for us to get started with the food truck." said Skylar Golden. He is the other owner of Truffle Pig Craft Kitchen.

Golden and Williams are siblings. Their business has been known as a catering company. They bought a food trailer in February. They were planning on opening at some point this spring or summer, but that quickly turned to as soon as possible. "All of our business kind of fell through and so we kind of just had to throw it together as quickly as possible." said Golden. All of their catering plans for this summer are canceled. Fear drove them to make a successful open. "We think it's a great way to still be able to offer food, because we do have a food trailer. People can safely come up, get some food and take it home." said Williams.

Plus they parked their food truck in a great spot. It's in the parking lot of Fry Family Farm. "It's great,because people can get lunch, do some shopping and buy some plant starts." said Golden. "There's no door handles to open. I try to open everything, touch everything and sanitize in between." said Williams

Each week, local and organic products sway the menu. Some of the ingredients come from the Fry Family Farm.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 18:07 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd54c3b0 1 Business small-business,ultra-micro-enterprises,ultra-micro-business,Cooperative-SME-ministry,subsidy,relief-aid,COVID-19 Free

The governments plan to provide social assistance for ultra-micro enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic has been hindered by a lack of data, Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Minister Teten Masduki has said.

Teten said on Thursday that the government planned to provide direct cash assistance as pandemic relief for unbanked small enterprises, particularly those that had taken out loans from the Finance Ministrys ultra-micro financing (UMi) program.

Teten said small businesses, which employed nearly 97 percent of the countrys workforce, had suffered a 57 percent decline in sales since the outbreak unfolded.

We want to propose that such enterprises receive social assistance, Teten said in an online briefing. But we have had difficulties collecting detailed data on how many of them can be classified as the new poor, which would make them eligible for direct cash assistance.

Apart from the cash assistance, the government also plans to provide a loan interest subsidy for borrowers under the micro, small and medium enterprises category. The subsidies will cover a loan interest ranging from 2 to 6 percent for up to six months.

Through UMi, small businesses are currently eligible for a short-term loan at a maximum Rp 10 million (US$670.47) with an interest of between 2 and 4 percent.

Over 60 million small businesses, which make up more than half of the countrys economy, are suffering losses and shutting down operations because of the travel and social restrictions put in place to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus.

The Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry launched Thursday an online learning platform called edukukm.id to further help small businesses sell on-demand products during the crisis.

With a budget of less than Rp 400 million, the platform offers courses on various subjects such as the production of personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks, hand sanitizers and herbal drinks.

On e-commerce platform Bukalapak, demand for medical equipment such as masks, hand sanitizers and thermometers recently rose by 90 percent, said Teten, who formerly served as the presidential chief of staff.

This learning platform is for all small businesses and cooperatives in the country, the ministrys deputy of human resources development, Arif Rahman Hakin, said.
29 years ago, under the direct organization and coordination of the central authorities of the USSR and Azerbaijan, a large-scale operation Koltso (Ring) was carried out to deport the Armenian population of the borderline villages of Artsakh. This bloody operation ultimately transferred the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict to the military plane, initiating the subsequent full-scale aggression of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).

On April 30, 1991, the massive shelling of Getashen and Martunashen villages of the Shahumyan region launched the operation Koltso, in the course of which tanks, combat helicopters, and artillery were employed for the first time against the civilians. Azerbaijani special police units (OMON), with the support of internal troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Soviet Army, broke into Armenian villages formally supposedly for "checking the passport regime", but in fact for killing, robbery, terror against the Armenian population, followed by deportation.

As a result of the military-police actions, dozens of Armenian villages of Northern Artsakh, as well as the Shahumyan, Hadrut and Shushi regions were destroyed, about ten thousand people were deported, over 100 people were killed, and hundreds of people were taken hostage. The fate of many of them remains unknown so far.

The Azerbaijani authorities considered the operation Koltso as the beginning of the complete cleansing of Artsakh from the Armenian population. It became another manifestation of the policy of ethnic cleansing conducted by Azerbaijan in 1988-1991 in Sumgait, Baku and other settlements of the Azerbaijani SSR, as well as in the villages of Northern Artsakh.

The Armenian pogroms carried out by the Azerbaijani authorities in response to the demand of the people of Artsakh to exercise its inalienable right to self-determination and the subsequent military aggression against the Republic of Artsakh in 1991, which was repeated in April 2016, demonstrated that only the establishment and strengthening of an independent statehood can ensure the right of the people of Artsakh to live freely and safely in its homeland. The international communitys recognition of this reality and the international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh will become an additional deterrent against Azerbaijans desire to unleash a new war and will ensure peace and security in the entire region of the South Caucasus.
A state appeals court on Thursday upheld the life prison sentence imposed on a Glens Falls man who used a knife to kill a mother and daughter in their Glens Falls home in 2017.

The Appellate Division of state Supreme Court ruled that Warren County Judge John Hall correctly imposed a sentence of 44 years to life on Bryan Redden for his murder convictions, according to a Warren County news release.

Redden pleaded guilty to all of the charges that were filed against him, which included first-degree murder, second-degree murder and lesser counts, for the Aug. 11, 2017, knifepoint murders of Crystal Riley, 33, and her 4-year-old daughter, Lilly Frasier, in their South Street apartment.

He later appealed despite his guilty pleas.

Reddens court-appointed appellate counsel argued in his appeal that the sentence was illegal and harsh and excessive, claiming that he should not have received consecutive sentences.

But the five-judge Appellate Division panel sided with the Warren County District Attorneys Office in concluding that the disposition of the charges was legal and the sentence warranted, according to the news release.

Here, defendants statements during the plea colloquy clearly reflect that his murder of the mother and her child involved separate and distinct acts  even though such acts were part of the same criminal transaction, wrote Justice Sharon Aarons in the decision.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred in August 2017, during the course of which Redden, while visiting the victims home, killed Riley and her daughter with a knife.

As he spoke with the mother in the kitchen, defendant, who was coming down from being high on cocaine, got . . . some kind of way and snapped, whereupon he grabbed the mother, with whom he was casually acquainted, then strangled and used a knife to kill Riley, according to the appeal decision. The child, who defendant did not realize was at home, then poked her head around the corner of the kitchen, at which point defendant pursued the child, snatched her up, and then followed through with the killing in a similar way.

Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone, in the news release, states that his office hoped the ruling would bring some closure for the victims family while keeping the defendant in prison for at least 44 years.

I hope the courts decision brings some peace to the family who suffered unthinkable, heartbreaking loss, Carusone said. I commend law enforcement for quickly apprehending the defendant and solving these crimes. I also thank Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Nealon who prepared an excellent appellate brief, which clearly explained why the life sentences should stand.

Redden, 23, is serving his sentence in maximum-security Elmira Correctional Facility and is not eligible for consideration of release until August 2061.

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Last week, United States officials announced a decision that affects most international students and all Dreamers.

The term Dreamer means immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. They are permitted to stay under the governments Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.

President Donald Trumps administration decided to bar these students from getting emergency aid. The aid is part of a nearly $2 trillion government program. The U.S. Congress approved the money to help people and businesses hurt by the coronavirus crisis.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos put the restriction in new federal guidelines released last week. These rules tell colleges and universities how to give out more than $6 billion in aid grants. The money is supposed to help students pay for costs resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.



Earlier guidance from the Department of Education suggested schools would have fewer restrictions on how to give out the monies. But the new guidelines said that only students who can receive other federal student aid can get this assistance.

University officials and immigrant groups denounced the decision. They said DeVos is setting limits that were not included in the congressional legislation. The aid package did not identify which students can get the grants. And many colleges had planned to give the grants to needy students, whether or not they are U.S. citizens.

Because of the change, some highly respected universities are rejecting the federal money. Princeton University announced that it would refuse its $2.4 million share of the coronavirus aid package. Harvard University is rejecting its $8.7 million in aid.

The Education Department said its guidance is worded like other federal laws. It noted the Higher Education Act, a law that says only U.S. citizens and a small group of non-citizens can get federal student aid. Angela Morabito, a department representative, said the rescue legislation makes clear that this relief money should be targeted to U.S. citizens.

But some higher education activists disagree with that claim. The American Council on Education is an organization of college presidents. It says the rescue package placed no limits on student eligibility.

The guidelines have created misunderstandings about exactly which students can receive the grants, says Terry Hartle, one of the councils leaders. It is clear the Education Department is leaving out immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally and international students, he added. But it is unclear how schools should define eligibility. Most colleges do not ask students if they are U.S. citizens, he said, and officials have no easy way to find out. A college could give an emergency grant to a Dreamer without realizing the person is a Dreamer, Hartle said.

At the University of California, Riverside, officials had been planning to give grants to some of the schools estimated 600 Dreamers. Now, those officials are looking for other ways to help students blocked by the Education Department guidelines.

Student activists see DeVos action as a major change from her earlier guidance. When DeVos made the aid available in early April, she said colleges would be given the chance to decide how to award the grants. She told college officials to help the neediest students. And in documents that colleges sign to receive the grants, the Education Department says the money is not considered federal financial aid.

That earlier guidance led some schools to believe the grants were not subject to citizenship requirements.

Sara Goldrick-Rab is a professor of higher education policy and sociology at Temple University in Pennsylvania. She says the new restrictions are hard on students who were expecting the grants to pay for food, housing and other costs. It is also unfair to colleges that now must move quickly to amend plans for giving out the aid.

Losing access to the grants will likely force some students to leave school, Goldrick-Rab said. She noted this is especially true for students whose families are dealing with unemployment from the pandemic.

Critics say the policy is especially unjust because the students now blocked from receiving grants were counted in the math used to decide on money for schools. The rescue package provided $14 billion for the nations colleges and universities. Each was offered an amount based on its student population and the percentage of students from poorer backgrounds.

The United We Dream Network, which campaigns for Dreamers, said it was callous of DeVos to block so many students from getting the aid. Sanaa Abrar, the groups advocacy director, urged Congress and colleges to find other ways to help students affected by DeVos directive.

Im Alice Bryant.

The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

guideline - n. a rule or instruction that shows or tells how something should be done

pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area

grant - n. money that is given to someone by a government or organization to be used for a particular purpose

eligibility - n. the state of having the right to do or get something by meeting the appropriate conditions

access - n. a way of being able to use or get something

callous - adj. not feeling or showing any concern about the problems or suffering of other people
Legislation that would end child marriage in Pennsylvania is on its way to Gov. Tom Wolfs desk.

The governor previously indicated a willingness to sign this bill into law.

The measure, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously on Wednesday, sets the states minimum marrying age at 18.

Earlier in the day, it unanimously passed the Senate, which added a key provision extending the deadline for those needing an FBI background check to comply with the Child Protective Services Law.

Currently, state law allows those under 16 to marry if a judge thinks the marriage is in the couples best interest and they have parental or guardian consent. In the eyes of Unchained at Last, a national organization dedicated to ending child marriages, that means the states effective marriage age is zero.

As of 2014, an estimated 2,323 children age 15 to 17 living in Pennsylvania had already been married, according to that group.

The provision added by the Senate is of critical importance to those needing background check recertification or certification for their work with children, including teachers, or those desiring to become foster parents.

Due to the pandemic, those individuals requiring a FBI background check have encountered an obstacle in finding a place to take their fingerprints to submit for that check due to closures that occurred due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The legislation extended the deadline for performing that part of a persons background until Dec. 31.

Cathleen Palm, founder of the Center for Childrens Justice, said this legislation doesnt change the requirement for the other two parts of the mandated background checks  a child abuse clearance from the state Department of Human Services or a state police background check  since there is no interruption in either of those systems.

Along with this legislation to solve the fingerprinting problem, Palm said the Department of Human Services is working to expand the opportunities to get the fingerprints done and processed by using private providers.

Bottom line, none of any of where we are is ideal, but this is an important step that is very much driven by what is practical all the while working hard not to jeopardize child safety or protection, Palm said.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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People throughout the Arab Gulf are scaling back their celebrations of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Though some countries have eased the restrictions that have been in place for weeks to stop the spread of the coronavirus, people still miss the feel of Ramadan. Mosques are still closed to prayers, gatherings are not allowed, curfews are still in place even if shorter than they were, and many other activities associated with the fasting month are absent.

Nevertheless, major cities in the Arab Gulf countries have decorated the streets with Ramadan lights and symbols as usual, trying to give the impression that the current changes are temporary and Ramadan is being celebrated. Some businesses have started advertising Ramadan promotions and discounts, including grocery stores and car dealerships.

But people in the Gulf have had to give up many of their usual practices in the Holy month, and they anticipate that the end of fasting is unlikely to be the usual Eid. Despite guesses that things might change towards the end of May, it seems likely that many of the current restrictions will be part of a new normal, and going back to the same lifestyle as before the coronavirus pandemic is not likely for some time to come.

The first country in the Gulf to announce an easing of the lockdown measures was the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has reduced the time people have to stay at home during its National Sterilisation Programme. It has also allowed shopping malls to reopen, though only at 30 per cent of capacity and with visitors strictly adhering to social-distancing rules and wearing face masks.

Before Ramadan, the programme was in place between 8pm and 6am in the UAE, except for Dubai that extended it to 24 hours. Now, the programme is in place between 10 pm and 6 am throughout the UAE.

The UAE has been able to control the spread of the virus better than many other countries, and it has carried out the highest testing rate per head of population probably anywhere in the world, exceeding a million tests so far. It has also built the second-largest test-processing lab for Covid-19 in the world, with the largest being in China.

The response from the UAEs 10 million inhabitants to the guidance from the authorities during the pandemic has been highly positive, with fewer people flouting the rules than anywhere else in the region. However, the UAE cannot risk loosening the rules more than it has done, as this could lead to a spike of infections and deaths, wasting what has been achieved thus far in the pandemic.

The UAE has the financial means to support businesses that have been negatively affected by the lockdown, and the UAE government has provided the most generous economic support package in the region to both the public and private sector in the country.

Yet, although the streets of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are lighted with Ramadan lanterns and crescents, the usual buzz is lacking. There are no Ramadan tents where people gather for breakfast at sunset during the month. There are no majlis (seated gathering places) where prominent figures from state and society welcome citizens and residents to discuss throughout the night.

There is no tarawih, or communal prayer at the beginning of the night every night of the month. Cafes and restaurants that usually open all night during Ramadan and offer buffet meals for sohour, the pre-dawn meal in Ramadan, have all been closed. However, many hotels have started delivering buffet food to homes during the holy month.

Saudi Arabia has eased its restrictions for 20 days of Ramadan, except in the holy city of Mecca. Tarawih is allowed in a couple of mosques, but only with a very few people and then not broadcast live. Some businesses are allowed to open, but they have to follow strict rules. The same is true in the other Gulf countries, with stricter rules in countries like Oman and Kuwait.

People in the Gulf understand the seriousness of the situation, but they are hard pushed to celebrate Ramadan without the festivities associated with it. Family visits are strictly monitored  no more than five people in one place in the UAE  and exchanging cooked food is not allowed. House maids are not allowed to contact anybody outside the household.

The authorities are giving regular briefings on the situation through social media and other tools in order to assure the public that stocks of food and other consumables in demand in Ramadan are sufficient. Nobody has feared any shortages of basic necessities since the start of the crisis, however, even if there was a rush for face masks and sanitisers at the beginning of it.

In the UAE and Kuwait, there have been stepped-up inspection patrols to make sure that outlets selling food and medicines are not fleecing customers or exploiting present circumstances to market non-authentic products.

One other important feature that is absent in the Gulf this Ramadan is the tradition of family visits. Many Gulf families are spread out in more than one country, and Ramadan is traditionally a time to exchange visits, but that is almost impossible for the time being. The Ramadan umra, the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, especially in the last third of the holy month, is also an essential part of the holy month for Gulf citizens, but Mecca is under a strict lockdown and travel is not possible.

The traditional meals of Ramadan might still be being served in many Gulf homes, but the joy of big family gatherings and of families coming together for Iftar and Sohour whether at home or in a tent is missing. It is a price that needs to be paid in order to control the spread of the coronavirus, but it has come as a heavy blow to regional traditions and social habits.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 30 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under headline: The Gulf in Ramadan

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The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Wednesday said he has authorised the use of chloroquine as a medication for the treatment of COVID-19.

Mr Mohammed, who was the COVID-19 index case in the state, said he was treated with chloroquine and Zithromax.

The governor, who disclosed this while providing an update on COVID-19 in the state, at the Government House, Bauchi, said he would take responsibility for any consequences of approving such drugs.

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Our medical team is using their own ingenuity to use chloroquine and Zithromax to treat the patients, even though in some places, they said it is against the protocol, he said.

As the governor, Im taking responsibility for that because I dont want anyone to die.

Addressing the health officials directly, Mr Mohammed said, I have given you the directive that you must use something that I have used to get well, just as you have used for all other cases that got well.

Rather than saying that something is harmful, we should not follow what the white people are saying by not taking anything and die.

We are used to taking chloroquine in Nigeria. We are going to use them. We have taken responsibility and I have taken responsibility.

Zithromax and chloroquine are not harmful to our body, our physiological system has adapted to it. If you are having a fever you take chloroquine.

He said it was for the reason of using the said drugs that Bauchi has not recorded any death.

Nobody is affected with any serious distress in Bauchi, even though now we are going to be tested with the 23 cases.

Mr Mohammeds statement on chloroquine adds to the global debate on the appropriateness of recommending the drug.

While the drug has been found to be effective in some cases in treating COVID-19, the World Health Organisation and other experts have warned that it has not undergone essential clinical trials to be recommended for treating the disease; and may have detrimental side effects.

President Donald Trump of the U.S. was criticised last month for recommending the use of the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 in the U.S.

Lockdown not the best panacea

The Bauchi governor also rejected any total lockdown of the state.

Ruling out a total lockdown that involves curtailing of all movement and commercial activities, he said: community participation in the enforcement of social distancing works out best for the government and people of Bauchi.

We have noticed that total lockdown is not a solution and I still maintain that community consciousness, communal efforts, and professionalism of our health workers in terms of contact searching and testing are key to curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Yes, we dont have a lockdown for now, but I still believe when the need arises, we will do it.

Mr Mohammed announced that to help increase the searching and testing of persons suspected to have COVID-19 as well as reducing the delay in getting the tests done, Bauchi is putting the final touch to establishing its own laboratory.

Thats why in just ten days, we are establishing our own laboratory here in Bauchi so that every day, we will be able to test at least 1000 people, he said.

We will do that perspective of what the federal government has done for us. And we must thank the Northeast Development Commission, who have given us support. And, if we have another opportunity, we will establish another testing center in Azare because that axis shares borders with the high-risk areas of Jigawa, Borno, and Kano.

We must protect the Northern part of the country, while we have one here, we must have one there.

He said despite the challenges, his administration has done so much in providing facilities like isolation centers.

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We have a 100-bed-capacity at the ATBU teaching hospital, we have 20 beds in Bauchi Specialists hospital, we have 120 beds in Bayara General hospital isolation center, we have (an) 80 bedded isolation center at the Federal Medical Center in Azare; through our collaboration with Zenith Bank, we have made available another 100-bed isolation center in Toro, he said.

He said Bauchi has more than the required capacity to trace more people, admit and treat them.

He said the state currently has six ventilators to be used by COVID-19 patients in case something goes wrong.

But thank God nothing has gone wrong so far, he noted.

The governor explained that the recently confirmed 18 cases of persons who tested positive for COVID-19 has unfortunately raised the Bauchi case to 29.

Of this figure, six have been discharged and 23 are on admission with mild cases and no deaths.

The governor said all of the recent cases are contracted from outside Bauchi.

None of them has a link with the index cases in Bauchi, he said.

Calling on the residents to obey social distancing, the governor said, putting on facemask is better and safer than the use of ventilators because most people that go on ventilators normally go (die).

He said people should stay at home because the numbers are increasing by the day, and very soon the federal government will lift the lockdown and if we dont do the needful now, it would appear we have not succeeded.

He said the increase in the number of cases in Bauchi was as a result of the ongoing testing in the state.

Most of the new cases that we are now treating are those that are brought (it) from other states. (In) just two days, the numbers have increased from 14 to 29.
Dia Mirza joins nine women leaders across the world to support a global plan for social and economic recovery from the novel Coronavirus. As part of Rise for All, a global advocacy effort, Mirza will contribute to creating a sustainable planet. In this initiative, which aims at mobilising support for the UN road map to tackle the current Covid-19 pandemic, the actor-producer will work towards funding the UN Response and Recovery Trust Fund.

Talking about it, she says, My optimism, my belief in humanity and my faith in us during this shared experience is that we will overcome this pandemic. We will work towards building a more sustainable world by not just ensuring we adopt and follow through on the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, but also finding individual action and individual ways to become better citizens of our planet.

Joining Mirza in this advocacy effort convened by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed are a host of dignitaries such as  President of Ethiopia Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister of Norway and SDG Advocate Erna Solberg, SDG Advocate and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador of Pakistan Muniba Mazari, Executive Director of UNICEF Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Executive Director of UNFPA Natalia Kanem.

Mirza is eager to raise her voice to save lives and protect livelihoods, urging leaders in all countries, and across all sectors, to address the humanitarian crisis of the pandemic. Over the coming weeks, she adds, more women leaders from political, multilateral, and business sectors are expected to join Rise for All.
President Trump and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic is front and center in an upcoming congressional runoff vote that could be a template for fall elections in California and the rest of the country.

Last week, the president tweeted his endorsement of Republican businessman Mike Garcia, who is running against Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith in the May 12 election for a House district covering parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Garcia, the president tweeted, is Strong on Crime, the Border, and Second Amendment. Mike has my complete and total endorsement!

Within hours, Smith was back with a tweet of her own that included a minute-long video juxtaposing Trumps early comments downplaying the risk of the coronavirus and Garcia talking about his support for the president.

Her Trump attack hasnt slowed since. Smith of Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County) charged in a digital ad released Wednesday that Trumps record on the coronavirus crisis amounted to delay, dishonesty, failure. And Mike Garcia attacks anyone who doesnt agree with Trump.

The focus on Trump was an easy call, said Kunal Atit, a spokesman for Smiths campaign.

The president is underwater among the electorate in our district, he said. And Mike Garcia has tied himself to the president during the campaign.

For GOP leaders, attacking Trump is a generic Democratic tactic designed to fire up the partys voters for an election to complete the term of Democrat Katie Hill, who resigned from the 25th Congressional District seat late last year.

Christy Smith values partisan politics above all else, and voters are sick and tired of it, said Torunn Sinclair, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. The president must be doing something right if even Gov. (Gavin) Newsom is singing his praises, referring to Newsoms recent expressions of gratitude for the coronavirus help California is getting from the federal government.

But there already are signs that in a state where the president is deeply unpopular, Democrats want to make Trump and his policies the No. 1 issue in the fall campaign.

In February, Trump made a visit to Bakersfield to talk about water policy. While making a speech to a cheering crowd of supporters, the president lavished praise on David Valadao, the Republican who is running to take back the seat he lost to Fresno Democratic Rep. TJ Cox in 2018.

Valadao is an incredible guy, Trump said. We really need him badly in Washington.

Cox has been raising money off that quote ever since.

Trump has personally admitted that he wants Valadao back badly and its no secret why, Cox said in a fundraising pitch last week. Before we unseated him, David Valadao voted with Trump 98% of the time.

In 2018, Democrats flipped half the 14 congressional seats held by California Republicans, including Valadaos. In all seven of those newly blue districts, Hillary Clinton had beaten Trump in the 2016 election, and the Democrats worked overtime to tie the GOP candidates to the president.

Its not going to be easy for Republicans who saw voters in GOP-leaning districts turn against Trump in the past two elections to persuade them to vote differently in 2020, said Fred Smoller, an associate professor of political science at Chapman University in Orange County, which is home to four of the seven swing congressional districts.

Being associated with Donald Trump is a killer right now, especially since concerns about the coronavirus are not going away, Smoller said. That will be the only issue in November.

Trumps unpopularity isnt just a California phenomenon. The RealClearPolitics national polling average shows 52% of voters disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president, with about 45% in favor. Last month, the campaign arm for Senate Republicans put out a memo, obtained by the Washington Post, suggesting that if candidates were challenged on the president and his policies, Dont defend Trump but instead change the subject.

The consultants quickly backed away from that suggestion after loud complaints from Trumps campaign team.

The presidents support still carries clout in some parts of California. After receiving Trumps endorsement, GOP Assemblyman Jay Obernolte of Big Bear (San Bernardino County) finished on top of a crowded March 3 primary to replace retiring Republican Rep. Paul Cook. Hell face Democrat Chris Bubser in November.

In the San Diego area, Republicans Darrell Issa and Carl DeMaio battled over who was the bigger Trump supporter in the primary for the seat left open by the resignation of GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter. Issa prevailed and will face Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar in the fall.

But in most of deep-blue California, Trump is likely to be an anchor this November, not a life jacket.

It is really hard to run as a Republican this year, Smoller said.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
ICEF Schools Extend Meal Service to Students

Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Public Schools now offer free meals to children seven-days-a-week.

ICEF, which operates seven campuses in South L.A. and Inglewood, already provided breakfast and lunch to youth during the week and on April 24, the service expanded to include Grab & Go meals distributed on Saturday and Sunday.

Our meal service has expanded significantly and we are now serving 100 times more meals than we did on our very first day, said ICEF CEO Parker Hudnut. ICEF will continue feeding our community throughout the pandemic.

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The meals can be picked up daily from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the ICEF Home Office, 3855 W. Slauson Ave., in Los Angeles. The meals are available to all young people, age 18-years-or-younger, regardless of the childs residential address or the school attended.

Hudnut, who noted that ICEF served nearly 6,000 meals last Friday, added that the team looks forward to continuing its commitment to supporting the community during these challenging times.

ICEF educates more than 2,500 students in grades TK through 12. The management organization, one of the first charter school operations in Los Angeles, has developed a statewide reputation for elevating the competitive achievement levels of African American students.

To learn more about the free meals or enrollment, visit icefps.org.
Help India!

By Yusuf Ansari, TwoCircles.net

For a few years, the country has been witnessing agencies and individuals come up with unique ways to malign the name of Muslims in popular media. Sadly, a huge chunk of mainstream national media is one of them. The usual plan of action starts by blaming Muslims for a particular incident, and then shaming them through social media, and finally when some try to counter the hatred, their speaking out against injustice is used to create anti-sentiments about their faith. The process has not only originated during Prime Minister Narendra Modis election but has also gained traction and positioned itself at the prime following the years of his re-election.

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Nearly every day we see a Muslim cleric on prime time debate of national media where the other panellist sharing the stage are usually a BJP leader, an RSS official, and either a VHP or Bajrang Dal activist. All the three are shown ganging up on the cleric and when he tries to counter, all the three opinion leaders somehow start calling him out for his rash behaviour on national television. By the end of the show, the Muslim has already been tagged as rash, ill tempered, bad mannered, uneducated, extremist and more. It seems as if TV channels have reserved two to three Muslim clerics that alternately attend these shows in different news channels and perhaps, they being the TRP material for these prime time debates, are used again and again to spew the venom.

In order to counter this biased and discriminatory practice of demonizing Muslims, the countrys minority communities must come together and fight for justice. Such a group of thought leaders have taken up a challenge and formed Indian Muslims For Progress and Reforms (IMPAR), a think tank that aims to present the true picture of Muslims. More 200 Muslim intellectuals and known faces have formed IMPAR, pledging to work together with other communities to celebrate the composite and secular culture of India.

Who are the think tank leaders?

These are experts in their respective fields who are not only looked up to within their communities but also across other sections. This group of individuals would perform the work of journalist and mediators who would rally authentic information and valued opinions from the community to news organizations. Some of these individuals are former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Rahman Khan; former Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi, former Union Minister, Tariq Anwar; Roshan Baig; Chairman of Islamic Culture Centre, Sirajuddin Qureshi; Brigadier Saeed Ahmed; Special Police Commissioner A A Khan; former CRPF ADG Aftab Khan; former bureaucrat Anis Ansari; Educationist P A Inamdar; S W Akhtar; M M Ansari and others among UGC members and former central government officials.

Among media persons are well known journalist Saeed Naqvi, Qamar Wahid Naqvi, Qamar Agha, Shahid Siddiqui, Yusuf Ansari, Seema Mustafa, Saba Naqvi, Sheeba Aslam Fahmi and others. Chairman for the think tank is Indian Chamber of Food and Agricultures Dr M J Khan. Dr Khan has been working in agriculture sector for 15 years and has worked for the Muslim community for long.

Who is behind the think tank?

Behind the think tank is Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture, Dr. MJ Khan. Khan has been working for the last fifteen years in the agricultural sector. Over the past nearly 15 years he has also been working on issues related to the Muslim community. He is known to be an expert in working collaboratively with multilingual and multicultural communities. Khan had started working as the point of contact between social organizations and political parties when he formed the Indian Minority Economic Development Agency (IMEDA), in 2015. His coordination is remarkable in the regional economic development of Muslim communities with the close alliance of non-governmental organizations. It was his dedication that led to the existence of IMPAR.

Muslim community in national media

In the recent rising atmosphere of anti-Muslim sentiments, most TV channels have been gaining viewership with a negative image of the Muslim community. Low education and due to limited access to resources, Muslims are unable to effectively counter this hate campaign. The think tank IMPAR, hence, aims to partner with organizations and help in nation building by adding modern education and common cultural values of the Muslim community to the mainstream. Besides the main council, IMPAR has several sub-groups. These different groups would contribute to internal reforms of the Muslim community by increasing their media participation. In this manner, their negative image on mainstream would also be dealt with.

Fake news on Muslims that lead to growing hatred for the community would be monitored by a subgroup at IMPAR, acting as a media watchdog. The group would report journalists and reporters that attribute false crimes to discredit Muslims and spread fabricated news on TV channels. Legal support, wherever required, would be taken to report such anchors, editors and owners so action can be taken against such misreporting. Simultaneously, FIRs would be filed and complaints would be lodged against news broadcasters who telecast fake news either on TV or social media. A demand for the cancellation of their air time would be reported to the Information Ministry for gross violation of journalistic etiquettes.

Internal reforms of the Muslim community

IMPAR cleanly believes that there is an urgent need of internal reforms for making positive changes in the Muslim society. The lack of proper education in most parts of the Muslim community, social and economic opportunities require immediate reforms. The IMEDA, in partnership with IMPAR is working on adding employment opportunities and primary education in the Muslim community. Its aim is equip the Muslim weaker sections by training for employment. IMPAR also emphasizes in adoption of balanced approaches on religious stances to focus on its secular and inclusive nature rather than isolating the Muslim youth from others.

TV channels requested for a better replacement of clerics

Over the past few days it has been observed that Muslim clerics are represented poorly in the media community. The media calls for its prime time debates only self-styled clerics, or those who lack proper information about the real issues plaguing the community. These clerics try to extend their assumptions and unreal ideas of the community on live telecasts, maligning the community in totality. To counter this, IMPAR aims to call well-known people on TV who can give concrete and effective discussions in media panel. For this, one body of the IMPAR would send out lists of known people in their respective fields from the Muslim community who can be called for debates and discussions on TV.

IMPAR is currently discussing its action plan through video conferencing owing to the lockdown. Two meetings were held in April and since then there have been more with other subgroups. The organization was working on busting fake news with parnr organizations. For now it is working to gather Muslims of social, economic and educational significance who are connected directly to the community and can use their expertise in interacting with media forum.
Georgia Toffolo took self-isolation to a glam new level on Wednesday evening as she pampered herself on lockdown with her puppy Monty.

The former Made In Chelsea starlet, 25, posted a snap to Instagram sat in her plush living room wearing a white robe, her hair wrapped up in a towel.

She added shades to the look and clasped a glass of chardonnay.

'It's been a long day!' Georgia Toffolo took self-isolation to a glam new level on Wednesday evening as she pampered herself on lockdown with her puppy Monty

The glam reality personality cradled Monty on her lap.

She captioned the snap: 'It's been a long day!'

Toff is isolating at home in Chelsea on her own, but reportedly flouted lockdown rules over the weekend to attend a dog's birthday party.

She joined her friend Jess Hydleman at her house in London, where two men were also in attendance, reports The Sun.

The party was for Jess' dog, where they took part in a Zoom call to celebrate - despite lockdown rules stating people should only leave their homes for exercise and essential trips for food or medication.

Essential travel? Toff reportedly flouted lockdown rules over the weekend to attend a dog's birthday party

This comes after Toff revealed that her grandfather has passed away after contracting coronavirus and that her grandmother caught the virus while visiting him in hospital.

The incriminating video - which was leaked to The Sun via a source supposedly involved in the Zoom call - featured Toff in a pink dress.

She is heard off-camera at one point asking, 'hows Squirrel is he okay?' and saying, 'well done Squirrel!' while everyone toasts the dog.

The source told The Sun: 'Toff left her home on Friday to visit Jess in London for her dogs party.

Flouting the rules? The former-Made In Chelsea star, 25, joined her friend Jess Hydleman at her house in London, where two men were also in attendance, reports The Sun

'Of all the reasons to breach lockdown rules, your friends poochs first birthday is hardly essential travel.

'It was so surprising to see Toff making such a blunder - especially after she has been so vocal during the pandemic.'

While one of the men is unknown, the other is the boyfriend of Toff's friend Jess, who is the ex-fiance of troubled former-Big Brother star Marco Pierre White Junior.

MailOnline has approached reps for comment.

Toff has not appeared to flout lockdown rules til now and has even done her bit to support the NHS by having a junior doctor, who works on the frontline battling COVID-19, live at her flat in Chelsea rent-free, for easy access to Westminster Hospital.

Tragic: This comes after Toff revealed that her grandfather has passed away after contracting coronavirus and that her grandmother caught the virus while visiting him in hospital

She said the frontline healthcare worker had helped her and her family deal with the death of her grandfather Umberto Toffolo, just two weeks ago.

Speaking on Kate Thornton's, White Wine Question time podcast she said: 'My grandfather passed away a couple of weeks ago...

'I'm sure my grandfather will be put down as a coronavirus death, and its awful but he did die of coronavirus we knew he did have it for 10 days before he did pass away but my grandfather has been very unwell for the past six months - nearly a year so.

'My grandmother actually caught it off him in hospital and I spoke to her yesterday and thank goodness she has turned a corner and she is good now.'

Toff's grandfather flew out to Australia in 2017 to surprise the star after she was crowned the winner of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

A helping hand: The star, 25, also currently has a junior doctor, who is working on a COVID-19 ward living rent-free in her flat, which is close to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

The reality TV star added: 'When [this all began], I thought that's not going to come near any of us lot. Not my family or my friends. I can't believe how many people close to me and friends of mine. It really doesn't discriminate.

'I spoke to my gran yesterday and she was having a glass of red wine so she is fine... Hopefully she has a bit of immunity now.'

Toff also discussed how she was letting a junior NHS doctor use her flat near to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital free of charge during the pandemic.

Proud: Toff's grandfather flew out to Australia in 2017 to surprise the star after she was crowned the winner of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here

She said: 'I basically saw that loads of people were getting moved, because if you put your name forward to work on a COVID-19 ward, you don't know where you're going to be allocated. I thought I would see if anyone needed accommodation...

'He [the doctor] been kicked out of his flat because his housemates didn't work to catch coronavirus off him. I don't know what you think about that, but for me it made me quite sad.

'I didn't like that so I just said why don't you move in and he's actually turned into quite a nice little friend.

Sad loss: Speaking on Kate Thornton's, White Wine Question time podcast she said: 'My grandfather passed away a couple of weeks ago'

'He was a source of comfort when my family were going through all that we have been with regards to the coronavirus because obviously we weren't allowed in the hospital...

'He doesn't need to be doing that [working on a coronavirus ward] what does it take to put your name forward for something like that... I'm pretty in awe of all of them to be honest.'

The doctor told Toff and her family that if they had any questions about the disease or how her grandfather was then they could just ask.

Host Kate Thornton, 47, said: 'You have opened up your first ever home, a home you have not lived in yourself to a man that is effectively a stranger... But right now anybody that carries an NHS badge is any friend of anyone.'
The aftermath of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund's decision to wind down six managed credit funds is being felt on the entire industry.

Franklin Templeton announced their decision late April 23 evening and as early as April 24 morning, investors big and small started redemptions across the spectrum.

According to daily assets under management (AUM) data uploaded on the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) website, mass redemptions in excess of Rs 22,054 crore have been seen in just the three working days since the FT announcement.

Of the Rs 22,054 crore of gross redemptions in the last three days, nearly half are from the category of credit risk funds followed by medium duration bond funds.

Also read: - Franklin Templeton crisis: When do investors get their money back?

It has to be understood that some of the AUM change could be on account of drop in valuations. A large drop in a scheme's NAV would suggest a change in valuation of some security. If NAV movement is marginal, then the drop in AUM would be on account of redemption pressure.

The credit risk category has come in for special punishment because of the nature of its investments.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandates that a minimum of 65 percent of AUM be invested in AA and below securities. AA and below securities are considered riskier as they carry a lower probability of being able to repay their borrowings.

Kirtan Shah, a financial advisor cautions that those who do not understand risk should be wary of investing in credit risk funds. He adds that on an average, credit risk funds carry bonds or papers with two-three years maturity and therefore investors should align their investment horizon to maturity of the underlying papers.

The credit risk category has consistently seen outflows for the last one year and experts feel this trend is likely to continue.

Many experts observe that this steep fall in AUM is partly a result of the panic that investors are feeling after witnessing the unprecedented and simultaneous shutting down of six funds by FT.

Some of the redemptions could also be regular month end selling normally seen via larger investors.

However, no two funds are created equal and even today, there are schemes and AMCs which follow prudent risk management policies and have consistently delivered superior risk adjusted returns.

It is upto the investor and their advisors to sift the good from the bad.

Source: CNBC-TV18
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor died at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday morning. The 67-year-old actor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 but returned to India a year later after he was announced free of cancer.

The news of Rishis tragic demise has shocked and saddened the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the actor a powerhouse of talent and wrote, Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.

Also read | Rishi Kapoor dies at 67, Live Updates: Actors funeral to take place in evening, Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt reach hospital

Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020

Watch | Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor dies, Am destroyed, says Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan, who worked with him in films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Kabhie Kabhie and most recently, 102 Not Out, tweeted, Hes GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed !

T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away ..

I am destroyed !  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 30, 2020

Akshay Kumar remembered the legend and wrote on Twitter, It seems like were in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, its heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family.

It seems like were in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, its heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family   Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 30, 2020

Aamir Khan mourned the loss of the amazing actor and wonderful human being. We have lost one of the greats today. An amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and 100% a child of Cinema. Thank you for all the joy you brought to our lives. Thank you for being the actor and human being that you were. You will be badly missed Rishiji. Love. a, he wrote.

We have lost one of the greats today. An amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and 100% a child of Cinema.

Thank you for all the joy you brought to our lives.

Thank you for being the actor and human being that you were.

You will be badly missed Rishiji.

Love.

a.  Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) April 30, 2020

Taapsee Pannu, who worked with Rishi in her Bollywood debut film Chashme Baddoor and Mulk, said that she could not put her emotions into words. Been trying to write something n I cant put my mind n hands in sync. More like the heart in between is just not able to comprehend this. That laugh, that sense of humour, the honesty and even the bully he was , will be missed. No one like you #RishiKapoor, she tweeted.

Been trying to write something n I cant put my mind n hands in sync. More like the heart in between is just not able to comprehend this. That laugh, that sense of humour, the honesty and even the bully he was , will be missed. No one like you #RishiKapoor  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) April 30, 2020

Priyanka Chopra shared a picture with Rishi and his wife Neetu Kapoor, taken while he was undergoing cancer treatment in New York. My heart is so heavy. This is the end of an era. #Rishisir your candid heart and immeasurable talent will never be encountered again. Such a privilege to have known you even a little bit. My condolences to Neetu maam, Ridhima, Ranbir and the rest of the family. Rest in peace Sir, she wrote.

My heart is so heavy. This is the end of an era. #Rishisir your candid heart and immeasurable talent will never be encountered again. Such a privilege to have known you even a little bit. My condolences to Neetu maam, Ridhima, Ranbir and the rest of the family. Rest in peace Sir. pic.twitter.com/TR6GVSN4m7  PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) April 30, 2020

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi wrote, #RishiKapoor A series of shocks.. Chintuji - bebaak, garamjosh aur zindadil. We grew up with his cinema and I was privileged that we worked on many films together - Hum Tum , Fanaa Delhi 6 . Will miss his warm hugs. Rest in Peace @chintskap.

#RishiKapoor A series of shocks..

Chintuji - bebaak, garamjosh aur zindadil. We grew up with his cinema and I was privileged that we worked on many films together - Hum Tum , Fanaa Delhi 6 . Will miss his warm hugs. Rest in Peace @chintskap  Prasoon Joshi (@prasoonjoshi_) April 30, 2020

Also read: Rishi Kapoor, Bollywoods original chocolate boy, dies at 67, Amitabh Bachchan says hes destroyed

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar called Rishi one of his most favourite actors and wrote, Shocked to hear about the tragic demise of the legendary versatile actor #RishiKapoor. Another great loss for the film industry. One of my most favourite actor. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti.

Shocked to hear about the tragic demise of the legendary versatile actor #RishiKapoor. Another great loss for the film industry. One of my most favourite actor. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti   Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) April 30, 2020

Genelia DSouza offered condolences to the family. I just remember meeting you a couple of months ago.. So so warm and one of the best evenings of my life with conversations straight from the heart .. Our Deepest condolences to Neetuji, RiddhimA, Ranbir and the entire Kapoor family.. Heartbroken #RipRishiji, she wrote.

I just remember meeting you a couple of months ago.. So so warm and one of the best evenings of my life with conversations straight from the heart .. Our Deepest condolences to Neetuji, RiddhimA, Ranbir and the entire Kapoor family.. Heartbroken #RipRishiji  Genelia Deshmukh (@geneliad) April 30, 2020

I've had the honour of working with Rishi ji. A larger than life person, so outspoken yet so warm. We have lost a brilliant actor today. Still can't believe it.. absolutely heartbroken. My prayers are with the family during this tough time. pic.twitter.com/gFNAXUoxFT  Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) April 30, 2020

Unspeakable grief. Another legend passes away! Blessed to have worked briefly with #RishiKapoor sir in Aurangzeb -a great actor, he was as engaging a ranconteur! An artist whose craft grew & sustained across generations! #RIP sir!

There cannot will not be another like you! pic.twitter.com/IOCcqWS35p  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) April 30, 2020

This cannot be true! Rishi sir was my favourite man,and favourite co-star ever! I still remember being nervous around him in Shuddh Desi Romance. He would put me at ease and treat me just like a friend! Will never forget every advice,every joke he told. #RIP #RishiKapoor pic.twitter.com/dfIi935I0v  Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) April 30, 2020

Absolutely shattered and heart broken to wake up to the news of the loss of RishiJi, one of the liveliest persons amongst us. The last time when I met him in NY, he was fighting the battle like a boss, with a smile on his face. This is utterly tragic and incomprehensible. RIP  Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) April 30, 2020

Cant believe it. Chintu ji @chintskap. (Mr.Rishi Kapoor) was always ready with a smile. We had mutual love and respect. Will miss my friend. My heartfelt condolence to the family.  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 30, 2020

Rishi is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Announcing Streaming Media East Connect

We can't meet in Boston as planned for Streaming Media East, so we're bringing the conference to you online June 2-5 with Streaming Media East Connect, a series of 10 webinars covering everything from encoding and latency to live streaming and a look at the challenges and opportunities our industry has faced in light of the coronavirus pandemic. We'll also be taking Streaming Media University online with deep-dive workshops May 26-29, and presenting a full day of content-delivery discussion with the Content Delivery Summit on June 1.

We know your time is more valuable than ever, and so we've selected some of the highlights from the original Streaming Media East program for Streaming Media East Connect, and added a couple of new panels based on current events:

AV1: A Reality Check

Latency Still Sucks (And What You Can Do About It)

Is Too Much Choice No Choice at All? What Consumers Want in the Era of Peak TV

OTT Workflow Integration Best Practices

The Inside Scoop: Talk Tech with Industry Leaders

Education Video Takes Center Stage

Live Streaming in a Changing World

Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Crisis

We've still got a few openings for panelists, so if you're interested in joining us as a speaker, contact me at erics@streamingmedia.com. These panels also have spots set aside for vendor participation; contact Joel Unickow at joel@streamingmedia.com for more information.

In addition to the above panels, we are including two presentations:

How to Fine-Tune Your Encoding with Objective Quality Metrics

How to Optimize Your Live Streaming Workflow

All of these sessions are free to attend. For more information, check out the full program; to register, click here.

The Content Delivery Summit is also free to attend. Chair Dom Robinson has put together what amounts to a day-long discussion that highlights every element of the content delivery ecosystem, from energy, submarine, and fiber interconnect to edge compute. You can find the full program here; scroll down to Monday, June 1 for the Content Delivery Summit agenda.

The Streaming Media University workshops are three-hour presentations from Jan Ozer, Robert Reinhardt, and Nadine Krefetz, and are $199 each:

Introduction to ABR Production and Delivery

Cloud Streaming Media Tools

Key Encoding Skills, Technologies, and Techniques

A Beginner's Guide to FFmpeg

FFmpeg Advanced: Working with Multiple Sources, Inputs, and Outputs

We hope you can join us online for some or all of these sessions, and we look forward to meeting again in person for Streaming Media West, which is set for October 5-7 in Huntington Beach, Calif. You can register risk-free until August 1.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

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New reporting from Reuters indicates that commerce megacorporation Amazon is monitoring the body temperatures of its warehouse workers using thermal cameras manufactured by a Chinese company known for cooperating with the Chinese governments persecution of the countrys Uyghur minority.

Amazon secured 1,500 thermal cameras from Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co Ltd. earlier this month. The devices are intended to identify workers with a fever in the massive corporations warehouses, under the guise of preventing coronavirus from spreading in the companys workplaces. However, the policy has been criticized as an invasive example of corporate privacy violation.

Dahua is formally sanctioned by the United States government for its complicity with authoritarian Chinese government policies towards the Uyghur minority. A listing from the Department of Commerce describes the company as implicated in Chinas campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups. Governmental entities are banned from purchasing equipment from Dahua, but private companies are free to purchase the global surveillance camera companys products.

The use of Dahuas cameras in Amazon warehouses also has national security implications. Nominally private Chinese companies are legally obligated to cooperate with the communist authoritarian nations intelligence services, meaning the cameras could provide confidential information to the Chinese government.

Amazon dismissed privacy concerns in a statement on the matter provided to Reuters. None of this equipment has network connectivity, and no personal identifiable information will be visible, collected, or stored.

As small businesses have struggled in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos have prospered. The ultrabillionaire has increased his net worth by a whopping $24 billion, easily regaining the distinction of being the worlds richest man.
To say that R V Smith knew the winding lanes, bylanes and little-known monuments of Delhi like the back of his hand, won't be an exaggeration.

The Agra-born octogenarian, who started his career as a journalist in mid-1950s, devoted his life later to chronicle the heritage facets of the city, and collect tales untold.

"He was able to relate broken domes, ruins, mausoleums to an era or period, and had an access to histories -- private and family -- of Anglo-Indians that most people didn't," city-based historian Sohail Hashmi told PTI.

Hashmi, who has been an avid reader of Smith's columns in The Hindu, said "he was in love with Delhi".

"He was not the 'pucca' Delhiwallah as he was born in Agra, but like poets Mir Taqi Mir and Ghalib, he too was in love with the city. Smith, like a tramp, had walked all streets, nooks and crannies of Delhi," he recalled.

Noted author and columnist and famed chronicler of Delhi, Ronald Vivian Smith, better known as R V Smith, and best known for his writings on Delhi, breathed his last at a hospital here on Thursday. He was 81.

In his book, 'The Delhi That No-one Knows', he described his experience of chronicling: "I did not refer to any nook, did not make notes from dusty volumes in old libraries - I just walked."



"Sometimes, I took buses- many a long after years ago, when as a bachelor and a young journalist in Delhi, finding out about old monuments was a passion," he wrote.

INTACH Delhi Chapter Convener and author of book on old Delhi and New Delhi, Swapna Liddle, also condoled his death.

"Smith's contribution to the history of Delhi is immense. He collected histories and memories not only from books but from people. Equally importantly, his beautiful storytelling style brought that history to life in his books and columns," she said.

Smith's love for Delhi was infectious and in many heritage walks he was invited as a special guest by organisers.

His last book was a collection of potpourri of myths, lores and historical tales, in and around Delhi, titled "Lingering Charm of Delhi".

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his grief over his death.

"RV Smith, the chronicler of our great city Delhi passed away this morning. His work kept alive the stories and memories of our city. It''s a huge loss especially for Delhiites. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. RIP," Kejriwal tweeted.

Born in 1938, Smith was suffering from age-related ailments for the past four months, his family said.

"It is very difficult to describe him. He of course was a walking encyclopedia on Delhi, be its history, culture, Anglo-Indian community and what not. Even when he was not in good health, he didn't stop writing. I would at times help him with typing out the articles but that was about it. He has been a big source of inspiration in my life," recounted his son Tony Smith.

Son of late journalist Thomas Smith, R V Smithalso worked as a journalist spanning over four decades.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) -ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (TSXV: ZEN) ("ZEN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an international collaboration with UK-based Graphene Composites Ltd (GC) to fight COVID-19 by developing a potential virucidal graphene-based composite ink that can be applied to fabrics including N95 face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for significantly increased protection. Once the development, testing, and confirmation of the graphene ink's virucidal ability have been completed, the ink will then be incorporated into fabrics used for PPE.

Francis Dube, CEO of ZEN commented, "We are pleased to be collaborating with GC and be on the forefront of a new innovative technology that could contribute to combating the deadly COVID-19 virus. The development of this potential COVID-19 virucidal graphene ink is coming at a crucial time to provide effective PPE supplies for the safety of frontline workers and hospital staff." Dr. Dube continued, "The current N95 masks trap the virus but don't kill it. Our testing will demonstrate if the graphene ink is an effective virucide which would kill the virus as this could make a big difference to people's safety. We have been very impressed by the Graphene Composites team and look forward to continued collaborations."

Sandy Chen, CEO of GC stated, "Combining the deep nanomaterials expertise of GC and ZEN with a truly collaborative approach has enabled us to do a year's worth of R&D in a matter of weeks. Quickly developing and deploying our virucidal/germicidal ink would make a significant difference in slowing the rate of infection - thus saving many lives."

Under the collaboration, ZEN has synthesized a silver nanoparticles functionalized graphene oxide ink at their lab in Guelph, Ontario that has been documented by previous researchers to kill earlier versions of coronavirus. Once testing is completed, the ZEN/GC graphene ink would then be incorporated into a fabric to be included into masks and filters designed by GC.

Efficacy testing of the silver-graphene oxide-based ink to kill the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) will be conducted at Western University's ImPaKT Facility Biosafety Level 3 lab in Ontario. In addition, the graphene ink will be tested to kill influenza A and B viruses at Biosafety Level 2 labs in the UK and US.

About ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd.

ZEN is an emerging graphene technology solutions company with a focus on the development of graphene-based nanomaterial products and applications. The unique Albany Graphite Project provides the company with a potential competitive advantage in the graphene market as independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada have independently demonstrated that ZEN's Albany PureTM Graphite is an ideal precursor material which easily converts (exfoliates) to graphene, using a variety of mechanical, chemical and electrochemical methods.

About Graphene Composites Ltd.

GC is an innovative nanomaterials technology company, driven by an ethos to create life-changing products. Using graphene and other nanomaterials, we produce a range of composites that are amongst the strongest, lightest, most resilient materials ever created. A leader in our field, we have the ability to combine science, connected applications and productization rapidly and efficiently.

For further information:

Dr. Francis Dube, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 (289) 821-2820

Email: drfdube@zengraphene.com

To find out more about ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd., please visit our website at www.ZENGraphene.com. A copy of this news release and all material documents in respect of the Company may be obtained on ZEN's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.ca.

Sandy Chen, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +44 7710 537631

Email: sandy.chen@graphenecomposites.com

To find out more about Graphene Composites Ltd, please visit our website www.graphenecomposites.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this news release contains statements concerning the acceptance of the engagement of Storyboard by the TSX Venture Exchange and the anticipated monthly fees payable to Storyboard. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although ZEN believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. ZEN disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55189
COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohios initial unemployment claims last week fell below six figures for the first time in six weeks, though claims since the coronavirus crisis began have now passed the 1 million mark.

For the week of April 19-25, 92,920 Ohioans filed initial unemployment claims, according to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services data released Thursday. Thats 16,445 fewer claims than were filed the previous week, according to the department.

In all, 1.06 million of Ohios 11.75 million residents have filed for unemployment since the coronavirus crisis led Gov. Mike DeWines administration to shut down non-essential businesses (including bars and restaurants) and issue a stay-at-home" order starting in mid-March.

By comparison, Ohio received 715,512 jobless claims during the past two years combined, according to the department.

The weekly record for initial unemployment claims was 272,188, filed the week ending March 28.

During the past six weeks, the state of Ohio says it has paid $1.45 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 481,000 people.

Nationwide, 3,839,000 people filed initial jobless claims, down 603,000 from the previous weeks revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Read more Ohio coronavirus coverage:

Jimmy Dimora among 837 Elkton inmates eligible for release, transfer due to coronavirus per federal judges order

Mike DeWines mask misstep: Capitol Letter

Coronavirus drains Ohio municipal treasuries; Mayors seek federal aid to avoid cuts

Traditional mass graduation ceremonies are still banned in Ohio this year, Gov. Mike DeWine says
For unknown reasons a number of local councils in northern Syria, that were supported by Turkey, have announced their dissolution writes Etihad Press.

A number of Turkish-backed local councils in northern Syria announced their dissolution, without clarifying their reasons for doing so.

The Violations Documentation Center in northern Syria reported that a number of local councils supported by Turkey announced their own dissolution, without clarifying the reasons. The decision initially included the al-Bab and Maraa local councils, and it is unknown whether other councils will also be included.

Since its military incursion into northern Syria, Turkey has sought to set up an administrative, security and military structure loyal to it.

These councils and committees have long been accused of corruption, cronyism and monopolization by a class that doesnt have experience, representation or popular support. This has not been a problem for Turkish authorities, which have remained loyal to them, and have appointed members and officials to these councils despite dozens of protests and demonstrations rejecting their administrative framework.

It is worth noting that Turkey arrested the police commander of Afrin on Apr. 15, 2020, without revealing the reasons for his arrest or where he is being held.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
In Japan, the Golden Week holidays started Wednesday even as the state of emergency due to the coronavirus required people to avoid going out. Train stations and airports, usually crowded with tourists and people heading back to their hometowns, were deserted and few people were visiting tourist spots.

According to Japan Railway companies, the occupancy rate for unreserved seats on Tokaido Shinkansen trains on Wednesday was 10% or less across the board. In contrast, during the same period last year, the rate on some trains reached 150%.

The occupancy rates for most of the Tohoku, Yamagata, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen trains were lower than 5%. There were several trains with occupancy rates of 0% at the time of departure.

Passengers were sparse on the Shinkansen platforms at JR Tokyo Station. Shops on the platforms had their shutters pulled down.

An 83-year-old man from Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, who was heading to Akita Prefecture for his brother's funeral, said anxiously: "I didn't want to come out, but I have no choice but to go to the funeral. I hope we get back to normal life as soon as possible."

The number of flights has also decreased sharply. As of April 22, the reservation rate during the holiday period stood at only 9.8% for All Nippon Airways domestic flights and 29.8% for its international flights, and 33.3% for Japan Airlines' domestic flights and 35% for its international flights. Last year, all these numbers exceeded 80%.

The number of cars on expressways has drastically decreased. According to the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, there had been no major traffic jams nationwide by 6 p.m. Wednesday. As expressway companies have asked restaurants and souvenir shops in service areas to suspend operations, more and more stores are closing or shortening their business hours.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the trail to Mt. Takao in Hachioji, Tokyo, which is popular among climbers, a notice was shown asking people to refrain from climbing during the holidays. Cable cars connecting the foot of the mountain and the summit are suspended.

Although there were fewer climbers than usual, some people were spotted enjoying hiking. A 42-year-old man who came with his two sons from Yokohama said, "Children who have been staying home constantly can't stand it anymore."

"Please refrain from climbing right now. When the coronavirus infections come to an end, we will treat you with maximum hospitality," the chairman of the local commercial association said.

Owakudani Enchi park, a tourist spot in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Wednesday extended its access restriction to the whole day. The prefectural road T-junction near the entrance to the parking lot was closed, and tourists were not seen in the usually bustling Owakudani valley.
The customers you miss, theyre the reasons we all do it. Thats why we do the 16-hour days, its not the pay, its the love of people and were all missing people.

For some restaurateurs, business was affected long before the government mandated closures. Owner and operator of Marsilios Kitchen in Ewing, NJ and Rossis Bar & Grill in Hamilton, NJ, Alan Meinster made the decision to close his restaurants on Saturday, March 14th; days before all New Jersey restaurants were ordered to shut their doors to patrons. We cant provide a safe atmosphere right now, said Meinster. The safest thing to do for our customers our staff, ourselves is to close. The owners of the decades-old restaurants now have a new challenge to face: how to continue serving their loyal customers when both businesses reopen.

The two landmark restaurants have been known as local hotspots in Mercer County for decades; Marsilios Kitchen serving customers for the past 35 years, and Rossis Bar & Grill, which he co-owns with Mike Rossi, first opened as a speakeasy in 1933. But in a post-Covid-19 world, Meinster is still unsure how his customers will adapt to a dining experience consisting of less elbow-to-elbow seating and more social distancing. Were not putting together a new concept yet, said Meinster. Because the restaurants have been around awhile, when the customers do come back, theyre going to need comfort. Some changes the proprietors are considering are reduced menu options and possibly reopening parts of the eateries up in phases. Until theres a vaccination, until everyone knows that this Covid-19 situation is behind us, its going to be a totally different environment, said Meinster. I dont know how this industry moves through the next six months.

While both restaurants remain closed, the restaurateurs are planning to offer carry-out services at both locations beginning sometime in May. In the meantime, to keep their customers engaged, the restaurants announced a pizza challenge launching Friday, May 1st. Customers will be able to purchase to-go DIY Tomato Pie Kits to assemble their own pizza creations and interact with other pizza-makers online. To help the community during this difficult time, they have also launched the program, Hospitality Works, partnering with Meals on Meals of Mercer County to prepare and deliver meals to those in need. Since inception, the organization has evolved to Medical Meals on Wheels delivering to local hospitals, and staff and family of medical professionals working on the frontlines. Well [deliver to] everyone thats working hard and in a really difficult situation, and well do it all with the donations of money and of people who are good Samaritans, said Meinster.

Although there is still not an anticipated reopening date for restaurants, Meinster hopes to be back serving his customers soon. The customers you miss, theyre the reasons we all do it, said Meinster. Thats why we do the 16-hour days, its not the pay, its the love of people and were all missing people.

To view the full video interview, visit Bielat Santore & Companys website at http://www.123bsc.com, Facebook page and stay tuned for the next Thursday Restaurant Rap interview.

About Bielat Santore & Company

Bielat Santore & Company is an established commercial real estate firm. The companys expertise lies chiefly within the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in the sale of restaurants and other food and beverage real estate businesses. Since 1978, the principals of Bielat Santore & Company, Barry Bielat and Richard Santore, have sold more restaurants and similar type properties in New Jersey than any other real estate company. Furthermore, the firm has secured in excess of $500,000,000 in financing to facilitate these transactions. Visit the companys website, http://www.123bsc.com for the latest in new listings, property searches, available land, market data, financing trends, RSS feeds, press releases and more.
Filmmaker and cinematographer Anil Mehta has expressed sorrow over the death of actor Irrfan Khan. Anil worked with Irrfan on his last film, Angrezi Medium, which released last month.

Speaking with SpotBoye, Anil revealed how Irrfan worked on the film despite being unwell. He used to go to the hospital and we used to hear all that. However, I never personally spoke to him about it. But yes, I did speak to his wife Sutapa and she explained to me about his struggle, he said. She told me about his chemotherapy and how because of the infection which he had developed, he had been put on antibiotics and consequently, they were unable to do some chemo sessions. So sad, he added.

Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018. He received treatment for it in London for almost a year and returned to India to shoot for Homi Adajanias Angrezi Medium. The team also shot for the film in London, where Irrfan was still getting treatment.

We finished shooting for the film in London and he stayed back for a while to get more treatment. He returned to India only after that treatment was over, Anil said and added that Irrfan also had a small role in his film Aaja Nachle which starred Madhuri Dixit in the lead.

Actor Irrfan Khan died at the age of 53 on Wednesday, after being admitted to Mumbais Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital where he was under observation for colon infection.

Also read: We abused your uninvited guests: Irrfan Khans Angrezi Medium director Homi Adajania pens emotional tribute

Irrfan, one of Indias finest and most versatile actors, is survived by his wife Sutapa and his sons Babil and Ayaan. The actor was buried at the Versova graveyard around 3 pm in the presence of his family and friends such as directors Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vishal Bhardwaj. The numbers were restricted in view of the nationwide lockdown.

The Maqbool actor had lost his mother, 95-year-old Saeeda Begum, in Jaipur just four days ago and could not attend the funeral because of the lockdown.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Improving customer experience emerges as top AI business benefit, while senior executives of both genders agree that companies do not provide the same AI reskilling opportunities to men and women

LONDON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- More than three-quarters (78%) of consumers worldwide say companies must address bias in artificial intelligence (AI) and new research from Genpact (NYSE: G), a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation, finds that they will reward businesses that take action. The study, now in its third year, underscores how AI continues to present opportunities for growth, but businesses still have work to do to address customers' concerns about bias and workers' concerns about equity in reskilling opportunities.

In times of uncertainty, providing good service isn't good enough. Empathising deeply with customer concerns is what will separate the winners from losers. Genpact's study, AI 360: Hold, fold, or double down?, shows that while 69% of UK consumers worry about AI discriminating against them, and 64% fear that AI will make decisions that affect them without their knowledge, companies that understand these issues and act accordingly can succeed.

Genpact's study analyses perceptions of three distinct audiences that are critical to AI's widespread adoption in business: senior executives, workers, and consumers. Taken together, this 360-degree view provides organisations with comprehensive and actionable insights that now have added relevance in considering business resilience today. The research offers views from 500 senior executives, and 4,000 workers and consumers in the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, and Australia.

Beating bias brings business

Going all in to address AI bias can increase opportunities to build customer relationships. Most UK consumers (63%) are more likely to recommend a company that can demonstrate its AI algorithms are bias-free, and more likely to purchase products or services from such businesses (63%). Gen Z (69%) and millennial (70%) respondents champion unbiased brands even more so, while in the UK millennials are 11% more likely than GenX and 21% more than Boomers to do so.

Reskilling still not enough; inequality in opportunities for men and women

Many workers see opportunities in AI, and 90% of UK workers are the most willing to learn new skills to take advantage of this technology. Yet for the third consecutive year, companies are not meeting the demand for reskilling that takes into account there being more AI in the workplace. Only about a third (31%) of UK senior executives say their companies offer AI-related reskilling opportunities, no improvement globally from 2018.

The good news is the current findings show that 61% of senior UK executives are talking about providing employees with training. However, globally, both male and female senior executives agree (77% and 75%, respectively) that companies in their industry generally do not provide equal opportunities to men and women for AI reskilling.

"Businesses are being challenged like they never have been before," said Tiger Tyagarajan, chief executive officer, Genpact. "In this unprecedented time, AI provides companies with a valuable tool to improve customer experience and mine data to engage with customers in a more personal, empathetic way. Our study suggests there is significant optimism shown by both consumers and employees if companies can demonstrate a responsible approach to AI. It is important that business leaders implement equitable training and fight AI bias."

AI benefits can drive personalised services

Some of the top benefits of AI according to senior UK executives are improving customer experience and service (44%), the ability to leverage data and analytics (37%), and freeing up time for employees to focus on more important tasks (34%). Customer experience tops the AI benefits list globally for the first time, compared to Genpact's similar studies in 2018 and 2017, signalling a new level of maturity in enterprise AI adoption.

These findings underscore AI's increasing value in achieving success in today's disruptive market, which require companies to commit more resources to creating the right customer experiences. The companies that emerge the strongest will have doubled down on AI to remain close to their customers, predicting and responding to their needs, and being empathetic in their actions.

AI reimagines businesses and helps build resilience

Almost a quarter (23%) of senior UK executives say their organisations are implementing AI extensively to fundamentally reimagine their businesses, and more than half (56%) of the AI leaders* globally are doing so. These findings may bode well for the future since challenges from the current business environment have underscored the importance of digital transformation. AI leaders may have the competitive edge since the technology plays a key role in building resilience that helps companies handle disruption and pivot according to market demands.

AI 360 also reveals AI investments have increased across industries globally, with 40% of UK senior executives reporting their organisations have invested $10 million or more in AI, a 6% increase compared to a similar Genpact study in 2018. When looking at investments of $20 million or more, 18% of respondents say their companies are investing at this level, which is a 15% uptick from the prior study.

As companies continue to confront current workplace disruption, senior executives may be questioning whether to pause AI activities, walk away, or keep going. Genpact's research shows that AI adoption is advancing rapidly and generating a positive impact for almost three quarters of respondents' organisations. In the coming months, it will be critical for businesses to double down, in the right places - with a longer-term, holistic outlook. They must embrace strategies that enable the greater transparency and a more ethical approach to business that societies are demanding, and the hyper-personalized experiences that customers expect. And AI unlocks opportunities to meet those goals.

For more information, including the full global report and infographics, see Genpact's AI 360: Hold, fold, or double down?

Methodology

In November 2019, Genpact worked with research firm Wakefield Research to survey senior executives, workers, and consumers. The executive survey included 500 C-level and SVP-level executives in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. Respondents are from multiple sectors, including banking, insurance, technology, life sciences, healthcare, consumer goods, retail, and industrial manufacturing. They work for companies with at least $1 billion in annual revenues ($50 billion in financial institutions).

*To help identify best practices, we asked senior executives to assess the impact of their AI initiatives. Sixteen percent of respondents reported very positive business outcomes. We call them the leaders because their actions give us insights into valuable best practices.

Over the same period Wakefield also executed a gender and age-balanced survey of 4,000 adults in the same countries of which 53 % work at least eight hours per week. These studies used online surveys with participation secured through email invitations. Genpact also conducted in-depth interviews with a wide range of experts to add insights to the survey findings.

This research complements similar Genpact studies conducted in 2018 and 2017 in association with Wakefield, YouGov, and Fortune Knowledge Group.

About Genpact

Genpact (NYSE: G) is a global professional services firm that makes business transformation real. We drive digital-led innovation and digitally-enabled intelligent operations for our clients, guided by our experience running thousands of processes primarily for Global Fortune 500 companies. We think with design, dream in digital, and solve problems with data and analytics. Combining our expertise in end-to-end operations and our AI-based platform, Genpact Cora, we focus on the details - all 90,000+ of us. From New York to New Delhi and more than 30 countries in between, we connect every dot, reimagine every process, and reinvent companies' ways of working. We know that reimagining each step from start to finish creates better business outcomes. Whatever it is, we'll be there with you - accelerating digital transformation to create bold, lasting results - because transformation happens here . Get to know us at Genpact.com and on LinkedIn , Twitter , YouTube , and Facebook .

MEDIA CONTACTS: Michael Schneider Genpact Media Relations - Global +1 217 260 5041 michael.schneider@genpact.com GingerMay PR Genpact@teamgingermay.com

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A photo taken by Pete Souza  the subject of an upcoming documentary  of President Barack Obama in 2016. (Pete Souza / White House Photo Office )

Dawn Porter has been sequestered at her home on Marthas Vineyard since mid-March. But even though she cant leave the small Massachusetts island, production on her next documentary has yet to cease.

Porter was about three-fourths of the way through filming her nonfiction film about Pete Souza, the former chief official White House photographer, when COVID-19 started to proliferate across the U.S. But the project remains set for theatrical release by Focus Features this fall, so the director decided to take an unconventional step to get her final interview with Souza: Have him shoot it himself.

After convening with her cinematographer, Porter decided to put together a gear package for Souza. She sent him a Blackmagic camera with lenses that look similar enough to the ones weve been using, so its not jarring, like an iPhone video. He already has a professional microphone and a tripod, and the director intends to have him set it all up so that he can self-film while she asks him questions over Zoom.

Its going to look different, but were trying to lean into that difference, contextualize it and make it part of the scene rather than make it something its not, Porter said from Marthas Vineyard, where there are currently 16 cases of the coronavirus. Its a little nerve-racking, but its also a little bit exciting. I think if it works, we will be able to get some surprising things, having his contemporaneous feelings instead of someone looking back on this time.

While there are still no clear answers on when and how production could resume on Hollywoods scripted movies, many documentary filmmakers have been able to continue working. Some, like Porter, have been able to forge ahead by equipping their subjects with the proper technology. Others have shifted gears, diving into research and archival footage until they can return to the field. And a scant few are still outside filming, working with tiny crews and risking consequences for breaking stay-at-home guidelines.

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Dawn Porter sent her subject Pete Souza a camera kit so he could self-film while she interviews him from afar. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Theres also demand for new films. Porter says shes received four calls from great places about whether or not shes able to prepare to start shooting a new documentary as soon as the national lockdown eases.

Generally, were trying to be optimistic that there will be a point where we can get back in the field, even if it looks different, said Courtney Sexton, senior vice president for CNN Films, which plans to air another of Porters documentaries  this one about U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the Georgia Democrat  after Magnolia handles the initial theatrical/on-demand release in July. Working from a camper van in her L.A. driveway, Sexton has been taking virtual pitch meetings with documentarians and said shes been surprised by how many people are still out there pitching.

So the discussions with potential partners are: If were gonna do this together, what does the production timeline look like if you're not able to shoot until the fall? she continued. Instead of five people going to shoot an interview, maybe there are two. Verite filmmaking is going to be harder  its probably the version of the form that is the hardest to speculate about how you would make it work. But using archive, or something thats more interview-driven  all of those things are being weighed.

Erin Lee Carr, who last year made two documentaries for HBO, said shes received more calls from production companies hoping to work with her in the last month than ever before. But just before she went into quarantine in a friends Connecticut home, she sold a documentary to a streaming outlet. Shes also in the process of pitching a three-part episodic docuseries on a famous criminal case  something shes done entirely via video conference. In both cases, Carr said, shes found that emphasizing the potential of archival footage has been a big selling point.

I think in a post-COVID environment, the amount of archive material that exists on a subject is going to be really significant, said the director, whose How to Fix a Drug Scandal series debuted on Netflix this month. I think documentaries become an escape hatch  well have this ready because its so much less expensive to make. Yes, I want to do original reporting  and I will  but I can build a lot without it.

Erin Lee Carr is pivoting to archive material to get her documentaries made during quarantine. (Ana Venegas / For The Times)

Betsy West and Julie Cohen, the directors behind 2018s hit Ruth Bader Ginsberg documentary, have also been fielding a slew of new work calls. Though theyre working on completing their next film about Julia Child  which Sony Pictures Classics recently acquired for worldwide release in 2021  theyre weighing how feasible launching a fresh project would be.

Often, we spend a year or longer gathering research and planning, so unless theres an urgent reason to get out there and shoot, you can get a lot of work done in the next six months or a year, said West.

From different parts of New York City  shes in Morningside Heights, Cohen is in Brooklyn  the filmmakers have continued to work remotely on the Child documentary. Each morning, they gather virtually with their team to discuss the edits that need to be accomplished that day. As the hours progress, editors will upload different segments for the directors to review and offer feedback on.

Five years ago, I dont know how possible this would have been, but between the conference call and video platforms, its doable remotely, said Cohen. Overall, documentary filmmaking is more flexible than narrative filmmaking. To get a narrative film within budget, everything has to be planned out to the minute. Were used to changing things up, and coronavirus is probably stretching that to the limit.

Julia Child is the subject of an upcoming documentary from "RBG" filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen. (File photo)

Porter is open to adapting too. While shes renting the camera equipment she sent to Souza, shes thought about ultimately purchasing the kit should the COVID-19 restrictions continue long into the future. Sadly, she said, it seems with things so uncertain, this wont be the only time to use it.

One change Carr is considering? More audio interviews. While her filmmaking partners urged her to send her interview subjects camera equipment  like Porter did  the director felt it would be too stress-inducing.

One network was like, We have to send a little bit of lighting, and I said, I dont know how you send lighting to someone in the midst of COVID and ask them to set it up. Because were at the center of the epidemic, I just want to do whats easiest. I think there will be room to do video later. And with audio, sometimes people forget youre there. I guess Im just trying to push myself as a filmmaker and react to this moment in time as gracefully as I can.

One filmmaker who has been reluctant to stay locked inside is Feras Fayyad, whose The Cave was nominated for an Oscar in February. Though he wasnt intending to start a new film mid-quarantine, his plans changed when he learned that a Syrian police officer whom he alleges nearly killed him was going on trial.

In March 2011  days after Syrians took to the street calling for President Bashar Assads ouster, Fayyad was arrested outside of his apartment. In prison, he was brutally tortured for 18 months  beaten, electrocuted and cut.

Attorney Khubaib-Ali and co-plaintiffs Feras Fayyad and Mohamad Alshaar answer journalists' questions outside the courtroom during a break in a trial against two Syrian defendants accused of state-sponsored torture in Syria, on April 23, 2020 in Koblenz, Germany. (AFP via Getty Images)

One of Fayyads supposed torturers sought asylum in Germany, where he is now on trial and stands accused of crimes against humanity. When Fayyad learned that the case was moving forward, he reached out to a German cinematographer and sound mixer about filming the court proceedings.

In Berlin, a ban on public gatherings of more than two people is still in place, and citizens are required to keep a five-foot distance from others. Face masks were recommended but not required, and nonessential shops and schools were preparing to open in May. Still, Fayyad and his two-man crew took to the streets, filming B-roll and interviews with lawyers working on the case.

Weve worked in other extreme, dangerous situations before, Fayyad said, referring to The Cave, which was filmed in an underground Syrian hospital besieged by bombs. We know its high-risk  especially traveling outside of Berlin and visiting people in their offices. But we believe we have to tell this story.

On the street, Fayyad admitted, passersby treated him like an alien. Their eyes were wide open and they were staring at us like we were doing something wrong or crossing the line," he said. But we didnt face a police situation. The police are stopping people now and writing up fines, but maybe because we had a camera they didnt.

Fayyad is currently self-financing the documentary and used his cinematographers car and camera equipment to save money. In Koblenz, the German city where the trial is taking place, they opted for three separate hotel rooms instead of an Airbnb in case one of them falls ill with the coronavirus.

I posted a picture of us filming on Instagram and you have no idea how many messages I got asking me what I was doing, said Fayyad, who has already testified as a witness. They say, Youre gonna die. I say: Ive survived more than this. Im not saying its not scary  its really scary. But Im excited about making this and I think I need to take the risk.
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period.

The OSCE SMM said this in a report issued on April 29, based on information from the monitoring teams received as of 19:30 on April 28, 2020.

"In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 65), compared with the previous reporting period (about 30 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at northerly and westerly directions of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk)," the report says.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 180), compared with the previous reporting period (nine explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in areas east and north-east of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), including 14 explosions of mortar rounds.

The SMM saw damage from shelling to residential buildings as well as recent craters near Novooleksandrivka, Luhansk region.

Members of the armed formations continued to deny the SMM passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The SMM continued to monitor and facilitate adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and construction of critical civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as demining activities.

The Mission saw that entry-exit checkpoints and checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The SMMs freedom of movement continued to be restricted in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

ish

.
It's quite difficult to build up within two months the healthcare system capacities that would effectively and efficiently cope with the challenges the pandemic is posing.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine is warning the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, aginst making decisions on rapid quarantine lift.

"Today we're also working on quarantine lifting plans, and I would like to urge everyone that as we talk about a quarantine lift we need to find a balance between anti-epidemic measures and the economy. We introduced quarantine on time. This is confirmed by the fatality rate, so it will be a shame to get out of quarantine faster than necessary. So please, when we vote for any quarantine easing initiatives, we need to take into account the epidemic developments and the impact of commercial activity on the possible spread of the coronavirus," Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko told a meeting of the Conciliation Council of faction leaders and chairmen of parliamentary committees, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoUkraine's Cabinet to consider new steps to ease quarantine restrictions for businesses

Separately, the official said that quarantine measures were giving results.

"Quarantine is working. No matter what, no matter what they say, quarantine is working. Today, 158 out of 2,133 intensive care beds are occupied, equipped with oxygen and mechanical ventilators. Today, our Ukrainian medics don't have to choose, whom to admit and treat, as was the case in some EU countries with developed healthcare systems," he said.

It's quite difficult to build up within two months the healthcare system capacities that would effectively and efficiently cope with the challenges the pandemic is posing, Liashko has concluded.
It may be one of the worst-hit countries in the world but the United States is increasingly keen to put the coronavirus in the rear view mirror and take steps to reignite economic activity.

As the country surpassed one million confirmed cases of COVID-19 earlier this week  and more deaths than it suffered in the Vietnam War  a number of states began to reopen amid intense debate around the country.

Last week, Georgias Republican governor Brian Kemp announced plans to allow gyms, tattoo parlours, hair and nail salons, massage therapists to reopen from Monday.

Restrictions have also been relaxed on restaurants and movie theatres with many mask-wearing workers returning to shops and hospitality venues.

Protestors in San Diego hold banners and chant against state government measures intended to defend against the COVID-19 virus. Source: Getty Images

A hair salon worker and a tattoo artist in Georgia go back to work as non essential businesses reopen in the. state. Source: Getty

The move by Georgia shocked many, even US president Donald Trump who is an ally of the governor and said he thought the states rollback is just too soon.

The announcement was made when less than one per cent of Georgias population had been tested. And among those being tested, 19 per cent were returning a positive reading for COVID-19.

Other string of other states including Oklahoma, which was among a handful of states not to issue formal stay-at-home order, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and Montana have also begun easing restrictions with a number of other states to follow in the coming days.

A server waits on a customer during the first day back to dine-in service in Atlanta, Georgia, this week. Source: Getty

The relaxing of restrictions comes after protesters hit the streets around the US  some armed with assault weapons  to protest lockdown measures.

A backlash against stay-at-home orders, egged on by conservative media pundits on Fox News and even US president Donald Trump, led to extraordinary scenes on the streets of America including a defiant healthcare worker who blocked a line of protesters in their cars.

Disease expert says US is playing Russian roulette

I think theyre playing Russian roulette, said Dr John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the University of California-Berkeley and infectious diseases expert.

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Theyre hoping obviously that reopening the states is not going to lead to increased cases. They have no way of monitoring the answer to that question until it explodes, he told USA Today on Wednesday.

If they reopen the state without adequate testing and without adequate contact tracing, there will be more cases, and they wont recognise those cases until they start appearing in the emergency room and then in the ICU.

Other health experts were also quick to express concern including Dr Dena Grayson a physician who unsuccessfully ran for the House of Representatives in Florida.

US states pushing to reopen should look at Germany, where an early attempt to ease its lockdown has led to an increase in COVID19 cases, she tweeted.

As debate raged in different states, opposing hashtags in the debate to reopen California began trending on Twitter on Wednesday  some authentic while others the likely handiwork of Twitter bots.

The debate has taken on a strong partisan flavour in the country.

Economic worries push states to risky approach

Professor Don DeBats is the head of American Studies at Flinders University where he specialises in contemporary and past US politics. He says theres not much anyone can do if state governments in the US decide to let businesses open up amid the pandemic.

But its a risky approach, he told Yahoo News Australia.

American states are a lot more economically and politically independent than Australian states, he explained.

Mannequin heads wear masks in the window of a small boutique advertising availability of mask in Arlington, Virginia. Source: Getty Images

They really are responsible for their own economic wellbeing ... while the federal government can run a deficit because it makes the money, states cant so theyre under a fair bit of pressure.

Despite Trumps bluster at times (with the presidential election looming in November), the US president doesnt have much power over how governors respond to the pandemic.

Despite his concerns ... he can be the bully pulpit: you cant command very much but you can speak loudly, Prof DeBats said.

Prof DeBats also conceded the strong strain of libertarian politics in the US, which prioritises freedom and a lack of government intervention above all else, has played a part in some states pushing to reopen earlier.

This has gone on for a long time and people are getting stir crazy and I think the economic worries are really high, he told Yahoo News Australia.

US President Donald Trump listens during a meeting at the White House. Source: Getty

Nonetheless there are risks as the lockdown restrictions are eased across what is one of the worst-hit countries in the world on a per capita basis.

A Harvard University study recently found that the US would need to conduct between 500,000 and 700,000 coronavirus tests a day in order to safely open up.

However, according to the COVID Tracking Project, the country averaged 210,000 daily tests last week.

I think a lot of people are really scared, particularly around the hotspots, Prof DeBats said.

But its a diverse place ... and these governors, theyre willing to take that chance.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
The coronavirus ground nearly all business in Canada to a temporary halt. Now it's also threatening one of the nation's main drivers of long-term growth: foreign students.

While Canadian universities are still admitting international students for the fall, there's growing unease among applicants over the halt in travel and visa processing.

Asfar Lathif recently accepted an offer from the University of British Columbia master's program in genome science. But the 21-year-old, who lives in Chennai, India, is worried about getting all his approvals in time since it's been difficult to gather the necessary documents amid government shutdowns.

"It's a problem. With the covid-19 situation, I'm finding it difficult to get through the study permit process," Lathif said. "I am hoping lockdown is over before July."

There were more than 642,000 foreign students in Canada at the end of last year, helping power the biggest increase in immigration to Canada in more than a century. Encouraged by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's open-door policies, the flood of newcomers has won praise as a form of "human stimulus." Any reduction could worsen the economic blow from the pandemic.

The government, which had been planning to increase immigration levels until the virus hit, has stopped issuing student visas while shutdown restrictions remain in effect. That means any foreign student accepted into a Canadian education program will have to remain in their home country until further notice.

A date for resuming visa service will depend on how the pandemic develops. But even once the government begins processing them again, it's possible a cohort of students will choose to take a semester off or a gap year.

"It's not just going to be a function of regulatory barriers but also a willingness of people to cross borders," Andrew Agopsowicz, an economist at Royal Bank of Canada, said by phone. "I would not be surprised to see declines in international enrollment in the fall if this continues."

The 2019 foreign student tally marked a 13% increase from the prior year and a 95% jump since 2014. Overall, the country took in a net 488,000 people from abroad last year, driving the fastest population growth in three decades.

Many Canadian universities say it's too early to tell whether enrollment figures will drop, with final numbers not due until classes start in September. McGill University in Montreal is among those that have pushed deadlines for students to confirm admission back to June 1, while others like the University of Toronto and UBC have kept their May 1 cutoffs.

Lathif said he is considering delaying his arrival at the Vancouver school until January if the situation doesn't improve. Students like him are crucial to Canada's higher educational institutions as they pay higher fees. They make up more than a fifth of the post-secondary student body and bring in close to $4.3 billion (C$6 billion) in tuition annually, according to a Royal Bank of Canada report.

They're also seen as a natural pipeline into the Canadian labor force. International students contribute C$21 billion annually to the nation's economy, according to government data. India was the top country of origin for students, with a total of 139,740 study permits issued last year. China, South Korea and France rounded out the top four.

The issue is being discussed at the highest levels of government in both Canada and India. Trudeau spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday about the pandemic and the agenda included Indian students already in Canada and those hoping to arrive this year, according to New Delhi's envoy in Ottawa.

High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria has been in touch with federal authorities, the provinces and universities regarding the study permit concerns of incoming students. "In terms of intention, Canada continues to be very welcoming," he said in an interview Wednesday.

Trudeau has announced a series of measures aimed at helping post-secondary students who face declining employment opportunities this summer. A monthly stipend is available and students can also get paid for volunteer work, but those programs apply only to citizens and permanent residents. Limits on the number of hours international students can work while classes are in session, however, have been lifted.

Schools are stepping in to fill the gaps. The University of Toronto has provided over C$2.3 million in emergency groceries to more than 2,000 students and is working on offering micro grants over the summer that would allow them to get paid for doing Covid-19 related work. Other universities are offering virtual job fairs and online career-planning discussions for students.

"One of the priorities of the university is to keep them engaged as best we can," said Joseph Wong, U of T's vice-provost of international student experience. "Our skilled labor market is dependent on international talent having been educated here. So for the Canadian economy, it's critical."
Madhya PradeshChief Minister



Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday claimed there was a "significant" decline in the number of coronavirus cases in the state.

So far, Madhya Pradesh has recorded 2,625 COVID-19 cases, including 137 deaths.

Only 2.4 per cent (out of total samples tested) have tested virus positive in the test reports of Thursday, he said.

Of it, 1.9 per cent were detected positive in Bhopal while 2.2 per cent in Indore, he said.

Besides, 4.4 per cent (of the total samples) tested positive in Jabalpur, he said.

This is a good indication. We will be able to defeat the virus soon, Chouhan said.

The CM made the remarks while reviewing the work in progress to stem the pandemic spread with senior officials via video conferencing in Mantralaya (secretariat), an official statement said.

He said the situation in worst-hit Indore, too is drastically improving.

In today's test reports, only 10 persons out of 451 have tested positive in Indore. In the test reports of April 30, out of a total of 2617 tests, only 65 have tested positive, he added.

Of 1275 test results, 25 were found positive in Bhopal, of 157 test results in Jabalpur, seven were detected positive," he said.

Health Minister Narottam Mishra also said the coronavirus situation in the state was improving, according to the statement.

A huge number of patients are being discharged and returning home daily. No patient is on ventilator in Bhopal while only 6 patients are on ventilator in Indore, he added.

The number of active cases has come down to 2006, the release said, quoting him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The number of people who believe the government was too slow to impose strict restrictions to tackle the coronavirus spread has soared in the past week, a new poll revealed.

Research by Ipsos Mori found an overwhelming majority (66 per cent) of the public thought lockdown measures came "too late", up nine points from 57 per cent the week before.

More than half of Conservative voters (51 per cent) thought Boris Johnson had acted too slowly when he announced stringent restrictions to daily life on 23 March.

In a fresh headache for ministers, the snapshot poll, which was conducted between 24 and 27 April, found the public was growing less concerned about the risks of Covid-19, falling from 78 per cent when the lockdown was announced to 69 per cent at the end of April.

The number of people who are "very concerned" for the country as a whole fell to nearly half (49 per cent) from 63 per cent, while personal concern about the risks dropped to 28 per cent, down from 36 per cent since restrictions began.

The prime minister is facing increasing pressure to set out plans for easing the lockdown as he returned to work after a three-week convalescence from coronavirus.

But ministers remain deeply concerned about the risk of a second spike in cases, which could cause more deaths and a prolonged hit to the economy.

It also comes as new statistics showed the UK was moving into third place globally for coronavirus deaths with 26,097 fatalities, lagging behind only the US and Italy.

Keiran Pedley, research director at Ipsos MORI, said: Although the public are still showing high levels of concern about the virus, these trends suggest the government faces two challenges.

"Firstly, how do you ensure people stay in lockdown as they becomes less concerned about the risk the virus poses to themselves personally.

"Secondly, if the public reaches a consensus that the government acted too slowly in dealing with the virus in the first place, it may have difficult questions to answer on that in the future.

Ipsos MORI interviewed a representative sample of 1,066 British adults aged 18-75 online between 24 and 27 April 2020. Data are weighted to the profile of the population.
Kevin Foley

Joe Biden has yet to say anything about the sexual misconduct accusation his former Senate aide Tara Reade made last month and his silence is deafening.

The Biden campaign has denied the accusation, and Democrats whove been asked about it have dismissed it despite evidence Reade told people about the assault at the time.

It wasnt so long ago many of those same Democrats were demanding that Justice Brett Kavanaughs three accusers should be heard and believed as should the dozen women whove accused President Trump of sexual assault, so theres an undeniable double standard being applied where Biden is concerned.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has made much of his image as a womens rights crusader and loving family man, but Reades tawdry story about what Biden did to her 27 years ago casts a dark shadow over the candidates wholesome reputation.

To believe the Trump campaign wont try to damage Biden with the Reade allegation is to be naive. Just as Trump had Bill Clintons female accusers attend his televised debates with Hillary Clinton, no doubt Reade will be front and center when the campaign really gets rolling. If Biden continues to ignore her allegation, he could be in real trouble.

If its is false, he should say so. But if there is anything to it, anything at all, from a PR perspective it would be wise for Biden to get out in front of the story before Reade and those who say they can substantiate her allegation start appearing on network talk shows such as The View and news magazine programs like 60 Minutes.

Biden might say something like, It was a long time ago and I have a different recollection of what took place, but what I did was very wrong and I sincerely apologize for the pain I caused Ms. Reade, Jill and my family.

Recall, Trump was forced to apologize for his grab em by the p---- comments and he still got elected.

In the age of #metoo, Democrats can ill afford to come off as hypocritical where Biden is concerned if theirs is the party promoting the rights of women, as they claim. That will do far more damage than Reades accusation ever would.

Kevin Foley owns KEF Media in Atlanta.
Mallam Abba Kyari is dead. If you cannot say something good about him, please QUARANTINE your mouth! - Reno Omokri

So you have the right to air your own opinion but want others mouths shut?

I have lost a friend of 40 years.  Abba was a good man: a man of honor & a loyal friend. May his soul rest in peace. - Femi Fani-Kayode

Really? If you have been painting this government as evil, yet you still see a man who served under this evil as a good man: a man of honor?

Please if Nigerians must take you serious, can you kindly tell us the difference in cruelty and destruction between the devil and his servant?

Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode are typical examples of hypocrisy. These two people are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While Omokri was a spokesperson to the former President Goodluck Jonathan, FFK was the Director of Media and Publicity for the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2015 election.

These two personalities have continued to use almost every opportunity they have in public to malign President Buhari and his government. They have called Buhari so many times a failure and consistently maintained that he is the worst president Nigeria has ever had. In some occasions FFK painted the government as evil and with evil agenda to islamize Nigeria. How come they suddenly want Nigerians to see the person who was supposed to have been the facade of that evil, late Abba Kyari as a very good man they almost presented as a saint? And Omokri thinks that he has the right to air his view as it pleases him but asked Nigerians to shut their mouths if they cannot say anything good about Kyari.

In the real sense of governance  forget the legal or constitutional ranking  the chief of staff is the most powerful person after the president, and another very influential person is the secretary to the government even before the vice president  as the vice president is very powerful only if the president is not around  but they are all members of the kitchen cabinet of the president that cannot be exonerated from the success or failure of their government. So how can one now absolve a Chief of Staff of the good or bad of the same government he or she served or is serving?

Africans have an erroneous culture of not speaking bad of the dead, and it even becomes a taboo if the person is highly placed in the society. I want to assume that FFK and Omokri perhaps spoke from this perspective which they have the right to do, but to say that a chief of staff who served in a government they considered evil was a good man is what I do not find diplomatic enough and could not reasonably comprehend the two colours.

Twist the law and bend the standard so that one can use it when it favours one and reprimand the same law when the truth stands against the same person is synonymous with hypocrites and such people deserve not to be trusted and followed.

FFK and Omokri have shown that they are typical examples of Nigerian politicians who play to the gallery. Nigerians should wake up and stop creating enemies with their relatives and friends in defence of these politicians.

My stand is that no human has the right to judge another, so Father in heaven, the controversy that greeted the death of Abba Kyari on whether he was a good or a bad man is huge and only You alone knows the truth. Please dear God, You are not a partial judge, therefore kindly treat and judge the soul of Abba Kyari and give him whatever he deserves.

Uzoma Ahamefule, a concerned patriotic citizen writes from Vienna, Austria.

+436607369050 (WhatsApp  sms only)
Regulatory News:

Kering (Paris:KER):

The amendment to the 2019 Universal Registration Document was filed in French with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) on Thursday, April 30, 2020, under no D.20-0184-A01, as a result of the decisions taken by Kering's Board of Directors on April 21, 2020.

It may be consulted from the Company's website: www.kering.com (Finance section Regulated Information). The English version of the document will be available in the coming days.

The amendment to the 2019 Universal Registration Document includes the revised remuneration policy applicable to the executive corporate officers and the members of the Board of Directors for 2020, as well as information related to the revised amount of the cash dividend for 2019.

About Kering

A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry and Watches: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, as well as Kering Eyewear. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its Houses to set new limits in terms of their creative expression while crafting tomorrow's Luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. We capture these beliefs in our signature: "Empowering Imagination". In 2019, Kering had over 38,000 employees and revenue of 15.9 billion.

www.kering.com

Twitter: @KeringGroup

LinkedIn: Kering

Instagram: @kering_official

YouTube: KeringGroup

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005689/en/

Contacts:

Press

Emilie Gargatte +33 (0)1 45 64 61 20 emilie.gargatte@kering.com

Marie de Montreynaud +33 (0)1 45 64 62 53 marie.demontreynaud@kering.com

Analysts/investors

Claire Roblet +33 (0)1 45 64 61 49 claire.roblet@kering.com

Laura Levy +33 (0)1 45 64 60 45 laura.levy@kering.com
The grandmother of the Eagle Butte woman who died of the coronavirus while incarcerated in Texas says she should have never been transferred to prison while pregnant during the pandemic.

Why couldnt they just wait until she gave birth in South Dakota, Clara LeBeau asked of the local and federal agencies involved in transferring Andrea Andi Circle Bear from the Winner Jail to a Texas prison.

LeBeau said her granddaughter told nurses at the jail that she was a high-risk patient since shes had five cesarean sections but the nurses told federal officials she was safe to travel.

We didnt know where she was going to go to and where she would be delivering, said LeBeau.

Circle Bear, whose baby was due in early May according to court records, was transferred March 20 to FMC Carswell  a federal prison for female inmates with health needs  in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 30-year-old died Tuesday after being diagnosed with the coronavirus and giving birth to a baby girl via C-section while on a ventilator.

Circle Bear, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was serving just over two years (minus credit for time served) after pleading guilty to a drug crime stemming from an April 2018 incident.

The transfer

The Centers for Disease Control says pregnant woman need to take extra precautions with coronavirus.

Pregnant people seem to have the same risk as adults who are not pregnant, the CDC says. But they have a higher risk of severe illness when infected with viruses from the same family as COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza.

The Department of Justice has told federal prosecutors to consider the risks of pre-trial incarceration during the coronavirus pandemic and ordered the Bureau of Prisons to release certain at-risk inmates to home confinement

But the BOP says its hands are tied when it comes to new inmates.

We must also accept newly convicted inmates for service of their sentence, including pregnant inmates," a spokeswoman said in an email. While the BOP can control and limit its intra-agency movements, we have no authority to refuse inmates brought to us by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Marshals Service did not respond to questions about whether deputies relied on Winner Jail staff to decide if it was safe to transfer Circle Bear and if it could have delayed her transfer given her pregnancy.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in South Dakota said its not commenting and Circle Bears lawyer did not return messages.

I am saddened to read of the death of Andrea Circle Bear, Roberto Lange, the sentencing judge said in an email. I root for the future success of each individual whom I sentence, including Ms. Circle Bear.

Lange said once federal judges sentence defendants, the BOP assigns a detention facility and the Marshals Service transfers them at the BOPs direction.

That process can take weeks and at times months to occur, he said.

Circle Bear was a "very poor candidate to put it mildly for self-surrender" due to furlough violations and other issues, Lange said when asked if he could have let her surrender to the Marshals Service after giving birth.

Circle Bear was booked into the Hughes County Jail in Pierre after pleading guilty on Oct. 7, 2019, said a jail official. She left on Feb. 6.

Justin Day, public safety commissioner of Winner, confirmed Circle Bear arrived at the Winner Jail in early February.

I told her how scary it was out there with coronavirus but she didnt mention being afraid of the virus while in the Winner Jail, said LeBeau.

LeBeau said Circle Bear called one day to say federal officials asked the jails nurses if she was safe to fly, and the nurses said yes after she had told them about her birth history. She said she eventually stopped receiving calls from her granddaughter, which made her realize she had been transferred to a federal prison.

She said Circle Bear called a few days after she arrived in Texas on March 20 to explain she has to spend 14 days in quarantine  a mandatory BOP COVID-19 prevention measure  and didnt mention anything about feeling sick.

We said we loved each other," LeBeau recalled.

Last conversation

LeBeau said a doctor called her March 31, the day the BOP says Circle Bear was admitted to the hospital with a fever and dry cough. She said the doctor explained that Circle Bear was in the ER and asked if she is OK with taking care of the baby.

To me that (question) was in the event down the road, not thinking that they were going to do a cesarean right away, LeBeau said.

The doctor then handed the phone over to Circle Bear.

She was kind of crying and she was scared, I supposed not knowing what they were going to do" in the hospital, LeBeau said.

LeBeau said Circle Bear told her that doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia. That wasnt mentioned in the BOP press release but hospital sources shared that diagnoses to NBC5, a Fort Worth TV station, on April 3.

She said shed been sick for days and shed been complaining but they didnt pay attention to her in prison, said LeBeau. She needed help and was being ignored.

The BOP news release said the prison took Circle Bear to the hospital on March 28 due to pregnancy concerns and the hospital discharged her that day.

The news release makes no mention of Circle Bear having coronavirus symptoms on the 28th but NBC5's hospital sources said she did have symptoms, such as a high fever. A whistle-blower complaint by the president of the prison's union says the prison knew Circle Bear was a suspected symptomatic case that day, Vice News reported April 29.

We just talked about family and praying, LeBeau said of the March 31 phone call. She said Circle Bear was concerned for her five children so she reassured her that they were being taken care of.

She told me that she loved me and told me to tell her kids that she loved them, said LeBeau. That was the last time I spoke to her.

Birth, diagnosis

LeBeau said the next time she received a call from the hospital was April 2 and a doctor told her that her granddaughter was on a ventilator, awaiting COVID-19 test results and had delivered her baby the day before.

I was kind of shocked because I thought she was just being treated for pneumonia, said LeBeau.

LeBeau said the hospital didn't call her when her daughter was placed on the ventilator or before the C-section took place. She said a doctor called April 4 to say Circle Bear tested positive.

LeBeau said doctors said they would see if she could visit Circle Bear or at least see her through a window when she came to pick up the baby  who tested negative for the virus  on April 17. But she said the prison told medical staff that she couldnt see her granddaughter.

She belongs to (the prison) and they have no say, she said. That was the sad thing because I couldnt see her and I drove all the way down there.

The DOC said Circle Bear had a pre-existing condition the CDC lists as a risk-factor for coronavirus. But LeBeau said her only condition was being pregnant.

The BOP did not respond to a question about whether it will investigate where Circle Bear contracted COVID-19. But it said inmates are screened before being transferred into their facilities, wear cloth face masks during transports, and won't be accepted if they have symptoms.

The Winner City Jail said in a news release that no detainees or staff have been sick, all inmates are screened before arriving and leaving, and there are no positive cases within Tripp County.

Last moments

LeBeau said a doctor called again on April 27 to ask if Circle Bear would want CPR if her heart stopped.

Yes, she would do anything for her babies, LeBeau responded. Thats when I kind of got the feeling that she probably wasnt going to make it.

LeBeau said she received a phone call at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday from a doctor saying Circle Bears blood pressure and heart rate were dropping and they were starting CPR. A doctor called back 30 minutes later to say her granddaughter didnt make it.

Circle Bear said shes received no communications from the prison about her granddaughter's death.

The prison was terrible because when she reported being sick, they did not do anything.

The April 7 whistle blower complaint says there werent enough precautions being taken at FMC Carswell, where many at-risk women are held.

But LeBeau says the danger to Circle Bear began when was transferred from Winner. Thats where I feel they did wrong.

I didnt think this could ever happen to her, LeBeau said of Circle Bears death.

 Contact Arielle Zionts at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com.

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(Newser)  Workers who say major companies like Amazon aren't doing enough to protect them during the pandemic are planning a strike Fridayand they would like shoppers to show their support by staying away. Organizers say a walkout planned for May 1, International Workers' Day, will also involve workers from Instacart, FedEx, Walmart, Shipt, and other firms, the Hill reports. "Because of the failings of our employers, many of our fellow employees have contracted this deadly virus and some have died," organizers of the "May Day General Strike" said Wednesday. "Although there have been some changes in company policies, they are not enough to adequately protect us."

story continues below

Organizers say workers will either call in sick Friday or walk out on their lunch breaks, the Intercept reports. The workers' demands include hazard pay, compensation for unpaid time off during the pandemic, and full disclosure of the number of cases in facilities including Amazon warehouses. Organizers say there have been hundreds of infections in more than 100 Amazon facilities. In a statement, Amazon slammed "the irresponsible actions of labor groups in spreading misinformation and making false claims about Amazon during this unprecedented health and economic crisis," USA Today reports. Walmart said it was making worker safety a priority, while Shipt owner Target said the protesters would be only a "very small minority" of its workforce. (An Amazon worker in New York says he was fired for organizing a walkout.)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eldorado Gold Corporation (Eldorado or the Company) today reports the Companys financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2020.



First Quarter 2020 and Subsequent Period Highlights

Proactive steps taken to manage the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic; operations maintained in Turkey and Greece: The Company's mines in Turkey and Greece remained operational throughout Q1. Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure safe working environments were implemented across Eldorado's global sites.



The Company's mines in Turkey and Greece remained operational throughout Q1. Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure safe working environments were implemented across Eldorado's global sites. Lamaque placed back into operations after temporary suspension, permit for increased underground production received : On March 25, 2020 in accordance with the Quebec government-mandated restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the province, the Company temporarily ceased mining and processing operations at Lamaque. Operations were restarted on April 15, 2020, however, exploration drilling activities continue to be curtailed in accordance with the mandated restrictions. The Company also received a Certificate of Authorization from the Quebec Ministry of Environment to allow for the expansion of Triangle underground mine production at Lamaque from 1,800 tonnes per day ("tpd") to 2,650 tpd.



: On March 25, 2020 in accordance with the Quebec government-mandated restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the province, the Company temporarily ceased mining and processing operations at Lamaque. Operations were restarted on April 15, 2020, however, exploration drilling activities continue to be curtailed in accordance with the mandated restrictions. The Company also received a Certificate of Authorization from the Quebec Ministry of Environment to allow for the expansion of Triangle underground mine production at Lamaque from 1,800 tonnes per day ("tpd") to 2,650 tpd. Supporting our communities in response to COVID-19 pandemic : The Company has allocated an initial $500,000 of financial and in-kind support to local communities in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania and Brazil so that they may better respond to impacts of the pandemic. Donations include: personal protective equipment and sanitizing products, medical equipment for local hospitals, and food and other supplies for vulnerable populations.



: The Company has allocated an initial $500,000 of financial and in-kind support to local communities in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania and Brazil so that they may better respond to impacts of the pandemic. Donations include: personal protective equipment and sanitizing products, medical equipment for local hospitals, and food and other supplies for vulnerable populations. Partial draw-down of credit facility as proactive measure: On March 30, 2020, the Company drew $150 million under its revolving credit facility as a proactive measure in light of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company has no immediate need for the funds, however proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, as required.



On March 30, 2020, the Company drew $150 million under its revolving credit facility as a proactive measure in light of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company has no immediate need for the funds, however proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, as required. Steady production and 2020 annual guidance maintained: Gold production totalled 115,950 ounces in Q1 2020, an increase of 40% from Q1 2019 production of 82,977 ounces. Eldorado is maintaining its 2020 annual guidance of 520,000 - 550,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $850 - 950 per ounce sold.



Gold production totalled 115,950 ounces in Q1 2020, an increase of 40% from Q1 2019 production of 82,977 ounces. Eldorado is maintaining its 2020 annual guidance of 520,000 - 550,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $850 - 950 per ounce sold. All-in sustaining costs lower quarter-on-quarter: Q1 2020 all-in-sustaining costs of $952 per ounce sold were lower than Q1 2019 ($1,132 per ounce sold).



Q1 2020 all-in-sustaining costs of $952 per ounce sold were lower than Q1 2019 ($1,132 per ounce sold). Strong financial liquidity: The Company currently has $363.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and term deposits and approximately $36 million available under the remaining $100 million of the revolving credit facility, with $64 million of capacity on the facility allocated to secure certain reclamation obligations in connection with its operations.



The Company currently has $363.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and term deposits and approximately $36 million available under the remaining $100 million of the revolving credit facility, with $64 million of capacity on the facility allocated to secure certain reclamation obligations in connection with its operations. Net loss and adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders: Q1 2020 net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company was $4.9 million or $0.03 loss per share (Q1 2019: net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $27.0 million, or $0.17 loss per share). Adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Company in Q1 2020 was $12.5 million, or $0.08 per share (Q1 2019: adjusted net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $21.1 million, or $0.13 loss per share).



Q1 2020 net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company was $4.9 million or $0.03 loss per share (Q1 2019: net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $27.0 million, or $0.17 loss per share). Adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Company in Q1 2020 was $12.5 million, or $0.08 per share (Q1 2019: adjusted net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $21.1 million, or $0.13 loss per share). Increased EBITDA: Q1 2020 EBITDA was $84.7 million ($4.9 million in Q1 2019) and Q1 2020 adjusted EBITDA was $90.0 million ($12.5 million in Q1 2019). Adjustments in both periods included, among other things, share based compensation and losses on asset disposals.

Operational performance in the first quarter of 2020 was exceptional under extraordinary conditions as we effectively responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to recognize the efforts of all of our employees who have worked tirelessly and implemented the necessary controls to minimize risks to our people, families, neighbouring communities and our business, said George Burns, President and CEO.

The Company has been agile in its decision making, including implementing proactive measures to protect its balance sheet. With approximately $400 million in total liquidity at quarter end, Eldorado is well capitalized and positioned to maintain its strategic goals as we begin paying down our term loan in June of this year. "

At this time, we are maintaining our guidance for 2020 and we will continue to evaluate capital allocation, operational profitability and monitor the potential impacts of COVID-19, including staffing levels. The sites are operating at approximately 75% of normal levels as staff considered to be high-risk have been asked to stay at home. We do not expect this to affect production in the near term but we are reviewing the potential longer term impact as certain discretionary activities such as waste stripping, underground development and drilling are temporarily reduced. We continue to track this situation closely and are actively working with sites to transition back to normal staffing levels.

Consolidated Financial and Operational Highlights

3 months ended March 31, 2020 2019 Revenue (1) $ 204.7 $ 80.0 Gold revenue (1) $ 183.7 $ 54.5 Gold produced (oz) (2) 115,950 82,977 Gold sold (oz) (1) 116,219 43,074 Average realized gold price ($/oz sold) (6) $ 1,580 $ 1,265 Cash operating costs ($/oz sold) (3,6) 627 625 Total cash costs ($/oz sold) (3,6) 678 652 All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold) (3,6) 952 1,132 Net loss for the period (4) (4.9 ) (27.0 ) Net loss per share  basic ($/share) (4) (0.03 ) (0.17 ) Adjusted net earnings (loss) (4,5,6,7) 12.5 (21.1 ) Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share ($/share) (4,5,6,7) 0.08 (0.13 ) Cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital (6,8) 69.4 8.2 Free cash flow (6) 7.2 (64.0 ) Cash, cash equivalents and term deposits $ 363.6 $ 227.5

Excludes sales of inventory mined at Lamaque during the pre-commercial production period (Q1 2019). Includes pre-commercial production at Lamaque (Q1 2019). By-product revenues are off-set against cash operating costs. Attributable to shareholders of the Company. See reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to adjusted net earnings (loss) in the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures'. These measures are non-IFRS measures. See the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures' for explanations and discussion of these non-IFRS measures. Q1 2019 has been adjusted to conform with 2020 presentation. See the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures' for detail. Q1 2019 amount has been adjusted to reflect reclassifications in cash flow from operating activities in the current period.

Gold production of 115,950 ounces increased from 82,977 ounces in the first quarter of 2019. Gold sales in Q1 2020 totalled 116,219 ounces, compared with 43,074 ounces sold in Q1 2019. The higher sales volume compared with the prior year reflected increases at all mines, primarily 26,728 ounces sold from Lamaque following its commencement of commercial operations in April 2019, an additional 24,345 ounces sold from Kisladag following the resumption of mining activities in April 2019 and an additional 17,403 ounces sold from Efemcukuru due to delays in sales in Q1 2019.

Total revenue was $204.7 million in Q1 2020, an increase of 156% from total revenue of $80.0 million in Q1 2019. The increase was due to increased sales volumes combined with higher gold prices and included $42.8 million of revenue contributed by Lamaque following the commencement of commercial operations in April 2019.

Cash operating costs in Q1 2020 averaged $627 per ounce sold, a slight increase from $625 per ounce sold in Q1 2019. The increase was primarily due to cash operating costs per ounce sold at Efemcukuru and Lamaque being negatively impacted by mining and processing lower-grade ore in the quarter, resulting in fewer ounces produced. Cash operating costs per ounce sold at Olympias were also negatively impacted by lower silver and base metal prices, which reduce cash operating costs as by-product credits. These increases were almost fully offset by a decrease in cash operating costs per ounce sold at Kisladag in Q1 2020 as a result of the partial reallocation of processing costs to ounces in leach pad inventory following the resumption of mining in April 2019.

We reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $4.9 million ($0.03 loss per share) in Q1 2020, compared to a net loss of $27.0 million ($0.17 loss per share) in Q1 2019. Net loss in Q1 2020 is primarily attributable to increased finance costs and increased tax expense in line with higher sales volumes and the weakening of local currencies in which income tax is determined.

Adjusted net earnings were $12.5 million ($0.08 per share) in Q1 2020, compared to adjusted net loss of $21.1 million ($0.13 loss per share) in Q1 2019. Adjusted net earnings in Q1 2020 removes, among other things, a $12.2 million loss on foreign exchange due to translation of deferred tax balances and the $4.4 million loss on the non-cash revaluation of the derivative related to redemption options in our debt.

Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. In response, governments in numerous jurisdictions, including those where we operate, implemented emergency measures including travel restrictions, suspension of non-essential operations and changes to behaviour intended to reduce the spread of the virus.

We have taken steps and implemented global preventative measures to ensure a safe working environment for our employees and contractors and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include:

Task observations to ensure that workplace controls in place are effective in maintaining physical distance. Procedures will be modified where necessary to create safe distance. Tasks that cannot be effectively modified are discontinued until an appropriate change can be implemented.

Pre-emptive measures such as temperature screening before accessing sites, encouraging increased hand-washing and physical-distancing and limiting all non-essential travel.

Advising employees to stay at home if they are at risk or have family members at home at risk.

Following recommendations of the World Health Organization, local health authorities and advice of jurisdictional governments. We have taken precautionary steps to educate our employees about the symptoms and transmission of the virus with clear instructions on what to do if they feel unwell.

Isolation procedures, should an employee or contractor test positive for COVID-19.

Limiting access to our offices and sites to essential people only to reduce unnecessary exposure. We have also implemented controls during delivery of supplies and materials to our offices and sites.

Working with local communities to distribute hygiene supplies and to educate them on preventative measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

We have been prudent in preparing for the uncertainty around COVID-19 and how it will affect our business. We implemented a crisis management plan in early March and are continuing to optimize and improve our approach to this situation through observations and learning, sharing information across our sites and across our industry. We continue to monitor our operating environments closely and are continuing to take proactive steps to protect the health and safety of our workforce, their families and our neighbouring communities.

Operations Update

Gold Operations

3 months ended March 31, 2020 2019 Total Ounces produced (1) 115,950 82,977 Ounces sold (2, 4) 116,219 43,074 Cash operating costs ($/oz sold) (4,5) $ 627 $ 625 All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold) (4,5) $ 952 $ 1,132 Sustaining capital expenditures (5) $ 19.4 $ 10.8 Kisladag Ounces produced (3) 50,176 27,247 Ounces sold 51,600 27,255 Cash operating costs ($/oz sold) (5) $ 451 $ 558 All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold) (5) $ 578 $ 703 Sustaining capital expenditures (5) $ 3.0 $ 3.1 Lamaque Ounces produced (1) 27,353 19,678 Ounces sold (2) 26,728 n/a Cash operating costs ($/oz sold) (5) $ 641 n/a All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold) (5) $ 1,042 n/a Sustaining capital expenditures (5) $ 8.3 n/a Efemcukuru Ounces produced 23,239 26,124 Ounces sold (4) 23,221 5,818 Cash operating costs ($/oz sold) (4,5) $ 642 $ 636 All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold) (4,5) $ 864 $ 1,394 Sustaining capital expenditures (5) $ 3.1 $ 3.6 Olympias Ounces produced 15,182 9,928 Ounces sold 14,670 10,001 Cash operating costs ($/oz sold) (5) $ 1,196 $ 800 All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold) (5) $ 1,646 $ 1,284 Sustaining capital expenditures (5) $ 5.0 $ 4.1

Includes pre-commercial production at Lamaque (Q1 2019). Excludes sales of inventory produced at Lamaque during the pre-commercial production period (Q1 2019). Kisladag resumed mining, crushing and placing ore on the heap leach pad on April 1, 2019. This activity had been suspended since April 2018. Efemcukuru unit costs in Q1 2019 were impacted by lower ounces sold resulting from delayed shipments in Q1 2019 that were completed in Q2 2019. These measures are non-IFRS measures. See the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures' for explanations and discussion of these non-IFRS measures.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the details of the Companys Q1 2020 results will be held by senior management on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 8:30 AM PT (11:30 AM ET). The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Eldorado Golds website: www.eldoradogold.com and via this link: http://services.choruscall.ca/links/eldoradogold20200501.html .

Conference Call Details Replay (available until June 5, 2020) Date: May 1, 2020 Vancouver: +1 604 638 9010 Time: 8:30 am PT (11:30 am ET) Toll Free: +1 800 319 6413 Dial in: +1 604 638 5340 Access code: 4286 Toll free: +1 800 319 4610

About Eldorado Gold

Eldorado is a gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania, and Brazil. The Company has a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, safe and responsible operations, a portfolio of high-quality assets, and long-term partnerships with local communities. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO).

Contacts

Investor Relations

Peter Lekich, Manager Investor Relations

604.687.4018 or 1.888.353.8166 peter.lekich@eldoradogold.com

Media

Louise Burgess, Director Communications & Government Relations

604.687.4018 or 1.888.353.8166 louise.burgess@eldoradogold.com

Non-IFRS Measures

Certain non-IFRS measures are included in this press release, including average realized gold price per ounce sold, cash operating costs and cash operating costs per ounce sold, total cash costs and total cash costs per ounce sold, all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") and AISC per ounce sold, adjusted net earnings/(loss), adjusted net earnings/(loss) per share, working capital, cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash working capital, earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), free cash flow and sustaining capital. Please see the March 31, 2020 MD&A for explanations and discussion of these non-IFRS measures. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.

Cautionary Note about Forward-looking Statements and Information

Certain of the statements made and information provided in this press release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", continue, projected, "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements or information contained in this release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to: the duration, extent and other implications of COVID-19 and any restrictions and suspensions with respect to our operations, our guidance and outlook, including expected production, cost guidance and recoveries of gold, favourable economics for our heap leaching plan and the ability to extend mine life at our projects, including at Kisladag through further metallurgical tests on deeper material, completion and results of waste stripping at Kisladag, improved production at Olympias, completion and results of construction and the PEA at Lamaque, completion of construction at Skouries, planned capital and exploration expenditures; our expectation as to our future financial and operating performance, expected metallurgical recoveries, gold price outlook and the global concentrate market; and our strategy, plans and goals, including our proposed exploration, development, construction, permitting and operating plans and priorities and related timelines and schedules and results of litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, market uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information.

We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including assumptions about how the world-wide economic and social impact of COVID-19 is managed and the duration and extent of the COVID 19 pandemic, geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate that we operate in; the future price of gold and other commodities; the global concentrate market; exchange rates; anticipated costs and expenses; production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, the impact of acquisitions, dispositions, suspensions or delays on our business and the ability to achieve our goals. In particular, except where otherwise stated, we have assumed a continuation of existing business operations on substantially the same basis as exists at the time of this release.

Even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Many assumptions may be difficult to predict and are beyond our control.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: global outbreaks of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, results of further testwork, recoveries of gold and other metals; geopolitical and economic climate (global and local), risks related to mineral tenure and permits; gold and other commodity price volatility; continued softening of the global concentrate market; risks regarding potential and pending litigation and arbitration proceedings relating to the Companys, business, properties and operations; expected impact on reserves and the carrying value; the updating of the reserve and resource models and life of mine plans; mining operational and development risk; financing risks, foreign country operational risks; risks of sovereign investment; regulatory risks and liabilities including, environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical testing and recoveries; additional funding requirements; currency fluctuations; community and non-governmental organization actions; speculative nature of gold exploration; dilution; share price volatility and the price of the common shares of the Company; competition; loss of key employees; and defective title to mineral claims or properties, as well as those risk factors discussed in the sections titled Forward-Looking Statements and "Risk factors in our business" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form & Form 40-F. The reader is directed to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR and EDGAR under our Company name, which discussion is incorporated by reference in this release, for a fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect the Companys business and operations.

Forward-looking statements and information is designed to help you understand managements current views of our near and longer term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change.

Financial Information and condensed statements contained herein or attached hereto may not be suitable for readers that are unfamiliar with the Company and is not a substitute for reading the Companys financial statements and related MD&A available on our website and on SEDAR and EDGAR under our Company name. The reader is directed to carefully review such document for a full understanding of the financial information summarized herein.

Except as otherwise noted, scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Paul Skayman, FAusIMM, Special Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer for Eldorado Gold Corporation, and a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.





Eldorado Gold Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position

(Unaudited  in thousands of U.S. dollars) As at Note March 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 308,780 $ 177,742 Term deposits 54,800 3,275 Marketable securities 2,889 3,828 Accounts receivable and other 4 71,506 75,310 Inventories 5 165,579 163,234 Current portion of employee benefit plan assets 5,777  Assets held for sale 11,956 12,471 621,287 435,860 Restricted cash 1,906 3,080 Other assets 29,145 22,943 Employee benefit plan assets  6,244 Property, plant and equipment 4,067,082 4,088,202 Goodwill 92,591 92,591 $ 4,812,011 $ 4,648,920 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 131,067 $ 139,104 Current portion of lease liabilities 9,409 9,913 Current portion of debt 6 216,667 66,667 Current portion of asset retirement obligations 1,783 1,782 Current portion of employee benefit plan obligations 1,080  Liabilities associated with assets held for sale 4,219 4,257 364,225 221,723 Debt 6 418,458 413,065 Lease liabilities 13,148 15,143 Employee benefit plan obligations 17,084 18,224 Asset retirement obligations 94,175 94,235 Deferred income tax liabilities 415,413 412,717 1,322,503 1,175,107 Equity Share capital 10 3,075,100 3,054,563 Treasury stock (8,314 ) (8,662 ) Contributed surplus 2,628,820 2,627,441 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (30,062 ) (28,966 ) Deficit (2,234,747 ) (2,229,867 ) Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company 3,430,797 3,414,509 Attributable to non-controlling interests 58,711 59,304 3,489,508 3,473,813 $ 4,812,011 $ 4,648,920

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors

(Signed) John Webster Director (Signed) George Burns Director



Date of approval: April 30, 2020





Eldorado Gold Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited  in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts) Note Three months ended March 31, 2020 Three months ended March 31, 2019 Revenue Metal sales 7 $ 204,655 $ 80,024 Cost of sales Production costs 101,362 51,921 Depreciation and amortization 52,363 20,161 153,725 72,082 Earnings from mine operations 50,930 7,942 Exploration and evaluation expenses 3,227 5,365 Mine standby costs 8 4,030 7,993 General and administrative expenses 8,287 6,953 Employee benefit plan expense 691 599 Share-based payments expense 11 1,795 2,902 Write-down of assets 203 17 Foreign exchange gain (762 ) (245 ) Earnings (loss) from operations 33,459 (15,642 ) Other (loss) income 9 (1,320 ) 1,633 Finance costs 9 (16,207 ) (7,331 ) Earnings (loss) from operations before income tax 15,932 (21,340 ) Income tax expense 21,405 6,032 Net loss for the period $ (5,473 ) $ (27,372 ) Attributable to: Shareholders of the Company (4,880 ) (26,965 ) Non-controlling interests (593 ) (407 ) Net loss for the period $ (5,473 ) $ (27,372 ) Weighted average number of shares outstanding (thousands) Basic 165,211 158,318 Diluted 165,211 158,318 Net loss per share attributable to shareholders of the Company: Basic loss per share $ (0.03 ) $ (0.17 ) Diluted loss per share $ (0.03 ) $ (0.17 )





Eldorado Gold Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Comprehensive Loss

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019(Unaudited  in thousands of U.S. dollars) Three months ended March 31, 2020 Three months ended March 31, 2019 Net loss for the period $ (5,473 ) $ (27,372 ) Other comprehensive (loss) income: Items that will not be reclassified to earnings or loss: Change in fair value of investments in equity securities, net of tax (868 ) 147 Actuarial losses on employee benefit plans, net of tax (228 ) (346 ) Total other comprehensive loss for the period (1,096 ) (199 ) Total comprehensive loss for the period $ (6,569 ) $ (27,571 ) Attributable to: Shareholders of the Company (5,976 ) (27,164 ) Non-controlling interests (593 ) (407 ) $ (6,569 ) $ (27,571 )





Eldorado Gold Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited  in thousands of U.S. dollars) Note Three months ended March 31, 2020 Three months ended March 31, 2019 Cash flows generated from (used in): Operating activities Net loss for the period $ (5,473 ) $ (27,372 ) Items not affecting cash: Depreciation and amortization 52,927 19,942 Finance costs 16,224 7,331 Interest income (389 ) (1,215 ) Unrealized foreign exchange gain (2,538 ) (173 ) Income tax expense 21,405 6,032 Write-down of assets 203 17 Loss on disposal of assets 2,454 62 Share-based payments expense 11 1,795 2,902 Employee benefit plan expense 691 599 87,299 8,125 Property reclamation payments (526 ) (900 ) Employee benefit plan payments (236 )  Income taxes paid (14,719 )  Interest paid (2,770 ) (250 ) Interest received 389 1,215 Changes in non-cash working capital 12 (16,170 ) (8,818 ) Net cash generated from (used in) operating activities 53,267 (628 ) Investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment (40,482 ) (65,920 ) Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 22 380 Proceeds on pre-commercial production sales, net  4,553 Value added taxes related to mineral property expenditures, net (5,651 ) (2,371 ) Increase in term deposits (51,525 ) (26 ) Decrease (increase) in restricted cash 1,174 (446 ) Net cash used in investing activities (96,462 ) (63,830 ) Financing activities Cash received for issuance of common shares 26,836  Proceeds from borrowings 6 150,000  Principal portion of lease liabilities (2,534 ) (1,074 ) Net cash generated from (used in) financing activities 174,302 (1,074 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 131,107 (65,532 ) Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 177,742 286,312 Cash decrease in disposal group held for sale (69 )  Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $ 308,780 $ 220,780





Eldorado Gold Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited  in thousands of U.S. dollars) Note Three months ended March 31, 2020 Three months ended March 31, 2019 Share capital Balance beginning of period $ 3,054,563 $ 3,007,924 Shares issued upon exercise of share options, for cash 424  Transfer of contributed surplus on exercise of options 170  Shares issued to the public, net of share issuance costs 19,943  Balance end of period 10 $ 3,075,100 $ 3,007,924 Treasury stock Balance beginning of period $ (8,662 ) $ (10,104 ) Shares redeemed upon exercise of restricted share units 348 835 Balance end of period $ (8,314 ) $ (9,269 ) Contributed surplus Balance beginning of period $ 2,627,441 $ 2,620,799 Share-based payments 1,897 1,902 Shares redeemed upon exercise of restricted share units (348 ) (835 ) Transfers to share capital on exercise of options (170 )  Balance end of period $ 2,628,820 $ 2,621,866 Accumulated other comprehensive loss Balance beginning of period $ (28,966 ) $ (24,494 ) Other comprehensive loss for the period (1,096 ) (199 ) Balance end of period $ (30,062 ) $ (24,693 ) Deficit Balance beginning of period $ (2,229,867 ) $ (2,310,453 ) Loss attributable to shareholders of the Company (4,880 ) (26,965 ) Balance end of period $ (2,234,747 ) $ (2,337,418 ) Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company $ 3,430,797 $ 3,258,410 Non-controlling interests Balance beginning of period $ 59,304 $ 63,414 Loss attributable to non-controlling interests (593 ) (407 ) Balance end of period $ 58,711 $ 63,007 Total equity $ 3,489,508 $ 3,321,417




Sahaya Novinston Lobo By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With Chennai reporting 197 cases in two days, panic struck Chennaiites started to load up grocery and other essential products on the assumption that the lockdown might be extended after May 3.

Meanwhile, stores functioned with less stock of goods as load careers were delayed in supplying goods and vegetable markets in many places were moved to open spaces or closed owing to the expected huge crowd

Four days after the intensive lockdown and with only three days left for the second phase of the lockdown to come to an end, on Thursday residents flocked supermarkets and vegetable shops since early morning hours.

People rushing to buy vegetables in markets were turned with disappointment in areas like T Nagar, Mandaveli, Teynampet, Mylapore, Saidapet, Kotturpuram and Nandanam.

The shut down of the Koyambedu market has come as a big blow to the vegetable vendors across the city

"The market association is issuing a certain pass for retail vendors across the city and only a few are able to get them. Thousands of shops in the city are closed. Even T Nagar market is closed. Yesterday evening we recieved the information from police that the market should be kept closed since huge number of people will crowd the area," says Amsar Amir who owns a shop in T Nagar.

He further added that, some people from the market have hired pushcarts and started selling only a few vegetables like onions, potatoes, tomatoes, lady's finger, carrot and beans owing to less supply of goods.

"We do not have the pass to purchase goods from Koyambedu market and they only provide vegetables in wholesale not in retail. We will have to purchase at least two or three sacks (25kg per sack) of vegetables. We do not have the financial strength to purchase them and moreover most of it might go waste. Hence we purchase from other people who have got in wholesale and they sell for a huge price margin. In turn we are forced to sell vegetables at a price more than that's sold in Koyambedu market," said R Sankar, who has opened a small retail shop in Nungambakkam.

Meanwhile, supermarkets and other grocery functioned with fewer goods from 7 am on Thursday.

"We did not receive goods since Saturday and now since there is increasing demand the godown owners are taking their time to supply goods. We instruct the people to come after 10 am as we expect our goods to be supplied or only buy the items that are in store," said K Arvind Ramnath, who runs a supermarket in Eldams road.

"In the last two days around 200 cases were reported in the state and it seems it's not going to end in the near future. It's always better to be prepared for the worst. If I stock up supplies now, there's no need to run around on May 3 if the lockdown is extended," says S Ramalingam, a 55-year-old resident of Alwarpet who was waiting with his two grandsons and huge bags in front of a supermarket.

However, many people returned to their homes to come back later as shops are instructed to be open till 5 pm on Thursday.

The ban on 1500 retail shops operating in Koyambedu Wholesale market has resulted in a shortage of vegetables. Many of the retail shops in the city buy vegetables from these retailers.
[April 30, 2020] Friedlander Group Announces a 30% Dividend Paid to the Members of The United Restaurants of New York Workers' Compensation Safety Group #556

Friedlander Group, the leader in workers' compensation, announces a 30% dividend paid to members of The United Restaurants of New York Workers' Compensation Safety Group #556*. The 30% paid dividend is in addition to the 25% group discount clients already received on their policies effective September 30, 2018 - September 30, 2019. The combination of the 25% group discount and 30% dividend resulted in restaurant group members saving over 47.5% on their workers' compensation insurance. A member with a standard premium of $10,000, only paid $5,250 after discounts and dividends. "In these extraordinarily challenging times, our consistent 30% dividend really helps restaurants. By focusing on keeping their employees working and safe, clients have benefited from increased productivity and profits, along with unparalleled workers' compensation savings," says Adam Friedlander, President and Group Manager. Friedlander shares his expertise knowledge of how employers can operate at optimal levels in Safety and Workers' Compensation Strategies to Unleash Productivity and Profits. About Safety Groups Safety Groups provide low-cost, fully insured workers' compensation solutions to safety-conscious businesses withn similar industries in New York*. Safety Groups offer qualifying new members a up to 35% group discount on their premiums. Premiums are then pooled, and after paying claims and administration charges, profits are paid back to the Safety Group members in the form of a dividend.



About Friedlander Group Friedlander Group manages seven Workers' Compensation Safety Groups for retailers, restaurants, wholesalers, hotels and motels, oil and fuel dealers, and home health care and residential care facilities. Since 1992, clients across these industries have been paid a total of $259 million in dividends and, when combined with group discounts, clients saved a total of $560 million on their workers' compensation.

In addition to the Safety Groups, Friedlander Groups' Workers' Care specializes in workers' compensation for clients that struggle with safety or are outside of the mentioned industries. Friedlander reduces premiums through expert Claims Solutions, Self-pay techniques, Fraud Prevention Services, Audit Services, Safety Services, Unique Reporting and Underwriting Services. For more information contact Cosmo Preiato, Executive VP., 800-394-7004, ext. 203 or email [email protected]. * Safety Groups and Workers' Care are underwritten by the New York State Insurance Fund, 199 Church St. New York, NY 10007. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005627/en/

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LONDON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cart abandonment is the number one stumbling block for online retailers - and a lot of the time, it's down to the customer not having enough (or incomplete, or inaccurate) information about the product itself.

Product content plays a huge part in this. Lacking the tactile experience of traditional retail, online customers need as much information as possible, backed up by videos and graphics, to provide them with the kind of seamless product experience that will lead to a sale. Seven in ten shoppers will choose a competitive product if they don't find the information they need, and more than half will actually leave the site.

However, creating, syndicating, tailoring and updating all of this information across multiple outlets can be an enormous and time-consuming burden for brands. With current systems the information must be input by hand, and any inconsistencies or mistakes can result in what brands are trying to avoid in the first place: losing customers.

In an interview with Business Reporter, Justin Hartanov, Chief Commercial Officer at Syndigo, says that businesses are suffering unnecessarily from using outdated and inefficient processes, and that data consistency is more critical than ever in what is a highly competitive environment. "In the consumer packaged goods industry there are always changes of branding, packaging, ingredients, countries of origin and so on - and having that information in the right place in front of consumers at the time of purchase is critical," says Hartanov. "But what we have found is that there are technologies and solutions that can help address these concerns."

A unified platform can solve these problems, says Hartanov, by delivering the right data, at the right time, at the right place. "Many of our clients had pain points around working in silos, and what a unified platform is doing is bringing together an experience and making sure that it's enabling consistency for our clients," he explains.

Syndigo's uniform platform represents a solution to these problems, says Hartanov. Sydigo's Content Experience Hub (CXH) enables brands, retailers and distributors to create, collect, manage, enrich, audit, verify, syndicate and analyse their product content across trading partners. The system is also able to syndicate directly to retailers and recipients, as well as through the global data synchronisation network (GDSN). "It's all about ease of use and efficiencies," explains Hartanov. "Brands have multiple different needs to disseminate this kind of content to their retailer partners; retailers have multiple different needs of their brands. By enabling a seamless experience across those multiple use-cases, it benefits both."

To learn more about how Syndigo can help streamline processes for retailers, brands and distributors, click here.

Notes for editors

This press release has been provided by Business Reporter (www.business-reporter.co.uk).

About Business Reporter

Business Reporter is distributed with The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and City AM, with each publication reaching an average of 1.5 million people.

Content is also published through the Business Reporter and teiss websites, which include video debates, online articles and digital magazines, delivering news and analysis on the issues affecting businesses to a global audience.

Business Reporter also hosts conferences, breakfast meetings and exclusive summits, events which bring together some of the most influential decision makers and innovators in modern business. These exclusive events for business leaders give Business Reporter direct contact with readers and help to inform the content and direction of its editorial projects.

Business Reporter is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and was the first UK member of the UN SDG Media Compact. We have launched a website dedicated to showcasing the work of companies towards these goals at 17globalgoals.com.

Business Reporter is committed to providing meaningful analysis to everyone in business. Whether you're running a small business, the head of a local company or an executive in a multinational corporation, there's something for you at Business Reporter.

www.business-reporter.co.uk

About Syndigo

Syndigo is the global leader for validated core and enhanced digital product content including deep nutritional data, and GDSN data across the largest network of 1,400 retailers, distributors and trading partners, including over 7,500+ manufacturers and suppliers. Syndigo's family of companies together represent the industry's only trusted single-source provider of consumer product information and content from supply chain to end customer utilisation, offering a powerful end-to-end product content experience across multiple industries.

Syndigo enables commerce by supporting the efficient transfer of information in the complex ecosystem of brands, retailers and their customers. The company provides descriptive product and nutritional information, images and other digital media, powered by deep analytics to empower engaging brand experiences online and in store. Through Syndigo's integrated platform, Content Experience Hub, clients can publish, manage, syndicate and audit their product content across the largest trading network of brands and recipients in the world. Syndigo is a GS1 Certified Identification Partner and GDSN data pool.

Syndigo serves more than 10,000 brands and 1,500 retailers globally in many important consumer industries including grocery, foodservice, hardlines, home improvement/DIY, pet, health and beauty, automotive, apparel, and healthcare products.
Parliament will later today Thursday convene for a sitting following the recall of Members of Parliament by the Speaker of the House.

The sitting, according to a statement from Parliament, will be, to among other things, consider some tax exemptions and the waiving of Value Added Tax (VAT) on donated equipment and goods being brought into the country to help boost the fight against the novel coronavirus disease.

The House will also be permitting the deduction of contributions and donations towards COVID-19 as allowable expenses for tax purposes and extending the due date for the filing of taxes from four (4) months to six (6) months after the end of the basis year, the statement said.

Sittings of the house were suspended instead of adjourned by the Speaker on April 4 to allow for the easy recall of Members of Parliament to deal with pertinent issues regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Legislators have already been recalled to receive the Finance Minister who presented a request to utilise the Contingency Fund to contain the pandemic's spread.

Parliament also met to approve a US$1 billion IMF Rapid Credit Facility to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on Ghana's economy as well as approve the nomination of Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye for the position of a Deputy Minister of Health.

The approval followed the recommendation of the Appointments Committee of the House for his nomination to be approved by consensus after Dr Okoe Boye appeared before the committee.

---citinewsroom
When Tou Long Yang was instructed to decimate his homeland, he said he had no choice.

As a teenager, he had been recruited to fight communism alongside the United States. His job was to protect the CIA at all costs. So, during the nine-year bombing campaign the U.S. carried out against Laos from 1964 to 1973  making it the most heavily bombed nation per capita in history  Yang said he was in charge of calling some of the 2 million tons of artillery that rained on the country.

At that time, during the war, it's either they kill me or I kill them, he told NBC Asian America through his son, Toufu Yang.

Tou Long Yang served alongside Vang Pao, a general in the Royal Lao Army at the time who led the CIAs secret army during the Laotian Civil War -- also known as the Secret War -- for nearly the entire duration of the conflict. He remembered receiving a monthly salary equivalent to $60. It was a hefty sum back then, he said, and he eventually came to own two houses and three cars.

But when communist forces won in nearby Vietnam in 1975, Yang had to flee. He needed to ensure his familys survival, but it was heartbreaking to leave everything he owned and knew behind, he said.

He said he feared staying in Laos after fighting alongside the United States. If he didnt leave, he expected to be sent to a labor camp where he would have been worked to death.

Yang and his family initially fled to a refugee camp in Thailand, then to France, before ultimately relocating to Rhode Island in 1991. They were among the more than 1 million Southeast Asian refugees who resettled in the U.S. following the end of the Southeast Asian conflicts that the U.S. was involved in.

This year, the community commemorates its 45th anniversary.

Like many Southeast Asian refugees, it was difficult for Yang to create a new life in America.

Tou Long Yang, right, at the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in Thailand in 1976. (Courtesy Yang family)

He was 52 when he arrived and struggled to find a stable job that let him provide for his family. He made adult diapers for $7 an hour, he said, while his wife worked from home stapling earrings for sale onto pieces of paper.

Story continues

The impact of the hardships Yang and many refugees experienced adjusting to America continue to affect the Southeast Asian American refugee community, experts say.

Continued hardships 45 years later

Many, like Yang, received little to no assistance in rebuilding their lives, were resettled in underresourced neighborhoods and faced racism. Those factors contribute to the communitys continued socioeconomic struggles 45 years later, according to experts.

A report from the civil rights nonprofit Southeast Asia Resource Action Center noted that 45 years after the community established roots in the U.S., nearly 1.1 million Southeast Asian Americans are low-income, and about 460,000 live in poverty. Hmong Americans were found to fare the worst compared to all racial groups across multiple measures of income.

If you are part of a community that is overwhelmingly poor, that struggles with employment, that has to rely on the welfare state and that is living in urban areas with substandard housing, then your chances at social mobility are slim, said Eric Tang, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the book Unsettled: Cambodian Refugees in the New York City Hyperghetto. And this is true not just for Cambodians, not just for Laotians, but for any population that lives within the inner city under these conditions.

The community has also been grappling with deportations, a threat that has grown in recent years.

Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese youth came from war-torn countries and had a tough time adjusting, said Sam Vong, curator of Asian Pacific American History at the Smithsonian Institute and former assistant professor of Asian American history at the University of Texas, Austin. Some of them committed very minor crimes, but those stayed with them on their records. Now, under these new policies of deportation, they will be deported.

More than 16,000 Southeast Asian Americans have received final orders of removal since 1998 as a result of a 1996 immigration law that expanded the definition of what types of crimes could result in detention and deportation. It also allowed for that broader definition to be applied retroactively.

KaYing Yang, director of programs and partnerships at the nonprofit Coalition of Asian American Leaders, who is Tou Long Yang's niece, called the deportations unjust, and a betrayal of the United States and its duties to refugees.

For many people, especially my parents generation, its horrifying to learn that the U.S. would be willing to return them to the very country that they fled due to threats of violence, torture and death, she said.

Yang said leaving Laos was probably the hardest decision he ever had to make. He said he has healed from his experiences and adapted to life in America, yet still misses his home country decades later. But he has been unable to return and has been blacklisted because of his association with the U.S. during the war.

Struggles and resilience

Many Southeast Asian American refugees continue to struggle nearly half a century later, but have also made strides in various spheres.

Quyen Dinh, executive director of SEARAC, said in an email that the community is becoming more civically engaged by running for political office and demanding political accountability in areas including education equity and criminal justice.

The community is also seeing its demands being championed by members of Congress, some of whom have publicly denounced the mass detentions and deportations of the community.

Southeast Asian American refugees have survived war, famine and genocide. Their resilience today -- particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic -- has taken the form of advocacy for the vulnerable, Dinh said. She noted that community-led groups are organizing food dropoffs for elders and food banks for low-income families, and ensuring a complete count for the census.

In this 45th year anniversary, it is this history of resilience and love that reminds us that we are all in this together not just to provide relief today, but to repair the systemic harms that led us here in the first place - so that together we're building a better today and tomorrow for the next generation, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:25:42|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Finland-based telecommunications company Nokia on Thursday reported a profit of 116 million euros in Q1 2020, reversing the 59 million loss in Q1 2019.

Its turnover of 4.9 billion euros in the quarter, however, was slightly less than the same period of last year.

The company's CEO Rajeev Suri noted that Nokia did not see a decline in product demand in the first quarter. Nokia has noted a massive increase in network capacity demands. According to Suri, the reduction caused by the COVID-19 crisis in Q1 turnover was 200 million euros. Suri said the sector is "not immune to the crisis," but believed it will endure it rather well.

Finnish business daily Kauppalehti said Nokia exceeded analysts' expectations as they had been predicting 102 million profit. However, Nokia warned its 2020 total result will fall slightly behind earlier expectations.

For the whole year, Nokia now expects a profit margin of 9 percent, which is 0.5 percent less than the estimate in January. Nokia acknowledged that supply and delivery challenges in some countries may be encountered and customers could alter spending.

Nokia said the improved result was attributed mainly to the mobile access business in the networks business and higher margins in Nokia Software. Higher costs in the 5G research impacted the result. Nokia said 5G deal momentum continues, with 70 commercial deals and 21 live networks.

However, Suri told Kauppalehti that Nokia is waiting for the result in a tender for China Unicom's network project.

"I am confident that we will win the agreement from China Unicom, although we have not received any official announcement," Suri told the media in a phone call after the company's Q1 earnings announcement.

Kristian Pullola, the chief financial officer of Nokia, also said on Thursday that Nokia remains committed to China. "We are a long term actor there," he told Kauppalehti. Enditem
- Nambooze reportedly contracted the virus from Mugenyi who returned to Uganda from the United Arab Emirates on March 22, 2020

- He proceeded home since he did not have any visible coronavirus symptoms

- Nambooze said she was very scared for her unborn child when she tested positive for COVID-19

- However, after getting reassurance from the medical team, she was ready to give birth through caesarean section

- Shortly after the successful operation, the team drew samples from the newborn to test for COVID-19

- Nambooze was, however, worried the family did not have any income and could starve since they had nothing to eat

Joan Nambooze was nine months pregnant when she was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

It was believed she contracted the virus from her husband, Francis Mugenyi, who returned to Uganda from the United Arab Emirates on March 22, 2020.

READ ALSO: Nairobi woman narrates how Ghanaian lover conned, left her homeless

Joan Nambooze is believed to have contracted the virus from her husband Francis Mugenyi who returned to Uganda from the United Arab Emirates. Photo: URN.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 17 relatives of Siaya COVID-19 victim released from quarantine after testing negative 4 times

The woman who spoke to Uganda's The Independent said Mugenyi developed high temperature a day after returning home from the Asian country.

His whole body was very hot, she said.

Mugenyi reportedly alerted the Health Ministry and a team was dispatched to collect his nose and throat swab samples.

READ ALSO: Working from home: Sierra Leone Minister feeds, carries 10-month-old daughter on his back during Zoom meeting

He was taken to Entebbe Hospital after testing positive for the virus while Nambooze and her two-year-old son were tested as contacts.

The new mom tested positive two days later and was taken to the hospital.

Although she had developed high fever and cough by the time she was taken to hospital, her son was negative and never got coronavirus.

READ ALSO: Death of a hero: Top ER doctor who treated coronavirus patients dies

Nambooze said she was very scared for her unborn child.

However, after getting reassurance from the medical team, she was ready to give birth through a cesarean section on April 4, 2020.

The operation was conducted by a seven-member team of experienced health workers.

READ ALSO: Buruburu: Polisi wachunguza chanzo cha moto ulioteketeza gari, dereva

Andrew Menya Muwanguzi, who was part of the team of doctors who helped Nambooze deliver her child said they prepared for two days for the C-section.

Shortly after the successful operation, the team drew samples from the newborn to test for COVID-19.

They also drew samples from the placenta and Namboozes umbilical cord to test for possible mother to child transmission before, during and after delivery and they all came back negative.

READ ALSO: Thika couple appeals for financial help to treat 11-month-old daughter admitted with pneumonia at Kijabe Hospital

Nambooze was, however, advised by the health workers to always wash hands, wear a face mask and gloves when breastfeeding or cuddling the baby because she was still COVID-19 positive.

Muwanguzi said they also adjusted Namboozes medication so that she could breastfeed the baby as well as continue fighting the virus.

But there was another problem. Nambooze, who worked in a saloon, was worried that the family did not have any income and could starve since they had nothing to eat because of the lockdown.

The couple appealed to government and well-wishers for support.

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Millions of people gave their email addresses to Quibi, JetBlue, Wish and other companies  and those email addresses got away.

They ended up in the hands of advertising and analytics companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter, leaving the people with those email addresses more easily targeted by advertisers and able to be tracked by companies that study shopping behaviour, according to a report published Wednesday.

The customers unwittingly exposed their email addresses when signing up for apps or clicking on links in marketing emails, said researcher Zach Edwards, who runs the digital strategy firm Victory Medium. In the report, he described the giveaway of personal data as part of a sloppy and dangerous growth hack.

The practice of making customers vulnerable to tracking by allowing their personal data to be passively collected by third parties is nothing new, Edwards said, but it has gained traction despite efforts to improve online privacy protections.

This hack used to be something that only very niche and sophisticated developers understood, he said. But now the entire ad-tech industry understands it.

Privacy experts have raised concerns about leaks of personal information for more than a decade, said Arvind Narayanan, a computer-science professor at Princeton University who has studied data mining. Careless web-programming practices lead to some accidental giveaways of large hunks of personal information, he said, but other leaks are intentional.

Theres an industry of ad-targeting that tries to connect peoples online and offline activities, Narayanan said. People may not want all of their interests and activities and purchases to be tied together in one uber-profile that connects every dot, but thats exactly whats happening. These leaks are one clue to the puzzle of how companies are able to create that all-encompassing profile.

Edwards, a contributor to a recent study that examined potential privacy violations by dating services like Grindr and OkCupid, wrote in the new report that one of the most egregious leaks involved Quibi, a short-form video platform based in Los Angeles that is run by veteran executives Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman.

Quibi went live April 6, long after new data-privacy regulations went into effect in Europe and California.

In 2020, no new technology organizations should be launching that leaks all new user-confirmed emails to advertising and analytics companies, Edwards wrote. Yet thats what Quibi apparently decided to do.

People who downloaded the Quibi app were asked to submit their email addresses. Then they received a confirmation link. Clicking on the link made their email addresses available to Google, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, according to the report.

Quibi said in a statement Wednesday that data security is of the highest priority and that the moment the issue on our webpage was revealed to our security and engineering team, we fixed it immediately.

Edwards said customers were probably unaware of leaks at Wish, an e-commerce platform where hundreds of millions of email addresses were likely exposed starting in 2018. When users clicked on links in marketing emails from the company, their email addresses were shared with Google, Facebook, Pinterest, PayPal and others, he wrote.

Wish strengthened its data-protection measures after hearing from Edwards this year, the company said in a statement. But it criticized his report as off the mark, noting that the email addresses were encoded and went to service providers that Wish uses for advertising and sales support.

A spokesman for Wish added that Google and other advertising and analytics companies had no reason to crack the encoded email addresses.

In any event, the spokesman said, it certainly is not a breach to provide a service provider with such encoded information.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to Edwards report, customer data also leaked out of JetBlue, which said in a statement that it was taking Edwards concerns seriously and would review his findings.

Other companies, including the Washington Post, had limited leaks, according to the report. The email addresses of people who had unsubscribed to newsletters from the Post ended up with several analytics companies, Edwards wrote, and the publication addressed the issue shortly after it was notified.

The coronavirus pandemic has reignited concerns over weak privacy protections. The many tracking apps that have been used to trace carriers of COVID-19 may open the door to more surveillance. The Zoom video-conferencing service, newly popular with people stuck at home, has struggled with a slew of privacy and security problems.

Edwards urged companies to reach out to platforms that might have collected their customers email addresses and ask that the information be scrubbed.

Some of the largest companies doing this pretend like it doesnt happen, so they dont have to deal with the deletion process, Edwards said. They ignore people who ask.

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The Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, on Thursday signed an ordinance brought by the state government to overcome a high court verdict and cut the salary of government employees to fund the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Opposition parties Congress and BJP had asked the Governor not to give his nod to the ordinance. The Opposition said that Kerala government was taking revenge on employees after it suffered a serious setback in the court.

The government was forced to bring the ordinance after the Kerala High Court stayed its order to slash employees salaries for six days every month for the next five months (totalling 30 days). Reeling under severe financial constraints, the government is planning to save Rs 2,000 crore through this.

It is sad that a big controversy was created over this. It should have been avoided at this juncture. Opposition also provoked employees outfits, said state finance minister Thomas Issac welcoming the Governors decision and adding that it was a temporary arrangement.

The government order issued to that effect last week said the move will be applicable to employees of all state- owned enterprises, public sector undertakings, quasi-government organisations and universities, among others.

All are undergoing a difficult situation. So it is natural that employees will also be a part of the process. We have deducted 30% salaries of ministers, MLAs, board chairmen and others for one year, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday.

Announcing the cabinet decision, Isaac had told mediapersons on Wednesday: As per this ordinance, the state government has been empowered to defer 25% of the salary of government employees, in case of a disaster.

The minister, however, made it clear that 25 per cent of the salary would not be deferred and the state government would go ahead with its initial six-day cut plan.

The employees outfits have, meawhile, said they will move the Supreme Court against the ordinance.

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Hundreds of people have been left homeless in the northeastern Turkmen province of Lebap following severe windstorms that swept through the country.

Many parts of Lebap still remain without electricity, drinking water, and natural gas, RFE/RL correspondents reported from the scene on April 30. Mobile phone and Internet connections have been cut off, they added.

Local media reported that at least 10 people died in the April 27 disaster, while the independent news website and human rights organization Turkmen.news, based in the Netherlands, said that dozens of people may have died and dozens more are still unaccounted for.

A large number of people have been admitted to the main hospital in the provincial capital, Turkmenabat, with injuries sustained from falling objects during the rain and windstorms, it added.

State media in the strictly controlled Central Asian nation hasnt reported about the destructive windstorms and the destruction they left in their wake.

It's as if the authorities have disappeared, no measures are being taken [by the government] to help people, an RFE/RL correspondent reported from Lebap, describing the situation at the scene as chaotic.

People were at loss, they didnt know what to do, the correspondent said. Authorities aren't telling people anything.

The correspondents said that a lack of information has led to unsubstantiated rumors of an imminent earthquake and floods, sparking more panic among the people.

There were also reports of looting in shops and peoples homes amid the chaos.

In Turkmenabat, the dome of the local Ruhyet Palace was destroyed by the windstorms and several schools and kindergarten buildings were left without roofs, Turkmen.news reported.

Amid the crisis, some private traders raised the price of food supplies, it added.

Turkmen authorities clampdown on media and free speech makes it difficult to get information about the extent of the damage in Lebap and other parts of Turkmenistan.

The rains and windstorms also affected neighboring Uzbekistans Bukhara, Navoyi, Samarkand, and Qashqadaryo provinces.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev visited Bukhara, the most-affected region, on April 29.
A Senate panel voted Thursday to issue subpoenas to Gov. Tom Wolfs administration to learn more about business closures prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate Republicans, who hold the majority in the chamber, said they have been frustrated what they view as a lack of transparency from the Democratic governor. GOP lawmakers have been pressing for answers from the Wolf administration in deciding which businesses had to be shut down.

Wolf ordered the closure of businesses that werent deemed life sustaining" to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Republican lawmakers and business trade groups have demanded to know why some businesses had to close their doors and some received waivers from the Wolf administration to remain open.

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee voted Thursday to consider the subpoenas. The vote fell along party lines.

State Sens. Mike Regan, a York County Republican, and Tom Killion, wrote letters to the governor and the state Department of Community and Economic Development to get more information about the closures. They said they got no response to the letters, which were sent April 24.

Lawmakers held a hearing with Wolf administration officials last week but found their answers lacking.

We held a hearing during which DCED and the administration had the opportunity to provide clarity about their methodology behind granting waivers to some employers and not others, Regan said in a statement Wednesday night. We then sent a letter requesting the same information and did not receive it.

Regan said the administration will be directed to respond by May 8.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said Thursday that he would audit the waiver program.

Some business owners complained that the departments waiver process was too slow and not transparent enough, DePasquale said in a statement. My audit is intended to help make sure that the waiver process is managed more smoothly should it be necessary to use it again in the future.

In a news conference, Wolf said he welcomed the auditor generals review of the program.

We actually did this in a way that was meant to be fair and honest, Wolf said.

Were some mistakes made? Maybe, Wolf said. And if they were, the folks in Pennsylvania have a right to know that.

More than 40,000 businesses sought waivers to keep their doors open. Wolf said in the news media call about one-third of those who applied for waivers were denied.

Some businesses argued they performed critical services and could open safely with measures to protect workers and consumers. Trade groups assailed the waiver process as being too arbitrary.

For example, a Franklin County builder was denied a waiver to complete work on a home to replace one a family lost in a fire. Some garden centers have complained they couldnt get waivers, while other garden centers were allowed to reopen.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said Thursday he didnt begrudge the governor for establishing a waiver program, given the unprecedented crisis the state is facing. He questioned the implementation of it. Corman said hes received more phones calls about the waiver process than any other issue.

When lawmakers have asked questions about the waiver process, Corman said, We were not given answers. Weve asked the governor on numerous occasions.

Corman said lawmakers want to know the criteria to determine why some businesses were allowed to open when similar companies were denied waivers.

State officials have said they aim for consistency on waiver decisions but rely on information provided by businesses on their applications.

The Wolf administration has said its aimed to be as transparent as possible. Casey Smith, a DCED spokeswoman, said earlier this week that the administration is aiming to address the concerns of businesses and lawmakers.

Throughout the duration of the waiver process, DCED has been dedicated to responding to businesses in short order, as addressing the needs of Pennsylvanias business community while protecting public health and safety has been a priority," Smith said in a statement. "The administration is reviewing the letter and will determine how best to respond in light of the extensive resources that have been devoted to addressing this disaster.

To date, the Wolf administration has not disclosed detailed information about the waiver program.

PennLive and other media organizations have submitted Right-to-Know requests for information about the program. The media groups have been told the offices are closed and the requests "will be received and processed upon our offices reopening.

Last week, Wolf said the administration is still reviewing the 40,000-plus waiver requests it received before the waiver period ended on April 3.

Republican lawmakers have been battling the Wolf administration over the scope of the shutdown of the states businesses. GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate have said the governor has erred in shutting down whole sectors of the economy, such as the construction industry, which has been brought to a virtual standstill. Republican lawmakers argued more businesses can get back to work without threatening public health.

The governor has vetoed bills passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly that would have broadly reopened businesses. Wolf and Democratic lawmakers have argued a wide reopening of businesses could undo the states progress in slowing the spread of the virus and cost lives.

Wolf has also argued that new spikes in COVID-19 cases from lifting restrictions too broadly could do more economic damage to the state in the long term.

Still, Wolf has recently made some concessions on business.

Wolf said construction activity can resume, with some restrictions, beginning Friday. Some of the state rules will require limits on the number of workers on certain job sites. The governor also recently allowed online auto sales to begin again.

Like other states, Pennsylvanias economy is reeling due to the closure of businesses. More than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians have filed for unemployment.

Pennsylvania remains under a statewide stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the virus. More than 44,000 people have contracted the virus and nearly 2,200 have died.

The governor said he plans to begin lifting restrictions on some regions in early May. On Friday, the Wolf administration is slated to announce the first counties to be lifted from the stay-at-home order.

Those counties, which Wolf has said will likely be in northcentral and northwestern Pennsylvania, will see the stay-at-home order lifted on May 8.

Note: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that the Senate panel voted to issue subpoenas to the Wolf administration. It also reflects comments from Gov. Tom Wolf in a news conference Thursday.

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In a malicious effort to convince transit workers that it is safe to work, Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on April 25 that antibody testing would begin on employees of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) this week. This criminal measure came only one day before the grim milestone of 100 transit worker deaths was reached.

As of April 26, 101 active MTA employees have died from COVID-19. Added to this number are 34 retirees and five school bus drivers. Many more remain in serious condition in hospitals across the city. These figures are collected by a team of transit workers working independently of the MTA, which has been ignored by authorities who refuse to continually track these deaths. Well over 60 employees have died since the agencys last official tally on April 7. In an April 28 New York Post Op-Ed, MTA Interim President Sarah Feinburg failed to acknowledge the 100-death milestone.

As the MTA and Democratic Party politicians become increasingly desperate to cover up their role in these tragic deaths, they resort to foul attacks on New York Citys homeless population, whose plight has only been exacerbated by the virus.

In a reference to homeless people taking refuge on subway cars, at his April 28 news conference Governor Cuomo stated that it is disgusting what is happening on those subway cars. Meanwhile, Feinburgs article announced, we are changing our Code of Conduct to make it abundantly clear that the transit system must be used by people for transport only.  We will enforce these new regulations in close coordination with our NYPD partners and the MTAPD [emphasis in original].

Whatever measures the MTA takes, they will not be to protect transit workers, who are still highly vulnerable to the virus, as they go without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), adequate access to testing and paid sick leave. By dehumanizing the homeless and presenting them as scapegoats for their own failings, Cuomo, Feinburg and their allies are trying to distract the public from their own criminal response to the pandemic. As the WSWS has stated in its demands for transit workers, the solution to the subway and citys homelessness crisis is not the brutalization of this vulnerable population by the cops, but the requisition of the hundreds of thousands of empty housing units in New York to provide necessary shelter.

It is no accident that attempts to target the homeless come as Cuomo is preparing to reopen New York state, which remains the epicenter of the pandemic. Mass transits central role in the economic activity of New York City means it is intertwined with any effort to reopen the state. Knowing that the resumption of business is already unpopular and will lead to tens of thousands of deaths, Cuomo and his big business sponsors are seeking to convince workers who are quarantined that it will be safe to ride the subways and buses.

In addition to the vilification of the homeless, a critical part of this charade is Cuomos efforts to roll out antibody tests to transit workers.

The WSWS made the following assessment of antibody tests on April 28: Presently, there is no scientifically proven basis for governments to suggest that having acquired antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus guarantees immunity to reinfection, nor should it serve as a basis for an immunity passport.

The implication of Cuomos promotion of antibody tests is clear: those transit workers who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies will be sent back to the front lines. This move, which flies in the face of warnings from scientists and the World Health Organization, exposes the true character of Cuomo and the wider Democratic Partys response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is identical to the Republican Partys: if workers must die to save the profits of Wall Street, then so be it.

Perhaps nowhere else in New York has this attitude been expressed more clearly than in the response of the MTA to the pandemic. Although the MTA has received $3.8 billion from the federal government, many workers who have been forced into quarantine have not received a paycheck. With the complicity of the bought-and-paid-for Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, the MTA did not extend its Sick Rule Stipulation for COVID-19 which expired on April 25. This means that workers will now no longer be able to take any time off to recover or to quarantine themselves following exposure to the virus beyond their 12 annual sick days. The TWU refuses to fight for even limited provisions to fight the spread of the virus among its workforce, while the MTA continues to pay its bondholders billions.

Throughout the pandemic, the measures taken by New York state, the MTA and the TWU have been aimed at giving workers a false impression of safety. The WSWS has written at length about criminal delays in the provision of adequate PPE. Of the 101 transit workers who have died, a large number can undoubtedly be attributed to this failure.

Recent efforts by the MTA to posture as actively tackling the virus have seen the conscious introduction of numerous ineffective measures. The daily temperature screening of 3,000 workers has been promoted by the MTA as a great step forward in efforts to tackle the virus. However, this is less than 5 percent of the total workforce daily, and there is no scientific evidence to suggest this is a worthwhile measure in the fight against COVID-19, which can be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers. Even when proper COVID-19 tests were also announced in a partnership between the MTA and the private Northwell group, only 50 tests were made available a day, meaning it would take four years to test the MTAs 72,000 workers.

Under constant pressure from its bondholders, long before the pandemic the MTA was pursuing attacks on the living standards of its workers. This was underlined in the last sell-out contract in which the MTA pushed through measures to increase employee availability, for which Local 100 is directly rewarded. Under the cover of the virus and impending economic crisis, other long-planned cost-cutting measures will also be pursued, including further attacks on workers benefits and fare hikes for riders.

The media blackout on the number of transit worker deaths, the reckless promotion of antibody tests and efforts to scapegoat New York Citys homeless population are tactical initiatives taken by the ruling class to pave the way for a deadly premature return to work. This will result in a huge spike in the deaths of transit workers and the wider New York population. The only way that transit workers and the wider working class can fight to protect human life is by forming independent rank-and-file committees to implement measures for their health and safety and that of the public.

Those transit workers who want to build an independent political leadership to fight the pandemic should take the first step by registering today to attend the International May Day Online Rally taking place on Saturday, May 2. Speakers will report on the impact of the pandemic on every continent, and present a socialist strategy to ensure the health and well-being of the entire working class.
By Kyle Odegard, Albany Democrat-Herald

A novel coronavirus outbreak at National Frozen Foods in Albany has grown.

Linn County Public Health Director Todd Noble said during Tuesday mornings Linn County Board of Commissioners meeting that there are now 18 cases of COVID-19 associated with the Albany plant and 81 total cases in Linn County.

Processing remained shut down at the facility on Tuesday, said Michael Beranbaum, secretary-treasurer for Teamsters Local Union No. 670, which represents about 270 workers at National Frozen Foods in Albany.

Theyve been cleared by the Health Department to restart operations. The only problem is, they really cant start until all of the employees get tested. My understanding is that theyve been calling everybody in to get tested. I dont know how long it will take for results to be available, Beranbaum said.

Its the right thing to do, he added.

Beranbaum said that while processing at the plant has halted, the warehouse and distribution side continue to operate with product from before the illness hit the plant.

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Steven Schossberger, general counsel and vice president of National Frozen Foods, did not return phone calls on Monday and Tuesday seeking comment regarding new cases, the possibility of food recalls and a potential timetable for restarting processing at the Albany facility.

The update on the COVID-19 caseload connected to National Frozen Foods might be the last on the subject for some time.

Linn County Public Health wont be providing specific numbers on how many more cases are associated with National Frozen Foods, said Capt. Michelle Duncan of the Linn County Sheriffs Office, the countys spokeswoman for the coronavirus pandemic.

The guidance they are getting from the Oregon Health Authority is not to release numbers assigned to specific facilities, Duncan added.

Oregon Occupational Safety & Health, a division of the Department of Consumer & Business Services, is investigating workplace safety complaints regarding the coronavirus, social distancing and other safety precautions at the National Frozen Foods plant in Albany, Beranbaum said. He added that an Oregon OSHA investigation does not mean there are problems at the facility.

On Thursday, Linn County confirmed that there were 10 cases of COVID-19 at the Albany National Frozen Foods plant. Eight of those cases were workers, and two were people associated with employees. (Noble didnt provide a breakdown of the figures he reported to the Linn County commissioners on Tuesday.)

On Friday, National Frozen Foods voluntarily shut down processing in Albany so a deep clean could be conducted under the supervision of Linn County.

Workers at National Frozen Foods have contacted the newspaper saying that they are concerned with their safety and potential exposure to the virus.

An April 16 memo from plant manager Larry Hargreaves to National Frozen Foods employees obtained by the newspaper discusses two initial confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the facility.

National Frozen Foods opened its Albany plant in 1982. The facility, at 745 30th Ave. S.W., sits on about 20 acres off Pacific Boulevard.

The plant puts out millions of pounds of frozen produce each year. During a good day in the summer, the facility can churn out a million pounds of beans alone, according to a 2012 article.

National Frozen Foods' Albany plant processes beans, cut corn, squash, vegetable purees and cream-style corn, according to the companys website.

Other hotspots for coronavirus in the mid-Willamette Valley are the Edward C. Allworth Veterans Home in Lebanon and Corvallis Manor, a nursing home in Corvallis.

Reporter Alex Paul contributed to this story.
1. Regarding the restarted avian influenza virus modification experiment last year, why does the US release no more updates?

The Science reported in February 2019 that US authorities had quietly approved the avian influenza virus modification experiment. The research, aiming to transform the H5N1 virus to be more capable of infecting mammals, was controversial and considered extremely dangerous. Some experts believe that the modification may increase the risk of human-to-human transmission of the virus.

The question is why the US government decided to unfreeze the experiment 4 years after it was halted, and why there are no more updates regarding the experiment.

2. The United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) was previously closed.What is the truth behind ?

The Global Biodefence reported in April that the USAMRIID, US Army's primary institution and facility for biological research headquartered in Fort Detrick, Maryland, has resumed full operation. The institution was once ordered to halt the study of biological select agents and toxins (BSATs) last July. In March, there was a petition on the White House website demanding the clarification of the shutdown of USAMRIID. Given that these issues have become a primary public concern, what is the US government's response?

3. The US Department of Health and Human Services ran a scenario last year that was similar to the COVID-19 outbreak. Is this just a coincidence?

In March, the New York Times quoted a draft report obtained from the US government saying that from January to August 2019, the US Department of Health and Human Services ran a scenario called "Crimson Contagion" that simulated the fictional outbreak involving a group of tourists visiting China. They then became infected and flew to various countries, including the US.

Last October, a high-level pandemic exercise named Event 201 was hosted by a couple of US organizations. The drill simulated a scenario that a fictional virus called CAPS, which causes more severe symptoms than SARS and transmits via the respiratory route like the common flu, had caused a pandemic. Like COVID-19, there is no vaccine for CAPS.

Given the fact that the simulated virus is so much like COVID-19, is this just a coincidence? Another question is, why did it not take enough preventive measures at the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak since the US has predicted a similar pandemic?

4. US intelligence officials warned of coronavirus crisis as early as last November. Why the warning was ignored?

In April, according to the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), it was said that, as early as late November 2019, US intelligence officials had warned the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon, and the White House that an infectious disease was sweeping through Wuhan, China.

Last November, the US National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI) issued a report detailing the coronavirus pandemic, which was later identified as "COVID-19". Some analysts believed that the outbreak in Wuhan might have evolved into a catastrophic event. According to the Washington Post, in more than two months from January to February, Trump had received intensive warnings from the US intelligence agencies about the coronavirus. Why did the US government not declare a "National Emergency" until March 13?

5. Among the reported influenza deaths in the US, can the US clarify how many cases are actually infected with COVID-19?

Japanese Asahi Television reported on February 21 that some of the 14,000 people reportedly killed by influenza in the US might have died from coronavirus, which became a hot topic soon after.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report at the end of February, showing that there have been at least 32 million flu illnesses in the US that winter.

On March 11, at the House of Representatives, Robert Redfield, the director of the US CDC, admitted that some in the US who were previously thought to have been killed from the flu may have been infected with coronavirus.

Among the reported influenza deaths in the US, how many cases were infected with COVID-19? Did the US government cover up the spread of coronavirus with the flu? When will the US government make public the samples of the US influenza virus and its genetic sequence, or allow experts from the WHO or the United Nations to sample and analyze?

6. When did the novel coronavirus first appear in the US? Did community transmission of the coronavirus start sooner than it was reported?

A report released in late April by local health authorities suggests that a 57-year-old woman from Santa Clara County of California died from COVID-19 on February 6, some 20 days earlier than the date the US announced its first death caused by the virus.

The Los Angeles Times quoted Santa Clara County health officer Sara Cody in a piece saying, "we presume that each of them represents community transmission and that there was some significant level of virus circulating in our community in early February."

County Executive Officer Jeffrey V. Smith said this is evidence that the coronavirus was circulating in California as early as January or even earlier.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered all counties in the state to review autopsies of suspected coronavirus deaths dating back to December.

When did the novel coronavirus first appear in the US? Did community transmission of the coronavirus start sooner than it was reported?

7. How did the US get the virus strains so soon to start the first human testing of a vaccine against COVID-19?

The Wall Street Journal on March 16 reported that the first human testing of Moderna Inc.'s experimental vaccine against the COVID-19 had already begun. Experts immediately raised questions about the speed of the vaccine development, saying that it would not be possible unless the US had obtained the virus strains from very early on. So how did the US start the first human testing of the vaccine so soon? When and how did they get the virus strains?

8. Why did the US government keep downplaying the pandemic while its officials privately dumped stocks?

According to the Washington Post, US Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr and his wife sold up to 1.7 million in 33 different stocks just one week before the market plunged. Why did these officials at the Committee act so quickly while the government was continually understating the pandemic?

Why is the vital information kept confidential to the public while the government officials were taking advantage to practice insider-trading?

9. Why are US experts not allowed to discuss COVID-19 in public?

The New York Times reported that the White House began tightening controls for all coronavirus messaging from health officials on February 27 after Vice President Mike Pence led the nation's epidemic prevention and control efforts.

Several scientists and government health officials, including the nation's leading infectious disease expert Anthony S. Fauci, have been asked to make statements or make public appearances about the COVID-19 only after consultation with the US vice president's office.

Why does the United States, which claims free speech, not allow experts and scholars to discuss the novel coronavirus in public? Does the US want to hide something or fear of something?

10. What research is being done in the US overseas biological laboratories? Why does the US keep tight-lipped about it?

Natalia Poklonskaya, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, has proposed verifying the legitimacy of US biological laboratories around the world, according to Sputnik news agency.

Not long ago, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the establishment of a biological laboratory in countries from the former Soviet Union.

Grigory Trofimchuk, a Russian expert in the field of internal affairs, foreign affairs, and national defense, said the work of these biological laboratories was never disclosed to the outside world, and that they had caused several problems, with widespread outbreaks of dangerous infectious diseases such as measles at the laboratory site.

What research is being done in these biological laboratories? Why does the US keep tight-lipped about the function, use, the safety of these biological laboratories?
CLEVELAND, Ohio - More than 2,900 people were signed up for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank distribution event at the Cleveland Muni Lot on Thursday afternoon as of the 2 p.m. starting time.

The number is up by about 200 over the previous week, showing there continues to be a tremendous need for the food handouts during the coronavirus pandemic. The food bank has now distributed nearly 500,000 pounds more of food during the period of March 15-April 29 than they did last year in the same time period.

Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones lent a hand to the Ohio National Guard personnel to help load cars with fruit as they passed through the line. Basheer also joined with food bank CEO Kristin Warzocha for a Facebook Live broadcast as they talked about the needs of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio residents.

According to a press release by the food bank, they have distributed 20,048 emergency boxes of food and 33,420 backpacks during the pandemic, and that number continues to grow each week.

Also, to help lighten the mood, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame provided its van, Joy Ride," for some music as the cars stopped to have the food put in their trunk.

Seventy Ohio National Guard members and people with the Ohio Military Reserve were on hand to load food into the cars coming through the line, while volunteer members from the Ohio State Highway Patrol were lending a hand by checking in people as they arrived.
Donald Trump claimed on Thursday he has seen evidence that the coronavirus originated from a medical laboratory in the Wuhan province in China, and threatened to slap new tariffs on the Asian economic power.

The president this week has ramped up his criticism of Beijing after spending several weeks only suggesting Chinese leaders knew the novel virus had gone public in their country. He also on Thursday questioned why China allowed people to leave and travel around the globe when they knew some likely had contracted Covid-19.

During an event on seniors that turned into a press conference, the president was asked: Have you seen anything at this point that gives you a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the origin of this virus?

He replied: Yes, I have. And I think the WHO (World Health Organisation) should be ashamed of themselves.

Asked if he is suggesting China intentionally allowed the virus to spread, which could be considered a hostile act, Mr Trump would not rule out that he is close to such a conclusion.

Were going to see where it is. Were going to see where it comes from, he said.

Some former intelligence officials instantly pushed back.

Whether the virus originated in a market or accidentally escaped a lab would have had no bearing on the warnings Trump received  and ignored  nor on the preparatory steps he chose not to take, Ned Price, a former CIA and Obama White House official, tweeted as Mr Trump was still speaking in the East Room. This is all about manipulating intelligence for political ends.



Downing Street tried to sidestep the controversy, meanwhile. Asked about President Trumps claims a No 10 spokesman said: There are clearly questions that need to be answered about the origin and spread of the virus  (and) this work will need to be done with all our international partners.

The Trump administration has launched an intelligence community probe seeking information on what Chinese officials knew and when  and what the World Health Organisation knew. His administration also wants to know if both entities covered up what they did know.

Asked directly if he has seen evidence that the virus originated at a virology clinic in Wuhan, the president replied: I cant tell you that. Im not allowed to tell you that.

But he promised his administration will release conclusions from their investigation.

Earlier in the day, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a statement saying US intel officials have concluded the disease is not man-made.

The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing critical support to U.S. policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China. The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified, the DNI statement said.

Notably, the directors office indicated the statement was produced via an unanimous finding of all 16 American intelligence agencies, which can be rare.

But in another odd scene, Mr Trump did not appear to know what was the acronym DNI, nor give much credence to the statement, saying only: I havent seen the statement.

Throughout his tenure, Mr Trump has dismissed warnings and findings from his intelligence services, with Democrats alleging he ignored repeated intel community warnings in January and February about the coming Covid-19 virus and its potentially deadly spread inside the United States.
Four Arizona women were arrested after a mother of three who was reported missing in March was found dead.

Nadine Chavez, Mercedes Gomez, Christina Gomez and Melissa Servin were arrested in Mesa on Friday in connection to the disappearance and death of Melissa Valenzuela. They each face federal kidnapping charges, court records show.

Valenzuela, 34, was reported missing by her family on March 20. She was last seen three days prior with Mercedes and Christina Gomez, according to court documents obtained by NBC affiliate KPNX in Phoenix.

Melissa Valenzuela's body was found days after she was reported missing by her family on March 20. (Mesa Police Dept.)

Valenzuela's body was found on March 23, and her death was ruled a homicide, the outlet reported.

Mesa police told KPNX that all four suspects were seen arguing with a woman who matches Valenzuela's description on the night of March 17. One witness said she saw Servin, Chavez and Christina Gomez pushing or dragging a woman who was screaming for help.

Another witness said Valenzuela was forced inside Chavez's Phoenix home, according to the outlet.

Chavez's brother told investigators that he went to his sister's home and saw blood in the bathroom and missing floor tiles. The court documents allege that Mercedes and Christina Gomez left Valenzuela's body while the other women cleaned up.

The brother allegedly said that his sister confessed that Valenzuela was killed in the home. Authorities searched the home on Friday and found blood in the bathroom.

Police have not said where Valenzuela's body was found. Her family said Valenzuela was a mother to three sons.

From left, Mercedes Gomez, Christina Gomez, Melissa Servin and Nadine Chavez. (MCSO via KPNX)

She was so loved, her sister, Jessica Valenzuela, told KPNX. She loved spending time with the family, she was so happy and so funny and she smiled all the time.

Jessica added: "Shell never see her sons prom, shell never meet her grandkids, and she looked forward to all those things."

All four suspects are due in court on Monday. Attorneys for Chavez and Christina Gomez did not immediately return a request for comment. Attorney information was not available for Melissa Gomez and Servin.
Hes a good young man; he just made a bonehead decision, Ford said in a phone interview. Look, if the president of the United States can make the stupid comments about bleach and Lysol injecting and the vice president can go into a hospital without a mask, but this young man who is less than a third of their age and doesnt have the experience that they have, were going to nail him? No. Absolutely not. Were going to help him and hes going to be better from it and were going to connect with the young population and not further divide us with them.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:21:33|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. claim to scrutinize four Chinese telecommunications companies discriminates against China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Gao Feng, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference Thursday.

The discrimination will not only affect Chinese firms' investing in the United States but also undermine the confidence of companies around the world in the U.S. investment environment, Gao said.

China urges the United States to stop abusing the concept of national security and using state power to suppress enterprises legally operating in the United States, Gao said.

The United States should avoid treating enterprises unfairly because of their social systems and their ownerships, and provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for enterprises from all countries, including Chinese SOEs, to invest and operate in the United States, Gao said.

In response to the issue that "the United States has strengthened restrictions on technology exports," Gao said China has always firmly opposed the abuse of export control measures by the United States, which will hinder normal trade and cooperation among trading partners.

He hoped the United States would stop its erroneous practices to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of enterprises from both sides. Enditem
Meatpacking plants have become the new front where workers are fighting management over Covid-19 risk. But unlike medical professionals, who in theory can be hazmat suited up so as to greatly reduce exposure to contagion but arent due to the lack of PPE, you can rest assured that level of safety precaution will never happen in slaughterhouses because the pricing and margins of meat production wont allow for its.

The stakes for meat are high not simply due to the concentration of production, that that loss of not all that many plants has crippled on pork and beef supplies, with pork down by 1/4 and beef off by over 10%. It also results from the fact that the number of cases in these plants is so high that theyve made their communities into hot spots. So even if the plants were kept open, people in the area would be put at even more health risk. Thats why, three weeks ago, Governor Kristi Noem pressed Smithfield Foods to halt in its ginormous Sioux Falls operation, which had over 200 positive cases. Since then, coronavirus has shuttered at least 15 more plants. Wholesalers are warning of meat shortages in some regions, while in other areas, grocers are engaging in rationing lite (limiting the number of meat purchases), so as to keep shelves stocked and prevent panic buying.

John Tyson of Tyson Foods appears to have goaded Trump into acting via a series of newspaper ads blaring that The food supply chain is breaking. Cynics wondered if that was just cover for jacking up prices and giving Tyson cover so as not to be accused of profiteering.

But it seems that the industry honchos really did want the meat plants back in service. Trump quickly issued an executive order, using the Defense Production Act to authorize the plants to reopen. However, the press appears to have gotten out over its skis. Trumps order isnt forcing meat processors back into operation:

I dont mean to cause trouble, but I think these headlines are getting it wrong. Nothing in the text of the Order claims any power to force plants to stay open, and nothing in the statutory sections on which the Order purports to rely delegates such authority. Heres why: https://t.co/1b4nmAi68i  Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) April 29, 2020

However, the order does override state orders to suspend operations. And it gives the producers a big fat liability shield. From Mother Jones:

But heres a theory. Already, 20 meatpacking and food-processing workers have died from COVID-19, and more than 5,000 have contracted the disease, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. What if workers and their families start suing, claiming that the companies practices made them sick? Already, one workerat a Smithfield plant in Milan, Mo.filed a lawsuit claiming management was not sufficiently protecting workers from the risk of COID-19, and demanding that it follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. A president invoking the Defense Production Act to require meatpacking firms to keep their plants running during outbreaks would provide a solid basis for shielding the firms from suits like this, said Jennifer Zwagerman, director of Drake Universitys Agricultural Law Center. She noted that Walmart was recently sued for wrongful death by the family of a worker who died from COVID-19 complications.

And from Reason:

The big deal in the executive order and interpretations of it may be about meat processing plant liability for employee exposure. From [U.S. Solicitor of Labor Kate S.] OScannlain and [OSHA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren] Sweatts statement: Courts often consider compliance with OSHA standards and guidance as evidence in an employers favor in litigation. Where a meat, pork, or poultry processing employer operating pursuant to the Presidents invocation of the DPA has demonstrated good faith attempts to comply with the Joint Meat Processing Guidance and is sued for alleged workplace exposures, the Department of Labor will consider a request to participate in that litigation in support of the employers compliance program. Likewise, the Department of Labor will consider similar requests by workers if their employer has not taken steps in good faith to follow the Joint Meat Processing Guidance.

Even CBS worked out that the worker safety bits were a headfake; relevant agencies merely issued guidance.

Mike Elks PayDay report seems to be the only outlet covering Covid-19 strikes; his map now shows 153. Yesterday, Nebraska meatpackers struck. From Elks account:

Its unclear how Trump intends to use the Defense Production Act to force meat packing processing workers back into the assembly line. Organized labor immediately denounced the move. We only wish that this administration cared as much about the lives of working people as it does about meat, pork, and poultry products. When poultry plants shut down, its for deep cleaning and to save workers lives, said Stuart Applebaum, president of Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union. If the administration had developed meaningful safety requirements early on as they should have and still must do, this would not even have become an issue. Shortly after Trump announced his intention to issue his executive order, more than 50 meatpackers walked off the job after 48 co-workers tested positive for COVID-19 at Smithfields plant outside of Lincoln, Nebraska The Nebraska action follows a wildcat strike Monday night at Pilgrims Pride meatpacking plant in Cold Spring, Minn.

Another meatpacker facing coronavirus pushback in JBS. In Green Bay, 189 coronavirus cases have been linked to its facility there. Elk informs us that JBS is playing hardball:

At a JBS meatpacking plant in Greely, Colo., 5 workers have died of COVID-19 and at least 100 workers have tested positive for the virus. However, now JBS is threatening to sue the UFCW because of the negative media attention that they have received. From KUSA in Denver:

JBS has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the union that represents its workers, arguing that it has adopted a strategy of generating negative media attention and public opinion to gain concessions from the company while it battles an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at its Greeley meatpacking plant. They provided a copy of that letter to the 9NEWS by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 on Tuesday, and a rebuttal from the unions president, Kim Cordova. Unfortunately, your cease and desist letter, threatening to stifle our voice, and those of our members, as well as pursuing claims for unfounded, speculative, and unrecoverable damages is rife with numerous inaccuracies, suppositions, and erroneous conclusions wont spend time rebutting in their entirety, Cordova wrote.

Have no doubt that thats also meant to deter the Green Bay workers from making noise.

Trump has threatened to use the National Guard to replace strikers; Elk reports that Democratic Governor Tom Wolfe has called in the National Guard to replace nurses who walked out of a nursing home to demand better safety protections after 19 residents died. I wonder how much appetite members of the National Guard would have for the backbreaking pace of meat processing plants.

Heres a well argued take:

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts suggested yesterday that workers at meat packing facilities should face loss of unemployment benefits unless they returned to work. This follows on the heels of President Trumps announcement that he would invoke the Defense Production Act to reopen closed plants in an effort to protect the nations food supply-chain. Plants, regardless of safety, will be opened and workers will be coerced with loss of UI benefits so that Americans can get their pork, chicken, and beef in a timely fashion. Dont get me wrong. I like meat as much, and probably more, than the next guy and will start getting nervous when these products arent in my local grocery stores refrigerator case. But this one-two policy punch from the White House and Governor Ricketts has a few problems with it. These plants are out of operation not because workers have refused to do their jobs but because of serious COVID-19 outbreaks that forced their closure. There have been hundreds of cases of COVID-19 associated with these facilities and a number of deaths. The counties where the plants are located are becoming their own hot-spots in the unfolding disease crisis. Cramped working conditions and hard physical labor seem to lend themselves to efficient viral transmission. Theres an even darker side to the situation, though. Somewhere between 30 and 50 percent of the meat-packing workforce is made up of undocumented workers from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador as well as immigrants from East African nations. As Smithfield Foods statement on the Sioux Falls outbreak indelicately put it, the living conditions of these immigrants are different than they are with your traditional American family. Get it? They are in overcrowded houses with inadequate sanitation. They arent like us. Since many  perhaps a majority  of them lack legal status, they are unable to defend themselves against exploitative or coercive labor practices. As recently as last August, ICE agents were rounding them up by the hundreds for deportation. We need to make up our minds on a number of issues. On the one hand, we shower praise on essential workers in hospitals, grocery stores, sanitation and other occupations. On the other, we engage in acts of economic coercion with vulnerable populations who do some of the dirtiest, most difficult, and most dangerous work around. We build a fence along our southern border to keep out illegal immigrants but then seek to force those who are already here to do jobs American citizens simply will not do.

Why so coy about the source? Its from Brent Orrell.at the American Enterprise Institute. That American Enterprise Institute. Orrell, at one of the bastions of free market ideology, gives a more straightforward statement in support of meatpacking plant workers than I have yet to see from any Democrat.

And while the Orrell does not support strikes, do you seriously think Team Dem would? The press has barely taken note of them. Even Labor Notes has Covid-19 entries only on medical worker and teacher actions (well, and library stafers too).

In other words, the abandonment of workers is so complete that some conservatives are more willing (even if selectively) to stand up for laborers, recognizing the necessity and arduousness of their jobs, than liberals or the Vichy Left, whose silence is deafening.
Protracted negotiations between the government of SVG, represented by PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, and Royal Caribbean Crusies, have further delayed the return of the sailors.

Three hundred Vincentian sailors with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. who were expected to arrive home today, April 30, will not do so now.





This after Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves disclosed that permission was not granted to a Miami based airline  Swift Air - to land two 737 aircraft, transporting the sailors, at the AIA on that day.





Swift Air, apparently overzealous in its desire to deliver on a contract, had overlooked a protocol governing the return of the sailors. That being that the returning nationals must have certificates of health issued by the authorities in the country of departure. The certificate must indicate their COVID-19 status.





Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. acknowledged that this had not yet been realized, and that they had not yet received approval from the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for the repatriation of the sailors.





According to the Prime Minister, in a statement via radio on Tuesday, the sailors will now arrive by ship, but it is anticipated that there will be a period of up to two weeks before the ship(s) set sail.





The sailors, whose case has become the focus of much attention on Social Media and radio talk shows, have spent several weeks in isolation aboard cruise ships since the outbreak of what is now the COVID-19 pandemic.





In an address on April 24 via Social Media, Prime Minister Gonsalves said that there were still relevant protocols to be worked out as government does its all to bring home the sailors.





In that address, he urged families and relatives of the sailors, to "ignore a lot of the falsehoods that were being circulated on Social Media and in the public.





In response to all the publicity that the issue had attracted, Dr Gonsalves declared that there were persons seeking to undermine the negotiations between government and cruise lines.





And while speaking on radio on April 26, he addressed what he termed a falsehood i.e. that government was requesting cruise lines to pay up to US$150 per person, to accommodate crew members in quarantine.





He reported that accommodation for a batch of 299 crew members had already been identified, and that a request had been made for the cruise line to pay for the expenses related to the sailors quarantine, and explained that the $150.00 (inclusive of three meals) was the price the hotel here had asked to accommodate the sailors for a night.





And even as he said there were some who believed that the government should pay for the accommodation, he considered that the responsibility of the cruise lines.





In fact, Gonsalves said that all but one CARICOM Head of State shared this view.





While some cruise lines had acknowledged their responsibility to transport crew members to St Vincent and the Grenadines, there were other details to be worked out in relation to getting crew members home, Dr. Gonsalves said.





One such detail surrounded the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (as referenced earlier in this article) which continues to restrict the movement of cruise personnel.





Cruise ships are not allowed to disembark passengers or crew members at any US port or station unless directed by the United States Coast Guard.
A McDonald's customer accused of spitting at a teenage worker allegedly claimed she had coronavirus and coughed at a police officer during her arrest.

The 51-year-old allegedly spat on the 18-year-old fast food worker after her card was declined at the franchise in Eagle Vale Marketplace, Sydney's western suburbs, on Wednesday night.

Police were called to the McDonald's store at about 8.20pm after the woman allegedly became aggressive and shattered a glass door.

The 51-year-old was arrested in the shopping centre and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.

The 51-year-old woman is accused of spitting on the 18-year-old fast food worker after her card was declined at the franchise in Eagle Vale Marketplace (pictured), Sydney's western suburbs, on Wednesday night

She allegedly told officers she tested positive for COVID-19 while in custody and coughed in the face of a male senior constable.

The woman was charged with not complying with a direction regarding spitting or coughing during the COVID-19 crisis, common assault and destroying property.

Her matter was briefly mentioned at Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday. She did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

She's due back at the same court on May 18.

A McDonald's spokesman told Macarthur Chronicle the staff member had been offered 'full support'.

'The safety and security of our people and customers is our top priority,' he said.

'We have a number of security measures in place, such as CCTV, and are assisting the police with their investigation into this incident.

'We do not tolerate any form of violence or abuse.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted McDonald's for comment.
MUNICH, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / As of today's date, there are over 3,000,000 confirmed cases & over 200,000 deaths reported globally due to the Covid 19 epidemic. There are a lot of challenges the world is facing currently & will face in the near future due to this immense calamity. There are already estimations of losses up to $8 trillion to global economy & job losses at unprecedented levels. Although most businessmen at this time might be worried about reopening the market and restarting their business right from scratch. There are some exemplary entrepreneurs who are using their skills, acumen & network to help fight the battle against Covid19.

People might be sitting at home watching Netflix, cooking, or just chilling while the frontline fighters of the Covid War namely doctors, nurses, police & other essential service personnel are putting their lives on the line. But their efforts are being subdued by the shortage of protective equipment like masks, coveralls & PPE kits etc. Since the world is facing this crisis together and without preparation, there are huge shortages & supply chain barriers which make the availability of important equipment even more scarce.

While everyone else can just be a spectator some are taking the initiative of asking themselves - "How can I help?". Four young entrepreneurs namely Dr. Evan Singh Luthra, Nicholas Duro, Paurush Kumar & David Wang are bridging gaps in the supply chain of mask & other protective gear equipment procurement & fulfillment in countries like China, Germany, Dominican Republic, India, Switzerland, UAE, USA and more.

After the outbreak of corona virus halted the international trade routes & intra nation transport, it got almost impossible to even maintain the proper supply of medical equipment which was a necessity to tackle COVID-19 infection. The national governments & healthcare industry was working under a shortage of masks & other protective gear. This situation limits the capability of healthcare professionals to do their job but also exposes them to the risk of acquiring the disease. Finding out about this troublesome situation Evan Luthra who is an entrepreneur & the founder of StartupStudio decided to use his experience, business network & acumen to find solutions to barriers in supplying Corona Prevention supply.

He got together with Nicholas Duro (founder & owner MaskMarket), Paurush Kumar (Trinaya Legal) & David Wang (founder of Harbor Health) and created an all star team that can manage functions of economical procurement, quick delivery & legal compliance. This dream team is creating an open & secure channel for ensuring the delivery of protective medical equipment even when international borders are being closed. In general manufacturing of medical equipment and delivery is a process which is completed in multiple countries. For eg: the raw material will be sourced from Vietnam going to a manufacturer in India who ships products to China to be packed from where the products go to warehouses in Spain & finally get delivered to hospitals in US. But this kind of process is not sustainable in the current lockdown scenario as every country is exercising its own set of restrictions.

So what did these guys do? Well, they brainstormed and cataloged every manufacturer who was able to provide quality supply, researched & established shipping routes & verified legal obligations to figure out the perfect procurement & delivery structure for Corona prevention products.

Dr. Luthra took care of finding & verifying the manufacturers and suppliers in regards to their location, production capacity, certifications & safety measures. He also invested in his own manufacturing units across the world where production is being increased to match the increasing demand on an everyday basis. Besides being a mastermind for the whole project Dr Luthra is using his network to authenticate demand as well by establishing that only genuine hospitals, healthcare ministries & non-profits working to fight the coronavirus epidemic are handed over the equipment & not middlemen looking to make a profit.

Nicholas Duro took the responsibility of figuring out the correct trading routes where there were no delays and bureaucratic barriers in managing the logistics of medical equipment. As the need for medical PPE kits & masks is urgent, the delivery time becomes the most important factor in the operation. The doctors & other medical staff are not able to do their job of saving lives in the case of absence or delay in receiving the protective medical equipment. Hence the international & national level transportation needs to be highly coordinated & friction-free to ensure that front line fighters receive the required tools to fight. Nicholas already manages the logistics for his private island business so using his experience & network he intelligently figured out logistics routes & vendors who can handle the responsibility diligently. The contribution made by Nicholas' reduced the overall delivery time by 60% and shipments are being delivered from places in Asia to Europe & Americas.

David Wang has founded Harbor Health in Germany, Europe. The mission is to improve the lives of millions around Europe by responding to the shortage of protected gear equipment.

Together with Evan and Nick, he advised on various transactions for large volume protected gear equipment to ensure that an end-to-end trusted supply chain is guaranteed during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. Overall, Evan was one of the key investors of Harbor Health and he placed an initial seed investment to implement a trusted supply chain for protected gear equipment in Europe.

Harbor Health also donates part of the profits back to those who have been made redundant and who have been affected during these unprecedented times with its MaskOn Campaign.

For Charities and non-profits Harbor Health makes available masks in high volumes at-cost prices and has most recently worked with AD Singh Charitable Trust to donate hundreds of thousands of masks in New Delhi, India.

The final piece of the puzzle is legal compliance. In major purchases across borders, there are a lot of financial & legal standards that have to be taken into account while structuring the deal. And international exports require a lot of certificates & permissions to be approved beforehand otherwise shipments can be halted in the middle of the journey. In order to resolve this conundrum, Paurush Kumar from Trinaya legally stepped in to manage the contracts & structured every deal to comply with legal standards. His help ensured that payments & interests of all parties involved were secured via iron clad contracts.

The team also took care of establishing that only genuine hospitals, healthcare ministries & non-profits working to fight the coronavirus epidemic are handed over the equipment & not middlemen looking to make a profit. The entire undertaking by these 4 young entrepreneurs is an example of modern-day problem-solving. In a pandemic scenario that nobody was prepared for, these guys are showing everyone how to eliminate challenges and inefficiencies through team building & utilizing competencies to the maximum potential.

Contact Info:

Hello@EvanLuthra.com

SOURCE: EL Group International

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587826/3-Young-Entrepreneurs-leading-the-fight-against-COVID-19-CORONAVIRUS
A man wearing a protective suit aboard a train heading to Shanghai at Wuhan Railway Station in Wuhan, China's central Hubei province, on April 21, 2020. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

China Knew Virus Was Contagious But Kept Silent for Days: Leaked Documents

Chinese health officials were drawing up plans to combat the CCP virus, which they knew to be infectious, days before they informed the public about its potential to spread, according to internal government documents obtained by The Epoch Times.

The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. The virus has since spread to more than 200 countries and territories, causing more than 61,000 deaths in the United States alone.

China officially confirmed that the virus could be transmitted between humans on Jan. 20, when top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan made the announcement.

Now, internal documents provided to The Epoch Times show that Beijing covered up what it knew, as central authorities were secretly providing directives to regional governments on how to cope with the outbreak.

On Jan. 15, the regional health commission in northern Chinas Inner Mongolia issued a super urgent emergency notice to its municipal counterparts, explaining how medical facilities should respond to a new form of pneumonia. The notice said that Chinas National Health Commission had implemented treatment and prevention measures for local health agencies to deal with the new disease (now known as COVID-19).

Notice from the Inner Mongolian Health Commission, instructing local health agencies on how to respond to the virus. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

Three measures stated in the notice clearly indicated that Chinese officials knew the disease was infectious.

First, it asked hospitals to take measures to prevent the disease from spreading inside their facilities and train staff on such actions. Second, it asked hospitals to set up fever clinics and to pre-screen and triage anyone experiencing a fever, to determine levels of urgency for treating patients.

Hospitals also were directed to ask those patients if they had been to markets in Wuhan in the previous two weeks. While Wuhan authorities initially claimed that the virus likely originated from a local fresh food market, studies have since shown that some of Wuhans first patients had no link to that market.

Finally, hospitals were instructed to set up special treatment teams that included infectious disease experts, the notice stated.

The Inner Mongolian health commission had no intention of informing the public about these plans, stating that the notice was for internal use only, and cannot be distributed on the internet.

In another internal document, issued Jan. 15 by the local health commission in Xilingol Leagueone of 12 administrative divisions within Inner Mongoliaauthorities also emphasized fever as a key symptom.

The leagues health commission stated that local health agencies must strengthen their management of screening and triage patients with fever, adding that it called for such management based on teleconferences held by officials in Central and Inner Mongolia about the virus.

On Jan. 19, a top Wuhan health official took questions from reporters, saying that he couldnt rule out human-to-human transmission, but its risk was rather low.

On Jan. 23, three days after Zhongs public statement, Chinas National Health Commission publicly released the third edition of a document, titled Diagnosis and Treatment Plan for the New Coronavirus.

The document stated that cases reported in Wuhan hospitals beginning in December 2019 were confirmed to be caused by an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus. That statement was also included in the second edition of the document, issued on Jan. 18two days before Zhongs announcement.

The second edition, which was leaked to The Epoch Times, was previously kept secret. The notice is marked with the words: not to be disclosed.

A copy of the second edition of Chinas National Health Commission guidelines on virus response, with the words, not to be disclosed at the bottom. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

The second edition contains a section explaining that medical personnel in hospital departments that treat patients with fever, respiratory problems, and infectious diseases should wear a surgical mask, goggles, and one-time-use protective clothing.

Despite instructions that showing central authorities knew the virus could be spread among medical staff, they kept silent until Jan. 20.

The Inner Mongolian documents showed that local health commissions were already warned about virus prevention measures by Jan. 15. But that day, the Wuhan Health Commission wrote on its website that the risk of human-to-human infection is low.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also initially repeated Chinas claims that the virus wasnt contagious.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, the WHO tweeted on Jan. 14.

A recent report by The Associated Press, also citing a series of internal memos, similarly found that Beijing knew of the viruss transmissibility for six days before publicly conceding that on Jan. 20.

It took another two days before the WHOs mission to China issued a statement confirming that human-to-human transmission is taking place in Wuhan.
Net curtains. Theyre respectable enough when they hang straight, especially when made from lace, not nylon.

But if theyre drawn to the side with a loop hitching them up at the middle, theyre common  like a blousy woman emerging from the lavatory who doesnt realise shes got the hem of her underskirt tucked into the top of her knickers.

That observation could only be made by Alan Bennett, the playwright with an ear tuned to detect the peculiarly English sound of the lower-middle class rubbing up against the working class. Bennett, now 85, is a sort of Coronation Street Poet Laureate, and as beloved to several generations of readers as Pooh Bear.

Imelda Staunton (left) plays compulsive letter writer Irene, repeating Patricia Routledges Talking Heads appearances

He affects to dislike, or at least not to understand, this outpouring of national affection: he could stab Judi Dench with a pitchfork, he complains, and still be thought to be kindly, cosy and essentially harmless.

He has been at the fore of the theatre for almost 60 years, since his revue breakthrough in Beyond The Fringe, alongside Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller, of whom he is the last survivor.

But despite the sheaf of plays at the National Theatre, the cinema success of The History Boys, his evergreen readings of childrens books such as The Wind In The Willows, and his delightful diaries published every year in the London Review Of Books, one television series above all established his reputation with the ordinary viewing public  the kind of people he writes about.

Jodie Comer (left) will be aspiring actress Lesley  Julie Walters played her in 1988

That series was called Talking Heads. A collection of six playlets, half an hour or 40 minutes long and each written for a single actor, the BBC aired it in 1988 to unprecedented critical acclaim. That was followed ten years later by six more  all starring the best of Britains stage talent, such as Maggie Smith and Patricia Routledge.

Now BBC1 has announced it is remaking Talking Heads, inspired by the sudden need for TV drama that can be filmed within the constraints of social distancing.

The time is ripe for Bennetts characters, because social distancing is what they have been doing all their lives... terrified of emotional closeness, embarrassed by any public display of feeling, and suspicious of everyone.

Stars this time around include Sarah Lancashire, Jodie Comer, Kristin Scott Thomas and Harriet Walter.

Martin Freeman (left) is Graham, reprising the role first played by Alan Bennett himself in the first Talking Heads episode

The lead director is Nicholas Hytner, who has already started work on filming at Elstree Studios.

A BBC press release promises that the production team is following the latest Government guidelines on Covid-19 to ensure that the series is made safely and responsibly.

Even Hytner himself assures: The shoot will never bring any of us within touching distance of each other, but I hope that in every other way it will reach out and touch millions of viewers.

That prospect seems a certainty. Bennetts writing was never better than in these individual portraits, like silhouettes etched in acid onto the lino floors and Formica tabletops of ordinary British homes.

The first, A Chip In The Sugar, aired in April 1988 and starred Bennett himself as Graham, a middle-aged man who lives with his white-haired mam.

Graham is fastidious, prudish and feeling uneasy about the reappearance in his mothers life of an old flame  Mr Turnbull, a widower. It seems Mam and Mr Turnbull might have had a dirty weekend in a boarding house in Filey, near Scarborough, between the wars.

Graham had no idea about this  I didnt know you had a past, he says. I thought I was your past.

He doesnt like the way they both fall about laughing when Mr Turnbull says: No sand in the bedrooms! In a piece of sublime casting, Graham will be played this time by Martin Freeman.

Kristin Scott Thomas (left) takes the role of antiques dealer Celia, first played by Eileen Atkins (right) in 1998

His task is to convey the single most important fact inGrahams life, something the character doesnt even realise himself  that he and his Mam, for all practical purposes, are like an old married couple.

No wonder hes jealous about this Mr Turnbull, with his Rover 2000 and three-quarterlength quilted mackintosh.

That, says Bennett, is the secret to most of the people in Talking Heads: These narrators are artless. They dont quite know what they are saying and are telling a story, to the meaning of which they are not entirely privy.

Nowhere is this more poignantly and hilariously true than in the episode Her Big Chance, first made with Julie Walters and now to star Killing Eves Jodie Comer. She plays Lesley, a TV extra who has struggled for years to land an acting role, and finally believes she has done it  as a gangsters moll in a low-budget crime flick.

Lesleys scenes mostly call for her to sunbathe naked and get groped by the policeman who shoots her boyfriend.

The films coming out in Germany, initially, then Turkey possibly.

She is so desperate to be a star that she cant see how demeaning the role is. She even sleeps with the director, Gunther, just to hear that she played the part well.

Tamsin Greig (left) plays lonely Rosemary, the role taken by Penelope Wilton in the second series of Alan Bennetts monologues in 1998

Their pillow talk was all the praise she wanted: Listen, Gunther told her, if someone is a bad actress, I cant sleep with her. So dont ask me if I was pleased with your performance. This is the proof.

Lesley sighs: Hes a real artist, is Gunther. Bennett says he has seen dozens of Lesleys at auditions over the years in the foreword to his scripts:

Perky, undefeated, their hopes of stardom long since gone, these actors retail the films or plays one might have glimpsed them in.

One had played a postman for a few weeks in Emmerdale... Only I havent done any since. They dont seem to be getting much mail.

Its this sensitivity to hints of unhappiness that fill Bennetts work with pathos. Much of it wells up from his vivid memories of childhood as the son of a butcher in Armley, Leeds.

Brought up in the provinces in the Forties and Fifties, he says, one learned the valuable lesson that life is generally something that happens elsewhere.

Harriet Walter (left) takes the part of pillar-of-the-community Muriel, first played by Stephanie Cole in 1988

Some of his fathers prejudices and peccadilloes emerge in the scripts, such as a line he once heard Walter Bennett hurl at a dog in his butchers shop: Get out, you nasty lamppostsmelling little article!

But it was his mothers keen sense of the familys social position that made the deepest impression.

He has never lost his distaste for the things Mam frowned upon: A catalogue of disapproval that ranged through tattoos, red paint, yellow gloves, two-tone cardigans, fake leopardskin coats, dyed blonde hair, slacks, cocktail cabinets and statuettes of ladies with Alsatian dogs on leashes.

All these things, like net curtains hitched up in loops, were common, and the essence of everything common was cheap pleasure.

Lesley Manville (left) is alcoholic vicars wife Susan, the character originally portrayed by Maggie Smith in 1988

This applied to places as well as people: Blackpool was common (people enjoying themselves), Morecambe less so (not enjoying themselves as much), and Grange and Lytham not common at all (enjoyment not really on the agenda). Unsurprisingly, the Bennett family on holiday aspired to Grange and Lytham, not Blackpool and Morecambe.

Even in Benidorm, Mam would try to find the upmarket end: Well, we dont like it all hectic, do we, Dad?

Sentiments like these struck a lingering chord with viewers of Talking Heads in 1988.

Millions who might never have gone to the theatre to see a Bennett play were captivated by his deep sympathy for the things that truly matter to ordinary people  the details that define social standing.

Maxine Peake (left) portrays a middle-aged department store shop assistant, just as Patricia Routledge did in 1998

The one that caused the most stir at the time, because it depicted a slow death, was called A Cream Cracker Under The Settee.

It starred Thora Hird as Doris, a woman of uncompromising standards, who has fallen and fractured her hip while trying to do the dusting that her home help has missed.

Yet A Cream Cracker Under The Settee is one of two episodes that are not being remade, perhaps because there isnt a drop of emotion that Dame Thora hasnt already wrung out of that script.

But as compensation, we will get two new pieces by Bennett: The Shrine, starring Monica Dolan, and An Ordinary Woman, with Sarah Lancashire. They promise to be heartbreaking and deliciously funny at the same time... though not with the sort of jokes to make you laugh out loud. That would be common.
But neither mockery nor defiance will blunt the awful impact of this virus on our health and our economy. Masks will. The fact that not wearing one has to some become an expression of bravery, freedom or allegiance to Trump is a tragedy in the making and a development that stands only to delay the time when we get our lives back again.
A couple of months ago I was on the subway  you remember subways?  and I noticed one of those scruffy model types who are so good looking that the disheveled hair and torn T-shirt only serve to accentuate it. The whole thing adds up, somehow, to style. I might not have remembered this, in the course of a days routine people-watching, except for one too-perfect-to-be-true detail: He was reading Middlemarch, a book whose first chapter begins, Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress.

I miss seeing what people are reading. But I can tell you some of the books weve been enjoying lately, here in our scattered living rooms and bedrooms and home offices. This week they include a new collection of novellas by Stephen King, and Julia Alvarezs first adult novel in 14 years. A collection of essays by the remarkable poet Kay Ryan. One novel about sisters in Japan, and another about a political prisoner in Iran. We recommend a history of sex (more precisely, a history of attitudes about sex) and a history of the turn of the first millennium that argues globalization began far earlier than we think.

More recommendations: In On Vanishing, Lynn Casteel Harper challenges societys approach to dementia patients. In The Sword and the Shield, Peniel E. Joseph shows that Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were more alike than history remembers. In American Poison, Eduardo Porter looks at the ways racial hostility and resentment have impeded social progress in matters of policy and political cohesion. Finally, two books that offer refreshing looks at womens lives early in the 20th century: Wendy Moores No Mans Land describes a British military hospital in World War I that was organized and operated entirely by women, and Brigitte Benkemouns Finding Dora Maar recounts what happened when the author chanced across Maars diary on eBay. No spoilers  but Middlemarch serves nicely again: The effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive.

Gregory Cowles

Senior Editor, Books

Twitter: @GregoryCowles

A CURIOUS HISTORY OF SEX, by Kate Lister. (Unbound, $28.95.) Lister operates the website Whores of Yore, about historical attitudes toward sex work and desire in general. Her book offers a compendium of fascinating details concerning our approach to the libido, both pro and con: Among other things, she reminds us that cornflakes and graham crackers were both developed to inhibit masturbation. Lister is aware that her book, dark passages aside, is a romp rather than an especially serious or comprehensive work of history or criticism, our critic Dwight Garner writes. Shes mostly quite good company on the page.  Wherever we are heading, whatever your proclivities, Lister has this comment: I promise, its all been done before.
Calm Island jointly announced a strategic partnership with global education leader, Pearson Education. The partnership will see Pearson's world-class educational content integrated into KidsLoop , providing a new and interactive way for children to engage with its curriculum.

Joe Lam, Managing Director of Pearson Greater China and India, noted that the strategic partnership between the two parties comes at an important time for Pearson after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other notable Chinese education brands including Owen Group, cRAdleGrow, and MoreCare, have also announced their support to utilize the KidsLoop platform. During the month of May, Calm Island expects to announce the joining of additional global education brands to KidsLoop.

"It is an honor to work with such high-caliber companies and offer the best early education curriculum", noted Calm Island CEO, David Roberts. "KidsLoop is a fun new experience for children, teachers, and parents alike. We are confident that we will bring great joy and improve the quality of teaching for children all around the world."

KidsLoop's multi-faceted SaaS offering combines a rich content and learning management system (CLMS), complete with an interactive content library and lesson planning tools, in addition to KidsLoop Live, which facilitates interactive and secure live-streamed lessons.

Another important aspect of KidsLoop is the collection and analysis of learning data. Data privacy is ensured through end-to-end encryption on a blockchain backend. Furthermore, the Intellectual Property of content providers is protected through digital watermarking and DRM technology. Protecting the user's privacy and the owner's IP are now essential features for any new education platform.

"COVID-19 has accelerated many digital trends and we can clearly see that early education is also changing. As schools adapt to this new paradigm, they need an online solution for when in-class learning is disrupted. KidsLoop will help early education providers with their Offline-to-Online (O2O) transition", CEO David Roberts, explained.

For more information, please visit: https://kidsloop.net/

About Calm Island.

Calm Island is a global EdTech company founded in 2011, with offices in Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and Los Angeles. The company seeks to pair emotionally engaging content with technology and data to improve early childhood reading and literacy levels. Through its popular Badanamu brand and early education platform KidsLoop, Calm Island provides engaging learning solutions to children around the world.

SOURCE Calm Island

Related Links

https://kidsloop.net/


Advertising sector watchdog ASCI investigated in January complaints against 342 advertisements, of which 110 were withdrawn immediately and 208 were upheld, including those of Prince Pipes, Bajaj Auto, Dabur, P&G, HUL, PayPal, among others.

Actor Akshay Kumar's brand campaign for Prince Pipes and Fittings, claiming "zero defect" products, was among the adsthat faced flak from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self-regulatory body of the industry.

The Bollywood actor also does not seem to have done any due diligence before endorsing the product as Prince Pipes did not present any evidence towards this effect, the ASCI said in a statement.

In the monthly data shared by the body amaximum83 ads were from the education sector, 64 from healthcare, 8 from personal care and seven from the real estate sector.

In the PrinePipes ad featuring Akshay Kumar, the claim of 'Zero Defect' carries an asterisk, which is qualified to mention 'zero defect manufacturing process' which may not result in 'zero defect product', the body said, adding that the advertiser was also not able to prove the 'Zero Defect' claim.

The Prince ad is misleading, explouts consumers' lack of knowledge and can lead to widespread disappointment in the minds of consumers, the ASCI statement said, adding campaigns from Hero Motorcorp and HT Media were also found to be erring on the same grounds.

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever's campaign for Kissan Ketchup was also found to be misleading for its claim of "boring roti-sabji ko banaiye yummy kissan roll" because it discredited regular roti-subjiby calling it boring and also disparaged good food practices.

In the case of Paypal, a Whatsapp advertisement's claim of 100 per cent cashback voucher was not substantiated, while for Dabur India, it was a TV ad's messaging of "With Fairness get Flawless skin" which was found to be in contravention of the set guidelines.

For P&G, a TV ad of shampoo brand Heads and Shoulders' which made the claim of "make hair straight" was not substantiated, while for a Bajaj Pulsar ad, visuals ofboy seated on a trolley and speeding in it in a supermarket store, a boy dressed in superman costume jumping off a diving platform into an isolated swimming pool with no lifeguard shown and boys shown to be standing on a water slide and tumbling were found to be objectionable, the ASCI said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) announced in a statement Thursday that it is investigating whether the coronavirus pandemic began through human contact with wild animals in China or if it was the result of a laboratory accident in Wuhan.

Why it matters: The ODNI said it concurs with the scientific consensus that the virus was "not manmade or genetically modified." The statement comes after some U.S. officials have promoted an unsubstantiated theory linking the virus to an infectious-disease lab in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.

The big picture: Senior Trump administration officials have pushed U.S. spy agencies to find evidence supporting the theory, the New York Times reports.

China has denied the allegation, but senior Chinese officials have also pushed their own theories linking the coronavirus to a military laboratory in the U.S.

The coronavirus crisis has sent U.S.-China relations spiraling, alarming analysts who say the two countries are at their most dangerous point in decades, Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian reports.

Go deeper: What we know about the Chinese lab at the center of the coronavirus controversy
Graduation

During Monday's Billings Public Schools trustees meeting, SD2 Superintendent Greg Upham floated a plan to host graduation in groups of 10 students at a time without guests present in a series of diploma conferrals that could take place over several days.

Since then, "I've received a lot of feedback, a lot of disappointment," he said in a Wednesday video update.

The plan is still flexible, he said, and he continued to push the importance of social distancing.

Some of Yellowstone County's smaller high schools have announced more expansive graduation plans.

Laurel High School is aiming to host an outdoor ceremony with enforced social distancing. Students will get four wristbands for guests, and the ceremony will be live-streamed.

Billings Central Catholic High School announced a "tentative" plan to host graduation in the school gym like previous years. Graduates would be able to have four guests. The event will also be live-streamed.

The school emphasized that nothing is set in stone.
by Nirmala Carvalho

No one has a place for us. We build cities, posh houses; yet we don't even have a mattress to lie down and sleep, one migrant said.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  The situation of migrants continues to be difficult. When the lockdown was imposed, it came with only a four-hour notice, leaving many of them homeless, jobless and angry.

AsiaNews met a group of them, desperately trying to find a place to stay in any migrant relief camp. They said they were all skilled labourers.

From the time of the lockdown, we have been out of work, without money, without a place to stay. We have been moving from place to place, avoiding the police, who beat us up.

We stayed under the flyover for a few nights, hiding from the police, but we were caught and chased away. Now we have been told that there is a migrant relief camp, but we are not allowed in. They told us that the police must bring us here, that we cannot come on our own.

Shakir Ali (pictured, in the blue shirt) hails from Amravati, Maharashtra. He is a skilled mason. AsiaNews asked him if he was fasting for Ramadan.

"Madam, on the first day, I began my fast, but it is almost impossible, he explained. There is nothing available for us here; we are only wandering to escape the police, without money or shelter, or a proper place to wash and clean up. How can I fast like a good Muslim? I am a skilled worker, but people here are giving us food, like charity.

Ali opened his bag and showed a banana, lunch boxes and a bottle of water. "I have nothing, I have been here without dignity for a month.

Ravi Marathe, from Sawanatiwadi, wears a green shirt and a green mask. Our plight is pathetic, he told AsiaNews. I have absolutely no money, I am a skilled mason, building houses for people in Mumbai. But now, No one has a place for us. We build cities, posh houses; yet we don't even have a mattress to lie down and sleep.

For a month we have been living under flyovers or in the streets. We are treated so badly; police beat us for roaming during the lockdown. We don't want to roam around.

The authorities should make arrangements to send us home; we have houses in our villages. We came to work, to earn (a living), to live with dignity, but here we are given food for charity.

Asked why people are not allowed into the migrant relief camp, the watchman said that they have not been tested.
An icy blast will bring torrential rain, hail, damaging winds and snow across Australia, with farmers in New South Wales and Queensland warned their sheep could die from a freezing cold front.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects maximum temperatures to drop into the single digits and mid-teens in NSW on Friday, with gusty westerly winds exacerbating the chill.

Thunderstorms are forecast in Sydney on Thursday, with tops of 23C, before temperatures drop to just 16C on Friday with lows of 10C.

Senior forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse said a rain band stretching from the northwest to the southeast of NSW would move further east on Thursday.

'Behind that we're seeing more showers and more thunderstorm activity as the cold front moves through,' Ms Woodhouse said.

Sheep graziers in NSW districts including the Hunter, the northern, southern and central tablelands and the Snowy Mountains, as well as southern Queensland, have been warned their sheep are at risk of dying in the icy chill

Thunderstorms are forecast in Sydney on Thursday, with tops of 23C, before temperatures drop to just 16C on Friday with lows of 10C

A severe weather warning has been issued for heavy rain and damaging winds around the alpine peaks, the southwest slopes and parts of the Australian Capital Territory.

Another warning for damaging winds has also been issued for the Riverina region and parts of western NSW, and flood warnings are in place for a number of catchments along the western slopes.

Sheep graziers in districts including the Hunter, the northern, southern and central tablelands and the Snowy Mountains have been warned their livestock is at risk of dying in the icy chill.

Ms Woodhouse said temperatures would cool significantly on Thursday and Friday following the cold front.

'Friday for most people is going to be one of the coldest days, with quite gusty westerly winds making it feel significantly colder,' she said.

'With maximum temperatures across the state generally either single digits or into the mid-teens in a few places, it's going to be incredibly cold on Friday.'

Thredbo, in the Snowy Mountains, has been blanketed in snow overnight, with 40cm due to fall by Friday.

More snow is likely to be above 1,000 metres mostly late this afternoon and evening, with heavy snow falls possible for Friday.

Thredbo, in the Snowy Mountains, has been blanketed in snow overnight, with 40cm due to fall by Friday

Hail is possible with thunderstorms, while northwesterly winds of up to 60km/h are set for Thursday, with a top temperature of just 1C.

Temperatures in Canberra are expected to plummet to just 7C on Friday, which would be the coldest day before winter since the 1950s.

In southern Queensland, there's fears lambs and sheep could die when a brutal cold snap hits and pushes the mercury below zero.

The weather bureau has warned graziers on the Darling Downs and Granite Belt they could lose animals as a huge mass of cold air closes in.

Temperatures are expected to start dropping from Thursday afternoon, when there's also a possibility of a severe thunderstorm in Brisbane.

It's the overnight minimum temperatures that have the bureau worried about stock losses.

A huge sinkhole formed in Kew, in Melbourne's inner city. The SES said the hole formed after a pipe for stormwater access broke

The giant hole is 12m wide and 5m deep, but there's fears it could get deeper with more rainfall forecast

At Stanthorpe, on the Southern Downs, the minimum temperature will hit 3C on Friday, before plunging to -2C on Sunday and Monday.

It's a similar story in other southern rural communities west of Brisbane.

In a warning to sheep graziers, the bureau said the cold would be accompanied by rain, showers and south westerly winds from Thursday.

'There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions,' it said.

But wool traders have told the ABC only newly sheared sheep will be at risk and those that still have their fleeces should be okay.

Brisbane is also set for chilly conditions, with the minimum on Friday to drop to 14C, and just 9C on Saturday and Sunday.

Victorians have been warned to prepare for wild weather, as five days of low temperatures and heavy rain grips the state.

Melburnians awoke to dry weather on Thursday morning after 23mm of rain fell in the city overnight.

Areas around Springvale, southwest of the CBD, received 40mm of rain, while Mount Buller recorded 110mm in just 24 hours.

A huge sinkhole formed in Kew, in the inner city, and a number of trees came down as a result of extreme weather.

The giant hole is 12m wide and 5m deep, but there's fears it could get deeper with more rainfall forecast.

The SES said the hole formed after a pipe for stormwater access broke.

Kew resident Carol Beary described the sinkhole as 'like something you seen on television'.

Areas around Springvale, southwest of Melbourne's CBD, received 40mm of rain, while Mount Buller recorded 110mm in just 24 hours

Victorians have been warned to prepare for wild weather, as five days of low temperatures and heavy rain grips the state

The state has already seen more rain in just the first four months of this year than all of 2019.

The State Emergency Service received 250 call-outs for help, mostly for structures damaged by the wild weather.

An icy blast is set to return by this afternoon, with a top of 15C is forecast for Thursday morning before showers later in the day.

Friday will have highs of just 12C, but the wind chill factor will make it feel like 8C.

Saturday's temperature will rise slightly to 13C, and 14C on Sunday.

Tasmania will also be hit by showers around the state on Thursday with temperatures expected to slowly drop over the coming days.

Hobart will see lows of 7C today, as an icy chill and rain forecast for the weekend.

St Helens, Swansea and Launceston will be even colder with temperatures plummeting to just 4C over the next few days.
- The Department of Trade and Industry gave a strong warning against landlords and building owners

- While the ECQ is in place, they are not allowed to collect rent from their tenants

- DTI announced that sanctions await those landlords and building owners who would be collecting rent

- Under the Bayanihan Act, unpaid rent during the lockdown will be divided into 6 months

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Good news to all tenants who are renting houses, apartments, stalls, and commercial establishments, because the Department of Trade and Industry has made a very important announcement.

KAMI learned that, as per DTI, landlords and building owners could not collect rent while the enhanced community quarantine is ongoing.

In TV Patrol's report, the Bayanihan Act provides that while there is an ECQ, landlords must not collect rent.

Aside from the mentioned prohibition, the said act also gives tenants an extension in paying the unpaid rent, wherein unpaid rentals would be divided into six installments.

Concerns and reports have reached the government agency regarding landlords who are already collecting rent payments despite the ongoing ECQ.

Here's the full report on TV Patrol:

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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 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!

A young boy made a difference by being very generous to others. He is Jhon Rellores. 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
Teachers' leaders have warned that any plans to reopen primary schools in May or June would present "very particular challenges".

Schools say they cannot reopen without very detailed planning about the practicalities of how it would work.

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The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Boyle has written to the Department of Education outlining a range of concerns.

It includes the ages of the 560,000 primary pupils - typically four to 12-year-olds, many of whom would have difficulty maintaining distancing protocols.

Mr Boyle also points to the number of parents who gather near schools at the beginning and end of the school day, the size of classes, and the congregation of pupils in school playgrounds.

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Another factor raised by the union is the many different types and sizes of schools, with a clear implication that it will not be a case of 'one size fits all'.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris have expressed hopes of a limited reopening of schools, although they have not put a timescale on it.

Even a staggered return will hinge on public health advice, but when that comes, schools say doors cannot reopen without prior input from principals and teachers about what will be possible.

Mr Boyle has called for a special working group to be set up as soon as possible, to deal exclusively with the practicalities of reopening.

The INTO general secretary said there was a need for a small group and very focussed work stream in the weeks leading up to any reopening of primary schools, even a partial or phased reopening.

He said they want to plan for a "safe and orderly return".

The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) is also seeking a dedicated working group to deal with the issue.

IPPN CEO Pairic Clerkin said it "would be adamant that any reopening has to be very carefully planned and co-ordinated. We cannot dream of opening schools until we have this very detailed planning worked out".

"Every parent is going to look for reassurance from school leaders at local level and will expect all the answers and plans in place, and every parent will deserve an answer to all of their queries," he said.

The only group of students about whom there has been any discussion about a return to school is the 61,000 Leaving Cert candidates, with Education Minister Joe McHugh expressing a hope that they can be back in classrooms for two weeks in mid-July, ahead of the proposed start of the exams on July 29.

Mr Clerkin said "we haven't seen plans yet" for this group and that would be the starting point in terms of what school reopening might look like. But he also noted that while these students were adults, primary schools were dealing with children as young as four and five.

The IPPN chief also referred to vulnerable children and the need to ensure their safety when schools reopened "and that cannot happen without very definite planning, where we anticipate all of the challenges that all of the schools will face".
Group-IB uncovered a new sophisticated phishing campaign, tracked as PerSwaysion, against high-level executives of more than 150 companies worldwide.

Group-IB, a Singapore-based cybersecurity company, has identified a series of sophisticated successful phishing attacks against the management and executives of more than 150 companies around the world. The campaign, dubbed PerSwaysion due to the extensive abuse of Microsoft Sway, has been active since at least mid-2019 and was attributed to Vietnamese speaking developers and Nigerian operators. ybercriminals behind the PerSwaysion campaign gained access to many confidential corporate MS Office365 emails of mainly financial service companies, law firms, and real estate groups.

The PerSwaysion campaign proliferates with alarming rates by leveraging compromised accounts email data to select further targets who hold important roles in their companies and share business relations with the victims. Group-IB continues to work with the relevant parties in local countries to inform the affected companies of the breach.

Not brute force but only PerSwaysion

PerSwaysion is a highly-targeted phishing campaign. One of the defining signatures of PerSwaysion is that it spreads like wildfire jumping from one victim to another while no malware is present on a user device during the attack. New round of phishing attempts leveraging current victims account usually takes less than 24 hours.

The campaign resulted in a compromise of 156 high-ranking officers in global and regional financial hubs such as the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other locations.

The PerSwaysion campaign primarily focuses on financial services companies (~50%), law firms, and real estate companies to conduct further supply-chain attack against their clients and business contacts. Group-IB set up a website, where everyone can check if their email was compromised by PerSwaysion.

Group-IBDFIR team was brought in to examine an incident in an Asia-based company which allowed to establish that PerSwaysion is a sophisticated 3-phase phishing operation that uses special tactics and techniques to avoid detection. The threat actors leverage perfectly orchestrated social engineering technique by persuading people holding significant corporate positions to open a non-malicious PDF email attachment coming from an authentic address in their contacts.

The PDF attachment is as a well-crafted notification of Office 365 file sharing to the victim mimicking legitimate format. Upon clicking Read Now, the victim, which in most cases is a high-ranking officers, is taken to a file hosted on MS Sway in this case. The attackers pick legitimate cloud-based content sharing services, such as Microsoft Sway, Microsoft SharePoint, and OneNote to avoid traffic detection. The page resembles an authentic Microsoft Office 365 file sharing page. However, this is a specially crafted presentation page which abuses Sway default borderless view.

From this page the targeted individual is redirected to the final destination, the actual phishing site disguised as a 2017 version of the Microsoft Single Sign-On page. Here the victim is assigned a unique serial number by the phishing kit, which serves as a rudimentary fingerprinting technique. Any repeated request to the exact same URL will be rejected. It stops any automated threat detection efforts to URLs visited by the targets. When the high-level employee submits corporate Office 365 credentials, the information is sent to a separate data server with an extra email address which is hidden on the page. This extra email is used as a real-time notification method to make sure attackers react on freshly harvested credentials.

Gone in 24 Hours

PerSwaysion threat actors conduct follow-up operations with newly collected account credentials of high-ranking officers very fast. Group-IB researchers revealed that the attackers take 3 main steps to push new round of phishing against users whom the victims had recent correspondence with, which on average takes less than 24 hours. After the credentials are sent to their CnCs the PerSwaysion operators log into the compromised email accounts. They dump email data via API and establish the owners high-level business connections. Finally, they generate new phishing PDF files with current victims full name, email address, company legal name. These PDF files are sent to a selection of new people who tend to be outside of the victims organization and hold significant positions. The PerSwaysion operators typically delete impersonating emails from the outbox to avoid suspicion. The detailed technical analysis of PerSwaysion operations and attack scheme is available in Group-IBs blog post.

PerSwaysion threat actors have not demonstrated clear preferences of financial profit generating models yet, says Feixiang He, senior Threat Intelligence analyst at Group-IB. The attackers hold covert access to many corporate email accounts and large piles of sensitive business email data of high-level management. Hence, it opens up a wide range of possibilities. The account access could be sold in bulk to other cybercriminals to conduct traditional monetary scams. Sensitive business data extracted from emails, such as non public financial records, secret trading strategies, and client lists, could be sold to the highest bidder in the underground markets.

Who are The PerSwayders?

PerSwaysion campaign is a series of Malware-as-a-Service-based operations. The analysis of the campaigns phishing kit revealed that it was primarily developed by the highly specialized Vietnamese-speaking threat actors. The user input validation module (VeeValidate) used in code only includes Vietnamese locale while 48 languages are supported. Further research determined that the developer groups do not run phishing campaigns themselves. Instead, the developers likely sold their phishing kit and PDF generator to various cybercriminals for direct profit.

Group-IB Threat Intelligence has tracked down several loosely connected sub-groups of threat actors carrying out phishing attacks independently. They control the total of 27 email addresses used for stolen email account credentials collection and notifications. These emails were embedded in variants of PerSwaysion phishing kits. Some of these emails were used to register LinkedIn accounts for gathering potential victim profiles. Such data helps PerSwaysion attackers to pick people holding significant corporate positions.

Further investigations show one of PerSwaysion earliest operation teams is a group of threat actors who operate in Nigeria and South Africa. The group is allegedly led by a Nigerian goes by the nickname Sam. This group has been conducting various activities ranging from online shopping scams to phishing attacks since 2017. The vast differences in geo-locations and cultures between phishing kit developers and campaign operators indicate great specialization among cybercriminals.

PerSwaysion campaign is a living example of highly specialized phishing threat actors working together to conduct effective attacks on high ranking officers in large scale, comments Feixiang He. They adopt multiple tactics and techniques to avoid traffic detection and automated threat intelligence gathering, such as the use of file-sharing services and web application hosting from reputable vendors. The campaign pursues non-trivial counterintelligence methods, for example, randomizing malicious JS file names and fingerprinting victim browsers and rejecting repeated visits. Such measures taken by cybercriminals seeking to garner sensitive corporate information requires non-standard approach to their detection and response.

Cloud based corporate services, such as MS Sway, introduce new challenges to traditional cyber risk management frameworks. Proper cloud migration plan should consider changes in early prevention, anomaly detection, and incident response. When adopting cloud based corporate services, it is crucial to enforce 2FA authentication to mitigate risks of login credential theft. Furthermore, when planning cloud-based service architectures, corporate system administrators need to evaluate various logging options offered by could service providers and integrate activity log data into existing risk detection flows.

The original post is available:

https://www.group-ib.com/blog/perswaysion

About Group-IB

Group-IB is a Singapore-based provider of solutions aimed at detection and prevention of cyberattacks, online fraud, IP protection and high-profile cyber investigations.

Please give me your vote for European Cybersecurity Blogger Awards  VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  Facebook, hacking)
Governing Through Crisis

COVID-19 has disrupted our entire world, and as new data emerges, African American communities continue to experience disproportionate negative outcomes as a result of the pandemic. Health disparities coupled with the economic impact paints a frightening reality; this virus is killing our communities. Additionally, while crime is down across the city, there has been a recent spike in violent incidents and shootings in the 77th and Southeast divisions according to LAPD Crime Data. Combine this with the recent earthquake, and it makes sense why many residents are on edge. Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson is addressing these issues by keeping South Los Angeles families engaged and at the forefront of COVID-19 conversations while also pushing for progressive legislation on the City Council.

On Tuesday, April 21, LAPDs South Bureau Deputy Chief Regina Scott joined U.S. Congressmember Karen Bass and Councilmember Harris-Dawson for a telephone town hall to discuss public safety in South Los Angeles. The conversation topics included how LAPD is addressing the recent rise in violence, including domestic violence cases, steps officers are taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as how residents can keep themselves and their neighbors safe.

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This is the biggest crisis that I have experienced in my lifetime because it has impacted our public safety, but also our economic safety as well, said Congresswoman Karen Bass. South Los Angeles and communities across the country are experiencing a dramatic change in our daily lives without clear leadership from this administration. I am proud of local leaders for shining a light on COVID-19s impact on public safety and the work they are doing to address this. We have our people dying because of this virus. We cannot have our people dying because of violence as well.

There is no way to sugar coat it, people are upset and afraid, which results in disputes and violence, said LAPD Deputy Chief Regina Scott. We have more officers on the streets to provide a visible presence and deter crime without unnecessary arrests. Their presence also helps LAPD respond to 911 calls quickly. Officers are performing tasks like welfare checks for seniors, supporting testing sites and hosting online community meetings to raise awareness and spread information about COVID-19.

In addition to the grassroots effort to engage residents around public safety, councilmember Harris-Dawson continues to push for more community protections through legislation at City Hall. On Wednesday, April 22nd, during a meeting that went over 12 hours, Los Angeles City Council members voted on 75 items. Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and some of his colleagues on the City Council utilized every measure of their authority to alleviate residents hardships during this crisis by adopting motions to expand access to resources for undocumented immigrants, expand paid sick leave, and adopted resolutions to encourage statewide and national leaders to establish rental and mortgage relief programs for people impacted by COVID-19.

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Two key legislative items adopted by the City Council were the Right of Recall and Worker Protection Ordinance. City Council also introduced amendments to both ordinances that expand the protections to include employers of hospitality workers, property management service workers and airport workers. These ordinances will ensure laid off workers receive a notice of recall after the emergency order ends and have the opportunity to return to their jobs.

Councilmember Harris-Dawson and his colleagues, including Councilmember Mike Bonin, supported bold legislation that would provide protections to millions of renters across Los Angeles. Council recently adopted a motion to prepare a draft ordinance on freezing rental increases on units that are subject to the Citys Rent Stabilization Ordinance as well as ensuring a one year rent increase freeze after the emergency order is lifted. However, Council did not adopt similar legislation on rental units not subject to the Citys Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Additionally, the request to prepare an ordinance to classify unpaid rent as consumer debt did not pass. The request to prepare an ordinance prohibiting any owner or property manager from terminating a tenancy, serving a notice to terminate a tenancy, or using lockouts or utility shutoff actions to terminate a tenancy, which were also supported by Councilmember Harris Dawson, did not pass either.

This crisis is presenting new challenges to our community and forcing us to collaborate on new progressive solutions locally as well as citywide, said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. Its vital that residents remain connected and informed to keep themselves and their neighbors safe during this time. The city and state are requiring folks to make sacrifices and stay indoors and I will continue to fight for legislation that will allow our residents to remain safely in their homes and ensure they can return to work after this pandemic is over.
Apollo 24|7 AI based COVID-19 test with Airtel Thanks app, enabling millions of Airtel customers across India to assess their risk profile

As part of its mission to use its networks and digital tech for the good of society, Bharti Airtel (Airtel) has announced an innovative collaboration with Apollo 24|7, the digital business unit of The Apollo Hospitals Group to support Indias battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The partnership aims to bring together Airtels pan-India network reach and Apollo Hospitals industry leading digital healthcare platform  Apollo 24/7 to raise awareness and break the chain of spread of COVID-19.

Apollo 24|7 has launched a FREE digital self-assessment test on Airtel Thanks app to enable its customers to check their COVID-19 risk profile. The test, which has been developed by Apollo 24/7, uses AI based technologies to allow users to assess their COVID-19 risk profile by answering a few simple questions.

Based on the user responses, the digital tool generates a risk score and suggests next best action including online consults on Apollo 24|7 free, dialling COVID non-prescriptive helpline from the app itself, self-care tips, social distancing guidelines and other important prevention steps as suggested by WHO and MOHFW.

Apollo 24|7 free COVID helpline has over 100 Apollo expert doctors answering questions and clearing doubts of all those who are taking the scan. These initiatives are designed to help millions of Airtel customers alleviate any anxieties or doubts relating to COVID-19 and ensuring that the country, at large, stays safe.

Ms. Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson of The Apollo Hospitals Group said, Apollo 24|7 truly empowers individuals to protect their health. With the free COVID19 scan AI tool, Airtel customers across India will get validated data and Apollos resources to take care of their health, well-being and safety. Our association with Airtel should help us Touch more lives.

Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO (India and South Asia) Bharti Airtel said: These are unprecedented times and we are working hard with our partners such as Apollo 24|7 to leverage digital technologies to help the nation. Airtel Thanks platform reaches millions of people in India and we hope this innovative tool can provide a sense of urgency around the need for social distancing to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Airtel remains fully committed to serving the nation in this difficult hour and support the efforts of the Government.

Through a deeper integration, the tool also allows users to also check the COVID-19 risk profile of their region through an India wide COVID-19 heat map grading regions from high to low risk based on aggregated responses from these locations. This enables users to be more aware of the evolution of the situation within the country, and be more adept at maintaining social distancing to break the COVID-19 chain

Patients at risk and falling under the ICMR approved testing parameters will be guided to the authorized testing centers for the COVID-19 test. The scan is not meant to replace a doctor and the interaction is not be taken as expert medical advice. Any information shared is be kept strictly confidential. The quick risk scan can be taken across platforms including mobile smartphones, laptops and desktops.

At a time when patients are facing difficulties in travelling to clinics and hospitals for their regular consultations, Apollo 24/7 allows doctors to conduct tele-consults for the patients so that they need not come to the hospital for follow up care and remain in the safety of their homes. In less than 2 months since national launch, Apollo 24/7 has organically acquired over 600 thousand registered users.

In addition, Airtel customers will now be available to recharge their Airtel connections at over 3000 Apollo Pharmacy stores across India. This offers added convenience to Airtel customers looking at offline recharge options.
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walk together south of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea on June 30, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

US Mission in North Korea Remains Unchanged Regardless of Leadership: Pompeo

The U.S. mission in North Korea to achieve full and verified denuclearization of the country will not change no matter what transpires inside of North Korea with respect to their leadership, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a press conference on April 29.

The agreement made by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore in 2018 needs to be fully implemented, Pompeo said.

The agreement stipulates that the United States would provide security guarantees to North Korea and North Korea would completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, but it had not provided any specific details regarding a timeline of denuclearization or methods for disarmament. Further work would be needed to implement the agreement.

The sanctions imposed by the United States on North Korea have not been lifted after reaching the agreement.

The sanctions will come off when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor, Trump said to media after signing the agreement. He said the verification process would be carried out by a combination of personnel from the United States and the international community.

North Korea also promised in the agreement to return the remains of American soldiers it has held onto since the Korean War.

In this handout photograph provided by The Strait Times, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) with U.S. President Donald Trump (R) during their historic U.S.DPRK summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island, Singapore on June 12, 2018. (Kevin Lim/The Strait Times/Handout/Getty Images)

Trump and Kim held their second summit in Vietnam in 2019 to further discuss denuclearization but it ended with no deal. North Korea insisted on lifting all sanctions while offering only a partial denuclearization.

Pompeo hopes that the United States and North Korea will still be able to find a further solution that would benefit Americans, North Koreans, and the whole world.

Kim Jong Un has not been seen since April 11 and did not attend a ceremony on April 15 to celebrate his grandfather Kim Il Sungs birthday which he normally attends. His absence from the ceremony sparked speculation about his health. Pompeo said that there is no information about Kims current status.

Were watching it closely, keeping track of whats going on, not only around Chairman Kim himself but more broadly inside of North Korea, Pompeo said at an interview with Fox and Friends.

Pompeo said he had a chance to meet Kims sister and some other North Korean leaders during his several trips to North Korea.

North Korea is also under risk of the COVID-19 spread as well as famine because of food shortage there, Pompeo told Fox. Both threats have a real impact on the mission to denuclearize North Korea ultimately, he added.

Charlotte Cuthbertson and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in late March deemed churches to be essential services and superseded bans on in-person religious gatherings in Harris and other counties, many local congregations opted to stick with online services and follow the advice of public health experts to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

A month later, Abbott has cleared the way for churches, synagogues and mosques across the state to resume larger gatherings as part of a plan announced Monday to restart Texas economy.

But there is far from a consensus among local religious leaders over whether now is the time to throw open church doors, even with Abbotts social-distancing recommendations. A group of more than 80 Christian churches across greater Houston has signed a statement saying they would not hold in-person services during May.

We believe that in-person gatherings for worship that are larger than 50 persons should not take place in April or May. We will not have in-person worship but will continue offering worship online, said the statement. In making this decision, we have the unanimous support of the leaders of the Texas Medical Center who strongly recommend these actions for all the faith communities of Greater Houston.

Since the statement went out on Friday, about 25 more churches have added their signatures, according to Scott Jones, as resident bishop of the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

We can see clearly at this time that resumption of larger group gatherings should not happen in the next six weeks, the statement reads. Deciding when to resume in-person worship for larger gatherings should be evaluated as new information about the rate of new cases and the availability of testing is available.

Not every church leader agrees. Daniel DiNardo, the archbishop for Galveston-Houston, which includes 1.7 million Catholics, announced Wednesday evening that masses would resume this weekend with social distancing.

Second Baptist Church, which counts tens of thousands of Houstonians as members, said it will resume services at its campuses  again with social distancing  on May 9. The church said it may add new services to allow congregants to worship while remaining 6 feet apart.

Abbott opens church doors

Many congregations moved away from in-person gatherings prior to orders by local officials, including one by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo that banned gatherings. Abbott subsequently issued an order that reopened churches and other places of worship with limitations; he said religious services should either be conducted remotely or in-person using social distancing guidelines.

The Republican governors latest guidance lifts a limit on the size of gatherings and urges people to wear masks when appropriate.

As for places of worship, he recommends that those most at risk for COVID-19  such as persons age 65 and older who have underlying health conditions  watch or participate in religious services remotely. Churches are encouraged to set aside an area for members of the at-risk population or dedicate a service for just them to attend.

Inside, attendees should keep at least two empty seats between them. Two or more members of the same household can sit next to one another, as can two people attending services together.

Every other row of seating should also be left empty.

Employees and volunteers working at places of worship should also be trained on appropriate cleaning, disinfection, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, according to the guidelines. An employee or volunteer that has new or worsening signs of COVID-19 should be sent home. Employees and volunteers should also maintain social distancing.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he is leaving it up to residents to decide whether they want to attend religious services this weekend.

People have to exercise their judgment, Turner said during a briefing Tuesday on COVID-19. Im not going to try to dictate every single thing that people do.

Wednesday, he struck a more religious tone. God is everywhere. God is in your living room, God is at your kitchen table, God is in your bedroom. If you pray to him, he will hear your prayer and he will respond. Dont feel compelled to go to any building.

Lakewood Church, which can seat up to 16,000 people, says it will continue to stick with online services only for now. The megachurch held an Easter service online that was viewed by nearly 12 million people from over 195 countries.

Since we are a stadium-sized church, Lakewood will continue to hold services online only for the time being, said spokesperson Andrea Davis in a statement. We dont have a reopen date, but we are consulting with experts on the safest and best plan forward.

Jones, the Methodist resident bishop who also signed the letter, said churches are going to have to re-think many of their normal traditions amid concerns about the new coronavirus, noting how social distancing is difficult for members accustomed to hugging and shaking hands.

He also said places of worship need to reevaluate the way offerings are collected and how to properly disinfect interiors between services.

We want to move slowly enough, that when we do it, we do it safely, Jones said.

The plan announced by the archdiocese permits phased reopening of Catholic churches so long as parishioners practice social distancing and take other precautions.

The past several weeks have been a great trial for our world and for our communities as we cope with the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, DiNardo said in a statement. In addition to the great suffering of the sick and dying, many have struggled with isolation, financial hardship and other stresses.

DiNardo has also asked churches to begin opening for a few hours a day for private prayer.

Now Playing: 'COVID-19 in 60': Houston coronavirus news in a minute Video: Houston Chronicle

Representatives of other faiths are reviewing the Abbott order.

Were really very much in the beginning stages of all this, said Taryn Baranowski, spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Were beginning conversations but no one is really in a rush to open anything

Abbotts Monday order came just days after the start of Ramadan, a 30-day period in which Muslims fast during the day and meet for communal prayers and meals at night.

Tuesday night, Islamic Society of Greater Houston voted to keep mosques closed.

We have no plan to open until we hear from the medical experts and healthcare agencies, society president Sohail Syed said earlier Tuesday. The order says you do not have to open and... once you open it up, everyone wants to go in and it would be very difficult for us to turn people away.

Ken Werlein, founding pastor at Faithbridge church, who signed the statement pledging not to reopen in May, said holding off on reopening will allow churches to see the effects of social distancing on flattening the curve of new COVID-19 cases and how close the medical community is to developing a vaccine or a drug.

His church, located in Spring, has two sanctuaries that each seat 1,000 people.

As much as we would like to come back, Werlein said, theres very little to gain with what we know right now, and theres a lot to potentially to lose.

brooke.lewis@chron.com
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-30 17:23:02

30 April 2020

Acron Posts 2019 Annual Report on its Website

Today, Acron (Moscow Exchange and LSE: AKRN) has released 2019 Annual Report preliminary approved by the Board of Directors on its website http://www.acron.ru/en/. To comply with the Russian law, the report is subject to approval by the annual general meeting.





Media Contacts:

Sergey Dorofeev

Anastasia Gromova

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

Investor Contacts:

Ilya Popov

Investor Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252)

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and the Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It owns transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic port terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acrons subsidiary, North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP), holds mining licences for 11 parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty, one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2019, the Group sold 7.6 million tonnes of various products to 78 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2019, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 114,835 million (USD 1,774 million) and net profit of RUB 24,786 million (USD 383 million). Acrons shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en.
CORNING, Calif.  Corning Police Officers are searching for a Capay man that escaped during a standoff with police.

Officers said they were called to a home on Capay Road around 3 p.m. Tuesday to the report of a man violating a protective order and making criminal threats.

The CHP and Corning Police Department outside the front of a home on 800 block of Capay Road, east of Orland in Tehama County. The CHP and Corning Police Department outside the front of a home on 800 block of Capay Road, east of Orland in Tehama County.

Once Officers arrived at 51-year-old John Poldervaarts residence, he sent aggressive dogs into the yard of his gated property, then retreated into the house, according to the police.

Action News Now spoke with a neighbor Martha Montenegro, who said she heard it all going on outside.

"I was just inside and I kept hearing put your hands up, I thought it was coming from my son's tablet. I saw officers in front of the door, officers with their dogs coming from around here.

Police established a perimeter and searched the property but Poldervaart was not located.

Poldervaart is facing charges that include criminal threats, stalking, violating a protective order, and resisting arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Corning Police Department at 824-7000.
Here are the stocks in focus today. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Wipro | Company and Nutanix to launch digital database services (DDS) powered by Nutanix Era and Nutanix HCI software. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Polycab India | Board on May 2 to consider the proposal for investment / acquisition of shares. (Image: Wikimedia)

Sintex Industries | Alpha Leon Enterprises LLP bought 35,27,564 shares of company at Rs 0.95 per share. (Image: sintex.in)

RBL Bank | BNP Paribas Arbitrage purchased 29,79,801 shares of company at Rs 125.42 per share.(Image: PTI)

Cyient | Amansa Holdings Pvt Ltd acquired 21,11,780 shares in company at Rs 205 per share, but T Rowe Price International sold 30,12,457 shares at Rs 207.02 per share. (Image: cyient.com)

Cambridge Technology Enterprises | Its arm Cambridge Technology Investments Pte sold company's step-down subsidiary for SGD 100. (Image: ctepl.com)

Adhunik Industries | Company to resume partial operations at Durgapur plant. (Image: adhunikindustries.com)

Suven Life Sciences | Fire incident in R&D labs in premises of Suven Pharma in Jeedimetla unit, but there is no impact on operations. (Image: suven.com)

GP Petroleums | Company resumed operations at Vasai plant. (Image: gppetroleums.co.in)

WEP Solutions | Company resumed partial operations at its manufacturing facility at Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. (Image: wepsolutions.co.in)

Reliance Industries | Company's January-March quarter earnings are expected to get strong support from Jio business, though refining business could see some decline due to fall in oil prices and nationwide lockdown, according to brokerages. Gross refining margin for the quarter is likely to be around $8.0 a barrel against $9.2 a barrel in December quarter 2019. Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.

Lupin | Company gets tentative US FDA nod for Arformoterol Tartrate used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Sun Pharma | Company gets US FDA nod for anti-cough drug, Guaifenesin (600 Mg-1.2 Gm)

L&T Finance | L&T, under its listed arm L&T Finance, had put the mutual fund business on the block earlier in a renewed attempt to find a suitable buyer. IIFL Wealth backed by private equity firm General Atlantic, HDFC AMC, Blackstone and veteran investment banker Hemendra Kothari-backed DSP Group are among the bidders who are believed to be keen on this asset, sources told moneycontrol.

Punjab & Sind Bank | Banks board will meet on May 5 to consider raising equity capital up to an amount of Rs 500 crore through QIP route in one or more tranches within the next 12 months

Indiabulls Housing Finance | The Delhi High Court has stayed interim relief given to the company. The court had earlier given relief to the firm in its discharge of dues to non-convertible debentures (NCD) holders. The courts interim order had directed that no coercive action be taken against Indiabulls Housing for non-payment of NCD dues.
Civil rights lawyers are seeking federal class action status for all medically compromised detainees at the Montgomery County ICE detention center after the number of cases at the facility increased.

The suit on behalf of a handful of detainees could be expanded to include four additional detainees at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, which houses about 800 people. In addition, lawyers from Texas and national branches of the ACLU and the firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP requested Wednesday that U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison treat the case as a class action and release all detainees who are vulnerable to serious illness and death if exposed to COVID-19.

The lawsuit frames the situation as a humanitarian crisis where vulnerable detainees are housed in extremely close quarters, placing them at enormous risk. The Constitutions due process clause forbids placing people in the path of a potentially lethal virus with no known cure, it says. The lawyers are seeking to represent everyone at the facility who is in imminent danger of contracting the virus  those 50 and older as well as those with an underlying medical condition identified in CDC guidelines.

No one who is vulnerable to serious illness or death if they contract COVID-19 should be forced to remain in unsafe detention conditions, said Kate Huddleston, attorney for the ACLU of Texas. The release of all vulnerable individuals who are facing a mortal fate in detention is urgently necessary.

An ICE official declined to comment on the pending legal matter but noted that the government had taken extensive precautions to limit the spread of the disease, conferring with medical professionals, disease control specialists, detention experts and field operators. Nationally, nearly 700 people have been released from ICE facilities after qualifying as high risk for severe illness if they contracted COVID-19, according to the ICE website.

Given the challenge many facilities face in following public health guidelines for addressing the pandemic, such as social distancing and increased hygiene, the judge is expected to move swiftly on the request.

The newly represented detainees in the suit are a 58-year-old Venezuelan woman with one kidney and high blood pressure, a 41-year-old man from Zimbabwe and 58-year-old woman from China who both have severe hypertension and a 41-year-old Cuban woman with a heart obstruction and high blood pressure.

Ellison previously ordered Georgina Rojas to be released because of the near impossibility the facility could adhere to hygiene and social distancing measures necessary to protect the 28-year-old native of Guatemala, who had an elevated risk due to obesity. Two others involved in the initial lawsuit left the facility prior to Ellisons ruling on Rojas. The judge denied expedited release to a fourth person due to a recent history of domestic violence and prior violations of orders not to contact relatives.

ICEs official website about COVID-19 says three people being held at the facility have tested positive for the disease. A spokesman for Geo Group, which contracts at the facility, previously said three employees had tested positive.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
Governor of River State, Benedict Ayade has called on the Federal Government to allow healthy Nigerians work and move freely amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Professor of Microbiology expressed that it is unnecessary to imitate Western approach in tackling the spread of COVID-19 while the economy suffers.

Also Read: Lockdown: Hunger Is A Bigger Pandemic  Ayade

The governor expressed this view on Wednesday at the rice seeds and seedlings factory in Calabar.

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Ayade said Nigerias demography is different from Europes hence shutting down Nigerias economy is uncalled for.

He added that the Federal Government should rather lock down sick and vulnerable people only.
D r Mercedes Bunz, a senior lecturer in Digital Societies at Kings College London on how the NHS contact tracing app will work and how your data will be used.

What is the NHSX tracing app?

The contact tracing app automatically creates a list of people we come into contact with, using the Bluetooth signal on our smartphones. Through Bluetooth, the app will search for other phones nearby and exchange anonymous identifiers. These identifiers are then kept as a list on our phones. If one of the identifiers on that list becomes marked as infected, the app will notify us immediately.

"It can send alerts to direct contacts and possibly also indirect ones. But it wont work if your phone runs out of battery.

How does it help?

Epidemiologists have found the virus starts spreading before an individual is showing symptoms. Contact tracing apps alert us to potential infections earlier and faster.

One minute silence to NHS heroes who lost lives to the Coronavirus 1 /25 One minute silence to NHS heroes who lost lives to the Coronavirus London Ambulance Staff observe the minute silence today at their HQ in Waterloo Road Jeremy Selwyn Staff stand outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Shoppers queue in the rain outside Costco in Thurrock during a minutes silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA A minute silence in honour of key workers who have lost their lives due to COVID-19 Sky News London Ambulance Staff observe the minute silence today at their HQ in Waterloo Road Jeremy Selwyn Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA A staff member reacts outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Members of the public, NHS staff, and Police offices, some wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) of a face mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, pause for a minute's silence to honour UK key workers AFP via Getty Images A police officer observes a minute silence in honour of key workers who have lost their lives due to COVID-19 outside 10 Downing Street, Reuters London Ambulance Staff observe the minute silence today at their HQ in Waterloo Road Jeremy Selwyn Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA A minute silence in honour of key workers who have lost their lives due to COVID-19 Sky News London Ambulance Staff observe the minute silence today at their HQ in Waterloo Road Jeremy Selwyn Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Staff stand inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA National Shop Stewards Network protesters outside St Thomas' Hospital in London, during a minute's silence which was to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak. PA Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak. PA First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew's House in Edinburgh to observe a minute's silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA

How effective can it be?

In theory, a contact tracing app could help keep the infection rate below 1 and contain the virus. An Oxford University study showed that for it to be effective about 60 per cent of the population would need to adopt it.

"But even if fewer people use it, the app would still be somewhat effective: the earlier a person knows about having been in contact with the virus, the earlier they can self-isolate thereby reducing potential transmission. So even if the app is adopted just by some, it would help. Stopping an epidemic needs more than one measure.

Will my data be safe?

The data collected is sensitive as it keeps track of each persons personal network. There are two ways to deal with this data. One is the central server approach, which the NHSX currently uses. In this version, the NHSXs server will keep track of all identifiers sent out and received. This data is anonymised and the risk of a privacy breach is low.

"In the decentralised version, in which every individuals phone checks locally if there has been a contact, the risk is lower still. Google and Apple were working on a decentralised server but that is not being used.

Could it pave the way for more tech in healthcare?
WASHINGTONIn mid-March, Jenine Clements boss asked her to set aside at least 24 hours out of her work week to call people whove tested positive for COVID-19. The goal was to locate people who had been in close contact with an infected patient and make sure they quarantined for two weeks to stop the spread.

Clements, 41, is a disease investigation specialist for the Washtenaw County Health Department in Michigan and, for more than 17 years, shes made similar calls to people who test positive for other diseases, including HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C.

Making the extra calls to COVID-19 patients meant Clements had to work evenings and weekends. But she said shes happy to do it. If people dont answer at first, she calls back up to three times. She said it helps that the state issued a public notice last week asking everyone to answer calls from the health department.

The fear level is pretty high right now, Clements said. With so many people in quarantine away from their families, lots of people just want to talk with someone.

Nationwide, contact tracing  which Clements and more than 2,000 other public health workers across the country perform on a regular basis  is the key to reopening businesses and resuming some form of normal life as the coronavirus pandemic begins to subside, epidemiologists say.

But with no national plan and scant federal dollars on the horizon, states are funding their own initiatives for what experts predict will be a massive undertaking lasting 18 months to two years, until a vaccine is developed.

The result will be a national patchwork of contact tracing teams, with some more effective than others.

A major challenge will be co-ordinating information flow from disparate databases on who has tested positive, who has been called and who has been quarantined among separate local, state and contract workforces, said Josh Sharfstein, a vice dean at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. We dont want some people getting no calls and others getting 10 calls, he said.

A few large states, including California, Massachusetts and New York, have announced major projects involving millions of state and philanthropic dollars, thousands of new workers and partnerships with a wide range of organizations.

But so far, most states have deployed their existing public health employees, along with volunteers, out-of-work school nurses, reassigned state employees and the National Guard, to contact residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and the people theyve been in contact with.

Some states, including Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota and Rhode Island, are relying heavily on cellphone data, online apps and other technology to enhance their contact tracing efforts.

There are a lot of different models out there, said Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Some states may be saying, Were not Massachusetts; we cant afford to launch that kind of effort, he said. But theres something every state can do that fits their unique circumstances and their budgets. Theyve got to do something if they want to get out of this stay at home by the summer.

A new report by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials estimates that at least 100,000 additional trained workers and more than $3.6 billion (U.S.) will be needed to safely manage the spread of the virus once businesses start reopening.

Tom Frieden, the former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director and New York City health commissioner, estimates the number of needed contact tracers is closer to 300,000  roughly one contact tracer for every thousand people.

David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, which represents workers like Clements, called on the federal government to leverage the nations existing disease intervention specialists, who have helped with nearly every public health outbreak for more than half a century, including HIV and STDs, Ebola and Zika.

We need a federal plan that provides money and training to states and employs the expertise we already have, he said. We cant just hire an army of young people and plop them into the public health system.

This week, a bipartisan group of health experts, including former Food and Drug Administration chief Scott Gottlieb and a former acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Andy Slavitt, sent a letter to Congress asking for $46 billion to improve the nations contact tracing capacity, including timely testing of everyone who needs it.

Contact tracers know they have to track everybody who lives in the patients household or shares the same workspace. In other cases, more sleuthing is necessary. It could include someone the infected person sat near on a bus or stood in front of in a long grocery store line.

In developing contact tracing programs, public health authorities devise criteria for determining who needs to be tracked down, starting with standards for physical proximity to an infected person and the duration of the contact  for example, within six feet of an infected person for 10 minutes or longer.

Depending on the extent of social distancing thats being practiced in any given state or locality, the number of people who may be infected by a single coronavirus patient can range from two or three to more than a dozen. So for every 1,000 residents who test positive for COVID-19, there may be 10,000 or more potentially infected contacts. The numbers quickly add up.

To be effective, contact tracers must get in touch as quickly as possible with people who test positive for COVID-19. Often, they are the first to give the patient their test results.

Heres how it works: When a person tests positive for COVID-19, the lab sends a report to the doctor and to the health department, just as it would any other communicable disease. The health department then generates a list that is divvied up among contact tracers, who immediately start making calls.

Once the infected people are reached, the names of those theyve been in contact with are gleaned by talking to them, and in some cases, asking them to check their cellphone call records, calendars, credit card receipts and photos to jog their memory. Then those potentially infected people are called and asked to voluntarily self-quarantine for two weeks. When available, contact tracers offer people housing, food delivery and cash to make up for lost wages while quarantining.

Most public health agencies have extensive experience in disease surveillance. State and local health departments are frequently called upon to trace food-borne and other toxic outbreaks, and infectious diseases such as Ebola and the H1N1 strain of the flu.

One of the largest such efforts occurred around HIV/AIDS in the 1980s and 90s. Although a highly stigmatized disease at the time, it had a more defined pattern of spread, through sexual relations or the sharing of drug needles. In that way, identifying contacts probably proved easier than the COVID-19 virus, where an infected person might not even know the person from whom he or she caught the virus.

And certainly, no contact tracing program ever approached the scale of the one needed now, according to Jonathan Zenilman, an epidemiology professor at Johns Hopkins University.

The virus comes after a period in which investment in public health has declined precipitously. Federal funding for public health has fallen by 10 per cent over the past decade, according to the non-profit Trust for Americas Health, leaving the nation with a grave deficit in the numbers of public health workers.

Earlier in April, Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker was among the first to announce a large-scale contact tracing project. Budgeting $44 million and working with public health organization Partners in Health, Baker pledged to initially hire and train 1,000 new workers. The states local health departments already had been carrying out contact tracing, assisted by 1,700 volunteers from the states universities.

Last week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, announced that his state, along with Connecticut and New Jersey, will join in a partnership with Michael Bloombergs Bloomberg Philanthropies to create a regional contact-tracing program. The states have been co-ordinating some of their COVID-19 policies.

As part of the project, Johns Hopkins University would build an online curriculum and training program for contact tracers. Bloomberg Philanthropies, which has pledged $10.5 million for the effort, would work with the New York State Department of Health to identify and recruit contact tracers.

The state says it expects to draw tracers from public health departments, other state agencies and a pool of 35,000 students in medical fields in the states public universities. Connecticut and New Jersey have not released details of the plans in their states.

Earlier this week, New York City Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city wants to hire 1,000 contact tracers immediately.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that the state would develop an academy to train 10,000 public health workers to become contact tracers.

Washington state plans to recruit and train 1,900 contact tracers by mid-May to map and control the spread of the virus as the state begins to reopen the economy.

At a press briefing, state health officer Dr. Kathy Lofy warned that the state needed to do at least two to three times the testing its doing now for contact tracing to be effective. She said 600 people in state government had been trained in contact tracing and another 800 volunteers were in training. Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee also asked the National Guard to deploy 500 troops as contact tracers.

Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan authorized a contract with the University of Chicago-based National Opinion Research Center to quadruple the states current number of contact tracers to 1,000.

Michigans Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that more than 2,200 volunteers had completed training and were ready to begin assisting roughly 130 state health department workers and hundreds of county contact tracers like Clements.

According to the state agency, contact tracers already have reached roughly 12,000 residents who tested positive for COVID-19. The state is expected to announce later this week the name of a firm it will be working with to oversee the operation.

On a smaller scale, the Utah health department in April deployed 200 health department staffers to work with local public health departments on contact tracing, and another 500 state employees from other agencies also will be made available, according to Tom Hudachko, spokesman for the department.

In Alaska, 80 registered nurses stationed across the state and a handful of itinerant nurses who travel to remote villages have been working full time on COVID-19 contact tracing ever since the first case was diagnosed in Anchorage in early March.

Before the virus hit, they conducted contact tracing for STDs and tuberculosis and worked with communities to combat homelessness, addiction, domestic violence, hunger and other public health problems.

Alaska, which lost entire villages to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, is hiring 20 to 30 more nurses, according to Sarah Hargrave, public health nurse manager for Alaskas southeast region.

We will continue to expand as much as needed, she said. We really want to stay on top of this COVID spread.
Ghanaian rapper CJ Biggerman who took a bold step to meet American Rick Ross at Kempinski Hotel in December 2019 has revealed his current relationship with Rick Ross after their first encounter in Accra.



Many have questioned his relationship with US hip-hop and business mogul Rick Ross. Some in recent comments have alleged it was just a flash in the pan and that all expectations have become a phantom illusion.



After his freestyles on Instagram live with UK dancehall sensation Stefflondon, the rapper popularly known by his die hard fans as Sakumono Bossu or Obolowei, CJ Biggerman came under a barrage of trolls and criticisms.



With some insisting he quit rap but I guess the guy who broke protocol to have his wish of performing with Rick Ross might have the last laugh and will soon be smiling to the bank with rumours of a multimillion dollar ambassadorial deal with the US rapper.



This came after CJ Biggerman posted products of Rick Ross on his Instagram page which received endorsements from the BOSS himself Rick Ross.









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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WASHINGTON - A 42-year-old man from Texas who police said used an assault-style rifle to open fire on the Cuban Embassy here early Thursday is being detained on several criminal charges.

Police said the suspect, Alexander Alazo, is from Aubrey, about 50 miles north of Dallas. Public records show he has connections to Virginia, Pennsylvania and Florida.

No one was injured in the shooting, which occurred about 2:10 a.m. at the secured building on 16th Street in Adams Morgan. But the embassy said on its Twitter account that the building suffered "material damage," and it posted photos showing damaged walls, columns and a broken lamp.

Authorities did not comment on a possible motive.

The embassy tweet said that the Cuban government was awaiting word from authorities here about the "identity and motivations" of the suspect and that it expects local authorities to protect the diplomatic mission "against any intrusion or damage."

The Secret Service said Alazo is charged with assault with intent to kill and possession of an unregistered firearm, among other counts. An initial court hearing in his case was postponed early Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court. It was not immediately known when it would be rescheduled.

The early morning gunfire unnerved many residents in the northwest neighborhood, which is unaccustomed to violence. Several used the Nextdoor app to report hearing a barrage of gunfire and screams.

Police would not say how many shots were fired. A report filed Thursday describes the firearm as a Century Arms semiautomatic AK-47-style weapon. The report says multiple shots were fired.

After the incident, about a dozen cruisers from D.C. police and the Secret Service surrounded the embassy and blocked off 16th Street from Fuller to Euclid streets, and a police dog sniffed its way around the building's perimeter.

A maroon Nissan Pathfinder with a small decorative American flag affixed to the back that was parked outside the embassy was the subject of intense police scrutiny.

Officers draped yellow caution tape around it and photographed the interior. Police said it appears to be connected to Alazo. A black jacket and what appeared to be a blanket, along with a white face mask, were on the ground outside the Nissan.

Efforts on Thursday to reach Alazo's relatives were not successful. Online databases list affiliated addresses for him in Texas, Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania. People reached at those addresses denied any connection to him.

- - -

The Washington Post's Luz Lazo, Magda Jean-Louis and Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report.
In upcoming months, the Department of Defense will require that all contractors and suppliers doing business with the Defense Department comply with CMMC standards. In response to increased cybersecurity threats across the defense supply chain, the Department of Defense has established this new security measure to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Federal Contract Information (FCI), and other sensitive data residing on systems and networks owned by defense contractors.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC V1.02) was released in March 2020. The CMMC model will supersede the previous Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement or DFARS 252.204-7012 requirement of cybersecurity self-certification. Instead, contractors will undergo a certification process based on review by an accredited third-party assessment organization.

24By7Security's team of experts will help identify gaps against CMMC requirements. In addition, the readiness service options available include remediation road mapping, preparation of policy and procedures, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing and other services as may be required.

Having conducted over 1000 security risk assessments for highly regulated industries, including government, healthcare, higher education and financial services, the award-winning advisory team is highly experienced in security frameworks and regulations. This experience lends to helping defense contractors prepare their organizations for cybersecurity audits, regulatory compliance, and certification readiness.

"Audit readiness and preparation are the most arduous part of the process," says Sanjay Deo, Founder and President of 24By7Security. "We can guide your organization through the CMMC process in the most efficient and cost-effective manner."

Starting in Fall of 2020, a number of select Department of Defense RFPs will include a requirement that all bidding contractors must meet a minimum of Level 1 of CMMC to qualify. CMMC has five levels. These certification requirements will continue to be phased in over the next several years until it is a prerequisite to bid on any contract with the Department of Defense.

About 24By7Security, Inc.

24By7Security provides a robust menu of Cybersecurity and Compliance services, contemplating security and privacy needs in a variety of industries, including those which are regulated such as Healthcare, Financial Services, Education and others. 24By7Security leverages relevant industry standards such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171 and CMMC. To learn more, visit www.24By7Security.com.

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Viridiana Barreto, a senior at Lighthouse Charter School in Oakland, knows all about the coronavirus sudden, sprawling, maddening impact on the college admissions process.

As universities across the country scramble to recruit admitted students, contemplate online instruction in the fall and fret about potentially plunging enrollment, soon-to-be high school graduates such as Barreto face their own challenges. She planned to enroll at Cal State Northridge, to study mechanical engineering and explore Southern California.

Then the pandemic struck. Barretos dad, Daniel, lost construction work; her older sister, Daniela, began working more hours to help the family pay its rent; and the uncle of a good friend died of coronavirus complications.

Barretos exhilaration at leaving for college quickly evaporated.

The distance was something I had to consider, she said. If there was an emergency, I wouldnt really have a safe place to go  all my family is here in the Bay Area. Thats something I didnt want to deal with.

Barretos reversal  she now plans to attend UC Merced  offers one small snapshot of the virus disruptive effect on the 2020 admissions cycle. Her decision also provides a hint of long-term ramifications, with fewer international and out-of-state students potentially enrolling in California schools and more Bay Area students, like Barreto, possibly choosing to stay closer to home.

Also, some high school seniors unexpectedly find themselves considering a gap year if their expensive college choice sticks with online classes for the fall term. This creates unmistakable anxiety across higher education.

I think the whole country is holding its breath on where the enrollment picture will go, San Jose State Provost Vincent Del Casino said.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Friday is the traditional deadline for high school seniors to make their college choice. About half the schools nationwide pushed back their deadline, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. St. Marys College in Moraga, for instance, delayed its deadline until June 1.

Bay Area schools moved their annual recruiting events online, given shelter-in-place restrictions. UC Berkeley, which typically attracts about 40,000 visitors to Cal Day on campus, spread more than 100 digital events across a newly christened Cal Week (April 18-24). The school also offered virtual visits every day this week.

Stanford similarly held Virtual Admit Weekend on April 25, converting past open houses, picnics and concerts into virtual tours and live-stream chats with school officials. USF arranged Zoom meetings with admission counselors, webinars on wide-ranging topics and texting nights for student ambassadors to solicit questions from admitted students.

April Crabtree, assistant vice provost for undergraduate admission at USF, acknowledged incoming students are showing more caution in enrolling at a school far from home. USF thus spent most of April focusing on the 2,400 admitted students from the Bay Area, hoping to attract them to the Hilltop.

The other major driver for student plans is, they now have an understanding of what it means to learn online, Crabtree said. A lot of them are coming back and saying, I dont like this. This is not how I learn best.

According to a survey of 1,000 teenagers by Junior Achievement USA and Citizens Bank, more than half (57%) are concerned about how COVID-19 will impact their future plans. The survey also found 44% of high school juniors and seniors say the virus has affected their plans to pay for college. Of those whose post-graduation plans have changed because of the virus, 30% delayed their college start date and 13% changed their choice of schools.

Abby Sanchez of Richmond, a senior at Berkeley High, got into her dream school, Barnard College in New York. Shes excited to head east but admitted her mom, Milagros Cajas, is uneasy about sending her all the way across the country, to a coronavirus hot spot.

Sanchez also hesitated when asked about her plans if Barnard decides to hold fall-semester classes online.

Honestly, I dont know, she said. I think Id stay home for a year.  Im definitely conflicted. I want to have my freshman year in person, go to orientation, meet people.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Gabe Fantacone, one of Sanchezs classmates at Berkeley High, also isnt thrilled about the possibility of one or two semesters at Zoom U, as he put it. But hes unlikely to defer admission to Yale because hes not sure how he would spend a vacant year in this virus-tainted world.

Thats a largely unspoken factor in the awkward dance between financially strapped universities and confused students. Schools might have leverage to charge full tuition for online classes, because students lack their usual gap-year choices.

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.

San Jose State, which will offer nearly all classes online in the fall, does not plan to reduce tuition, for example, and most schools figure to adopt a similar approach as they attempt to generate desperately needed revenue.

The gap-year conversation is very popular right now, but my question is: What are students going to do with those 12 months? said Del Casino, the SJSU provost. You cant travel internationally, and the economy is not exactly taking on interns right now.

One extreme option for schools would be to ban gap years. Thats the suggestion of Allen Koh, chief executive officer of Cardinal Education, a consulting firm on the Peninsula. Koh predicted hundreds of university bankruptcies in the next few years, given the coronavirus-induced financial crunch for schools. Hence, his idea on forbidding students from taking a break until the world calms down.

Thats going to enrage people, but its self-preservation that universities need to be thinking about, Koh said.

Amid all this, students such as Barreto forge ahead. Shes a finalist for a scholarship through Oakland Promise, a nonprofit providing mentoring, college advising and $10 million in scholarships to more than 1,400 college students from the East Bay.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Barreto accepted admission to UC Merced but hopes to get into UC Berkeley off its wait list. If that happens, and the school offers enough financial aid, she might switch  though shes uncomfortable about exposing herself to the virus on a more crowded campus.

Barreto also realizes her first semester of college could be spent at home in East Oakland, taking classes remotely.

Its kind of devastating after my high-school journey, anticipating the moment I finally go to college, she said. Its sad I might not be able to have that right now.

Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has posted a heartfelt note on Instagram in which she has remembered the later actor Rishi Kapoor. While calling Kapoor a 'fighter', she wrote how they shared the common taste for the Chinese food. She even talked about Kapoor's Twitter moments 'passionate'.

View this post on Instagram  A post shared by Alia Bhatt  (@aliaabhatt) on Apr 30, 2020 at 7:15am PDT

Bhatt posted another picture of Rishi and Ranbir Kapoor in a frame. She captioned it 'Beautiful Boys.' She was with the Kapoor family during the funeral of the 'Bobby' actor.

Kapoor passed away in Mumbai today after a long battle with leukemia. The actor was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. The actor died peacefully at 8:45am, surrounded by his loving wife Neetu Kapoor and son Ranbir Kapoor.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last," read a statement from Rishi Kapoor's family.

"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him. He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears."
The virologist leading Sweden's relaxed response to the coronavirus pandemic has acknowledged mistakes in reacting to the crisis - as the country recorded a near-record number of new infections today.

Anders Tegnell said too little was done to protect people in care homes, which are thought to account for as many as half of Sweden's 2,586 deaths.

Speaking on SVT television, he accepted he was wrong to predict that the virus would be contained in Wuhan, but said he did not have a 'crystal ball'.

However, Tegnell is not backing down on his lockdown-free strategy - which Sweden believes is more effective in the long term.

Today's figures showed 790 new cases - second only to last Friday's 812 - at a time when much of Europe is seeing a slowdown in new infections.

The rise from 20,302 cases to 21,092 comes alongside 124 more deaths, bringing the total from 2,462 to 2,586.

Sweden's top epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, right, has admitted a series of errors in the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic

The daily number of cases in Sweden, shown on this graph, was back up to 790 today - the second highest on record, after last Friday's 812

This chart shows the daily number of deaths, which has been heavily affected by delays in reporting weekend cases. Today's figure is 124 new deaths

Tegnell said in January that there was 'no need to worry' about the virus, arguing at the time that there was no reason to shut down travel from China.

The public health chief spoke confidently about Wuhan's ability to contain the epidemic, saying that the new virus did not appear especially contagious.

A statement from Tegnell's Public Health Agency said on January 16 that the risk of the infection spreading to Sweden was 'very low'.

Asked about those predictions on Tuesday night, Tegnell said he was 'far from alone in this assessment'.

His initial optimism was based on the SARS and MERS outbreaks - two previous coronaviruses which had not led to a pandemic, he said.

SARS resulted in around 8,000 cases around the world while MERS caused only around 2,500 infections.

Tegnell was also asked about the influx of new cases from Italy, some of them linked to ski trips when the government was not advising against them.

Not until March 6 did Sweden advise against non-essential travel to northern Italy, the first major epicentre of the crisis in Europe.

Tegnell said on Tuesday that the government based its strategy on information coming from Italy, which it regarded as reliable.

'The virus was much more unpredictable than we initially thought. After all, developments in Italy became violent, even though Italy had taken drastic measures to begin with,' Tegnell said.

He added: 'We have to make an assessment based on where we stand. We can't try to look in a crystal ball and try to guess how it will be going forward.'

People sit outdoors in a park in Stockholm last weekend, enjoying a freedom to go outside which has been heavily restricted in most of Europe

A nurse wearing protective clothing and a face mask looks at blood on an oxygenation machine as she attends to a patient at a hospital near Stockholm earlier this month

On top of that, Tegnell blamed 'a lot of different players' for a failure to improve elderly care 'before we got into the situation we are in today'.

Tegnell said the virus appeared to have spread more rapidly in Swedish care homes than in some other countries, but said it was not clear why.

Swedes have been banned from visiting care homes in one of the few restrictive measures that the government has imposed.

Tegnell has previously argued that a lockdown would hardly have prevented the thousands of care home deaths when the visit ban was already in place.

In his latest interview he said that other countries including Britain had suffered equally bad death rates despite imposing drastic lockdowns.

Sweden cites the 'high level of trust in government agencies' as a reason for its relaxed approach, saying that advisory measures are generally accepted.

Some Swedes have even had Tegnell's face tattooed on their arms in a tribute to their top virologist.

Gustav Lloyd Agerblad displays his tattoo of Sweden's state epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell - the face of Sweden's response to the pandemic

This graph shows the number of deaths per million, which has mostly been higher in Sweden than in Denmark, although Sweden's figures tend to fluctuate wildly at weekends

However, some doctors and academics have raised concerns as Sweden piles up cases and deaths more quickly than its Scandinavian neighbours.

Sweden has recorded 2,586 coronavirus deaths compared to only 443 in Denmark, a difference not adequately explained by the size of their populations.

Denmark has already sent children back to primary schools and re-opened some businesses including hair salons and driving schools.

Sweden's 790 new cases today are its second worst-leap so far. Although Sweden's figures have been very susceptible to rogue numbers caused by weekend delays, official figures show that 774 new positive tests did actually occur yesterday.

Tegnell has previously said that Sweden may have passed the peak of the epidemic in mid-April and that Stockholm was already developing herd immunity.

Studies suggest that more than 20 per cent of Stockholm's population have already been infected with the virus.

Herd immunity is achieved when so many people are immune that the virus will not spread through the population and even those who are still susceptible will not be exposed.

However, the World Health Organisation has warned that it is unclear whether every virus patient subsequently develops immunity, or for how long.
by Melani Manel Perera

The head of the Negombo Grand Mosque said that Muslims decided to show our solidarity. Hence, they picked the seniors home run by Catholic nuns in Negombo. We gave them medicines, food rations, healthcare products and more. We donated 100 bags of rations worth 2,000 rupees each to the church in Katuwapitiya, to be handed out to the needy in the village affected by the attack.

Colombo (Asia News)  Several Muslim community and youth groups, as well as school children, recently commemorated the victims of last year's Easter Sunday attacks. To remember all of them, even to console wounded hearts, they raised money for those in need, and two songs were released to build hope.

Muslims have been offended, accused of the ruthless attack on Easter Sunday. But it's not true, said Movulavi Mohomad Salman, head of the Grand Mosque in Negombo, speaking to AsiaNews.

We have had good relations with Buddhist and Christian communities for many years. In particular, in Negombo we know nuns, religious, Buddhist monks and lay people. But this was upset by the absolutely wicked behaviour of a group of extremists.

We have been attacked, he noted. We want to make people understand that the Muslim community is not like that and it does not stand with the attackers. We also want to show our love, respect and generosity for our Buddhist and Christian brothers and sisters.

For this reason, "the Negombo Muslim mosque committee has decided to show our solidarity and our love for people, but people really in need, with the aim of remembering all our brothers and sisters killed in the attacks on Easter Sunday on 21 April 21.

We have therefore chosen the seniors home run by Catholic nuns in Negombo. We gave them medicines, food rations, healthcare products and more. We donated 100 bags of rations worth 2,000 rupees each to the church in Katuwapitya, to be handed out to the needy in the village affected by the attack.

The difficult situation of people facing the lockdown period was forgotten. Hundreds of food kits were distributed at the Negombo police station, the Angurukaramulla temple, HQI police, Dalupotha church, the Grand Street church as well as in the Jaela and Negombo areas.

Another group of young men and women from Negombo who work in the area expressed their affection to those in need at such a difficult time.

Fathima Carder, a Catholic mother of two, whose own mother is Muslim, works at the coordinator of the Negombo division of the National Peace Council (NPC). She told AsiaNews that, with the great help of the NPC, they were able to express their solidarity and good heart, remembering all those who were taken away in last year's ruthless attack.

Nimal Perera, coordinator of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement project, told AsiaNews that "youth groups from different NAFSO districts wrote a song as a tribute to our brothers and sisters who sacrificed their lives on 21 April 2019 in Colombo-Kochchikade, Negombo-Katuwapitiya, in the churches of Batticaloa and other places.

This is a tribute to all those families who lost loved ones as well as an appeal by our youth in different districts from different ethnic groups and different faiths: A single voice to safeguard life and protect humanity in our society, today.

We released a song, Unity Building up of Hope, after observing two minutes of silence, along with everyone in Sri Lanka, at 8.45 am on 21 April 2020.

The following song was written, produced and released under the auspices of the Youth for Unity and Promotion of Peace and Reconciliation programme of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) in Negombo.

"It is not a rainy cloud / What you see in the sky ... But the bombs we have blasted / the black smoke rising up ... My son be a gusty wind / daughter be a pouring rain ... Dousing flames lit by us / Become the cooling breeze for us ... Think of tomorrow of our country / Yearning to become one family ... Throwing off caste and creed / Country bounded in deep love ...
This week, 250 Toronto families received a package of swabs in the mail. Parents will swab their kids and themselves and send the samples back to be tested for COVID-19, and repeat this weekly  a faucet of data to help answer urgent questions about the role children play in driving transmission of the coronavirus.

The TARGet Kids study, which aims to enrol 1,000 families, is one of two major ongoing research projects in Canada that have rapidly pivoted in recent weeks to help answer the many unknowns about COVID-19 and children. Both will help inform policies to determine when its safe to reopen schools and daycares, which have been shuttered here since March  a necessary intervention, but also a brutal drag on childrens learning, parents mental health, and the economy, since most working parents rely on child care.

Illustrating the uncertainty, Ontario and Quebec, neighbouring provinces with the two worst outbreaks in the country, have taken divergent tacks. Quebec will begin reopening elementary schools and daycares in less than two weeks, while Ontario has offered no firm timeline and even deflected questions about the next school year.

There are many questions right now that I think parents and policymakers are really struggling with, says Dr. Jonathon Maguire, co-lead of TARGet Kids and a pediatrician and researcher at St. Michaels Hospital.

Parents dont want to put their children at risk. On the other hand, theyre finding it increasingly difficult to be so physically isolated, and trying to manage so many things that are on peoples plates now: trying to keep their careers going, trying to keep their kids nourished and educated all at the same time. Its very difficult. A balance is going to need to be struck.

There are lots of passionate debates about this issue right now, and I think it stems from the very little information currently known.

Evidence from multiple countries has shown that kids, thankfully, are mostly mildly affected by COVID-19. Nearly 22 per cent of Canadas population are children under 19, but only 5 per cent of known cases are in this age group, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Of nearly 17,000 Canadian cases with detailed information including hospitalization status, 18 children under age 19 were hospitalized, with two in intensive care.

This overall picture doesnt offer the kind of granular evidence necessary to inform policy, however. Researchers have two main questions: Which kids are at risk of severe illness if infected? And for the safety of the people around them  parents, teachers, daycare providers  what role do kids play in driving outbreaks?

The weekly swabbing component of the TARGet Kids study will help answer the second question.

For the past decade, the research team behind TARGet Kids, a collaboration between St. Michaels Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children, has followed a cohort of more than 11,000 children through their primary care providers, an effort to help understand childhood health concerns like micronutrient deficiencies and obesity.

When the COVID-19 crisis struck, the research team received a rapid grant to enlist 1,000 families and probe key characteristics about the disease in parents and children.

The decision to shut down schools and daycares was supported by evidence showing kids are powerful conveyors of respiratory illness. Canadian studies in Hutterite colonies have demonstrated that giving flu vaccines to children alone drives flu rates down across the entire community. Most parents dont need peer-reviewed research to confirm that kids are slobbering, close-talking germ pumps.

But COVID-19 isnt the flu. By swabbing every member of 1,000 families weekly and collecting symptom questionnaires, the TARGet Kids study is hoping to learn how the virus moves through households: do parents primarily give it to kids, or kids to parents? How likely are infected kids to make their parents sick, and vice versa? It will also act as a baseline to measure the impact of easing social distancing restrictions.

These questions about infectivity are really, really important to be able to answer questions about whether children should be together back at school, says Maguire.

It may also help determine the true scope of children as silent spreaders: those who are infected but asymptomatic, or have such mild symptoms that they go undetected.

We know kids can get infected, but because theyre likely having more mild illness, its very likely that a lot of illness in children is being missed, says Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital.

Mild also doesnt mean non-infectious. A pre-print study released Wednesday, led by German virologist Christian Drosten, found no difference in viral loads between age groups, and warned that children may be as infectious as adults: Based on these results, we have to caution against an unlimited reopening of schools and kindergartens in the present situation, the authors wrote.

The question on disease severity in children is equally as important, since policymakers and parents alike need to know if children, especially those with underlying health conditions, will be at risk if sent back to the classroom. Evidence from other countries has been informative, researchers say, but its no substitute for studying the impact on COVID-19 here, since pediatric populations differ among countries.

We have to look at the Canadian data to see how our kids are responding to this virus, says Dr. Charlotte Moore Hepburn, medical affairs director for the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP), a joint initiative of the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program also responded rapidly to the pandemic. The program, which has been running for over 20 years, asks 2,800 participating pediatricians and specialists across Canada to report monthly on a handful of uncommon but extremely serious childhood health conditions. It was initially built to scan the country for signs of polio, a requirement to certify that Canada is free of the viral scourge.

Because the surveillance program was already humming, researchers were able to quickly deploy it in the service of battling COVID-19: since April 1, participating doctors across the country have been reporting information weekly rather than monthly, a signal of urgency.

It is, in my opinion, the poster child example of why its essential to invest in public health infrastructure outside of pandemic times, said Moore Hepburn.

The surveillance program is using two avenues to examine severe pediatric COVID-19 cases. First, it is collecting detailed information on children who are hospitalized with the disease across Canada, hoping to better understand these rare but serious cases. Secondly, it is asking doctors to report back on cases of COVID-19 in children who also have an underlying condition, including asthma, chronic lung disease, obesity and diabetes.

These conditions have not been linked to severe COVID-19 illness in children, Moore Hepburn emphasizes, but researchers want to explore any risks. An absence of poor outcomes will be just as helpful  including for reassuring parents that returning to school is safe.

And looking ahead to any new therapies or vaccines that emerge, its difficult to detail who would derive the greatest benefit unless youre able to understand who is at greatest risk, says Moore Hepburn.

Demonstrating how much there is to learn, doctors in Canada and the U.K. issued bulletins in recent days about unusual presentations of COVID-19 in kids.

CPSP distributed an alert about potential skin changes, including reddish-purple lesions on the feet and hands. Because children may be asymptomatic or only mildly affected, kids with what the media has dubbed COVID foot should be swabbed, the alert said. The British health system also warned doctors about a serious but extremely rare inflammatory condition potentially linked to COVID-19, though the link, if any, is still obscure.

Moore Hepburn says CPSP hopes to report some interim findings in early May, while Maguire says TARGet Kids is already getting swabs back and once testing is completed can provide results in real time to interested parties in government.

In deciding on school and daycares reopening, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Wednesday that the province is balancing the priority of ensuring safety with the recognition that access to child care is a prerequisite for parents to participate in the workforce, especially women.

We appreciate the relationship between the two and well be making those announcements in the coming weeks, Lecce said.
The Covid-19 crisis has dictated how people go about their daily lives in Italy for nearly two months, not least the way they grieve for lives lost in the pandemic.

With cemeteries closed and funerals banned  both are considered potential breeding grounds for spreading the virus  the families of Italys 27,600 coronavirus victims and those who have died from other causes have had to find new ways to mourn.

At the same time, funeral service providers have been working round the clock to deal with the huge toll, and some northern areas have been forced to ask other regions to help out take on some of the dead.

In my four years of being a councillor, I have never seen so many deaths all together, Simone Rosa, who oversees cemeteries for the council of Cologno Monzese in the Milan area, told The Independent.

If you asked me to describe hell, I believe this would be the most realistic of all the descriptions, he said.

To prevent the death toll from rising higher, the central government and individual districts have imposed strict measures during the lockdown.

Mr Rosa said that since the virus arrived in Italy, we have had to change how we go about our daily life and, unfortunately, the more religious aspects of our lives.

Customs that were once almost a routine  such as mass on Sunday, funeral processions and rosaries in the house of the deceased  are now memories.

Mr Rosa said his town was one of the first to close cemeteries, fearing that people  perhaps those who had close contact with loved ones killed by the virus  might stop and chat to others similarly experiencing grief.

But elsewhere in the badly hit Lombardy region, the city of Monza kept its two cemeteries open right up until the national government ordered them to shut across the whole country in early April.

This is different to the overwhelming majority of comuni (Italian municipal districts) who decided to close their cemeteries off to the public several weeks before, Simone Villa, the deputy mayor, said.

The city just north of Milan managed to keep them open for so long by constantly monitoring the grounds to check mourners were following distancing rules, he said.

The entire country has been ordered to stay at home unless it is essential  for example, to get groceries or go to work  and all public gatherings banned since mid-March as part of efforts to tackle the outbreak.

Funerals have also been off-limits for more than a month, with a town near Naples being put into strict quarantine after a crowd turned out for the mayors funeral procession.

Even though national rules banned public services, small burials have still been allowed to take place for close family members.

In Cologno Monzese, Mr Rosa said a priest can perform a service  saying prayers and blessing the body  with a maximum of 20 relatives in the cemetery, as long as everyone leaves the area as soon as it is over.

A priest reads the book of funeral rites and common prayers during a funeral service for a victim of Covid-19 at a cemetery in Piedmont in April (Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty) (Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)

In the northern city of Bergamo  one of the worst-hit places in the country by  up to 10 family members can go to the burial, a spokesperson for the mayor told The Independent.

And for those who cannot physically travel to attend a service, many funeral directors have used innovative ways to ensure they can still say their goodbyes.

These include streaming services, with providers like Onoranze funerbi Calosso in the northern Piedmont region who post a Zoom link on their website for people to click and follow the scaled-back funeral live.

Even within the size limits for services, close family members cannot attend if they have been in contact with the virus and forced to stay in quarantine.

This happens very often when a person has died from Covid-19, the president of the association that looks after Bolognas cemeteries said.

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In Italy, as in other countries, the moment of paying respects to a loved one is a time to collectivise the pain, Simone Spataro said. We believe the loss of this moment is and will be a wound to our community.

He said authorities have been doing their best to help people manage the changes, including placing flowers throughout the cemetery in the northern Italian city over Easter as people were barred from entering.

In Bergamo, Francesco Alleva, a spokesperson for the mayor, told The Independent workers have made sure tombs stay clean, throwing away rotten and old flowers and watering plants to ensure as much dignity as possible is maintained during the pandemic.

An Italian army officer runs past a military vehicle parked in the Monumental Cemetery in Bergamo during the coronavirus crisis (Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty) (Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images)

The small city in Lombardy has had at least 11,300 cases in its province, as of the final week of April, and images of the overflowing obituary pages in its newspapers have been shared around the world.

The Bergamo crematorium has likewise struggled to cater for demand during the crisis. Military vehicles have been used to take bodies elsewhere for cremation, and the ashes then returned to the city.

At least 475 bodies have been cremated outside Bergamo since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, the mayors spokesperson said. Florence, Venice, Verona and Vicenza have all helped take on the load.

Bernado Rossi from the crematorium in Florence told The Independent the city has also welcomed bodies from Milan and Cremona in a bid to help saturated crematoria in badly-hit northern areas.

His crematorium has been working 24 hours a day and seven days a week since the end of March, the board member said.

He said the ban on public funerals could have increased demand for cremations, as people can keep the ashes and do a proper funeral once they are allowed out again.

Mr Spataro from Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali said his city has also helped areas further north deal with the crisis by taking on cremations.

North Italy has been badly hit by the epidemic and the cemeteries and funerals services of those zones were not prepared to deal with this pandemic, he said. 

An emergency broke out when the crematoria from those zones were no longer able to deal with the rising daily death rates.

Coffins arrive in Florence from northern Italy for cremation (Bernado Rossi ) (Bernado Rossi)

Last weekend, the government said it would start gradually relaxing some of its lockdown measures from next week, including allowing funerals with less than 15 guests from 4 May.

By that time, funeral rites will have been upended for nearly two months.

You ask me how Pescara has adapted? Mariarita Paoni Saccone, who oversees cemeteries on the coastal citys council, said. I answer in the first person, as a simple citizen, as a daughter who lost her own mother not long ago and managed to say a final farewell and managed to ensure she received the funeral she deserved.

How can we adapt to a situation like this? How can you accept losing a loved one, without being able to be by their side until their last breath and then without being able to have a funeral? Honestly, I dont think you can accept it, even if you must.

She added: I hope with all my heart we can go back to saying goodbye to our loved ones the way they deserve as soon as possible.
BOGOTA, Colombia  On the day that Colombia announced its first case of the new coronavirus, Astrid Condes body lay in a morgue with four gunshot wounds to the chest, the latest casualty in a scourge of violence against former rebel soldiers.

Lockdowns prompted by the pandemic may have slashed overall crime in Colombia, but the killings of ex-combatants like Conde have continued, and the COVID-19 crisis itself is putting yet more strain on the already fragile implementation of the historic 2016 accord that ended a half-century of conflict.

Conservative politicians are eyeing the possibility of diverting funds originally destined for the accord to pandemic response instead. Nascent projects aimed at providing ex-combatants with a livelihood are up against a recession. And illegal armed groups still rule rural areas, continuing to threaten and murder those who challenge them.

Twenty-three ex-combatants have been killed thus far in 2020, almost double the number seen at this point the previous year, according to United Nations data. Five of those slayings have come since March 24, when President Ivan Duque ordered the entire nation on lockdown.

Now when you go out, you dont know what will kill you  a bullet or coronavirus, said Luz Marina Giraldo, whose ex-combatant husband was shot to death last year.

Conde was gunned down while walking her German shepherd in a park near her home in a rough Bogota neighborhood on March 5. Her blood was still visible on the paved path the next day as news of the slaying filled the airwaves.

That afternoon, with the arrival of COVID-19, radio stations quickly shifted their focus. Outside the morgue, men gathered around a newsstand to smoke and discuss whether they should buy face masks. Two days later, Conde was buried in a cemetery where some families are so poor they write the names of their dead on tombs with a marker.

What happened to Astrid is more evidence that a genocide has begun against us, said Adela Perez, an ex-combatant who attended the funeral.

Deaths of former guerrillas who surrendered their arms to end Latin Americas longest-running conflict peaked last year and are now at 197. That violence is considered one of the most crucial concerns about the accords implementation. Supporters of the accord say that if Colombia cannot protect those who voluntarily give up their weapons, it raises serious questions about the long-term success of the peace process.

She trusted in the peace process, said Juan David Bonilla, Condes lawyer. So much so that she trusted even in the banality of daily life.

Analysts warn that the quarantine could actually be putting ex-combatants further in harms way. By staying inside  in one place  they might be easier for criminal groups to track down.

In rural areas, it feels much more dangerous, said Manuel Antonio Gonzalez, an ex-combatant whose rebel son was killed before the pandemic. People arent moving, but these groups can move however they want.

The majority of the deaths are taking place in conflict-ridden areas where armed groups compete over drug routes. Analysts say some are being killed after rejecting attempts by dissident rebels to recruit them. Former rebels believe some of the attacks come from right-wing paramilitaries who want to crush their adversaries, peace accord or no. In at least one case, military officers have been charged in an ex-rebels death.

Colombias chief prosecutor blames drug trafficking groups for 75 percent of the crimes. Authorities say theyve made advances in solving nearly 45 percent of 228 homicides, attempted murders and forced disappearances of ex-combatants. But to date only 23 people have been sentenced.

Many of those are the so-called material authors of the crimes  hitmen  who, as is alleged in Condes case, were contracted to do the crime.

According to an initial police report, Jhonatan Sneider, 28, was approached by a man in a white Toyota who goes by the name Trivilin three days before the killing and offered 15 million pesos  worth about $4,300 at the time  to kill her.

To date, he is the only person who has been arrested in her death.

We dont know who is behind this, Bonilla said.

Like many ex-combatants, Conde joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia when she was still a teen, a friend said, though the circumstances of her recruitment are not known. She became part of the guerrillas communications team and later had a son with a commander who is now a prominent rebel dissident.

Female guerrillas were largely prohibited from having children, but exceptions were sometimes made, on condition that once born, infants would be turned over to a relative or friend.

Conde did not see her son for years, and after being captured in 2012, told fellow inmates she was happy that behind bars, at least he got to visit.

She was charged in connection with a rebel attack on a military base that left 19 dead and released after the signing of the peace accord.

For the first time in a long time, she got to feel like a mom, Perez said. Such a simple thing, but that the war robbed from us.

Several friends said Conde was fully committed to peacetime life. Now in her mid-40s, she was studying to get her high school diploma and taking odd jobs like cleaning apartments. The government had recently approved funding for her project to raise cattle in the countryside near her family.

Before her death, she told her son shed seen strange men watching her enter her apartment building, but brushed it off.

At Condes funeral, relatives gathered around her mahogany coffin draped with a spray of white roses. A priest read from a red leather Bible and a young man sang Do what you want with me, while playing a keyboard. Afterwards, her family boarded a bus to the cemetery where above-ground crypts are discolored by pollution and graffiti.

Their vehicle came to a stop at the entrance, where they were greeted by a message spray-painted in red on the cemeterys outer wall.

Only the dead know the end of war, it read.
The U.S. Supreme Court just decided its first Second Amendment case in nearly a decade, and New York was at the center of it.

In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. City of New York, the state Rifle and Pistol Association  along with three gun owners  sued New York City in 2013 over a regulation that prohibited people with a license to keep a gun in their home from transporting it to other locations outside the city  like a firing range or a second home. The plaintiffs argued that the regulations violated their Second Amendment rights to bear and keep arms. They cited specifically the Supreme Courts 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which affirmed the right of individuals to keep arms in the privacy of their own homes but clarified that the sale, possession and carrying of guns could be regulated.

Lower courts ruled against the state Rifle and Pistol Association in 2015 and 2018, essentially finding that the citys rule did not violate gun owners Second Amendment rights. But last spring, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, which is often referred to in short as NYSRPA. By then, the Supreme Court had gained a new conservative member in Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In a move some have described as a move to prevent the increasingly conservative court from exploring the scope of Second Amendment rights, New York City repealed their own regulation, allowing gun owners to transport guns to homes or shooting ranges outside the city. The city took that action at the urging of some gun control groups who wanted to avoid a new ruling on the Second Amendment from a conservative Supreme Court. With the regulation in question suddenly gone, the city argued that the case was now moot.

The plaintiffs argued that despite the fact that the regulation restricting transportation of guns no longer exists, the case was still live because of the possibility that plaintiffs could seek damages for having had their Second Amendment rights violated while the regulation was in place.

But New York and those gun control groups got what they wanted. The Supreme Court dismissed the case on Monday, finding that it was, in fact, moot because the regulation was no longer in place. Six justices  Chief Justice John Roberts, Kavanaugh and the Courts four liberal members  voted to dismiss the case. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote a dissenting opinion calling the issue not moot, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch. Though Kavanaugh agreed the case was moot, he also wrote that he was concerned that lower courts werent properly applying the Heller decision recognizing individuals rights to gun ownership.

To explore the decision and how it will affect New Yorks strict gun control laws, City & State reached out to four experts on the subject: Robert Spitzer, a politics professor of SUNY Cortland and author of five books on gun policy, including The Politics of Gun Control; Joseph Blocher, a professor at Duke Law School; Eric Ruben, assistant professor of law at Southern Methodist Universitys Dedman School of Law and a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice; and Ilya Shapiro, director of the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute. (In the interest of full disclosure, Blocher and Ruben together submitted an amicus brief in the case on behalf of neither party, which discussed Second Amendment doctrine as it applies to lower courts.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Should the Supreme Court have dismissed this case? Why or why not?

Ilya Shapiro: No it shouldnt have, for two reasons. First, the plaintiffs didnt get all the relief they could have. Second, the Court doesnt typically allow parties to avoid review by simply changing their policy; New York was perfectly happy with its rule until the Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Robert Spitzer: The Court decision to dismiss was correct. By the standard definition of mootness, there was no longer a basis for proceeding with the case, because the New York City law that was challenged was repealed. That is, there was no longer a live case or controversy for the Court to consider.

Eric Ruben: The Constitution grants the Supreme Court power to decide cases and controversies, not already resolved disputes that appear more hypothetical than real. In NYSRPA, the firearm policy at issue  which barred the petitioners from taking their handguns to second homes and shooting ranges outside the city  was repealed and then preempted by state law. That was precisely what the plaintiffs sought in their complaint, albeit by court order, not a democratic process. There are exceptions to the Supreme Courts mootness doctrine, but none clearly applied. And the petitioners attempted to add new issues to the case at the eleventh hour, but a majority of the justices were disinclined to consider them before they were considered by the lower courts. The Court was well within its mootness precedent when it declined to reach the merits, instead sending the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.

Joseph Blocher: Dismissing the case was the right decision. The petitioners had challenged a New York City rule that essentially forbade people from transporting their weapons outside the city  to a second home or a shooting range, for example. But that rule was repealed and later replaced by a state law that allows for transport, giving the petitioners everything they requested in their lawsuit. That means that the case became legally moot  there was nothing left for the justices to do. Im sure that there will be challenges to the new law, but those have to be litigated in the lower courts first.

What does the result of this case tell us about the new makeup of the Supreme Court and how it will decide on Second Amendment cases in the future?

Joseph Blocher: I dont think we learned too much that we didnt already know. Justices Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch wrote a dissenting opinion addressing the merits of the Second Amendment claim, and its not surprising that they wouldve struck down the New York City rule. Justice Kavanaugh didnt join their dissent, but he did suggest that the Court should take another Second Amendment case soon. I suspect that hell get his wish, perhaps as early as next year. Based on their prior opinions, I think its safe to say that all four of those Justices are sympathetic to gun rights claims. The big question remains Chief Justice Roberts. He didnt write an opinion in this case, nor did he say anything at oral argument that would indicate his views.

Ilya Shapiro: Not much that we didnt already know. Justice Kavanaugh indicated strongly that he was with the dissenters on the merits of the question and Chief Justice Roberts was in the majority in both Heller and McDonald v. Chicago (the last two gun rights cases), so its pretty clear that theres majority against the sorts of bans and extreme restrictions that are being litigated.

Robert Spitzer: There is clearly a strong sentiment among several justices to revisit the definition of Second Amendment rights, and to expand the definition of those rights. It is unclear if there are five votes to significantly expand those rights, however. Chief Justice Roberts will likely be the deciding vote on this matter. While the degree of expansion they ultimately settle on is in dispute, I am convinced that they will find five votes to do so in one or more of the 10 Second Amendment cases they will be reviewing shortly.

Eric Ruben: The fact that the Supreme Court accepted this case in the first place is telling. After Heller, there were over 1,000 Second Amendment challenges in the lower courts and the Court regularly refused to intervene. Then, shortly after Justice Kavanaugh replaced Justice Anthony Kennedy, the justices accepted this case, suggesting that the change in personnel might have increased the Courts appetite to decide Second Amendment disputes.

It is also telling, however, that a majority of the justices, including Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh, felt restrained by mootness doctrine and opted to remand the case. Justice Alitos dissent provided a roadmap the Court could have taken to declare the case live. The restraint of six justices, despite Alitos roadmap, suggests that the recomposed Court is still unwilling to expound on the Second Amendment if doing so would risk other important constitutional principles.

More significantly, it takes five votes to reach a Supreme Court majority, and Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan did not join either Kavanaughs short concurrence or Alitos longer dissent. Roberts views on the right to keep and bear arms, in particular, will continue to garner speculation. He will likely be the deciding vote in future Second Amendment cases.

To what extent could potential challenges that reach the Supreme Court affect New York City or New York states relatively strict gun control measures in the future?

Eric Ruben: It appears that 10 cases that were on hold pending the outcome in NYSRPA have been distributed for this Fridays Supreme Court conference (when the justices vote on whether to hear new cases). Two issues that stand out among those 10 cases are the constitutionality of (1) New York-style bans on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines and (2) New York-style restrictions on carrying handguns in public.

Every federal appeals court that has ruled on assault rifle and large-capacity magazine bans has concluded that they comply with the Constitution. But Judge Kavanaugh dissented in one of those opinions and there were vociferous dissents in others.

Meanwhile, all but one of the federal appeals courts that have ruled on restrictive policies for the issuance of concealed carry permits have upheld them. The one outlier is the influential D.C. Circuit, however, which concluded that law-abiding adults have a presumptive right to carry handguns in public places.

If the Supreme Court bucks the lower court consensus and strikes down assault weapon bans or restrictions on public carry, that outcome would require New York to roll back gun laws like the SAFE Act passed after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Ilya Shapiro: The Court has about 10 petitions in Second Amendment cases pending; Im not sure if any of them are from New York, but theyll certainly be deciding issues in a way that will establish precedent to challenge some of New York Citys draconian rules  such as the virtual ban on carrying a firearm for self-defense.

Joseph Blocher: New York has some of the most stringent gun regulations in the country, but theyve fared reasonably well under the current legal framework. At least four justices seem ready to change that framework, though, potentially by evaluating laws based solely on text, history, and tradition rather than any consideration of contemporary costs and benefits. That kind of change could call some of New Yorks regulations into question: restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, for example, or those requiring certain kinds of permits to carry guns in public.

Robert Spitzer: Based on the 10 cases up for appeal, at least three current New York gun laws could be in jeopardy: the assault weapons ban, restrictions on large capacity magazines, and the states may issue concealed carry law. All of these measures have withstood legal challenges in the past  including the 2013 NY SAFE Act  but a new court ruling could easily change that.
By Luiza Ilie

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's Orthodox Church said on Wednesday a series of outdoor posters depicting nurses and doctors on the frontlines of the new coronavirus outbreak as saints were blasphemous and an insult to Christian iconography.

The city hall of capital Bucharest said it would ask advertising firms to remove the posters, part of a wider European campaign that depicts nurses and doctors in a style that mixes comic book elements with religious art.

The posters, created by Romanian illustrator Wanda Hutira and part of a "Thank you doctors" campaign by ad agency McCann Worldgroup, were generally well-received, but they also drew divisive comments on social media.

"It is a campaign to promote a dystopian vision over the situation induced by the pandemic," the Church's spokesman Vasile Banescu told Reuters. He said the posters were "a visual mistreatment of Christian iconography."

"It is not just a blasphemous act but also an insult to the very honourable profession of doctors who, like all of us, do not think they are saints or improvised saviours and do not demand a public cult."

Bucharest city hall said in a statement it would ask outdoor advertising firms to remove the posters "which could be replaced with images that bring homage to hero doctors without hurting the faith of passersby."

The outdoor displays do not require city hall approval.

"(The posters) were a daring artistic choice but one which is in no way following a political, religious or any other kind of purpose," McCann Romania said in a statement. "It is a gesture of gratitude for doctors."

Romanians across the country have organised donation drives to provide hospitals with protective gear. Elsewhere in Europe, Italians and Britons have sung or applauded hard-pressed medical staff from windows and balconies.

Romania, which declared a state of emergency on March 16 and enforced a nationwide lockdown one week later, has reported 11,978 cases of the coronavirus and 681 deaths.

The majority of Romanians in the European Union's socially conservative eastern state of 20 million are Christian Orthodox and the Church has considerable influence.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
A TOTAL of 179 people from two cities and one town in Cebu were found positive of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Thursday, April 30, 2020.

Of the 179 new cases, 176 are from Cebu City, two from Mandaue City and one from Minglanilla town, southern Cebu.

Cebu City also recorded one mortality from Barangay Mambaling on April 30, bringing the total number of deaths from the barangay to two.

In all, Cebu City now has 731 Covid-19 cases with seven mortalities and 21 laboratory-negative including five latest from Barangay Luz.

Data from the Cebu City Health Department (CHD) shows that 125 of the 176 new cases come from the Cebu City Jail; 24 from Sitio Tinabangay in Alaska, Barangay Mambaling; one from Sentro, Mambaling; 12 from Sitio Sto. Nino, Barangay Luz; 10 from Sitio San Vicente, Barangay Luz; three from Barangay Labangon (one in A. Lopez, one from Sitio Sambag and one from Sitio Callejon); and one from Barangay Tejero.

In Mandaue City, officials reported that two people, a 29-year-old detainee at the city jail and a two-year-old toddler from Barangay Cabancalan, were found positive for the coronavirus bringing the total number of Covid cases to 19.

The 29-year-old detainee was supposed to be released from custody but was ordered instead to undergo quarantine and swab test by the Mandaue City Emergency Operations center after exhibiting symptoms of the Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the two-year-old boy reportedly got sick after he was exposed to a relative living in Barangay Luz, Cebu City.

The Mandaue City Health Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) are coordinating with the barangays with confirmed Covid-19 cases to disinfect the homes of patients and isolate people who had recent contact with them.

In Minglanilla, officials disclosed that a resident of Purok Estaca, Barangay Tunghaan was a confirmed Covid-19 case, bringing the towns total to two.

Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Pena has issued an order placing Purok Estaca Dos, Purok Maria Uno and Purok Maria Dos, all in Barangay Tunghaan under community lockdown.

Story continues

National figures

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, April 30, 2020 reported an additional 276 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the Philippines, bringing the total to 8,488.

Ten more patients died in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll to 568 as of 4 p.m. Thursday.

The DOH also reported that 20 other patients recovered from the Covid-19.

A total of 1,043 patients have now recovered from the disease as of Thursday.

The youngest among the survivors is a 16-day-old infant, who was nursed back to health by the medical staff of the National Childrens Hospital. (JJL, WBS, ANV/JKV)
She and other D.C. early-childhood centers say their finances are in shambles as closures due to the novel coronavirus stretch on, and many fear they will have to shut down before they get the chance to reopen. Even if they do manage to survive until the city reopens, they're unsure how they'll afford to adhere to the recommended health and social distancing guidelines, which would require ample protective equipment and fewer children in classrooms.
The goods have been purchased by the President's Office at the expense of charity funds.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Secretary of the Coordination Council on Combating the Spread of COVID-19 Kyrylo Tymoshenko says another plane with medical goods, namely 400,000 respirators and 50,000 face shields for Ukrainian doctors has arrived in Ukraine from China.

"A plane from China arrived at Boryspil International Airport delivering 400,000 respirators and 50,000 protective face shields for Ukrainian doctors. This is the last flight from the airlift organized by the President's Office to meet Ukraine's demand for personal protective gear and medicines," the Office quoted Tymoshenko as saying on April 30.

The Health Ministry will continue providing supplies of everything required, the report said.

"In total, more than 25 aircraft brought cargo to Ukraine," Tymoshenko said.

In particular, these are goods purchased by the President's Office at the expense of charity funds.

"This is protective gear for our doctors. It has been supplied promptly and will be delivered to Ukraine's regions today. It includes respirators, protective glasses, etc.," he said.

Moreover, the flights transported cargo purchased by businesses as humanitarian aid to the regions where they are based.

In addition, the said aircraft brought commercial cargo.

Read alsoUkraine to daily produce up to 7,000 coronavirus PCR test kits

"We have enabled commercial organizations, especially pharmacy chains and retailers, to bring in goods. First, these are common [face] masks for the population. It is these planes  flights from China to Ukraine  that are paid for by commercial organizations," he said.

The move helped reduce the price of masks in pharmacies.

"Because there were not enough masks on the Ukrainian market and their production was insufficient despite the fact that our enterprises were fully loaded. As soon as we allowed commercial organizations to bring in their own goods, the price started to fall immediately, as a lot more masks were supplied to pharmacies," he added.

According to Tymoshenko, the President's Office has already fulfilled the main task to overcome the crisis related to the lack of protective gear in Ukrainian hospitals. Further on, it will be the Health Ministry that will be handling all relevant purchases.

"The task of the President's Office was to overcome this crisis. That is why we say that this is the last flight supervised by the Office. In the future, the Health Ministry and its structures, state-owned enterprises, will procure the protective gear and other equipment required by hospitals," he said.

Tymoshenko added that Ukraine had been purchasing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in China and South Korea until it launched its own production.

The official also announced the release of a detailed report on the work of charity funds the following week, which will show how the money was spent. After all, the expenditures included not only purchases of protective gear, but also repairs of lung ventilators in Ukraine.

"I want to emphasize that everything the Office of the President did cost nothing for the state budget. All this was paid for by charity funds, that is the things we bought. Commercial organizations purchased goods on their own, namely paid for shipments and delivery by plane," he stressed.
In a crisis, the urgency of need must trump market barriers. Now more than ever business must come together and act to save the vulnerable among us.

Mary-Jane Morifi, Tiger Brands

Food insecurity intensified

Give as much as you can

Covid-19 has split our already divided economy down two lines: either youre essential or youre not. So while essential workers are out there risking their lives, many non-essential workers are staying at home risking their livelihoods. For them, no work means no pay  and no pay means no food, especially in congested urban areas where subsistence farming isnt a viable option.Many of the small-scale entrepreneurs and hawkers who would normally busy the streets with their goods have been forced back into their communities. The streets are empty  and therefore so are the grocery cupboards.Already, weve seen how hunger causes social unrest. By mid-April, Tafelsig East residents in the Western Cape were so desperate for food they began throwing stones at police because they hadnt received any food hampers from their ward councillor. Facing a reporters camera, one woman shouted, Hunger will kill us long before Covid-19. Similar disruptions occurred in Macassar, Cape Town, where spaza shops were looted, including the burning of tyres and gunfire.This is the frightening paradox of Covid-19 in South Africa, where being safe comes with immense economic risks. Now is the time for those of us in big business to help South Africas most vulnerable survive the unintended consequences of this reality.Even before Covid-19 arrived on our shores, some 54% of South Africans were hungry or at risk of hunger. The economic recession and extended national lockdown has only intensified this problem in a country where millions of people spend more than half of their income on basic sustenance. While a lockdown deters the spread of the virus, it also creates new problems with competing (and likely longer-lasting) urgency that wont disappear when the lockdown is lifted.If you can acknowledge that South Africa is facing an urgent food problem while you have a full fridge and a full stomach, then youre among the privileged few who only have one pandemic to face. Millions more face the double crisis of Covid-19 and hunger. Worse still: hunger means malnutrition, which only increases vulnerability to the effects of the virus.This isnt just a state social security problem or the problem of a corporate CSI programme; its a problem for all of us. But those of us in big business need to lead the way because were able to channel our resources quickly and effectively especially during such an unprecedented moment.If we think that hunger is not a my problem, but a them problem, we underestimate what people will do for food when pushed far enough. Covid-19 has reminded us all that despite the unity we feel when the President calls the nation to stand together or when the vuvuzelas sound at 7pm to cheer our frontline workers, our society remains socially and economically fragmented. Thats a bigger problem for a different day.What can we do now?We should start by collaborating not just with our partners and charities, but with our competitors. Crisis moments make for unusual bedfellows, but the urgency of the present moment asks us to transcend traditional barriers like competitive advantage, market share and media visibility. Imagine the impact that farmers, food manufacturers and retailers could make if they collaborated to reduce food wastage. A third of South Africas food production goes to waste, yet over 10 million people go to bed hungry each night.We may all be going through the same storm, but some of us have better boats to ride it out. Forget the PR stunts and piecemeal offerings  give as much as you can. It is our responsibility to lead this as corporate South Africa, not because its good for the bottom line but because its simply good business.This is what is driving us at Tiger Brands. As the largest food producer in Africa, we are well placed to be able to unlock what we do to benefit those who need it most. Our current CSI programmes provide food to some 30,000 people every day, including 4,500 university students. We also donate food weekly to other needy South Africans via our partnerships with organisations like Food Forward, one of South Africas largest food banks.Our Tiger Brands Foundation supports nearly 80,000 children with a nutritious breakfast. During Covid-19, we have kept all these programmes going and augmented our efforts by providing daily bread to frontline healthcare workers to salute them for their selfless service to South Africa. We have also made additional food hampers available to those in need, and restarted programmes like Plates4Days that traditionally only run when universities are open.So, while we can never do everything for everyone  we can do <><> part. The lesson in this is that if we all (as people or as big business) do something, the compounded impact on our society will be felt for years to come.Its a simple mindset shift. Forget about criticising those who are battling to lockdown effectively in crowded shacks. Rather ask yourself what this says about South Africas housing inequalities and how we can all play a role.It reminds me of American author Herman Melvilles famous words  that nothing is so preposterous as the criticisms [of] the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed and well-fed". Its time we each did something  either big or small so that we can show that we are a nation that comes together in our defining moments.We are committed to doing so as Tiger Brands and we call on businesses and all South Africans to join us in doing the same.
The index COVID-19 case in Yobe State has no history of contact with a suspected or confirmed case and no history of travel to high-risk states, an official of the state government has said.

Idi Gubana, the Chairman of the state Committee on Covid-19 and also the deputy governor, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Damaturu.

Mr Gubana said the confirmed case is a 29 year-old-man who developed symptoms on April 23 and presented himself at the State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu, with complaints of fever, sore throat, and cough.

The patient is single and resides with his parents in Damaturu. He has no history of contact with suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 and no history of travel to high risk states, he said.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Wednesday night added Yobe to the list of states with cases of COVID-19, bringing Nigerias total confirmed cases to 1,728.

Mr Gubana urged residents of the state to remain calm and observe all professional advice.

The State COVID-19 Committee is working assiduously to contain the situation. Members of the public are strongly advised to adhere with all the prevention and control measures.

Which include social and physical distancing, personal and environmental hygiene and respiratory etiquettes, he said.

Mr Gubana said the committee had embarked on aggressive contact tracing, environmental disinfection as well as sensitisation and awareness creation to prevent spread of coronavirus in the state.

(NAN)
Vallejo Police Department / Vallejo Police Department

Vallejo police have arrested a woman who allegedly robbed a store and escaped after coughing in the direction of security guards amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 27, police said, a woman entered a store in the 900 block of Admiral Callaghan Lane in Vallejo, hid merchandise items on her person and left the store without paying.
A 34-year-old woman has tested positive for coronavirus in the district, a senior health official said on Thursday.

This is the second case in the district after a 50 year-old-man was found positive for the virus, Chief Medical Officer Srikant Tiwari said.

The woman had been attending to her ailing father in Delhi's Safdarjung hospital along with her mother and sister.

The family returned in an ambulanceto Bansgaon village in Gorakhpur on Tuesday and were asked by the village head to report to the district hospital.

The ambulance driver left the family at the gate of the district hospital and fled from the spot, officials said.

The family was kept in quarantine at the hospital and their samples sent for testing. While the woman has tested positive for coronavirus, the other family members are negative.

Gorakhpur Comissioner Jayant Narlirkar saidsince the woman came directly from Delhi to the district hospital, there is no threat of the virus spreading in the village.

The entire family is quarantined since Tuesday and the woman has been admitted to the BRD medical college.

Both the cases in the district are connected to Safdarjung Hospital.

The man, who had earlier tested positive for coronavirus, was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital and had returned to the district recently.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 10:43:08|Editor: huaxia

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CAPE TOWN, April 29 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Wednesday reported 354 more COVID-19 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily surge since the country recorded its first case in early March.

The newly-added cases brought the total number of cases to 5,350, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement.

"This is the highest number of cases in a 24-hour cycle recorded to date and represents a 73-percent increase relative to the day before," he said.

"Regrettably, we report a further 10 deaths today from Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape," he said.

All the deceased had underlying conditions except a 33-year-old female who had no previously diagnosed co-morbidities, Mkhize said.

"Her case is concerning as she was subsequently diagnosed with acute myocarditis," said Mkhize.

He noted that one of the deceased was a registered nurse from the Western Cape who worked for the Department of Health.

"Her passing will be sorely felt as we regard all our health workers as precious frontline soldiers of this battle against COVID-19," the minister said.

However, he said, this was a community transmission and did not occur within a health facility.

The Western Cape remained the epicenter of the virus, reporting 264 cases in the past 24 hours, almost doubling the previous figure of 133 on Tuesday, according to Mkhize.

This was also the highest number of new cases in this province in any 24-hour cycle, he said.

In the past 24 hours, the Western Cape contributed to 75 percent of the total new cases nationally while only contributing 30 percent of total tests over the same period, said Mkhize.

"These concerning trends have prompted us to plan for additional support to be deployed to the province to help contain the spread of COVID-19," he said.

Western Cape has 2,135 cases, the highest number among all the nine provinces, to be followed by Gauteng with 1,408 and KwaZulu-Natal with 956.

The province has been asked to recruit additional personnel and 30 Cuban doctors will also be sent over, said Mkhize.

South Africa has more than 200 Cuban doctors who arrived last week to help the country combat the virus.

Meanwhile, the total number of tests conducted to date is 197,127, of which 11,630 were done in the last 24 hours, according to Mkhize.

This is the highest number of tests done in a 24-hour period, representing a 66-percent increase from the day before. Enditem
One child has been killed and four are missing after a horse and buggy carrying an Amish family was swept over on a flooded road in Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police launched an emergency search for the missing children in Bath County Wednesday evening.

The tragic incident unfolded just before 5pm when the horse and carriage five children and one adult were traveling in came up against flood water.

The horse lost its footing and slipped and the carriage overturned throwing the family into the water, police said.

The emergency scene in Bath County, Kentucky: One child has been killed and four are missing after a horse and buggy carrying an Amish family overturned on a flooded road Wednesday

Emergency responders found the body of a child soon after and the adult was accounted for.

The other four children are still missing.

Emergency crews continued to search through the night for the children in the hope of finding them alive.

The National Guard brought in a crew to help with the search, Bath County Judge Executive Bobby Rogers said on Facebook.

'Tragically, we have also had five Amish children swept away by floodwaters this evening after the heavy rain we've experienced today. Search and rescue efforts are underway,' he wrote Wednesday evening.

Kentucky State Police launched an emergency search for the missing children

Emergency crews continued to search through the night for the children in the hope of finding them alive

'At this time, I ask that local citizens please avoid the area of Peasticks where this accident occurred earlier today. The National Guard is bringing in 50 people right now to assist in the search.'

Missi Mosley told WKYT she rushed to the scene with her boyfriend to help look for the family.

She said they found the horse and pulled it out of the water but could not see the family - who have not been identified.

'It was devastating,' Mosley said. 'The waters are so swift, and the rain was pouring down. It was just a somber feeling.'

The horse survived the accident, reported LEX 18.
A controversial tweet from one of Victoria's most senior health advisers comparing Captain Cooks arrival in Australia with the deadly coronavirus pandemic has been disputed by historians after it prompted calls for her resignation.

Victoria's deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen published a post to her personal twitter account on Wednesday: Sudden arrival of an invader from another land, decimating populations, creating terror. Forces the population to make enormous sacrifices & completely change how they live in order to survive. COVID19 or Cook 1770?.

Deputy chief health officer Dr Annaliese van Diemen Credit:Justin McManus

Liberal health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier called on Thursday for Dr van Diemen, who advises the government on communicable diseases, to resign. Former opposition leader Matthew Guy called it an example of how Victoria is governed by "hard left nutters".

Opposition MP Tim Smith, who has been a persistent critic of Dr van Diemens boss, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, described it as "culture wars crap".
Crane employs some 270 workers in North Adams creating high-quality print products for brands such as Tiffany.

Crane Stationery Plant Sharply Reducing Operation

Editor's note: a communication from Mohawk Papers puts the number of jobs at 229. We have also changed to the headline to acknowledge some people will be working.past May.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The iconic 220-year-old Crane Stationery company will fold, the victim of an emerging digital culture and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employees were notified by email on Wednesday that their last day would be June 19. Chief Operations Officer Dean Daigle wrote that the brand had been buffeted by a weakened invitations market and the January bankruptcy filing of its biggest customer, Papyrus.

"Now, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, and the unanticipated and dramatic restrictions in gatherings, travel, and business operations on a local, national, and international level, have in turn caused enormous losses to Crane's business. These losses could not be foreseen. Unfortunately, they have also proved to be unsustainable," he wrote.

"Crane is a 220-year-old iconic brand. However, in the face of these unforeseeable circumstances, we have had to make the very difficult decision to wind down operations at Crane."

The company said it will continue to pay employees through June 19 and will continue to cover the share of group health insurance benefits through until June 30. Crane employs about 270 people.

Mayor Thomas Bernard said he was apprised of the closure by an employee. He has reached out to the plant's owners as well as the Berkshire delegation to see if the company is certain of its plans. "I have reached out to them to let them know first and foremost that I'm concerned for their workforce, for our folks, our friends, our neighbors, our family members who work for Crane who just got hit with incredibly difficult news at an incredibly difficult time," he said.

Just a year ago, owner Mohawk Fine Papers was touting its commitment to invest $3 million to $4 million into the facility in the Robert Hardman Industrial Park on Curran Highway. The objective, said company officials was to build on the luxury brand while catering to contemporary needs.

"We're going to double our size, there's no doubt in our mind that we can do that," Bart Robinson, chief revenue officer, had said at the time.

The company is in the midst of launching Crane Next, a rebranding that was to include bringing back the "& Co." a new website and expanded capabilities.

"I've got a call into management to understand what's behind this decision," he said. "How final is it? Is there anything that the city can do? Is there anything that we can do to bring state and local, whether it's workforce or economic development support to keep these jobs, to keep these people working?" Crane is one of the larger employers for full-time workers in the city. Bernard said he has already reached out to the governor's office and 1Berkshire to see if there was anything that could be mobilized to keep Crane operating. The facility shutdown in mid-March as Gov. Charlie Baker began ordering non-essential workplaces to close and setting guidelines for social distancing. Bernard said he learned about Crane's March closure after it happened and had asked to be kept informed about its plans and if there was anything the city could do. "The Crane brand is a mark of quality everywhere," he said. "It's one of these North Adams stories that's so impressive, but also goes a little bit too far unsung, it's something that's made in North Adams that has a global reputation."

Mohawk Fine Papers, a Cohoes, N.Y., family firm founded in 1931, bought Crane in 2018 after a short period during which it was employee owned. Crane & Co. was established in 1801 by the Crane family in Dalton and, by the late 1800s, became the only supplier of currency paper to the United States mint. The firm has undergone a number of changes with several arms being acquired or spun off into separate entities.

Crane has had a presence in North Adams since 1970, when it acquired the Excelsior companies and moved Excelsior Process & Engraving to the Robert Hardman Industrial Park in 1985. It nearly closed the plant in 2009 to move closer to Dalton but was persuaded to stay by the administration at the time. It was highlighted by then Gov. Deval Patrick as a example of advanced manufacturing in the state in 2013.

None of that was enough, apparently, to keep Crane in operation.

"Many people have given their career to this company and helped it survive through different economies, management teams and philosophies. Crane has been considered in high regard for many decades due to the artisanship that you and your predecessors have accomplished. We thank you for your hard work and commitment," Daigle wrote.

Updated with comments by Mayor Thomas Bernard.
Los Angeles, April 30 : After recovering from COVID-19, Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks has shared photographs of himself donating plasma on social media.

The 63-year-old actor donated his plasma last week after he and wife Rita Wilson recovered from COVID-19 and were deemed to be carrying antibodies that could be beneficial to researchers looking to beat the virus, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Hanks shared a picture of a huge bag containing a pale yellow liquid, along with the caption: "Here's last week's bag of plasma. Such a bag!" "After the paperwork, it's as easy as taking a nap. Thanks @arimoin and UCLA. Hanx," he continued in the caption.

The couple's blood will be used by medical researchers who are developing a vaccine for coronavirus after they won their battle with the illness. In early March, the couple had tested positive for Covid-19 while in Australia. They returned home to Los Angeles at the end of March after recovering.

Wilson and Hanks were among the first celebrities to reveal their positive diagnosis last month, while they were in Australia. Hanks was filming an untitled Elvis Presley film in the country. The couple are now back in Los Angeles, and on the way to recovery.

In an interview on The National Defense Radio Show, the 63-year-old actor detailed his and his wife's struggle with respiratory illness.

"Rita went through a tougher time than I did," he said of their recovery in Australia, adding: "She had a much higher fever and she had some other symptoms. She lost her sense of taste and smell. She got absolutely no joy from food for a better part of three weeks." He continued: "She was so nauseous, she had to crawl on the floor from the bed to the facilities. It lasted a while." Hanks "had some body aches and was very fatigued", and shared how he struggled to find the energy to do simple exercises. He and Wilson were placed in "lockdown for three days" in a local hospital.
The Niger State Police Command has arrested 595 persons for allegedly violating the COVID-19 lockdown order across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Usman, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Thursday.

Mr Usman said the command had secured the conviction of 504 of them through mobile courts in different part of the state.

He said the convicts were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment or given the option of fine.

READ ALSO:

Mr Usman said the breach of the existing restriction order by some people resorting to night travels would not be tolerated in the state.

The commissioner said such would be counter-productive and undermine the tireless efforts of the state government at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

He said intelligence report indicated that transport workers, especially inter-state operators, had continued to defy the lockdown order by embarking on night trips.

Mr Usman said already the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in the state had been directed to ensure full implementation of the lockdown order, especially, as it related to night trips.

The lock down is for 24 hours daily except for window periods. Night hours are not excluded; inter-state movements across the state remain banned, Usman said.

The commissioner called on the residents of the state to continue to cooperate with the police and other security agencies deployed to enforce the lockdown order so as to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

We will sustain our ongoing aggressive patrols on all the major highways to ensure strict compliance with the lockdown order, the commissioner said.

(NAN)
Photo: Beau B/Flickr

Missed the most recent top news in Austin? Read on for everything you need to know.

St. David's Healthcare creates pop-up grocery stores for employees

Employees told KVUE it is not only convenient for them, but it also helps limit their exposure to others.

Read the full story on KVUE.

Pedestrian dies after getting hit by train in northwest Austin

The Austin Police Department told KVUE it is investigating the incident.

Read the full story on KVUE.

Alcohol-to-go may be here to stay in Texas, says Gov. Abbott

When restaurants and bars were required to shut down in response to the coronavirus, the Texas Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (TABC) allowed businesses with the proper permits to sell alcohol-to-go.

Read the full story on CW39.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
There is evidence, in New York and other places, that the official coronavirus counts are probably too low. Tests for the illness can be hard to get, and not all who die now are being tested, particularly if they die outside a hospital. New York City recently revised its own statistics for the number of coronavirus-related fatalities, saying thousands of additional deaths were probably because of COVID-19, even though no tests had been conducted.
N.C. still needs trendline of new cases to drop

Gov. Roy Cooper and Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen urged North Carolinians to continue to stay at home and said if new cases begin to decline the state could move into a phase 1 reopening next week.

North Carolinians have made tremendous sacrifices and it is making a difference, Cooper said. We remain hopeful that the trends will be stable enough to move into Phase 1 next week.

Last week, Cooper extended the statewide emergency order to Friday, May 8.

We need keep up the actions that will slow the spread of the virus," Cohen said. "The good news is that we know we can do this. If we stay home now to protect our loved ones and our communities, we can put ourselves on a path to begin easing restrictions and moving forward as planned."

As of today, North Carolina has 10,509 lab-confirmed cases, 546 people in the hospital, and 378 deaths due to COVID-19.

Cooper and Cohen updated on where North Carolina stands on the following key metrics:

Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolinas syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is level over past 14 days, but has been on an uptick over the past seven days.

Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolinas trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days cases is still increasing.

Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolinas trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is decreasing.

Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days. Currently, North Carolinas trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is largely level.



In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These areas include:

Increase in Laboratory Testing

North Carolina has surpassed 4,000 tests for the last 6 of 9 days with 6,000 tests reported yesterday.

Increase in Tracing Capability. NC DHHS announced the Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative, a new partnership with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) and the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) to double the states current contact tracing capabilities. The Collaborative has started recruiting for these positions.

Availability of Personal Protective Equipment The state has a 30-day supply of most personal protective equipment, except for gowns and N95 masks.



We need everyone to continue following the Stay At Home order right now so that we can move to the next phases of easing restrictions. Complacency could risk lives and undo these plans, added Governor Cooper.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced it will participate in the UBS Virtual Global Healthcare Conference being held May 1820, 2020.

Encompass Health President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Tarr and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Doug Coltharp will participate in a fireside chat at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. The presentation will be webcast live and will be available at http://investor.encompasshealth.com by clicking on an available link.

About Encompass Health

As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) offers both facility-based and home-based patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 134 hospitals, 245 home health locations, and 83 hospice locations in 37 states and Puerto Rico, the Company is committed to delivering high-quality, cost-effective, integrated care across the healthcare continuum. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com , or follow us on our newsroom , Twitter and Facebook .

Media Contact

Hillary Carnel, 205 970-5912

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

Crissy Carlisle, 205 970-5860

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.

Related Links

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Lauren Goodger stepped out amid the UK's lockdown on Thursday wearing a low-cut figure-hugging black jumpsuit.

Heading out in Essex to pick up supplies, the reality personality, 33, rocked the sleek number, slinging a Louis Vuitton backpack over one shoulder and adding shades atop her head.

She sported a full face of make-up for the excursion, seen pouting as she bobbed along to her car.

Out and a pout: Lauren Goodger stepped out amid the UK's lockdown on Thursday wearing a low-cut figure-hugging black jumpsuit

The Essex native swept her chestnut locks from her features and teased her ample cleavage in the low-cut number.

This appearance comes a day after she rushed to Kylie Jenner's defence, after the reality star was caught out for a Photoshop fail on a bikini snap.

The former TOWIE star took to Instagram to share a screenshot of MailOnline's story of Kylie, 22, deleting her edited photo after fans noticed she had altered the shape of her lower leg.

Admitting she too uses Photoshop, Lauren captioned the post: 'Loool don't we all? Doesn't mean she's fat or ugly. It's Instagram!!'

Looking back: Heading out in Essex to pick up supplies, the reality personality, 33, rocked the sleek number, slinging a Louis Vuitton backpack over one shoulder and adding shades atop her head

Off you trot: She sported a full face of make-up for the excursion, seen pouting as she bobbed along to her car

Biggest fan: This comes after she rushed to Kylie Jenner's defence on Wednesday, after the reality star was caught out for a Photoshop fail on a bikini snap

Lauren added: 'She is unreal!'

Kylie was caught out by eagle-eyed fans on Tuesday over a 'Photoshop fail' that appeared as if she had altered an image of herself posing in a bikini.

The make-up mogul deleted the image 20 minutes after posting, but it seems internet sleuths had already captured the receipts.

'Don't we all?': The former TOWIE star took to Instagram to share a screenshot of MailOnline's story of Kylie, 22, deleting her edited photo and admitted to using Photoshop too

Kylie posted a series of shots with the caption 'Taco Tuesday' at her new Holmby Hills mansion, and while some comments asked where the food was, others took note of the strange alterations that had been made to the image.

'Kylie is a master at Facetune and photoshop,' one fan wrote, while another confused user said: 'I'm trying to work out what she was even editing.'

It's been a tough time for Lauren, who was forced to shut her beauty salon Lauren's Way as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Oops! This image from Kylie Jenner's Instagram post on Tuesday was taken down after 20 minutes, as fans spotted a strange alteration to her leg in the picture

Breaking the news with Instagram followers in March, she revealed: 'We will be closed until further notice.'

She added: 'But I am still on the Instagram for bookings and planning more beautiful faces for when this COVID-19 passes stay safe.'

Despite the economic uncertainty surrounding her business Lauren still saw the funny side by joking she'd be 'pregnant by the end of the week' if she had a boyfriend to self-isolate with during the coronavirus pandemic.

The star cheekily told followers how she would keep busy with a man if she was forced to stay in 'quarantine' while the crisis rages on.

She wrote: 'If I had a boyfriend def be preg by end of the week hahahaa #quarantine #selfisolate.'
Cedarville University fires professor with history of sex abuse, president apologizes

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A Midwestern Christian university has terminated a theology professor in light of new information that has emerged about his past related to sexual abuse.

Cedarville University fired Anthony Moore last week on sexual misconduct grounds, a move which comes approximately three years after the Baptist liberal arts college in western Ohio learned that Moore had secretly filmed a male youth pastor showering at Moore's home on several occasions, according to independent investigative journalist Julie Roys.

The firing, however, came about when the university found out about Moore's previous abuse while a pastor at The Village Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Cedarville University President Thomas White told Roys that Moore had been hired in 2017 on a probationary basis and joined the university faculty concurrent with a five-year "restoration" plan. Yet upon discovery that the filming took place over the course of several months and was not limited to a shorter period of struggle, Moore was let go.

My understanding of what happened was it was not a habitual issue, White told Roys. It was a struggle that arose from previous abuse and curiosity and then it was repented for.

The Cedarville University president reportedly spoke with the victim last week and confirmed that it had taken place over many months.

Moore had been fired in 2017 from The Village Church in Fort Worth for what Lead Pastor Matt Chandler referred to as a "sin issue" and grievous immoral actions against another adult member that disqualify him as an elder and staff member."

Roys obtained a report that the youth pastor who was filmed had filed a complaint with the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office in October 2018, alleging that Moore had videotaped his youth pastor multiple times. But the youth pastor never pressed charges.

The youth pastor discovered he was being secretly filmed in January 2017 when he found a phone belonging to Moore wrapped in a towel with the lens sticking out sitting in a window well above the shower in Moore's home. The youth pastor searched the phone and discovered four other similar videos which he then forwarded to his own phone.

Moore reportedly confessed to the filming in 2015, but according to the pastor who was filmed it was part of a larger pattern of relational abuse and toxic co-dependency.

The way manipulators work in uncertainty and confusion just develops a deep fog, the youth pastor told Roys in an interview, explaining why he is now speaking out.

And its not until youre removed from the fog that you can see.

White apologized in a Monday video statement for bringing Moore to the school.

"Im sorry that I brought Anthony Moore to Cedarville University. I did not know all the information at first. When we learned the new information, we took the action needed. Dr. Moore violated our agreement. There are no other plans for restoration like this on campus," he said.

"Even though no incidents were reported by students, Im recommending to the board of trustees that we hire an outside, independent agency to confirm that nothing inappropriate occurred on our campus, with that report to go directly back to the board of trustees."

White also promised that during the summer he and other key leaders would go through victim prevention awareness and advocacy training.
About 100 million people living in cities worldwide will likely fall into poverty due to the coronavirus pandemic, urban experts said on Wednesday, calling for mapping tools to identify vulnerable communities and investment focusing on slum areas.

Densely populated cities are poised at the frontline of the contagious outbreak, hard hit where people live in poverty with little or no running water, sewage systems or health care access, said experts at the World Bank, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and other urban-study groups.

"Within cities we need to focus on those who need help the most, the poor and the vulnerable have been very seriously affected," said Sameh Wahba, global director for the World Bank's urban, disaster risk management, resilience and land global practice.

"Our estimate is that there will be possibly upward of a 100 million so-called 'new poor' on account of loses of jobs and livelihoods and income," Wahba told a webinar with members of the media.

He warned that cities will see a drop of between 15 per cent to 25 per cent in tax revenues next year, making it difficult for authorities to invest in improving slum areas.

Many cities lack accurate data about slum areas, making it difficult to know where investments should be targeted, the experts said.

A World Bank mapping tool using artificial intelligence, high-resolution satellite imagery and three-dimensional images is helping cities find areas with communal water taps and toilets or where social distancing is impractical because of overcrowding, Wahba said.

So far the tool has been used to produce such maps for Cairo, Mumbai and Kinshasa.

Without data, government food and financial aid is not reaching slum areas where about one billion people live worldwide, said activist Sheela Patel.

"Whether you are a slum dweller, or a pavement dweller, a squatter or a homeless person, and if you are migrant, you are presently completely excluded from any form of entitlement in the city," said Patel, head of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers, an Indian non-profit that campaigns for land and slum dweller rights.

Reaching vulnerable communities during and after the pandemic means recognizing how systems such as water, health, housing, transport and the economy are connected, said Ani Dasgupta, global director of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.

Investments must ensure that systems are integrated and not be "simple top-down central projects," he said.

"We have to learn from this," said Dasgupta. "We actually have to do things differently."
Early Thursday morning, Eva Kadloo woke up to the telephone ringing. It was her aunt, telling her someone in their tiny, fly-in community of Pond Inlet, Nunavut, had COVID-19.

Public officials had said it was only a matter of time before the coronavirus was detected in Nunavut, which was, up until now, the only Canadian jurisdiction that hadnt reported a positive case of COVID-19.

The first one happened to hit very close to home for Kadloo.

When I hung up the phone, I didn't believe it but deep in my heart, I started having panic attack, Kadloo wrote in a message to the Star Thursday. I was feeling sick for a bit, I was a bit shock, its really made it here.

A three hour flight north of Iqaluit, Pond Inlet is a community of about 1,600 people on Baffin Island, where food is flown in and a water truck pumps water for households.

Residents of Pond Inlet, Nunavut, held a socially distant parade on April 22 in support of front-line workers. Courtesy of Eva Kadloo

Nunavut Chief Public health officer Michael Patterson announced news of the coronavirus case Thursday, saying the person who had tested positive was isolating at home, and doing well.

Unlike the rest of the territory, where residents are advised to limit their interactions with others, but non-essential businesses remain open and events go on, all residents of Pond Inlet have been told to stay home while the territory sends an emergency response team to conduct contact-tracing and contain the virus.

Patterson said 20 contacts of the person who tested positive for coronavirus have been swabbed, and the samples will be tested for the virus at labs in Iqaluit and Ontario.

Kadloo said the local Co-op store is delivering food to individual homes while residents are instructed to stay indoors.

Having processed the news over the morning, Kadloo still believes she and her kids are safe  they just have to stay home and keep washing their hands.

Weve been social distancing from each other even before COVID-19 was here, Kadloo said. We did our best, now its really here.

Patterson declined to offer details about the person who had tested positive for COVID-19, even to say whether they had travelled outside of Pond Inlet in the last four weeks.

One of the reasons why were not discussing details about the individual is to protect their privacy and to protect them from stigma, blame and physical threat, Patterson said. I can understand people being afraid  Blaming individuals when this is not something that anybody does on purpose is a waste of time and hurtful.

Kadloo said she has heard people blaming others for not social distancing, but that the sentiment between neighbours now is supportive.

We are in this together, keep strong, dont panic, dont blame anyone, she said. We want to stay positive: Spread love not hate.

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Herb Smith, right, President/CEO of the Los Angeles Mission in downtown Los Angeles, helps distribute bags of food and hygiene products to homeless people on April 8. (Los Angeles Times)

When a hotel in Lawndale agreed to house particularly vulnerable homeless people during the coronavirus pandemic, Lawndale officials offered a special greeting: The city attorney sent a letter to the hotel threatening to revoke its permit. Then another Lawndale official called L.A. Countys Building and Safety Division to inquire about shutting off the hotel's power if the permit were revoked. (The power has stayed on and the homeless guests have stayed in.)

In Norwalk, the City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of hotels and motels to house homeless people without the city's approval. But a judge issued a temporary restraining order this week barring the city from stopping one hotel from housing the homeless during the current crisis.

And in Covina on Friday, residents staged a protest outside another hotel that has agreed to house homeless people. One protester held a sign reading Homeless with a big X through it followed by Not Behind My House. At the moment, the county still plans to move homeless people there.

NIMBYism against housing for homeless people is bad enough during normal times. But during a pandemic, it's appalling.

In the race to prevent the coronavirus from infecting swaths of homeless communities, hundreds of hotels and motels across the state have answered what is nothing less than a call to public service in a dire emergency. They have turned over thousands of rooms to homeless people who are 65 and older or have an underlying medical condition. These are the people most at risk of getting seriously ill if they contract COVID-19 and, for obvious reasons, they are unable to keep themselves safe by staying home.

Project Roomkey, as its known, has resulted in more than two dozen hotels in Los Angeles County offering more than 2,600 rooms. It's not exactly charity work; the hotels get paid for three months of room rentals, can put some of their staff back to work and get reimbursed by the county for any damage to their property. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority selects the people who will stay in the hotels.

Story continues

But some cities have worried about potential loitering and other nuisances by homeless guests, as Lawndale's website puts it. In Covina, the city manager said that residents living near the hotel in question might be concerned to see people they didnt recognize walking around. (What, the hotel usually provides rooms only to people from the neighborhood?)

Even the chief executive of PIH Health Whittier Hospital wrote a letter to the mayor of Whittier telling him that the 85 nurses, doctors and other healthcare personnel who work in COVID-19 units and are now being housed at the nearby Doubletree Hotel would move out if homeless people were allowed to move in. Although that is a noble idea, wrote James R. West, it is not a compatible arrangement. County officials agreed not to use the Doubletree.

And despite securing numerous contracts with hotels across L.A. County, by Wednesday afternoon county officials had not signed up any of the hotels with 100 rooms or more in and around downtown Los Angeles, where the need is greatest for housing homeless people. (Five small hotels downtown have signed on.) According to a spokesperson for the Hotel Assn., hotels worry that their staff and managers are ill-equipped to deal with substance-abusing or mentally ill homeless people who might become disruptive in hotels.

To which we ask: How do they deal with indulgent, substance-abusing rock stars and celebrities trashing hotel rooms? Bear in mind, the county is looking to house only elderly or medically vulnerable homeless people. And besides, it's supplying homeless services providers and security staff and pledging to cover any damage.

City officials have complained that they were never consulted or even informed before the county signed up hotels. That may not have been the wisest strategy. County officials now promise to inform cities in a more timely fashion.

Nevertheless, getting vulnerable homeless people off the streets is essential to preventing more outbreaks. There are nearly 59,000 homeless people in L.A. County. Here are the choices: Homeless people living temporarily in a hotel near you, or homeless people sick and dying on a sidewalk near you.




Its then up to the best judgment and professional opinion of a medical examiner or coroner to determine the causes of death for these patients. The list could include, for instance, congestive heart failure, diabetes, an aneurysm or any other typical killer. But COVID-19 could also be listed as a contributing cause, based on official guidance and science from the CDC, Dixon said.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia  On April 15, Group of 20 countries offered temporary relief to some of the worlds lowest-income countries by suspending debt repayments until the end of the year. It is a step in the right direction and provides an opportunity to redirect financial resources toward dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

But if the world is to survive the punishing fallout of the pandemic and ensure that the economies of countries like mine bounce back, this initiative needs to be even more ambitious.

At the very least, the suspension of debt payments should last not just until the end of 2020 but rather until well after the pandemic is truly over. It should involve not just debt suspension but debt cancellation. Global creditors need to waive both official bilateral and commercial debt for low-income countries.

These steps need to be taken with a sense of urgency. The resources freed up will save lives and livelihoods in the short term, bring back hope and dynamism to low-income economies in the medium term and enable them to continue as the engines of sustainable global prosperity in the long term.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor who passed away on April 30, urged people to not resort to violence and appealed for peace in his last tweet. The legendary actor did not share anything on social media after April 2. As reports of people attacking healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic emerged, Kapoor said he appealed people to work together to win against coronavirus.

"An appeal Folded hands to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please don't resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!," he said.

Kapoor passed away at the age of 67 due to cancer and breathing difficulties. He had been admitted to HN Reliance hospital on Wednesday morning. Kapoor's brother and veteran actor Randhir Kapoor said yesterday, "He is in the hospital. He is suffering from cancer and has some breathing problem, so he has been admitted to the hospital. He is stable now." The actor had returned from US last September and had been undergoing treatment in the US for almost a year.

After his return from the US, Rishi Kapoor was first hospitalised in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At the time, the actor was reportedly suffering from an infection. Following his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever but was discharged soon after. On the work front, he announced the remake of the Hollywood film 'The Intern' with Deepika Padukone as his next project.

Also read: Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67

Also read: Breaking News Live April 30: Actor Rishi Kapoor dies due to cancer at 67; Amitabh Bachchan confirms the news
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 16:57 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd5453db 1 Business Garuda-Indonesia,Airlines,Cargo,mudik-ban,COVID-19,aviation Free

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has decided to focus its business on cargo and chartered flights for domestic and international destinations after the governments decision to temporarily halt all travel axed most of the airlines commercial flights.

Garuda president director Irfan Setiaputra said on Wednesday that the airline could not pin its hopes on revenue from commercial flights anymore and would, therefore, use existing routes and aircraft to transport cargo.

Today, we fly 26 planes full of cargo; 20 planes to domestic destinations and six to international ones, said Irfan during an online hearing with the House of Representative Commission VI overseeing state-owned enterprises.

We immediately switched our business to transporting cargo to various cities and countries, he added. We will also [assist in] humanitarian missions.

The Transportation Ministry has restricted passenger travel for the period of April 24 to May 31 after also banning this years Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Around 18 million people traveled for last years mudik, which is seen as an important tradition to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

As it now focuses on cargo flights, Garuda has obtained a permit from the ministry to load cargo in their passenger jets seating area as long as it does not exceed the maximum allowed weight. The airline also provides chartered flights for cargo.

There are businesspeople who charter our planes to transport their products, Irfan said.

Previously, our plane was chartered by state-owned firms, institutions and BNPB [the National Disaster Mitigation Agency] to transport goods from Shanghai, China, he added, referring to Garudas mission flights that brought in medical aid from China to Indonesia in March.

The COVID-19 crisis has hit Garuda Indonesia's business and revenue hard as the pandemic forces the airline to suspend most of its domestic and international flights following travel bans implemented by countries around the world and a slump in air travel demand as people stay at home.

Garuda estimated a 31.9 percent decline in passenger and cargo revenue in this year's first quarter from the corresponding period last year, according to Irfans presentation material to the lawmakers. The most affected routes are those to China, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

Garuda, a publicly listed company, has yet to publish its first-quarter financial report as of the time of writing. Stocks of Garuda, traded at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) under the code GIAA, jumped 2.78 percent at 1:31 p.m. local time versus the 2.65 percent increase recorded by the main gauge Jakarta Composite Index (JCI).

In addition to air cargo, Garuda will also serve repatriation flights for Indonesians abroad as well as for foreigners in Indonesia who want to go back to their respective countries. In the past few days, Irfan added, Garuda flew several repatriation flights for Indonesian citizens who returned from Middle Eastern countries and Japan.

Yesterday [Wednesday], we sent our airplane to Sao Paulo, Brazil, because the Brazil Embassy chartered it to evacuate Brazilians in Indonesia, Thailand and Hanoi in Vietnam. There are around 300 people on the flight, said Irfan, adding that Garuda was in talks with other countries representatives for the possibility to provide similar services.
Prime Minister Boris Johnsons life has always had a you-cant-make-this-up quality to it, never more so than this month, when he went from desperate coronavirus patient, kept alive by oxygen, to the proud father of a baby boy  his fifth, sixth or seventh child, depending on whos counting

London: Prime Minister Boris Johnsons life has always had a you-cant-make-this-up quality to it, never more so than this month, when he went from desperate coronavirus patient, kept alive by oxygen, to the proud father of a baby boy  his fifth, sixth or seventh child, depending on whos counting.

The announcement by Johnson and his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, that she gave birth to a healthy baby at a London hospital Wednesday added a joyful milestone to a year of dizzying highs and lows: An election victory, a divorce, an engagement and a life-threatening illness  not to mention Brexit and a world-altering pandemic, which has killed more than 26,000 people in the country Johnson leads.

The latest twist in the Boris chronicles deprived political commentators of an important, if less anticipated moment: the prime ministers first scheduled face-off in Parliament with the Labour Partys new leader, Keir Starmer, at a time when the governments handling of the virus has come under intense fire.

Johnson, who returned to work Monday, skipped the session because of his sons birth. Starmer raised difficult questions about the rising death toll and the lack of testing or protective masks for health workers, but he prefaced them with congratulations to Johnson, 55, and Symonds, 32, who also suffered symptoms of the virus but was reported to be healthy.

Johnsons understudy  the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab  dutifully defended the governments performance. He functioned mostly as a reminder of why the prime minister bestrides the British political landscape. Even in his absence, Johnson was the biggest presence in the room.

He has this theatrical ability to put himself in the middle of every scene, said Andrew Gimson, one of Johnsons biographers. All these career politicians look so dreary next to him.

So far, the prime minister has reaped public sympathy for his illness and goodwill on the birth of his child. But those sentiments will fade if the government is viewed as having bungled the response to the coronavirus, according to Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University in London.

You can talk about him as a Teflon politician, Bale said, but Teflon eventually loses its non-stick properties.

The challenge Johnson confronts, as he settles back into work, will be leading his country through a grinding months-long tragedy, in which analysts said his appeals for pluck and optimism may pale next to the human cost of the virus and the economic misery caused by the efforts to suppress it.

On Wednesday, the government recalculated its death toll to include those who died in nursing homes and houses. That drove the number of fatalities to 26,097, one of the highest totals in Europe. British officials noted that on a per-capita basis, the death rate was comparable to its neighbours, except for Germany, which has a much lower death rate.

While Johnson recuperated from his own bout with the virus, Raab and other ministers have faced hard questions about why Britain has failed to secure enough masks or gloves for doctors and nurses, seems likely to fall short of a promise to test 100,000 people a day by the end of this month and has not offered a blueprint for lifting the lockdown imposed on 23 March.

During the parliamentary session, known as Prime Ministers Questions, Starmer accused the government of being late at every step of the crisis. He noted that the death toll was dreadful and well above the goal of 20,000 set by the government for this phase of the epidemic.

Im asking the government to be clear with the public about what comes next, said Starmer, who was elected Labour leader last month. Wed like to support the governments strategy if we knew what it was.

The shortage of gloves and masks was dire enough that The Daily Mail, a tabloid that traditionally aligns with Johnsons Conservative Party, stepped in to help organise the delivery of 20 tonnes of gear from China for health workers.

Criticisms that Johnson was slow to order the lockdown have been compounded by the governments reluctance to talk about how and when it can be relaxed. In Scotland, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has given more details about her governments plan and has encouraged the public to wear masks, while ministers in London have continued to deliberate over their use.

On Wednesday, the government said it had the capacity to conduct more than 73,000 tests, though fewer than 53,000 tests were carried out on the last day for which figures were available. That makes it highly likely that the government will miss its target of 100,000 daily tests by at least a couple of days.

For Johnson, the crisis will complicate being a new father. He is expected to take a short paternity leave but will put it off until later in the year to deal with the epidemic, an official said. He and Symonds, a former Conservative Party press agent, said in February that they expected the child in early summer.

Downing Street offered no information on the babys name, weight or the hospital in which he was born, though officials said Johnson was present at the birth. The prime minister spent three nights in the intensive care unit of St Thomas Hospital, later thanking the nurses for saving his life.

Johnsons talent for engaging and entertaining voters has enabled him to defy political gravity throughout his career. No recent prime ministers have refused to say publicly how many children they have, for example. With four children from his second marriage and possibly two from extramarital relationships, the exact number of his progeny remains a matter of conjecture.

In the past year alone, Johnson has bounced back after resigning from the previous British government; suffered a landmark legal defeat when he suspended Parliament; ended his second marriage, to Marina Wheeler; and survived the virus.

Johnsons resilience and seat-of-the-pants style, some analysts said, might help him navigate an unpredictable crisis.

His whole life is a preparation for being unprepared, and that isnt a bad way to be in a crisis, Gimson said. That means he is capable of changing tack quickly.

But despite Johnsons talents, others said the public would be unforgiving if Britains death toll ranked at the top of the list in Europe.

In a years time, Bale said, if people realise that the UK has done worse than many other countries, no amount of goodwill can protect a politician.

Mark Landler and Stephen Castle c.2020 The New York Times Company
It can be hard to keep students, particularly young ones, connected during remote learning. But under the coronavirus lockdown, two generations of teachers are working to engage Nancy Cartiers 1st grade class in Dayton, Maine.

As virtual lessons got underway in Maine, Cartier told her students at Dayton Consolidated School about her father, Vincent Nuccio. The 92-year-old had lost both his wife and son in the past two years, and the need to keep him safe from coronavirus exposure meant he could no longer see friends or sing in his local retired mens glee club. About half the class opted to write to him.

I wrote because hes all alone in his house, said Easton LaPlant, 6. I made him a picture with smiles all around and happy.

Nuccio was thrilled, and responded with cards and stickers and that kind of snowballed into, you know, what Id like to do, I think I could make a video for them, Cartier said.

In the first video , Nuccio introduced himself as their mystery man pen pal and went on to turn his introduction into an impromptu geography lesson, describing a family train trip from Beverly, Mass., to Portsmouth, N.H., and challenging the students to trace his route on a map.

Gillissa Greene, 6, mapped out Nuccios route with her father and brothers one night while her mom Carrie made dinner.

Our conversations about Dr. Nuccio and this pen pal opportunity really became kind of a family conversation, Carrie Greene said. I think its fantastic. Ive been learning as a stay-at-home teaching mom that writing is definitely one of the bigger challenges to get kids to participatefor schoolwork, its definitely our biggest challenge in this house. So I think it was a great creative way to get the kids to write, and at the same time bring him some enjoyment.

Its also a return to the classroom for Nuccio, a math teacher early in his career and later a longtime education professor at Boston College.

He has the teacher in him and you know, that has never left, Cartier said.

Now, most of the class has gone through several rounds of letters with Nuccio, and he has sent an additional video, showing off his singing and giving the students funny math puzzles to solve. Nuccio is already planning a new lesson, telling the students about his 13 children and asking them to chart the number of boys versus girls.

Its exciting, said Winnie Herrick, 7. Im writing back to say sorry you cant go out and that I want him to keep singing in the videos. She has opted to call Nuccio Vinnie so their names will rhyme.

Cartier said she has happy to watch the back and forth, and impressed with her students eagerness to write by hand.

I think years down the line theyre going to be like, I remember getting letters, and know how important that is. I just think thats kind of a dying art of writing and corresponding the old fashioned way, she said. And I think theyve learned, you know, that a simple gesture of drawing a picture or writing a quick note to a person thats alone is really what this is all about. Its a good reason, good excuse to have them writing and reaching out more themselves.

Easton, Gillissa, and Winnies moms said their children have been more interested in writing since they started exchanging mail and videos with Nuccio.

I like writing. I like that I get to have letters, said Gillissa. Im working on my next letter right now.

Photos: Top: Easton LaPlant, 6, created a long-distance hug to send to retired teacher and pen pal Vincent Nuccio. Source: Hillary LaPlant

Above: Winnie Herrick, 7, writes another letter to Nuccio, her 1st-grade class pen pal. Source: Jill Herrick
April Tiefry, a nurse from Allen Park, has been working 12-hour shifts in the intermediate intensive care unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn. Her shift in the COVID-19 unit starts at 3:30 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. She works tirelessly to the point of exhaustion, she said.

There are days we dont get a break, Tiefry said. Our patients are so incredibly sick.

Kaitlyn Pangrazzi, a Realtor living in Detroit, had Tiefry and her co-workers in mind when she came up with the idea of creating care packages, later called fuel bags, for those working on the front lines of medical facilities and responders charged with treating the deadly virus.

The effort, Fuel Our Frontlines, quickly grew into a campaign that allows participants from many communities to contribute and say thank you for the efforts of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, therapists, police, firefighters, paramedics and everyone else often working in less than desirable conditions while caring for the sickest of the sick during the pandemic.

The fuel bags contain items meant to boost the spirits and energy of front-line workers, as well as provide them with quick access to drinks and snacks while they are on the go. The bags include a few snacks, a hydrating beverage and a handwritten note from someone in the local community.

The handwritten thank yous are the most important piece of the puzzle, Pangrazzi said.

Thousands of the care packages have been delivered  often by health care professionals themselves  to hospitals in the Henry Ford, Beaumont and Detroit Medical Center health systems.

They have really uplifted everyones spirits, Tiefry said. There were notes and thank yous and little drawings on every single bag. It causes you to pause and realize people are seeing whats going on and recognizing this just really sucks; that people needed to be uplifted. The outpouring of support makes the day easier to get through.

Pangrazzi is a member of the well-known ONeil family of Allen Park, a daughter of William and Mary ONeil. She also is a Detroit-based real estate agent with Max Broock Realtors, mother to 2-year-old Vincent and wife of fellow St. Frances Cabrini High School graduate Mark Pangrazzi, who is a critical care pharmacist in the ICU at Receiving Hospital in Detroit. Kaitlyn also runs OMNI Detroit, a womens networking group for local entrepreneurs and professionals.

Mark told Kaitlyn months ago that the future of this virus had some frightening numbers coming, and the nations medical facilities were ill prepared for this. The resulting coronavirus has devastated the lives of people everywhere and has caused health care workers to be in a constant state of high alert while worrying about their own health and safety.

Its very hard on a lot of my colleagues and a lot of us are afraid of getting it and passing it to family and kids, Mark Pangrazzi said. Some are staying away from their children. It takes a personal toll on them.

We are heartbroken for what our health care workers are enduring and what is to come Kaitlyn Pangrazzi said. We knew it would get progressively worse before it would get better. I knew they needed to know that their community supported them; after what they sacrifice, they deserved that.

Already self-quarantined with time to spare, Pangrazzi enlisted family and friends to move things along. Operating a one-woman show and having little ability to get groups together, she said working out of one house was not going to get them the results they wanted. She decided there would have to be multiple locations for donations and filling bags.

Her aunt, Theresa Tardiff, who works in parish outreach at Cabrini, and fellow Realtor and Allen Parker Lisa Cyster-Mehlhose set up a location in Allen Park. They spread the word to others, including Cabrini parishioners and friends who worked at area hospitals. They received support and donations within hours of asking for them.

I just cant watch anymore; I had to do something, Cyster-Mehlhose said. Im a mom first of all and I want to help.  Here I am protecting my family and theyre going into it. All of it is unbelievable.

A GoFundMe fundraising campaign that has raised nearly $10,000 has been aided by a website, fuelourfrontlines.com, and a social media presence on Instagram and Facebook. Pangrazzi credits attorney Arti Mangla, one of her best friends, with getting the online work donated, as well as helping Kaitlyn spearhead the entire initiative.

We have received a wide variety of donations from many different sources, Pangrazzi said. Today, we received miniature bottles of anti-bacterial lotion, people designing thank-you cards, delivered handmade cookies, protein shakes, Gatorade  things that can keep our front lines going. Some are working extra hours and picking up shifts. They need energy to get through these long uncertain days ahead.

She said Costco in Madison Heights was one of the first donors, giving the group $500 in free food, which went into 200 fuel bags. Ferndale Project in Ferndale and Papa Romano of Allen Park have provided the group reasonably priced options and have given volunteers an opportunity to support local restaurants. Chris Balina of Lornas Food and Bakery and Creations by Chris in Allen Park donated handcrafted cupcakes.

Its been a very collaborative grassroots effort, Pangrazzi said. We wanted something single serve that was easy to pass out so people wouldnt be touching each others food. It was grab on the go. We try to be inclusive of all workers on the shift. They are all risking their lives every day, so everyone deserves a pat on the back and encouragement to keep going.

Mark Pangrazzi called his wife one of the hardest working people I know. Shes so compassionate. He called the care packages fantastic and much needed during this time.

Tiefry, who helped the effort by carrying some of the care packages into Beaumont for distribution to her co-workers, said a doctor who received one smiled so big and said, wow, thanks.'

The next thing you know he was eating a Rice Krispie Treat at 5 in the morning, she said. It was just what he needed at the moment. It was just amazing.

The need for financial, in-kind and other donations will continue as long as the need is there.

I think people are feeling helpless being at home, Pangrazzi said. If the community wants to do anything, writing thank-you cards is an inexpensive way to contribute.

To join the cause, email kaitlyn.pangrazzi@gmail.com. One of the volunteers will pick up the cards and other donations and get them to the volunteers creating the care packages.

These are all-encompassing feel-good packages, she said. We want them to know the community cares about them. Its important to know were all rooting for them.

Photos from Fuel Our Frontlines

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Play at home with childrens museum
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 03:58:42|Editor: huaxia

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MAPUTO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique will extend the state of emergency for another 30 days until May 30 to contain the spreading of coronavirus, said President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday.

In his televised speech to the nation, President Nyusi said that during the first 30 days of the state of emergency, Mozambican people have played active roles in the prevention of and fight against the pandemic.

The president acknowledged that there are still many people who make unessential trips outside and children are still seen on street, adding that Mozambicans "need to do much more" and should observe the measures with more efforts.

It is necessary to reinforce the implementation of the current preventive measures to avoid a much more restrictive level of "lockdown," which could have serious impact on the society and national economy, said Nyusi.

The country continues to record 76 positive cases, of which 68 cases are of local transmission and 8 imported, according to the daily briefing by health authorities on Wednesday. Enditem
Conscious of the significance of its about-face, AAMD has tried to look as though it is still walking calmly in the same direction. The organizations long-standing principle  that money raised from the sale of art from a permanent collection may not be used for general operating expenses  remains in place, according to the announcement in mid-April. Museums that choose to deaccession must maintain records of how money was raised and how it was used. They must have in place a board-approved policy outlining what expenses it considers direct care, and the policy must be publicly accessible.
Food delivery services have seen an increase in popularity lately, largely because of the ongoing movement control order (MCO) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While you may have already found yourself ordering from Grab or foodpanda lately, there are also other food delivery services in Malaysia that you can give a try as you #stayathome this MCO period.

Here are some of the local food delivery services you can order from, together with details on a few ongoing promos so that you can save some money while youre at it.

Beep Delivery

Launched by point-of-sale system StoreHub just 48 hours after the announcement of the MCO, Beep Delivery is a food delivery feature integrated within the StoreHub ecosystem. According to StoreHub, Beep is aimed at helping small F&B operators survive the challenging times and only takes a small commission from merchants compared to major food delivery partners (2% per transaction).

Customers can browse through the participating F&B merchants from all over Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Penang, Sarawak, and other states. You can choose between a variety of payment options: online banking, debit/credit card, and even e-wallets such as GrabPay, Touch n Go (TNG) eWallet, Boost, and GCash.

Available promos for Beep Delivery

RM3 cashback with a minimum spend of RM20 using TNG eWallet between 23 April  8 May 2020

DeliverEat

First founded in 2012 in Penang, DeliverEat has since branched out to provide food delivery services in Kuala Lumpur as well, with a wide variety of cuisine choices including restaurants like Nandos, Tealive, Dragon-i, Madam Kwans, and Chillis.

You can place your orders on the DeliverEat website or mobile app, and make payment using cash on delivery, online payments, Visa and Mastercard credit cards, or the TNG eWallet. DeliverEat also has a rewards programme where users can accumulate membership points with every delivery order and redeem these points for cash vouchers.

Available promos for DeliverEat

foodpanda

With a merchant-partner base to rival GrabFoods, foodpanda is another established food delivery service that offers its customers a wide variety of choice. You can make your order via the foodpanda website or mobile app, and make payment via cash on delivery, credit/debit card, or online banking. While foodpanda doesnt have an established loyalty programme like GrabFood, it does offer discount vouchers and free delivery deals on the regular.

foodpanda delivers to the Klang Valley area and numerous cities in Penang, Johor, Melaka, Sabah, Sarawak, Kedah, Kelantan, Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, and Perlis.

Available promos for foodpanda

60% off morning food orders made between 9-11am with promo code JOMBREAKFAST valid until 15 May 2020

40% off teatime orders made between 2-5pm with promo code JOMTEATIME valid until 15 May 2020

25% off dinner orders made between 6-8pm with promo code JOMDINNER valid until 15 May 2020

GrabFood

Accessible within the popular Grab lifestyle app, GrabFood is one of Malaysias most popular food delivery services. GrabFood delivers a wide range of cuisine from various merchant-partners and accepts convenient payment methods such as debit/credit cards, PayPal, Maybank2u, and of coursethe GrabPay e-wallet. In addition to offering promo codes and discounts, you can earn GrabRewards points when using GrabFood  which you can use to redeem vouchers, gift cards, and so on.

GrabFood is available in Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, Melaka, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Miri, Bintulu, Negeri Sembilan, Batu Pahat, Muar, Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, Langkawi, Ipoh, and Taiping.

Available promos for GrabFood

Free delivery for Grab e-Kitchen when you link your Maybank2u account to your GrabPay e-wallet from 24 April  23 May 2020

RM5 GrabFood voucher when you use selected Standard Chartered credit cards to pay for a minimum of RM25 on GrabFood until 30 June 2020

RM10 Grab merchant voucher when you make a minimum top up of RM100 to GrabPay with selected Standard Chartered credit cards until 30 June 2020

RM5 cashback for every third Grab transaction (minimum RM20) in a month using a UOB Visa credit card until 31 May 2020

Hungry

Hungry is a lesser-known food delivery app that allows you to order food and drinks, fruits, flowers, and even supermarket goods. Its merchant marketplace features restaurants like TGI Fridays, Din Tai Fung, and  wait for it  even famed hotpot giant Hai Di Lao.

You have a variety of online payment methods to choose from  the TNG eWallet, WeChat Pay, Boost, Alipay, GrabPay, PrestoPay, and Visa and Mastercard. However, a quick look at the reviews of the app on both the App Store and Google Play will hint that the user experience could do with some improvement, so be prepared to be patient if youre giving Hungry a try for the first time.

Available promos for Hungry

Running Man

Touting itself as the most affordable food delivery in Malaysia, Running Man is a food delivery service that focuses more on the local hawker stall scene rather than big-name restaurants. Delivery fees start from as low as RM1 and its popular delivery locations include Kuala Lumpur, Setapak, Cheras, Bangsar, Ampang, and Petaling Jaya.

Running Man is accessible on both its mobile app and desktop and you can pay using PayPal, Mastercard, Maestro, Stripe, and even Bitcoin. However, just like with Hungry, the app has less than glowing reviews on the App Store and Google Play, but you can always opt to place your order through its website instead.

Maybank Sama-Sama Lokal

In response to local hawkers facing financial difficulties during MCO, Maybank launched its own online food delivery platform to allow small businesses to gain visibility. Furthermore, Maybank is also absorbing the delivery charges for up to 10km distance in selected areas. Beyond that distance, you will be charged RM1 per km for delivery fees, payable directly to the delivery partner upon receipt of your food.

The Sama-Sama Lokal platform allows you to browse through online listings for food and then contact the hawker directly through WhatsApp to place your order. Payment is made through instant transfer to the hawker via online banking or Maybank QRPay. And no, you dont have to be a Maybank customer to use Sama-Sama Lokal.

Available promos for Maybank Sama-Sama Lokal

Free delivery up to 10km distance in selected areas

BungkusIt

Strictly speaking, BungkusIt isnt so much a food delivery service as an on-demand delivery assistance that allows you to hire runners for various errands  from collecting parcels to shopping for item and ordering food.

Therefore, you can use the BungkusIt mobile app to get someone to buy food and deliver it to you, or you could check out some of BungkusIts F&B partnerships since the start of the MCO  for instance, BungkusIts partnership with IKEA to provide food delivery for IKEAs restaurant. While the experience may not be as seamless as other food delivery-focused platforms, you can keep this service in mind in case you need to rely on BungkusIt for other errands as well.

Available promos for BungkusIt

15% discount on all IKEA Food delivery via BungkusIt

dahmakan

So far, weve listed platforms that offer food delivery services from a variety of merchant-partners  so now lets move on to the types of single-brand food delivery services that prepare and deliver just their own food. One such service is dahmakan, which delivers in the Klang Valley and offers a menu comprising of Asian, Western, and fusion cuisine priced within the RM13  RM36 range. It is available on web and mobile app.

You pick the available delivery slot that suits you and your food will be delivered during that hour. Delivery is free, but there is a service charge for orders below RM18. dahmakan also has prepaid package options for those who are looking for a meal delivery subscription. You can pay via Visa, Master, or AmEx cards, PayPal, Boost, FPX, or cash on delivery.

Available promos for dahmakan

EPiC Food Hall

EPiC Food Hall operates a chain of halal-certified online food halls, housing four brands of online restaurants: Epic Fit Meals Co, Pak Adams Nasi Lemak, New Yorks Patty & Toast, and Waron Panda. While customers do have the option to walk-in and takeaway, EPiC Food Hall prides itself on having its own dedicated crew for delivery services. If your order isnt delivered within 45 minutes, EPiC will offer you a RM10 cash voucher in compensation.

Customers can order through telephone or through its website, and pay via cash on delivery, online banking transfer, or credit card. EPiC Food Halls delivery areas encompass Damansara, Sunway, and Mont Kiara.

Available promos for EPiC Food Hall

PichaEats

PichaEats is a food delivery service which specially hires cooks among refugee women to help them provide for their families. The chefs of PichaEats come from international backgrounds, so you can expect to sample traditional dishes from Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, and others. The meals are all halal and you can order sweet desserts and Ramadan specials as well.

As each dish is usually portioned for about 5-10 people, this delivery service is a good option for larger families; the minimum order amount for free delivery is also quite high at RM350. If you want to make a PichaEats order, you must make full payment via bank transfer by 11am a day before your delivery date.

Stay Safe And Stay At Home

Hopefully, this list will help bring more options to mind the next time you wonder what to eat during the ongoing MCO. Most food delivery services already have contactless delivery procedures in place; just make sure to maintain safe social distancing when receiving your food order and opt for cashless payment methods wherever possible. Last but not least  dont forget to wash your hands!

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 14:12 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd5338c2 4 National Mataram,Central-Lombok,NTB,West-Nusa-Tenggara,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,virus-corona,tarawih,mosque Free

Several COVID-19 patients in West Nusa Tenggara with a recent travel history to a tabligh (Islamic mass gathering) in Gowa, South Sulawesi have escaped quarantine, putting others in their vicinity at risk of contracting the disease.

A confirmed case in Central Lombok regency, identified as 50-year-old SL, broke out of isolation at a local hospital and walked home.

He snuck out of an isolation room at Praya General Hospital on Tuesday evening. His escape attempt was recorded by a hospital CCTV camera, as reported by kompas.com.

SL was later found in a field in Penujak village located nearly 10 kilometers from the hospital and taken back to the hospital by local health workers. The video depicting the encounter, as well as CCTV recording of SLs escape has since circulated on social media.

Alhamdulillah Pasien Covid yg kemarin sempat kabur sudah ditemukan,Hilangkan Stigma Negatif buat Mereka yg terjangkit covid pic.twitter.com/TE99bHeAhk  LOMBOK BOYS 33 (@vikinglombok) April 29, 2020

We finally found him in a field near the Lombok International Airport overpass, an unidentified person recording the video said in the footage.

SL recently traveled to Gowa, where more than 8,200 people gathered for an international Islamic event last month, and has since tested positive for COVID-19.

Central Lombok Health Agency head Omdah confirmed the authenticity of the video.

Based on his statement, he walked westward passing through the Central Lombok Council building, said Omdah.

He went on to say that SL had stopped at a mosque in Batujai village.

The patient said he performed subuh [dawn prayer] at Wage Mosque and later proceeded toward Panujak village, where he was found by health workers in the morning, Omdah said.

Read also: Outbreak breakout: COVID-19 patient flees isolation ward in Jakarta

Another incident occurred in the provincial capital of Mataram, where a COVID-19 patient placed under isolation went out and participated in congregational tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers) at a local mosque.

A team from a community health center (Puskesmas) in Taliwang was deployed to conduct contact tracing on the patient, a 57-year-old man identified as S.

The patient was not at home when we visited him, Cakranegara district head Erwan said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that S was supposed to self-isolate upon returning from Gowa, where he attended an Islamic event last month.

S, who had previously tested positive for COVID-19, did not immediately report the test result to health authorities. The patient initially resisted being placed under isolation, but eventually relented.

The patient has since been taken to Mataram General Hospital for quarantine, Erwan said.

West Nusa Tenggara has recorded 221 confirmed cases and four deaths linked to the disease as of Wednesday. Provincial capital Mataram is the outbreak epicenter in the region, with 77 COVID-19 cases and two deaths due to the disease. (rfa)
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki (L) speaks as San Francisco mayor London Breed (R) looks on during a press conference at Hamilton Families in San Francisco on Nov. 21, 2019. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Private Industry, Not Government, Is Playing Big Brother

Commentary

George Orwell was, as we all are, the product of his experiences. When he wrote his final book, 1984, it was the final prophecy of what he had already seen.

His warning of the government becoming omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent has been well-heeded by much of the Western world. This isnt to say that governments dont have too much power, dont invade our privacy, and havent grown too big. Thats all true, and most freedom-loving Westerners are wary of it.

The constant checks and balances between the branches of government, the fourth estate (the media), and the sovereign (the people) have helped keep eyes open to the threat of what Orwell called Big Brother.

What Orwell didnt foresee, or perhaps didnt think possible, was that the people themselves would become their own greatest threata threat made possible through the flourishing private sector of American enterprise.

Facebook. Twitter. YouTube. These have been the faces of how Americans communicate. When once we thought our voices could only be amplified when among friends or through a letter to the editor, we now find that we all have a platform. Americans have always prided themselves on their opinions. Sometimes wrong, often slanted.

But it was our opinion.

Finally, our First Amendment guaranteed that freedom of speech could, in some way, compete with that of the freedom of the press protected within the same amendment.

For the longest time, these companies have been understood to be public forums. People could write and record whatever they wished to say, and these companies wouldnt and couldnt be held accountable. People were provided a higher level of freedom of speech, while private industry remained protected.

We were all satisfied with the arrangement.

That time, however, has passed. Social media giants have slowly been singling out and censoring voices, primarily of a conservative view. For liberals to think they wouldnt be next would have been naive. This pandemic has proven it to be so.

Power does not discriminate. These social media platforms have decided to censor any opinionconservative or liberalthat conflicts with information you can trust from recognized health organizations. This is the phrase labeled at the top of your mobile Facebook and Instagram account. Twitter has one. YouTube has a similar label at the top of its homepagea label that has been shown more than 9 billion times.

Among the health organizations is the one thats been getting it wrong from the beginning: the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has been so blatantly terrible at providing accurate information that its been criticized as being a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Partys propaganda machine. The ties of its leader, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to the Communist Party dont help the situation.

Its destructive misinformation led President Donald Trump to withhold U.S. funding to the organization; the United States gave more than $400 million to the WHO in 2019. Since then, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted that his company would be giving the WHO as many free ads as they need for their coronavirus response.

As the U.S. mortality numbers (currently about 67,700) remain far below the 2.2 million predicted by the Imperial College COVID-19 response team, conflicting opinions can do nothing but rise to the surface. Whether right or wrong, its part of the human condition to point out when a predicted fact becomes a falsehood. Most recently, when two Californian doctors presented their numbers, their video went viral.

YouTube quickly removed the video, stating that it went against their guidelines.

Alarmingly, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said in an interview with CNN, Anything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy.

Zuckerberg told Good Morning America that his company has implemented policies to flag content that serves to organize events in protest of government lockdown orders as harmful misinformation.

Even The Epoch Times own Joshua Philipps thorough and illuminating documentary Tracking Down the Origin of the Coronavirus was flagged as false information on Facebook.

In mid-March, Silicon Valley technologist Aaron Ginn published an article on Medium that was chock-full of information and graphics, titled Evidence Over HysteriaCOVID-19.

It quickly went viral. Perhaps too quickly.

Dr. Carl Bergstrom, an evolutionary biology professor at the University of Washington, got wind of the article and conducted a debunking of it through Twitter. After his labor-intensive tweet frenzy, Medium took the article down (it was later reposted on ZeroHedge). The Wall Street Journals editorial board followed up with an article about who is controlling the coronavirus narrative and the risk of dissolving civil debate.

Oddly enough, Bergstrom was also one of the first to jump into debunking mode against the California doctors. The result, as aforementioned, was the same as the Medium article.

Bergstrom is part of the University of Washingtons Center for an Informed Public, at which the mission is to resist strategic misinformation, promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse. If Bergstrom has done any of those recently, it definitely hasnt been the latter; hes become a kind of hero for the social media giants clampdown on democratic discourse.

Sadly, well-intentioned heroes often become accidental villains.

Social media has consumed our lives so much that it has become a primary method, if not the primary method of speech. Text, photos, and videos have become our medium to communicate with friends, family, and the rest of the world (or whomever is willing to listen).

As the social media giants transform further and further into the Ministry of Truth, this recent censorship can feel sudden. To believe, however, that it came without warning would be naive.

Its true that Orwell didnt see it coming, but every American today should have. The question is what will we do about it?

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.
Stranded away from their homes and having exhausted their meagre savings, migrant labourers in Punjab are eager to return to the familiar environs of their native places now that the Centre has allowed their movement.

Lakhs of migrant labourers have been stranded across the country for over a month as the Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus on March 25, ordering people indoors and restricting inter-state travel, among other curbs.

Shortly after the announcement of the lockdown, as thousands of anxious labourers set out on foot from cities to their homes, governments across states set up shelters for them and have been providing them food and other necessities.

According to officials, there are nearly 10 lakh migrant labourers in Punjab. Approximately 70 per cent of these are from Bihar.

Building contractor Bhagvat Yadav, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, on Thursday said around 45 people, including labourers and masons, are working with him and all of them want to go back home.

They are out of work as most construction work has been halted. Even though the government has allowed construction activities, people do not have the capacity to pay, he said in Amritsar.

Yadav claimed around 20,000 people are stuck in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts due to the lockdown.

"In the absence of employment opportunities, nobody will want to stay here. Labourers are waiting for trains to start plying. The moment railway operations resume, a sizeable number of migrant labourers will leave," he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Himanshu Aggarwal said the district administration will come up with a plan to allow migrant labourers to return home.

"The home ministry has asked state governments to appoint nodal officers to facilitate movement of people between states in a circular. District administration will formulate a strategy to facilitate the movement of all migrant labourers after receiving advisory from the state government," he said.

D P Maur, vice president of Punjab unit of the All India Trade Union Congress, alleged that migrant labourers in Ludhiana are facing a tough time due to non-availability of ration and other essential items.

"They had limited savings which they have used up. Now they are entirely at the mercy of the government," he said.

Upkar Singh Ahuja, president of Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings, said the industry has done all it could for the labourers.

"Now it was the duty of the state government to provide them financial assistance at least for three months from ESI (Employees' State Insurance) or MNERGA funds," he said.

However, a senior official of the Ludhiana district administration, who did not wish to be named, said it is not true that labourers are not getting ration.

He said ration is being distributed to all those in need.

A senior official of the labour department said the Uttar Pradesh government has already approached the Punjab government to facilitate the return of its migrant labourers.

On April 28, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said his government would make all efforts to care for the migrant labourers to ensure they stay put where they are.

"We need to look after them so that they do not leave Punjab, where they are needed to help out in the (agricultural produce) procurement operations as well as in industries that we are gradually opening up," he had said.

In neighbouring Haryana, over 12,000 workers from Uttar Pradesh have already gone back to their homes over the past few days, according to officials.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday that during the labourers' three-week stay at relief camps, "we did not let them face any kind of problem. Many of them, when they were leaving for their homes, turned emotional and said they had been taken care like a family".

He said most of the few thousand migrant labourers who are still in the state are currently engaged in work in agricultural fields as it is the team for wheat harvesting.

The Centre on Wednesday allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people stranded in different parts of the country to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions.

In an order, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating.

In case a group of stranded persons wishes to move between one state and union territory and another state and union territory, the sending and receiving states may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A photographic look back at the events that happened today in history.
World united in what they expect Taliban to do for recognition in Afghanistan, says White House

MEA explains why White House followed and unfollowed PM Narendra Modi on Twitter

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Apr 30: India on Thursday explained why the White House had followed and then unfollowed Twitter accounts of Indian officials.

Responding to the issue, Ministry of External Affairs said, "It is cleared by The White House through media report. They briefly followed Twitter account during the President's visit. This is done so that officials of the host country can retweet the messages about the visit."

"Much of we see is propaganda, the real picture is different. Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister are in touch with the leaders. During these discussions. requests were made by the countries for sending teams and medicines. There's also request to send doctors," MEA said.

"Misuse of social media should not be given credence," it added.

According to news agency ANI, the MEA also dismissed reports that there is discord between India and Gulf countries.

The White House had earlier explained that its Twitter handle typically 'follows' the accounts of officials from host countries for a brief period during a presidential trip to retweet their messages in support of the visit.

During President Donald Trump's visit to India in the last week of February, the official Twitter handle of the White House -- @WhiteHouse -- had started 'following' the accounts of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister's office, the Indian Embassy in the US, the US Embassy in India and the US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster.

Early this week, the White House 'unfollowed' all these six Twitter handles.

"The White House Twitter account normally follows senior US government Twitter accounts, and others as appropriate. For example, during the time of a presidential visit, the account typically follows for a short time, the host country's officials to retweet their messages in support of the visit," a senior administration official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

The official was responding to a question on the reasons for the White House 'following' and then 'unfollowing' the Twitter handles of President Kovind, Prime Minister Modi, the PMO and the other Indian officials.

The White House 'unfollowing' the Twitter accounts of President Kovind and PM Modi drew reactions on social media in India.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was "dismayed" at the development. "I'm dismayed by the "unfollowing" of our President & PM by the White House. I urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take note," he said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Asked why the White House and President Trump unfollowed Modi and the prime minister's office, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in New Delhi referred to the explanation by the White House.

"White House official has clearly stated facts about it that they briefly follow Twitter accounts of senior government officials of host countries during presidential visits. "This is done so that officials of host countries can retweet their messages in support of the visit. I think that clarifies the matter."

As of Wednesday, the White House had 22 million followers. It has traditionally been following 13 accounts including that of President Donald Trump and his official Twitter handle, the First Lady, the Vice President, the Second Lady, the new Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, the National Security Council and the former White House Press Secretary, Stephanie Grisham, among others.

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Story first published: Thursday, April 30, 2020, 22:47 [IST]
Congress isnt anywhere close to a consensus on the next coronavirus relief bill.

The Senate plans to return to the Capitol next week, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that her chamber would reconvene the week of May 11 after putting off plans to come back next week, citing guidance from the Capitol physician. But as lawmakers look to add to the nearly $3 trillion theyve already provided to address the pandemic, it will likely take weeks longer to reach agreement on the details of any new stimulus plan.

In a note to clients Thursday, analyst Chris Krueger of the Cowen Washington Research Group laid out 10 areas negotiators are likely to focus on:

1. Direct cash payments (and hazard pay for frontline workers);

2. Tax relief (President Trump continues to talk about a payroll tax holiday, though a delay may be more likely);

3. Social safety net programs (food stamps and a further extension of enhanced unemployment insurance benefits);

4. Small business grants/Paycheck Protection Program funding

5. State/local government aid (see more below);

6. Money for hospitals and testing;

7. Broadband infrastructure

8. China/supply chains (tax breaks for re-onshoring)

9. Sector-specific bailouts

10. Pension relief

The list of sticking points and potential disputes is also long. Heres a look at the two main hurdles that have emerged early on in the debate.

Additional aid to states: Pelosi said at her weekly news conference Thursday that state and local governments are seeking $1 trillion in aid in the next coronavirus bill, money that would help avoid sweeping cuts to jobs and services that could prolong the economic downturn. Were not going to be able to cover all of it, but to the extent that we can keep the states and localities sustainable, thats our goal, she said, adding that the additional money was strictly for helping with coronavirus costs and related revenue losses.

GOP lawmakers immediately dismissed Pelosis $1 trillion figure. That strikes me as a pretty outrageous number, just for state and local support. Weve already provided $150 billion, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) told reporters. Cornyn reportedly said he would support giving states more flexibility in how they can use the $150 billion provided as part of the $2 trillion Cares Act last month, money that was expressly for coronavirus response and not plugging budget holes.

Story continues

More broadly, President Trump and Republicans say they dont want to bail out the predominantly blue states that they claim have long mismanaged their budgets. The broad viewpoint on the right has been that state governments have been so irresponsible for so long that Washington Republicans dont trust them to disclose the costs that are just from the virus, Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute, told Bloomberg.

Trump has also suggested he may link additional funding for states and cities to immigration policies. If you're going to get aid to the cities and states for the kind of numbers you're talking about, billions of dollars, I don't think you should have sanctuary cities," Trump said Wednesday.

Protecting businesses from lawsuits: Businesses want Congress to shield them from lawsuits as they seek to reopen, and Republicans have made this a priority. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that any additional aid to state and local governments would have to be paired with such legal protections, and the Trump administration has expressed support as well. We dont need an epidemic of lawsuits in the wake of the pandemic," McConnell told Fox News on Thursday. "And so if we do another rescue package, and we may, we need to take our time, do it right, and it needs to include these liability protections so that all of these brave workers and brave businesses that will be reopening are not subjected to this second epidemic of litigation.

Democrats, unions and trial attorneys oppose the idea, with some charging that McConnell is trying to use the crisis to advance tort reforms that have long been part of the GOP agenda. At the time of this coronavirus challenge, especially now, we have every reason to protect our workers and our patients in all of this, Pelosi said on Wednesday. So we would not be inclined to be supporting any immunity from liability.

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Community TV stations Channel 31 Melbourne and Channel 44 Adelaide have drawn upon some serious firepower in their campaign to extend their license beyond the current deadline of June 30, 2020.

Letters of support have been sent to Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher from religious and multicultural organisations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Community TV broadcasters have broadcast over 40 hours of live-to-air TV during Easter Week, Ramadan and Vaisakhi while communities have been unable to physically attend services.

Amongst those writing letters of support are:

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide

St. Pauls Cathedral Melbourne

Adelaide Christian Centre

Board of Imams Victoria

Multifaith Association of SA Inc.

Greek Orthodox Community Parish of St George Thebarton & Western Suburbs Inc.

Christian Family Centre, Seaton

St. Savia Serbian Orthodox Church

Lutheran Church of Australia

Victorian Sikh Gurduaras Council

Associazione Nazionale Carabinieri dItalia Adelaide

Victorian Multicultural Commission

Greek Media Group 3XY Radio Hellas / Ta Nea Greek Newspaper

National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council

Tiffany Davis, Communications Manager at Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, said, Channel 31 Melbourne have been integral in our provision of Masses on their free-to-air TV platform, enabling us to reach our parishioners across Melbourne in their homes. The provision of free, simple and direct access to our Easter services was widely appreciated. As you would be aware, not all Australians have the technical understanding or capacity to view online livestreams, so the Channel 31 Melbourne broadcasts have been an important part of maintaining connection with our community.

President of the Associazione Nazionale Carabinieri Adelaide said, Now is the time to support C44 Adelaide, not interrupt their valuable service by switching off Community Television stations.

Throughout our longstanding partnership with Channel 31, we have seen first-hand the integral role they play in supporting Victorians, and in recent weeks, their service has been more relevant and important than ever added VMC Chair Vivienne Nguyen.

Both C31 and C44 claim Minister Fletcher has not communicated directly with either station since taking on the portfolio.

C31 Melbourne General Manager Shane Dunlop said, We are keeping the community comforted and connected through this very difficult and isolating time. The response from the multi-faith community to our coverage of cultural and religious services has been overwhelming.

C44 Adelaides Kristen Hamill added, Community TV is a sector is worth fighting for. Our stations have been able to adapt quickly during the pandemic and identify needs within the local community. We look forward to supporting cultural and religious groups across both states to connect with their audiences while these restrictions are in place. 
The Dearborn Heights City Council voted Tuesday to reinstate Treasurer John Riley after he offered to postpone his retirement due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Riley, who announced his retirement in December after 26 years of service, was scheduled to retire effective April 30.

However, the COVID-19 outbreak meant that interviews for his position had to be canceled, so he offered to rescind his resignation and postpone his retirement until council members can find a successor.

I offered to postpone until May 30, but Im open to discussion, he said. Im just here to do my job and we are doing the best we can. Unfortunately though, I cannot just rescind my resignation, I would need to be reappointed by the City Council.

Council members voted to reappoint Riley as treasurer during its April 28 meeting.

A motion made by Councilman Dave Abdallah and seconded by Councilman Ray Muscat reinstated Riley as treasurer effective May 1 until his successor is able to take over.

Riley said that getting the position filled is going to be a challenge due to a variety of factors.

Candidates had to have their campaign stuff filed by March 10 and petitions were due April 21, he said. While the petitions date was extended to May 8, I dont know of anyone who petitioned other than Councilman Bob Constan and if he were to be appointed, he would need to step down from City Council and then council would need to reappoint someone to his spot on council and hed still need to be voted in as treasurer in November.

Even if a new treasurer had been appointed during the pandemic, Riley said, there would have been major roadblocks to preparing someone for the job.

It would be nearly impossible to have a treasurer transitioned in by May 1 and our office has been doing the bare minimum to keep city business running at a safe capacity, he said. The 2019 tax tolls most likely wont be balanced with Wayne County by the end of April either and if another treasurer were to be appointed at this time, training prior to April 30 would be extremely difficult.

Riley also said that he does not want to stay in the position until the November elections.

Under the current state of emergency, I could continue at this position until the City Council has the time to find my replacement so that a smooth transition could occur, he said. I want to make it clear that it is not my intention to stay until November 2020.

With some of the state restrictions on businesses beginning to slowly loosen back up, Riley said, he would ideally like to be retired by the end of June.

The new tax season and fiscal year begin July 1, he said. Id like to be out by June 30th because of that and because of other things that I have going on.

Riley said he appreciates the citys confidence in him and while he doesnt intend to postpone his retirement for long, he cant leave the city behind.

Im kind of energized by all of this and I hope it has a positive impact, he said. While its not my intention to stay until November or even for very long, I will not leave during a state of emergency. I believe I am capable of managing through this crisis and will be capable of training my successor to do so as well.
Soon users will not have to manually download India's contact tracing app Aarogya Setu as that will be installed on smartphones by default. Prime Minister Modi had urged users to download the Aarogya Setu app in all his recent speeches as that would help to contain the spread of coronavirus.

According to a report published in Mint, the app will be pre-installed on all the phones soon. A source from a smartphone company and another from the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAIT) confirmed the news to Mint. Earlier, the government had asked the smartphone makers to install the app by default but it wasn't possible as the manufacturing of the smartphones was halted due to the nationwide lockdown. However, the reports state that the smartphone makers will start working on it as soon as the manufacturing resumes.

A day ago, the government had asked all the government employees to download the Aarogy Setu app and should come to office only if their status in the app shows "safe".

"Before starting for office, they must review their status on 'Aarogya Setu' and commute only when the app shows 'safe' or 'low risk' status," the order issued by Ministry read.The report further stated that the central government employees should stay at home if their status on app says "high risk" or "moderate".

The Aarogya Setu app became the most-downloaded app in India with over 75 million downloads.It is still not mandatory for citizens to download the app but once the lockdown is lifted the government might make it mandatory for everyone. There were reports claiming that the app will be used by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Delhi Metro to screen people who wish to use the service once lockdown is lifted. Also, recently the delivery app Zomato and Urban Company made the app mandatory for their delivery and service executives.

Interestingly, India isn't the only app relying on contact-tracing app to contain the spread of coronavirus. Singapore in fact was the first country to develop a contact tracing app and South Korea too followed suit and was able to contain the spread to a great extent.

Despite the popularity, the app exposed some users' data, including location data, to YouTube. The security bug came to light when the New York Times wrote about it. However, the bug has been fixed now. "Recently, Team Aarogya Setu was made aware that if a user performed a very specific set of actions, YouTube could access the anonymized latitude and longitude of the user," the statement by Aarogya Setu noted.
A federal judge is forcing Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to overhaul the way it inspects high-voltage power lines, improve record keeping in its electrical system and bolster its tree-trimming practices to prevent more deadly wildfires.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup on Wednesday ordered PG&E to design a new system for conducting inspections of heavy-duty transmission lines and keep detailed records about their age. PG&E must also hire enough of its own power line inspectors to manage the work of contractors who trim trees around lower-voltage distribution lines, Alsup said.

PG&E shall further require that contractors hired to inspect its transmission towers carry enough insurance to cover losses suffered by the public should their inspections be deficient and thereby start a wildfire, Alsup said.

Alsup cited PG&Es role in wildfires that have killed more than 100 people and destroyed more than 20,000 structures in recent years. He said the company cannot safely deliver power to California.

This failure is upon us because for years, in order to enlarge dividends, bonuses, and political contributions, PG&E cheated on maintenance of its grid  to the point that the grid became unsafe to operate during our annual high winds, so unsafe that the grid itself failed and ignited many catastrophic wildfires, Alsup said in his order.

Alsup imposed the new requirements as an expansion of the companys probation terms arising from the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. He is overseeing the probation, which is set to conclude in January 2022.

By May 28, PG&E has to submit plans to Alsups court detailing how it will execute some of the trickiest requirements he ordered. The judge said PG&E should confer with state regulators, and he intends to be flexible in approving any measures that achieve the essence of his order.

His order seeks to address two distinct ways in which PG&E equipment caused catastrophic fires in recent years: trees or limbs that fell on distribution lines and aging transmission equipment that broke in the wind and set off sparks.

Transmission lines carry power at high voltages to substations, and they are typically supported by tall metal towers. Distribution lines operate at lower voltages and deliver electricity directly to customers, often through a system of shorter wooden poles.

The judges order came about one month after PG&E said it would plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of unlawfully causing a fire over the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. PG&E is scheduled to be arraigned in a Butte County court next month.

The company and its parent PG&E Corp. are currently in bankruptcy protection because of their role in wildfires in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Fire victims are in the process of voting on PG&Es plan to resolve the bankruptcy case, which would pay them an estimated $13.5 billion settlement.

PG&E leaders are aware of (Alsups) order and are currently reviewing it, spokesman James Noonan said in an email.

We share the courts focus on safety and recognize that we must take a leading role in working to prevent catastrophic wildfires, he said. We remain focused on preparing for the wildfire season ahead, while continuing to deliver safe, clean and reliable energy to our customers.

In his order, Alsup first addressed the PG&E distribution system, which was implicated in the 2017 Wine Country wildfires as windstorms sent tree parts crashing into lower-voltage power lines.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

His order requires PG&E to directly employ inspectors that will perform two functions: flagging trees and limbs that need to be cut and spot-checking the work of contractors to make sure they did not miss anything.

Alsup then took aim at PG&Es transmission system, which has suffered from different problems. Most notably, the Camp Fire started after a worn hook broke on an old PG&E transmission tower in Butte County, causing a live power line to collide into the structure and send sparks flying into the grass below.

Like a broken record, PG&E routinely excuses itself by insisting that all towers had been inspected and any noted faults were addressed, at least according to its paperwork, he said. But these transmission tower inspections failed to spot dangerous conditions.

Alsup said PG&Es current transmission inspection procedures do not adequately assess wear on hooks like the one responsible for the Camp Fire, meaning another one could break at any moment. So he ordered the company to record the date of installation for each piece of equipment on all of its transmission towers and lines. If PG&E cant determine the exact age of a part, it must record an estimate, he said.

PG&Es new transmission inspection system must include forms that have enough detail to track what inspectors actually do, such as whether they touch or tug on equipment, Alsup said. The company needs to record every inspection on video.

The judge addressed PG&Es controversial forced power outages to prevent fires as well. He described them as a lesser evil to prevent fires for now but stressed that the company should keep the safe parts of its grid turned on as it strengthens the electrical system over time.

J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris
Catalytic cycle for selectively converting methane to methanol by exposing the methane to oxygen and water. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators have revealed new details that explain how a highly selective catalyst converts methane, the main component of natural gas, to methanol, an easy-to-transport liquid fuel and feedstock for making plastics, paints, and other commodity products. The findings could aid the design of even more efficient/selective catalysts to make methane conversion an economically viable and environmentally attractive alternative to venting or flaring "waste" gas.

As described in a paper appearing in Science, the team used theory-based models and simulations to identify the atomic-level rearrangements that take place during the reaction, and then conducted experiments to verify those details. The studies revealed three essential roles for water, working in conjunction with an economical cerium-oxide/copper-oxide catalyst, to bring about the conversion of methane to methanol with 70 percent selectivity while blocking unwanted side reactions.

"We knew from previous work that we'd developed a highly selective catalyst for the direct conversion of methane to methanol in the presence of water," said Brookhaven Lab chemist Sanjaya Senanayake, who led the project. "But now, using advanced theoretical and experimental techniques, we've learned why it works so well."

The findings could speed the development of catalysts that make use of methane escaping from gas and oil wells, where it is typically vented directly into the atmosphere or burned off.

"Transporting gas is extremely difficult and potentially hazardous," Senanayake said. "But if you convert it directly into a liquid you can move it and use it instead of flaring it wastefully. While the commercialization potential for such a reaction may still take several years, we hope that our results and the understanding of how it all works will help to get there faster."

Theory lays the groundwork

The search for methane-to-methanol catalysts has turned up a few promising prospects. But many operate in several distinct steps with high energy requirements. And in many cases, competing reactions break down the methane (and any produced methanol) completely to carbon monoxide (CO) and CO2. So, when the Brookhaven team first observed that their catalyst could directly convert methane to methanol with high yield in one continuous reaction, they wanted to know more about how it performed this difficult task.

They were particularly interested in figuring out the role of water, which appeared to facilitate key steps in the process and somehow block the reaction pathways that produced CO and CO2.

Using computational tools in Brookhaven Lab's Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), Brookhaven's Scientific Data and Computing Center, Stony Brook University (SBU), and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Brookhaven chemist Ping Liu developed the theoretical approach to figure out what was going on.

First, she used "density functional theory" (DFT) calculations to identify how the reactants (methane, oxygen, and water) changed as they interacted with one another and the cerium-oxide/copper-oxide catalyst at various stages during the reaction. These calculations also included information about how much energy it would take to get from one atomic arrangement to the next.

"The DFT gives you a bunch of 'snapshots' of the stages involved in the reaction and the 'bumps' or barriers you have to overcome to get from one stage to the next," she explained.

Then she performed "kinetic Monte Carlo" simulationsessentially using computers to try out all the possible ways the reaction could proceed from snapshot to snapshot. The simulations take into account all the possible pathways and energy requirements to move from one stage to the next.

"These simulations start with each intermediate stage and look at all the possibilities that can go to the next stepand figure out what is the most probable pathway," Liu said. "The simulations determine the most probable way the snapshots can be connected in real time."

The simulations also model how different reaction conditionsfor example, changes in pressure and temperaturewill affect reaction rates and the probable pathways.

"There were 45-50 possible components in the 'reaction network' we were simulating," said Jose Rodriguez, a leader of Brookhaven's catalysis group who also has a joint appointment at SBU. "Out of those, Ping, Erwei Huang, and Wenjie Liao, two Ph.D. students at SBU, were able to predict what would be the most favorable conditions, the best path, for going from methane to methanol and not to CO and CO2and all induced by the presence of water."

The models predicted three roles for water: 1) activating the methane (CH4) by breaking one carbon-hydrogen bond and providing an -OH group to convert the CH3 fragment to methanol, 2) blocking reactive sites that could potentially convert methane and methanol to CO and CO2, and 3) facilitates the displacement of methanol formed on the surface into the gas phase as a product.

"All the action takes place at one or two active sites at the interface between the cerium-oxide nanoparticles and copper-oxide film that make up our catalyst," Senanayake said.

But this description was still just a model. The scientists needed evidence.

Brookhaven Lab and Stony Brook University (SBU) members of the research team. First row, left to right: Sanjaya Senanayake (Brookhaven), Mausumi Mahapatra (Brookhaven), Jose A Rodriguez (Brookhaven), Ping Liu (Brookhaven) and Wenjie Liao (SBU). Second row: Ivan Orozco (SBU), Ning Rui (Brookhaven), Zongyuan Liu (Brookhaven) and Erwei Huang (SBU). Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory

Experiments provide proof

To gather evidence, the scientists from Brookhaven and SBU conducted additional experiments in Brookhaven's Chemistry Division laboratories and took several trips to the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Berkeley Lab. This team included SBU Ph.D. student Ivan Orozco and post-doctoral fellows Zongyuan Liu, Robert M. Palomino, Ning Rui, and Mausumi Mahapatra.

At the ALS, the group worked with Berkeley Lab's Slavomir Nemsak and collaborators Thomas Duchon (Peter-Grunberg-Institut in Germany) and David Grinter (Diamond Light Source in the United Kingdom) to perform experiments using ambient pressure (AP) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which allowed them to track the reaction as it happened in real time to identify key steps and intermediates.

"The x-rays excite electrons, and the energy of the electrons tells you what chemical species you have on the surface and the chemical state of the species. It makes a 'chemical fingerprint.'" said Rodriguez. "Using this technique, you can follow the surface chemistry and reaction mechanism in real time."

Running the reaction with and without water under a range of conditions confirmed that water played the predicted three roles. The measurements showed how the reaction conditions moved the process forward and maximized the production of methanol by preventing side reactions.

"We found direct evidence for formation of CH3Oan intermediate precursor for methanolin the presence of water," Rodriguez said. "And because you have the water, you modify all the surface chemistry to block the side reactions, and also easily release the methanol from the catalyst surface so it doesn't decompose."

"Now that we've identified the design principles for the catalyst," Senanayake said, "next we have to build a real system for using such a catalyst and test itand see if we can make it better."

Explore further Chemists ID catalytic 'key' for converting CO2 to methanol

More information: "Water-promoted interfacial pathways in methane oxidation to methanol on a CeO2-Cu2O catalyst" Science (2020). Journal information: Science "Water-promoted interfacial pathways in methane oxidation to methanol on a CeO2-Cu2O catalyst"(2020). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.aba5005
"There are legal duties on insurers to process claims quickly and fairly"
On Wednesday, Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner got fully glam to laze around her $36.5M Holmby Hills mansion with her 'quarantine friend' Anastasia 'Stassi' Karanikolaou.

The 22-year-old 'self-made' billionaire - who relies on stylist Jill Jacobs - showcased her surgically-enhanced 5ft6in figure in a sheer nude full-body stocking.

Kylie - who boasts an eye-popping 243.9M social media followers - wrote via Instastory: 'I have heels on for no reason at all.'

'Quarantine life': On Wednesday, Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner (L) got fully glam to laze around her $36.5M Holmby Hills mansion with her 'quarantine friend' Anastasia 'Stassi' Karanikolaou (R)

Jenner likely applied her fully-contoured complexion and dyed her own blondette-striped bob, which she fastened into a ponytail with help from waist-length hair extensions.

The Kylie Skin CEO then began inexplicably snacking on King's Hawaiian sweet slider buns, which she complained wasn't her usual brand.

The 22-year-old influencer, whom Kylie's known since age 11, joked: 'As soon as this bag comes out, you know what that's happening tonight?'

Jenner then yelled: 'Tequila!'

How do you get out of that catsuit? The 22-year-old 'self-made' billionaire showcased her surgically-enhanced 5ft6in figure in a sheer nude full-body stocking

Kylie - who boasts an eye-popping 243.9M social media followers - wrote via Instastory: 'I have heels on for no reason at all'

DIY: Jenner likely applied her fully-contoured complexion and dyed her own blondette-striped bob, which she fastened into a ponytail with help from waist-length hair extensions

'These aren't the same': The Kylie Skin CEO then began inexplicably snacking on King's Hawaiian sweet slider buns, which she complained wasn't her usual brand

The 22-year-old influencer, whom Kylie's known since age 11, joked: 'As soon as this bag comes out, you know what that's happening tonight?'

Jenner then yelled: 'Tequila!'

Earlier, the bored socialite took a snap of her rainbow-hued manicure from behind the wheel of one of her many Lamborghinis.

Kylie's mani was suspiciously professional-looking as though she got a house call from nail artist Tammy Taylor - whose other celeb clients include Rihanna, Billie Eilish, and Chrissy Teigen.

Both Jenner and Karanikolaou modeled unreleased fuzzy ensembles from her half-sister Kim Kardashian's SKIMS shapewear line.

Ostentatious: Earlier, the bored socialite took a snap of her rainbow-hued manicure from behind the wheel of one of her many Lamborghinis

House call? Kylie's mani was suspiciously professional-looking as though she got a house call from nail artist Tammy Taylor - whose other celeb clients include Rihanna and Billie Eilish

Brand new: Both Jenner and Karanikolaou modeled unreleased fuzzy ensembles from her half-sister Kim Kardashian's SKIMS shapewear line

Kylie later took to Instagram and put up a poll asking her followers if they preferred her hair to be blonde or brown.

She also danced around with Stassi while playing around for filters.

Stassi revealed they were drinking tequila and Kylie toasted to their friendship.

Hair poll: Kylie later took to Instagram and held a poll on her hair color

Filter fun: The reality star and Stassi had fun with filters while dancing around

Cute smile: Kylie flashed her cute smile while in quarantine

Friendship toast: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star toasted to her friendship with Stassi

The Lip Kit mogul's home was also eerily quiet for normally having her two-year-old daughter Stormi Webster and four Italian Grehounds running around.

Meanwhile, Stormi's father Travis Scott kicked off his 28th birthday celebrations by taking a private jet to some unknown destination: 'Birthday wildness kicks off in about an hour till foreva!'

Over 27.7M players participated in the seven-time Grammy nominee's 10-minute Astronomical experience in Fortnite live 45.8M times across five events last Thursday.

Mommy time: The Lip Kit mogul's home was also eerily quiet for normally having her two-year-old daughter Stormi Webster and four Italian Grehounds running around (pictured Monday)

Stormi's father Travis Scott kicked off his 28th birthday celebrations by taking a private jet to some unknown destination: 'Birthday wildness kicks off in about an hour till foreva!'

Video game: Over 27.7M players participated in the seven-time Grammy nominee's 10-minute Astronomical experience in Fortnite live 45.8M times across five events last Thursday

The Scotts rapper (born Jacques Webster II) and Kylie have been amicably co-parenting their privileged princess ever since they ended their two-year romance in September, according to TMZ.

Los Angeles County's stay-at-home order was extended through May 15 due to the 22,485 confirmed coronavirus cases in LA, which has led to 1,056 deaths as of Wednesday - according to Johns Hopkins University.

Catch more of the nepotistically-privileged daughter of Caitlyn & Kris Jenner in the 18th season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which airs Thursdays on E!
Reliance Industries has declared a dividend of Rs 6.50 per equity share of Rs 10 each for the financial year ended 31 March, 2020.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) announced its fourth-quarter results today. The country's largest listed company by market capitalisation on 30 April reported a consolidated profit of Rs 6,546 crore during January-March quarter 2020 with a one-time loss of Rs 4,267 crore.

The consolidated profit in the previous quarter was Rs 11,841 crore and in the corresponding quarter last year, it was Rs 10,427 crore. The revenue has come in at Rs 1.51 lakh crore in Q4 as against Rs 1.55 lakh crore in year-ago quarter.

RIL declared a dividend of Rs 6.50 per equity share of Rs 10 each for the financial year ended 31 March, 2020.

The board has announced India's biggest rights issue of Rs 53,125 crore at a ratio of 1:15 at a price of Rs 1,257 per share.

The board approved the issue of equity shares of Rs 10 each at an issue size of Rs 53,125 crore by way of Rights Issue to eligible equity shareholders of the company as on the record date, the company said. The terms and conditions of the Rights Issue will be decided by the Board or a duly constituted Committee of the Board and will be subject to applicable laws and regulatory/statutory approvals as may be required, it said.

The proposed rights issue will be the first by RIL in three decades, the company said in a statement. The issue will be structured as partly paid shares and will enable shareholders to phase out the outlay on their investment over a period of time, it said.

Annual revenue up, EBITDA crosses Rs 1 lakh cr

RIL achieved a consolidated revenue of Rs 659,205 crore ($ 87.1 billion), an increase of 5.4 percent as compared to Rs 625,212 crore in the previous year. Increase in revenue is primarily on account of higher revenues from the Consumer businesses.

Digital Services business and Retail business recorded an increase of 40.7 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively, in revenue as compared to previous year.

Revenues for the Refining and Petrochemicals business declined in line with fall in average oil and product prices for the year. Average Brent oil price declined 13 percent Y-o-Y, while the realisations for key petrochemical products declined by 15-32 percent Y-o-Y. This was partially offset by higher crude throughput and petrochemicals production during the year.

The companys annual EBITDA crossed Rs 1 lakh crore-mark (Rs 1,02,280 crore) for the first time, the company said.

Profit after tax (including exceptional item) was higher by 0.1 percent at Rs 39,880 crore ($5.3 billion) in FY20 as against Rs 39,837 crore in the previous year.

Commenting on the results, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited said, Despite the daunting challenges arising from the fallout of the global pandemic, our company has once again delivered a resilient performance for FY 2019-20. Our O2C (Oil to Chemicals) businesses delivered sustained earnings due to its integrated portfolio, cost-competitiveness, feedstock flexibility and product placement capabilities. We continue to operate all our major facilities at near normal utilisation levels.

"Our consumer businesses further strengthened their leadership positions and recorded robust growth on all operating and financial parameters during the year," Ambani said.

Earlier on Thursday, the company said its entire board and senior leaders will take pay cuts ranging between 30 to 50 percent as a proactive measure to counter the cost pressures from the unprecedented challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak. Ambani said he would forego his entire compensation for the year 2020-21.

Reliance Industries share price fell 26.4 percent in the quarter ended March 2020 and 5.8 percent year-to-date, but registered a massive 63 percent rally from 23 March's low amid expectations of rising ARPU, growth in Reliance Jio and consistent progress in deleveraging balance sheet plan.

Last week, Facebook Inc signed a binding agreement with Reliance Industries to invest Rs 43,574 crore into Jio Platforms. Its investment will translate into a 9.99 percent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis, the company had said in its BSE filing on 22 April.

(Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Firstpost)
Europe is circling the wagons.

Thrust into a new era of big government by the coronavirus pandemic, European Union officials are scrambling to protect their most prized assets after the worst stock-market rout in nearly a decade left them vulnerable to takeovers.

Berlin, Paris, Rome and Madrid have all increased their powers to veto investment from outside the EU in recent weeks and the bloc is ushering in the first continent-wide rules for screening takeovers on security grounds. Special safeguards have been offered to biotech firms as the race for a vaccine against Covid-19 takes on critical importance.

In a world where economic collapse has added to the uncertainties stirred up by China's rise, America's retreat and Russia's muscle-flexing, the 27-nation EU is ditching its longstanding open-door policy amid signs that other global powers are looking to gain an advantage.

Chinese companies backed by the financial muscle of the communist state are already hunting for bargains in Europe. In 2018, Germany only learned belatedly about billionaire private investor Li Shufu's stealth operation to become Daimler's biggest shareholder. Officials in Berlin were also alarmed by reports in March of a U.S. government approach, denied by the White House, for a vaccine research firm.

"This is about the need to protect our critical infrastructure -- to be not too naive about what could happen with some vulnerable sectors and vulnerable technologies from third-country interventions," European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan told EU lawmakers on April 21 in Brussels.

Until now, foreign investors have been mostly concerned with complying by the EU's competition rules, said Pascal Dupeyrat, who advises non-European investors in France. "For the next five to 10 years, such transactions will have to be acceptable under the much broader measure of national security," he said.

Still, what Europeans might call predatory behavior, others would consider fair game under the rules of modern capitalism. If anything, critics argue it underscores the creeping protectionism that has dogged Europe in the past years.

The EU must also tread carefully because of the importance of foreign direct investment, or FDI, to the European economy. FDI is directly responsible for around 16 million jobs in the EU and the bloc had attracted 7.2 trillion euros ($7.8 trillion) of foreign money by the end of 2018.

In that sense, Europe has been a barometer of the global economy. Worldwide, the ratio of FDI stocks to global gross domestic product increased almost sixfold to 40% in 2017 from 7% in 1990, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Despite the extra regulatory scrutiny, foreign investors' interest in European assets will remain strong as a result of the equity-market slump likely to last well into next year, said Davina Garrod, a London-based investment and competition adviser at law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

"The tide is turning in Europe with heightened vigilance, particularly regarding the Chinese and Russians," Garrod said. "But it's not turning Europe into a fortress."

In Germany, warnings about possible bids by foreign suitors have put the spotlight on industries ranging from machinery to software.

In early April , Chancellor Angela Merkel's government tightened protections to enable it to block acquisitions that present "potential interference" to critical infrastructure. On Tuesday the economy minister added an extra provision for all investments of 10% or more in healthcare companies. France and Italy have introduced similar rules for all strategic businesses this month and broadened the definition of key firms to include healthcare.

And then there is the U.K., which left the EU and has seemed intent on showing it will do things differently. But the mood in London has cooled toward China and the post-Brexit dream of a "Global Britain" is likely to come under pressure as the government sees famous brands being swiped up.

Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing recently bought pub operator Greene King and Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man, acquired the iconic toy-store chain Hamleys last year. Over the past three months, executives from mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore -- including Li Ka-shing's son Victor Li and Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang -- have said they are looking to pick up assets pummeled by the virus.

In Berlin, officials are on their guard.

Following reports of a U.S. offer to German biotech firm Curevac, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said authorities were scrutinizing one concrete attempt to purchase a German company involved in "medical production" and examining several others.

"There are a number of other cases that we are monitoring very closely, in which we're determined to stop potential takeovers," he said.

Analysts suggest that the small- and medium-sized engineering firms that form the backbone of German industry could attract interest. They've highlighted companies like Jenoptik in the former communist east that specializes in precision lasers and optics and Deutz, the world's oldest engine company, which is now developing electric drivetrains.

With memories still fresh of Chinese investments in the likes of Greece's main seaport and of Portugal's biggest utility during the euro-area debt crisis, Germans were alarmed by the takeover of robot maker Kuka by China's Midea Group Co. in 2016.

A joint push in early 2017 by Germany, France and Italy led the EU as a whole to bolster its defenses and in 2018 the German government stopped a Chinese bid for the first time, vetoing the potential purchase of machine-tool manufacturer Leifeld Metal Spinning AG.

A new European law on screening foreign investments, due to take effect this October, aims to increase protection for "critical infrastructure," including in the health, energy, transport and financial industries, and "critical technologies" such as artificial intelligence, robotics and semiconductors. That legislation was driven largely by unease over Chinese acquisitions.

Without taking the ultimate power of approving deals away from individual EU governments, the law sets up a bloc-wide "cooperation mechanism" for foreign direct investments. While waiting for the legislation to take full effect on Oct. 11, the European Commission is warning against complacency.

"The mood has shifted significantly in Europe," said Joachim Pohl, an expert on foreign direct investment at the Paris-based OECD. "Security concerns have come to the fore."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 22:32:02|Editor: huaxia

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DUBLIN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Ireland's retail sales in March went down sharply by nearly 13 percent due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the figures released by the country's Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Thursday.

In the month, the volume of retail sales in Ireland decreased by 12.7 percent when compared with the previous month, said the CSO, adding that this is the largest monthly decrease since January 2009.

Hardest-hit sectors in the month included bars (down 53.1 percent), clothing, footwear and textiles (down 49.2 percent), motor trades (down 30.7 percent), books, newspapers and stationery (down 29.2 percent), and department stores (down 25.8 percent), it said.

Due to the stay-at-home order announced by the government, all retail sales sectors, except for motor trades, in the country saw an increase in the proportion of online sales in March, showed the CSO figures.

The CSO warned that the retail sales figures for April could be worse than March as most of the retail sales outlets in the country remained completely shut down throughout the month.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of February, Ireland first shut down all the bars and pubs on March 15, and then extended the lockdown measures to all non-essential facilities on March 27, which have virtually brought most of the businesses in the country's retail sector to a standstill.

The current lockdown measures in Ireland will remain in place until May 5.

Ireland had reported 20,253 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,190 deaths as of Wednesday. Enditem
Rishi Kapoor, the versatile and outspoken actor from Hindi cinemas illustrious first family of the Kapoors, died aged 67 at a hospital in Mumbai on Thursday after a two-year battle with cancer -- the second such death in two days that shook the countrys artistic fraternity and fans alike.

Kapoor was admitted to the HN Reliance Hospital on Wednesday night after he complained of breathing problems. Actor Amitabh Bachchan was the first to tweet about Kapoors death. T 3517 - Hes GONE..! Rishi Kapoor..gone.. just passed away.. I am destroyed! Bachchan wrote.

Kapoors family issued an official statement, saying: ...He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him. He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears... 

Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and went to New York for treatment. He returned to India after what he called 11 months, 11 days in September last year and announced that he was in remission. He was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium at 4pm on Thursday.

Kapoor is survived by wife Neetu, actor son Ranbir and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. His daughter got special permission to travel to Mumbai from Delhi but couldnt make it in time for the funeral.

Leading the tributes to the veteran actor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Kapoor was multifaceted, endearing and lively and a powerhouse of talent. The PM wrote on Twitter that ...He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise...

Kapoor left behind a rich legacy from a career spanning over 50 years. His first-ever brush with the camera was when he was three years old in his father Raj Kapoors Shree 420. He appeared in the iconic song Pyaar Hua, Iqraar Hua featuring Raj Kapoor and Nargis.

He had an important role in Mera Naam Joker (1970), for which he received a national award as the best child artist. Kapoors big moment of stardom came in his lead role in the 1973 hit Bobby. After that there was no looking back for the man film magazines referred to as the original chocolate boy hero.

He starred in successful films such as Khel Khel Mein (1975), Rafoo Chakkar (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Karz (1980), Prem Rog (1982), Coolie (1983), Saagar (1985), Nagina (1986), Chandni (1989), Henna (1991), and Damini (1993), among others.

In the second innings of his career, Kapoor reinvented himself from a romantic lead to a character actor and essayed memorable parts in Kapoor & Sons (2016) and Mulk (2018). Friends recalled fondly how the actor had great zest for life and never shied away from airing his views.

Ive had the honour of working with Rishi ji. A larger than life person, so outspoken yet so warm. We have lost a brilliant actor today. Still cant believe it.. absolutely heartbroken. My prayers are with the family during this tough time, said Kapoors co-star Madhuri Dixit Nene.

My heart is so heavy. This is the end of an era... actor Priyanka Chopra tweeted, summing up the feelings of many.

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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  As April comes to an end, Muskegon County has seen over 250 new cases of the novel coronavirus reported over the last 30 days as county health officials ramped up testing.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Muskegon County stands at 276 after health officials reported 14 new cases Thursday, April 30, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Health officials reported another death Thursday, bringing the death toll to 17.

Muskegon County entered the month of April with 18 confirmed cases of the contagious respiratory disease and two deaths on Wednesday, April 1. Since then, the number of cases has nearly doubled every week over the past month.

On April 8, there were 53 cases of COVID-19 and four deaths. On April 15, there were 93 cases and five deaths. And on April 22, there were 173 cases and 11 deaths.

The largest single-day increase yet in Muskegon County was reported on April 29, when cases shot up by 20 to reach 262, with 16 reported deaths.

RELATED: Timeline of coronavirus in Muskegon County: How we got here

Muskegon County health officials have said it will still be several more weeks until the county hits its peak number of cases.

A total of 1,884 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the county, which has a population of over 173,000. About 14 percent of those tests have come back positive, according to data provided by the county health department.

On Thursday, Michigan saw 980 new COVID-19 cases reported, bringing the total to 41,379, according to MDHHS.

Michigan ranks seventh in the country for most cases, but still has the third-most deaths behind New York and New Jersey. State health officials reported 119 new deaths on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 3,789.

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In Muskegon County, women make up about 61 percent of all coronavirus cases. However, more men have died with COVID-19 countywide, making up about 59 percent of all deaths.

Black residents make up about 38 percent of positive cases countywide, while white residents make up only 26 percent. However, the breakdown of patients who die with COVID-19 is equal among both races, at about 41 percent each.

Residents ages 50-59 have been impacted the most by COVID-19, making up about 22 percent of cases. Meanwhile, the number of cases among residents ages 20-29 is on the rise, currently making up about 18 percent of cases countywide.

Although county health officials expected elderly residents to be hit the hardest by the virus, residents ages 80-89 only make up about eight percent of all coronavirus cases in the county. But senior citizens make up the majority of deaths in the county, with about half of the 17 reported deaths being residents over the age of 80.

Ottawa County reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, bringing the countywide total to 236. Total deaths remained at nine.

There were 84 new cases confirmed in Kent County, but health officials reported no new deaths for the second day in a row. The total number of positive cases is now 1,479, while the death toll remained 33.

Kent County has seen more newly reported coronavirus cases in recent days, in part because of targeted testing at businesses and other congregate settings, Kent County Health Director Adam London said.

The number of cases in Oceana County remained at nine on Thursday. There has been one death with COVID-19 in the county. County health officials opened a new drive-thru testing site this week, located in Shelby.

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:

Michigan still 3rd in U.S. for most coronavirus deaths with nearly 3,800

Thursday, April 30: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Protesters tell lawmakers vote no on extending state of emergency, argue freedoms outweigh coronavirus threat

Why isnt the governor wearing a mask during coronavirus briefings?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a "comprehensive" meeting to discuss strategies to attract more foreign investments into India as well as promote local investments to boost the economy against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An official statement said various strategies to bring investments into India on a fast-track mode and to promote Indian domestic sectors were discussed in the meeting.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, besides others, attended the meeting.

Detailed discussions were also held on guiding states to evolve their strategies and to be more proactive in attracting investments, the statement said.

Reform initiatives undertaken by the various ministries should continue unabated and action should be taken in a time bound manner to remove any obstacles which impede promotion of investment and industrial growth, the statement said citing the discussions.

The meeting also discussed that a scheme should be developed to promote more "plug and play" infrastructure in the existing industrial lands, plots or estates in the country and provide necessary financing support.

During the meeting, Modi directed that action should be taken for a more proactive approach to "handhold" the investors, to look into their problems and help them in getting all the necessary central and state clearances in a time-bound manner.

Later in a tweet, Modi said the meeting discussed ways to boost investment, both international and domestic.

"Issues relating to India's reform trajectory were also discussed so that growth can be accelerated," Modi said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen coordination with Singapore to explore the establishment of "green channel" for personnel exchanges and emergency supplies delivery, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday in a telephone conversation with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan.

Noting that Singapore had offered support and help when China was in the depth of the COVID-19 outbreak, Wang said as Singapore is facing new epidemic challenges, China will continue to provide it with medical supplies and offer conveniences to Singapore in the process of inspection, quarantine and customs clearance.

As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Singapore diplomatic relations, the two countries should maintain political mutual trust and push for the better development of bilateral ties, Wang said.

He said it is reassuring that Singapore has in recent days effectively contained a further spread of the disease with decisive anti-epidemic measures, adding that he believes under the leadership of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the country will win a complete victory against the virus in the end.

Noting that there are a large number of Chinese nationals studying and working in Singapore, Wang said the Chinese government cares much about their health and safety, and believes that Singapore will provide them with timely testing and treatment, and safeguard their lawful rights and interests.

China stands ready to enhance coordination with Singapore to explore the establishment of an "express line" to ensure the necessary exchanges between the two peoples, and a "green channel" to guarantee the fast and convenient delivery of much-needed medical supplies, Wang said.

As epidemic prevention and control becomes a regular practice, the two countries should not only cherish their accomplishments already achieved in the anti-coronavirus fight and prevent a resurgence of the epidemic, but also secure positive economic cycles in East Asia and smooth functioning of industrial and supply chains, Wang said, adding it is in line with the common interests of all East Asian countries, including China and Singapore.

Noting that leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN Plus Three, or APT) have successfully held a special meeting on combating COVID-19 and reached important consensus, Wang said that all parties should fully implement the outcomes of the meeting, and that foreign ministers from the APT should hold an extraordinary conference as soon as possible.

For his part, Balakrishnan said that a friend in need is a friend indeed, and that Singapore expresses deep gratitude to China, which, as a trusted friend, has showed solidarity with Singapore and offered a helping hand without hesitation.

It is admirable that China successfully coped with the challenges posed by COVID-19 and pushed ahead with the resumption of production and work, which brings hope to the world in defeating the pandemic, Balakrishnan said.

Singapore is currently dealing with a new wave of infections, and has attached great importance to the health and safety of Chinese nationals in the country, with effective measures already in place to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, he said.

The country will adhere to the one-China policy and allow no changes on this matter of principle, he said.

Balakrishnan said Singapore stands ready to actively promote the building of an "express line" for people-to-people exchanges and a "green channel" for the transportation of medical supplies between the two countries.

The two sides should work on the coordination of the standards for COVID-19 testing reagents and secure smooth industrial and supply chains, so as to set an example for ASEAN countries, APT countries and even the rest of the world, he said.

Singapore is also willing to join hands with China to uphold multilateralism and remove trade barriers, so as to safeguard the global free trade system with the World Trade Organization at its core, he stressed, adding the country agrees to hold an APT foreign ministers' meeting as soon as possible to promote the implementation of the consensus reached at the leaders' meeting.
New Delhi, April 30 : Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet on Thursday said that it will pay part salaries to over 92 per cent of its employees and t hat there will be no job cuts at the airline.

"In these extremely challenging times when no passenger flights have opera ted for over a month resulting in our primary revenue source drying up completely, SpiceJet has decided that there would be no job cuts at the airline at this time," the airline said in a statement.

"While a number of airlines the world over have been forced to retrench employees and withhold salaries, SpiceJet with its limited cargo operations during the lockdown period, will pay part salaries to over 92 per cent of its employees." As per the statement, it has devised a structure whereby all employees will be paid according to the work hours contributed while maintaining basic th resholds.

"The salaries would be credited on May 1," the statement said.

"These are temporary measures during these demanding times and we will consider reverting back to our basic structure upon restart of operations and return to normalcy and shall also be considering suitable allowances for our o perating crew who stand together with us amid uncertainty until we restart." Just a day earlier, the budget passenger carrier had informed its pilots that they will not be paid April and May salaries, barring the ones who have b een flying cargo flights. In an email to the airline's pilots, Captain Gurcharan Arora, Chief of Flight Operations, said: "We will not be getting any salary for April and May 2020. Those of us who have been flying cargo, will get paid for the block hou rs flown." "As the country shows a healthy and promising flattening of the 'covid cur ve', we are geared up and ready to appropriately increase our flights in harmony with the gradual lifting of flight restrictions by the government," he had said in the email.
By Trend





Seventy-one people have died from 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 983 people have been infected with the coronavirus over the past day.

Jahanpur added that the condition of 2,976 people is serious and critical.

So far, more than 463,000 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 94,600 people have been infected, 6,028 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 75,100 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.
The African Population and Health Research Centre, in collaboration with SEND-Ghana, has intensified its Immunisation Advocacy Initiative (IAI) to sensitise the public on immunisation against diseases amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.



The IAI is to enlighten lactating mothers and their families on safety measures put in place at child welfare clinics (CWCs) by District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) to check infection spread.



It is also to advocate for sustained funding and logistics (fridges, means of transport) and increased number of staff for immunization purposes in spite of the COVID-19.



The Initiative, being carried out in four regions; Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West, is also to encourage mothers to attend CWCs to adhere to the immunisation schedules for their children.



As part of the strategies for the sensitisation initiative, some DHMT resource persons with adequate knowledge on immunisation had been selected to champion the course through radio and television in view of the coronavirus scare.



Madam Jane Amerley Oku, the Founder of Janok Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, and one of the organisations championing the enterprise in the Accra Metropolis, made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.



She said adequate measures had been put in place to ensure that recommended hygienic practices against the COVID-19 were strictly adhered to at CWCs while the physical distancing rule of one metre or more was also observed.



Certainly, poor CWC attendance has adverse effects on the growth and development of children as they may have to forgo their vaccine schedules as well as other requisite health checks (anthropometry measures; weight, height, arm and head circumference, among others) for children, Madam Oku said.



She said though the COVID-19 might have limited governments ability to fund immunisation activities, the IAI must continuously remind the Government of its obligation towards vaccines procurement since any neglect might have dire consequences on unimmunized children.



That would result in developing weak immunity against preventable diseases including the COVID-19, she said.



Madam Oku called on the district assemblies to support immunisation activities while urging communities and individuals to contribute to the provision of Personal Protective Equipment for health workers.

Source: GNA









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The death toll in the United Kingdom from coronavirus was 26,711 on Thursday, but a slower rate of new infections and dwindling rate of deaths prompted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to declare that the country is past the peak.

Addressing the daily briefing for the first time after returning to office, Johnson, who had a brush with death after contracting the virus, said he was very, very lucky when he was admitted to the intensive care unit, but regretted that many people had lost their lives that.

He said: Today the number of Covid hospital admissions is falling. The number of patients in ICU is falling. We have so far succeeded in the first and most important task we set ourselves as a nation. To avoid the tragedy that engulfed other parts of the world. Because at no stage has our NHS been overwhelmed.

Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage

Five mega hospitals were quickly set up with help from the military, but after admissions slowed, the NHS was left with considerable capacity. Figures released on Friday said the number cases across settings in the UK were 171,253.

Johnson said: And it is thanks to that massive collective effort to shield the NHS that we avoided an uncontrollable and catastrophic epidemic where the reasonable worst case scenario was 500,000 deaths. And so I can confirm today for the first time that we are past the peak of this disease. We are past the peak and we are on the downward slope.

Responding to growing demands that the government announce steps to exit the current lockdown, Johnson said he would set out a comprehensive plan next week, and highlighted ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine in the UK.

The University of Oxford and the biopharma major AstraZeneca on Friday announced a not-for-profit collaboration for large scale production and distribution if a vaccine produced by the former currently under human trials succeeds by September.

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MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday accepted a plea seeking a CBI/SIT probe into Palghar mob lynching incident and compensation for victims kin.

According to Zee Medi sources, the high court, while admitting the plea for hearing, also issued notices to Maharashtra government and the CBI and directed them to respond notices within 2 weeks.

The plea calls for a CBI probe or constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. The PIL, filed by a lawyer Alok Srivastava on April 21, also demands that the trial of the case, upon completion of the investigation, to be conducted in a Fast Track Court.

On April 16, three men were lynched to death by a mob of 200 people in Gadchinchle in Maharashtra's Palghar district. The three men reportedly from Nashik were traveling in a car when they were stopped by a group of men. A police vehicle from the Kasa police station was also attacked.

The deceased men were identified as Sushilgiri Maharaj and Maharaj Kalpavriksha Giri and Nilesh Telwade.

The mob reportedly pelted stones at the victims' car, before all three men were pulled out of the car and beaten with sticks and rods. Kasa police have arrested 110 villagers and cases have been registered under multiple sections of IPC.

Several days after the mob-lynching incident in which two Sadhus and their driver were killed, the Maharashtra government had on Tuesday transferred 35 policemen.

Earlier, the government had suspended two policemen in connection with the incident and handed over the investigation to the state CID. All these policemen were serving the Kasa Police Station in Palghar district where the brutal incident occurred late on April 16.

The police have so far arrested around 110 people from the surrounding villages, including many with political affiliations.
With more than three million cases across the globe as of April 29, 2020, the impact of COVID-19 has been far-reaching. Governments around the world are in a position never experienced before, as each attempt to discover the best strategies with which to address the pandemic. Several governments have had to issue support packages to businesses and citizens.

International businesses are one of the hardest hit by the spread of the coronavirus. For the cashew sector, the situation is no different as sector actors face diverse challenges. China, USA and European countries, which are the major cashew kernel markets, have closed their borders to travels to control the spread of the deadly virus, slowing down trade.

Consequently, cashew processing giants like Vietnam and India which are the major exporters of kernels to these countries have drastically reduced their processing volumes. Preventive measures such as social distancing and work shifts to reduce the number of workers at a time have resulted in reduced volumes and closure of some factories.

Because most of Vietnam and India-processed cashews are sourced from African countries, there has been falling demand for Raw Cashew nuts (RCN), and consequently, a drop in RCN prices.

Considering the slow down in trade activities, it can be assumed that there would be a significant reduction in the procurement of RCN from Ghana and neighbouring producing countries.

In Ghana, the implementation of preventive measures against the effects of COVID-19, such as the closure of all borders to entry, a ban on social gatherings, lockdowns in high-risk cities, and the introduction of work shifts for essential services have brought a sudden halt to international cashew trading. Since there is currently more RCN supply than demand, the price of RCN is dwindling. It has been reported that RCN prices have dropped by up to 50%; from about GHC 700 per bag to between GHC 350 and GHC 450 across the countrys producing areas .

Response of local processors to COVID-19

According to the Association of Cashew Processors Ghana (ACPG), three of the local factories are still engaged in processing activities, one has paused processing for equipment maintenance for a week and two are yet to begin 2020 production. Processors who supply the local consumer market have not seen a considerable drop in local demand for cashew nor sales by distributors on the local market.

Processors in Ghana normally observe strict food safety protocols that include regular washing of hands with soap under running water as well as the use of hand sanitizers. In response to the threat of COVID-19, workers continue to observe these protocols, with factory owners increasing the supply of sanitizers and water for frequent hand washing.

Those in the packaging unit sanitize their feet as well to prevent the spread of the virus.

Factories are also implementing social distancing by restricting employees present at a given time to 25. One roasting unit, which supplies nuts to the local market, has a maximum of 10 people at post at a time. One of the largest processing units in the country has closed for two weeks to protect their workers and community.

Local processors rely heavily on foreign trade, and although some processors are still able to export at the moment, this is looking less possible in the near future, should the spread of COVID-19 persist.

Market implications and prospects

Measures adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have forced producers to sell to the domestic market only. Given that RCN is priced based on quality, which diminishes the longer it is stored, it may not be prudent for producers to hoard stock in anticipation of better prices when the pandemic blows over. They are obliged to sell at current low prices. But do local processors have enough capacity to absorb the excess? Will the drop in prices give local processors a better opportunity to acquire RCN for production? It is possible that we witness a similar trend as in 2018 when RCN prices were at an all-time low, yet local processors were unable to take advantage of the situation due to inadequate capital.

With the possibility of impacts persisting long after COVID-19 has passed due to a possible global recession, will these developments culminate in a loss of farmers interest in cashew production in Ghana?

While questions persist, this season of unknowns presents an opportunity for Ghanas cashew actors to discover new possibilities for the cashew value chain.

On the global demand side, worldwide consumption of cashew is stable, with a tendency toward increasing. The current stable demand is largely due to a combination of increased demand from the US and European consumers, and a decrease in demand from the Middle East. However, this decreased demand from the Middle East is due to supply chain disconnections as a result of COVID-19. The increased demand from US and European consumers (who constitute the worlds highest consumption) could be described as a potential silver lining of current events. With health as a major focus because of COVID-19, consumers demand for healthy nuts like cashew is rising. How can the African cashew sector take advantage of the presented opportunities?

Prioritising and investing in a robust local processing industry could shorten the supply chain to final consumers of cashews since an Africa-Europe or Africa- US shipping route is shorter than Africa-Asia- Europe/ USA.

In 2018, the cashew sector raked in about GHS 378m as a Non-Traditional Export crop for Ghana. The sector is projected to be a major earner in the agriculture sector for the country. Cashew has the potential to earn even more revenue for the country if given consistent strategic attention by the government and key stakeholders.

Value addition of kernels brings in at least three times more export revenue than exported raw cashew nuts. Beyond the nut, local raw cashew nut (RCN) processing also provides additional revenue streams through by-products such as the Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) and fuel from cashew nut shells. CNSL is used extensively in the petroleum and paint production industries and the production of pesticides. Residual shells are also used as fuel for powering heavy industrial equipment. The cashew apple can be processed into fruit juice, wine, ethanol for industrial use, jam and other food products.

Ghana has the opportunity to take advantage of the opportunities using the Ghana Tree Crops Authority  which was passed into an Act in December 2019 and is planned to be operationalized this year  as a tool, in collaboration with other sector actors. Consistent strategic interventions can be developed and implemented to build a wholistic value chain, resilient as much as possible to another global shock to the levels of this current COVID-19 pandemic.

Credit: The Competitive Cashew initiative (GIZ/ComCashew) and African Cashew Alliance (ACA)
African naked mole-rats are sometimes referred to as animal superheroes. They resist cancer, tolerate pain, and live a remarkably long time. They're also known for their ability to handle high levels of carbon dioxide and can go for several minutes without oxygen. But researchers reporting in Current Biology on April 30 say they may have found the mole-rats' kryptonite: they need high levels of carbon dioxide to function.

"While they thrive in their cramped nest quarters, the air composition just above the surface of their burrows in East Africa makes them vulnerable to seizures," said Dan McCloskey of The City University of New York. "Because that's what happens when naked mole-rats lose carbon dioxide."

In other words, the mole-rats don't just tolerate high levels of carbon dioxide in their crowded nests; it appears that they actually require it. When they reach the hot surface and start heat-induced hyperventilation in the fresh air, it sends them into seizures. In the study now reported, the researchers found that this curious need for carbon dioxide is explained by the presence of a missense mutation in a gene that encodes the major neuronal chloride transporter known as KCC2.

The researchers came to this discovery in an unexpected way. Naked mole-rats have little control over their body temperature and also are prone to seizing in response to heat, they knew. McCloskey and first author of the new study Michael Zions had been exploring this susceptibility to fever-like conditions as a model for fever-induced (febrile) seizures in human children.

The team joined forces with Kai Kaila and Martin Puskarjov, University of Helsinki, Finland. Kaila, an expert in febrile seizures, and Puskarjov had earlier found a mutation affecting KCC2 in families of people prone to them. What they now know is that mole-rats and those families with a genetic predisposition for febrile seizures carry the very same genetic change.

"We knew there was some value in the line of inquiry, but we had no idea that the similarities would go all the way down to the genetic level," Kaila said.

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"The identification of the genetic polymorphism in the naked mole-rat KCC2 was a surprise," Puskarjov added. "Aside from a small subset of humans, naked mole-rats are now the only other mammals known to harbor this variant."

Further study yielded more surprises. When the researchers gave a naked mole-rat the anti-seizure drug diazepam, the drug triggered a seizure rather than preventing one. While the result was unexpected, it helped them make sense of years of unusual behavioral and electrophysiological data: the naked mole-rats were relying on carbon dioxide to help them compensate for deficiencies in their brain's inhibitory GABAergic system.

KCC2 is a chloride transporter: its normal job is to control the amount of chloride inside of neurons. In a typical adult mammal, chloride levels in central neurons are kept low. When the neurotransmitter GABA binds to a neuron, chloride enters and blocks the activity of the neuron. This ability to reduce neural activity is essential for many thousands of neurons to work together in coordinated fashion and avoid becoming overexcited. In the naked mole-rat and people with the mutation, KCC2 doesn't clear chloride from neurons as effectively. As a result, this inhibitory cascade doesn't work as well.

"Naked mole-rat brains lack some of the inhibition that a mammal needs. Instead, they're using the carbon dioxide to get back to where they have to be," Zions said. "They prefer CO2 levels that would panic a person, but are troubled by fresh air. They've leveraged a liability to literally dig themselves a niche."

As the researchers explain, an inhibition-impaired brain would normally be a handicap as it is in people prone to febrile seizures. It works for naked mole-rats because they rely on their carbon dioxide-rich environments to help keep their brain within normal parameters. "We believe they are utilizing nest carbon dioxide to offset their impoverished GABA system," Kaila said.

The researchers think the findings may provide an essential clue as to why the naked mole-rats are one of only two mammalian species to evolve eusociality, living together in highly cooperative colonies.

"Low carbon dioxide areas may cause hyperexcitability and overstimulation or anxiety. Their brain physiology urges them to go back to the nest rather than set out on their own," McCloskey said. Support for this idea comes from the researchers' discovery that the only other eusocial mammal, the Damaraland mole-rat, has a slightly different mutation in the exact same location on the KCC2 gene as the naked mole-rat.

In addition to the insights into mole-rat evolution, the findings may also have implications for people who carry the KCC2 variant, including those prone to febrile seizures and people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, schizophrenia, or autism who in some cases also have the variant, according to the researchers. "The breathing patterns and carbon dioxide needs of these individuals is something to consider," Kaila said.
Cross River State is not getting enough COVID-19 test kits from the federal government, the state government has said.

The head of the COVID-19 Response Taskforce in Cross River State, Betta Edu, told reporters on Wednesday in Calabar that Cross River has so far received only 50 test kits from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and that the number is grossly inadequate for the states 4.5 million population.

With 50 sample collection kits for a population of 4.5 million, how many tests do you want Dr Betta Edu and Cross River State Government to produce in the week? These things are not available and yet you want us to embark on sample collection and send them to Irua or Ebonyi? said Mrs Edu.

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Mrs Edu, a medical doctor, is also the commissioner for health in Cross River.

There is no confirmed case of coronavirus in Cross River.

We were told we were not testing enough and that is why we have not found a case, Mrs Edu said. Due to pressure, we tested somebody who has not met the criteria last September, no fever, no cough, nothing else, no difficulty in breathing and she has a family history of asthma.

For us as a state and with the limited number of test kits we have, we decided that only people who meet the criteria sent to the state from NCDC will be tested.

The pressure is becoming too much and unnecessary. We were asked not to use locally available swap sample collection kits which we have but rather we should use the one sent to us.

Mrs Edu said apart from the 50 test kits, Cross River received 200 Personal Protective Equipment, four body bags, and four boots from the federal government, despite several appeals for support. She said the Cross River government has been struggling alone to ensure that the state is COVID-19 free.

The federal government should isolate states that have done well during this period, support them in the way that they required, everybody does not need a ventilator, I dont have a case now and I do not need it.

What I need as an emergency is to keep my border shut so that the over 50, 000 Cameroonians that are trying to get into the state can be stopped. What I need is money to pay the surveillance officers who will go round and look for cases.

And what I need are sample kits for us to get samples in their numbers as they have asked for, we need support from the federal government to produce more face masks, we should be treated differently.

Yet we heard all states in Nigeria must have COVID-19 and it is almost becoming a battle to ensure that whether true or not, all states in Nigeria have COVID-19. It is possible to have a state without COVID-19 and others around it have, so it is not compulsory that every state in Nigeria should have COVID-19.

Mrs Edu said Cross River should be commended, and not accused, for not having any confirmed case of the coronavirus. She said the administration of Governor Ben Ayade has been proactive in its response to the pandemic in order to protect the people of the state.

Our instinct was Lassa fever which was killing people but we were carrying out sensitisation both for coronavirus and Lassa fever, then there was no case of COVID-19 in Africa and Nigeria.

Cross River State remains the first state in Nigeria to screen people who came in through our local airport, at this time Nigeria had not recorded any single case of COVID-19.

We screened people from China, South Africa and we tried to follow up on them for two weeks to see that they were not infected. Cross River State was the first state to say that its International and interstate borders be shut, and for people to come in they must be screened.

We also make it compulsory for no mask, no movement. These were policies we put on the table and followed them through. The virus does not move but the humans that are infected move, spreading it from one location to the other, the commissioner said.
ABS launches guidance aimed at sanitizing marine and offshore assets exposed to COVID-19

ABS has launched comprehensive guidance on sanitizing and decontaminating marine and offshore assets exposed to COVID-19.

Response Measures to COVID-19 for the Marine and Offshore Industries provides best practice guidelines for sanitizing assets exposed to COVID-19 and helps maritime leadership address the many challenges the virus brings. The best practices document helps to answer a range of practical, urgent questions including how to prevent an asset from getting contaminated, how to maintain an asset in a sanitized state, how to decontaminate an asset when there is an onboard COVID-19 case and considerations for the choice, use and disposal of cleaning and disinfecting products. Produced from a maritime public health perspective, the best practices are applicable to commercial and naval vessels, as well as drilling units, production installations and other offshore units. Marine and offshore operators face the same challenge globally today. Determining how to protect crews while continuing operations in complex environments with unique requirements, where decontamination is considerably more challenging than for assets on land. For instance, improper application of detergents and disinfectants can degrade structural materials or weaken coatings designed to protect structures, said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. This guidance builds on ABS industry safety leadership to give operators confidence they are doing everything possible to protect their crews and assets. It is yet another example of ABS innovating to find new ways to support the industry during these challenging times. Rear Admiral Joyce Johnson DO MA U.S. Public Health Service (Ret), a physician with a 35-year career of senior public health leadership in civilian and U.S. military sectors, said: ABS has compiled a useful, best practices publication for mitigating the SARS-CoV-19 virus threat aboard marine and offshore platforms. The sanitization guidance provided will potentially save lives for people who must live and work at sea. Response Measures to COVID-19 for the Marine and Offshore Industries is built from a range of independent governmental and commercial sources and is intended to be a consolidation of the best available information at the time of publication. This guidance reinforces ABS commitment to safety and the continuity of vital industry operations. Through innovations involving remote surveys and a strengthened focus on shipowner needs, ABS continues its industry support. The guidance follows last weeks announcement by ABS subsidiary ABS Group Consulting of a Restart Risk Model designed to help commercial and public organizations get workers safely back on site following the COVID-19 stay-at-home directives. The easy-to-follow risk-based framework will aid ship owners to maintain their operations with enhanced working practices that address the new normal business environment. Download a copy of Response Measures to COVID-19 for the Marine and Offshore Industries here.




Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But even in a market-beating portfolio, some stocks will lag the market. The Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange SA (ATH:EXAE) stock price is down 37% over five years, but the total shareholder return is -18% once you include the dividend. That's better than the market which declined 68% over the same time. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 27% in the last 90 days. However, one could argue that the price has been influenced by the general market, which is down 27% in the same timeframe.

Check out our latest analysis for Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange

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 five years over which the share price declined, Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 21% each year. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 8.9% compound annual share price fall. So investors might expect EPS to bounce back -- or they may have previously foreseen the EPS decline.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

ATSE:EXAE Past and Future Earnings April 30th 2020

It is of course excellent to see how Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. Take a more thorough look at Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange's TSR for the last 5 years was -18%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 11% in the twelve months, Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange shareholders did even worse, losing 20% (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. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 3.9% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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 2 warning signs for Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange you should be aware of.

Of course Hellenic Exchanges - Athens Stock Exchange may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GR exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
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Linkedin Asip Hasani (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya, East Java  Thu, April 30, 2020 06:34 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd514196 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-quarantine,quarantine,East-Java,East-Java-Police,coronavirus Free

The East Java Police have formed a special "Covid Hunter" team tasked with tracking down confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases who have broken quarantine.

East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Luki Hermawan said the team was formed in response to reports of COVID-19 patients escaping from hospitals and refusing to undergo quarantine.

"The team will coordinate with referral hospitals across the province to obtain the names and identities of patients. If any of them run away we will find and send them back to the hospitals," Luki told reporters on Tuesday.

The "Covid Hunter" team will also keep an eye on patients under treatment (PDP) and people under monitoring (ODP) who were not receiving treatment at a hospital and were required to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine, he said.

Tens of thousands of people from Greater Jakarta  the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia  have returned to their hometowns across East Java in recent weeks prior to the government's Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) ban.

Read also: COVID-19: Surabaya, two East Java regencies to impose partial lockdown

COVID-19 task forces at the city and regency levels have required those who arrived home from areas hard-hit by the virus  particularly Jakarta  to undergo a 14-day quarantine in facilities provided by village administrations. Those who do not show symptoms are regarded as ODPs.

According to the East Java task force, however, fewer than 3,000 people have undergone quarantine in what it calls village observation rooms.

East Java police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Trunoyudho Wisnu Andiko downplayed concerns that the "Covid Hunter" team would pave the way for police to intrude into people's private lives, saying the team comprised just 15 officers.

"We don't need to run a special operation for this, and the team will work with the provincial health agency to carry out the task," he said.

Trunoyudho said the team was formed to serve the public interest and would work according to the Health Quarantine Law.

Read also: Coronavirus outbreak may end in June with 'mudik' ban: IDI

East Java is the third hardest hit province in the country with 872 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 95 fatalities according to the official government count as of Wednesday. The provincial administration has also recorded 2,849 PDPs, 246 of whom have died.

Surabaya has been hardest hit city with 392 cases and 54 fatalities.

The East Java capital and its satellite regencies of Sidoarjo and Gresik imposed on Tuesday a 14-day period of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to contain the spread of the virus.
SINGAPORE, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore-based companies CACHE Private Limited, a provider of fully-redeemable digital assets backed by gold, and Onchain Custodian Private Limited, the digital assets custody service provider backed by Fosun, Sequoia and DHVC, announced today a strategic partnership to enable the insured safekeeping of gold-backed tokens.

Onchain Custodian has securely integrated the CACHE blockchain infrastructure so that its existing customers can invest in a gold-backed digital asset while allowing existing and future CACHE token investors to safeguard their assets in a secure and insured way. CACHE will promote the use of Onchain Custodian services to institutional and qualified investors interested in managing their CACHE token holdings with an independent third-party custodian alongside their other digital assets.

CACHE Gold tokens (CGT), are backed 100 percent by investment-grade physical gold. The gold is stored around the world in secure vaults operated by Dillon Gage, Brink's, Loomis and The Safe House. Each CACHE Gold token is the equivalent to one gram of pure, physical gold. CACHE tokens can be redeemed for their equivalent value in gold at any time. In amounts as small as 100 grams, redeemed gold can be sold for USD, shipped to the token holder's address or collected in person at select vaults.

CACHE, which is regulated under Singaporean law, uses GramChain, a revolutionary new Proof-of- Reserve system, asset-tracking to store data as standardized events. This enables the public to view photos and see real-time status updates for each bar backing CACHE Gold. CACHE's token supply is kept in sync with its underlying gold supply via the CACHE Token Governor that ensures the number of tokens in circulation never exceed the number of grams of pure physical gold locked and tracked by GramChain. CACHE tokens are unique because they are backed by physical gold that is redeemable by token holders on demand.

Recently, Onchain Custodian released a new version of its custody platform with warm wallet service built using IBM's HSMs integrated with a secure computing platform, complementing its multi-sig cold storage offerings. In addition to the enterprise-grade secure service, Onchain Custodian's clients are able to deploy their assets through open finance service partners to enhance their investment, in addition to covering their custody fees.

Onchain Custodian's customers can lend out their digital assets, place them in investment products, and now buy and secure their gold-backed token holdings. They can also convert their crypto to fiat and back, as well as benefit from the independent escrow service of Onchain Custodian to secure the settlement of their OTC trades. All these ancillary services make Onchain Custodian a one-stop-shop for clients and a liquidity partner for crypto industry players.

Alexandre Kech , CEO Onchain Custodian: "All fungible valuable assets will ultimately be tokenised. Our objective is to become a token agnostic custodian provider enabling our customers to hold all their digital assets with us. Adding gold-backed CACHE tokens, is part of this grand plan. Working only with reliable players is also part of that plan and we are glad to be able to partner with the CACHE team."

Brian Hankey , CACHE co-founder said: "We are honoured to partner with Onchain Custodian because of their well-deserved status as a premier digital asset custodian with world-class technology, security and ease of use. Our customers can be assured their assets are safe with Onchain Custodian."

About Onchain Custodian :

Headquartered in Singapore, Onchain Custodian offers a global, standardized, resilient, insured and compliant custody service for the safekeeping of institutional digital asset investments with incomparable user experience. Onchain Custodian's solution is built with flexibility to meet the possible futures of digital asset custody.

Onchain Custodian is backed by Fosun, DHVC and Sequoia Capital, and is gaining a significant foothold as it builds up its portfolio of institutional and accredited clients across the Asia Pacific region.

To find out more about Onchain Custodian, visit www.oncustodian.com .

About CACHE:

CACHE tokens are regulated, public, transparent and redeemable tokens backed by gold stored in accredited vaults around the world. CACHE uses GramChain, a revolutionary new Proof of Reserve system, that enables the public to view photos and see real-time status updates for each bar in each vault.

With worldwide liquidity and storage providers and accessible, auditable assets tracked by GramChain's Proof of Reserve asset tracking system and strict AML/KYC policies, CACHE provides fast, flexible redemption at scale with the option to sell the underlying gold for fiat currency. CACHE gold tokens are expected to be made available for purchase by the general public in the coming months.

For additional information please visit cache.gold

SOURCE CACHE Private Limited

Related Links

https://cache.gold


The death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak in India has reached 1,074 and the total confirmed cases stand at 33,050. Of these, 23,651 are active cases while 8,325 have been cured or discharged.

The Delhi and Maharashtra governments are making arrangements to bring students back home from Kota in Rajasthan. The Maharashtra government has sent 70 buses from Dhule to bring back the over 1,800 students stranded at Kota.

Indian Railways has also drafted a plan to help the movement of stranded migrants and students.
An EgyptAir flight carrying 75 Egyptian nationals who were stranded in South Africa due to the coronavirus arrived in Egypts Marsa Alam from Johannesburg on Thursday, an aviation ministry source said.

The repatriated nationals have been transferred directly to a local hotel in the Red Sea city resort city where they will be under quarantine for 14 days.

They include 40 aerospace students aged 18 to 20, whose studies have been suspended after a total lockdown announced by the country in March, Egyptian ambassador to South Africa Sherif Eissa said late on Wednesday.

The rest of the passengers were in South Africa for tourism or work, the ambassador added.

A total of 170 Egyptians had filed repatriation requests to the Egyptian embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, he said, adding that only those who completed necessary procedures were to be repatriated.

The EgyptAir plane had carried six South African nationals on board in its way to Johannesburg airport.

The Coptic Church in Johannesburg served as an assembly point for Egyptians coming from different South African cities, and Al-Azhar Islamic institute in Pretoria provided busses to transport Egyptians between South African cities, the ambassador said.

Egypt has closed all its airports to international flights since mid-March as part of drastic measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The country has since operated exceptional flights to bring Egyptians stranded abroad back home and allow foreign tourists to return to their country.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed last week that the government is committed to returning an estimated 3,500 Egyptians stranded overseas at the earliest opportunity.

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CHARLOTTETOWN - The Prince Edward Island government is opening at least eight schools to provide help for some students and respite support for their parents.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Prince Edward Island government is opening at least eight schools to provide help for some students and respite support for their parents.

Education Minister Brad Trivers says beginning May 11 at the latest, designated schools will reopen to students who now receive individualized support from student services teams.

Those are students who are supported by educational assistants and youth service workers.

Trivers says the plan will provide the students with the structure and individualized support they need.

The minister says starting June 15, high school teachers will meet by appointment with students to ensure they are getting the prerequisite courses they need for post-secondary education.

He says graduation and end-of-year activities will be held the week of June 22, and they are looking for innovative ways they can be done in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2020.
YouTube is now bringing its fact check panel to users in the US to combat the spread of misinformation. Thats according to reports stemming from a YouTube blog post detailing the features arrival. The feature is rolling out now in largely in response to misinformation about COVID-19 caused in part by the rapid news cycle surrounding the pandemic.

Now, when YouTube users perform a search for specific terms  the company uses an example search for covid and ibuprofen  the results will also return an Independent fact check card. Thats displayed just above the results themselves. The card contains information pertaining to the search. So, in this case, it offers up a common claim about the two topics at hand. More directly, it indicates that there is no proven link between deaths from the disease and ibuprofen use.

Another example provided by YouTube indicates a similar response might be returned if users searched whether a tornado hit Los Angeles or not. A search query for just tornado wouldnt return a fact check card. But that specific search might return results about the truth of related claims.

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YouTube also admits that the fact check articles may not always be completely accurate or follow Community Guidelines. But users will have the opportunity to send feedback to YouTube if those instances crop up. The articles will, however, always be pulled from authoritative sources.

YouTube is taking a proactive approach here

Compared to many of YouTubes recent feature releases, its fact check panel is a bit more proactive. Thats true, in particular for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Prior to this, the company has been showcasing more generalized cards pointing users to the most recent information about the topic. Further down in search results, its also been showcasing more context-based information.

The solution also takes a less hard-line approach. So its less likely to be ridiculed  somewhat inappropriately  as censorship. Other measures in response to misinformation have, using recent policy changes as an example, simply removed misleading or factually incorrect content. Other changes have demonetized entire swaths of videos regardless of their accuracy, prompting both providers of correct and incorrect information to simply stop making content on specific topics.

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As is always the case, both of those measures are likely to result in an outcry from content creators and users alike. Thats been the case in the past as well whenever YouTube starts outright banning content and creators.

Here, the company is actively addressing the content with well-sourced information. That leaves it up to end-users to decide for themselves what is or isnt true. And it does so while still very prominently surfacing information that is factually correct. That should strike a clear middle ground between allowing content amid rapid-flowing report cycles and keeping users well informed.

The new feature should appear automatically for users in the US

The new YouTube fact-check panels should already be appearing for users in the US since this is a rollout on the server-side of the equation. So there wont be any app update required. It also isnt being hindered by possible bug concerns since its already been rolled out previously in India and Brazil since last year.

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To access the feature, users will simply need to search for a relevant topic. That should also be a fairly specific topic, as highlighted above. Then the cards will appear on their own above search results.

The cards also wont likely cover every possible need for fact-checking just yet. Instead, it will improve in terms of subjects covered and accuracy over time, according to YouTube.
Debby Kean understood the importance of family. She dedicated her life to serving not only her own, but those across New Jersey.

She helped establish much-needed day care centers and advocated for the developmentally disabled. And, she was part of a family-driven effort that brought new hope to people living with paralysis.

In 1982, 17-year old Henry Stifel was paralyzed in a car accident. Soon after, his parents mobilized friends, including then New Jersey First Lady Debby Kean, to raise money for spinal cord research and to rebuke the notion that paralysis signaled the end of a life.

Their mission became a movement extending from one family to another across the country, and upended what the world believed was possible for people living with disabilities.

The work begun by the Stifels to support people living with paralysis continues through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and is especially critical today, as COVID-19 has made much of life suddenly inaccessible for everyone.

While people with disabilities are at greater risk if infected, they are no longer alone. Thats thanks in part to Mrs. Keans support. We will forever remember and celebrate her willingness to fight for families and vulnerable communities.

Peter Wilderotter, President & CEO

and Henry Stifel, Vice-Chair, Board of Directors,

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Short Hills

Editors note: Debby Kean, the wife of former Gov. Tom Kean, passed away April 23 at age 76.

Dont need that stimulus check? Pay it forward

We are retired, have no mortgage or significant debt, and live comfortably on our retirement income.

We were fortunate enough not to be impacted financially by the current health crisis, and so did not need the government stimulus payment we received. We know there are others, especially in communities like ours, who are in a similar situation, and we urge them to do as we did, and pass on all or part of the federal money to those who need it most.

Please support the hungry, the unemployed, the small businesses of all kinds that we want to see reopen, and all the frontline workers risking their health to answer emergencies, serve the sick and the aged, and prepare, stock and deliver our essential goods.

And, remember to pay your federal, state and local taxes, sooner rather than later if you can, to finance the schools, roads, and services we all rely on. We will get through this if we all pitch in as we are able.

Phil and Carol Kirsch, Milburn

Trump hasnt failed his supporters yet

In his April 28 column, which carried the print edition headline, The presidents ineptitude is only half the story, Tom Moran is mystified why nearly half the country still gives President Donald Trump a passing grade.

Speaking for the half that supports the president, heres our side of the story:

Trump may stretch the truth when dealing with his opponents, but as long as he keeps his promises to us, we are more than satisfied. To the present day, we give him an A.

Later, well see how it goes with the huge bipartisan

stimulus package he has signed onto, which his opponents give an A. If Trump forgets his promise that the United States will never be a socialist country, well give him a failing grade and Moran a happy day.

Theodore F. Weltner Jr., Green Brook

Online college students left out in the cold

Once again, a critical and vulnerable population has been left behind with the recently enacted CARES Act.

This nation has more than 7 million active adult students striving to complete their degrees and better their lives. For many of these students, online learning is the solution that allows them to achieve their academic goals while working, protecting our country, raising children and taking care of loved ones.

Now, these deserving students and the universities that serve them have been excluded from nearly $14 billion in federal stimulus aid that was designated for higher education. (Students who were enrolled in online programs on March 13 or earlier  generally prior to COVID-19-related campus shutdowns  are ineligible to receive grants.)

While the delivery of these students online courses has not been interrupted by COVID-19, their academic environments certainly have. Their lives have been turned upside down with job losses, or, at the other extreme, extended shifts as first responders and medical care providers. They have children home from school and day care, parents at risk in long-term care facilities and numerous other COVID-19 interruptions that impede their academic goals.

I am calling on legislators and policymakers alike to keep this underserved and underfunded population in mind when deploying assistance. Adult students are key to any economic recovery, yet historic and recent neglect undercuts their ability to succeed. Positive action from here on is a critical investment in our countrys future. Please, let this be the last time they are forgotten.

Merodie A. Hancock, President, Thomas Edison State University, Trenton

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The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
New unsealed documents in the Michael Flynn case show that FBI officials openly questioned whether their goal in interviewing the former Trump national-security adviser was to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired.

Dated January 24, 2017, the same day of the White House interview with Flynn that was conducted by FBI agents Peter Strzok and Joe Pientka, the handwritten notes apparently reveal that at least one agent believed the purpose of the interview was to entrap Flynn  or he believed that was the goal of his fellow agents and was trying to push back on them in the name of institutional integrity.

As part of the Mueller probe, in December 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty of lying to the Strzok and Pientka about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. In January, Flynn moved to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he never lied to federal investigators.

The notes are part of four pages of documents that U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea handed over to Flynns lawyers on Wednesday, after they were uncovered by the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri, who was tapped by attorney general William Barr in February to review the Justice Departments handling of Flynns prosecution.

I believe we should rethink this, one note reads. What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? another states. A further note raises the question that the Bureau could be seen as playing games.

While multiple sources have told news outlets the notes were written by Bill Priestap, the FBIs former head of counterintelligence, Flynns lawyer Sidney Powell told Sean Hannity on Wednesday night that she was not certain of the identity. Powell called the notes absolutely damning.

I interpret the notes as absolutely damning of their conduct and their plan, Powell stated. They rejected the advice of the apparent lawyer who wrote on the handwritten note that they not play games with the White House and instead that is exactly what they did.

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The unsealed documents also include emails sent ahead of the interview with Flynn, including an email from Strzok to former FBI general counsel James Baker that included a list of questions for then-deputy director Andrew McCabe to review before McCabes phone call to Flynn about the interview.

In other emails, dated January 23, 2017, Strzoks FBI colleague Lisa Page  with whom he was having an affair  asks whether a 1001, or a warning of making false statements to investigators, had to be given to Flynn during the interview, as is standard FBI procedure. I dont remember ever having to do this! Page says in her question.

The same day that Strzok and Page exchanged those emails, the Washington Post cited unnamed FBI sources who said the Bureau had wiretapped Flynns calls with Kislyak and cleared him of any criminal conduct.

In December 2018, former FBI director James Comey admitted that the Flynn interview did not follow standard FBI procedures, saying it was something I probably wouldnt have done or maybe gotten away with in a more . . . organized administration.

President Trump commented on the updates to the case in a Twitter tirade Thursday morning, saying What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!

What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2020

He later added a barb directed at Comey, calling him a DIRTY COP.

DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2020

More from National Review
EUGENE, Ore. -- The University of Oregon announced Wednesday they will be pushing back their decision day to Sept. 1 -- the first in the United States.

Traditionally high school seniors across the country who are planning to go to college have to decide their path forward by May 1. But officials from the University of Oregon said because of the current situation with the pandemic, they pushed the deadline to four weeks before the first day of the fall term.

Roger Thompson, Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management, said the university wanted to relieve some stress on seniors that are going through an unprecedented time.

"Here are high school seniors that have had their senior year completely wrecked," Thompson said. "I mean no prom, no graduation, no spring sports. It just felt like the right thing to do for our students and families to take the pressure off their college decision process."

Thompson said the university will also push back the deadline for incoming students to choose their residence halls. He said more information will come out next week about those changes.
The state went so far as to withhold death information for at least the nine days preceding DeSantis White House meeting while officials weighed which details to redact, possibly to include the cause of death.

Then DeSantis announced his reopening plan Wednesday. Beach activity will resume everywhere except in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward, where the coronavirus tolls remain too high to downplay with manipulated numbers.

At Tuesdays meeting, Trump showed a rare moment of lucidity when quizzing DeSantis on precautions ahead of the states reopening. Trump asked about cutting off visits from certain countries. DeSantis said that wasnt part of his plan. Trump, searching for an affirmative answer, zeroed in on Brazil, a potential global hot spot. DeSantis, not looking to alienate Brazilians, a major source of the states tourism and commerce, rebuffed the presidents suggestion of a ban.
The drug remdesivir appears to significantly speed patients recovery from COVID-19, according to preliminary data from a large US government-sponsored clinical trial released Thursday.

However, the drug did not significantly cut the risk of dying.

A vial of the drug remdesivir, which Gilead Sciences said improved outcomes for COVID-19 patients in a clinical trial. Credit:Gilead Sciences

The trials early results, presented by US President Donald Trump at a news conference on Thursday instead of being published in an academic journal, were so positive that ethical rules requiring some patients to be given sugar pills were relaxed so they could be given the drug instead.

The results have not yet been published for scientists to analyse, nor have they been peer reviewed.
By Trend

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission has revised its traditional support programs, including those targeting Eastern Partnership countries, Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General, European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission said, Trend reports.

Mathernova made the statement during a press conference held in video-format.

She said that the corresponding decision was made in order to provide support relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that in this regard, three ways of support were considered: firstly, humanitarian and medical assistance, secondly, institutional support to the medical organizations and healthcare in general, and thirdly, support for the economy and prevention of the economic crisis.

We took measures early on. Thus, on April 8, 2020 we published a plan, within the framework of which it became possible to mobilize and redirect about 10 billion euros. In turn, for the countries of the Eastern Partnership, we managed to mobilize almost one billion euros, including through bilateral and regional financing, which was allocated through financial institutions, she said.

Mathernova clarified that among the main support measures provided by the European Commission is the financial support of WHO in the amount of 30 million euros, which were directed not so much to solve all the problems that arose in the Eastern Partnership countries amid pandemic, but to asses and solve immediate problems like purchasing the necessary protective equipment in a centralized way.

We have also allocated approximately 80 million euros for short-term humanitarian assistance, which has been directed both to WHO and to support the most vulnerable groups of society, she said. Thus, Mathernova noted, one of the support measures provided by the European Commission in Azerbaijan was the provision of food packages to almost 500 families.

Talking the future of the Eastern Partnership, Mathernova reminded that on March 18 this year, the Joint Communication: Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020: Reinforcing Resilience was approved, which has become very important and useful in the current conditions.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Washington: US President Donald Trump has erupted at his top political advisers when they presented him with worrisome polling data that showed his support eroding in a series of battleground states as his response to the coronavirus comes under criticism.

With much of the nation's economy shuttered amid the deadly pandemic, new surveys by the Republican National Committee and Trump's campaign point to a harrowing picture for the President's re-election effort.

Under pressure: President Donald Trump. Credit:AP

While Trump saw some of the best approval ratings of his presidency during the early weeks of the crisis, aides last week highlighted the growing political cost of the crisis and the unforced errors in his freewheeling press briefings.

Trump reacted with defiance, incredulous that he could be losing to someone he viewed as a weak candidate.
Kenya has started negotiating a withdrawal from Somalia by 2021. The country is set to leave as Ethiopia's influence continues to rise .

Kenya has achieved a lot since it intervened in 2011. Its intervention was a game changer, contributing to a momentum that led to al-Shabaab losing all major Somali cities. But it has fallen short of its goals to subdue al-Shabaab and end terrorism in Kenya. And it will leave a Somalia where its rivals are gaining power and challenging Kenyan national interests.

The intervention

Kenya's public motive for intervening in 2011 was self-defence. Its defence forces moved into Somalia to stop al-Shabaab attacks and improve the country's internal security. Since then, al-Shabaab has lost territorial control over all of Somalia's larger cities. In 2012, Kenya reclaimed Kismayo . In the same year, it convinced Ethiopia to join the fight.

The combined forces of Kenya and Ethiopia were redeployed under the African Union Mission to Somalia. This was crucial in containing al-Shabaab between 2012 and 2016. This combined force weakened the terror group to the point that it is now unable to hold territories within Somali cities.

But this still does not mean that the intervention was successful. Since it began, al-Shabaab has launched three large attacks in Kenya. In 2013, it attacked Westgate Mall in Nairobi . In 2015, it attacked Garissa University in northeastern Kenya. And last year it attacked the Dusit Hotel complex , also in the capital.

By late 2019, al-Shabaab's infiltration in Kenya's northeast intensified, and locals are increasingly accommodating their presence.

The situation in the area around the coastal town of Lamu is similar. Al-Shabaab is taking advantage of animosities between the Muslim Bajunis and the Christian elite who settled in the area in the 1970s.

Broadly speaking, Kenya has managed to curtail al-Shabaab activities in trouble spots in Kilifi and Mombasa. The country also managed to return a large number of foreign fighters to Somalia without much blow-back. Yet the intervention of 2011 failed to keep Kenya completely safe.

Nor did it fully vanquish al-Shabaab. The group is still strong, despite having lost much of its territory. It is richer than ever, propelled by its efficient taxing of the Somali business community, tolled checkpoints and investments, including some in the agricultural sector. Its leadership structure remains intact, with many key officers having served more than four years.

Read more: Al-Shabaab's attacks come amid backdrop of West's waning interest

Kenya's dilemmas

Kenya's withdrawal from Somalia will have its own drawbacks. For one, it will abandon its long-time allies inside Somalia. Thus, it will lose leverage with both Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

The government of Somalia's president, known as Farmajo, has increasingly been at odds with Kenya. The two countries are currently in a diplomatic row over their shared maritime border.

Second, Farmajo's agenda to place his preferred candidates in political office in Somalia's regional states has challenged Kenya's allies in Somalia and especially the regional state of Jubaland.

It has become clear that Farmajo is willing to draw Ethiopian forces as well as the Somali National Army into his quest to consolidate power by appointing political allies. This has pitched Ethiopia against Kenya, and created tension . Ethiopian forces have recently intervened in support of the Somali government in Mogadishu, targeting the enemies of the Farmajo government. That government has been increasingly willing to use military force against the opposition (as well as the Somali media , and against the regional state of Jubaland, led by Kenyan ally Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe.

Kenya leaves a Somalia where neighbouring Ethiopia plays an increasing role, and also works against Kenya's former allies. Also, there are stronger totalitarian tendencies on the part of the Somali presidency than before.

Read more: Western countries take sides in Kenya's maritime row with Somalia

Its withdrawal will leave Ethiopia with a dominating position in the African Union Mission to Somalia. As Ethiopia's alliance with Farmajo is strong, this is bad news for the Somali opposition, including allies of Kenya.

By withdrawing, Kenya has also let its allies down. It has shown that it cannot be trusted to stay the course. Yet the withdrawal follows a wider pattern in Kenyan politics, wherein the 2011 intervention was the exception.

Read more: Kenya and Somalia row over offshore rights is rooted in the carve up of Africa

Kenya's foreign policy strategy has traditionally been passive and restrained. It has held back from the more aggressive politics of all of its neighbours. In the past, this strategy served Kenya well, and the country avoided much of the turmoil that plagued neighbouring countries like Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and even Tanzania. A Kenyan withdrawal is thus a return to Kenya's traditional foreign policy, and saves Kenyan lives and resources.

Read more: How Moi put foreign policy at the centre of his presidency

Kenya's relationship with Ethiopia has been the cornerstone of its regional foreign policy, and a Kenyan withdrawal can repair the relationship. But that will be done on Ethiopia's terms, enhance Ethiopian power in Somalia and leave Kenya with fewer allies within Somalia.

This is the dilemma faced by Kenyan decision-makers today, and their choices will have far-reaching consequences.

Stig Jarle Hansen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Stig Jarle Hansen, Associate Professor of International Relations, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police Sub Inspector Harjeeet Singh, whose hand was chopped off by a Nihang Sikh in a brutal attack for being stopped at a barricade during the coronavirus lockdown, reached his home in Patiala on Thursday days after he underwent successful surgery.

According to reports, Singh was discharged from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh this morning. His hand was chopped off by a Nihang Sikh (and later replanted) fighting off an attack, while enforcing curfew at Patiala Sabzi Mandi on April 12.

Singhs hand was reattached by the doctors at Chandigarh's PGI hospital after a grueling seven-and-a-half hour surgery the same day. After the surgery, Singh stayed at the hospital for nearly two weeks for recovery.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh thanked the PGI Hospital doctors and paramedical for staff for treating and taking great care of Harjeet Singh.

"Happy to share that SI Harjeet Singh has been discharged from PGI, Chandigarh today. I thank doctors, nurses, paramedics and all the staff of PGI for taking good care of him," the Chief Minister tweeted.

CM Amarinder Singh had shred a video two days back in which Harjeet Singh can be seen smiling ear to ear. The video also showed him moving his fingers. "It has been 2 weeks since SI Harjeet Singh's hand was operated upon in PGI. I am extremely happy to share that he is recovering well & that his hand has started to regain movement. Sharing this video of braveheart Harjeet Singh with you all," CM Amarinder Singh said in a social media post.

The incident, which took place on April 12, had shocked everyone. In a video of the incident shared widely on the internet, Harjeet Singh could be seen approaching Nihang Sikhs who were trying to drive past the police picket in an SUV. As Harjeet Singh approached a vehicle, a Nihang Sikh can be seen swinging a sword in the air, slashing the cop's hand.

Even as Harjeet Singh fell on the ground, he got up moments later. Another bystander gave him his severed hand which had fell off at a distance. He is then taken away from the scene on a two-wheeler.

Singh was immediately rushed to Rajindra Hospital nearby and then referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh where his hand was reattached. Two other policemen were also injured in the attack that took place at a vegetable market in Patiala at around 6.15 am.

Seven people, including five attackers, were arrested hours later after an exchange of fire at a gurdwara. Punjab government later promoted Harjeet Singh from the post of assistant sub-inspector to sub-inspector for showing exemplary courage and restraint in a stressful situation.
Police were called to a Brooklyn neighborhood Wednesday after a funeral home overwhelmed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) resorted to storing dozens of bodies on ice in rented trucks, and a passerby complained about the smell, officials said.

Investigators who responded to a 911 call found that the home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses, according to a law enforcement official. No criminal charges were brought and the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home at 2037A Utica Ave. was cited for failing to control the odors. The home was able to obtain a larger, refrigerated truck later in the day, the official said.

Workers suited up in protective gear could be seen in the afternoon transferring bodies into the refrigerated truck.

A person who answered the phone at the funeral home hung up without speaking. Subsequent calls went to voicemail, which was full.

New York City funeral homes have struggled in the city since late March.

The city set up temporary morgues. Hospitals used refrigerated tractor trailers to cart away multiple bodies at a time, sometimes loading them in public view on the sidewalk. Crematoriums have been backed up. Funeral directors across the city have pleaded for help as they have run out of space.

The NYPD notified the state Department of Health, which oversees funeral homes, about the situation at the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home. It did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Im heading out to Flatlands right now to investigate this complaint, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams tweeted Wednesday. This is exactly what I spoke about over the weekend regarding the urgent need for reform in the handling of bodies and burial processes. We demand decent treatment of our deceased.
I've written for years that it is dangerous to park money inside your mortgage, rather than alongside it. Well, I'm distraught to report that thousands of Aussies have just had this expensively and traumatically confirmed.

Parking money "inside" a mortgage involves paying more than the minimum payments into the loan itself. It relies on redraw and trusts that your bank will let you have the extra money sitting in your loan account, if and when you need it.

Parking money 'inside' a mortgage trusts that your bank will let you have the extra money when you need it. Credit:Jim Rice

However, having your cash "alongside" your loan uses a separate but attached offset account to effectively quarantine your extra payments, giving you full flexibility of access.

The safer offset approach saves an identical amount of interest.
DUBLIN, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "NS-065/NCNP-01 (Viltolarsen) - Emerging Insight and Market Forecast - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report provides comprehensive insights about an investigational product for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 7 Major Markets.



A detailed picture of the Viltolarsen in Seven Major Markets, i.e., United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan, for the study period 2020-2030 is provided in this report along with a detailed description of the product.



The product details cover mechanism of action, dosage and administration, route of synthesis, and research and development activity including regulatory milestones, and other development activities. Further, it also consists of future market assessments inclusive of the market forecast, SWOT analysis, market competitors, and other emerging therapies.



Overview



NS-065/NCNP-01 (viltolarsen) is being developed by NS Pharma in phase III stage of development for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is an antisense oligonucleotide with a novel morpholino backbone and molecule size. It is a Exon skipping therapy that are created to skip over the non-working part of the dystrophin gene and allow pieces of the puzzle to attach. It creates a smaller puzzle, but a puzzle that may produce some of the protein that muscles need to work properly.



The report provides insights into:

A comprehensive product overview including the product description, mechanism of action, dosage and administration, Research and Development activity.

Elaborated details on regulatory milestones and other development activities have been provided in this report.

The report also highlights the drug research and development activity details across the United States , Europe and Japan .

, and . The report also covers the patents information with expiry timeline around Viltolarsen.

The report contains forecasted sales for Viltolarsen till 2030.

Comprehensive coverage of the late-stage emerging therapies (Phase III) for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The report also features the SWOT analysis with analyst insights and key findings of Viltolarsen.

Report Highlights

In the coming years, the market scenario for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is set to change due to the extensive research and incremental healthcare spending across the world; which would expand the size of the market to enable the drug manufacturers to penetrate more into the market.

The companies and academics are working to assess challenges and seek opportunities that could influence Viltolarsen dominance. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition.

Other emerging products for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy are giving market competition to Viltolarsen and launch of late-stage emerging therapies in the near future will significantly impact the market.

A detailed description of regulatory milestones, development activities, and some key findings provide the current development scenario of Viltolarsen.

Our in-depth analysis of the forecasted sales data of Viltolarsen from 2020 to 2030 will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the Viltolarsen.

Key Questions Answered

Which company is developing Viltolarsen along with the phase of the clinical study?

What is the technology utilized in the development of Viltolarsen?

What is the product type, route of administration and mechanism of action of Viltolarsen?

What is the clinical trial status of the study and study completion date?

What are the key collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, licensing and other activities related to the Viltolarsen development?

What are the key designations that have been granted to Viltolarsen?

What is the forecasted market scenario of Viltolarsen?

What is the history of Viltolarsen and what is its future?

What is the forecasted sales of Viltolarsen in the seven major countries, including the United States , Europe ( Germany , France, Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom ), and Japan ?

, ( , France, , , and the ), and ? What are the other emerging products available and how these are giving competition to Viltolarsen?

Which are the late-stage emerging therapies under development for the treatment of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?

Key Topics Covered



1. Drug Overview

1.1. Product Detail

1.2. Mechanism of Action

1.3. Dosage and Administration

1.4. Research and Development Activity

1.4.1. Clinical Development

1.4.2. Safety and Efficacy

1.5. Other Development Activities



2. Market Assessment

2.1. 7MM Market Analysis

2.2. The United States Market

2.3. Germany Market

2.4. France Market

2.5. Italy Market

2.6. Spain Market

2.7. United Kingdom Market

2.8. Japan Market



3. SWOT Analysis



4. Analyst Views



5. Market Competitors



6. Other Emerging Therapies



List of Tables

Table 1 Viltolarsen, Description

Table 2 Viltolarsen, Clinical Trial Description

Table 3 Viltolarsen, 7MM Market Size from 2020 to 2030 (in Million USD)

Table 4 Market Competitors

Table 5 Other Emerging Therapies



List of Figures

Figure 1 The Development Timeline of VILTOLARSEN

Figure 2 Patent Details, VILTOLARSEN

Figure 3 Viltolarsen, 7MM Market Size from 2020 to 2030 (in Million USD)

Figure 4 Viltolarsen, US Market Size from 2020 to 2030 (in Millions USD)

Figure 5 Viltolarsen, EU5 Market Size from 2020 to 2030 (in Millions USD)

Figure 6 Viltolarsen, Japan Market Size from 2020 to 2030 (in Millions USD)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/26oh30

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SANTIAGO, Chile, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Santander Chile had its Annual Shareholders Meeting today, held remotely to minimize physical contact due to the COVID-19 spread. Among the various topics that were voted on this year included the Board of Director elections. The following directors were finally elected: Claudio Melandri (also President of the Board and Country Head), Alfonso Gomez (independent), Rodrigo Vergara (independent), Felix de Vicente Mingo (independent), Orlando Poblete (independent), Juan Pedro Santa Maria (independent), Ana Dorrego, Rodrigo Echenique, and Lucia Santa Cruz. Additionally, Oscar von Chrismar and Blanca Bustamente were elected as Alternate Directors.



Furthermore, the payment of dividend for Ch$0.87891310 per share, equivalent to 30% of 2019 net income attributable to shareholders was also approved. Based on the closing price of the record date, the dividend yield amounted to 2.7%. The Board recognizes Santander Chiles solid capital levels and good credit risk management, but as a measure of prudence decided to temporarily reduce payout until there is greater clarity regarding the evolution of global and local events and as a mechanism to maintain credit growth to clients.

Additionally, it was decided to hire Feller Rate instead of ICR Chile for the local ratings, given that the fee proposal of the former company was more convenient than the latter company.

About Banco Santander

Banco Santander Chile is the largest bank in the Chilean market in terms of loans and assets. As of March 31, 2020, the Bank had total assets of Ch$ 59,310 billion, loans net of provisions of Ch$ 33,435 billion, deposits of Ch$ 25,258 billion, and total equity of Ch$ 3,574 billion. The BIS capital ratio as of March 2019 was 12.7%, with a core capital ratio of 9.7%. Banco Santander Chile is one of the companies with the highest risk classifications in Latin America with an A1 rating from Moody's, A from Fitch, A from Standard and Poor's, and A+ from Japan Credit Rating Agency.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Robert Moreno

Investor Relations

Banco Santander Chile

Bandera 140, Floor 20

Santiago, Chile

Tel: (562) 2320-8284

Email: irelations@santander.cl

Website: www.santander.cl




AB Ignitis gamyba (hereinafter referred to as the Company) company code 302648707, registered office at Elektrines st. 21, Elektrenai. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by the Company is 648 002 629; ISIN code LT0000128571.

On 30 April 2020, the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company approved the Annual Report of the Company for the year 2019 and the Annual Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2019, audited by Ernst & Young Baltic, UAB, the Companys auditor.

Information on the operational results of the Company for the year 2019:

THE YEAR 2019 FOR IGNITIS GAMYBA WAS FULL OF CHALLENGES, BUT FINISHED WITH IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS

Ignitis Gamyba started to adopt its updated strategy last year and results of 2019 of the electricity producer, which is a part of Ignitis Group, show the Company improved its financial indicators and efficiently managed operating expenses.

Although the draught in spring and summer took its toll in Lithuania, the main performance indicators of Ignitis Gamyba in 2019 consistently improved. Results of Ignitis Gamyba in 2019 were significantly influenced by the effective use of the Kruonis Pumped Storage Power Plant (hereinafter Kruonis PSHP) potential, positive results of the stocked fuel-oil sales and increased volume of the regulated services provided by Elektrenai Complex. That led to 20.5% higher adjusted EBITDA of the Company in 2019, which reached EUR 54.0 million (compared to EUR 44.8 million in 2018).

The year 2019 for Ignitis Gamyba was full of challenges, but tackling them, we can enjoy both better company results and greater employee engagement today. We are changing and evolving as a company that seeks efficiently operate strategic electricity generation capacities and implement new energy projects, says Rimgaudas Kalvaitis, chairman of the board and CEO at Ignitis Gamyba.

Hydrological drought and prolonged fish spawning period had a negative impact on the results of Kaunas A. Brazauskas Hydroelectric Power Plant (hereinafter Kaunas HPP) due to the following reasons: a low flow of the Nemunas inflow in 2019 it produced 0.27 TWh or 22% less electricity than in 2018. The lower production results of Kaunas HPP were compensated by the increased margin of Kruonis PSHP generation  the increased difference between daily peak and night-time electricity prices resulted in 14% higher sales of the electricity produced in Kruonis PSHP in 2019 (0.54 TWh). As in the year 2018, the production volumes in Elektrenai Complex remained limited. In total, 0.83 TWh of electricity generated in the Companys power plants was sold in the NordPool exchange in 2019, slightly less if compared to 2018 (0.88 TWh).

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Implementing its essential mission, in 2019 the Company successfully provided various ancillary services that are vital to the stability and security of the regions electricity supply systems. As in previous years, in 2019 the Company ensured the secondary active power reserve, a service provided by two hydro-units of Kruonis PSHP in the scope of 400 MW. The tertiary active power reserve in the scope of 260 MW was ensured by the most effective unit of Elektrenai Complex  the combined cycle unit (hereinafter the CCU). CCU was constantly ready to produce electricity and contribute to the overall security of the energy system.

I am glad we managed to make a substantial progress implementing new projects. In 2019, preparatory works for the installation of the experimental solar power plant in Kruonis PSHP and disassembly of the chimneys in Elektrenai Complex have been actively carried out, including the initiation of the public procurement procedures necessary for further implementation of these projects. I strongly believe these large-scale innovations will soon become reality, says R. Kalvaitis.

At the beginning of October, Ignitis Gamyba started providing solar power plant installation services and implementing large solar park projects for remote customers generating solar energy. The 1 MW solar power plant offered on the platform Ignitis Saules Parkai was booked within 2 days. At the end of the year, a 3 MW solar farm development project was initiated.

At the end of the year, Ignitis Gamyba won the auction of the tertiary active power reserve, announced by the transmission system operator LITGRID (hereinafter LITGRID or the TSO), and signed a contract to provide this service. Under this agreement, the company will provide this vitally important service in 2020 ensuring power grid reliability to units 7 and 8 of Elektrenai Complex within the scope of 475 MW. Since the launch of the auctions for tertiary active power reserve, this is the first case when one supplier is selected to provide all the services. Ignitis Gamyba has also signed agreement with LITGRID for provision of secondary reserve and services ensuring isolated operation of the power system in 2020. These services will be provided by two Kruonis PSHP units and the CCU and Unit 8 respectively.

Key performance indicators of Ignitis Gamyba of 2019*:

The revenue from contracts with customers remained stable and amounted to EUR 135.0 million. The revenue of Ignitis Gamyba increased by 5.6% and amounted to EUR 145.5 million when compared to 2018. This was mainly influenced by the stocked fuel-oil and metal scrap sales (the amount of these sales in JanuaryDecember 2019 was EUR 6.2 million, at the same period in 2018  EUR 3.3 million).

In 2019, the company incurred EUR 21.0 million in operational expenses  0.4% (EUR 0.1 million) less than in 2018. The provision formed in December 2018 for the costs of dismantling works at the Elektrenai Complex was the main reason for this.

The adjusted EBITDA** increased by 20.5% and amounted to EUR 54 million, compared to 2018 (EUR 44.8 million). Adjusted EBITDA growth has been driven by the higher gross profit and increased generation margin of Kruonis PSHP, positive results of stocked fuel-oil sales and higher volumes of regulated services provided in Elektrenai Complex.

The Companys net profit amounted to EUR 42.8 million  23.45% more than in the previous year (EUR 34.7 million).

During 2018, the Company invested in non-current tangible and intangible assets EUR 0.8 million, compared to EUR 5.0 million in 2018.

* Financial indicators of the Company for the year 2018 have been recalculated. Information about the changes is presented in the Company's interim financial information for the year ended 31 December 2019.

** The Companys preliminary adjusted EBITDA for 2019 and actual adjusted EBITDA for 2018 are reported after the adjustments made by the management by eliminating the impact of one-off factors, also considering the change in revenue (and, consequently, EBITDA) of the Company's regulated services. These adjustments are made aiming to disclose the results of the Companys operating activities after the elimination of the impact of non-typical, one-off factors or factors that are not directly related to the current reporting period. All adjustments made by the management are disclosed in the Companys interim and annual reports.

Tadas Markevicius, Public Relations Manager, +370 676 28911, tadas.markevicius@ignitis.lt

Attachment
TORONTO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Superior Gold Inc. ("Superior Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV:SGI) announced today that it will release its first quarter 2020 financial and operating results before market open on Tuesday May 12, 2020. Following the release, management will host a conference call and webcast at 10:00AM ET to discuss these results.

Conference Call and Webcast

Date: Tuesday May 12, 2020 10:00AM ET Toll-free North America: (888) 231-8191 Local or International: (647) 427-7450 Webcast: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1309009&tp_key=9f22797741

Conference Call Replay

Toll-free North America: (855) 859-2056 Local or International: (416) 849-0833 Passcode: 3351989

The conference call replay will be available from 1:00PM ET on May 12, 2020 until 23:59PM ET on May 26, 2020.

The presentation will be available on the Company's website at www.superior-gold.com.

About Superior Gold

Superior Gold is a Canadian based gold producer that owns 100% of the Plutonic Gold operations located in Western Australia. The Plutonic Gold operations include the Plutonic Gold mine and central mill, the Hermes open pit gold projects and an interest in the Bryah Basin joint venture. Superior Gold is focused on expanding production at the Plutonic Gold operations and building an intermediate gold producer with superior returns for shareholders.

SOURCE Superior Gold

Related Links

https://www.superior-gold.com/


President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Poland Andrzej Duda in a telephone conversation coordinated actions aimed at overcoming the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for citizens of both states, paid special attention to quarantine withdrawal mechanisms and international cooperation to overcome such challenges in the future.

"I know about your recent initiative to enhance cooperation between European countries to effectively overcome such challenges in the future. Ukraine is ready to take an active part in the preparation and implementation of coordinated measures. By the way, your proposal to create a European medical safety mechanism is in line with our idea of an international mechanism to overcome the consequences of coronavirus," Zelensky said in the conversation with Duda, the presidential press service said on Thursday.

The head of the Ukrainian state thanked his Polish counterpart for the medical equipment that Poland had provided to Ukraine, as well as for financial assistance from the EU.

Duda praised the contribution of Ukrainian aviation to the transport of medical supplies for the international fight against the pandemic.
The family of a young lawyer, who has been arrested for his alleged links to the last year's Easter Sunday bombings that killed nearly 260 people, on Thursday filed a case against his prolonged detention, demanding that he be produced in a court.

Nine suicide bombers, belonging to local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) linked to ISIS, carried out a series of blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, killing 258 people, including 11 Indians, and injuring over 500 on the Easter Sunday on April 21, 2019.

Sri Lankan police have arrested over 200 suspects in connection with the bombings.

The court of appeal has put off the case until May 5, the family said.

The petition was filed by the lawyer's father and his wife. The court has asked the police and the Attorney General's Department to be present in court on May 5.

The lawyer was arrested two weeks ago by a police team who charged him of aiding and abetting the suicide bombers.

However, his lawyers claimed that they had not been informed of the reason for his arrest.

The arrested person has not been produced in the court which is a violation of his rights.

Head of a local catholic church Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has been pressing for justice to the victims of the bombings. Three investigations have been carried out.

The police said they have re-opened the investigations and are doing it more thoroughly this time.

The blasts targeted St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and a church in the eastern town of Batticaloa when the Easter Sunday mass were in progress.

Three explosions were reported from three five-star hotels - the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury in Colombo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A group of youths cluster around a wounded person as Ohio National Guardsmen, wearing gas masks, hold their weapons in background on Kent State University campus in Kent, Ohio, Monday, May 4, 1970. Members of the Guards killed four students and injured nine during a campus protest against the Vietnam War. This picture was made by Kent State student photographer Douglas Moore. Read more

On May 4, 1970  50 years ago this Monday  a tree trunk may have been the only thing that prevented Alan Canfora from becoming the fifth fatality in a violent episode that both rattled America and reshaped its history, the shooting barrage by Ohio National Guardsmen into a crowd of student protesters at Kent State University.

 READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter

Canfora was a 20-year-old undergrad at the Ohio public university, just east of Akron, and a campus leader in the anti-Vietnam War protest movement. Still emotional and angry after attending the funeral days earlier of a childhood friend whod been killed in the Southeast Asia, nothing was going to deter Canfora from waving a black flag of protest at the noon rally. Not even the tear gas that pushed the protesters back, nor the row of armed Guardsman just a couple hundred feet from Canfora and his waving flag.

Then came 13 seconds that changed everything.

It seemed like a lot longer, the 70-year-old Canfora told me by phone this week.

A loud fusillade of gunfire echoed down the hillside and the parking lot where the demonstrators had been pushed back. Instantly, a bullet tore right through Canforas right wrist and he quickly ducked behind the nearby tree, which was hit by several rounds. When the shooting finally stopped, eight others were wounded and four students  Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder  lay dead or dying in the parking lot.

Everything that had happened in the years leading to up this  the escalating youth protests over civil rights and Vietnam, the growing radical calls for revolution  pivoted in those 13 seconds, as the acrid smell of gunpowder drifted across the campus green. There would be days of rage  millions of students went on strike, hard-hat-wearing construction workers pummeled long-haired protesters, and two black students would be murdered in Mississippi  but in the long run Kent State became seen not as the beginning of something but an ending. The conventional wisdom on the true meaning of Kent State was summed up in the title of a 2015 documentary: The Day the 60s Died.

Shock and cynicism

But in many ways, the gunshots still echo in 2020. Its no accident that in the months immediately after Kent State, business leaders and other conservatives began looking for ways to quash liberal thinking on campus and counteract it with the conservative web of noise that became talk radio and Fox News. Right-wing pols cut funding for public universities like Kent State, helping to send tuition skyrocketing and making college more about careerism and less about such dangerous ideas. And a dog-eat-dog economy forced young America to comply with that.

But the greatest impact was largely psychic  the shock and cynicism that the government was capable of gunning down its own youth. And that no one  not the Guardsman or their higher-ups  would ever be held to account for the massacre.

The effect was mostly a sense of disappointment that the government of our country would cover up such an obvious injustice, Canfora said. Such a barbaric crime against American citizens  to be shot down, in broad daylight, unarmed, at great distances  and have the governor come in and cover it up. Thatreally affected so many of us for so many years afterward, even to the present day. That sense of frustration and anger 

For many of us  especially the millions like me who came of age later in the 1970s, in the hazy aftermath  Kent State has lived on in the popular memory with the help of the song that Neil Young wrote that spring and that Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young raced into the studio to record. Ohio was supposed to be a nationwide call to arms. Instead, the song left America with a question that would haunt its conscience for the next five decades.

How can you run when you know?

No one ever thought those guns would fire

Kent State University wasnt supposed to be the place where something like this happened. The popular image of 1960s campus protest involved children of the elite, at Ivy League schools like Columbia or the bigger-ticket state universities like Berkeley or Wisconsin. Kent State, downwind from the stench of Akrons then-booming tire-and-rubber factories, was instead an outgrowth of the idealism of the post-World War II Baby Boom years, a pathway for children of the Industrial Revolution to do a little better than their parents. Tuition was counted in the hundreds, not thousands.

But many Kent State kids in the late 60s and early 70s were the offspring of a different kind of activism, the workers movements of the New Deal era. Canforas dad worked in the Goodyear tire factor and was a local leader in the United Auto Workers (UAW). Thomas Grace, who was wounded alongside Canfora in the May 4 shooter and later became a professor, wrote an acclaimed history of Kent State and said that most kids in the protests were from blue-collar families influenced by a unionized New Deal Democratic culture, with liberal attitudes on issues like civil rights. By the end of the 1960s, these working-class kids had seen friends or family come home from Vietnam wounded or in body bags, and also a growing number of returning vets, many disenchanted, were enrolling in colleges like Kent State.

There was also frustration that early protest tactics  teach-ins, peaceful marches  had failed to end the war. Some of the most radical groups were starting to call for more violent measures. Into this atmosphere, President Richard Nixon tossed a match. Having taken office the year before with vague promises to end combat in Vietnam, Nixons April 30, 1970, announcement that he was expanding the war by sending troops on a mission into neighboring Cambodia felt not only like an escalation but a betrayal.

Kent State was just one of scores of campuses to erupt in protest, but things there took an ugly turn. On Friday night, May 1, windows were broken in a melee on the main drag in Kent, and later rioters (the three convicted were not students) burned down the campus ROTC military-training center. In an accident of history, Ohios politically ambitious GOP governor, James Rhodes  who on May 3 blamed the violence, without evidence, on outside agitators and angrily vowed we are going to eradicate the problem  had already activated the National Guard to deal with a Teamsters strike. Now these armed troops were diverted to Kent State.

Officially, the protest and vigil slated for midday on May 4 was banned by the university. That didnt stop a middling crowd estimated at anywhere from 500 to 2,000 students  some protesters, some onlookers  from turning out. No one expected drama, and many were surprised when the Guardsman fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. A few kids tossed the canisters back or threw rocks, but investigators would find no evidence of snipers or firearms use by protesters. Instead, the Guardsmen simply fired rounds at scattered students across the parking lot. To this date, no one knows exactly why.

No one ever thought those guns would fire, James OConnor, a graduate counselor at the time, recently wrote in the Akron Beacon-Journal. No one ever even thought they might be loaded. The four students fatally gunned down were mostly bystanders. Scheuer, 20, was walking to her speech-therapy class when a bullet struck her in the neck. Krause, 19, whose family had moved outside of Pittsburgh, reported told a Guardsman that flowers are better than bullets, one day before she was struck down.

What if you knew her, and found her dead on the ground? ...

A bloody aftermath

In the days and weeks immediately afterward, America erupted in chaos and more violence. The largest student strike in American history shut down most campuses for what was left of the 1969-70 school year. As critics have noted, government repression was heaviest not at the most elite schools but against working-class and nonwhite students; at Jackson State University, an HBCU in Mississippi, white police officers fired more than 460 rounds into a crowd of black demonstrators on May 15, 1970, killing two of them and wounding 12.

But the violent backlash wasnt confined to the police. On May 8, 1970, an antiwar protest in lower Manhattan was broken up with the fists and clubs of blue-collar construction workers, many (in one of those great historical ironies) building the rising World Trade Center. A few Wall Streeters joined in the hippie punching. A few weeks later Nixon  whod called student protesters bums right before the Kent State shooting  welcomed the leaders of their unions to the White House.

 READ MORE: "My 285th post on Kent State." Why the 1960s still matter

Nixon wasnt the only politician who looked to gain from tapping what he called the silent majority;" many Middle Americans did vehemently oppose the student protests, and some people even openly celebrated the killings. In fact, Canfora and another shooting victim were among 24 students and one professor who were actually indicted for rioting, although none were convicted and most charges were tossed. Eight National Guardsmen were also indicted but a federal judge dismissed those charges before there was even a trial. That hasnt stopped a 50-year, unsuccessful quest for justice by survivors and family members.

In 1971, alarm over college unrest was a chief driver of the pro-business community Powell Memo drafted by future Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell which declared that the American economic system is under broad attack and proposed fighting back with conservative think tanks and media. It was the idea that eventually animated talk radio, the Fox News Channel, and what would become daily attacks against those liberal snowflakes on campus.

Another prominent far-right thinker  the Nobel Prize-winning economist James Buchanan  argued that low or sometimes free university tuition encouraged protest. Increasingly conservative governors and lawmakers  under budget pressure during the stagflationary 1970s anyway  took this to heart, slashing taxpayer money for public universities and sending tuition to unheard-of levels. Ronald Reagan  who became Californias governor in 1966 by ridiculing long-haired campus protesters  ended that states free tuition on his way to the White House and a new American conservative hegemony.

If we didnt know then, we know now

Protest never fully died in America, of course. Indeed, the most active survivors from Kent State like Canfora and Grace never stopped fighting for justice, both for what happened on May 4 and more broadly. Most of channeled our anger in more positive ways, said Canfora, who not only became director of the Kent May 4 Center but leader of the Democratic Party in nearby Barberton, Ohio. The flicker of subsequent movements like South Africa divestiture in the 1970s or the 1980s nuclear freeze eventually rekindled the 2010s Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street or The Womens March.

Yet it seems to me  a late-term Baby Boomer who arrived at college in the fall of 1977  that these were candles in a wind of right-wing repression. Over time, the fear that you might get shot for protesting faded but most young people these days are working two or three jobs to pay tuition, accumulating massive student debt, or shut out of college and thus the good-job market all together  too beaten down to protest the system even as that system gets worse.

Today, the coronavirus crisis has exposed what America has given away since the echoes of 1970 and Kent State faded  a nation of millions living paycheck-to-paycheck, one pandemic away from losing their health insurance while waiting for hours at a food bank, the social safety net all but destroyed by Reagan-inspired conservatism. The American economic system was saved without those pesky kids protesting  but at what cost to American democracy?

One big and unfortunate irony of the coronavirus  there are so many  is that a remarkable weekend of speeches and concerts by the likes of David Crosby and Joe Walsh has been either canceled or gone virtual. This week I spoke with one of a handful of current Kent State undergraduates  Rachel Berchak, a sophomore from the Cleveland suburbs  who leads a student May 4 Task Force that both worked on the commemoration but also seeks to keep the flame of activism alive.

Berchak agreed that some kids are apathetic and many are too busy just trying to pay tuition. "We would see a lot more activism from students if they had more time, she said. But she was encouraged by the turnout earlier this year for an event that linked what happened in 1970 (Canfora spoke) to causes today like gun safety and womens reproductive rights. Young people like Berchak, her coleader Ethan Lower, and other activists keeping alive the spirit of 1970 give me hope.

We live in a moment of terrible crisis and economic want, but also a time when real change feels possible. And weve seen now what kind of havoc is wreaked 50 years of working to stifle dissent and turn our campuses away from idealism and into machines geared toward churning out cubicle farmers. If we didnt know then, we know now. How can we run?
Los Angeles, April 30 : Model Chrissy Teigen, who is the wife of musician John Legend, was scolded by her doctor for seeking medical advice for her broken toe on Twitter.

Teigen took to her social media to share the news of her injury as she asked for advice from her fans on the micro-blogging website about how to treat the medical mishap during a pandemic.

"Broke my second toe. Can you even do anything for it? It just has to heal, right? I'm not about to go to the hospital like BROKEN TOE COMING THRU. Should I wrap it with gauze and a popsicle stick," she tweeted, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Teigen then shared that her personal physician read her tweet online.

She wrote: "My doctor read my twitter and he is once again asking I stop going to u guys for medical advice of any kind." The model then shared a photograph of herself in her daughter Luna's tent.

"Best night ever already, really," she wrote.
The Senate on Thursday said it did not approve a fresh loan of N850 billion for President Muhammadu Buhari during its special plen...





The Senate on Thursday said it did not approve a fresh loan of N850 billion for President Muhammadu Buhari during its special plenary session on Tuesday.





The new Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in a statement in Abuja, said what the Senate did was to pass a resolution to vary the terms of the approval it earlier gave for the loan request.





Basiru said the Senate approved that the N850billion be sourced from the domestic capital market as against from external sources.





The statement titled: No Fresh Loan of N850bn Approved by the Senate reads: It is very important to make a very important clarification particularly as the widely circulated erroneous report that the Senate approved a fresh loan of N850 billion at the Plenary on Tuesday.

That is far from the truth. The resolution passed was an amendment of the earlier resolution as to the source of the initial N850bn loan that had been approved to be part of what should be used to fund the 2020 Appropriation Act. That is far from the truth. The resolution passed was an amendment of the earlier resolution as to the source of the initial N850bn loan that had been approved to be part of what should be used to fund the 2020 Appropriation Act.





You will recall that the Senate had actually approved the loan of N850 billion but to be sourced from external sources.





However, because of the covid-19 pandemic and of the challenge in the international oil market with the attendant challenges of raising the approved loan externally, the President requested that the approved loan should rather be raised through the Domestic Capital Market.





It was the above request as to sourcing the earlier approved external borrowing of N850bn from Domestic Capital Market that was approved by the Senate.




Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay

State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday joined thousands of cine lovers who mourned the demise of two iconic actors of the Indian cinema  Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan  in a span of two days creating a void which many believe would not be filled in several years to come.

Delhi Police, which has rechristened itself as #DilKiPolice, took to Twitter and paid an emotional tribute to the two actors. Delhi Police pays its heartfelt tributes to two great actors of the Indian cinema who made cinema lovers laugh and cry through the power of their exceptional acting prowess, it tweeted.

     ,          ,              pic.twitter.com/o4tDgVUlB9  #DilKiPolice Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) April 30, 2020

Delhi Police also meanwhile granted permission to Riddhima Sahni, the daughter of actor Rishi Kapoor who passed away on Thursday morning, to travel to Mumbai for his last rites amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

"Along with Ridhima, five other people -- Bharat Sahni, Samara Sahni, Akshay Sahni and Drigalakshmi Rai -- got permission to travel to Mumbai," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R P Meena said.

Rishi Kapoor, the 67-year-old actor, who was suffering from cancer, died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday. His death comes a day after his ''D-Day'' co-star Irrfan Khan passed away due to cancer on Wednesday.

Rishi Kapoor, a third-generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, was taken to the H N Reliance Hospital by his family on Wednesday.

Khan considered to be one of Indias finest and most versatile actors, is survived by his wife Sutapa and his sons Babil and Ayaan.

The actor, who died at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, was buried at the Versova graveyard around 3 pm in the presence of his family and friends such as directors Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vishal Bhardwaj. The numbers were restricted in view of the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.
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A Vietnamese man has touched the hearts of those who love Saigon - the former name of Ho Chi Minh City - by his wooden miniatures facsimileing the city in his memories.

It was a sunny late-February morning when your correspondents visited Nguyen Duc Phucs The Gioi Ti Hon (Tiny World) store in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City.

The venue sells scale assembly models under a variety of themes which the 31-year-old founder and his team have created during the past five years.

The stores signature products are the Saigon-themed ones.

Visitors to Ducs store often could not help feeling amazed to see hundreds of lifelike palm-sized street food carts, groceries, and barber shops which are made in sophisticated detail.

A miniature by The Gioi Ti Hon features a barber shop. Photo: Binh Minh / Tuoi Tre

Fathers childhood gift

Your correspondents stopped by Ducs place when he was finishing a new product mimicking a house in the countryside of the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam.

Should I put it here? Duc mumbled to himself while trying to find a spot to put a tiny detail into the miniature.

After putting a khan ran (a traditional checkered black-and-white shawl often worn by farmers in the Mekong Delta) on a small wooden chair to finish his work, Duc sat down for a conversation and led your correspondents on the journey into his tiny world.

Before entering the miniature world, he had worked several jobs which are not related to what he is doing currently.

One day, the man looked at himself in the mirror and asked, What is my life purpose? What is my passion?

During those uncertain days, the young man found a lifebuoy thanks to a gift his father had given him when he was six: a three-story wooden miniature house.

I had a conversation with my dad and he reminded me of that present," Duc recalled.

"Then I thought, Why didnt I make miniatures by myself?

Nguyen Phuc Duc is seen working on a new product featuring a house in the countryside of the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam. Photo: Binh Minh / Tuoi Tre

Duc added that he had always dreamed of making wooden mini houses with his own hands after watching animated movies as a kid.

He started to research and found out that there were only a few shops selling miniatures in Vietnam at the time, and all were imported.

That encouraged him to create something 'made-in-Vietnam.'

However, Duc wanted to create assembly miniatures, not a finished product, so that customers could build up the miniatures by themselves.

It would also be easier to deliver a box of components than a finished miniature, he explained.

To start his business, Duc had to sell his motorbike for money, and developed a whole process all by himself from creating to promoting and shipping his products.

In September 2014, Duc founded The Gioi Ti Hon. Still, success did not come easily.

It took Duc a year to sell 100 sets of his first miniature, a Japanese sushi restaurant.

Duc later decided to get himself more skills by taking courses on marketing to know how to develop his products professionally.

At the same time, he kept doing some side jobs to earn money and invested it in his miniature career until his business started to pick up after three years.

A miniature by The Gioi Ti Hon features a sidewalk stall selling baluts and dried squid. Photo: Binh Minh / Tuoi Tre

A beloved Saigon in scale models

In July 2019, The Gioi Ti Hon drew public attention with an exhibition showcasing its series of Saigon-themed miniatures.

The exhibited models were divided into different categories, sharing the same theme of 'recreating' an old Saigon which was familiar in the childhood memories of the Saigonese born in the 1980s, the same generation as the models creators.

The Street Vendors category displayed 18 street food carts which could be spotted on every corner of the city, while The Childhood of Every Student imitated a school gate area with toy shops and snack carts that every young student feels connected to.

A series of miniatures recreate a school gate area with toy shops and snack carts that every young student in Ho Chi Minh City feels connected to. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Duc said his own childhood memory has motivated him to bring back the old Saigon that he loved when he was little.

The first product about Saigon was a miniature version of a grocery store made from Ducs impression of a small shop down an alley where he often stopped by for snacks when he was a kid.

It was a simple model which surprisingly received positive feedback when he shared pictures of it on social media.

Some even placed orders for the product, which encouraged Duc to optimize the design and released a better version of the model.

The grocery store has remained Ducs best-seller so far.

Miniatures by The Gioi Ti Hon feature stores selling groceries and newspapers in Saigon which was common in the past. Photo: Binh Minh / Tuoi Tre

Joy from the first success urged Duc to go forward. He later created a bigger model depicting a whole street in Saigon with storefronts, barber shops, comic book shops, and more.

Ive kept reminiscing about the past, as I had beautiful childhood memories, Duc said.

When I was little, my grandpa often took me to the barber's. Thats why I created barber shop miniatures.

Then, in my memory, there was always a newspaper stall next to the barber shop.

The noodle shop run by a Chinese near my house also inspired me to create a model of a Chinese noodle shop."

Duc said he wanted to conjure up not only the memories but also the feeling to give people a sense of connection to those memories.

I like people to look at my works and say, Oh, this scene is familiar, he said.

Miniatures created by The Gioi Ti Hon. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Duc said ideas for scale models stem from his own childhood stories, what his buyers demand, as well as suggestions from his team, giving rise to a range of products, from old to modern Saigon.

It is a long process to make a model but what matters is how to touch the hearts of the buyers, Duc said.

Without a professional training background, he admitted that his works were not always perfect in terms of technical requirements.

But, he added, he was always open to feedback.

In the future, Duc hopes to create more miniature versions of other places across Vietnam.

I want to make the Vietnamese love Vietnam more, before showing foreigners how beautiful Vietnam is, Duc shared.

A miniature by The Gioi Ti Hon mimics a house in the countryside of the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam. Photo: Binh Minh / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Reno Omokri, a popular critic of President Muhammadu Buhari has called out the President over the aggressive borrowing of Nigeria from other countries.

Recall that earlier in the day, Omokri alleged that President Buhari has plunged Nigeria into debt.

Also Read: Who Did Nigeria Offend? Omokri Reacts As Buhari Appoints Dead Man Into Office

In a new development, Reno expressed that the President is only concerned about borrowing and begging, which he alleged has resulted in disgrace of Nigerias passport.

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Still on the aggressive borrowing of Nigeria, Reno described President Buhari as an economic Almajiri.

See his tweets below:

#EconomicAlmajiri. Goes about begging and begging and begging. Making Nigeria look big for nothing. Disgracing our green passport. And what does @MBuhari use the debt for? 37 billion for NASS renovation. $500 million for NTA digitalisation. Who did we offend? #BuhariTormentor  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 30, 2020
Which, again, isnt a surprise. Trump has allegedly sought before to use his office to punish Amazon  through antitrust, government procurement and, yes, postage rates. This appears to be because Trump is unhappy with coverage in The Post, which is owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. While pressuring the USPS to jack up prices is likely to hurt rural Trump voters, and possibly increase financial stress for the agency, doing so still might be his best chance to retaliate against a perceived political foe.
Below please find a summary and link(s) of new coronavirus-related content published today in Annals of Internal Medicine. The summary below is 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.

1. Availability of Telemedicine Services Across Hospitals in the United States in 2018: A Cross-sectional Study Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center studied data from the 2018 American Hospital Association Survey to determine the availability of telemedicine services at U.S. hospitals. They found that a large proportion did not have existing telemedicine programs and will likely require rapid investment in developing the infrastructure needed to deliver patient care remotely and to share limited health care resources across hospitals in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full text: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M20-1201.

Media contacts: A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text. The lead author, Snigdha Jain, MD, can be reached directly at snigdha.89@gmail.com.

2. Annals On Call Podcast: Surge Modeling for COVID-19 In the latest Annals On Call Podcast, Robert Centor, MD from University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine and John Wong, MD from Tufts Medical Center discuss pandemic surge models with regard to COVID-19. Learn more: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/A19-0030.

Media contacts: A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read more. Dr. John Wong can be reached through Jeremy Lechan at jlechan@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.

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Note: The Express-News is suspending traditional restaurant reviews until restaurant dining rooms reopen.

When the going gets tough, the tough stick numbers on their palm trees.

Thats what Tongs Thai did to know where their takeout customers were parked in the early days of the coronavirus crisis that shut down restaurant dining rooms. But there are only five trees, and there were a lot more than five cars, so they started numbering the parking spaces instead. From call to cook to car, theres no human contact.

Like so many San Antonio restaurants, Tongs has decided to leave its dining room dark for now, despite getting the green light from Gov. Greg Abbott to open Friday at 25 percent capacity. Its takeout and delivery for the time being.

Its the same with Toro Kitchen + Bar, where owner Gerardo De Anda is taking time to freshen up his Stone Oak and downtown locations before the dining rooms light up again. For now, Toros running a drive-up market, doing food to-go and feeding hospitality workers the occasional paella lunch for free.

On ExpressNews.com: S.A.s takeout stars: 2M Smokehouse, Clementine and Pasha shine

For Benjamin De Los Santos, aka Benjie of Benjies Munch on West Bitters Road, its back to the basics, back to the food truck that launched his restaurant in the first place. The dining room will stay empty for a while, and like all the restaurants in this report, their get-up-and-go isnt going anywhere soon.

Toro Kitchen + Bar

Toro knows how to export the communal joy of dining out Spanish-style around a pan of paella while the sangria flows.

It starts with a $44 feast designed to feed two or three very happy people. The three-course dinner opens with a sampler of three cheeses and three meats, cut deli style for sharing, with sidecars of jam, mustard, pickles and olives.

My wife and I made three at-home happy hours out of that, supplemented by a $15 pitcher of sweet red wine sangria. Not a pitcher, really, but a big Styrofoam cup like you get at 7-Eleven, but way cooler.

The second course, from a list of six Spanish tapas, was a trio of dates stuffed with Manchego cheese and serrano ham, then wrapped with bacon and fried just until the bacon started to crisp  fat little flavor bombs to set the palate for the main attraction: paella.

Toro knows paella, and its signature pan was filled with two big shrimp, mussels, squid, Spanish chorizo, chicken and pork, all fresh and light. But the rice is the key, and each grain was glowing with spice and puffed up like risotto on steroids.

Instant party. Just add Toro.

Location and hours: 115 N. Loop 1604 E., Suite 1105; 1142 E. Commerce St., Suite 100; 210-592-1075, Facebook: @torokitchenandbar. Both locations open for takeout 1 to 9 p.m. daily. Delivery available for $5 in Bexar County and through Grubhub, Uber Eats and other services. The dining rooms have not reopened yet.

Tongs Thai

Thai food lends itself well to takeout, with spice and texture that travels like a champ. Even the fried spring rolls ($9.99) from Tongs Thai held their balanced state between soft and crispy on the drive home, like puffy tacos, except, you know, filled with pork and noodles and vegetables.

With takeout, you dont get the spectacle of a flaming hot pot when you order Tongs tom kha gai soup ($13.99), but you get all the flavor of coconut milk, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves that make this a Thai standard. The papaya salad ($10.99) hit the right funky notes with dried shrimp and fish sauce playing out in the background of papaya strips cut long, thin and crunchy.

Less funky but just as fresh, a stir-fry of carrots, mushrooms, onions and chicken called pad pak ($11.99) offered simple comfort, while Tongs catered to a craving for Chinese food with orange peel beef ($10.99) like fried savory candy.

Location and hours: 1146 Austin Highway, 210-829-7345, tongsthai.com. Open for takeout 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Delivery available for $2 in the 78209 ZIP code and through Grubhub, Favor and other services. The dining room has not reopened yet.

On ExpressNews.com: S.A. restaurants get the OK to reopen after coronavirus closures, but will they?

Benjies Munch

The first things you see at the truck parked outside Benjies Munch are the trophies for grilled cheese. Who gets a trophy for grilled cheese? Benjies does, especially one that starts with thick griddled sourdough piled with creamy spinach-artichoke dip, fresh spinach, mozzarella, provolone and crispy bacon ($11.75 with chips).

This is primo outdoor, takeaway food. Like a state fair on wheels.

Theres chicken on a stick ($7), or better yet, a fried chicken sandwich piled with arugula and twangy red onion jam on a toasted brioche bun ($10). Even cooking from a truck, Benjies manages a fat, juicy cheeseburger loaded with a half-pound of beef thats as good as a sit-down burger joint ($10.95).

Or you can get more variations on grilled cheese, like one fortified with adobo-infused pulled pork and pickled red onions ($10.75 with chips). But if your heart can only take so much excess in this time of stress, Benjies came through with a salad like the Voltron of salads, where all the little salads came together to form one super-salad: Fried Brussels sprout leaves, Romaine lettuce, candied pecans, dried cranberries, croutons, Caesar dressing ($9.75). The hero we need right now.

Location and hours: 1218 W. Bitters Road, 210-556-8624, benjiesmunch.com. Open for takeout 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. No delivery available. The dining room has not reopened yet.

Mike Sutter is a food and drink reporter and restaurant critic in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Mike, become a subscriber. msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking
New unsealed FBI memos show that the Bureau found no derogatory information on former national security adviser Michael Flynn while investigating his alleged Russian contacts, and moved to close their investigation of him in early January 2017 before former FBI agent Peter Strzok intervened, asking to keep the case open.

The documents, which were released Thursday by the Department of Justice, show that Flynn was given the codename Crossfire Razor and investigated in a spinoff case predicated by the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane surveillance of the 2016 Trump campaign  a case in which the infamous Steele dossier played a central role, according to DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitzs December report.

Flynn, who pled guilty to lying to the FBI about Russian contacts in January 2017, has since moved to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he never lied to federal investigators. In February, attorney general William Barr asked an outside prosecutor from the office of the U.S. attorney in St. Louis to review the DOJs handling of Flynns prosecution. Flynns defense has argued that the retired Army general was deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.

But the FBI moved to close the Flynn case on January 4, 2017, after finding that Flynn had no contact with a Russian individual whose name is redacted from the release, and that CROSSFIRE RAZOR was no longer a viable candidate as part of the larger CROSSFIRE HURRICANE umbrella case.

The writer notes that since CROSSFIRE RAZOR was not specifically named as an agent of a foreign power by the original CROSSFIRE HURRICANE predicated reporting, the absence of any derogatory information or lead information from these logical sources reduced the number of investigative avenues and techniques to pursue, the FBI concluded. Per the direction of FBI management, CROSSFIRE RAZOR was not interviewed as part of the case closing procedure.

The FBIs closing communication was filed in the D.C. field office on January 4, 2017. But that same day, Strzok  who interviewed Flynn in the White House later that month on January 23  texted a redacted individual, apparently Flynns case agent, to ask if you havent closed RAZOR, dont do so yet.

Story continues

Pls keep it open for now, Strzok asked. He then messaged former FBI colleague Lisa Page, with whom he was having an affair, telling her that it was serendipitously good that the case was still open.

Phew. Page responded.

Strzok also implied that James Comey and Andrew McCabe were personally involved in the Flynn case  telling a redacted individual on January 4 that 7th floor involved, an apparent nod to the floor in Bureau headquarters that houses senior FBI leadership.

Horowitz faulted the FBIs entire chain of command during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his report in December, saying he was deeply concerned over the many basic and fundamental mistakes made during the investigation.

New documents released Wednesday in the Flynn case show that at least one FBI official  widely judged to be the FBIs former head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap  questioned the basis of the Flynn interview that led to his guilty plea.

Further texts released Thursday show Strzok and Page were concerned about the involvement of someone named Bill.

Well see, about Bill, Strzok texted Page on January 23, the day before the Flynn interview.  . . . I worry Bill isnt getting the underlying distinction that I think is clear. But maybe Im wrong.

More from National Review
Help India!

By Tanveer Ahmad Khan and Wasia Hamid

The modern age is one of global interactions wherein local happenings are shaped by the events taking place miles away across the globe and vice versa. In the academic language, scholars call it a the age of globalization whereby an individual remains a central consumer of information from global chain of networks ona routine basis. Experts would argue that the leading agency behind such production and free flow of information globally is media while social scientists would say as the fourth pillar of democracy, media needs to be transparent and autonomous at all times. And as laymen, people would generally believe that media must have a pivotal role if we want to halt the delivery of fake content to the citizens. But regrettably, in the contemporary world in India, in particular, the structural barriers have engulfed media openness and the professional autonomy of journalists to a large extent.

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Many scholars who have studied Indian society in the post-colonial era argue that the media openness in India found caste as one of the major structural barriers with Jeffrey pointing out that the vast majority of journalists and editors in the mainstream media are not Dalits. Yadav claimed, this caste proling of journalists and key decision-makers in the media highlights the structural problem in Indian society. Thus, the absence of Dalit journalists in the mainstream media is a clear indication that voices from the below would never be heard unless they find an open environment (open democracy). Otherwise, the voice from above would always maintain its dominant nature.

In contemporary India, the concept of freedom of speech comes under immense threat as mainstream media professionals foster the desire to unraveling the pseudo content rather than the actual. However, the presence of such courageous journalists in conflict zones (like India) adds further fuel to their already existing detritus and destitute condition. Media is the only antidote to the state-Rowdyism in such zones. Similarly, the concept of national security, on the other hand, is invoked to put these professionals behind bars and curb subjugated voices.

The same is the case with journalism in Jammu and Kashmir where it has been really tough to be a journalist. The situation became grimmer for them after the killing of the rebel Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in July 2016. After his killing social media found a new path for development in Kashmir. A new trend of media openness in Kashmir, a hope where justice for common masses would flourish, came to the fore. Masses started trusting media than before, and above all, increasingly, people started to consume professional information through social media, which was not a case earlier so far due to state-controlled policies or, for that matter, limited development in information, communication, and technology in the Valley.

However, this media openness faced a grave challenge after August 5, 2019, when special autonomy of Kashmir under Article 370 was revoked by the Indian government. Massive protests, strikes, curfews, detentions, a militarization of educational institutions, and even ban on some of the local and non-local newspapers were observed throughout Jammu and Kashmir. The purpose of attaining normalcy led to the blockade of all means of communication, and media was no exception to it. It was then that the young journalists of Kashmir not only played a crucial role in providing media coverage of the ordinary experiences and acts of violence faced by the Kashmiris but also detached themselves from what Antonio Gramsci called organic intellectuals. Purely, in the Indian context, what Ravish Kumar calls Godi Media who supports the ideology of a particular class or dominant religion and, of course, emerge as the organizers of ideological preponderance, or hegemony.

It is the two-way process (a) first, the state supports the Godi Media, and (b) Godi Media, in turn, supports the state. Through the support of the state,Godi Media has survived, and fair-minded media is being imprisoned. Godi Media determined the potential interests of a dominant class and legitimized their historical role. The journalists, artists, designers, managers, radio talk-back hosts, newspaper proprietors, and academics who fall within this category indeed create a stunning barrier in the life of real and ground level journalists. They captured every moment or act of violence despite the challenges they faced in the battleground. They are being troubled both by the ordinary masses and the state surveillance system, which is, no doubt, a significant structural barrier.

At the public side, they are often stigmatized as the state agents, while at the state level, they are considered as the threat to the peace (law and order). Being treated as a threat to the peace, a new dark phase on media openness has resulted in the frequent abduction, detention, and disappearance of journalists in Kashmir. The range of problems and challenges vary from online abuse to even death. The killing of veteran journalist and editor of Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, not only describes the experiences of journalists working in Jammu and Kashmir nevertheless also shows unsafe they are. Despite that, journalists working in Kashmir have picked up the challenging task of reporting the impacts of Indian military rule as well as the impact of militancy on common masses; thereby enlightening people of the discrepancies of governance. Thus, typically there exist two structural barriers to media openness in Kashmir; one the state itself and the second unknown gunman or what academicians call non-state actors.

Even if the motive of a journalist in Kashmir is simply the public good or the betterment of their society, however, in one way or the other, they to face the wrath of violence. They cannot be fence-sitters as their fate is determined by the circumstance of which they are well aware of. Journalists like Masrat Zahra, Peerzada Aashiq, Gowhar Geelani, Asif Sultan, Kamran, and many more are the living examples of how state suppression and intimidation victimizes them merely on the line of duty.

The act of suppression was further tightened by the government with the introduction of UAPA. An act enforced by the government is used to suppress objective journalism in the name of their so-called anti-national activities. This is only done so that the reality of suffering inflicted by the Indian government on Kashmiri people is buried without the outsiders having the slightest knowledge of it, and, to convert local media outlets into media controlled by central government so it can make them work like puppets to fulfill their roguish desires.

India calls itself the worlds largest democracy; however, democracies only flourish when people are provided a free atmosphere to carry on their job in a real sense without any pressure or conditions. As social scientists would argue that to make a state democratic in content and character, it needs to adhere to transparency and autonomy of the administrators of its fourth estate-media.

Tanveer Ahmad Khan is a Senior Research Fellow at Department of Sociology in Aligarh Muslim University and Wasia Hamid is a Senior Research Fellow, Department of Sociology at University of Kashmir.
It was half past noon and Seenu, a young labourer and two of his colleagues chatting beneath the shade of a tree at the Koyambedu market here, one of largest in the country for vegetables, flowers and fruits, decide to call it a day and go home.

"There is not much work these days. Our earnings have taken a hit as the arrival of trucks carrying supplies is diminishing each day," said Seenu adjusting his 'lungi' cloth piece that served as a mask.

Toughened physically by hard work, the labourers at the market here are raring to go, but with arrivals dwindling due to COVID-19 curbs, their work has shrunk leaving them a worried lot.

The Koyambedu market, spread over 295 acres became functional during the first tenure (1991-96) of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and it has 3,000 plus vegetable, fruit and flower shops and is one of the biggest in India for perishable commodities.

"To unload (from trucks) and deliver (at shops) a bag of 100 cocounts we get Rs 15 and the rate changes according to the commodity. But the arrivals, be it vegetables or fruits, have dipped by more than half," Seenu, the more articulate among the three told P T I.

Normally, they used to earn wages ranging between Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 and sometimes upto Rs 1,500 "on a good day," he said adding these days "we have to be happy even if we get Rs 500 a day."



"The market used to be abuzz with activity and we used to get extra work as well besides running errands. Today you can barely see such hectic work," Seenu lamented.

"Most of our colleagues have gone back to their villages ahead of the lockdown last month apprehending lack of work opportunities," he said.

Pointing to some from the market too testing positive for coronavirus, he said "we don't know to what extent this development will have an impact on our work...but a growing concern is real."



Putting up a brave front, his friend Siva pitched in saying "adequate work or not and notwithstanding factors like people getting infected here, we will continue our work against all odds as market is our home."A loadman who used to consume alcoholic beverages daily, said since booze was now not available he has become "irritable" these days and was doing whatever work came his way with a great deal of difficulty.

According to rough estimates provided by labourers and vendors, presently there are about 1,000-1,500 workers out of the total strength of approximately 11,000 labourers including those who work for specific shops, both retailers and wholesalers.

Market Management Committee Licensed Merchants Association President, S Chandran concurred with the labourers' version that supplies have dwindled.

"From approximately 400 trucks a day of veggies alone, now the supplies have gone down to about 200 lorries," he noted.

Chandran, however, said the wages have "actually been doubled since only about 20 per cent of the labour force is now available...instead of Rs 15 a bag (before the outbreak of coronavirus) we now pay Rs 30."



The traders leader said on behalf of the merchants, free food -once a day- was also being provided, apart from increased wages to the workforce "for at least 1,000 labourers," despite they themselves feeling the pinch.

"These are tough times. We are the bridge between farmers, suppliers on the one side and consumers on the other side. We have not yet done the number crunching and feel that this is not the time to look into losses or calculate profits," he said.

A fruit dealer, Saravana, said not only labourers but all others who form the chain in the perishable commodity business have been affected.

As a huge container truck with cold storage facility meandered its way slowly into the market, the dealer got ready with his employees to unload it.

"The demand for fruits has nosedived. These are oranges imported from Egypt. Since bulk orders have diminished we are now fully dependent on small traders to exhaust stocks," he said.

Another dealer said as conferences and big ticket buffets were a "thing of the past," in star hotels in addition to closure of "regular dine-in business in restaurants," the demand for both fruits and vegetables have "naturally taken a hit."



Truck drivers, an intrinsic part of the market place had their own woes.

Shylendar, after traversing over 2,000 kilometres from Bhuj in Gujarat with a truck load of pomegranate for about three days, said authorities screening them at district/state borders was not a problem, but "a perception that we may be carriers of the contagion since we cross so many places" was disturbing.

"We keep telling people that we are careful and follow physical distancing, hygiene and cook our own food," the Gujarati driver said adding "we have to move on battling this perception."



M Manigandan, who arrived with a seven tonne consignment of plantain from Kulithalai in Karur district, said "while returning I take my truck empty since there are no consignments and this is eating into our meagre profits."



During pre-coronavirus pandemic times, he said they used to get "some cargo on our home bound trip too."



Traders like Babu pointed out that consequentially, freight charges have seen an increase due to a dip in traffic.

Since at least three vendors, besides a hairdresser in the vicinity have tested positive for the coronavirus, testing for people in the market place has been scaled up by Greater Chennai Corporation which has deployed a mobile testing van and also deputed health personnel for the exercise.

In the market, only 200 wholesale vegetable stores are likely to function effective Thursday as part of anti-COVID-19 measures to decongest the place which used to witness footfalls in thousands during pre-pandemicdays.

While about 1,000 veggie retailers are likely to operate from scattered locations in the city like open play grounds, an alternative location at Madhavaram in north Chennai is expected to become functional for fruit and flower traders.

The market gets supplies from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnatakabesides States including Maharashtra and Gujarat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Covid-19 pandemic is no justification for the non-implementation of the agreements reached at the Paris summit of the Normandy Four, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

"The coronavirus pandemic has not made the implementation in eastern Ukraine easier, but the pandemic should not be an excuse," Maas told journalists in Berlin following a videoconference with his French, Russian, and Ukrainian counterparts earlier on Thursday.

"Many of the Paris decisions have still not been implemented," he said.

"Together, we want to try and make sure they are," Maas said.

The four ministers have now agreed that the monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe must continue working in the eastern parts of Ukraine, Maas said.

"It should be allowed to work uninhibited in the separatist region," he said. It is also necessary to establish a durable, verifiable ceasefire, and this too was discussed during the videoconference.

"We agreed that we want to realize the ceasefire," Maas said.

The ministers also discussed the need to set up new checkpoints on the dividing line, in addition to the current five, he said. "New crossings should be created there; there are too few of them, at the moment," Maas said.

Another topic discussed during the videoconference was prisoner exchange. There have been two since last December, which brought "much joy, but more exchanges are needed," he said.
Berlin: Germany has banned all Iran-backed Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated it a terrorist organisation, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Police also conducted early morning raids on mosque associations in four cities across Germany. Security officials believe up to 1050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah's extremist wing.

Israel and the United States had been pushing Germany to ban the organisation. Germany had previously distinguished between Hezbollah's political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army.

German police officers stand guard in front of a mosque during a previous terror raid in Frankfurt. Credit:AP

A spokesman said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had banned the group's activities.
Comoros on Thursday announced its first official coronavirus infection, making it the second-last African country to report the novel virus.

The Indian Ocean archipelago and the tiny kingdom of Lesotho were the only two contries without any confirmed coronavirus cases left on the continent.

"On this day of April 30, 2020, the government declares the first case of COVID-19 on the Comoros," President Azali Assoumani said during an address to the nation.

The case is a man in his 50s who came into contact with a French-Comorian national with recent travel history to France.

"The patient's medical condition is gradually improving," Azali assured, adding that his contacts were being traced.

He said the priority would now be to shield the healthcare system from overload, which would force government to adopt "even more draconian measures" to protect the population.

"While other countries who were hit earlier are preparing to go back to normality, our country is entering a critical phase," Azali warned.

A nightly curfew came into force last week to limit the chances of coronavirus spreading among the country's 832,000 inhabitants.

Assoumani said he had not imposed a full lockdown because most of the population lives off informal work.

"At this stage of the pandemic we cannot afford to adopt measures that could lead to social and economic drama," he added.

A healthcare worker who did not wish to give her name told AFP the announcement came "rather late".

"Only one positive case? The president is funny. The (real) number is much higher," she feared.

Earlier this month, Azali angrily debunked news of a coronavirus case reported by a former minister on the neighbouring island of Mayotte.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Testing to see who has antibodies to the coronavirus has begun in New Mexico, but questions remain about how to use the results and what they actually mean.

This keeps me up at night a little bit, said Dr. David Grenache, chief scientific officer for TriCore Reference Laboratories.

State and health officials said last week that antibody tests would soon be available. The test detects whether a persons blood contains coronavirus antibodies  proteins the body makes in response to the virus. A positive result would indicate the person has already been exposed to the virus.

TriCore is working to validate its testing procedures and plans to roll out the platform Monday in Albuquerque and elsewhere. Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center started offering the test late last week, Grenache said.

An antibody, or serology, test is different from the diagnostic tests that have been available in the state since March. Those gauge whether a person is currently infected with coronavirus.

Its unclear what finding antibodies will mean, exactly, because scientists are unsure whether having them will stave off a future infection, Grenache said.

When we think about COVID antibody testing, theres actually very limited usefulness with that type of testing, he said. What is a doctor going to do with that test result? Doctors generally dont order tests unless they are going to make a decision based upon it.

If I was sick in January and I think, did I have COVID? I want an antibody test. Thats not clinically actionable, Grenache said. Youre not going to make any decisions based upon that test result, because we dont know yet if the antibodies we detect provide immunity.

At Christus, about 30 people have been tested, and all have been negative, said Dr. James Marx, executive director of quality, patient safety and infection prevention at the hospital.

Last week, Dr. David Scrase, Cabinet secretary for the Health and Human Services Department, said antibody testing can be a useful public health tool.

Many who are exposed to the virus never show symptoms, he said. Antibody testing can give health officials insight into how far the virus has unknowingly spread in a community.

The governors New Mexico Medical Advisory Team, which includes Grenache, is recommending that the antibody tests be used as a complementary tool for patients who have tested negative for COVID-19 but are still suspected of having it, and patients who recovered from a serious respiratory condition in recent months but were never confirmed to have the disease.

The advisory team is also recommending that the tests be used to study community infection rates, possible immunity from the virus, and long-term outcomes for symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID patients.

Grenache said the tests could also be used to find recovered COVID patients who are willing to donate their plasma to others who are struggling with the disease.

Jodi McGinnis-Porter, a spokeswoman for the state Human Services Department, cautioned against buying antibody tests not authorized by the FDA and CDC. She said some such tests are being marketed.

A wrong test result could, for example, indicate individuals have immunity against the virus when they dont, potentially resulting in behavior that would endanger themselves, their families and every person that person comes into contact with, she told the Journal in an email.

At Christus, the hospital is collecting blood samples and sending them to the Mayo Clinic to test for antibodies. At TriCore, Grenache said the testing is being done at its lab in Albuquerque using chemical reagents purchased from a company that TriCore has a long history of working with.

Ultimately, if (doctors) order the test, we are obligated to perform it. Its really mostly about communicating about how these tests should be used and how they should not be used, Grenache said.

Marx said that Christus is allowing its physicians with patients who are not hospitalized to order the lab work. He said physicians are telling patients that testing positive for antibodies doesnt ensure immunity.

Its unclear whether many will seek out the testing, he said, because Santa Fe County has comparatively low rates of the coronavirus.

Grenache said TriCore officials are expecting the tests to be in high demand. The lab will have an initial capacity of 300 tests per day.

I know that there will be high demand, but Im very concerned that people arent going to use the tests in the right way, he said. Without knowing (if antibodies make people immune), all you are doing is satisfying a curiosity. And thats not a good reason to use laboratory tests.
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. Vahan Hunanyan, spokesman to Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan, denies the rumors according to which Avinyan has resigned.

The spokesperson said on Facebook that Tigran Avinyan has not resigned and has no such plans.

As the media outlets, which are close to fake news, and some users applauding them, continue living in the world of fantasies, try to present what they wish as a reality, I once again want to state that Deputy Prime Minister, Commandant of the State of Emergency Tigran Avinyan has not resigned and doesnt have any such plans, Hunanyan said.

Earlier today former staffer at the PMs administration Gevorg Achemyan announced on Facebook about the resignation of deputy PM Tigran Avinyan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 22:15:09|Editor: huaxia

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RIGA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Latvia will achieve a balanced budget without drastic consolidation measures despite the devastating economic blow from the COVID-19 pandemic, the government said Thursday.

Finance Minister Janis Reirs said at a cabinet meeting that budget funds are currently being spent to help the economy weather the emergency and fuel economic activity.

"The parliament and government have already adopted decisions on stimulating the economy with 1.7 billion euros, but this amount has not yet been expended and there is still an opportunity to develop support programs," the minister said.

"The government is not planning budget-balancing measures for the nearest future, but then, thanks to resumed economic growth, we will gradually achieve a balanced budget in three years' time," Reirs said.

At the cabinet meeting, ministers approved Latvia's Stability Program with macroeconomic forecasts, a document each European Union member state is required to submit to the European Commission.

According to the forecasts included in the Stability Program, instead of growing by 2 percent as projected before, Latvia's gross domestic product (GDP) is set to shrink by 7 percent this year.

The national Fiscal Discipline Council has warned that after a substantial increase in budget expenditure, which is currently needed to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, austerity measures worth 175.8 million euros will have to follow in 2022. Enditem
Were grateful to 1-800-PetMeds for its commitment to help pets in shelters find a permanent home. We know we wont be able to achieve our mission without critical funds from our corporate partners.

Around 2,200 homeless pets are killed in shelters across the United States each day. 1-800-PetMeds is supporting Best Friends mission to end that by helping to provide veterinary services, community education, and other resources to help more animals find their forever homes.

Best Friends is the only national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. A leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, adoption centers and spay and neuter facilities in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City as well as lifesaving programs in partnership with more than 1,400 rescue groups and shelters across the country. To learn more, visit Bestfriends.org.

1-800-PetMeds will host a matching gift campaign on #GivingTuesdayNow to support the life-saving initiatives of Best Friends Animal Society. 1-800-PetMeds will match contributors donations on #GivingTuesdayNow up to $25,000. #GivingTuesdayNow will take place on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020.

You may find more information about this special event here!

Were looking forward to the day when there are no more homeless pets needlessly dying in shelters. With the help of our pet family community, we are proud to host this donation drive to support Best Friends Animal Society. Together, we can support the goal of providing a brighter future to our homeless animals in greatest need. says Larissa Schenck, Director of Marketing at 1-800-PetMeds.

Were grateful to 1-800-PetMeds for its commitment to help pets in shelters find a permanent home, said Eric Rayvid, director of PR, Best friends Animal Society. We know we wont be able to achieve our mission without critical funds from our corporate partners.

About 1-800-PetMeds

Founded in 1996, Petmeds.com is America's Most Trusted Pet Pharmacy providing fast, easy, and helpful service to over ten million customers across the U.S. by delivering prescription and non-prescription medications and pet supplies for less, direct to the consumer through its 1-800-PetMeds toll-free number, on the Internet through its website Petmeds.com, or with the 1-800-PetMeds mobile app available for free at Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS.

About #GivingTuesdayNow

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world. Its a day when we can all come together and give back in all ways, no matter who or where we are.
Russia's coronavirus death toll reached 1,000 and its total number of cases broke through 100,000 today after another record day of new infections.

The 7,099 new cases - surpassing the previous high of 6,411 on Tuesday - bring the total from 99,399 to 106,498, the eighth-highest tally in the world.

The daily death toll was over 100 for the second day running, as 101 new deaths took the overall tally from 972 to 1,073.

Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia is entering 'the most intense stage' of the epidemic as medics report shortages of protective gear.

This graph shows the daily number of coronavirus cases in Russia, which reached a new peak of 7,099 today - bringing the total past 100,000

Russia's daily death toll was above 100 for the second day running as the number of fatalities passed 1,000 today

Russia spans 11 time zones, but the crisis has been most severe in Moscow which accounts for 53,739 of the 106,498 cases - just over half.

Moscow has also seen 611 of the 1,073 deaths, while the region which surrounds the capital is responsible for another 93.

St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, has recorded 4,062 cases while the Arctic region of Murmansk has 1,227.

In Siberia, the region of Krasnoyarsk has also seen more than 1,000 cases including 20 fatal ones.

Official figures say 11,619 people have recovered from the disease in Russia, but 93,806 cases are still considered 'active'.

Russia is rising up the table in confirmed cases, passing Iran and China this week to move into eighth - although there are doubts about those countries' figures.

However, Russia's death rate is low compared to many hard-hit countries, with only one death for every 100 confirmed cases.

The equivalent figure is 13.6 per cent in Italy, 11.4 per cent in Spain and 15.8 per cent in Britain, although only 4.0 per cent in Germany.

Medical workers wearing protective gear carry a suspected coronavirus patient on a stretcher outside the Kommunarka hospital near Moscow yesterday

Russia says it has carried out nearly 3.5million tests including many people with mild symptoms who are often missed elsewhere.

Russia is now in its fifth week of a lockdown which has put the economy on course for a 4-6 per cent contraction, the country's central bank says.

The collapse in oil prices because of vanishing global demand has also battered the country's economy.

Putin has extended the lockdown until at least May 11, warning that the peak of the outbreak was still to come.

'The situation is still very difficult,' said Putin. 'We are facing a new and perhaps the most intense stage in countering the epidemic.'

Putin said Russia had managed to slow the spread of the epidemic but cautioned that 'this should not reassure us.'

A Russian Emergencies Ministry worker wearing an orange protective suit and a mask sprays disinfectant at a railway station in St Petersburg yesterday

Separately, prime minister Mikhail Mishustin has extended a ban on entry for foreigners into the country, which had been due to expire on Thursday.

The measure will continue until 'the fight against the infection is over and the epidemic situation has improved,' the government says.

Medics in Russia have complained of shortages of protective gear and testing kits, while hospital staff are becoming concerned about deaths in the medical community.

The pandemic has also thwarted Putin's plans for a massive military parade on May 9 commemorating 75 years since the Soviet victory in World War II.

The Kremlin also postponed an April 22 vote on landmark constitutional reforms, which could paved the way for Putin to stay in power until 2036.

Putin is currently set to reach his two-term limit in 2024, but Russia's parliament has backed a proposal to reset the clock and allow him to run twice more.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are giving back amid the coronavirus pandemic! The Oscar-winning actor appeared on NPR'S "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me" earlier this month and shared that he and his wife are donating plasma to aid in the coronavirus research. Tom and Rita contracted COVID-19 in March while he was shooting a film on location in Australia. Hanks just gave an update on the search for the Hankccine on Twitter, sharing pics of the full bags of blood and plasma the actor donated to UCLA. "Heres last week's bag of plasma. Such a bag!," he tweeted, "after the paperwork, its as easy as taking a nap. Thanks @arimoin and UCLA. Hanx"
With theaters closed around the country, some companies are making their productions available online. Below, you'll find our weekly update of productions, videos, and other theater-related streaming content from across the US and elsewhere. Some streams are free, while others may charge a fee or request a donation. Either way, you're sure to find something to scratch your theater itch. Theaters may be dark, but the shows go on.

This Weekend



* London's National Theatre will present free weeklong streams of Danny Boyle's 2011 production of Frankenstein, which features Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. The two versions of the drama, with Cumberbatch and Miller alternating the roles of Victor Frankenstein and his creation, will be shown on April 30 and May 1 at 7pm BST (2pm ET) and will then be available for a full week for free.

Watch Cumberbatch as the creature below (streaming April 30 at 2pm ET):





Watch Miller as the creature below (streaming May 1 at 2pm ET):





* The Broadway cast of Sing Street will reunite for an at-home concert today, April 30, at 6:30pm ET. Sing Street: Grounded  At Home With the Broadway Cast will benefit the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and Broadway Cares's COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund. The event will be livestreamed here on Facebook.

* On Saturday, May 2, Peter Michael Marino's musical Desperately Seeking Susan, based on the Madonna film and featuring the hit songs of Blondie, will stream at 6:30pm ET. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

* Moliere in the Park will stream a presentation of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Wilbur's translation of Moliere's The Misanthrope, reimagined for our current times in quarantine. The YouTube stream will begin Saturday, May 2, and be available till 7pm on Wednesday, May 6. To watch, click here.

* Mario Cantone will host the 35th annual Lucille Lortel Awards, which will be presented in an online ceremony on Sunday, May 3, at 7pm. Presenters will include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and many more. To watch the ceremony, click here.

Upcoming



* Tickets for a streaming version of the musical comedy Menopause The Musical go on sale May 4-17. To join the virtual sisterhood, click here.

* Lucy DeVito, Tracee Ellis Ross, Carole Kane, Natasha Lyonne, and Rosie O'Donnell star in Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss & What I Wore. The stream of the 2017 production will be available May 4 at 8pm and run through May 25. To buy $10 tickets, click here.

* Paul Gordon's Emma, a musical based on the Jane Austen novel, will stream for free on StreamingMusicals.com on Wednesday, May 6. Laura Osnes and Emma leading lady Kelli Barrett will introduce the virtual viewing party starting at 6:45pm ET. The show will begin at 7pm ET. To learn more, click here.

* Geffen Playhouse has extended The Present, its world premiere live, virtual, and interactive theatrical experience written and performed by master illusionist, storyteller, and Geffen alum Helder Guimaraes. The show will now run May 7-July 5. A mystery package will be sent to you inside a USPS Priority Mail box before the show, so you must purchase tickets at least seven days in advance. To purchase tickets, click here.

* Theater of War Productions will premiere The Oedipus Project via a live Zoom presentation on Thursday, May 7, at 7pm ET. The cast will include Frances McDormand, John Turturro, Oscar Isaac, Jeffrey Wright, Frankie Faison, David Strathairn, and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. To register, click here.

* By Jeeves, a musical comedy by Alan Ayckbourn and Andrew Lloyd Webber based on the characters of P.G. Woodhouse, will stream for free beginning at 7pm BST (2pm ET) on Friday, May 8, for 48 hours. To watch, click here.

* On May 8 at 6:30pm ET, Luba Mason's Dec 3 show with Billy Stritch at Feinstein/54 Below will be streamed as a part of Feinstein's/54 Below's At Home Series. To watch, click here.

* Broadway Does Mother's Day  a digital variety show featuring sketches, performances, and appearances from stars such as Harvey Fierstein and Vanessa Williams, plus more than 10 Broadway shows including Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Jagged Little Pill, Company, and more  will take place on Sunday, May 10 at 3pm ET and will benefit the Broadway Cares' COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund. To watch and donate, click here.

* Berkeley Repertory Theatre will stream a live broadcast of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, a play-with-music written and performed by Hershey Felder, on Vimeo on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, at 5pm PT (8pm ET). A portion of the proceeds benefit Berkeley Rep. Tickets are $50 per household and can be purchased here.

* On Monday, May 11, off-Broadway theater company the Civilians will host "A Shining Light," an online benefit concert supporting the company and its artist community. Hosted by Jo Lampert, the event will feature performers including Duncan Sheik, Molly Hager, Van Hughes, Eddie Cooper, Grace McLean, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Mary Testa, special guest Jill Sobule, and more. For tickets and more information, click here.

* Irish Repertory Theatre will stream a virtual performance of Brian Friel's Molly Sweeney on Tuesday, May 12 at 7pm, Wednesday, May 13 at 3pm, Thursday, May 14 at 7pm, and Friday, May 15 at 8pm. To view the performance, click here.

On Monday, May 18 at 8pm ET, Audra McDonald and John Dickerson will host a live stream of live stream Broadway on Demand's A Night of Covenant House Stars, featuring more than 50 powerhouse performers  including Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Jon Bon Jovi, Rachel Brosnahan, and many more  uniting to sing and share a message of inspiration for young people in support and celebration of the Covenant House. For more information, click here.

Available for a Limited Time



* SubCulture has made a special live stream of Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown's 58th residency concert available through Sunday, May 3, with special guests Ariana Grande and Shoshana Bean. To watch, click here.

* Shakespeare's Globe in London has made its 2009 production of Romeo and Juliet available on YouTube through Sunday, May 3. Donations are welcome and encouraged. You can watch it here:





* New York City Ballet has launched a digital season offering content through May 30. For dates and more information, click here.

Always Available



* Tony and Emmy winner David Hyde Pierce, star of TV's Frasier and Broadway's Hello, Dolly!, talked to TheaterMania's Senior Features Reporter David Gordon about the theater and favorite moments from past shows. Check out the video interview here.

* More than 70 cast members from various international productions of Maury Yeston and Peter Stone's musical Titanic have gathered to record a socially distant version of the ballad "We'll Meet Tomorrow."

* Derek Klena performs a contemporary take on "Younger Than Springtime" from South Pacific in the R&H Goes Live! series. Check out that video and the whole series here.

* The Broadway Sings series launches daily performances on its Instagram IGTV account, featuring new arrangements of iconic pop songs.

* Wicked celebrates first responders on the front lines of the public health crisis with a video featuring stars Lindsay Pearce (Elphaba) and Ginna Claire Mason (Glinda) singing the anthem "For Good."

* Composer Charles Strouse, the last surviving writer of the musical Annie, has tried to help bolster optimism by recording a video of himself performing the show's beloved anthem, "Tomorrow."

* Six fans from across the globe joined the cast for a special performance in isolation.

* Abrons Arts Center has made all of its performance documentation public on its Vimeo page, alongside contact and donation information for the artists whose work you are viewing.
Pakistans leading nongovernmental watchdog has painted a grim picture of human rights abuses, a growing clampdown on dissent, and negative future prospects for the countrys 210 million people amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Extensive documentation of most major rights violations and threats has led the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) to conclude that the most vulnerable and marginalized segments of society now face greater threats amid shrinking freedoms and space for dissent and debate.

Last year will be remembered for systematic curbs on political dissent, the chokehold on press freedom, and the grievous neglect of economic and social rights, noted HRCPs secretary general, Harris Khalique.

I.A. Rehman, a leading rights campaigner, said his countrys human rights record in 2019 was greatly worrisome. Rehman, a journalist, added that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is is likely to cast a long shadow on prospects for human rights in Pakistan.

The report detailed the threats and fears journalists have to face in the country as curbs on freedom of opinion and expression continued to escalate.

Journalists in [the western province of] Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular reported that it had become even more difficult to speak or write openly  if at all  on sensitive issues such as enforced disappearances, or to criticize state policy or security agencies in these areas, the report noted.

Zohra Yusuf, a former HRCP chairwoman, noted that social media space is also eroding amid a deliberate financial squeeze on the media.

[This] led to Pakistans position slipping on the World Press Freedom Index, she said. Pakistan is currently 145th among 180 countries on the index. It ranked 142nd last year.

HRCP noted that forced disappearances, a major issue in insurgency-plagued Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, continued in 2019. Farah Zia, HRCPs director, urged Islamabad to address the issue.

In the case of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -- both historically under-reported provinces -- the acknowledgement of real issues and their political resolution is vital if the state is serious about strengthening the federation, she said.

HRCP noted that the rights of women and children, the most vulnerable sections of the society, were further eroded during the past year.

Reports of child laborers being sexually abused in mines surfaced in Balochistan, while news of young children being raped, murdered, and dumped has become frighteningly common, a statement by the organization noted. Women continued to bear the brunt of societys fixation with honor, with [the eastern province] of Punjab accounting for the highest proportion of honor crimes.

The report documented the continued denial of freedom of religion guaranteed in the Pakistani supreme law.

For many communities, this has meant the desecration of their sites of worship, the forced conversion of young women, and constant discrimination in access to employment, an April 30 statement by the group said. Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and other smaller minority groups make up nearly 5 percent of Pakistani population.

In its annual report this week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan advisory body, recommended that Washington redesignate Pakistan as a country of particular concern for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

Pakistani authorities, however, have consistently denied reports of undermining freedoms or growing rights violations in the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly claimed his countrys press is free.

Pakistan has one of the freest presses in the world, he said during a visit to Washington last year. To say there are curbs on the Pakistan press is a joke.
Bollywoods original chocolate boy Rishi Kapoor passed away in Mumbai today. The cause of death has not been revealed yet. He had returned to India in September last year after getting treatment for cancer in the United States of America for nearly a year.

Rishi had recently announced his upcoming project, a remake of the Hollywood movie The Intern with Deepika Padukone.

Here is a timeline of his struggle against the deadly disease.

September 29, 2018

Rishi Kapoor announces that he will be flying to America to seek some medical treatment.

Its been 45 years plusof wear and tear at the movies. With your love and good wishes,I will be back soon! he added.

Hello all! I am taking a short leave of absence from work to go to America for some medical treatment. I urge my well wishers not to worry or unnecessarily speculate. Its been 45 years plusof wear and tear at the movies. With your love and good wishes,I will be back soon!  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) September 29, 2018

October 7, 2018 Rishi Kapoor goes out on a stroll with friend and veteran actor Anupam Kher. New York,Manhattan. Kher-free or is it Care-freeon Madison Avenue with colleague and old friend Anupam Kher this afternoon!, read the tweet.

New York,Manhattan. Kher-free or is it Care-freeon Madison Avenue with colleague and old friend Anupam Kher this afternoon! pic.twitter.com/6qwfUufuML  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) October 7, 2018

July, 2019

Rishis wife Neetu Kapoors birthday is celebrated in New York with daughter Riddhima and family members.

Happy birthday Neetu from all of us at Vacluse NY. pic.twitter.com/BTjJCrNicE  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) July 9, 2019

July 30, 2019 Rishi had tweeted that it has been 10 months in New York.

Today, 30th July, is ten months here in NY.  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) July 30, 2019

August 21, 2019

Popular chef Vikas Khanna prepared a sumptuous meal for Rishi and Neetu, and Anupam Kher. Thank you Chef Supreme Vikas Khanna,for a sumptuous meal you prepared for all your guests,personally. Realised we are related too. See you on Masterchef. Bon Voyage!, Rishi had tweeted.

Thank you Chef Supreme Vikas Khanna,for a sumptuous meal you prepared for all your guests,personally. Realised we are related too. See you on Masterchef. Bon Voyage! pic.twitter.com/aCzxYb4EC8  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) August 21, 2019

Thank you Jay. You all were such gracious hosts! https://t.co/9xv1CkT6dn  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) August 23, 2019

September 4, 2019

Rishi celebrates his 67th birthday in the US. In the snap, we could see helium balloons with his initials RK.

Happy Balloons and flowers! Thank you people! pic.twitter.com/YFWaveDTXf  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) September 5, 2019

September 10, 2019 Rishi returned to the country after 11 months and 11 days. Back home, read the post.

BACK HOME!!!!!! 11 Months 11days! Thank you all!  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) September 9, 2019

February 4, 2020

Rishi Kapoor was admitted to hospital for treatment of an infection. He had posted a couple of tweets explaining the situation, saying people seem to have assumed a lot different.

Dear family,friends,foes and followers. I have been overwhelmed by all your concern about my health.Thank you. I have been filming in Delhi past 18 days and because of the Pollution and my low count of neutrophils, I caught an infection whereby I had to be hospitalized. (1).....  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) February 4, 2020

I was running a slight fever and on investigation,Dr.s found a patch which could have lead to pneumonia,was detected and is being cured. People seem to have assumed a lot different. I put to rest all those stories and look forward to entertain and love you. I am now in Mumbai.  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) February 4, 2020

April 29, 2020

Rishi Kapoor was taken to HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai. He is suffering from cancer and he has some breathing problems, so he has been admitted to the hospital, said elder brother Randhir Kapoor said.

April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor dies at the age of 67 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Amitabh Bachchan tweets the news, says he is devastated. The tweet was removed later.
LANSING, MI -- Hundreds of protesters gathered on the Michigan Capitol lawn Thursday with a message to lawmakers inside: Do not extend Gov. Gretchen Whitmers state of emergency.

With the state of emergency set to expire Thursday, protesters repeatedly chanted vote no in unison. Those who spoke on stage to open the rally said it was not about party or political battle lines, but about sending a message to the entire legislature about ending the state of emergency, which gives Whitmer the power to issue executive orders and control certain resources without legislative approval.

The governor first declared the state of emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak March 10. The legislature on April 7 approved an extension through April 30. Whitmer this week asked the legislature to approve another extension of 28 days.

Both the Michigan House and Senate were called into session Thursday. The Senate was in recess until 12:30, and the House was in the process of taking attendance as of 10:55 a.m.

Protesters from all over the state began gathering around 8 a.m. By 10:30, Michigan State Police estimated that between 600 and 700 people were outside the Capitol. And while many voiced support for holding lawmakers accountable, others set their sights on Whitmer.

Its been a disaster, how shes handled this crisis, said Livonia resident Patricia Stephanoff. Its basically no consideration whatsoever about using common sense.

Frustration built for Stephanoff as Whitmers response to the COVID-19 pandemic continued to restrict businesses, churches and individuals from being able to go about their daily lives. Now, Stephanoff believes the restrictions are doing more damage to residents than the virus itself.

The biggest problem is we got to start opening manufacturing. Manufacturing has suffered a big way, without letting people work. She is actually killing us, not the virus. Stephanoff said.

While she admits the virus is a dangerous health issue, she also says there are plenty of other health risks out there that dont require people to stay in their homes for the majority of their days.

Jason Kelley, one of the organizers of the rally, said those inside the Capitol should listen to the voices outside, and everyone needs to understand their role in holding lawmakers accountable.

Elections have consequences. Weve elected a governor who has put us into an economic downward spiral, Kelley said. You want a headline? Gretchen Whitmers legacy: unemployment, hungry families and economic despair.

Lou DeLuca, of Rochester Hills, owns an HVAC business in southeast Michigan. He said his frustration is not just with Whitmer, but the response as whole across the country that has restricted freedoms.

They trampled on the Constitution. All the governors all across this country. (Whitmer) is the worst of the worst and I live in Michigan, but this is about pure freedom," DeLuca said.

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesnt infringe on constitutional rights

While he understood that some measures needed to be taken to protect the public, DeLuca believes that forcing people to fall in line flies in the face of what he believes the U.S. is all about.

We should have been the beacon of hope to the world, DeLuca said. That we will not tell our citizens what to do. Were adults. They could have asked us and we could have followed. The second you demand or force somebody to do something or threaten jail, it ends America.

DeLuca had a message for lawmakers scheduled to vote Thursday.

I would tell them to vote to limit her powers and to try pass laws in the future so that will never happen again, DeLuca said.

Lt. Brian Oleksyk of the Michigan State Police said there had been no incidents as of 10:30 a.m. and that people appeared to be adhering to social distancing guidelines better than they did at the Operation gridlock protest two weeks ago.

We see a lot more people wearing masks today than at the last protest and thats a good thing," Oleksyk said.

While protesters rallied on the Capitol lawn, several dozen cars made laps around the streets of the Capitol, honking their horns and yelling words of encouragement and support for the rally.

DeLuca said being able to express his opinion and others being able to express theirs is exactly what the Constitution was designed to accomplish.

Theres no difference between this and fighting on the battlefield to protect the blanket of freedom in this country, DeLuca said.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus

Thursday, April 30: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesnt infringe on constitutional rights

Whitmer announces plan for free college tuition for front-line workers battling coronavirus

Showdown brewing between Whitmer, Michigan Republicans over coronavirus state of emergency
India is vulnerable to a sovereign rating downgrade because of its worsening debt dynamics and poor fiscal track record, Japanese securities firm Nomura cautioned, even as a nationwide lockdown to check covid-19 chokes its businesses and the economy.

In a report on Wednesday, Nomura warned about the risk of a ratings downgrade by Moodys Investors Service and a negative outlook by Fitch Ratings.

Indias Achilles heel on ratings is its parlous state of fiscal affairs and the risk of a sharp deterioration of general government debt from 70% of gross domestic product (GDP) to potentially 75-80% of GDP. A further risk is the deterioration in economic growth, partly intertwined with financial sector concerns, Nomura said.

Currently, India has a sovereign rating of BBB- with a stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings and Fitcha grade above junk categorywhile Moodys rates it at the equivalent of one notch above, at Baa2, though it changed Indias outlook to negative last November.

Nomuras views follow Fitch Ratings warning on Tuesday that the deterioration in Indias fiscal outlook as a result of slower growth could put pressure on its sovereign rating. Last week, Fitch revised its forecast for Indias GDP in FY21 to 0.8%.

Given Fitchs assessment of debt sustainability and Indias poor fiscal track record, Nomura said the likelihood of an outlook change to negative is elevated.

It also said Moodys is likely to downgrade Indias rating from Baa2 negative to Baa3 stable but may wait to get a better handle on governments fiscal plans to make a complete assessment of the growth and fiscal impact.
Amid changing norms and economic insecurity, marriage rate falls to historic low

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While marriage has been shown to positively impact society in health outcomes, longevity and economic security, a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows marriage rates have now reached its lowest point in more than 100 years due to changing norms and economic insecurity.

The report by statisticians Sally Curtin and Paul D. Sutton also noted that that while adults have been increasingly postponing marriage, a record number of current youth and young adults are projected to forego marriage altogether.

Even though the federal government has been collecting marriage data since 1867, the latest report focuses on marriage rate per 1,000 population from 1900 through 2018. From 2017 to 2018, the rate dropped 6%, from to 6.9 per 1,000 population to 6.5, which is the lowest marriage rate on record for the period studied.

Millennials are in peak marriage years, their 20s and 30s, and its still dropping, Curtin, who is the lead author of the report, told the Wall Street Journal. This is historic.

The researchers highlighted many variations in marriage rates between 1900 and 2018 but noted that the most pronounced fluctuations occurred during the 1930s and 1940s, at the time of the Great Depression and World War II.

Marriage rates ranged between 9.3 per 1,000 population and 12.0 from 1900 to 1929 and then declined to a relative low of 7.9 in 1932, the report said. Between 1932 and 1946, however, the marriage rate more than doubled to an all-time high of 16.4, then dropped to 8.4 in 1958 before stabilizing at 8.5 around the period 1959 to 1962.

From 1982 to 2009, marriage rates steadily declined, before stabilizing from 2009 to 2017 at a range between 6.8 and 7.0.

Reacting to the report Wednesday, former MLB first baseman and two-time World Series Champion Aubrey Huff lamented that there were diminishing incentives for especially wealthy men to get married.

I believer in marriage the way it used to be before it became a business. There is absolutely zero reason for a wealthy man to marry in todays society. Nothing to gain, and everything to lose, he wrote on Twitter.

Recent research highlighted how a variety of economic factors have resulted in marriage increasingly becoming a status symbol of wealth. Many successful women were also being forced to choose to remain unmarried or settle for men who earn less than $53,000 and lack a college degree, according to researchers Daniel T. Lichter of Cornell University, Joseph P. Price of Brigham Young University, and Jeffrey M. Swigert of Southern Utah University in Mismatches in the Marriage Market.

University of Maryland sociology professor Philip Cohen, author of The Coming Divorce Decline, noted in an earlier report that today, marriage is becoming more of an achievement of status for those who choose it.

Marriage is become more selective, and more stable, even as attitudes toward divorce are becoming more permissive, and cohabitation has grown less stable. The U.S. is progressing toward a system in which marriage is rarer, and more stable, than it was in the past, representing an increasingly central component of the structure of social inequality, Cohen said.

Many poorer and less educated Americans are often in cohabiting relationships with children and those relationships are seen as less stable.

Just last month, a Wall Street Journal analysis of census data from 1980 to 2018, showed that middle-class Americans were already forsaking marriage amid financial insecurity.

The middle three-fifths of U.S. earners, households that earned from $25,000 to $125,000 in 2018, showed the sharpest declines in marriage rates over the past four decades compared with people at the bottom of the income ladder and those at the top, the analysis said.

Economic conditions, even in the good economy, remain difficult for many working Americans, Daniel Schneider, assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied marriage, told the publication. That is not conducive to you feeling like you could get married, or people wanting to marry you.
Pandemic to be a factor in decisions concerning detentions  Russias Supreme Court

 flickr.com / Aapo Haapanen

12:57 30/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 30 (RAPSI)  Russias Supreme Court has recommended to take into account quarantine measures introduced in temporary and pretrial detention facilities as a factor to influence court decisions on detentions, the Courts materials on specifics of proceedings amid the pandemic read.

The Supreme Court reminds that according to the Criminal Code courts may order pretrial detention or extension of detention in minor crime cases only as an exception in view of specific circumstances defined by law; even then courts have discretion to meet or dismiss respective moves on the part of investigators.

The pandemic, causing detention facilities to introduce quarantine measures, should be also taken into account by courts alongside the aforesaid circumstances when taking decisions on detention or extension thereof, the Supreme Court observes.

Earlier, the federal ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova stated that amid the pandemic detentions need to be ordered only in exceptional cases when it goes about serious crimes; it is to prevent overcrowding in detention facilities.

There is a broad range of pretrial restrictions not relating to detention, like house arrests, bails, and personal sureties, the rights commissioner noted.
Bengaluru, April 30 : City police will start returning more than 6,852 vehicles seized during Covid lockdown from Friday onwards, a top police official said on Thursday.

"It has been decided to return the Corona seized vehicles from May 1 (Friday) onwards. Those seized first will be returned first," tweeted Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao.

Rao said the move has been approved by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

"The documents will be verified and vehicles will be returned. This has approval of chief minister and home minister. We are doing the paperwork to ease the process," he said.

Almost a month ago on April 1, police had already seized 6,852 vehicles, comprising 6,321 two-wheelers, 227 three-wheelers and 304 four-wheelers.

Rao did not reveal how many more vehicles were seized in the last 30 days.
Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at a hospital in Mumbai at 8:45 AM on Thursday morning. Kapoor was admitted to H N Reliance hospital by his family yesterday. Kapoor was suffering from leukemia. The 67-year-old actor was a third generation actor of the Kapoor dynasty. Rishi Kapoor is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir and daughter Ridhima. Kapoor's friend and actor Amitabh Bachchan expressed grief on Twitter. Bachchan tweeted, "He's GONE...! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away...I am destroyed !

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: 'Powerhouse of talent, anguished by his demise,' says PM Modi

Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Karnataka, MP allow movement of stranded migrants, students; tally 33,050

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth mourn demise of legendary actor

T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed ! - Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 30, 2020

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

In February, Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues.

He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At the time, Kapoor had said that he was suffering from an "infection".

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: 'Life is fragile, uncertain,' say Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Anand Mahindra

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: Legendary actor bagged a National Award for his first film

After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after.

Kapoor started his Bollywood career as a child artiste in his father Raj Kapoor's film Shri 420 , where he appeared in the song "Pyaar hua ekraar hua". He again appeared in his father's critically-acclaimed film "Mera Naam Joker" in 1970. Kapoor received the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for Mera Naam Joker. In 1973, Kapoor played his first lead role as an adult artist in romantic blockbuster "Bobby". He continued to be a favourite romantic hero for almost three decades.

His notable films as a romantic hero are "Laila Majnu", "Rafoo Chakkar", "Karz", "Chandni", "Heena" and "Saagar".

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: 'He will be greatly missed', mourn Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal

Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: Actor appealed for peace amid coronavirus in his last tweet
KENOSHA COUNTY  The crews at Kenosha County meatpacking plants, such as Kenosha Beef International, Ltd., are short personnel as a result of those who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

It is an issue that caused some plants throughout the nation to close and prompted President Donald Trump to sign an executive order Tuesday to keep chicken, pork and other meat plants open.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said the USDA, under the Executive Order and the authority of the Defense Production Act, will work with state and local officials to ensure plants are allowed to operate.

Maintaining the health and safety of these heroic employees in order to ensure that these critical facilities can continue operating is paramount, Perdue said. I also want to thank the companies who are doing their best to keep their workforce safe as well as keeping our food supply sustained.

At least 551 meat and food processing workers at seven Wisconsin factories have tested positive  or the equivalent of nearly 9% percent of the states reported cases, according to a report published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Of the meatpacking plants in Kenosha County the Kenosha News was able to reach Wednesday, all were reportedly operational, though production is reportedly down. Calumet, however, did close its store.

Positive tests impact production levels

We are still operating, Dennis Vignieri, president and CEO of Kenosha Beef, said Wednesday. Based on the number of positive tests we have, it has impacted our ability to produce at the level we are accustomed to.

Inventory has helped the company fulfill all of is orders so far and two groups of employees were able to return to work Wednesday after being off for 14 days.

Vignieri said those employees worked in Kenosha Beefs two frozen product departments. The company employs 375 at full production capacity and is down to about 325, he said, which includes the loss of employees from the Correctional Center after work-release was halted.

Some employees who are considered high-risk or who live with a high-risk person are able to remain home with the assurance they will not lose their job, Vignieri said. Those who are quarantined for 14 days are paid during that time and are not required to use sick time. Those who are not sick are able to use accrued vacation time if they choose not to come to work. Those who remain at work get $50 a day in appreciation pay.

The total number of employees who work at Kenosha Beef and Calumet who have tested positive was not available Thursday. A positive test does not necessarily indicate the employee contracted the virus at work. The virus has been considered community spread since its first positive case.

Vignieri said the public should not be concerned about the quality of the products being produced.

Consumers can be confident this disease is not transmitted through the products we make, Vignieri said.

Guidance for employee safety

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) put out guidance for plants to implement to help ensure employee safety.

Vignieri said the company has been working with the Kenosha County Division of Health to put safety measures in place.

They have been good to work with, Vignieri said of the health department.

The measures include: screening employees when they arrive for work; reducing congestion in areas where possible; installing barriers between employees where possible; providing masks and face shields; installing automatic hand sanitation machines; and increasing the sanitation frequency of door knobs and table surfaces.

Investigating another report of positive testKenosha County health officer Jen Freiheit said the department is still investigating reports from Calumet Diversified Meats and will have more information Monday on the full picture there.

One employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has reportedly died, according a report from the Kenosha Medical Examiner obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The employee, born in Mexico, was in his early 50s. The Kenosha News has requested a copy of the report from the Medical Examiner, but has yet to receive it.

The health department is working with over 200 companies to assist with social distancing recommendations, COVID-19 and handwashing education, disinfecting workspaces, and masking as well as talking to employees directly, Freiheit said. Calumet Meats is one of these companies.

Possible price increase

In the meantime, some grocers are preparing customers for a possible price increase in response to a changes in the supply chain.

Doug Helnore, owner of Best Bargains in Wheatland, sent a text message to customers Wednesday and posted it on social media that states, Due to the market instability and closure of some local and national meat processing plants, meat pricing will be fluctuating substantially over the next few weeks.

The text informs customers that the rise of national prices will have a trickle effect locally and they will see a rise in prices at Best Bargains.

We assure you that this is a national challenge and we will offer you the best pricing that we can, which we are known for, the text reads.

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More than a dozen United Nations independent rights experts are slamming the world agency on its response to the cholera epidemic in Haiti that has left more than 10,000 dead and over 800,000 infected after being introduced by U.N. peacekeepers shortly after Haitis devastating 2010 earthquake.

The group, which includes outgoing U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Philip Alston, says the U.N.s response and failure to compensate victims has fallen short. They are calling on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urgently step up efforts to fulfill a U.N. pledge to help victims.

The hope had been that S-G Guterres would have taken seriously the demands that the U.N. actually admit that it was responsible for bringing cholera, but he has systematically avoided addressing that crucial issue in any way, Alston told the Miami Herald. It seems that he is content for the U.N. to have no formal recourse procedure in place when these sorts of disasters are provoked by U.N. actors, and that seems to be a very dangerous policy when the U.N. is under attack from so many directions.

The importance of relief for Haitis cholera victims, the group of 14 experts told Guterres in a letter, is even more urgent in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could deal a double blow to them and their families.

The experts have also written to the Haitian government asking why it has done nothing to promote the cause of the victims and why it has not made use of its legal right to challenge the U.N. in the International Court of Justice.

For several years, I sought an invitation from the government so that these and other matters could be discussed, said Alston, who in a 2016 report to the U.N. General Assembly called on the U.N. to accept its legal responsibility for the outbreak and provide appropriate remedies.

Alston said COVID-19, which is caused by the novel coronavirus, has brought much greater awareness of what it means to lose 10,000 people in an epidemic.

Story continues

At a time when some countries are expressing outrage and demanding accountability in relation to what appears to be a natural mutation, it is useful to recall the fact that not one of those countries said or did anything to hold the U.N. to account when the facts are indisputable and its responsibility unquestionable, Alston said.

What Haitis youngest COVID-19 death says about how prepared the country is for pandemic

With COVID-19 and the adoption of similar measures as in cholera prevention, many have indeed been reminded of the waterborne disease that struck Haiti 10 months after the earthquake, when Nepalese peacekeepers contaminated a major river.

And just as COVID-19 has come to highlight Haitis weak health system and vulnerability, so too did cholera, which mostly sickens and kills those without access to clean water and sanitation.

During the cholera outbreak, the government and aid organizations strongly emphasized hand washing and no hand shaking, even as the U.N. refused to accept blame for its role. Cholera treatment centers went up around the country and then-Haitian President Rene Preval even took to the airwaves to show Haitians how to make a lifesaving remedy to keep themselves hydrated should they become infected. Though Prevals instruction was criticized by some in the private sector who thought it was unbecoming of a president, many in the population, who lacked access to a health center, welcomed it.

A child receives a dose of the vaccine against cholera in Saut dEau, Haiti.

Today, Haitians continue to face similar challenges, except there is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19. And about 35 percent of Haitians still lack basic drinking water services and two-thirds have limited or no sanitation services, which is far below the average for the region, according to the Pan American Health Organization.

Of $400 million the U.N. began seeking nearly three years ago to, among other things, expand access to water and sanitation in the country, only $20.5 million has been raised. Meanwhile, only a pitiful $3.2 million, has been spent, the experts said.

This is a deeply disappointing showing following the loss of 10,000 lives, they said.

The experts also raised concerns about the U.N.s refusal to provide individual compensation, which victims have pushed for in protests and signage around the country. Instead, the U.N. has focused on developing community assistance programs, which the experts said have been designed without consultation with victims.

Some victims prefer monetary payments, an option that was once on the table, but the UN has foreclosed that possibility seemingly without carrying out consultations or producing a detailed feasibility assessment, said the experts. Compensation is ordinarily a central component of the right to an effective remedy, and development projects are simply not a replacement for reparations.

Earlier this year, the United Nations noted that Haiti was moving towards being cholera free.

The last confirmed case of infection was a boy under age 5 in IEstere in the Artibonite region during the last week of January 2019. He recovered. To consider cholera eliminated, a country must remain cholera-free for three years.

Human rights advocates who have been fighting on behalf of cholera victims said the experts statement was conveyed in a formal communication process ordinarily used to question governments about human rights violations. It demonstrates escalating concern within the U.N.s own human rights system that the organization is failing to uphold its obligations to cholera victims, they said.

We believe it is unprecedented for such a broad coalition of U.N. mandate-holders to send a communication that raises past failures and ongoing violations by the U.N. itself, said Sandra C. Wisner, a staff attorney with the Boston-based Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti.

The experts letter to Guterres and the Haitian government was prompted by a formal complaint filed by IJDH and its Haiti affiliate, the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School in January.

The complaint criticizes the U.N.s New Approach to Cholera in Haiti. Among the concerns raised: the UNs reliance on voluntary contributions to fund the plan from members countries; the marginalization of victims in its planning and implementation; the favoring of community projects over direct compensation; and the U.N.s failure to take corrective action to prevent a repeat of the cholera tragedy.

These shortcomings have taken on renewed urgency in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as survivors of cholera are left particularly vulnerable, Wisner said.
The deadly coronavirus is not "manmade or genetically modified", US intelligence agencies said on Thursday, asserting that they will "rigorously" examine the emerging information to determine if the COVID-19 outbreak began through contact with infected animals or due to an accident at a laboratory in China.

The entire Intelligence Community (IC) has been consistently providing critical support to US policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said in a statement.

"The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified," ODNI said giving its assessment about the deadly virus that has so far killed more than 61,000 Americans and over 228,000 people globally.

The ODNI said the American intelligence community experts responded by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to US national security.

"The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan," ODNIO said.

The statement comes days after President Donald Trump said that the US US was looking into reports that the novel coronavirus "escaped" from a virology laboratory in China's Wuhan city.

He said intelligence operatives were reportedly gathering information about the laboratory and the initial outbreak of the pathogen.

The US has been conducting a full-scale investigation into whether the deadly virus "escaped" from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Fox had reported.

"A lot of strange things are happening, but there is a lot of investigation going on and we are going to find out. All I can say is wherever it came from, came from China in whatever form, 184 countries now are suffering because of it," Trump said.

A group of more than half-a-dozen lawmakers sent a letter to House and Senate leadership, requesting them to ensure that no future coronavirus relief funds be appropriated to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

China has denied covering up the extent of its coronavirus outbreak and accused the US of attempting to divert the public attention by insinuating that the virus originated from a Wuhan lab.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As officers and firefighters hustled to the scene of the house fire, also in the 3100 block of North Spaulding Avenue, shortly before 5 p.m., Rubio began arguing with the first responders while in the basement of the residence, police said.
The Australian and New Zealand Dollars are trading slightly lower on Thursday after giving up earlier gains. The price action suggests investors may be lightening up on the long side as the two currencies approach multi-week highs.

The Australian Dollar hit a seven week high at .6570 in a sign of improving risk sentiment among some investors. The Aussie has also benefited from the countrys success among some investors.

The New Zealand Dollar also traded near at six-week high as economic activity returns following the end of one of the worlds strictest lockdowns related to the coronavirus.

At 08:39 GMT, the AUD/USD is trading .6540, down 0.0014 or -0.21% and the NZD/USD is at .6118, down 0.0014 or -0.23%.

Australian Economic News

Earlier in the session, a report showed that quarterly Import Prices fell 1.0% and Private Sector Credit rose 1.1%.

Australian business borrowing surged by the most in three decades in March as firms stockpiled cash to see them through a widespread economic lockdown that is only now being eased slightly in some states.

Figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Thursday showed total credit outstanding to business jumped 2.9% or A$29 billion ($19 billion) in March from a month earlier, easily the biggest rise since 1988.

Business credit rose to A$1.02 trillion ($668.30 billion, the first time ever above the trillion mark. That was enough to lift total private credit outstanding by 1.1% in March, itself the largest increase since the global financial crisis.

China Manufacturing Sector Dips on Slowing Global Demand

Chinas manufacturing sector has been hit by slowing export demand due to the economic impact from the global coronavirus pandemic even as factories in the worlds second-largest economy resumed production, two sets of April data released on Thursday showed.

Despite the setback, investors shrugged off the news as it was likely already priced into the market. When looking at these reports, remember that bad numbers are expected so better-than-forecast results will generate a positive response from the markets. The bad news is more than likely baked into the markets.

Story continues

Results of a private survey, the Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), for April was 49.4  in contractionary territory. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the Caixin/Markit manufacturing PMI to come in at 50.3, compared with 50.1 in March.

Meanwhile, Chinas National Bureau of Statistics said manufacturing activity in the country expanded slightly, reporting official manufacturing PMI of 50.8 for the month of April, as compared to 52.0 in March. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected official manufacturing PMI to come in at 51.0 in April.

Daily Forecast

The Aussie begins Thursdays session with strong upside momentum after posting six consecutive higher closes. However, its also nearing a major resistance area that could encourage some light profit-taking.

AUD/USD and NZD/USD traders will also be monitoring investor demand for risk. Furthermore, despite the easing of some restrictions, the two countries are not out of the woods yet when it comes to the coronavirus. Investors will be paying close attention to the rate of infection numbers to see if the two countries can move forward and open more businesses, or if they need to tighten up restrictions once again.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina  Brazils virtually uncontrolled surge of COVID-19 cases is spawning fear that construction workers, truck drivers and tourists from Latin Americas biggest nation will spread the disease to neighboring countries that are doing a better job of controlling the coronavirus.

Brazil, a continent-sized country that shares borders with nearly every other nation in South America, has reported more than 70,000 cases and more than 5,000 deaths, according to government figures and a tally by Johns Hopkins University  far more than any of its neighbors. The true number of deaths and infections is believed to be much higher because of limited testing.

The countrys borders remain open, there are virtually no quarantines or curfews and President Jair Bolsonaro continues to scoff at the seriousness of the disease.

The country of 211 million people surpassed China  where the virus began  in the official number of COVID-19 deaths this week, prompting Bolsonaro to say: So what?

I am sorry, the far-right president told journalists. What do you want me to do?

In Paraguay, soldiers enforcing anti-virus measures have dug a shallow trench alongside the first 800 feet (244 meters) of the main road entering the city of Pedro Juan Caballero from the neighboring Brazilian city of Punta Pora, to prevent people from walking along the road from Brazil and disappearing into the surrounding city.

Paraguay has fewer than 250 confirmed coronavirus cases and its borders have been closed since March 24, with enforcement particularly focused on the largely open frontier with Brazil.

Argentine officials say they are particularly worried about truck traffic from Brazil, their top trading partner. In provinces bordering Brazil, Argentina is working to set up secure corridors where Brazilian drivers can access bathrooms, get food and unload products without ever coming into contact with Argentines.

Brazil worries me a lot, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez told local news outlets Saturday. A lot of traffic is coming from Sao Paulo, where the infection rate is extremely high, and it doesnt appear to me that the Brazilian government is taking it with the seriousness that it requires. That worries me a lot, for the Brazilian people and also because it can be carried to Argentina.

One of eight known cases in the Argentine state of Misiones is that of a 61-year-old truck driver who apparently caught the disease in Sao Paulo and then returned to Argentina, where he died after infecting his wife. Argentina has about 4,000 cases and more than 200 dead, according to the Johns Hopkins tally.

Even officials in the United States, which has registered more than 1 million cases and more than 60,000 deaths, have expressed concern about Brazil.

Florida, which has a large population of people of Brazilian heritage, could face a threat of air travelers from Brazil carrying the coronavirus to the state, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis told President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.

We could be away on the other side doing well in Florida, and then you could just have people kind of come in, DeSantis said.

The governor said Trumps ban of flights from China helped control the virus in the western U.S. Trump asked him if that meant cutting off Brazil.

DeSantis replied that one possibility was not to necessarily cut them off but to require airlines to test passengers before they board planes bound for Florida.

Authorities in Colombia are also worried, said Julian Fernandez Nino, an epidemiologist at National University in Bogota.

In a globalized world, the response to a pandemic cant be closed frontiers, he said. Brazil has great scientific and economic capacity, but clearly its leadership has an unscientific stance on fighting coronavirus.

In Uruguay, President Luis Lacalle Pou said the spread of the virus in Brazil was setting off warning lights in his administration and authorities are tightening border controls in several frontier cities.

Thirty workers recently crossed from Brazil to the Uruguayan border city of Rio Branco to help build a cement plant. Four tested positive for the virus, prompting Uruguay to place the whole crew in quarantine.

Officials in some Uruguayan border towns have discussed setting up humanitarian corridors through which Brazilians could safely leave the country.

Even socialist Venezuela, where the health system has been in a yearslong state of collapse, has said its worried about neighboring Brazil.

Ive ordered the reinforcement of the frontier with Brazil to guarantee an epidemiological and military barrier, President Nicolas Maduro said on state television last week.

Bolivias government, a right-wing ally of Bolsonaros, declined to comment on its neighbors anti-virus measures, but Defense Minister Fernando Lopez promised this month to strongly enforce the closure of the border.

If we keep being flexible on the border, our national quarantine will be useless, he said.

____

Associated Press writer Almudena Calatrava reported this story in Buenos Aires and AP writer Michael Weissenstein reported from Havana. AP writers Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela; Alan Clendenning in Phoenix; Cesar Garcia in Bogota, Colombia; Paola Flores in La Paz, Bolivia; and Guillermo Garat in Montevideo, Uruguay, contributed to this report.
The European Union hopes to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.2 billion) next week to fund research into a vaccine for the coronavirus, as well as developing new treatments and more efficient testing.

Leaders from Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Norway and Saudi Arabia are expected to speak at the video conference.

The commission says the goal is to develop a vaccine, treatment and tests that are available to all who need it and at an affordable price.

The hope is that donors will continue to stump up funds in coming months so the effort can be scaled up and to help pay the costs of distributing the vaccine and medical equipment.

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.
New Delhi, April 30 : An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft experienced a tyre deflation just before take off from the Palam Air Base here on Thursday, a statement said.

The force said that a Dornier aircraft was to undertake routine flight from Palam Air Base. "During the take off roll, aircraft experienced a tyre deflation. The captain of the aircraft took prompt and correct actions of aborting the take off," the IAF said in a statement.

The aircraft and crew on board are safe and there has been no damage to any property. The aircraft was towed off runway by the technical crew of the IAF promptly.

Ealier this month, an IAF Apache helicopter made an emergency landing on a field in Punjab's Hoshiarpur. The helicopter took off from Pathankot base but due to some technical glitch, it had to land in the Budhwar village fields.

"On April 17, an Apache helicopter of the IAF got airborne from Pathankot airbase. The helicopter, after approx 1 hour of flying had indications of a critical failure and carried out a safe landing in Punjab," IAF had said in a statement.

The force said the captain of the aircraft took correct and prompt actions to recover the helicopter.

The incident was not an aberration. In the same week, an IAF helicopter made an emergency landing on an expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat while it was on its way to supplying Covid-19 test samples of Leh to Chandigarh.

The IAF Cheetah chopper made an emergency landing on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Baghpat district. The IAF said that the actions taken by the pilots were prompt and correct. "No damage to any property has been reported," it had said.

The IAF aircraft have been pressed into services in the fight against spread of coronavirus in India.
A new observational study by a group of scientists explores the rise in the public's fear-driven interest in unproven therapies for COVID-19, particularly chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, by tracking the internet searches relating to the purchase of drugs in news reports or publicized by public figures. They conclude: "Stay grounded in evidence and fight misinformation." The research letter and accompanying editorial comment are published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The Rise of Miracle Cures

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several therapies have been in the news, one after the other, some claiming to be "miracle cures" for the disease. Several drugs that seemed to show promise in vitro or preclinical trials have been touted by high-profile figures, triggering a wave of warnings from the scientific and pharmaceutical communities. However, no drug has yet been proven to be highly effective in treating the virus.

One such incident occurred recently when the high-profile entrepreneur Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump publicly promoted the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in mid-March. In Trump's tweet, he said: "Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin have "a real chance to be one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine."

The endorsement came soon after a very preliminary letter to a scientific body describing promising outcome changes after the administration of these drugs to people with COVID-19.

A chloroquine-related fatality was reported soon after the public endorsements, which was attributed to unsupervised ingestion of chloroquine phosphate, a common aquarium cleaner.

Why Is This Trend Concerning?

Chloroquine is used in malaria prophylaxis, while hydroxychloroquine, a derivative of chloroquine with lower toxicity, is used to treat certain autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The researchers stated that the public endorsement of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were highly unsetting for three reasons - one, that they were only known to inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for COVID-19 disease, in vitro; two, both drugs had been known to cause toxic effects to the cardiovascular system, and lastly, that the name "chloroquine" could lead the public to confuse the drug with several commercial products, including aquarium cleaner.

Hydroxychloroquine causes a prolongation of the QT interval, a measurement made on an electrocardiogram used to assess some of the electrical properties of the heart, which can cause sudden cardiac death in a high-risk population. Shortages of these drugs could hit people with autoimmune arthritis. The poor could be the first to suffer from the unavailability of these drugs.

How Was the Study Done?

The study examined the percentage of Google searches targeting the sale of these items from the three biggest e-commerce companies in the US. Researchers monitored how often specific key terms, including buy, order, Amazon, eBay, or Walmart in combination with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, were searched for on Google. The proportion of such searches per 10 million total searches were examined using Google Trends and comscore.com.

The study evaluated the daily searches from February 1, 2020, to March 29, 2020, and compared observed search volumes with expected search volumes. The time-period was split into two post-periods - one, all the days after March 16, the day when Musk endorsed the drugs, and two, all days after March 22, when news reports on chloroquine-related poisoning started airing.

Queries related to purchasing chloroquine showed only 542 estimated searches (per 10 million searches) on February 1, which rose to 3,052 estimated searches on March 16, when Musk first endorsed the drug, 7,506 estimated searches on March 22, after the first chloroquine-attributed fatality was reported, and a dip to 2,177 searches on March 29. Overall, the rise was on the order of 442%.

Similar trends were observed for hydroxychloroquine, with 494 estimated searches on February 1, 871 searches on March 16, 9,006 searches on March 22, and a drop to 3,625 searches at the end of the study on March 29. The overall increase in searches to buy hydroxychloroquine was an astonishing 1390%.

The first surge in searches came with Musk's tweet endorsing the drugs, and the biggest came with Trump's televised endorsements. The spike in interest led to nearly 100,000 more searches than expected for purchase of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, under normal circumstances. In total, 216,000 total searches were linked to the purchase of the drugs in a 14-day period.

This corresponds to almost 95,000 more searches than expected for either drug. Even after the media reported the first fatality, searches to buy the drugs remained high, at over 200%, and 1,170% above the expected demand.

The Adverse Health Effects of Such Promotions

The team stated that the findings showed that the unrestricted endorsement of unproven drug therapies by public figures - leading to high news coverage - could have severe consequences for the public.

"Endorsements can lead to unsupervised use of the products with dangerous consequences to the people who take them, and hoarding of these medications can result in shortages for those who require them for legitimate health reasons," the paper warned.

It added that this problem was even more concerning because chloroquine-containing commercial products are available to the public through e-commerce sites, among other sources.

The Way Forward

Modern medicine is above all an evidence-based approach. The researchers stress that even when faced with a lack of options to treat the pandemic, clinicians should not "jettison the tenets of evidence-based medicine and the admonition to do no harm."

Instead, they should speak about the evidence, enroll patients in randomized clinical trials, and take into account the impact of large-scale buying of these drugs on non-COVID-19 patients who desperately need them.

The paper recommended that measures be taken by "regulatory agencies and public-facing companies" to reduce the impact of such endorsements. For instance, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should issue timely warnings against procuring "unapproved therapies unless prescribed."

Another impactful avenue could be incorporating information about the unproven nature and potential hazards of these drugs into the educational website that online giant Google has already integrated into search results related to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The researchers also advised that retailers publish warnings or withhold products that have the potential for misuse in the face of the pandemic, citing eBay's recent move to remove chloroquine sales from its website.

The researchers look forward to continued monitoring to further unveil the real impact of the public promotion of such untried avenues. For instance, there could be an estimate of the numbers of chloroquine-containing products sold.

The study concludes: "In times of public health crises, demand for unproven and potentially hazardous COVID-19 treatments is massively increased by endorsements. Public health leaders, regulatory agencies, media, and retailers must amplify accurate information."
There are now over 3.24 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the globe and over 229,000 deaths. Over 1.01 million people have recovered.

There are now over 3.24 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the globe and over 229,000 deaths. On the bright side, over 1.01 million people have made safe recoveries as well. Here are some of the major developments of the day.

Germany will reopen religious institutions

Germany, which has been praised for keeping COVID-19 deaths comparatively low, slowly started to reopen last week by allowing shops in certain districts to open. Now, AFP has reported that the country will allow religious institutions such as churches, mosques and synagogues to open, but with strict social distancing norms in place.

The chancellor Angela Merkel has said that social distancing norms will almost certainly be extended until the 10th of May, signalling a staggered return to a sense of normalcy.

Death toll in Iran exceeds 6,000

Iran, which suffered one of the initial outbreaks of COVID-19, has now exceeded 6,000 pandemic deaths after 71 new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Iran has gradually lifted restrictions over the past weeks to assist its economy which was already crippled by stringent US sanctions.

Tajikistan confirms first COVID-19 cases

Tajikistan had so far not confirmed any COVID-19 cases but there was widespread suspicion that the pandemic simply wasnt acknowledged in the country, especially since it shares a border with China.

Today, the country said that 15 cases have emerged - five from the capital Dushanbe and ten from the Sughd province which shares borders with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Spain records lowest daily deaths in six weeks

Spain, which is second only to the US in terms of the number of cases, registered 268 deaths in the last 24 hours. That is the lowest figure in over six weeks. The number of daily deaths has been curving downwards with the occasional blip, but the general trend suggests that the worst of the initial outbreak has now passed.

Hungarian schools to remain closed until the end of May

Prime minister Viktor Orbans office said that schools in Hungary will not open until the end of May, and social gatherings with over 500 people will not be allowed until August 15. However, restrictions outside the capital, Budapest, will be gradually lifted starting next week.

The country has reported over 300 deaths and 2,775 cases so far, the majority of which have been in the capital.

South Korea and Hong Kong report no new cases

For the first time since the peak of February 29, South Korea reported no new local cases in the last 24 hours and just four imported cases across the country. This is a big milestone given that over 900 cases were confirmed on the 29th of February.

Hong Kong also confirmed that it had no new cases for the 5th consecutive day. There was a surge of cases in March following which the country clamped down hard; cases were isolated and their contacts laboriously tracked. This adds to the small but growing list of countries that are squashing their COVID-19 curves.

For more information, read our article on How to protect your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.
GREENWICH  After organizers had initially hoped to delay the event until August, the Greenwich Town Party has officially been canceled for 2020.

The annual all-day music festival, which is traditionally held Memorial Day weekend and is the biggest event of the year in town, was to feature Mumford & Sons and the Zac Brown Band as headliners.

The health and wellness of our community is our top priority, and there are just too many unknown variables at this time, Ray Rivers, GTP co-president, said Thursday. Even though this decision comes with great disappointment for all of us, we are looking forward to next year when we can all come together again in celebration.

Organizers said that next years date has been secured for May 29, 2021. No acts have been announced as of yet; a decision on that will likely come in the winter.

Tickets for the now-canceled 2020 event will be honored in 2021, organizers said. Ticket holders for 2020 do not need to take any further action.

Anyone with a ticket who cannot attend the 2021 party can get a full refund. Organizers said they would reach out to all ticket holders in the coming weeks once the logistics for issuing refunds are secured.

For the past 10 years, the nonprofit organization has remained steadfast in their mission for people to come together and celebrate the strength of the Greenwich community, the GTP said Thursday. After much deliberation and working closely with the first selectmans office and local health officials, organizers have concluded that holding the event this year is not possible.

The GTP sets up multiple stages at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park and typically hits the parks maximum occupancy of 8,000 people. In an era of social distancing and with access to parks limited to walkers, the initial date of May 23 was impossible.

In March, the nonprofit Greenwich Town Party Inc. that runs the event announced the move to August, but no date or musical lineup was announced. Many bands, including the Zac Brown Band, have since canceled their entire 2020 touring schedules.

The Greenwich Town Party was to mark its 10th year in 2020. In the past has featured Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana and The Beach Boys as headliners as well as local bands and performers.

We are grateful to GTP organizers for creating an event that brings the community together to celebrate town pride every year, First Selectman Fred Camillo said in the announcement. We collaborated with the nonprofit and it was determined that in the interest of public health and safety, the best course of action this year is to cancel the Greenwich Town Party in 2020.

The Greenwich Town Party will continue to hold its Heroes Program for 2020 in which residents and businesses nominate community members as unsung heroes who are giving back during these unprecedented times. Applications are online at www.greenwichtownparty.org/heroes. Of the nominees, 100 heroes will be randomly selected to receive party tickets for 2021.

As always, we appreciate everyones generous support and endless enthusiasm for the Greenwich Town Party, Rivers said. Next year, we will have even more reason to celebrate together.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said officials 'haven't seen' Kim Jong-Un, as rumours increasingly circulate that the North Korean dictator has died.

Kim, believed to be 36, was last seen on April 12 inspecting North Korea's Air Force units.

His disappearance has triggered widespread speculation with rumours swirling that the dictator is either critically ill or dead.

'We haven't seen him. We don't have any information to report today, we're watching it closely,' Mr Pompeo told Fox News on Wednesday.asked in a television interview with Fox News.

US Senator Mike Pompeo (above) said the US was watching the situation regarding Kim Jong-Un's health 'closely' as rumours continue to swirl that the dictator has died

Foreign policy adviser Chung-in Moon said the South Korea government's position is firmly that the despot is not dead

Pompeo added: 'There is a real risk that there will be a famine, a food shortage, inside of North Korea too.'

'We're watching each of those things closely, as they have a real impact on our mission set, which to ultimately denuclearise North Korea.'

Speculation concerning Kim Jong-Un's health began to gain momentum after he failed to turn up at the celebration of his grandfather's birthday on April 13, one of the country's biggest calendar events.

It marks the first time he has ever missed the celebration, the BBC said.

The North Korean dictator is rumoured to have undergone heart surgery earlier this month, after which Hong Kong Satellite Television Shijian Xingzou vice director claimed a 'very solid source' informed her that he was dead.

A Japanese media outlet also claimed Kim was in a 'vegetative state'.

US Senator Lindsey Graham has also weighed in on reports, saying he would be 'shocked' if the North Korean despot was not 'dead or incapacitated' during an interview with Fox News last week.

He said: 'Well, it's a closed society, I don't know anything directly.

'But I'd be shocked if he's not dead or in some incapacitated state because you don't let rumors like this go forever or go unanswered in a closed society, which is really a cult, not a country, called North Korea. So I pretty well believe he is dead or incapacitated.

'And I hope the long-suffering North Korean people will get some relief if he is dead, and President Trump's willing to do business with North Korea in a win-win fashion.

'So, if this guy is dead, I hope the next person who takes over will work with President Trump to make North Korea a better place for everybody.'

Senator Lindsey Graham has previously commented on North Korea to the US media. He has been cited as a powerful foreign policy adviser to the Trump administration

Kim Jong-un has sent a personal letter to workers on a project in the city of Wonsan, according to a state newspaper

Senator Graham has often made comments on the state of North Korea's regime to US media. He was reported as an influential policy adviser to Trump and a staunch ally of his administration by CNN last year.

But state newspaper Rodong Sinmun claimed Kim sent recently sent a personal letter to workers on a project in the city of Wonsan, where a train believed to belong to the leader was spotted in satellite images.

It comes after South Korea's foreign policy adviser Chung-in Moon said earlier this week that Kim was 'alive and well' and has been living at the holiday complex since April 13.

The dictator's 250-metre-long train was spotted close by on satellite images as recently as April 23, according to news website 38North.

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 250-metre-long train belonging to the dictator has been spotted near to his Wonsan holiday compound as recently as Thursday in satellite photos

Kim Jong Un's private jet, pictured above in North Korea in 2014, has remained on the tarmac in Pyongyang. It is frequently used for trips to the Wonsan resort, Asian media said

It was parked at a station reserved exclusively for the Kim family. The website said that although the dictator's whereabouts were not known, the position of the train suggested he has visited the resort.

The most recent photos, from April 23, show the train preparing for departure.

Kim's private jet, often used for trips to Wonsan, remains on the runway in Pyongyang, South Korean broadcaster SBS reported.

North Korean defectors have also said it would be unlikely for aides to leak information relating to his death.

Joo Sung-ha, a North Korean defector turned journalist, said in a Facebook post reported by the New York Times that it was reasonable to believe Kim had health problems, but that he had zero trust in reports why the leader has faced a medical emergency.

'The health of the Kim family is the secret among secrets,' he said.

North Korea has never announced who would succeed Kim Jong Un in the event he is incapacitated, and with no details known about his young children, analysts say his sister and loyalists could form a regency until a successor is old enough to take over.

President Trump revealed on Monday that he had a 'very good idea' about Jong-Un's condition but that he couldn't discuss it.
For 25-year-old Praveen Burathi, it has been the longest journey from the Iranian capital Tehran to his home in Khatoli village in Champawat of Uttarakhand spanning over 60 days and four quarantines amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

And it is not over yet.

He had been quarantined once in Tehran and twice in Jaisalmer earlier before his fourth quarantine began in Champawat on Tuesday.

His ordeal began on February 28 when he went to the Tehran airport to catch a flight to Delhi.

Burathi who works as a navigation officer at a shipping company in Tehran, had been sanctioned two months leave by his company but the flight on February 28 was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

I have been quarantined a fourth time in Champawat. It took me around two months to travel 3,551 km from Tehran to Champawat. When I reached Tehran airport on February 28, I was informed that flight for Delhi has been cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak and countries restricting the movement of people across borders. I was told there was no certainty when the next flight will leave for India, said Praveen Burathi.

Burathi said he then contacted the Indian embassy in Tehran. There I was advised by officials that I would be quarantined in a hotel till the next flight is available. I remained in quarantine there till March 14 and my sample was taken by Iranian officials, which tested negative on March 16.

Finally I boarded the Air India flight for Delhi with 195 other Indians on March 18 from Tehran. After we reached Delhi we were taken to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan through two domestic flights and quarantined there for 14 days, Burathi said.

Burathi said after completion of the quarantine period, their samples were taken again for Covid-19 testing on March 31. The report was received on April 5, which showed two people had tested positive for Covid-19. So the rest of us were quarantined again for 14 days at the same centre. We completed the second quarantine period on April 19, when samples were again sent for the testing, he said.

When the test reports came negative on April 23, then we were permitted to go home. But it took me three more days in obtaining a pass from the authorities in Jaisalmer. During this, we were allowed to stay at the centre. After obtaining a pass, I hired a taxi for 30,000 and left for Champawat, said Burathi.

Burathi reached Champawat on Tuesday and went straight to the local police station to inform them about his arrival. Given his travel history, he was quarantined again in a local hotel for 14 days.

If I had gone directly to my village, the police would have taken action against me for hiding my arrival or villagers might have informed the police. So I thought it is better to approach the police before going to my village, Burathi said.

I want to go home so badly. I am eagerly waiting for this quarantine to end so that I can be with my family. It has been the longest and most tiresome journey of my life, he said

Chief medical officer Champawat district Dr RP Khanduri said, The man who came from Iran has been kept under institutional quarantine at a hotel in Champawat for 14 days.

Though we are quarantining people who come from outside the state, given this mans travel history we are extra cautious. After he completes his quarantine period, his samples will be sent for testing. If they come negative, he will be sent home and advised to stay at home, she said.

In Uttarakhand, where 57 people have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, 11,120 people have been home quarantined and 2,218 have been quarantined in various institutions.
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Jack Ma, co-founder and former executive chairman of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has called for unity and cooperation at an online anti-epidemic meeting held on the Global MediXchange for Combating COVID-19 (GMCC) platform on April 28.

During the meeting, Wang Chen, a Chinese expert in respiratory diseases and critical care medicine, and eight medical specialists from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing shared their anti-pandemic experience with over 1,600 medical workers and experts from the Africa Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and 22 African countries.

The GMCC platform, jointly established by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation, has already held five China-Africa anti-pandemic meetings, bringing together over 1,500 medical experts from China and Africa, Ma said in his speech at the meeting.

Ma also expressed confidence in Africas fight against the epidemic. "Medical supplies and technologies are important, but they aren't as important as cooperation," he said, adding that he believes the fact that African countries can sit together and share their experience is the best way to combat the virus.

"I'm sure that we have many possible ways to deal with the existing threats facing all mankind such as disease, poverty and environmental pollution," Ma noted, pointing out that the knowledge, information technology and anti-risk capabilities of the world nowadays are extremely powerful.

The difference, however, lies in whether these means are employed to create differences and divisions or to strengthen cooperation and collaboration, he said, underlining that only unity, cooperation and confidence can beat the epidemic.
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

More than 100,000 crew members are stuck at sea on cruise ships around the world, according to an investigative report from the Guardian. Of these, at least 50 are infected with COVID-19 and 17 have died of the virus.

"Many of these crew are quarantined in tiny cabins, and some have had their pay cut off," according to the Guardian. "They have effectively become a nation of floating castaways, marooned on boats from the Galapagos Islands to the port of Dubai."

Stranded cruise ships have been an ongoing issue throughout the pandemic and have become a symbol of the struggle to contain the virus. The coronavirus spreads easily in confined quarters such as cruise ships, and many ports around the world haven't allowed ships to dock if there has been an outbreak.When the ships finally dock, the passengers are shuttled off ships and put in quarantine on land, but crew members are left on the boats.

The cruise line industry announced a voluntarily suspension of most ship operations from U.S. ports on March 13. The next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a no sail order to all cruise ships that had not suspended operations. But dozens of ships remain at sea.

In early April, the Coast Guard said it has been involved with processing about 120 vessels carrying some 250,000 passengers in a three-week period alone. As of April 4, there were 114 cruise ships, carrying 93,000 crew members, either in or near U.S. ports and waters. Another 41 cruise ships, with 41,000 crew members, were underway and close to the U.S. at the time.

The San Francisco Bay Area has faced its own issues with cruise ships. The Grand Princess was held off the California coast for day before docking at the Port of Oakland. Hundreds of passengers were dispatched to military bases for quarantines, while some crew members were left on the ship. When the ship arrived in Oakland, 21 passengers and crew members tested positive for COVID-19 but in the days and weeks that followed, dozens more were confirmed to have the virus.

A Filipino crew member on the ship died due to complications with COVID-19, according to a statement from the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns. The patient had been transferred off the ship and hospitalized in San Francisco in March.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NewLeaf Brands Inc. (CSE: NLB) (OTC: NLBIF) (FSE:0NF) ("NewLeaf Brands" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement dated April 29, 2020 ("the Agreement") to acquire Mydecine Group ("Mydecine"), a Colorado headquartered company.

Mydecine is a vertically integrated company engaged to utilize the vast medicinal, health and wellness capabilities of the plethora of compounds found in various strains of mushroom and fungi as a whole. The Company, through its three wholly-owned divisions, "Mydecine Farms", "Mydecine Wellness", and "Mydecine Labs" aims to be an industry pioneer in the cultivation, processing, product development, and research and development of the many beneficial and exciting compounds that are found in various strains of mushroom and fungi from all around the world.

Josh Bartch, CEO of NewLeaf Brands, commented that "we can't be more excited to close this deal with Mydecine. The medical and industrial uses of mushrooms are becoming more popular every day, and we will now be on the forefront of these evolving industries."

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company will purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Mydecine in exchange for 17,000,000 common shares of NewLeaf Brands. The Company will pay a finder's fee for the transaction.

To learn more about Mydecine please visit the company's website at mydecine.com

About NewLeaf Brands

NewLeaf Brands, Inc. is an innovative Cannabidiol ("CBD") lifestyle Company. Through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries We are Kured, LLC, Drink Fresh Water, LLC, ReLyfe Brand, LLC and TeaLief Brand, LLC the Company's main business activities encompass the development, marketing, and distribution of CBD products (including vaporizer pens/cartridges, hot/cold tea, softgel capsules and beverages) throughout North America, South America, and Europe. In addition, NewLeaf Brands, Inc. has extensive retail and cultivation land investments in Oregon, USA.

For further information about NewLeaf Brands, please consult the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's website at www.NABrandsInc.com. For further information about We Are Kured, please visit their website at www.wearekured.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to completion of planned improvements at both the Canadian and US sites on schedule and on budget, the availability of financing needed to complete the Company's planned improvements on commercially reasonable terms, planned occupancy by the tenant-growers, commencement of operations, differences in yield on expected harvests, delays in obtaining statutory approval for marijuana production plans, issues that may arise throughout the grow period, outdoor crops affected by weather, the ability to mitigate the risk of loss through appropriate insurance policies, and the risks presented by federal statutes that may contradict local and state legislation respecting legalized marijuana. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Joshua Bartch

Chief Executive Officer info@nabrandsinc.com

For Further Information Contact

Corporate Communications

info@nabrandsinc.com

+1-250-488-6728

We Are Kured Contact:

Benjamin Martch

Founder & CEO

www.wearekured.com
After several days when the rate of new coronavirus infections in South Carolina appeared to plateau, data released on Thursday showed a sharp, single-day spike that brought the state's collective total to more than 6,000 cases.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 220 new coronavirus cases and 12 additional deaths. The Palmetto State now has confirmed 6,095 cases and 244 deaths since the virus first appeared in the state in early March. The majority of those who were infected have since recovered.

Of the newly reported deaths, nine were elderly individuals from the following counties: two patients each in Greenville and Lexington, and one each in Anderson, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Florence and Richland, DHEC said.

Three patients who died were middle-aged people from Anderson, Greenville and Richland counties, DHEC said.

The spike in cases, while only representative of one day of data, illustrates the challenges faced by officials, who have been balancing growing calls to reopen the state with a continued need for public health precautions.

In mid-April, Gov. Henry McMaster started moving to unspool some restrictions put in place to help slow the virus' spread. April 17 saw public boat landings reopen and April 20 saw restrictions on retail stores ease.

McMaster and other state officials are considering a plan by the South Carolina Lodging and Restaurant Association to allow restaurants to reopen for outdoor, and eventually indoor, service, albeit with restrictions on occupancy.

In Myrtle Beach, authorities have allowed hotels and short-term rentals to resume service.

Nearly all of Charlestons parks are set to reopen Friday.

Mayor John Tecklenburg told City Council Thursday night that playgrounds and any shared equipment would remain inaccessible. Tennis courts will reopen but players must bring their own equipment.

Demetre Park on James Island will remain closed.

On Thursday, Isle of Palms city officials sent a letter to Mount Pleasant's mayor and Town Council explaining the need for the beach community to continue restricting access to its beaches.

The letter was a response to recent reports that Mount Pleasant Town Council would meet to ask barrier islands to remove their entry checkpoints.

"This crisis has affected us all," the letter said. "We are all being called to make small sacrifices by staying home to save lives. ... We will not disregard the medical evidence and put our residents, staff, and any beachgoer, regardless of where they call home, at risk. The beaches we all love will still be here when this crisis is over, until then, all are welcome to exercise on the beach before 8:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m."

Demand for unemployment benefits in South Carolina has dropped over the last two weeks, according to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

But tens of thousands of displaced workers continue to seek help.

Despite the drop-off in the number of new jobless claims, the state's workforce department said the 65,000 applications it received last week still represent 32 times the number it received in February.

As the economic impact of social distancing measures that have shuttered businesses and kept workers at home continues to be felt throughout the state and around the nation, nonprofits are stepping forward to provide help to underserved segments of the Charleston area.

A pair of nonprofits have teamed up to offer minority-owned businesses economic support during the pandemic.

North Charlestons Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities is providing the downtown Charleston-based Local Development Corp. $300,000 to administer a Back to Work Loan Fund that will provide startup and existing businesses with loans ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. Businesses must be owned by people of color in one of the following neighborhoods: Acabee, Chicora-Cherokee, Union Heights, Howard Heights, Windsor Place, Five Mile and Liberty Hill.

One of Charlestons sister cities donated $100,000 to Charleston county and city leaders Thursday to aid relief efforts tied to the coronavirus.

The donation came from the Qatar embassy through the partnership with the Doha-Charleston Sister Cities International Program.

On Thursday, Charleston's food and beverage community was rocked after one of downtown's premier locations for Gullah cuisine said it wouldn't reopen it's doors.

Nana's Seafood & Soul said it would continue to operate its North Charleston location, but that its spot on Ashley Avenue, in the heart of Charleston's West Side neighborhood, would close for good.

DHEC continues to urge the public to stay home and minimize contact with people outside their households in order to prevent the spread of disease.

Officials also recommend continuing to practice social distancing, wearing a face mask while in public, avoid touching frequently touched items, regularly washing hands and monitoring for symptoms.

"Anyone with concerns about their health should reach out to their healthcare provider or use the telehealth services provided by several health care systems," DHEC said. "For telehealth options and the latest information about DHECs COVID-19 response efforts, please visit scdhec.gov/COVID-19."

In the Lowcountry, Charleston County officials and Fetter Health Care Network announced free, mobile coronavirus testing and screening sites beginning May 4.

Screening and testing will be conducted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:

May 4 at Royal Baptist Church, 461 Luella Ave., North Charleston.

May 5 at Charity Baptist Church, 544 E. Montague Ave., North Charleston.

May 6 at Fetter Healthcare, 5225 S.C. Highway 165, Hollywood.

May 7 at Jane Edwards Elementary School, 1960 Jane Edwards Road, Edisto Island.

May 8 at Magistrate Court, 995 Morrison Drive, Charleston.

May 11 at St. James Presbyterian Church, 1314 Secessionville Road, Charleston.

May 12 at Johns Island Library, 3531 Maybank Highway, Johns Island.

May 13 at Wadmalaw Island, an exact location to be determined.

May 14 at Church of Christ, 3950 Azalea Drive, North Charleston.

May 15 at Life Center Ministry, 7190 Cross County Road, North Charleston.

May 18 at North Charleston Community Resource Center, 3970 Whipper Barony Lane.

Anyone experiencing cough, fever and shortness of breath can request to be screened at FetterCovid19Screening.org, or by calling 1-800-365-7410.

Those who are in need of testing are asked to wear face coverings and practice safe social distancing while at the mobile testing site.

All insurance providers in South Carolina are covering the cost of COVID-19 testing, officials said.
BRUSSELS - European unemployment crept up only modestly since the start of the coronavirus lockdowns, data released Thursday showed, at a time when millions of Americans filed for unemployment benefits.

The contrast showed the effect of Europe's starkly different approach to fighting the economy-busting effects of the pandemic, with many governments directly intervening to subsidize private-sector salaries. In the United States, stimulus and relief programs have been comparable in scale, but not as directly tied to avoiding layoffs.

Most of the data released Thursday by many European countries was for March, meaning it reflects about two to three weeks of the pandemic shutdowns, but not the full scale of an economic cataclysm that has only escalated since then. The figures reflect a significant shock to the system at a moment when policymakers are warning of a recession this year larger than that during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Still, when compared with the U.S. jobs carnage for the same time period, when jobless claims spiked to record levels in the United States during the first weeks of widespread lockdowns, the European figures appear far more contained. Seasonally adjusted unemployment across the European Union rose by 0.1 percentage point in March, to 6.6%, according to the E.U. statistics agency.

The overall economic picture is grim in the European Union, with the economy shrinking by 3.5% in the first quarter of the year, the sharpest decline on record, according to figures also released Thursday. The U.S. economy contracted 4.8% during the same period.

The jobless figures have been cushioned by vast numbers of European businesses that have signed up for subsidy programs in which governments pay up to 87% of workers' salaries to avoid layoffs. The system, pioneered in Germany during the 2008-2009 global recession, has now been imitated widely in Europe. The thinking among many policymakers is that the economic blow of the pandemic can be softened if workers are able to keep paying their bills and if businesses do not have to hire and train an entire new set of employees as the crisis abates and ordinary economic life resumes.

"If you have 10% of the workforce getting laid off and going on unemployment benefits, then you would have 10% of the current high-spending consumers who wouldn't be spending anything because of the insecurity of the future," said Danish Employment Minister Peter Hummelgaard. His government has presided over a program in which it pays 75% of workers' salaries, up to $3,355 a month, for employers whose revenues have taken a significant hit from the lockdown. Employers cover the other quarter.

In Denmark, the unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in March, up from 4.0% in February, according to figures released Thursday. The figure would have been far worse if the 150,000 Danish workers who have been enrolled in the salary subsidy program had instead been laid off, Hummelgaard said in an interview.

If those workers had joined the jobless rolls, Denmark's unemployment rate would have jumped to roughly 9.5%.

"Businesses are encouraged and obliged to keep workers in their current jobs, for the sake of the individual worker, obviously, but also for the overall sake of the economy and our ability to get back on track fast," Hummelgaard said. And as Denmark starts to reopen its society, he said, policymakers are already looking at more traditional stimulus programs and hope to wind down the subsidy program by early July.

The costs of the programs can be difficult to estimate as they get underway, since most governments have made them open to any eligible company rather than capping them at a certain level of funding, and the economic outlook continues to darken. The official British Office for Budget Responsibility estimated this month that Britain's program, which is subsidizing up to 80% of the salaries of eligible workers, would cost about $65 billion over three months - a share of the British economy equivalent to a program that would cost $508 billion in the United States. The British program has since been extended by a month, until the end of June. Employers are clamoring for it to stretch until the fall.

The U.S. small-business loan initiative known as the Paycheck Protection Program contains elements similar to the European efforts, since it fully forgives loans if they are used for payroll, rent or mortgage payments. Congress has channeled $659 billion toward it so far. But its funds do not go exclusively toward avoiding layoffs, and U.S. unemployment filings continued to skyrocket Thursday, bringing total new claims to 30 million in the last six weeks.

Europeans say the programs make a major difference in the way they plan their lives.

"It's definitely keeping our jobs alive for the moment," said Maria Hoejer Romme, a Danish business researcher whose company enrolled in the program last month.

She and her husband have a 10-month-old baby and just bought a new home, making them vulnerable to sudden economic disruptions, she said. They recently had a conversation about what would happen if she were laid off, something she said she never could have imagined just a few months ago. The salary subsidy program has made her company more resilient and helped her family plan for the strange new pandemic-struck world.

"There might be a chance I'd lose my job, but now I can think, 'Okay, it probably won't happen,'" she said. "You can adjust your economy, and you can look into the future."

The programs have been rolled out in Europe's largest economies, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy, and have quickly expanded to cover major portions of the workforce. Nearly half of French workers are enrolled; in Britain, two-thirds of employers are participating. The German federal employment agency announced Thursday that employers enrolled up to 10.1 million workers in its wage subsidy program between mid-March and April 26, more than triple the total for all of 2009.

The impact of the pandemic in terms of lost work hours is similar on both side of the Atlantic, said Holger Schmieding, chief economist for the Hamburg-based Berenberg Bank. But while in the United States the "eye-popping numbers" show up in unemployment figures, in Europe they show up in on-the-job benefits, he said. The European system saves "a lot of anguish in hiring and firing."

Most of the programs were initially set up to last only three months, although many have now been extended into the summer. Policymakers hope that as lockdowns ease, governments can dial back the subsidies. If they cut off the programs suddenly, they could still face a wave of layoffs, only this time with depleted coffers. France, for instance, plans to pare back the program after June 1.

Unemployment is still rising across Europe, despite the programs - just at a slower pace than in the United States. German unemployment in April rose 0.7% percentage points to 5.8% and is forecast to rise further.

The United States will release unemployment figures for April on May 8. Analysts estimate that the U.S. jobless rate is currently between 10 and 15%, up from the 50-year low of 3.5% in February, before the pandemic hit.

"The corona pandemic is likely to lead to the worst postwar recession in Germany. As a result, the job market is also under considerable pressure," Detlef Scheele, head of the German Federal Employment Agency, told reporters Thursday. German policymakers agreed last week to increase the salary subsidies so that they cover up to 87% of a worker's pay, up from 67% previously.

Economists say wage subsidy programs typically work most effectively if the worst economic crisis is relatively short - just a few months, ideally - since companies will have a much harder time recovering if they are frozen much longer than that. Customers will move on; demand will change. Assuming lockdowns can be eased relatively quickly, the programs may prove successful, but if the health situation deteriorates again and forces economies to hibernate until fall, the outcome may be less rosy.

"If we see a longer economic downturn in Europe, we'll see the same problems as the U.S. They will have just delayed it," said Simon Tilford, director of research at Forum New Economy, a Berlin-based economics think tank. "It's not a long-term solution to a sharp reduction in demand for labor, because the state cannot afford to subsidize wages at that level indefinitely, and it would slow the pace of adjustment."

Still, in the short run, many European employers see the wage subsidy programs as a godsend.

"Small businesses have no extra money to cover a crisis situation," said Paul Konradi, 33, general manager of Rowdy, a chain of four hip barbershops in Berlin and Hamburg. Customers used to come for haircuts, hot towels and beard trims in establishments decked out with exposed brickwork and vintage chrome and leather chairs. Now those clients are gone.

Without Germany's subsidy program, Konradi said, he probably would have been forced to start laying off some of the company's 26 employees. "There would be no money" without the program, he said. "I don't know what I'd do."

In France, Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud said Wednesday that 11.3 million workers were now enrolled in her country's program, which pays up to 70% of salaries.

"I think we can be proud in France that we have put in place this massive safety net," she said.

The programs are "effective, but it's not absolute," said Jean Pisani-Ferry, a French economist and nonresident fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economists who has taken part in crisis consultations with the French government.

Still, as a gamble in risky times, he said the programs make sense.

"You have two risks. You have the risk of keeping companies afloat that have no future" by using wage subsidy programs. Or, without the programs, "you have the risk of precipitating the collapse of companies that do have a future," he said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Loveday Morris in Berlin, Christine Spolar in London, James McAuley in Paris and Quentin Aries in Brussels contributed to this report.
El-Sisi reiterated that facing the repercussions of the pandemic should be conducted in parallel with the rest of the continents efforts in combating terrorism and extremism

According to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency, El-Sisi participated on Wednesday in a mini-summit via video conferencing with a number of African counterparts to follow up on the outcomes of previous summits held over the repercussions of the spread of the virus in African countries.

He affirmed to several African leaders the necessity of continued communication between African countries to coordinate efforts related to combating the coronavirus pandemic.

The virtual meeting saw the participation of South African president and current African Union chair Cyril Ramaphosa and the heads of state of Kenya, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Niger, Tanzania, Rwanda, Chad, Madagascar and the Sudanese prime minister and African Union Commission chair.

He stressed on the importance of promoting action with international finance institutions and international partners to support African countries in the economic sector both in the medium and long terms amid the negative implications on the countries economies due to the outbreak.

He also affirmed the necessity of providing necessary support in terms of preventive and medical supplies.

El-Sisi also highlighted Egypts experience in dealing with the crisis, especially through support for the health and economic sectors.

The meeting also saw agreement on continued coordination with G20 countries to carry out the parameters agreed upon in the last meeting by the bloc to support African countries in terms of mobilising development funding and providing international financial assistance to combat the economic, social and health impact of the pandemic.

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Missed the most recent top news in Baltimore? Read on for everything you need to know.

Health Care Heroes Day on Saturday to include flyover

Maryland will light up blue, while the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds will fly over the state in a show of support for front-line workers.

Read the full story on Patch.com.

Johns Hopkins tearing down 'Old Carnegie,' training ground for generations of biologists

Completed in 1960 with funding support from the Carnegie Institution of Washington, the structure was the longtime home of the Department of Embryology, training ground for generations of biologists and the site of numerous groundbreaking experiments and discoveries.

Read the full story on Baltimore Fishbowl.

Street vendors use horse-drawn carts to deliver donated chicken to residents

Several pounds of free frozen chicken were delivered Wednesday to residents of Baltimore's west side by street vendors who normally sell produce from horse-drawn carts.

Read the full story on Houston Chronicle.

Medical center accepting cards for patients who can't see family due to COVID-19

The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center is finding a way to offer patients joy and compassion.

Read the full story on CBS Baltimore.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
The UK coronavirus death toll reached 26,097 yesterday.

Confirming the naked criminality of the Johnson governments pursuit of its herd immunity policy, it admitted that an additional 3,811 deaths took place between March 2 and April 28. Around 70 percent of these were "outside hospital settings," mainly in care homes and private residences.

In addition to the 3,811 deaths, a further 765 fatalities were reported in the 24 hours to 5 p.m. Tuesday, of which around 600 died in hospital. Deaths in hospitals in England alone are approaching 20,000 (19,740).

The UK is fast becoming the centre of the pandemic in Europe and is set to surpass the 27,682 deaths already recorded in Italy. Italys death toll is the second worst in the world after the United States, which has 61,656 deaths.

A man wearing a face mask pushes a child in a buggy past signs supporting the National Health Service (NHS) in east London, Monday, April 27, 2020 (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The government is only now releasing the number of deaths in care homes due to growing public outrage over elderly and vulnerable people being allowed to die without any protection, as the coronavirus ripped through residential homes that have been turned into killing fields.

Despite its admission of thousands more deaths outside hospitals, the government is still vastly under-reporting the true number of COVID-19 fatalities. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has already reported 6,000 deaths in care homes, and in just the two weeks to April 24, the Care Quality Commission was notified of 4,343 deaths from COVID-19 in care homes.

In Scotland, deaths as a result of COVID-19 account for half of reported fatalities in care homes. The National Records of Scotland reported Wednesday that by April 26 there had been 2,272 COVID-19-linked deaths. Of these, 338 of the 656 deaths recorded between April 20 and 26 were in care homes.

Speaking to BBC Radio Four Tuesday, Professor David Spiegelhalter, a University of Cambridge statistician, said, What we are seeing is a massive increase in deaths.  While COVID deaths in hospitals have been steadily declining since April 8 and now number around 400-450 a day, new Care Quality Commission data show that last week there were around 350-400 COVID deaths in English care-homes each day. When we add in deaths at home, this suggests there are now about as many COVID deaths out of hospital as in hospital. And while hospital deaths are steadily decreasing, there is no sign yet that we are past the peak in care homes.

The governments daily figures have never included the figures recorded by the ONS of more than 880 people with coronavirus dying at home in England and Wales since the first death in the UK at the end of February. The ONS has also recorded 190 coronavirus deaths in hospices.

Even the pro-Tory Daily Mail reported Wednesday that the new tally still falls thousands short of the reality.  The Government will only include people who have tested positive for the virus in its statistics, despite rationing almost all the testing kits to hospitals for the first month of the outbreak, meaning thousands of people may have died without ever being diagnosed.

The Tories are anticipating thousands more deaths. Asked to respond by Sky News reporter Kay Burley to the statement that our death toll in Britain is on track to being the worst in Europe, Environment Secretary George Eustice replied, "Weve been on similar trajectories to France and Italy.  It may well be that we are, who knows, we dont know that at the moment.

Earlier this week, Financial Times analysis of ONS data concluded that a conservative estimate of UK excess deaths by April 21 was 41,102.

Even as the real picture of the catastrophic loss of human life emerges, the Tory government, in alliance with the Labour Party and the unions, is moving ahead with a mass return to work policy, as the goal is referred to by the Trades Union Congress.

The governments official stance is that no major decision to end the lockdown will be taken before the next review date on May 7. But behind the scenes, every mechanism is being put in place to ensure a de facto return. On Wednesday, the Daily Telegraph reported that Boris Johnson is preparing to water down [lockdown] restrictions within days. The newspaper explains that of the five tests that were set out earlier this month to be passed before easing the lockdown, four have been or are close to being met.

One of the tests is a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death ratebut no matter! The newspaper also reports, The fifth hurdle, which ministers have always said is the most important, was described in official government documents on Monday as a confidence that any adjustments to the current measures will not risk a second peak of infections.

Such niceties will not be allowed to stand in the way of sending millions back to work, with the Telegraph noting, Yesterday the wording was changed to say the aim was to avoid a second peak that overwhelms the NHSmaking it easier for ministers to say the test had been met. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, has repeatedly trumpeted the fact that the NHS has never been overwhelmed during the whole of the current crisis, which means that ministers could now argue that the NHS would be able to cope even if infections rose sharply again.

The underfunded and destaffed NHS has faced a constant crisis in the face of the coronavirus that has cost the lives of many doctors and nurses who have not been provided with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). Nursing Notes reported that by Wednesday morning, at least 148 health and social care workers are now believed to have died of COVID-19.

A raft of companies, including high street chains, major manufacturers and building companies, have already opened or are planning to soon reopen. The government announced yesterday that with immediate effect, all non-essential retailers would be permitted to operate click-and-collect serviceswith the only proviso that their customers remain outside the store in a queue before collecting goods.

The Telegraph reported it had learnt that ministers are in talks with business leaders over a flexible furlough scheme that will allow them to bring their workforce back part-time and share the cost with the Treasury, which could form a central pillar of a plan to get Britain back to work.

Central to the back-to-work plan is for schools to be reopened. Education Minister Gavin Williamson said yesterday that pupils would return to schools in a phased approach.

So compromised is the Tory government that Johnson depends on the support of the Labour Party and the trade unions to spearhead the back-to-work campaign. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took to the pages of the Financial Times on Tuesday to insist the lockdown must end, declaring, If lockdown is necessary for that [reducing the COVID-19 infection rate], we support it. But we cant park the next set of decisions. They are in danger of being slow on their exit strategy.

He asked, Are you going to prioritise schools? Which bits of the economy do you want to ensure are able to work most quickly[?]  All of the exit strategies Ive seen [in other countries] have given an indication of what might happen with schools, what might happen in business sectors, and we need to have the same conversation.

The trade unions are involved in high-level talks with ministers and business leaders in seven sectors of the economy in organising the back-to-work operation. On Monday, the Trades Union Congress issued a 23-page report, Preparing for the return to work outside the home: a trade union approach. The document represents the TUCs initial thinking on how to manage the mass return to work at the end or easing of lockdown.

The needs of British capitalism, not the health of millions of people, are the main priority of the trade union bureaucracy, which declares, Working people will need to return to work outside the home at some point in the coming months. The TUC does not take a position on the science of how to manage a pandemic, or the speed or nature of any return to work. It is invidious to argue about the relative priority of public health or economic growth: both are important to the wellbeing of working people.
Jaipur

One in every four cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Gujarat has so far been reported from two zones of the Ahmedabad municipal corporation, with a population of 320,000, government data shows.

Till Thursday, 4,395 cases were reported, out of which 24.50% cases have been reported from the central and southern zones of Ahmedabad. Of the total 1,713 cases reported from these two zones, most have been from Khadia, Dariapur, Shahpur, Jamalpur, Danilimdi and Behrampur, according to officials.

Ahmedabad municipal commissioner Vijay Nehra said the wards from central and southern zones come under the Walled City of the district and have high population density. On a scale never seen before in India, we sealed the old Walled City in a single day and surveyed more than 100,000 people. We adopted a strategy of cluster containment early on and were able to moderate the growth of virus in hot spots such as central Ahmedabad. Even at the cost of a rise in figures, we started aggressive testing and surveillance, he said.

An official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the municipal corporation took some time to react after the first case was reported on March 30. Also, the lockdown norms were not strictly enforced in these wards, the local government official said.

Giving out details of Covid-19 cases in the state, health secretary Jayanthi Ravi on Thursday said the recovery rate considerably improved over the past few days. We expect to see a lot of improvement in the next week or so, she said.

Following the guidelines of the Union home ministry, the state government has also started the process of identifying people of Gujarat stuck in other states. Responsibility has been assigned to 16 officers of Gujarat to make arrangements to bring back stranded persons. The process will be carried out in phases, said Ashwani Kumar, secretary to the chief minister.

In Surat, a 50-year-old Covid-19 patient, who allegedly left the Covid-19 ward of a civil hospital two days back, was found dead on a bench outside the medical facility on Thursday morning, police said. Preliminary investigations and CCTV footage of the hospital indicated that the man did not go outside the hospital campus, located in Khatodara area, during the last two days, an official from Khatodara police station said. He was admitted on April 21 and a few days later, his wife also tested positive and was admitted to the same hospital.

As of now, we dont know why he ran away in the middle of his treatment, where he went and how he died. We are carrying out a thorough investigation into it, deputy commissioner of police Vidhi Chaudhari said.

(With PTI inputs)
As epidemiologists learn more about the novel coronavirus, new ideas for how to treat the illness the virus causes continue to emerge, as do ideas for how to test for it.

One such proposal is antibody testing, which has been floated as a potential means to test a larger swath of the population, but the idea is still in trial phases.

Bloom said Natrona County officials have decided not to adopt antibody testing for the time being.

Those tests have not been FDA validated or approved, she said, though added as research progresses, the county may be able to offer it in the future.

Bloom also issued a warning. Just because someone feels better, doesnt mean theyre clear of the virus.

Many of our positive cases that first tested positive and were reported back in early and mid March are still testing positive for COVID-19 over a month later, she said.

She said even though those patients felt better and met the criteria for being considered recovered, they could still potentially expose others.
Photo credit: NASA

From Popular Mechanics

SpaceX, Blue Origin's National Team, and a 25-company team led by Dynetics have been selected to develop and test their human landing systems as part of NASA's Artemis program.

NASA Administrator announced the awards April 30 during a teleconference streamed on NASA TV.

Now, the companies will spend the next ten months working with NASA to perfect the designs.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine revealed that SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics would be eligible to develop the lunar lander for NASA's upcoming trip to the moon.

"Now, we have the jewel in the crown, which is our human landing system," associate administrator of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate Doug Loverro said during the April 30 teleconference. Lisa Watson-Morgan, program manager for the human landing systems program and contracting officer Tyler Cochran joined Loverro and Bridenstine on the teleconference.

The Artemis program is designed to land the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024. NASA plans to send astronauts to the lunar south pole, an area of key scientific interest because of the availability of water ice tucked in the region's permanently shadowed craters.

The Artemis program has several key components: the Space Launch System rocket, the Lockheed Martin-built Orion capsule, and the lunar-orbiting Gateway space station. Initially, Gateway was set to be an integral part of the first of the Artemis mission, but NASA has since backed off that plan.

"The one thing that we have not had as an agency under development is a human landing system," Bridenstine said during the teleconference. "This is the last piece that we need in order to get to the moon, and now were going to have that piece."

In total, NASA awarded $967 million to the three contractors to refine their designs during the 10-month-long period. $579 million was awarded to Blue Origin, $253 million to Dynetics, and $135 million to Spacex.

Story continues

Now, it's off the races for these three teams. The teams each have ten months to refine their concepts, at which point NASA will decide whether or not to downselect to two teams to move with development and testing.

"We have three notably different architectures, from a one stage, a two-stage and a three stage architecture," Watson-Morgan said during the teleconference. "That achieves the innovation and the dissimilar redundancy of approaches that we wanted.

Here's a bit about the award winners and their designs:



Blue Origin's National Team

Photo credit: Blue Origin

Blue Origin tapped Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Draperall veteran developers of spaceflight techto aid the Jeff Bezos-run company in developing its three-stage lunar landing system called the Integrated Lander Vehicle (ILV). Blue Origin is designing the lander but also the BE-7 enginesfilled with a mixture of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygenthat will power the spacecraft.

Lockheed Martin will develop an "ascent element," including a crew capsule similar to the Orion capsule. Northrop Grumman will be in charge of developing a transfer element similar to its Cygnus cargo module and Draper will handle guidance, navigation and control, avionics and software systems for spacecraft, according to the press release.

Each of these elements, according to the statement, can be launched together or separately atop both available commercial rocketsincluding the company's New Glenn rocket and United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket as well as NASA's SLS rocket.

Blue Origin's National Team, according to Watson-Morgan, will conduct an uncrewed lunar landing test of their descent module prior to the crewed mission.

SpaceX

Photo credit: SpaceX





For the past few months, SpaceX had been tight-lipped about designs for a potential human landing system. In October, SpaceX COO Glynn Shotwell told reporters that the company would adapt their Starship spacecraft and Falcon Heavy rocket to support the missionand that's exactly what they did.

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and Falcon Heavy rocket are designed to carry humans to the moon, Mars, and beyond. The company will adapt the spacecraft's roomy interiorprimarily developed to carry cargoto house a crew of astronauts. It will be equipped with two airlocks and, as shown in the above image, an elevator that will lower and lift astronauts onto the Lunar surface.

According to the press release, SpaceX intends to send up several Starship spacecraft, including one filled with propellant into low-Earth orbit to support the human-rated spacecraft. Starship will be able to dock with the Orion capsule and the lunar Gateway and will be launched atop the company's reusable Raptor engine-powered Super Heavy rocket.

Watson-Morgan said that the company will conduct a demonstration of the propellant transfer system and an uncrewed lunar test landing.



Dynetics

Photo credit: Dynetics





Dynetics, a Leidos company based in Huntsville, Alabama, has formed a superhero-like crew of 25 subcontractors, which will partner to develop their two-stage Dynetics Human Landing System (DHLS).

Notably, Dynetics's concept hangs close to the ground to allow astronauts easy access to the lunar surface and comes equipped with an "anytime abort capability" according to Watson-Morgan. It will also be able to dock with the Orion capsule and the lunar Gateway and can be launched atop a variety of different commercial rockets.

Watson-Morgan says Dynetics also plans to conduct a demonstration flight before sending astronauts aboard their landing system.



Next Stages

Noticeably absent from the list is Boeing, which publicly announced that it was submitting a proposal in November. NASA officials declined to comment on why the spaceflight company wasnt selected, but the agency and government watchdog groups like the Government Accountability Office have openly criticized how the company has handled the development of the Space Launch System.



Weve selected the best of industrys ideas to team with NASA, said Loverro. This is really the last piece of the puzzle to go ahead and get us back to the moon."

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Lets talk about ethics and treatment for COVID-19

In this episode of The Conversation - Africa's podcast, Pasha, Wits bioethics researchers discuss the difficult decisions facing health professionals.

With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in South Africa, health professionals will have to make important decisions on who gets what treatment. But how do these decisions get made?

In todays episode of Pasha, Kevin Behrens, director of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, and Christopher Wareham, a senior lecturer at the same centre, discuss the ethics surrounding coronavirus topics.

This podcast was based on an article in the Open Access COVID-19 Special Issue of the Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Ozayr Patel, Digital Editor, The Conversation. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Harris County inched closer to making a $14 million offer to purchase the 93-lot subdivision Woodridge Village and convert it into drainage detention during a record-breaking 12-hour commissioners court meeting on April 28.

The flood control district can only make an offer for the property if the county completes a $7 million land agreement with the City of Houston.

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Assuming theyre agreeable  our guidance from the court said we have to have an interlocal agreement with the city of Houston and have all of that documented before we can write a check to purchase the property, Zeve said. So we all have to go through the order of operations in order to make this land acquisition a reality.

County and city officials want to convert the subdivision, which straddles the boundaries between Harris and Montgomery counties, into detention to prevent continued flooding in Kingwood neighborhood Elm Grove, which flooded twice last year due to development, residents say.

The interlocal agreement would require the City of Houston to offer $7 million in other land to the county that would be used for regional drainage and flood control projects, said Russ Poppe, the executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District.

We wouldnt try to acquire any property from the city that the flood control district wouldnt turn around and make part of a project or projects that were planning to accomplish, said Matt Zeve, the Harris County Flood Control Districts deputy executive director.

Multi-phased plan

The county is waiting for a decision from the city of Houston in writing, but some city officials are optimistic about the deal being consummated. District E Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin said the city of Houston has already identified 11 pieces of land that would qualify for the agreement, six of which were presented in the executive session of the meeting.

MORE FROM SAVANNAH MEHRTENS: Mental health organizations see increase in demand as COVID-19 crisis continues

Its one of these things, you look back a year ago when we first started bringing up What do we do about this. If you wouldve told me we would have been successful in purchasing that land and stopping this project, I would have told you you were crazy, you were nuts, you were everything bad I could say, Martin said. And what happened last night was an example of the dedication of a number of folks, including [Mark Mitchell] and Jenna [Armstong] and the folks at the Chamber, Dan Huberty, Jack Cagle, Beth Guide from Elm Grove Home Owners Association.

If the property acquisition is successful, the flood control district does not have the estimated cost of $30 million to construct the full detention basin immediately, Zeve said.

A smaller detention basin on the northern portion of the property will be finished in July, offering some mitigation for the upcoming hurricane season. However, the full project for detention across the 268-acre lot would be a multi-step process taking at least a year or two to complete once they have full funding, he noted.

If the detention basin cannot be fully funded, another option for the county would be to phase the project over several years and use funding from the yearly budget.

The project would begin with an excavation and removal program, which is being used across Harris County to connect contractors to the site to remove the selected material for free. Then HCFCD would need to find either the federal or state funding to build out the full detention basin.

Flood mitigation goal

The overarching goal is to get cities within the county and in the ETJ to comply with the HCFCD and Harris County Engineering drainage standards, according to Joe Stinebaker, the director of communications for Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner Jack Cagle.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis made a proposal during the meeting to direct the flood control district and the county engineers office to come up with a strategy to get the jurisdictions within Harris County to comply with drainage standards from their two departments that was adopted.

AFTER IMELDA: Houston files cease and desist, launches investigation into flooding at Kingwood neighborhood Elm Grove

So if engineering and flood control can come back and say, Yeah we can do this, which would discourage them from having loose regulations, and we can do this to encourage them to make stronger regulations, and we can work with them on this to come up with a strategy thats what the county is wanting to do, Stinebaker said. So that wasnt connected to [Woodridge Village] but it is part of the overarching strategy to get the entire region on the same page.

HEALTH: Coronavirus live updates

History of detention needs

More than 200 people in the Kingwood subdivision of Elm Grove believe the construction of Woodridge Village northwest of the community is the reason why their neighborhood flooded in May 2019 and from Tropical Storm Imelda. After Imelda several residents filed a lawsuit against the developer and Martin announced a cease and desist letter to Perry Homes, Figure Four Partners, and Double Oak Construction for allegedly discharging debris from Woodridge Village into Elm Grove.

Figure Four Partners has been in negotiations with Harris County for months after their first face-to-face meeting Nov. 8 to come to an agreement to sell the approximately 268 acres of land for regional detention. The property remains available for sale to the private market, according to the April 8 update provided by the media consultants for Figure Four Partners, Begala McGrath.

Harris County Flood Control was working with the city of Houston to find a resolution and was looking for a partner to help complete the property acquisition as of early March as previously reported.

Chris Begala, who is a media consultant for Begala McGrath, sent a statement on behalf of Figure Four Partners, which is an affiliate of Perry Homes, as they have continued to do throughout the negotiation process. According to the statement, the company never intended to profit from the regional detention proposal, and the sales price of just over $14 million will have a loss of over $9 million in development costs to the company which does not include the current project costs for additional northern detention. Those costs will not be included in the sales price if a definitive agreement is in place by May 15. Figure Four Partners is encouraged to hear that Harris County Flood Control will be making an offer to purchase the Woodridge Village tract so it can be used for regional detention, Begalas shared statement said. It was Figure Four who first brought this idea forward to Harris County last fall, and we have worked diligently to make it a reality.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
The United States government, through its aid agency USAID, has announced an additional grant of $3 million to help India combat the coronavirus pandemic.

IMAGE: A man draws a message on a road to raise awareness about the spreading of coronavirus disease during the nationwide lockdown in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: ANI Photo

On April 6, the USAID had announced a grant of $2.9 million to India to mitigate the spread of the deadly virus.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said the additional funding will further support India's response to COVID-19.

This additional funding to support India in its continuing efforts to combat COVID-19 is yet another example of the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and India, a release issued by the US Embassy quoted the envoy as saying.

The US Agency for International Development is one of the leading aid agencies globally.

The USAID is providing these funds to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity project, an innovative financing platform, the release said.

To date, USAID has provided $5.9 million to assist India in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

This assistance will help India slow the spread of COVID-19, provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, and strengthen case finding and surveillance, it said.

"Through the PAHAL project, USAID will support the National Health Authority to establish a financing facility that can mobilize resources from the private sector to assist over 20,000 health facilities enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, India's health insurance scheme for 500 million poor and vulnerable people," the release said.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Pacton Gold Inc. (TSXV:PAC) (OTC PINK:PACXF) (FSE:2NKN) (the "Company" or "Pacton") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases of January 31, 2020 and April 2, 2020, it has completed its transaction with TomaGold Corporation (TSXV:LOT) ("TomaGold"), whereby the Company acquired all of TomaGold's interest, being 39.5%, in a joint venture with Evolution Mining and Newmont Corporation (formerly GoldCorp when TomaGold entered into the joint venture) on the Sidace Lake Property, Ontario. Pacton is the manager under the joint venture and will be so until March, 2021.

On Behalf of the Board of Pacton Gold Inc.

R. Dale Ginn

Executive Chairman

For more information, please contact 1-(855)-584-0258 or info@pactongold.com.

This news release may contain or refer to forward-looking information based on current expectations, including, but not limited to the Company achieving success in exploring its properties and the impact on the Company of these events, including the effect on its share price. Forward-looking information is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, as actual results may differ materially from forecasted results. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. References to other issuers with nearby projects is for information purposes only and there are no assurances the Company will achieve similar results.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT: Pacton Gold

200 Burrard Street, Suite 1680

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L6

Tel: (604) 678-5308

www.pactongold.com

SOURCE:

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587768/Pacton-Gold-Closes-Transaction-with-TomaGold
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA MAY 2, 2020-Bill Beukers and his wife Teresa claim there constitutional rights as they speak to Newport Beach police officers as a beach closure went into effect Saturday. After 15 minutes the officers let them stay. California Governor Gavin Newsome's closed Orange County beaches to slow the spread of the coronavirus. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) (Wally Skalij/Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

There is growing backlash from some coastal communities to the idea that Gov. Gavin Newsom might close beaches in a continuing effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Newsom criticized beachgoers who hit the sand last weekend in Orange County, which has left its shores open while Los Angeles County has kept its beaches off-limits.

Newsom urged Californians on Wednesday to stay home and practice physical distancing to avoid spoiling the progress the state has made to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as he prepares to allow some businesses to gradually reopen.

Why put ourselves in that position when we are just a week or two away from significant modifications of our stay-at-home [order], where we can begin ... to reopen sectors of our economy that are low risk? Newsom asked.

Newsom unveiled a broad outline of a plan to lift his stay-at-home order and slowly ease the restrictions on Californians in four stages in the weeks and months ahead. The governor also announced that schools could potentially reopen in July or August, catching educators who were learning about it for the first time off guard.

But the idea of forcing beaches to close was opposed by officials from Eureka as well as Orange County and San Diego.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who had praised residents early this week for their responsible behavior at the countys recently reopened beaches, said the decision would send the wrong message.

County Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Greg Cox sent letters to Newsom urging him to reconsider, saying the region had successfully implemented a safe plan and deserved the right to make the decision.

We remain steadfastly committed to following your Executive Orders, but actions that appear punitive when our residents have been faithful and fully compliant make this challenging, Cox wrote.

Jacob said that instead of closing beaches, Newsom should be offering regions greater flexibility as they continue to tackle the challenges presented by the pandemic.

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The Humboldt County sheriff said he opposed Gov. Gavin Newsoms expected decision Thursday to close all beaches in California.

As sheriff, I am the protector of constitutional rights in Humboldt County, and if an order is issued that I believe violates our constitutional rights, I will not enforce it, the sheriff, William Honsal, said in a statement published Thursday morning.

Honsal said it was unfair for Northern California to be punished for Southern Californians heading to beaches in Orange County last weekend. He referred to Newsom at Mondays press conference saying you didnt see those images ... around San Mateo County, up further north towards Eureka, because we had strong guidelines that were not only adopted, but were abided by.

The governor is a smart man, Honsal said in his Thursday morning statement. I hope he follows sound advice. It is not OK to punish Northern California for Southern Californias mistake, and I hope he hears that loud and clear.

Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner released a statement saying the idea of closing the beaches was unwise.

Medical professionals tell us the importance of fresh air and sunlight in fighting infectious diseases, including mental health benefits, he said. Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far. I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information.
NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE U ntil recently, the most commonly accepted timeline suggested that the COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China in late December 2019, first hit the U.S. in mid January, and caused its first American death at the end of February. In total, over 1 million individuals have been infected with the coronavirus in the U.S., and 58,000 have died, for a rough American case-fatality rate of 5.8 percent.

Unfortunately, this epidemiological profile comes with several caveats: There are many Americans who have caught the virus but dont show up in the official infected count because they havent been tested. And at least some have died from the virus without being counted toward the official death toll, so the true case-fatality rate remains unknown. The noise inherent in the data makes it all the more essential that we continue to develop our epidemiological understanding of COVID-19 so that we can make sound policy decisions in the fight against it.

Fortunately, over the past few weeks, new information has emerged that has helped that effort along. It is now apparent that COVID-19 landed on the shores of the U.S. earlier than wed thought. After an autopsy, it was determined that a 57-year-old California woman, who was diagnosed with the flu and died on February 6 of what was thought to be a heart attack, had actually died of complications from COVID-19. February 6 was three weeks earlier than the COVID-19 death previously thought to be the first in the U.S., meaning the virus had three crucial extra weeks to spread through our country.

There is also new word coming from several recent regional antibody surveys on the percentage of people who were infected during the early months of the pandemic. It is assumed that individuals who have been infected develop antibodies to COVID-19. While it is still unknown whether the presence of antibodies can provide some degree of immunity, the percentage of people with antibodies gives a good indication of how many people were infected in the past. A study of New York State found that among 3,000 individuals who were out shopping, 13.9 percent had antibodies to the virus. (In New York City, the rate was 21.2 percent.) A study of 3,000 Facebook users in Santa Clara County, Calif. showed antibodies in between 2.2 percent and 3.4 percent of those tested. And in Los Angeles, 4.1 percent of a random sample of 863 people were shown to have antibodies. Each of these studies can only tell part of the story, because of how their subjects were recruited. But they still provide a helpful idea of the extent of the viruss spread in these areas early in the outbreak.

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We have also learned much about the distribution of the disease across the country and within cities and states. We know that large metropolitan areas are, in general, more heavily affected. We know that the number of COVID-19 cases varies by neighborhood in these cities, and that cases and deaths have been higher in African-American and Latino neighborhoods, which often have high population density and limited community resources. American-Indian reservations with similar environmental conditions seem to have an unusually high number of cases as well.

There is also emerging data that suggest we still do not know COVID-19s true case-fatality rate. It has long been assumed that the case-fatality rate would drop to below one as more asymptomatic individuals were tested, leading to an increase in the equations denominator. But we are now learning that more reported deaths may need to be attributed to coronavirus than previously were, increasing the equations numerator and potentially keeping the case-fatality rate higher than anticipated.

Recent changes to how the CDC reports COVID-19 deaths could also increase the official death toll. The CDC has changed the COVID-19 case definition that is used to standardize what is considered a true reportable case of infection. Cases are now defined as confirmed if there is laboratory evidence of infection and probable if there is insufficient laboratory evidence but the individual was in close contact with a confirmed case or had certain clinical indicators. As of April 14, CDC case and death numbers included both categories. In the past few weeks, the CDC has also expanded the number of clinical features included in the case definition.

An analysis by the Washington Post and Yale University researchers further validates concerns about the case-fatality rate. It showed that there were more total deaths from all causes observed during March and early April than were observed on average in past years. It found that there were over 15,000 excess deaths nationwide  that is, 15,000 more than wed have expected from historical data  during this time period. One obvious interpretation is that these excess deaths are unreported cases of COVID-19. But of course, its also possible that because of COVID-19s drain on health-care resources, people with other mortal conditions did not receive the care they normally would have and died.

All of this new information helps fill in the gaps in our understanding of the virus and its spread. We can now assume given that by the time travel from China (January 31) and then Europe (March 11) had been banned by the Trump administration, the virus had already seeded New York City and large metro areas on the West Coast, and that it spread widely throughout the country thereafter. Its also clear that New York City and other such metropolises were particularly hard hit, in all likelihood because of their population density.

Grim as it may be to read, this is good news: The better our understanding of the virus, the more effective we can be in responding to it. But now is not the time for congratulations. We must continue to produce more data to assist government leaders in developing their plans for when, where, and how to scale back on extreme-mitigation measures and move to a more measured containment strategy of wide-scale testing, masks, social distancing, good hand hygiene, and contact tracing. Countless lives and the health of our economy depend on it.

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The court decision will enter into force after the deadline for the submission of the appeal by all parties to the case, if the appeal is not filed.

On April 28-29, 2020, the Frankivsk District Court of Lviv satisfied the claim of LLC Investokhills Vesta Financial Company against Taras Barshchovsky, with the participation of a third party - LLC Yablunevy Dar, regarding debt collection.

The claim is partially satisfied. According to the court, Taras Barshchovsky must pay the debt under the loan agreement in the amount of 831 770 732 UAH. 99 cop., Of which 279 631 673 UAH. 88 kopecks - loan debt, 3 565 530 UAH. 16 kopecks interest arrears, 6 412 299 UAH. 82 kopecks penalty for late loan repayment, 966 391 UAH. 65 kopecks penalty for untimely interest return, 541 194 837 UAH. 48 kopecks fine.

In addition, the court decided that Barshchovsky should pay the court fee by in the amount of 13 895 UAH. 60 kopecks in favor of LLC Investokhills Vesta Financial Company, as well as a court fee in state favor in the amount of 3654 UAH.

The court has decided to refuse the satisfaction of the counterclaim of Taras Barshchovsky to LLC Investokhills Vesta Financial Company, with the participation of a third party LLC Yablunevy Dar, to declare the guarantee terminated.

In addition, the court decision has not yet entered into legal force and can be appealed to the Lviv Court of Appeal within 30 days from the date of its announcement, and if the preparation of the full court decision is postponed, the indicated period shall be calculated from the day the full court decision was drawn up.

The court decision will enter into force after the deadline for the submission of the appeal by all parties to the case, if the appeal is not filed.

Taras Barshchovsky is the beneficiary owner of T.B. Fruit Group of Companies, with its assets in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova.
Fact-checking and verification were already crucial skills for journalists before the COVID-19 pandemic came along, thanks in part to the rise of Donald Trump and the alt-rights weaponization of social media. But the coronavirus has made fact-checking and filtering skills even more important, as trolls traffic in rumors about how drinking bleach or taking megadoses of vitamin C can cure the virus, or how the rollout of 5G cell network technology caused COVID-19 (misinformation that Twitter is now removing in the UK, after a number of antennas were toppled and burned). Complicating things even further: the president of the United States is spreading misinformation about whether the virus can be treated by injecting disinfectant.

We used CJRs Galley discussion platform to speak with a number of experts in fact-checking and verification, all of whom are co-authors of the latest edition of the Verification Handbook, which was published earlier this week by the European Journalism Centre (later this week, well be using Galley to interview Gemma Mendoza of Rappler, Brandy Zadrozny of NBC, and Claire Wardle of First Draft). Craig Silverman, the media editor at BuzzFeed, selected all the authors and edited the handbook, and says the skills described in it are more crucial than they have ever been.

Its important for journalists to embrace complexity and to resist instinctively grasping for the obvious explanation, Silverman told CJR. To give one example, he said, there has been a lot of bad reporting that assumes Russian trolls are to blame for everything bad on social media. Poorly worded politics tweet from a newly-created Twitter account? Russian troll! Someone promoting Trump? Russian troll! In reality, the provenance of a specific rumor or hoax may be a lot more complicated, involving 4chan posts that were then shared on Twitter and picked up by an alt-right media outlet, and then tweeted by the president. And the platforms share much of the blame, Donie OSullivan of CNN told CJR. We had a story this week about a conspiracy theory falsely claiming an innocent woman in the US was coronavirus patient zero. The conspiracy had been circulating on YouTube for weeks and the company didnt do a whole lot about it.

ICYMI: Why did Matt Drudge turn on Donald Trump?

Joan Donovan, who runs the Technology and Social Change research center at Harvard, spends a lot of her time tracing the life-cycle of media manipulation campaigns, and told CJR that one of the downsides of organized efforts like the one that Russias Internet Research Agency conducted around the Black Lives Matter movement is that they prevent authentic black voices from being heard on these issues. This is why it is so important for researchers to counteract platforms grand narrative that only they can give voice to the voiceless. If platforms arent protecting these communities, then they are fundamentally providing a space for co-option of their culture, their content, and their politics.

NBC News reporter Ben Collins told CJR the reality is that social media companies like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter certainly should take a large portion of the blame for spreading misinformation. The same bad actors that have recently been banned by these platforms because they finally crossed an invisible, arbitrarily line about whats universally harmful to an anonymous panel of people? Theyve been doing a lot of harm for a long time. Lack of moderation for content uploaded, he says, was a permanently unsustainable model, designed to mitigate political blowback.

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Heres more on misinformation:

Training algorithms : Fact-checking has value in itself, Silverman says, but theres also a significant hidden benefit : Its providing critical machine-learning data for Facebook to train its algorithms. Each post that gets debunked is logged in a database, and Facebook then uses this corpus of false posts and the related fact checks to train systems to try and identify clear duplicates of the original, false post, he says . So all these human fact checkers are helping power a machine learning algorithm at Facebook that helps identify and suppress false content at scale.

Fallibility : One of the best pieces of advice for journalists, or anyone else wading into the bad parts of the internet, says Collins, is to recognize your own fallibility . So many things are created to steer you down the wrong direction to make you look bad, or blame perceived enemies for heinous crimes. Were all extremely susceptible to disinfo when were trying to find the truth in a sea of petty grievances and teen boredom on fringe communities. Disinformation peddlers may not be the smartest people on the internet, Collins says, but they can be immensely talented at luring you in with seductive, feel-good, bias-confirming lies.

Doing better : Journalists are doing better at thinking about the effects of amplification when they report on topics like mass shootings and their manifestos, says Harvards Donovan . The research of experts like Alice Marwick, Whitney Phillips, danah boyd (who spells her name using only lower-case letters), and Becca Lewis have provided journalists with a point of view and a tool kit for writing about disinformation, hate groups, violence, and harassment, she says . What we dont have currently is a comprehensive set of protocols and a large base of understanding about how to report on health misinformation.

Overton window : One of the aspects of online rumors and conspiracy theories that is most troubling, says Collins, is that it affects what sociologists call the Overton Window , which is the range of behavior or statements that are permissible in normal society. The point, he says, is to shift the middle from of course you should get a vaccine so you dont get and spread a deadly disease to maybe the answer is somewhere between. Even the stupidest conspiracy theories, Collins says, can have an effect once they are synthesized through more skilled orators and voices like trusted, regional talk radio voices and higher-production YouTube videos.

Other notable stories:

The New York Post has taken a number of steps to reduce costs during the COVID-19 shutdown, according to a report from The Daily Beast . In a series of calls with staffers on Wednesday, publisher Sean Giancola said that the Murdoch-owned newspapers business has been drastically disrupted by the economic impact of the coronavirus, due to a significant decrease in the advertising demand. The Daily Beast reported that people familiar with the cuts said that more than a dozen staffers were laid off. The paper has also reportedly told its staff of runners  street reporters who feed copy back to the newsroomthat they will be receiving months-long furloughs without pay until the coronavirus crisis is over.

The Guardian has increased the number of paying subscribers it has by 23 percent compared with last year, Press Gazette reported . The paper now has 821,000 recurring monthly supporters, a figure that includes 446,000 people who have either made voluntary financial contributions of any size, or signed up as patrons under a special arrangement that starts at $124 per month. Digital subscriptions for the Guardian s tablet editions and apps grew by 39 percent to 265,000 . Even print subscriptions to the Guardian , Observer and Guardian Weekly were up three percent.

In a petition filed in federal court late Monday, probation officials say former journalist Matthew Keys violated his parole by hacking into the YouTube account of a California business magazine called Comstocks and deleting all the videos and then the account itself, after he quit the magazine over a dispute with management. Keys has been serving a sentence for conspiracy to steal viewers email addresses from a TV station in Sacramento after he was fired by the station. He was also accused of giving login credentials for the Los Angeles Times website to a hacker.

The BBC is facing another round of cuts, the Guardian reports, with the public broadcaster predicting its income will fall by $155 million as people stop paying the government-mandated TV licence fee during the coronavirus pandemic, along with a drop in revenue from its commercial arm. Departing director general Tony Hall told staff Wednesday he is deferring negotiations over pay increases until later in the year, putting a freeze on all but the most essential hiring, and reviewing major capital projects. But he said there will also be cuts to some BBC shows.

David Barboza, the former Shanghai bureau chief for the New York Times , has launched an online magazine called The Wire China, which will publish a small collection of articles every week, anchored by a 3,000-5,000-word cover story, reports Nieman Lab . Readers can sample one story before hitting the sites paywall, which costs $19 for a monthly subscription or $199 for an annual pass. Editorially, Barboza said he hopes the site will be a little like a Chinese-news version of The Information or Stat News.

YouTube will begin adding informational panels containing information from its network of fact-checkers to videos in the United States, according to The Verge . The panels, which were introduced last year in Brazil and India, appear on searches for topics where fact-checkers have published relevant articles on the subject. YouTube says more than a dozen US publishers are already participating in its network of fact-checkers, including FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, and The Washington Post Fact Checker.

Postmedia Network, a chain of newspapers in Canada, says it will lay off about 80 employees and permanently close 15 of its community publications as it tries to cope with the financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Our business, like so many, has been hard hit by the freeze imposed across the Canadian economy and around the world, chief executive Andrew MacLeod wrote in a memo to staff that was obtained by The Canadian Press wire service. The print and digital advertising revenue impact of the crisis has been very significant, MacLeod said.

Olivia Nuzzi writes in New York magazine about the debate over whether to air Donald Trumps news briefings live, and says she believes they should be aired. What a lot of Trump critics miss is that the biggest threat to his presidency isnt the pandemic and the collapse of the global economy. Its Trump, she writes. The more we see him  rambling, ranting, casually spitballing about bleach and sunlight  the clearer that becomes. But thats not the medias problem, and taking the spotlight off of him as he displays the full extent of his inadequacies would only serve to help him and to make the public less informed about what the federal government is doing.

ICYMI: Why the Left Cant Stand the New York Times

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
The government will need around Rs 65,000 crore to help the poor who are bearing the brunt of the coronavirus lockdown, economist Raghuram Rajan told Rahul Gandhi in a video interaction.

The former RBI chief also said a prolonged lockdown would not be sustainable for the countrys economy. "We will need Rs 65,000 crore, it is not that much. This is to save the lives of the poor," Rajan said when asked by Gandhi about the money needed to help the poor.

Noting that it was "all too easy to have a lockdown forever", Rajan said: We need to be cleverer in lifting the lockdown. We need to open up in a measured way as India does not have capacity to feed people for long. We have to manage the reopening so when there are cases we isolate them, he said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had posted a two-minute long clip on social media showing parts of the conversation between the two, while the full dialogue was released on Thursday. Rajan also posted about the interaction on LinkedIn.

The move, first of its kind, is significant because it is being seen as a shift in the image of Gandhi who is seen to be finally taking steps to be more involved in the functioning of the party.

Surjewala said that Gandhi will hold a series of video-dialogues with public intellectuals on charting a path to recovery after the pandemic.

The video series is being seen by many as a sign of Rahul Gandhis return to presidency, months after he stepped down after the Congress drubbing in the 2020 elections.

This month, he also came on board an 11-member committee headed by former prime minister Manmohan Singh to ideate on national issues founded in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic.
NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE A mericas meat processing-plants are hard-hit by COVID-19. Speculation runs that the immigrant laborers are less aware of health precautions given in English and that their living situations and the elbow-to-elbow nature of work at these industrial butchers and packers make them especially vulnerable. Tysons CEO warned that closure of plants mean that millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain. Millions of animals that are raised for slaughter may simply be plowed under and buried alive.

For the first time since the 1970s oil crisis, Americans on a mass scale may be exposed to rationing, shortages, and long lines for a resource they consider essential to their lives.

President Trump has responded by declaring meat-processing plants critical infrastructure. The White House will take all appropriate action to continue operations at meat-processing plants, he has vowed.

Its unclear what those actions might involve. Sick workers will not be able to return. Health workers may not feel safe returning to the line. Meat processing is an industrial affair, and workers are trained to follow health regulations and learn manual skills that cant be transferred to new recruits in a moment, or to National Guardsmen drafted into service in the plants.

As with the giant testing tents in Walmart and Target parking lots that was announced on the White House lawn, this may be Trumps attempt to announce an idea and express concern, but with little in the way of follow-up. One is tempted to ask: Wheres the beef, Mr. President?

However, as is so often the case, Trumps political survival instinct is kicking into gear at the right time. The sight of empty meat counters at supermarkets, alongside images of unslaughtered cattle or poultry falling under bulldozers, will be terrible for him. These images alone, cut into a well-narrated campaign ad, could be fatal to his reelection.

Why? Because it is a potent symbol. Bloomberg relays that the U.S., Brazil and Canada account for about 65% of world meat trade. America is meant to be a land of plenty, blessed with some of the greatest cattle pastures. Cattle ranchers are still venerated enough in our culture that we basically allow them to get away with sedition, as in the Bundy-family stand-off.

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Trump began his presidency talking about making the Republican Party a workers party  and a party for immigration restrictionists. Well, some of the workers in meat-processing plants in the Dakotas speak Amharic, Nepali, and Swahili. Smithfield was able to get their employees health guides that were printed only in English. Is the Trump White House going to endanger the health of these multinational workers for the sake of the supermarkets?

The meat shortage isnt Trumps fault, of course. Although better public-health messaging and an awareness of Americas vulnerabilities might have helped contain the problem, Trump did not cause the incredible concentration of the meat processing and packing industries in America. He didnt make the industry reliant on foreign workers. The efficiency (and brittleness) of these supply chains was a feature of the modern economy he wants to restart. Its also the reason restaurant food is so affordable in America, and why our national shift toward eating at home is leading to such quick disruption.

But Americans expect that America ought to be able to feed itself beef, pork, and chicken  that this is one area where the country was self-sufficient and where its supply chains were insulated from foreign threats. And yet it is under a nationalist president that the whole system may be breaking down.

Trump better hope that the industry finds ways to adapt quickly, that its workers recover their health, and that the store shelves arent empty for long. Or hell be the second Republican president to lose reelection and have supermarkets under his list of political regrets.

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I had been speaking with Emily and Stephanie a few days prior to that, wanting to make a difference, Sheth says. Weve been racking our brains and thinking that we had more free time than wed been used to  so the timing was perfect when I had my conversation with my friend earlier that day.
ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Hills, the parent company behind better-for-you-brands Silver Hills Bakery, One Degree Organic Foods and Little Northern Bakehouse, today announces Gerry Moroso to the role of National Director, Sales - Canada effective April 20, 2020.

Moroso brings over 25 years' experience in CPG Sales, representing a broad range of categories and customers from coast to coast. Most recently a Director of Key Accounts with Global Appetite, Moroso began his Sales career in 1993 with Warner Lambert Canada (Adams division) as a Territory and District Sales Manager. He then moved to National Account level roles through several mergers and acquisitions with Pfizer and Cadbury Adams, followed by Team Lead roles at Reckitt Benckiser.

In 2009 Moroso joined Pinnacle Foods Canada (now Conagra Brands) as a Manager, National Customer Development, working with their Broker partners in all regions of Canada. He moved upwards to become a Director leading Sobeys, Walmart, Loblaws, Longo's and Giant Tiger and spent the next decade building strategic partnerships, driving sales, mentoring teams and building in-house capabilities for direct account management.

As the newest member of the Silver Hills Sales Team, Moroso will oversee, plan, and direct all sales activities for the organization in Canada.

"We're excited to have Gerry pair his deep knowledge of the Canadian market and the better-for-you space with his passion about selling our premium line-up of natural and organic brands! He's an excellent addition to our team," says Danny Houghton, Chief Customer Officer.

"I am very excited to be joining the Silver Hills Team!" says Gerry. "I want to continue my journey with Silver Hills representing fresh, wholesome products that help promote a healthier lifestyle which we need more than ever right now as we help each other navigate through challenging times."

About Silver Hills

Established in 1989, Silver Hills grew out of the Silver Hills Guest House, where one of the company's founders began baking bread from sprouted whole grains. Starting with Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery, the company began establishing other brands to align with healthy dietary choices, including One Degree Organic Foods for sprouted and organic breads and cereals with complete ingredient traceability as well as and then launching the gluten free brand Little Northern Bakehouse in 2015. Silver Hills' goal is to produce wholesome vegan, non-GMO products to inspire healthier living through healthier choices. The company operates a large, world-class GFSI-certified sprouted bakery facility based in Abbotsford, BC, Canada.

SOURCE Silver Hills
Laredo's curfew and mask ordinance will remain in effect through the end of May, but will include changes and caveats in order to not conflict with the governor's order.

The 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew has always excepted essential services such as trips to get groceries or go to the hospital, City Manager Robert Eads explained. Now, following the governor's lead, people may go to restaurants, pick up food or go to a retailer after curfew as well, he said.
- The Taiwan government reacted over the comment of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that Taiwan is part of China

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanna Ou reiterated that Taiwan is an independent country

- Spokesperson Ou also asked Roque to stop misrepresenting Taiwan as part of China

- Earlier, Taiwan rejected the Philippine governments request to deport the OFW who criticized the Duterte government

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The Taiwan government called out Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque for misrepresenting Taiwan as part of China.

KAMI learned that the officials of Taiwan expressed their strong dissatisfaction towards Philippine government officials.

In a report by CNN Philippines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanna Ou reiterated that Taiwan is an independent and sovereign country.

"My country expresses strong dissatisfaction and high regret over Philippine government officials wrongly accusing Taiwan as part of China," Ou said, as quoted by Taiwan state media, Focus Taiwan.

"China has never ruled Taiwan for one day, and only the popularly elected Taiwan government can represent the country's 23 million people internationally," she added.

Earlier, Roque said in an interview with ABS-CBN that China and Taiwan will be deciding over the deportation case of Filipina caregiver Elanel Egot Ordidor who criticized the Duterte government.

"It's really a decision to be made by Taiwanese authorities, which forms part of China. We leave that wholly to the jurisdiction of Taiwan and China. Taiwan is part of China," Roque said.

Taiwan and China separated in 1949 after communist forces under Mao Zedong ruled over the civil war. The two countries have governed separately since then.

According to the Inquirer, the Philippines is one of the countries that follow the One China policy that recognizes Taiwan as part of China.

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As previously reported by KAMI, the Taiwan government rejected the deportation request of the Philippines regarding the Filipina caregiver.

The issue stemmed from the Facebook post of Elanel Egot Ordidor which criticized President Rodrigo Duterte.

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!

Our host Paula Coling suggested different movies and series that you should watch while stuck at home due to the lockdown. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

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Frustration with a dip in battleground state polling amid the COVID-19 pandemic and consistent criticism surrounding White House briefings reportedly boiled over last week as President Donald Trump lashed out at Brad Parscale, the digital marketer who helped Trump secure victory in 2016 before becoming Trumps re-election campaign manager.

During a White House meeting with aides on Friday, and Parscale on speakerphone from his Florida home, Trump berated his campaign manager over polls hinting Biden could top him in must-win states in November, CNN reported. Several sources told CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times that the president quipped that he might sue Parscale.

I love you, too, Parscale responded, according to The Times.

Trump insisted that he was not losing to Joe Biden" and used profanities throughout the call, which Parscale described to others as a Trump venting session, The Post reported.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Trump trailing Biden in Florida, 46% to 42%.

Parscale and other top political advisers reportedly briefed Trump by phone last Wednesday, with campaign and Republican National Committee data showing a potential loss in states Trump needs to defeat Biden come November. Parscale, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and others tried to convince Trump that his daily coronavirus briefings were doing more harm than good, particularly with swing voters in battleground states, CNN reported.

Trump reportedly changed the subject. He has made the case that travel restrictions, not his briefings, have hit his numbers, CNN reported.

Thursdays briefing and concerns sparked by the presidents comments  the makers of Lysol issued a warning to never administer its disinfectant products into the human body  may have inspired a change.

On Friday, the president took no questions after a briefing; no briefings were scheduled this weekend and Mondays followed a tighter format.

The newly-named Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, told reporters that the briefings would have a new look to them, a new focus to them, but only because the nation was shifting to discussing the reopening economy. She said the president values the opportunity to speak directly to the American people. We think theyve been great.

Trump and Parscale talked on Friday night after the flare up, according to reports. Parscale this week flew to the nations capital and met with the president in person. On Wednesday, Parscale discussed campaign strategy with Trump for several hours, including new ads going after Bidens stance on China, The Post reported.

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 Coronavirus stimulus package: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says checks from COVID-19 bill to come within 3 weeks
In 1979, that his favourite



star was nearby for a film shooting was enough to make Madan Pawar, then an 18-year-old collegian, pedal all the way to Wai, 35 km from here, to see the cherubic actor.

Wai, over 200 km from Mumbai, has been a favourite haunt of film makers and has featured in films like Gangaajal, Swades, Singham, Chennai Express and Goonj Uthi Shehnai.

Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor's father, canned a few scenes of his swan-song Ram Teri Ganga Maili in the 80s at Wai.

"When we heard that Rishi Kapoor was shooting for Sargam in Wai, I and four of my friends decided to bunk college for a day and see the shoot," said Pawar, who runs a popular non-veg eatery on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway.

"When we reached Wai, the song 'Ramji ki nikli sawari' from the K Viswanath-starrer was being picturised in the main galli (lane) there. There was a sizeable crowd of onlookers," Pawar told PTI.

"It was our lucky day as we got a chance to meet the actor between shots. He was surprised when we told him that we had cycled all the way from Satara and had bunked studies to watch the shooting," he said.

What impressed Pawar the most was the late actor's affable nature. "He waved at everyone and it looked as if he really meant it. He seemed to enjoy the company of people," Pawar said.

"I told him that I studied in Sainik School Satara, the alma mater of actor Rakesh Roshan. He said Rakesh was a friend but he was not aware that he had studied in Satara," he said.

Pawar's eatery is now patronised by leading actors in Marathi film and TV industry who make it a point to enjoy a hearty meal whenever they are passing through the highway. However, nothing can surpass the thrill of that fleeting encounter with Rishi Kapoor, he says.

"While returning to Satara from Wai, the rest of us were thrilled, but a friend who was in the group of cyclists, looked dejected. When we quizzed him, he said he was more keen on catching a glimpse of Jaya Prada, Rishi Kapoor's leading lady in Sargam, who wasn't present at the shooting that day," Pawar recalls with a grin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sonakshi Sinha has been keeping herself busy during the coronavirus quarantine by being an active user of social media. Sonakshi recently decided to answer some questions from her fans and followers on her Instagram story as she held an Ask Me Anything session. She was asked a number of questions and the actor gave funny and witty responses to them.

ALSO READ | Is Sonakshi Sinha Single? Is She A Sindhi? 'Lootera' Actor Clarifies With Quirky Posts

Sonakshi's dream destination

While Sonakshi Sinha conducted the AMA on her Instagram, one of her fans asked her to name the one place she has always wanted to go but has not seen it yet. In response to this, Sonakshi added a GIF of the word Bali. She also added a picture of Bali's Tanah Lot Temple.

(Source: Sonakshi Sinha's Instagram)

ALSO READ | Sonakshi Sinha Blames Her Bad Luck For 'Kalank' Failure In This Throwback Interview

The actor has shared many pictures from her various trips and vacations before on her Instagram. Sonakshi Sinha's travel photos include some that she had posted from her trip to the Maldives. She shared a picture of herself sitting on a hammock overlooking the Maldivian waters.

ALSO READ | Sonakshi Sinha And Other Bollywood Actors Who Aced Their Outdoor Insta Pics

One of the fans of Sonakshi's went on to appreciate her artwork. They asked her whether she takes reference from somewhere or her art is the result of her creativity. The actor humbly thanked the fans and then revealed that she gets ideas and then tries different styles on them. She wrote that she 'let it flow onto paper". She then added that she manages to make something nice sometimes. The actor also added a picture of a bird from her artwork as the backdrop of her answer.

(Source: Sonakshi Sinha's Instagram)

ALSO READ | Sonakshi Sinha Sits Inside Her Parked Car To Fight Boredom Amid Lockdown; See Pic Here

On the work front, Sonakshi Sinha was last seen in the movie Dabangg 3 alongside Salman Khan, Sudeep, and Saiee Manjrekar. The actor will be seen next in Bhuj: The Pride of India. The movie stars Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt alongside Sonakshi, who will be essaying the role of Sunderben Jetha Madharparya.

ALSO READ | Times Sonakshi Sinha Was A Part Of Women-centric Films | See List

Source: Sonakshi Sinha's Instagram

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.
T he brand behind Barbie has released a new line of toys inspired by emergency care workers to honour those fighting coronavirus.

Mattels #ThankYouHeroes collection is composed of 16 different action figures based on doctors, nurses and delivery drivers, to celebrate the everyday heroes working to support the public through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mattel

Mattel is also launching a five-character Little People Community Champions set, which comprises a doctor, a nurse, an EMT, a delivery driver, and a grocery store worker.

The collection is aimed at helping children learn about the emergency workers on the frontline of the fight against the virus.
Leave it to cable TV companies to turn voice-activated remotes into smart speaker listening devices.

Billed as a lost item finder, cable TV company Comcast will allow customers to use their Xfinity voice-activated remote to find lost stuff , like car keys and handbags.

"With your Tiles connected to the Xfinity Home app, you can use your Voice Remote to ask where your stuff is and see the last known location right on your TV."

A recent article in SlashGear revealed that Comcast has partnered with Tile to let customers use their voice activated remote to track and locate missing objects.

"Tile uses Bluetooth to ping its location, reporting back to a paired smartphone whenever thats in range. By pairing your Tile account with your Comcast Xfinity X1 account, that location data is shared. After that, you simply press and hold the microphone button on the remote control and as for the location of a specific Tile or whatever its attached to."

As SlashGear explains Comcast has turned their voice-activated remote into a portable smart speaker listening device.

"All a person has to do is speak into their remote and ask a question like, Xfinity Home, find my wallet, or Xfinity Home, locate my saxophone. The system will recognize keywords like find, locate, or where as trigger phrases for the Tile integration, and the command has to include the actual name of the Tile as its registered in the app."

But what Comcast leaves out is how they have turned television remotes into a warped version of Amazon's Alexa smart speaker, which is always on and listening for keywords or phrases.

It seems like private corporations are masters at obscuring what smart listening devices are really doing.

Tile CEO CJ Prober said , "The average person spends about 15 minutes a day looking for lost items, "We've been working with Comcast to alleviate this daily disruption. By allowing Comcast Xfinity customers to use their xFI Gateways and X1 and Flex set-top boxes as finding extenders, the Tile network becomes stronger and ensures users will quickly and easily find lost or misplaced items, bringing convenience to their daily routine."

I would question Tile's claims that the average person spends 15 minute looking for a misplaced object[s] everyday. Making a specious claim about locating a lost item in your home never justifies letting private corporations listen to and track what goes on inside our homes.

Another thing that caught my attention was how Mr. Prober equated using cable boxes as "finding extenders", obscuring the fact that they are turning cable boxes into Bluetooth trackers.

As TechCrunch pointed out , Tile uses Bluetooth to "locate some 6 million items daily across 195 countries worldwide, with a 90% success rate in finding lost items. To date, it has sold 26 million Tile devices."

Comcast allows homeowners to read everyone's Mac addresses



As the above video illustrates, Xfinity identifies Bluetooth enabled devices, giving Comcast unimaginable snooping abilities. Comcats's "Personalizing and Controlling Your Home Network With Xfinity xFi" gives homeowners a glimpse into which devices are connected or were previously connected to their home network.



Comcast allows homeowners to view the Mac address of nearly every device without a warrant!

"Access the hostname or MAC address in your device's settings. If the default name displayed is a long string of numbers and letters, it's likely the MAC address."

Comcast is so eager to help customers identify any smart device's Mac address that they setup an Xfinity xFi FAQ which walks them through how to identify them.



Comcast and homeowners can read the Mac addresses of Apple, Android, Windows, Macintosh/Apple (OSX), Windows PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One. By leaving your Bluetooth setting on, you are letting everyone read your devices' Mac address.



Think about that the next time you are invited over for a family dinner or to a friend's party.



But the story doesn't end there, Comcast also offers customers XfinityX1 Eye Control "which pairs with an existing eye gaze system and allows viewers to change the channel, set a recording, search for a show and more, all with a glance."



Xfinity and Tile know where your lost items are in real-time, which opens up a myriad of privacy issues.



If your cable TV company can identify every devices Bluetooth signal and Mac address and they can track a person's eye movements, then we have entered into a new world of stay-at-home family surveillance the likes of which we have never seen.



Letting corporations track objects or read every devices Mac address in real-time is a hackers dream come true. If you value your family's privacy, deactivate your voice-activated Xfinity remote and protect your Bluetooth devices from prying eyes.
Tom and Monica Hottenstein of Moorestown, New Jersey. Tom has Lewy Body Dementia, a disease that afflicts him with hallucinations, delusions, short term memory loss, and worsening verbal skills. Read more

After a few days of social distancing, staff at the Penn Memory Center began receiving distress calls. My husband refused to come in from the garage. My mother pushed me. A man told us he feels as if hes in jail -- his wife cant be left alone, and he cant leave the house with her because she walks up to strangers.

Now more than ever, caregivers and persons living with dementia are struggling. The social distancing necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the countrys already-precarious system for community-based long-term care.

Nearly 5,000 adult day centers are closed. For the 286,000 people who had been attending the centers, theres no more art therapy, sensory rooms, or expertly trained staff. Many in-home aides have been let go. All of a sudden, millions of family caregivers are on their own.

 READ MORE: Workers at 180-bed South Philly nursing home ravaged by coronavirus have voted to strike

Our experience suggests this is already causing a surge in mental health problems, what clinicians call behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Families call it for what it is: agitation, aggression, sometimes violence.

Hes become so much more confused, said Monica Hottenstein, 70, of Moorestown. Her husband, Tom, has Lewy Body Dementia, a disease that afflicts him with hallucinations, delusions, short-term memory loss, and worsening verbal skills. Tom began attending an adult day center two days per week in 2018. Since then, he increased to five days per week, a schedule that helped him stay socially engaged and also gave Monica time to run their household.

On March 15, the adult day center that he had been attending closed indefinitely. The Hottensteins have been in their house, alone together, ever since.

At the adult day center, they did activities  music, chair exercises, trivia, bingo, Monica said. I cant provide the same structure, variety, or social exposure, because Im also taking care of the house, the bills, the laundry  everything else that has to be done here. Tom often asks when he can go back to his classes. And I cant tell him  I dont know, Monica said.

Not enough support

For people like the Hottensteins, being seen at a memory center means being connected to a network of physicians, psychologists, and social workers trained in dementia. Monica has access to our centers online caregiver community forums, where caregivers can connect with one another to swap experiences and solutions. Most are building on skills they learned before the pandemic, during in-person classes and support groups.

 READ MORE: For those in senior housing, coronavirus provokes both bonding and fear

Yet, even in normal times, most people with dementia dont have access to a memory center, an adult day center, or other supportive infrastructure. Half of primary-care doctors feel unprepared to care for persons living with dementia, and most report there arent enough dementia specialists to see their patients. Adult day centers cost an average of $75 per day and arent widely available. The median cost for a home health aide is $23 per hour. For spouses with dwindling financial reserves, or adult children struggling to care for their own young families, paying for dementia care was impossible before the pandemic.

Now, even those who could afford the right supports arent getting them. Weve unwillingly entered into an awful social experiment, testing what happens when there are little to no community resources for people living with dementia. The results are disturbing.

Caregivers stuck at home are asking us for medications to help with their loved ones aggressive behavior. Usually, we can avoid these prescriptions, and instead recommend going outside, socializing, and engaging in structured activities. But in these unusual times, weve had to do the best we can to make life manageable. We obey the dictum of geriatric prescribing, to start with a low dose and increase it slowly, knowing all along that were trying to heal a broken arm with an aspirin.

An untenable future

We expect, from April 2020 forward, there will be a spike in prescriptions for antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antianxiety medications -- all last-in-line treatments to quell the behavioral symptoms of dementia. We believe that in the months to follow, a bump in diagnoses of falls, some with hip fractures, as well as strokes and sudden death arrests  all complications of these drugs  might be seen. We may notice a spike in admissions to nursing homes this summer, precipitated by the agitation we are seeing today.

When the country goes back to work, well be left with bitter proof of the value of dementia care. Well understand why adult day centers and funding for caregiving in the home are critical for the health and security of people with dementia and their families. Our peer nations have social insurance to pay for this care, but the United States pays for it only once families have impoverished themselves. The costs to families who are left on their own to care for loved ones with illness or disability are immense, measured in hours of uncompensated care and in harm to their own jobs and well-being.

 READ MORE: Amid coronavirus, Americas nursing homes have become a national tragedy | Expert Opinion

The lack of any coordinated long-term care policy has forever been untenable. The coronavirus pandemic has only made the consequences even clearer; with soaring unemployment, even fewer caregivers will be able to afford the supports that should be universal. Without change, well be forcing even more people to make tragic choices, like choosing between paying for their childrens college education or their parents dementia care.

For now, weve considered increasing Toms antidepressant, in the hopes that it helps with his anxiety. Our social workers have planned to call Monica to offer support. Weve sent her the stay at home survival guide written by our social workers to help people with caregiving during social distancing. And were hoping that, when the pandemic ends, America will finally invest in fixing dementia care.

Sara Manning is a fellow at the Penn Memory Center. Allison K. Hoffman is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a research scientist at the Penn Memory Center. Jason Karlawish is a professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine and codirector of the Penn Memory Center.
Applications for federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in early April by Congress now are open at all state colleges in Southeast Texas, with applications expected soon at Lamar University.

Lamar State College Port Arthur will open their application Friday for the more than $500,000 in federal COVID-19 emergency aid that they received from the CARES act. Students file expenses such as food, housing, technology or course materials, health care and childcare, among other possible financial impacts caused by the transition to remote learning at LSCPA.

This funding is a much-needed boost for our students, LSCPA President Dr. Betty Reynard said in a statement. We understand that many of our students are struggling financially, so we are dedicated to getting this money out to them as quickly as possible.

The application for funds will be available at the colleges website, lamarpa.edu, this week through May 15. Funds will be distributed no later than May 31 through direct deposit and checks.

The school has said funds will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis and award amounts will be based on the number of students who apply.

A full list of qualifications is available at the application site.

Lamar University  which received the majority of the areas funding with $7,048,774, half of which is required to be given directly to students for pandemic-related costs  has not yet released applications.

The funds were allocated based on a formula prescribed in the CARES Act that weighs the number of full-time students who are Pell-eligible but also takes into consideration the total population of the school and the number of students who were not enrolled full-time online before the coronavirus outbreak.

Lamar University is actively contacting each student to check on their well-being and needs during this uncertain time. LU is identifying various student needs, ranging from technology to financial to academic, and faculty and staff members will follow up with appropriate support, University spokeswoman Shelly Vitanza said when the funds were first announced earlier this month. The remaining funds will be utilized by Lamar University to address our response to the coronavirus pandemic and mitigate the pandemic impact to the University.

The university has been processing refunds for students moving out of dorms early due to the virus; and began tapping into the Cardinal Emergency Fund, which was set up following Tropical Storm Harvey to help those displaced by disasters.

Applications for Lamar State College Orange will also open Friday.

The applications will be available at lsco.edu through May 15, according to a news release.

The application requires students to describe how they have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they will use the funds if received.

We understand just how important this funding is for our students during this challenging time, LSCO President Thomas Johnson said in a statement. We want to make the application and disbursement process as fast and simple as possible to help our wonderful students.

There is $521,660 available, with eligible students receiving a minimum of $500 pending availability of funds.

At Lamar Institute of Technology, students Federal financial aid (FAFSA) application will be reviewed in addition to a survey available on their website for grant consideration.

Students exclusively enrolled in online courses prior to March 13, international students, high school dual credit students, and incarcerated students are not eligible for CARES funding, according to information provided by the college.

Not all students who apply will receive an award.

Additional funding and information from the Department of Education also is expected in coming months as more funds are allocated.

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The activity of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, which should be allowed unhindered work throughout Ukraine, will be another topic of negotiations.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said the opening of a contact line in Donbas, which was closed by the Russian-led forces over the pandemic, will be one of the issues during the Normandy Four foreign ministers video summit scheduled for April 30.

"The closure of the contact line has particularly affected the elderly... Therefore, we will discuss the reopening of the contact line and issues of entry and exit checkpoints," he said, according to Deutsche Welle's Russian service.

The activity of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, which should be allowed unhindered work throughout Ukraine, will be another topic of negotiations.

Read alsoUkraine's FM Kuleba reveals agenda of Normandy Four foreign ministers video summit on April 30

"It is impossible to implement (Minsk) agreements without an objective assessment by the SMM. Mutual distrust is too high," Maas said.

The minister said Russia should influence the armed groups operating in Donbas.

According to him, the ministers at the summit are willing to give a clear political mandate for the implementation of other decisions made by the Trilateral Contact Group.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the so-called Normandy format meeting, which will be held via video link with the participation of the Normandy Four foreign ministers, is scheduled for April 30.
Holland's Tulip Time festival has been held annually for 90 years.

But the 91st festival was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time the festival, focused on tulips and family fun, has been canceled.

If you're feeling nostalgic for the parades, Dutch dancing and tulips, take a look at Tulip Time through the years via these photos from MLive/The Grand Rapids Press archives.

Tulip Time Through the Years

A 1929 Tulip Time brochure. Photo copy May 14, 1989.

RELATED: First coronavirus, then Tulip Time canceled: Holland's businesses are facing 1-2 financial punch

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Tulip Time Through the Years

High School marching bands parade down 8th Street in downtown Holland during the Volksparade on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. The Volksparade is one of three parades during the annual Tulip Time Festival. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)

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This MLive drone footage was shot during the 2019 Tulip Time event.

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. Jennifer Granholm talks to local officials before the Tulip Time Volksparade in Holland. (Photo by Cory Olsen/The Grand Rapids Press)

RELATED: For MLive's coverage on the coronavirus pandemic, go here.

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. William Milliken in 1973 during the Tulip Time Festival parade and street-scrubbing. (MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Klompen Dancers, Chelsey Lamb, 15, left, and Gena Holthus, 16, didn't let the pouring rain stop them from having a good time during Holland's 70th Tulip Time Festival. The dancers danced on 8th Street between Columbia and Kollen Park.

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Tulip Time Through the Years

From left: Terry Reimink and Deb Bareman lead a group of alumni dutch dancers before the start of Tulip Time street scrubbing. (Photo by Cory Olsen/The Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Participants dance as they attempt to break the world record for most people dancing in wooden shoes during the "Klomp the Record" event at Centennial Park in Holland on Thursday, May 7, 2015. The event occurred during the city's annual Tulip Time festival, with proceeds of the event benefiting Bethany Christian Services. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Street scrubbers clean the streets before the Volksparade during Tulip Time in Holland on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Following tradition, before the parade the route is scrubbed by people dressed in traditional Dutch attire armed with buckets and brooms. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Nicolynn Mae Holtrop, 4, of Zeeland plugs her ears as a marching band passes by during the Kinderparade on Thursday, May 7, 2015. Kinderparade is the second of three parades during the annual Tulip Time Festival. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. John Engler and his wife, Michelle, help scrub Holland's streets in the traditional kickoff to the city's Tulip Time Festival. (MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time Festival visitors enjoy thousands of blooming tulips in Holland's Window on the Waterfront Park. ( Mark Copier/MLive)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

A baby is seen among the tulips in downtown Holland before the Volksparade begins during the annual Tulip Time Festival on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time Festival, May 1975. (MLive.com - File Photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulips in downtown Holland on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. Cory Morse | MLive.com

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Tulip Time Through the Years

A wire fence frames the De Zwaan windmill and a cluster of early blooming tulips. The fence is erected on Holland's Windmill Island every fall to protect tulip beds from marauding whitetail deer that have a taste for the planted tulip bulbs and tender blossoms. The fence is slated to be removed before the annual Tulip Time Festival. (Mark Copier | The Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

City of Holland employee Sara Simmons sorts tulip bulbs to be planted for next spring's Tulip Time Festival near the De Zwaan windmill at Windmill Island in Holland on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. "This is my favorite day of the year," she said. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. Rick Snyder and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley march in the Volksparade during Tulip Time in Holland on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Following tradition, before the parade the route is scrubbed by people dressed in traditional Dutch attire armed with buckets and brooms. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Chelsea Hurd, 7, hugs a goat at the petting zoo during the Tulip Time festivities. (Trudy Holtz | Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. James Blanchard and wife Janet lead the Tulip Time Festival Volksparade in 1990. (Mark Copier | MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

People in Dutch attire ride a Tulip Time float in the Volksparade during Tulip Time in Holland on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Following tradition, before the parade the route is scrubbed by people dressed in traditional Dutch attire armed with buckets and brooms. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Zeeland resident Madison Reeves, 8, walks through the tulips in the rain at Centennial Park. Reeves and her family chose to see the tulips in the rain to avoid the Tulip Time crowds. (Photo by Katy Batdorff / The Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time Festival, 1966. (MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time Run 10K participants breeze by blooming tulips. The annual festival is highlighted by three days of parades. ( Mark Copier | MLive)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

The Tulip Time Festival 2019 Metal Flow Volksparade marches through downtown Holland on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

From left, Stephanie Schippers, 11; Kristin Weerstra, 11; and Morgan George, 11, give in to the traditional irresistible urge to throw buckets of water at each other while street scrubbing. Hundreds of others dressed up in traditional Holland work clothes swarmed onto Eighth Street in Holland to scrub the street with brooms. (Lisa DeJong | MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time Festival, 1967. (MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Parade Grand Marshall Elsa Prince Broekhuizen waves to the crowd in "People's Parade" at Tulip Time in Holland on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Following tradition, Governor Rick Snyder led the parade with the street sweepers. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Dancers pose for a photo before performing a traditional Dutch Dance on the first day of the annual Tulip Time festival in Holland, Mich., on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Tulip Time highlights the town's rich Dutch history. (Casey Sykes | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Holland Town Crier John Karsten declares the streets unclean, and in need of scrubbing while marching in the Tulip Time Street Scrubbing parade Wednesday. (Photo by Cory Olsen/The Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Micah DeJonge, 9 months old at the time, of Zeeland almost made it through his first Volksparade at Holland's 69th Tulip Time Festival. Carol Schermer, Micah's grandmother, made his Volendam costume as well as eight other costumes for his cousins. (Lisa DeJong | MLive)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time Festival, 1976. (MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulips are past peak on Windmill Island but the Holland attraction enjoyed a successful Tulip Time Festival. (Mark Copier | MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares to take part in the Tulip Time Festival 2019 Metal Flow Volksparade in downtown Holland on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Twin sisters Allyson and Nicole Bowers,10, brought their Dutch costumed dolls to the Holland Tulip Time Festival Kinderparade. (Press Photo/Mark Copier)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Nathan Walcott, 4, spent some time helping out the tulips Wednesday evening by blowing off any ants or flies on the flowers. Nathan was with his family at Centennial Park enjoying the beautiful blooms. (Trudy Holtz | Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time around 1932. Archive photo. Copy of photo from the joint archives of Holland.

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Katie Luyk takes her children to see tulips at Window on the Waterfront before crowds come for Tulip Time on April 26, 2017. (Daytona Niles | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

South Side Christian School students twirl their colorful windmill blades as they march in the Tulip Time Children's Costume Parade. (Mark Copier | MLive)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gerald and Betty Ford ride in the Tulip Time parade May 15, 1976, as they campaign for the Michigan primary. (Rex D. Larsen)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Sylvia Tanis, center, celebrates her 90th birthday participating in the "Klomp the Record" event at Centennial Park in Holland, Mich., on Thursday, May 7, 2015. Participants will attempt to break the world record for most people dancing in wooden shoes during the city's annual Tulip Time festival. Tanis has been a member of the Evergreen Community Senior Dutch Dancers for 22 years. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com) MLive.com | The Grand Rapids Pre

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Tulip Time festival Town Crier John Karsten and his grandson, future town crier Mitchell Zeerip, proclaim the streets dirty and in need of scrubbing during the Tulip Time Volkparade in Holland. (Cory Olsen | Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. James Blanchard gets a bit of help in his annual chore of getting the Tulip Time Festival underway by sweeping the streets of Holland in 1985. (MLive file photo)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Jim Besteman waits to take part in the Tulip Time Festival 2019 Metal Flow Volksparade in downtown Holland on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. "My grandparents immigrated here," Besteman said. "They came from the Netherlands through Ellis Island." Cory Morse | MLive.com

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Makenna Van Raalte, 1, sits in Centennial Park in front of the statue of Albertus C. Van Raalte in Holland. Makenna is the youngest direct decendent of Albertus. (Cory Olsen | Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Girls ride in a giant wooden shoe ahead of the Holland High School Marching Band in the "People's Parade" at Tulip Time in Holland on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Following tradition, Governor Rick Snyder led the parade with the street sweepers. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Chase Ockerse, 1, curiously picks up a wood chip just before the street scrubbing portion of the Volksparade to begin at Holland's 69th Tulip Time festival. (Lisa DeJong | MLive.com)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Zeeland East High School Dutch dancer Norma Ramirez ,15, treats herself to a caramel and nut coated apple after performing the Klompen Dance in Downtown Holland Friday. (Mark Copier | Grand Rapids Press)

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Tulip Time Through the Years

Gov. George W. Romney helps clean the streets in 1967 as part of the annual Volks parade which opened the Tulip Time Festival. (MLive archive)

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Cory Morse

Tulip Time Through the Years

City of Holland employees (from left) Betsy Morton, Onalee Zartman, Alisa Crawford and Antonio Moreno joke after finishing their work for the day planting tulip bulbs for next spring's Tulip Time Festival at Windmill Island in Holland on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. They are using a custom-designed tulip planter that was developed by Howie Poll of Holland. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

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Daytona Niles

Tulip Time Through the Years

Windmill Island is shown covered in tulips in preparation for the Tulip Time festival in Holland on April 26, 2017. (Daytona Niles | MLive.com)
SINGAPORE  The COVID-19 pandemic will cause significant long-term impact on Singapores economy, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong believes that the nation has what it takes to adapt and succeed.

In his May Day Message delivered on Thursday (30 April), Lee said there will likely be many changes to the global economy in the long term, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the movement of goods and people becoming less free, and countries striving to rely less on imports for food and essential items like medicine and face masks, it will have major implications for global trade and investments.

The Singapore economy, which relies heavily on global trade and investments, will thus likely see significant structural changes, said Lee in his speech.

Some industries will be disrupted permanently. Companies will have to change their business models to survive. Some jobs will simply disappear. Workers in these industries will have to re-skill themselves, to take up jobs in new sectors, he said.

But there will also be new opportunities, and new jobs created too. For instance, during the circuit breaker, people have adjusted. We have learnt to telecommute, and work with others virtually. Students are getting used to online learning. And more people are buying things online, and making e-payments.

Challenge to adapt greater than most countries

Lee said that the government will help companies adapt to the new operating environment and retrain workers for new jobs, in order to build up expertise and the workforce in growing industry sectors like medical services, biotech, food production and delivery, and information technology.

We will also find ways to buffer freelancers in the gig economy against economic volatility. We will not be able to save every job. But we will look after every worker.

While Singapore is not alone in having to adapt to the post-COVID-19 world, its challenge is greater than most because it is so small and globalised, said Lee. However, he also believes these can also become advantageous for the Republic.

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Our smallness lets us be nimble. And global connectivity means we can quickly identify new growth areas and move into them, he said.

Singapore has resources to support business, people

Lee believes that Singapore has what it takes to succeed in the post COVID-19 world. Having experienced economic restructuring more than once before, he believes that Singapore has the resources to support businesses, invest in the workforce, and take care of its people.

He singled out the tripartite partnership between the labour movement, employers and the government as an important example of how to work together as one nation, protect our vulnerable and leave no one behind.

This is why when the virus started to spread in other countries, we brought overseas Singaporeans home. We did not leave them to fend for themselves, he said.

This is why we care for our migrant workers, who have done much for us, as we care for Singaporeans. This is why we have taken unprecedented steps to draw upon our reserves, in order to forestall retrenchments and support the low income.

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Skulls and dental decoration patterns for the three African individuals from the San Jose de los Naturales Royal Hospital. A. Skull from individual 150 (SJN001). B. Skull from individual 214 (SJN002). C. Skull from individual 296 (SJN003). D. Close-up of dental modification patterns for individual 150 (SJN001). E. Close-up of dental modification patterns for individual 214 (SJN002). F. Close-up of dental modification patterns for individual 296 (SJN003). Credit: Collection of San Jose de los Naturales, Osteology Laboratory, (ENAH), Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: R. Barquera & N. Bernal.

Five centuries after Charles I of Spain authorized the transport of the first African slaves to the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the ancestry of the hundreds of thousands of abducted and enslaved people forms an integral part of the genetic and cultural heritage of the Americas. The origins and experiences of those enslaved individuals, however, remains largely unknown.

This study, published in Current Biology, applies an interdisciplinary approach to explore the backgrounds and living conditions of three African individuals recovered from a mass grave on the grounds of Hospital Real de San Jose de los Naturales, an early colonial period hospital in Mexico City officially devoted to the indigenous population. Dated to the 16th century, these individuals tell the stories of some of the earliest people forcefully relocated to the Americas in the early years of European colonialism.

Multidisciplinary study reconstructs the lives of early enslaved Africans

The three individuals in the study first caught the attention of the team with their distinct dental modifications, a filing of the upper front teeth consistent with cultural practices recorded for African slaves which can still be observed in some groups living in western Africa today.

"Combining molecular biology, isotopic data and bioinformatic tools with classical historical, anthropological and archaeological evidence allowed us to gain insights into the life history of some of the earliest African slaves in the Americas," says Johannes Krause, director of the Department of Archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI SHH).

The skull of one of the individuals studied, in which the dental modifications are apparent, and the tubes used for isotope and genetic tests, both of which were carried out as part of our study. One of the strong points of our paper is the junction of several disciplines in telling a whole story, which we exemplify in this picture combining two different lab approaches together with ethnohistory and anthropology to get a complete picture. Credit: Collection of San Jose de los Naturales, Osteology Laboratory, (ENAH), Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: R. Barquera

Genetic analysis showed that all three individuals shared a Y-chromosome lineage that is highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, and which is now the most common lineage among African Americans. Combined with isotopic data showing that all three individuals were born outside of Mexico and osteobiographies showing years of physical abuse before premature death, the findings suggest that these individuals may be among the first Africans to reach the Americas after being abducted in their homelands in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"Modern lab techniques allow us to gather incredible amounts of data from very little biological material. The amount of information we can give back to archaeologists, anthropologists and society today using only one tooth from each individual is something we could only dream about just ten years ago," says Rodrigo Barquera, the study's lead author.

The spread of pathogens across the Atlantic

Researchers from all three departments and one independent group of the MPI SHH and two laboratories from the ENAH combined their expertise to tell the story of these individuals, examining not only their ancestry and origins, but also their health status and life experiences. The team was able to reconstruct two full pathogen genomes from tooth samples. One individual was infected with a strain of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) typically found in western Africa today.

Some osteological findings for individual 150 (SJN001). A. Exostosis at the insertion of the coracoclavicular ligament and origin site of the deltoid muscle. B. Thoracic vertebra displaying early signs of a developing of Schmorl's hernia on the inferior aspect of the vertebral body. C. Green coloration acquired by contact with copper on the cervical vertebrae. D. Green coloration acquired by contact with copper on the costal end of a rib diaphysis. Credit: Collection of San Jose de los Naturales, Osteology Laboratory, (ENAH), Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: R. Barquera & N. Bernal.

"Although we have no indication that the HBV lineage we found established itself in Mexico, this is the first direct evidence of HBV introduction as the result of the transatlantic slave trade," says Denise Kuhnert, leader of the tide research group at MPI SHH. "This provides novel insight into the phylogeographic history of the pathogen."

Another individual was infected with Treponema pallidum pertenue which causes yaws, a painful infection of the bones similar to syphilis that affects joints and skin. The same strain of yaws has been previously identified in a 17th century colonist of European descent, suggesting the establishment of this disease lineage of African origin in the early colonial population of Mexico.

"This study sheds light into early cases of yaws after the European colonization of the Americas," says Aditya Kumar Lankapalli of MPI SHH. "Future studies should focus on understanding the transmission and introduction of this pathogen to the Americas. More high-coverage ancient Treponema genomes will allow us to get a better understanding of the coevolution and adaptation of this pathogen to humans."

"Interdisciplinary studies like this will make the study of the past a much more personal matter in the future," adds Thiseas C. Lamnidis. The authors hope that future interdisciplinary endeavors will continue to provide insights into the lives, deaths and legacies of historically oppressed groups whose stories have been buried, often in mass graves.

Explore further New insights into the transatlantic slave trade on African ancestry in the Americas

More information: "Origin and Health Status of first generation Africans from early Colonial Mexico," Current Biology (2020). Journal information: Current Biology "Origin and Health Status of first generation Africans from early Colonial Mexico,"(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.002
Minister for Health Greg Hunt addresses a press conference in the Main Committee Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on April 8, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Minister for Health Announces $67 Million for Childhood Cancer Treatments

The Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced $67 million for tailored treatment for every Australian child with cancer on April 30.

The money is a joint investment through the Governments Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and the Minderoo Foundation.

All Australian children and young adults diagnosed with cancer will now have access to genetically guided, precision treatments, the health department said in a media release.

The money will go to the Zero Childhood Cancer national precision medicine program that aims to reduce childhood cancer to zero.

Cancer is always a devastating diagnosis. Each year, about 750 children aged 14 or less are diagnosed with cancer in Australia, Hunt said in the press release. Many of these children have cancers that are very difficult to treat and have a less than 30 percent survival rate.

The new funding will help to increase support from 150 to 1,000 children per year.

Hunt thanked Minderoo Foundation Chairman Andrew Forrest AO for its $12.2 million contribution. Forrest said supporting the cancer program was an important part of the Minderoo Foundations work.

Over the last twelve months, weve seen ZERO achieve incredible breakthroughs in the fight against cancer, said Forrest. Minderoo Foundation is pleased the program will soon be available to all Aussie kids and their families.

Children with cancer will receive free profiling of their cancer cells. From there, researchers can test new therapies that will provide the most effective treatment for each individual child.

Cancelled Press Conference

A press conference had been scheduled for Hunt and Forrest to announce the funding, but was canceled at the last minute.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Health told the Epoch Times on April 30: The [funding] announcement was issued by Media Release so as not to distract focus from the importance of this life-saving program for children.

Over the coming years, this important partnership will give many Australian families the potential for better outcomes and real hope.

This comes after Forrest broke with etiquette and unexpectedly invited a Chinese diplomat to speak to the press at a similar ministerial press conference with Hunt the day before.

Read More Chinese Consul General Unexpectedly Gives Speech at Health Ministers Press Event

Forrests move was criticised by members of Parliament and the press because of its timing.

Diplomatic tensions between Australia and China have cooled this week after the Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye said the Chinese public may boycott Australian universities and products if Australia continues to push for an inquiry into the origins and handling of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

In response, the prime minister and other ministers said they would not bow to economic coercion.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie wrote on Facebook: This guy drops out of the sky in his private jet and enables the Chinese Communist Party to ambush a Commonwealth press conference. Yeah, were not happy. Now is not the time for games. Australia must come first.

Forrest responded to the criticism on Channel 9s Today show on April 30: There was no surprises there  this is the biggest non-story ever.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

( Note : All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in U.S. dollars except as otherwise noted. The financial results are prepared using the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards, except as otherwise noted, and are unaudited.)

TORONTO, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fairfax Africa Holdings Corporation (TSX: FAH.U) announces a net loss of $121.8 million in the first quarter of 2020 ($2.05 net loss per diluted share), compared to a net loss of $21.5 million in the first quarter of 2019 ($0.35 net loss per diluted share), reflecting increased net unrealized losses on investments and net foreign exchange losses in the quarter.

Highlights in the first quarter of 2020 included the following:

Net loss of $121.8 million included a net change in unrealized losses on investments of $68.6 million, principally from decreases in the market price of the company's investment in Atlas Mara common shares ($36.3 million), as well as the fair value of the company's indirect equity interest in AGH ($18.8 million), and net foreign exchange losses of $52.5 million reflecting a weakening of the South African rand relative to the U.S. dollar. The net loss in the first quarter of 2020 reflected negative market reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and related government interventions, combined with a simultaneous shock to global energy markets.

On February 28, 2020 Fairfax Africa invested an additional $3.1 million (49.3 million South African rand) in GroCapital Holdings. Upon completion of this transaction, the company had invested aggregate cash consideration of $17.6 million (253.7 million South African rand) and at March 31, 2020 the fair value of the company's equity interest in GroCapital was $10.0 million (179.2 million South African rand).

On March 30, 2020 the company entered into a secured lending arrangement with Atlas Mara pursuant to which Fairfax Africa agreed to provide up to $40.0 million of financing. The facility will earn interest at a rate of 10% per annum and will mature on March 31, 2021. At March 31, 2020 the facility was undrawn by Atlas Mara. Subsequently on April 2, 2020 $20.5 million was advanced to Atlas Mara under the facility.

During the first quarter of 2020 the company purchased for cancellation 463,506 subordinate voting shares under the terms of the normal course issuer bid at a cost of $1.9 million (approximately $3.99 per subordinate voting share).

During this period of uncertainty, Fairfax Africa remains in strong financial health, with sufficient undeployed cash and marketable securities.

At March 31, 2020 common shareholders' equity was $395.2 million, or book value per share of $6.69, compared to $518.8 million, or book value per share of $8.72, at December 31, 2019, a decrease of 23.3% primarily related to the net loss in the first quarter of 2020.

There were 59.4 million and 62.0 million weighted average shares outstanding during the first quarters of 2020 and 2019 respectively. At March 31, 2020 there were 29,032,975 subordinate voting shares and 30,000,000 multiple voting shares outstanding.

Fairfax Africa's detailed first quarter report can be accessed at its website www.fairfaxafrica.ca .

In presenting the companys results in this news release, management has included book value per basic share. Book value per basic share is calculated by the company as common shareholders' equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

Fairfax Africa is an investment holding company whose investment objective is to achieve long term capital appreciation, while preserving capital, by investing in public and private equity securities and debt instruments in Africa and African businesses or other businesses with customers, suppliers or business primarily conducted in, or dependent on, Africa.

For further information, contact: Keir Hunt, Corporate Secretary (416) 646-4180

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements may relate to the company's or an African Investment's future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, growth strategy, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividends, plans and objectives of the company. Particularly, statements regarding future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities of the company, an African Investment, or the African market are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward-looking statements are based on our opinions and estimates as of the date of this press release and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following factors: taxation of the company, its shareholders and subsidiaries; risk of substantial loss of capital; geographic concentration of investments; risks associated with the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, and the related global reduction in commerce and substantial downturns in stock markets worldwide; financial market fluctuations; control or significant influence position risk; minority investments; risks upon dispositions of investments; bridge financings; reliance on key personnel and risks associated with the Investment Advisory Agreement; effect of fees; operating and financial risks of investments; valuation methodologies involve subjective judgments; lawsuits; foreign currency fluctuation; unknown merits and risks of future investments; illiquidity of investments; competitive market for investment opportunities; use of leverage; significant ownership by Fairfax may adversely affect the market price of the subordinate voting shares; trading price of subordinate voting shares relative to book value per share; emerging markets; volatility of African securities markets; political, economic, social and other factors; natural disaster risks; sovereign debt risk; economic risk; weather risk, oil price risk and adverse consequences to the companys business, investments and personnel resulting from or related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the companys annual information form dated March 6, 2020 which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the companys website at www.fairfaxafrica.ca . These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully.

Although the company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Police are searching a lake for a missing 32-year-old woman who they suspect has been murdered.

Natalie Jenkins, from Thornaby, Teesside, vanished in Middlesbrough in December and her body has never been found.

Two men, aged 40 and 66, were arrested on suspicion of murder earlier this week, while a 65-year-old woman was held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. They have all since been bailed.

Specialist officers from Cleveland Police are now searching the 30 hectares of Albert Park, with an underwater team checking its lake and waterways for any sign of Ms Jenkins.

The force said it was focusing its hunt on the inside of the park after information had come to light, and that it was expected to last several days.

Natalie Jenkins: Police search for 'murdered' missing woman Show all 5 1 /5 Natalie Jenkins: Police search for 'murdered' missing woman Natalie Jenkins: Police search for 'murdered' missing woman Police are searching for Natalie Jenkins, 32, from Thornaby, Teesside, who disappeared in Middlesbrough on 10 December 2019. Her body has never been found and police believe she may have been murdered. Cleveland Police/PA Natalie Jenkins: Police search for 'murdered' missing woman Cleveland Police/PA Natalie Jenkins: Police search for 'murdered' missing woman Cleveland Police/PA Natalie Jenkins: Police search for 'murdered' missing woman Cleveland Police/PA Natalie Jenkins: Police search for 'murdered' missing woman Cleveland Police/PA

Last month, detectives released CCTV footage of Ms Jenkins walking towards the park at 11.38pm on 10 December  the day she was last seen.

Police have offered a 10,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction of the person or persons responsible for her murder.

Senior investigating officer detective chief inspector Mark Dimelow said: Our searches in Albert Park will take several days and will involve teams of officers led by trained search advisers.

The area around the park has always been a significant location to our investigation and information has led us to focus on the inside of the park.

I cant divulge what this information is for operational reasons but we are still appealing for people to come forward to tell us what they know.

Were providing support to Natalies family and are keeping them updated with what is happening with the investigation.

Detectives have previously said Ms Jenkins was particularly vulnerable because she was a drug user and sex worker.

She is described as white, 5ft 5in and slim, with fair skin and straight brown hair.

She has hazel eyes and a missing front tooth, and has tattoos saying Swanny on her neck and Swann on her wrist.

Additional reporting by Press Association.
The changed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms, which mandate government approval for investors from neighbouring countries, have raised questions over inflows from Taiwan.

India, as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country and accepts Chinese sovereignty over the region.

The confusion is whether under the new FDI rules, investments from Taiwan would be treated at par with those from China, the Economic Times reports.

The new rule applies to countries sharing land borders with India. And while the special administrative regions such as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan do not share land borders with India, they are recognised as part of China.

As Moin Ladha, partner at Khaitan & Co told ET, Given Taiwans unique political position, one cannot completely rule out concerns around the possibility of the restrictions being applicable to it as well.

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

Hong Kong-based British HSBC Bank has also reportedly sought legal counsel on how Indias new FDI adjustments would impact Taiwan, while other MNC banks, too, have approached the Reserve Bank of India for clarification, the report said.

HSBC did not respond to queries as per the report.

A press note clarifying the governments position on the issue is expected soon, Anshuman Mozumdar, partner, L&L Partners  Mumbai, told the newspaper. He acknowledged that Chinas control and influence in such regions though they do not share land borders with India means they could be included in the new rule.

Another cause for confusion is that Taiwan has a tax treaty with India and the industry lobbies have sought clarifications from the government.

While Taiwans investments have mostly been in infrastructure and energy space, many are also seeking information on whether Chinese investment in technology and ecommerce would be allowed any leeway, a source told ET.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As Mothers Day approaches, so does a heartbreaking reality and unfortunate circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic -- those whose mothers are no longer with us may not be able to visit them at their resting places.

Cemeteries closed their gates to visitors in early April out of concerns related to COVID-19, however, they were able to remain in operation because they are listed as an essential business by Gov. Andrew Cuomos office.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York said it continues to monitor the situation and will follow the advice of civic leaders and medical experts to make a decision on when to re-open to visitors.

We understand that many people are anxious to visit the final resting places of their loved ones, especially as we approach Mothers Day, Memorial Day, and Fathers Day, and we will re-open our cemeteries to visitors as soon as we possibly can, said spokesman Joseph Zwilling.

Our emphasis for now has been providing proper and dignified burials, and keeping our workers and the community safe, Zwilling said.

A woman who answered the phone at Resurrection Cemetery said people should check the website for the most updated information.

The website currently states the cemetery is closed for visitation until further notice.

Janet Cuomo, office manager at Ocean View cemetery, said they havent made a decision on allowing visitors for Mothers Day.

United Hebrew Cemetery did not return a request for comment by publication. The Advance previously reported the cemetery was currently open.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
When the shutdowns end, America will reopen with a set of restrictions that seem designed to leave most cities closed for the foreseeable future.

Restaurants and bars, in particular, will have trouble handling the new rules. In Texas, for example, restaurants may reopen on Friday for dine-in service at 25 percent capacity. Anyone who has ever waited tables will tell you that is not a sustainable business model. Its hard enough in sprawling Houston, where bars are being outfitted with Plexiglas protectors. It would be nearly impossible at storefront restaurants in cities like San Francisco or Hoboken, where the governors of California and New Jersey have floated similar protocols for reopening.

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Fortunately, almost every restaurant in America has the ability to quadruple its footprint overnight, with one weird trick: putting tables in the parking lot.

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Few businesses are obligated to build as much parking as restaurants. Most city codes force restaurant owners to provide 10 parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of restaurantor approximately three times as much room for cars as for the diners who drove them. In normal times, this policy has many negative consequences: It makes running a restaurant more expensive, uses up an enormous amount of land, and creates a landscape checkered with asphalt thats hard to navigate on foot.

In pandemic times, the asphalt shadows that adjoin most businesses could come in handy. What we know about the coronavirus suggests that it is mainly transmitted indoors, between people in close proximity, and that its transmission seems to slow in warmer weather. The summer, then, offers us an opportunity to restart social life in a way that reduces the odds of coronavirus transmission twice over, by keeping diners outside and well-spaced.

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In Brookhaven, a suburb of Atlanta, Mayor John Ernst has given restaurants permission to turn their parking into restaurant space. For the next 90 days, Brookhaven will embrace alfresco dining, he said.

Do Americans want to eat in the parking lot? Frankly, it sounds weird, but then so did being locked in the house for two months during a global pandemic. What if its hot? What if it rains? Sounds bad, but not as bad as sitting next to the wall-mounted air conditioner that seems to have given 10 people the coronavirus at a Guangzhou restaurant. At any rate, at 25 or 50 percent capacity, the indoor restaurant experience will be far from normal, too.

A stretch of asphalt that once served to park a Honda Accord can comfortably seat a dozen people.

Other activities are already taking advantage of Americas surplus asphalt, starting with coronavirus testing. Chris Escobar, who runs a movie theater in Atlanta, has converted his cinema into a drive-in, with the sound transmitted by FM radio. Churches from Virginia Beach to Sturgeon Bay have held services in the parking lot, with invocations to honk once for Amen and twice for Glory hallelujah. On Easter Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska, the Rev. Greg Griffith told honking parishioners at King of Kings Church, I love that we just broke Satans eardrums. In Orange County, California, clerks are marrying quarantined couples in the parking lot of the Honda Center. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has granted gun sellers permission to sell firearms in their parking lots. In Philadelphia, the school district suggested kids without internet at home could come do their virtual learning in school parking lots. And in Chicago, with the citys popular lakefront closed, kids are playing in parking lots instead.

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The smallest restaurantsthe ones for which distancing restrictions are the least realisticmay not have dedicated parking at all. But they have an even better option for summer dining: transforming street parking or lanes of trafficor even whole streetsinto extended cafe terraces. The Lithuanian capital of Vilnius has opened 18 public spaces for restaurant terraces, where tables must be spaced six feet apart. More than 160 operators have applied.

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The taking of parking spaces for more valuable uses has been underway for decades. The foundational arbitrage behind the food truck was the realization that commercial rent is expensive and parking virtually free. In cities like San Francisco and Seattle, restaurants have been able to expand their commercial space into parklets next to their storefronts. A stretch of asphalt that once served to park a Honda Accord can comfortably seat a dozen people.

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Social distancing will require more space. The wave of traffic washing out of cities has quickly exposed how much car use distorts everyday lifethe filthy, hazardous air, the constant noise, the tens of thousands of deaths and injuries. Nothing is so sharply revealed as the amount of space we have surrendered to the automobile. Park Avenue used to be an actual park!

Dozens of cities have used the pandemic to reclaim space for people that was given away a century ago, inaugurating play streets and bike lanes and pedestrian boulevards. Hard-hit European cities are looking ahead. Milan is redesigning 22 miles of streets in an attempt to keep traffic down when life returns to normal. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is building bike lanes to mirror the capitals busiest metro lines, in an attempt to keep traffic at bay as daily life slowly resumes in the French capital this month.

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Streets for people have been one of the few charms of a frightening moment, but they wont last. When the shutdown ends, traffic will come crashing down as transit commuters ditch buses and trains for their personal social-distance boxes. The stakes are especially high in New York City, the global epicenter of the virus. New Yorkers desperately need their city to get back up and running. There are many impediments to that, but the space to keep diners distant should not be one of them: Thirty-six percent of Manhattan is street space. Its the most valuable land in the world, and the city gives it away for free, provided you use it for nothing but your car.

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What if we instead gave it for free  to restaurants and bars?

Crammed along a sidewalk narrowed a century ago for thru traffic and browbeaten by an unelected community board that rations sidewalk seating like theres a table shortage, a New York restaurant is more likely to be owned by a guy named Al Fresco than to offer outdoor dining. The city should give restaurants the chance by closing popular streets to traffic entirely and lifting permit applications and fees for outdoor tables. Fire trucks and ambulances need not worry: Diners will get out of their way. Gridlock will not.

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We have an incredible opportunity to reimagine how we use public space to support our small businesses, our small restaurants and neighborhood pubs, and fortunately we are entering the warmer months of the year, says Andrew Rigie, the director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, a restaurant trade group that is pushing for the city to relax outdoor permitting rules. We need to think big picture.

Yes, this will be disruptiveand thats a good thing. Tourists will be wary of visiting New York, and restaurants will need all the business they can get. Make eating in New York this summer a pleasure and a spectacle: Pizza in the now-empty avenues, the sound of tires and car horns replaced by the rattle of crockery and the hum of voices. We should do more than make it possible to eat outsidewhen its time to reopen, we should make the post-pandemic restaurant something no one will want to miss.
(Brussels, April 30, 2020)  Ghanas Accra Psychiatric Hospital has confirmed that a patient has tested positive for Covid-19, causing concern about protection for other patients and staff, Human Rights Watch said today.

The infected woman was admitted to the acute care ward of the government-run hospital on April 20, 2020 and developed symptoms within days. She was tested for Covid-19 and transferred to an isolation unit on April 23, and her test was confirmed positive on April 27.

To prevent further infections, the government should immediately ensure that all psychiatric hospitals in the country test staff and patients, release as many patients as possible to avoid overcrowding, and ensure that staff and patients have adequate personal protective equipment.

Despite the best efforts of hospital staff, many patients, staff, and their families are now at risk because they had contact with a patient who has contracted Covid-19, said Shantha Rau Barriga, disability rights director at Human Rights Watch. Closed settings like psychiatric hospitals act as incubators for the virus. Wherever possible, people with mental health conditions should be allowed to leave if they choose.

After the womans positive Covid-19 diagnosis, the hospital attempted to transfer her to the Covid-19 treatment center, but the municipal authorities, who have to approve any such transfer, refused. Dr. Akwasi Osei, head of the Ghana Mental Health Authority, said they refused because she was a mental health patient.

This is obvious discrimination, he told Human Rights Watch. If this person didnt have a mental health condition, she would have been allowed to go to the treatment center. They are just afraid. But people with psychosocial disabilities should have the same access to Covid-19 treatment as anyone else.

The hospital has approximately 370 in-house patients, 11 of whom are in the womens acute ward and 80 of whom have been admitted to the hospital through Ghanas court system. It is testing 87 staff and patients who came into contact with the woman. Staff have also been required to self-isolate until their test results are cleared. In the meantime, the hospital needs to find staff from other wards, who did not have possible contact with the patient, to take additional shifts, Dr. Osei said.

In March, the hospital issued protocols for managing Covid-19, detailing preventive measures and screening practices for staff. The protocols require healthcare providers to maintain one meter distance at all times from service users. But the protocols are geared almost entirely to the staff, and do not inform residents how to protect themselves.

Since 2011, Human Rights Watch has been documenting the situation in the mental health system in Ghana. Conditions in psychiatric hospitals have improved steadily, with patients being released to reduce overcrowding. Earlier in 2020, Accra Psychiatric Hospital renovated the mens forensic ward, which previously had filthy toilets and holes in the roof of the dormitory-style rooms. However, people with psychosocial disabilities, such as bipolar condition or schizophrenia, continue to be subjected to involuntary admission and treatment, with little possibility of challenging their confinement.

As of April 28, the Ghana Health Service reported 1,671 cases of Covid-19  1,433 from Greater Accra Region alone  and 16 deaths. The countrys two largest cities, Accra and Kumasi, were under partial lockdown between March 30 and April 20. In his April 19 national address, President Nana Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana ranks first in Africa in the number of Covid-19 tests administered per million people and that the government has scaled up the domestic production and distribution of personal protective equipment to healthcare facilities. The president listed these as among the reasons for lifting the partial lockdown.

But a week later, authorities reported the highest single-day increase in confirmed Covid-19 cases. On April 28, the Ghana Medical Association expressed concern about insufficient distribution of personal protective equipment to healthcare workers, after 13 doctors tested positive for Covid-19.

To address the pandemic, the government should ensure that hospitals are fully equipped with personal protective equipment and regularly test staff and patients. Mental hospitals should avoid new admissions as much as possible to reduce and prevent overcrowding. Municipal authorities should also confirm that anyone with a mental health condition who tests positive for Covid-19 will be admitted to local treatment centers without delay or discrimination.

To minimize the number of daily outpatient visits during the pandemic, Accra Psychiatric Hospital has looked into phone consultations, having medications delivered to patients, and creating a home visit team. These initiatives should be carried out or scaled up, Human Rights Watch said.

Ghana and its international development partners, such as the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), should also expand community-based services for people with psychosocial disabilities to reduce overcrowding in hospitals and avoid restricting peoples liberty. This is also an opportunity to further develop the QualityRights Initiative  a training program for mental health professionals supported by the World Health Organization that promotes attitudes and practices that respect the dignity and rights of people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.

This is a chance for Ghana to re-think a system that often restricts peoples freedom and choices and instead invest in services that let people with disabilities live independently, Barriga said. Its also a moment for the government to ensure that people with disabilities are included in the Covid-19 response. People with mental health conditions deserve no less than others.
Thousands of commuters congested roads connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta and the southern province of Dong Nai on Thursday morning, as they headed home for a four-day holiday break.

Salaried workers in Vietnam are celebrating Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers' Day (May 1) and will only return to work on Monday next week.

The workers swarmed the roads to go back to their hometowns on Thursday morning on motorbikes, in addition to cars and trucks, leading to heavy traffic jams on many routes.

Heavy traffic jams began at around 7:00 am, mostly along National Highway 1 from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta province of Long An, and streets leading to the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway.

Both are vital routes that links the southern metropolis with Tien Giang Province and the Mekong Delta region in general.

A ticket attendant is surrounded by vehicles dozens of meters away from the entrance to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

A woman holds her baby walking out of congestion on Nguyen Thi Dinh Street leading to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

On some sections, congestion stretched up to two kilometers.

Likewise, a traffic jam also took place near Cat Lai Ferry, a key link between Ho Chi Minh Citys District 2 and the neighboring province of Dong Nai, on Thursday morning.

According to Cat Lai Ferrys deputy director Nguyen Thanh Tuan, the number of commuters on the ferry route has doubled from previous days, while the ferry terminal currently operates only six ferries to transport people. Two large ferries had already been damaged in a recent collision incident.

Traffic officers were dispatched to the aforementioned congested areas to relieve the gridlock.

An ocean of vehicles on Nguyen Thi Dinh Street leading to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

Vehicles crowd Nguyen Thi Dinh Street leading to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

An ocean of vehicles at Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

A traffic police officer directs the traffic on a street leading to the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway in southern Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A man rides his family home on a motorbike on a congested street in Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Cars queue on a street leading to the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway in southern Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Cars and passenger buses queue on the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway in southern Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A mass migration on a section of National Highway 1 through Tan Tao Ward in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A man impatiently gets out of his car amid congestion on Nguyen Thi Dinh Street leading to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

Motorbikes swarm Nguyen Thi Dinh Street leading to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

An ocean of vehicles on Nguyen Thi Dinh Street leading to Cat Lai Ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

An ocean of vehicles on Binh Dien Bridge in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, April 30, 2020. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

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Three men have been arrested and a gun has been seized after an alleged domestic dispute near Australia's biggest mosque.

Riot police and the bomb squad stormed a home on Wangee Road in Lakemba, in south west Sydney, about 4.05pm on Thursday.

They were responding to an alleged domestic dispute, and found a gun during the operation.

Footage taken at the scene shows officers combing through bushes and grass outside Canterbury Vale Public School, as one man sits on the footpath nearby wearing handcuffs.

The man appeared distressed as he sat cross legged while officers spoke with him.

Wangee Road has been locked down between Punchbowl Road and Lakemba Street, causing traffic chaos through the thoroughfare.

Lakemba Mosque, which operates as the largest mosque in Australia, is just down the road from where the incident occurred.

A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a crime scene has been established.

There were no reported injuries.

Footage taken at the scene shows officers combing through bushes and grass outside Canterbury Vale Public School
As the country mourned the loss of one of the finest actors of the Indian cinema industry, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik paid tribute to Irrfan Khan with his sand art on Wednesday.

Pattnaik took to Twitter to post a picture of the sand sculpture of the actor along with one of the most famous dialogues from his internationally acclaimed film Life of Pi.

The sculpture that stood near crashing waves of Puri sea beach featured Irrfan with a film roll, a Miss You note and his famous dialogue, ...not taking a moment to say goodbye.

Irrfan Khan was known for his expressive eyes and his sculpture too had the same expressive eyes.

Heartfelt tribute to the Bollywood legend #IrrfanKhan on his untimely demise. My SandArt at Puri beach with message ... not taking a moment to say goodbye #RIP, Sudarsan tweeted along with the picture.

Heartfelt tribute to the Bollywood legend #IrrfanKhan on his untimely demise. My SandArt at Puri beach with message "... not taking a moment to say goodbye " . #RIP pic.twitter.com/XomsfwOgTm  Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) April 29, 2020

The internationally renowned actor passed away at Mumbais Kokilaben Hospital on Wednesday while battling cancer. He was 53. Irrfan was last seen on screen in Angrezi Medium. He was not a part of the films promotions owing to his ill health.

With critically acclaimed films like The Lunchbox and Paan Singh Tomar to his credit, Irrfan was regarded as one of the finest actors in Hindi cinema.
Real Housewives Of New Jersey star Joe Giudice released an official statement Wednesday saying his 'heart is aching' after his deportation appeal was denied.

'My heart is aching. My limbs feel weak,' Joe told The Hollywood Gossip.

The 47-year-old reality TV star said he had been 'hoping to come home to my girls'.

Not going home: Real Housewives Of New Jersey star Joe Giudice, shown recently on Instagram. released a statement after his deportation appeal was denied

'Today, according to U.S. immigration I was told I will never step foot in America again,' Joe said in the statement that he linked to from his Instagram page.

The ruling means the estranged husband of Teresa Giudice will not be able to come back to the United States to co-parent his four daughters Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11.

'I wont see my girls glowing smile that I loved waking up with every morning now,' Joe added in his statement.

The Blast shared the immigration news on Wednesday after taking a look at the court documents.

The end: That means the estranged husband of Teresa Giudice will not be able to come back to the United States

Away from his kids: The construction worker had hoped to co-parent his four daughters Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11. Seen with Teresa and Teresa's late father

The order reads, 'This cause came to be considered on a petition for review from the Board of Immigration Appeals and was submitted on November 21, 2019.

'On consideration whereof, it is now hereby ORDERED and ADJUDGED by this Court that the petition for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals entered on April 11, 2019, is DENIED.

'All of the above in accordance with the opinion of this Court.'

Done: Giudice split from his wife Teresa in mid December following a 20-year marriage that began in 1999. Seen in 2014

Joe had been in ICE containment while waiting for a ruling on his deportation.

But he had said the conditions were so bad that he preferred to live in Italy with his family. And the star has remained there ever since.

He had been hoping to return to the United States to be with his children but with his appeal denied, there is no immediate chance of that.

Giudice split from his wife Teresa in mid December following a 20-year marriage that began in 1999.

Joe was sent to prison for 41 months in connection with his 2014 guilty plea to mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud charges.

Because Joe was not a U.S. citizen - the reality star was born in Saronno, Italy and brought to the United States when he was a year old, never applying for citizenship - federal authorities ordered him deported due to legal statutes related to 'a crime of moral turpitude' or 'aggravated felony.'

Joe concluded his sentence at Fort Dix, New Jersey's Federal Correctional Institution in March, and was held in ICE custody until he was deported to Italy October 11 amid an appeal in the case.

His new home: The star has been living in a home in Sala Consilina, Italy after exiting ICE detention in the United States

His old life: Joe used to call this mansion in New Jersey his dwelling

Teresa spent most of 2015 in custody in her 11-month sentence in her related conviction, while Joe in March of 2016 started serving his 41-month sentence.

Joe has taken to social media frequently to share his new life in Italy.

On Wednesday Joe gave his 406K Instagram followers a look at his home in Italy after he painted it.

'It was a real pain in the butt but that is what painting is isn't it? But you know something? It looks good when yyou're done,' he said in a thick Jersey accent.

He told fans to stay safe and wash their hands and take care. 'Everybody stay safe, stay busy and paint a room and wash your hands, have a good Wednesday,' he ended.

Earlier this month Giudice revealed that he felt 'overwhelmed with emotions' after he was unable to reunite with his four daughters over the weekend.

He shared memories with his girls on Instagram, since their Easter reunion was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The patriarch posted a throwback with Milania, who leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled.

Lonely: Joe revealed that he felt 'overwhelmed with emotions' after he was unable to reunite with his four daughters for Easter

'Goodnight,' he captioned the Instagram shot with the hashtag #missyougirls and a kiss face emoji.

In addition to the since-deleted posted, which sparked concerns about his health due to his trimmer appearance, Joe shared two more photos of his girls on his Instagram Story, including one from a FaceTime chat with Milania.

'Miss you buddy,' the teenager wrote, while they both beamed in the screenshot from a recent conversation.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum, who resides in Italy, shared some sweet memories of his girls after their Easter reunion was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic

Joe also shared another snap of one of his girls, whose face was covered by a filter of neon green glasses and purple hearts, as she appeared to be cooking.

'Special occasions are the hardest without them it feels emptier and less joyful. I felt overwhelmed with emotions,' he wrote on Saturday after spending Easter weekend without his kids.

Last month, he reflected on how his past mistakes, which forced him to serve a 41-month sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud.

'My mistake has caused me literally not to touch my daughters everyday and you again,' he captioned a somber Instagram picture of his father Francesco's grave site. 'This terrible feeling continues as tears stream down my face knowing I can't see you.

'My promise to you dad and my girls I will never make the same mistake again. I must accept my flaws and forgive myself to go forward.'
Alia Bhatt is heartbroken by the untimely demise of Rishi Kapoor, who died on Thursday morning after a two-year battle with leukaemia. She paid tribute to him with a moving note shared on Instagram and said that the love he gave her was like a warm hug that (she) will always cherish.

What can I say. About this beautiful man... who brought soo much love and goodness into my life. Today, everyone speaks of the legend that is Rishi Kapoor... and though Ive known him like that all my life... for the past two years Ive known him as a friend, a fellow Chinese food lover, a total cinema lover, a fighter, a leader, a beautiful storyteller, an extremely passionate tweeter and a father! In these past two years the love I have received from him is like a warm hug that I will always cherish! she wrote in her caption.

Also read | Rishi Kapoors funeral, latest updates: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt pay their last respects

I thank the universe forgiving me this opportunity to know him... today probably most of us can say he is like family - because thats how he made you feel! Love you, Rishi Uncle! Will miss you forever! Thank you for being you! she added.

Alia also shared two throwback pictures - one of Rishi and his wife Neetu Kapoor, and the other of Rishi and his son Ranbir Kapoor. Love you, she captioned the first photo, while the picture of Rishi and Ranbir was captioned, Beautiful boys.

Also read | Come back na papa: Rishi Kapoors daughter Riddhima couldnt attend his funeral, writes heartbroken note

Alia visited the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital to pay her last respects to Rishi and also attended his funeral at Chandanwadi Crematorium. She was also seen consoling a sobbing Neetu after the last rites.

Rishi was hospitalised on Wednesday when his health deteriorated. In a statement, his family said that he remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Prompt British wholesale gas prices rose on Wednesday morning as cooler than usual temperatures boosted demand for gas and imports from Norway dipped.

* The day-ahead contract was up 0.90 pence at 14.25 p/therm by 0850 GMT.

* The weekend contract was up 0.75 p at 13.25 p/therm.

* Traders said cooler than usual temperatures for the time of year had buoyed prices but gas demand still remains fundamentally weak across Europe due to restrictions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

* Average temperatures in Britain were forecast at 8.6 degrees Celsius for Wednesday and 8.5 degrees for Thursday, Refinitiv Eikon data showed.

* "Temperatures are expected to remain below seasonal normal till the end of the week turning well above normal early next week," analysts at Refintiv said in a daily research note.

* Imports of gas from Norway though the Langeled pipeline were around 11 million cubic metres (mcm), down 4 mcm from the previous day, National Grid data showed.

* Britains gas system was oversupplied by 9.7 mcm with demand forecast at 205.7 mcm and flows at 215.4 mcm/day, National Grid data showed.

* Further out on the curve prices also edged higher.

* The May contract was up 0.55 p at 14.10p/therm.

* The Winter 2020 contract was up 0.34 p at 32.04 p/therm.

* The month-ahead gas price at the Dutch TTF hub was up 0.19 euro at 6.25 euros per megawatt hour.

* The benchmark Dec-20 EU carbon contract was up 0.19 euro at 20.40 euros per tonne. (Reporting by Susanna Twidale; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, speaks with Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen AG (not pictured), at a "fireside chat" to the media about a joint project between the two companies called the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud on February 27, 2019 in Berlin.

Microsoft on Thursday said it will start accepting registrations for its first digital-only Build developer conference scheduled for May 19-21. Microsoft had originally planned to hold the event in Seattle but canceled in-person gatherings in March as coronavirus became more prevalent. More than 6,000 people registered to attend last year's Build conference in downtown Seattle.

Microsoft is now providing more detail on its substitute for one of its marquee activities that brings together employees with outsiders.

This year's event will be free, and it will be more focused on the core audience of software developers, rather than end users of products like Windows 10 or Office applications, or people interested in understanding bigger-picture corporate strategy.

Last month Microsoft held a digital event for journalists to learn about new features in the Edge browser and other products. Build will see Microsoft delivering content for a larger audience.

Executives will talk about artificial intelligence technologies, the Azure cloud, the Microsoft 365 family of products including the Office productivity bundle.

Keynote presentations at this year's Build event will be shorter, and some of the discussion that normally takes place in person will happen on Twitter instead. Microsoft executives will be recording content ahead of time from their homes as they continue to shelter in place, although some content will be produced live to enable greater public interaction, the person said.

Holding the event online will mean journalists won't have their usual press room available. Microsoft will provide a gathering place for journalists in the Teams communication app for this year's Build.

Earlier this month Microsoft told partners that it had chosen to make all internal and external events into digital-first affairs through July 2021. At some point Microsoft will probably hold in-person conferences again, the person said.

Other big technology companies like Apple, Facebook and Google have also canceled or gone online-only with major developer events they had been planning for this year as Covid-19 cases mounted. On Wednesday Salesforce called off its Dreamforce show for customers and partners.

WATCH: Microsoft president on handling increased demand during coronavirus
No new cases in South Korea or Hong Kong

After months of imposing social distancing, a few governments are now reporting remarkable milestones: recording zero new domestically transmitted coronavirus cases, or no new cases at all.

South Korea on Thursday reported that for the first time since the viruss Feb. 29 peak, it had no new domestic cases and just four cases among people who came in from outside the country.

Also on Thursday, Hong Kong reported that there had been no new cases there for five straight days. That was a welcome turnaround after a spike in cases in late March from international travelers.

They are not the only ones on that path  Australia and New Zealand are close. Beijings major tourist sites are set to reopen just in time for Chinas extended holiday weekend.
Three Togolese were on Wednesday arrested in Iseyin town in Oyo State, after allegedly bribing their way into Nigeria amidst the coronavirus lockdown, security operatives and sources have said.

The trio according to an indigene of Iseyin who begged not to be named, entered Nigeria through Saki town, though the Nigeria Immigration Service in Oyo State said they came through Ilesha Baruba, a border town in Kwara State.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the Togolese, who are labourers, were intercepted at Odo-Omu area of Iseyin local government on Wednesday.

They arrived Iseyin on Tuesday.

Our correspondent gathered that the trio, Commando Kwasi, Eberivie Isiaq and Kemi Terivie, a mother of one, went to Cotonou, Republic of Benin in January.

They, however, returned to Nigeria on Tuesday after several weeks of the closure of Nigerian borders.

The federal government had announced the closure of its borders due to the outbreak of coronavirus also known as COVID-19.

Bribing way through?

Our correspondent gathered from an indigene of Iseyin that each of the Togolese allegedly paid N2,000 to officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Saki to enter Nigeria.

The source said, Some people from Benin Republic came into Nigeria today through Saki. They arrived at our area this evening. They said the officials at the border collected 2,000 naira per person as bribe to gain entrance to Saki.

I know this can be very risky for our state. I spoke with them one on one. Without being tested for that matter. So, I dont know if you have any means to alert the government to caution those officials there. Some of them are scattered to their various houses in Iseyin here.

I am trying to be careful of my head as well because I know them and if I mention them plainly, they will know it came from me. Some alighted at some villages in Saki while others at Iseyin. They are Beninois and Togolese who help people in farming, making of ridges and hoe. They also have their personal farms as well. They traveled to their country for brief holiday but (some) were caught in the lockdown.

It was gathered that some of the residents alerted the security agencies and drew the attention of the Iseyin local government authority.

The source noted that this led to the arrest of the trio on Wednesday.

Chairman, Iseyin local government, Mufutau Abilawon, alongside representatives of Aseyin of Iseyin, Ikolaba of Iseyin, Ismahil Odubiyi and members of COVID-19 local committee visited the residence of the foreigners to ascertain their travel history and medical condition on Wednesday.

Mufutau Abilawon and others when they were in the abode of the Togolese

Mr Abilawon said We rushed here when we heard of the information to ascertain its veracity and quickly nip the spread in the bud. As directed by Oyo State governor, we are not to cover any case of illegal incursion of foreigners or COVID-19 case as the government is working day and night to stop the spread of this deadly disease.

Members of the COVID-19 committee are here with us and they have questioned the individuals to know their health status and travel history, but we are not stopping at this, we need to have an emergency meeting with all community chiefs (Baales) tomorrow morning to warn them from harbouring foreigners that just came in till this crisis is over.

These arrived agrarian communities to assist farmers during planting season which we are, but we have to face the reality, our lives are more valuable than any other thing, we must curtail their influx.

Meanwhile, the public relations officer, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Oyo State Command, Olufemi Adetunji, confirmed the arrest of the trio Wednesday night.

Mr Adetunji in a telephone interview, noted that the trio did not pass through Saki as being speculated.

Security agents

He said that the trio passed through Ilesha-Baruba in Kwara State and that none of the immigration officers were bribed as alleged.

Yes. Because, I have been briefed. They said that they passed through Ilesha Baruba in Kwara State and not Saki in Oyo. Saki is not really a border town, there are some villages there but, they did not pass through Saki. They passed through Ilesha Baruba in Kwara.

Based on the information I have, none of our officers collected anything from them to enter the country.

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But, they have been arrested and they are not with us. The state task force on COVID-19 will speak on that. But, I learnt that they had carried some elementary tests on COVID-19 on them but they are negative.
PRESS RELEASE

FIRST-QUARTER 2020 BUSINESS REVIEW

Paris  April 29, 2020

Key financials(1)

In  millions, total share Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Reported Change Like-for-like

Change(2) Gross rental income  Shopping centers 291.9 304.9 4.3% - Gross rental income  Other retail properties 5.3 6.3 15.8% - Total gross rental income 297.2 311.2 4.5% - Management and development fees 19.7 19.5 +0.7% - Total revenues 316.8 330.7 4.2% - Net rental income  Shopping centers 252.8 265.2 4.7% +0.1%

Operating performance

Revenues

Klepierres total revenues for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 amounted to 316.8 million, a 4.2% decrease compared to the same period last year, mainly attributable to the impact of disposals carried out in 2019.

Gross rental income generated by shopping centers amounted to 291.9 million over the first quarter of 2020 on a total share basis, compared to 304.9 million for the same period last year. The 13.0-million (4.3%) decrease mainly reflects the disposal of assets in Hungary, Portugal and the Netherlands in 2019 as well as a negative foreign exchange effect from Scandinavian currencies.

As of March 31, 2020, like-for-like basis(2) shopping centers net rental income was broadly stable compared to the same period last year (up 0.1%). This was due to lower variable income (sales-based rents, specialty leasing and parking revenues) as a direct consequence of the lockdowns. Restated for this effect, like-for-like net rental income was up 2.3%.

Gross rental income from other retail properties amounted to 5.3 million, 1.0 million lower than in the same prior-year period as a result of disposals carried out in 2019 and early 2020.

Management and development fees increased slightly from 19.5 million to 19.7 million.

Retailer sales

On a like-for-like basis,(3) total retailer sales were upbeat at the start of the year, with January climbing 0.9% and February up 4.4%. The closure of most of the stores in Klepierre shopping centers since mid-March makes it meaningless to compare sales of the first quarter of 2020 with those of last year.

Story continues

Update on COVID-19

Operating context

Since mid-March, restrictive administrative measures varying from one country to the next have been implemented in Europe to contain the spread of the coronavirus. France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic have ordered the closure of all stores except those selling basic necessities, including grocery and small food stores, and pharmacies. In other countries (Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Turkey) representing 18.4% of the Groups gross asset value (total share), only partial administrative closures have been issued (mainly for bars and restaurants), although some retailers have decided to close of their own volition.

Support measures

Klepierre has always valued a sustainable, trustworthy and long-term relationship with retailers. In the current environment, the Group has been in constant contact with them and has already taken the following decisions:

to switch from quarterly to monthly invoicing of Q2 rents in countries where monthly invoicing was not already standard practice (France, Italy and Scandinavia);

to defer the payment of Aprils rents to the second half of the year (4) ; and

to grant a three-month rent holiday to small businesses in France(5) in line with the recommendation of several professional property owner associations.

The Group will continue to adjust the support provided to retailers on a case-by-case basis.

Cost reduction plan

To mitigate the impact of the crisis, Klepierre implemented the following action plan in the immediate aftermath of the lockdowns:

significant reduction in operating expenditure to be translated into lower service charges for our retailers; and

savings on payroll and general and administrative expenses. As part of this measure, both members of the Klepierre Executive Board have elected to cut their fixed compensation by 30% until the end of 2020. All country managing directors and senior members of the Groups Corporate Management Team have also elected to cut their pay by 20% in April and May.

Preparation for reopening

Over recent weeks, the Group has been concentrating its energy on preparing for the reopening of its shopping centers. All of the countries in which the Group has operations are preparing to lift the lockdowns, although at different paces. Closure orders for retailers have been eased notably in Germany with stores of up to 800 sq.m. now open; consequently, Klepierre has resumed operations at four of its German malls. Store reopenings are also accelerating in Norway, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, while lockdown measures are expected to be eased gradually in Italy, Spain and France from mid-May.

Klepierre has devised detailed sanitary protocols and proactively shared them with local authorities to contribute to setting reopening standards. These protocols are aimed, in particular, at ensuring the protection of staff and visitors and provide for the following:

strict enforcement of social distancing rules: at both the entrance to the mall (filtering) and inside (organizing queues, preventing gatherings from forming, using ground markings and virtual line management applications, etc.);

in line with local standards, body temperature checks and controls on the wearing of masks;

an enhanced cleaning regime and more frequent renewal of air;

partnering with retailers to identify non-compliant situations and adapt processes quickly; and

active and transparent communication to visitors and staff through all our on-site media infrastructure (voice announcements, posters, digital panels).

Development and disposals

Pipeline

Klepierre is benefiting from its conservative approach to development with significant capacity to adapt the project pipeline. Accordingly, the Group only has three committed projects:

the extension and redevelopment of Hoog Catharijne in Utrecht (Netherlands);

the refurbishment of Creteil Soleil in Paris (France);

the re-development of Gulskogen in Drammen (Norway); and

the extension and refurbishment of Gran Reno in Bologna (Italy).

Over the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, 33 million was spent on the pipeline, mainly in relation to these projects.

In France and Italy, construction works have been halted since mid-March 2020, with a gradual resumption is expected toward the end of the second quarter. In the Netherlands and Norway, construction activity has been maintained, subject to specific protection measures.

Following a detailed business review, the Group is set to limit spending on ongoing projects and will not launch new constructions until further clarity is gained on the impact of Covid-19 on the Groups operations.

Consequently, the Group is in a position to limit its 2020 development capex to 130 million.

Disposals

Over the first three months of 2020, Klepierre continued to streamline its portfolio and completed disposals totaling 39.8 million (total share, excluding transfer taxes).

Despite a slowdown in the investment market, the Group is continuing negotiations in respect of non-core assets, that are expected to close in the coming months.

Debt and financing

As of March 31, 2020, Klepierres consolidated net debt amounted to 9.0 billion, a slight increase compared to December 31, 2019 (up 180 million). The Groups liquidity position remains strong, standing at 2.6 billion as of March 31, 2020, and comfortably covering its refinancing needs.

Community engagement

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Klepierre has been helping territories and surrounding communities. The Group has made its shopping centers available to local stakeholders who need them. As an illustration, half of the French portfolio of shopping centers has dedicated spaces to welcome and assist women victims of domestic abuse. German shopping centers have organized blood donation campaigns while Italian and Spanish shopping centers have set up food drives for underprivileged families. The Group has also made all its car parks and external spaces available to hospitals, local authorities and charities.

Klepierre is also offering the use of its digital advertising space for free to aid agencies such as the Red Cross all around Europe, Secours Populaire and Allo Voisins in France, and to any other non-profit whose purpose is to raise public awareness or funds to fight the pandemic.

Klepierre has also launched tribute campaigns on its corporate social media channels dedicated to people working every day in its shopping centers, including employees of both Klepierre and its retailers.

Withdrawal of full-year guidance

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Group has decided to withdraw its full-year 2020 net current cash flow guidance of between 2.85 and 2.90.

Jean-Marc Jestin, Chairman of the Klepierre Executive Board, commented, In the first quarter of this year, Klepierres revenues were barely impacted by Covid-19. However, the effect of the lockdowns enforced since mid-March in virtually all countries where we operate has triggered the closure of most shops in our malls. From the outset, our number one priority has been to preserve the health and safety of all our stakeholders whilst supporting our retailers. For a couple of weeks now, our teams have been fully committed to preparing the reopening of our shopping centers in the best sanitary conditions. I would like to pay tribute to them for their dedication and mobilization in these unprecedented times. While it is still too early to assess the full impact of the situation on our full-year earnings, we remain confident that our high-quality portfolio, robust balance sheet and strong liquidity position coupled with our unique know-how will be invaluable assets in overcoming this exceptional situation.





like-for-like change in Retailer sales

for the first two months of 2020

vs the same period in 2019

Countries Like-for-like

change(a) Share in total

reported retailer sales France 0.7% 35% Belgium +3.9% 2% FranceBelgium 0.5% 37% Italy 0.6% 23% Norway +6.1% 8% Sweden +6.7% 7% Denmark +7.2% 4% Scandinavia +6.5% 19% Spain +5.3% 8% Portugal +8.8% 2% Iberia +6.0% 10% Czech Republic +1.0% 2% Poland +4.9% 3% Turkey +23.7% 2% Central Europe & Other +7.7% 7% Netherlands(b) n.m. n.m. Germany +4.1% 3% TOTAL +2.5% 100%

(a) Like-for-like change is on a same-center basis and excludes the impact of asset sales, acquisitions and foreign exchange.

(b) Only recently-opened shops in Hoog Catharijne (Utrecht) report their sales to Klepierre.





Total revenues

In  millions Total share Group share Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Q1 2020 Q1 2019 France 103.9 106.7 84.4 86.9 Belgium 4.7 4.4 4.7 4.4 FranceBelgium 108.6 111.1 89.1 91.3 Italy 51.0 51.3 50.4 50.7 Norway 15.8 17.2 8.9 9.6 Sweden 13.9 14.7 7.8 8.2 Denmark 13.7 14.4 7.7 8.1 Scandinavia 43.3 46.2 24.3 25.9 Spain 29.3 29.1 29.3 29.1 Portugal 4.6 6.3 4.6 6.3 Iberia 33.9 35.4 33.9 35.4 Poland 8.7 8.8 8.7 8.8 Hungary 0.0 4.9 0.0 4.8 Czech Republic 7.9 8.3 7.9 8.3 Turkey 5.0 5.3 4.5 4.8 Others 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.8 CE & Turkey 22.5 28.1 22.0 27.6 Netherlands 20.1 20.3 20.1 20.3 Germany 12.4 12.4 11.9 11.8 SHOPPING CENTER GROSS RENTAL INCOME 291.9 304.9 251.7 263.1 Other retail properties 5.3 6.3 5.3 6.3 TOTAL GROSS RENTAL INCOME 297.2 311.2 257.0 269.4 Management and development fees 19.7 19.5 18.7 18.6 TOTAL REVENUES 316.8 330.7 275.7 287.9 Equity-accounted investees* 21.4 20.9 20.6 20.0

* Contributions from Equity-accounted investees include investments in jointly-controlled companies and investments in companies under significant influence.





AGENDA July 7, 2020 Ex-dividend date for the final dividend July 9, 2020 Final dividend payment July 29, 2020 First-half 2020 earnings (after market close) Investor relations contacts media contacts Hubert dAillieres, Group Head of Investor Relations and Financial Communication

+33 (0)1 40 67 51 37  hubert.daillieres@klepierre.com

Mengxing Zhang, IR Officer

+33 (0)1 40 67 53 05  mengxing.zhang@klepierre.com

Paul Logerot, IR Officer

+33 (1) 40 67 53 02  paul.logerot@klepierre.com Helene Salmon, Group Head of Corporate and Internal Communications

+33 (0)1 40 67 55 16  helene.salmon@klepierre.com

Delphine Granier, Taddeo

+33 (0)6 33 05 48 50  teamklepierre@taddeo.fr

ABOUT KLEPIERRE

Klepierre, the European leader in shopping malls, combines development, property and asset management skills. The companys portfolio is valued at 23.7 billion at December 31, 2019 and comprises large shopping centers in 12 countries in Continental Europe which together host 1.1 billion visits per year. Klepierre holds a controlling stake in Steen & Strm (56.1%), Scandinavias number one shopping center owner and manager. Klepierre is a French REIT (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris and is included in the CAC Next 20, EPRA Euro Zone and GPR 250 indexes. It is also included in ethical indexes, such as DJSI World and Europe, FTSE4Good, STOXX Global ESG Leaders, Euronext Vigeo France 20 and World 120. These distinctions underscore the Groups commitment to a proactive sustainable development policy and its global leadership in the fight against climate change.

For more information, please visit the newsroom on our website: www.klepierre.com

This press release is available on the Klepierre website:

www.klepierre.com









([1]) The data disclosed in this release, including those set out in the appendices, have not been audited.







([2]) Like-for-like change excludes the contribution of new spaces (acquisitions, greenfield projects or extensions), spaces being restructured, disposals completed in 2019 and 2020, and foreign exchange impacts.







([3]) Like-for-like change is on a same-center basis and excludes the impact of asset sales, acquisitions and foreign exchange.







([4]) Stores concerned by closure orders enforced by local authorities.







([5]) Companies with a revenue of less than 2 million and fewer than 10 employees.







Attachment
A woman has been charged with making terroristic threats after police say she spit on an officer while claiming to have the coronavirus.

Jenna Richardson, 24, from West Deptford, was arrested for disorderly conduct on Wednesday night after police were called to a township home, police said. As officers were trying to put her in the patrol car, Richardson is accused of spitting on an officer and saying she had the virus.

Richardson was taken to the hospital, and later to the Salem County Correctional Facility. She was also charged with aggravated assault on a police officer.

The officer who was spit on was taken to a hospital and later released, police say.

Richardson joins a list of New Jersey residents accused of telling cops they have the coronavirus during arrests, whom Gov. Phil Murphy has referred to as knuckleheads.

At least four other residents are accused of spitting or coughing on officers and claiming to be infected, officials have said. Most incidents allegedly occurred while they were being arrested for other crime, police said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com.
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Linkedin Karin Nadia Utami and Renisa Aru Ariadno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 13:47 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd531a6a 3 Health COVID-19,mental-health,pandemic,children,teenagers,children-development,parenting,parenting-tips Free

Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide, governments are banning activities that involve large gatherings, including school and working from an office. Several countries are implementing lockdowns and ordering people to stay home.

This mass quarantine and isolation have caused widespread fears and concerns among societies and affected peoples mental health, especially the at-risk population, including children.

While we can agree that staying home and self-quarantining are essential to prevent the spread of COVID-19, doing so has several negative impacts, especially on children.

Research shows that when children are not in school, whether on the weekends or over the holidays, they are less active, have longer screen times, have irregular sleeping patterns and consume more unhealthy foods. These conditions often lead to weight gain and decreased physical fitness. These effects are likely to be much worse when children stay at home without any outdoor activities and interaction with their friends.

Parents should pay more attention to their children's mental health. Stressors that they experienced during the pandemic, such as long isolation duration, fear of getting the infection, boredom, lack of contact with friends, lack of personal space at home, even family financial loss, can affect their psychological wellbeing. Research has shown that in children experiencing quarantine, the mean post-traumatic stress scores were four times higher when compared to children who are not quarantined.

To lessen these effects on children, the government, NGOs, the community, school and parents need to understand the downside of long quarantines so they can address these issues more effectively.

WHO has released a guideline on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indonesian Psychiatric Association is using this guideline to manage child and adolescent mental health during the pandemic. One of the interventions mentioned is how to help children cope with the stress related to the pandemic. During an emergency such as a pandemic, children may show stress in different ways. They could be more demanding, agitated, angry, anxious, have mood swings, prefer to be alone, some even wet their bed. The most crucial thing is to keep children active and give them understanding of the situation.

The child and adolescent psychiatry division of the Indonesian Psychiatric Association has also spread its guidelines through social media, explaining how to help children and adolescents maintain their mental health during the pandemic. The guidelines stress how parents and caregivers should support to their children by doing activities at home, develop routine activities such as praying, studying, playing, doing physical activities and learning life skills by helping adults do house chores. For many parents, these new conditions can be challenging as they have to be with their children all day, supporting their needs and responsibilities. For this, parents also need to maintain their physical and psychological wellbeing, by having their own time to manage their work, balance their mood by doing hobbies while also being available when their children require their help. Children can feel relieved after they tell their caregivers about what they feel.

The simplest way a parent or caregiver can address the situation is by giving the children enough love and attention so they can resolve their own fears. It is also important to be honest with children and explain to them what is currently happening in the world with words and in a way that they can easily understand.

Due to the perceptive nature of children, they will mimic how to respond or react to a situation from their parents or caregiver. This is why it is very crucial for parents to manage their own stressors so they can be a good example for their children. When parents or caregivers react calmly to COVID-19, they are indirectly giving the best form of support for their children. Parents or caregivers can seem more reassuring to children if they are better prepared.

Another way to help children cope with the current situation is by helping them find ways to express themselves, which can be done through various creative activities. The best way to do this is by establishing a daily routine, consisting of different types of activities that they can do at home. This routine can be beneficial especially since the children are currently quarantined at home, making them less bored and lonely.

It is important to note that an emergency, such as current COVID-19 pandemic, affects each child in different ways depending on their characteristics, experiences and social and economic backgrounds. Some children might experience more severe, longer-lasting reactions to the pandemic compared to other children. Common attitude changes that the children may experience and parents need to watch for include excessive crying, excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, irritability, difficulty focusing attention and concentration, avoidance, unexplained headaches or body pain, and the use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Before an emergency takes place, it is important to talk to children about future conditions and let them know about safety plans. Including them in this process will make them aware that their parents are prepared to keep them safe and help give them a sense of control.

When an emergency is happening, parents need to be able to stay calm and reassure their children while constantly informing them about what is currently happening in a way that they can understand. Once an emergency has disappeared, parents need to let their children talk about what they went through while the emergency was happening. Encourage them to share their concerns. It is important for parents, teachers and other adults around the children to work together to share information and knowledge about how each child is coping after a traumatic event.

Regarding the pandemic, parents or caregivers should allot time to talk to their child or teens about the outbreak. Answer every question and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that is understandable for children and teenagers, reassure them that they are safe and let them know that it is OK to feel upset. It is very crucial for parents to share with their children how they are dealing with their own stress so they can learn how to cope from their parents.

Limiting exposure to news coverage regarding COVID-19 might help children relax because they often misinterpret what they hear and it causes them to feel frightened about something they do not fully understand. Teach children to take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly and eat well.

Aside from parents and other caregivers, mental health and psychosocial support services for children and teenagers should be in place. Child protection services also need to adapt to the current situation to make sure that care is available to children or families who need it. (kes)

***

The writers are medical doctors from the School of Medicine, University of Indonesia and research assistants at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital's child and adolescent psychiatry division.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
President Donald Trump speaks at the press briefing room flanked by Attorney General William Barr (3rd L), Defense Secretary Mark Esper (3rd R), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley (2nd R), National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien (2nd L) and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday (R) April 1, 2020, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump Orders Some Military Reservists to Active Duty to Battle Drug Cartels

President Donald Trump on April 30 authorized the Pentagon to call select U.S. armed forces reservists to active duty as part of a counternarcotics operation announced early this month.

In an executive order, the president ordered Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to call up to 200 personnel from the reserve at a time to serve as part of the militarys enhanced operation against drug cartels in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

The executive order limits the term of service to one year.

The Navy deployed warships to the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean as early as April 1 as part of an operation to counter drug cartels, which, according to U.S. intelligence, are actively planning to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to smuggle more drugs into the United States.

The intelligence community has long been aware of the drug cartels naval routes in those areas, but authorities have been short on resources to intercept all of the traffic headed to the United States. Last year, the United States seized 280 metric tons of drugs in the area.

The cartels are looking to exploit the crisis to smuggle more drugs into the country, according to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The enhanced mission has been months in the making. The formal start on April 1 came days after the Justice Department indicted Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas socialist dictator, and members of his inner circle and military. They are accused of leading a narcoterrorist conspiracy responsible for smuggling as much as 250 metric tons of cocaine per year into the United Statesabout half of it by sea.

If I was just indicted for drug trafficking by the United States with a $15 million reward for my capture, having the U.S. Navy conducting anti-drug operations off my coast would be something I would worry about, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been among those calling for a tougher stance against Maduro, said earlier this month.

While the Trump administration has long insisted that all options are on the table for removing Maduro, including military action, theres no indication that any sort of U.S. invasion is being planned.

Rather, the deployment of ships fits with a longstanding call by the U.S. Southern Command for additional assets to combat narcotics and other security threats in the hemisphere.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
HALIFAX - A province still reeling from a horrific mass shooting less than two weeks ago is now dealing with news that a military helicopter operating from a Halifax-based frigate crashed off Greece with six crew aboard.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People pay their respects at 12 Wing Shearwater in Dartmouth, N.S., home of 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, on Thursday, April 30, 2020. A CH-148 Cyclone helicopter flying from the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Fredericton crashed in the Ionian Sea between Italy and Greece while taking part in an exercise as part of a NATO operation in the Mediterranean. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - A province still reeling from a horrific mass shooting less than two weeks ago is now dealing with news that a military helicopter operating from a Halifax-based frigate crashed off Greece with six crew aboard.

The military said Thursday one crew member has died and five others were missing after a Cyclone helicopter went down in the Ionian Sea. The helicopter was returning to HMCS Fredericton from a NATO training mission when the crash occurred Wednesday.

"This is another very hard day for Halifax, for Nova Scotia and for Armed Forces families," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a news conference in Ottawa.

The helicopter was based at 12 Wing Shearwater, a sprawling Royal Canadian Air Force base on the east side of Halifax harbour.

The base, which is next to the communities of Eastern Passage and Cow Bay, celebrated its 100th anniversary in August 2018. Kevin Deveaux, a former politician who represented Eastern Passage in the provincial legislature between 1999 and 2007, called Thursday "a very difficult day."

"Added on top of everything else that's happened this month, it just makes it even more difficult .... But I think it's fair to say that as a community we're resilient .... We'll come through this," he said.

Since Canada has only two maritime helicopter bases  the other is at Patricia Bay, north of Victoria  the aircrew that work with helicopters tend to stay put for long periods of time, which means they are more likely to become part of the local community.

Deveaux, who still lives in Eastern Passage, said his father was a radar technician at the base.

"Everyone knows the risk involved when you sign up for the military, and this is a community that very much supports the base and those who serve," he said.

Rear Admiral Craig Baines, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy's Atlantic forces, said the crash was "one of the most tragic events I recall" during his 32-year naval career. "It is an absolutely horrific event to have happen for our air detachment and our ship's company," he said during a briefing in Halifax.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil extended his sympathies in a statement.

"Today, Nova Scotians are mourning another loss after a Canadian helicopter involved in Operation Reassurance with Halifax's HMCS Fredericton crashed in international waters off the coast of Greece," said McNeil. "On behalf of the entire province, I extend my sincere and heartfelt condolences."

The military confirmed Thursday the body of one sailor, Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough a maritime systems engineering officer originally from Toronto, had been recovered.

The missing are Capt. Brenden Ian MacDonald a pilot originally from New Glasgow, N.S., Captain Kevin Hagen, a pilot originally from Nanaimo, B.C., Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, an air combat systems officer, originally from Trois-Rivieres, Que., Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke, a naval weapons officer originally from Truro, N.S., and Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, an airborne electronic sensor operator, originally from Guelph, Ont.

Amid a massive investigation into the April 18-19 shootings that killed 22 people in the province, including Const. Heidi Stevenson, Nova Scotia RCMP also extended their condolences in a message on Twitter.

"Today, our hearts hurt for those who were on board the CH-148 Cyclone and their family, friends, comrades and community," the message said.

Bill Karsten, the regional councillor for the Shearwater area, said the challenges Nova Scotians are now facing will provide an opportunity for neighbours to grow stronger.

"We're a tough lot here in Nova Scotia," he said. "We face these tragedies together, and we'll get through it together."

Cowbrough, 23, was a member of the crew of HMCS Fredericton and also an accomplished bagpiper and a member of the Union Fire Club Pipes and Drums. In a Facebook post, the band said it was "profoundly saddened to hear that a beloved member of our band has lost her life while serving her country."

"Abbie thank you for joining our little band and making it better," the post said.

The Regal Heights Baptist Church in Dartmouth, N.S., mourned the loss of "a wonderful woman," in a Facebook post. "Our prayers are with her family, and all those who have lost a loved one in this tragic accident."

In Gatineau, Que., Josianne Garrioch, a best friend of Cowbrough's who first met her at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., said her friend's Christian faith was a big part of her life. "It was something that connected her to a lot of people at RMC as well," she said

Joe Cameron, another friend from the military college and also a piper, said Cowbrough was the type of person friends could depend upon.

"She was this ray of sunshine during some pretty dark days in my life and in the lives of her friends," Cameron said. "It's so sad to see her not here anymore."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2020.

 With files by Michael MacDonald in Halifax
Ty Johnson

"The Assistant": A young woman, Jane (Julia Garner), gets an exciting job as an assistant to an esteemed Hollywood producer. Those familiar with the systemic abuses of women in the workplace will recognize the story beats, inspired by Harvey Weinstein, who was convicted of rape and sentenced to 23 years in prison last month.

But there's much more to the story than that. As Jane continues to learn about what's going on at the company, the film shows how people, systems and power structures enable these types of abuses. It's much, much bigger than one monster at the top.
Passengers travelling in metro trains may not be allowed to use tokens anymore as Centre plans to implement a contactless ticketing system using only metro cards once restrictions on public transport are lifted.

The central government is planning a slew of measures to introduce social distancing during metro travel and to ensure minimising risk of spreading Covid-19 by managing space between two passengers, zone-wise queueing, screening and controlling crowds at the stations.

These recommendations are part of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for resumption of metro rail services that are being drafted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

We are planning to allow the use of metro cards only, make ticketing as contactless as possible and avoid queues at the counter, a senior official said requesting anonymity.

Also read : Dont allow entry into Delhi without Aarogya Setu App, Lt Guv Anil Baijal told

The Centre has imposed a lockdown in the wake of coronavirus crisis, suspending all public transport till May 3. Metros, along with passenger trains and flights, have been suspended since March 25.

A review meeting was held on Tuesday by the minister to begin planning on how to run metro services once restrictions are lifted. Please note, services will only resume once the order comes from the home ministry. We have to formulate a plan for whenever services resume, the official said.

We will need to manage crowds first and foremost. We will need to manage the frequency of the trains depending on the crowd. Unlike railways, we dont get reserved passengers and hence cant anticipate the exact rush. We used to get peak rush at this time of the year due to the reopening of the schools and colleges etc. We are not expecting that this time, but it will also depend on the guidelines that are issued for the resumption of offices, the official said.

We will have to plan our trains accordingly and will also have to figure out ways of maintaining social distancing inside the train. We are monitoring what other countries that have resumed services are doing and should be able to factor all that in. Our guidelines will be ready this week, the official added.

Also read: CISF to go for contactless frisking of passengers at airports, Delhi metro

While it remains unclear whether the Centre plans to resume public transport from May 3, the railways and aviation ministries are working on plans to resume services once the restrictions are lifted.

Travelling in train may come with additional measures of social distancing - arriving early at the railway stations, mandatory usage of masks and thermal screening of passengers. These norms are already being followed for special trains deployed for military personnel.

In terms of passengers movement at airports, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) prescribing strict social distancing norms including leaving the middle seat empty.

A business continuity plan drafted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has proposed to increase the reporting time for passengers at the airport to 120. The measure has been proposed to ensure smooth passage of travellers through all channels like access control, random screening, check-in, immigration while maintaining appropriate social distance.

An SOP being prepared by the CISF for its security personnel also proposes contactless frisking, the use of Aarogya Setu app to identify Covid-19 patients entering security gates, and reduction in passengers.
On Tuesday, May 5, at 12:00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host an online conference on the subject: "Half a Year Left to the Local Elections: Quarantine, Central Power and Local Top Leaders" about the impact of COVID-19 on the course of the election campaign, the risks of amendments to the election law, the prospects for the ruling party and the trends of the upcoming election campaign. The broadcast will be available at: https://youtu.be/Cgb2HBLqXto. Participating will be: members of the informal association of the expert initiative "October 25": political strategist, deputy director of the Agency for Modeling Situations Oleksiy Holobutsky; political scientist, director of the Politics analytical center Mykola Davydiuk; political expert of the Eidos Center Victor Taran; political consultant, director of the Institute of Trade Union Movement Mykhailo Chaplyha (8/5a Reitarska Street). You may put the questions during the broadcast that will be available on the Interfax-Ukraine channel at: https://youtu.be/Cgb2HBLqXto.
Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Chairperson of the Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance, has asked health workers not to over concentrate on the COVID-19 pandemic at the expense of non-communicable diseases.



She said people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, kidney problems and others, have been identified to be more vulnerable to the virus.



It is important therefore, to see people with these conditions as high risk and provide urgent assistant.



Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Dr Wiafe Addai said report from the Ghana Health Service indicated that, all the people who have died of the disease, were those with these underlying health conditions.



There is therefore, the need for health workers to show keen interest in patients who visited their facilities with these conditions and provide them with the needed treatment and care to help improve their immune system, she stated.



Dr Wiafe Addai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Breast Care International (BCI), pointed out that the increasing spate of non-communicable disease infections in the country, especially among young people, was worrying.



She said it was important for the government to focus more attention on the preventive measures to help reduce the rate of infections, while encouraging health workers to see such diseases as important health concern and show greater commitment in their treatment and management.



Dr Wiafe Addai, commended the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for recognizing that non-communicable diseases had greater impact on the fatalities caused by the pandemic in the country.



She urged the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to lead an initiative to create sustained awareness campaign on non-communicable diseases and the havoc it was causing in society.



This, according to her, would make people change their lifestyles and attitudes as well as their eating habits to control infections.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Verkhovna Rada voted for an appeal to the parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn the ongoing armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the occupation of certain areas of Donbas, political repressions against Ukrainian citizens and the release of political prisoners - citizens of Ukraine.

Some 309 deputies voted for draft resolution No. 3068 "On the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to foreign parliaments and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations condemning the ongoing armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and occupation of separate areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, political repressions against citizens of Ukraine and the release of political prisoners - citizens of Ukraine at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, an Interfax-Ukraine agency correspondent reported.

The resolution also instructs Chairman of the Rada Dmytro Razumkov to immediately send the text of the appeal to the parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations.

Its drafters are 12 members of the committee on foreign policy and inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Britain signalled today it is prepared to walk away from a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU unless Brussels drops its demands over fishing.

London blamed the EU for 'limited progress' so far in discussions over a free trade agreement, because of demands in areas including the resources in the waters around Britain.

The EU is insisting that the Common Fisheries Policy - much hated by UK fishermen - continues after the transition period ends in December.

But a source close to the UK negotiating team said today that Brussels had to realise this was 'never gonna happen'.

They said that 'level playing field demands and insisting that the European Court of Justice be the sole arbiter of disputes between the two sides was also 'slowing us up'.

The source added: 'If they continue to insist on their position on a so-called level playing field and on continuing the Common Fisheries Policy, for example, we are never going to accept that.

'Draw your own conclusion from that but I hope they will move on.'

The EU is insisting that the Common Fisheries Policy - much hated by UK fishermen - continues after the transition period ends in December

Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier last week accused the UK of dragging its feet and warned negotiations could collapse by June.

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 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.

The row is the latest spat as the two sides remain far apart on a number of issues.

Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier last week accused the UK of dragging its feet and warned negotiations could collapse by June.

Little progress was also made on the role of European judges, competition and labour rules, and agreeing a more streamlined structure to a deal.

David Frost, who is Boris Johnsons Brexit envoy, has previously told Mr Barnier the UK was seeking a Canada-style free trade agreement

The latest round of talks took place virtually due to the on-going coronavirus crisis, with the next meetings scheduled for May 11.

Britain is understood to be frustrated that its efforts to swiftly agree an off-the-peg agreement being bogged down by special EU requirements.

The source said: 'We made limited progress in bridging the gaps between us.

'We agree with Barnier that there is little time, there is the need to make progress.

'What is clear to me is, if we were agreeing a standard Canada-style free trade agreement (FTA), we could do it quite quickly with quite a good understanding between the negotiators on the terms of an FTA.

'Of course there are negotiations to be had but people understand each other.

'But what is slowing us up is the EU's insistence on extra provision, notably the level playing field area, aspects of governance and of course there is no meeting of minds on fisheries.'
BERLIN, Germany and CAIRO, Egypt, April 28, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- ProBioGen AG, a premier, Berlin-based CDMO for developing and manufacturing complex therapeutic glycoproteins today announced that Dr. Lutz Hilbrich, an experienced biotech executive, has been named Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2020. He recently was Vice President, Head of Biosimilars Platform, Sanofi China. Dr. Hilbrich is a seasoned leader with strong international experience, particularly in the United States, China and Europe. The trained physician spent the last 20 years of his industry experience with two major pharmaceutical companies, Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi.

Dr. Wafik Bardissi, Chairman of ProBioGens Supervisory Board and Chairman and CEO of the parent company Minapharm Pharmaceuticals stated: This is the perfect time for Lutz Hilbrich to become ProBioGens next Chief Executive Officer. We selected a very strong leader at a time when ProBioGen is in an excellent position. I am very pleased to welcome Lutz as our new CEO. Lutz has excelled at strategic leadership and execution and is well-positioned to prop up ProBioGens thriving innovation and lead its continued improvement to stay ahead of competition.

Dr. Hilbrich commented: I am delighted to join ProBioGen and lead the company to its next phase of expansion. For more than 25 years, I am committed to Healthcare, to positively impacting peoples lives. With its strong scientific base, ProBioGen is uniquely positioned to make a difference through developing cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing complex therapeutic antibodies and glycoproteins for its customers either highly innovative Biotech, Big Pharma or Biosimilar companies from around the globe. The strong ties with Egypts Minapharm bear huge potential and I am extremely attracted by the prospect of further driving ProBioGens expansion and footprint in new markets.

Dr. Wafik Bardissi further said: On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I wish to thank Wieland Wolf for his exemplary commitment. He has continued to move the company forward on our top priorities in a focused and transparent way. Together with an excellent performance of the entire management team, the company has expanded significantly and more than quadrupled its revenue since 2010. With Lutz Hilbrich taking the role of the CEO, we are confident ProBioGen has the leadership to drive its success into the next big phase of growth.

About ProBioGen AG

ProBioGen is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and technology provider with extensive expertise in cell line engineering, process development and GMP manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. Our proprietary technologies like CHO.RiGHT, the genetic Glyco-Engineering GlymaxX and the targeted transposase DirectedLuck in combination with our efficient process development and robust GMP manufacturing accelerate and advance the development of drug candidates  from early concept to industrial market-readiness.

ProBioGen provides modern manufacturing solutions for viral vectors with its continuous AGE1.CR duck cell line, a vaccine platform with MVA-CR19 and renders technology support in gene therapy and vaccine development.

All services and technologies are embedded in a total quality management system to assure compliance with international ISO and GMP standards (EMA/FDA).

ProBioGen is successfully serving international clients for more than 25 years, is privately owned and based in Berlin.

Contact

ProBioGen AG

Andrea Hauptmann

VP Finance & Administration

Herbert-Bayer-Str. 8

13086 Berlin, Germany

+49 (0)30 3229 35 100

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.probiogen.de



Keywords: Leadership; Appointments and Schedules; Retirement

Published by B3C newswire and shared through Newronic


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Z Natural Foods announced today the release of Organic Instant Mushroom Coffee, their newest functional superfood beverage.

Organic Instant Mushroom Coffee is an instant dark coffee infused with three kinds of mushroom powders; organic chaga, organic lion's mane and organic cordyceps. This coffee blend is high in antioxidants, beta-glucans and chlorogenic acid which are commonly associated with many of the health benefits traditionally associated with mushrooms.

Organic Instant Mushroom Coffee is a blend of organic dark Columbian coffee, organic coconut milk, organic chaga, organic lion's mane and organic cordyceps mushrooms Z Natural Foods' announced their newest functional superfood beverage, Organic Instant Mushroom Coffee

"Our goal was to create a highly nutritious instant coffee without sacrificing taste," reports Jonathan Parker, Director of Nutrition Sciences for Z Natural Foods. "There is no brewing needed, just add water and you'll instantly enjoy this lightly sweet and creamy beverage that will forever make you rethink your morning coffee."

The coffee is a blend of Organic Dark Roasted Colombian Coffee, Organic Coconut Milk, Chaga mushroom which may support the immune system, Lion's Mane mushroom for it's possible mental calming and concentration effects, and Cordyceps mushroom to support energy and vitality.

"The instant coffee is a fine crystal powder so it dissolves quickly," Parker said. "You won't notice you are getting vitamin D, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals from the mushrooms because the taste of the delicious dark roast coffee is so good."

Z Natural Foods carefully chose farmers to grow the highest quality mushrooms in their natural environments. The harvesting and drying techniques maximize the mushroom's nutritional potency. "Excellent farming, drying, powdering and packaging ensures each tasty cup of coffee provides more quality mushroom nutrition than any other coffee blend," says Parker.

Organic Instant Mushrooms Coffee is $29.99 a pound (32 servings) and comes in an air-locked, freezer-tight, resealable, stand up foil pouch and can be safely stored for 2 years. For more information about Organic Mushrooms Coffee, you are invited to visit www.ZNaturalFoods.com.

About Z Natural Foods

Z Natural Foods is a leading provider of high quality, organic superfoods, and concentrated fruit powders. With over 400 specialty products, Z Natural Foods provides a wide range of natural foods to the biggest wholesalers and retailers in the industry. Offering services such as bulk purchasing, blending, packaging, wholesale delivery and retail, Z Natural Foods provides a unique niche to the food industry. For more information about Z Natural Foods, visit www.ZNaturalFoods.com or call 888-963-6637.

Contact:

Sam Hirschberg

888-963-6637

[email protected]

SOURCE Z Natural Foods
Sumi Sukanya dutta By

Express News Service

Online education has received greater acceptance due to the pandemic situation and the government will soon come up with guidelines to bridge the digital divide, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank says in an interview with Sumi Sukanya Dutta.

Excerpts:

COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruptions in the academic activities in universities and schools and the situation is unlikely to improve in a few months. What kind of alternatives is the ministry looking at so that the disturbances to the process of teaching and learning are minimised?

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is working 24x7 with the spirit of students, teachers safety and learning. In the initial period of lockdown, we announced a plethora of measures starting with the promotion policy for students of various classes and the postponement of various exams. We have set up task forces to deal with various issues like online education, mental health and academic calendar and examinations for both school and higher education.

The task force on examination and academic calendar in higher education has submitted its reports to the UGC. The reports will be discussed in the UGC meeting and based on the decision, the UGC will issue guidelines in the next few days to the universities and colleges on measures to be taken for the current as well as next academic session.

The NCERT has released an alternative calendar for primary and upper primary. It provides guidelines to teachers on the use of technological and social media tools available for imparting education in fun-filled, interesting ways. Very soon, academic calendar for classes IX-XII will also be released.

At the same time, the country is witnessing a greater acceptance of online education. A large number of students and professionals are joining e-learning platforms such as DIKSHA, NISHTHA, SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, NROER, PG Pathshala, Shodhganga, E-Shodhsindhu, E-Yantra, FOSSE, Virtual Labs, SAMARTH, VIDWAN and Shodh Sudhi, among others.

A number of hits on higher education portals like SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, Virtual Labs, FOSSEE, E-Yantra and Spoken Tutorial has gone up by five times since lockdown.

If there is a need to switch to online mode of teaching-learning for coming months, as it looks likely, how feasible will that be given the digital and infrastructural divide and there are many institutions which wont have the required facilities to support it?

On the concern of digital divide in the country, we have formed a task force on online education that is likely to give its report soon, based on which we will be releasing the guidelines.

At present, to address the digital divide, MHRD has tied up with Information & Broadcasting Ministry to air SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA channels on their DTH platforms Tata Sky and Airtel DTH. Earlier, SWAYAM channels were available on DD-DTH, Dish TV and Jio TV App.

Now, a student anywhere in India can request DTH service providers for these channels without any extra cost to continue their learning while sitting at homeWe are also trying to explore the option of using All India Radio, Doordarshan and the 2G network to broadcast the curriculum to students.

Even if online classes are being conducted, examinations and evaluations are set to be a major challenge. What is the government planning to do on that front?

UGC has already prepared a report on this and following internal discussions, it will soon release it to institutions keeping the interest of the student community in mind.

Several crucial entrance exams such as JEE Main and JEE Advanced and NEET have been postponed. What are the alternate ways the government is examining to conduct these tests?

We are consulting various stakeholders like education boards, IITs and other agencies involved in the logistics operations of JEE and NEET, as well as user organisation of results of JEE and NEET. We will be soon announcing the dates and guidelines based on the report submitted by UGC.

As Class XII board results are the basis of admission to universities, how is the government planning to conduct the test for the remaining papers?

The safety of students and teachers is our prime concern. We have rescheduled the board examinations. The CBSE will now be conducting exams for 29 core courses only instead of 83 coursesWe are making adequate preparations to follow all the necessary measures and precautions of social distancing while conducting examinations of the students.

A lot has been said about MHRD asking institutions such as IITs and central universities to carry out research related to COVID-19. What exactly has been the brief to these institutions and how hopeful are you that they will deliver?

IITs and central universities have been doing remarkable research in areas like personal protective equipment, testing kits, sanitization, medical equipment, surveillance, treatment and data analytics to model epidemic patterns and disease dynamics.

Seeing the progress, I had given headway to the IITs to draw up short- and medium-term technology solution plans to combat Covid-19 and other medical emergencies in future. The proposals are under continuous review.
Despite multiple misdemeanor charges and an order placing him under house arrest, a pastor in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana suburb continues to flout both local authorities and the states shelter-in-place order by holding large church services amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says its no longer his decision as to whether to re-arrest Pastor Tony Spell of the Life Tabernacle Church. Thats an order that has to come down from the judge, Corcoran tells TIME.

Were not having any trouble with our [other] citizens. Were only having trouble with the pastor, Chief Corcoran says  as well as the hundreds of parishioners who attend the Life Tabernacle Church. Spell has been asked to conduct his services online, as other religious groups in the area are doing, Corcoran adds, but has chosen not to.

Read more: Its Like a Lifeline. How Religious Leaders Are Helping People Stay Connected in a Time of Isolation

Spell was arrested on April 21 on charges including aggravated assault after an incident in which he drove his church bus towards a man protesting his decision to continue to hold in-person services. (Before his arrest, the police department had cited Spell multiple times for violating shelter-in-place orders.)

Tony Spell eaves East Baton Rouge Parish jail after posting bond in Baton Rouge, La., on April 21, 2020 | Gerald HerbertAP

According to the Central Louisiana police department, Spell was later released on bond and placed under house arrest on April 25. The conditions of his house arrest specifically mandated that he not leave his residence to go to the Life Tabernacle Church, legal documents filed by District Attorneys office show. This past Sunday, April 26, however, Spell held a service there featuring congregants, some teary-eyed, tightly packed in pews. While preaching, he showed off his ankle monitor.

According to legal documents, Pastor Spell spent over seven hours at the church on Sunday  four hours in the morning, and three in the evening  while wearing the ankle monitor, in violation of the courts order.

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God gave you an immune system to kill the virus, Spell said at the Sunday service, according to The Advocate. Im not going to bind the virus.

The Life Tabernacle Church did not respond to TIMEs request for comment.

The defendants actions constitute contemptuous conduct and are in violation of his bail undertaking, Special Assistant District Attorney Darrel J. Papillion wrote in documents filed with the 19th Judicial District Court on April 28. Papillion argued that this Honorable Court [should] order the defendant to appear and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court and/or his bail obligation be revoked.

(Papillion had filed a similar motion on April 24, after a prior instance in which Spell held a large service.)

In an April 27 order, District Judge Fred Crifasi had called for the prompt scheduling of a contempt bond hearing  but only once courts open in line with Louisianas plan to reopen as a state, according to documents provided to TIME.

Citing the extraordinary measures being taken at the [parish prison] to manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Crifasi wrote that Spell should remain under house arrest over being remanded to jail, so as to avoid the exposure of the captive population to the defendant. While his order notes that further violations would be addressed by the court separately, it does not appear that he has responded to the April 28 filing as of April 30.

Crifasi did not immediately respond to TIMEs request for comment on the matter. Per the Associated Press, East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III has said his office had no plans to otherwise pursue the matter.

Busses of congregants arrive at the Life Tabernacle Church before church services on April 12, 2020 in Central, Louisiana. | Chris GraythenGetty Images

Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group, has called for churches to reopen on Sunday, May 3. The lockdowns have closed churches at a time of greatest need, and they must reopen to meet the burgeoning needs of the community, Liberty Counsels founder Mat Staver said in a statement.

While it remains unclear to what, if any, extent churches across the country will do so, it could lead to other police departments facing similar problems. An Illinois church which has said it will open on Sunday has filed a lawsuit against Ill. Gov. JB Pritzker over the states stay-at-home order, arguing that it is unconstitutional.

On April 29, Pastor Spells mother, Magi Spell, posted the departments phone number (along with phone numbers for Louisianas two U.S. senators, Attorney General William Barr, and the White House) on her Facebook page as part of a FREE PASTOR TONY SPELL campaign. Later that same day, the Central Police department posted a statement on their Facebook page, apologizing to residents who may have been blocked from getting in touch due to their phones being overwhelmed.

This phone number is the line we receive all of our calls on, including our emergency calls from Citizens needing our assistance or help due to a life-changing emergency, the statement said.

The stay-at-home order in Louisiana is currently in effect until May 15, meaning that there will be at least three more Sundays in which Spell could hold services before a court date is scheduled (subject to no further orders from the local courts). Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said on April 29 that some infection rates in parts of the state have not shown enough progress to reopen before then. The worst thing I can do is ignore the reality and pretend were in a better place than we are, Governor Edwards said.

One member of Spells church has died of COVID-19, according to The Advocate  though Spell has disputed this  and a lawyer who represents the church was hospitalized on April 14 from the virus.

Louisiana has 28,001 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of April 30, and 1,862 deaths.
Late actor Rishi Kapoors daughter Riddhima has finally got the permission to travel from Delhi to Mumbai after the actors death. Ridhima will travel to Mumbai by road and not a chartered flight after getting a special permission, as reported earlier.

Riddhima took to Instagram to share a heartbreaking post on her fathers death. Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you everyday I will miss your FaceTime calls everyday! Until we meet again papa I love you, she captioned a selfie with her father.

Riddhima, who lives in Delhi with her husband Bharat Sahni and daughter Samara will be travelling by road. RP Meena, DCP Southeast, Delhi Police, told The Times of India, We gave permission around 10.45am to five people to travel to Mumbai. We have contacted the family, and will provide assistance. We have only approved movement passes. It is understood that as train and flights are not operating, they will travel by road.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor dies at 67, Live Update

A source told the daily that Riddhima had been seeking permission to travel since Wednesday when her fathers health started deteriorating. The source added Riddhima is also trying to find a flight so she could reach her family as early as possible. .

Rishis funeral took place at the Chandanwadi crematorium in Kalbadevi on Thursday. His son Ranbir and wife Neetu are by his side.

He is no more. He has passed away, his elder brother Randhir told PTI. The actor, familiar to generations of film goers for his many roles, right from Bobby to Kapoor & Sons, was taken to the H N Reliance hospital on Wednesday.

The end came at 8.45 am, the family said in a statement, requesting fans and friends to respect the restrictions in place in view of the lockdown. His death comes a day after his D-Day co-star Irrfan Khan died, also of cancer. Three months ago, the disease claimed his sister Ritu Nanda.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the many people who condoled his death. Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media, the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Teachers on Call is a four-year Consumer Choice Award Winner in the region of Toronto Central and the category of Tutoring.

Q: What does being awarded the Consumer Choice Award mean to you? And how did winning the Consumer Choice Award impact your business?

A: We have been the winner now four years in a row for the Consumer Choice Award for tutoring in Toronto. We love our work and helping children grow more confident at school. It is gratifying and humbling to know that we provide such a valuable service to so many families who recognize our business as the best tutoring service in the Toronto area.

Q: What makes your business unique and successful in the market?

A: Teachers on Call has been working with students for over 35 years. We believe that our philosophy of providing personalized instruction, individual attention, and flexibility by passionate, professional tutors makes all the difference to our clients.

Students learn from highly knowledgeable tutors who use the Ontario Curriculum and Ministry guidelines, meaning that our approach integrates well with school and is focused on your child's success.

Q: What is the newest addition in terms of a product or service that your company offers?

A: Our "latest" product of Online Tutoring isn't exactly our latest - but with the situation with COVID-19 and self-isolation measures, it has become the primary model by which we are helping parents and students while school boards are getting remote learning underway for the remainder of the school year.



Q: What is one thing that the general public may not know about your company that you would like them to know?

A: Teachers on Call is a family business! Teachers on Call was founded in 1984 by Rhona Sallay. Today, her daughter, Joanne Sallay, runs the business along with her husband, Michael Handelsman.

Q: How do you keep up with the trends in your industry?

A: Our team includes Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT) who use a curriculum-based approach and are up to date with the Ontario Curriculum and Ministry guidelines. We cover a wide range in grade levels (K-12) and subjects including math, English, science, French, literacy, and numeracy.

With regard to trends outside of the curriculum, we try to anticipate how we can best offer our educational services to our students and their parents, which is why we have recently been expanding our online tutoring offerings to provide more remote services to children across the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario!



Q: Name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you. How did this person impact your life?

A: Rhona Sallay, my mother, was a special education teacher and department head when she first founded Teachers on Call. She believed then, as now, that every child deserves the chance to maximize their learning experiences, and that having additional educational support at home made a big difference to students. It was easy to learn from her example and I believe wholeheartedly in the core principle that Teachers on Call was built on.



Q: Are you or your company involved in your community? (charity, fundraising, etc.)

A: Our signature sponsorship at Teachers on Call is the Corsage Project, a community-based program in partnership with the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada, dedicated to giving the authentic prom experience to financially deserving high-school students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to celebrate. The Corsage Project is especially near and dear to my heart as my mother co-founded it 20 years ago, and I have had the privilege to follow in her footsteps again to lead it for the last 10 years.

The Corsage Project will still support graduating young women, even though we are unable to host this year's annual Boutique Ball due to the evolving Covid-19 pandemic. The Corsage Project annually awards Scholarships and Community Awards to Corsage participants to help them achieve their post-secondary goals. This year, we are adding bursaries to our Community Awards program to support even more Corsage Participants who are unable to attend this year due to the pandemic. Teachers on Call is the founding partner of this program, so I am incredibly proud that it will continue in this challenging time.

Contact Information:

Address:

2 St. Clair Ave. West, 18th Floor

Toronto, Ontario M4V 1L5

Phone Number : (416) 519-8335

Email Address: info@teachersoncall.ca

Website: www.teachersoncall.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Teachersoncall/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersonCall

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/teachersoncall.ca/

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/teachers-on-call/

SOURCE: Consumer Choice Award

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587815/Teachers-on-Call-wins-2020-Consumer-Choice-Award-in-Toronto-Central
Trio arrested after shooting a Playa del Carmen office worker during robbery

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  A real estate office worker was shot in the leg during an assault in the Villas del Sol subdivision of Playa del Carmen.

The shooting led to a police mobilization and the arrest of three subjects who were fleeing in a motorcycle taxi. Reports say one of the three entered the Avenida Gavilanes real estate office looking for cash while the other two kept watch outside.

Before leaving with two cell phones and an undisclosed amount of money, the gunman shot the office worker in the leg. After a search, police were successful in locating all three a few blocks from the office. The trio were found in possession of a pistol and knife as well as numerous other cell phones.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-30 12:17:01

Incap Corporation

Press release on 30 April 2020

Incap donates a disinfectant tunnel and 1000 grocery kits to locals

Incap Electronics India is taking steps to ensure the safety of its employees during COVID-19 outbreak and has set up a disinfectant tunnel for its employees. At the same time, the company also decided to donate another tunnel to the government and purchased 1000 grocery kits to be distributed to people in the villages to support the local community.

According to Murthy Munipalli, Managing Director of Incap India, the safety of Incaps employees is a very high priority for Incap. While the factory remains in partial lockdown, we have started preparations on a small scale to be ready to ramp up to full speed once the lockdown is lifted. We have sanitizing procedures in place and have necessary equipment available for everyone, such as hand sanitizers, masks, gloves. We have a medical officer in our premises, who will check on our employees and give them advice on how to protect themselves, said Munipalli.

Incap has also set up a disinfectant tunnel in front of the factory, which will help protect the company's employees against the virus. In the tunnel, a solution is sprayed to remove any possible virus from clothes, hair, skin and feet. It is an effective and safe way to protect people from catching and spreading the virus, Munipalli explained.

Munipalli added that in addition to keeping the employees safe, Incap is also very committed to the local community and wants to take social responsibility in helping the region tackle the coronavirus pandemic. We decided to donate another disinfectant tunnel to the government and this will be installed at the entrance of a market in Tumkur. And as many people have trouble getting food supplies during the lockdown, we purchased 1000 grocery kits that will be distributed door-to-door in the neighbouring villages, said Munipalli.

Governments across the world have taken significant steps to contain the COVID-19 outbreak by restricting the movement of people. In India, the extension of the lockdown has been uncertain and currently it has been extended until 4 May 2020. Incap has started preparations on a small scale to be ready to ramp up to full speed once the lockdown is lifted.

Incap continues to closely monitor the situation in all its markets and follows the instructions provided by the local governments and health protection agencies. Incap will publish further information about major changes in its factory operations in due course.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Murthy Munipalli, Managing Director of Incap CMS Pvt Ltd, tel. +91 98802 31431

Mr. Otto Pukk, President and CEO, Incap Corporation, tel. +372 508 0798

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wobKitudAgsvZb6V8

Incap Corporation is a trusted partner and one-stop-shop in electronics manufacturing services. As a global EMS company Incap supports customers ranging from large multinationals and mid-sized companies to small start-ups in their complete manufacturing value chain. Incap offers state-of-the-art technology backed up by an entrepreneurial culture and highly qualified personnel. The company has operations in Finland, Estonia, India, Slovakia, the UK and Hong Kong and employs approximately 1,300 people. Incaps share has been listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd stock exchange since 1997.




(Newser)  A UK court has refused a transgender man's request to be labeled as "father" or "parent" on his son's birth certificate. Freddy McConnell from Kent, England, is listed as male on a gender recognition certificate issued in 2017, the year before he gave birth. While seeking to register the birth, the subject of the documentary Seahorse was told he could only be recorded as "mother," which McConnell, 34, viewed as a violation of his and his son's rights. A High Court judge disagreed in September, noting the status of mother, "whilst hitherto always associated with being female, is  afforded to a person who undergoes the physical and biological process of carrying a pregnancy and giving birth," per the New York Times. Three Court of Appeal judges backed that decision Wednesday.

story continues below

Chief Justice Lord Burnett said McConnell was required to be listed as mother under the Gender Recognition Act, which states "the fact that a person's gender has become the acquired gender under this Act does not affect the status of the person as the father or mother of a child." The Guardian reports the appeal court determined that listing McConnell and men like him as mother protects a child's right to know who birthed them. "The law is clear that a child only ever has one mother, although there may be more than one 'parent.'" McConnell plans to appeal the "disappointing" decision to the Supreme Court. His lawyer argues "such a narrow interpretation of the [2004 act] will force all transgender people to choose between being a parent and having full recognition of their gender." (Read more LGBT stories.)
Ireland's five retail banks, specialist and non-bank lenders agreed on Thursday to extend loan repayment breaks for customers hit by the coronavirus crisis to six months from three months, their representative body said.

Over 65,000 mortgage breaks and over 22,000 business breaks have been granted to date, the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) said in a statement. Allied Irish Banks Chief Executive told Reuters on Wednesday that its applications for mortgage assistance had stabilised.

"BPFI members strongly appreciate the severity of the impact on families, individuals and businesses and it is for this reason, that we believe an extension of the existing payment break beyond three months may be required by many customers," the BPFI said in a statement. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
As the state Supreme Court extended a statewide moratorium on evictions through May 11, figures in the rental housing field continue to work through options to deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19.

A Tuesday order from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Western District extending the state judicial emergency through June 1 states that no officer, official, or other person employed by the Pennsylvania Judiciary at any level is authorized to effectuate an eviction, ejectment, or other displacement from a residence based upon the failure to make a monetary payment through April 30. All terms of those ordered related to dispossession of residences are extended until May 11.

The problem is if people arent able to pay rent right now, when thats lifted we can see an increase in eviction, said Phyllis Chamberlain, executive director of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.

Chamberlain said those seeking rental assistance should call the United Way-sponsored 211 phone line to learn about available state and federal resources.

The Housing Alliance is anticipating state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia/Montgomery, to introduce legislation extending the moratorium an additional 60 days.

That gives time for a payment plan or deferral of payment that would help avoid eviction, said Chamberlain. In many cases its in the financial interest of landlords to not have to start eviction and turn over a unit. It may be in their best interest to figure out what they can work out.

Initial estimates from the Housing Alliance state 15 percent of the rental houses will be impacted by employment loss or reduced hours, or about 200,000 Pennsylvania households.

According to U.S. Census data in a January 2020 fact sheet from the Housing Alliance, there are 22 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Delaware County, compared to a statewide average of 42 per 100.

Low-income renters have been fairly heavily hit. Theyre more highly represented in the industries facing highest rates of job loss, said Chamberlain. The biggest action that the state could take in order to protect renters would be increase the availability of rental assistance. It helps tenants avoid eviction and it helps landlords  a lot of them are operating pretty small businesses on tight margins.

In the absence of government action, in times like these communication is paramount between all involved parties, said Darren Sudman, owner of Norristown-based CDI Properties. Banks are impacted  landlords are impacted  tenants are impacted  its kind of foolish for any particular group to dig in their heels and demand payment when were all going through this together, he said.

Sudman raised concerns about landlords mainly dealing with middle- and upper-class tenants. Owners used to regular rent payments without incident may now face tenants being unable to pay.

We deal with a lot of low income tenants and were always accommodating. Theyre always one  flat tire or doctors office co-pay away from not having disposable income, he said.

Sudman called out for any legislative action to be very well thought out and all stakeholders to be considered, as resolution to tenant-landlord issues need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis in his view.

Its really a case-by-case situation. Legislation is incapable of addressing case-by-case situation. It has to be broad sweeping and figure out what the denominator is, he said. But these are drastic times. I think anyone who comes to the table who comes to the table with a compassionate frame of mind is probably going to do something better than worse.
Press Release

April 30, 2020 Bong Go urges government to prioritize welfare of senior citizens amid COVID-19; appeals for understanding and cooperation as strict precautionary measures remain imposed Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go emphasized the continuing need to protect senior citizens as they remain to be one of the most vulnerable sectors during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health emergency. He also appealed to affected senior citizens for understanding as the government does its best to protect them and other vulnerable groups from catching the deadly disease since there is still no known and approved cure or vaccine for COVID-19. "Wala po kaming ibang hangarin kundi protektahan ang kapakanan ninyo. Konting tiis lang po, ginagawa na ang lahat para maalagaan kayo at malampasan natin ang krisis na ito," Go said as he appealed for the public's full cooperation in order to ensure the safety of all affected Filipinos. "Sinisigurado lang ng gobyerno na ligtas na at hindi magiging dahilan ng lalong pagkalat ng virus ang paglabas ng mga tao. Ayaw natin na mag-spike ulit. Ayaw natin na magkaroon ng second wave pa. Iniiwasan nating mag-collapse ang health system natin," he said. "Hindi naman forever ito. Magtulungan lang tayong maprotektahan ang mga pinaka-vulnerable sa sakit. Phasing naman ito. From ECQ to GCQ, lahat naman tayo gustong mag-normalize ang sitwasyon sa tamang panahon," he explained. Go stressed that the elderly population should be amply protected, especially as enhanced quarantine community (ECQ) measures in some areas are downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ). "Kita naman po sa data na ang elderly population natin ang isa sa mga pinaka-vulnerable sa COVID-19. Nararapat lamang po na doble doble pa rin ang pag-iingat nila," he said adding that data show that among the age groups, the elderlies are the most vulnerable with most severe cases of infection. Official data from the Epidemiology Bureau indicate that people aging 60 years and older account for 43.8% of total deaths in the country. The Senator expressed his support to the imposed guidelines that discourage senior citizens and those with pre-existing medical conditions from leaving their homes given their vulnerability to the virus, subject to certain exemptions as the Inter-Agency Task Force may determine. "Dahan-dahanin po natin ang pagluluwag ng quarantine measures dahil vulnerable sila sa sakit. Sana po huwag na muna lumabas ng bahay ang mga matatanda pati na rin ang may mga pre-existing medical conditions. Karamihan po kasi ng severe cases ng COVID-19 ay mga matatanda at 'yung mga may existing na karamdaman na," said Go. Go, however, suggested that certain exemptions may be granted especially for senior citizens who are gainfully employed and those needing basic necessities and health services, provided that there are no other available alternatives, such as assigning a guardian to do these tasks for them. "Naninigurado lang po tayo kaya inaabisuhan ng gobyerno ang mga pamilya na huwag na hayaang lumabas ng bahay ang mga bata, matanda, at may karamdaman na kung hindi naman po kailangan," Go said. In order to protect the welfare of senior citizens and encourage them to remain in their homes, Go urged the government to exhaust all necessary means possible to assist and deliver to them their needs. "Dapat bigyan natin sila ng kaukulang atensyon at ipatupad nang maayos ang mga batas at programa na naglalayong mapangalagaan ang kanilang kalagayan at kapakanan," he said. Go earlier urged the Department of Health to make sure essential medicines are available to senior citizens. He also reminded the government to properly implement Republic Act No. 9994 or commonly known as "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010" for the welfare of the elderly. Republic Act No. 9994 states that senior citizens are entitled to the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the purchase of medicines and such other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment to be determined by the DOH. "Siguraduhin natin na magagamit ng mga senior citizens ang kanilang mga benepisyo base sa batas na ito lalong lalo na sa pagbili nila ng medisina na makakatulong na mapanatili ang kanilang maayos na kalusugan," the Senator explained. Go also urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development to immediately release the Social Pension of qualified indigent senior citizens up to as much as a lumpsum of their six-month social pension to assist them and their families for their immediate needs while under community quarantine. "Ayon sa 2016 na datos ng DSWD, 19.1% lamang sa ating mga senior citizens ang merong GSIS at SSS pension. Kaya nakikiusap rin ako na madaliin na ang pagbigay sa mga indigent senior citizens ng kanilang 6-month lump sum Social Pension bilang dagdag na tulong sa panahon ng krisis," Go appealed. Go also emphasized that since senior citizens are considered part of the vulnerable sector, DSWD must ensure that qualified senior citizens receive aid from the government. According to the Joint Memorandum Circular issued by DSWD and other involved agencies on the provision of social amelioration measures, people who are part of the vulnerable sector include senior citizens, persons with disability, pregnant and lactating women, solo parents, overseas Filipinos in distress who were repatriated or banned from traveling outside the country on account of the COVID-19 outbreak, indigent indigenous peoples, and underprivileged sector and homeless citizens whose combined family income falls within the poverty threshold. As a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee monitoring the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Go said that all concerned agencies and LGUs must aim to perfect the distribution system of food and cash assistance including aid for qualified senior citizens. "Maliban sa mga poorest of the poor, kasama rin sa mga dapat mabigyan ng ayuda mula sa DSWD ang mga 'vulnerable groups' katulad ng mga senior citizens," he said. Go also stressed that according to DSWD, senior citizens from low income families or with families who are wholly dependent on them and have no income or savings to draw from during the quarantine period are qualified to receive social assistance. "Dapat na masiguro ng DSWD at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno na hindi mapapabayaan ang mga senior citizens, lalo na yung mababa o walang kita, o may mga pamilyang sinusuportahan din," he said. Earlier, the Government Service Insurance System granted Go's appeal to facilitate the early release of pension for its retired members.
Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan has said that India needs Rs 65,000 crore to feed the poor during the Covid-19 pandemic, insisting the country can afford to do that with a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of about Rs 200 lakh crore.

Rajan also said India needs to be cleverer in lifting the lockdown and open up its economy in a measured way as it does not have the capacity to support the people across the spectrum for too long.

Rajan was in dialogue with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi as part of his series of video conversations with global and Indian thought leaders to discuss the Covid-19 crisis and its consequences on the Indian economy.

Asked by Gandhi how much would be required to be distributed among the poor to tide over the crisis triggered by the deadly coronavirus, Rajan replied, Approximately Rs 65,000 crore. Our GDP is Rs 200 lakh crore and out of that Rs 65,000 crore is not a huge amount. So, we can do it. If this is for the poor and to save their lives and livelihood, we must do it.

On lifting the lockdown, the former RBI governor said, We have to be cleverer about opening up...We need to open up in a measured way but as fast as possible so that people start having jobs. We dont have the capacity to support people across the spectrum for too long. Being a relatively poor country, people start out with significantly lower reserves. It is all too easy to have a lockdown forever, but obviously that is unsustainable for the economy.

To contain the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had first announced a nationwide lockdown from March 25 to April 14 and later extended it till May 3.

Rajan agreed with Gandhi that aggressive testing is at the heart of the management of Covid-19. I dont think we have to aim for 100% success and have zero cases when we open up. That is unachievable. What we have to do is to manage the reopening so that when there are cases, we isolate them, he added.

Asked by Gandhi that India is a big country and its ability to test like the United States or the European countries is comparatively limited, the former RBI governor said, You are talking about 2 million tests a day in India if you have to get the level of confidence that you have in the United States. And clearly, we are nowhere near that. I think we are somewhere around 25,000 or 30,000 tests a day at this point.

Gandhi and his Congress party have repeatedly urged the government to scale up testing, calling it the biggest weapon against the Covid-19.

Rajan evaded direct responses to questions on centralisation of power and the authoritarian way of governance in India.

I do believe that decentralisation is important both for bringing more local information to work but also about giving empowerment to the people. What you see across the world is a great sense of disempowerment. Decisions are being made elsewhere, but not by me, he said.

However, Rajan stressed the need for social harmony, saying India cannot afford to have its house divided in challenging times.

Social harmony is a public good. Having everyone believe that they are a part of this system, an equal part of the system is essential. We cannot afford to be a house divided especially in these times when our challenges are so big, he said.

For his part, Gandhi said infrastructure connects people and that gives opportunity, but if there is division and hatred, that disconnects people.

There is an infrastructure of division and hatred and that causes as big a problem, the former Congress chief added.

On opportunities after the Covid-19 situation, Rajan said India can help mould dialogue post-pandemic to make space for multi-polar global order. There will have to be rethinking on everything in global economy once we are out of this pandemic. India can find opportunity for its industry and supply chain in the world. It can also help make its voice heard in the global order, he added.

However, Rajan sounded caution when Gandhi asked him if India can take advantage of the situation due to pandemic.

These kinds of incidents rarely have positive effects for any country, in general. There are ways countries can take advantage of. What I think we can say is that there will have to be a rethinking of everything in the global economy once we are out of this, he said.

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25-50% of the people infected with COVID-19 reported to develop symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has almost opened a Pandoras box. Besides other challenges, it has been testing the current healthcare systems. Among the COVID-19 infected people, quite a few have developed kidney abnormalities in otherwise healthy kidneys.

A few patients even developed Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), a condition known to impact survival of patients. Also, a recent report of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) reveals that of the people infected with COVID-19, 25-50% of them were seen with Kidney abnormalities, which manifested as a substantial leak of protein and blood in urine, resulting in the development of AKI in close to 15% patients, hinting that COVID-19 also attacks the kidney.

Dr. Tushar Parmar, Intensivist, Apollo Hospital, Mumbai said, It is generally perceived that COVID-19 types of viruses are borne from respiratory systems  Lungs, but a growing body of evidence shows that COVID-19 also attacks the kidneys either directly or mediated by excessive immune response seen in severe COVID-19 patients and not just the lungs. As per earlier reports of SARS and MERS-CoV infections, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) had developed in 5 to 15 per cent cases, but about 60 to 90 per cent of those cases reported mortality. While the preliminary reports of COVID-19 patients suggested a lower incidence (3 to 9 per cent) of AKI, the later reports indicated a higher frequency of kidney abnormalities. A study of 59 patients with COVID-19 found that about two-thirds of patients developed a massive leak of protein in urine during their stay in hospital.

The current treatment of COVID-19 with AKI includes general and supportive management and kidney replacement therapy. In the absence of effective antiviral therapy with smaller proportion requiring acute or urgent dialysis, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) a term used for a collection of acute dialysis techniques can support these patients for 24 hours in a day especially to the critically ill patients suffering with AKI or having overwhelming immune response.

Dr. Ansari, Intensivist, Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai said, Previous studies show that CRRT had been successfully applied in the treatment of SARS and MERS illnesses related to previously known coronaviruses, which also manifested as respiratory illnesses. At relatively higher doses, it can help clear the immune toxins, thus suggesting CRRT may play a role in patients with COVID-19 with AKI or high immune toxin load.

He further adds, In situations where shifts in fluid balance and metabolic fluctuations are poorly tolerated and in situations where other extracorporeal therapies are required, CRRT can be used as an integrated system and is preferred over parallel systems, as was highlighted by a recently published retrospective cohort study. In the study, it was found that 36 COVID-19 patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, where CRRT was associated with a reduction in mortality than those treated without CRRT. However, the potential role of extracorporeal therapy techniques needs to be evaluated by the treating physician.

Experts are unanimous that acute dialysis techniques such as CRRT may also be effective in treating patients with COVID-19 and sepsis syndrome irrespective of their kidney function. Considering the ongoing scenario and the increasing rate of kidney involvement due to COVID-19, such extra-corporeal therapies may play an important role in the treatment of severely ill patients. Right treatment by the experts at the right time can save the lives of the infected people who are battling between life and death.
North Korea continues to be a dangerous country for Christians. Once believers are discovered, they risk imprisonment in one of North Korea's notorious prison camps, or even execution. In the midst of Kim Jong Un's health problems, Christians are praying for reunification among North Korea.

According to Open Doors, Christians are pressured, arrested, attacked, or killed for their faith. With the absolute power in North Korea held by Kim Jong Un and his family, the country will always persecute Christians, at least at the current level and possibly at a higher level.

Kim's regime believes that Christianity has the potential to threaten their absolute power.

"A recent release of a propaganda film titled "The Trait of Anti-Revolution of Shamanistic Religion and Religious Superstition" was used to indoctrinate North Korean people throughout the country against shamans and Christians. The goal of the movie is to warn citizens about secret believers."

Not being able to have freedom of religion has affected many Christians in North Korea as about 300,000 secret believers are praying and worshiping underground.

"The Kim dynasty has always viewed Christianity as a threat. They are earnestly praying. Most refugees outside North Korea are very concerned. At the moment, because of the COVID-19 restrictions, they are unable to contact their families."

"The believers pray for the safety of the underground churches, for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, for the country's stability, and for the alleviation of the persecution of Christians. Above all, they pray for the gospel to shine through in North Korea."

"Refugees also pray for the safety of their families inside North Korea, for a regime change and the collapse of the current system, and for a government that's more open and less controlling. They pray for reunification that leads to a democratic system-and a reunification led by the gospel."

Open Doors shares a prayer request for North Korean Christians.

-Pray for the secret believers who are likely dealing with coronavirus on top of the normal pain of living in a country where they are constantly in danger.

-Pray for the Christians in North Korea who have to worship in secret. Pray they will be safe, and they will know the comfort of Jesus.

-Pray that, no matter what happens with Kim Jong Un, the government will open up and allow freedom for believers to publicly live out their faith.

-Pray for the health and salvation of Kim Jong Un.

-Pray God will touch his heart and he will repent and seek salvation.
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B&Q has today reopened all of its UK branches with 'strict social distancing measures' as the country tries to edge out of the coronavirus lockdown.

The DIY store, which shut its doors on March 25 amid the government's social distancing measures, confirmed its 288 stores were now open to the public in an effort to 'enable the repair and maintenance of houses and gardens across the UK'.

The announcement comes after B&Q's decision to reopen 130 stores saw massive queues forming outside its outlets in Watford, Edinburgh, Bristol and Swansea.

Photographs taken inside the store in Chiswick, West London, today showed workers wearing face visors - and floor markings to keep shoppers two metres (6ft) apart.

B&Q said all of its branches will have a designated queuing area outside which will require that customers keep two metres apart before entering the store.

They have also implemented two metre directional arrows to guide customers while inside the shop, and sanitiser stations are being provided for trolleys.

Other measures include protective perspex screens at the tills, and shoppers being only allowed to pay using contactless payments.

Staff are also being positioned around the store, inside and out, to remind everyone to stay safe and follow social distancing guidelines.

A B&Q worker wears a face visor at the store in Chiswick, West London, this afternoon as customers are advised to keep their distance

Shoppers are advised to keep their distance at the B&Q store in Chiswick, West London, today with yellow markings

Signs at the B&Q store in Chiswick, West London, advise shoppers to keep a safe distance apart from others

Shoppers walk around the B&Q store in Chiswick, West London, today after it reopened in an effort to 'enable the repair and maintenance of houses and gardens across the UK'

A fifth of retailers say they have shut their doors PERMANENTLY because coronavirus has wrecked their business as MPs are warned that a third of the whole UK economy has 'SHUT DOWN' A third of the UK economy has 'shut down' because of the coronavirus pandemic, MPs were warned today. Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, made the astonishing revelation as pressure increased on Boris Johnson to plot a way out of the crisis. Mr Marshall warned that another third of businesses were functioning 'with some difficulty'. Retail, hospitality, catering, leisure and manufacturers were among those worst affected he said as he appeared remotely in front of the Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy committee this morning. It came as a fifth of retailers suggested they will not reopen after the pandemic has passed, creating huge gaps in an already under-pressure high streets. Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, told the same committee it has been the 'worst time ever for retail'. Official figures today showed that two-thirds of UK businesses have applied for Government help paying wage bills for furloughed staff, but less than a fifth have received support so far. Mr Marshall said: 'We've seen significant impact right across the economy, right across the UK. Advertisement

In addition, due to the bulky nature of some of its products, B&Q is allowing shopping parties of two people so that they can self-serve larger items.

Customers at the branch in Chiswick praised the social distancing measures that had been put in place but feared they could be put to a sterner test on warmer, sunnier days as the major DIY chain opened all 288 of its stores across the country.

Nadine Edward, 34 who had visited the Chiswick store to buy a plant and items for her garden, told MailOnline: 'I first drove past and saw that there was no queue because it was pouring down with rain.

'It was a very nice experience because there were not many customers inside. I didn't feel nervous and was able to maintain a good distance from other shoppers. But I don't know if it will be like this when the weather improves. People always like going to B&Q when the weather's nice.'

She revealed that as a precaution, she had left her two-year old son Nathan and her mother, Maria waiting in the car as she did not want to put them at unnecessary risk.

'I'll definitely come back, but I think it's safer to go into the store on my own. You can take as many precautions as you can but that doesn't guarantee that you will not catch coronavirus,' she said.

Two B&Q members of staff stood at the entrance warning customers that they would only be allowed to enter if they had a trolley.

'It's so that we can count how many people are going in and leaving,' one of them explained.

Inside the store, regular announcements were being made warning customers on the importance of maintaining a two-metre distance from each other. Large signs had also been erected to underline the message while a one-way system had been introduced along aisles.

Markers, two metres apart, had also been placed on the floor at the checkout area.

Many of B&Q's staff wore face visors although not all were wearing protective masks and gloves.

Mo Rad, 67 who came to buy fixing grout and tiles and suffers from leukaemia said: 'I wasn't nervous at all, even though I really shouldn't be out. But I'm having some work done at home and needed to buy this material.

A social distancing sign at the B&Q store in Chiswick, West London, this afternoon as the DIY store enforces social distancing rules

A barrier blocking off the kitchen and bathroom design area at the store in Chiswick today as the service is unavailable

Shoppers walk through the B&Q in Chiswick, West London, this afternoon. B&Q is allowing shopping parties of two people so that they can self-serve larger items

Shoppers at the checkout of the B&Q store in Chiswick, West London, this afternoon. The store has protective perspex screens at the tills

Nadine Edward, 34 who had visited the Chiswick store to buy a plant and items for her garden, told MailOnline: 'It was a very nice experience because there were not many customers inside'

'B&Q have arranged this whole thing very well. You can clean your trolley with sanitiser when you go in and it's easy to keep your distance.

Mo Rad, 67 who came to buy fixing grout and tiles in Chiswick and suffers from leukaemia, said: 'I wasn't nervous at all, even though I really shouldn't be out'

'It can get a little difficult down some of the aisles but it's going to be impossible to keep two meters apart from every single customer.'

Mr Rad added: 'I'm glad B&Q has opened. I'm not worried about coronavirus at all and this lockdown is boring. But the weather is awful today and I'm not convinced that things will run as smoothly at this store when it's sunny and packed with customers.'

B&Q CEO Graham Bell said: 'Our highest priority is to keep our colleagues safe at work and our customers safe while shopping.

'In all our stores, we have strict social distancing measures in place.

'Whether shopping in our stores or online, we continue to ask all our customers to follow the Government's social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only when they need to.'

This month, the DIY store has been slowly re-starting its business by opening 14 stores on April 14 followed by another 61 stores on April 22.

A member of staff at the B&Q branch in Stockton prepares for the re-opening of the store behind a perspex screen

Navigational markers are placed inside the store in Stockton to remind customers to remain two metres apart

On April 29, the hardware retailer opened another 130 stores.

B&Q's new shopping rules during lockdown B&Q has placed two metre navigational markers outside its stores to remind customers to keep their distance

There will be two metre directional arrows to guide customers while inside the shop

Sanitiser stations will be provided for trolleys

There will be protective perspex screens at the tills

Shoppers can only pay using contactless payments

Staff will positioned around the store, inside and out, to remind everyone to stay safe and follow social distancing guidelines

The store is allowing shopping parties of two people so that they can self-serve larger items Advertisement

Today a message on the company's website read: 'All B&Q stores are now open with the exception of our stores in the ROI and Guernsey. All stores are open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Opening times on Sundays vary, and so please check the store locator page for details of your local store.'

Earlier this month, B&Q customers were left waiting more than an hour to get on to the company's website, with hundreds of thousands looking to buy products this weekend.

With the UK still on lockdown, the home improvement retailer saw massive demand for its stock, with online shoppers told they faced a wait of at least 60 minutes before making click and collect orders.

Customers also claimed that they were kicked out of the website after waiting in a virtual queue for an hour.

At one stage, more than 317,000 people were simultaneously waiting to buy products, as the firm urged customers not to arrive at its stores until told to, in order to follow the ongoing social distancing guidelines.

A staff member wears protective equipment at a branch in Stockton as the store prepares to open for customers

According to its safety rules, all stores will have a designated queuing area outside and shoppers will need to keep two metres apart. Pictured: Customers queue outside a B&Q store in Watford on April 26

Shoppers queue at a B&Q store in Charlton, south London, on April 29 in accordance with the store's safety measures

Earlier this month, more than 317,000 people were simultaneously waiting to buy products from B&Q's online store

The decision to reopen all its stores comes a day after DIY retailer Wickes revealed it would be reopening six stores with strict social distancing measures from today in Pudsey, Cheltenham, Preston, Sevenoaks, Cricklewood and Hailsham.

A statement released by the retailer read: 'From April 30th 6 of our stores - Pudsey, Cheltenham, Preston, Sevenoaks, Cricklewood and Hailsham - will open to the public.

'In addition to the new social distancing measures, these stores will operate shorter opening hours on Monday to Saturday, opening at 7.00am and closing at 6.00pm. Sunday reverts to the trading hours of 10.00am to 4.00pm.'

The hardware company said that each of its stores would limit the number of shoppers in the store at any one time and there would be 'clear signage and floor markers' to assist customers in keeping two metres apart.

In addition, the shop has installed perspex screens at its tills and service stations, there will be sanitising stations for customers, staff on the shop floor will be using PPE and only contactless payments will be accepted.

Elsewhere Homebase opened 20 of its stores at the weekend as part of a trial and confirmed its remaining UK stores would all be reopened by May 2.

Yesterday the company's CEO Damian McGloughlin said: 'In March, Homebase was classified as an essential retailer by the Government, meaning that our stores could continue trading.

'However, with the safety of our customers and teams as our first priority, we decided to temporarily close our stores and operate online only.

'We have taken this time to carefully review and make a large number of changes to our operations in preparation for a safe, phased reopening, in line with Government guidance on social distancing.

'Following a successful trial across 20 stores, we will be fully reopening an additional 50 stores across the UK on Wednesday 29th April, with strict controls in place to ensure shopping is safe for everyone. Our remaining UK stores will all be reopened for customers to shop from Saturday 2nd May. '

DIY retailer Wickes revealed it would be reopening six stores with strict social distancing measures from today

A notice tells customers to keep two metres apart inside a Homebase store in Rayleigh on April 29

Joining the store was the fast-food retailer KFC which announced it would reopen another 80 branches for delivery yesterday.

The chain said 100 of its stores up and down the country would be able to bring orders to customers' homes from next Monday.

Paula MacKenzie, managing director for KFC UK & Ireland, said: 'I'm really proud of the way we, with our franchise partners, have been able to carefully get some of our restaurants back open for delivery over the last two weeks.

'This next stage allows us to continue to provide wider access to hot food for those who need it most, whether that's key workers after a long shift or those working from home who need a quick, affordable dinner for the family.'

B&Q also follows in the footsteps of restaurants Nandos, Burger King and Wagamama, who have all announced plans to reopen restaurants this week.

The latest announcements come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to warn Britons that relaxing the social distancing measures could lead to a second wave of the virus.

Mr Johnson is expected to set out his latest plans on social restrictions this evening when he leads the daily Downing Street press conference.
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It is propaganda, says India on social media posts alleging harassment of Muslims

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Apr 30: India on Thursday called as "propaganda" certain social media posts from the Arab world alleging harassment of Muslims in several parts of the country in the name of containing the spread of coronavirus.

Strongly rebutting the charges, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the Gulf countries are deeply committed to friendly relations with India and they are even seeking bilateral talks on the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

Talking about India's close and traditional ties with the Arab countries, he said New Delhi is ensuring uninterrupted supply of food and essential commodities to the region during Ramzan as part of its deep-rooted friendship. Srivastava said the countries in the region do not support any interference in India's internal affairs.

"Much of what you see is propaganda by interested parties. Stray tweets can not be used to characterise our bilateral ties with these countries. The real picture of these relations is very much different," he said during an online media briefing. There has been a wave of angry reactions on Twitter by leading citizens and rights activists from various Arab countries following allegations that Muslims are being blamed for spreading COVID-19 in several parts of India. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a powerful bloc of 57 countries, recently accused India of "Islamophobia".

India rejected the charges as regrettable. "We have been making special efforts to ensure uninterrupted supply of food and essential commodities which are required during the Ramzan period in these countries, and this is something which has been greatly appreciated. These countries also want a priority discussion with India on the post COVID-19 economic recovery," Srivastava said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have been in regular touch with their counterparts from the region in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "In these discussions, there have been requests for sending medicines and medical teams to these countries. We already deployed a Rapid Response Team in Kuwait. There is also a request to send doctors and nurses from India," said Srivastava.

"What comes out clearly is that these countries are deeply committed to friendly relations with India. They also do not support any interference in internal matters of India. It is, therefore, important that the friendly and cooperative nature of our relations is accurately recognised and the misuse of social media is not given credence," he added.

Asked about reports of an order issued by Oman's Finance Ministry asking all state-owned companies to replace foreign workers with qualified local Omanis, Srivastava said it is not aimed at Indians working in the Gulf nation.

"The policy is a decades-old one and not specific to India. It does not target the Indians in any way," he said. There have been apprehensions that the order will render thousands of Indians working in state-run firms in Oman jobless.

"They greatly value relationship with India. Government of Oman is taking special care of Indians which included free testing for coronavirus, its treatment, providing food," the MEA spokesperson said.

Oman government is also extending certain categories of visas of Indians. Srivastava said India has been in touch with its friends and partners across the world as part of the collaborative approach to dealing with the pandemic. PTI MPB ZMN
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Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 18:30 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd54dc10 1 Business textile-industry,COVID-19,coronavirus,Business-performance Free

As COVID-19 continues to batter the Indonesian economy, 70 percent of textile and textile product (TPT) companies face permanent closure as a result of plunging domestic and export demand, an industry group has warned.

At the moment, 80 percent of textile companies have halted operations temporarily while facing cashflow issues, so financial support from the government is urgently required according to the Indonesian Filament and Fiber Producers Association (APSyFI).

We have cashflow difficulties because even though we have no income, we still have to pay penalties to the state electricity and gas companies while also paying our workers social security fees, APSyFI secretary general Redma Gita Warawasta said in a press release on Wednesday.

The association warned that massive business closures could cause a spike in unemployment, as around 1.8 million TPT industry workers are already furloughed or laid off because of the pandemic.

According to the Industry Ministrys latest estimate, the TPT industry employs around 135,000 workers annually, making up 22.5 percent of the total 600,000 workers in the industrial sector.

Redma said APSyFI and the Indonesian Textile Association (API) had conveyed their request for relaxation policies from the government but without any significant development.

One of the associations requests includes penalty fee waivers from state electricity company PLN and state gas company PT PGN for textile companies with electricity and gas consumption below the minimum threshold.

Our request for penalty fee waivers is reasonable because the government has declared [COVID-19 pandemic] a national disaster. But in reality, neither PLN nor PGN regard the pandemic as a national disaster and they are still imposing penalty fees, the APSyFI statement reads.

The association also complained about the financial sector not providing credit relaxations to textile companies, even though the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has issued regulation No.11/2020 on credit restructuring for companies impacted by the pandemic.

There could be a spike in nonperforming loans from the TPT industry if the situation continues, Redma said.
By Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS: The UN humanitarian chief said Wednesday that more than 40 cases of COVID-19 and at least three deaths have been reported in Syria, signalling that "tragedy beckons" after nine years of war that has left the country's health care system decimated.

Mark Lowcock told the UN Security Council that while the number may sound low compared to other countries, testing in Syria is very limited.

The UN special envoy for Syria, meanwhile, called for a lasting cease-fire to fighting in the country.

With millions of people displaced in crowded conditions and without adequate sanitation, he said Syria can't be expected "to cope with a crisis that is challenging even the wealthiest nations."

Efforts are being made to set up isolation areas in displacement camps and health facilities in Syria, but measures aimed at containing the virus are already having side effects such as skyrocketing food prices in some areas, he said.

Lowcock said essential medical supplies and equipment must be allowed into the country, and that the Al Yarubiyah border crossing from Iraq to Syria's northeast must be reopened.

The border crossing was closed in January at Russia's insistence, and Lowcock said deliveries of medical supplies to the northeast from Damascus have not filled the gap.

Syrian Kurds established an autonomous zone in the northeast in 2012 and were US partners on the ground in fighting the Islamic State extremist group.

A Turkish offensive in October against Syrian Kurdish militants led the US to abandon its Kurdish allies, leading to strong criticism of both Washington and Ankara.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a cease-fire to all conflicts around the world on March 23 to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, and at separate Security Council meetings Wednesday on Syria's political and humanitarian situation there was widespread support for his appeal.

Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, welcomed the fact that there has been "significant calm in many areas of Syria," with no all-out offensives since early March.

He said Russian-Turkish arrangements have taken hold in the northwest, the last opposition stronghold, and cease-fire arrangements between Russia, Turkey and the United States in the northeast "also continue to broadly hold."

He said the calm was "uneasy and fragile" and there is a constant risk of things escalating.

He appealed for a cease-fire "that results in sustained calm and is nationwide in scope" one that does not see new assaults across lines of contact, and enables Syrians to access equipment and resources necessary to combat COVID-19.

"But Russia and the US disagreed about who should be in the lead in pursuing a cease-fire and an end to the Syrian conflict. Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council that the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey, the guarantor states in the so-called "Astana process" aimed at ending the Syria conflict, held a video conference on April 22 and "underscored the leading role of Astana in promoting a Syrian settlement."

He said this includes stabilising the situation in the country, dealing with refugees, resolving humanitarian problems and promoting a dialogue among Syrians in the committee that is to draft a new constitution.

Nebenzia said the ministers of Russia and Iran, who support Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, would prepare for the next Astana summit.

The acting US deputy ambassador, Cherith Norman Chalet, said the UN "must be at the center of any effort to establish a comprehensive, enduring, and verifiable nationwide cease-fire."

France's UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere also stressed that the UN must be "at the forefront" of cease-fire efforts.

He called for a broader political process than just the constitutional committee and told the council that "France is deeply concerned about the growing instability everywhere in Syria."

Russia's Nebenzia ticked off "terrorist" groups operating in Syria's northwest and stressed that the pandemic cannot be used as a pretext to whitewash terrorists.

"Appeals to Damascus to step up its efforts to fight the pandemic are irrelevant as to 30 per cent of territories which are under effective control either of foreign troops or of opposition or of terrorists," Nebenzia said.

"Those controlling these territories should be responsible for it."
At least one Amazon worker at the main Tracy, California warehouse has died of COVID-19, while multiple other workers at the facility have tested positive, according to a whistleblower using the pseudonym John who spoke with the International Amazon Workers Voice (IAWV).

Management at the Tracy facility, which employs 2,000 workers and is located 60 miles east of San Francisco, have kept secret the identity of the deceased worker. This is the second death acknowledged by the company, following the death of an infected worker from its Hawthorne facility, in California, on March 31. It took two weeks for the company to announce the previous fatality, identified by his family on social media as 35-year-old Gerard Tuzara.

On May 1, Amazon will be ending its provision of unlimited unpaid time off (UPT), compelling workers to either return to deadly conditions or get fired and become ineligible for unemployment benefits.

Mass text from Amazon on employee testing positive for COVID-19

The first person to get infected at our facility just died, and now theyre telling all of us to go back to work, John commented. The place is filthy, theyre not cleaning anything, theyre not giving us PPE [personal protective equipment]. How many people have to die for us to be treated like human beings? Its either you risk your life going to work, or you quit and dont have a job.

John has worked as a full-time picker at the warehouse for roughly two years and spoke out last year on the brutal conditions faced at the facility in the aftermath of the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in the states history, which killed 86 people and destroyed the town of Paradise. The fire produced a cloud of toxic smoke that blanketed the Central Valley and Bay Area regions for weeks, temporarily giving Northern California the worst air quality in the world. Management at the Tracy Amazon facility, where over 2,000 workers are employed, forced elderly and at-risk workers to continue working without providing any protections such as face masks, as the toxic air recirculated throughout the warehouse.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the same facility has again imposed unsafe and now deadly working conditions, leading to at least one death and an unknown number of infections at the workplace. John noted that temperatures in Tracy have recently been in the 90s (Fahrenheit), likely exceeding 100 degrees inside due to a lack of air conditioning, while Amazon has provided totally inadequate sanitization measures.

As management informed workers about the death on Tuesday, they absurdly claimed that the employee hadnt gotten infected at work, despite this being the most likely source of infection. Theyre not saying who passed away, or from what department, John noted. They just told us to go back to work, and then increased the volume after telling us this person died.

John said that after learning of their coworkers death, Everyone was pissed. Some people were crying. A lot of people said, They dont give a f about us. In the break room, you hear people say, what will it take for them to clean this place, do more people have to die?

Tracy Amazon workers first learned in early April that their coworker had fallen ill via a mass text from the company. In addition to the worker who has now died, they sent us three text messages this week about other workers who have tested positive, said John. Theyve only told us about four people. There has to be more, theres no way its just those four. And is it really only one person who has died, or is it more than one?

A report released two weeks ago found that at least two thirds of Amazons US distribution centers had workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, based on media reports and government health data. Given that Amazon is providing minimal protections for workers and is not testing anyone or publicly reporting all cases, this is likely a gross underestimate.

After the first worker tested positive, management began using a forehead thermometer to take workers temperatures as they went inside. Now thermal imaging is being used to check body temperatures. Beyond the fact that temperatures inside the warehouse can exceed 100 degrees, there is no validity to the use of temperature checks to screen for COVID-19, since asymptomatic workers can spread the disease. A systematic testing program, needed to identify those infected, trace all their contacts and provide victims of disease with immediate medical treatment, has been deliberately hamstrung by the federal and state governments.

In mid-March, as the pandemic spread across the US, statewide lockdowns went into effect and anger over dangerous conditions grew among workers, Amazon implemented a new company-wide policy providing unlimited unpaid time off (UPT). Normally, workers only get 20 UPT hours every four months, or eight unpaid sick days per year.

As part of the worldwide back-to-work drive being pushed by the financial aristocracy and its pliant media, starting May 1 Amazon is cutting off this limited reprieve for workers. John commented, Now you either have to go back to work, risk getting sick and risk your life, or you dont go to work, dont have any money, and risk losing everything, because you wont have any money to live. To make it worse, you cant go on unemployment if you get fired. So basically, theyre forcing us to risk our lives or go broke.

He added, They told us the policy ends May 1 because everything is getting better, but its actually getting worse. Someone just died. After the 14-day incubation period, well see a lot more people will be sick in early May, followed by more deaths.

Management at the Tracy facility have imposed sweatshop conditions on workers that have continued to work during the pandemic because they cannot afford extended periods of unpaid time off. Beyond the extreme temperatures, workloads have increased substantially as nearby facilities have closed and many workers have taken advantage of the extra UPT hours.

John described the conditions as follows: Its ridiculously hot in there, and we have to wear our face masks all the time. We have no air conditioning, its like a furnace. When youre inside a truck loading a trailer, its above 100 degrees and you have no air. Were used to having two people loading or unloading a truck at a time, but due to the virus we can only have one, so were doing twice as much work as usual. We have elderly people doing the work of two or even three people.

He continued, They said they clean the warehouse every 15 minutes, but thats a lie. Ive never seen anyone clean our spaces or clean the scanners, even the bathrooms are cleaned maybe three times a day. They didnt give us masks until the beginning of April, and it wasnt until April 10, after someone tested positive, that they made it mandatory to wear them. That worker had gotten sick before they started requiring us to wear masks.

John noted that one factor behind their particularly awful conditions is their managers ruthless ambition. He said, We got a new manager recently, so hes trying to make himself look better to corporate by having us do twice as much work. Hes trying to prove a point. I heard that at one of the managing staff meetings, he said he wants to prove he can do more work with less people.

Commenting on the fact that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has amassed over $25 billion since the start of the pandemic, while US billionaires have garnered over $280 billion, John stated, Theyre making so much money off of death. Bezos wouldnt have that money if it wasnt for us and hes not worthy of having it. He doesnt treat his employees the way he should. Were all treated like slaves. Its just modernized slavery.

Amazon fulfillment center in San Fernando de Henares, Spain (Photo: Wikipedia/Alvaro Ibanez)

Discussing the criminal response of the Trump administration to the pandemic and the back-to-work campaign, John noted, They dont want us to stop working, because we are what keeps the economy going. If we stop, their money flow stops, thats why theyre forcing us back to work again.

John also denounced the response by Californias Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who is implementing plans to reopen the economy under unsafe conditions and facilitating the criminal practices of Amazon and other major corporations. He said, They are all working together in one network, everybody is scratching each others backs. Everybody in the political system is connected to each other. They put on a show to take our attention away from what is happening, but all of this is orchestrated.

Regarding the bipartisan bailout of Wall Street through the CARES Act, John stated, These monopolies are making so much money that theyre stopping all these mom and pop businesses. Now these banks are loaning out all this money, which the small businesses wont be able to pay back. There will be a greater divide of society into working class people and the capitalists. There will barely be a middle class anymore.

On the absence of sufficient workplace protections, he added, Theres no concern for human life anymore. If youre not in this class where youre making enough money, your life doesnt matter. If you make enough money, then your life matters. They dont care about the working class families losing mothers, fathers, grandparents, children.

John had tried to contact KCRA News, the local NBC affiliate in Sacramento, to see if they would cover this story but he never heard back from them. He agreed that this was an example of how the corporate media served the interests of the capitalist class.

Speaking on the way forward for Amazon workers, John said he agreed with the IAWV statement calling for the formation of rank-and-file committees at every facility, stressing that the rate system needs to be replaced with something that all workers can manage, so that theyre not competing with each other.

John stressed that the health of workers must be the number one priority, saying, If they want us to be open, it needs to follow protocol. If someone is infected, they need to shut down for two weeks, clean the facility, and make sure we have proper equipment and good air circulation. Now that its spreading like it is right now, they need to shut down and have the entire day and night shifts get tested. You have over 2,000 people going into a place where people have been infected. How many of those people will get sick and how many will die?
Our modern faith in the power of vaccines was cemented in the 1970s. At the time, global public health officials wanted to strengthen international commitment to fighting disease and improving health around the world. At an ambitious and influential conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 1978, health leaders from around the world issued a declaration stating that socio-economic development was vital for health and that health care had to be integrated with goals like clean drinking water and safe working conditions.

The Almaty conference had been planned to tread cautiously amid Cold War rivalries, but power politics ended up deciding the trajectory of what followed. Critics of the declaration  many of them from the United States  argued that its goals were unrealistic and unaffordable. Instead, they said, the emphasis should be on tackling specific diseases for which effective technologies of prevention or control existed  like vaccines. The critics prevailed.

Without doubt, a safe and effective vaccine has a vital role to play in preventing or controlling a resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic. But as the Alma Ata Declaration shows, vaccines and international politics have always been tied together. And this time will be no different. In fact, in the face of a pandemic that has decimated economies, disrupted lives and shaken politics, the political battle will probably be fiercer than ever.

Some of the more than 100 candidate vaccines are already entering human trials. They are being developed by Chinese companies such as CanSino Bio and by American companies such as Moderna and Inovio. Each has financial support from its national government. Pfizer is collaborating with a German biotech company, BioNTech. The American government is also supporting a collaboration between GSK and Sanofi, two of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies, while researchers at Oxford University are collaborating with the Serum Institute of India, a private company. Many of these investigations are supported by the Oslo-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, itself funded by a number of governmental and nongovernmental donors.
As some states move to reopen after weeks of shutdowns, infectious disease experts say the prevention of future coronavirus outbreaks will depend on scaling up testing and identifying asymptomatic carriers.

Now, eight Labrador retrievers - and their powerful noses - have been enlisted to help. The dogs are the first trainees in a University of Pennsylvania research project to determine whether canines can detect an odor associated with the virus that causes covid-19. If so, they might eventually be used in a sort of "canine surveillance" corps, the university said - offering a noninvasive, four-legged method to screen people in airports, businesses or hospitals.

SOMBER MILESTONE: Harris County coronavirus death toll eclipses 100

It would not be surprising if the dogs prove adept at detecting SARS-CoV-2. In addition to drugs, explosives and contraband food items, dogs are able to sniff out malaria, cancers and even a bacterium ravaging Florida's citrus groves. And research has found that viruses have specific odors, said Cynthia M. Otto, director of the Working Dog Center at Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine.

"We don't know that this will be the odor of the virus, per se, or the response to the virus, or a combination," said Otto, who is leading the project. "But the dogs don't care what the odor is. ... What they learn is that there's something different about this sample than there is about that sample."

A similar effort is underway at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where researchers previously demonstrated that dogs could identify malaria infections in humans. In a statement, James Logan, head of the school's disease control department, called canines a "new diagnostic tool [that] could revolutionize our response to covid-19."

On Tuesday, Logan said his research team expects to begin collecting covid-19 samples "within a matter of weeks" and working with the charity Medical Detection Dogs to train canines soon after. The goal is to initially deploy six dogs to airports in the United Kingdom, he said.

"Each individual dog can screen up to 250 people per hour," Logan said in an email. "We are simultaneously working on a model to scale it up so it can be deployed in other countries at ports of entry, including airports."

The Working Dog Center typically trains dogs, which live with foster families, at its facility in Philadelphia, but the pandemic is forcing it to adjust. To minimize social contact, the project is instead working with Labs at a K-9 training firm in Maryland, Tactical Directional Canine, Otto said.

Miss M., Poncho and six other chocolate, yellow and black Labs began the first stage of training - learning to identify an odor for a food reward - this month, she said. Next, the dogs will train using urine and saliva samples collected from patients who tested positive and negative at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

NEW LIMITS: H-E-B reveals new product limitations on toilet paper, food

The following step is trickier, Otto said: learning to detect the virus in a human.

"That's going to be the next proof of concept: Can we train them to identify it when a person has it and that person's moving? Or even standing still?" Otto said.

Exactly how covid-19 detection dogs might be put to use in the United States would depend on demands, Otto said, though no one's talking about stationing a dog in every hospital or testing site.

If the need is lots of tests, then Penn chemists and physicists might be able to use what they learn from the dogs to create an electronic "nose," or sensor. The goal of the Working Dog Center's research on ovarian cancer-detection dogs, for example, is to produce "an electronic test where thousands and thousands of samples could be screened in a short period," Otto said.

Other settings, such as fields where the center has trained dogs to detect the eggs of invasive spotted lantern flies, call for actual canines that can quickly roam and sniff, she said.

"The exciting area is the sort of convergence with what dogs are currently doing with TSA and screening for explosives," she said. "If we can do a similar approach for screening humans, then there will be a large interest" in using dogs to help flag people for testing, she added.

One potential complication: Explosives detection dogs are already in short supply.

"We don't have enough detection dogs. And if now, all of a sudden, everyone wants a covid detection dog? It's going to be challenge to figure out where are the priorities," Otto said. "But there's a lot of opportunity."
One of the leaders of Portlands revamped community police oversight group listened Tuesday night to city-hired consultants report that the Police Bureau is still meeting training, use-of-force reporting and crisis intervention requirements under a federal settlement agreement.

Lakayana Drury, co-chair of the community group, then delivered a scathing assessment of the work.

I find this report to be weak, incomplete and insulting to everybody thats on this conversation, Drury said. He spoke during the monthly meeting of the group, held for the first time via Zoom videoconference.

While Drury acknowledged police have made significant progress, he said he found the report too rosy and lacking in any deep analysis or recommendations for improving the bureau.

We deserve a higher standard of critique of the bureau, Drury went on. That is not to come down on the bureau. But to read through that report, I feel like Im listening to a bureau in a different city.  What you guys are reporting is not what Im hearing from the community.

Dennis Rosenbaum, the city-hired compliance officer, and his consulting partner, Tom Christoff, both based in Chicago, defended their work.

To be honest, you guys are coming late to this, Rosenbaum responded. We spent six years in Portland. If you read some of our early reports, theyre highly critical of the Police Bureau.  We are in the sixth year, and apparently the final year, unless they screw up pretty badly.

Rosenbaum noted that the settlement agreement is a legal document with specific language, its important you read it word by word. He said he was "sticking to what I was hired to do.

In February, a federal judge declined to endorse Portlands new community approach to police oversight, part of the citys settlement with the U.S. Justice Department for using excessive force against people with mental illness.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon approved the settlement in 2014. It called for significant changes to the bureaus use-of-force and Taser stun gun policies, improved crisis intervention and de-escalation training and better tracking of police use of force and complaints against officers. It also called for community oversight of the changes.

Though the Department of Justice and the consultants agreed early this year that the Police Bureau and the city had met each of the settlements requirements, the judge did not.

Simon said he wasnt convinced that an amendment creating the 13-member volunteer Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing is fair, reasonable and adequate and wanted to see how the group has fared in a year. He ordered all parties to the settlement to return to court next February.

Dennis Rosenbaum, one of the city-hired consultants who presented a report to the community group via Zoom on Tues. night, April 28, 2020.

Rosenbaums report found the city and bureau have remained in substantial compliance with the settlement during the first three months of this year. To remain in substantial compliance, any violations of the agreement must be minor or occasional and not systemic, he said. The report marked the first of what will be quarterly so-called maintenance reports this year.

The 50-page report said the bureau is properly reporting and reviewing officers use of force, emergency dispatchers are sending specially trained crisis intervention officers to emergency calls that have a mental health element and the police training division is auditing its instruction and giving classes on de-escalation, procedural justice and implicit biases.

Rosenbaum said he and his partner didnt delve into operations of the Unity Center for Behavioral Health, the embattled psychiatric emergency center in Portland. But they found its still functioning as an effective drop-off location for police to have ambulances take people who are in mental health crisis.

We acknowledge concern from some members of the community regarding the overall operation of the Unity Center, the report says. However, we agree with DOJ that Unity is not a party to this litigation and is not within the purview of our assessment of compliance with the Settlement Agreement.

Theres only so much we can do, honestly, Rosenbaum told Drury and the community group. We had a much bigger impact three to four years ago than we have lately.

Drury cited concerns about an uptick in shootings in the city this year, the increased number of police shootings of people in mental health crisis last year and ongoing concerns about the racial disparities of people stopped by police.

If I was the chief of police, I would not want the report that I just got, Drury said. I dont want a report telling me all the great things. Im looking for a high standard of critical analysis.

Lakayana Drury, a co-chair of the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing.

Rosenbaum said thats more the role of the community oversight group now.

I agree we should all be pushing for excellence. But its more of your job  thats where you can step up, he said. We were hired for a specific purpose: Did the city comply with these legal requirements?

From Dennis Rosenbaum's recent report, looking at police use of force as a percentage of custodies or arrests.

Among the findings in the compliance teams report:

-- Last year, 46 out of 1,398 emergency calls that met the criteria for sending out a specialized crisis intervention officer resulted in some type of force used by an officer. Most of those involved the least serious use of force. In all of 2019, there were eight instances where police used a Taser on a person in a mental health crisis.

A call that would trigger sending one of the specially trained Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team officers are: when a weapon is present, when the subject is violent, when the call is at a mental health facility, when the caller is threatening suicide and has the means to carry it out, at the request of a community member, at the request of another officer or when the person represents an escalating risk of harm to themselves or others.

-- The specially trained officers have responded to 70% to 75% of those calls when dispatched in the last 18 months.

While the response dropped by 5 percent from April to September 2019, compared to the the prior five months, the total number of such calls increased by 25 percent with no corresponding increase in the number of such specialized officers. In November, the bureau did train about 20 new ECIT officers.

--In March, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted police training. In-service review training was suspended. The bureau moved courses to an online format and is continuing skills exercises with smaller groups to maintain adequate social distancing.

Police have trained officers on procedural justice, de-escalation and emergency rescue skills in the last year. Theyve also obtained training on officer wellness and crowd management, the report said.

--The number of people police have used force against has been between 185 and 219 per quarter, for the past year and a half. Police have used force in 3 to 3.5 percent of their arrests, from the last quarter of 2018 through the final quarter of 2019. Police force is used in 3.3 percent of calls where a specialized crisis intervention team officer is dispatched.

We acknowledge this is not an apples to apples comparison of the force to custody rate reported above. For instance, a primary component of ECIT calls is to avoid arrest as an outcome and therefore evaluating force to custody rates for ECIT calls would be misleading, the report said.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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Boris Johnson today announced that wearing face masks will be part of the UK's coronavirus lockdown exit strategy.

The Prime Minister said the wearing of face coverings in public will be 'useful' in terms of stopping the spread of the disease when restrictions are lifted.

He also said they would give workers 'confidence' that it is safe for them to venture out, use public transport and go back to their jobs.

Speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference, Mr Johnson said: 'I think what SAGE is saying and what I certainly agree with is that as part of coming out of the lockdown I do think that face coverings will be useful both for epidemiological reasons but also for giving people confidence they can go back to work.

'You are going to be hearing more about that and that kind of thing next week.'

Mr Johnson has promised to set out a 'comprehensive plan' within the next seven days telling the nation how lockdown will be eased.

The government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has been considering the evidence in recent weeks relating to the wearing of facemasks.

Numerous opposition politicians have been pushing Downing Street to change tack and recommend they be worn.

Boris Johnson today said wearing face coverings will be part of the UK's lockdown exit strategy

Face masks are already being worn by some people in the UK but their use is not widespread or compulsory as in some other nations. Pictured is a man walking in London yesterday

Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London had threatened earlier this week to 'unilaterally' order masks be worn in the capital if Downing Street did not act.

Mr Khan had told ITV News: 'If it's the case that despite all our lobbying and the emerging scientific evidence the government doesn't change its guidance, I may well decide unilaterally to instruct Londoners to do that.'

Responding to Mr Johnson's announcement this evening, Mr Khan said: 'I am pleased that the Prime Minister has said that non-medical face coverings will play an important role as we eventually look to lift lockdown restrictions.

'This is something I and others have been pushing the government to change the guidance on.'

Nicola Sturgeon had already told Scots that face coverings should be worn in enclosed spaces where social distancing is hard to maintain.

She said her government was advising the limited use of face coverings made of cloth, including scarves, for everyone above the age of two.

She added: 'We are recommending that you do wear a cloth face covering if you are in an enclosed space with others where social distancing is difficult, for example public transport or in a shop.'

The use of the more general term 'coverings' differentiates them from medical-grade masks amid concerns greater public uptake could lead to a shortage for NHS staff.

Miss Sturgeon did not make their use mandatory, conceding evidence over their effectiveness is 'still limited', but she said there are benefits in wearing coverings to reduce transmission from individuals who are not yet exhibiting symptoms.

Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, had also revealed that the UK is in the process of stockpiling masks for commuters and shoppers to wear in public.

Mr Gove said any stockpiled masks would not be the 'high-spec surgical face masks' used in the NHS but ones that could be used in particular settings.

Number 10 said on Tuesday that a final decision on the issue was yet to be made after SAGE had presented its conclusions on the effectiveness of masks to ministers.

Later on Tuesday, Professor Angela McLean, the deputy chief scientific adviser, said SAGE had recommended that there is 'weak evidence of a small effect' that wearing a face mask can prevent an infected person spreading the disease.

She told the daily Downing Street press conference: 'The answer is clear that the evidence is weak and the effect is small, and we have passed that on to our colleagues in Government with which to make a decision.'

The wearing of masks has become an every day sight in the UK with many people deciding to cover their mouth and nose regardless of government advice.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) had already recommended face coverings should be used in enclosed spaces where social distancing is hard to maintain

Sadiq Khan had warned he was willing to 'unilaterally' tell Londoners to wear the masks if the UK government failed to act

However, there are concerns that recommending they be worn could create problems for the NHS as it struggles to source enough medical grade masks for frontline workers.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, previously warned that a change in guidance on face masks could result in panic-buying however as some Britons try to get their hands on higher-spec masks.

He said: 'There is bound to be a question in some people's minds about what form of face covering provides the greatest protection.

'The scientific evidence is clear - the fluid repellent surgical masks used by healthcare workers offer greater protection because of the significantly smaller pore sizes in the material they use.

'It therefore seems likely that some people will seek to purchase these masks.'
Siemens Begins Delivering CE-IVD Registered Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Test Kit

By HospiMedica International staff writers

Posted on 30 Apr 2020



Illustration

Siemens Healthineers (Erlangen, Germany) has registered its molecular Fast Track Diagnostics (FTD) SARS-CoV-2 Assay2 test kit for diagnostic use with the Luxembourg Ministry of Health, allowing for its immediate rollout for diagnostic use in Europe.



The test has shown 100% (91.8-100, 95% CI) diagnostic sensitivity and 100% (93.8-100, 95% CI) diagnostic specificity. Sample-to-answer time, including extraction and generating the result, takes 2-3 hours, depending on the molecular system and lab resources employed. Up to 32 patient samples can be analyzed per kit.



The company is also working to expand its infectious disease testing capabilities to address the COVID-19 pandemic in other areas of diagnostics. On April 23, the company announced that it is developing a SARS-CoV-2 serology assay4 to detect IgM and IgG antibodies in blood, helping indicate whether a person has developed immunity against SARS-CoV-2.



The company plans to ship more than 1.3 million tests per month worldwide as production capacity increases in May 2020. The FTD SAR-CoV-2 Assay can be run in laboratories simultaneously with FTD Respiratory Pathogens 213 and FTD FLU/HRSV3, molecular syndromic testing panels from Siemens that identify a wide range of pathogens that can cause acute respiratory infections.



Having our molecular assay available for diagnostic use throughout the European Union is a major step forward in our contribution to the fight against the global pandemic, said Deepak Nath, PhD, President, Laboratory Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers. I am grateful for the work and achievement of our Siemens Healthineers teams under difficult circumstances, and I hope our clinical test will help the healthcare professionals who are working on the frontlines of the pandemic and those affected by COVID-19.






New Jersey prisons will soon begin testing thousands of corrections officers and all of the approximately 18,000 state inmates for the coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday.

Universal testing for inmates and staff is expected to start as early as the end of next week, Murphy said at his daily coronavirus press briefing in Trenton.

Thousands of saliva tests from Rutgers University were on their way, sources told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. Murphy thanked Rutgers and corrections officials, and he said test results would help prisons isolate positive cases.

The announcement came after officers, inmates, their families and at least one lawmaker have repeatedly raised the alarm that the state wasnt doing enough to protect people behind bars.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The governor also said the corrections department was close to being able to offer officers exposed to COVID-19 places to stay, so they didnt expose others.

A federal program that also promised non-congregant shelter was announced almost three weeks ago, but the states largest corrections union previously said officers who tried to isolate themselves were turned away from hotels and motels.

More than 500 officers and 150 inmates have tested positive, but the department had only tested a total of 196 inmates as of Tuesday, according to its public statistics. Twenty-nine prisoners and at least two officers have died.

Murphy has previously said New Jersey needs to expand testing before the state can re-open.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.
He shows how bothresurrection and judgmentare processes that involve educating the populace about that which is just and equitable,

Karriem Allah delineates, based on the prophetic narrative of Moses and the plight of the Children of Israel, the work of the Messiah, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, in reforming and improving the lives of Allahs Chosen Peoplethe Black People of America and the West Indies. He further describes the Honorable Louis Farrakhans effort in guiding the Caucasian people of the United States out of Almighty Gods fervent displeasure brought about by their horrible enslavement and mistreatment of HIS Chosen People over the last four hundred-plus years.

Karriem Allah shows, that in fulfillment of this prophetic narrative, the Day of Judgment and the Day of Resurrection occur simultaneously. He shows how bothresurrection and judgmentare processes that involve educating the populace about that which is just and equitable, and not epic one-time events, as taught by many religious preachers. Karriem Allah further explains how the Honorable Louis Farrakhans Ministry has and continues to facilitate both Objectives.

Karriem Allah explains how, according to the Bible (Isaiah 11:10), the Caucasian People are prophesied to accept the Honorable Louis Farrakhans divine leadership, in bringing about a world established on freedom, justice, and equality.

As it relates to the pursuit of just and equitable systems of government, Karriem Allah explains why the current method of loaning money with interest attached (usury) is forbidden by Allah, according to the Holy Quran. He explains how financial systems based on the evil of usury burdens consumers and potentially culminates in the collapse of the broad economy.

Referencing Point 4 of the document What The Muslims Want by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Karriem Allah explains how this declaration fulfills the Biblical and Quranic prophecies regarding what Moses required of Pharaoh in resolving the long-standing plight of the Children of Israel in Egypt.

This lecture, Let the Children of Israel go with Me! The Honorable Louis Farrakhans (the Messiah) Mandate to the United States Government, is part of The Messianic Prophecies Series; and is available on Karriem Allahs Vimeo and Youtube channels, and his website.
UPDATED

As district superintendents start to plan for what next years instruction will look like after months-long school shutdowns, one major consideration is how to address the significant learning loss that many students have likely experienced this spring.

Among the plans to make up for lost time: Run summer school, possibly extend the school year or the school day, or start next year by reteaching content from this spring.

But according to a new survey from the advocacy group Collaborative for Student Success, most teachers would prefer not to change the structure of the upcoming school year.

The survey, which was sent out in mid-April, asked about 5,500 teachers, administrators, and policymakers and advocates for their opinions on four different options for the 2020-21 school year:



Plan for an extended 2020-21 school year, adding additional time to coveror reteachcontent from spring 2020; Leave the length of the 2020-21 school year unchanged, but begin in the fall by teaching or reteaching content from spring 2020; Begin the 2020-21 school year as in any other year, starting with new content; Offer the option for students to repeat a grade.

Among teachers, the most popular option was the third one65 percent said that if schools were back in session, they wanted 2020-21 to be a regular year. But they acknowledged that instruction would look very different, and there would be a much greater need for differentiation.

In their open-ended responses, many of those same teachers call for a more targeted solution to helping the students most in need, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the reports authors write.

One teacher respondent in Florida suggested tiered classroom instruction, with one remedial and one grade-level group.

Offer tutoring and additional homeschooling to attempt to catch those kids up enough to then gradually begin the next grade level material, she wrote. Another teacher in Virginia suggested hiring teachers assistants to work with students in small groups.

Administrators also liked the option of starting the school year as usual, though not by as wide a margin as teachers: 54 percent said they supported the idea. The most popular option with this group was beginning the school year with instruction on concepts from spring 2020.



A Worse Summer Slide?

Still, a few teacher respondents doubted that this period of school closures would have long-term effects on student learning.

Typically, the time after Spring Break is used to review for state testing anyway in preparation, a teacher in Texas wrote. There is very little new material introduced at that point, and what new material is to be introduced, I have been able to cover at home. On top of that, students tend to lose a lot over the summer break anyway, so realistically they will start off next year as they would have normally, confused and in need of some refreshing.

Researchers suggest, though, that effects from the shutdowns could be worse than the usual summer slide. A study from the NWEA , the Northwest Evaluation Association, projected the learning loss that could occur if students arent receiving any instruction during closures. Its possible, the researchers found, that students might retain only about 70 percent of their progress in reading from this year, and could lose anywhere from half to all of their progress in math.

Data from the Education Week Research Center suggests that students learning experiences may vary greatly during these shutdowns.

In a recent survey , 99 percent of teachers said they were providing instruction during school closures. But teachers also reported that on average, 25 percent of their students have been essentially truant (not logging in or making any contact, for example) during the coronavirus-related closures.

The Collaboratives survey also asked if participants would be in favor of starting the next year with an assessmentnot to evaluate or penalize students or schools, but to figure out what instructional gaps teachers would need to fill.

This suggestion of a diagnostic test was popular across groups: 59 percent of teachers, 71 percent of administrators, and 70 percent of policymakers supported it. This positive reception was noteworthy, the reports authors wrote, in a time of increased anti-testing sentiment.

Another Year of Schooling Remotely

Even so, the survey shows that policymakers and advocates would consider some solutions that teachers reject.

When asked about extending the next school year, teachers were decidedly against the idea: Only 15 percent supported beginning the year early or continuing it into summer 2021. But 51 percent of policymakers and advocates supported this option.

Its possible, though, that for some schools, none of these scenarios will come to pass in the fall. In some states, such as Illinois and Maryland , governors and state superintendents of education have said continued spread of the coronavirus may force school buildings to stay closed into next year.

In open-ended responses, at least one of the respondentsa policymaker from Mainenoted this possibility, suggesting that schools focus now on preparing parents to continue with distance learning, and making sure every student has free internet access.

In short, the policymaker warned: Prepare for another year of schooling remotely.

Image: Closed Due To Covid-19 signs are posted outside Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., on April 23. Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Correction: In describing teachers preferred plan for the 2020-21 school year, a previous version of this post referenced the wrong number in a list of four options. The most popular plan among teachersbeginning next school year with new contentis the third option on the list.
Communities are getting creative to make sure students can get connected to the internet in order to do their schoolwork from home.

Glens Falls 3rd Ward Supervisor Claudia Braymer said the Warren County Department of Public Works has expanded one of the countys Wi-Fi hot spots in Warrensburg so more people can get online.

We have some spots in Warrensburg that people can go to. Its not the best, but its at least something to help our younger students and some of older students, she said at the April 17 meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

In addition, Braymer said the countys Planning Department is putting together a map of Wi-Fi hot spots.

School districts are literally driving electronic devices to students to make sure they are keeping up on their schoolwork.

Tim Dawkins, assistant superintendent for instruction for South Glens Falls, said the district has distributed hundreds of electronic devices, including Chromebooks, to students. Alex Spada, director of technology, in some cases personally makes deliveries.

In addition, Dawkins said Spada has been able to secure a lease through BOCES to obtain hot spot Wi-Fi devices for families that have no internet access at home. These devices have also been distributed to some of the staff members who also lack reliable internet access at home.

Everyone feels very confident that our families that need to be connected, are connected, he said.

Whitehall Superintendent of Schools Patrick Dee said a large area of the district is without Wi-Fi connectivity or cell service. For students without internet access, school officials have provided instruction through paper packets and access to teachers via phone when necessary.

Those students with internet access, the majority of our student body, have been actively engaged and participating in the instructional process, he said in an email.

Argyle Superintendent Michael Healey said school officials have had to overcome a lack of internet availability in many parts of the district. They created Wi-Fi hot spots in their parking lots. In addition, Jared Humiston, president of Adirondack Technical Solutions, has provided hot spots in his parking lot.

That has been a real help to our families. On any given day, there are between 10 and 20 families taking advantage of these Wi-Fi hot spots, Healey said in an email.

Argyle also has been using a combination of online instruction and paper packets. All students have either a school-issued iPad or Chromebook, according to Healey. Teachers also have been touching base with students through email, Google Meet chats and telephone calls to make sure they have the academic and emotional support they need.

In addition, Healey said the district has tried to connect with students by having virtual school spirit days, pet parades and other fun activities on its social media platforms.

Its certainly not the same as having our students here with us, but our district is committed to doing whatever it takes to stay connected with our students while our buildings are closed, he said.

Granville Superintendent of Schools Tom McGurl said the district also is using traditional paperwork packets for students without internet and checking in with them by telephone, along with using the online program for students who have internet access.

We have hot spots in the community as well as access in the area surrounding our three buildings, he said in an email. Our access across the community is not perfect for remote instruction, but everyone is doing their best to make it work.

Hopefully, as we come out of this, the experience with prompt an increased interest in improving rural broadband access across New York, he said.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said by telephone during the April 17 Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting that these internet challenges highlight the need for more money to be allocated to expand broadband in rural areas.

Stefanik said she spoke with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to make sure New York will receive some money after the state initially was going to be excluded from accessing a $20 billion pot of money to expand rural broadband connectivity on the grounds that New York participates in other internet access expansion programs.

U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, also have been lobbying for funding.

Stefanik has sponsored legislation that ensures that communities can access Economic Development Administration grants to develop high-speed broadband access. The bill would allow North Country communities to collaborate with the private sector on broadband projects.

Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/.

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E urope has shown positive signs that it is passing the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said the continent - which has become an epicentre of the global Covid-19 pandemic - is now seeing evidence of "a plateau or reduction in new cases".

Italy currently has the worst death toll in Europe with 27,682 reported fatalities, followed by the UK at 26,097, Spain with 24,275 and France with 24,087.

But during a virtual press briefing on Thursday, Dr Kluge said that the outbreak on the continent may now be heading in a new direction.

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

He said: Were now seeing evidence of a plateau or reduction in new cases.

We must monitor this development very closely.

But he added: Covid-19 is not going away any time soon.

Speaking during the WHO Europe briefing, Dr Kluge also urged governments to reintroduce other health services quickly amid concerns patients with cancer and other serious illnesses were not accessing essential care.

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He said: We cannot allow the impact of Covid-19 to be amplified by neglecting other health protection measures.

While many European countries begin or prepare to ease lockdown measures, Donald Trump has abruptly ended the social distancing guidance in the US.

The country has seen the highest death toll worldwide with more than 60,000 reported deaths and one million reported cases, accounting for almost a third of the world's death toll.

The president laid out a vision on Wednesday of a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy - "with or without" a vaccine - with packed restaurants and filled stadiums.
Workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Police responded to a report of human bodies in vehicles, which they determined were connected to the nearby funeral home. The New York Police Department notified the state Department of Health, which oversees funeral homes. The coronavirus pandemic has overrun most funeral homes and morgues in New York City.

(AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Several dozen bodies were found in multiple U-Haul trucks in front of a Brooklyn funeral home, several local outlets reported.

The funeral director told ABC7 that the trucks held furniture displaced by the large number of bodies being held inside the facility, and not the bodies themselves.

Neighbors told PIX11 that bodies were stacked up on top of each other inside the trucks.

According to ABC7, there's an ongoing investigation, and police and health authorities were called to the scene.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Several dozen bodies were found in U-Haul trucks outside a Brooklyn funeral home on Wednesday, a police source told local outlet PIX11.

According to ABC7, police have closed off the street around the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home after neighbors complained about a bad smell coming from bodies stored in the trucks.

Health authorities were called to make sure the bodies were being dealt with properly, ABC7 reported.

A police source told PIX11 that the home was completely full and called the storage of the bodies unsanitary and "totally inappropriate."

"These funeral homes need to know this is unacceptable," the source told PIX11.

Neighbors also told the outlet that the bodies were stacked on top of each other in the trucks. They claimed the stench had been there for possibly weeks.

However, the funeral director told ABC7 that no bodies were being stored in the trucks. He added that the home ran out of space for bodies and that bodies were either in the morgue or a refrigerated truck. He told the outlet that the trucks were filled with furniture that could no longer fit inside because of the number of bodies.

A source who requested anonymity told The New York Times that the funeral home began using the trucks after their refrigerator stopped working properly. The Times also reported that Cleckley was registered as a funeral director, but it's unclear if the establishment was licensed as a funeral home.

Story continues

The coronavirus pandemic has killed over 61,000 people in the US so far and funeral directors have said they don't have the infrastructure to handle the increased load of bodies.

It's unclear if any of the deceased found on Tuesday had died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has hit New York City especially hard, killing more than 12,000.

The funeral director did not tell ABC7 how many bodies were currently being held inside.

"The Department has been notified of storage issues of decedents and alternate arrangements are being made by the funeral home," the New York State Health Department told ABC7.

According to PIX11, the spokeswoman for the Health Department also said: "Funeral directors are required to store decedents awaiting burial or other final disposition inappropriate conditions and to follow their routine infection prevention and control precautions."

The funeral home did not respond to Insider's email request for comment at the time of publication.

Read the original article on Insider
Two white men have been awarded $7,500 each after being barred from a Thai restaurant by a security guard who told them it was 'Asian night'.

Luke Masters, 32, and Wayne Clothier, 33, were each awarded the payout on Thursday after attempting to enter the Mr B's hotel on Pitt Street in Sydney's CBD in September 2017.

Instead of being allowed in they were told by the security guard staffing an event in the venue's dance and live music venue the hotel 'wasn't mixing crowds'.

Two white men have been awarded $7,500 each after a security guard refused them entry to the Mr B's hotel (pictured) in Sydney because he said it was 'Asian Night'

The pair filed a racial discrimination complaint later that month, according to a ruling from the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The two men said they looked through the doors and windows of the hotel from the street and saw a crowd of people inside - '99 per cent' of whom were of Asian appearance.

Court documents describe the venue as having 'a significant Thai clientele'.

Mr Clothier said he told the security guard he had previously lived in Thailand and showed him his Thai drivers licence but was still turned away.

'He says he was particularly upset at the hotel having an Asian night that was only about appearance and not about the understanding of culture or respect for it,' the ruling states.

The security guard told them: 'Sorry boys I can't let you in tonight. We're not mixing crowds. It's Asian night'.

The pair filed a racial discrimination complaint after being refused entry to the venue (interior of hotel pictured) in September 2017

'That's not right,' Mr Masters responded according to court documents. 'You can't do that. This isn't right.'

The pair went straight to a police station to complain after the security guard then told them 'look there's thousands of bars around, just go find somewhere else'.

Mr Masters told police 'no person in Australia regardless of race should experience this from a licensed establishment'.

'In our view, this cannot be regarded as a trivial or insignificant case of race discrimination,' the tribunal ruled.
Courtesy photo

Wineries across Texas are inching their way back to normalcy. Although tasting rooms in wineries are officially closed until at least May 18, several wineries are still selling wines on a TO GO basis and allowing customers to sip on their purchased wines outside the tasting room on the winery grounds.

Social distancing will be enforced on the winery grounds. West Sandy Creek Winery will open its winery ground TODAY and the rest of this weekend. Bernhardt Winery is mulling over the same scenario. Blue Epiphany Winery will have its winery grounds open from noon to 6 p.m. with wine sales also by the bottle. James Barber says, Bring your chairs, bring your friends, and bring your drinking shoes! Social distancing will need to be observed on the winery grounds. Being a retired deputy, you know the rules will be enforced. Games will be available like corn hole but no live music.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday revealed that the state will commence gradual easing of the lockdown and reopening of the economy from May 4 in accordance with the broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari. The governor maintained that Lagos State will adopt Controlled Easing Phase framework in ending the lockdown and re-opening offices and businesses in the state.

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a state broadcast on Wednesday declared: From May 4, 2020, businesses are allowed to operate within a framework that we call a Controlled Easing Phase. Let it be clear that this is not a full reopening of the economy. It is a gradual and controlled easing of the lockdown.

The governor further ordered that offices and businesses will operate for a period of six hours and workers must comply with the curfew imposed by the president which commences daily from 8.00pm. governor Sanwo-Olu, ther3fore, directed offices and businesses to operate between 9.00am and 3.00pm daily toll further notice.

We will continue to monitor the public health situation; the economic impact of the lockdown and always adjust our responses accordingly.

Companies that choose to operate within this Controlled Easing Phase are to operate between 9am and 3pm; and are also directed to operate at a maximum of 60% of their staff capacity.

The governor also encouraged people who can work from home to continue do so to reduce the number of workers in office or moving out. He insisted on zero crowding and social distancing at workplaces.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also approved that banks can commence full, operation but must within the restricted six hours daily business activities and ensure decontamination of offices and ATM machines.

 as many of us that can continue to work online and remotely from the office, please let us do so. Online and Work-from-Home arrangements are highly encouraged to continue as much as is practicable.

We understand the important roles Banks and Financial Institutions play in our economy, and for this reason they are highly encouraged to open their branches and offer their full complement of services to the general public.

They are, however, to observe the operational working hours of

9am to 3pm.

Very important for me to mention is that these Banks are also to ensure regular cleaning and decontamination of the various ATM machines.

Governor Sanwo-Olu directed that institutions operating within the Controlled Easing Phase, the following measures and directives must be strictly adhered to:

a. All buildings are to ensure a 2-meter distancing measure is maintained in all common areas; and at all service and customer facing desks.

b. All buildings are to maintain a 60% occupancy limit in all office rooms within the building; and no more than 50% of the elevator capacity in any building shall be utilized.

c. Businesses/Companies are encouraged to make adequate arrangement for the transportation of their staff to their places of work to reduce the risk of contagion and exposure while traveling on public transportation.

d. Companies transporting their staff to work in their private transportation arrangements shall be expected to strictly adhere to the principles of social distancing; as well as enjoin their staff to practise very high levels of hand and personal hygiene.

e. Hand sanitizers and/or wash basins must be made available at all entry points, and temperature checks must be carried out upon entry into the work premises.

The governor encouraged Whistleblowers to report companies which flout these directives; he added that whistleblower channels will be duly communicated to the public. Whistleblowers are guaranteed full protection; their identities will be kept strictly confidential, Sanwo-Olu assured.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said global leadership had been lacking in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Speaking during a virtual news conference in New York, Mr Guterres blamed the situation on division in the international community.

He said international cooperation was critical not only in tackling the pandemic but also in addressing its socio-economic impacts.

It is obvious that there is a lack of leadership, Mr Guterres said in response to a question on whether he thought global leadership had been adequate given the scale of the pandemic.

It is obvious the international community is divided in a moment where it is more important than ever to be united.

There is indeed a problem of leadership but if you want a disconnect between leadership and power.

We see remarkable examples of leadership but they are usually not associated with power.

Where we see power we sometimes do not see the necessary leadership, he stated.

There are growing concerns that the worsening relations between the United States and China is harming international cooperation to combat the pandemic.

Recently, President Donald Trump announced suspension of U.S. funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for allegedly turning a blind eye to Chinas lack of transparency during the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The U.S. has also shunned a recently launched initiative on global cooperation to accelerate the development, production and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Mr Guterres described the U.S. and China as two extremely important countries in the international community from the economic, political and military dimensions.

He said their contributions were absolutely essential not only in the fight against COVID-19, but also in the development of international relations.

We need to go on hoping and go on promoting the forms of dialogue that are necessary for an understanding to be established and for countries to be able to come together.

The UN Chief also spoke on a seeming inactivity by the Security Council which has not adopted a resolution since the start of the pandemic.

READ ALSO:

Mr Guterres indicated that it would be difficult for the 15-member council to reach a decision in the face of disagreements between the major powers in its membership.

I think we need to be realistic. The Security Council is a group of countries, and we know that relations between the major powers in the world today is very dysfunctional.

This makes it difficult for the Security Council to decide, and it makes it difficult in many other areas for international cooperation to work.

So, what we need is to make sure that we have the capacity of especially the biggest countries in this world to come together and to find ways to reach a consensus.

This would allow for effective action both in fighting the pandemic and addressing the huge security and peace challenges that we are facing, and at the same time hoping to create the conditions for an effective recovery and for an effective support to the developing countries, he said.

(NAN)
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be really rocking again.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting about the coronavirus with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, left, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be really rocking again.

To underscore his confidence, Trump said he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House, starting with a trip to Arizona next week. And he said he's hoping to hold mass campaign rallies in the coming months with thousands of supporters, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by then.

Putting a positive face on the latest grim numbers  the U.S. death toll has now surpassed American lives lost in the Vietnam War  Trump delivered his daily upbeat update and Kushner described the administration's much-criticized response to the pandemic as "a great success story.

Trump also talked up the good news the day provided: hopeful results for a possible COVID-19 treatment. But the government announced dismal new economic numbers as the pandemic took hold and shut down much of the country.

The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in first quarter of the year  a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.

The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nation's economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

Were heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us," Trump said as he led a roundtable with executives from companies like Hilton and Toyota.

Trump laid out a vision of a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy  with or without a vaccine  with packed restaurants and filled stadiums. That vision flies in the face of sober assessments from doctors who say the country will need to embrace a new normal" that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.

I dont want people to get used to this, Trump told reporters. I see the new normal being what it was three months ago.

White House spokesman Judd Deere tweeted that Trump would visit a Honeywell facility in Phoenix on Tuesday to highlight production of critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state.

Trump also said he was considering making a trip to Ohio, even as much of the country remains under effective lockdown with all but essential travel banned.

Were going to start to move around and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, well have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other, he said, adding that having people spaced out in accordance with social distancing guidelines wouldnt look too good.

He didn't say exactly when he envisioned such rallies returning, but said the timing would depend, in part, on the states, since some have had far fewer cases than others. The federal government and most states have urged residents to avoid mass gatherings and to remain at least six feet apart.

The announcement came after Trump said he will not be extending the White House's 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidelines when they expire Thursday.

Theyll be fading out because now the governors are doing it, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.

Those guidelines  which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30  encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice-President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

Edwards, who recently extended Louisianas stay-at-home order through May 15, is currently under fire from Republican lawmakers in his state. While he was in Washington, some GOP legislators were trying to rally support to take the extraordinary step of trying to override the governors emergency decision-making.

But Trump commended Edwards on the job hes done after New Orleans became one of the nations coronavirus hot spots. I just wanted to congratulate you, Trump said.

At the same time, Trump's campaign released a digital ad praising elements of the federal response. It is set to reach residents of 17 battleground states featuring Democratic governors whose approval ratings have skyrocketed during the crisis.

The White House on Wednesday was also pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31%  11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

Its highly significant," said the usually cautious doctor. What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.

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The White House and Trump in particular have been eager to give the country positive news as they work to move past the crisis and rebuild the economy, even as the country's death tally continues to rise. The U.S. has now recorded more than 58,000 deaths from the virus, surpassing the total number of Americans who were killed in the Vietnam War. More than 1 million people have now tested positive.

Trump said that number has risen so high because of an increase in testing. The country has dramatically improved its testing after a slow and rocky start, but many health experts say the country still must do more  as many as 5 million tests a day  to safely reopen. Otherwise, they warn, cases will skyrocket as Americans return to work.

The only thing worse than an unnecessarily slow recovery is a reversed recovery, Joshua Bolten, the president of the Business Roundtable, an association of prominent CEOs, said during the White House event.

Meanwhile, Kushner, who has been helping lead response efforts, said in an interview with Fox and Friends that the administraiton had "achieved all the different milestones that are needed. So the federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story."

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
Festus Amadu, post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois, conducted research on the efficacy of international aid programs supporting climate-smart agricultural practices in Malawi. Credit: College of ACES, University of Illinois.

Climate change creates extreme weather patterns that are especially challenging for people in developing countries and can severely impact agricultural yield and food security. International aid organizations have invested billions of dollars in promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, but the effects of those programs are rarely documented.

A new University of Illinois study helps provide such documentation. Researchers Festus Amadu, Paul McNamara, and Daniel Miller, Departments of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at U of I, evaluated the effectiveness of a major United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program in southern Malawi. They found impressive results; farmers who implemented CSA practices saw a 53% increase in maize yields.

Those findings, published in the journal Food Policy, document the efficacy-as well as the long-term impact-of CSA programs that provide training and resources to farmers, says Amadu, post-doctoral research associate at U of I and lead author on the study.

"Our research showed that farmers were able to maintain these practices. Their perceived benefits outweighed constraints, to the extent that when we conducted the study two years after the USAID project had ended, retention rates were high," he states.

The USAID contributed $86 million to the Wellness and Agriculture for Life's Advancement (WALA) project in southern Malawi from 2009 to 2014. The project featured multiple components, including maternal and child health nutrition education; community development activities; and training farmers in CSA practices to improve watershed restoration.

Amadu's research focuses on the WALA project's CSA component, which aimed to improve food security by helping farmers increase their adoption of environmental conservation practices and realize higher yields of maize, the main crop in Malawi.

The researchers surveyed more than 800 smallholder farmer households in southern Malawi. They also visited fields to verify whether farmers maintained the CSA practices over time. The study included farmers in WALA watersheds as well as farmers in comparable watersheds without WALA CSA activities.

"Climate change leads to excessive weather shocks with extreme dryness or extreme rain," Amadu explains. "Farmers can use climate-smart practices to absorb excess rainwater and conserve it so it is available in times of drought."

CSA practices include technologies such as absorption trenches that capture rainwater during excess rainfall and gradually let it seep it into the soil or save it for irrigation during dry periods.

"A group of farmers could have large absorption trenches around their farms. The farms could also have continuous contour trenches and stone bounds, which would slow excessive rain water in mountainous or hilly areas and help conserve soil nutrients," Amadu explains.

Other CSA practices include using vetiver grass (a legume plant that helps soil conservation), or agroforestry fertilizer trees, where tree roots can reduce rain water run-off, and falling leaves can serve as fertilizer.

"These are not really rocket science technologies. They are just basic things that people have always done but they never really prioritized them," Amadu says. He points out such techniques require investment of land, labor, and finances that make adoption challenging in developing countries.

Amadu trained a team of 14 students from Malawi's main agricultural university to conduct the surveys, using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) technology. The students interviewed smallholder farmers and their spouses in the project area, as well as a control group that did not learn about CSA interventions.

The researchers identified several factors that increased CSA adoption rate, such as the ability to hire help, and access to extension services. They also found that plot size, soil fertility, and use of fertilizer had a positive effect on yield.

Amadu says the results indicate aid programs work because they help farmers acquire knowledge and gain access to resources, while reducing barriers to implementing the CSA techniques.

The researchers note the findings also have policy implications beyond the results of the WALA project.

"More generally, our findings on CSA adoption and maize yields suggest that aid-financed CSA can be effective in reducing food insecurity in contexts beyond Malawi, particularly those in resource-poor, rural dryland areas where rainfed agriculture predominates," they conclude in the paper.

Explore further Improved yields in African project areas

More information: Festus O. Amadu et al, Yield effects of climate-smart agriculture aid investment in southern Malawi, Food Policy (2020). Festus O. Amadu et al, Yield effects of climate-smart agriculture aid investment in southern Malawi,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101869
Face masks will play a part in easing Britain out of coronavirus lockdown, Boris Johnson has said in the most substantive comments yet from the government on the public use of the coverings.

What I think Sage is saying, and what I certainly agree with is that as part of coming out of the lockdown I do think face coverings will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons but also giving people confidence they can go back to work, the prime minister said during a Downing Street press briefing.

More details will be given next week, he said, as part of a new plan that charts the way out of lockdown.

Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, did not follow Mr Johnsons comments with any of their own on face masks.

Mr Johnson was speaking during his first No 10 press conference since recovering from Covid-19, and a day after the birth of his son.

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeons government has advised people to wear cloth masks when out in public and in other countries, like Austria, their use is mandated in certain places.

Ministers face growing calls including from within Conservative Party ranks to follow Ms Sturgeons lead in explaining how they plan to get Britain moving again. Mr Johnson said a full scheme would be unveiled next week.

Even as the clamour for an easing of restrictions intensifies, research suggests Britons increasingly believe the government was too slow to impose them in the first place. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of people surveyed by Ipsos Mori held that view, as did 51 per cent of those who identified as Tory voters.

In the same press conference on Thursday Mr Johnson announced that the UK was past the peak of infections and on the downward slope. Britains death toll from coronavirus had risen to 26,771 in all settings, he added.

Questioned about that figure and how the UK compared to other nations, the PM said he wanted to wait until the pandemic had passed before making those comparisons. At the moment, I just think the data is not clear, he said.
India should be cleverer in lifting the lockdown and needs to open up its economy in a "measured way" soon to save jobs, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said on Thursday, underlining that Rs 65,000 crore should be spent to support the poor amid the crisis.

In a first of its kind dialogue broadcast on Congress' social media handles this morning, Rajan, who was in the US, deliberated on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The interaction through video conference lasted for about 30 minutes.

"We have to be cleverer about opening up...We need to open up in a measured way but as fast as possible so that people start having jobs. We don't have the capacity to support people across the spectrum for too long. Being a relatively poor country, people start out with significantly lower reserves," Rajan said.

"It is all too easy to have a lockdown forever, but obviously that is unsustainable for the economy," he said.

To Gandhi's query on how much money is required to help the poor in the current situation, by way of subsidies, food and cash, the former RBI chief said, India needs Rs 65,000 crore to help them in times of pandemic and considering its total GDP, it can afford to do that.

"Our GDP is 200 lakh crores, and out of that 65,000 crore is not a huge amount. So, we can do it. If this is for the poor and to save their lives and livelihood, we must do it," the economist said.

India has been in lockdown since March 24 midnight to curb the spread of coronavirus and the same will be in force till May 3.

Rajan felt there will be a rethinking on everything in the global economy once the world is out of this pandemic and India could use this opportunity to make its voice heard in the global arena and help make the dialogue multi-polar from being single or bipolar currently.

He said India can also find opportunity for its industry and supply chain in the new order.

Gandhi said infrastructure connects people and that gives opportunity, but if there is division and hatred, that disconnects people.

There is an infrastructure of division and hatred and that causes a big problem, the Congress leader said.

Agreeing with Gandhi, Rajan said, "Social harmony is a public good. Having everyone believe that they are a part of this system, an equal part of the system, is essential. We cannot afford to be a house divided especially in these times when our challenges are so big."



Those who wrote the Constitution realised that there were some issues that one were to put on a shelf and not touch because if "we got into those issues, we would spend a lot of time fighting each other", Rajan said.

Responding to Gandhi's question on whether there was a crisis of centralization, the ex-RBI governor said he believes that decentralisation is important both for bringing more local information to work and also empowering people.

Asked about the authoritarian model, which is questioning the liberal model, being on the rise in more and more places, Rajan said the central authoritarian model -- the strong figure -- in a world where one is powerless, is sometimes appealing.

"Especially if you can develop a personal rapport with that figure," he added.

"The problem with that is that the authoritarian figure can develop their own sense of 'I am the power of the people' and therefore whatever I say goes. My rules apply and not checks and balances, not institutions, not the decentralised structure. Everything should go through me'," Rajan said.

Historically, what has happened is that it has put too much weight on that centre and eventually that collapses, the economist said.

During the session, Rajan also posed a few questions to Gandhi, asking him his views on Panchayati Raj to which the former Congress chief said, "It has had a huge effect, but I'm sorry to say it is in retreat."



However, he said the southern states are doing a better job because they are more decentralised.

The northern states are centralising power, the MP from Wayanad, Kerala, said.

On Gandhi's question about getting stuck in cyclical lockdowns, Rajan said, "That raises questions that if you reopen, will you go into a third lockdown? So, it does diminish credibilityI don't think we have to aim for a 100% success -- 0 cases. That is unachievable. What we have to do is manage reopening i.e. when there are cases, we isolate them".

Rajan also said there was a need to ramp up testing and go for "mass testing" or pool testing to put a lesser strain on testing infrastructure.

On dealing with the economic downturn that would be felt due to the pandemic in the next few months, Rajan said there has to be a prioritization as India's capacities and resources are limited.

"Our fiscal resources are more limited than the West. What we need to do is to decide, how do we keep this economy together. When we reopen, is it sort of able to walk off the sick bed and not be dead at that point?" he said.

"Most immediately, keep people well and alive. Food is extremely important. Places where the public distribution system doesn't go. Amartya Sen, Abhijeet Bannerjee and I have talked about temporary ration cards," Rajan said.

He also said that to address issues of the agricultural sector, workers and migrant workers, the efforts made in Direct benefits transfer (DBT) need to be realised.

The former RBI governor also voiced concern over loss of jobs in the country and cited the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy data.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In April - August 1991 Azerbaijans Special Purpose Police Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan (OMON) along with the Soviet Internal Security Forces (ISF) and army divisions organized and perpetrated a large-scale military operation named Ring (Koltso) deporting thousands from the Armenian villages located both in Artsakh and Armenia. The operation was carried out by a special scheme; Armenian villages were being surrounded by Soviet ISF and army divisions respectively, after which the OMON forces were breaking into the villages, looting, killing, terrorizing the Armenians, forcing them to leave their homes "voluntarily", giving up their properties under the pretext of "passport check regime".

The military operation was launched on April 30. The first targets were Getashen (nowadays Chaykend) and Martunashen (nowadays Gharabuldagh) Armenian villages of Khanlar district of Soviet Azerbaijan. On the night of April 29, the Soviet Army forces located in Kirovabad (Gandzak) surrounded Getashen and Martunashen, shelling the villages from the near heights by both military vehicles and helicopters. Followed by this, the massacre of the Armenian peaceful population took place. The forced deportations were carried out with inhumane acts and human rights violations. The residents were humiliated, killed, kidnapped, captured, raped and brutally killed. There was no mercy even for the kids and the elderly.

I wish I would go blind and not see what happened. On April 30 a tank entered the centre of the village. They surrounded the village on all sides with tanksThere were also OMON soldiers along with the soldiers [Soviet army soldiers]. The first wounded was my neighbour, he was in a terrifying condition. Her clothes were torn apart. I figured that they raped her. I ran to doctor Gevorg [Gevorg Grigoryan] who came here from Yerevan. He immediately made a diagnosis: amputate the arm But she started crying out, begging, saying she cant raise her 3 kids with just one arm...Doctor Gevorg and the other men of our village older than 16 were all captured...No one knows where they were taken. The Azerbaijani OMON soldiers were looting and killing or raping all those who resisted. An elderly woman that I know stayed sitting on the porch of her house, saying no one would kill the elderly. She was shot dead right there, recalls a resident of the Getashen village Elmira Hakobyan.

The same atrocities beyond human imagination happened in Martunashen as well. An eyewitness and a resident of Martunashen village Martiros Hovsepyan remembers that his neighbour Nikolay came panting around 6 o'clock on April 30, saying that the soldiers of OMON forces surrounded the village with tanks. There were 7 tanks and several cannons located on one of the hills about 200 meters from the village pointed at the village.

25 tanks were located on the other hills, pointing at our village. Not so long after that the cannons and automatic rifles started firing at us. The house roofs flew onto the air because of the tank fire, houses were burnt. Then the helicopters starting firing from the air. It continued for 2 hours. After the shelling [the tanks] came down to the bottom part of the village. The houses went into flames because of that, Hovsepyan remembers.

The self-defence forces were formed in 1990 to prevent the continuation of terrorist actions that offend the dignity of human beings against the civilian population, mass violations of human rights, violence and the policy of forced deportation from their homes.

In order to prevent constant terrorizing acts which offended the dignity of the civilian population, the mass acts of savagery, and the policy of forced deportations from their homes that started in 1989, the villagers organized self-defence units in 1990. The leaders were Tatul Krpeyan (Getashen) and Simon Achikgyozyan (Martunashen). Both of them fell heroically on April 30.

During the military actions, Getashen Radiostation was able to send the message of the villagers of Getashen and Martunashen, asking the International Community for help. The Radio Message reads: SOS, SOS, SOS...2 Armenian villages Getashen and Martunashen in Azerbaijan beg you, please save our lives. They are firing us from cannons, automatic rifles and machine guns, on the air and ground. They drive over with tanks, crushing us in our yards and houses. Azerbaijani OMON soldiers capture the kids, women and elderly; they break their hands, faces, legs, ribs hitting them on the walls, injuring their kidneys. They scalp the people alive, slaughter the naked people on the streets, rubbing holes on their bodies with knives. Our men are powerless to protect us with hunting rifles. We resisted for 3 years but dont have the power against the army. They exterminate us. We are forced to accept the power of Azerbaijan and leave our native villages and ancestral graves. But even escape is not allowed; they shoot. Our homes have been looted and burnt. We have nowhere to hide. People of the world, save us. At least save the children. We are dying. We are sealed off from the outside world. SOS, SOS, SOS. SAVE US!.

Eyewitnesses are particularly affected by the horrific actions against the father and son Chilingaryans. They were captured and beat, humiliated, bodies were burnt by cigarettes. But this was not all...Azerbaijanis did not stop there. The son was scalped by them in front of his father [documentary]. The attacks and forced deportations in Martunashen and Getashen went on in May, too. The brutal actions and deportations were carried out by strong violations of human rights. They didnt even respect universal laws concerning the journalists and doctors who provide assistance during wars and took captives. Some of the captives were exchanged with the assistance of international organizations but died shortly after being returned as a result of the severe torture during the captivity. The Operation "Ring" that started in Getashen and Martunashen continued in a number of other settlements in Artsakh and Armenia, leading to their destruction, numerous human losses and the deportation of Armenians from numerous villages in Artsakh.

As a result of the Operation Ring in Getashen and Martunashen, according to various sources, 37-41 people were killed, 100 peaceful civilians including women and children were wounded. As stated in the report of international human rights organization Memorial starting from April 30 up to May 8 about 3000 people became a subject of forced deportation from Getashen and Martunashen. 2287 children, women and elderly people were taken to Stepanakert on May 4-5 by military helicopters after which they had to leave for Ijevan. Another group of almost 700 men was deported to Ijevan on May 8 by buses.

According to Thomas De Waal, Operation Ring marked the beginning of the open, armed phase of the Karabakh conflict and in that sense, it is also an important story in itself, in that it is arguably the first and last Soviet civil war in which units of the Soviet army were engaged in fighting on Soviet territory.

Further information, archival documents, interviews, eyewitness accounts and other facts can be found on http://karabakhrecords.info/ and http://sumgait.info/ websites.
LONG BEACH, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The May Firm, one of California's top personal injury law firms, announced today that it will donate $10,000 to support local small businesses in California. The firm invites people to order food from a local restaurant, submit a photo of the receipt to the firm and receive reimbursement. The firm's goal is to help support struggling restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Restaurants are getting hit very hard with the stay-at-home orders," said Robert May, founder of the firm. "Yet, it is possible to help. COVID-19 has impacted all of our lives. At The May Firm, we've adjusted to a new reality where we work remotely to help our clients pursue justice after getting hurt. But, working remotely isn't a viable option for some businesses."

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced loans and tax relief for small businesses affected by the Coronavirus in California. However, these efforts will not be enough to save the thousands of California small businesses that are being forced to close their storefronts, or only serve customers with delivery and take-out. The May Firm's program will be available throughout California. The firm has offices in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Chula Vista, Long Beach, Fresno, and Bakersfield.

The May Firm will reimburse each individual up to $25.00 for one takeout or delivery order at a local restaurant. People wishing to participate in the program will need to visit a page on the firm's website , fill out a form and submit a photo of their restaurant receipt. To support as many different California small businesses as possible, the firm will only reimburse one meal per person. Reimbursements will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Reimbursements will be made through PayPal or Venmo. The program will continue until the $10,000 donation fund has been exhausted.

The May Firm is a Long Beach personal injury law firm that specializes in accident and personal injury cases. They have successfully represented more than one thousand injured clients. The May Firm is located at:

853 Atlantic Ave, Suite 201

Long Beach, CA 90813

Phone: (562) 800-0529

For more information about the campaign, visit https://www.mayfirm.com/local-restaurant-relief-fund

MEDIA CONTACT

Dan Steiner

Marketing Manager

(805) 458-5415

[email protected]

SOURCE The May Firm

Related Links

https://www.mayfirm.com


Australian drug smuggler 'Cocaine' Cassie Sainsbury has revealed why she became a sex worker, and how it led to her taking a 'shady' courier job in Colombia that ultimately landed her in prison for three years.

The former personal trainer from Adelaide made international headlines in April 2017 when she was arrested at El Dorado airport after packing 5.8kg of cocaine into 18 headphone boxes in her suitcase.

Sainsbury, who was freed from Bogota's El Buen Pastor women's prison earlier this month, said she took up a job as a sex worker to stay afloat.

The 24-year-old worked at Club 220, in western Sydney, in early 2017 in a desperate bid to make ends meet after her and then-fiance Scott Broadbridge's gym went under.

'Everyone makes mistakes and I was looking for a way to get out of the hole I was in. It got to a point where I had rent to pay and bills and shopping, everything was piling on top of me,' she told WHO Magazine.

Cassie Sainsbury was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine (pictured) concealed in her luggage at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport in April 2017

'Everyone assumed that because I worked at the brothel, then I was guilty of being involved with drugs. For a lot of people, sex work and drugs go hand in hand.'

In an interview with 60 Minutes earlier this month, Sainsbury claimed she only intended to work as a receptionist, but after arriving at the brothel her bosses convinced her to become a prostitute.

'I got there and [they said] ''you're not the type of person to be a receptionist, you're the sort of person who needs to try and be a sex worker'',' she said.

'I wasn't comfortable doing it, I didn't like doing it. [But] if it wasn't that then it was like ''what else?''

Sainsbury claimed she met a man at the brothel who offered her the role as a 'courier'; a 'shady' job that led to her foiled drug smuggling effort.

Sainsbury worked at Club 220 in western Sydney in a desperate bid to make ends meet after her and then-fiance Scott Broadbridge's gym went under. Pictured: Sainsbury on the Club 220 website

She has always maintained she believed she would only be transporting documents, and not drugs.

Sainsbury admitted she initially agreed to the couriering of 'documents' because she 'needed the money'.

'I know how it sounds, because obviously I accepted to come into it for money, I needed money, but I wasn't exactly like, I came there thinking, yes I'm going to go and smuggle drugs, it wasn't like that,' she said.

In April 2017, Sainsbury flew from Adelaide to Bogota, via Guangzhou and Los Angeles.

It was at a hotel in the Colombian capital that she claimed to have met up with the 'mastermind' behind the plot, a Brazilian drug lord named 'Angelo'.

'But when I got there I knew something was weird. I knew something was off and it was like I'm here, like I already had both feet stuck in the sand.'

A few days later, Angelo took Sainsbury to his nearby apartment, where she believes her drink was spiked.

'He was saying that I had to be there with him, that I had to do what he wanted, that I didn't have a choice,' she told 60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett.

'And then he gave me a drink and it was almost like, I felt like I was getting drunk, I was getting tipsy. From there, he basically forced my clothes off.'

Sainsbury said the sexual assault made her realise Angelo would follow through on threats he made towards her family if she didn't go through with smuggling cocaine.

While behind bars, Sainsbury broke up with Broadbridge and became engaged to fellow inmate Joli Pico, 29, from Venezuela

The former personal trainer from Adelaide (pictured with her partner Joslianinyer Pico) will have to stay in Colombia for another 27 months as part of her parole conditions

'He simply had the threat above me saying that if I didn't do what I was asked to do, that I was  it was my family,' she said.

Sainsbury has previously claimed Angelo threatened to kill her mother, sister, and Broadbridge.

'I felt like I had to go through with it, because I couldn't make somebody else pay for my mistake,' she said through tears.

Throughout her trial, Sainsbury claimed she was acting under duress but has never gone into detail on sexual assault allegations against Angelo.

Sainsbury, who served two years and 11 months at Bogota's tough El Buen Pastor women's prison, claimed people assume she was either 'stupid or careless' to have attempted to smuggle drugs out of Colombia.

'People think I either have to be so stupid it's not funny to not have figured it out, or I didn't care... but it wasn't something where I just decided to go to Colombia to smuggle drugs, it was never like that,' she said.

Sainsbury will have to stay in Colombia for the next 27 months as part of her parole conditions.

While behind bars, Sainsbury broke up with Broadbridge and became engaged to fellow inmate Joli Pico, 29, from Venezuela.

'Honestly, it was the least thing that I expected to find in prison,' she said.

'It started as a friendship and then out of nowhere it just turned into a relationship.'

Sainsbury revealed she has dated women in the past, but admitted she never pictured herself ending up in a 'proper relationship with a woman'.

The pair were together for nine months before Pico - who is serving time for theft - proposed to Sainsbury in front of their cell mates late last year.
An Ohio catholic school teacher who had been educating students for more than two decades has been fired for being married to a man.

The teacher - named in a Change.org petition demanding his reinstatement as Jim Zimmerman - had been teaching English at Alter High School for 23 years.

According to Alter Principal Lourdes Lambert, the decision not to renew Zimmerman's contract was made by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati after someone expressed 'concern' to the office of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr.

The contract non-renewal was for the 2020-2021 school year, the Dayton Daily News reports.

'It's a very unfortunate circumstance for the teacher and the Alter community,' Lambert said. 'Some things are taken out of our hands as an Archdiocese-owned school.'

Jim Zimmerman, named in a Change.org petition demanding his reinstatement as a teacher, had been teaching English at Alter High School for 23 years

The petition demanding his reinstatement has received more than 10,000 signatures.

'He is a teacher who does not just teach the curriculum but also teaches important life lessons,' Alter High School alum Michael Ferguson said in the petition directed at The Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Pope Francis.

'His class is always fun to be in and he is constantly entertaining his students keeping them engaged. He has puzzle Fridays which almost everyone loves.'

Students and alumni were outraged after learning that the longtime teacher's contract was not going to be renewed.

The petition has received more than 10,000 signatures

According to Alter Principal Lourdes Lambert, the decision not to renew Zimmerman's contract was made by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati after someone expressed 'concern' to the office of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr

Teachers at Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinatti schools are required to sign a 'teacher minister' contract, every year, that includes an agreement to not partake in conduct that is 'in contradiction to Catholic social doctrine or morals.'

Listed in the contract are examples such as 'cohabitation outside marriage, sexual activity out of wedlock and same-sex sexual activity.'

Promotion of such behavior is also a violation, the contract states.

On Monday, the school posted a statement to Facebook, citing 'a great deal of online and social media discussion' after parents and students rallied behind the teacher.

They added that they would 'adhere to Archdiocesan policy' before taking the post down.

Teachers at Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinatti schools are required to sign a 'teacher minister' contract, every year, that includes an agreement to not partake in conduct that is 'in contradiction to Catholic social doctrine or morals'

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. But there is no law prohibiting employment discrimination based on one sexual orientation, according to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

Jennifer Schack, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese, said that the church 'values all of our teachers.'

'Our Catholic schools expect teachers and staff to be witnesses to the teaching of the Catholic Church in both word and deed. Public witness is a critical part of Catholic education,' Schack said. 'These expectations are clearly articulated in our teacher-minister contracts.'
By PTI

SURAT: A 50-year-old coronavirus patient, who allegedly ran away from the COVID ward of a civil hospital in Gujarat's Surat city two days back, was found dead on a bench outside the medical facility on Thursday morning, police said.

A probe is underway into the matter, they said.

Preliminary inquiry and CCTV footage of the hospital indicate that the man did not go outside the hospital campus, located in Khatodara area, during the last two days, an official from Khatodara police station said.

The official further said the man "secretly" walked out of the COVID ward on the night of April 28 and disappeared.

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Though the police tried to search for him at every possible location, he was not found, the official said.

"As of now, we don't know why he ran away in the middle of his treatment, where he went and how he died.We are carrying out a thorough investigation into it," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vidhi Chaudhari said.

As per the civil hospital records, the man was a resident of Salabatpura area and got admitted to the hospital on April 21 after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Before that, his wife had also tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to the same hospital, another official said, adding that she is currently undergoing treatment at the medical facility.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a plan Wednesday to lift the state's stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus crisis that he called "safe, smart and step by step."

The plan will go into effect Monday in every county except Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties, where most of the state's COVID-19 cases have been reported, DeSantis said.

But before DeSantis released any details, he took a swipe at the "doom and gloom" media and critics who faulted him for the state's slow response to the unfolding crisis.

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

"A lot has been done to promote fear," DeSantis said. "We haven't seen an explosion of new cases."

That having been said, 83 people died in Florida from the coronavirus Tuesday, the biggest spike in daily deaths since the pandemic started.

The restrictions, which have been in place since early April  and which were set to expire Friday  will be lifted "in a very measured, thoughtful and data-driven way," DeSantis promised earlier.

Under phase one, retail stores and restaurants can reopen, but only at 25 percent capacity. Eateries will be allowed to seat people outside, but they will have to maintain 6 feet of social distancing. And elective surgical procedures will be allowed to resume.

But schools, bars, gyms, hair salons, nursing home and long-term care facilities will remain closed until further notice.

See what states across the U.S. are starting to reopen

People should continue avoiding large gatherings of more than 10 people and don masks whenever possible, the governor said.

"We're not going to fine people if they're not doing it," DeSantis said.

DeSantis' announcement came as 350 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed Wednesday in Florida, along with 47 new deaths, bringing the state's virus-related death toll to 1,218. More than 5,400 people remain hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the state Health Department.

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And it came after DeSantis touched base with President Donald Trump during an Oval Office meeting.

Wary Florida officials warned that they would hit the brakes if DeSantis moved too fast to reopen the state.

Daytona Beach City Commission member Rob Gilliland said that if DeSantis "comes out with something we don't think is restrictive enough," the city could mandate precautions to ensure that residents are protected.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Florida officials have stopped releasing the list of coronavirus deaths being compiled by county medical examiners, "which has at times shown a higher death toll than the state's published count."

DeSantis, a Republican and staunch Trump supporter, had been widely criticized for refusing to quickly clear the beaches of visitors and issue stay-at-home orders.

DeSantis also undermined the Hillsborough County sheriff's efforts to stop a renegade mega-church pastor from holding Sunday services and endangering thousands of worshippers.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Rodney Howard-Browne wound up abandoning his plans to reopen The River at Tampa Bay Church on Easter after he was dropped by his insurance company.

Currently, the DeSantis administration is taking flak for the state's balky Unemployment Assistance program, which critics like Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber say "was essentially set up, unfortunately, to be stingy, to be cumbersome and to not really give out employment checks."

"The state of Florida has been really unforgivable when it comes to unemployment benefits," Gelber said Wednesday on MSNBC. "Our city is, you know, organizing food lines and such, like a lot of cities across America. It's heartbreaking to see the number of people online because they can't afford a meal or need food for their family."
By Associated Press

ATHENS: One person is dead and five are missing after a military helicopter operating off a Canadian frigate during a NATO exercise crashed into the sea between Greece and Italy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.

Trudeau said one body was found, and the five others aboard the aircraft are missing. "We hold out hope to find the missing," Trudeau said.

The Cyclone helicopter was deployed on board the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Fredericton and was participating in a NATO exercise off the coast of Greece when the incident occurred, according to the Canadian Armed Forces.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, Canada's top military official, said that the ship lost contact with the aircrew on Wednesday evening and that flares were spotted from the water minutes later. Vance confirmed the body of Abbigail Cowbrough has been recovered.

Tanya Cowbrough said on Facebook her daughter had been killed. "My beautiful daughter has been in a military accident and passed away. Nothing can replace her," she wrote. Shane Cowbrough said that he lost his oldest daughter. "I am broken and gutted. There are no words. You made me forever proud. I will love you always, and miss you in every moment," he posted.

Canadian Defence Minister Harjat Sajjan said they have recovered the flight data recorder but said the cause of the accident remains unknown at this time. Multiple NATO countries are in an ongoing search-and-rescue operation in the Ionian Sea, hoping to find the five others.

Vance said the voice and data recorders floated away from the wreckage. He said they have placed Canada's Cyclone helicopter fleet on "operational pause". "We have to rule out that there is a fleet-wide problem," he said.

The Royal Canadian Air Force's Cyclone helicopters carry a crew of four, including two pilots, a tactical operator and a sensor operator with space for several passengers. They are primarily based on naval vessels and used for hunting submarines, surveillance and search and rescue.

The Canadian military only started using them on missions in late 2018 after more than a decade of developmental challenges, delays and cost overruns. The crash is also likely to raise questions about the aircraft.

The military was originally supposed to have received 28 Cyclones from manufacturer Sikorsky starting in November 2008. But the first helicopter wasn't delivered until June 2015 and even then, they were missing vital equipment and software and only suitable for training.

Lockheed Martin, which owns Sikorsky, said in a statement that Sikorsky is sending an investigator to assist at the request of the Canadian military.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 09:48:58|Editor: huaxia

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by Elena Chuquimarca

QUITO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Two hospitals in Ecuador have improved the efficiency in the detection of COVID-19 thanks to an auxiliary diagnostic system from Chinese telecom company Huawei.

"The tool was a contribution that improved diagnosis efficiency. It helped us a lot in making the right decisions at the right time ... it helped us to avoid wasting resources unnecessarily and helped our hospital avoid collapse," Danilo Calderon, general manager of Quito Sur Hospital, told Xinhua.

On March 18, Quito Sur Hospital, part of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) health network, was the first in the region to receive the auxiliary system, which uses Huawei Cloud combined with artificial intelligence to map lung tomography, and the results are available in approximately one minute.

"The technological tool has helped the hospital to segment patients in such a way that, of the more than 1,000 scans that have been performed, nearly 600 cases have been uploaded to the Huawei platform. It has established the people that had to be in the hospital and those for whom it was not necessary," said Calderon.

He added that when the COVID-19 outbreak began in Ecuador on Feb. 29, there were very few tools to detect the virus at the National Institute for Public Health Research (INSPI), the organization that carries out examinations in the country.

"Without the tool, we would have unnecessarily filled the hospital in such a way that we would already have collapsed, having people who perhaps only had influenza or some type of respiratory problem, but not related to COVID-19, together with people who did have COVID-19 and had no symptoms," he said.

The tool, he said, has saved lives, prevented cross contamination and also allowed for monitoring those who have been discharged from the hospital through georeference.

A group of 30 imaging doctors are responsible for performing the tomography and another group of specialists process the diagnoses.

"The system is not very complex ... for our doctors. It is something very novel because through artificial intelligence and the comparison of similarity patterns with the thousands of positive CT (computed tomography) scans from China, they could diagnose COVID-19," he added.

Huawei's auxiliary system is also used in Ceibos Hospital in the city of Guayaquil, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

"The technological tool began to be replicated in Guayaquil after seeing what worked and the results have been favorable," said Calderon.

According to the IESS, patients who show any suspicious symptoms will be subjected to this test, avoiding overtaxing the health system and helping prioritize resources.

"The contribution of Huawei is essential to facing the health emergency" in Ecuador, said Paul Granda, president of the Board of Directors of the IESS.

The product manager of Huawei Cloud in Ecuador, Xu Xitao, told Xinhua that it is part of the company's social responsibility to aid the South American country.

"Each hospital can analyze 3,000 cases a month," he said, adding this system had already been used in China to fight the disease and that "in the Chinese experience, patients with COVID-19 have CT images as an auxiliary means of diagnosis."

Huawei has trained Chinese doctors on how to use its auxiliary system so that they can communicate with their Ecuadorian colleagues. "We also have a WhatsApp group to help doctors solve problems," said Xu.

The executive added that fighting COVID-19 is a common challenge for all countries, and "Huawei hopes to do everything possible to help the government control the development of the epidemic." Enditem
?Many superheroes wear masks. Lana Ivanitskaya, a faculty member in Central Michigan Universitys School of Health Sciences, is a superhero who also makes them.

On a mission to stop the easy spread of COVID-19, her strategy is to supply as many masks and as much knowledge to as many people as possible. To do that, shes assembling a team that bridges cultures, spans the globe, and features CMU students and alumni. Her efforts include:

Enlisting Amish and Mennonite communities in Michigan to sew scientifically designed face masks by the hundreds for distribution.

Working with a CMU doctoral degree student in the Navajo Nation  where some of her masks are headed  to coordinate financial support of mask production through the health care nonprofit he directs.

Collaborating with experts and health care workers around the world on a multidisciplinary short course about the pandemic offered through CMU this summer.

Teaming up with multinational colleagues and CMU alumni on websites to explain do-it-yourself mask-making and the science behind mask-wearing.

Partnering for mask-making

Ivanitskaya had a hunch that a mid-Michigan Amish community might be able to sew masks on a large scale. She explained her vision to an Amish fabric shop owner named Sarah, who is now at the heart of mask-making efforts.

The Amish are well-positioned to make hundreds of masks per week per seamstress, Ivanitskaya said. Sarah has already contributed to our do-it-yourself mask design project with a new nose bridge construction using bag ties to ensure a tight mask fit.

CMU undergraduate Julia Kalusniak, Ivanitskayas press secretary and office manager for the project, made educational handouts about the coronavirus for the Amish partners.

The first masks produced will help elderly Michiganders, customers of an Amish bakery, and the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico that has been hit hard by COVID-19.

CMU Navajo connections

Mask-making isnt free, and paying for materials and labor isnt easy.

 V ery often, women are expected to provide free sewing labor. We believe it is important to pay Amish seamstresses for their work, Ivanitskaya said.

Shes working with Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment, a New Mexico-based health care nonprofit serving the Navajo Nation, on a system to accept donations for the project. COPE so far has delivered more than 10 tons of emergency relief aid to quarantined Native communities that have suffered more COVID-19 fatalities than 13 U.S. states.

COPEs executive director is Nitumigaabow Champagne, a CMU Doctor of Health Administration student. Ivanitskaya reached out to see whether he needed masks to distribute.

Lana is my academic advisor, but also a friend, Champagne said. He believes the donated masks will make a difference, especially among homeless and transient Navajo people.

At least it can help slow the spread, he said.

CMU, meanwhile, has funded lab testing of Ivanitskayas masks.

The mask projects functional designer is a CMU alum with Armenian roots, Armine Ghalachyan, a faculty member in apparel, merchandising, design and textiles at Washington State University.

Alberto Ali Alvarez, an industrial hygienist and CMU Master of Health Administration degree student from Florida, is the projects Spanish version consultant.

Their involvement is another example of the projects CMU ties and far-reaching roots.

My mask research team has an Armenian functional apparel designer and a Cuban-Hispanic hygienist in Florida who is mass producing hot-weather masks. Add me, a Russia-born organizer of the Amish seamstresses, she said.

The virus does not care if he is Hispanic, she is Amish, I am a Russian or they are American Indians. The virus will take us one by one if we dont work together.

At War With the Virus

Lana Ivanitskaya and partners at Indiana University and the Swedish HealthCare Academy in Malmo, Sweden, are creating a three-credit short course offered online through CMU this summer to explore global lessons from the crisis. Ivanitskaya will be a co-instructor.

At War With the Virus: Coping with COVID-19 is scheduled June 29-July 10. It is open to graduate students, undergraduates with at least 77 credit hours and guest students and will feature speakers from five continents.

The virus isnt the only thing with worldwide reach, Ivanitskaya said.
Since the coronavirus pandemic hit Oregon, many people have seen their worlds dramatically contract -- work for many has gone remote, or if not remote, then socially distant.

We are wearing masks and gloves, and giving our neighbors wide berths as we walk around our own blocks.

Some people are only seeing the members of their immediate family, only traveling from one room to another. Some people dont have any rooms to travel to. Some people dont have any immediate family to see.

No more eating out or going to shows or movies or drinks or barbeques with friends. Its a kind of physical isolation most people have never had to deal with.

But Regan Gurung, a professor of Psychological Science at Oregon State University, thinks there are plenty of ways to mitigate our collective suffering.

Social isolation is a state of mind, Gurung said, when I called him to talk about isolation and loneliness. Of course, isolation is a physical thing, but I think social isolation is a state of mind.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gurung said, in some ways we are all isolated. It affects people living alone and people living with other people. But it doesnt mean we have to be lonely.

The number of people around you doesnt equate to good or bad, he said.

Instead, he said, its the quality of the interactions we have with each other that matters.

You can have two very close friends that youre texting every day, Gurung said, and that will be better than somebody who is communicating with five so-so friends.

Dr. Alan Teo, an associate professor of psychiatry, at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, agrees with Gurung.

Theres an important distinction between being alone and feeling alone, Teo said, adding, Social connections are so vital to our health and our happiness.

While we are to varying degrees physically alone, most people are sharing an experience -- we are all experiencing grief at the same time. We are mourning our lives as we knew them, and scared of an unknown future.

Whats really interesting, Teo said, is everyone to some extent is starting to understand what it means to be lonely or be disconnected from people.

While loneliness isnt a direct symptom of grief and physical separation, our current situation can exacerbate existing feelings and bring up dormant trauma.

Dr. Robert Stuckey, a Jungian analyst and clinical psychologist in Portland, said isolation, and the fear brought on by COVID-19, can trigger trauma responses like anxiety and depression.

The human being needs social contact, Stuckey said.

Stuckey said for humans, social interaction is mandatory," and part of the reason is it is an escape from self.

Once you eliminate the distractions," he said, then you are thrown back onto yourself.

People without emotional, psychic or spiritual resources to deal with this can struggle, Stuckey said.

Loneliness, similar to depression, is a disorder, its an illness, Gurung said. About 20 to 25% of Americans suffer from loneliness.

But, it gives us a great example to bear in mind here," he said. A lonely person can experience loneliness even while living in a household full of people.

There is one redeeming quality to coronavirus grief, that isnt standard to the regular process of death, loss and disappointment -- everyone in the world is going through it together.

By connecting, we can fight loneliness.

The opposite of loneliness, it turns out, isnt being surrounded by other people. Ask any teenager -- its the feeling of belonging.

Gurung said this means reciprocal relationships -- receiving support, sure, but also giving support.

Weve got to make sure that we take active steps to communicate with individuals, he said, by cultivating and bolstering our existing relationships.

When its business as usual, Gurung said, we always know those people are there for us but we rarely think about them and we may not communicate with them.

Now is the time to engage those relationships.

If you feel alone, playing up your belongingness and reaching out to folks is key," Gurung said. Not just getting stuff but giving as well.

Fighting waves of loneliness and working towards happiness is an active pursuit, especially now, as an almost unbelievable disaster unfolds around us.

This lockdown will inevitably end, and when it does, Teo said, individuals and the healthcare system must remain vigilant for the ongoing mental health side effects of living through a disaster.

Things like post-traumatic stress and depression tend to develop later, he said, possible months after the crisis has ended.

There is a lag effect for some of the mental health sequelae of a disaster, Teo said. What that means is we need to be preparing now.

Healthcare professionals need to prepare, but all of us can, he said, by keeping an eye on each other and ourselves and checking in for signs of depression, like inability to find joy in things we usually love and feelings of hopelessness.

And there are steps we can take now to create happiness, as a bulwark against fear and loneliness.

The research on happiness suggests very practical and pragmatic things you can do to feel better, Gurung said.

One of the things that really works here," he continued, "is doing good for others.

Gurung has some ideas about how you can do good for others. He suggested finding a local bookstore and order a book for a friend, out of the blue, just because you know they will like it.

This idea mirrors something that Teo also suggested -- connecting on multiple levels. There are the personal connections, the community connections and the societal connections.

Shopping from a local store helps the community and it helps your friend.

Stuckey suggests keeping your mind and body engaged to minimize feelings of isolation and loneliness. He suggests organizing your home, creating art, exercising and keeping a journal.

When everything feels out of your control, Teo said, it helps to take some time to remember what you can control, no matter how small -- you do control whether you take a walk or not, you do control whether you appreciate the flowers.

Gurung suggests if you are missing friends and feeling alone, take some time to look at pictures of time youve spent with people you love.

Look at them and think about the time it was taken and the good times youve had with them, he said.

By doing that, he said, you are activating positive emotions and good feelings.

Certainly, it is hard, and sometimes feels impossible, to be physically separated from those we love. But we also find ourselves with an opportunity.

Gurung said his daughter sometimes sets up her phone and FaceTimes her best friend on the East Coast. The girls do crafts together, on opposite sides of the country, sometimes in silence. But the point is they are together.

We live in a time of technology that melts miles, but even if you cant FaceTime, or dont have a computer, you have options.

Teo offered low and no tech ideas for connecting as well. Create or buy a set of cards with conversation starters that have nothing to do with COVID-19. Call friends or family on the phone, he suggested, and have a real conversation.

No phone? Try writing a postcard, he said.

Theres research that has shown that sending postcards actually reduces suicide attempts and death by suicide among people who have had contact with the mental health system, Teo said.

Just the simple act of connecting to other people can make a huge difference.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
The Han River water-level monitoring tower near Mapo. Robert Neff Collection, May 2018



By Robert Neff





A close-up of the tower at Mapo. Robert Neff Collection, January 2015

The bike lanes along the Han River provide a great way to exercise, relax and, in some cases, learn about Korea's past.



Here and there are little historic spots that are picturesque and  according to their signboards  unique. One such spot is the lighthouse-shaped water-level monitoring tower near Mapo.



According to the signboard:



"This observatory was built in 1924 to automatically observe the water level of the Hangang (River). Even though it was the 9th one built in Korea, it was the first observatory by the Hangang. It was used as an observatory from January 1925 to September 1976."





The Haengju water-level monitoring tower on the Han River. Robert Neff Collection, April 2020





A close-up of the Haengju water-level monitoring tower. Robert Neff Collection, April 2020 The Yeongsan River tower at Naju. Robert Neff Collection, June 20

The sign then gives some more information on how it worked and ends with: "This observatory is the only independent structure of its kind that still exists today in Seoul, around the Hangang area. It brought the newest water measuring facilities into Korea."



Sounds great, but is it true?



At the foot of Haengju Fortress is another tower. About five years ago there was a sign that indicated it was once used as a lighthouse for navigation on the Han River  that sign is gone now and the new sign (which was buried under fencing material) makes no mention of it being a lighthouse, but it does say it was built in 1916 to monitor the water level of the Han River.



It was officially closed in 1980.



Of course, this problem isn't only confined to the Seoul region. In June 2018, I had the opportunity to join the Korea Heritage Society's tour of Naju City. As part of the tour, we sailed down the Yeongsan River.



When I asked about a lighthouse-shaped building near the docks, the tour guide assured me that it was the only building of its type situated on a river  any river  in South Korea.



If you get a chance, hop on your bike and explore the Han River  it could be enlightening.








Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's government stepped up a diplomatic spat with neighbor Brazil on Thursday, accusing it of putting Venezuelan diplomats under "undue pressure" to leave the country within 48 hours. Brazil is one of around 60 countries to recognize Maduro's opposition rival Juan Guaido as Venezuela's acting president and announced on March 5 it was ordering Maduro-appointed diplomats to withdraw. The foreign ministry in Caracas accused Brazil of "attempting to force the premature departure of Venezuelan diplomatic and consular staff by May 2," and said no talks had taken place over the exit. "Venezuela's diplomatic and consular staff in Brazil will not abandon their functions under subterfuge under international law," Caracas' foreign ministry said in a statement. The government also accused Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro of "subordination" in its relations with the United States, which has deployed a battery of economic sanctions on Maduro's regime. Bolsonaro, a key US ally, last month ordered all Brazilian diplomats to pull out of Venezuela. Supporters of Guaido, who has appointed parallel diplomatic representation in several countries, briefly occupied Venezuela's embassy in Brasilia in November last year, but withdrew after Brazil's foreign ministry intervened. The leader of his country's National Assembly, Guaido proclaimed himself president early last year after Maduro's re-election months earlier was widely derided as rigged. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro (right) supports the claim of Venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared acting president Juan Guaido
Amy Poheler as the warm-hearted go-getter Leslie Knope is returning to NBC with the rest of the gang for a half hour special tonight, April 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET.

All of your favorite Parks and Rec stars will be there, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim OHeir, and Retta. This wont be the kind of episode youre used to coming from the lovable, albeit quirky, town of Pawnee. This time around, the stars will be returning for this special from their own homes, in an effort to social distance, as well as to raise some money for charity. Profits from the show will be going toward Feeding Americas COVID-19 Response Fund.

The show had its series finale back in 2015, so if you need a little refresher, The Paley Center is having a special rounding up the most memorable moments from the show at 8 pm EST, directly before the Parks and Rec cast make their socially distanced appearance together. The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation will also be available on NBC and Hulu.

What channel is NBC on?

You can find which channel NBC is on by using the channel finders here: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish.

Where can I watch it if I dont have cable?

You can live stream it on fuboTV (7-day free trial) and Hulu + Live.
The One World: Together At Home special streamed April 18 was a highly contradictory affair.

The enormous global viewing figures and, for the most part, the sincerity of the musicians themselves point to overwhelming support for keyworkers at the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, and an increasing recognition of their role. However, the programme channeled this support into the dead end of appeals for corporate charity and was aimed at promoting the lie that we are all in this together.

The international broadcasts incorporated local variations of the initial two-hour American show, curated by Lady Gaga. An array of big-name artists, including long-established figures such as Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Lopez, and the Rolling Stones, together with the more recently famous, from The Killers to Billie Eilish, performed songs at their locked-down homes.

The pandemic has triggered a social media backlash against the promotion of celebrities over frontline keyworkers. This shows a healthy instinct, but it does not preclude genuine sentiments on the part of the artists. It is difficult to gauge how far performers may have felt pressure to be seen as doing the right thing, but the impulse to support the event should not be underestimated.

One World Together at Home

The performances and their introductions were intended to entertainno small thing under such conditionsbut many artists also made explicit their recognition that this is a global medical crisis requiring an international response. That impulse could only go so far under the limitations of the shows.

Lady Gaga brought the performers together under the auspices of international advocacy charity Global Citizen. Its perspective is targeting world leaders to end extreme poverty by 2030.

The broadcast sought no public donations, but Global Citizen used it as a lever to encourage global support for response efforts to COVID-19 by soliciting corporate donations to the World Health Organisation (WHO)s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. This added to the shows contradictions. The explicit statement of celebration and support for keyworkers was made contingent on financial support from big business, with the American broadcast making repeated acknowledgement of its deeply cynical corporate supporters.

The BBCs British production mentioned in passing the $128 million raised from corporate donors but stressed that it was not a charity broadcast but a celebration. It was opened by George the Poet, whose introductory verse spoke of the need to self-isolate in these terms:

Theres everything to live for, Cos the world is yours.

The American show pulled in nearly 21 million viewers, 45 percent of all live television viewers. Internationally, including local variants, the programme has so far been seen by more than 270 million people. That total does not yet include audiences in Africa and the Middle East, and the programme will air in China shortly. These numbers point to an overwhelming sympathy with those at the frontline. The focus was on health workers, but it was not confined to them. The British show mentioned transport workers, postal workers, delivery and refuse workers.

Lady Gaga

Introducing the US show, Lady Gaga spoke of her pride at being able to encourage a contribution to the Solidarity Response Fund, as well as her gratitude and concern for health workers and for those trying to live through the pandemic and wondering what would follow. She saw her contribution as the uplifting relief offered by performance, borne out in her choice of Charlie Chaplins Smile as the curtain-raiser.

There were many cover versions of classic songs, like Lizzos performance of Sam Cookes A Change Is Gonna Come, Billie Eilish and Finneass take on Bobby Hebbs Sunny and Keith Urbans performance of Steve Winwoods Higher Love. Others had material in their own back catalogue that fitted the bill. Pearl Jams Eddie Vedder turned in a fine performance of River Cross, with its demand, Let it be a lie that all futures die. Some performances were more directly personal responses to medical suffering, as in Taylor Swifts performance of Soon Youll Get Better, a song written following her mothers diagnosis of cancer. This allowed some perhaps unintended resonances of something bigger, with its line, This wont go back to normal, if it ever was.

In some cases, one saw artists who, in their comments and recollections, were not so far from their working class childhood experiences after all. Tom Jones referred to his two years home confinement with tuberculosis under the National Health Service (NHS) as a child.

Paul McCartney

The most powerful moments came when performers addressed the bigger picture with direct reference to their own experiences. Paul McCartney, whose mother was a nurse, prefaced Lady Madonna with a statement that there was a need to come together and tell world leaders to strengthen healthcare systems internationally to prevent such an outbreak in future.

But that appeal flies in the face of a daily reality apparent to millions the world over of the official indifference and political and social criminality demonstrated by politicians and governments as they take forward their campaign for a return to work and profit-making for the major corporations.

This truth found little or no expression. On the British broadcast, BBC medical correspondent Fergus Walsh made the most coy reference possible to criticism of the WHOthe only indication of the Trump administrations decision to defund what is currently the most important global institution in the fight against COVID-19.

The British show made a point of celebrating keyworkers well beyond health. Workers know full well the role they are playing. As George the Poetwhose mother works for the NHSput it, People are doing what needs to be done. But this only indicates how aware the BBC is of an increasingly angry reaction by workers to the policies and inaction of the ruling class and the need to provide this with the most saccharine and safe expression or redirection possible.

The broadcast included a poignant memorialisation of lost keyworkers, but not one centred on those guilty of failing to protect or support them. There is insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. The transport and communication workers rightly celebrated here have been forced to continue working in unsafe conditions without PPE provision, often having been denied it outright. Insufficient testing levels are dangerously behind events.

There was praise for a teacher for producing PPE face shields in his school engineering workshop without asking why this was necessary, and for the founder of a foodbank for distributing 70 meals in the previous weekagain without asking why the foodbank was needed in the first place.

The crisis will only worsen, as the ruling class internationally look to sacrifice workers to profit in their drive to reopen business. Fergus Walsh made this agenda explicit, declaring, We all have a role to play in order to get the economy moving again.

As for the shows charitable appeal to corporate sponsors, this was a concert featuring a line-up of stars that would require tens of millions of pounds to assemble under normal circumstancesif this would ever be possible. Yet various sponsors, duly name-checked for their generosity, collectively pledged a pathetic $128 million for the WHO fund. That amounts to less than 50 cents per viewer.

More money might have been raised by having a whip-round among the major record labels, whose artists responded so generously. But these sums were pledged by corporations which have just been handed over hundreds of billions in public funds by governments the world over.

The $2.2 trillion US CARES Act alone put $500 billion directly into bailing out major corporations. Small businesses have mostly seen nothing of the $377 billion ostensibly directed their way, as $10 billion went straight to the banks in fees and the rest was snapped up by bigger companies. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos increased his personal fortune by $25 billion between January 1 and April 15 this yeara sum around 200 times the collective largesse shown by corporate donors to the WHOs charity.

In Britain, the very same multi-billionaires who have profited from privatisation and the dismantling of social provision are eagerly circling the government funds made available to business. Sir Richard Branson is working on a bid for 500 million to bail out airline Virgin Atlantic. Tax exile Branson, who has a personal fortune of 4 billion, also founded private health company, Virgin Care.

In 2016, Virgin Care threatened to sue the NHS after losing out on an 82 million contract to run childrens health services in Surrey. The NHS ending up having to pay an undisclosed out of court settlement to Branson.

There is no charitable solution to this crisis, or any of humanitys problems. Even comparing this broadcast with previous charity events highlights the dead end that has now been reached. The 1985 Live Aid concerts raised some $245 million specifically for Ethiopian famine relief. The coronavirus pandemic, as performers here recognised, is a global crisis that requires a coordinated global solution and raised far less from an oligarchy that is in no mood to have its heartstrings tugged by well-meaning celebrities.

And there is no way forward through appeals to governments that act in the interests of a financial oligarchy, whose response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been to carry out the biggest smash and grab raid on social wealth the world has ever seen.

The essential principle that must guide the response to the coronavirus crisis is that the needs of working people must take absolute and unconditional priority over all considerations of corporate profit and private wealth. As these broadcasts demonstrated yet again, recognition is growing that the pandemic requires a rational, coordinated global response based on health requirements and the need to safeguard the livelihoods of the worlds working people. What stands in the way of this is the capitalist system and its demand for profit and no appeal to the altruism of big business and claims to a common purpose can obscure this fundamental political reality.
In the tide of the Caribbean Sea Tony Hall was the pool of still water that ran deep. Self-effacing and understated almost to a fault, Hall was an artist of quiet feet, watchful eyes and dramatic interiority.
How will following those standards reduce legal risks?

If employers try in good faith to adhere to the standards, OSHA has said it will not cite the owner of a meat processing plant for operating an unsafe workplace.

Moreover, if sick workers or their estates file lawsuits claiming that they were exposed to the virus at work because of their employers negligence, following these standards will provide a defense in court: The Trump administration has offered to have a Labor Department official testify as a witness at trial that the federal government thinks the company was not at fault.

What did the Defense Production Act order do?

For now, nothing concrete. But it could repel any hypothetical future attempt by state officials to shut down a meat processing plant by imposing more stringent health and safety rules than the new federal guidance, and then accusing the facility of failing to live up to local standards.

The Defense Production Act permits the federal government to issue orders allocating where scarce and critical material essential to the national defense should go. The idea appears to be that Mr. Perdue could use this power to instruct a specific meat producer to allocate its product to grocery wholesalers in line with its existing contracts  thereby bestowing a federal gloss on those arrangements.

While some of the meatpacking plants have shut down voluntarily after outbreaks to clean their facilities, others have been ordered closed by local health officials. But those closures happened before the federal guidelines. Going forward, if state or local regulators created stricter rules, this maneuver could provide a basis to argue to a judge that the federal standards pre-empted the local ones.

How that would go is an open question. A 1950 ruling from a Federal District Court in Minnesota suggested that if there were a conflict with local rules, a Defense Production Act arrangement would prevail. But Mr. Baker noted that the acts allocation powers have not been used in a long time, nor have they been fully litigated.

Still, he added, it might not be put to the test because there would also be pressures on all involved  the federal and state governments, companies and workers  to reach an accommodation rather than get mired in court.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2020 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited ("AOS" or the "Company") (AOSL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether AOS and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 5, 2020, post-market, AOS issued a press release announcing its financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2020. In its press release, the Company also disclosed that the U.S. Department of Justice "recently commenced an investigation into the Company's compliance with export control regulations relating to certain business transactions with Huawei and its affiliates (Huawei')" and that "[i]n connection with this investigation, [the Department of Commerce] has requested the Company to suspend shipments of its products to Huawei . . . . Accordingly, we expect the financial performance in the March quarter will be negatively impacted by the Huawei shipment interruption and by additional professional fees incurred in connection with the investigation."

On this news, AOS's stock price fell $1.48 per share, or 12%, to close at $10.85 per share on February 6, 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.

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SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/587693/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-Pomerantz-Law-Firm-Investigates-Claims-On-Behalf-of-Investors-of-Alpha-and-Omega-Semiconductor-Limited--AOSL




Shocking new video footage shows the moment a man armed with a metal pipe strikes a woman over the head and steals her pizza as she exits a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona.

The Tucson Police Department released surveillance video this week of the April 21 incident on Twitter to request the public's help in locating the suspect.

'Tucson we need to catch this guy!' tweeted the cops along with the 20-second footage.

Shocking new video footage shows the moment a man armed with a metal pipe strikes a woman over the head and steals her pizza as she exits a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona. The man (pictured) appears outside the restaurant as the woman is exiting

The suspect appears in the footage to open the door for the woman while holding the pipe

The footage then shows the man moving to strike the victim

The woman after being struck falls back and the man is seen in the footage with her pizza

The woman in the footage races for cover as the man is seen getting away with her pie

The video starts with the woman about to leave the restaurant, which police say is located at South 12th Avenue and West Ajo Way on the city's south side, around 3.45pm.

Cops don't name the pizza shop. However, Tucson.com identified the restaurant as Peter Piper Pizza.

The man appears to be opening the door for the woman as she is exiting when he suddenly attacks her and gets away with her pizza pie.

The woman was doing 'ok,' a spokeswoman for the pizza shop says.

'Tucson we need to catch this guy!' tweeted the cops along with the 20-second footage.

The pizza chain's ten locations have since beefed up security and added personnel in response to the attack.

The suspect, a regular at the restaurant, was described as a dark-skinned male, possibly Hispanic, with a wrinkly face standing around 5 feet 6 inches or shorter, wrote Officer Ray Smith in a tweet.

Anyone in Tucson with information is asked to call 911, or 88-CRIME, to file report anonymously.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan's charitable organization is dedicating $13.6 million to figure out how COVID-19 is spreading around San Francisco and when it'll be safe to reopen.

The Facebook founder and his wife, a pediatrician, set up the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2015, dedicating the company to curing, preventing, and managing disease worldwide. The initiative established the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, and it, along with Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco, will conduct two antibody studies using the new funding, Zuckerberg announced Wednesday.

The first of the two studies will enroll 4,000 Bay Area residents into a program where they'll be tested monthly for both COVID-19 and antibodies that indicate they've had the disease in the past. It'll run from April to December and examine where new coronavirus cases are coming from, and ultimately aims to inform a safe reopening of the area.

The second study will enroll 3,500 frontline health care workers in a weekly antibody testing program to determine how quickly nurses and doctors get infected. It'll also look to see if the antibodies workers develop after recovery keep them from contracting the disease again, and if so, for how long.

Both studies are meant to learn more about how the virus is traveling in the Bay Area, but they could have worldwide implications by figuring out just how the virus spreads and if its antibodies can protect people from further infection.

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U.S. Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan was a Republican critic of President Trump who left the party to become an independent. (Carly Geraci / Associated Press)

A Michigan congressman's launch of a third-party campaign for president adds a new dose of uncertainty to the race between President Trump and presumed Democratic challenger Joe Biden in a crucial battleground state.

The key question is whether the Libertarian Party candidacy of Rep. Justin Amash poses a bigger threat to Trump or Biden, the former vice president. Amash was serving his fifth term as a Republican congressman last year when he left the party, became an independent and supported Trump's impeachment.

On Wednesday morning, the Republican president seemed to suggest in a tweet that Amash could play a spoiler role in Trump's favor. Trump compared him to 2016 Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who won more than 51,000 votes in Michigan, well above his 10,704-vote margin over Hillary Clinton  the narrowest of any state in the country.

"He almost always votes for the Do Nothing Dems anyway," Trump said. "I like him even more than Jill Stein!"

Yet some Democratic strategists said it was not at all clear that Amash, should he win the Libertarian nomination next month, would harm Biden more than Trump, even in his home state of Michigan.

First elected to the House in the conservative tea party wave of 2010, Amash opposed the Paris climate pact and voted to repeal Obamacare. He has been pro-gun and antiabortion. He represents Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and rural areas of western Michigan.

"I would expect him to be a much more serious problem to Donald Trump," said Jill Alper, a top Democratic consultant in Michigan.

Many Democratic strategists believe that the votes won by Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson in three key battleground states  Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania  were a key factor in Trump's election. He lost the popular vote to Clinton by 2.9 million votes, but his narrow wins in those three states sealed his Electoral College victory.

In the three states combined, Johnson won 425,525 votes and Stein 132,476. Trump's victory margin was 77,744.

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David Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, responded to Trump's tweet about Amash by saying "bat signal to Moscow," suggesting the president was seeking the kind of social media boost that Russia secretly provided to Stein in 2016, according to U.S. intelligence agencies.

"Putin's puppet in the White House clearly thinks it helps him," Plouffe tweeted. "But winning campaigns have to surmount all challenges. Biden's team knows it's a threat. They'll need to plan and execute accordingly."

Other Democrats saw it as less of a threat. Roy Neel, a longtime top aide to former Vice President Al Gore, said it was too soon to worry about the impact of Amash on an election still six months away. But he cautioned that third-party challengers can cause serious trouble, recalling the Green Party presidential candidacy of Ralph Nader in 2000.

In Florida, the state that swung the election, Nader won 97,488 votes. Gore lost the state to George W. Bush by 537 votes.

"He absolutely made the difference in 2000," Neel said of Nader.

Ralph Nader, whose Green Party presidential candidacy in 2000 some analysts believe contributed to George W. Bush's victory. (Associated Press)

Amash denied he would play a spoiler role.

"The idea that we're going to tell people, hey, we can't have another choice on the ballot because it might upset one or the other candidate, that's pretty ridiculous," he said on MSNBC after former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said Biden needs "every single anti-Trump vote."

Some Hollywood celebrities and other Trump critics lashed out at Amash on Twitter. "Nooo!! youll be the Ralph Nader of this election," actress Mia Farrow wrote.

Amash responded to the backlash by saying the "visceral outrage of many partisans to giving Americans an additional choice on the ballot speaks volumes about the ugly, hyperpartisan nature of politics today."

This election is too important for Donald Trump or Joe Biden to be running for president. But they have the right to run like anyone else. The answer to bad candidates is not to keep others off the ballot, but rather to give the people honest, practical, and capable alternatives.  Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 29, 2020

Doug Sosnik, who was White House political director under former President Clinton, said the way minor-party candidates sway elections depends on their ideology. A center-right candidate like Ross Perot in 1992 appeared to pull votes away from Republican President George H.W. Bush, and Nader, a leftist, drew support from Gore in 2000, he said.

As for Amash, Sosnik suggested Democrats who were upset about his formation of an exploratory committee were suffering from "post-traumatic stress" over Trump's 2016 victory. Amash "certainly has the roots and pedigree of center-right," he said, and he gives Republicans who dislike Trump a vehicle to vote against him without casting a ballot for a Democrat.

"My guess is he'll hurt Trump," Sosnik said.
A Sussex County freeholder is seeking the National Guards assistance at the states largest nursing home, where county officials say 64 patients have died after contracting the coronavirus.

The privately-owned Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center has been under scrutiny since 17 bodies were discovered at a makeshift morgue there two weeks ago.

Freeholder Anthony Fasano charged that the state health department, which is authorized to investigate and inspect the nursing home, is not doing enough to address this ongoing crisis there.

Theres no indication, to me, that things have gotten any better, Fasano told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday night.

In response, Chaim Mutty Scheinbaum, CEO of Alliance Healthcare, which owns Andover Subacute, stated on Thursday that deaths at the nursing home have dropped precipitously" since earlier in April, and that additional staffers are assisting residents.

Key staff have returned from self-quarantine, new healthcare professionals have been retained, and (personal protective equipment) inventory is being restored," Scheinbaum stated, via an email from the companys spokesperson.

Fasano said he is asking the National Guard to provide critical protocols, staffing and resources at Andover Subacute.

Providing an updated total he said he received from the county health department, Fasano said that 201 at the nursing home have tested positive for the coronavirus, including the 64 who died of COVID-19. The state health department was reporting 57 deaths at the facility.

The two buildings at the nursing home house 475 residents, he said.

Fasano credited the state health department with taking some steps, such as by halting any new admissions on April 20.

I dont want to suggest they havent done anything, but were still receiving phone calls from family members, staffers, residents  stories that we cant confirm because were not in there, Fasano said.

Two nurses, including one who still works at the nursing home, recently outlined problems to NJ Advance Media ranging from inadequate supplies, such as personal protective equipment, to not enough staffing.

Scheinbaum said that, earlier in April, the nursing home experienced a tragic surge of patients becoming ill or passing, which troubles were compounded by large numbers of staff either self-quarantining or being unable to return to work.

He said the facility took every possible step to handle this surge internally while simultaneously making dozens of outreaches to local, state, and federal agencies for help," including the National Guard.

His statement did not address Fasanos request.

"We again thank our staff on the front lines of this crisis. We are grateful for their bravery and commitment to our patients, Scheinbaum said.

Messages left with Gov. Phil Murphys spokesperson and the state health department were not immediately returned Wednesday.

The coronavirus pandemic is taking a disproportionate toll on nursing homes in New Jersey and elsewhere. As of Monday, nearly 30% of New Jerseys COVID-19 related deaths were in long term care facilities or nursing homes, according to the state health department.

There have been at least 6,770 deaths and 116,264 confirmed coronavirus cases in New Jersey.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Murphy, in March, dispatched the National Guard to hand out personal protective equipment and food, and help assemble field hospitals. Three weeks ago, 75 National Guard medics were sent to assist at two veterans homes in Paramus and Menlo Park.

Freeholder Director Sylvia Petillo said Wednesday that she supports Fasanos request for the National Guard at the nursing home in Andover.

Everything we hear is by anonymous people who call us and are afraid for their families. Its just heartbreaking, Petillo said.

Were not attacking anybody. Were just saying, at this point, we need help," Petillo said.

The all-Republican freeholder board in Sussex has been raising questions about the Murphy administrations handling of the nursing home since the bodies were discovered.

When the board met on April 22, officials described the efforts they made behind the scenes to raise alerts with the state  from notifying the state health department of the first confirmed coronavirus case at the nursing home March 29, to contacting offices of the state long-term care ombudsman and the Sussex County prosecutor.

National Guard units have been sent to nursing homes in other states to assist with the coronavirus outbreak. The National Guard in Pennsylvania will provide 72 hours of assistance starting Sunday at Gracedale, Northampton Countys nursing home, amid a staffing shortage.

This story has been updated with statements from Chaim Mutty Scheinbaum.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
Just after Lunar New Year, Alice Zhang banded together with other overseas alumni from her Guangzhou middle school over WeChat, the dominant Chinese messaging service. They raised money to buy and ship masks to Chinese hospitals in the throes of a coronavirus outbreak.

The Orinda mother of two knows exactly when her worries turned closer to home. On Feb. 28, a friend in China messaged: Can you help get masks to our son attending college in the United States?

Back then, San Francisco Mayor London Breed had just declared a state of emergency. Weeks would go by before the Bay Area and the rest of the country would shelter in place.

In those waning days of normalcy  when few Americans knew what the future held  Zhang started researching how to buy masks on behalf of friends and neighbors, long before public officials mandated the use of face coverings.

Eventually, she got in touch with an audio factory in China, one of many that had redeployed its production lines to meet the demand for masks. After receiving the shipment and learning about shortages at hospitals in the Bay Area, Zhang sprang into action with the Lamorinda Chinese American Community  a group on WeChat  and raised $10,000 to buy 23,000 masks from the same supplier. Carton after carton arrived on April 3, and soon volunteers distributed masks to hospitals, the elderly and grocery clerks and other essential workers.

Zhang is one of scores of Chinese American volunteers in the Bay Area who organized quickly to provide much-needed support, mobilizing over WeChat.

Their efforts come at a time when anti-Asian hate crime has been on the rise in this country, xenophobia stoked by the presidents inflammatory rhetoric about China.

Our first purpose is to provide help, says Zhang, who learned the ins and outs of manufacturing and international shipments on the fly. But we also want to improve the Chinese community image.

Dr. Zilue Tang put out a call for masks and personal protective equipment on WeChat and has received donations from the Lamorinda group, a UC Berkeley Chinese family association and an alumni association from a Chengdu middle school, among others. The supplies have outfitted staff, doctors and outpatients in the Kaiser Napa-Solano service area, Tang said. We needed it badly.

I asked Tang to explain the role of WeChat, which has more than a billion active monthly users. Its so powerful. Its a part of life, he said with a chuckle.

Chinese immigrants are also behind Meal With Love  which provides restaurant lunches and dinners to frontline medical workers.

At the beginning of April, Ristorante Fratello in San Jose  owned by Italian immigrant Carmine Camporaso  wanted to donate meals and asked for advice from Cindy Liu. She in turn teamed up with friends Jade Wu and Shuishui Hu to launch the program.

Wu contacted Xing Wang, the owner of the Easterly restaurant chain  theyre both from Hunan province  and he agreed to donate meals. He also asked the restaurants thousands of customers connected on WeChat if they wanted to donate to support local restaurants and health care workers. Easterly is one of many Chinese restaurants Ive heard of that have kept in touch with customers via WeChat, offering special menus and delivery options during the pandemic.

Meal With Love provides thousands of meals to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Highland Hospital in Oakland, Stanford Hospital and elsewhere twice a week, according to organizers, who have also started a group on Facebook to share pictures and spread the word.

Were serving frontline warriors, no matter what ethnicity and nationality, said Wu, a tech startup executive. The group collects donations via a nonprofit foundation affiliated with the River of Life Church in Santa Clara, where organizers Wu and Liu belong to the same Bible study group.

At Palo Alto Medical Foundations Fremont Center, the donated meals are shared with doctors and nurses in urgent and respiratory care units, as well as janitors, receptionists and security guards.

So many people out there batting for us; its heartwarming, Dr. Anu Reddy said of Meal With Loves efforts. Being armored up in PPE and masks for hours at a time takes a physical and mental toll, Reddys colleagues say. The meals offer a respite, making frontline workers feel they are not alone while fighting COVID-19.

Reddy has never met Wu in person, but she said theyre already planning to get coffee after the crisis ends. She sends me pictures of calligraphy, and I send her the watercolors I do. I feel like I know her already. We are all one. I hope the Bay Area remembers that, after this.

Editors note: This original column misstated the location of an Italian restaurant. Ristorante Frantello is in San Jose.

Vanessa Hua is the author of A River of Stars. Her column appears Fridays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com
Two men have been rushed to hospital and one is fighting for life following a shooting in Sydney.

Emergency crews arrived at a home in Merrylands in the city's west after a volley of gunshots echoed through the neighbourhood at about 9.30pm.

A spokeswoman for New South Wales Police told Daily Mail Australia two people were rushed to Westmead Hospital with gunshot wounds.

A pair of shoes were left at the scene drenched in blood (pictured)

One is fighting for life with multiple wounds to the chest, 9News reported.

The other is in a serious condition, after reportedly getting shot in the arm.

No arrests have been made and the gunman is at large.

Officers from the Cumberland Police Area Command have established a crime scene and are investigating the incident.

Emergency services arrived at the home about 9.30pm following the shooting
Just three days after it announced a special liquidity facility for mutual funds (SLF-MF) following the Franklin Templeton fiasco, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said regulatory benefits announced under the SLF-MF scheme will be extended to all banks.

This is irrespective of whether banks avail funding from the Reserve Bank or deploy their own resources to lend to mutual funds. The RBI had announced the Rs 50,000 crore SLF-MF to ease liquidity strains on funds due to high redemption pressure. To begin with, lets understand what these regulatory benefits for banks are.

Firstly, the central bank had said liquidity support availed under the Rs 50,000 crore SLF-MF would be eligible to be classified as held to maturity (HTM) even in excess of 25 per cent of total investment permitted to be included in the HTM portfolio.

This means, banks don't have to worry about treasury losses. Bonds in HTM category won't have mark-to-market losses. Secondly, exposures under this facility will not be reckoned under the Large Exposure Framework (LEF). Under norms, banks have exposure limits to sectors. Removing this ceiling with respect to such funding, banks are free to lend to mutual funds.

Also Read | Need to repay lenders first before investors: Franklin Templeton India head

Thirdly, RBI said banks can exclude funds lent to mutual funds while computing their priority sector lender obligations. Under priority sector norms, banks need to lend 40 percent of their total loans to economically weaker sections like farmers and small companies. Finally, support extended to MFs under the SLF-MF will be exempted from banks' capital market exposure limits, the central bank said.

Now, why did the central bank extend these benefits to banks even if they do not use RBI window? The reason is fairly simple. This is largely because of the poor response at the mutual fund window so far. Banks borrowed only about Rs 2,000 crore in the first two days at the SLF-MF.

"The RBI is desperate to make banks lend to mutual funds. Hence they have extended the regulatory benefits to banks regardless of whether they use this window or not," said Pankaj Pathak, Fund Manager, Fixed Income at Quantum Mutual Fund.

The closure of six funds by Franklin on April 23 was a shocker in the mutual fund industry. Citing lack of liquidity in markets, it closed six funds - Franklin India Low Duration Fund (FILDF), Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund, Franklin India Credit Risk Fund, Franklin India Short Term Income Plan, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund, and Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund (FIIOF) effective April 23. Total assets under management of these funds are estimated at around Rs 26,000 crore.

"Since then, in just three days, the industry has seen close to Rs 30,000 crore worth redemptions. So, there is a spill over impact already. RBI wants banks to come forward and participate wholeheartedly," said Pathak.

But, will flooding the banking system with liquidity alone solve the problem?

Not really. Post-Franklin fiasco, there is a trust deficit among investors with respect to liquidity of mutual funds in funds other than the credit risk category as well. It is unlikely that bank lending alone will address this trust deficit. Investors are worried about the liquidity of underlying securities. These companies where mutual funds have invested are facing severe impact on account of the lock-down. Banks fear huge bad loans going ahead from such exposure in low-rated papers where mutual funds have parked money. Someone needs to guarantee these loans, ideally the government or the central bank.
People from different walks of life came forward to share anecdotes about their experiences with revered actor Irrfan Khan and how he impacted their lives after the 53-year-old actor passed away due to a colon infection early Wednesday morning.

Social media was painted with the actor's face, timelines filled with tribute messages and poetries, there were expressions of grief all around. It felt like a personal loss. While Khan's choice of movies and his acting mannerisms made him stand out, the simplicity with which he essayed his roles was perhaps a direct reflection of who he was in real life.

Remembering one such memory out of the many shared by actor-director Bobby Parvez with Khan was a time of no mobile phones. The ones that were out there were too expensive.

"It was almost twenty years back , I'd just gone to Bombay and was working as an assistant director. That was the time of no mobile phones or even if they were they were prohibitively expensive," wrote Parvez in a Facebook post.

With no cell number or landline phone at home, budding actors who wanted to break into the scene and visited the director simply wrote down a number on the back of their photographs and waited for a callback. That number belonged to Khan. Along with the number was the reference name of Khan or his wife Sutapa.

"Tens of hundreds of actors used to come from Delhi and they all , mark my words , hundreds of them used to give on back of their photos a home telephone number and a reference name. It was the same number hundreds of actors gave and That name was Irrfan or Sutapa his wife," he added.

The actors who did get a callback, were then informed by Khan about the particulars of the role and which director had asked them to visit them where. Khan was on the receiving end of such hundreds and thousands of calls and he meticulously noted down intricate details of every such actor whether it was day or night. Every single time. He did it till mobile phones became a thing, Parvez revealed.

"I used to think who is this stupid Irrfan who takes messages for everyone. And mind you he must have been receiving messages from tens of offices. One person was supposed to call him in the night and he would pass on all the messages to him who would subsequently pass it along. And he did it for years till possibly mobiles became common."

That was his first impression of Khan, Parvez added. The same Irrfan Khan who went on to doing Paan Singh Tomar, Haasil, The Lunchbox, The Namesake, Life of Pi, Piku.

You can read the entire post by Parvez here:
Kenia Alcocer is used to sitting down at the kitchen table to crunch her family's monthly budget and figure out how she can make ends meet.

But this month is different. Alcocer, 34, gave birth in January to her second child, a boy named Genaro, whose numerous health issues have added a huge financial strain on her family. Now, with the coronavirus pandemic putting millions of people out of work and increasing financial anxiety across the country, she doesn't think she'll be able to make rent.

"I'm having to choose whether I pay my rent or pay my medical bills or pay other stuff or buy food," she said in a phone interview. "I also have a 5-year-old, my husband got laid off, and so these are the questions that everybody's having to ask themselves."

She added, "Rent is the last thing I want to think about during this crisis, and being evicted is the last thing I want to worry about."

Alcocer is one of tens of thousands across the country who will join one of the largest coordinated rent strikes in decades Friday, affecting three of America's largest cities  Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. Others have already begun.

Alcocer, an organizer with the group Union de Vecinos, which organized a rent strike in East Los Angeles this month, said the larger Los Angeles Tenants Union is planning a citywide rent strike. She predicted that its roughly 8,000 union members will forgo rent this month.

The tenants union had 3,000 members before the crisis. By March, it grew by a thousand, and in mid-April, it doubled to 8,000. She said the growth is a testament to the uncertain times.

"People are looking for something to join because they don't know that to do," she said. "The reason why our campaign is called 'Food Not Rent' is because we're actually telling folks to choose your survival, choose your life, over paying your rent at this point."

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

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Cea Weaver, the communications coordinator for Housing Justice for All, a coalition of 70 groups from across New York state representing tenants, homeless people and housing advocates, estimated that 10,000 people have pledged to strike.

But, Weaver said, it's not just about sticking it to landlords. They are also advocating for a relief fund for apartment owners, too. What Weaver hopes to see, she said, is "unprecedented government intervention" in the housing market because of the economic effects of the pandemic, and she wants this to be the chance to make the market more equitable.

"We're in a moment where politically impossible things are possible, and a rent strike is not just about canceling rent for the crisis," she said, citing the pace at which Congress moved to pass the massive $2 trillion relief package and other pandemic-related aid. "It's about, like, opening up a whole new world of social housing."

She added, "We don't go back to go back to a world with 92,000 homeless New Yorkers and half our state can't afford to pay their rent."

Bob Pinnegar, CEO of the National Apartment Association, which has 81,000 members nationwide, said that April was a good month for apartment owners and that many saw tenants use credits cards to pay rent in advance of expected stimulus money.

But for May, he said, there's uncertainty. He said the rent strike is "counterproductive" and would put more stress on the economy.

"There's definitely growing concerns," he said. "Everyone anticipates that there's going to be distress, and it's going to be more pronounced than April."

Doug Bibby, president of the National Multifamily Housing Council, which represents the apartment industry, called the strike "reckless" because of the ripple effects on the housing market.

More than 43 million households are renters, according to the organization, and a wide enough strike could be devastating, he said.

"These people don't think through who they're hurting, and they're disrupting the entire financial ecosystem in doing this," he said. "They think they're hurting the big, bad landlord, and what they're really hurting are all kinds of people just like themselves, and they are spreading the economic malaise more broadly in the economy."

He said, instead, that there should be a more directed focus on pressing local and federal lawmakers to intervene. He said his group, for instance, has been pushing for a sweeping bill promoted by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., which would provide $100 billion in direct relief to renters, as well as assistance for landlords and those experiencing homelessness.

Image: Capitol Hill in Seattle (Ted S. Warren / AP file)

Housing advocates fear mass evictions without government intervention. More than 30 states have moratoriums on evictions during the outbreak, but some will expire in the next month. Other states, like Colorado, have no such mandate, which has left evictions to courts and local governments, creating a patchwork of policies and ever-changing guidance.

In New York City, the American center of the pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, has called for a rent freeze and a halt to evictions. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is also a Democrat, has signaled no willingness to cancel or freeze rents.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, barred evictions through the end of May. Tenants must notify landlords within seven days of failing to pay and provide documentation proving that they were affected by the pandemic. Arizona created a $5 million fund to assist those struggling with paying rent because of the outbreak.

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But advocates want more direct relief to the most in need.

"We were already fighting for an eviction moratorium before the crisis, and now we're seeing that that was possible during this crisis," Alcocer said. "If banks are getting bailed out and corporations are getting bailed out, why aren't poor people getting bailed out through this process, as well?"

She said some of the members of her organization didn't get stimulus checks from the CARES Act because of their immigration status or have been unable to access unemployment benefits  and others are having to choose to potentially expose themselves to the virus by continuing to work.

New York state Sen. Michael Gianaris, a Democrat, introduced legislation calling for rent forgiveness, as well as financial relief for landlords.

"First and foremost we need to protect renters and tenants that are [in] desperate straits right now and from that point forward, landlords who rely on that rent to pay their bills should be next up the ladder," he said in a news release announcing the bill.

The legislation calls for 90 days of rent forgiveness for residential and commercial tenants if they lost their work or businesses because of the pandemic, as well as a 90-day suspension of some mortgage payments.

"If the federal government showed up with some magic pot that paid people's rent for them, that would solve the problem across the board," he said. "I'm not prepared to wait and hope that happens, because in the meantime, people are already suffering."
Governor Bill Lee said Wednesday that Tennessee is continuing to ramp up its coronavirus testing

He said, "President Donald Trump announced this week that states should move to test 2% of their population each month. With almost 170,000 residents tested already, Tennessee has met this goal for April and is looking to continue that progress through May.

"Unified-Command Group is increasing testing of vulnerable populations in the coming weeks, including widespread testing of all long-term care facilities in Tennessee (more than 700 facilities and 70,000 residents) and additional testing sites in minority communities. The State of Tennessee has partnered with National Health Care Corporation to test all residents and staff within their 38 Tennessee facilities.

"Expanded testing continues this weekend (May 2-3) for all Tennesseans regardless of symptoms with new drive-through sites available across each Grand Division. Sites for this can be found here.

"Tennesseans can get a test five days a week at county health departments -- a full list of sites is available here, and additional information on Tennessees aggressive testing push is available here.

Also on Wednesday, Governor Lee issued Executive Order 31 to extend the prohibition of non-emergency dental services to Wednesday, May 6, to allow more needed time for the Tennessee Dental Association, the Tennessee Dental Hygienist Association, and the Tennessee Board of Dentistry to are continue their work on guidance for safe reopening and practice.



The full text of Executive Order No. 31 can be found here.

Governor Lee announced that close contact services, such as salons and barbershops, in 89 of Tennessees 95 counties will be able to reopen at limited capacity on May 6. He said the Economic Recovery Group will release industry-specific guidance for those businesses before the end of this week.

Access up-to-date guidance from the Tennessee Economic Recovery Group:
New Delhi, April 30 : The Health Ministry on Thursday said it is examining remdesivir as one protocol in the treatment for COVID-19.

At the daily media briefing, Joint Secretary, Health, Lav Agarwal said: "As of now, there is no confirmed treatment protocol for Covid-19. Remdesivir is one protocol which is being examined. Even the study on remdesivir by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has not conclusively proved its effectiveness. Waiting for larger evidence, to take meaningful action." The response of the Health Ministry on remdesivir came a day after US-based Gilead Sciences said a closely-watched study of the investigational antiviral remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19 has "met its primary endpoint". The company said it is aware of positive data emerging from the NIAID study of the investigational antiviral remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19.

NIAID is part of National Institutes of Health, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Gilead Sciences Inc. in a statement said, "We understand that the trial has met its primary endpoint and that NIAID will provide detailed information at an upcoming briefing." It also shared additional remdesivir data from the company's open-label Phase 3 SIMPLE trial in patients with severe Covid-19 disease.

The Phase 3 trial evaluated 5-day and 10-day dosing durations of remdesivir in hospitalised patients with severe manifestations of Covid-19. The study demonstrated that patients receiving a 10-day treatment course of remdesivir achieved similar improvement in clinical status compared with those taking a 5-day treatment course.

Meanwhile, Agarwal, responding to a query on human trials in the process of vaccine development, said that multiple stages have to be passed, to conclude safe and efficacious use of a vaccine by human beings. "As far as India is concerned, we have identified Hydroxychloroquine to begin with as a prophylaxis treatment," he added.

Agarwal noted that multiple organisations in the government are engaged in multiple vaccine trials for Covid-19. "We are also part of WHO's Solidarity Trial. Some candidate vaccines have been identified. Nothing conclusive has come up," he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
"Our corporate travel advisors are an extraordinary group of highly-trained customer service professionals who wanted to find additional ways to assist during this pandemic," said Gabe Rizzi, President and Chief Sales Officer of Travel Leaders Corporate. "Business travel has slowed considerably due to COVID-19. Rather than furloughing our advisors, we found a great partner with AnswerNet."

AnswerNet, a 24/7 call center services company, had a need for professionals experienced with call center customer service, but able to work remotely. "It was important to us at Travel Leaders Corporate to keep our employees on the payroll, so we were fortunate to find this opportunity where they can have this option to assist in a different industry and continue their jobs," added Rizzi. "We are proud that they can use their skills to help New York and New Yorkers recover from the current situation. To step up to learn new skills and help others when they face the catastrophic impact on their own business lives, shows true dedication and caring for others," Rizzi said.

Currently, more than 120 Travel Leaders Corporate advisors are part of AnswerNet's 1,000-person team. The advisors are remote workers, located around the country, who routinely handle urgent trip disruption issues for thousands of business travelers. The advisors, equipped with a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, have received rigorous training to complement their skills and are now working to schedule necessary COVID-19 testing for New York State residents.

"The pandemic in New York has stretched the state's resources thin and they needed a large team deployed quickly," said Gary Pudles, CEO of AnswerNet. "That's why they turned to us to help in the outreach for COVID-19 testing. Since this is an unprecedented emergency situation, we also needed some additional agents who could act quickly and compassionately which is why this relationship with Travel Leaders Corporate is invaluable. Their travel advisors have the transferable skills to be able to slip seamlessly in these roles. We are glad to have them with us during this time."

Pudles was effusive in his praise about the work the travel advisors are doing. In a message to the team, he stated, "We know we're lucky to have you and we want you to know that we appreciate the important work you dopeople like you who show your courage and empathy each and every day by talking to those who are not only sick, but afraid. Just know that you've already given hope to so many!"

Rizzi said he looks forward to the day, hopefully soon, when the COVID-19 crisis abates, and business travel returns. The travel management firm is assessing the travel landscape to be fully prepared to provide sound advice to the corporations that trust their travel programs to the company. In the meantime, Rizzi is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the effort to address the crisis.

"Few people outside the industry realize the complexity of being a great travel advisor," said Rizzi. "To me, this program reinforces the tremendous value our employees bring to our organization and our customers."

For more information or to take advantage of Travel Leaders Corporate's personalized service and cutting-edge corporate business travel solutions that provide a complete travel enrichment experience, email [email protected] or call 877-404-4173.

About Travel Leaders Corporate

Travel Leaders Corporate is part of Travel Leaders Group, which manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands. Travel Leaders Corporate has three service offerings  Travel Fulfillment, Travel Consulting and Meetings Management  which can be used independently or combined for maximum results. At Travel Leaders Corporate, each client is served by a dedicated team of professional travel agents assigned to each account. With a reputation built on reliability and a commitment to excellence, Travel Leaders Corporate offers its clients industry-leading products and services, and continuously seeks higher levels of performance. With employees in more than 120 cities across the United States, Travel Leaders Corporate is a forward-thinking, innovative company with a focus on continually improving the customer experience. Travelers also have access to The Travel Collection by Travel Leaders Group, a selection of travel offers and discounts available at no additional cost to holders of select American Express cards. For more information visit www.TheTravelCollection.com.

About AnswerNet

AnswerNet is a brand name for the AnswerNet family of affiliated companies  including AnswerNet, Inc., New AnswerNet Inc., Cerida Investment Corp. and Synergy Solutions, among others. AnswerNet operates over 25 contact centers within the continental United States and Canada, providing a vast range of services to optimize telephone answering services, appointment setting and confirmation, customer support, sales, lead qualification, market research, and a host of other contact management solutions. AnswerNet has been recognized as an award-winning service by Inc. magazine's "The Inc. 500 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies", by the publication Customer Interaction Solutions for its "Top 50 Teleservices Agencies", as well as named a "Best Run Company" by SmartCEO magazine.

SOURCE Travel Leaders Corporate

Related Links

http://www.TheTravelCollection.com


The Delhi Police has granted permission to Riddhima Sahni, daughter of actor Rishi Kapoor who passed away on Thursday morning, to travel to Mumbai for his last rites amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, officials said.

"Along with Ridhima, five other people -- Bharat Sahni, Samara Sahni, Akshay Sahni and Drigalakshmi Rai -- got permission to travel to Mumbai," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R P Meena said.

The 67-year-old actor, who was suffering from cancer, died in a Mumbai hospital. His death comes a day after his 'D-Day' co-star Irrfan Khan passed away due to cancer.

Rishi Kapoor, a third generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, was taken to the H N Reliance Hospital by his family on Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the evening of Sunday 26th April, a silent procession took place at Black Star Square in Ghana as a sign of solidarity with the Africans who have been marginalized and abused in China during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The action was initiated by the Freedom Movement, as a peaceful demonstration to raise awareness for the mistreatment of black people in China and urge for a public apology to all Africans and Black people worldwide.

As a concerned global citizen, I was deeply disturbed by the treatment I saw of black people in China being evicted from their homes, forced into quarantine and even being denied admittance to restaurants, hotels and other businesses. I was also surprised that even despite the close relationship between China and most African countries, there hasn't been any public denouncement or apology from the authorities. I felt the need to use my voice to let the world know that Covid-19 simply cannot be used as an excuse to dehumanize or deny the civil rights of black people in China or any other nation, says Freedom Jacob Caesar, an industrialist, developer and a nation-builder.

During the procession, signs reading captions such as Africa is a Beacon of Hope and Africa is separated by culture but united by colours were held up by participants who maintained social distancing measures and wore face masks inscribed with the words 'Freedom of Speech. Police and other security personnel were also on hand to ensure that the demonstration remained peaceful.

Although African diplomats in China have expressed concerns to officials there, this mal-treatment is an issue for every black person in the world. Anyone of us from the continent or the diaspora whether it be Jamaica, America, France, or Nigeria living in or travelling to China might suffer these same abuses. If we simply remain silent, this treatment and disrespect will continue and even become more widespread in China and other countries. Black people are not animals as we have been depicted in museums and galleries in China and these actions are unacceptable considering the eminent value that Africa and our resources play in global economies and supply chains, adds Freedom who recently distributed food and other supplies to vulnerable communities and the less privileged in Accra amidst the lockdown that was issued as an effort to contain the spread of the Corona Virus.

Ghana has gained a reputation as a model of democracy in Africa and Freedom of Speech is a fundamental principle that is supported in our democracy. It is important for young Africans and young black people globally to understand the power of our collective voices to effect peaceful change. I will continue to use my voice and platform to change perceptions of Africa, build unity and forge deeper connections between Africa, the West and the East, said Freedom who operates an international real estate development company in Ghana and other countries and has hosted personalities at his hospitality ventures including Naomi Campbell, Idris Elba, Conan O'Brien, and Chinese billionaire entrepreneur Jack Ma.

I believe that this virus does not know gender, race, religion, age, or colour and this could be a sign telling the world that we are all equal and need to come together as One World and One Universal people to overcome the crisis and restore humanity together.

The Freedom Movement's procession is one of the first public demonstrations on the continent that has been held to bring awareness to the issue of the treatment of blacks in China and urge for a public apology from the country's authorities on behalf of African and Black people worldwide.

Photo and Video credit:

GRAHL PHOTOGRAPHY
Segunda Sala Penal de Apelaciones Nacional Especializada en Delitos de Crimen Organizado impone mandato de comparecencia restrictiva a Keiko Fujimori Higuchi, previo pago de una garantia economica de S/ 70 mil dentro de cinco dias habiles. https://t.co/6M4SBXgCHi pic.twitter.com/KplE34BliP
Technical Officer (Nursing), New Delhi, India

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

Country: India

City: New Delhi, India

Office: WHO New Delhi, India

Grade: P-4

Closing date: Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Technical Officer (Nursing)

( 2001769 )

Grade : P4

Contractual Arrangement : Fixed-term appointment

Contract duration : 24 Months

Job Posting: Apr 28, 2020, 5:54:34 AM

The overall objective of the Department of Health Systems Development is to strengthen health systems in order to make progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). UHC is a flagship priority of the Regional Office, and will be central to progress on the Sustainable Development Goal for Health. Health services cannot be delivered without health workers, and SEAR has committed to a Decade for Strengthening Human Resources for Health 2015-2024. The overall objective of the HRH unit within the health systems department is to strengthen human resources for health in SEAR countries. Within the HRH unit, the responsibilities of the nursing programme are to support the 11 countries in the South-East Asia Region on developing HRH plans (including nursing health workforce), programmes and activities which strengthen the capacities of Member States to plan, produce and manage the nursing health workforce and nursing care. In addition, in the midst of global focus on nursing supported by the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife 2020, the programme advises the Member States to support work of nurses, highlight the challenges and advocate and raise the profile of nurses to improve healthcare delivery.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of Director, Health Systems Development and direct supervision of the Regional Advisor on Human Resources for Health, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks in collaboration with other relevant technical programmes, national counterparts and partners: 1) Supporting the monitoring and analysis of nursing needs, based on: improved quality, completeness and timeliness of HRH data, including on production, distribution and retention of nurses, and analysis of skill mix and competences required to meet current and future health services needs.

2) Supporting development and implementation of national strategic plans for Human Resources for Health, (including nursing in them), that take account of health labour market dynamics, are based on best available evidence, and are designed to support progress towards UHC in WHO SEAR countries.

3) Providing technical advice on nursing to country HRH units and/or nursing directorates in Ministry of Health.

4) Supporting review and reform of pre-service nursing education and training, including curriculum review, faculty development, strengthening of accreditation systems and regulation of education systems to adapt to health needs of today and tomorrow.

5) Supporting in strengthening in-service training programme to build capacity in various clinical areas as well as management and leadership.

6) Supporting the development and implementation of specialization of nursing and advanced practice nursing depending on the countrys situation and population needs of today and tomorrow.

7) Supporting policies to address nursing retention in rural and hard to reach areas, as well as migration and performance.

8) Catalyzing research on nursing, in relevant collaborative programmes in WHO SEAR.

9) Building partnerships and networks with nursing institutions and associations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in nursing and Masters degree in Public Health/ Human Resources for Health Management/Health Education or related degree.

Desirable: Doctoral degree in nursing or any other health related field.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years combined experience at the national and international levels in Nursing, including leadership experience in Nursing development.

Desirable: Working experience in WHO including South-East Asia Region

Skills

Essential:

Broad in-depth knowledge in health systems programmes, including up-to-date knowledge of nursing education, practice and service delivery.

High level of technical and managerial competence for designing, planning, implementing, directing and evaluating nursing educational system.

Sound knowledge of current trends in nursing practice and regulation at the regional and international levels.

Excellent written and oral communications skills. Desirable: Experience in WHO and/or Knowledge of WHO rules and regulations and good knowledge of the working of UN and other international agencies.

Other Skills (e.g. IT): Proficient in MS Office Software applications, data analysis and technical presentations.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Producing results

Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 73,516 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2016 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note applications should be submitted through WHOs online recruitment portal. Please visit www.who.int/careers to complete an online profile and to apply to this vacancy.

Tags data analysis health services health systems human resources labour market midwife nurse nursing oral communication sustainable development universal health coverage

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

The written test for shortlisted candidates will be tentatively be held in week starting 1June 2020 - 5 June 2020. Candidates are advised to make themselves available during that period

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

For information on WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHOs workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
Students may roll their eyes when they are required to learn a new language in school, but being bilingual is an excellent skill to have. Bilingual people can communicate with people from different cultures, opening them up to rewarding ways to connect with others. The cognitive benefits include better critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improved concentration, and better memory.

Becoming bilingual can also help your career, as it is a competitive advantage that other job applicants may not have. In fact, knowing another language is listed as a top job skill for in all occupations, no matter the skill level or industry. Employees who can communicate with more colleagues and customers nationally and internationally are in higher demand than ever before.

Some Languages Are Harder To Learn

A Jewish father teaching the Hebrew alphabet to his son. Image credit: David Cohen156/Shutterstock.com

Obviously, some languages are harder to master than others. One factor is the learners native language. For example, someone who grew up speaking Japanese may find it easier to learn Korean since the two are similar. Children that grow up in homes where more than one language is spoken naturally learn both.

So, what factors make a language harder (or easier) to learn? Some share common sounds, like Italian and Spanish. Other ones like Arabic or Russian have certain sounds not present in the English language, so if you mispronounce a word, you may not realize it.

Some languages resemble each other because certain words can be traced to the same roots. Germanic languages like German, Dutch, English, and Swedish can be grouped together this way. It is easy to find words that sound similar and have the same meaning when you compare them:

English German Dutch Swedish

water wasser water vatten

green grun groen gron

sun sonne zon sol

Unique Languages

Languages that are harder to learn are more complex since they really do not resemble other languages. Native English speakers have more difficulties learning languages that have different alphabets, with unfamiliar letters. Arabic and Hebrew fall into this category, and both follow vastly different rules when it comes to their vowels. Japanese is also tough as it has a different writing system. The Korean language is known for its complex grammar and pronunciation, and Xhosa (spoken in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe) requires clacking sounds made in the sides and roofs of the mouth and back of the teeth.

The Winner Is...

Capion

Over 900 million people speak Mandarin, which is spoken in southwestern and northern China. It is especially challenging because it is a tonal language. This means that the way a word is said changes its meaning. Different pitch tones can be applied to single words or syllables. Take the word ba, for example. Depending on the tone, it could mean:

pull out

dad

eight

hold

There are four pitch tones in Mandarin: falling, falling-rising, rising, and high-level. To complicate matters further, Mandarin has a complex writing system. There are thousands of characters, with different markings.

Learning Difficult Languages

Anyone who has mastered  or has even considered  learning Mandarin or another complicated language should first be congratulated. Some are even hard for computers to understand! New languages and intonations can be taught and learned, and becoming bilingual is a long-term, worthwhile pursuit.

To get started, linguists recommend setting aside some time to just listen. This allows students to become familiar with the new sounds, tones, and rhythms. It is also important to study the letters (or characters) and to try memorizing some. Focusing on the languages patterns rather than its rules is also recommended.

Students who devote additional time to reading in the new language and practicing out loud as much as possible will find that these methods also help. Being patient is a major component of learning a complex language, but in time the speaking skills will improve.
California Senator Steven Bradford Secures Face Shield Donation for Medical Professionals

California Senator Steven Bradford (35th District) secured 1,000 face shields produced by CSUDH students with 3D printing to protect CIR/SEIU Resident Physicians at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center who are on the frontlines of the pandemic.

The face shields will protect medical professionals during procedures that might expose them to blood or other infectious fluids, and support their own health and safety as they work with COVID-19 positive patients.

The face shields being donated are life-saving protective gear for our doctors and our communities. Harbor-UCLA serves some of the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring their safety is extremely important to me, said Senator Bradford. We have labor, doctors, students, and university systems all working together to protect this community and ensure everyone is safe and taken care of in this unpredictable and scary time in our lives. That is something we can all be proud of.

The face shields were produced under the direction of Dr. Kamal Hamdan, Annenberg-endowed professor and director of the Center for Innovation in STEM Education (CISE). Hamdan heeded the call for face shields from health care professionals and immediately began working with students to produce the shields with CISEs large bank of 3D printers, with the capability to produce at least 100 shields per hour.

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The production of face shields for Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is one several efforts at CSUDH to produce and supplement supplies for healthcare professionals and the community. Senator Bradford pledged $5000 to the California State University Dominguez Hills Philanthropic Foundation to assist with the costs of making the face shields.

Supporting communities experiencing crisis is deeply rooted in CSU Dominguez Hills culture, said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. The work that Dr. Hamdan and the students are doing stems from a mission-driven desire to help others, and is guided by their years of experience applying learned skills and knowledge to better peoples lives in the broader community, and now to support and protect healthcare workers confronting this global pandemic. This is an authentic illustration about why what we do on this campus matters to this community and region of the state.

Resident physicians at Harbor-UCLA are extremely grateful for this donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). As front line providers, we are doing everything we can to care for our communities during this pandemic, said CIR/SEIU Regional Vice President Dr. Erica Barrios. We thank Senator Bradford, as well as the students and faculty at California State University, Dominguez Hills for stepping up in this difficult time and helping us secure this important protective equipment.
By Timothy Gardner, Steve Holland, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Rania El Gamal

WASHINGTON/LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) - As the United States pressed Saudi Arabia to end its oil price war with Russia, President Donald Trump gave Saudi leaders an ultimatum.

In an April 2 phone call, Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started cutting oil production, he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The threat to upend a 75-year strategic alliance, which has not been previously reported, was central to the U.S. pressure campaign that led to a landmark global deal to slash oil supply as demand collapsed in the coronavirus pandemic - scoring a diplomatic victory for the White House.

Trump delivered the message to the crown prince 10 days before the announcement of production cuts. The kingdoms de facto leader was so taken aback by the threat that he ordered his aides out of the room so he could continue the discussion in private, according to a U.S. source who was briefed on the discussion by senior administration officials.

The effort illustrated Trumps strong desire to protect the U.S. oil industry from a historic price meltdown as governments shut down economies worldwide to fight the virus. It also reflected a telling reversal of Trumps longstanding criticism of the oil cartel, which he has blasted for raising energy costs for Americans with supply cuts that usually lead to higher gasoline prices. Now, Trump was asking OPEC to slash output.

A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the administration notified Saudi leaders that, without production cuts, there would be no way to stop the U.S. Congress from imposing restrictions that could lead to a withdrawal of U.S. forces. The official summed up the argument, made through various diplomatic channels, as telling Saudi leaders: We are defending your industry while youre destroying ours.

Story continues

Reuters asked Trump about the talks in an interview Wednesday evening at the White House, at which the president addressed a range of topics involving the pandemic. Asked if he told the crown prince that the U.S. might pull forces out of Saudi Arabia, Trump said, "I didn't have to tell him."

"I thought he and President Putin, Vladimir Putin, were very reasonable," Trump said. "They knew they had a problem, and then this happened."

Asked what he told the Crown Prince Mohammed, Trump said: "They were having a hard time making a deal. And I met telephonically with him, and we were able to reach a deal" for production cuts, Trump said.

Saudi Arabias government media office did not respond to a request for comment. A Saudi official who asked not to be named stressed that the agreement represented the will of all countries in the so-called OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations, which includes OPEC plus a coalition led by Russia.

Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia have played an important role in the OPEC+ oil cut agreement, but without the cooperation of the 23 countries who took part in the agreement, it would not have happened, said the Saudi official, who declined to comment on the discussions between U.S. and Saudi leaders.

The week before Trumps phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed, U.S. Republican Senators Kevin Cramer and Dan Sullivan had introduced legislation to remove all U.S. troops, Patriot missiles and anti-missile defense systems from the kingdom unless Saudi Arabia cut oil output. Support for the measure was gaining momentum amid Congressional anger over the ill-timed Saudi-Russia oil price war. The kingdom had opened up the taps in April, unleashing a flood of crude into the global supply after Russia refused to deepen production cuts in line with an earlier OPEC supply pact.

On April 12, under pressure from Trump, the worlds biggest oil-producing nations outside the United States agreed to the largest production cut ever negotiated. OPEC, Russia and other allied producers slashed production by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd), or about 10% of global output. Half that volume came from cuts of 2.5 million bpd each by Saudi Arabia and Russia, whose budgets depend on high oil-and-gas revenues.

Despite the agreement to cut a tenth of global production, oil prices continued to fall to historic lows. U.S. oil futures dropped below $0 last week as sellers paid buyers to avoid taking delivery of oil they had no place to store. Brent futures, the global oil benchmark, fell towards $15 per barrel - a level not seen since the 1999 oil price crash  from as high as $70 at the start of the year.

The deal for supply cuts could eventually boost prices, however, as governments worldwide start to open their economies and fuel demand rises with increased travel. Whatever the impact, the negotiations mark an extraordinary display of U.S. influence over global oil output.

Cramer, the Republican senator from North Dakota, told Reuters he spoke to Trump about the legislation to withdraw U.S. military protection from Saudi Arabia on March 30, three days before the president called Crown Prince Mohammed.

Asked whether Trump told Saudi Arabia it could lose U.S. military support, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told Reuters the president reserved the right to use every tool to protect U.S. producers, including our support for their defense needs.

The strategic partnership dates back to 1945, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Saudi King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud on the USS Quincy, a Navy cruiser. They reached a deal: U.S. military protection in exchange for access to Saudi oil reserves. Today, the United States has about three thousand troops in the country, and the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet protects oil exports from the region.

Saudi Arabia relies on the United States for weapons and protection against regional rivals such as Iran. The kingdoms vulnerabilities, however, were exposed late last year in an attack by 18 drones and three missiles on key Saudi oil facilities. Washington blamed Iran; Tehran denied it.

THIRTEEN ANGRY SENATORS

Trump initially welcomed lower oil prices, saying cheap gasoline prices were akin to a tax cut for drivers.

That changed after Saudi Arabia announced in mid-March it would pump a record 12.3 million bpd  unleashing the price war with Russia. The explosion of supply came as governments worldwide issued stay-home orders - crushing fuel demand - and made clear that U.S. oil companies would be hit hard in the crude price collapse. Senators from U.S. oil states were infuriated.

On March 16, Cramer was among 13 Republican senators who sent a letter to Crown Prince Mohammed reminding him of Saudi Arabia's strategic reliance on Washington. The group also urged Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to investigate whether Saudi Arabia and Russia were breaking international trade laws by flooding the U.S. market with oil.

On March 18, the senators  a group that included Sullivan of Alaska and Ted Cruz of Texas  held a rare call with Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Cramer called the conversations brutal as each senator detailed the damage to their states oil industries.

She heard it from every senator; there was nobody that held back, Cramer told Reuters.

The Saudi embassy did not respond to requests for comment.

Cramer said the princess relayed their comments to officials in Saudi Arabia, including the energy minister. The senators told the princess that the kingdom faced rising opposition in the Senate to the Saudi-led coalition that is waging a war in Yemen against Houthi rebels.

Saudi and U.S. officials have said the Houthis are armed by Iran, which Tehran denies. The backing of Senate Republicans over Yemen had proved crucial for Saudi Arabia last year. The Senate upheld Trump vetoes of several measures seeking to end U.S. weapons sales and other military support to Saudi Arabia amid outrage over the Yemen conflict, which has caused more than 100,000 deaths and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

Cramer said he made a phone call to Trump on March 30, about a week after he and Sullivan introduced their bill to pull U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia. The president called Cramer back the same day with Energy Secretary Brouillette, senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on the call, the senator said.

I said the one person that you dont have on the call that can be very helpful is Mark Esper, the defense secretary, Cramer recounted, saying he wanted Esper to address how U.S. military assets in Saudi Arabia might be moved elsewhere in the region to protect U.S. troops.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on whether Esper was involved in discussions of pulling military assets out of Saudi Arabia.

BENDING THE KNEE

Trumps oil diplomacy came in a whirlwind of calls with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed and Russian President Vladimir Putin starting in mid-March. The Kremlin confirmed Putins conversation with Trump and said they discussed both oil supply cuts and the coronavirus pandemic.

On the April 2 call with Prince Mohammed, Trump told the Saudi ruler he was going to cut them off the next time Congress pushed a proposal to end Washingtons defense of the kingdom, according to the source with knowledge of the call. Trump also publicly threatened in early April to impose tariffs on oil imports from Saudi Arabia and Russia.

After the conversation with the Saudi crown prince, and another the same day with Putin, Trump tweeted that he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to cut output by about 10 million barrels, which will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!"

Riyadh and Moscow later confirmed they had restarted negotiations.

On April 3, Trump hosted a meeting at the White House with senators Cramer, Cruz, and Sullivan, and oil executives from companies including Exxon Mobil Corp <XOM.N>, Chevron Corp <CVX.N>, Occidental Petroleum Corp <OXY.N> and Continental Resources <CRL.N>.

During the public portion of the meeting, Cramer told Trump that Washington can use the billions of dollars it spends defending Saudi Arabia on other military priorities if our friends are going to treat us this way.

The prospect of losing U.S. military protection made the royal family bend at the knees and bow to Trumps demands, a Middle Eastern diplomat told Reuters.

After prolonged and fractious negotiations, top producers pledged their record output cut of 9.7 million bpd in May and June, with the understanding that economic forces would lead to about 10 million bpd in further cuts in production from other countries, including the United States and Canada.

Trump hailed the deal and cast himself as its broker. Having been involved in the negotiations, to put it mildly, the number that OPEC+ is looking to cut is 20 Million Barrels a day he tweeted shortly after the deal.

Riyadh also took credit. Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz told Reuters at the time that the crown prince had been instrumental in formulating this deal.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Steve Holland in Washington, Dmitry Zhdannikov in London and Rania El Gamal in Dubai; additional reporting by Alexandra Alper and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington, and Marwa Rashad in Riyadh; writing by Michael Georgy; editing by Richard Valdmanis and Brian Thevenot)
Rivonia trialist Denis Goldberg speaking at a gala event in 2011 to honour the surviving members of the Rivonia Trial. - Source: Photo by Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images

30.04.2020 LISTEN

Denis Theodore Goldberg , one of the stalwarts in the fight against apartheid in South Africa, has passed on at the age of 87. He was one of the two last remaining activists who were tried for sabotage in 1963-1964 along with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada.

Goldberg was born into a family of communists in Woodstock, Cape Town, in 1933. His London-born parents were descended from Lithuanian Jews. His childhood home was one where people of all colours were welcome and were among his friends, very unusual in white South African homes of that generation.

He spent more than two decades of his life behind bars at Pretoria Central Prison at the end of the Rivonia trial . Because of apartheid laws he, as a white person, could not be sent to Robben Island, where all black political prisoners and his fellow triallists were sent.

The revolutionary road

Goldberg enrolled for a civil engineering degree at the University of Cape Town in 1950, the year the Communist Party of South Africa was banned. He participated in the Modern Youth Society along with other leftists, and joined the underground South African Communist Party in 1953 when it re-formed.

In 1953 Goldberg was organising meetings at Loyolo settlement in Simonstown, to encourage support for the planned Congress of the People in 1955. The meeting brought together the Congress Alliance, comprising the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Indian Congress, the Coloured People's Congress, the South African Congress of Trade Unions, and the Congress of Democrats, on 25-26 June 1955.

The Special Branch, the political wing of the apartheid police, reported this, and the state-owned railways fired Goldberg from his job.

The meeting culminated in the adoption of the Freedom Charter , which became the congress movement's blueprint for a free, non-racial South Africa .

Goldberg was also active in this decade in the Congress of Democrats , a leftist organisation affiliated with the ANC, whose membership was in those years restricted to Africans.

In 1960 he participated in the anti-pass protests . Then, all black people were required to carry identity documents that controlled their movements. The document was derisively known as the dompas (dumb pass).

He was detained without trial for four months under the state of emergency, as was his mother. This resulted in his being fired from his job working on constructing the Athlone power station.

When the apartheid regime banned the ANC and the rival Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) in 1960, Goldberg was one of the founders of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC, planning an armed rebellion. Goldberg helped organise the first MK training camp inside South Africa, and was MK's technical officer.

On 11 July 1963 the Special Branch raided Liliesleaf farm outside Johannesburg and detained him, along with Walter Sisulu and other top ANC leaders. After months of detention, the state charged him and others with sabotage. Mandela, already serving a jail sentence for leaving the country without a passport, was added to the accused. This started the famous Rivonia trial.

It remains a matter of speculation why the accused were charged with sabotage and not high treason. The probable reason is that under the then new Sabotage Act, steered through parliament by Balthazar Johannes Vorster, minister of police, any accused were guilty until proven innocent. This made it easier for prosecutors to jail those who came before the courts.

Eight accused were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. At 31 years of age Goldberg was the youngest. Apartheid segregated prisoners. Goldberg was sent to jail in Pretoria, while his fellow accused were all flown to Cape Town for transport to Robben Island prison.

Prison, and after

Political prisoners were treated vindictively. Goldberg was denied any visitors for four years. He was allowed to send and receive only one letter, not exceeding 500 words, per six months. But many of the letters from his wife, Esme Bodenstein, were not handed to him.

It was only in 1980 that political prisoners were allowed to read newspapers.

In 1974 Goldberg took on the task of caring for Bram Fischer, the communist party leader and their former defence lawyer, when he was dying of cancer in the row of cells.

In 1985 Goldberg was released. He flew to visit his daughter in Israel; and then lived with his wife in London. After his wife passed away in 2000, he returned to South Africa in 2002 with his second wife, Edelgard. Ronnie Kasrils, then minister of water affairs and forestry, hired him as special advisor for two years.

Goldberg used his prestige to speak out against the corruption that peaked during Jacob Zuma's decade as president. As one of the idealists who worked for the ANC before it came into office in 1994, corruption and state capture was repugnant to his generation.

In retirement, Goldberg launched fund-raising for the Denis Goldberg House of Hope in Hout Bay, a suburb of Cape Town. His House of Hope would offer opportunities in art and music to local disadvantaged children.

Retirement added to all the honours he received. In 2019 the ANC awarded him its highest decoration, the Isithwalandwe. He was awarded four honorary doctorates, from Medunsa (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University), Heriot-Watt University (Scotland), the University of Cape Town, and Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Andrew Mlangeni is now the sole survivor of the Rivonia trial.

Keith Gottschalk is an ANC member, but writes this obituary in his professional capacity as a political scientist.

By Keith Gottschalk, Political Scientist, University of the Western Cape
North Carolina drivers would gain up to six extra months to renew their drivers licenses, vehicle inspections and registrations, and other credentialed permits in COVID-19 relief bills in the General Assembly.

The language is contained within House Bill 1073 and Senate Bill 704, the latter serving as that chambers comprehensive relief bill.

HB1073 was recommended Wednesday by the House Rules and Operations committee and sent to the full House. The House is scheduled to hold a floor session at noon Thursday.

SB704 cleared the Senate on Wednesday by a 48-0 vote.

The only major difference in the House and Senate language is that the Senate would make the six-month credential reprieve retroactive to March 1, while the House would make it retroactive to March 10.

Both bills would set Aug. 1 as the cutoff for the start of a six-month reprieve.
News Feature

New Mexico Finally Excelling at Something

State Receives National Recognition for COVID-19 Action Plan
Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly said as of April 30 that he will consult with the health experts on whether to extend a national state of emergency to stem the novel coronavirus or lift the confinement measures like the other nations. Japan declared the nationwide state of emergency effective April 16 which was supposed to extend until May 6.

Although Japan has no enforcement for the lockdown, there are restrictions on the non-essential movement of the citizens and business operation, as per media reports. The current emergency declaration, however, was to conclude on May 6, at the end of the Golden Week national holidays in Japan which would allow citizens to do the movement. As the government fears the second wave of the pandemic to spread across Japan, and its low testing regime, PM Abe reportedly said he would depend on the expert advice and detailed analysis.

Nevertheless, under Japans state of emergency, many have been witnessed flouting the measures. While some still have to commute for the jobs despite risks of exposure to the coronavirus, others were also witnessed to dine out at establishments functional despite health emergency, with scant regard for measures, according to reports. As of April 29, ahead of the Golden Week holidays, Tokyo was packed with crowd lured with socializing. Experts warned, that while the country declared the state of a health emergency, the sense of health emergency amongst the citizen lacked.

Read: Tokyo Olympics 'difficult' If Pandemic Not Contained: Japan PM Shinzo Abe

Read: As Japan Imposes Shutdowns To Battle Pandemic, Rats Come Out On Empty Streets

Personal risk assessment

Contrary to mainstream opinion, some health experts in Japan reportedly believed that the pandemic called for the bewildering decisions. There will never be a perfect amount of protection, said Josh Santarpia, a microbiology expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Centre who is studying the coronavirus. Its a personal risk assessment. Everybody has to decide, person by person, what risk theyre willing to tolerate.

Japan has over 13,965 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, and 425 fatalities recorded from the disease so far. Amid the mounting figures, the country launched a "walk-through" coronavirus testing facility to boost testing capacity nationwide, confirmed reports. The site started operating with a testing capacity of up to 36 per day.

Read: Japan Central Bank Eases Monetary Policy To Boost Economy

Read: Asian Markets Gain After Japan Central Bank Boosts Aid

(With AP Inputs)

(Image Credit: AP)
A pack of Silverback Mountain gorillas in Uganda were caught for the first time on camera performing a supper serenade.

Filmmakers captured the unique ritual by placing a robotic 'spy' that resembles a young gorilla deep in the jungle.

The team designed the animatronic machine with realistic eye movements, as wild gorillas communicate with each other through eye contact, and a submissive demeanor with the hopes it would be accepted by the pack.

Along with the singing, the footage shows the gorillas screamed a 'chorus of appreciation' while eating and provided evidence that they are extremely gassy.

Scroll down for videos

A pack of Silverback Mountain gorillas in Uganda were caught for the first time on camera performing a supper serenade. Filmmakers captured the unique ritual by placing a robotic 'spy' that resembles a young gorilla deep in the jungle

The segments is part of the PBS series 'Nature: Spy in the Wild 2,' which follows animals in their natural habit using robotic replicas.

Matt Gordon, one of the show's producers, told PBS: 'The process of building the spies is complex and varied depending on what animal and behavior that we are trying to film.'

'Spy gorilla, one of the stars of the show, is a good example to use in describing the process of building them.

'Firstly, we need to work out what spy animals would be best to film the animal.

Mountain gorillas have been caught on camera as they 'sing' during their supper, a behavior that has never before been documented on video. The segments is part of the PBS series 'Nature: Spy in the Wild 2,' which follows animals in their natural habit using robotic replicas

'So for example, it would not be a good idea to make a spy Silverback Mountain gorilla, as this could be seen as too much of a threat to the real mountain gorillas.

'Therefore, we went with a baby gorilla.'

Gordon and his team, who are biologists and zoologists, set out to make the robot as realistic as possible in order for it to be accepted by the pack.

And they determined the eyes were key to making this happen.

'Mountain gorillas learn a lot from each other by staring into each other's eyes,' said Gordon.

'Therefore, we designed the spy gorilla to be able to close and move his eyes so that when necessary, he could avert his gaze to show respect to the real gorillas.'

The robot spy was also designed to beat on its chest, which allowed the filmmakers to capture a glimpse into how young primates interact.

The wild gorillas were fooled into thinking the robot was a real gorilla and excepted it into their pack

The team was able to capture a rare moment that would have been impossible using traditional techniques  a baby gorilla ran up to the robot and began beating its chest in a playful manner.

Along with producing tuneful calls and deep hums while eating, the video also shows that these creatures pass gas while eating

Researchers have known about older gorillas singing during dinner since 2016, but the footage captured by Gordon and his team is the first to it has been seen.

The evidence was taken using recorders of the gorillas, which reveal males tended to sing most when they were enjoying aquatic plants, flowers and seeds, which are considered to be favorite foods.

The team designed the animatronic machine with realistic eye movements, as wild gorillas communicate with each other through eye contact, and a submissive demeanor with the hopes it would be accepted by the pack

Researchers have known about older gorillas singing during dinner since 2016, but the footage captured by Gordon and his team is the first to it has been seen

Writing in the journal Public Library of Science One, Dr Eva Maria Luef, from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany, and her team said: 'Alternatively, sense of well-being in general may elicit food associated call vocalizations in gorillas.

'The fact that specific foods elicited more calling and simultaneous calling of multiple individuals may indicate that attitude toward, and possibly contentment over, the food source plays some role in the production of food-associated calling in gorillas.

'Food-associated calling could be an expression of well-being in gorillas when feeding on specific, preferred foods.'

This suggests male gorillas may simply be reassuring others in their group that they are happy with the meal they have found.
The first female federal prisoner to die after contracting the coronavirus was a 30-year-old mother who had just weeks earlier given birth while on a ventilator.

The woman, Andrea Circle Bear, of Eagle Butte, S.D., was sentenced in January to serve 26 months in prison for using a residence on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation to sell drugs in 2018. She admitted that she had sold $850 worth of methamphetamine to a buyer who was later revealed to be a confidential informant, according to court documents.

On March 20, Ms. Circle Bear was transferred from a jail in Winner, S.D., to Federal Medical Center Carswell, a prison that holds about 1,625 female prisoners in Fort Worth. She was immediately placed into quarantine, the federal Bureau of Prisons said in a statement, in line with the agencys new policy to reduce the risk of inmates contracting the virus from a new arrival.
Top Arab diplomats urge US to withdraw support for Israels plans to annex any part of the Palestinian territories.

The Arab League has condemned Israels controversial proposal to annex much of the occupied West Bank, saying the move would constitute a new war crime against the Palestinians.

The remarks came in a joint statement issued by Arab foreign ministers on Thursday following a virtual conference chaired in Egypts capital, Cairo.

The implementation of plans to annex any part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including the Jordan Valley  and the lands on which Israeli settlements are standing represents a new war crime  against the Palestinian people, said the statement.

The Arab League also urged the United States to withdraw its support in enabling the plans of the occupying Israeli government.

US President Donald Trump in January unveiled a controversial plan to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Rejected by the Palestinians and condemned by much of the international community, the plan gives Israel the green light to annex Jewish settlements and other strategic territory in the West Bank.

An Israeli coalition government agreement reached between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz last week includes a framework for implementing the annexations outlined in the plan. Such annexations would violate international law.

During the Arab League meeting, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said the annexation would end the two-state solution.

He said the move would turn the battle from a political one to an endless religious war  that will never bring about stability, security or peace to our region.

Last week, the United Nations special Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said such a move would be a devastating blow to the internationally-backed two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the European Union said annexing Palestinian territory would constitute a serious violation of international law.

On Monday, the US said it was ready to recognise Israels annexation of key parts of the West Bank, but also asked the new unity government to negotiate with the Palestinians.
Ryanair has kicked off an influx of 'I didn't know it was a party' memes mocking Boris Johnson after he was forced to apologise for hosting a 'party' in the Downing Street garden in May 2020. The popular low-cost carrier posted an image of the Prime Minister's face edited onto a popular meme showing dancing party-goers with the caption 'Boris Johnson for 25 minutes on 20 May 2020' and 'I don't know I'm at a party' next to Mr Johnson's face. Mr Johnson today finally admitted he went to a 'party' in the Downing Street garden at the height of lockdown - but argued he thought it was a 'work event' and 'technically' within the rules. At a stormy PMQs, Mr Johnson said he wanted to 'thank' staff at the event in May 2020 but recognised that in 'hindsight' it should not have happened. He said he understood public 'fury' and 'took responsibility', but said he had believed it was a work event. 'I bitterly regret it. I wish we could have done things differently,' he said. Social media erupted into a hive of memes mocking Mr Johnson, with one showing Ant and Dec in a fit of giggles - alluding to the television presenter's previous jibes at the Government.
Incap Corporation

Press release on 30 April 2020

Incap donates a disinfectant tunnel and 1000 grocery kits to locals

Incap Electronics India is taking steps to ensure the safety of its employees during COVID-19 outbreak and has set up a disinfectant tunnel for its employees. At the same time, the company also decided to donate another tunnel to the government and purchased 1000 grocery kits to be distributed to people in the villages to support the local community.

According to Murthy Munipalli, Managing Director of Incap India, the safety of Incap's employees is a very high priority for Incap. "While the factory remains in partial lockdown, we have started preparations on a small scale to be ready to ramp up to full speed once the lockdown is lifted. We have sanitizing procedures in place and have necessary equipment available for everyone, such as hand sanitizers, masks, gloves. We have a medical officer in our premises, who will check on our employees and give them advice on how to protect themselves," said Munipalli.

Incap has also set up a disinfectant tunnel in front of the factory, which will help protect the company's employees against the virus. "In the tunnel, a solution is sprayed to remove any possible virus from clothes, hair, skin and feet. It is an effective and safe way to protect people from catching and spreading the virus," Munipalli explained.

Munipalli added that in addition to keeping the employees safe, Incap is also very committed to the local community and wants to take social responsibility in helping the region tackle the coronavirus pandemic. "We decided to donate another disinfectant tunnel to the government and this will be installed at the entrance of a market in Tumkur. And as many people have trouble getting food supplies during the lockdown, we purchased 1000 grocery kits that will be distributed door-to-door in the neighbouring villages," said Munipalli.

Governments across the world have taken significant steps to contain the COVID-19 outbreak by restricting the movement of people. In India, the extension of the lockdown has been uncertain and currently it has been extended until 4 May 2020. Incap has started preparations on a small scale to be ready to ramp up to full speed once the lockdown is lifted.

Incap continues to closely monitor the situation in all its markets and follows the instructions provided by the local governments and health protection agencies. Incap will publish further information about major changes in its factory operations in due course.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Murthy Munipalli, Managing Director of Incap CMS Pvt Ltd, tel. +91 98802 31431

Mr. Otto Pukk, President and CEO, Incap Corporation, tel. +372 508 0798

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wobKitudAgsvZb6V8

Incap Corporation is a trusted partner and one-stop-shop in electronics manufacturing services. As a global EMS company Incap supports customers ranging from large multinationals and mid-sized companies to small start-ups in their complete manufacturing value chain. Incap offers state-of-the-art technology backed up by an entrepreneurial culture and highly qualified personnel. The company has operations in Finland, Estonia, India, Slovakia, the UK and Hong Kong and employs approximately 1,300 people. Incap's share has been listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd stock exchange since 1997.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 05:36:44|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, April 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock on Wednesday warned that COVID-19 may bring tragedy to Syria given its lack of capacity.

There are 43 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Syria and three deaths, he told the Security Council in a virtual briefing.

These figures may sound very low compared to those being recorded in New York. But if the virus is behaving similarly in Syria to how it has elsewhere, then tragedy beckons, he warned.

"We cannot expect a health care system decimated by almost a decade of war to cope with a crisis that is challenging even the wealthiest nations. We cannot expect mitigation measures to succeed where millions are displaced in crowded conditions, without adequate sanitation, and no assets or safety net to fall back on," said Lowcock.

Testing capacity remains very limited in Syria despite some modest increase, he said.

Areas of particular concern include camps and other crowded areas of displacement, which typically have insufficient access to water and sanitation.

As in other countries, the impacts of measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus are likely to be greatest on the most vulnerable. Since mid-March, some areas have seen average price increases of 40 percent to 50 percent for food staples. That compounds the impact of Syria's severe economic crisis, said Lowcock.

COVID-19 and its ramifications will become a multiplier of humanitarian needs in Syria. More than ever, this demands a response that uses every possible means of reaching people in need and ensures that measures taken outside Syria, which would restrict access to essential medical and other related supplies, are reorganized so that they do not have a residual effect, he said.

That will require a complete and immediate nationwide cease-fire; supplying critical medical items previously provided through al-Yarubiyah border crossing from Iraq; and a renewal of the cross-border authorization for northwest Syria.

In its latest re-authorization, the Security Council reduced the cross-border aid delivery mechanism from four crossings to two, slashing al-Yarubiyah from Iraq and al-Ramtha from Jordan. Enditem
Protecting Pound Dogs in Kilkenny and animal shelters across the country are struggling in the face of Covid-19. With the current restrictions in place the normal rate of adoption and rehoming is not taking place.

Animal rescue centres have predicted a surge in returns of animals following lockdown and a spike in cat and dog litters. Fundraising has ground to a halt adding further pressure to the rescue centres.

Petmania Kilkenny has launched a Food Appeal to help Protecting Pound Dogs in Kilkenny and its seven struggling rescue partners across Ireland. Starting today, a Food Appeal will be carried out instore and via the pet stores carry-to-car service.

Customers can make a food donation in-store with proceeds going to Protecting Pound Dogs. Kilkenny Animal lovers are also encouraged to go to Petmanias dedicated GoFundMe page via gofundme.com/f/Petmania- Animal-Rescue-Food-Appeal to raise much-needed funds for its shelter partners including Protecting Pound Dogs Kilkenny.



Protecting Pound Dogs instore adoption and fund-raiser from 2019

The Department of Food, Agriculture and Marine has advised rescue centres to limit the movement of animals which greatly impacts on the shelters ability to carry out vital home checks and rehoming of animals whilst in lockdown.

Additionally, the Veterinary Council of Ireland has advised vet practitioners to only carry out emergency procedures, which does not include neutering and spaying. Pet Shelters are predicting the measures will result in a surge of unwanted cat and dog litters and increased pressure on the charities limited resources.

Fears are growing among the shelter community that new pet-parents, who have adopted an animal during Covid-19 from private breeders while working from home, have not fully considered the long term impact of caring for a cat or dog. It is predicting a spike in returns once the restrictions are lifted similar to that seen after Christmas each year.

Rescue centres are facing financial hardship as a result of the Pandemic. While costs continue to mount up, many of the shelters flag days, fund raisers and adoption days have been cancelled. Some animal shelters have responded by setting up a waiting list and the Irish pet store is supporting its shelter partners with a food appeal and its GoFundMe donation page where customers can support the partner charities.

We have had a notable increase in enquiries about cat and dog adoption, now that people are at home," says Emily Miller of Petmania Kilkenny.

"We would strongly recommend that families wait until the restrictions have been lifted before welcoming a dog or cat into the family. Animals are the most wonderful companion and we encourage people to fully consider the long-term impact of pet-parenting, and if they will be able to continue to care for their new pet after life returns to normal.

"If people want to help, they can add an extra bag of food to their in-store or carry to car orders, which we will pass on to our animal shelter partners on their behalf. We would be thrilled if customers would consider leaving a small donation on our GoFundMe page for Protecting Pound Dogs Kilkenny to support their great work.

Pet stores are essential retailers and Petmanias 12 stores remain open across the country. It is now offering a carry-to-car-service to help customers get essential health and nutrition supplies safely without leaving their car.

Simply call Petmania Kilkenny to place an order. The staff will deliver to the car and put them in the boot  Petmania encourages its customers to add something extra into their order to help support the Protecting Pound Dogs Kilkenny For more see: www.petmania.ie | gofundm e.com/f/Petmania-Animal- Rescue-Food-Appeal
Xavi MenosShakira is always ready to help out her Colombian hometown, "Whenever, Wherever."

The star has just donated thousands of N95 masks for use by health care workers in Barranquilla [bah'-ran-KEE yah], Colombia, where she was born and raised. She also provided ventilators for use by COVID-19 patients.

The mayor of Barranquilla saluted Shakira, tweeting a video of himself wearing a mask while standing with several hazmat-suited workers, all holding the new masks.

He captioned the video, "One of the most beloved Barranquilleras in the world is @shakira, and she is also one of the people who most loves this city. Huge thank you for your contribution of thousands of N95 masks for our health care workers, and ventilators that will save lives."

Shakira retweeted the video and wrote, "Thanks to the Mayor's team for helping us coordinate this effort, I hope that we will continue adding resources to protect our own!"

There are over 6,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colombia.

Gracias al equipo de Alcaldia por ayudarnos a coordinar este esfuerzo, espero que mas sigamos sumando recursos para proteger a los nuestros! https://t.co/VejqIE0c8C  Shakira (@shakira) April 30, 2020

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
ROME, N.Y.  The Toccolana Club in Rome has decided to cancel the 2020 World Series of Bocce, a tradition that draws international crowds every year.

The 47th annual event was scheduled for July 16-19.

Toccolana Club officials say they plan to resume the event in 2021.
New Delhi, April 30 : The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a petition seeking direction to stop illegal trending of various hashtags on Twitter, attaching religion to the COVID-19 pandemic and said it was akin to asking MTNL to stop people talking wrong things on phone.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said: "How can the court stop this? You are saying people are saying wrong things on Twitter." A petition was filed by advocate Khaja Aijazuddin seeking directions from the apex court to government to direct Twitter to stop the illegal trending of hashtags on the social network under the name #Islamiccoronavirusjihad, #Coronajihad, #Tablighi jamat, #Nizamuddinidiots, #TablighiJamatVirus.

The petitioner argued that these messages were attaching the religion to pandemic disease, and this was unwarranted, illegal and unconstitutional.

The bench replied that it is like people are saying the wrong thing on the phone, therefore ask MTNL to stop them. The court observed that we can't issue such pre-emptive directions.

The petitioner argued that such messages are also contrary to the guidelines or advisory issued on March 18 by the World Health Organization (WHO), which says religion cannot be attached with the pandemic. "And also it amounts to contrary to the laws prevailing in the territorial Jurisdiction of India i.e. invocation of Penal Laws for want of manifestly insulting the religion by hurting the feelings of the religion and also the trending may disturb the communal harmony of the Country", said the petition.

The petitioner argued that the trending on Twitter attacking a particular community by attaching the disease is totally contrary to Indian Laws. The top court asked the petitioner to move the High Court concerned on this matter.
In 1994, Kerala implemented the 74th Constitution Amendment and gave an impetus to decentralisation of governance.

According to the 2011 Census, over 377 million people in India live in cities. Urban centres in India are engines of economic growth and contribute to about two-thirds of the country's total economic output, as estimated by the World Bank. However, the coronavirus pandemic has posed unique challenges to urban local governance.

Globally, there have been examples of empowered city governments successfully tackling the spread of disease. For example, city administrations in Havana City, Cuba and Yogyakarta, Indonesia have achieved success in reducing the spread of dengue fever through collaborative governance.

In India, the twelfth schedule of the Constitution mentions 18 functions that are to be devolved to city governments. But much of this devolution has not happened. Public health, planning for economic and social development, slum improvement and upgradation are among the subjects included in the twelfth schedule. A study in 21 states of India has shown that out of 21 cities, only four have control over public health, only one city has control over planning for economic and social development, and only five cities have control over slum improvement and upgradation. The public health department plays a key role in dealing with the outbreak of diseases. It is also responsible for functions such as sanitation and solid waste management.

Ideally, policies of the Centre and states should act as catalysts, and the city administrations should be the implementing agencies. City governments should have complete control over the functions listed above.

Further, elected representatives  councillors and mayors  should be empowered to take decisions, and should be made accountable. When it comes to taking decisions and implementing schemes at the local level, fiscal empowerment plays an important role. The city government, therefore, should have the authority to approve the municipal budget, introduce new taxes, change tax rates and ensure revenue generation with financial support from the state government.

Also, citizen participation in budget-making and planning should be facilitated with platforms at a decentralised level such as area sabhas. Examples of these are peoples planning initiatives in Kerala, and participatory budgeting in Bengaluru.

Leveraging local mechanisms and community platforms

In 1994, Kerala implemented the 74th Constitution Amendment and gave an impetus to decentralisation by enacting the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994. Kerala adopted the big-bang model for decentralisation instead of going for gradual devolution. This has ensured that city governments in Kerala are empowered in a manner mostly not seen in the rest of the country.

Kudumbashree, a poverty eradication and women empowerment programme, was also launched in the state in 1997. It consists of a three-tier community framework comprising neighbourhood groups, area development societies and community development societies. While the state government provides the funds and guidelines, local governments are responsible for the programme's structure and implementation.

When the coronavirus outbreak began in Kerala, the state government entrusted local governments and Kudumbashree with establishing community kitchens for economically weaker sections, homeless people, daily wagers and labourers. Municipal councillors, along with hotel owners and caterers who volunteered, carried out this task. Any donations were routed through the community kitchen to avoid duplication. The experience of dealing with the pandemic also helped local governments proactively plan for challenges ahead, such as floods.

Similarly, the peoples plan initiative was a six-stage campaign, from ward sabha meetings to the district planning committee. The campaign involved establishing ward sabhas, where citizen representatives, activists and local elected representatives conducted meetings in each ward. The objective of the meetings was to discuss local development issues and solutions. This strengthened the community participation and awareness among citizens. Resident welfare associations played an important role in participatory planning, and are now proving helpful in spreading awareness and collecting donations for community kitchens.

On the whole, city governments are very crucial in ensuring a high quality of life for citizens. Empowered city governments, to whom the relevant powers are devolved, are better prepared to address challenges in difficult times. The experience of Kerala shows how decentralised governance helps address the needs of a city during an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers lessons for other states, not just in terms of dealing with coronavirus, but also ensuring efficient delivery of services in general.

Milind Mhaske is director at Praja Foundation, a non-partisan organisation working towards enabling accountable governance.

Meghna Bandelwar is a project officer at Praja Foundation.
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It may not be the spectacular reunification celebration that we all know since some social restrictions will still be in place but it will certainly feel like it!

As April 30, Liberation Day or Reunification Day, as it is commonly labeled, in Vietnam approaches, it looks as if Vietnam may finally head toward the first victory over COVID-19, with restrictions easing up and no deaths at the present moment of writing.

Most foreigners living here know about Liberation or Reunification Day  the day in 1975 when the gates of the presidential palace in Saigon were knocked down by a Vietnamese tank, marking the end of the American war, as its more commonly known here, and the unification of the nation as a whole entity.

Although this can be a time for reflection, a pause for thought or a shock to realize that life isnt always going to be predictable, I do believe that it is useful to do so, even if this is supposed to be an uplifting article about Reunification Day.

Firstly, to remember what the nation and the people have achieved and endured in the past and, secondly, to not be afraid to accept change and adapt to the rapidly changing circumstances around us during the pandemic and dealing with the future, just as the Vietnamese had to do after the war finished.

The Vietnamese are a fairly pragmatic lot. They dont dwell too long on past losses as life here demands that citizens get on with the business of surviving and prospering, regardless of drought, floods, disasters and economic roller-coasters.

That same determined outlook helped the Vietnamese get to the end of the war and it has served them well again in dealing with the present health crisis.

I wrote a story recently and a Vietnamese friend commented and I quote, I was talking to a founder of Water Safety Vietnam who considered the life lesson she got from her time in Vietnam as: make do. I think that pragmatism permeates life from a young age, and to this day I am grateful for what I call my Vietnamese resilience. (Thu Trang T)

And this is what we celebrate on April 30  not just the end of a war but the tribute to the strength of the Vietnamese throughout a crisis.

The parallels between that fortitude and the present attitude and acceptance of what needs to be done during the COVID-19 pandemic are remarkable.

Although Vietnam is mostly described as a middle-developing country,' there was no hesitation in immediately setting up a health protection and prevention strategy as quickly as the government could.

Just as Vietnam had to face a supposedly technologically advanced American army and made do with whatever they had, so the country rapidly adapted to the scientific and logistical hurdles of dealing with so many potential (and real) cases of infection.

As is typical of their character and culture, the Vietnamese have thrown everything they have at the problem, utilizing already existing military facilities as well as public hospitals, creating their own tests and equipment as they go, and imposing testing and tracing regardless of the hardships and costs both economically and socially.

Its very Vietnamese; it seems to me, If thats what we have to do, then we will do it.

Success for the Vietnamese is often about coming together in difficult times and accepting the burden that everyone will have to deal with.

If you compare this to the more divided and less efficient approaches taken by Western countries to the disease, then there is something worthwhile in the Confucianism philosophy of nation and family first.

Vietnams long experience with war served it well during the American war. Now local experience and knowledge in the fight against SARS prewarned them to move quickly to contain the outbreak.

Its no accident that Vietnam has described this struggle as a general offensive, a reminder of the past and a national encouragement to the people of the nation.

For sure, one thing we should do is salute all the medical workers, the people keeping our communities going (rubbish collectors and delivery drivers, stand up!) and everyone else in Vietnam who has helped out during a very stressful and worrying time.

Yet just as Reunification Day is not the end of the story of Vietnams continuing development, so to the final elimination, prevention or vaccination success against COVID-19 has not yet arrived.

But thats where the resilience kicks in. We make do during this time. We support each other and offer encouragement when it all seems too much and we keep up the good fight.'

Certainly, one thing has been reconfirmed. Life is not really about money, fame or things we own.

A good life is the measure of how we treat each other and it is remarkable how much courage, bravery and generosity that is out there.

We are all in this together and although this pandemic has kept us apart, we will be reunited at some point in the not too distant future and liberated from our worst fears.

Happy Reunification Day to everyone!
Cuomo gives north country counties the green light to resume elective surgeries ALBANY  Elective surgeries will resume in 35 of the states 62 counties, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday. Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawr

LOWVILLE  While 35 counties, including many in the north country, were approved by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to reinstate elective surgeries, that does not mean hospitals will begin doing procedures starting immediately, although some were prepared to do so on Tuesday.

We had scheduled based on the release out of the governors office last Tuesday and his news conference announcement  if you met certain criteria, which we met that criteria, we could begin surgeries, said Lewis County Health System Chief Executive Officer Gerald R. Cayer. Then in the 11th hour we were told not to move forward because the executive order had not been adjusted and there had been no guidance by the Department of Health allowing us to move forward.

He said there were several other hospitals in the area that also had to call patients to put their surgeries on hold yet again.

Patients scheduled for Tuesday procedures were tested late last week for the novel coronavirus to meet the requirement given by Gov. Cuomo last week that all elective surgery patients be tested three days prior to their procedures.

Iroquois Healthcare Association communicated with its member hospitals on Monday, Mr. Cayer said, that the health departments guidance had still not arrived and that no procedures should be performed.

On Monday at 4:30, we pulled the plug here because we didnt have the guidance, Mr. Cayer said late Wednesday afternoon. We were told wed have it and weve been waiting for it ever since.

Getting these surgeries back on track is important to many patients who have been waiting and crucial financially for the Lewis County facility.

We adjusted our furlough plan in anticipation of doing these surgeries and its so disruptive to the patients. The whole darn thing is disappointing, Mr. Cayer said.

Likewise, Samaritan Medical Center, one of the first north country hospitals to announce unpaid leave for a substantial number of employees, has been taking action since it heard the news of elective surgery reopening.

Samaritans spokesperson Leslie DeStefano said the hospital has been planning and ramping up in anticipation of beginning surgeries and while she couldnt confirm surgeries were actually scheduled for Tuesday, as had been reported to the Times by various sources, she said. That wouldnt surprise me.

One change of which she was aware was, like at Lewis County Hospital, the implementation of testing patients for COVID-19 three days before potential procedures.

Since elective surgeries were put on hold about seven weeks ago, Samaritan Medical Center had to postpone 600 outpatient procedures and surgeries, Ms. DeStefano said, and it is not possible to know how long it may take for the hospital to get procedures caught up. Some cases that were elective before have since become emergent, she said, and will take priority.

Carthage Area Hospital took a more conservative approach to the potential return of the outpatient procedures and didnt make any specific plans or schedule patients for Tuesday because they did not have the anticipated guidance in hand, according to the hospitals spokesperson Taylour L. Scanlin.

You can pre-plan as much as you can, but you can only go so far, Ms. Scanlin said.

She said they believe the guidelines may provide additional safety directives they want to implement before planning any surgeries.

Were hoping the public isnt going to be scared to come in for the procedures. We might be given permission but we absolutely want to ensure the safety of our patients, Ms. Scanlin said.

Like the other hospitals, Carthage Area furloughed a significant number of staff members, 83, but found out three days later its Payroll Protection Program loan had been approved. The furloughs were reversed and some of the financial pressure because of the lack of elective surgeries was alleviated.

The other hospitals, with too many staff members to qualify for the PPP program, still have that pressure.

While Mr. Cayer said he doesnt know what will be included in the health departments guidelines, the safety procedures his team have been performing throughout the COVID-19 crisis wont stop any time soon so they can continue to provide a safe environment for patients, including those having elective surgeries.

It is an incredibly low risk, Mr. Cayer said of the possibility of contracting COVID-19 during an elective surgery at Lewis County Hospital. But we can never let our guard down. Our success today doesnt guarantee success in the future therefore we have to continue doing all of the things weve learned.

St. Lawrence Health System representatives did not respond to requests for information.

To qualify for a return to elective surgeries, hospitals in the first wave of approved counties must have more than 25 percent of their bed capacity available and fewer than 10 new COVID-19 patients hospitalized within the past 10 days, according to Gov. Cuomo during his April 21 press conference.
A Member of Parliament's Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo has cautioned the Senior Minister to desist from foisting the UNIPASS system on Ghana ports or face the law in a future NDC administration.

According to him, the UNIPASS system is an inferior system compared to the existing system which has consistently delivered superior value to government and businesses at the ports.

Activities at the ports have suffered in the past few days due to the implementation of the new UNIPASS system.

Addressing the media, the Bolga Central questioned the efficiency of the UNIPASS system, adding that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) struggled to load yesterday [Wednesday].

The last thing they expect to see is to get to a port and not be able to load their trucks to go and run the filling stations and make some money to support their businesses and at the end of the day now be saddled with the possibility of shortages of fuel across the globe by this inept Senior Minister.

We cannot allow somebody who belongs to a generation that is already gone to sacrifice the future of the next generation. I want to take this challenge to the senior minister that he cannot be looking for his pension from the resources of the people of Ghana. He must deliver what is value-driven for our people. He must not spend a penny of the people of Ghana to buy up a contract that is not superior and better than the existing contract and he must not pose additional risk to the business community at the port who have already suffered enough because they can't even import the goods into the country he added.

Background

The government on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, started using a new single window system for the clearance of goods popularly known as UNIPASS, thus shutting down the old system operated by GCNet and West blue.

However, Freight Forwarders have not been able to clear their goods at the Takoradi and Tema ports due to issues with the new system.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders is also anticipating revenue losses if the concerns raised by stakeholders on the inefficiencies of the UNIPASS system are not addressed.

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers, Ghana, (COPEC) has also been calling on the government to resolve issues with the UNIPASS system since Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and the Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) that had orders for supply of fuel to various outlets could not load a single litre of fuel all day on Wednesday the 29th of April due to discrepancies in the migration onto the new customs system (UNIPASS) at the depots.

---citinewsroom
As expected, Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have promoted the use of telemedicine over its inclusion of language that would have banned access to certain medical treatments, including prescribing an abortion drug.

The veto drew strong criticism from Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion advocates who condemned him for siding with abortion rights activists and ignoring the needs of underserved Pennsylvanians for access to medical care.

The bill would have allowed the remote delivery of health care services online and required health insurers to reimburse health care providers for rendering these services.

In his veto message, Wolf said he supports the importance of telemedicine but this bill, as amended by the House and approved by the Senate, arbitrarily restricts the use of telemedicine for certain doctor-patient interactions."

In particular, the ardent supporter of womens reproductive rights cited the limitations it placed on womens health care.

The governor was referring to language in the bill that banned telemedicine from applying to medications on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) list. That list includes an early-term abortion medication, mifepristone, and medications on it can only be prescribed after an in-person doctor visit.

During last weeks Senate debate, Republican lawmakers argued that the bill changed nothing when it came to womens reproductive health care. Currently, they must go to a doctor to be prescribed drugs on that FDA list and this bill upholds that requirement. But Democratic senators argued it was a ploy intended to chip away at womens reproductive services.

Beyond the abortion issue, Republican lawmakers in both chambers said it was critical to set standards for the use of telemedicine by specialists and other health care providers to reach people in rural and underserved areas. And now with the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes even more necessary to avoid in-person visits to the doctors office where patients risk being exposed to people with the virus.

Wolf noted in his veto message that the payment provision for telemedicine services in the bill wouldnt take effect for at least six months. He said the version of the legislation he supported would have addressed the current need for telemedicine services during the COVID-19 emergency when in-person interactions of so many kinds are inadvisable.

House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County, chided Wolf for his veto, which blocks life-saving telemedicine resources during a pandemic. Instead, Governor Wolf sided with abortion rights activists who wrongly believe the legislation as written impacts existing abortion law.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, expressed his disappointment that our rural families continue to face hours of travel to receive medical care instead of having access to a medical professional whenever and wherever it is needed.

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and Commonwealth Foundation joined the Republican lawmakers in voicing their disapproval of the veto.

Emily Callen, executive director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, applauded the governors action.

She said Wolf is demonstrating his commitment to reproductive rights by standing up to the anti-abortion politicians and activists who are trying to exploit this unprecedented public health crisis to block access to safe, legal, and essential abortion care.

Along with his veto, the governor on Wednesday released cross-agency guidance on telehealth, citing its importance as a health care delivery option during COVID-19 and saying his authority under the Disaster Declaration signed in early March allows him to take this step.

The guidance was issued to ensure that patients in need of vital health care services are receiving them in a timely, appropriate manner. Multiple state agencies are involved in providing expanded telehealth services, including the departments of State, Health, Drug and Alcohol Programs, Human Services and the Insurance Department.

*This post was updated to include the reference to the cross-agency guidance on telehealth issued on Wednesday.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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Joe Biden says he would keep Israel's US embassy in Jerusalem if elected, despite calling Donald Trump's controversial decision to move the office from Tel Aviv "short-sighted and frivolous" before the US engaged a peace process.

The likely Democratic nominee to face the president in November's general election claimed that moving the embassy to the holy city would impede efforts to strengthen peace efforts among Israel's government and Palestinian officials.

While a Delaware Senator, Mr Biden supported the congressional authorisation of the embassy's move in 1995, but the move was delayed as parties sought broader negotiations with leaders in the region.

Speaking to members of a virtual fundraiser on Wednesday, the former vice president said: "Moving the embassy when we did without the conditions having been met was short-sighted and frivolous. It should have happened in the context of a larger deal to help us achieve important concessions for peace in the process."

Mr Biden said he supports a "two-state solution" though the president's push for the embassy to remain in Jerusalem aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other right-wing and Israel hard-liners who have made Jewish and Christian claims to the region. Jerusalem is a crucial holy site for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

The Biden campaign also announced that the candidate would support the embassy remaining in Jerusalem during a Tuesday conference call.

Mr Biden's foreign policy advisor Antony Blinken said that "revisiting that question does not make a lot of sense, either practically or for that matter politically" and that "the real question going forward is what can be done to try to revive and then ultimately advance the prospects of two states for two people."

The former vice president opposes the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Israel heads to the polls: In pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Israel heads to the polls: In pictures Israel heads to the polls: In pictures People walk past a Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) alliance electoral billboard depicting the faces of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) with text in Hebrew reading "taking care of himself" and of retired Israeli general Benny Gantz (L) with text reading "taking care of Israel", in the central Israeli city of Ramat Gan on March 1, 2020, a day before the country's third election in a year. AFP Israel heads to the polls: In pictures Israeli centrist Blue and White party and ex-military chief Benny Gantz talks to the media next to his wife Revital at a polling station in the city of Rosh Hayin during parliamentary election on March 2, 2020. - Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months today, with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country's political crisis and save his career. AFP via Getty Images Israel heads to the polls: In pictures An Israeli man casts his vote during parliamentary election at a polling station in Jerusalem on March 2, 2020. - Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months today, with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country's political crisis and save his career. AFP via Getty Images Israel heads to the polls: In pictures Ultra-Orthodox Jews vote in the Israeli religious city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv during parliamentary election on March 2, 2020. - Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months today, with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country's political crisis and save his career. AFP via Getty Images Israel heads to the polls: In pictures An Israeli man and a child cast a ballot at a polling station in Tel Aviv during parliamentary election on March 2, 2020. - Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months today, with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country's political crisis and save his career. AFP via Getty Images Israel heads to the polls: In pictures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu cast their ballots during the Israeli legislative elections at a polling station in Jerusalem, Monday, March 2, 2020. Israelis have begun voting in the country's unprecedented third election in less than a year. AP Israel heads to the polls: In pictures An Arab Israeli woman votes in the country's parliamentary elections at a polling station in the Arab city of Tamra in northern Israel on March 2, 2020. - Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months today, with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country's political crisis and save his career. AFP via Getty Images Israel heads to the polls: In pictures An Israeli settler casts a vote with his son during elections in the settlement of Alon Shvut, West Bank, Monday, March 2, 2020. AP Israel heads to the polls: In pictures An Israeli employee of the Central Elections Committee wearing a protective suit sits inside a special sterile voting station for people in quarantine on coronavirus suspicion, in Jerusalem, Israel, 02 March 2020. Some 5,600 Israelis who have returned in the last two weeks from countries such as China, Thailand, Singapore, Macau, South Korea, Japan and Italy, have been required to stay in a 14-day isolation by the Israeli Ministry of Health. EPA Israel heads to the polls: In pictures An Israeli employee of the Central Elections Committee wearing a protective suit talks to a voter at a special sterile voting station for people in quarantine on coronavirus suspicion, in Jerusalem, Israel, 02 March 2020. Some 5,600 Israelis who have returned in the last two weeks from countries such as China, Thailand, Singapore, Macau, South Korea, Japan and Italy, have been required to stay in a 14-day isolation by the Israeli Ministry of Health. EPA Israel heads to the polls: In pictures An Arab-Israeli girl casts her mother's ballot for the parliamentary election at a poling station in the Bedouin town of Rahat near the southern Israeli city of Beersheba on March 2, 2020. - Israel held its third election in less than a year seeking to break a grinding political deadlock, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chasing re-election while facing criminal indictment. AFP via Getty Images Israel heads to the polls: In pictures Israelis gather at a polling booth specially erected for the 5,600 voters under quarantine, many of whom visited countries where the coronavirus COVID-19 is prevalent, during parliamentary elections in the northern Israeli city of Haifa on March 2, 2020. - Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months today, with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country's political crisis and save his career . AFP via Getty Images

Earlier this year, the Trump administration broke from decades of US foreign policy to help Israel carve out a fractured Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank and would allow Israel to annexe the Jordan Valley and some occupied territory, including areas containing settlements that are illegal under international law.

Armed with US support and a large government coalition, the Israeli government will begin that process on 1 July.
AN IRISH couple have bravely refused to abandon their aid work in Africa despite fears the Covid-19 pandemic could inflict the world's heaviest death toll there.

Maria Kidney and Martin Ballantyne have decided to remain in Kenya to continue their work with the Brighter Communities Worldwide charity.

Maria, who hails from Cork, and Martin, who is from Sligo, founded the charity to help with development work in rural Kenya.

Now, despite the threat posed by Covid-19, they opted to remain in Kenya where they have volunteered with the Kericho County Emergency Preparedness and Response Team.

The Irish couple are now assisting with community sanitisation programmes, the provision of personal protection equipment for local healthcare workers and the conversion of buildings into special isolation wards.

Incredibly, their region of Kenya has just one ventilator per every million people.

We have been here 18 years we simply couldnt leave now when the need is so great. We have, over the years, developed programmes that have now adapted to the current crisis, Maria explained.

Developing countries will be disproportionately affected through their lack of strong health systems, lack of access to healthcare and running water.

"Crucially, it is not just the lack of physical equipment or facilities, but even access to health workers too.

"In Kericho County, Kenya there are seven doctors for every 100,000 people. At the moment, we are struggling to even buy thermometers."

The couple said they could not leave when the area's need was greatest.

We understand that the world is in crisis but for the developing world basic needs arent being met even on a normal day and now those basic needs are the difference between this crisis becoming a long-imbedded battle and flattening the curve.

"We need to eradicate this crisis across the world, and that includes the developing countries. As WHO says: We are only as strong as our weakest link. None of us are safe until all of us are safe. When we are in crisis it is not easy to think of others. We need the continued support of Irish generosity to continue our work."

The couple are now hoping to raise funds to help in the desperate battle to protect the most vulnerable from the virus in Africa.

"All monies raised will fund what is needed to protect these communities from Covid-19 including soap and water containers, training for health workers, communication materials, PPE and preparation of health facilities and equipment."

Anyone interested in helping BCW can do so via https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ourfutureisinyourhands
A new company manufacturing isolation gowns as personal protective equipment is in negotiations to acquire a facility in Tomball, which could bring around 300 new jobs to the area.

The company, Wildcat PPE, is a spin-off of Wildcat Cable, and is only about a month old.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: AG's office calls Harris vote-by-mail statements 'misleading'

Three weeks ago, we felt that there was a real need for somebody to step up with a domestic solution, so we found raw material here in the states and started securing orders to manufacture disposable isolation gowns, Wildcat PPE Chief Financial Officer Jason Arcemont said.

Arcemont said there have been difficulties importing goods from China during the pandemic, and that he thought there would be a push for domestic solutions in the future. To help with that, Arcemont said his company is looking to secure a 100,000-square-foot facility in the Tomball Industrial Crossing Office Park on Medical Complex Drive.

MORE FROM PAUL WEDDING: LSC-Tomball library hosting workshops for local businesses through partnership with Google

We are sure hoping we make enough noise with this that we have American companies trying to prove China is not always cheaper, he said. We hope people start paying attention to this and supporting small businesses.

The company has already received orders of more than 10 million units, he said, and the company plans to get up to producing several hundred thousand gowns a week.

Several of the owners of the company are active in Tomball, Arcemont said, and they want to help bring Tomball more jobs.

Ive been in this area and as soon as this need came up and we knew wed need several hundred people, everybody was just so excited about the operation and bent over backwards to accommodate me, Arcemont said.

Around 150 people have been brought on to the company this week following a job fair last Friday held at the Tomball Economic Development Corporations South Live Oak Industrial Park. Arcemont said they hope to have between 400 and 600 employees by the end of the year.

NEW DEVELOPMENT: Tomball EDC purchases land, warehouses near Main Street

Wildcat PPE is operating out of one facility now in Decker Prairie. Arcemont said they cleaned out the facility before bringing workers in and are practicing CDC recommendations, requiring them to wear masks and checking temperatures.

They have to answer some questions properly and they cant have a fever, he said. We want every employee here to feel safe and we take every precaution to make sure.

Mayor Gretchen Fagan, who is also TEDC President, said she is excited to have the company come to Tomball.

Always when you bring jobs thats important to the economy, Fagan said. Because that not only employs people, but you also have people coming out and shopping here.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
As the window of time closes in on chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to enter the state legislature, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi leaders and the Shiv Sena are examining all options to get him nominated to the upper house of the state legislature.

Sena leaders said that they are also exploring their legal options and will be writing to the Election Commission.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has remained non-committal on processing the recommendation of the state cabinet. The CM then reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening to resolve the crisis. Sena insiders said that they would wait for a couple of days to see if the message from Delhi reached Raj Bhavan.

Thackerays fate as chief minister hangs in balance as he has to get elected to one of the two houses of the state legislature by May 27. As per constitutional provisions, a minister or chief minister has to get elected to the state legislature within six months of taking oath.

Thackeray, who was sworn in as the CM on November 28, will have to resign if he fails to get nominated to the upper house in the state assembly..

The elections on the nine seats of the legislative council were deferred due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Uddhav ji has spoken to PM Modi. Let us wait for a couple of days if the message reaches Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, we are working on our options. We would write to the Election Commission requesting it to hold the legislative council polls. Another option is to approach the Supreme Court seeking it to direct EC to hold the polls, a Sena leader said requesting anonymity.

The Sena is hopeful that the governor would process the nomination soon and it would not come to the MVAs last option of Thackeray resigning. It would not come to that (Thackerays resignation as CM), the leader said. If Thackeray resigns, he would be re-elected as the leader of the MVA coalition and form the government again amid the ongoing battle against the coronavirus outbreak in Maharashtra.

During the phone conversation between Thackeray and Modi, the former expressed unhappiness over the politics being played over his nomination to the legislative council. Uddhav ji discussed the current political uncertainty in the state with the PM. He expressed unhappiness over the politics being played over his nomination as MLC at a time when the state is combating the coronavirus outbreak in the state, a senior Sena leader told HT.

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Irrfan Khan stood out for his generosity, says Hollywood star Angelina Jolies as she remembered her "A Mighty Heart" co-star, who passed away after a battle with cancer.

The 54-year-old actor died in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday after a two year fight ?with a rare form of cancer. He was buried at the Versova graveyard.

Jolie and Irrfan collaborated on Michael Winterbottom's 2007 film about US journalist Daniel Pearl who was killed in Pakistan in 2002.

She played the role of Pearl's widow Marianne, while Irrfan appeared as Zeeshan Kazmi, the chief of Karachi Police.

In a statement, Jolie said it was a "privilege" for her to work with Irrfan as she hailed for his commitment to his craft.

"I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of A Mighty Heart. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him," Jolie said.

"I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world," she added.

Irrfan had followed up "A Mighty Heart" with Hollywood films such as "The Amazing Spider-Man", "Life of Pi", "Jurassic World" and "Inferno".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday appointed an acting head of the beleaguered Supreme Court following the retirement of its president, who had vehemently defended its independence.

The court under Malgorzata Gersdorf has been critical of the steps that the right-wing government is taking to put Poland's judiciary under political control.

The court has also questioned the legality of new legislation the government is pushing to allow the upcoming presidential election to be held by mail. It has the authority to question the legality of elections.

Gersdorf is retiring Thursday and a crowd is gathering before the Supreme Court to thank her for her role in defending the independence of Poland's judiciary and bid her farewell.

A court general assembly that should have shortlisted five candidates to succeed her has been put off until social distancing rules against the coronavirus spread are lifted.

President Andrzej Duda, who has the authority to appoint the new head of the court, appointed one of the court's judges, Judge Kamil Zaradkiewicz on Thursday to be the acting head.

Zaradkiewicz had previously questioned the power of some of the rulings by another top court, the Constitutional Tribunal.

Critics said that according to the rule, the interim job should have been given to the court's oldest judge, Jozef Iwulski.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cardinal Richelieu reportedly said, "If you give me six sentences written by the most innocent of men I will find something in them with which to hang him.

Later, Josef Stalin's director of the NKVD Soviet secret police, Lavrentiy Beria, said, Show me the man and Ill find you the crime. Harvey Silverglate has written a book, Three Felonies a Day, which suggests that anyone can be convicted of a crime if government officials desire it.

General Michael Flynn has pled guilty to lying to the FBI. Pleading guilty is not unusual behavior when confronting the enormous power of the state. During the Soviet purge trials Grigory Zinoviev, Lev Kamenev and many others pled guilty to ridiculous charges. We believe that things like this should not happen in the United States.

Flynn's problems arose as a result of the Deep State's efforts to take down Donald Trump. Senator Chuck Schumer stated, Let me tell you: You take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you. For a practical, supposedly hard-nosed businessman, hes being really dumb to do this. Trump's problem was that the intelligence community had decided to destroy him before he had an opportunity to "take them on."

The judge in the Flynn case, Emmmet Sullivan, has experience with corrupt Department of Justice officials. He presided over the conviction of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska in 2008. Stevens was convicted of lying on financial disclosure documents. A few days later, Stevens lost re-election. Sullivan wrote, "The government's ill-gotten verdict in the case not only cost that public official his bid for re-election, the results of that election tipped the balance of power in the United States Senate." DC Bar claimed that the team of prosecutors failed to hand over key exculpatory evidence and knowingly presenting false evidence to the jury.

Judge Sullivan said, Its very troubling that the government would utilize records that the government knows were false. It strikes me that this was probably intentional. I find it unbelievable that this was just an error. However, Michael E. ONeill of George Mason University School of Law believed this was all just a giant mistake. If all of our lives and careers were defined by our mistakes, nobody would have a job, so you hate to think that one mistake would damage someones career.

Judge Sullivan appointed a special prosecutor to investigate prosecutorial misconduct. He did not recommend criminal charges against any of the federal prosecutors despite finding widespread misconduct. The report concluded, "the investigation and prosecution of Sen. Stevens were permeated by the systematic concealment of significant exculpatory evidence which would have independently corroborated (his) defense and his testimony, and seriously damaged the testimony and credibility of the government's key witness." Sen. Lisa Murkowski stated, "I'm pleased that Judge Sullivan has decided that transparency is not merely the best option, but the only option if Americans are to regain the ironclad and fundamental trust in our justice system."

Sullivan ultimately dismissed the Stevens conviction after the Justice Department admitted misconduct in the case. When four attorneys who prosecuted Sen. Stevens requested a damaging report be kept private Sullivan rejected their request. However, he said he would not hold them criminally responsible for their "ill-gotten verdict."

The prosecution team was led by "some of the Justice Departments finest lawyers" who handled the case. The trial team was part of an elite group of prosecutors in the Public Integrity (PIN) Section, with experience pursuing high-profile and complex cases" according to DC Bar created by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in 1972. The team included Brenda K. Morris, principal deputy chief of the PIN Section, William M. Welch II the supervisory attorney, James A. Goeke, Joseph W. Bottini and Nicholas A. Marsh. Morris has a knows a great deal about Public Integrity. In 2002 Morris' team misled a U.S. magistrate in order to conduct an unconstitutional search. This resulted in the government settling the case for $1.3 million. While Morris and Welch were exonerated lesser officials were not so lucky. Goeke was suspended without pay for 15 days and Bottini was suspended without pay for 40 days. Marsh escaped punishment by committing suicide.

Flynn was aware that his conversation with the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak was recorded A Washington Post article published one day before Flynn's White House interview with the agents, citing FBI sources, publicly revealed that the FBI had wiretapped Flynn's calls. It would not make sense to lie about something that was recorded. Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett asserted "You know, all along Flynn was set up by Comey and McCabe. He was lied to. They set up a perjury trap that Flynn didn't fall into. The FBI agents who interviewed him said, 'Hey, this guy is telling the truth. How could you possible prosecute a guy for lying when the only witnesses say he didn't lie?' But, Bob Mueller's team of partisans prosecuted him anyway and coerced him under threat to cop a plea. This is one of the worst cases of miscarriage of justice I have ever seen."

It is reassuring that there are public officials outraged by this corrupt behavior. They claim there must be consequences. Forty or 15 days without pay. We are told the wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow. For some reason justice has wings when in comes to people like Roger Stone or Paul Manafort. We are constantly assured that the next investigator will get results. This excuse can only be used for a limited time.

John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from St. Marys University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program "Things We Forgot to Remember:" Morgenthau Plan and post-war Germany.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Susan Romano / public domain
U.S. President Donald Trump was so intent on saving the American oil industry that he told the Saudi crown prince that unless the Kingdom stopped the oil price war and got OPEC+ together for a new round of cuts, the Trump Administration may not be able to prevent legislation to pull American troops out of Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing four sources with knowledge of the matter.

President Trump spoke on the phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 2, as the president himself said on Twitter that day, sending oil prices surging by 25 percent after saying that he hoped Saudi Arabia and Russia would cut 10 million bpd, or probably even 15 million bpd, to prop oil prices.

According to sources with knowledge of the entire phone conversation between President Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince, President Trump threatened to shake up the strategic  including military  alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia if the Saudis were to continue pursuing their oil price war for market share that had severely depressed oil prices, on top of the crashing demand.

The message of the U.S. Administration to Saudi Arabia, through various channels, was basically We are defending your industry while youre destroying ours, a senior U.S. official told Reuters.

In early April, just hours after the diplomatic push from President Trump and his hint at a massive production cut, Saudi Arabia scrambled to put out a statement, via its official Saudi Press Agency, calling for an emergency meeting of the OPEC+ nations and all other major producers not part of the format, in order to discuss ways to support the crumbling oil prices amid crashing demand.

This invitation comes within framework of the Kingdom's constant efforts to support the global economy in this exceptional circumstance, and in appreciation of the US President's request and the US friends' request, Saudi Arabia said on April 2.

The rest, they say, is history. Ten days later, after four days of wrangling over quotas, baselines, and why Mexico should be spared most of its share of the cuts, the OPEC+ group came up with a new deal to remove 9.7 million bpd from the market in May and June, then ease the cuts to 7.7 million bpd for July to December 2020, and then further to 5.8 million bpd until the end of April 2022.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
In a news report, the U.S. is said to have already tested 5.7 million people for the coronavirus. The data spans from the beginning of the pandemic to earlier this week. The most tests that the United States has run on a day were 314,182 tests, and this was done last April 22.

Trump shared that the main reason the United States has reported one million positive cases of COVID-19 was that the testing in the nation was conducted under better conditions compared to other countries in the world, which he said were behind on testing or were underreporting cases.



Accurate Mass Testing

Vice President Mike Pence commended Trump for bringing together commercial laboratory companies to improve mass testing. Without their energy and effort, Pence acknowledged that the high-speed testing necessary for the nation would not have reached the numbers it has.

Last Monday, Trump released the three-phase plan to expand testing in the United States. He said, "all parts of the country are in good shape and getting better."

He added that efforts were being made to expand testing in the United States further. Quest Diagnostics CEO Steve Rusckowski, who was present at the conference on Monday, said the Trump administration planned to do over "250,000 tests per day so that by the end of next month, the U.S. will have 10 million tests done."

The medical industries aimed to triple testing by the end of May.

Trump said because of the support of commercial laboratories; they allowed the U.S. to report results more accurately. Trump said, "If you look at China, you can look at numerous countries where I don't think there are the right numbers."

China has a population of over 1 billion nationals on the mainland, but they have been accused of underreporting actual figures of confirmed COVID-19 patients. Instead of the 83,000 that the local media published, Hong Kong researchers claimed the country's cases might be four times greater.



Check these out:



USA Accounts for a Third of the World's Total Cases

The U.S. has registered its one millionth coronavirus patient last Tuesday, which makes the nation account for a third of the total global cases, which is currently at three million. According to data provided by John Hopkins University, the coronavirus death count in the U.S. is at 60,999.

Activists have gathered all across the nation, assembling during demonstrations to protest violations of state and U.S. constitutions. Micro, small, and medium-sized business enterprises are profoundly affected by the pandemic and are demanding for financial security and support from the federal government.

States like Mississippi, Montana, and Tennessee are gradually reopening businesses to boost their economies.

New York leads in the U.S. with the highest concentration of people infected with COVID-19. Currently, they have over 290,000 cases, a number that exceeds even that of Spain, which has registered a total of a little over 200,000 patients, but the real figure may be higher.

The city's governor, Andrew Cuomo, said reopening businesses too soon might be a bad idea. If the U.S. economy wanted a quick recovery, the administration must reopen with a smart plan. He said, "Because if you do it wrong, it can backfire."
SpiceJet said on Thursday



that it has brought 14 tonnes of medical supplies here from China.

The airline said it operated its maiden freighter flight carrying medical supplies from Guangzhou in China to Delhi on Wednesday.

The cargo plane had left Kolkata at 10:30 am on Wednesday for Guangzhou. After loading all the items, the plane came back to Kolkata at 8:20 pm, the airline said in a release.

The B737 plane then left Kolkata at 9 pm and came to Delhi at 11:15 pm on Wednesday, it said.

The airline said the plane brought 14 tonnes of medical supplies including medicines and protective gear.

India has been under lockdown since March 24 midnight to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 33,000 people and killed around 1,070 people in the country till now.

All commercial passenger flights have been suspended for the lockdown period.

SpiceJet has till date transported over 4,750 tons of cargo on more than 651 flights since the nation-wide lockdown began. Of these, 233 were international cargo flights.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Some say Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is having a bad stretch, after ditching his two most popular ministers and going far out on an anti-confinement limb in the middle of the coronavirus crisis. But the far-right president's hard-core supporters are loving his battle against the "establishment." By many measures, the last few weeks have been tough for Bolsonaro, the man some call the "Tropical Trump" for his outsider style, politically incorrect vitriol and the love of social media they both share. First came his controversial decision to fire health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta in mid-April, after weeks of publicly fighting with him over the coronavirus. Mandetta, who led the charge for aggressive social distancing measures in Brazil, was highly popular. And Bolsonaro, who compares the virus to a "little flu," is increasingly isolated at home and abroad for his insistence that containment measures are an overreaction, even as the death toll has surged past 5,000 in Brazil. Then came Bolsonaro's decision last week to fire the head of the federal police, which caused the also highly popular justice minister, Sergio Moro, to resign in protest. In a scathing final press conference, Moro accused Bolsonaro of "political interference," leading a Supreme Court judge to order a potentially explosive probe into whether the president committed obstruction of justice to protect himself and his family from a series of ongoing investigations. Political analysts have started talking seriously about the possibility Bolsonaro could be impeached before he even gets a chance to seek re-election in 2022. Despite all that, when the latest opinion poll from the respected Datafolha institute came out this week, conducted three days after Moro's exit, there was no dent in Bolsonaro's support. In fact, it rose slightly, to 33 percent, up from 30 percent in December and 32 percent a year ago when he was a few months into his term. "Bolsonaro's core voters are fed up" with politics as usual in Brasilia, said political analyst Murillo de Aragao. "He dares to say what many Brazilians are thinking." - 'Conservative country' - As the coronavirus crisis has deepened, Bolsonaro has faced nightly protests in many middle-class and wealthy neighborhoods, where residents bang pots and pans out their windows and shout, "Get out, Bolsonaro!" But protests are less common in poor neighborhoods, where people often need to leave the house to earn enough money to feed their families. And it appears there is a hard core of supporters for whom the president can do no wrong. Look no further than his middle name -- "Messias," or messiah -- for evidence. Breaking with his justice minister was a test of how solid that core is. To many voters to the right or center in Brazil, Moro is an anti-corruption superhero. Before he joined Bolsonaro's government, he was a federal judge who shot to fame for presiding over "Operation Car Wash," a massive anti-corruption investigation that brought down a long list of powerful politicians and businessmen, including ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. De Aragao said Moro's exit likely "shook" Bolsonaro's popularity, and may yet have a bigger impact in subsequent polls. But "Brazil is a conservative, religious country," said Ivar Hartmann, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. Bolsonaro is a conservative Catholic with strong support from Brazil's burgeoning Evangelical community. - Power of social media - Sixteen months into his term, Bolsonaro is still hammering home his anti-establishment message. And it seems to be working for him, despite -- or perhaps because of -- mounting criticism from powerful figures in Congress and state governments, one-time supporters in the business world, and in the opinion pages of the country's leading newspapers. "If a powerful group of businessmen had withdrawn their support for the government 20 or 30 years ago, plus a major media organization, that would have had an impact," said Hartmann. "But today, there's a growing disconnect between the people and the press, especially for that one-third of the population that relies on pseudo-news sites." Thanks to social media, the president reaches that public directly, "with no filters," he added. But with tension mounting between the president, the courts and the Congress, "we are facing an institutional war," said de Aragao.
She lives in the most coronavirus-ravished states in America.

And Australian actress Rose Byrne took no chances as she stepped out to the supermarket on Thursday, wearing not one but two masks on her face.

The 40-year-old donned a surgical mask underneath what appeared to be a homemade fabric mask.

Taking no chances! Australian actress Rose Byrne wore not one, but TWO masks when she visited the supermarket in New York on Thursday

She took a selfie of herself shopping at the supermarket, no doubt encouraging her fans to take precautions. She wrote in the caption: 'Doubling down'.

Rose lives in the Big Apple with her husband Bobby Cannavale and their two young sons - Rocco, three, and Rafa, two.

The just finished their run of a modern adaption of the Greek tragedy Medea at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

The actress has had a long association with the Atlantic Theater Company, where she studied in 1999.

Family: Rose lives in the Big Apple with her husband Bobby Cannavale and their two young sons - Rocco, three, and Rafa, two

Speaking to InStyle magazine in December, Rose spoke about her relationship with Bobby and their two children.

'Meeting Bobby and having my kids was the biggest profoundly emotional turning point in my life,' she said.

'It's so hard to talk about without sounding like a cliche because it's so much more than that.'

Rose recently starred as beauty company co-owner Mel Carter in Miguel Arteta's comedy Like A Boss, alongside Salma Hayek, and Billy Porter.

While Bobby will next play 'sexually-depraved misfit' Petey in John Turturro's Big Lebowski spin-off The Jesus Rolls, which is due for worldwide release later this year.
Elon Musk is having issues with conference calls lately.

Thursday afternoon, the SpaceX CEO unexpectedly spoke up during a NASA conference call after the agency's administrator, Jim Bridenstine, was asked about Musk's recent comments on the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday night, Musk, also CEO of Tesla, called shelter-in-place orders because of the virus "forcibly imprisoning people in their homes against all their constitutional rights," on the automaker's earnings call. He's also made controversial comments on Twitter about the subject.

A day later, The Atlantic's Marina Koren asked NASA's Bridenstine for his view on Musk's statements, given the agency's notably more cautious approach to the coronavirus crisis.

"I would need to see specifically what was said," Bridenstine said. "What I'm in charge of is how NASA responds and I'll let SpaceX answer for how they respond to coronavirus."

Koren asked for clarity on how that might change the agency's close working relationship with SpaceX. Then Musk cut in.

"I think this is a different subject," Musk said. "Wrong press conference, move on."

NASA had not yet introduced Musk on the call, which was discussing nearly $1 billion in contract awards that the agency had just announced to companies including SpaceX. The contracts are for work on lunar landers that NASA wants to use to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024. Near the end of the call NASA introduced Musk. He gave a statement of appreciation toward the agency for its support of SpaceX.

Bridenstine noted during his response that NASA employees have died to Covid-19.

"We at NASA have taken the coronavirus pandemic very seriously," Bridenstine said. "We've had a number of people infected by it and, in fact, we've lost lives because of it at the agency."

Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.
Microsoft Gold Partner for DevOps In todays highly competitive marketplace, clients value the assurance that the WMS software developer that they select has the expertise in utilizing Microsoft technology to the fullest extent possible explained Andy Armanious, Vice President of Development.

Continuing its tradition of excellence, Datex has again attained the Microsoft Partner Gold Competency Level for DevOps. DevOps unites people, process and technology to continually provide value to clients.

By taking organizational roles that had formerly been relegated to silos, including development, IT operations, security and quality engineering, DevOps facilitates coordination and collaboration to generate higher quality, more reliable products. In addition, adoption of the DevOps culture, practices and tools enables teams to become more responsive to client needs.

To attain the Microsoft Partner Gold Competency Level, companies must participate in training and certification. Microsoft Certified Partners are independent companies with a high degree of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners are the top level of Microsoft solutions partners, capable of providing the highest levels of technical expertise, strategic thinking and hands-on skills. Achievement of a Microsoft Gold Competency demonstrates that a company has best-in-class capability within a specific Microsoft solution area.

In todays highly competitive marketplace, clients value the assurance that the WMS software developer that they select has the expertise in utilizing Microsoft technology to the fullest extent possible explained Andy Armanious, Vice President of Development.


In accordance with Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order to reopen some businesses, the Houston Museum of Natural Science will reopen its doors to the public on May 15 at 25 percent capacity levels, nearly two months after closing due to the novel coronavirus.

The museum's "Road to Reopening Task Force" has issued a hefty list of new guidelines to ensure reopening will keep staff and visitors safe.
A father from Minnesota has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 4-week-old son. According to KARE11, Orancy Chea, allegedly admitted to the police that he had gotten angry and frustrated with the baby's crying and threw him down on his back, causing his head to slam into the concrete floor.

The Ramsey Country Medical Examiner's Office did an autopsy on the infant and stated that a lung contusion, lacerated liver, a skull fracture with a brain bleed, broken ribs, bruises to the head and internal abdominal bleeding are all of the infant's injuries. The cause of death was the skull fracture, according to the investigators.

The arrest

Medical personnel came to the home of the 23-year-old suspect at 11 a.m. on April 23 right after they received reports of a child that was unconscious with a 104-degree fever. They rushed the infant to the Children's Hospital but he died after an hour.

According to the St. Paul police, they spoke with a neighbor who reported sounds of pounding and baby crying from the apartment. The neighbor stated that the crying lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. The pounding sounds were three to four cycles that lasted a minute when the baby cried. According to the WCCO, the pounding sounds were like the sound of someone striking a wall.

Also Read: Father Who Stabbed His Two Children to Death Arrested During Lockdown

The police interviewed Chea and he said that the baby had been running a fever and that he called a hospital where the medical staff told him to bring the boy for an examination. However, they decided to wait and on the night of April 22, he said that the infant had a seizure. The following morning, he said he found the infant not breathing in his crib.

According to the arrest report, Chea replied "not that I know of" when he was asked by the police if he was responsible for the injuries of the infant. But then he nodded and began to cry when detectives asked him if he lost his temper and at that point, he admitted that he caused the injuries on the baby and that nobody else was responsible.

Murder cases involving newborn babies

This is not the first incident of a parent killing their child due to temper. In March 2020, Zohal Sakwall called the police in Nashville, Tennessee, to confess to the killing of her four-month-old daughter Natalie that happened in 2010. The 40-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with the child's murder. During a police interview, Sakwall told the investigators that she'd killed Natalie because of the disruption caused by the child in her life.

At the time of the child's death, Sakwall claimed that her daughter died in a freak accident, which she said happened after her baby got tangled in a blanket.

Sakwall added that at the time that she had laid her daughter down in her crib for a nap, the little girl had become entangled in the comforter after she stepped away. The mother also said that the baby had been unresponsive when she returned, with an autopsy and subsequent investigation finding no reason to doubt her claims. Sakwall has now been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held at Nashville Metropolitan County Jail.



Related Article: ER Nurse Allegedly Kills Foster Son, Delivers His "Blue and Lifeless" Body to Hospital

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BARRINGTON, Ill., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Uncharted Learning, a leading not-for-profit provider of authentic student entrepreneurship programs, today published a report that examines how to ready students for an uncertain economy.

"Learning with a Purpose: Preparing Today's Students to Navigate an Increasingly Ambiguous Future" explores a topic that is even more important in the age of COVID-19: how entrepreneurship education can equip students for the challenging workforce demands of the future. The report highlights district and school leaders who are using entrepreneurship programs to prepare students for a future where the shelf life of skills is shrinking and technology is rapidly transforming the world of work.

"This report makes an overwhelming case for a more meaningful kind of education, one that not only gives students purpose, but also prepares them for the kind of complex world we'll be living in post-pandemic," said Margarita Geleske, chief evangelist for Uncharted Learning. "In order to be successful in this new economic reality, students must be able to work collaboratively, solve problems creatively and handle upheaval seamlessly  and the research shows that entrepreneurship programs prepare them to do just that."

Recent research from LinkedIn suggests that occupations in data, machine learning and artificial intelligence top the list of emerging jobs across the country  but that employers are increasingly in search of human skills like collaboration, creativity and independence that cannot be automated. Against that backdrop, high school students crave authentic, high-stakes and real-life experiences, such as creating a product or building a business from the ground up. Entrepreneurship education can provide students with purpose as they solve real-world problems as part of lessons that students view as relevant and engaging.

"[T]he key to ensuring that young people are successful is not just helping them achieve academic success, but also instilling in them a sense of purpose and providing a way to help them navigate uncertainty," according to foreword author and former superintendent of the year Dr. David Schuler. "This report makes the case that purpose promotes lifelong learning and equips students with the motivation and the tools needed to navigate an ambiguous world."

Launched at Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois, in 2013, Uncharted Learning's INCubatoredu program prepares young people for the rigors of a changing global economy. During the year-long course, students create and develop their own product or service, often solving a problem they have identified themselves. It ends with the students pitching their ideas to potential investors.

"Most high schools are teaching a business curriculum that is old," Dr. Tom Leonard, superintendent of the Eanes Independent School District in Austin, Texas, said in the report. "And it is tired, and it is extremely traditional. The world changed, and business curriculum  and business education in high schools  didn't."

About Uncharted Learning

Uncharted Learning is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to kick start students for life by equipping them with real-world skills. We help inspire them to discover their passions, strengthen their capabilities and create their own futures. Our programs offer authentic, rigorous entrepreneurship experiences to students in 250 schools across the United States and Mexico.

SOURCE Uncharted Learning
W earing face masks in public may be "useful" when the UK's lockdown restrictions are eased, the Prime Minister has said.

Speaking at the daily coronavirus Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said the facial coverings will give the nation "confidence" when returning to work and may be helpful for "epidemiological reasons".

He confirmed the public will be hearing more about the plans next week.

The news comes as the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has been looking into the effectiveness of wearing the contraption and the Prime Minister stated the UK has passed the peak of coronavirus infections .

He said: What I think Sage is saying, and what I certainly agree with is that as part of coming out of the lockdown, I do think that face coverings will be useful both for epidemiological reasons but also for giving people confidence they can go back to work.

But youll be hearing more about that thing next week.

Face mask plans will be revealed next week / AP

The Prime Minister also said he would set out a road map for easing lockdown restrictions.

He told the press briefing: What you are going to get next week is really a road map, a menu of options  the dates and times of each individual measure will be very much driven by where we are in the epidemic, what the data is really saying and we are getting in a lot more data every day now and in the course of the next few days."

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He added: "And so it is vital that we do not now lose control and run slap into a second and even bigger mountain.

And so, to avoid that disaster, our fifth and final test is that nothing we do should lift the R  or the reproduction rate  of that disease back above one.

The Government will reveal its face mask plans next week / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

Chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, echoed Mr Johnson's comments said the rate of infection needed to remain below one before the lockdown could be safely lifted.

He said: There isnt a perfect answer to what should the R be (to lift the lockdown) but were absolutely confident that the wrong answer is anything over one.

Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, Boris Johnson and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty during a media briefing / PA

Because as soon as R goes over one, then you restart exponential growth  it may be slow if it is just over one, it may be a lot faster if it goes a lot above one  but exponential growth restarts and, sooner or later  and the higher it is, the sooner it is  the NHS will go back to the risk of being overwhelmed and the number of cases will go up.

He said indirect deaths could go up if the NHS is under strain from Covid-19 and cannot treat people with other ailments and diseases, and said the health service needed headroom to continue to carry out urgent cancer care and surgery.

The Government has faced pressure from politicians in recent weeks to recommend the use of face masks.

TODO: define component type apester

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said he was happy that the covering will play an important role.

Taking to Twitter he said: "Pleased that the PM has said that non-medical face coverings will play an important role as we eventually look to lift lockdown restrictions.

"Londoners will know this is something I, and others, have been pushing the Government to change the guidance on."

TODO: define component type apester

Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Ministers commitment to outline an exit strategy next week is a step in the right direction.

The Labour leader said he has been "pushing hard" for Mr Johnson to outline the next stage of the lockdown exit strategy.

The Prime Minister has now said hes going to have a plan next week," he said.

So I think that shows that we were right to challenge on it, and Im pleased that were going to see a plan.
Nippon Paper Industries Completes Acquisition of Orora's Paperboard and Converting Business in Australia/New Zealand Installed in 2012, the B9 paper machine at the former Orora Botany paper mill in Matraville, New South Wales, Australia, produces almost 400,000 tonnes of recycled containerboard grades per year. B9 uses 100% recycled fiber from domestic containerboard and mixed wastepaper. April 30, 2020 - Nippon Paper Industries and its wholly owned subsidiary, Paper Australia Pty Ltd, today announced the completion of the purchase of Orora Limited's paperboard and fibre based packaging business in Australia/New Zealand. Nippon Paper first announced the deal in October of 2019. At that time, the enterprise value of the acquisition was AUD 1.72 billion in cash, subject to adjustment for movements in working capital and debt items. Orora has established strong operations in Australia and New Zealand through a comprehensive business model combining a wastepaper collecting system with cutting-edge corrugated base paper manufacturing, highly automated cardboard production and the provision of packaging-related materials and associated services," Nippon Paper said. Through the acquisition of the Business, Nippon Paper Group will be entering the integrated corrugated paperboard manufacturing business in the Oceania region. Nippon Paper seeks not only to augment the synergistic effects with [Paper Australia], but also plans to further build the Group's packaging business on a global scale, the company added. Together with Australian Paper's existing business, the acquired assets and business has been incorporated into new wholly owned subsidiaries of Australian Paper, together known as "Opal", a vertically integrated paper and packaging solution business. Nippon Paper has appointed its Director, Mr. Masanobu Iizuka, as the CEO of Opal, effective June 25, 2020. The Opal business includes the collection of wastepaper under its own system, manufacturing packaging board with modern facilities, converting board into packaging boxes through highly automated production, and supplying ancillary materials and associated services. Nippon Paper Industries said that it is focused on the development of its packaging segment businesses, including Opal as a growth area. About Nippon Paper Industries Nippon Paper Industries produces coated and uncoated paper, including specialty grades, and paperboard. To learn more about Nippon Paper Industries, please visit: www.nipponpapergroup.com . SOURCE: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
30.04.2020 LISTEN

The Managing Director for the Agricultural Development Bank Dr. John Kofi Mensah has said, the health of members of the public is Paramount to the Bank hence will do anything to ensure that.

Dr. Mensah made the statement in Ajumako when he led a team of staff of the bank to present items to some institutions in the fight against COVID 19.

According to him, it is the Banks modest contribution to ensure that residents in the district do not contract the coronavirus disease.

He entreated Ghanaian to abide by the safety protocols which are washing of hands with soap under running water regularly, social distancing methods, avoiding handshake, social gathering, and others to help them avoid contracting the COVID 19.

Inspecting the Isolation center in the Ajumako Government Hospital, Dr. John Kofi Mensah assured the district of the Bank's commitment to supporting them work efficiently.

He maintained that patronizing made in Ghanaians goods is the only way if ensuring Ghana's prosperity thus, called on Ghanaians to invest the same to achieve that vision especially, in this time of Coronavirus.

The District Chief Executive for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, Hon. Ransford Kwesi Nyarko expressed gratitude to the Bank for the donation and called on other institutions to do same.

I will advise people in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District to stay safe and avoid contracting the coronavirus, "he stressed.

He called on Market women to observe social distancing when they go to trade in order to avoid contracting the diseases.

The Administrator of the Ajumako Government Hospital Mr. Abdalla Shadow thanked the Management of the Bank and ask for more support.

Some of the items donated were 50 Veronica buckets, over 500 hand sanitizers, tissues, Liquid Soaps, Soaps, rubber buckets, and others.

The beneficiary institutions included the Ajumako Police command, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service among others.
With so much at stake for health care in our country right now, Republicans shouldnt be tipping the scales of justice against families health care and toward disaster, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the third-ranking Senate Democrat, said in a conference call hosted by Alliance for Justice and other groups working to defeat Walkers nomination. Confirming judges who will make it harder for people to get the care they need might be Senator McConnells first priority  but its the last thing we need right now.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened China with fresh tariffs as he stepped up his attacks on Beijing over the coronavirus crisis, saying he had seen evidence linking a Wuhan lab to the contagion. The diatribe from the Republican incumbent came as data showed the United States shed more than 30 million jobs in six weeks, as lockdown measures began to bite across the nation. The gloom in the world's largest economy found its parallel across the Atlantic, where experts warned of an unprecedented financial catastrophe in Europe. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has so far killed more than 230,000 people and forced more than half of humanity to live under some kind of lockdown, which has crippled economies. The virus is believed to have originated late last year in a market in the Chinese city of Wuhan that sold wild animals for human consumption, but speculation has swirled about a top-secret lab in the ground-zero city. Asked if he had seen anything giving him a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source of the outbreak, Trump replied, "Yes, I have." Pressed by reporters at the White House for details on what made him so confident, Trump replied: "I cannot tell you that." Trump is increasingly making Beijing's handling of the outbreak a major issue for his November re-election campaign. When asked about reports that he could cancel US debt obligations to China, Trump said he could "do it differently" and act in "probably a little bit more of a forthright manner." "I could do the same thing but even for more money, just putting on tariffs," he said. Despite a truce in the long-running trade war between Washington and Beijing reached in January, tariffs are already in place on two-thirds of trade between the economic powers. - Eurozone gloom - European and US markets finished the day in negative territory, as a spate of figures confirmed fears about how the COVID-19 crisis is pulverizing global growth. The latest jobless claims by another 3.84 million Americans translate into a jarring conclusion -- roughly nine percent of the US population has filed for unemployment benefits in six weeks. In the midwestern US state of Michigan, protesters -- some of them armed -- stormed the state capitol building, demanding that the Democratic governor remove strict lockdown rules, which they say hurt the economy and represent governmental overreach. The depressing US jobs data compounded the tough message from European Central Bank Christine Lagarde. "The euro area is facing an economic contraction of a magnitude and speed that are unprecedented in peacetime," she warned. ECB economists expect output in the 19-nation currency club to shrink by "five to 12 percent" this year, she added. Eurostat figures showed the eurozone economy was estimated to have shrunk by 3.8 percent in the first quarter. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, "will experience the worst recession in the history of the federal republic" -- founded in 1949 -- Economy Minister Peter Altmaier warned, predicting it would shrink by a record 6.3 percent. - Drug trial boosts hopes - The coronavirus virus has infected at least 3.2 million people so far, with Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin becoming the latest high-profile figure to test positive as the country's caseload surged past 100,000. But there was some reason for cheer. American scientists reported positive tests for an improved treatment, and with deaths and infections starting to drop in some hotspots, countries looked at the next phase in their plans to lift crippling lockdown measures. On Thursday, Germany accelerated plans to start lifting its anti-virus lockdown, preparing to ease curbs on public life and reopen religious institutions, museums and zoos -- having restarted shopping last week. A decision on when to reopen schools is to come next week. "It remains absolutely important that we stay disciplined," said Chancellor Angela Merkel. In South Korea, where COVID-19 was detected in mid-February, no new infections were reported for the first time, suggesting its aggressive test-and-trace strategy is working. South Korea's death toll is around 250 -- vastly lower than that of Italy, Britain, Spain and France, which have each recorded at least 24,000 fatalities. The United States tops the table with more than 62,000 deaths. Italy, once the world center of the outbreak, said Thursday it was hoping to reopen two major airports next week, but -- like Spain -- plans a cautious reopening. "We cannot allow the efforts made to be in vain because of rashness at this delicate stage," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said. And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself battled COVID-19, said the country was "past the peak" of its outbreak. - 'Clear-cut effect' - Meanwhile, in the first evidence of successful treatment, a US clinical trial of the drug remdesivir showed that patients recovered about 30 percent faster than those on a placebo. "The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery," said Anthony Fauci, the top epidemiologist in the United States. But it is a treatment, not the much-sought-after vaccine that might allow a full return to normal life. More than 130 virus therapies are currently being investigated, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations said Thursday. Most are still in the early stages of testing, but more than 25 clinical trials have begun, IFPMA director Thomas Cueni said. burs-sst/ec US President Donald Trump attacked China once again over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic An aerial view shows the P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the Chinese city of Wuhan -- US President Donald Trump said he had seen evidence pointing to the lab as the source of the novel coronavirus Protesters -- some armed -- pushing for businesses to reopen in Michigan try to enter the state's House of Representative chamber but are kept out by state police Weekly unemployment benefit claims and periods of recession in the US since January 1970 A woman walks in the schoolyard of an elementary school in Berlin where circles have been painted on the ground to mark the recommended distance, in preparation of the return of some pupils from early May 2020 South Korean nurses wearing protective gear pose as they start their shift to care for patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu -- the country reported zero new infections for the first time
Mike Pence wore a face mask on a visit to a General Motors plant, a day after being criticised for not wearing one at the Mayo Clinic.

The vice president wore the mask during his tour of a General Motors plant in Indiana, that is producing ventilators that will be used to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

The plant requires all staff and visitors to wear medical grade protective masks, when inside the facility.

Mr Pence, who is leading the White Houses coronavirus task force, was filmed thanking staff at the plant, who have produced over 600 ventilators so far, according to MSNBC.

I just wanted to thank you, he told the staff. Its an honour to be among the heroes in the Hoosier State.

Despite wearing the face mask on the plant floor, during a table discussion, he and everyone else involved took their masks off, according to the outlet.

The vice president was criticised on Wednesday for not wearing a face mask at the Mayo Clinic, despite the hospital claiming they warned him prior to the visit that wearing one is a requirement at the facility.

The vice presidents wife, Karen Pence defended her husband and said that he didnt know about the requirement before his visit, during an appearance on Fox and Friends.

As our medical experts have told us, wearing a mask prevents you from spreading the disease. And knowing that he doesnt have Covid-19, he didnt wear one, she said.

Ms Pence added that it was actually after he left Mayo Clinic that he found out that they had a policy of asking everyone to wear a mask.

In a statement, the clinic contradicted Ms Pences claims, and said: Mayo shared the masking policy with the VPs office.

Similarly to Ms Pence, the vice president told reporters after the visit to the clinic, that because he has tested negative for the virus, he does not need to wear a face mask.

As Vice President of the United States Im tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus, he said.

And since I dont have the coronavirus, I thought itd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible healthcare personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you, he added.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, there are now upwards of one million people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 61,288.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Pences team for comment.
One of Bollywood's most beloved stars, Irrfan Khan, has died at the age of 53. The actor had been admitted to the intensive care unit of Mumbai's Kokilaben hospital on April 28 with a colon infection and on April 29, a statement was released confirming his death.

The statement read that Irrfan was a strong soul and someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him. Despite his status as one of Bollywood's most famous and celebrated actors, Khan had a reputation for integrity and modesty and the news of his death sent India into mourning. It prompted actors, fans, and even politicians from across the world to express their sadness over the news.

Bollywood's mourning

Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, said that Khan's death was a loss to the world of cinema and theater. He added that Khan will be remembered for his versatile performances across different mediums and that his thoughts are with Khan's family, friends and admirers.

Amitabh Bachchan, a fellow Bollywood actor, said that Khan's death left a huge vacuum. Bachchan tweeted "An incredible talent, a gracious colleague, a prolific contributor to the world of cinema ... left us too soon."

Actress Priyanka Chopra tweeted "The charisma you brought to everything you did was pure magic. "Your talent forged the way for so many in so many avenues. You inspired so many of us. Irrfan Khan, you will truly be missed. Condolences to the family."

Also Read: Chrissy Teigen Claps Back at Body Shaming Trolls

Rahul Gandhi, an Indian politician, described Khan as a versatile and talented actor who would be greatly missed while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that India had lost one of the most exceptional actors of the country.

In March 2018, Khan revealed that he had been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor, but after extensive treatment, he recovered well enough to shoot Angrezi Medium, the film that is now his last, and whose release this March 2020 was cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Irrfan Khan and Sutapa's Love Story

Fans of the late actor are also giving tribute to Irrfan's wife, Sutapa Sikdar. She has always accompanied him at film events and she used to write his dialogues. But she preferred to stay away from the limelight. Her films as a dialogue writer are Khamoshi, Shabd, and Kahaani.

Sutapa later turned producer with Madaari and Qarib Qarib Singlle, both movies starring Irrfan. Sutapa was always there for her husband, both personally and professionally through their 25 years of marriage. The beautiful couple was classmates in the National School of Drama. Mira Nair, a movie writer, said that Irrfan was a very talented student back in drama school days and he had focus, intensity, and remarkable looks.

Irrfan and Sutapa fell for each other and they used to discuss art and cinema. Old friends stated that it was how the couple bonded and their chemistry grew because of it. Sutapa was always there when Irrfan faced difficulty at the beginning of his career. They got married on February 23, 1995, this year marked the 25th year of their marriage.

Related Article: Gigi Hadid Expecting First Child with Boyfriend Zayn Malik

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The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday inaugurated a task force that would ensure people and vehicles are not allowed into the state except they are screened and cleared of COVID-19.

Mr Wike, at the inauguration of the task force, accused security officials in the state of sabotaging the efforts of the Rivers state government in the fight against the novel coronavirus. He said the officials were extorting from people and allowing them to enter the state against the government order.

Anyone coming into the state must be screened by the health officials, a statement from Mr Wikes media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, quoted the governor as having said. Dont join the security agencies to extort money from people. If that happens, the essence of this Task Force is defeated.

We are being sabotaged at sea, land and at the Domestic Wing of the airport. Sometimes, they secretly receive flights and before we know the people sneak into the town. The Task Force in Ikwerre must check anyone coming from the airport.

When we shout, they say we are fighting the Federal Government. All we are saying is help us to fight the virus. This is a matter of life and death, the governor said.

It is unclear how the task force would go about their work without running into conflict with the police and other security agencies in Rivers state.

PREMIUM TIMES could not get the police reaction to the development as the police spokesperson in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, did not respond to call and text message to his telephone line.

The police authorities in Abuja recently redeployed the police commissioner in Rivers state after the state government arrested some oil workers and pilots in the state.

Besides, Governor Wike is known for having frequent clashes with the federal government, including the military authorities in Nigeria.

The governor said one of the confirmed cases of coronavirus in Rivers state is an oil worker who came from an oil rig.

You must protect your people, the governor said to the officials of the task force. This Taskforce is very important. When they dont want you to live, you must devise means to survive.

We will not relax because if coronavirus escalates in this state, we will not get any form of support, the governor added.

Rivers state has seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of April 29.
Companies from Unilever to Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have all alluded to lockdown challenges in India and the globe as well as the impact it will have on April-June as well as full-year numbers.

Confectionary major Mondelez, owner of the Cadbury brand, on Wednesday said the nationwide lockdown has taken a toll on the firm, the countrys largest chocolate maker.

Mondelez joins a slew of global firms that have indicated a dent in their business due to the curbs.

In an investor call, Dirk Van de Put, Mondelezs global chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) said the firm went absolutely blank in the first phase of the lockdown, which began on March 25, with close to zero sales during the period.

When the original lockdown was announced, it was impossible to get people into these units given the fact that we have multiple plants.

"And, to have people from the distribution centres to be able to supply to the distributors, it was impossible to even get trucks, he said.

While the situation was improving day by day, the magnitude of the problem has been severe, he said.

The trade is absolutely empty. It can go back to normalcy, but it will take some time, said Van de Put about the Indian market.

Companies from Unilever to Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have all alluded to lockdown challenges in India and the globe as well as the impact it will have on April-June as well as full-year numbers.

On Thursday, Unilever withdrew its 2020 growth and margin guidance amid the coronavirus pandemic, the second time in five months the company had flagged growth concerns.

In an earnings call, Alan Jope, CEO, Unilever, said, India had come to a complete standstill in the last week of March following the lockdown, impacting its business significantly.

India is a big deal for us. While we are back up manufacturing and selling in India, not at full strength, but at good strength, we are still unable to operate business completely there.

"And though we will come out of this with an enhanced competitiveness, things will get difficult in Q2 (April-June) before they get easier, he said.

Unilevers Indian subsidiary Hindustan Unilever will report its January-March numbers on Thursday, with analysts expecting a 2-4 per cent decline in sales and volume growth for the period.

This will be on account of the nationwide lockdown and subsequent supply chain disruption in March.

Mark Schneider, CEO, Nestle SA, meanwhile, was circumspect about the firms performance in April-June, declining to give an outlook for the period.

Nestle had reported its highest sales growth in five years for the March quarter on Friday, led by consumers stockpiling food and groceries in the wake of shutdowns across the globe.

It is important not to get carried away by the strong organic growth in January-March as the situation remains highly volatile, with significant ups and downs across categories and regions, Schneider said.

James Quincey, chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company, said the severity of social distancing measures in India had negatively impacted consumption in the market, since there was significant reduction in shopping trips in end of March and April.

A Coca-Cola India spokesperson, in response to a mail, said that the company was operating its manufacturing facilities in a very small number in compliance with the local government regulation.

In calendar year 2019, Coca-Cola India had emerged the fifth-largest market for the global beverage maker, reporting one billion in full-year unit sales.

Ramon Laguarta, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo Inc, on the other hand, said that uncertainties remained on how countries would go back to normal once the lockdown was lifted.

We dont think its going to be a straight line once people go back to moving around.

"Its going to be restricted mobility, I think, and with potential second waves in some particular markets. Thats why were staying cautious, said Laguarta in an investor call on Tuesday, adding food sales would be better than beverage sales in the second quarter.

Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters
NEW YORK  The 40-foot trailer has been there for weeks, parked outside the Leo F. Kearns Funeral Home in Queens. Its refrigerator hums in an alley next to a check-cashing establishment. Thirty-six bodies, one atop the other, are stacked on shelves inside.

The funeral director, Patrick Kearns, has barely slept since the day he took charge of them. As he lies awake in the middle of the night, he knows there will be more.

It weighs on you, having so many cases in your care, he said. The death rate is just so high, theres no way we can bury or cremate them fast enough.

With more than 18,000 announced fatalities and a total death toll that is almost certainly higher, the coronavirus crisis is the worst mass casualty event to hit New York since the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago.

At the height of the outbreak in April, a New Yorker was dying almost every two minutes  more than 800 per day, or four times the citys normal death rate. And though the daily toll has recently slowed, hundreds of bodies are still emerging each day from private homes and hospitals.

While hospitals bore the initial brunt of the crisis as sick people flooded emergency rooms, the sheer volume of human remains has pushed the system for caring for the dead to its limits, too: Hospital morgues, funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories are all overflowing and backed up.

The scale of the problem was brought into sharp relief Wednesday afternoon, when police found dozens of decomposing bodies stashed inside two trucks outside a funeral home on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The owner, Andrew T. Cleckley, said he had nowhere else to put them, adding simply: I ran out of space.

What happened in Brooklyn appears to be an extreme case, and state health officials said Thursday they would investigate the matter. But in the past two months, funeral home directors have begun to store bodies in viewing rooms and chapels, turning up their air-conditioning systems to avoid decomposition. Some are transporting bodies to other cities and states to be cremated.

Some hospitals ran out of body bags  the city has since distributed 20,000  and others have used forklifts to transfer piles of corpses into makeshift mobile morgues. So many people have been dying at home that the medical examiner's office has turned to teams of soldiers working around the clock to pick them up.

Cemeteries have scrambled to meet the need for burials, and the citys four crematories are backed up for weeks. To stave off a secondary public health emergency, any bodies left unclaimed for 14 days were, for a time, being buried at a potters field on Hart Island in the Bronx.

For the families of the dead, the overloaded system has turned the already painful act of mourning into a kind of anxious torture. Some have found it hard to track the bodies of their loved ones as they move from morgue to morgue. Others have had trouble hiring hearses, which are now in high demand.

Because of social distancing rules, wakes are often not permitted, and funerals that once took days to arrange can sometimes now take weeks  if they can happen at all. Even when they do occur, extended families are not supposed to touch one another or get too close as they stand beside a grave.

We wanted to grieve together, and we werent able to, said Reginald Teekasingh, whose grandfather was buried by Kearns. Nothing was like it should be.

The Final Responder

Funeral directors like Kearns have found themselves in the middle of a logjam, besieged at one end by constant calls for pickups from hospitals or nursing homes and stymied at the other by an inability to cremate or bury people quickly.

A fourth-generation funeral director, Kearns, 50, has always thought of himself as a final responder to the neighborhoods his family has served since 1900. Some of those communities, like Richmond Hill, Jackson Heights and Corona in Queens, have been among the hardest-hit sections of New York.

In an average month, Kearns performs some 30 or 40 funerals, but in April alone he expected the number to be about 200. And that, he said, was on top of the 150 more he was asked to do but couldnt because he lacked the energy and equipment. His supply of caskets has at times run short.

Though he has spent his life around death, Kearns has never seen anything like the coronavirus crisis. Death certificates have been difficult to file; cremation permits have been hard to obtain; and keeping track of the endless wave of bodies has been harrowing.

My stress levels just keep going up, he said.

On April 17, for instance, Kearns dispatched two assistants to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens to retrieve a body, but the person they had been sent to find was not on the correct shelf in the hospitals mobile morgue. Locating the body required hunting through dozens of others in the darkness with a flashlight, comparing names and numbers with the data in their log.

All of this has exacted a toll. In the past few weeks, Kearns said, he has lost 20 pounds and missed most family dinners. On a recent evening, working in his trailer, he tripped and smashed his head against a shelf. After blacking out, he woke on the floor among the corpses. His wife and business partner forced him to go home.

Im looking forward to the end, he said. Thats all I can say.

Were Swamped

At most of the citys 50 cemeteries, telephones have been constantly ringing. On the grounds outside, digging crews have worked through the weekends.

Were swamped  absolutely swamped, said Julie Bose, the president of The Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn, where the number of funerals has tripled. And thats every day, day in, day out.

The citys four crematories have also backed up. Like other funeral directors, Kearns has taken bodies to other cities for cremation. A few weeks ago he reached a deal with a crematory in Schenectady, about 145 miles north of New York City, to avoid the crush downstate.

Anticipating the surge, officials in New York relaxed restrictions on city crematories in late March, allowing them to work around the clock. Each has recently run at double its capacity. None, however, were accepting new appointments until well into May.

On a recent week, the crematory at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn handled about 130 cases  more than double its typical load. Richard Moylan, the cemeterys president, said that two of his five ovens had broken down from overuse.

The chambers need a break, Moylan said, but as fast as we cremate people, they keep coming in.

It was much the same at the Fresh Pond Crematory in Middle Village, Queens, where the four cast-iron units are handling more than 75 bodies each week, up from the usual 45.

Cleckley, in an effort to explain how dozens of decomposing bodies ended up in trucks at his funeral home, said one of his drivers had arrived at the gates of a city crematory at 6 a.m. on a recent morning to find 15 vehicles from other funeral homes ahead of him. People are spending all night at crematories waiting to get seen, he said.

Dan Wright, the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 813, which represents about 500 funeral service workers in the New York area, put it bluntly: People are dying faster than we can get them to their final destinations.

The overwhelmed system has made the normal rituals of death and grieving all but impossible.

Funerals, limited to 10 or fewer people, at times look like a kind of dark ballet. As mourners wait in their cars, crews in masks and gloves put caskets into the ground. Families gather graveside  not too close together  only after the diggers have moved away.

I dont know how I would have felt if I had to bury my mother under these conditions, said John Blumer, a gravedigger at the New Montefiore Cemetery on Long Island. The body goes down to the ground alone. Its hard for them.

When Cruz Morales, 75, died at a nursing home in the Bronx earlier this month, her son Jose spent nearly a week making calls, looking online and going door to door in an attempt to find a funeral director. With no success, he began to worry that St. Barnabas Hospital, which had claimed his mothers body, would have to send it on to a public morgue.

My worst fear was that I didnt want my mothers body to be dumped somewhere and then I have to look for her all over the city, Morales said.

Last week, he finally found someone at the DBari Funeral Home on East 188th Street who could help him  or so he thought at first. Morales, a Pentecostal Christian, wanted his mother to be buried. But the wait for a cemetery plot was far too long, and the staff at DBari was only scheduling cremations.

With no other options, Morales agreed to a cremation, knowing that while he might not get to see his mother off, she would at least be able to rest in peace. Even though its not what we hoped for, he said, I feel so secure.

For Teekasingh, whose grandfather died of the virus, the hardest part of the process was picking only 10 relatives to attend the burial. The rest of the family had to watch by Skype.

A lot of us were not able to see him when he passed, he said. It was not normal.

A Race to the Morgue

Near the middle of April, Kearns got a panicked call from a client. She had just found out, she said, that her father had died from the virus two weeks earlier at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. Was there anything he could do?

Knowing time was short, Kearns called the hospital and discovered that the man, who had been unclaimed for more than 14 days, had already been scheduled for burial on Hart Island. Kearns and his team rushed to Montefiore  a race to see if they could beat the transport unit from the medical examiner before it took the man away.

In the end, Kearns said, we were able to get there first.

In normal times, the medical examiners office would involve itself in a death only if it was sudden, violent or unexpected. But during the pandemic, the office has become the official backstop for an overburdened system.

Dr. Barbara Sampson, the citys chief medical examiner, said that the city had managed to double its capacity for body storage  to about 1,800  by setting up four portable disaster morgues, tentlike structures in secluded areas, in addition to its fixed mortuary buildings.

The expansion allowed the office to lift the 14-day deadline for funeral directors to pick up a persons remains before they are sent to Hart Island. Instead of using the potters field, Sampson said her agency would soon start letting families freeze the bodies of their loved ones as a long-term storage option at the disaster morgues.

Im confident, Sampson said, that we will have enough capacity to be able to hold people appropriately with dignity and respect until the funeral industry can catch up.

Though officials have declined to say how many coronavirus victims have been buried on Hart Island in recent weeks, the numbers tell the story. Last year, a total of 280 people were buried on the island. This year, 550 people have already been buried there, 450 of them in the past two months alone.

Some hospitals were seemingly caught short by the sheer number of bodies the crisis produced, running low on body bags as their small, in-house morgues filled up. Many were forced to improvise with refrigerated trailers that the city rushed to them.

At Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, one doctor recalled that after a coronavirus patient died in bed, his body lay untouched for six or seven hours. The hospital morgue was already full. There was nowhere else for the man to go.

At St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, the chief executive, Dr. David Perlstein, said the city had told him that no one would come to pick up the bodies until there were 100 in his trailer. To increase capacity, he was advised to build a row of shelves.

Since March, Sampsons office has distributed roughly 150 refrigerated trailers among the citys roughly 60 hospitals. The medical examiner has also brought on more than 200 soldiers and airmen from the Army, the National Guard and the Air National Guard to bolster its normal mortuary work.

Four-person military teams have used a fleet of 15 vans, most of them rented, to pick up bodies from private homes when families cannot afford a funeral director or when no next of kin can be determined.

In March and April, the recovery teams picked up 4,729 bodies, more than double the number for the same period last year. Some survivors have reported waiting hours in the presence of the dead for the units to arrive.

Sampson has also reassigned more than a third of her 800-member workforce to front-line jobs, including nearly 200 highly trained scientists from the agencys DNA lab. They are answering phones, conducting investigations and helping out in the morgues.

We have had to increase every aspect, basically, of what we can do, she said.

Hidden Heroes

Every night at 7, New Yorkers celebrate the citys health care workers with a salute of horns, songs and clanging pots and pans. Nothing similar exists for the gravediggers, cemetery receptionists and funeral directors.

These people are the hidden heroes of this disaster, said Dr. Emily Craig, who works with a federal database of missing persons. They work tirelessly.

The only public accolade that Kearns has gotten came from his daughter, Fiona Kearns. A few years ago, Kearns worked as a teacher in Missouri, and earlier this month, as the dying reached its peak, some of her friends from the Midwest posted Facebook messages claiming the death rate in New York was overblown.

On April 17, she put up her own message, describing the grueling days and nights that Kearns was spending with the dead.

If you would like to look my father up, his name is Patrick Kearns, she wrote. He is my hero and currently working 16 hours a day.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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300 terrorists from Pakistan waiting to infiltrate: Intel

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 30: With around 300 terrorists reported to be waiting across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to sneak into Kashmir Valley, the Indian Army is taking steps to "re-calibrate" its counter-infiltration grid and counter-insurgency strategies to check the intrusion.

Lt Gen B S Raju, who is commanding the strategically-located XV corps in Kashmir, has also asked his formations to take adequate precautions during patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) in view of the coronavirus outbreak with the possibility of the infiltrating terrorists having infection not being ruled out.

With social distancing, Grade A intel, how Army is gunning down terrorists with precision

The field intelligence units of the Army coupled with inputs comprising HUMINT (human intelligence) and TECHINT (technical intelligence) indicate that around 300 terrorists, mainly of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT), are waiting across the border to sneak in, officials said, citing reports from Srinagar collated in the national capital.

As many as 16 launch pads along the LoC had been activated in the recent weeks by the Pakistan Army and its external snooping agency ISI which included those located in difficult terrains like Nowshera and Chhamb from where the terrorists are known to enter the Gulmarg area of north Kashmir.

The reports said Gen Raju has been regularly holding meetings with the formations to work on the re-calibration of Counter Infiltration Grid (CIG) to ensure that no terrorist gives the slip and reaches the hinterland after crossing the LoC.

The increased attempts from across the border to push in militants are also being factored in by the Army in its new approach.

In the event of an engagement at the LoC with the terrorists, the troops have been asked to handle any bodies with utmost care as they could be infected with the novel coronavirus, the officials said.

Army re-calibrating counter-intel grid as Pak tries to push terrorists who are COVID-19 positive

The CIG has been made much more robust and the coordination among various security agencies in the grid smooth, the officials said, adding some changes have been made in the troop deployment which includes putting an additional layer of troops.

Officials said a heavy concentration of terrorists was witnessed across Leepa valley, Athmuqam and Dudniyal, the same area in higher reaches of Keran sector in north Kashmir where a group of five terrorists had infiltrated on April 1 and who were subsequently neutralised on April 5. Five army personnel also lost their lives in the gunfight.

The launch pads like Dumail, Sardari and Dhakki, which are normally activated in late summer, had also witnessed the presence of terror groups this time, the officials said.

Among other launch pads that had seen presence of terrorists included Shardi, Neelum valley, Nowshera and even Chakoti, Khoja bandi and Haji Peer. These camps were used by the terrorists to sneak into the Uri army camp in 2016.

As many as 19 soldiers were killed when four terrorists entered the camp on September 18, 2016. All the infiltrating terrorists were subsequently killed. This incident led to Uri surgical strikes in which the Army's special forces targeted the terror camps across the LoC.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, April 30, 2020, 16:35 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 08:43:23|Editor: huaxia

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RIO DE JANEIRO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Former Argentina international midfielder Ariel Cabral said Wednesday that he intends to see out his contract with Brazil's Cruzeiro, despite offers from his homeland.

The 32-year-old has eight months remaining on his deal with the four-time Brazilian Serie A champions, whom he joined from Velez Sarsfield in 2015.

"There are other clubs in Argentina that have made inquiries," Cabral told Radio 98FM in Belo Horizonte.

"But I'm only thinking about helping Cruzeiro to rebuild. They have helped me a lot in the last few years and I'm not going to abandon them now."

Capped twice for Argentina's national team, Cabral has made 94 league appearances for Cruzeiro and helped the club win back-to-back Brazilian Cups in 2017 and 2018.

Cruzeiro were relegated to Brazil's Serie B last year for the first time in their history. Enditem
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

It's a classic good news, bad news, good news story.

In early April, many people needing help paying their mortgage because of financial woes caused by the coronavirus crisis were heartened to learn that they could hold off payments for a year without any late fees or extra charges, thanks to the recently passed $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

But when they contacted their mortgage companies to avail themselves of the provision, they were told about a big catch: Theyd have to make up any skipped payments, in full, as soon as the forbearance period was up.

Many wrote to Consumer Reports to express their outrage and fear.

How would I suddenly have three months' worth of payments stockpiled to pay back in full by then? wrote Alison Byrne of Wall Township, N.J., after agreeing to repay her servicer, a company called Mr. Cooper, in full after 90 days. "What a racket! It's not helpful in the least. How dare they?

If one had that money, there would be no need for any kind of relief, Denise Pawlukiewicz of Bay Village, Ohio, wrote of her servicers balloon-freighted four-month forbearance offer. Give with one hand, take away with the other.

Its just kicking the can down the road, adding to an already stressful time, wrote Maryland healthcare worker Antonio Calderon after being told that hed have to come up with $4,000 in three months, even though his work hours had been slashed and his wife, a nurse, was on the front lines of the COVID crisis.

But the message these consumers were hearingthat theyd owe a lump-sum payment at the end of the forbearance periodwas incorrect. The vast majority of homeowners who accept a COVID-related forbearance will be offered less painful ways to get current on their home loans.

Mangled Messaging

As early as April 8, Fannie Mae and Freddie Macwhich combined own the majority of U.S. mortgages and therefore determine how servicers wind down most forbearanceshad issued guidance to servicers listing a range of workout options for consumers to catch up on missed payments.

Story continues

Yet as was made clear by the dozens of consumers who wrote to CR after that date, many were still being misinformed about their options. And a new report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, based on an April 17 study of websites of the 30 top servicers, found that several servicers gave the impression that lump-sum payments would be required at the end of the forbearance period.

Finally, on April 27, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac directly addressed the confusion. We want every homeowner who is struggling because of this pandemic to know they have mortgage options. We do not require a homeowner to repay missed payments all at once at the end of the forbearance plan, unless they choose to do so, wrote Fannie Mae CEO Hugh Frater in a press release. Freddie Mac issued a similar statement.

We may never know why so many consumers wereand perhaps still arebeing misinformed. Lisa Sitkin, senior staff attorney at the National Housing Law Project, suspects a combination of factors, including differing federal and investor guidelines, poor internal communication by the servicing companies, and a longstanding tendency for those companies to discourage forbearance. (Servicers, after all, are on the hook to pay mortgage investors even if the borrowers dont make their payments.)

But the fact that so many consumers were given the wrong information about repayment options could itself cause financial problems for them. If people who needed forbearances declined to take them because they were told the wrong terms, they may still miss payments, meaning they could be headed toward foreclosure, Sitkin says. The poor communication undercut a key purpose of providing these forbearance plans in the first place, she adds: Reducing people's stress and anxiety at a difficult time.

What Are Your Options?

Again, to be clear, most homeowners who accept forbearance will ultimately be offered an alternative repayment plan that does not require a large lump-sum payment. Per Fannie and Freddie guidance, servicers of federally backed mortgages are instructed to contact borrowers around 30 days before their forbearance ends to determine an appropriate workout option.

Depending on the borrowers financial situation, such options will likely include simply adding the missed payments to the end of the mortgage, which many consumer advocates believe to be the best option for many consumers who can afford to restart their monthly payment. Its the simplest, cleanest way to do it, for everyone involved, Sitkin says.

Others will be asked to catch up to the original payment schedule by resuming their full monthly payments and making modest extra payments over a period of, say, one or two years.

Borrowers who are unable to resume full payments, meanwhile, could be required to go through a formal loan modification process, where their payments are lowered and the term extended further into the future.

Those unable to pay anything going forward, unfortunately, may lose their homes to foreclosure.

Keep in mind that these guidelines, like the forbearance provisions of the CARES Act, apply only to federally backed mortgages. (If you arent sure if that includes your mortgage, read our article How to Get Help With Your Mortgage During the Coronavirus Pandemic or call your servicer.)

And it remains true that if you dont anticipate a substantial loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should probably pay your mortgage as usual.

On the positive side, some servicers seem to have done a better job of communicating with borrowers all along.

We dont want you up to your ears. Thats what Danny Chisholm, a self-employed personal trainer and massage therapist in Chicago, says he was told when he called his servicer, Flagstar Bank, in mid-March.

He was sent to a dedicated website, where he agreed to a three-month forbearance and was immediately informed that hed have several ways to get current afterwardsincluding adding the missed payments to the end of his 15-year mortgage.

I was like, Thank God, he says. Id heard stories of people waiting eight hours on the phone. But after five minutes there was nothing left to be done.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Algeria, April 30, 2020 (SPS) - Minister of National Solidarity, Family and Women's Issues, Ms. Kawthar Kriko, along with Algerian Red Crescents head, Saida Ben Habiles with the Sahrawi Ambassador in Algeria Mr. Abdul Qadir Al-Talib Omar, has oversaw the sending of humanitarian solidarity assistance to Sahrawi refugee camps.

This solidarity caravan included foodstuffs and hygiene materials, in addition to a variety of medical devices to face the emerging epidemic of Corona.

On this regard, Ms. Kawthar Krikou pointed out that the caravan includes food and medical assistance, as well as hygiene materials, adding that the initiative is a part of series of caravans of Algeria to the Sahrawi people, highlighting that it is a strong message affirming the position of the people and Government of Algeria towards the fair and just issue of Sahrawi people.

For his part, The Sahrawi ambassador to Algeria, Mr. Abdelkader Al-Talib Omar, expressed his great gratitude to the brotherly Algerian people for this unconditional support and solidarity.SPS

125/090/TRA
HOUSTON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Gilsonite Company (the "Company" or "AGC"), the world's principal commercial miner and processor of uintaite, the unique mineral marketed under its trademark name "Gilsonite," today announced that it posted financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 to the Company's Intralinks site on April 30, 2020.

The Company will host a conference call for holders of its Subordinated Notes and holders of the Company's common stock on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 10:00am ET. Craig Mueller, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Steven Granda, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the Company's financial results and answer questions from the investment community.

A rebroadcast of this conference call will also be available through May 12, 2020. The dial-in information for both the conference call and the rebroadcast has been be posted to the Company's Intralinks website. Participants for the conference call are requested to dial in five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Holders of the Company's Subordinated Notes and holders of the Company's common stock who have executed the Stockholders Agreement can request access to the Company's Intralinks site by contacting Michael Herley by email at [email protected] or by phone at 203-308-1409.

About American Gilsonite Company (www.americangilsonite.com)

AGC operates as an industrial minerals company and is the world's primary miner and processor of uintaite, a variety of asphaltite, a specialty hydrocarbon which AGC markets to industrial customers under its registered trademark name "Gilsonite". Gilsonite is a glossy, black, solid naturally occurring hydrocarbon similar in appearance to hard asphalt and is believed to be found in commercial quantities only in the Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah. Because of its unique chemical and physical properties, Gilsonite has been used in more than 160 products. The Company sells its products to customers in four primary markets: (i) oil and gas, (ii) inks and paints, (iii) foundry and (iv) asphalt. AGC is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Contact Michael Herley, [email protected] or 203-308-1409

SOURCE American Gilsonite Company

Related Links

http://www.americangilsonite.com


This article will teach you about the rebranding efforts of some of Canadas best-known companies. Heres how their logos changed and why.

This article was first published on Stacker
Social Protection Consultant (Retainer), Home Based

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Home-based

Closing date: Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Social Protection Consultant (Retainer)

Advertised on behalf of : Location : Home-based

Application Deadline : 12-May-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 18-May-2020

Duration of Initial Contract : May - December 2020

Expected Duration of Assignment : May - December 2020

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality for women as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing womens rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

The outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019. Since then a global pandemic has been declared, with countries across the globe mobilizing to respond to the health crisis and manage the significant socio-economic impacts. This unprecedented crisis unfolds against many existing challenges: Asia and the Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world, and it is facing the ever-pressing threats of climate change and many large protracted crises and conflict. It is also unfolding amid persistent gender inequalities in the region: owing to structural inequalities and discriminatory gender norms, women account for only 18 per cent of parliamentarians, [1] womens employment is concentrated in the informal labour sector with limited protection, and women experience unacceptably high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV).

As part of a comprehensive socioeconomic response to the pandemic and in support of government led responses, UN agencies in many countries are supporting the roll out of social protection responses to the pandemic. It is paramount that such social protection measures benefit women and respond to their rights and needs, and that women are actively engaged in the design, planning, and monitoring of such responses. These social protection measures span, but are not limited to, supporting income security and access to essential goods and services, protection of livelihoods, and ensuring adequate access to health services.

In this context, the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific seeks to hire a consultant to support country offices with the development and implementation of programming on gender-responsive social protection measures in response to COVID-19 in the region.

[1] https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SG.GEN.PARL.ZS.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Advisor, Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction, and Head of Office for UN Women Country Offices in target countries (such as Timor-Leste and Bangladesh), the consultant will undertake the following tasks [1]:

Provide technical assistance, based on best practices and evidence for what works in gender-responsive social protection, to UN Women Country Offices and government partners for the design, implementation, and monitoring of social protection measures in response to COVID-19;

Develop a monitoring framework for women-led civil society organizations to monitor the rollout of social protection measures in various country contexts, such as Timor-Leste and/or other countries in the region, with an emphasis on an intersectional approach to ensure such measures leave no one behind;

Support the development of feedback and complaint mechanisms for cash transfer schemes and other social protection measures in response to COVID-19;

Support the development of public information content on the rollout and delivery mechanisms for cash transfers;

Provide remote capacity strengthening sessions/webinars to UN Women country offices and partners on gender-responsive social protection;

Document good practices, challenges, and lessons learnt from UN Women programming related to social protection for the COVID-19 response;

Support the development of UN Women programming relating to gender-responsive social protection measures, including through development of draft concept notes and background briefs.

Expected Deliverables

In consultation with the Regional Humanitarian Advisor and respective UN Women offices, the Social Protection Consultant will produce on a retainer basis:

Technical inputs into concept notes and background briefs on gender-responsive social protection;

Monitoring frameworks for social protection measures in response to COVID-19;

Public information messages and methodology for rollout for messages on rollout and delivery of social protection measures;

Data collection and analysis tools for feedback and complaint mechanisms;

Reports on technical advisory and capacity strengthening support provided to UN Women country offices and partners;

Briefs capturing lessons learnt, good practices, and challenges related to implementation of gender-responsive social protection measures.

[1] Based on country-determined needs within social protection

Competencies

Knowledge and experience:

Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality, humanitarian action or response to public health emergencies, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Excellent writing skills. Experience writing project proposals, donor reports, and policy briefs.

Knowledge of online communications platforms an advantage.

Previous experience with UN Women and other UN agencies an advantage.

Fluency in English, with knowledge of other languages spoken in the Asia-Pacific region and other UN languages an advantage.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the United Nations values and ethical standards.

Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN and UN Women.

Tags cash transfer climate change data collection disaster risk disaster risk reduction empowerment of women gender mainstreaming good practices health emergencies health services human rights online communications peace and security public information women and girls

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Ability and willingness to work as part of a team to meet tight deadlines and produce high quality work.

Required Skills and Experience

Masters degree in gender studies, human rights, international affairs, social science, public policy, and/or any relevant field directly related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls;

Minimum seven years of progressively responsible, relevant work experience at national or international level in design, planning, implementation and/or monitoring of development or humanitarian projects relating to gender equality;

Technical experience in gender-responsive social protection, with demonstrated experience coordinating with governments and civil society;

Experience working in the UN System is an asset;

Working experience in Asia-Pacific is an asset;

Excellent command of written English, knowledge of languages spoken in the Asia-Pacific region is an asset.

Contract period and work location

The consultant will be home-based, with the ability to maintain working hours compatible with Bangkok, and the contract period will be for six months.

Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis.

Technical Qualification (100 points) weight; [70%]

Financial Proposal (100 points) weight; [30%]

A two-stage procedure is utilised in evaluating the applications, with evaluation of the technical application being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. Only the price proposal of the candidates who passed the minimum technical score of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the technical qualification evaluation will be evaluated.

Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria: Technical Evaluation Criteria

Obtainable Score

Education

Masters degree in gender studies, human rights, international affairs, social science, public policy, and/or any relevant field directly related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls;

15%

Experience and skills

Minimum seven years of progressively responsible, relevant work experience at national or international level in design, planning, implementation and/or monitoring of development or humanitarian projects relating to gender equality;

Technical experience in gender-responsive social protection, with demonstrated experience coordinating with governments and civil society;

Working experience in Asia-Pacific is an asset;

Experience working in the UN System is an asset;

70 %

Language and report writing skills

Excellent command of written English, knowledge of languages spoken in the Asia-Pacific region is an asset.

15 %

Total Obtainable Score

100 %

Only the candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% of total points will be considered as technically-qualified candidates who may be contacted for validation interview.

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:

Only the financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation will be considered and evaluated.

The total number of points allocated for the price component is 100.

The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened/ evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

Submission of application

Interest candidates are encouraged to submit electronic application to hr.bangkok@unwomen.org with -cc to salila.klongboonjit@unwomen.org , not later than 12 May 2020, 23:59 Bangkok time.

Submission package includes:

Letter of Motivation

Personal History Form(P11) which can be downloaded from http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/about-us/jobs

Writing sample

Financial proposal: the financial proposal shall specify the daily professional fee.

Payments

Payments for this consultancy will be based on the achievement of each deliverable and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed. Payments will not be based on the number of days worked but on the completion of each stated deliverable within the indicated timeframes.

UN Women does not warrant that the maximum number of working days will be purchased during the term of Agreement. The consultant can only be engaged through issuance of ATLAS Purchase Order, based on agreed Contract every time the UN Women wishes to procure the service.

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.
Companies make two lines of toilet paper. One is made from recycled paper and some virgin wood fiber and ends up in offices, schools, factories, restaurants and hospitals. The other line is higher quality and meant for homes. It starts as a slurry of mostly imported, soft Brazilian eucalyptus wood fibers and is manufactured into multiple plies with stamped patterns and even scents. With people staying at home because of business closings and shelter-in-place orders, the need for the home-quality stuff has skyrocketed, creating an instant and vast imbalance in demand.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 16:28 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd542590 1 Health students,UI,psychologist,COVID-19,mental-health,health,consultation,online-consultation,coronavirus Free

The integrated psychology clinic at the University of Indonesia is providing online consultation services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The services at the clinic, which is managed by the Psychology Assessment and Intervention Institute (LAIPSI) of the universitys psychology department, will be available to both current patients and new ones. New patients can register via this link.

The clinic welcomes individual patients, either adults or children, as well as those seeking education-related evaluations and consultations.

According to the clinics website, sessions start from Rp 170,000 (US$11.34) per hour for a consultation, Rp 225,000 per hour for a consultation with a senior psychologist, Rp 302,500 for an interest and talent test for students in grade nine and below, Rp 302,500 for an IQ test for students in grade eight and below and Rp 412,500 for assessments of children with special needs.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the clinic's WhatsApp number at +6281510073561 or email at klinikterpadu@gmail.com.

Sebelas Maret University (UNS) in Surakarta, Central Java, meanwhile has opened a free online psychological consultation service for its students who are experiencing anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government also recently launched a psychological consultation service called the Psychological Services for Mental Health (Sejiwa) program, to ensure the publics mental health during the outbreak. (gis/kes)
The worldwide lockdown has made humans sit at home, which means reduced transportation, reduced factory smoke, and better air quality, giving time to mother nature to revive. Recently, it was reported that the pollution across the country has decreased, and the results are marvellous, so much so that we can now see clear skies and stars shining.

Earlier, the residents of Punjab reported that they could see the Himalayas from their house, which has never happened before, thanks to the nationwide lockdown.

A report published by India's Central Pollution Control Board also said that there has been an improvement in 85 cities since the lockdown began and ever since the roads have been empty, with only essential services getting a chance to move.

Recently, the Himalayan Range became visible even from Uttar Pradesh, which is quite rare. Shared by Ramesh Pandey, IFS, the images are now going viral and one can see the snow-clad peaks of Himalaya from Saharanpur.

Snow capped peaks of Himalaya are now visible from Saharnpur !

Lockdown and intermittent rains have significantly improved the AQI. These pictures were taken by Dushyant, an Income Tax inspector, from his house at Vasant Vihar colony on Monday evening. #lockdowneffect #nature pic.twitter.com/1vFfJqr05J  Ramesh Pandey IFS (@rameshpandeyifs) April 29, 2020

Since the air quality is getting cleaner by the day, the eye-catching serene view is a sight to behold.

Another resident from UP, Ashtoush Mishra posted pictures from his house to show what the world is transforming into.

The reports have suggested that the AQI of the city is at 40 and hence looking at these mountains from 150 km distance is something that makes us believe that this is indeed what 'normalcy' should look like.

The pictures are making people express their happiness and embrace the new face of India!

Snow capped peaks of Himalaya are now visible from Saharnpur !

Lockdown and intermittent rains have significantly improved the AQI. These pictures were taken by Dushyant, an Income Tax inspector, from his house at Vasant Vihar colony on Monday evening. #lockdowneffect #nature pic.twitter.com/1vFfJqr05J  Ramesh Pandey IFS (@rameshpandeyifs) April 29, 2020

Around 24 years back I had seem it from saharanpur railway station while travelling to Dehradun. I could not believe I was so close to the himalayan peaks.  martand (@martanz) April 29, 2020

These pictures were received from Sanjay Kumar Commissioner Saharanpur. A news has also come in a local news paper in this regard. The pictures were taken by Mr Dushyant who happens to an Income Tax officer. The mountain series viable is about 200 km far and of Gangotri area.  Ramesh Pandey IFS (@rameshpandeyifs) April 29, 2020

That's unbelievable and amazing. In normal days even mussoorie range is not visible from Saharanpur  Abhishek (@bhardwaajabhi) April 29, 2020

Sir, Snow capped mountains also visible from Dhampur, Distt Bijnore. If one could use their imagination, what the terai belt must have looked like a 100 years ago over looking these beautiful peaks.  Udaiveer (@SinghUdaiveer1) April 29, 2020
Police are investigating a social media hoax purporting to show the federal government's COVIDSafe app is tracking where users are.

A Facebook post on Monday alleged that the COVID-19 app had tracked the user more than 20km from their home address.

'Please register your reason for travel by calling 1300 1MY GOV) within 15 minutes of receiving this SMS. Thank you,' the message ended.

The post's caption says: 'So this is the real reason they want the corona app (sic) out to control us.'

Police are investigating a social media hoax purporting to show the federal government's coronavirus tracking tool COVIDSafe is tracking where users are

Eight copies of the post were viewed more than 250,000 times before Facebook superimposed a message it was 'false information' - having been checked by AAP FactCheck and other fact-checkers.

The Australian Federal Police told AAP FactCheck via email they were investigating the message.

'The AFP is aware of an alleged hoax involving the COVIDSafe app and is currently investigating the matter,' the email said.

The Department of Health, which maintains the app, told AAP FactCheck the Facebook post was 'a hoax message' and that it was 'abhorrent scammers would attempt to use the COVIDSafe app, a public health tool, to try and catch out Australians'.

'The COVIDsafe app doesn't have any geolocation capability, it does not track your location, only the proximity of your phone to other people's phones that have downloaded the app and cannot monitor a person's location at any time,' a department spokesman said.

Experts at the University of Sydney have also stated the app cannot track location.

The COVIDSafe tracing app has been downloaded by more than three million Australians since it was released on Monday, putting it on course to achieve an effective take-up rate.
German travel start-ups have called on Google to share the burden they're currently experiencing, according to a letter seen by CNBC.

The start-ups pay Google millions every year in advertising fees so that they feature high up in Google search results, in banner ads, and on Google's own Hotel Finder platform.

But like others in the travel sector, coronavirus has hit them hard; they're having to issue refunds to travelers and new bookings have slowed down significantly.

In a letter to Google's chief business officer, Philipp Schindler, the start-up's leaders call on Google to wait for the ad money it's owed. Specifically, the companies want Google to pause the enforcement of payments on companies that have received taxpayer-funded government financial aid.

They also want Google to offer a consistent and flexible way for them to restructure and postpone payment terms for ad services other fees incurred in the first quarter.

"Unless greater flexibility is exercised by Google, many of its advertising partners will be forced to use government loans to pay their debts," the letter reads. "Badly-needed funding will flow into Google's coffers on the backs of taxpayers in Germany and around the world."
The Delhi government on Thursday directed the revenue department to start a helpline for senior citizens to give information related to coronavirus.

The number 1077 will be the helpline number for senior citizens in the national capital if they need any information or help related to the Covid-19 health crisis.

The helpline for senior citizens will be activated within two days and information about it will also be widely circulated, according to a government order. The helpline will be operational for senior citizens 24X7.

Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev on Thursday in his order also issued directions for an online application that can register grievances or requests of senior citizens. The online application will also provide an SMS acknowledgement to the elderly person concerned as well as to the District Magistrate concerned and his nodal officer.

District magistrates will appoint a nodal officer in their respective areas, who will ensure that grievances of senior citizens living alone or with their family in the capital are attended to by the department concerned, according to the order.

A day earlier, on Wednesday, Delhi recorded 125 new cases of Covid-19, down from Tuesdays 206 cases, the states health department said.

The national capital has now registered 3,439 cases of Covid-19 out of which 2,291 are active cases and 1,092 coronavirus patients have recovered.

There were two deaths in the past 24 hours which took the death toll in the capital city to 56. No deaths had been reported for the last four days earlier.

The Delhi governments rate of testing is also increasing every day. On Wednesday, the government carried out 3,855 Covid-19 tests and the rate of testing is now at 2,338 per million of the population.
Recovery of $165 mln from ex-Russian Deputy Agriculture Minister upheld

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

10:28 30/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 29 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russia has refused to reconsider a ruling on the recovery of more than 12 billion rubles ($165 million at the current exchange rate) from ex-Deputy Agriculture Minister Alexey Bazhanov as part of a bankruptcy case against Oil Production company, according to court records.

In September 2019, the Commercial Court of Voronezh Region ordered collection of the funds from Bazhanov. The former official appealed the ruling.

The claim to collect funds from Bazhanov has been lodged by Blago Company saying that the former official had controlled Oil Production starting the companys establishment and prior to the moment of the bankruptcy case launch.

Oil Production company was declared bankrupt in July 2014. Bankruptcy proceedings were instituted against the debtor.

In March 2014, the former official was put on the international wanted list. In May 2014, the Moscow City Court upheld a decision to arrest Bazhanov in absentia.

Bazhanov was charged with having embezzled a 1.15-billion-ruble (about $16 million at the current exchange rate) loan issued by the Russian Agricultural Bank to the Masloproduct group of companies, which produce vegetable oil. The group was established by Bazhanov and controls about 6% of the Russian sunflower oil market.

He also became a defendant in a case over embezzlement 1.1 billion rubles from Rosagroleasing Company which was set up by federal authorities to lease agricultural machinery, livestock and pedigree cattle to Russian farmers.

The Interior Ministry reported that in 2008-2009 Bazhanov and his alleged accomplices stole budget funds by signing contracts to deliver equipment to the farms controlled by his group of companies.

In 2009-2010, Bazhanov was a deputy to then-Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik.
#Importante | Sala Penal Anticorrupcion sustituyo la prision preventiva por arresto domiciliario a la investigada Susana Villaran De la Puente por el plazo de 24 meses en la investigacion que se le sigue por el presunto delito de lavado de activos y otros. pic.twitter.com/VPZI6Ac9kI
New York, April 30 : A funeral home in in New York, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, put dozens of bodies in moving lorries authorities have said, after passersby complained of the smell.

The Andrew T Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn had rented trucks and put about 50 corpses inside with ice, the BBC reported on Thursday.

It is however, unclear if these were victims of the coronavirus.

Eric Adams, the Borough President of Brooklyn, went to the scene after the funeral home complaint emerged.

"While this situation is under investigation, we should not have what we have right now, with trucks lining the streets filled with bodies," the BBC quoted Adams saying to the New York Daily News on Wednesday.

Adams said they were alerted by "people who walked by who saw some leakage and detected an odour coming from a truck".

By law, funeral directors must keep bodies in safe conditions that prevent infection before they are buried or cremated.

Police were called to the scene and sealed off the area, while a refrigerated truck later arrived.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that with 4,585 additional cases, the state's overall tally reached 299,691, and the daily death toll fell to 330, the lowest since early March.

The US currently accounts for the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, as well as deaths.

As of Thursday morning, the country recorded 1,039,909 cases, with 60,966 deaths, according to the latest tally by the Johns Hopkins University.
Representation picture

Four out of every 10 restaurants and cloud kitchens will likely be permanently shuttered in the absence of a government bailout. The impact will be severe in the industry that had a turnover of Rs 4 lakh crore and provided direct employment to over seven million, reported The Economic Times.

Adding to these grim estimates from the National Restaurant Association of India is the nearly 70 percent fall in the food delivery business. Analysts say dining out and ordering in will take very long to recover after the lockdown ends as consumer spending will be low, due to salary cuts and job losses.

Cloud kitchens, which operate only through online ordering, are also feeling the pain. Eat Fit, founded by Mukesh Bansal, is scouting for buyers as it put out 18 of its facilities up for sale, expecting orders over the year to significantly decline.

According to RedSeer Consulting's estimates, food delivery alone will take at least a year to come back to pre-lockdown levels, and even longer in smaller towns and cities. Similarly, the wallet share for dine-in restaurants will decrease sharply, as per 68 percent of respondents in a survey conducted by the firm.

However, some entrepreneurs are trying to reinvent business models by launching packaged foods, delivering DIY (do-it-yourself) meal kits, re-engineering menus, and even delivering groceries.

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

ThickShake Factory, a Hyderabad-based business that scaled up to 120 outlets on the back of selling milkshakes, are pivoting to a multi-brand, delivery-only model, branching out to food and new beverages. They expect no footfall for the next five months.

Bigger brands are also looking for solutions to tackle the situation. Rebel Foods, which operates Faasos and Behrouz Biryani, and Impresarios Smoke House Deli have introduced DIY meals targeting consumers who are cautious about ordering cooked food. A kit typically consists of all ingredients needed to cook a dish, measured out in exact proportion, and comes with cooking instructions. DIY meal kits have been a success in the US, with one business, Blue Apron, now a listed company.

Considering safety rules that have to be followed post-lockdown, Dineout and Zomato have begun conversations with restaurants to adopt contactless dining products. This is likely to raise the cost by at least 4-5 percent. And stricter social distancing norms may see dine-out occupancy fall by at least 20 percent.
(Natural News) As countries around the world look to let people go back to work and restart their economies, it seems that wearing masks will become part of daily life. During an interview last week, Dr. David Nabarro, special envoy for COVID-19 at the World Health Organization (WHO), suggested that some form of facial protection is going to become the norm.

Wearing a mask is already compulsory while going out in countries like Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Others are following suit, with Austria and parts of Italy requiring them when using public transport or going shopping.

In the U.K., a group of 100 doctors signed a letter calling for the public to wear home-made face masks whenever they stepped out of their homes. Meanwhile, in America, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentuckians would be asked to wear masks in public starting May 11.

Confusion over masks effectivity

While some believe that wearing face masks can help stop infections from coughed or sneezed particles, others argue that people can accidentally infect themselves when taking a mask off, or that wearing masks makes people more complacent in regards to adhering to measures designed to slow the spread of the disease, such as hand-washing.

Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, recently reviewed 31 studies that looked into the effectivity of face masks in preventing respiratory illnesses. According to Hunter, the quality of the existing research is poor.

It would be as easy to make an argument for opposing the widespread use of masks as it would be to make an argument promoting their use, stated Hunter. Its no wonder the public is confused.

Masks only work if worn properly

Talking to the Daily Mail, Dr. Jenna Macciochi, a lecturer in immunology at the University of Sussex, explained that masks need to be worn correctly for them to work properly. To be effective, a mask has to be fitted correctly, worn correctly and disposed of correctly  which is not something the general public has been trained in, Macchiochi stated.

According to Macchiochi, not wearing masks properly is potentially more hazardous than not wearing one at all. She says that doing so could cause someone to infect themselves with the very particles the masks are supposed to protect against when taking it off.

In the same article, David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, echoes this. He emphasized that a proper fitting mask is important, especially for people who have to work with more vulnerable members of society, such as the elderly.

If youre in a situation where you cant physically distance  if youre working in a care home, for example  then a properly fitting mask should be worn as a precaution to protect the elderly, because if a carer is infected, virus-containing droplets could infect them, too, Heymann stated.

How facemasks are handled is also essential to whether a wearer can get full protection. Hands should be washed before putting on a mask, as well as after taking it off. Additionally, some masks become less effective when damp, and the WHO recommends that masks be replaced as soon as this happens.

Masks work both ways

An important consideration about masks is that they work both ways  protecting healthy people from catching the virus while preventing people with the virus from spreading it in the first place. As such, experts are recommending that sick people should also wear masks, to protect those close to them.

People who are coughing and sneezing and cant physically distance themselves from others  for example, in a household when they are isolated with other family members  should wear a mask to protect others from infected droplets they may be producing, says Heymann.

This advice becomes even more important when you consider that a large percentage of infections come from asymptomatic carriers  those who dont show any symptoms of COVID-19. Studies have shown that 25 to 50 percent of all cases are asymptomatic carriers. As such, people should still wear masks in public, even if they dont show any symptoms.

Getting the right facemask

Not all masks protect equally; for example, homemade masks and thin, disposable surgical masks protect from large droplets, but they cant block very small particles that may also carry the virus. More effective masks that can block the smaller particles, such as N95 masks, do exist, but these are harder to find outside of medical settings.

The question, however, is who should be buying which specific masks. Ideally, everyone would have access to medical-grade N95 masks. However, this just isnt possible due to the current shortages of protective equipment.

As such, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that the general public should use homemade cloth facemasks, leaving the crucial N95 masks for healthcare workers in the frontlines of the pandemic.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Courier-Journal.com
New Delhi, April 30 : Xiaomi-backed brand called Huami on Thursday officially launched its new fitness band Amazfit X smartwatch with a curved AMOLED panel for $149.

Buyers can get Amazfit X watch via the Indiegogo crowdfunding site that will be available across the world in August.

Amazfit X utilises an all-metal integrated design with hidden electronic buttons that replace the raised traditional buttons The fitness band features 2.07-inch curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 206x640 pixels, 400 nits of peak brightness, and a sufficiently high pixel density of 326ppi.

The display has a curved arc of 92-degrees that is claimed to offer a more natural and comfortable fit while wearing.

The band features a 200mAh curved lithium battery which claims to last for seven days on a single charge. The Amazfit X comes equipped with a PPG heart rate sensor, blood oxygen and more.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
BEIJING, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RYB Education, Inc. ("RYB" or the "Company") (NYSE: RYB), a leading early childhood education service provider in China, today announced it has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

The annual report is available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.rybbaby.com. and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company will provide hardcopies of the annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be submitted to [email protected].

About RYB Education, Inc.

Founded on the core values of "Care" and "Responsibility," "Inspire" and "Innovate," RYB Education, Inc. is a leading early childhood education service provider in China. Since opening its first play-and-learn center in 1998, the Company has grown and flourished with the mission to provide high-quality, individualized and age-appropriate care and education to nurture and inspire each child for his or her betterment in life. During its two decades of operating history, the Company has built "RYB" into a well-recognized education brand and helped bring about many new educational practices in China's early childhood education industry. RYB's comprehensive early childhood education solutions meet the needs of children from infancy to 6 years old through structured courses at kindergartens and play-and-learn centers, as well as at-home educational products and services.

For more information, please visit http://ir.rybbaby.com

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

RYB Education, Inc.

Investor Relations

Tel: 86-10-8767-5752

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Ross Warner

Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE RYB Education, Inc.

Related Links

www.rybbaby.com


He was the kind of person who, if you stopped by to talk to him he would always make time, even if he had other things he needed to do, she said. He had children. He had grandchildren. He was very involved in his childrens lives.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Geely Automobile unveiled on April 28 its all-new mid-sized SUV Haoyue, which is set to be offered with 5-seater and 7-seater layouts.

At the front, the Haoyue still adopts Geely's signature design language of expanding cosmos, while the new black badge adds volume to the vehicle's distinction. The U-shaped grille is seamlessly flanked by polygonal headlights, which creates a multi-layered perception and underlines the front's width.



In terms of the side profile, the vehicle looks quite sporty and masculine thanks to the high center of gravity and the muscle lines at bulging wheel arches. The straight and flat roof implies a spacious headroom for passengers.

The new vehicle measures 4,835mm long, 1,900mm wide and 1,780mm high, and has a wheelbase that spans 2,815 units, which fit its position as a mid-sized SUV.



In the cockpit, an occupant will find a center console whose resemblance to that of the ICON SUV is apparent. The usage of a massive floating display at the center console, a liquid crystal dashboard display and an electronic gear selector appeals to tech-savvy consumers. The air-conditioning vent is shaped like an infinity loop (), which is scattered around in the ICON.

The information registered in the MIIT reveals that the Haoyue will offer two types of enginesthe 1.8T engine is good for 184hp and the 1.5T can produce up to 177hp.

After hitting the market, it will take on such Chinese indigenous brands as the Trumpchi GS8 and the BYD Tang (Geely Haoyue, photo source: Geely Auto).
HOLYOKE  Kevin and Jennifer Chateauneuf cant let folks eat at the dining stools at Nicks Nest, the 99-year-old hot dog stand on Northampton Street theyve owned for 15 years.

And everyone  even U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, who visited Thursday to talk about the federal Paycheck Protection Program  has to wear a mask when they come in to order.

Business is off 50% from where it should be at this normally busy time of year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Jennifer Chateauneuf said.

Nobody is going out, she said.

But the business with 10 employees is still open  it never closed it  and it plans to stay that way. Chateauneuf said shell even hire more girls, as she called her workers, to staff the soft-serve ice cream counter in a few weeks. Its all thanks to a Paycheck Protection Program loan she received this week through New Valley Bank & Trust of Springfield.

Its a lifeline, she said. We wouldnt have been able to keep going without it.

The Chateauneufs hosted Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, along with two other loan recipients, Peter Rosskothen, owner of the Log Cabin banquet facility, and Michael Zaskey, owner of Zasco Productions in Chicopee, and others.

I cant imagine Holyoke without Nicks Nest and without the Log Cabin, Neal said Thursday.

He defended the $660 billion Paycheck Protection Program as a vital job-saving resource for small businesses while acknowledging that its not without flaws. Neal said he wants to see it continued in a forthcoming round of coronavirus relief legislation hes working on with other lawmakers this week

(Paycheck Protection) is getting better, he said. I know there was a lack of guidance and clarity in the beginning. Now that is being worked out.

This second phase of the Paycheck Protection Program rolls out as Massachusetts faces unprecedented unemployment, with about a fifth of the workforce filing for jobless benefits.

About 70,000 Massachusetts workers filed claims for unemployment insurance in the week that ended April 25, marking the sixth straight week the coronavirus crisis has been reflected in the labor market.

Neal said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has told him that recipients of $2 million or more in Paycheck Protection Program loans will be audited, and some large companies that didnt need money they received in the first round are returning it.

He said $60 billion in the most recent $310 billion allotment is earmarked for women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses. Money is also flowing through small banks and credit unions likely to do business with smaller enterprises, Neal said. Publicly traded companies can also access the funds.

Critics have said its hard for minority-owned companies, who might not have banking relationships, to access the funds.

It takes outreach, said J. Jeffrey Sullivan, president of New Valley Bank & Trust in Springfield.

New Valley Bank, which opened last year, has processed 325 Paycheck Protection Program loans. Those loans have saved 4,000 jobs. Only about a third of the loans went to companies that were New Valley Bank clients before the crisis.

Sullivan said the bank is working with Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services to help identify minority-owned businesses that could be recipients.

We are going 24/7, Sullivan said.

One of his clients is Thoneroom Delivery Services, which operates out of the Amazon warehouse on Lower Westfield Road in Holyoke. The company got a Paycheck Protection Program loan that made it possible to meet payroll while ramping up to meet demand, owner Steve Williams said. Hes got 123 employees delivering packages as far north as Greenfield.

Rosskothen said hes grateful for the loan his company received this week to meet payroll, rent and other expenses. Hes down to 25 employees from 300 with his eat-in businesses closed and sales of takeout meals slow at his Delaneys Market stores in Wilbraham, Westfield and Longmeadow.

But there is a flaw, he said. In order to convert he loan to a grant hes got to to bring back workers within eight weeks.

We wont be open that fast, he said. I dont think in food or hospitality that eight weeks is realistic.

His eat-in businesses wont be able to fully reopen until state social distancing guidelines are loosened.

On Wednesday, Neal told mayors from around the country he hopes to include federal funding for state unemployment programs, as well as federal dollars to make up for lost revenue, in the next round of coronavirus response legislation. There will be more Paycheck Protection loan money as well.

On Thursday, he reiterated that support but added that the next legislation will include tax credits, which are popular with Republican lawmakers. Republicans have opposed aid to municipal governments.

Neal said the new bill would also include another payment to individuals.

Related Content:
(Natural News) Iran is building at least 10,000 new graves in the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran for future coronavirus victims. This cemetery, the largest in Iran, covers more than 1,200 acres of land and contains nearly 1.7 million graves.

A video posted on Twitter showed rows upon rows of empty plots, which appear to be a new section built for coronavirus-related deaths. As the camera pans away from the newly built graves, wailing families can be seen mourning the loss of their loved ones.

April 27#Iran's official #coronavirus stats

5,806 dead

91,472 cases One Iranian official said the true number of cases & deaths are 20 times higher than official stats. Cemetery near Tehran

Locals say countless COVID-19 victims are buried here.pic.twitter.com/z3gIKAqobc  Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) April 27, 2020

Tehran deputy mayor Mojtaba Yazdani told state news agency IRNA on Sunday that isolated facilities were also being constructed at Behest-e Zahra, so workers can conduct the traditional washing of the bodies before they are buried. These facilities will be built over former crisis shelters constructed on the cemeterys grounds. The graves are dug 6.5 feet deep (two meters); however, the bodies will not be dusted with quicklime, the substance coated over graves that help prevent the spread of disease. Meanwhile, other cities dust the graves with quicklime and bury the dead in layers of protective shrouds.

Preparing for a second wave

Iranian officials have allowed so-called low-risk businesses  such as shops, factories and warehouses  to resume operations April 18, following reports of the daily coronavirus death toll hitting an all-time low. In addition, intercity highways and major shopping centers all over the country have been open since April 20.

Top officials in the country argue that the country cannot afford to remain in lockdown, saying that it is possible for the country to deal with the virus and reopen the economy through smart social distancing measures.

Businesses that wish to reopen need to register online and be inspected by health officials. Commuters are discouraged from using public transportation due to anti-congestion measures, leading to a significant uptick in car traffic in Tehrans highways.

Iraj Harirchi, Deputy Minister for Health, warned that the partial lifting of lockdown restrictions can be reversed in the number of infections and deaths goes up once more.

But not everyone is on board with the reopening of businesses, as some people, including members of the Tehran City Council, remain skeptical. Mohsen Hashemi, chairman of the city council, challenged the Ministry of Health to reveal the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Tehran and its surrounding areas.

Hashemi said that without an accurate portrait of the coronavirus outbreak, city officials are forced to look through burial data gathered from Behesht-e Zahra. Hashemi, however, has also refused to give the number of burials conducted in Tehrans main cemetery.

Irans official coronavirus figures put on the spotlight

The move to build 10,000 new graves have also raised concerns among experts. As of press time, Iran has reported only has 92,584 cases of COVID-19, including 5,877 deaths. However, different sources believe this to be much higher. (Related: Iran could be the next coronavirus death trap as casualties mount amid concerns that FAR more people are infected than the government is reporting.)

Gholam Ali Jafazadeh Imanabadi, a member of the Iranian parliament, had dismissed the countrys official coronavirus numbers. In February, he urged state officials to be transparent about the real figures. Imanabadi visited graveyards in both Tehran and Rasht  the northern city he represents  and concluded that officials were concealing the statistics from the people.

You may conceal the numbers, but you cannot hide graveyards, he added.

Other sources echoed Imandabadis concerns. A research center working with the parliament revealed that official records only included those who tested positive for COVID-19 and died in hospital. The World Health Organization has also said that Irans death toll could be five times higher than the official count, due in part to the fact that health workers were only testing severe cases.

Its difficult to tell the actual extent of Irans outbreak, due largely to the countrys tightly controlled and regulated media sources. However, if the creation of 10,000 new graves in Behesht-e Zahra is any indication, the Iranian government may be preparing for the deaths of thousands more before the pandemic is over.

Sources include:

DailyStar.co.uk

En.RadioFarda.com 1

SpartanIdeas.MSU.edu

TheSun.co.uk

AlJazeera.com 1

AlJazeera.com 2

Rappler.com

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

En.RadioFarda.com 2
S imon Cowell has shared a heartfelt birthday message for Captain Tom Moore as the veteran turned 100.

The Britains Got Talent judge, 60, hailed Captain Moore as a world hero after he raised 30 million for NHS charities during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a video message shared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning, Cowell praised him as an inspiration.

Hello Captain Tom, this is Simon Cowell, he said. I hear its your 100th birthday and I want to say that in itself is remarkable.

Happy Birthday. But I also want to congratulate you on everything else you are doing for the country at the moment.

Captain Tom Moore - In pictures 1 /90 Captain Tom Moore - In pictures Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Captain Tom Moore, with his grand children Benji and Georgia, after he was awarded a prestigious Blue Peter Gold badge, the show's highest accolade, in recognition of the war veteran's remarkable NHS fundraising and for being 'a beacon of hope' during difficult times PA Captain Sir Tom Moore at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, on the publication day of his autobiography Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day Joe Giddens/PA Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore finishes his charity walk BBC British Army Captain Tom Moore is pictured in uniform via REUTERS Bedford School pupil and Captain Tom's grandson, Benjie Ingram-Moore, presented his grandfather with a photograph of the Great Hall filled with his 100th birthday cards for the first time this afternoon. Captain Tom was overwhelmed with emotion as he was presented with the photograph outside his home Bedford School Captain Tom Moore celebrating his 100th birthday by carrying the 2012 Olympic torch as he completes a lap of his garden PA Captain Tom Moore celebrating after reaching Number 1 in this week's Official Singles Chart with his rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball and The NHS Voices Of Care Choir. PA 99-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore, with (left to right) grandson Benji, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and granddaughter Georgia, at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, after he achieved his goal of 100 laps of his garden - raising more than 12 million pounds for the NHS PA Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore finishes his charity walk BBC Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore finishes his charity walk BBC Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden Jeremy Selwyn Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old veteran, completing the 100th length of his garden. Captain Moore has raised over 12 million pounds for the NHS after receiving donations to his fundraising challenge from around the world PA British Army Captain Tom Moore poses with trophies on a motorcycle via Reuters Tom Moore with his daughters Tom Moore is 99 and relies on a walking frame to get around, but that isn't stopping the determined almost-centenarian from walking 2,500 metres, or 1.55 miles, by the end of April Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters British Army Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, poses after he continued to raise money for health workers, by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday Reuters Captian Tom Moore AP Screengrab from Veteran Tom Moore's appearance on GMB Good Morning Britain/ITV Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore at 99 years ols Reuters Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday Reuters Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, Reuters An NHS staff member wipes her eyes as she holds a sign to thank British veteran Captain Tom Moore AFP via Getty Images Captain Tom Moore and his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore speaking via videolink at the opening of NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and Humber in North Yorkshire Getty Images Captain Tom Moore's grandson Benjie, in the Great Hall of Bedford School, Bedfordshire, where over 120,000 birthday cards sent from around the world are being opened and displayed by staff PA Artist Sam Bailey puts the finishing touches to a mural acknowledging the work being done by the NHS, emergency services and the fundraising exploits of Captain Tom Moore, at her home in Northampton PA A general view of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic Getty Images A message inside one of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic Getty Images A general view of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic Getty Images Footage of Captain Tom Moore appearing on Blankety Blank BBC A mural that has been created to pay tribute to NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore outside Bradley Scott Windows in Tamworth, Staffordshire PA An hourly salute to Captain Tom the army veteran in Piccadilly Circus, London PA A general view of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic Getty Images World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore, 99, posing with his two certificates after he broke the record for the most money raised by charity walk (individual) with his effort to raise over 27 million GBP for the NHS and at the age of 99 years 359 days became the oldest person to reach number one in the UK charts after teaming up with British singer Michael Ball to release a cover of 'Youll never walk alone' AFP via Getty Images Bedford School pupil and Captain Tom's grandson, Benjie Ingram-Moore, presented his grandfather with a photograph of the Great Hall filled with his 100th birthday cards for the first time this afternoon. Captain Tom was overwhelmed with emotion as he was presented with the photograph outside his home Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate via Reuters The Yorkshire Regiment medal presented to Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, via Reuters Colonel Tom Moore stood with Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Miller in front of all his medal and gifts. UK Ministry of Defence 2020 Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate via Reuters Captain Tom Moore (right) being issued his Second World War Defence Medal by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Miller after as he was appointed an Honorary Colonel. PA Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, shows a thumbs up in Bedford via Reuters Captain Tom Moore and his family BBC Captain Tom Moore and his family BBC A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passes over the home of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he celebrates his 100th birthday PA People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday Reuters Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday Reuters People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday Reuters Boris Johnson pays tribute with a Birthday greeting @borisohnson Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday, Reuters A mural in support of Captain Tom Moore and the NHS is seen, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Belfast, Reuters A happy birthday message is displayed on the big screen in Piccadilly Circus for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday Reuters Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he watches a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday. PA Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore with his daughter Hannah, as they wave to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday PA Captain Tom Moore with his 100th Birthday cake Captain Tom Moore with his 100th Birthday cake Caption Tom Moore receiving his knighthood news Caption Tom Moore receiving his knighthood news Sir Tom said he was 'delighted' to receive the news that he will be knighted by the Queen Benjie Ingram-Moore The Queen awards Captain Sir Thomas Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle on 17 July Getty Images

You are a total inspiration. I was going to say youre a national hero - I think youre a world hero.

Keep doing this, please, for the next 100 years. Sending you all my love. Have the most amazing day.

He concluded: And once again, thank you for everything youre doing for so many people. I salute you, sir."

Captain Tom Moore's 100th Birthday Flypast - In pictures 1 /26 Captain Tom Moore's 100th Birthday Flypast - In pictures Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday Reuters Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore with his daughter Hannah, as they wave to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday. PA One of the Spitfire planes that set off this morning for Captain Moore's 100th birthday flypast @RAFBBMF Captain Tom Moore with his family on his 100th Birthday BBC People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday, Reuters Captain Tom Moore with his family on his 100th Birthday BBC A truck displays a message of thanks to the NHS and army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday Reuters Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday, Reuters People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday Reuters Captain Tom Moore on his 100th Birthday BBC Boris Johnson pays tribute to Captain Tom Moore's 100th Birthday @borisohnson Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday as a truck displays a birthday message Reuters A banner marking 100th birthday of army veteran Captain Tom Moore hangs above windows, ahead of the Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast over his house Reuters Placards marking 100th birthday of army veteran Captain Tom Moore are pictured, ahead of the Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast over his house Reuters A letter released by Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore and dictated to his grandson as he celebrates his 100th birthday PA A happy birthday message is displayed for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday, Reuters Handout photo of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he watches a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday PA A army officer applauds for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday Reuters A man polishes a letter box painted blue to mark the 100th birthday of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore close to the home in Marston Moretaine, near Bedford. PA Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he waves to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday. PA

Captain Moore originally set out to raise 1,000 for NHS Charities Together by doing 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire but wildly exceeded his original target after winning the nations hearts.

He later hit the number one spot in the UK charts with a cover of Youll Never Walk Alone recorded with musical theatre legend Michael Ball.

A special RAF flypast soared over his home on Thursday morning, with a Hurricane and a Spitfire performing loops in the air.

He was also appointed as an honorary colonel to mark his 100th birthday and has received more than 125,000 birthday cards from members of the public - so many that a special sorting office had to be set up at his grandsons school.
WASHINGTON  Vice President Mike Pence was photographed on Thursday wearing a mask while visiting a General Motors plant in Indiana in what appeared to be a tacit acknowledgment of the criticism he has received for traveling the country without one.

Mr. Pence drew intense criticism for flouting the guidelines of the Mayo Clinic, which asks all visitors to its campus in Minnesota to wear masks, during a stop there this week.

It was not the first time he has refused to don a mask since resuming a heavy travel schedule representing the administration at graduations, hospitals and factories across the country. But because he appeared to be defying rules put in place by one of the countrys most renowned medical facilities, it seemed to strike a nerve.

At the time, Mr. Pence explained that because he was tested regularly for the coronavirus, he was not at risk of contributing to asymptomatic spread and therefore did not need to wear a mask  an argument that experts immediately dismissed.
Home cooks are now making pavlova in their slow cookers instead of in the oven - with impressive results.

The new trend began after a recipe was shared to the Slow Cooker Recipes and Tips Facebook page and group and received an instant response from foodies eager to try the idea themselves.

The woman who originally shared the recipe said it's a standard pavlova recipe consisting of just four ingredients.

Rather than baking pavlovas in the oven, home cooks are now baking the iconic Australian dessert in their slow cookers

Hundreds rejoiced over the clever idea with many trying the new baking tactic themselves and sharing the results online

The dessert is made by combining egg whites, caster sugar, vinegar and corn flour then placing the mixture into a lined slow cooker and baking for one-and-a-half to two hours.

The woman also said to ensure the sugar is thoroughly combined and completely dissolved into the cake mixture prior to placing it in the slow cooker.

'Rub a little of the mixture between your fingers. You shouldn't feel any grains - if you do, keep beating,' she said.

'And make sure your lid fits snugly on top of the tea towel - the top [of the cake] may feel a tad sticky but the sides should be crunchy.'

The dessert is made by combining egg whites, caster sugar, vinegar and corn flour then placing the mixture into a lined slow cooker and baking for two hours

'I just attempted this! Thank you so much for the recipe - so easy, mine needed at least 2 hours,' another added and shared a picture of her pavlova (pictured)

Others online asked how a slow cooked pavlova differs to baking the cake in the oven, to which the woman replied it doesn't sink down as much when it's baked in the slow cooker.

'Also I have a large oven so it's [much] cheaper to use the slow cooker for me than heat up the oven just for a pavlova,' she said.

Many other social media users shared their praise for the dessert recipe online.

'Oh my goodness I have been craving pavlova for weeks! I'm going to give this a go this weekend,' one woman said.

'I just attempted this! Thank you so much for the recipe - so easy, mine needed at least 2 hours,' another added and shared a picture of her pavlova.
By PTI

SILCHAR: A court in Assam's Cachar district has sentenced a Bangladeshi to three years in prison for illegally entering India seven years ago.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate M Newpane on Tuesday sentenced Enamuddin, a native of Habiganj district of Bangladesh, to three years in prison besides slapping a fine of Rs 500 on him for illegally entering India on April 5, 2013 near Kinokhal border outpost in Cachar district.

BSF personnel had nabbed the man after he slipped into India and had handed him over to the local police.

A case under sections of the Foreigners Act was registered against Enamuddin with the Katigorah police station.

He was forwarded to the Silchar Central Jail.
The Lausanne Diamond League meeting will not take place on August 20 because of restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic but organisers said Thursday they were looking at "other options".

The meeting director told AFP he instead hoped to hold a joint Swiss event with the Zurich Weltklasse, one of the Diamond League's traditional highlights that is scheduled to take place on September 11.

"With a heavy heart we have had to take the decision to not go ahead with the Athletissima on August 20," organisers said in a statement.

They said it was "impossible to allow a large number of people to gather in a restricted space before the end of August".

But they said they were looking at "which alternatives and which formats could still be possible to give athletes the possibility of competition".

The meeting director, Pierre Tenger, said while he hoped to hold a meeting in cooperation with the Zurich event, the format "had not yet been decided".

The Diamond League season, which had been due to start in Doha on April 17, has been heavily affected by the pandemic.

Meetings in June in the US city of Eugene and in Paris have already been postponed.

The next meeting on the circuit due to take place is in London on July 4.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the summer of 1964, Motown was in a bind. Its biggest female star, Mary Wells, had just reached No. 1 with My Guy, and then quit the label  the first major defection from the young company, which had set itself up in Detroit as a flawless factory of black pop.

So Berry Gordy Jr., Motowns founder, and his team tried to craft a hit for a trio of young women from the labels bench, the Supremes, who had struggled to crack the Top 40. Their chosen song, Where Did Our Love Go, was carefully arranged for hit potential  all that was left was to sell it to radio programmers.

That job fell to Barney Ales, Mr. Gordys indefatigable lieutenant, who proclaimed in a company news release that Where Did Our Love Go would be Motowns next No. 1. He was soon proved correct and the Supremes, led by Diana Ross, were anointed Motowns newest superstars.

Mr. Ales died on April 17 in Malibu, Calif., at age 85. The Universal Music Group, which owns the Motown label, announced the death but did not specify the cause.
Shares of robotics manufacturers ABB (NYSE:ABB) and Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) both jumped Tuesday following so-so earnings reports during a trading session that was anything but decidedly bullish. Rockwell topped its sales and earnings estimates for the three-month stretch ending in March, but the bar was set low. Unlike ABB, Rockwell Automation managed to grow its top and bottom lines, yet each company cautioned investors that coronavirus-related shutdowns were already taking a financial toll on the quarter currently underway. The stocks rallied anyway.

That bullish interest may be rooted in an idea that's much bigger than last quarter or the present quarter, however.

While the sheer disruption caused by the coronavirus is making it difficult to "do" any sort of business, and the prospect of a recession is forcing some organizations to rethink spending plans, the COVID-19 contagion has exposed a weak link in the world's commerce engine -- people. If people can't or won't work, things don't get done. Robots, however, don't get sick.

What the robotics makers said

For its second fiscal quarter ending in March, U.S.-based Rockwell turned $1.68 billion worth of revenue into operating earnings of $2.43 per share. That was better than the $2.04 per share earned in the same quarter a year earlier when the company generated $1.66 billion worth of business. But, organic sales were flat, and Rockwell warned its shareholders that organic revenue looked as if it was going to slump between 6.5% and 9.5% this year.

Swiss automation company ABB fared worse in its first quarter of the year, with revenue of $6.21 billion sliding 9% lower compared to the year-earlier comparison of $6.85 billion. Operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) slipped 17% to $636 million, coinciding with a comparable decrease in profit margins.

The company didn't offer detailed full-year guidance, but CEO Bjorn Rosengren did comment, "In the second quarter, we expect ABB's operations to be significantly challenged by a sharp drop in demand due to lockdowns in many parts of the world."

So why the big advances for each? Most plausibly because investors know where the present global situation is leading.

Speeding up workforce changes

GlobalData analyst Wafaa Hassan was the latest to chime in on the matter, commenting on Tuesday, "Robots have been replacing humans in certain jobs for some time, but the COVID-19 crisis is accelerating the process."

Hassan was responding to reports that robotics company Brain Corp. had secured new funding that will primarily go to expanding the use of its robots to scrub floors for companies that have been under shutdown orders for weeks now. Other floors have gotten use, like stores operated by in Walmart and Kroger, both of which already use Brain's cleaning robots. Walmart is buying another 1,500 robots in response to the COVID-19 contagion and the expanded need for cleanliness.

It was Hassan's broader assessment that points to the changing underpinnings of the industry's forward progress. He adds, "The COVID-19 crisis will ultimately increase the use of robotics across all industries."

He's not alone in his expectation. While almost all companies will have to fight to work past the temporary financial roadblock put in place by the coronavirus, manufacturing sites, processing plants, and other industrial companies don't want to be trapped in the same situation again. International Data Corporation's (IDC's) Jordan Speer wrote for IndustryWeek late last month that more than 70% of the companies participating in IDC's 2020 Supply Chain Survey said robotics will be important, or very important, to their organization within the next three years. Market research company Fact.MR now believes the robotic process automation market is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 33% through 2029 due to the adverse impact of COVID-19.

Well-suited to capitalize on a trend

Rockwell Automation and ABB certainly aren't the only automation names that stand to benefit from the displacement of millions of workers. Fellow Fool Lee Samaha named 10 robotics stocks last year that may catch a nice tailwind as we move into the new normal of a post-coronavirus world.

Rockwell and ABB may be the easiest to own, however, due to their bigger size and more straightforward product lines. ABB makes total control systems for materials companies, auto manufacturers, paper companies, and food processors -- just to name a few -- all hit hard by shutdowns. Rockwell makes servos, computerized motion-control systems, and the sensors that make them all work together properly, plus more.

Of the two, Rockwell Automation appears to be the lower-stress pick right now. Not only is it seemingly faring better than ABB in what's turned into a very uncertain environment, but there's also better visibility. While Rockwell knows revenue is apt to dip this year, at least it's been willing to suggest how much that's going to happen. And, analysts still expect a resumption of solid growth after this year.

More than anything though, these are both names well suited to capitalize on a bigger theme -- robotics -- than a short-term cultural or societal tide. As an example, a biopharma company that comes up with a treatment for the coronavirus may do very well for a quarter or two, but there's no thrilling follow-up. The aforementioned IDC, conversely, believed earlier this year that the global robotics and drone market was poised to swell from $129 billion this year to $241 billion by 2023. The COVID-19 contagion likely dampened that expectation in the meantime, but Fact.MR's decade-long, double-digit growth expectation suggests the industry will push past what's only going to be a temporary headwind.
Mindy Kaling isn't trying to tell everyone's story  she's had to break a lot of boundaries just to tell her own.

Her new Netflix series, "Never Have I Ever," which debuted Monday, looks to break another, offering a story absent from American screens: a coming-of-age comedy about the life of a modern-day first-generation Indian American teenage girl.

"For all of us in the writers' room, particularly those of us who were the children of immigrants," who composed most of her staff, "it was about sharing those stories of feeling 'other,' " said Kaling, who is also a first-generation Indian American. "One of the best parts about being in that room was realizing that they felt so many of the same things I did, and it was such a relief. It made me feel like, 'OK, I'm, like, normal.' "

For Kaling, 40, who has spent most of her career writing characters she can also play, the series is something of a new frontier. A longtime comedy writer, she got her break in her mid-20s as a writer for the American version of "The Office," in which she also starred as the sassy, fearless Kelly Kapoor. After about eight seasons, she parlayed that success into the "The Mindy Project," which she created, wrote and again starred in; the show's lead character was loosely inspired by her mother. Kaling has also written two humorous autobiographical books.

More recently, she co-created a 10-part adaptation of the 1994 feature "Four Weddings and a Funeral" for Hulu, updated with a more diverse cast. Not all of her screen projects have been romantic comedies, but most have at least contained strong rom-com elements. So when Netflix approached her about doing something totally different, she jumped at the chance.

"They had read my books and really loved the parts where I talk about being an adolescent and a teenager," said Kaling, who created and wrote the series with Lang Fisher, a "Mindy Project" alumna. "Because there isn't a show like this," she said, "they thought it would be a great fit for them."

In casting the series, Kaling said, she grew tired of seeing the same "28-year-old, gorgeous Bollywood stars" audition, particularly for the lead role of Devi, an overachieving high school sophomore, partly based on Kaling, with a short fuse that gets her into difficult situations. She decided to post an open call on social media, seeking three "Desi ladies" to play Devi and Devi's mother and cousin. ("Desi" is used among the South Asian diaspora to refer to the region.) Nearly 15,000 people applied, including newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who became Devi.

In a recent phone interview, Kaling talked about that casting process, about venturing beyond the romantic-comedy genre, and about trying to adapt her experiences into a show about teenagers today. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Q: How much of the show is autobiographical? And how did you update it for Indian American teenage girls today?

A: Netflix was open to us doing it as something set in the '80s or the '90s, but I'd seen that done so well with shows like "Fresh Off the Boat" and "Everybody Hates Chris." I really wanted to speak to kids now. I also thought it would be a really great way to hire a lot of young Indian American writers who can remember their teenage years more recently than me and fill our staff with them. I was also really greedy with the young actresses on the show. Maitreyi was a resource in herself. When she would do table reads, we would change the vernacular so it made sense for someone her age.

Q: What stood out about Maitreyi among the thousands of applicants to your open casting call?

A: With Maitreyi, there was something about her. She later said that she was very intimidated to fly to L.A. to come audition, but when she spoke to us, she had natural confidence. I really loved that she was Tamil, which I am also. Also, I think about colorism a lot, and I liked that she wasn't like this red-haired, green-eyed, pale-skinned Indian girl. I liked that she looked a little bit more like someone that would be in my family. She also was just naturally funny.

Q: You've been at the forefront of South Asian representation for a long time, but there's been some criticism that some of your early roles were stereotypical. What was that like for you? Do you feel you've grown from it?

A: Denzel Washington once said something that always stuck with me. Someone asked him why he doesn't play villains more often, and he said something like: There's just so few of us, and I mean so much to my community that I feel like I can't do that in this lifetime. That really resonated with me, because I thought that was really smart of him in a way that I have not been smart. I come from comedy, where the funniest characters are the flawed ones, like Michael Scott (Steve Carell's character on "The Office"), and my training was for writing those characters. The problem is, they're all white. So when you try to play that character and you're Indian, and you're the only Indian character people have, it's within their right to say: "How dare you do that to us? We have no representation."

The character has bad priorities, is saying off-color things, is selfish and all these things that I'm not personally, but I find really fun to play. That's something that I have struggled with, because I just want to have the most enjoyable artistic experience. But that doesn't necessarily always fall in place with my role as a role model.

Q: Do you still face that kind of criticism?

A: I remember when the teaser trailer came out and Devi's praying, and she says, "Hey, gods, it's me Devi Vishwakumar" and there was a comment on Twitter saying, "Oh, great that is totally not how Hindu girls talk." And I remember being incensed because when my mom used to make us pray before we took the SATs, or before we got on a plane, and I didn't know all the different names of the Gods because no one had taught me.

What I realized is that because we don't have a lot of different shows depicting Hindu teenagers praying (laughs), it offends people when it's not exactly the way that it was for them. I'm still trying to figure out a way to accept that criticism. Those people who watch the show, particularly young Indian American women, are the people that I want to like it the most.

Q: For you as a creator then, what is the next frontier for South Asian representation?

A: From watching several hundred of the auditions, I saw the hunger that I kind of hoped that was there. If this show does well, hopefully, and it just feels more normal to see Indian people on things, then there will hopefully be more shows greenlit.

To me it would be great if there is more LGBTQ content for Indian people. I feel like that is almost never talked about. In some Indian communities there's still a stigma attached to coming out. I'd love to tell a story about a young queer woman. And if I don't see it, maybe I have to create something.
Parisians Carole de la Cheneliere and Olivier Merleau were all set for their once-in-a-lifetime road trip down America's famous interstates -- but then, the pandemic struck. This Friday, they were due to arrive in Los Angeles, from where the open road would have carried them up the Pacific coast to San Francisco, back to San Diego, then on a desert loop through the iconic landscapes of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks. "Visiting the United States has been on my bucket list for years and this trip was supposed to be a dream vacation to celebrate our 55th birthdays," said de la Cheneliere, who works at a high-end clothing store in the French capital. "We had organized everything," including exchanging currency, buying maps and gathering tips from other road trippers, she said. The plan was to end in Las Vegas to celebrate their birthdays, which fall within five days of each other. But the couple had to cancel as museums, casinos, beaches, parks and attractions like Disneyland across the US one by one began to shutter their doors in an effort to stem the spread of the potentially deadly coronavirus. Hotels and airlines are almost inoperative as the normal tourism high season begins, with no clear reopening dates in sight. While some states are looking to ease their lockdowns by reopening certain businesses, many tour operators believe they will be the last to recover. "We're expendable -- we're tourism," said Sabra Purdy, 41, who runs a climbing center in California's Joshua Tree National Park. "Nobody needs us, and we could have an incredibly meager year." "There's really nothing that we can do about that." - 'I wouldn't go' - Sites like the Grand Canyon drew almost six million visitors a year before they were closed due to the pandemic. But even if state governors lift restrictions, tourism needs another key factor to return: confidence. "Until there's some kind of feeling of safety among the public, where they feel safe going to a buffet or a show or a tour, it doesn't matter if we're open or not," said Matthew Meier, 38, whose tour company runs trips in Las Vegas and the nearby Grand Canyon. "I wouldn't go right now... if the casinos open tomorrow, I'm not taking my family down there. And I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way," he added. Some 80 million people visit the US from around the world each year. Tourism accounts for nearly $2 trillion (2.8 percent of GDP) and generated 7.8 million jobs in 2018. Both Meier and Purdy have had to lay off staff as stay-at-home orders and international travel bans caused a flood of cancellations that essentially wiped out their peak season. Customers from Asia were the first to cancel, Meier recalled. Asians represented 40 percent of his clientele, with another 20 percent originating from virus-hit Europe. - 'Not worth our lives' - Not everyone is mourning the tourists' absence, however. Even before authorities in northwestern Washington state -- an early coronavirus hotspot -- imposed a containment order, Tiffany Turner had already closed her hotels at Long Beach resort, 200 miles south of Seattle. It was spring vacation season, and swarms of holidaymakers from out of town were already striking fear among residents. "It was less people than it would normally be, but it definitely scared the community," said Turner. Angrily worded flyers began appearing on visitors' car windshields. "Your vacation is not worth our lives," declared one, in black capital letters. "The Long Beach Peninsula has only one ventilator. Do you really want to test those odds?" asked another. Mayor Jerry Phillips said the campaign was a "gut response" caused by frustration in a community with a lot of elderly and at-risk people. "They get worried because they see people coming here from other parts of states, from other countries and stuff," he told AFP. "And they're afraid (the virus) is going to come in and infiltrate the city." Turner is ready to reopen her hotels, but said does not want the restrictions lifted too soon. "The worst thing for small businesses and for our community is having to do this all over," she said. Back in Paris, de la Cheneliere is still enviously checking the California weather, and dreaming of hitting the road. "We haven't given up," she said. "Maybe we can make it at Christmas." The coronavirus pandemic has muted the call of the open road for vactionners, and this Los Angeles highway is seen nearly empty in April 2020 Carole de la Cheneliere and Olivier Merleau were planning a dream vacation to celebrate their 55th birthdays Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles is usually full of tourists but remains largely empty during the pandemic The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, is a popular stop on many US road trips A French couple planned to visit the Grand Canyon during a spring 2020 US road trip, but it has been closed to visitors with the coronavirus pandemic
A member of the ANCs military wing, Goldberg was sentenced with Mandela and spent 22 years in a whites-only prison.

Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Denis Goldberg, who stood trial alongside late President Nelson Mandela, has died. He was 87 years old.

Goldberg, who had lung cancer, died just before midnight on Wednesday at his home in Cape Town.

He was considered a stalwart of the South African liberation struggle and was the only white member of the African National Congresss (ANCs) military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), to be arrested and sentenced for armed resistance to white-minority rule.

Goldberg spent 22 years in prison for his involvement with the ANCs fight against apartheid, the racist system of oppression imposed by the white minority government.

The Rivonia court proceeding was the trial in which Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists were convicted of sabotage in 1964 and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Tributes poured in on Thursday for Goldberg, with many acknowledging the role he played in the fight against apartheid.

His commitment to ethical leadership was unflinching and even during his advanced age he formed part of the movement of veterans of the struggle calling for reassertion of moral center of society, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

We will hold him in our thoughts and prayers as we say farewell at a time when we are not allowed to gather in numbers to say our goodbyes.





Nelson Mandela Foundation Chief Executive Sello Hatang said: He was a member of a generation of leadership which shaped the countrys history in profound ways.

Goldberg was a critic of the ANCs performance in government and the socioeconomic conditions of the largely black poor majority in South Africa, one of the worlds most unequal countries.

The ANC also paid tribute to Goldberg, saying: His was a life well-lived in the struggle for freedom in SA. We will miss him.

Rivonia trial

Goldberg was born in Cape Town in 1933. In 1950, he joined the Communist Party and the Congress of Democrats underground. And, in 1961, he joined the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), or Spear of the Nation, the military wing of the ANC.

Goldberg was arrested in 1963 at Lilliesleaf Farm, a secret headquarters outside Johannesburg. He was put in solitary confinement for 90 days.

At the Rivonia trial, he was tried for sabotage alongside nine other anti-apartheid activists, including Mandela and Walter Sisulu.

The accused were sentenced to life in prison for violating the 1950 Suppression of Communism Act, accused of campaigning to overthrow the government by means of violent revolution. At the end of the trial in 1964, he was sentenced to four life terms.

After 22 years in a whites-only prison in the capital Pretoria, Goldberg was released in 1985. He joined his family in exile in London where he continued to work for the ANC from 1985-1994.

Goldbergs niece, Joy Noero, said the liberation stalwart died peacefully on Wednesday after having battled lung cancer and diabetes.

Tribute

Albie Sachs, fellow activist and former Constitutional Court judge, told Al Jazeera: Denis was a citizen of the word. He was the bravest of us all, went deep into the underground, escaped from prison but was recaptured, and in a way had the hardest of all the imprisonments, often on his own in a white jail.

He was also buoyant and funny, and stole back extra years of life from heavy illness. I remember his brightness and courage and humanity with deep love, affection and pride, said Sachs.

In later life, Goldberg was a spokesman for the ANC and also represented it in the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid.

Goldberg was awarded the Order of Luthuli by the South African presidency for his dedication to working for the betterment of the people of South Africa throughout his life.
Buenos Aires: Brazil's virtually uncontrolled surge of COVID-19 cases is spawning fear that construction workers, truck drivers and tourists from Latin America's biggest nation will spread the disease to neighbouring countries that are doing a better job of controlling the coronavirus.

The continent-sized country that shares borders with nearly every other nation in South America has reported nearly 80,000 positive cases and more than 5500 deaths, according to government figures and a tally by Johns Hopkins University - far more than any of its neighbours. The true number of deaths and infections is believed to be much higher because of limited testing.

Jair Bolsonaro attends an inauguration ceremony for Andre Mendonca, Brazil's new minister of justice, after former judge and minister Sergio Moro resigned. Credit:Bloomberg

The country's borders remain open and lockdowns are limited to states where governors defied President Jair Bolsonaro who continues to scoff at the seriousness of the disease.

There were 474 deaths overnight, making the toll in the country of 211 million people the ninth-highest worldwide, surpassing China - where the virus began - and prompting a reporter to ask for comment from the far-right President.
On April 10, Apple and Google announced a coronavirus exposure notification system that will be built into their smartphone operating systems, iOS and Android. The system uses the ubiquitous Bluetooth short-range wireless communication technology.

There are dozens of apps being developed around the world that alert people if theyve been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. Many of them also report the identities of the exposed people to public health authorities, which has raised privacy concerns. Several other exposure notification projects, including PACT, BlueTrace and the Covid Watch project, take a similar privacy-protecting approach to Apples and Googles initiative.

So how will the Apple-Google exposure notification system work? As researchers who study security and privacy of wireless communication, we have examined the companies plan and have assessed its effectiveness and privacy implications.

Recently, a study found that contact tracing can be effective in containing diseases such as COVID-19, if large parts of the population participate. Exposure notification schemes like the Apple-Google system arent true contact tracing systems because they dont allow public health authorities to identify people who have been exposed to infected individuals. But digital exposure notification systems have a big advantage: They can be used by millions of people and rapidly warn those who have been exposed to quarantine themselves.

Bluetooth beacons

Because Bluetooth is supported on billions of devices, it seems like an obvious choice of technology for these systems. The protocol used for this is Bluetooth Low Energy, or Bluetooth LE for short. This variant is optimized for energy-efficient communication between small devices, which makes it a popular protocol for smartphones and wearables such as smartwatches.

Bluetooth LE communicates in two main ways. Two devices can communicate over the data channel with each other, such as a smartwatch synchronizing with a phone. Devices can also broadcast useful information to nearby devices over the advertising channel. For example, some devices regularly announce their presence to facilitate automatic connection.

Story continues

To build an exposure notification app using Bluetooth LE, developers could assign everyone a permanent ID and make every phone broadcast it on an advertising channel. Then, they could build an app that receives the IDs so every phone would be able to keep a record of close encounters with other phones. But that would be a clear violation of privacy. Broadcasting any personally identifiable information via Bluetooth LE is a bad idea, because messages can be read by anyone in range.

Anonymous exchanges

To get around this problem, every phone broadcasts a long random number, which is changed frequently. Other devices receive these numbers and store them if they were sent from close proximity. By using long, unique, random numbers, no personal information is sent via Bluetooth LE.

Apple and Google follow this principle in their specification, but add some cryptography. First, every phone generates a unique tracing key that is kept confidentially on the phone. Every day, the tracing key generates a new daily tracing key. Though the tracing key could be used to identify the phone, the daily tracing key cant be used to figure out the phones permanent tracing key. Then, every 10 to 20 minutes, the daily tracing key generates a new rolling proximity identifier, which looks just like a long random number. This is what gets broadcast to other devices via the Bluetooth advertising channel.

When someone tests positive for COVID-19, they can disclose a list of their daily tracing keys, usually from the previous 14 days. Everyone elses phones use the disclosed keys to recreate the infected persons rolling proximity identifiers. The phones then compare the COVID-19-positive identifiers with their own records of the identifiers they received from nearby phones. A match reveals a potential exposure to the virus, but it doesnt identify the patient.

Most of the competing proposals use a similar approach. The principal difference is that Apples and Googles operating system updates reach far more phones automatically than a single app can. Additionally, by proposing a cross-platform standard, Apple and Google allow existing apps to piggyback and use a common, compatible communication approach that could work across many apps.

No plan is perfect

The Apple-Google exposure notification system is very secure, but its no guarantee of either accuracy or privacy. The system could produce a large number of false positives because being within Bluetooth range of an infected person doesnt necessarily mean the virus has been transmitted. And even if an app records only very strong signals as a proxy for close contact, it cannot know whether there was a wall, a window or a floor between the phones.

However unlikely, there are ways governments or hackers could track or identify people using the system. Bluetooth LE devices use an advertising address when broadcasting on an advertising channel. Though these addresses can be randomized to protect the identity of the sender, we demonstrated last year that it is theoretically possible to track devices for extended periods of time if the advertising message and advertising address are not changed in sync. To Apples and Googles credit, they call for these to be changed synchronously.

But even if the advertising address and a coronavirus apps rolling identifier are changed in sync, it may still be possible to track someones phone. If there isnt a sufficiently large number of other devices nearby that also change their advertising addresses and rolling identifiers in sync  a process known as mixing  someone could still track individual devices. For example, if there is a single phone in a room, someone could keep track of it because its the only phone that could be broadcasting the random identifiers.

Another potential attack involves logging additional information along with the rolling identifiers. Even though the protocol does not send personal information or location data, receiving apps could record when and where they received keys from other phones. If this was done on a large scale  such as an app that systematically collects this extra information  it could be used to identify and track individuals. For example, if a supermarket recorded the exact date and time of incoming rolling proximity identifiers at its checkout lanes and combined that data with credit card swipes, store staff would have a reasonable chance of identifying which customers were COVID-19 positive.

And because Bluetooth LE advertising beacons use plain-text messages, its possible to send faked messages. This could be used to troll others by repeating known COVID-19-positive rolling proximity identifiers to many people, resulting in deliberate false positives.

Nevertheless, the Apple-Google system could be the key to alerting thousands of people who have been exposed to the coronavirus while protecting their identities, unlike contact tracing apps that report identifying information to central government or corporate databases.

[You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic, and we can help. Read The Conversations newsletter.]

<p>Este articulo se vuelve a publicar de <a href="http://theconversation.com/es?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link0&utm_content=article-136597">The Conversation</a>, un medio digital sin fines de lucro dedicado a la diseminacion de la experticia academica.<p> <p><strong>Lee mas:</strong><br><ul><li><a href="http://theconversation.com/how-south-korea-flattened-the-coronavirus-curve-with-technology-136202?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link0&utm_content=article-136597">How South Korea flattened the coronavirus curve with technology</a></li><li><a href="http://theconversation.com/digital-surveillance-can-help-bring-the-coronavirus-pandemic-under-control-but-also-threatens-privacy-135151?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=related-link&utm_campaign=related-link1&utm_content=article-136597">Digital surveillance can help bring the coronavirus pandemic under control  but also threatens privacy</a></li></ul></p>

Johannes Becker works for Boston University. His research is funded in part by the US National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations presented in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the US National Science Foundation.

David Starobinski works for Boston University. His research is funded in part by the US National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations presented in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the US National Science Foundation.
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jews attend a funeral in Brooklyn, defying social distancing rules, prompting police to give warnings and break up the gathering.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is being accused of unfairly singling out the Hasidic Jewish community, in enforcing COVID-19 restrictions.

He personally called on police to disperse hundreds of mourners, who gathered for a rabbis funeral, defying social distancing rules.

He was furious the gathering took place at all, and mentioned the Jewish community by name in a tweet, saying the time for warnings has passed and arrests would be made of those who gather in large groups.

Some called on the mayor to apologize, resign, or called him anti-Jewish. Saying it was unfair for him to single out all Jews when it was just some from the Hasidic Orthodox community who gathered for the funeral. But the issue divided New York: Others expressed support for the mayor, and defended him calling out the funeral gathering.

On Wednesday, the mayor said he was not trying to single out the Jewish community, but did not back down from his criticism.

The Hasidic Jewish community in New York does not need to look too far to see the dangers of large gatherings and contracting coronavirus. The rabbi whose funeral everyone was at died from it.

Al Jazeeras Gabriel Elizondo has more from New York.
Photo: Getty

Social media platforms are failing to clamp down on scammers selling people's personal data, according to a Which? Money investigation.

The consumer champion discovered 50 scam profiles, pages, and groups across Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR), and Instagram conducting criminal activity.

This included advertising stolen identities, credit card details, compromised Netflix (NFLX) and Uber Eats (UBER) accounts, and fake passports made to order.

Which? said the report highlighted how "lax" preventative measures were on these platforms and how easily they could be exploited by criminals looking to take advantage of the novel coronavirus pandemic. To date there have been 2m ($2.5m) in coronavirus-related scams in the UK alone.

In one Facebook group investigators found details of a man in Yorkshire including his name, date of birth, address, mobile number, credit card number, CVV number, expiry date, and the sort code and name of his bank.

They also found a fraudster on Twitter offering full credit card details of someone with a 13k+ balance for 100, or three sets of card details for 200.

In addition, Which? found Instagram users sharing fraud bibles explaining how novice hackers could create fake identities and use stolen card details.

Its astonishing that social media sites make it so easy for criminals to trade peoples personal and financial information, particularly as fraud is such a prevalent crime that can have devastating consequences, said Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor.

Social media firms must take much stronger action to prevent their sites becoming a safe haven for scammers, and should work with the financial industry and police to address serious flaws with their platforms.

Facebook, which also owns Instagram, said fraudulent activity was not tolerated on its platforms, and it had removed the groups and profiles flagged to it by Which? Money.

"We continue to invest in people and technology to identify and remove fraudulent content, and we urge people to report any suspicious content to us so we can take action, it added.

Meanwhile, Twitter said it was against their rules to use scam tactics on their platform to obtain money or private financial information.

"Where we identify violations of our rules, we take robust enforcement action. Were constantly adapting to bad actors evolving methods, and will continue to iterate and improve upon our policies as the industry evolves, a spokesperson said.
30.04.2020 LISTEN

An NPP Parliamentary aspirant for Yendi Constituency, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah has once again thrilled the Muslim and Christian communities in the area with over one thousand hampers and other freebies amid the holy month of Ramadan.

This forms part of her periodic religious and personal support to the Muslims and other non-Muslims in critical need.

Each of the neatly designed hampers contained a big bag of tea, two containers of sugar, a tin of milo, 10 tins of ideal milk, a box of oats and two mini packs of dates.

Hajia Abibata also donated maxi bags of sugar and cartons of milk to Chiefs, Imams, opinion leaders, women and youth groups to bolster or cushion them during this COVID-19 period and the month-long fasting and prayers.

The donation was made in the various communities on behalf of Parliamentary Aspirant by her Campaign Team.

Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah also the Deputy CEO of MASLOC is on record to have impacted many lives in the Yendi Constituency in recent years aside the regular support she gives during Ramadan and other festivities.

As the only female parliamentary aspirant in the Yendi Constituency and believed to be one of the most favourites, Hajia Abibata has offered jobs to close to 1,500 unemployed youth in various fields, supported women groups to start up their own small-scale businesses and several farmers in the constituency.

Her footprints of timely interventions are also traceable in the health, education, water and sanitation sectors in the Yendi Constituency.

Somewhere last year, Hajia Abibata brought together all the influential women in Yendi and Northern Region during the Mothers Day celebration and radiantly honoured them with assorted items worth over Sixty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC60,000) including hampers and several freebies. It was in recognition of their roles as mothers who had impacted the lives of their children over the years and contributed to the peace, unity and socio-economic development of Yendi.

The event which was first of its kind, brought together several most influential women including; Hajia Sauda Saeed (Deputy National Women Organizer of the NPP), Hajia Alima Sagito Saeed (Wife of the Northern Regional Minister), Hajia Ayishetu Seidu (MCE for Savulugu), Mrs Adamu Salamatu a.k.a Mama (Chairperson for the occasion), Madam Felicia Tetteh (Northern Region 2nd Vice Chairperson of NPP and MP aspirant for Sagnarigu) and Hajia Adisa Haashmin (Chairperson of Danqauh Ladies).

The rest were; Madam Rabi Salifu (Northern Region Deputy Nasara Coordinator of NPP), Hajia Rahinatu Aziz (Northern Regional Women Organizer of NPP), Madam Sanatu Adamu (Yendi Constituency Women Organizer of NPP) and the various branch women executives among others.

With all these initiatives and support in mind, the beneficiary people of this new donation expressed their profound gratitude to Hajia Abibata after receiving the packages. Almost all the beneficiaries who are already in their prayer and fasting mood could not but to invoke heavenly blessings on the NPP Aspirant to succeed in her avowed quest to lead the good people of Yendi as their Member of Parliament.

Most of the Imams and Chiefs also paid special tributes to Hajia Abibata for her continued sacrifices and generosity towards the people and the Yendi Community.

We thank Hajia Abibata for her great generosity! We greatly appreciate her donation and her sacrifices. May the Almighty Allah bless and reward her with the parliamentary seat of Yendi constituency.

On behalf of Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah, the Campaign Team reminded the people to continue to adhere to the Presidents directive on COVID-19 and stay safe and alive. They urged them to observe the social distancing protocol, wash their hands with soap under running water, wear nose masks, use hand sanitizer and stay at home.
To keep their personnel safe, while at the same time being able to enter the congested containment zones under their jurisdiction, the south-east police Wednesday launched eight fully covered e-rickshaws, called Covid Kavach.

With 17 containment zones, south-east is among the districts in the national capital most badly hit by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

We realised that there was a lack of communication between the police and the public in these zones, said RP Meena, deputy commissioner of police (south-east).

Some of these areas are thickly populated and it was difficult to keep an eye on the public who would come out of their homes without a valid reason, Meena said.

As a matter of practice, too, the police have generally been keeping themselves to the periphery of the containment zones, dressed in personal protection equipments and going in only to accompany officials or to sometimes provide essential items to residents.

The DCP said the Covid Kavach will solve this problem. These hired vehicles are fully covered and will have a driver and two policemen -- all covered from head to toe in PPEs, the DCP said.

These officers in e-rickshaws will be able to visit the congested areas which were previously inaccessible to regular police vehicles. The policemen will keep a watch on those leaving homes without a reason, will help those who need essential goods and make announcements. All this will happen while ensuring that the policemen are not at risk of infection, Meena said.

For now, these Covid Kavach vehicles are being deployed in containment zones located in Jaitpur, Kalindi Kunj, Jamia Nagar, Sarita Vihar, Shaheen Bagh and Nizamuddin.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has said all industries outside containment zones will be allowed to operate from May 4. Stating that Covid-19 cases might continue for another 2-3 months, he said that efforts to control the spread of the disease would go hand in hand with economic activity which has come to a stop due to the current lockdown.

On allowing economic activities in Bangalore which continues to be a red zone district with nearly 24 containment zones, the CM struck a more cautious note saying that while cases have been coming down for the last 2-3 days, they will wait for a few more days to take a final decision in this regard. Bangalore is the economic engine for the state bringing in nearly half of the states revenues and taxes.

He also said that at present there were no plans to allow malls, hotels or movie theatres to start functioning, but hinted that the state government would await the Centres directives in this regard before taking a final decision.

Later in the day, CM Yediyurappa met with members of various associations of commerce and industries and asked them to be ready to resume operations. The CM also appealed to the industrialists to pay wages and salaries to employees.

The Karnataka cabinet which met earlier also decided to give a one-time permit to inter-state and inter-district travel for those who are stranded including migrants and labourers.

However, law minister J C Madhuswamy clarified that the cost of travel would be borne by those who want to travel and the government would merely provide permits and bus services. It also said hair salons, liquor outlets and restaurants would continue to be closed for now.

On Wednesday, minister for primary and secondary education Suresh Kumar had said that the government would bring back stranded Kannadigas from Gujarat and buses would be sent for this purpose.
The CDC, a specialized medical agency of the African Union, on Wednesday, 29th April, received medical equipment donated by Chinas billionaire Jack Ma Foundation in partnership with the Beijing government.

The equipment will be distributed to the 55 member states of the African Union.

The shipment, which includes 4.6 million masks, 500,000 tests, 300 ventilators and protective equipment, arrived at Bole airport (Addis Ababa).

The chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, was on the spot along with representatives of the Jack Ma Foundation and the Chinese embassy as the plane landed with the donation.

This is the third delivery by China since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in Africa.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asked his government officials to prepare an attractive policy to attract investment in the state to soften the Covid 19 blow on its economy.

In a meeting with senior officials, Adityanath said the economic activities have been hit hard by COVID-19 and alternative resources of revenue should be explored.

According to a senior official, the chief minister stressed on making a plan for increasing the cash flow and asked them to make an attractive policy for increasing Investments in the state.

The chief minister directed officials to make arrangement for portable ventilators to meet emergency requirement and provide infrared thermometer to all district authorities to facilitate testing of migrant labourers.

He said all L2 hospitals should have oxygen facility on all beds and L3 hospitals a ventilator for every bed.

The chief minister said well-equipped private hospitals should be given permission for treatment of COVID-19 and if any patient wants to get his treatment done there, permission should be given to him on his written request.

All resources available in the state should be used for testing, the chief minister said while naming leading institutes like CDRI, IITR, BSIP in which it could be done.

He also called for activating a testing laboratory in Saharanpur and stressed that efforts should be made to make Uttar Pradesh the number one state in testing capacity in coming weeks.

He also directed officials to arrange for imparting training to Ayush doctors, nursing and paramedical students to treat COVID-19 patients in case their services are required.

The chef minister also asked officials to increase the number of beds in L1, L2 and L3 hospitals from 52,000 to one lakh in a phased manner.

To ensure social distancing at ration shops, he suggested posting an official besides one at every foodgrain warehouse to ensue that there is no under weighing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
London Drugs is being applauded by Winnipeg business organizations for its decision to offer shelf space to local products during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

London Drugs is being applauded by Winnipeg business organizations for its decision to offer shelf space to local products during the coronavirus pandemic.

The retailer, which has stores throughout Western Canada, announced Wednesday it was accepting applications from small, local business owners whose operations have been affected by public-health orders. Selected products will be featured in dedicated aisles dubbed "Local Central."

Robert Felix, the companys senior vice-president of merchandising, says London Drugs has previously offered local items such as honey, flowers and corn at stores in British Columbia and Alberta and has had success selling cookies for Girl Guides of Canada during the pandemic.

"People want to support their local charities and they want to support their local businesses," Felix said. "We just see it as an opportunity to add value, not only in the community, but also to our customers, as well."

Within hours of announcing the program, the Canadian-owned company had received more than 400 applications and inquiries from business owners. The size of the London Drugs store will determine how many local products it can shelve and Felix says Winnipegs St. Vital location will offer ample opportunities.

"Well have a better idea in the next day or two in terms of how many people were going to be able to help based on what sort of products are coming forward," he said.

Local applicants must have a valid Canadian business licence or permit and be based in Manitoba. The products must be items that dont require freezing or refrigeration, and alcohol, cannabis or tobacco products wont be considered.

Businesses will not be charged a shelving fee unless London Drugs needs to purchase specialized display fixtures, at which point Felix says cost-sharing would be discussed.

Dayna Spiring, president and chief executive officer of Economic Development Winnipeg, sees the program as a good opportunity for small businesses to get noticed by a major retailer.

"It will help with the lack of traffic that these small businesses are getting, but its also going to shine a spotlight on some of these products," Spiring said. "Its very difficult for small businesses to get the attention of larger chains and thats simply a numbers game."

Loren Remillard, president and chief executive officer of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, says the initiative is a significant gesture in the highly competitive retail sector.

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.

"We applaud the move," Remillard said. "It shows how business is actually coming together to support one another and lift each other up to get to that recovery phase."

One of the biggest challenges facing small business owners in Winnipeg is not having enough cash flow to cover overhead.

While many consumers have been supporting local businesses during the pandemic, Remillard hopes the sentiment remains  for customers, government and the private sector  when relative normalcy returns.

"The focus now needs to be how do we take that sentiment... and transform it into something that has legs for the long term?" he said.

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney
A quarantine center has been established in Idleb, which will hold those who leave or are deported from Turkey for 14 days, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus reports Smart News.

On Tuesday, the Medical Directorate of the Salvation Government operating in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-controlled areas established a medical center to quarantine Syrians who return or are deported from Turkey. The directorate established the center as a precautionary procedure against coronavirus (COVID-19).

A source reported to Smart News that the quarantine center receives Syrians who return and are deported from Turkey to Idleb. The source noted the increased numbers of Syrians who return to the area, and that most of them return through illegal crossings. The source said that there are between 200 and 300 people quarantined at the center.

The source added that the center holds the Syrians for 14 days before allowing them to visit their families. The source said that the aim of that is to ensure their safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The source noted that the center provides medical care, periodical tests, and sterilization and precautionary medical procedures.

On Mar. 22, 2020, the Syrian government officially announced the first cases of COVID-19 in Damascus. Later, the cases increased gradually to 43. The United Nations warned that the virus poses a significant risk to all Syrians.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease, that spreads from person-to-person and by respiratory droplets. These droplets fall on surrounding surfaces, so other people could be infected when they touch these surfaces and then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths. People could be infected if they inhale droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it is important to keep a two-meter distance from infected people.

Infection symptoms include body aches, blocked nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. The symptoms begin as mild and develop gradually. Some people become infected without showing any symptoms and without feeling ill. About 80 percent of infected people recover from the disease without any special treatment.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Kimberly Jamieson, CFS, CRPC, is a Financial Planner and a long-time resident of Livonia, Michigan. Her previous business was in Livonia for over 30 years. Though her current offices are in Southfield (MI) and Rochester (MI) she feels strongly about being active in the community where she lives.

As an active member of the community and an ambassador for the chamber, she feels strongly about helping others and giving back. Her duty as ambassador is to act as a liaison for the chamber. Ambassadors are often the backbone of the organization and their main purpose is to assist in increasing the membership of the chamber each year by recruiting new members and spreading good will to members and non-members.

The Ambassadors Committee is a group of chamber members in good standing who volunteer their time to assist the chamber in the various arenas of retention, member development and member events.

In the position of Financial Planner, Kimberly Jamieson is passionate about helping others and focused on creating financial plans with her clients so they can pursue financial security.

After years of successfully setting and pursuing her own financial goals, Kimberly -- an avid reader of financial experts -- realized she had a talent for investing. She had a desire to work with clients, especially women, to help them set and then follow their financial goals. Kimberly isnt your run-of-the-mill, career financial planner. She was a successful small business owner for many years before changing careers 10 years ago.

Kimberly believes that women, especially, need to take charge of their financial futures. She loves educating women, teaching them to move forward confidently with their goals and showing them how to prepare for lifes inevitable challenges  death, divorce and job loss  while saving for things like retirement and college. As a single mom, Kimberly walks the walk, having raised a daughter who is now setting and tracking her own financial and professional goals.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. We are strongly committed to diversity and equal opportunity. 28411 Northwestern Hwy., Ste 1300, Southfield, MI 48034. (248) 663-4700. 20784865-20200427

Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one clients evaluation.


By Donald Kirk





The vanishing act of Kim Jong-un provokes one inevitable question. With all the billions that the U.S. puts into gathering intelligence by all those "agencies," why can't any of them come back with the definitive answer on the state of his health?







Just think about the multi-tentacle American intelligence apparatus sticking the noses of thousands of really bright, well-paid people into the lives of everyone on earth.







There's the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency  those are just the three best known of all the entities in and around Washington that are charged with finding out everything about everyone.







We may be absolutely sure they're scrambling right now to discover Kim's whereabouts, his condition, what's ailing him so badly as to have laid him low, out of sight, for nearly three weeks now. "Oh, don't worry," some people keep saying, "He'll show up any day ordering another missile test." "Oh" say others, "he's obviously on life support; he'll never walk or talk again."







The bottom line, as a lot of people honestly admit with a shrug and a grin, is we just don't know. Fair enough, but why can't these expert analysts whose mission is to find the answers come up with anything? They should know definitively, and, considering how much taxpayers' money goes into their "agencies," we should know too.







The first question they need to figure out is where he is. The initial report by Daily NK had him somewhere near Mount Myohyang, north of Pyongyang, where tourists are dragged to look at all the gifts that sycophantic visitors have bequeathed the kings of the Kim dynasty. Regime founder Kim Il-sung and his son, Kim Jong-il, didn't know what the hell to do with all that gifted bling so they put it on display as if to say, "Look how much everyone loves us."







It's been years since I visited Mount Myohyang on some group tour so I don't know if Kim Jong-un, heir to all the country's riches, has his own gift room there, but that Daily NK report had him sequestered in one of his villas nearby after treatment for a cardiovascular problem in a hospital built specifically for members of the Kim family.







Sounds good if true. Who knows? Not the CIA, for sure, and also probably not South Korea's National Intelligence Service, whose ranks have thinned in three years of liberal governance under President Moon Jae-in.







Nor do we have any idea how, or if, Kim got to his great compound at Wonsan where satellite imagery put out by the Washington website 38 North showed a train at the station reserved for use only by Kim family members, their friends and security people. There are two problems with this revelation.







The first, as Jenny Town of 38 North tweeted after the picture had shown up everywhere, is the train may no longer be there. It's not as though the satellite were stationary with the camera pointed all the time at that station.







The second problem, as the North Korean defector Thae Yong-ho, newly-elected to the South Korean National Assembly, has noted, is the wily North Koreans may have moved the train there just to fool everyone into thinking Kim must be in Wonsan. Ok, why would they do that? Simple: they still want the world to think he's all right, not laid up near Mount Myohyang.







But why all the guess work and wild speculation?







Intelligence has improved in recent years with the ability to photograph just about every external detail from satellites, and electronic eavesdropping is highly sophisticated too.







For that matter, the source in North Korea whom Daily NK credits with giving them the information on Kim's illness presumably used a mobile phone to call his contact in China or South Korea  a form of communication that would have been totally unavailable in years gone by.







So what's missing here? Human intelligence, HUMINT, as they call it. In all the decades since the Korean War, unbelievably, none of those huge, super-funded U.S. intel "agencies" have been able to seduce a single North Korean political or military figure who might know what he's talking about.







Nobody in the Supreme People's Assembly, much less the political bureau of the Workers' Party or the foreign ministry, with its missions abroad, has succumbed to the promise of a huge payoff and life ever after in the U.S. under an assumed name.







Surely it's to the credit of those Kim dynasty regimes that they've so skillfully, brutally, intimidated all those who might know anything to keep their mouths shut. That is, all except those who've been sending exclusive reports to President Donald Trump, who just said he does know how his friend is doing, "relatively speaking."







Relative to what? "I can't talk about it now," said the Trumpster. Hopefully he knows more about Kim's health than he does about the medicinal effects of Lysol and Clorox on the coronavirus, but don't count on it.









Donald Kirk (





www.donaldkirk.com ) writes from Seoul as well as Washington.
FILE PHOTO: A worker walks past steel rolls at the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant in Changshou

By Min Zhang and Gavin Maguire

BEIJING/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China's steel mills are rapidly cranking up output on rising profit margins and hopes that government stimulus will revive consumption, despite an overhang of inventories and a slowdown in global steel demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While mills in Japan, India and Europe are cutting production, China's output of rebar, used for construction, has surged in recent weeks.

The push risks saddling producers with excess supplies that may be hard to offload, analysts say, and could undermine efforts to rationalise a bloated steel sector. The main industry body warned this week against adding to production or re-starting closed capacity while demand remains fragile.

China churned out 234.45 million tonnes of crude steel in the first three months, up 1.2% compared with same period a year earlier.

Blast furnace utilisation rates at 247 Chinese steel plants have increased for six consecutive weeks from less than 74% in mid-March to 80.59% as of April 24, sending weekly output of finished products to the highest in about four months, data tracked by Mysteel consultancy showed.

Graphic: Profit margins at China's mills vs utilisation rates https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/azgpommowpd/1.jpg

Production of construction material steel rebar, more popular with private and smaller mills, has jumped 43% since mid-March. Production of wire rod, also used in construction, is up 31.6%.

Output of cold-rolled and hot-rolled coil, used mainly in manufacturing, has risen just 2.6% and 1.7% respectively.

The emphasis on rebar stems from hopes that Beijing's infrastructure push will drive a strong recovery in construction activity in late 2020 after early signs of a pickup as the country emerges from lockdown.

"We estimate there will be at least 5.5% growth in infrastructure spending this year, which can offset a 4% drop of steel use in property," said Zhuo Guiqiu, an analyst with Jinrui Futures.

Story continues

Beijing has issued 1.8 trillion yuan ($255 billion) in local government bonds, including 1.2 trillion in special bonds, to finance infrastructure projects to help reignite economic activity.

The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) expects construction to account for about 58% of steel demand this year, up from a typical 55%.

TOO MUCH, TOO SOON

Analysts, however, caution that higher infrastructure demand may not be enough to fully offset a drop in demand from other sectors.

"To further make up the losses in the manufacturing sector, the growth in infrastructure would need to reach 14%," Zhuo said, well below the group's 5.5% forecast.

Seasonal output at key steel-consuming sectors https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/jbyvrjjglve/2.jpg

Elsewhere, investment growth in China's property sector is set to slow to 6% in 2020 from 9.9% last year, a Reuters poll of 14 analysts in March found.

And consumption of sheet products, used in manufacturing, is set to fall by 9%-10% versus 2019, according to a forecast by Zhenzhen Jiang at CRU in Beijing.

Coronavirus lockdowns across key markets for goods made in China are also expected to dent export demand for both intermediate metal products and finished goods like home appliances and machinery.

The world's top steel producer shipped out 14.3 million tonnes of steel products in the first quarter, down 16% on an annual basis, customs data showed.

China's steel production vs exports https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/rlgvdwwdnpo/3.jpg

Zhilu Wang from Wood Mackenzie expects Chinese steel consumption to ease 2.2% this year, and direct steel product exports to fall below 60 million tonnes from 64.29 million tonnes in 2019.

This comes as stockpiles of finished steel products are already hovering at six-year highs.

Weekly steel output in China vs steel inventories https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/oakvezqodpr/Steeloutput.jpg

(Reporting by Min Zhang in Beijing and Gavin Maguire in Singapore, additional reporting by Yawen Chen; Editing by Richard Pullin)
PHILADELPHIA, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: FCO) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, today announced that it paid on April 30, 2020, a distribution of US $0.07 per share to all shareholders of record as of April 20, 2020 (ex-dividend date April 17, 2020).

Your Fund's distribution policy is to provide investors with a stable monthly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital.

Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for this distribution and for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date (11/01/2019 - 03/31/2020), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from month to month because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.



Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0280 40% $0.1680 40% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* - - - - Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains - - - - Return of Capital $0.0420 60% $0.2520 60% Total (per common share) $0.0700 100% $0.4200 100%

*includes currency gains

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2020 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides information regarding the Fund's total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund's annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 03/31/20201 (1.11%) Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV2 14.17% Fiscal Year to Date (11/01/2019 to 03/31/2020) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 (20.52%) Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 5.90% 1Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of March 31, 2020.

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the terms of the distribution policy. The final determination of the source of all distributions will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Standard Life Investments (Corporate Funds) Ltd.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the NAV of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected]

aberdeenfco.com

SOURCE Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc.
Family members of Israel Defense Forces soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, whose bodies are held by Hamas, call on the government to push forward a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. The Goldin family said April 29, "There is an opportunity to return our sons Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul and civilians [Avera] Mengistu and [Hisham] al-Sayyad from the hands of Hamas. To miss the opportunity now would be a national irresponsibility."

A day earlier, on the occasion of Israels Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged "to continue to work tirelessly in order to return our missing and our prisoners, naming Goldin and Shaul, as well as the two Israeli civilians Mengistu and Sayyad.

Goldin and Shaul were both killed in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip. Their bodies were captured by Hamas. Mengistu crossed into Gaza in 2014, and Sayyad crossed in 2015. Both men have apparently crossed the border fence willingly, but both reportedly suffer from mental health issues. They were captured by Hamas after crossing the border.

The possibility of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas seems to become more tangible in recent days. According to publications on April 29, Netanyahu convened April 21 the ministerial committee responsible for returning Israeli captives, to discuss efforts to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. The secured videoconference that included apart from Netanyahu also Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri was the first time the committee was updated on recent contacts with Hamas for an eventual deal.

After the meeting, Israels Coordinator for Captives and Missing Persons Yaron Blum met with the Goldin and Shaul families to brief them on the latest developments.

Hopes for an exchange deal first emerged April 2, when Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar said, "We are ready to make partial concessions on our prisoners' issue in exchange for the Israeli release of elderly prisoners, patients and prisoners as a humanitarian gesture in light of the coronavirus crisis." Blum reacted April 7 with a rare public statement, saying that Netanyahu was calling for immediate dialogue between mediators to facilitate a deal. On April 17, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh addressed the same issue, saying he was "optimistic" about the chance to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. "If Israeli leaders are serious about reaching a prisoner exchange deal, then our decision would be to reach a deal," Haniyeh was quoted as saying.
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New York: The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits because of the coronavirus has soared past 30 million, worsening a crisis unmatched since the 1930s and turning up the pressure on political leaders to lift restrictions that are choking the economy.

Government figures released on Thursday showed that 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for jobless benefits last week, raising the total to about 30.3 million in the six weeks since the outbreak took hold and forced the shutdown of factories and other businesses from coast to coast.

About 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for jobless benefits last week. Credit:AP

The lay-offs amount to 1 in 6 American workers and encompass more people than the entire population of Texas, or more people than live in the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas combined.

There was also bleak new data in Europe, where over 130,000 people with the virus have died so far.
Myanmar & COVID-19 Three Myanmar Military Officers Infected With COVID-19 in Russia Doing Well: Army

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (sixth from left) salutes as he inspects a Russian guard of honor during his visit to the country in April 2019. / Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services
Montreal Hospital to Test Cleaning Robot That Uses Ultraviolet Light

MONTREALThe Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre says it will soon conduct the first Canadian test of a robot that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect.

The Montreal institute moved to order the robot just as the COVID-19 pandemic was emerging in China and Europe to see if the technology could be useful to Canada. A first robot arrived on April 27 for testing purposes.

The robot will also be tested in other Quebec locationsnotably the Centre hospitalier de lUniversite de Montreal and long-term care homesbefore a decision is made on purchasing the $120,000 device.

We are going to test its mobility, if it is able to go to our rooms, in all corners, if UV light touches all parts of the room, and in addition if the robot is able to enter the bathrooms [in private rooms] and completely disinfect them, said Dr. Bruce Mazer, interim executive director and acting chief scientific officer of the research institute.

The robot can also be used to disinfect an operating room. As part of the test, its effectiveness will also be tested on various objects, such as sheets, stretchers and even N95 masks.

During the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, personnel of the Health sector get ready to disinfect an area of the Intermediate Care Unit of the Social Security Institute (IESS) Quito Sur Hospital with the help of robots, in Quito, Ecuador, on April 29, 2020. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP via Getty Images)

While ultraviolet C rays are able to kill pathogens on surfaces and in the air, they can be dangerous to humans.

The problem with UV light is that it is very effective in killing bacteria and viruses, but if you have too much UV, it can burn the skin and it can cause eye problems, Mazer said. But with this type of UV, if you close the door, even if there is a window, that doesnt happen, so it is safe.

The robot, built by the Danish company UVD Robots, is approximately 1.7 metres high and weighs 140 kilograms. It travels at just over 5 km/h and its battery can be fully recharged in six hours. The UV module lasts about two hours, enough to clean a dozen rooms, according to the manufacturer.

Mazer noted that manual room-cleaning takes about an hour, while the robot could do that job in about 10 minutes. A human would be required to do other tasks like changing sheets, but ultimately a room could be ready for the next patient twice as fast.

If we have a way of doing things with technology that is fast and efficient, we can save money, we can have rooms faster for other patients and we can avoid risks for our workers, Mazer said.

The robot does need guidance for the initial cleaning, but can operate on its own after that.

Its an automated robot controlled by GPS, Mazer said. When the robot goes to a room once, it will put it to memory and it can make up the same room the same way, whenever needed.

The robot is also able to spot obstacles and adjust its trajectory as necessary.

Mazer said the robot could be valuable outside the hospital.

It could be useful, for example, for planes or subways, he said. It could be incredible for a metro [subway] carin fifteen minutes we could clean a whole train.

Mazer explained the institute deals with many different illnessestuberculosis, HIV and other very resistant microbesso technology for cleaning hospitals working with patients infected with acute illnesses and a high risk of infection is key.

The Canadian Patient Safety Institute says about 8,000 Canadians die from hospital-acquired infections each year and another 220,000 are infected, which can lead to extended hospital stays or readmissions.

The Danish robot is already being used in China, Asia and Europe, and Mazer is optimistic about its potential. It will save lives, it will reduce waiting lists, it will reduce [hospital-acquired] infections, he said. It can be very useful.

By JeanBenoit Legault
Getty Images

More than $2 million is being given to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for wildlife-related recreational activities.

Illinois was one of 27 states to receive awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Even if you dont know the Beatles, you know Love Me Do. Even if you dont know the Rolling Stones, you know Satisfaction. Even if you dont know Monty Python, you know The Ministry of Silly Walks. Like an AM radio hit, the sketch works on several different aesthetic and intellectual levels while captivating audiences of disparate ages and cultures, all within the span of a few minutes. As a satire of British government bureaucracy it compares, in its way, to Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynns series Yes Minister, which would debut on the BBC a decade later. As sheer physical comedy, it draws its power, as all those old songs do, from the innate characteristics of its performers. Or rather, from John Cleese, who not only looks the part of a born establishment figure, but stands nearly six and a half feet tall.

Though few of us can sing like Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger, it doesnt stop us from joining in when their songs come on the radio. By the same token, though few of us possess the sheer leg length to walk as silly as Cleese does, we can all generate our own kind of levity by giving our best. And much of the United States, locked down by the coronavirus pandemic, levity is just whats needed. Hence the establishment of Yorkshire Silly Walks, which announces itself in no uncertain terms: YOU HAVE ENTERED THE JURISDICTION OF THE MINISTRY OF SILLY WALKS, reads its signs. COMMENCE SILLY WALKING IMMEDIATELY. All who pass through this territory are captured by a video camera, and some will later find themselves posted to Yorkshire Silly Walks Instagram page  as long as theyve walked with sufficient silliness.

They dont have to do it for long: the jurisdiction of this Ministry of Silly Walks extends only across the sidewalk in front of a single house in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. The homes Yorkshire Road address will conjure up memories of another beloved sketch in the minds of serious Python fans  a group to which Liz Koto and her family, the houses occupants, must belong. Theyve posted to Instagram well over 100 videos, each capturing a different silly walk executed by the people of their suburban neighborhood out for a stroll  just about the only thing many Americans can do to get out of the house these days. And they do it more joyfully than Cleese himself, who has spoken of how, like a rock star condemned to play the same hit over and over again, he grew deeply weary of playing the Minister of Silly Walks on stage for Monty Pythons live shows over the decades. After having undergone two hip replacements, hes surely happy to leave silly-walking to the fans.

via Laughing Squid

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Italians Nightly Singalongs Prove That Music Soothes the Savage Beast of Coronavirus Quarantine & Self-Isolation

Ingenious Improvised Recreations of Vermeers Girl with a Pearl Earring, Using Materials Found Around the House

Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall, on Facebook, or on Instagram.
Canberra's first ambassador to Beijing says Australia is engaging in a reflexive blame game against China over the COVID-19 pandemic which undermines the chances of constructive engagement and damages our national interest.

Dr Stephen FitzGerald, who was posted to Beijing in 1973, said the way the federal government had led calls for an inquiry into the pandemic was clumsy, and "seems to be for no other reason than to do a kind of 'gotcha' on China."

Dr Stephen FitzGerald says Australia must adopt a diplomatic response to China. Credit:Louie Douvis

"There is a very, very strong anti-China push coming from certain agencies in Canberra  and it is simply ideological," he said.

"In my view it's mindless in terms of our overall interests. You have got to calculate how we come out of this  I have seen absolutely no evidence there was a quiet reaching out to China in advance, if necessary through an intermediary, to say 'look, we are all in this together, and let's do a combined collaborative look at how this developed, because we need to prepare for when this happens again and we need to understand it without recriminations'."
Political operative and former Trump adviser Roger Stone on Thursday filed an appeal of his conviction for lying to federal investigators in the Mueller investigation.

Stones attorneys did not offer any arguments directly disputing his guilt or three-year prison sentence, but argued that Judge Amy Jackson had improperly dismissed Stones request for a retrial.

That request was based on revelations that jury forewoman Tomeka Hart had not informed the court about social media posts on the Mueller investigation that were critical of President Trump. Jackson ruled earlier this month that Hart had not lied to the court, and that Stones defense team could have found the posts during jury selection but did not research Harts social media background.

Stone would have been required to report to prison in May or June. However, due to his appeal and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Stone will most likely wait to begin serving time.

President Trump has not yet indicated whether he would pardon his former adviser.

Im not going to do anything in terms of the great powers bestowed upon a president of the United States. I want the process to play out, Trump said in February. I think that is the best thing to do. Because I would love to see Roger exonerated, and I would love to see it happen.

In February, Justice Department prosecutors initially recommended a sentence of seven to nine years. Trump wrote on Twitter that the recommendation was unfair, and shortly afterwards Attorney General William Barr stepped in and reduced the recommendation, following which all four DOJ prosecutors assigned to the Stone case resigned. Trump congratulated Barr for taking charge of the case, but Barr subsequently rebuked Trumps comments.

I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me, Barr told ABC at the time.

More from National Review
Its easy to forget during the weeks of upheaval caused by COVID-19 that some things remain very much the same.

Tightening restrictions related to the novel coronavirus have disrupted countless lives and businesses, from parents scrambling to stay home with children to stores, restaurants and bars temporarily or even permanently shutting their doors. With so much chaos churning through the human world a trip to the woods clad in camouflage to cast a few yelps and purrs comes as a welcome respite.

Whether in good economic times or bad, in the peak of health or in the throes of a pandemic, each spring turkeys commence their annual breeding ritual as the males search for mates. Its with that knowledge in mind that Independent Record photographer Thom Bridge and I ventured out well before sunrise to a spot on the map we hoped would hold birds. Fresh off his own successful turkey hunt earlier in the week, Thom offered to come along and do the calling.

Springtime in Montana is nothing short of volatile when it comes to weather, and our morning hunt promised more of the same. We could see a storm plowing up the long valley we hunted complete with long wisps of rain reaching to the ground. If we were to find a turkey, it would need to happen quickly.

We heard a gobble shortly after daylight and made a game plan. A deep creek bottom separated us and we slipped and slid down the side with the hope that a turkey wouldnt think to peek over the edge and catch us in the act. As we made it up the other side a couple of calls confirmed the turkey was still there, this time farther up the ridge, but still close enough to try some calls. At least we hoped we could try to call him in before the deluge hit us.

Thom fell back holding the box call of my late father, a man who loved turkey country as much as anyone and got me hooked during our annual trips through the gumbo of Eastern Montana. Although this hunt would take place closer to home, I hoped the birds would respond in kind to the rhythmic runs of calling.

I settled in against a tree just off the ridge and rested the shotgun on my knee. I could hear hens as they chatted with each other and then the tom thundering through the ponderosa pine trees. After several minutes of Thoms best calling, I began to think we might need to move closer and try again. But that comes with the risk of being spotted and the flock seemed to have held in place for now. We stayed put and continued our back-and-forth conversation with the turkeys.

A tiny bit of movement through the trees caught my eye, followed by another. Then the big birds disappeared behind the other side of the ridge. Suddenly, a hen appeared at 25 yards. A second hen joined, her head jerking back and forth looking for the source of Thoms calling.

The tom popped out from behind a clump of sagebrush but stopped on the other side of a tree. I froze in place waiting for him to follow the hens into the open, but after 30 seconds the lead hen turned to leave. I leaned around the tree and could see his bright red and blue head through a small window in the vegetation, managing to squeeze off a successful shot.

In a couple of hours Thom and I would return to the world shifted by COVID-19, where a trip to the grocery store means a mask and social distancing and daily chats at work must take place over Zoom, the video conferencing website. Even as restrictions begin to ease, it still feels like the world is much different than it was only a few weeks ago.

Now as society moves toward some new version of what's ordinary, the normalcy of a turkey gobbling reminds us that spring is here and that a tom is still inclined to fall for my Dads old box call. Its a great time to be outdoors, or thats at least what we kept telling each other as we trudged back to the truck in the driving rain, turkey in tow.

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I was expecting that this covid-19 would be an opportunity for nonpolitical cooperation . . . but this is making the two countries get into even worse arguments with each other, Xie said on the China in the World podcast this month. [With these] accusations and conspiracy theories, I feel very bad about the trend of the relationship.
A much-needed three-school campus in a rapidly expanding Cork town has finally received the green light following a series of setbacks spanning eight years.

Announced in 2012 as a 'rapid build', the Carrigtwohill School Campus project has suffered a litany of delays due to a series of unsuccessful planning applications. This week, it was granted planning permission by Cork County Council subject to certain conditions.

The completed project, which brings together Scoil Mhuire Naofa, Scoil Chliodhna CNS, and Carrigtwohill Community College on the same campus, will cater for up to 1,000 secondary school students, as well as the two primary schools and special education classes.

Demand for school places in Carrigtwohill increased exponentially in recent years as its population grew, along with its neighbouring town of Midleton.

First opened in 2016, Carrigtwohill Community College currently occupies a former office block and pre-fabricated buildings.

At the beginning of March, Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) the school's patron, agreed to create an additional class of incoming-first years to help address a shortage of school places.

The approval of the development by Cork County Council marked a great day for everyone associated with the project, a spokesperson for the Carrigtwohill Schools Community said:

We look forward to seeing the children of Carrigtwohill and surrounds finally receiving the top class educational facilities they deserve and we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to ensure that promises are fulfilled.

The development will include the construction of two new 24-classroom buildings with two-class special needs units for Scoil Mhuire Naofa and Scoil Chliodhna.

A three-storey building for Carrigtwohill Community College will give the school space to expand to up to 1,000 students. It will include three classrooms for students with special needs. The plans will also include PE halls, support teaching spaces and secure play areas.

Labour TD Sean Sherlock said: It is encouraging that planning has been granted now. What we need to do is to ensure that there is a follow-through by the department to ensure that the school will actually be built."

There are questions marks over capital spending given the current scenario with Covid-19, he added: "We need to see this project up and running."

Students, parents and teachers have understandably been concerned about the delays associated with the project, according to Fine Gael TD David Stanton.

"Despite the current restrictions, I would hope that the process would run smoothly from here and I would expect that the Department of Education and Skills will begin to progress the tendering and construction process in due course," Mr Stanton said.
The government of Thursday sought suggestions on methods of resource mobilisation from captains of the automobile industry, who raised several demands for a financial package to overcome the impact of the COVID-19-induced lockdown

New Delhi: The government of Thursday sought suggestions on methods of resource mobilisation from captains of the automobile industry, who raised several demands for a financial package to overcome the impact of the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

During a video conference with leaders of the auto industry, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Prakash Javadekar asserted the government's support to the sector saying it has to be brought back "on the wheels" again considering its significance to the Indian economy.

The industry leaders, including Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa, M&M Managing Director Pawan Goenka, Hero MotoCorp CMD Pawan Munjal, SIAM President Rajan wadhera and ACMA President Deepak Jain, raised various demands from the government, including reduction of GST on automobiles, support for liquidity, employment, retail sales and suppliers to revive growth in the segment.

"This industry is very important for India and we have to bring it back on the wheels," Javadekar said after the video conference with the industry leaders.

He acknowledged the significance of the auto industry highlighting its contribution to India's GDP and overall manufacturing, besides being "a mass employment generator" and its role in exports from the country.

"Now, we have to concentrate on livelihood and that is what we discussed today (Thursday) and we discussed so many things. I also suggested them on how to raise resources, how to mobilise resources because putting up demand is one part of the story but suggesting various methods of resource mobilisation is also important and, therefore, it was a fruitful meeting and we are happy with it," the minister said.

Acknowledging the hardships the auto industry has gone through, he said that last year, this industry suffered because of a planned migration from BS-IV to BS-VI with customers postponing purchases.

"So, overall, there were many discussions and demands of GST cuts, employment support, retail sales support, supplier support and liquidity support. So, naturally, what the industry has gone through, they have put up demand," he said.

The minister added that the industry leaders also suggested online registration of new vehicles, along with batch testing for factory workers before re-joining work, physical separators between two workers and sanitisation of selling points, among others.

Industry sources said they sought opening of dealerships and back-end activities to have seamless operations.

The industry captains also sought liquidity support to component makers and dealerships. They also demanded policy steps for revival of demand in the sector.
The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the stand of the Centre on a petition that stated that around 1,700 migrant workers hailing from Nepal are stranded at the India-Nepal border in Uttarakhand amid the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic and they should be allowed to return to their country.

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana, which was hearing through video-conferencing a plea seeking direction to the Centre to ensure safe passage to these workers to Nepal, asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to get instructions from the government in this regard.

"Let the matter be listed on Tuesday, the May 5, 2020. In the meantime, Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General appearing for the Union of India to get instructions in the matter," the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and B R Gavai, said.

The plea has been filed in the apex court challenging the April 20 order of the Uttarakhand High Court which had observed that "no direction can be issued to the central government to expedite repatriation of the Nepali citizens through diplomatic channels, as issuance of such a direction would amount to encroachment in the field reserved for the Union Government".

"Even otherwise also, petitioner himself admits that, in view of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 virus, Nepal Government has also declared a nationwide lockdown and no-one is permitted to cross Nepal border," the high court had noted in its order.

In the appeal filed in the top court, petitioner Ganga Giri Goswami has alleged that high court had wrongfully refused to grant relief to around 1,700 migrant workers, who are stranded at India-Nepal border in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts in Uttarakhand and wish to return to their country.

During the arguments in the apex court, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioner, said that Supreme Court of Nepal had on April 7 directed the Government of Nepal to allow its citizens stranded on Indian side of the border to cross the border and enter the country.

In the appeal filed through advocate Satya Mitra, the petitioner has said that "living conditions of the stranded workers are uninhabitable and they do not have access to basic sanitation and health facilities or even food and drinking water".

During the arguments before the high court, the state's counsel had said that Uttarakhand government has established makeshift shelter homes for housing them in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts and they are being given proper food, water and other daily need items among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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To love classic Hollywood and live in the world at the same time is hardly the greatest of conundrums, but a conundrum it is. It means being transported by the craft and the art of films made under political conditions one may find entirely unacceptable, or engaging deeply with characters who all look a certain way at the exclusion of so many others, or finding subtleties in the shadows left by the things the movies dared not allow themselves say. To name a single example: Gone With the Wind, shockingly ahead of its time as a piece of spectacle and utterly contemporary in its antiheroine lead, also reflected on the glories of the antebellum South. Its supporting turn by Hattie McDaniel, one that won a pathbreaking Oscar and has been remembered for generations, represents, too, a gifted actor being told that all she can do in a too-short career is play a maid. Loving classic Hollywood for what made it great comes with the mournful realization that it frequently failed to be good.

This is the path Ryan Murphy walks in Hollywood, which he co-created with Ian Brennan, effectively Murphys debut as a Netflix contract player. (His 2019 Netflix comedy series The Politician was produced by his former professional partners at Fox.) This limited series braids together Murphys passionate, camp-inflected interest in the movies and moviemaking culture of yesteryear with another, somewhat conflicting trademark hes arrived at more recently, the passionately and humorlessly held belief in the rightness of his political stances. What results is a Franken-show thatd have done the old Universal monster movies proud, lurching and stumbling through its storys convolutions with great purpose but little worth saying. Murphys work can be uneven in the best of times, but with Hollywood, he has landed upon not merely the second show in a short time to announce a major new Netflix creator as perhaps in need of network- or cable-style creative guardrails (after Kenya Barris disastrous #BlackAF) but also the first outright dud of his post-Glee career.

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The show follows Jack Castello (David Corenswet), an archetypal aspiring actor  amiably blank, burdened with more charisma than backstory, ready for the screen to provide him a reinvention. Murphy remains enough in thrall to the Hollywood myth to do little more with Jacks character than that, but also is committed enough to subverting it that he plops Jack in a purposefully raunchy milieu; after meeting a local businessman-slash-pimp (Dylan McDermott), Jack finds himself providing the service at an unorthodox service station. (Staffed by prostitutes, it has an analogue in the real-life gas station owned by Scotty Bowers, subject of a superlative recent documentary.) Jacks loyal client is a studio heads wife (Patti LuPone); a co-worker (Jake Picking), available for male johns, is another aspiring actor, and will eventually change his name to Rock Hudson.

Its through Rock that the story picks up; he falls in love with a thwarted would-be screenwriter (Jeremy Pope), who cannot hide that hes black the way Rock can hide that hes gay. All together, with the involvement of a Filipino director (Darren Criss) and a black actor (Laura Harrier) who have similarly been blocked from the fame we are meant to understand they richly deserve, this crew works to make the first-ever broadly and deeply inclusive production in Hollywood history. LuPones Avis, a power player with liberal leanings, opens the towns arms to these new stars, and, by the time their movie, Meg, comes out, theyre megastars. Racial protests, were told in a newsreel, simply melted away. Solving Hollywoods lack of inclusivity was as simple as just doing it  why hadnt anyone had the idea before?

Its a dreamy fantasy, one so high on its own ingenuity that it hardly needs to make time for characterization beyond the broadest of types. (Every one of these characters, give or take Hudson, is the brilliant one.) But its also a reverie thats brought to Earth wrenchingly, wretchedly. Murphy has infinite sympathy for some of his characters and similarly boundless contempt for others: We seesaw between, say, scenes in which an imagined Hollywood that never was falls at our protagonists feet and scenes of Jim Parsons Henry Willson  a real-life talent agent known for grooming young men into matinee hunks  spewing venom toward, or violating, his client, whom he desperately wants both to convert into a straight-acting man for the public eye and to inculcate into a libertine underworld in private. (An episode involving a party at George Cukors house distills a great deal of disdain and scorn for gay men into one set-piece.) Its not that this sort of behavior, and this sort of internalized homophobia, didnt exist, or doesnt. But choosing as the two sorts of gay people who could exist in Hollywood either a viperish and cruel villain or a genially frank hero, as becomes the case when Rock comes out, belies above all else a lack of imagination.

It also raises the question of what Murphy likes about Hollywood at all. If ones vision of Rock Hudson as a potential hero is that of someone who used an understanding of homosexuality that existed only in nascent form in the cultural context of his time to radically reshape Americans understanding of what love could look like, then the real one must look pretty uninspired, or downright shabby! Similarly, achievements of art and of painstaking, incremental progress that actually exist in our Hollywood cannot compare with the gains in the Hollywood Murphy imagines, in which a movie that cannot be resisted by any force standing in its way comes to change the town forever. No wonder we lose Jack so much in the shows second half; short of depicting him as a literal superhero, his achievements defy belief. Its telling that  a bit like Emma Stones entirely unseen one-woman show in La La Land, similarly a project that largely exists to burnish its creators legend as a unique genius  we see little of Meg. (Given that the film is portrayed as being a corrective, equal and opposite, to Gone With the Wind, thats certainly for the best. Even Netflix money cant sustain that conceit.) Its also telling that the story Meg relates is of a young woman burned out, and indeed driven to suicide, by the unfairness and prejudices of Hollywood. This, it seems, is the tale Murphy wants to tell. Why dress it up as hopeful and optimistic when its caustic, raw and so barely within its creators control?

Murphy has waded into these waters before. His ongoing project of casting accomplished women left behind by the world of movies makes a sly meta-comment on the industry hed like to see. And he put two of them, Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, in Feud, a series that weaponized Murphys love of cinema by re-creating the world in which Joan Crawford and Bette Davis were encouraged to mistreat one another. It was a show that wished things could have been different but understood that it could never be so, and through forensic restaging as well as sympathetic imagination for the real artists at its heart, showed us why. The Hollywood take on this material would, perhaps, insist that Crawford and Davis find their way toward sharing success (thus suggesting that the real women simply lacked the wit to do so). Hollywood insists that we were just a few people being brave and clever away from living in a world entirely unlike our own, and then yells at us about characters who are only brave and clever  rather than human  until we give in.

Part of loving classic Hollywood is wishing that it could do better. But part of it, too, is finding the nuance and the meaning in stories that were produced by a broken town but written and directed and acted by people doing their best, not as archetypes of ingenuity but as artists. Meeting their work where it is, and hoping for more and better in the years ahead, is more productive and more worthy than inventing alternate histories. It also might make for a more interesting story than the inevitable victory of people precisely as smart, back then, as Ryan Murphy is now.

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NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE W ho controls the past controls the future, wrote George Orwell in 1984. Who controls the present controls the past. In the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China, many interested parties have attempted to rewrite recent events that are barely even history, much as happens in Orwells dystopian novel. These parties hope to cast in their own favor the still-congealing consensus about the sequence of events that led to the outbreak, its spread, and its severity.

The most brazen such efforts belong to the Chinese Communist Party, which is now reinterpreting recent events to exploit the outbreak that its own actions and inactions caused. One would think that, CNN  a news organization that declares itself fond of speaking truth to power, that likes to declare that an apple is an apple  would block the CCPs attempts to rewrite recent history.

But one would be mistaken. In a CNN analysis, James Griffiths admits that Chinas leaders have not been blind to the opportunity that coronavirus presents to flaunt the supposed superiority of their own political model. Yet Griffiths then proceeds to toe the Beijing line on Chinas handling of the coronavirus, Americas efforts, and the global implications of both. Its propaganda thinly disguised as reporting.

Griffiths most egregious propagandizing concerns the Chinese government itself, which deserves most of the blame for the spread of COVID-19. Griffiths seems eager to whitewash that governments conduct and undercut its critics valid concerns. It is debatable how communist modern China actually is, Griffiths offers. That may technically be true  China is no longer taking Great Leaps Forward, to be sure. But its political apparatus remains oppressive enough to send hundreds of thousands of Muslim Uighurs, a disfavored minority, to concentration camps. And, directly bearing on the crisis at hand, China engaged in typical totalitarian behavior by suppressing early knowledge of the infections spread. By imprisoning whistleblowers, it delayed public awareness of the viruss spread by several weeks (something it had done before, in the 2003 SARS outbreak).

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So its strange for Griffiths to quote German foreign minister Heiko Maass assertion that China has taken some very authoritarian measures, while in the U.S., the virus was played down for a long time. These are not mutually exclusive actions: The Chinese government took authoritarian measures to downplay the virus. The suppression of the information allowed China to publicly condone mass gatherings in a knowingly infected city and to allow thousands of citizens to leave the country

Griffiths takes at face value Chinas self-reported figures indicating that it has dealt better with the coronavirus than other places have. But we should be skeptical of these figures; the actual number and extent of cases may be orders of magnitude higher, but Chinas totalitarian control of information will probably make it impossible to learn the truth. At the very least, we should put asterisks next to the data from China.

We should also condemn the truly oppressive measures the government took to contain the virus. No humane society can approve the welding shut of apartments, the home confinement of the overwhelming majority of residents, restricted travel into, within, and out of the city, and a variety of other measures. These measures would not have been necessary if the government had been honest about the spread from the beginning. One study estimates that up to 95 percent of the viruss spread could have been reduced had the Chinese government acted earlier, when fewer cases would have made treatment easier.

Despite all this, Griffiths depicts Americas response as worse than Chinas. The effectiveness of the Chinese response, he writes, could be perceived to be a strong argument that an empowered state is what is needed to respond to the pandemic. He adds:

The crisis has also highlighted the benefits of a strong government and centralized planning, while . . . exposing the limitations of private industry to respond quickly, particularly in the healthcare sector. . . . In the United States, which is often held up  for better or worse  as the example par excellence of a Western democracy, the alternative to the Chinese model appears to be somewhat chaotic.

But where he sees an apparently disempowered state unable to do anything, a more accurate picture is an American government with plenty of resources, though too often its incompetent at deploying them, hamstringing both public and private efforts at fighting crises, including this one. That is a valid critique. But it is not the ironclad case for stronger government that Griffiths supposes. As it was left to Joe Biden to point out in a Democratic-primary debate, coronavirus is not itself a case for complete government control of health care; if it were, Italy, which has universal health care , would not have experienced arguably the Western worlds worst outbreak. There are other variables at play.

Griffiths might have a point about Americas chaotic response if he were talking about the different approaches takes by individual states. But America believed in letting a thousand flowers bloom well before Mao claimed to. Americas 50 states are not mere administrative units: They are, and always have been, considerable sources of political power. In this crisis, they have also proven to be more effective  and more accessible  administrators of mitigation measures than a centralized state would have been. This is not to say that all states have handled the crisis perfectly. But their measures are implemented on a smaller scale, and in a fashion closer to the ground, because of how our political system distributes power. And America gets to benefit from seeing what works and what doesnt, as different states try different approaches to fit different populations and conditions. The Chinese approach might appeal to tyrants, but it would have never been possible here, or desirable.

Griffithss bias continues when he describes Chinas relationship with the rest of the world. He casts China as a newly invigorated defender of international institutions. But just maybe this is a strategy China has adopted to maximize its self-interest. He doesnt consider the possibility. China has emerged as the strongest defendant of the World Health Organization (WHO) as it faces pressure from Washington, he writes. But this is the same organization whose head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a controversial Ethiopian politician, had Chinas support in his accession to the position. After taking the helm, Tedros steered the WHO in Chinas favor at every step in the first few weeks of the outbreak. He went so far as to deny the possibility of human-to-human transmission at a time when the Chinese government demanded that the WHO push this message.

Griffiths also cites examples of Chinese beneficence, such as its provision of medical supplies around the world, but he fails to note that many of these products China sold are defective and dont work. He lauds Chinese influence, such as the popularity of its Internet model in the wake of crises around fake news and online disinformation, but he doesnt mention that China itself is pushing coronavirus disinformation. In light of such perfidy, it is impossible to take seriously, for example, a statement made by the Chinese Communist newspaper China Daily, which Griffiths nonetheless does:

The United Nations will be 75 this year, COVID-19 is reminding countries of the continuous and increasing value of multilateralism in a closely connected world. We will only halt COVID-19 through solidarity. No country can do it alone.

It is true that no country now can stop coronavirus on its own. But that is largely thanks to the behavior of the Chinese Communist Party in the first place.

Amid the pro-China blather, Griffiths does make the good point that many of the governments praised for their handling of the virus  Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, and Germany  are democracies. One of that series, in particular, deserves to be highlighted. Taiwan, perhaps most of all nations in the world, has reason not to trust China, which has sought for decades to snuff it out. Excluded from the World Health Organization, Taiwan ignored its downplaying of the virus, disregarded the Chinese governments prevarication, and acted quickly and aggressively against COVID-19. As a result, it experienced perhaps the developed worlds least severe outbreak (429 cases, 6 deaths) and looks set to return to normalcy soon. It, too, is providing medical supplies around the world  though, unlike China, it is donating them rather than selling them. Does Griffiths consider the possibility that Taiwan will emerge stronger, or in a better position, than China? Or that Taiwans model for political life will become more attractive? He does not; this is the only mention Taiwan receives in his analysis.

Griffiths concludes that Beijing also appears to have a greater appreciation than most of its rivals of the potential opportunities presented by the current crisis to emerge stronger and more influential than ever before. This may or may not be true. But it is strange that a supposed analysis seems so keen on sharing the Chinese governments assumptions and perspective, and eager to help it rewrite recent history. Maybe Winston Smith isnt the only one who loves Big Brother.

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The Pro-Justice human rights organization has documented the Syrian businessmen who support the regime in their crimes and serve as financial fronts writes Al-Moharrer.

The Pro-Justice human rights organization has launched a new campaign called Assads Businessmen targeting the network of companies and businessmen that the Assad regime depends on in order to circumvent international sanctions and continue its crimes against the Syrian people.

According to details published on the organizations website, the campaign aims to, achieve the principle of accountability and prevent impunity for war criminals and those who fund them. The group added that it had picked up and uncovered the threads of those networks.

On the goals of the campaign, the organization said that it was exposing how the Assad regime manages its financial affairs through a group of traders close to the republican palace.

According to sources from the organization, the campaign has shed light on around 70 individuals tied to the Assad regime, forming a group of war profiteers who have doubled their income on the suffering of millions of Syrians.

These targeted individuals were chosen by revealing the pattern of financiers that the head of the regime relies on, which it uses to strengthen its control by enabling them to have authority over all facets of the Syrian economy over the past nine years.

The source added that the organization particularly relied on exclusive information, documents, Western reports and lists of Western sanctions imposed on men tied to the Assad regime.

The source said that the new campaign is an extension of a previous campaign called The Black List, which revealed around 100 security figures, crimes and violations carried out against the Syrian people, in order to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure that they do not escape punishment.

The most prominent individuals named in the campaign are:

Rami Makhlouf, Assads cousin.

Ayhab Muhammad Makhlouf, the economic front of Rami Makhlouf.

Amer Zuheir Foz, the godfather of oil-for-arms deals with ISIS.

Salim Muhammad Daaboul, the funder of a number of shabiha gangs in the Qalamoun region.

George Haswani, the funder and financier of the Qalamoun Shield militia.

Hussam Ahmad Qaterji, who funds militias bearing his name.

Khudur Ali Taher, who is close to Maher al-Assasd and is responsible for extorting civilians and kidnapping them at checkpoints belonging to the Assad regime.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
[April 29, 2020] 3D Modeling Procurement Intelligence Report - Insights into 3D Modeling Procurement Risks, Category Best Practices, and Key Questions Asked by Procurement Professionals | SpendEdge

SpendEdge has announced the availability of its latest report on 3D Modeling Procurement for pre-order. The report on 3D Modeling procurement is part of a larger series of reports on the global supply market, which includes a complete picture of the supply market and analysis of the category from the perspective of both buyers and suppliers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005910/en/ SpendEdge has announced the availability of its latest report on 3D Modeling Procurement for pre-order (Graphic: Business Wire) According to our experts, suppliers are investing in automation technologies such as AI, robotics, machine learning and big data to optimize their business operations and offer new services to their customers. They are introducing self-service tools such as virtual agents in their customer service ecosystem to reduce the time and costs incurred by customers to resolve an issue. SpendEdge's reports now include a complimentary Covid-19 impact assessment on all reports from the supply category. Our reports are intended to serve as a one-stop reference guide for companies looking for effective 3D Modeling procurement strategies and offer a perfect blend of category basics with deep-dive category data and insights - request a free sample today!



3D Modeling Procurement Risks Service providers depend on their personnel's expertise and business acumen to achieve high business growth. Competition for acquiring experienced professionals is extremely high in the market. They need to incorporate effective measures to retain talent as well as implement succession planning strategies. Service providers are subject to E&O claims, due to the failure to correctly offer professional services as agreed in the contract. If such claims made by the client are found to be true, then they can result in financial penalties. Not what you are looking for? SpendEdge now offers custom studies and reports that are suited to the needs of every type and size of organizations across the globe. Request a free demo of our procurement platform and access the complete library of reports for free! 3D Modeling Procurement Best Practices

Buyers should engage with suppliers who are involved in vertical integration to reduce supply chain-related bottlenecks. Buyers of fuels must adopt a regional sourcing model to obtain the benefits of reduced logistics costs, reduced inventory costs, and lower turnaround times. Try our procurement platform for free to access 9 full reports, custom studies, and over 700 reports for no cost. SpendEdge now offers paid subscriptions starting as low as $250/month. Key Questions Answered in this 3D Modeling Procurement Report What is the spend potential in the 3D Modeling market? What is the correct price to pay for 3D Modeling? What are the key trends and factors that influence current and future pricing? Which selection criteria are the most important for 3D Modeling suppliers market? Who are the top 3D Modeling suppliers? What are their cost structures? What are supplier margins in 3D Modeling market? Which negotiation levers can reduce 3D Modeling procurement cost? What are the best practices for 3D Modeling procurement and what are the potential risks? About SpendEdge SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/get-more-info View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005910/en/

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DUBAI (Reuters) - There is a "very real probability" the new coronavirus is circulating in Yemen, the United Nations said on Tuesday, warning that an aid funding shortfall would compromise efforts to combat the virus in one of the most vulnerable countries.

The war-damaged nation, whose population has been weakened by widespread hunger and disease, has reported one laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case but due to inadequate testing and a shattered health system aid groups fear a devastating outbreak.

The office of the U.N. aid chief in Yemen said that based on transmission patterns in other countries and given 17 days have passed since Yemen reported its first case, "agencies are warning there is now a very real probability that the virus has been circulating undetected and unmitigated within communities".

"This increases the likelihood of a surge of cases which may quickly overwhelm health capacities," it said in a statement.

The case announced on April 10, a 60-year-old port official, has since recovered and tested negative for the virus, Yemen's coronavirus committee said on Monday.

But authorities told Reuters they have been unable to track down "patient zero", an important step in tracing people potentially exposed to infection and containing an outbreak.

Yemen is already grappling with the world's largest humanitarian crisis after five years of war between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi group that ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital, Sanaa.

Around 80% of Yemen's population, or 24 million people, rely on aid, and 10 million are facing famine. Yemen has the world's fourth highest internally displaced population and healthcare is scarce in rural areas.

Under such conditions the virus could spread rapidly, and the funding gap is compounding risk. The statement said 31 of 41 major U.N. humanitarian assistance programmes will scale-down or stop in coming weeks without more money.

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One major donor, the U.S. Agency for International Development, cut funding last month over concerns that Houthi authorities are hindering aid distribution. The group, which controls most major urban centres, has dismissed the charges as baseless.

In mid-April the World Food Programme (WFP) said it had halved food aid to Houthi-controlled areas.

Refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday it received only 28% of funding required this year and needs $89.4 million to assist more than 3.6 million displaced people, alongside foreign refugees and host communities.

A senior U.S. official recently told Reuters the United States is preparing a "substantial contribution" to help Yemen's coronavirus efforts.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington, Editing by William Maclean)
A new letter from the Congressional Black Caucus to Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill this week outlines an aggressive list of priorities to help minority families, business owners, and prison inmates weather the economic and health impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter, obtained by The Independent and dated 29 April and addressed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, advocates for the early release of many non-violent criminals in overcrowded prison systems that are potential hotbeds for Covid-19, an $82bn package to bring broadband internet access to millions more Americans in poor parts of the country, and dozens of other policies that would address the health and economic concerns of communities of colour.

"The Members of the Congressional Black Caucus appreciate your efforts to include many of our policy priorities in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," Chairwoman Karen Bass wrote in the letter to Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer, referring to a $2.2trn economic stimulus package Congress passed in March.

"However, there is still much more needed to strengthen our communities and ease the impact of the pandemic thus far," Ms Bass wrote.

The CBC's letter aligns closely with the list of priorities espoused by the Congressional Progressive Caucus: $4bn for election security and to expand mail-in voting in all 50 states, the cancellation of student loan debt, an increase to the child tax credit, and a moratorium on the shutdown of utilities for people who cannot pay their bills, to name just a handful.

But it also outlines more parochial interests for members of colour, such as an additional $1.9bn in emergency funding to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and so-called "minority serving institutions," which received just $1.1bn of a requested $3bn in the CARES Act.

Among the proposals the CBC is pushing for now, according to the letter this week, is a measure to ensure cannabis businesses are eligible for the same emergency federal funds as other small businesses. The CARES Act prohibits businesses that are illegal at the national level from receiving money through federal programmes such as the Small Business Associations's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) or the Treasury Department's paycheck protection programme (PPP).

Criminal justice

The CBC is also pushing for a large-scale relaxation of the criminal justice system.

The letter from Wednesday calls for the release of more prisoners through "clemency, commutations, and compassionate release."

Prison officials should grant immediate temporary release to home confinement to "individuals who are a low-risk threat to the community, but to whom Covid-19 is a high-risk threat," the letter states. That group of inmates eligible for release should automatically include pregnant women, adults over the age of 55, and people with severe preexisting medical conditions, but "could extend to those who are near to completing their sentence, low-risk offenders, and those who have not begun their sentence," according to letter.

All detained juveniles who have not committed a violent crime should also be released, the CBC wrote.

The CBC is also urging law enforcement not to arrest people who steal "supplies or resources needed to survive the Covid-19 pandemic" or break emergency quarantine protocols such as stay-at-home orders.

"Instead, citations or desk tickets should be issued in place of arrest so that people can return home, balancing the need for arrest with the overwhelming public safety concerns presented by the coronavirus," the letter states. "This action will help prevent increasing the incarcerated population, especially during the pandemic."

CBC's influence

Ms Pelosi has relied heavily on input from the CBC in recent weeks as she has negotiated legislation with Republicans and the Trump administration in Washington. The speaker has praised CBC members as instrumental in highlighting the need to expand access to government emergency lending programmes for small businesses in poor and "underbanked" parts of the country. A $484bn interim relief bill passed last week included a special set-aside of roughly $60bn for such businesses.

The CBC is also throwing its weight behind House Democrats' $80bn proposal unveiled on Thursday to expand broadband internet to urban and rural parts of the country that lack web connection.

Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a longtime CBC member, told reporters on Thursday that the lack of internet access has acutely interfered with majority-black communities' access to online education and health services during the coronavirus crisis.

Parents get off work, "load their children into automobiles," and take them down to the parking lots of a local libraries and fast food restaurants so they can do their homework, Mr Clyburn said.

The CBC has been handsomely rewarded for its contributions to the coronavirus negotiating process: Ms Pelosi has tapped Mr Clyburn to chair the newly formed House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which will oversee the administration's rollout of trillions of dollars of federal money to deal with the health crisis.

House Financial Services Chairwoman and CBC member Maxine Waters will also sit on the 12-member panel for the Democrats.
Even as Coronavirus cases in the United States crossed 1 million, President Donald Trump has said that he will resume travelling for 'wild rallies' eyeing the upcoming Presidential elections. So far, Covid-19 has claimed 61,656 lives in the country, exceeding the official figures of Americans who died in the Vietnam war. However, Trump was quick to clarify that his Arizona trip is focused on the economic recovery effort and is not a campaign rally.

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However, while briefing the media, President Donald Trump said he will resume flying around the country from next week. He said he will be "going to Arizona next week and we look forward to that." This will be his first cross-country trip since the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the United States. He added that he will visit Ohio, one of the key swing states in the November presidential election "very soon."

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Highlighting that things would look different in the world infected by Coronavirus, "Hopefully in the not too distant future we'll have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other," he said."I can't imagine a rally where you have every fourth seat full. That wouldn't look too good. I hope that we''re going to be able to do some good old-fashioned 25,000 person rallies where everyone''s going wild because they love our country."

READ | Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden for US President; laments wait to remove Donald Trump

Joe Biden as Democratic presidential candidate

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in recent weeks has picked up support from former President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and leading progressives such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In the latest, he was endorsed by Former Democratic Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton for upcoming US Presidential Elections. Hillary Clintons husband, former President Bill Clinton, has not yet publicly endorsed Biden.

READ | US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorses Joe Biden for 2020 elections

(with AP/ PTI inputs)
Bizarre as it may seem to contemplate rewards amid the coronavirus pandemic, there is some degree of frustration in north Alabama that hoped-for reopenings such as dine-in restaurants and personal services businesses are still closed just as they are in hot spots around the state.

Its kind of, when do you get your snow-cone? Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. It does get back to the argument of, when do you get your reward for doing well?

Yes, there is frustration in north Alabama  where more than 11,000 COVID-19 tests have been administered and the spread of the virus, at least statistically speaking, appears to be largely under control. And elected leaders and Huntsville hospital officials for weeks have lauded the efforts of north Alabama to follow the new "sanitize and separate" protocols that they have credited for the shrinking coronavirus caseloads.

Maybe, Battle thought, that behavior would be rewarded in the form of reopened restaurants and personal services businesses. Those rewards not only for customers cooped up after four weeks of sheltering at home but, more importantly, for the financial survival of devastated businesses.

But the new health order announced earlier this week by Gov. Kay Ivey gave no leeway to areas of the state blunting the virus' spread and state health officer Dr. Scott Harris instead issued that new order to be imposed in all 67 counties.

Related: AL.coms coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Battle said he had hoped for more in anticipating Ivey's announcement, hoped that restaurants could resume in-store dining and businesses such as hair and nail salons could make plans to reopen for the first time in a month  amid a lengthy list of safety precautions now coined the "new normal." The mayor said he often hears about profitable restaurants before the coronavirus that are now facing bankruptcy.

Indeed, a list of recommendations from Madison County leaders to the governor provided for restaurants and personal services businesses to reopen when the stay-at-home order expires Thursday at 5 p.m.

Instead, those closures remain in place. And there would be, at least this week, no reward for north Alabama.

"One size does not fit all in this case," Battle said.

Madison Mayor Paul Finley said that while there were 167 new coronavirus cases statewide on Wednesday, only two of those were in Madison County.

I know there are a lot of people excited about some of the things that can open, he said. And theres definitely some frustration on others who cant open.

Battle said that, at one time, there was conversation about reopening the state by regions based on their COVID-19 status. Such an approach would seemingly be beneficial to north Alabama than the comprehensive approach state leaders ultimately adopted.

And at Wednesday's briefing  televised throughout north Alabama -- Battle repeatedly referred to just 26 active COVID-19 cases in Madison County, which has a population of almost 373,000 people. He based the number of active cases on positive tests in Madison County announced by the state health department over the past 14 days, which is generally considered the necessary recovery time from the coronavirus.

To Madison County's west, the positive test rate per 100,000 people is among the lowest in the state in Limestone, Lauderdale, Colbert and Lawrence counties. To the south, though, Madison County is bordered by Marshall County  one of the worst-hit counties in the state with 315 positive tests.

Still, the longtime mayor said he took no exception to the decisions made by Ivey and Harris.

"They dont want to say one area can do this and one area can't," Battle said. "As you look at it, if Birmingham's a hot spot and you open the restaurants in Huntsville, do you want the Birmingham folks coming up here and then having a potential for a hot spot being brought in here?

"They looked over the whole situation and decided to do it as a state," Battle said. "I'm fine with the way they did it."

Like Battle, Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong said the county  or the region  doesn't exist in a vacuum sealed from the rest of the state.

"If we were making decisions just for Madison County, it may be a little bit different," he said Tuesday. "But we understand the larger picture."

Downtown Huntsville Inc., which champions vibrant growth in the heart of the Rocket City, said in a statement Thursday that no reopening restaurants has gone generally unexplained and asked for immediate guidelines for those businesses.

We respectfully call upon the state to publicly share this week the specific criteria it is evaluating to lift this aspect of the Safer at Home order, the statement said. Specifically, what informational results will be required in order to allow our food and beverage and service industry small businesses to re-open with social-distancing, sanitation and occupancy restrictions in place similar to the opportunity afforded to other small business entrepreneurs in the states newly-issued emergency order?

As the wait continues for restaurants and personal serivces businesses, there is no immediate tangible reward for north Alabama.

Our reward is that we get to lead the rest of the state and we have led the rest of the state in this, Battle said. If we keep doing what were doing and the rest of the state follows suit, we will be out of this quicker rather than later.
[April 30, 2020] Planful Welcomes Shane Hansen as Chief Financial Officer

Hansen Brings Significant Go-to-Market, Analytics, and Business Performance Expertise to New Role REDWOOD CITY, California, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Planful, Inc. (formerly Host Analytics), a leading financial planning and analysis (FP&A) cloud platform provider, today announced that Shane Hansen has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With 15+ years of finance and technology experience, Hansen has seen firsthand why legacy approaches to planning, forecasting, reporting, and analytics are difficult to optimize and scale in a world rapidly moving to cloud technologies. Hansen will focus on long-term growth for the company to meet the needs of the underserved mid-to-enterprise-sized companies looking to modernize their back-office technologies. "We're excited to welcome a brilliant, experienced executive like Shane to the Planful team," said Grant Halloran, Chief Executive Officer, Planful. "Shane is an excellent fit from a team culture perspective. His approach embodies the savvy financial planning professionals we serve, and he thoroughly understands the software market's growth levers and how companies can capitalize on opportunities and achieve success." Prior to joining Planful, Hansen served as Divisional CFO for Vivint Smart Home, where he had previously served as Vice President (VP) of Finance, Strategy, Innovation & Business Development. Before that role, Hansen held several key financial analytics, go-to-market, and value creation leadership positions with security software leader Symantec, steadily rising through the ranks to become the VP of Finance, Enterpris Security.



Earlier in his career, Hansen served as a financial analyst, law clerk, and consultant/developer for various organizations after completing a Fulbright fellowship. Hansen's impressive academic credentials include an MBA from the Wharton School, a JD from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in Russian and international development from Brigham Young University. "I'm thrilled to be joining the team at Planful because of the strong growth trajectory of the FP&A cloud software market, the power of Planful's world-class product offering, and experienced industry leadership," Hansen said. "As we help customers weather uncertain business conditions with a Continuous Planning approach, we're also positioning Planful for phenomenal success within the cloud FP&A solutions market with our unique platform."

About Planful

Planful is a leading financial planning and analysis (FP&A) cloud platform. Planful delivers a vision of Continuous Planning by accelerating the end-to-end FP&A process and fostering business-wide participation in agile planning and decision-making. More than 800 customers including Bose, Boston Red Sox, Del Monte, TGI Friday's, and 23andMe rely on Planful for financial planning and budgeting, dynamic operational planning, financial consolidations, reporting, and visual analytics. Planful is a private company backed by Vector Capital, a leading global private equity firm specializing in transformational investments in established technology businesses. Learn more at www.planful.com. Additional Resources

Join the FP&A Community on Slack

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NEW HAVEN  Preliminary evidence from the investigation into the death of a man in lock-up at police headquarters earlier this month indicates he died by suicide, according to police officials.

The update on the untimely death comes after the victims family members gathered on the steps of police headquarters Wednesday. It wasnt immediately clear if the family tried to meet with any police officials while at the station.

Reports indicate local clergy had planned to speak about concerns they had over the mans death.

DeSohn Wilson, 31, died two weeks ago  on April 15  in the Union Avenue Detention Center at 1 Union Ave.

Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said in a statement that after the mans death, he followed protocol and launched an internal investigation, which will look at the operating procedures and practices at the time of the incident.

While any untimely death is disheartening, it is especially disheartening to those of us at this police department when the person dies in our custody, Reyes said. Our department offers its condolences to the family and the community.

In the statement, Reyes said he is willing to meet with Wilsons family and any of the familys representatives to review the departments investigation.

While the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has made available to our department some of its preliminary findings about the death of Mr. Wilson, the Medical Examiners Office has not issued a final report as they await the return of a toxicology report, Reyes said. Thus far, the preliminary evidence indicates the death was a suicide.

He said police officials can certainly share the information about what happened with Wilsons family.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, in a prepared statement provided with Reyes statement from the police department, also offered condolences to Wilsons family, and said he trusted the police investigation.

I am saddened by the loss of a member of our community, Elicker said. I offer my condolences to DeSohns family. I have been in close contact with Chief Reyes and I have confidence that he and the department will conduct an appropriate review.

Wilson got to the detention center just before 2 a.m. on April 15 after he was arrested on domestic violence charges, according to police.

He was set to appear in court later that morning, but detention officers found Wilson unresponsive in his cell around 2:45 a.m., police said. The department said the officers immediately called for medical assistance.

Wilson was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead soon after.

Reyes said New Haven police followed its protocol for an in-custody death by immediately launching an investigation of the incident.

The chief said detectives from Major Crimes responded to the detention facility and held the scene for a full investigation, as well as forensic detectives from the departments Bureau of Identification.

He said the department also notified the New Haven States Attorneys Office  and later reviewed all the collected investigative material with the office.

While the death is believed to be non-criminal, the investigation is ongoing and the cause of death ruling is dependent upon a finding by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Reyes said.
After reports surfaced that health workers are facing problems in commuting via Delhi-Haryana border to their respective workplaces amid the lockdown, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said that this issue would be "resolved soon." "We are in touch with the competent authorities in Haryana. It will soon be resolved," said Jain, while speaking to ANI.

It is worth mentioning that some of the health workers and those rendering essential services were stopped by the cops at Delhi-Haryana border during the last couple of days. The borders have been ...
The leaders of the strike by University of California (UC) graduate student instructors have ended the nearly four-month wildcat strike, ceding authority to the United Auto Workers (UAW), the same union student workers were forced to rebel against in the first place.

Citing plans by UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) administration to break their grade strike by giving passing grades to all students whose grades were withheld during the job action, leaders of the UCSC COLA movement announced Monday, through their PayUsMoreUCSC Twitter account, that they would end the grade strike, which began in December 2019 and temporarily became a full teaching strike in February 2020. Isolated grade or teaching strikes at other UC campuses may continue for a while, but these were launched to support the UCSC strike, which has now been shut down.

The struggle was ended not because of any lack of support for the student workers. On the contrary, millions of workers in the state and beyond identified with the grad students who refused to accept the poverty wages negotiated by the UAW and courageously defied arrests, firings and even threats of deportation by UC President Janet Napolitano, the former US Secretary of Homeland Security under the Obama administration.

The leaders of the UC Santa Cruz cost of living adjustment (COLA) movement lacked any viable perspective to unite the struggle of grad students with the rising tide of working class opposition, which has only grown since the outbreak of the pandemic and the criminal response of the Trump administration.

The leaders of the wildcat movement were largely influenced by anarchism and other types of middle class pseudo-left politics. They promoted the illusion that the UAWwhose leaders have been thrown in jail for taking bribes from the auto bossescould be turned into a fighting force for students. They also claimed that the Democratic Party-run university administration could be forced to accept their demands through a student protest limited to the campuses.

As a result of this orientation, the strike leaders consistently opposed the call by the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) for grad students to break free from the grip of the UAW by building rank-and-file strike committees to appeal to workers throughout the state and transform the strike into a political counteroffensive against the austerity program of both parties. The struggle for living wages, like all the other social rights of the working class, the SEP and IYSSE insisted, was bound up with building a politically independent and socialist movement of the working class.

Instead, over the past month and a half the main line of the UC-wide COLA movement has shifted toward the UAW Internationals cynical and self-serving claim that the filing of an Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) suit will lead to the reinstatement of fired strikers and an increase in wages. What was first billed as a complement to the strike is now being pushed as an excuse for ending it.

UAW loyalists and supporters of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and other pseudo-left organizations have already largely taken over the leadership of local COLA organizations on many UC campuses, with little or no resistance from the initial strike leaders.

The ULP suit is nothing but a trap, aimed at consolidating the hold of the UAW and subordinating grad students to the time-tested collective bargaining set-up, long used by the Democrats and unions to impose poverty wages on workers and funnel dues money to the unions. The UAW has already filed a similar suit charging that the university "llegally bargained" with the student government and groups of striking students instead of the UAW.

Even under the highly doubtful event that the UAW eventually called a strike, under the terms of a ULP dispute, it could quickly shut it down if management agreed to bargain in good faith with the UAW, i.e., recognized it as the "sole bargaining unit" of grad students. ULP strikers cannot raise wage demands, such as COLA, and certainly cannot call on other workers to join them in sympathy strikes.

A video posted by COLA strike leadership supports the UAW and its phony ULP lawsuit. Another statement declares, The UAWs current position on settlement for these ULP charges includes a raise to $40,000 per year for graduate student workers. But the fact is this woefully inadequate amount will only be the starting point of negotiations and will be quickly dropped as soon as it is rejected by the administration.

This is precisely what happened in the 2018 contract, when the UAWs initial bargaining position was that no grad student should pay more than a third of their income on rent. This was quickly dropped. Many UCSC grad students pay over 50 percent.

Grad students need organizations to fight. But the UAW and other unions long ago abandoned any of the defensive functions once associated with the unions. Instead, the nationalist and pro-capitalist unions have spent the last four decades betraying strikes and integrating themselves into the structure of corporate management and the state.

Now the American Federation of Teachers, the Teamsters and other unions are appealing to the Trump administration and big business to use their services to save capitalism and suppress opposition to the reckless push to reopen the economy and the unprecedented austerity demands needed to pay for the bailout of Wall Street.

In March, rank-and-file autoworkers rebelled against the UAW, which was working with GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler to keep the factories open as the deadly disease spread. If the workers had not taken the initiative, forcing the closure of the industry, the death tollnow at 24 autoworkerswould have been higher.

The financial meltdown of state budgets due to the pandemic will be used by both parties to demand even greater austerity and the expansion of online courses to slash jobs and labor costs. After the Trump administration, with the full backing of the Democratsincluding Bernie Sandershanded over trillions to bail out the Wall Street speculators and giant corporations, the universal refrain from both parties to the demands of workers for living wages, adquate school funding and other social rights will be there is no money.

With estimates that California's budget deficits could hit $85 billion or more per year, Governor Gavin Newsom is already assembling a new task force, headed by billionaires and executives from Apple, Disney and other corporate giants, to make the working class pay for the crisis through savage cuts to education and other public services.

Instead of dead-end appeals to the UAW and the Democratic Party, grad students should turn to the growing struggles of the working class, including the health care, meatpacking, transit, Instacart, Amazon and Whole Foods workers who have walked out and protested to demand safe working conditions.

Last week grad students at Columbia University began grade strike action and announced an upcoming rent strike to demand an end to rent payments, increased stipends and other substantive measures to ensure they remain safe in the New York epicenter of the pandemic. Once again, however, the UAW is seeking to isolate the strike and block students from mobilizing the immense social opposition in a city, the home of Wall Street, where thousands have died in understaffed and ill-equipped hospitals.

That is why the SEP and the IYSSE urge grad students at UC, Columbia and around the country to form rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, to unite with every section of workers to fight for what the working class needs, not what the capitalist system and its political front men claim they can afford.

This should include the payment of living wages and full COLA to all grad students, the rehiring of the victimized strikers, the abolition of tuition and fees and the immediate suspension of all rent, credit card, car and student loan payments. At the same time there must be an emergency program to expand health care, including universal and free testing and medical treatment for all. Students, many of whom have been evicted from dormitories or were homeless to begin with, must be provided with safe and affordable housing.

The only way to redirect societys resources toward human need, instead of private profit, is through a frontal assault on the accumulated wealth and power of the corporate and financial oligarchy, the seizing of their private fortunes and a radical redistribution of wealth. This requires the fight for workers power and the socialist transformation of society.

Despite the betrayal by the UAW and its apologists, the fight by the UC grad students is not over. However, they need new organizations and a new political strategy. We urge all students to contact the SEP and IYSSE to build the leadership necessary to mobilize the working class and fight for socialism.
Shares of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Thursday gained nearly 9 per cent after the company said it has received approval from DCGI to conduct clinical trials of tablets used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The company said it is the first firm in India to receive such an approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

The scrip jumped 8.88 per cent to Rs 359 on the BSE.

On the NSE, it zoomed 8.88 per cent to Rs 359.

Having internally developed the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and the formulations for the product, the company filed the product for clinical trials with the DCGI and has received approval for conducting the trial on mild to moderate patients, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said in a statement.

The company is the first pharmaceutical firm in India to be given an approval by the DCGI to start the trial on COVID-19 patients, it added.

Favipiravir antiviral tablet has demonstrated activity against influenza viruses and has been approved in Japan for the treatment of novel influenza virus infections, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A majority of Americans think that president Donald Trump is doing a poor job tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

In a new PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll, 55% of Americans said that they disapproved of the presidents handling of the outbreak.

This shows an increase in disapproval, as in their previous poll in March, 49% said that they disapproved of Mr Trumps handling of the crisis.

The same poll found that most Americans don't think it's a good idea for people to return to work without further testing, despite a struggling economy.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump urged states to begin taking measures to open up the economy against a background of huge losses on the stock market, more than 20m Americans filing for unemployment and a threat to the future of millions of businesses across the country.

In the weeks since the president first suggested an easing of measures, unemployment has risen to 30m in the US and the country has become the worst affected in the world, with positive cases of the virus now upwards of one million.

Mr Trump has continued to discuss ending lockdowns and some states, such as Georgia and Tennessee, have already started to reopen their economies, by opening malls and hairdressers, and more are likely to follow suit and start easing measures in the next few weeks.

Despite unemployment figures and the partial reopening of some states, 65% of participants said that going back to work without further testing is bad idea, 32% said it was a good idea and 3% were unsure.

When it came to reopening schools, the poll results showed an even greater opposition to the idea.

85% of participants said it was a bad idea for children to go back to school without further testing, 14% said it was a good idea, while 1% were unsure.

Earlier this week, California governor Gavin Newsom said that the state plans on sending children back to school, once capabilities to test and trace for the virus are improved.

He told reporters that the new school year could be weeks away and said: we are considering the prospect of an even earlier school year, and added: we need to start preparing for the physical changes in the schools.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, there are now upwards of one million people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 61,005.
DRESDEN, Germany, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SOLAYER today announced that it has secured US$10 million in new financing from Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China (AMEC) and SOLAYER Co-Founder, Doug Schatz. SOLAYER develops physical vapor deposition (PVD) sputtering tools for the precision optics market. The companys systems are engineered to enable 3D sensors, 5G networks, LIDAR, and other applications. The new funds will be used to strengthen R&D programs, boost mass-production, and accelerate SOLAYERs global expansion strategy.



AMEC is Chinas leading provider of Etch and MOCVD products to manufacturers of semiconductors and LEDs. In addition to its investment, the company will become a distributor of SOLAYERs products. SOLAYER will set up a Demo Lab at AMECs facility in China later this year.

SOLAYERs R&D, manufacturing, and business operations will remain in Germany.

AMECs CEO Dr. Gerald Z. Yin said: Were pleased to support SOLAYER with this strategic investment. We look forward to enabling adoption of the companys products in the marketplace.

The deal marks a significant milestone for SOLAYER as the company moves into its next stage of growth, said Co-Founder Doug Schatz.

For information on SOLAYER, please visit www.solayer.de

For information on SOLAYERs optical coating tools, please visit https://solayer.de/optical-coating-tools

For information on AMEC, please visit www.amec-inc.com
Taking its rising streak to the fourth straight session, equity benchmark Sensex rallied 997 points on Thursday led by gains in energy, IT and banking stocks as positive cues from global markets enthused domestic investors.

Short covering due to expiry of April series F&O contracts added to the momentum, traders said.

After surging 1,167 points during the day, the 30-share index settled 997.46 points or 3.05 per cent higher at 33,717.62. It hit an intra-day high of 33,887.25.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty soared 306.55 points, or 3.21 per cent, to 9,859.90.

ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying over 13 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC, TCS, M&M, Infosys and Maruti.

Shares of Reliance Industries and Tech Mahindra climbed around 3 per cent ahead of their earnings announcements, while HUL settled in the red.

Sun Pharma, IndusInd Bank and Asian Paints too closed with losses. Most major global markets have rallied in the current week as several countries have started to talk about lifting the lockdown, said Sanjeev Zarbade, VP PCG Research, Kotak Securities.

Reports of encouraging results about Gileads drug in treating Covid-19 as well as starting of human trials on a vaccine also fuelled the rally, he said.

Top US epidemiologist Anthony Fauci said that Gilead Sciences remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery.

Bourses in Shanghai and Tokyo ended with significant gains, while those in Hong Kong and Seoul were closed for a holiday.

However, stock indices in Europe were trading on a tepid note in early deals.

International oil benchmark Brent crude futures rallied 9 per cent to USD 26.40 per barrel.

Further, rising buzz of another stimulus package by the government, focussed on industries, kept investor sentiment positive, traders said.

On the currency front, the rupee surged 57 paise to provisionally close at 75.09 against the US dollar.

Meanwhile, global tally of coronavirus infections climbed to 31.93 lakh, with around 2.27 lakh deaths.

The death toll due to Covid-19 in India rose to 1,074 and the number of cases climbed to 33,050, according to the union health ministry.
Scientists from ITMO University and their colleagues from the Czech Academy of Sciences proposed a method that can help solve problem of controlling over the mixing speed: they decided to use the so-called radiation pressure.

Every now and then, scientists need to control the process of mixing liquids in vessels so small that the thinnest needle or even a hair wouldn't fit in there. At the same time, controlling the diffusion speed of molecules in the so-called microreactors is extremely important for the purposes of designing new drugs, conducting biological experiments and even to perform fast disease detection tests. Scientists from ITMO University and their colleagues from the Czech Academy of Sciences proposed to solve this problem by using the energy of light. Their research has been published in Advanced Science.

Nowadays, biologists, chemists and pharmacists make a wide use of microreactors, often integrated in miniaturized setups which are designed to perform several steps in the chemical synthesis of a specific product, the so-called lab-on-a-chip platforms . These minuscule containers with small grooves on their inside can range from several cubic millimeters to a few cubic centimeters in size - no larger than a matchbox. Nevertheless, they make possible to conduct blood analyses, mix microscopic doses of substances for the purpose of creating highly efficient drugs, and conduct experiments on cells.

Still, there's one issue associated with their operation: scientists have little to no control over the mixing speed, or, scientifically speaking, the diffusion of liquids and reagents inside such laboratories-on-a-chip. Scientists from ITMO University and their colleagues from the Czech Academy of Sciences proposed a method that can help solve this problem: they decided to use the so-called radiation pressure.

Back in the end of the 19th century, British scientist James Clerk Maxwell made the assumption that light can put pressure on physical objects. Before long, Russian scientist Pyotr Lebedev proved it possible. Still, the force of such interaction is very small, and at that time, no one found a use for it. Nowadays, there's a whole field of science called optomechanics that focuses on this phenomenon, and in 2018, professor Arthur Ashkin Nobel Prize for his pioneering works in this field. Light is being used to capture living cells and move miniscule particles of substances. Now it turns out that the same forces can be used for mixing liquids.

Based on the latest optomechanics discoveries, scientists from St. Petersburg developed a nanoantenna consisting of a miniscule silicon cube of about 200 nanometers in size. This device, invisible to the human eye, can efficiently manipulate light in a very particular way. "Our nanoantenna turns circularly polarized light into an optical vortex," explains Aleksandr Shalin, a professor at ITMO's Department of Physics, "the energy of light spirals around it."

Apart from nanoantennae, scientists proposed to also introduce gold nanoparticles into the liquid. The particles captured by an optical vortex begin spinning around the silicon cube, acting as a stirring "spoon" for mixing reagents. What's more, the size of such a system is so small that it can amplify the diffusion at one corner of a microreactor by hundreds of times while practically not affecting what happens in the other.

"Gold is a chemically inert material which doesn't react much", says Adria ?anos Valero, one of the main authors of the research. "It's also not toxic. What's more, it was necessary for us to design it so only spin forces and radiation pressure would affect the nanoparticles in a way that other forces do not cause them to be pulled towards the antenna (the silicon cube that we mentioned), otherwise the particles would just stick to it. This effect is observed for gold particles of a specific size if we illuminate the system with a common green laser. We've considered using other metals, but for silver, for instance, such an effect is observed in the UV band only, which is less handy but could be useful to increase the efficiency of some photochemically activated reactions."

By the way, this method can be applied not only for mixing liquids but also to sort gold nanoparticles: if scientists need to pick gold particles of some specific size, for example 30 nanometers, for an experiment. As of today, the system has been fully computed and there's a theoretical model designed for it. Conducting experiments will be the next step.

###
Tragic children Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) McGinley with their father Andrew McGinley

A mother accused of murdering her three young children has been deemed "fit to plead" by a psychiatrist, a court has heard.

Deirdre Morley (43) was charged after the bodies of her sons Conor (9) and Darragh (7) and daughter Carla (3) McGinley were found in the family home at Parson's Court in Newcastle, west Dublin, on January 24.

Yesterday was her fifth court date on the charges and Judge Grainne Malone remanded her further in custody in her absence after hearing she was unable to attend as she was still unwell.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Dunphy told Dublin District Court a psychiatrist's report was available and his client had been deemed fit to plead and give instructions, "so the matter can go through the normal procedure".

It was stated the accused, who is detained in the Central Mental Hospital, was "acutely unwell" and would benefit from continued treatment.

The court heard the prosecution had no issue with the accused's absence due to hospital treatment.

Judge Malone said although there was no sick note in court, there was an explanation as to why the accused was not present.

Mr Dunphy said he understood the investigation file would be submitted to the DPP's office in the next seven to 10 days.

State solicitor Mairead White confirmed that the investigation file had not been received yet.

Judge Malone adjourned the case to May 13.

Ms Morley had been previously remanded in custody in her absence for continued medical and psychiatric assessment.

On an earlier date, Mr Dunphy said there had been an issue in relation to his client's fitness to face court.

At her first court appearance, Detective Sergeant Dara Kenny, of Clondalkin Garda Station, said that when the charge was put to Ms Morley, she made no reply.

Treated

The accused, who has worked as a nurse at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, was found by a taxi driver near her home shortly before her children's bodies were discovered.

She was treated for several days at Tallaght University Hospital.

The children's father, Andrew McGinley, arrived home at the same time as gardai and paramedics reached the house.

When they went inside, they found the three children dead.

A funeral for the McGinley children in Rathcoole on January 31 drew some 1,000 mourners.
The government of Thursday sought suggestions on methods of resource mobilisation from captains of the automobile industry, who raised several demands for a financial package to overcome the impact of the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

During a video conference with leaders of the auto industry, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Prakash Javadekar asserted the government's support to the sector saying it has to be brought back "on the wheels" again considering its significance to the Indian economy.

The industry leaders, including Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa, M&M Managing Director Pawan Goenka, Hero MotoCorp CMD Pawan Munjal, SIAM President Rajan wadhera and ACMA President Deepak Jain, raised various demands from the government, including reduction of GST on automobiles, support for liquidity, employment, retail sales and suppliers to revive growth in the segment.

"This industry is very important for India and we have to bring it back on the wheels," Javadekar said after the video conference with the industry leaders.

He acknowledged the significance of the auto industry highlighting its contribution to India's GDP and overall manufacturing, besides being "a mass employment generator" and its role in exports from the country.

"Now, we have to concentrate on livelihood and that is what we discussed today (Thursday) and we discussed so many things. I also suggested them on how to raise resources, how to mobilise resources because putting up demand is one part of the story but suggesting various methods of resource mobilisation is also important and, therefore, it was a fruitful meeting and we are happy with it," the minister said.

Acknowledging the hardships the auto industry has gone through, he said that last year, this industry suffered because of a planned migration from BS-IV to BS-VI with customers postponing purchases.

"So, overall, there were many discussions and demands of GST cuts, employment support, retail sales support, supplier support and liquidity support. So, naturally, what the industry has gone through, they have put up demand," he said.

The minister added that the industry leaders also suggested online registration of new vehicles, along with batch testing for factory workers before re-joining work, physical separators between two workers and sanitisation of selling points, among others.

Industry sources said they sought opening of dealerships and back-end activities to have seamless operations.

The industry captains also sought liquidity support to component makers and dealerships. They also demanded policy steps for revival of demand in the sector.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Greta Thunberg has donated $100,000 in prize money to help UNICEF fight coronavirus, the UN children's fund said today.

The 17-year-old activist said the pandemic 'is a child rights crisis, like the climate crisis' as she hailed UNICEF's 'vital work to save children's lives'.

The Swede has urged governments to continue fighting climate change during the health crisis, warning that global warming 'is not slowing down'.

Thunberg was awarded the money by a Danish foundation called Human Act which is also making its own $100,000 donation.

Greta Thunberg, pictured during a live-streamed International Earth Day appearance last week, has donated $100,000 of prize money to UNICEF

'Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child rights crisis,' Thunberg was quoted as saying in the UNICEF announcement.

'It will affect all children, now and in the long term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most,' she added.

'I'm asking everyone to step up and join me in support of UNICEF's vital work to save children's lives, to protect health and continue education.'

Thunberg had been awarded the $100,000 prize money for her 'worldwide activism', according to UNICEF.

UNICEF welcomed the funds as it battles to support children affected by school closures and global lockdown measures.

Thunberg's own absences from school - the weekly Fridays for Future rallies - have been moved online because of the pandemic.

The 'domino' effects of the pandemic include 'food shortages, congested health care systems, violence and lost educational opportunities,' UNICEF said.

Proceeds from the campaign will be used to provide children with soap, masks, gloves and hygiene supplies, according to UNICEF.

Although children have not suffered so heavily from the virus itself, the UN warns that the economic crisis could cause hundreds of thousands of child deaths.

As many as 66million children could fall into extreme poverty, adding to a current figure of 386million, a recent UN report said.

'Children and young people are among the most severely impacted by the knock-on effects of Covid-19,' said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

Thunberg donated her funds through her non-profit organisation, the Greta Thunberg Foundation, which she established in February.

Thunberg, pictured at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm last week, compared the 'child rights crisis' of the pandemic to that caused by climate change

Last week she made a live-streamed appeal for governments to 'tackle two crises at once' by continuing to fight climate change during the pandemic.

Thunberg's Fridays for Future rallies have been moved online because of the health crisis, but the Swede has continued her demands for urgent action.

The virus outbreak showed the importance of listening to scientists and other experts, she said.

The Fridays for Future movement began in 2018 when Thunberg, then aged 15, starting skipping school on Fridays to protest outside Sweden's parliament.

Her solo protest has since grown into a global movement, regularly attracting huge crowds before the pandemic put a stop to such gatherings.

Thunberg savaged world leaders in a memorable speech at the United Nations last year, accusing them of 'stealing my dreams and my childhood with your empty words'.

Her angry glare at Donald Trump after he upstaged her by walking into the climate summit with his entourage also became a viral sensation.

Trump, a climate change sceptic, sarcastically tweeted that she 'seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future'.

Thunberg later adopted the description for her own Twitter profile.
The world just found out she is five months pregnant with her first child, with boyfriend Zayn Malik.

But Gigi Hadid bypassed all of the news while sharing selfies from her recent at-home Vogue shoot, on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old gave her 53million Instagram followers a look at her behind the scenes from the shoot with her sister Bella Hadid.

Back to work: Gigi Hadid bypassed all of the baby news while sharing selfies from her recent at-home Vogue shoot, on Wednesday to Instagram

The supermodel looked away from the camera while sitting on the back of a truck on her mom's Pennsylvania farm.

She wore a dark blue and red Varsity jacket with 'VOGUE' written across the chest in yellow and blue lettering.

Underneath she had a white jean jacket and had her blonde locks down in a wavy style, tucked under a leopard print hat.

The look: She wore a dark blue and red Varsity jacket with 'VOGUE' written across the chest in yellow and blue lettering, with a white denim jacket underneath

In a second snap she looked at the camera, seemingly still fresh-faced, with minimal make-up and her pout looking extra full.

The shoot, done at the family farm, was for the magazine's June/July issue

TMZ initially confirmed the news of Gigi's pregnancy, as well as the baby's gender, on Wednesday morning, while her mom Yolanda Foster, 56, offered her own confirmation to Dutch broadcasting station RTL Boulevard.

The news outlet reported that, both, Zayn and Gigi had shared the news of their impending daughter with close family and friends.

Friends: The shoot with her sister Bella Hadid, was for the magazine's June/July issue, done at their family farm amid the coronavirus pandemic

Baby onboard: It was confirmed on Wednesday that Hadid is expecting a baby girl with on-and-off boyfriend and former member of One Direction Zayn Malik, 27; the pair pictured in 2016 in New York

In her interview with RTL Boulevard, Yolanda admitted that she is 'still shocked' by the news, but that the Hadid family is 'so excited' to welcome the couple's little one.

'I'm excited to become a grandmother in September especially after I lost my mom so recently.'

In August last year, the former supermodel revealed her mother Ans van den Herik had passed away at the age of 78 following a battle with cancer.

'But this is the beauty of life, one soul leaves us and a new one comes in. We feel very blessed,' she added.

Confirmed: TMZ initially confirmed the news of Gigi's pregnancy, as well as the baby's gender, on Wednesday morning, while her mom Yolanda Foster, 56, offered her own confirmation to Dutch broadcasting station RTL Boulevard

Yolanda shares Gigi with ex husband Mohamed Hadid, 71, who she divorced in 2000.

The former couple also share 23-year-old daughter Bella and 20-year-old son Anwar.

Speculation surrounding Gigi's pregnancy began earlier in the week, when some online sleuths began to wonder if the model's 25th birthday party had doubled as a gender reveal.

Evidence of this claim included pink balloons, pink 'Hello Little One' gift bags and pink cakes spotted in the background of photographs from the celebration.

Grandmother-to-be: In her interview with RTL Boulevard, Yolanda admitted that she is 'still shocked' by the news, but that the Hadid family is 'so excited' to welcome the couple's little one; Yolanda (left) pictured with Gigi and Zayn

For the quarantined birthday party, Gigi was joined by Yolanda, Zayn, sister Bella, and some of their close family friends.

In photographs taken during the party - held at Yolanda's Pennsylvania ranch - Gigi sported a black turtleneck and attempted to conceal her burgeoning baby bump beneath a pair of high waisted jeans.

Gigi posed for a variety of snaps alongside Bella before taking a few photos with her beau Zayn.

Despite the happy news, it's been a rocky four-year relationship for Gigi and Zayn, who have been on-and-off since 2015.

The pair met for the first time on set of Zayn's music video for his song Pillow Talk, where Gigi played video vixen.

Speculation: Speculation surrounding Gigi's pregnancy began earlier in the week, when some online sleuths began to wonder if the model's 25th birthday party had doubled as a gender reveal

Baby bump: In photographs taken during the party - held at Yolanda's Pennsylvania ranch - Gigi sported a black turtleneck and attempted to conceal her burgeoning baby bump beneath a pair of high waisted jeans

They confirmed their coupledom, when they were photographed leaving Justin Bieber's American Music Awards after-party together that same year.

The pair reconciled in December of last year after a year long split, during which time she briefly dated former Bachelorette contestant Tyler Cameron.

In an interview with i-D Magazine back in February, Gigi hinted at the idea of eventually having children and starting a family of her own.

'I think that as I get older, well one day I'll start a family and I don't know if I will always be modeling,' said the Vogue covergirl.

'I love the creative side of fashion, it's so fulfilling. The people I work with make me so happy, I'm so lucky to be around them. But who knows? Maybe I'll take up full time cooking!'
The HSE paid nearly 9.2m last year for medication to help people stop smoking.

According to freedom of information figures, its an increase of more than 700k on the bill for 2018.
Bay Area political events that are happening online and at socially safe distances during the coronavirus pandemic:

MONDAY

Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Massachusetts Democrat in a livestream conversation on gun violence. Hosted by Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gunsafety. 4 p.m. More information and watch here.

THURSDAY

Rep. Ro Khanna: Fremont Democrat holds a Facebook Live town hall meeting. Noon. Questions can be asked in advance here; join meeting here.

Labor organizing: Organizing in education, health care, food service and sex industry during a pandemic. Speakers include Emily Haddad and Matthew Torres of ILWU Local 6; Anneka Citrin of SEIU Local 1021; Wendy Liu, author of Abolish Silicon Valley: How to Liberate Technology from Capitalism; Jenny Worley, AFT Local 2121 president and author of Neon Girls: A Stripper's Education in Protest and Power; and Emma Erbach, executive director of United Teachers of Richmond. Hosted by Uptown Tenderloin Inc. Zoom event limited to 500 participants. 6 p.m. Register here.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Minnesota Democrat in a livestream conversation on gun violence. Hosted by Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gunsafety. 4 p.m. More information and watch here.

To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
Congratulations, window.state.tx.us got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site:

Window.state.tx.us scored 100 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 18 Jul 2016, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

window.state.tx.us is very popular in Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Stumble Upon. It is liked by 375 people on Facebook, it has 14604 twitter followers and it has 18 google+ shares. Furthermore its facebook page has 21249 likes.

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PAGE TITLE Home - Comptroller.Texas.gov DESCRIPTION Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts The Texas Comptrollers office is the states chief tax collector, accountant, revenue estimator and treasurer. This office strives to provide you the best possible services and resources to do business in Texas. Thi KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS texas, state, search, sales, franchise tax, comptroller, franchise



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TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/txcomptroller DESCRIPTION Official Account for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts office. Follow Comptroller Hegar at @Glenn_Hegar for personal updates. ACCOUNT CREATED ON 23 Feb 2009 LOCATION State of Texas TWEETS 3943 FOLLOWERS 14604 LISTED 446
Brazil saw the total number of deaths due to coronavirus surpass 5,000 on Tuesday after reporting 474 deaths over the past 24 hours, making its overall pandemic-related toll the ninth-highest worldwide.

In contrast to other parts of the world, Brazils coronavirus curve is climbing, Health Minister Nelson Teich announced during a news conference Tuesday. As of Tuesday, the country had counted nearly 72,000 positive cases, 5,017 deaths, and a 7% death rate.

When asked during the same news conference about mounting fatalities, President Jair Bolsonaro answered, So what? What do you want me to do about it? before joking that even though his middle name means messiah in Portuguese, I cant make miracles.

The leader has refused to follow World Health Organization guidance on combating the virus throughout the outbreak. On the domestic front, hes criticized governors who called for quarantines, fired his health minister for advocating for restrictions and containment measures, and personally took to the streets without a protective face mask, shaking hands and visiting crowded bakeries and markets as a rebellious gesture.

Even as increasing numbers of Brazilians fall victim to the virus, some businesses across the country have taken Bolsonaros lead. Popular clothing store Hering announced Tuesday it would immediately reopen their 104 stores, and more than 50 shopping malls are back in business, welcoming crowds of masked consumers.

In other places in the country, the outbreak is ravaging fragile health systems: hospitals overwhelmed, and beds and ventilators in short supply. Images of hastily-dug cemetery plots in Sao Paulo are splashed across front pages of international newspapers. Some local leaders, including the governors of Ceara and Sao Paulo states and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, have extended their quarantine periods to cope with the escalating damage inflicted by what the president had at one pointed derided as just a little flu.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
If evidence was ever needed that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are from the same political gene pool, it is the bait they are throwing to hook the Greens into a coalition from which they will find it impossible to extract themselves.

If the dire economic predictions come to pass, it is almost certain after 100 days in government the big boys will turn around and laugh off any promises they made to the Greens on the grounds of inability to fulfil, because of the inevitable economic recession.

Surely the Greens must realise if they go into government they will be caught between a rock and a hard place of either being blamed for pulling the plug and pre-empting an election in a time of crisis, or sucking it up and losing all credibility in the eyes of their grassroots support.

Anthony McGeough

Tallaght, Dublin

All-inclusive government can send a message to the world

Sentiments echoed by Declan Foley (Letters, Irish Independent, April 29) reference a more international discussion pending for our leaders post-pandemic. This is entirely correct as there will be a need for a global musketeer mentality in the years to come to combat and remediate the economic crisis we will all find ourselves in.

It is impossible to again imagine viewing the daily petty adversarial ping pong slanging of our own national government in our Dail chambers while the existential threat to potentially millions of jobs hangs over the working men and women of Ireland.

As Mr Foley suggests, surely this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give all mandated parties a joint ministerial responsibility and, by extension, accountability in our countrys future. This will send a message to the world stage that Ireland has the courage to show leadership and effect change to face the new economic and cultural landscapes. The new face of Ireland of an all-inclusive government will surely energise and hearten the people they represent and garner respect and a voice on a brave new international stage.

Gerard Forrest

Milltownpass, Co Westmeath

Hiqa in frequent contact with nursing homes to offer help

Colette Browne (Blame for extending lockdown lies more with States response than a selfish public, Irish Independent, April 29) suggests that Hiqa waited until April 21 to write to nursing homes to assess their ability to deal with an outbreak. This is erroneous.

By this date, Hiqa had communicated on seven occasions with the providers of nursing homes, providing information and updates on the regulatory process during the Covid-19 pandemic. Hiqa inspectors have also been in frequent contact with providers to offer advice and support them to get the targeted assistance that they need, and to ensure that services continue to deliver safe and effective care to their residents.

Hiqa continues to monitor services closely and respond to areas of risk to ensure that vulnerable residents are protected and receive the high standard of care they deserve. In addition, Hiqas Infection Prevention and Control Hub offers the staff and providers of residential care settings quick access to support and expert advice on infection prevention and control measures when caring for a resident with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. An escalation pathway ensures that any concerns raised by providers are brought to the HSE for immediate action so that services can get the practical help they need.

As the regulator established to drive improvements in Irelands health and social care sectors, Hiqa is working closely with the Government, the Department of Health, the HSE and other statutory agencies to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect vulnerable residents. In these unprecedented times, Hiqas priority is and remains the safety and wellbeing of people who may be vulnerable.

Mary Dunnion

Chief Inspector of Social Services, Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa)

Third-level obsession ignores those leaving to take up trade

Again, we have been dazzled by the lights of third level and our obsession with fitting square pegs into round holes, ignoring the alarmingly high 15pc non-progression rate.

Although third level offers many benefits to those suitable candidates who choose wisely and progress successfully, what about those students who had planned to go straight into a trade apprenticeship and require a formal Junior Cert qualification? What happens now that the Junior Cert has been cancelled?

Has there been any thought for these students leaving the education system after 11 years with little or nothing? Many are not suited to third level yet, and we keep hearing that employers increasingly want and need workers with on-the-job experience.

Madeleine Hearn

Carraig na bhFear, Corcaigh
By Dave Sherwood

SANTIAGO, April 29 (Reuters) - Chiles mining minister said on Wednesday the South American nations sprawling copper industry so far ranks among the least affected globally by the COVID-19 pandemic, citing official figures that point to a reduction in output of just 1%.

Mining minister Baldo Prokurica, in an interview with Emol TV, credited both public and private measures aimed at protecting workers with the industrys resilience even as the virus has ravaged other parts of Chiles economy.

"One realizes that Chile has been one of the countries that will be least hit by this pandemic," Prokurica told the web news broadcast.

Prokurica said official statistics from Chile state copper agency Cochilco estimate a total reduction in output of about 63,300 tonnes, or approximately 1% of the countrys annual production.

Chile produced 5.70 million tonnes of copper in 2019.

"There are countries that are going to reduce their production by up to 25% or 30%," Prokurica said, adding he hoped the fall in output elsewhere might boost the ailing copper price.

The copper price touched a four-year low in March but bounced back this week as China begins to revive and global output lags, with many countries still facing lockdown measures.

Prokurica, a former senator from the northern mining province of Antofagasta, warned on the television broadcast that much remained unknown and that the final impact of the virus on Chiles output would depend on "how the pandemic evolves."

Many of Chiles mines are perched at high altitude near the top of the Andes Mountains. As the Southern Hemisphere winter sets in, some health officials have warned of a flare-up in coronavirus cases.

Chile, the worlds top copper producer, is home to dozens of copper mines, including BHP, Anglo American, Glencore, Freeport and Antofagasta.

State miner Codelco, the worlds largest, said in April its Chile production and sales continued in line with targets even as restrictions have increased around the coronavirus outbreak. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar told the media that usage of masks, gloves, proper sanitisation and practicing social distancing norms would be must be for every industry and worker.

COVID-19: Karnatakas BS Yeddiyurappa government on Thursday, April 30, announced some relaxations in lockdown for Industries from May 4. While the IT firms have been directed to continue working from home to minimize the chances of coronavirus spread. The decisions have been made after a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister. Reports said it has been decided that

industries in all areas except for containment zones will be allowed to resume operations with proper safety measures.

Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa said it wouldnt be a surprise if the impact of COVID-19 continues to affect all of us for another three months. By and large, Karnataka has been able to control its spread, Chief Minister added.

Karnataka Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar told the media that usage of masks, gloves, proper sanitisation and practicing social distancing norms would be must be for every industry and worker.

From may 4 onwards, the industries may function with 50 % workforce, minister added.

So far, 532 positive coronavirus cases have been detected in Karnataka, off which, 20 people lost their lives. While, the number of coronavirus cases nationwide has crossed the 30,000 mark, claiming 1000 lives.

When asked about the public transport facility, Minister Shetter said, authorities are yet to decide on the movement of public transport. There is no service of buses or railways, so transport is the responsibility of the industrialist.

He further said that the decision on the sale of liquor has been put off to May 3. The Excise and Finance department will take a decision soon after talking to the CM.

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
Finland will reopen schools and daycare centres after May 13, having kept them mostly closed since March 18 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the government said on Wednesday.

Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin said children would return to school gradually, starting on May 14 for a little more than two weeks, before their summer break begins as usual at the start of June.

Pupils at upper secondary and vocational schools will continue to study remotely, she added.

The spread of the coronavirus has showed signs of slowing in Finland, with the number of cases per capita well below those of neighbouring Sweden, Norway and Estonia.

Education Minister Li Andersson said there were no longer grounds for keeping the schools and daycares closed.

It is clear that a long period of remote teaching may have negative impacts on childrens learning and wellbeing, Andersson told a news conference.

By Wednesday, 206 people had died in Finland and it had 4,906 confirmed coronavirus cases.

The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare said some 200 cases of infection had been found in children under 16 years old in Finland but none of them had been hospitalised.

The institutes Director of Health Security Mika Salminen said more evidence had emerged during the school closure to prove that children played a very small role in spreading the virus.

Also children dont generally infect adults, Salminen said in reference to the coronavirus, adding there was little evidence of such cases.

SOURCE: REUTERS
Our Mothers. Photo: Courtesy of Cannes

The Guatemala of the grim drama Our Mothers (Nuestras Madres) sits on top of a boneyard, its buildings crumbling into the earth as if to merge with their former, murdered inhabitants. The bones date back to the countrys 36-year civil war and, in particular, the carnage of the early 1980s, when army and paramilitary units escalated the torture, rape, and extrajudicial execution of civilians (many of them indigenous Mayans) suspected of aiding left-wing guerrillas. It didnt take much, evidently, to get the men of a village shot or beaten to death and the women used as sex slaves or  in an especially sick game  made to dance on the ground over their husbands bodies. The film is set long after the war, in 2018, when the current government began  better late than never  to hold former soldiers to account; and as the trial is broadcast on radio and TV, a young forensic archaeologist, Ernesto (Armando Espitia), emerges from sundry desolate excavation sites and begins the task of connecting hip bones to thigh bones, etc. In a prologue, he assembles a particular skeleton with great tenderness, setting the skull atop a small cushion as if it had belonged to a king. The image lingers through the movie, a talisman both eerie and exalted.

Clocking in at under 80 minutes, Our Mothers feels a little incomplete, like shards from a larger mosaic, but that somehow fits its subject and protagonist. The 41-year-old director, Cesar Diaz, comes from documentaries and approaches his task like a forensic archaeologist himself, sticking to what he finds in the material world, declining to fill in or embellish. We get no flashbacks  nothing beyond the hard, aged faces of survivors. And bones, of course. One of Ernestos tasks is to present boxes of them  post-identification  to families who want to take their loved ones home, decades after the disappearances. When an indigenous woman, Nicolasa (Aurelia Caal), pressures Ernesto to return with her to her village to help dig up her husbands remains (I want him to be in a place where I can speak to him, she says), he demurs. Hes very busy these days. Plus his boss has maintained that most of the women who trudge into the city to testify have come for the governments newly publicized financial compensation. Yes, he says, many of them look as if theyve been scorched in hell. But suffering is not synonymous with truth.

Thank Heaven that guy isnt the protagonist, or Our Mothers would be even more depressing. Ever in search of answers, Ernesto  whose own father was a guerrillero who went missing  drives along the misty mountain roads with a sardonic buddy who says things like, To live in this shitty country you have to be mad or drunk, before taking another belt. In the jungle, he finds a group of aged wives and mothers much like Nicolasa, with the kinds of stories that keep war-crimes tribunals in business for years. Amid Ernestos interviews, the director delivers his one cinematic flourish: He presents each woman (in vibrant indigenous dress) serially in close-up against a planked wall. The faces carry traces of grief and anger, but the women are largely stoic. We stare at them, trying to extrapolate the details of their lives, but they resist us. They turn out to be real survivors of that village, not actors. This forensic archaeologist can only dig so deep. The burial site turns out to be on private land guarded by unsmiling young men who grew up in the village but whose hearts seem to have been hardened at their wealthy employers behest.

The most surprising moments in Our Mothers are between Ernesto and his own madre (Emma Dib), who is reluctant to discuss what happened to her at the wars height. You ask me some things Id never say, even under torture, she says to her son  a formulation thats odd and telling and suggests there are things buried far down. Were not supposed to like her much at first, and we dont. She withholds too much. Shes closed. The actress saves it all up for her final scenes  the first in the courtroom, the next while clinging to her son in semi-darkness. Ernesto has been floating through life, unconnected from his roots. Now, his own past is exhumed. It feels ghastly, and it feels right.

Our Mothers (which won the Camera dOr at last years Cannes Film Festival and is available to watch on demand beginning May 1) is the sort of movie that gets lost in the U.S. when life is normal. Its a good one to see when youre anxious, in pain, hypersensitized, uncertain of the ground beneath you, and thinking  maybe for the first time  that you ought to start digging.

*This article appears in the April 27, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!
The police in Lagos have arrested 65 suspects for holding a birthday party in a hotel in Lagos, thereby violating the lockdown order of the state.

Bala Elkana, the Lagos police spokesperson, said in a statement on Wednesday that the police were hinted about the illegal gathering and the consumption of hard drugs by the party rockers.

Mr Elkana said the fun seekers were arrested on Wednesday at 84 Park Hotel, Augusto Close, Oko Oba by operatives from Area G Command and Oko Oba Division.

The suspects were arrested for holding a birthday party and consuming some substances suspected to be hard/illicit drugs.

Some of the suspects were found in the swimming pool catching fun, in total neglect of the social distancing regulations and the lockdown order, Mr Elkana said.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police said the suspects are within the range of 16 to 45 years and that they confessed to have left their various homes to the hotel in defiance of the sit at home order.

Mr Elkana said the hotel was sealed off for defying the directive of the government.

The manager of the hotel was equally arrested and the hotel is sealed off by the relevant agency of the State Government.

Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court, he said.

Meanwhile, the commissioner of police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, urged citizens to continue to be law-abiding. He also urged parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their wards and prevent them from acts that contravene the laws of the state.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the Lagos police had arrested 39 persons in a hotel for clubbing and striptease last week.

The strippers were arrested at a hotel in Idimu area of the state over an act which violated the social distancing directive of the government.
Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden during a live streaming broadcast on April 13, 2020.

JoeBiden.com/Getty Images

Weeks after former Vice President Joe Biden was accused of sexually assaulting a former aide in 1993, Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Biden for president.

Many of Sanders' supporters were disappointed with his decision to drop out of the race and suggested they might not vote for Biden in the general election.

As new evidence emerges corroborating Reade's allegations, some prominent Sanders supporters are calling on Biden to drop out of the race.

"There is simply no moral justification for Biden to continue as the presumptive nominee," Claire Sandberg, Sanders' 2020 national organizing director, tweeted on Tuesday. "Out of respect for survivors and for the good of the country, he should withdraw from the race."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Just days after Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his 2020 Democratic presidential bid, he appeared on an April 13 livestream with former Vice President Joe Biden and issued a strong endorsement of the presumptive nominee.

This took place just weeks after Tara Reade, a former aide in Biden's Senate office in the early 1990s, came forward with new allegations that Biden sexually assaulted her in a Capitol Hill corridor in 1993. Reade was one of seven women who came forward last year to allege that Biden had touched or kissed them inappropriately.

Biden's campaign has repeatedly denied Reade's assault claims.

But as new evidence has emerged corroborating Reade's allegations, several prominent Sanders' supporters and former aides have broken with Sanders and called on Biden to drop out of the 2020 race.

Claire Sandberg, Sanders' 2020 national organizing director, on Tuesday called on Biden to drop out of the race over the Reade allegations.

"Now is the time to deal with the ramifications of Tara Reade's accusations, not this fall. There is simply no moral justification for Biden to continue as the presumptive nominee," she tweeted. "Out of respect for survivors and for the good of the country, he should withdraw from the race."

Story continues

Peter Daou, a Hillary Clinton aide-turned vocal Sanders supporter,called on Biden over the weekend to end his presidential bid because Reade's allegations and said Sanders and other candidates should reenter the race.

"We lose ALL moral authority if we embrace 'the lesser of two accused rapists,'" he wrote.

Nick Brana, Sanders' 2016 national outreach director and the founder of Movement for a People's Party, urged the Democratic National Committee over the weekend to force Biden out of the race and "win with Bernie," adding the hashtag #DropOutBiden.

"Dear @DNC, you have two options: 1. Pull Biden now and win with Bernie 2. Keep Biden, re-elect Trump, and admit that suppressing progressives is the true purpose of your party," he wrote, retweeting a Saturday Politico story examining a recording of Reade's mother alleging her daughter had "problems" with a "prominent senator."

The @PeopleforBernie Twitter account run by Sanders supporters tweeted on Tuesday, "Joe Biden's candidacy is imploding."

Briahna Joy Gray, Sanders' 2020 campaign spokeswoman, on Tuesday argued that it's "not a moral argument" to support Biden simply because he's a better option than Trump.

Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) April 28, 2020

Sanders publicly distanced himself from Gray after she declared earlier this month that she wouldn't endorse Biden for president, citing his opposition to Medicare for All, cancelling all student debt, and a wealth tax.

"She is my former press secretary  not on the payroll," Sanders told the Associated Press on April 14.

Sanders added that it's "irresponsible" to reject Biden in the general election.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y) and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stand together during his campaign event at the Whittemore Center Arena on February 10, 2020 in Durham, New Hampshire.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Other voices on the left call out Biden but insist on voting for him

Other high-profile Sanders supporters and former aides have been more compromising in their approach to Biden's candidacy.

Former senior Sanders advisers, including Sanders' 2016 campaign manager Jeff Weaver, recently announced they're forming a super PAC with the aim of unifying progressives behind Biden. Sanders, who has long opposed the existence of super PACs, hasn't endorsed the effort.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, perhaps Sanders' most influential 2020 supporter and surrogate, says she wants to see Biden move to the left on key policy issues before she endorses or campaigns for him, but she insisted she would vote for him regardless in November.

Ocasio-Cortez was one of the first lawmakers to offer support for Reade and urge other Democrats to take her claims seriously.

"I think it's legitimate to talk about these things," she said in mid-April of Reade's allegations. "You can't say, you know  both believe women, support all of this, until it inconveniences you, until it inconveniences us."

Some prominent feminist voices on the left have also accused Democratic politicians and other more moderate feminists of prematurely dismissing Reade's claims and sowing doubt about her credibility.

They've expressed anger at being forced to support Biden as the lesser of two evils. And they've lamented that the #MeToo movement will be damaged by electing the Democratic nominee to the White House and that Biden's feminist critics will be demonized for hurting his candidacy.

"I am livid that Democratic women will be called on, once again, to cast our vote in the name of reducing harm to the country rather than moving it forward," Jessica Valenti, a feminist author and columnist, wrote in an April 14 Medium post. "The truth is that this election is going to be terrible for women, no matter what we do."

Rebecca Traister, another well-known feminist writer, argued that the women Biden plans to pick as his vice presidential running mate, appoint to the Supreme Court, and fill his Cabinet will be tarred by the allegations against him and should be given the freedom to criticize his record.

"If part of the work of this election is pushing for a politics that is more just, we should be insisting on freedom for women  including those who will be asked to support Joe Biden, within his party and as his running mate  to fully express themselves about the gendered and political realities in front of us," Traister wrote in New York Magazine this week.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Nerijus Adomaitis

OSLO (Reuters) - Sweden's Lundin Energy <LUNE.ST> will cut its spending plans after a smaller-than-expected rise in first-quarter profit, the partner in Norway's Johan Sverdrup oilfield said on Thursday.

Its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose to $404 million from $261 million a year earlier but lagged the $442 million expected by analysts, Refinitiv Eikon data showed.

Sales volumes rose as Sverdrup achieved production of 470,000 barrels per day in April, a month sooner than forecast by operator Equinor <EQNR.OL>, but prices fell, Lundin said in a statement.

It increased its 2020 production guidance to 160,000-170,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day (boepd), citing the faster ramp-up at Sverdrup, Western Europe's biggest oilfield by output.

As a result, it lowered its operating cost guidance to $2.80 per barrel from $3.40.

Its output guidance was also buoyed by postponed maintenance at the Edvard Grieg and Alvheim oilfields.

It said its guidance did not take into account output cuts announced by the Norwegian government on Wednesday as part of global efforts to support crude prices and curb oversupply.

Lundin said it would advise the market on the impact of those cuts within two weeks. The government said the cuts, which would amount to 250,000 barrels per day in June, would be fairly distributed among fields and companies.

SPENDING CUTS

The company said it would cut its 2020 spending by $300 million versus a previous $170 million and against an original plan of $1.31 billion and consider further reductions if low oil prices persist.

"As we head into the second quarter we will continue to apply very strict capital discipline across the company, to preserve the liquidity position and provide financial flexibility...," CEO Alex Schneiter said.

The company said its subsea Solveig Phase 1 development startup would be delayed from the first to the third quarter of 2021 from the first quarter and extended well tests at its Rolvsnes project deferred for a year to the second quarter of 2022.

Story continues

Those deferrals will lower Lundin's 2020 capital spending by $185 million.

It will also cut its exploration program to five wells from originally planned 10 wells, with four wells being postponed until the next year.

Lundin said on March 23 it would cut its dividend for 2019 by 44% to $1 per share or $284 million, and said on Thursday it didn't plan to cut it further this year.

(Editing by Gwladys Fouche and Jason Neely)
How far off is Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. I will be using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Canadian Natural Resources

Crunching the numbers

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF (CA$, Millions) CA$3.73b CA$4.63b CA$6.81b CA$5.69b CA$5.06b CA$4.69b CA$4.47b CA$4.35b CA$4.28b CA$4.25b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x7 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ -11.05% Est @ -7.31% Est @ -4.68% Est @ -2.85% Est @ -1.56% Est @ -0.66% Present Value (CA$, Millions) Discounted @ 9.4% CA$3.4k CA$3.9k CA$5.2k CA$4.0k CA$3.2k CA$2.7k CA$2.4k CA$2.1k CA$1.9k CA$1.7k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CA$31b

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After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the intial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 10-year government bond rate (1.4%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.4%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CA$4.3b (1 + 1.4%)  9.4% 1.4%) = CA$54b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CA$54b ( 1 + 9.4%)10= CA$22b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CA$53b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CA$24.2, the company appears quite undervalued at a 46% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

TSX:CNQ Intrinsic value April 30th 2020

Important assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Canadian Natural Resources as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.463. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price to differ from the intrinsic value? For Canadian Natural Resources, We've put together three further factors you should further examine:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Canadian Natural Resources (at least 1 which is potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does CNQ's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the TSX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those dealing with the virus, and we are especially thankful and in full support of the millions of first responders protecting their communities while we stay home, said Justin Eberle, President of Brute Force Training.



Brute Force is the creator of tactical workout gear and training programs with a captive audience of military and police and fire departments in addition to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to involve more of these brave men and women on the front lines everyday, the brand with preparedness coursing through its veins is stepping up to do more.

Brute Force has strong ties to a community of men and women who are currently putting themselves on the line in the name of our safety. Brute Force has long been dedicated to serving those who serve, and now, more than ever, this is a time to show appreciation. Anyone can show their support through the U R Brute Force Buy One Get One initiative.

When you buy any U R Brute t-shirt, 100 percent of the proceeds of your purchase will be used to fund PPE (personal protective equipment) and remote training equipment benefitting first responders and frontline medical personnel. As an additional thank you to those serving in this crisis, Brute Force will send another t-shirt for the cost of shipping to all Military & First Responders out working on the front lines. Those eligible can sign up for a unique order code.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those dealing with the virus, and we are especially thankful and in full support of the millions of first responders, specialized units and medical professionals placing themselves in harms way to help protect their communities while we stay home, said Justin Eberle, President of Brute Force Training.

In addition to supporting those on the front lines, Brute Force Training continues to help others maximize their fitness at home with the Denver, Colorado-made Athlete Sandbag Kit.

Designed for Unstable Load Training & at home convenience, the sandbag forces you to engage your bodys stabilizer muscles, building coordinated strength and balance throughout your body.

Learn more about the Brute Force Athlete Sandbag Kit:

Brute Force Athlete Sandbag Kit is adjustable in weight from 25-75 pounds, just add or remove sand to increase weight.

Used for convenient functional strength development and conditioning

Features high quality American Made materials including 1000D Military-Spec Cordura, Military Grade Velcro, 5 Panel Seat Belt Webbing and YKK Zippers.

Practical & Convenient - Can be used by anyone, anywhere, from garage to home gym fitness training to CrossFit gyms, and high level/professional athlete training environments. Brute Force Sandbags are used by first responders including Police/Fire/Special Ops fitness training programs and Military tactical training.

Brute Force Training Sandbags outfit every brand of the US Military including a full-service contract to the US Navy delivering Athlete and Strongman Kits to bases around the world.

Free 30 day at home trainings with daily workouts available

Available in a variety of colors with new, custom and camo options launching weekly

Proudly Made in Denver Colorado

As fitness plays an important role in health and safety initiatives, Brute Force sees this training equipment as a high-performing option for those who cant afford to suspend a workout.

Our gear is designed to serve as a mobile gym, offering versatility and portability in your daily training, Eberle said. Its a simple and straightforward training that is incredibly accessible for anyone regardless of their fitness background.

For more information or to request press samples, Leah@teamchicexecs.com.

About:

Brute Force is committed to offering gear and educational programs with an Unstable Load Training focus, where the nature of each exercise consists of shifting weight with sand. The concept behind the tactical fitness company began out of a Denver garage in 2009 when the inventor, a Mixed Martial Arts competitor and competitive CrossFit athlete needed better equipment to pursue this type of training further, thus creating the first sandbag. Over the years Brute Force has expanded its range of equipment and now offers a workout app and courses for consumers and professionals. The brands specialized training serves military, police and fire personnel to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Made in Denver, Colorado. http://www.bruteforcetraining.com


The German government cannot prohibit the publication of reports on military activities abroad by citing copyright law, a top court ruled on Thursday.

The ruling has, however, given victory to a major newspaper group following a years-long legal battle.

The Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe said that freedom of information and freedom of the press take precedent in such cases.

Reporters from the Funke media group with access to the reports, classified at the lowest level of confidentiality, published them at the end of 2012 on the website of the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) newspaper.

Funke said the documents, known as the Afghanistan Papers, showed the government had not been transparent about the true danger posed to German soldiers in the war-torn country.

The German government sued the media group not on grounds of a classification breach, but on grounds that the reports enjoyed copyright status and as such could not be freely disseminated.

Thursdays court decision did not clarify whether the reports were in fact protected by copyright, ruling only that their publication was lawful as part of news coverage.

This overturned a previous court decision which had come down on the side of the government.

The Federal Court of Justices final ruling was based on a previous assessment sought from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The Funke media group welcomed the outcome as good news for press freedom.

The years-long legal dispute was worth it.

Todays judgement should serve to strengthen the medias function as a watchdog and a publisher of uncomfortable truths, said Thomas Kloss, co-head of the group in North Rhine Westphalia.

(dpa/NAN)
(Photo : REUTERS/Brendan McDermid) Members of the New York City Department of Probation distribute food to needy residents at a food pantry, during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Bronx borough of New York City, U.S., April 29, 2020.

Some Americans are hoping for a natural reprieve to social distancing as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. Several studies claim sunnier, warmer, more humid climate, and UV lights will eliminate the COVID-19 virus, just like what it does with flu.

However, the heat, humidity, and light help slow the virus spread, sunny, hot, and humid climate alone won't be sufficient to stop the epidemic. Experts factor to the examples of Ecuador, Louisiana, and Singapore, where COVID-19 cases continue to grow despite temperatures hitting 80-plus degrees Fahrenheit at most.

Reports say high levels of heat, UV light, and humidity can help prevent more extensive infections of the flu or colds in the summer season. But the COVID-19 coronavirus remains new to humans; hence, scientists continue to scramble in creating vaccines to protect people from such viruses.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Update: Pfizer's Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be Ready in the Autumn - Reports

"For the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, we have reason to expect that like other coronaviruses, it may transmit somewhat more efficiently in winter than summer, though we don't know the mechanism(s) responsible," Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist at Harvard, wrote.

Hotter, more humid weather does seem to hurt the coronavirus

There are a few ways that summer weather may have an effect on coronavirus. Higher temperatures can help weaken the novel coronavirus's outer lipid layer, much like how fats melt in the heat. Humidity in the air can successfully seize virus-containing droplets that human beings breathe out, causing those droplets to fall to the ground. UV lights, which are produced more during summer, is a known disinfectant that effectively fries cells and viruses.

"There are multiple coronaviruses out there that affect our population, and many of them, if not most of them, exhibit a seasonal influence," Mauricio Santillana, the director of the Machine Intelligence Lab at Boston Children's Hospital and a researcher on the effects of the weather on coronavirus, said. He told Vox the hypothesis postulated for COVID-19 is that it will have similar behavior.

So far, the coronavirus has mostly spread in the Northern Hemisphere, where they experience winter. It's unclear if the climate is a reason for that, as data on its spread in several countries in Southern Hemisphere continues to grow.

Still, there are a few proofs. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine - one of America's top medical evidence reviewers - summarized the studies earlier in April. It tested the outcomes of summer-like temperatures in a laboratory and people that tried to tease out the results of heat, UV light, and humidity in the real world.

Researchers use sophisticated tools to peer how the virus fares in particular situations. Generally, they've found that more heat, UV light, and humidity seem to weaken the coronavirus. However, one of their preliminary research found that coronavirus may fare better in more summer-like conditions than the flu, SARS, and monkeypox viruses.

As the National Academies noted, this evidence comes with massive caveats. Perhaps maximum importantly, those research haven't yet been peer-reviewed.

People also can act differently in summer than they do in winter, and the lab research doesn't account for how one's behaviors affect coronavirus's spread. People are more likely to stay indoors throughout the winter to avoid the cold. Warmth and sunshine additionally could affect the immune system, although that relationship continues to be unclear.

Scientists have yet to get more evidence on real-life seasonal consequences as the months to go by - mainly if more locations take potentially dangerous risks. "In Georgia, where they are opening back up without really any concrete measures to encourage distancing, we might be able to better evaluate how [the coronavirus] spreads in the summer months," said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia.

ALSO READ: Blue Light Radiation Emitted from Mobile Phones Can Damage Your Skin

Heat and humidity won't be enough to beat the pandemic - far from it

Scientists have repeatedly explained if the weather has some effect on coronavirus. They say the climate is another thing for that effect to be enough actually to halt the virus's widespread transmission.

The problem? Other elements, except the climate, play a function in the spread of diseases. In the case of coronavirus, these different elements seem to play a much more significant role than the weather.

The mayor of Guayaquil, Ecuador, where it's often eighty-plus degrees Fahrenheit, described her city's revel in with COVID-19 "like the horror of war" and "a sudden bomb falling on a non-violent town." Ecuador now has one of the worst coronavirus death tolls worldwide. That is a sign that warm, sunny, and humid climate can't make up for struggling public fitness infrastructure in a still-developing country.

Singapore, which is nearly at the equator, managed to comprise coronavirus at first; however, they have lost control of the outbreak. The challenge, it seems, is the government neglected migrant employees in its first response - allowing COVID-19 to spread in the cramped and unsanitary conditions many migrants stay in.

Meanwhile, Louisiana is struggling in coronavirus outbreak, with the fifth-most deaths per 100,000 people out of all of the states. According to experts, Mardi Gras - held on Feb. 25 - may have triggered the increase. In contrast, New Orleans saw temperatures as much as the 70s, and cases continued to climb while temperatures reached the 80s. Maybe the weather made things higher than they would be otherwise.

Even then, it's really worth acknowledging that seasons don't fully decide when the flu and colds hit. As the National Academies said, some pandemics have started in the summer season.

But, as is true in reverse, other elements besides the climate likely play a bigger position in the outbreak. So if governments and the public do the right thing through the fall and wintry weather, there's a terrific chance that there won't be a massive spike.

READ ALSO: NASA: Next 'Killer Asteroid' That May Hit Earth Will be Slammed With a Spacecraft

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A manager examines a face mask produced at a factory in the southern province of Long An. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

A surge in global demand has enabled Vietnam to export over 415 million face masks in the year to April 19.

The country had shipped 415.7 million cloth masks, fine dust masks and two-layer cotton masks for $63.2 million during the period, according to Vietnam Customs data.

They included 88.2 million masks worth $34 million in the first 19 days of April alone.

Vietnamese textile and garment firms have been receiving constant orders from the U.S. and Europe due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japan has been the largest importer buying 32.7 million masks, followed by South Korea, Germany, the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore, Poland, and Australia.

While the product has been one of the few bright spots in Vietnam's export picture amid the pandemic, to put things in perspective, China exported around 4 billion masks in March alone.

Vietnamese firms have been unable to export their entire production of face masks due to the need to first meet domestic requirements, but the restriction was lifted by the government on Wednesday.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The U.S. Navys hospital ship Comfort left New York City on Thursday after a month of caring for patients with the coronavirus.

A ceremonial cannon was fired at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn in honor of the boats mission that lasted exactly a month since its arrival on March 30, according to Notify NYC.

Flag-waving spectators along the Ft. Wadsworth overlook. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

The hospital ships crew originally was tasked with providing care to non-COVID patients, bringing the first aboard on April 1, but began accepting those with coronavirus on April 6, according to a news release from the Navy.

This amazing crew of over 1,200 people treated 182 patients, of which approximately 70 percent were afflicted by COVID-19, said Capt. Patrick Amersbach, commanding officer of the Comforts Medical Treatment Facility. We were dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to each person who arrived to our hospital.

The ship sailed away from Pier 90 and will return to his homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., according to a news release from the U.S. Navy.

HAPPENING NOW: @USNavy #Comfort pulls out of Pier 90 in Manhattan. The NYPD Harbor Unit, as well as the @USCG @USCGNortheast will provide a security zone around the hospital ship as it heads down the Hudson River @NYPDnews @NYPDShea pic.twitter.com/enc0DRmmem  NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) April 30, 2020

USNS Comfort arrived in New York City to provide relief to frontline healthcare providers, and each patient who was brought aboard ensured one more bed was available in a local hospital, said Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet and Maritime Component Element-East. While the ship is departing New York City, make no mistake, the fight is not over, and we stand ready to support the response to COVID-19 in whatever capacity we are needed.

Comfort has more than 1,200 personnel including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil-service mariners, the news release said.

NYPD officers salute the USNS Naval Hospital Ship Comfort as it is pushed out into the Hudson River by tugboats, Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Out of the fog, the USNS Comfort sails away under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.(Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

Smaller craft accompany the Comfort. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

The ship sailed away from Pier 90 and will return to his homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., according to a news release from the U.S. Navy. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

Canon fire marked the departure of the ship used to treat COVID-19 patients. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)
Shares of electric carmaker Tesla surged 11 percent in the after-hours trading following the company's earnings report on April 29. This was on top of the 4 percent gain it recorded during the day.

With the sharp rise, the scrip has rallied over 100 percent, so far, in 2020, adding about 52.77 percent in April alone.

It has outperformed the benchmark S&P500, which has fallen over 9 percent in 2020 and technology giants FAANGM--Facebook (-5.39 percent), Apple (47.61 percent), Amazon (28.4 percent), Netflix (27.3 percent), Google's parent company Alphabet (0.21 percent) and Microsoft (12.51 percent)-- on a year-to-date basis.

This is despite factory closures in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that forced the company to cut wages and furlough hundreds of hourly workers.

What has put the stock in the fast lane? Let's take a look.

"When share price swings +/- 100 percent within the span of three months, there can only be one answer- speculation," Darwin Arifin, COO and Co-Founder at Vested Finance, told Moneycontrol.

According to him, wild swings in the scrip goes back to the bears vs the bulls debate. He said bears usually take charge of the stock if there is any news which indicates that Tesla will not be able to meet its targets, as witnessed from the 60 percent crash between February 19-March 18.

On the other hand, its cutting edge technology and ability to out-innovate its competition give enough impetus to the bulls to drive the stock higher.

Another reason for the rally is that investors are valuing the company based on its future potential, he said.

"Clearly, investors are evaluating Tesla based on its future potential. Since its founding, Tesla has been at the centre of the transportation revolution: (1) transition from internal combustion engines to electric motors, and (2) self-driving revolution through its autopilot," said Arifin.

Comparing the enterprise value (EV) to sales reveals that Tesla is valued much higher than other carmakers.

"Teslas EV/sales ratio is about 5X that of BMW," said Arifin.

According to him, investors are looking at Tesla as a tech company rather than an automaker.

"Unlike other aforementioned tech companies (except Apple), Tesla produces real-world physical products and is constrained by manufacturing and supply-chain limitations (as opposed to a zero marginal cost software services)," he said. "Its operations are subject to global lockdowns, disruption of supply chains and change in consumer spending in times of recession, considering Tesla sells relatively high priced cars."

Better-than-expected Q1

Telsa managed to beat analyst's expectations in its first-quarter earnings on April 29. Its adjusted earnings per share was $1.24, crushing analysts' average forecast for a loss per share of $0.28.

Its revenue grew 32 percent year-on-year to $5.99 billion, fueled by tax credits sold to its competitors.

Two things investors must watch out for are Tesla's car deliveries and cash flow, Arifin said.

"Car deliveries is important because it is a leading indicator of revenue. Also, cash flow because if Tesla runs out of cash, it cannot produce cars, build inventories and deliver products," he said.

In Q1 2020, the car deliveries and cash flow were significantly down compared to the previous year.

The total car delivers fell 37 percent year-on-year, primarily driven by lockdowns in March. However, the company said the sales were strong during the first two months of the quarter.

Going forward, the deliveries may remain suppressed in Q2 2020 due to continued lockdown in the US and Europe.

Mounting inventories and falling revenue severely impacted the cash flow to the tune of $981 million in the January-March quarter.

Furthermore, continued investments in Fremont (California) and Shanghai (China) required more capital expenditures. Nonetheless, the company expects to weather the storm as it has $8.1 billion in cash, thanks to its recent $2.3 billion fundraising.

Going forward

Tesla's Fremont factory in California is shut until the end of May. The company, however, completed its Shanghai Gigafactory in record time in 2019, which helped sustain production.

"During the lockdown in China, Tesla enjoyed a special relationship with the government that led to minimal disruptions to its operations," Arifin noted.

Following the lockdown in China, Tesla only closed its Shanghai factory and that, too, for two weeks.

When the factory reopened, the local municipal body helped Tesla to smoothly transition to full capacity by installing infrared cameras to detect fevers, offered to house workers and even made arrangements to prevent supply-chain disruptions.

As a result, the company expects to meet its target of producing 200,000 Model 3 cars a year in 2020 as well.

However, the ability to meet its production targets does not necessarily translate to the sale of cars.

"During recessions, consumers reduce large spending, which typically hits car manufacturers hard. After the 2008 sub-prime crisis, the number of cars sold in the US decreased by 40 percent and took 4 years to recover to the previous level," Arifin said.

Verdict

Arifin believes Tesla has proved the sceptics wrong when it comes to operations but with a pandemic that can potentially push the global economy to a Great Depression-like recession, one must remain cautious when investing in Tesla.

"Whether you are a Tesla bull or bear, the company has proven its sceptics wrong time and time again but with a once in a 100 years global pandemic induced recession upon us, Elon might have met his match," he said, referring to Tesla's maverick boss Elon Musk.

The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Foreign Ministers of the Normandy Four (Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany) confirmed implementation of only one decision out of nine adopted during the Paris summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists Thursday, following a Normandy Four video conference, TASS reports.

"We stated that, out of nine points of the Paris summit, only one was implemented, and even that one - only partially," the foreign minister said, adding that he means the exchange of people in custody.

The Paris Normandy Four summit took place on December 9, 2019. The next meeting of leaders of the four states was supposed to take place in April 2020.

The Russian, Ukrainian, French and German top diplomats have discussed another prisoner exchange in Donbass, Lavrov said.

"Today, we spoke about preparations for another prisoner swap. The process of hammering out a sequence of steps is underway, because, as you know, the Minsk agreements provide for all for all exchanges. However, in practical terms it turned out that it is necessary to identify everyone first before exchanging all," he noted.

A total of 230 people were exchanged during two exchanges between Kiev and Donetsk and Lugansk, in December and April, the minister reminded.

The Paris Normandy Four summit took place on December 9, 2019. The next meeting of leaders of the four states was supposed to take place in April 2020.
World's First Ayurvedic Only Telemedicine Service Launched

Bengaluru based Ayurveda company, TotalAyurvedaCare.com recently launched a novel telemedicine platform that blends traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern technology, giving patients face-to-face interactions with Ayurvedic doctors.

Through the website, patients can book an appointment with a doctor and receive a consultation. Following this consultation, the doctor will prescribe Ayurvedic medicines and provide nutritional advice.



Ed Lateef, Founder and CEO of TotalAyurvedaCare.com said, COVID-19 has brought many unexpected changes to our lives, especially in the healthcare sectors where patients are now asked not to visit hospitals or doctors clinics unless it is a dire emergency. While social distancing and hand washing are some of the keys to containing the spread of the Virus, we realized that boosting one's immunity plays a very vital role in keeping healthy. Our Telemedicine portal is ideal as patients can have access to Ayurvedic doctors at the comfort of their homes while minimizing risk to both patient and doctor.

TotalAyurvedaCares objective is to increase accessibility of Ayurvedic treatments, with the streamlined website allowing patients to register for online consultation easily.
Swedish climate exchange activist Greta Thunberg has donated a $100,000 prize she won to the United Nations Children's Fund for use against the Covid 19 pandemic, Unicef has announced.

Like the climate crisis, the pandemic is a child rights crisis, Thunberg is quoted as saying in the Unicef statement.

It will affect all children, now and in the long term but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most, she continues.

Thunberg called on "everyone" to "step up" and join her "in support of Unicef's vital work to save children's lives, to protect health and continue education."

The Danish anti-poverty non-governmental organization that awarded Thunberg the prize, Human Act, is to match her donation, according to the statement.

Unicef said the money would give it a boost in its fight to help children in need during the pandemic.

Greta Thunberg said in late March that she thought it was likely she had contracted the virus herself, after she experienced several symptoms following a trip to central Europe.
A United Airlines plane prepares to take off at the Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City, on March 20, 2020.

United Airlines Thursday posted its biggest quarterly loss since 2008 after the coronavirus devastated travel demand.

The Chicago-based airline and its competitors are facing a 95% decline in U.S. air travel, just as customers are normally gearing up for summer vacation. The second and third quarters are generally the most lucrative for airlines but the virus and shelter-in-place orders are keeping would-be travelers home.

United said it swung to a $1.7 billion loss in the three months ended March 31, from a $292 million profit in the same period of 2019. Revenue dropped nearly 17% from a year earlier to $7.98 billion, slightly below analysts' estimates.

"While we are still in the midst of this crisis, we will not hesitate to make difficult decisions we believe will ensure the long term success of our company," CEO Oscar Munoz said in an earnings release. "When demand returns, we believe we'll be positioned to bounce back strongly and quickly because of our early and aggressive efforts to fight the worst financial crisis in aviation history."

The airline and its competitors have cut costs by parking planes, slashing routes and freezing hiring. It expects to burn an average of $40 million to $45 million a day in the second quarter. United has also encouraged employees to take voluntary unpaid leaves and more than 20,000 United employees took that option. The airline had about 96,000 employees at the end of last year.

U.S. airlines earlier this month reach agreements for portions of $25 billion in payroll assistance from the federal government. United said it has has secured about $5 billion in government aid  $3.5 billion in grants and $1.5 billion in a low-interest loan  that requires it to keep paying its workforce until Sept. 30. It also applied for a federal loan and it expects to borrow as much as $4.5 billion. As of Wednesday, the airline had $9.6 billion in liquidity, including $2 billion from an undrawn revolving credit facility.

The airline earlier this month disclosed a pretax loss of $2.1 billion in the quarter. The company lost $2.57 a share on an adjusted basis, less than expected. Shares of United were up just under 1% in after-hours trading.

United executives will detail the results and outlook in a 10 a.m. ET earnings call Friday.
With coronavirus hitting finances and yet, at the same time, increasing the amount of need, churches will need to find ways to serve their communities with less than they're used to, says Tim Keller.

The popular pastor and writer told the Q 2020 Virtual Summit that churches will need to think differently about stewardship as a result of the pandemic.

He said he could see similarities between the impact of Covid-19 and the aftermath of 9/11, when income at the church he founded - Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York - fell by a quarter.

"Christian institutions are going to be faced with needing to do more with less," he told the summit.

"The number of people and the needs massively expanded, [but] because people lost their jobs and left the city and all that, income was having a huge shortfall," he said.

He said he was seeing "exactly the same thing" now with coronavirus.

"All the churches I know are saying, 'We have to do more with less. We have far more needs and we have less resources to do it.' And so it means not only a new approach to stewardship but also thinking about what you spend your money on," he said.

Keller admitted he wasn't sure what the future looks like, but said that regardless of how the pandemic plays out, "it will take innovative thinking", as well as "more networking and talking".

He also predicted that churches will need to scale back some of their programmes to focus on the needs of people, as he hinted at the possibility of pastors taking a pay cut.

"The second thing is, you always lead through sacrifice," he said.

"The church in general is going to have to spend more or less money on itself  that is, its own programs  and more money on the people of need. And the only way to do that is to cut things that you're doing right now."

"Does it mean sacrificing part of your salary as a way of making sure that you're able to meet needs in your community? I don't know," he continued.

"But leadership happens through innovation and sacrifice, always. And we're going to have to do both of these in the next year or two."
Angela Haslett used to spend her days asking children about the people who hurt them.

The calls came from police or child protective services, sometimes 10 to 15 a week, most of them about sexual abuse. The children would sit across from her in a soundproof room at SafeSpot Children's Advocacy Center in Fairfax, Virginia, as the forensic interviewer asked in a soft voice: "Has somebody done something to your body that they shouldn't have?"

Lately, it's gone quiet. Since the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close and families to stay home, the calls have slowed to two to five a week, with more of them involving children with injuries so visible - a broken arm, a beat-up face - an adult had to seek medical help.

"What keeps me up at night," Haslett said, "is the children that we're not seeing."

Across the country, from California to Iowa to Massachusetts, child abuse reports have plummeted since the virus arrived. In the nation's capital, hotline reports of abuse and neglect between mid-March and mid-April were 62% lower than in the same period last year, according to the Washington D.C. Child and Family Services Agency. Reports to child protective services in Maryland have fallen just as far, and in Virginia, referrals from school staffers have dipped by 94%.

The cases surfacing often involve children so severely injured they end up in the emergency room and intensive care unit. In some hospitals, they are dying at an unusually high rate.

Pediatricians across the country are sounding the alarm: The stress of unemployment and financial insecurity has strained relationships between children and those who care for them. The closures of schools and day cares have forced children closer to adults who may not be safe.

In a world without school, doctors and advocates say, no one is there to watch, to speak up, until it's too late.

- - -

The American system of catching child abuse relies on kids venturing outside their homes.

Year after year, most referrals to child protective services come from professionals - police officers, lawyers, doctors, anyone who comes into contact with a child as part of their job. But no group reports more than educators, who were responsible for 21% of the 4.3 million referrals made in 2018, according to federal data.

After 17 years in the classroom, one fifth-grade teacher in Northern Virginia said she's learned exactly what to watch for: Students falling asleep inexplicably or stealing peers' food at snack time. Prolonged absences from school paired with reasons that make little sense - out for a week, she was told once, because the student slid and fell. Promised doctor's notes that never arrived.

She's trying to stay in touch with her fifth-graders, holding video class and office hours, phoning and emailing. But the teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her students' privacy, knows it's not enough.

She worries about students she says are showing troubling signs - withdrawing, refusing to show themselves on video lessons. She worries especially about a student she has twice reported as a possible victim of abuse this year. Recently, she wrote that student a letter.

"Remember that no matter how crazy the world seems, you are not alone," the teacher wrote. "Send me an email if you want or need to."

She has not received a reply.

The teacher is not hopeful someone else will intervene. She knows that while professionals like her do the most reporting, families do much less: Roughly 16% of the abuse reports made in 2018 came from family and other people close to the victims.

That's because family are usually the abusers. In 2018, nearly 80% of perpetrators were parents of the victim. That year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated 1,770 children died of abuse and neglect.

With the country locked down, the only people seeing children are the very people most likely to abuse them, said Jeanine Harper, executive director of Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now).

"You've got stressed adults and vulnerable children and very few exits," Harper said. "And you don't have eyes on them."

The few reports getting through to hotlines often come from victims themselves, if they are old enough to call or text. In March, for the first time ever, half of the visitors to the National Sexual Assault Hotline were minors. Among those who called with concerns related to the pandemic, 79% said they were living with their perpetrator.

Unlike some child protective services and law enforcement, which often rely on mandatory reporters, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline has seen an uptick in calls: 31% more calls and messages this March than in the same month last year, said Michelle Fingerman, the hotline's director. Many of these messages came through the hotline's online chat option, Fingerman said, from teenagers who didn't have access to a phone, whose phones were taken away as punishment, or who feared being overheard.

One non-binary teenager called the hotline terrified their parents were going to kick them out. The parents had assaulted and threatened violence before, the 17-year-old said, according to a hotline supervisor who described several calls to The Washington Post. Before, when things would get heated, the teenager would leave the home to cool off. With the stay-at-home order in place, that was no longer an option.

Another caller reported that her relative was a health-care employee in New York City, working longer shifts than usual. With schools and child-care centers closed, the relative left her two young sons with a boyfriend "who didn't have a lot of patience and tolerance with the kids," Fingerman said. When she came home from work one day, her 5-year-old had a black eye.

---

It was mid-March, still the early stages of the pandemic, when doctors at Cook Children's began noticing the spike. That week, six children had been admitted to the Fort Worth hospital with signs of severe physical abuse.

Two of the children died the same day. The hospital would typically see four to six deaths a year from child abuse.

Dr. Jamye Coffman, medical director for the hospital's Center for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, wasn't entirely surprised by the numbers; during the 2008 recession, the hospital had seen the leading cause of death in children change from car crashes to abusive head trauma. But the severity of these new cases troubled her.

In the weeks that followed, three more children were admitted to the hospital for serious physical abuse - and a 3-year-old boy died on Easter morning after suffering head trauma. He was living with family friends at the time. His death was ruled a homicide.

"I don't want to see any more coming across my desk," Coffman said. "It is so unusual, and the children that have died have been horribly battered."

A similar pattern has emerged in hospitals across the country. Leigh Vinocur, a spokeswoman for the American College of Emergency Physicians, said doctors nationwide have reported treating more serious injuries in a week than they are used to seeing in a month.

In Fairfax County, one girl arrived in the emergency department this month with an arm so badly broken she required surgery. With the children and adults stuck at home, the father had grown frustrated with the noise levels, said Dr. William Hauda, medical director of the Inova Ewing Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team Department.

The father, who was later arrested, tossed the girl sideways, causing her to fall down a stairwell, Hauda said.

"That's one that I can speak to," Hauda said, "because we haven't seen very many."

In a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, more than double the usual number of children were hospitalized for child abuse in the past month - all with fractures and nearly all with head trauma. One child died.

At Children's National Hospital in the District, the overall number of children referred with child abuse concerns has dropped. But the cases coming in are more severe than usual: From March 15 through April 20 of last year, about 50% of the children had injuries serious enough to be hospitalized. This year, 86% did. During the same period last year, about 34% of children had head trauma, fractures, or injuries in multiple areas of the body. This year, that number jumped to 71%. Last year, 3% of the children referred for child abuse died. This year, 10% died.

"People are waiting until these children have stopped breathing or something extremely serious before they're coming into the emergency departments," Vinocur said. "When there's more reporting, we can pick up injuries that are more minor. Now we're relying on parents who have injured their child to bring them in."

The cases don't always involve intentional abuse, she said. Many injuries are the result of neglect, including accidents involving firearms, medications or toxic household cleaning items.

"I don't know if it's the stress, problems inherent in social welfare systems, I don't know right now," said Coffman, the doctor in Fort Worth. "That's the part that's so frustrating. I keep trying to review these cases to find the common thread."

One unusual pattern did stand out to Coffman. Most of the hospital's deaths from child abuse in the past few years had involved infants. But the three recent fatalities were all preschool-age children.

"It is harder to kill older children. It takes more force," Coffman said. "What have these children been living in prior to this? What have they had to endure before the final act that brought them to our hospital?"

---

Worried educators, psychologists and social workers are turning to online tools - calls, texts, videoconferences - to reach the families they serve.

The effort is complicated because some of the most vulnerable households lack computers or Internet access. Even if they can get students on the phone, some conversations feel impossible: How do you ask a child about abuse when their abuser may be standing right behind them or listening in the next room?

Sixth-grade teacher Lee Duhe is among those searching for a way.

Duhe, a longtime teacher in Northern Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools, one of the largest systems in the nation, recently added a special feature to her online classes. As students click through her powerpoints, a pop-up prompt asks them to register how they're feeling on a sliding scale: from red (awful) to orange to yellow to blue (perfect).

"That answer is sent directly to me, their parents and caregivers can't see it," Duhe said. "We understand they're in the house, maybe with someone who . . . Well, we don't want to get them into further trouble."

In Danville Public Schools, educators are taking advantage of the few glimpses of children they still get. The school system is delivering meals by bus to its nearly 6,000 students in rural Southern Virginia, where 1 in 4 families live below the poverty line. On those trips, said director for student support services Robin Owens, nutrition staffers make sure to "engage with families" as much as they can and try to catch sight of children.

The school system also sent child abuse prevention resources to principals and school counselors, Owens said, including a 12-step pamphlet Danville staff were asked to distribute to parents. The pamphlet lists a dozen alternatives to lashing out at children acting inappropriately: Splash cold water on your face. Hug a pillow.

"Close your eyes," one reads, "and imagine you're hearing what your child is about to hear."

For teachers who do manage to identify at-risk children, and manage to reach them, the questions only multiply - especially when it comes to the youngest students.

Ann Abell is a clinical coordinator of a preschool program in Richmond, serving children who have experienced trauma. She has been testing out virtual play therapy as a way to get preschoolers to open up.

Seated before a laptop in her house, with toys splayed on a table and more in a box at her feet, Abell offers options to the child watching on the other end of the Zoom call. Magna-Tiles, or maybe Play-Doh? Bubble blowing? How about a Superman figurine?

"Is Superman angry?" she will ask. "Did someone do something to upset him?"

It was awkward at first, but the children are getting used to the camera, Abell said. That's a relief, she said, because she fears she may have to keep doing this for a while.

Though some states are moving to reopen their economies, social distancing measures may keep many students confined to their homes throughout summer. Schools are under pressure to reopen in the fall, but they may only accept children in rotational shifts, meaning students will still be stuck at home for long stretches of unobserved time.

Children's advocacy centers, aware of these possibilities, say they are anticipating a deluge of new cases of abuse in the fall. Some advocates worry they will not be prepared.

Advocates in Washington D.C. and Virginia are petitioning schools to hire more psychologists, social workers and counselors to help traumatized children readjust and recover once they return to school. State and local budgets are being starved by the virus, which may leave some school districts and other crucial watchdogs facing cuts.

Many children's advocacy centers, which provide support for families and children as abuse cases move through the justice system, were forced to cancel some of their biggest fundraising events of the year in April, which is child abuse awareness month. The National Children's Alliance estimates the total funding loss to the child advocacy field will amount to about $87.7 million. The group's executive director, Teresa Huizar, said she worries the economic fallout from the pandemic will force some advocacy centers to close their doors "at a time when abused children will need them the most."

Angela Haslett, the forensic interviewer in Fairfax, continues to meet with children in person, as carefully as she can. She knows she cannot control when or how schools will reopen, or which abused children will go unnoticed until then.

But on a recent morning, the last time she would interview a child for almost two weeks, she could control the tone of her voice and the look in her eyes as she led the way to the room with the comfortable chairs.

She faced the child across from her and asked her first question.
The Cabinet of Ministers is ready to hold talks with European countries on the official employment of Ukrainian seasonal workers.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal posted on Telegram following his meeting with Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas and US Charge d'Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien.

"The Government is ready to negotiate with European countries that will express their desire to formally invite Ukrainian workers for seasonal works,"

At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that an important prerequisite was legal employment for a period of three months with all social guarantees and proper working conditions of Ukrainians.

According to him, this process will be supervised by the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

At the same time, Shmyhal noted that the Government had not received official requests from countries other than Finland.

As reported, on April 23, about two hundred Ukrainian citizens left for Finland for seasonal works by a charter flight. The flight was organized at the request of Finnish farmers.

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Police are searching for a a person who has been spotted walking amid the coronavirus pandemic in a creepy beak-like mask, which has a very sinister history.

Locals of Hellesdon, near Norfolk in the United Kingdom have been terrorised by an individual seen wearing a black coat and pointed beak, a costume reminiscent of the plague doctors treating the ill during plagues like the Black Death in the 17th century.

Jade Gosbell was out walking when she spotted the figure.

Its clear hes doing it just for the sake of it, she said according to Storyful.

Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press, Ms Gosbell explained the persons costume angered her and her mum has a fear of masks, while others found the get-up amusing.

Kids would be frightened, my mum would be frightened, however, some people really dont think its that deep, she said.

They just think that hes having a laugh, hes just trying to find something to do with himself during isolation and lockdown.

While some people saw the humour in it local police are hoping to speak to the modern-day plague doctor.

Norfolk Police are aware of the masked figure getting some exercise around Hellesdon and people are being urged to contact police if they see the individual.

A person wearing a plague doctor costume is terrorising people amid the coronavirus pandemic. Source: Storyful/Twitter - Danny Buck

The Eastern Daily Press reported police want to give the plague doctor words of advice, although the BBC reports police admitted the person has not committed any offence, they are just concerned about the implications the outfit may have on the community.

Snitches get the plague, one person warned on Twitter.

The costume got the attention of Norfolk historian, Danny Buck who described the attire and prank as peak Norfolk on Twitter.

Peak Norfolk



From the Local Policing Neighbourhood Team-

If the person wearing the Plague Dr costume is seen out and about in Hellesdon, please contact Police at the time. A unit can then be dispatched and attempt to locate and identify this person.

Many Thanks

Norfolk Police  Danny Buck (@DannyBuckUEA) April 27, 2020

Surely they are being extra-responsible by wearing a full-face mask? someone questioned in response to Bucks tweet.

Story continues

It's quite a smart-looking costume and it's important people realise that in the 17th Century plague doctors were the brave ones who went out to see people with the disease, Buck told the BBC.

The beaked masks were worn by doctors during various plagues throughout history were presumably first fashioned by Charles de Lorme, who treated the royal family during the 1600s.

A 17th-century illustration of a physician wearing protective clothing, including a mask, to protect against the plague. Source: Getty

The beak was generally filled with perfumes, which at the time, were believed to ward off the disease, according to History Extra.

While the plague doctor attire became a staple all across Europe back in the 17th century, the ominous outfit became particularly iconic in Italy, according to National Geographic.

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.




President Mnangagwa is still considering the next steps to be taken when the extended lockdown ends on Sunday, but stresses the decision will be informed by the need to save lives.





Speaking at State House in Harare while receiving donations from various organisations yesterday, including gifts from the Indian embassy, he said: We as Government and as the President decided with this (Covid 19) challenge what do we do? Balancing the need for economic growth and the lives of people as well as saving lives, I came to the conclusion that if people die, we cannot resuscitate them, he said.





The economy can die and it can be resuscitated now or in future. It doesnt matter, because as long as people are alive you can have conferences and discuss how do we resuscitate the economy but I have never seen a conference where people are discussing how to resuscitate the dead.





He said the Governments bias has always been towards preservation of life, adding that the organisations that were at State House to donate had proved their understanding that the priority was to save lives.





The President said Zimbabwe had the first lockdown, which he extended by another 14 days, and focus was now on what course of action to take after Sunday.





When she (Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri) came to disturb me, I was thinking what happens after this one ends. I am still working on that, but the primary objective is to give priority to saving lives.





I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to these things. Some border on the line of carelessness: some border on the line of over-cautiousness.





So, we must find a way to err on the side of cautiousness rather than on the side of carelessness, he said.





President Mnangagwa said he was impressed by the responses Zimbabwe was getting from industrialists and others.





He has engaged captains of industry, churches, and chiefs and in the conversations, they agreed to be cautious as opposed to being reckless.





Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rungsung Masakui, handed over medicines donated by his country.





Zimbabwe. India has shipped 103 tonnes of essential medicine worth US$400 000, which is part of the commitment it made of US$2 million, and the medicine has arrived inZimbabwe.





The balance of US$1,6 million would be delivered once this lockdown ended, said Mr Masukui.





The medicines include chloroquine and hydroxycholoroquine, which have been used worldwide as a potential treatment of the disease.





He said 1 000 tonnes of rice were being shipped, while 25 medical personnel were taking part in an online training programme sponsored by his government on managing Covid 19.





African Sun donated linen valued at $1,2 million, while the Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) handed over linen worth $800 000. Cresta handed over linen valued at $450 000, while Gain Wholesalers donated various food items.





FAW donated a tractor and boom sprayer to decontaminate public spaces and 600 face masks for policemen manning road blocks.




The suspect, whose name is not being disclosed, has been put on the international wanted list.

Another suspect in an assassination attempt on Kyiv Regional City Council member and restaurateur Viacheslav Soboliev's life, in which his three-year-old son was killed, has been charged.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the defendant has been put on the international wanted list.

At the request of prosecutors, the court ruled to take the defendant under custody. This gives legal grounds to competent authorities to have this person detained even beyond Ukraine.

Read alsoTwo suspects in attempt on Soboliev's life, his son's murder served with charge papers (Video)

A pretrial investigation is underway.

It is noted that on the initiative of Deputy Prosecutor General Gyunduz Mamedov, who is responsible for juvenile affairs, the Office of the Prosecutor General in January decided to change the jurisdiction and the prosecutorial team in the criminal proceeding.

Six persons have now been served with charge papers. Four are in custody, while another two are on the international wanted list.

As UNIAN reported earlier, unidentified perpetrators on December 1 opened fire on a Range Rover outside a Kyiv restaurant.

Besides Soboliev, who was driving the car, there was his three-year-old son in it, who was killed in the incident.

On December 2, Kyiv police confirmed the detention of suspects.
Mumbai, April 30 : In a significant development, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has urged the Election Commission to declare polls to the nine vacant seats in the state Legislative Council "at the earliest".

These seats have been lying vacant since April 24 and filling up the same would end the current political uncertainty in the state, said an official.

In a letter to the EC, Koshyari said that the Centre has announced many relaxation measures regarding the lockdown enforcement in the country, and accordingly, the elections for the MLC seats can be held with certain guidelines.

"Since the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is not a member of either house of the state Legislature, he needs to get elected to the Council before May 27," the Governor pointed out.

The EC had postponed the election process for these nine seats in view of the Coronavirus crisis and the ongoing lockdown.

Political circles pointed out that with this development, the requests of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to nominate Thackeray in one of the two MLC seats from his quota has virtually been rejected by the Governor.

Since the past nearly a month, leaders of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress have been repeatedly appealing to the Governor to name Thackeray for one of his quota seats to avert a constitutional crisis in the state.

On Monday, Thackeray spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and on Tuesday he called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reportedly on the same issue.

After passing two resolutions to the effect, almost the entire state cabinet led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had called on the Governor this week and urged him to do the needful.

Besides, several Sena leaders and ministers have also met the Koshyari with a similar request, and the NCP-Congress have issued statements to the effect.

A Congress leader said that with the Governor now throwing the ball in the EC's court, the political situation would be clear only after May 3, when the national lockdown is slated to end.

Not a member of either house of legislature, Thackeray was sworn-in as CM on November 28, 2019, and now must become a MLC, failing which there could be constitutional deadlock, according to official sources.
As high school seniors and their families search for untraditional ways to celebrate graduation, Tracie Hansen and International Minute Press (IMP) are providing a unique answer.

Hansen, who bought The Print Raven in 2018, converted the former business into a Minuteman Press franchise and fulfilled her entrepreneurial dream. After a year and a half of ownership however, the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly forced her to be creative.

During a conversation with office manager Kelsey Hubbard, the pair recognized another owners plan to celebrate graduating seniors with custom yard signs, and the idea resonated with them. Following that discussion, IMP started offering signs with welcoming designs, graduates names and school colors. Orders can be placed online for $15 plus tax.

Through an email interview, Hansen said the product helps graduates feel supported and remembered, even during these challenging circumstances.

Graduating from high school is such an important rite of passage, and it feels incomplete that all these seniors are missing out on the traditions and rituals where they would normally be celebrated, Hansen said. We loved the idea of bringing graduates some deserved recognition and wanted to do it in a personal way that makes them feel special.

Kelly Gibbs, a former schoolteacher and local grandmother, said the signs demonstrate Flagstaffs appreciation for graduates. When she heard about IMPs custom creations, she immediately donated two for families that need help  and plans to contribute more.

Similarly, Sue Mills wanted to celebrate her daughter and benefit local business. Although 18-year-old Joy leaves for college in the Pacific Northwest in August, her high school graduation from Northland Preparatory Academy will be recognized.

When I saw they were printing these signs, I really wanted to do something to support them in this time of less business, Mills said.

While IMP congratulates students and locals provide business, both sides benefit from the idea. Despite the struggles and uncertainties imposed by COVID-19, Hansen said the Flagstaff community lifts one another up during difficult times.

We see how the students are being uplifted by a community that is celebrating them, and that feels good, Hansen said. They are helping us, and we are helping them. That is a true win-win.

For those who order signs, IMP offers curbside pick-up or free deliveries in Flagstaff city limits. Hansens two children, 19-year-old Zack and 17-year-old Natalie, are helping with various distributions  once they finish their schoolwork.

Although local customers are most common, Hansen said IMP received orders from different cities in Arizona, another from Washington state and even one from Hawaii. Furthermore, multiple parents reached out to offer their appreciation and support, especially because they have an opportunity to uniquely celebrate their children.

These connections we have to our customers and to one another are the best things about this business, Hansen said. We can complete a lot of orders without face-to-face interaction, but our work is never done in isolation. Completing a job correctly requires a lot of collaboration and engagement with others.

Despite her position as an independent business owner, Hansen explained that she feels connected and encouraged. Minuteman Presss headquarters  along with other franchise owners  provide a clear sense of companionship for everyone involved with the company.

Together, Hansen and Hubbard navigated IMP through the beginnings of an overwhelming pandemic. Although the future remains unclear, the duo enjoyed coming up with new strategies and innovative techniques.

While this is an unnerving time for small businesses, it has really forced us to look at creative ways to increase our sales during this economic downturn, Hansen said. Kelsey [Hubbard] and I have a brainstorming session most mornings about new ideas, and that has been exciting and stimulating and hopeful.

Gibbs offered support for Hansen as well as other business owners who dedicate their time to pursuing a passion, even with all these difficulties.

I think shes made to be an entrepreneur, Gibbs said about Hansen. She has all the qualities that will make her succeed.

While IMP continues to make custom signs and recognize seniors, the Flagstaff community is celebrating in other ways. In an effort to praise graduates, Coconino High School will turn on its lights for 20 minutes, 20 nights in a row.

Similarly, Mills said other life-changing events  such as funerals, weddings and childbirths  were transformed by the virus.

We should all think about the different losses that people are experiencing during this coronavirus time, and how to honor or celebrate them in some way, Mills said.

Businesses like IMP can create a source of connection and companionship, regardless of the current challenges. As Hansen demonstrates compassion, Gibbs added that other people can learn to provide this support, especially through donations.

People tend to focus on what were losing through all of this crisis, but I think its important to realize what were gaining, Gibbs said. The primary thing is how people are reaching out to each other and providing help.
(Alliance News) - Marks & Spencer on Thursday said Whitbread PLC Chief Executive Alison Brittain has stepped down from its board amid a raft of other changes.

The FTSE 250-listed British food and clothing retailer said that after six years in her role as non-executive director, the CEO of the Premier Inn operator will step down prior to the annual general meeting in July.

Marks & Spencer added that Eoin Tonge will join the board as chief financial officer on June 8. Back in February, the company said it had hired the CFO of sandwich maker Greencore Group PLC, adding that Interim CFO David Surdeau would remain with the business to support Tonge into his new role.

M&S also said Thursday it has hired Tamara Ingram and Sapna Sood as non-executive directors effective from May 21.

Ingram is currently non-executive chair at digital agency Wunderman Thompson and a non-executive director at professional services firm Marsh MacLennan Co. She was previously chief executive & chair at advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi and also set up the consumer insight division at FTSE 100 marketing company WPP PLC.

Sood is currently a director at contract caterer Compass Group PLC as well as non-executive director at French luxury brand owner Kering SA. She was previously chief executive of LafargeHolcim in the Philippines.

Separately, Katie Bickerstaffe - who moved over to the executive role of chief strategy & transformation director on Monday - will step down from the board at the annual general meeting in July.

"To support the transformation challenge at M&S we have built a very strong board with diverse and relevant operational experience who are closely engaged with the executive team. The appointment of Tamara and Sapna, in addition to Eoin joining the board as an executive director, will bring in fresh and diverse talent and two exceptionally smart new people. Our enormous thanks go to Alison who has been a strong and active board member for the last six years," said M&S Chair Archie Norman.

M&S shares were trading 1.3% lower at 97.59 pence each on Thursday morning in London.

By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
[April 30, 2020]

Dell Technologies Announces Storage Portfolio Fireside Chat Hosted by Goldman Sachs

ROUND ROCK, Texas, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) announces a fireside chat hosted by Rod Hall from Goldman Sachs on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. CT / 2:00 p.m. ET. Jeff Boudreau, president, Infrastructure Solutions Group and Travis Vigil, senior vice president, product management, storage & data protection, will provide an update on the storage product portfolio and take questions. Please note Dell Technologies will not be providing any financial updates during the call.

A live webcast and a replay of the webcast will be available on Dell Technologies' Investor Relations page at investors.delltechnologies.com.

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry's broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era.

Copyright  2020 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell Technologies, Dell, EMC and Dell EMC are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dell-technologies-announces-storage-portfolio-fireside-chat-hosted-by-goldman-sachs-301050059.html

SOURCE Dell Technologies
void deck

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

On April 7, Singapore announced it would be shutting down until May 4 as it battled as second wave of the coronavirus.

The "circuit breaker" measures were later extended through June 1.

Under new legislation, public and private gatherings of any size are no longer allowed and restaurants are allowed to serve takeaway orders only.

To manage the crowds at four popular wet markets in Singapore, Singaporeans with an even last digit of their NRIC number will be allowed to shop there on even days of the month. Singaporeans with an odd last digit can shop there on odd days.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Singapore is three weeks into a lockdown that authorities are calling a "circuit breaker."

From bubble tea shops being specifically ordered to shutter (they are very popular and draw crowds yet are non-essential in a pandemic), to having your national identification number (NRIC) determine the designated day you can enter four wet markets in Singapore, here's what the lockdown looks like here.

While other cities and countries are flattening the curve or coming out of lockdown, Singapore's rising case numbers have forced the country to do the opposite and shut down from April 7 to May 4. This was later extended to June 1.

Food center in Hougang in March, before the lockdown.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

Meanwhile, Wuhan has lifted quarantine, South Korea and Taiwan have moved towards normal life without ever being locked down, citizens in Spain, Italy and Austria returned to work last week.

The city-state's battle with the virus has been one of challenges and early triumphs. Early on, the country was lauded as a model for coronavirus reaction by the WHO.

A train station in March, before the lockdown.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

Singaporeans were relatively confident in their government's virus strategy. Citizens flooded coronavirus press briefings on Youtube with comments praising the government's preparedness and leadership.

Story continues

Throughout March, while people around the world were under quarantine, we Singaporeans were able to keep up most of our routines: We could dine out, go shopping, picnic in parks, visit museums and go to school.

NTUC supermarket in March, before the lockdown.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

But in the middle of March, Singapore saw a "second wave" of infections, due, in large part, to residents returning home and spreading the virus locally.

A empty shopping center in Singapore.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

As case numbers rose, authorities implemented a "circuit breaker" in April to halt the quickening pace of transmission. Notably, the government has eschewed the word "lockdown."

This meant that on April 7th, non-essential services ceased. Schools closed the following day. Under new legislation, public and private gatherings of any size are no longer allowed and restaurants are allowed to serve takeaway orders only.

"Stay Home, Stay Safe."

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

Playgrounds and void decks, once the linchpin of life in the heartlands and residential districts, are now covered in barrier tape to keep people out.

An elderly man was even handcuffed for wanting to eat alone at a void deck [an open space found on the ground floor of public housing blocks].

Families have been barred from visiting each other except to provide care to children or elders in another household.

"No visiting" sign at a Singapore condominium.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

While the government directive had previously been to only wear masks when unwell, this, too, was overruled on April 14. Mask-wearing is now mandatory the moment you leave the house.

Adults on a bus in Singapore. Everyone is wearing a mask.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

The "circuit breaker" resembles a partial lockdown, but every country has its nuances. When it was first implemented, we were allowed to go out without masks.

Hougang food stall queue.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

We could take the bus or stroll through the neighbourhood  while practising social distancing. Walking through a mall, you would still see people queueing up at bubble tea shops, at McDonalds, or at a bakery.

Opticians were also open, as were barber shops, hair salons, fruit juice stands, and durian stalls.

On more than one instance, I saw people getting a haircut. This stands out because I know that my friends in New York, for example, were already a month into their lockdown and fretting about having to shave their heads or cut their own bangs themselves.

barber 2

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

According to official data and as reported by Reuters, on April 19, Singapore became the country with the highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia. That next day, April 20, the country identified a record daily number of 1,426 new coronavirus cases.

The majority of the newly identified cases have been men from Bangladesh and India, who come to Singapore on a work pass to perform low-paid labour in cleaning and construction. They are housed in crowded dormitories where social distancing is difficult, if not impossible.

A migrant worker dormitory.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

Source: Reuters

On April 21, Singapore extended "circuit breaker" measures through June 1 and put a stop to more services, such as grass-cutting.

McDonalds and bubble tea shutters, but KFC and pizza stays open.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

Hair salons were told to shutter, as were standalone bubble tea shops, effective the next day. This led to long queues up to midnight of April 21 as bubble tea fans and those in need of a trim rushed out to get their last cup of bubble milk tea or their last cut.

My grandmother, who I live with, helped with a bang trim. I think she did a better job than I ever did, growing up.

The author, getting a haircut at home.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

To manage the crowds at four popular wet markets in Singapore, Singaporeans with an even last digit of their NRIC number will be allowed to shop there on even days of the month. Singaporeans with an odd last digit can shop there on odd days.

Inside a NTUC supermarket in Singapore.

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

I tend to shop at my neighborhood NTUC Supermarket instead, so this hasn't been an issue for me so far.

The only time I take my mask off while I'm outside is to go on a run. I run along the Lorong Halus red bridge to Coney Island almost every day.

Lorong Halus Red Bridge 1

Keshia Naurana Badalge for Business Insider

Fortunately, we are still allowed to walk our dogs as long as we have a mask on. This is a daily joy I relish in; my friends in Italy and South Africa are not given this same freedom. I like to think my dog is grateful as well.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Even though Fitbit has been in the wearable space for over a decade, the company is still relatively fresh to the kids market. That's about to change soon. A source close to the matter told Engadget that Fitbit will launch a kids smartwatch with 4G connectivity later this year, and to do so, it has acquired Hong Kong startup Doki Technologies, which made the world's first kids smartwatch with video calling. Indeed, earlier this month, Doki notified customers that it is disconnecting its devices -- dokiWatch, dokiWatch S and dokiPal -- on July 1st, though there was no mention of Fitbit in the email.

Engadget reached out to both parties for confirmation, and Fitbits PR rep provided the usual "we do not comment on rumors or speculation," while Doki founder and CEO Casper Chien said he had no comment on that matter. However, according to the Hong Kong Companies Registry, Doki's director is now listed as "Andrew Paul Missan," who also happens to be Fitbit's Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.

The Companies Registry listing also shows October 22nd, 2019 as the date of Missan's appointment, which is likely the date of Fitbit's acquisition as well. If true, then Doki got lucky by sealing the deal right before Google announced that it was buying Fitbit for $2.1 billion -- pending government approval, of course. Whats more interesting is that Google likely knew about Fitbits intention to acquire Doki early on, but thats not to say we can expect a Google-branded kids smartwatch any time soon.

As to why Fitbit had to rely on external help with its first 4G kids smartwatch, I suspect the company was after Dokis self-built platform, which offers various safety tracking features, video calling and voice calling via mobile app. The startups last smartwatch, the DokiPal, even included a physical Doki SIM with unlimited data in over 50 countries for $9.99 per month. Its unclear whether all of these features will be carried over to the Fitbit-branded kids smartwatch, though Im pretty sure well be seeing some of Fitbits fitness features on it.

Doki Technologies

It makes sense for Fitbit to move deeper into the kids market. So far, the wearable giant has only made two generations of the Ace fitness trackers for children, both of which lack cellular connectivity for always-on tracking and communication. As for the competition in the kids smartwatch space, there are surprisingly few players out in the West. According to Bryan Ma, IDCs Vice President of Client Devices, a staggering 15 million cellular kids smartwatches were shipped last year (up from 9 million the year before), 97-percent of which were to Mainland China. The top vendor was BBK, which also owns Vivo, Oppo (ahem), OnePlus and Realme.

There are a lot of reasons why this has largely been a China-focused phenomenon, most notably because many of the brands aren't well known outside of China, Ma added. Distribution tends to be limited in other countries, and it's not always easy to get a telco plan either. There are likely cultural differences too, where some might find it overprotective and even invasive.

The analyst added that earlier this year, IDC asked 3,600 parents around the Asia Pacific region how they felt about a sub-$100 connected kids watch from a reputable brand (last years average price in China was around $94, excluding services). 55 percent answered that such a product would be good for child safety, while 22 percent felt it was good because kids could wear this instead of carrying a phone. The remaining 23 percent worried that a connected kids smartwatch would be excessive use of tech, feared hackers, or just didn't see a need for their child.

As a notable Western brand, Fitbit may have a chance when it breaks into the Chinese kids smartwatch market, but it may have to put in extra elbow grease to convince parents in the West about its upcoming product. At least with its Ace family, Fitbit has already laid the foundation with COPPA-compliant data collection processes, in order to protect childrens privacy. The rest will be up to Fitbits marketing arm (and eventually Googles as well).
Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday announced that all industries in the state outside containment zones will be allowed to operate from May 4 a day after the extended lockdown imposed to check the Covid-19 spread will end.

He said the Covid-19 cases might continue for another two to three months and added efforts to control the pandemic would go hand in hand with economic activity which has almost fully stopped due to the lockdown.

Yediyurappa said the cases reported from Bengaluru have been coming down for the last two to three days but they will wait for a few more days to take a final decision on allowing economic activities in the city. Bengaluru, which has reported 147 of Karnatakas 565 Covid-19 cases, has around 24 containment zones. The city is Karnatakas economic engine and contributes nearly half of the states revenues.

Yediyurappa said they have no plans for allowing malls, hotels or movie theatres to reopen and added the state would wait for Centres directives before taking a final decision.

Yediyurappa later met representatives of associations of commerce and industries and asked them to be ready to resume operations. He appealed to the industrialists to pay wages and salaries to their employees.

The Karnataka Cabinet met separately and decided to issue one-time permits for inter-state and inter-district for stranded migrants and labourers.

Law minister J C Madhuswamy said the cost for the travel would be borne by those who want to travel and the government would merely provide permits and bus services.

On Wednesday, another minister, Suresh Kumar, said the state government would bring back stranded people from Karnataka from Gujarat and buses would be sent for the purpose.
Red spots on the hands, blisters on the torso and itchy wheals have been identified as possible signs of the coronavirus.

Dermatologists have warned of five skin symptoms that may be a sign of the deadly infection after studying 375 patients in Spain.

Experts were asked to identify patients who had an unexplained skin 'eruption' in the last two weeks and who had suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

The most common skin symptom was a rash made of small red marks, either flat or raised. In some cases, they were scaly.

Chilblain-like lesions on the hands and feet were seen in mostly young patients, and itchy wheals were present in more severe cases.

Some patients had small itchy blisters, sometimes filled with blood, on their trunk, according to the results.

While a blotchy red pattern linked to an impairment in blood circulation was most commonly seen in the elderly.

SARS-CoV-2 tends to cause a cough and a fever, but as the pandemic has worn on, research has linked all sorts of bizarre health problems.

But the British Association of Dermatologists is urging the public not to try to self-diagnose COVID-19 based on skin symptoms.

It warned that rashes and lesions are common for various diseases and are hard to differentiate without medical expertise.

'Urticarial lesions', or wheals, were also identified in a fifth (19 per cent) of cases. These consist of pink or white raised areas of skin resembling a nettle rash (stock photo)

In nine per cent of cases, dermatologists identified outbreaks of small blisters, commonly itchy, that appeared on the trunk of the body (stock photo)

Livedo or necrosis, was identified by dermatologists in six per cent of cases. Livedo occurs where circulation in the blood vessels of the skin is impaired (stock photo)

One skin complaint was more common in children and are similar to chilblains (pictured, stock)

The latest research, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, aimed to build a picture of how the disease might manifest in skin symptoms.

Suspected cases were included because medics wanted to look at how the skin was affected at different stages of the disease.

However, they were unable to include a large number of people who were critically ill due to consent issues.

Patients were asked about their symptoms and had photos taken of their skin to find patterns of the virus's potential effect. But no photos were published in the paper.

WHAT ARE THE FIVE SKIN CONDITIONS LINKED WITH CORONAVIRUS? 1. Other maculopapules Identified in 47 per cent of cases, the rash consists of small, flat or raised red bumps. It lasts eight days on average. The average age or disease severity was not described for this condition. 2. 'Acral areas of erythema-edema with some vesicles or pustules' These small red or purple spots caused by bleeding under the skin were seen in around 19 per cent of patients. They affect the hands and feet and resemble itchy swelling of chilblains. They were seen mostly in young patients, lasted around 13 days, appeared later in the course of disease in less severe cases. 3. Urticarial lesions Also known as wheals, these lesions these consist of pink or white raised areas of skin resembling a nettle rash. They lasted an average of seven days and found in more severe cases of COVID-19. 4. Vesicular eruptions These occurred in nine per cent of cases. They were described as outbreaks of small blisters, commonly itchy, that mostly appeared on the trunk of the body but sometimes the limbs. Middle-aged patients reported the blisters the most. The symptom lasted on average ten days, and were linked with intermediate severity of the disease. 5. Livedo or necrosis This was identified by dermatologists in six per cent of cases, mostly the elderly who were severely ill. Livedo occurs where circulation in the blood vessels of the skin is impaired, causing it to take on a blotchy red or blue appearance with a net-like pattern. Necrosis describes the premature death of skin tissue. The study said patients showed different degrees of lesions pointing to 'occlusive vascular disease', where a narrowing or blocking of arteries occurs, limiting blood flow to certain areas of the body. Advertisement

The most common skin condition was 'other maculopapules', identified in 47 per cent of the cases.

The rash consists of small, flat or raised red bumps. In some cases these were distributed round hair follicles and had varying degrees of scaling. It lasted for eight days on average.

The study found that 19 per cent of its cases had 'acral areas of erythema-edema with some vesicles or pustules'.

These lesions affect the hands and feet and may resemble the small, itchy swellings of chilblains.

They are small red or purple spots caused by bleeding under the skin and usually asymmetrical in appearance, the study said.

The symptom was associated with younger patients, lasted for an average of 13 days, and appeared later in the course of disease in less severe cases.

'Urticarial lesions' were also identified in a fifth (19 per cent) of cases. These consist of pink or white raised areas of skin resembling a nettle rash.

Known simply as wheals, these are usually itchy and can be spread across the body, including in a few cases on the palms of hands.

Urticarial lesions were found to last an average of seven days, and usually appeared at the same time as other COVID-19 symptoms.

Those with more severe COVID-19 cases reported urticarial lesions.

In nine per cent of cases, dermatologists identified 'vesicular eruptions', described as outbreaks of small blisters, commonly itchy, that appeared on the trunk of the body.

These could also affect people's limbs, may be filled with blood, and could become larger or more spread out.

They were associated with middle-aged patients, lasted on average ten days, appeared more commonly before other symptoms and were linked with intermediate severity of the disease.

A fifth category of conditions, livedo or necrosis, was identified by dermatologists in six per cent of cases.

Livedo occurs where circulation in the blood vessels of the skin is impaired, causing it to take on a blotchy red or blue appearance with a net-like pattern.

Necrosis describes the premature death of skin tissue.

The study said patients showed different degrees of lesions pointing to 'occlusive vascular disease', where a narrowing or blocking of arteries occurs, limiting blood flow to certain areas of the body.

These conditions were associated with older patients with a severe case of Covid-19, although manifestations of the disease in this group were variable.

Livedo and necrotic lesions are relatively uncommon but the study authors said it was difficult to know if they were directly caused by Covid-19, or simply indicated complications.

Researchers noted that maculopapules and urticarial lesions are common and can have many causes, meaning they may not be a helpful aide for diagnosing Covid-19.

In some cases, it was hard to tell if skin conditions were directly caused by the coronavirus or indicated a complication.

The British Association of Dermatologists is urging the public not to try to self-diagnose COVID-19 based on skin symptoms, because rashes and lesions are common and hard to differentiate without medical expertise.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Faheem Latheef, a consultant dermatologist and skin allergy specialist, said normally skin symptoms are caused by the body's immune system, not the virus itself.

'The main reason is a hypersensitive immune reaction,' he told MailOnline. 'It's the body's reaction to something it perceives as foreign.

'But ones such as livedo, that's due to clotting in the vessels. So it's a mixture.'

Dr Latheef has been drafted in to help on coronavirus wards at Leeds City Hospital. He said he had not seen any COVID-19 patients with skin abnormalities.

Studies are mostly coming from Italy and Spain, where dermatologists were still operating their clinics while the virus spread.

'We were slightly more prepared and so we cancelled a lot of our clinic appointments and are doing them remotely. GPs similarly aren't seeing things their end.

'So there is potentially more people walking around with skin complaints we haven't seen.'

Dr Adil Sheraz, a consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson said: 'A variety of skin manifestations have been seen in COVID-19 positive patients.

'However we are uncertain whether these are directly related to the virus itself or to the complications of the infection.

'If you develop a new rash then please speak to your GP or dermatologist. Almost all dermatologists are offering virtual consultations and even face to face in urgent cases. A diagnosis of COVID-19 should not be made from just the presence of a rash.'
The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region has impounded over 50 motorbikes after the riders disregarded road traffic regulations.

Majority of the riders also disregarded the social distancing protocol which forbids them from carrying pillion riders amidst the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

This is the fifth time the MTTD is carrying out this operation in 2020.

The Bono Regional Commander of the MTTD, Superintendent Stephen Tenkorang, said the offenders are being prepared for court.

Usually, a motorbike is supposed to take two and per the Presidents directive, they dont want any motor to carry two people. Only one person is supposed to be on board and is supposed to have a nose mask. So we conducted the operation yesterday and we arrested 51 persons in all. Anyone who was on a motorbike without a helmet, nose mask and riders licence was arrested. So this morning, we began processing them and anyone who has been arrested will be taken to court, he noted. Commercial vehicles ordered to carry fewer passengers

Road Transport Operators had earlier directed all commercial vehicles to reduce the number of passengers seated on a row to ensure adequate space between all passengers.

The Operators arrived at the decision following consultations with the Ghana Private Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council.

The move was among others aimed at ensuring that precautionary directives given by President Nana Akufo-Addo on social distancing are observed on all public transport vehicles and terminals.

Motorbikes seized

In February, Police in Dansoman, led by the Divisional Police Commander, ACP Isaac Asante, seized 105 motorcycles suspected to be used for criminal activities.

This happened after the Division, on the morning of Sunday, February 23, embarked on an operation to clamp down on the use of motorcycles for criminal activities within the area.

In a similar drive, Operation Absolute Sanity was embarked upon by the Korle-Bu Division of the Ghana Police Service.

Eighty-five motorcycles and 14 tricycles were impounded in an operation in the Korle-Bu District.

In view of the rampant reports on street robbery, stealing and total disregard for road traffic regulations, the Korle-Bu District Command embarked on the operation exercise.

---citinewsroom
Shenandoah Telecommunications (SHEN) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.27 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to earnings of $0.28 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

A quarter ago, it was expected that this telecommunications service provider in parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia would post earnings of $0.32 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.27, delivering a surprise of -15.63%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has not been able to surpass consensus EPS estimates.

Shenandoah Telecom, which belongs to the Zacks Diversified Communication Services industry, posted revenues of $153.19 million for the quarter ended March 2020, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.85%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $158.84 million. The company has not been able to beat consensus revenue estimates over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Shenandoah Telecom shares have added about 40.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -9%.

What's Next for Shenandoah Telecom?

While Shenandoah Telecom has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Story continues

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Shenandoah Telecom was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.36 on $160.47 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.20 on $640.26 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Diversified Communication Services is currently in the bottom 23% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.



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Shares of automobile companies rallied on Thursday, led by Tata Motors which surged as much as 15 per cent on the NSE. The Nifty Auto index gained 5.1 per cent and was the top sectoral gainer.

In comparison, the Nifty50 index was up 2.9 per cent at 10:15 AM. Among individual stocks, Tata Motors surged 14.77 per cent to Rs 89.70 in the biggest one-day gain for the stock in six months after reports said that Jaguar Land Rover had restored three-fourth of its budgeted production in China. According to a report in Mint, with lockdown measures easing in China all of its retailers are now ...
The global unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) market is expected to grow by USD 3.31 billion during 2020-2024. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact can be expected to be significant in the first quarter but gradually lessen in subsequent quarters with a limited impact on the full-year economic growth, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005825/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Unsaturated Polyester Resins Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

With the implementation of strict European Union (EU) regulations, which call for a reduction in the emission of VOC, the focus of vendors has shifted towards the development of eco-friendly chemicals. Such regulatory standards have led to a shift in the demand for green products (like UPR) from solvent-based epoxy resins. Unsaturated polyester resins are manufactured using an innovative process and renewable raw materials, and they do not contain solvents that evaporate during the curing phase. Thus, the growing shift toward eco-friendly products will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43274

As per Technavio, the innovative products and applications of UPR will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024.

Unsaturated Polyester Resins Market: Innovative Products and Applications Of UPR

As the demand for renewable and sustainable green resins is increasing, companies manufacturing UPR are constantly innovating products to differentiate UPR from the substitutes available in the market. Companies are researching on developing a monomer-free UPR to reduce VOC emissions. As such, UPR has replaced solvent-containing varnishes, which were used as secondary insulation material for windings in electrical motors. Varnishes contain about 50% of solvents that must be removed during the curing process. Therefore, the usage of monomer-free UPR can significantly reduce the emission levels during curing. Such innovations will drive the growth of the market.

"Factors such as the infrastructural developments in emerging economies, and the rise in demand for UPR with increasing wind power installation will have a significant impact on the growth of the unsaturated polyester resins market value during the forecast period," says a senior analyst at Technavio.

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Unsaturated Polyester Resins Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the unsaturated polyester resins market by type (orthophthalic resin, Isophthalic resin, DCPD resin, and others), end-user (building and construction, pipes and tanks, automotive, marine, electrical and electronics, wind energy, and others), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America).

The APAC region led the unsaturated polyester resins market in 2019, followed by North America, Europe, MEA, and South America respectively. During the forecast period, the APAC region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to factors such as the increased demand from major end-user industries such as composites and automotive manufacturing.

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Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

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Competitive scenario

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National Assembly of Armenia Deputy Speaker Alen Simonyan told live on Facebook about his altercation with Artur Danielyan, a member of the opposition Adeqvat union.

"It all started when my friend and I were walking home from work when we saw three young men near the home, in the park, one of whom is a well-known figure within some circles," Simonyan said, in particular. "I know him from the [ruling] Civil Contract party. Its about Artur Danielyan. We went ahead. And when he stared at me for a very long time, I said, Hi, Arthur, in response to which I heard, Hi, son of a b****. I approached [him] and said that I had the same opinion about him, and I hit him on the nose with my head.

I don't think anyone can say that it was probably right to do otherwise. I understand, I realize that I am a state official, but that does not mean that someone can allow himself [to] to a person walking on the street, greeting him. Moreover, the greeting did not contain irony.

The three of them () tried to stop me by shoving and hitting me. I basically wanted to understand what was going on and who was trying to hit me. A small fight broke out in that area, after which people passing by the street started shouting, and the young men hurried to leave from that place.

If the public, if the police, if the judge finds that the steps which I consider self-defense were wrong, I am ready to bear accountability.
A federal appeals court has refused to revive a $50 million lawsuit filed against Pennsylvanias university system and East Stroudsburg University by former executive who claims he was slandered and railroaded.

Instead, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit agreed with a lower court that the university and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education are legally immune from Isaac W. Sanders complaint.

Sanders claimed his professional reputation was ruined when he was fired from his posts as vice president for advancement at the university and CEO of the schools foundation after complaints of sexually predatory behavior were lodged against him in 2008.

Comments by PSSHE officials perpetuated a public perception that Sanders was guilty of criminal sexual acts against students, Sanders contended in his suit. He has insisted the accusations were false.

Six male students sued Sanders over the sexual allegations in 2009, but five years later a jury ruled in favor of Sanders in the case, Judge Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. noted in the circuit courts opinion. No criminal charges were filed against Sanders over the sexual harassment allegations.

Sanders then filed his own lawsuit in U.S. Middle District Court in 2018, claiming he was the victim of a public lynching. He appealed to the circuit court after Judge A. Richard Caputo dismissed his suit on immunity grounds last year.
The thing about kids these days is that Im not one of them.



At 35 years old, Im technically a millennial, but Gen Z trends escape me. That includes TikTok, the social media video platform that has turned the greatest minds of the next generation into startlingly good dancers. But since Ive grown to hate every other app on my phone after a month of sheltering in place, I decided to finally explore TikTok.

Heres why you should care about it.



First, it is very, very popular. TikTok has 800 million active monthly users, which is more than Twitter (386 million) and Snapchat (398 million) combined, and hot on the tail of Instagrams one billion. The closest social media comparison, the now defunct video app Vine, had 200 million users at its peak in 2015, before shutting down a year later.

Second, its a window into how young people experience life and communicate with each other, which you, as a presumably older person, will otherwise not be invited to see.

And third, its actually a lot of fun.



Despite a mild social media addiction, I would not say that I (or anyone) scrolls through Twitter for fun. Most adults view social media as either a professional necessity, a way to keep up with friends, or a tool to kill time while waiting for a coffee.



As the kids say, TikTok just hits different.

It is the inside joke of social media platforms. A silly hashtag can spawn thousands of posts that grow funnier the more you watch, but the interface feels almost specifically designed to weed out most adults. You can follow other users, but the home screen mainly features a random feed of videos based on chosen interests. And regardless of your interests, you will see lots of choreographed dances (many borderline age-appropriate).

Theres also makeup tutorials, kids pranking parents, cooking demos, science experiments, celebrity cameos  basically YouTube roulette. The discover tab organizes videos by challenges like #hoopsathome and #loungewear, but good luck finding anything specific using the search tool.

Although TikTok isnt immune to political discourse or insane monetization, it exists primarily to entertain both the people watching it and video creators, who are likely trapped in their houses because they cant legally obtain a drivers license (or, because theres a pandemic outside).



TikTok is purely for hedonistic purposes, says Malavika Kannan, a freshman at Stanford whos a regular TikTok user. There are people using it for deep points, but I think that it is one of the last few places on the internet where you can kind of be anonymous and numb yourself with this never-ending stream of really funny videos.

Most TikTok videos use music as a rhythmic backbone and also a punchline, even in those deeper videos. Kannan herself filmed a video protesting her universitys payment of contract workers, set to Kreayshawns Go Hard, whose intro starts with the line Id really like to do that, but I dont have any f---ing money.

The flip the switch challenge is another great example. When Drake says the lyric flip the switch in his song Nonstop, you kill the lights in your room, then when you turn them back on youve switched places/clothes/dance moves with a friend. Everyone from J.Lo to Elizabeth Warren has joined in on a joke.

Before I embarked on my personal quest for TikTok glory, I consulted New York Times technology reporter Taylor Lorenz, who has documented everything from influencer mansions to parents joining to users making money in their sleep.

I would recommend starting with any of the popular challenges, said Lorenz, referring to trending videos themed around dancing to specific songs, or goofy activities like sledding down flights of stairs. Or with something thats true to yourself, you dont have to do a cringey TikTok dance that all the teenagers are doing.



Since I didnt yet understand what she meant by popular challenge, I decided to stay true to myself and record my morning ritual, a dog walk wearing eyeglasses and a facemask (that results in a 100% chance of fog).

A few hours later, I refreshed the video to see it had received exactly zero likes.



So much for being myself.



Desperate for popularity, I loaded up a YouTube video to learn the dance for Drakes Toosie Slide, a song essentially designed for TikTok. Twenty minutes later, I knew the basics, set up a camera in my backyard and swung my dog Peanut in my arms while kicking like Elaine Benes at an office holiday party.

I reloaded the app later that afternoon and even though I accidentally hashtagged the video incorrectly (ok, might-as-well-be-a-boomer), 571 people still watched it. I only had two followers, but by dancing to a popular song my video ended up in hundreds of strangers feeds. Forty-one of them actually liked it. I also scored 15 new friends who all looked to be under the age of 13. Whereas followers on other platforms essentially serve as social capital, clearly my new fans didnt earn me much clout.

Suffice to say, I would not typically post a video of myself dancing to hip-hop on the internet, but thats kind of the point.



Its a branch of social media where youre able to put yourself out there more, says Calvin Wunderman, a 15-year-old Bay Area TikTok user. Its not just like on Instagram or Snapchat or Twitter where youre posting pictures where youre looking your best, or making an effort for it.



Although it did take a surprising amount of effort to learn the Toosie Slide, it felt dramatically different than making a more polished on-brand Instagram post. No one I knew was going to see it in the app, but even now that its posted in this article that will be read by all my very supportive friends (hi Mom!), I feel like the video exists in a judgment-free bubble. Even though older people do use it, TikTok still feels like an adult-free zone.



The experience brought me back to the feeling of being a teenager recording dumb camcorder videos of comedy sketches or skateboarding tricks, with no intention other than to entertain myself. And like that camcorder, TikTok pushes kids to become more creative, if for no other reason than to make other people laugh. And what else are you supposed to do at that age other than make jokes with your friends?



TikTok seems perfectly suited to pandemic life. In a way, weve all reverted to our teenage selves. Were not allowed to leave our neighborhoods. The only people we can see are family, roommates and maybe one friend. Those lucky enough to have disposable income right now are spending it on puzzles, video games and alcohol obtained through dubious means. Even hyper-productive adults feel aimless and bored. Which is why this is the perfect time to watch some dumb videos made by strangers, created for no other purpose than to make you laugh.

Dan Gentile is a digital editor at SFGate. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com | Twitter: @Dannosphere
This story originally appeared on March 30, 1930, in the Winona Republican-Herald, a predecessor of the Winona Daily News.

September 17, 1909, was a memorable night for Winona, for it was on that night that William Howard Taft, whose death is being mourned throughout the world today, visited this city and made his famous address in defense of the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill.

Probably at no time in the history of the city have larger crowds thronged the streets than that night when the president of the United States came to the hometown of Congressman James A. Tawney and made a speech which marked the turning point in his political career.

With the death of Mr. Taft in Washington Saturday, many Winonans today recalled the occasion of his visit here; of the gaily decorated streets and residential section; of his parade through avenues lighted with red fire from railroad fuses, of his two addresses at the Opera House and the old Philharmonic Hall, of the pickpockets in the crowd who stole between 50 and 75 wallets and of other events in connection with that milestone in the citys history.

Although he staunchly defended the tariff bill and upheld the policies of Congressman Tawney, many old-time politicians declared that it was President Tafts address that eventually led to his and Mr. Tawneys defeat when they came up for reelection in 1912.

That year, the insurgent faction came into Minnesota in large numbers, and many of them attacked Congressman Tawneys tariff position. Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the state fair in the fall, Gifford Pinchot spoke at Owatonna, and Francis Heeney, a protege of Roosevelts, spoke at Rochester. The famous Winonan was defeated by Sydney Anderson.

Asked by newspapermen why he came to Winona, President Taft said, I made this speech in Winona because James A. Tawney lives in Winona. When a man stands by me, I stand by him.

The Republican-Heralds edition of the following day devoted four complete pages to Mr. Tafts address and also ran large pictures of him and Congressman Tawney. The leading paragraph of the story of the presidents speech is as follows:

In the most important utterance he has made since his occupancy of the White House, President Taft last night, in a statement which is the hotbed of the insurgent movement within the Republican party, defended the Payne tariff bill as the best tariff measure ever passed by a Republican Congress and hence the best tariff bill the people have ever known.

The Winona Independent chronicled the presidents visit here as follows:

Winona greeted President William Howard Taft at the Milwaukee station in truly Winona style last night; a surging mass of humanity clogged every highway leading to the Milwaukee depot, where the president was met by the automobiles and taken for the drive through town and around the lake; the crowd that in its moment of frenzied excitement when Mr. Taft was first sighted, could not be held in leash by the guards but surged forward to do honor and homage to the highest officer in the nation.

Cheered by crowds

After the arrival of the train, a slight delay was experienced before the president made his appearance on the depot platform, to be seated in the automobile, that was to convey him on the trip. As he made his way from the rear end of the train cheers broke out, and as he passed along the line of waiting autos and stepped into his car, the cheering was swollen to a mighty volume, and as the machine of Harry Youmans led the march away from the depot, the president doffed his hat, passing bareheaded through the waiting crowd.

Autos await train arrival

The committee having the automobile arrangements in charge deserve untold credit for the manner in which the procession moved off. Prior to the arrival of the presidents train, the machines were placed in their respective places in the waiting line, so that the start was made without a hitch. Harry Youmans was chairman and S.H. Somsen and Theodore Wold were the members of the automobile committee who made the arrangements for the drive.

Eight cars were used for the presidential party, but four or five extra cars were retained for out-of-town newspapermen. The lineup of the automobiles and the men that they carried are as follows:

H.S. Youmans car  The President, Mayor Archie Butt (who later lost his life on the Titanic) Congressman Tawney, C.A. Boalt and Secret Service officer.

S.H. Somsen car  Charles C. Wagner, Joseph Murphy, S.H. Somsen.

John Borth car Dr. J.J. Prlchardson, Assistant Secretary Mischler, M. G. Norton.

Charles Horton car  Robert Small, Robert Hazard, Charles Horton.

H. B. Blair car  B. Fowler, William Hoster and H. Choate.

Paul Watkins car  Sherman Allen, Harry Dunlop, A. B. Youmans and Edward Lees.

S.L. Prentiss car  Congressman Martin, Congressman Burke, R. H. Randall, J. A. Latsch.

F. H. Thatcher car  Congressman Esch, George W. Burton, L.H. Brown.

Reception at Arlington Club

As the procession moved away from the depot and down Main Street, the red fire was lit in advance of the march. From this side of the lake the procession could be watched with ease as it moved along with only the lights visible. The red lights were on fire from one end of the lake to the other brilliantly setting in the foreground, the moving machines.

After his address at the two halls, the president entertained at a private reception at the Arlington Club, where he met a large number of influential Winonans and had refreshments. He then went back to his car and left the next morning for the Twin Cities. He came here from La Crosse, where he dedicated the new YMCA building. It was his only visit in Winona.

An interesting sidelight

Albert R. Thrune, clerk at the post office, this morning recalled an interesting event in connection with President Tafts visit here.

Mr. Thrune was one of the victims of the pickpockets who carried on their work during the height of the excitement. Noticing that his pocketbook was gone, he reconciled himself to the fact that he was $10 the loser.

His surprise was immense when on reaching home he found the $10 bill he had intended to take with him on the piano keys and all he was out was his empty wallet. He had forgotten to put the money in his pocketbook.

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Worldwide Unified Communications & Collaboration Market Revenue Grew 17.7% to $38.8 Billion in 2019, According to IDC

Worldwide revenue for the unified communications & collaboration (UC&C) market reached $38.8 billion in 2019, representing year-over-year growth of 17.7% according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) QView. The QView provides a comprehensive view of the current market, reporting both revenue and shipments of hardware, software, and cloud-based services for dozens of vendors in the UC&C space.

Market highlights for Q4 2019 include the following:

Worldwide revenue reached $10.4 billion in Q4 2019, growing 5.0% quarter over quarter and a healthy 13.8% year over year.

Worldwide shipments (in lines, units, licenses and seats) grew 3.7% quarter over quarter and 20.6% year over year.

Regional highlights for Q4 2019 are as follows:

North America (U.S. and Canada) revenue increased 12.1% year over year and 1.1% quarter over quarter.

EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) revenue increased 15.0 % year over year and 9.8% quarter over quarter.

Asia/Pacific (including Japan) revenue increased 17.9% year over year and 7.9% quarter over quarter.

Key metrics for vendors such as 8x8, ALE, Avaya, BlueJeans, Cisco, Google, Huawei (News - Alert), Logitech, Microsoft, Mitel, NEC, Poly, RingCentral, Slack, Unify, Vonage, Yealink, and Zoom, among many others, are included in the QView.

"This enhanced QView provides a comprehensive view of the UC&C market and vendors in terms of both revenue and shipments, as well as UC&C technology segmentation," said Rich Costello, senior research analyst, Unified Communications (News - Alert) & Collaboration. "Areas of particular interest and adoption today, especially in light of the current pandemic, are well-represented in this IDC (News - Alert) view of the global market, including cloud-based voice/UC, videoconferencing, and collaboration, among others."







The IDC Worldwide Quarterly Unified Communications & Collaboration QView provides total market size and vendor market share data in an easy-to-use Excel Pivot Table format that includes UC&C hardware, software, and cloud-based services. UC&C technologies are segmented by the following categories: IP PBX (News - Alert) Lines/Licenses, IP Phones, Enterprise Videoconferencing Room Endpoints, Enterprise Videoconferencing Huddle Room Endpoints, Video Infrastructure, UC Collaboration, Hosted Voice/Public Cloud (UCaaS), and Managed Voice/Private Cloud. Measurement is provided in vendor revenue and unit/line/license/seat shipments.

For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Unified Communications & Collaboration QView, please contact Kathy Nagamine at [email protected].

Click here to learn about IDC's full suite of data products and how you can leverage them to grow your business.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter (News - Alert) at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights: http://bit.ly/IDCBlog_Subscribe.

All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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Georgia state health officials on Wednesday said there have been 1,095 people in the state who have died from the coronavirus, 60 more since Tuesday.

The confirmed cases are now at 25,634, up by 822 in the last 24 hours.

Hospitalizations are at 5,072, up 206 since Tuesday.

Whitfield County now has 79 cases, up four from Tuesday, and remains at four deaths.



Walker County has two more cases, for a total of 60, and no deaths. Dade County is still reporting 14 cases and remains at one death.

Catoosa County remains at 46, and Chattooga County has 16 cases, two more since Tuesday, and an additional death for a total of two. The new death from Chattooga was a 65-year-old man with chronic conditions.

Bartow County south of Chattanooga at Cartersville now has 308 cases, 10 more than Tuesday. They remain at 30 deaths from the virus.

Floyd County (Rome) has five more cases for a total of 139, and 11 deaths.

Gordon County (Calhoun) has 89 cases, four more than Tuesday, but no more deaths, for a total of 12.

The cases remain centered around the Atlanta area, with Fulton County with 2,766. There have been 114 coronavirus deaths in Fulton County. Cobb County has 1,568 cases and 87 deaths. There are now 1,965 cases in Dekalb County (Decatur) with 46 deaths. Gwinnett County has increased to 1,720 cases and 55 deaths.

Dougherty County (Albany) now has 1,497 cases and 119 deaths.
London: No child has been found to have passed coronavirus to an adult, a review of the evidence in partnership with the Royal College of Paediatrics has found.

Major studies into the impact of COVID-19 on young children suggest they "do not play a significant role" in spreading the virus and are less likely to become infected than adults.

Not spreaders of coronavirus. The latest thinking suggests children pose no risk for adults. Credit:Belinda Pratten

While experts insist that more evidence is needed, they note there has not been a single case of a child under 10 transmitting the virus, even in contact tracing carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Public health officials in Switzerland have announced that under-10s can hug their grandparents again because they pose them no risk.
Doctors in the UK have shared their fears over 250 ventilators purchased from China and called for their 'withdrawal and replacement'.

Medical experts from the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust warned that the Shangrila 510 model, made by Chinese firm Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd., caused 'significant patient harm including death' if used in a hospital environment.

In a letter seen by NBC News, the senior doctors revealed the breathing machines, which were built for ambulances rather than hospitals, not only had a problematic oxygen supply but could not be cleaned properly.

The five-page document, which was seen by the news organisation on April 13, read: 'We believe that if used, significant patient harm, including death, is likely.

'We look forward to the withdrawal and replacement of these ventilators with devices better able to provide intensive care ventilation for our patients.'

The complaints came after a shipment of 300 Chinese ventilators were flown into the UK on April 4 - a development hailed by Michael Gove in one of the Government's daily virus press briefings and tweeted about by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

It is not clear how many were sent by Beijing Aeonmed, whether any other NHS hospitals received shipments of the ventilators or how much was paid for them.

Doctors from the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust have warned against the Shangrila 510 model ventilator. Pictured: 300 ventilators are seen arriving at MOD Donnington, in Shropshire, from China on April 4

The Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust medics explained that the device made by the Chinese manufacturer provided an oxygen supply which was 'variable and unreliable'.

Alongside the device having only a 'basic' build, the fabric case on the device could not be cleaned properly by staff.

The doctors went on to say that the machines, which also arrived to the UK with a 'non-E.U.' oxygen connection hose, were designed for ambulance use rather than for hospitals and left NHS staff having to create makeshift stands for the device out of a hospital trolley.

In addition, the ventilators had an unfamiliar design to doctors in the UK and came with an instruction manual that was confusing.

The document, which was written by a senior anaesthesia and intensive care doctor representing a group of clinicians and senior managers in and around Birmingham, comes as the UK continues to control the spread of the virus which has now claimed the lives of 26,570.

Earlier this month, ministers confirmed that they had purchased and unloaded 300 ventilators from China at the military base MOD Donnington in Shropshire.

Following the arrival of the devices, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Rabb tweeted: 'Today we received 300 ventilators purchased from China, for @NHsuk hospitals. Thousands more due in the coming weeks.

'Large shipment of masks and protective equipment has also arrived, flown from Shanghai by @virgin. Thanks @ukcinchina for helping deliver these life-saving supplies.'

While Michael Gove said during a Downing Street briefing: 'Today 300 new ventilators arrived from China. I'd like to thank the Chinese government for their support in securing that capacity.'

On April 4, Michael Gove said thanked China for the arrival of 300 new ventilators during a press briefing

While Dominic Raab confirmed the UK had received 300 ventilators purchased from China

However on April 13, doctors at the Birmingham trust issued a warning about the 250 ventilators that they had received.

Beijing AeonMed, which was established in 2001, is a 'leading domestic R&D and manufacturing enterprise for anaesthesia and respiratory medical equipment', according to its website.

The company sells a range of medical products including anaesthesia machines, operating lights, operating tables, ceiling pendants, patient monitors, infusion pumps, warming blankets and endoscopes.

A Government spokesperson said: 'The Shangrila 510 ventilator model is not being used in hospitals and no patients are at risk.

'Ventilators need to pass robust regulatory tests to ensure they are up to standard before theyre delivered to NHS hospitals.

'Our absolute priority in this global pandemic is saving lives and we are increasing our provision of ventilators to ensure the NHS continues to have the resources it needs, through procuring more ventilators from overseas, including over 4,000 from China, scaling up the production of existing or modified designs and working to design and manufacture new devices.

'We currently have around 10,900 mechanical ventilators available to NHS patients across the UK, as well as 4,300 non-invasive ventilators.'

MailOnline has contacted the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and NHS England for comment.

Earlier this month Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the country was on track to have ventilators for 18,000 patient

This month, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the country was on track to have ventilators for 18,000 patients  but they may not be in place in time.

He said the estimated total of 11,500 ventilators should be enough because social distancing had helped to slow the spread of the virus and defended the Government's handling of the outbreak.

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show Mr Hancock said: 'We need to make sure we have more ventilators than there are people who need ventilation.

'We have between 9,000 and 10,000 within the NHS, and we have the 2,000 spare that are critical care beds with ventilator capacity.

'We need 18,000 over the coming two weeks.'
JERUSALEM  Israels attorney general said Thursday that neither the criminal charges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing nor the unusual terms of the coalition deal he struck with a former rival should disqualify him from forming a new government.

The opinion by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who oversaw the investigation of Mr. Netanyahu and personally issued the indictment against him, could wind up strengthening his defenses against removal. It comes as Israels Supreme Court is to hear legal challenges on Sunday to Mr. Netanyahus power-sharing agreement with Benny Gantz, who fought him to a draw in three elections before giving up and joining him.

Mr. Netanyahu, who is accused of trading lucrative favors for gifts and positive press coverage in dealings with Israeli media moguls, is set to stand trial beginning May 24 on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Mr. Gantz, who campaigned on a vow to topple Mr. Netanyahu and insisted he would never serve under a premier facing criminal charges, reversed himself and agreed to an unusual arrangement in which Mr. Netanyahu would serve as prime minister for 18 months, with the two men required to agree on most major decisions. Mr. Gantz would then take over for another 18 months.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has raised doubts about speculation the coronavirus started in a Wuhan laboratory after Australian intelligence officials were unable to find any evidence to support the theory.

Intelligence agencies in the United States are investigating whether the virus started at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, near where the outbreak was first recorded, as part of a number of theories relayed to the Australian government under the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing arrangement.

Wuhan's Institute of Virology.

The intelligence has found no evidence that the Wuhan lab was the cause of the outbreak - only that it is one of a number of scenarios that cannot be ruled out.

The most likely cause of the virus is still the city's Huanan Seafood Market where environmental samples of the virus were found, Australian intelligence officials believe. Scientists studying the pathogen's genome have said it can only have evolved in nature and had long been warning that deforestation, urban sprawl and wet markets selling live wildlife such as that market in Wuhan were creating a "perfect storm" for another dangerous virus to jump from animals into humans.
Donald Trump's reelection campaign will release a nationwide ad Sunday touting his response to the coronavirus pandemic then a second wave of ads will issue attacks on Joe Biden after internal polls showed a dangerous slide in support.

The first ad will air all next week and likely come with a seven figure price tag, two people familiar with the plans told Politico in a report Thursday.

Although there was an initial surge in support for Trump at the start of the coronavirus outbreak, internal polling shown to the president last week exhibits that the boost has vanished.

The second round of ads set to be released next month will focus on attacking the presumed Democratic nominee in the Trump campaign's first major attack ad blitz of the general election.

During the briefing Friday, Trump's political advisers also informed him about internal polling that shows a months-long slip for the president with Biden pulling ahead in battleground states.

'FAKE POLLING, just like 2016 (but worse)!' Trump lamented on Twitter Thursday morning.

The polling prompted a furious response from the president in private when he lashed out at his campaign manager, Brad Parscale, during a call with campaign advisers Friday.

'I'm not f***ing losing to Joe Biden,' Trump directed to Parscale, five sources with knowledge of the conversations told the Associated Press, adding that he cursed at his campaign manager several times throughout the call.

Donald Trump's reelection campaign is set to release two rounds of ads after the president launched a furious attack directed at his campaign manager after seeing polls with him trailing Joe Biden in battleground states

Trump dismissed the polling as 'fake' in a tweet Thursday morning

'I'm not f***ing losing to Joe Biden!' Trump lashed out at his campaign manager Brad Parscale (pictured) during a call Friday, according to sources familiar with the conversation. Another report indicates Trump threatened to sue Parscale at one point during the call

The first wave of ads will focus on touting the president's response to the coronavirus crisis as his polling boost in the early stages of the outbreak disappeared as the death toll surpassed 60,000 this week and there are now more than 1 million confirmed cases in the U.S.

The second round will be the first major attack ad blitz from Trump of the general election, aimed at Joe Biden, who became the presumed Democratic nominee earlier this month and received the endorsement of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton

The outburst came the day after Trump suggested during a coronavirus briefing that Americans inject disinfectants to treat COVID-19 and claimed it could also be treated with heat or light.

CNN also reported Wednesday that three people familiar with the matter said Trump, at one point during the Friday call, threatened to sue Parscale.

Parscale, 44, was the digital media director for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and was promoted for the 2020 reelection effort to campaign manager.

Also during the call last week, Parscale and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel urged Trump to scale back his nearly-daily press briefings.

For the last two months, Trump has taken the podium in the James S. Brady briefing room to speak with a downsized room of reporters about coronavirus mitigation at the federal level  and often going on a tangent about a slew of other issues.

Trump seems to have taken his advisers' advice and in the last week has held fewer briefings.

He does, however, still speak with the media at other White House events, getting in his comments and praise about his response to the outbreak by means other than briefings.

Trump asserted on Twitter that the Democrats are trying to steal the 2020 election, blaming the fake news for helping.

We cant let the Fake News, and their partner, the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, get away with stealing the Election, he tweeted Thursday. They tried that in 2016. How did that work out?

Trump has suspended his campaign rallies in the midst of the coronavirus crisis and the campaign has attempted to avoid appearing overly political by putting out any attack ads.

But now the reelection effort is stepping up the offensive as top Republicans have expressed concern over Trump's chances in November.

Parscale served as Trump's digital media director in the 2016 campaign and was promoted to campaign manager for the 2020 reelection efforts

Joe Biden became the presumed Democratic nominee earlier this month when his last remaining competition, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, suspended his campaign and endorsed the former vice president

People familiar with plans for the ads said the first round will depict Trump showing leadership in the face of opposition from Democrats and media while highlighting his determination to restart the economy.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who served as Trump's 2016 campaign manager, has advocated for solely airing positive commercials about Trump's leadership rather than China-themed attack ads against Biden.

Trump instead decided to delay any anti-Biden sentiments for the second round of ads.

Politico reports that he has verbally expressed concern over whether he risks damaging Biden too early instead of waiting until closer to the election.

Biden, 77, became the presumed Democratic nominee earlier this month when Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign and threw his support behind the former vice president.
Businesses using SAP solutions can now orchestrate and automate business processes and background workloads

ATLANTA, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stonebranch today announced that its Universal Connector app for SAP technology is now available for free trial and purchase on SAP App Center, the digital marketplace for SAP partner offerings. Stonebranch Universal Connector is designed to smoothly integrate with SAP HANA or SAP NetWeaver to any workload automation or job scheduling solution as well as Stonebranch's own suite of IT automation solutions.

"The Stonebranch Universal Connector for SAP technology is perfect for IT teams looking to orchestrate critical SAP IT processes as part of a holistic IT automation initiative," said Giuseppe Damiani, CEO of Stonebranch. "By making the Stonebranch Universal Connector available on SAP App Center, we have essentially opened the door for customers using SAP solutions who want to control all IT workloads, manage file transfers, and simplify tasks like SAP system copy from a single automation platform."

The Stonebranch IT automation suite, Universal Automation Center (UAC), helps organizations automate, manage, and orchestrate IT processes. With the Stonebranch Universal Connector, businesses using SAP solutions can now tap into the power of UAC to holistically control IT workflows across multiple platforms and business applications, regardless of where the data resides. This is all done from a single SaaS or on-premises-based platform, providing control across the entire IT environment. Stonebranch Universal Connector offers benefits including easy installation and maintenance, smooth connectivity to SAP NetWeaver or SAP HANA, real-time control and auditability, and end-to-end security and compliance.

At SAP App Center, businesses can discover approximately 1,800 innovative partner solutions that integrate with and extend SAP solutions. The solutions are SAP-validated and can be sorted by SAP product line, industry, solution type and use-case scenario, creating a seemingly endless supply of opportunities. Find, try, buy and manage SAP partner solutions digitally at www.sapappcenter.com.

Stonebranch is an SAP silver partner in the SAP PartnerEdge program. As such, it is empowered to build, market and sell software applications on top of SAP Cloud Platform, the market-leading platform-as-a-service offering from SAP. The SAP PartnerEdge program provides the enablement tools, benefits and support to facilitate building high-quality, disruptive applications focused on specific business needs - quickly and cost-effectively. The program provides access to all relevant SAP technologies in one simple framework under a single, global contract.

About Stonebranch

Stonebranch builds dynamic IT automation solutions that transform business IT environments from simple IT task automation into sophisticated, real-time business service automation, helping organizations achieve the highest possible Return on Automation. No matter the degree of automation, Stonebranch software is simple, modern, and secure. Using its universal automation platform, enterprises can seamlessly orchestrate workloads and data across technology ecosystems and silos. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with points of contact and support throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Stonebranch serves some of the world's largest financial, manufacturing, healthcare, travel, transportation, energy, and technology institutions. Learn more at www.stonebranch.com.

SAP, SAP HANA, SAP NetWeaver and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

For more information contact:

Scott.Davis@Stonebranch.com

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The regional director urged the field staff to support the state and district governments

Tapping into the best practices and key resources that helped India win its war against polio, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and World Health Organization has initiated a systematic engagement of WHOs national polio surveillance network, and other field staff, for COVID19 response.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India said, Time and again the Government of India and WHO together have shown our ability, competence and prowess to the whole world. With our combined meticulous work, done with full sincerity and dedication, we were able to get rid of polio. Today I would like to remind you of your potential and ability, and the big things we can do together. All of you in the field  IDSP, state rapid response teams and WHO - are our surveillance corona warriors. With your joint efforts we can defeat the coronavirus and save lives.

The Minister, along with Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, was addressing WHO and other field staff, simultaneously connected from over 1 000 sites all over the country  from capital cities to the remotest corners.

The National Polio Surveillance Project (WHO-NPSP) played a critical role in strengthening surveillance for polio that generated useful, timely and accurate data to guide policies, strategies and interventions until transmission of the poliovirus was interrupted in the country, Dr Khetrapal Singh said, adding that the other WHO field staff involved with elimination of TB and neglected tropical diseases and hypertension control initiative were also significant resources.

The Regional Director said, it is now time to use all your experience, knowledge and skills, with the same rigor and discipline that you showed while monitoring polio activities, to support districts with surveillance, contact tracing and containment activities.

She urged the field staff to support the state and district governments.

In the fight against the COVID-19, we have entered a stage where surveillance is going to play a vital role in making future strategies for containment, she said.

The strengths of the NPSP team  surveillance, data management, monitoring and supervision, and responding to local situations and challenges  will be utilized to supplement efforts of NCDC, IDSP and ICMR to strengthen Covid-19 surveillance.

The NPSP team will also support in sharing information and best practices and help states and districts calibrate their response based on transmission scenarios and local capacities.

Most importantly, the WHO field staff will continue to support immunization and surveillance and elimination of TB and Neglected Tropical Diseases, the Regional Director said, adding, disease outbreaks can negatively impact progress in a range of areas, from maternal and child mortality to vaccine-preventable diseases and other treatable conditions. India had been making stupendous progress in these areas and we cannot afford for Indias remarkable progress to be set back or reversed.

Dr Khetrapal Singh said that India has its unique challenges and also the capacity to overcome them, an example being elimination of polio in 2014. She complimented Dr Harsh Vardhan for introducing several of the key polio elimination initiatives as health minister of Delhi in 1994. Many of his initiatives were scaled up across the country and also adopted by other countries.

Indias WHO National Surveillance Project, renamed as National Public Health Surveillance Project post-polio elimination, has supported a number of public health emergency responses, including Ebola, with 50 of its surveillance medical officers deployed to Africa.
Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways Shri Piyush Goyal held discussions with the Export Promotion Councils(EPCs) of the country. He called upon the Exporters to identify their strengths, potentials and competitive advantages in specific sectors, and focus on harnessing them in the world markets. Goyal said that in the post-Covid era, there is going to be perceptible change in the global supply-chains, and Indian industrialists and exporters should be looking to capture significant share in the world trade. He assured them that the Government will be a pro-active supporter and facilitator in their efforts, and the Indian Missions abroad can play an important role in that. The Minister said that Incentives can be given, but they have to be justified, reasonable, and WTO-compliant.

Goyal said that the Ministry is working on identifying the specific sectors which can be taken forward in the immediate future for the Exports purpose. He said that India is going to have a bumper Rabi harvest this season, and our storage facilities are overflowing. At the same time, there are stories that there is shortage of food items in several countries. Many places are not having food of appropriate quality, taste and quantity, due to disruptions in the supply chains because of Covid-19 crisis. He said that this seems to be a good opportunity for export of agricultural and processed food items. The Minister exhorted the Export promotion councils to undertake brainstorming sessions with its members, and come up with similar actionable, big-ticket ideas.

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Independent Offaly councillor Sean O'Brien has sent a letter to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this week to raise the issue of commercial rates impacting closed and struggling businesses.

In his letter, Sean says: "Local Authorities, particularly rural Local Authorities, face serious funding issues as a result of the closedown of businesses due to Covid-19.

"It was recently announced that Commercial Rates would be deferred for the months of March, April and May 2020, but this

is of little value as these businesses will not have cash flow to pay these Rates when they re-open. This will result initially in a serious shortfall in income for Local Authorities.

"Depending on the length of time businesses will remain closed many will not re-open at all and this will result in further decline in income. Some businesses are reporting a major decline in business and are applying for a reduction in Rates comparable to their decline in business.

"In Offaly, we have specific issues which will impact on Commercial Rates. West Offaly Power, which pays an annual Commercial Rate of 2.4m, is reporting production at 20% due to a reduction in demand for electricity and is seeking a reduction in its Rates bill to reflect this; this plant is due to close in December 2020.

"Bord Na Mona has announced serious job losses and this will also result in a reduction of their Rates contribution. In Offaly, we have traditionally had a poor Rates base and the problems associated with Covid-19 are likely to have a serious impact on our income from Rates which could result in a major difficulty in delivering services and retaining staff. Our Commercial Rates shortfall this year could be in the order of 6m. I am thus asking that a Commercial Rates Support Programme be considered an essential element of the new Programme for Government."

Cllr O'Brien continued: "The measures to combat Covid-19 could have a devastating impact on rural Ireland. Many retail, hospitality and small commercial businesses have been struggling due to the flight of the population to the bigger urban centres. The possible closure of these businesses would have a serious impact on life in rural areas and lead to further decline.

"It will thus be necessary to introduce a Rural Regeneration Fund to assist existing businesses and to encourage others to open new businesses. Many workers from rural areas travel to Dublin and other cities every day to work. Thankfully some have managed to work remotely during these times; this new way of working has to be encouraged as it has many benefits

including reduction in Carbon Emissions, better work/life balance, reduction in travel congestion and better value for businesses due to lower property costs in rural areas.

"I would ask you to give these matters serious consideration during your discussions on the new Programme for Government as the issue of Local Government financing and the challenges facing rural Ireland are real and immediate."
Final Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2019

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE:HEMO) ("Hemogenyx" or the "Company"), the biopharmaceutical group developing new therapies and treatments for deadly blood diseases, announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2019.

Key Highlights

CDX antibody demonstrated to be effective against Acute Myeloid Leukemia ("AML") and as a Conditioning Therapeutic in vivo

CDX antibody effective against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ("ALL") in vitro

Development of a new generation of the Company's humanised mice that is being used as a model for several diseases

Continued development of CDX with a global pharmaceutical company involving manufacturability assessment and follow-up tests of the antibody

Post-Period End Highlights

Hemogenyx to use its advanced humanised mice to develop potential treatments for COVID-19 and other emerging pathogens

New CAR-T product candidate HEMO-CAR-T cells demonstrated to be effective against AML in vivo

Approval of patents for Hu-PHEC (Human Post-natal Hemogenic Endothelial Cells) in both the US and Europe

Placing and Subscription in January 2020 raised approximately 650,000

Dr Vladislav Sandler, CEO of Hemogenyx, said:

"2019 was an exceptionally productive year for Hemogenyx, both scientifically and commercially. Not only did we achieve significant progress on our existing product candidates, we were also able to leverage our proprietary technologies and expertise to further broaden and diversify our product pipeline. Our humanised mice have proven to be an immensely useful tool and have allowed the Company to enter new areas of drug development, including for autoimmune diseases and diseases caused by viral infections, in particular COVID-19."

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include without limitation the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programs on schedule and the success of exploration programs. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this news release.

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.

Enquiries:

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc https://hemogenyx.com Dr Vladislav Sandler, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder headquarters@hemogenyx.com Peter Redmond, Director SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Matthew Johnson, Vadim Alexandre, Soltan Tagiev Peterhouse Capital Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7469 0930 Lucy Williams, Duncan Vasey, Charles Goodfellow US Media enquiries Tel: +1 (323) 646-3249 Lowell Goodman lowell@corbomitecomms.com

About Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc ("Hemogenyx") is a publicly traded company (LSE: HEMO) headquartered in London, with its wholly-owned US operating subsidiaries, Hemogenyx LLC and Immugenyx LLC, located at its state-of-the-art research facility in New York City and a wholly-owned Belgian subsidiary, Hemogenyx-Cell SPRL, located in Liege.

Hemogenyx is a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical group developing new medicines and treatments to treat blood and autoimmune disease and to bring the curative power of bone marrow transplantation to a greater number of patients suffering from otherwise incurable life-threatening diseases. Hemogenyx is developing several distinct and complementary product candidates, as well as a platform technology that it uses as an engine for novel product development.

For more than 50 years, bone marrow transplantation has been used to save the lives of patients suffering from blood diseases. The risks of toxicity and death that are associated with bone marrow transplantation, however, have meant that the procedure is restricted to use only as a last resort. Hemogenyx's technology has the potential to enable many more patients suffering from devastating blood diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as severe autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, aplastic anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus), to benefit from bone marrow transplantation.

Chairman's Statement

I am very pleased to report a highly productive period of scientific and commercial progress in the year ended 31 December 2019. It has been a remarkable year for Hemogenyx in many respects, with strong progress on several fronts.

Our lead product, the CDX bi-specific antibody, was originally designed to provide a safer way to condition patients suffering from blood diseases for bone marrow transplants. As shareholders will be aware, however, the CDX bi-specific antibody has been found to have wider potential applications, including the treatment itself of blood diseases, in particular acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the most dangerous form of leukaemia. Working with a major global pharmaceutical group, we have made considerable progress in the development of the antibody. We have also developed a new product candidate based on CAR-T, further diversifying and de-risking our product portfolio. This product is designed to be used in the treatment of AML and other blood diseases, as well as in transplant conditioning. Together with these new scientific breakthroughs, we have also been working to take our Hu-PHEC cell therapy product candidate forward.

At the same time, we have made significant advances in the use of our advanced humanised mice. We originally developed these mice as a tool to test our CDX antibodies. As shareholders will know, however, these mice have proved to be of value in their own right. Their exceptional properties are now being used in a number of applications in collaboration with major pharmaceutical companies, such as the continuing work with Johnson & Johnson in relation to Lupus.

As a result of our use of the mice to model Lupus, we made further discoveries about their properties. These findings led us to understand that our mice can be used to model an even wider range of autoimmune diseases, as well as to develop treatments for diseases caused by viral infections. In 2019, we began our efforts to leverage our mouse technology for these purposes, and in view of the recent crisis arising from the COVID-19 pandemic we have now initiated work in a number of areas related to COVID-19, as we recently announced.

Our remarkable progress in all of these areas has been accomplished on budget and with the assistance of our major biopharmaceutical collaborators, our strong and highly qualified advisory board, and not least by our exceptional team of in-house scientists.

I propose to go into more detail about the various components of our product pipeline below.

Background

Hemogenyx is developing two primary sets of products for the multi-billion1 bone marrow/hematopoietic stem cell transplant market. They are:

A set of treatments for blood malignancies that includes CDX bi-specific antibody and CAR-T therapy. Both CDX and CAR-T are product candidates that could eliminate relapsed and/or refractory ("R/R") acute myeloid leukaemia ("AML"), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ("ALL"), and myelodysplastic syndrome ("MDS") - forms of blood cancer - as well as certain other blood malignancies, and replace chemotherapy and radiation as a means of pre-transplant conditioning.

A cell therapy group of products - cell therapies that address the problem of blood stem cell donor availability and issues around relapse or cell rejection after transplantation. These products use Human Postnatal Hemogenic Endothelial Cells ("Hu-PHECs") as a source of generating cancer-free, patient-matched blood stem cells for transplantation into the patient.

The products address a large and growing need and will be sold into a market that is already substantial. If successfully commercialised, Hemogenyx's products could enable a much wider range of patients to be treated than is presently the case as the products should be applicable to patients who are unfit for or, through the lack of suitable cell donors, unable to receive blood stem cell transplants at present.

Additionally, the Advanced Hematopoietic Chimera ("AHC"), the Company's proprietary humanised mouse model originally developed to improve the testing of the Company's own products in vivo, is generating wide interest across the bio-pharmaceutical industry as a platform for disease modelling and drug discovery, particularly its newly developed form, the Advanced peripheral blood Hematopoietic Chimera ("ApbHC") which may also have a vital role to play in the rapid development and/or isolation of human antibodies against previously unknown pathogens such as the novel coronavirus, more broadly refred to as bioprotection/biodefence applications.

I would like to take this opportunity to summarise the substantial progress made during 2019. A number of advances have been made in several strategic areas, continuing to strengthen the Company's intellectual property, portfolio of product candidates and commercial prospects.

CDX Antibodies

The Company made advances in 2019 with research into the use of its CDX antibody as a potential treatment for subsets of AML, ALL and MDS. The antibody was shown to be effective in animal studies against AML-derived cells using the Company's proprietary humanised mice, following successful test tube studies of the ability of CDX to target and eliminate ALL cells. These potential additional applications of the CDX product candidate could provide life-saving treatments against several forms of blood cancer which remain resistant to current modes of treatment. The use of CDX as a therapy against blood malignancies is beyond the application of CDX purely as a conditioning product for bone marrow transplantation anticipated when the Company listed in 2017.

In July 2019, the Company filed a new patent application for CDX in relation to conditioning patients for bone marrow transplantation and treatments for blood cancers such as AML and ALL. An additional composition of matter patent application is expected to be filed upon the completion of the current development agreement with a global international pharmaceutical company ("GlobalCo"; the identity of GlobalCo must remain confidential at its request). The Company therefore continues to strengthen its intellectual property portfolio and protections.

The work with GlobalCo on the Company's CDX antibody as a clinical candidate, first announced on 14 May 2018, entered its final phase in 2019. The Company and GlobalCo continue to develop CDX towards clinical readiness. GlobalCo has progressed manufacturability assessment and follow-up tests of the antibody. Hemogenyx and GlobalCo remain optimistic as to the outcome of these tests based on results to date.

The collaboration agreement, originally scheduled to complete in late April 2020, is being extended by a short period due to the impact on GlobalCo's operations of the novel coronavirus, following which Hemogenyx will either license the antibody to GlobalCo or will in-license GlobalCo's improvements to it on favourable terms.

In the latter part of 2018 and through 2019, the Company set to work with its monoclonal antibodies to develop a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell ("CAR-T") product candidate as an alternative potential treatment for blood disorders. The initial laboratory results announced in January and February 2020 are described in the subsequent events section below.

Humanised Mice

Immugenyx, LLC ("Immugenyx"), the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, developed a further improved version of its humanised mice, termed the Advanced peripheral blood Hematopoietic Chimera ("ApbHC") that presents several advantages over other mouse models. The ApbHC was initially developed as a research and development tool for the investigation of mature blood cell populations such as human T-cells, B-cells and antibody-producing plasma cells. A major advantage of the ApbHC is the absence of Graft versus Host Disease ("GvHD"), a disease that complicates and often renders impossible the efficient use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in transplanted mice, shortening their lifespan and suitability for testing.

The ApbHC has a broad range of applications. Hemogenyx has demonstrated that the ApbHC can potentially be used for testing multi-specific antibodies, including its own bi-specific CDX antibody for the elimination of AML and the conditioning of patients for bone marrow transplantation. ApbHC may also be used for the development and testing of new cell therapies involving immune cell reprogramming, such as CAR-T. Immugenyx has further demonstrated that the ApbHC can potentially be used for the modelling of autoimmune diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (aka Lupus), with a goal of developing fundamentally new treatments for those diseases. The Directors also believe that the ApbHC could potentially be used as a tool for the rapid development and/or isolation of human antibodies against previously unknown viruses such as the novel coronavirus or other natural or engineered human-specific pathogens, referred to in biodefence circles as "Disease X".

As with the original Advanced Hematopoietic Chimera, the Company believes that the ApbHC will be of considerable interest to other drug developers and interest shown to date is promising.

Immugenyx entered into a research agreement with the above-mentioned GlobalCo to develop the ApbHC as a tool for drug development and testing, as announced on 23 October 2019. If the first phase of research produces successful results, Hemogenyx anticipates that further research will be commissioned, as has been the case with other trials using the Company's humanised mice. According to the agreement, Immugenyx will grant to GlobalCo a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to any know-how and any patent(s) and patent application(s) arising from the agreement to use solely for its own research and product development purposes. Immugenyx will also grant to GlobalCo an option to an exclusive licence of any patents or patent applications arising from the Agreement. The terms of the exclusive licence will be negotiated in good faith and on reasonable commercial terms at the time GlobalCo exercises its option.

Immugenyx has already completed or entered into humanised mouse related projects with a number of other large pharmaceutical companies, including the previously announced agreement with Janssen Research & Development, LLC ("Janssen"), to build a model of human systemic lupus erythematosus ("SLE", also known as Lupus), an autoimmune disease. The Company is developing independently a cell-based approach to treat Lupus. In parallel, it is engaged in seeking novel druggable targets using its proprietary discovery platform that combines an AHC-based human Lupus model and single cell sequencing.

These agreements confirm the value of the new type of humanised mice within the pharmaceutical community and give the Company an immediate revenue stream which the Company believes can be developed and promoted considerably more widely.

Hu-PHEC Stem Cell Therapy

The Company reviewed and extended its licence agreement with Cornell University, the patent-holder of the Hu-PHEC technology posited and discovered by Hemogenyx's Co-Founder and CEO Dr Vladislav Sandler while working at Cornell. The restated agreement confirms Hemogenyx's exclusive, worldwide sub-licensable licence to the patent.

Hemogenyx-Cell SPRL ("Hemogenyx-Cell") is the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, established in Belgium in April 2019 to develop Hu-PHEC for the direct treatment of leukaemia and other blood diseases. Hemogenyx-Cell has been considering plans with a number of potential Belgian-based partners, including Orgenesis, Inc. - the provider of funding to Hemogenyx-Cell and also to Immugenyx in a separate agreement through convertible loans - regarding key building blocks for the path through development towards clinical trials of Hu-PHEC, including the establishment of a cell bank.

Discussions continue, both on the Hu-PHEC project and on other initiatives, with the potential partners, who are highly respected names in complementary fields.

Post Period End Updates

Following the end of the period under review, the Company has continued to make progress in a number of areas and can highlight to shareholders the following developments:

A patent application entitled Post-Natal Hemogenic Endothelial Cells and their isolation and use was approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and issued on 25 February 2020 as Patent Number 10,570,373. The European Patent Office issued a decision notice in April 2020 that it will grant a patent bearing the same title as Patent Number 3068875. The patent issuance will take effect on the date on which the European Patent Bulletin mentions the grant, scheduled for 13 May 2020. The patent applications were filed in 2014 and are the subject of Hemogenyx's aforementioned licence first granted in 2015 and restated in 2019.

The Company continued to draw on the cash provided by convertible loan facilities from Orgenesis Inc. for a maximum of US$2,000,000. As at 31 December 2019 a total of US$1,500,000 of the total facilities available had been drawn down, and the remaining $500,000 was drawn down in February 2020.

On 30 January 2020 the Company announced that it had raised 648,200 before expenses through a placing and subscription of 36,011,116 ordinary shares at a price of 1.8p per share. The funds are being used to continue the development and in vivo testing of the Company's Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) programmed T cells, for the further development and commercialisation of the Company's ApbHC and models and treatments for diseases, and to provide additional working capital for the Company to progress its core CDX antibody collaboration and to support its various partnerships with other major pharmaceutical companies.

In January and February 2020 the Company announced breakthroughs, first in test tube tests and subsequently in animal studies, in the promising field of CAR-T therapy. Hemogenyx has successfully constructed and tested CAR programmed T cells, termed HEMO-CAR-T, as a potential alternative treatment for AML. HEMO-CAR was constructed using Hemogenyx's proprietary humanised monoclonal antibody, against a target on the surface of AML cells. The Company has demonstrated that HEMO-CAR was able to programme human T cells (i.e. convert them into HEMO-CAR-T cells) to identify and destroy human AML derived cells.

Following the successful completion of these tests, Hemogenyx is undertaking further engineering of HEMO-CAR to enhance their safety. The Company is introducing and testing a safety switch designed to control the level of activity of HEMO-CAR-T cells, with the aim of creating a "tuneable and controllable drug". The purpose of these efforts is to dramatically improve the safety and potential versatility of HEMO-CAR-T cells for the treatment of AML and/or conditioning of bone marrow transplants, as well as a number of additional potential indications.

COVID-19

In late April 2020, the Company began applying its groundbreaking research and technologies to develop treatments for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Hemogenyx is using the exceptional characteristics of its ApbHC mice to discover human neutralising antibodies that could fight the virus. The study aims to demonstrate how Hemogenyx's technology can be deployed rapidly in emergencies in order to discover human neutralising antibodies against a host of viral pathogens, including what infectious disease experts in the bioprotection and biodefense sectors call "Disease X", meaning as-yet unknown viruses that may represent a similar or greater threat than the one presented by COVID-19.

Concurrently, Hemogenyx has initiated a pilot study to understand why some individuals who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 are asymptomatic, some exhibit mild symptoms, and some become very sick and even die. Such understanding could prove essential for both the development of new treatments for COVID-19 and managing the current risk of infection. Should the study prove to be successful, Hemogenyx will aim to develop and commercialise a test that would prospectively identify people with potentially high/low risk of severe illness caused by the virus.

Financial Results

During the year the Group made a loss of 1,453,144 (2018: 1,544,324 restated loss).

Scientific Advisory Board & Board Update

I have chaired the Scientific Advisory Board since September 2017 and have worked with the Company to widen its expertise and to bring in advisers that can specifically help given the stage to which the Company's product development has advanced.

Our Scientific Advisory Board, under my Chairmanship, brings together a number of experienced experts with extensive biotech and large pharma drug development experience and their calibre is a reflection of the potential opportunity that our therapies present.

There were no changes to the composition of the Board during 2019, giving the Company a period of stability in which its talented scientific staff were able to demonstrate their extraordinary capacity to advance the Company's science and commercial relationships on limited financial resources.

The Board has continued to demonstrate its confidence in the ongoing success of the business throughout the period under review and post-period end. I have elected to receive most of my remuneration in share options and collectively we remain confident that the Company's shares should deliver significant shareholder return over the long term.

Conclusion

The Company has made progress in further widening its suite of products (e.g. its new ApbHC form of humanised mice and its CAR-T product candidate) and their potential applications (e.g. the use of ApbHC for biodefence purposes and the use of CDX antibodies to treat ALL and MDS) and in cultivating important partnerships and financing.

2019 marked substantial further contributions to the diversification and de-risking of the Company's prospects and additional steps in opening up yet more disease markets. The period saw increased recognition of the excellence of the Company's scientific team, and laid further foundations for the realisation of substantial shareholder value as the Company moves ever closer to entering a product candidate to clinical trials.

My fellow Directors and I are greatly encouraged by the Company's work and on-going conversations with key industry partners on several fronts, and believe that the next 12 months will mark a key inflection point in its growth and maturity.

Prof Sir Marc Feldmann AC, FRS

MB BS, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, FAA, F Med Sci

Chairman

30 April 2020

Directors' Report for the year ended 31 December 2019

The Directors present their report with the audited financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2019.

The Company's Ordinary Shares were admitted to listing on the London Stock Exchange under the name Silver Falcon plc, on the Official List pursuant to Chapters 14 of the Listing Rules, which sets out the requirements for Standard Listings, on 9 November 2015.

On 4 October 2017 the Company's shareholders voted in favour of acquiring the biotechnology company Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals Limited, with shares being readmitted to trading on 5 October 2017 under the name Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc.

Principal Activity

The Group's principal activity is the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel therapies and treatments for blood diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma. The company's leading technologies aim to change the way in which bone marrow/hematopoietic stem cell ("BM"/"HSC") transplants are performed and improve their efficacy. Hemogenyx's distinct and complementary products include immunotherapy product candidates for the treatment of AML and other blood malignancies and patient conditioning - the CDX bi-specific antibody and CAR-T therapy, and a cell therapy product for BM/HSC transplantation - the Hu-PHEC. Each of these products holds the potential to revolutionise the way BM/HSC transplants are being performed or diseases of the blood are treated, offering solutions that mitigate the dangers and limitations associated with the current standard of care.

The Group has three companies that are located outside of the UK. The principal laboratory of the Group is located in Brooklyn, New York, USA. The Group has also established additional operations in Liege, Belgium.

Results and Dividends

The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss shows a loss for the year amounting to 1,453,144 (2018: loss of 1,544,324 restated). The Directors do not propose a dividend in respect of the year ended 31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: nil).

Directors and Directors' Interests

The Directors who held office during the year were as follows:

Date Appointed Date Resigned Professor Sir Marc Feldmann 9 April 2018 - Dr Vladislav Sandler 4 October 2017 - Dr Robin Campbell 4 October 2017 5 January 2019 Alexis Sandler 4 October 2017 - Peter Redmond 29 July 2015 -

The Directors of the Company who held office at 31 December 2019 had the following beneficial interests in the Ordinary shares of the Company at 31 December 2019 according to the register of directors' interests:

Director At 31 December 2019 At 31 December 2018 Professor Sir Marc Feldmann - - Peter Redmond* 5,040,714 5,040,714 Dr Vladislav Sandler 41,544,677 40,451,210 Alexis Sandler 75,090,685 75,090,685

* Peter Redmond holds the majority of these shares through Catalyst Corporate Consultants Ltd of which he is the sole shareholder.

At the date of this report, the only change to the Directors' beneficial interest in the Ordinary shares of the Company as disclosed in the table above is that Peter Redmond's interest has increased to 5,596,270 shares by virtue of his participation in the Subscription and Placing of January 2020.

According to the Register of Directors' Interests, no rights to subscribe for shares in or debentures of Group companies were granted to any of the Directors or their immediate families, or exercised by them, during the financial year except as indicated below (see note 20 for detail on option plans):

Options Date of grant Number of options at start of year Options granted or acquired during year Options lapsed during year Number of options at end of year Dr Robin Campbell 4 Oct 2017 3,560,429 - 3,560,429 - 3,560,429 - 3,560,429 - Professor Sir Marc Feldmann 9 Apr 2018 18,002,568 - - 18,002,568 18,002,568 - - 18,002,568

Warrants Date of grant Number of warrants at start of year Warrants granted or acquired during year Warrants lapsed during year Number of warrants at end of year Dr Vladislav Sandler 4 October 2017 214,286 - 214,286 - 214,286 - 214,286 - Peter Redmond 4 October 2017 1,942,857 - 1,942,857 - 1,942,857 - 1,942,857 -

Qualifying Third Party Indemnity Provision

At the date of this report, the Company has a third-party indemnity policy in place for all Directors.

Substantial Shareholders

As at 31 December 2019, the total number of issued Ordinary Shares with voting rights in the Company was 361,242,853 (now: 397,253,969). The Company has been notified of the following interests of 3 per cent or more in its issued share capital as at the date of approval of this report.

Number of Ordinary % of Party Name Shares Share Capital Alexis Sandler 75,090,685 18.9 Vladislav Sandler 41,544,677 10.5 Craig Auringer 31,407,913 7.9 HSBC Client Holdings Nominee (UK) Limited 20,125,759 5.1 Samantha Bauer 17,996,487 4.5 Optiva Securities Limited* 18,506,211 4.7 Ron Valk 17,131,193 4.3 Lawshare Nominees Limited 13,397,733 3.4 Mark Hawtin 13,268,570 3.3

* Optiva Securities Limited holds these shares through JIM Nominees Limited.

Relationship Agreement

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.4(14)R, the Company has set out below a statement describing the relationship agreement entered into by the Company with its principal shareholder.

On 8 September 2017, the Company entered into a Relationship Agreement with Dr Vladislav Sandler and Alexis Sandler (the "Controlling Parties"), which came into force at the Company's re-admission. The principal purpose of the Relationship Agreement is to ensure that the Company is capable at all times of carrying on its business independently of the Controlling Parties.

If the Company ceases to be admitted to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, or the Controlling Parties (together with their associates) cease to hold 20 per cent or more of the voting rights over the Company's shares the Relationship Agreement shall terminate save for certain specified provisions.

The Relationship Agreement provides that the Controlling Parties undertake to use all reasonable endeavours to procure that they and their associates shall:

conduct all transactions with the Company on an arm's length basis and on a normal commercial basis;

not take any action that would have the effect of preventing the Company from complying with its obligations under the Listing Rules or the corporate governance principles adopted by the Group;

not propose or procure the proposal of a shareholder resolution which is intended to, or appears to be intended to, circumvent the proper application of the Listing Rules; and

not take any actions which is intended to, or appears to be intended to, breach or circumvent the proper application of the Relationship Agreement, the Listing Rules or the corporate governance principles adopted by the Group.

The Directors believe that the terms of the Relationship Agreement enable the Company to carry on its business independently from the Controlling Parties and their affiliates and ensure that all transactions and relationships between the Company and the Controlling Parties are, and will be, at arm's length and on a normal commercial basis. The Company has and, in so far as it is aware, the Controlling Parties and their associates have, complied with the independence provisions set out in the Relationship Agreement from the date of the agreement, through the relevant period under review. The ordinary shares owned by the Controlling Parties rank pari passu with the other ordinary shares in all respects.

Share Capital

Details of the issued share capital, together with details of the movement in issued share capital during the year, are shown in note 18 to the financial statements.

Financial Instruments

Details of the use of the Company's financial risk management objectives and policies as well as exposure to financial risk are contained in the Accounting policies and note 25 of the financial statements.

Future Developments and Events Subsequent to the Year End

Further details of the Group's future developments and events subsequent to the year end are set out in the Chairman's Statement and Strategic Report.

Corporate Governance

The Corporate Governance report forms part of the Directors' Report.

Going Concern

The Company's business activities, together with facts likely to affect its future operations and financial and liquidity positions are set out in the Chairman's Statement and Directors' Strategic Report. In addition, note 25 to the financial statements discloses the Company's capital risk management policy and note 2 details further considerations made by the Directors in respect of going concern, including an assessment of the possible impact on the Company arising from COVID-19.

The Directors, having made due and careful enquiry, are of the opinion that the Company has or will have access to sufficient funding in order to execute its operations over the next 12 months. The Directors therefore have made an informed judgment, at the time of approving the financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Directors have adopted the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the annual financial statements.

Political Donations

The Group made no political donations during the year (2018: nil).

Charitable Donations

There were no charitable donations made by the Group in the current or prior year.

Auditors

The auditors, PKF Littlejohn LLP, have expressed their willingness to continue in office and a resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

Under Company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

Make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

State whether applicable IFRSs as adopted by the European Union have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group and parent company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and parent company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements and the Directors' remuneration report comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and parent company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. They are also responsible to make a statement that they consider that the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced, and understandable and provides the information necessary for the shareholders to assess the Group and parent company's position and performance, business model and strategy.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Directors' Responsibility Statement Pursuant to Disclosure and Transparency Rules

Each of the Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge and belief:

the financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and loss of the Group and parent company; and

the Annual Report and financial statements, including the Business review, includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group and parent company, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

Disclosure of Information to Auditors

So far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditors are unaware, and each Director has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a Director in order to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditors are aware of that information.

Approved by the Board on 30 April 2020

Dr Vladislav Sandler

CEO

Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view the associated PDF document.

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/5503L_1-2020-4-30.pdf

1 Milliman Research Report 2014 U.S. organ and tissue transplant cost estimates and discussion

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587805/Hemogenyx-Pharmaceuticals-PLC-Announces-Final-Results
New York's EMS responders worked harrowing 16-hour shifts and slept in their cars to answer 7,200 calls a day at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, but Mayor Bill de Blasio is refusing to acknowledge that five who died on the frontline did so 'in the line of duty,' leaving their grieving families to fight for benefits and recognition.

This is the shocking reality today laid bare by New York's EMS chief Vincent Variale, President of the city's Uniformed EMS Officers Union.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com Variale, a 30-year veteran Lieutenant EMT, has described the horrors that first responders faced as the city spiraled to become the nation's coronavirus epicenter.

He has told of the physical and mental toll of the outbreak that has seen more than one thousand responders fall sick. And he has blamed the city for the fact that they went into that hell understaffed, underfunded and underprepared.

He said, 'I worked during 9/11 and at the peak this was like 9/11 every single day.'

EMS workers have been working around the clock during the coronavirus crisis in New York, but if they die, they are not recognized as dying 'in the line of duty'

Mayor Bill de Blasio has refused to recognize that five EMS workers who died while working the COVID-19 crisis died in the line of duty

New York's EMS chief Vincent Variale, 50, tells DailyMail.com of the physical and mental toll that the outbreak has had and of the one thousand sick responders

The typical volume of 9-1-1 emergency calls in New York City is 4,000 a day. In early April, as the virus peaked, that number had spiked to 7,200. By then 24 per cent of the EMS workforce was out sick.

According to Variale, 'We were already grossly understaffed and suddenly you have almost double the number of calls and nearly a quarter of your people out sick.

Variale (pictured), a 30-year veteran Lieutenant EMT, blames the city for being understaffed, underfunded and underprepared

The Unions have estimated that there should be a staff of at least 7,000 to 8,000 EMS workers to handle the regular volume of 9-1-1 calls. New York City has around 4, 200 when at full force.

Stretched to breaking point Variale said, 'We were understaffed when we started to handle these calls.

'The city and the Fire Department just weren't prepared. They had nowhere for our members to quarantine and so a lot of them were sleeping in their cars then coming back eight hours later to work another 16 hours.

'A lot of them were afraid to go home because they didn't want to expose their families and there was no testing being done so we couldn't know. And a lot were concerned about attending to patients if they themselves were COVID-19 positive because you're treating a patient who has underlying conditions and now you don't know if you could be hurting more than you're helping.'

Many of Variale's members became sick, he said, because they just did not have the PPE that they needed.

Dismissing FDNY's initial claims that they had enough he said, 'I don't know why they would say we had enough masks other than to cover-up their own lack of preparedness.

'What they did was they rationed them. They handed us three masks a day and figured if that's what we used we had enough. Unfortunately, we're doing ten, twelve calls a dayit was a big problem and people were getting very sick.'

What assistance did come, came late, Variale claimed.

It took the city two and a half weeks to help EMS workers find accommodation in the way that they assisted nurses and doctors and many hotels were reluctant to take frontline workers at such a high risk of COVID-19 exposure.

Until then, he said, it fell to the union to do what it could to secure rooms and draw funds from the EMS FDNY Help Fund.

'EMS workers are not treated by New York as a uniformed or emergency service in the same way that firefighters, police officers and even sanitation workers are,' Variale said. Pictured is FDNY paramedic Alex Tull, who has recently recovered from COVID-19

Variale has been outspoken about the city's response, saying: 'I worked during 9/11 and at the peak this was like 9/11 every single day,' he said

Much needed reinforcements arrived in the form of 500 EMTs sent by the Federal government in April.

But Variale is in no doubt that lives have been lost  both those of his members and the general public  that might have been saved had EMS workers been given the recognition and rewards that they are due.

He explained, 'EMS workers are not treated by New York as a uniformed or emergency service in the same way that firefighters, police officers and even sanitation workers are. EMS has always been treated as civilians or office workers.

'We respond to every fire, every shooting, stabbing, emergency medical call, active shooters, bomb blastseverything but the base salary for an EMT or paramedic is about $40,000 less.

'So, the guy coming to pick up your trash is earning $40,000 more than the EMT coming to save your life.'

Similarly, where other emergency services get unlimited sick days EMS workers get just 12.

An exception was made for those who were symptomatic for COVID-19 by extending an additional 12 days. That was reduced to just 7 days as the crisis surged and more and more EMS workers fell sick.

According to Variale four EMS workers are currently in the hospital and on ventilators fighting for their lives.

Five have died of COVID-19 and the inequity of their position in life has carried on into their deaths.

Variale explained, 'The city still has not recognized them as dying in the line of duty. When it's acknowledged that you died while trying to save the lives of others in the course of doing your duty that means overall your family is entitled to certain benefits.

Four EMS workers are currently in the hospital and on ventilators fighting for their lives, while five have died of COVID-19 in New York City

'When police, fire or sanitation die in the line of duty the family receives medical benefits and a salary for the rest of their life.

'In EMS they give you 80 percent of the salary for three years in a lump sum. So, if your husband or wife is in their twenties or thirties you get maybe $200,000 and that's it. No medical benefits, nothing else.

'We are fighting for these families now and we'll continue to fight but it's a terrible thing to have to face.'

Little wonder that 75 percent of EMS staff quit after less than five years with many moving to another emergency service in search of better pay and benefits.

But the resultant experience deficit comes with devastating consequences for both patients and EMS workers alike and writ large in this pandemic.

At the peak of the crisis the number of cardiac arrest calls jumped from a daily average of 80 to 300 or more. Studies show that cardiac arrest patients treated by EMTs with six years of experience or more have a 25 percent greater survival rate than those attended by less experienced medics.

Variale said, 'We have a workforce with an average three years of experience. That tells me your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest just dropped by 25 percent. That is unacceptable. This isn't some small island of a country. This is the United States of America. This is New York City. Some call this the capital of the world. How is it we cannot maintain a first-class emergency service?'

For his own part, after more than 25 years of active service Variale said that he had found a way to cope with the awful, sometimes violent scenes and inevitable losses to which he bore witness.

He said, 'I'm not going to say I'm not hurt by seeing somebody who died but I've been on this job for 25 years.

'I've seen many horrific incidents and I've learned to deal with it so that they don't overwhelm me. But when you have something like this, something worse than we've ever seen and you have a 20-year-old, even an 18-year-old in a position where there is just so much death it is going to have a mental impact.'

Nowhere is that truth more starkly visible than in the recent suicide of twenty-three-year-old, EMT John Mondello.

Mondello graduated from FDNY's EMS Academy in February and went straight into the 'chaos' of one of the busiest Tactical Response Groups in the city.

On Friday, he was found by the shoreline in Astoria, Queens. He had shot himself with the gun registered to his father, a retired NYPD officer.

EMT John Mondellois committed suicide at just 23 years old

Variale said, 'I can't imagine how badly he must have felt to want to take his own life. But you have to remember that it's so constant  for me or my partner on our regular shifts there would be one cardiac call a day.

'At the peak of this crisis, you're doing 10 or 12. And 10 out of that 12 you can't bring back. You're exhausted, you're seeing death constantly, you're not thinking clearlyit's a terrible thing and we're aware that further down the line mental health issues are something more and more of our members are going to have to deal with.'

There are counseling services, but they are nowhere near sufficient Variale said to meet the needs he anticipates his members to have.

The peak  at least of this first wave of the virus  appears, Variale said, to have passed. Calls have steadily dropped from 7,200 to 6,500 to 5,000 and now they are between 3,600 to 4,000 a day.

Most of the additional emergency workers shipped in at the beginning of the month will leave at its end with only a skeleton staff staying on but the percentage of New York EMS out sick has dropped from 24 percent to 15 percent.

The hospitals are beginning to clear, Variale said, 'They had been overwhelmed too but you can see quite a big difference to that's very encouraging.

'The social distancing is definitely working, and we hope people are cognizant as they go throught their daily life once some restrictions are lifted  wear your mask, wash your hands, be aware of what you're doing.'

He is worried that there will be a second wave but hopeful that they will be better prepared for it if, or when, it comes.

But while Variale is hopeful that the darkest of days are over he is determined that the plight of his members is not overlooked as life returns to something closer to normal for many.

He said, 'Governor Cuomo has been very supportive of EMS and recently signed some bills into law to help support us but unfortunately he doesn't have direct control, that's with Mayor De Blasio and he hasn't been cooperative at all.

'But we will not stop fighting. I won't stop fighting for those five families and I won't stop fighting for all EMS workers to be recognized for what they do.

'My hope is that if anything positive is to come from this it is that it ignites the conversation about our healthcare and about the standing of our EMS. And I hope that blazes like a wildfire.'

For more information or to make a donation to the EMS FDNY Help Fund.
More than three weeks after 413,000 Wisconsin voters went to the polls, there has not been the spike in COVID-19 cases attributed to the election that many feared.

The state said about two dozen people may have been infected on election day, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Wednesday. Some have characterized these numbers as an uptick, but the experts are cautious.

Ryan Westergaard, the chief medical officer at the Department of Health Services, told the paper that a link could not be established between the election and the very small number of cases that had developed among the 413,000 voters who showed up to the polls on April 7.

With the data we have, we cant prove an association, Westergaard said. It would be speculative to say that was definitely the cause without really investigating closely and being clear that somebody really had no other potential exposure to infected people. I dont think we have the resources to really do that to know definitely.

I dont think that the in-person election led to a major effect, to my surprise. I expected it, Oguzhan Alagoz, an expert in infectious-disease modeling at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, told the Journal Sentinel.

A Democratic state senator suggested last week that there had been a surge of cases because of the election, but as Politifact Wisconsin reported, the surge was due to an outbreak at several meat-packing facilities in Brown County, home to Green Bay. Even when accounting for the delays in testing and the viruss incubation period, a spike in new cases due to the election should have showed up by now if it were going to occur.

The weekend before the election, a major fight erupted between the states Democratic governor and Republican legislature over postponing the vote.

For several weeks after the outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States, Democratic governor Tony Evers continued to support holding the election on April 7, and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden seemed to back him up on April 2.

Story continues

On Friday, April 3, just four days before the election, Governor Evers made an about-face. He called on the state legislature to change the law so that an all-mail election could be held in May. The legislature rebuffed Everss request, and on April 6, the day before the election, Evers attempted to unilaterally postpone the election  an order he had repeatedly said would be illegal.

To back up Evers, the states health-department secretary-designee, Andrea Palm, expressed absolute certitude that in-person voting would result in more COVID-19 deaths, saying, on April 6: In-person voting would, without question, accelerate the transmission of COVID-19 and increase the number of cases. An increase in the number of cases in Wisconsin would result in more deaths. Republican legislative leaders challenged Everss order, and the state supreme court ruled in their favor.

One major factor that spurred Everss last-minute attempts to postpone the election were reports that the number of polling places would be greatly reduced in the cities of Milwaukee and Green Bay. While Green Bay usually has 31 polling places, it had only two open on April 7. Milwaukees typical 180 polling places were consolidated into five locations.

Such a drastic reduction in the number of polling places did not occur in most of the state, and city officials in Milwaukee and Green Bay have faced criticism for not opening more sites with the resources they had.

The mayor of Green Bay rejected dozens of volunteers who offered to work the polls, and the city of Milwaukee used more than 80 poll workers and 30 National Guardsman at each of its five polling locations. Milwaukee employs an average of eleven poll workers at each polling place during a typical presidential primary.

The official running Milwaukees elections said he didnt know how many National Guardsmen would be available at the time he decided to only open five polling centers. Had we had that information [about the National Guard] sooner, I absolutely think it could have influenced the number of voting centers, Neil Albrecht, the executive director of the citys election commission, said on April 7.

A record 1.1 million Wisconsin voters cast ballots by mail (or voted early in person), and that allowed polling places to be sparsely populated in most of the state on Election Day. But thousands of voters in Milwaukee and Green Bay experienced long lines and waits of up to two hours  the type of mass gathering that many feared would spread the virus.

Voters attempted to keep their distance from one another and mostly waited outside the polling places  perhaps another data point indicating that the virus does not spread well outdoors.

The absence of a much-feared wave of election-induced infections in Wisconsin is one small piece of good news in an otherwise grim month.

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Linkedin Apriza Pinandita and Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 12:16 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd52b5be 1 World COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,Tablighi-Jamaat,Foreign-Ministry,citizen-protection,coronavirus,virus-corona,Jamaah-Tabligh,India,Indonesian-Embassy-New-Delhi Free

The Foreign Ministry has revealed that 1,129 Indonesian members of Tablighi Jamaat, a worldwide Islamic missionary movement, are stranded in 13 countries due to the lockdown policy imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Only 19 Tablighi Jamaat members have returned to Indonesia from Morocco, Jordan and Thailand as of Sunday.

Most of the missionary group members are stranded in India, with the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi saying there were 727 members from Indonesia trapped due to the countrys lockdown policy  86 percent of the total 844 Indonesian nationals stranded in India.

Read also: Hundreds of Indonesian 'tabligh' attendees, 14 with COVID-19, stuck in locked down India

The embassy also said that 105 Tablighi Jamaah members from Indonesia had tested positive for COVID-19 in India and Pakistan.

Our citizens [in India] are doing fine. Of course [they are] coping with the lockdown, said Indonesian Ambassador to India Sidharto Suryodipuro in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.

As for the Tablighi Jamaat, most of them are under quarantine now. Of the total, 75 tested positive for COVID-19, while 43 others have recovered [from the disease].

Sidharto went on to say that the embassy had been working with Indian authorities to monitor those under quarantine.

We want to ensure that those observing Ramadan are being well-provided [with adequate supplies for necessities] under such circumstances.

Tablighi Jamaat congregations, known in Indonesia as Jamaah Tabligh, have made headlines lately as they became COVID-19 clusters in several countries where they held events in Malaysia, India and Indonesias South Sulawesi.

Read also: 'Severe red zone': East Java scrambles to contain COVID-19 spread at Islamic boarding school

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Wednesday that President Joko Jokowi Widodo had raised the issue of Indonesian Tablighi Jamaat members to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a phone call on Tuesday.

The two leaders have agreed to delegate the countries foreign ministers to follow up on the matter, she said.

We [ministers] have been in constant communication. Our missions [in India] have been monitoring closely the well-being of the Indonesian Tablighi Jamaat there. [] The missions have provided legal and consular assistance for those having legal issues [while under quarantine], Retno went on to say.

The government has delivered 1,196 staple food packages to Indonesian Tablighi Jamaat members stranded in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:22:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Thursday urged thorough COVID-19 prevention and control during the upcoming May Day holiday.

The instruction was given at a meeting of the leading group of China's COVID-19 epidemic response, which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Epidemic control measures for transportation carriers, hotels and tourist spots should be further specified and strictly taken to guard against the risks from the gathering of tourists, according to the meeting.

If another epidemic outbreak occurs, swift handling and targeted control should be in place to block its transmission routes as soon as possible, and information concerning the outbreak should be true, transparent and in time, the group said.

Warning against complacency in COVID-19 prevention and control, the group called for efforts to improve normalized epidemic control, especially in key areas and among key groups, to resolutely prevent the epidemic from rebounding.

The group also put forward specific requirements for epidemic control in communities, schools, supermarkets and other public venues, while stressing more efforts to enhance the capability of COVID-19 testing.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting. Enditem
China's parliament will hold its annual session next month after being delayed because of the coronavirus, state media said Wednesday, signalling the communist leadership's growing confidence in taming the epidemic. Beijing announced in February that it would put off the annual National People's Congress (NPC) for the first time since the Cultural Revolution as the country battled the coronavirus outbreak, which has since become a pandemic. The rescheduled session on May 22 will highlight confidence by the leadership that China has largely brought its outbreak under control. Top Communist Party leaders including President Xi Jinping attend each year's gathering with thousands of delegates from across the country, to rubber-stamp bills, budgets and personnel moves. According to a statement cited by official news agency Xinhua from the NPC Standing Committee -- the body that oversees the legislative session -- the epidemic in China is "improving steadily" and "normal economic and social life is gradually resuming". This means the "conditions for convening the NPC annual session... are ready," the statement said. China's capital on Wednesday lowered its emergency alert from the highest level and lifted a strict quarantine requirement for domestic travellers from "low-risk" areas, which it had kept in place long after many other regions in the country eased travel restrictions. Arrivals in Beijing from the virus epicentre of Hubei province as well as travellers coming from abroad are still required to complete a 14-day quarantine, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The annual gathering was originally due to start on March 5. A number of local governments have held their regional political meetings online -- fuelling speculation at least part of the NPC might consist of virtual sessions. But Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, told AFP that given how symbolic the national legislature meeting is, delegates are more likely to attend in person. "I believe that the delegates, many of whom are middle-aged, would not be able to accept virtual meetings as much as face-to-face meetings a- they see it as a great privilege to go to Beijing for these meetings and would hope to physically attend," he said. The NPC is usually a 10-day gathering, but state-run tabloid Global Times quoted one delegate saying the length of the meeting is likely to be reduced this year. Xinhua said earlier this week that there was a plan to create or revise 17 health-related laws this year and next, including a biosecurity law and a revised law on "animal epidemic prevention". Chinese scientists have said the virus emerged from a food market which reportedly sold exotic wild animals for human consumption. - 'Show of strength' - "This is a show of strength," said Hong Kong-based political analyst Willy Lam. "It's a sign that China is back on its feet, and the economic machinery keeps humming, and a big reassurance to the people that the epidemic is over." Lam said the announcement was also aimed at the domestic audience, to reassure Chinese citizens after a sharp 6.8 percent contraction in the first quarter's economic growth. China's official number of infections has dwindled dramatically over the last month, with no new deaths reported for two weeks straight. The NPC's Standing Committee said at the time the gathering was postponed that the top officials who normally attend the meeting should prioritise tackling the virus in their home regions. The NPC has been held every year since 1978, and on March 5 specifically for the past two decades.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia have not discussed the creation of the so-called Consultative Council within the Trilateral Contact Groups political subgroup during the video conference and listened to Russias position on this matter only.

"My Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, raised this issue [the creation of the so-called Consultative Council] and expressed Russias position on this matter in detail, but we did not discuss it. We listened to the position of our Russian counterpart on the Consultative Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at an online briefing on Thursday, April 30, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As a reminder, at the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas on March 11, attended by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak, an agreement was reached on the establishment of the Consultative Council within the TCG political subgroup after the consultations with the representatives of the OSCE, France, and Germany on the implementation of the agreements reached during the Normandy format summit.

According to Yermak, no steps were taken at the TCG meeting to create a legal framework for recognizing representatives of the occupied Donbas.

On March 13, representatives of the Servant of the People Party declared the inadmissibility of participation of representatives of the occupied Donbas in Ukraine-Russia talks within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group.

Later, Yermak assured that the format of the TCG negotiations in Minsk between the representatives of Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and the OSCE remained unchanged.

ol
Staff members of Aichi Prefecture, wearing protective gear as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the CCP virus, check the body temperature of passengers arriving at Nagoya railway station, Japan, on April 29, 2020. (STR /Jiji Press/ AFP via Getty Images)

Japan Prepares to Extend CCP Virus Emergency for About a Month: Sources

Japan is preparing to extend its state of emergency over the CCP virus, originally set to end on May 6, for about a month, government sources told Reuters on April 30, even as some other countries begin to reopen after strict lockdowns.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Parliament that he would consult infectious disease experts on whether to extend the emergency, which he declared on April 7 for seven prefectures including Tokyo.

Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said the meeting with the experts would start at 10 a.m. local time on May 1.

Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wearing a mask raises his hand to answer to a question during a budget committee meeting at the lower house of Parliament in Tokyo on April 28, 2020. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

The state of emergency gives local governors greater power to tell people to stay at home and ask businesses to close, but it doesnt mandate penalties in most cases for noncompliance, relaying instead on social pressure and respect for authority.

With the emergency declaration set to conclude at the end of Golden Week holidays, there remain worrying signs that Japans low testing regime has undercounted many CCP virus cases.

At the same time, data showing consumer confidence at a record low along with slumps in factory output and retail sales illustrated the economic damage from the CCP virus.

We would like to consult experts analysts and views, Abe said in Parliament, referring to a possible extension of the state of emergency. He said he wanted to make a decision before the last minute.

Japan has had more than 14,000 confirmed cases of the CCP virus and 436 deaths, according to public broadcaster NHK, still far lower figures seen in the United States and Europe.

Amid concerns of the CCP virus, people stroll on Katase Higashihama Beach in Fujisawa, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, on April 25, 2020. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images)

Of the confirmed cases, more than 4,000 were in Tokyo, with 46 new cases on April 30, media reported.

A study using antibody tests among people in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo indicated nearly 6 percent of people had been exposed to the CCP virus, the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper reported, echoing a similar study of patients at Keio University Hospital.

Faster  Shorter

Japan has carried out 1.3 CCP virus tests per 1,000 people, compared with 12 in South Korea and 18 in the United States, according to figures compiled by Our World in Data.

Japan should have acted faster, locked down, and contained in a shorter period of time, said Kenji Shibuya, director of the Institute of Population Health at Kings College, London.

If this situation continues, for a longer period of time, than that under the lockdown, then not just health care but the economy will suffer more.

Amid concerns of the CCP virus, a woman walks along a path decorated with flowers leading to Tsuruoka Hachimangu, a symbolic shrine in Kamakura, Japan, on April 25, 2020. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images)

Health authorities say they follow World Health Organization guidelines on testing, and that an expansion of testing could flood already overwhelmed hospitals with mild cases.

Abe will make a final decision about extending the emergency declaration by about a month following a meeting of experts on May 1, government and ruling party sources told Reuters.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters on April 29 the situation in the capital remained difficult and called on Abes cabinet to extend the emergency.

The response of social media users ranged from resignation to frustration at not being able to meet relatives or friends. But many more worried about the economic impact, especially on smaller businesses.

If you extend it another month for the whole nation, you will have to pay out subsidies to businessesand 100,000 yen to each resident also wont nearly be enough, wrote a social media user identified as Katuotoko.

Places with low infection rates need to get the economy moving again.

Japan has distributed more than $1 trillion to soften the economic blow from the CCP virus pandemic.

By Yoshifumi Takemoto

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
Sarnias Taylor Spitzig works a lot of afternoon and midnight shifts as a border ambassador for a trucking company. That schedule allows the 29-year-old to help out at the barn in Courtwright in the mornings.

Weve got about 30 horses in total. Anything from babies, to racehorses, to broodmares, to a stallion - theyre all here," Spitzig said. "I do a lot of the barn work and my dad (Rusty) is on the track jogging and training - George Little helps out with that, too.

Taylor mentions that although she grew up around the business of horse racing, it wasnt until after college that she decided to get involved as an owner and trainer. I didnt think about it much until I started coming back around the barn again when I was 19, she explained. There was this horse named Tommy Teefy and nobody was having any luck with him, so I got to working with him and we got along great. He may not have been much of a racehorse, but I learned lots from him. I guess it was then that I started thinking about becoming a trainer, and Id have my license soon after.

When Spitzig thinks about her earliest memories of Western Fair, they include the drive up from Sarnia. I remember driving there with dad on Friday nights and you could always smell the fries - from the McDonalds on the corner of Highbury and Hamilton - thats when I knew we were close to the track.

A few favourite horses that shed cheer for back in the day were raced by Rusty around the tracks of Ontario. J N Johnny was a gentle giant. He was just so laid back and he had such great manners. He was family with us. And then came Twin B Rawley. My dad really liked him as a colt and when he was going away to Florida, after his two-year-old season, he asked Gord McKnight to train him and the rest is history. Gord went on to train and drive him for almost seven years, winning lots of Preferred trots in London and he won some nice races over Mohawk and Woodbine, too.

Twin B Rawley retired with 31 wins, $358,045 in purse earnings, and a mark of 1:54 taken over Mohawk as a six-year-old.

Winwood Nick would provide Spitzig with her first career victory, as an owner and trainer, at Western Fair in March of 2014. Lorne House drove the son of Rambaran to a gate-to-wire upset win over Royal Sir and My Perfect Heart. I was very excited and relieved to get that first win out of the way. 'Nick' is not with me anymore, but Im sure hes somewhere in a field enjoying life now.

Chipchipahoy was 'Team Spitzigs lone winner during this past race meet in London. The pacing filly is owned by Spitzig family friend Wilbur Eash, of Indiana. Chipchipahoy will likely see her next racing action at the Hiawatha Horse Park. Hoosier Park was closing and dad had asked about her and she wasnt quite fast enough for there (Hoosier), so Wilbur asked if we wanted to try her in Ontario. Were thinking she may be a better summer horse and that shell likely enjoy the bigger track at Sarnia.



Taylor Spitzig, pictured jogging one of her charges. Taylor Spitzig, pictured jogging one of her charges.

Followers of The Raceway at Western Fair District surely remember the successful pacer Rocknroll King, who retired from racing back in 2015. We have him in the back field, right now, with his first mare to breed this year - B M Omega Alpha," said Taylor. "Sweet Queen Cole is coming to him soon as well. Hes been enjoying his time away from the races.

Taylor also stated that The King has got some offspring ready to race this season. Nickerback has started, but he was green at the time, so well expect better when he comes back. Theres a pair of three-year-old fillies, too. Pretty Rapid Dash and Hope To Win are almost ready to go and Carollittlesking may need more time - he was a very late foal of 2017, but hes still the biggest horse we have in the barn right now.

Elvis is a two-year-old who apparently looks the part so far. Hes out of Hopes Way and hes a big, thick, muscular colt. We have some high hopes for him. Hes broke and jogging nicely. Its Julep Time is about to be broke. She got her name when she came along around the Kentucky Derby of 2018.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Derby, which annually contested on the first Saturday in May, is now scheduled to be contested in early September.

Heres hoping were back racing soon, Spitzig stated. We just have to keep our heads and remain safe!

(Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle for The Raceway at Western Fair District)
April 30 : Delhi Crime famed actor Rajesh Tailang expressed his grief over Irrfan Khans demise, said Paan Singh Tomar shared a connection with everyone.

Actor Irrfan Khan has died at the age of 54, after being admitted to Mumbais Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Tuesday, where was under observation for colon infection. The actor in 2018 had announced that hed been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour.

Talking about Irrfan Khan and his demise, Rajesh said, He was not just my NSD senior but we belonged to the same state. We both hail from Rajasthan. Everyone felt a connection with Irrfan Khan, as an actor he was so appreciated and loved. He created a whole new meaning of acting. His silence in his acting was so meaningful. He could portray any or all, simple and complex roles with ease and effortlessly

Further adding Rajesh shared that he shared a personal connection with Irrfan Khan and losing him is like losing his brother.

He added, I dont know what to say, I lost my elder brother to cancer, some 3-4 years ago and I have lost one more brother. Although I was not able to get an opportunity to work with Irrfan Khan, and now I will always regret it. I met him regularly during NSD gatherings but now I will never be able to work with him, this is really sad and unfortunate for me. But I think, we all have learnt something or the other, watching him perform, with his work and legacy, I am sure he will always be alive and with us all the time, in our memory, acting and craft

Rajesh Tailang will be soon seen in Mirzapur 2 and Delhi Crime 2 series.
Xtalks Life Science Webinars This webinar presentation will provide cutting edge researchers who need to process peripheral blood an overview of this new systems underlying technology, capabilities and performance.

The critical upstream processes of cell sorting and concentration have remained largely unchanged for decades. Researchers have relied on permutations of the 100-year-old centrifuge, 50-year-old density gradient media, or 30-year-old bead approach. While one can manipulate speeds, antibodies and concentrations, the underlying limitations of manual handling, e.g. excessive cell manipulation, labor-intensiveness and performance inconsistency have persisted.

At the same time, as todays cell and gene-driven research environments are increasingly dependent on downstream highly sophisticated (and high-priced) analytical tools such as mass cytometry and single-cell profiling, upstream sample preparation has taken on critical significance. Sensitivity to red blood cell, platelet and reagent contamination have only increased and reliance on artificial cell populations such as PBMCs, which lack the influential granulocyte component, limit our understanding of in vivo biology.

In mass-cytometry and flow cytometry, significant contaminants can decrease the ability to capture critical target events. Furthermore, scRNA sequencing, a high cost analysis, also benefits from low impurities. The calls for a more stable, time-efficient, reliable, high-yield, automated cell processing solution for sample preparation have only grown louder.

In response to this need, MicroMedicine has developed a novel, microfluidics-based system for cell differentiation, selection and concentration. This innovative approach, called SorterraTM, is a label-free, automated, easy-to-use and train system, which does not involve centrifugation. As a result, Sorterra offers improvements in dedicated labor time, cell yield and purity, consistency, and reliability.

This webinar presentation will provide cutting edge researchers who need to process peripheral blood an overview of this new systems underlying technology, capabilities and performance.

Join Melanie Scully, PhD, Applications Team Lead, MicroMedicine and Nirav Rav Sheth, VP, Commercial Development, MicroMedicine in a live webinar on Friday, May 15, 2020 at 12pm EDT (5pm BST/UK).

For more information or to register for this event, visit Improving Peripheral Blood Processing  Introducing a Novel, Automated Alternative to Reagents and Centrifugation.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/

ABOUT MICROMEDICINE

MicroMedicine, Inc., is a life sciences company with an innovative and proven microfluidics platform for high-volume processing of biological fluids for the purposes of research and clinical applications. Founded at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2015, MicroMedicine is committed to transforming research, clinical diagnostics, and cell therapy with novel innovations. The patented microfluidic platform can be utilized for multiple applications, including cell isolation, cell concentration, and fluid exchange. The company resides in the heart of Boston's life sciences ecosystem in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. For more information about MicroMedicine, Inc., please call 617-744-1918 or visit micromedicine.com.

To learn more about MicroMedicine visit micromedicine.com

Contact:

Rav Sheth

Email: rav@micromedicine.com
New Delhi: A goof-up was seen in the Wikipedia profile of West Bengal BJP state President and MP Dilip Ghosh on Thursday (April 30) afternoon. It mistakenly identified Dilip Ghosh as the Chief Minister of West Bengal. This information later became viral in social media.

When contacted, the Midnapore MP said that someone might have mischievously edited the Wikipedia page, adding "I don't know who wrote it and why. Our team has informed Google and Wikipedia but they didnt change it."

"Currently, we are only concentrating to save the life of people from the deadly coronavirus," Ghosh added.

He further added that there are many such mistakes made in his Wikipedia page, alleging that his requests for correcting the mistakes are not being registered. Notably, the mistakes on Wikipedia are not considered to be Google's responsibility.

On Wikipedia page, Ghosh is described to have held charge of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014.

In 2016, he was elected as the Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Kharagpur Sadar, defeating former Speaker Gyan Singh Sohanpal of Congress. Ghosh comes from the economically backward areas of Jungle Mahals and belongs to the Bengali Sadgop caste.

Notably, Midnapore MP has earlier been in news over remarks, wherein, he stated that intellectuals who eat beef should eat dog meat too.

Another remark gold is mixed in the milk of Indian cows, and Thats why the colour of milk is slightly yellow, attracted people's attention.
Michael Flynn, President Trump's first national security advisor, leaves the federal courthouse in Washington after a hearing last year. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

Clad in a black and blue wetsuit, with a surfboard tucked under his right arm, a sopping wet Michael Flynn trudged up the street and away from the beach in his Rhode Island hometown.

"Isn't it funny that this is Purgatory Road?" he said in a video posted online by his family last week.

None of the dozens ensnared in the now-closed Russia investigation has been stuck in limbo like Flynn, who served three weeks as President Trump's first national security advisor until he was forced out in February 2017.

The retired Army three-star general pleaded guilty that December to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with Russia's then-ambassador. But unlike the six other Americans charged in the special counsel investigation, he has yet to be sentenced.

Flynn instead has launched a quest to clear his name by claiming he was "deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents." He's asked U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to dismiss the case  no small matter since he admitted committing a felony and affirmed his guilt in a subsequent court hearing.

The effort has made Flynn a cause celebre for conservative politicians and media figures who believe he was mistreated. President Trump has publicly mused about pardoning his former aide, and the case clearly is on his mind.

During an Oval Office meeting Thursday on the coronavirus crisis, Trump asserted that Flynn is "in the process of being exonerated" and he blamed "dirty cops" for prosecuting the case.

"They destroyed him but he's going to come back, like I say he's going to come back, bigger and better," the president said. At a subsequent event Thursday, Trump said he would consider allowing Flynn to return to his administration.

President Trump has considered pardoning Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty during the Russia investigation. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

Trump remains bruised over the Russia investigation and is eager to scrub its stain from his presidency. An exoneration of his former aide would help rewrite the results of that saga, and the effort has gotten a boost from the same Justice Department that prosecuted Flynn.

Story continues

Although federal prosecutors in Washington are handling Flynn's case, Atty. Gen. William Barr directed Jeffrey Jensen, the U.S. attorney in St. Louis, to conduct a separate review, an unusual step that has led to additional documents being given to the defense.

Records released Thursday showed that the FBI was prepared to close its investigation of Flynn  codenamed "Crossfire Razor"  on Jan. 4, 2017, because he was "no longer a viable candidate," apparently meaning a likely target, as part of the Russia probe.

But agents decided to interview him on Jan. 24, 2017, and that encounter became the core of the case against him. A handwritten note unsealed on Wednesday asked "what is our goal" for interviewing Flynn at the White House.

"Get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" the note asks. It goes on to say investigators should "protect our institution by not playing games."

Legal experts who have publicly defended the Russia investigation said the disclosures do not change the facts of Flynn's crime.

But the documents sparked outrage among Flynn's allies, which include conservative websites, Fox News hosts and Republican politicians. Twitter supporters have added three stars to their usernames to show support for the retired three-star general.

Flynn served more than three decades in the Army, leading battlefield intelligence efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Obama picked him to run the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, but he was forced out in 2014 for what White House aides called mismanagement.

Flynn eventually signed onto Trump's 2016 campaign as a national security expert and enthusiastic booster. He was rewarded with the coveted post of national security advisor after Trump's unexpected election victory.

He didn't last long. Flynn was ousted soon after Trump's inauguration when it emerged that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his calls with the Russian envoy during the presidential transition.

While still at the White House, FBI agents had questioned Flynn as part of their investigation into Moscow's meddling in the election. Flynn eventually pleaded guilty to lying to them about his conversations with the diplomat about sanctions enacted by the outgoing Obama administration as punishment for Russia's actions.

In his guilty plea, Flynn also admitted to illegally lobbying for Turkey while he was advising Trump's campaign. He avoided charges for that offense through his plea deal, and he was expected to testify against his former business partner at a subsequent trial.

But prosecutors never called Flynn to the witness stand. He also fired his original legal team and hired a new defense attorney, Sidney Powell, a favorite in the right-wing legal community.

Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn's defense attorney, trails her client as they leave the federal courthouse in Washington in September. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)

In court filings, Powell said Flynn's previous lawyers provided ineffective counsel, and accused prosecutors of targeting him "knowing there was no crime."

Powell also argued that Brandon Van Grack, who worked for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and is still at the Justice Department, improperly threatened to charge Flynn's son as leverage to get Flynn to plead guilty. The son, who was not charged, worked for Flynn's consulting firm while it lobbied on Turkey's behalf.

Former prosecutors say such hardball tactics are routine in criminal cases.

"I can say with great confidence that kind of pressure is pretty common," said Shanlon Wu, a former federal prosecutor who now is a defense attorney.

Flynn's allies also point to a previously released memo summarizing the FBI interview with Flynn as evidence he did nothing wrong.

The two agents who conducted the interview "had the impression at the time that Flynn was not lying or did not think he was lying," the memo said.

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, told Fox News that Flynn was "framed by our own government." But the memo doesn't say Flynn didn't lie, only that he didn't give the appearance of lying.

If the judge doesn't dismiss the case, Flynn's battle could backfire. Mueller's team originally recommended probation, but on Jan. 7 prosecutors asked the judge to impose a six-month sentence, saying he had not cooperated, as he had agreed in the plea deal, and "behaved as though the law does not apply to him."

Flynn has deleted a tweet from 2017 where he admitted wrongdoing. He now claims he doesn't remember if he discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador, although he had admitted to exactly that.

"As God is my witness, the truth is I am innocent of these charges," he wrote in a Jan. 29 court filing. "I will fight to restore my good name."

After the documents were released Wednesday, Flynn tweeted a video of an American flag waving in the wind. The president retweeted the video and added a single word  "Great!"
By PTI

MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday urged the Centre to waive off GST on personal protection equipment (PPE) kits and demanded price control through uniform pricing policy.

Speaking to reporters here, Chavan, who heads the Maharashtra Congress' task force on COVID-19, said the GST on PPE kits, which is 12 to 18 per cent, should be waived off completely or be kept at a minimum five per cent.

A policy for supply of PPE and N95 masks to private doctors and hospitals should also be outlined, he said, adding that the government must specify a standard operating procedure (SOP) for inclusion of private medical professionals in the fight against COVID-19.

The state government must also ensure availability of ambulances, beds and ICUs for patients suffering from other ailments, especially in rural Maharashtra.

The former Chief Minister said the government must come up with a policy for expectant mothers during the lockdown period.

The state Congress task force has also suggested waiving off electricity charges for six months for the agriculture sector and also recommended crop loan and term loan waivers, he said.

Chavan said the panel had submitted its first report on health and availability of food to state unit president Balasaheb Thorat.

The second report of the task force will focus on strategy for lifting the lockdown and economic revival, he added.
Leo Varadkar will be on the Late Late Show on Friday night to discuss the latest Covid-19 measures.

Today, the Taoiseach said lifting Ireland's lockdown restrictions

Read More:

Leo Varadkar

The plan is to be completed tomorrow for approval by cabinet.

Speaking in the Dail today, Mr Varadkar acknowledged that the public is beginning to become fatigued with restrictions, and need some sign that life will return to normal.

The Taoiseach will appear in the Late Late studio to bring viewers all the very latest developments to viewers regarding the ongoing crisis.

With the TV adaption of Sally Rooneys novel Normal People gripping viewers earlier this week, one the leads will also feature on the Late Late.

Daisy Edgar Jones with Paul Mescal in Normal People.

Paul Mescal will be chatting to host Ryan Tubridy about being catapulted to fame with his portrayal of Conall.

Irish band Picture This will also preform a number of songs on the show.

They will be discussing their support of the work of children's hospice, The LauraLynn Foundation.

A host of GAA stars will also talk to Tubridy about how their community supported an online campaign for a Laois toddler.

With help from the GAA world, Niall and Aisling Donoher raised 2m in 50 days for their one-year-old son, Dan, to receive life-saving treatment.

Evanne Ni Chuilinn, Henry Sheflin, Aidan O'Shea and Kieran Donaghy, will chat about how the GAA community has pulled together during the current crisis.

And finally, a Toy Show star will also return.

Tom Cullen, won the hearts of the nation last year with his Nanny Pat on The Late Late Toy Show.

Tom will talk about how much he is missing seeing his dear grandmother and will talk about how they are keeping in touch.
Eavan Boland, who expanded the voice of Irish poetry by consciously writing from a female point of view, putting the lives and experiences of women at the center of her poems, died April 27 at her home in Dublin. She was 75.

Stanford University, where she was director of the creative writing program, announced the death. The cause was a stroke.

Boland - her first name was pronounced ee-VANN - published her first poems in her teens and immediately carved out a distinctive creative niche. With chiseled, understated lyrics, she wrote in a manner that reflected her country's literary heritage while moving it in a new direction.

"She really wrapped her hands around the tree of Irish poetry and shook it to its foundations," poet Paula Meehan said in 2017.

Boland often noted that it wasn't merely social custom that kept Irish women in a subservient role: The idea was enshrined in the country's constitution, with a clause stating, "by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved."

Without denigrating the achievements of male Irish poets, including William Butler Yeats, Patrick Kavanagh and Seamus Heaney, Boland also looked for inspiration to American poets Adrienne Rich and Denise Levertov, whose works often embodied a politically engaged, female sensibility.

"When I was young," Boland told the Irish Times in 1998, "there was a hidden struggle over subject matter going on in Irish poetry. . . . I was aware that it was easier to have a political murder as the subject of an Irish poem than a baby or a washing machine."

She began to draw on her own experiences, including as the mother of two daughters, to create a new voice in Irish poetry. In Boland's view, women no longer had to be seen as muses or as the objects of men's desire, pity or neglect.

"When I became a mother I felt the powerful necessity of honoring that experience in language, in poetry," Boland said in 2012. "I learned a lot from thinking that I wanted to put the life I lived into the poem I wrote and from thinking what would happen if you didn't do that? You would end up writing someone else's poem and not honoring the life you lived in terms of creative expression."

In her 1982 collection "Night Feed," she drew on paintings of women working in the home for a series of poems, including "The Muse Mother," in which she wrote of a woman's desire "to be a sibyl / able to sing the past / in pure syllables / . . . / able to speak at last / my mother tongue."

In another from the same volume, "Domestic Interior," Boland wrote:

But there's a way of life

that is its own witness:

Put the kettle on, shut the blind.

Home is a sleeping child,

an open mind

and our effects,

shrugged and settled

in the sort of light

jugs and kettles

grow important by.

Boland addressed such subjects as motherhood, anorexia, mastectomy and violence. (A 2007 collection had the title "Domestic Violence.") Her clear implication was that these themes were every bit as important as the battles, political strife, manual labor and male gaze toward women that generations of men had written about.

"I knew that the women of the Irish past were defeated," Boland wrote in an autobiographical prose work, "Object Lessons: The Life of the Woman and the Poet in Our Times" (1995). "What I objected to was that Irish poetry should defeat them twice."

Boland sometimes made references to classical myths and poetic traditions, but much of her work was expressed in muted language, often in short lines with simple diction and single-syllable words evoking the everyday experiences of women at the hearth or with a child.

"I think these small moments are immensely important," Boland said in 1998, "and have their place in poetry."

Eavan Aisling Boland was born Sept. 24, 1944, in Dublin. Between the ages of 6 and 15, she lived in London and New York, where her father was the Irish ambassador to Great Britain and then the United Nations. Her mother was a painter.

Boland published her first poems in her teens. She was a 1966 graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where one of her classmates was Mary Robinson, who became Ireland's first female president.

For years, Boland balanced teaching at Trinity College and motherhood, while often writing late at night.

"I used to work out of notebooks, and I learned when I had young children that you can always do something," she told Stanford magazine in 2002. "If you can't do a poem, you can do a line. And if you can't do a line, you can do an image - and that pathway that leads you along, in fragments, becomes astonishingly valuable."

In 1996, Boland joined the faculty at Stanford. In addition to leading the writing program, she taught popular courses on poetry and Irish literature. She returned frequently to Ireland, where she was staying throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years, novelist Kevin Casey; two daughters; and four grandchildren.

Boland published more than 10 volumes of poetry and two books of nonfiction prose and edited several other books. She received the Lannan Foundation poetry award in 1994.

"Writing poems, for me, is a bit like mining a seam of rock," she told the Irish Times in 2007. "One day you get some silver, and the next day you get just rock. But it's your piece of rock and it doesn't much change. You just get better at mining it, that's all."

One of Boland's more provocatively titled collections, "Against Love Poetry" (2001), dedicated to her husband, turned away from the raptures and cliches of young love. Instead, she sought to capture a more mature conception of love, or what she called "the steadfastness between men and women."

The book contained one Boland's starkest poems, "Quarantine," about an Irish couple setting out on foot in 1847, during the nationwide famine:

In the morning they were both found dead.

Of cold. Of hunger. Of the toxins of a whole history.

But her feet were held against his breastbone.

The last heat of his flesh was his last gift to her.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Concerns over leaks compelled the top U.S. infectious disease official to reveal data on Gilead Sciences Incs experimental drug remdesivir, the first in a scientifically rigorous clinical trial to show benefit in treating COVID-19.

The dramatic announcement by Dr Anthony Fauci in the Oval Office on Wednesday prompted concerns among scientists that the Trump administration was raising hopes about a coronavirus treatment before sharing the full data with researchers.

As a cautionary example of inflating the potential value of a therapy, some pointed to President Donald Trumps repeated endorsements of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, with no evidence that it works.

Newer data suggests the malaria treatments may carry significant risks for some sufferers of the respiratory disease caused by the virus.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is running the trial, said he took the first opportunity to get the word out that patients taking a dummy treatment or placebo should be switched to remdesivir in hopes of benefiting from it.

He expressed concern that leaks of partial information would lead to confusion. Since the White House was not planning a daily virus briefing, Fauci said he was invited to release the news at a news conference with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards(D). It was purely driven by ethical concerns, Fauci told Reuters in a telephone interview.

I would love to wait to present it at a scientific meeting, but its just not in the cards when you have a situation where the ethical concern about getting the drug to people on placebo dominates the conversation.

An independent data safety and monitoring board, which had looked at the preliminary results of the NIAID trial, determined it had met its primary goal of reducing hospital stays.

On Tuesday evening, that information was conveyed in a conference call to scientists studying the drug globally.

There are literally dozens and dozens of investigators around the world, Fauci said. People were starting to leak it. But he did not give details of where the unreported data was being shared.

Several scientists interviewed by Reuters felt the White House setting seemed inappropriate for the release of highly anticipated government-funded trial data on the Gilead therapy.

They had expected it to be presented simultaneously in a detailed news release, a briefing at a medical meeting or in a scientific journal, allowing researchers to review the data.

Information from various trials of remdesivir has been leaked to media in recent weeks. In a statement on Wednesday, Gilead said the NIAIDs much anticipated trial had met its primary goal, but gave no details.

Data in a separate NIAID statement after Fauci spoke detailed preliminary results showing that patients who got the drug had a 31 percent faster time to recovery than those who got a placebo, cutting hospital stays by four days.

The trial also came close to showing the drug helped people survive the disease, but the data fell just short of statistical significance.

I want to see the full data. I want to understand the statistics. I want to understand the benefit and risk. I want to understand the structure of the study, and all of it, said Dr. Steven Nissen, the chief academic officer at the Cleveland Clinic.

Am I encouraged from what Ive heard? Yes, Im encouraged. But I want to get a full understanding of what happened here, and not get it via a photo opportunity from the Oval Office.

Data Gilead released on its own trial of remdesivir drew less attention, as it did not compare outcomes between those receiving therapy and those who did not.

Results from a third study in China suggesting remdesivir failed to help COVID-19 patients were released in the British medical journal the Lancet after review by a peer group of scientists.

Thats the only thing Ill hang my hat on, and that was negative, said Dr. Eric Topol, director and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California.

He was unimpressed by remdesivirs modest benefit.

It was expected to be a whopping effect, Topol added. It clearly does not have that.

At the Oval Office news conference, Fauci compared the study findings to AZT, the first drug to show any benefit against HIV, decades ago.

We know that was an imperfect drug. It was the first step, Fauci said in the interview.

Similar to AZT, its (remdesivir) the first baby step towards what hopefully will be a number of better drugs that will come in and be able to treat people with COVID-19.

(This story has been refiled to correct spelling of clinical in paragraph one)
Dating back to when the World Health Organization announced the coronavirus turned into a global pandemic, at least five defenders of the environment in Latin America have been murdered.

The violence, as activists in Colombia put it, has not been quarantined.

Gradually, the coronavirus is growing in transmission, and rural communities are concerned about how to deal with it, given their precarious medical services and limited state presence. For the families in the forests, violence is the last thing they need.

Violence Has Not Been Quarantined

According to statistics by the Pastoral Land Commission, Maranhao state has the greatest number of rural conflicts, with cases that reached 2,539 from 1990 to 2018.

Some of these crimes are cold cases. Since the start of the century, 49 people from the Guajajara people have been killed.

Last month, a respected leader of the Guajajara people was killed by aggressors with a shotgun. Murdered on the way home, Zezico Rodrigues Guajajara had just been chosen as director of the Commission of Indigenous Chiefs and Leaders in the Indigenous Territory of Arariboia.

Zezico was also among the 120 indigenous volunteers in the Guardians of the Forest, a group of historic promoters. They protect the forest and lands from illegal loggers that seek to exploit the territory.

Similarly, in Colombia, two Embera indigenous people were killed in cold blood last March. Omar and Ernesto Guasiruma Nacabera were invited for a meeting, according to a report by Mongabay Latam. The assailants shot them as they were about 20 meters from the door. Two other family members were injured.

Check these out:

Deforestation and Conservation of the Environment Can Influence Disease Emergence

Specialist in natural resource David Boyd said earlier this month that factors that raised the risk of future pandemics, and consequently more major human rights violations, included "deforestation, industrial agriculture, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change."

These are mostly done to expand agriculture and economy through developing large areas of land for livestock or industrial crops. These raw materials are used for exportation and trades in Latin American countries.

In an investigation conducted by Gustavo Faleiros for Infoamazonia and Dialogo Chino, the numbers of registered cattle have swelled by 22% in the Amazon forest in northern Brazil in as short as a decade. In a separate report, it was shown that exports of Brazilian beef account for over 65,000 hectares of deforestation annually.

Environmental degradation is one of the ways a new disease chain can form. The abrupt change in land use and the destruction of ecosystems increases the likelihood of the emergence of infectious diseases caused by zoonotic parasites, a study from the Johns Hopkins University concluded.

However, the solution to preventing another pandemic is simple to understand. It may be more challenging to do on a macro scale, nonetheless.

A team researching infectious diseases that are led by Bard College ecologist Felicia Keesing found in their study that biodiversity fundamentally functions to protect organisms, including humans, from diseases. They concluded that "Preserving biodiversity in these cases, and perhaps generally, may reduce the incidence of established pathogens."

The greatest protectors of natural resources like the biodiversity in Latin America are the defenders of the environment in local communities.

Protecting them, and their rights, by ensuring that conservationists continue to take care of the forests and lands, means protecting biodiversity as well, including ourselves from harm.
Rishi Kapoors daughter Riddhima Kapoor Shani shares an emotional post calls him strongest warrior Bollywood legend Rishi Kapoor passed away earlier today in Mumbai.

The veteran actor was admitted to HN Reliance Hospital on April 29. The news has devastated his family, film fraternity, and fans worldwide. The actors daughter Riddhima Kapoor Shani shared a selfie with her papa to bid him adieu. Taking to her Instagram account, the jewellery designer wrote, Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you every day I will miss your FaceTime calls every day! Until we meet again papa I love you - your Mushk forever.

Rishi returned to Mumbai in September 2019, after staying in the US for cancer treatment for 11 months. He had been full of positivity and even announced his new project recently.

Meanwhile, Riddhima, who lives in Delhi, has sought special permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to travel to Mumbai. The Delhi police were said to have facilitated the same. The actors last rites will be performed at Chandanwadi Crematorium in Kalbadevi, Mumbai.

Rishi Kapoor Passes Away At 67 After Long Battle With Cancer; Actor's Body Taken from Hospital to Chandanwadi Crematorium | LIVE Updates

According to reports, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Saif Ali Khan arrived at the hospital to be with Neetu Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor.

The news of Rishi Kapoors demise came a day after Bollywood lost another gem Irrfan Khan at 53. Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) shared condolences on the sudden demise of Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan in a press release.

Follow @News18Movies for more
AB Ignitis gamyba (hereinafter referred to as the Company) company code 302648707, registered office at Elektrines st. 21, Elektrenai. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by the Company is 648 002 629; ISIN code LT0000128571.

Ignitis Gamyba significantly increased production volumes and actively prepared for important projects in the first quarter of 2020.

The year 2020 started with big news in the area of green energy  the Company signed a contract for a new 3 MW solar power plant in Obeniai, Elektrenai Municipality. In such a way the 1 MW solar park will be expanded. It will start operating in the beginning of May and it will provide a possibility for the Lithuanian residents to generate electric energy for their flats or houses themselves.

The implementation of other projects was taken forward a lot in the beginning of the year, as well. Disassembly of two unused chimneys in Elektrenai Complex will be started in summer already. It will be a unique project  demolition works at such height have not been performed in the Baltic States before. The Company plans to finish the disassembly works of these chimneys until autumn 2021.

The beginning of the year did not promise the changes that happened after declaration of the quarantine in Lithuania in mid-March. However, we are a strategical company, so we had undertaken al the possible precautions to protect our employees already before the quarantine was declared. We understand perfectly well that the specialists operating the equipment are the necessary link for safeguarding of our strategical services, says Rimgaudas Kalvaitis, chairman of the board and CEO at Ignitis Gamyba.

70 percent of the Companys employees cannot work in the remote mode. They are needed in the corporate objects, so it was necessary to create conditions for their safe work. Approx. 150 employees have key functions in the production objects. Mainly they belong to the teams of operation and technical maintenance of Elektrenai Complex, Kruonis Pumped Storage Power Plant (hereinafter Kruonis PSHP), and Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant (hereinafter Kaunas HPP). Therefore, the Company had assessed possibilities of replaceability of key functions already before the quarantine and it was cleared that if needed, the employees may service different power plants. To protect employees, the Company isolated the operation stands, so that only the persons working there could have access to them, and the teams were isolated from each other. Several scenarios have been prepared with regard to the changing situation. They develop from each other and have to safeguard reliable work of the power plants.

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R. Kalvaitis says yet it is not possible to assess the scope and consequences of the present crisis; however, it does not impact the Companys performance and there are no identified threats for the performance continuity.

The Company generated and sold 79.3 percent more electricity in the power plants controlled by the Company in January-March 2020, when compared to January-March 2019. This result has been mainly achieved by effective use of Kruonis PSHP  the Company sold 3 times more of electricity generated in Kruonis PSHP in the first quarter of the year.

Elektrenai Complex also contributed to better production results. It made 6 times more of electricity in January-March 2020 than in January-March 2019. This result was mainly determined by favourable market conditions for effective operation of the combined cycle unit.

The winter was quite warm again, so the second successive year started by recording decreasing production indicators in Kaunas A. Brazauskas Hydroelectric Power Plant. There was almost no snow in the beginning of the year, so no bigger flood was caused in January-March 2020. Kaunas A. Brazauskas Hydroelectric Power Plant generated 25,4 percent less electricity than in January-March 2019.

With regard to the financial results of the Company, although revenues were decreasing, but the profitability indexes remained quite stable (except for one-time factors). The adjusted EBITDA in January-March 2020 was 14.1 million euros, and thus, decreased by 2.9 percent, if compared with the same period in 2019. The influence of smaller production volumes in Kaunas A. Brazauskas Hydroelectric Power Plant was compensated by effective use of Kruonis PSHP and larger volumes in Elektrenai Complex.

Besides, important news reached the minor shareholders of the Company in the end of the first quarter of 2020  the shares of Ignitis Gamyba were being bought out, and that is a significant step in implementation of the Companys delisting project.

Key performance indicators of Ignitis Gamyba for January-March 2020*:

The Companys revenue from contracts with customers totalled EUR 31.8 million in January-March 2020 and decreased by 11.7%, in comparison with January-March 2019. This was mainly influenced by noticeably decreased electricity prices in the market.

Operating and maintenance costs amounted to EUR 5.1 million in January-March 2020 and were 4.4% or EUR 0.2 million lower in comparison with January-March 2019, mainly due to smaller costs of repair, maintenance and dismantling works at Elektrenai Complex.

The adjusted EBITDA** in January-March 2020 was 14.1 million euros, and thus, decreased by 2.9 percent, if compared with the same period in 2019. This indicator remained relatively stable, when compared to the same period in 2019. Effective use of Kruonis PSHP almost compensated smaller production volumes of Kaunas A. Brazauskas HPP and sales of fuel oil and scrap metal that had improved results of 2019.

The net profit amounted to EUR 7.3 million in January-March 2020. The Company earned EUR 18.6 million of net profit in January-March 2019, when the profit was significantly affected by one-time factors.

In January-March 2019, the Company invested EUR 0.1 million in non-current tangible and intangible assets, while this investment in January-March 2018 was EUR 2.5 million. Most of the sum in January-March 2018 was intended for the major repairs of the second hydro unit of Kruonis PSHP.

The Companys investments into non-current tangible and intangible assets amounted to EUR 0.3 million in January-March 2020, and EUR 0.1 million in January-March 2019.

* Financial indicators of the Company for the year 2019 have been recalculated. Information about the changes is presented in the Company's financial information for the year 2019.

** The Companys adjusted EBITDA reported after the adjustments made by the management by eliminating the impact of one-off factors, also considering the change in revenue (and, consequently, EBITDA) of the Company's regulated services. These adjustments are made aiming to disclose the results of the Companys operating activities after the elimination of the impact of non-typical, one-off factors or factors that are not directly related to the current reporting period. All adjustments made by the management are disclosed in the Companys interim and annual reports.

Tadas Markevicius, Public Relations Manager, +370 676 28911, tadas.markevicius@ignitis.lt

Attachment
On a standalone basis, Hindustan Unilever (HUL)'s net profit declined 1.24% to Rs 1519 crore on a 9.4% decline in net sales to Rs 8,885 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.

HUL said the spread of COVID-19 impacted the business from mid-March, which culminated into scaling down of operations post the national lockdown. Domestic Consumer Growth declined by 9% with a decline of 7% in underlying volume growth.

EBITDA for Q4 March 2020 stood at Rs 2065 crore, declining 11% year on year from Rs 2321 crore in Q4 March 2019. Reported EBITDA margin reduced by 40 bps (160 bps reduction on comparable basis after adjusting for accounting impact of Ind AS 116). "In this challenging economic context, HUL performance has been competitive with corporate market share gains," the company said.

HUL said it has a strong balance sheet and cash position. However, The company said it is systematically reviewing all areas of cash generation and usage and re-evaluating all costs in the prevailing circumstances, so that we can continue to invest towards the best opportunities. HUL said it continues to set a high ambition on savings opportunities across the value chain.

Sanjiv Mehta, chairman and managing director commented: COVID-19 is perhaps the biggest challenge for us both from the lens of sustaining lives as well as livelihoods. The human impact of the pandemic is uncertain, and we are fully committed to working with the Government and our partners to ensure that we overcome this crisis together. Our portfolio of trusted brands, our financial stability and quality of leadership teams positions us well to deal with the crisis and, for the changing world that will come afterwards. With the GSK CH merger effective from 1st April, iconic brands such as Horlicks and Boost will now enable us to also address the nutrition needs of consumers. Our approach will be to protect our business model, grow competitively and contribute to the nation."

On a standalone basis, net profit grew at 11.63% to Rs 6738 crore on a 1.63% rise in net sales to Rs 38,273 crore in the year ended March 2020 (FY20) compared with the year ended March 2019 (FY19). The board of directors has proposed a final dividend of Rs 14 per share, subject to the approval of the shareholders at the AGM.

Shares of Hindustan Unilever fell 1.63% to close at 2195.70 on BSE.

Hindustan Unilever is engaged in fast-moving consumer goods business comprising home, beauty and personal care, foods and refreshment.

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Someone opened fire using an assault rifle outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington early Thursday and was arrested, authorities said.

The gunfire broke out around 2 a.m. outside the embassy in northwest Washington. Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to the scene after neighbors reported hearing gunshots, authorities said.

Officers found the suspect with an assault rifle and took the person into custody without incident, police said. Investigators say they believe the person had been shooting toward the embassy, though details about any potential motivation remained unclear.

The suspect's identity and the charges against the suspect were not immediately known. No injuries were reported.

Photos from the scene posted to social media showed a group of police officers outside the embassy after the shooting and investigators searching through an SUV parked there. Other images showed investigators surveying the damage in front of the ornate embassy in Washington's Adams-Morgan neighborhood, including a bullet hole in a window over the front door and damage to a flagpole and a column flanking a statue of Cuban independence hero Jos Mart.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service were investigating.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website offers car insurance info about different coverage types, available discounts, and money-saving tips.

In order to help their clients, and generally, help the society, auto insurers have begun issuing refunds to auto insurance policyholders in response to dramatic drops in driving as much of the country remains in lockdown. Several insurance companies are leading the way in supporting people and the nonprofits and health care organizations that are fighting against the virus. The following companies provided the most substantial financial support:

USAA and The USAA Foundation committed $2.3 million to donate to military-focused and national nonprofits in addition to the $2.1 million USAA directed to local nonprofits. The aid will go to several nonprofits, including Fisher House Foundation, USO, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and more. Furthermore, USAA auto insurance customers will receive 20% credit on two months of premiums.

committed $2.3 million to donate to military-focused and national nonprofits in addition to the $2.1 million USAA directed to local nonprofits. The aid will go to several nonprofits, including Fisher House Foundation, USO, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and more. Furthermore, USAA auto insurance customers will receive 20% credit on two months of premiums. Nationwide is donating $5 million to local and national nonprofits to support medical and economic response efforts. The Nationwide Foundation approved $1 million in grants each to the American Red Cross, Feeding America and the United Way, as well as up to $2 million in grants to be distributed in communities where Nationwide operates.

is donating $5 million to local and national nonprofits to support medical and economic response efforts. The Nationwide Foundation approved $1 million in grants each to the American Red Cross, Feeding America and the United Way, as well as up to $2 million in grants to be distributed in communities where Nationwide operates. Chubb announced that it is committing $10 million to pandemic relief. The aid will support organizations providing emergency medical equipment and supplies to healthcare facilities and to community foodbanks to support those who have become unemployed as a result of the pandemic. The funding will be made by the Chubb Charitable Foundation.

announced that it is committing $10 million to pandemic relief. The aid will support organizations providing emergency medical equipment and supplies to healthcare facilities and to community foodbanks to support those who have become unemployed as a result of the pandemic. The funding will be made by the Chubb Charitable Foundation. Farmers Insurance donated $150,000 to the National First Responders Fund to help first responders cope with the post-traumatic stress that can often afflict those who encounter emergencies as part of their profession. The insurer is also providing a 20% monthly credit to customers with business owner's policies for the next two months.

donated $150,000 to the National First Responders Fund to help first responders cope with the post-traumatic stress that can often afflict those who encounter emergencies as part of their profession. The insurer is also providing a 20% monthly credit to customers with business owner's policies for the next two months. Travelers pledged $5 million to support coronavirus relief efforts in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland, of which $3.5 million will be donated to charities, and up to $1 million will go to pay the wages and health benefits for eligible third-party contract employees. The company also announced it will match up to $500,000 employee contributions to designated organizations.

pledged $5 million to support coronavirus relief efforts in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland, of which $3.5 million will be donated to charities, and up to $1 million will go to pay the wages and health benefits for eligible third-party contract employees. The company also announced it will match up to $500,000 employee contributions to designated organizations. The Hanover Insurance Group announced the creation of The Hanover CARES Refund, through which the company will return 15% of April and May auto premiums to eligible personal lines customers. Additionally, the company pledged $500,000 to support nonprofits in local communities, including the United Way, Boys & Girls Club and Chamber of Commerce organizations in Massachusetts and Michigan.

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"During these difficult times, when everyone is struggling, drivers are not left alone. Car insurance companies are offering a helping hand to those drivers who have troubles paying their insurance bills", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

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'Duck Dynasty' star Willie Robertsons estate sprayed with bullets in drive-by shooting

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Willie Robertson, star of the iconic "Duck Dynasty" reality television series, was left shaken Friday after his estate in West Monroe, Louisiana, where many of his family members are also staying, was sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting.

"We were pretty shook up," Robertson said in a Sunday interview with USA TODAY Network. "It looks like they were just spraying bullets across my property."

Robertson told the News Star that about eight to 10 shots were fired from the road into his gated estate. One of the shots went through the bedroom window of the home where his son, John Luke Robertson, lives with his wife, Mary Kate McEachern, and their infant child. No one in the Robertson family, however, was injured.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office has since arrested West Monroe resident Daniel King Jr., 38, in connection with the shooting. He has been charged with one count of aggravated assault by drive-by shooting and one count of criminal neglect of family. His bond was set at $150,000.

Police say they responded to a report of someone shooting from a vehicle in the 3300 block of Arkansas Road in West Monroe at approximately 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Witnesses described seeing a white over brown or beige Ford F-250 with large aftermarket tires and rims being driven by suspects during the attack, according to USA today. Before shots were fired at 2:33 p.m., the truck had passed by the property at least once, Robertson said.

"It was broad daylight," Robertson said, noting that he believes the suspects were well aware they were shooting at his property.

"I'm 100% certain, but I don't know why," he said.

Robertson explained that while many of his extended family members are currently living on his estate during the pandemic, thankfully, no one was outside when the shooting took place.

"Nobody was outside at the time, but everybody had been out about five minutes before," Robertson said. "I had just gone to the store when it happened."

In 2013, Duck Dynasty became the most watched reality show in history when a staggering 11.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the premiere of the fourth season of the backwoods reality series on A&E. It ended in 2017 after 11 seasons.

Among the total number of viewers were 6.3 million "in the advertiser-preferred demographic of 25- to 54-year-olds," according to a New York Times report.

"Duck Dynasty chronicled the lives of members of the Robertson family of West Monroe and their duck call making company, Duck Commander.

The men of the family, brothers Phil and Si, and Phil's sons Jase, Willie, and Jep, became popular for their signature beards. Phil Robertson started the business in a family shed and spent 25 years making duck calls from Louisiana cedar trees.

"The Robertsons represent a lot things we as Americans cherish," David McKillop, the general manager and executive vice president of the A&E network, told The New York Times: "self-made wealth, independence, three generations living together."
Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmars First COVID-19 Patient Recovers, Leaves Hospital

Myanmars first confirmed COVID-19 patient is discharged from Tedim General Hospital in Chin State on Wednesday. / Waithar Lynn Kyaw Zin Lynn

MANDALAYMyanmars first confirmed COVID-19 patient was discharged from hospital in Tedim Township, Chin State, on Wednesday after testing negative for the coronavirus three times.

The 36-year-old man returned from the US to hold his wedding in Tedim. However, he tested positive on March 23 and was admitted to Tedim General Hospital.

All three [follow-up] tests were negative, and he showed no signs of COVID-19, so the health-care team discharged him from the hospital. However, he will have to stay quarantined at a hotel, said U Soe Htet, Chin States municipal minister.

The man will have to complete another 14 days of quarantine at a hotel in Tedim as a further precautionary measure.

His mother and three others who had contact with him tested positive and remain at Tedim General Hospital in stable condition.

Keptel Village in Tedim Township, where the man, referred to as Case 1, held pre-wedding prayer services before being hospitalized, has been in lockdown since March 23.

Currently, local authorities are seeking advice from Union-level officials on when to ease the lockdown in Keptel Village.

We hope the lockdown will be lifted very soon. The [state government] ministers are preparing to impose social distancing and community [quarantine] restrictions on those who had contact with the positive cases in the village, said Pu Do Za Tuang, the village administrator.

He said the village would soon face a food shortage if the lockdown continues, adding that locals want the authorities to end it.

If the lockdown is extended, our village will need urgent food supplies, because the food that was distributed is gone. We are also afraid we will face a food shortage next year, because no one has been able to go out to take care of the crops. Now, the rain has started and most of our crops are being destroyed because we have been unable to tend to them due to the lockdown, he added.

According to the Chin State municipal minister, the decision on whether to extend or withdraw the lockdown, or to impose community restrictions, will be made in accordance with guidelines and instructions issued by the Union government.

The quarantine restrictions on the homes of people in Tedim who had contact with Case 1 would remain in place.

Chin State has recorded six COVID-19 cases, including Case 1 and the four cases related to him who are currently being treating at Tedim General Hospital. The sixth case, Case 150, was first reported in Hakha. The man is now at Hakha General Hospital.

Community quarantine restrictions were imposed on the homes of Case 150 and one person who had contact with him.

According to the Ministry of Health and Sports, as of Thursday Myanmar has 150 confirmed cases. Six people have died and 27 have recovered, of whom 16 have been discharged from hospital.

According to figures from the MOHS, as of April 26, swabs from nearly 7,000 suspects had been tested at two of its laboratories, the National Health Lab and the laboratory of the Department of Medical Research.

Currently, Mandalay is also preparing a lab to test swabs for COVID-19. It is due to begin operating at the end of May.

According to Mandalay Region Shan Ethnic Affairs Minister U Sai Pan Sai, the equipment needed for the lab was provided by a donor. The lab already has sufficient reagents to prepare swabs for 2,000 COVID-19 tests once the lab is ready.

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Three Myanmar Military Officers Infected With COVID-19 in Russia Doing Well: Army

Doctor-Turned-COVID-19 Patient Sheds Light on Myanmar Health Care Workers Struggle

Myanmar Launches Sweeping COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan
The Miami area has been particularly affected by the pandemic but authorities say they need to reopen Floridas economy.

Florida is one of the states pushing ahead with plans to ease some restrictions despite concerns about the threat of the coronavirus.

The Miami area has been particularly affected but authorities say they need to reopen Floridas economy.

Al Jazeeras Andy Gallacher reports.
South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear walk on a street in front of the city hall in Daegu on March 2.

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Experts in South Korea said that recovered coronavirus patients who tested positive again were not reinfected and that their virus was not reactivated, as was previously feared.

More than 260 people who recovered and tested negative subsequently tested positive again. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worried that the virus had reactivated after going dormant.

But the country's infectious-disease experts said on Thursday that the tests were detecting dead fragments of the virus left in patients' bodies.

South Korea was one of the first countries to report a virus outbreak but quickly implemented widespread testing and contact tracing. It had reported 247 deaths as of Thursday.

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Scientists said the wave of South Koreans who tested positive for COVID-19 even after they recovered did not have the virus reactivate after going dormant and that they were not reinfected.

South Korea announced in early April that some patients who had recovered from and tested negative for the virus later tested positive, suggesting that the virus could reactivate or that patients could be reinfected. The country has recorded this happening in 263 patients, The Korea Herald reported.

But the country's infectious-disease experts said on Thursday that the positive test results were likely caused by flaws in the testing process, where the tests picked up remnants of the virus without detecting whether the person was still infected, The Herald reported.

The Herald described the experts as saying that "dead virus fragments" were lingering in patients' bodies after they recovered and that the virus did not appear to be active in the patients.

Dr. Oh Myoung-don, a professor of medicine and the head of Seoul National University Hospital's division of infectious diseases, said that the committee studying the cases found little reason to believe that the patients had been reinfected or that the virus had reactivated, according to The Herald.

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"The tests detected the ribonucleic acid of the dead virus," said Oh, an adviser to the Korean government and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People wearing face masks in central Seoul on April 22.

HEO RAN/REUTERS

Experts were already skeptical about the theory that the virus could reactivate

Jeong Eun-kyeong, the director-general of the KCDC, said earlier in April that the positive test results in these patients could mean that the virus "reactivated" after going dormant, Business Insider's Holly Secon reported.

Jeong said the tests were conducted within a "relatively short time" after the patients were cleared, so it was unlikely that they were reinfected.

"While we are putting more weight on reactivation as the possible cause, we are conducting a comprehensive study on this," Jeong said. "There have been many cases when a patient during treatment will test negative one day and positive another."

But many experts said it was unlikely that the virus would go dormant and then reactivate in people. Instead, they said, it was more likely that patients' bodies still had some fragments of the virus. This would mean a person could get a positive test but not be ill or able to infect others.

Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the director of Hong Kong University's School of Public Health, told the Los Angeles Times in March that this was the most likely scenario.

"The test may be positive, but the infection is not there," Fukuda said.

The test picked up false positives, Korean officials say

Workers in protective gear spray a subway station in Seoul on February 21.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Oh said the committee also strongly believes this is what happened.

He said that dead virus cells could take months to leave patients' bodies after they recover and that their test could not determine whether the virus was alive or dead, leading to false positives, according to The Herald.

Other countries have grappled with unreliable tests for the virus and its antibodies, saying that there could be high numbers of false positives and false negatives.

South Korea recorded no new domestic cases for the first time since February

People wait in line to buy face masks at a store in Daegu's Dongseongno shopping district on February 27.

JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images

South Korea on Thursday reported no new domestic infections in a day for the first time since February.

It said four new cases were from people traveling into the country.

South Korea has reported a total of 10,765 cases, of which 9,059 "have been discharged from isolation." It has reported 247 deaths.

The country has been a pioneer in the fight to control the spread of the virus  and it has done so without implementing a nationwide lockdown.

An employee of a disinfection-service company sanitizes a train at the Seoul Station on March 4.

Reuters

South Korea, one of the first countries outside China to record cases of the virus, tested widely and traced the contacts of people who tested positive.

It also implemented sweeping social-distancing guidelines, including seating people far apart at restaurants. But unlike much of the rest of the world, it did not close venues.

South Korea also said it avoided any new cases stemming from the 29 million people who voted in a parliamentary election this month. Voters were made to wear masks and gloves.

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Happy anniversary, Kate and William!

On Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge marked their ninth wedding anniversary by sharing a sweet throwback of their big day. The photo was taken as the couple was leaving their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey, with the duchess beaming in her now-iconic Alexander McQueen lace wedding dress.

" Nine years ago today  thank you for all your lovely messages on The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges wedding anniversary!" the photo caption read.

The 2011 nuptials, which was declared a national holiday in the United Kingdom, proved to be the ultimate fairytale wedding -- with the numbers to prove it. It had three billion viewers around the world, included a Victorian-inspired wedding gown that royal experts say cost over $400,000 and a massive floral budget of $1.1 million.

In honor of the royal couple's big day, we're taking a look back at the best moments from their royal wedding in the gallery above.

The couple, who met at St. Andrews in Scotland, is currently on coronavirus lockdown at their Anmer Hall home with their three children. Kate and William have taken on homeschooling their two eldest children, George and Charlotte, for the time being, which they say has been "challenging."

"Someone gave me some very good advice, pre the [Easter] holidays, to fit some structure to keep to a pretty strict routine," Kate said in a video interview earlier this month. "Dont tell the children, weve actually kept it going through the holidays. I felt very mean.

"The children have got such stamina," the royal continued. "You pitch a tent, take the tent down again, cook, bake. You get to the end of the daythey've had a lovely time, but it's amazing how much you can cram into a day, that's for sure."

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Wow, did we just dream that or did the Duke of Cambridge really just get home-schooling advice from General Melchett AKA Melchy!? 



An incredible moment from #TheBigNightIn.@StephenFry | @KensingtonRoyalpic.twitter.com/kzKpmra8CI  BBC (@BBC) April 23, 2020

The Cambridges also say they've tried to explain the pandemic to their kids as best they can.

"It's been ups and downs, probably like lots of families self isolating," Kate explained. "George is much older than Louis is and things, but they are aware."

"You don't want to scare them and make it too overwhelming, but I do think it is appropriate to acknowledge it in simple ways," she continued.

Like most families, the couple has been relying on Facetime to keep in touch with friends and loved ones.

"It gets a bit hectic, I'm not going to lie. With a two-year-old you have to take the phone away," Kate said. "But it's nice to keep in touch with everybody."
The UK economy will take longer to recover from the coronavirus outbreak than from the 2008 financial crisis, Alistair Darling has said.

In a stark warning, the former Labour chancellor said the economic hit from the global pandemic would be "much, much worse because we are not yet in control of events".

Lord Darling, who led the Treasury during the financial crash, said the UK's ability to recover depends on decisions the government takes in the next three to four weeks and called for a clear plan on how the lockdown will be lifted.

Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal government plans to ease strict restrictions on daily life which have been in place since March, amid fears a sustained lockdown will devastate the economy.

Speaking at a briefing for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Lord Darling said compared the coronavirus crisis to 2008, saying: "Im afraid this is much, much worse because were not yet in control of events.

You can deal with a bank crash fairly quickly but this is taking a lot longer."

He said the government has "no alternative" but to support the economy, adding: "When things collapse all about you, the government is the lender and insurer and sometimes the provider of last resort."

Ministers must not obsess about debt levels as the long-term impact of allowing unemployment levels to rise and businesses to collapse will be far worse, he said.

Lord Darling added: "If we let people go out of work, lose skills, if we let firms collapse on a dramatic scale, we will pay the cost of that for years to come."

He also urged the government to set out a plan for getting out of the lockdown.

The former chancellor said: "I'm not arguing that that can happen today or next week. We need for health reasons to do what we do at the moment, to a large extent remaining at hope.

Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Show all 30 1 /30 Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS staff at the Mater hospital in Belfast, during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak. PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Shoppers observe a minute's silence in Tescos in Shoreham Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Firefighters outside Godstone fire station PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Hospital workers take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE across Britain for all workers in care, the NHS and other vital public services after a nationwide minute's silence at University College Hospital in London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A school children's poster hanging outside Glenfield Hospital during a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A man holds a placard that reads "People's health before profit" outside St Thomas hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus University College Hospital, London Hospital workers hold placards with the names of their colleagues who have died from coronavirus as they take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff at Waterloo Station in London, stand to observe a minute's silence, to pay tribute to NHS and key workers who have died with coronavirus AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Medical staff at the Louisa Jordan hospital stand during a UK wide minutes silence to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus in Glasgow Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London An NHS worker observes a minute's silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London AFP via Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Belfast, Northern Ireland NHS staff observe a minutes silence at Mater Infirmorum Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Plymouth NHS workers hold a minute's silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS Frimley Park Hospital staff at the A&E department observe a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Mater Infirmorum Hospital People applaud after a minutes silence in honour of key workers Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Waterloo Station, London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Wreaths laid outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A group of trade unionists and supporters standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew's House in Edinburgh to observe a minute's silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London Police officers observe a minutes silence at Guy's Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A woman standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Royal Derby Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Leicester, NHS workers during a minute's silence outside Glenfield Hospital Getty

"But the government now has to give the public confidence, and dare I say hope, in relation to how things will return to where people can get out and about and go to work."

Lord Darling, a vocal advocate of staying in the EU, called for an extension to the Brexit transition period while the outbreak continues as he said pressing ahead during the crisis was like "shooting yourself in both feet".

He added: "I don't think anyone would lose face if you put the thing off for 18 months or whatever."

Elsewhere, it emerged that business secretary Alok Sharma is working up plans to get businesses back up and running with a "workplace by workplace" approach.

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "The government has already set out five clear tests to consider before making any adjustment to its approach.

"It is only right the we work together with industry and unions to ensure workplaces are safe for both those in work now and for those going back to work as government measures develop."
Boeing Co said on Wednesday it would cut its 160,000-person workforce by about 10%, further reduce 787 Dreamliner production and try to boost liquidity as it prepares for a years-long industry recovery from the coronavirus pandemic that drove its second consecutive quarterly loss.

Boeing shares closed 5.9% higher to $139 after the company said it was confident of getting sufficient liquidity to fund operations and would have positive cash flow next year as it ramps up production of the grounded 737 MAX.

After the market close, S&P lowered its credit rating for Boeing to BBB-, one step above junk, saying that earnings and cash flow over the next few years are likely to be lower than it had previously expected due to the impact of the coronavirus.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Boeing is working with investment banks on a potential bond deal worth at least $10 billion. Last month it drew down its entire $13.8 billion credit line and is also weighing seeking government aid.

Chicago-based Boeing declined to say how much government assistance it may seek or under which part of a massive U.S. stimulus package. A A A A

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

Planemakers, airlines and suppliers have been left reeling by the pandemic, which has crippled passenger travel and catapulted major economies into recession.

"Our industry is going to look very different as a result of this pandemic," Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told investors. "We will be a smaller company for a while."

Many of the job cuts, to be completed by the end of year through voluntary and involuntary layoffs as well as natural turnover, will be at the company's commercial aircraft division, where it was already grappling with a production freeze and year-long grounding of the 737 MAX following two fatal crashes.

Boeing expects to resume 737 MAX deliveries in the third quarter following regulatory approvals, CFO Greg Smith said, with production re-starting at low rates in the second quarter before gradually increasing to 31 per month during 2021.

Further gradual production increases will correspond with market demand. Meanwhile, Boeing will focus on delivering jets that it has already built in order to unlock frozen cash.

Aerospace analyst Josh Sullivan said Boeing's comments on the 737 MAX and cash pleased investors.

"They provided guideposts that people can sink their teeth into and gain confidence," he said.

Reuters reported Tuesday 737 MAX approval is not expected until at least August.

WIDE-BODY SLUMP

The pandemic has also aggravated a slump in demand for wide-body jets like the 787, sapping a key remaining source of cash for Boeing as the 737 MAX remains grounded.

Boeing plans to reduce production of the 787 to seven a month by 2022 - half the planned rate of just a year ago when it was implementing a record monthly rate of 14. It had already progressively reduced the target to 10 on the back of U.S.-China trade tensions. It will also reduce the 777/777X combined production rate to three per month in 2021 from five.

The planemaker had $15.5 billion in cash at the end of March after burning through $4.7 billion in the quarter.

The company's adjusted loss stood at $1.70 billion, or $1.70 per share in the first quarter, compared with a profit of $1.99 billion, or $3.16 per share, a year earlier.

Over the weekend, Boeing canceled a $4.2-billion deal for Embraer SA's commercial aviation, prompting the Brazilian company to initiate arbitration.

It is also facing lawsuits related to the 737 MAX crashes and federal prosecutors aided by the FBI and the Department of Transportations inspector general are investigating the aircraft's certification. Boeing paid out $700 million in 737 MAX compensation to customers in the first quarter.

Calhoun said it could be a while before the company rolls out a new jet design.

European rival Airbus on Wednesday posted a 49% slump in first-quarter core profit and called for an industry-wide campaign to restore confidence in flying.

In a memo to employees, Calhoun said: "The aviation industry will take years to return to the levels of traffic we saw just a few months ago. We have to prepare for that."
Taiwans Intelligence Chief: Kim Jong Un Is Sick

The head of Taiwans intelligence agency suspects that North Korean despot Kim Jong Un is sick, but did not elaborate, saying there are contingency plans in place should Kim be incapacitated or die.

Reports over the past two weeks have claimed that Kim, 36, is either in grave health, dead, or in a vegetative state. However, South Korean officials have said he is still alive and in control of the impoverished, communist nation, while President Donald Trump told reporters he is still alive.

Taiwans National Security Bureau Director-General Chiu Kuo-cheng was asked by a lawmaker about whether Kim is gravely ill or deceased, and Chiu said that he is sick. Chiu only smiled when he was asked a question about whether the leader is still alive, reported the Taiwan News.

What is described by Washington-based North Korea monitoring project 38 North as a leadership train station servicing North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns Wonsan complex is seen in a satellite image with graphics taken over Wonsan, North Korea April 21, 2020. (North/Handout via Reuters)

Regarding Kims health and the contingency plan, Chui said that his agency has relevant information but can only divulge it behind closed doors. If that information was revealed, the source could be compromised, he said.

My answer is from the intelligence that is available and it is not an opinion, Chiu also remarked, the Taipei Times reported.

If there is a power vacuum in North Koreas leadership, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan would be in the scope of countries that could be affected, Chui said, according to the Taiwan News.

Hu Mu-yuan, Chuis deputy, insisted later that intelligence was unable to confirm the status of Kim Jong Uns health, according to the newspaper.

But he stipulated that from what we know, Kim is still in charge and in control of North Koreas military and its government.

Speculation about Kims condition has increased after he missed the April 15 commemoration of the birthday of North Koreas founder, grandfather Kim Il-Sung. It was the first time he missed the event since he took power.

Top South Korean officials on Tuesday said they know the current whereabouts of Kim.

The government is aware of Kim Jong Uns location, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said without elaborating, according to Bloomberg News.

During a White House briefing on Monday, Trump told reporters he knows about Kims condition.

I cant tell you, exactlyyes, I do have a very good idea, but I cant talk about it now. I just wish him well, he said.
Alice Trumbull Mason, a painter who never got her due, turned to abstraction at 25, in 1929, when its American adherents were few and it was viewed as a foreign, even Communist element. She was inspired by the art of Wassily Kandinsky and by Arshile Gorky, one of Abstract Expressionisms founders, with whom she studied. Her belief that abstraction was, in her words, the true realism never wavered  nor did she ever run out of ideas over her 40-year career.

The forms on her small canvases mutated with unusual variety and momentum between the biomorphic and geometric (the latter ultimately won out). In other words, the initial influence of Kandinsky (and also Joan Miro) gave way to that of Piet Mondrian, on whose legacy she built with an originality that few other American painters have equaled.

Her stylistic range is radiantly apparent in Alice Trumbull Mason: A Pioneer of Abstraction, a show of 16 paintings from 1929 to 1969 at the Washburn Gallery, which has represented the artists estate since 1973, two years after her death at 67. The works, seen in an online display, reflect a mind on the move. Compositions feature squares or polygons; are arranged on the diagonal or perpendicular; involve flat or tilted planes.

The exhibition also celebrates the May 26 publication of a similarly-titled book, Alice Trumbull Mason: Pioneer of American Abstraction, that is, astoundingly, the first monograph on Mason  nearly a half-century after her death. Its 160 full-page color reproductions represent about three-fourths of her work and expand lavishly upon the confident development encapsulated at Washburn.
Dharamsala, April 30 : Paying tributes to Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, Tibetan Prime Minister-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay on Thursday said he watched his movies and enjoyed them as a fan.

"RIP Rishi Kapoor-ji!," Sangay informed in a tweet.

"My profound condolences to family members of Rishi Kapoor. My first movie in life was 'Laila Majnu'. You have entertained me for four decades. I have watched your movies and always enjoyed them as a fan. May you reborn and entertain the world again." The Harvard educated Sangay is heading the Tibetan exile administration based in this northern Indian hill town.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Bord na Mona (BNM) Group of Unions has condemned the decision of management at the semi-state company to attempt to proceed today with the removal of workers from its payroll.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: Management has decided to select workers unfairly and without any logic for removal from its payroll while it has allowed others access to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).

The BNM Group of Unions has instructed workers which the company has sought to remove from the payroll to report for work as normal today. We are calling on the company to adhere to the Government policy of using the TWSS to keep workers on payroll and in employment as much as possible. The position of the Group of Unions is that workers who want to exit voluntarily should be allowed to do so and that as many workers as possible are kept on payroll with the support of the TWSS.

Workers are particularly concerned that the CEO has informed employees that a decision on peat burning regulations expected from An Bord Pleanala on May 12 has nothing to do with the immediate impact of Covid-19. This will result in a situation where workers facing lay off in the event of a negative decision will be unable to avail of either the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or the TWSS.

He added: On Tuesday, the BNM Group of Unions brought to the attention of management that it had issued notice of lay-off to workers last week who supply peat to Derrinlough Briquette Factory in county Offaly and to Dublin Port. Those notices have now been withdrawn. We are also concerned that the ESB may be unable to utilise Shannon Bridge Power station next week, if needed, as the BNM workers required to supply it have been issued with notice of lay-off.

The BNM Group of Unions includes SIPTU, Connect Trade Union and Unite.

Also read: Longford Bord na Mona workers challenge validity of layoffs and report for work
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of film star Rishi Kapoor.

Shimla, April 30 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of film star Rishi Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor was a versatile actor, who in his about five decades of illustrious career won the hearts of millions by his acting skills in films like 'Bobby', 'Naseeb', 'Karz', 'Coolie' 'Chandni', 'Prem Rog', 'Henna', etc, he said.

The Chief Minister said his contribution to the Indian film industry was immense and he would always be remembered as an fine actor and a thorough gentleman.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The National Hospitality Association of Ghana (NHAG), is appealing to government to negotiate with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to pay 50% salary of employees of its members over a period of six months as part of emergency assistance in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the association, this will enable the industry to protect jobs and ensure that hospitality services are maintained as the country continues to fight the novel Coronavirus disease.

According to the Association, the economic situation facing the hospitality sector as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic is severe, as business activities have deteriorated even before the three-week partial lockdown.

The Association made up of 60 mainline restaurants and eateries in Accra, Tema and Kumasi says the prospects of a recovery for the industry is even becoming more remote each week.

Many restaurants and eateries are currently operating between 5 to 10 percent of their total capacity. Some have reported no business at all during this period, forcing them to more or less close down their business. Others have had to disengage the services of the majority of their staff in the absence of business to compensate them. Others have had to scale down salaries to try to cope with the global shock, a statement from the association stated.

The statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Association, Theodore Dzeble, stated that, the industry is in need of urgent life support by the government in order to prevent further job losses to Ghanaians and the total collapse of the sector.

The Association also called on government to suspend rental charges for commercial tenants for at least 6 months, as well as the Tourism Levy of 1%, and use current reserves to aid restaurants and eateries.

Among other demands, the association is also asking government to reduce property rates by 50% and suspend all charges, including VAT and related taxes until further notice.

The association further asked for a suspension on Union annual salary increment requests and mitigation of import duties on Food and Non-Food Products.

The Association believes the above measures would provide much-needed respite to the industry and prevent an unmitigated collapse which could wipe off all the economic gains made so far by the government in the last few years.

---citinewsroom
Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor reached the Mumbai hospital to pay her respects to her uncle and Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor who died Thursday morning. Rishis son, actor Ranbir Kapoor was also seen at the hospital. Rishis wife Neetu Singh and Armaan Jain were also spotted at the hospital.

Kareena, along with husband and actor Saif Ali Khan were spotted at the hospital Thursday afternoon. Rishis funeral is expected to take place later on Thursday.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears, says family in emotional message

Kareena Kapoor spotted at the hospital. (Varinder Chawla)

Watch | Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor dies, Am destroyed, says Amitabh Bachchan

Rishi was rushed to the hospital late Wednesday and was kept on ventilator. On Thursday morning, his family announced his death and said in a statement, Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

Ranbir Kapoor at the hospital (Varinder Chawla)

He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way.

Rishi was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and he flew to the US for treatment where he was accompanied by wife and actor Neetu Singh. Son Ranbir and daughter Riddhima kept visiting him throughout, along with many of his industry colleagues and friends. He returned to India last year.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen



Patnaik on Thursday sought cooperation from his Tamil Nadu counterpart Edappadi K. Palaniswami for safe return of Odia people stranded in the southern state due to coronavirus- triggered nationwide lockdown.

Patnaik made the request to the Tamil Nadu chief minister through video conferencing which was also attended by Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Pradhan agreed to coordinate between the two states for trouble-free movement of the stranded people to Odisha.

The Tamil Nadu CM informed that there are 1,30,000 workers from Odisha working in the state, mostly in Tirupur district.

Patnaik thanked Palaniswami for personally visiting some of the camps where Odia people are grounded. He deputed CMs advisor R Balakrishnan to coordinate with Tamil Nadu on behalf of Odisha.

Patnaik also spoke to some of the odia people held up and presently staying at Guru Nanak College in Chennai.

A large number of natives of Odisha including migrant workers, fishermen, students and professional are stuck in different parts of Tamil Nadu and unable to return home due to lockdown.

Both the governments agreed to cooperate with each other for facilitating smooth movement of people.

Earlier, Patnaik had spoken to the chief ministers of Gujarat and Maharastra where Odia people are also stranded due to the lockdown imposed to contain spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

A batch of migrant workers have already returned home from Gujarat and a group of students are on their way back to the state from Kota in Rajasthan.

The people who are stuck in other parts of the country have to register their names with Aadhar number and mobile phone number in a portal launched by the Odisha government.

On their arrival in the state, the returnees will have to undergo manadatory quarantine in Odisha.

The state government has opened temporary medical camps and quarantine centres in all the 6798 gram panchayats and over 100 urban local bodies to keep the returnees in quarantine before allowing them go to their houses.

Meanwhile, State Governments COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said Odisha has been taking steps to ensure return of Odias stranded in different places as per the guidelines issued by the Centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Undoubtedly, the agriculture industry will become even more important these next few decades. Yet, the global farming sector is facing ever-increasing risks as natural disasters become more frequent and disruptive as a result of climate change. What's more, the world's population continues to increase, with the United Nations estimating that it will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. As a result, the agriculture sector is looking to incorporate new technologies to maximize yields and improve efficiency in order to feed the planet's growing population. In fact, some estimates say that global agriculture production will need to rise by 69 percent between 2010 and 2050 to meet this need.

Tano Security CEO Robert Chen (right) and Lan-Yang Agricultural Development Foundation Deputy CEO Elmo Hsu (left) Tano Security and Taiwan's National Chung Hsing University, winner of the Top Innovator Prize of the World Bank's 2020 Agriculture Risk Innovation Challenge

Actually, incorporating technological innovation into farming is nothing new. The Industrial Revolution, for example, brought about the cotton gin, grain elevators, chemical fertilizers, and gas-powered tractor, among many other innovations. In the late 1900s, farmers started using satellites to plan their work. Today, the Internet of Things (IoT) is shaping the future of farming at the next level. It is clear that smart, digital, and efficient agriculture is already becoming more commonplace among farmers, with high-tech agriculture increasingly becoming the standard.

In Taiwan, which is famous not only for its technology but also for some of the most amazing fruit in the world, agriculture is increasingly becoming a lot more like manufacturing. When it comes to modern, tech-based smart farming, no other place in the world is better equipped for this change than Taiwan. Whether it is indoors in multi-story hydroponic farms, small-sized plots of land, underground cultivation, or large-scale warehoused plantations, the use of solar power, drones, IoT, semiconductors, and software can be seen across the island.

One of the hottest teams in Taiwan to capture the interest of both the business and government sectors is Tano Security. Over the past 5 years, the team's cutting-edge and down-to-earth projects have grabbed the attention of many farmers, who can see the benefits that this technology can deliver to agriculture.

"Smart, digital, IoT framingswhatever you want to call it[these] are only toolsbetter toolsto farmers. Farmers care only about resultsbetter yieldsand if a tool can help to generate better yields. And that is it!" stated Robert Chen, CEO of Tano Security. Unlike many tech-based companies entering the agriculture field, the members of Chen's team have been instructed by Chen to be farmers first in order to understand exactly what their problems are. "It is important to find out what the real needs are in order to provide help, (and) not the other way around," Chen commented.

In April, Tano Security teamed up with Taiwan's National Chung Hsing University to enter the finals of the World Bank's 2020 Agriculture Risk Innovation Challenge. For years, the World Bank Agriculture Observatory has tried to generate solutions that demonstrate alternative ways of collecting or monitoring critical datasets to assess the impact of agriculture stressors. For this innovation challenge, Tano Security proposed a solution that featured an early-warning system for the fall armyworm pest that could reduce agriculture losses by more than 90 percent and cut the use of pesticides by 50 percent. This solution originated from the company's real-life field experience in China, and, clearly, the World Bank was impressed, with Tano Security being awarded the Top Innovator Prize in the competition.

Generally speaking, Taiwan can already be considered one of the most successful food producers in the world, despite the many challenges it faces, including soil erosion, typhoons, and heavy flooding. "As a matter of fact, Taiwanese farmers learn and grow from these challenges," Chen has said. This combination of technological know-how, electrical-engineering skills, and extensive manufacturing capabilities along with the natural pride of the nation's farmers in producing high-quality fruits and vegetables could make Taiwan a very strong ally in the world's biggest (and perhaps most important) industryagriculture.

For more information, please visit: https://www.tanosecure.com.tw/?locale=en // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MOLTGvr5f8

Media contact:

George Hu

[email protected]

886-919563599

SOURCE Tano Security
Nineteen people tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 422, a top official said.

On the brighter side, an equal number of patients were discharged from hospitals after full recovery in the last 24 hours, raising the tally of those who have overcome the dreaded contagion in the state to 84, Health Minister Mangal Pandey said in a tweet.

According to Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar, Rohtas district reported the maximum number of 11 cases on Thursday, the youngest being a boy aged two years.

With the fresh spurt, Rohtas now has 45 cases, surpassed only by Munger (92) district and followed closely by Patna (44), where two residents of different localities in the city were found infected with the deadly virus on Thursday.

Four persons tested positive for the disease in Sitamarhi, raising the north Bihar district's total number of cases to six, Kumar said.

Two residents of Saran, a 62-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, both hailing from different parts of the district, have also tested positive for COVID-19, he said, adding that Saran now accounts for four coronavirus cases.

Bihar has reported two fatalities due to the disease so far, one each from Munger and Vaishali, and is now left with 336 active cases.

The number of samples tested in the state till date is 22,672. Testing of samples is taking place at six laboratories -- four in Patna and one each in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga.

The principal secretary also informed that the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College at Bhagalpur is all set to have the seventh facility for COVID-19 testing in the state and it is likely to become operational by May 3.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Extends its support to communities amid lockdown

Mumbai based Swades Foundation joins the fight against COVID-19 and extends its support to migrant workers, Adivasi communities and medical personnel who are on the frontline battling the rising cases of corona virus.

Due to lack of opportunities, Adivasi community survival depend largely on the wages they receive working as labourers. The onset of this pandemic has forced the community out of work and the Foundation is working tirelessly to provide meals and consumables to the community while also backing the authorities in healthcare supplies and medical equipments.

The organisation is directly working with the Government of Maharashtra by assisting local authorities in three districts including Raigad, Nashik and Mumbai. Swades Foundation is directly associated with the District Collectors office in Raigad and Nashik and the BMC in Mumbai.

Swades Foundation is actively involved in the relief work amid this pandemic and is providing meals to the impacted migrant workers, daily wagers and underprivileged across Mumbai. The foundation will also help the medical fraternity who is fronting all odds in their endeavour to tackle patients who are suffering from the virus. Village Development Committees (VDCs) created by Swades Foundation in Raigad with the motive of sustainability in the village, is now reaching out to villagers to ensure basic necessities are being met in this time of crisis.

With the support of donor partners, the Foundation aims to provide grocery and daily essential kits to the daily wage earners and Adivasi communities across Raigad district. These kits contain cooking items, groceries, pulses vegetables and toiletries, etc.

Zarina Screwvala, Founder and MD, Swades Foundation said, In these unprecedented times, we salute those who have worked tirelessly to safeguard the country. We have directly started to mobilize food and basic essentials for Adivasi communities in Maharashtra who have lost their means of livelihood, and with our implementing partner Project Mumbai we are providing daily meals to our Doctors and Police in Mumbai. We pledge our support to the Government of India to help combat the existing pandemic. We are deeply grateful for the generous support of our partners and donors like Standard Chartered Bank, Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd, Motilal Oswal Financial Service and DB Xento Systems Pvt to name a few.

With the help from Standard Chartered Bank, the foundation will be able to reach out to the homeless and migrant worker population to supply more than 3,00,000 free meals including lunch and dinner across Mumbai. Swades Foundation and its partners including citizen volunteers are making sure that meals reach as many homeless as possible. Logistics are being managed by using kitchens from different locations and engaging with food delivery services.

Support from Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd., is helping the Foundation to provide medical aid in the form of consumables, equipment, medical gear etc. to further meet the requirements of hospitals and healthcare workers. Swades Foundation is also backed by other donors such as Motilal Oswal Financial Service and DB Xento Systems Pvt. Ltd.

The Foundation along with its partners, hopes to continue catering meal services and extend help to healthcare workers till the crisis seems to recede. Swades Foundation urges CSR and individual donors to come together to support in this difficult time.
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines protested on Thursday Chinas designation of a disputed South China Sea reef, which it has turned into a heavily fortified island base, as a Chinese administrative centre.

The Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement objecting to what it called Chinas illegal designation of Fiery Cross Reef as a regional administrative centre in the hotly contested Spratly archipelago.

Its the latest in a series of disagreements in the sea as Asian nations grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China last week of taking advantage of widespread distraction over the pandemic to advance its territorial claims.

The Philippines calls on China to adhere to international law, the department said, reminding Beijing of a 2002 agreement that urged governments with rival claims in the sea to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions that would escalate the disputes and undermine regional stability.

The Philippine government has protested Chinas self-declared territorial zones in the waters starting in 2012, with what it said was Beijings unlawful establishment of a Sansha City covering much of the South China Sea. It said it does not recognize Sansha nor its constituent units nor any subsequent acts emanating from them.

The Department of Foreign Affairs cited a July 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated Chinas sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea on historical grounds. China refused to participate in the arbitration case, which was initiated by the Philippines, and refused to recognize the ruling.

Last week, the Philippines protested Chinas establishment of two districts to administer two disputed groups of islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

One district reportedly covers the Paracel islands and the other has jurisdiction over the Spratlys, where China has turned seven reefs, including Fiery Cross, into missile-protected island bases, including three with runways.

The Philippines has a presence on at least nine islands and islets in an area it claims in the Spratlys.

The U.S.-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, which monitors the territorial conflicts, said Fiery Cross has been developed into one of Chinas most advanced island bases in the waters with missile shelters, structures with retractable roofs, radars and a runway.

The Philippines also lodged a protest last week over a Chinese navy ships aiming of its weapons control radar at a Philippine navy ship in mid-February. The radar locks weapons on a target prior to an actual attack, although the Chinese navy ship did not fire.

China and the Philippines, along with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, have been locked for decades in an increasingly tense conflict over mostly barren islands, reefs and atolls and rich fishing waters in the South China Sea.
As we approach year three of the pandemic, its safe to say weve learned to be more cautious and flexible with our plans. And with the omicro
MARCY, N.Y. -- State police have arrested a Utica man after he allegedly threatened a woman with a knife.

Israel Crespo, 47, is facing charges of burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal contempt.

Police say around 6 a.m. Wednesday April 29, Crespo went to a female aquaintance's home in the town of Marcy, forced his way in, and threatened her with a knife. The woman was not injured, but did have an active order of protection against Crespo.

Crespo's vehicle was found parked on the street in front of 1219 Miller St., in Utica. He was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit near the corner of Miller Street and Eagle Street.

Investigators searched Crespo's vehicle where they found a knife and boxcutter.

Crespo was processed and transported to the Oneida County Jail to await Centralized Court Arraignment.

State Police were assisted on-scene by the Oneida County Sheriffs Office.

Crespo was also charged in a domestic incident in Marcy in December. It is unclear if the same woman is involved in both incidents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a comprehensive meeting discussing strategy to boost the battered economy as the government may announce its first booster dose to protect lives and livelihood after the lockdown is eased next week, people aware of the development said.

There is a general consensus that the government would respond to emerging economic challenges as and when required instead of a one-time stimulus, they said requesting anonymity.

But, one thing is certain that all policy and fiscal measures will be aimed at making India a preferred global manufacturing hub where both domestic and foreign direct investments (FDIs) will be encouraged.

Hindustan Times on Tuesday reported that the government plans to aggressively push its Make in India programme by offering domestic and foreign manufacturers policy and fiscal incentives to manufacture locally.

The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) confirmed it on Thursday. Various strategies to bring investments into India in a fast-track mode and to promote Indian domestic sectors were discussed [in the meeting], a PMO statement said.

PM Modi held a comprehensive meeting to discuss strategies to attract more foreign investments into India as well as to promote local investments in order to give a boost to the economy against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the statement said.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, was attended by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, home minister Amit Shah, commerce and industries minister Piyush Goyal, minister of state for finance Anurag Singh Thakur and other senior bureaucrats.

According to people mentioned above, the government is, however, cautious while opening the economy from next week as the country cannot afford another nationwide lockdown that has hit both formal and informal sectors.

The government ordered a three-week nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 from March 25 and further extended it till May 3. The lockdown will be eased next week for certain safe areas and economic activities would be conducted there strictly as per the MHA (ministry of home affairs) guidelines, one person said.

According to the person, the government is working on relaxing regulatory norms, removing bureaucratic hurdles and providing fiscal incentives to both domestic and foreign investors. This matter was also deliberated in the meeting, he said.

It was discussed that a scheme should be developed to promote more plug and play infrastructure in the existing industrial lands/plots/estates in the country and provide necessary financing support, the PMO statement said.

During the meeting, the PM directed that the action should be taken for a more proactive approach to handhold the investors, to look into their problems and help them in getting all the necessary central and state clearances in a time bound manner, it said.

Various strategies to bring investments into India in a fast-track mode and to promote Indian domestic sectors were discussed. Detailed discussions were held on guiding states to evolve their strategies and be more proactive in attracting investments, it added.

It was also discussed that the reform initiatives undertaken by the various ministries should continue unabated and action should be taken in a time bound manner to remove any obstacles which impede promotion of investment and industrial growth, it said.

N Venkatram, CEO at consultancy firm Deloitte, said, Swadeshi 2.0 is about manufacturing from India. This will happen if our own industrialists have the ability to invest in India in turn encouraging foreign investment as well as manufacturing by foreign companies in India. We also need to look at changes needed in regulation and get the Industrialist mindset back. We need to build our economy to its export potential based on our competitive advantages and generate employment.

Mithun V, partner-M&A, Private Equity and General Corporate at law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co said the move is reassuring for the global and local investor community. This is also a very good time for the government to focus on encouraging infrastructure and manufacturing sector investments, especially given the ongoing global backlash against our land border sharing neighbour, he said.

The industry called it an apt policy at the right time and said India should strategically target each of the companies which is relocating from China.

Confederation of Indian Industry director general Chandrajit Banerjee said, We suggest that these [investment zones] should be large zones with a special purpose vehicle to provide approvals and clearances, along with world-class urban infrastructure such as roads, worker housing and facilities, sewerage and low-cost power. Land and labour regulations can also be specifically instituted for these zones to ensure large scale employment, he said.
The Symposium will take place on May 15 during the 2020 OCP Virtual Summit

AUSTIN, Texas, April 30, 2020, a collaborative community focused on redesigning hardware technology to efficiently support the growing demands on compute infrastructure, announces today that Virginia Tech is the winner of the 2020 Future Technologies Symposium. The Symposium is an OCP initiative that brings the startup, academic, analyst and investor communities together to collaboratively solve future industry problems and accelerate productization through partnerships and open source R&D. The full-day virtual event will be held on May 15 in association with the 2020 OCP Virtual Summit taking place May 12-15.



Members of Virginia Tech's Center for Power Electronics Systems will be recognized with a $10,000 award during the Symposium for their submission entitled "3kW Power Supply Design with Easy Manufacturability for 48 V Bus Power Architecture." The paper discusses methods for data centers to design the DC-DC unit of the 3kW power supply for the 48V architecture with easier manufacturability and lower cost, as well as a demonstrated prototype for 400V/48V 3kW 1MHz.

"It's indeed a pleasure to be part of the OCP Future Technologies Symposium," states Fred C. Lee, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) at Virginia Tech. "Our research team at Virginia Tech - CPES has been working on advancing power electronics technologies for decades. The Symposium is a great opportunity for us to share timely our latest research related to the next generation of Data Center power delivery architecture and power conversion technologies to the leading industry organizations. Being recognized as the top paper award for our paper entitled 3kW Power Supply Design with Easy Manufacturability for 48 V Bus Power Architecture means a great deal to our students and motivates them to continue working on further improvement."

"We received an incredible response to this year's Future Technologies Symposium with innovative and creative submissions from up-and-coming startups, highly-regarded academic organizations and some of the top established companies in the industry," comments Rocky Bullock, CEO for the Open Compute Project Foundation. "We were particularly impressed with the work that Virginia Tech submitted this year on the topic of 48 V Bus Power Architecture and look forward to their team presenting their proposed methods during the Symposium."

"We continue to be impressed with the level of engagement and the quality of topics coming from Academia and Startup communities to the Future Technologies Symposium," adds Allan Smith, Chair, OCP Future Technologies Symposium and Facebook Area 404 Lab Manager. "This year's winner (Va Tech) has challenged the industry to rethink its power architectures going forward."

In its second year, The 2020 Future Technologies Symposium is part of the 4-day 2020 OCP Virtual Summit. This year's Summit will be an interactive virtual experience that can be accessed from anywhere in the world and incorporates all the key components of OCP's annual Global Summit, including keynote sessions, executive tracks, an Expo Hall with Expo Hall talks, Engineering Workshops and the OCP Experience Center. Click here to register for the OCP Virtual Summit on May 12-15, 2020. Registration is free for all attendees and the full schedule can be found here .

About Open Compute Project Foundation

OCP Contact:

Dirk Van Slyke

Open Compute Project Foundation



Media Contact:

Jaymie Scotto & Associates
Rick Scott may be a mild-mannered senator, but he sure doesnt mind feuding with New York politicians.

The Florida Republicans latest target is New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who he is accusing of mismanaging his states budget. Cuomo took a swipe at Scott during a press conference Wednesday, after Scott wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this week suggesting that Democrats want to use federal dollars to bail out poorly run states.

Scott, who previously served two terms as governor of Florida, isnt letting the fight go.

Governor Cuomo used his daily briefing as an opportunity to attack me to distract from the fact that he wants his state bailed out by Florida taxpayers, he said in a statement Thursday. Its irresponsible and reckless to take money from American taxpayers and use it to save liberal politicians like Cuomo from the consequences of their poor choices. Floridians shouldnt have to backfill New Yorks state budget and pension fund.

Scott proceeded to list a series of questions for Cuomos next briefing, implying the New York governor mismanaged the Empire States funds and asking what steps the state has taken to protect its underfunded pension system.

Democrats are pushing for more money for state and local governments in the next coronavirus relief package, but Republicans are voicing concern that that money could go toward other state matters, like pensions. While that logic might apply to New Jersey and Illinois, both of which have struggled with their pension systems, New Yorks pension fund is overall doing far better.

Cuomo, during a press conference Wednesday, chastised Scott and said that New York state bails out Florida annually.

Theyre not bailing us out, Cuomo said . We bail them out every year.

Scott, along with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), sent a letter Thursday to President Donald Trump urging him to "reject efforts by some states to use federal tax dollars for reasons unrelated to combatting coronavirus." The letter hit New York once again for "calling for billions in unrestricted aid."

Cuomo is not the first New York politician Scott has tussled with. Last year, he lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) over disaster aid to Puerto Rico, leading to a bitter Twitter exchange.

Nick Niedzwiadek contributed to this report.


New Delhi, April 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modis Skill India programme has proved to be of great help in the crisis caused by coronavirus. The programme that began in 2015 has seen Industrial Training Institutes (ITSs) across the country manufacture more than 20 lakh face masks and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under Mahendra Nath Pandey has come out in support of state governments. His ministry has asked the states to consider converting more than 15,000 ITIs in the country into isolation wards.

Pandey told IANS in an exclusive interview that the Modi government aims to make India a 'skill capital' of the world. The work towards it would gain more momentum after the nationwide lockdown, he said. The ministry is now focused on working towards making up for the economic loss during the lockdown.

Here are excerpts from the interview: Q. 'Skill India' is helmed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. How is your ministry contributing to the national endeavour to contain coronavirus? A. The ministry is working as per the vision of Prime Minister Modi. We have many skill partners who are working towards people's welfare in this crisis situation. Students, associated with 'Skill India' through their innovative ideas and research, are contributing their 100 percent. I would like to give a few examples: The NSIT Mumbai has manufactured a hand-wash machine which is now installed at a Mumbai police station. This contraption allows washing of hands without touching the soap dispenser or the tap.

Similarly, ITI Berhampur (Odisha) has in collaboration with professors of MKCG Medical College has devised an aerosol box that tightly covers a patient's face and nose and protects him against infection. Then ITI Cuttack students have built a robot that will help health workers to look after the patients. In Bihar's Jehanabad, the ITI has built a public sanitizing tunnel.

Q. Your ministry has come forward to help the states in solving some of the problems in isolation wards. What is it all about? A. We have 15,000 it is 33 National Skill Training Institutes. These institutes have better facilities in terms of building compounds etc. Our ministry has suggested the Centre and the states convert all of them into isolation wards. Many institutes have already been converted into shelter homes for migrant workers and the other needy.

Besides, the ITIs and skill centres have distributed more than 20 lakh face masks. They have also manufactured PPE kits. All of them have also contributed to the PM CARE Fund.

Q. What is the progress report of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)? How many will benefit from it? How many employers and businesses have been given financial help? A. This scheme was started under the stewardship of Prime Minister Modi in 2016. The main objective of the scheme is to train as many people as possible in various skills. We will definitely achieve our goal of skilling maximum number of youths in the country. Under the apprenticeship scheme, 25 per cent of the stipend given to a trainee is being shared with the employer. We have increased the minimum stipend from Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 per month. We are working as per the market inclination, the demands of the present and requirements of the future.

We are preparing skilled and able workforce. Our aim is to make India a skill capital of the world. This model would stand the economy in good stead after we win the war against coronavirus. I hope more and more companies would follow us, which not only them but also the candidates. The sectors which would move on slowly would stand to benefit from this apprenticeship model.

Q. Coronavirus has badly impacted our economy. How is your ministry working towards 'skill India' amid this pandemic? The country has 65 per cent of the young population, and by improving their skills, they can be made employable.

A. Many public sector units associated with 'skill India' have been innovatively helping the local administration in fighting against coronavirus. This is not only a good example of helping the health workers, but also offers an inspiration as to how our youth by awakening entrepreneurship among them are ready to join the research field.

Our Ministry is planning to restart work at a fast pace post-lockdown. We want to make up for whatever time we have lost. We will work to make every youth self-reliant under Prime Minister Modi's guidance. This corona pandemic has made us fully realize that we will have to learn to be self-reliant. My ministry is fully ready to achieve this objective.

Q. How do you view this fight led by Prime Minister Modi against the pandemic? How far has the government been successful? A. The country is united in its fight against the pandemic - every body is contributing in one way or the other. .This success can be attributed to cooperation between the centre-and states, as also the interface with the corporate world. Also, the administration has been able to enforce rules with the cooperation with the people.

Our Prime Minister had said 'jan bhi, jahan bhi'. It was in this context that Centre brought out an economic package for weaker sections. To solve the people's problems amid corona, a helpline was launched at Central and state levels. All precautions are being publicized and suggestions are welcome from everybody to keep the nation safe and secure.

In this hour of stress, the government in public interest is offering free cooking gas cylinders for three months under the Ujjwala scheme. Doctors and nurses are covered under the insurance scheme. and stranded labourers are being helped to reach their homes. All types of medicines and medical services are being made available. Food is being arranged for daily wagers. . All this has been made successful under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. I am confident that we will soon get rid of this pandemic and we would build a healthy and successful nation.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
B oris Johnson has urged Brits to "keep going" during the coronavirus lockdown in a series of posts on Twitter.

The Prime Minister, who only returned to work this week after recovering from Covid-19, acknowledged the problems that lockdown has created for many.

He said: "I know how hard and how stressful it has been to give up even temporarily those ancient and basic freedoms, not seeing friends, not seeing loved ones, working from home, managing the kids, worrying about your job and your firm.

"So let me say directly also to British business, to the shopkeepers, to the entrepreneurs, to the hospitality sector, to everyone on whom our economy depends: I understand your impatience, I share your anxiety.

"But I must ask you to keep going in the way that you have kept going so far, so we can protect our NHS and save lives."

Mr Johnson's words come after a spokesperson for No.10 told reporters that there was little prospect of lockdown ending soon.

The spokesperson said: "We dont want to relax the social distancing measures or do anything which could lead to the virus, which the British public have done so much to suppress, being able to spread in an exponential way again, and that will guide our approach as we move forward.

"People have made huge sacrifices in order to bring down the rate of infection, to protect the NHS and ultimately to save lives and we are not going to gamble those sacrifices away by taking steps that could lead to an exponential growth in the disease again.

These comments came after comments the Prime Minister chaired the daily coronavirus morning meeting, followed by meetings of his political Cabinet and full Cabinet.

Downing Street also said the Government is working hard to hit its target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of Thursday, despite currently falling short by over 20,000 according the latest available figures.
They have to reassess: What are we in China? What are we really fighting for in Europe, Jonas said during an Automotive News podcast aired Monday. We dont think they can necessarily do what some of their Detroit brethren have done in Europe in terms of a full exit so quickly. But those things have got to be looked at.  Are we a global automaker anymore? I know that might be a tough pill to swallow when youre from Ford.  But youve just got to rip the Band-Aid off.
LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced a $25,000 donation to The Laundry Truck LA (TLTLA) to provide free laundry services and necessities to the homeless population in Los Angeles, including at the city's 42 coronavirus relief centers. The grant will help fund the purchase and furnishing of a second trailer to support the community's rising demands for laundry services. Landi Renzo USA , a global leader in alternative fuel technology, will also donate a truck equipped with the company's Eco Ready compressed natural gas (CNG) system to support TLTLA's efforts. The converted CNG Ford F-250 pickup truck will help TLTLA expand their reach and lower the organization's current transportation costs by 30 percent. With the donations from SoCalGas and Landi Renzo, TLTLA is expecting to complete 15,600 loads of laundry in 2020.

"In this pandemic, it is more critical than ever that our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness gain access to basic needs, such as laundry services," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. "Without a vaccine, we all must maintain good hygiene and wash our clothes frequently. It is our best line of defense against this highly contagious virus. Our community partners are providing loads of help and hope by stepping up to ensure individuals who lack stable housing will get their clothes cleaned through the free services offered by The Laundry Truck LA."

"As an early supporter and funder of The LA Laundry Truck to provide critical hygiene services to unhoused Angelenos in my district, I applaud SoCalGas for their community support by investing in the expansion of The LA Laundry Truck with $25,000 funding towards a new trailer and a new CNG truck to haul the trailer," said Gil Cedillo, councilmember of Los Angeles Council District 1. "Together, we are united to provide mobile laundry service that meets the public health and personal welfare of unhoused Angelenos."

"This is an unprecedented time, and our homeless neighbors in Los Angeles County need our support more than ever," said Trisha Muse, director of community relations at SoCalGas. "Our partnership with Landi Renzo and The Laundry Truck LA not only allows us to serve our community but also the environment."

"This partnership is an amazing opportunity for us to be able to help and give back to our local community. We are pleased to partner with SoCalGas and The Laundry Truck to contribute in this unparalleled time of need," said Andrea Landi, president of Landi Renzo USA. "Our Ford F-250 truck with the Landi Renzo compressed natural gas system will help The Laundry Truck with their mobile services while lowering emissions, reducing their environmental impact, and decreasing their fuel costs."

The Laundry Truck LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free mobile laundry services for those in need throughout Los Angeles and is one of the first mobile laundry services in the country to serve the homeless population. Prior to this donation, TLTLA served the community through a trailer furnished with five sets of washers and dryers, a folding station, and a water heater. Through the help of donations and partnerships, TLTLA is now expanding their operations to further assist the additional six thousand beds the City of Los Angeles have committed to for the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We believe that essential personal care services, like clean laundry, can truly impact lives -- especially at a time like this," said Jodie Dolan, founder and owner of The Laundry Truck LA. "This generous donation from SoCalGas and Landi Renzo will allow us to provide these critical services to some of the most vulnerable Angelenos."

SoCalGas is dedicated to supporting the health, safety and wellness of our community. This donation is in addition to SoCalGas' $1 million donation towards nonprofit organizations throughout its service area to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. This money will be used to support the region's workforce, feed the hungry, and provide bill assistance to customers most affected by the coronavirus.

Additional information about SoCalGas's response to COVID-19 is available here .

About SoCalGas

Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians about 45 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.

SoCalGas' vision is to be the cleanest gas utility in North America , delivering affordable and increasingly renewable energy to its customers. In support of that vision, SoCalGas is committed to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2014 through 2018, the company invested nearly $6.5 billion to upgrade and modernize its pipeline system to enhance safety and reliability. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.

About The Laundry Truck LA

Founded in 2017, The Laundry Truck LA (TLTLA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a free mobile laundry service for unhoused residents and those in need in Los Angeles. TLTLA was one of the first mobile laundry services in the country to serve the homeless community, and one of a handful in the world. TLTLA is expanding its services through local city, county and community support  and provided an estimated 3,000-4,000 loads of laundry in 2019. Accessible personal care services, like clean laundry, truly impact lives, and can make the difference in securing employment or housing, or for kids, the difference in having a positive school experience. For additional information, please visit https://www.thelaundrytruckla.com/ .

About Landi Renzo

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Greenwich Time writer Bob Hortons latest column (Sunday, Controversial captain fired for exercising right to free speech) attempts to malign First Selectman Fred Camillo and portray Mark Kordick in the best light possible. I have no interest in commenting on the status of the former police captain. He has a long history that is well known, and the people of Greenwich can be the judge of that.

What I do have an interest in is the attempt to paint the Camillo campaign in a false and less-than-flattering way. I received a call from Mr. Horton April 17 asking for comment on Freds campaign finances. When I contacted him it was clear that was not his main focus. His real focus was questioning me on the ethics of our investigation of the fraudulent lawn signs.

Since Mr. Horton was not particularly accurate in his depiction of what transpired, let me set the record straight. On Oct. 25, lawn signs, not approved by the Camillo campaign but designed to look as if they had been, popped up all around Greenwich. While trying to determine where they came from, we instructed volunteers not to remove them. Some people not associated with the campaign plucked a few out, however, and brought them to Republican headquarters.

While we were discussing what if anything needed to be done, Mr. Lincoln Millstein, a longtime Hearst Corporation executive who is now retired, came into headquarters pretending to be interested in the Board of Estimate and Taxation race, but was nervously scanning the room while a volunteer assisted him. When he spotted one of the signs he excitedly tried to photograph it. I removed it and explained it was a fraudulent campaign sign, not connected to our campaign. Apparently, I was not quick enough because we soon received a call from a reporter at Greenwich Time (a Hearst company) asking for comment on the sign he photographed.

That same morning I accompanied Fred to police headquarters to see what could be done to remove the signs. The sergeant on duty said nothing could be done. When I insisted she take a report she checked with a superior upstairs and told us no action would be taken. I asked if our campaign volunteers would be arrested if we removed the unauthorized signs and she could not answer me. The chairman of the Republican Town Committee contacted the Democrat chairman and together with input from the town attorneys decided they could be removed. That would have been a good time for Mr. Kordick to speak up and claim ownership, but he remained silent.

My instructions to Freds campaign team that evening were to ignore what happened, it was just a distraction. There were only days left in the campaign and we had spent enough time on the misleading campaign signs. However, one campaign volunteer could not let it go and, with my blessing, he began to investigate. Kordick had so cleverly disguised his actions that we wondered if the deception had indeed come from within our own campaign.

Months earlier, on March 10, 2019, Kordick purchased (and has recently renewed) the web domain www.fredcamillo.com and redirected it to Freds campaign website. The volunteer noticed that site earlier and assumed another campaign volunteer set it up. After the signs went up with that web address printed on them he looked into who owned it, but Kordick had taken the additional steps and cost of having his name shielded from public view. His curiosity piqued, the campaign volunteer began his quest for the origins of the signs. He searched the internet for signs resembling the ones that popped up that day.

He hit upon one that was quite similar and when he entered the text in the websites design tool, it was identical. He called the printer in Texas to ask who purchased them. He was told they could only search their data with a name. He tried a few and there were no matches. He then posted on a message board in the area that he would pay someone willing to drive to the printer with a photo of the lawn sign to pick up a receipt. The effort was successful.

After receiving a copy of the receipt on Oct. 28, just a few days before the election, we were shocked to see it was a Greenwich police officer and relieved it was not someone associated with Freds campaign. We immediately requested a meeting with First Selectman Peter Tesei (in his role as police commissioner), the town attorney and the police chief. We met with them that afternoon and turned over the document that finally led to Kordicks admission. Since that date Fred and the campaign have never interfered with or commented on the process. We cooperated fully when asked for background information by investigators.

Had Mr. Horton stayed on topic I would have been happy to go through all of this with him. When he began to stray into the politics of the signs it became clear to me that his aim was to tarnish a man who throughout the entire saga stayed positive and insisted his campaign do the same. I am proud of the way Fred conducted his campaign and the people who implemented his policy. It is rare in todays political environment and Fred should be commended, not condemned for it.

Jack Kriskey was chairman of Fred Camillos campaign for first selectman.
Graduation is different this year, as it was for me.

I went to my graduation in 1993 in a wheelchair.

The virus, COVID-19, surprised the world this year and graduation was postponed.

A drunken driver hit me in April of 1992, damaging my hearing capabilities, walking and speech. I also could not attend proms and senior events.

Now, I write letters in California newspapers, like the Napa Valley Register and the St. Helena Star, and give speeches with law enforcement making people aware of the dangers of driving drunk.

It is disappointing that you will not have the typical graduation seen on the media, but you are history in the making.

Imagine this: 28 years from now, you will be able to tell kids and others about this experience. You can explain about social distancing, wearing masks, how it affected you and cleansing everything was emphasized. Our situations differ, but we missed many pleasures of the senior year.

I always have high hopes for the future which is what students should have. You will get your diploma and remember these days. The mayhem the world is facing now will be interesting to talk about. I wish you the best graduates.

Lori Martin

Tracy
The Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma West Constituency, Ursula Owusu Ekuful says she suspects some foul play by miscreants in her constituency who intentionally plotted the collapse of the floating bridge which connects her constituency to the neighboring Ablekuma South constituency.

The floating bridge which was recently constructed by the MP to facilitate the easy movement of the people across the Chemu canal connecting Chorkor to Shiabu in Accra was washed away by the heavy downpour on Sunday, April 26.

Speaking to press men in Parliament on Thursday, the MP who doubles as Minister of Communications bemoaned why some members of the community would actually plot to destroy the bridge which was serving the needs of the whole community just for their own parochial interest.

She alluded to the fact that some of the residents were seen jubilating about the collapse of the bridge and suspects that those operating tolled bridges over the Chemu canal and collecting 20 pesewas from residents for each crossing could have answers to the missing bridge not just the heavy downpour.

It were some miscreants living in the community who tampered with the bridge leading to its collapse. It is not as a result of the flood as has been suggested by some people. The people who are making money from the people from their tolled bridges know something about this issue, she lamented.

According to her, the case has been reported to the police and investigation has commenced, indicating that the culprits would be dealt with accordingly.

She urged the constituents and the general public to be equally concerned about projects that have been provided by government and be willing to provide information for the arrest of those who seek to destroy projects that are for the use of everyone.

According to her, excessive partisanship should not be encouraged in matters of this nature where the vulnerable in society often affected by these illegal acts and unpatriotism.
Its not exactly a secret: Many Pentecostals have responded to the current pandemic in ways that are both bizarre and troubling. These responses have overshadowed the sanity and generosity of many faithful, Spirit-filled Christians and reinforced the idea that Pentecostal theology is cheap and silly.

This is unfortunate because Pentecostalism has many gifts to give. At its best, it is mystical and prophetic and teaches us to live deeply prayerful lives. Pentecostal theology teaches us that ministry must begin and end in prayer. It teaches us we must hold high expectations for God to work in the world, along with a deep sense of personal and communal responsibility. It teaches us not to fear the new or idolize the familiar, and that the divine power of Pentecost is the love revealed in the Cross. These are all truths the church needs in this current crisis.

Pray like jazz

If you know anything about Pentecostalism, you know about the prayer. Harvard theologian Harvey Cox compared it to jazz because of its playful extemporization and collaborative enthusiasm. Pentecostals believe this improvisation is a way of keeping rhythm with the Holy Spirit. This is why our prayers often have the spirit of an old-time revival tentopen on all sides and thrown up anywhere, anytime, as God leads. Pentecostal prayer, at its heart, is about radical openness to God, and it is marked by a readiness to be surprised and to be changed.

This openness in prayer leads Pentecostals to be improvisational in other ministries as well. When we are faithful to our calling, we are ready to abandon familiar ways of doing ministry and make ourselves at home in the company of those we are called to serve.

We consider the church neither a means to an end nor an end in itself. Therefore, we are ready to forget familiar ways of speaking and to learn new languages, both literally and figuratively, because we expect to hear God speak in ways we never could have anticipated. This is what it really means to speak in tongues.

It is always hard to know what to say in times of pain and loss. But when we are faithful to the wisdom we have received, we know that what we say to others must be shaped first of all by what we say to God on others behalf. Faithful ministry, in other words, always begins and ends in intercessory prayer.

Even as we try to give good answers to the many difficult theological questions arising at this time, we should never forget that if those answers are to be helpful, they must be rooted in prayer. This is not polite, self-assured prayer, but raw, unsparing prayer, prayer that laments and protests, demands and interrogates, begs and invokesprayer that is radically and confidently open to God in front of others and to others in front of God.

I believe the church needs this kind of openness in the midst of this crisis. We need a holy boldness, one that has nothing to do with living as if we are protected from harm, claiming secret knowledge about Gods will or asserting power over disasters and sicknesses, but has everything to do with following the Spirit into the darkness, coming alongside those who are suffering, and being Christ to them.

Love like God

Pentecostalism, at its best, is deeply communal and missional. It knows that love for God cannot be separated from love for neighbor and that prayer cannot be separated from action. As theologian Lucy Peppiatt recently observed, Pentecostals not only believe strongly in Gods involvement in every aspect of life but also believejust as stronglyin the call for Gods people to participate in what God is doing in the world.

In spite of what some might think, this is a constant theme in Pentecostal theology. Daniel Castelo, professor of theology at Seattle Pacific University, argues, for example, that Pentecostal spirituality is a form of mysticism. This is not a mysticism of withdrawal, but of mediation and intermediation. In her recent book, The Spirit and the Common Good, Daniela Augustine, professor of theology at the University of Birmingham, makes the same point: The Spirit uplifts the Christified human life as the visible means of invisible grace.  Indeed, the healing of the entire cosmos starts from within hallowed, Spirit-saturated humanity.

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All that to say, Pentecostal ministries are moved by this twofold desire: to commune deeply with God and to see everyone and everything else drawn into the same communion. This mysticism is a source of renewal for the church.

Dale Coulter, professor of historical theology at Regent University, has shown how something like that has happened before, in the aftermath of the black death in the Middle Ages. He argues that in this pandemic, once again, pastors and priests need to become spiritual directors, guiding their flocks as they turn within and find the crucified God.

Pentecostal theology teaches us to long for the age when all Gods people will be prophets. But we do not think of prophecy as a form of magic. We believe true prophecy is not so much about predicting the future as it is about seeing how God helps us to care for our neighbors in ways they most desperately need.

True prophecy gives us insight into what has happened and is happening, what is truly right and truly wrong in the world, and thus enables us to see into and call forth a better, more faithful future.

Coming into communion with Christs passion in prayer, we will find ourselves moved with compassion for others into action. The same Spirit who leads us to turn within, mystically, toward the crucified Christ, will lead us to turn out, prophetically, toward those for whom Christ offered and offers himself. Following the Spirit, we will enter the darkness instead of denying it, trusting that the light of God is already breaking forth from its depths. This is what it means to be prophetic, speaking life into dry bones.

Bless the poor

As a Pentecostal, and a Pentecostal theologian, I feel the need to be honest about our failures, past and present. I know there are hard questions to ask about the integrity and effects of our teachings and practices. And I know this is not a time for nostalgia or idealism.

But I am convinced that it is a time to return to the faithful ways that led to the rise of Pentecostal spirituality and theology in the first place. We need to retune ourselves to the God who tell us it is a commandmentnot a compromiseto love our neighbors as ourselves, especially when those neighbors are not like us.

Sadly, many Pentecostals have forgotten the wisdom of their own tradition. In its beginnings, Pentecostalism was a movement of the poor and for the poor. The poor always suffer worst in crises like the one facing us now, so Pentecostals found themselves at the center of the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918. A century later, Pentecostalism remains a movement of the poor in most parts of the world.

But in the US, much has changed. Many of us now work at a remove from the poor, both geographically and spiritually, and we are largely out of touch with the material and spiritual needs of those we are called to serve first. Now is the time to make that right. And that begins with a return to the deepest, truest convictions of our mothers and fathers in the faith.

At the revival on Azusa Street, at the very beginning of the Pentecostal movement, pastor William Seymour put it this way: The Pentecostal power, when you sum it all up, is just more of Gods love. If it does not bring more love, it is simply a counterfeit.  Pentecost makes us love Jesus more and love our brothers more. It brings us all into one common family.

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I know there are more than a few counterfeits available today. I know there is much that Pentecostals have said that is ridiculous and much that they should have said but havent. But there is another Pentecostalism, a mystical and prophetic Pentecostalism, which is a gift of the Spirit. And like many of the Spirits gifts, it is offered just as we need it and in ways we never could have imagined. That is precisely the Pentecostalism this crisis calls for.

Chris E. W. Green is a professor of theology at Southeastern University and a pastor at Sanctuary Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His most recent book is Surprised by God.

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For translations of other select CT coronavirus articles, Editors note: Want to read or share in Spanish Korean , or Indonesian ? Now you can!For translations of other select CT coronavirus articles, click here and look for the yellow links.

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The Spokesman of Iran's Armed Forces on Tuesday said Iran's Police and the Revolutionary Guard's militia arm (Basij) have arrested 3,600 individuals for "spreading rumors about coronavirus".

Radio Farda has interviewed the U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook about these arrests and also about the administration's plan to have the U.S. arms embargo remain in place after its expiration in October.

Radio Farda: What is your reaction to Iran's announcement of the arrest of almost four thousand people for spreading "coronavirus rumors"?

Brian Hook: Iran has a long history of suppressing information. It's a Marxist, theocratic, corrupt mafia that runs the country during this entire Corona crisis in the country. The regime has tried to silence people because they don't want the world to know or their own people just how bad the pandemic is in their country. There have already been 6,000 people who've died. They have almost 100,000 confirmed cases, which relative to the Middle East is quite high.

Radio Farda: What procedures does the United States want to use to keep the UN arms embargo in place past its expiration in October?

Under the Iran nuclear deal, one of the big mistakes was to agree that in year five of the deal, the arms embargo on the world's leading sponsor of terrorism expires. And that's going to happen on October 18. So we're about six months away from this happening. Secretary Pompeo and I have spoken about the need to renew the arms embargo. And we have drafted a Security Council resolution. Procedurally it's quite easy to renew the arms embargo. When I was at the UN Security Council, I negotiated the arms embargo and then it was lifted under the Iran nuclear deal in year five, so it's a drafting matter, it's quite simple. You then of course, need to avoid any vetoes and you have to have the sufficient number of votes to get it passed. So we're engaging in diplomacy to try to get agreement with the other four permanent members of the Council on how we can renew the arms embargo.

Radio Farda: President Trump said this week that he has instructed the U.S. Navy to destroy Iranian boats harassing U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf. Are there any concerns that this could trigger a war?

Brian Hook: Well, not sure. I would look at it that way. We were in international waters. And the Iranian regime has a military doctrine of desensitizing the United States from harassment. And I don't know if you saw the videos, but the Iranian swift boats that the IRGC operates exceeded the rules of maritime safety in international waters. The Iranian regime would like to desensitize us so that after doing it a number of times, they could then get within sufficient range to actually kill American soldiers. We're not gonna let that happen. We're going to enforce the rules of the road in international waters. The regime violates them in the Strait of Hormuz in the Bab-el-Mandeb and near Kuwait, which is where the incident took place. And as a matter of self defense, and protecting the lives of Americans, President Trump said that if they do it again the boats will be destroyed.

Radio Farda: U.S. Secretary of State has condemned recently the Mahan Air's delivery of supplies to Venezuela. This has cast doubt on the content of this delivery. Iran has said that it delivered spare parts for Venezuela's petrochemical industry. Do you believe that the content of the delivery was different than what Iran declared?

Brian Hook: Well, Iran regularly claims that Mahan Air is used for peaceful purposes. But there's a reason why Germany and France and a number of countries like the UK, I believe, have all banned Mahan Air landing rights in their country. Because Mahan air is a terrorist airline. It's a dual use airline. The regime uses Mahan air to move commercial passengers and they use it to move terrorists and weapons. So a number of countries around the world have denied rights, landing rights to Mahan Air to protect their the aviation industry in their own country. And we have urged countries we've been working with diplomatically to deny overflight rights to Mahan Air if they're going to be going back and forth. You've got one terrorist regime helping another terrorist regime. And whenever you see that happening, you have to assume the worst. The regime regularly claims things that are false, including that they were helping Venezuela's oil industry. But I think we can probably safely assume it's not limited to that.
Six members of a family were allegedly hacked to death by another family member over a property dispute in Gudauli village in the Banthra area on the outskirts of the city on Thursday, police said.

The accused, Ajay Singh (26), went to the local police station after committing the crime and surrendered, they added.

Singh allegedly had a heated argument with the family members over a property and attacked them with a sharp-edged weapon, the police said.

The accused allegedly killed his mother, father, elder brother, his wife and two children -- a son and a daughter -- they added.

The victims were identified as Amar (60), Ramsakhi (55), Arun (40), Ramdulari (35), Saurabh (7) and Sarika (2).

When asked, Commissioner of Police Sujeet Pandey said six members of a family were killed and the accused surrendered before the police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 16:49:13|Editor: huaxia

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Despite the fact that the European Region on WHO dashboard has accounted for more than half of the over 200,000 global COVID-19 deaths, many European countries are forced to fight a two-front battle to save both life and livelihood amid deepening economic woes.
The second richest man in the world, Bill Gates, has revealed what governments across the world must do if life is to go back to normal, as countries relax lockdown restrictions enforced due to the Coronavirus pandemic.



Gates who is now a leading voice on how to fight Coronavirus and has granted numerous interviews on how to fight it since it started, has recommended four things for life to "get back to normal"



The Microsoft founder released the list ahead of his Thursday night's CNN Town Hall interview with White House Infectious disease expert Dr Fauci .



The list reads;

1..Testing: Gates suggests various strategies to advance current testing methods including at-home test kits and consistent standards about who can get tested.

2.Contact Tracing: Gates suggests following Germanys model. Interview everyone who tests positive and use a database to make sure someone follows up with all their contacts. However, this relies on the infected person reporting their contacts accurately and requires a lot of staff to follow up with everyone in person. Gates suggest technology may be more adept at this, such as apps that help you remember where youve been or using cell phones.

3. Effective Treatment: Right now, there is no treatment for Covid-19. On Wednesday, Fauci expressed optimism about an experimental drug called remdesevir, which is still in the trial phase. Other drugs like hydroxychloroquine have received a lot of attention but are still being studied. Treatments such as convalescent plasma  drawing blood from patients who have recovered from Covid-19, making sure it is free of the coronavirus and other infections, and giving the plasma and the antibodies it contains to sick people  look promising. But there is no magic drug experts can fully support yet.

4.A Vaccine: Many countries and companies around the world are working at break-neck speed to develop a vaccine faster  and there are promising signs. Gates is particularly excited about pursuing a new approach called an RNA vaccine.

He said: Unlike a flu shot, which contains fragments of the influenza virus so your immune system can learn to attack them, an RNA vaccine gives your body the genetic code needed to produce viral fragments on its own, So, once your body senses traces of the infection, it attacks it.



As at Thursday, the COVID-19 death toll in the US stands at over 63,000.













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- Ouma Laouali completed her training to become a C-130 Hercules pilot

-The Little Rock Air Force Base in close partnership with the 189th Airlift Wing trains more than 1,200 students a year

- Approximately 150 of those students come from countries around the globe to become combat-minded C-130 Hercules crew members

- Ouma was one of those international students and was a pioneer in the history of her countrys air force

- Her interest in aviation began as a child while chasing planes overhead, imagining what it would be like to be in the sky

- Ouma hopes that her accomplishment will inspire other females to set their own goals and achieve them

Ouma Laouali, the first female pilot in the Nigerien Air Force, recently accomplished the next step in her pilot career on April 22, 2020.

She completed her training to become a C-130 Hercules pilot in the C-130 Formal Training Units six-month international pilot training programme at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.

READ ALSO: Nairobi woman narrates how Ghanaian lover conned, left her homeless

Ouma completed her training to become a C-130 Hercules pilot. Photo: Little Rock Air Force Base.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Thika couple appeals for financial help to treat 11-month-old daughter admitted with pneumonia at Kijabe Hospital

Taking to Twitter to celebrate her new achievement, the United States (US) Naval Forces Europe-Africa pointed out Ouma was the first Nigerian female air force pilot.

"Congratulations to Capt. Ouma Laouali - the 1st ever female Nigerien air force pilot, who recently graduated C-130J training at Little Rock AFB," it tweeted.

According to the Little Rock Air Force Base, the 314th Airlift Wing, in close partnership with the 189th Airlift Wing, trains more than 1,200 students a year.

READ ALSO: 17 relatives of Siaya COVID-19 victim released from quarantine after testing negative 4 times

Ouma was one of the 150 international students and was a pioneer in the history of her countrys air force. Photo: Little Rock Air Base.

Source: UGC

Approximately 150 of those students come from countries around the globe to become combat-minded C-130 Hercules crew members.

Ouma was one of those international students and was a pioneer in the history of her countrys air force.

According to Ouma, her interest in aviation began as a child while chasing planes overhead, imagining what it would be like to be in the sky.

READ ALSO: Twitter couple: Man who met his wife online pens her sweet birthday message

Her participation in the course marked the first time Ouma trained with the U.S. military. Photo: Little Rock Air Base

Source: UGC

During her 10-year career, she has flown aircraft such as the Cessna 208 Caravan and the Diamond DA42.

Whats interesting about flying is to be up in the sky like a bird, and getting to see the incredible view that is not given to anyone else besides a pilot, Ouma said.

There is nothing but open sky in front of you and you see how big the world really is," she added

READ ALSO: Wafanyakazi wa JKIA watupwa nje kwenye baridi baada ya kufutwa kazi usiku

Becoming a pilot proved to be no easy task for Ouma the pressure of setting a good example for the women who might follow her was a constant reminder for her to try harder at every challenge.

She accomplished the goals she set to achieve: becoming the Nigerien air force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron Operational Detachment commander

This was despite many challenges she faced during her 2,600 flying hours as a combat-tested pilot proving to everyone that women are capable of doing the same thing anyone else can.

READ ALSO: Working from home: Sierra Leone Minister feeds, carries 10-month-old daughter on his back during Zoom meeting

Ouma hopes that this accomplishment inspires other females to set their own goals and achieve them. Photo: Little Rock Air Base

Source: UGC

Her participation in the course marked the first time Ouma trained with the U.S. military  learning to be a combat-capable pilot of a C-130 Hercules.

I look forward to possibly becoming an instructor and I am ready to grow as a C-130 pilot, she said.

I have already seen what the plane can do, l know the planes full capabilities and I have the experience to use those capabilities if they are needed in the future," she added.

READ ALSO: Death of a hero: Top ER doctor who treated coronavirus patients dies

According to Ouma, her interest in aviation began as a child while chasing planes overhead. Photo: Little Rock Air Base

Source: UGC

Ouma hopes that this accomplishment inspires other females to set their own goals and achieve them.

She has always aspired to be the reason other young girls from Niger make their own dreams come true  just as she did.

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
Advertisement

It was Britains biggest street party: when the Nazis surrendered to the Allies on May 8, 1945, people laid out trestle tables, danced in the streets, paddled in fountains and took part in tug of war races.

Now, as the 75th anniversary approaches during lockdown Britain, Channel 4 producers have discovered rare footage of people celebrating VE Day around the world.

As well as showing scenes across Britain, the programme VE Day In Colour: Britains Biggest Party, screened on Sunday, has images of Parisiennes partying on the Champs-Elysees, troops parading in Moscows Red Square and prisoners being released from the German concentration camp Dachau.

Two soldiers and two women posing for a picture while celebrating on Trafalgar Square in London. Diana, from Croydon, told the programme about travelling to the landmark on the train as part of the D-Day celebrations

A group of young people wave flags in the VE Day celebrations, with parties across the world after the Nazis surrendered to the Allies on May 8, 1945

Britain's biggest street party: Families celebrating in Tyneside, North East England. People laid out trestle tables, danced in the streets, paddled in fountains and took part in tug of war races across Britain as part of VE Day celebrations

One person plants a kiss on another's cheek in the footage which shows celebrations across the world. Mr Coleman said: 'When the VE Day celebrations broke out there were a glut of people with cameras and film'

Two boys in Lambeth, a district in south London, eating ice cream cones and holding a Union Jack flag. Nik Coleman, chief executive of Coleman TV, said the footage is 'not secret' but has been 'ignored for a long time'

Children at a street party on a trestle table in East London on the day of the celebrations. As well as showing scenes across Britain, the programme has images of Parisiennes on the Champs-Elysees and troops parading in Moscows Red Square

A group of young people, including troops, climb on one of the plinths at Trafalgar Square. Diana recalled: 'My memory mostly is about how many people there were and the pushing and shoving'. She described the celebrations as 'spectacular'

Troops and ladies in London. Despite much of the footage showing celebrations across Britain and around the world, the majority of the 8mm film came from American archives as the American GIs had Kodachrome colour film

Get in touch Do you know any of the people in the footage? Let us know: tips@dailymail.com Advertisement

Nik Coleman, chief executive of Coleman TV, which made the programme, said: We used a lot of content, which were offcuts and B-roll knocking around in archives. We have not digitally colourised any of them. We do not have the capability to do that.

We have digitally restored and very heavily colour improved a lot of content. Some of it was of quite low quality and we have spent extensive time bringing it back to broadcast standards.

This is not secret footage. Its just that this has been ignored for a long time because it hasnt been significant. It is ephemeral. Now the notion of people dancing in the streets after being released from lockdown is highly prescient for all of us.

Children in East London play a game of tug of war as part of the celebrations. Members of the Royal Family and Boris Johnson will take part in a series of video calls with Second World War veterans for VE Day on May 8 this year

Crowds pictured near Trafalgar Square in London. Diana, who visited the area on VE Day, says on the programme there was lots of 'pushing and shoving' as the square was 'packed', adding: 'It was a very exciting time'

Crowds captured smiling towards the camera at Trafalgar Square in London, with some making the 'V for Victory' sign, which was introduced in January 1941 as part of a campaign by the Allies of the Second World War

A banner reads '1918 Lest we Forget 1945' in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, on VE Day. Mr Coleman, 59, who comes from Norfolk, was inspired to make the colour documentary by his 92-year-old mother Sheila

Children play a game of musical chairs during the celebrations with numerous Union Jack flags seen in the background. VE Day in Colour: Britains Biggest Party is screened on Channel 4 at 8pm on Sunday May 3

Four buses in London, advertising Wrigleys chewing gum, Hovis bread and Schweppes lemonade, attempt to navigate through the huge crowds as people gather to party and celebrate in the streets of the capital city

A woman with a bicycle wearing the colours of the US flag at the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France. Mr Coleman said: 'Now the notion of people dancing in the streets after being released from lockdown is highly prescient for all of us

Coleman, 59, who comes from Norfolk, was inspired to make the documentary by his 92-year-old mother Sheila, who was 17 when the war ended. She is interviewed in the programme.

She had just left school and she had gone to Martins Business College in Norwich to learn to type and do shorthand, he said.

She met my father Brian when they were 15 at a dance at a very famous dancehall in Norwich, The Sampson Hercules.

'They were together until Dads death last year from cancer and celebrated VE Day together.

HM King George VI (second to right) and Queen Elizabeth (second from left) with Princess Elizabeth (left) and Princess Margaret (right), joined by the Prime Minister, Churchill (centre), on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London on VE Day

Former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill pictured waving from a car driving through huge crowds in London. Channel 4 producers discovered the rare footage as the 75th VE Day anniversary approaches during coronavirus lockdown

A young group of people playing in the fountain at Trafalgar Square in London. The official commemorations on May 8 will begin at 11am with a national moment of remembrance and a two minute silence to mark the historic occasion

People dancing in the street as part of VE Day. This year, the Queen will address the nation to mark the 75th anniversary on an extraordinary day of virtual commemorations during the coronavirus lockdown

'He was a very, very enthusiastic photographer and had acquired reels of old footage. I found them in a brass log box in the hall.

But the majority of the 8mm film came from American archives as the American GIs had Kodachrome colour film. They were coming back coming back through the UK with unused Kodachrome film, added Coleman.

So when the VE Day celebrations broke out there were a glut of people with cameras and film. They were then shipped back to the USA where the majority would go into archives because they were of no operational use. They have probably not been seen for a very, very long time.

VE Day in Colour: Britains Biggest Party is screened on Channel 4 at 8pm on Sunday May 3.

Colourisations by Colour56.com

**Do you know any of the people in the footage? Get in touch: tips@dailymail.com**
Amazon was placed on a US government "notorious markets" list Wednesday over complaints that it failed to crack down on sales of counterfeit merchandise in five of its global e-commerce platforms. The US Trade Representative's office placed Amazon on the list of retail operations under scrutiny for intellectual property protection. As part of its annual review, USTR said Amazon platforms in Canada, Britain, France, Germany and India were cited. The report said copyright holders complained about "alleged high levels of counterfeit goods" in the five markets. Some expressed concern that in Britain, for example, "it is difficult for consumers and right holders alike to determine who is selling the goods and that anyone can become a seller on Amazon with too much ease because Amazon does not sufficiently vet sellers on its platforms," the document said. The report said Amazon's counterfeit removal processes were cited as "lengthy and burdensome, even for right holders that enroll in Amazon's brand protection programs." Amazon said it "strongly disagreed" with the findings and called the report a "purely political act" by the administration of President Donald Trump, who has engaged in a public feud with the company and its founder Jeff Bezos. "Amazon makes significant investments in proactive technologies and processes to detect and stop bad actors and potentially counterfeit products from being sold in our stores," a spokesperson said in an email. "We also work closely with law enforcement agencies and are reporting all confirmed counterfeiters to help them build stronger criminal cases." The 2019 Notorious Markets List provides examples of sellers believed to be facilitating counterfeiting but the agency noted that it is not "a legal finding of a violation" or prelude to enforcement action. "This year's review process also identified a growing concern about the proliferation of counterfeits facilitated by social media platforms," the report said, including the Chinese-based WeChat. "USTR will further study and monitor these concerns," the report said. The 49-page report also listed streaming media and e-commerce websites under scrutiny in China, Italy, Poland, Indonesia and other countries. It said Pirate Bay, a popular digital media operation which has been the target of authorities for years, remains active despite the shutdown of some of its websites.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Bellway plc (BWY.L) Thursday reported that it completed the sale of 6,506 homes in the period from August 1, 2019 to April 26, 2020, slightly lower than last year's 6,596 homes. This includes 493 homes that was completed on or after March 23, amid Covid -19. In its trading update, the company said its order book remains substantial, with a value of 1.57 billion pounds with 5,976 plots as of April 26, down from 1.66 billion pounds with 6,334 plots a year ago. The company on March 23 took the decision to cease construction activity, close sales centres, and transition to home working as soon as practicably possible. Despite sales centres closures, the company continued to achieve a modest number of weekly reservations through telephone. The cancellation rate, measured as a percentage of the reduced reservation rate over the same period, was 27%. Going ahead, the company expects sales activity to remain severely restrained until it can re-open sales outlets. The company expects to resume some construction work, initially on a phased basis, from May 4. Further, the Board has taken several actions to ensure the continued long-term resilience amid Covid-19. The Board of Directors has volunteered a temporary 20% reduction in basic salary and fees, effective from April 1 until May 31. The company said, 'Given the continued uncertainty, financial guidance remains suspended, however, measures taken by the Group to date will ensure that Bellway remains resilient. Our approach, together with the Group's upfront investment in land and work in progress, should enable Bellway to emerge positively from this unprecedented crisis.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The call launched a sequence of events that played out alongside Interstate 94 near Old Orchard Road near Skokie, with dozens of squad cars surrounding the vehicle parked on the right shoulder, the closure of the interstate in both directions for more than three hours and the discovery that a woman in the semitrailer was resting a handgun in her lap, according to Illinois State Police. Those who responded included members of the SWAT team and crisis negotiators, officials said, and after hours of barricading herself  at times speaking with authorities  the woman eventually got out of the truck and was arrested.
Rich Holladay, 50, was a command sergeant major with the U.S. Army who picked up scuba diving as a hobby. He and his business partner, Cecil Stout, 64, a retired Marine, decided to create their own business, Waterdogs Scuba and Safety. It provides scuba instruction and equipment sales, rental and repair out of Clarksville, Tennessee.



The pandemic forced the company to cease most of its operations except for offering scuba classes and CPR training for health care professionals over Zoom calls. This is really hard, Holladay said. We don't know what the future holds. In the meantime, we're cutting costs where we can, to continue to operate to the best of our ability. But it's an uncertain future for everybody."

He has several part-time employees, and the six full-time staff members that run the shop are dependent on us for their employment."

Holladay and Stout applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the Small Business Administration and a PPP loan. However, though they turned in the application paperwork early, the PPP ran out of money before Waterdogs received any funds.

Serving in the military helped us to adapt and understand that while you may want reality one way, reality is reality and you've got to cope with it the best that you can. In the military you do that on a daily basis, Holladay said.

What the PPP application process is like

Since Holladay applied for the PPP loan, it has been replenished with additional funds. Business owners who are seeking help should apply quickly and remain organized.

To be eligible for a PPP loan, businesses are required to have been operating as of Feb. 15 and have no more than 500 employees. Borrowers can request 250 percent of their monthly payroll costs.

Erika Smith, a former dentist who runs D2D Health Management, a doctor-to-doctor consulting firm, helped the veteran-owned Extensive Pain Primary and Urgent Care Center of Nevada file its PPP application. She recommends borrowers first visit the SBA lender finder because not all banks are participating in the program. In many cases, she has found that participating banks prefer for their PPP borrowers to be preexisting customers.

Next, review the borrower application form to know what information needs to be provided. You can already have that information gathered. So, when you're actually filling out the real thing online, you have your numbers, you know what's going on, Smith said.

If the company has not filed 2019 tax returns, the SBA will accept a copy of 2018 tax documents. Additionally, it is important to have salary information of employees outlined in a document such as a QuickBooks file. W3 and 940 tax forms may also be required to identify how many people are employed and what they are paid, Sporrer said.

"It's very important to know that going in, so you can get those documents right. Therefore, when you're applying it makes it smooth and easy, said Smith.

One common mistake applicants make is to list the number of employees they currently have but not the number they had before laying some off, said Andre Haynes, founder of the Armed Forces Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas.

"Because of the error, they're going to receive less money and not be able to fully fund or support all of the employees under a normal circumstance, he said.

Once approved by the SBA, the borrower has 10 days to close the loan. Then, when funds are received, it is important to keep track of how they're spent.

"As long as 75 percent of the money that you received from the loan went to your payroll, that can determine if it will be a grant or if you have to pay the loan back, Smith said. Twenty-five percent of that money can go to rent and utilities."

In response to criticisms that large companies received PPP loans before smaller ones, the SBA said it will review all loans in excess of $2 million to further ensure PPP loans are limited to eligible borrowers.
T he Government may miss its 100,000-a-day testing target but the public should recognise ministers for being brave, the Justice Secretary has said.

Robert Buckland insisted officials were straining every sinew to reach the threshold pledged by Matt Hancock earlier this month, despite falling some 50,000 short.

Official figures show that on Wednesday just 52,000 Covid-19 tests were carried out, and 19,000 of these are thought to be retests.

Even if it [the target] isnt met, were well on our way to ramping this up and 100,000 is an important milestone, but frankly we need more, he told BBC Breakfast.

Yes, 52,000 isnt 100,000, I know that  but we are straining every sinew to get there.

Testing levels remain well short of the 100,000 target / AFP via Getty Images

He added: Being brave is something we should acknowledge even if the target isnt met today.

It came as hospital chiefs hit out at the target as a red herring to mask shortcomings in the Governments response to tthe crisis.

NHS Providers, the representative for trusts in England, accused ministers of a series of frequent tactical announcements to distract from the vast amount that needs to be done.

A scathing document drawn up by the body claims the NHS started from a poor position as Covid-19 tightened its grip on Europe, and consistently struggled to demonstrate a clear, effective and well communicated strategy.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said ministers were 'brave' to set the testing target / Getty Images

It dismissed the target as arbitrary and a red herring to distract from no visibility on any long-term strategy, calling on ministers to update its testing plan to address low levels of key worker testing, swabbing, and contact tracing to prevent a second wave of infections.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock vowed to meet the 100,000 threshold on April 2, reaffirmed by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab last week.

Professor John Newton, the Governments testing tsar, said on Wednesday he remained "confident" of reaching the landmark by the end of April.

Loading....

Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, said members were growing frustrated with the lack of a lockdown exit strategy for testing.

As we consider the route out of lockdown, what trust leaders need now is clarity on the testing regime from here on, he said.

Setting a target for a number of tests for April 30 may have had a galvanising effect. But what matters most is an updated strategy to take us through the exit from lockdown.

The Department of Health and Social Care said testing was absolutely critical and capacity at NHS and Public Health England laboratories had more than doubled within weeks.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy works in the Combustion Integrated Rack, connecting water umbilicals and checking for leaks in the research device that enables safe fuel, flame and soot studies in microgravity. Credit: NASA. (Apr. 23, 2020)

The International Space Station is looking ahead to its next cargo mission when a U.S. space freighter departs next month.

The Expedition 63 crew is also working on variety of space research and Russian spacecraft activities.

The U.S. Cygnus space freighter from Northrop Grumman is being readied for its robotic release from the orbiting lab's Unity module. Commander Chris Cassidy reviewed procedures and set up hardware that will deploy small experimental satellites from the outside of Cygnus after its departure on May 11. Cygnus will removed from Unity and released by the Canadarm2 robotic arm completing its 83-day stay at 12:10 p.m. EDT.

Cassidy also opened up the Combustion Integrated Rack for maintenance replacing components in the research device that enables safe fuel, flame and soot studies in microgravity. Afterward, the three-time station visitor logged his meals for a nutrition study then swapped batteries in an acoustic monitor that measures the sound levels aboard the station.

Cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner continued unpacking and inventorying the near three tons of food, fuel and supplies delivered late last week aboard the Progress 75 resupply ship. Ivanishin also serviced a variety of Russian life support gear. Vagner checked on lighting systems and photographed the external condition of the Poisk module which hosts docked Russian spacecraft.

On-Orbit Status Report

Japanese Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) #13: The crew performed photographic documentation of the J-SSOD#13 deployment. The JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) provides a novel, safe, and small satellite launching capability to the International Space Station (ISS). The J-SSOD is a unique satellite launcher, handled by the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS), which provides containment and deployment mechanisms for several individual small satellites. Once J-SSOD, including satellite install cases with small satellites, is installed on the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) by crew members, it is passed through the JEM airlock for retrieval, positioning, and deployment by the JEMRMS.

SlingShot: The crew performed a partial setup of the Slingshot payload in order to allow ground commanding to test the WIDAR communication link through Wallops ground site using the Cygnus spacecraft. Unfortunately, the data cables did not connect properly and the task was aborted. Ground teams are discussing a forward plan to get a data connection in order to proceed with the test at a later date. SEOPS' SlingShot is a small satellite deployment system that fits inside the Cygnus spacecraft's Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM). SlingShot can accommodate up to 18 satellites that are deployed post Cygnus unberth.

Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME): The crew replaced an ACME controller In preparation for the continuation of s-flame runs. The ACME experiment series being performed in the CIR includes five independent studies of gaseous flames. The primary goals of ACME are to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollutant production in routine fuel combustion activities on Earth. Its secondary goal is to improve spacecraft fire prevention through innovative research focused on materials flammability.

Systems

Acoustic Monitoring: Crew-worn acoustic monitors were set up and distributed to the crew onboard the ISS. These will be worn for 24 hours before they will be deployed to static locations within ISS. The acoustic monitoring sessions gather data to characterize any changes to the acoustic environment throughout the station.

Completed Task List Activities:

Network Attached Storage (NAS) Hard Drive Swap

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Ground Cmding for SlingShot Test

Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, 4/29 (GMT 120)

Payloads:

Astrobee Battery change (NASA)

VEGGIE PONDS Facility Clean (NASA)

RED-EYE temp Stowed during Astrobee mapping ops (NASA)

Systems:

Acoustic Monitoring Setup - Static Measurements

EVA Loops Scrubs for units 3004/3008

EHS TOCA Calibration Check

O-OHA Test

Thursday, 4/30 (GMT 121)

Payloads:

Astrobee Localization and Mobility ops (NASA)

CBEF 2nd cleaning post MHU-5 (JAXA)

Space Fiber Stow (NASA)

Food Physiology (NASA)

VEGGIE PONDS Facility Deact (NASA)

ISS HAM Pass (NASA)

Systems:

EHS TOCA Water Sample Analysis

JEM CTB Relocate

Acoustic Monitor Data Transfer and Stow

Friday, 5/1 (GMT 122)

Payloads:

RADIN SBD deploy (CSA)

JSSOD-13 removal (JAXA)

CIR Manifold Bottle change (Joint)

RED-EYE restow (NASA)

Systems:

Cygnus Cargo Ops

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Verification of anti-virus scan results on Auxiliary Computer System [] laptops

SlingShot BPW Review

Regeneration of Micropurification Unit () 1 Absorption Cartridge (init)

Remove Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Controller Panel Assemblies (CPA) Removal

C1, 2 Dust Collectors Filters Vacuum Cleaning in FGB (panels 203, 403)

Teardown [-2] (304)

Food Acceptability Survey

LIGHTING SYSTEM AUDIT in FGB

JEMRMS Small Satellite Deployment Observation

Acoustic Monitor Setup for Crew Worn Measurements

SlingShot Controller Install

[1] and [2] Fans screen cleaning

INSTALLATION OF -2 (POSITION A304)

Photography of Plume Impingement and Deposit Monitoring Unit [] position on MRM2 through SM window No.13

ACME Controller Replace 1 in Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR)

Current converter fan () screen cleaning

URAGAN. BCC P/L Adjustment and Testing

Diagnostics of FGB Power Supply System Filter Units (-1) and Main Bus Assembly (-1) - preparation steps

Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)

Early unstow and US cargo transfers from Progress 448 (SM Aft) and IMS Ops

Progress 443 (DC1) Stowage Ops with IMS Support

Video Footage of Greetings

JEMRMS Small Satellite Deployment Observation

ODF update using Progress 448 delivered files

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) - JEM

Acoustic Monitor Battery Swap

SlingShot WIDAR STOW

On-Orbit Hearing Assessment (O-OHA) with EarQ Software Setup and Test

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Travel and travel planning are being disrupted by the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. For the latest updates, read The New York Timess Covid-19 coverage here.

The Timess Travel section is tasked with bringing you the world. But with the world on pause, were inviting you to explore far-flung destinations through another, more interactive medium: coloring pages, inspired by some of our favorite travel photos.

Coloring books  for children and adults alike  have emerged with a new zeitgeist as an unbreakable, noiseless and screen-free indoor activity; AdAge named them one of the key creative trends to emerge from the pandemic.
A school principal has been stood down after she went against official advice and told students to stay at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last Friday, Bronwyn White, principal of Halls Head College in Mandurah, Western Australia, sent an email to parents, advising that only children of essential workers and those unable to stay home come to school for the start of Term Two.

'We cannot adequately apply physical distancing and safety requirements if we have the entire College community recommencing Week 1. We simply do not have the physical space required with 1,450 students,' Ms White wrote.

But on Tuesday, she was forced to retract her statement by the WA Department of Education and replaced by an acting principal for the new school term.

Halls Head College principal Bronwyn White (pictured) was stood down by the WA Department of Education after she advised certain students stay home amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Halls Head College teachers said they had great respect for Ms White and were 'shocked' by the Department's decision to stand her down.

'Everyone supported her (Ms White's) decision and understood her reasons for sending out the email,' one teacher told The Mandurah Mail.

'Teachers don't know how to find the space if all students return. It's just not right that she has been stood down because of this.'

Meanwhile, Western Australian Secondary School Executives Association president Armando Giglia told ABC radio the department was going through usual processes.

'Bureaucracy is bureaucracy,' Mr Giglia said on Thursday.

'She had the best interest of the students at heart - nobody denies that.'

Ms White sent out an email on Friday, saying only the children of essential workers or those that could not stay home should come to the first week of school. She was forced to retract the advice as it 'was not in line with Departmental expectations'

Ms White's conflict with the Department of Education began on Friday with her email to parents, advising only certain students come to school at the start of term.

For the first week of term (April 29 to May 1), she advised only children of essential workers or those unable to stay at home attend school.

She also said only Year 11 and 12 students should return for the second and third weeks.

This goes against the WA Department of Education has encouraged all students to return to school ever since its initial announcement on April 17.

'From Wednesday 29 April, public schools are open for all students whose parents/carers choose to send them to school. Students at school will be taught a face-to-face program and timetable,' the Department's website reads.

'Year 11 and 12 students are strongly encouraged to attend to learn in classrooms as they are at a critical point in their schooling.'

Ms White went against the against the WA Department of Education, which has encouraged all students to return to school ever since its initial announcement on April 17

On Tuesday, Ms White apologised to parents via email and retracted her advice as it 'was not in line with Departmental expectations'.

'I apologise for any confusion created by the letter sent out last Friday,' she wrote.

'I need to retract the letter sent last week that was not in line with Departmental expectations. I am writing to confirm that school is open for all students to attend.

'The expectation is that school will be running as per normal. All classes will run Face to Face with a normal timetable operating and both at home and online learning will also be accommodated.'

The Department stood down Ms White and replaced her with acting principal Alen Kursar, who will take her place indefinitely.

Ms White was noticeably absent from the start of the school term on Wednesday.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the WA Department of Education for comment.
Russia's recent anti-satellite (ASAT) test wasn't as big of a deal as you may think.

On April 15, Russia conducted a trial of its Nudol interceptor , a mobile rocket system that's designed to take out satellites in Earth orbit. The event generated buzz in national-security circles and in the mainstream media, but it's not cause for too much alarm, experts said.

For starters, this was not a contact test. Unlike China's infamous 2007 ASAT trial or the one performed by India in March 2019 , the Nudol did not hit anything on April 15. It therefore didn't generate a new swarm of orbital debris that could complicate life for the entire space community.

Related: Space junk: tracking and removing orbital debris

In addition, though Russia has now tested the Nudol 10 times or so, the system does not appear to be ready for action.

"As far as we can tell, it's not operational," Brian Weeden said on April 24 during a webinar about the Russian ASAT test . Weeden is director of program planning for the Secure World Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to space sustainability, which hosted the webinar.

"That is probably at least a few years away," Weeden added.

Then there's the matter of the Nudol's limited reach: The system apparently can target satellites only in low Earth orbit (LEO), Weeden said. LEO tops out around 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometers) above the planet's surface. That's far lower than the United States' most capable reconnaissance and military communications satellites, which tend to reside in geostationary orbit, about 22,200 miles (35,730 km) up.

Finally, it's not clear that ASAT technology in general is terribly useful, said analyst Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project and a senior research fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.

"Basically, with this kind of ASAT, or even with a more kind of advanced ASAT," Podvig said during the April 24 webinar, "it's hard to imagine a military mission in which this capability would be useful."

That's because any nation whose security could be significantly compromised by ASAT tech will naturally take steps to reduce its vulnerability to such attacks, he explained.

"There are clear ways of doing that. You go to distributed capability, you go to smaller satellites , you go to redundancy. And in the end, you can shoot down a satellite, but so what?" he said. "In that sense, I'm an optimist. I do believe that these capabilities will not be used, just because I do believe that they don't give you much in terms of military capability."

Podvig cited some historical precedent for this view. Officials in both the U.S. and the Soviet Union came to this same basic conclusion during the Cold War, cooling off considerably on the potential of ASAT weapons after some initial excitement, he said. (That said, both nations didn't totally give up on the tech. Russia just tested the Nudol, after all, and the U.S. blasted one of its own dead and rapidly descending spy satellites out of the sky with an SM-3 missile in February 2008.)

Weeden said he generally agrees with Podvig's assessment. However, he did offer a caveat: Bureaucratic and other barriers can make it tough for a nation to safeguard its space assets.

"The U.S. has been trying to do that for a decade, and so far has not really made any progress in making their system more resilient," Weeden said.

U.S. military officials have repeatedly stressed over the past few years that the nation's long-held space dominance is at serious risk , saying that both China and Russia have big ambitions in the final frontier. And the Nudol, while not particularly threatening in itself, is indeed part of a broad Russian "counterspace" portfolio, Weeden said.

That portfolio, he added, includes electronic warfare, which Russia is already using operationally, and directed energy (laser) weapons, which the country is researching.

"Finally, Russia has a pretty advanced space situational awareness capability, which is what one would need to be able to target other satellites," Weeden said.

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 .
Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday (April 29) told the Supreme Court that right to access internet is not a fundamental right and the state has got authority to curb the freedom of speech and the right to trade through internet.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration made the claim while opposing restoration of 4G services in the union territory. During the hearing, the Jammu and Kashmir informed the top court that the internet speed has been reduced in the Union Territory to protect the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.

"It is submitted that the right to access internet is not a fundamental right and thus the type and breadth of access for exercising the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and/or to carry on any trade or business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India through the medium of internet can be curtailed," an affidavit filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.

It is to be noted that Foundation for Media Professionals had filed a peition in the apex court seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the union territory in the wake of coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

In its affidavit, the Jammu and Kashmir administration told the SC that the petitioner has made incorrect claims about the deprivation of access to education, healthcare facilities and to justice itself with 2G internet speed.

"High speed internet services (4G) decrease the time of circulation of various photographs, videos, propaganda audios, and hence enable the associated content to go viral, with the reaction time of law enforcement agencies to such situations decreasing. Various Pakistan-based terror outfits are leaving no stone unturned to exploit the present situation as seen by recent infiltration attempts in handling of which many personnel of security forces have lost their lives," said Jammu and Kashmir administration.

"It is submitted that the administrative authorities concerned are the best suited to assess and handle the situation depending upon the peculiar needs and facts brought within their special knowledge," added the affidavit.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration also informed the SC that anti-India forces were using different VPNs, but because of low-speed mobile data services, they were unable to upload files of heavy data containing incriminating videos.

"Pakistan-based terrorism handlers like TRF and TMI, instigating youth to join terrorism, are using messaging applications to communicate as also to raise the morale of terrorists; however, 2G mobile data services considerably restrict the use of such applications," the affidavit added.
Authorities have arrested and identified a Texas man who allegedly fired multiple rounds with AK-47 at the the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C., with police investigating it as a 'suspected hate crime'.

The DC Metropolitan Police Department identified 42-year-old Alexander Alazo of Aubrey, Texas, as the suspect.

Alazo allegedly fired multiple rounds from a high-powered assault rifle leaving the embassy's facade riddled with bullet holes.

Authorities say they found him with the weapon at the scene.

'This morning at approximately 2:15 am, US Secret Service officers responded to the Embassy of Cuba following reports of shots fired,' the Secret Service said in a statement.

'One individual was arrested for being in possession of an unregistered firearm as well as unregistered ammunition, assault with the intent to kill, and possession of a high capacity feed device.

Alexander Alazo was arrested Thursday morning after reportedly opening fire at the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. (pictured)

Although no one was injured, bullet holes were seen on the Cuban Embassy's exterior walls and windows (pictured)

Pictured: bullet holes in the exterior of the Cuban Embassy and a shattered light bulb

Pictured: Chunks of a stone column are missing after gun fire rang out early Thursday

'No injuries were reported at the scene.'

A police report obtained by The Associated Press describes the shooting as a 'suspected hate crime' and says Alazo 'knowingly discharged multiple rounds from an AK-47 rifle into the Cuban Embassy.'

But the report also says Alazos motivation is unknown.

Local media reported that Alazo fired around 30 shots at the Cuban Embassy.

Washington's police department confirmed the incident but said an investigation was in the hands of the Secret Service, which often handles investigations involving foreign diplomats.

The Cuban Embassy released a statement, translated from Spanish, that WUSA 9 reports that their building had sustained damage.

Authorities searched a maroon Nissan Pathfinder, but its relation to the incident are unclear

Bullet holes are visible on a column behind a statue of Cuban independence hero Jose Marti as Secret Service officers investigate the scene

Pictured: Authorities searched the scene outside the Cuban embassy this morning after Alazo allegedly opened fire

Photos from the scene show bullet holes in the walls and windows of the building.

'There was no damage to the mission's personnel, who are safe and protected, but there was material damage to the building resulting from the impact of the shooting,' they wrote.

The Washington Post said that neighbors reported on the app Nextdoor that they had heard gunshots and screaming .

Pictured: A Secret Service investigator examines a bullet hole in the flagpole in front of the Cuban Embassy

Secret Service investigators take pictures of the scene on Thursday as they analyze bullet holes

A bullet hole can be seen lodged into the right side of the statue of Cuban national hero Jose Marti

Cuban Embassy: ''There was no damage to the mission's personnel, who are safe and protected, but there was material damage to the building resulting from the impact of the shooting'

Investigators found a black jacket and blanket at the scene, but it's not immediately clear if they're related to the crime

A Nissan Pathfinder parked outside the Cuban Embassy became the focus of intense investigation, as officers blocked it off with caution tape and photographed the vehicle.

A black jacket and what was thought to be a blanket were found on the ground next to the driver's side door.

It's unclear how or if the Nissan Pathfinder was involved in the incident.

The embassy, located on 16th Street at the edge of the Adams Morgan neighborhood, a normally bustling area full of bars and restaurants but which has been stilled by the coronavirus shutdown.

Pictured: Authorities stationed outside the Cuban Embassy after reports of gunfire

Alazo was arrested on several charges, including assault with the intent to kill and possession of a high capacity feed device

Alazo's motive for allegedly shooting at the Cuban Embassy have not been revealed by authorities

Pictured: Secret Service officers investigate after Alazo allegedly arrived with an assault rifle opened fire at the Cuban Embassy

The administration of President Donald Trump has chilled relations with Havana, reversing course after an opening initiated by his predecessor Barack Obama.

In October 2017, Trump's administration expelled 15 Cuban diplomats after a rash of incidents in which US embassy staff in Cuba reported as yet unexplained head pains, dizziness and hearing loss.

However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized countries like South Africa for accepting Cuban doctors to help battle coronavirus.

He claimed the doctors from Cuba only benefit their government and urged them to defect immediately.

'We've noticed how the regime in Havana has taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue its exploitation of Cuban medical workers,' he said.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Secret Service for further comment.
Andrew Scott has revealed didn't want his Fleabag character to be too 'cliched.'

The actor, 43, spoke about his role in the acclaimed comedy as the so-called 'Hot Priest' who forms a romance with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's titular character as he graced the cover of Man About Town magazine.

Revealing his longtime friend Phoebe approached to appear in the series early on, Andrew compared her to a 'benign dictator' for taking such strong command of the show.

Candid: Andrew Scott has revealed didn't want his Fleabag character to be too 'cliched,' as he posed for a suave shoot with Man About Town magazine

Andrew told Man About Town that when he took on the role of Hot Priest he didn't want to fall into a stereotype, and instead wanted him to be at the same level as Fleabag herself.

He explained: 'I didn't want the character to be, you know, cliched in any way, he had to be a real match to this extraordinarily complex character

'It ignites the audience's imagination and you don't need a lot of backstory. It's extraordinary what you can use with a lot of economy to create really special drama.'

Screen star: The actor spoke about his role in the acclaimed series ahead of his role in Showtime adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley

Romantic: Andrew won a whole new army of fans as the so-called 'Hot Priest' who sparks up a romance with Fleabag

Beloved: Andrew told Man About Town that when he took on the role of Hot Priest he didn't want to fall into a stereotype

Andrew added that he was originally approached to star in Fleabag during the series' early stages, though he only appeared in the show's second and final series.

He added: 'You know, with any, erm, great piece of art there has to be a sort of  a benign dictator, if you [know] what I mean. [It's] collaborative but it is  it is Phoebe's voice.'

Adding that much of the writing for Fleabag was done at the last minute, Andrew said he enjoyed the opportunity to 'workshop' some of his scenes.

Sweet: Speaking about Fleabag's creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Andrew described her as a 'benign dictator'

Hard-working: Adding that much of the writing for Fleabag was done at the last minute, Andrew said he enjoyed the opportunity to 'workshop' some of his scenes

Smart: The acclaimed actor added that despite doubts, he believes viewers can adapt to intellectual pieces of television

Despite earning huge support from fans, The Priest and Fleabag's romance came to an end when he decided to maintain his faith in the series' final episode.

The show was also beloved by fans for Phoebe's breaking of the fourth wall in scenes, which Andrew said would cause fans to 'scream in their living rooms.'

Out soon: Pre-order the new issue of Man About Town at manabouttown.tv

Later this year Andrew is also set to star in Showtime's adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith classic The Talented Mr Ripley about the famous conman who manipulates his way to the top of London society.

The acclaimed actor added that despite doubts, he believes viewers can adapt to intellectual pieces of television in the newfound era of binging and box sets.

Along with his role in Fleabag, Andrew is also renowned for his performance as Jim Moriarty in Sherlock opposite Benedict Cumberbatch.

Pre-order the new issue of Man About Town at manabouttown.tv.
- Jin Qi, a doctor at the director of the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said asymptomatic carriers were impossible to track

- Wang Guiqiang, the head of the infectious diseases department of Peking University First Hospital, noted the chances of eradicating the pandemic in hot weather were "slim"

- COVID-19 was first confirmed in Wuhan, China in December 2019 after which it spread to 210 countries and international conveyances as of Thursday, April 30

Health experts in China where coronavirus was first confirmed have warned COVID-19 will never be completely eradicated because "silent carriers" can spread the disease without showing symptoms.

The scientists said the virus would likely become a seasonal flu and "co-exist" with humans.

READ ALSO: COVID-19 funds: Health Ministry spends KSh 2M on airtime, KSh 4M on tea and snacks

The novel coronavirus. Photo: BBC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nairobi man emotionally recalls losing eye after being brutally beaten by police

Jin Qi, a doctor at the director of the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, told the Sun asymptomatic carriers were impossible to track.

"This is very likely to be an epidemic that co-exists with humans for a long time, becomes seasonal and is sustained within human bodies," Qi said.

Coronavirus originated from Wuhan, China in December 2019. Photo: NYT.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Mbunge atoa msaada wa TV 40 kusaidia katika vita dhidi ya COVID-19

Wang Guiqiang, the head of the infectious diseases department of Peking University First Hospital, echoed his counterparts sentiments noting the chances of eradicating the pandemic even in hot weather were "slim".

"The virus is heat sensitive, but that's when it's exposed to 56 degrees celsius for 30 minutes and the weather is never going to get that hot. So globally, even during the summer, the chance of cases going down significantly is small," he argued.

Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi confirmed 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Wed, April 29, bringing Kenya's tally to 384. Photo: MoH.

Source: UGC

Countries worldwide have in the recent past enforced strict measures such as lockdowns and curfews in bid to combat the virus but the experts said it was highly unlikely it would go away.

COVID-19 was first confirmed in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and later spread to 210 countries and international conveyances.

An info-graphic showing coronavirus cases and deaths by country. Photo: Worldometers.

Source: UGC

Over 3.2 million infections and at least 228,000 deaths had been confirmed globally as of Thursday, April 30, morning.

The encouraging news was that over one million people had recovered from the pandemic.

In Kenya, 384 cases of COVID-19 had been recorded as 14 people succumbed while 129 others recovered.

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.

Floods and Coronavirus taking Kenya by storm | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Trump: Biden Allegations Could Be False, Former VP Should Respond

President Donald Trump on Thursday stated that former Vice President Joe Biden should respond to sexual assault allegations from a former aide while he was a senator in the early 1990s.

I think he should respond, he told reporters. You know it could be false accusations. I know all about false accusations. Ive been falsely charged numerous times.

Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not publicly addressed the allegations. A former staffer, Tara Reade, said he assaulted her in the U.S. Capitol in 1993.

At the same time, Biden, who has been holed up at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hasnt been directly asked by any media outlets about the claims, leading some GOP lawmakers to suggest that both Democrats and journalists are trying to cover up the story.

Trump, who was speaking to reporters on Thursday while holding an event on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, pointed to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault during his confirmation process. He argued that like Kavanaugh, men can be falsely accused of misconduct.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden during a virtual town hall in an April 8, 2020. (Screenshot from JoeBiden.com via Getty Images)

Reade, like several other women, have accused Biden of inappropriate touching. Biden said at the time that he was sorry and would change his behavior.

But Reade last month said that Biden also assaulted her on Capitol Hill. Bidens campaign has categorically denied the allegations, and no other women have come forward.

The former vice president is scheduled to appear on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Friday morning to address Reades claims.

The allegations gained further traction earlier on Thursday when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was asked several times about Biden. She reaffirmed her support for him.

I respect your question, and I dont need a lecture or speech. Heres the thing: I have complete respect for the Me Too movement. I have four daughters and one son, she said. There is a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and will be listened to. There is also due process, and the fact that Joe Biden is Joe Biden  There have been statements from his former [Senate] office that there was never any record of this. Nobody ever came forward to say something about it other than the principal involved.

In 1992, Reade accepted a staff position for Biden, who served as a senator for Delaware at the time, after interning for former Rep. Leon Panetta. Her early time working for Biden, she recalled, was very positive, reported Fox News.

However, all that changed when she began to interact more with the former senator.

When hed see me, hed usually put his hands on me. And thats just something he did. And I didnt like it. It made me uncomfortable, Reade told Fox News. Like, for instance, I had worked for Leon Panetta and others later, and no one had ever done that with me. Like my boss had never put their hands on me, so that was strange to me.

Then in March 1993, the alleged assault took place, she said.

Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women, Biden Deputy Campaign Manager Katie Bedingfield said in response to the claim. 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. Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press.
ClearPath Mutual Insurance has appointed Don Stoller as the companys director of Underwriting, and Bob Korsan as vice president of Business Development.

Stoller most recently held the position of master underwriter at Westfield Insurance Group in Indianapolis, Ind., where he supervised a staff of over 50 underwriting associates that underwrote a $400 million book of business. In this role, Stoller also worked closely with the Commercial Underwriting Office to establish authority grants and class authority guides. Stoller has experience in underwriting, workers compensation, and management from his time at Westfield Insurance Group, where he also held the roles of WC master underwriter and WC underwriting manager.

Stoller has more than 30 years of insurance experience, including leadership roles in property and casualty underwriting. He has served as a member of the governing board of the Indiana Compensation Rating Bureau (ICRB).

Korsan joined ClearPath Mutual in 2019, and previously held the position of vice president of Underwriting. Korsan has more than 40 years of insurance experience, including senior leadership roles in property and casualty underwriting, marketing, pricing, processing, operations, and claims. He is the former president of the Syracuse Chapter of the CPCU Society, and is a past member of other CPCU chapters.

ClearPath Mutual Insurance Co. began operations on January 1, 2018, and is domiciled in Louisville, Ky. ClearPath Mutual is a monoline workers compensation insurance carrier with approximately 7,100 policyholders and nearly $50 million in premiums. It is also licensed in Tennessee and Indiana. The company recently started writing workers compensation coverage in Tennessee and will expand into writing workers compensation coverage in Indiana.

Topics Workers' Compensation Underwriting Indiana Kentucky
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Huawei's Hisilicon chip unit overtook U.S. semiconductor giant Qualcomm to be the biggest mobile phone chip supplier in China for the first time, latest report showed Wednesday.

In the first quarter, the market share of Kirin, a mobile phone chip developed by Huawei's chipset subsidiary HiSilicon, stood at 43.9 percent on the Chinese mainland, according to a semiconductor report from research and consulting company CINNO.

Qualcomm ranked second with a market share of 32.8 percent, dropping from 48.1 percent in the same period last year, while Media Tek and Apple followed with 13.1 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.

As the COVID-19 epidemic took a massive toll on China's mobile phone sales, the country's phone processor shipments plunged 44.5 percent year on year in the first three months, the report said.

However, Huawei further expanded its smartphone market rate to 36.9 percent this quarter from 28.7 percent in the same period of 2019, with other Android phone brands seeing their numbers dwindling, according to the data analysis firm Aurora Mobile.

China's mobile phone shipments fell 36.4 percent year on year to 48.95 million units during the first three months, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.
A curious thing happened about a week ago. The Government, which has been touting its investments into Covid-19 testing capacity to universal acclaim, as the country galloped up the continental league tables, suddenly found itself in the dock. Before long, prominent health leaders in the country were accusing the Government of massaging testing numbers for PR benefits.

Ghana's Magic

By the time the dust settled, it had become clear that it wasn't massive investments into diagnostic assays and reagents, not to talk of RT-PCR testing machines, that had catapulted Ghana to its celebrated position of number two in the league table of African countries that have carried out the most tests. Rather, it was the ingenuity of scientists at the country's preeminent biomedical institution, the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research that was largely responsible.

Without waiting for the usual bureaucracy of national ethical review approvals or situation-specific peer-reviewed studies, they had decided to deploy the well-known process of pooled sampling, thereby expanding testing capacity severalfold literally overnight. I chronicle these fascinating matters here and here.

With countries like Nigeria struggling to obtain enough reagents and other testing consumables in the international market, and with their testing output stuck at 0.0055% of the population ( compared to Ghana's 0.328%, which is nearly 60 times higher on a proportional basis), Ghana's feats had seemed like pure magic.

A Matter of Some Urgency

The Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC), the lead continental agency coordinating the regional Covid-19 response, in its 23rd April situation report, gave the total number of tests conducted on the continent as 415,000, of which Ghana alone was responsible for at least a sixth. By the 27th of April, Ghana had completed over 100,000 tests, whilst Nigeria was hovering around 12,000 tests. The Head of the Nigerian CDC continued to open up about the challenges the country was having in securing supplies of reagents because of severe global shortages.

Recognising that Ghana's ten-fold multiple of Nigeria's testing capacity is almost entirely down to a clever algorithm  testing based on pooled samples  one immediately begins to wonder why other African countries should not immediately adopt this algorithm and accelerate their testing coverage dramatically. Especially bearing in mind that with the worldwide testing average now in the region of 1.5%, Africa's less than 0.01% is no longer tenable. Should Africa not embrace pooled testing continentally right away?

Perhaps, we first need to break down the principles of pooled sampling. When I touched on the subject in my earlier articles, many people reached out to me on social media and through my blog to challenge my thinking and ask clarification questions about my analysis. Clearly, it is the most critical short-term decision African public health authorities would need to make regarding how to alleviate the constraints holding back mass testing.

Pooled Testing: The Basics

Supposed you had 100 items you needed to test. You know that a couple of these items have a particular defect but you don't know which specific items. You could certainly test each item one after the other. But knowing that only a few of these items have the defect, that would seem to be a waste of time and resources, especially if each test consumes significant time and resources.

Supposed the items could be mixed up in such a manner that the resulting mixture was generally similar in properties to the individual items? If so, then it would make sense to group the 100 items into smaller pools of ten items each (leaving a reserve amount from each sample) and proceed to test each pool. If any of the pools test positive for the defect in question, then the reserve samples from only that pool can be tested one after the other to find out which sample or samples from that pool might contain the defect that is triggering the positive result.

This algorithm can be summarised very simply, if also crudely, as follows.

Number of Samples 100 Test Round 1 Number of Pools 10 Number of Tests 10 Pools Testing Positive 2 Tests Wasted 8 Test Round 2 Number of Pools 0 Number of Tests 20 Tests Returning Positive 3 Positive Case Rate 3% Tests Wasted 17 Total Number of Tests 30 Tests Saved 70

In effect, assuming simplistically that one homogenous test kit is required for each testing exercise, 30 test kits have been used to do what would have required 100 test kits in the conservative one-by-one model.

More Math Than Biology

The first thing that may have jumped at the reader is the statistical nature of the decision-making here. It is not molecular virology that determines, fundamentally, the issues at play. True, that important discipline plays a role in addressing some of the concerns about sensitivity (a measure of how effective a testing method is in fishing out genuinely or truly defective samples) and specificity (a measure of how effective a testing method is in establishing that no defect exists) that the rest of this article will grapple with, but the primary logic derives from statistical analysis. Not surprising then that the first person to rigorously publish about the process was a political economist writing for a statistical journal .

Sensitivity

Only a tiny modicum of imagination is needed to spark the most obvious concern: might mixing the ten samples into one pool not dilute it to the point where it falls below the threshold of detection? In lay terms, and in the context of Covid-19, could it not happen that when a small quantity from one or more original samples is scooped out and mixed with others to create a new single sample (the pool), that smaller sub-quantity might lack the viral RNA? This is the not-so-difficult-to-fathom issue of dilution. Because the tube or well in which each test reaction takes place inside the PCR machine is finite in size, pooling samples necessarily means reducing the amount of sub-sample taken from each original sample. RT-PCR tests may be the gold standard for detection now, but they are certainly not perfect. There is a roughly 10% chance anytime a PCR test is conducted that the result may be invalid. Will dilution not compound matters?

Luckily, there has been quite a steady stream of experimental research work that has established that modern assays are now so sensitive that the dilution risk is not necessarily elevated by pooling samples, though considerable optimisation is required for different infection scenarios.

So, all good then, we can effectively expand capacity by up to ten times across Africa by instituting pooling as a continental protocol. Except that there are some very important caveats to consider before celebrating this potential bonanza.

Pooling Efficiency

As already indicated, the algorithmic logic of pooling is based on simple mathematics, but one that can become very complex very quickly . I will spare the reader the exotic combinatorics and focus on the easy matter of pre-test probability.

Because of weeks of conducting Covid-19 tests, every country now has a rough idea of what the probability of detecting a positive case might be at every point in time. While this factor is changing all the time, the shifts are fairly steady and programmable. In Nigeria, for instance, the probability that a test will return positive is nearly 9.5%. In Ghana, it is currently around 1.5%. The vast disparity is significant and will be touched on later.

This likelihood of finding a defect (or, in the Covid-19 context, an individual testing positive) has a huge effect on the effectiveness of pooled sampling. Let us return to our simple table above. The positive rate in that thought experiment was 3%. But supposed we brought it closer to the Nigerian case, and assumed a 9% pre-test probability of finding a defect (or positive case)?

Number of Samples 100 Test Round 1 Number of Pools 10 Number of Tests 10 Pools Testing Positive 9 Tests Wasted 1 Test Round 2 Number of Pools 0 Number of Tests 90* Tests Returning Positive 9 Tests Wasted 91 Total Number of Tests 100 Tests Saved 0

*Each of the nine pools is being rerun for individual tests because of an assumption of uniform distribution of viral RNA through the mixture.

It follows then that as pre-test probability of positivity rises, there arrives a time where there is a theoretical mathematical possibility of saving no test kits or time. In fact, an important element of RT-PCR in general is that the saving in time does not scale linearly with the saving in reagents. This is because there are some time-consuming steps like viral RNA extraction, machine setup, maintenance and the like that can be common to all methods, whether pooled- or individual  based. In that regard, in a situation where the pre-test probability of finding positive cases is high, one can actually lose time doing pooling. There are certainly many optimisation algorithms to evade some of these constraints. The Ghana model for instance could be enhanced by successive division of pools instead of complete retesting of every pool that tests positive. But there is only so much optimisation one can do to push back the theoretical limits.

The insight illustrated above has led many experimentalists to argue that when the confirmed cases are above one or two percent of total tested, pooled testing may not be advisable. The only government that has reviewed the situation extensively and taken a policy and ethical (more on ethicality later) stance on pooled sampling/testing so far is the Government of India, which has decided to limit the pooling size to 5 samples and the context of use to screening, which is most beneficial during the early stages of community transmission of the disease . Which brings us to the last two important caveats.

Error Replication

Once the testing process moves out of clinics into the broader community, through for instance the community screening and contact tracing models, the whole affair becomes a complicated supply chain puzzle to unknot.

Public health officers have to be equipped with sample collection devices and sent off to various corners of the country to collect samples. A single officer may collect more than ten samples and there could be more than 1000 sample takers. The samples have to be transported in cold boxes, deposited at aggregation points and finally delivered to labs, which now have to manage these samples as one would any inventory process, with planning for storage, handling, batching and tracking.

Even in the most rigorous of mass testing situations, errors will occur, and far more than would be the case in a routine testing situation. Some samples will be poorly collected and transported than others.

Pooling, in these circumstances, can easily obscure traceability by making it highly difficult to identify points within the supply chain that are defective, since for the vast majority of tests, there is no link between a test result and its supply chain history.

Should a sample be cross-contaminated, the effect is not just on that second sample but on an entire pool. Quite apart from interfering with corrective action protocols, pooled sampling can increase workload due to error replication.

In effect, whilst pooling under laboratory conditions can be heavily controlled to remove error effects, additional safeguards are required in mass testing protocols where samples are not collected inside health facilities.

But by far the most critical issues are ethical in nature.

Ethical Clearance

In the pooled sampling and testing methodology, pools that test negative are not retested, for obvious reasons: the whole point is to save time and consumables.

In some cases, this is not an issue, but in others it is. During an epidemic or pandemic, such as the current one, testing is not a monolithic affair. We must look at the mass testing protocol in every country as a multi-layered one involving different cohorts of testing subjects.

First, there are those who were ill or felt ill and reported to a clinic or other health setting. The clinician suspected Covid-19 and sent off samples for testing, a process often referred to as routine surveillance. The pre-test probability in such cases (what we might also call the index of suspicion) is relatively high. In some cases, despite a negative test result, considering the inherent imperfection of all tests, re-testing is imperative. An example would be a situation where the individual's symptoms and travel history are so similar to those who typically test positive for the disease. In these circumstances, pooling can be harmful to such patients because negative results are not reviewed individually.

Second, there are those who come into contact with persons who have been confirmed to have the disease. In a country with a sophisticated contact tracing system, the risk level for such persons can be considered elevated if they have been in contact with multiple positively tested individuals in settings that heighten exposure. Here too, despite a negative result, it might be necessary to re-test but in a pooling scenario that would be impractical.

Lastly, we have those individuals who fit some theoretically determined risk profile (for example, living in a neighbourhood where many people have tested positive). Testing in such community screening scenarios is driven largely by the evolving picture of the outbreak and by the quality of data, modelling and analysis. In countries where public health institutions are weak, the data, models and analyses involved may well also be weak.

In Ghana's case, the empirically observed situation accords cleanly with the above descriptions. Using the 21st April 2020 Covid-19 situational report for the Greater Accra Region (the capital city region that is presently the epicenter of the outbreak in Ghana, accounting for more than 85% of all infections), we computed a positive case rate of 8.5% for test subjects selected through routine surveillance and 8% for those selected through contact tracing. Community screening results on the other hand yielded positive cases of less than 0.1% of total number of individuals tested.

Ghana's fascinatingly low 1.5% rate could thus be the result of a major dilution effect from potentially weak screening. If the community screening results are removed, the Ghanaian observed prevalence rate becomes almost identical with that of neighbours such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

Pooled Sampling Should be Used Selectively

But even if the community screening exercise is based on perfectly sound models, and I do admit that the current positive rate from routine surveillance nationwide in Ghana is around 2.5% (most likely due to loosening surveillance standards especially outside the capital) and thus less dramatically divergent from the community screening results, individuals screened under this method have different risk profiles and therefore clinical needs.

Those tested under the routine surveillance route, clearly because they are more likely to be sick, and some of those tested through the contact tracing route, because their risk is higher, may all have a right to a standard of care involving re-testing where necessary. Grouping of test subjects into cohorts based on various indices of suspicion and vulnerability seem therefore like an elementary ethical requirement.

In summary, whilst pooled testing could considerably boost testing capacities around the African continent, it should only be implemented in each country following peer-reviewed studies to establish the right optimisation models and after national ethical clearance has established the right of patients to differential diagnosis.

It is probably best then that such methods are reserved for community screening (typically more than 60% of the overall testing volume anyway) only. The evidence shows clearly that this category of testing has the lowest risk, at least before there has been widespread community infection. In the same vein, it may be prudent to avoid using the pooled technique on samples from individuals or patients identified through routine surveillance and contact tracing.
The clothes Peter Henry Woods was wearing when he went missing on Monday evening.

A Mandurah man who went missing for almost a week will be reunited with his family after going missing for almost a week.

Peter Henry Woods was found by police officers on Sunday at a residence in Greenfields where he had been invited to stay by the occupant.

A police spokesman said due to Mr Woods' health, St John Ambulance attended the residence and officers were arranging for him to be reunited with his family at Peel Health Campus.

"WA Police Force thanks everyone who shared the appeal for information, media outlets who have helped maintain public awareness of the search, and all the emergency service volunteers who have contributed to the search effort," he said.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Macys plans to open 68 stores on Monday in states that allow it, but customers may find a much different shopping experience than theyre used to.

The stores will open in Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas with reduced hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Macys CEO Jeff Gennette told The Wall Street Journal.

He said the department store chain expects to have all of its 775 stores reopened in six weeks, if coronavirus infection rates subside and state and local governments allow it.

The companys stores in New York cannot open until May 15 at the earliest under state shutdown orders intended to slow the spread of the virus and COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory disease it causes. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he plans to extend the shutdown orders beyond that date in some parts of the state.

Macys has a store in the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse, which has been shut down since March 19.

A sign on the entrance to Macy's at Destiny USA in Syracuse notifies customers the store is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com

Shoppers returning to Macys will find numerous changes, including:

Beauty departments will offer no-touch consultations and demonstrations, including the testing of products on a piece of paper with a diagram of a face.

Customers will be required to use hand sanitizer before trying on jewelry.

Only a few fitting rooms will be open and they will be sanitized frequently.

Clothing that has been tried on or returned will be held for 24 hours before being put back out for sale.

Employees will be required to wear masks.

Gennette told the newspaper he expects the stores to do less than a fifth of their normal sales at first.

We dont know how consumers will respond, he said.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

A problem for NY businesses: Workers wont return when they can get unemployment on steroids

Heroes of CNY: Physician assistant spends weekends in NYC to fight coronavirus face-to-face

Onondaga County coronavirus: 35 new cases, more ongoing infections now than ever; 30th death

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
Bank of America Corp. and other national lenders complain the SBA's new loan system has left hundreds of thousands of PPP applicants without coronavirus recovery cash, while smaller banks have rushed loans to customers. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) Read more

The outcry when more than 100 companies listed on a stock market got forgivable Paycheck Protection Program bank loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration, while hundreds of thousands of smaller firms so far have not, has pushed firms such as AutoNation, Ruths Chris Steak House and Yardley-based Optinose to give the money back.

But similar publicly traded companies are braving the Treasury Departments May 7 deadline to return the funds or face possible penalties.

They figure that they, too, were hurt by the coronavirus-driven shutdowns  they have furloughed workers and seek new ways to reach customers. They say they should also qualify for aid, so long as they meet the requirement to use the money to keep their people working.

The right kind

Horsham-based Strata Skin got its $2.2 million PPP approval from Philadelphia-based Republic Bank. Chief executive Dolev Rafaeli says he rushed to the Philadelphia lender after his usual bank, Philadelphia-based Wells Fargo, was unable to get his application through the SBA registration process, which favors small lenders.

We are the right kind of business for PPP," said Rafaeli. We are extremely grateful. This means we will be here when patients need us.

Strata Skin makes XTRAC-brand lasers and VTRAC lamps used to treat psoriasis, eczema and other conditions without drugs. It builds the machines in California and has installed 822 in doctors offices at no charge, getting paid when patients use them  which many cannot, as long as doctors offices are closed to routine visits due to the coronavirus lock down.

The company lost $3 million on sales of $30 million last year and had $8 million in cash at years end.

Strata has furloughed many of its 114 employees and stopped paying $333,000 in compensation to Rafaeli and other managers during the shutdown.

With the PPP money, Rafaeli is preparing to put staff back to work, supporting client doctors as more states allow medical offices to reopen. "We are at 800 clinics that employ 8,000 people and serve 50,000 patients. A lot of them are suffering, " he told me. This is a lifeline.

Significant cuts

Malvern-based Neuronetics, which makes NeuroStar magnetic devices used in doctors offices to alleviate depression, told shareholders it received a $6 million PPP loan on April 21 from California-based Silicon Valley Bank.

Under CEO Stephen Thacher, Neuronetics raised $93 million in a 2018 initial public stock offering (IPO). Since then, sales are up, but it has spent money even faster to build up the business. Losses totaled $30 million last year.

Investors havent been too hopeful lately: Neuronetics has lost 90 percent of its initial stock value, dropping from about $25 to $2.50 a share. That didnt stop the board from paying Thacher $3.3 million in stock and cash last year. Neuronetics announced Thachers departure in February, but it has agreed to continue his $535,000 base salary, plus benefits, this year.

Nor is the company out of funds: At year-end, Neuronetics reported $77 million in cash, against $34 million in short- and long-term debt.

Neuronetics employed 235 at years end, but on April 8  the first full week of PPP applications  the company announced it was cutting a significant part of its operations to reduce costs, and would shave yearly expenses by $28 million, or 36 percent.

After these cuts, and with all that cash on hand, why does it still need $6 million to survive coronavirus for the next two months? And will it use the money to rehire laid-off workers, or for those left?

Chelsey Manko, a spokeswoman, says Neuronetics will have more to say about its finances and its PPP loan when it reports earnings May 5.

Counted out?

As the Inquirer has reported, small banks such as Republic, Parke and Mid-Penn can boast of getting most of their customers approved for PPP loans while giants such as Wells Fargo, JPMorgan and Bank of America still have many thousands of unapproved applications.

Whose fault is that? When SBA began registering applications for $310 billion in new PPP loans starting Monday, the agencys new electronic applications system limited applications accepted per bank at a time, as it did with the original $350 billion earlier this month.

That limited each bank to a few hundred applications an hour, bankers say. That worked for the community and regional banks that still do a lot of lending in the Great Plains states and areas such as central Pennsylvania.

But it appears to have forced a big backlog at giant banks such as New York-based JPMorgan, California-based Wells Fargo, and North Carolina-based Bank of America, which dominate lending in big coastal cities and large metro areas. The pacing put those borrowers at a disadvantage.

Bank of America has so far collected 256,000 PPP applications, but SBA has processed only 15,000 for approval, bank spokeswoman Carla Molina told me.

At the present pace, will the SBA will run out of money long before big bank customers applications have gotten through the governments system? That would be rough on small businesses in Philadelphia, New York, California and other areas where big banks are dominant lenders.
Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 2:56PM

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The city of Toronto hopes to give more vulnerable residents access to free temporary internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several technology and telecommunication companies have donated to the city to help connect 25 large residential apartment buildings located in low-income neighbourhoods.

There's Montreal-based national carrier Bell, who is providing free Wi-Fi access in up to 10 low-income buildings for six months while waiving all installation and project management fees. Bell is also working with the city and social agencies to provide mobile phones and tablets to those in need.

Cisco Canada is providing hundreds of permanent mobile access point hardware as well as contributing to fees for some internet circuits. OnX Canada is offering service management and maintenance. BAI Canada is supplying fibre and core infrastructure hosting.

Toronto-based national carrier Rogers is donating free Wi-Fi for three months to four permanent shelter locations using fixed wireless access devices to make sure the coverage is available throughout the shelters.

And Telus is working with the city, Toronto Police Service, and United Way Greater Toronto to help vulnerable residents stay connected to crisis services. The Vancouver-based national carrier is offering eligible residents free cell phones, data plans, or SIM cards.

The city's technology services division has deployed free 24/7 Wi-Fi access in all 10 city-operated long-term care homes.

"During this difficult time, it's imperative that our most vulnerable residents have access to the supports they need and are still able to feel a sense of connection while physically distancing in order to protect themselves," said Mayor John Tory in a press release. "I want to thank all of our technology and telecommunications partners for helping to make this possible by making donations to help those most in need."
The Geneva Foundation (Geneva), in partnership with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), commercial space company TechShot, Inc, and 3D printer manufacturer nScrypt, Inc., have successfully completed the first 3D printing test experiment of a human knee meniscus onboard the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory (ISS National Lab) as part of the Defense Health Program-funded 4D Bio3 (4-Defense Biotechnology, Biomanufacturing and Bioprinting) Program. Astronauts on board the station conducted this pilot research experiment that tested the materials and computer aided design developed by the 4D Bio3 team. The meniscal injury is one of the most common orthopedic injuries affecting military service members and the opportunity to print tissue in microgravity presents unique advantages for tissue engineering. The experiment is part of several research and development efforts to manufacture tissue, and someday, perhaps organs, in space.

Our Fabrication in Austere Military Environments (FAME) program explores the challenges of 3D printing health-related products in various remote settings which our servicemembers are often deployed. We successfully 3D printed surgical instruments, bioactive bandages, anatomic models and human meniscus tissue last summer in our first pilot study performed in the desert heat of Africa. In this second pilot study, we anticipate learning valuable lessons on the challenges and benefits of 3D biofabrication of human meniscus in space on the ISS. We have future plans to perform similar experiments in the jungle, aquatic, arctic and high-altitude settings, said Dr. Vincent B. Ho, Director of 4D Bio3 and Professor and Chair of Radiology at USU. Advances in 3D printing and biofabrication have the potential to provide unprecedented healthcare benefits for U.S. service members who are often sent to remote locations with few host nation medical resources.

The 3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF) is the first-ever 3D printer capable of manufacturing human tissue in the microgravity condition of space. Utilizing human cells, such as pluripotent stem cells, the BFF can create viable tissue in space through technology that enables it to precisely place and build ultra-fine layers of bioink  layers roughly the width of a human hair  in defined patterns.

The manufacture of soft human tissue, such as hearts and other organs, has proven difficult due to the conflicting needs for bioinks to be printable, biologically relevant, and possess the desired tissue mechanical properties, said Dr. Joel Gaston who led this experiment and is a USU Assistant Professor and Geneva Foundation Senior Research Scientist. On Earth, when attempting to print with soft, easily flowing biomaterials that better mimic the bodys natural environment, tissues can collapse under their own weight  resulting in inaccurate architecture and cellular connections. But if these same materials are used in in a sustained microgravity environment such as the ISS, 3D-printed soft tissues could maintain their shape.

When the meniscus tears, the shock absorbing cushioning functions poorly, which can lead to arthritis and significant knee pain. Geneva-led research in 2012 found that meniscal injury was 10 times higher in military service members than the general population, primarily due to physical tasks and fitness required by active service. [Source: Jones, Jennifer C. MEd, ATC (2012), Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Meniscal Injuries Among Active-Duty US Military Service Members, NCBI NIH].

Geneva manages the 4D Bio3 program, a five-year program funded by the Defense Health Program, with the purpose of promoting the development and application of advanced biotechnology for research pursuant to Department of Defense (DoD) priorities and ultimately for clinical translation for Warfighter benefit.

The BFF effort is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between TechShot, Inc a commercial developer and operator of spaceflight equipment and nScrypt, manufacturer of advanced industrial 3D printers.

About The Geneva Foundation

The Geneva Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that advances military medicine through innovative scientific research, exceptional program management, and a dedication to U.S. service members and veterans, their families, and the global community. Geneva is proud to have over 25 years of experience in delivering full spectrum scientific, technical, and program management expertise in the areas of federal grants, federal contracts, industry sponsored clinical trials, and educational services.

About TechShot, Inc

Techshot Inc., has been developing new technologies for the aerospace, defense and medical industries since 1988. Its devices have flown aboard parabolic-flight aircraft, sub-orbital rockets, space shuttles, the SpaceX Cargo Dragon and the International Space Station. Its Space Act Agreement with NASA permits the company to commercially operate its equipment aboard the station. Since 2015 the Techshot-designed and built Bone Densitometer has been conducting X-ray evaluations of mice in space for biopharma companies such as Novartis and Eli Lilly. Its Multi-use Variable-gravity Platform has been aboard the station since April 2018. Techshot is headquartered in Greenville, Indiana and maintains an office at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. http://www.Techshot.space

About nScrypt

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, nScrypt designs and manufactures award-winning, next-generation, high-precision Micro-Dispensing and Direct Digital Manufacturing equipment and solutions for industrial applications, with unmatched accuracy and flexibility. Serving the printed electronics, electronics packaging, solar cell metallization, communications, printed antenna, life science, chemical/pharmaceutical, defense, space, and 3D printing industries, its equipment and solutions are widely used by the military, academic and research institutes, government agencies and national labs, and private companies.

nScrypts BAT, the worlds first commercially available bioprinter, which was developed under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), won R&D Magazines 2003 Top 100 award. https://www.nscrypt.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-29 19:57:58|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The gross merchandise volume of self-operated exports of enterprises in central China's Hubei Province soared by 1,163 percent annually this year as of April 25 on Alibaba.com, a leading B2B platform for global wholesale trade owned by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.

The Hubei provincial department of commerce has established a strategic partnership with Alibaba, with the "Spring Thunder Initiative" launched to boost small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are feeling the biggest pinch due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Alibaba.com will provide continuous support over a five-month period to Hubei's SMEs in foreign trade to promote worldwide sales of local products by organizing online trade fairs and offering integrated supply chain and import-export services.

More than 1,000 foreign trade enterprises in Hubei that have been brought online in the past four months outperformed the market during the period, according to Alibaba.com, who saw a month-on-month increase of 194 percent in the number of new merchants on its platform in March.

Alibaba.com also collaborated with the Ministry of Education to formulate the standards of vocational training for talents in cross-border B2B data operation. Over 300 higher vocational colleges across the country will adopt the standards. Enditem
By PTI

DUBAI: An Indian doctor in the UAE was moved to tears after her car was stopped during curfew hours and a policeman, instead of checking her documents, gave a salute, acknowledging her service during the coronavirus pandemic, according to media reports.

Ayesha Sultana, who is from Hyderabad, was returning home on Tuesday night after completing her shift at the Al Ahli Screening centre in Dubai when she was stopped by a policeman at the Dubai-Sharjah highway, the Khaleej Times reported.

Sultana said that she did panic initially but was focused on showing her work permit and other documents to prove that she was a doctor.

According to a report in the Gulf News, Sultana said she was pulling her ID and papers to show to the policeman but "he saluted me, saying I don't need to show him anything."

"I was speechless and cried. Despite (the fact that) I was tired (after) work but this salute was my reward and waived my tiredness," she said.

"I was full of emotions at that moment and didn't know what to do. I wish I knew his name or face as he was wearing (a) mask. I just want to thank him," she was quoted as saying in the Gulf News report.

The doctor later tweeted: "As a UAE resident, this is the biggest day of my life THANKYOU."

"Had tears in my eyes. I'm blessed to be in the UAE and serve the people here," she tweeted.

Sultana, who was born and brought up in the UAE, said she did not expect she would be dealing with a pandemic when she passed out of the Dubai Medical College in February, the Khaleej Times reported.

"This is my home and I want to do my best in helping UAE fight the pandemic. We see around 200 to 300 people every day - both with and without symptoms. It is very rewarding and I am all the more committed to continue doing my job," she said.

According to the Johns Hopkins University data, the UAE has over 11,000 COVID-19 cases with 89 deaths.

UAE had been under an overnight curfew since March 26 to stem the spread of the deadly disease.

Dubai had on April 4 imposed a two-week lockdown to contain the virus.
Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young have begun a new chapter in their lives.

The real estate pros sold the home he bought following his split from ex-wife Christina Anstead more than three years ago, packed up their belongings and moved into a rental house by the ocean in Newport Beach, California.

And all the wheeling and dealing went down in just one week's time amid all the drama surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

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New digs: Tarek El Moussa sold his Costa Mesa home and moved into a beach house in Newport Beach with Heather Rae Young; it will also be the part-time home for his two kids

The major life changes weren't without a major hurdle or two.

'It's been chaos,' the Flip Or Flop star joked to People right after the move.

It turns out the couple, who have been dating since July 2019, had made an offer to buy a different home but backed out of the deal when some flaws were discovered -- after their current house in Costa Mesa had already been sold.

Major moves: El Moussa revealed he and Young decided to rent a beach house in Newport Beach when they backed out of a deal to buy a home due to some flaws; the couple are pictured with his daughter Taylor, nine, that he shares with ex-wife Christina Anstead

Sealed with a kiss: The couple shared a kiss after announcing their move from Costa Mesa to Newport Beach this past week

With their living situation in flux, they decided their best option was to rent what El Moussa called 'our in-between house' until they could 'build or find the perfect house.'

'But I mean, this is a super killer house,' El Moussa explained said before adding: 'It's nicer than the house we were living in -- it's right by the water and kind of looks like a hotel.'

They plan to live in the chic, modern beach home for at least a year.

'It's been an interesting time, but we're making it work,' Young, who stars in Selling Sunset, added.

The Flip Or Flop star confessed he was sad to let his Costa Mesa home go because it was the first place that he felt like he had a home for the kids after his divorce

The new rental is just a 15 minute drive away from the home his ex-wife shares with her new husband Ant Anstead, which makes it convenient for them to co-parent their two their children: daughter Taylor, nine and son Brayden, four.

Even with the upgrades to his new living situation, El Moussa was sad to let his Costa Mesa home go because it was the first place that he felt like he had a home for the kids after his divorce.

'I'm letting a piece of the past go. It was a very defining moment in my life after my divorce and now it's time to move on to the next chapter,' he said.

Feeling similar emotions about the Costa Mesa home, Young is also looking forward to a fresh start in a new place.

Convenient: The new rental home is a 15 minute drive from where daughter Taylor, nine and son Brayden, four, are living with their mother, Christina Anstead

El Moussa and Anstead announced their split in December 2016 and eventually finalized their divorce in January 2018.

Despite going their separate ways with the personal lives, the former couple are still filming their show, Flip Or Flop, together.

In recent days, Young has been busy promoting season two of Selling Sunset, which premieres May 22. Filming began around the same time she started dating El Moussa, so their blossoming relationship will be among the storylines that will take center stage.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Sunday, April 26

11:45 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Geneva Township.

9:50 p.m.  Officers responded to a breaking-and-entering in the 800 block of East Wackerly Street.

8:35 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the Midland County Jail for a report of an inmate in possession of meth. The deputy spoke to two inmates  a 20-year-old man and 27-year-old man  and a report is being forwarded to the Midland County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

7:24 p.m.  Deputies responded to a Lee Township residence after receiving a complaint regarding a neighbor disobeying the governor's order. Deputies made contact with a 15-year-old boy who had three friends over. Deputies explained the "stay home" order to the boys and they agreed to go home for the night.

5:10 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash causing injuries in the area of Jefferson Avenue and East Sugnet Road.

1:40 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township residence after a 20-year-old mentally-handicapped man called and reported a possible threat. The 20-year-old said an unknown man had threatened him as he walked down the roadway, stating he wanted to kill him. He described the man as wearing a red bandanna over his face, but could not remember any other description. As the deputy was speaking with him, a 38-year-old woman exited the trailer and told the 20-year-old to "tell the truth." The 20-year-old then said he was lying. He said he only made up the story because people in the neighborhood were talking about him, and the 38-year-old knows who they are, but will not tell him. He thought making up this story would force her to tell him who the people are that are talking about him.

1:06 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a party on state land located in Edenville Township. The people at the party were given warnings for violating the stay-at-home executive order and advised future violation of the executive order would result in citations. All parties left with sober drivers. There were no minors in possession of alcohol.

1:03 a.m.  A 26-year-old Jerome Township woman was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs and felony violation of controlled substances after a traffic stop. The woman was driving a vehicle that had been reported as a possible intoxicated driver. When the 9-1-1 caller was following, they observed the vehicle strike and damage a mailbox in Homer Township. The vehicle suffered damage from striking the mailbox. The vehicle then turned around, the driver picked up the mailbox and then continued on.
A family apart: Cristina Pimentel (8) and brother Daniel (11)show a photo taken by their father of their newborn brother Jesus through a window at their grandparents house in Ronda, Spain, where they are staying. Photo: REUTERS/Jon Nazca

No child has been found to have passed coronavirus to an adult, a major review of the evidence about the virus has found.

Studies into the impact of Covid-19 on young children suggest they "do not play a significant role" in spreading the virus and are less likely to become infected than adults.

While experts say more evidence is needed, they note there has not been a single case of a child under 10 transmitting the virus, even in contact tracing carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Public health officials in Switzerland have announced that under-10s can hug their grandparents again because they pose them no risk.

Now a review carried out in partnership with the UK's Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has found the evidence "consistently demonstrates reduced infection and infectivity of children in the transmission chain".

Led by Dr Alasdair Munro, a clinical research fellow in paediatric infectious diseases, the research concluded: "Covid-19 appears to affect children less often, and with less severity, including frequent asymptomatic or subclinical infection. There is evidence of critical illness, but it is rare.

"The role of children in transmission is unclear, but it seems likely they do not play a significant role."

The review by the Don't Forget The Bubbles paediatric research project added: "The China/WHO joint commission could not recall episodes during contact tracing where transmission occurred from a child to an adult."

Kostas Danis, an epidemiologist at Public Health France, said the fact children developed a milder form of the diseases may explain why they did not transmit the virus.

While he said that it was possible children could infect others, there had not been a case to date and there was "no evidence that closing schools is an effective measure".

Further evidence from China showed when families had the virus, children were "unlikely to be the index case".

Professor Russell Viner, president of the RCPCH, said: "We are not seeing evidence that children are involved in spreading or transmitting the virus."

But he said it was too soon to say children could hug their grandparents, particularly as over-70s are the most vulnerable group.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday chaired an all-party meeting on the Covid-19 situation and said senior political leaders of the state extended full support to the government's various steps for tackling the crisis.

Khattar thanked all state leaders for extending support to the Haryana government's steps for curbing the spread of coronavirus.

The chief minister held a two-hour-long video conference, in which former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala, Home Minister Anil Vij and opposition INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala, among others, participated.

There was complete support for the recent decision of putting strict curbs on daily travel across borders of Jhajjar, Sonipat, Gurgaon and Faridabad, the districts which fall in the national capital region, an official statement said after the meeting.

Haryana has maintained that many of the coronavirus cases in its NCR districts have their origins in infections emanating from the national capital.

Home Minister Anil Vij expressed hope that with curbs on inter-state movement, Haryana would soon be able to check the spread of the virus.

During the meeting, the fourth one to be held after the lockdown was announced to check the coronavirus spread, the leaders were informed that the procurement of wheat and mustard was in full swing.

About 30 lakh metric tonnes wheat and over 2.90 lakh metric tonnes mustard has been procured till Wednesday.

A total payment of about Rs 591 crore for mustard has already been remitted in accounts of 52,645 farmers. Apart from this, another payment of Rs 700 crore for wheat is being released on Thursday and will be credited to the account of farmers in the next three-four days.

In the meeting, it was also decided to refer the inquiry of suicide case of an inspector of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Kurukshetra to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Inspector Ashish had committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance on Friday and his wife had lodged a police complaint, alleging that he took the extreme step due to harassment by department officials.

The officers present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora, Chief Ministers Principal Secretary Rajesh Khullar, CM's Additional Principal Secretary V Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Dhanpat Singh, ACS (Home) Vijai Vardhan and ACS (Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare) Sanjeev Kaushal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a bid to contain the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19 in West Bengal's capital city of Kolkata, state police have formulated guidelines to prevent people from spitting at public places.

According to sources in the Kolkata Police, a person who is caught spitting might invite arrest with a case being registered against him and can be charged a fine between Rs.2,000-Rs.5,000 as per the West Bengal Prohibition of Smoking & Spitting & Protection of Health of Non-Smokers & Minors Act.

Sources told Zee Media that top brass of Kolkata Police have asked the field officers to prosecute those who are caught spitting in place of public work or use as per the West Bengal Prohibition of Smoking & Spitting & Protection of Health of Non-Smokers & Minors Act.

This Act allows a person to be prosecuted who spits in place of public work or use like - auditoriums, hospital buildings, health institutions, educational institutions, libraries, court buildings, public offices and public conveyances including Railways, said a senior official of Kolkata Police.

He further added, In case of a person is caught spitting in thoroughfares or open maidan, he will be prosecuted under the Calcutta Police Act or the Disaster Management Act.

Kolkata Police on Wednesday registered the first case under the West Bengal Prohibition of Smoking & Spitting & Protection of Health of Non-Smokers & Minors Act in the lockdown period.

A 55-year-old Kumar Gourisaria was prosecuted by New Alipore Police Station on Wednesday for spitting in public place.
In Germany, unions are pushing Amazon.com to prevent warehouse workers from congregating like bunches of "grapes" before their shifts. In Italy, where a covid-19 outbreak hit Amazon's main logistics depot, unions staged an 11-day strike that ended after the company granted employees an additional five-minute break to practice better personal hygiene. And in what amounts to the most significant pushback yet, a French appeals court on April 24 upheld an earlier ruling ordering Amazon to sell only essential products in the country to protect the safety of warehouse workers.

At Seattle headquarters, some senior Amazon executives expressed concern that the original French court order would set a precedent, according to a person familiar with the discussions. They feared it would require expensive, manual curation of Amazon's millions of product listings and prompt regulators and governments to impose similar restrictions on the company in an effort to keep essential goods flowing while protecting workers. That explains why Amazon took the unprecedented step of closing its French operations.

Amazon, which says the warehouses are safe, said it made the decision to close local depots in part because the penalties for errors in adhering to the order could total billions of euros. "The decision was made by a local French court and only applies to the local situation in France," a spokesman said in an emailed statement. "It is also specific to only one of our operations activities in France-our fulfillment centers."

For years, Amazon has mostly prevented organized labor from penetrating its employee ranks, helping keep costs down even as the company offers faster service for its customers. So far Amazon has managed to keep its operations going in the U.S., despite protests at several of its warehouses. But in Europe, the company's handling of the outbreak has provided fresh ammunition for the continent's powerful unions and activist regulators, raising the stakes for Amazon in its second-biggest market.

"The pandemic has made Amazon essential, while also increasing its vulnerability," says Uhsa Haley, the W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business and Director of the Center for International Business Advancement at Wichita State University. "I predict antitrust and worker-protection legislation of the kind that we saw at the turn of the last century."

Amazon began setting up shop in Europe in 1998, starting with the U.K. and Germany. Today it also operates dedicated web stores in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Turkey. While the European Amazon retail business generates about 13% of the company's $280 billion in revenue - excluding third-party merchant sales and cloud-computing revenue - the continent's importance to Amazon cannot be overstated.

Some of the company's outposts around the world feature limited selections geared toward digital products that Amazon can sell without expensive physical infrastructure, but the European operations are much like those in the U.S. - with networks of fulfillment centers, legions of third-party merchants selling their wares on the site and full-fledged Prime memberships offering two-hour delivery in more than 20 European cities.

At home, Amazon faces much weaker unions than it does in Europe, where participation hovers close to 23% on average compared with about 10.3% in the U.S. While union membership has declined over the past couple of decades in France and Germany, worker groups can still disrupt or force companies into talks. The European Union and national labor regulation have enforced periodic negotiations on everything from wages to education. In Germany, the retail union Verdi has some 2.1 million members and has staged numerous strikes over the years. While it has found Amazon one of its toughest opponents, Verdi worked to have collective bargaining talks to boost wages for workers at the company and across the retail sector.

Now the continent's unions believe fallout from the pandemic has given them new leverage to extract more concessions from the company. In March, French Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud said that it was important to preserve the supply of "necessary goods," but Amazon's worker safety standards were "insufficient." Inspectors were sent to check on employee conditions. The company started temperature checks, increased space between workers, provided masks to employees and stepped up cleaning. But the union SUD Solidarites deemed the measures insufficient and asked a lower court to shut down the centers.

The French court ruled that Amazon must stop selling non-essential items during the lockdown. The company temporarily closed its French warehouses pending an appeal, and, after it lost, Amazon announced Monday it would keep its fulfillment centers closed until May 5 "to evaluate the best way to operate in light of the Court of Appeal's decision" while avoiding fines. France is scheduled to end the lockdown on May 11.

"This is our moment to make a global fight," says Sylvain Alias, a SUD Solidarites representative. "The coronavirus will leave a lasting mark on Amazon and what they do for workers' rights and health."

A group representing unionized Amazon workers in several countries put out a letter on Thursday demanding that Amazon permanently maintain a temporary pay increase that was given to employees who came in during the Covid-19 pandemic. Labor unions don't want Amazon to just focus on virus-related sanitation, CFDT labor union representative Julien Vincent said. They want the company to address broader health concerns that its workers have, including the toll that the physical labor takes on their bodies.

In the statement, the Amazon spokesman said the company has worked with employee groups to implement safety measures and says the dispute "is not about safety but rather certain unions leveraging the process of formal procedural consultation with works councils for their own agenda. We are proud of the many changes we've made together to keep our teams safe while serving our customers in France and around the world."

Even in the U.S., where Amazon has taken a hard line with unions and employee activists, there are signs that regulators and workers are becoming emboldened. Amazon is being investigated by New York's attorney general over its safety measures and labor practices during the pandemic after it fired a worker who complained about the conditions at its Staten Island warehouse and led a walkout. The company has begun a push to reassure workers that coming to work is safe, spraying warehouses down with disinfectant.

Of course, one French court victory doesn't mean organized labor will prevail long-term. While the unions have attempted to join forces internationally-labor groups from the Europe and the U.S. met to discuss strategy in mid-March-they have so far failed to disrupt Amazon's logistical operations, which were designed to have one distribution center take over if another one goes down.

With a background noise of antitrust concerns, most notably a probe by the European Union looking into Amazon's use of data collected from third-party sellers, there may be more political appetite to pass laws that check the company. France's government has repeatedly called on consumers stuck at home to buy from domestic e-commerce companies rather than the Silicon Valley giant. Dutch politician and former trade unionist Mei Li Vos said that governments will have to protect workers to restart their economies, which provides an opening to strengthen workers' rights.

"Europe is entering phase 2 with workers needing much more confidence and reassurance to go back to work," said MIT Sloan professor Thomas Kochan, who wrote "Shaping the Future of Work." "Governments and politicians will pay a lot of attention to the workforce demands, because they need workers to go come back."
HOLYOKE  Two polling places have been moved for the upcoming May 19 special election.

Precinct 3A voters will cast their ballots at Metcalf School instead of the Elmwood Fire Station. The polling station for Precinct 1B has been moved from Prospect Heights to City Hall.

The City Council approved the moves on Wednesday.

City Clerk Brenna McGee wanted to ensure that polling places followed state-mandated social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Commonwealth gives municipalities 20 days before an election to change a polling location. The change required a vote by the City Council.

State Rep. John Velis, (D-Westfield) and Republican John Cain, of Southwick, are vying for the Second Hampden-Hampshire Senate seat vacated in January by Donald Humason. The candidates ran unopposed in the March 1 special primary.

McGee continues to promote the mail-in ballots as a safe alternative to in-person voting.

In a letter, Frank McNeil, of Action Ambulance, said he felt uncomfortable allowing the former firehouse used as a polling place. Several employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The company disinfects equipment after each call, and employees take precautions. Prospects Heights management said they were forbidding visitors into the building.

Ward 2 Councilor Terence Murphy agreed with Action Ambulances and Fire Chief Jeff Prezkopowski's concerns. Prospect Heights is an elderly housing complex.

McGee said her goal was to minimize disruptions and confusion before the special election. Precinct 1B voters will enter City Hall through the rear entrance next to the parking structure.

Voters in both precincts will receive postcard notifying of the new polling locations. The postcard will include information on mail-in voting.

McGee added the state would reimburse Holyoke for the postage and costs associated with the changes. Signs will direct voters to the new polling places Election Day. "What we're trying to do is keep our residents safe," she said.

Ward 3 David Bartley said, "This is a massive change at the last second" and recommended using the Senior Center as a polling location a year ago. "We got to start thinking where we're going to do this."

He wants a plan in place for the Sept. 1 primary and the November presidential election.

Councilor James Leahy praised McGee and her staffs effort for pivoting during a crisis. He favored using the citys emergency call system to inform residents about the changes.
By Sam Richards

Bay City News Foundation

There are reasons farmers are plowing crops back into the fields and dumping milk down the drain, while food banks are desperate for donations and grocery stores are suffering shortages of some kinds of food - sometimes including milk and cheese.

It's largely a function of how the United States' food distribution system works, and the vagaries of legal requirements for food packaging, labeling, storage and shipment.

Changing the processes and retooling processing plants to get food to who needs it, Jamie Johansson said, will take time -- at 12 to 18 months, maybe longer than it will take for the coronavirus pandemic to ease up.

"Hopefully, the transportation and the distribution is catching up," said Johansson, president of the California Farm Bureau. "You may see a bare (store) shelf, but the fields certainly aren't bare."

Johansson was one of several participants in a recent "coronavirus telephone town hall" about pandemic-related disruptions in the food chain and resulting social disruptions, convened last week by state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda.

The closures of restaurants and, especially, schools related to the coronavirus pandemic created an oversupply of milk, Johansson said. The problem, he said, is that milk once destined for schools isn't packaged for general consumer use. It would take 16 typical school milk cartons to equal a gallon as typically bought at a store.

He talked about the shortages at food banks, which are under dire pressure from communities experiencing sharp job losses because of the pandemic.

While food banks usually deal well with breaking down bulk food packages, he said, most food banks need more cold storage space to handle shipments of perishables, including milk. Complicating food banks' mission, Johansson said, is a shortage of volunteers, many of whom are sheltering in place.

This situation could be eased by a state and federal initiative announced Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom to connect farmers and ranchers with excess produce to food banks around the state.

With half of all of California's restaurants shut down during the pandemic, and the other half doing takeout and delivery only, a huge market for state food producers has shrunk significantly, in another blow to the food chain.

"Half of what we produce goes to food service, and to restaurants," Johansson said. "A lot of us lost our markets overnight."

Matt Sutton, senior vice president of government affairs for the California Restaurant Association, said takeout and delivery is paying some bills; others have switched to new market niches, like grocery delivery or ready-to-go boxed lunches.

Estella Cisneros, with California Rural Legal Assistance's Agricultural Worker Program, said the coronavirus is endangering farm workers, which could in turn affect the availability of some kinds of food. Their jobs often don't lend themselves to social distancing, she said, and access to personal protective equipment has ranged from spotty to nonexistent.

"There's a lot of fear in the farmworker community ... about insufficient protection, and the ability to perform their jobs safely," Cisneros said. She also said farmworkers are often afraid to call in sick.

Johansson acknowledged the Farm Bureau and others have been scrambling to find PPE for farmworkers, but stressed farmworkers are generally told to stay home if they're sick.

The shortages of fresh produce that have surfaced in stores, Johansson said, have sometimes been more a function of transport problems than a lack of product. A coronavirus outbreak in mid-April among employees at the Safeway distribution center near Tracy resulted in that center's temporary closure, and bare produce shelves in regional Safeway stores for several days.

Growers who sell their fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets generally have had plenty to offer, said Ben Palazzolo, director of marketing for the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, which manages several Bay Area farmers markets. But there have been adjustments there, too, especially when several cities were uncomfortable about the markets in the early days of the pandemic.

And once the markets returned to many of their cities after being deemed "essential," they had to make some changes, Palazzolo said. Vendors now have to distance from one another, sellers do much of the gathering of the produce for customers, setting up designated waiting places for customers, vendors wear gloves and masks, and hand sanitizer is everywhere.

"It's been a challenge, kind of a scramble each week to meet new requirements," Palazzolo said. "But we've seen increased business at some markets because people have been cooking at home more."

Sutton with the California Restaurant Association said that when restaurants are first allowed to reopen, they won't look quite like they did pre-pandemic.

"We do know that social distancing, and face coverings, and employee health screenings, are going to be the norm for a little while," he said.

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Her days in the isolation ward no longer haunt India's first COVID-19 patient in Kerala and the 20-year old medico who has fully recovered is now busy attending online classes from her university in Wuhan in China as she completed three months since being diagnosed with the disease.

She is not unduly perturbed by the fact that Wuhan turned out to be the epicentre of the deadly virus, which went on to affect most parts of the world, and eagerly waiting to go back to the Chinese city and resume her course once normalcy returns.

"I am attending online classes of our university since February. The classes are held everyday depending on the subjects. We were told the portions now being taken would be take once again after the regular classes start as practicals have to be held", the student told PTI from her home town in Thrissur district.

It was on January 30 that the third year medical student from Wuhan university tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the country's first COVID-19 patient, days after she had returned home following semester holidays. After nearly three weeks of treatment at the Thrissur Medical College Hospital, she had tested negative twice for the virus, confirming her recovery, and was discharged on February 20.

Soon, she started attending the online classes of her university in Wuhan, which has been attracting several students from Kerala in view of its comparatively lower fees and other facilities. The classes begin at 5.30 am (Chinese time 8 am) and go on till 9 am with a 10 minute break, the woman said. "The faculty in the university include those from China, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but our faculty are mostly Chinese teachers and they take classes in English," she said. Though the university has indicated that the classes would be conducted afresh once students return, no time-frame has yet been given.

"It seems there are no patients in Wuhan now. That's what we have been told", she said adding the flight services have to commence first. Health officials in China on Sunday announced the last COVID-19 patient in Wuhan has been discharged and the hospitals in the epicentre of the global pandemic have no coronavirus cases for the first time after more than three months of arduous battle against the deadly virus that infected over 80,000 people on the mainland. The toll in Wuhan has recently been revised to 3,869.

Asked how she was passing her free time since recovering from the disease, the Keralite said she was fond of cooking and been helping out her mother in preparing mouth-watering dishes. "I love cooking and in Wuhan hostel we have kitchen and I used to cook my meals. Now I assist my mother. We prepare samosas, cutlets and grilled chicken," she said. The student was admitted to the district hospital on January 27 after she informed medical officials about symptoms like sore throat and dry cough.

Asked if she was scared when she tested positive, the medico replied in the negative. "When my sample result came, many people world over had recovered. I was not scared and I did not have any health issues either," she said. While returning from Wuhan, Indian embassy officials had told her and others to inform officials in Kerala that they were from China.

"We were asked to approach health officials in case of any symptoms of the virus besides being strictly following the 28 day home quarantine as stipulated by the Kerala government," she said. The health department officials were in constant touch with her on a daily basis enquiring about her health. "When I developed sore throat and dry cough, they were immediately informed and an ambulance was sent to pick me from my house", the youngster said, recalling the turbulent times. All praise for the Kerala Health department for the care and treatment, she said "Our health care system is very good and I got excellent treatment leading to my recovery. I did not have fever at all during my hospitalisation."

Her classmate from Alappuzha and a senior from Kasaragod, who were the second and third positive cases in the country, have also recovered. The state, which saw arrival of several people from COVID19-hit countries like Italy and Gulf region before the lockdown, reported more cases later, but did well to contain the spread with effective quarantine and treatment protocols, which have come in for praise. As of Wednesday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Kerala stood at 485 with 123 active patients. The COVID-19 first emerged in a food market in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, and later became a pandemic, affecting most parts of the world, including India.
Owner of cosmetic company Kylie Cosmetics and media personality Kylie Jenner is taking time out to celebrate her baby father Travis Scott.

30 year old American rapper Jacques Berman Webster II popularly known as Travis Scott turned 28 today.

DADA ? happy birthday to daddy of the year! im slowly but surely starting to accept the fact that storm is a daddys girl. ? but whatever. we went half on greatness! the most beautiful, smart, loving and funny little baby. the best gift. ok im crying. love you forever! @travisscott

The couple share a daughter Stormi who is already 2 years old.
The police in Lagos on Wednesday said they have arrested 65 fun seekers for violating the coronavirus lockdown in the state.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, in a statement said at 2:05pm on Wednesday, acting on credible intelligence, operatives from Area G Command and Oko Oba Division arrested 65 suspects at 84 Park Hotel, Augusto Close, Oko Oba.

He said the suspects were arrested for holding a birthday party and consuming some substances suspected to be hard/illicit drugs.

Some of the suspects were found in the swimming pool catching fun, in total neglect of the social distancing regulations and the lockdown order.

The suspects, who are within the range of 16 to 45 years, confessed to have left their various homes to the hotel in defiance to the sit at home order.

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The Manager of the hotel is equally arrested and the hotel is sealed off by the relevant agency of the State Government. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to Court, he said.

Elkana said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu has called on residents to continue to be law-abiding, advising parents to monitor the activities of their children, especially during this lockdown period.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

First batch of humanitarian aid from Kazakhstan arrived in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans embassy in Kyrgyzstan.

The humanitarian cargo of 800 tons of flour arrived via railways on Apr. 29, 2020, in compliance with all sanitary requirements.

The embassy reminded that in an effort to provide economic support to its neighbors during the coronavirus pandemic, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev decided to provide humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and supply 5,000 tons of Kazakh flour to each country for a total of over $3 million.

Humanitarian aid from Kazakhstan has been stored in the warehouses of the Fund of State Material Reserves under the Kyrgyz government.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan has reached 3,205. The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to the coronavirus outbreak, which came in force on March 16 and was to last till April 15, 2020.

By a decree of Kazakhstan's president, the emergency state period in Kazakhstan was extended till May 1, 2020, and then till May 11, 2020.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
TDT | Manama

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani received yesterday at the Ministrys General Court Bangladeshi Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr Nazrul Islam, who presented him with a copy of his credentials.

The Foreign Affairs Minister praised growing bilateral relations, affirming keenness of the Kingdom on strengthening them to meet the common aspirations of the two friendly countries and their peoples. Dr Alzayani wished the Ambassador every success in his diplomatic duties.

The meeting was attended by International Affairs undersecretary Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Foreign Affairs Ministry undersecretary Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa.
Tata Motors share was the top gainer on Nifty in Thursday's trade amid report that its UK arm Jaguar Land Rover has restored three-fourth of its budgeted production in China. Share price of Tata Motors gained 20% to Rs 93.75 compared to the previous close of Rs 78.15 on BSE. The stock has gained 25.56% in four days. Tata Motors stock opened with a gain of 10% at Rs 85.95 today. It closed 19.13% higher at Rs 93.10 on BSE. On Nifty, the stock ended 19.96% higher at Rs 93.75.

The large cap stock stands higher than 5 day and 20 day moving averages but lower than 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages. Market capitalisation of Tata Motors rose to Rs 33,492 crore in trade today.

Total 77.19 lakh shares of the firm changed hands amounting to turnover of Rs 69.12 crore on BSE.

The stock has lost 56.54% in last one year and fallen 49.7% since the beginning of this year. However, it has gained 36% in last one month.

BSE auto index too closed 5.96% or 750 points higehr at 13,349 today. Nifty Auto index gained 6.45% or 357 points to 5,901 in trade today.

According to a news report in Mint, Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co Ltd or CJLR's manufacturing plant in Changshu, which gradually resumed operations from third week of February, has restored its production capacity to 75% of pre-covid-19 levels.

CJLR is a 50:50 joint venture between China's Chery Automobile Company Ltd and Tata Motors' subsidiary JLR. JLR also exports cars to China.

JLR plans to gradually start production from May 18 in other plants, starting with its Solihull (UK) plant and other facilities in Slovakia and Austria.

In a related development, the Indian auto firm plans to issue non-convertible debentures (NCDs) worth Rs 1,000 crore. Tata Motors said NCDs would be issued in three tranches and a special committee of the company's board is scheduled to convene on May 5.

Share Market LIVE: Sensex rises 980 points, Nifty above 9,820, Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra rise ahead of results

Stocks in news: Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra, HUL, Indian Bank, Indiabulls Housing and more

Sensex rallies 1,400 points in three sessions, Nifty ends at 9,553

By Aseem Thapliyal
S taff at an east London hospital have mounted bees onto a mural to represent every patient who has beaten coronavirus.

More than 380 have been applied to the Tree of Life picture, which graces the ground floor wall of Queen's Hospital Romford.

One local resident said the mural "gives people so much hope".

Jean Maile, 72, spotted the painting when she went to an appointment. She later discovered one of the bees was for a distant relation who beat the strain.

The hospital, which falls under Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trusts, has been contacted for comment.

Speaking about the picture Ms Maile said: "Oh it's wonderful, it gives people so much hope.

"You hear about all the people dying but when you live in a small community to see more than 300 people have come through - well it's quite a big number in a small area.

The mural also pays tribute to frontline workers who have lost their lives battling the virus / Jean Maile

"People spot it coming down the escalator and go over to look at it."

Ms Maile is self-isolating with her daughter and grandchildren and said she is lucky to be able to see her family.

The mural had given visitors to the hospital a boost / Jean Maile

"The staff are so upbeat and kind when you go there," she added.

"There are more people in uniforms than in civilian clothes and security at the door make sure you have an appointment to get in."

However she said she spoke to one clinician who said she cried every night after working on a Covid-19 ward for the last few weeks.

"If you see what she has seen you would not go outside the house and stick to the rules," Ms Maile added.

"All the staff are doing a great job and my thanks goes out to them.
Meghan Markle's ex-husband Trevor Engelson has announced that he and his wife Tracey Kurland are expecting their first child in September.

Engelson, 43, confirmed the happy news that Kurland, 33, is pregnant with a girl in a social media post Wednesday.

'Future mother of the year and girl dad way outta his league! Best thing I've ever produced hands down. Baby girl, So excited to meet you in September,' he wrote.

The gushing Instagram post included a cute selfie of the couple both sporting protective face masks while Engelson proudly cradled his second wife's bump.

Meghan Markle's ex-husband Trevor Engelson announced that he and his wife Tracey Kurland are expecting their first child in September in a gushing social media post (above)

The Hollywood producer, who was married to the Duchess of Sussex from 2011 to 2013, announced his engagement to American heiress Kurland two weeks after Prince Harry and Markle's Royal wedding in May 2018.

Engelson and Kurland then tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort in Montecito, California, last May.

His Instagram post announcing they are adding to their brood sparked well-wishes from celebrity friends, including Australian comedian Celeste Barber who Engelson worked with on her memoir Challenge Accepted in 2018.

'Yass! Let's be those parents that hook up arranged marriages,' Celeste wrote on the post.

Engelson, 43, confirmed the happy news that Kurland, 33, is pregnant with a little girl Wednesday

Engelson, from Great Neck, New York, and Meghan first began dating in 2004 before she shot to fame on TV legal drama Suits.

The couple dated for six years before getting engaged in 2010 and marrying in a luxurious beach ceremony in Jamaica in 2011.

Their marriage lasted just two years, with sources close to the couple telling the Daily Mail in 2017 that her ascent to fame took its toll on their relationship.

Weeks into their marriage Meghan got her big break on Suits and spent months each year filming in Toronto, Canada while Engelson stayed at their home in Los Angeles.

'It put a strain on the relationship. Trevor was in LA making movies, Meghan was in another country five hours' flight away and it simply took its toll,' the source said.

They separated in the summer of 2013 and divorced in 2014, with papers citing 'irreconcilable differences'.

It is understood it was Meghan who ultimately decided the marriage was over.

Engelson and Meghan Markle in 2006. The Hollywood producer was married to the Duchess of Sussex from 2011 to 2013

Engelson and Meghan Markle in 2011. Meghan moved on with husband Harry and their son Archie will turn one on May 6

Meghan reportedly sent her wedding ring back to Engelson in the post after they split.

Engelson, who owns his own production company called Underground and produced films including Robert Pattinson's 'Remember Me' and the Bradley Cooper-Sandra Bullock comedy 'All About Steve,' moved on with nutritionist Kurland.

He proposed to the multi-millionaire banker's daughter in June 2018 while on a tour of California's wine country after dating for a year.

The couple celebrated their engagement with a bash in October that year held at a private home in the exclusive Hidden Hills, California.

Meghan moved on with husband Harry and their son Archie, who will turn one on May 6.
A judge has rejected a proposal that a sex offender not be present for his sentencing hearing and view proceedings instead via FaceTime, Zoom or some other virtual means from his current home in France.

Judge Gerald Keys stated that it would be grossly unfair to the mans victim if he wasnt present for the sentencing.

The 22-year-old man sexually assaulted the teenage complainant after the two made contact through Snapchat. He has failed to turn up for his sentencing as he is on Covid-19 lockdown in France.

Travel restrictions in France due to Covid-19 have meant that the man has been unable to fly back to Ireland.

In February at the court, the teenage complainant in the case told the court that she wanted justice for the sexual abuse perpetrated on her by a "vile creature" when she was aged 12.

The teenager  now 17  stated that her life has only gone downhill since the accused abused me at such a young age.

In the case, the accused  now aged 22 but aged 17 at the time - has pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault against the complainant between October 24, 2014 and April 2015.

The two  who come from the same part of the country and went to the same secondary school at the time - made direct contact initially anonymously through Snapchat and then met in person shortly after.

One of the counts of sexual assault took place in the grounds of a local primary school.

Today, in court, Judge Keys stated that it would be grossly unfair to the victim and to the accused if he was not present for the sentencing.

Judge Keys stated that he has put considerable time into the judgement and he is ready to give it.

Counsel for the accused, Pat Whyms BL stated that his client has waived his right not to be in court for the hearing and has also indicated that he would be able to be present virtually via some online portal if the court was prepared to dispose of the matter in that way.

Mr Whyms stated if the sentencing involved the accused having to enter a bond, he would have to agree to that.

However, Judge Keys stated that he had serious reservations over dealing with the sentencing in the accused mans absence.

The judge stated that unless direction is provided by the Attorney General that sentencing can take place in the absence of the accused I am not prepared to go down that road.

Judge Keys stated: Without the imprimatur of higher authorities, I am not prepared to deal with it.

Judge Keys is due to retire from the bench on May 22 and stated that if the accused cant attend, the case will have to go for re-hearing of sentencing before a new judge.

Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly BL stated the case is a peculiar case as the accused is on Covid-19 lockdown in France and that Judge Keys is due to retire.

In court in February, Det Sgt Kevin OHagan told the court that the girls mother made contact with the authorities in April 2015 after her daughter had said to her something distressing - someone keeps putting something in her mouth and she didnt like it.

Det OHagan stated that after the anonymous Snapchat game of Shift or Pass the two made direct contact and exchanged photos that were sexual in nature.

The two met in person shortly after and the majority of the counts of sexual assault took place at the then 17-year-old teenage boys family home.

The age difference between the two is four and a half years.

Counsel for the accused, Mark Nicholas SC previously said that there was no sense of coercion or threat of violence concerning the sexual assaults.

Judge Keys adjourned the matter to next Thursday.
Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on Thursday morning. He died battling leukemia for two years. It is learnt that his wife Neetu Kapoor was by his side when he breathed his last.

Rishi and Neetu were married to close to forty years. They met on the sets while shooting of 1974 movie Zehreela Insaan and Rishi fell in love with her. They later starred in Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, Kabhi Kabhie, Do Dooni Chaar and many more movies together. The couple have two kids together-- Riddhima and Ranbir.

I remember I had an argument with my girlfriend at the time and I was very heartbroken. Trying to win her back, I had taken Neetus help in writing telegrams to my girlfriend while the two of us were shooting for Zehreela Insaan'," Rishi had said in an interaction about his meeting with Neetu on the sets of Zehreela Insaan. As time passed, I began to realise that Neetu is the one for me as I began to miss her when I had gone to Europe for a shoot. Ironically, I sent her a telegram from Europe to Kashmir saying that I was thinking of her, he had added.

Neetu, however had her own version of their love story. "I had a horrible first meeting with Rishi Kapoor. He had a habit of bullying, so he would comment on my make-up and clothes, and I'd feel so angry. He was actually a brat who would bully everyone and I was very young at that time. I used to be furious with him," Neetu said.

She also elaborated on how her "protective" mother used to send her cousin Lovely on dinner dates with Rishi. "I don't remember the exact moment. But I had signed a lot of movies. I was starting to gain confidence. My mother was very protective of me and used to send my cousin Lovely on my dinner dates with Rishi," Neetu recalled about her initial days of romance.

Neetu also shared how she wanted to live a simple life after getting married. "And then my husband told me to finish everything, so we could eventually start a family. It wasn't that women couldn't work (after marriage) but I was tired working for 15 years continuously. I wanted a simple life," said the actress."

In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering. Neetu was always by his side during these difficult times.

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Photo: Julie Havlak/Carolina Journal

A surgeon's challenge to make health care more affordable for his patients is another casualty of the coronavirus. But another surgeon has carried on the fight, suing to overturn the certificate of need laws that restrict the supply of health care in North Carolina.Surgeon Dr. Gajendra Singh sued to dismantle the CON laws that prevented him from giving affordable MRI scans to his patients for a transparent, upfront price. But his imaging center folded under financial pressure from the coronavirus, social distancing measures, and the CON laws themselves. His lawsuit collapsed with his practice.But the fight against CON laws isn't over. Ophthalmologist Dr. Jay Singleton is suing to overturn state controls on who can own medical equipment and facilities. He argues that CON laws are monopolistic and unconstitutional. The case could put the first crack in CON laws in decades.Lawmakers won't take up CON reform until late July, says Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth.Singleton's patients pay thousands of dollars more for their surgeries because CON laws largely forbid him from operating in his clinic.North Carolina ranks fifth among the nation's most restrictive CON regimes.Singleton can remove cataracts for less than $1,800 in his office. The local hospital CarolinaEast charges almost $6,000 for the facility fee alone, the lawsuit says. In the Triangle area, that same procedure ranges from roughly $1,400 to $12,758, depending on its setting.Singleton's crusade against CON laws began when his patients told him they couldn't afford to pay $12,000 for cataract surgery.Singleton said.Some of his patients have delayed surgery for years because they can't afford hospital prices. CON laws block Singleton from operating in the office.Singleton said.For those who can get surgery, CON laws mean they have to move locations during the process. Singleton must keep his laser machine in his office, but he has to move patients to the hospital after using the laser.Singleton said.Getting CON permission can cost more than $400,000, and the process exposes CON applications to incumbent providers, including competitors. The 25 members of the N.C. State Health Coordinating Council represent hospitals, academic medical centers, nursing homes, insurers, lawmakers, businesses, and others. Health systems have waged legal battles over CON permission, and Singleton says he can't afford to apply.Singleton said.CON laws weren't developed as quality controls. When Congress pushed states into adopting CON laws, the intention was to suppress the cost of health care by restricting its supply and thereby preventing overtreatment.The federal government has since flatly rejected CON laws. The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have blasted CON.one report warns The N.C. Supreme Court struck down the first iteration of CON laws for "establishing a monopoly" in 1973, but the legislature has since protected the laws with "findings of fact," arguing the laws protect the supply and affordability of health care.Singleton's lawsuit says.The lawsuit faces opposition. The constitutional challenge of Singleton's predecessor, Singh, remained mired in procedural purgatory for more than a year. His lawyer was outnumbered three-to-one during a hearing, when some eight lawyers joked that there were thousands of dollars' worth of attorneys in the courtroom.said Jordan Roberts , John Locke foundation health care policy analyst.Lawmakers won't be able to tackle CON reform when they come back next week for the short session. They expect only to pass consensus legislation and allocate federal funding for the crisis, says Krawiec.Krawiec said.Singh lost his imaging center, but his attorneys with the Institute of Justice say they will continue to challenge CON laws as unconstitutional.said Joshua Windham, attorney for the Institute for Justice.
Microsoft has now opened registration for the virtual edition of its online-only Build 2020 developer conference, which will take place from May 19 to 20.

Typically, the event draws more than 6,000 developers, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, that's obviously not an option. In contrast to Google, which completely scrapped its I/O developer conference this year, Microsoft decided to go ahead with the virtual event. But this will be a very different kind of Build -- and not only because it's online-only.

Not only will the keynotes be shorter (though there will still be Day 1 and Day 2 keynotes), but in response to feedback from developers who have attended previous events, the Microsoft team also decided to focus solely on that audience. In previous years, Microsoft often used Build to announce consumer products, just like Google does at I/O. But that won't happen this year. And instead of using the keynotes to put an early spotlight on features that won't be available for half a year or more, the event will be more about providing content that's immediately useful for developers and new products that are either immediately available or only a couple of months out from getting into the hands of developers.

That also likely means that even though Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will still keynote, there will be less talk about big-picture company philosophy and more about developer tools and APIs.

Some of the keynotes and demos will be live, some will be pre-recorded, but overall, the look and feel of the event shouldn't be all that different from what developers who previously watched Build from afar experienced. But it will be shorter and more focused than in previous years, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Attendees sit in pods during the Microsoft Developers Build Conference in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Monday, May 7, 2018. The Build conference, marking its second consecutive year in Seattle, is expected to put emphasis on the company's cloud technologies and the artificial intelligence features within those services. Photographer: Grant Hindsley/Bloomberg via Getty Images
By the end of April 26, central Chinas Hubei province, which had been the main battlefield in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China, had brought its number of confirmed COVID-19 cases down to zero.

Members of medical assistance team from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supporting virus-hit Hubei Province get off the airplane at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

After being the worst-hit Chinese province in the pandemic, Hubei had cured a total of 63,616 COVID-19 patients as of the end of April 26.

While China makes significant progress in fighting the pandemic, the number of COVID-19 cases around the world continues to mount.

According to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside China had topped 2.9 million as of 9 a.m. April 29 Beijing time, with the U.S. alone reporting more than 1 million confirmed cases.

A simple comparison of data and facts inside and outside China can demonstrate that the country has made remarkable achievements in fighting the pandemic both in terms of medical treatment and epidemic prevention and control.

However, Chinas results have led to politicians and media outlets of certain Western countries to make groundless accusations against it, cooking up all kinds of stories and arguments to attack and smear China out of ulterior motives.

Some have claimed that the real number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in China could be 15 to 40 times higher than the data officially released by the country.

The people who made such claims have seen the statistics released by China but ignored the great efforts made and the solidarity shown by the 1.4 billion people across the country over the past more than two months, said Ding Gangqiang, head of the epidemiological survey team stationed in the Chinese city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei and previous epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In fact, the epidemiological survey team from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which Ding led, has done meticulous and solid work regarding COVID-19 in Wuhan.

In order to guarantee complete success in curbing the spread of the virus, the team has adopted a 5+1 work pattern to ensure proper management, investigation, and follow-up visits to close contacts of confirmed cases and strict epidemic prevention and control measures through collaboration between personnel from five groups - grid-based community workers, health service center doctors, officials dispatched to grass-roots levels, public security officers and volunteers.

According to official statistics, the cumulative cure rate of COVID-19 in Wuhan is 92.2 percent, while the proportion of cured severe cases in the city is 88.9 percent.

Such heartening results in fighting the pandemic in China could not have been achieved without the appropriate macro policies and epidemic prevention and control strategies, contributions of medical workers, as well as nationwide efforts people all over the country.

The secrets to Chinas success in controlling COVID-19 can be summarized as follows:

1. First-level public health emergency response activated across the country

Between Jan. 23 and 25, many provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China activated the first-level public health emergency response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which ensured the prompt and orderly implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures.

Out of all the efforts and measures put in place to prevent and control the pandemic, the most important had to be the universal consensus on united actions nationwide to fight the disease, said Ding.

Under the strong leadership of the central government, people across the country quickly formed a consensus on the disease and were mobilized to fight the epidemic in solidarity. This is the most critical premise of Chinas success in overcoming a major disaster and epidemic, Ding stressed.

2. Locking down Wuhan

After COVID-19 cases started to surge in Hubei province, China put Wuhan under lockdown and imposed outbound travel restrictions on the whole of Hubei province, effectively cutting off the virus transmission route.

Chinas resolute lockdown of Wuhan, a megacity with more than 10 million people, showed the great importance the country attached to the prevention and control of the disease and its resolve in fighting the epidemic, said Tan Xiaodong, professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Health Sciences of Wuhan University.

The lockdown in Wuhan and measures including traffic restrictions and closed-off management of communities across the city were critical in curbing the spread of the epidemic, Tan noted.

3. Building makeshift and temporary hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients

Aerial photo taken on April 14, 2020 shows ambulances transferring the last batch of COVID-19 patients to other hospitals at Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

The Huoshenshan Hospital and Leishenshan Hospital, two makeshift hospitals China quickly built to treat COVID-19 patients in Wuhan after the outbreak of the disease, in addition to several Fangcang temporary hospitals converted from public venues in the city, did much to ease the pressure on medical resources during the initial stage of the pandemic.

These newly built medical facilities helped realize the countrys goal of leaving no one unattended to and effectively curbed the spread of the virus.

4. Tens of thousands of medical workers from all over the country went to help Hubei

A medical team member waves goodbye to his friends and relatives before leaving for Hubei at Taiyuan Wusu International Airport in north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

As Hubei and its capital Wuhan faced its most difficult period, medical workers volunteered to join assistance teams and went from provinces and cities around the country to help Hubei fight the virus.

Meanwhile, each city in Hubei province was paired up with a province from around the country to provide targeted assistance.

The best doctors and equipment were assembled in Hubei, and medical resources across the country were mobilized to aid the province in its fight against the COVID-19.

A total of 42,000 medical workers from across the country, including top medical experts and specialists in respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, and critical care medicine and more than 10 academicians, together with over 60,000 local medical staff, provided an extremely high standard of medical care for COVID-19 patients in Wuhan.

5. Four early + free medical care

While promoting a set of guidelines on early detection, early quarantine, early diagnosis and early treatment to control the epidemic, China provided free medical care for confirmed COVID-19 patients, which helped reduce the economic burden on patients and effectively contained the spread of the disease.

6. Important role of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also helped fight the virus by bringing its unique advantages into play.

Combinations of TCM and Western medicine were actively adopted in medical facilities across the country. Over 90 percent of all confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland saw their symptoms alleviated after receiving TCM treatment.

7. Face masks on everyone

The National Health Commission (NHC) suggested early on Jan. 29 that people wear face masks in public places.

Chinese people followed the advice and were cooperative in the nationwide efforts to combat the disease, said Tan, stressing that everyone in the country made contributions to the achievements in the battle.

8. Joint prevention and control mechanism

The joint prevention and control mechanism which was implemented across the country at grassroots levels played an important role in Chinas battle against the virus.

Under the mechanism, prevention and control measures were launched to control the sources of infection, interrupt transmission of the virus and protect the public, especially the population susceptible to infection.

Thanks to the mechanism, many volunteers contributed to guaranteeing effective quarantine in villages and communities, and people around the country donated money and supplies to support the united efforts to fight the disease.

The mechanism also helped ensure that people in quarantine had sufficient living materials despite the strict measures being taken across the country.

9. Sharing experience, ensuring transparency of data

China has been reporting its numbers of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases across the country in real time every day to ensure openness and transparency of the relevant information.

Chinese medical and technical experts share their experience with their Venezuelan counterparts in Caracas, Venezuela, April 1, 2020. Chinese and Venezuelan experts gathered in Caracas on Wednesday to assess diagnostic procedures to bolster Venezuela's capacity to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic. (Miraflores/Handout via Xinhua)

At the same time, the country has ensured the timely sharing of its medical experience in fighting COVID-19, constantly improved its diagnosis and treatment schemes, and drawn up clear procedures for diagnosis and treatment, effective medicines, and rescue measures for severe patients in the shortest time possible.

10. Saving lives as the top priority

The most important piece of advice China can offer to the world in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is to spare no effort to save lives, prevent and control the spread of the virus at all costs, and give top priority to the safety and health of the people.

Peoples lives and health have always been the top priority in China, a fact that was vividly proven in the worst-hit Chinese city of Wuhan during the pandemic, according to Ding.

In the face of the pandemic, saving lives became a more urgent task than any other. The country was more than willing to sacrifice economic development for a period of time in order to save lives, Ding noted.

The three principles - controlling the source of infection, interrupting transmission of the virus and protecting the susceptible population from infection - should always be followed in efforts to control an infectious disease, Ding said.

Tan said Wuhans experience in fighting COVID-19 features the main role played by the government, joint efforts of society, obedience of individuals, and contributions of families.

What is needed most right now is close cooperation between countries, Ding said, noting that countries can overcome their own weaknesses by learning from each others strong points.

Efforts to fight the pandemic must follow scientific methods, Ding said, stressing that although there are differences in countries national conditions, systems and cultures, scientific epidemic prevention and control measures are universally adaptable around the world.
A sexual assault allegation is raising Joe Biden's first big challenge as the Democrats' presidential nominee, fueling Republican attacks and leaving many in his own party in an uncomfortable bind.

Biden's campaign has denied the allegation from his former Senate staffer Tara Reade, who has said Biden assaulted her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the 1990s.

But the story garnered fresh attention this week after two of Reade's associates said she previously told them about elements of her allegations.

Republicans who are worried about President Donald Trump's increasingly precarious political standing are seizing on the allegation to portray Democrats as hypocrites who only defend women who allege wrongdoing against conservatives. They are digging in despite the fact that it could renew attention on the multiple sexual assault allegations lodged against Trump.

Democrats, meanwhile, are in an awkward position of vigorously validating women who come forward with their stories while defending the man who will be their standard-bearer in what many in the party consider the most important election of their lifetimes.

The tension is heightened because Biden himself is saying nothing about the allegation.

Like many Americans, he has spent the past several weeks at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Biden has participated in a handful of local and national interviews, during which he wasn't asked about the allegation.

But he hasn't held a press briefing for the broader press corps that covers him since April 2, before multiple organizations reported Reade's story. The public appearances he has made, such as fundraisers or events alongside prominent Democrats, have been controlled.

Some Democrats say that approach isn't working and are urging a more forceful response.

The campaign has issued statements, but he hasn't issued any statements in his own voice, said former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile.

It's not helping, it's just damaging not only to the person who has come forward, but it's also damaging the candidate. Lis Smith, who worked as a top strategist on Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign, also called on the Biden campaign to speak up.

These accusations have not been found to be credible, so it's in the Biden campaign's interest to nip this in the bud directly and do it quickly, she said.

The November contest between Biden and Trump will be the first presidential race of the #MeToo era, which has led numerous women to come forward with allegations of sexual assault.

Trump himself has been accused of assault and unwanted touching by numerous women, allegations he denies. He was forced to apologize during the 2016 campaign after he was heard on a recording bragging about using his fame to assault women.

Women are a core constituency for Democrats, and Biden has a mixed history. While he wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a senator, he also came under heavy criticism for his handling of Anita Hill's Senate testimony in the 1990s. Just before he launched his 2020 campaign, several women accused him of unwanted touching, behavior for which he apologized.

Biden has pledged to pick a woman as a running mate, and the allegation has left those thought to be in contention in a tough spot.

Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia Democratic governor candidate, said, Women deserve to be heard, and I believe they need to be listened to, but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources.

The New York Times did a deep investigation and they found that the accusation was not credible, she added. I believe Joe Biden. That echoed talking points issued by the Biden campaign to surrogates last week that were obtained by The Associated Press. They pointed to investigations by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the AP that found no other allegation of sexual assault and no pattern of sexual misconduct.

Some Democratic donors and fundraisers say the issue has not come up in calls with party financiers. Others worry that it could be used against Biden, much as Hillary Clinton's private email server and the activities of the Clinton Foundation were wielded against her by Trump.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Arane Pineda of San Jacinto tried to apply for a mortgage forbearance program because she and her husband lost work during the pandemic. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

In March, like millions of others, Thomas Taylor saw his income plummet.

The global pandemic left the 42-year-old furloughed from his two bartending jobs and staring down a $2,600 monthly mortgage payment on his Laguna Niguel condo.

Taylor reached out to his mortgage company for help but hit a wall. He wouldn't have to pay for six months, he recalled being told over the phone, but would then have to pay back all missed payments  the equivalent of $15,600  in one lump sum.

"I couldn't come up with that in six months," he said. "No way, not with no income right now."

As the ranks of the unemployed have swelled, home owners have flooded their mortgage companies with requests for relief. Millions signed up for so-called mortgage forbearance programs that let borrowers delay payments or make partial payments while they wait for their financial situation to improve.

But there's been mass confusion over how borrowers will pay back what they owe. And the fear of a looming lump-sum payment has caused some of them to skip the mortgage forbearance process altogether, sending them down risky alternative pathways.

Under the federal CARES Act stimulus law, borrowers with government-backed mortgages  through the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac  received the right to skip at least six months of payments if they have a financial hardship tied to the novel coronavirus.

That covers most borrowers. Those with private mortgages didn't get that guarantee. But many are still finding help through their financial institutions.

The law still requires borrowers to pay back any missed payments but wasn't specific on how they'd do so. Government agencies insist that borrowers with government-backed mortgages don't have to pay everything back at once.

However, consumer advocates say some mortgage companies have incorrectly told borrowers they must pay back all missed payments in a lump sum or have made vague comments that lead stressed-out consumers to assume that's the case.

Story continues

A government inspector general this week criticized mortgage companies for providing "incomplete, inconsistent, dated, and unclear guidance" to borrowers on their websites.

Left to imagine the worst, borrowers told The Times they used credit card charges or withdrew money from savings to stay current on their mortgage payments. Taylor turned to family for help. Another person decided to pay late, risking a late fee and damage to her credit.

Other repayment options are offered by servicers, such as loan modifications. But some advocates describe them as cumbersome. They worry that a foreclosure wave will follow once payments resume if the process isn't streamlined.

"It's a recipe for disaster," Bruce Marks, chief executive of the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America, said of the current system. "This is going to be a far worse mortgage crisis than in 2008. You are going to have many more homeowners lose their homes."

Government agencies say they are taking steps to limit confusion among borrowers and servicers. They've issued guidance to mortgage companies that lay out other repayment options companies must offer if borrowers can't afford a lump sum.

Those include repayment plans in which a homeowner's monthly mortgage payment increases for a time to make up for missed payments. Other modifications extend the length of a loan and keep monthly payments the same or lower than before the forbearance.

Federal agencies have urged consumers to file complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if they believe that their mortgage company isn't following the rules. On Monday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, issued a news release to "combat ongoing misinformation."

During this national health emergency, no one should be worried about losing their home," said the statement from FHFA Director Mark Calabria. No lump sum is required at the end of a borrower's forbearance plan for [Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac] mortgages."

The same is true for USDA, FHA and VA loans, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says.

As the forbearance process moves forward, a lot rests on mortgage companies playing by the rules and being clear when doing so.

Even in normal times, the U.S. mortgage market is a complex place, where borrowers may not know who actually owns or backs their loan. Loans are sold from one entity to another, placing borrowers with new mortgage servicers that manage loans and pass along payments to investors.

Now homeowners are being asked to navigate that system amid a global pandemic and fear of an economic depression. Some consumer advocates say nonbank servicers that are not well-capitalized also have a strong financial incentive to discourage forbearance, because for a time they still must front missed payments to investors.

Taylor, the Laguna Niguel homeowner, didn't know much about his loan. He knew it was FHA insured, but said when he called the company listed prominently on his mortgage documents, Lakeview Loan Servicing, he didn't know an FHA loan gave him certain benefits.

He said he got through to a person in a call center who told him he had to pay everything back in six months, prompting him to ask if there were other repayment options.

"She said, 'I don't have that information available,'" Taylor recalled.

He then tried "every number on the back of our invoice" and then called a number he found online for LoanCare, another company that was listed as his "subservicer" in smaller print on mortgage documents. He said he couldn't get through to anyone.

Lakeview's website says borrowers should contact their "subservicer" for questions on their mortgage. After The Times inquired about Taylor's situation with Lakeview, Taylor said someone from the company called and explained that if he got into forbearance he wouldn't have to pay everything back in a lump sum.

He said he was given another phone number and a website for more information and plans to look into forbearance again.

"This was the first time I am hearing from someone who actually knows what they are talking about," he said he told the Lakeview representative. "She was like, 'I'm so sorry.'"

A company spokesperson said: "Upon learning that a customer of one of our servicers was having trouble navigating the forbearance process, a senior representative of Lakeview reached out to ensure that the individual better understood the process and the options available to them. We understand that this is a difficult time for homeowners across the country and were committed to ensuring they have the right information to best navigate challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LoanCare would not directly comment on Taylor's experience but said that borrowers seeking forbearance under the CARES Act are not required to pay a lump sum and that the company discusses with borrowers what other options they may have to repay missed payments.

Sara Singhas, director of loan administration at the Mortgage Bankers Assn., said the mortgage forbearance process has been a challenge for servicers. She cited a flood of borrowers calling companies that were "also experiencing workplace disruption with many of their staff ... having to work off-site." She said companies have hired additional staff and bolstered their websites to handle COVID-19 requests.

Consumer groups recommend borrowers check their servicer's website because many companies now allow people to apply online to avoid long wait times.

Still, those websites are not always helpful. The Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General released a report this week that found "FHA servicer websites provided incomplete, inconsistent, dated, and unclear guidance to borrowers related to their forbearance options under the CARES Act."

Among the issues the inspector general identified was a tendency to provide information about non-lump-sum payment options only after "statements about the need for borrowers to pay missed payments in a lump sum."

As of Wednesday, LoanCare had a forbearance application available on its website. And it listed a repayment plan and loan modification as possible options for repayment, though that came after the company said "any unpaid payments will become due at the end of the forbearance period."

Once a loan is in forbearance, servicers of federally backed loans are required to get back in touch with borrowers before the forbearance period ends and go down a list of programs to find an affordable option for repayment and grant it if a person qualifies.

The CARES Act also gives borrowers, after six months of forbearance, the option of extending forbearance for another six months, capping the total time a borrower can miss payments at a year.

The options for repayment differ slightly among different types of government loans. FHA has rolled out a "COVID-19 National Emergency Partial Claim" that moves the missed payments into a second, interest-free mortgage that isn't due until the first loan is paid off.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a "cap and extend modification" that extends the length of the loan and keeps mortgage payments the same as before the forbearance.

Other programs can lower monthly payments. But there is a limit to how low payments can go, so someone who never regains their job might still face foreclosure.

A group of attorneys general, including California Atty. General Xavier Becerra, have asked for a simpler process in letters to FHFA and HUD, which overseas FHA.

The state law enforcement officials said that mortgage servicers already appear overwhelmed and that they have "grave doubts" those companies can effectively manage an "unprecedented" flood of borrowers emerging from COVID-19 forbearance over the next year who will need individual evaluation for the right repayment option.

Rather, they urged that FHFA and HUD require servicers to automatically tack on missed payments to the end of a borrower's loan in the form of monthly payments  so that a 30-year loan, for instance, becomes a 30-year loan if someone misses six months.

Then, if people still need help, more complicated modifications could be considered. State officials also called for the agencies to wipe away restrictions that limit repayment options if people were delinquent before the pandemic.

Arane Pineda was furloughed from her job as an assistant teacher, and her husband has lost hours as a truck driver. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, Arane Pineda, a 52-year-old assistant teacher from San Jacinto, is already overwhelmed. She is furloughed and her husband, a truck driver, is working less.

Pineda tried to get a forbearance through LoanCare and said she was given three options for repayment on her FHA loan: a lump payment, a repayment plan that raised her monthly payments each month until missed payments were paid off, or a loan modification that changed the lifetime term of her loan. She saw the first two as unaffordable and worried she wouldn't qualify for the third.

Instead, she decided to pass on the forbearance and waited until she had the money to pay her $1,764 April mortgage payment. She said she got hit with a late fee, but thinks she may avoid a ding to her credit.

Pineda said she didn't recall LoanCare explaining the FHA's so-called partial claim second mortgage, or letting her know that she could make whatever payments she can manage during a forbearance and thus avoid a late fee and owe less when the period ends. She had been planning to pay late again in May. But after The Times let her know she could make partial payments while in forbearance, she said she plans to call LoanCare back and inquire again about that option.

LoanCare did not comment directly on Pineda's experience, but a spokesperson said the company's president would reach out to her and Taylor directly.

Said Pineda: "We lost a house in 2008 and I am so nervous and so afraid because we were just able to get back into home owning. I can't do this again."
Dont punish small businesses by treating their decision to reopen  or not  as a purity test.

Last weekend, Jenn Jones, who owns the Creature Studio hair salon and spa in Atlanta, told me that her business would go under if she didnt reopen by June. So shes reopening. She was slowly collecting masks and gloves for her employees, and she had redesigned her salon space to accommodate the social distancing recommended by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers.

Her decision does not signal any support for Mr. Kemp. I dont align with his policies whatsoever, she said, echoing a position taken by business owners and politicians across the state. Its not about politics; its about survival.

But you wouldnt grasp the complexity of these decisions from the responses of people watching them play out from afar. On social media and over email, customers and neighbors are threatening to boycott businesses that reopen, regardless of the degree to which they consider customers safety. People on my own neighborhood website are circulating lists of local businesses that do and do not open as a pandemic purity test of sorts, intended to guide the buying decisions people will make when the pandemic is over.

Somehow, weve reached the point where caring about public health has become a progressive issue, while the nations economy has become a conservative one. This division is false; no one should have to choose between financial annihilation and helping to spread a deadly disease. But thanks to unforgivable failures of political leadership, business owners in Georgia are bearing the burden of that choice  and the same will happen in every state that follows our lead.

We have dangerous tensions between our state and local governments.

The governors decision came as a surprise to our mayors, who were not consulted or informed about his executive order in advance  and were barred by one of its clauses from issuing local orders more or less restrictive than his.

Many felt the choice was the wrong one for their communities. Bo Dorough, a Democrat, is the mayor of Albany, Ga., which at one point in the pandemic had the most Covid-19 deaths per capita outside New York City. He pleaded with the governor to recognize there are exceptions. Atlantas Democratic mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, who described seeing people lined up for haircuts and manicures in the days following the reopening announcement, said, What we are essentially saying in Georgia is, Go bowling and well have a bed waiting on you.
A bizarre note claiming that 'coronavirus is a scam' and is caused by eating junk food has been turning up in people's letterboxes.

Residents in the beachside suburb of Coogee, in Sydney's east, were sent the bizarre letter on Thursday.

'Junk food causes disease, not germs. That's why coronavirus mostly occurs on cruise ships, theme parks and fast food outlets,' the letter read.

Fast food outlets such as McDonald's (pictured) have been accused of causing coronavirus in a bizarre letter sent to residents in the Sydney suburb of Coogee on Thursday

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that COVID-19 is caused by junk food

In addition, the note claimed that coronavirus is a 'huge global scam' for medical and government officials to profit from, with the ultimate goal of creating a 'pharmaceutical industry dictatorship'.

Whoever wrote the letter is also an anti-vaxxer as they provided a link to a book titled 'Horrors of Vaccination Exposed' at the end of the note.

The note (pictured) claimed that coronavirus is a 'huge global scam' for medical and government officials to profit from, with the ultimate goal of creating a 'pharmaceutical industry dictatorship'

The letter contained numerous more conspiracy theories with anecdotal evidence and appeared to be written in a Word document using the default font.

A picture of the letter was posted to a community Facebook page, where residents complained about it.

Lachlan Blair, 25, was one of the Coogee residents who received the letter on Thursday morning.

'I hope that people listen to the health experts so that we can all get out of this sooner,' Mr Blair told The Sydney Morning Herald.

The suburb of Coogee where the letter was spread is one of the areas of Sydney that has been greatly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter claimed that junk food causes diseases, which is why 'why coronavirus mostly occurs on cruise ships, theme parks and fast food outlets'. Pictured: The Ruby Princess cruise ship departing Wollongong last week
During these difficult times, we want our customers and partners to know that they have our unwavering support and commitment as long as it takes to weather this pandemic, John Plott, CEO - E-9 Corporation

E-9 Corporation (E-9) announces that under their strategic partnership with Emergency Reporting (ER), which is focused on DoD and Federal compliance for cloud-based reporting and records management software (RMS) for fire and EMS agencies, has recently released new features and resources in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

All of us at E-9 recognize the responsibility we have to support our large DoD and Federal customer base, who are on the front line of this health emergency for many bases both CONUS and OCONUS, said G. Cliff Veale, VP - Emergency Management. The global COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the daily lives for most of the planet with many Civilian support agencies looking to Federal and DoD agencies for Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DISCA) missions. This global pandemic has brought to light the immediate need for the ability to document how many emergency response calls involve COVID-19 concerns properly. Based on the urgent need for defined COVID-19 enhancements,the development team has implemented improvements to the Microsoft Azure Gov hosted - Ultra Secure Cloud accommodating the changing circumstances and documentation needs.

In response to the United States Fire Administration (USFA) / National Fire Data Center (NFDC) NFIRS National COVID-19 special study (which documents fire department responses to the COVID-19 pandemic), We have implemented some critical components in its system to enable users to participate. ER is supporting the endeavor by adding a COVID-19 Special Studies field in its incident report questionnaire and updating its NFIRS export to include this special study data. Additionally, for civilian agencies, the RMS now supports ICS-214 form for FEMA reimbursements. Making these updates ensures customers can easily capture and report this critical data to the USFA/NFDC.The ER Ultra Secure Cloud solution is also the only fire records management system (RMS) that has the COVID-19 special study available in a FedRAMP (High) or DoD (L2/L4) RMF PATO, Microsoft Azure Government hosting environment. E-9s many years of strategic collaboration with ER relating to DoD cyber-security compliance has resulted in the issuance of an enterprise Authority to Operate (ATO) for the ER SaaS Ultra Secure environment by the U.S. Army. Read about the Ultra Secure host in this blog post.

Our E-9 / ER program team worked to quickly implement the mandated COVID-19 updates within the DoD ER Ultra Secure host, allowing our Federal and DoD customers the ability to participate in the special study, said Gina Bowling-Fulton, Director of Program Management for Emergency Management.

As for E-9s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, John Plott, CEO, says that despite all employees following their local requirements for telework, E-9 is 100% operational. The company continues to function at full capacity, including its Emergency Management division, which is available to assist Federal First Responders or DoD Force Protection customers via email, Microsoft Teams video calling and audio telephone, he said. E-9 will continue to provide Emergency Management support resources available to our customers during the pandemic, and help support them in any way we can.

About E-9 Corporation

Founded in 2002, E-9 is a successful Veterans Affairs verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). The majority of E-9 employees are veterans and family members of veterans who are dedicated to continuing the mission. E-9 provides the government with quality Information Technology services and solutions, Intelligence Analysis, as well as Administrative and Management Consulting services and support.

Jobs:

http://e-9corporation.com/careers
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday asserted that it has responded promptly to requests for deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) comprising doctors, nurses and paramedics outside India to deal with the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. These RRTs have so far been deployed in Maldives and Kuwait at the request of their governments.

The RRTs have helped to train and exchange best practices with local medical professionals on various aspects of dealing with the pandemic. They have provided training on testing, critical care nursing, oxygen therapy isolation systems, infection prevention, etc.

The MEA also stated that the COVID-19 Control Room has remained very active with more than 10,000 calls and 30,000 e-mails received till date. "You would recall that this Control Room was set up as part of the Covid Cell and has been manned 24x7 by teams from within the Ministry since March 16. I can tell you that many of our youngest officers have been deployed in the Covid Cell and they have been working tirelessly with exemplary dedication as we respond to the situation."

The MEA has played an important role in helping with the evacuation of foreign nationals from different countries despite the challenge of logistics during the lockdown period. MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that 60,000 foreign nationals from 72 countries have been evacuated and sent to their respective countries during the lockdown.

India has also been providing regular updates and assessment on best practices, breakthroughs in research, supply-chain issues, etc. which have informed our responses and management of the situation. "Our supplies to other countries of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and other essential medicines produced in India are ongoing. These supplies are taking place both as humanitarian aid as well as on a commercial basis. Even in these challenging times, we have remained responsible for living up to our international commitments which have enhanced our reputation of being the pharmacy to the world," said Srivastava.

"In terms of numbers, we have already provided 2.8 million HCQ tablets as grant assistance to 25 countries. We have also provided paracetamol, about 1.9 million tablets as well as in another form to 31 countries. In addition, consignments of HCQ and of paracetamol are being sent to 87 countries on a commercial basis," he added.
As time goes by, Montblanc's watchmaking collections show a growing level of solidity and thoroughness. After three years spent cleaning, refocusing and shifting its various ranges, the brand formerly known only for its writing instruments is now emerging as a true force of watchmaking, one to be reckoned with. It had long been able to make movements, timepieces and concepts. But the 2020 vintage, as shown within the virtual edition of Watches & Wonders, shows clear signs of a well defined and assertive identity. Ample proof lies with the three themes which clearly emerge from the showcased novelties : bronze, gold and adventure.

Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph  Montblanc

Montblanc is a leading force in the use of bronze. The brand's watchmaking director, Davide Cerrato, profoundly believes in using strong visual and symbolic tropes, of which the yellow metal is one. No need to dwell on its qualities (sheen, patina) as what Montblanc uses it for is more on the evocation side. The 1858 Monopusher Chronograph exudes a sense of nostalgia and mannerism. Nostalgia because it blatantly belongs in the neo-vintage segment. Mannerism because this piece is not a reissue but the vision of an interpreted watchmaking of yesteryear, idealized at that, as shown by the very use of bronze, which doesn't belong to the catalog of historic wristwatches materials. The timepiece is available entirely made of bronze or just the bezel. Both speak the same language, have the same style, which fits the zeitgeist.

Montblanc Heritage Manufacture Pulsograph et Heritage Automatic  David Chokron/Worldtempus et Montblanc

Even more nostalgic, and just as spot-on, new Heritage timepieces further what Montblanc had already started with gold watches with small complications, or none. Halfway between its highly complicated pieces and the very basic, classic ones it used to offer, Montblanc showcases unusual designs and dials. The Heritage Manufacture Pulsograph is a chronograph made of pink gold with a tobacco dial and limited to 100 pieces. The Heritage Automatic is a three-hander with a green dial, yet an original, dark, English, deep, gradient and luminous green, inside a yellow gold case.

1858 Split Second Chronograph Limited Edition  David Chokron/Worldtempus

Still nostalgic but now very high end, Montblanc introduces a new version of its 1858 Split Second Chronograph Limited Edition, with a movement from Minerva and a dial adorned with a telemetric and a tachymeric scale. A gorgeous caliber, an electric blue enamel dial, a bit on the large side but easy to wear, these 100 watches are a true marvel.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere et Montblanc 1858 Automatic 24h  David Chokron/Worldtempus et Montblanc

Last theme, adventure. Within its 1858 range, now its best-selling family, Montblanc had put its money on the Geosphere, a GMT, functional timepiece close to a tool watch. It is now offered in steel with blue dial and bezel. The storytelling mentions glaciers, as fits a watch that's always been positioned in a mountain environment. The truly new piece is the 1858 Automatic 24H. From afar, it looks like a compass : map grid map on the dial, unusually close Arabic numerals, compass rose on the flange, a long arrow-type hand which happens to be alone. This is a 24 hour timepiece, with no minutes' indication, where noon is at noon and midnight is a 6 o'clock. Bezel and crown are made of bronze, with a solid design and a challenging display. This one's not for everyone but it sends a message loud and clear : assertive watchmaking.
Sky News

Sky News looks at Prince Andrew's options after his legal team failed to persuade a US judge to dismiss Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit accusing the Duke of York of sexually assaulting her when she was underage. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan has said Ms Giuffre, formerly Virginia Roberts, could pursue allegations that the royal abused her as a teenager and intentionally caused her emotional distress while the late financier Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking her. The Manhattan judge also said it was too early to assess Andrew's efforts to "cast doubt" on those claims, although the 61-year-old prince could do so at a trial.
Punjab Police Sub-Inspector Harjeet Singh, whose hand was chopped off in a brutal attack by a group of 'Nihangs' in Patiala over a fortnight ago, was discharged from PGIMER here on Thursday following a successful surgery reattaching the severed limb.

Before being discharged from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Punjab Police chief Dinkar Gupta handed over to Singh his son Arshpreet's appointment letter as a constable in the force.

The 50-year-old Singh, who was an assistant sub-inspector of police at the time of the brutal incident, has been promoted to the rank of sub-inspector in recognition of his exemplary courage.

"Happy to share that SI Harjeet Singh has been discharged from PGI, Chandigarh, today. I thank doctors, burses, paramedics and all the staff of PGI for taking good care of him. Before getting discharged, he was handed over his son's appointment letter with Punjab Police," Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted.

Harjeet Singh's hand was severed and two of his Punjab Police colleagues injured in Patiala district on April 12 when a group of 'Nihangs' (a sect of Sikhism whose members are armed with traditional weapons and dressed in loose blue robes) allegedly attacked them with swords after being asked to show curfew passes outside a wholesale vegetable market.

That day itself, doctors reattached his hand following a seven-and-half-hour-long surgery.

Medics at the PGIMER expect that Harjeet Singh will be able use his reattached hand in five to six months.

"The hand is completely surviving. Movement of fingers of the affected hand is a good sign. The quantum and frequency of physiotherapy will be gradually stepped up over the next few weeks," PGIMER said in a release.

His wounds are well healed and all the sutures have been removed, it said.

The Punjab Police gave a red-carpet welcome to Harjeet Singh upon his return home at Darshan Singh Nagar in Patiala, an official said.

DGP Dinkar Gupta tweeted, "Felt greatly pleased handing over the appointment letter of SI Harjeet Singh's son, Arshpreet Singh, as a constable in the Punjab Police. Am sure he will serve the people of Punjab as bravely and sincerely as his father. Wish him all the very best!"



Harjeet Singh was welcomed home with a police band and showering of flower petals. Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu and other senior police personnel were also present on this occasion.

PGMIR said that Singh will be visiting the hospital regularly for check-up and physiotherapy.

A few days ago, the Punjab police had launched a'MainBhiHarjeetSingh' campaign in solidarity with him. The initiative was aimed against any kind of attacks on policemen, doctors and healthcare workers across India who are engaged in the fight against COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Eldar Janashvili - Trend:

The total amount of Azerbaijans product export through the "single window" system amounted to $1.9 million in April 2020, which is 5.5 times less compared to April 2020, Trend reports citing the Export Review of Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC).

From January till today, the Export Support Center of Single Window issued relevant export certificates to hundreds of entrepreneurs, which resulted in the export of non-oil products worth nearly $40 million.

During this period, the export of non-oil products increased by 9.6 percent compared to the same period of 2019, said the report.

In 2019, the total amount of Azerbaijans product export via the "single window" system amounted to $140.4 million, which is 6.4 percent less compared to 2018 ($150 million).

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili
Some oil fields are set to suffer chaotic stoppages despite efforts by OPEC to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on global markets, the International Energy Agency warned.

"Lockdown measures have caused unprecedented demand declines, whose speed and magnitude greatly exceed the normal market flexibility of supply," the Paris-based IEA said in a report on Thursday. "Even with attempts at coordinated management, a disorderly production shutdown is likely in some places."

Oil prices are experiencing a historic slump. The international benchmark Brent crude remains near the lowest since 2002, trading just above $20 a barrel in London, while U.S. futures fell briefly below zero last week. Even though OPEC and its partners have announced massive output cuts to offset the losses in demand, producers around the world are still under great stress.

Global oil demand is poised to slump by 9 million barrels a day, or about 9%, this year to the lowest level since 2012. Lockdowns implemented to slow the spread of the virus have triggered an unprecedented decline in transportation, the IEA said in its Global Energy Review.

The estimates are in line with those published by the agency in its latest monthly market report in mid-April. The IEA advises major economies on energy policy.

April experienced the hardest hit, with fuel consumption slumping almost a third to the lowest since 1995. By the end of March, road transport activity was down about 50% around the world, while air travel in some European countries had plunged more than 90%.

The report didn't elaborate on where oil output will be abruptly halted, though in recent research the IEA has highlighted several vulnerable regions. The U.S., Brazil and Canada accounted for most of a 2.2 million barrel-a-day decline in supply over the past month, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a Bloomberg television interview on April 22.
michelle goldberg

Im Michelle Goldberg.

frank bruni

Im Frank Bruni. And this is The Argument. [MUSIC PLAYING] Before we start, Michelle and I want to congratulate Ross on the newest member of his family. He posted a picture of baby Rosemary on Twitter, totally adorable. You can take a look for yourself. Rosss Twitter handle is @DouthatNYT. Thats D-O-U-T-H-A-T-N-Y-T. OK, on with the show. Ross is still out on leave this week, but Yuval Levin is joining us to talk about fake news, real facts, and what both mean for public health.

yuval levin People tend to think that the expert is just a person with information. And so now information is available anywhere, and so anybody can be an expert. But an expert is a person with experience.

frank bruni

From the very start of his administration, President Trump has shrugged off expertise, hes outright mocked experts, and he has shown special disregard for science. Even more dangerous, he has frequently presented fiction as fact. Now that habit is front and center, and it has greater stakes than ever.

donald trump 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?

frank bruni

How can a president who dabbles in junk science guide us through a public health crisis of this magnitude? Yuval Levin is here to help us answer that. Michelle and I invited him because hes one of the most thoughtful, coolheaded conservatives writing about government today. He also has experience working in the White House. Under President George W. Bush, Yuval was a member of the domestic policy staff and the executive director of the Presidents Council on Bioethics. Hes plenty critical of the Trump administration, but its failures dont rile him, at least not as obviously as they do Michelle and me. Yuval, youve studied the federal governments response to this pandemic. Does it reflect and incorporate a sufficient regard for science?

yuval levin

Well, I think the first thing to keep in mind in assessing the response weve seen so far is that this is, after all, a massive global crisis that came on suddenly, that surprised everybody, including the experts. So there was bound to be some period in which our government was just overwhelmed and bumbling. This is a bigger crisis than any that was faced by the last couple of presidential administrations. And some problems, like the testing fiasco that resulted from mishandling by the F.D.A. and the C.D.C., could easily have happened in any administration. I do think that theres a more significant problem in this administrations response that I would describe not as a technical or logistical failure, but as a kind of decisional dysfunction, a continuing inability to build a coherent structure of decision-making around the president and to enable the federal government to handle the enormous strain of this crisis. And that does have to do with President Trump just thinking out loud and living in the news cycle, rather than in the kind of logistical cycle that the government has to live in now. So there are days when he listens to the people around him and his advisors inside and out of government. There are days when he just repeats things that he heard on God knows where. And the real trouble, when you think about this in the context of executive crisis management in our history, is that theres not a consistent coherent strategy. Thats in part a problem of not listening to experts, but its mostly a total lack of focus that has just been absolutely disabling for our federal government.

frank bruni

Michelle, is that too generous and maybe a bit too coolheaded?

michelle goldberg

[LAUGHS] Yes, I think its way too generous. I mean, I think theres two parts of this, right? Yuvals obviously right that this has blindsided governments all over the world, right? Governments I would consider admirable, governments I would consider despicable have both been, in some cases, seen their societies disabled by coronavirus. And there are countries in Europe that have higher death rates per capita, although not higher death rates total, than ours do. I think the difference between, say, Italy and Spain is that we had the opportunity to see what happened in Italy and Spain and use the time between it kind of reaching that level in America to take precautions. To speed up production of P.P.E. and ventilators, and, you know, kind of call for social distancing the way they did on the West Coast and were able to really head off some of the worst carnage that were seeing on the East Coast. And so I think, in terms of Trumps personal culpability, its threefold, right? First, there are these  theres this story in The Washington Post about U.S. intelligence agencies issuing multiple warnings in classified briefings in January and February. He also has kind of systematically purged the government of responsible professionals, right? So we saw the removal of the person whos basically in charge of the American vaccine effort in the federal government was reportedly removed because he questioned the presidents fixation on hydroxychloroquine, which tests have now shown that this official was right to question. And then the third part is that he kind of keeps giving these demagogic, fact-free, wildly erratic press conferences that all of us can kind of be sophisticated about it, and say, yes, were used to a president who lies and talks out loud and, you know, floats weird musings. And nobody takes him seriously. But actually, people in this country do take him seriously. And its not out of the realm of possibility that there are people in this country who watch television and think that the president of the United States wouldnt just randomly say something and must at least know something of what hes talking about.

frank bruni

Yuval, your point that any government is going to be overwhelmed by this, and that no government, despite reading papers or getting briefings, is going to totally expect this to happen when it comes  thats an important one. But Michelle notes  and this has been noted in many places, and Ive never seen a compelling contradiction of it  that Trump has gutted federal agencies. That he has certainly sent the signal, with whom he has chosen and whom hes discarded, that he doesnt have much regard for expertise. That hes not someone who cares greatly for science. Arent those chickens coming home to roost right now?

yuval levin

Oh, absolutely. I think thats an element of whats going on here, both in terms of attitude toward expertise, but also as a matter of just filling federal offices. I mean, the fact is, this administrations had a very unusual number of either vacant important offices throughout the bureaucracy or people who are filling offices as acting directors of this or that, when there ought to be a Senate-confirmed appointee. And that kind of thing matters in a moment like this. I mean, a moment of crisis is when you have to have a reliable chain of command. People have to have confidence that the process that theyre called on to be part of makes sense. And thats got to be built in good times so that it can serve you in bad times. And I think theres no question that this administration has failed to build a functional chain of command around the president. Very senior officials have spent their time deciding on their own which orders to take seriously and which not. Weve seen evidence of this over and over in different parts of the government. And that just cant happen in a crisis like this, where you cant have people making different decisions in different places in the government. In crisis, we really do call on the president to do two things in particular to coordinate federal action and to communicate to the public the nature of the strategy and reasons to be calm while its going on. And this president obviously has not done either of those things. So I do think weve suffered uniquely because of failures of leadership here. But I would only say, its important to put that in perspective. There are ways that the United States has done better than some European countries. Our health system has done better on the whole. Federalism has served us well. There are certainly ways weve done worse, and I think a lot of those have to do with leadership at the very top of the federal government.

michelle goldberg

But what I dont understand is how you can concede leadership failures on that scale and then still, I dont know, minimize alarm about this presidency, except maybe out of a kind of temperamental anti-anti-Trumpism.

yuval levin

Yeah, I dont minimize alarm. Im a critic of Trump. I have been from the beginning, from before the beginning. So I certainly wouldnt suggest that theres not a reason to be alarmed here. I would just say that our system is bigger than the president. And that on the whole, if you look at the system as a whole  again, our health system, if you look at how governors have reacted, and that is a function of the way our constitution is designed  we have ways of handling problems even when the president is failing. But I certainly wouldnt deny that the president is failing.

michelle goldberg

So you do have governors whove responded really admirably. But all of them have been pretty clear that there are certain things that its very difficult for them to do. That yes, they can procure some of their own equipment, but it puts them in a position of competing against each other and bidding up the prices. And so federalism has been maybe a backstop for a totally failed federal response, but I dont see how even the most, I dont know, avid proponent of states rights could see that this should be that testing and the procurement of some of this equipment and a coordinated response should be the responsibility of governors.

yuval levin

Yeah. No, Id say a couple things. First of all, public health as a general matter is the responsibility of the states, but obviously theres a huge role here for the federal government. And in a lot of ways, it has failed. Now, I wouldnt just discount the enormously important work that a lot of men and women in a lot of different places in the federal government have been doing well in this process. They have been disserved by the president in some important ways. But weve seen an incredible mobilization in response to an early failure on testing, for example, and that matters. I mean, its taken too long. It was too hard to do. I would just  the reason I stressed at the outset that this really is a massive crisis  I mean, this actually is the big one that everyone in public health has always been preparing for but somehow never quite believed was really coming. And that means that our government was going to be overwhelmed, whatever happened here. The question is not, was our government ready? The question is, have we responded and mobilized since then in the way that we should have? The answer to that in a lot of ways at the federal level is no. And theres no question that the president has had a lot to do with that. But we should also see that there are some impressive ways that the American federal government and certainly the states have responded impressively. And were getting our act together. You know, the public did react  I would say Ive been surprised at the willingness of the American public to basically shut things down the way we have in the course of a couple of weeks. I think were now, in the course of the next few weeks, going to start gradually reopening things. And I would just say  I mean, maybe Im overly influenced by my own experience working in the White House and working on some issues like this on a much smaller scale. I think pandemonium in response to a crisis this massive is unavoidable. The question is, how do you mobilize? And we are mobilizing, despite some enormous problems at the top.

frank bruni

Yuval, you have written that the way we recover from this will hinge in great measure on the rapid development of treatments. And thats science. Thats research. Do you really have confidence that the climate exists right now the climate established in large measure by the Trump administration and by the president  that the climate exists to facilitate and speed that research as much as we would want it to be? When we have a president who called climate change a hoax, who wondered about windmills causing cancer, is that really a situation in which we are going to get the best fastest from the world of science?

yuval levin

Well, look, I certainly wish he hadnt done all those things and then some. But I think that the American biomedical enterprise, which is an academic and government and private sector enterprise, is rising to this challenge in some impressive ways. I think there needs to be more urgency on the part of the federal government  and thats Congress and the president  in pushing for treatments for the worst cases here, because thats the only real near-term way out. Vaccine will be great when it comes, but thats a long way off. And I would say we havent seen the necessary urgency yet. Congress passed another bill just last week that patched some of the problems in the CARES Act and did not focus on treatment in the way they might have. Did not empower the NIH in the way they might have. In some ways were lucky here. I think the National Institutes of Health is an extraordinarily well-run institution in this moment. Its leadership is serving it very well. But they need resources, and that means Congress and the president have got to be ahead of the curve. They cant be responding to problems that they failed to address two weeks ago all the time. They have to be thinking about what were going to need in the coming months. And so far, that is not happening.

frank bruni

Michelle, is Congress as culpable as the president?

michelle goldberg

So look, I think theres a lot of priorities that Congress should be funding and that they arent. I think that to some extent, Democrats have been really hamstrung by the fact that things that should be consensus positions, like more money for testing or more money for hospitals, have been treated by Republicans in Congress as concessions that Democrats have to wring out of them in exchange for a bill. But Im not sure that you can blame the House of Representatives for having to deal with the kind of total obstructionist nihilism of Mitch McConnell. In terms of just the federal government, I think obviously Yuval is right that theres a lot of important and admirable work happening on the professional level, out of sight of the political wrangling. But I do think that it seems pretty clear that there was a directive from above, again, in terms of treatments, to focus on hydroxychloroquine because it was recommended by the medical experts on Fox News. And I dont know that we totally know the extent to which those directives have deformed research priorities. You know, theres obviously been massive investments in just buying up hydroxychloroquine, and its not clear that all of those pills are now going to be useful. And so I just  I dont know the full picture of the opportunity cost of the federal government being directed to this fixation of Trumps at the expense of other things.

frank bruni

I keep going back in my head to the images of Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci at those briefings, not just because theyre the generator of all sorts of internet  you know, Twitter gifs and memes and stuff. But when I watch them do that tightrope walk, where they have to try to give good information but not try to contradict the president, I mean, it seems almost impossible to find the right language for them. And I think if this is what it means to advise this president, if this is the way in which the people around him feel hamstrung and feel gagged, I dont know how he can be a president who leads us effectively and as quickly as possible out of this.

yuval levin

[LAUGHING] Tony Fauci has a real job, and its an important job right now. Its one of the most important jobs in our government. And he has to spend an enormous amount of his time both preparing for and actually going through those bizarre public spectacles. Robert Redfield is at these press conferences a lot. He works in Atlanta. He runs the agency that is in charge of responding to this pandemic on behalf of our country. It is bizarre that they have to spend this much time basically soothing the presidents ego in public.

frank bruni

Yuval, Tony Faucis been on my radar for decades, because way back in the day, I wrote about AIDS, and he was very involved in the response to that. And yesterday I was doing a long interview with Laurie Garrett. She wrote the book The Coming Plague, and then she wrote a book called Betrayal of Trust. And if anyone was a Cassandra of this crisis, its Laurie Garrett. And I was asking her  since she did predict that we would be in a moment somewhat like this at some point, given all the failures of society and the things that we were not preparing for I asked her what surprised her about this moment, since shed predicted so much else. And she said it was the way in which our federal government had been depopulated, gutted to an extent where it could not be ready for this. And she reminded me, going back to the AIDS crisis, that back then, you heard experts from the C.D.C. You saw experts from the C.D.C. The CDC initials, the CDC logo were a part of your consciousness because it was such a robust organization and it was so centrally involved. Thats not the case now. And were paying a really steep price for it, are we not?

yuval levin

I think thats absolutely right. And you know, part of it is, in some ways, the political leadership of these organizations, the appointed leadership is trying to protect some of the career officials from getting caught up in the daily circus. Which means they end up being less visible, less involved, less engaged. I worked with Tony Fauci back in 2005 and 06. I was a health policy staffer in the Bush White House. And we actually went through a whole process of pandemic preparedness. Literally, the president had read a book about the 1918 flu, and came back from Texas saying, we need to think about what we would do if this happened now. And we went through a two-year process where we basically thought through, how would the government respond to a pandemic influenza? And Tony Fauci obviously was right at the center of those efforts. And it was very striking how his level of experience, the calm and the knowledge that he built up over decades, would be so crucial in any response. And I think its very hard now for him to deploy that experience, that authority, because he spends so much of his time, again, trying to play his part in the circus so that he can do his job the rest of the time.

frank bruni

Yuval, Michelle said if a Democratic president were behaving this way, were leading the crisis this way, every Republican would be calling for his or her resignation. Do you agree with that?

yuval levin

Im not sure. I dont know if calling for resignation is something youd see very often. I mean, I think we would have seen, just given the atmosphere of the last few years, if Hillary Clinton had been elected, we probably would have seen some kind of impeachment process as we have seen around Trump. But in a crisis like this, I dont know. Its very hard to say how people would have been responding.

frank bruni

Im going to make you a little uncomfortable here, Yuval. Would you feel more secure right now as an American in this pandemic with Hillary Clinton as president?

yuval levin

No, that doesnt make me uncomfortable. I think in this case, I would. There would have been a lot that I would disagree with a President Hillary Clinton about, and theres some that I disagree with a President Donald Trump. I didnt have anybody to vote for last time. It doesnt seem like I will this time. And I certainly think there are a lot of ways in which almost anybody who could plausibly have been president would be doing a better job now. Because President Trumps sense of what the presidency is is so performative, is so rooted in his own background as a kind of reality television figure. Hes the first of our presidents who has not been either a senior military officer or a high-ranking elected or other official in our government before becoming president. And, you know, weve been lucky that we havent had a crisis like this that has called on that level of experience in the past few years. But here we are. Now we do, and it shows that that experience is not there.

frank bruni

OK lets take a break. When we come back, is this just what happens when science becomes partisan? [MUSIC PLAYING] Beyond the presidents disregard for science, theres the arguably bigger problem of science literacy in this country. Does it even exist? Can an uninformed public tell the difference between information and misinformation? Michelle, how much does that concern you?

michelle goldberg

Well, tremendously, and its concerned me for a long time, right? Its obviously a huge problem in terms of climate change, in terms of all sorts of health and safety regulations. And I think youve seen the kind of grim results of it in both  well, in all sorts of ways, right? In the weird denialism about the viruss danger  and I say weird because it comes from some sectors of the right that have been most concerned about a culture of life, about liberalisms tendency towards eugenics, have now basically taken the position that there are more important things in society than protecting the weak, you know, particularly the health of the economy. And so youve just seen the extent to which political polarization trumps everything, even concern for your own constituents and the lives of your own voters. You know, I think you see some of the people who are at these reopen protests, which, you know, lets be clear, are still a kind of fringe group. And in some ways, I wish that they hadnt been treated as such a manifestation of the popular will. But you see a lot of them saying that if there is a vaccine, they wont take it, right? Because theres this Venn diagram overlap between people who dont believe that the coronavirus is that dangerous and people who believe that vaccines are dangerous. And so that could end up being a problem when we need to get very quickly  if there is a vaccine, were going to need to get very quickly to herd immunity if you have a lot of vaccine denialism. And, you know, to be clear, youve got vaccine denialism on the left, too, but I think its more marginalized. At least within left-wing politics.

yuval levin

Yeah. Well, look, I think that this basic question of science literacy is a problem, is a concern. As Michelle says, you see it in some ways on the margins of both political parties or both sides of our politics. The left has some blind spots on science, sometimes, around in some ways around vaccinations, maybe around nuclear energy, in some ways even around abortion. The right has some of these blind spots especially around environmental issues. But it seems to me what were seeing here has more to do with a kind of resentment of expertise that also has very deep roots in American life, where people view experts as trying to exercise power over them rather than as applying knowledge to addressing social problems. And again, there is a certain kind of post-modern version of that on the left, but there is a more populist and broader form of it on the right. And were seeing that play out. I mean, it is marginal. If you look at the polls, most Republicans support the restrictions that theyre living under now. And social distancing and the rest of it, large majorities, certainly even larger majorities of Democrats support them, these protests represent at this point, at least, a very narrow sliver of the public. But theyre part of the public debate. And I think as we move into a phase of starting to gradually lift restrictions in different places, well probably see these kinds of arguments even more on the surface.

michelle goldberg

I was talking to somebody recently from Edelman  you know, the public opinion agency that does these trust barometers where they measure peoples trusts across different countries and different institutions. And one of their points is that the United States is a low-trust country. But one of the things that this guy said to me when I was talking to him about public trust in the context of coronavirus, is that upper-middle-class people tend to have more trust in institutions because institutions, they understand them better and they worked better for them. And whereas people whose only kind of interfaces with bureaucrats are hostile and frustrating have much less trust in public institutions.

yuval levin

There is also a way that pandemics in particular, or epidemics bring out a certain kind of conspiracy mindedness. Whether thats the anti-Semitism that rose up around the Black Death in Europe or the horrible stories about yellow fever in Philadelphia in the 1790s, where really prominent physicians persuaded the public that people of African descent were immune to yellow fever, and so they were sent out to do all the horrible work. And of course, they were not immune, and there was just immense human suffering around it. The moment of an epidemic tends to bring out the worst in a societys underlying attitudes, and conspiracy has always been a part of that. And a moment like this is just bound to bring them out.

frank bruni

But theres a dynamic were not mentioning, especially relevant when you say conspiracy theories. Were not mentioning the scourge of the internet, right? I mean, you cant separate resentment of expertise from the degree to which everyone now feels that he or she is his or her own expert. You know, they go out, they click, they can find the information they want. Its usually the exact answer theyve been looking for that validates what they already thought. But I feel like we cant talk about any of this stuff  the polarization, the partisanship, the resentment of expertise  unless we reckon with what the internet and social media have done to fracture people, to use a word from your book title, Yuval, right, The Fractured Republic. You got into this there, right, what the internet has done to us?

yuval levin

Yeah. You know, its interesting because one of the things it brings out is a kind of misunderstanding of the nature of expertise, where people tend to think that the expert is just a person with information. And so now informations available anywhere, and so anybody can be an expert. But an expert is a person with experience. And what you find in people like Tony Fauci or Deborah Birx, these are people with decades of experience making decisions in crises like this. And they have a sense, a kind of knack for how things go. That kind of experience is really what expertise brings to the table. It cant be replaced by a Google search. But when we fail to have an appreciation of what it is that they offer decision-makers, what they offer the larger society, then we do tend to think, well, now I know. I can look it up, and so I know better than you. And I understand what this model says. And you get people who become kind of amateur epidemiologists, arguing with one another over the dinner table.

frank bruni

But do we not have, right now, President Google Search? I mean, isnt he modeling and encouraging that very behavior? How many times have we heard President Trump say, someone said, or they say, or I heard, or  I mean, hes the model of that.

michelle goldberg

I actually think President Google Search is a little bit optimistic. We have, like, President Reddit Comment Thread, right? We have President 4chan.

frank bruni

What can we do to get back to a place where there is more respect for actual knowledge, for proven expertise, for science?

michelle goldberg

Well, look. I mean, look. The only way that you get there politically is to vote for Democrats. I mean, thats just a fact, right? [BRUNI LAUGHS] That is, if you have a Democratic administration, youre going to have an administration that respects science and expertise, because respect for science and expertise has become a matter of partisan polarization. I dont think anyone has the answer to how you tame the epistemological chaos that the internet and kind of social fracturing has brought us. But maybe another part will be greater respect for scientists, greater respect for doctors.

frank bruni

Yuval, this resentment of expertise, this polarization of science, how much of that is a failure of public education? And what kind of role might public education be able to play to repair it?

yuval levin

Well, I think there is an element of it thats about education, but it seems to me to be in particular a collapse of our political culture. A sense that what happens in our politics just isnt very serious. And it seems to me that theres not  the solution to that isnt simply to say, as former Vice President Biden said this week, that if hes elected, then the science will settle questions. I actually dont think thats quite right as an understanding of the presidents job. The president has to take advice from all kinds of directions, from all kinds of areas, from all kinds of experts. In a case like this, you would have to hear the scientists and take them seriously. Youd also have to hear people who express concerns and offer facts about the state of the economy. And you have to make trade-offs. Its an extremely difficult job. And, you know, the solution to the kind of frivolity that we see now in the presidents attitude toward his job isnt just about science. Its about a more profound understanding of the purposes of all of our different institutions, including our political institutions. I think our political culture has become anti-institutional in recent decades in a way that has had just immense costs for our country. And a recovery of some respect for our institutions  certainly that includes science and the professions; it includes the academy; it also includes our constitutional system  I think just has got to be part of a way back. Now, there is a way that a crisis like this makes us more serious. We understand now, I think, much better what it is that experts do and why it is that we need to take these things seriously. And its imaginable that we come out of a crisis like this with a better attitude about these questions.

frank bruni

Yuval, thank you for being with us. We really enjoyed it.

yuval levin

Thank you.

michelle goldberg

Yeah, thank you so much.

frank bruni

But before you go, before you go, one more thing. Wed love a recommendation from you. We like to leave our listeners with something to help take their minds off the news. Can you help us out?

yuval levin

Well, you know, I think if youre lucky enough, as I am, to have a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old in your home, Ive found that just going outside and playing catch every day is just about the best thing there is for my soul. Its something we started doing to mourn the baseball season, but by now its just this great soul-opening ritual for us every day. I pretend I do it for them, but theyre doing it for me. And its the best thing in my life just now.

frank bruni

Michelle, you must have some sort of equivalent with your kids, right?

michelle goldberg

Well, yeah. Ive got a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old. Neither of them really like to play catch. My son inherited his parents complete disinterest in sports. [LAUGHTER] I guess our equivalent would be  our equivalent would be climbing. The property that were on has this kind of gorge with this stream and a kind of felled tree that you can use to cross it. And its actually extremely dangerous, and my kids completely love climbing down and going across it. But, you know, in general, I think getting outside every day, which is easier for some people than others, but is the only thing standing between me and total madness.

frank bruni

Thank you two for leaving me and everyone else with those images of the outdoors and fun. I think we all need them right now. Thats our show this week. Thank you for listening. And thanks again to Yuval Levin for joining us. If you want to check out more of his work, head to nationalaffairs.com. You can also buy his most recent book, which came out earlier this year, A Time to Build. Its about reviving American institutions. Do you have any good advice on how to talk with someone whose basic facts are different from yours? Let us know. Leave us a voicemail at 347-915-4324. You can also email us at argument@nytimes.com. And if youre liking what youre hearing, leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts. Doing that helps other people find the show. The Argument is produced by James T. Green for Transmitter Media and edited by Sara Nics. Our executive producer is Gretta Cohn. We had help from Tyson Evans, Phoebe Lett, Paula Szuchman, and Michele Teodori. This was our first week without Ian Prasad Philbrick, and we want to thank him for all his hard work on the show. Our theme was composed by Allison Leyton-Brown. Also special thanks this week to our de facto audio assistant, Michelles husband, Matthew Ipcar. Keep arguing responsibly, and well see you back here next week. I always screw up the pronunciation of Ross last name, although Ive known him for a decade. So before I screw it up right now in giving his Twitter handle 

michelle goldberg
The new leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has dropped his party's position on Kashmir, which his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn took before losing the election to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Starmer, after meeting with the executive team of Labour Friends of India (LFIN), repositioned Labour on Kashmir, announcing that is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and the United Kingdom has no role in it.

Writing in the Labour Party mouthpiece - Labourlist - Karl Starmer said "We must not allow issues of the sub-continent to divide communities here."

"Any constitutional issues in India are a matter for the Indian Parliament, and Kashmir is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully."

"Labour is an internationalist party and stands for the defence of human rights everywhere," he stated further after his meeting with the executive team LFIN on Thursday morning.

Starmer's repositioning of his party's stance on the matter came in a bid to rebuild links with the British Indian community, especially after the LFIN had warned during the Jeremy Corbyn era that its relationship with the Labour was "strained".

Campaigners had warned the party that they had risked taking the "support of the Indian community for granted'.

The row exploded last November at the Labour's 2019 conference, when the LFIN had condemned the "anti-Indian rhetoric contained in the emergency motion on Kashmir", according to the media outlet.

Labour delegates had then passed a motion criticising the actions of India in the Kashmiri conflict, and said that the people of Kashmir should have self-determination rights.

The policy motion approved by the conference had also called for international monitors to be admitted to the region, the media reported.

In addition, Corbyn had also made his views clear, tweeting in August 2019: "The situation in Kashmir is deeply disturbing. Human rights abuses taking place are unacceptable.

"The rights of the Kashmiri people must be respected and UN resolutions implemented," he had said further.

But in a bid to heal the rift, newly elected leader Starmer vowed to work closely with the group to further promote UK-India ties, Labourlist reported.

"A Labour government under my leadership will be determined to build even stronger business links with India and to co-operate on the global stage on issues such as climate change," Starmer said.

"I look forward to meeting the Indian High Commissioner in due course to open a renewed dialogue between the Labour Party and the people of India," he added.

Meanwhile, appreciating the new move by the Labour Party, Rajesh Agrawal, LFIN co-chair and deputy mayor of London for business, commented: "I really welcome his commitment to rebuilding strong links between the Labour Party and the Indian community.

"This has been a great start and Keir has achieved a lot in the short span of couple of weeks. Labour Friends of India will work closely with him and will continue to promote UK-India ties as well as continuing to raise any issues from the community to the leadership," Agrawal said.

Starmer replaced Jeremy Corbyn this month as the new leader of the Labour Party.

(ANI)

Also Read: Pakistani spies use AarogyaSetu app to target Indian military personnel, Army issues warning
As the decision about his appointment to the legislature as governor's nominee hangs fire, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, sources claimed.

As the decision about his appointment to the legislature as governor's nominee hangs fire, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, sources claimed.

Thackeray spoke to Modi on phone and told him that attempts were being made to create political instability in the state, sources told PTI.

"Political instability in a huge state like Maharashtra when it is facing theCOVID-19 crisis is not right and Thackeray urged the prime minister to look into it," they said.

The telephone call came a day after leaders of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) met Governor BS Koshyari with a fresh cabinet recommendation to nominate Thackeray to the Legislative Council through the governor's quota.

The first recommendation of the state cabinet had been made on April nine.

Thackeray, who is not a member of either house of the state legislature, was sworn in as chief minister on 28 November, 2019.

He has to become a member by 28 May when he completes six months in office. Otherwise he will cease to the chief minister.

A delegation of MVA leaders led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar met the governor on Tuesday, and handed over the cabinet decision's copy to him.

A senior minister who was part of the delegation told PTI that he requested the governor to take decision at the earliest.

The cabinet decision is valid as per law and accepting the cabinet recommendation was binding for the governor, he said.

To which the governor said he will let them know his decision within a week, the minister said.

Thackeray could not get elected to the Council through biennial polls as the elections were postponed due to coronavirus outbreak.
Boeing outlined plans Wednesday to cut 10% of its workforce, slow production of new planes and raise more cash to survive a downturn in business that started with the grounding of its bestselling jet and has accelerated with a deep slump in air travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this April 20, 2020, file photo, planes sit parked behind a sign marking Boeing property at a Boeing production plant in Renton, Wash. Boeing shareholders approved a slate of 12 company-backed nominees for the board on Monday, April 27, despite recommendations from two proxy advisers against five directors, including the chairman, for what the advisers called poor oversight of the company's handling of the 737 Max crisis. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Boeing outlined plans Wednesday to cut 10% of its workforce, slow production of new planes and raise more cash to survive a downturn in business that started with the grounding of its bestselling jet and has accelerated with a deep slump in air travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Executives said the job cuts would be accomplished through attrition, paying people to leave, and layoffs.

Boeing began the year with about 161,000 employees.

Boeing announced the moves as it reported a first-quarter loss of $641. It earned $2.15 billion in the same period last year. Revenue fell 26%, to $16.91 billion.

The job cuts will be deepest  more than 15%  in the large division that makes airline jets, which has assembly plants in the Seattle area and South Carolina. Deliveries of those planes have plummeted by two-thirds in 2020, compared with a year earlier. Boeings defence and space unit will likely see the fewest jobs eliminated.

I know this news is a blow during an already challenging time," CEO David Calhoun said in a memo to employees. "I regret the impact this will have on many of you. I sincerely wish there were some other way.

Calhoun told reporters the job cuts would hit white-collar employees more than production workers, and would carry the company into 2022.

FILE - In this April 20, 2020 file photo, Lufthansa airline, Boeing 747 aircrafts are parked at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Boeing says it will cut about 10% of its work force and slow production of planes as it deals with the ongoing grounding of its best-selling plane and the coronavirus pandemic. With air travel falling sharply because of the virus, airlines have delayed orders and deliveries of new planes, reducing Boeings revenue. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

Boeing's airline customers are staggering under an unprecedented decline in air travel because of the virus pandemic.

Global air travel fell 53% last month compared with March 2019, the largest drop in recent history and a return to levels not seen since 2006, the International Air Transport Association, an airline trade group, said Wednesday. Nearly two-thirds of the passenger jets around the world have been idled, according to aviation data firm Cirium.

Boeings European rival, Airbus, reported a first-quarter loss of 481 million euros ($515 million). Airbus recently decided to cut production of jetliners by about one-third, and CEO Guillaume Faury said Wednesday that the company  which has already furloughed more than 6,000 workers  will study further resizing when the post-pandemic size of the airline industry is more clear. That is a worrying prospect on a continent where Airbus has factories in four countries.

We are still at an early stage of this crisis, said Faury, who called it the gravest situation ever for the aerospace industry.

General Electric Co.s aviation business, which makes jet engines and is the conglomerates largest division, saw first-quarter profit fall 39%.

We are facing significant headwinds in aviation, and we may be for a while, GE CEO Lawrence Culp told analysts.

Airline customers are asking the aircraft makers for delays in receiving new planes, which Airbus called its biggest current issue. Boeing's biggest customer, Southwest Airlines, is negotiating to cut deliveries through 2021 by more than half. With airlines flying fewer planes, Boeing's service business has dropped too.

The aviation industry will take years to return to the levels of traffic we saw just a few months ago, Calhoun said.

To reach that turnaround, Boeing will cut production of its 787 jets in half by 2022 and also build fewer 777s. The company said it will resume production of the grounded 737 Max at low rates this year, gradually rising to 31 a month next year. Boeing was building 52 Max jets a month before regulators around the world grounded the plane in March 2019 after two crashes that killed 346 people.

After another delay, Boeing now expects to get federal approval to resume deliveries of Max jets before the end of September.

Chicago-based Boeing is also considering applying for a federal loan made possible by last months $2.2 trillion virus-recovery measure. Calhoun said the company could turn to private sources instead, a move that would avoid giving the government an equity stake in Boeing.

The company ended March with $15.5 billion in cash, up from $10 billion three months earlier, but piled on $11.6 billion in new debt, which now totals $38.9 billion.

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The company has reduced spending, and over the weekend, it terminated a deal with Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer SA, which analysts said will help Boeing conserve cash but weaken its position against Airbus in the market for smaller passenger jets.

The virus hit Boeing production workers last month, forcing the company to temporarily shut down assembly lines in Washington state and South Carolina. The Seattle-area plants are beginning to resume activity, and workers are scheduled to return to the South Carolina plant beginning Sunday night under new social-distancing rules.

Boeing was in financial trouble before the virus outbreak, however. The grounding of the Max added billions in costs and cut deeply into revenue last year, leading to Boeings first money-losing year in two decades. The company faces criminal and civil investigations and a flurry of lawsuits by families of the people killed in the crashes.

Shares of Boeing climbed nearly 6% on Wednesday to close at $139. Even with the rally, however, they have dropped 57% so far this year, mirroring the plunge in airline stocks.

___

Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.
WILTON The number of Wilton residents who filed for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic is sobering according to First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice.

A total of 647 new umployment claims by Wilton residents were filed from Feb. 24 to April 12, acccording to a preliminary report by the Connecticut Department of Labor, she said in a message on the towns website.

There were 378 claims made between Feb. 24 and March 22, and 269 additional claims were filed from March 23 to April 12, totaling 647 claims.

This represents 7.7 percent of Februarys labor force, of which, 3.6 percent was unemployed. If those residents remained unemployed, the total incomplete unemployment rate for Wilton as of April 12 was 11.3 percent, Vanderslice said.

The unemployment information was based on approximately 226,000 statewide cases, and is preliminary, she said, because initial claims reported after March 22 are incomplete and do not include ongoing claims.

The unemployment data was provided by the state, she said, in response to requests by municipal officials to inform decision making for FY2021 budgets.

The selectmen are meeting Monday, May 4, to revise their initial FY2021 budget request in light of recent Board of Finance guidance. The Board of Education is meeting tonight, April 30.

The finance board has asked the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education to provide four budget proposals:

Flat to the FY2020 budget.

2 percent less than the FY2020 budget.

5 percent less than the FY2020 budget.

10 percent less than the FY2020 budget.

The 10-percent reduction reflects concerns about the ability to finance any significant shortfall in tax receipts due to nonpayment.

Coronavirus count up, food pantry re-opens

The coronavirus count in Wilton has reached 150. Statewide, there are 26,767 laboratory-confirmed cases, with 10,985 or 41 percent in Fairfield County. Those not yet assigned to a municipality number 507.

The Wilton Food Pantry reopened in the lower portion of the Comstock Community Center on Monday, April 27, Vanderslice said.

The outpouring of support from the community has been amazing, she said. As the numbers of individuals needing assistance from Social Services and the food pantry goes up, Social Services appreciates the support of the community during these difficult times.

Residents with questions or needing assistance are encouraged to email Social Services Director Sarah Heath at sarah.heath@wiltonct.org.

pgay@wiltonbulletin.com
Drug dealers are using takeaway delivery drivers to drop 'pizza boxes or other food containers' containing cocaine, marijuana, ketamine and ecstasy at buyer's houses, Interpol has warned.

The international criminal police organisation found that the method was being used to deliver drugs in countries including Ireland, Malaysia, Spain and Britain via couriers using bikes, motorcycles or cars.

With drug buyers and their dealers under lockdown along with the rest of society in many countries, some drivers are using this time to make a quick buck, while in some cases dealers simply posed as couriers.

Gardai seized approximately 500,000 (430,000) worth of suspected cocaine and two firearms following an incident that occurred on Essex Quay, Dublin, Ireland, April 14

Others were unwitting mules, Interpol said: 'In one Malaysian case, a food delivery rider in the Gombak district of Kuala Lumpur contacted police and asked for his food package to be inspected after he became suspicious.

'The rider had been tasked with delivering a single order of Indian flatbread yet the parcel weighed approximately 11kg (20lbs).'

In Spain, seven people posing as delivery drivers were arrested in Alicante and Valencia after drugs were found concealed in the false bottoms of home delivery backpacks.

Photos of drugs and cash concealed within a food delivery bag, which was seized by the Spanish National Police in in Alicante and Valencia in Early April

The delivery bags seized by the Spanish National Police in in Alicante and Valencia, with the various drugs and cash they contained

Concealed drugs wrapped in foil and clingfilm, which were seized along with cash in a food delivery bag

A powdery substance can be seen inside a parcel which was concealed inside a food delivery bag. Some of the drugs had been concealed inside a false bottom of home delivery backpacks

In Ireland, police found eight kilograms of cocaine and two handguns hidden in pizza boxes.

Interpol added: 'Country-wide lockdowns have sharply increased demand for home delivered food and delivery drivers are a common sight on otherwise deserted streets.'

This provides the perfect cover for home drug deliveries.

Stephen Kavanagh, the agency's executive director of police services said: 'As criminals continue to adapt their activities to a world upended by COVID-19, Interpol's purple notices are essential tools in enabling police around the world to learn from each other's successes and address shifting crime patterns.'
Canada is increasing two of the country's tax credits to help offset the financial hardship families are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To help parents who have got their hands full these days, our government will be boosting the CCB payment in May and to help lower income Canadians we supplemented the GST credit," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday outside his Ottawa home.

The GST or goods and services tax credit is a tax-free quarterly payment aimed to help low and modest income families and individuals.

The CCB or Canada child benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.

The government will also pay student volunteers help to fight against COVID-19 over the summer through its new Canada Student Service grant.

"Students helping in the fight against COVID-19 this summer will soon be eligible for a $1,000 to $5,000," Trudeau said. "We're also going to be providing specific support for First Nations, Inuit and Metis nations students."

For graduate students and those conducting research, the prime minister said Canada will "extend scholarships, fellowships and grants."

He also announced the doubling of student grants for low and middle income students for 2020/2021.

Trudeau reiterated that Canada will follow strict guidelines when it comes to reopening the economy but "that different jurisdictions will act differently."

"Every region, every province, every territory is facing a very different situation right now with different industries, different sized cities and different spread of COVID-19," Trudeau said.

"Everyone understands that the danger of opening up too quickly or the wrong way could mean we come back into this situation where we are right now and nobody wants that."

And starting this weekend in Nova Scotia, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds will fly across Canada in tribute to Canadians doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"As we watch the Snowbirds fly over our homes, let's remember that we are all in this together," Trudeau said.

tent included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 17:42 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd54a58f 1 Business Airlines,Cargo,air-travel,Lion-Air,citilink,Air-Asia,Batik-Air,COVID-19,coronavirus,passenger-flight Free

Indonesian airlines are focusing on cargo services to offset the losses incurred from the governments temporary ban on passenger flights to slow the spread of COVID-19.

With the ban to last until May 31, low cost carriers such as PT Citilink Indonesia, PT Lion Mentari Airlines and PT AirAsia Indonesia, have pledged to utilize their aircraft and flight slots for cargo services, including to ship medical equipment.

Indonesian airlines are struggling for survival amid the COVID-19 pandemic, having booked a total revenue loss of Rp 207 billion (US$13.4 million) as of April 15, according to Finance Ministry data.

Citilink, which normally operates more than 330 passenger flights daily, currently ships goods through charter and regular flights to various cities within the country and to countries like China and Singapore.

Citilink has been operating cargo flights to help with the distribution of supplies to several regions, president director Juliandra said in a statement released Monday. We apply disinfectant to the cabin and compartments to ensure the hygiene of the aircraft when delivering the goods.

For its cargo services, Citilink utilizes its Airbus A320 and Airbus A330 aircraft, which have a 15 ton and 24 ton cargo capacity, respectively.

Meanwhile, Lion Air Group, the parent company of Lion Mentari Airlines, is also using its passenger aircraft for its cargo business, according to the firms strategic corporate communications head Danang Mandala Prihantoro. Lion Air previously served 630 flights daily,

The Lion Air Group is using passenger aircraft because it does not have cargo aircraft, Danang told The Jakarta Post via text message on Monday.

The full-service subsidiary of Lion Air Group, PT Batik Air Indonesia, previously used its Airbus 320 to deliver medical supplies, including more than 8,500 kilograms of medicines from China on April 20.

PT AirAsia Indonesia also announced on Thursday that it would focus its services on chartered flights for transporting COVID-19 aid and supplies, as well as helping with the repatriation of Indonesian citizens abroad.

Before the government announced the temporary ban on passenger flights, the airline industry had already been hard hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, with people choosing not to travel in compliance with physical distancing guidelines.

According to data from the Indonesia National Air Carrier Association (INACA), flight frequency had declined to just 20 percent of normal levels.

Despite efforts to ramp up cargo services, INACA data show that the volume of domestic and international airfreight in Indonesia had dropped 39 percent from the average rate.

Global freight demand had also dropped 15.2 percent by March compared to last year, while global capacity has fallen 22.7 percent, raising concerns about disruption to logistics, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported.

State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II has provided support to airlines by granting access to warehouse facilities via its subsidiaries PT Angkasa Pura Kargo and PT Gapura Angkasa to handle products purchased via e-commerce platforms and medical equipment.

At the moment, cargo shipment capacity is below normal levels, when there are many regular flights. But the current capacity is sufficient to maintain cargo traffic in general, Angkasa Pura II president director Muhammad Awaluddin said in a statement on Tuesday.

Gapura Angkasa, which owns a more than 8,900-square-meter warehouse at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, has provided access to facilities like cold storage and animal storage facilities.

In the first quarter this year, the airport operator reported that its airports handled shipments of 62,000 tons of cargo per month, 68 percent of which was handled at Soekarno-Hatta airport alone.

In 2018, Soekarno-Hatta airport, which has the largest annual cargo capacity of any airport in the country, managed shipments of 760,000 tons of cargo, exceeding its capacity by 26.6 percent.

In addition to Soekarno-Hatta airport, Angkasa Pura II, which manages 19 airports across the country, has also offered to manage cargo services at its other airports, including Halim Perdanakusuma in East Jakarta and Sultan Syarif Kasim II in Pekanbaru, Riau.

If the cabin [in the passenger aircraft] can be used to store cargo, the loading and unloading process will be faster compared to storing it in the belly, said Awaluddin.

With the airline industry experiencing a downturn due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the airport operator has slashed its expected annual revenue to around 70 percent of its initial target of Rp 12.8 trillion.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley said Wednesday that the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis had shined a bright light on key social issues that the city must address to move forward.

Kelley, appearing for an online forum with the City Club of Clevelands CEO Dan Moulthrop, discussed the citys recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Two key issues: Bridging a digital divide in the community and a need to train residents for open jobs.

But as he spoke, one could forgive listeners for thinking the next mayoral election was this year.

The council president laid out broad policy suggestions, sounding much like a chief executive setting an agenda for the future.

Where do we want to be, not just in the summer of 2020 but in the summer of 2025, Kelley said when asked about planning for Clevelands economic recovery.

The next mayoral election is 2021, but already speculation is underway. Kelley sidestepped the question when Moulthrop asked if he planned to run for mayor.

Right now, we are in the midst of a global pandemic. I am going to focus on this, Kelley said. Frank Jackson is the mayor and Im going to focus on doing the best job I can (as City Council president).

On Wednesday, Kelley noted that the coronavirus crisis had raised attention to some issues that have been lurking in the background.

Among them:

The need to establish a broad WiFi system to help residents gain internet access across the city.

The need to build job training programs that teach skills needed for jobs that employers have a hard time filling.

These two things, I think, are going to be key building blocks toward building our economy, Kelley said.

Kelley, who has a fourth grader in Cleveland public schools, noted that she has continued with her classes from home via online lessons. But he also noted that many children have no home access to the internet.

How is that ever acceptable? Kelley asked.

Its a problem for adults, too, who were sent home from their jobs but without the tools to succeed, he said.

Kelley, as a councilman from Old Brooklyn, worked to help establish free WiFi in his ward eight years ago. The system is now undergoing an upgrade.

We have to take a short term and a long term look at this, Kelley said. That might mean providing hot spots in some parts of the city while a WiFi system is built.

As for job training, Kelley said many employers have openings in manufacturing, skilled trades and information fields. The trick is establishing programs to prepare untrained people for those jobs. That will involve establishing partnerships with the private sector, he said.

Its not going to just be government, Kelley said.

Nobody has announced their candidacy for mayor yet but getting on the ballot will require campaigns to help gather thousands of signatures from registered voters.

Candidates will have to act soon to build their campaign organizations to collect these names and file them by the June deadline for getting on the September primary ballot.

The big question now is whether Jackson, who has served longer as mayor than anyone in Clevelands history, will seek a fifth term. The mayor hasnt disclosed his plans, nor does he typically discuss them.

But if Jackson doesnt run, as many people believe, there will be a host of contenders. Rumored candidates include several current and former members of City Council and a variety of community leaders.

Kelley, council president since 2014, would certainly be in that conversation.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  A federal judge has denied a request to decertify voting machines being used by Philadelphia and two other counties in the battleground state of Pennsylvania before Novembers presidential election.

In a Wednesday ruling, U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond in Philadelphia said the plaintiffs, including former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and several supporters, made allegations that are "baseless and irrational."

The lawsuit focused on the ExpressVote XL, the voting machine used by nearly 2 million voters in Philadelphia, Northampton and Cumberland counties. The motion to decertify the machine stems from the 2018 settlement of a lawsuit that accused Pennsylvania of violating the constitutional rights of voters in 2016s presidential election because its voting machines were susceptible to hacking and barriers to a recount were pervasive.

As part of the settlement, Gov. Tom Wolf's administration pledged to require counties to replace their voting machines before 2020's elections.

Stein's group sued again last November, contending that certifying the ExpressVote XL violated the settlement agreement, in part because the machine does not meet the agreements requirement that every Pennsylvania voter in 2020 uses a voter-verifiable paper ballot.

Wolf's administration had defended its certification of the machines. Northampton County first used the machines last fall when problems led to undercounted returns in a county judicial race.

The machines maker, Omaha, Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software, blamed the incorrect results on human errors in formatting the ballot. Ultimately, election workers counted the vote on paper ballots.
Chinese Regime Moves Forward With Political Meeting Despite Beijing City on High Alert for Virus Spread

Chinas central government announced that the national Lianghuiwhen the Communist Partys rubber-stamp legislature convenes to enact policies and agendaswill be held from May 2122 in Beijing, after initially postponing the meeting because of the pandemic.

More than 5,000 delegates from around the country typically participate.

The Lianghui, which translates to two sessions in reference to the rubber-stamp Congress and its advisory body that meet in Beijing annually, is usually held in March. But as the virus outbreak engulfed the country, the Party in February postponed the meeting.

In response to the Lianghui dates, which were announced on April 29, Beijing and nearby cities announced that they would downgrade their emergency response levels to the virus as of April 30. But on April 30, Beijing municipal health officials rolled out new prevention measures for all medical facilities in the city, indicating that the outbreak in the nations capital remained severe.

While Beijing authorities have reported zero new infections in the past few days and kept silent about the citys outbreak, local residents and internal documents have indicated that officials have been on high alert about tracking close contacts of confirmed patients.

The regime wants to show people that the outbreak is under control all across the country by holding the Lianghui in May, said U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan. The regime also wants to show that it achieved success in the war against the virus.

In previous interviews, Chinese citizens said they didnt believe the outbreak had been contained, saying that as long as the Lianghui wasnt being held, it meant Party officials were afraid the virus still had the potential to spread and didnt want to risk becoming infected during a large gathering.

New Schedule

Soon after the central governments announcement, several provincial governments, such as Yunnan and Sichuan, announced the schedules for their local Lianghui.

Each administrative level of government has a local branch of the National Peoples Congress and Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, which would hold meetings before the national Lianghui.

In January, some provinces, such as Shandong, Guangdong, and Hubeithe province where the viruss ground zero of Wuhan is locatedheld their local Lianghui before the virus outbreak spiraled out of control.

When Wuhan authorities locked down the city on Jan. 23, Hunan, Guangdong, and Zhejiang provinces also launched a level-one (highest) emergency response to the epidemic.

China enacted a national public health emergency response system in 2006, with four levels of response, level one meaning that the central government will take the lead to address a crisis.

One after another, regional governments increased their response level to level one in late January.

But since Feb. 21, regional governments downgraded their emergency response levels after local authorities reported fewer new infections.

The Epoch Times has been provided internal documents that show regional governments routinely underreport virus data.

Beijings Reactions

Soon after the emergency response level in Beijing was downgraded to level two, the citys health commission issued a request to all medical and health institutions in the city to prevent three things: prevent against any loosening of controls, any loopholes, and an outbreak bouncing back.

The notice required all hospitals to monitor closely potential infections, control the distance between visitors and patients, forbid staff from taking business trips to medium and high-risk regions, and to only use 70 percent of their capacity to maintain social distancing rules. In addition, medical staff shouldnt gather to chat.

The commission also detailed requirements upon encountering suspected virus patients, such as isolating the person in a separate room immediately, not allowing any visitors, and using a negative-pressure vehicle if the patient needs to be transported to another facility.

Another metropolis near Beijing, the city of Tianjin, and the nearby Hebei Province also downgraded their emergency response to level two on April 30.

On April 29, the citys health commission also required residents to wear masks in public spaces, wash hands frequently, and not participate in social gatherings.

Chen Bei, the deputy Party boss of Beijings city government, also told authorities to tightly monitor the movement of people in residential compounds.

She explained that local residents must use an entrance pass to enter their residential compounds. Family members or friends can only visit if they possess a green health codea mobile app that determines whether a person is virus-free, based on users inputting their health data.

Checkpoints at the citys major transportation hubs must also be tightly monitored, she said, including at airports, train stations, intercity bus stations, and highways. Police are required to check every vehicle, every passengers identity, health code, and screen their body temperature.

Chen also advised Beijing residents not to take any business trips or vacations overseas. [The government will] tightly monitor the people who return from overseas, she warned.

Anyone arriving in Beijing from overseas must be placed under observation at quarantine centers for 14 days, then self-isolate at home for another seven days. Any travelers coming from Hubei province and other high or medium risk regionssuch as northeastern China, where recent outbreaks occurredmust self-isolate at home for 14 days. These people also need to take nucleic acid tests to determine whether they have the virus.

Travelers from low-risk regions would not need to be quarantined, but must fill out a health form, have their body temperatures taken, and health code scanned upon arrival.

Beijing eased its quarantine rules from previously requiring all travelers arriving in Beijing to quarantinelikely to accommodate travelers who will soon travel to Beijing for the Lianghui.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi has become the latest Democrat to back Joe Biden over an allegation that he sexually assaulted former aide, Tara Reade, on Capitol Hill in 1993.

In her first in-person press conference at the Capitol in weeks, Ms Pelosi told reporters that she thinks sexual assault allegations should be taken seriously, but said she supports the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

I have complete respect for the MeToo movement. I have four daughters and one son. And theres a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and be listened to, she said.

However, Ms Pelosi added that there was never any record of the assault and said that the happiest day for me this week was to support Joe Biden for President of the United States.

During the press conference, Ms Pelosi told reporters that she is satisfied with Mr Bidens response to the allegations.

Recommended Tara Reade uses clip to back up sexual assault claims against Biden

I have great comfort level with the situation as I see it, with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward, with all the highest regard for Joe Biden, and thats what I have to say about that.

Mr Biden has not yet publicly responded to allegations that he assaulted Ms Reade.

Any comment about the allegation has come from Mr Bidens campaign team, and Ms Pelosi was asked during an appearance on CNN on Thursday, whether he needs to personally respond to the allegation.

Its a matter that he has to deal with, but I am impressed with the people who worked for him at the time saying they absolutely never heard one iota of information about this, she responded.

Nobody ever brought forth a claim or had anybody else tell them about such a claim, she said.

Ms Pelosi is not the only prominent female Democrat to defend the former vice president in the last few days, as both Stacey Abrams and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand backed him earlier this week.

Recommended VP candidate Stacey Abrams believes Biden over accuser

Ms Abrams told CNN that Mr Biden is a person whos demonstrated that his love of family, his love of our community, has been made perfectly clear through his work as a congressional leader and as an American leader.

She added: I know Joe Biden, and I think that he is telling the truth and that this did not happen.

Ms Reade has accused the former vice president of sexually assaulting her, in various interviews in the last few weeks.

She told CNN that when she worked for Mr Biden as an aide in 1993, he asked her to deliver a duffel bag to his office.

Ms Reade added that when she arrived, he had me up against the wall; he used his knee to spread open my legs, and put his fingers inside me. She alleges that after she pulled away, Mr Biden said: Come on man. I heard  I thought you liked me.

Ms Reade claimed that he then got angry with her and said You are nothing to me. You are nothing, but eventually held her by the shoulders and told her: Youre OK. Youre fine.

Earlier this week, resurfaced video footage of Larry King Live appeared to show Ms Reades mother ask the host for advice about inappropriate behaviour in Washington.

In the clip, which is from 1993, the same year that Ms Reade claims that Mr Biden assaulted her, an unnamed woman asked for advice to give her daughter, who had just left Washington after an incident.

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, she told the host.

Ms Reade told CNN that she believes that the voice in the clip, is her mother, Jeanette Altimus.

She said she decided not to call the police after the alleged assault, but told the outlet that she called Ms Altimus that night, who told her that she should.

Biden Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield told CNN about the incident: 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 said.

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.
Photo: Jeff Gunn/Flickr

Missed the most recent top news in New York City? Read on for everything you need to know.

Internment survivor, beloved New York principal dies at 89

During World War II, Tadashi Tsufura and his family were forcibly relocated to Arizona. He later became a beloved educator in New York City.

Read the full story on The New York Times.

Funeral home stored bodies on ice in trucks after running out of space

A New York City funeral home used moving trucks loaded with ice to store dozens of bodies after running out of space, police officials said Wednesday.

Read the full story on NBC News.

City Council bill would offer restaurants relief from COVID-19

A City Council bill seeks to bar enforcement of personal liability provisions in commercial leases or rental agreements through at least September in cases where a tenant affected by COVID-19 defaults on lease conditions.

Read the full story on Real Deal NYC.

Orthodox Jews beset by virus grapple with mayor's rebuke

It started with a funeral that got out of hand. It ended Wednesday with some of New York City's Jews at odds with the mayor over his criticisms of the Orthodox community as it struggles to deal with the coronavirus.

Read the full story on Houston Chronicle.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmhammad

Azerbaijans state oil Company SOCAR and BP will set up a joint petrochemical enterprise in Turkey, Turkish media reported on April 30.

The companies have already applied to the Turkish antimonopoly authorities for the permission to establish the joint enterprise, which will be called Mercury complex.

The estimated investment in the project stands at $1.8 billion. SOCAR's and BP's share in the project is 50/50 parity. The complex is expected to be commissioned before the end of 2023.

The construction of the new petrochemical complex is expected to enable Turkey to cover the current account deficit by $6 billion annually.

Earlier it was reported that on December 20, 2018 SOCAR and BP signed contractual principles for evaluation of plans for creation a world-class petrochemical complex in Turkey and establishment of a joint venture to manage it.

Construction of the complex was planned to begin during the current year in order to put the enterprise into operation in 2023-2025. However, due to low oil prices and to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project implementation has been postponed until 2021.

"There have been some delays in the date of FDI. The oil price corridor of $20-30 per barrel had a strong impact on both us and our partners. In this regard, the final investment decision on the Mercury project, scheduled for late 2020, is now postponed to the 4th quarter of next year," CEO of SOCAR Turkey Zaur Gahramanov. has said.

The Mercury complex will be built near the Petkim petrochemical complex and the STAR refinery in Aliaga region. The enterprise will produce 1.25 million tons of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), 840 thousand tons of paraxylene (PX), 340 thousand tons of benzene. PTA is the main raw material in the production of polyester from which beverage and food containers, packaging materials, photo and film and other consumer and industrial goods are derived.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal



Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and other leaders on Thursday extended their May Day greetings, hailing the workforce and its significance to the country.

In a Raj Bhavan statement, the Governor said the celebration of May Day is the occasion when the nation salutes the contribution of the working class and takes pride in their labour in strengthening the economy of the country.

"On the occasion of the May Day I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all those who toil day and night to promote the welfare of the nation and to all their families who support them in this noble effort," he said.

He urged the people to resolve on May 1 to intensify their fight against COVID-19 and prayed the Almighty may give strength to labour community to overcome the present situation, apparently the lockdown that has rendered many of them jobless.

Palaniswami, while extending his greetings, recalled that the day marked the workers earning their rights after years of struggle.

Quoting Swami Vivekananda, he said no major result can be achieved without hard work and said such labour will yield success to all in life.

Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, in an AIADMK release, also extended their May Day greetings.

While Panneerselvam is AIADMK Coordinator, Palaniswami is the Joint Coordinator.

They recalled the importance attached by late chief ministers M G Ramachandran, also the party founder, and J Jayalalithaa, for the workers and that they had accordingly devised many welfare schemes for them.

MDMK founder Vaiko and AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran also extended their greetings.

Meanwhile, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy extended his May Day greetings and highlighted the role played by working class in ensuring a strong India.

He said that the current lockdown necessitated by the outbreak of COVID-19 had hit the livelihood of the workers and others.

The chief minister said the territorial administration, however, came up with several measures to relieve the working class and the poor of the misery and the serious impact of the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  Church activities like Holy mass and essential work-related gatherings will be allowed in cities and provinces placed under general community quarantine, as long as social distancing rules are observed, a government spokesman announced Thursday.

Attendees, however, must be two meters apart, wearing face mask or other protective equipment during the entirety of the event, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing on the latest policies adopted by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.

The IATF-recommended measures have been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Roque said all other mass gatherings are still prohibited.

In the same briefing, Department of the Interior and Local Government chief Eduardo Ano refused to say how large an event is, for it to be regarded as a mass gathering.

The enhanced community quarantine has been extended until mid-May in the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon (except for Aurora, which will be under general community quarantine), Pangasinan, Benguet, including Baguio City, Iloilo, Cebu, including Cebu City, Bacolod City and Davao City.

All other provinces will be placed under the more relaxed GCQ.
April 29 (Reuters) - FSM Holdings Ltd:

* FSM- MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY OF SINGAPORE CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF REVIEW ON MANPOWER OF MANUFACTURING PLANT IN SINGAPORE

* FSM HOLDINGS - MANUFACTURING PLANT IN MALAYSIA HAS RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION WITH FULL WORKFORCE STARTING FROM 29 APRIL

* FSM HOLDINGS LTD - "EXPECTED THAT ADVERSE IMPACTS BROUGHT BY COVID-19 ON GROUP'S BUSINESSES ARE INEVITABLE" Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:
According to the Dr Pauly, finishing the school year at home would not for the children's best.

Starting next week, Luxembourgish schools will gradually reopen their doors. This has caused some amount of nervousness with parents who would prefer to keep their kids safe at home for the remainder of the school year. However, this would not benefit children and only constitute a modest substitute, explains Dr Pauly, paediatrician at CHL:

"Just imagine that a five-year-old is supposed to learn how to construct a tower, how to climb a ladder, how to skitter down a slide, and how to do all this safely, from home. Children should moreover learn to imitate the language of their teachers."

It is therefore the time to find an appropriate long-term solution:

"People understand the strategy of the government and that our children's education needs to be prioritised before we can think about reopening leisure activities for the general population."

Prioritising primary school children would be contradictory, due to the increased infection risk. Nonetheless, understandable from a social perspective. The current confinement remains a blessing for some, and a curse for others:

"A modest family of three generations living together on 45 square meters, with one child becoming ill, chances are high that soon the entire household will be infected. So in the end, the measures put into place to protect citizens could end up being more harmful to those confined to limited spaces. We cannot hide underground forever and wait for Covid-19 to disappear. Like the generations that have come before us, we need to adapt to the novelty of the situation."
Irving Oil , the operator of the country's largest refinery, says it wants to use more Canadian crude during the current economic crisis and has applied to use foreign tanker ships in order to get the oil to its operations in New Brunswick.

The privately held company has filed applications with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) in order to use the vessels, which would collect oil produced from offshore Newfoundland and Western Canada.

In the application, written in mid-April, Irving says it is in discussions with Western Canadian crude producers for "the prompt acquisition" of crude oil from B.C. for immediate delivery to its refinery through the Panama Canal.

"Overarching this application is a recognition that recent events have caused the Canadian economy, and more particularly Canada's energy sector, to be in a state of crises," it says in its application to the CTA.

"It is a time for Canada to come together to address the needs of this sector."

Canada's oil sector has been hit hard by a steep plunge in demand for fuel as both consumers and businesses throttle back activity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The situation was made worse by an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, which contributed to a glut of crude worldwide that's now filling up available storage space.

Irving Oil's plan appears to want to use foreign oil tankers to ship Canadian crude from three key points, including from Burnaby, B.C., down through the Panama Canal and on to Saint John, N.B.

Francois Joly/Radio-Canada

It also wants to take delivery of Canadian oil from suppliers in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast, where crude from Western Canada can be delivered by pipeline.

"With respect to both West Coast and East Coast crude oil, it is Irving Oil's intent to enter into long term agreements with Canadian crude suppliers for the nomination of barrels over a one-year timeframe," the company said in its application.

Story continues

"Flexible access to prompt oil transportation is a perquisite to our ability to commit to purchase Canadian crude oil over this term."

There are no details in the application about which companies from Western Canada might be involved.

A call made late Wednesday to an Irving Oil spokesperson was not returned.

Tim McMillan, president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, welcomed news of the application by Irving Oil.

"Given the choice, Canadians want to use Canadian oil and the nation's largest refinery should have uninterruptible access to oil produced in its own country," he said in an email.

"We have seen there are limits to the reliability of rail transport with the recent blockades and the cancellation of the Energy East pipeline leaves our country with few options to move our resources to the East Coast.

"In the short term, the Irving Refinery proposal offers a desperately needed expansion of our domestic market, even if it takes an unconventional route to that market."

Marty Lederhandler/Associated Press

Peter Tertzakian, executive director of ARC Energy Research Institute, said it wouldn't be the first time that oil from Alberta has taken such a circuitous route through the Panama Canal to get to Eastern Canada.

That was in 1973 when an OPEC oil embargo led to fuel shortages in North America.

"The circumstances today are very different," said Tertzakian, who has written about the embargo and the long journey Canadian crude made to Montreal refineries back then.

"But the overarching theme is not different  and that is security of supply, redundancy of supply in the event of catastrophic events, such as a pandemic, and just the whole geopolitics of the world and trying to shield ourselves from things like price wars."

Tertzakian believes that, in making the application, Irving Oil is thinking about helping the Canadian oil and gas industry. However, he said it's not exactly clear what the impact could be as the volumes of oil involved aren't yet known.

The current crisis in the sector has the real potential to damage the supply chains within North America, he added.

"We are seeing widespread shut-ins [of oil production] starting to occur and we don't really know the consequences of what this will do in terms of impairing future oil supply domestically," Tertzakian said.

There's talk in the U.S. and Canada about whether tariffs on foreign oil would bolster domestic supply chains, he said.

"It's possible that the Irvings are thinking of a preemptive move to be able to shield themselves against tariffs, because after all, they would be buying Canadian oil, which would not be subjected to any tariffs."
The coronavirus infection has been spreading at a tremendous rate since its initial stages, and the world is battling desperately to slow down the disease. Here, images of how the virus spreads through an airplane cabin from a simple cough remind travelers of the severity and difficulty of controlling the spread.

The team from Purdue University that created the images displayed how pathogens can readily travel through the air and, more often than not, farther than most would expect.

A terrifying possibility

The images shows how saliva droplets from its initial host, create a dense cloud of germs which, when exposed to the open air will quickly spread out and cover a wide area in a short amount of time.

Ten people who were near the initial host were classified as high-risk even though the bacteria spread to every corner of the cabin.

The simulation reveals how airborne pathogens behave and reside in the open air, but experts are still unsure if the new coronavirus fits into this category.

Evidence reveals that pure droplets from an infected host may be spread throughout an open-air area or air-conditioned structure.

The experiment falls in line with a study by the US officials that showed one single infection could spread quickly to 43% of their contacted persons in South Korea.

The gif was made in 2014 by scientists to reveal how air-based pathogens spread and move through open-air or air-conditioned rooms.

Qingyan Chen, along with his associates, stated that several infectious diseases could inflict significant social and economic disruption if left untreated or alone due to how quickly they can spread from one host to another.

The model of the simulation was based on the assumption that the 2003 SARS disease was airborne.

It reveals how discharges from an infected person can linger and spread quickly throughout a wide area.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the coronavirus is spread through large droplets from the host's respiratory system.

The large droplets are more massive and therefore have reduced distance after expulsion to linger in the air. This is the main reason for having a social distancing guideline to prevent the spread of the virus.

Read Also: Birds of the Same Feather: See These Two Widowed Penguins Support Each Other With A Comforting Hug

Even though the COVID-19 is more challenging to pass through via open-air, evidence suggests that it is still possible and that air-conditioning systems have a hand in increasing the number of infections of the virus.

One study by scientists from the US reveals how resilient the virus is by lingering in aerosol and maintaining its infectious characteristics for up to three hours.

Unintentional misconception?

The WHO, however, argued against the results as not being natural and an inaccurate depiction of how an actual situation would happen.

An increasing number of reports suggest air-conditioning aids the virus in staying airborne and spreading around a larger area than they would usually have.

One report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 2 delved on how a cluster of positive cases from Guangzhou, China, was allegedly the result of air-conditioning spreading the coronavirus around.

Ten people from three families tested positive for the virus after dining in the same restaurant, and researchers concluded that the droplets were not enough to cause the overwhelming number of infections.

Jianyun Lu's team theorized the transmission of the virus was assisted by the restaurant's air-conditioning system, which accelerated and increased the range of the disease.

Read Also: [VIDEO] Stunning Angel Of The Sea Caught Hovering Under the Ice By a Professional Photographer
New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded leading Indian chess players for taking part in an online exhibition chess tournament to raise funds for the PM-CARES Fund that has been setup to assist in the fight against Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, April 30 : : Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor on Thursday.

"Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India's progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti," tweeted @narendramodi.

The 67-year-old actor was admitted to HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai by his family on Wednesday morning after complaining that he was not feeling well. The 67-year-old actor was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Wife Neetu Kapoor was at his side.

His demise was confirmed by the Kapoor family in a statement earlier in the day.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

"He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.

"In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.

He would not have it any other way," went the statement.

In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.

Post return to India, his health has frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to hospital in quick succession in February. Amid speculations about his health, he had been hospitalised in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi.
PARIS, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation rather than hasty denunciation is needed at the time of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. technology magnate and philanthropist Bill Gates told French daily Le Figaro in an interview published Tuesday.

"The Chinese have made all the data accessible," Gates said, while praising the country for its contribution to the global research on the novel coronavirus as well as to avoiding a medical supplies market disruption.

China "is no longer a source of spread of the infection," and finger-pointing is not a constructive approach, he added.

"Our economy is at a standstill, the world is suffering -- the priority should be collaboration."

"We had no market disruption during this pandemic for medical ingredients! China is actually the most reliable supplier of these ingredients today compared to Western countries, which have not responded so quickly to the crisis," he said.

On April 14, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would halt funding of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Gates said cutting contributions to the WHO at this time is hard to understand, highlighting the strong bond between the United States and the global health body.

"If you look at the current composition of WHO, you will see that the percentage of people working in WHO who are, or have been, employed by the (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is very high. This is a good thing, because the CDC has historically been a very effective organization, which has played a major role in the eradication of smallpox, and in the effort against polio. I therefore do not understand why reducing the American contribution to WHO is relevant today, in the midst of a pandemic," he said.

"Time will come to assess all of our responses. I am sure that we will see that the WHO could have managed certain things differently. But the idea that it would have distorted reality for the benefit of a country is not correct," Gates said.

When asked about "the pitfalls of globalization and the risks of overdependence on China for certain strategic products such as medicines," Gates warned against "using the pandemic to promote xenophobic views."

"The idea that any small town is going to start making its cars! ... We need facts to have this discussion. Which products have disappeared globally because of the crisis? At the Gates Foundation, we are focused on the pandemic and collaboration, not on political rants," he added.
At times, critics own words may fail them. In trying to find a proper description for Liberte, the new film from the provocative and occasionally (but not in this case!) sublime Catalan director Albert Serra, the words that most often sprang to mind were from Mel Brooks. That is, the hunchbacked hangmans line from Blazing Saddles: This one is a doozy.

Serra makes beautifully shot, methodically (to say the least) paced films, often of a historical nature, and sometimes fancifully so. His 2014 The Story of My Death could have been titled Casanova Meets Dracula. Here, some aristocratic pre-Revolution French pleasure-seekers drop in by a wood presumably near the manor of Duc De Walchen (played by Helmut Berger), and speak of a vision they are defending.
Technavio has been monitoring the music streaming service market and it is poised to grow by USD 10.01 bn during 2019-2023. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005581/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Music Streaming Service 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 decelerate during the forecast period. Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Sirius XM Holdings Inc., and Spotify AB, are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Increasing preference for music streaming services has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Music Streaming Service Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Music Streaming Service Market is segmented as below:

End-user Individual Commercial

Streaming Service Paid Music Streaming Service Free Music Streaming Service

Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America



To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31904

Music Streaming Service 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 music streaming service market report covers the following areas:

Music Streaming Service Market Size

Music Streaming Service Market Trends

Music Streaming Service Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies the increasing introduction of differentiated music streaming services as one of the prime reasons driving the music streaming service market growth during the next few years.

Music Streaming Service Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Music Streaming Service Market, including some of the vendors such as Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Sirius XM Holdings Inc., and Spotify AB. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Music Streaming Service Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Music Streaming Service Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist music streaming service market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the music streaming service market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the music streaming service market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of music streaming service market vendors

Table Of Contents :

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER

Market segmentation by end-user

Comparison by end-user

Individual Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Commercial Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by end-user

PART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY STREAMING SERVICE

Market segmentation by streaming service

Comparison by streaming service

Paid music streaming service Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Free music streaming service Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by streaming service

PART 08: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 09: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023

South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023

MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Increasing introduction of differentiated music streaming services

Increasing emergence of bundled services

Growing demand for cloud-based music streaming services

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Alphabet Inc.

Amazon.com Inc.

Apple Inc.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

Spotify AB

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/20200429005581/en/

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A Mandurah school principal has been stood down pending an investigation, after urging parents to keep their children home despite the state government's decision to reopen schools this week.

Halls Head College principal Bronwyn White has been stood down after sending a letter asking parents to keep their children home.

Halls Head College principal Bronwyn White wrote to parents on Friday expressing concerns the school could not "adequately apply physical distancing and safety requirements" should the entire population return for the start of Term 2.

"We have placed an order for critical and additional cleaning supplies but have been told they are in short supply and have been told it is unlikely these will be available ... for day one," she wrote.

"We simply do not have the physical space required with 1450 students."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Analysis of city Department of Health (DOH) and Staten Island hospital data over the nearly eight-week course of the boroughs coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak shows that three key indicators all reflect a slow decline in the outbreaks intensity during the most recent two weeks.

The daily rate of new confirmed cases has decreased in recent days, the net change of deaths has dropped and the curve of total hospitalizations on the borough is on the decline.

The first confirmed Staten Island COVID-19 case was reported by the Advance/SILive.com on March 9.

As of Tuesday night, positive cases tallied 11,635 on the borough and confirmed cases reached 159,865 citywide Tuesday night the Advance/SILive.com reported.

While cases continue to increase, according to graphs created by the Advance/SILive.com, the number of daily new cases on the borough has decreased significantly since April 9  when more than one thousand new positive tests were reported on the borough.

From the high-point of 1,196 new cases reported on April 9, only 115 new cases were reported on the borough on Tuesday, data shows.

Even compared to April 18, when 341 new cases of the virus were reported on Staten Island, the trend of new cases is generally pointing downwards.

While increasing slightly between Monday and Tuesday, the overall curve of daily new cases has generally sunk over the past 20 days.

DEATHS

The number of total coronavirus deaths on Staten Island has reached 726 as New York Citys death total surpassed 17,500, according to Tuesday nights DOH data.

A total of 588 are confirmed to have died on Staten Island as a result of the virus, and an additional 138 are deemed probable cases.

A death is classified as probable if the person had no known positive laboratory test for the coronavirus, but had exhibited symptoms and has a death certificate listing COVID-19 or an equivalent as the cause.

*** (note: negative data in Daily Deaths chart reflects a DOH tracking change) ***

While the grim totals continue to crawl upward, the daily increases of deaths on the borough have sank in recent days.

Significantly down from the April 13 total of 65, the latest daily increase of 16 deaths shows the coronavirus loosening its grip on Staten Island.

And when looked at another way, there were 14 daily COVID-19 deaths on Staten Island, on average, April 26 to April 28. During the 10 previous days, 25 people died from the disease on average, every day -- showing that borough deaths could be down more than 50%.

Despite the hopeful signs, the downward progression of the deaths curve has been slow and arduous, ticking down from 16 to 11 between April 26 and April 27 before climbing back up to 16 on Tuesday.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

Hospitalizations across Staten Islands two medical systems appear to be on the downward side of the curve  currently standing at 336 total confirmed coronavirus hospitalizations, compared to the peak of 554 on April 8.

Seen over the past month, hospitalizations have been steadily falling, with hospitalizations dropping by 102 patients between April 8 and April 15, and then dropping by 63 from April 15 to April 22.

Since then, hospitalizations hit their lowest point since the peak of the outbreak when 334 patients were being treated on April 26. Hospitalization levels had not seen those levels since before March 31.

In recent days, hospitalizations saw a slight uptick between April 26 and April 27, before turning back down on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, more than 100 patients remained in critical care across both Staten Island University Hospital campuses. An additional 50 were in the ICU at Richmond University Medical Center.

Irene Spezzamonte contributed to this report.
Until March, Gatwick was the busiest single-runway airport in the world. Today, the Sussex hub, code LGW, is open for just eight hours a day  and it may be about to lose its second-biggest airline.

British Airways says it may never reopen its base at Gatwick airport.

In a letter to the Unite union seen by The Independent, BAs managing director Gatwick, Adam Carson, wrote: There is a possibility that we will look to close our full LGW operation.

He told the union: There is little prospect of early recovery even after the immediate health crisis subsides.

We are now at a critical juncture and must table proposals for structural change so that our business is in a credible position to respond to what will be a challenging and uncertain trading environment for a sustained period of time.

British Airways temporarily closed its Gatwick operation at the end of March as the coronavirus pandemic triggered a shutdown of aviation.

BA still has almost 1,900 cabin crew, including 352 customer service managers, who are furloughed under the governments job retention scheme.

British Airways has a majority of slots at Heathrow, its main base, and intends to consolidate most or all of its operation there. If the airline decides not to resume operations at Gatwick, a few staff may find work at Heathrow.

Even if BA decides to retain a smaller presence at the Sussex airport  which it has served for 46 years  most employees will be made redundant.

As a minimum, British Airways intends to cut four out of five of senior cabin crew from the workforce. Junior posts would be reduced by 57 per cent. Ground staff, numbering more than 300, would be transferred to Gatwick Ground Services, a separate company.

BAs letter to the union said: These proposals are at a very early stage. But the airline expects to make redundancies between mid-June and the end of 2020.

Staff who lose their jobs can expect only a bare minimum of compensation.

The airline said: The cost of delivering any enhanced voluntary redundancy programme will now be prohibitively expensive.

British Airways announced airline-wide job cuts affecting 12,000 of the 42,000 staff on Wednesday, in a process called Preparing for a Different Future.

The letter claimed that subsidies to rivals were a factor, saying: Many of British Airways competitors in Europe and globally are receiving state aid in various forms.

The resulting competitive environment will create a distorted market where some of those competitors will have the option to provide overcapacity and lower fares.

We consider that these changes would allow us to have a competitive and sustainable employee cost base, which would meet demand.

The airline has been a significant presence at Gatwick ever since British Airways was created in 1974. BA expanded substantially when it took over British Caledonian in 1987, and added additional capacity by buying Dan Air for a token 1 in 1992.

British Airways currently serves a wide range of European and long-haul destinations, with a leisure focus  as opposed to the business profile at Heathrow. Key destinations include many Mediterranean cities, Florida and the Caribbean.

Passengers with bookings on British Airways from Gatwick can only wait to be told if their flights will go ahead. If they are cancelled, BA is obliged to provide alternative services  possibly from Heathrow, or on other airlines such as easyJet or Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick.

Whether or not BA retains some sort of presence at the Sussex airport, a large number of previously precious slots will be freed up.

One possibility is that Vueling, sister airline to British Airways in the IAG conglomerate, will move in at scale and use a significant number of the landing and take-off permits at Gatwick.

The biggest carrier at Gatwick, easyJet, may wish to expand to fill the vacuum. But another player such as Jet2 of Leeds could establish a base at the Sussex airport.
One of Jefferson Countys drainage districts this week moved forward on two projects expected to cost more than $50 million and bring relief to an area identified because of the hit it took from Tropical Depression Imelda and another without any regional detention ponds.

The Drainage District 6 board voted unanimously to approve this weeks purchase of two pieces of land totaling nearly 660 acres  one in the Blossom area of south Beaumont and the other between Cheek and Fannett.

While the district bought the land this week, General Manager Joe Majdalani said keeping the community appraised of the projects progress is key in the next steps.

Were not going to move forward without talking to the community, he said.

He added that the district likely will do this by going to community and homeowner association meetings for the affected regions to brief them on the projects and answer questions.

>> Related: New drainage GM pledges more transparency

The smaller of the two projects was identified after Imelda and a massive drainage study the district undertook after the historic flood event.

The detention basin, with an estimated 30 acre-feet capacity, will be constructed on a 4-acre parcel of land on the south side of Washington Boulevard between Blossom and Municipal drives.

This detention project is part of Drainage District No. 6s overall masterplan for the south end of Beaumont, which includes detention basins and the diversion of floodwaters to the Neches River, according to a district memo.

More specifically, the project is expected to benefit the Fleetwood Addition and provide an additional outlet for storm runoff from Parrish and Proctor streets.

This area suffered some flooding and (the residents) came to the district asking for help, Majdalani said.

The project is expected to cost the district about $600,000. The district will do the excavation work itself.

Construction on this project could begin as soon as this year, but Majdalani said a definite timeline depends on the drainage districts overall workload.

>> Related: Jefferson County funds five drainage projects

When construction could begin on the second project is even less clear.

The $50 million undertaking on a 653-acre tract on the southeast corner of Texas 124 and Gaulding Road would be the first major regional detention pond in the area.

Its pretty expensive and its going to take some time to plan, Majdalani said. After the purchase (this week), well probably do the environmental survey. Whenever a grant becomes available, we can apply. Its a big project so its going to be some time before we start construction.

Majdalani said an environmental study of this size could take between six months and two years, so the district is working to get it out of the way while waiting for the project to be entirely funded.

When complete, the detention basin is expected to take runoff from watersheds up to 20,000 acres upstream from the facility. It will directly impact Kidd Gully, which serves the Goodyear plant and the Cheek area; and Bayou Dinn, which serves east Fannett and the Green Acres Addition.

Because it will slow runoff, Majdalani said the project also would benefit areas downstream. This includes Winzer Road, Bayou Din Drive, Dairy Ridge, Ridge Crest and the Estates of Fannett.

Kaitlin Bain is the Government Reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact her at Kaitlin.Bain@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here.

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G reta Thunberg has donated $100,000 in prize money to the United Nations children's fund to help its coronavirus support campaign.

The teenage environmental activist described the coronavirus pandemic as "a child-rights crisis" and compared its seriousness to climate change.

The money was originally given to Ms Thunberg by Danish charity Human Act as a prize for her work.

Ms Thunberg gave the money to UNICEF, while Human Act gave the children's fund $100,000 more.

Greta Thunberg speaking to the European Parliament / AFP via Getty Images

UNICEF will use the money to buy soap, masks, gloves and other protective equipment to support the work of global healthcare systems fighting Covid-19, it said in a statement.

Children are at risk of being the biggest indirects victims of Covid-19, even though they seem to be less affected than other age groups by the symptoms themselves, a UN report has found.

Children's education is affected by school closures, while more child deaths in countries with struggling healthcare systems are expected.

Children are also more at risk from domestic violence and other abuse while kept at home, the UN reported.

And up to 66 million children across the world could fall into poverty as households incomes fall from lost jobs in lockdown.

Health officials in Jumla District collecting throat swabs from people in quarantine and those in contact with them as part of a mass contact tracing effort by the government, with monitoring and technical support from UNICEF and other partners / UNICEF

Ms Thunberg added in a video statement: "It is always the poorest and most vulnerable people who will suffer the most from a crisis whether it is the climate crisis or the corona crisis and even though children may not seem to be the primary target group for the corona crisis, childrens lives are still at risk...

"We must now all act together to protect the children and end the devastating consequences of the coronavirus. Children are the future and they must be protected.

UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore praised Ms Thunberg and added: The coronavirus pandemic is the greatest struggle the world has seen in generations.

Children and young people are among the most severely impacted by the knock-on effects of Covid-19, so it is only natural that they would want to do something about it.

Ms Thunberg first came to prominence because of her school strikes to raise awareness of climate change.

Since then she has become a global leader on the subject and has spoken to the UN, European Parliament and UK Parliament.
In Zakarpattia region, travel experts believe that as soon as the coronavirus quarantine is over, the flow of tourists will recover gradually and increase no earlier than November 2020.

"We expect the main flow of tourists no earlier than November, starting with wine festivals such as Beaujolais, Chervene Vyno. We will start from scratch only in February 2021. Not earlier," President of the Regional Tourism Organization of Zakarpattia region Fedir Shandor said.

According to him, before the introduction of quarantine, 2-3 thousand tourists visited the city of Uzhhorod every day. In the peak season - New Year's and Christmas holidays and the sakura blossom season - up to 50 thousand people daily arrived in the city by various means of transport.

At present, some tours have been rescheduled for the summer. Sakura blossom tours were completely canceled. Due to the quarantine, all entrepreneurs who provided services to tourists were left without profit.

As Ukrinform reported, on March 12, 2020, the quarantine was introduced in Ukraine to fight the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.

On April 22, the Ukrainian government ordered the extension of quarantine measures in the country until May 11.

ish
Gov. Tom Wolf was left on the cutting room floor in President Donald Trumps latest re-election advertisement, which features clips from several other Democratic governors praising the President and his administrations response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The new ad comes as Trump and his allies continue to push back against criticism of his leadership ahead of and during the pandemic. RealClearPolitics average of polls taken since April 3 on the presidents handling of the pandemic show an average response rate of 50.9 percent disapproving, with 46.1 percent approving.

The campaign says the advertisement is running in 17 states, including Pennsylvania, on Facebook and YouTube.

It splices together clips in which the following governors - Andrew Cuomo of New York, Gavin Newsom of California, Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico - each had something positive to say about some aspect of the White Houses handling of some part of the crisis.

In the fight against the coronavirus, the Trump administration is not just taking a whole of government approach, but a whole of America approach, said Sarah Matthews, Trump campaign deputy press secretary, in a statement announcing the new ads release. Even Democratic governors recognize President Trumps tireless work to combat the coronavirus and his commitment to protecting all Americans.

In reality, Democratic governors relationships with the Trump White House through the course of the pandemic has been much more of a roller-coaster ride, with Trump himself or the federal government. Most, including Wolf, have walked a fine line between pushing the federal government for necessary resources and aid while trying to avoid noisy public spats with the mercurial Trump.

Wolf, of course, has a reputation for generally avoiding noisy, public confrontations with anyone.

Thats as it should be, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell told Politico in a recent interview: "Right now your responsibility, as a smart public servant, is to do whats best to protect the people of your state. Trump is clearly a guy who if you compliment him, he compliments you and gives you what you want. If you spar with him and attack him, youre putting yourself in not as good a position.

So, sharp-eyed political consultants can certainly find the moments of cross-party peace and harmony for campaign purposes.

But one former Wolf aide said if he was facing an election this year hed rather have the governors polling numbers for handling of the crisis - which a Fox News poll of state residents recently found 69 percent approval for versus 25 percent disapproval - than Trumps, at 44 percent approval and 51 percent disapproval in the same poll.

Theres no better contrast to this White House than how Governor Wolf and his team have risen to confront this unprecedented crisis with bold action, decisions based on science and expert advice, and compassionate concern for everyone, no matter their politics. The people have responded... by supporting his public health protections, despite demanding huge sacrifices for the common good, said J.J. Abbott, Wolfs former press secretary.

The president told voters he didnt take responsibility for the crisis, and theres no indication hes getting any credit for what other leaders did.

Pennsylvania, and its 20 electoral college votes are considered one of the biggest, swing-state prizes in Trumps upcoming race for a second term. The states voters delivered Trump a narrow victory over Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016, the first time a Republican had won a presidential vote here since George H.W. Bushs landslide win over Michael Dukakis in 1988.
NASA's first Mars helicopter has a name now and the credit goes to 17-year-old Indian-origin girl Vaneeza Rupani.

Rupani, a high school junior from Northport, Alabama, earned the honour of naming the helicopter after she submitted her essay into NASA's "Name the Rover" contest.

Destined to become the first aircraft to attempt powered flight on another planet, NASA's Mars Helicopter officially named: Ingenuity, as suggested by Rupani.

While NASA announced in March that its next rover would be named Perseverance based on seventh-grader Alexander Mather's essay, the agency decided to also choose a name for the helicopter that will accompany the rover to Mars.

"Our Mars helicopter has a new name! Meet: Ingenuity. Student Vaneeza Rupani came up with the name during our name the rover contest. Ingenuity will ride to the Red Planet with @NASAPersevere to attempt the first powered flight on another world," NASA tweeted.
Mumbai, April 30 : Maharashtra leaders were stunned at the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor on Thursday, coming just a day after another stalwart Irrfan Khan passed away, the news left them in shock.

Leading the state in paying glowing tributes, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said Rishi Kapoor was born in the afirst family' of Bollywood which made vast contributions to Indian film industry for a long period.

"His greatness lies in the fact that he made his distinct mark amidst a galaxy of stalwarts and superstars during the golden era of film industry. The numerous roles crafted by his with his superb acting skills will be remembered for many years. His demise, coming soon after the passing of Irrfan Khan, has come as a major jolt to the film industry," Governor Koshyari said.

"Rishi Kapoor was a pure actor without parallels, humane with an independent style, who contributed greatly to the Indian film industry. He strode over the industry for two generations and his demise is a big blow to the film fraternity," Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in a condolence message.

Referring to the contributions of the Kapoor clan, Thackeray said that starting with the acting legend Prithviraj Kapoor to The Great Showman Raj Kapoor, their contributions to the Indian film world can never be forgotten.

"Rishi Kapoor effectively carried forward the family legacy and was a bridge between the two generations... He was an outspoken person but a fine actor, writer, director, producer who successfully amalgamated content with technological advancesa My heartfelt condolences to him,a Thackeray said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar described Rishi Kapoor as "an ever-smiling, ever-green and talented iconic star of Indian cinema" full of enthusiasm, who spread joy among film lovers.

"Rishi Kapoor ably carried ahead the legacy of the Kapoor Familya He was ailing since past few months, but he never let his anguish known to his fans and maintained his connections with the film industry and the people till the very end," Ajit Pawar said.

State Congress President and Cabinet Minister Balasaheb Thorat said he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of a most charming actor Rishi Kapoor".

"He showed great strength in fighting against cancer. He will be remembered for the iconic roles he played. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans," said Thorat.

"Saddened to hear about the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, the legend who ruled over the hearts of millions," said Cabinet Minister Ashok Chavan.

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar said: "Saddened to know about the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor. Indian film industry has lost a versatile and charismatic actor. My sincere condolences to the Kapoor family." NCP MP Supriya Sule described Rishi Kapoor as a "highly talented acclaimed actor and a very fine human being and friend".

"Saddened to hear about the untimely demise of dear Chintu. My deepest condolences to Neetu, Ranbir, Daboo, Rima, Chimpu and the rest of the Kapoor family," Sule said.

Nationalist Congress Party's National Spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik said he was "extremely sad to hear of the veteran actor Rishi Kapoor" and offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones.

"OMG no, this news is so depressing. This year is getting nightmarish with every passing day," a life-long fan and admirer, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, thanking Rishi Kapoor for all his movies.

Bharatiya Janata Party Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis termed Rishi Kapoor's demise as "sad news again from Bollywood".

"I am at a loss of words... This is a huge loss to Indian cinema. The multi-talented actor, producer, director Rishi Kapoor left us. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and millions of fans, and a tribute to his great journey," said Fadnavis.

Former MP and ex-Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam said "yesterday it was Irrfan Khan, today it is Rishi Kapoor, who had just vanquished cancer and returned".

"We have grown up watching his moviesa and he filled his innumerable fans with happiness through his film from 'Bobby' to 'Mulk'. His demise comes as a huge shock," said Nirupam.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
London: Boris Johnson says the UK has passed the peak of its coronavirus outbreak and has promised to set out a "road map" for exiting the lockdown, which would include Britons wearing face coverings.

The Prime Minister was noticeably short of breath during his news conference - his first since recovering from COVID-19, which he battled in intensive care in hospital.

Boris Johnson holds his first news conference since returning to work after recovering from COVID-19. Credit:Andrew Parsons

"I want to thank everybody who has been doing such a good job in my absence, and I want to thank the NHS for so much  including getting me back here and, I might add, a very much happier hospital visit yesterday," he said.

Johnson's fiancee, Carrie Symonds, 32, gave birth to their first child  a son  on Wednesday. The 55-year-old leader is due to marry her later this year.
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Fitch Ratings on Thursday downgraded the viability ratings (VR) of State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank and Axis Bank to 'bb' from 'bb+' on account of deteriorating operating environment for banks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global rating agency also downgraded Bank of Baroda's (BOB) VR by one notch to 'bb-', from 'bb'.

The agency affirmed the long-term issuer default ratings (IDR) of SBI and BOB at 'BBB-' and those of ICICI Bank and Axis Bank at 'BB+'.

The outlook for all the four banks has been kept as stable.

"The rating actions are driven by rapid deterioration in the operating environment for banks in the country following the coronavirus pandemic and measures to contain its spread," the agency said.

For SBI and BOB, the VR downgrades reflect the heightened risks that weakening asset quality will pose to their less-than-satisfactory loss-absorption buffers.

"We expect SBI's and BOB's financial performances to worsen, although their asset-quality problems may not materialise until the effects of the 90-day regulatory moratorium on impaired loans recognition wear off," it said.

The VR downgrades of ICICI Bank and Axis Bank highlight heightened risks to their asset qualities and earnings from the disruption in business and consumer activity, which the rating agency expects to continue well beyond the lockdown in the country.

Besides these banks, the rating agency also affirmed IDRs of Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of India (BOI) and Canara Bank at 'BBB-', with stable outlooks.

The viability rating of PNB has been affirmed at 'b' and that of Canara Bank at 'bb-'.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the Budapest based low-cost carrier resumes some flight services, it is launching new health protection and sanitary measures from May 1, the airline announced on Wednesday.

Wearing masks will be required for both passengers and cabin crew for the duration of all flights.



The airline is asking travellers to check in online, to use self-service baggage check-in and to pay with bankcards on board. Magazines have also been removed from the planes.



Social distancing rules must be observed when boarding and leaving the airplanes, Wizz Air noted.



Note: Only Hungarian citizens and permanent residents in Hungary will be allowed back in the country.
Thursday, April 30, 2020

Overall

The president continues to his own version of "The World of by and for Trump" as his 16,000 lies create the fiction of the "greatest president ever". His first lie was to swear to uphold the constitution, as he pretends to be a king, like the other authoritarian rulers who are his best buddies in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Philippines, and North Korea. He and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pursue every chance to stack the courts with right wing activist judges and reward the rich and powerful at the expense of other 99%. After spending trillions bailing out every imaginable group, Moscow Mitch now wants to bankrupt the states just to rob public employees of their pensions, often taken right out of employee paychecks earned over the decades of an underpaid public career in health care, policing, firefighting, and teaching.

Trump's World

The president promised we would be so tired of winning that we would beg him to stop. We are so tired of losing we wish he would quit and just take over for the dying Rush Limbaugh. He thinks of the government as his and his alone to abuse and corrupt as he directs the military to stay in Trump hotels and blockades Qatar until they give his son-in-law Jared a mortgage on the alligator 666 Fifth Avenue. He lifts legal restrictions on a key Russian oligarch that helped him steal the 2016 election and lifts restrictions on the Chinese so that they will invest in his Indonesia operations. Dozens of his staff campaign and cabinet appointees have gone to jail in perhaps the most corrupt administration ever. Loyalty is Trump's main value as competence goes by the wayside. Temporary appointments give Trump the loyalty and lawlessness he wants bypassing congressional confirmation.

Bullying

The president is a great con artist as he perfects the art of kiss up and kick down, intimidating rivals, the press, and the congress with threats to oppose everyone who does not follow his foolish ways and praise him without question. He keeps the congress in line with his threat to support Trump supporters against all incumbents who waiver even slightly in their support of him, leaving Romney out of a Senate Republican phone call for daring to vote for impeachment. Bill Maher who gave Obama one million dollars for his re-election would gladly give one million to have Romney instead of Trump as president.

COVID 19

Trump was so determined to prioritize the economy over everything else that he put off for two crucial months action against the Coronavirus putting America in last place fighting the virus compared to other hot spot countries like China, Italy, and Spain. His refusal to let people off an infected cruise ship shows his fetish with keeping the numbers down on disease cases. He kept refusing to get testing started seriously for the same corrupt reason, trying to keep his case numbers down rather than fighting the disease by testing tracing and quarantining. Image over substance as he gaslights his way through every strategic mistake he makes, constantly trying to downplay the virus. He says the states should take the lead in the fight, then has FEMA confiscate shipments of personal protective equipment going to the states, especially if they are blue states which are constantly shortchanged while red states are oversupplied. He is constantly seeking to reward states that voted for him and punish states that voted against him regardless of the law and judicial fairness. He wants the states to bid against FEMA driving up prices so the private sector can make a killing at the expense of government, a clear case of corporate socialism. Then he invokes the Defense Production Act (he should have been using all along months ago) to absolve pork processing plants of any liability for forcing employees to almost certainly catch the disease, valuing corporate profits over human life. Thousands have died thanks to his corrupt inaction, and many health care workers have died due to his refusal to use the Defense Production Act to marshal enough personal protective gear and swabs for testing.

Militarism and Corruption

The conservative movement that has been coopted by militarism has continued to follow the unconditional surrender terms of World War II, resorting to an extremism that continues to trample traditional conservative values like local control, freedom, and small business. Increasingly becoming the party of big military and big business, they value power and control and unitary executive power over congressional power. Relying on voter suppression they have adopted Southern values over Northern values. In Wisconsin they forced voters to risk catching coronavirus to vote, hoping liberals would fear the disease more than Trump followers, giving the election to conservatives. Both the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court blocked local courts and the governor from postponing the election like most states did, valuing power over health. In the tradition of Bush v Gore, Citizens United, and Shelby County they have seized power, suppressed voting, and opened unlimited campaign spending by billionaires, valuing money over people. Once apposed to a so-called activist Warren Supreme Court, they have become an activist conservative court with very little thought to precedent and justice. Increasingly, one side has no hope of honest justice, just political hackmen. Mitch McConnell blocked everything he could from the black president and Trump has reversed every Obama decision regardless of merit. Abraham Lincoln would not recognize his political party today.

Summary

Vladimir Putin has gotten exactly the chaos he has long sought in American politics, as strong leaders have increasingly bypassed congressional committees and congressional oversight. In many ways Trump has not so much changed the Republican Party as revealed it for the racism, xenophobia, and authoritarianism of the regular Fox News viewer. Whether you call it militarism empire or fascism, it operates much the same. With the extreme inequality and lack of social mobility, America has finally become more of a class-based society than Europe. With 40% of Americans unable to afford an unexpected $400 bill, the fragility of American society will be increasingly on display in the coming months. Empire at the breaking point.

How Did We Get This Way:



https://bobreuschlein.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/how-did-usa-get-this-way/



Please cite this work as follows: Reuschlein, Robert. (2020, April 30), "Killing Democracy by Trump" Madison, WI, Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Killing-Democracy-By-Trump,2020230710.aspx

Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute, Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2016-2020 with accelerating interest from Norway. Intense interest in an unusually consistent pattern shows up on my website as following my work, hard looks per year went from 2 to 3 to 48 to 128 to 200.

Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com Info: www.realeconomy.com
New Delhi, April 30 : Nearly 20 leaders from think tanks, research groups, renewable energy companies, sustainable development organisations and industry associations on Thursday said India's weak healthcare infrastructure in rural areas are being exposed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter to the government of India, they called for action, making the case for solarising all unelectrified sub-centres in rural India.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has highlighted several existing systemic gaps in services, especially to the rural poor.

Inadequate healthcare infrastructure is one of them. Over 39,000 sub-centres, the first point of contact between primary healthcare system and the community, serving 230 million people in rural India lack electricity.

This severely impacts their capacity to offer optimal healthcare to patients.

Decentralised renewable energy (DRE) can play a significant role in solving this problem quickly and affordably, for less than Rs 30 per person in initial capital expenditure.

The letter outlines four key interventions that the government can undertake in order to help alleviate the situation. They are: First, expanding the programme to solarise clinics, drawing from the example of Chhattisgarh which has successfully done this.

Second, allocating dedicated funding towards this initiative, which would amount to just 0.6 per cent of the current 2020-21 energy and healthcare budget.

Third, ensuring long-term operations and sustainability by working through existing structures.

And fourth, promoting innovation in order to develop more financially viable and energy-efficient medical equipment.

The letter is being sent to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Centre for Disease Control, the National Health Systems Resource Centre, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Ministry of Power, and Niti Aayog.

"Sustainable health infrastructure that leverages innovative, decentralised and energy efficient solutions will bring huge dividends for health in rural India," Centre for Environmental Health Deputy Director Poornima Prabhakaran said.

"Transitioning to renewable energies across healthcare operations will ensure efficient service delivery and improved health outcomes."
To tide over the challenges posed by the Covid-19, the Union Human Resource Development Ministry has decided to open a separate division in the ministry on online education as the government prepares to get through the digital divide. In an interview to Sumit Pande, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank said government is trying use both digital and non-digital mechanism to transact the curriculum even as he appealed to companies and recruiters not to withdraw any job offers already extended to the students.

Covid-19 has disrupted the academic session like never before. How is the government using Information and Technology to communicate with students?

The Honorable Prime Minister in his LinkedIn article has categorically said, After all, the most transformational impact of technology often happens in the lives of the poor. It is technology that demolishes bureaucratic hierarchies, eliminates middlemen and accelerates welfare measures.

The Government of India has also undertaken efforts such as the DIKSHA Portal, to help teachers and boost e-learning. There is SWAYAM, aimed at improving access, equity and quality of education. E-Pathshala, which is available in many languages, enables access to various e-books and such learning material.

To support the teachers and accelerate the process of learning, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has been encouraging the use of DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure Knowledge Sharing) platform. This platform has engaging content for the students, teachers, and parents to facilitate the process of learning at the times of social distancing and nationwide lockdown.

Simultaneously, teachers training is being conducted through for the up skilling of teachers towards the usage of e-learning resource under the Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT)

The country is witnessing a greater acceptance of online education as a large number of students and working professionals are joining e-learning platforms to enhance their skills. The learning platforms includes DIKSHA, NISHTHA, NREOR, SWAYAM, SWAYAM Prabha, NROER,  PG Pathshala, Shodhganga, E-Shodhsindhu, E-Yantra, FOSSE, Virtual Labs, SAMARTH, VIDWAN, Shodh Sudhi among others.

Definitely, MHRD is presently and will be putting in more efforts to strengthen the future of e  learning in India to make it more immersive and hopefully more constructive to the teacher and student community than it is today. The higher education institutes will be made for strategic competitive to foster constant innovation and become more resilient.

Those who do not have access to digital affordances may stand to loose out as they will not have access to online classes. How is your ministry trying to reconcile to the problem?

The Honorable Prime Minister of India has desired that we should evaluate what might be the new opportunities/growth areas that would emerge because of Covid-19. Keeping this view in mind, I have personally chaired four meetings on online education till now. Meetings were held with Directors of IITs, Vice Chancellors of Central Universities and National Coordinators of Swayam and Swayam Prabha. I have taken four meetings till now on improving online education. One of the crucial outcomes of the meetings is that for the first time we are creating a dedicated division for online learning in MHRD, which is going to be headed by an Additional Secretary. Officers will be called on deputation to work in this division who will work exclusively on online education.

To address the digital divide, MHRD has tied up with Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to air SWAYAM PRABHA channels on the DTH platforms.

Now a student anywhere in India can request, DTH 'Service Provider' for these channels without any extra cost as these are free to air channels to continue their education and learning even sitting at home in this difficult situation arisen due to unfortunate outbreak of Covid-19.

We are also trying to explore the option of All India Radio, Doordarshan and 2G network to transmit the curriculum to students.

Further, NCERT has released Alternative Academic Calendar for primary and upper classes. Calendar for class IX-XII will be released in the upcoming days. The calendar contains a week-wise plan consisting of interesting and challenging activities, with reference to theme/chapter taken from syllabus or textbook. It adopts both digital and non-digital mechanism to transact the curriculum. It guides teachers to further guide parents and students through SMS on mobile phones or through voice call.

An important component of the mid-day meal is to provide nutrition to the children especially at a time when many being rendered jobless, and migrants returning home. Are the schools serving food to the children during lockdown, if not, can the MDM be started to feed at least the poor and the destitute?

Ministry of Human Resource Development has issued a directive wherein it is stated that since the country is passing through the difficult times of novel coronavirus outbreak, the state governments and Union territories are advised to provide hot cooked Mid-Day meal or food security allowance, whichever is feasible, to all eligible children till such time their schools are closed due to the deadly virus. The modalities for this purpose may be decided by the respective States and UTs, suitable to the prevailing circumstances'. All the precautionary measures to face the situation arising out of Novel Covid-I9 (Corona) virus, as advised by the Central and State Governments shall be followed. The regular Mid-Day Meal shall resume as soon as the schools re-open.

The implementation of the directive is also being monitored by the Ministry.

The lockdown and recession may impact the job market especially those who join the workforce after completing education both professional and otherwise. How do you think this can be tackled?

I have appealed to all private companies, both domestic and international, who have extended offers to the students during campus placement drives held earlier in the year. The government is working on limiting the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the economy and also to ensure that the effect doesnt last for a long time. Therefore, I make humble request to all the recruiters and organizations to align their strategy accordingly and not withdraw any job offers made to the students. The students recruited are among the best talent of the country and thereby cannot be despaired.

I have also held a meeting with directors of all 23 IITs directing them to ensure that campus placements are not affected due to the situation. All IITs' Placement Committee (AIPC) have also reached out to different recruiters, requesting them not to rescind placement offers made for the academic year 2019-20. Also, a task force is set up in MHRD to look into the placement and internship issues.

What are the main recommendations of the committee that government has set up for holding exams which may be delayed due to Covid. And how is government planning to implement it.

The taskforce on examination and academic calendar in higher education has submitted the reports to UGC. The reports will be discussed in the UGC Commission meeting. Based on the decision of the commission, UGC will issue guidelines/ advisories in the upcoming days, to the universities and colleges. Given the range of outbreak of pandemic in different regions/states, we cannot follow onesize fits all approach, everything will depend on the local Covid-19 situation.

The detailed guidelines will be issued in the next few days regarding the measures to be taken for the current academic session as well as next academic session in the larger interest of the student community.

What are the major lessons India can learn from the global pandemic, especially in the field of education? The recommendations new education policy has been pending with the government for almost a year now.

More than 35 crore students and 1.08 crore teachers across 1,028 universities, 41,901 colleges and 10,726 stand-alone institutes and 15,50,006 schools, are unable to attend the classes due to nationwide closure of the education institutes as India prepares to fight against the pandemic. In this difficult times, we have to trust in educations power to transform; the zeal to learn cannot be bounded by the presence of four walls of the classroom.

At the same time, it has evoked the need for taking in necessary precautions to protect students and educational facilities from the potential spread of pandemic in education institute be it, Covid-19 or any other pandemic in future.

We realize the importance of formation of National Level (NEdTask) and State Level (SEdTask) Education Task Force(s) followed by District and institution level taskforces which will be trained and empowered to build a resilient environment of schools. The national level and state level task force(s) will initiate policies for the functioning of schools both at the time of pandemic and also immediately after the pandemic.

The taskforce will also take imperative decisions and guidelines regarding admission processes, conduction of examination, academic calendar, safety and security of physical infrastructure of schools and higher education. The Task Forces will work at all levels during lockdown and closure of schools and after reopening of schools, until the declaration of pandemic is withdrawn by WHO.

The transformation will reflect not only as a measure to combat Covid-19, but will also act as a strategic move for the planning of future education in India.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development is coherently working at a faster pace on the New Education Policy. We will submitting it to the Cabinet soon.
Ritchie Hwy., 4800 block, 12:30 a.m. April 21. Responding to a disturbance at a motel, officers located an injured male, a female, and two males hiding in the room, where the man and female live. After knocking on the door, the two males violently pushed it open, forced their way in and struck the man. They held him to the bed and threatened to stab him. They took the mans cash and wallet. Police located the two males hiding in the room. Two Baltimore men, 48 and 29, were arrested and charged with armed robbery, robbery, home invasion, first-, third- and fourth-degree burglary, second-degree assault, and theft.
How exactly is the lockdown helping to halt the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria? Or put another way, how is the Buhari regime which announced the lockdown in three locations, Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ensuring that the measure unleashed is at least achieving a reasonable percentage of the purpose for which it was declared?

Has there been any thorough audit of the exercise? Who is also undertaking such an assessment in the various states that are equally on lockdown? What is the level of compliance at the various places and what percentage of the anticipated gains has so far been achieved?

One may never get a coherent answer. That is the problem a people must learn to live with when they are stuck with a regime that appears to derive some kind of strange animation from maintaining an icy distance from the people it claims to be governing, a leadership that seems to have become incurably estranged from the people, their problems and feelings, and appears to be trapped in abject lack of the capacity to muster any empathy and fellow-feeling either when speaking to the populace or taking actions that are sure to harshly affect their lives.

What discerning Nigerians see out there are mere perfunctory and aimless exercises by a regime that appears to be mainly interested in demonstrating that it is also doing or has done something. Whether the measures undertaken eventually achieve the desired results or not do not seem to be among the things that bother it. What appears to matter only is that the governments megaphones are now armed with strong evidences of some actions undertaken by the regime and are using them to torment the ears of a terribly famished and frustrated populace by broadcasting them on rooftops and equally deploying them to great effects to launch ferocious attacks on those who try to call attention to the howling inadequacies and failures of the authorities.

Despite locking down Lagos, Ogun, the FCT and some other states for some weeks now, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is still rising. Due to the lockdown, the people cannot go out to work to earn a living in one of the harshest economies in the world, but is that all that is required to be done to combat the virus? What sincere efforts are being deployed to cushion the effects of the stay-at-home order so that people who are prevented from working to earn a living are not allowed to die of hunger? Has the government tried to identify with the peoples suffering in order to attract sufficient sympathy and cooperation from them for its strategy for halting the spread of the virus? Is the movement-restriction order, which most of the populace may just be seeing as punitive, helping to achieve the required social distancing which has been proved to be the most effective measure for the containment of coronavirus?

As I move about, I see groups of people in large numbers, gathered here and there, sitting or standing very close to each other, holding lively discussions  often almost speaking into each others face. From the few words you could pick from their discussions, you would see immediately that government and what is widely perceived as its uncaring nature is usually the topic of discourse. Obviously, these people are tired, hungry and angry. These gatherings, therefore, have become some kind of tranquilizer, a way of relieving tensions and removing attention from the biting problems associated with the action of a government they believe merely emerged from its seclusion, imposed a lockdown on them, and returned to its hideout without caring about the searing effects of the policy.

But, these gatherings, sadly, only serve to sabotage the very purpose of the restriction of movements and stay-at-home order. How many of the people attend these gatherings uninfected, but go home eventually carrying the virus? So, what then are we achieving? Is it just to keep the people starving at home so that the rest of the world can see that the Nigerian government is also doing something to contain the spread of the virus, even though all the efforts being clumsily and aimlessly undertaken appear like pouring water in a basket?

I have been saying it for some years now that Nigeria presents the best picture of how a country could look like and exist in the absence of any form of government. The average Nigerian has learnt to exist without expecting anything good, edifying or exciting happening to remind him about the existence of the government. Nigerians have learnt to endure the bad roads and dilapidated public infrastructures like hospitals and schools. In most cases, they help themselves by making the roads that lead to their homes, providing potable water for themselves and generating their own electric power  by spending so much on petrol daily and polluting the atmosphere with ear-splitting noise and thick, harmful smokes. Even security which should be the most basic obligation any government owes its people since it controls the instruments of force and violence is almost non-existent. People are left at the mercy of criminals and bandits. So, in order to safeguard their lives, Nigerians spend so much to arrange for their own security.

Many Nigerians, therefore, have grown to see government as some irrelevant, indifferent or even a perennially absent entity. Government only compels them to remember that it exists when it constitutes a nuisance to their lives like coming to extract taxes from them without giving anything beneficial in return or demolishing structures and displacing many people who have managed to find shelters for themselves in the absence of any viable housing policies for the masses, or even like the imposition of a movement-restriction order on the people and callously abandoning them to their fate as is currently being experienced in the country.

The people feel that their leaders are too immersed in their business of primitive accumulations to have any time left to seek to make them happy or try to attract their friendship and sympathy. And so, even though the restrictions are inevitable, the people are not able to buy into it. And so, the objective is largely defeated.

Even the government that is preaching social distancing is seen everywhere often flagrantly observing it in the breach. For instance, shortly after the Bauchi State Governor, Mr. Bala Mohammed, was released from isolation following his recovery from Covid-19, pictures of an event he featured in were released and people were scandalized that they should convoke such a crowd where people interacted very closely and social distancing requirements were flouted with outrageous impunity.

All over the country, the people are witnessing top government functionaries brazenly failing to lead by example by obeying the very restrictions they had imposed to check the spread of the virus. As they do this, they deemphasize the importance and seriousness of those measures before the people. The worst example was egregiously advertised during the recent burial of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari. First, the corpse was flown from Lagos to Abuja, thereby endangering the lives of those who were obligated to convey and receive it. The burial was aired on television and the crowd was not, in my estimation, less than 200. This was a brazen violation of the extant crowd regulation policy of the government which stipulates that no gathering should exceed 20 people. Every requirement about social distancing was rudely flouted with utmost impunity. It was as if there was a deliberate effort to spread the coronavirus. Many Nigerians must have wondered at the kind of government we have that honours the dead at the expense of the safety of the living, and makes a law with one hand only to flout it with the other?

Has anybody seen where the often very miserable palliatives are shared to hungry Nigerians? Because the people are conscious of the fact that what is being distributed are not always enough for everyone to get some bit, the fight in the usually intimidating crowd can only fill any decent person with great disgust and dread. And the videos of these shameful displays are all over the social media embarrassing and further diminishing Nigeria before the rest of the world.

So, it is not possible to, for once, treat ordinary Nigerians like human beings, undertake the distribution of these food items a little more decently and avoid the sorry spectacle of people fiercely fighting, wounding themselves and falling over each other to get the items being thrown at them by officials as though they were animals?

How many healthy people come for those food items only to go home infected with coronavirus? So, why the lockdown if the sharing of palliatives only help to further spread the virus? Unless the government undertakes a comprehensive audit of the gains of the lockdown, adopts a more creative and humane approach to its implementation, people will only be kept at home dying of hunger while the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 keeps increasing. Instead of assessing the gains of the four weeks people have already endured and design a better way of achieving the desired results, what we are hearing is that the president and governors have resolved to impose another two weeks of restrictions!

I will keep hoping that there is nothing in the corridors of power that makes those there incapable of realizing when they have become confused, overwhelmed and totally bereft of any workable ideas!

So far, the government has got so much money from donations from Nigeria and abroad. It is not enough to just sit somewhere in Abuja and announce the billions you claim to have shared out to people. Please, come down from your high horse, face reality and do the right thing. You are merely preparing a time bomb by keeping people at home and refusing to financially empower them so they can feed themselves and their families. If other countries, even in Africa, can successfully do it, Nigeria can. Let the cash disbursements go round. Let the food items reach everyone that is in need of them.

If leaders hope to succeed, they must strive to connect with the people and see them as human beings who have genuine needs and feelings, and not as mere statistics. Please, this is the 21st Century! This also is not an election season, so let all the propaganda end. They neither change the price of fish in the market nor fill the stomach of the starving. They are simply exasperating and nauseating. The Buhari regime should endeavour to puncture by practical actions the growing impression that it is helplessly overwhelmed. That is, if it is not!

*Ugocukwu Ejinkeonye is a Columnist and Member, Editorial Board, Daily Independent newspapers. His column appears every Monday on the back page of the paper. ( [email protected] ; @ugowrite.)
Dr. Zhou believes that the spread of COVID-19 further proves that we live a community of shared future for mankind with common benefits and risks. In order to achieve the goal of maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks, international cooperation and mutual support are required in both prevention and control of the pandemic and the protection of the global industrial chain.

China's experience has raised alerts from two aspects for the world

Zhou said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, the efforts and spirit of the Chinese people, such as the spirit of self-sacrifice, perspective of overall situation and coordinated actions, have shown the strength of the Chinese people with solidarity, and won a great amount of time for the world to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

At the same time, Dr. Zhou noted, China has raised alerts from two aspects for the world from the statistical results.

First, during the battle against COVID-19, China obtained the first-hand pathological data, which made the world well-informed about the fact that COVID-19 was spreading around the world extremely quickly; Second, China had to take the strictest measures to prevent and control the situation through city lockdown, which has alarmed the world by these bold measures.

China has won the world time to combat COVID-19 with first-hand experience

Viruses know no national borders, and many countries had experienced infectious disasters in the past. Dr. Zhou also emphasized that China has made contribution to the world.

The first one is to gain time for the world to prepare for dealing with COVID-19. Zhou Weisheng's lab is carrying out research on the policy initiatives of various countries since the beginning of the epidemic. His research team aims to sum up experience and lessons through quantitative analysis for better prevention in the future.

Zhou made a detailed introduction on the results of his research that there are two Modes of outbreak. Mode A (Area A) is the Cruise Ship Mode (such as Diamond Princess cruise ship, which refers to the rapid outbreak of infection in areas with high population density). And Mode B (Area B) is the Urban Mode (Wuhan in China, Italy, etc.). From the statistical analysis, in Mode A, the incubation period from the detection of the first infected case to the outbreak of infection is about 7 days. When it comes to Mode B, the incubation period from the detection of the first infected case to the outbreak of infection is about 30 days. That is to say, it is extremely important to take decisive measures within one month after the discovery of the first infected case.

According to the World Health Organization's timeline against COVID-19, on December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in China reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A novel coronavirus was eventually identified. And on January 23, 2020, China took a series of decisive prevention and control measures, which marked by Wuhan lockdown. In the face of this previously unknown pandemic, China has tried its best to fight against COVID-19 without any delay.

Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that China reported information to the World Health Organization regarding the outbreak (January 3). In the same day, China began to inform the United States about the pneumonia of unknown cause. Starting from January 3, China has been regularly informing the WHO, relevant countries and regions about the pneumonia of unknown cause. On January 12, China shared the genome sequences of the novel coronavirus with WHO and other countries in a timely manner, Wu also said.

In response to COVID-19, China has promptly released relevant information, shared experience and promoted international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner.

Sino-US cooperation is the 'best option' for all

In that urgent scenario, China had no previous experience to draw on and had to take prevention and control measures with careful trials. However, some countries could take measures in their own way while referring to China's experience.

US now has most COVID-19 cases in the world, with more than one million confirmed cases.

"As the world's largest developed country, the United States should have guided and supported the world in the effective prevention and control on the basis of China's experience. Some countries have underestimated the importance of China's experience in preventing the spread of novel coronavirus," Dr. Zhou said.

He sincerely hopes that China and the United States could not only fight against COVID-19 for their own people, but also work together to lead the world, especially developing countries, out of difficulties and overcome the catastrophic challenge.

"Determining the origin and route of the infection of novel coronavirus requires scientific and objective research. The region where the infection information was firstly publicly disclosed is not necessarily the origin of the novel coronavirus. Because it is possible that other affected areas have not been announced or the patients in these areas have been treated for other diseases such as influenza. Searching the origin of novel coronavirus should be supported by solid scientific evidence and intensive research. Every country in the world shares the same responsibility," Dr. Zhou Weisheng emphasized in the end.

SOURCE Science and Technology Daily
GILLETTE  The Powder River Basins coal workforce shrunk by about 6% Thursday with the layoff of 300 workers from three mines.

Peabody Energy Corp. employees were informed Thursday that about 170 employees have been laid off from the North Antelope Rochelle mine near Wright in Campbell County.

Navajo Transitional Energy Co. also announced 130 layoffs, 73 from its Spring Creek Mine in southern Montana and 57 employees at the Antelope Mine in southern Campbell County.

The layoffs represent about 6% of the 4,834 people employed by Powder River Basin coal mines at the end of 2019, accordin...
After flight attendants and pilots criticized them for not doing more to protect employees, large airlines in the United States and around the world announced this week that they would require their crews and passengers to wear masks.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all said on Thursday that they would start requiring all passengers to wear a face covering in the coming weeks, a policy that will apply to their flight attendants and some other workers, too. The three join Lufthansa Group  which owns its namesake airline, Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines  as well as JetBlue and Frontier Airlines, all of which made similar announcements this week. Southwest Airlines has said a policy for flight attendants is coming.

As some states begin to relax or lift stay-at-home orders, lawmakers and unions representing flight attendants and pilots have stepped up calls for industrywide rules on masks to protect flight crews from passengers  and passengers from one another.

Airlines have been slow to require masks in part because theyve been hard to come by. Early in the pandemic, many companies promised to make masks available for employees who wanted them, but some pilots and flight attendants complained that they were not always available.
Rishi Kapoor died on Thursday after a two-year-long battle with leukaemia but remained true to his jovial nature, according to the statement by his family. After a year-long stay in New York, he returned as a changed man and remained positive about beginning his new innings. Despite him feeling homesick during treatment, Rishi never let go of the fun streak in him.

Here are five statements by Rishi Kapoor that prove he was an example of utmost positivity during his cancer battle:

1. Rishi had not disclosed his cancer diagnosis for long and had just called it wear and tear. He flew to New York for treatment with a note for his fans, Hello all! I am taking a short leave of absence from work to go to America for some medical treatment. I urge my well wishers not to worry or unnecessarily speculate. Its been 45 years plusof wear and tear at the movies. With your love and good wishes,I will be back soon!

Also read: Rishi Kapoor passes away: Crying badly, 2020 is the worst say fans as they mourn his loss

2. Though he felt upset at times for being stuck in New York during his treatment, he had decided to consider it an extended holiday where he couldnt get his favourite food. He told Mid-Day, I miss eating pomfret; its not available here. I also miss the soft homemade chapatis. You get all sorts of naan and rotis, but those soft chapatis made of chakki ka atta are something else!

Also read: Alia Bhatt visits Rishi Kapoors family at hospital, funeral today at Chandanwadi crematorium. Watch video

3. Looking at the silver lining in his year-long stay in New York, Rishi said that he has witnessed all four seasons of the city. Talking about his time in America, Rishi had told Times of India in an interview, I move around, eat, drink, shop and watch films. For me, this has taken great patience, else I would have left this place and come back to Mumbai a long time ago. The treatment requires you to behave a certain way.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor dead: His rare pics with son Ranbir Kapoor, wife Neetu Singh and family. See pics

4. Rishi always remained positive and was even declared cancer free an year ago. He had told Times of India, Filmon me humne background music daal, dool ke itna kharab kiya hai naam cancer ka (We have given a bad name to cancer with all the background music that we used in films)! Today it its treatable, people are dealing with all kinds of cancer just have to be positive.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor dies at 67: A powerhouse performer who could play romantic hero, dreaded villain

5. Rishi likened cancer to a regular ailment like kidney or heart problems. Talking about his cancer battle in a highly underrated manner, he told Times Now, people have issues with their kidney, they have problems with liver or heart, I had a marrow problem and I had to get it rectified. So there is nothing such as a serious issue. Just that between two treatments, there was a long gap and during that time, as she (Neetu) said, we just went out and around town.

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MECHANICSBURG, Pa., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical," "we," "us," or "our") (NYSE: SEM) today announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, net operating revenues increased 6.8% to $1,414.6 million, compared to $1,324.6 million for the same quarter, prior year. Income from operations increased 15.2% to $128.7 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $111.7 million for the same quarter, prior year. Net income increased 32.1% to $70.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $53.3 million for the same quarter, prior year. For both the first quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, net income included pre-tax gains on sales of businesses of $7.2 million and $6.5 million, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 10.1% to $187.3 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $170.1 million for the same quarter, prior year. Earnings per common share increased to $0.40 on a fully diluted basis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $0.30 for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted earnings per common share was $0.37 on a fully diluted basis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $0.27 for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted earnings per common share excludes the gains on sales of businesses and their related tax effects for both of the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. The definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA are presented in table VI of this release. A reconciliation of earnings per common share to adjusted earnings per common share is presented in table VII of this release.

Please refer to "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Select Medical's Results of Operations" for further discussion regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic on Select Medical's operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Company Overview

Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on number of facilities. Select Medical's reportable segments include the critical illness recovery hospital segment, the rehabilitation hospital segment, the outpatient rehabilitation segment, and the Concentra segment. As of March 31, 2020, Select Medical operated 101 critical illness recovery hospitals in 28 states, 29 rehabilitation hospitals in 12 states, and 1,753 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Select Medical's joint venture subsidiary Concentra operated 523 occupational health centers in 41 states. Concentra also provides contract services at employer worksites and Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinics. At March 31, 2020, Select Medical had operations in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com.

Critical Illness Recovery Hospital Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, net operating revenues for the critical illness recovery hospital segment increased 9.4% to $500.5 million, compared to $457.5 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the critical illness recovery hospital segment increased 21.3% to $88.6 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $73.0 million for the same quarter, prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the critical illness recovery hospital segment was 17.7% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to 16.0% for the same quarter, prior year. Certain critical illness recovery hospital key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Rehabilitation Hospital Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, net operating revenues for the rehabilitation hospital segment increased 17.8% to $182.0 million, compared to $154.6 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the rehabilitation hospital segment increased 49.5% to $38.6 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $25.8 million for the same quarter, prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the rehabilitation hospital segment was 21.2% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to 16.7% for the same quarter, prior year. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2019, the Adjusted EBITDA results for the rehabilitation hospital segment include start-up losses of approximately $2.8 million. Certain rehabilitation hospital key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Outpatient Rehabilitation Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, net operating revenues for the outpatient rehabilitation segment increased 3.4% to $255.2 million, compared to $246.9 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the outpatient rehabilitation segment was $27.1 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $29.0 million for the same quarter, prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the outpatient rehabilitation segment was 10.6% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to 11.7% for the same quarter, prior year. Certain outpatient rehabilitation key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Concentra Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, net operating revenues for the Concentra segment increased 0.6% to $398.5 million, compared to $396.3 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the Concentra segment was $61.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $66.3 million for the same quarter, prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the Concentra segment was 15.4% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to 16.7% for the same quarter, prior year. Certain Concentra key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Select Medical's Results of Operations

The broader implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Select Medical's results of operations and overall financial performance remain uncertain. Select Medical is a healthcare service provider that provides patient care services in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Select Medical has provided certain additional performance metrics to assist readers in understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted each of its segments during the one month ended March 31, 2020, including its (i) net operating revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for the two months ended February 29, 2020 and February 28, 2019, (ii) net operating revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for the one month ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, (iii) net operating revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and (iv) certain operating statistics for each of the aforementioned periods.

Critical Illness Recovery Hospital Segment. Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals are a key part of the inpatient hospital continuum of care. Both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") and Congress acted to temporarily suspend certain regulations concerning length of stay requirements, which impact Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals, in order to facilitate the transfer of patients from general acute care hospitals. This was done in order to expand hospital bed capacity to care for COVID-19 patients. As COVID-19 has spread in the general acute care hospitals in many markets where it operates, Select Medical has admitted patients with COVID-19 and has faced the challenging task of treating them while attempting to protect its patients and staff members who do not have COVID-19. The hospitals have followed CDC guidelines, directives and recommendations with regard to the use of personal protective equipment and the isolation and treatment of patients with COVID-19. The pandemic has caused, and will continue to cause, disruptions in Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals, which include, in some cases, the addition or reduction of beds, the creation of isolated units and spaces, temporary increases or restrictions on admissions, the incurrence of additional costs, staff illnesses, and the increased use of contract clinical labor.

Rehabilitation Hospital Segment. Select Medical's rehabilitation hospitals receive most of their admissions from general acute care hospitals. Both CMS and Congress acted to temporarily suspend certain regulations that govern admissions into rehabilitation hospitals to facilitate the transfer of patients from general acute care hospitals and critical illness recovery hospitals. This was done in order to expand hospital bed capacity to care for COVID-19 patients. As COVID-19 has spread in the general acute care hospitals in many markets where it operates, Select Medical has admitted patients with COVID-19 and has faced the challenging task of treating them while attempting to protect its patients and staff members who do not have COVID-19. The hospitals have followed CDC guidelines, directives and recommendations with regard to the use of personal protective equipment and the isolation and treatment of patients with COVID-19. The pandemic has caused, and will continue to cause, disruptions in Select Medical's rehabilitation hospitals, which include, in some cases, the addition or reduction of beds, the creation of isolated units and spaces, temporary restrictions on admissions, the incurrence of additional costs, staff illnesses, and the increased use of contract clinical labor. Additionally, elective surgeries at hospitals and other facilities have been suspended which is reducing the need for inpatient rehabilitation services.

Outpatient Rehabilitation Segment. Beginning in mid-March, hospitals and other facilities began to suspend elective surgeries. Additionally, state governments in the areas experiencing the most significant growth of COVID-19 infections began implementing mandatory closures of non-essential or non-life sustaining businesses, restrictions on individual activities outside of the home, restrictions on travel, and closures of schools. These actions continued to expand throughout March and by the end of March, most states implemented significant restrictions on businesses and individuals. The suspension of elective surgeries at hospitals and other facilities and the reduction of physician office visits combined with recommendations of social distancing and the other items noted above have had significant effects on patient visit volumes. As a result, Select Medical has temporarily consolidated the operations of some of its clinics by transferring staff and patients.

Concentra Segment. Beginning in mid-March, state governments in the areas experiencing the most significant growth of COVID-19 infections began implementing mandatory closures of non-essential or non-life sustaining businesses. These actions have continued to expand throughout March. By the end of March, most states implemented significant restrictions on businesses. These actions have had significant effects on patient visit volumes as employers have furloughed workforces and temporarily ceased operations or have significantly reduced their operations. As a result, Select Medical has temporarily consolidated the operations of some of its centers by transferring staff and patients.

Select Medical provided below certain performance measures and operating statistics used by management to help illustrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operating results. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, Select Medical defined the pre-COVID-19 outbreak period as the two months ended February 29, 2020, and the post-COVID-19 outbreak period as the one month ended March 31, 2020. Select Medical provided prior year comparative data for the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 outbreak periods presented. The following performance measures and operating statistics should be considered in conjunction with the operating results for the full quarter ended March 31, 2020. The performance measures and operating statistics presented for the two months ended February 29, 2020 and the one month ended March 31, 2020 are, when combined, equal to the performance measures and operating statistics presented for the full quarter ended March 31, 2020. The same is true for the prior year comparative data.





Two Months Ended February



One Month Ended March



Three Months Ended March



2019

2020

% Change



2019

2020

% Change



2019

2020 Selected financial data:



































Net operating revenues:



































Critical illness recovery hospital

$ 295,385



$ 328,613



11.2 %



$ 162,149



$ 171,908



6.0 %



$ 457,534



$ 500,521

Rehabilitation hospital

98,695



122,363



24.0





55,863



59,656



6.8





154,558



182,019

Outpatient rehabilitation

161,758



179,163



10.8





85,147



76,086



(10.6)





246,905



255,249

Concentra

259,816



274,926



5.8





136,505



123,609



(9.4)





396,321



398,535

Other(1)

38,532



54,283



40.9





30,781



24,025



(21.9)





69,313



78,308

Total Company

$ 854,186



$ 959,348



12.3 %



$ 470,445



$ 455,284



(3.2) %



$ 1,324,631



$ 1,414,632

Income (loss) from operations:



































Critical illness recovery hospital

$ 36,355



$ 48,395



33.1 %



$ 25,192



$ 27,839



10.5 %



$ 61,547



$ 76,234

Rehabilitation hospital

11,605



22,855



96.9





7,790



8,827



13.3





19,395



31,682

Outpatient rehabilitation

12,623



18,289



44.9





9,336



1,615



(82.7)





21,959



19,904

Concentra

23,373



29,624



26.7





17,214



8,188



(52.4)





40,587



37,812

Other(1)

(22,432)



(24,868)



(10.9)





(9,332)



(12,086)



(29.5)





(31,764)



(36,954)

Total Company

$ 61,524



$ 94,295



53.3 %



$ 50,200



$ 34,383



(31.5) %



$ 111,724



$ 128,678

Adjusted EBITDA:



































Critical illness recovery hospital

$ 44,035



$ 56,648



28.6 %



$ 28,963



$ 31,922



10.2 %



$ 72,998



$ 88,570

Rehabilitation hospital

15,908



27,448



72.5





9,889



11,121



12.5





25,797



38,569

Outpatient rehabilitation

17,265



23,062



33.6





11,726



4,060



(65.4)





28,991



27,122

Concentra

40,785



45,537



11.7





25,473



15,929



(37.5)





66,258



61,466

Other(1)

(17,278)



(19,281)



(11.6)





(6,649)



(9,113)



(37.1)





(23,927)



(28,394)

Total Company

$ 100,715



$ 133,414



32.5 %



$ 69,402



$ 53,919



(22.3) %



$ 170,117



$ 187,333

Adjusted EBITDA margins:



































Critical illness recovery hospital

14.9 %

17.2 %







17.9 %

18.6 %







16.0 %

17.7 % Rehabilitation hospital

16.1



22.4









17.7



18.6









16.7



21.2

Outpatient rehabilitation

10.7



12.9









13.8



5.3









11.7



10.6

Concentra

15.7



16.6









18.7



12.9









16.7



15.4

Other(1)

N/M



N/M









N/M



N/M









N/M



N/M

Total Company

11.8 %

13.9 %







14.8 %

11.8 %







12.8 %

13.2 %









































Two Months Ended February



One Month Ended March



Three Months Ended March



2019

2020

% Change



2019

2020

% Change



2019

2020 Operating statistics:



































Critical illness recovery hospital:



































Admissions

6,303



6,427



2.0 %



3,153



3,106



(1.5) %



9,456



9,533

Patient days

167,044



178,627



6.9 %



91,085



91,831



0.8 %



258,129



270,458

Occupancy rate

70 %

70 %







73 %

70 %







71 %

70 % Rehabilitation hospital:



































Admissions

3,758



4,412



17.4 %



2,078



1,921



(7.6) %



5,836



6,333

Patient days

52,876



63,924



20.9 %



29,940



30,644



2.4 %



82,816



94,568

Occupancy rate

75 %

81 %







78 %

76 %







76 %

79 % Outpatient rehabilitation:



































Number of visits

1,345,617



1,496,232



11.2 %



708,866



626,433



(11.6) %



2,054,483



2,122,665

Concentra:



































Number of visits

1,904,663



1,997,810



4.9 %



1,006,944



879,585



(12.6) %



2,911,607



2,877,395







(1) Other includes corporate administration and shared services, as well as employee leasing services with non-consolidating subsidiaries.



N/M Not meaningful

Stock Repurchase Program

The board of directors of Select Medical has authorized a common stock repurchase program to repurchase up to $500.0 million worth of shares of its common stock. The program has been extended until December 31, 2020, and will remain in effect until then, unless further extended or earlier terminated by the board of directors. Stock repurchases under this program may be made in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, and at times and in such amounts as Select Medical deems appropriate. Select Medical funds this program with cash on hand and borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, Select Medical repurchased 491,559 shares at a cost of approximately $8.7 million, an average cost per share of $17.68, which includes transaction costs. Since the inception of the program through March 31, 2020, Select Medical has repurchased 38,580,908 shares at a cost of approximately $356.6 million, or $9.24 per share, which includes transaction costs.

Conference Call

Select Medical will host a conference call regarding its first quarter results, as well as its business outlook and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on each of its reportable segments, on Friday, May 1, 2020, at 9:00am ET. The domestic dial in number for the call is 1-866-440-2669. The international dial in number is 1-409-220-9844. The conference ID for the call is 2296334. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and can be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website www.selectmedicalholdings.com .

For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available until 12:00pm ET, May 8, 2020. The replay number is 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international). The conference ID for the replay will be 2296334. The replay can also be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website, www.selectmedicalholdings.com .

Certain statements contained herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to factors including the following:

developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic, additional measures taken by government authorities and the private sector to limit the spread of COVID-19, and further legislative and regulatory actions which impact healthcare providers, including actions that may impact the Medicare program;

changes in government reimbursement for our services and/or new payment policies may result in a reduction in net operating revenues, an increase in costs, and a reduction in profitability;

the failure of our Medicare-certified long term care hospitals or inpatient rehabilitation facilities to maintain their Medicare certifications may cause our net operating revenues and profitability to decline;

the failure of our Medicare-certified long term care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities operated as "hospitals within hospitals" to qualify as hospitals separate from their host hospitals may cause our net operating revenues and profitability to decline;

a government investigation or assertion that we have violated applicable regulations may result in sanctions or reputational harm and increased costs;

acquisitions or joint ventures may prove difficult or unsuccessful, use significant resources or expose us to unforeseen liabilities;

our plans and expectations related to our acquisitions and our ability to realize anticipated synergies;

private third-party payors for our services may adopt payment policies that could limit our future net operating revenues and profitability;

the failure to maintain established relationships with the physicians in the areas we serve could reduce our net operating revenues and profitability;

shortages in qualified nurses, therapists, physicians, or other licensed providers, or the inability to attract or retain healthcare professionals due to the heightened risk of infection related to the COVID-19 pandemic, could increase our operating costs significantly or limit our ability to staff our facilities;

competition may limit our ability to grow and result in a decrease in our net operating revenues and profitability;

the loss of key members of our management team could significantly disrupt our operations;

the effect of claims asserted against us could subject us to substantial uninsured liabilities;

a security breach of our or our third-party vendors' information technology systems may subject us to potential legal and reputational harm and may result in a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act; and

other factors discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" of the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we are under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results or performance.

Investor inquiries:

Joel T. Veit

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

717-972-1100

[email protected]

I. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

(In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)











2019

2020

% Change Net operating revenues

$ 1,324,631



$ 1,414,632



6.8 %













Costs and expenses:











Cost of services

1,132,092



1,200,371



6.0

General and administrative

28,677



33,831



18.0

Depreciation and amortization

52,138



51,752



(0.7)















Income from operations

111,724



128,678



15.2















Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries

4,366



2,588



(40.7)

Gain on sale of businesses

6,532



7,201



N/M

Interest expense

(50,811)



(46,107)



(9.3)















Income before income taxes

71,811



92,360



28.6















Income tax expense

18,467



21,912



18.7















Net income

53,344



70,448



32.1















Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

12,510



17,323



38.5















Net income attributable to Select Medical

$ 40,834



$ 53,125



30.1 %













Diluted earnings per common share:(1)

$ 0.30



$ 0.40











(1) Refer to table II for calculation of earnings per common share.



N/M Not meaningful

II. Earnings per Share

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

(In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Select Medical's capital structure includes common stock and unvested restricted stock awards. To compute earnings per share ("EPS"), Select Medical applies the two-class method because its unvested restricted stock awards are participating securities which are entitled to participate equally with its common stock in undistributed earnings.

The following table sets forth the net income attributable to Select Medical, its common shares outstanding, and its participating securities outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020:





Diluted EPS



Three Months Ended

March 31,



2019

2020 Net income

$ 53,344



$ 70,448

Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests

12,510



17,323

Net income attributable to Select Medical

40,834



53,125

Less: net income attributable to participating securities

1,343



1,818

Net income attributable to common shares

$ 39,491



$ 51,307



The following tables set forth the computation of EPS under the two-class method for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020:





Three Months Ended March 31,



2019



2020



Net Income

Allocation

Shares(1)

Diluted EPS



Net Income

Allocation

Shares(1)

Diluted EPS Common shares

$ 39,491



130,861



$ 0.30





$ 51,307



129,638



$ 0.40

Participating securities

1,343



4,449



$ 0.30





1,818



4,594



$ 0.40

Total

$ 40,834













$ 53,125















(1) Represents the weighted average share count outstanding during the period.

III. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, unaudited)





December 31, 2019

March 31, 2020 Assets







Current Assets:







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 335,882



$ 73,163

Accounts receivable

762,677



816,405

Other current assets

114,433



108,462

Total Current Assets

1,212,992



998,030

Operating lease right-of-use assets

1,003,986



1,014,969

Property and equipment, net

998,406



978,547

Goodwill

3,391,955



3,391,078

Identifiable intangible assets, net

409,068



405,374

Other assets

323,881



327,569

Total Assets

$ 7,340,288



$ 7,115,567

Liabilities and Equity







Current Liabilities:







Payables and accruals

$ 681,163



$ 613,909

Current operating lease liabilities

207,950



212,884

Current portion of long-term debt and notes payable

25,167



17,161

Total Current Liabilities

914,280



843,954

Non-current operating lease liabilities

852,897



860,796

Long-term debt, net of current portion

3,419,943



3,553,056

Non-current deferred tax liability

148,258



158,782

Other non-current liabilities

101,334



103,783

Total Liabilities

5,436,712



5,520,371

Redeemable non-controlling interests

974,541



620,377

Total equity

929,035



974,819

Total Liabilities and Equity

$ 7,340,288



$ 7,115,567



IV. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

(In thousands, unaudited)





2019

2020 Operating activities







Net income

$ 53,344



$ 70,448

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating

activities:







Distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries

7,872



8,479

Depreciation and amortization

52,138



51,752

Provision for bad debts

1,567



199

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries

(4,366)



(2,588)

Gain on sale of assets and businesses

(6,233)



(7,339)

Stock compensation expense

6,255



6,903

Amortization of debt discount, premium and issuance costs

3,231



553

Deferred income taxes

(81)



9,364

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business

combinations:







Accounts receivable

(74,752)



(53,928)

Other current assets

(7,523)



27

Other assets

57,319



2,248

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(64,839)



(53,447)

Income taxes

17,830



11,413

Net cash provided by operating activities

41,762



44,084

Investing activities







Business combinations, net of cash acquired

(6,120)



(6,833)

Purchases of property and equipment

(49,073)



(39,208)

Investment in businesses

(27,608)



(9,848)

Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses

2



11,230

Net cash used in investing activities

(82,799)



(44,659)

Financing activities







Borrowings on revolving facilities

360,000



460,000

Payments on revolving facilities

(220,000)



(295,000)

Payments on term loans

(132,685)



(39,843)

Borrowings of other debt

8,290



6,487

Principal payments on other debt

(6,155)



(8,099)

Repurchase of common stock





(8,691)

Increase in overdrafts

6,050





Proceeds from issuance of non-controlling interests

3,425



1,679

Distributions to and purchases of non-controlling interests

(5,251)



(12,474)

Purchase of membership interests of Concentra Group Holdings Parent





(366,203)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

13,674



(262,144)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(27,363)



(262,719)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

175,178



335,882

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$ 147,815



$ 73,163

Supplemental information







Cash paid for interest

$ 37,199



$ 67,885

Cash paid for taxes

718



1,135



V. Key Statistics

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

(unaudited)





2019(g)

2020

% Change Critical Illness Recovery Hospital











Number of hospitals  end of period(a)

97



101





Net operating revenues (,000)

$ 457,534



$ 500,521



9.4 % Number of patient days(b)(c)

258,129



270,458



4.8 % Number of admissions(b)(d)

9,456



9,533



0.8 % Net revenue per patient day(b)(e)

$ 1,759



$ 1,839



4.5 % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 72,998



$ 88,570



21.3 % Adjusted EBITDA margin

16.0 %

17.7 %



Rehabilitation Hospital











Number of hospitals  end of period(a)

27



29





Net operating revenues (,000)

$ 154,558



$ 182,019



17.8 % Number of patient days(b)(c)

82,816



94,568



14.2 % Number of admissions(b)(d)

5,836



6,333



8.5 % Net revenue per patient day(b)(e)

$ 1,633



$ 1,732



6.1 % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 25,797



$ 38,569



49.5 % Adjusted EBITDA margin

16.7 %

21.2 %



Outpatient Rehabilitation











Number of clinics  end of period(a)

1,684



1,753





Net operating revenues (,000)

$ 246,905



$ 255,249



3.4 % Number of visits(b)

2,054,483



2,122,665



3.3 % Revenue per visit(b)(f)

$ 103



$ 104



1.0 % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 28,991



$ 27,122



(6.4) % Adjusted EBITDA margin

11.7 %

10.6 %



Concentra











Number of centers  end of period(b)

525



523





Net operating revenues (,000)

$ 396,321



$ 398,535



0.6 % Number of visits(b)

2,911,607



2,877,395



(1.2) % Revenue per visit(b)(f)

$ 124



$ 123



(0.8) % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 66,258



$ 61,466



(7.2) % Adjusted EBITDA margin

16.7 %

15.4 %









(a) Includes managed locations.



(b) Excludes managed locations. For purposes of the Concentra segment, onsite clinics and community-based outpatient clinics are excluded.



(c) Each patient day represents one patient occupying one bed for one day during the periods presented.



(d) Represents the number of patients admitted to our hospitals during the periods presented.



(e) Represents the average amount of revenue recognized for each patient day. Net revenue per patient day is calculated by dividing patient service revenues, excluding revenues from certain other ancillary and outpatient services provided at our hospitals, by the total number of patient days.



(f) Represents the average amount of revenue recognized for each patient visit. Net revenue per visit is calculated by dividing patient service revenue, excluding revenues from certain other ancillary services, by the total number of visits.



(g) For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the financial results of Select Medical's reportable segments have been changed to remove the net operating revenues and expenses associated with employee leasing services provided to its non-consolidating subsidiaries. These results are now reported as part of Select Medical's other activities. Select Medical leases employees at cost to these non-consolidating subsidiaries.

VI. Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

(In thousands, unaudited)

The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is important to investors because Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as an analytical indicator of performance by investors within the healthcare industry. Adjusted EBITDA is used to evaluate financial performance and determine resource allocation for each of Select Medical's operating segments. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, income from operations, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and is thus susceptible to varying definitions, Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted EBITDA for Select Medical. Adjusted EBITDA is used by Select Medical to report its segment performance. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings excluding interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gain (loss) on early retirement of debt, stock compensation expense, gain (loss) on sale of businesses, and equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries.



Three Months Ended

March 31,



2019

2020

Net income $ 53,344



$ 70,448



Income tax expense 18,467



21,912



Interest expense 50,811



46,107



Gain on sale of businesses (6,532)



(7,201)



Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries (4,366)



(2,588)



Income from operations 111,724



128,678



Stock compensation expense:







Included in general and administrative 4,748



5,437



Included in cost of services 1,507



1,466



Depreciation and amortization 52,138



51,752



Adjusted EBITDA $ 170,117



$ 187,333













Critical illness recovery hospital $ 72,998



$ 88,570



Rehabilitation hospital 25,797



38,569



Outpatient rehabilitation 28,991



27,122



Concentra 66,258



61,466



Other(a) (23,927)



(28,394)



Adjusted EBITDA $ 170,117



$ 187,333









(a) Other primarily includes general and administrative costs.

VII. Reconciliation of Earnings per Common Share to Adjusted Earnings per Common Share

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

(In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. Items excluded from adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Select Medical believes that the presentation of adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are important to investors because they are reflective of the financial performance of Select Medical's ongoing operations and provide better comparability of its results of operations between periods. Adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to, or substitutes for, net income, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are not measurements determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following tables reconcile net income attributable to common shares and earnings per common share on a fully diluted basis to adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share on a fully diluted basis.



Three Months Ended March 31,

2019

Per Share(a)

2020

Per Share(a) Net income attributable to common shares(a) $ 39,491



$ 0.30



$ 51,307



$ 0.40

Adjustments:(b)













Gain on sale of businesses (4,545)



(0.03)



(3,652)



(0.03)

Adjusted net income attributable to common shares $ 34,946



$ 0.27



$ 47,655



$ 0.37







(a) Net income attributable to common shares and earnings per common share are calculated based on the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, as presented in table II. (b) Adjustments to net income attributable to common shares include estimated income tax and non-controlling interest impacts and are calculated based on the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.

The estimated income tax impact, which is determined using tax rates based on the nature of the adjustment and the jurisdiction in which the adjustment occurred, includes both current and deferred income tax expense or benefit. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, the adjustments to net income attributable to common shares include estimated income tax expense of approximately $1.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

SOURCE Select Medical Holdings Corporation
 Flash

As the Labor Day week approaches, the domestic tourism sector is gearing up to restart operations. But with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Health Commission jointly issuing a statement, on April 13, stressing that epidemic prevention and control measures be strictly followed at tourist sites and the number of visitors be restricted, the answer could lie in "cloud tourism".

This refers to a new, non-contact immersive sight-seeing experience that depends on advanced technology such as livestreaming, 5G and virtual reality. The technology enables tourists to enjoy scenic spots without actually going there. With most scenic spots shut down to contain the novel coronavirus, the trend is fast catching up.

In March, domestic livestreaming platform Douyin launched an online program allowing users to "visit Yunnan" and take in scenic spots such as the Yulong Snow Mountain and the local customs and practices.

Till April 21, "cloud visiting Dunhuang", a WeChat mini program taking one to Dunhuang's Mogao Caves, had registered 12 million person-time visits in two months. That's half the number of tourists that visited Gansu province during last year's National Day holiday week.

Most scenic spots are eager to reopen after three months of closure, but indoor scenic spots such as museums, where people gather in large numbers, are still not devoid of infection risk.

If the preventive measures are relaxed, the novel coronavirus, which has largely been contained at a huge cost in the past three months, could make a comeback.

Cloud tourism, instead, allows tourists to enjoy a tourist spot by being at home. The new concept is also exploring the possibilities of making money online. On March 27, several museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Hanyangling Museum jointly launched a livestreaming on Pinduoduo, an e-commerce platform, selling historical and cultural knowledge that attracted numerous audiences.

As preventive measures could be in place for some time, the tourism industry should consider hopping onto the cloud tourism bandwagon to survive.




Arab countries condemned Israel's plan to de facto annex parts of the occupied West Bank as "a new war crime" against Palestinians, the Arab League said in a statement after a video conference meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Thursday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in announcing a deal to form a unity government, has set July 1 for the start of cabinet discussions on extending Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements in the West Bank and annexing outright the area's Jordan Valley.

Palestinians have expressed outrage at Israel's plans to cement its hold further on land it seized in the 1967 Middle East war, territory they are seeking for a state.

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A newly engaged couple, Stephanie Mayorga, 27, and Paige Escalera, 25, disappeared in mid-April under "suspicious" circumstances, the police in Wilmington, North Carolina, said Wednesday at a news conference.

Stephanie Mayorga (left) and Paige Escalera (right), have not been seen since April 15th. (Wilmington, NC Police Department)

Their roommate filed a missing persons report several days after the women were last seen on April 15.

Capt. Thomas Tillman said surveillance footage showed the couple leaving their Wilmington home and driving a gray 2013 Dodge Dart with two stickers on the back windshield and South Carolina plates.

Tillman described the disappearance as "suspicious" based on undisclosed information received in the past week.

He said detectives had spoken to family members, friends and coworkers of both missing women "in an attempt to gather information of where they might have gone and where they went missing."

Tillman said the coronavirus pandemic is partly to blame for the more than two-week delay between the couple's disappearance and the news conference.

"Life is not going on at the Wilmington Police Department as simply as it did before the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

NBC OUT

In an interview with Oxygen, Stevie Jenkins, Escalera's sister, said that Escalera and Mayorga had only recently met and had moved in together at the beginning of March.

Jenkins also said that close friends of her sister had been blocked from her social media over the last week or two. "It is normal for family to not hear from her, but not her closest friends," Jenkins told Oxygen.

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REGINASaskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says hes confident in his governments plan to relax some restrictions around COVID-19 starting next month, despite two outbreaks of the illness and another death.

Health officials reported the provinces sixth death Wednesday  a person in their 80s at a long-term-care facility in La Loche, a remote village 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon that is at the centre of a cluster of cases in the region.

Lloydminster, a city on the Saskatchewan-Alberta boundary, is also dealing with an outbreak of 13 cases tied to its hospital, where there has been transmission in both patients and staff.

The hospital has workers and patients from both provinces.

Despite these two isolated outbreaks, were confident that, by and large, Saskatchewan is doing very well, Moe told a press conference.

This is very different than if we had an increasing of 10 to 17 (cases) and then maybe continue going across the province and we were unaware of exactly where those sources were.

The province also reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its total number of cases to 383; 291 people having recovered.

The first stage of the provinces plan to relax restrictions is to take effect Monday, when medical services like dental offices can begin seeing more patients.

Moe said because of the outbreaks, the first stage of the plan wont apply to Lloydminster and La Loche.

He said he has asked for more testing to be done in and around La Loche and the health authority is in the process of deploying up to 100 new staff to do the testing and contact tracing.

The minister of government relations was also set to speak with northern and Indigenous leaders Wednesday about what longer-term travel restrictions could look like for the region.

Last week, Moe announced travel was being restricted to the far north and was not recommended between communities there.

(Restrictions) very well may relax in some areas where we do not have a large number of positive cases at this point in time, the premier said. But they very well may be enhanced in some areas in and around the La Loche area.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority also said an employee at the Beauval General Store, south of La Loche, has tested positive for COVID-19. It said customers who stopped there over the past two weeks should isolate.
Two babies have died from COVID-19 complications in the Philippines, while nearly two dozen others have tested positive for the disease, the Department of Health reported on Thursday as 276 cases and 10 deaths were recorded since the previous day.

The announcement tempered good news tied to the Tuesday night release of a 16-day-old coronavirus survivor at the National Childrens Hospital in Manila. The baby, identified as Kobe Manjares, was taken to the hospital by his parents after showing coronavirus symptoms earlier this month.

His discharged gave Filipinos something to cheer for amid a lockdown imposed on the entire island of Luzon, home to the capital Manila and 60 million people. Friday marks the 47th day of the lockdown, which is to continue until the second half of May.

We already have 25 cases of infants, or those less than 1-year-old, who have tested positive for COVID-19, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, spokeswoman of the health department, told an online news conference.

Two have died and others have recovered, she said later in the day, correcting an earlier report on the number of deaths.

Vergeire said the babies had likely contracted COVID-19 after they were born.

The new cases bring the total cases to 8,488 and deaths to 568, according to health officials. Globally, more than 3.2 million have been infected with the virus and nearly 230,000 have died, according to data compiled by disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

A Childrens National Hospital staff member holds Kobe Manjares, a 16-day-old survivor of COVID-19, April 28, 2020. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews]

Perfect storm

On Wednesday, Dr. Benjamin Co, an infectious disease expert at the Manila-based University of Santo Tomas Hospital, warned that the Philippines was facing a perfect storm of outbreaks if the government failed to stop the spread June, or the traditional flu season here.

Because every community in this tropical country was highly susceptible to common coughs, fever and cold, this makes them more vulnerable, Co said.

He also said Manila needed to act swiftly before the onset of the rainy season, when storms and flooding are common.

With a pandemic of coronavirus plus other disease outbreaks that are vaccine preventable, this will create a perfect storm, Co told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of the Philippines announced it would not extend a ceasefire that expired Thursday and would order its guerrilla wing, the New Peoples Army, to return to an offensive posture, the Associated Press reported on Thursday. The guerrilla group said it was ending the 36-day COVID-19 ceasefire because of military attacks.

Prison deaths

Also this week, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the government to fully report COVID-19 deaths in prisons, after at least nine inmates and nine staff tested positive in Quezon City Jail, one of the countrys most crowded prisons.

The Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the central Philippines also reported one death linked to COVID-19 this week, while neighboring Cebu City Jail reported 212 infections, the global rights watchdog said in a statement.

The government has not fully reported prison deaths and there was concern that the disease was more widespread in the prisons system than was being reported, HRW said.

Unreported deaths of inmates show the urgent need for the Duterte government to be transparent about the spread of COVID-19 inside the countrys overcrowded prisons, Phil Robertson, the groups deputy Asia director said in the statement issued Wednesday.

The government should get serious about the terrible situation in its prisons and jails and accurately report on prison deaths and illness, he said.

He said the government should take urgent measures to protect inmates including reducing the prison population.

HRW said it had interviewed five inmates who said that at least seven others had died in Quezon city as well as in the provincial jail in Cavite province just south of Manila.

Government officials have not commented on HRWs claims despite requests from BenarNews.
The 17-year old activist opined that the coronavirus pandemic is also a child rights issue like the climate crisis

United Nations, United States: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has donated a $100,000 prize she won from a Danish foundation to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for use against the COVID-19 pandemic, the world body said Thursday.

"Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child rights crisis," Thunberg, 17, was quoted as saying in the UNICEF statement.

"It will affect all children, now and in the long term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most," she added.

"I'm asking everyone to step up and join me in support of UNICEF's vital work to save children's lives, to protect health and continue education."

The Danish anti-poverty non-governmental organization, Human Act, will match the $100,000 donation, the statement added.

UNICEF said the funds would give it a boost as it struggles to support children impacted by anti-virus lockdowns and school closures, particularly in the fields of "food shortages, strained health care systems, violence and lost education."

Thunberg said at the end of March that she had "likely" contracted the coronavirus, after experiencing several symptoms after a trip to central Europe.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs "strongly protested" on Thursday China's declaration of two new districts in what it calls Sansha City, which covered areas in the West Philippine Sea.

The DFA in a statement stressed that the Philippines never recognized China's "self-declared" and "unlawful establishment" of Sansha City, located south of Hainan province, which it recently said now includes the Nansha and Xisha districts.

On April 18, China said Nansha District covers islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. The Philippines calls Nansha or Spratly Islands the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

The other district covers Xisha or Paracel Islands, which is claimed by China and Vietnam, and Zhongsha islands, which includes Scarborough Shoal, claimed by the Philippines as Panatag Shoal.

"The establishment and supposed extent of jurisdiction of 'Sansha City' of which the new two districts are part, violate Philippine territorial sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), and infringes on Philippine sovereign rights over the waters and continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea," the DFA said.

It called as "illegal" the designation of Kagitingan Reef or Fiery Cross Reef as the administrative center for the Nansha district.

"Kagitingan Reef is within the Kalayaan Island Group and is thus an integral part of Philippine territory," the DFA stressed.

It added that the 2016 arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines already "addressed Chinas excessive claims and illegal actions in the South China Sea." China rejects the ruling and insists on owning almost the entire South China Sea.

"The Philippines calls on China to adhere to international law, including the UNCLOS, as well as to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, specifically Paragraph 5 thereof, under which parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability," the DFA added.

Last week, the DFA filed diplomatic protests over China's announcement of two new districts and a Chinese warship's pointing of a radar gun at BRP Conrado Yap, considered as the Philippine Navy's "most powerful" ship.

It's not clear if there has been any response from the Chinese government, but it has so far made no public statement on the issue.

While remaining silent on the issue, the Chinese Embassy in Manila on April 24 released a music video with the song "Iisang Dagat," meant to pay tribute to frontliners in the battle against the coronavirus disease in the Philippines and in China.

It drew outrage online as Filipinos took it as a Chinese propaganda to assert ownership of the West Philippine Sea  areas Manila claims and occupies in the disputed South China Sea.

The two countries remain friends, their leaders say, as they agreed to set aside the arbitral ruling to be able to engage in joint oil and gas exploration.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2020 - 23:38 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan is considering extending the nationwide state of emergency until the end of May in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, government sources said Thursday.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, of his intention to extend the state of emergency currently due to be effective through next Wednesday.

"Returning to normalcy from May 7 is difficult and we need to brace for a protracted battle (against the virus)," Abe told reporters at his office.

"I will consult with experts as to the length of an extension," he said after parliament passed an extra budget for the current fiscal year to support struggling households and businesses.

Abe is expected to seek opinions on Friday from a panel of experts tasked with assessing the spread of coronavirus infections across the nation, before he makes a judgement on the extension, the sources said.

Taking into account the views of the experts, the prime minister is expected to make a final decision on the issue around next Monday, they said.

Abe first declared a monthlong state of emergency on April 7 until next Wednesday for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures amid a sharp rise in infections in urban areas.

He expanded it on April 16 to all 47 prefectures ahead of the Golden Week holidays from late April when many Japanese people usually return to their hometowns or travel for vacations or day trips.

Under the state of emergency, people have been asked by local authorities to refrain from unnecessary outings and some businesses have been requested to shut.

A senior administration official indicated that the state of emergency will be extended until the end of May or around June 6.

There is a view within the government that the state of emergency should remain in place for the entire nation as any partial lifting would prompt a flow of people in certain areas and raise the risk of transmission.

Prefectural governors are calling for an extension of the state of emergency beyond the holiday season that ends on May 6.

Abe initially appeared reluctant to declare an emergency despite the authority he obtained through a legal change in March, fearing the economy would take a severe hit. But the number of coronavirus cases continued to rise in the country, putting a strain on the health care system.

Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told parliament that the number of infections and the situation faced by hospitals are the two key factors being watched by the government and the panel.

Japan has so far confirmed around 15,000 COVID-19 cases, including about 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined near Tokyo in February. The death toll stands at around 470.

The Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed 46 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, under 50 for the second straight day. Wednesday was a national holiday.

The Japanese capital, which marked the highest daily count of 201 on April 17, has seen the number of infections remaining above 100 for most of the month.

Abe said earlier Thursday he will not wait until the last minute to determine whether to extend the state of emergency.

"Local governments need to make preparations so I will make a decision sometime before (the expiration date of May 6)," Abe told a session of the upper house budget committee.
Villa Maria releases Vintage documentary free-of-charge for Sauvignon Blanc Day

Villa Maria is inviting consumers across the global to watch the feature-length documentary Vintage as a celebration of International Sauvignon Blanc Day on May 1st.

The producer is sharing the newly-launched film, free of charge, for 72 hours only. It will be available between 1pm on April 30 to 1pm on Monday May 4, where it can be streamed via http://www.vintagebyvillamaria.com/.

Vintage offers a glimpse behind the scenes of making wine, exploring the challenges, skill and dedication required to bring a wine vintage from grape to bottle. Winemakers and viticulturists Stu Dudley, Nick Picone, Jess Marston and Ollie Powrie provide personal narratives in the film.

Speaking about the documentary, author and wine expert Oz Clarke MBE, said: Vintage is a tremendous watch. New Zealands vineyards have rarely looked more alluring.

"The winery processes seem challenging and intriguing and are explained in an easy, lucid style, and the bunch of local Kiwis and foreign drop-ins the director has assembled to talk us through the 40 days from picking the first grape to closing down the final vat, are an engaging crew who tell us really interesting, personal stuff. The photographic direction is exciting, unpredictable and electric.

Vintage by Villa Maria is also available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime.

Related articles:
Building a new model for community care. SF New Deal has provided over $1 million in financial relief to local businesses -- local direct action to protect the City's residents from food insecurity and economic instability is not only possible but necessary to ensure every residents well-being and to facilitate recovery for San Francisco.

SF New Deal Executive Director Lenore Estrada today announced three milestones in its Covid-19 relief efforts: $1 million dollars in direct financial relief to SF Small Businesses, over 98,698 meals delivered to City residents, and a new partnership with Cruise self-driving cars.

At a time when small businesses continue to struggle through the economic impact of an extended shelter in place order, the San Francisco community, along with city partners like the Human Rights Commission, are forging a new path of collective action, Estrada says. This coalition has provided over $1 million in financial relief to local businesses -- local direct action to protect San Francisco residents from food insecurity and economic instability is not only possible but necessary to ensure every residents well being and to facilitate recovery for San Francisco.

SF New Deal, also formalized a partnership with Cruise to deploy part of their fleet of all-electric self-driving cars to help deliver thousands of meals in collaboration with UCSF's Division of Citywide Case Management, Tenderloin Housing Clinic, the San Francisco African American Faith Based Coalition, the City of San Francisco's Human rights Commission and several others. Cruise is also partnering with SF-Marin Food Bank to provide these contactless deliveries.

The impact that Cruise's support has had on SF New Deals operations has been tremendous. The volunteers who have been freed up by the delivery resources Cruise provides are now able to redirect their efforts to offer more direct support to our partner organizations, bring PPE to partner sites and restaurants, and seek out more sources of funding to provide even more meals to our neighbors in need here in San Francisco, continued Estrada. The support from Cruise has been crucial to our ability to expand our services (the number of restaurants we are serving, the number of meals we are providing, and the number of partner organizations we are able to work with).

In its fifth week, SF New Deals Covid-19 relief efforts delivered 28,897 meals to residents and disbursed $208,710 to local food businesses. Newly- forged relationships with other San Francisco community groups and businesses include partnerships with Refugee and Immigrant Supports in Education SF and 18 Reasons to provide 150 families of unaccompanied minors and undocumented immigrants with access to groceries during the entirety of the shelter in place order.

Merrill Family Foundations generous $100,000 contribution comes at a critical time.

SF New Deal is a shining example of what can be accomplished when people ignore worrying about what cant be done and just do it! They align very well with our concern for San Francisco small businesses and for individuals and families worried about where their next meal will come from. Emmett Shears willingness to step up in this time of crisis with seed funding and pulling together this remarkable team led by Lenore Estrada make us extraordinarily proud to support this effort," said a spokesperson for the Merrill Family.

SF New Deal is pairing restaurants with existing City and Community Organizations to cook and distribute food to churches, clinics, public housing sites, SROs, and through outreach to homebound neighbors. Our community partners include:



Asian Pacific Fund Community Foundation

Catholic Charities San Francisco

Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC)

City of San Francisco's Human Rights Commission (SFHRC)

Coleman Advocates

Homeless Prenatal Program

Korean Community Center

Larkin Street Youth Services

Providence Foundation of San Francisco

Refugee and Immigrants Support in Education SF (RISE SF)

SF African American Faith-Based Coalition (SFAAFBC)

San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH)

Tenderloin Housing Clinic

UCSF Citywide Case Management (CCM) & SF Pretrial Diversion Project

World Central Kitchen

ZSF General Hospital Department of Psychiatry

SF New Deal mobilized on March 23, 2020 to provide immediate relief to small businesses while they await government aid in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. SF New Deal is here to help our neighbors stay safe. Addressing their needs is:



CRITICAL to flattening the curve and preserving the capacity of local medical systems to address acute needs

COMPASSIONATE by keeping our communities nourished, food secure, and connected

PREVENTATIVE by providing community- based, restorative care to chronically underserved communities, especially those who lack mobility, are housing insecure, or are justice-involved

THE RIGHT THING TO DO. No one should go hungry during this time.

The shelter-in-place order is causing severe disruption to small businesses. An estimated 30 percent of restaurants will permanently close as a result of this shutdown. Approximately 25 percentt of restaurant workers are immigrants and/or undocumented and thus not eligible for many government programs. Supporting local small restaurants to fill this community need serves as a vital lifeline for employers and those looking to work.

SF New Deal launched with a personal commitment of $1,000,000 from Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. Says Shear, "We know that our local economies will take time to recover, but we cannot let our neighbors go hungry. Local businesses and organizations are ready to do the work to make food and to help organize delivery to those in need, but they need support from ALL of us. Join us in helping support them."

SF New Deal is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. Personal donations can be made via SFnewdeal.org. Any individuals interested in making larger gifts from donor-advised funds, trusts, corporate sponsorship, or employer match programs can contact SF New Deal at hi@sfnewdeal.org or by calling 415-967-8247.

We are working closely with our partners to support the public good - many hands make work light and together we are healing our City of St. Francis. Join us.
One if the biggest questions about the coronavirus is whether it began in the Wuhan wet market or somewhere else. There's also another development about the pangolin as the main host of the virus.

It is well accepted that the world-famous Huanan seafood market in Wuhan is ground zero, but some reports point it to another place at an earlier date. The Chinese narrative spread around is that it is nothing but Chinese origin.

The next part is that the virus was spread by an infected animal as the middle host that infected humans. Reports connect the pangolin as the animal responsible for the viral transmission.

In the present, the coronavirus has racked up to 3,221,029 cases and 228,252 deaths, with 1,005,079 recovered, still the pandemic took a big chunk of human life from Wuhan days. From the first cases in Hubei to other countries. It took a while for the WHO to call it a pandemic, till it was too late.

One of the footages circulated earlier show that pangolins cause the virus but later research show other sources.

For some scientists, knowing the circumstances that led to the contagion is key to trace the beginnings, especially the way the pandemic began and how to stop another one from happening.

According to Prof. Stephen Turner, head of the Department of Microbiology at Melbourne's Monash University, bats are the origin of the coronavirus. Bats are known to harbor many of these pathogens, and they are more than one. He's quite sure that bats are source but it gets more muddled.

One of accepted reasons is that the virus came about at the market by animal and human transmission, he thinks otherwise.

It is impossible to know what kind of viruses are extant in the animal kingdom since there is no definite way of monitoring it.

Also read: Wuhan Lab Scientists Reportedly Created Coronavirus to Be Lethal to Humans, Russian Scientist Says

An infected tiger in the New York Zoo is a proof that it can jump to vulnerable species. A way must be found to know the most probable species susceptible to infection.

How do things figure on from there and what about the pangolin?

One of the likeliest answers is that the virus is from bats but needed a middle host to gain potency, just like the 2002 SARS outbreak. This time, it's a horseshoe bat to civet cats, and next in line humans to complete the chain.

One of the suspected animals that helped evolved the virus is the pangolin, and it lay between human and bats. This animal is endangered and its scales are prized for medicinal properties.

According to Nature, pangolins are illegally sold in Wuhan despite its endangered status. Chinese authorities turn a blind eye.

Now does pangolins deserve the blame? Turner said,"It's either mixed in something else, mixed in a poor pangolin, or it's jumped into people and evolved in people." He said it was too unclear too.

Another academic Prof. Edward Holmes, of the University of Sydney, one of the leads in the Nature study, had this to say on social media which he stressed that the identity of the species that served as an intermediate host for the virus is "still uncertain."

One other study stated that pangolins did not have a type of amino acids in the virus genome seen in humans.

If the coronavirus did start at the Wuhan Market, then pangolins are off the hook. A more plausible explanation about the origin of coronavirus is needed.

Related article: Coronavirus Outbreak Reportedly Started Mid-September, New Study Says Wuhan Not the Epicenter

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Qu is the first FAO leader from China. The current virus threat originated in China, and that nation must also be part of the solution. He was speaking on behalf of his FAO as well as the World Food Program, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
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overnights

The Book of Boba Fett Recap: Wookiee Gone Wild! While Mos Espa waits to see what kind of leader he will be, things get ominous for Boba Fett and his growing circle of friends.
An armed protest by armed men who say they are opposed to coronavirus restrictions took place at the Michigan State House today.

Senator Dayna Polehanki [@SenPolehanki, a Michigan State Senator serving Michigan's 7th District] tweeted with the photograph at the top of this blog post:

Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg

More below.

Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Crowd attempts to get onto Hoise floor. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door. pic.twitter.com/4FNQpimP4W  Rod Meloni (@RodMeloni) April 30, 2020

Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg pic.twitter.com/voOZpPYWOs  Senator Dayna Polehanki (@SenPolehanki) April 30, 2020

Multiple armed gunmen storm Michigan's State House, State police are protecting @GovWhitmer and blocking the gunmen from gaining access to the house floor. This is America in the age of Trump. pic.twitter.com/tLWR2bvjtR  Rob Gill (@vote4robgill) April 30, 2020

Michigan has the 9th most confirmed coronavirus cases per capita in the country (405 per 100k) and the 6th most deaths per capita (37 per 100k), per @COVID19Tracking data. https://t.co/JSDEqvYu14  Jason Stern (@IbnLarry) April 30, 2020

This is Michigan. Home to the Blackest city in the US and the most visible Muslim population in the country. I can't help but imagine how different this scenario would be if these armed men were Black or Muslim. They certainly wouldn't be standing there or yelling for very long. https://t.co/YmLgMbmavU  Khaled Beydoun (@KhaledBeydoun) April 30, 2020

At the MI Capitol pic.twitter.com/IuYoBhstIg  Anna Liz Nichols (@annaliznichols) April 30, 2020
THE CHALLENGE posed by Covid-19 requires a collective effort, says Limerick IFA chairman Shay Galvin.

As a national association with over 940 branches and 70,000 members, he says IFA is working tirelessly on behalf of our members, the agri-food sector and the general public by keeping supply chains operational and food on the table.

Mr Galvin says actions taken by IFA to support their members include:

n Establishment of a dedicated farmer specific Covid-19 Hub, with up-to-date information on topics such as health and safety, banking and tax and social welfare

n Distribution of our Plan B document, a resource pack with guidance for farmers on how to prepare in the event of them becoming incapacitated.

n Issuing health and safety guidelines, particularly around farm safety during this time.

n Establishment of regional and county WhatsApp groups for speedy dissemination of factual information.

n Appointment of dedicated hotlines to deal with the most common FAQs of members.

n Check-in calls with all members, beginning with those who are cocooning and most vulnerable.

As one of the largest lobbying organisations in the country we are also working to ensure that Government puts in place much needed supports for the sector, he says.

Mr Galvin says IFA has put a detailed set of proposals to the Government and the EU Commission in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Directly lobbied each member of cabinet, the Taoiseach, opposition leaders and spokespeople, MEPs and local politicians.

Sought a dedicated low-cost loan scheme for farmers.

Participated in a meeting of European farm leaders with the EU Commissioner through the European farmers umbrella body COPA.

Successfully ensured that farmers who have incurred a substantial loss of income as a result of restrictions are eligible for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of 350 per week.

Delivered commitments from DAFM that flexibility will be given on requirements for many farm schemes.

Mr Galvin said IFA has joined forces with other organisations and associations on initiatives that benefit its members and the wider community.

We are a leading member of the Governments Community Call initiative which brings together state and voluntary resources to combat the effects of Covid-19. Each local authority has a dedicated helpline and IFA is part of the official community support network in each local authority.

We worked with FBD to establish a fund for farmers unable to carry out farm work due to Covid-19, a 500 Farm Relief Service voucher will be provided to assist in keeping farms operational during this busy period.

Mental Health Ireland, IFA and Teagasc have partnered to co-host and co-deliver information and resources for farmers during the month of April. Entitled Farming Resilience the aim is to support farmers and their families through the challenges being posed by Covid-19. The service will look at some practical evidence-based ways to support personal and business resilience, said Mr Galvin.

The Croom man says with children off school at present and with some older ones helping out on farms, We are seeing the very best of the Irish farm family model at work during this crisis to keep the food supply chain moving.

However, this also increases the need for total vigilance regarding farm safety said Mr Galvin, a father of young children.

A farm can be a wonderful place for children, where independence and responsibility are fostered. The Irish family farm is at the centre of our food supply chain, the security of which has never been more important.

However, it can also be a dangerous place where the unthinkable can happen in a matter of seconds. Now is a good time to review your farm safety and ask there a safer way?

Child safety is essential. Talk to your child about safety on the farm. Ensure minor injuries are avoided at this time. When the health service is challenged, it is particularly important to avoid any injuries on the farm.

With children off school due to the coronavirus, this is a high-risk time on Irish farms. Use these following points to protect children on the farm and from the coronavirus, said Mr Galvin.

Restricted movements means avoiding contact with other children, this is essential at this time.

Have a safe and secure area for children to play.

Where children are not in a secure play area, a high level of adult supervision must be provided.

Children must not be supervised by their grandparents at this time. People who are 60 years of age and people over 75 are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.

With increased machinery activity on farms keep children away from dangerous places.

Keep children away from dangerous animals, especially cows with calves.

Do not allow children under 14 to operate tractors or self-propelled machines.

When children have to be carried in the tractor cab, it must be fitted with a properly designed and fitted passenger seat with seat belts.
In this article:

Backdraft, The Passenger, Phantasm.

Fiery thrills, a lesser known Jack Nicholson classic, and and Oscar-winning drama are in the mix today as TopFilmTip brings you the best films on TV for Thursday, 30 April.

Backpacking douche discovers monster's retreat, woos Dracula's daughter and throws party in Genndy Tartakovsky's animated adventure Hotel Transylvania 7:10pm ITV2

Family face malevolent onslaught of alien origin in kid catatonicising, bird confusing, glass headbutting creepfest Dark Skies 9:00pm Horror Channel

Twisty semi-superheroic drama when Bruce Willis survives a horrific accident and gradually realises he may be Unbreakable 9:00pm Sony Movies

Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln.

Against all odds, visionary tactician forever amends concept of human dignity and fate of millions in flawless masterwork Lincoln 9:00pm Film 4

Read more: Top-rated TV on offer

Estranged firefighting brothers, living in their dads shadow track down an arsonist in spectacular flaming action film Backdraft 10:00pm Sky Living

Bereaved brothers undertake take-down of undertaking Tall-man in goo-mutating, transdimensional horror Phantasm 10:55pm Horror Channel

The poster for 1979 horror film Phantasm.

Space faring serial killer slaughters fanatical foes in prison rioting, cup killing, Judi Dench-starring sci-fi thriller The Chronicles of Riddick 11:20pm 5 Star

Attempting to escape his troubles, a despondent Jack Nicholson swaps identities and lives with a dead doppelganger in The Passenger 00:15am Talking Pictures TV

Everything new on streaming in May:

Netflix UK: Mays new releases

NOW TV: Mays new releases

Amazon Prime Video UK: May's new releases

Disney+ UK: May's new releases

Follow TopFilmTip on Twitter for daily film recommendations.

Some films may require a Sky subscription.
Dong Van District General Hospital in Ha Giang Province discharges Hmong teenage girl, April 30, 2020. Photo courtesy of the hospital.

A 16-year-old Hmong girl left Dong Van District General Hospital in Ha Giang Province on Thursday morning, bringing the national total of discharged Covid-19 patients to 219.

Medics said during treatment, "Patient 268" tested negative for the novel coronavirus four times. She will remain isolated at home for 14 days as prescribed following release.

The teenager was the only coronavirus case detected in the northern mountainous province to date.

With three brothers freelancing in China, she experienced Covid-19 symptoms including fever, coughing and breathing difficulties and was quarantined at Dong Van District General Hospital on April 7.

Doctors said the language barrier caused difficulties in tracing the girls medical history.

Residents of Chi Trung Village in Hung Yen Province cheer after local authorities officially lifted semi-lockdown orders on April 30. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Chinh.

On the same morning, authorities in the northern province of Hung Yen lifted the local semi-lockdown order to the merriment of 1,800 residents.

Ngo Van Mai, 75, from Chi Trung Village of Hung Yen's Van Lam District, said he woke up early to celebrate the occasion, "cheering for the second happiest day of the village's history after the country's Reunification Day (April 30, 1975)."

Villagers were seen storming down the street to mark the end of the semi-lockdown.

Vietnam recorded no new infections Thursday morning, with 51 out of 270 confirmed cases remaining active. The morning marked the sixth day the country had gone without a fresh Covid-19 case, and the 14th day without community transmission.

The global Covid-19 death toll has jumped to over 228,200 in 210 countries and territories.
Local newspapers are basically little machines that spit out healthier democracies, Joshua Benton, director of the Nieman Journalism Lab, has written.

Now the virus is taking this crisis to a new level.

The rapid shrinking of the economy  at the fastest pace since the Great Depression  has led to a further decline in advertising. Some newspapers that were on the brink may not survive. And many more journalists have been laid off. As The Washington Posts Margaret Sullivan has noted, its happening around the world, with newspapers in Australia and Britain announcing that they were going out of business or suspending print publication.

Whats the solution? In the short term, Sullivan and some media observers have called for government stimulus money to be directed at local news outlets, as is happening for many other industries.

Writing in The Atlantic, Steven Waldman and Charles Sennott of Report for America offer an intriguing idea:

The federal government can do something quite concrete right now: As part of its stimulus plans, it should funnel $500 million in spending for public-health ads through local media. The government already spends about $1 billion on public-service ads that promote initiatives such as military recruitment and census participation. The stimulus should add another $1 billion to support the communication of accurate health-related information. Some of those ads should go to social-media platforms and national news networks, but half should go to local news organizations. This is not a bailout; the government will be buying an effective way of getting health messages to the public, and could even customize the notices to specific audiences.

Long term, however, stimulus isnt the answer. Local journalism needs a new business model. (National journalism, by the way, is doing OK, thanks in part to the growth of subscription-based journalism, at The New York Times and elsewhere.)

My hope is that somebody will eventually find a way to make money providing useful local information. Until then, the answer will almost certainly need to involve philanthropy, much as philanthropy has long supported public radio.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - St. James's Place plc (STJ.L), a wealth management group, issued an update on new business inflows and funds under management for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.



For the first quarter, the company reported gross inflows of funds under management of 4.04 billion pounds, up 12 percent from 3.61 billion pounds in the prior-year quarter.



Net inflows of funds under management were 2.37 billion pounds, up 9 percent from 2.18 billion pounds in the prior-year period.



However, Group funds under management declined to 101.67 billion pounds from 103.52 billion pounds a year ago. The company noted that with the escalation of the COVID-19 crisis during March, there was a sharp decline in global markets and this negatively impacted its funds under management.



Looking ahead, Andrew Croft, Chief Executive of St. James's Place, said, 'Although gross and net flows in April have been robust, albeit below the same month last year, 2020 is shaping up to be another challenging year. Whilst our business is resilient, we are not immune to how the unprecedented level of uncertainty may impact the operating environment for the business and our clients for the foreseeable future.'



Therefore, the company's board has decided to withhold around one-third of the proposed 2019 final dividend or 11.22 pence per share, until such a time as the financial and economic impacts of COVID-19 become clearer.



St. James's Place said it we will pay 20.0 pence per share as a second 2019 interim dividend on 27 May 2020 to those shareholders on the register as at the close of business on 11 May 2020.



In addition, the Board confirmed that it will be making one dividend decision relating to the 2020 financial year in February 2021 at the time of the full-year results.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
SALT LAKE CITY, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Known for their innovative building techniques in the Midwest, St. Louis-based custom home builder Hibbs Homes is expanding into the Salt Lake City market.

Cutting Edge Energy Efficient Homes



"We've long been an innovator in the Midwest - building the most advanced, energy-efficient homes in the area - and we see the opportunity to bring that same approach to building to Salt Lake City and surrounding communities," said Kim Hibbs, president of Hibbs Homes. Hibbs and his family have spent years splitting time between their home in St. Louis, MO and a family home in Park City. During their family's time in northern Utah, Kim saw an opportunity to expand the Hibbs Homes "Better Built Custom Homes" brand into one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation.



Better Customer Experience

Hibbs Homes will bring more than just high-performance homes to the Salt Lake City Region. The company also brings with them more than a decade of operational excellence, which means each client will benefit from the proven procedures and processes that have made Hibbs Homes one of the largest custom builders in St. Louis. "One of our Core Values is a WOW Customer Experience," said Hibbs.

"We keep this promise through exceptional organization, communication, and a dedication to our clients throughout the building process. Our team has worked hard over the past 16 years to develop an approach that allows us to offer both excellent customer service and guaranteed pricing. It's a combination unique to our industry. You might call it - a new experience in custom home building."

Hibbs Homes headquarters will remain in St. Louis, and the Salt Lake City/Park City branch will be operated by General Manager Amy Herold. Amy is a Salt Lake City native and a graduate from the University of Utah.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of such an incredible organization. One of the things I pride myself on professionally is an ability to build strong teams of experts," said Herold. "Already in the Salt Lake City market, we have assembled an unparalleled team of design-build professionals to ensure that each project adheres to the Hibbs Homes standards of excellence. Our local team includes Design Consultant Lydia Huffman and Architects Jamie Walker and Sam Morgan."

For more information on Hibbs Homes Salt Lake, visit www.HibbsHomesUSA.com/SaltLake or call Kim Hibbs at 314-581-8205 for more information.

Media Contact:

Danni Eickenhorst

[email protected]

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12820682

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Hibbs Homes

Related Links

http://www.HibbsHomesUSA.com


The Caixin/Markit survey features a bigger mix of small- and medium-sized firms. In comparison, the official PMI survey typically polls a large proportion of big businesses and state-owned companies.

PMI readings above 50 indicate expansion, while those below that level signal contraction.

Meanwhile, China's National Bureau of Statistics said manufacturing activity in the country expanded slightly, reporting official manufacturing PMI of 50.8 for the month of April, as compared to 52.0 in March. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected official manufacturing PMI to come in at 51.0 in April.

Results of a private survey, the Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI), for April was 49.4  in contractionary territory. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the Caixin/Markit manufacturing PMI to come in at 50.3, compared with 50.1 in March.

China's manufacturing sector has been hit by slowing export demand due to the economic impact from the global coronavirus pandemic even as factories in the world's second-largest economy resumed production, two sets of April data released on Thursday showed.

In February, the official manufacturing PMI hit a record low of 35.7 and the Caixin reading also fell to a record low of 40.3 as China was hit by the coronavirus outbreak that first emerged from the city of Wuhan. Large-scale lockdowns were implemented from late January to slow the spread of the disease officially known as Covid-19, sending the world's second-largest economy to a standstill.

In the first quarter of 2020, China's GDP contracted by 6.8% from a year ago  the first decline since at least 1992, when official quarterly GDP records started.

Lockdowns in China have started to lift with people going back to work as the number of daily new Covid-19 cases fall. But demand for Chinese products is now expected to slump after the coronavirus spread to the rest of the world, sparking concerns about a global recession.

China's National Bureau of Statistics said in its analysis of the PMI readings that the recovery in demand was weaker than the recovery in production, according to a CNBC translation of its Mandarin language release. This was particularly true in sectors like textiles and apparel manufacturing and chemical raw materials production.

The bureau also flagged heightened uncertainties in the export market with some factories reporting canceled orders.

"The spread of the epidemic has accelerated overseas and global economic activity has contracted sharply," it said, adding that China's foreign trade is now facing greater challenges.

An analysis of the Caixin/Markit survey reflected similar sentiments.

"China's economic recovery was hindered by shrinking foreign demand, despite the domestic epidemic being largely contained," said Zhengsheng Zhong, chief economist at the CEBM Group, a subsidiary of Caixin.

The survey from Caixin/Markit showed a sharp contraction in foreign demand in April, with "the gauge for new export orders dropped back sharply to a level lower than that in February, pointing to a sharp contraction in foreign demand amid the coronavirus pandemic," Zhong wrote in a press release.

"While manufacturing output expanded at a faster clip, export orders plunged amid sluggish demand," he added. Meanwhile there was just "limited recovery in domestic consumption."

Even though the work resumption rate of large firms reached over 98% as of April 25, just 77.3% of them reported operating at 80% or higher than their usual capacity utilization rates

"So the nationwide utilization rates, especially those for small- and mid-sized firms, as well as those not yet resume to work, are still facing severe headwinds amid sluggish domestic and external demand," said Bruce Pang, head of macro and strategy research at China Renaissance Securities.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Germany has banned all Iran-backed Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated it a terrorist organisation, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday. Police also conducted early morning raids on mosque associations in four cities across Germany. Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah`s extremist wing.

Israel and the United States had been pushing Germany to ban the organisation. Germany had previously distinguished between Hezbollah`s political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad`s army in Syria.

A spokesman said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had banned the activities of Hezbollah. "Even in times of crisis, the rule of law is capable of acting," tweeted the spokesman.

A heavily armed Shi`ite Islamist group already designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, Hezbollah is also a significant backer of the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, which took office in January.

Jewish groups hailed the move as a landmark decision. This is a welcome, much-anticipated, and significant German decision, said American Jewish Committee head David Harris.

"We now hope other European nations will take a close look at Germanys decision and reach the same conclusion about the true nature of Hezbollah, said Harris.

The EU classifies Hezbollah`s military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political wing.

Last December, Germany`s parliament approved a motion urging Chancellor Angela Merkel`s government to ban all activities by Hezbollah on German soil, citing its "terrorist activities" especially in Syria.

On a trip to Berlin last year, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped Germany would follow Britain in banning Hezbollah. Britain introduced legislation in February of last year that classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.

Police raided four mosque associations in Dortmund and Muenster in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Berlin which they believe are close to Hezbollah, the interior ministry said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. It has been more than a month already since we are communicating and working remotely. This was a challenge not only for someone regularly going to work every day, buying essentials in the stores, but also for businesses engaged in different fields. The banking system was not an exception. ARMENPRESS presents the interview with IDBanks Digital Banking Director Sergey Arakelyan on the transformations that the banking services underwent during this period and on the scope of remote services.

-IDBank is known in the Armenian market as an innovative digital bank. Yet, coronavirus, as it turned out to be, surprised the entire world. What happened in IDBank?

-IDBank started the process of digitalization back in 2018 with the rebranding,as realizing the imperative of the times we tookthe path of creating the widest possible set of remote banking tools. Of course, conditioned by coronavirus the situation came as a surprise for many sectors, but the banking system has long ago realized that digitalization is the best way to ensure the most demanded type of rendering financial services  the remote service.

Back in 2018, we had announced creation of a joint platform in cooperation with Idram. Today the platform is a reality and it allows our clients to use not only banking but also to perform payment and settlement services while staying home, moreover, the number of such services exceeds 300. It means that IDBanks clients can make transactions through both IDBanking.am platform and the Banking section of Idram application.

Besides, our Privilege and Personal Banking services are also available for clients on Viber, Whatsapp and Skypevideo calls,making possible certain transactions.

-According to the decision of the Commandant many organizations in our country are working remotely. Do IDBanks employees also work remotely and isnt it unsafe in terms of data protection?

-From the very first days of the quarantine IDBank has been taking measures not only to provide the clients with a complete set of remote banking tools but also to ensure the safety of its employees and to provide them with remote working conditions. As an organization with high sense of social responsibility, IDBank ensured remote working for more than 60% of those employees, who are not directly involved in contact with clients. Of course, in situations like this cybercrimes become rather active, and for this reason our employees received clear instructions on maintaining information security to avoidphishing and to ensure efficiency of the remote work. It is important that the remote employees perform their functions with an efficiency needed for the uninterrupted operations of the Front Office.

With all this in mind, I can confidently state that despite the difficulties, IDBank has the necessary resources for ensuring the remote performance.

Talking about phishing, I would also like to give some pieces of advice to our clients:

It is highly recommended to have an antivirus software installed on computers or even smartphones.

You should regularly update the software packages.

Try to avoid surfing unknown and suspicious websites or at least do not provide any data on such websites, especially  card information.

If you receive messages by e-mail, check the senders e-mail address before opening the attached file or link to make sure the message has been received from someone you know or expect.

While shopping online, make sure that the online store or the website is equipped with https security system.

Use strong passwords, (not one that contain a known name or other knowndata), for example: complex combinations of numbers, letters and symbols.

Do not use for financial systems the passwords,you have already used in other systems; regularly change passwords.

In reply to money requests, received through social networks, try to find out through another channel whether the request has really been received from the person you know.

Do not provide your card details to anybody, and if necessary, transfer the card details in parts through different channels.

In case you notice anything strange with any of your online accounts, immediately contact the organization maintaining the system, through the contact information on their official websites and notify them about the problem.

-In fact, IDBank managed to quickly adapt to the situation and provide the opportunity for both its employees and its clients to #stayhome.

-Yes, as I have already mentioned, our employees continue to work from home with high efficiency ensuring the continuity of processes, and our set of remote banking tools allows our clients to perform the following operations without going out:

Make transfers,

Manage accounts,

Order cards,

Replenish accounts,

Receive or repay loans,

Place deposits,

Open current or saving accounts,

Make payments for more than 300 various services etc.

Most of this services are also available in the Banking section of the Idram application. Moreover, our banking services are not only available to our clients, but also to those who want to become our client. To do that, you just have to download the Idram application and become IDBank client after passing through remote identification procedure. That is to say, if, for example, you need a loan, but you are not a client of IDBank, there is no need to worry: you can download the Idram application and apply for the Rocket loan. By the way, it is worth to mention that even in the present circumstances IDBank has not terminated the process of lending, and it will take you just a couple of simple steps and an up to 5 mln AMD loan amount will appear on your account with no hidden fees and commissions.

By going through remote identification you, of course, will also be ableto make use of all the other services that I have mentioned before. This feature is especially important when we encourage people to stay home: if we do so, then we also have to provide them with the opportunity to use our services without even being our clients.

-What other benefits do the clients, who make use of financial services, receive from IDBank and what can they expect in the future?

The clients who make use of the services of IDBank can take advantages of the variety of the innovative services that we offer, of course not to forget the cooperation of IDBank and Idram. Today the digital platform jointly created by the two companies provides a number of advantages to both clients and partners.

Particularly, today the users of our digital platform can perform contactless payments in Idram- partner stores and pharmacies through QR and NFC technologies by selecting IDBank cards, accounts or any other attached card as a mean of payment. Today some people avoid ordering deliveries with the aim not to deal with cash. However, I have to note that the users of the digital platform can make contactless payments for delivery as well, since our partner Idram has recently introduced solutions for businesses that had never accepted online payments before. All this allows ensuring business continuity, and maintaining the necessary social distance and making secure payments for clients.

The need for switching to non-cash operations has been mentioned on a state level for many times long before the pandemic. This path might seem hard to many, and perhaps some of our citizens and businesses are,forced to choose it today, however, I guess that both the citizens and businesses are most likely to avoid cash operations after the quarantine is over, as non-cash payments are convenient, simple and secure.

-After the pandemic What do you think will happen after we overcome the pandemic?

Its no secret that our life has already been divided into before and after the pandemic. Definitely, the coronavirus was another signal to the world to reconsider some approaches: the tendency of transition from traditional to remote services is now irreversible, and you have to look forward, adapt yourself to the situation and even try to move ahead of time and set priorities to ensure business continuity. Individuals also face the challenge of business continuity, there will be a need to reshape certain professions, it already is, and some sectors will have to think about redefining their activity. Moreover, I am convinced that even if the pandemic didnt happen there,for sure, would be another factor, which would push the world to undergo key changes.

As for the IDBanks activities, we will continue the fulfilment of our strategic goals  digitalization, rendering more suitable services to our clients, be it remotely or in person, and ensuring the best customer service. Stay home and be healthy!
Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Houston.

3 teens charged in death of 53-year-old Houston man

Police say the victim confronted the suspects who broke into his car, but they attacked him and left with his wallet.

Read the full story on ABC13 Houston.

Truck loses load, spills raw meat, cow parts on Southwest Freeway feeder road

A semi-truck lost its load on a Southwest Freeway feeder road Wednesday night, spilling raw meat and cow parts in the roadway, Houston police told KPRC 2.

Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston.

HPD officer on motorcycle hit by car in downtown Houston

It happened around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the intersection of Lamar and San Jacinto. The officer suffered injuries to his shoulders, according to police, but is expected to recover. The officer was able to walk to a nearby hospital.

Read the full story on ABC13 Houston.

Woman stuck in home after massive tree falls on her fence

Roaring winds and rain pummeled down in Greater Houston, but these neighbors in southeast Houston can't help but feel lucky. A massive tree fell on top of a woman's fence, trapping her at her home for hours.

Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston.

Recovery czars speak about their mission in the Houston area

The czars, or leaders, were named last week to help guide the Houston area's COVID-19 recovery plan.

Read the full story on KHOU.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 16:16:51|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The so-called legal actions against China for damages in the coronavirus pandemic are based on falsehood and prejudice, and are nothing but political pandering by a few U.S. politicians to win elections.

Attorney generals of the states of Missouri and Mississippi filed the lawsuits last week, trying to blame China for losses during the coronavirus outbreak. Such frivolous litigations are only aimed to fault other countries for their own inactions and failures.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt alleged that China lied about the dangers of the virus and did not do enough to slow its spread. His groundless accusation, however, can be easily refuted by facts.

China's measures to counter the unknown virus have been the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough, in an open, transparent and responsible spirit. Earlier this month, China published a detailed timeline of China releasing information on COVID-19 and advancing international cooperation on epidemic response.

Since Jan. 3, China has been regularly informing the WHO, relevant countries, including the United States, on the latest development of the situation. On Jan. 12, China shared with the WHO information on the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus, which has laid a solid basis for global efforts of scientific research and vaccine development against COVID-19.

The United States has unfettered access to information and data from China.

When the Chinese people suffered from a rampaging epidemic since January, it made all-out efforts to contain the spread of the virus, including putting the megacity of Wuhan on lockdown. These effective measures, however, were once bashed as "overreacting" by some politicians and news outlets in the west.

Until early March, U.S. President Donald Trump was still downplaying the threat of the coronavirus outbreak and comparing it to a common flu. The losses of lives and economic pain in the United States are due to their own delay and incompetence.

In fact, such lawsuits are known to lead nowhere. In accordance with the principle of sovereign equality under international law, U.S. courts have no jurisdiction over the sovereign actions taken by Chinese governments at all levels in response to the epidemic.

The outbreak of a virus is not the fault of any country, and the only reason Schmitt and other politicians made such allegation is to pass the buck, distract domestic public outcry, and seek political gains.

In history, the blame-other-countries strategy, including demonization of China, has often been used in the United States to sway public opinions in elections.

Evasion of responsibility is just an act of ill-intentioned cowardice in the face of the real enemy: the virus. Instead of pointing fingers at other countries, cooperation is needed in these difficult times.

It is certain such scapegoating will further erode the international trust in the United States and undermine its long-held status as a global leader. And it will in no way help the world to fight against COVID-19.

If such lawsuits are not dismissed, all members of the international community are prone to be made the scapegoat for the failure of the United States. Enditem
The Calcutta University on



Thursday made its archive, including rare records dating back to the 19th century, available online for the public.

Vice-chancellor Sonali Chakraborty Bandyopadhyay told PTI that the archive can be accessed by anyone through the Calcutta University's official website.

There are two major reasons behind the decision, she said.

"The first is our responsibility to the students and faculty, whose and research are getting hampered as they cannot physically access the library collections due to the restrictions.

"The second is our responsibility as a public institution to the citizens as well as the world at large. Necessity and value of academic research should be felt by the society," she said.

The university's library resources, including the digital collections, were accessible so far to users within the campuses.

"As a public university, we feel that it is our responsibility to make CU's digital collections part of the global academic commons, to facilitate the pursuit of knowledge beyond borders," the vice-chancellor said.

The list of digital resources include convocation addresses (1861-2018), Tagore Law Lectures (1870-1986), University Commission reports (1917-1919), minutes of the senate, provisional committee, syndicate & and council (1857- 1988), The Calcutta Review (1844-1966).

Besides, the university's old question papers (1891- 1980), old syllabi (1955-1977), full text of theses (PhD/DLitt/DSc) (1960-2018) and medical dissertations (1956- 2005) have also been made available.

The vice-chancellor said teachers of the university have initiated online teaching as regular classes are suspended due to the lockdown and they have also been regularly uploading study materials on the website.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Equity Group Foundation (EGF), with support from the Mastercard Foundation, has donated Ksh 1.1 billion to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to medical staff in public hospitals in Kenya.

The funding includes a donation of Ksh 300 million from the family of Equity Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. James Mwangi.

Mastercard Foundation contributed Ksh500 million while Equity Bank pledged another Ksh300 million.

Dr. Mwangi announced the commitment Wednesday saying EGF will work in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund in this initiative.

It started when my attention was drawn to a group of students and doctors who were raising funds for PPEs for young post-graduate students especially in Kenyatta National and Referral Hospital (KNH), said Dr. Mwangi.

When I shared the need with my family, a robust discussion revealed the urgency to holistically address the issue as it was not prudent to provide the PPEs to students without also focusing on the plight of the doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and medical staff.

Mwangi, who is a member of Kenyas COVID-19 Emergency Fund Board, added that a steering committee comprised of medical professionals had been formed to help structure the initiative.

The seven-member committee will coordinate the implementation of the initiative to ensure availability of PPEs across the country and will help to scale up a mental wellness support system for medical staff initiated by the Kenya Medical Association (KMA).

We recognize that none of us can be safe as long as one of us is unsafe. We will endeavor to continue with our engagement and mobilization of our partners to extend our partnership towards procurement of diagnostic kits. We believe that there is a chance for every Kenyan to get the support they require to overcome the COVID-19 infection, said Mwangi.
Rajasthan Police has launched helpline numbers for the corona warriors of the state who are fighting against the deadly contagion (Covid-19).

According to official data of the police department, between March 29 and April 27, 151 corona warriors got injured in 116 attacks across Rajasthan.

The maximum number of attacks were reported from Ajmer-9, Alwar-4, Bhilwara-7, Jaipur-6, Bharatpur-5, Chittorgarh-3, Hanumangarh-4, among other districts.

Director General of Police (DGP), law and order, ML Lather said that after incidents of attack on corona warriors surfaced from different parts of the state, helplines have been started across all districts.

In the last few days, it has come to our notice that few anti-social elements are creating barriers in the work of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers and other essential staff. Many of them have been attacked which is illegal and is a big hurdle to contain the spread of the virus, Lather said.

The DGP added, This helpline number is created to help medical staff, paramedical staff and ASHA workers involved in door-to-door survey and screening of Covid-19. Also, nodal officers have been appointed to take up the grievances of the corona fighters, said Lather.

He further informed that Vishal Bansal, inspector general of police (crime branch), has been appointed as the nodal officer at the state level while for the districts, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) rank officer has been appointed.

The nodal officers will also share the complaints with the state government and the Indian Medical Association, Lather said. Lather said he has also directed his subordinates to book those attacking corona warriors under relevant sections of the Epidemic Disease Act and the Disaster Management Act.

On April 7, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre and state governments to provide security to doctors and medical staff who are treating Covid-19 patients. The court also ordered authorities to take action against those preventing doctors, medical staff or government officials from performing their duty amid the coronavirus crisis.
A 17-year-old boy has been banished from the Tutukpene community in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region for stealing.



Mr Prosper Amoah, father of the boy, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that his son, a primary six pupil of the Tutukpene Municipal Assembly Basic School, was on Friday, April 24, allegedly caught breaking into a room, and was ousted by the community leaders, forbidding him from returning to the area.



He said his son was taken to a nearby stream by the Chief and elders where he was ceremoniously banished - forced to cross the stream and had since not been seen.



Mr Amoah said the Chief had barred everyone from trailing him.



They threatened to banish us also if we tried to follow him. I am very worried about the whereabouts of my son, Mrs Afua Amoah, mother of the boy cried, appealing to relevant authorities to come to their aid.



Nana Poku Antoh III, Paramount Chief of Tutukpene, debunked the incident when contacted by the GNA, saying nothing of the sort occurred in my area.



Mr Innocent Komla Agbolosu, Head the Social Welfare Department in the Municipality said the purported banishment was unlawful, and promised to ensure that the incident was properly addressed.

Source: GNA









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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  SM Aura Premier launched on Thursday its online shopping system to cater to their customers needs during the enhanced community quarantine.

The Aura Concierge is a system designed by the Taguig-based mall where customers can choose their preferred method of getting their essential goods.

Get and Go is the first among the three features of the Aura Concierge, under which the mall offers curbside and drive-through pick-up for those who want to buy their essentials.

Shoppers can choose from the list of open establishments that may be found on their social media pages or contact the restaurant or store directly to order and arrange for payment. They can also check the SM Viber group for more details on operating stores during the quarantine.

Another feature of Aura Concierge is Chat with the Concierge, in which the malls online messenger answers questions on the availability of desired items to buy before being picked up outside the mall.

Customers may access @SMAuraPremier in their Messenger application to find out the list of available essential goods in SM Aura Premier.

The third feature of the Aura Concierge system is The Aura Shopper, where SM Aura Premier partnered with motorcycle ride-sharing and delivery platform Angkas to deliver essential goods into your home.

The dedicated Aura Shoppers from Angkas will buy items needed by customers such as groceries, medicine, food, hardware, and other essentials.

Customers must message SM Aura Premier on their Facebook messenger, fill up a form, and a personal shopper will be designated to you. The assigned shopper from Angkas will directly communicate on items the shoppers may need to replace or any extra order they may have.

Once the Aura Shopper has completed the order, he will deliver the items directly to the customers on the same day.

With these safe and efficient solutions for the community, SM Aura Premier is ushering a new era of customer experience to meet the needs of its customers.

For more information on the Aura Concierge, follow SM Aura Premier on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Israel's attorney general said Thursday he sees no legal grounds for barring Benjamin Netanyahu from serving as prime minister while facing criminal charges, an announcement that came ahead of a Supreme Court hearing next week to decide whether to disqualify the embattled leader.

A ruling against Netanyahu would plunge the country into a fourth consecutive election in just over a year, and the opinion by Avichai Mandelblit was a boost of support for the longtime prime minister.

In his opinion to the court, Mandelblit said that while criminal charges against the prime minister raise significant problems, they do not justify judiciary intervention to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government.

Earlier in the day, dozens of Netanyahu's supporters rallied outside the Supreme Court, calling on the judges to reject the petitions.

Around 100 people, many waving Israeli flags while maintaining mandatory social distancing, demonstrated against what they say is court intervention in the democratic process. The Supreme Court is ruining democracy read some of the banners held by the demonstrators.

Several dozen activists from the Black Flag group that wants Netanyahu barred from office held a counter-protest nearby.

On Sunday, the court is to hear petitions from several nonprofit advocacy groups against a coalition government deal reached by Netanyahu and his main political opponent, former army chief Benny Gantz. The two reached a power-sharing agreement earlier this month after more than a year of political stalemate and three deadlocked national elections.

Under the deal, Netanyahu and Gantz agreed to rotate the premiership, with Netanyahu serving as prime minister the first 18 months and Gantz serving the next 18 months. It also includes a clause to advance plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, including Israeli settlements, starting July 1.

The groups are asking the high court to ban any indicted politician, including Netanyahu, from being allowed to form a government. With the exception of the prime minister, Israeli law requires public officials to resign if charged with a crime.

Netanyahu was charged earlier this year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He has denied any wrongdoing and claims the indictments are part of a political witch hunt. His trial is scheduled to begin next month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russia Has Sufficient Potential to Cope With Consequences of Global Crises: Peskov

Moscow, Apr 30 (Sputnik) Russia has a sufficient potential to absorb any negative consequences of global economic crises and fulfill social obligations in the current situation, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the RTVI broadcaster.

Our country has a certain potential. This potential is sufficient to absorb any negative consequences of the global economic crises, to absorb the consequences of the current economic crisis, and to keep fulfilling the entire volume of social commitments regardless of how difficult the conditions are," Peskov said.

SPUTNIK JAL 0640
Agri-startups, which are growing at 25 per cent year-on-year basis, can offer tech solutions to help Indian farm sector to keep food and farm supply chain rolling during and post lockdown phase, according to a study by industry body Ficci.

This becomes more critical amid the ongoing procurement of rabi (winter) crops and consequent sowing of kharif (summer) crops across the country in the backdrop of COVID-19 scare, it said.

There are about 450 active agri-startups in India. Many of them are already working to solve the problems at hand, it added.

According to the study, agri-tech startup companies have grown 25 per cent year-on-year. They have received venture capital funding of USD 545 million since 2014. out of this, USD 330 million came in 2019.

Highlighting agri-tech solutions, the study said agri-startups can provide aggregation and distribution of farm produce from point of collection to consumption centres.

Many startups are trying to connect farmers with buyers, including retailers, e-commerce, processors, cloud kitchens and even direct to consumers.

Startups working in this area include Ninjacart, Jumbotail, Bigbasket, ShopKirana, SuperZop, WayCool, MeraKisan, Kamatan, DeHaat, KrishiHub, Agrowave, Loop, Crofarm, FreshoKartz, Agribolo, Himkara, Kisan Network.

To provide quality assaying of agricultural commodities, startups like Intellolabs, Agricxlab, Zense, Raav Tech, Occipital, Amvicube and Nanopix are attempting to solve the problem of standardisation through mobile imagery and digitisation.

To address post harvest challenges, the study said some startups have begun work on near farm, modular and affordable storage and processing solutions.

These storage facilities are intended to give farmers an option to sell the produce at the right price and at the right time, instead of immediate or distressed liquidation of their produce after harvest.

The startups in this category include Our Foods, Agri Bazaar, Star Agri, Arya Collateral, Ecozen, Origo, it added.

For smooth operation of kharif sowing, the study said startups such as Agrostar, BigHaat, Behtar Zindagi, Unnati, Gramophone, Freshokartz, AgriBolo, DeHaat, Bharat Rohan, and Bharat Agr are offering solutions to optimise the use of agricultural inputs and enable delivery to farmers.

Agri-startups are trying to build business models to reach out to farmers directly both online as well as through offline presence in the villages. Such startups can play a pivotal role in making sure that farmers get desired inputs in a timely manner, it said.

To reduce labour cost through mechanisation, some start-up companies like Sickle innovations, Distinct Horizon, Tractor Junction, Khetibadi and J Farm service are offering mechanisation solutions for harvesting and sowing.

In addition, some of the startups have focused on accurate and timely assessment of soil moisture and developing data-driven controlled irrigation models. The startups in this category include Satyukt Analytics, Flybird, Kritsnam, Agrirain, Manna Irrigation, the study added.

That apart, some agritech startups can provide farmers advisory for crop monitoring, including institutional credit and crop insurance.

CropIn, SatSure, Farmguide, Niruthi, AgRisk, Skymet. Startups like Samunnati, FarMart, Jai-Kisan, PayAgri, Bijak are specifically working in value chain financing.

Many of these startups are using satellite images to geotag farms, assess crop health and estimate output. They are also building algorithms for farm monitoring and models for artificial intelligence to automate and improve predictably of yield and farmers' incomes, the study added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Normandy Format summit in Berlin still on agenda, tasks must be fulfilled first  Kuleba

A summit in the Normandy Format (Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia) in Berlin remains on the agenda, although the tasks set during the summit in Paris must be fulfilled first, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has said.

"There is no doubt that it is necessary to hold the Berlin summit, but it is also obvious that we have to approach it with specific developments, with the fulfilled tasks, which had been set during the summit in Paris, and with an understanding of what kind of results we expect from the Berlin summit," he told an online briefing following a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Normandy Four countries on Thursday.

He also emphasized that "nobody obviously wants to hold a summit just for the sake of it."

"Definitely, nobody has removed the summit from the agenda, but still we are yet to overcome a way towards it," the minister said.

According to Kuleba, "as soon as there are results, we will have reasons to talk about a summit," although it is too soon to schedule it for a specific time.

As reported, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kuleba held a video conference on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met last time in the Normandy Format in Paris on December 9, 2019, when they concluded a number of agreements on a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas.
[April 30, 2020] Yamaha Motor Ventures Co-Leads Seed Funding Round for Food Supply Chain Technology Startup Strella Biotechnology

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley ("YMVSV"), the strategic business development and investment arm of Yamaha (News - Alert) Motor Co., Ltd. ("YMC") (Tokyo: 7272), today announced it co-led a $3.3 million seed funding round for Strella Biotechnology (Strella Biotech), an early stage agriculture technology team. Strella Biotech brings shelf life visibility to the fresh produce supply chain. The Company's technology combines novel IoT biosensors with actionable insights to maximize freshness and reduce spoilage of fruit. Leveraging the USD $100 million Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund (the "Fund"), the Strella Biotech investment is the latest in YMVSV's portfolio of ag tech enterprises focused on technological solutions to food supply chain challenges. "Yamaha Motor remains keenly interested in teams applying innovative approaches to improving quality and increasing efficiency within the global food supply chain," said Nolan Paul, Partner and Global Ag Tech Lead for YMVSV. "Strella Biotechnology takes on the real-world challenge of food waste in a simple, yet sophisticated, technological approach that is already making a difference in delivering more, higher quality produce to consumers." The oversubscribed seed funding round for Strella Biotech co-led by YMVSV and Catapult Ventures raised a total $3.3 million U.S. with additional investments from Union Labs, Mark Cuba Red & Blue Ventures, and supply chain pioneer Art Mesher. The funding will support the company's product expansion into the retail distribution market, refining its technology for on-pallet sensing to allow data streaming throughout transportation to ensure better product selection by distributors and product quality at delivery to grocery stores. To date, Strella has monitored nearly 150 million fruits in the packing segment of the supply chain, where some fruits are stored for up to a year to accommodate for demand. Fruit packers use Strella technology to predict fruit maturation in storage and schedule shipments to retailers, resulting in reduced food spoilage.



"This is an incredibly exciting time in the lifecycle of Strella Biotech and to have Yamaha Motor Ventures as a partner to help deliver our food waste solution to the global market is very validating," said Katherine Sizov, CEO of Strella Biotechnology. "Gaining access to both funding and expertise from Yamaha will help us scale and evolve our ethylene-sensing IP and we look forward to our path forward together." About Strella Biotechnology

Taking on the challenge of $1 trillion in global food waste, Strella Biotechnology provides actionable data to optimize the fresh produce supply chain. With proprietary biosensor technology fueled by Internet-of-Things capabilities, Strella Biotech offers a data-driven approach to ensuring fruit quality throughout every segment of the supply chain. Strella Biotech is working to help produce companies increase their margins and decrease shrink by providing dynamic shelf life predictions. Strella Biotechnology is committed to supporting lower carbon emissions from the fresh produce industry and increasing sustainability for a healthier planet. For more information, visit www.strellaBiotech.com. About Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley is a wholly-owned subsidiary of YMC. Founded in 2015 in support of YMC's long-term goal to contribute to society through business, YMVSV manages the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, a USD $100 million investment fund with a 10-year lifecycle focused on seed to Series B investments. Headquartered in the home of innovation, Silicon Valley, Calif., YMVSV offers a wealth of business development resources to startup companies to drive innovation forward in the fields of mobility, sustainability, robotics, food and agriculture, health and wellness, and aviation. For more information visit www.ymvsv.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005069/en/

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The nationwide lockdown which began on March 25 has coincided with the union environment ministry taking significant policy decisions on several large infrastructure projects across the country,, many of which have been opposed by scientists and activists for their ecological footprint.

The environment ministrys expert appraisal committee (EAC) held nine meetings only in April through video-conferencing where several industrial, mining and infrastructure projects were considered and cleared.

Significant among them is the renovation and expansion of the existing Parliament building (part of the Central Vista) in the capital at at cost of 922 crore. EACs decision on the project will be made public next week.

The ministrys Forest Advisory Council (FAC) met twice during the period and deliberated on extremely contentious projects -- the Etalin hydropower project ( 3097 MW )( which will involve clearing of rainforests in Arunachal Pradeshs Dibang Valley ) and the clearing of the Nallamala forests in Telangana for uranium exploration. According to the minutes of the FAC meeting held on March 30, three independent expert members only confirmed decisions via email and that only the inspector general and director general of forests were present.

The National Board for Wildlife met once on April 7 but considered as many as 34 infrastructure, mining and commercial projects linked or inside wildlife sanctuaries and reserves.

Covid-related clearances

All ministries have been active but the environment ministry has been particularly active in expediting clearances for bulk drugs. Seven environmental clearances have been granted, six ECs have been recommended and 10 more drug proposals have been scheduled for EAC meeting on May 11 to 13, said Manju Pandey, joint secretary (media) based on inputs from ministry officials. Her reference is to the Covid-19-related clearances that the ministry rushed through.

Among other decisions, she added that a draft Environment Impact Assessment notification 2020 has been finalised and published for comments from public.

She did not comment on the other projects.

The environment ministry being in fast-track mode worries experts. Kanchi Kohli, legal researcher at Centre for Policy Research, said: First, it has continued to receive and appraise projects in all sectors and not just those, which fall in essential services. If a project is approved, it will be without any on-site scrutiny. The ministry has also not withdrawn the draft amendment to the EIA notification, despite request early on in the lockdown and stronger demands that followed thereafter. She added that there is also no clarity on  how the public facing functions of regulation will operate (now) -- for instance public hearings, monitoring the compliance of safeguards like effluent discharge, pollution, encroachment or illegal operation.

Clearance to mines

In its March 30 meeting, FAC recommended that the validity of forest clearance be extended automatically for government-owned mines whose leases were renewed for 20 years recently. In a separate decision, FAC also issued guidelines that forest clearance of mines whose leases expired on March 31 can be transferred immediately to new lessees to prevent any disruption in mining output.

Mining leases of around 40 mines expired on March 31 after they completed 50 years of operations. Experts questioned how previous environmental violations by these mines will be accounted for.

Projects in biodiversity rich areas

FAC considered two large and contentious projects in its April 23 meeting, the minutes of which are yet to be made public.

One of them is forest clearance given to the Etalin hydropower project in one of Indias most biodiverse zones in Arunachal Pradeshs Dibang Valley. The project will involve diversion of 1,150.08 ha of forest land and felling of at least 270,000 trees in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest and subtropical rain forests. Scientists working in Dibang Valley have written at least four letters, seen by HT, on how the project will spell doom for the regions biodiversity and the Idu Mishmi people.

FAC has also considered aN application for survey and exploration of uranium over 83 sqkm of forests in Telanganas Amrabad Tiger Reserve. Following widespread protests by environmentalists and local people, the Telangana legislative council took a decision to not allow the project. But AN FAC status report shows it was slotted for consideration because the proposal by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for exploration and Research was pending.

The National Board for Wildlife held a meeting on April 7 where approval was recommended to coal mining inside the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve in Assam; maintenance works for a road inside Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh; drilling of boreholes for Sharavathi pumped storage and underground 2000 MW hydropower station inside Sharavathi Lion Tailed Macaque sanctuary in Karnataka; and construction and commissioning of Lakhwar Multipurpose Project (300 MW) in Dehradun and Tehri Garhwal districts by Uttarakhand Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited .
Two Highway Patrol officers have been rushed to hospital after they were hit by an out-of-control car.

The police pulled over a car to conduct a roadside breath test on Hawkesbury Road near Springwood, in Sydney's west, about 5.30pm Thursday night.

Within minutes of them returning to their car, a P-plater driving a Land Rover Discovery hit the rear of the car, before rolling.

Both officers were taken to Nepean Hospital with bruising and suspected neck injuries.

A P-plater driving a Land Rover Discovery hit the officers car from behind shortly after, before rolling

Pictured: The two cars after the accident, which occurred on Thursday night

The driver allegedly returned a positive RBT, and was arrested and taken to Springwood Police Station for a further breath analysis.

Both drivers walked away unscathed.

The near miss comes just a week after four police officers were killed when a refrigerated chicken truck veered into them after they pulled over a speeding Porsche.

Leading Senior Constable Lynnette Taylor and her colleagues, Kevin King, Glen Humphris, and Josh Prestney all died on duty last Wednesday after the horrific crash at Kew, Melbourne.

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 last Wednesday night

Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa, 47, was charged with four counts of culpable driving, while the owner of the Porsche was also hit with a string of charges relating to driving under the influence of drugs and fleeing the scene of a crash.

Police allege Richard Pusey, the man behind the wheel of the Porsche, taunted an officer as she lay dying, before taking photographs of the bodies and distributing them online.

Investigations into Thursday night's crash are ongoing.

Police are urging anybody with information regarding the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Michael Fleming never got to say goodbye to his father. He didn't know his dad was fading away on a ventilator, diagnosed with coronavirus at the federal prison where he was serving time for a drug charge.

His father, also named Michael, was held at FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles and died April 19. At least half the population there has tested positive, the largest known hot spot in the federal prison system.

But the first word the family received of the father's illness was the day he died, from a prison chaplain asking if the body should be cremated and where the ashes should be sent.

They just left us all in the dark," Fleming said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We had to find out from the what the actual cause of death was. It was kind of screwed up.

The response from the federal Bureau of Prisons to the growing coronavirus crisis in prisons has raised alarm among advocates and lawmakers about whether the agency is doing enough to ensure the safety of the nearly 150,000 inmates serving time in federal facilities.

And even though officials have stressed infection and death rates inside prisons are lower compared with outside, new figures provided by the Bureau of Prisons show that out of 2,700 tests systemwide, nearly 2,000 have come back positive, strongly suggesting there are far more COVID-19 cases left uncovered.

At the same time, the Bureau of Prisons communication policies are leaving families in the dark about their loved ones' potentially life-threatening condition.

The 59-year-old Fleming had been serving a 20-year sentence on a drug conspiracy charge. The Bureau of Prisons never notified Fleming's family that he was taken to a hospital or when his condition declined.

Not having the opportunity to say goodbye -- that would've been invaluable," the younger Fleming said. "We will never have that chance.

Under Bureau of Prisons policy, the agency is supposed to promptly notify the family of inmates who have serious illnesses. But the agency, which confirmed the family wasn't initially notified, has discretion when making notifications, according to a spokeswoman.

Prisons officials say they are doing the best they can under dire circumstances and following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of Wednesday, 31 inmates, including Fleming, had died of the coronavirus at federal correctional facilities since late March. About 600 have recovered.

Prisons officials have daily calls with CDC officials, and CDC teams have visited several correctional facilities. As part of the plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officials have limited inmate movement, set up tents to increase bed space, isolated inmates at some prisons and identified others for possible home confinement.

The Justice Department obtained 20 ventilators for use at hospitals housing federal prisoners, Dr Jeffrey Allen, the bureau's medical director, said in an interview.

In the last week, the Bureau of Prisons has obtained more than 5,000 test kits and now has 20 rapid testing machines deployed at hot spot prisons to increase testing numbers, Allen said.

He insisted that testing was in line with current CDC guidance and that officials are working daily to discover new strategies to slow the spread of the virus.

But at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal lockup in New York City housing 1,700 inmates, there were only nine nasal swab test kits late last month, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of hundreds of inmates there. Just one inmate has been confirmed with coronavirus there, according to Bureau of Prisons statistics.

Deirdre D von Dornum, attorney-in-charge of the Federal Defenders of New York in Brooklyn, said there was a reason.

They are not testing anyone, she said.

At the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the New York City jail where Jeffrey Epstein killed himself, inmate Guillermo Zegarra-Martinez told his attorney in an email that his cellmate tested positive for the coronavirus and was put in isolation for more than two weeks.

But Zegarra-Martinez was not tested even though he was shaking in his cell with a fever during nights while experiencing pain throughout his body in the week before his cellmate was taken out and the week after, the inmate wrote.

The sick inmate was taken out of the cell only because he was coughing on the face of the guy who took his temperature, Zegarra-Martinez said, according to his lawyer, Sabrina Shroff.

Advocates and even prison guards have been calling for reforms to head off outbreaks in a prison system plagued for years by violence, misconduct and staffing shortages. Nearly 350 staff members have tested positive.

Staff are sent around the country to pick up shifts, and union officials say the shortages are still so severe that officers are sometimes working 24 hours in a row.

At a prison in Elkton, Ohio, where seven inmates have died, the governor called in the National Guard to help supplement medical staff.

Officers worry that the protective equipment they've been given isn't adequate to protect them from daily contact with inmates, especially at facilities where dozens have tested positive.

But Hawk Sawyer said the Bureau of Prisons is prepared with ample amount of personal protective equipment and supplies, including soap and disinfectant.

We are creating and making the masks for the staff, as well as the shields and hand sanitizer and all kinds of things," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Paula McCadden, from Ballygall, receives her shopping from Community Garda Louise OSullivan (right) and probationer Garda Anna Szczepan (PA)

Frontline gardai have been praised for their help in delivering shopping and medication to people cocooning during the coronavirus crisis.

Gardai have been deployed in communities across the country to assist in a range of roles.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, members of An Garda Siochana have been at the forefront, delivering medicine for people self-isolating, collecting pensions and food shopping for people cocooning.

Community Garda have been hailed for their work in helping vulnerable people during the crisis, and providing much-needed company to those who have been confined to their homes.

Expand Close Members of An Garda continue to engage in a wide range of community activities (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Members of An Garda continue to engage in a wide range of community activities (Brian Lawless/PA)

Officers call to supermarkets and pharmacies to buy the list of essentials before going to the homes of pensioners and those who are cocooning.

Garda Louise OSullivan and probationer Garda Anna Szczepan are just two of those officers tasked with helping residents in the Finglas area of Dublin.

Pensioner Paula McCadden, from Ballygall, said that gardai have been helping her through the health crisis.

It is a wonderful and caring service, its an efficient service, she said.

Garda Louise has been looking after me and she is a wonderful garda. Its a credit to An Garda Siochana.

Also, the way things are going at the moment, they are not so pleasant, but the garda is here today for me and Im sure for a lot of people.

Its helping me get through this and Ive been looking for Louise all morning. There are never any worries and she brings a smile to me every time she visits.

We cant have too much social interaction as before but we are getting through it wonderfully. I know their time is limited but its great to chat.

Derek Healy, a housing manager at Dublin City Council, said without the help of community gardai, the meals on wheels service would be lost.

He said there has been a huge increase in their demand for the service.

He added: The people who are cocooning cant get out and about so they need the service from ourselves and the community gardai. Without the gardai we would be lost.

The meals on wheels have been organised through the HSE so we are coordinating with them and assisting them and getting in touch with any residents that ring the Covid-19 helpline number.

We have vulnerable people and if there are any that we think have mental health issues, we ask for gardai assistance. The gardai then call and bring some of the food to these vulnerable people.




THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has warned councilors that are reportedly hoarding subsidised mealie meal and later reselling it at inflated prices that they face arrest.





Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting in Gwanda which was attended by councilors, law enforcement agents and the Matabeleland South provincial taskforce on Covid-19, NPRC Commissioner, Leslie Ncube said the commission had received reports from concerned residents about unscrupulous activities by councilors and their committees.





He said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) had started investigating the matter and culprits will be brought to book.





For the past week, we received letters from residents who are complaining of exorbitant prices of subsidised mealie meal. Councilors and their committees which were selected to administer the process of buying mealie meal have been fingered in these corrupt activities. Districts were advised to create committees that will spearhead the process of distributing mealie meal but councilors have been accused of nepotism in the selection of committees so that mealie meal isnt distributed transparently, he said.





Reports are coming to us that councilors and their committees are hoarding subsidised mealie meal which they later resell at exorbitant prices. We were given house numbers where some of these councilors are stocking the mealie meal. They are selling some of the mealie meal in Rands. May this serve as a warning to you, if you know that as a councilor this is what you have been doing make sure that from here you address this anomaly. ZACC is already seized with this matter and soon they will descend on the culprits, so take this as your first and final warning.





Comm Ncube said some councillors have been arrested in other provinces for corruption.





As councilors you are holding public office and you are not here to profiteer from this process. The process should be open and transparent, he said.





Comm Ncube said the purpose of the subsidised mealie meal was not to extort people but to feed the nation. He said Government has a special interest in mealie meal supply as it was concerned with food security in communities. The NPRC commissioner said the country recorded a poor farming season and as a result about 8 million people had been rendered food insecure hence Government had introduced subsidised mealie meal to ensure food security.





Comm Ncube said similar problems were being faced in Bulawayo hence the new strategy of door to door delivery of mealie meal. He urged Matabeleland South Province to adopt a similar strategy in order to eliminate unscrupulous leaders who sought to benefit at the expense of peoples welfare.





Speaking at the same meeting, NPRC chairperson, Retired Judge Justice Selo Nare said he had noted with great concern where he stays in Bulawayo that the same people were buying mealie meal on several consecutive days which they later resold at exorbitant prices. He said councilors had been entrusted with the role of ensuring that mealie meal was distributed fairly regardless of political affiliation and they had to fulfil this role.





Rtd Justice Nare said councilors and other leaders have to take the meeting as a warning before ZACC took action. He also urged people to ensure that the vulnerable members of the community are catered for under mealie meal distribution.




The United States has been on the opposite side of the OPEC oil cartel for decades in a great battle between the free market and supervised production levels. All that may be about to change, with the free market in the United States giving way to unprecedented action that could direct production levels of its private oil companies, playing OPECs game to survive the current crisis.

The U.S. oil industry is very sick and getting sicker by the day.

The negative prices we saw last week, finite oil storage space and the decimation of demand caused by the coronavirus have signaled a radical change in the American shale patch.

The change has been quick and brutal. Just last year, buoyed by sharp increases in natural gas and crude oil output, the United States actually produced more energy than it consumed for the first time since the late 1950s, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Fast forward four months from December 2019, and we have shale drillers shutting in wells, suspending deliveries to clients, and filing for bankruptcy. Demand for oil has fallen by close to 30% globally and is unlikely to recover anytime soon. Production is also fallingbut not fast enough: The OPEC+ cuts wont take effect until May, and it takes a while to shut-in a well, so the first effects of the cuts are still months away.

Meanwhile, storage is filling up with unsellable oil, both onshore and offshore. Around the world, at least one in every 10 very large crude carriers (VLCCs)each capable of holding 2 million barrels of oilis currently acting as floating storage, according to Saudi energy officials. Demand for VLCCs is rising, according to data from Signal Group, but the bookings are not for crude oil deliveries, just for storage.

The United States federal government has leased 23 million barrels of storage space in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to struggling oil companies.

Related: How Trump Convinced Saudi Arabia To End The Oil Price War

A pipeline operator, Enterprise Products Partner, has offered companies to open up the unused capacity of its Seaway pipeline to send oil to the Cushing hub.

Energy Transfer has gone a step further and has asked the Texas Railroad Commission to allow the use of pipelines as storage space.

All these things paint the picture of an industry in a state of panic, and with good reason: Its running out of options.

In addition to the voluntary shut-ins of wells, the only meaningful move that U.S. oil has is to cut production. Since most U.S. oil companies do not want to cut production except as a drastic last resort, regulators need to step in.

The idea of mandatory oil production cuts like the ones affected by OPEC+ but also by Canadas Alberta was first floated by Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton as a way to mitigate the effect of the Saudi-Russia price war and the looming coronavirus crisis on oil prices. Now, with the war over but the subsequent crisis still in full swing, the idea probably sounds, if not more appealing, then at least more probable.

The Texas Railroad Commission was scheduled to vote on mandatory production cuts this month. Instead, it delayed the vote until May 5, likely in hopes that the situation would somehow resolve itself.

Although some companies such as Pioneer and Parsley Energy are vocal supporters of mandatory cuts, most are against it, notably the supermajors, who are also the most resilient to the crisis.

Of course, there is also negative sentiment to government-instituted production limits. Its just not the American way to dictate to companies how much oil they should pumpthe United States likes to leave that to the oil cartels. But when push comes to shove, some have realized that these glaringly un-American measures might be the industrys only hope.

And despite the blowback on legal grounds, there is no legal obstacle, either, according to a Reuters round-up of lawyer opinion. It is illegal for companies to agree on production limits amongst themselves, as this would constitute a cartel under U.S. antitrust law. It does not, however, prohibit state or federal regulators from imposing a production limit.

Related: Russias Grand Plan For Arctic Oil Is Under Threat



Trump himself, other federal officials, and Congress cannot violate antitrust (law) by any official actions they take. It doesnt apply to them, one antitrust law professor said.

One may ask why the industry would need mandatory cuts if its already cutting by default due to market pressure? After all, President Trump himself said U.S. oil production would decline organically, thanks to low oil prices. However, prices have fallen way too low and too fast, and an organic decline will not be fast enough to respond to the situation, which would justify mandatory cuts.

And while Texas and its oddly named Railroad Commission have stolen the limelight in this respect, it is not the only state considering mandatory cuts. In a recent notice, the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources is also set to discuss whether producing low at current prices is not a waste of resources, suggesting that they may be preparing for mandatory cuts, too.

So, the chances of state regulators imposing production limits on oil companies are growing increasingly more likely. The question of whether they would work fast enough to revive the U.S. oil industry, however, remains. Some, such as the government in Washington, are optimistic. Others, such as Art Berman, not so much.

One thing is for sure, though. The effect of this crisis on the U.S. oil will be even more transformative than the shale revolution.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
(Newser)  Joe Biden has yet to personally address a former aide's allegations that he sexually assaulted her in 1993, and women's rights groups are running out of patience. Several women's groups prepared a letter earlier this month urging the candidate to address Tara Reade's allegations, but they put it on hold while they pressured Biden's advisers to get him to make a statement, the New York Times reports. Shaunna Thomas of the UltraViolet advocacy group says it is hard for sexual assault survivors to see an accuser "being tossed aside and actively being weaponized by cynical political actors." She adds: "It would be an incredible moment of leadership for Joe Biden to show up." The groups wanted Biden to make a statement before the end of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. More:

Nancy Pelosi said Thursday morning on two news shows that she is "satisfied" with how Biden has responded to the controversy. (Biden's campaign has denied the allegations.) Later, she told reporters: "I want to remove all doubt in anyones mind: I have a great comfort level with the situation as I see it, with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward, with all the highest regard for Joe Biden," per the Washington Post. GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called Pelosi a "hypocrite," reports the Hill.

said Thursday morning on two news shows that she is "satisfied" with how Biden has responded to the controversy. (Biden's campaign has denied the allegations.) Later, she told reporters: "I want to remove all doubt in anyones mind: I have a great comfort level with the situation as I see it, with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward, with all the highest regard for Joe Biden," per the Washington Post. GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called Pelosi a "hypocrite," reports the Hill. Campaign circulates talking points. BuzzFeed reports that Biden aides provided top Democratic supporters with a list of talking points on the issue, which said Biden "believes that all women have the right to be heard and to have their claims thoroughly reviewed." The talking points also asserted, incorrectly, that a thorough review from the Times concluded that "this incident did not happen." The Times says its story "made no conclusion either way."

story continues below

The allegations . Some of Reade's former co-workers have cast doubt on her allegations, but two more people came forward this week to corroborate them. A former neighbor said that Reade told her at the time that Biden "kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her. She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn't feel there was anything she could do."

. Some of Reade's former co-workers have cast doubt on her allegations, but two more people came forward this week to corroborate them. A former neighbor said that Reade told her at the time that Biden "kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her. She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn't feel there was anything she could do." Biden "needs to respond directly." Yvette Simpson, chief of the Democracy for America advocacy group, says Biden needs to respond directly to the allegations. Beating Trump in November is "essential," but "trying to manage the response through women surrogates and emailed talking points doesnt cut it in 2020 especially if Democrats want to continue to be the party that values, supports, elevates, hears and believes women," she tells the Times.

Yvette Simpson, chief of the Democracy for America advocacy group, says Biden needs to respond directly to the allegations. Beating Trump in November is "essential," but "trying to manage the response through women surrogates and emailed talking points doesnt cut it in 2020 especially if Democrats want to continue to be the party that values, supports, elevates, hears and believes women," she tells the Times. Steps he could take. Washington Post deputy editorial page editor Ruth Marcus says new information makes it "imperative" that Biden speak out. He needs to "answer the legitimate questions about the allegations," she writes. "More important, he needs to authorize and encourage the University of Delaware, the repository of his Senate papers, to do what is possible, even in the midst of the pandemic, to scour the available records for information about Reades short tenure."

Washington Post deputy editorial page editor Ruth Marcus says new information makes it "imperative" that Biden speak out. He needs to "answer the legitimate questions about the allegations," she writes. "More important, he needs to authorize and encourage the University of Delaware, the repository of his Senate papers, to do what is possible, even in the midst of the pandemic, to scour the available records for information about Reades short tenure." Police say it is an "inactive case." Police in Washington, DC, say the sexual assault complaint Reade filed on April 9 is now an "inactive case," Fox reports. Reade says she expected the development, because the case is outside the statute of limitations. "However, by making that police report, it allows a mechanism for me to safety plan and work with a victim advocate," she says.

Police in Washington, DC, say the sexual assault complaint Reade filed on April 9 is now an "inactive case," Fox reports. Reade says she expected the development, because the case is outside the statute of limitations. "However, by making that police report, it allows a mechanism for me to safety plan and work with a victim advocate," she says. Veepstakes are getting complicated . Biden has said he wants to choose a woman as his running mate, but Politico reports that some of Biden's potential picks could find it difficult to reconcile their approach to the Reade accusations with the "believe all women" stance they took during the battle over Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination.

. Biden has said he wants to choose a woman as his running mate, but Politico reports that some of Biden's potential picks could find it difficult to reconcile their approach to the Reade accusations with the "believe all women" stance they took during the battle over Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. "This is a huge deal that's not going away." Trump has faced numerous sexual assault allegations of his own, and pollster Tresa Undem tells the Times that she has not seen any shift away from Biden yet. "If the election was held today, I dont think hed lose any support, she says. "But this is a huge deal thats not going away. The story is going to be on the hypocrisy, and that is the No. 1 thing voters loathe."

(Read more Joe Biden 2020 stories.)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has come under fire for appeasing governments rather than protecting lives in northern Syria during the coronavirus pandemic, after it removed a direct appeal to re-open a key aid crossing point from a memo to the UN Security Council.

The original communique stated that NGO partners wanted the 15-member body to urgently reopen the al-Yarubiyah crossing from Iraq to the mostly Kurdish-held northern part of the country.

For the past six years, the Security Council has authorised the delivery of aid through this vital entry point but dropped its approval in January in the face of opposition from the Syrian regimes key ally Russia, backed by China.
As government officials consider relaxing the lockdown of the national economy, there remains concern among many in the population that the risks of dying from Covid-19 are too high and that government decisions authorizing a return to work are premature. Putting aside the trauma and associated pain and suffering from contracting the virus, the central concern is whether people would likely lose their lives by returning to work, going to a restaurant, or even visiting the hair salon or gym. At the same time, the economic costs of the lockdown are imposing catastrophic and long-term damage to the national economy.

The current situation, as Governor Cuomo has pointed out, is not sustainable. We cannot eliminate all deaths from this disease, but as we try to restore economic growth, it is time to evaluate what strategies, at the margin, are likely to provide the biggest payoffs in reducing individual risk. Of course, collective behavior (increasing or decreasing the rate of transmission of the virus) can also alter the number of fatalities. This is the primary reason that public-health policy has focused on enforcing social isolation. But extreme social isolation is costly.

CDC collects an enormous amount of data and will continue to be in a central position to publish and inform the public on the risk of dying from Covid-19. Most of us recognize that we cannot fully eliminate the risk of becoming infected, but what strategies are likely to have the highest yield in lowering our risk of infection, and who among us is most at risk? Individual risk of death will shift down as we learn more about the disease and become better informed on what measures are most effective for reducing transmission and what therapies work best for the infected.

How risky is it to go back to work?

There is a lot of discussion about the case fatality rate, i.e., what the chances are of dying if we become infected. But since we have little good data on the probability of becoming infected, we are not in a position to make an informed judgment on joint risk, which is the chance of getting infected and dying. We do, however, have a fairly accurate estimate of deaths from Covid-19. Data on deaths in Italy and New York confirm that for the population under 50 years of age, the risk of death is close to zero and rises after that through all older age cohorts. I am well aware of heart-wrenching stories of younger men and women dying from Covid-19; but so far, they account for a very small number of those who die from the disease.

Here is what we know from death data from New York and Italy: 70%80% of Covid-19 deaths occur among those over 70. We also know that the risk of death rises with so-called comorbiditiesdiabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, impaired immunity, and so on. Two other groups are especially vulnerable: health-care providers (which should now be given a separate status category under occupational health risk); and those living in nursing homes. For New York and New Jersey, 20%40% of the deaths are occurring in nursing homes.

How can CDC help us understand the death risk from Covid-19?

* The 2017 crude death rate, according to CDC, for the entire U.S. population (325 million) was 8.65 per thousand (yielding a probability of dying in any one year of 0.87%). This is calculated from a total of 2,813,000 deaths from all causes. Most epidemiological models are now showing 60,00070,000 deaths for Covid-19 by August. Even if total Covid-19 deaths were to rise to 120,000 for the entire year, the crude death rate for the entire population would rise to only 0.9%.

* Taking U.S. resident population data and the actual death rate for older cohorts, the pre-Covid-19 crude death rates calculate out as follows for older males (men face a substantially higher risk than women): (i) 6574 years: 17 per thousand, which yields an annual probability of death of 1.7%; (ii) 7584 years: 42 per thousand, which yields an annual probability of death of 4.2%; (iii) 85+ years: 150 per thousand, which yields an annual probability of death of 15%.

It is not surprising that the older we get, the higher the chance of dying. Lets look at some worst-case outcomes, starting with the 7584 age cohort (a crude death rate of 42 per thousand). I have no idea where we will be by year-end, but lets start with a somewhat worst-case estimate of 120,000 and then allocate half (60,000) of the entire Covid-19 deaths to the 7584 age cohort. We are also assuming that these deaths are a net increase, i.e., they are not deaths that would have occurred anyway a few days or months later. For the 7584 age cohort, the annual probability of dying would rise from 4.2% to 4.7%. If we were to allocate as many as 100,000 deaths to this cohort, it would raise the annual probability of dying to 4.9%. This death rate is an average from those who are healthy as well as those with extensive medical vulnerabilities. The death rate would fall to near the base risk rate if we excluded deaths in nursing homes, those with comorbidities, and health-care workers. Nursing homes are especially problematical: in New Jersey, the states roughly 400 facilities all have at least one positive coronavirus case. About 1,700 deaths have occurred at these facilities, or about 40% of the death toll for New Jersey. So for healthy males in this age category who are not residing in a nursing home or engaged as a health-care worker, the base risk number likely moves by very little above 4.2%.

What should CDC and other government agencies do to place the risk in perspective? Many of us are now under extreme isolation measures, following government edicts. Most of us have refrained from engaging in any social activities and traditional commercial transactions, and even if restrictions are relaxed, concern over the risk will make revival of the national economy difficult. Cable news and media sensationalism have generated a perceived risk that is largely unwarranted. For the population under 65, the crude death rate, even with Covid-19, has not substantially altered the risk of dying. A commonsense approach would suggest placing additional resources and focus on the most vulnerable (strict isolation and more care for those with comorbidities) and ramping up development of therapies to treat the illness. We need to directly address the occupational risk for health-care workers (e.g., more protection, shorter shifts, and more compensation). More important, we need to do these things not just to improve prospects for survivability of the nations residents but to promote confidence that it is safe to return to normal routines.

It is essential to convey to the public the true nature of the risk. CDC should publish risk estimates for age groups, including the joint chance of getting infected and dying. Give the public hard data on the joint risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Once the public understands that the risk is low, that modest measures can reduce the base level of risk, and that many normal activities of day-to-day life remain well within their personal risk tolerance, the public and a large segment of the workforce (most of whom have extremely low probabilities of dying from the coronavirus) more likely will head back to work. This would likely yield most of the benefits of the current lockdown and keep us from permanently damaging the national economy.

What about the potential to overwhelm the availability of hospital services? Clearly, it is a risk. But one benefit of a prosperous and growing economy, if we can restore it, is that we will have the resources and wealth to quickly expand medical services, including those available from the armed forces and, at the same time, to undertake a crash program for therapies and vaccines.

Lucian Pugliaresi is president of the Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. (EPRINC) in Washington, DC. He served on the National Security Council staff during the Reagan administration.
Georgia officials reported Tuesday the coronavirus has killed more than 1,000 people statewide as some local officials urged people to continue isolating at home in spite of the governors aggressive efforts to reopen businesses and reboot the economy.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said at least 1,030 deaths have been linked to the virus, with more than 24,600 infections confirmed statewide. The deaths include 432 people living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities in Georgia.

Gov. Brian Kemp has not said whether he plans to extend Georgias shelter-at-home order thats set to expire after Thursday. The Republican governor has already created gaping loopholes by allowing restaurants to resume limited dine-in service, and permitting hair salons, tattoo parlors, movie theaters and bowling alleys to reopen with restrictions. Kemp said hes also lifting a temporary ban on short-term vacation rentals Friday.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson told reporters Tuesday that Kemp was sending conflicting signals.

In reality, were under a stay at home order until April 30, Johnson said. Yet you can go get your nails done, you can go get a tattoo, you can go to movie theaters, you can go to bowling alleys. Its those kinds of things that leave people confused.

Johnson said over the weekend he noticed increased traffic on Savannahs streets and fewer people wearing masks or keeping a safe distance from others. He urged local businesses to refrain from opening for the time being if they can.

We are not out of the woods yet and this is hardly the time to become complacent or lulled into a false sense of security, Johnson said.

Kemps order also strips local governments of any power to impose restrictions of their own. Johnson and others who fear Kemp is moving too fast and risking a resurgence in infections are urging residents to keep staying home and business owners to remain closed.

In hard-hit Dougherty County, which leads Georgia with 117 deaths, many restaurants have heeded local officials request to keep their dining rooms closed because it just doesnt feel right right now, said Chris Cohilas, the countys elected chairman.

Cohilas noted one significant sign of improvement. He said Albanys Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital had just 80 coronavirus patients Tuesday, down from 127 two weeks earlier.

Kemp has said its imperative during the health crisis response to also mitigate deep economic suffering across Georgia. The state Department of Labor last week reported that 1.1 million workers  about one-fifth of the states workforce  filed for unemployment since the crisis started.

Still, Kemp took fierce criticism when many questioned whether Georgias data met reopening guidelines by President Donald Trumps administration, which called for a two-week trend of declining new cases, widespread public testing and the ability to trace the contacts of infected people to break the chain of infection.

Officials have argued that Georgias outbreak peaked in mid-April, but thats not yet clear from the data. The state has in recent days improved testing capacity. Kemps office said the state reported nearly 13,000 new tests Tuesday  the largest daily number since testing began.

Meanwhile, the state is still scrambling to build a projected 1,000-worker contact tracing effort.

Trump himself criticized Kemp last week, saying: I wasnt happy with Brian Kemp, I wasnt at all happy.

It took less than two months for Georgias death toll to reach 1,000 after the Georgia Department of Public Health reported the states first confirmed coronavirus infections March 2. Kemp announced the states first death March 12.

Kemp last week issued a new executive order instructing people 65 and older as well as those with medical conditions and residents of nursing homes and other care facilities to stay in place through at least May 13. But the governor said he was still examining data and consulting with Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey about what rules should apply to others.

Kemps order allowing many close-contact services to reopen also authorized resumption of elective medical procedures such as colonoscopies, joint replacements and dental cleanings that had been suspended.

The elective procedures are huge, said Dr. Andrew Reisman, a Gainesville physician and president of the Medical Association of Georgia. Its really the bread and butter, what makes ends meet, in surgery centers and physician offices and hospitals.

Dr. Peter Shatz, chairman of the Georgia Dental Associations innovation task force, said the practices where he works are screening patients by phone before they enter the office and checking their temperatures before putting them in the dentists chair.

Dentists and hygienists already wore gloves, masks and sometimes face shields. Shatz said now they will wear disposable gowns, plus surgical caps and shoe coverings.

A restaurant is a little bit different than a dental practice where we can control the flow of patients, Shatz said. We have certain advantages over other businesses because we are good at keeping things clean.

___

Amy reported from Atlanta.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Georgia
Baku-Supsa loaded 1000th tanker at Supsa terminal on the Black Sea ( ) The Western Route Export Pipeline (Baku-Supsa) operated by bp has loaded the 1000th tanker at the Supsa terminal on the Black Sea.





New control system makes cargo offloading faster and easier ( ) Following a successful test on the P&C tanker Fure Ven, Svanehj is now launching FlowControl, which automates the control of electric cargo pumps on tankers.





Launch of ABS-Classed Jiangnan Bluebonnet VLEC ( ) The world's first IMO Type B Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC), the ABS-Classed Pacific Ineos Belstaff, has been launched at Jiangnan Shipyard.





Trelleborg  specialist hoses for chemical tankers ( ) Swedish polymers specialist Trelleborg makes equipment for ship to shore transfer of specialist cargoes. This case study explains how its hoses were used for sulphuric acid transfer in Peru.




On April 19, Chinese authorities arrested two media workers based in Beijing, Cai Wei and his girlfriend Tang. They voluntarily contributed to Terminus2049, a crowd-sourced project that stores and collates reports and social media posts, containing information that is censored by the Chinese government. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the arrest of the media workers and calls for their immediate release.

A worker disinfects outside a high school in Beijing on April 27, 2020. Senior students returned to class for the first time since schools were closed down in January as part of efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Credit: Greg Baker/AFP

According to a report posted on Facebook by a Chinese human rights group, the families of Cai Wei and Tang were informed about their arrest five days after they had been held under police surveillance. The whereabouts of Chen Mei, a third volunteer working for the same project, remains unknown. He also went missing on the same day, according to his brothers post on Twitter.

The trio were reportedly working on a project that involved publishing censored articles and personal accounts around Covid-19, as part of their contribution to Terminus2049, that included an interview with a whistleblower doctor, Ai Fen, from Wuhan Central Hospital. Since the arrest of the media workers, the Terminus2049 page has been reportedly blocked in mainland China.

Microsoft-owned Github, the largest open-source publishing and code-sharing site, hosts Terminus2049 which began its operations in 2018. Since Github is not blocked by Chinas Great Firewall, many netizens take to the platform to archive censored articles that are banned on the Chinese internet.

Reports state that many other citizen journalists, including Chen Qiushi and Fang Bin, have gone missing since February 2019, after publishing news about Covid-19. Li Zehua, a citizen journalist who was reporting from the epicenter of Covid-19, Wuhan, disappeared for two months before re-emerging recently, stating that he was kept under quarantine by the authorities.

IFJ said: During a pandemic, the free flow of information is necessary in combatting the spread of the deadly virus. The arrest of media workers, exercising their freedom of expression to inform citizens, is not acceptable. The IFJ urges authorities to release the detained media workers and to immediately release further information on the whereabouts of the missing citizen journalists.
If you think your posture is the only casualty of staring down at a screen, think again. We dont realize how much our eyes suffer based on where we put our computer, says Koshy. Say you have a window behind your monitor and the view outside is brighter or has a different illumination level. Your eye is constantly adjusting like a camera to accommodate the two different intensities of light. Similarly, if the light from a window is behind you, it might be reflected in your screen, which can also cause eyestrain. He suggests setting up your desk so the window is perpendicular to it. And no matter where your computer is situated, its important to take frequent visual breaks. Set a timer to employ the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds.
Atlas Obscura has rounded-up seven different libraries that offer online virtual tours.

There's Harvard University's Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, the Klementinum library in Prague (which is like something out of fairy tale), the Puratos Sourdough Library (no, really), which only allows virtual visits, King's College Library at Cambridge University (natch), the Admont Abbey Library in Austria, the Jerome Hall Law Library in Bloomington, IN, and the A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands, CA.

The Klementinum library

This baroque library in Prague, Czechia, was built in 1722 as part of a Jesuit university complex, and its ornate interior has changed little over the centuries. Step into its 360-degree tour and gaze at shelves of theological literature beneath a ceiling of frescoes. In addition to housing more than 20,000 books, the library includes a collection of terrestrial and celestial globes. You can also explore nearby chambers, such as a public reading room flanked by massive oil frescoes and an observatory in the astronomical tower.

The Puratos Sourdough Library



Founded in 2013 by the Belgian bakery supply company Puratos, this collection of sourdough starters in St. Vith is the largest of its kind. Although it is not open for public visits, you can virtually venture into its refrigerators, which collectively hold more than 100 blobs of yeast- and bacteria- laden flour in jars. After hearing a brief introduction from its sole curator, Karl De Smedtwho globetrots to acquire these glorious globscheck out short videos that spotlight varieties of yeast cultivated by bakers around the world, from Altamura to San Francisco.

See the rest of the Atlas Obscura piece.

Image: Klementinum Library, Prague. Bruno Delzant/CC BY 2.0
Boise-based Happy Day Brands is shipping 32,000, 18-ounce bags of oatmeal to the Oregon Food Bank to meet an increased need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Thats roughly 420,000 servings, says Mark Priddy, Happy Day Brands chief executive and co-founder.

The donation to the Oregon Food Bank is part of an outreach across the western part of the country by Happy Day, which has had a public service ethos since its founding in 2017.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

Priddy remembers his family occasionally using food stamps to purchase staples while growing up. Its stuck with him.

Happy Day Brands really emerged from this concept of how to use business for social change, Priddy says.

We wanted to create great products. We wanted to bring people together. And the third thing is, how do we truly think about improving the human condition and transform lives?

From the start, Happy Day has been donating oatmeal to food banks. The company started doing this in Boise, targeting the Idaho Foodbanks School Pantry Program.

Happy Day began staging periodic packaging parties at the food bank in Boise. The company invited community partners such as groceries and restaurants to join with Happy Day employees and turn the donated bulk oats into two-pound pantry bags.

As the company expanded into Utah and California it brought the program and the packaging party concept along with it.

Happy Day had just begun expanding into Oregon when the pandemic struck. This created two problems.

Travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines made Happy Day packaging parties unlikely. And the food banks to which the company was donating didnt have the available volunteers to turn donated bulk oatmeal into individual allotments.

We had to pivot to come alongside our food bank partners who were working tirelessly to meet the need of so many people during this critical time, Priddy says.

Happy Day adjusted by pre-packaging oats destined for food banks before shipping them. That added to the expense the company was incurring.

So Priddy roped in companies such as Sysco and his suppliers of containers and found they were willing discount their goods and services to help make the program doable.

This is what Happy Day Brands is shipping to the Oregon Food Bank. (Courtesy of Happy Day Brands)

Our goal was, how do we provide over 3.5 million servings of oatmeal across the West, Priddy says. Our initial giveback to the Oregon Food Bank was going to be 150,000 servings for the year.

But we know the Northwest has been hit hard. So, we made a decision to provide 32,000, 18-ounce bags of oatmeal.

That translates into slightly more than 13 servings per bag, or about 420,000. Its a significant increase over Happy Days original goal.

But few plans made at the start of the year have survived the pandemic.

This is a moment when we decide who we are, how do we want to live, Priddy says. Is it an us vs. them mentality, or should it be about us collectively? How do we become facilitators of kindness and compassion and love?

We see the food banks as becoming those neighborhood hubs, those beachheads where people can find hope.

More in The Oregonian/OregonLive

-- Under siege by the coronavirus, local businesses pivot to help the larger community.

-- Does Lincoln City have a heart? Local homes show off.

-- Hillsboro toy store owner hits on winning solution to fight coronavirus.

-- Students at Ridgeview High bring their teachers to tears with heartfelt video.

-- Wilsonville church quilting group goes national to fight the coronavirus.

-- Portland artist and local business executive team up help Portland nurses.

-- Ken Goe

kgoe@oregonian.com | @KenGoe

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
With no new Covid-19 case reported in the last 10 days and four positive patients, including a 44-year-old Sector 15 woman and her husband recovering and being discharged from a private hospital on Thursday, Panchkula has only one positive patient at the Civil Hospital, which indicates that the authorities here have taken the right steps to control the pandemic.

The health department and district administration have been strict in laying down rules, which are being monitored effectively by the police. The MC too has been carrying out sanitisation of the city in a phased manner.

Apart from her husband, the 44-year-old woman, a post office agent, was the prime source of infection for her 14-year-old daughter and seven other family members, who were discharged on April 26. Besides, two men aged 18 and 68, who had attended Delhis Tablighi Jamaat event and were residents of Banoi Khuda Baksh village in Pinjore, were discharged from the Civil Hospital in Sector 6. Till April 1, city had only two cases, which later spiked to 18 by April 20.

Panchkula deputy commissioner (DC) Mukesh Kumar Ahuja said the administrations preparedness and proactive working process controlled community infection. He said the health department was active since the first case was reported at Kharak Mangoli village and the area was declared containment zone. Declaration of areas as containment and buffer zones and intensive screening and testing also helped, he added.

CONTAINMENT STRATEGY IN PLACE

Civil surgeon Dr Jasjeet Kaur said after the Sector 15 woman had tested positive, the containment strategy was immediately put in place and contact tracing carried out vigorously. Samples of 147 persons were taken of which eight of her family members tested positive. The sector was declared containment zone with its adjoining areas as buffer zone. Entry and exit of persons was prohibited and home delivery of essential items ensured.

The health department also conducted house-to-house surveillance and covered around 2,397 houses, screening 13, 791 persons in the sector. To date, 22 teams have screened 41,293 people. About 12 mobile medical teams are pressed into service.

OTHER STEPS

Besides declaring the localities as containment zones, the administration sealed all entry points to and from Dera Bassi in Punjab. Also, 18 villages in the district where Tablighi Jamaat attendees stayed after returning from Delhi had been contained.
Sumi Sukanya Dutta By

Express News Service

Leading epidemiologist Dr Giridhara R Babu, Professor and Head, Lifecourse Epidemiology, IIPH, Public iHealth Foundation of India, Bengaluru, and member of the ICMR's COVID-19 research group on epidemiology and surveillance, speaks to The New Indian Express on whether the lockdown has served its purpose and the road ahead. The views expressed here are personal. Excerpts:

The COVID-19 tally in the country was less than 700 on March 25 when India imposed a nationwide lockdown. While cases could reach 35,000 on May 3, the country is looking at a possible gradual lifting of the lockdown. How does it make sense and what can we expect in the weeks to come?

If there was no lockdown at the right time, assuming exponential growth, the country would have had approximately 1.5 million cases. If the cases were doubling every 3 days, we would have had 2.8 million cases. This amounts to somewhere between 47,000 to 86,000 deaths. Its always easy to criticize in hindsight. However, since the counterfactual scenarios are not intuitive, people tend to negate the benefits. This should guide what kind of actions we need to take as we move forward.

It is time that the country segregates all activities into essential and nonessential. While only essential activities will have to be allowed, the country has to adapt and continue the new normal. It has taken unparalleled measures including several sacrifices to reach this stage. We should not squander away the benefits in the zeal of opening up everything all at once. You can enter all at once (into lockdowns); however the exit has to be phased by location and extent of spread.

Do you think the lockdown period has achieved the desired results in terms of containment so far and also in preparation of health systems?

It would be unfair to us at the country level to know where we stand. The analysis should always be at the state and district levels. In my view, most states have achieved reasonably good results in terms of containment. Kerala is the leader of the pack while all the other south Indian states and Haryana have done reasonably well. The containment efforts in Gujarat, West Bengal, MP, Delhi, UP and Punjab have shown recent success which has to be improved. The health system has responded well but not sufficiently to address a huge escalation in the surge of infections.

Do you agree with the theoryand some claims being made that India has managed to flatten the curve?

Flattening of the curve is a dynamic concept. It only means that we have postponed having the peak load of transmission to a future date. In order to bend the curve, Ro should be less than one. 2Es should guide our progress. The first is epidemiology. This should guide our actions in terms of how much relaxation one can do while lifting the lockdown. However, this has to be balanced with another E representing the expectations of the people, society and other sectors.

The positivity percentage in the country has hovered around 4-4.5 % in the last 40-45 days or so. Could it indicate that the number of cases we are finding is proportionate to the number of tests we are doing and we should therefore ramp up our testing in order to find more cases?

We should certainly ramp up the testing. Currently only 1 in 23 tests is turning out to be positive. But if you look at Delhi which has one of the highest number of tests per million, one in 13 tests are positive and it has double the positivity percentage (8%).

There has been a lot of talk about how the overall number of cases and mortality in India has been lower, compared to several Western countries despite our huge population and population density. What are your comments on that?

There are multiple reasons for the lower burden of cases. One, because of the nationwide lockdown much earlier. Two, most of the infections were in the young age group with relatively fewer comorbidities. This can change if it spreads to wider communities. We have only conducted around 500 tests per million population and our surveillance activities have not been strong enough. Also, most of the cases are asymptomatic (comprises pre-symptomatic, atypical symptoms and truly asymptomatic) hence we do not know the actual incidence. Moreover, 68% of the population is below 35 years.

Can you please elaborate on what is going to be our surveillance strategy in the coming months in order to contain the outbreak?

Finding every case and identifying all the areas of transmission should be the main surveillance strategy. SARI and ILI surveillance should be strengthened and reviewed by the states and Centre in order to gauge the presence and extent of transmission. Testing capacity should be expanded.

Isolation of severe cases will have to be done at district and subdistrict level and therefore the health system has to prepare district action plans for both containment and mitigation This should be similar to how we prepare for national immunization plan (pulse polio).

There should be a district task force to prepare the micro planning with the help of the local medical colleges. The WHO has surveillance medical officers who can provide support to facilitate this process. IDSP and ICMR can provide continuous real time data on the integrated dashboard, which can help all the districts and states to review, plan and monitor as we move forward.
This was the first picture to emerge of Dennis Kellond, whose death has sparked a murder investigation in Surrey

Detectives probing the killing of an 88-year-old widower in a quiet village have arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

'Lovely chap' Dennis Kellond died from a head injury and his body was found by his son Peter on Monday in a tragedy that shocked the small local community of Godstone, Surrey.

Peter visited his father after being alerted to a possible problem by a female neighbour who was concerned the pensioner's back door had been left open for more than 24 hours.

Surrey Police announced this afternoon that a 41-year-old man from Lingfield has been arrested and is currently in custody.

East Surrey Chief Inspector Alan Sproston said: 'The latest development in this investigation should go some way to reassuring the local community that we are doing everything we can to find out what has happened and to identify and bring to justice those responsible for this horrendous crime.

'Our thoughts remain with Mr Kellond's family at this time who are being supported by specialist officers.'

A forensics team are pictured looking for evidence close to the Surrey property following the pensioner's death

Pictured: The property burglars broke into as police search for Dennis Kellond's killer

Police are pictured at the scene scouring for evidence after the 88-year-old died in Godstone

Surrey Police officers are pictured searching Godstone following the discovery of an 88-year-old's body in the village

Mr Kellond lived alone in Godstone after his wife died and his death during the Covid-19 lockdown has left the village reeling.

Local reverend Peter O'Connell from St Nicholas Church paid tribute to Mr Kellond, who he said was an active part of the community.

He said: 'You sort of expect that if absolutely terrible things happen in the world then it's not going to be anything here and especially not to someone who is 88 and no threat to anyone.'

Mr Kellond was also known as an avid fan of the ball game petanque, and a GoFundMe initiative has been set up raising money to name a pitch in honour of his memory.

Officers are pictured investigating in Godstone, Surrey, following the 88-year-old's death

The map shows where Godstone is in Surrey, with the village lying just outside the M25 in south-east England

A female neighbour, in her 70s, said that the suspected murder followed a 'spate' of break-ins in the area - with burglars reportedly wearing hazmat suits.

Speaking yesterday, Surrey Police revealed that Mr Kellond had died of a head injury.

A spokesman added that teams of officers have been carrying out house to house enquiries, forensic and search units have been making detailed investigations, and detectives are continuing to question people.

Officers have also stepped up patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.

Neighbours previously revealed that burglars wearing hazmat suits had struck at four houses in the village just days before Mr Kellond's body was found.

One woman said : 'According to the police it's because everyone is at home so they aren't burgling houses, but sheds instead. That's the police's theory anyway.'

Dennis Kellond, 88, from Godstone Boules Group, of which he was a member, pictured while playing Boules with fellow members and friends (centre with tape). He was found dead at his home in Godstone by his son on Monday

Kellond, third from left, was found dead at his home in Surrey by his son, with a post-mortem revealing he died of a head injury

Detectives from a major two-county crime team were called in to carry out inquiries around the crime scene while the hunt for the pensioner's killer or killers continued.

In an appeal on Wednesday, Chief Inspector Alan Sproston called on anyone with any information or video to come forward.

He said: 'Firstly, I would like to reassure the local community that we are doing everything we can to find out what has happened and to identify and bring to justice those responsible for this horrendous crime.

'Our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this time who are being supported by specialist officers.'

A fundraiser to name a petanque green in Mr Kellond's honour can be accessed here.

Anyone with information should contact Surrey Police quoting reference PR/P20095551.
Boston Scientific Corporation BSX posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 28 cents in the first quarter of 2020, down 20% from the year-ago figure. Earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 15.2%. Moreover, the figure lagged the companys guided range of 37-40 cents. The adjustments take into consideration certain amortization expenseand impairment chargesamong others.

Reported EPS in the first quarter was a penny, substantially below the year-ago earnings of 30 cents per share.

The significant earnings decline indicates the severe impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the companys global sales during the quarter. We note that the coronavirus mayhem forced the corporate sector to halt production and supply globally.

Revenues in the first quarter rose 2% year over year on a reported basis, up 3.2% on an operational basis (at constant exchange rate or CER). However, revenues declined 2.9% on an organic basis (adjusted for foreign currency fluctuations and certain recent acquisitions and divestments) to $2.54 billion. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.52 billion by 0.8%.

Q1 Revenues in Detail

In the first quarter, the company achieved 3.5% growth in the United States on a reported basis (same operationally). Revenues declined 1.6% decline in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (up 1.3%); 6.4% in the Asia Pacific zone (down 4.8%); 3.1% in Latin America and Canada (up 3.6%) and 10.1% in the emerging markets (down 5.4%).

Segmental Analysis

Boston Scientific currently has three global reportable segments: Cardiovascular, Rhythm and Neuro plus MedSurg.

Boston Scientific Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Boston Scientific Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Boston Scientific Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Boston Scientific Corporation Quote

The company generates maximum revenues from Cardiovascular. Sales from its sub segments, namely Interventional Cardiology and Peripheral Interventions were $633 million (down 2.7% year over year organically) and $392 million (down 2.1%), respectively, in the first quarter.

Story continues

Boston Scientific's Rhythm and Neuro business comprises Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM), Electrophysiology and Neuromodulation.CRM reflected a 9.9% year-over-year decline in organic sales to $437 million in the reported quarter.

Electrophysiology sales were down 5.2% year over year, organically, to $74 million. Neuromodulation sales declined 6.6% year over year on an organic basis to $191 million.

Other segments like Endoscopy plus Urology and Pelvic Health (under the MedSurg broader group) recorded sales of $442 million (up 1.5% organically) and $332 million (up 2.9%), respectively.

Margins

Gross margin in the first quarter contracted 241 basis points (bps) year over year to 68.3% due to a 10.4% rise in the cost of products sold.

Adjusted operating margin declined 641 bps to 17.6% in the reported quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 12.5% to $978 million while research and development expenses rose 7.1% to $300 million. Meanwhile, royalty expenses of $12 million fell 25% year over year.

Guidance

The uncertainties regarding the duration and impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the companys overall business have compelled Boston Scientific to suspend its previously-issued 2020 financial guidance.

Our Take

Boston Scientific delivered disappointing earnings and revenues for the first quarter. Sales at most of its core business segments were significantly down in the reported quarter, affected by lower demand for non-COVID-19 healthcare products and elective procedures.

On a positive note, the company has been leaving no stone unturned to strengthen its core businesses and invest in new technologies as well as global markets. In the quarter too, the company received a number of regulatory approvals for its core products globally. It received CE Mark approvals for its ACURATE neo2 Aortic Valve System and SpyGlass Discover Digital Catheter. It also received FDA approval for the DIRECTSENSE RF Technology.

In terms of COVID-19 related health support, Boston Scientific worked in collaborations with the University of Minnesota and others to develop Coventor, a low-cost ventilator alternative. This received FDAs Emergency Use Authorization in April.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Currently, Boston Scientific carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are ResMed Inc. RMD, Aphria Inc. APHA and ViewRay, Inc. VRAY. All the three stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ResMeds third-quarter fiscal 2020 revenues is pegged at $715.6 million, suggesting year-over-year improvement of 8.1%. The same for EPS stands at $1, indicating growth of 12.4% from the year-ago reported figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Aphrias fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 revenues is $100.3 million, implying a 4.4% increase from the year-earlier reported figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ViewRays first-quarter 2020 bottom line stands at a loss of 20 cents per share, suggesting 41.2% improvement from the year-ago quarter.

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Mairead O'Callaghan (left) and her friend Emma enjoy a picnic lunch at New Farm Park. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP

For the second time in as many days, Queensland recorded no new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24-hour period.

While some Queenslanders "jumped the gun a little bit", the state will ease some restrictions on activities from midnight and police will target Brisbane and Gold Coast hot spots to ensure people comply with the rules.

The path has been cleared for the NRL season to resume provided it doesn't put the states excellent work containing COVID-19 at risk, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warns.

The prime minister, premiers, and chief ministers will meet again in a week to discuss a further easing of restrictions.

Thanks for joining us today.
WILMINGTON, Del., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Following weeks of refusal by the Delaware State Department of Correction (DOC) to provide personal protective equipment (PPE)  including facemasks  to inmates today, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) denounced the state for rejecting their offer of 4,600 masks for free.

The DOC decision comes despite substantial evidence of the spread of COVID-19 in the state's prison system.

After distributing 10,000 masks to frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable populations throughout Delaware, CPBD secured an additional 4,600 face masks, which the group immediately offered to the DOC in the wake of the first inmate death from the virus at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center earlier this week.

After initially accepting CPBD's offer, the DOC reversed its decision and rejected the masks just four hours later after agency officials informed the office of DOC Commissioner Claire DeMatteis, a political appointee of Governor John Carney, who has been criticized by CPBD for his handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

The DOC's rejection of the PPE comes as the agency has still failed to provide face masks to all 4,200 inmates in its facilities despite updated Centers for Disease Control guidelines that recommend wearing face coverings to slow the spread of the virus. With prisons across the country emerging as vectors for transmission of the deadly coronavirus, civil rights organizations including the ACLU and the NAACP have urged state officials to take steps like providing masks to mitigate the risk of coronavirus in correctional facilities. Delaware's prisons are disproportionately filled with people of color, and racial breakdowns of the state's coronavirus cases show that Black and Hispanic Delawareans are being infected with the coronavirus at a drastically higher rate than white residents.

Said Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager Chris Coffey, "It is morally outrageous that the DOC would reject these masks for inmates in the state prison system. Their refusal to accept outside assistance is even more reprehensible than the crucial weeks the agency wasted before even beginning to address the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities. The DOC should be making every effort possible to make up for its deadly early delays in protecting inmates, but instead they are doubling down on their callous disregard for inmates' health and wellbeing rejecting lifesaving PPE.

"After Citizens secured and distributed 10,000 masks last week to communities in need in Delaware, multiple local pastors and State Senator Colin Bonini had reached out to us to see if we could help secure masks for the DOC. Answering their call, we did, and we offered the masks to DOC who said yes immediately. Just hours later, they reversed course.

"If the DOC continues withholding lifesaving PPE from the prisoners under its care, then the state of Delaware will be directly complicit in the deaths of the inmates they are now going out of their way not to protect."

Said Pastor Dale Dennis II of Hoyt Memorial CME Church in Wilmington, "People of color make up over 60% of Delaware's prison population but less than 40% of our residents. We know that black and brown folks have been the victims of historic, systemic injustices at the hands of our criminal justice system, but the coronavirus crisis has put those that are incarcerated at a different level of vulnerability. I am joining the calls from many Pastors across the State for the DOC to provide the care that they would want to receive and protect our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers housed in their correctional care."

Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware is a group made up of more than 5,000 members including employees of the global translation services company TransPerfect, as well as concerned Delaware residents, business executives and others. They formed in April of 2016 to focus on raising awareness with Delaware residents, elected officials, and other stakeholders about the issue. While their primary goal of saving the company has been accomplished, they continue their efforts to fight for more transparency in the Delaware Chancery Court. For more information on Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware or to join the cause, visit DelawareForBusiness.org .

Contact: Chris Coffey, [email protected]

SOURCE Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --



Depth Sensing market worldwide is projected to grow by US$5.2 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 12%. Camera/Lens Module, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 12.6%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$4.9 Billion by the year 2025, Camera/Lens Module will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05798344/?utm_source=PRN







- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 12.9% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$205.5 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$247.3 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Camera/Lens Module will reach a market size of US$379.6 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 11.8% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$915.6 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

Aquifi, Inc.

ASUSTeK Computer, Inc.

Becom Bluetechnix GmbH

Creative Technology Ltd.

Espros Photonics Corporation

Infineon Technologies AG

Intel Corporation

Lips Corporation

Melexis NV

Nerian Vision GmbH

Occipital, Inc.

pmdtechnologies AG

Qualcomm, Inc.

Sony Depthsensing Solutions SA/NV

Stereolabs

Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Company Limited

Texas Instruments, Inc.

Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (TowerJazz)

Volvo Penta









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05798344/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Depth Sensing Market: An Overview

Camera/Lens Module: The Largest Category

Asian Economies to Provide Considerable Growth Opportunities

Global Depth Sensing Market: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by

End-Use for 2019

Global Competitor Market Shares

Depth Sensing Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide

(in %): 2019 & 2025





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Depth Sensing Technology Vital to Unlock Advanced Computer

Vision Applications

Computational Depth Sensing Facilitate Development of High

Performance Commodity Depth Cameras

Rising Prominence of Depth Sensing Technologies for Mobile Devices

VCSEL Technology to Enable Wider Adoption of Mobile 3D Sensing

Smartphone Makers Continue to Focus on Integrating 3D Sensing

Capability into Cameras

Rising Sales of Smartphones, and Growing Adoption of Dual

Camera Mobiles and the Promise of Multi-Camera Smartphones

Augur Well for Depth Sensing Market

Global Smartphone Shipments in Million Units for the Years 2016

through 2024

Global Penetration of Dual Cameras in Smartphones for the Years

2016 through 2019

Penetration Rate (%) of Dual+ Cameras by Select Brands

Growth of Smartphone 3D Camera Market: An Opportunity for Depth

Sensing Market

Smartphone 3D Camera Market: Revenues in $ Million for the

Years 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025

3D Depth Sensing Market: Expanding Applications to Spur Growth

3D Depth Sensing Cameras Make Use of USB 3.0 Interface to

Support High Bandwidth Needs of Depth Sensors

Growing Use of AR & VR Technology Presents Opportunities for

Depth Sensing Market

Global Augmented and Virtual Reality Market: Revenues in US$

Billion for the Years 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025

3D Depth Sensing for Automotive Industry

Innovations in AI Disrupt Depth Sensing Market across Verticals

D-Sens: An EC Initiative to Develop Technologies and

Applications to Improve Public Safety using Depth Sensing

Innovations & Advancements

pmdtechnologies Announces Lighthouse Smart Home Camera with

Deep Learning, AI and 3D Sensing Capabilities

VIA Technologies and Lucid Partner to Provide AI-based Depth

Sensing for Cameras

Sony to Unveil New 3D Sensors with Depth-Sensing Lasers

Huawei?s Upcoming Phone to Feature Depth-Sensing Camera to

Enhance AR Capabilities

Occipital Unveils Structure Sensor Mark II with Active IR

Stereo Depth Sensing

Xiaomi Launches 3D Depth Sensing Hardware for Xiaomi Mi8 Explorer

Microsoft Transforms Smartphones and Webcam Devices into 3D

Depth Sensing Camera

MIT Researchers Develop Depth-Sensing Imaging System to See

Through Fog

Stanford Researchers Develop Depth-Sensing Autofocal Glasses

PRODUCT DEFINITION

Depth Sensing





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: Depth Sensing Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in

US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Depth Sensing Global Retrospective Market Scenario in

US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: Depth Sensing Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Camera/Lens Module (Component) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: Camera/Lens Module (Component) Historic Market

Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 6: Camera/Lens Module (Component) Market Share Breakdown

of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 7: Sensor (Component) Potential Growth Markets Worldwide

in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: Sensor (Component) Historic Market Perspective by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 9: Sensor (Component) Market Sales Breakdown by

Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Illuminator (Component) Geographic Market Spread

Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 11: Illuminator (Component) Region Wise Breakdown of

Global Historic Demand in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017

Table 12: Illuminator (Component) Market Share Distribution in

Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Depth Sensing Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 13: United States Depth Sensing Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Component: 2018 to 2025

Table 14: Depth Sensing Market in the United States by

Component: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017

Table 15: United States Depth Sensing Market Share Breakdown by

Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 16: Canadian Depth Sensing Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Million by Component: 2018 to 2025

Table 17: Canadian Depth Sensing Historic Market Review by

Component in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 18: Depth Sensing Market in Canada: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Component for 2009, 2019, and 2025

JAPAN

Table 19: Japanese Market for Depth Sensing: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Component for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 20: Depth Sensing Market in Japan: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2009-2017

Table 21: Japanese Depth Sensing Market Share Analysis by

Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 22: Chinese Depth Sensing Market Growth Prospects in US$

Million by Component for the Period 2018-2025

Table 23: Depth Sensing Historic Market Analysis in China in

US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017

Table 24: Chinese Depth Sensing Market by Component: Percentage

Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Depth Sensing Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario

(in %) for 2019 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 25: European Depth Sensing Market Demand Scenario in US$

Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 26: Depth Sensing Market in Europe: A Historic Market

Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period

2009-2017

Table 27: European Depth Sensing Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 28: European Depth Sensing Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Million by Component: 2018-2025

Table 29: Depth Sensing Market in Europe in US$ Million by

Component: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 30: European Depth Sensing Market Share Breakdown by

Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 31: Depth Sensing Market in France by Component:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2018-2025

Table 32: French Depth Sensing Historic Market Scenario in US$

Million by Component: 2009-2017

Table 33: French Depth Sensing Market Share Analysis by

Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

GERMANY

Table 34: Depth Sensing Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Component for the Period

2018-2025

Table 35: German Depth Sensing Historic Market Analysis in US$

Million by Component: 2009-2017

Table 36: German Depth Sensing Market Share Breakdown by

Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 37: Italian Depth Sensing Market Growth Prospects in US$

Million by Component for the Period 2018-2025

Table 38: Depth Sensing Historic Market Analysis in Italy in

US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017

Table 39: Italian Depth Sensing Market by Component: Percentage

Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 40: United Kingdom Market for Depth Sensing: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Component for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 41: Depth Sensing Market in the United Kingdom: Historic

Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Component for the Period

2009-2017

Table 42: United Kingdom Depth Sensing Market Share Analysis by

Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 43: Rest of Europe Depth Sensing Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Component: 2018-2025

Table 44: Depth Sensing Market in Rest of Europe in US$ Million

by Component: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 45: Rest of Europe Depth Sensing Market Share Breakdown

by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 46: Depth Sensing Market in Asia-Pacific by Component:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2018-2025

Table 47: Asia-Pacific Depth Sensing Historic Market Scenario

in US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017

Table 48: Asia-Pacific Depth Sensing Market Share Analysis by

Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF WORLD

Table 49: Rest of World Depth Sensing Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Component: 2018 to 2025

Table 50: Rest of World Depth Sensing Historic Market Review by

Component in US$ Million: 2009-2017

Table 51: Depth Sensing Market in Rest of World: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Component for 2009, 2019, and 2025





IV. COMPETITION



ASUSTEK COMPUTER

AQUIFI, INC.

BECOM BLUETECHNIX GMBH

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

ESPROS PHOTONICS CORPORATION

INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG

INTEL CORPORATION

LIPS CORPORATION

MELEXIS NV

NERIAN VISION GMBH

OCCIPITAL

QUALCOMM

SONY DEPTHSENSING SOLUTIONS SA/NV

STEREOLABS

SUNNY OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY GROUP

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. (TOWERJAZZ)

VOLVO PENTA

PMDTECHNOLOGIES AG

V. CURATED RESEARCH

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United States President Donald Trump this week joined other Republican leaders in resisting rising calls from Democrats and many governors across the US for federal aid to states and cities, and added a divisive immigration issue to the mix.

The problem with the states is were not looking to recover 25 years of bad management and to give them the money that they lost. Its unfair to other states, Trump said at the White House, echoing earlier comments by a top Republican lawmaker.

Trump suggested that any federal aid would be contingent on so-called sanctuary cities giving up protections for immigrants against federal deportation.

Whats happening is people are being protected that shouldnt be protected and a lot of bad things are happening with sanctuary cities, Trump said.

If were going to do something for the states, I think theyd probably want something having to do with sanctuary cities, he added.

Congressional Democrats will not go along with Trumps suggestion and instead will want to include provisions in the next round of coronavirus legislation that would protect immigrants from losing their rights to live and work in the US.

The American people are demanding answers and solutions. Sen. McConnell should focus the Senates work on the crises caused by COVID-19not right-wing judges or fulfilling his pre-existing partisan wish-list of protecting big business from any harm done to the American people.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 29, 2020

Not only are immigrants treating people in the hospitals, they are also picking food in the fields, they are delivering that food and keeping the food supply chain alive, said Pili Tobar, deputy director of Americas Voice, a pro-immigration advocacy group.

We need those workers, and they shouldnt be having to put their lives on the line while also worrying about an administration that is trying to deport them, criminalise them and attack them at every turn, Tobar told Al Jazeera.

The US Congress has passed four pieces of legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic, providing nearly $3 trillion in rescue funding for the economy and medical response. None of the funds approved so far would help states and cities directly.

The National Governors Association has called on Congress to allocate $500bn to help offset drastic shortfalls in state revenues resulting from the coronavirus shutdowns and emergency spending.

To stabilize state budgets and to make sure states have the resources to battle the virus and provide the services the American people rely on, Congress must provide immediate fiscal assistance directly to all states, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a joint statement.





Congress did not include funding for the states in a $484bn bill that was designed to help small businesses and hospitals and that was passed on April 21  and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell drew a line in the sand against bailing out the states.

I would certainly be in favour of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route, McConnell said on a top conservative US talk radio show.

My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they dont have to do that. Thats not something Im going to be in favour of, McConnell said.

The Senate Republican leader more recently has said he wants to see a liability shield included in a next round of legislation that would protect employers from legal claims from employees or customers who get sick from the coronavirus. Democrats say thats a non-starter.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer this week called McConnells posture despicable and calloused and said it would lead to hundreds of thousands of job losses for state and city workers.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo blistered Republicans for turning the debate over providing emergency support to states into  as he put it  an us vs. them, red-state versus blue-state dialogue.

When you start to politicise this situation, and you start to say red and blue, and this team and that team, you may as well take a wedge and hammer it right into the middle of this country, Cuomo said at his regular daily press briefing on Wednesday.

If this becomes a finger-pointing game and you divide this country, the worst could lie ahead, he said.

Let's talk about priorities. Sen. McConnell cares about bailing out:

-Airlines

-Big corporations

-Hotels

-Restaurant chains

-Public companies State and local governments want $ to fund:

-Police

-Firefighters

-Nurses

-Food banks

-Social services

-Teachers  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 29, 2020

New York has been hardest hit by the virus among US states and accounts for more than 295,000 cases and 17,600 deaths of the more than one million cases and 60,000 deaths nationwide, according to official tallies.

New York residents pay $29bn more in taxes to the federal government than they receive back in funding for expenses such as welfare and education, Cuomo said.

Republican-led states like Florida and Kentucky receive more than $30bn more than they each pay in, he said, citing data from tax revenue studies.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, who has been fiercely critical of the Trump administrations handling of the outbreak, has begun outlining priorities for a fifth bill to include the funding.

We have to respect that there are many people who are risking their lives to save lives and their jobs may be lost if we dont do the state and local, Pelosi said in an interview on a US cable news channel on Wednesday.

In addition to bailout funds in the form of grants to states and localities, Pelosi wants funding for the US Postal Service, and mail-in balloting, which Trump has said he opposes.

A municipal worker walks near buses at a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency yard in San Francisco, California [File: Jeff Chiu/Ap Photo]

No resolution of the conflict appears likely soon. While the 100-member Senate is due to return to work next week, the larger, 435-member House of Representatives has postponed plans to return until medical officials see further reductions in coronavirus transmission in Washington, DC.

Right now, state and local governments are going broke, said Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union, in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

With the economy in a tailspin and the tax base crumbling, they have begun imposing layoffs and furloughs, Saunders said. AFSCME is the largest US union of public-sector employees, representing 1.3 million workers.

AFSCME member Shirley Thomas, a school custodian in Jacksonville, Florida who was furloughed after the pandemic hit, said she hopes Congress will act soon to bring her job back.

I hope Congress wont abandon me or others like me who just want to help our communities get back on their feet, Thomas said on the call with union chief Saunders.
Global Schools Foundation contributes SGD250k to COVID-19 affected Singapore community

The Global Schools Foundation (GSF), which runs the Global Indian International Schools(GIIS) and One World International School(OWIS), has contributed SGD250,000 towards the welfare and community development of the COVID-19 affected in Singapore.

The donation raised by teachers and staff who contributed a portion of their three months salaries, has been handed over to the Citizens Consultative Committees (CCC) of 5 constituencies in Singapore.

They have made a major contribution here (in Singapore) and should be recognised and appreciated said HE Jawed Ashraff, High Commissioner of India in Singapore. Photo: Connected to India

His Excellency Jawed Ashraff, the High Commissioner of India in Singapore commended GSFs efforts, "They are working at various levels including citizenship consultative committees and working directly with other organisations. They have made a major contribution here ( in Singapore) and should be recognised and appreciated".

In #SGUnited, ours is a humble contribution towards the community, to ensure that the most vulnerable in the society get the right kind of help at the right time, said Atul Temurnikar, Executive Chairman of GSF.

Ours is a humble contribution towards the #SGUnited community, said Atul Temurnikar, Executive Chairman of GSF. Photo: Connected to India

GIIS has always been a conscientious educational institution, always ready to help out in social causes. Our teachers are equal contributors in our social activities, and during these trying times, it is only right that they do their part for the larger good of the society. We are very proud that they have risen to the occasion and helped in a way that is both beneficial and timely, said Melissa Maria, Principal at Global indian International Schools SMART Campus.

The beneficiaries of the SGD 250K donation are:

Tanjong Pagar  Tiong Bahru CCC Community Development and Welfare Fund, Joo Chiat CCC Community Development Welfare Fund, Buona Vista CCC Community Development And Welfare Fund, Punggol North Community CCC Community Development And Welfare Fund, Taman Jurong CCC Community Development and Welfare fund.

The CCCs are already doing an outstanding job and they have an absolute pulse on these needy people and would be able to respond quickly to their specific needs, explained Temurnikar on why GSF chose to work with the CCCs.

GSF has donated S$50k to each of the above CCC CDWF which will go towards helping the needy or the most distressed through food vouchers, and other social means.

GSF has contributed nearly S$1.25 million towards Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) towards curriculum development and tuition programmes of students from lower income strata of society. Photo: Connected to India

The initiative is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of GSF which has in the past made extensive donations for public welfare and social causes for the benefit of communities in Singapore.

At a time when many companies are encouraging employees to take voluntary pay cuts to help with the bottom line, we strongly felt the urgency, instead, to help the needy in our own way, Termurnikar said.

Our teachers and staff applaud all the frontline health care contributors and our Migrant workers from the bottom of their hearts and have generously contributed to this social cause, because each one of us appreciate their contributions in making Singapore the beautiful home that it is for all of us, he added.

GSF has contributed nearly S$1.25 million towards Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) towards curriculum development and as well as supporting tuition programmes and education needs of students who come from lower income strata of society.

As social distancing and circuit breaker measures have come into force, many have lost a source of income, Mr Temurnikar observed. Ours is just a small helping hand to ensure that our overall social structure remains strong, and no one is left behind in this time of crisis.

GSF schools, honoured with more than 150 international and national awards over a span of 18 years for achieving excellence in school education, is continuing education through Virtual Classrooms in this time of COVID-19.
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Not a typical CEO.

Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attacked coronavirus-pandemic shelter-in-place orders, demanding a restoration of "freedom."

Tesla's factory in California has been shut down since March.

The company managed an unexpected profit in the first quarter, but its ambitions for a 500,000-vehicle year are in doubt.

Markets don't care what Musk says  Tesla is now worth $150 billion, more than twice the market caps of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, combined.

Investors do care that Musk's brash leadership style and at-times reckless comments have created a company that's posted a 3,000% return since 2010.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If anybody thought a global pandemic was going to get Elon Musk to watch his words, they were wrong.

On an earnings conference call Wednesday night, after Tesla posted an unexpected profit for the first quarter, Musk lambasted shelter-in-place orders that, among other things, have idled Tesla's car factory in Fremont, California.

"If somebody wants to stay in their house, that's great and they should be able to," Musk said. "But to say they cannot leave their house and that they will be arrested if they do, that's fascist. That is not democratic. This is not freedom. Give people back their goddamn freedom."

We should have seen it coming, as Musk had been railing against shutdowns on Twitter before earnings were announced. And it's not as if he hasn't previously pushed the envelope on CEO decorum when dealing with the financial community. Who can forget his testy "boring boneheaded" assessment of Wall Street analysts' questions a few years back? His penchant for recklessness tinged with arrogance is probably the biggest flaw in his character.

The markets don't care what Musk says

Tesla's factory in California.

Tesla

The markets don't really price Tesla based on what Musk says, of course. Shares surged over 10% at times in after-hours trading on Wednesday, adding over $50 and sending the stock to almost $860, minting a market capitalization of nearly $150 billion. That's over twice the current combined value of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. In the US, there's now a sort of used-to-be Big Three and a new Big One, at least financially: Tesla.

Story continues

That's a baffling situation to many industry observers, who habitually point out that the major automakers have been printing money, pre-pandemic, by selling as many profitable pickups and SUVs in a month as Tesla sells all-electric vehicles in a year. But there's a good reason why Tesla is worth so much. It has to do with the company being incorrectly underpriced as an carmaker, but also misunderstood as a Silicon Valley tech startup; what we're really seeing is a 21st-century General Electric.

Back to Musk and his big mouth. Is there something new here? The guy has rarely kept his outrageous opinions in check. The difficulty for followers of his thoughts, diatribes, and opinions is that several decades of business-school-trained-slash-nerdy-introvert CEOs has given us a leadership template that's a blunt choice between being Bob Iger or Bill Gates.

Musk, as I've noted before, is much more like the brash, outspoken entrepreneurs of yesteryear who built the auto industry and took big risks in the 20th century: Enzo Ferrari, Gianni Agnelli, Henry Ford II, Lee Iacocca, John DeLorean. Enzo quite literally had blood on his hands, so committed was "il Commendatore" to racing that he demanded victory or death from his drivers. Agnelli made Fiat into the symbol of Italy's postwar recovery and was basically the country's imperious, unofficial king in his heyday.

It's impossible to create something as financially ridiculous as a car company without having an outsized, unpredictable, frequently offensive personality. And Musk has moved beyond even that level of mad ambition: Tesla shares mindspace with SpaceX, his other company, whose modest core goal is to colonize Mars.

Tesla's endgame isn't even electric cars

GM's future is electric, thanks to Musk and Tesla.

GM

But Musk also doesn't see Tesla selling a million or more vehicles a year, and potentially many more, as the endgame. The cars are a solution to an existential problem: global warming. As it's become obvious that the outlook for the global climate is dire, it's also become clear that it's taken Tesla almost two decades to move the needle ever-so-slightly against the entrenched internal-combustion engine.

So Musk's larger objective is to grow Tesla to the point where the competitive threat, although still marginal, is enough to get the rest of the auto industry to go electric. That's his and Tesla's grander accomplishment, as manufacturing giants such as GM and Volkswagen have finally committed to EVs in a serious way (GM rolled out its new electric technology early this year, and VW sees going electric as its best alternative in a post-Dieselgate scenario in Europe.)

It is worth pointing out that pandemic shelter-in-place restrictions have completely stalled Tesla's progress toward a 500,000-car year in 2020, so Musk's comments can't be placed in a context that's either purely virtuous and in-it-for-humanity or in the swashbuckling, uncensored tradition of less tightly leashed business leaders in the Era Before Twitter. (To his credit, Musk is legitimately concerned that Tesla's suppliers could face a tougher road ahead than Tesla itself, which has over $8 billion in the bank to ride out the COVID-19 crisis.)

It's also worth pointing out that Musk is perhaps the second-loudest voice on Twitter, behind President Donald Trump. The CEO has internalized the chief executive's central insight about the platform  that it empowers a kind hyper-communication, but with an experimental edge.

In Musk's case, he can easily test whether he has any meaningful support for a controversial idea simply by tapping out a tweet. For other CEOs, that kind of market research can cost millions. And Musk isn't afraid to come off as a buffoon or villain, while other CEOs obsessively avoid drama around their statements.

The disadvantage is that Musk wanders out of his depth or pushes his luck way too far. His infamous "funding secured" tweet of 2018 cost him his chairman title at Tesla and led to and SEC investigation and fines, as well as restrictions on his Twitter habit.

Don't forget that Tesla is mostly owned by the markets

A China-made Tesla Model 3 vehicle.

Yilei Sun and Brenda Goh

Ultimately, the market now no longer discounts nor rewards Tesla for what Musk says; the age of speculation about the company's fortunes is over. Anytime Musk wants, Tesla sells more stock to eager investors and pockets another few billion. It's hard to complain about the 3,000% return that Tesla has delivered since its 2010 IPO.

And now the fundamentals have begun to line up, after years of halting progress on actually manufacturing automobiles. For example, even with the pandemic shutdown in California, Tesla is building cars in China, attacking what should be its largest market, given that China's auto sales could double what carmakers achieve in the US.

Over the next few years, if Tesla can post consistently profitable quarters, it could begin to covert its 25% gross margin into one of the highest net margins in the auto industry. And for what it's worth, Tesla is the only mechanism for investing in substantial growth in sustainable transportation; the legacy automakers are held back by the immense costs of serving the huge existing market for gas-powered vehicles.

Tesla and its investors don't owe everything to Musk  there are 40,000 people working for the company who've made a collective contribution, and some of them might not be comfortable with the freedom to return to work right now if it means contracting COVID-19.

But there wouldn't be a Tesla worth $150 billion without Musk. An uncomfortable truth, but also the often exasperating, even maddening, secret of Tesla's success.

Read the original article on Business Insider
LifeWay announces temporary budget cuts, staff reductions in response to coronavirus

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Prominent Christian publishing company LifeWay Christian Resources will undergo freezes on the budget and reductions in staff due to the economic impact of the coronavirus.

The Nashville, Tennessee-based company announced Wednesday that they were going to enact temporary budget cuts beginning on Friday, expecting the measures to cut $25-$30 million of recurring expenses from their operating budget.

LifeWay will also reduce their staff, halt all new hiring, and suspend salary raises, with members of their leadership team giving up one months salary starting next month.

LifeWay CEO Ben Mandrell explained in the announcement that this was in response to a steep drop in sales starting in March, as shutdown and quarantine orders were being issued.

LifeWay stands to lose tens of millions of dollars of revenue that the organization would normally generate over the summer months from camps, events, VBS and ongoing curriculum sales, stated Mandrell.

LifeWay is mitigating these losses as much as possible through various expense reduction plans, including staff reductions and cuts in non-employee expenses. Additionally, LifeWay will likely have to use money from its reserves to cover a portion of the lost revenue.

The company explained that before the spread of COVID-19, they were faring well financially, having ended the first quarter 3 percent ahead of budget.

However, with the coronavirus shutdowns, LifeWay experienced five consecutive weeks of steep revenue decline across all sales channels, with revenue being down 24 percent compared to the same time last year.

LifeWay reported that the decline was largely due to a large decrease in bulk orders from churches for resources like Sunday School curriculum and Vacation Bible School.

Since our mission is tied so closely to local churches, we expect the impact of COVID-19 to continue to be felt here at LifeWay as churches slowly and cautiously begin to reopen their facilities and gather in person, added Mandrell.

 the good news is the local church will rebound and recover, but it will take time and will introduce new ways of thinking about ministry.

Earlier this month, some Christian publishing companies reported increases in Bible sales during March compared to the same time last year, likely due to fears over COVID-19.

Tyndale House Publishers reported that their Life Application Study Bible sales went up 44% and sales of the Immerse Bible went up 60%, compared to March 2019.

Jim Jewell, an executive at Tyndale, told The Christian Post in an earlier interview that he believes concerns over the pandemic has upended almost everyones lives in some way.

It's not surprising that people turn to the comfort and clarity of the Bible in times of trouble and uncertainty, he said, explaining that social media engagement also grew.

On [our Facebook page for the] New Living Translation, where we post Bible verse memes, engagement was triple what it was last March and up 72% from just last month.
GLENS FALLS - Employees represented by New Yorks largest public labor union rallied Thursday outside the offices of three Republican members of Congress calling for their support of more federal aid for state and local municipalities.

Members represented by the Civil Service Employees Association, which is the nation's largest state-level labor union, hosted drive by rallies in Glens Falls, Syracuse and Long Island as part of the unions campaign to get state and local governments unrestricted funding to deal with massive revenue losses amid the coronavirus pandemic.

CSEA Capital Region President Ron Briggs said members rallied outside U.S. Rep. Elise Stefaniks office in Glens Falls. Organizers said union members would maintain social distancing protocols by staying in cars; images from the event show that people were outside their vehicles, but were wearing masks and appearing to distance themselves from others. Stefanik has been supportive of the federal government providing more help to localities.

The CSEA represents about 30,000 state and local government employees in the greater Capital Region and more than 200,000 employees statewide, including workers who plow streets, collect garbage or provide other essential services such as child protective services.

Elise Stefanik has a great relationship with the current regime, and she needs to be more vocal to say: You have to stop playing politics and get the communities the services they desire and need, Briggs said. The federal government seems to understand businesses are hurting, but Im not sure why they dont think the same is happening for local governments that provide essential services.

Stefanik has called for Congress to provide federal funding for state and local governments, and has sent a letter to leaders on the task force urging for the fiscal support that will ensure schools, police, fire and other emergency medical providers are funded.

I fully support state and county funding and local funding from the federal government. I liken this to post-9/11, post-Hurricane Sandy, where the federal government stepped up to provide financial support for New York," Stefanik said during an afternoon phone conference with reporters Thursday. "We are working together as a delegation. We are working across party lines to advocate for increased financial support for New York, which has significant fiscal costs because of COVID I hope they were social distancing!

Mark Kotzin, communications director for CSEA, said Republican lawmakers were targeted in this first round of protests because of the need to put pressure on party leadership. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested states file for bankruptcy rather than the federal government chip in to keep local governments afloat.

We are trying to pressure every single member of the House and Senate to deliver this needed aid to preserve our public services, because at the end of the day, thats what all New Yorkers are going to rely on, Kotzin said. We have gotten assurances from Democratic leadership that they are in support, which is why we are specifically trying to move more Republicans to support this.

Local and state elected officials have also stressed the need for the federal government to step up and provide financial relief for communities that are facing budget holes from lost sales tax revenue and other fiscal impacts from the pandemic and businesses shuttering to help stem the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

State Assembly members recently sent a letter to congressional delegates pushing for the funding as well. Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, posted the letter on Facebook on Wednesday noting his support.

To be blunt, we are struggling to find a path forward for our state and local governments to continue to operate without considerable financial assistance from our federal government, the state officials wrote. Without aid, we cannot continue to fund critical services such as healthcare, public safety, transportation and education.

Federal officials continue to discuss a fourth stimulus bill, but the details have yet to be revealed.

Ive had conversations directly with President (Donald) Trump. Ive raised the issue of county and state aid," Stefanik said. "He requested that each member of the (White House Reopening) Task Force send in their top priorities. State and county aid was included from the requests from my office.

Emilie Munson contributed to this report.
The US Intelligence Community has dismissed conspiracy theories about the novel coronavirus being man-made, while noting that investigations remained ongoing into whether the outbreak came from a Chinese lab  a claim promoted by the president.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence concluded in a statement on Thursday that the IC concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.

The statement continued: The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.

Reports have indicated in recent days that US spy agencies were conducting a sweeping tasking operation in order to determine whether Beijing and the World Health Organisation hid critical information about Covid-19 in the initial months of the outbreak.

Spy agencies have been reportedly pressed by top officials from within the Trump administration to probe links between the pandemic and research that was taking place at a medical facility in Wuhan, China, the town where the virus was believed to have originated.

Intelligence agencies remain skeptical about the notion that any connection between the Chinese lab and the Covid-19 pandemic can actually be made, according to the New York Times.

Theories supported by Donald Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill have pointed blame at China for the viral outbreak, saying the disease broke out of the lab due to a fatal incident. However, many scientists have noted the likeliness that Covid-19 actually originated from animal-to-human transmissions, potentially through a bat.

More and more, were hearing the story about the Wuhan lab, Mr Trump said during a press conference earlier this month.

Analysts have said that a lack of transparency from Beijing during the initial months of the outbreak led in part to a flurry of conspiracy theories surrounding the origins of the novel virus.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also blamed China and called for more information, saying: The mere fact that we dont know the answers  that China hasnt shared the answers  I think is very, very telling.

The secretary of state and other members of the White House administration have since called on the lab to allow independent experts to conduct a review.
Classrooms at hundreds of state schools and kura that are small or remote will be upgraded as part of a $160 million property improvement programme, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today.

The Government went hard and early on our package to support businesses, and were now bringing forward infrastructure projects to reboot the economy.

This upgrade package is part of a pipeline of investments to improve our schools and it will create and support jobs for local tradespeople and businesses."

The Ministry of Education and schools will engage local builders, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, technicians and landscapers, who will in turn need to buy products and supplies from local stores.

Classrooms at almost 600 small or remote state schools will be tested to assess lighting quality, noise levels and temperature. All schools that need improvements such as LED lights, acoustic panelling and ceiling insulation will receive them, with work starting later this year," says Chris.

Small or remote schools face higher costs to deliver these kinds of improvements due to their size or location. Eighty-four state-integrated schools will be able to opt in."

Sustainability Contestable Fund

(This fund is in addition to the investment that will be provided through the clean-powered public service fund announced in January.)

Chris Hipkins also announced funding from the Sustainability Contestable Fund will support projects at 53 schools around New Zealand.

A total investment of nearly $2.5 million has been allocated today to the first group of successful schools, with additional funding for round two later this year. Projects will save schools money and reduce emissions. Work can start straight away.

Nearly half of the approved applications were for solar panels. Other innovations included rainwater collection, water conservation initiatives and different ways to compost and recycle.

A stand out for me was Glenholme School in Rotorua, which is replacing its gas boiler with a geothermal heating system that will heat the school, its water supply, and the swimming pool.

Minister for Climate Change James Shaw welcomed the investment.

Children today are growing up worried about the impact climate change will have on their future. This Government is helping to make sure the places they go to learn can be a part of the solution. It is another example of the progress we are making to ensure clean, environmentally friendly solutions are part of our everyday lives.

New, climate-friendly ways of keeping children warm and the lights on, as well as additional support for school-based conservation initiatives, will also provide an opportunity for children to learn about the steps we can all take to reduce our impact on the environment, James Shaw said.

School Investment Package (SIP)

Of the $400 million School Investment Package announced in December, projects at 149 schools, worth $23.67 million, have now got the go-ahead, says Chris.

Applications from schools slowed during the level 4 lockdown but the Ministry expects applications to ramp up and building and maintenance work at schools will resume as we move down alert levels.

Upcoming school redevelopment and roll growth builds

With the country now at Alert Level 3, construction work will be restarting at almost 250 schools over the next few days.

And over the coming months, construction will start on many more projects, which together are valued at over $100 million," says Chris.

These projects include:

Eight new teaching spaces, plus a new administration block and library at Parua Bay School in Northland

Major redevelopment to address weathertightness and other building issues at Flaxmere College in Hastings

Six new roll growth classrooms each at Clendon Park School and Rowandale School in Manurewa

Replacing fire-damaged buildings at Westland High School

A new 10-classroom block at Beachlands School in Hunua

The rebuild of Banks Avenue School in Christchurch

Redevelopments of Hagley College in Christchurch, Maniototo Area School in Ranfurly and Ngaruawahia High School

These projects are a part of a massive pipeline of government initiatives that will give big and small business confidence to retain and grow their workforces and build infrastructure for the good of all New Zealanders.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  It took 11 years of war in Vietnam for the United States to suffer 58,200 deaths. COVID-19 coronavirus eclipsed that in about nine weeks.

And while projections for the death toll have declined, the pandemic still is on track to become one of the deadliest events in U.S. history.

The U.S. death toll had topped 58,300 by Tuesday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University. That figure had climbed to nearly 61,000 as of Thursday morning.

The first U.S. death was confirmed Feb. 29, although there is new evidence that suggests it may have occurred earlier.

Earlier forecasts by President Donald Trumps emergency coronavirus task force estimated that deaths would total at least 100,000 people and perhaps rise as high as 240,000 people.

The estimates declined in April, reflecting efforts by Americans to practice social distancing, work from home and reduce contacts to avoid spread of the coronavirus.

But those estimates still are a moving target.

Modeling by the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, often cited by the administration, last week projected slightly fewer than 67,500 deaths, with an upper range of more than 123,000.

But as states begin to reopen, loosening up orders for people to stay at home and avoid gatherings, health experts caution that the rate of spread, and deaths, will rise.

This week the IHME researchers revised their projections, forecasting 74,073 U.S. deaths by Aug. 4  with an estimated upper range of more than 130,650.

And some modeling by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still forecasts well over 100,000 deaths, depending on how much Americans reduce contact.

Regardless, the death count already has surpassed casualties from nearly all wars and from all natural disasters.

At the higher end, U.S. deaths from the virus would be surpassed only by military casualties from the American Civil War and World War II.

Deaths from the 1918 influenza pandemic also were much higher.

Heres a look at the numbers for some of the United States most deadly events.

American Civil War: 750,000 military casualties for Union and Confederate forces, based on new research published in 2012.

1918 Influenza pandemic: An estimated 50 million people worldwide. The CDC estimates 675,000 Americans perished from the pandemic.

World War II: Figures from the Department of Veterans Affairs set total U.S. military casualties at 405,399 people. That includes nearly 292,000 battle deaths.

World War I: The VA lists American war casualties at just over 116,500 people.

Vietnam War: Military casualties are pegged at 58,220 people who died in battle or in theater.

Korean War: Military casualties are set at 36,574 people who died in battle or in theater.

War in Iraq: There were 4,431 U.S. casualties, including Defense Department civilian casualties, in the Iraq War.

War in Afghanistan: As of this week, the Department of Defense listed 2,427 deaths from Operation Enduring Freedom (2001 through 2014) and Operation Freedoms Sentinel (since 2014), including Defense Department casualties.

Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks: 2,977 victims (plus 19 hijackers),

Among natural disasters, the highest death toll is attributed to the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas. It is estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people were killed.

The estimated death toll for the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and ensuing fires  about 3,000 people.

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Local journalist Saeed Qaisar Inphool Nagar was found hanging in a building in the Kasur district, 40 km from Lahore on April 29. He had been missing since April 27 and was found dead two days later. The International Federation of Journalists ( IFJ) joins with its affiliate, the Pakistan Federation Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in condemning the alleged murder.

The PFUJ alleges the murderers tried to stage Qaisar's death as a suicide by hanging. The police have registered the case and started investigations but have yet to determine whether the death was a homicide or a suicide. The authorities are waiting for a post-mortem report.

PFUJ president GM Jamali and Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azeem have strongly condemned the killing of another media worker. We demand the authorities capture the culprits and put them behind the bars. We also demand that the government provide security to the journalists to stop such recurring incidents.

The PFUJ has sent their condolences to the family of Saeed Qaisar and assured them support as they pursue the case.

IFJ said: The IFJ strongly condemns the alleged murder of media worker Saeed Qaisar. Pakistan is one of the worlds most dangerous countries for journalists, and ongoing impunity makes the situation all the more precarious. The IFJ urges Pakistan authorities conduct a thorough investigation into Qaisars death to ensure justice is done.
Ukraine plans to pay close attention to the topic of hybrid threats and their possible interconnection with modern warfare.

Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba has announced the four-month Chairmanship of Ukraine at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and outlined its priorities.

"Ukraine will lead the FSC in the turbulent times of the ongoing Russian aggression against my country and global coronavirus pandemic. This is a time of grave challenges," he said in opening remarks at the online session of Ukrainian FSC Chairmanship on April 29, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoUkraine's foreign minister asks OSCE to push for release of political prisoners in occupied Crimea, Russia

Nevertheless, Ukraine will continue looking for opportunities and constructive responses, he said.

The OSCE remains an essential platform of cooperation and dialogue. "Especially now, when our societies face unprecedented hybrid threats, restrictions, economic crisis and profound changes to everyday life," he said.

According to him, the Forum, with its focus on the politico-military dimension of security, is a key pillar of the OSCE and a relevant platform for rebuilding trust and stability in the OSCE region.

The minister noted the contribution made by all civilian observers of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine who work in Donbas. "Ukraine is convinced that the politico-military aspects of this conflict should remain in a spotlight of the Forum," he said.

Kuleba outlined the priorities of the Ukrainian FSC Chairmanship.

"We've tried to draft a well-balanced and forward-looking agenda. I should start with the dire security situation in the Black Sea and the Azov Sea region, which is marked by ongoing militarization and impediment of the freedom of international navigation. We need to start a thorough discussion on this matter in the FSC," he said.

"Next comes a very topical issue of the global coronavirus pandemic, its impact on the Armed Forces and the role of the latter in assisting governments in fighting this threat," he continued.

According to him, Ukraine plans to pay close attention to the topic of hybrid threats and their possible interconnection with modern warfare. "These threats affect the majority of participating States," he said.

The foreign minister also emphasized the need to regulate the activities of private military companies and monitor snap military drills.

"Our priorities also include an emphasis on the issue of small arms and light weapons, and stockpiles of conventional ammunition," Kuleba said.

"Additionally, we would like to bring to the attention of participating States the topic of mine action and the OSCE's role in assisting participating States in this field," he added. "This topic is particularly relevant due to the dire humanitarian situation in and around certain areas of the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. It also maintains a particular importance for participating States facing negative humanitarian and socio-economic impacts of landmines and explosive remnants of war."

*** The Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), the predecessor of the OSCE, was established in the 1970s to deal with risks deriving from inter-State rivalries and to reduce the risk of military confrontations during the Cold War.

The participating States agreed to base their security relations on co-operation and not to enhance their security at the expense of other States.

In 1992, the FSC was created as a decision-making body to consult on military security and stability in the OSCE area. Its mandate was expanded in 1994 and in the early 2000s, the FSC began designing and implementing projects on the ground.

The FSC is a decision-making body that brings together representatives of the 57 OSCE participating States every week. Its work is supported and operationalized by the OSCE Secretariat's FSC Support Section and OSCE missions in the field.

The Forum is chaired on a rotating basis, with each State holding the Chairmanship for four months. The FSC Chairmanship is separate from, but works closely with the OSCE-wide Chairmanship. Decisions taken by the FSC are politically binding and taken by consensus to ensure that all participating States have an equal say in the decision-making process

During 2014-2020, FSC plenary meetings' attention was drawn at the initiative of the Ukrainian delegation to debates and condemnation of gross violations by Russia of the fundamental norms and principles of the OSCE and international law.
Mumbai, April 30 : The sudden demise of Irrfan Khan led to a huge surge in the online searches related to the noted actor.

Irrfan breathed his last early on Wednesday at the age of 54. He was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection earlier this week. However, unfortunately he succumbed to his ailment.

According to a SEMrush study, Irrfan's demise led to a massive increase in online searches for the actor.

In India, online searches for the actor increased by 6,900 per cent while globally, there was a surge of 6,200 per cent.

With projects like "Paan Singh Tomar", "Piku", "Talvar", "The Lunchbox", "Maqbool", and "7 Khoon Maaf", Irrfan carved a name for himself in Hindi cinema. He has gradually established himself in the West too. He featured in foreign films like "The Namesake", "Life of Pi", "A Mighty Heart", "Slumdog Millionaire',"The Amazing Spider-Man", "Inferno" and "Jurassic World".

The study found that since his death, there has been an outpouring of emotion in the virtual world. On Twitter, the top trends with which fans paid their respects were #irrfankhan, #ripirrfankhan, #ripirfankhan, #irrfan, #restinpiece, and #rip.

The number of tweets on these hashtags, respectively numbered 4073, 351, 341, 291, 255, and 163.

The most widely used emoji was one meant to convey shock -- it was used 1002 times. Other emojis, such as crying, were used to express extreme distress. The most emotive emoji- a face with tears -- was used 439 times. A less sad but mournful emoji was used 288 times.

Some fans used emojis like broken hearts and flowers to convey the loss they felt. On twitter, the broken heart and flowers emojis were used 389 and 198 times. Other emojis like a sad face, a black heart and shame were shared as well. Of these three emojis, each respectively was used 171, 157, and 26 times.

The study also pointed out that 45% of the sentiment expressed online about Irrfan was neutral, 33% was positive, and 21% was negative.

Talking about the study, Fernando Angulo, Head of Communications, SEMrush said: "We have lost an extraordinary personality... We have lost an accomplished actor and friend yet his memory will live on forever in the hearts of millions of his fans."
Founded in 1997, Centrica plc has been providing electricity and gas to customers throughout the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and North America for more than 20 years. It is now the largest supplier of gas  and one of the largest suppliers of electricity  to domestic customers in the UK.

Across the company's office locations, Centrica has always used virtual desktops, be that a remote desktop or terminal, a terminal service or a VDI platform. However, as the business grew, it became clear that traditional on-premise solutions were not delivering the flexibility or cost-efficiency needed. The shortcomings were especially pronounced in the winter, when demand on services was greatest.

It was very difficult to scale, said Patrick Babic, service owner for Centrica's End User Computing. It came to the point where we decided we needed to look at things from a different angle.

Choosing the right partner

As on-premises hardware approached its end of life, Centrica decided to look for a new way to simplify and standardise its desktop infrastructure whilst eliminating limitations forced on the company by relying on physical servers.

Ultimately, Centrica opted to move into a fully virtual world, working with Fujitsu and Microsoft Azure to roll out Citrix Cloud Services; Babic described the move as an obvious choice because the company already had strong relationships with both companies.

Choosing the right vendor as a partner is vital to the success of a project, he said. And while such a migration might seem straight forward, the reality is that large-scale moves like this are very difficult to pull off.

Many companies do this over a period of months or years, he said. We did it in literally a matter of weeks.

Babic estimated the migration, from proposal to deployment took, around 15 weeks, during which time the system was designed, delivered and moved. To do so in such a short time, it was crucial to be both agile be able to work collaboratively with all of Centricas business and technical partners.

The end result: two completely new, standardised desktop solutions, collating and simplifying 1,200 different apps that could be rolled out to 18,000 users around the world.

Reaping the benefits

For Centrica, the benefits were almost immediate. The project quickly became cost-neutral and Centrica now expects to save money during the new solutions first year. The company also managed to reduce 44 management servers to a simple, single URL and it can now spin resources up and down per region as needed to meet seasonal demand.

As the world continues to struggle through an unprecedented global pandemic, Babic said Centrica would probably be struggling to provide necessary services to its customers if it had not migrated. We would not be able to deliver [this level of service] on our legacy platform, he said. So, for us, the advantages have been absolutely incredible and our business is delighted that an investment was made in this platform.

In the past, any such migration involving a legacy platform could take between three to four months, due to the paper work, the purchasing of physical hardware and moving the data. Now, seeking approval is the longest part of the process, with migration able to take place with the click of a button.

With the project now fully rolled out in the UK and Ireland, Centrica is now looking to replicate its success by deploying the same solutions in its North American contract centres. Babic had expected that project to be complete in the next two to three months. But the effort has seen delays because of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.

For Babic and Centrica, the hard work can be boiled down to one ultimate goal. The biggest driver [throughout this project] was to have the scalability and flexibility we needed.
By Gurman Bhatia and Manas Sharma

(Reuters) - Despite infecting more than 3 million people around the world, there are still 33 countries and territories that have yet to report a single case of the novel coronavirus.

These include Comoros, Lesotho, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and tiny far-flung island nations in the Pacific such as Nauru, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

(Open https://tmsnrt.rs/3cUYM31 in an external browser to see an interactive graphic showing the last places on earth to be free of the new coronavirus.)

As of April 20, 214 countries and territories of the 247 recognised by the United Nations have seen at least one case of the COVID-19. Of these, 190 have also experienced local transmission  where the virus has spread within the community. There have been deaths in at least 166 of them.

Just because a nation has not reported an infection does not necessarily mean there have been no cases.

For example, North Korea has not reported any coronavirus cases but it is bordered by China, Russia and South Korea, all countries dealing with a high number of cases, meaning the virus may well have made it into the secretive state.

Some trends can be seen by looking at the spread of the coronavirus by regions. Asia experienced roughly two broad waves of transmission across borders, while in Europe, many countries started to report cases in the week from late February.

Latin America and Africa looked to be virus-free for January and February before the coronavirus spread rapidly through both continents.

Five countries and territories have managed to rid themselves of the virus after reporting cases. These are Anguilla, Greenland, the Caribbean islands of St. Barts and Saint Lucia, and Yemen.

None has reported deaths or state any currently active infections, with previous cases having fully recovered.

(This story corrects paragraph 1 to show 33 countries and territories without a case, not 34. Corrects paragraph 4 to show the number of countries and territories with at least one case is 214 not 213; shows 190 have experienced local transmission, not 186; shows 166 have had deaths, not 162. The graphic has also been corrected.)

(Editing by Robert Birsel and Karishma Singh)
El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia45 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/32pFT8NcEH https://t.co/42kaxUnd5K
Man stabs ex-wife in fight to see son

PHUKET: A domestic dispute over a father wanting to see his son early this morning (Apr 30) ended with the childs mother being stabbed in the chest and the mothers father also suffering knife wounds.

violencecrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 30 April 2020, 05:50PM

Police at the scene this morning (Apr 30). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

A shirt with blood stains at the scene. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Police at the scene this morning (Apr 30). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

A police officer holds up the scythe used in the fight early this morning (Apr 30). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Both have been taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Lt Col Sakchai Chunyong of the Phuket City Police was informed of the incident at 8:50am by officers at the 191 police emergency call centre.

Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, a house in Soi Saphan Hin in Phuket Town, to find Ong-art Kongkaew, 40, outside the house bleeding with a cut to his left leg.

Inside the house were his ex-wife Suphaphon Buthong, 40, and Ms Suphaphons father, Suphap Bunthong, 67.

Both had multiple wounds inflicted by a knife, Lt Col Sakchai said.

Ms Suphaphon had been stabbed in the chest. She had suffered a punctured lung, he added.

Both Ms Suphaphon and her father were administered first aid at the scene before being taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, Col Sakchai explained.

Mr Ong-art said that Ms Suphaphon was his ex-wife. They had been together for 10 years and they had two children together, but they separated about a month ago, Lt Col Sakchai said.

The two had an agreement by which the couples daughter, the older of the two children, lived with Mr Ong-art on Koh Siray while the son lived with Ms Suphaphon and her father, Mr Ong-art told police.

Mr Ong-art said that previously they agreed that Mr Ong-art was able to come to see his son. This time he was refused at the door and told that if he didnt leave the would call the police, Lt Col Sakchai said.

Mr Ong-art picked up his son and started to carry him away, and a fight started, he added.

Mr Suphap pushed Mr Ong-ark and tried to punch him, Mr Ong-art told police.

Fighting ensued, but Mr Suphap ended up on the ground with Mr Ong-art straddled across him.

That was when Ms Suphaphon ran and brought her father a scythe, Mr Ong-art said.

Mr Ong-art got up, retreated and shouted to stop, but both Mr Suphap and Ms Suphaphon did not stop, Mr Ong-art told police.

But the fighting continued and Mr Ong-art pulled out a knife he was carrying and used it to protect himself, Mr Ong-art explained.

Lt Col Sakchai said his officers were still investigating the incident.

Mr Ong-art taken to Phuket City Police Station for further questioning, and police will go visit Mr Suphap and Ms Suphaphon in hospital before deciding on any charges, Lt Col Sakchai said.
Born Belinda Naa Ode Oku a Ghanaian veteran actress, better known as Adwoa Smart has lashed out at some movie producers.

According to the diminutive actress, she isn't happy about the fact that she is not given the needed respect by filmmakers.

During an interview on Bryt TV, the actress angrily revealed that indeed she is a veteran in the industry hence any amount of money she deserves must be given but according to her deserving money turns out to be a fiasco.

She also lamented the attitude towards fee-paying in the industry by the new crop of producers.

According to her, the new crop of producers is the worse of it all.

These new film producers do not treat me with respect, she said. People just wake up one day and claim to be producers.

They pay other actors huge sums of money and pay me a peanut. Do you think I deserve this? she quizzed.

Watch the interview below


April 30 : Actor Gufi Paintal and Kumud Mishra gets overwhelmed with the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, shares their thoughts on the untimely passing of finest actor in India.

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor has passed away, he was hospitalised on Wednesday morning after complaining that he was not feeling well. He was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Wife Neetu Kapoor was at his side.

Kumud Mishra, who worked closely with Rishi Kapoor in Mulk, said, I am not in a state to speak anything now. I am really sorry for that. In 2 days back to back got to hear such sad news, it's difficult to overcome. We'll probably talk after 2 days. I am sorry.

It's bad bad,how can fate be so cruel.Old collegue, friend gone..worked with him from start of Career. He was Hero,I was Asst. Director.Was doing now a film"SHARMA JI NAMKEEN"with him as lead. What a Frank nature.India loses it's Hero.God give courage to family. RIP dear Rishi. pic.twitter.com/5ZGZYoiOV0  Gufi Paintal (@paintall) April 30, 2020

Gufi Paintal, who has been around in film industry for decades and has worked with Rishi Kapoor extensively, missed his friend dearly. He said, He was my best friend. He left us and is gone, he has cheated us. Sorry I can't talk more.

In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.

Post return to India, his health has frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to hospital in quick succession in February. Amid speculations about his health, he had been hospitalised in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested an alleged arms dealer, who unsuccessfully contested the 2014 assembly election on a BJP ticket, in connection with a case related to suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh who was caught while ferrying terrorists outside the Kashmir valley.

The accused, identified as Tariq Mir, a resident of Maldoora of Shopian district in south Kashmir, was the fifth person arrested in the case which came to light when Singh was arrested along with three terrorists including a most wanted Hizbul Mujahideen commander in January this year.

Mir, who was elected as Sarpanch on a National Conference ticket, had contested the 2014 assembly elections in the erstwhile state from Wachi assembly seat in South Kashmir on a BJP ticket. He secured a little over 1,000 votes in the election.

The NIA produced him before a special court here that remanded him to six days in the agency's custody after it was alleged that he had been indulging in arms supply to various terror groups operating in the valley and also had links with Singh.

The NIA, which has been carrying out investigations even during the time when the entire world is battling the novel coronavirus, is hopeful of getting more links during his interrogation.

Singh was arrested along with Hizbul Mujahideen commander Naveed Babu, his close associate and a lawyer who was working as an overground worker for terrorists at Mir Bazar on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on January 11, while they were on their way to Jammu.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the house of Singh in Srinagar, right next to the Army's XV corps headquarters at Badami Bagh cantonment, where he had sheltered the trio before leaving for Jammu.

Last month, the Delhi Police's Special Cell had brought Singh and the other three accused to the national capital from different jails in Jammu and Kashmir as it was believed that the terrorists were planning to execute attacks in Delhi and other parts of the country and targeted killings of protected persons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said during remarks at White House that the United States is looking into storing an additional several hundred million barrels of oil in the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

"We're also exploring potentially having the ability to store another several hundred million barrels," Mnuchin said on Wednesday evening.

The Treasury Secretary said the Trump administration is looking at a variety of strategies to help, but excluded a bailout of the oil industry as an option. He said the focus of the government's efforts is to protect the US national security interests and American jobs in the oil industry.

President Donald Trump has said his administration will soon announce a relief plan for oil companies.

In early April, the Energy Department announced a solicitation to immediately make 30 million barrels of the strategic reserve's oil storage capacity available to US producers. Media reported that 1.1 million barrels of oil have been delivered this month.

Oil producers, particularly in the United States, have been hard hit by plunging global demand and nosediving prices as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has grounded airlines and halted other forms of travel and industry activity.

Earlier this month, the price of futures for May delivery of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the benchmark US crude index, fell into negative territory for the first time in history, reaching as low as minus 37.63 a barrel.

(Sputnik/ANI)

Also Read: Irrfan Khan Death: US Ambassador Ken Juster condoles actor's demise
More than you want to hear about the novel coronavirus pandemic, but things that you might not have read or thought about:

As you have heard, covid-19 is not a form of the flu virus. In fact, the technical term for it is SARS-CoV-2. Yes, its a relative of SARS, so it packs a bigger punch than influenza.

Because it is a new form, we really dont know much about it. We will learn as we go along, fighting it all the way, but not with anything designed to stop or mitigate it. It takes time to develop such things: about a year, and we are off to a slow start.

Ever since Jefferson, we have complained about big government. You dont have to look very far to find someone with a complaint about a bloated bureaucracy. But there are some things that require the kind of coordinated action that only a large, experienced, long-established government can handle. This is one.

Which is why sound and fury about big government, and subsequent moves to shrink it drastically look pretty foolish now, especially the 2018 dissolution of structures designed to deal with the kind of trouble we are in now. Our current scramble to assemble such a team is not only an embarrassment, but a cautionary tale for the future.
Boston, MA, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gordon Brothers, the global advisory, restructuring, and investment firm, announced today that it has acquired the global Laura Ashley brand, archives, and related intellectual property from the Laura Ashley groups U.K. Administrators.

Founded in 1953 by husband and wife team Bernard and Laura Ashley, the business grew into a globally recognized retail, wholesale, licensing, and franchising business selling both home furnishings and fashion products. With an eye for delivering quintessentially British goods with a modern flair, the brand developed a passionate following which has allowed it to maintain its relevance regardless of the way the winds of fashion have blown. More recently, the brand expanded globally with outposts in markets as varied as South Korea, the Ukraine, the United States, and Japan.



Laura Ashley is a true giant among British lifestyle brands, possessing a unique ability to span geographies, product categories, and price points, commented Ramez Toubassy, President of Brands for Gordon Brothers. He added, We feel humbled and inspired by the responsibility to reignite Mrs. Ashleys original vision while delivering unique and contemporary products to both long-time followers and new customers from around the world.



As new owners of the brand, Gordon Brothers will partner with management to evaluate several go-to-market strategies for the business, some of which could include retaining a streamlined portfolio of retail stores in key markets within the U.K. and Ireland. Gordon Brothers intends to place a strong emphasis on building e-commerce, developing more strategic wholesale relationships, and expanding the portfolio of licensees and franchisees globally.



Throughout this process, Gordon Brothers has shown a passion for the Laura Ashley brand and I am delighted that, under their ownership, there will be a real opportunity to grow its profile worldwide, said Rob Lewis, Joint Administrator of several of the Laura Ashley group companies in the UK. He continued, Whilst we have taken an important step forward in securing the sale of the brand, we continue to explore opportunities to reshape the UK store based retail and manufacturing businesses and are very grateful for the efforts of the entire team at Laura Ashley in helping us with those discussions.

Story continues



Robert Russell, UK Head of Restructuring at DLA Piper UK LLP, advised Gordon Brothers on the Laura Ashley brand acquisition transaction.



Gordon Brothers Brands division values, acquires, restructures, and invests globally in underleveraged, distressed, or dormant intellectual property to help revive and reimagine some of the worlds most iconic brands.



About Gordon Brothers

Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.gordonbrothers.com) has helped lenders, operating executives, advisors, and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four service areas: valuations, dispositions, operations, and investments. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial, and industrial sectors to put assets to their highest and best use. Gordon Brothers conducts more than $70 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually. Gordon Brothers is headquartered in Boston, with 25 offices across five continents.

Nicole Trice

Gordon Brothers

617-422-6569

ntrice@gordonbrothers.com


The drug everyone is talking about

A federal trial suggests it might help people recover from the coronavirus a lot faster. But a study found it had no benefit for severely ill patients. The F.D.A. is likely to authorize its emergency use, an administration official told The New York Times.

All that news came on Wednesday about an experimental antiviral drug called remdesivir (pronounced rem-DESS-ih-veer).

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is optimistic about the drug, which was originally developed in the hope that it might be useful against the Ebola virus (it wasnt).

In the federal trial, conducted by his organization, Dr. Fauci said remdesivir appeared to speed up recovery from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, by about 31 percent compared with a placebo. While that doesnt seem like a knockout, he said, what it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said India is doing better compared to other countries on all parameters in its fight against COVID-19 and should be able to win this decisive war in the coming few weeks.

While virtually interacting with civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on COVID-19 issues at an event organised by Niti Aayog, Vardhan said such organisations have been working tirelessly to ensure essential resources reach the last mile.

Talking about India's preparations and their results, the minister said, "We have gone quite ahead towards winning this war against COVID-19."



He added that the country has done better on "all our parameters" compared to the rest of the world. "And I am sure in the coming few weeks, we should be be able win decisive war against COVID-19," the minister claimed.

TheCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Biotechnology are doing genetic sequencing of coronavirus at 1,000 places, he said, adding, "We have half a dozen vaccine candidates, four of them are in significantly advanced stage."



The health minister also informed that everyday the country is manufacturing 1.5 lakhpersonal protective equipmentin the country.

He said in May, "we will have good indigenous production of good quality anti-body test kits and also kits for detection of coronavirus".

About challenges ahead as the Centre relaxes curbs on movement of stranded migrant workers, he said there will be requirements of lots of help from NGOs to reorganise migrantlabourers again in their home towns as there could be some resistance in the society when they go back.

Until now, nine lakh people are under community surveillance, the minister said adding that it was a huge operation undertaken in the last three months.

The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic rose to 1,074 and the number of infection cases climbed to 33,050 in the country on Thursday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily of Armenia-related top news as of 30.04.2020:

 The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 2,066 in Armenia, and two new deaths have been reported.

As of Thursday 11 am, a total of 134 new cases were recorded.

According to the latest data, 929 COVID-19 patients have recovered thus far, whereas 32 others have died in Armenia from the disease.

As the health minister Arsen Torosyan noted Armenia has recorded the maximum COVID-19 cases and if it keeps the same, Armenia will probably move on to the strategy of not hospitalizing asymptomatic citizens or those who are in a very mild form of the disease.

In the meantime, a 94-year-old woman in Armenia has beaten the coronavirus, and she was discharged from the hospital.

 Despite the record level of COVID-19 cases recorded in the country, the Armenian government is currently going along with the scenario that the commandants decision on the type of economic activity will be changed as of May 4. Thus the important domains will be reopenedbut in compliance with the mandatory rules.

 After a shootout took place in Gavar Tuesday between a group of people from this town and some residents of Noratus village, an unedited version of the video footage has been released.

As a result of the shootings, Zorik Paronikyan, an investigator, and a young resident of Noratus sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Four others were wounded, two of whom were taken to a Yerevan hospital and the other twoto Gavar hospital.

One of the wounded has been checked out of the hospital in Gavar, whereas the condition of the other wounded is critical but stable.

Thus, in connection with the incident in Gavar, 15 people have been detained in connection with the incident, and a decision has been made to detain three more.

 The report, which police have prepared on the incident involving Armenian parliament Deputy Speaker Alen Simonyan and Adeqvat union co-founder Artur Danielyan, has been sent to the Prosecutor's Office.

To note, the members of the aforesaid opposition union on Wednesday reported that fellow member Artur Danielyan was attacked on a street by Alen Simonyan.

Later, Simonyan said during the Facebook live stream that he had greeted Danielyan, but the latter had cursed at him, after which he had hit Danielyan on the nose with his head.

Artur Danielyan was taken to a hospital, but he left this medical center a few hours later.
Mansfield University facing a potential $6 million shortfall in revenue was thrown a lifeline by the State System of Higher Education on Wednesday to get it through the fiscal year.

The systems governing board voted unanimously to provide a 10-year loan to the 1,683-student university. The loan to the systems second lowest enrolled university comes with strings.

There are frequent reporting requirements on its progress toward achieving benchmarks related to reducing their workforce size. It also has to seek approval from system Chancellor Dan Greenstein before making hiring decisions or entering into contracts, among other reporting requirements.

By June 30, 2022, the university, which employs 301 people, must downsize its faculty so that the student-faculty ratio increases to 17-to-1. It was 12-to-1 in 2018-19. Additionally, it must raise its student-non-faculty ratio to 13.9-to-1. Last year, that ratio was 8.6-to-1.

Greenstein said the system will leave it up to Mansfield officials to figure out how to achieve staffing reduction because university officials know best how to do that without disrupting the academic program for students.

University President Charles Patterson said the boards approval on Wednesday of a retirement incentive program for non-faculty employees should help with the workforce reduction. He said the university employs many retirement-eligible faculty and staff.

Well certainly hit those targets, Patterson said, confidently.

While the system is willing to loan the school up to $6 million, Patterson isnt convinced the university will need to borrow the full amount.

"The $6 million is a bit of funding to get us through the end of the fiscal year and also for some contingencies because of the COVID environment, he said.

Those contingencies include financial losses from the virus-related cancellations of camps, conferences and tournaments typically held on campus over the summer. There is the possibility of some federal dollars coming to the university to offset its COVID-19 losses.

Mansfields financial challenges evolved over time as it saw its enrollment drop from 3,569 in the fall of 2009 to 1,650 in the fall of 2018 but staff attrition didnt keep pace with that decline. As a result, the university has been dipping into its operating reserves since 2011-12 to keep itself afloat. This year, its operating budget is $44.5 million.

Patterson, who took over the Mansfield presidency last year, said hes encouraged by the 2% increase in enrollment that the school saw this past fall, raising it to 1,683. Plus, he said the post-COVID-19 era is likely to draw more interest from adult learners who lost their jobs during the pandemic and are looking to re-skill or up-skill.

We know the challenges before us but sustaining rural communities really requires a stable education industry and that stable education requires collaboration and innovation in todays higher education realms so were looking forward to the future," he said.

Patterson has been made aware of the decades-old talk about state lawmakers desire to close this low-enrolled university in the states Northern Tier. He finds comfort in Greensteins objections to closing any of the State Systems 14 campuses.

Greenstein argues the systems universities serve a dual purpose of being a top employer in their region and preparing workers for their regions workforce needs since most of the students they attract come from the surrounding area.

Mansfield is the third largest employer in Tioga County. The closest four-year school to it is the much-higher-priced Lycoming Coming, about 45 minutes away. Patterson said it is the largest contributor of post-secondary degrees in that region, churning out an average of 600 program completers with an associates degree or higher between 2014 and 2016.

Considering workforce projections forecast 206,000 new jobs being created in that region by 2026 with half fo those jobs requiring some amount of post-secondary education, Patterson sees a brighter future ahead for the university.

Besides, he said, if you close Mansfield, you decimate the region, honestly.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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Quinn Meadowcroft relaxes on his inflatable air couch during easier times at last summer's XPoNential Music Festival. This year's festival has been cancelled. Read more

This years XPoNential Music Festival has been canceled.

The sprawling three-day music festival, which is the signature event for adult-alternative University of Pennsylvania radio station WXPN-FM (88.5), was scheduled to take place from July 31 to Aug. 2 at Wiggins Park and the adjacent BB&T Pavilion in Camden.

The station said on Thursday that the decision to cancel the annual festival was made due to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns for the WXPN community, in conjunction with the Camden County Board of Freeholders and concert promoters Live Nation.

We are heartbroken, and we know the artists, our members, business supporters, volunteers, and longtime attendees of this event are, too, said WXPNs general manager Roger LaMay. However, given the magnitude of the current health crisis, we know this is the right thing to do.

LaMay added, We are committed to our community and are working on new ways to connect artists and audiences on the radio, online, and eventually even in-person with social distancing.

Information about XPoNential refunds is available on the FAQ page of the XPNfest.org website. Ticketmaster will contact pass holders starting May 1.

Those who purchased passes for both the BB&T and Wiggins Park portions of the fest will have the option of a 100% refund or 150% credit to be used for future Live Nation shows. Wiggins Park-only pass holders will receive full refunds.

The scheduled headliners of this years fest at the BB&T were Nathaniel Rateliff, Grace Potter, and the Marcus King Band on Aug. 1 and Norah Jones, Mavis Staples, and Black Pumas on Aug. 2.

More than two dozen other acts, including New Pornographers, Liz Phair, the Districts, Molly Tuttle, Devon Gilfillian, Son Volt, Michaela Anne, and Arthur Thomas & the Funkitorum were scheduled to play next door during the fests three days in Wiggins Park.

 READ MORE: Phillys Odunde Festival, the countrys largest African American street fest, is canceled due to the coronavirus

The announcement follows New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphys comments that as part of his plans to reopen the state, concerts arent going to be anytime soon. The likelihood of XPoNential taking place had dimmed on Wednesday when the Newport Folk Festival, which takes place the same weekend in Rhode Island with many of the same acts, canceled for this year.

News of XPoNential being nixed leads to the question of whether the Roots Picnic, slated for that same weekend at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, will also be canceled.

 READ MORE: Roots Picnic packs in a crowd for its first time at the Mann Center

The all-day Picnic which drew 25,000 to the Manns expanded campus last year, was originally scheduled for May 30 and later moved, due to coronavirus concerns, to Aug. 1. Live Nation declined to comment on whether that show will go on.
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Linkedin Issam Ahmed (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Thu, April 30, 2020 09:42 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd51e49a 2 World US,coronavirus,Anthony-Fauci,COVID-19,COVID-19-drugs,remdesivir,pandemic,health,infection Free

Remdesivir has a "clear-cut" effect in helping COVID-19 patients recover, a top US scientist who oversaw a large clinical trial into the highly-anticipated antiviral said Wednesday, hailing it as proof that a drug can block the coronavirus.

Anthony Fauci made the remarks at the White House shortly after the medicine's maker, Gilead Sciences, revealed it had met its primary goals in the largest and most robust investigation to date.

Fauci said "the data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery," adding that it proves "that a drug can block this virus."

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which Fauci leads, is soon expected to release a detailed summary of the results, so it remains difficult to quantify exactly how well the drug performed.

Nevertheless, it represents the first time any medication has been shown to improve outcomes against the COVID-19 illness, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives globally and brought the world economy to a grinding halt.

There had been mixed news about the intravenous antiviral in recent weeks. A summary of results posted on the website of the World Health Organization last week showed it failed in a smaller Chinese trial. The Lancet on Wednesday published the formal paper describing that experiment.

In this study of 237 patients in Wuhan, China, doctors found no positive effects of administering the drug compared with a control group of adults, except for those patients who required ventilators.

But the Chinese test had to be halted early because it could not recruit enough people to meet its initial goals, and was considered by many experts to be too small to draw reliable conclusions from.

Fauci said it was "not an adequate study."

The US-led trial, however, which began in late February, is thus far the largest to investigate remdesivir and is technically the most robust.

According to a data sheet, its estimated enrollment was 800 patients, a portion of whom received the drug while the rest received a placebo, with the trial conducted at multiple sites across the world.

Neither the patients nor their physicians were aware of which group they belonged to, in order to eliminate unconscious bias.

Time to recovery

Its main goal was to evaluate how long patients take to recover on versus off the drug -- with three different categories of recovery: hospitalized but no longer needing oxygen; discharged from hospital but still limited in their home activities; and discharged from hospital with no limits on home activities.

Without numeric data it is hard to judge just how well patients did but Gilead's statement indicates there was an overall improvement over the placebo.

It is a Phase 3 trial, the final stage before any medication can receive regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Remdesivir, which previously failed in trials against Ebola, belongs to a class of drugs that act on the virus directly -- as opposed to controlling the abnormal and often lethal autoimmune response it causes.

It mimics one of the four building blocks of RNA and DNA and gets absorbed into the virus's genome, which in turn stops the pathogen from replicating.

The antimalarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are also being widely used against COVID-19 on a so-called "compassionate basis" pending results from large trials, with early studies decidedly mixed.

Other therapies that are being studied include collecting antibodies from COVID-19 survivors and injecting them in patients, or harvesting antibodies from genetically-engineered mice that were deliberately infected.
For making triple layer medical masks & N-95 respirator receives support to combat COVID-19

As part of Nano Mission programme, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has approved support for upscaling an antiviral nano-coatings developed by Professor Ashwini Kumar Agrawal of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi for use as appropriate material for producing anti-COVID-19 Triple Layer Medical masks and N-95 respirator in large quantities.

Silver is known to have strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungus, and so on. Professor Agrawal developed N9 blue nanosilver at SMITA Research Lab, IIT Delhi, under the nanomission project, and will be carrying out the upscaling work in association with two industrial partners Resil Chemicals Pvt Ltd. Bangalore and Nanoclean Global Pvt Ltd., New Delhi.

Resil chemicals will provide N9 blue nanosilver. Nanoclean Global will provide face masks and PPE materials for the application of nanocoating and will help in the design and fabrication of samples at their facilities.

"DST has initiated and nurtured nanoscience activities in the country in the last two decades producing quality human resources, infrastructure and knowledge in this globally competitive area. Today India stands 3rd globally in the number of scientific publications in nanosciences. The use of highly effective antimicrobial nanoparticles on PPEs, masks etc is a useful application that will provide an extra layer of protection for the high risk settings, such as for the medical workers", said Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST.

Prof Agrawal, along with his team, proposes to evaluate antiviral properties of this compound against COVID-19 in association with AIIMS, New Delhi, and ILBS, New Delhi. The N9 blue nanosilver, which is a highly potent antimicrobial agent, will be further modified to form nanocomplexes with Zinc compounds to achieve a synergistic effect. Subsequently, these nanomaterials will be applied as coatings on facemasks and other PPEs to improve their ability to protect the wearer from accidental contamination from COVID-19 virus droplets. The researchers will evaluate the shelf life of the coatings and their efficacy with different storage conditions such as temperature, humidity, and time and prepare facemasks and PPEs and provide these for field trials.
Rishi Kapoor Passes Away At 67, Here Are The Films That Cemented His Position In Bollywood
UPPER THUMB  Michigan Sugar Company has a new line of red colored Pioneer Sugar bags for retail customers.

The red bags have blue and white accents and feature the traditional ox and wagon logo used by Pioneer Sugar for decades. The red bags will be used to package the following Pioneer Sugar products:

 2-pound, 4-pound, 5-pound, 10-pound, and 25-pound white granulated sugar.

 2-pound and 7-pound Confectioners Powdered Sugar.

 2-pound and 7-pound Golden Light Brown Sugar.

 2-pound Dark Brown Sugar.

Its the same sweet sugar in a new sweet bag, said Michigan Sugar Company President and CEO Mark Flegenheimer, noting the Pioneer Sugar brand dates to 1906, the year Michigan Sugar Company was founded. We have not changed the look of our Pioneer Sugar bags in many years, and we wanted to create a bag that would stand out on the grocery store shelves while incorporating many of the elements customers have become familiar with over time.

Flegenheimer noted the new bags began to hit store shelves this month and will cycle into the market over the next several months. He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic sped up the process of launching the new bags.

Retail demand for sugar has been robust over the past month, and our employees have been working around the clock to fill orders from our retail customers, he said. In doing so, weve moved a great deal of sugar out of our warehouses and were able to begin transitioning to the new red bags sooner than originally expected.

The first bags customers will see are the 4-pound and 10-pound white granulated and 7-pound Golden Light Brown.

In designing the new bags, Michigan Sugar Company partnered with The Food Group, an advertising, marketing, content, and brand engagement agency that specializes in food and beverages.

Many hours were invested into brainstorming, creative-thinking, data-analyzing and working with The Food Groups branding professionals to bring this new look to our sugar, said Michigan Sugar Company Vice President of Sales and Marketing Pedro Figueroa. Todays food shopper has much different tendencies and preferences compared to years past, and so we are looking to enhance the shopping experience with a fresh, innovative look at the supermarket shelf. The new look is certainly catchy, but also focuses on our main storylines: Michigan-Made, Farm-to-Table, All Natural, Locally Grown. Locally Owned. and Certified Vegan, which all are featured on our new grocery bags.

In conjunction with the new bags, Michigan Sugar Company is working to spruce up its Pioneer Sugar Facebook page, has launched a Pioneer Sugar Instagram page and is working to refresh its brand website at www.pioneersugar.com with updated content and engaging visuals.
Manila (CNN Philippines Life)  During one of President Dutertes recent late-night speeches, he said that those taking part in gambling and cockfights should not be afforded with financial assistance in this time of crisis. Kayong nagsasabong at inuman, ibig sabihin may pera kayo, the President said. Do not expect any help from me. Sorry na lang.

His remarks sparked debate online with people making their sentiments known, going so far as saying that the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development should cease to exist. One Facebook commenter said that the 4Ps scheme just contributes to the indolence of Filipinos. Another added that many Filipinos just use the cash assistance for things like gambling, drinking, and drugs. One other user also said its so disgusting that while people like him are obeying the quarantine, some remain irresponsible, including those regularly receiving aid from the government. An anonymous user even commented that now youre slowly realizing what your favorite sector is doing with the alms being given to them, coming from our hard-earned taxes.

These sentiments are unsurprising. That the poor are lazy or to be blamed for their poverty is an age-old point of view, one that goes back to the Spaniards calling the Filipinos indio (uncivilized) or Juan Tamad (irresponsible). These Spanish-era identifiers have remained, only modified to fit present-day language. Its not coincidental that this kind of sentiment is due to the damage of colonial rule, one that can be traced back as the root cause of incorrigible inequality, and in effect, persistent poverty, not just in the Philippines but across the globe.

Political scientist Wonik Kim has argued that Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines inherited extractive colonial institutions that sustained income inequality. Kim said that in 1820, the Philippines was the richest country in East Asia while the poorest was Taiwan. Almost 200 years later, Taiwan now has a per capita income that is seven times higher than that of the Philippines. In his research, it showed that Taiwan, similar to other North Asian nations like Japan and South Korea, was able to undertake radical land reforms that equalized income in their societies, whereas the Philippines has not. The evolution of economic inequality is also anchored on land inequality. The effects of this particular inequality, propped by its landowning elites, has resulted in a longstanding unequal distribution of income. The World Bank has cited Spanish colonies, such as countries in Latin America, to have had persistent high levels of income inequality precisely because of the colonial heritage of land inequality.

Added to this history of inequality is our cultural inclination to success stories perpetrated in telenovelas, noontime shows, our biggest celebrities and politicians. It is perhaps in the overly circulated rags-to-riches stories of successful Filipinos like Manny Pacquiao and Isko Moreno, that Filipinos are made to feel as though being poor is a choice; that maybe if a boy from Gen San could punch his way out of his circumstance or if a good-looking basurero can charm his way to a mayoral seat, then maybe they can too. The possibility is always there, but the reality can often reveal otherwise. For anyone to escape poverty, economist Peter Temnin said, one must have 20 years of almost nothing going wrong.

This means 20 years of an almost-perfect life for Marilen and Reynaldo Domagtoy, residents of a slum community in Taguig, who I interviewed a few years ago. At that time, they had two children, ages 8 and 12. But all of them only rely on Reynaldos 13,000 salary as an aircon technician. Marilen had wanted to help earn for their family, but this meant having to hire a helper who can watch over their children. Parang magkukuha din kami ng magbabayad, mag-aalaga sa [bata], she said. Mahirap kasi pag hindi hatid-sundo eh. Ang daming nawawala kasi diyan na bata.

Marilen shared that they only ate twice a day: in the morning and at night. They allot around 130 for food per day, 900 for water every month, and 1,495 for electricity per month. Reynaldo said that they usually borrow money before their childrens school would start because his salary simply wasnt enough for all their needs. Marilen also added that because Reynaldo earned relatively more than their neighbors did, her family did not qualify for the 4Ps program, although she wished they were. Kahit papano malaking tulong yun kasi every three months nagpipindot sila ng 4,200, she said.

Another resident in Taguig that I interviewed was Bebelyn Miranday. Her household income was at 5,500 per month, an amount she would budget for all of her six children. During the time of the interview, she worked as a cleaner or a labandera for different homes in a subdivision near where she lives. She shared that she would get 500 for doing laundry, other times 1,500 for fetching her employers children from school. When I asked her if 5,500 is enough, she only said that she just had no choice but to make it enough for all of them. Kung nandiyan sa kamay ko magkano lang, yun lang din ang binubudget ko, she said.

Despite the insecurity of their future, Miranday remained grateful for DSWDs 4Ps program that has allowed his son to study electrical engineering at the Technical University of the Philippines. Sabi ko, halimbawa, pag nakatapos ka, may trabaho ka, siyempre yung mga kapatid mo siyempre elementary pa, sana naman mapaaral mo din, she said. Sabi niya, Nay wag ka mag-alala, papaaralin ko silang lahat.

Temnin suggests that education is the best gateway out of poverty, but he also warns that this can easily be upended by structural breakdowns, such as budget cuts on education, health, and other social services. Take for example how our weak public health system affects the education of our children. Because our health system cannot properly support Filipinos, if a family member is diagnosed with an illness, this family can instantly be driven into poverty. In fact, every year, one million Filipinos go into poverty because of a family members illness. It is already a stretch for Filipinos like Miranday and Domagtoy to have to shell out even a peso for being sick. If you are already poor and a family member needs health treatment, more often than not, the children stop going to school and find ways to earn instead. Education is no longer a gateway; it becomes a pipe dream.

These complex structures and histories are important to know because it helps us understand that the poverty experienced by many is not of their own making. The people in slum communities, the no work, no pay workers, the farmers, the fisherfolk, and the homeless, among many others, remain poor precisely because their circumstances are the product of years and years of exploitation. It is misplaced and ignorant to assume that poverty is within the control of an individual and not by how society has been shaped, or worse, designed to remain the same.
SINGAPORE, April 30 (Reuters) - Hontop Energy (Singapore) Pte Ltd, the trading arm of a Shandong-based refiner, is negotiating directly with banks on managing its debts after it withdrew its application for a debt moratorium, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Hontop submitted last month a request to the Singapore High Court to apply for a debt moratorium but the company subsequently withdrew it, they said.

The company went into receivership in February after Singapore bank DBS, one of Hontop's creditors, appointed accounting firm KPMG as the receiver.

Hontop officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Hontop, a unit of China Wanda Group, buys crude oil for the group's 100,000 barrels per day refinery in Dongying, Shandong province, operated by Tianhong Chemicals Co Ltd.

In March, Moody's Investors Service confirmed Wanda Group Co Ltd's corporate family rating at B3 and downgraded its outlook rating to negative from "ratings under review" previously. (Reporting by Jessica Jaganathan, Chen Aizhu and Florence Tan; editing by David Evans)
It is the first time since February 15th. Register only 4 cases, all imported from abroad. Deaths: the most affected are those over 80; no one under 25. A winning model, more "democratic" than China's draconian one. Taiwanese democracy also excels in the fight against lung disease.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - South Korea did not register any case of local infection yesterday: it is the first time since 15 February. On the other hand, 4 infections are imported from abroad. The country proves to be among the most capable of containing the pulmonary pandemic.

Overall, 10765 are infected; 247 the dead. The mortality rate is 2.29%, much lower than the 13.58% of Italy (among the most affected nations), and better than that of China (5.52%), the epicenter of the infection. The largest number of South Korean victims is counted among people over 80; no deaths among those under the age of 25. The attention of the government is now turned to imported cases, which are 1065; 90% of them are South Korean citizens.

Seoul has adopted a more "democratic" form of intervention than Beijing's draconian one. Speed of action is the key to success, strengthened by the excellence of the national health system. The government quickly closed the borders with China, introducing strict quarantine measures for those entering the country. Health authorities then launched mass diagnostic tests to identify possible infects, and map all their contacts with other people.

In the coming days, at the end of a holiday period, South Korean leaders will evaluate whether to mitigate the obligation of social distancing. If so, most schools and workplaces will reopen.

Taiwan, another Asian democracy, is also distinguished by its ability to contain Covid-19. Yesterday, for the 4th consecutive day, there was no infection on the island. The total cases are 429 and 6 deaths.
Gov. Greg Abbott sent Texans into a tizzy Monday afternoon as he announced that stay-at-home orders will expire by week's end.

Starting Friday, businesses like dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, malls and retail stores will be allowed to reopen under a 25 percent occupancy limit. Abbott said the Phase 1 edict gives businesses the go ahead to open, but does not require owners to do so. The governor said the reopening of Texas will be "strategic" and if data shows no flare ups for two weeks after Phase 1 goes into effect, the state can move into the second phase on May 18.
NEW YORK, April 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- District Cooling market worldwide is projected to grow by US$9 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 13.4%. Absorption Cooling, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 13.9%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$11.8 Billion by the year 2025, Absorption Cooling will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05798395/?utm_source=PRN







- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 14.4% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$354.8 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$431.5 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Absorption Cooling will reach a market size of US$837.4 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 13.2% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$1.6 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others,

ADC Energy Systems L.L.C.

Danfoss A/S - District Energy

DC Pro Engineering LLC

District Cooling Company

Emirates Central Cooling System Corporation (Empower)

Emirates District Cooling LLC (Emicool)

Fortum Corporation

Gas District Cooling (M) Sdn Bhd

Keppel DHCS Pte Ltd

Logstor A/S

Marafeq Qatar

Pal Technology

Qatar District Cooling Company (Qatar Cool)

Ramboll Group A/S

Shinryo Corporation

Siemens AG

SNC-Lavalin Group, Inc.

Stellar Energy

Tabreed, National Central Cooling Company PJSC

Veolia Environnement SA









Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05798395/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



District Energy: A Strategy to Address Climate Change

District Cooling Market: A Prelude

Absorption Cooling: A High Growth Segment

Commercial End-Use Segment Leads District Cooling Market

Global Competitor Market Shares

District Cooling Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide

(in %): 2019 & 2025





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Global Warming and Constantly Rising Temperatures Give Rise to

the Need for District Cooling Networks

Concerns over Global Warming Raise Significance of District

Cooling: Countries with Highest Ecological Footprint Per

Person (in gha/person)

Driven by Population Growth, Urbanization and Real-Estate and

Infrastructure Expansion, District Cooling Demand in Emerging

Economies Set for Rapid Growth

Global Population in Thousands by Region for the Years 1960,

1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050

Global Urban Population in Thousands by Geographic Region for

the Years 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050

Growing Urbanization Worldwide: Urban Population as a % of

Total Popular by Region

Infrastructure Spending and Projection Investment Requirements

in $ Trillion: Breakdown by Geographic Region for the Period

2000-2015 and 2017-2035

Rising Demand for Air Conditioning Shifts Focus onto District

Cooling Systems

Global Population Growth to Concentrate in Tropical Regions:

Projected Growth in Population (in Thousands) by Select

Countries for the Period 2019-2035

High Potential to Save Cooling Costs through Adoption of

District Cooling: Potential Savings in Energy Used and Cost

Using District Cooling for the Years 2020, 2025, 2030 and

2035

High Energy Efficiency Advantage of District Cooling Over

Conventional Cooling Augurs Well for the Market

Electricity Consumption in KW/TR for Various Cooling Technologies

Growing Demand for Sustainable and Energy Efficient Cooling

Technologies to Fuel Demand for District Cooling Systems

Rising Adoption of Sustainable Building Codes and Standards:

A Positive Growth Factor

Government Regulations and Policies Vital to Boost Potential of

District Cooling Market

Smart District Cooling Systems to Impact Development of Smart

Cities

Technology Advancements Translate into Significant Cost and

Operational Benefits for District Cooling Systems

Artificial Intelligence to Foster Growth of District Cooling

Market

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

District Cooling

District Cooling Technologies

Absorption-Based Cooling

Alternative Thermally Activated Cooling

Advantages and Disadvantages of District Cooling Systems





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: District Cooling Global Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: District Cooling Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies Worldwide: 2019 VS 2025

Table 3: Absorption Cooling (Production Technique) World Market

by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 4: Absorption Cooling (Production Technique) Market Share

Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 5: Other Production Techniques (Production Technique)

Potential Growth Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025

Table 6: Other Production Techniques (Production Technique)

Market Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2019 VS

2025

Table 7: Commercial (Application) Global Market Estimates &

Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 8: Commercial (Application) Market Share Breakdown by

Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 9: Residential (Application) Demand Potential Worldwide

in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 10: Residential (Application) Share Breakdown Review by

Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 11: Institutional (Application) Worldwide Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 12: Institutional (Application) Distribution of Global

Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US District Cooling Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 13: United States District Cooling Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Production Technique: 2018 to

2025

Table 14: United States District Cooling Market Share Breakdown

by Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 15: United States District Cooling Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 16: District Cooling Market Share Breakdown in the United

States by Application: 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 17: Canadian District Cooling Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Production Technique: 2018 to 2025

Table 18: District Cooling Market in Canada: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Production Technique for 2019 and 2025

Table 19: Canadian District Cooling Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 20: Canadian District Cooling Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

JAPAN

District Cooling in Japan: An Overview

Market Analytics

Table 21: Japanese Market for District Cooling: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Production

Technique for the Period 2018-2025

Table 22: Japanese District Cooling Market Share Analysis by

Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 23: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for District

Cooling in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 24: District Cooling Market Share Shift in Japan by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

China Offers High Growth Potential for District Cooling Market

Market Analytics

Table 25: Chinese District Cooling Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Production Technique for the Period 2018-2025

Table 26: Chinese District Cooling Market by Production

Technique: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2019 and 2025

Table 27: Chinese Demand for District Cooling in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 28: Chinese District Cooling Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European District Cooling Market: Competitor Market Share

Scenario (in %) for 2019 & 2025

European Market for District Cooling

Market Analytics

Table 29: European District Cooling Market Demand Scenario in

US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 30: European District Cooling Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 31: European District Cooling Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Production Technique: 2018-2025

Table 32: European District Cooling Market Share Breakdown by

Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 33: European District Cooling Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025

Table 34: European District Cooling Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 35: District Cooling Market in France by Production

Technique: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 36: French District Cooling Market Share Analysis by

Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 37: District Cooling Quantitative Demand Analysis in

France in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025

Table 38: French District Cooling Market Share Analysis:

A 7-Year Perspective by Application for 2019 and 2025

GERMANY

Table 39: District Cooling Market in Germany: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Production

Technique for the Period 2018-2025

Table 40: German District Cooling Market Share Breakdown by

Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 41: District Cooling Market in Germany: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 42: District Cooling Market Share Distribution in Germany

by Application: 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 43: Italian District Cooling Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Production Technique for the Period 2018-2025

Table 44: Italian District Cooling Market by Production

Technique: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2019 and 2025

Table 45: Italian Demand for District Cooling in US$ Million by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 46: Italian District Cooling Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 47: United Kingdom Market for District Cooling: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Production

Technique for the Period 2018-2025

Table 48: United Kingdom District Cooling Market Share Analysis

by Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 49: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

District Cooling in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 50: District Cooling Market Share Shift in the United

Kingdom by Application: 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 51: Rest of Europe District Cooling Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Production Technique: 2018-2025

Table 52: Rest of Europe District Cooling Market Share

Breakdown by Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 53: Rest of Europe District Cooling Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025

Table 54: Rest of Europe District Cooling Market Share Analysis

by Application: 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

India Begins to Implement District Cooling Initiatives

India: A Promising Market for District Cooling

Tremendous Potential in Store for District Cooling Systems

Market in India

Growing Demand for Air Conditioners in India Indicates Huge

Opportunity for District Cooling Market: Indian Air

Conditioner Sales in $ Billion for the Years 2017, 2019, 2021

and 2023

Singapore: Punggol Digital District to be Home to Singapore?s

First District Cooling System

Market Analytics

Table 55: District Cooling Market in Asia-Pacific by Production

Technique: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 56: Asia-Pacific District Cooling Market Share Analysis

by Production Technique: 2019 VS 2025

Table 57: District Cooling Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025

Table 58: Asia-Pacific District Cooling Market Share Analysis:

A 7-Year Perspective by Application for 2019 and 2025

REST OF WORLD

District Cooling Market in the Middle East Poised for Growth

SAUDI ARABIA

Strong Growth Ahead for District Cooling Market in Saudi Arabia

UAE

Growing Importance of District Cooling Systems for Industry

Operations in the UAE

Dubai to Regulate District Cooling Sector

QATAR

District Cooling Systems: A High Priority for Qatar

Qatar?s District Cooling Capacity in Million TR for the Years

2018, 2025 and 2030

District Cooling Projects Operational in Qatar: Installed

Cooling Capacity (TR) by District Cooling Project for 2016

Under-construction District Cooling Projects in Qatar: Expected

Cooling Capacity (TR) of Various Projects by 2022

Market Analytics

Table 59: Rest of World District Cooling Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Production Technique: 2018 to 2025

Table 60: District Cooling Market in Rest of World: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Production Technique for 2019 and

2025

Table 61: Rest of World District Cooling Market Quantitative

Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 62: Rest of World District Cooling Market Share Analysis

by Application: 2019 VS 2025





IV. COMPETITION



ADC ENERGY SYSTEMS L.L.C.

DC PRO ENGINEERING

DANFOSS A/S - DISTRICT ENERGY

DISTRICT COOLING COMPANY

EMIRATES CENTRAL COOLING SYSTEM CORPORATION (EMPOWER)

EMIRATES DISTRICT COOLING LLC (EMICOOL)

FORTUM CORPORATION

GAS DISTRICT COOLING (M) SDN BHD

KEPPEL DHCS PTE

LOGSTOR A/S

MARAFEQ QATAR

PAL TECHNOLOGY

QATAR DISTRICT COOLING COMPANY (QATAR COOL)

RAMBOLL GROUP A/S

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP

SHINRYO CORPORATION

SIEMENS AG

STELLAR ENERGY

TABREED, NATIONAL CENTRAL COOLING COMPANY PJSC

VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT SA

V. CURATED RESEARCH

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - CHC Student Housing Corp. (TSXV: CHC) ("CHC" or the "Company") announced today results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019. The audited financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, are available under CHC's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Highlights during the year ended December 31, 2019:

Net Operating Income ("NOI") was lower by 3.6% at $2,781.638. This was due to the sale of the Kingston and Trois-Rivieres Properties as well as increased operating costs at the London Property.

Net loss of $877,636 was lower by $1,541,964 mainly due to lower NOI, offset by an increase in fair value adjustment of investment properties and lower fair value adjustment on mortgage payable.

The Company sold the Trois-Rivieres Property for $3,150,000 on December 18, 2019 and generated net proceeds of $470,293 after the discharge of the related mortgage.

At the Company's annual and special meeting of shareholders held on January 24, 2020 the shareholders approved the sale of the London Property. The sale closed on February 5, 2020 at a sale price of $55,000,000 and the Company received net proceeds from the sale of approximately $5,200,000 after the repayment of the $33,000,000 first mortgage and the $14,000,000 second mortgage on the property and the accrued and unpaid interest thereon, a prepayment penalty associated with the first mortgage, a balance of certain deferred interest on the second mortgage, a profit participation payment payable to the lender on the second mortgage, a prepayment penalty associated with the second mortgage and standard real estate transaction adjustments for matters such as property taxes and rental adjustments. As previously disclosed, the Company has sufficient funds from the sale of the London property to settle its debts, seek out alternative business opportunities which could potentially result in additional value for shareholders and provide a return of capital to its shareholders in an amount to be determined.

Summary of Selected Financial and Operational Information

The selected financial information below is based on and derived from the financial statements for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019.

Statement of comprehensive income (loss) data Three Months Ended

December 31 Twelve Months Ended

December 31 2019 2018 2019 2018 Property revenues $1,184,375 $1,178,240 $4,554,620 $4,617,516 Property operating expenses (492,213) (432,874) (1,772,982) (1,731,301) Net Operating Income (NOI) $692,162 $745,366 $2,781,638 $2,886,215 Depreciation (13,725) (11,100) (52,232) (52,457) General & administrative expense (357,648) (70,263) (1,152,769) (1,238,281) Fair value adjustment of equity-based compensation 19,000 (43,000) 34,000 (5,000) Fair value adjustment on investment properties 539,764 (24,764) 1,039,764 240,986 Fair value adjustment on mortgage payable (32,980) (1,119,605) (236,508) (1,119,605) Interest (1,128,273) (722,326) (3,259,072) (3,141,458) Loss on sale of investment property (42,457) - (42,457) - Net Loss ($324,157) ($1,245,692) ($887,636) ($2,429,600) Net loss per share - basic and diluted ($0.12) ($0.46) ($0.33) ($0.89) Funds From Operations (FFO) (1) ($788,484) ($101,323) ($1,648,435) ($1,550,981) FFO per share ($0.29) ($0.04) ($0.61) ($0.57) Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) (1) ($801,581) ($41,490) ($1,607,048) ($1,514,603) AFFO per share ($0.30) ($0.02) ($0.59) ($0.56) Weight average shares outstanding 2,716,465 2,716,465 2,716,465 2,716,465

(1) FFO and AFFO are non-IFRS performance measures. Please refer to definition in section Non-IFRS Performance Measures on page 4 of the MD&A as well as the reconciliation from net income(loss) and comprehensive income(loss) below.

Revenues decreased by 1.4% or $62,896 year over year, primarily due to the sale of the Kingston Property in July 2018, the sale of the Trois Property in December 2019 and lower revenue at the Trois Property during the year offset by higher revenues at the London Property. General and administrative expenses decreased by 6.9% or $85,512 mainly due transaction costs paid in 2018 offset by lower wages and benefits, also in 2018, as a result of an adjustment to the board of directors' fees. In 2019 professional fees were higher offset by lower accounting fees and other costs. Interest expense increased by 3.7% or $117,614 primarily due to higher mortgage discharge fees in 2019 offset by lower interest expense due to lower rates also in 2019.

FFO & AFFO Reconciliation

The following table reconciles FFO and AFFO to IFRS net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss):

Reconciliation from net income (loss) to FFO & AFFO Three Months Ended

December 31 Twelve Months Ended

December 31 2019 2018 2019 2018 Net Loss ($324,157) ($1,245,692) ($887,636) ($2,429,600) Add: Fair value adjustment on investment properties (539,764 24,764 (1,039,764) (240,986) Fair value adjustment on mortgage payable 32,980 1,119,605 236,508 1,119,605 Loss on sale of investment property 42,457 - 42,457 - Funds From Operations (FFO) ($788,484) ($101,323) ($1,648,435) ($1,550,981) Add (subtract): Fair value adjustment of equity-based compensation (1) (19,000) 43,000 (34,000) 5,000 Amortization of financing transaction costs 9,169 21,543 73,771 48,191 Straight line rent (3,266) (4,710) 1,616 (16,813) Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) ($801,581) ($41,490) ($1,607,048) ($1,514,603)

(1) Compensation expense for option grants is based on the fair value of the options at the grant date and is recognized over the period from the grant date to the date the award is vested. A liability is recognized for outstanding options based upon the fair value as the Company is a mutual fund corporation and there are retraction rights to the share conditions attached to the common shares. During the period in which options are outstanding, the liability is adjusted for changes in the fair value with such adjustments being recognized as expense/(recovery) in the period in which they occur. These options were granted in November 2013 and expired in December 2018. The twelve months ended December 31, 2019, adjustment for stock-based compensation/(recovery) relates only to the mark-to-market adjustment of the deferred share unit plan (DSU Plan) granted in September 2016 and October 2017.

FFO for the three months ended December 31, 2019, and 2018 amounted to ($788,484) or ($0.29) per share and ($101,323) or ($0.04) per share, respectively. AFFO for the three months ended December 31, 2019, and 2018 was ($801,581) or ($0.30) per share and ($41,490) or ($0.02) per share, respectively.

The following table reconciles IFRS cash used in operating activities to AFFO:

Reconciliation from cash used in operating activity to AFFO Three Months Ended

December 31 Twelve Months Ended

December 31 2019 2018 2019 2018 Cash used in operating activities ($415,835) ($130,900) ($715,450) ($1,720,613) Add (subtract): Net changes in working capital (266,766) 253,210 (416,960) 541,802 Depreciation (13,725) (11,100) (52,232) (52,457) Interest expense on mortgages payable (1,119,104) (700,783) (3,185,301) (3,093,267) Cash interest paid 1,013,849 548,083 2,762,895 2,809,932 Adjusted Funds From Operations ($801,581) ($41,490) ($1,607,048) ($1,514,603)

Financial Position

The Company had cash on hand of $281,316 as at December 31, 2019, a decrease of $563 from December 31, 2018. Total assets at December 31, 2019, were $55,619,225 compared to $57,938,603 at December 31, 2018 a decrease of $2,319,378. This decrease was mainly due to the sale of the Trois-Rivieres Property in December 2019 along with the settlement of the vendor take back mortgage receivable. This was offset by an increase in the fair value of the London Property.

About CHC Student Housing Corp.

CHC Student Housing (TSXV: CHC.H) was previously Canada's only publicly traded company that invested in multi-residential student housing properties.

Following the sale of the Company's London Property on February 5, 2020, the Company ceased to have active operations and no longer met the continued listing requirements for the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). Therefore, effective February 10, 2020, the Company's listing was transferred from the TSXV to the NEX. The NEX is a separate board of the TSXV that provides a trading forum for listed companies that have fallen below the TSXV's continued listing requirements.

The trading symbol for the Company was changed from CHC to CHC.H. There is no change in the Company's name, no change in its CUSIP number and no consolidation of capital. The symbol extension differentiates NEX symbols from Tier 1 or Tier 2 symbols within the TSX Venture market. The Company is classified as a 'Real Estate' company.

As previously disclosed, the Company has sufficient funds from the sale of the London property to settle its debts, seek out alternative business opportunities which could potentially result in additional value for shareholders and provide a return of capital to its shareholders in an amount to be determined.

Non-IFRS Performance Measures

The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The following measures: net operating income (or "NOI"), funds from operations (or "FFO"), FFO per share, adjusted funds from operations (or "AFFO") and AFFO per share, are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, and should not be compared to or construed as alternatives to profit/loss, cash flow from operating activities or other measures of financial performance determined in accordance with IFRS. However, these non-IFRS measures are recognized supplemental measures of performance for real estate issuers widely used by the real estate industry, particularly by those publicly traded entities that own and operate income-producing properties, and the Company believes they provide useful supplemental information to both management and readers in measuring the financial performance of the Company. Further details on non-IFRS measures are set out in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2018 and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is provided for the purposes of assisting the reader in understanding the Company's financial performance, financial position and cash flows as at and for the periods ended on certain dates and to present information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the business strategies of CHC. Although CHC believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. CHC cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by CHC is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: CHC's ability to find and complete any alternative business opportunities; the state of the economy and market conditions generally; and other risks and factors that CHC is unaware of at this time. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond CHC's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations of estimated or anticipated events or results. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in CHC's materials filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, copies of which may be accessed through CHC's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information.

The forward-looking information included in this press release relate only to events or information as of the date hereof. Except as specifically required by applicable Canadian law, CHC undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there by any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information please contact:

CHC Student Housing Corp.

Simon Nyilassy

President and CEO

(416) 504-9380

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55191
Reliance Industries (RIL), Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Tech Mahindra among others will release their quarterly numbers today, 30 April 2020.

Wipro and Nutanix yesterday announced the launch of Wipro's Digital Database Services (DDS) powered by Nutanix Era and Nutanix HCI software. This offering will enable enterprises to efficiently manage databases, optimizing time and effort of IT teams.

AU Small Finance Bank said that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 2 May 2020 to consider and approve proposal for raising of funds by issue of equity shares through private placement, Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) or preferential allotment or through a combination thereof or any other alternative mode, as may be considered appropriate.

TD Power Systems said it has partially resumed its operations in view of various directives issued by the Central Government/ State Governments on the exemptions from lockdown.

Polycab India said that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 2 May 2020 to consider and approve convening of board meeting to consider and approve the proposal for investment / acquisition of shares.

GP Petroleums said that the company has resumed operations at its Vasai plant and will prioritise supply to essential services sectors such as sugar and power generation industries.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After months of deliberation, Married At First Sight couple Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner revealed the name of their baby boy on Wednesday by having their daughter Henley 'Gracie' play a game of hangman.

The expecting 33-year-old and the 36-year-old iCIMS solutions consultant - who suffered miscarriages in 2016 and 2018 - had narrowed their many H-name choices down to Hendrix or Hayes.

In the couple's eight-minute Hot Marriage Cool Parents vlog, their two-year-old princess eventually chose the right letters spelling out 'Hayes.'

After months of deliberation! Married At First Sight couple Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner revealed the name of their baby boy on Wednesday by having their daughter Henley 'Gracie' play a game of hangman

'His middle name Douglas is after his daddy and pop pop - the two greatest men I've ever met,' Jamie - who boasts 859K social media followers - explained on Instagram.

'I really like when names have significant meaning behind them - and to be honest - there isn't any "meaning" per se behind Hayes. We just love it.'

Otis and Hehner 'plan on sharing our home birth' next week from their New Jersey residence as hospitals have banned spouses, family, and friends inside due to the coronavirus global pandemic.

Guessing game: The expecting 33-year-old and the 36-year-old iCIMS solutions consultant had narrowed their many H-name choices down to Hendrix or Hayes

Big sister-to-be! In the couple's eight-minute Hot Marriage Cool Parents vlog, their two-year-old princess eventually chose the right letters spelling out 'Hayes'

Jamie explained on Instagram: 'His middle name Douglas is after his daddy and pop pop - the two greatest men I've ever met...There isn't any "meaning" per se behind Hayes. We just love it'

The registered OB-GYN nurse and the ordained minister - who have a midwife - have already set up an Instagram account for their unborn child Hayes Douglas Hehner, which has amassed 17,300 followers.

On Thursday, Doug made it rain phony money on Jamie as she shook her burgeoning bump to Starrkeisha & Cameron J's 2015 club banger, The Baby Momma Dance.

'It was literally one take because I couldn't move my body after one minute of dancing,' Otis - who tested negative for COVID-19 on Sunday - said of the dancing vlog.

'38 weeks!' Otis and Hehner 'plan on sharing our home birth' next week from their New Jersey residence as hospitals have banned spouses, family, and friends inside due to COVID-19

Meet Hayes Douglas Hehner: The registered OB-GYN nurse and the ordained minister have already set up an Instagram account for their unborn child, which has amassed 17,300 followers (pictured January 23)

'OMG I was legit exhausted. How do all these pregnant ladies make that baby mama dance look so easy?'

The Bachelor 16 alum and Hehner famously walked down the aisle minutes after meeting each other on the FYI reality show, Married at First Sight in 2014.

However, the false lash-loving influencer's first brush with parenthood came her freshman year in college when she gained custody of her younger sisters and became a certified foster mom.

'I was legit exhausted!' On Thursday, Doug made it rain phony money on Jamie as she shook her burgeoning bump to Starrkeisha & Cameron J's 2015 club banger, The Baby Momma Dance
Syracuse, N.Y.  Pharmacists across New York state are looking at offering swab tests for coronavirus, a plan that could bring new test sites to Central New York. When that will happen is still uncertain.

Many of the logistics still must be worked out, especially for independent pharmacies. But its possible that at least a few new test sites could start popping up in May.

Large drug store chains that get test kits from the federal government are likely to move first. CVS and Walgreens announced plans this week for a massive national ramp-up of testing during the coming month. Rite Aid already has three test sites in New York state, including one in the Utica suburb of New Hartford.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday issued an executive order authorizing pharmacists to conduct diagnostic COVID-19 tests, saying extensive testing will be important when the economy opens up again. The governor noted that the state has 5,000 pharmacies.

That would quickly ramp up our  capacity, he said.

The governors order is particularly relevant for independent drug stores and small regional chains, said Steve Moore, president of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York. Large chains typically have a medical director on staff and can already obtain authorization to test.

Some of the nations biggest chains have been working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to offer testing and are gearing up for big expansions.

CVS currently offers self-administered nasal swab tests at parking lot drive-thru facilities in five states, not including New York. The company announced Monday that it will expand its testing to 1,000 locations across the nation  roughly one store in 10  either in parking lots or at drive-thru windows.

But the first new test sites will go to CVS locations where it operates walk-in urgent care facilities called MinuteClinics, all of which are in Downstate cities. The company has not said where or when it might open test sites Upstate.

Our primary limitation is the availability of testing equipment and capacity of the labs to process the tests, said Tara Burke, speaking for the company.

Walgreens, which says it will have test sites in 23 states by the end of this week, not including New York, also announced plans to expand nationwide in the coming month. Like CVS, Walgreens conducts all COVID-19 tests outside its stores.

Walmart, which has a parking lot test site in East Syracuse, said this week it would increase testing capacity from 20 drive-thru sites today to more than 100 nationwide by the end of May.

None of the major chains has announced specific plans yet for where or when they will expand testing in Central New York.

Smaller pharmacies may face more obstacles before they start testing. Theyll have to figure out the logistics of how to safely conduct tests, which lab to send them to, and how to report data to the state. Perhaps most significantly, where will they get the test kits?

Thats one of our questions for the state, said Moore, the pharmacist association president and operator of the independent Condo Pharmacy in Plattsburgh. I had a (vendor) group reach out to me today, and they want $100 per test.

The governors office did not immediately respond to a request for information.

Wegmans officials said they have not decided whether to offer testing at their pharmacies. We are awaiting more information on what this testing would require before we make a decision, said Marcie Rivera, speaking for the company.

Kinney Drugs, a regional chain with 97 stores, said it is working through the logistics and cannot predict how soon it will offer coronavirus tests.

The company is in the process of developing a plan, which includes sourcing an adequate supply of test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE), training staff, preparing and staffing testing sites, and documenting proper workflow and procedures, the company said Thursday in a news release.

Cuomos executive order authorized pharmacists to conduct finger-stick antibody tests, in addition to nasal swab tests for COVID-19. The antibody tests are designed to assess whether a person already had the disease and developed immune defenses against it.

Moore said pharmacists will likely offer antibody tests, although the efficacy of those tests is evolving. In any case, the states priority now is to expand diagnostic testing for sick patients, healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers.

Its impossible to say how quickly that will happen, he said.

I think its fair to say everybodys committed to doing it, Moore said. But at the same time we recognize that there are  some obstacles that we have to work through and figure out.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

A problem for NY businesses: Workers wont return when they can get unemployment on steroids

Heroes of CNY: Physician assistant spends weekends in NYC to fight coronavirus face-to-face

Onondaga County coronavirus: 35 new cases, more ongoing infections now than ever; 30th death

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Tim Knauss is a public affairs reporter for syracuse.com/The Post-Standard. Contact him anytime: email | twitter | | 315-470-3023
The reports regarding the untimely demise of Irrfan Khan, the supremely talented actor came out as a great shock for the Indian film fraternity. The cine-goers across the world are currently mourning the death of Irrfan, who created magic on the silver screen with his impeccable performances. Fahadh Faasil, the talented actor of Malayalam cinema, is the latest addition to the list.

Fahadh, who is a die-hard fan of Irrfan Khan, recently remembered the Angrezi Medium actor through a long emotional post that was shared through his official social media pages. The Trance actor recalled his student days in America, where he and his friend used to drive to a Pakistani grocery shop near their campus to rent Indian film DVDs.

During one of his store visits, the shop owner recommended them a film named Yuh Hota To Kya Hota, which was directed by Naseeruddin Shah. In his post, Fahadh Faasil has narrated how he was so intrigued by Irrfan Khan, who played one of the lead roles in the movie. According to the actor, that was the first time he ever saw an actor who was 'original' on screen.

In his post, the Trance actor has also revealed how he decided to drop out of the engineering school and return to India to act in films, after watching Irrfan's films. Fahadh Faasil has fondly stated that the Angrezi Medium actor made him believe that acting is so easy with his performances, and he was fooled. However, Fahadh has never met Irrfan or even seen him in his entire life.

According to Fahadh Faasil, the first thing that he spoke about when he met Vishal Bharadwaj for the first time, was about Maqbool. The actor has also expressed his deep regret for not being able to meet his idol or shake hands with him. Fahadh has concluded his beautiful post, stating that he owes his career to Irrfan Khan, as he wouldn't have come this far if he hadn't picked up that DVD during his college days.

Also Read:

Dulquer Salmaan & Parvathy Thiruvothu Mourn Irrfan Khan's Demise: Recall Working With The Actor
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. -- The darkly tongue-in-cheek Darwin Awards periodically disabuse us of the notion that nobody's stupid enough to, say, consider injecting themselves with disinfectant to cure coronavirus.

That is, no one except, perhaps, Donald J. Trump.

The president said at a White House coronavirus briefing last week that it would be "interesting" to investigate the possibility that disinfectant cleansers, which kill viruses quickly on surfaces, might have the same effect on viruses infecting the human body -- if we could just get the stuff inside us. Volunteers, anyone?

"And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute," said Trump. "And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning? Because, you see, it gets on the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So, it'd be interesting to check that."

I wouldn't doubt that a few 6-year-olds entertained the same thoughts as Trump, but it's safe to assume that no one who routinely cleans houses is going to try out the president's "interesting" idea. In a related matter, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning last Friday against non-hospital uses of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, which Trump has also touted, saying the drug can lead to death.

Given Trump's 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, first, he'd 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.

I'm kidding, of course. But, guess who wasn't? The president of the United States.

Yes, Trump tried to backpedal the following day, saying he was being sarcastic. But anyone watching the briefing could plainly see that he was serious. Enough so that the company that owns Lysol disinfectant issued a statement warning against using its product as Trump suggested. Doctors across media platforms spoke forcefully against the president's suggestion. As pulmonologist and global health expert Vin Gupta put it, ingesting a cleansing product is "a common method that people utilize when they want to kill themselves."

Trump, heretofore a mere snake-oil salesman, was suddenly peddling death to the credulous. He obviously doesn't intend for anyone to drink bleach, but should he need reminding, more than 50,000 Americans have died of the virus. The living need to be told how to avoid getting sick, not some quackery from a reality-TV-star-cum-president.

In another exploration of his imagination, Trump wondered whether "ultraviolet or just a very powerful light" -- again, inside the body -- might destroy the virus. Rather than call him out on the spot, as one might hope, task force coordinator Deborah Birx wanly replied that she wasn't familiar with any research that used light for treatment.

Trump was basing his scientificky daydreams on "emerging results" at the Department of Homeland Security that suggest the coronavirus may not thrive in warmer, more-humid environments. Even though his chief virologist, Anthony Fauci, has cast doubt on such speculative findings, Trump's unstable genius would not be thwarted.

"Supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way," Trump said, adding it "sounds interesting."

At least you can't say he's incurious. Perhaps Trump was imagining Obi-Wan Kenobi destroying the virus with his light saber. Or Dr. McCoy's Star Trek tricoder. McCoy's gizmo could only diagnose, but, surely we're only a weekend away from a disease zapper. They kill bugs, don't they?

Whilst we wait, the warmer, more-humid Georgia may soon provide answers. Gov. Brian Kemp moved last Friday to reopen close-contact businesses, inviting citizens to go bowling, get tattoos and renew their highlights. By his decision, which, wonderingly, Trump criticized, Kemp is essentially volunteering his state to serve as the nation's petri dish.

Public health experts have warned that Georgia is likely to see fatalities accelerate if people take up Kemp's offer. What's a few thousand deaths in the battle to save the economy?

As the national death toll continues climbing, we can be certain that enough people will die without the help of Trump's bad policy and worse advice. For his idiotic remarks, he should be widely condemned not just by his political foes, but by everyone who cares about the nation's health -- and I don't just mean its infection rates. Darwin is taking names.
A growing list of radio and TV companies have announced layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts, unpaid vacations and cuts in 401(k) contributions. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Every year the federal government spends around $1 billion in advertising to promote its programs and military recruitment.

But many of the local TV, radio and newspaper companies that carry those advertisements are being financially devastated by the economic shutdown in most of the country due to the coronavirus crisis  even as the hunger for news and information on the pandemic is driving up viewing and readership.

So media companies have joined an initiative led by the National Assn. of Broadcasters to push for a significant increase in the current ad budget part of the next fiscal stimulus package being considered by Congress, known as Phase 4.

For so many broadcasters and newspapers, this is a life-or-death situation," said Dennis Wharton, an executive vice president for NAB. "The advertising that supports local journalism and hometown radio and TV stations in many cases has simply disappeared. Its just a desperate situation, and far more dire than anything seen in decades.

Representatives for media companies have been gearing up a lobbying effort for the plan aimed at expanding federal advertising spending to between $5 billion and $10 billion for the rest of the year, according to executives who have been involved in the developing the proposal but were not authorized to discuss the details.

The federal government was expected to lay out as much as $2 billion in ad spending this year, with additional dollars allocated to encourage participation in the 2020 census. The NAB will ask for spending on pandemic-related ads that instruct citizens on how to get back to work safely, social distancing and wearing masks.

The extra money could also finance more commercials and print ads for military recruitment and information on other government programs.

The proposal has bipartisan support from 74 U.S. senators and 124 House representatives, who cite the work that local media have done in their communities to keep the public informed on the pandemic.

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Our radio and television broadcasters and rural newspapers provide local and national news, emergency alerts, educational programs, and more to all corners of the United States. In many rural areas, broadcast stations are the predominant or only form of local information, the senators wrote on April 23 in a joint letter to the Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russell Vought.

The letter asked that the office "work with federal agencies throughout the government to increase advertising in local newspapers and on broadcast stations in order to help ensure they are able to continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposal is designed to minimize the perception of the funds being a handout to media companies, as the government will be getting commercials and ads in return. While large media conglomerates such as the Walt Disney Company, Comcast and Fox Corporation own television stations that would likely see some benefit from the increased spending, the aim is to bring relief to local outlets belonging to smaller TV ownership groups.

Radio and local newspapers have also been particularly hard hit by the staggering loss in advertising revenue since the shutdown began last month. Radio and broadcast TV stations are expected to see ad revenue declines in the range of 25% for the year, according to various analyst estimates.

Forty-five radio stations have signed off the air since March 11, the date the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Of those, 17, or 38%, specifically cited financial conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for going silent.

The figure includes five radio stations in Maine that served their communities for 45 years.

A growing list of radio and TV companies, large and small, have announced layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts, 2-week unpaid vacations and cuts in 401(k) contributions. Newspaper companies, including Los Angeles Times parent California Times, have announced pay cuts and furloughs as well after seeing print advertising revenue evaporate.

Analysts are saying the pullback in advertising is comparable to the Great Recession, which followed the collapse of the financial markets in 2008. Neither newspapers nor radio fully rebounded after the advertising losses the industries experienced in those years.

"The current period, which will probably create a much steeper recession than 2000-01 or 2008-09, will have profound and lasting impacts [on] the current media ecosystem," media analyst Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson LLC, wrote in a recent report.
(Newser)  It's not often that US spy agencies issue a statement telling everyone what they're working on. But given the competing theories about where in Wuhan the coronavirus originated, and a New York Times report about the Trump administration pressuring the agencies to investigate one of them, the agencies made an announcement Thursday. The intelligence community "concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified," the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said, referring to the theory that the virus escaped from a government lab. Still, the agencies are investigating the possibility, the Hill reports. They'll try "to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."

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The statement was issued after the Times reported that administration officials were leaning on the agencies to look into the lab theory. President Trump already has blamed the pandemic on China, and some Democrats expressed concern that the intelligence agencies' findings will be used in that political effort. "I think it is a fair question to ask, if it is asked appropriately," said Sen. Mark Warner of the Senate Intelligence Committee, adding, "I am concerned if the White House is trying to influence our intelligence product." The expert consensus is that the culprit started out as a bat virus that evolved in another mammal, then made the jump to humans. Scientists don't think it was created as a bioweapon, either. Warner said the intelligence agencies were "pretty dismissive" of the lab theory. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
A court at Dahanu in Palghar



district of Maharashtra on Thursday remanded in police custody till May 13 the 101 accused arrested for the alleged lynching of two sadhus and their driver in Gadchinchale village recently.

These 101 persons are among the 110 who were arrested in connection with the lynching of the trio on the night of April 16.

The three victims from Kandivali in Mumbai were travelling in a car to attend a funeral in Surat in Gujarat amid the lockdown when they were attacked and killed by a mob in Gadchinchile village in the presence of a police team.

The victims were identified as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and the driver Nilesh Telgade (30).

Public prosecutor R B Valvi said that a local court had earlier remanded the accused in magisterial custody in connection with the case registered against them under IPC section 302 (murder) and others.

After their custody ended on Thursday, following which they were presented before Judicial Magistrate First Class O J kulkarni at Dahanu.

The police demanded their custody for investigation in the case registered against them under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and others for attack on the police officers. The court remanded them in police custody till May 13.

The Palghar police have arrested as many as 110 persons in connection with the case. Nine of the accused are minors, who have been sent to juvenile home. The other 101 have been lodged at the lockups at different police stations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday discussed the global coronavirus pandemic and efforts to blunt its spread, the White House and the Pakistani leader's office said.

The two also discussed the U.S.-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan, Khan's office said in a statement distributed by the Pakistani embassy.

Trump and Khan spoke by telephone following talks last week that U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad held with Taliban negotiators in Doha and Pakistani officials in Islamabad on the stalled peace process.

A Feb. 29 U.S.-Taliban deal for a phased U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan called for the opening by March 10 of intra-Afghan negotiations on a settlement to decades of war.

But differences between Kabul and the Taliban over prisoner releases, a feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his main political rival, and a surge in Taliban attacks have stalled the peace initiative, raising concerns it could collapse as the coronavirus spreads.

U.S. officials say Pakistan wields considerable influence over the Taliban by providing the militants with sanctuary on its side of the border and other support. Pakistan denies those allegations.

In his call with Trump, Khan "reaffirmed Pakistans support for facilitation of the Afghan peace process and underscored the importance of next steps leading to the earliest commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations," the Pakistani statement said.

Afghanistan and Pakistan, impoverished countries with poor healthcare systems, are confronting growing cases and deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. The United States, also fighting rising cases and deaths, last week announced more than $8 million of aid to help Pakistan battle the pandemic.

Trump and Khan "discussed developments in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to continue working together on a coordinated response to defeat the virus and minimize its economic impact," White House spokesman Judd Deere said.

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The Pakistani statement said Trump reassured Khan "of U.S. support to Pakistan in the efforts to combat COVID-19 including by making available ventilators as well as in the economic arena."

Trump, it said, offered to send "the latest rapid testing machine for COVID-19" to Khan after hearing that the Pakistani leader was tested for the disease. Khan was found to be negative, according to Pakistani news reports.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Vincent Keaney, who used his winnings to start a bar and restaurant in Cobh, on RTE's We Won the Lotto Photo credit: RTE

A Lotto winner  who lost his fortune in an ill-fated Titanic-themed pub venture  has won a landmark human rights judgement over undue delays in the Irish court system.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favour of Vincent Keaney, from Cobh, Co Cork, whose subsequent cases against business partners and others took a total of 11 years and two months to be finally processed by the Irish High and Supreme Court.

The Strasbourg-based judges ruled that Mr Keaneys right to a fair trial in good time had been breached by Supreme Court delays, and that these undue delays had not given him the effective legal remedy to which was also his right.

In 2017 and 2018 the Supreme Court upheld rulings by the High Court in 2007 which found against the plaintiff and noted some of his claims were frivolous or vexatious.

This European Court ruling does not include any monetary compensation but the judgement indicates that there are ongoing concerns about Irish Supreme Court delays.

Mr Keaney, now aged 65, won IR1m (1.26m) in the National Lottery in 1994 and embarked on his dream to open a pub dedicated to the ill-starred Titanic which had made its last port-call to Cobh before sinking in 1912.

He chose the old Cunard shipping line offices, which were later a dole office, where he had signed-on when unemployed before his Lotto win.

But after the business failed a second time in 2006, Mr Keaney began litigation with a total of 18 other parties, and these cases were eventually rejected in the High Court.

The European Court noted that some of the time taken in the High Court was due to failings and delays by Mr Keaney and his representatives to file a proper documentation.

Given delays on Mr Keaneys side it was notable that the High Court dealt with the case in a net five-month period. The ruling states that in the Supreme Court appeal there were again difficulties about lodging documents in good order.

But these could not justify the length of time it took for the case to be processed by the Irish Supreme Court, which amounted to eight years.

The Court of Human Rights found this breached Article 6 of the European Convention, which guarantees a fair trial in good time, and Article 13, which gives right to an effective remedy.

Seven judges of the court heard the case, including Irish representative, Judge Siofra OLeary, and their ruling was unanimous. The European Court of Human Rights operates under the aegis of the Council of Europe which groups 47 European states and is entirely separate from the EU Court of Justice which sits in Luxembourg.
SAN ANTONIO  The USAA Foundation, Inc. on Wednesday donated $1 million to the San Antonio Food Bank through WOAI- TVs and KABB Fox 29s Feeding San Antonio campaign.

"We have historically supported the food bank because we know it's an important mission here in San Antonio," USAA CEO Wayne Peacock told KABB. "During this time of the pandemic, we have a health crisis, but we have financial crisis going on here as well. It's so clear to us that many in San Antonio are hurting and need that type of service, and it's the basics of having enough food on your table every day.

The donation comes just days after the Food Bank learned it would be receiving only $2.9 million in FEMA funding in a deal brokered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Feeding Texas, a coalition of 21 food banks from across the sate.

Local businessman and philanthropist and Harvey Najim heads a list of donors that kicked off the "Feeding San Antonio" initiative with a $2 million challenge to the community.

The list of donors joining Najim include Carlos and Malu Alvarrz, Lacie and Joe Gorder, Gordon Hartman, the Kronkosky Charitable Fund, the Mays Family Foundation, Nu Star Energy and the Greehey Family Foundation and the Whitacre Family Foundation.

The campaign continues Thursday night. Donations can be made to virtual phone banks by calling 210-610-6590 during the stations evening news broadcastsand by accessing FeedingSA.org.

The first 1,000 telethon donors Thursday will receive a free No. 1 Whataburger meal.
LEWISBURG  A central Pennsylvania hospital that laid off or reduced hours for approximately 400 employees or 60 percent of its workforce is evaluating staff needs as it prepares to resume some services halted during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

We also have to evaluate what our new normal looks like, Kendra Aucker, president and CEO of Evangelical Community Hospital near Lewisburg said Wednesday.

The hospital next Monday will begin the process of re-opening in wake of Gov. Wolfs decision to permit resumption of elective surgeries and procedures at healthcare facilities, she said.

This isnt going to be a flip of the switch and were back to normal, Aucker said. We have to maintain our ability to address the continued presence of COVID-19 in the community and remain nimble enough to respond to a possible surge.

Outpatient facilities that will reopen Monday are the endoscopy center, gastroenterology, endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, palliative medicine and psychology, she said.

The hospitals primary care offices will continue operating in a consolidated model with providers seeing patients in Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Milton and Mifflinburg, she said.

The Heart and Vascular Center, OB/GYN, wound/hyperbaric medicine and Center for Breast Health will continue seeing patients on a modified schedule as they have throughout the pandemic, Aucker said.

All SUN Orthopaedics locations will remain closed except the one at 210 JPM Road new Lewisburg, she said.

The physical therapy clinics will begin to expand their appointment schedules to accommodate patients who were unable to complete their therapy prior to their closures, she said.

The open clinics are in Selinsgrove (Susquehanna Valley Mall Drive), Mifflinburg (Forrest Hill), Middleburg, Williamsport, Elysburg and Lewisburg (the Miller Center).

The Selinsgrove Imaging Center will resume limited operations on Monday to support the Family Practice Center and area residents needing imaging services, Aucker said.

Surgeries and procedures at the ambulatory surgical center will begin on May 11 and two additional operating rooms at the hospital will open the same day to accommodate some elective cases, she said.

Surgeries will be done in a balanced approach that allows the hospital to manage COVID-19 volumes, she said.
by Mathias Hariyadi

People are avoiding human contacts, especially with doctors and medical staff. In one incident, three nurses were forced to leave their rented rooms by their landlady who feared they might be contagious. Towns and villages refuse to bury COVID-19 victims. The country is locked down with no air, rail and sea travel.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Incidents of intolerance over the coronavirus are multiplying. More and more Indonesians are avoiding human contact with people most at risk of contracting the disease, especially doctors and medical staff.

In Surakarta (Central Java), three nurses living in a private home were thrown out by their landlady who feared they might be contagious. "My husband has been ill for the past few days, and the three [nurses] could pass the virus to him," said the landlady to justify her action.

Surakarta Mayor Francis Xavier Hadi Rudyatmo called on police to look into the incident. This unfriendly gesture shows no tolerance according to Pancasila, said the mayor. Pancasila refers to Indonesias political state philosophy based on five principles.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowohimself also spoke out on the issue. He contacted the landlady to express his displeasure, noting that she could be treated the same way since she is a midwife.

As fear spreads, some towns and villages are refusing to bury COVID-19 victims. In some places, local authorities have set up road blocks to isolate their communities and prevent the risk of contagion.

The country is basically locked down with commercial flights and intercity train services halted until 1 June. Since Tuesday, sea travel between Java and Sumatra has also been suspended; only cargo ships can cross the Sunda Strait.

For most people, travel restrictions are a major headache. For example, the family of Domi, a woman who died recently in Jakarta, was unable to bring her remains to Nias (Sumatra) for burial. She was eventually laid to rest in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, in the presence of a small group of friends and family.
Representative image

Composite insurance broker Edelweiss-Gallagher has enabled a pandemic group insurance product that will be available informal sector and frontline workers across industries in India.

This group level insurance solution will provide an insurance cover to food delivery agents, informal sector workers employed by companies in factories as well as frontline workers of hospitals, healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Edelweiss Gallagher has collaborated with four general insurance companies and assisted over 50 corporates to protect their workforce and restart their operations.

Vinay Sohani, CEO at Edelweiss-Gallagher Insurance Brokers said that the collaboration with corporates and insurance companies will help fill a critical gap and benefit companies facing cash flow problems, low demand and disruption in operations.

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 insurance policies can be customised for corporates to provide coverage from Rs 50,000 to Rs 50 lakh towards hospitalisation cover, at private as well as government hospitals.

Follow live updates from COVID-19 pandemic in India

The coverage will include ICU treatment, road ambulance and access to a secondary medical opinion. The product is exclusive to the Indian market and requires a positive test report for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) conducted at an ICMR Authorised Test Centre in India.

To allow operations of factories and essential services during the lockdown, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a circular dated April 15, 2020 released revised guidelines mandating health insurance cover for all workers. This has been followed by a circular from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) advising insurers to provide group and individual insurance cover, with simple wordings and conditions.

Moneycontrol had reported earlier that firms mandated to provide medical cover to workers amidst COVID-19 had expressed concerns about high premium costs.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
People wanting to visit patients at Bay of Plenty District Health Board facilities will have to get approval on a case-by-case basis.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board recognises the important role of visitors in the healing process and , with this in mind, it has updated its visitor policy under COVID-19 Alert Level 3, while continuing to protect patients and staff from any potential risk of exposure.

Hospital facilities at Tauranga and Whakatane have moved from no visitors to a restricted visitor policy, effective immediately.

However, this policy may change as we continue to monitor the risks to hospital workers and the public.

Visitor access is now as follows:

 Visitors to be approved on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Clinical Nurse Manager/Clinical Midwife Manager or Duty Nurse Manager. Decisions can be made on compassionate grounds and for patients who are palliative and receiving end-of-life care.

 An approved visitor can only enter and leave once daily.

 One parent or guardian is able to accompany any hospitalised child age 16 or under in either the Childrens Unit or Emergency Department.

 One nominated support person can accompany a woman in labour and birth. This nominated support person may visit once daily and stay as long as the woman wants. No overnight stays will be permitted unless the woman is in labour and for early post-natal support.

 Mothers only are permitted to the Special Care Baby Unit.

 Should a patient be confirmed with COVID-19 or suspect or probable for COVID-19, then no visitors are allowed.

 In all cases where a visitor is allowed access to any BOPDHB facility, appropriate screening will take place before they are allowed to enter the facility to ensure they are well.

 Visiting hours will be from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.



People who would like to visit can phone the Patient Information Centre on 0800333477 or email contactus@bopdhb.govt.nz in advance.

BOPDHB Incident Management Team Incident Controller Bronwyn Anstis says the changes acknowledge the importance of visitors when family, whanau and friends are in hospital.

We appreciate it has been a difficult time during Alert Level 4 and we are very grateful to the public for their understanding and helping us to ensure that priority is given to the needs and care of the patients, the safety and security of staff.

We also need to ensure that contact tracing can be facilitated should any patient, visitor or employee subsequently be diagnosed with COVID-19.

In this period of a restricted visitor policy, Maori Health Gains and Development are available to provide guidance and support to Maori whanau who want to understand how to provide manaakitanga to their loved ones in the hospital. Whanau can ask to be referred to Maori Health Gains and Development through the Patient Information Centre.

Brownyn says the Bay of Plenty DHB has considered a number of factors in developing its policy for Level 3.

These include the number of patients currently in hospital and how physical distancing will be managed.

Our policy may differ from those of other DHBs because we all have different circumstances and different factors to weigh up. We are confident that these visitor measures will allow us to keep patients and staff safe under level 3.

BOP and Lakes DHBs have created a new website to help address any COVID-19 questions.

The website has the latest health updates relating to COVID-19, plus answers to frequently asked questions. You can find it at: covid19.bopdhb.govt.nz

Enquiries to the BOP HEALTH COVID-19 response team can be emailed to: bopcovid19@bopdhb.govt.nz
Its not hard to make it to the top in Bollywood without a few favours on your side - Bollywood, in particular, is notorious for launching the careers of star kids over that of well-deserved talent.



However, more than a few performers have pulled their own weight through hard work and sheer talent in their early years.

In honour of the recently-deceased powerhouse Irrfan Khan, were taking a look at all the actors who broke past the gates to fame in the last twenty years.

1. Irrfan Khan

 Reuters

Breakthrough Film: Rog (2005)



Tragically passing away due to complications from a tumour this week, this man consistently proved his worth as one of the finest actors of Indian cinema over the years.

Despite his now-legendary filmography, Khan came from humble beginnings - his family ran a tyre business and after attending the National School of Drama, he toiled through dozens of TV roles before breaking through in the mid-2000s.

2. Nawazuddin Siddiqui

 Reuters

Breakthrough Film: Peepli Live (2010)



Another National School of Drama alumnus, Siddiquis rags-to-riches story is filled with moments many products of nepotism have never seen.

Struggling in TV and theatre roles during the early 2000s with no money to pay rent, he eventually broke through by 2010 and cemented his reputation as one of the most dedicated talents in the country.

3. Sushant Singh Rajput

 Twitter/@Team_SushantSR

Breakthrough Film: Kai Po Che (2013)



Like many on this list, Sushants life began with more traditional aspirations, as a top engineering student.

Unfulfilled with academic achievement, he discovered acting after attending Shiamak Davars dance lessons in college, and once he dropped out, there was no turning back.

4. Rajkumar Rao

 Twitter/@humansofbombay

Breakthrough Film: Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 2 (2012)



Discovering a passion for acting in high school, Rao eventually graduated from Punes FTII and made his way to Mumbai in 2008, where he spent two years chasing casting directors and film studios - before finally landing a role in Dibakar Bannerjees Love Sex Aur Dhoka.

5. Ayushmann Khurrana

 Twitter/@ayushmannk

Breakthrough Film: Vicky Donor (2012)



From performing in street plays to college festivals, Khurrana found his passion early but certainly worked hard to get to where he is today - pushing through an early career as a TV host before breaking into Bollywood.

6. Sidharth Malhotra

 Reuters

Breakthrough Film: Student of the Year (2012)



Diving headfirst into the modelling industry at the age of 18, Malhotras life began to change after four years when he became disillusioned with the profession.

Hoping for a future in films, he worked through shelved films with Anubhav Sinha before managing to become an assistant director with Karan Johar on 2010s My Name Is Khan - the rest is history.

7. Randeep Hooda

 Reuters

Breakthrough Film: Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010)



Surrounded by achievers in sports, medicine and engineering, Hoodas early life seemed quite distant from where he ended up today.

Moving to Australia in the 90s to pursue management degrees, he worked in a Chinese restaurant, a car wash, as a waiter and for two years as a taxi driver to make ends meet - finally moving into amateur theatre and modelling before scoring his first role with Mira Nairs Monsoon Wedding.

8. John Abraham

 Reuters

Breakthrough Film: Dhoom (2004)



From music video appearances to working as a media planner for failed companies, Abrahams early stint was anything but easy.

Slowly and steadily, he began to make a name for himself as one of Indias top models - winning the Gladrags Manhunt contest in 99 and modelling for studios around the world, debuting as an actor in 2003s Jism.

9. Pankaj Tripathi

 Reuters

Breakthrough Film: Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)



One of the most humbling origins on this list, Tripathi was born to a family of farmers in the village of Belsand, Bihar.

Initially playing the role of a girl in his villages natak, he graduated in Hotel Management and hid away from his passion for seven years in Patna.

Not wanting to give up on this childhood dream, Tripathi went on to attend the National School of Drama and gradually rose through the ranks of TV acting - surviving a gruelling 8-hour audition before bagging his iconic role in Gangs Of Wasseypur.

10. Ali Fazal

 Reuters

Breakthrough Film: Fukrey (2013)



Born in Lucknow, Fazal spent most of his childhood in a village on the banks of the Ganges.

Eventually graduating from Mumbais St. Xaviers, Fazal worked hard at building a reputation within Mumbais theatre circuit, where he was eventually scouted and referred to Rajkumar Hirani, and cast in a minor role for 2009s 3 Idiots.

These ten inspirations all prove that no matter where you come from, a bit of luck and plenty of dedication can take you far ahead.
Kansas City High Hopes

With COVID-19 cases declining in KC, leaders say reopening plan will help stop outbreaks KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mayor Quinton Lucas unveiled the first phase of Kansas City's reopening Wednesday. It allows for some businesses to open as early as May 6, but with strict guidelines. The order, put together in large part by Kansas City Health Director Dr. Rex Archer, follows a 10/10/10 rule.

Courthouse Lockdown Contd

Jackson County says May 15 reopening date still in effect KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Following Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas' announcement that some non-essential businesses will be allowed to reopen earlier than May 15 , Jackson County officials said the stay-at-home order there remains in effect until that date. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr.

Local Reopen Rundown

REOPEN KC: When and how parts of the Kansas City metro area will reopen Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said their stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 outbreak will end May 3. Many Kansas City metro area cities and counties are on board with the move to reopen businesses and institutions. In Missouri, local health authorities may enforce more restrictive public health requirements for businesses or individuals.

Show-Me Recovery

Parson: Hospitalizations down sharply in most areas of state O'FALLON, MO (AP) - Coronavirus hospitalizations across Missouri are down significantly since peaking in early April, a key parameter in allowing the state to reopen, Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday. The Republican governor has outlined several metrics that he considers important in his decision to allow businesses and organizations to reopen starting Monday.

Lockdown Infections

KDOC: Inmate from Lansing Correctional Facility dies after testing positive for COVID-19 The Kansas Department of Corrections said an inmate from the Lansing Correctional Facility who tested positive for COVID-19 died Wednesday.KDOC said the inmate was over 60 years old and had underlying medical conditions. He had tested positive for the virus on Saturday after being taken to the University of Kansas Hospital on Friday.Officials said they would not release the man's name.

Comeback In Style

Barber shop, salon owners eager to reopen after pandemic closure KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Barber shops and salons are eager to reopen after closing for more than a month due to stay-at-home orders on both sides of the state line. Armon Lasker, owner of The Director's Cut in Kansas City, says he is considering taking customer's temperature to make sure they aren't running a fever before getting their haircut.

Kansas City Hospital Assurance

St. Luke's Health System announces options to keep patients safe during COVID-19 pandemic KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Fear of being exposed to coronavirus has some people avoiding the hospital, but St. Luke's Health System said they shouldn't worry. The health system explained they're taking several options to reduce risk of exposure, such as a 24-7 app, urgent care and community hospital access.

Pandemic Decision Daze

States Ponder Rules of Engagement as They Reopen Amid Pandemic After six weeks of asking Kansans to stay at home, Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to announce Thursday that the state will start to reopen for businesses and some public gatherings on May 4. Even if people can travel at-will and previously non-essential retailers can open their doors, the governor likely will leave some restrictions in place and maybe enact new rules.

COVID-19 Drive Time

Here are some DMV resources during the coronavirus pandemic OVERLAND PARK, KS (KCTV) -- Stay-at-home orders are lifting soon for some counties which means getting back to normal activities, like standing in line at the DMV. However, until offices reopen, if there's a problem with your license or registration, it depends on which side of the state line you live on.

KC Supply Chain

Local nonprofit works to feed families, eliminate food waste ON SUNDAY. DONNA: A LOCAL GROUP IS WORKING TO FIGHT HUNGER IN THIS PANDEMIC, AND WORKERS NEED YOUR HELP . . . A LOCAL NON-PROFIT GROUP IS VERY BUSY, WORKING TO GET MEALS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM.

First Responders Talk It Out

Peer-support programs assist first responders amid COVID-19 pandemic KANSAS CITY, Mo. - First responders rush into burning buildings, document crime scenes and assess patients in medical emergencies, risking their lives to serve and protect the public. But since the coronavirus pandemic hit, many officers accustomed to putting their own lives at risk are for the first time worried that their jobs could endanger their families.

Local Lactose Supply

Shatto Milk expands home delivery during pandemic Shatto Milk has expanded its home delivery to include items from businesses that have had to close during the pandemic.

For our late night/early morning visitors we're sharing a roundup of the latest coronavirus stats and pandemic issues confronting this cowtown and the nation.Checkit:After the jump there are about a dozen more local stories on coronavirus impact . . .Developing . . .


Drilling Contract Awarded for Mt Stirling Gold

Perth, April 30, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Torian Resources Limited ( ASX:TNR ) is pleased to announce the engagement of a drilling contractor Precision Exploration Drilling (PXD). PXD's expertise in RC drilling will assist with the Company's progression of the Mt Stirling Gold Camp. PXD have recently come off the Red 5 Ltd ( ASX:RED ) drilling program and have valuable experience being presently located in the area saving both time and mobilisation costs.Equipped with the new geological concepts (ASX 15 April 2020) that have been further elaborated on in this announcement, Torian is planning an aggressive new wave of exploration programs for the Mt Stirling land position (Figures 5 and 6*).The land position will be divided into two blocks.1) Stirling Block and 2) Diorite Block1) The focus on the Stirling block will be drilling along strike and down plunge to test the systems at depth. Torian's hypothesis is that this system may run to depth similar to the mineralization at the Gwalia Mine (Figure 1*).2) The focus of the Diorite block will be mapping and sampling utilizing systematic exploration techniques to further locates high priority drill targets. These targets will be tested by RC drilling upon completion of the company's systematic exploration efforts.In addition to completing a new round of RC drilling, an aggressive campaign of prospecting and mapping will be carried out. The focus of this campaign is as follows (Figure 2*):- Explore, locate and sample the 15 known showings contained within the Diorite King historic mining camp (red triangles below*).- Explore a number of the high priority targes identified by Southern Geological Consultants (blue hatched boxes*).- Investigate the Iron Formation lithologies (red lines) within the Diorite Block to determine if these units have any potential to host Archean BIF gold mineralisation. BIF gold deposits have been a historic major producer within the Archean of Canada (aka 5.0 Moz Au Musselwhite Mine in Northern Ontario).Torian Chairman Mr Louie Simens said, "We are very pleased with the capabilities demonstrated by Precision Exploration Drilling and look forward to the mobilisation of their rig to Mt Stirling from the Red 5 Ltd ( ASX:RED ) site. PXD is a professional outfit and we look forward to working with them on the Mt Stirling Gold Camp in 2020 and beyond."Testing the down plunge on the significant intercept of 35m @ 2.99 g/t could be one of many discoveries on the property we intend to follow up and gives our shareholders more exposure to exploration upside throughout 2020 and beyond across the Mt Stirling Gold Camp alone.Together with drilling, we will also embark on a property wide systematic mapping program as we move through our systematic approach for discovery. A priority focus will be placed on the Diorite prospect that contains the historical Diorite King and Diorite Queen mines.We have now kicked off our 3-phase exploration approach (detailed in the announcement) with the work in each phase to overlap each other and we expect to get started within a week.The Mt Stirling project is located within the prolific Leonora Gold district in the Eastern Goldfields, with Red 5's King of the Hills, St Barbara Gwalia and Saracen's Thunderbox, being in our immediate neighbourhood. We are confident that this region is a great place to be looking for new major discoveries.The Company is in a strong financial position and we'll keep the market updated on our exploration efforts."The following 3 phase prioritised systematic exploration program will be executed:Phase 1: Commence a program of aggressive prospection, geophysical, and geochemical testing over the Mt Stirling, and Ursus fault Zones within the Stirling Block expanding out for the JORC resource area. Focus will be given to 2nd and 3rd order faults structures and splays, as these tend to host the majority of tonnes in Archean lode gold deposits. First round of a reconnaissance level prospect program on the Diorite Block to be undertaken.Phase 2: Complete a phase of drilling at the Mt. Stirling deposit to delineate extension to the oxide mineralisation and drill a 3 -5 diamond holes below the proposed pit to determine if there is any down plunge tonnage potential to the oxide mineralisation within the sulphide facies. Samples will be use in petrophysical testing to better understand the mineralisation and plan geophysical programs going forward.Phase 3: Undertake a full-scale reconnaissance level prospect program in the Diorite Block.Southern Geoscience Consultants presented Torian with a study that highlights 42 priority targets to follow up on with 20 plus of these targets contained within the Diorite Block. Our first priority is the re-discovery the century old Diorite King and Diorite Queen mines. These historic mine will be mapped out in detail once re-discovered. After the prospecting program is completed the geophysical and geochemical tools will be deployed to develop new drill targets followed by a major drill campaign within the area.As announced on 15 April 2020, based on the structural hosted nature of the Mt Stilling mineralisation and the association with mafic and ultramafic rock types, it is now hypothesised by Torian that the Mt Stirling mineralisation could be an analogy to the Larder Lake-Cadillac Break hosted gold deposited located within the Superior geological sub providence of Ontario. This style of mineralising is hosted by bands of intermingled ultramafic and mafic rocks within the Larder Lake-Cadillac Break. In this scenario vast lengths of strike on the "Break" can host large economic deposits. In addition, these Achaean deposits tend to have limited strike lengths of ~0.5 Km or less but can contain significant down plunge tonnage potential to over 1.0 km or more. These types of structural "Breaks" are best thought as of a "string of pearls" with each pearl representing the potential to host a 500,000 oz plus gold deposit. The Kerr-Addison Mine on the Larder Lake-Cadillac Break hosted over 12 million oz of Au, a significant historic producer of gold. The Ursus Fault Zone contained within the Mt Stirling land position may be very similar in character to the Larder-Lake Cadillac Break of Ontario.As further confirmation for this hypothesis, Torian is looking to the nearby Gwalia Mine as an analogy for the potential deposit geometry to be found within the Mt Stirling land position (Figure 5). Gold mineralisation at Gwalia occurs as a number of echelon, moderately east dipping foliation parallel lodes within strongly potassic altered mafic rocks and extends over a strike length of approximately 500m and to a vertical depth of at least 2,200m.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Torian Resources Limited

Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) is a gold exploration and development company with an extensive and strategic land holding comprising eight projects and over 400km2 of tenure in the Goldfields Region of Western Australia.

Torian's flagship project, Zuleika, is located along the world-class Zuleika Shear. The Zuleika Shear is the fourth largest gold producing region in Australia and consistently produces some of the country's highest grade and lowest cost gold mines. Torian's Zuleika project lies north and partly along strike of several major gold deposits including Northern Star's (ASX:NST) 7.0Moz East Kundana Joint Venture and Evolutions (ASX:EVN) 1.8Moz Frogs Legs and White Foil deposits.

Torian's other projects include the strategically located Mt Stirling and Malcolm Projects in the Leonora region (near Red 5's King of the Hills Project), where it recently completed updated Mineral Resource Estimates and preliminary scoping studies, and a suite of other projects in the Kalgoorlie region including Credo Well JV Zuleika JV, Bonnie Vale, Gibraltar and Mount Monger/Wombola.
New York Citys subway system, long celebrated for its all-night service, will shut down each day from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. so trains and stations can be disinfected, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday, two days after saying the system had gotten disgusting during the coronavirus crisis.

Meanwhile, a Navy hospital ship sent a month ago to relieve stress on hospitals has left the city, fatalities inched downward and unemployment claims in the state soared again.

Here are the latest coronavirus-related developments in New York:

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SUBWAY SHUTDOWN

The citys subway system has been partially emptied and financially devastated by stay-at-home orders, and now it is shedding overnight service to make it easier to clean the system and empty it of homeless people who have increasingly taken up residence on vacant trains.

Subway cars, previously cleaned at least once every 72 hours, will be cleaned once every 24 hours starting May 6, Cuomo said. Buses, vans and other alternative transportation will be provided for essential workers at no charge while the system is closed, he said.

Cuomo said the extra cleaning in the vast system is a daunting challenge, but vital to keeping subways safe.

You have to disinfect every place a hand could touch on a subway car. Every rail, every pole, every door, Cuomo said. Or, coughing, sneezing, wherever droplets could land.

Dozens of transit employees have died of the coronavirus in recent weeks.

Pointing to a front-page report Tuesday in the New York Daily News about problems including indecent exposure, filth, and people stretched out on seats, Cuomo said the situation was disrespectful to essential workers who still need the subway to get to work.

Subway ridership has plunged by 92% during the pandemic. The shutdown will happen during hours when the system had, lately, been averaging around 11,000 riders.

Commuter trains serving Long Island and the citys northern suburbs will also be disinfected every 24 hours, Cuomo said. City buses will continue to run around-the-clock but will be rotated out of service for cleaning.

The subway system has operated continuously, 24 hours a day since October 1904, save for relatively short interruptions caused by weather events such as Superstorm Sandy in 2012, blackouts and labour disputes.

A strike in 1966 knocked out service for 12 days, the longest stoppage in the systems history, according to the agency that runs it, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman called the subway the lifeblood of our city and said he would push to ensure 24/7 service returns as soon as the pandemic is over.

The homeless have long taken refuge on the citys subways, but the problems that their plight poses  for them and other riders  has become more visible during the pandemic.

Advocates for the homeless say some are taking to trains because they worry about contracting the virus in shelters. The city has put some homeless people in hotel rooms during the crisis.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city would send more outreach workers to end-of-the-line stations to try to persuade homeless people to go to shelters. Police have increased enforcement, removing more than 100 homeless people from trains on Monday alone.

Punitively closing the subways and sending in more police will only make things worse, said Giselle Routhier, the policy director of advocacy group Coalition for the Homeless. What is actually needed are safe, private spaces where maintaining social distancing is possible.

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NAVY SHIP SAILS OFF

The 1,000-bed USNS Comfort hospital ship left New York City for its Norfolk, Virginia home Thursday having treated just 182 coronavirus patients after a the citys caseload fell short of worst-case projections.

Eleven people died while being treated on the ship and several ship personnel came down with the disease, the Defence Department said.

The situation has changed but were not done, Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy, commander of U.S. Northern Command, said as he saw the ship off.

When the ship arrived last month, officials were warning the state might need to double hospital capacity to 110,000 beds by the end of April.

Hospitalizations peaked well below that, at 18,825 on April 12, and have fallen considerably since, but people continue to get seriously ill in large numbers.

On Wednesday, 306 people died from the disease and another 933 were newly admitted to hospitals, state officials said. The fatality count was lowest daily total since March 29, when there were 253 fatalities. The state peaked with 799 deaths in one day on April 9.

More than 18,300 people in the state have died from coronavirus, though the total doesnt include more than 5,300 deaths in the city that were attributed to the virus on death certificates but not confirmed by a lab test.

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UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS

Over 1.6 million people filed for unemployment benefits in New York from March and April, according to state data released Thursday. Thats up from roughly 96,000 claims in March and April 2019.

New York has paid out over $3 billion in benefits so far to more than 1 million individuals, Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said Wednesday.

So many New Yorkers have lost their jobs amid the health crisis that it has led to breakdowns in the states decades-old unemployment benefits application system.

New York has been revamping its application website, hiring new staffers and recruiting other state workers to help process claims. Around 3,000 workers are now working on the system, up from around 400 before the pandemic, according to the labour department

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CITY TO GIVE OUT MASKS

New York City is assigning more than 1,000 employees to enforce social distancing and distribute 275,000 face coverings at parks and other public spaces as the pandemic stretches toward summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

The city is also ramping up testing and production of surgical gowns for health care workers. De Blasio said 11 testing sites will perform 14,000 tests this week, increasing to 43,000 tests at 30 sites by the week of May 18.

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Associated Press writers Karen Matthews and David Porter in New York and Marina Villeneuve in Albany contributed to this report.
Further clarity to new investment laws, illustration photo

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), which compiles the draft amendments to the Law on Investment 2014, submitted the latest draft to the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee in mid-April to discuss affairs of concern before sending it to the NAs May session for approval, with market access conditions and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions garnering the most attention among foreign ventures.

Pursuant to Article 24.2 of the draft law, foreign financiers who invest in the form of capital contribution or purchase of shares or portion of capital contribution into an economic entity (which includes M&A transactions) are required to comply with the laws on competition concerning economic concentration.

Meanwhile, Decree No.35/2020/ND-CP dated March 2020 and effective from May 15 requires parties to implement the economic concentration control procedure before implementing an M&A transaction.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, member of the Legal Sector Committee at the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EuroCham), told VIR, Unfortunately, this proposed addition is not totally clear. It could be interpreted as requiring foreign investors to complete the control concentration procedure before they submit the application for approval to the competent department of planning and investment to proceed with the transaction.

Cuong added that in order to provide a more business-friendly environment for foreign investors and a more efficient legal framework for such transactions, it remains important that both procedures are clearly distinguished. The Law on Investment should not provide any requirement with respect to economic concentration procedure, which should be provided in competition-related laws only, he recommended.

In addition, foreign financiers are also worried about the protection of rights and benefits of shareholders and others in investment activities and in M&A deals.

Marko Walde, chief representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam said, The rights, obligations, and benefits of shareholders, investors, and members of the company would be protected while the quality of corporate governance would be improved in compliance with the Investment Protection Agreement between the EU and Vietnam that is expected to come into force in the upcoming year.

Walde said the most important elements are the consistency and transparency of legal documents in the long term. This ensures that we can pursue our duly commenced, licensed, and retained businesses without interruption by later regulatory alterations, he explained.

In addition, compared with the current law, Article 9.4 of the draft proposes some market access conditions applicable to overseas investors. These include a new point on other conditions as stipulated in the laws, ordinances, and decrees.

The purpose of this new wording is ambiguous and foreign businesses are concerned that it may be used to impose unreasonable business conditions on investors and restrict market access to Vietnam, for example by imposing new requirements for licensing or sub-licensing, said Antoine Logeay, chairman of EuroChams Legal Sector Committee.

The change in market access conditions has been created to institutionalise the Politburos recently-issued Resolution No.50-NQ-TW, giving directions to the new foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction strategy towards 2030, thus enabling foreign investors to broaden opportunities in the country.

The draft also supplements the list of business lines with conditional market access for foreign investors. The list includes business lines that international investors are not yet allowed to access and others that they are only able to access with conditions. With the business lines out of the way, overseas investors have the same market access as domestic ones.

This supplementation is aimed to simplify procedures and increase transparency and feasibility in the application of the countrys commitments to open the market in alignment with new-generation free trade agreements and international treaties on investment. It will also deal with inconsistencies in the application of Vietnams commitments in free trade agreements which have different approaches in market access, said an MPI official.

In fact, the draft has a number of improvements, including investment incentives to increase the countrys attraction. Accordingly, the draft adds some sectors subjective to investment incentives. They include research and development (R&D), business of products as a result of R&D, innovation activities, and manufacturing of goods or service supply created from or joining the value chain.

The draft law will therefore create more opportunities for German and international investors to set up business in Vietnam, Walde noted, recommending other potential sectors such as the renewable energy or healthcare sectors to become preferential investment lines.

If the draft amendment is approved by the NA, it will take effect on January 1, 2021. According to some economists, investment shifts among multinational corporations to Vietnam could emerge, driven by the countrys successes in control of COVID-19, reaffirming it as a safe destination.

Vietnam attracted $15.47 billion worth of foreign-led stake equitisations in 2019, up 56.4 per cent on-year. In the first quarter of 2020, M&A deals rose 52.6 per cent on-year, accounting for 41 per cent of the countrys total pledged FDI.
NEW HANOVER  Just days after a state board of judges rescinded its disputed mining permit, an attorney for Gibraltar Rock says the company seeking to establish a quarry in New Hanover will appeal the decision.

Contacted Wednesday afternoon, Stephen Harris, an attorney for the company, said an appeal of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Boards decision will be filed with the Commonwealth Court.

That legal action could take 12 to 18 months, he confirmed.

Further, said Harris, Gibraltar Rock, which is part of the Silvi Group of companies, will also apply for a new non-coal mining permit with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections Pottsville office.

The company will also proceed with the land development process for the sites on both the south and north sides of Hoffmansville Road. Preliminary site plan approval for the original quarry site was approved by the township supervisors in 2015.

Finally, said Harris, the company will review its options for remediating the groundwater pollution from an adjacent hazardous cleanup site which quarry operations could draw to the surface, and which is at the center of the townships objections and the environmental hearing board ruling.

Harris conceded that much of the quarrys progress is now somewhat dependent on the clean-up of the pollution site, which Gibraltar Rock does not own. However, Harris said he prefers the word coordinate to dependent.

Thats the piece that the judges seemed to feel was missing in the 82-page decision issued April 24 by the five administrative law judges who oversee disputes with the DEP.

That decision rescinded the mining permit issued by the DEP after agreeing with the position taken by the township and the opposition group, Paradise Watchdogs/Ban the Quarry during the five-day trial last fall.

The board ruled that the DEP failed to properly consider how the hazardous site clean-up adjacent to the quarry site would be affected by the start of quarry operations, which will pull thousands of gallons of groundwater a day out of the ground and could pull the underground pollution plume into its pumps and then discharge it into local streams.

Two arms of the DEP are involved in the case. The mining office in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, has jurisdiction over the permit, while the clean-up is being overseen by the Hazardous Sites Clean-up Act program, which operates locally out of Norristown.

The DEP failed to coordinate its permitting activity with its HSCA activity in violation of its duties, the judges wrote in their decision.

Harris said he was disappointed by the decision, adding, I did not think they would rescind the permit.

But that is exactly what shows the strength of the townships position, said New Hanover Township Solicitor Andrew Bellwoar after being informed Wednesday of Gibraltars intent to appeal.

He said given the well-reasoned decision, with a solid foundation in law, he was surprised that Gibraltar has opted to appeal the decision, legally termed a petition to review.

But Celeste Bish, president of Paradise Watchdogs/Ban the Quarry, wrote that Gibraltar Rocks desire to appeal the EHB decision doesnt surprise us. It proves that they dont care about the environment, the residents of New Hanover Township, or generations to come.

In an email response to a query from the Mercury, Bish wrote, sites like these take years to remediate, if at all. The owners of the company do not live in the township. We are just going to have to fight even harder to ensure they dont pollute and destroy our environment.

Until he consults with the township supervisors about the townships legal response to a potential appeal, Bellwoar was reluctant to comment further, other than to say he agreed with previously published comments Bish made about the decision.

The DEP has a responsibility to look out for the citizens, it is required to, and clearly the environmental hearing board felt DEP had not fulfilled that obligation, Bellwoar said.

Whatever other legal strategy discussions the supervisors may have behind closed doors in the coming weeks, at least two supervisors are happy with the hearing boards decision.

The township is very pleased that the environmental hearing board judges agreed with the township position that the process by which the permits were issued was flawed, Supervisors Chairman Charles D. Garner Jr. wrote in an e-mail response to a Mercury inquiry.

The health and safety of our residents is paramount. I also want to thank our consultants who did a fantastic job on New Hanover Townships behalf, Garner said.

I am very proud of our board of supervisors, our township manager, Mr. Jamie Gwynn, our township solicitor, Mr. Andrew Bellwoar, and our team of consultants, who all stepped up to achieve this, supervisor W. Ross Snook wrote in a prepared statement provided to The Mercury.

I would also like to thank the Ban the Quarry team who also never lost sight of the goal to preserve the safety of our community, and worked countless hours to achieve this, wrote Snook, who is also chairman of the townships Environmental Advisory Board.

Gibraltars pending appeal of the hearing board decision will be another in the seemingly endless legal battles dating all the way back to 2001 when the quarry was first proposed.

This particular chapter regarding the mining permit began when DEP first-issued a non-coal mining permit in 2005.

It was renewed in 2015 and is for the original quarry proposal, located on land south of Hoffmansville Road, north of Route 73 and west of Church Road, known as GR-1 and the additional property included in its first proposed expansion, known as GR-2.

The appeal of DEPs renewal of the mining permit being was filed by the township in July of 2018 and joined by Paradise Watchdogs/Ban the Quarry.

The combined site south of Hoffmansville Road is a proposed 241-acre rock quarry and crushing operation on 302 acres of land.

Subsequently, Gibraltar purchased property and filed plans for an expansion on 82 acres on the north side of Hoffmansville Road, also bounded by Church Road to the east and Coleflesh Road to the north. That 82 acres now includes a fourth expansion on 18 adjacent acres, known as GR-4.

Gibraltars plans call for rock mined from GR-3 and GR-4 to be carried beneath Hoffmansville Road on a conveyer belt for crushing and processing on the GR-1 site.

The 18 acres in GR-4 are adjacent to the pollution site that has become the center of many of the townships legal objections.

Much of the townships argument opposing the permit revolves around the underground chemical pollution discovered in 2011 at a nearby property off Route 663, formerly Goods Oil.

That contamination ultimately spread through groundwater and required a $2 million expansion of the public water system for those whose wells were contaminated.

The state determined in 2013 that the property, now known as the Hoff VC site, is the source of volatile organic compound chemical contamination of a number of residential wells. The DEP says pollution likely came from an underground pit from which 8,000 gallons of chemicals was extracted and burned in 2016 as part of an initial clean-up there although there may be other sources as well.

Several of the contaminants from that site were found in an observation well just 200 feet from the quarry pit that is subject to the permit, the township wrote in its appeal.

The township worries that the quarry operation, which will require pumping several thousand gallons of groundwater that will seep into quarry pits each day, into a holding basin and then into an unnamed tributary of Swamp Creek, will draw the groundwater contamination out into the open.

Swamp Creek eventually empties into the Perkiomen Creek, which ultimately empties into the Schuylkill River, a source of public drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.
Cameroon admits soldiers, 'vigilantes' killed 10 kids, 3 women in massacre Human Rights Watch identifies the 'vigilantes' as suspected armed ethnic Fulani herdsmen

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Authorities in Cameroon have admitted that soldiers were involved in the killing of three women and 10 children in a mid-February attack in the civil war-stricken Northwest province in which 21 people were killed and several homes were pillaged.

After initially claiming that allegations of soldiers being complicit in the massacre in Ngarbuh village on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 were false, the Cameroonian government announced last Tuesday that three soldiers are on trial for their role in the killing of innocent civilians and burning of homes in the majority Christian Anglophone region.

The government released the findings of a joint commission of inquiry investigation launched following reports that soldiers teamed up with Fulani militants in a nighttime attack that was said to have claimed the lives of at least 13 children and one pregnant woman.

Following an exchange of gunfire, during which five terrorists were killed, and many weapons seized, the detachment discovered that three women and 10 children had died because of its actions, a lengthy statement released by President Paul Biyas communication unit reads.

According to the statement, Major Nyiangono Ze Charles Eric of the 52nd Motorized Infantry Battalion in Nkambe ordered a reconnaissance mission on Feb. 12 to Ngarbuh, a village of the Ndu subdivision of the don Mantung area that is known to be where secessionist terrorists regrouped.

Throughout the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, some farming communities are supportive of rebel groups that began fighting for independence in 2017 because they feel underrepresented by the French-speaking central government. Over the last few years, fighting has spread across the Anglophone regions with thousands being killed and some churches seized.

In Ngarbuh, the government claimed that rebels were engaged in all sorts of abuses against the local population, such as cattle rustling, rape, assaults. The government claims that such abuses warranted intervention by the military.

On Feb. 13 around 10 p.m., a team of soldiers headed by Sgt. Baba Guida left for their base for Ngarbuh. But according to the government, the men stopped along the way to enlist 17 members of a local vigilante committee.

While the local vigilante committee has not been identified, a Human Rights Watch investigation suggests that armed ethnic Fulani were involved in the attack. The Christian Post reported on allegations last year that government actors have encouraged and even armed ethnic Fulani to carry out attacks against separatist-supporting farming communities. Such attacks claimed the lives of two Bible translators last year.

In Ngarbuh, the team split up once they entered the village.

The governments report said that Guida, along with Gendarme Sanding Cyrille, Pfc. Haranga and 10 members of the vigilante group launched an attack in Ngarbhu neighborhood No. 3 based on information provided by a repented terrorist and farmer from the area.

After engaging in gunfire, the government claims that the soldiers tried to conceal the facts that they had killed innocent women and children by starting fires. Upon returning to the military base, Guida was accused of filing a deliberately biased report to superiors.

According to the investigations findings, it was Guidas initial report on which the government had previously issued a statement calling the allegations against the soldiers false.

The government said there will be disciplinary proceedings against Eric and all soldiers involved.

Arrests orders have been issued for Guida, Cyrille and Haranga, who will be subject to the Yaounde military tribunal. The government's statement claims that the members of the vigilante community involved in the attack are being tracked down and have not been identified.

In addition to filing false reports, the government accuses Guida of involving armed civilians in a military operation, failing to control his troops and ordering the destruction of homes. Eric is accused of failing to properly supervise the operation despite knowing how sensitive the Ngarbuh area is.

Arrests have been ordered for Guida, Cyrille, Haranga and 10 members of the vigilante community who have not been identified and need to be tracked down.

Biya ordered the corpses of the victims to be exhumed and given a proper burial at the cost of the state. The presidency also ordered the state to pay compensation and indemnities to the families of the victims.

[The president] reiterates his firm instructions to the relevant officials and the various levels of the hierarchy of the Defense and Security Forces to ensure, with increased determination, that they always perform their duty with professionalism, they particularly ensure the protection of civilians and see to it that allegations of any exactions are systematically investigated and where necessary properly punished, the statement adds.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the governments findings are the first step in establishing the truth around the killings of civilians by government forces. However, HRW notes that the governments release diverges in significant detail from the facts of the events at Ngarbuh established by Human Rights Watch and corroborated by others, including the U.N.

HRW found that members of the Rapid Intervention Battalion and armed ethnic Fulani killed 21 civilians in addition to burning five homes, beating residents and pillaging "scores of other properties."

"The armed Fulani may be the 'local vigilance groups' referred to in the government news release," a HRW update contends.

HRW believes that the governments report at least establishes that Cameroonian soldiers attempted to cover up the truth around the killings and includes a government pledge to work with human rights organizations.

The commissions findings into the Ngarbuh massacre, while flawed, are an important first step toward justice for these serious crimes, HRW Central Africa Director Lewis Mudge said in a statement. But this report should not be a stand-alone action. A more in-depth investigation is needed to establish a clear timeline of events and to identify all those responsible, including anyone further up the chain of command, for the purposes of prosecuting them.

The U.S. Embassy in Yaounde tweeted that it's pleased to see Cameroon take steps toward transparency.

We welcome the news it plans to hold to account those suspected of carrying out this action and trying to cover it up, the tweet reads.

The Ambazonia Governing Council, a separatist group that has declared independence, is not so pleased with the findings.



Accepting culpability in Ngarbuh while presenting false justification of the systematic killing of civilians is a political masquerade, Ambazonia Governing Council leader Ayaba Cho Lucas said, according to Radio France Internationale.

Cameroon was added to Open Doors USAs annual World Watch List of 50 countries where Christians are most persecuted in 2020.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 : There is good news for 5 lakh Keralalites, who enjoy their daily dose of alcohol. An order from the top boss of the state-owned Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) to its employees appears to indicate that liquor vends in the state may open from May 4.

Bevco MD, Sparjan Kumar in his letter to its employees has said that if there are relaxations in the lockdown from May 4, all the shops can open, but all norms should be adhered to strictly.

It says before the shops open, the shop and its premises should be cleaned and disinfected. Hand sanitizers should be there, besides the accepted norm of social distancing should be maintained.

It was on March 24 that the vends shut down. Attempts by the state government earlier to open these shops amid the lockdown was shot down by the Kerala High Court.

The profile of liquor users in the state in an earlier study reveal that around 32.9 lakh people out of the 3.34 crore population in the state consume liquor, which includes 29.8 lakh men and 3.1 lakh women.

Around five lakh people consume liquor on a daily basis. Of this, around 83,851 people including 1,043 women are addicted to alcohol.
For those who dont have N95, or surgical masks, the CDC advises the use of a simple face covering in public to help slow the spread of the virus. Around the country, local governments are starting to issue fines to people who arent covering their faces in public, including in Alabama. Effective May 1, the city of Birmingham is requiring masks or face coverings for all people two and older. Failure to comply with the ordinance is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in the municipal jail.

If youre looking to make your own face mask, Lillis Taylor, artist-in-residence with UABs Arts in Medicine program and co-founder of Bib & Tucker Sew-Op has two tutorials for making a mask that properly covers the nose, mouth, and chin.

If you dont want to break out a sewing machine or a needle and thread, Taylors no-sew mask tutorial only requires a T-shirt, scissors, a pen or marker, and a ruler.

Taylor also has an instruction video for people who want to hand-sew face masks.

Both demonstrations include tips for properly removing the masks and washing them between uses. Handmade cloth masks should be washed and properly dried between uses. Its careful to note: Most hospitals are not publicly accepting homemade face masks, and homemade masks do not take the place of approved Personal Protective Equipment.

Here are tips from UAB to properly wear a face mask.

RELATED:
As many as 23 persons tested



positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra's Thane city, taking the tally here to 279, an official said on Thursday.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Kalyan Dombivli Municipal limits recorded 18 and 13 new cases respectively, while no fresh cases were reported from Mira- Bhayandar area in 24 hours, the official said.

At least six children, between the ages of six and 17, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Thane city, he said.

Of the 279 cases in the city, Mumbra recorded the highest number with 50 patients, while Lokmanya Nagar and Wagle Estate areas had over 40 COVID-19 patients, deputy municipal commissioner Sandeep Malavi said.

Thane district reported new 64 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the tally to 867, an official release stated.

Meanwhile, MLA Sanjay Kelkar and BJP's Thane president Niranjan Davkhare urged municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal to provide subsidised treatment to COVID-19 patients.

They demanded that the civic corporation declare the rates for each service, including ambulances, as patients were charged exorbitant amounts for the same.

Speaking to reporters, Kelkar said the civic commissioner has agreed to maintain standard rates for all services provided by COVID19 hospitals in the city.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Hoping to welcome back a loved one with a classic, handwritten sign at the airport? Well, you might have to wait outside.

On Tuesday, the Port Authority began restricting airport terminal access at John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia airports amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Only ticketed passengers, airport employees and those who can demonstrate a need to enter the facility for airport-related business will be permitted to enter the terminals.

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

Due to COVID-19-related shifts in flight and passenger activity, changes in the airports operational footprints, security, cleaning and maintenance protocols, and social distancing directives, the Port Authority will temporarily limit terminal access at the regions three major airports, according to the agency.

Port Authority Police will monitor access to the terminals and may ask prospective entrants to provide evidence of their reason for entry.

Passengers may be asked to show a ticket, boarding pass, flight reservation or some comparable confirmation that they are taking a departing flight from that airport.

Airport employees may be asked to show their airport identification badge, while others conducting business within the facility may need to provide documentation that they are a vendor, contractor, or are otherwise performing authorized airport business.

This policy will remain in place through the duration of the emergency orders from New York and New Jersey, according to the Port Authority.
President Donald Trump and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated Wednesday that they might support Gov. Phil Murphys call for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid for states and localities  but at a price.

Trump, elected president on a promise to deport all 11 million unauthorized immigrants, said Wednesday that he wanted to end sanctuary cities as part of any deal for more federal funding for state and local governments.

And McConnell, R-Ky., said Wednesday that he wanted to protect businesses from lawsuits, a long-standing goal of Republicans who seek to rein in trial lawyers, a major source of campaign cash for Democrats.

The GOP leaders drew a line in the sand as Congress began drafting another coronavirus stimulus package that could exceed the $2 trillion CARES Act passed last month

It could be a topic of conversation Thursday as Murphy meets with Trump at the White House.

House Democrats have said they wont approve another spending bill without aid to state and local governments.

With businesses across the U.S. shut down and residents sheltering in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus, tax collections are down even as expenses continue, such as salaries for police officers, health care workers and school teachers.

That has led the bipartisan National Governors Association to ask Congress for $500 billion in federal aid for the states, a request echoed by Murphy at his daily coronavirus press conference on Wednesday.

Its not just a Democratic need. Its not just a New Jersey need. And it is literally to pay for the very folks at the front line who we need to keep on the payroll, Murphy said.

Never mind folks wouldnt be served in their hour of need in the biggest health care crisis in the history of our country, but the unemployment ranks would swell and we cant have any of that.

Even that may not be enough money. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive research group in Washington, said states budget shortfalls could reach $650 billion over the next three years.

New Jersey already received $1.8 billion in federal assistance that the U.S. Treasury Department said the money could only be used for coronavirus-related expenses, not to replace sharply reduced tax revenues as a result of the fight against COVID-19.

U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., have introduced legislation to provide $500 billion in aid, plus overturn the Treasury ruling.

Murphy said Wednesday that he still was talking with the Trump administration about relaxing those rules. The two men are scheduled to meet at the White House on Thursday.

I think weve made progress, but were not there yet and thats going to be a fraction of what we need overall and thats a conversation that I look forward to having with the president, I hope sooner than later," Murphy said.

Separately, several Murphy aides held a conference call Tuesday to discuss the states response to the coronavirus with Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and senior adviser, and other Trump administration officials, the White House said.

Trump refused to add state aid to the spending package for small businesses, hospitals and testing that cleared Congress last week, but said he would talk about including it in the larger upcoming bill.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Trump, though, told reporters at the White House Wednesday that the legislation also must address the issue of sanctuary cities, where local law enforcement refuses to hold unauthorized immigrants who have not been charged with a crime.

I dont see helping cities and states if theyre going to be sanctuary, Trump said. We dont want people that are criminals  and criminals from other countries, in many cases  protected and you cant get to them. And then were supposed to make massive payments to those states to bail out what theyve done wrong over a 25-year period.

The president has sought to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities, which include Newark and Jersey City. Murphy said during his gubernatorial campaign that he would consider making New Jersey to be a sanctuary state to protect the federal government from deporting unauthorized immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as dreamers.

The governor declined to respond to Trumps comments on Wednesday, in contrast to his earlier criticism of McConnell for a completely and utterly irresponsible suggestion that bankruptcy could be an alternative to providing more federal aid to states.

McConnell backed off that statement Wednesday, telling Fox News Radio he would discuss providing more federal money to states, but also wanted to ban lawsuits against businesses who were reopening.

In addition to consideration of funding for state and local governments, we need to be start thinking of the people who are going fall under this avalanche of lawsuits, McConnell said. Were open to discussing additional assistance but its not all about money.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.
OROVILLE, Calif. -- City budgets are based off the revenue they earn the previous fiscal year.

Oroville's budget for next year is expected to decrease because of the coronavirus.

City council members project there will be a fifteen percent decrease to next year's budget.

Its drop comes from the massive decrease in sales tax revenue with businesses staying shut down during the pandemic.

Fiscal Director Ruth Duncan says at least forty percent of the city's revenue this year will come from sales tax.

This leaves community members uncertain, but still optimistic.

Oroville Business Owner and Resident Joey Tomlinson says, "I know that our city will get through it for sure. We've overcome a lot of things just this past couple months with the pandemic and everything and I know that's probably a big hit on what's going down with the drop, but i do believe in our city i know we'll get through it."

Action News Now spoke with Councilman Eric Smith earlier this afternoon.

He believes that Oroville, unlike many other cities in California, can still be in good shape next fiscal year.

Smith says, "I think the council as a whole, when it comes to fiscal issues, takes a pretty conservative approach and very careful. In this particular situation I think it's going to pay off great dividends.

Duncan and the council made it clear in today's meeting that their projections will be based off of worst-case scenario numbers.

Additionally, Duncan said the city is working with sales tax experts who will provide advice and information as time progresses.

The next city council meeting will be next Tuesday on May 5th, 2020.
New Delhi, April 30 : Keeping in view the hardships being faced by candidates during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has decided to extend the date of online application forms submission for various entrance exams including JNU, IGNOU Ph.D and Hotel Management.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said: "The Director General of National Testing Agency (NTA) has been advised to extend the last date for submission of online applications for various examinations".

Nishank said , "This includes entrance examinations conducted by JNU, IGNOU Ph.D, ICAR exam, NCHM G and management course." According to an order issued by the NTA the date of filling the form for the entrance examinations of Jawaharlal Nehru University has been extended till May 15. The date of filling the form of the National Council for Hotel Management 'G' has also been extended till May 15.

Similarly, the date for submitting the form for Ph.D and MBA from IGNOU has been extended from April 30 to May 15 as has the date for the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. The All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test form can be filled till June 5.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has also directed the CBSE, NIOS and NTA to prepare a revised schedule of examinations. Along with this, autonomous bodies and NCERT have been asked to prepare an alternative academic calendar.

In view of the lockdown, the central government has also decided to postpone the NEET examinations. Admission cards were to be issued for NEET examinations, but these were not issued and the Ministry issued a notice to postpone the exams.

Students will no longer have to travel to other cities to write the entrance exams. This facility will be provided for the entrance examination of various academic programmes including the main entrance examination of 'G'. The NTA has made the necessary provisions for this.
The BJP on Thursday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over his reference to "authoritarian model" in his interaction with former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, saying those who had put in place an "accidental model" will pass off any show of "decisiveness and determination" as authoritarian.

"Rahul Gandhi complains to Raghuram Rajan of an 'authoritarian model'. But of course those who had put in place an 'accidental model'; for them any other model that has 'decisiveness' & 'determination' as its basic ingredients will be passed off as 'authoritarian'," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.

The Congress leader, he added, is probably unaware of the fact that this very idea of 'antyodaya' (serving the last man in queue) of Mahatma Gandhi and Deen Dayal Upadhyay is the backbone of the BJP.

"You just dream. We perform," Patra added.

He also took a dig at the former Congress president over his reference to inequality, wondering if it is a case of the "epitome of inequality complaining about inequality?"
AstraZeneca agreed to make an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers as the race heats up for the key to halting the pandemic.

The company is one of dozens around the world that have joined the competition, with the Trump administration on Wednesday announcing a massive effort aimed at making shots available for Americans by year's end. Astra's tie-up with Oxford shows how developers are aiming to manufacture vaccines before they've cleared human tests so they can be distributed as soon as possible.

As the coronavirus shuts down businesses and industries, countries are vying for a vaccine to help them get workers back in place and economies restarted. Oxford's swift work offers a glimmer of hope in a country already beset by thousands of deaths and a continuing lockdown.

"We should know relatively soon if it does work or not," Astra Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot told BBC radio. "By June, July, we will already have a pretty good idea."
Bucks County Emergency Services Director Scott T. Forster speaks at a March 14 news briefing about the coroanvirus with Chair of the Bucks County Commissioners, Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Vice Chair Bob Harvie, Jr. (right). Read more

Bucks County officials on Thursday pledged to test every resident at Neshaminy Manor, the county-owned nursing home, as the COVID-19 death count there continued to soar, part of a surge in senior-citizen deaths countywide.

County Coroner Meredith J. Buck said 22 residents at the county home who died had tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to seven presumed to have died from the virus. Test results for four other deaths are pending.

David Damsker, head of the countys Department of Health, put the death toll at Neshaminy Manor, in Warrington, at 20 but noted that his agency only counts deaths for which testing has been done.

Damsker said there is no question that the vast majority of coronavirus deaths in Bucks County come from long-term-care facilities for seniors. Data from the state Department of Health say 71% of the countys COVID-19 deaths as of Wednesday were people living in nursing homes.

The county reported 20 new deaths Wednesday, the spike at the end of a nine-day tally of 100 new fatalities. That group accounts for more than half of the total deaths from COVID-19 in the county since the first fatality was recorded on March 28.

We are absolutely seeing deaths, and its not just one facility, Damsker said earlier Thursday. I wouldnt call any one facility a hot spot. I would say any facility that has cases has a potential for death. And were working with them to do everything we can to prevent infection.

All of Wednesdays reported deaths were senior citizens  the youngest 69, the oldest 93. And since April 3  the date that the county started making age data available  96% of Bucks Countys COVID-19 deaths have been people 60 or older, according to an Inquirer analysis of county data.

Damsker said Thursday that 61 senior-care facilities in the county have outbreaks of COVID-19. Additionally, he estimated that half of the cases in the county are from residents of those facilities, or their staff.

The county has been testing all of the residents at Neshaminy Manor who show symptoms of the virus, he said, and has been slowly increasing the number of administered tests as supplies become available.

County spokesperson Larry King said the discrepancy between the coroners COVID-19 death toll at Neshaminy and the Health Departments was because the department does not include presumptive deaths in its official counts.

In the past, there have been shortages of testing kits, and some people may have died of various causes before they could be tested for COVID, King said. But again, we dont record probable cases as COVID deaths in our records.

The county plans to begin mass testing every resident in the 360-bed facility in the coming days, Damsker said.

This is a real problem, and this is happening in places where weve tried really hard to stop it, he said.

>>HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.

The numbers follow a trend seen across Pennsylvania and beyond.

About two-thirds of the states known coronavirus-related deaths have been residents of long-term-care facilities, according to state Department of Health data. Pennsylvania has one of the oldest state 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.

Repeatedly, advocates and families of long-term-care residents complain of a lack of information from inside the homes. Most homes started barring visitors, including state inspectors, from entering in mid-March.

 READ MORE: Its a sinking ship: COVID-19 deaths triple at state-run vets nursing home in Chester County as families clamor for information

State and county officials have refused to reveal how many cases and deaths are in specific facilities, despite nearby states, including New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, sharing such information.

Kandy Schreffler, a regional ombudsperson overseeing Bucks County for the state Department of Aging, said she has found it difficult to investigate complaints at long-term-care facilities. Most of her work, she said, has to be conducted over the phone or through the mail.

Its really important for people to know that we are still here, she said. At the beginning of this, I was concerned. But weve relied on some creative ways to stay in touch with residents whove reached out to us.

 READ MORE: Pa. nursing homes left to largely police themselves as coronavirus deaths mount

Complaints from nursing home residents and their families run the gamut, but the most frequent issues, she said, involve a lack of communication. Some facilities have limited number of phones for resident use, and families with loved ones across the region have reported issues to the state of going days without being able to reach anyone inside.

People are concerned. Theyre not there, dont have eyes on their loved ones, they dont have the day-to-day contact with them, she said. They dont have information where COVID is in certain homes, and we dont have that either.

Graphics editor John Duchneskie contributed to this article.
Celebrated annually as a tribute to all mothers and motherhood, it is worth remembering this day falls on various dates in different parts of the world, in Hungary it's Sunday the 2nd of May in 2021.

The origins of the holiday dates back to the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The modern form of the celebration of Mother's Day began in the early 20th century.



More:

www.timeanddate.com Mother's Day around the World



Related links Father's Day Celebrated In Hungary, 20 June in 2021
Cebu City (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The Cebu provincial jail and Lapu-Lapu City jail are now included in the list of detention facilities in Cebu that have been hit by the coronavirus disease.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia announced on Wednesday that 18 inmates from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) tested positive for COVID-19. The jail has also recorded its first coronavirus-related death  a 44-year-old male detainee from Catmon, Cebu.

Garcia said that the 18 inmates were already isolated from the general jail population even before their test results came because they exhibited influenza-like illness, prompting jail officials to isolate them as part of protocol.

Upon initial investigation, Garcia said a male administrative staff from the jail facility could have been the source of the infection.

The male staff, who was later found positive for COVID-19, has defied the order to stay-in at the jail facility instead of going home daily. It was reported that the staff continued to go to his house in Barangay Sambag Dos in Cebu City.

"Apparently that was not strictly followed...That's the weak point," the governor said.

The Lapu-Lapu City jail on Wednesday also recorded one jail officer contracting the virus.

CPDRC's neighboring facility, Cebu City Jail, has already recorded a total of 212 infections of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Mandaue City recorded one inmate infected with COVID-19 last April 24.

There are a total of 631 cases of COVID-19 in Cebu, as recorded by the Department of Health Central Visayas.
Anwar al-Bunni has helped make a landmark trial possible, but his sights are set on a bigger target  the Syrian regime.

It is 10:30am on April 22; a sunny Wednesday morning.

Anwar al-Bunni, a 61-year-old with small dark eyes beneath bushy brows, is standing outside Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the German citys main train station, in a light grey jacket and dark pants. Where travellers and commuters usually hurry in and out of the large glass and steel building, all is quiet today. Whoever can, is staying at home because of the coronavirus.

Al-Bunni calmly picks a cigarette from a silver case and lights it. There is still enough time for a smoke before the train that will take him 600km (373 miles) to the western German city of Koblenz is due to depart.

The renowned Syrian human rights lawyer is making his way to Koblenzs Higher Regional Court, where he will testify in a case due to begin the next day. But al-Bunni is more than just a witness at the trial. He is, many of those connected to the trial agree, one of the people who made it possible.

4,000 cases of torture, 58 deaths

In the landmark trial, Anwar Raslan and Eyad al-Gharib  alleged members of Branch 251 of the Syrian military intelligence service in Damascus  stand accused of committing crimes against humanity.

The accusations against al-Gharib relate to the brutal assault and torture of 30 anti-government demonstrators he allegedly rounded up in the autumn of 2011.

But it is Raslans case that is seen as the most significant. The former senior military official stands accused of being the head of Branch 251s investigations and thereby responsible for at least 4,000 cases of torture, 58 deaths and two cases of rape or sexual assault between April 2011 and September 2012. If found guilty, he could receive a life sentence.

Both men ultimately defected  Raslan in 2012 and al-Gharib in 2014. They fled Syria and started new lives in Germany  where they were arrested in 2019.

Since 2011, when protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government broke out, the German Federal Prosecutor has been collecting evidence about crimes committed in Syria.

Now, it is using the principle of universal jurisdiction to hold the worlds first criminal trial on torture in Syria.

The German Code of Crimes against International Law, implemented in 2002, allows the German authorities to prosecute anyone who commits crimes against humanity, even if they have no direct connection to Germany.

Protesters outside the court in Koblenz [Hanna el-Hitami/Al Jazeera]

Exposing the Syrian regime

The train carriage is almost empty as al-Bunni takes his seat in it. Travelling with him is a Syrian survivor of torture, her mother and a Syrian journalist.

Concealed behind sunglasses, the young woman, who asked to remain anonymous, is on the verge of tears.

This man has been looking after me like a father, she says. He is the only one who is really on our side.

Like tens of thousands of Syrians, she was tortured in al-Assads notorious prisons, where she was detained for about a year in 2012.

Now a refugee in Germany, she has not recovered from the physical and psychological damage done to her. Despite several operations, her kidneys are still seriously damaged and she needs psychotherapy. I really want to support the trial by testifying, she says. But I cannot speak about the details of what they did to me.

As important as this trial is, according to al-Bunni, it is just the beginning of Syrias long road to justice, at the end of which may stand the prosecution of al-Assad himself.

We already submitted a lawsuit against him to the German Federal Prosecutor in 2018, he explains. The evidence heard at the trial in Koblenz will support our case against al-Assad by exposing the whole Syrian regime.

Becoming a lawyer

It has been a long time coming for al-Bunni, who began defending political prisoners in Syria in 1986.

All together, my siblings and their spouses have spent almost 70 years in Syria's prisons. Anwar al-Bunni

He was born and raised in Hama in a family that gave him every reason to become a lawyer.

All together, my siblings and their spouses have spent almost 70 years in Syrias prisons, he laughs.

But, al-Bunni actually started his working life doing something entirely different. In the early 1980s, he was an assistant engineer on the construction of Saydnaya Prison, a place Amnesty International labelled a human slaughterhouse in 2017 because of the mass executions of prisoners that have taken place there.

But at the age of 21, after three of his siblings were arrested, he decided to return to university to study law.

His oldest brother was the first to be detained in 1977; others followed.

My brothers and sisters as well as many of my friends were political activists. I was not, so I decided to become a lawyer: at least I would be able to contribute by defending them, he explains.

Arbitrary arrests of political activists and opposition members, like torture, was commonplace under the rule of Bashar al-Assads father, Hafez al-Assad.

Al-Bunni spent almost 20 years defending Syrian inmates: political prisoners pro bono, criminals to make a living.

Finally, in 2006, he, too, was arrested. He was sentenced to five years in prison for spreading seditious false news.

The prison guards tried to kill me twice, but I survived with the help of other inmates, he recalls. I tried to make the best of my time there. I started working out and devised plans for Syrias political future that I later wrote down and published.

In 2011 he was released, just in time to see the first months of Syrias uprising.

In 2014, however, he fled from Syria to Lebanon, where he and his family received humanitarian visas from the German embassy.

I wanted to stay in Syria as long as possible to defend the increasing number of political prisoners, he says. But at some point it became clear that being arrested was tantamount to death. Not just ones own death, but the death of the whole family. So we left.

The link

In Germany, al-Bunni founded the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research, where he and his colleagues collect information about Syrian regime members and build cases around them.

Even though he is not licensed to work as a lawyer in Germany, he has cooperated with the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) to prepare lawsuits and put the German prosecution in touch with many witnesses.

Their statements give detailed accounts of Syrias detention centres and what happens inside them. They are among the most important pieces of evidence in this groundbreaking case.

Many of the witnesses knew al-Bunni from Syria, where he had already defended them during their detention. Others have met him in Germany, where a large Syrian exile community has formed since around one million refugees arrived in 2015.

Because al-Bunni is well known and trusted within the community, he and his fellow activists were able to locate former inmates and torture survivors in Germany and encourage them to testify with the Federal Prosecution.

He is of great value to our work, explains Patrick Kroker, one of the lawyers at ECCHR who are representing the Syrian plaintiffs at the trial.

He has an incredibly large network and standing among the Syrian community. He and other Syrian lawyers such as Mazen Darwish and Jumana Saif have been the link between the Syrian witnesses and the German judiciary.

A small cog

As the high-speed train rushes past green meadows, wheat fields and forests, al-Bunni gives one media interview after another. He says he does not mind; on the contrary, he is delighted by all the media attention the trial has received across the world.

The media is our strongest weapon, he says. The whole world needs to understand that these people can never play a part in Syrias future.

In English and Arabic, he patiently answers the same questions over and over again: Yes, it is true that he ran into the accused Anwar Raslan a few years ago at the refugee accommodation centre in Berlin Marienfelde. Yes, he did recognise him as the man who had arrested him in 2006. No, this trial is not his own personal vendetta against him. It is much bigger than that.

He arrested them, tortured them, killed them under torture, al-Bunni almost shouts into his phone during one interview about Raslan.

After hanging up, he smiles apologetically, and looks around to see whether he has bothered other passengers. Then he explains: Our goal is not to convict a small cog of the infernal machinery that continues to murder people. Instead, we want to use this small cog to prove the existence of the machinery and to show the extent of its infernality.

Al-Bunni has had to explain many times why he is backing the trial. He has been criticised for it, even by friends and colleagues who believe that putting two defectors on trial, while high-ranking Syrian officials are still free, is the wrong approach.

Justice must always be served in accordance with the needs of the victims, not the perpetrators. Anwar al-Bunni

For al-Bunni, however, it makes no difference, whether or not they defected.

In Islam we have this principle that whoever becomes a Muslim is absolved of any sins he may have committed before, he explains. But justice does not work like that outside of religion. Just because they defected, they cannot be considered innocent. Justice must always be served in accordance with the needs of the victims, not the perpetrators.

Several victims will participate as joint plaintiffs in the trial against Raslan. This allows them to play a more active role in shaping the trial instead of just testifying once in front of the court. They can attend every hearing, summon witnesses and file motions.

Others who were incarcerated and tortured in Syria will testify like al-Bunni or attend the hearings as spectators.

Anwar al-Bunni in front of the court in Koblenz [Hannah El-Hitami/Al Jazeera]

Beating, beating, beating

At 6:30am on April 23, the first day of the trial, a long line has formed outside the court building in Koblenz, stretched even longer by somewhat observed social distancing rules. Compared to Koblenzs main court building with its castle-like towers and arched windows, this one is an unremarkable block with eight floors of square windows. But it has a large room suitable for the public interest in this historical trial.

Journalists and prominent members of the Syrian exile community are queuing for the limited seats in the courtroom, due to social distancing measures implemented during the coronavirus pandemic.

Al-Bunni is not among them. He will not be allowed to attend any hearings, since he himself will be called to give evidence as a witness in due time. As a prominent human rights lawyer in Syria and a former prison inmate, he will give the judiciary insight into the system of arbitrary arrests and inhumane prison conditions of his home country.

Usually, when violent conflicts end the winner sets the framework for transitional justice. But in this case justice is served while the crimes continue to be committed. Anwar al-Bunni

But before he is called, he will be waiting outside the court to meet the other witnesses and plaintiffs after the hearing  to support them and hear all about what happened inside.

They will tell him how the two defendants were led into the courtroom for the first time: how al-Gharib hid his face from the cameras behind the hood of his jacket while Raslans uncovered face showed no emotion; how the federal prosecutor read the indictment, including a long list of the witnesses accounts of torture  of electric shocks, sleep deprivation and beating, beating, beating  with batons, plastic hoses or frayed power cables that inflicted deep wounds into their skin.

Al-Bunni hopes the trial will be the first step towards change.

Usually, when violent conflicts end the winner sets the framework for transitional justice, he says, after the first two trial days have ended and he is again on the train, back to Berlin for the weekend.

But in this case, justice is served while the crimes continue to be committed. Justice will set the framework for how the conflict in Syria will develop.

This trial is just one element of that. Syrian activists and NGOs across Europe have prompted their federal prosecutors to issue international arrest warrants against the highest-ranking members of the Syrian regime.

It will take patience to see the results, but right now Anwar al-Bunni is optimistic.

I had no doubts that this moment would come, he says. But this trial is not our final goal. It is just one step on the way to bringing all criminals to justice.
The Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) this week said that Canadas copyright framework is broken after an appeals court dealt Canadian publishers and authors a major setback in a closely watched copyright case.

On April 22, the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision in Access Copyright v. York University, which held that copying guidelines used by York University in Toronto did not comply with the Canadian Supreme Courts test for fair dealing (fair use in the U.S.). But, in a major blow, the court also held that "tariff" payments for the universitys copyingunder rates set by the Canadian governments national Copyright Boardare not mandatory.

Through Access Copyright, Canadian publishers have participated in the Copyright Boards multi-year tariff process in good faith, and with an expectation of fair and reasonable compensation for the use of their content, said ACP executive director Kate Edwards. The Court of Appeals decision on mandatory tariffs makes future engagement in this process futile, and leaves small and medium-sized rightsholders in the untenable position of pursuing compliance on their own, rather than through their collective.

The copyright battle dates back to April of 2013, when Access Copyright, a major collective society representing thousands of authors and some 650 publishers, filed suit alleging that York University was improperly using its fair dealing guidelines to avoid paying copyright tariffs for materials used in the classroom.

 The Court of Appeals decision on mandatory tariffs makes future engagement in this process futile. 

In July, 2017, the Federal Court of Canada delivered a resounding win for Access Copyright, holding that Yorks guidelines were unfair, and that the tariffs issued by Canadas Copyright Boarda regulatory body authorized to establish royalty rates for the use of copyright protected works administered by collective societieswere mandatory.

But in its decision last week, the Federal Court of Appealdespite upholding that York Universitys copyright guidelines were not fair dealingruled that the Copyright Boards role is to approve, not to implement tariffs. And because York University opted out of the tariff system in 2011, after balking at paying higher rates, York was not bound by those tariffs.

Acts of infringement do not turn infringers into licensees so as to make them liable for the payment of royalties, the court held.

In a statement, Access Copyright said it is considering next steps, which could include a possible appeal to Canada's Supreme Court.

"The Court of Appeals decision on mandatory tariffs deprives creators of fair and affordable payment for the use of their work by stripping them of the ability to rely on their collective," the statement reads. "The purpose of the tariff regime is to provide collective societies with a practical, effective solution to ensure that the rights holders they represent receive fair compensation for the use of their works."

To be clear, the decision does not leave copyright holders without recourse. While Access Copyright cannot sue for copyright infringement and damages, individual copyright holders can. But, given the high cost of litigation for individual authors and small publishers, ACP said thats simply not feasible.

In essence, the decision reaffirms that the Canadian education sector has engaged in illegal and unfair copying on a systematic basis, reads the ACP release, and makes the prospect of enforcement for small and medium-sized publishers impossible.

The situation has been exacerbated, Canadian publishers have maintained, by Canada's 2012 Copyright reforms, which expanded fair dealing in an educational setting, and, ACP said, has contributed to to a major decline in Collective licensing revenue across the industry. ACP put the cumulative loss to date at around C$150 million.

In its release, the ACP is calling on legislators to move to "correct market damage and provide a policy framework that supports future investment in Canadian writing and publishing." And it is urging the education sector "to come back to the table," and negotiate with authors and publishers.

Edwards said that educational institutions agreeing to pay the current license rates (C$2.41 per student for K-12; C$14.31 per student for universities; and C$5.50 per student for colleges) would "go a long way to restoring the marketplace."

"I have to remain optimistic that the education sector will do the right thing in reviewing the decision, though no talks are currently planned," Edwards told PW. "The guidelines they have been using have now been tested in court twice, with the same result."
Three in four journalists have faced official restrictions, obstruction or intimidation in reporting on Covid-19, according to a major new survey of more than 1300 frontline journalists in 77 countries.

Two-thirds of staff and freelance journalists have also suffered pay cuts, lost revenue, job losses, cancelled commissions or worsening working conditions, according to the survey carried out by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) between 26-28 April.

The IFJ is the world's largest organisation of professional journalists representing 600,000 journalists in 146 countries.

The survey of 1308 journalists also revealed that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic:

Nearly every freelance journalist has lost revenue or work opportunities

More than half of all journalists are suffering from stress and anxiety

More than a quarter lack essential equipment to enable them to work safely from home, while one in four lack any protective equipment to work in the field.

Dozens of journalists have been arrested, faced lawsuits or been assaulted.

More than a third of journalists have shifted their focus to covering Covid-19 related stories.

When asked about the state of media freedom in their countries the vast majority said it had got worse. From Greece to Indonesia and from Chad to Peru journalists used words such as precarious, problematic, terrible, worse, declining and restricted to assess the media freedom environment.

Respondents also exposed the toll on journalists with many citing job losses, longer hours and fewer resources as obstacles to proper coverage of the pandemic. In many countries the lack of social protection networks and fair employment practices are driving journalists to desperation.

One female Peruvian freelance told the IFJ: The state is unprepared for this pandemic, there are sectors in total abandonment by the authorities, corruption continues, while at the same time media companies have shown they do not have institutional policies to alleviate our despair, such as the lack of income. Many families are on the edge of poverty.

A Greek women journalist added: "I work more but earn less money and the newspaper owner I work for owes me and my colleague over 7 months pay but the government does nothing about this".

Many journalists complained of increasing attacks on media freedom. Almost one in four journalists said they had faced growing difficulties accessing information from government or official sources. Many reported being verbally attacked by politicians. Others complained of restrictions on asking questions at press conferences and restrictions being imposed on the movement of journalists during the crisis, including the withdrawal of recognition of press cards. Some worried that the total focus on Covid-related stories meant other important issues were being ignored.

One female Brazilian journalist said: The federal government despises journalists. It attacks the press every day for the information it publishes and discredits and humiliates journalists.

A male journalist in India added: Press freedom has become increasingly restrictive. Journalists have been arrested for reporting stories highlighting the government's shortcomings.

But respondents also praised journalists for risking their own safety to report on the pandemic and for trying to seek out independent sources and counter disinformation.

A Portuguese journalist responded: There are bad situations  more press release, less real reporting, press conferences without questions, we work more hours, a lot more hours, cell phones dont stop, we are confined, always working, its bad for our health. Yet theres also a sense that we are going through extraordinary times and journalists are responding, theres more motivation to report. Like with doctors and health staff, this is also a time for journalism.

The surveys findings back up calls made by the IFJ and representatives of more than 200 million working people across the globe for urgent action to save jobs, protect independent media and fund quality journalism.

The Global Platform for Quality Journalism , a call by journalists unions in 146 countries, demands urgent measures to protect and reinforce public interest journalism including:

A tax on the revenues of tech giants such as Facebook and Google to create a global fund to support independent media

The use of tax and fiscal policy to reduce the burden on journalists and media

Health and public advertising campaigns to support local media

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: These results show a worrying trend of declining media freedom and cuts to journalism at the very time when access to information and quality journalism is so crucial. Journalism is a public good and it deserves public support and an end to political obstruction and interference".

__________________________________________________________________________________

Notes for editors:
Apple hasnt been going through a good time. After diminishing sales due to COVID-19, now it has recently signed a settlement to a class-action lawsuit in the state of California in the US, which accused the Cupertino giant of intentionally disabling FaceTime on older iPhones.

Reports have revealed that Apple has reached a settlement of $18 million in this case.

Reuters

The settlement will pay 90 percent of the class-action lawsuit members a compensation -- either electronically wiring it to their account or via post.

The issue is said to have infected 3.6 million devices, and each member will be paid around $3. The case was supposed to go on trial this month.

What really happened was when FaceTime first surfaced it was being backed by two kinds of technologies in order to connect users -- a peer to peer standard to directly transfer audio and video between users and another relay method that took help of third-party servers (in this case, Akami) to enable this transfer.

In the year 2012, however, Apple was found guilty of violating patents owned by VirnetX (the peer to peer technology). The relay method only came with iOS 7 or later.

The lawsuit claims that Apple used this to forcefully upgrade people to iOS 7 or break FaceTime on iOS 6 by showing the expiration of a digital certificate.

Apple

Upgrading to iOS 7 would have only slowed down their phones, which is the reason many decided not to do so, and suffered from the drastic step taken by the iPhone maker.



Apple had agreed to a settlement deal a few months back in February. According to the report, the class includes California owners of non-jailbroken Apple iPhone 4 or 4S devices running on iOS 6 or earlier. From the entire settlement chunk, 30 percent will go to the class counsel. The original plaintiffs on the case will get $7,500 each.
Nancy Pelosi was getting impatient. It was mid-March, and the House Speaker and her staff were working around the clock to draft urgent legislation to address the coronavirus pandemic. But the White House was dragging its feet: she hadnt heard back from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, her negotiating partner, in more than 12 hours.

Pelosi told Mnuchin the delay was unacceptable, and he got the message. The next morning, he boasted to Pelosi that his staff had been up until 4 a.m. putting the finishing touches on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, providing funding for free testing, paid leave and expanded food stamps.

Im not impressed, Pelosi replied. We do it all the time.

As the pandemic takes tens of thousands of lives and tens of millions of jobs, a Congress known for dysfunction has kicked into gear. Four massive bills with a price tag of nearly $3 trillion have sought to aid the sick, shore up the health care system, and ease the burden on workers and businesses. Its the biggest federal outlay in history, dwarfing the response to the 2008 financial crisis, and as Speaker, Pelosi is naturally at the center of it. Before the ink was dry on the latest $484 billion small-business rescue package, she was on the phone trying to make the next deal to aid state and local governments whose budgets have been ravaged by the crisis. As Representative Karen Bass, a California Democrat, told Politico recently, Quiet as its kept, shes the one leading the country right now.

Precisely because it required a frozen government to act, the pandemic has put Pelosis legislative talents on urgent display. Its a fitting capstone to her historic three-decade career. Many congressional scholars consider Pelosi the most adept lawmaker of the past half-century, measuring her record of society-shaping legislation against the backdrop of the most partisan and gridlocked Congress in decades. While Republicans accuse her of obstruction, and some on the left accuse her of giving away the store, Pelosi believes shes maximized her leverage at a time when inaction is not an option.

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The legislative prowess Pelosi has exhibited during the crisis was honed in years of negotiations, often with the fate of the economy hanging in the balance. As Speaker from 2007 to 2011, she was instrumental in the U.S. response to the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. As minority leader from 2011 to 2017, she forged deals in the high-stakes budget battles between President Obama and congressional Republicans.

For my new biography, Pelosi, I spent more than two years researching the Speakers life and career. I conducted more than 100 interviews with critics and supporters, activists and operatives, current and former staff, and dozens of current and former members of Congress from across the political spectrum. Its the first biography the Speaker has cooperated with, offering extensive access to Pelosi and her inner circle. I found her to be someone everybody has an opinion about but few really know. Republicans have spent tens of millions of dollars over the past decade caricaturing her as a San Francisco liberal, while Democrats who once fought for her ouster have embraced her as a Resistance queen.

The woman who ripped up Trumps State of the Union speech and led the most partisan impeachment in history is a loyal Democrat, but deep down shes a dealmakeran old-school legislator whose primary focus is getting things done through negotiation and compromise. Pelosis lodestar is securing the votes to deliver results. Who would have thought Congress could pass four major pieces of legislation in the span of a month with overwhelming bipartisan support? says former Representative Donna Edwards of Maryland, a onetime Pelosi lieutenant. You can see it both in her command of the substance and also her command of the process. Shes not a politician; shes a lawmaker.

Since Pelosi arrived in Congress in 1987, America has embraced and endured massive change. But no one has ever dealt with anything quite like thisa double-barreled public-health and economic crisis of unprecedented proportions. In whats likely the twilight of Pelosis historic career, a lot is riding on her ability to deliver the votes once again.

Pelosi, addressing the media on March 27, has been at the center of a rare burst of bipartisan legislation | Sarah SilbigerBloomberg/Getty Images

This is not the first time Nancy Pelosi has been called on to help a Republican President save the U.S. economy from collapse. On Sept. 18, 2008, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson called Pelosi with panic in his voice. A very serious situation is developing, he said. The investment bank Lehman Brothers had declared the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. The Federal Reserve and the Administration had done all they could, Paulson said. They needed help from Congressfast.

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) would allow the Fed to buy up banks toxic assets, stabilizing their debt loads so they wouldnt go broke. The plan would cost hundreds of billions of dollars. It was odious to both parties: Republicans hated the idea of government meddling so drastically in the economy (and spending so much taxpayer money to do it), while Democrats were loath to clean up the mess they blamed President George W. Bush for causing.

Over a week of intense negotiations, Congress and the Administration hammered out a bill. Pelosi and her GOP counterpart, John Boehner, made a deal: Boehner would come up with 100 Republican votes, and the Democrats would make up the restat least 118. Pelosi did her part: 140 of the 235 Democrats voted yes. But on the Republican side, just 65 of 198 were in favor, and the bill went down. The Dows 778-point fall was the biggest one-day loss in history at the time, wiping out $1.2 trillion in wealth.

A week later, Pelosi brought a new bill to the floor, a compromise worked out in the Senate. It passed, 263-71, with 172 Democrats and 91 Republicans in favor. She had played a pivotal role in saving the U.S. economy from catastropheand bailed Bush out, for the good of the country, at enormous political risk.

After Barack Obama won the election a few weeks later, the economy was still reeling, shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs every month. Obama wanted the House to put together a stimulus bill he could sign on his very first day in office. The price tag would be huge. The White House sought about $800 billion in stimulusbigger than TARP. As a share of GDP, it would be the largest public investment in U.S. history.

Obama tried to reach out to the GOP, even though Pelosi warned he was being naive. Charlie Dent, a moderate from Pennsylvania, was among the Republicans invited to watch the Super Bowl at the White House, where his wife chatted with Michelle and his kids played with Sasha and Malia Obama. In the end, Dent voted against the billand blamed Pelosi. I believe the President was absolutely sincere in looking for a bipartisan outcome, he told Newsweek. But the White House lost control of the process when the bill was outsourced to Pelosi.

Every single House Republican voted against the stimulus, as did 11 Democrats. But it still passed by a healthy margin. The key to Obamas triumph had been not his ability to reach across the aisle, but Pelosis skill at holding her caucus together.

Over the ensuing two years, Pelosi helped Obama pass the Affordable Care Act, providing universal access to health insurancesomething Democrats had been trying and failing to achieve for the better part of a century. In the 2010 midterms, Republicans cast her as the villain, spending $70 million on ads that tied Democratic candidates to her. The chairman of the Republican National Committee embarked on a 117-city Fire Pelosi bus tour. It worked: in November, the GOP won 63 seats and the majority.

Pelosi stayed on as minority leader as Obama and the new Speaker, Boehner, tried to figure out a way to strike a grand bargain to balance the countrys books and restore Americans trust in government. When Pelosi found out about the talks, she was publicly critical of Obamas willingness to cut entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare, totemic achievements of past Democratic administrations that had rescued millions from penury and sickness. Privately, she assured Obama that if he needed her, she would be there. But who, she wanted to know, was counting votes? Republicans, she suspected, were just going through the motions, waiting to blame it on the President when the deal fell apart. Within a couple of weeks, that was exactly what happened.

On the eve of a national default that could have shaken the market and sent the fragile economy spiraling, Congress took over the talks. The solution congressional leaders came up with wasnt pretty: no entitlement reform, no new taxes, but the formation of a bipartisan supercommittee that would have 10 weeks to come up with more than a trillion dollars in cuts and revenue. Failure to do so would trigger automatic across-the-board cuts to the entire federal budget. Pelosi, now at the table, secured important concessions: the trigger would hit defense spending just as hard as domestic spending, and there would be no changes to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. Democrats hated the dealRepresentative Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor from Kansas City, Mo., called it a sugar-coated Satan sandwichbut the bill passed with 95 Democratic votes.

This pattern would define the remainder of the Obama presidency: a cycle of crisis, featuring marginalized Democrats, recalcitrant Republicans, a White House unwilling or unable to strategize around them, and a government that could barely keep the lights on, much less solve any of the nations pressing problems. Another recurring feature of this depressing cycle: Pelosi, the congressional leader with the longest track record of reaching across the aisle, was routinely cast aside. When she forced her way into the room, problems generally got solved. But it didnt seem to occur to the men in charge to invite her in the next time.

Pelosis current efforts have a political goal: as the November election nears, she wants to show that Democrats are focused on governing responsibly. Its why shes urged the partys candidates to focus on kitchen-table issues and realistic plans; its also why she resisted impeachment for the better part of a year, then pushed for a short and simple process.

The message has to be one that is not menacing, she told me in December, when both impeachment and the presidential primary were in full swing. People love change, but they also are menaced by it. The liberal platform that resonates in her San Francisco district, she said, may not go over as well in swing states like Michigan that Democrats need to win the Electoral College. She cited single-payer health care as an example: I think its menacing to say to people, in order to get this tomorrow, were taking away your private insurance.

Pelosis political future isnt something she talks aboutwhen I mentioned the idea of the twilight of her career, she snapped at mebut in 2018, she accepted a term-limit agreement that would force her to step down in 2022. Privately, as I reveal for the first time in the book, she told confidants at the time that she expected the current term to be her last.

The legacy she leaves will be a complex one. As the first female Speaker, she shattered the marble ceiling, but her dreams of a woman President were dashed in 2016 and 2020, and she leaves no obvious female successor. She cites the Affordable Care Act as her greatest achievement, but Republicans have succeeded in undermining it and Democrats argue it doesnt go far enough. Despite her willingness to deal, Congress is a gridlocked mess with dismally low approval ratings.

When I asked Pelosi what she still wants to accomplish, she pointed to the problem of income inequality and the existential threat of climate change. Pelosis House passed a cap-and-trade bill in 2009, but it never advanced in the Senate; save for a resolution last year in favor of the Paris Agreement, it remains the only major climate legislation ever to pass a house of Congress.

Our work is not finished, she said, when it comes to improving the lives of the American people.

Adapted from PELOSI by Molly Ball. Published by Henry Holt and Company May 5th 2020. Copyright  2020 by Molly Ball. All rights reserved.
President Donald Trump on Thursday tweeted his support for his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, raising speculation that a pardon may be coming as Flynn's lawyers released internal FBI documents to bolster their claim the FBI was trying to entrap him.

Trump has long said he is considering pardoning Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017. The president spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning retweeting supportive statements and a video Flynn tweeted of an American flag flapping in the wind.

What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again! Trump wrote Thursday morning as his counselor, Kellyanne Conway, was on Fox Channel responding to the case.

Conway said it would be up to Trump to make any announcement, but called Flynn's treatment a disgrace." Trump has made very clear that he feels people around him are treated very unfairly, and in this case worse," she said.

Lawyers for Flynn released internal FBI emails and handwritten notes on Wednesday documenting internal correspondence among FBI officials before Flynn's interview with the bureau.

They contend the documents bolster their allegations that Flynn was set up to lie when he was questioned at the White House three years ago. The notes show the officials grappling with how best to approach Flynn, how much information to provide him during an interview and what to do if he made a false statement.

Flynn seeks to withdraw his guilty plea to lying to the FBI and makes broad assertions of law enforcement misconduct. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has rejected many of the defense arguments but has yet to rule on whether Flynn can take back his guilty plea.

Meanwhile, a federal prosecutor from Missouri is reviewing the Justice Department's handling of the case at the direction of Attorney General William Barr. The department said the notes were produced to the defense as part of that ongoing review.

It remains unclear what bearing the documents will have on the case or how significant the judge will determine them to be. But Flynn has emerged as something of a cause celebre in recent months for supporters of the president, who have rallied around the retired Army lieutenant general and seized on the findings of a harshly critical watchdog report on the Russia investigation to try to cast doubt on the entire probe.

Prosecutors haven't filed anything in response to Wednesday's action by Flynn's lawyers. But Trump has made clear he is considering a pardon.

The notes and emails show FBI officials debating internally how best to approach the Flynn interview, how much information to provide him with, what the purpose of interviewing him should be and what to do if he lied.

In emails dated January 23, 2017, the day before agents interviewed Flynn at the White House about his conversations during the presidential transition period with the Russian ambassador to the United States, officials pondered at what point in the conversation Flynn should be reminded that it is against the law to lie to the FBI at the outset of the conversation or after he makes a suspected false statement.

Flynn's former attorneys have said he was never given such a warning.

Also released was a page of handwritten FBI notes in which an official asks what's our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? At another point, the notes say, If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DoJ and have them decide. That is a reference to a centuries-old, esoteric law that makes it a crime for a private citizen to conduct foreign policy with another government.

The notes also say: If we're seen as playing games, WH will be furious. Protect our institution by not playing games. The handwritten notes bear the initials EP, which is likely a reference to E.W. Priestap, the senior FBI official who authorized the decision in the summer of 2016 to open an investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Flynn was among the first of the president's aides to admit guilt in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He acknowledged lying to the FBI about having discussed sanctions against Russia during the presidential transition period with the then-ambassador, Sergey Kislyak.

He provided such extensive cooperation that prosecutors said he was entitled to a sentence of probation instead of prison.

As it turned out, that sentencing hearing was abruptly cut short after Flynn, facing a stern rebuke from Sullivan, asked to be able to continue cooperating and earn credit toward a more lenient sentence.

Since then, though, Flynn has hired new attorneys including Sidney Powell, a conservative commentator and outspoken critic of Mueller's investigation who have taken a far more confrontational stance to the government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ninety people at a Sikkim government guest house in south Delhi's Green Park have been quarantined after a patient staying there tested positive for coronavirus, officials said. The guest house serves as a facility for patients from Sikkim, referred to Delhi for medical treatment. The patient staying at the guest house was found positive for COVID-19 on April 26.

The patients staying at the guest house visit various hospitals in the city for different treatments, a Delhi government officer said. "After detection of corona positive patient at the guest house, ninety persons there were quarantined," he said.

They were put under in situ quarantine as a common kitchen was shared by them and all were at risk of contracting the virus, he added. Meanwhile, the test reports of 17 persons from South West district magistrate's office have come. Two have tested positive for coronavirus, said an officer of the district.

A private secretary of south west district magistrate Rahul Singh was found positive for COVID-19, a few days ago. Singh, who tested negative for the disease, is currently under self-isolation. The tests of 17 officials from his office were conducted on Monday. Contact tracing is being done and samples will be collected of primary contacts of the two who have tested positive, the officer said.

The 17 staff members will be under isolation for the next few days before returning back to work. The rest of the office is functioning as usual. The entire office complex has been sanitised and social distancing is being maintained, the officer said.

Also read: Home Ministry hints at Lockdown 3.0 with 'considerable relaxations' to districts

Also read: Coronavirus Lockdown XI: Why India's health policy needs a course correction
Last Friday, high school junior Jameela Barber called her teacher in Dallas County, Texas, to apologize for neglecting to turn in her school work.

Her school's principal, Eleanor Webb, said Barber told her teacher she hadn't been feeling well.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

"She said, 'As soon as I feel better, because I'm feeling really, really sick, I'm going to turn in my missed assignments,'" Webb told NBC affiliate station KXAS.

Jameela Barber (Lancaster Independent School District)

The next day, Webb said, Barber died of complications from COVID-19. She was 17.

Barber's case is rare; only a handful of pediatric deaths related to the coronavirus have been reported in the United States. However, the exact numbers for kids are hard to pin down: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told NBC News that it does not track COVID-19 deaths in children under age 18 the way it does for the flu.

Early data on pediatric COVID-19 cases suggested that, for the vast majority of children, the illness is relatively mild.

Recently, however, reports of potential serious complications specific to children have begun to emerge in the U.S. and Europe: A handful of kids have developed dangerous inflammation around the heart and other organs. It's similar to a rare condition called Kawasaki disease, which causes swelling of the coronary arteries, primarily in children.

Efforts to gather data on how the virus affects children are in their early stages. The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Transplant Network, in coordination with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and other major children's hospitals across the country, have just begun to collect data on kids diagnosed with COVID-19.

It's unclear why most kids appear to be spared. It could be that kids tend not to have the same chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes, found in the most serious COVID-19 cases in adults.

It could also be that children's immune systems don't react to this coronavirus infection with the same hyper-inflammatory response that's been documented in adults.

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"This is very perplexing," Dr. Adrienne Randolph, a senior critical care physician at Boston Childrens Hospital, said. "What is it about their immune system and their immune reaction to this virus that is making it so they're really not getting sick?"

Randolph is leading a nationwide research project that aims to figure out why the virus acts differently in kids, and why a few, like Barber, have more serious and even deadly outcomes. The goal is to enroll 800 children and young adults up through age 25.

A large amount of data focusing on COVID-19 risks among young people is important, Randolph said, "because when a vaccine does become available, it's probably not going to be available for everybody right away."

That is, a vaccine would likely be prioritized for those most at risk for coronavirus complications.

'A new syndrome'

The handful of children who have developed the Kawasaki-like complication reflect "a new syndrome," said Dr. Jane Burns, director of the Kawasaki Disease Research Center at the University of California, San Diego.

"The way this is affecting the heart is completely different than what we usually see in Kawasaki disease," Burns said. "This is new because this is primarily the heart muscle that is failing," adding that it appears the immune system is attacking the heart, as opposed to the coronary arteries.

It's unclear how many children may have this condition. Doctors at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York reported treating three such cases in children ranging in age from 6 months to 8 years.

"What we have been seeing [is] there are some children who may have an inflammation of the blood vessels and are developing a toxic shock-like syndrome," New York Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said during a news conference Thursday.

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

But it may be too early to link this new type of inflammatory reaction to COVID-19, because only some of the patients have tested positive for the coronavirus infection. A few have tested negative, though they had been exposed to infected family members.

The development has perplexed physicians, who have scheduled a call with experts from around the globe this weekend to share information about cases.

"We are scrambling to put together a unified case definition," Burns said.

The World Health Organization is also now "urgently" investigating the potential link between this new problem and COVID-19.

Milder symptoms

Ultimately, COVID-19 remains uncommon in children; just 2 percent of kids tested for the coronavirus in the U.S. are positive. By far, most COVID-19 cases  especially the most severe cases  have been among adults.

Pediatric infectious disease specialists stress complications from the coronavirus are rare in children, a trend that's been observed in other countries, as well.

"We have data from China, we have data from Italy, and other parts of Europe, as well as now some preliminary data in the United States" that most pediatric cases appear to range from asymptomatic to mild symptoms, Randolph said.

People over age 65 tend to have significantly higher rates of complications and mortality.

Dr. Buddy Creech, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, has noted the same thing.

Symptoms in kids "seem to consistently be much milder than the adults," Creech said. And there's a growing theory that fewer symptoms for a shorter amount of time might indicate kids may not be very good at spreading the virus.

"It's tempting to hypothesize," Creech said, stressing that the theory has not been proven.

But, he added, "it would be interesting to at least consider the possibility that kids having milder symptoms and shorter illnesses might actually have fewer days of positive virus that they're shedding from their nose or their throat."

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With the peak of Covid-19 infections now behind us and with clear evidence that social distancing has helped "flatten the curve," slowing the rapid spread of the disease, political leaders everywhere are debating when to start easing social distancing restrictions and business leaders are wondering when they can safely reopen their stores and offices. To help both groups plan, modelers at the widely respected University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) have just come out with state-by-state projected reopening dates. They cover 48 of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia.

IHME recommends beginning to reopen 27 states during May, including the two hardest-hit states, New York and New Jersey. Its earliest recommendation for reopening is for West Virginia, which it projects can safely reopen on May 10. The latest recommendation is for North Dakota, which so far has fewer than 1,000 confirmed cases and may not yet have reached its peak.

How is IHME picking these dates? These are the dates each state is predicted to have no more than one person per million with a Covid-19 infection. Since not everyone is getting tested for Covid-19, IHME is not basing its infection count on tests; instead it's extrapolating an infection rate based on how many people have died of the disease in each state. One infection per million residents is a very conservative number, and one every state's healthcare system could handle, an IHME official told NPR. Given that the number of infections isn't dropping as quickly as expected, and given new evidence that the virus is even more contagious than previously thought, a conservative number seems like a good idea.

Switching from social distancing to containment.

IHME is not recommending that states go back to business-as-usual on their reopening dates. Instead, it's recommending a switch from social distancing measures to what it calls "containment." Containment consists of widespread testing, contact tracing of those who have been infected, isolation of any new cases, and a continued ban on large gatherings to prevent mass infections.

Of course, not every state is following these recommendations or this timetable. Georgia governor Brian Kemp, for example, created plenty of controversy when he allowed certain businesses, such as beauty parlors and gyms, to reopen last week -- although IHME's projection says that state should not reopen until June 28. Several other states have already reopened their beaches or lifted some of their social distancing rules. IHME says that its models to date have assumed that social distancing measures that slowed the spread of the virus would continue a while longer; it says it is now adjusting its model to account for newly lifted restrictions.
[April 30, 2020] NMIMS-NPAT 2020 Goes Online: The Era of Exam-from-home is Here

MUMBAI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NMIMS has been a thought leader in educational excellence by envisioning the future trends and implementing new-age learning methodology. The University has been at the forefront of cutting-edge higher education, with industry focused programs and futuristic curriculum. In the wake of COVID-19, NMIMS has taken the required measures to move the NMIMS-NPAT exam online for the academic year 2020. This is a major step forward in a positive direction which goes beyond online classrooms. Students can now appear in the exam from the safety of their homes, with Online Proctored (OP) test. The deadline to submit application has been extended to 10th May 2020. The NMIMS-NPAT exam dates have also been postponed to 19th May 2020 and 22nd May 2020 from 9th & 10th of May, previously. A new era of digital examination: Organizations around the world quickly switched to work-from-home and soon schools and colleges followed with temporarily closing or switching to online lesson. But it is now time to think beyond lessons and gear up to conduct exams online as well. As education must go on and adapt to the changing times. Not just in curriculum but in method and preparedness for such unprecedented times. The era of Exam-from-Home has begunwhere aspirants will have an opportunity to simulate an online proctored (OP) test experience. This will commence through a mock test for which the University shall be communicating more information on policies and procedures, computer system, and other requirements.



About NMIMS: The Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Sciences (NMIMS) Deemed to be University is a multi-campus, multi-discipline University with world class infrastructure. It has been revered and acknowledged for excellence in academics, faculty, industry linkage, infrastructure, an illustrious alumni base, innovative curriculum and much more. NMIMS-NPAT 2020 is the entrance test to qualify for undergraduate & integrated degree programs across its constituent schools and campuses in Mumbai, Shirpur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai, Indore and Dhule. Admissions are now open for the following undergraduate & integrated programs: B.Tech; MBA Tech. (B.Tech. + MBA Tech.): B.Pharm. + MBA (Pharma Tech.): B.Des. (Humanising Technology); BBA; B.Com (Hons.); B.Sc. Finance; B.Sc. Economics; B.A. (Hons.) Liberal Arts and BBA Branding & Advertising.

Embracing the future: Every challenge is an opportunity to overcome it with newer solutions and approach. In education lies the answer for a better tomorrow and we're ready to continue learning in the lockdown & beyond. We look forward to the post-COVID 19 world with increased digital learning and heightened practices for ensuring the safety of our students. NMIMS-NPAT 2020 Exam-from-home is the first step towards it, for you and us. Students can register online for NPAT 2020 by visiting https://www.npat.in Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1162287/NMIMS_Campus.jpg

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[April 30, 2020] HelloTalk, the world's largest language exchange app, releases over 70 free courses in six languages for COVID-19 education and launches online activities for those in isolation

SHENZHEN, China, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HelloTalk, a global language learning app and community, has released more than 70 free online courses in six languages (English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, and Spanish) for self-quarantined users to pick up a new language through the app. These courses are available to those living in all of Europe, Mainland China, Japan, Korea, and the United States. While learning a foreign language at home, users are also able to participate in various online campaigns through a public feed within the app. This feed, called Moments, is similar to Twitter but for language learning topics. Users from over 150 countries post hundreds of thousands of language related questions, daily routines, cultural explorations, travel notes, and more. Moment osts have seen a surge in activity since the COVID-19 outbreak, with engagement rate growing by 45% in April. The feed has become both an outlet to voice everyday challenges as well as a source of inspiration and community. Thousands of Japanese members are sharing photos and information about the current Cherry Blossom Festival, which is typically a popular time for foreigners to visit the country. Users from all over the world are using Moments as a way to find new partners for the online game.



Additionally, HelloTalk has launched a "Quarantine at Home" campaign to encourage users worldwide to tell each other about their lives in isolation. The goal is to share tips on making the process manageable and promote a sense of togetherness in these uncertain times. Users from over 120 countries have participated, with the highest percentage originating from the US (16%), Russia (11%), Japan (9%) and Italy (6%). About HelloTalk, Ltd.

Launched in 2012 by Zackery Ngai, HelloTalk is one of the world's largest language learning and cross-cultural exchange apps. The service is used by 20 million users in nearly 200 countries to learn languages by communicating with each other. HelloTalk uses a proprietary algorithm to best match language partners who are studying each other's native language, which is called a "language exchange." More than 150 languages are supported, such as Chinese, English, Japanese, French, Korean, German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Thai, and Hindi.

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - A levee will be built on a river in Missouri where police have previously searched for the body of a missing Chinese woman.

Columbia police announced Wednesday that a levee will be extended into the Lamine River near Boonville to help in the search for the body of Mengqi Ji Elledge, who was reported missing on Oct. 10. Her husband, Joseph Lamine, is charged with first-degree murder in her death.

Divers have searched the river before without success.

Columbia Assistant Police Chief Jeremiah Hunter said the levee will give searchers access to a key part of the river where cadaver dogs detected human decomposition, KRCG reported.

The levee project will begin once the police force has received all the necessary approvals, which could be as early as next week, Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones said.

Joseph Elledge has pleaded not guilty to child abuse and domestic assault charges related to the case but has not entered a plea to the murder charge. His trial is scheduled for June.
EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier gestures during a news conference after Brexit negotiations - REUTERS

Brexit trade negotiations face collapse unless the EU abandons its demands for continued access to UK fishing waters, sources close to the talks have said.

Brussels has called for EU boats to keep access under existing conditions as a price for the free trade agreement being negotiated by the two sides. The UK insists any fishing agreement must be separate from the trade deal with access negotiated annually in a similar fashion to Norways agreement with the bloc.

A UK source close to the negotiations said that the EUs red line would need to change, otherwise the talks could be terminated in June.

There are some fundamentals that we're not going to change, nor going to move on. Because they are not so much negotiating positions as they're sort of what an independent state does the source said.

An independent state has independent control over coastal waters, the source added, what we are wanting now is an EU understanding that we are not going to subordinate our laws to them in any areas".

Michel Barnier accused Britain of wasting time in the trade negotiations, which have a deadline of the end of the year, after a round of talks last week. He criticised British negotiators for failing to present a text on fisheries for negotiations. UK sources said there was no point presenting a text when the two sides were talking across each other.

Downing Street has called on EU national leaders to intervene to break the deadlock in the talks but that is not expected to happen before June, when a joint conference will be held to evaluate progress towards the agreement.

The source said that the UK would consider walking away in June and begin preparing for a no trade deal exit at the end of the transition period.

We do need to prepare for the end of the transition period, focus on that as well. If we don't look like we are going to get a deal that will become the primary focus of effort, the source said.

The deadline to finalise the trade deal, which has come under pressure from the coronavirus pandemic, is the end of the year, when the Brexit transition period finished. The transition period deep-freezes UK membership of the Single Market and Customs Union.

Boris Johnson has vowed to not extend the transition period, despite the EU being ready to negotiate a delay and despite the risk of the UK failing to agree a deal in time, which would mean trading on less advantageous WTO terms.
Vice President Mike Pence wore a mask Thursday when he visited a General Motors/Ventec plant in Indiana after being criticized for not donning one during his trip Tuesday to the Mayo Clinic.

Pence had on the protective face gear when he toured the plant, which has been converted into a ventilator production site to help combat the coronavirus.

And he wore it when he spoke to employees on the factory line but he removed later at an employee round table.

'I just got to tell you that I'm so proud,' Pence told employees. 'I'm so proud of the all the volunteers here that are making this incredible partnership happen. I talked to a former Marine, who's working the line here, and he told me that not since he was in the Marine Corps that felt more part of a mission, as much a part of you all are part of our nation's mission.'

Vice President Mike Pence wore a mask Thursday when he visited a General Motors/Ventec plant in Indiana after being criticized for not donning one during his trip Tuesday to the Mayo Clinic

Vice President Pence wore the mask when he toured the factory, which was converted to make ventilators to combat the coronavirus

Vice President Pence was heavily criticized when he did not wear a face mask earlier this week on a trip to the Mayo Clinic

Vice President Mike Pence wore a face mask as he toured the factory floor of the GM/Ventec plant in Kokomo, Indiana

Pence did remove his mask when he held a roundtable discussion with factory employees

Employees of the plant also wore masks as did other administration officials traveling with the vice president. Some took their masks off at the round table event too.

General Motors worked with UAW to bring employees back to the auto plant in mid-April to produce critical care ventilators for hospitals around the country. The facility in Kokomo, Indiana, was set up to accommodate production in 17 days and has already manufactured hundreds of ventilators, including ones sent to hospitals in Gary, Indiana, that were struggling with their supply.

Pence was joined by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, OMB Acting Director Russ Vought and Rear Adm. John Polowczyk for the day-trip to his home state.

The vice president endured heavy criticism when he did not wear a face mask during a tour of the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday.

Karen Pence said that her husband didn't know it was the policy of the Mayo Clinic for visitors to wear masks until he left the facility.

'Knowing that he doesn't have COVID-19, he didn't wear one. It was actually after he left Mayo Clinic that he found out that they had a policy of asking everyone to wear a mask,' she said Thursday morning on 'Fox & Friends.'

Vice President Pence, who is the head of the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, was surrounded by people wearing masks during his visit Tuesday to the Rochester, Minnesota, hospital.

A hospital employee told DailyMail.com that it's highly unlikely Pence didn't know the policy.

The person said an announcement is made over the loudspeaker on the Mayo campus regarding the mask policy 'approximately every 30 to 60 minutes, making Karen Pence's claims even more absurd. It is extremely unlikely that the Vice President did not hear these recurrent announcements.'

Karen Pence said Vice President Mike Pence didn't know it was the policy of the Mayo Clinic for visitors to wear masks until he left the facility

He gave a slightly different explanation for not wearing one.

He did say Tuesday he didn't wear a mask during his visit because he is regularly tested for the virus and doesn't have it.

But he also added he wanted to be able to look people in the eye and thank them. The masks cover the nose and mouth but not the eyes.

'As Vice President of the United States I'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,' he noted, saying he is following CDC guidelines which indicate that the mask is good for preventing the spread of the virus by those who have it.

'And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers these incredible healthcare personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you,' he added.

Vice President Mike Pence flouted the Mayo Clinic's face mask policy during visit even as others wore one

Token effort: Mike Pence ignored the hospital's policy that everyone wears a mask - but he did manage an elbow bump with Dr. Michael Johnson who was introducing him to survivor Dennis Nelson (right)

The Mayo Clinic deleted its tweet saying it informed Vice President Mike Pence of its mask policy

Vice President Mike Pence talks with a lab technician as he tours Mayo Clinic facilities

Vice President Mike Pence visits Dennis Nelson, who survived the coronavirus, and was going to give blood during a tour of the Mayo Clinic

Vice President Mike Pence said he didn't wear a mask because he doesn't have the virus

The Mayo Cinic asks all visitors to wear face masks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, which is also a recommendation the Trump administration has made.

'Part of our protocol for ensuring your safety is to require all patients, visitors and staff to wear a face covering or mask while at Mayo Clinic to guard against transmission of COVID-19,' reads the Mayo Clinic's policy, according to its website. 'If a patient or visitor does not have a mask, Mayo Clinic will provide one.'

The clinic has had the mask policy in place since April 13.

Pence was told of the policy before he visited, the clinic said in a Twitter post that was subsequently deleted.

'Mayo Clinic had informed @VP of the masking policy prior to his arrival today,' the post read.

Dr. Stephen Hahn, the head of the Food and Drug Administration, sported a mask as did Mayo Clinic officials who accompanied Pence when he visited a blood and plasma donation center on the campus. Members of the vice president's entourage also wore face coverings.

During his visit, Pence met Dennis Nelson, a Mayo Clinic employee from Rochester, who contracted the coronavirus at the end of March and recovered.

Nelson made a donation and sat in a chair in the blood and plasma donation center of the clinic while talking to Pence.

Pence also toured the virology laboratory's labeling area, where he thanked some of the employees, all in white coats and masks.

The vice president also held a roundtable with local officials and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

All except Pence wore masks. And the officials observed socially distance guidelines when they sat at the table with several feet between them.

'We will get through this, we will get through this together,' Pence said.

Vice President Pence talking with staff who wore masks while he did not

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz greeted Vice President Mike Pence when he arrived in the state; Walz wore a face mask while Pence didn't; the two men bumped elbows instead of shaking hands

Vice President Pence also held a roundtable at the hospital where participants - except for him - wore a face mask

The Mayo Clinic's policy on wearing face masks

When President Donald Trump announced his administration's recommendation to wear face marks on April 3, he said he wouldn't wear one.

'I don't think I'm going to be doing it,' he said, saying he didn't want to do such a thing in the Oval Office: 'Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens - I just don't see it.'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a face mask in public settings where socially distancing policies are hard to follow.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF)(FRA:6AY) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to present results from the initial soil sampling program conducted at its Buckingham Gold Property located in Central Virginia, USA. The survey identified a broad but discreet 1.0 x 1.8 kilometre (km) gold anomaly spatially associated with the gold-bearing quartz vein and zones of disseminated gold-quartz mineralization drilled in 2019. In addition, the survey identified several detailed gold-in-soil trends at its Buckingham Main Zone and several new gold anomalies elsewhere on the property which remain to be drill tested.

Highlights

New discovery of several significant gold anomalies of up to 1.75 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) in soil.

A well-defined, broad 1.0 x 1.8 km gold-in-soil anomaly identified at the Buckingham Main Zone area, surrounding the area of current drilling where both high grade gold veins (e.g., 35.6 g/t Au over 2.0 metres (m) and 24.7 g/t Au over 3. 6 m ) and broader zones of disseminated gold-quartz mineralization ( 2. 2 g/t Au over 18. 1 m and 1.9 g/t Au over 22.2m) were intercepted in the 2019 drill program (see June 27, 2019 Aston Bay press release).

A newly discovered northeast trending anomaly extends for over 1 km, with the northeastern-most sample assaying 1.69 g/t Au in soil; this anomaly remains open to the northeast.

Several lines ended in anomalous gold values, suggesting additional work is warranted; management is currently in negotiations for additional land parcels in the area.

A total of 1,325 soil samples were collected in late 2019 and early 2020. Of these, approximately 1000 comprise a grid covering the area surrounding the Buckingham Main Zone with 25m-spaced sampling along east-west lines spaced between 100m and 200m apart. Results of the sampling in the vicinity of the Buckingham Main Zone is presented in Figure 1. Several lines ended in anomalous gold values; these areas will be the focus of a proposed expanded soil sampling program, and management is in negotiations to increase the land package currently under exploration agreement.

Figure 1: Gold-in-soil results and interpreted gold anomalies (red ellipses), Buckingham Main Zone area. Local grid.

The sampling has identified a broad but discreet >25ppb Au anomaly approximately 1 km by 1.8 km in size surrounding the zone of the current drilling at the Buckingham Main Zone. Samples returned values up to a maximum of 1.75g/t Au. This large anomaly strikes north-northeast, which is concordant with the regional geological strike in this area.

The main gold anomaly includes a number of sub-parallel and cross-cutting trends, including a northwest striking feature that corresponds well with the high grade gold-bearing quartz vein (e.g., 35.6 g/t Au over 2.0m and 24.7 g/t Au over 3.6m) that has been the focus of the 2019 and the current 2020 drilling campaigns (see June 27, 2019 and March 2, 2020 Aston Bay press releases). Approximately 200 m strike length of the vein has been drilled by Aston Bay in 2019 and 2020; this corresponding northwest striking gold-in-soil anomaly extends for 600 m.

Current interpretations of the regional geologic trend, informed by structural measurements obtained from oriented drill core from the current drill program, suggest a general north-northeast strike, dipping moderately to the east-southeast. Two zones of disseminated and discontinuous veinlets of gold-quartz mineralization intercepted by drill hole BUCK 19-005 in the 2019 drilling (2.2 g/t Au over 18.1 m and 1.9 g/t Au over 22.2m; see June 27, 2019 Aston Bay press release) are hosted in a discreet package of meta- felsic volcanic rocks associated with chloritic metasedimentary rocks; these gold mineralized zones are interpreted to mirror this regional structural trend, with the north-northeast soil anomalies to the west of the drilling potentially representing their up-dip expression at surface.

A newly discovered northeast trending anomaly extends for over 1 km (see Figure 1), with the northeastern-most sample assaying 1.69 g/t Au in soil; this anomaly remains open to the northeast.

Not shown in Figure 1, the area of quartz veining at the Buckingham East Zone located 3.2 km to the northeast of the Buckingham Main Zone (see November 27, 2019 Aston Bay press release) yielded three soil samples with detectable gold, with the highest assay at 0.32 g/t Au. Further sampling is planned for this area.

The March 2020 drill program completed 1,218 metres of drilling in ten diamond drill holes. Logging of the core confirms that the current drilling has intersected veining and alteration similar to that encountered in the 2019 drilling of the zone. Sampling of the 2020 drill core has been slowed by the program shutdown due to Covid-19 virus regulations. Processing of the core is ongoing, however, and analytical results will be released as soon as they are available.

"We are excited by the size and gold grade of these newly discovered anomalous zones," stated Thomas Ullrich, CEO of Aston Bay. "This area has almost no surface outcrops, so the soil survey provides a view into the subsurface to direct our drilling and potentially suggest the scale of the gold system. We look forward to resumption of drilling to expand on our gold discovery in Virginia."

Don Taylor, advisor to Aston Bay, commented "It is very telling that the detailed soil sampling is highlighting areas of gold mineralization originally picked up by stream sampling. The stream sampling highlighted an approximate 16 km-long trend anomalous in gold which had no historic mining activity or disturbance. As the sampling expands and drilling continues, we will have a much better idea of how extensive this mineralized system might be."

The soil sampling program was completed by Aston Bay personnel and comprised the collection of approximately 0.5kg of material from the top 30cm of the soil profile. The samples were submitted for analysis at ALS Laboratories in Sparks, NV, where they were analysed by the AuME-TL44 technique, which is intended for regolith settings. The analytical technique includes gold plus 50 other elements using an Aqua Regia extraction from a 50g aliquot of dried, crushed and homogenized sample followed by an ICP-MS finish.

QUALIFIED PERSON

As per National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Andrew Turner, P.Geol., a consultant to Aston Bay, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities.

About Aston Bay Holdings

Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for gold and base metal deposits in Virginia, USA, and Nunavut, Canada. The Company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich with exploration in Virginia directed by the Company's advisor, Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona.

The Company has also acquired the exclusive rights to an integrated dataset over certain prospective private lands at the Blue Ridge Project and has signed agreements with timber and land companies which grant the company the option to lease the mineral rights to 11,065 acres of land located in central Virginia. These lands are located within a gold-copper-lead-zinc mineralized belt prospective for Carolina slate belt gold deposits, as well as sedimentary VMS, exhalative (SEDEX) and Broken Hill (BHT) type base metal deposits. Don Taylor, who led the predecessor company to Blue Ridge and assembled the dataset, has joined the Company's Advisory Board and will be directing the Company's exploration activities for the Blue Ridge Project. The Company is actively exploring the Buckingham Gold Project in Virginia and is in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands in the area.

The Company is also 100% owner of the Aston Bay Property located on western Somerset Island, Nunavut, which neighbours Teck's profitable, past-producing Polaris (Pb-Zn) Mine just 200km to the north. The Aston Bay Property hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit with drill-confirmed presence of sediment-hosted copper and zinc mineralization.

The Company's public disclosure documents are available on www.sedar.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this press release, including those regarding the closing and the use of proceeds of the private placement, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation. We seek safe harbour.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer

thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com

(416) 456-3516

Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development

sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com

(647) 821-1337

SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587700/Aston-Bay-Holdings-Discovers-Significant-Anomalies-in-Initial-Soil-Sampling-Program-at-Its-Buckingham-Gold-Project-Virginia
Starting Friday, Texans will be able to venture out in public to places like restaurants, movie theaters and retail shops.

For more than a month, residents in the Lone Star State were ordered to stay home until April 30 to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. During that time, many businesses temporarily shut its doors, beaches were closed and grocery store lines were lengthy.

READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio

On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he will allow the state's stay-at-home order to expire on its scheduled date. He also said businesses will be allowed to reopen in phases.

The first phase of his new executive order starts Friday and allows places like restaurants to open their dinning rooms to only 25 percent of their capacity. Movie theaters and stores can also only operate at a 25 percent capacity.

Here are the five things to expect as Texas begins to open up.
On Tuesday, Hawkins held his first in-person hearing since the Lake County Government Center was closed to the public in mid-March, he said. The two people representing the case, a court reporter and a bailiff were in the room with Hawkins, he said, everyone more than six feet apart and wearing masks.
Crime scene investigators took photos of broken glass and bullet holes at the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba hours after a shooter opened fire on the building.

Police have taken one suspect in custody, and confirmed the shooter used an assault rifle in the attack.

In a statement the diplomatic mission of Cuba said no staff were harmed during the shooting and the embassy has security systems to monitor and protect the premises.

Authorities said the first reports of gunfire came in around 2 a.m. Thursday from neighbors who live near the embassy in Northwest Washington.

The identity and motive of the suspected shooter is still unknown at this time. Both the government of Cuba and the State Department will be updated as the investigation continues.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday said if people who are stranded outside the union territory return without informing the authorities, they will be kept under a 21-day quarantine instead of the usual two weeks.

The administration asked people to wait for it to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) in this regard and follow that.

This comes a day after the Centre allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people stranded in different parts of the country due to the ongoing lockdown to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions.

Listing the conditions, the Union Home Ministry said all states and union territories should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons.

"It is very important. We ask (people) to wait for the SOP. Uninvited arrivals will be put under 21 days' (administrative) quarantine and others will be sent to home quarantine. Waiting is advisable," Ajeet Sahu, Jal Shakti Department commissioner secretary, told PTI.

Sahu, who also oversees the management of inter-state border terminal for passage of people and vehicles at Kathua, asked the people to strictly follow the guidelines.

In its order on Wednesday, the Home Ministry had said the nodal authorities shall register the stranded persons within their states and union territories.

In case a group of stranded persons wishes to move between one state and union territory and another state and union territory, the sending and receiving states may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road, it had said.

The states and union territories falling on the bus transit route will allow the passage of such persons to the receiving states and union territories, it had said.

The moving persons would be screened and those found asymptomatic would be allowed to proceed, according to the Home Ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
>>> Over US$82.6 million to support COVID-19 fight

>>> Number of COVID-19 case remains unchanged, one tests positive again

The agency announced on April 29 that the market, which is part of its activities for the community during the COVID-19 period, offers the needy essential food items such as rice, vegetables, eggs and seasoning.

The model will run through the Humanitarian Month in May 2020, with its peak lasting from May 4 to 8 in all 63 provinces and cities across the nation with a total value of goods offered reaching VND10 billion.

Through the model, the whole VRCS system aims to deliver 100,000 coupons, each worth at least VND100,000, to those who have lost income due to COVID-19, focusing on disadvantaged groups.

Previously, on the afternoon of April 28, the "humanitarian market" was launched at No. 68 Ba Trieu Street in Hanoi, offering 300 gift vouchers equivalent to 300 packages of essential food items (valued at VND150,000 each). A free meal programme was also launched at the event by the "Autumn and friends" club to provide free meals to those in difficult circumstances due to COVID-19.

Vietnam Red Cross supports Cambodia against COVID-19 epidemic

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh (far left) presents gifts from the Vietnam Red Cross Society to the Cambodian Red Cross in Phnom Penh on April 29, 2020. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper correspondents in Cambodia)

On the same day, the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) received support from the VRCS to assist Cambodian people in the fight against COVID-19.

At the handover, held at the CRC headquarters in Phnom Penh, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh and representatives from the VRCS presented 60,000 medical masks and 300 medical protective suits to the CRC.

Minh said that today's gifts are not of great value but it is the sentiment and in the spirit of sharing from Vietnamese people with Cambodian friends in this difficult period. The diplomat also praised and expressed his sincere thanks to the CRC for its support to people in need, including Vietnamese Cambodians.

Ouk Maly, Chief Financial Officer of the CRC, thanked the VRCS and Vietnamese people for the meaningful gifts, adding that many Vietnamese enterprises operating in Cambodia, such as BIDC Bank and Metfone, have provided support to Cambodias fight against COVID-19.
R H Kulkarni By

Karnataka, a land of rich tradition and culture, has thousands of monuments that attest to its ancient saga of heritage. Buddhism was one of the earliest religions in the region with lots of activity there starting from the 3rd century BCE. Interestingly, Karnataka has more than half-a-dozen inscriptions of Mauryan emperor Asoka. The Sri Lankan Buddhist chronicle Mahavamsha has records about Asokas Buddhist missionaries in the region.

The spread of Buddhism resulted in the construction of memorials like stupas and viharas. Sannati is a small village in Gulbarga district on the north bank of River Bhima, a tributary of River Krishna. Archaeological excavations were conducted by Karnatakas Directorate of Archaeology in Sannati and by the Archaeological Survey of India at the Ranamandala and Kanaganahalli sites. The ASI excavation at Kanaganahalli near Sannati unearthed the remains of a large stupa, along with a good number of sculptures that were strewn around.

First-ever sculpture of Emperor Asoka with

his name inscribed, in Karnatakas Sannati

The stupa at Sannati was known as the Shakya Maha Chaitya. The stupa, likely to have been initially built during Asokas reign and later renovated by Satavahana kings, is today almost in ruins, but sculptures and inscriptions found here attest to the vibrant Buddhist art and culture in the region. Excavations at Sannati have contributed many Buddhist sculptures, including inscribed historical figures of Asoka and Satavahana kings, depictions of the Jataka tales and miracles of the Buddha. The discovery of an Asokan slab edict followed by the finding of his portrait is an important contribution to the historical records of Indian art. In the sculptural depiction, the emperor with his queen and attendants are carved on a slab, which has an inscription identifying him that reads Raya Asoka (Raja Asoka). It is the first-ever sculpture of Asoka with his name inscribed.

There is another interesting sculpture depicting the revival of the Bodhi Tree by Asoka. The emperor is shown as paying obeisance to the tree and the artist has rendered it with great naturalism. It is believed that Asoka also visited a place called Suvarnagiri in Karnataka. It should be reminded here that the riddle of Devanampriya and Asoka was solved by the Asokan edict at Maski in Karnatakas Raichur district. It revealed that Devanampriya (the beloved of the Gods), a name found in many early Mauryan inscriptions, was an epithet of none other than Asoka.

Asoka and the revival of the Bodhi Tree

The birth narratives of the Buddha are among the most interesting sculptures in Sannati and are the best of their type. They commence with the dream of his mother Mayadevi. The appearance of a white elephant confirms the conception of a child. It also symbolically attests to the arrival of the Buddha on earth. It is followed by the interpretation of the dream, the nativity scene, presentation of the child to Vriksha Yaksha Shakyavardhana, his departure renouncing the palace life, the defeat of Mara, Buddhas enlightenment, his first sermon at Sarnath Deer Park, his miracles and sermons to his followers, and the panel narrative finally culminates with the great departuremahaparinirvana. There are also narratives depicting the distribution of the relics of the Buddha to his followers and the celebration of his departure in the tushita heavens.

Birth scene of Buddha

The Jataka stories such as Chaddanta, Mriga, Suta Soma and Vidurapandita have been delineated on sculptural slabs. All these slabs served as decorative veneering to the drum and platform of the stupa. The Jataka tales narrate the incidents of the previous lives of the Buddha as Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva is a pious person who would always help others. In Shaddanta Jataka, the Bodhisattva was born as an elephant with six tusks. The Queen of Kashi wanted to have the tusks chopped so that she could get them and the Shaddanta elephant would die. A hunter was appointed to get the tusks. In the narration, the artist has carved the elephant with six tusks within the herd. The hunter was unable to cut the tusks as they were heavy. The elephant, having known the intentions of the hunter, helps him cut the tusks and gives him a sermon.

The Sannati stupa also has symbolic and anthropomorphic forms of the Buddha. These depict the Manusha Buddhas, all carved by an artist from Vidarbha. The Buddha is depicted with symbols such as nagamucchalinda (serpent with five or more hoods), elephant, swan, dharmachakra and empty throne with cushions. The slabs are decorated with architectural motifs and flora and fauna, which form part of the festoons and garlands. The Sannati stupa has the maximum number of inscriptions among all stupas (more than 700 inscriptions), and they refer to varied subjects including donors and patrons. Sannati, besides its Buddhist association, is presently known for Sri Chandralaparameshwari, a Shakta deity in a 9th century CE temple.

Empty Throne

Buddhist art in Karnataka made its beginning at Sannati and spread its style all over the ancient region. Banavasi in Uttara Kannada district is another place that has a rich association with Buddhism. The Banavasi Kadamba and Badami Chalukya dynasties too patronised Buddhism, but it was at a rather low key. The rich sculptural tradition of stone carvings gave a new dimension to Karnatakas art history.

(rhkulkarniarthistory@gmail.com)
Chennai, April 30 : The Tamil Nadu government, here on Thursday, informed the Centre that Atulya Misra, Additional Chief Secretary in Revenue and Disaster Management Department, has been designated as nodal authority for movement of stranded people.

In a letter to the Union Home Ministry, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam said Misra has been designated as the nodal authority to monitor issues relating to movement of stranded persons -- pilgrims, students, migrant workers and others -- at different places in the state due to lockdown.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 20:29:16|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Geely Holding Group and its local partner DRB-HICOM, who jointly own and operate Malaysia's national carmaker Proton, has handed over an assortment of medical aid to the Malaysian government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said Thursday.

The donation, consisting of disposable three-ply surgical masks, protective medical clothing, medical goggles and PL 700 ADV ventilators, will be distributed to 55 hospitals located throughout Malaysia that have been earmarked by the Ministry of Health, said Geely.

In addition to the medical supplies, Proton has loaned 50 units of the Proton X70 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to the Ministry of Health to ease their logistical operations and the carmaker has also produced 60,000 units of face shields at its Malaysian factory, according to Geely. Enditem
CHICAGO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dynegy today announced it is committing $60,000 to support the Chicago area, as individuals and households begin the process of economic recovery from COVID-19.

"Our company is inspired by the Chicago food banks working to meet unprecedented need, small businesses doing what it takes to stay afloat, and childcare workers providing an essential service to Chicagoland families," said Brad Watson, Dynegy's director of community affairs. "As the painful effects of this pandemic continue, Dynegy and its employees are honored to assist the Chicago area in an immediate and impactful way."

The $60,000 donation will directly support households and individuals to meet their most pressing needs, including funding for food banks, community assistance funds, and childcare.

$30,000 will go to food banks, including The Northern Illinois Food Bank and The Greater Chicago Food Depository

will go to food banks, including The Northern Illinois Food Bank and The Greater Chicago Food Depository $20,000 will go to The Chicago Community Trust's COVID-19 Response Fund, which provides essential aid to those most impacted by the pandemic

will go to The Chicago Community Trust's COVID-19 Response Fund, which provides essential aid to those most impacted by the pandemic $10,000 will go to Chicago Youth Centers and The YMCA of Metro Chicago, to provide critical youth support and childcare

"Through the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, we are committed to supporting the most vulnerable in our region by providing access to essential services such as emergency food and supplies, health services, and financial assistance through direct cash transfers, as well as mortgage, rent and utility assistance," said Dr. Helene Gayle President and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. "As needs continue to grow, we know it's going to take all of these resources and much more to address the emergent needs as we continue to deploy emergency assistance rapidly."

Dynegy's donation to organizations across Chicago is part of a $2 million commitment to non-profits and social service agencies nationwide from Dynegy's parent company, Vistra. Serving nearly 5 million residential, commercial, and industrial retail customers with electricity and natural gas, Vistra is the largest competitive residential electricity provider in the country and is also the largest competitive power generator in the U.S.

About Dynegy

For over 30 years, Dynegy has helped millions of Americans throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest power their homes and businesses. Dynegy delivers simple, price-protected electricity plans for residential, municipal aggregation, commercial and industrial customers alike. Dynegy is committed to the communities it serves and gives back through local partnerships. Visit dynegy.com for more. Dynegy is a subsidiary of Vistra (NYSE: VST).

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Jenny Lyon

214-875-8004

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OTTAWA  A federal regulator has again found dozens of gaps and some errors in Manitoba Infrastructures environmental assessment of the proposed Interlake flood channel outlets.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  A federal regulator has again found dozens of gaps and some errors in Manitoba Infrastructures environmental assessment of the proposed Interlake flood channel outlets.

"The (environmental impact statement) does not present information to justify the conclusions drawn," reads a technical information review released last week.

After sending Manitoba back to the drawing board in November, federal regulators have found 63 more issues in the provinces EIS for the Lake Manitoba-Lake St. Martin megaproject, expected to carry a $540-million price tag.

Most of the problems involve incomplete information, while some allege inaccurate information, as well as typos and cut-off paragraphs.

Manitoba submitted its original EIS in August 2019, but the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada found a lack of "information on predicted environmental and social costs" and vague risk-mitigation plans. It recommended Manitoba "ensure references to figures are accurate."

The province updated and resubmitted the massive report in March 2020, which Ottawa said still needs more precision. "The EIS does not address potential environmental effects associated with the full suite of operational scenarios," reads last weeks regulator response.

Manitoba has paid a consultant $3.5 million to complete the EIS, though the contract includes fixing errors.

IAAC said it needs clarity on issues such as:

 Plans to prevent construction from causing farm wells to erupt;

 How changes in the lakebed will impact water temperature and fish habitats;

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Infrastructure minister Ron Schuler speaks to media about the Lake St. Martin outlet channel consultation at the Manitoba Legislative Building in February.

 Mitigation measures for disruptions to endangered species;

 Whether the outlet will comply with federal fishery laws;

 How officials will prevent wildfires from blowing up fuel-storage tanks;

 Prevention plans, so construction explosives dont contaminate waterways;

 Plans to ensure drinking water remains potable.

"The EIS does not provide enough information on the source, rationale, or details (e.g., data source, study methods and assumptions) of climate change" and its impact on the outlets functioning, the IAAC found. "No follow-up or monitoring is proposed for air quality," except if the project gets noise complaints during construction.

"Some historical data may not have been sampled using proper quality assessments," reads the analysis.

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Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has envisioned the legacy project as a way to prevent disastrous floods (similar to the Red River Floodway). He has urged the federal government to expedite the projects review.

However, regulator filings show the province has been late to consult with Indigenous groups, despite multiple warnings from federal regulators, delaying the transfer of a quarter-billion dollars to the province.

The newest list of issues has again paused the clock for the IAAC to review the project, which currently stands at nearly eight months.

Infrastructure Minister Ron Schulers office referred an interview request to his department, which said "an iterative process" means the EIS gets fixed multiple times.

"Manitoba Infrastructure remains confident in the information presented in the EIS, and is currently working with environmental and engineering consultants to respond to these questions," wrote a department spokesman.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 1

By Afaq Rza - Trend:

International experts highly appreciate the effective and timely preventive measures taken in Azerbaijan amid COVID-19, said Leyla Abdullayeva, spokesperson for the countrys foreign ministry.

Speaking on AzTV state television, Abdullayeva noted that the effectiveness of steps taken by Azerbaijan to combat COVID-19 was highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

She went on to add that first of all, it is necessary to study the experience of other countries in the fight against the pandemic, to cooperate with WHO and to ensure compliance with quarantine regime.

Every country fights the pandemic differently, but there is one goal: to prevent the spread of infection. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of measures taken against coronavirus is crucial. From the very beginning, Azerbaijan took right steps amid the pandemic, said Abdullayeva.

The MFA spokesperson noted that Azerbaijans communication with neighboring countries has been suspended since April 5 with exception for cargo transportation and they were notified that these are temporary measures.

She went on to add that Azerbaijani government is closely monitoring the situation and is taking appropriate steps to return its citizens from abroad.

Abdullayeva said that to date, 15,000 Azerbaijani citizens were assisted in returning to homeland.
In this photo, legend Lata Mangeshkar holds another legend, Rishi Kapoor, when he was three-months-old. Rishi Kapoor died after a two-year-long battle with cancer. His family issued a statement saying, "Our beloved Rishi Kapoor died in the hospital at 8:45 am today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff of the hospital said that they entertained them till the last moment."
Abujmarh, April 30 : Known as a Maoist bastion in the hills of south Chhattisgarh, Abujmarh, where two state security personnel were killed in a face-off with guerrillas on Wednesday, the people are being taught by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to follow the lockdown norms to beat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The credit goes to the CRPF's 195 Battalion that has broken the local languages barrier to teach social distancing, hand sanitising and home stay to tribals, living in hamlets deep in hilly, forested Abujmarh, which is larger than Goa in terms of area.

Spread over 1,500 sq miles (3,900 sq km), covering Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada districts, Abujmarh is home to indigenous tribes -- Gond, Muria, Abuj Maria and Halbaas.

It was only in 2009 the Chhattisgarh government lifted restrictions, imposed in the early 1980s, on the entry of common people to the area.

Geographically isolated and largely inaccessible, the area continues to look bereft of the civil administration, and is also known as "liberated-zone". It's an alleged hub of Maoists, the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and its military wing, People's Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), which runs a parallel administration there.

Strengthening fight against the coronavirus, the CRPF's 195 Battalion took upon itself the task of protecting tribals from Covid-19 by making them aware of precautions. The CRPF has succeeded in teaching lockdown norms and Covid-19 precautions to people in over 60 villages.

Commandant Rakesh Kumar Singh told IANS, the 195 Battalion was not only providing security but also teaching people with the help of Bastariya units, comprising local Scheduled Tribes (ST) men, ways to fight coronavirus.

"Around 10-12 members of the Bastariya units are on the job with different companies of 195 Battalion. Like Maoists, we teach tribals through Natya Mandali shows," Singh told IANS. Setting up of Bastariya units was approved in 2018 to bolster the fight against Maoists.

According to the commandant, residents of two-three villages are gathered with the help of village head at a place and given lessons in social distancing and other Covid-19 precautionary measures.

Singh said people were, surprisingly, aware and themselves followed social distancing norms. "They have blocked entry points of villages by felling trees to prevent outsiders and curb the spread of infection." Puspal, Malewahi, Erpund, Pichikodar, Harrakodar, Koya, Bengaluru, Bodli, Gotia and Gufa were among the villages where the CRPF had been able to teach Covid-19 precautions, Singh said.

The officer said the 195 Battalion was honoured as the best anti-Maoist operation Battalion in 2019 as it had persuaded 35 Maoists to surrender. This year too, it had been able to cause surrender of 10-12 Maoists, Singh said.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
Stroke researchers at the University of Cincinnati have released a new report recommending the proper protocol for delivering lifesaving treatment to stroke patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report, published in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart and American Stroke associations, is timely as more data emerges that patients with COVID-19, even young, otherwise healthy patients, are experiencing strokes. The authors emphasize that diagnosis with COVID-19 should not prevent patients from receiving this time-sensitive treatment.

"Endovascular treatment for stroke involves the use of small catheters inserted from the groin or the arm into the blood vessels of the brain to remove a clot and restore blood flow to the brain," says Dr. Aaron Grossman, assistant professor in the department of neurology and rehabilitative medicine and a UC Health physician who is also the corresponding author on the report. "Opening a brain artery can reverse the effects of the stroke, and for some patients, leads to a quicker recovery time. In this current climate, the treatment presents challenges that doctors never previously needed to consider."

"We needed to find a process for treating patients using endovascular therapy in the COVID-19 era that would keep our staff safe while we cared for these patients as quickly as possible," says Dr. Matthew Smith, a neurocritical care fellow and UC Health physician who is the first author on the report.

Researchers reviewed published and real-time anecdotal experiences of providers caring for COVID-19 patients nationally and internationally. As the first patients with COVID-19 were arriving to UC's Comprehensive Stroke Center, members of every team who cared for these patients met via video to establish recommendations for care.

"We highlighted three populations of potential patients: patients with suspected COVID-19 who come into the emergency department; patients with COVID-19 who are already in the hospital and then develop stroke; and stroke patients without COVID-19 who are cared for at a hospital with constrained resources due to COVID-19, including access to [personal protective equipment], ventilators, ICU beds and staff, " Grossman explains. "Our proposed algorithm helped us decide recommended points of care. It considers the American Heart/American Stroke associations endovascular treatment guidelines, the safety of patients and staff, predictors of death in COVID-19 patients and the appropriate use of scarce resources."

The working group concluded that a COVID-19 diagnosis should not prevent doctors from using endovascular therapy to treat a patient's severe stroke.

"However, we have to use extreme caution when preparing the patient, to keep staff safe," Smith adds, "and during this time of extreme resource limitation, we have to be prepared to modify our current protocols to provide the best stroke care possible for all patients in the Tristate."

In publishing these recommendations, Grossman says the UC/UC Health Stroke Team researchers demonstrate how "adapting an existing and evolving workflow requires input, coordination and engagement across hospital units and disciplines and believe a multidisciplinary approach that is proactive rather than reactive will best serve patients with stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic."

###
The support will help a dedicated staff of 500 healthcare professionals working with COVID-19 patients at the hospital

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) has joined hands with apex industry body, ASSOCHAM, in supporting the food requirements of 500 healthcare professionals/workers at the new facility specially set up at Safdarjung Hospital in the city to care for Covid-19 patients.

In conjunction with ASSOCHAM Foundation For Corporate Social Responsibility, AESL will support lunch and dinner for 500 healthcare personnel (1,000 food packets) every day for the next one week. Safdarjung Hospital has set up a new 500 bed facility for the care of patients affected by Covid for which it will be using a dedicated staff of over 1500 healthcare professionals.

Aakash Chaudhry, Director and CEO, Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) said, We feel it is an honour for us if we can in anyway support our Covid Heroes in this time of crisis when they are doing a great service to mankind for being at the forefront of this war that we are fighting against an unknown virus. It is our responsibility to support our COVID-19 frontline workers  doctors, nurses and healthcare personnel  who are working around the clock to save precious lives. I urge people and organizations to contribute and help our country in whatever way possible. At this moment, the need to help the world is greater than at any other time.

Sharing his views on the joint effort by ASSOCHAM and AESL, the Chamber's Secretary General, Deepak Sood said, "We are very pleased to collaborate with our esteemed member organizations to support India's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic thereby extending the spectrum of initiatives being undertaken as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in these testing times. In our endeavor to advance CSR initiatives aimed at supporting our communities we have joined hands with Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) to provide packed meals (twice a day) for 'corona-warriors' including the healthcare professionals, cleaning staff and others for the current week at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital's new 500 bed facility for COVID-19 patients."

He further said that ASSOCHAM will continue supporting such initiatives as community service is firmly rooted in the chambers' core values.

AESL had made a contribution of Rs 1 crore out of which Rs 50 lakhs have been donated to the PM Cares Fund.

Apart from the PM Cares Fund, AESL has also donated another Rs 50 Lakhs to the Delhi Police Welfare Society.
Lockdown lift could risk a resurgence of coronavirus in Wales as curve flattens

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 30th, 2020

The chief medical officer (CMO) of Wales has warned that there could be a resurgence of coronavirus circulation if lockdown measures are lifted too soon.

Speaking at the daily Welsh Government press conference CMO Frank Atherton said that Wales is seeing some improvement in the metrics and the figures that are used to monitor how the epidemic is unfolding.

This includes a reduction in the number of cases of coronavirus and a drop in the number of admissions to hospital and into ICU.

He added that whilst there are still some death unfortunately here in Wales, the trend itself is showing a flattening of the numbers  however no dropping.

Mr Atherton said: Thats all good news and it shows that the public of Wales are really taking social distancing measures, hand hygiene and basic hygiene measures and the lockdown measures very seriously.

It matters to the NHS because weve been trying in this epidemic to make sure that we do not exceed the capacity of our NHS to cope with the burden of disease which coronavirus is sadly bringing to our population.

He continued: Although our virus transmission in the community we has reduced over recent days as a consequence of those measures, there are specific areas that we do really worry about because the Welsh Government and as the NHS.

Particularly its closed settings where the virus can transmit and we know what those are, of course, hospitals, we are worried about transmission and circulation of virus in our hospitals and were also worried about the circulation of virus particularly in out care homes  on which theres been a lot of media attention and public questioning.

However the CMO also warned that although the curve has been squashed, there could be a second wave of the virus if the lockdown measures and social distancing restrictions were lifted too soon.

To help prevent this from happening, Mr Atherton said that certain procedures will need to be in place.

He said: The First Minister last Friday, put out his framework for the easement of social distancing measures and lockdown measures here in Wales, and as part of that I had conversations with the First Minister and outlined a number of things which I think needs to be in place in order to guide us through that process.

The first is that we need to have much better surveillance. A much better understanding of how the virus is circulating, how its moving around in our populations and in those closed settings that Ive been talking about.

The second thing is as the numbers come down we need to have a better mechanism for tracking and tracing, and I know all nations are looking to develop systems and processes around that and Wales cannot be the exception.

We need to have a clear model that we can adapt and learn as we go as to how we will identify cases and track them using a combination of digital means and old fashioned public health shoe leather and contact tracing.

The third thing we really need to do here in Wales is to watch internationally what is happening in other countries as they start to to lift their measures, and were starting to see that. I want us to be systematic in that.

Earlier this month we reported that First Minister Mark Drakeford had warned that the virus would spread from south to north and from east to west  causing a delayed peak of COVID-19 in different parts of Wales.

Asked today if he believed that cases would peak at different times, Mr Atherton said that pattern of movement is much less obvious now due to the stricter lockdown measures being introduced across the UK on March 23rd.

In terms of whether or not Wales had already seen a peak of new cases or if it could come later in the summer as initially suggested, Mr Atherton said: It looked like we were on a period of exponential growth and we saw a peak would that would have been into May, June, July, somewhere in that that kind of in that range.

We talked about flattening the curve so that we didnt exceed the capacity of the NHS.

In fact, our measures in Wales, and in the UK have done more than flatten the curve, they have actually squashed the curve and so the numbers are much less than we expected and thats why the peak has come earlier than we anticipated.

The height of the peak and the number of cases, ICU admissions and deaths has been less than thats obviously a good thing.

The downside of that is that by squashing the curve we risk a resurgence of the disease if we lift our measures too soon.

You can view the full brief, plus the Q&A on the below video
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)"This is new for the election board and the Indiana Election Division," said Randy Vonderheide.

Vonderheide is the Tippecanoe County Election Board Chairman. He said the board is preparing for an increase in absentee ballots this election season.

"We expect a much higher than normal volume," said Vonderheide. "The estimation anywhere 75,00 and 10,000 absentee ballots."

Vonderheide said to date the board has already received more than 2,000 absentee ballot request. That's compared to the 2016 election season where only 500 request were submitted.

"We're going to need to start earlier and have many more people working just because of the scanning limitations of the scanning equipment," said Vonderheide.

That's why the board approved to start processing and counting absentee ballots at 6 AM on election day.

They have also expanded their team on top of the several returning poll workers and allowing 16 & 17 year olds to help by applying to be an election officer. Something the board has offered every year.

"I am very pleased to report we are not having trouble," said Vonderheide. "Regular poll workers that we've had for years by large almost all of them are indicating that they are going to work for the public again this year."

As far as voting locations, Vonderheide said that's a moving target. As of now Payless and Purdue University are not on the current list of 14 voting locations.

"Our March 9th meeting we locked in our early voting and vote centers and after COVID-19 that has had to change," said Vonderheide.

Vonderheide goes on to say the Indiana Election Division also limited early voting to just one week instead of two.

"We're also concerned as an election board about the safety of our poll workers," said Vonderheide. "So we've made every effort to assure that safety."

Vonderheide said the secretary of state is also working with the county to provide PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) for poll workers. He said people interested in a absentee ballot should submit an application by midnight of May 19th.

For information on voting locations, absentee application and more click here.
About 60,000 foreign nationals from 72 countries were evacuated from India in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

Anurag Srivastava, the spokesperson in the ministry, said the issue of evacuation of Indians stranded abroad is also under discussion and that all the Indian missions are extending all possible assistance to the diaspora community.

Indian missions are making exceptional efforts to provide assistance to stranded Indians, he said at an online briefing.

It is learnt that the government is working on a mega plan to deploy a raft of naval ships as well as military and commercial aircraft to evacuate thousands of Indians stranded in the Gulf and other regions after the nationwide lockdown ends.

On China's criticism of the decision by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to stop use of COVID-19 rapid testing kits supplied by two Chinese companies, the MEA spokesperson said the matter is being handled by the premier medical body.

The ICMR on Monday asked the states and union territories to stop using the test kits procured from the Chinese companies Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics due to "wide variations" in their performance.

Srivastava said India has provided 2.8 million hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets and 1.9 million paracetamol tablets to over 20 countries as part of its assistance.

India also provided HCQ and paracetamol tablets to a large number of countries on commercial basis.

Hydroxychloroquine has been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for the COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By ANI

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has issued a warning to its personnel against Pakistani agencies' designs to hack the phones of Indian military personnel through a malicious application similar to the AarogyaSetu app.

"Inimical intelligence agencies have developed a malicious app by the name Aarogya Setu.apk. Such apps were found to be sent by Pakistan-based Pakistani Intelligence Operatives to WhatsApp groups of Indian Army personnel," the Army has stated in its warning.

Senior Army sources told ANI that Pakistani agencies are using social media accounts with Indian names to target the Indian personnel.

"Known Pakistani Intelligence Operative account under the fake name of one 'Anoshka Chopra' also found sending the malicious application to Indian Army personnel," the sources said.

The Army in its warning has asked personnel about the need to be sensitised about the Pakistani spy agencies' designs while downloading the application.

The Army has also told its men and women that the Aarogya Setu application must be downloaded only from the Indian government website (mygov.in) or Android Play Store or IOS Apple Play Store.

All forces personnel have been asked to download the AarogyaSetu application to help in the detection and checking the spread of COVID-19. The application has been developed by government agencies and is being used by almost all government employees.

Recently, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane had stated that while India is busy fighting coronavirus both internally and globally, Pakistan is busy in exporting terrorism in India and other places.
The Centre was on Thursday urged by Bihar, Punjab and Telangana among other states to run non-stop special trains for the transportation of lakhs of stranded migrant workers hit by the national lockdown, a day after it allowed their inter-state movement by buses.

IMAGE: Migrant workers from Lucknow walk along Mumbai-Nashik highway to reach their native places, in Thane, on Wednesday. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo

As the Centre's decision ahead of the end of the 40-day lockdown brought cheers to lakhs of migrant workers across the country, quarantine centres and shelter homes were also being readied for the returning migrants with Uttar Pradesh alone preparing to receive an estimated 10 lakh people.

The coronavirus-induced lockdown is due to end on May 3.

Asked at a press briefing in New Delhi if special trains and private vehicles will also be allowed to transport these people as demanded by some states and others, Punya Salila Srivastava, a joint secretary in the ministry of home affairs (MHA), said the orders issued at present were for 'using buses and for group of persons'.

"State governments will also register such people and concerned states will discuss among themselves for ensuring these movements by road," she said, adding all states and union territories (UTs) will have to 'strictly follow' MHA's latest guidelines.

The MHA on Wednesday issued fresh directives allowing states to transport stranded students, migrant labourers, tourists and pilgrims to their home states or destination by strictly following guidelines meant to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

State governments also appointed nodal officers from the civil and police administration to develop standard protocols to help coordinate the movement of the stranded people. Contact details of the officers were also given.

The Kerala government renewed its demand for special non-stop trains to transport those who are keen to leave for their respective states, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, adding the chief secretary has written a letter to the union home secretary.

"There are so many people who wish to leave for their respective states. The distance they have to traverse from the southern state was very long, it would be a tiresome journey to transport them by bus and there was a possiblity of the virus spreading," Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

There are 3.60 lakh workers in 20,826 camps in Kerala and 99 per cent of them, hailing from West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, want to return to their respective states, Vijayan noted.

In Ahmedabad, some stranded migrants said they have already started packing their bags to return home.

"Life became very difficult for me and my family after the lockdown as I was left with no money," said Shyam Singh, a native of Morena in Madhya Pradesh, who is currently living in Ranip area of Ahmedabad.

Singh said he was glad they were now allowed to go back to their home state.

"I can at least do some farming there to help my family. I have already packed the luggage for the journey. If I find some better work in my home state, I do not wish to return here," he added.

The Bihar government urged the Centre to allow running of special trains at least from far-off places where the migrants from the state are stuck.

We will welcome all our people willing to come back, from any part of the country. Arrangements like screening, home quarantine and institutional quarantine are in place.

"But the number of those wanting to return is likely to be huge. If we depend on buses, the process could take months to complete, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said in a video message.

Non-stop trains without any intermediary halts could be operated, he said, adding seating arrangements be made for passengers in a way that social distancing is ensured.

Modi pointed out that the number of people from Bihar stranded is very large, with more than 17 lakh having received financial assistance of Rs 1,000 each from the state government and nearly 10 lakh more applications being under process.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange special trains.

According to officials, there are nearly 10 lakh migrant labourers in Punjab. Approximately 70 per cent of these are from Bihar.

Telangana Animal Husbandry Minister T Srinivas Yadav also demanded that the Centre arrange special trains and provide free transportation.

Noting that there are about 15 lakh migrant workers in Telangana, who hail from states like Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, he said it takes about three to five days for them to reach their home states if they travel by buses.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday night said until the Centre allows the Railways to operate it will practically not be possible to facilitate 'smooth and hassle free' transport of the migrant workers to their homes.

He said in a couple of days Rajasthan got registration of more than six lakh migrants from across the country including the four southern states, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the state will wait for clear cut instructions from the Centre on the mode of transportation and the wherewithal involved in the process.

A Delhi government official said states will send buses to bring back their natives stranded in the national capital.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked officials to keep ready quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens as the state prepares for the return of migrant workers stranded in different parts of the country.

Adityanath appealed to those stranded in other states to be patient and not start walking towards their homes.

'Maintain patience that you have shown till now. A detailed plan is being prepared after contacting states concerned to ensure that all return to their homes safely. Therefore, stay where you are and remain in contact with the respective state governments. Do not start moving on foot,' he said in a tweet.

An official spokesperson said in Lucknow that workers stranded in Madhya Pradesh will be brought back on Thursday and those in Gujarat on Friday by buses. Around 13,000 people are also being brought back from Haryana.

The chief minister asked officials to prepare quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens to cater to 10 lakh people.

Though state governments are working on plans for the movement of migrant workers it was not known whether the entire affected lot would like to return to their homes since plans are also afoot to scale up industrial activities after May 3.

For example, the Karnataka government has decided to allow industrial activities across the state barring COVID-19 containment zones from May 4.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said a one-time movement of migrant workers and others will be allowed and the state government would arrange buses for those in need but they should bear the expenses.

In Gujarat, the state government stepped up its efforts to send back the migrant labourers, who are mostly from Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment, Vipul Mitra, said around 4,000 migrant workers kept at various shelter homes will be sent back to their home states soon.

Of them, around 2,300 are from Uttar Pradesh alone, while others are from neighbouring states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 18:18:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Clashes between protesters and the Lebanese army on Wednesday evening resulted in 42 injuries including 19 soldiers in the Lebanese city of Tripoli, Elnashra, local independent newspaper, reported on Thursday.

The emergency and relief service of the Islamic Medical Association transported injured people to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Lebanon has been witnessing nationwide protests against the current political class and the banking system amid severe restrictions by banks depriving depositors from withdrawing foreign currency while imposing restrictions on local currency withdrawals.

The cabinet is expected to approve later in the day an economic and financial strategy aimed at saving the country from its current crises. Enditem
U.S. intelligence agencies don't believe the covid-19 coronavirus was created by humans or genetically modified in China, a controversial finding that comes as President Donald Trump increasingly tries to pin blame on Beijing for the global pandemic.

The intelligence community "concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the Covid-19 virus was not man made or genetically modified," according to a statement from the DNI office on Thursday.

The statement goes on to say the nation's intelligence community "will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan," referring to the Chinese city where the virus was first reported.

The findings come as Trump ratchets up pressure on China over its pandemic response. He said he's ordered an investigation into how the virus emerged as conspiracy theories -- some promoted by key Trump supporters -- circulate suggesting that it may have been created at a lab, or escaped from one, in Wuhan. The statement Thursday suggested that probe is already underway.

The origin of the virus has emerged as a flash point in the pandemic and ratcheted up tensions between the Trump administration and China. The president and senior officials including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had made a habit of referring to the outbreak as the "Wuhan virus" or the "China virus" before toning that language down as the U.S. continued to rely on Chinese shipments of medical equipment to stem the outbreak.

That restraint appears to be ending.

"As we do in all crises, the community's experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to U.S. national security," according to the statement.

The move comes as Americans increasingly disapprove of Trump's handling of the outbreak and the U.S. economy plunges into recession, with about 30 million people losing their jobs over the past six weeks. Some 55% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the pandemic, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday, while other surveys show the president trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden nationally and in key swing states.

While the assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies undercuts the idea that the virus was deliberately made or modified from an existing virus, it doesn't rule out the possibility that the virus escaped, accidentally or deliberately, from a Chinese lab, a notion Chinese officials have rejected.

Yet China helped escalate the blame game with the U.S. in March when a foreign ministry spokesman shared speculation on social media that American military personnel introduced the virus to Wuhan.

Trump said in an interview with Reuters published Wednesday that China's response to the disease was focused on a desire to see him lose in November. The president, who has previously praised his relationship with President Xi Jinping, provided no evidence for why China would deliberately mishandle an outbreak that has killed more than 4,600 of its citizens. Regardless, Trump said he was considering various ways to punish Beijing.

"China will do anything they can to have me lose this race," Trump said in the Oval Office interview. He didn't elaborate what punitive actions he might take, but added: "There are many things I can do."

Trump also said that the U.S. trade deal with China had been "upset very badly" by the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis. The slowdown has made it more difficult for China to meet purchasing pledges included in a "phase one" trade pact reached between the two sides in January.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded Thursday that the country had "no interest" in interfering in internal U.S. affairs. "For some time, certain U.S. politicians, in disregard of the facts, have attempted to shift their own responsibility for their poor handling of the epidemic to others," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters, reiterating a past complaint in response to a question about Trump's remarks.
Lloyds suffered a collapse in profits as it came under fire for its lacklustre lending under the Government's coronavirus aid packages.

The bank, which is the UK's biggest mortgage provider and one of the largest lenders to small businesses, has handed out just (CBILS).

This is a relatively small slice of the industry-wide total of 4.1billion. Lloyds's CBILS loans account for just 3,752 of the 25,262 total.

Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said the bank was expecting house prices to slump 5 per cent this year, before recovering next year

As it unveiled its first-quarter results yesterday, the bank revealed profits slumped 95 per centin the first three months of 2020 to just 74million.

The rout came as it set aside 1.4billion to prepare for loans issued before the crisis turning sour.

This means that Britain's major banks  including Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, Santander and Standard Chartered  have earmarked 6.8billion to cover already existing loans, which may be unpaid due to the pandemic.

Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said the bank was expecting house prices to slump 5 per cent this year, before recovering next year, and added that around 17 per cent of its mortgage customers were asking for payment holidays.

Despite the increased provisions for losses on outstanding loans, banks are still under pressure to get money out of the door to help smaller firms survive the coronavirus crisis.

In order to encourage them to lend, the Government has agreed to bear 80pc of any losses which flow from CBILS lending.

But figures from industry body UK Finance showed that the CBILS programme has only resulted in 4.1billion of debt lifelines going to 25,262 firms.

Another 27,545 applications have either been denied or are in limbo.

The total amount lent is much lower than in Switzerland, which has handed out around 100,000 loans under a similar scheme, and Germany, which has lent 7.4billion to 13,000 firms.

But the governments there have agreed to guarantee 100 per cent of the value of the loan, rather than just 80 per cent, so banks are not on the hook.

Under the UK's scheme, Lloyds is the laggard. RBS has approved 8,292 CBILS loans to a value of 1.6billion.

And even Barclays and HSBC, which both have a smaller piece of the market than Lloyds, are still ahead  with Barclays having lent 835million under CBILS to 4,361 businesses and HSBC approving 765million worth of loans to 5,295 companies.

Horta-Osorio claimed Lloyds' CBILS lending figures were so low because most business customers wanted help such as overdraft extensions and payment holidays on their existing debt, rather than new loans.

He said: 'We are very supportive of the Government's schemes. We have to help our customers with whatever product they prefer, and what we have seen so far is that by a wide margin  ten to one  our small and medium-sized business customers prefer to ask for capital repayment holidays and working capital support through overdraft extensions than through term loans.'

But Ian Cass, managing director of the Forum of Private Business, said he is still receiving streams of complaints about the bank.

He said: 'The only people getting money are those not really in desperate need.'

As UK Finance revealed the weekly CBILS update, the Treasury Committee of MPs renewed its calls for the data to be published daily. It is convinced this will push banks to boost lending but UK Finance has refused, saying it would place unnecessary strain on banks.

Goldman Sachs has angered shareholders by awarding its boss a 20 per cent pay rise. Just 71 per cent of investors at yesterday's virtual shareholder meeting backed an executive pay package that saw chief executive David Solomon scoop 20million in 2019, a fifth more than a year earlier.
A drunken Ecorse man who stole a 2020 Tesla Model 3 luxury car the night of April 22, from a parking garage in Detroit, was arrested at Dearborn Pizza, 14406 Warren Avenue, the location to which the vehicle was tracked, and was subsequently turned over to Detroit police officers.

A store employee, who saw the Dearborn police officers arrive, exited the pizzeria, and said the suspect, who was drunk, was inside the building. When the suspect approached the stolen vehicle, he apologized to the police officers for parking it improperly. When he realized his lack of parking finesse was not relevant, he confessed to the vehicle theft.

The suspect was taken into custody, and the rightful vehicle owner, a Farmington Hills woman, arrived to reclaim her Tesla.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The smallest baby ever reported in India -- as tiny as a palm and weighing 350 grams when born on December 12, 2019 -- was discharged from the Lourdes Hospital here.

Zaya was born as the second of twins to couple Thaneem and Zuwaina of Kodungalloor when Zuwaina was admitted with severe life-threatening pregnancy-induced hypertension during the sixth month of her pregnancy.

"Due to the anticipated complications like growth retardation and reduced blood flow to the fetuses, the babies were taken out through cesarean section under the supervision of Dr Divya Jose, consultant gynecologist, and Dr Shobha Philip, head of department, anesthesiology department," a release by Lourdes Hospital said.

Zoya, the first of the twins had a birth weight of 400 grams and little Zaya who was born second weighed 350 grams. "In view of several risk factors such as multiple pregnancy, growth retardation and extreme prematurity, taking care of these twins was not an easy task. Combining immature lung, brain, heart and gut were some of the hurdles faced by the treating doctors," said Dr Rojo Joy, the neonatologist of Lourdes Hospital. He said both babies had severe respiratory distress and were incubated, ventilated and admitted into NICU. "Babies were on the ventilator for 40 days till they could breathe on their own. Interventions for eye disease related to their premature birth was done by ophthalmologists from Giridhar Eye Hospital.

Lourdes Hospital director Fr Shaiju Thoppil said 'Baby Kashvi' who was 380 grams at birth now becomes the second smallest baby ever survived in India to date. The baby, who was also born at Lourdes Hospital last August, is living happily with her parents in north India.

Immense financial aid from social activities and celebrities through the Child Help Foundation helped the doctors in the fight. "Our neonatology team comprising Dr Rojo Joy, Dr Varghese Cherian, Dr Preethy Peter, Dr Hrishikesh, Dr Sr Julia, Dr Reynold, Dr Anjali, Dr Aysha and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology comprising Dr Praveena Elizabeth Joseph, Dr Divya Jose, Dr Binu Sebastian and NICU team headed by Sr Smitha worked tirelessly for four months and discharged the babies now weighing 2 kg and 1.5 kg respectively from the hospital," the release said.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has turned 74 today and to mark the occasion the royal household has released stunning portraits of the monarch.

The three photographs, shared to the Swedish royal family's Instagram account, capture King Carl at one of his summer residences, Stenhammar Palace in Sodermanland.

He is seen walking alongside his wife Queen Silvia, 76, in two of the pictures - with a final image showing the pair enjoying the grounds with their pet dog.

The King's birthday has gone by with very little public fanfare, with celebrations and parades cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has turned 74 today and to mark the occasion the royal household has released stunning portraits of the monarch, pictured with his wife Queen Silvia

The three photographs, shared to the Swedish royal family's Instagram account, capture King Carl at one of his summer residences, Stenhammar's castle in Sodermanland (pictured)

In two of the birthday snaps, taken yesterday, King Carl sported a bright yellow jumper, teamed with a rust-coloured tie and smart checkered shirt.

He completed his countryside look with a tweed blazer and blue and white polka dot handkerchief - to seemingly match his wife's statement scarf.

Queen Silvia decorated her neck with a white, royal blue and yellow cravat, tucked into a checkered black and mustard-coloured blazer.

In two of the birthday snaps, taken yesterday, King Carl sported a bright yellow jumper, teamed with a rust-coloured tie and smart checkered shirt (pictured)

Queen Silvia (pictured with her husband) decorated her neck with a white, royal blue and yellow cravat, tucked into a checkered black and mustard-coloured blazer

A third photograph, which captured the couple enjoying a walk around their estate with their pet god, saw the mother-of-three wrap up warm in a grey knitted poncho.

She paired the stylish outer garment with a white, high-neck jumper, smart trousers and matching black boots.

Her husband swapped his blazer for a warmer coat, teamed with grey trousers and coffee-coloured shoes.

Since the middle of March, the King and Queen have been staying at Stenhammar (pictured), in a bid to follow the nation's social distancing rules

Since the middle of March, the King and Queen have been staying at Stenhammar, in a bid to follow the nation's social distancing rules.

The Armed Forces' traditional celebration of the King at the Royal Palace's outer courtyard has been suspended this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the commander in Stockholm, Admiral Jan Thornqvist, sent a digital greeting to the King from the Swedish Armed Forces this morning.

Parts of the Army's music choir, led by music director Andreas Hanson, also performed on the clip.
Several states appointed nodal authorities and kick-started formalities to bring back their residents --- migrant workers, students and pilgrims, among others --- who are stranded in different parts of the country because of the ongoing lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. According to state government estimates, there are close to 10 million migrant workers stranded in different states, who will travel back home by bus, in possibly the biggest such exercise India has ever witnessed. A ground report from 12 states.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh (UP), which has already brought back 2.7 lakh workers from Delhi and Haryana, is now gearing up to bring back another 1.5 million workers. Chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday spoke with the chief ministers of several states and asked for their help in the return of migrants to UP. The state has brought back from Kota, Rajasthan, 11,500 students (who had been there to prepare for competitive exams) and sent another 10,000 students to their homes in various districts.

The UP government has appointed nodal officers to coordinate with other state government and district administrations to enable the return of migrants and to take care of them at geotagged shelter homes. An UP Revenue Department officer said capacity has been created to house 6 lakh person against the expected 10 to 15 lakh migrants coming in. A police officer manning a helpline in UP said that the number of calls has increased and they were assuring workers they would be brought back soon. .Shiv Mangal, 28, a migrant worker who is living at a shelter/quarantine camp at Janaki Kund Junior High School in the Pariyar village in Unnao said: We came all the way to be in our homes, and not to live here. He, along with 19 others arrivedon their owncame from Telangana on April 19.

Maharashtra

While Maharashtra has a few thousand workers stranded in other states, it has close to a million workers from other states. Of these, around 5.7 lakh labourers are living in 4600-odd shelter homes in various districts of the state. State government officials said 1.7 lakh of them want to return.

The Maharashtra government on Thursday issued a notification allowing transportation of the stranded workers, pilgrims, and students after taking permission from district authorities. Respective state governments will have to arrange for vehicles to take back workers. The 14-day quarantine has been made mandatory for the people arriving in Maharashtra.

Nitin Kareer, additional chief secretary, Maharashtra, said, We are not making any arrangements for the logistics, including their travel facilities for the migrant workers, who want to go back to their respective home states.

An official from the relief and rehabilitation department said there was fear of violent reaction after May 3 from these workers, in case the lockdown and restrictions are extended. In Nashik, Palghar and Jalgaon and other parts of the state, we received complaints of the workers in shelters either boycotting the food or even threatening drastic steps if they are not allowed to go to their states. Some of them even try travel to their states on foot, the official said.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has already brought back 20,000 workers. Additional chief secretary, ICP Keshri, said, Besides, 7000 more labourers from Rajasthan, 3000 from Uttar Pradesh and 1600 from Goa are expected to reach Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. Around 30,000 more have enrolled, he said, adding arrangements have been made for their food and accommodation.

Naval Adivasi from Sheopur district, who was brought back from Nagaur in Rajasthan along with 50 other labourers said, We were stranded in Nagaur. The state government has made good arrangements for us here. There were reports of a few protests from Gwalior-Bind area, where workers were asked to stay in quarantine.

Chhattisgarh and Odisha

Chhattisgarhs chief secretary, RP Mandal, on Thursday asked collectors to update the figure of migrant labourers of their respective districts, who are stranded in other states and made the Chief Executive Officer of the zila panchayats in rural areas and the municipal commissioner and chief municipal officer in urban areas as nodal officers to coordinate with other states. He also told the collectors that the persons brought back will be kept in quarantine at the village panchayat level and would be tested for Covid-19, if they have symptoms. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Telangana are transporting the workers from Chhattisgarh by buses to the Chhattisgarh border. From there, Chhattisgarh government will take them to their destination districts. Till now, about 11 lakh migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh are found stranded in other states, said a senior IAS officer, who was not willing to be quoted. In Odisha, the officials said arrangements would soon be announced for about 7 lakh workers from Odisha stranded in other states.

Punjab and Haryana

Punjab has appointed a state nodal officer to coordinate the movement of migrants from Punjab to other states and vice versa. An online registration system is also being started today on COVA app (a central app for all Covid-19 related information and management) to register migrant workers who are currently here and want to go back to their home states as well as Punjabis who are stranded in other states, additional chief secretary, home, Satish Chandra, said.

Not too many from Punjab are working in other states. The government estimates that around five million workers from other states are employed in registered industrial units, and brick kilns. Of them, around two million are in Ludhiana. Tarsem Jodhan, President of Punjab Mazdoor Union, said that lakhs of migrants here want to go back after the governments decision yesterday.

Like Punjab, Haryana has over two million workers from other states and officials said a team has been set up to coordinate with other states to send them back. Most of these workers are in National Capital Region towns such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonepat and Rohtak, officials said.

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government has appointed 19 IAS/IPS officers to coordinate with governments of 14 states, district authorities and other agencies. The officers appointed will coordinate with other state governments to resolve issues of Rajasthani workers in these states and with districts officers in Rajasthan to enable workers from other states to return home. Orders have been issued to set up transit camps at the state borders, where quarantine centres will be set up for workers. Till Wednesday afternoon, a total of 23,019 labourers were sent to other states and 4,874 were brought back to Rajasthan.

Delhi

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the government will come up with a detailed plan later this week and urged migrant workers in the city to stay indoors till then. In Delhi, the main chunk of work is focused on sending back people to their own states. To send people back in safe conditions, adhering to social distancing norms, would be the priority if whatever strategy the government drafts, said a senior official in the chief ministers office. Delhi government is also making arrangement for bringing back Delhi students who are currently stuck in Rajasthans Kota.

Bihar

A day after welcoming the Centres guidelines for stranded people, the Bihar government said it wont be easy to bring back 2.5 million workers. Deputy chief minister, Sushil Kumar Modi, said bringing them back in buses would take several months and the journey for workers would be tiresome, in addition to the huge expenditure involved.

Additional chief secretary, Amir Subhani, said the government will receive all the migrants returning to Bihar on its borders. It is not written in the guidelines that Bihar has to send buses, he said, citing the guidelines, which said that the sending and receiving states may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road. Another official said the other option was to bring them back in trains, which could be cheaper and quicker. Bihar has already appointed disaster management department principal secretary, Pratyaya Amrit, as the nodal officer for stranded people.

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand government has set up a team of 15 officers to coordinate with other states to bring back stranded workers. Johnson Topno, who is leading the state helpline, said about 9.5 lakh workers from the state are stranded in other states.

West Bengal

Chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, said the state was working on the protocol for bringing back migrant workers. The district administration has been asked to prepare the list of workers stranded outside the state. She had also promised to give Rs 1,000 to each migrant worker. The state government has already set up 711 camps in various districts where more than two lakh migrant labourers from at least 16 states have been put up.
Former colonial governor Chris Patten has called on the U.K. to rethink its ties with China's ruling Communist Party, warning of further escalation of political persecution by authorities in Hong Kong.



Lord Patten of Barnes said Beijing appears to be reneging on an international, legally binding treaty governing the status of Hong Kong, which was promised the continuation of its traditional freedoms after the 1997 handover to Chinese rule.



"Beijing officials have made statements about their role in Hong Kong which are a flagrant breach of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law," Patten wrote to U.K. foreign secretary Dominic Raab, referring to the treaty and to Hong Kong's mini-constitution respectively.



"They claim the right to call all the shots in Hong Kong thus destroying once and for all the promises that Hong Kong would have a high degree of local autonomy," he wrote in the April 26 letter.



The letter said the arrest this month of 15 pro-democracy politicians for taking part in mass, peaceful rallies last year could just be the start of escalating political control by Beijing over Hong Kong.



Patten said there are widespread concerns in Hong Kong that Beijing is getting ready to make "mass disqualifications" of pro-democracy lawmakers and candidates in September's election to the city's Legislative Council (LegCo), "or worse still cancel those elections."



He said Beijing is preparing to enact "draconian" national security legislation outlawing subversion and sedition, and to "continue with the politicised strategy of prosecution" that has seen dozens of people prosecuted for taking part in peaceful assemblies.



"There is no 'golden age' in our relations with the Chinese Communist Party," Patten wrote. "We must work with China even while it suffers under a Communist dictatorship."



"But we should do so with our eyes open and while stripping away the mendacity and the cant," the letter said, referring in particular to attempts by Chinese officials to deny there had been any attempt to cover up human-to-human transmission at the start of the coronavirus epidemic in the central city of Wuhan.



Labor Day gatherings banned



Patten's warning came as police in Hong Kong refused to give permission for a Labor Day demonstration on Friday, warning that anyone who participates in a gathering of more than four people could face up to five years in jail.



"Police have grounds to believe that the activities do not only increase the risk of infecting COVID-19 by participants and other people, but also pose serious threat to the lives and health of all citizens, jeopardizing public safety and affecting the rights of others," the police said in a statement dated April 24.



Police on Thursday fined a group of League of Social Democrats activists after they protested the ban outside police headquarters.



The activists refused to disperse after being ordered to leave by police, saying they had spaced themselves 1.5 metres apart and were divided into groups of four.



Police also used coronavirus as a reason to break up gatherings in malls at the weekend, although the city hadn't seen any new cases for five days straight by Thursday.



Reported by RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
New Delhi, April 30 : The Covid-dedicated Lok Nayak Hospital, here, has been asked to provide round-the-clock in-house dialysis to coronavirus patients from Thursday.

"The Lok Nayak Hospital was assigned to create enough in-house capacity and sufficient capacity through the outsourced agency to serve all Covid-19 patients of Delhi who need dialysis," the Delhi Health Department said.

In view of above and in continuation of earlier order, dated April 24, the Medical Director, Lok Nayak Hospital, and the Director, DGHS, had been directed to make in-house dialysis facility operational on 24X7 basis and renegotiate rates with the outsourced agency to make their facility at the Lok Nayak Hospital operational exclusively for Covid-19 patients immediately, not later than Thursday evening, the order signed by the Delhi Health Secretary said.

On April 24, the Delhi government had said the Covid-dedicated Lok Nayak Hospital would arrange for haemodialysis of patients tested positive for coronavirus.

The Delhi Health Department had said it had been noted that many patients of end-stage renal disease, receiving haemodialysis as the renal replacement therapy, had tested Covid-19 positive and they were being refused dialysis service by all government and private hospitals of Delhi due to their Covid status.

The Health Department also said the Chief District Medical Officers through their district surveillance units should ensure that all such patients were referred to the Lok Nayak Hospital for admission and dialysis.

As of morning, there were 241 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, with 13 of them in the ICU.

Delhi has reported 3,439 Covid-19 cases with 2,291 being active.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In 2019, Frank Snowden, professor emeritus of history and medical history at Yale University, published a book that was a result of four decades of research. Called Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present, the book is a sweeping and exhaustive look at many centuries of humanities struggles with infectious diseases. And, as it turns out, it was well timed.

Each epidemic is unique, and each one tells us something about the society in which it occurred, Snowden said in an interview over Skype from Rome, where he has just come out of home quarantine. They shape history in profound ways.

Snowden termed Covid-19 as the first pandemic of globalization, speaking about the things that the disease reveals about societies now, the similarities with past pandemics and the ways in which all these have shaped public health.

Edited excerpts:

When your book came out last year, did you ever think that pandemic was around the corner?

While researching the book, I had been listening to the warnings and I was very aware of the possibilityin the book I say that we have a ticking time bomb, because we live in a world of microbes and we create channels, because of the way our societies are structured, that microbes can exploit. I did think that I would live to see a pandemic like this, though I could not have known it would happen so soon.

Anthony Fauci, who needs no introduction now, in a testimony to the US Congress in 2005 said that if you live in the Caribbean, meteorologists can tell you that you ought to prepare because a hurricane is in your future, its inevitable, though no one can tell you the date and how strong it will be. He said its exactly the same in the field of virology. Epidemiologists can tell you about the inevitability of a pandemic challenge, and that there is no reason to believe it will be less violent than the Spanish Influenza of 1918. We had these warnings but we ignored them to our cost and peril.

My book came out in October, Covid-19 began in December. I came to Rome to do research only for the city to be totally transformed by this tragic event.

I had a mild case of Covid-19, and as a result Ive also been quarantined at home for three weeks, and today is the first day I have been released from quarantine. Ive been daydreaming for days about visiting the market!

Before I went into quarantine and I was still going to the market, what seemed interesting was the degree of compliance here in Rome. The lines in the markets were full of people talking about things like, I wonder if this is what it was like in the last war, or could London in the Blitz have been like this? And the local newspaper had an article that said that this is the first time in 3000 years of Romes history that Romans have ever been obedient.

What do you mean when you say we create channels that microbes exploit?

The 19th Century was the era of industrial revolution and it created diseases transmitted via the oral/fecal route, cholera and typhoid, because industrialisation meant the sudden flooding of European cities by populations from the countryside for whom no preparations had been made and who overwhelmed the urban infrastructure. There was no clean water supply, no sewer systems, and huge dangers of contaminated water or food. Society at that time created an environmental niche for diseases like cholera and typhoid to exploit.

I would define Covid-19 as the first pandemic of globalization. The niches it exploits are massive population growth, crowding and mega cities; an industrial model that encourages rapacious growth without counting the environmental cost. By destroying biodiversity and animal habitat, we are bringing human beings into relationships with animal reservoirs of disease that humans hardly encountered in the past. Spillover events are becoming more and more common. All the recent epidemics have been caused by itAvian flu, MERS, SARS, Ebola. Then there is massive, 24-hour transport by air across the world. So, lets say if there is a new virus in Jakarta in the morning, it can be in Los Angeles by nightfall. These are not vulnerabilities put upon us by god or nature. This is not a random event, not something out of the blue or a Biblical plague. Humans provide the conditions for epidemics to flourish.

Can we ever be prepared for an epidemic?

The history of the recent century of epidemic diseases is that whenever one has just struck, there is a flurry of responses, of devoting funds on public health. After a while people are tired of spending those funds and amnesia sets in.

We have not taken seriously the need to prepare. We did not need to be vulnerable in this way, and the tragedy here is that this is a pandemic that has caught has when we were least ready and much of the suffering and death could have been preventable. South Korea were unusual in that they took the message to heart from their previous experiences, and met the challenge with readiness. We could all have been like South Korea.

I have hope for a paradoxical reason. Covid-19 may well become endemic, and we may have to refigure our lives according to this new reality, certainly unless an efficacious vaccine is developed. One of the blows to the vaccine strategy thats not much talked about is the discovery that people who recover from the disease do not necessarily have a robust immunity to it. The vaccine developers have to teach the body to do something that nature itself doesnt do. The best vaccines have been for diseases in which those who experience the disease, small pox for example, develop lifelong immunity.

If we are unable to take that route, then we have to reconfigure our cities, reconfigure our relationship with the environment, reconfigure our health care systems. None of that will happen soon. In the short term I am not optimistic and I do believe there are waves of the opposite, which is to find scapegoats, to blame immigrants, to put up national barriers. Xenophobia, nationalismthese are pseudo solutions to a real problem. Two of the leaders in the world in this regard, President Donald Trump in the US, and (Jair) Bolsanaro in Brazilwho is to say that they will not be swept aside by the failure of their approach in dealing with the disease? Nature may impose upon us the necessity to think in a coherent and science-based way if we wish our economies and our societies to survive, and I believe we do wish to survive.

Is there a lesson in history about the lasting political effects left behind by epidemics? As a necessary measure, governments are exercising sweeping powers right nowwhat happens when the pandemic passes?

Its not easy to answer because there is no single lesson in history. If you look at the Spanish Influenza of 1918, it was largely forgotten. It was overshadowed by the war, by the Russian revolution, the peace making process afterwards despite the fact that very strenuous and sweeping measures were takengovernments introduced compulsory masking, assemblages were forbiddena great deal of what we are seeing now, happened back then, but nowhere did this disease lead to a rise in new authoritarianism. The powers enacted were set aside and life went on again.

Sometimes epidemics can lead to liberating movements Haitian independence and its relationship to yellow fever is an example. I think its dangerous to imagine an inevitable reaction or result as a legacy of Covid-19 because that would mean that it would be unplanned, and outside our control. In fact, what happens in the long run depends on us. It is possible to imagine the democratic or environmental consequences as being positive, but they wont happen unless people put their heads together and insist that they happen. A crisis can also be a stimulant for necessary reforms.

What effects do epidemics have on public health policies?

One silver lining in the dark cloud of epidemics is the profound legacy it leaves behind on public health. The Bubonic plague shaped public health in Europe. If a Florentine from the 15th century were to come forward in a time machine to now, many of things we are doing would be familiar to him. There were plague costumesgowns coated with wax and masks that doctors wore then. They had rods to keep people at a distance for social distancing. Also, the plague hospitals  overcrowded and struggling, with doctors and medical personnel being at great risk. He would have known all about quarantine, which was introduced back then.

Or lets talk about an English person with enormous influence in this regard  Edwin Chadwick, who brought in a sanitary revolution in England to counter cholera in the 19th century, retrofitting British cities with sanitary features  sewers, running water, the water closet  it transformed daily life. Regulation building codes we follow now are also gifts of the 19th century coming to terms with epidemic diseases.

And we are all waiting right now with bated breath for a vaccine. Would we even have had the concept if it was not for Edward Jenner in the 18th Century developing the small pox vaccine?

The word unprecedented is applied to whats happening now quite liberally, but it seems to me that it has precedence going far back in history. The tools we are using, we would not have them without this history. Nor are the effects unprecedented  that people are losing some of their religion, and that religion may be a belief in rapacious global capitalism, or nationalism. A lot of belief systems are likely to be transformed, and this is not the first time its happened, and undoubtedly wont be the last.
School nurses in Clear Creek Independent School District recently created funny and engaging signs for their students quarantined at home during the novel cornavirus pandemic. The virtual messages aimed to brighten the kids day, with sentiments encouraging them to stay healthy and reminding them how much the nurses miss seeing them every day at school.

Marina Keeton, the districts coordinator of health services and a registered nurse who leads a team of 43 RNs and 11 licensed vocational nurses, said reaching out to Clear Creek kids was just another way nurses are showing they care for their patients, even when they cant be with them.

We miss our students and we are so used to being in direct, hands-on contact care with them; so right now we are just doing our best to provide what we can, she said. The nurses are going above and beyond.

The gesture occurs around the time local communities are honoring the roles of nurses by marking National Nurses Day, set for May 6. And as Keeton and fellow nurses demonstrated with their signs, their work to care for the entire well-being of students during the pandemic is varied and creative forms.

Like their colleagues in other school districts, Keeton and her team have been reaching out to parents and students to inquire about their health and general needs and participating in school lunch distribution as well as facilitating the return of medications and/or medical equipment kept at school that kids might need at home. The nurses also are keeping remote office hours, creating opportunities for their families to call if they have any questions including about public health services.

Our buildings are closed. but our jobs did not end. Nurses are making videos on hygiene and instructional videos on how to put on and remove gloves properly, she said.

The Clear Creek nurses also have provided age-appropriate information about how to cope during the pandemic.

Were doing our best to educate and are being very active in supporting our students and staff, Keeton said.

The nursing team also is taking turns to provide health screenings at different campuses for district staff. There they offer temperature checks and other services for anyone who needs it.

Preparing for an expected new reality

Looking ahead to when children are able to be back in the classroom, Keeton said she believes there will will be changes; however, she said its too early to make any specific predictions for how the school day will look and how nursing duties will fit into a new reality.

What she did say, however, is she and her team will be prepared. Even now, they are consulting with local, national and international nursing organizations to share information and ensure they are ready to serve their patients when schools do open again.

Were educated, and were versed in how to prepare, she said. There will be changes in practice, but I do believe we will be able to adapt to support the whole child in whatever they will need.

And despite the disruptions COVID-19 is having on childrens lives and the potential challenges it presents, Keeton is optimistic about her staffs ability to deal with what theyre facing.

Drawing on 16 years of experience as a pediatric nurse, she called children resilient.

Any time we see a big event like this that disrupts our community, we see social-emotional changes, she said. "But I will tell you that, given a supportive environment, which the public education system is a crucial part of that, that all those changes wont be negative.

Keeton said nurses can play a big role in addressing kids worries, especially when they work in concert with teachers and counselors. To do this, she and her fellow nurses will develop plans and procedures to help kids overcome any fear they as well as staff may have when they come together again on campus.

We care about whats happening with our kids, but with concern, compassion and care Im confident that we will have a plan to go back and still be able to provide the care were using to providing.
Companies struggling to cope in the coronavirus emergency are cutting or ditching their dividends.

But some dividends will survive, and Simon McGarry, senior equity analyst at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, narrows down the field and looks at which sectors might be most resilient below.

Shareholder rewards: Which dividends look safest in coronavirus crisis?

We often carry out 'shaky dividend' research on companies where shareholder rewards look most in danger.

But dividends are currently in freefall and we think, in the worst case scenario, up to 50 per cent of the UK's dividend income might disappear in the first half of 2020.

Clearly, at the moment, we are spoilt for choice and what is much rarer are companies where the dividend looks more solid.

Against this bleak backdrop, we thought it would be useful for investors if we carried out 'strong dividend' research to look at stocks that might have the most reliable payouts.

Obviously, there is no such thing as a sure thing in the world of investment and many of these stocks - because of their position - are expensive.

Meanwhile, in reality, none of their dividends are completely safe, as shown by Shell, which passed our test but delivered a shock cut for the first time since 1945 in the wake of the oil price collapse.

Which dividends look strongest? Stocks Industry Market capitalisation (m) P/E Dividend yield Dividend cover (P&L) Gearing: debt/cap emp'd Price absolute - 3 mths - - Current +12m +12m +12m FY-1 Current BAT Tobacco 67,208 8.5 7.6% 1.6 40% -12% BHP Group (LSE) Metals and Mining 62,756 8.4 8.3% 1.4 15% -31% BP Oil Gas and Consumable Fuels 67,788 21.1 9.4% 0.5 35% -32% GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals 74,130 12.9 5.4% 1.4 58% -17% IG Group Holdings Capital Markets 2,455 14.5 6.5% 1.1 0% -5% Imperial Brands Tobacco 14,665 5.9 12.3% 1.4 67% -19% Plus500 Diversified Financial Services 1,190 9.1 4.4% 2.5 0% 30% Rio Tinto Group (LSE) Metals and Mining 60,560 9.5 6.8% 1.7 7% -17% Royal Dutch Shell Oil Gas and Consumable Fuels 111,611 17.2 10.5% 0.5 29% -36% Sainsbury (J) Food and Staples Retailing 4,718 11 5.1% 1.9 14% -7% Schroders Capital Markets 6,365 13.3 4.9% 1.6 0% -30% Softcat IT Services 1,864 25 3.2% 1.3 0% -21% Standard Life Aberdeen Capital Markets 4,318 12.8 10.8% 0.8 0% -42% Tesco Food and Staples Retailing 21,798 12.5 4.1% 1.9 20% -12% Unilever Group (LSE) Personal Products 105,489 17.2 3.8% 1.5 62% -7% Source: Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management. Find an explanation of the terms used in this table below.

Despite many sectors getting 'hit for six' there are those that are proving to be more resilient.

Mining: The price of some commodities has declined whilst others have held up.

Iron is currently US$84 a ton and Rio Tinto is yielding 6.4 per cent and BHP 6.6 per cent.

Jargon buster Market cap: the value of the company as listed on the stock exchange Dividend yield: this is the company's annual dividend divided by its share price expressed as a % Dividend cover: a financial metric that measures the number of times that earnings cover dividends. Read more here. Gearing: debt as a proportion of debt + equity. Price absolute: the change in the share price over the last x months Simon McGarry

Tobacco: Companies such as BAT, yielding 7.5 per cent, and Imperial, yielding 12.2 per cent, are very cash generative and they tend to be more reliable where paying dividends are concerned.

The sector hasn't seen much of a decline in demand since the lockdown - people might even be smoking more if they're at home as opposed to being in an office where they can't.

This might be a contributory factor to the resilience of the sector.

Food retailers: Given that supermarket earnings have gone through the roof since the lockdown was first hinted at and UK consumers went into blitz mode, eager to stock their cupboards, food retailers like Tesco and Sainsbury's should be fine.

It's a sector to keep an eye on though because if the lockdown does have an impact on the supply chain, there might be problems down the road.

It is also costing supermarkets a lot more to feed the nation, but the 12-month business rates holiday which saves them 585million should mitigate some of this.

Oil: Companies in this sector contributed around 20 per cent of UK dividend income in 2019.

Although they can probably maintain dividend payments throughout 2020, the price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia could cause problems down the line.

If oil gets back to $50 a barrel then companies like BP and Royal Dutch Shell should be able to maintain their dividends. If it doesn't, then investors need to reassess their position. (After the research was run, Shell delivered a shock 65 per cent cut to its dividend payout - the first downgrade since 1945.)

Simon McGarry: 'In the worst case scenario, up to 50 per cent of the UK's dividend income might disappear in the first half of 2020'

Interestingly, Norway's Equinor has just cut its dividend.

Asset managers: Whereas the banks have postponed their dividends, we expect asset managers like Schroders and Aberdeen Standard Life to maintain their payments.

Schroders has a strong balance sheet and excess capital that puts the company in a good position. It has a yield of 4.4 per cent.

Aberdeen Standard Life is selling its life insurance business in India and the proceeds should be going to shareholders. The company has a yield of 9.8 per cent.

Who knows how the next few months will play out. Investors must use their smarts, keep their wits about them and stay informed.

The outlook for dividend income is grave at the moment, but at some stage we will start to see light at the end of the tunnel and it's possible dividend payments which are cut now will be reinstated.
DAR ES SALAAM  Tanzania has suspended Parliament sittings following the mysterious death of another Member of Parliament Richard Ndassa on Wednesday in Dodoma.

The Citizen quoting Speaker of Parliament Job Ndugai reports that Ndassa died on Wednesday April 29 in Dodoma after a short illness.

The cause of Ndassa death who was 61 hasnt been be revealed but local media reports that the hotel where the fallen MP was reportedly residing was disinfected by medical personnel and no one was being allowed into the facility.

President John Pombe Magufuli led the nation in mourning Ndassa.

He described the MP as a friend and counterpart in his political career.

Ndassas death comes 10 days after the ruling party CCM lost another MP Reverend Gartrude Rwakatare who died in Dar es Salaam.

On Saturday April 25, former Mafia MP Abdul Karim Shah who served between 2005 and 2010 also died in Dare Salaam after a short illness and he was buried the following day according to local media.

The latest comes at a time the world continues to condemn Magufuli for defying safety measures such as social distancing as outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Magufuli refused to close churches last month despite calls from medical experts from all quarters.

This many believe may have contributed to the spread of the contagious disease in the country.

Instead, the Head of State termed worship centres as places where people could seek healing.

Related
Washington: A sexual assault allegation is raising Joe Biden's first big challenge as the Democrats' presidential nominee, fueling Republican attacks and leaving many in his own party in an uncomfortable bind.

Biden's campaign has denied the allegation from his former Senate staffer Tara Reade, who has said Biden assaulted her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the 1990s. But the story garnered fresh attention this week after two of Reade's associates said she previously told them about elements of her allegations.

Republicans who are worried about President Donald Trump's increasingly precarious political standing are seizing on the allegation to portray Democrats as hypocrites who only defend women who allege wrongdoing against conservatives. They are digging in despite the fact that it could renew attention on the multiple sexual assault allegations lodged against Trump.

Democrats, meanwhile, are in an awkward position of vigorously validating women who come forward with their stories while defending the man who will be their standard-bearer in what many in the party consider the most important election of their lifetimes.

The tension is heightened because Biden himself is saying nothing about the allegation.

Like many Americans, he has spent the past several weeks at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Biden has participated in a handful of local and national interviews, during which he wasn't asked about the allegation. But he hasn't held a press briefing for the broader press corps that covers him since April 2, before multiple news organizations reported Reade's story. The public appearances he has made, such as fundraisers or events alongside prominent Democrats, have been controlled.

Some Democrats say that approach isn't working and are urging a more forceful response.

The campaign has issued statements, but he hasnt issued any statements in his own voice, said former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile. Its not helping, its just damaging  not only to the person who has come forward, but its also damaging the candidate.

Lis Smith, who worked as a top strategist on Pete Buttigiegs presidential campaign, also called on the Biden campaign to speak up.

These accusations have not been found to be credible, so its in the Biden campaigns interest to nip this in the bud directly and do it quickly, she said.

The November contest between Biden and Trump will be the first presidential race of the #MeToo era, which has led numerous women to come forward with allegations of sexual assault. Trump himself has been accused of assault and unwanted touching by numerous women, allegations he denies. He was forced to apologize during the 2016 campaign after he was heard on a recording bragging about using his fame to assault women.

Women are a core constituency for Democrats, and Biden has a mixed history. While he wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a senator, he also came under heavy criticism for his handling of Anita Hill's Senate testimony in the 1990s. Just before he launched his 2020 campaign, several women accused him of unwanted touching, behavior for which he apologized.

Biden has pledged to pick a woman as a running mate, and the allegation has left those thought to be in contention in a tough spot.

Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia Democratic governor candidate, said, Women deserve to be heard, and I believe they need to be listened to, but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources.

The New York Times did a deep investigation and they found that the accusation was not credible, she added. I believe Joe Biden.

That echoed talking points issued by the Biden campaign to surrogates last week that were obtained by The Associated Press. They pointed to investigations by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the AP that found no other allegation of sexual assault and no pattern of sexual misconduct.

Some Democratic donors and fundraisers say the issue has not come up in calls with party financiers. Others worry that it could be used against Biden, much as Hillary Clintons private email server and the activities of the Clinton Foundation were wielded against her by Trump.

Some, most notably women, say they are paying close attention to the allegations, which gave them pause.

Alex Sink, a donor and former Democratic nominee for governor of Florida, said she was not happy to read about the allegations against Biden. While she still plans to vote for him, she worried his campaign was too quick to categorically deny Reade's story.

They put themselves immediately out on a limb by saying, It didnt happen, we categorically deny it, its not true, Sink said. Thats a dangerous position to be in because they arent leaving any room for themselves.

Some female Democratic operatives expressed concerns the allegation is particularly damaging because its an indictment of Bidens central campaign rationale: that he provides a moral counter to Trump and that the election is a battle for the soul of America.

I think the stakes could not be higher for defeating Donald Trump  but at the same time, I think we have to apply a consistent standard for how we treat allegations of sexual assault, and also be clear-eyed about how Donald Trump will use these allegations in the general election campaign, said Claire Sandberg, who worked as Bernie Sanders organizing director this cycle.

The silence from the Biden campaign has given Republicans an opening on an issue that was, in 2016, far more fraught for the GOP, when Trump was asked to answer for the more than two dozen women who alleged varying levels of sexual assault and harassment from him. The GOP argues Democrats aren't being consistent, pointing to the aggressive questioning and coverage of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when he faced an allegation of sexual assault.

The left, and their media allies, has one standard for Republicans and another standard for Democrats like Joe Biden," said Steve Guest, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee. "The double standard is appalling.

Trump himself has yet to address the issue, but Donald Trump Jr. has spent weeks highlighting the allegation on Twitter, as has Trumps campaign manager Brad Parscale.

Even some Trump antagonists within the GOP say the opportunity for the president and his allies is obvious.

Rick Tyler, a former spokesman for Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and a prominent Trump critic, noted that the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent economic crash have ruled out any prospect that Republicans could run on great economic times.

And so what's left? Whats left is scorched earth, and that means digging up anything they can about Biden, he said. Theyre trying to make Joe Biden into something thats worse than Donald Trump."
INDEVCO North America is repurposing production assets used to manufacture Barricade brand House Wrap to produce isolation gown rollstock at its Specialty Coating & Laminating facility outside Richmond, Virginia. Richmond, Virginia, April 29, 2020 - In early 2020, INDEVCO North America's Barricade Building Products brand announced new house wrap products at the NAHB International Builders' Show. However, the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has since prompted both a decrease in US 
The US is overseeing meetings with the Kurdish National Council and the Democratic Union Party, in an effort to create a unity between the two groups writes Basnews.

A leader in the opposition Kurdish National Council in Syria revealed on Tuesday that talks sponsored by Washington with the Democratic Union Party (PYD) are still in their infancy, denying that discussions have yet touched on the distribution of shares and positions.

Bashar Amin, the councils leader, told Bas News that, practical steps and talks are still in their infancy, and the two sides are now in discussion over the joint political vision in the hope of continuing the dialogue.

Mazloum Abdi, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on Saturday that the initiative of unification between the Kurdish National Council in Syria and the PYD, as well as other sides, is witnessing significant progress.

Amin stressed that, the dialogue aims primarily to create unity among the Kurdish class and achieving true partnership in political decision-making as well as administrative and military affairs.

He continued: This is a direction supported by the friendly parties, and an objective response to the demands of the political stage of expected changes at the country-wide level towards a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with Geneva 1 and international decreesparticularly Resolution 2254 and other related resolutions. He added that the opportunity must not be squandered, as it may not be postponed.

The Kurdish leader denied that discussions with the PYD revolve around distribution of shares and positions, saying, It is something completely devoid of truth and premature because talks right now are about the foundations and main points of focus, especially politically.

On the American role in unifying the Kurdish class in western Kurdistan, Amin said, It is no secret that an American representative attends or supervises the joint meetings between the Kurdish National Council and the PYD, adding that, this presence is very useful, and it has an important impact on the discussions between the two sides.

US envoy to Syria William Roebuck has recently held discussions with the Kurdish National Council and the PYD, as well as other Kurdish parties, with the participation of the SDF commander-in-chief.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The number of nursing homes publicly reporting cases of covid-19 has doubled in the past week, with more than 1 in 6 facilities nationwide now acknowledging infections among residents or staff, a Washington Post analysis of state and federal data found.

The rise is driven in part by newly released information about previous novel coronavirus infections from states including Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and South Carolina. Some states have not yet publicly released the names of affected nursing homes.

In five states - Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia and New Jersey - the virus has struck a majority of nursing homes, the data shows. In New Jersey, second only to New York in total number of confirmed coronavirus cases, health officials have reported infections at 80 percent of the state's homes.

Maryland released a list earlier this week of more than 130 nursing homes with cases, about 60 percent of homes in the state. Overall, Maryland reported 185 long-term care facilities with cases.

Covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, has been especially deadly for the elderly as it spreads across the world. State health officials have been slow to publicly identify nursing homes with positive cases, but in recent days, prodded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), more states have released the names of facilities.

The tally paints a grim picture of the scale of the outbreak in homes tasked with caring for the elderly and infirm. More than 2,700 Medicare-certified nursing homes had publicly reported cases as of Tuesday, The Post found.

"People who work in nursing homes didn't have the proper equipment and there wasn't widespread testing," said Laurie Facciarossa Brewer, the long-term care ombudsman in New Jersey. "Without those two critical components, you cannot avoid such a devastating outcome."

The Post is updating a searchable database of Medicare-certified nursing homes that have at least one reported case of the coronavirus among patients or staff, using state lists and media accounts of local outbreaks. The count is incomplete. In New York, officials are releasing the names of only homes with at least five deaths, citing patient confidentiality. Virginia has released a total count of all long-term care facilities with covid-19 cases but has declined to name them.

Last week, CMS announced a mandate for nursing homes to report cases of covid-19 to families, patients and the federal government. CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the information would be made public, but it's not clear when that might happen.

Thousands of other long-term care facilities, such as assisted-living centers and group homes, also are scrambling to slow the spread of the virus. The Post focused on nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities that are certified by Medicare and Medicaid, more than 15,000 nationwide.

The federal government has not released a count of fatalities at nursing homes, but in New York and New Jersey alone, more than 5,000 people at such facilities have died.

Earlier this week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and two other lawmakers called on CMS to address "systemic failures" at nursing homes that are part of regional or national chains.

In a letter to Verma, the CMS administrator, lawmakers cited the Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley near Boston, saying more than 90 residents and staff members had tested positive and at least 17 had died. The facility is operated by Life Care Centers of America, which also operates the nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, that has been linked to more than 40 deaths.

"At both LCCA facilities, the operators did not provide adequate notification to public health authorities on any confirmed or suspected cases within their network," Warren, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., wrote in their letter. ". . . In this unprecedented global pandemic, transparency and accountability is crucial to saving lives and safeguarding public health."

Trahan told The Post that health officials in Massachusetts learned of the severity of the outbreak at Life Care's Nashoba Valley facility only by cobbling together reports from local media and first responders.

"We don't have time to lose during this pandemic," she said. "We need federal oversight to intervene in a serious way."

Tim Killian, public information liaison for Life Care Centers of America, said that the nursing home in Nashoba Valley had early, regular contact with public health officials in Massachusetts and that the lawmakers who wrote to CMS have "incomplete information."

"It's totally inaccurate," he said of the letter. "Increased oversight is something we welcome in working with CMS. We invite any local or public health officials to contact us directly whenever they have questions about what is happening."

Killian added that the nursing home is "presumptively clean," meaning that everyone who was previously tested has not shown symptoms in more than three weeks.

As the scope of the crisis in nursing homes becomes clearer, some states are responding to calls for enhanced safety measures and better oversight. In Maryland on Wednesday, officials announced that the state would mandate coronavirus testing for the residents and staff of all nursing homes.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, announced earlier this week that the state will spend $130 million to support infection control efforts and costs for personal protective equipment in nursing homes. The Massachusetts House of Representatives also has passed a bill requiring long-term care facilities to provide daily updates on the number of residents and staff members who have tested positive for or died of the virus. The proposal is now under consideration by the state Senate.

"We're not going to be able to save every life, but we can certainly save more," said state Rep. Ruth Balser, a Democrat, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.

In Connecticut, the National Guard and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are inspecting each of the state's 215 nursing homes for lapses in infection control, according to local media reports. More than 60 percent of nursing homes in Connecticut have reported cases of the virus, The Post found.

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, the trade group that represents more than 14,000 long-term care facilities, is pressing for more government support to address the outbreaks, including additional staff, supplies, emergency funding and widespread testing to identify residents and staff members who are asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

In a call with governors on Friday, Vice President Mike Pence said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was preparing to send personal protective equipment, including gloves, masks and protective eye gear, to all 15,000-plus nursing homes, according to ABC News.

For weeks, industry leaders say, nursing homes have been largely left to fend for themselves.

"Just like hospitals, we have called for help. In our case, nobody has listened," Beth Martino, AHCA senior vice president of public affairs, said in a statement.

In New Jersey, some overwhelmed nurses can barely find time to provide updates to worried families, said Brewer, the state's long-term care ombudsman.

"The issue of notifying people is overwhelming," she said. "Calls have gone from, 'I don't know if my mother has a fever,' to 'I don't know if they're dead or alive.' "

In the District, where about 15 nursing homes have reported cases, David Sherman said he is still trying to find out more about the status of his 89-year-old mother, who tested positive last week.

Marie Dowden lives at Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home in the District of Columbia. On Tuesday, the administrator for the home said 11 residents and 16 staff members had tested positive. Sherman said he doesn't know when his mother was tested or how the facility plans to provide ongoing care.

"You had me at a horrible disadvantage," he said of the nursing home. "I can only rely on the information that you're giving me, and you're only giving me bits and pieces."

Nursing home administrator Remy Johnson said staff members are monitoring residents for signs of illness, following CDC guidelines, and communicating with families through letters and robocalls. She recalled speaking to Sherman in recent days and said that nurses, social workers and other supervisors are also available.

"There are different people that they can connect with," she said.

For weeks, nursing homes across the country have been on lockdown, limiting the number of visitors. Sherman said he's desperate for more information about his mother, a dementia patient.

"It's driving me crazy that I can't get any answers," he said.

- - -

Jacobs, Mulcahy and King are graduate students in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill Investigative Lab. Alexa Mikhail and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff from the Medill Investigative Lab contributed to this report.
Amazon reported its first-quarter earnings after the bell on Thursday, revealing the pandemic's impact on the business that has been a rare bright spot on the stock market. The stock fell about 5% after hours after missing estimates on earnings while beating revenue expectations.

Here's what Amazon reported:

Earnings per share (EPS): $5.01

$5.01 Revenue: $75.45 billion

$75.45 billion Amazon Web Services (AWS) revenue: $10.22 billion

Beyond the results, the biggest news in Amazon's report was that it plans to spend all of its profit from the second quarter -- an estimated $4 billion -- on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. That includes hundreds of millions of dollars it plans to spend on Covid-19 tests for its workers and beefing up its delivery network to get packages to customers on time.

"If you're a shareowner in Amazon, you may want to take a seat, because we're not thinking small," Amazon said in the press release. "Under normal circumstances, in this coming Q2, we'd expect to make some $4 billion or more in operating profit. But these aren't normal circumstances."

Wall Street had been anticipating earnings per share of $6.25 on revenue of $73.61 billion, based on Refinitiv consensus estimates. Amazon Web Services revenue was expected to come in at $10.33 billion, based on FactSet estimates. However, it's difficult to compare reported earnings to analyst estimates for Amazon's first quarter, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit global economies and makes earnings impact difficult to assess.

Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky told CNBC's Deirdre Bosa he expects the company will spend $1 billion on Covid-19 testing in the full year 2020. Amazon has designated a team of researchers, engineers, procurement specialists and program managers to work on building incremental testing capacity. Amazon said the team is building a lab and has already begun a pilot test of front-line employees.

"We're not sure how far we will get in the relevant timeframe, but we think it's worth trying, and we stand ready to share anything we learn," Amazon said in the release about its testing plans.

Some of the $4 billion will also fund higher wages for workers, personal protective equipment (PPE), better cleaning protocols at facilities and "less efficient process paths" that will allow for social distancing.
A terminally-ill single mother is suing the Queensland State Government for $3.8million after allegedly contracting asbestos-related cancer from her primary school.

Brooke MacDonald, 27, attended Dundula State School, near Mackay in Central Queensland, when work was done on buildings containing asbestos in 1998 and 2000.

Her Supreme Court claim alleges this asbestos exposure caused her to develop a rare cancer known as peritoneal mesothelioma, The Courier Mail reported.

Brooke MacDonald (pictured), 27, is suing the Queensland State Government for $3.8 million after she allegedly developed cancer from asbestos exposure at her primary school

The terminal illness is caused by ingesting asbestos fibres and affects the lining of the abdomen.

The court claim alleges school buildings were demolished or renovated near students but no safety measures were implemented to prevent asbestos exposure.

Ms MacDonald, a registered nurse and the sole carer for her six-year-old son Chayse, has attempted multiple treatments to fight the disease.

She first developed symptoms in 2017 and was officially diagnosed with cancer last August.

Ms MacDonald was initially admitted to Mackay Hospital and then received an unsuccessful operation at a Brisbane hospital in February.

Her lawyer Jonathan Walsh, a specialist in dust diseases, said Ms MacDonald may only have days or weeks left to live.

He noted the cancer was extremely aggressive and doctors said Ms MacDonald's life expectancy was unpredictable.

Mr Walsh said: 'Here is a young woman, really just at the beginning of her adult life, committed to raising her young child and helping others in her role as a nurse, now having to face this cruel disease.'

He explained Ms MacDonald flew back home to Mackay on Friday and was being looked after by her sister.

The lawyer said Ms MacDonald had remained strong and composed despite the tragic circumstances.

Mr Walsh said: 'Brooke's likely exposure to asbestos as a young girl at her local school is every parent's nightmare.'

'It seems to us that the least the Education Department should do is to make sure that Brooke receives the justice she deserves for having her life cut short so cruelly and to give her peace of mind.'

The case against the Queensland State Government is due to go to trial in June but Mr Walsh hoped the matter could be settled earlier.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The union representing nurses at Ohio State University has turned to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with concerns about what it says are hazardous working conditions as they deal with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Rick Lucas, president of the Ohio State University Nurses Organization, says in a letter to OSHA that nurses and other medical workers at the OSU Wexner Medical Center are in imminent danger of infection and serious illness" because of a lack of protective equipment such as N95 masks and eye shields, and a lack of fit testing for safety gear. The union represents more than 4,000 nurses.

There have been at least 85 healthcare workers with confirmed COVID-19 infections across the Medical Center, Lucas says in the letter. Many have suffered serious illnesses and lost work time and may have also exposed or infected their families.

Lucas specifies more than a dozen units in the hospital where he believes medical workers are in particular danger, including the University Hospital (UH) operating rooms, the emergency department, the UH surgical Intensive Care Unit, and the UH Medical ICU. He also cited several instances in April where he says medical workers were exposed to the virus without proper protection, saying it resulted in dozens of workers being forced to self-quarantine.

OSUWMC has failed to provide each frontline healthcare worker who is taking care of a suspected or positive COVID patients a sufficient supply of N95 masks to minimize their risk of exposure, Lucas says. This is true across the entire Medical Center.

Andrew Thomas, MD, chief clinical officer of the Wexner Medical Center, tells Beckers Hospital Review that he could not comment on the unions letter because he had not officially received it. He tells Beckers that hospital officials meet daily with union representatives to address concerns.

The hospital said in a statement that it has taken numerous steps to protect workers and keep them safe, saying the hospital is working tirelessly to purchase PPE and develop in-house testing methods.

We have the utmost respect and admiration for our clinical staff who have been doing fantastic work during this pandemic, the hospital said in a statement to WBNS Channel 10. Were working very hard to support them and keep all of our 30,000 employees and our patients safe.

Lucas tells WBNS that its a life and death situation at the hospital.

Were seeing our friends and colleagues around the nation really dying a preventable death," Lucas said. "And that is a real tragedy. We didnt sign up for this. We signed up to care for people with the understanding that the hospital provides a safe environment. And thats not the case right now.

More coronavirus coverage from cleveland.com:

Coronavirus and cancer: Study finds death rate higher, severe outcomes more likely in cancer patients with COVID-19

Cleveland records 33rd coronavirus death, 18 new confirmed infections

Mapping Ohios 17,303 coronavirus cases, updates and trends; 17% increase in reported deaths

2,095 from these Ohio nursing homes have coronavirus, state reports

Coronavirus drains Ohio municipal treasuries; Mayors seek federal aid to avoid cuts

Traditional mass graduation ceremonies are still banned in Ohio this year, Gov. Mike DeWine says
We verify employment now at least three times throughout the process from an initial application to the closing, says Nikolaos Athanasiou, chief operating officer of Guaranteed Rate, a Chicago-based lender. Were also requiring every borrower to sign a document that attests that they know of no indications that their compensation will change or that their job is in jeopardy. Basically, its just another way of certifying that everything is valid and truthful and that they are not experiencing financial hardship due to covid-19.
I found out through social media that a resident that I cared for passed away due to complications from the COVID-19, she said Monday. No one from my facility came to me and said, hey, you came in contact with it, you know, you need to be tested and/or stay home and isolate for 14 days. They never came to me with that, they never came to any other employees with that, and as of today, they still havent informed employees of that.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant



Soren on Thursday condoled the death of Rishi Kapoor, describing him as a "remarkable" actor.

Kapoor died of cancer in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday, his brother Randhir Kapoor said. He was 67.

"I feel sad at the demise of Rishi ji. May the almighty give the grieving family strength to endure," Soren said in his condolence message.

Kapoor was admitted to the H N Reliance Hospital by his family on Wednesday.

The actor had returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

Kapoor's death comes a day after actor Irrfan Khan's demise.

"In two days, people of the country have lost two remarkable actors," Soren said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We anticipate the needs of pretty much everyone in the room, Martinez Jr. said. Were essentially mind readers in surgery. To be honest with you, a great case for a surgical technologist is if a surgeon says absolutely nothing to you, because he knows that you know what youre doing, and he doesnt need to say anything.
According to the Libyan National Army, almost 2,000 Syrian fighters have fled Libya for Europe, after Turkey failed to uphold the promises that it made concerning citizenship writes Al-Masdar.

Nearly 2,000 Turkish-backed Syrian militants that were transported to Libya over the last five months have fled the north African nation for Europe, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Wednesday.

Some of the 2,000 Syrian fighters who were transported to Libya to fight with the UN-supported Government of National Accord (GNA) against its competitor Khalifa Haftar have in fact fled to Europe, according to the Libyan National Army (LNA), the monitor said.

SOHR first reported Syrian mercenaries fleeing Libya for Italy in February, and since then, several reports have surfaced that make similar claims.

Meanwhile, journalist Lindsey Snell of the Investigative Journal interviewed a fighter from Ahrar al-Sharqiyah that recently returned to Syria after fighting in Libya for a few months.

In the interview, the fighter, who was identified as Zein Ahmed, said that Turkey promised the militants citizenship if they fought in Libya for six months; however, this turned out to be false.

They told us first that if we stayed and fought for six months, that we would get Turkish citizenship, he said. That was lies. They told us if we died fighting in Libya, our families would get Turkish citizenship. Now that so many Syrians have died in Libya, we know this is also a lie.

Ahmed referenced a case in which an Ahrar al-Sharqiyah member was killed in February; his family received 8,000 dollars in compensation, but the dead fighters family was not given citizenship.

Turkey sent the first batch of Syrian mercenaries to Libya in December and since then, thousands of others have been transported to the north African nation to help the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) forces.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Community, Charity & Cause

By Long Island News & PR Published: April 30 2020

Long Island Board of REALTORS donates $10,000 to Long Island and NYC community hunger relief programs.

Island Harvest Food Bank estimates that a $25 donation can help them feed a family of four for up to four days.

Even before the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis, 2.5 million working-age New Yorkers were struggling to make ends meet and now, the need is greater than ever and only getting worse. Island Harvest Food Bank estimates that since March it has provided over one million meals across Long Island. Along with its sister organization, City Harvest, they expect to rescue and deliver 25.2 million pounds of food to meet the growing demand between now and June 30.

Video of an Island Harvest employee explaining what the organization means to people. Video: Island Harvest Food Bank

As a part of the upcoming Giving Tuesday Now campaign, Island Harvest Food Bank is asking for donations for their Emergency Response Appeal. Their goal: to distribute over a million meals to those who were relying on food assistance before the crisis, and to those who have been affected by the economic impact of the pandemic.

Giving Tuesday Now is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on Tuesday, May 5. You might be familiar with the annual Giving Tuesday campaign that comes the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year in December. This new campaign was launched as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by Covid-19. So far, Island harvest has collected almost $600,000 of its $750,000 goal.

You can donate to Island Harvest Food Bank by clicking here.

CEO Randi Shubin Dresner (left) and New York State Senator Anna Kaplan (right) lent a hand supplying food to 725 families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in Elmont. Photo: Island Harvest Food Bank Facebook page.

Local organizations are heeding the call and stepping up to meet the challenge. The Long Island Board of REALTORS (LIBOR) recently announced that they will be contributing $10,000 to support community hunger relief programs in Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau and Suffolk Counties through Island Harvest and City Harvest. The contributions will be equally divided between the two organizations.

LIBOR President Matthew Arnold explained that the members of LIBOR are more than just home sellers.

We live and work in the communities we serve, and we support those communities, especially in times of crisis, he said in a statement. Whether its rebuilding homes devastated by a natural disaster or feeding families suffering from hunger, we are committed to helping our neighbors in need.

Farmingdale-based Bushwick Potato Commission donated 30,000 pounds of New York State-grown potatoes to help Long Island families struggling with food insecurity. Assemblyman Steve Stern was on hand to help with the donation. Pictured below are: Marc Suntup, VP Development, Island Harvest; Marc Turner, Director of Sales, Bushwick Potato Commission; Assemblyman Stern; and Ken Gray, VP, Sales and Marketing, Bushwick Potato Commission. Photo: Island Harvest Food Bank Facebook page.

LIBOR CEO Tessa Hult added that many households are now facing food insecurity for the first time ever during this crisis.

Our contribution will provide some needed relief to those who need it most in our communities and will help families put meals on their tables. Hultt said.
Dr. Swdaeep Srivastva, Founder & Chief Belief Officer India Virtual Hospital talks about Post COVID-19 scenario in India

There is a cardinal rule in nature: After every storm, wildfire and other disasters, time comes for the sprouting of green shoots. COVID-19 has left the world badly battered and bruised across multiple sectors and silos; it has left nations helpless and ripped its resolve. India is no exception though the virus has had a milder run so far compared to other nations.

Another cardinal rule of nature is that disasters do not last for ever; the COVID 19 virus is no exception. It will taper off in months to come. And then there would be a spring of hope, a time for green shoots.

This is what Indias healthcare sector should be looking for  life after COVID-19. There is no gainsaying that Indias healthcare sector has been badly shattered and stretched to its seams by the virus. But every dark cloud has a silver lining.

Healthcare Sector Leaders should look at converting this Covid Gloom into an Opportunity to service the mankind by bouncing back!

What the sector should be looking out for are the silver linings in the dark and ominous COVID-19 cloud. Post COVID 19, there would be plenty of green offshoots. The question now is should we be down in despair or look at the road ahead. Surely, Indias healthcare sector is made of sterner stuff and has the DNA to bounce back with extra vigour.

Some of the sectors that would see large opportunities emerging on the horizon are: testing kits, medical consumables, medical devices, pharmaceutical sector and mid-size hospitals, especially in tier two and three cities and rural areas.

RAPID Testing Kits throws open a big opportunity for the Medical Devices Industry

The biggest opportunity would be in developing rapid testing kits. At present, India is importing these kits from Singapore and other countries. India can easily ramp up its resources to produce these kits indigenously.

There is research that shows that COVID-19 may make a comeback later this year. The coronavirus killers so far have been Sars-CoV, Mers-CoV and Sars-CoV-2. Researchers now say that if not COVID-19 making a comeback, there are other viruses waiting in the pipeline to jump from animal hosts to human beings. This makes the case for developing rapid tests more stronger.

There is also an opportunity for Indias vast reservoir of IT talent working with biotechnology scientists and researchers to develop smarter rapid testing kits. Some countries are toying with the idea of developing drive-in testing kits with no human interface, except the suspected carrier. With India being at the cusp of IT and BT, such opportunities are there for the asking. Hard-focussed start-ups would have a major role in developing such smart rapid testing kits.

Estimates show that India alone would need 1.6 million testing kits in the next two months and there is a huge opportunity for exports.

Medical Consumables: Any war against viruses such as COVID-19 needs doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. They are the frontline foot soldiers in the battle against viruses. There is a paramount need to protect the medical community. The COVID-19 virus has exposed nations to the shortage of on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as whole-body protection wear with airline facility, half and full face masks, gloves etc.

According to an estimate by the government of India, the next two months would witness a huge spike in the need for about 27 million N95 masks, 15 million PPEs, 1.6 million diagnostic kits. This was conveyed to industry representatives during a meeting on April 3 of the empowered group of officials on coordinating with private sector, NGOs and international organisations, which is headed by the NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, according to The Indian Express.

In this field too technology has a role to play. Apple is designing and producing face shields to protect health workers and medical staff from the novel coronavirus. The first set of Apple-designed face shields were delivered to Kaiser Permanente hospital facilities located in Californias Santa Clara Valley last week. Each shield assembles in less than two minutes and is fully adjustable.

Apple plans to ship 1 million face shields by the end of this week, and 1 million per week after that.

Start-ups in India can catch the Apple wind and design and produce such face shields in a very cost effective manner.

Apple has been working closely with health and government officials across the US and this is what should happen in India too.

Medical Devices: The war against COVID-19 will see an exponential growth in medical devices. Topping the list is ventilators. According to the government of India, the demand of ventilators has been estimated to be 50,000 by June 2020. Out of these, 16,000 are already available and orders have been placed for 34,000 ventilators.

Organisations like the DRDO, the Indian Railways and a few start-ups have designed prototypes ventilator. All that is needed is a slight tweaking and major ramp up to meet the demand in the future.

Pharmaceuticals: Developing frontline drugs against Coronaviruses and a vaccine against COVID-19 are the fields that would witness a huge growth. Already pharmaceutical companies have started work in developing a vaccine against COVID-19. And at a time when the battle against COVID is getting tougher, the government should fast-track such initiatives.

There has also been a huge worldwide demand for anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol from India. COVID-19 will give an opportunity for the growth of the pharma sector, especially generic drugs.

Hospitals: The huge spike in deaths due to COVID-19 world over has been due to lack isolation units and hospital beds. This is what happened in Italy, Spain, UK, New York and other places.

It should be noted that the virus will not knock out people. Look at what happened in Italy where it was not the virus that killed thousands of patients but the deluge of patients which overwhelmed the hospitals and forced doctors to decide who should be saved and who should be left to die.

Lombardy claims to have one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, but they couldnt ventilate a huge patient load, especially elderly patients with respiratory distress.

According to Dr Devi Shetty, if we extrapolate the Lombardy data to a city like Bengaluru, we will have about 16,000 positive patients, 2,400 will need hospitalisation, 2,000 will need ICU care and 1,000 will require ventilators.

Are we prepared is the question. A back of the envelope calculation would say that we are ill prepared if we reach the tipping point in the virus spread.

Fundamentally, its a question of capacity in the healthcare system. And it is here that mid-size hospitals would play a fundamental role in the future, especially in taking the load off the over-stretched hospital in metros and other urban cities.

Along with this comes the opportunity to have more doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.

But the biggest losers in the COVID rampage would be medical tourism and medical value travel. Here the green shoots will take time to sprout and this time should be utilised to refurbish and enhance the capacity of the sector.

Instead of burying our head in despair, the healthcare sector should look ahead and smell the coffee.
Yes. The virus never goes away. Ultimately most people will end up getting the disease. The lockdown was to make sure our medical facilities can handle the patients and we have accomplished that aspect.

Kim Williamson

Taylor

No. The entire country should have been on lockdown for two whole weeks  nobody in or out of their houses.

Shannon Sha

Wyandotte

No. I think we need to continue staying home until mid-May at least.

Julie Banks

Riverview

No. We are most certainly not ready to reopen on May 1. It would be a deadly move.

Ruth Luce

Wyandotte
An Indianapolis man was accused on Wednesday of killing a postal worker while she was delivering mail on his street, after he confronted her about mail not being delivered at his home, court documents show.

The postal worker, Angela Summers, 45, was shot in the chest just before 4 p.m. on Monday on North Denny Street in east Indianapolis, according to an affidavit written by Joseph J. De St Jean, an inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The man, Tony Cushingberry-Mays, 21, was charged with murder, assault on an employee of the United States and a firearms offense. He was set to appear in federal court on Thursday, and it was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

According to the affidavit, Mr. Cushingberry-Mays told the authorities that he lived next door to the home where Ms. Summers was delivering mail. The Postal Service had stopped delivering mail to his home because of problems with a dog there, the affidavit said.
There is shock and outrage among affected family members after six more residents died from COVID-19 within two days this week at an aged care facility in western Sydney, bringing the death toll at the Anglicare-operated Newmarch House to 12.

By yesterday, 56 people, including 22 staff and 34 residents, had tested positive at the facility in Caddens, near Penrith, in just 19 days, after an infected employee inadvertently spread the virus by working five shifts.

Adding to the alarm of family members is that only one of the 12 victims was taken to hospital to receive intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. Anglicare said it had turned the facility into a pseudo-hospital, without specifying what acute medical resources exist. Moreover, Anglicare yesterday declared that further deaths are anticipated among the remaining 80 residents.

This rapidly developing outbreak underscores the acute danger of a new wave of COVID-19 infections as governments and business chiefs step up their drive for a premature return to work. It also points to the still shocking conditions inside Australian aged care homes despite the damning revelations at last years Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The news of four of the latest six deaths was released on Tuesday, just hours after New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the easing of some social distancing restrictions despite acknowledging that her government expected that more cases would result.

After Tuesdays terrible news, a group of 94 relatives and friends, called Families and Friends of Newmarch House Residents, issued an open letter to Anglicare CEO Grant Millard, politicians and media outlets, protesting against the lack of information about the conditions inside the facility.

Group members have been protesting outside Newmarch House each afternoon. They wrote that since the first virus infection was reported, Many more issues came to light and we, as family members, were left in the dark not knowing what was happening in relation to the residents.

Phones went unanswered day after day. Calls were not returned. Details about our individual loved one were not provided regularly. The residents were reporting that the care was inadequate and they were becoming distressed. Many of them were sick and frightened and did not have regular access to their family on the outside which increased their levels of anxiety as well as ours.

The letter commented: It is important to remember that the people residing in Newmarch House are vulnerable, physically and mentally. They have been isolated in the facility since midnight on March 23 2020 with restricted visiting hours enforced from March 18 and fully isolated in their individual rooms since the virus was brought into and later discovered in Newmarch.

Residents have died without their families even being able to contact them to say goodbye. The open letter outlined 10 requests, starting with daily scheduled face to face time contact with loved ones, a 12-hour a day hotline for communication with residents infected with COVID-19 and permission for two family members at a time to see and phone residents behind their closed windows.

Other requests expressed concerns that coronavirus infections are being covered up and residents are receiving inadequate medical treatment. The letter called for Removal of the wording underlying issues or multiple underlying issues from statements issued to media and the Newmarch community when advising of a residents passing.

The letter called for continued daily updates from Anglicare that include the current number of positive cases at Newmarch in each update and a weekly health report for each individual resident emailed to the nominated family member, including details of doctor visits, physiotherapy sessions etc.

Further requests related to food and sanitation. One was for current menu plans outlining breakfast, lunch and dinners covering each week. Another was for details about the laundering of clothing How often is laundering and ironing being carried out?

One of the letters authors, Louisa Payne, posted on Facebook Anglicares dismissive response. I am outraged!! she wrote. Without providing any explanation, Millards reply stated: I cannot commit to all the requests you make below as being feasible, safe or appropriate.

At the same time, Millard employed stock phrases, such as Anglicare is endeavouring to be transparent about all that is taking place in Newmarch House and I have accepted these requests in good faith and they will be seriously addressed.

Earlier, Elizabeth Lane, told the Guardian her mother, who is in a palliative care ward with severe dementia, had tested positive for COVID-19. She then suffered a severe sore throat but was only given a remote consultation with a doctor at nearby Nepean hospital.

Lane had tried bypassing the overloaded reception phone and calling the nurses station in her mothers ward directly to receive information. Later, that number showed as disconnected. We are all so worried, Lane said. Were thinking, are we going to be the next ones to get a phone call?

Both the state and federal governments tried to deflect the outrage by crying crocodile tears over the latest deaths. Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said on Tuesday he was devastated by the news. But yesterday he revealed the governments true callous indifference. He told Nine televisions Today show: Unfortunately there may be more [in Newmarch House] Its just the effect of this virus.

Likewise, Premier Berejiklian said she too was devastated. She said: It reminds us how contagious this virus is and how it attacks the elderly and vulnerable in particular. Our hearts go out to all the families of the people who have succumbed to the disease and all the families who are really worried about their loved ones.

This is sheer hypocrisy from the governments that are directly responsible for this appalling situation, both in their inadequate response to the pandemic and their long record of facilitating profit-driven cost-cutting throughout nursing homes.

Acting on the corporate elites demands for workers to be pushed back into workplaces to resume profit generation, these governments are rushing to remove social distancing protocols even though COVID-19 testing remains at low levels.

Major COVID-19 clusters such as Newmarch House and in hospitals in northwest Tasmania and Melbourne are a glaring warning of how rapidly infection can spread.

Newmarch House is not the first nursing home in NSW to suffer 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.

The conditions inside Newmarch House show that despite last years royal commission, governments have done nothing to halt the relentless drive for profit that has long made cost-cutting and under-staffing rampant in the multi-billion dollar aged care industry.

The royal commissions interim report concluded that up to half of residents in aged care facilities suffer from malnutrition as a result of inedible and non-nutritious food or the lack of enough staff to assist residents who cannot feed themselves. Testimony was presented of some providers budgeting less than $7 per day per resident for food.

Other evidence showed that more than three quarters of residents suffer incontinence, often sitting for hours in wet and soiled nappies, along with the widespread use of chemical restraints to sedate and control residents.

For decades, Liberal-National and Labor governments alike have handed over vulnerable older people to corporate and nominally charitable organisations, leaving only 9 percent of aged care facilities managed by governments. Aged care providers were predicted to make profits totalling $1.7 billion during the 201819 financial year, boosted by billions of dollars in government subsidies.
But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider.
Constant and accurate monitoring of vital parameters of patients or suspects are critical components of managing coronavirus patients

Oxy-2 and 98.6 FeverWatch developed by HELYXON jointly with IITMs Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre (HTIC) in IIT Madras Research Park are now helping in the monitoring of COVID-19 patients and better management of the pandemic.

Constant and accurate monitoring of vital parameters of patients or suspects are critical components of managing coronavirus patients. Vital health parameters such as temperature, oxygen saturation as well as heart rate offer critical clues to the health condition of the patient and any aberration demands medical intervention. However, when the outbreak grows requiring remote monitoring of huge number of suspected people, people at home or in isolation, monitoring and updating these parameters for all patients becomes a challenge. Here is where HELYXONs digital solutions  OXY-2 and 98.6 Fever Watch offer an effective way to manage the outbreak.

Health authorities in North America, Middle East and Far East countries are actively seeking to deploy HELYXONs technology in a major way in combating the COVID 19 pandemic.

Vijai Shankar Raja, Founder, HELYXON said, With number of patients increasing exponentially and flooding hospitals, this is an overwhelming time for healthcare providers across the globe. What they need are appropriate technological interventions to help ease processes by automating as many mundane, critical and high-risk tasks, as possible. COVID 19 patients, particularly those deemed high risk, need continuous monitoring of temperature, heart rate as well as oxygen saturation as these parameters can oscillate suddenly and dangerously. Our AI-backed biosensor devices reliably captures trend of such parameters and alerts the remote medical staff or an attendant in case of any anomaly. This allows immediate intervention when needed; plus it also cuts down the work of regular manual monitoring which is in any case impossible for thousands of patients.

HELYXONs biosensor devices are designed in such a way that they enable the user to place them at the right places of the body and connect to a mobile device through Bluetooth. And the stream of data is further pushed to a cloud computer server through GSM or Wifi. The data from the server can be accessed by any authorized person especially the care providers across the globe easily using a mobile device or a Laptop. Similar path is used for the escalation of alerts raised out of breaches to reach the other end live.

Sridhar Ranganathan, CEO, Helyxon said, The digital solutions are very useful for intensive care settings as well as for monitoring at- home patients suffering from not just COVID 19 but also conditions as serious as IMR and MMR and as simple as seasonal flu, which require constant support through sustained engagement. As India prepares for a surge in COVID-19 cases, it is important that hospitals and healthcare systems adopt technology-backed solutions to better manage the outbreak. Our digital systems OXY-2 and 98.6 Fever Watch offer viable solutions to manage large numbers of patients in both hospital and home settings. They can also be very helpful in helping effectively manage quarantined patients of COVID 19.

The devices keep a track of the spikes and aberrations and whenever an anomaly is observed a system-generated call alert is made to the user while an automatic escalation to the local provider is done. The devices are equipped with Geo-fencing tracking alerts to keep a track of patients movements and ensure isolated patients do not violate the provisions of quarantine.

The 98.6 Fever Watch is particularly useful for unwell children in whom continuous monitoring of temperature is a vital parameter in disease management. The compact watch weighs 5 gm and is 1.5 inches in diameter. It connects to hospital systems or personal systems or devices and keeps transferring patient information to a central dashboard.

Globally, hospitals and healthcare providers are co-opting such technologies to improve healthcare efficiency in these testing times.
Several rights groups including Amnesty International urged Algerian authorities Thursday to free imprisoned journalist Khaled Drareni and end the "targeted harassment of independent media".

Drareni, the founder of the Casbah Tribune website, is a correspondent for French-language channel TV5 Monde and press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

He had been arrested on March 7 while covering an anti-government protest, accused of "inciting an unarmed gathering and damaging national integrity", then released and re-arrested.

"The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Khaled and end the outrageous prosecution" against him, Heba Morayef, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director, said in a statement.

"He is being punished simply for daring to do his journalistic work independently and bravely. Journalism should never be a punishable crime."

At the end of March, Drareni was ordered to be held in pre-trial detention, and is currently incarcerated in the Kolea prison, west of the capital Algiers.

Another Algerian journalist, Sofiane Merakchi, has been held on remand since last September. A correspondent for Lebanese channel Al Mayadeen, he is accused of "supplying images of protests" to foreign media. His trial has been postponed until May 21.

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Amnesty called for an end to "the unjustified restrictions imposed on journalists and independent media in Algeria".

This month, authorities have blocked three news websites that have covered Algeria's anti-government protests.

Two of them, Maghreb Emergent and Radio M, are accused of "defamation and insult" against Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

A young blogger and supporter of the anti-government "Hirak" protest movement was placed in pre-trial detention in Setif east of the capital Algiers on Monday for sharing memes mocking authorities and religion, according to his lawyer.

"We call on authorities to free the journalists Khaled Drareni, Sofiane Merakchi and the blogger Walid Kechida, and end the blocking of news websites," Wadih Al-Asmar, head of Brussels-based watchdog EuroMed Rights, said in a statement.

Algeria ranks 146 out of 180 countries on RSF's world press freedom index for 2020.

Weekly anti-government protests have rocked the North African country for over a year and only came to a halt due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, with the authorities banning marches -- although the opposition had already called a halt to its street based activities of its own accord.

According to prisoners' support group CNLD, 51 people are currently detained over links to the Hirak protest movement.

Earlier this week, Amnesty urged the authorities to end "arbitrary prosecutions aimed at silencing Hirak activists and journalists" during the pandemic, and called for the release of detainees.

The rights group said Thursday that authorities were endangering detainees' health, "given the risks of a COVID-19 outbreak in prisons and places of detention".
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed Thursday his country's firm stance on the Palestinian cause.

During an Arab League Council extraordinary meeting held at the ministerial level via video conference, Shoukry highlighted the importance of resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, in accordance with international resolutions in this regard.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said, Shoukry voiced Egypt's rejection of unilateral actions undermining any future solutions that could bring about a fair and comprehensive settlement to the decades-running Palestinian problem and restore peace and stability to the Middle East region.

The minister affirmed Egypt's continued support to Palestine, added the spokesman.

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The fires are still raging in six forestry zones.

Ukrainian firefighters continue extinguishing forest fires in the Chornobyl exclusion zone.

"Units of the State Emergency Service, assisted by employees of the forestry and fire protection departments of state-run Specialized Enterprise Pivnichna Pushcha, continue extinguishing fires in the territories of Lubianka, Dytiatky, Kotovsk, Denysovychi, Kohorod, and Paryshiv forestry in the exclusion and mandatory resettlement areas," the press service of the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management said in a statement.

Read alsoZhytomyr region sees new forest fire outbreak spreading to nearby nature reserve

In particular, work is under way to contain the burning of forest litter, stumps and wood.

In Paryshiv forestry (the village of Kryva Hora) and Kotovsk forestry (the village of Poliske), Pivnichna Pushcha workers continue eliminating the burning of peat bogs with the use of fire water pumps.

Some 207 people and 64 pieces of equipment are involved in the extinguishing operations.

As UNIAN reported earlier, first forest fires in the Chornobyl exclusion zone began on April 4, covering 20 hectares then. On April 7, the area affected by the fires expanded to 35 hectares. On April 14, they were reportedly extinguished but resumed on April 16.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 26 took a helicopter tour over the area damaged by fires in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. According to him, over 11,000 ha of forests in the zone have been damaged by the recent fires.
Boris Johnson raised fears for his health tonight with a breathless first Downing Street briefing since being discharged from intensive care after battling coronavirus.

The Prime Minister leaned on his lectern with both arms and his opening remarks were punctuated by strained inhalations.

'Boris sounds worryingly breathless,' Piers Morgan tweeted. Meanwhile, medical experts backed the GMB host, including NHS GP and Mail on Sunday columnist, Dr Ellie Cannon, who said: 'He's either nervous or he's still breathless - breathing a lot!'

Mr Johnson, who made mention of his breathless month, told the briefing: 'I want to thank the NHS for getting me back here and a very much happier hospital visit yesterday.'

Boris Johnson was bereft of his characteristic ebullience tonight during a strained first Downing Street briefing since his period of intensive care for coronavirus

Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan joined healthcare professionals in voicing concern for the Prime Minister's shortness of breath

Medical experts backed the GMB host, including NHS GP and Mail on Sunday columnist, Dr Ellie Cannon, who said: 'He's either nervous or he's still breathless - breathing a lot!'

The Prime Minister, who left hospital just over two weeks ago, had an acute bout of COVID-19 such that he required oxygen and was in intensive care.

How long does it take to recover from coronavirus? Doctors say it's unclear how long it takes people to truly recover from COVID-19, however anecdotal evidence suggests it can take months. Indeed, when the Prime Minister was rushed to intensive care, experts issued grave warnings about how long he would be out of action for. One medical precept holds that for every week a patient is in intensive care, there will require double that time to fully recover once discharged. The more serious someone's illness is, the longer it takes, and those who end up in intensive care may be left with permanent damage to their lungs and liver. Scientists think it is likely people become immune to the virus in at least the short term, meaning they won't catch it twice, but they are not certain. COVID-19 is caused by a virus which mainly attaches to and attacks cells in the lining of the airways and the lungs, which is why sufferers find it so difficult to breathe. The body's immune reaction is what causes symptoms - swelling in the areas where the virus is attacking makes the airways close up and make it hard to breathe, and patients cough to try and expel the viruses and dead lung tissue from their bodies. The immune system also causes a high temperature and aches and pains as it tries to make the body too hostile for it to survive. And patients become exhausted as the virus makes the lungs unable to get enough oxygen into the blood, depleting muscles' energy supplies. While the vast majority of people who catch the coronavirus survive - some with medical help, but many without - the effects of it can linger on for weeks afterwards. Advertisement

He has, therefore, taken a backseat from his role at the head of Government until this week and returned to No10 on Sunday evening.

However, many coronavirus sufferers require far no longer. Many have reported a crippling shortness of breath and hacking coughs lasting for weeks after leaving hospital.

Dr Sarah Brewer, Healthspan Medical Director and retired GP, told the MailOnline: 'I didn't think Boris Johnson seemed too breathless although he did look tired.

'He has experienced a recent, serious respiratory insult with COVID-19, however, so it wouldn't be too surprising if he still has a degree of reduced respiratory capacity. He may also have had several sleepless nights.'

Mr Johnson has appeared since he left London's St Thomas's Hospital in Twitter videos and on the weekend for a speech outside No10.

But this evening's showing was conspicuously absent of his characteristic ebullience and according to one body language expert, his 'grim-faced' delivery was nothing short of 'shocking.'

Mr Johnson declared that we were 'past the peak' of coronavirus and urged that the public 'keep going' with lockdown to avoid a fresh outbreak.

Judi James said his speech showed a 'transformation from the signature Bo-Jo charismatic performance' to a 'very grim-faced man able to show authentic empathy, grief and low-key determination was almost shocking.'

Britain today announced another 674 coronavirus deaths and Mr Johnson signalled the restrictions would be in place until June and beyond.

The PM said: 'It is vital that we do not now lose control and run slap into a second and even bigger mountain.'

Ms James added: 'Anyone expecting some kind of 'baby-bounce' with a new Dad smirk of pride and suppressed delight would have been disappointed.

'He referred to a "happier hospital visit yesterday" but only with the thinnest of smiles that didn't reach his eyes. Otherwise he used a mouth clamp to suggest sober resolve.

'Boris is clearly still a man in recovery from his illness. He folded both arms onto the lectern in front of him and appeared to need to lean on them, and when he spoke the gasping and slightly rasping breaths were audible between his words.

'There was no show-boating and very little in the way of what sounded or looked like spin. At one point he seemed to pull at the back of his jacket with both hands in what looked like an anxiety ritual.

'Instead we saw a much more congruent, authentic-looking Boris, a man whose eyes dropped and whose face puckered with grief as he paused over the daily totals of death and a man who was suddenly using his gestures before his words, which is a trait that suggests the words are coming from the heart rather than the script.

'His "brick-stacking" gestures as he spoke about plans for the next three steps looked shaky but all the more believable for that, and when he raised both hands in a cupping gesture to tell us "we can do it" what he lacked in energy of movement he seemed to make up in a new sense of grim determination that looked utterly genuine.'
HMD Global, maker of Nokia branded smartphones, has been on a software update roll recently, sending out Android 10 to devices right and left. The company hasn't forgotten its cheapest and lowest-end smartphones either.

Case in point: today it's started rolling out an update to Android 10 (Go Edition) for the Nokia 1 Plus. This phone doesn't have enough oomph in its specs to run the full version of Android, so it launched with the cut-down version called Go Edition. Initially on Pie since its release in February of last year, it's now ready to make the jump to double digits.

HMD Global promises an "elevated Android experience" with the new update, and Juho Sarvikas, the company's Chief Product Officer, says your Nokia 1 Plus will feel "brand new all over again" thanks to the many new features that are baked in.

The first wave of countries and territories to receive the update consists of Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, the UAE, and Yemen. As it is a staged rollout, 10% of units in these markets will get the update today, 50% by May 2, and 100% by May 4. After that, the update will presumably make it to other areas across the globe.

Source 1 | Source 2
The United States Ambassador to India expressed grief over the passing away of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor who breathed his last on Thursday, April 30. Ambassador Ken Juster extended his heartfelt condolences to Rishi Kapoors family and friends on behalf of the US saying the actors iconic performances will not be forgotten.

Very saddened to learn of the passing of legendary Indian film actor, producer, and director #RishiKapoor. His iconic performances and screen presence will not be forgotten. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/maEtx18Fyc  Ken Juster (@USAmbIndia) April 30, 2020

Condolences have been pouring in from around the country with political leaders and celebrities expressing grief over the demise of Rishi Kapoor who was a legend in his own right. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and had gone to the USA for treatment along with Neetu Kapoor.

Read: WATCH: Rishi Kapoor speaks to Arnab Goswami on Nation Wants To Know

On April 29, Rishi's brother and actor-director Randhir Kapoor said that he experienced breathing difficulties amid his treatment for cancer. The actor's team has issued a statement that reads as follows: "Hes no more with us. Took his last breath today morning at the hospital. Black day."

Read: Rishi Kapoor's Funeral: Alia Bhatt Consoles An Emotional Neetu; Ranbir Stands Still

A message from Rishi Kapoors family

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him. He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears. In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way."

Rishi Kapoor's body was brought to the crematorium in an ambulance at around 3.45 pm directly from the hospital amid tight police security due to the coronavirus lockdown. Rishi's daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni could not be there at the funeral as she is travelling from Delhi and will reach Mumbai at 6 PM. Keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown rules laid by the government, family members and friends present at the crematorium were seen wearing gloves and masks.

The actor had an illustrious career spanning for more than 55 years. His blockbuster hits include Karz, Bobby, Do Dooni Chaar Khel Khel Mein, Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum Kisi se Kam Nahi, Agneepath, Chandni, etc. Rishi Kapoor's demise comes a day after fellow actor Irrfan Khan passed away in Mumbai who worked together in the film D-Day.

Read: Rishi Kapoor's Funeral: Alia Bhatt Consoles An Emotional Neetu; Ranbir Stands Still

Read: Rishi Kapoor's Death: Subhash Ghai Mourns The Loss, Says 'biggest Sad Day For Me'
29.04.2020 LISTEN

A member of the National Communication team of the main opposition National Democratic Congress who is also a former Municipal Chief Executive of Suhum, Madam Margaret Ansei also known as Magoo has warned the Communications Minister Hon Ursula Owusu and the ruling New Patriotic Party to stay to be measured in their ulterances about the former President.

She said if they(NPP) use vulgar words on NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama, the party will retaliate in a equal measure.

Madam Margaret Ansei was speaking on Power 97.9FM with the RTP 2019 Best Journalist of the year Mugabe Maase on the popular afternoon show dubbed Inside Politics monitored by ghanapoliticsonline.com in response to Hon Ursula Owusus pronouncements on Multimedias Asempa FM few days ago that she has no regard for the former President and has reserved some punches for him to be released on a latter date.

Magoo issued a stern warning to the ruling party especially Hon Ursula Owusu who seems to have taken a special contract to consistently insult John Dramani Mahama and run him down at the slightest opportunity to be ready for a tough fight.

According to her, the NPP will be receiving a barrage of unpleasant response from her and her NDC colleagues.

Magoo also took a swipe at Prez Nana Addo-Dankwah Akufo-Addo for his inability to fulfill even half of his sweet promises but keeps on talking big.

Watch video below:
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  All airports across the country will be equipped with rapid testing facilities, as the transportation department scales up efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.

This was announced by Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. during Thursday's virtual press briefing, where he noted that testing centers will be manned by qualified healthcare workers.

READ: LIST: Who can be tested using rapid COVID-19 test kits?

All returning overseas Filipino workers will be mandated to be tested upon arrival, before undergoing another mandatory measure which is a 14-day quarantine.

Compared to polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR tests which may take over 24 hours to get results, rapid tests are much quicker as they yield results in under an hour. However, the health department has earlier cautioned against the use of rapid tests, which it said produce quick but possibly inaccurate results.

Besides rapid testing, the aviation sector has rolled out other measures to intensify its efforts against COVID-19, which so far has infected over 3.2 million people globally.

Under the preventive measures, only passengers with proper travel documents and those wearing face masks will be allowed to enter terminals, Tuazon said. All airport personnel will also be required to wear proper personal protective equipment, and airline procedures will likewise be in accordance with strict health protocols.

All departing and arriving passengers will be required to electronically fill out health declaration and passenger locator forms," he added. "Para rin po ito sa contact tracing in case magkaroon ng positive patients sa mga kasama po nila sa kanilang biyahe (This is for the purposes of contact tracing in case a fellow passenger tests positive for the disease)."

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco said sanitation items and footbaths will be provided in every entry and exit points of airports. Routine disinfection frequently touched or exposed surfaces will also be observed, he said.
On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton, the Democrats 2016 presidential candidate, endorsed the partys presumptive 2020 candidate Joe Biden. The official endorsement took the form of a 50-minute split-screen video event, the same format as the one used by Bernie Sanders on April 13 to complete his capitulation to the long-time senator from Delaware and vice president under Barack Obama.

Coming one day after the endorsement of Biden by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the event signaled the alignment of all factions of the Democratic Party behind the long-time political factotum for the corporate elite and the military-intelligence establishment, who was the most right-wing of the major contestants in this years Democratic primaries.

The event was billed as a Womens Town Hall on The Impact of COVID-19 on Women. Biden introduced Clinton as the woman who should be president of the United States right now.

Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama (Photo: Twitter @HillaryClinton)

The emphasis on gender politics was in line with the efforts of the Democratic Party to distract attention from the COVID-19 crisis exposure of the unbridgeable chasm separating the interests of the working class from those of the capitalist ruling elite.

Strikes and protests by workers against the drive to force them back to work are growing under conditions where tens of millions recognize that the ruling class did nothing to prepare for the pandemic and has focused its response on utilizing the public health and economic catastrophe to protect and increase its own profits and wealth, at the cost of untold thousands of lives. The Democratic Party has supported this criminal policy, voting unanimously for the multi-trillion-dollar Cares Act bailout of the corporate-financial oligarchy.

But the feminist focus had an added significance, coming in the midst of a simmering scandal involving allegations by a former Biden aide that the then-senator sexually assaulted her. The accusation, unsubstantiated and dating back to an incident that allegedly occurred 26 years ago, has exposed the hypocrisy of the Democratic Partys #MeToo campaign.

That operation, underway for more than three years, has mobilized more privileged layers of the middle class around a hysterical witch hunt based on the insistence that charges by women of sexual harassment must be believed and accepted as fact, and the accused men turned into pariahs without any presumption of innocence or due process.

However, now that the target is the partys choice for president, #MeToo leaders, the entire Democratic leadership and media outlets aligned with the Democrats such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and NBC have either buried the story or exonerated Biden. That includes Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and the dozen or so women on Bidens short list to be named as his running mate.

There are, however, elements in and around the Democratic Party, including some former officials in the Sanders campaign and pseudo-left Sanders promoters who are demanding that Biden be removed as the partys nominee. Recently, for example, Claire Sandberg, the national organizing director for Sanderss presidential campaign tweeted: There is simply no moral justification for Biden to continue as the presumptive nominee. Out of respect for survivors and for the good of the country, he should withdraw from the race.

This controversy has added to an already existing crisis in the Democratic Party, fueled by widespread popular hatred and contempt for Biden among working people and especially among youth, many of whom backed Sanders but are not inclined to vote for a man who supported the wars in Iraq, Libya and Syria and helped oversee the 2008-2009 bailout of Wall Street.

There was no mention during the video event of the sexual allegations against Biden by either the candidate or Clinton, both of whom avidly backed #MeToo and embraced its slogan of "Believe women."

After declaring that she was thrilled to be part of your campaign, Clinton focused on the impact of the pandemic on women, pointing out that eighty percent of all health care workers in the US are women. It is having a disproportionate impact on the front lines on women working, on women caring for others, on women holding down the home as we go through this together, she said.

Both she and Biden hypocritically complained that too much money has gone to the wrong peoplebig corporations instead of small businesses and workersignoring the full support of the Democratic Party for the massive corporate bailout.

Neither of them mentioned the current drive to force workers back to work under conditions of a continuing rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths with neither testing nor safety measures in place to protect workers from the ravages of the disease. Biden published a column in the New York Times headlined My Plan to Safely Reopen America on April 12, one day before Sanders endorsed him.

Clinton praised Biden for his ability as a senator to bring people together to solve problems. This invocation of Bidens ability to forge a bipartisan consensus in Washington is in line with calls from both the Times and Republican opponents of Trump to establish a national unity government, with Biden as its figurehead. Pro-war reactionaries including Max Boot, a neo-conservative advocate of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Michael Gerson, a speechwriter for George W. Bush, and Steve Schmidt, John McCains campaign manager in 2008, have published commentaries on this theme, making clear the right-wing character of a future Biden administration.

The endorsement of Clinton is the culmination of two weeks during which the most prominent representatives of the so-called progressive wing of the partySanders, Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezhave dutifully lined up behind the Biden-Clinton-Obama party leadership.

Clinton had the distinction in the 2016 campaign of becoming the second most hated presidential candidate in US history, second only to Trump. She ran as the candidate of Wall Street and the military-intelligence establishment, attacking the fascistic Trump with the fantastic claim that he is a stooge of Putin and the Kremlin. This was overlaid with the promotion of racial and gender politics, combined with undisguised contempt for the white working class, which she condemned as a reactionary mass of Trump fanatics, a basket of deplorables, in her memorable phrase.

This, compounded by Sanders capitulation to Clinton after having won 13 million votes by appealing to anger over social inequality, enabled Trump to exploit popular disgust with the Obama years and the political establishment as a whole.

In January and February of this year, when Sanders was surpassing Biden in the polls and winning the initial Democratic caucuses and primaries, Clinton became the chief attack dog of the Democratic Party, the New York Times and the Washington Post in a concerted campaign to sabotage Sanders and resurrect the collapsing campaign of the semi-senile Biden.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she accused Sanders of undermining her 2016 campaign and said: Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done Its his online Bernie Bros and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors, particularly the women.

Asked if she would support Sanders if he won the nomination, she declined to do so. Only after angry protests did she relent and say she would support Sanders if he won the nomination.

She continued to attack Sanders in the following weeks for his extreme positions, while the Democratic Party mobilized the Congressional Black Caucus to ensure Biden victories in primaries in the South where the partys constituency is dominated by more conservative, older African American voters.

Clintons endorsement, while never in doubt, nevertheless underscores the reactionary character of both the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party as a whole. It also exposes the bankruptcy of the entire premise behind the Sanders campaignthat the Democratic Party can be transformed into a party of progressive social reform, or possibly even socialism.

Since Sanders shelving of his campaign and capitulation to Biden, this left version of the increasingly discredited lesser evil argument has taken the form of claiming that Sanders and his supporters can push Biden to the left. This is the mantra of the Democratic Socialists of America, Socialist Alternative and other pseudo-left groups that continue to promote Sanders in an attempt to block the emergence of an independent political movement of the working class.
Consumer rights advocates have claimed that the Government is making a mockery of consumer protections by asking the European Commission to suspend laws guaranteeing refunds for cancelled flights.

The Taoiseach claims Ireland hasnt taken a formal position on the matter, despite

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The letter, signed by Ireland and 11 other EU countries, calls on the commission to suspend the law requiring airlines to give refunds to passengers whose flights have been cancelled and, instead, permit the offer of time-limited vouchers.

The letter states such a solution would be acceptable for consumers provided it included a clear right of reimbursement at the end of the validity period of the voucher.

The move would be designed to prevent mass bankruptcies in European airlines and to encourage people to fly again.

Dermott Jewell, policy and council advisor with the Consumers Association of Ireland, hit out at the Government for backing the airlines over consumers.

The bottom line is that consumer rights are enshrined in EU legislation with the supremacy that attaches, he said.

These laws were comprehensively drafted, reviewed, and debated over years with all representative parties from all sides before they were enacted.

This poorly-framed and decidedly business-biased request for review makes a mockery of that inclusive regulatory process, denies consumer rights, ignores the financial hardship of many citizens, and must be rejected without delay.

The Taoiseach said the Government hasnt taken a formal position on refunds, adding it could be something at department level.

I doubt any law can be changed retrospectively, he said. There isnt a government position on it.

It appears there is no set agreement at European level yet, either. EU transport commissioner Adina Valean said the idea was not an option but commission vice-president for values and transparency, Vera Jourova, said talks are continuing to find a workable European solution.

A spokesperson for the commission told the Irish Examiner it is working on a solution which involves supporting the tourism industry and also protecting passenger rights, adding: It is very important that we do not deal with the issues piecemeal but that we take into account the fact that these issues are very much interlinked.

In order to address the liquidity crisis, it is important to clarify the rules applicable to refunds and the use of vouchers in case of coronavirus-related cancellations.

Actions to make vouchers more attractive to consumers can help to ease the pressure on operators while ensuring full respect of consumer rights.

Director of the European Consumer Centre Ireland, Dr Cyril Sullivan, said the current rules are clear and unambiguous, adding: Where a flight is cancelled or passengers are unable to avail of a flight due to Covid-19 restrictions, passengers are entitled to a refund.

However, this has to be balanced with the unprecedented circumstances of Covid-19.
The gigafactory of electric carmaker Tesla is seen in Shanghai, China, in this file photo, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap



By Kim Yoo-chul



LG Chem said Tuesday it was "closely monitoring" activities by "a number of companies" including Tesla, which aim to develop their own batteries, as this would impact the firm's battery business.



"As demand for batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) is rising, some companies inside the battery industry are aiming to develop their own batteries. LG Chem is closely monitoring updates, activities and looming trends in the market we are deeply involved in," the company told investors upon announcing its first-quarter earnings results. LG is the global leader in battery cells and packs, supplying them to the world's leading carmakers.



While LG Chem is leading the global EV market, Tesla's entry, if it actually happens, will have a greater impact on the overall battery supply chain management (SCM) given Tesla's ongoing and expected outperformance in terms of profits and sales, in addition to the growing reflection of the change in people's mentality regarding EVs.



Tesla CEO Elon Musk earlier outlined his company's plans for battery development for future vehicles and energy sources. Musk stated he will review Tesla's cell chemistry, module, pack and architecture and its manufacturing plan that will detail how it can reach a terawatt-hour per year of battery production. Tesla is currently dependent upon Japan's Panasonic in procuring batteries for its EVs.



During the call, LG Chem remained positive on the outlook of its China battery business, thanks to Beijing's recent announcement to extend government subsidies by two years until 2022, as well as multiple local governments offering additional subsidies for EV use and purchases.



"LG Chem considers such measures as positive. Recently, vehicles using LG batteries were chosen to receive subsidies from the Chinese government. We are seeing eased discriminatory measures, there, against foreign vehicle original equipment manufacturers," it said.



Multiple provincial and municipal governments have responded quickly to Chinese President Xi Jinping's call to stabilize car purchases with local car stimulus policies, according to recent analysis by Fitch Ratings. "In the short term, because of the spread of the COVID-19, LG had to delay the expansion of our factories in China. But LG Chem's plan to expand the battery output to 100 gigawatts per hour by the end of this year and 120 gigawatts per hour next year hasn't been changed."



LG Chem's net profit for the first quarter this year was down 83 percent, year-on-year, mostly due to currency-related losses. Net income during the quarter came in at 36.3 billion won or $30 million, while sales rose 7.5 percent year-on-year to 7.11 trillion won. Its battery unit suffered an operating loss of 51.8 billion won on sales of 2.26 trillion won due to new investments in EV batteries and the suspension of plants over the COVID-19 pandemic.


Danny Lee, former director of Community Affairs Development in the ASEAN

Vietnam has a special and rather interesting place in my heart. The country was my induction to the ASEAN when I covered the blocs Foreign Ministers Meeting in Hanoi in 2010. When I briefed visiting groups to the ASEAN Secretariat, Vietnams membership and its relations with the founding members was something which I would mention regularly. Vietnam did not always have an easy relationship with the original ASEAN members, but fundamental changes in the international geopolitical landscape in the 1980s, including the doi moi reforms in Vietnam, eventually led to the Paris Agreement in 1991. That opened the way for extensive contacts between Vietnam and the ASEAN. Vietnam signed the blocs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1992, gained observer status in 1993, and was accepted as a founder member of the ASEAN Regional Forum the following year. Over the past 25 years Vietnam has seen rapid development, emerging as a very successful and confident member of the international community. The World Bank noted that between 2002 and 2018, more than 45 million people were lifted out of poverty. Poverty rates declined sharply from over 70 per cent to below 6 per cent.

Vietnams population reached 97 million in 2018 (up from about 60 million in 1986) and is expected to expand to 120 million before moderating around 2050. Today, 70 per cent of the population is under 35 years of age, with a life expectancy of 76 years, the highest among countries in the region at similar income levels. And an emerging middle class, currently accounting for 13 per cent of the population, is expected to reach 26 per cent by 2026.

These are powerful factors that will drive Vietnam towards higher growth. the countrys development is so apparent that as early as 2012, analysts suggested that Hanoi was ready to graduate from the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) group to join the more developed members of the ASEAN.

The World Bank has since further noted that after peaking at 7.1 per cent in 2018, real GDP growth in 2019 was projected to slightly decelerate in 2019, led by weaker external demand and continued tightening of credit and fiscal policies. While real GDP growth was projected to remain robust at around 6.5 per cent in 2020 and 2021, the coronavirus pandemic is rocking global economies. However, it is important to note that Vietnams GDP was worth $255 billion in 2019, making the country a regional economic powerhouse.

More than economic growth, Vietnams impressive food exports have made the country a major player in international and ASEAN food security. According to Statista, Vietnam was the worlds third-largest rice exporter for 2018/2019 after India and Thailand. The country exported some seven million tonnes of rice, or 9 per cent of global output, valued at some $2.2 billion. When Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced that Hanoi will resume rice exports, many importers welcomed the news.

Vietnams contribution to food security is not confined to rice exports. The country is also the largest catfish-exporting country in the world. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that in 2018, this product export hit a record of $2.26 billion, up 26.4 per cent compared to 2017.

Vietnams chair of the ASEAN has coincided with the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. In a special online ASEAN summit to combat the pandemic, PM Phuc warned that the situation has badly impacted peoples lives and their socio-economic situation, challenging stability and social security. He added that Vietnam will use the summit to propose funding to deal with the pandemic, building emergency medical stockpiles, and sharing resources.

PM Phuc could also offer to share Vietnams experience with other countries. Vietnams numbers in terms of coronavirus cases and no deaths is an exceptional result which reflects the countrys remarkable ability to overcome overwhelming challenges  something which Vietnam had regularly demonstrated throughout its history.

In its report on the secret to Vietnams COVID-19 response success and its implications, The Diplomat said, Vietnams model for containing the outbreak has been touted as a successful low-cost model. Whereas some of its neighbours could afford mass testing, Vietnam lacked the resources and instead opted for selective but proactive prevention.

Vietnam today is an important member of not only the ASEAN, but also the global community. And while the country has benefited from joining the bloc, the grouping has also benefited from having Vietnam in the family.

In an interview with the Bangkok Post last year, Tran Viet Thai, vice head of the Institute for Foreign Strategic Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam noted, The biggest contribution of Vietnam to the ASEAN is that of bringing a divided Southeast Asia into a single entity, helping to kickstart a process in which the ASEAN went from six to 10 members. So, there is no longer division among mainland Southeast Asia and maritime Southeast Asia, and no more confrontation between socialist countries and capitalist maritime countries.

I look forward to more important developments when Hanoi hosts related meetings later this year. The ongoing pandemic has added urgency for the ASEAN and its partners to kickstart a badly-needed recovery.
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PHOENIX  Arizonans will continue to live under a stay-at-home order at least through May 15, the governor announced Wednesday.

But when they do go out shopping something already permitted  they will have more choices, starting next week.

And they might be able to dine out starting May 12, under a "best case scenario."

Gov. Doug Ducey said there just isn't data from the state Department of Health Services to show Arizona has beaten back the COVID-19 outbreak to allow his stay-at-home order, issued a month ago, to self-destruct as scheduled Thursday night.

"There is not a trend,'' he said. "And what I'm looking for, what (health director) Dr. Cara Christ are looking for, are trends.''

But Ducey said he does feel comfortable enough to allow some retail businesses, shuttered under a separate order, to open their doors gradually.

Effective Monday, May 4, the kinds of businesses that he has not designated as "essential'' will be able to sell items out the front door. So, for example, everything from furniture stores and jewelers to beauty salons can offer products to drive-up and delivery customers.

Then, by Friday, May 8, they can allow customers in the door  providing they "establish and implement protocols and best practices.'' That specifically includes requirements for "social distancing'' of at least six feet.
Winston Churchill often is credited for describing democracy as the worst form of government, except for all the other forms. In a similar vein, virtual video meetings of legislative bodies are the worst way for governments to meet. Unless, of course, the alternative is no meeting at all.
Mumbai, April 30 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Thursday gave three more months, till June 30, for liquid funds to comply with the requirement of holding at least 20 per cent of their assets in liquid assets like cash and government securities.

The new norm for improving risk management and ensuring adequate liquidity, was to come into effect from April 1. Last September, SEBI made it mandatory for liquid funds to hold at least 20 per cent of their net assets in liquid assets.

In a circular, SEBI said that the existing open ended mutual fund schemes need to comply with the revised limits for sector exposure by June 30.

Further, the timelines for submission of cyber-security audit reports, as mandated in SEBI circular dated January 10, 2019, is extended by two months, till August 31.

The security market regulator has also extended the timelines for filing scheme annual reports for the year 2019-20 by one month till August 31.
The United States has caught no sight of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and is watching reports about his health, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, adding there was a real risk of famine in the country amid the coronavirus outbreak.

North Korean media has not reported on Kim`s whereabouts since he presided over a meeting on April 11, provoking speculation about his health and raising concerns about instability in the nuclear-armed country that could affect other North Asian countries and the United States.

"We haven`t seen him. We don`t have any information to report today, we`re watching it closely," Pompeo told Fox News after being asked about conflicting reports about Kim`s health.

Pompeo said the United States was also monitoring the situation more broadly in North Korea, which borders China, given the risk presented by the coronavirus.

"There is a real risk that there will be a famine, a food shortage, inside of North Korea too," he added. "We`re watching each of those things closely, as they have a real impact on our mission set, which to ultimately denuclearize North Korea."

Officials in South Korea and the United States have said Kim may be staying at North Korea`s coastal resort of Wonsan to avoid exposure to the new coronavirus, and have expressed skepticism about media reports that he had some kind of serious illness.

They caution, however, that Kim`s health and location are closely guarded secrets and reliable information is difficult to obtain from secretive North Korea.

On Saturday, a US-based North Korea monitoring project, 38 North, said satellite images showed what was believed to be Kims personal train parked at a station reserved for his use in Wonsan on April 21 and 23.

New images taken on Wednesday showed a train in the same position, but it was unclear whether it had been there since last week, 38 North said.

On Tuesday, another North Korea-monitoring website, NK PRO, reported that commercial satellite imagery showed boats often used by Kim had moved in patterns suggesting he or his entourage may be in the Wonsan area.

38 North said that in its new images, the train did not appear to be prepared for departure as the engine could no longer be seen parked alongside its south end.

It said the trains presence did not prove Kim`s presence, but the station was reserved for the exclusive use of the Kim family, "lending weight to the multiple reports that Kim has been staying in the Wonsan area."

Pompeo told a later State Department news conference the United States would continue to focus on North Korean denuclearization, "no matter what transpires there."

President Donald Trump met Kim three times in 2018 and 2019 in an attempt to persuade him to give up a nuclear weapons program that threatens the United States. While talks have stalled, Trump has continued to hail Kim as a friend.

Pompeo did not elaborate on the risk of famine in North Korea, but a North Korean economic delegation was due in Beijing this week to discuss food supplies and trade issues as the coronavirus outbreak has severely disrupted the country`s food supply, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Impoverished and isolated North Korea is prone to food shortages. As many as 1.1 million people died during the famines of the 1990s, according to South Korean estimates.
Police say a man with an assault rifle was arrested after opening fire outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC.

A man armed with an assault rifle was arrested after opening fire outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC, early Thursday, his bullets tearing holes into the walls and pillars near the front entrance in what authorities suspect was a hate crime.

The gunfire broke out around 2am (06:00 GMT) outside the embassy in the northwest section of the United States capital. Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to the scene after neighbours reported hearing gunshots, authorities said. No injuries were reported.

Officers found the man, Alexander Alazo, 42, of Aubrey, Texas, armed with an assault rifle, and they took him into custody without incident, police said.

A police report obtained by The Associated Press news agency describes the shooting as a suspected hate crime and says Alazo knowingly discharged multiple rounds from an AK-47 rifle into the Cuban Embassy. But the report also says Alazos motivation is unknown.

Officers recovered the rifle, ammunition and a white powdery substance that was found in a small baggie after Alazos arrest, according to the report.

Alazo was arrested on charges of possessing an unregistered firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to kill and possessing a high-capacity magazine, a US Secret Service spokeswoman said.

A bullet hole is visible in a statue of Cuban national hero Jose Marti after police say a person with an assault rifle opened fire at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC [Andrew Harnik/AP Photo] [Daylife]

Alazo remained in custody Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Cubas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that embassy staff members were safe and protected, but that the shooting caused material damage to the building. Photos showed large holes left in the buildings facade near the front door and in pillars outside the building.

The Cuban government didnt know the suspects potential motives, the statement said, adding that the US State Department was aware of the incident.

It is the obligation of States to adopt appropriate steps to protect the premises of diplomatic missions accredited to their country against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, the statement said.

Secret Service and DC police focusing on this car outside the Cuban Embassy. pic.twitter.com/DQZ8pNERkk  Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) April 30, 2020

Photos from the scene posted to social media showed a group of police officers outside the embassy after the shooting and investigators searching through an SUV parked there. Other images showed investigators surveying the damage in front of the ornate embassy in Washingtons Adams Morgan neighbourhood, including a bullet hole in a window over the front door and damage to a flagpole and a column flanking a statue of Cuban independence hero Jose Marti.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the US Secret Service were investigating.
Two MBBS fourth-year students from Kasturba Medical College (KMC)-Mangaluru, who are stranded in Malaysia, have appealed to government to help them return to India via a video.

Mahima Gupta and Naveen Mallya had enrolled for a month-long surgery elective course as a part of their course at the International Medical University, in Malaysia.

For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here

They landed in Malaysia on March 12 and had booked tickets to return on April 9. However, Malaysia announced the lockdown on March 17 and they had to abandon their plans on returning to India.

In the video, Mallya said, It is more than a month since the announcement of the lockdown. We are finding it difficult here mentally and financially. It is a burden to pay the rent as well. When government is planning to get back stranded Indians in foreign countries, I appeal to them on helping us to return. There are many Kannadigas stranded in Malayasia.
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is holding a press conference Thursday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 164,841 people in New York City, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

On Wednesday, de Blasio announced New York City will offer free coronavirus antibody testing to more than 150,000 health-care workers and first responders on the front line of the outbreak to determine if they've already been infected with Covid-19 and recovered.

An antibody test shows whether someone has been exposed to or potentially had the coronavirus and developed the antibodies to fight the infection. It doesn't guarantee immunity, but physicians say a positive antibody test indicates that a patient may have some level of protection against reinfection.

Also on Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is ordering New York City's subway authority to develop a cleaning plan for all trains following reports that the subway system has deteriorated. Cuomo said some crimes have increased on the city's subways despite a 90% drop in ridership amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

"Any essential worker who shows up and gets on a train should know that that train was disinfected the night before," Cuomo said.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
For months, scientists, spies and government officials have wrestled with varying theories about how the outbreak began, and many agree on the importance of determining the genesis of the pandemic. In government and academia, experts have ruled out the notion that it was concocted as a bioweapon. And they agree that the new pathogen began as a bat virus that evolved naturally, probably in another mammal, to become adept at infecting and killing humans.

A few scientists and national security experts have pointed to a history of lab accidents infecting researchers to suggest it might have happened in this case, but many scientists have dismissed such theories.

We do not believe any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible, five scientists wrote in a paper published in March in Nature Medicine.

Mr. Trump has spoken publicly about the administrations very serious investigations of the viruss origin and Chinas culpability. Those inquiries took on new urgency in late March, when intelligence officials presented information to the White House that prompted some career officials to reconsider the lab theory. The precise nature of the information, based in part on intercepted communications among Chinese officials, is unclear.

The current and former officials did not say whether Mr. Trump himself, who has shown little regard for the independent judgments of intelligence and law enforcement officials, has pressured the intelligence agencies. But he does want any information supporting the lab theory to set the stage for holding China responsible, according to two people familiar with his thinking.

He has expressed interest in an idea pushed by Michael Pillsbury, an informal China adviser to the White House, that Beijing could be sued for damages, with the United States seeking $10 million for every death. At a news conference this week, Mr. Trump said the administration was discussing a very substantial reparations claim against China  an idea that Beijing has already denounced.
Greta Thunberg has expanded her activism to the fight against coronavirus, donating $100,000 (80,000) in prize money to the United Nations to help support children during the pandemic.

Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child-rights crisis, the Swedish youngster said in a statement. It will affect all children, now and in the long-term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most.

Ms Thunberg donated the $100,000 award she received this month from anti-poverty charity Human Act, which also matched her pledge, to kick-start a new campaign alongside Unicef that will seek to protect children from the direct and indirect consequences of Covid-19.

Unicef will use proceeds to buy soap, masks, gloves and other protective equipment to support the work of global healthcare systems fighting coronavirus, the UN childrens agency said in a statement.

Earlier this month, a UN report warned that while children have been largely spared from the direct health effects of the virus, the global economic downturn could result in hundreds of thousands of additional child deaths in 2020.

As many as 66 million more children could fall into extreme poverty this year due to the pandemic, adding to the estimated 386 million children in dire destitution in 2019, it said.

Children and young people are among the most severely impacted by the knock-on effects of Covid-19, said Unicef executive director Henrietta Fore.

Unicefs global Covid-19 response focuses on helping to reduce the transmission of the virus and mitigate its impact on children, while ensuring that essential services for young people continue.

This includes helping maintain critical immunisation for children, and supporting distance learning opportunities for those who cannot currently access school.

The coronavirus pandemic is the greatest struggle the world has seen in generations, Ms Fore added.

Children and young people are among the most severely impacted by the knock-on effects of Covid-19, so it is only natural that they would want to do something about it.

Through her activism, Greta Thunberg has proven that young people are ready to take a stand and lead change in the world.

Ms Thunberg, who said in March she had likely contracted a mild case of the virus, donated the funds through her non-profit organisation, the Greta Thunberg Foundation, which she set up this year to help battle climate change.

In a video posted on Instagram to support the Unicef campaign, the 17-year-old said: It is always the poorest and most vulnerable people who will suffer the most from a crisis whether it is the climate crisis or the corona crisis and even though children may not seem to be the primary target group for the corona crisis, childrens lives are still at risk.

We must now all act together to protect the children and end the devastating consequences of the coronavirus. Children are the future and they must be protected.
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
Over 300 people have been arrested in Rajasthan so far for allegedly misbehaving with people who are at the frontline of the battle against coronavirus, an official said on Thursday.

Additional Director General of Police (Crime) BL Soni said the incidents of assault on frontline workers are being dealt with strictly.

"Medical and police personnel are working with promptness to protect the public from the coronavirus pandemic. Misbehaviour or attack on them cannot be tolerated," Soni said.

"The Rajasthan Police has arrested more than 300 people for misbehaving with the warriors," he said.

The officer said 1,810 FIRs were registered against 4,096 people for defying the lockdown.

He said 182 FIRs have been registered against 255 people for misusing social media.

Over 2.24 lakh vehicle owners were fined for traveling without reason amid the lockdown and 1.14 lakh vehicles were impounded under the MV Act, he said, adding that fine of more than Rs 3.63 crore was collected.

He said police are also keeping a close watch on the people involved in black marketing.

As many as 113 cases have been registered under the Essential Commodities Act against shopkeepers found to be involved in black marketing during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Szekelys, a sub-ethnic group of Hungarians who live in the three administrative regions of Romania, have been seeking autonomy for decades, but have never received official support from Bucharest

Szekelys, a sub-ethnic group of Hungarians who live in the three administrative regions of Romania, have been seeking autonomy for decades, but have never received official support from Bucharest.

On the eve of the Romanian Hungarians still had a chance for autonomy. This happened after the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament voted in favor of the law on the autonomy of the Szekelys Region.

Establishment of an autonomous region (consisting of the Covasna and Harghita and the city of Mures) with legal personality in Romania and the free use of symbols of the Hungarian nation.

Autonomy must have a president who is elected for four years (maximum two consecutive times).

The Hungarian language should become official, and only those persons who speak the language of national minorities and belong to them could be appointed to positions in local and regional government.

Open source

The initiator of the adopted law was the Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania, according to which the document "reflects the historical identity of the region."

The deadline by which this initiative was to be considered passed March 25, which is why parliamentarians adopted a document on the so-called "silent procedure" on April 23. That is, the bill was approved in the form in which it was introduced.

Here is the reaction to this of the leader of the National Liberal Party faction, Florin Roman:

The adoption of the bill on the autonomy of the Szeckie Krai by the silent procedure is a hidden political trade between PSD (Social Democratic Party, - ed.) and UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania, - ed.). This is not the first time that the PSD in the Romanian Parliament plays the UDMR game, putting the partys interests above national interests. The toxic majority of the Social Democratic Party and its allies in the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies is solely responsible for the tacit approval of this territorial disintegration of Romania.

Florin Roman believes that they took advantage of the Easter period and the limited activities of parliament, so as not to put the draft law on the final vote.

This is how the toxic majority acts when it wants to pass the bill secretly, of the Ziua news cites the head of the faction.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at today's emergency briefing accused the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Union of Hungarians of the intention to return Transylvania back to the Hungarians.

"While we are fighting the coronavirus, the SDP is fighting in the secret parliamentary cabinets in order to surrender the Hungarians to Transylvania," said the Romanian leader.

He also accused the SDP of secret agreements with the Hungarian authorities, in connection with which he publicly asked the party chairman Marcel Ciolacu:

What did the leader from Budapest Viktor Orban promise you in exchange for this agreement?

Iohannis said that during his presidency, he would not let such a law to be passed.

The Senate of Romania has to approve the bill.

At yesterdays meeting, after a 2-hour debate, 126 out of 135 senators voted against the adoption of the document, Digi24 reported.
The human trials of the vaccine developed by Oxford University scientists reportedly began last week. Now, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has offered to mass-produce the COVID-19 vaccine developed by them.

Reuters

Human trials of the experimental jab is called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and the first results are expected in mid-June. If the trials are successful and the vaccine proves to be effective against coronavirus then the deal will allow the UK to access to the vaccine 'as early as possible', the university said.

Details of the agreement are set to be finalised in the coming weeks. The venture will be not-for-profit and only the costs of production and distribution would be covered.

Generally, developing vaccinations can take up to a decade and scientists say that finding an effective cure within 18 months would be 'unprecedented'.

Therefore many countries have already begun human trials, like USA and Germany.

Were partnering with @AstraZeneca to ensure that our #COVID19 vaccine, if successful, can be manufactured & distributed to those who need it as quickly as possible.

This will be on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic:https://t.co/b0gnSV9q2v  University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) April 30, 2020

Professor Sir John Bell, of Oxford University, told Today that the challenge will be to be able to manufacture at large scale once it is approved by the regulators.

We also want to make sure that the rest of the world will be ready to make this vaccine at scale so that it gets to populations in developing countries, for example, where the need is very great. We really need a partner to do that and that partner has a big job in the UK because our manufacturing capacity in the UK for vaccines isn't where it needs to be, and so we are going to work together with AstraZeneca to improve that considerably, Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

This is the first such partnership to be formed since the government launched the Vaccines Taskforce two weeks ago to help find a new coronavirus vaccine.

The university said that both partners have agreed to operate on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the pandemic.

1/3 NEWS: Hugely welcome news that @AstraZeneca has signed an agreement with @OxfordUni to take its promising #coronavirus vaccine to scale.  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) April 30, 2020

Tweeting about the news Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote. 'The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world. Bringing together the best British science and the best of British business will give us the best possible shot at a vaccine.

2/3 The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world. Bringing together the best British science and the best of British business will give us the best possible shot at a vaccine.  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) April 30, 2020

He further said, The science is uncertain, and no vaccine may work, but this deal gives the UK the best chance we can of a breakthrough that could defeat this awful virus. I'm sending best wishes for good fortune to all involved - for the sake of the nation and indeed the whole world.'

All UK has to do now is wait for the results of the human trials, and hope they are positive.

Fb Image credit: AP
Coranavirus. Covid 19. Weve all heard about it.

The chaos. Weve got the anxious predicting the end of all things. Theres the optimist enjoying all the time in the world baking and cooking (So good seeing all the nice photos of food on social media. So bad to be craving them during lockdown!)

Is it all just fear mongering by the media? Is this virus really not as bad as we are making it out to be? I dont know. But I do know our lives as we know it have changed.

A new normal

One of the new normals that we have to get used to now and maybe for many weeks (months?) to come is children being educated at home. Every parent has been thrown into what they call homeschooling.

On the one hand, teachers are frantically prepping and churning materials for students to have something to do at home. On the other hand, there are parents feeling burdened by this extra responsibility at home. And if they have the added role of working from home right now, the pressure is doubled. Of course not every parent feels that way. I have heard that there are parents that were never sure about homeschooling now wanting to continue doing so even after our lives resumes to somewhat normal.

But.. is this really homeschooling?

Sorry to burst your bubble. Right now, even homeschooling families are going through unusual circumstances. We have been homeschooling our children for a few years now. And we find our normal disrupted too.

One term I came across that I thought aptly fits every child schooling at home right now is quarantine schooling.Heres a few of the many random thoughts I have had observing the education scene right now.

Plans and goals

Before pulling our daughter out of public school, we mulled over it for quite some time. We knew God was calling us to do it, but it was still a huge leap of faith.

I was personally terrified of totally messing up our childrens education and future. We took time to look through different curriculums. We settled on one that suited our long term education goals and their specific needs. Most importantly, it is a biblically based curriculum that will allow our children opportunities to know their Creator and build their characters.

Parents thrown into educating their children right now have not had the time nor the need to make plans or have goals. Some have been assigned work to be done by the school. Others are downloading every free education material online to make sure their children are still doing school work. The goal at present is make sure children keep up with some sort of education until they are able to return to public schools.

Deschool

When we first started researching homeschooling, I read about the need to deschoolmy daughter. To deschool basically means the process of adjusting to the non-school environment of everyday life after leaving the education system (yourdictionary.com). It is to help children change their mindsets of what schooling looks like and feels like.

The idea is not to pull children out of school one day and throw them into a whole new curriculum the next day. It is a transition. Some parents choose to take a break completely from school work. Others encourage their children to explore their areas of interest. In good time, formal learning is introduced.

Having grown up in a public school and obtaining an education degree after that, I found this deschooling period essential for me too. It helped me not to just recreate school at home. I am still constantly reminding myself that learning goes beyond a boxed and set out curriculum. I always like listening to my children say, This is learning too, mum!.

Again, as we are well aware, parents and children thrown into this unusual lockdown and restricted movement circumstances did not have much time to consider much about what to do when it comes to schooling. There was and seems to be no time for a transition as we dealtand continue to deal with all the stress brought on by the pandemic.

Socializing

Ahhh the number one thing that I have been asked most since we started homeschooling.

What about socialization?

Do your kids have friends?

Are they just home all the time?

Surprise! Our kids do have friends. And gasp.. They are able to talk to and actually hold conversations with other human beings!

Jokes aside, homeschooling is not a lonely journey. Like everything else in life, your journey is what you make it to be. There are countless social opportunities at activities organized for and by homeschoolers. Sports, music, church and play groups are a few examples. If your child is interested in animals, organize an educational field trip to the zoo or local farm and get other homeschoolers onboard. Join the numerous activities by your local library. The options for social interactionsare limited only to your imagination.

So, as you can imagine, we are in the same boat as every other family. My kids are also desperate for human contact!

Moving forward

Dont get me wrong. I am not saying that those of us who chose to homeschool before this pandemic hit got it all right and that everyone else right now has no right to use the term homeschooling. On the contrary, I want to encourage everyone to not put homeschooling in a box.

If you are enjoying schooling at home, I am excited for you. There is a lot more to homeschooling that you will enjoy if you choose to continue this journey. If you are still struggling to cope with all the learning that your children have to do at home and wondering why people like me homeschool, remember that this is not what homeschooling usually looks like even for veteran homeschooling families out there.

Homeschooling. Public schools. Quarantine schooling. We are all adjusting to a new normal. In the weeks to come, show ourselves some grace. I hope we dont just survive this season but thrive through it.

God in His infinite wisdom has chosen us to be the parents of our children.Be encouraged by these words from Sarah Mackenzie, "This work of homeschooling and raising hearts and souls and bodies is hard. It is more than I can do in my own strength. Even so, more than anything else, I desire to teach and mother in a way that pleases God. Some days that feels like feeding the five thousand. But He is not asking me to feed the five thousand; He just wants me to bring my basket of loaves and fish and lay them at His feet." (Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace)

Whether you are homeschooling them all the way to university, or educating them only for a time during a pandemic, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 31).
Nokia President and CEO, Rajeev Suri, has admitted that 5G rollouts in Europe could be delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

5G, the fifth generation of mobile internet, will bring faster data speeds and increased bandwidth to support the growing levels of web traffic worldwide.

"In Europe, there could be some delays," Suri told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" Thursday.

"There could be some countries in Europe where spectrum rollouts get pushed out some and we've already seen that happen," he said.

"That could in turn increase investments in fixed and IP (internet protocol) and optical and even 4G capacity because the fact is the capacity demand is going up a lot. We've seen capacity demand in just a few weeks that you typically see in just one year."

Nokia is one of the three main providers of the new technology along with China's Huawei and Sweden's Ericsson.

The Finnish network equipment provider doesn't currently expect 5G rollout delays in other markets like North America, China, Japan, and Korea.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 23:22:27|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A suspect has been taken into custody after opening fire on the Cuban Embassy here early Thursday morning, authorities said.

D.C. police Lt. Brian Hollan said authorities are "confident" that nobody was injured in the shooting, which broke out about 2:10 a.m. (0610 GMT) outside the embassy.

The suspect, identified as Alexander Alazo, 42, of Aubrey, Texas, was arrested within minutes following the shooting, according to a Washington Post report.

Police described the gun as an assault-style firearm but didn't reveal how many shots were fired.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the incident. Enditem
Updated at 4:16 p.m. ET on 2020-04-30

Islamic State-linked groups in Indonesia and the Philippines have taken advantage of the coronavirus pandemic by launching attacks or conducting recruitment drives, a think-tank and a conflict-monitoring group said in separate reports this week.



But security forces from the two neighboring nations said Wednesday they were well-equipped to deal with any resurgence of militant activities.



Nearly two weeks ago, Abu Sayyaf militants killed 11 government troops and wounded 14 others in the deadliest firefight in months in the southern Philippines while in Indonesia, the MIT militant group in Central Sulawesi province staged a series of attacks over the last two months leaving one of its key leaders dead, BenarNews has reported.



The renewal of violence in Poso, Central Sulawesi in March and April 2020 is the direct result of local extremists seeing Covid-19 as an ally in the war against Islams enemies, the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) said in a report.



The arrival of the virus gave the Mujahideen of Eastern Indonesia (Mujahideen Indonesia Timur, MIT) a new hope that victory was near, and buoyed by the addition of new recruits, it began a series of attacks, the think-tank said in the report released Tuesday.



It cited at least three MIT attacks in March and April.



On March 27, MIT leader Ali Kalora attacked a group of police officers on motorcycles as they were transporting food supplies in the Central Sulawesi district of Poso. No one was killed, but the police were forced to flee and left behind their motorcycles and the food, IPAC said.



The success of this operation raised MIT morale further, it said, adding that on April 8, some MIT members abducted a farmer named Daeng Topo, accusing him of being a police informant, then beheaded him.



In a video seen by BenarNews recently, a man believed to be Ali Kalora was shown urging militants and supporters to attack security forces. He also warned that civilians who had helped the security forces would be killed.



Thogut [the oppressor] will fall with coronavirus and this war, God willing, he said. It will happen soon.



On April 15, two suspected MIT members on a motorbike shot and wounded a policeman outside a bank, but other officers arrived and the two men sped off, the report said. Police stopped and shot dead the two men at a checkpoint, IPAC said.



Footage from a surveillance camera seen by BenarNews showed one of the men pointing a gun at the officer as he parked his motorcycle. One of the attackers shot him in the chest, while the other tried to seize his weapon.

The belief of Indonesian militants that the pandemic was weakening the economies of countries was enough to convince MIT, a tiny group of combatants, that they could eventually defeat government forces, the IPAC report said.



In the southern Philippines, pro-IS militants have snatched the opportunity to bolster their ranks, while security forces have been sidetracked with other tasks in helping the government battle the highly contagious and deadly virus, according to London-based International Alert, an NGO that advocates for conflict resolution.



International Alert said in a report released Monday that it could not discount the possibility of the resurgence of violent extremist activities as a tactic in a period when the countrys security forces have been redeployed in primary urban centers to implement quarantine measures.



The IS-linked Abu Sayyaf Group were conducting recruitment and training activities while stocking up on food supplies and other vital commodities, International Alert said. It cited community reports and noted that these activities were happening during the fasting month of Ramadan, now underway.



The report cited the April 17 attack by Abu Sayyaf days ahead of the Islamic holy month that left 11 soldiers dead and more than a dozen wounded.



On Wednesday, security forces clashed with about 20 suspected Abu Sayyaf militants in a mountainous village in Sulu, killing one of the extremists, the Philippine Star said, citing local military commander Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. One soldier was wounded, it said.



Not taken off guard



Police and military chiefs in Indonesia and the Philippines expressed confidence that their forces were ready to respond to threats of resurgent militant activity.

said Wednesday they were well-equipped to deal with the resurgence of militant activities.



In Central Sulawesi, Inspector-General Syafril Nursal, the provincial police chief, told BenarNews that the Indonesian militants indeed see the pandemic as an opportunity.



However, we have not been taken off guard and our operations [to hunt the militants] are continuing despite the COVID-19 outbreak, he said.



National police spokesman Brig. Gen. Argo Yuwono said security forces had anticipated threats from militant groups during the pandemic.



These include dealing with MIT threats in Poso, he told BenarNews, referring to the regency in Central Sulawesi where the militant group operates.



This month, clashes between security forces and the MIT have killed three wanted militants in Poso, police said.



MITs strength in the jungles of Poso was reduced to 13 members, after several of its fighters were killed or captured in recent months, authorities said.



IPAC also said that the revival of MIT under Ali after the death of their leader, Santoso, in 2016 showed that the police-led deradicalization program in Poso had little effect.



The program successfully turned several former prisoners away from extremism but did not stop recruitment, did not weaken pockets of local support for MIT and did not stop a few communities that had long been involved in conflict from seeing police as the enemy, the report said.



In the Philippines, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the militarys southern forces, said they had strengthened operations against militants after the group appeared to boost its recruitment drives.



The Abu Sayyaf Group, according to Sobejana, lately was using old footage of beheadings of their captives as part of their propaganda.



Rest assured our focused military operations will not falter, we have enough forces to hunt and pound these terrorists, and we will compel them to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law, Sobejana told reporters Wednesday.



In 2017, pro-IS fighters seized the southern city of Marawi, provoking a five-month battle with government forces in which more than 1,200 people were killed, most of them militants.



While extremists who survived the aerial bombings were chased out of Marawi, many have since been engaged in recruitment drives to build up their forces, military officials said.



With troop redeployments due to the coronavirus fight, downgrading pursuit operations against the militants could affect army morale and increase the likelihood of indiscriminate attacks, according to International Alert.



Getting mired in a wider military campaign to seek justice and retaliate will negatively affect the deployment of troops that are currently being harnessed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the NGO said.



Indonesia recorded 260 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the national tally to 9,771, said Achmad Yurianto, a spokesman for the government's coronavirus task force. The death toll rose to 784 after 11 new deaths were reported overnight, he said.



Philippine heath authorities also confirmed 254 new infections from the virus during the past 24 hours, taking the nations total cases to 8,212, with death toll at 558 after officials reported 28 new fatalities.



CORRECTION: An earlier version contained wrong information about when 11 Philippine soldiers were killed in the firefight with Abu Sayyaf militants.
This is an opinion column.

Gov. Kay Ivey probably hadnt made it back to her office at the state capitol late Tuesday morning before my telephone rang. It was my dentists office, calling to re-schedule a routine checkup and cleaning that was swept away in March by the storm that is COVID-19. The giddy voice on the line proclaimed, Were back!

Ivey had just rolled back some of the restrictions implemented in early April to stifle the spread of the novel coronavirus. Effective Thursday evening, retail stores, and beaches will be allowed to open, and delayed medical, surgical, and dental procedures may proceed.

Well, Im not in a shopping mood, and while I miss the beach, Im perfectly content to enjoy the sound of the waves from my hotel balcony.

Most thankfully, I dont need any medical procedures right now. So, while my dentist may be back, Im not.

Not yet.

For now, Ill floss, thanks.

Were all eager to escape the confines of our homes and engage again with humans were not related to.

Were especially ready to get those frightening corona-hairdos back under control (Im good, though; I shave my own dome).

We want to toast and fellowship with long-not-seen friends at our favorite haunts (even if we have to yell at them from a safe distance), and anxious to get our corona-chunky selves back into the gym.

We want to drop the kids off at school and kiss their teachers.

Some are even eager to get back to work at work. (At least those not acting like theyre on corona-cation.)

Were craving normalcywhatever it may look like and whenever it happens.

Its understandable.

Just not yet. Not for me.

Not when testing in the state is still in its infancyjust 1.5 percent of residents have been tested for COVID-19. Not when were still only testing those with symptoms of the disease knowing full well any of us could be asymptomatic carriers and spreaders. (Los Angeles County on Wednesday opened testing to all residents, regardless of whether they are showing symptoms.)

Not when mobile testing is just getting to some of our most vulnerable communities, in Birmingham and throughout the Black Beltneighborhoods long disconnected from quality healthcare options, and residents long suffering from the cardiovascular ills that make them most susceptible to the virus.

Not when African Americans are still disproportionately impacted by the virus. On Wednesday, the state Department of Public Health revealed that 38.7 percent of Alabamas coronavirus cases are blackwe represent just 25 percent of the population.

Sure, the number of daily new cases has steadied, and State Health Official Dr. Scott Harris says hes confident now that hospitals wont run out of ICU beds or ventilators, which was the gravest fear a few weeks ago. Im pumped about the positive early results of a UAB-developed drug to treat coronavirus that may be fast-tracked for use. And lets keep recognizing and celebrating the vast majority of people infected by COVID-19 who fight and survive.

Still, not yet. Not for me.

Even if Ivey opens restaurants, gyms, barbershops, nail, and hair salons in a couple of weeks, which is certainly possible.

Not especially, while some state officials are still putting petty over people.

We know attorney general Steve Marshall aint Birminghams biggest fan. He probably is less a fan of Tuscaloosas Walt Maddox, the 2018 Democrat candidate for governor.

On Tuesday, Marshall was all up in his feelings after Birminghams decision that day to mandate face coverings in public for anyone older than 2 years old and Maddox claiming authority to do what his city deems prudent, even if it differs from state orders. Marshall didnt mention either city in a statement released that evening, but your now-home-schooled toddler would be able to figure it out.

municipalities are wrestling with  unique decisions regarding the preservation of the health and safety of their residents," he wrote. Though Alabama law grants municipalities broad police powers when it comes to protecting the public health and safety, these powers must be exercised within constitutional parameters. Municipalities are thus strongly advised to carefully balance the constitutional implications of imposing and enforcing more restrictive safety measures against the need for such measures. As case law tells us, the broadness of these police powers is not a license to abuse them.

Abuse? Please. In a pandemic, theres no such thing.

Were nowhere near our new normal. Not yet. Until then, Ill embrace Iveys clever re-branding of her stay-at-home order: Im still safer at home.

As are you. After you get your do done.

A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj
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Sainsbury's said it expects a 500m hit from the coronavirus, despite soaring grocery sales. (Claire Doherty/Sipa USA)

Sainsburys (SBRY.L) shares tumbled on Thursday as it warned a 500m ($623m) hit from the coronavirus would leave its profits near flat, despite soaring grocery sales during the lockdown.

Britains second largest supermarket had seen its stocks briefly surge 2.1% on the open as it said its underlying pre-tax profits would be broadly unchanged in the year ahead.

The companys shares then tumbled as concerns grew about its outlook for the year ahead after its preliminary results for its last financial year to 7 March and more recent trading update were published. It was trading 3.5% lower by around 9am in London.

The company is assuming lockdown restrictions will ease by the end of June, but disruption is expected until mid-September. Weaker economic conditions are expected to drag down consumer demand for even longer, particularly for general merchandise and clothing, which have already seen sales plummet.

READ MORE: Tesco shares sink on 925m coronavirus hit

General merchandise, a category including many items other than groceries, slumped 22% year-on-year in supermarkets in the seven weeks to 25 April. Clothing and fuel sales more than halved, down 53% and 52% respectively.

The company said COVID-19 would knock more than 500m off its group profits, which include Argos. It highlighted the significant costs of protecting customers and colleagues, weaker fuel, general merchandise and clothing sales and lower profitability in its financial services arm.

But it said this was broadly offset by the surge in grocery sales amid stockpiling and greater numbers of shoppers at home, as well as around 450m in business rate relief. The tax relief has proved controversial, with calls for busy supermarkets to pay it back as it was largely designed to help shops forced to close by the lockdown.

READ MORE: Shell slashes dividend for first time since World War II

Sainsburys also said it would delay a decision on dividend payments to later this year when COVID-19s overall impact on the business is clearer. It confirmed no cash bonuses be paid to its executive directors and senior figures for 2019-20.

Story continues

Overall group sales slid 0.1% to just under 32.4bn in 2019-20, down 0.1%. Underlying profit before tax came in at 586m, down from 601m a year earlier. Its statutory pre-tax profits came in at 255m, up from 202m the previous year.

Britains biggest supermarket Tesco (TSCO.L) also disappointed investors with a similar warning earlier in April, despite surging grocery sales and maintaining its dividend.

Tesco highlighted a significant leap in payroll and distribution costs. New hires have been not only to meet extra demand but also to cover the work of those colleagues who are absent and being paid, it said in its preliminary 2019-2020 results.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 02:16:49|Editor: huaxia

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Du Longmin (L) from the First People's Hospital of Yinchuan in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region speaks at a video workshop with the Chinese community in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on April 30, 2020. Chinese medical experts on Thursday shared the prevention and control knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic with the Chinese community in Kuwait via a video workshop. The seminar, organized by the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait, was attended by more than 1,000 overseas Chinese in Kuwait, including Chinese students and employees of the Chinese companies. (Xinhua/Nie Yunpeng)

KUWAIT CITY, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The visiting Chinese medical team on Thursday praised the precautionary measures taken by Kuwait to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Ruan Yuesheng, head of the Chinese team, told a press conference at the Kuwait Ministry of Health (MOH) that his team had discussed with Kuwaiti counterparts China's experience in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and exchanged detailed information on the prevention and treatment of the disease.

"During our visit, we have seen that the Kuwaiti government attaches great importance to the measures for preventing and controlling the pandemic while preparing properly for testing, treatment, quarantine management and medical protection supplies," said Ruan, also deputy director-general of the Health Commission of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

He noted that his team, which comprises eight medical experts specializing in various fields, will exchange the knowledge, experience and practices in dealing with COVID-19 with the Kuwaiti side to defeat the pandemic.

Such exchanges will enhance the friendship between the two countries, Ruan added.

For his part, Abdullah Al-Sanad, spokesman of the Kuwaiti MOH, said that the Chinese medical team had met leaders in the health ministry and public health sectors and visited many field sites related to combating the coronavirus.

The Chinese medical experts arrived in Kuwait on Monday night to help the Arab country defeat the pandemic, which has infected 4,024 people, of whom 26 have died.

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 spread of the virus.
As several Texas businesses prepare to reopen Friday, Dallas Mavericks owner, entrepreneur and TV personality Mark Cuban believes the Lone Star State may be moving to fast.

Cuban told WFAA, an ABC-affiliated television station in Dallas, in a zoom interview on Wednesday that Texas is "not yet" ready to return to business, saying he will not be letting his kids out this weekend.

READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio

"When it comes to health, would you let your kids out? I'm certainly not going to let mine," he told the station. "... People are going to make their own decisions, that doesn't mean they are going to make wise decisions, but they are going to do it for their own reasons and that's fine, but there's just so much uncertainty."

On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued his executive order that allows retail stores, movie theatres and dine-in restaurants to reopen at 25 percent of its capacity. However, the "Shark Tank" investor said he doesn't believe businesses can profit from the occupancy restriction.

"It's probably not going to profitable and not going to work," he said. "... It's going to be more expensive in 90 percent of the cases to open up and you'll end up losing more money than you would have made staying closed."

ON EXPRESS-NEWS: Texas doesn't meet benchmarks for reopening

Cuban, who recently joined President Donald Trump's advisory team that's focused on reopening the country's economy, said he believes Texas should have extended its pick-up and delivery options to every retailer and company rather than allowing customers inside public spaces again.

"So many companies are now starting to adapt to pickup and delivery and getting good at it. Their cost structure is relative to that and they're starting to make money at it. Do what works as opposed to putting people at risk," Cuban said.

Watch the video below for the full interview.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
By Rod Nickel and Arundhati Sarkar

(Reuters) - Cuts to Alberta's oil production have been large enough to avoid filling storage tanks to the brim as the coronavirus pandemic slashes demand from refiners, two of Canada's largest crude producers said on Wednesday.

A crash in crude prices due to global economic restrictions has forced oil companies to cut costs and production. Analysts warn that global storage levels are fast approaching capacity.

But storage levels in Alberta, the main Canadian crude-producing province, are "flat" around 32 million to 33 million barrels, Cenovus Energy <CVE.TO> Executive Vice-President of Downstream Keith Chiasson said.

Levels could still spike to tank-top levels of 43 million barrels, Chief Executive Alex Pourbaix warned.

"We are seeing the market is working," Pourbaix said on a quarterly conference call. "Were not seeing massive growth in storage but its important we watch that."

Husky Energy <HSE.TO> echoed those comments.

"Supply and demand in North America are going to equalize over this quarter because they have no option - storage runs out," Husky Chief Executive Rob Peabody said on a call. "Market forces are doing exactly what theyre supposed to do."

Canada's oil cuts are likely to reach 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter and a storage "crisis" will test operations, consultant Rystad Energy said on Monday.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has repeatedly warned that storage levels are in danger of reaching capacity.

Cenovus has cut 60,000 bpd and could expand cuts to more than 100,000 bpd if necessary, Pourbaix said. Husky has shut in 80,000 bpd.

Both companies said they saw no need for the Alberta government, which has managed production levels for more than a year, to take further action on output limits.

Cenovus and Husky posted quarterly losses, hammered by a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia and the pandemic.

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Husky said it would cut its dividend by 90%.

Cenovus said prices for its crude tumbled 54% to C$22.74 per barrel in the first quarter from a year earlier.

Weak demand for gasoline, jet fuel and other products hurt refining units at both companies as more people stayed at home due to lockdowns.

Cenovus posted a net loss of C$1.80 billion ($1.29 billion), or C$1.46 per share, while Husky's loss was C$1.71 billion, or C$1.71 per share.

Husky said it took non-cash asset impairments of C$1.1 billion, primarily related to the producing assets in North America and lower crude oil prices.

(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Arundhati Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M. and Alistair Bell)
The BJP on Thursday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over his reference to "authoritarian model" in his interaction with former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, saying those who had put in place an "accidental model" will pass off any show of "decisiveness and determination" as authoritarian.

"Rahul Gandhi complains to Raghuram Rajan of an 'authoritarian model'. But of course those who had put in place an 'accidental model'; for them any other model that has 'decisiveness' & 'determination' as its basic ingredients will be passed off as 'authoritarian'," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.

The Congress leader, he added, is probably unaware of the fact that this very idea of 'antyodaya' (serving the last man in queue) of Mahatma Gandhi and Deen Dayal Upadhyay is the backbone of the BJP.

"You just dream. We perform," Patra added.

He also took a dig at the former Congress president over his reference to inequality, wondering if it is a case of the "epitome of inequality complaining about inequality?"



Talking with Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, Rajan said India should be "cleverer" in lifting the lockdown and should open up its economy in a "measured way" soon to save jobs, underlining that Rs 65,000 crore should be spent to support the poor amid the crisis.

In a first-of-its-kind dialogue broadcast on the Congress's social media handles this morning, Rajan, who was in the US, deliberated on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with Gandhi.

Asked about the authoritarian model, which is questioning the liberal model, being on the rise in more and more places, Rajan said the central authoritarian model -- the strong figure -- in a world where one is powerless, is sometimes appealing.

"Especially if you can develop a personal rapport with that figure," he added.

Another BJP leader and the party's foreign affairs department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale said, "RR interviewing Rahul Gandhi is the sharpest devaluation of RR in the history.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Some Democratic senators might not return to Capitol Hill for work next week, after the Attending Physician of the United States Congress told House leadership it was too dangerous to be in D.C. because the area's coronavirus cases haven't decreased.

'What a dangerous and ill-conceived idea,' Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, told Politico. 'I have some colleagues that are seriously considering not returning because there's nothing on the agenda yet that requires us to be there.'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said Wednesday that the Senate would come back into session to 'conduct critical business,' but Democrats were quick to point out that McConnell plans to push through more of President Trump's judicial picks - while details of a CARES 2 coronavirus economic relief package have yet to be worked out.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is going ahead with plans to reopen the Senate next week, but some Democrats have expressed that they might not show

The average age of U.S. senators is 62.9. At 86, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (pictured) is the oldest. She reportedly has asked McConnell to reconsider his decision to bring senators back to work

Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, told Politico that some of his colleagues were 'seriously considering' not coming back to Washington since the Senate doesn't have a new coronavirus relief bill to vote on yet

Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, told Politico that there was 'no reason to bring the Senate back to make conservative radio hosts happy.' He called it a 'dereliction of duty' on McConnell's part

'If we're doing oversight work or we're passing a relief bill, then you can credibly make the case we are essential employees,' Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, told Politico. 'But there's no reason to bring the Senate back to make conservative radio hosts happy. That's a dereliction of duty.'

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has charged McConnell with not even asking the Attending Physician of the United States Congress for advice before plowing ahead with a Monday opening.

'The Capitol Hill physician, the chief doctor there, told the House it wasn't safe. I don't even know if McConnell called him. So I don't know what he told McConnell, if he talked to McConnell at all,' Schumer said in a Tuesday interview with PBS NewsHour.

'Well, Leader McConnell made the decision, as I understand it, without even consulting the Capitol physician,' Schumer then said.

McConnell was asked by Fox News Channel's Ed Henry on Thursday if he had consulted the Congress' top doctor.

McConnell didn't give him a direct answer.

'Well, look, you know, we can modify our routines in ways that are smart and safe, but we can honor our constitutional duty to the American people and conduct our business in person,' McConnell began.

The Kentucky Republican pointed to all the healthcare, grocery store and otherwise 'essential' workers who continue going into their jobs. 'We've got a whole lot of other people who are showing up for work during the pandemic. It's time for the Senate to do that as well,' McConnell said.

'We have many confirmations, for example - the Senate, is in the personnel business, the House is not - that have been balled up by the Democrats even before the pandemic,' the top Senate Republican added.

The average age of sitting U.S. senators is 62.9 years old, according to a March 2020 membership profile from the Congressional Research Service. That means they have a greater chance of COVID-19 complications compared to the general U.S. population.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, charged McConnell with not consulting the Attending Physician of the United States Congress when the Kentucky Republican made the decision to bring senators back to work in Washington Monday

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, is the oldest senator at age 86.

Politico reported that she's asked McConnell to reconsider bringing the body back into session.

For the Democrats who do come back, they'll be practicing stricter social distancing than their GOP counterparts.

Republican senators plan to still conduct their weekly party lunches in-person, Politico reported.

Democrats, on the other hand, will do their meetings via converence call.

The Senate squabble is along the same party lines seen drawn across the United States - with conservative pundits and some Republican politicians being the first to say that preventing the spread of the coronavirus is not worth killing the economy.

President Trump has repeated that thinking on occassion - and given a nod to protesters in blue states who are charging state capitals to urge that businesses be reopened.

A number of those protesters have sported Trump-Pence shirts and flags.
Police officers of Zhytomyr region have opened and are investigating about a dozen criminal proceedings related to the destruction of forests or violation of the fire safety requirements established by law in relation to fires in the territory of Narodychi, Ovruch, Olevsk, Romaniv and other districts in April 2020.

According to the website of the regional police on Wednesday, April 29, investigators inspected and recorded circumstances on the scenes. Pretrial investigations of criminal proceedings are carried out under Article 240 (violation of rules related to the protection of mineral resources), Article 270 (violation of fire safety requirements established by law), Article 194 (willful destruction or endamagement of property), Article 245 (destruction or impairment of forests) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"We will do everything in our power to identify and punish all the persons involved in these actions. However, it is obvious that the solution to the problem of fires must be comprehensive. On the part of the police, one of the measures is an effective system to control the appearance of suspicious persons in remote rural areas of the region. However, from other authorities, services and departments these are entire programs to preserve our ecology and the environment from sanitation cutting to clearing river beds and other measures, including the efficient identification of fire islands," National Police Chief in Zhytomyr region Serhiy Krupey said.

The police officers said that on April 28 another fire was recorded on the territory of the Polissia Nature Reserve. "According to available information, a fire broke out in the 51 quarter of the Perhanske forested area near the Perha village in Olevsk district and covered an area of about 250 hectares of forest," the police said in the statement.

However, work is continuing to remove the consequences of fire in the forests of Poiaskivsky forested area that arose near the villages of Rudnia-Zamyslovytska and Shebedykha in Olevsk district on April 23. The territory of fire was about 100 hectares.
As COVID-19 cases continue to climb, front-line health care workers are decrying unsafe working conditions  in particular, describing inadequate access to personal protective equipment, or PPE. Many hospitals and state lawmakers blame Washington, saying the Trump administration has not done enough to make this critical protective gear available.

But at a recent press conference, President Donald Trump suggested those claims are overblown, asserting instead that hospitals have the tools they need to sanitize and reuse protective facewear.

"We're also using a sterilization process  some great equipment that will sterilize masks up to 20 times per mask. So that's like ordering 20 times more masks. And it's working very well," Trump said at the April 23 briefing.

In fact, the question of reusing masks  specifically, the highly effective N95 respirators that best protect wearers from COVID-19 - has emerged as a major worker-safety concern. Traditionally, the masks have been designated only for single use.

But with hospitals running low on protective equipment, many seek to stretch their supplies.

With that context, we were curious  can N95s be sterilized and reused, as Trump suggested? And if so, are disinfected masks as protective as new ones?

We contacted the White House but never heard back. Our own research revealed the situation is more complex than Trump suggested. Hospitals are using new technology to sterilize masks. Some procedures do show promise. Still, according to experts we consulted, it's an overstatement to suggest they are as effective as getting new equipment.

The Battelle process

Trump appears to be referencing technology from the Battelle Memorial Institute, a nonprofit technology company in Ohio. Battelle, which has an in-house "critical care decontamination system," received emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to sanitize N95s for reuse.

Hospitals send used N95s to Battelle, which has also set up N95 sanitization centers in coronavirus hot spots, including New York, Boston, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Workers wearing protective gear load the respirators into a sealed container. Masks are cleaned with vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide, aerated and then sent back to the originating hospitals. The decontamination process takes about 12 hours. A mask's round-trip journey from a hospital to Battelle in Ohio and back again can take about 10 days.

Battelle said masks can withstand the decontamination process up to 20 times without losing their ability to filter out viral particles.

So, the president is right that this technology exists. But is it fair to say the approach is the equivalent of buying new gear?

Put simply, no. Experts are clear that decontamination works in the current emergency. But - despite Trump's enthusiasm  it is not a best practice.

"It's not accurate to say that reprocessing respirators is as good as purchasing 20 of them," said Dr. Patrick Kenney, medical director of Yale-New Haven Health's supply chain, who has also researched decontamination technology and processing. "This is not a renewable resource. The respirators are intended for single use."

In fact, in its letter designating emergency approval, the FDA specified that Battelle's decontamination system "may be effective" at protecting wearers but advised it specifically for "when there are insufficient supplies." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends reuse "only be practiced as a crisis capacity strategy."

The reasons are multiple. For one thing, research is limited on how effective this type of decontamination is. Also, masks vary in how they stand up to the procedure.

And it's not as simple as doing a load of laundry. "Decontamination is a complicated process," said Hana El-Samad, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California-San Francisco, who researches N95 sanitization. "Assessing how well it works and which N95 makes and models remain unaffected is an area of active research," she said.

N95Decon, a research collaborative with which El-Samad works, has examined Battelle's hydrogen peroxide approach and found the chemicals appear to eliminate COVID-19 spores without damaging the mask's filtration.

Mask integrity

Performance is only part of the equation. Another is mask structure: N95s work only when properly fitted to the face.

When workers reuse and re-wear the masks, they can lose their shape, which undermines the quality of fit and renders them less protective. For some masks, per an N95 report on hydrogen peroxide, fit quality declined substantially after just five uses. For others, it took 15 wearings to see a meaningful difference.

At Yale-New Haven, Kenney said, the hospital discards 20% to 30% of respirators that could have been refurbished before they hit the 20-reuse mark because they had sustained too much wear and tear. Battelle's 20-time reusability metric, he added, was calculated without factoring in the impact of regular hospital use.

In addition, decontamination can in some cases worsen the respirator's fit.

"If [an N95] doesn't fit well, then air will leak around the sides and it doesn't matter how good a filter it is," Kenney said.

Plus, using this technology requires hospitals to have other protocols in place. Used masks must be safely collected - since they could be COVID-contaminated and pose a biohazard  and a plan must be in place to move them to and from the sanitization facility.

"These are all complicated processes that need to be done right," El-Samad said.

She offered a key takeaway: Technology like Battelle's can help. But nothing substitutes for new N95s.

Our ruling

In describing ongoing efforts to reuse protective respirators, Trump said the United States is using "some great equipment that will sterilize masks up to 20 times per mask." That, he argued, "is like ordering 20 times more masks."

It is true that technology exists to sterilize N95s up to 20 times. But there are knowledge gaps and other shortcomings that limit how effective this process is. Government authorities and health care researchers are clear that this is a crisis measure and it is in no way as effective as "ordering 20 times more masks."

The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details that undermine the president's point. We rate it Half True.
A police report listed drugs as a possible factor in the shooting. The report says that before he died, Cox told police that he was involved in a transaction with two people through the front drivers side window and that one of the people pulled out a pistol and shot him in the head.
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA MAY 2, 2020-Bill Beukers and his wife Teresa claim there constitutional rights as they speak to Newport Beach police officers as a beach closure went into effect Saturday. After 15 minutes the officers let them stay. California Governor Gavin Newsome's closed Orange County beaches to slow the spread of the coronavirus. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) (Wally Skalij/Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Orange County leaders are pushing back against Gov. Gavin Newsom's decision Thursday to temporarily close all beaches in the county in response to the crowds that gathered along the shore last weekend.

Photos of crowded Orange County beaches went viral over the weekend, prompting Newsom to note that beachgoers who ignored the states restrictions could prolong the spread of the coronavirus in California and put the well-being of others at risk.

During his daily COVID-19 briefing in Sacramento on Thursday, Newsom commended other counties, including Los Angeles and San Diego counties, for their leadership in keeping people off their beaches during last weekend's heat wave. However, he said the images circulating of Orange County beaches were "disturbing."

I just think we could tighten that up a little bit, and so were going to have a temporary pause on the beaches down there, state, local beaches, Newsom said. We want to work very closely with local elected officials, and were committed to doing that and if we can get some framework and guidelines to get this right, we can reopen very, very quickly. But we've got to, we've got to make sure we get this right.

A memo sent Wednesday evening to California police chiefs indicated that the governor had planned to go further, closing all state and local beaches and parks. In response to that memo, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner released a statement hammering the plan and saying the idea of closing the beaches was unwise.

Please read my statement on the closure of Orange County beaches by @GavinNewsom. pic.twitter.com/blo7h3GoVl  Supervisor Don Wagner  (@DonWagnerCA) April 30, 2020

"Medical professionals tell us the importance of fresh air and sunlight in fighting infectious diseases, including mental health benefits," he said. "Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far. I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information."

Story continues

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel called the governor's decision an overreaction and an abuse of power. She said she would be "looking into an appropriate response" to the situation.

"I trust our Orange County residents to make good choices  wearing face masks, staying six feet apart and staying home when they don't feel well," she said in a statement. "We have here an opportunity to embrace personal responsibility while also taking care of our neighbors. Gov. Newsom clearly doesn't share that faith."

It is not clear at this point when the closures will go into effect or how long they will last. County officials say they have not received specifics from Sacramento about the closures.

It is also unclear how individual cities will handle enforcement. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said he intends to direct deputies in his department, which has jurisdiction over county beaches and certain cities, to seek voluntary compliance from residents.

"We have been able to accomplish that and educate the public where necessary," he said. "To date, we have not had to take any enforcement action on any components of the governor's orders."

Some Orange County officials said images circulated last weekend painted a distorted picture of what conditions were actually like at the beaches.

In an interview Thursday, Wagner said the telephoto lens apparently used to capture last weekend's photographs has a shortening effect that made it appear as though people were sitting closer together. Aerial photographs of the region that showed sparse crowds on the city's sandy stretches painted a more accurate picture, he said.

"The governor is making policy based on photographs instead of what the locals are saying is really happening in our communities," he said. "I would hate for the spirit of cooperation he's received from the county to be compromised by a decision that is an overreaction to a couple of photos."

Huntington Beach police spokeswoman Angela Bennett said officers did not issue any citations last weekend related to social distancing. Authorities were on the beach patrolling and educating visitors all weekend and found that the majority of people were staying in their own groups, officials said.

"The vast majority of people were social distancing at our beaches," Bennett said.

In neighboring Newport Beach, Police Chief Jon Lewis and Fire Chief Jeff Boyles said in a joint statement Thursday that there were some clusters of people who were crowded too closely together but that it was our personal observation, and that of our officers, that the overwhelming majority of Newport Beach residents and visitors were families or practicing social distancing.

Newport Beach City Councilwoman Diane Dixon called the beach closures "a clear abuse" of the governor's power. She added that the decisions made by cities across Southern California were "prudent, carefully thought out and in the public interest."

Newport Beach officials had put in place plans to increase public safety staffing and enforce social distancing and other public health measures in an effort to allow people to enjoy the beach while still stemming the spread of the virus.

"The governor reportedly was angered by misleading telephoto pictures in the news, and reacted hastily without consulting local officials on the ground," Dixon said. "It is painfully clear that the governor is making decisions based on politics and personal pique instead of fact. The state's role should now be coordinating the process rather than dictating it."

San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson contacted the city manager and city attorney Wednesday night after she heard about Newsom's proposed directive to suggest that they review what legal authority the governor has to close city beaches.

Im hoping the governor can cite some valid reason under case law to be doing this to cities because, in my opinion, it appears to be government overreach. Local beaches are under the control of the cities, not the state," she said.

After a roughly two-week closure, San Clemente reopened its beaches last weekend with the stipulation that visitors would be permitted only to run, walk, swim, surf or partake in other activities along the coast. Sunbathing or sitting on the sand was not permitted. City leaders are expected to take up reopening the beaches entirely in the next few weeks.

In nearby Laguna Beach, officials on Tuesday moved to reopen their coastline for limited hours during weekdays, beginning Monday. Now it appears this will not come to pass, officials say.

Laguna Beach City Councilman Peter Blake said that, while he understands Newsoms action, the move comes at a point when it seemed like we were on a trajectory to move forward and this now moves us back.

Blake said he was supportive of closing the beaches when COVID-19 was beginning to take hold in California. However, he said, the latest effort by the governor appears to be a power move more than a reasonable step toward reopening the state and restarting the economy.

There are people that, rightfully so, feel Newsom has gone beyond the scope of his authority and has taken on power that is not outlined in the [California] Constitution, he said.

Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow supports reopening beaches on a limited basis. But he said that crowds like the ones seen in neighboring cities last weekend were exactly what prompted the city to shutter its beaches roughly six weeks ago.

"This is not a time for politicizing things. This is not a time for divisiveness," Dicterow said. "If the governor believes this is the best thing to do for the state of California, then we need to follow that."

Times staff writers Luke Money and Phil Willon contributed to this report.
An aerial view shows a cruise ship (L) and tanker vessel anchored near the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic on April 28, 2020 off the coast of Long Beach, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images

An unprecedented collapse in oil demand has forced some producers to come up with "creative" measures in order to find places to store their crude, with one energy analyst describing the situation as like a "very elaborate game of hide-and-seek." It comes as the coronavirus crisis continues to hit energy markets hard, with the world awash with oil and quickly running out of places to put it. As a result, U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures plunged below zero for the first time in history last week. Trading volume was thin given it was the day before the contract's expiration date, but, nonetheless, the move lower was extraordinary. On Thursday, the June contract of WTI traded at $17.20 a barrel, up more than 14%, while international benchmark Brent crude stood at $24.63, around 9% higher. At the start of the year, WTI and Brent futures both fetched more than $60 a barrel. "The U.S. crude benchmark is quickly gaining pariah status within the commodity sphere due to storage anxieties," Stephen Brennock, oil analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said in a research note published Wednesday. "Traders are dumping the June contract fearing a repeat of the May expiry should producers struggle again to find storage for their unwanted barrels."

What storage options are available?

The global public health crisis caused by Covid-19 has created an extreme demand shock in energy markets, with storage space  both onshore and offshore  rapidly filling up. In the U.S., the country's main delivery point in Cushing, Oklahoma is expected to reach maximum capacity by the end of May. Oil storage at the closely-watched Cushing hub rose by about 10% to reach 59.7 million barrels last week, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That's approximately 25 million barrels shy of its total working capacity.

An aerial drone view of a crude oil storage facility on April 23, 2020 in Cushing, Oklahoma. Tom Pennington | Getty Images

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), the nation's largest storage facility, has capacity for a whopping 713.5 million barrels of crude oil in its underground salt caverns along the Gulf Coast. But, as of mid-April, it already had 635 million barrels of crude stored, meaning it was 89% full. "As a result, while the SPR can be helpful here, it is not a panacea for the industry," Stewart Glickman, energy equity analyst at CFRA, said in a research note to clients. The natural home for all crude oil is a refinery, but refiners must have places to store excess purchases of crude before they are processed. Many producers have opted to store their crude in floating tankers. Last week, Reuters reported there were 160 million barrels of crude oil in floating storage on the ocean via crude oil tankers. "The tankers have been hired, filled, and are simply floating around on the ocean, awaiting a recovery in demand," Glickman explained, noting that the situation had also sent tanker rates "through the roof." An "even more creative solution" to the storage problem, he said, would be to repurpose so-called "frac tanks." A frac tank typically holds water or a chemical mixture known as frac fluid before it gets pumped into a new well that is being built. "The low level of spending on new oil wells means that there are plenty of frac tanks sitting idle, but who says they can only hold frac fluids? What if, say, they could instead hold crude oil?" Glickman asked.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz Bin Salman sign documents during a ceremony following a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 14, 2019. ALEXEY NIKOLSKY | SPUTNIK | AFP via Getty Images

"Each frac tank can hold about 500 barrels of oil. Given enough frac tanks, you could put together a small army of small-scale crude oil storage. These tanks can be moved to a wellhead and lined up like trailers in a trailer park." However, rental rates for frac tanks have also reportedly jumped by up to 33% in recent weeks and Glickman warned there was little reason for firms to be optimistic about alternative storage options. "A more conservative approach would be to simply store the oil below ground (by shutting in the well)  which is where we think the industry is heading," he concluded.

'Tsunami of shut-ins are coming'
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia shares her views on the current COVID-19 situation

"A more comprehensive approach is needed with communities at the center of our response. Most importantly, communities need to be engaged and empowered to take appropriate decisions and measures. The onus must be on each one. At this stage, everyone needs to contribute to minimize health as well as socio-economic impact of the pandemic. Every case, cluster and evidence of community transmission would need to be aggressively responded to. Basic public health measures such as active case detection, isolation, testing, treatment and contact tracing are among our most powerful tools. A strong surveillance is needed to assess and guide evidence-based measures.

WHO will continue to work with the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to ensure all at-risk and critically affected countries are supported.

These shortages are a global problem, and one that will have a significant impact on the response. If we cannot protect health workers, and are unable to adequately test, we will be fighting with one arm tied.

I commend the countries in the South East Asia Region for participating in the WHO Solidarity Trial. India, Indonesia and Thailand have signed up for the multi-country trial, which will compare the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against COVID-19.

It is a historic undertaking that will dramatically reduce the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs are effective in treating COVID-19. The more countries that join, the faster we will have the results. I urge all countries to sign up.

WHO would soon be launching a second protocol for the Solidarity Trial that will help establish incidence and prevalence of infection and the future behavior of the virus."

- Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia




South Gyeongsang Province police agency said Wednesday the defendant, who is not being identified, had suggested being pregnant on the job was "criminal," Yonhap and local news service Chosun Biz reported.







"Anyone who becomes pregnant at our organization is a criminal above all criminals," the male officer said to a female plaintiff who also remains unidentified in reports.







A disciplinary committee in charge of the case said the plaintiff was subject to "impersonal treatment" and workplace bullying through verbal intimidation.







The incident took place in the city of Jinju on Feb. 3, when the plaintiff was nine weeks into her pregnancy. She requested she remain in her position after maternity leave. The defendant told the plaintiff pregnancy is "criminal."







The plaintiff suffered a miscarriage on Feb. 8. According to Chosun Biz, the plaintiff said the stress of carrying the baby while being subjected to workplace bullying caused her to miscarry.







The plaintiff also said no abnormalities had been detected in January during a regular medical checkup. After her experience with workplace intimidation, the plaintiff, who was reassigned to a police box where she works three shifts, said she had trouble sleeping and eating. An apology and "severe discipline" of her former supervisor is necessary, she said.







The defendant denied workplace bullying, and said the meaning of the exchange has been "distorted."







Working mothers are entitled to 90 days of maternity leave in South Korea. Paternity leave is also on the rise, up 26 percent in 2019 from 2018, according to Seoul. (UPI)


Pacific Palisades, California--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK: GSFI) ("Green Stream Holdings", "GSFI", or the "Company"), an emerging leader in the democratization of solar energy through innovative solar energy generation facilities and designs, is pleased to provide current and prospective shareholders with an update as the Company moves toward aggressive expansion in the California marketplace, where solar energy has been designated as an essential service during the Coronavirus lockdown process.

"We're glad to see solar energy designated as an essential service in California," stated Madeline Cammarata, President of Green Stream Holdings. "We continue to be extremely excited about our expansion on the West Coast. Our model is unique and holds the potential to create enormous value for underserved communities and our shareholders."

GSFI holds two core businesses: Green Stream Finance, Inc. ("Green Stream"), and Green Rain Solar, LLC ("Green Rain"). Both segments are involved in the production of solar energy at company owned and operated facilities, with rooftops acting as a core site premise.

Green Stream Finance is a community shared solar model where the tremendous benefits of solar energy creation can be shared among the residents of a community. This model has proven extremely effective at "democratizing" the value of energy generated through rooftop or quasi-local solar farms by allowing local residents to purchase access to the energy proceeds through the local utility provider through customer contracts. However, the industry has failed to gain strong traction because design is important to privately-held commercial property interests, which has limited access. Green Stream has partnered with architecture legend Anthony Morali to design solar installations that seamlessly integrate into commercial structures to remove this obstacle and open up more capacity in municipal areas.

In underserved and growing markets, Green Stream engages customers through simple leasing agreements of solar infrastructure, next-generation batteries, and PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements). Typically, the Company retains 80% of the customer's savings, which are substantial.

Green Rain Solar (greenrainsolar.com) is the branded public face of the GSFI ecosystem, and primarily engages in the construction of bespoke commercial solar projects and solar-powered greenhouses perfect for rooftop agriculture or aquaponics (the symbiotic cultivation of aquatic life and vegetation). Green Rain installations will generate revenues through the sale of solar energy as well as access to cultivation facilities within its greenhouses. Green Rain anticipates strong access to unique markets through the added benefit of its greenhouse facilities, and the ability to market greenhouse cultivation plots and donate freshly cultivated natural foods to local communities.

"Our model generates significant margins and has the ability to scale up rapidly and without significant balance sheet risk," continued Cammarata. "Our Green Stream model is established. But we are even more excited about our Green Rain model. Our greenhouses are designed with the future in mind. Greenhouses use over 18 million kWh of electricity each year. We have mobilized recent research from UC Santa Cruz, using solar energy and pink light, to create facilities that will drive faster, more robust growth on a zero-carbon footprint, and generate a marketable surplus of solar energy. We then monetize the facility as a food cultivation resource and energy farm. This is where the future is headed. This is something that every community can value."

About Green Stream Finance, Inc.:

Green Stream Finance, Inc., a Wyoming-based corporation with satellite offices in Pacific Palisades, CA and New York, NY, is focused on exploiting currently unmet markets in the solar energy space, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses, constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Antony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City where it is targeting 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of rooftop space for the installation of its solar panels. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact/Address

Green Stream Finance Inc. & Green Rain Solar, LLC

16620 Marquez Avenue

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Phone: 310-230-0240

For All Inquiries Contact:

info@greenstreamfinance.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55197
Figure out your options

Salli Pung, the long-term care ombudsman for the state of Michigan, urges people to think through practicalities such as how a home is set up, whether someone could maneuver with a wheelchair or rolling walker, and if the bathroom is large enough, safe and accessible.

There are lots of details to consider, she says, and some things can fall through the cracks during a transition home, such as prescriptions that could run out, or trouble getting placed back in a nursing home if you change your mind.

Patricia Hunter, Washington state's long-term care ombudsman, says it important to sort through your options and come up with a game plan. Any wish to leave a facility  short or long term  starts by notifying the social work department or the nurse manager for the facility. There are state and federal laws about discharge planning and processes. Residents and family members should discuss with the facility what the terms are for leaving and returning and get everything in writing.

"If you're worried about your loved one's safety, have a Plan B in your back pocket, Hunter says. If you had to take your mother home, what would that look like? What would you need? Is it even feasible?"

State advocates like Pung and Hunter also look at the flip side and have families consider why staying put in a nursing home might be the best option, for the same reasons families made that choice in the first place.

An agonizing dilemma

Jonathan Evans, a geriatric medicine specialist in Charlottesville, Virginia, understands how agonizing care decisions can be.

When coronavirus first hit in the United States, he traveled to the Life Care Center of Kirkland, a Seattle-area nursing home that had 37 deaths related to the virus. He wanted to find out how families were dealing with the crisis.

He says he found people acting with courage and love in a time of great uncertainty and fear. And that's having a profound effect on how he is helping his patients and families navigate this crisis.

He tells people that there's no wrong answer, and whatever they're doing is based on love, and you can never be wrong to love your mother or father or spouse."

So, whether a family decides to bring a loved one home or to keep him or her in a nursing home, Evans wants to validate their choice and help them come up with next steps in either scenario.
Biopharma major AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford on Thursday announced an agreement for the global development and distribution of the universitys potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing Covid-19 infection from SARS-CoV-2.

The Oxford vaccine is currently undergoing human trials and initial data is expected in May and advanced results by September. But the Boris Johnson government and experts are working to put in place facilities to produce the vaccine on a large scale if it succeeds.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca would be responsible for development and worldwide manufacturing and distribution of the vaccine.

Pascal Soriot of AstraZeneca, said: As Covid-19 continues its grip on the world, the need for a vaccine to defeat the virus is urgent. This collaboration brings together the University of Oxfords world-class expertise in vaccinology and AstraZenecas global development, manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

Our hope is that, by joining forces, we can accelerate the globalisation of a vaccine to combat the virus and protect people from the deadliest pandemic in a generation.

Alok Sharma, business secretary, added: This collaboration between Oxford University and AstraZeneca is a vital step that could help rapidly advance the manufacture of a coronavirus vaccine.

The Oxford vaccine project is among over 80 across the globe working to produce the vaccine, as the death toll and number of cases continue to mount in various countries.

Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, said: Our partnership with AstraZeneca will be a major force in the struggle against pandemics for many years to come. We believe that together we will be in a strong position to start immunising against coronavirus once we have an effective approved vaccine.

Sadly, the risk of new pandemics will always be with us and the new research centre will enhance the worlds preparedness and our speed of reaction the next time we face such a challenge.

The Oxford vaccine entered Phase I clinical trials last week to study safety and efficacy in healthy volunteers aged 18 to 55 years, across five trial centres in England.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 23:20:55|Editor: huaxia

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COPENHAGEN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe, on Thursday called on governments and health authorities to prevent the impact of COVID-19 from being amplified by neglecting other vital health protection measures.

During a weekly press conference on COVID-19 broadcast online from Copenhagen, Kluge called for restoration of dual-track health systems safely and quickly so as to continue "delivering regular health services, whilst responding aggressively to COVID-19."

He also called on people and communities to "ensure your child is vaccinated."

The WHO official warned that "COVID-19 is not going away any time soon," giving another bleak batch of figures on the impact of COVID-19 in the European region.

"Today, the European Region accounts for 46 percent of cases and 63 percent of deaths globally. The Region remains very much in the grip of this pandemic," said Kluge.

The region has reported 1,408,266 confirmed cases of infection, of which 129,344 have resulted in untimely deaths, according to Kluge.

He also addressed the prospect of a looming second wave of infections, which virologists suspect may strike in autumn.

"Our position has been that the key issue here is to work with what we call inter-waves. So we use the first wave to buy time to fight a second or a third wave, particularly if there is no vaccine or no equal access yet to the vaccine or any treatment."

For this "inter-wave" response, Kluge once again stressed that dual-track health systems, which encompass the public and the private sectors, need to manage "repeated waves" of COVID-19 as well as the demand made on the health services for other infections.

"So the key issue is to be prepared, whether it is for a second wave or an older outbreak of the other infectious agents." Enditem
Mayor Andy Berke, in his final State of the City Address, said he had no apologies for putting the public's health foremost.

He noted that he had received criticism for continuing a Shelter in Place order as Governor Bill Lee was beginning to reopen the state.

Mayor Berke gave his final address electronically due to the health concerns of the coronavirus.

Here are Mayor Berke's remarks:

For three decades, Chattanoogas mayors have come to you each year to report on the State of our City, a tradition that has become one of our communitys most important civic gatherings.

Hundreds of people who care deeply about our great city attend every year. We celebrate our past, we take stock of our present, and we look forward to our future. Ive attended many of those events and, for the past seven years, Ive had the tremendous honor to deliver this address to you.Ive given it because its important, and Ive given it because its true.Chattanooga has made progress like no other mid-sized city in the country these past seven years, and the world has noticed.One of the best small cities in America.One of the best cities in America to start a business. One of the best cities to visit in America.One of the top places to live in America.Just two months ago, Forbes magazine wrote that Chattanooga would be the number one place for new jobs in 2020.All things true, then and now. When I say the state of our city is strong, I say it because I know its a fact. I grew up here, and I have spent my entire adult life here. There has never been a better time to live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.But tonight, as you know and can plainly see, this speech is unlike any other a mayor of this city has given.The COVID-19 epidemic plaguing our nation with a million infections has not missed Chattanooga.195 Tennesseans, here with us just two months ago, are now dead. Thirteen of those lived in our county. Many more are in our hospitals now. And while I applaud the Hamilton County Health Department and their partners for expanding testing, we still have not yet tested even 2 percent of Tennesseans.We have paused large gatherings, like the kind weve traditionally had for this speech, in part because I have ordered them to stop under the emergency powers of this office, but mostly because Chattanoogans knew we should. No one in this city has been cited for violating any order of this office, or that of the governor.

Chattanoogans know what is right. You always have.



Yet, the question of what is right seems more debated than ever. You hear one thing from Governor Lee, another from me. On the nightly briefings, the President and his advisors contradict each other from minute to minute.



In the balance hangs our city and the 180,000 people who call it home. Both our health and our pocketbooks depend on what happens next. Chattanoogans are watching the news, trying to make sense of it, worried that touching a door handle could lead to an infection -- but also knowing that keeping a small business closed will cause tremendous financial hardship.



So we sit in our homes, trying to figure out what comes next.



There is a story in my faith tradition that may be familiar to many of you as well. The story is of the prophet Elijah. Like a lot of prophets, he has worn out his welcome, and he has fled to a cave on the side of a mountain to hide from his enemies.



God asks Elijah, what are you doing here? And Elijah says: Im hiding.



Thats when God says to Elijah: come out here, and you will find me. Elijah moves to the edge of the cave and witnesses a tremendous wind, then an earthquake, and



then a great fire. But the story teaches that God wasnt in any of those things. Instead, he was in what came nexta quiet so still that Elijah knew: That is where God is.



Then God asks again: What are you doing here, Elijah?



Elijah answers by leaving the cave and continuing his work. Every year at Passover, we set a place for Elijah at our seder table. It reminds us of his faithfulness, and of ours.



These last few weeks I have been reminded, over and over again, of the great faithfulness of this community. We have experienced our own form of fire and earthquake. We have certainly experienced the wind.



And yet, we have found, Chattanooga is not in the storm. Chattanooga, our true character, is in the still, small voice that sends us to work when the storm is passed.



I think of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, a community of faith in East Brainerd. Five church families lost their homes and all their possessions in the tornado that raged through our city 17 days ago. But they didnt lose their community, or their faith. Some stayed overnight in the church. Others found shelter, food, and warmth, in the comfort of neighbors.



And then, last Sunday, pastor Clair Sauer used the internet, as I am tonight, to talk to her congregation about fear, and having the courage to come out from behind locked doors to love one another.



This is not always easy. The last few years have taught us what endurance really looks like: A domestic terrorism attack. A tragic school bus crash. A water outage in ninety-seven-degree heat. And now, a global pandemic.



More than many American cities, we know all too well the fear, and the power, of the unknown. It can be a family locked together in their basement, or a grandmother locked alone in her nursing home room, fearful that the next angel of mercy might prove to be an angel of death. Or it can be the business owner, wondering: if I unlock the doors, will anyone come?



But I know this. Chattanooga isnt in the storm, and it isnt in the locked doors. Chattanooga is in the still, small voicesand actionsof our community, embracing one another as were able and as were called.



You should know Mackenzie. She works at a senior living facility. Every night, she launders her uniform, every morning she takes her temperature. She knows that one mistake can cause unimaginable harm to the very people shes meant to take care of. But last Friday, there was a parade of families in the parking lot. Those who had loved ones inside did what they could to show their love and appreciation, driving by with posters and signs. Mackenzie really felt the value of her work.



Its relationshipsthats the foundation of Chattanooga. No matter what the magazines say, our Citys core has never been aquariums or bridges or mountains. Yes, those are important. But the strength of this community has always come when we forge a vision for the future and build understanding and commonality with our neighbors as a result.



That should notit cannotchange just because we wear masks when we are out. A mask changes how we look, but we cant let it change how we see each other.



For we will NOT be remembered for the time we stayed in our homes, as necessary as that has beenand still is. I am convinced we will be remembered for what we did next. Did our city take these twin challenges and rebuild upon them something new?



Becauseand if I didnt know this before I became Mayor, I sure know it nowtime is short. Not just political time, but our time. What we make of this moment we are given, as well as what we leave behind, determines not only our legacy but the future of our children.



At the beginning of this crisis, city council and I set aside $2.5 million to help our local, small businesses get through the economic stoppage. Within twenty-four hours, more than a hundred businesses applied.



And still more was needed.



This week, our Economic and Community Development Department found an innovative way to repurpose $600,000 and make it available to Chattanoogans who are living on the edge and cannot pay their rent. City Council immediately authorized it, as every member is hearing from constituents desperate for aid.



And still more is needed.



So, we must do more. There is more on our agenda than flattening the curve; we must get ahead of it. We have a responsibility to prepare for the recovery at the same time we are helping people get through the current fallout. That is what our city has done for decades, and what we are called to do today.



As our federal government is preparing its relief packages, lets put forward a few ideas about where we start.



First, we need to get Chattanooga in front of a crowd. Our city has the fastest, cheapest, most pervasive internet in the world, a municipally owned ten gigabit network that goes to every home and every business in a 600-square mile area. It has been powering our economy for a decade. Today in the era of physical distancing, we use it to teach our kids, work from home, communicate with our doctors, and even learn how to give ourselves a haircut. It is vitally important, now more than ever.



Next, in this time of shrinking local budgets, we need the federal government to assist us in starting new infrastructure projects. Chattanooga has done its part, but that will be made more difficult with our shrinking sales and hotel/motel taxes.



Now is the moment to ask our Senators and Representatives to fund the rebuilding of our valuable roads and bridges, while employing millions of Americans in living wage jobs.



Speaking of which, we need to future-proof our workforce. As we aspire to improve, Chattanoogans will be looking to enhance their resumes for good middle class jobs. In every economic downturn, Americans return to universities, community colleges, and trade schools so they can enter new industries. We have set aside dollars for a tech training fund, but it is hard for people struggling to pay their bills to take advantage of it. By pushing coding initiatives, health care paths, and robotics training, we can help under-unemployed residents move into growing, critical industries that have existing needs and middle-class pay.



Finally, over the last few years, we have built and preserved housing, yet there is great unmet need. Most American cities, including Chattanooga, face a shortage of homes and apartments within peoples budgets. Last decade, with our rising wages, most developers erected market-rate housing, as affordable units were simply not as profitable. We can change that, especially with help from the state and federal governments. More housing brings people closer to schools and jobs, while keeping home prices within reach of middle-class earners.



Across our country, and in our city, Americans are suffering. As we build back, lets set our aspirations to our noblest purpose.



After all, I hear it asked all the time: When can we get back to normal? But, can you imagine thinking this way in the 1970s and 80s, when our city was empty and polluted? No, the city we love today was made because Chattanooga asks the different question.



How can we do it better? How can our city be more fair, more open, more prosperous, and yes, more safe?



The work has never been easy. But its the work Chattanooga embracesto keep our values at the fore. To be focused on each business, every non-profit, and neighborhoods from Lookout Valley to Shepherd, from Alton Park to Hixson, and everything in between, so that ALL have the tools to be successful both in clear skies and in the storm.



In part, that means having a government that works for you. One thing you learn as Mayor is the quality of the people who serve our city. We always think of first responders first, and we should. But Chief Roddy and Chief Hyman would rush to tell you it doesnt end there. Our public works employees, the people who plan for our citys future, our parks, YFD, ECD, and Transportation staffs, all of them come to work every day to discover new ways to protect and serve this great city. They have always had my deep respect, and it has only grown during this pandemic.



This crisis has taught us how to adapt to circumstances while never changing our values. A few years ago, we were certified as ending veterans homelessness in our community, so we expanded our outreach to house more people sleeping in camps and in parking lots. It would have been easy, in the world of coronavirus, to pause, but that simply wasnt possible. Chad, for example, had been working at a local restaurant but he was also homeless. Our teams never stopped pushing, and now Chad lives within walking distance of his employer. His story is not uncommon. In fact, we have housed 72 individuals since closing City Hall on March 14.



If we listen, in the quiet, we will hear the call.



March 14th was also the day our library closed, but our employees did not rest. They used the Sewing Lab to make face masks for Hospice of Chattanooga and the Kidney Center, 3D printers to construct face shields, and computers to produce videos for families.



Our city employees know, we all know, Chattanooga is not meant for the locked door.



The Enterprise Center saw that Chattanoogans could suffer if their spiritual needs were not met. So when Pastor Calvin White of Christ Hope in Avondale called up and said he was thinking of closing unless he could figure out how to worship safely, Sammy Lowdermilk and Geoff Millener brought him the tools he needed to livestream. Now, they dont just have their devoted members; 90 new people are watching as well. And Pastor White, who admits he isnt the savviest person on the computer, says hes going to keep using the web to meet the needs of our community when this is all done.



We are all building this airplane as we fly it. That means taking extraordinary action for these extraordinary circumstances.



And for that, this office has come under some criticism. Thats well and good, but I tell you this: No mayor of any city, and certainly no mayor of this city, should ever apologize for doing what is right by the people of his city.



I welcome everyone, elected or otherwise, Republican or Democrat, who wants to help bind up our wounds. But I will not wait, I will not equivocate, and I will not stop fighting for the people of Chattanooga.



The office of the Mayor exists to protect the health and safety of our city, and the only way I know to discharge my duties faithfully is to put the health and safety of our citizens first. I have done so to the best of my abilities, and I will do so without reservation for as long as our charter grants me that sacred obligation.



But for all of that, I know, and so do you, that those doing the real work are the people of Chattanooga. You have continually found new ways to come out from behind the locked door, to wait out the storm, and then embrace one another as brothers and sisters.



Ive noticed it all around. Were checking in on each other more. A call, a text, an onscreen family reunion. Neighbors calling to one another from their front porches. Families walking down the street, searching for teddy bears in picture windows.



Overwhelmingly, Chattanoogans know that our city isnt in the storm or behind the locked door, but in the still, small ways we are embracing one another.



But embracing one another right now means keeping our physical distance and putting health first. That is what is best for Chattanoogans; it is also what is best for business. Workers must feel confident that going back to their jobs will not threaten theirs or their families health. Consumers will only return to restaurants, shops, and other establishments if they know it is safe to do so.



I know many of us feel like the doors may remain locked forever.



So let us remember Elijah. How natural it must have felt for Elijah to run away and hide. How, in the midst of a great trial, the temptation must have been powerful to say, I just want to live out my life here, on a mountain, by myself.



But that is not what I promised to do when I took that oath to be faithful to this great city. And that is not what you do, each and every day, when you unlock the doors of your heart, when you come out from under the passing storm, and embrace the moment you are given.



Our future is not in the storm. It is not in the locked door. Our future, if we are brave enough to listen, is in the still small voice that asks us:



What are we doing here?



And then, the voice that answers within us: I am doing the next thing, whatever that is before me, to help my neighbor, my street, and my community to be the best Chattanooga yet.



Good night, be safe, and God bless you.

Watch the speech:

https://www.youtube.com/ embed/eEmI7JJ2XZc






A Colombian cartel kingpin will have to serve the rest of his prison term in jail after a Florida federal court judge ruled that his current health status did not leave him particularly at risk for coronavirus infection.

U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno found Tuesday that Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, former chief of the Cali Cartel, did not have serious enough health problems to merit early release.

The judge opined that allowing 81-year-old to walk out early would be a blow to the justice system.

'The court can only imagine the far-reaching, destructive effects of this much cocaine in the United States,' Moreno wrote. 'How many thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives were affected?'

The Cali Cartel led by Rodriguez Orejuela and his brother, Miguel, smuggled more than 200,000 kilos of cocaine worth more than $2.1 billion into the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s.

Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela (photographed above on November 7, 2002) leaves the Combita maximum security prison, in Tunja, 60 miles northeast of Bogota, Colombia. A Florida federal judge ruled Tuesday that one of the world's most notorious Colombian cocaine cartel kingpins will not be released early from a U.S. prison over claims of ill health and coronavirus fears

This photograph taken from a Colombian television broadcast shows a Most Wanted announcement offering $1.5 million each for information leading to the capture of the leaders of the Cali cocaine cartel Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela (left) and his brother Miguel Angel Rodriguez Orejuela (right). This was the first time photos of the two leaders were shown in public

The organization succeeded the Medellin cartel once run by drug lord Pablo Escobar. Both used violence and killings extensively for intimidation and enforcement.

Rodriguez Orejuela has served about half of a 30-year prison sentence imposed after he and his brother reached a 2006 plea deal with federal prosecutors in Miami.

His attorney, David O. Markus, said he was 'saddened and disappointed' by the decision.

'We should let old and sick inmates die at home with their families, not alone in a prison cell,' Markus said in an email.

In his argument for compassionate release, court documents show Rodriguez Orejuela suffers from a range of health problems including colon cancer, prostate cancer, two heart attacks, high blood pressure, skin cancer, gout, chronic anxiety and depression.

The documents paint a picture of a frail old man who often must use a walker and frequently visits the infirmary at his prison in Butner, North Carolina.

Cali Cartel top leader Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela (pictured above on August 1995) after his capture. A judge in Cali sentenced Rodriguez to nine years in prison and his brother Gilberto, the other leader to 10 years, and fined them $12million for drug trafficking

Gilberto Rodriguez-Orejuela (pictured above on November 7, 2002) asked a Florida federal judge to let him return to his family in Colombia because he suffers from prostate and colon cancer. But the judge denied his petition, saying his current health condition does not expose him to being possibly infected with the coronavirus

The coronavirus that has killed more than 229,000 people and sickened over 3million worldwide, and has been a problem in many jails and prisons, is another concern, the documents say.

Prosecutors acknowledged that Rodriguez Orejuela has multiple health issues but added that he can still get around and generally take care of himself under medical supervision.

Moreno ruled that those health problems are not enough to merit compassionate release - even under the possible threat of the coronavirus.

'Rodriguez Orejuela's medical condition, while far from perfect, is also far from extraordinary and compelling,' the judge wrote.

Under the brothers 2006 plea deal, more than two dozen family members were removed from a Treasury Department list designating them as part of the Cali cartel. That spared some of them from prosecution for obstruction of justice or money laundering and also allowed legitimate family businesses in Colombia to continue operating.

Rodriguez Orejuela's prison release date is scheduled for February 9, 2030, when he would be in his early 90s. His brother, 76-year-old Miguel, is serving his sentence at a Pennsylvania prison.

In a separate case, a different Miami federal judge is weighing whether to permit early release of Fabio Ochoa, 62, a former leader of the Medellin cartel. Ochoa's lawyer argues he should get out of prison because of a change in sentencing guidelines that would shave five years off his 30-year sentence.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be seen in an interaction with former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan on the debilitating impact of COVID-19 on the Indian economy.



Shri @RahulGandhi will be interacting with Former RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram Rajan on the critical issues related to COVID-19 and its economic impact.

Tune in tomorrow at 9am to watch this interaction on our social media platforms. pic.twitter.com/Bi1BEwY7gL  Congress (@INCIndia) April 29, 2020

The Twitter handle of the Congress party said the interaction will be streamed on their social media platforms at 9 am on April 30.

In the video message, Rahul Gandhi said: "There are a lot questions on the impact of the virus, in particular, on the economy."

Meanwhile, Rajan said: "In this situation, India can find opportunities, for its industry, for its supply chains."

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 video, Gandhi asks Rajan, as to how much money will be needed to help the poor, to which the latter says, "Approximately, 65,000 crore."

The two even had discussions on "hatred and inequality plaguing the Indian society and infrastructure today" among other things.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
DECATUR  Two new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Macon County on Wednesday, while health officials in DeWitt County said a 22-year-old resident was the countys second confirmed case who is a Decatur health care worker.

The DeWitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department described the resident as a close contact of a case reported on Tuesday. That woman, also a DeWitt County resident, is described as 19 who works in the health care field in Decatur.

County officials are not identifying the residents or where they work.

"This case is following quarantine guidance specific to health care workers, and contacts are following quarantine orders. All remain under daily monitoring," the agency said in a statement.

Five of the cases in DeWitt and Piatt counties  which share a health department  are health care workers.

Overall, DeWitt County has two current positive cases with four test results pending. One person has recovered. Piatt reported no current positive cases or pending tests, and six people who have recovered.

The two additional cases in Macon County brings the county's COVID-19 total to 110.

The county's Joint Crisis Communication Team said 17 people have been released from isolation, 76 are in home isolation and six are hospitalized. Eleven people have died.

The two largest age demographics of confirmed cases are people in their 80s and people in their 30s. The bulk of the cases, nearly 71%, are women.

"All community members, whether feeling ill or well, must implement social distancing best practices to limit the spread and contraction of COVID-19," the team said.

Also Wednesday, a resident of the Montgomery Nursing and Rehab Center in Taylor Springs has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.

The facility, in a joint statement with the Christian-Montgomery Emergency Management Agency, said the resident tested positive at a local hospital.

"We are in close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all the appropriate steps," officials said in the news release. "Resident safety is our top priority."

8 changes to the Illinois stay-at-home order starting Friday

Contact Allison Petty at (217) 421-6986. Follow her on Twitter: @AllisonAPetty

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President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the nations Armed Forces to sustain ongoing counter insurgency operations on the fringes of Lake Chad and the entire North East so that the Boko Haram menace can be totally eliminated.

Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president gave the directive after receiving in the audience Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State in the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.

Mr Buhari, who noted with satisfaction the giant strides being recorded by the armed forces in the fight against insurgency, urged them not to relent in the discharge of their mandate.

He specifically warned against complacency in the task of ensuring that the nations territory is no longer habitable for the terrorists so that sustainable peace and development can be achieved.

This, according to him, is necessary towards ensuring that farming and other socio-economic activities in the area are not disrupted.

He expressed the belief that the health and well-being of the nation depends largely on its ability to feed itself and agricultural production is key.

Mr Buhari also tasked the Yobe governor to continuously mobilise community support for the military operations, saying intelligence sharing and synergy between law enforcement agencies and the civil populace are critical towards achieving the objectives.

The governor, who earlier briefed the president on the security situation in his state, appreciated the federal government for the decisive and proactive measures being employed in the renewed onslaught against the Boko Haram terrorists.

He noted that significant achievements had been recorded by the military in containing the criminal elements now in disarray after the recent operations by the Chadian Military.

The governor said if the tempo is maintained Boko Haram will soon become history.

(NAN)
SWEET HOME, Ore.  One person is dead after a rollover crash near Highway 20 on Thursday.

It happened on Fairview Road between Lebanon and Sweet Home.

The crash involved a pickup truck and a bicyclist. The bicyclist died at the scene.

Authorities told KEZI 9 News they are working to get more information about the crash.
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Google has just started shipping its Pixel Buds today but a new feature called attention alerts already appears to be in the works. The feature was spotted in a recent APK teardown of the Google Pixel Buds app. So it isnt quite ready for release just yet. But its branding effectively says it all. The new feature would apparently alert users to external circumstances, requiring users attention.

As the branding might imply, the goal is to help users maintain situational awareness. More directly, the alerts appear to center around AI-based listening. When the Ai hears certain sounds, it responds by alerting the user to that sound.

That way, users can enjoy great noise isolation preventing external noises from marring the listening experience provided by the newly launched Google Pixel Buds. Simultaneously, they wont be completely oblivious to whats going on around them.

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Pixel Buds attention alerts use cases would be limited, for now

The use cases for the new feature would be fairly limited. The purpose of that is likely to help alleviate instances involving false alarms.

Specifically, strings of code associated with attention alerts for Pixel Buds point to three different sounds that the AI would be actively listening for. The first is aimed more directly at parents and others who frequently care for young children and infants. Thats marked in the code as an option to listen for a crying baby.

Google also includes a string suggesting users can be alerted in the event of a fire alarm.

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Pet owners using Pixel Buds will also find that an option exists to listen for a barking dog. The reason for that inclusion should be fairly obvious since dogs often only bark at a select number of things. For instance, a dog might bark if somebody is at the door or if something is wrong in the house.

The strings of code behind the feature seem to suggest that users will be able to set the alerts off or on by category. That will undoubtedly if prove useful Google releases the AI feature, for any user whose pet isnt well behaved. Or in cases where the earbuds might be worn in public in the presence of dogs or babies.

If Google does opt to allow the features to be individually set, that could also pave the way for more options to be added in the future.

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This proves how AI listening can be useful but when is it coming?

Now, Google will almost certainly utilize on-device AI always-on detection, listening, and processing to enable the attention alerts feature. And it will almost certainly use similar methods to its other AI offerings, such as Assistant, to keep those secure and privacy intact. But none of that means this feature will arrive any time soon.

The search giant only just announced its Pixel Buds at the end of 2019 and didnt start shipping them until this week. Attention alerts arent fully fleshed out yet either. Moreover, the feature is marked out explicitly for developers. That all suggests that the company likely hasnt gotten very far into development at this point. So, although attention alerts would probably be extremely useful, it remains to be seen if the feature will release at all.
Indonesian police have found the bodies of a Ukrainian couple in Bali, according to Coconuts Bali.

"Police have reportedly launched an investigation to find out the cause of death of two Ukrainian nationals, whose bodies were found in Kedonganan sub-district of Badung regency last night," the report said.

According to reports, the bodies were sprayed with disinfectants before they were transported with an ambulance to Sanglah General Hospital.

Denpasar Police Chief Jansen Avitus Panjaitan, said that the deceased were evacuated with COVID-19 protocols as a precaution.

"For the time being we have not found any indication of violence," Jansen said.

Police were alerted to the situation after the apartment staff noticed that they had not left their room for a whole day. After they managed to open the room the two victims were lying on the floor and lifeless.

op
Published on:

29 April 2020



Magnetically responsive microscopic drug carrier Magnetically responsive microscopic drug carrier

The researchers were able to use magnetism to hold magnetically responsive microscopic drug carriers at chosen sites, even in the presence of external forces, such as flowing liquid, which would normally displace them.

They also found that magnetism restricted the movement of cells containing these drug capsules. This suggests that even if immune cells captured, or engulfed, the drug carriers, they would be unable to remove them from the body.

Dr David Gould a Senior Researcher at Queen Mary, said: We know that targeting drug delivery vehicles to particular disease sites can improve their effectiveness, but often they will be removed from the body via the lymphatics or by immune cells, which engulf small drug vehicles, like they would invading bacteria.

In this study weve shown in an in vitro system that applying magnetism to magnetically responsive small drug delivery vehicles can help to retain them at the delivery site, presenting a new approach to localised drug delivery. Interestingly, we also saw that even if cells, engulfed the vehicles, these cells were unable to then move out of the magnetic field so the drugs still remained at the site they were needed.

Developing safe and responsive drug carriers

To make the drug delivery vehicles responsive to magnetism, tiny nanoparticles of iron, known as SPIONS, were incorporated into the structure of the carrier during its assembly by a method devised by Professor Gleb Sukhorukov from the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary.

Previous studies have suggested that SPIONS can sometimes result in the production of harmful substances, known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are toxic to cells.

However, the postdoctoral researcher working on the project, Dr Jordan Read, found that ROS were not produced following the delivery of their magnetically responsive drug carriers to cells, suggesting they are safe to use within the body.

Improved treatment outcomes

Being able to administer treatments locally, at the site of a disease can increase the effectiveness of drugs, whilst reducing side effects that result from the drug being released elsewhere in the body.

In this study, the researchers showed that this magnetic retention technique could successfully deliver the potent anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, at a specific location.

Dr Gould said: For conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, we know the beneficial effects of treatments come from their effects within the joint, so by developing methods that are able to keep drugs within the joint, we hope to deliver longer-lasting effects, reduce side effects and ultimately, improve treatment outcomes.

This study shows that were able to use this novel drug delivery system to keep a potent anti-inflammatory drug, at the site it is needed, but we expect this system could be applicable to many other drugs.

The study is part of ongoing interdisciplinary research collaboration between Dr Gould at the William Harvey Research Institute, and Professor Sukhorukov in the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary, and was funded by Versus Arthritis.

Angela Davies, Head of Research Engagement at Versus Arthritis, says: Many of the treatments for arthritis and related conditions come with unpleasant side effects for the people taking them and are not as effective as we would like them to be. Finding new ways to deliver treatments to the affected areas and keep them there, can offer a way to help with these issues. These findings, although very early stage, show the potential of an innovative approach to tackling this issue. We look forward to seeing how this research will develop."

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 18:47:00|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Governing Council has established a new COVID-19 aviation recovery task force to coordinate global efforts to rescue international air transport, the agency said Wednesday.

The council body will leverage government and industry data toward solutions to challenges being felt in the aviation sector, and toward priorities to be addressed to reboot the network for a post-COVID world and make it more resilient and responsive in the process, the ICAO said in a news release.

The new body consists of ICAO council members and high-level aviation industry representatives, while the World Health Organization, the World Tourism Organization, and heads of several national and regional aviation administrations are also represented, according to the UN agency.

"Air connectivity is critical to economic and sustainable development in every region of the world," ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano said at a meeting of the task force on Wednesday.

"An effective recovery of international air transport is essential to support the post COVID-19 pandemic worldwide economic recovery," he said.

The task force is expected to offer its first outcome by the end of May, said the ICAO.

The ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. Enditem
A woman has jailed after she stole a doctor's identity card while he was in a pharmacy.

Sabrina Moustaki, from Coventry, was caught on CCTV on April 22 breaking into the NHS worker's car to steal his bag - which contained his work ID card and bank cards.

The doctor only realised what had happened when he went back to his car.

Moustaki pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a motor vehicle at Coventry Magistrates Court on Wednesday, West Midlands police said.

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She has been jailed for eight weeks and will pay a 128 fine.

Detective Inspector Amar Patel of West Midlands Police said: Its terrible to think that during this current Covid-19 crisis, some people are still seeking and taking opportunities to commit crime and cause unnecessary stress on people in what is already a difficult time.
Statement issued the same day US media reports that Trump officials are pressuring analysts to connect virus with China.

Intelligence agencies in the United States have concluded that the new coronavirus was not man-made or genetically modified but say they are still examining whether the origins of the pandemic can be traced to contact with infected animals or an accident at a Chinese lab.

The statement on Thursday from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the clearinghouse for the web of US spy agencies, comes as President Donald Trump and his allies have touted the as-yet unproven theory that an infectious disease lab in Wuhan, the epicentre of the Chinese outbreak, was the source of the global pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 people worldwide.

The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified, said the statement. The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.

The statement was issued on the same day The New York Times reported that officials in the Trump administration have been pressuring intelligence analysts to more definitively connect the virus with labs in China as part of a wider political effort to deflect blame for the outbreak in the run-up to the November presidential election.

Intelligence analysts expressed concern that the pressure would lead the agencies to distort their assessments for political reasons.

Relations between the intelligence community and Trump have been rocky since the start of his administration, after repeated claims by the president that a deep-state cabal attempted to derail his 2016 campaign and undermine his presidency.

Trump addressed the accidental-release theory earlier this month, saying, More and more, were hearing the story. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added, The mere fact that we dont know the answers  that China hasnt shared the answers  I think is very, very telling.

Pompeo also pressed China to let outside experts into the lab so that we can determine precisely where this virus began.

Scientists say the virus arose naturally in bats. Even so, Pompeo and others have pointed fingers at an institute that is run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It has done groundbreaking research tracing the likely origins of the SARS virus, finding new bat viruses and discovering how they could jump to people.

US officials say the American Embassy in Beijing flagged concerns about potential safety issues at the lab in Wuhan in 2018, but have yet to find any evidence the virus originated there nearly two years later.





The Chinese government said on Thursday that any claims that the coronavirus was released from a laboratory are unfounded and purely fabricated out of nothing.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang cited the institutes director, Yuan Zhiming, as saying the lab strictly implements biosecurity procedures that would prevent the release of any pathogen.

I would like to point out again that the origin of the virus is a complex scientific issue, and it should be studied by scientists and professionals, Geng said.

Geng also criticised US politicians who have suggested China should be held accountable for the global pandemic, saying they should spend their time on better controlling the epidemic situation at home.

But a Chinese government spokesman, Zhao Lijian, demonstrated that China was not above sowing confusion in the face of the pandemic. He tweeted in March the falsehood that the virus might have come from the US Army.
Airbus A340 airplane of Mahan Air is seen at Simon Bolivar International Airport outside Caracas

By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday called on countries to deny overflight rights to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline under U.S. sanctions, which he said recently delivered cargoes of "unknown support" to the Venezuelan government.

The United States maintains punishing sanctions on Iran aimed at containing its regional power in the Middle East and has hit Venezuela with similiarly tough measures in an effort to force socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Speaking at a State Department news conference, Pompeo said aircraft of privately owned Mahan Air, Iran's largest airline, in recent days delivered supplies to Maduro's government.

"Over the last few days, multiple aircraft belonging to Mahan Air have transferred unknown support to the Maduro regime," Pompeo said. "This is the same terrorist airline that Iran used to move weapons and fighters around the Middle East."

The flights "must stop," Pompeo continued, adding that countries should deny Mahan Air overflight rights "just as many have already denied landing rights to this sanctioned airline."

The Trump administration has waged a campaign of sanctions and diplomatic measures against Venezuela in an effort to oust Maduro, whose 2018 re-election was considered a sham by most Western countries.

The United States and dozens of other governments recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president in January of last year. But Maduro - who derides Guaido as a U.S. puppet - remains in power, backed by Venezuela's military as well as Russia, China and Cuba. Some U.S. officials have said this has been a growing source of frustration for President Donald Trump.

Last week, a Venezuelan official said the country received materials via Iranian aircraft to help it start the catalytic cracking unit at the Cardon refinery, which is necessary to produce gasoline. [nL2N2CB1S0]

Story continues

Planes flying from Tehran landed at the Las Piedras airport in western Venezuela, where Cardon is located, on April 21 and 22, according to data on flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 reviewed by Reuters. The planes were operated by Mahan Air.

Both oil-producing countries are OPEC members.

Washington in December and January sanctioned Mahan Air for alleged roles in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and transporting arms and fighters to Syria as part of Iran's backing of Damascus in that country's civil war.

Those sanctions expanded on 2011 counterterrorism sanctions imposed on Mahan Air over its support for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; editing by Matt Spetalnick and Jonathan Oatis)
Sunitha Natti By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Suit-filed defaulters owe a staggering Rs 5 lakh crore to banks and financial institutions, according to latest data. About 40% of the Rs 5 lakh crore comprises wilful defaulters, who owe nearly Rs 2 lakh crore as of December 2019, up from Rs 1.6 lakh crore a year before.

A suit-filed case is one where lenders move court when borrowers default loan payments. On the other hand, wilful defaulters are those who deliberately avoid repayments or siphon off or divert borrowed funds for undisclosed purposes.

As of December 2019, there were 20,841 such suit-filed accounts with dues above Rs 1 crore and 11,176 suit-filed cases against wilful defaulters owing Rs 25 lakh and above. RBI has mandated banks and financial institutions to submit the data to credit information firms every quarter.

Of the Rs 2 lakh crore, public sector banks account for 87% or Rs 1.7 lakh crore. State Bank of India has the highest amount of wilful defaults at Rs 45,364 crore (belonging to 1,695 borrowers), followed by Punjab National Bank at Rs 24,169 cr (1,115 borrowers).

Bank of Baroda, Bank of India and IDBI Bank have the next biggest wilful defaults aggregating Rs 43,610 crore.Data updated by credit information firm Cibil on Wednesday showed 77% or Rs 3.8 lakh crore of the outstanding Rs 5 lakh crore is with state-run lenders.

Again, SBI lead the pack with Rs 1.6 lakh crore stuck in 4,855 suit-filed accounts. While PNB didnt furnish December quarter data, as of September 2019, the outstanding amount stood at Rs 65,372 crore. The latest data comes a day after the RTI query with RBI showing top 50 wilful defaulters owing Rs 68,607 crore, which the Congress alleged was waived off in H1FY20.

Dismissing the allegations, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said no loan was waived off. Provisions are made for NPAs as per the four-year provisioning cycle laid down by RBI. Upon full provisioning being done, banks write-off the fully provided NPA but continue to pursue recovery against the borrower. No loan is waived off, she tweeted late Tuesday. She stressed that from FY10-14, banks wrote off Rs 1.45 lakh crore.

Wilful defaulters are debarred from accessing capital markets or participating in insolvency process. Banks can authorise look-out notices to prevent them from leaving the country.
Bengaluru, April 30 : A team of doctors from the Central government has concluded a Covid-19 assessment and assistance visit to Karnataka, suggesting strengthening human resources at the health institutions, an official said on Thursday.

"They (Central team) also made suggestions on medium and long-term measures like strengthening human resources at the health institutions, training and mass counseling," Health and Family Welfare Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey said in a statement.

The Central team's agenda also included assessing the state's response to Covid-19 and provide required assistance.

In Bengaluru, the team visited health facilities, fever clinics and the BMC Victoria Hospital, a designated Covid-19 centre.

Other institutions included the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases and the National Institute of Virology.

"They were updated on various innovations of the Karnataka government to strengthen health systems and surveillance, including the Critical Care Support Team and tele-ICU unit, the BBMP war room and the media bulletin room," said Pandey.

The team also interacted with local and state health officials in Mysuru, Mandya, Chikkaballapura, Hassan and Dakshina Kannada.

"The Central team held discussions on the state's preparedness on Covid-19 and reviewed the establishment of a designated structure of institutions to serve Covid-19 patients through fever clinics, exclusive Covid care centers and swab collection facilities at taluka and district levels," said Additional Chief Secretary, Jawaid Akhtar.

State health officials also apprised the team about the measures taken to strengthen universal surveillance using databases on tuberculosis, HIV patients and other vulnerable patients.

According to Pandey, the team recognised Victoria Hospital and Surathkal quarantine facilities as centres with model practices besides appreciating Mysuru's screening facility as worthy enough to be emulated by other states.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A new study shows the cost of cancer care for Syrian refugees in host nations for the first time, as researchers urge resources to be provided in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study published today in the Lancet Oncology, led by researchers at King's College London and a collaboration between the cancer and palliative care working group within UKRI Global Challenge Research Fund R4HC-MENA programme (r4hc-mena.org), shows the increasing cost of cancer care for refugees on host nations such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

The findings come as humanitarian organisations and host countries are reallocating funding away from cancer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Richard Sullivan from King's College London said: "The consequences of regional lockdowns and the re-allocation of funding away from non-communicable diseases to COVID-19 will lead to serious loss of life and suffering in refugee populations from cancer in the next three years. There is a critical need for UN and bilateral funders such as the UK to ensure balance in support that recognises the growing impact of cancer in these refugee populations."

Although host countries can apply for funding to meet healthcare costs for their refugee communities, it had not been known how much is needed to meet the costs.

The study, which is the first of its kind to examine the economic burden of cancer in Syrian refugee populations, a major health problem, estimates that it would cost only around 3,000 to 7,000 euros per cancer case to provide good quality care.

This amounts to 11% of the current annual budget of $345 million requested for healthcare costs of Syrian refugees in 2017 for Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The findings should give governments and international agencies a better understanding of resources for the Syrian refugees with cancer to continue providing funding for cancer care even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prof. Dr. Tezer Kutluk UICC Past-president and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Cancer Institute and Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, said:

"How to use the limited resources is a major challenge on managing the refugee crisis. Better understanding the economic burden of cancer care will help governments, international agencies and all stakeholders to better use of available resources for the cancer care of refugee population. This population based modeling study is a good example of estimating the financial burden and hope it will stimulate other researches on health economics for refugee population"

Dr. Deborah Mukherji, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Hematology Oncology, American University of Beirut, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has focussed attention on the fact that health inequalities impact society as a whole. As humanitarian response to crisis becomes prolonged, this article highlights the need for accurate data to inform policy and manage limited resources while protecting vulnerable populations. With multiple stakeholders and competing priorities, cancer care in refugees has not been the focus of sufficient data collection or funding. Strengthening regional capacity for cancer registration, cancer control and context-specific management guidelines will be essential to mitigate the growing burden of cancer in conflict-affected populations of the Middle East."

Dr. Julie Torode, Director, Special Projects, Union of International Cancer Control, said: "The pressing need for integrated models of care for refugees with cancer is heavily underscored as health systems struggle to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of lockdown and closed borders. Sustainable, inclusive and comprehensive financing mechanisms will support steps towards universal health coverage in host countries, like Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey and speed the recovery phase for cancer services and ensure that no one is left behind."

HRH Princess Dina Mired, Princess of Jordan, and current President of the Union of International Cancer Control a major partner of R4HC-MENA programme, said: "The pressing need for integrated models of care for refugees with cancer is heavily underscored as health systems struggle to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of lockdown and closed borders. Sustainable, inclusive and comprehensive financing mechanisms will support steps towards universal health coverage in host countries, like Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey and speed the recovery phase for cancer services and ensure that no one is left behind."

Explore further Guidance issued for breast cancer care during COVID-19
First quarter 2020 revenue of $3.0 billion (down 3.2% year-over-year)



Parts and services organic revenue declined 3.5% (4.7% on a per day basis)

Net income 1 attributable to LKQ stockholders of $146 million (up 49%); adjusted net income of $176 million (flat compared to the prior year)

Diluted EPS attributable to LKQ stockholders of $0.48; adjusted diluted EPS of $0.57

Operating cash flow of $195 million (up 10%); free cash flow of $150 million (up 21%)

Reduced borrowings by $230 million

Implemented targeted cost actions contributing to potential annualized savings run rate of over $1.0 billion

Approximately $1.9 billion of liquidity as of March 31, 2020

CHICAGO, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LKQ Corporation (LKQ) today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. The Company also provided an update on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on its business and its response designed to mitigate the impact.

COVID-19 Update

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly across the globe during the first quarter, our number one priority was, and continues to be, the health and safety of our employees, customers, vendor partners and the communities where we operate. Our businesses got off to an excellent start in January and February, carrying the strong momentum from 2019 on all fronts and reinforcing our key priorities of profitable revenue growth, accretive margins and cash flow generation. Through February, each of our segments was in line with or ahead of our revenue and profit expectations. As the restrictions on movement of people were imposed resulting in the decline of demand for our parts across all business segments, our financial results during the second half of March deteriorated. This reduced level of demand has continued, with April revenue down approximately 40% compared to the prior year, significantly impacting our near-term financial results. We anticipate a gradual improvement in revenue and profitability as governments around the globe begin the process of lifting the restrictions on mobility and opening their economies, stated Dominick Zarcone, President and Chief Executive Officer of LKQ Corporation.

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Mr. Zarcone further commented, To help mitigate the business disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to position LKQ for earnings growth when the U.S. and European economies rebound, we have taken decisive action and implemented comprehensive cost reduction plans throughout the enterprise, including substantial staffing adjustments. This focus on our cost structure and the variable nature of certain expenses has resulted in a potential annualized run-rate savings of more than $1 billion. As market conditions improve, we look forward to bringing our people back, so we can both fulfill the anticipated increase in demand and continue to provide industry leading levels of customer service.

1 References to Net income and Diluted earnings per share, and the corresponding adjusted figures, in this release reflect amounts from continuing operations attributable to LKQ stockholders.

On March 26, 2020, the Company filed a current report on Form 8-K ( link to 8-K ) withdrawing its financial guidance previously issued on February 20, 2020 due to the continued uncertainties from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the continuation of these uncertainties, including the timing of the removal of mobility restrictions and the rate at which demand for auto repairs will improve, we are not issuing updated financial guidance at this time. The withdrawal of the Companys guidance also applies to the targets for the 1 LKQ Europe program discussed on the September 10, 2019 investor call. The Company historically has not provided quarterly revenue or earnings projections.

First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Revenue for the first quarter of 2020 was $3.0 billion, a decrease of 3.2% as compared to $3.1 billion in the first quarter of 2019. For the first quarter of 2020, parts and services organic revenue decreased 3.5% (4.7% on a per day basis) while the net impact of acquisition and divestitures revenue was 0.1% and foreign exchange rates was (1.3%), for a total parts and services revenue decline of 4.6%.

Net income for the first quarter of 2020 was $146 million as compared to $98 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of 49% year-over-year. Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter was $0.48 as compared to $0.31 for the same period of 2019, an increase of 55% year-over-year.

On an adjusted basis, net income was $176 million, which was flat as compared to the same period of 2019. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the first quarter was $0.57 as compared to $0.56 for the same period of 2019, a 2% increase.

Mr. Zarcone further commented, Despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our March 2020 monthly results, we were able to achieve year-over-year growth in earnings per share, a testament to the strength of our business coming into 2020. Of particular note, during the first quarter of 2020 our North American segment achieved a Segment EBITDA margin of 16.4%, the highest level in a decade.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

Cash flow from operations totaled $195 million during the first quarter of 2020, up 10% from a year ago. Free cash flow totaled $150 million, up 21%, year-over-year. The Company made $230 million of net repayments on its borrowings during the quarter. As of March 31, 2020, LKQs balance sheet reflected net debt of $3.5 billion. Net leverage as defined in the credit facility decreased to 2.5x EBITDA. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $1.9 billion in available liquidity, composed of approximately $1.53 billion available under its credit facilities and $333 million of cash and cash equivalents.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased 3.3 million shares of common stock for a total consideration of $88 million. We suspended share repurchases on March 16, 2020. Since initiating the share repurchase program in October 2018, the Company has repurchased 16.5 million shares for a total of approximately $440 million.

Varun Laroyia, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, We are responding to this global macroeconomic challenge by actively aligning our cost structure to the prevailing demand, efficiently managing our cash flows, and thoughtfully balancing our capital allocation priorities. We are confident that our current liquidity and continued positive cash flow from operations in future periods will be sufficient to meet our ongoing operating and capital requirements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains and managements presentation on the conference call will refer to non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Included with this release are reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call Details

LKQ will host a conference call and webcast on April 30, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Central Time) with members of senior management to discuss the Company's results. To access the investor conference call, please dial (833) 236-5754. International access to the call may be obtained by dialing (647) 689-4182. The investor conference call will require you to enter conference ID: 4098245#.

Webcast and Presentation Details

The audio webcast and accompanying slide presentation can be accessed at (www.lkqcorp.com) in the Investor Relations section.

A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone at (800) 585-8367 or (416) 621-4642 for international calls. The telephone replay will require you to enter conference ID: 4098245#. An online replay of the audio webcast will be available on the Company's website. Both formats of replay will be available through May 14, 2020. Please allow approximately two hours after the live presentation before attempting to access the replay.

About LKQ Corporation

LKQ Corporation (www.lkqcorp.com) is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize automobiles and other vehicles. LKQ has operations in North America, Europe and Taiwan. LKQ offers its customers a broad range of replacement systems, components, equipment and parts to repair and accessorize automobiles, trucks, and recreational and performance vehicles.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements and information in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of such Act.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our outlook, guidance, expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions and strategies. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors including those identified below.

All forward-looking statements are based on information available to us at the time the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from the events or results predicted or implied by our forward-looking statements include the factors set forth below, and other factors discussed in our filings with the SEC, including those disclosed under the captions Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These reports are available on our investor relations website at lkqcorp.com and on the SEC website at sec.gov.

These factors include the following (not necessarily in order of importance):

effects on our business from the disruption to economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including a substantial decrease in the demand for our products and services, interruptions to supply chains, and the inability of customers to pay for products and services;

employment-related issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, including employment law claims resulting from the layoffs and furloughs of employees to reduce costs during the period of decreased demand, increased healthcare costs, workforce shortages, and health and safety issues at the workplace;

changes in economic, political and social conditions in the U.S. and other countries in which we are located or do business, including the U.K. withdrawal from the European Union (also known as Brexit), and the impact of these changes on our businesses, the demand for our products and our ability to obtain financing for operations;

increasing competition in the automotive parts industry (including parts sold on online marketplaces and the potential competitive advantage to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with "connected car" technology);

fluctuations in the pricing of new OEM replacement products;

changes in the level of acceptance and promotion of alternative automotive parts by insurance companies and vehicle repairers;

changes to our business relationships with insurance companies or changes by insurance companies to their business practices relating to the use of our products;

our ability to identify acquisition candidates at reasonable prices and our ability to successfully divest underperforming businesses;

our ability to integrate, realize expected synergies, and successfully operate acquired companies and any companies acquired in the future, and the risks associated with these companies;

the implementation of a border tax or tariff on imports and the negative impact on our business due to the amount of inventory we import;

restrictions or prohibitions on selling certain aftermarket products through enforcement by OEMs or government agencies of intellectual property rights;

restrictions or prohibitions on importing certain aftermarket products by border enforcement agencies based on, among other things, intellectual property infringement claims;

variations in the number of vehicles manufactured and sold, vehicle accident rates, miles driven, and the age profile of vehicles in accidents;

the increase of accident avoidance systems being installed in vehicles;

the potential loss of sales of certain mechanical parts due to the rise of electric vehicle sales;

fluctuations in the prices of fuel, scrap metal and other commodities;

changes in laws or regulations affecting our business;

higher costs and the resulting potential inability to service our customers to the extent that our suppliers decide to discontinue business relationships with us;

price increases, interruptions or disruptions to the supply of vehicle parts from aftermarket suppliers and vehicles from salvage auctions;

changes in the demand for our products and the supply of our inventory due to severity of weather and seasonality of weather patterns;

the risks associated with operating in foreign jurisdictions, including foreign laws and economic and political instabilities;

declines in the values of our assets, including as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business;

additional unionization efforts, new collective bargaining agreements, and work stoppages;

our ability to develop and implement the operational and financial systems needed to manage our operations;

interruptions, outages or breaches of our operational systems, security systems, or infrastructure as a result of attacks on, or malfunctions of, our systems;

costs of complying with laws relating to the security of personal information;

product liability claims by the end users of our products or claims by other parties who we have promised to indemnify for product liability matters;

costs associated with recalls of the products we sell;

potential losses of our right to operate at key locations if we are not able to negotiate lease renewals;

inaccuracies in the data relating to our industry published by independent sources upon which we rely;

currency fluctuations in the U.S. dollar, pound sterling and euro versus other currencies;

our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms to finance our growth;

our ability to satisfy our debt obligations and to operate within the limitations imposed by financing arrangements, including the possibility of not satisfying one or more of the financial covenants in our credit facility due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business;

changes to applicable U.S. and foreign tax laws, changes to interpretations of tax laws, and changes in our mix of earnings among the jurisdictions in which we operate; and

disruptions to the management and operations of our business and the uncertainties caused by activist investors.

Contact:

Joseph P. Boutross

Vice President, Investor Relations

LKQ Corporation

(312) 621-2793

jpboutross@lkqcorp.com





LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated

Statements of Income, with Supplementary Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 % of

Revenue (1) % of

Revenue (1) $ Change % Change Revenue $ 3,000,935 100.0 % $ 3,100,303 100.0 % $ (99,368 ) (3.2 %) Cost of goods sold 1,787,059 59.6 % 1,892,039 61.0 % (104,980 ) (5.5 %) Gross margin 1,213,876 40.4 % 1,208,264 39.0 % 5,612 0.5 % Selling, general and administrative expenses 899,811 30.0 % 896,532 28.9 % 3,279 0.4 % Restructuring and acquisition related expenses 6,970 0.2 % 3,307 0.1 % 3,663 n/m (Gain on disposal of business) and impairment of net assets held for sale (249 ) (0.0 %) 15,023 0.5 % (15,272 ) n/m Depreciation and amortization 65,495 2.2 % 71,002 2.3 % (5,507 ) (7.8 %) Operating income 241,849 8.1 % 222,400 7.2 % 19,449 8.7 % Other expense (income): Interest expense, net of interest income 25,931 0.9 % 36,089 1.2 % (10,158 ) (28.1 %) Loss on debt extinguishment 12,751 0.4 %  0.0 % 12,751 n/m Other income, net (3,622 ) (0.1 %) (3,851 ) (0.1 %) 229 (5.9 %) Total other expense, net 35,060 1.2 % 32,238 1.0 % 2,822 8.8 % Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes 206,789 6.9 % 190,162 6.1 % 16,627 8.7 % Provision for income taxes 60,411 2.0 % 51,550 1.7 % 8,861 17.2 % Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries 516 0.0 % (39,549 ) (1.3 %) 40,065 n/m Income from continuing operations 146,894 4.9 % 99,063 3.2 % 47,831 48.3 % Net loss from discontinued operations (915 ) (0.0 %)  0.0 % (915 ) n/m Net income 145,979 4.9 % 99,063 3.2 % 46,916 47.4 % Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest 740 0.0 % 1,015 0.0 % (275 ) (27.1 %) Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest 103 0.0 %  0.0 % 103 n/m Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders $ 145,136 4.8 % $ 98,048 3.2 % $ 47,088 48.0 % Basic earnings per share: (2) Income from continuing operations $ 0.48 $ 0.31 $ 0.17 54.8 % Net loss from discontinued operations (0.00 )  (0.00 ) n/m Net income 0.48 0.31 0.17 54.8 % Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest 0.00 0.00 0.00 n/m Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest 0.00  0.00 n/m Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders $ 0.47 $ 0.31 $ 0.16 51.6 % Diluted earnings per share: (2) Income from continuing operations $ 0.48 $ 0.31 $ 0.17 54.8 % Net loss from discontinued operations (0.00 )  (0.00 ) n/m Net income 0.48 0.31 0.17 54.8 % Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest 0.00 0.00 0.00 n/m Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest 0.00  0.00 n/m Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders $ 0.47 $ 0.31 $ 0.16 51.6 % Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 306,238 315,046 (8,808 ) (2.8 %) Diluted 306,757 316,018 (9,261 ) (2.9 %) (1) The sum of the individual percentage of revenue components may not equal the total due to rounding. (2) The sum of the individual earnings per share amounts may not equal the total due to rounding.





LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

March 31,

2020 December 31,

2019 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 332,784 $ 523,020 Receivables, net 1,168,626 1,131,132 Inventories 2,718,630 2,772,777 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 222,624 260,890 Total current assets 4,442,664 4,687,819 Property, plant and equipment, net 1,202,329 1,234,400 Operating lease assets, net 1,269,280 1,308,511 Intangible assets: Goodwill 4,334,725 4,406,535 Other intangibles, net 819,335 850,338 Equity method investments 145,859 139,243 Other noncurrent assets 139,878 153,110 Total assets $ 12,354,070 $ 12,779,956 Liabilities and Stockholders Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 893,807 $ 942,795 Accrued expenses: Accrued payroll-related liabilities 162,944 179,203 Refund liability 99,680 97,314 Other accrued expenses 341,671 289,683 Other current liabilities 130,903 121,623 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 218,998 221,527 Current portion of long-term obligations 90,965 326,367 Total current liabilities 1,938,968 2,178,512 Long-term operating lease liabilities, excluding current portion 1,104,936 1,137,597 Long-term obligations, excluding current portion 3,672,221 3,715,389 Deferred income taxes 300,117 310,129 Other noncurrent liabilities 326,432 365,672 Commitments and contingencies Redeemable noncontrolling interest 24,077 24,077 Stockholders equity: Common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 320,439,059 shares issued and 303,943,144 shares outstanding at March 31, 2020; 319,927,243 shares issued and 306,731,328 shares outstanding at December 31, 2019 3,204 3,199 Additional paid-in capital 1,425,600 1,418,239 Retained earnings 4,282,753 4,140,136 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (313,903 ) (200,885 ) Treasury stock, at cost; 16,495,915 shares at March 31, 2020 and 13,195,915 shares at December 31, 2019 (439,819 ) (351,813 ) Total Company stockholders equity 4,957,835 5,008,876 Noncontrolling interest 29,484 39,704 Total stockholders equity 4,987,319 5,048,580 Total liabilities and stockholders equity $ 12,354,070 $ 12,779,956





LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 145,979 $ 99,063 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 71,379 76,207 Impairment of equity method investments  39,551 (Gain on disposal of business) and impairment of net assets held for sale (249 ) 15,023 Stock-based compensation expense 7,968 5,673 Loss on debt extinguishment 12,751  Other (2,721 ) (310 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: Receivables, net (63,938 ) (205,029 ) Inventories (7,522 ) 71,811 Prepaid income taxes/income taxes payable 41,585 42,917 Accounts payable (27,170 ) 23,291 Other operating assets and liabilities 16,501 9,028 Net cash provided by operating activities 194,563 177,225 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (44,538 ) (53,016 ) Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment



5,528 1,252 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (7,220 ) (4,785 ) Proceeds from disposal of businesses, net of cash sold 1,763  Other investing activities, net (405 ) (1,235 ) Net cash used in investing activities (44,872 ) (57,784 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Early-redemption premium (9,498 )  Repayment of U.S. Notes (2023) (600,000 )  Purchase of treasury stock (88,006 ) (70,462 ) Borrowings under revolving credit facilities 460,186 284,641 Repayments under revolving credit facilities (134,674 ) (312,339 ) Repayments under term loans (4,375 ) (2,188 ) Borrowings under receivables securitization facility 111,300 6,600 Repayments under receivables securitization facility (12,900 ) (36,910 ) Repayments of other debt, net (49,481 ) (625 ) Other financing activities, net (7,291 ) (1,448 ) Net cash used in financing activities (334,739 ) (132,731 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (11,746 ) (2,513 ) Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (196,794 ) (15,803 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing operations, beginning of period 528,387 337,250 Add: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of discontinued operations, beginning of period 6,470  Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing and discontinued operations, beginning of period 534,857 337,250 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 338,063 $ 321,447





The following unaudited tables compare certain third party revenue categories:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 $ Change % Change (In thousands) Included in Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income of LKQ Corporation North America $ 1,107,342 $ 1,155,698 $ (48,356 ) (4.2 %) Europe 1,357,969 1,440,841 (82,872 ) (5.8 %) Specialty 347,406 352,556 (5,150 ) (1.5 %) Parts and services 2,812,717 2,949,095 (136,378 ) (4.6 %) Other 188,218 151,208 37,010 24.5 % Total $ 3,000,935 $ 3,100,303 $ (99,368 ) (3.2 %)

Revenue changes by category for the three months ended March 31, 2020 vs. 2019:

Revenue Change Attributable to: Organic Acquisition and

Divestiture Foreign

Exchange Total Change (1) North America (4.2 %) 0.1 % (0.1 %) (4.2 %) Europe (3.4 %) 0.1 % (2.5 %) (5.8 %) Specialty (1.4 %) 0.1 % (0.1 %) (1.5 %) Parts and services (3.5 %) 0.1 % (1.3 %) (4.6 %) Other 23.2 % 1.4 % (0.1 %) 24.5 % Total (2.2 %) 0.2 % (1.2 %) (3.2 %)

(1) The sum of the individual revenue change components may not equal the total percentage change due to rounding.





The following unaudited table reconciles revenue growth for parts & services to constant currency revenue growth for the same measure:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Consolidated Europe Parts & Services Revenue growth as reported (4.6 (5.8 Less: Currency impact (1.3 (2.5 Revenue growth at constant currency (3.3 (3.3

We have presented the growth of our revenue on both an as reported and a constant currency basis. The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe providing constant currency revenue information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our growth, consistent with how we evaluate our performance, as this statistic removes the translation impact of exchange rate fluctuations, which are outside of our control and do not reflect our operational performance. Constant currency revenue results are calculated by translating prior year revenue in local currency using the current year's currency conversion rate. This non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Our use of this term may vary from the use of similarly-named measures by other issuers due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation. In addition, not all companies that report revenue growth on a constant currency basis calculate such measure in the same manner as we do and, accordingly, our calculations are not necessarily comparable to similarly-named measures of other companies and may not be appropriate measures for performance relative to other companies.

The following unaudited table compares revenue and Segment EBITDA by reportable segment:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 (In thousands) % of

Revenue % of

Revenue Revenue North America $ 1,290,195 $ 1,302,309 Europe 1,363,594 1,445,541 Specialty 348,582 353,737 Eliminations (1,436 ) (1,284 ) Total revenue $ 3,000,935 $ 3,100,303 Segment EBITDA North America $ 211,438 16.4 % $ 176,636 13.6 % Europe 78,262 5.7 % 105,298 7.3 % Specialty 32,232 9.2 % 37,959 10.7 % Total Segment EBITDA $ 321,932 10.7 % $ 319,893 10.3 %

We have presented Segment EBITDA solely as a supplemental disclosure that offers investors, securities analysts and other interested parties useful information to evaluate our segment profit and loss and underlying trends in our ongoing operations. We calculate Segment EBITDA as EBITDA excluding restructuring and acquisition related expenses (which includes restructuring expenses recorded in Cost of goods sold), change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, other gains and losses related to acquisitions, equity method investments or divestitures, equity in losses and earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, and impairment charges. EBITDA, which is the basis for Segment EBITDA, is calculated as net income, less net income (loss) attributable to continuing and discontinued noncontrolling interest, excluding discontinued operations and discontinued noncontrolling interest, depreciation, amortization, interest (which includes gains and losses on debt extinguishment) and income tax expense. Our chief operating decision maker, who is our Chief Executive Officer, uses Segment EBITDA as the key measure of our segment profit or loss. We use Segment EBITDA to compare profitability among our segments and evaluate business strategies. This financial measure is included in the metrics used to determine incentive compensation for our senior management. We also consider Segment EBITDA to be a useful financial measure in evaluating our operating performance, as it provides investors, securities analysts and other interested parties with supplemental information regarding the underlying trends in our ongoing operations. Segment EBITDA includes revenue and expenses that are controllable by the segment. Corporate general and administrative expenses are allocated to the segments based on usage, with shared expenses apportioned based on the segment's percentage of consolidated revenue. Refer to the table on the following page for a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Segment EBITDA.

The following unaudited table reconciles Net Income to EBITDA and Segment EBITDA:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 (In thousands) Net income $ 145,979 $ 99,063 Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest 740 1,015 Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest 103  Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders 145,136 98,048 Subtract: Net loss from discontinued operations (915 )  Net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest (103 )  Net income from continuing operations attributable to LKQ stockholders 146,154 98,048 Add: Depreciation and amortization 65,495 71,002 Depreciation and amortization - cost of goods sold 5,085 5,205 Depreciation and amortization - restructuring expenses (1) 799  Interest expense, net of interest income 25,931 36,089 Loss on debt extinguishment 12,751  Provision for income taxes 60,411 51,550 EBITDA 316,626 261,894 Subtract: Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries 516 (39,549 ) Add: Restructuring and acquisition related expenses (1) 6,171 3,307 Restructuring expenses - cost of goods sold (4 )  (Gain on disposal of business) and impairment of net assets held for sale (249 ) 15,023 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities (96 ) 120 Segment EBITDA $ 321,932 $ 319,893 Net income from continuing operations attributable to LKQ stockholders as a percentage of revenue 4.9 % 3.2 % EBITDA as a percentage of revenue 10.6 % 8.4 % Segment EBITDA as a percentage of revenue 10.7 % 10.3 % (1) The sum of these two amounts represents the total amount that is reported in Restructuring and acquisition related

expenses in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.





We have presented EBITDA solely as a supplemental disclosure that offers investors, securities analysts and other interested parties useful information to evaluate our operating performance and the value of our business. We calculate EBITDA as net income, less net income (loss) attributable to continuing and discontinued noncontrolling interest, excluding discontinued operations and discontinued noncontrolling interest, depreciation, amortization, interest (which includes gains and losses on debt extinguishment) and income tax expense. EBITDA provides insight into our profitability trends and allows management and investors to analyze our operating results with the impact of continuing noncontrolling interest and without the impact of discontinued noncontrolling interest, discontinued operations, depreciation, amortization, interest (which includes gains and losses on debt extinguishment) and income tax expense. We believe EBITDA is used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the operating performance and the value of other companies, many of which present EBITDA when reporting their results.

We have presented Segment EBITDA solely as a supplemental disclosure that offers investors, securities analysts and other interested parties useful information to evaluate our segment profit and loss and underlying trends in our ongoing operations. We calculate Segment EBITDA as EBITDA excluding restructuring and acquisition related expenses (which includes restructuring expenses recorded in Cost of goods sold), change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, other gains and losses related to acquisitions, equity method investments or divestitures, equity in losses and earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, and impairment charges. Our chief operating decision maker, who is our Chief Executive Officer, uses Segment EBITDA as the key measure of our segment profit or loss. We use Segment EBITDA to compare profitability among our segments and evaluate business strategies. This financial measure is included in the metrics used to determine incentive compensation for our senior management. Segment EBITDA includes revenue and expenses that are controllable by the segment. Corporate general and administrative expenses are allocated to the segments based on usage, with shared expenses apportioned based on the segment's percentage of consolidated revenue.

EBITDA and Segment EBITDA should not be construed as alternatives to operating income, net income or net cash provided by operating activities, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In addition, not all companies that report EBITDA or Segment EBITDA information calculate EBITDA or Segment EBITDA in the same manner as we do and, accordingly, our calculations are not necessarily comparable to similarly-named measures of other companies and may not be appropriate measures for performance relative to other companies.

The following unaudited table reconciles Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share to Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to LKQ Stockholders and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to LKQ Stockholders, respectively:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 (In thousands, except per share data) Net income $ 145,979 $ 99,063 Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest 740 1,015 Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest 103  Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders 145,136 98,048 Subtract: Net loss from discontinued operations (915 )  Net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest (103 )  Net income from continuing operations attributable to LKQ stockholders 146,154 98,048 Adjustments - continuing operations attributable to LKQ stockholders: Amortization of acquired intangibles 24,419 31,912 Restructuring and acquisition related expenses 6,970 3,307 Restructuring expenses - cost of goods sold 36  Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities (96 ) 120 Loss on debt extinguishment 12,751  (Gain on disposal of business) and impairment of net assets held for sale (249 ) 15,023 Impairment of equity method investments  39,551 Excess tax benefit from stock-based payments (711 ) (104 ) Tax effect of adjustments (13,172 ) (11,729 ) Adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to LKQ stockholders $ 176,102 $ 176,128 Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding 306,757 316,018 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to LKQ stockholders Reported $ 0.48 $ 0.31 Adjusted $ 0.57 $ 0.56

We have presented Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to LKQ Stockholders as we believe these measures are useful for evaluating the core operating performance of our continuing business across reporting periods and in analyzing our historical operating results. We define Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to LKQ Stockholders as Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share adjusted to eliminate the impact of continuing and discontinued noncontrolling interest, discontinued operations, restructuring and acquisition related expenses, amortization expense related to all acquired intangible assets, gains and losses on debt extinguishment, the change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, other gains and losses related to acquisitions, equity method investments or divestitures, impairment charges, excess tax benefits and deficiencies from stock-based payments and any tax effect of these adjustments. The tax effect of these adjustments is calculated using the effective tax rate for the applicable period or for certain discrete items the specific tax expense or benefit for the adjustment. Given the variability and volatility of the amount and frequency of costs related to acquisitions, management believes that these costs are not normal operating expenses and should be adjusted in our calculation of Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to LKQ Stockholders. Our adjustment of the amortization of all acquisition-related intangible assets does not exclude the amortization of other assets, which represents expense that is directly attributable to ongoing operations. Management believes that the adjustment relating to amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets supplements the GAAP information with a measure that can be used to assess the comparability of operating performance. The acquired intangible assets were recorded as part of purchase accounting and contribute to revenue generation. Amortization of intangible assets that relate to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Any future acquisitions may result in the amortization of additional intangible assets. These financial measures are used by management in its decision making and overall evaluation of our operating performance and are included in the metrics used to determine incentive compensation for our senior management. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to LKQ Stockholders should not be construed as alternatives to Net Income or Diluted Earnings per Share as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In addition, not all companies that report measures similar to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to LKQ Stockholders calculate such measures in the same manner as we do and, accordingly, our calculations are not necessarily comparable to similarly-named measures of other companies and may not be appropriate measures for performance relative to other companies.

The following unaudited table reconciles Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 (In thousands) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 194,563 $ 177,225 Less: purchases of property, plant and equipment 44,538 53,016 Free cash flow $ 150,025 $ 124,209

We have presented free cash flow solely as a supplemental disclosure that offers investors, securities analysts and other interested parties useful information to evaluate our liquidity. We calculate free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property, plant and equipment. Free cash flow provides insight into our liquidity and provides useful information to management and investors concerning our cash flow available to meet future debt service obligations and working capital requirements, make strategic acquisitions and repurchase stock. We believe free cash flow is used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the liquidity of other companies, many of which present free cash flow when reporting their results. This financial measure is included in the metrics used to determine incentive compensation for our senior management. Free cash flow should not be construed as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In addition, not all companies that report free cash flow information calculate free cash flow in the same manner as we do and, accordingly, our calculation is not necessarily comparable to similarly-named measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure for liquidity relative to other companies.
American Airlines reported a staggering loss of $2.24 billion for the first quarter, when the coronavirus pandemic triggered a sharp drop in air travel.

The airline's revenue fell 19 percent while costs continued to rise even as the virus spread, with the company warning of a roughly $70 million per day cash burn in the second quarter.

American's loss dwarfed the $534 million loss reported last week by Delta Air Lines, which is slightly larger by revenue, and a $94 million loss posted by Southwest Airlines. United Airlines is scheduled to issue first-quarter figures later Thursday.

The situation facing the airline industry has grown more dire since the first quarter ended. Air travel within the U.S. has plunged 95 percent from a year ago, judging by the number of people screened at the nation's airports.

American Airlines passenger planes are parked at Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma last month. The airline has cut routes by 80%

American stock was down on Thursday after the company announced a $2.2 billion loss

Which airlines require masks for passengers or crew? JetBlue: All passengers and crew must wear masks starting May 4. American Airlines: Crew must wear masks starting May 1. Passengers will be provided masks and sanitizer on some flights. Delta Air Lines: Employees required to wear masks if they can't socially distance. Passengers are 'strongly encouraged' to wear masks. Southwest: Crew and passengers are encouraged to wear masks, but it is not required. United Airlines: Flight attendants must wear masks on duty. Advertisement

American shares were down 3.9 percent in morning trading on Thursday.

'Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge,' Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said.

American's massive loss compared with a profit of $185 million in the same quarter last year. It was American's first quarterly loss since coming out of bankruptcy and merging with US Airways in 2013.

American said that adjusted for non-recurring items, it lost $2.65 per share. That was worse than the average forecast of a $2.08 per share loss from 15 analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Parker highlighted American's efforts to bolster its liquidity - building up enough cash, it hopes, to ride out the pandemic - including getting $5.8 billion in federal aid to help cover payroll costs through September.

American estimated that it ended March with $6.8 billion in cash and other liquidity, including $2 billion that it raised during the first quarter, and will have $11 billion at the end of June.

'Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge,' said American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker (left)

TSA screening data shows the number of airline passengers dropping steeply in the pandemic

The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline has cut its flying schedule by 80 percent in April and May and 70 percent in June.

It has grounded hundreds of planes. Nearly 39,000 employees have accepted early retirement, partially paid leave or fewer hours of work.

Cheaper fuel caused by the collapse in energy prices will contribute to a reduction of more than $12 billion in its 2020 spending, the airline said.

'There is no way to overstate the gravity of the situation for the airline industry, and difficult decisions lie ahead for all of us,' Parker and company President Robert Isom said in a letter to employees.

They said they are confident American and the airline industry 'will fight through this successfully.'

JetBlue, which reports earnings on May 7, was the first airline to mandate that all passengers and crew wear face masks while flying, and flight attendant union leaders are calling on the rest of the industry to follow suit.

A lone customer seeks assistance at an American Airlines check-in counter at Washington's Reagan National airport on Wednesday

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, told NBC News' Today show on Wednesday that the union is asking federal regulators to mandate masks for all airline passengers.

'I really want to applaud JetBlue because this should be a directive coming from the government, but JetBlue is saying, "We can't wait any longer to take steps to give confidence to the crews who are coming to work and the traveling public and to protect everyone on the planes," and so I encourage all the airlines to follow JetBlue's lead on this,' Nelson said.

'Look, we want the aviation industry to be strong and we want it to be able to come back strong, but that will require confidence from the traveling public and it's going to require getting this virus under control now,' she said. 'What the CDC says is that if you are out in the general public, if everyone is wearing a face covering, we are all much safer.'

American Airlines said it would begin providing masks and sanitizing products to passengers starting in early May.

Delta announced that all of its employees would be required to wear masks while on duty as of Tuesday, following a similar announcement by United last week, though Delta did not outline a specific face covering policy for passengers.
HOLYOKE  A month after the first deaths at the Soldiers Home tied to the new coronavirus were publicly reported, the outbreaks toll stands at 71.

Officials for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services said Thursday that one more veteran testing positive for COVID-19 has died. The illness caused by the new coronavirus has afflicted another 79 of the homes residents, and seven have pending tests.

A total of 81 employees have also tested positive, officials said.

About 210 veterans lived at the facility before the outbreak began. About 100 of the homes residents are still living at the facility, while 31 who tested negative were moved to a special unit at Holyoke Medical Center. Another half dozen are receiving acute care elsewhere.

Another 11 veterans who have died in recent weeks tested negative, and the cause of death for one is unknown.

The outbreak  thought to be the deadliest at any health care facility in the United States  began with a resident testing positive on March 21.

On March 30 the state established a clinical team clinical team headed by Lisa Colombo, executive vice chancellor for Commonwealth Medicine and a former hospital administrator, in an attempt to stabilize the situation.

The state also placed Superintendent Bennett Walsh on paid leave that day. Val Liptak, a registered nurse and CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, took over his duties. Walsh has denied allegations that he failed to inform state officials about the mounting crisis, and has said he requested National Guard assistance but was denied.

A number of investigations into the outbreak are underway. Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein, a former federal prosecutor, is leading a probe ordered by Gov. Charlie Baker. The officers of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew E. Lelling are also investigating the matter.

A family hotline is available at 413-552-4764. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families can also request updates via email at CommunicationsMailbox-HLY@Mass.gov. The home can only share medical information about a resident with the authorized health care proxy on file.

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Shots were fired and streets were lit ablaze in the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday (April 29).

It marked a third night of unrest as protests fueled by worsening economic conditions rage across the country.

Protesters threw Molotov cocktails at soldiers who answered with rubber bullets.

Lebanon is one of the world's most heavily indebted states.

The country's currency has collapsed, losing more than half its value since October.

Inflation and unemployment have soared.

And some Lebanese say the economic crisis has been compounded by political mismanagement.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE LAWYER, FAHED MOUKADDEM, SAYING:

"The economic collapse of the Lebanese pound will normally lead to this. People have lost their purchasing power and the state has no plan to do anything, banks are closed, not giving money to people. I think this government should resign and leave."

Many protesters have taken out their anger on banks, burning storefronts and smashing ATMs, angry they've been frozen out of their bank accounts.

The crisis is widely considered to be the biggest risk since Lebanon's 15-year civil war.

And now -- the government-mandated coronavirus shutdown has only aggravated the worries of many.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE PROTESTER, WHO GAVE HER NAME AS LOULOU, SAYING:

"People are dying anyway. I would rather die from coronavirus than from those members of parliament ruling me and who are killing me slowly."

Only a handful of Lebanon's banks have remained open during the shutdown.

The banking association has now declared all banks in Tripoli to be shut until security is restored.
Perry Rickenberg, 23, was a passenger in the taxi when it was stopped on the A13, in Rainham, Essex, on September 2 last year

A drug dealer has been jailed for more than four years after he was found with 30,000 worth of cocaine in the boot of a taxi.

Perry Rickenberg, 23, was a passenger in the vehicle when it was stopped by police on the A13, in Rainham, Essex, on Tuesday September 2 last year.

When the vehicle was pulled over, officers saw Rickenberg throw an item into the boot area, which was recorded on body warn video.

The driver and Rickenberg, of Poplar, east London, were detained whilst a search of the vehicle was carried out.

When officers searched the boot, they found a plastic bag which contained a kilogram of cocaine, with a street value of approximately 30,000.

Both men were taken to a north London police station and a search was authorised for Rickenberg's east London address.

Officers found further amounts of class A drugs, drug paraphernalia, including scales, two expensive watches, including a Rolex, 100,000 in cash and CS spray.

The private hire driver was released under investigation and Rickenberg was charged and remanded on Thursday 4 September with possession with intent to supply class A drugs and money laundering.

After a search of Rickenberg's home in east London and large stash of cash was found by police

A prohibited weapon charge was later added to the indictment later once it was examined by the lab.

He appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 27 April, and was sentenced to four years and eight months' in prison for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

The 23-year-old was also sentenced for possession of a class B drug (cannabis) with intent to supply, acquiring criminal property and possession of a prohibited weapon (CS spray).

All sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of four years and eight months.

Drug paraphernalia was also located at the property, and Rickenberg has now been jailed

Detective Inspector Glenn Butler, from Specialist Crime, said: 'Being sentenced to more than four years in prison is an excellent result and shows just how seriously drugs offences are taken by the courts.

'Although this arrest was made before Coronavirus struck, my team and all others across the Met are still going out on proactive, intelligence-led jobs to arrest those involved in criminality and drugs supply.

'The public can be rest assured that it is still business as usual for us and criminals will continue to be arrested for breaking the law.'
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on April 30 banned Hezbollah, an Islamist political party and militant group based out of Lebanon, from operating in the country, said a ministry spokesperson on Twitter. Steve Alter took to his Twitter handle to announce the development where he said that Seehofer has prohibited the operation of the Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah (Party of God) in Germany today and police measures have been taking place in several federal states. Germany had earlier banned Hezbollah-linked fundraising organisation they say had raised millions of dollars for the militant group.

Read: COVID-19: US Vice President Mike Pence Spotted At A Crowded Hospital Without Face Mask

Steve Alter in his Tweet added that rule of law can also act at the time of crisis, pointing out at the ongoing raids being conducted on four associations linked to the Islamist group amid coronavirus lockdown. According to reports, law enforcement agencies are conducting raids on four mosque associations in Berlin, Dortmund, Bremen, and Munster allegedly linked to Hezbollah. Germany has declared the Lebanon-based group a terrorist organisation. The group is already considered a terrorist organisation by countries such as the United States, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, Colombia, Venezuela, the Arab League, among others.

Read: UK Health Secretary Says Some Children Have Died From Syndrome Linked To COVID-19

Hezbollah's rise and affiliations

It is alleged that Hezbollah works as a proxy for Iran in the ongoing IranIsrael proxy conflict. The group was founded in 1985 and its leaders were followers of Ayatollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. If media reports are to be believed, the group's forces were trained by the Revolutionary Guards of Iran, who arrived in the country via Syria. Hezbollah credited in its country for driving out the Israeli forces from the south in early 2000. To bring into perspective the influence that Hezbollah has in its home country would be the simple fact that its paramilitary wing is considered more powerful than the Lebanese Army.

Read: Russian PM Says 'impossible To Give Exact Date' For Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions

Read: Pope Francis Urges People To Obey Rules As Leaders Begin To Ease Coronavirus Lockdowns

(Image Credit: AP)


In context: Elon Musk's SpaceX and Amazon's Blue Origin received some very positive news today. NASA has awarded both corporations lucrative contracts in exchange for their promise to design and develop human landing systems for the space agency's "Artemis" program.

As part of the program, one of these human landing systems (HLS) will be used to deliver the "first woman and next man" to the Moon's surface within the next four years: an ambitious time frame, but one NASA's funding should make possible. Blue Origin received a $579 million contract, whereas SpaceX received a smaller $135 million contract. The total cash pool is $967 million, and the remainder ($253 million) went toward the lesser-known Dynetics.

Blue Origin's HLS will be a three-stage lander, which will use the "New Glenn Rocket System" and the "ULA Vulcan launch system" to take off. Dynetics is developing a "single structure" that also uses the ULA Vulcan launch system. SpaceX will continue development on its Starship, a "fully integrated" lander that will be built-in to the company's Super Heavy rocket.

Each contract's "base period" will run until February 2021, and based on each company's progress, NASA will select one to perform "initial demonstration missions." Beyond funding, NASA will be providing other forms of support to each participating company, including design assistance, analysis, and testing capabilities.

We look forward to seeing how the Artemis program progresses over the next few years, and we can't wait to see humanity return to the surface of the Moon once more.
By PTI

LONDON/MOSCOW: The international media on Thursday mourned the death of Rishi Kapoor, describing him as Bollywood's romantic hero who redefined the embodiment of the modern-day 'Prince Charming' in India.

Kapoor died after a two-year battle with leukaemia on Thursday in Mumbai at the age of 67. The British media generally referred to him as the Bollywood's romantic hero and recalled him making a huge splash in 1973 with his first lead role in Bobby.

"He was the big-hearted, sweet-natured leading man with the benign air of an eternal juvenile lead who stole the audience's hearts. His death is another sad day for Indian cinema," The Guardian reported. The actor played the romantic lead in dozens of films for over two decades, after which he made a successful transition to character roles, BBC said in its report.

"He was a skilful dancer and some of his films had songs that are massively popular even today, it added. It noted that Kapoor frequently commented on controversial issues and sometimes got into heated exchanges with people on the social media platform.

ALSO READ| Rishi Kapoor: An actor exits, the star continues to shine

His last tweet was an appeal to people not to attack medical staff at the frontlines of the fight against the coronavirus saying, "we have to win this war together".

Describing Rishi Kapoor as a widely popular film actor from one of Bollywood's most celebrated families, The New York Times said he was best known as a romantic hero, with a charm and charisma that quickly made him one of the leading men of the 1970s and '80s in the Hindi film industry.

The Russian media noted that the legendary actor-director Raj Kapoor's son and Prithviraj Kapoor's grandson, Rishi Kapoor made a huge success in 1973 with 'Bobby'. "The picture was a resounding success in India, in the republics of the USSR and in many ways glorified Rishi Kapoor," Russian news agency Sputnik said on Thursday.

It also carried a picture of Raj Kapoor with his sons Randhir, Rajiv and Rishi which was taken at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival in July 1983. "In 1973, when he starred as the lead actor in the film 'Bobby', a musical romance, the actor redefined the embodiment of the modern-day 'Prince Charming' in India," it said.

The Kapoor family, originally from Peshawar in Pakistan, migrated to India after the partition in 1947. In 1990, Rishi Kapoor along with brother Randeer Kapoor visited their ancestral home in Peshawar called 'Kapoor Haveli' where his grandfather, Prithviraj and his father Raj Kapoor, were born.

The news of his death sent a wave of sadness and grief among people in Peshawar. A lot of people visited the Kapoor Haveli to express their grief and condolence over his demise.

Former Mayor of Peshawar, late Saeed Ahmad Jan, had received Kapoor brothers on arrival to their ancestral home. "We had no relation with Rishi Kapoor, but had a liking for him because of watching him as a film hero from childhood and due to his connection with a place which is also a birth place of me," said Pervaiz Ahmad, a city dweller.

"Rishi's death has saddened me a lot," Pervaiz added. "Perhaps the feeling expressed by Pervaiz portrays sentiments of all the dwellers of Peshawar over sad demise of Rishi," said Ibrahim Zia, a historian who also wrote a book titled as `Peshawar ki Funkar' (Artists of Peshawar).

ALSO READ| 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen', starring Aishwarya Rai, was the only film Rishi Kapoor ever directed

"We feel pride over the connection of a number of Bollywood stars with Peshawar like Dilip Kumar, Kapoors, Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Amjad Khan and Vinod Khanna," Zia said. Several Pakistani stars also expressed their grief on social media.

Zeba Bakhtiar, the Pakistani film actress who made her Bollywood debut with Henna in 1991 starring Rishi Kapoor, posted a picture of the actor on her Instagram account. "A mentor, inspiration and friend to me, a part of my family in so many ways I can not imagine life without you Chintu (Rishi Kapoor). May you ever be surrounded with the joy, exuberance and integrity that was yours. May you be blessed with the best in the hereafter," she wrote under the picture.

Pakistan's former fast bowler Waqar Younis also condoled Kapoor's death. "Heart Broken. Terrible week for the World cinema. An era ends with your demise but you will stay in our Hearts forever. My deepest condolences to the Kapoor family. #RIP #Legend," he tweeted.
[April 30, 2020] TEGNA Shareholders Re-Elect All 12 TEGNA Directors at 2020 Annual Meeting

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced that, based on a preliminary vote count by its proxy solicitor, shareholders have re-elected all 12 of TEGNA's highly qualified directors: Gina Bianchini, Howard Elias, Stuart Epstein, Lidia Fonseca, Karen Grimes, David Lougee, Scott McCune, Henry McGee, Susan Ness, Bruce Nolop, Neal Shapiro, and Melinda Witmer. Each director will serve a one-year term ending at TEGNA's 2021 Annual Meeting. Howard D. Elias, Chairman of the Board, commented, "We are grateful that our shareholders have supported our highly qualified and experienced directors. This outcome is a validation of our Board's ongoing commitment to driving value for all shareholders. The Board has benefitted from the opportunity to speak directly with shareholders about TEGNA's strategy and performance and to hear their feedback and perspective. We appreciate that Standard General has a large investment in TEGNA and look forward to moving past the proxy contest and having a constructive dialogue with Soo Kim going forward." Dave Lougee, President and CEO, said, "We are pleased by the support TEGNA shareholders have shown for our proven strategy to deliver growth and shareholder value. We appreciate the confidence our investors have placed in our talented team to navigate the current crisis and continue TEGNA's critical role of providing factual and reliable information to our local communities at a time when it has never been more important." In addition to the re-election of directors, TEGNA shareholders also: Ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (News - Alert) LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2020 fiscal year;

Approved an advisory resolution on the compensation of the Company's named executive officers reported in the Company's 2020 proxy statement; and

Approved the Company's 2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.





investors.tegna.com. Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this communication may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to a number of risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results or company actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements, including risks relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its effect on U.S. and world financial markets, potential regulatory actions, changes in consumer behaviors and impacts on and modifications to TEGNA's operations and business relating thereto and TEGNA's ability to execute on its standalone plan. Other economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors and risks that may affect TEGNA's operations or financial results are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC (News - Alert)"). We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law. About TEGNA TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 62 television stations in 51 markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks Justice Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, email, social and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA's OTT advertising service. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005488/en/

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The General Secretary of the largest opposition (NDC) party Johnson Asiedu Nketia has stated categorically that he will not comment on matters relating to the December 7 general elections when the fight against COVID-19 in Ghana has not been won.



According to him, being a good and responsible citizen, he is strictly going by President Akufo Addos advice to Ghanaians to rally together to win the battle against the deadly virus.



I have said that I will not discuss matters on whether there will be elections or not and whether a new voters register will be used during the elections or not at a time the country is still trying relentlessly to conquer the coronavirus. I have a problem with those who are discussing those things. They are not listening to the Presidents advice unless he the President did not intend he advise to be taken seriously by us. What the President has said is that we know how to fix a broken-down economy but not how to bring back life. It tells you that we need to focus on life first and focus on we being safe first. When cannot tell when this coronavirus pandemic will be over and yet people are thinking of voters register. If by December 7 we are dead who is going to vote he asked during an interview on Ekosiisen show Monday.



The elections can come off later. Commenting on voters register and elections will divide us and so we need to stay away from such issues. I want us to unite behind the President to fight the common enemy which is COVID-19.





Source: kasapafmonline.com









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Nine police personnel from a single police station in Mumbais Wadala have tested positive for Covid-19 in a single day.

Nine policemen of the rank of constables, police Naik and head constables had undergone tests yesterday and their report released on the same evening revealed that nine of them have tested positive for Covid-19, Shahaji Shinde, senior inspector of Wadala police station said.

All of them have been admitted at Guru Nanak Hospital, Bandra, KEM Hospital in Parel and Bombay Hospital in south Mumbai, Shinde added.

A few of them are in the 50+ age bracket, another officer said.

Their close contacts have been identified and have been asked to stay in home quarantine, the officer said.

There are seven red zones, including the slums and chawls of Korba Mith Agar and Bangalipura that falls under the jurisdiction of the Wadala police station. The infected policemen were posted at these areas for providing food to needy people, providing fruits for Iftar and Sehri to Muslims observing fast during Ramzan and ensuring social distancing and not letting out people come out on the streets, an officer form the zonal police said.

The policemen are suspected to have contracted the disease while doing duty there. Recently, a few of them complained of symptoms similar to Covid-19. Hence the senior officers decided to send them for testing and nine of them were found to be infected, a police officer said.

Around twelve Covid-19 asymptomatic patients from Korba Mith Agar slum in Wadala East were on Wednesday hospitalized, two days after they tested positive.

In Mumbai so far 106 policemen have tested positive for coronavirus including three police personnel who have died.
A number of UK computer security and privacy experts have signed an open letter raising transparency and mission creep concerns about the national approach to develop a coronavirus contacts tracing app.

The letter, signed by 177 academics, follows a similar letter earlier this month signed by around 300 academics from across the world, who urged caution over the use of such tech tools and called for governments that choose to deploy digital contacts tracing to use privacy-preserving techniques and systems.

"We urge that the health benefits of a digital solution be analysed in depth by specialists from all relevant academic disciplines, and sufficiently proven to be of value to justify the dangers involved," the UK academics write now, directing their attention at NHSX, the digital arm of the National Health Service which has been working on building a digital contacts tracing app since early March.

"It has been reported that NHSX is discussing an approach which records centrally the de-anonymised ID of someone who is infected and also the IDs of all those with whom the infected person has been in contact. This facility would enable (via mission creep) a form of surveillance."

Yesterday the NHSX's CEO, Matthew Gould, was giving evidence to the UK parliament's Science and Technology committee. He defended the approach it's taking -- claiming the forthcoming app uses only "a measure of centralization", and arguing that it's a false dichotomy to say decentralized is privacy secure and centralized isnt.

He went on to describe a couple of scenarios he suggested show why centralizing the data is necessary in the NHSX's view. But in the letter the UK academics cast doubt on the validity of the central claim, writing that "we have seen conflicting advice from different groups about how much data the public health teams need".

"We hold that the usual data protection principles should apply: collect the minimum data necessary to achieve the objective of the application," they continue. "We hold it is vital that if you are to build the necessary trust in the application the level of data being collected is justified publicly by the public health teams demonstrating why this is truly necessary rather than simply the easiest way, or a 'nice to have', given the dangers involved and invasive nature of the technology."

Story continues

Europe has seen fierce debate in recent weeks over the choice of app architecture for government-backed coronavirus contacts tracing apps -- with different coalitions forming to back decentralized and centralized approaches and some governments pressuring Apple over backing the opposing horse with a cross-platform API for national coronavirus contacts tracing apps it's developing with Android-maker Google.

Most of the national apps in the works in the region are being designed to use Bluetooth proximity as a proxy for calculating infection risk -- with smartphone users' devices swapping pseudonymized identifiers when near each other. However privacy experts are concerned that centralized stores of IDs risk creating systems of state surveillance as the data could be re-identified by the authority controlling the server.

Alternative decentralized systems have been proposed, using a p2p system with IDs stored locally. Infection risk is also calculated on device, with a relay server used only to push notifications out to devices -- meaning social graph data is not systematically exposed.

Although this structure does require the IDs of people who have been confirmed infected to be broadcast to other devices -- meaning there's a potential for interception and re-identification attacks at a local level.

At this stage it's fair to say that the momentum in Europe is behind decentralized approaches for the national contacts tracing apps. Notably Germany's government switched from previously backing a centralized approach to decentralized earlier this week, joining a number of others (including Estonia, Spain and Switzerland) -- which leaves France and the UK the highest profile backers of centralized systems for now.

France is also seeing expert debate over the issue. Earlier this week a number of French academics signed a letter raising concerns about both centralized and decentralized architectures -- arguing that "there should be important evidence in order to justify the risks incurred of using any such tracking tools.

In the UK, key concerns being attached to the NHSX app are not only the risk of social graph data being centralized and reidentified by the state -- but also scope/function creep.

Gould said yesterday that the app will iterate, adding that future versions could ask people to voluntarily give up more data such as their location. And while the NHSX has said use of the app will be voluntary, if multiple functions get baked in that could raise questions over the quality of the consent and whether mission creep is being used as a lever to enforce public uptake.

Another concern is that a public facing branch of the domestic spy agency, GCHQ, has also been involved in advising on the app architecture. And yesterday Gould dodged the committee's direct questions on whether the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) had been involved in the decision to select a centralized architecture.

There may be more concerns on that front, too. Today the HSJ reports that health secretary Matt Hancock recently granted new powers to the UK's intelligence agencies which mean they can require the NHS to disclose any information that relates to "the security" of the health services networks and information systems during the pandemic.

Such links to database-loving spooks are unlikely to quell privacy fears.

There is also concern about how involved the UK's data watchdog has been in the detail of the app's design process. Last week the ICO's executive director, Simon McDougall, was reported to have told a public forum he had not seen plans for the app, although the agency put out a statement on April 24 saying it was working with NHSX "to help them ensure a high level of transparency and governance".

Yesterday Gould also told the committee the NHSX would publish data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) for each iteration of the app, though none has yet been published.

He also said the software would be "technically" ready to launch in a few weeks' time -- but could not confirm when the code would be published for external review.

In their letter, the UK academics call on NHSX to publish a DPIA for the app "immediately", rather than dropping it right before deployment, to allow for public debate about the implications of its use and in order that that public scrutiny can take place of the claimed security and privacy safeguards.

The academics are also calling for the unit to publicly commit to no database or databases being created that would allow de-anonymization of users of the system (other than those self reporting as infected), and which could therefore allow the data to be used for constructing users' social graphs.

They also urge the NHSX to set out details on how the app will be phased out after the pandemic has passed -- in order "to prevent mission creep".

Asked for a commitment on the database point, an NHSX spokesman told us that's a question for the UK's Department of Health and Social Care and/or the NCSC -- which won't salve any privacy concerns around the governments' wider plans for app users' data.

We also asked when the NHSX will be publishing a DPIA for the app. At the time of writing we were still waiting for a response. Update: An NHSX spokesperson has now sent the following statement: We will publish the data protection agreements in due course, and we will close down the app once the threat from the pandemic has passed, with any data users have chosen to share deleted at that point and some retained for research purposes, subject to legal and ethical considerations, to better understand the virus.

"Users of the app will remain anonymous up to the point where they volunteer their own details, and there will be no database that allows the de-anonymisation of users," the spokesperson added.
Coronavirus which is a Chinese contraption has been hijacked by the Illuminati Secret Cult and used to rattle the historical religious pomposity of the Vatican and Canterbury.

Vatican is the seat of the Pope, the prestigious Pontificex Maximus, The Supreme High Priest and legendary Vicar of Christ. Canterbury represents the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England and Anglican Communion Worldwide.

Coronavirus stuck at the center of Vatican, Rome and Italy, causing Pope Francis to shut down the hallowed windows of St Peter's Basilica. This followed the shutting down of public masses and advice to local Ordinaries worldwide to do same.

In United Kingdom, the doors of Canterbury was shut and Archbishop Justin Welby relocated to online church services. The Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists with headquarters around the English axis all closed shops and relocated online.

The Chinese Virus officially killed over 3000 in China, unofficially estimated over 30,000. It killed 27,000 as at today in Italy (Highest in Europe) and 26000 in England (2nd Highest in Europe). These two nations represents the epicenter of western Christianity. The Seat of Papacy and the Seat of Archbishop of Canterbury represents the influences of the ancient and medieval churches over the West with influences spanning into Africa, North and South America . The Seat of Patriarch of Constantinople which held sway in the Eastern hemisphere, is not the subject of the discussion.

All these hallowed places of worship are yet to recover from an Illuminati coordinated attempt to create pandemics, seize peoples liberty , order compulsory chipped vaccinations and create a new world order.

Refreshing from my piece, Coronavirus: The Illuminati and Chinese deadly blow I posited that

"COVID-19 is a Chinese Virus deliberately let upon the world which the Illuminati wants to use as a deadly blow to execute their one world government agenda. The problem is that the level of fear the Illuminati leadership wanted to strike through the rampant death has backfired"

"The ultimate goal of Illuminati secret group is to ensue a One World Government where nations are reduced to regional counties, and a world where a unified political leader(Antichrist) and unified spiritual leader (False Prophet)a unified identification system ( Mark of the Beast) will lead a unified world into the hands of Lucifer. Revelation 13:1-18 elucidated the events and identities"

Equally quoting from a much earlier piece titled Coronavirus: Jesus not Coming Soon, More Pandemics Coming I explained that

"Christians should not be quick to close churches because of ordinary COVID-19 because more pandemics are coming, more digitally dangerous technology are coming, bloody nuclear, chemical and biological wars are in the offing all these before the Antichrist makes a grab for The Vatican and Jerusalem".

While the Churches in Rome and Canterbury has over the years concentrated on how to curb the dangerous trend of Islamic fundamentalism which resulted in risky worship of Christ in Arab and African countries including Nigeria, a greater enemy struck from behind.

It is unfortunate that the Blessed Sacrament was not publicly venerated in Rome since the past three months. Its unfortunate that the Eucharist was not publicly celebrated with pomp and pageantry in the Vatican in the past three months. Its unfortunate that the medieval Stations of the Cross from which the Catholic faithful draws stimulative virtues from the sufferings of Jesus , was suspended in the Vatican. The Benedictions was equally suspended.

The worst was the suspension of the solemnities of the Holy Week Activities-The Palm Sunday, The Chrism , The Maundy Thursday, The Good Friday and the Paschal Vigil Masses these masses represents the soul of the Catholic Church. These masses, from my spiritual observations, represents the soul of Christianity. It is the solemn week when Jesus Christ, the Paschal Lamb, refreshes the world from self destruct and orgies of darkness. These masses are celebrated in the Church of England, Lutheran Churches and Eastern Orthodox Churches with various forms and variants.

For the first time since AD 33, the church was denied the converged celebration of the Passover. Even during the internal persecutions of Christians by the Jewish Sanhedrin from AD 33 to the commencement of destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Nero in AD 66 , never was The Passover not celebrated even at the point of obliteration. The anti Christian persecutions of Roman Emperors with all the axing of Christians , crucifixion of Christians , sawing asunder of Christians , casting into the seas of Christians ,casting into Lions Dens of Christians and Burning of Christians which became the hallmarks of the Christian life from Emperor Nero's madness of AD 66 till the time of Emperor Constantine in AD 312, the church had ignored Emperor's decrees and congregated to celebrated passover, even if it meant inside Catacombs.

From the time the Roman Church gained prominence till when Pope Telesphorus (AD 126-137) instituted the Seven Week Lengthen Season, the church had rather face consequences than not congregate to celebrate the Tridum, even if it meant Masses in graveyards and underground cells. The Edict of Milan of Emperors Constantine and Licinius (AD 312) and Edict of Thessalonica from Emperor Theodosus 1 (AD 380) were celebrated by the Churches in the East and West as the triumph of the sacraments against the organized nation state brutal persecutions.

In Nigeria, the closure of the churches followed similar patterns. The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Most Rev Dr Alfred Martins issued decrees stopping Stations of the Cross, handshakes of peace and receiving of communion by mouth. When the Lagos Sate Government , three weeks later, limited religious gathering, the cleric suspended the process entirely, including the Holy Week Celebrations. His counterpart in Owerri, Archbishop Anthony Obinna refused to close churches, believing in the saving power of the sacraments, until an Imo State Government decree forced him to do so.

In Anambra State, the Anglican Archbishop of Awka, Alexander Ibezim suspended services and his Catholic Counterpart, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor followed suit while in Enugu, the Catholic Bishop Callistus Onaga suspended Church services while his Anglican counterpart, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma vowed to celebrate the Tridum Mass before the State and Military authorities summoned him at Government House.

The mainstream pentecostal churches in Nigeria including the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, Deeper Life Bible Church, closed services as speedily as government gave the decrees. Living Faith Church closed services after a backlash of criticisms. These pentecostal churches have tens of millions of members in Africa and Nigeria.

The Illuminati is a cult more determined to install a One World Government more than the Freemasons. In fact, while the Freemasons have tolerated and mingled with all religions, including the church, the Illuminati are more focused on the One World Government Agenda and treats organized religion with contempt. They had installed their people in every strategic place and industry worldwide.

From information available to me, they are the Coordinators in Chief of the Chinese Virus conspiracy in a panic attempt to vaccinate the world . The World Health Organization was a willing ally in the plot.

By the time this crisis is over, for the first time since AD 33, or AD 312, depending on the history of the Apostolic era or the era of freedom for the organized Roman Church,the church was shut during Easter and worshipers told not to congregate.

All the postulations from faith filled preachers and priests about how Jesus escaped to Egypt are lame duck defenses from an attack from an Illuminati which struck at the heart of Vatican and Canterbury.

Thus if during ordinary Coronavirus, Jesus is abandoned alone in the Churches, the same manner the Apostles abandoned Him during the trials and fled, I wonder what will happen when more Biological War Pandemics, Chemical War Pandemics, Nuclear War Pandemics and 5G Pandemics erupts.

The Vatican , as the eye of the church , should understand the spiritual undertones. 'Any One World Government Will First of all Abolish the Papacy before Making a Grab for Jerusalem'.

Instead of shutting down churches in holy fear, the Vatican and Canterbury should fight back, and wrench back initiative from the Illuminati.They should pick up the Holy Sacraments wherever they dropped it , shun supremacy politics, reinforce faith in the sacraments or else the Illuminati will use another crisis to further rattle and weaken the strategic influences of the Vatican and Canterbury over world affairs-Let Him that Has Ear Hear What The Spirit is Saying to the Churches.

(Obinna Akukwe, columnist wrote via [email protected], facebook,com/obinnaakukwe)
More lawmakers are now urging the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to bring the Chinese regime to an international court for their cover-up of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Two states have announced theyre suing Communist China for damages.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced she plans to sue the Chinese regime for allegedly concealing the origin and initial spread of the CCP virus. She says they put millions of Americans at risk and caused economic chaos.

Mississippi becomes the second state to sue the regime. Missouri was the first. Several private firms have dragged communist China into court, alleging the CCPs cover-up of the outbreak has led to the virus spreading worldwide.

But how exactly does a state sue a foreign country?

After filing in the states district court, they need to show the court has jurisdiction to hear the case in the first place. Usually, foreign countries are immune to U.S. lawsuitsso other countries return the favor and dont sue the United Statesunless there is an exception, like engaging in commercial activity.

Professor of International Law at New York University, Jose Enrique Alvarez, told NTD the attorney general might have a hard time showing this exception.

The kinds of things theyre talking about is hoarding of personal protective equipment, social media censorship, transmitting wrong information to the world health organization. That is hard to connect to commercial activity. It is very directly related to Chinese government activity, Alvarez said.

Without jurisdiction, the case is thrown out. But if the case goes forward and the American state wins, they can only seize assets located within the United States.

For example, Missouri included the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the lawsuit, so they could only seize the Academys assets in the United States if they win the case, which there might not be any.

Several lawmakers are calling for legal action in the international arena.

New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is now joining a wave of lawmakers urging the state department and U.S. Attorney General to bring a case against the Chinese regime.

The lawsuit would condemn the Communist party for allegedly failing to uphold International Health Regulations or IHR. It would be filed in the International Court of Justice, part of the United Nations. The court is located in The Hague, Netherlands.

And so there could very well be, and its likely to be in fact, that instances where China violates their duty under the IHR, and international law, like all law, says that if the state violates international law, then you are owed under state rules of state responsibility, reparation, including the potential for damages, Alvarez said.

If the regime refuses to submit to a fair trial in the International Court of Justice, states can push Beijing to do so by removing China from global organizations. They can also revoke Chinas membership in the World Trade Organization.

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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is going on a Joy Ride.

Beginning today, the branded Rock Hall van Joy Ride will be cruising around, playing music in neighborhoods, at food distributions, celebratory activities and other locations.

The van will be at Greater Cleveland Food Banks drive-through distribution at the muni lot in downtown Cleveland 2 to 5 p.m. today, Thursday, April 30.

Joy Rides playlists can be found on the Rock Halls Spotify channel, which include a mindfulness mix, feel-good distraction mix and career-defining playlists for inductees.

Non-profit groups can request a Joy Ride appearance by emailing info@rockhall.org. The Rock Hall encourages fans to follow its social channels via YouTube,

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com.
Photo: Colin Dacre Bylands Nursery Gellatly field

Of the more than 900 temporary foreign workers who have entered British Columbia over the past few weeks, four tested positive for COVID-19.

During her daily press conference Wednesday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said many of the temporary foreign workers have since completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine, and are now working across the province's agricultural sector.

Many of these people are presumably now working in the Okanagan, where temporary foreign workers provide much-needed services for the region's many farms, orchards and wineries.

We had put in additional supports for our temporary foreign workers who have come into British Columbia to support our essential work on farms across the province and of the over 900 temporary foreign workers who have come in over the past few weeks, we've provided them with both medical support, social supports and accommodation to be able to effectively quarantine, Dr. Henry said.

The four people who tested positive for the virus arrived into B.C. on four separate flights.

It just speaks to us of how important it is to keep up these measures, to support people, to make sure that they can do what we need them to do and to be able to identify people who have symptoms, get them tested and be able to support them medically as well, Dr. Henry said.

Earlier this month, an outbreak amongst temporary foreign workers occurred at West Kelowna's Bylands Nurseries, where 23 workers contracted the disease. Dr. Henry has previously commended West Kelowna residents for their response to the outbreak. She has not provided a recent update on the condition of those workers, but they had been self-isolating earlier this month.

Additionally, Dr. Henry announced the province has assessed more than 15,000 returning Canadians at Vancouver International Airport since enhanced measures were put in place on April 10.

The province has helped about 4,000 of these people develop a proper self-isolation plan, while more than 350 people needed additional supports.

We've had almost 100 people who we have provided accommodation to and supported to be able to enact their self-isolation plans to protect both themselves and their families in our communities here in B.C., Dr. Henry added.

As of Wednesday, 2,087 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in B.C. With 1,305 full recoveries, and 109 deaths, there are now 673 active cases in the province.
U.S. President Donald Trump said states need to consider reopening public schools before the academic year ends seriously. This suggestion comes even though some think it would not be safe for students to go back to school until the fall or summer.

Trump commented in a call on Monday with the governors who were discussing how they would reopen their economies. Trump said, "Some of you might start thinking about school openings," since a lot of people want to open school.

It is not a big subject, said Pres. Trump, since "young children have done quite well in the disaster," everyone has gone through. More so, while he was addressing Vice President Mike Pence, the president added it is something the state leaders can consider and probably start doing.

Despite Trump's call, based on the recording which The Associated Press obtained, no one among the governors on the said call responded to the suggestion. Remarkably, the president made the comments while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was working for the finalization of the guidelines for the economies' reopening.

Schools' Reopening

For the reopening of schools, it would include putting the desks of the students six feet or about 1.8 meters apart, closing the playgrounds, and serving the students' meals in their classroom instead of the cafeteria.

Additionally, schools' reopening is considered as a key to having the economy moving again. If there is no safe place for children, yes, many parents would find it hard to return to work.

However, several education officials said, opening schools fast would result in little reward and significant risk, especially that the academic year is approaching.

During the news conference on Monday at the White House, Trump recognized that there is a little time left in the academic year, even as he mentioned many states were thinking about getting the students back into the classroom.

Incidentally, schools nationwide have closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many other states have released an order that schools remain closed throughout the rest of the school year. And relatively, just a few of these states have discussed early openings in public.

Among the states that publicly announced the reopening of school was Montana. It said school districts could already resume classes on May 7. In many communities, officials there said, it remains unclear if the students can return to school by fall.

And, even if they do, many still plan to implement the social distancing measures that can certainly make the school look different from before.

CDC's Suggestion

In the draft guidelines of CDC for schools, the agency recommended a three-phase process to reopen schools, particularly in communities that have low levels of the spread of COVID-19, as well as those that are confident that the infection occurrence is genuinely low.

In relation to this, the guidance is encouraging schools to develop isolation areas for pupils who develop symptoms. And, should anyone with the infection is discovered to have been in the building, the agency advised school shutdowns for a day or two for cleaning and disinfection.

Check these out!
Vietnams export value is expected to rise in the coming months thanks to Chinas increase in imports, strong measures taken by the Vietnamese Government, ministries, agencies, and businesses, and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Economist Ngo Tri Long said China - Vietnams largest market - has begun to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade has worked to remove obstacles to trade at border gates with China that have huge demand for food and fruit and vegetables.

This represents a great opportunity for Vietnam to step up exports to its northern neighbour, he said.

Customs figures show that in the first quarter of this year, Vietnams export to China reached 9.3 billion USD, up 22.8 percent year-on-year and making up 14.8 percent of its total export value.

Experts have suggested putting in place measures to support businesses in the two countries as soon as possible, thus promoting bilateral trade and investment ties.

The EVFTA, set to come into force in July, is expected to help boost Vietnams production and exports.

If the EU can bring COVID-19 under control in the second quarter and resume production in the third and fourth, the agreement will open the door for sought-after Vietnamese goods like garments and textiles, footwear, timber products, phones, and electric components to enter the market.

Figures from the General Statistics Office (GSO) reveal that Vietnams total export revenue in the first quarter was 59.08 billion USD, up just 0.5 percent, while imports totalled 56.26 billion USD, down 19 percent.

The country therefore posted a trade surplus of 2.8 billion USD compared to the 1.5 billion USD in the first quarter of last year.

According to Bui Trong Tu, Deputy Director of the Department of Trade and Services Statistics at the GSO, most of the orders for Vietnam from the US and the EU have been suspended due to the pandemic.



Many major importers from the two markets have suggested Vietnamese garment and textile as well as leather and footwear exporters suspend the handover of goods and the signing of new contracts, or perhaps even cancel them.

The number of orders for those kinds of products from the US and the EU are forecast to fall sharply in April and May.

According to Dien Quang Hiep, President of the Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA), most of its members have faced difficulties in the two markets.

Meanwhile, Vietnams exports to Southeast Asia hit 6.3 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 0.99 percent and accounting for 10 percent of the countrys total export turnover.

Agro-fishery exports to ASEAN expanded 16.5 percent year-on-year to 720.3 million USD.

Vietnam has benefited from the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), which has a zero percent tariff on most of the products.

The presence of Vietnamese banks in markets such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos has also facilitated payments./.

PM allows rice export resumption from May 1 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 28 agreed with the Ministry of Industry and Trades proposal to resume rice export from May 1, in accordance with Decree 107/2018/ND-CP on rice export business.
[A Hasidic funeral is jammed by 2,500 mourners, creating a flash point for de Blasio.]

Transit plan addresses the issue of homeless people on the subway.

After days of public squabbling over the problem of homeless people taking shelter on New York Citys subway during the pandemic, transit officials on Wednesday announced new rules meant to address the issue.

Riders will not be allowed to remain in a station for more than an hour, and large wheeled carts, like shopping carts, are banned from the system, officials said.

As long as the public health emergency continues, riders will also not be allowed to remain on a train or platform after an announcement that a train is being taken out of service.

I want to be clear the status quo has been completely unacceptable, said Sarah Feinberg, the interim president of New York City Transit, which operates the subway and buses. Its my job to make sure everyone who rides our system feels safe and secure, and that our work force feels safe and secure.

With the subway carrying fewer than 10 percent of its usual riders and running fewer trains, the number of homeless people who are effectively living on the subway has come into sharper focus in the past two months.

[Coronavirus in New York: A map and the case count.]

Daily deaths in New York held steady at 330.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo reported on Wednesday that 330 more people had died of the coronavirus in New York.

The one-day death toll was less than half of those the state was recording earlier in April, when there were nearly 800 virus-related deaths a day. But the fatality figures have remained stubbornly steady this week, with 337 deaths reported on Monday and 335 reported on Tuesday.
Gradual reopening of Rome's parks in Phase Two of coronavirus emergency.

Rome will begin reopening its parks from 4 May, the first day of the so-called Phase Two in Italy's coronavirus emergency, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

The first two parks to open to the public will be Villa Pamphilj and Villa Borghese (the latter of which has never technically been closed), which will be monitored by drones to ensure that people don't gather in groups, according to ANSA.

Rome daily newspaper Il Messaggero reports that the city is currently engaged in talks regarding the reopening of parks, with one possibility reportedly under consideration being whether to open them in the morning only - from 08.00 until lunchtime.

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Prime minister Giuseppe Conte, unveiling Italy's Phase Two plan on Sunday night, said that public parks and villas can reopen from 4 May but mayors will have the power to close them if they see fit to do so.

Walking and jogging will be permitted, so long as people practice social distancing, however gatherings of any kind remain strictly prohibited.

Villa Pamphilj has been subjected to vandalism throughout the lockdown, with damage caused to 26 marble signs, three statues and two antique flower pots since the start of this year, according to the city.

In addition, the park's Cupid Fountain recently suffered extensive damage at the hands of vandals, an act described as "shameful" by Rome mayor Virginia Raggi.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb viewed the shoreline in February in Beverly Shores, Ogden Dunes, Portage and Long Beach and took pictures from a state police helicopter. He said then the trip could lead to a later disaster declaration, not issued at the time.
The top Garda in Laois, Offaly and Kildare has urged the public to stick with the Covid-19 restrictions after noticing that there had been a marked increase in the number of people out and about in the past week.

Chief Superintendent John Scanlon said helping those who are at the frontline in hospitals and nursing homes is the reason why the public must stay at home unless they have to make essential journeys or to take exercise within 2km of their home.

We are very grateful to the general public for observing social distancing and their cooperation with Covid-19 restrictions but there is a limited number of people who are disregarding these restrictions or coming up with the dog ate my homework excuse for making their journeys.

We are noticing a greater volume of travel. People are travelling a little bit too much to do urgent shopping or cater for a relative. We would ask that people reevaluate their commitment to this.

We have no reason to see people locked up in their own homes and we understand the difficulties that families are facing and the stress and strain of this. But there is nothing to stop people coming out and going for a 2 km walk, he said.

He urged everyone to play their part.

We would ask them to redouble their efforts to support their neighbours and support the people who are putting their lives on the line in the hospitals and nursing homes. That requires that people do not spread this virus. It is within the capabilities of us all to achieve that, he said.

Read also: MOTORIST GOING FOR A SAUNA DURING LOCKDOWN

He commended people for their resilience and the level of support for others.

There are people doing phenomenal unsung hero work. There are people in the background checking and helping their neighbours, providing dinners to the elderly.

Chief Supt Scanlon warned that criminals are committing crimes but that a record number of garda are on the streets to deal with the threat the posed.

Garda HQ in Dublin announced on Monday that Operation Fanacht will once again see an extensive network of checkpoints established across the country from Tuesday, April 28 through the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The Operation runs from 7am on Tuesday, April 28 until the end of the May Bank Holiday weekend on Monday night, May 4.

It will again involve large-scale checkpoints on many main routes, and thousands of mobile checkpoints on secondary routes in towns and villages.

Gardai will conduct high visibility patrols at major tourist locations, parks and natural beauty spots to ensure compliance with restrictions. Over 2,500 Gardai will be patrolling the nation at any one time.
Facebook reported an 18-per-cent increase in first-quarter revenue on Wednesday, but the social media giant said it wasnt making financial predictions because of the uncertainty caused by coronavirus and what is expected to be the greatest economic contraction since the Great Depression.

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg expressed concern about what lies ahead for the country. While there are massive societal costs from the current shelter in place restrictions, I worry that reopening certain places too quickly, before infection rates have been reduced to very minimal levels, will almost guarantee future outbreaks and even worse economic outcomes, he said. I am very concerned that this health emergency and therefore the economic fallout will last longer than people are currently anticipating.

The caution Mr Zuckerberg urged stands in stark contrast to others who want to see the quarantine orders lifted as soon as possible. State officials in places such as Georgia have rushed to reopen for business, even though the number of new infections remains high. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted late Tuesday: FREE AMERICA NOW.

Mr Zuckerbergs focus on the broader health crisis reflects his personal involvement in this issue: He and his physician wife run the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic effort focused on eliminating disease, and have personal ties to many public health leaders. Facebook and other tech giants were among the first companies to urge employees to work from home last month, even before the first shelter-in-place orders were announced.

But for his business, Mr Zuckerberg sees opportunities to grow. On a call with analysts, he said he believes that times of economic downturn are a time to invest.

During a period like this, there are a lot of new things that need to get built, he added. I think its important that, rather than slamming on the brakes now, as a lot of companies may, it is important to keep building for the new needs people have and ... make up for the stuff that other companies will pull back.

He noted that Facebook had just launched a video group calling app, Messenger Rooms, that would be a competitor to Houseparty and Zoom. Mr Zuckerberg said that the company expects to lose profits in the year ahead but emphasised the social networks strength at the current moment. Executives have announced that Facebook will hire 10,000 people this year, a potential strategic advantage to poach the best talent as smaller tech firms lay workers off.

At a moment when other companies are facing huge layoffs and declining revenue due to the pandemic, Facebooks revenue growth is notable and was cause for optimism on Wall Street.

The companys first-quarter revenue was $17.7bn (14.2bn), up from $15.1bn the same quarter a year ago. That was slightly more than analyst expectations, presenting a rosier picture than many traditional companies gearing up for the prolonged crisis. The companys profits doubled to $4.9bn (3.9bn) compared to the previous year.

Facebooks stock price shot up 10 per cent in after-hours trading.

However, Facebook is not immune to the current crisis. The company said that it expects profits to go down this year and that it was not making its usual second-quarter predictions due to the uncertainty.

Though the company was not making specific predictions, executives noted that ad revenue was flat in April, a sign that the advertising industry would be significantly impacted. Those numbers will be captured during second-quarter earnings.

Facebook founder Mark Mr Zuckerberg said hes concerned that Covid-19, and therefore the economic fallout, will last longer than people are anticipating (Getty)

The effects of the pandemic didnt hit most of the world until mid-March, and that was reflected in Facebooks earnings report, eMarketer principal analyst Debra Aho Williamson said in an emailed statement. But the flat April revenue indicates that the next quarter will be much more challenging than the current one.

The company also said that prices for its ads have gone down because of lower demand and that it did not expect engagement with some of its services to remain at the same levels as it has during the lockdowns.

There is a strong evidence in the numbers that Facebook ad revenue arent receiving the big hits many expected from the Covid-19 shock, said Haris Anwar, senior analyst at financial markets platform investing.com, who said that he thought the business would quickly recover from ad spending losses. Facebooks stock is well-positioned to outperform its peers, he added.

Many of Facebook 2.89 billion users have been quarantined at home around the world, and they are using the companys services  which include Instagram and WhatsApp  more than ever. In Italy, a country to enter an early lockdown, viewership on the companys streaming services Facebook and Instagram live doubled in a week, the company has said. Calling for Messenger and WhatsApp more than doubled year over year in many countries that instated lockdowns. Group video calling has increased more than 1,000 per cent since March.

Thats welcome news for a company that has seen the number of new users plateau and a significant reduction in the amount of time those users spend engaging with the companys services in recent years.

In general, Facebook and its fellow tech giants are in a better position to withstand the coming recession. The companys market capitalization is $553bn (443bn), making it one of the most valuable and cash-rich companies in the world.

Google parent company Alphabets stock was up nearly 10 per cent Wednesday following the companys positive earnings report. But it warned that advertising experienced a significant decline starting in mid-March. Microsoft also beat analyst expectations as the coronavirus drove demand from businesses for its cloud infrastructure.

The Washington Post
The Tara Reade sexual allegation against presidential hopeful Joe Biden has revealed the Democrats true colors once again.

Many of us recall how Democrats pounced on then-candidate Donald Trump when an audio tape was released of him having a conversation with Billy Bush in 2005 in which Trump said: [Y]ou can do anything [to women] when youre a star. Despite Trump saying: This was locker room banter, Hillary Clinton, who was hoping to gain momentum for her own election bid, criticized Trumps comments as horrific. She tweeted: We cannot allow this man to become president.

After Trump won the election, we had the Stormy Daniels saga in which the #MeToo movement decried Trumps unfitness to be president. Yet if we analyze the accusation against presidential hopeful Joe Biden by Tara Reade, her allegation is far graver than simple locker room talk or adultery.

As reported by the New York Times, according to Tara Reade -- a Senate staffer for then-senator Biden in 1993 -- Biden approached her in the Capitol building, pushed her against a wall, and inserted his fingers inside her. She was later fired from his office when she voiced concerns. Her brother, friend, and former neighbor have all affirmed that she had informed them of what had transpired shortly after the incident. A video from that same year, which recently appeared, shows her mother calling in to CNNs Larry King Live to ask about problems her daughter had encountered with a prominent senator. As has become quite evident, because Biden is a liberal, pursuing justice has become partial.

Reades allegation is now more corroborated than anything Christine Blasey Ford leveled against Justice Brett Kavanaugh, for example, right before his Senate confirmation hearings. Yet he was grilled by Democrat Senator Kamala Harris of California during his Senate confirmation hearings. It appears, as a columnist said, Harris has a selective sympathy for women who accuse men of sexual assault. Because he was conservative, Harris found Kavanaugh a ripe target. But a woman who has accused Joe Biden of sexual assault has been ignored by the California Democrat.

In a statement to Fox News, Reade said:

Despite the fact I come from a family of Democrats. I worked for Leon Panetta, [California] State Sen. Jack OConnell and Joe Biden. I worked hard for the Democratic Party as a young woman. It is obvious by the tremendous smears about me leveled by [the] Biden campaign and supporters after I came forward about Biden and the complete lack of support from any Democrat that they care more about protecting Joe Biden than addressing the serious allegations by me and the other seven women who complained about his misconduct.

Instead the anti-Trump media heavyweights and left-wing Biden supporters have all but blacked out the story. The New York Times apparently delayed publishing Reades accusation for nearly three weeks under the rationale that executive editor Dean Baquet wanted to do more research to help readers understand -- a luxury notably not afforded to Kavanaugh, whom the Times hammered). CNN waited one full day to mention Reades allegations, failed to break the news of Reades mothers appearance on their own network, and allowed Anderson Cooper to interview Biden without asking a single question about the purported assault.

In December 2017, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez said that any candidate or elected official who has engaged in sexual misconduct [should] step aside. The DNC has yet to make any public announcement on the Reade allegation. And while the Biden campaign has denied Reades accusation, Biden himself has yet to personally address the matter. #MeToo leader Alyssa Milano, usually eager to see men like Biden get their comeuppance, has equally remained silent. The fact that she has suddenly discovered due process now that a candidate she favors stands accused is both inappropriate and shameful: We have to societally change that mindset to believing women, but that does not mean at the expense of not giving men their due process and investigating situations. Its got to be fair in both directions.

Not everyone on the left, however, has remained silent. Senator Bernie Sanders, who suspended his presidential campaign but still remains on the ballot, stated in a tweet Reades accusation as credible. And feminist and actress Rose McGowan accused Milano of being a fraud for going after Trump & Kavanaugh and not Biden.

This does not mean that the DNC will drop Biden for another candidate with the hope of beating President Trump in November. Nevertheless, the #MeToo movement and their liberal comrades, in their tough-on-crime approach that portrayed self-proclaimed conservative men like Kavanaugh and Trump as misogynist kingpins, have shown their double-standard character by granting clemency for Biden. They think, for the time being, that defeating Trump is the more urgent cause -- Hillary Clinton has yet to have to withdraw her endorsement of Biden; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has recently endorsed the former Vice President in his White House bid, amid development in sexual assault claim.

Politics will always be politics. Yet the present subjective political polarity, which is probably making our Founding Fathers roll in their graves -- and Democrats are not the only guilty ones -- has prioritized personal political agenda over our countrys honor and national interest. Whether this comes back to haunt the Democrats in November, time will tell. Regardless, the manner in which those who compulsively pronounced a guilty verdict on Kavanaugh before even considering the evidence -- faulty as it was -- or classifying President Trump as a male chauvinist and subsequently unfit for office because of his crass comments while looking the other way when Biden has fallen under the same predicament, is both inappropriate and shameful.
Twenty-three persons from the district tested positive for Covid-19 at Amritsars Government Medical College (GMC) here on Thursday. All of them were pilgrims returning from Takht Sri Huzur Sahib in Nanded, a historic Sikh shrine in Maharashtra, health department spokesperson for Covid-19, Dr Rajesh Bhaskar, confirmed.

With this, the districts count went up from 14 to 37, a jump of 164% in a day, with 29 active cases. Two persons died from the disease while six have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The pilgrims had reached Amritsar three days ago and were quarantined at the governments centre. Their samples were sent to GMC and 23 pilgrims tested positive in confirmatory reports. They have been admitted in the isolation ward of GMC, said health department official, who do not wish to be named.

Their contacts are being traced and reports of many other Nanded-returnees are awaited, he added.
One of the doctors behind a promising remdesivir study, which shows it can be used as a treatment for COVID-19, has called it a 'glimmer of hope' and says he is now studying how to use the Ebola drug with other medications to give patients 'tailored therapies'.

His promising comments came on Thursday morning after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading coronavirus expert, said the drug breakthrough was 'very important' and proved that a drug can stop the virus.

In the United States, more than one million people have tested positive and more than 61,000 have died.

The study was government sponsored and involved more than 1,000 patients taking part around the world. It showed that those who were given remdesivir recovered 31 percent faster than the patients who received a placebo drug.

The mortality rate among those who were given the drug was 3.6 percent less than among those who didn't; it was 8 percent in the drug recipients and 11.6 percent in placebo patients.

While the results do not give a cure-all solution, they have injected the markets with hope and share prices for its producer, Californian company Gilead Sciences, went through the roof.

It came despite the fact that a Chinese study found the drug was not as effective as US enthusiasm for it would suggest.

In an interview with Good Morning America on Thursday, Dr. Aneesh Mehta of Emory University Medical School - one of the institutions which took part in the study - spoke of its success.

Scroll down for video

Dr. Aneesh Mehta of Emory University Medical School was one of the dozens of doctors from 47 US institutions which took part in the study. He called it a 'glimmer of hope' on Thursday

Dr. Aneesh Mehta of Emory University Medical School talks to @GStephanopoulos about data collected during coronavirus drug trial and what comes next. https://t.co/NHpudpQB7R pic.twitter.com/MnnTDZ9QaA  Good Morning America (@GMA) April 30, 2020

It gives doctors and disease experts hope that it will enable to the healthcare system to move more seamlessly through the pandemic by treating patients on a faster time scale, which will not only save their lives but also keeps hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with cases.

The study showed that among 1,000 patients from around the world, those who got the drug recovered 31% faster and had a mortality rate 3% lower than those who did not

Dr. Mehta said on Thursday that the next phase would be to study how best to use the drug as part of a combination with others to give patients whose cases vary in their severity the best course of treatment.

'Having taken care of patients for eight weeks now... we've been getting patients better but we're now looking to find a medication that gets them better and faster and home to their families.

'Now, we have the first glimmer of hope of something that can do that,' he said.

He added that while the data was 'preliminary', it is promising.

Doctors want to give patients the drug as early as possible after they are diagnosed.

'Most antivirals tend to work better earlier in the course of disease. We definitely like to offer this earlier. It's intravenous so can only be given in the hospital but we're planning to offer it as early as possible,' he said.

Dr Mehta's team is now working with the National Institute of Health to combine the drug with others to get even better results, he said.

'We want to learn what additional medications are needed to really improve the outcome.

'All patients are different so we want to make sure we're tailoring their therapy.

'We want to integrate these therapies into this overall model of care that they are receiving,' he said.

'This is the first very highly powered, placebo controlled randomized trial which is really the gold standard of how you prove something is safe or either works or doesn't work Dr Anthony Fauci

On Wednesday night, Fauci heralded the trial results as 'really quite important'.

'The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery.

'Although a 31 percent improvement doesn't seem like a knockout 100 percent, it is very important proof of concept.

'What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus,' he said.

In an interview on Thursday with Today, he said that while the drug was not a 'total solution', it was an important 'first step' in the right direction.

'This is the first very highly powered, placebo controlled randomized trial which is really the gold standard of how you prove something is safe or either works or doesn't work.

'Although the results were clearly positive from a statistical stand point, they were modest.

'That's important but it's the first step in what we project will be better and better drugs coming along, either alone or in combination drugs of this type and drugs addressing other targets of the virus

'It's good news but this is not the total answer by any means but it's a very important first step,' he told Today.

FAUCI SAYS HE WAS FORCED TO RELEASE PROMISING EARLY DATA ABOUT REMDESIVIR BECAUSE SCIENTISTS WERE STARTING TO LEAK IT Dr. Fauci said the results were 'really quite important' Dr. Fauci, the nation's leading White House expert, said he was forced to release promising early data about the remdisivir study because the dozens of scientists involved in it around the world were starting to leak it and he felt compelled to speak about it for the sake of the patients on placebo drugs. The study results injected some optimism into the stock market, with shares of the pharmaceutical company which makes it rising by nearly seven percent. Some in the science community say it is too early to be heralded as a solution to the pandemic though, particularly when other studies conducted elsewhere in the world suggest it might not be as effective as US enthusiasm for it would suggest. Fauci explained to Reuters that he would have preferred to present the study results in the traditional way at a scientific meeting that would open them up for examination and further study but that it was not possible. 'It was purely driven by ethical concerns. I would love to wait to present it at a scientific meeting, but it's just not in the cards when you have a situation where the ethical concern about getting the drug to people on placebo dominates the conversation. 'There are literally dozens and dozens of investigators around the world. 'People were starting to leak it,' he said. The study was government funded and involved 47 US institutions plus dozens more around the world taking part. More than 1,000 patients were involved, including some who were given a placebo drug. Several scientists interviewed by Reuters felt the White House setting seemed inappropriate for the release of highly anticipated government-funded trial data on the Gilead therapy. They had expected it to be presented simultaneously in a detailed news release, a briefing at a medical meeting or in a scientific journal, allowing researchers to review the data. Information from various trials of remdesivir has been leaked to media in recent weeks. In a statement on Wednesday, Gilead said the NIAID's much anticipated trial had met its primary goal, but gave no details. Data in a separate NIAID statement after Fauci spoke detailed preliminary results showing that patients who got the drug had a 31 percent faster time to recovery than those who got a placebo, cutting hospital stays by four days. The trial also came close to showing the drug helped people survive the disease, but the data fell just short of statistical significance. 'I want to see the full data. I want to understand the statistics. I want to understand the benefit and risk. I want to understand the structure of the study, and all of it,' said Dr. Steven Nissen, the chief academic officer at the Cleveland Clinic. 'Am I encouraged from what I've heard? Yes, I'm encouraged. But I want to get a full understanding of what happened here, and not get it via a photo opportunity from the Oval Office.' Data Gilead released on its own trial of remdesivir drew less attention, as it did not compare outcomes between those receiving therapy and those who did not. Results from a third study in China suggesting remdesivir failed to help COVID-19 patients were released in the British medical journal the Lancet after review by a peer group of scientists. 'That's the only thing I'll hang my hat on, and that was negative,' said Dr. Eric Topol, director and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California. He was unimpressed by remdesivirs modest benefit. 'It was expected to be a whopping effect,' Topol added. 'It clearly does not have that.' At the Oval Office news conference, Fauci compared the study findings to AZT, the first drug to show any benefit against HIV, decades ago. 'We know that was an imperfect drug. It was the first step,' Fauci said in the interview. 'Similar to AZT, it's (remdesivir) the first baby step towards what hopefully will be a number of better drugs that will come in and be able to treat people with COVID-19.' Advertisement

A separate study out of China has cast doubt on the enthusiasm for it.

The study was published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal and involved 237 people.

It was stopped early because the researchers had difficulty recruiting people when the outbreak was curbed in Wuhan.

Scientists believe the stark contrast in findings may come down to when remdesivir is given.

One patient who was given the drug recalled being unable to breathe until he got remdesivir.

'It still hurt but it had dropped off quite a bit,' Chris Kane, 55, said.

On Wednesday, share prices for Gilead Sciences went up by nearly seven percent.

CEO of remdesivir manufacturer Gilead says it 'offers hope at a time when it is badly needed' as the company's stock price rises amid swell of enthusiasm

The CEO of remdesivir manufacturer Gilead Sciences said the results of the study involving the drug offer 'hope at a time when it is badly needed'

Daniel O'Day penned an open letter on Wednesday after the study results were announced by Dr. Fauci.

It sent the company's stock price soaring by seven percent. On Thursday, it continued to rise in early trading.

O'Day said in the letter, that was obtained by Fox News: 'The results from the global, placebo-controlled trial run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are positive.

'They show that patients with COVID-19 who received remdesivir recovered faster than similar patients who received placebo.

'There is still more work to do and remdesivir has not been approved, but all of us at Gilead are humbled by what these promising results might mean for patients.

'After years of research and hard work on remdesivir, there is relief and gratitude among our teams today that their efforts have been so worthwhile.'

He added the results show the progress 'we all hoped to see'.

The number of people who have died from coronavirus has risen to 61,568 in the United States, as of this morning

The number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus has risen to 1,065,245 in the United States, as of this morning

WHAT HAVE THREE STUDIES SHOWN OF REMDESIVIR? 1. The Adaptive Covid-19 Treatment Trial How many people? 1,063, including 46 from the UK, over 70 hospitals globally. What did it trial? The placebo controlled study compared outcomes for hospitalised patients. What did it find? Patients given remdesivir had a recovery time that was almost a third (31 per cent) faster than those given a placebo. Preliminary results also suggested a survival benefit, with a lower mortality rate of 8 per cent for the group receiving the drug, compared with 11.6 per cent for the placebo group. But this is not deemed a significant difference. Is it published? No. You can find the preliminary findings on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) website. 2. Gilead Sciences' Phase 3 SIMPLE trial How many people? 397 hospitalised patients What did it trial? The study compared a five-day course of the drug with a 10-day course treatment. It looked at rates of patients recovering to the point where they no longer needed oxygen support and medical care or were sent home from hospital. It was not a placebo controlled study. What did it find? The pharmaceutical company reported that almost two-thirds of patients, or 129 out of 200 patients, recovered by day 14 after a five-day course of treatment. The longer treatment time didn't appear to provide any additional benefit, the company said. Is it published? No. Gilead plans to publish the full data in a peer-reviewed journal in the coming weeks. A summary of the findings were published on its website. 3. The Chinese study, led by Professor Bin Cao, from China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in China. How many people? 237 hospital COVID-19 patients at ten hospitals in Hubei, China. The study was supposed to recruit 400, but the trial was halted because not enough patients were available due to the epidemic being curbed in Wuhan. What did it trial? It was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - the golden standard - comparing recovery rates in patients either given remdesivir or a dummy drug. What did it find? Those on the placebo drug had similar outcomes to those given remdesivir. It took a shorter time for the remdesivir-treated patients to get better, 21 days compared with 23, but this is not statistically significant. There was a one per cent difference in mortality rate between the two groups, which again, it's not clear if this means anything important. Is it published? Yes, in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet. Advertisement




Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

ROMESome of the hardest-hit countries in Europe will start opening up their economies in the coming days after several long months of very tight pandemic lockdowns. But they are doing it in conjunction with scientific guidance that marries widespread testing and aggressive contract tracingand no crowded beaches. And, under the understanding that if anything goes wrong, everybody goes back inside.

The Trump administration appears to be doing the exact opposite, pushing to kickstart stagnant economies before the pandemic has even reached its peak in some states, going for a rip off the Band-Aid very quickly approach, while here in Europe, countries are lifting it corner by corner, slowly, to make sure everything is fully healed.

In Italy, factories and construction sites will spring back to life on May 4, and restaurants finally will be able to offer takeout service, sending more than 4.5 million people who couldnt work from home back to their jobs. People can visit their family and significant others, but dinner parties among friends, even in private homes, are still not allowed.

New Model Shows How Deadly Lifting Georgias Lockdown May Be

Two weeks laterif there is no spike in new casesretail shops will join the fold under very strict guidelines, including sanitizing clothing and shoes between customers. Two weeks after that, on June 1again, only if new cases dont increaserestaurants can seat people outdoors and hairdressers and massage parlors can get back to work by appointment. Gyms, swimming pools and even Italys considerable beaches are not even on the agenda yet.

In France, May 11 marks the beginning of the brave new post-pandemic world, but it will not be an automatic fait accompli. Like Italy, France will reopen in phases, each contingent on the stats and the science, backed by aggressive testing with an aim of 700,000 tests a week by May 11 (in the U.S., with a population almost five times as big, testing hovers around 200,000 a day).

Story continues

Hairdressers and barbers will open in France, but everyone will be masked and gloved. Public transportation will be rejiggered to accommodate safe social distancing, and some schools will open on a voluntary basis with no more than 15 pupils per classroom. Different parts of the country will be color-coded red or green, based on the extent of contagion and the preparedness of the area health-care facilities should infections take off again. But there will be no free movement between regions for quite some time and the government will tighten things up again if things get worse.

Spain is also partially opening on May 4, with a four-part plan that includes the opening of hairdressers and other businesses that can function by appointment only. They will also start allowing takeout and other delivery services that have until now been prohibited. On May 11, bars will open their outdoor terraces, but can only serve one-third of their normal capacity. Spain will also measure the success of the gradual reopening with aggressive testing to determine if a second wave is on the way, and citizens have all been warned that they could go back to a full lockdown without notice if cases start to climb.

In the United States, bowling alleys and pizza joints are full in a number of states, with people rubbing shoulders as if the global pandemic is a movie or someone elses nightmare. The only European nation that even compares to the U.S. is Sweden, which didnt officially lock downthough the Swedes mostly self distanced on their own accord and which is now grappling with a higher infection rate than any of the other Nordic countries, according to statistics gathered by Worldometer.

Unlike in the U.S., where even Vice President Mike Pence refused to wear protective face covering inside a hospital, most of Europe will require the use of masks or other face coverings on public transportation and inside any venue with more than one person. Across Europe, masks are already available for sale in grocery stores and pharmacies where there are mandatory price caps to prevent gouging. Many European governments have agreed to subsidize masks and offer them for free in many communities to ensure that everyone stays safe.

European news outlets have featured mocking photos this week of people eating barbecue in Georgia and running along crowded beaches in Florida, but there are plenty of wistful Europeans here complaining that their countries are moving too slowly in returning to normal. The most vocal tend to be those who have been working from home just fine, but who desperately need their roots touched up and are sick of cooking. Traditional restaurants in Italy have been resistant to sacrifice quaint table service for takeout boxes even as the public demands it, so the feeling is mixed about how much sympathy those entities which wont adapt in these extreme times really deserve.

Despite the fact that next week across Europe millions of people whose jobs did not allow them to work from home, from construction to fashion production, will start earning once more, there are still other sectors, like tourism, that have no viable end in sight to this nightmare. Greeces department of tourism said on Wednesday it hoped to welcome tourists by July, but only if theyve had a COVID-19 swab.

Yet in Europe, life seems to mean more than the bottom line and even those in the tourism industry are worried about opening too soon, and what liabilities will come with mass tourism and international travel if it kicks off another wave and a return to the darkest circles of hell.

Perhaps the worst part of the global reaction to this new pandemic is that no one yet knows who is doing it right between reopening too soon, like in the U.S., not closing at all, as in Sweden, or slowly awaking from the dead, like much of Europe.

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ANKARA (dpa-AFX) - Turkey trade deficit widened in March, as exports declined and imports rose , data from the Turkish Statistical Institute showed on Thursday. The trade deficit increased to $5.4 billion in March from $1.9 billion in the same month last year. In February, trade deficit was $3.0 billion. Exports declined 17.8 percent annually in March, while imports rose 3.1 percent. On a seasonally and calendar adjusted basis, exports declined by 14.0 percent in March, and imports fell 2.9 percent from the previous month. Calendar adjusted exports decreased 20.3 percent, while imports increased by 0.3 percent, from a year ago. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The US government, through its aid agency USAID, has announced an additional grant of USD 3 million to help India combat the coronavirus pandemic.

On April 6, the USAID had announced a grant of USD 2.9 million to India to mitigate the spread of the deadly virus.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said the additional funding will further support India's response to COVID-19.

This additional funding to support India in its continuing efforts to combat COVID-19 is yet another example of the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and India, a release issued by the US Embassy here quoted the envoy as saying.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is one of the leading aid agencies globally.

The USAID is providing these funds to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity (PAHAL) project, an innovative financing platform, the release said.

To date, USAID has provided USD 5.9 million to assist India in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

This assistance will help India slow the spread of COVID-19, provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, and strengthen case finding and surveillance, it said.

"Through the PAHAL project, USAID will support the National Health Authority to establish a financing facility that can mobilize resources from the private sector to assist over 20,000 health facilities enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), India's health insurance scheme for 500 million poor and vulnerable people," the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FREDERICTON - The leader of New Brunswick's Green party is calling on the provincial government to provide a wage subsidy to help farmers recruit and retain workers, and to permit exemptions to the order barring temporary foreign workers from entering the province.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FREDERICTON - The leader of New Brunswick's Green party is calling on the provincial government to provide a wage subsidy to help farmers recruit and retain workers, and to permit exemptions to the order barring temporary foreign workers from entering the province.

"This last-minute decision to close our borders to temporary foreign workers, just before planting season begins, is depriving farmers of trained and experienced essential workers they need now," said David Coon.

Premier Blaine Higgs announced the restriction Tuesday, saying the situation with COVID-19 makes it too risky to allow a greater number of people to enter the province.

Higgs said there are already 1,500 temporary foreign workers in the province and 70,000 people who are unemployed, who can fill the remaining jobs.

The premier said starting Monday, the government will launch a virtual job-matching platform to connect New Brunswickers with positions that, in the past, have been filled by temporary foreign workers.

"For example, we are exploring opportunities to fill vacant positions by recruiting from 30,000 post-secondary students, 7,000 Grade 12 students about to graduate, and tens of thousands of unemployed people who have been displaced by COVID-19. We are looking for ways to employ temporary foreign workers who are already in the province and have also been affected by this pandemic," Higgs said Thursday.

He said the government would also look at redeploying or calling back unemployed casual or seasonal workers from government departments to work in the fishery and agricultural sectors.

But Coon said farmers who can demonstrate they can quarantine their workers for 14 days and provide for physical distancing in their accommodations should be eligible for exemptions.

The National Farmers Union has warned the restriction on temporary foreign workers will force some farmers to reduce the amount of crops they plant this year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2020.
Dascena, Inc., an Oakland, Calif.-based machine learning diagnostic algorithm company that is targeting early disease intervention to improve patient care outcomes, closed a $50m Series B financing.

The round was led by Frazier Healthcare Partners with participation from Longitude Capital, existing investor Euclidean Capital and an undisclosed investor.

The company intends to use the funds to advance a suite of machine learning algorithms to inform patient care strategies and improve outcomes.

Led by Ritankar Das, founder and chief executive officer, Dascena develops machine learning algorithms to enable early disease intervention and improve care outcomes for patients. The companys algorithms have been validated through eighteen peer-reviewed publications in several studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

FinSMEs

30/04/2020
When astronauts first came to the Moon, it was a brief moment as they didn't have the necessary tools, equipment, or resources to survive an extended stay on our little Moon. With NASA's new Artemis Mission that's set to begin in 2024, however, the space agency is preparing itself and its space personnel well for a fight of endurance against the Lunar surface.

Astronauts will be sent on a mission to the Moon, where they will stay for a much longer duration as well as maintain a sustainable presence. For this journey, NASA is set to equip them with briefcase-sized lunar flashlights that will be used to located icy water deposits that are hidden in the Moon's surface.

A shining beacon of hope

The device is design similar to a CubeSat, which is a small satellite the size of a standard briefcase. The flashlight will shine its light on the Moon's dark craters that are widely spread.

The craters have previously been investigated and revealed to show signs of water, which is a precious resource when you're stranded in space with no easily accessible source. In 2018, NASA was able to locate ancient ice deposits in the dark craters at the northern and southern poles of the Moon.

Read Also: [VIDEO] Two Black Holes Dancing In Space Caught By NASA's Spitzer Telescope Shows Remarkable Pattern of Fluidity

Water isn't only used for drinking and hygiene, and it's also used as an ingredient in the production of their spacecraft's propellant fuel.

The device can find water due to its capability of detecting surface ice located at the bottom-most parts of the craters of the Moon. It does so by scanning the South Pole over two months, occasionally diving in at low altitudes to shine light at the craters in search of ice.

Lunar Flashlight project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory John Baker stated the proposed mission project costs much lower to accomplish and fills a specific role in helping us understand more of our closest cosmic body. It can also aid us in preparing for future missions that require significantly longer stays, added Baker.

How does it work?

The device uses a four-laser reflectometer and water-absorbed near-infrared wavelengths to figure out exactly where ice is hidden within the craters. The way it works is, rocks deflect the light back towards the device. In contrast, water absorbs the light, negating any return light to return. This is how the lunar flashlight determines if there is water or not.

The amount of light absorbed also determines the amount of ice that could be on the surface.

The project would fulfill two purposes; one is giving astronauts the necessary resource they need to survive a lengthened stay on the Moon, and two is providing scientists with valuable research data about the amount of ice present on the Moon's surface.

Principal investigator of the project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Barbara Cohen, stated they would also be able to compare the data from the lunar flashlight with the ones they already have of the Moon from other missions to see if there are any similarities in the data about ice presence.

The project is set to launch sometime in 2021. It will utilize Artemis I, which will not house any astronauts, but rather spearhead the mission and conduct a test flight of the Orion spacecraft, which will eventually bring astronauts to the Moon.

Read Also: NASA's Hubble Catches Asteroid ATLAS Breaking Off Into House-Sized Lumps Before It Could Come Close Enough To Be Seen Without A Telescope
Governor Nasir El-Rufai has explained why government decided that civil servants and political appointees who are among persons fortunate to earn incomes during this lockdown should make a contribution to the cost of buying palliatives for vulnerable citizens of Kaduna State who cannot eke out a living due to the lockdown.

The governor made the clarification while fielding questions from some broadcast journalists in a live media chat on Tuesday night.

He said Kaduna State has no problem with paying salaries, and is proud of its record in being the first state to pay the new minimum wage and a new minimum pension.

Explaining the rationale for the deductions, Mr El-Rufai said it was an action taken across the board to ensure that public servants make some sacrifice for the welfare of other citizens.

He disclosed that 95 percent of the statutory allocation of March was spent on payment of salaries to public servants.

Mr El-Rufai stated that while the government cares for and demonstrates the utmost concern for public servants, it cannot be considered fair that most of public resources in an emergency period go to a cherished but minority segment of the residents of the state.

If you combine all the civil servants in Kaduna state, including workers in the 23 local governments and all political appointees, we are not up to 100,000. But there are about 10 million people in the state, he said.

According to the governor, there are up to one million people in the state who go out daily to look for what will sustain them on that day but who cannot go out to eke out a living due to the lockdown.

So, we decided that we that have an income, should sacrifice for this category of people, to enable government to get funds to buy palliatives for them, he argued.

Mr El-Rufai said that government decided that Kaduna State Executive members, which include commissioners and Special Advisers, should donate N500,000 each to the Palliative Fund this month.

Henceforth, we will donate half of our salaries until when life returns to near normal, the governor further explained.

According to him, it is only civil servants who earn N67,000 and above that will donate one-quarter of their salaries to fund the palliatives. This is to ensure that no public servant has less than N50,000 to manage monthly.

Mr El-Rufai argued that society is nothing if there is no sense of solidarity, I believe those who have, no matter how little, have a duty to care for others.

Our religions teach us to uphold a duty of care towards others, to want for others that which we want for ourselves. If you are lucky to have an income, you should make a contribution to ensure that others can survive and thrive in the dangerous circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

The governor conceded that people do not like to part with money, but he argued that such behaviour is for normal times. He stated that these are not normal times and all must adapt their behaviour accordingly.

We are not in normal times and we must adjust our thinking and behaviour accordingly. COVID-19 has affected everything, but it has not affected our commitment to pay salaries, he added.

Mr El-Rufai reminded residents that Kaduna State was the first state to pay the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustments because we had already worked on a new minimum wage for Kaduna State before the Federal Government started the process.

The governor also pointed out that the state has  also increased the minimum monthly pension for retirees on defined benefits to N30,000. We have done all these because we care.

I appeal to everyone to show maturity on this matter, he said.
Sailors are a tough breed. They've survived scurvy, pirates, and mermaid herpes over hundreds of years. And Graham Walters, the 72-year-old man who's rowed a boat across the Atlantic Ocean five times, might just be the toughest of them all.

His most recent trip was set to be his last. It was his third solo trans-Atlantic row, designed to get him the world record for the oldest person to do so. Every little detail of Walters' journey just becomes more and more impressive. He built his own boat over 20 years ago for this. He made this trip in part to help raise money for a UK veterans charity. Throughout the trip, he had to repair broken equipment and dodge sharks, like some survival horror movie. This guy makes rowing seem like a cool activity, and not just a thing socialites lie about doing to get into college.

The weather attacked Walters from the very beginning, then popped back up again, like a slasher movie killer, at the end. He was aiming to finish at the English Harbor in Antigua when high winds started blowing him away off course. Remember, my dude was in a rowboat ... But, remember, my dude is also a badass and was able to sort things out.

Upon arriving, there wasn't much time for congratulations despite Walters having set three world records. He had to get briefed on the fact that the world had changed in his 96 days out to sea. Conveniently, rowing a boat across the ocean is a great way to self-isolate away from the coronavirus, but it also meant he hadn't even heard about it yet. Imagine the mental hoops people who knew Walters had to jump through there -- should they have told him, and ruined his final trip? Or let him just continue, only to surprise him at the end?

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Well, they chose the latter, and Walters seems to be taking it in stride. Walters has to spend 14 days quarantined in Antigua before heading home, but at least he has a better story about missing the COVID news than Jared Leto.

Top Image: 272447/Pixabay
Now that the growth rate of COVID-19 cases in Illinois has slowed, the state health department has said elective surgeries and procedures may resume May 11 at Illinois hospitals and surgery centers. But some patients might have to wait longer than that, as hospitals deal with backlogs, rebuild their capacities and figure out which patients should go first. And other people, though in need of certain procedures, may also continue to put off care out of fear of catching COVID-19.
Africas young population may prove resilient against the coronavirus, but malnutrition could be the nail in the continents coffin

The African continent, with a population of over 1.2 billion, has recorded more than 30,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and close to 1,500 deaths. The figures may seem less threatening when compared to those in Europe and the United States. But the fact is, the numbers may increase at lightning speed.

In South Africa, for example, coronavirus cases multiplied 20-fold in two weeks. The virus had hit 400 patients in late March in Algeria, and today the cases stand at more than 4,000.

Large numbers of doctors and healthcare policy leaders in Africa fear an outbreak on the scale of Europe. Africa, with its poor capabilities and deteriorating health services, will not be able to stand against this scenario.

Making matters worse in Africa is the fragile economic condition of the continent. Villagers live hand to mouth, feeding on their crops of grains, potatoes and vegetables. In many African capitals, 20 per cent of the populations live under the poverty line and the majority of workers are seasonal labourers in temporary jobs.

Without thinking twice, the poor of Africa would rather die of disease than of hunger. They will go to work to feed their families, coronavirus or not. And in the majority of the continents countries, governments will be able to provide only small amounts of subsidised foods, with the disbursement of free foods near impossible.

True, Uganda and Rwanda, with 79 and 191 coronavirus cases respectively and no fatalities thus far, are distributing free food in the poorest areas. But this is difficult to maintain, even if reports from South Africa saying that gangs disburse free food in poor districts among immigrants from neighbouring countries are true.

A few weeks into adopting these policies, state budgets, already suffering from great deficits, are being brought to the ground.

Many African countries announced a curfew, such as Egypt, a complete lockdown, such as South Africa, a partial lockdown, such as Lagos, the economic and cultural capital of Nigeria or a travel ban between regions, such as Sudan.

In a world where influential countries are mobilising to source scarce medical equipment, Africa is left with almost nothing. Africa has five intensive care beds for every million citizens, while there are 3,500 such beds for every million people in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The condition is much worse when it comes to ventilators. South Sudan, the latest African country to gain independence, has a population of 14 million people and four ventilators.

Until Monday, Sudan had registered 237 confirmed coronavirus cases and 21 deaths. Sudan suffers from a deteriorating economy that led to the eruption of a revolution that brought down the longest serving president in Africa, Omar Al-Bashir. Since he was toppled, Sudans condition has not improved in the slightest.

Other African countries are suffering from collapsing infrastructure, where it is difficult to make available soap and water or practise self-isolation in overcrowded houses.

There is still hope for Africa, however. The majority of the continent is young, unlike in Europe where a quarter of the population is over 65 years of age. In Africa, as well, chronic diseases are not as widespread as in the Middle East and Asia.

But malnutrition could be the nail in the coffin for Africa, making coronavirus more dangerous for Africa than in other parts of the world. Still, the international scientific community has not conducted enough research to determine the effect of coronavirus on people suffering from malnutrition.

Moreover, due to poverty and collapsing infrastructure, commuting between regions in African countries remains limited, and international travel is recorded at far less rates than in any other part of the world.

Africas point of strength, nevertheless, is its experience in facing pandemics such as Ebola and HIV/AIDS. In these two experiences, since the 1980s until today, African communities proved their strength in overcoming many hurdles.

In both instances, countries of West Africa, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone, and Central Africa, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, didnt practise self-isolation or enforce a lockdown. Combating both pandemics was done comprehensively by communities, with local leaderships taking the lead in the fight instead of governments.

In Liberia, it was local leaders that stood at the forefront of awareness campaigns, going door to door, organising peoples visits to markets, isolating infected patients and arranging the delivery of basic needs to those unable to afford them.

Ebola didnt bring life to a halt in Congo and the pandemic is waning in the republic.

In 2014, during the Ebola outbreak, the Liberian government ordered the army to lock down the West Point district in the capital Monrovia. The public defied the lockdown, rendering it useless. Since then the Liberian government has counted on local leaderships. At that time, Sierra Leone released the slogan General health by consent.

However, the role of governments in building field hospitals and supporting the healthcare sector cant be ignored.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 30 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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April 30, 2020 De Lima wants 'better and clearer' rules of engagement for law enforcers during quarantine To minimize violent altercations between the police and alleged violators of quarantine protocols in areas under lockdown, opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima urged the government to consider adjusting the rules of engagement of law enforcers. De Lima made the statement after reports that members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have aggressively responded to supposed violations of community guidelines in areas under community quarantine. "We need to establish better clearer rules of engagement for the enforcement of community quarantine rules. Our police officers are expected to make situational decisions that they are not properly trained to do," the former justice secretary said. "Hindi na katanggap-tanggap ang mga napapaulat na paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao sa ngalan ng pagpapatupad ng mga ECQ rules," she added. Since the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in mid-March, several incidents of alleged human rights violations committed by members of the PNP have been reported - some of which have resulted to trespassing, grave physical injuries and even death. Last April 14, former Cpl. Winston Ragos of the Philippine Army was gunned down outside of his residence in Quezon City, after being accosted for violating quarantine protocols, for being confrontational and for allegedly attempting to pull out a firearm on the officers. A video of another physical altercation between the police and a foreign national in Makati also went viral, which according to reports, have stemmed from the police demanding to fine a housekeeper PhP1,000, for not wearing a face mask while watering plants in front of their property. It also can be recalled that last April 19, four armed police officers forced their way into a condominium complex in Taguig City sans a warrant and forcefully disbanded residents, including children, who have gathered in an indoor public swimming pool. "Kailangan ba tutukan ng baril ang mga sibilyan na nakikipagtalo sa opisyal na nagpapatupad ng quarantine? Paano ba ang dapat gawin sa sibilyan na hindi sumusunod sa atas ng opisyal? Paano ba ang dapat gawin sa nagpoprotesta sa pinapatupad na quarantine rules? Dapat bang dakpin ang mga walang facemask?" De Lima, a life-long human rights advocate, asked. "Since it is the first time that our police officers are enforcing a quarantine, many of them are having problems calibrating their response, treating belligerence as threatening criminal offenses," she added. Other local and foreign human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have urged governments around the world to be avoid abusing their powers to commit human rights violations, in guise of anti-COVID-19 restrictions. United Nations Human Rights Commissioner (UNHRC) Michelle Bachelet has called out the Philippine government, among others, for a "highly militarized response" to violators of quarantine protocols. "Emergency powers should not be a weapon governments can wield to quash dissent, control the population, and even perpetuate their time in power. They should be used to cope effectively with the pandemic - nothing more, nothing less," Bachelet was quoted to have said. The Philippines' Commission of Human Rights (CHR), on its part, has also urged police and barangay officials tasked to enforce community quarantine rules to be conscious of human rights in their performance of their duties. "We need to understand that quarantine does not suspend our constitution and human rights. Our police force and our government have the frightening power to destroy human lives, that is why they are given the burden, and the implicit duty, to hold their temper in the face of dissent," De Lima said. "It is not helping, as it is most deplorable, that the current occupant in Malacanang publicly instructs our law enforcers to commit violence against quarantine violators," she added.
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk used an earnings call with investors to vent his rage about stay-at-home policies designed to slow the spread of coronavirus, calling them fascist and demanding that authorities give people back their goddamn freedom.

Tesla suspended production at its Fremont, California plant in mid-March in response to the accelerating outbreak. But while its first-quarter results were far from disastrous, with the company reporting a third consecutive quarter of profitability, Mr Musk was nonetheless livid at what he saw as the brutality of obliging Americans to practise social distancing by staying in their homes.

I would call it forcibly imprisoning people in their homes against all their constitutional rights, in my opinion, and breaking peoples freedoms in ways that are horrible and wrong and not why people came to America or built this country, said Mr Musk during Wednesdays call, who has previously called fear of Covid-19 dumb.

Later in the call, he predicted a political backlash to the public health measures. This is the time to think about the future, and also to ask, is it right to infringe upon peoples rights, as what is happening right now? I think people are going to be very angry about this and are very angry.

If somebody wants to stay in the house, thats great. They should be allowed to stay in the house, and they should not be compelled to leave. But to say that they cannot leave their house and they will be arrested if they do, this is fascist.

Also on Wednesday, Mr Musk tweeted in support of Texass decision to allow some restaurants, retailers and businesses to reopen under certain conditions, writing Bravo Texas!, as well as sharing a newspaper article that claimed lockdowns have made little difference, under the message, Give people their freedom back! He also fired off a Donald Trump-esque tweet, now pinned at the top of his profile, that simply read: FREE AMERICA NOW.

After his statements on the call received media coverage, Mr Musk retweeted a journalist quoting his comments, then shared data purporting to indicate that Hospitals in California have been half empty this whole time.

Another message featured a cartoon unicorn wearing an enraged expression, its mouth blacked out as if uttering an expletive, and the word LIBERTY flanked with American flags.

As the pandemic has unfolded, Mr Musk has expressed scepticism about the viruss reported effects as well as about governments responses to it. This he has done largely via Twitter, with some missives offering specific predictions (Based on current trends, probably close to zero new cases in US too by end of April, on 19 March) and others featuring glib assertions about the danger posed by Covid-19 (The coronavirus panic is dumb, on 6 March).

At other points, he has apparently taken the risks of the virus more seriously. In late March, Mr Musk offered to distribute ventilators for hospitals treating Covid-19 patients. However, when the machines were delivered to hospitals in California and New York, doctors reported that they were not in fact ventilators but instead BPAP and CPAP machines, which are generally not used in intensive care units. CPAPs are usually used to treat people with sleep apnea. It was later reported that doctors had been able to modify some of the devices and use them to ventilate intubated patients.

Mr Musk has a history of grandiose and belligerent public statements. He was unsuccessfully sued for defamation after calling a man involved in the 2018 Thai cave rescue pedo guy, while an announcement on Twitter that he had secured funding to take Tesla private started a chaotic financial saga that saw him subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which eventually saw him resign as Teslas chairman.
[April 30, 2020] Emergent, LLC Awarded Red Hat Mid Market Business Transformation Partner of the Year

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergent, LLC, an award-winning value-added reseller and IT solutions provider, was named Mid Market Business Transformation Partner of the Year by Red Hat, Inc., the world's leading provider of open source solutions. This award is part of the annual Red Hat North American Partner Awards, which aim to honor partners for continued efforts to support customers on the path to IT modernization. The Mid Market Business Transformation Partner of the Year honors the Red Hat partner whose breadth of knowledge capabilities have enabled enterprise integration of Red Hat solutions within the Public Sector mid market. The award is based upon Emergent's efforts during Red Hat's last fiscal year, from March 2019 - March 2020. "Emergent is honored to be recognized by Red Hat as a Business Transformation Partner of the Year. Our Red Hat team is committed to providing innovative open source solutions to our customers in the government, commercial,education, and healthcare sectors," said Paul Kohler, Executive Vice President, Emergent. "Red Hat is a trusted partner, and we are excited to continue our partnership throughout the next fiscal year and into the future."



"Emergent is a valued channel partner to Red Hat, and we are pleased to honor them with this well-deserved award," said Michael Byrd, Vice President, Public Sector Channel Sales, Red Hat. "We look forward to our continued relationship with Emergent and helping them provide the best in open source solutions to their clients." Red Hat's 2019 North American Partner Awards honor both commercial and public sector partners for their dedication to successfully delivering innovative open source solutions to customers. Honorees were recognized for outstanding performance in 2019 across several categories that span Red Hat's open source portfolio and their dedication to delivering customer success.

About Emergent, LLC

Emergent is an award-winning Value Added Reseller providing comprehensive IT solutions including solution architecture, product acquisition, training consulting, and managed services. Founded in 2006 in the Washington DC metro area, Emergent provides a streamlined procurement process for its customers by leveraging its GSA, SEWP V and CIO-CS contracts. Emergent offers a full catalog of complementary technology solutions within the government, commercial, education, and healthcare sectors. For more information, visit https://www.emergent360.com or @Emergent360 on LinkedIn and Twitter. Red Hat is a trademark of Red Hat, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emergent-llc-awarded-red-hat-mid-market-business-transformation-partner-of-the-year-301050139.html SOURCE Emergent, LLC

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A Chinese woman has been left devastated as she struggles to sleep with her eyes closed for over a year due to failed plastic surgery.

The resident, known by her surname Ma, said that she has been using sticky tape to keep her eyes shut at night since 2018.

Ms Ma, who had a repair surgery after she was unsatisfied with the result of her initial operation, was shattered when the second procedure went wrong again.

The cosmetic clinic denied the womans claims and requested to conduct a legal analysis to determine if the surgery botched her eyes.

A Chinese woman, known by her surname Ma, has been left devastated as she struggles to sleep with her eyes closed for over a year due to failed plastic surgery

The Chinese woman spent 20,000 yuan (2,268) to receive a double-eyelid surgery at the Jimei Plastic Hospital in Zhengzhou, Henan province of central China in September, 2018.

Such surgery, which creates the Western style creases on the upper eyelids, is a popular cosmetic operation among Asian women don't naturally have them.

Ms Ma said that she visited the same clinic again for a repair session after she wasnt happy with the result of the initial procedure.

But the beauty lover was devastated after the second surgery which left her unable to shut her eyes completely.

[My eyes] have never been well since the repair operation, said Ms Ma. I cant close my eyes properly and would get teary eyes on windy days.

A recent clip shows the Chinese woman with a strip of sticky tape next to her eye. Ive been using the tape for over a year now, she told the local press. I cant shut [my eyes] if I dont use the tape.

The Chinese woman spent 20,000 yuan (2,268) to receive a double-eyelid surgery at the Jimei Plastic Hospital in Zhengzhou, Henan province of central China in September, 2018

Ms Ma said that she visited the same clinic again for a repair session after she wasnt happy with the result of the initial procedure. The second procedure left her eyes unable to shut

Ms Ma said that the cosmetic clinic offered to perform another repair procedure or compensate her with 5,000 yuan (566), a quarter of how much she paid for the first operation.

The hospital also asked Ms Ma to sign an agreement which exempts the clinic from any responsibilities in the future.

[That means] if I have any problems, I cant contact them. It would have nothing to do with them anymore, the woman said.

A manager from the cosmetic clinic, known by his surname Feng, denied that the hospital gave Ms Ma such offers.

Another clip shows the furious resident confronting the staff member from the cosmetic clinic in Henan province: Cant you see? My eyes werent like this before the surgery

Another clip shows the furious resident confronting the staff member: Cant you see? My eyes werent like this before the surgery.

Mr Feng replied: I cant tell the difference. You can say it however you like.

The clinic manager then requested to conduct a legal analysis for Ms Mas conditions. He said that the hospital will claim full responsibility if the result suggests that the surgery has indeed botched her eyes.

The Chinese woman said that she will continue to seek an acceptable response from the hospital.
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 30.

The Armenian armed forces were using sniper rifles and mortars of different calibers.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Tunisia is joining other Middle Eastern nations like Iraq, Israel and Morocco in buying the U.S. AT-6C "Texan II" trainer/attack/reconnaissance aircraft. Tunisia wants to buy twelve but budget problems means the initial purchase is only four. In addition to 512 bombs, 48 500 pounders and the rest 250 pounders (113 kg). These bombs are mostly being used with guidance kits that turn bombs into GPS guided bombs. There are also 3,290 70mm APKWS laser guided missiles. APKWS is a cheap laser-guided missile and four of them cost as much as one Hellfire APKWS has been very popular to nations with much smaller defense budgets but in need of laser-guided missiles.

APKWS are basically 70mm unguided rockets with a laser guidance kit attached. Normally each APKWS weighs 15 kg (32 pounds), with a guidance system attached. The guidance system consists of a laser light seeker and moveable fins, battery and microprocessor to guide the rocket to the reflected laser light the laser designator is bouncing off the target. These 70mm rockets usually have a 2.7 kg (six pound) warhead, and a range of about 10 kilometers when fired from a fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter. The APKWS is small enough that each hard point on an aircraft can carry a launcher holding four APKWS instead of one Hellfire. Thus an AT-6C can carry a dozen APKWS missiles. These cost about $30,000 each and hit within a meter (a few feet) of where the pilot is pointing the targeting laser. The accuracy and smaller warhead mean the APKWS is safer to use when friendly troops or civilians are nearby.

Tunisia still has problems with Islamic terrorists. Some are caught in urban areas but most are hiding out in mountains along the Algerian border. As Iraq discovered, AT-6s with APKWS are very effective weapons against Islamic terrorists whether in the open or urban areas.

Tunisia is also buying two spare T-6 engines and fire control systems for the GPS bombs and laser guided missiles. This package deal, which includes training, spares and maintenance, will cost $326 million. The Texan C version includes hard points on the wings for carrying bombs and missiles, or pods for recon and intelligence collecting. Iraq already has 24 AT-6Cs it ordered back in 2014 and has used them effectively since then.

Back in the 1990s, the T-6A was selected by the U.S. Air Force as the replacement for the half century old T-37Bs, which were basically worn out. One reason the Texan won was because the T-6A design is based on the very popular Pilatus PC-9, which already had an excellent reputation as a trainer aircraft. The U.S. Air Force began using the T-6A in 2008.

A single engine prop driven aircraft, the T-6 reduces fuel costs by over 60 percent (compared to the T-37B). Cruise speed is 512 kilometers an hour and max speed is 580. Max altitude is 9,400 meters (31,000 feet). Endurance is up to three hours depending on load. When armed, endurance is about two hours. The three ton T-6As cost about $8 million each while the AT-6Cs cost a bit more. The AT-6 can carry about half a ton of weapons (bombs, missiles, machine-gun pods).

The Swiss PC-9 trainer evolved from the PC-3 that was designed and built in the 1950s. The basic design of the PC-3 was worth upgrading and so it was through the PC-7 in the 1970s and then the PC-9 in the 1980s. The AT-6 was a PC-9 with few changes initially, other than it was now an American aircraft built in the United States. After the T-6 won a 1995 competition to become the new basic trainer for the American air force and navy both services added additional requirements and that led to the T-6A, which was half a ton heavier than the PC-9 and, internally, quite different. Later came the T-6B with a glass (lots of flat screen displays) cockpit that trainee pilots would encounter in their advanced (jet) trainer and then the combat aircraft they would serve in. The T-6C is the export version of the T-6B and most export customers take the AT-6C which can serve as a trainer or light-attack aircraft,

Pilatus has produced nearly 300 PC-9s since the 1980s while the T-6, which entered service in 2001, already has three times as many aircraft in service or on order. The American manufacturer (Beechcraft) had an enormous advantage in that its aircraft was made in the United States and modified to suite air force and navy requirements. That made it easier to get export orders.
Lilawati Devi, the unlettered gram pradhan (head) of Bhujawal Khurd village in Kushinagar and Poonam Singh, the MBA-holder gram pradhan of Didauli village in Rae Bareli, are united by the common concern of protecting their villages from coronavirus infection.

Little wonder, villages in Uttar Pradesh are witnessing musical jan jagran (awareness campaign), raising anti-corona task force, devising indigenous home delivery models, stitching masks and distributing soap. They have also set up WhatsApp groups for sharing needs, news, problems and concerns and ensured the menfolk seal borders to bar foreign entry.

Thats not all. Amid the crisis, these women are also presenting a humane face.

While in some isolated incidents in urban centres vegetable vendors have been targeted on their religious identity, villagers are verifying the vegetable vendors more out of security concerns.

Our village is on the Nepal border. Vendors come to our village to sell vegetables, fruits, milk and other essentials. We have prepared a list of all such vendors with their name, number and other details for verification. Any new vendor is subjected to interrogation by villagers, though there is no classification on religious lines, said Pratima Mishra, 36, a graduate from Luchuiya village in Siddharthnagar, a district with significant migration to Mumbai and Delhi.

Along with her husband Pawan, the graduate village head, the couple have devised the doorstep delivery model to guard against overcrowding. All outsiders were sent to quarantine centres in the village and allowed to go home after 14 days in isolation.

In these times, women are playing a huge role in making people aware. Women understand women better and so their support is crucial in creating awareness, said Pawan.

In Chandwara village in Barabanki, village head Prakashini Jaiswal, 38, has, with the help of her husband Rituraj, deployed National Cadet Corps (NCC) members to maintain social distancing.

We have fixed the time for procuring vegetables. Between 6am and 9am, all the villagers who require vegetables come out to get veggies. Social distancing is strictly ensured, she says. Most of the villagers who returned home after the lockdown and quarantine have now been checked.

There were 13 Jamaatis too in the village but all have tested negative. They are still in the village but its ok. In these times, all have to help each other. Only one person is in quarantine now and food for that person is prepared in our house, Jaiswal said.

In March, while preparing food for quarantined people in her village, Lilawati Devi, the village head of Bhujawal Khurd in Kushinagar, faced an uncomfortable moment.

One of the five persons refused to have food prepared by me, saying I was a dalit. I had prepared the food because the village cook had refused to serve means to them, saying he feared going near them. The accusation stung. After intervention, all got sorted out, says Lilawati.

Then, there is Poonam Singh, 30, the modern village head of Didauli in Rae Bareli. She says her village started stitching masks before others.

I think much before anyone started making homemade masks, we had started stitching masks at home for public distribution. All those village women who knew how to stitch were engaged in that task, says Poonam.

To create awareness, Poonam, along with her husband Raj Kumar, 37, who holds a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) degree, also distributed soap in her village.

I get my village sanitised twice every week and each person in the village has been motivated to do shram daan (voluntary labour) to ensure cleanliness, she said.

In Akbarpur village, women are part of a novel anti-corona task force raised by village pradhan Amit Dwivedi.

Women are able to convince women better and that makes a lot of difference. The anti corona task force has men too. But of course, making women aware is of huge importance and that makes a powerful, impactful statement, said Dwivedi, 38.

The anti-corona task force runs awareness campaigns, distributes soap, masks and other essentials, keeps villagers posted with news.

In Latifpur village close to the state capital, Shweta Singh, the gram pradhan who holds an MCA degree, has launched a musical jan jagran (awareness campaign) in her village. With her team, she moves around the village playing cymbals. Another villager sings the lyrics penned by her that are aimed at creating awareness about social distancing protocols.

Another person on dhol completes the music party in the village, which has been regularly updating the villagers about the need to follow certain restrictions.

I go around making people learn the correct way to wash their hands. In fact, I believe not many know how to do that even in cities. Hence, I give special training to villagers on how wash hands properly. Our village has a WhatsApp group, a banking correspondent to take care of banking needs of the people. We are coming up with a novel waste segregation unit, she says.

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By Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - A plan to axe up to 12,000 jobs at IAG's British Airways underlines CEO Willie Walsh's desire to survive what is expected to be aviation's worst downturn without a state bailout.

By Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) - A plan to axe up to 12,000 jobs at IAG's British Airways underlines CEO Willie Walsh's desire to survive what is expected to be aviation's worst downturn without a state bailout.

Walsh, a former pilot and industry veteran, is betting that once the coronavirus crisis is over, IAG will be better positioned than rivals which might be beholden to political masters after turning to governments to see them through.

IAG, which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, has reaped the rewards of past cost cutting that many competitors have struggled to match. But given the scale of the latest job cuts, Walsh could face challenges from politicians and unions.

"They were a stronger airline going in to this crisis, they want to be even stronger going out," Davy analyst Stephen Furlong said after IAG on Tuesday revealed that BA could make about a quarter of its 42,000 staff redundant.

BA also forecast passenger numbers would take years to recover with no end in sight to draconian travel restrictions which have brought flying to a near-halt.

While this has left many airlines begging governments for bailouts, IAG's strong balance sheet, described by one analyst as a "fortress", means it can afford a longer flying hiatus than many rivals and has not yet had to seek a rescue.

BA said on Tuesday there was "no government bailout standing by" and to cope with potentially months of disruption, Walsh believes IAG needs to cut costs as far as possible.

IAG's CEO has earned the nickname "slasher Walsh" by dragging airlines into the modern age of budget flying, usually by cutting costs and taking on labour unions,

He had been due to retire in March, but decided to stay on when the crisis struck.

Competitors such as Franco-Dutch group Air France-KLM and Germany's Lufthansa were already struggling to cut costs as much as IAG even before they sought bailouts from their governments.

With their rescue packages set to increase state influence, they may find it even harder to compete with a lean IAG.

On the other side of the Atlantic, U.S. airlines American Airlines Group Inc , United Airlines Holdings Inc and Delta Air Lines Inc are all being helped by a $25 billion government rescue package.

LIQUIDITY

IAG said on Tuesday it had liquidity of 9.5 billion euros ($10.3 billion). That compares with Lufthansa's 5.1 billion euros and Air France-KLM's 6 billion, Bernstein analysts said.

"(This) gives some reassurance to investors that IAG will be one of the survivors and possible long-term beneficiaries of this current crisis," Goodbody analyst Mark Simpson said.

Lufthansa said on Tuesday it could seek some form of protection from creditors while talking to the German government about a 9 billion euro rescue, while Air France-KLM has been buoyed by a 7 billion euro state-backed package from France, with another 2.4 billion pledged by the Dutch.

IAG is targeting BA, which has 42,000 employees, rather than its other airlines because it has the highest costs in the group, Davy's Furlong said.

The BA job cuts, which are subject to union consultation, are one of a number of steps to drive down costs. IAG has already cancelled its dividend, extended credit facilities and used government furlough schemes to help pay staff.

It could also choose to access coronavirus-related government lending schemes.

BA's staff include 16,500 cabin crew and 3,900 pilots and an internal memo seen by Reuters said it is proposing to "significantly reduce" cabin crew numbers and create one team.

This could help save costs by ending some contracts with longer-serving staff who earn more.

Unite the Union, Britain's largest union representing cabin crew, called on BA to withdraw the redundancy notices and work with the government on a rescue package, adding that announcing job losses when some staff were furloughed was "immoral".

"UK taxpayers have not handed over their money to BA for it to embark on an opportunistic course of slashing jobs," Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said in a statement.

IAG shares were up 3.6% at 1440 GMT, having lost almost two-thirds of their value over the past three months.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; additional reporting by Josephine Mason and Laurence Frost; Editing by Louise Heavens, Mark Potter and Alexander Smith)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Rishi Kapoor: Rare, old and unseen photos of Bollywoods chocolate boy

Rishi Kapoors top ten films: A tribute to the legend who charmed millions with 'Bobby' & 'Chandni'

Rishi Kapoors last tweet was appeal to refrain from violence towards health care professionals

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passes away

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 30: Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor has passed away. He was 67.

The 67-year-old actor was taken to H N Reliance hospital by his family on Wednesday morning.

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

Rishi Kapoor: Rare, old and unseen photos of Bollywoods chocolate boy

In February, Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues.

He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At the time, Kapoor had said that he was suffering from an "infection".

After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after.

The actor recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film "The Intern", also featuring Deepika Padukone.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

Representatives of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Malaysia, Export Promotion Agency of Uzbekistan and Malaysian Consumption Union Global Technology company discussed issues on introduction of CU Rewards online trading platform in Uzbekistan, Trend reports citing Uzbek media.

Consumption Union Global Technology company is developing special electronic platforms for e-commerce. The number of subscribers of the CU Rewards online trading platform is more than 10 million, including more than 200,000 sellers. The platform will enable Uzbek exporters to sell their products to end consumers in Southeast Asia online.

The advantages of the electronic platform are its wide use by trading companies in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China and other promising markets, the availability of contact details of the seller, allowing the buyer to directly contact the exporter, as well as the implemented Cashback system, which is attractive to importers. The site is available in many languages, including the Uzbek language in test mode.

As a result of the videoconference, the parties agreed to consider signing a cooperation agreement between the Export Promotion Agency and Consumption Union on the introduction of an electronic trading platform CU Rewards in the country, as well as joint development of e-commerce, the report said.

Prospects of introduction of electronic trading platforms of Consumption Union Global Technology company in Uzbekistan were discussed first time in January 2020, during the meeting between Chairman of Uzbekistan Exporters Association Mukhtor Umarov with high ranking representatives of Consumption Union Malaysia company in Kuala Lumpur.

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Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
The Federal Council

Bern, 30.04.2020 - Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19. The pandemic is compounding an already precarious situation in countries beset by poverty, armed conflict or natural disasters. To mitigate the consequences of the pandemic, the Federal Council has decided to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with a CHF 200 million interest-free loan and to contribute CHF 25 million to an IMF rapid credit facility to help countries address the pandemic. A further CHF 175 million is to be allocated to help strengthen internationally active organisations and international cooperation to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. With these funds, Switzerland is showing solidarity during the global crisis.

The Covid-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on everyone's lives. Lockdown restrictions on business activity are threatening livelihoods in developing countries in particular. When the world's poorest lose their jobs or are prevented from going to work, they cannot feed their families. Most have no job security or the benefit of a robust social safety net to protect them in a crisis such as this one. The risk of social unrest is growing and millions more will lose their livelihoods and have no alternative but to leave their home and country. It is in Switzerland's interests to address the causes of forced displacement.

Contributions to internationally active organisations to combat the pandemic

The Federal Council is responding to urgent appeals for financial support from the UN, the WHO, the ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the G20 and other organisations to help them maintain their ability to address the pandemic. The major internationally active organisations need funds to take additional measures to slow down the spread of the virus and to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the pandemic.

The Federal Council has agreed to contribute CHF 400 million to international efforts, particularly in developing countries. As a first step, it wants Switzerland to grant the ICRC an interest-free loan of up to CHF 200 million, repayable within seven years. In addition, it has proposed to contribute CHF 25 million to the IMF's Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust. Parliament will take a decision on both loan and contribution in the summer session. In May, the Federal Council will decide on additional contributions of up to CHF 175 million for various internationally active organisations.

This Federal Council's decision also responds to a motion put forward by the National Council Foreign Affairs Committee calling for a CHF 100 million increase in humanitarian aid credits for 2020.

Swift and effective international cooperation response

Switzerland has responded quickly and effectively to the crisis through its development cooperation programmes. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has made targeted adjustments to its programmes, particularly those being implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), to address the pandemic. The Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research has, for its part, adapted programmes currently being undertaken by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. Over CHF 100 million in additional funding has been allocated from the current budget. These funds will be used to strengthen the work of organisations such as the UN (including the WHO), the ICRC and the IFRC as well as humanitarian and pandemic-related SDC projects. Swiss Humanitarian Aid has already delivered relief supplies at the request of affected countries. Switzerland is also supporting the efforts currently being undertaken by the World Bank Group and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Tel. +41 58 462 31 53

kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Publisher

The Federal Council

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html



Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html



State Secretariat for International Financial Matters

http://www.sif.admin.ch



State Secretariat for Economic Affairs

http://www.seco.admin.ch




Mumbai, April 30 : The untimely demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor has left his co-star Juhi Chawla devastated.

Juhi, who worked with the late actor in several films, including "Bol Radha Bol" (1992), "Rishta To Ho Aisa" (1992), "Ghar Ki Izzat "(1994) and "Eena Meena Deega" (1994), took to social media to mourn the death of Rishi Kapoor, sharing a few of her fond memories with him.

"Shocked!! Saddened beyond words! Devastated Can't believe it ... Not Chintuji ! I feel really really sad . I have many many memories of him ...I started working with him soon after QSQT in Kalpataruji's film Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani, Ghar Ki Izzat was another of our films.

"At that time, being a newcomer, I would be overawed by his presence on the sets, as he was such a big star he was always such an effor-tless actor he barely rehearsed and the director was always happy with his very first take of a shot ! I'd be trembling and praying I didn't forget my dialogues in front of him and look foolish . He was always friendly, but a little detached . Everyday he'd work two shifts mostly, moving from studio to studio and always punctual. He had his own timing and he kept to that. I can't remember seeing any temper tantrum, he was super efficient with work and effortless," Juhi shared.

She also recalled how Rishi Kapoor used to make his cheeks pink by putting make-up on his face all by himself instead of waiting for make-up dada.

"Impatiently Chintuji would pick up the sponge dr rub it all over his face ..!! The pink of the cheeks got rubbed off along with the brown of the chiseling and everything would be mixed up on his face ..!!!Chintuji would ruffle or comb his hair and say alright .... I'm ready I would laugh and laugh cause Chintuji had just undone all Dadas efforts !! And Chintuji did this every time," Juhi wrote.

She also spoke about how Rishi Kapoor used to get annoyed with people who requested stars to get pictures clicked with their kids.

"Chintuji would get annoyed with fans who came to watch shooting with tiny children, and who would push their bawling children in front of us and say, ' Hamare bacche ko aapke saath photo leni hai'. Chintuji would say to us how do people do this, their children are frightened, have no clue who we are and their parents instead of saying , please may we have a picture with you, torment their children . He came up with a trick, when some such person would come and begin to say, 'Sir , please may I'. Chintuji with a straight face begin to speak formidable high sounding but meaningless english sentences, 'The Constitution of the American Confederacy will take punitive action against the lordship of the Universal intelligence inducing mankind's venerable position withholding classified information in toto .!!! and then with a straight s face conclude .. ' did you understand ..?!???? ' ... the hapless fan by now would be completely confused , gobsmacked , stammer and run for his life ...! as usual I was somewhere around , holding my sides with laughter," she recalled.

Juhi was shooting with Rishi Kapoor for the film "Sharmaji Namkeen" earlier this year in Delhi. The was Rishi Kapoor's film was the last one Kapoor shot for, and it marked the union of the two actors after almost a decade. They were last seen together in the 2009 film "Luck By Chance".

Sharing memories from Rishi Kapoor's last film, Juhi further said: "Due to Chintujis treatment , the shooting was postponed. The film was finally taken over by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar for production . In January this year I joined the crew in Delhi for the shooting . It was wonderful . The weather was beautiful, our shooting was on track. Chintuji was his amusing , happy , some-times grumpy , often chatty self . Just sometimes he would sit by himself in the sun , or looking into his phone preoccupied.

"We had a great time shooting , he was effortless , absolutely effortless in his shots . Always and I mean always after his shot , the director would shout a very satisfied spontaneous OKKKKK into the mike . I remember watching Chintuji during the shots on the monitor and almost enviously thinking to myself ... Chintuji is so nice ,just SO nice on screen .... it is not fair!" "After my shots Hitesh, the director sometimes said a doubtful.. yes ... fine ... ok ...good . After most shots I would ask direction to replay my shots so I could see my look and performance , Chintuji would chide me saying ... You are such an insecure actor! What is this bad habit all you have, of going and looking at the monitor . The monitor is only for the director ... it's not meant for the actor ! Why do you allow all this Hitesh ! ?? And more often than not we all got a scolding , for some trivial thing or another .. and I'm telling you Chintuji 's scolding was always hilarious... I would be rolling with laughter while the director , Hitesh ,would try to reason with Chintuji . . So often I looked at our cinematographer and crew ,signaling, I hope someone is rolling the camera in between shots , the behind -the-scenes -goings- on are so funny we can make a movie from that footage itself," Juhi added.

Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday after a long battle with leukemia. He was 67.
GreenSteam  fuel efficiency advice from digital models

Danish company GreenSteam builds digital models from historical data which can be used to provide advice to shipping companies about how to adjust speed and other factors to get the best fuel consumption.

GreenSteam, a marine data intelligence company with offices in Denmark, the UK, and Poland, offers a service to build digital models of how a specific vessels fuel consumption changes based on different parameters. This model can be used to give advice to seafarers about how to adjust speed or trim and when to clean the hull for optimum fuel consumption. The company is majority owned by BP Castrol. The software ingests all of the relevant available data about the ship to build the model, distilling large amounts of data into something manageable. Typically it needs 3 months of data to build the model, so it has data about the vessels performance in a range of sea conditions. Currently there are about 500 vessels on GreenSteams platform. Half of those vessels just send noon day report data, showing the fuel consumption every over the past 24 hours, says Simon Whitford, COO of GreenSteam. It also integrates the 24h data with high frequency AIS data and meteorological data describing the sea state, wave height, sea surface temperature, for each point of the ocean at different times during the vessels operation. For the most sophisticated vessels deploying GreenSteams dynamic trim optimiser, wave height can be measured with a radar device on the bridge wing, which is more accurate than hull-mounted pressure sensors. In this way, GreenSteam builds a model of the vessels performance at 10 minute intervals. GreenSteam also has many vessels which automatically collect high frequency data direct from sensors  the key is being able to encompass every ship regardless of the number of sensors or the frequency of data collection  that is GreenSteams design principle. That said, the quality of the model ultimately depends on the quality and frequency of the data you have, Mr Whitford says. Many vessels have torque meters measuring the force to rotate the shaft, taken from a sensor in the shaft. This can be used to improve the model. We gather the data whenever we can get it, he says. Around 70 per cent of a vessels fuel consumption is unavoidable  what a perfectly optimised vessel on the calmest of seas would consume. A further 15 per cent of consumption is the vessel overcoming the impact of the waves and wind, and the last 15 per cent is down to vessel optimisation - the impact of fouling and trim (how the vessel sits in the water, whether the bow or stern are higher) and the speed of the vessel. It is a very tricky computational task to work out how fuel consumption is affected by speed or trim when these are just 2 of around 13 factors affecting the vessel which are in constant flux but splitting up or as we say, decomposing these various factors with accuracy is unavoidable to competently target vessel performance optimisation. Mr Whitford says. The model continually evolves as data is added. It ingests data, and keeps trying to find correlations, which get better over time, he says. After a reasonable period of study  looking at the vessels performance in many different sea states and operating parameters you get a very accurate vessel specific picture. For example, when it has enough data, the model has calibrated how each of the 13 factors drive vessel fuel consumption, even when (of course) there are all changing at the same time  that is why we need machine learning. Return on investment Mr Whitford believes that its customers usually see a 5 x return on investment, based on the cost of subscribing to GreenSteam, and the fuel savings they achieve. If you are already getting data from a vessel, you dont need to make any further capital investment to use the service, you just need to start to share your data with GreenSteam. In the past, one of the hardest tasks has been to persuade people to act on the insights that the model provides, particularly when it challenges some strongly held beliefs. Fuel level data The most critical piece of information is the vessels fuel consumption. GreenSteam is currently developing a mobile phone app which seafarers can use to easily capture fuel consumption data from the vessel and send ashore. The app turns manual gauge data into a few kilobytes of data  which can either be sent immediately to shore, or incorporated into the noon day report. The app avoids manual reading / recording errors and timestamps consumption levels automatically. The project is still in the testing phase. Weve tried it on 10 different variants of fuel gauge so far, at 3 major shipping companies, Mr Whitford says. Some of the gauges are dirty, we want to prove that its a robust solution. It can also be used to reduce intentional and unintentional misreading of the fuel gauge. Trim advice GreenSteams trim optimiser can advise the seafarer how the trim could be adjusted to get the best fuel consumption. Trim can be described as the slant of the vessel  whether the stern is sitting higher than the bow of the ship in the water, or the opposite. The trim can be measured on the ship either using a trim sensor, which compares the water pressure beneath the bow and beneath the stern or with sensor equipment mounted in the vessel. In some vessels, the trim of the vessel can be automatically adjusted from the bridge, by shifting ballast water fore or aft. GreenSteam is able to train its vessel specific model to learn how the fuel consumption varies with different trim, also taking into consideration the loading of the vessel (and so the draft). There is a pre-departure trim planner, which can calculate the best trim for the specific vessel before you depart, based on the draft (cargo loading) and vessel speed. GreenSteam has also developed a system somewhat akin to autonomous vehicle technology which, when deployed onboard captures high frequency performance data and integrates this with the vessels digital model to continually assess the most optimal trim for the vessel  this is called dynamic trim optimiser. The vessels trim is adjusted during the voyage, by transferring ballast fore and aft from the bridge. The master has a visual display showing whether the vessel is in the green or red zone, empowering the vessel to optimise each voyage in near real time. Better alerting GreenSteams software generates a range of alerts direct to the vessel in near real time. A basic alert might inform the vessel crew that the last 6 hours average fuel consumption has strayed outside an expected range. It can be sent to the captain as an e-mail, with a link to see further insights. We call those regular alerts, Mr Whitfield says. Whilst this is useful, the problem with so-called regular alerts is that there may be a simple reason for the higher fuel consumption, such as strong winds. So we risk distracting the time-starved crew with too many alerts, sometimes just telling the Captain something he or she already knows. By the end of 2020, GreenSteam plans to produce smart alerts. A smart alert would only send an alert to a vessel when there is something useful to say, a specific actionable and useful change they can make. For example, it could indicate, if you were to adjust your speed by this much, or adjust your trim by this much, you can still make your arrival laycan, but you will cut your fuel consumption this much, Mr Whitford explains. The alerts rely on the latest developments in GreenSteams machine learning platform and can be configured for the various needs of people in different roles, such as the vessel operator and technical manager. Longer term decisions The data in Green steams models can also be helpful in longer term evaluations such as measuring fuel consumption by exhaust gas scrubbers. Scrubbers will consume fuel, usually 1-3 per cent of the fuel required for vessel propulsion. Mr Whitford says that based on his discussions with shipping companies in Greece on a trip held in January 2020, companies can see a price differential between heavy fuel and low sulphur fuel emerging of $350 per ton. If you believe this differential will continue for the next decade, and know how much a scrubber will cost to build, you can see whether it would be a good investment.




Our goal is to help students remain in their programs and progressing toward their degrees while ensuring stability for institutions.

RNL (Ruffalo Noel Levitz) has announced a partnership with Kaplan, Inc. that will offer accredited online course enablement solutions to its college and university clients to help them meet immediate and long-term demands for the highest quality online learning experience for their students.

RNL is the leading provider of higher education enrollment, student success, and fundraising solutions, and Kaplan, Inc., is one of the largest global providers of educational programs and services. They are bringing together their expertise and capabilities to help universities easily access robust and industry leading online courses and learning options that will help their students continue in their programs through the current health crisis for however long it lasts.

A recent survey of college presidents by the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) found that more than one-third expect serious disruptions to continue this fall. Another study by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) of 262 institutions discovered that 58 percent of respondents are considering or have already decided to remain fully online in fall 2020. Another 73 percent are increasing or considering an increase in the number of online courses this fall.

Were committed to helping our campus partners accelerate their ability to deliver online learning, said Dr. Sumit Nijhawan, RNL president and CEO. By partnering with Kaplan, we can also offer campuses a pair of flexible curriculum options that will elevate the online learning experience for their students.

We are helping higher education institutions put into action academic continuity plans to respond to the rapidly evolving health crisis, said Gregory Marino, CEO of Kaplan Higher Education. As university presidents look ahead to an uncertain fall semester, Kaplan can access accredited academic coursework to provide viable, fully-online education solutions for students in the near- and long-term. Our goal is to help students remain in their programs and progressing toward their degrees while ensuring stability for institutions.

RNL and Kaplan are offering two solutions that give institutions the flexibility to provide their students with high level online learning options.



Universities can access substantial curriculum specifically designed for an online modality from Kaplan. Colleges and universities can format and brand these courses to fit their own programs and adapt them for instruction by their own faculty, allowing students to remain enrolled at the home institution while attending online until they can return to in-person education.

Colleges and universities can also choose a turn-key solution permitting their students to enroll in courses at Purdue University Global; Purdue Global will deliver instruction and Kaplan will provide non-instructional support to students enrolling with Purdue Global. Institutions may enter into articulation agreements with Purdue Global to recognize credits earned by their students, allowing students to maintain educational continuity and continue progressing toward degree completion.

RNL will also work with institutions and programs to help more of those students succeed in a new online environment, using omnichannel communications to engage those students and the firms trusted solutions for student retention and completion.

To learn more, visit RuffaloNL.com/OnlineEnablement.

About RNL

RNL (Ruffalo Noel Levitz) is the leading provider of higher education enrollment, student success, and fundraising solutions. More than 1,900 colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations rely on RNL for advanced analytics, personalized engagement, and industry-leading insights to achieve their missions. The firm is focused on the entire lifecycle of enrollment and fundraising at the undergraduate and graduate levels, assuring students find the right college or university, graduate on time, secure their first job in their chosen field, and give back to support the next generation. RNL conferences, research reports, papers, and articles help clients stay on top of current trends. Learn more at https://www.RuffaloNL.com.

About Kaplan

Kaplan, Inc. provides individuals, educational Institutions, and businesses a broad array of educational services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. Across its 80-plus year history, first as a small test-prep pioneer and then an early online education leader and now a global education provider, Kaplan has been recognized for expanding educational access and using technology and learning science innovations to continually improve outcomes for its students and partners. With operations in nearly 30 countries, today Kaplan serves more than 1.1 million students and professionals and has relationships and partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, schools and school districts, and more than 4,000 corporations and businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information, please visit https://www.kaplan.com.
Actor Alia Bhatt on Thursday wrote that veteran actor Rishi Kapoor was a legend who became her friend over the years and she will forever cherish the love she received from him.

The 67-year-old actor, who acted in over 150 films during his five-decade-long career, died on Thursday at HN Reliance hospital in Mumbai after a two-year-long battle with leukaemia. He was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium in the evening. Alia was among the close family and friends present at his cremation.

Taking to the social media platform, Instagram, she posted a heartfelt note for the late actor, describing him as a "beautiful man" who brought love and goodness in her life. "What can I say about this beautiful man...who brought soo much love and goodness into my life. Today, everyone speaks of the legend that is Rishi Kapoor... And though I've known him like that all my life... For the past two years I've known him as a friend, a fellow Chinese food lover, a total cinema lover, a fighter, a leader, a beautiful storyteller, an extremely tweeter and a father!" wrote Alia, who worked with Kapoor in 2016 movie "Kapoor and Sons".

"In these past two years, the love I have received from him is like a warm hug that I will always cherish! I thank the universe for giving me this opportunity to know him...today probably most of us can say he is like family - because that's how he made you feel! Love you, Rishi Uncle! Will miss you forever! Thank you for being you," she added.

Kapoor, familiar to generations of filmgoers for his many films over the years, was taken to the H N Reliance hospital on April 29. He died at 8.45 am on Thursday, the family said in a statement.

They requested fans and friends to respect the restrictions in place in view of the lockdown. The family further said that Kapoor kept the doctors and medical staff at the hospital "entertained to the last." "He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him."
R enowned Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor has died of cancer aged 67.

The star, famed for his romantic roles, was rushed to hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday, it was reported.

He died on Thursday after a two-year battle with leukemia, his family said.

The scion of a famed industry family, he starred in celebrated movies such as Bobby and Mera Naam Joker.

He is survived by his wife and two children, and had been diagnosed with cancer in 2018.

"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents," the family said in a statement.

Kapoor's death followed that on Wednesday of another Indian actor, Irrfan Khan, 54, who had roles in films such as Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire and Jurassic Park.
Air ticket and travel reservations have risen significantly after an official announced that Beijing will lower its emergency response to the novel coronavirus epidemic from the top level to the second level starting April 30.

After the response level is downgraded, people from low-risk regions of China will not need to be quarantined for 14 days at home upon arriving in Beijing. Those who are undergoing concentrated or at-home observation need not continue.

Within half an hour of the announcement, searches for air tickets climbed quickly on qunar.com, a leading online travel service operator in China. Statistics from the platform showed that bookings for air tickets departing from Beijing rose 15 times, while searches for holiday products and hotels were up three times.

Booking data from Trip.com Group also showed that on Wednesday, searches and reservations for Beijing tours, car renting and scenic area tickets in Beijing during the May Day holiday reached a peak in April.

The reservations are mainly for the May Day holiday, and most tourists will travel in pairs, according to Trip.com Group. Most of the bookings were two-day or three-day travel products.

Air routes with the biggest reservations are those linking Beijing and the cities of Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Changsha. High-end hotels are popular with almost half of those in Beijing who made the reservations.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is under growing pressure from the hardline camp to push for constitutional change to reflect the self-ruled islands independent status  something observers say could provoke a cross-strait conflict.

With Tsai due to be sworn in for a second four-year term next month after a landslide victory in Januarys election, hardline pro-independence politicians want her to fulfil a 2015 campaign promise: to overhaul the constitution so that it reflects Taiwans political reality. The process has been stalled since Tsais first term, which began in 2016.

Leading the charge is the Taiwan New Constitution Foundation, a group formed last year by a Tsai adviser and long-time independence advocate Koo Kwang-ming.

The foundation launched a petition at the end of March calling for two referendums on the constitution  proposing that it either be replaced with a new one or revised.

The existing constitution was adopted when Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT fled to Taiwan and set up an interim government in 1949 following their defeat by Mao Zedongs communists in mainland China.

Drawn up in 1947, the constitution still puts the mainland and Mongolia under the Republic of China jurisdiction  Taiwans official name for itself. In reality, its jurisdiction extends only to Taiwan and its outlying islands of Penghu, Matsu and Quemoy, which is also known as Kinmen.

Taiwans constitution was adopted when KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek fled to the island in 1949. Photo: Handout

We have garnered more than 3,000 signatures from the public for the first phase of initiating the proposals to hold two referendums asking the president to push for constitutional change, Lin Yi-cheng, executive director of the Taiwan New Constitution Foundation, said on Wednesday.

He said they would propose that voters be asked two questions in the referendums: Do you support the president in initiating a constitutional reform process for the country?

And: Do you support the president in pushing for the establishment of a new constitution reflecting the reality of Taiwan?

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Were ready to send the two referendum proposals to the Central Election Commission on Thursday, he said.

Under Taiwans Referendum Act, the process for holding a referendum involves three stages: a proposal, endorsement and voting.

Lin said there should be no problem for the commission to approve the proposal stage since they had gathered far more than the minimum 1,931 signatures needed under the act.

The endorsement stage requires a minimum of 290,000 signatures, and if the referendum is held, they will need at least 5 million votes.

Lin said if the process went smoothly, he expected a referendum could be held in August next year, allowing time for review and making the necessary arrangements.

He said if the referendum questions got enough public support, Tsai would need to deal with the issue.

Tsai Ing-wen visits a military base in Tainan earlier this month. The pressure for constitutional change creates a dilemma for the president. Photo: AFP

Tsais Democratic Progressive Party government has been tight-lipped over the constitutional change issue, which Beijing sees as a move for the island to declare formal independence from the mainland.

Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province that must be returned to the mainland fold, by force if necessary, and it has warned Tsai against declaring formal independence.

A DPP official said the foundations push would put Tsai in a difficult position.

If she ignores the referendums, she will come under constant pressure from the hardline camp, and if she seriously considers taking action and instituting a new Taiwan constitution, she will risk a confrontation with Beijing, the consequence of which could be a cross-strait conflict, said the official, who requested anonymity.

On Tuesday, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the mainlands Taiwan Affairs Office, warned the island against holding any referendum on constitutional revision, saying it would be doomed to end in an impasse and would ultimately fail.

It will only push Taiwan towards an extremely dangerous abyss and bring disasters to Taiwanese compatriots, she said.

But according to Wang Kung-yi, a political science professor at Chinese Culture University in Taipei, Tsai should not be too worried about the hardline camp move.

The hardline camp has been marginalised greatly in the past several years as reflected by the poor showing in the legislative elections in January, Wang said, adding that he expected Tsai to continue her relatively moderate cross-strait policy of not sharply provoking the mainland.

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Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys has announced that applications are now open for the new Enterprise Ireland 2 million Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme to support retail companies to enhance their digital capability.

The new fund, which builds on two previous calls of the pilot Online Retail Scheme, will be open to indigenous retailers with a physical store and employing 10 or more people to develop a more competitive online offer in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

The Scheme aims to address the urgent need for retail companies to achieve a step change in online capability to achieve business continuity, and to lay foundations for future recovery and growth.

Successful applicants will receive financial support of up to 80 percent of eligible project costs, with funding ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 under the competitive call.

The 2 million fund operated and administered by Enterprise Ireland is targeted at indigenous retailers with a pre-existing online presence to accelerate their online offerings to respond to both domestic and international consumer demand. The grant can be used to fund fees for service providers, develop and implement a digital strategy supported by in-house training and enhance the retailers website.

Speaking this week, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys said, "As Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I understand the serious impact of Covid-19 on the retail sector. By introducing the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, I want to support indigenous Irish retailers to sustain their business through the crisis and into the future. It is one of two online trading schemes that has received additional funding to support firms in this difficult period."

She added, "Online trading will stand to your company for years to come. It will boost your revenue and make your business more resilient, and I would strongly encourage all retailers not already trading online to get online."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Berlin, April 30 : The German Interior Ministry on Thursday said it has banned Lebanon's Hezbollah movement from operating in the country, calling it a terrorist organization.

Dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah in Bremen, Berlin, Dortmund and Muenster in the early hours of Thursday morning, Xinhua news agency quoted German media reports as saying.

A spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry tweeted Thursday: "Even in times of crisis, the rule of law is capable of acting." Established in 1982 during Lebanon's civil war, Hezbollah is now a major political party in the country.

It fought a war with Israel in 2006.

The group,backed by the Islamic Shia community, has long been designated as a terrorist group by the US and Israel.
Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - More than 10,000 vulnerable households in Congo received emergency aid in Brazzaville on Wednesday to cope with the containment and abrupt cessation of daily activities caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Congolese Ministry of social affairs and solidarity told PANA on Thursday
First son-in-law Jared Kushner with President Trump at a coronavirus briefing. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press )

In late 2019, Jared Kushner, President Trumps son-in-law, counseled a Saudi prince in his time of need. Poor Mohammed bin Salman. He was in hot water, youll recall, for ordering up an assassination that included sawing off the limbs of an American resident.

Kushner told MBS the gruesome killing could be smoothed over. The Saudis' sadism, in other words, was merely a PR speed bump.

Kushner is treating American death as a personal publicity project once again. With his fingers all over the White Houses catastrophic coronavirus policy, hes been lying about the pandemic with increasing rashness.

Were on the other side of the medical aspect of this, he told Fox News on Wednesday with a smooth smile. The federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story.

Note the past tense. Note the callousness.

The national death toll shot past 61,000 this week. My fathers sister was among the casualties  along with so many aunts, uncles, brothers, daughters, sisters, sons, mothers and fathers that the badly managed coronavirus crisis has killed  more Americans in three months than in 19 years of warfare in Vietnam.

On Wednesday, Kushner didnt utter a word of condolence to the American people. Instead, he called their deaths his triumph.

No sane person buys what Kushner is selling. People are still dying by the thousands each day, and, in new hot spots, cases are mounting. The roller-coaster trend in Los Angeles is worrisome even as the state has overall succeeded in flattening the curve. And as Dr. Anthony Fauci keeps explaining, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over.

But Kushner is smearing his patented formula of shellac, Brylcreem and greasy lies  oh, and bleach  over these facts and the latest set of ghoulish Trumpian misdeeds.

To review: The president didnt just scoff at the pandemic as a Democratic ploy. He didnt just delay stimulus checks so he could autograph them as he once did the Bible. And he didnt just promote intravenous Lysol as a COVID-19 cure.

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All of that was unconscionable. But this time, the Trump Syndicate seems to have done something even more grave.

Kushner took control of a shadowy, free-styling coronavirus task force distinct from the official one run by Vice President (and mask refuser) Mike Pence, adding to the coronavirus chaos in the executive branch and increasing the administration's ability to pick and choose who would get life-saving public aid.

Only for someone as cold-blooded and clueless as Kushner could this sort of thing be considered a great success story.

Last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to watchdogs at the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking for an investigation into President Trumps politicization of ... the federal governments public health and economic response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The letter cites Kushners egregious behavior in particular.

In early April, Kushner claimed the Strategic National Stockpile  medical supplies set aside for public health crises  is supposed to be our stockpile; its not supposed to be state stockpiles that they then use. False. (The day after Kushners let them eat cake pronouncement, the stockpile website got changed: The repository was no longer aimed at emergencies "severe enough to cause local supplies to run out." It suddenly became merely a supplement to state storehouses. )

Revelations about Trumps and Kushners vindictive pandemic policies keep emerging. How exactly are stockpile supplies deployed? Not transparently. But we know for sure that Trump has at least suggested that his minions deal only with governors who "treat us well."

Officials in five states have accused the White House of hijacking supplies they scrambled to obtain given the lack of federal support. In just one example, the federal government seized 500 ventilators ordered through a private company by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, as his state was staring down its peak surge in coronavirus cases.

According to Gabriel Shermans reporting in Vanity Fair, its Kushner who all along has urged Trump to ignore Democratic governors. Kushner insisted that he had his own projections and knew better about the needs of various states than public health officials. This from a guy whose idea of getting up to speed on infectious disease was to ask his brothers father-in-law, an ER doctor, to solicit advice about the pandemic on Facebook.

Kushner also claimed to have set up a deal with Google to create a disease-screening website, which Trump crowed about. That was pure fantasy. On the other hand, Silicon Valley luminaries did build crucial software to match hospitals and suppliers, only to have Kushner ghost them and instead tell the hospitals to stop complaining.

All in all the crisis has presented Kushner with a stellar opportunity to do what hes best at: Tell the opposite of the truth. Ignore real expertise. Treat a ghastly threat to our lives and livelihoods primarily as a danger to the stock market and thus to Trumps reelection.

"I think you'll see by June a lot of the country should be back to normal, Kushner told Fox News. The hope is that by July the country's really rocking again."

Sure, JK.

Kushner doesn't know from normal, and he himself has never left off his usual game: hiding the misconduct of Trump and gunning for his overlord to hold onto power, this time by pretending that the tragic deaths of more than 61,000 Americans foretell a rocking summer.

@page88




Shanghai (Gasgoo)- NIO, Chinas top EV startup, signed on April 29 with a group of strategic investors the definitive agreements pursuant to which the latter will plow RMB7 billion collectively into NIO China, the EV manufacturer announced via its WeChat account.

(Photo source: NIO)

Under the agreements, the strategic investors, led by Hefei City Construction and Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd., CMG-SDIC Capital Co., Ltd., and Anhui Provincial Emerging Industry Investment Co., Ltd., will pump cash into NIO (Anhui) Holding Ltd., the legal entity of NIO China. NIO said it will imbue NIO China with its core businesses and assets in China, involving complete vehicle R&D, supply chain, sales & service, as well as NIO Power.

The aforesaid businesses and assets are valued at RMB17.77 billion, as calculated based on 85% of the average market value of NIO Inc. over the thirty public trading days preceding April 21, 2020.

Moreover, NIO will also invest RMB4.26 billion in NIO China.

Upon completion of the above transactions, NIO China will be held as to 75.9% by NIO and 24.2% by the strategic investors.

In the meantime, NIO struck a deal with the local government of Hefei Economic and Technological Development Area (HETA) for the establishment of NIO Chinas headquarters. According to the agreement, the Hefei-based headquarters is designed to be a base that integrates functions of business operation, R&D, sales & services, supply chain and manufacturing. The construction of the second manufacturing base will kick off there at a proper moment.

The investment is another important milestone of NIO for its long-term growth, said the company, because it will offer the startup more adequate funds to prop up its business development, to consolidate its leadership in products and technologies of smart electric vehicles, and to provide users with better service experience.
P rime Minister Boris Johnson led the sixth national applause for frontline workers as his fiancee Carrie Symonds tweeted she had "another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too".

Ms Symonds said she was joining in the clap for carers again, a day after giving birth to a baby boy.

It comes as the Governments ambitious daily coronavirus testing target could yet be met after Boris Johnson announced a sudden increase in the number carried out.

The Prime Minister said 81,611 tests were performed on 55,575 people on Wednesday, up from 52,429 tests the day before.

Ms Symonds also wished Captain Tom Moore a happy birthday.

She tweeted: Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero @captaintommoore a very happy birthday.

I also have another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too.

Clap for our Carers during lockdown: Thursday 30th April 2020 1 /28 Clap for our Carers during lockdown: Thursday 30th April 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street PA Luton and Dunstable Hospital Jeremy Selwyn Medical staff outside the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford PA People outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital PA Medics outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street PA Medical staff outside the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford PA Members of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in Hartley Wintney, near Basingstoke PA Hospital staff outside King's College Hospital in Camberwell PA Hospital staff outside King's College Hospital in Camberwell PA Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak in Downing Street PA Medics outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital PA A staff member outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital PA Pickle the Beagle wears a Colonel Tom outfit outside the Chelsea and Westminster PA Piper Louise Marshall performs in Leith, Edinburgh PA A staff member becomes emotional at the Liverpool University Hospital PA Staff and First Responders outside Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland PA Nursing staff clap as their colleagues look out from a window at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow PA Residents at a block of flats in Dawson's Heights, Dulwich PA Medics outside the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent PA A rainbow appears above Highbury Fields in north London PA

Thank you so, so much!

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: Tonight I proudly clapped outside 10 Downing Street for our fantastic NHS and carers. Thank you all for everything you are doing.

Meanwhile a rainbow, which has become the unofficial symbol for the NHS during the pandemic, appeared and was seen by people standing on their doorsteps across the country.

Keith Wall, who took a video of the clapping along with a rainbow in Bourne, Lincolnshire, said: A great rainbow appeared at 8pm tonight just in time for Clap the Carers.

Actress Emily Atack tweeted a photo of a rainbow, saying: Double rainbow this evening just before we clap for our heroes. Unbelievable.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said there was so much to clap for at the weekly clap for carers event on Thursday evening.

Tweeting a photo of himself clapping, he wrote: Were past the peak, its Captain Toms Birthday and we have the best carers of anywhere in the world.

So much to clap for tonight.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: Once again weve just seen an incredible display of appreciation to our NHS staff, carers and key workers. Theyre risking their lives for all of us. #ClapForOurCarers

Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a video of her applauding, and added: Thank you so much to everyone working hard every day to care for us and keep our essential services going #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForTheNHS
Authorities announced they have arrested a 32-year-old man accused of dragging a Massachusetts State Police trooper with a pickup truck Tuesday night and charged him with attempted murder.

The suspect, identified as Claude Remy, stopped at a Mobil gas station parking lot on Route 140 in Taunton around 8 p.m. when he was approached by the trooper because of a motor vehicle violation. After a brief struggle, police claimed, Remy drove away erratically with the trooper still hanging on to him.

The trooper was separated from the vehicle and thrown to the ground as Remy sped onto County Street, state police said in a statement. The trooper struck his head and body on the pavement as the pickup fled northbound and out of sight.

The officer suffered minor injuries and was able to continue his shift to help in the search for the suspect, law enforcement said.

A Berkley resident called police to report that a suspicious pickup truck, later confirmed to be the suspects car, was parked in a neighbors driveway. The resident claimed a man had run away from the area and entered a small sedan, according to state police.

Troopers started searching nearby for the suspect but could not find him. Authorities later discovered that Remy, whose last known address was in Dorchester, may have been hiding at an address on Marion Road in Framingham, authorities said.

Police set up surveillance around the home and made contact with the people inside around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. At that point, Remy presented himself to troopers and was taken into custody, according to authorities.

He was charged with assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery of a police officer, resisting arrest, larceny under $1,200, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and a slew of other offenses, police said.

Remy is being held on $75,000 bail in the Ash Street Jail and Regional Lock-Up in New Bedford, according to police.

Related Content: Massachusetts State Police searching for 32-year-old Dorchester man accused of dragging trooper with pickup truck
A man is in hospital in serious condition after being targeted in a drive-by shooting in East York Wednesday night, Toronto police say.

Police received a call about the shooting in the Wakunda Place and OConnor Drive area around 7:40 p.m.

Callers mentioned seeing a group of people running away from the area soon after, police said. A white SUV was seen leaving the area going north-bound on Victoria Park Road.

One of two suspects was arrested with a gun about an hour later, police said. Both suspects are described as Black, standing six-foot and wearing dark hoodies.
When Bollywood was just emerging from the gangster dramas, crime thrillers and angry young man movies, Rishi Kapoor started a trend of drama-romances in the '70s. Incredible music, emotional dialogues, beautiful locations and dramatic storylines were a staple in almost every Rishi Kapoor romance.

The actor was a delight to watch on screen.

The winning of hearts began right from his debut film Bobby (1973), which remains one of his most successful films to date. An icon among romantic films, Bobby was directed by his father Raj Kapoor, and also marked the debut of Dimple Kapadia. The film was a huge hit and a trendsetter. It introduced to Bollywood the genre of teenage romance with a rich-versus-poor clash as a backdrop. Numerous films in the following years and decades were inspired by this plot.

His 1974 film Zehreela Insaan did not do well, but the song O Hansini, sung by Kishore Kumar, has remained a popular romantic track.

Time and again, the actor has had new actresses cast opposite him, to match his youthful looks. After his pairing with Dimple became a hit, Rishi went on to star with another up and coming Bollywood heroine, Neetu Singh, in Khel Khel Mein (1975), the first of their many films together. Although a suspense thriller, the film stands out for the chemistry between Neetu and Rishi and RD Burman's songs. Especially Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, which remains a popular romantic number even today.

Every romantic filmography ought to have some version of the legendary story of Laila Majnu, and Rishi Kapoor starred in his version in 1976 opposite Ranjeeta. With songs by Madan Mohan and Jaidev, this film was also a musical hit.

Rishi stood out in the romantic subplots of several dramas and suspense thrillers. Multi-starrers like Hum Kisise Kum Nahin and Amar Akbar Anthony were big hits in 1977 and solidified Rishi's place in Bollywood as an actor. Parallely, the Rishi-Neetu pairing was repeated in films like Doosra Aadmi (1977), Jhoota Kahin Ka (1979) and Dhan Daulat (1980).

Sargam, the 1979 film starring Rishi and Jaya Prada, another debutante in Bollywood, is one of the most popular romantic musicals that he is known for. Laxmikant Pyarelal composed the memorable songs and Anand Bakshi wrote the lyrics. Dafli Wale, the song from Sargam, remains one of the most iconic dance numbers from Rishi's film career.

The reincarnation romance thriller Karz (1980) is another iconic film in his kitty. So is Prem Rog (1982), with an ensemble cast and a heartbreaking storyline. This film almost recreated the innocence of romance on screen, which we had seen in Bobby about 10 years before.

Yeh Vaada Raha (1982) starred Rishi with Poonam Dhillon and Tina Munim. It was based on Danielle Steel's novel which was made into the American film The Promise. The song Tu Tu Hai Wahi was added to Rishi's iconic romantic songs list.

After Prem Rog, Rishi starred opposite Padmini Kolhapure in another tragic romance - Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan (1984).

He reunited with his debut film partner Dimple Kapadia in Saagar (1985), playing one part in a love triangle. This was another rich boy falls in love with poor girl story. Every song in the film was a smash hit, including Chehra Hai Ya Chand Khila Hai and Saagar Kinare.

Nagina (1986) and Chandni (1989) are two of the biggest hits starring Rishi Kapoor with Sridevi. The former was a supernatural drama, the success of which proved to be a major watershed moment in Indian cinema. Chandni is a Yash Chopra classic, with Sridevi playing a young effervescent woman who is torn between two suitors - Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor.

The huge success of the Chandni and its soundtrack were instrumental in ending the era of violent action films in Indian Cinema and rejuvenating the romantic musical genre, which formed a significant part of Rishi's career.

Henna, the film planned and started by Raj Kapoor, released in 1991 to critical and commercial success. Bol Radha Bol (1992) directed by David Dhawan and starring Juhi Chawla and Rishi Kapoor, was a big hit. The film is perhaps best remembered for the hit track Tu Tu Tu Tu Tara.

Rishi's romantic filmography sort of comes to a head with the 1992 hit Deewana. He starred in the first half opposite yet another newcomer Divya Bharti. Shah Rukh Khan took over the reins in the second half of the film.

With that, it was as if Rishi handed over the sceptre of the Bollywood romantic hero to Shah Rukh, who then established himself as the king of romance with multiple films. Although he moved on to more age-appropriate and relevant roles in his later years, Rishi will always be remembered as the delightful actor whose dreamy eyes, curly hair and charming smile made many a woman's heart flutter.

Follow @News18Movies for more
About 113 health workers in Nigeria have, so far, tested positive for COVID-19, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has said.

Mr Ehanire last week announced that at least 40 health workers in Nigeria have tested positive to the virus.

He had 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.

On Thursday, Mr Ehanire while responding to questions at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing said the number of infected health workers has increased to 113, about 6 per cent of the total 1,728 infected persons.

Latest figures we have is that there are about 113 people in the health sector infected with COVID-19. Although they are not all public health workers, there are good numbers from private hospitals, he said.

He explained that only health care workers with training in infectious diseases control are eligible to handle COVID-19 patients.

If you hear us speaking here frequently against trying to treat coronavirus in private clinics, we are actually referring to those people who do so without having necessary precautions and training because they risk infecting themselves and go home and give this infection to their family.

Healthcare workers who have no training have no business handling coronavirus, he said.

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 barred from admitting any patients while their buildings were 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.

As of April 29, a total of 1,728 persons have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the country. Although 307 persons have been successfully treated and discharged, 51 deaths have been recorded.

Healthcare workers at risk

Healthcare workers are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 virus as they are the first responders to patients.

On April 4, Aliyu Yakubu, a medical doctor aged 60, died at the Nigeria Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura, Katsina State, after contracting the deadly virus. A week later, his wife and children tested positive for COVID-19.

Due to their vulnerability to this disease, health workers have been advised to take extra precautions in handling suspected cases.

Mr Ehanire noted that Personal Protective Equipment have been made available for health workers.

He also said health workers who cannot handle the COVID-19 pandemic have the option of leaving.

It is important for healthcare workers to understand that nobody is forced or conscripted to handle the coronavirus.

Those who cannot handle it have the option of requesting to be excused and someone else will come in.

The pressure on health care workers if they have a crisis can be quite severe and I do think that mental health counselling can be extended to those who feel they are impacted in that way, he said.

Allowances

Following numerous complaint by health workers and their unions, the federal government announced its decision to give 5,000 front line health workers life insurance, which has been fully paid for by the Nigerian insurance industry.

A special COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowance of 50 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary will also be paid to all health workers in Nigerian Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres (FMCs), and designated COVID-19 centres for the first three months in the first instance.

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40 cent of the Consolidated Basic Salary would be paid as special COVlD-19 Hazard and Inducement Allowance to health workers at special Non-Public Hospitals and clinics in the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for same three months period, the minister of state for health, Olurunnimbe Mamora, said.

He also said 20 per cent of the Consolidated Basic Salary will be paid to all health workers directly managing COVlD-19 at the Infectious Diseases Hospitals (IDH) isolation and treatment centres.
REDDING, Calif. - Governor Newsoms stay-at-home order says that only essential businesses should be open, but one local business in Redding is defying that order, opening their doors early.

The owner of Rice Brothers Jiu Jitsu, Tanner Rice, tells Action News Now he had no other option but to open their doors, so that they could pay their bills.

Rice says the business loans that he applied to and the stimulus check that he received werent enough to allow him to keep his doors closed.

He made the announcement that he was going to open Monday via social media and since then he tells Action News Now, hes been getting a lot of support from the community, but also has received some backlash.

He says his landlord plans on raising their rent next month.

We were kind of put in a situation where we kind of had to and it was either we lose everything, just kind of listening or lose everything kind of standing up for what we believe in.

Rice tells Action News Now they temporarily closed their doors back in March, citing the low number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases in the county as one of the reasons why he chose to reopen.

Since opening, Rice says hes noticed that fewer people have come back. His youth class that typically received 40 to 50 kids is now down to around 10.

Rice brothers Jiu Jitsu says theyve stepped up their cleaning and sanitizing procedures since opening.
A thief attempted to steal $2,500 worth of taps from a Bunnings store by hiding them in a toilet he bought from the store.

Stivin Salam Allos, 31, pleaded guilty to a string of offences including theft, assault, criminal damages and serious driving in Moorabbin Magistrates Court, south-east of Melbourne, on Wednesday.

He was on bail when he committed the offences in 2019, according to the Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader.

Allos' crimes included attempting to steal $2,500 worth of taps from a Bunnings store in Mentone.

Stivin Salam Allos, 31, pleaded guilty to a string of offences such as theft, assault, criminal damages and serious driving in Moorabbin Magistrates Court, south-east of Melbourne, on Wednesday (stock)

He hid the taps inside the toilet before putting it back in the box and attempting to pay for it at the checkout.

However, a security guard caught him in the act and his plan was thwarted.

The most serious of Allos' offending was on February 28, 2019, when he led police on a 180km/h chase down the Princes Highway.

He was a disqualified driver at the time.

He'd had an argument with his family when he jumped into his car and sped off to see a friend who lived in Lakes Entrance.

Allos narrowly avoided colliding with a truck during the dangerous chase.

On March 16, 2019, he walked into a police station with drugs and a stolen card.

Allos' crimes include attempting to steal $2,500 worth of tap ware from a Bunnings store in Mentone (stock)

His latest crime, on January 16, 2020, saw him grab his grandmother by the neck before smashing items in her home.

In court Allos' lawyer argued her client was deemed 'narcissistic' in a psychological assessment and that his offending was due to drug use, which has since stopped.

She said her client was prepared to work with the corrections department in order to live a better life.

Previously he has not complied with rehabilitation orders.

Magistrate Dr Michael King said he would be sentencing Allos to prison but had not determined the particulars at this stage.

Allos will appear in court once again on May 12 to be sentenced.
Trump 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale at President Donald Trump's MAGA rally in Grand Rapids, Mich., on March 28, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Trump, Parscale Deny Reports That President Yelled at Him

President Donald Trumps campaign manager, Brad Parscale, on Thursday denied media reports that Trump shouted at him over the phone about polling data.

Attn #FakeNews media: @realDonaldTrump didnt yell at me, Parscale wrote on Twitter. Theres absolutely no daylight between us. We have a great relationship that spans almost 10 yrs.

Parscale continued, Curious how multiple outlets had the same false story from bitter anonymous sources whose clear goal is to hurt POTUS.

CNN, The Associated Press, and the New York Times similarly reported that Trump yelled at Parscale during a meeting earlier this month after it showed his support was dwindling in key battleground states during his response to the pandemic. CNN reported that Trump shouted at Parscale and threatened to sue him.

President Donald Trump, flanked by officials and business leaders, announces a national emergency with regard to the coronavirus in the White House Rose Garden in Washington on March 13, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

At around midnight on Thursday morning, Trump wrote that the reports are fake news.

CNN is falsely reporting that I was recently shouting at my campaign manager over made up nonsense, the president contended. Actually, he is doing a great job, I never shouted at him (been with me for years, including the 2016 win), & have no intention to do so. Just FAKE NEWS!

Some polls have shown that former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive nominee for Democrats, has an edge over Trump nationwide.

But Trump told Reuters this week that he [doesnt] believe polls.

I believe the people of this country are smart. And I dont think that they will put a man in whos incompetent, he said.

And I dont mean incompetent because of a condition that hes got now. I mean hes incompetent for 30 years. Everything he ever did was bad. His foreign policy was a disaster, he added.

Trump also told Reuters that he doesnt think the election is a test on how he responded to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that has left more than 60,000 people in the United States dead.

No, I dont think so. I think its a referendum on a lot of things, the president said. I think its going to be a referendum on all the things weve done and certainly this will be a part of it, but weve done a great job.

Trump, meanwhile, told the news agency that of course he would debate Biden in the fall.
Seven Minutes of Terror  the Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) of the Mars Science Lab (MSL)  Mars Curiosity Rover. China hasnt released all of the details, but they say that their Tianwen mission will also utilize retrorockets and parachute to land on Mars. (Credit: NASA/JPL)

Friday April 24th was China's "Space Day," celebrated on the 50 year anniversary of their first satellite launch. This past Friday, China marked the occasion with the announcement of the name for their first Mars Lander: Tianwen.

According to China's National Space Administration (CNSA), Tianwen translates to "Quest for Heavenly Truth."

China is enjoying the success of their recent Chang'e 4 mission to the Moon, which includes a lander, a rover, and also a communications satellite. Now, they're launching a mission to Mars, scheduled for this upcoming July. The Tianwen mission will also feature an orbiter, a lander, and a six-wheeled, solar-powered rover.

The CNSA isn't as open as NASA or other space agencies, so some of the details of the mission are unclear. But it is roughly aligned with other Mars missions, which are investigating the current and past conditions on Mars, and whether they were conducive to habitability. According to the CNSA, "the Martian probe will conduct scientific investigations about the Martian soil, geological structure, environment, atmosphere as well as water." In 2016, official Chinese news outlet Xinhua reported that Tianwen will "probe the ground with radar, perform chemical analyses on the soil, and look for biomolecules and biosignatures."

This Oct. 25, 2016, image shows the area where the European Space Agencys Schiaparelli test lander reached the surface of Mars, with magnified insets of three sites where components of the spacecraft hit the ground. It is the first view of the site from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter taken after the Oct. 19, 2016, landing event and our highest resolution of the scene to date. Annotations by the author. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The CNSA also said, "The name represents the Chinese people's relentless pursuit of truth, the country's cultural inheritance of its understanding of nature and universe, as well as the unending explorations in science and technology." That's all well and good, but what are some of the details of the mission?

The spacecraft, which will arrive at Mars sometime in February 2021 (if the July launch date is firm) will orbit the planet for some time. China hasn't said exactly when the lander/rover will be deployed to the surface. But when it is, it's expected that it'll use retrorockets, airbags, and a parachute to manage its descent and landing.

It looks like the Tianwen name applies to the lander, but the rover will get its own name. The rover will be a six-wheeled, solar powered rover, and should have a mission length of at least three months. It'll carry 13 scientific instruments and will weigh more than 200 kg (440 lbs.)

Though important all on its own, the Tianwen mission is also a technology demonstration mission for China's next mission to Mars, which is an ambitious sample-return mission slated for the 2030s.

None of this is a slam-dunk, of course. We're getting accustomed to successful landings on Mars, largely thanks to NASA. But many attempts at landing a spacecraft on Mars have failed abysmally. There's a lot of sophisticated technology that must be deployed effectively to work. And though China has recently had success with their Moon mission, other countries' missions to Mars have not gone well.

The first attempt at landing on Mars dates back to 1962, when the Soviet Union tried to get a lander to Mars. That mission failed to leave Low Earth Orbit. In more modern times, March 2016 to be exact, the ESA's Schiaparelli EDM lander crashed when it tried to land on Mars. In fact, only the USA and Russia/Soviet Union have successfully landed craft on Mars, and only NASA has successfully landed rovers.

NASAs Viking Lander landed at Utopia Planitia in 1979 and snapped this image of frost-covered soil and rocks. Chinas Tianwen lander will also land at Utopia Planitia. Image Credit: By Roel van der Hoorn (Van der Hoorn)  Own work based on images in the NASA Viking image archiveSee accurate colors at: PIA00571: Ice on Mars Utopia Planitia Again, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9563051

The Chinese National Space Administrations new logo for their Tianwen mission. Image Credit: CNSA/Xinhua

This won't be China's first mission to Mars. They were part of the Russian Phobos-Grunt mission. That spacecraft was meant to visit the Martian moon Phobos and return a sample, but China included their Yinghuo-1 Mars orbiter on that mission. That mission was destroyed when the rocket exploded.

As for landing sites, initially the CNSA was looking at two possibilities. Those were the Chryse Planitia region, and the Elysium Mons region. However, in 2019 China announced that they had identified two preliminary landing ellipses, both in the Utopia Planitia region. Each of the ellipses is about 100 by 40 km (62 x 25 miles.)

The CNSA also unveiled its new logo for their first Mars mission. It's a stylized letter "C" for China, as well as planets in orbit. The Tianwen mission logo also includes the word "Mars."

Explore further China tests Mars lander in international cooperation push
The best art-world podcasts to listen to right now

Whether you want to track unsolved art crimes, hear rare archive recordings or tune in to analysis of todays art market, there's a podcast for you out there somewhere. Harry Seymour rounds up the pick of art-world listening from around the globe

The Week in Art Every Friday, The Art Newspaper releases a new episode of The Week in Art, its podcast series hosted by features editor Ben Luke in association with Christies.

It has quickly become one of the art worlds most listened-to podcasts, offering the latest news, views and reviews  usually two to three stories each week. The best recent episodes from the 141-strong back catalogue include Art theft: are museums safe under lockdown?, in which the journalist Martin Bailey broadcasts advice to the thieves behind the recent Van Gogh heist in the Netherlands on how to care for the work they stole. And in Donald Judd 101, the newspaper goes some way towards filling the void left by the American artists three Covid-19-postponed New York shows by discussing his enduring legacy with his son, Flavin Judd, and MoMAs chief curator of painting and sculpture, Ann Temkin. Bow Down: Women in Art Hosted by Jennifer Higgie, editor-at-large at Frieze magazine, Bow Down: Women in Art is a podcast series from 2019 that pays homage to eight women artists of genius. Higgie also recently revealed that series two is about to begin. Each 20-minute episode is co-hosted by a leading curator, critic or artist, who also nominates the subject, whether it be Agnes Martin or Angelica Kauffman.

Angelica Kauffman, Self-Portrait of the Artist Hesitating Between the Arts of Music and Painting, 1794. Photo: ART Collection/Alamy

The British artist Helen Cammock, winner of the 2018 Max Mara Art Prize for Women, discusses the life of the 17th-century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi in her episode, reflecting on how Gentileschi (who was raped around the age of 18 by her painting tutor), portrayed women who grew stronger through suffering. Last Seen In the three decades since 13 masterpieces were stolen from Bostons Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990, not one arrest has been made, and no credible sightings of the works have been reported. In 2018, the Boston-based radio station WBUR and The Boston Globe newspaper reopened the case files and made a podcast about their investigation. The result is the award-winning 10-part series Last Seen.

The Dutch Room at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, from which 13 masterpieces were stolen in 1990. Photo: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston.

It begins with the museums security guard holding the frame from which Rembrandts Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee was violently slashed, then twists and turns through the citys criminal underworld, weighing up the evidence against who might have committed the art crime of the century. In the first three weeks of its release, the show was downloaded by more than one million people. It even had its own public hotline for the sharing of additional information. Bowuzhi Bowuzhi, or Museelogue, is a Chinese podcast founded in 2015 which looks at global museum culture from an Asian perspective. Theres a revolving team of five anchors, including an architect, photographer and critic, who host alongside the podcasts founder, Yu Wanying. Each episode gets around 30,000 listeners.

Photo: Bowuzhi

Art Matters has tackled the subject of witches in art. This is Albrecht Durers Die Hexe  Witch Riding on a Goat, c. 1500. Engraving, 11.59 x 7.14 cm (sheet). Minneapolis Institute of Art. Gift of Marla J. Kinney in honour of Tyler John Kelley and Hanlon Elizabeth Kelley. 2014.117.2

Art Matters is a fact-packed fortnightly podcast, written and presented by the art historian Ferren Gipson, which tackles these and other weird and wonderful subjects, such as witches in art and a history of painting by numbers. Its produced by Art UK, a charity dedicated to digitising works of art in more than 3,200 British public collections, 80 per cent of which arent normally on view. The Way I See It In the winter of 2019, the British broadcaster and critic Alastair Sooke presented The Way I See It, a podcast that invited 29 creatives, including the Michelin-starred chef and co-founder of Londons River Cafe, Ruth Rogers, the American fashion designer Zac Posen, and the actor Stanley Tucci, to discuss a work of their choice from the 200,000 held in New Yorks MoMA.

The Way I See It offers a cosmologists view of Vincent van Goghs The Starry Night, June 1889. Oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Photo: Bridgeman Images

The Royal Academy of Arts podcast includes an episode in which Tracey Emin remembers Lucian Freud together with his assistant, David Dawson. Dawson took this photograph, Lucian with Fox Cub, in 2005. Photo: Bridgeman Images

Recording Artists features Helen Frankenthaler, pictured here in her New York studio in 1964, being interviewed in 1968 and 1971. Photo: Alexander Liberman. Getty Research Institute, 2000.R.19 (b.28, 184-185).  J. Paul Getty Trust

The series is hosted by the American curator Helen Molesworth, who invites contemporary artists and art historians on the show to discuss the recordings, as well as what it meant to be a woman artist working against the backdrop of the civil rights and feminist movements. Helen Frankenthalers interview recordings from 1968 and 1971 are a particularly poignant reminder of how the achievements of these women often went uncredited. The Lonely Palette Each episode of the The Lonely Palette begins with the host, Tamar Avishai, interviewing unsuspecting members of the public in a gallery about one work of art. The result is refreshingly unfettered, off-the-cuff discussions. After quizzing the onlookers, Avishai then goes on her own deeper dive into the works history.

Art Detective considers the impact of Praxiteles long lost Aphrodite of Venus, the inspiration for the Colonna Venus, 138-161 AD, held in the Vatican Museum in Rome. Photo: AKA-images/JH-Lightbox Ltd./John Hios

Antoni Gaudis La Sagrada Familia, examined in 99% Invisible. Credit: Photo: Joe Petersburger/National Geographic Collection/Bridgeman Images

One recent episode, Masking for a Friend, provides a fascinating and reassuring look at the history of protective face coverings and their use against airborne illnesses. ArtTactic Podcast From leading art market researchers ArtTactic comes the ArtTactic Podcast  a weekly dose of business news from industry insiders. Its noteworthy because of the refreshingly candid way that dealers, collectors, gallerists, heads of auction houses, financiers and journalists talk about the numbers that keep the art world turning.

Recently, the series has turned its attention to how the global lockdown affected the art world, with episodes such as Shipping and logistics during the coronavirus pandemic, in which the CEO of ARTA Shipping offers his take on the art market. And in The Coronaviruss impact on the Chinese art scene, Lisa Movius, the Asia correspondent of The Art Newspaper, gives a first-hand account from Shanghai of the dilemmas faced by fairs, galleries, museums and collectors.

Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe

Talking with Painters Maria Stoljar began her podcast journey as a mission to recreate several American series in which artists are interviewed about their careers  but in her native Australia. The result, Talking with Painters, has (to date) showcased 95 artists since 2016, and while many wont be known outside of the country, the shows theme of how artists can make a living from their profession is a global one.
Edmund Kyei, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) First Vice Chairman for Asokwa, has described Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu as a competent leader, and has also warned members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stay away from him.



He stated that the professional manner the minister, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central, has handled the Covid-19 outbreak in the country must not be underestimated, adding that the minister would not be discouraged by NDCs effort to frustrate the system, but work hard to stem the tide.



For the past few months, the world has never been spared of the Covid-19 pandemic. Great nations, such as Italy, United States of America, China, France and the rest, have seriously been attacked by this viral disease, and the death toll keeps rising globally. However, in Ghana, we have a minister who is unrelenting in the fight, Mr. Kyei told DAILY GUIDE yesterday.



He said the exemplary leadership skills that the President through the Health Minister had displayed since the outbreak of the disease has helped to give Ghana a positive image, stressing the need for the minister to be given the needed support.



In our case as Ghanaians, we are fortunate to have a government and a Health Minister who are so robust in fighting this pandemic, he opined.



According to Mr. Kyei, who is a member of the NPP National Communications Team, the devastating effects of the Covid-19 have not yet been felt hard in Ghana compared to other countries, because the minister has been able to ensure effective coordination.



The mass testing through contact tracing, keeping of accurate data and educating the public by the Health Ministry through the media is on track, and with support for the health professionals, the Covis-19 will be defeated, he stated.



Mr. Agyeman-Manu has been on point since the outbreak of the pandemic. We are all witnesses to what he and his team have been going through just to ensure the health safety of the public. I was not surprised when the President commended him highly during his 8th address to the nation last Sunday for his hard work, he added.



Mr. Kyei said he was confident the minister would once again supervise the Presidents ambitious health infrastructural projects, including the construction of 88 district hospitals and other facilities in the health sector.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 01:10:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China firmly supports the Peruvian government and people in their fight against COVID-19 and will continue to offer support and help within its capability, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Peruvian counterpart, Martin Vizcarra, in a phone conversation on Thursday.

During the conversation, Xi said that, facing the COVID-19 epidemic, the Chinese side has always followed the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and shared the epidemic-related information with countries as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) in a timely manner to advance international cooperation against the disease.

The Chinese side has provided emergency assistance to multiple countries and international organizations to the best of its ability, shared experience in epidemic prevention and control in various forms without reservation, and facilitated export channels for anti-epidemic supplies to help countries with their containment efforts, he said.

Xi also said that China supports joint international prevention and control efforts, supports the leading role of the WHO and other international organizations, and supports stronger international coordination over macroeconomic policies.

Currently, the COVID-19 epidemic is spreading in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean region including Peru, Xi said, noting that China firmly supports the Peruvian government and people in their fight against COVID-19 and will continue to offer support and help within its capability.

Xi said he believes that Peru will prevail over the epidemic at an early date under the leadership of President Vizcarra, adding that the friendship between the peoples of the two countries will be deepened in their joint fight against the epidemic.

Noting that China highly values the development of its relations with Peru, the Chinese president said China is willing to work together with the country to strengthen bilateral communications, promote innovation in bilateral cooperation, jointly build the Belt and Road and boost continous development of the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership so as to mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties next year with more tangible results.

Vizcarra, for his part, said Peru and China have enjoyed good relations, with their exchanges and cooperation in various fields developing steadily, adding that the investment of Chinese enterprises has promoted infrastructure construction and economic and social development in Peru.

Peru is willing to take the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year as an opportunity to further bilateral ties, said the Peruvian president.

Noting that China has already brought the novel coronavirus epidemic under control, he said the country's organizational ability and useful experience are worth learning from, and thanked China for extending valuable support and assistance to Peru in fighting the epidemic.

Vizcarra said he fully agrees with Xi that the COVID-19 outbreak has laid bare the importance of building a community with a shared future for mankind, adding that the international community should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, uphold multilateralism and support the WHO in playing a leading role.
Mercedes-Benz reopened its U.S. plant this week in Alabama, becoming one of the first manufacturers to resume operations since the coronavirus pandemic halted auto production across the country last month.

Depending how the reopening goes, it could assist other automakers in efforts to reopen their domestic plants in the coming weeks and months. If successful, it could be a benchmark for the industry. If not, it may cause others to rethink their processes and timing.

Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, said it took "robust and best practice safety measures" to ensure that the reopening of the plant was safe for its 4,200 workers who produce the Mercedes-Benz GLE, GL and GLE Coupe SUVs.

New protocols to reduce the spread of the virus include the mandatory wearing of face masks, temperature checks at entry and separation of employees in break rooms, cafes and common areas.

"Our team members' health and safety has top priority at Mercedes-Benz," the company said in an emailed statement. "During our shutdown, we have monitored and learned from other Mercedes-Benz plants around the world as they returned to work."
WASHINGTON - The United States for the first time added five of Amazons overseas operations to its list of notorious markets where pirated goods are sold. The e-commerce giant dismissed the move as part of the Trump administration's personal vendetta'' against it.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2019 file photo, people stand in the lobby for Amazon offices in New York. The United States for the first time added five of Amazons overseas operations to its list of notorious markets where pirated goods are sold. Trade Representative on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 added the Amazon domains in Canada, France, Germany, India and the United Kingdom to its annual blacklist. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

WASHINGTON - The United States for the first time added five of Amazons overseas operations to its list of "notorious markets where pirated goods are sold. The e-commerce giant dismissed the move as part of the Trump administration's "personal vendetta'' against it.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Wednesday added the Amazon.com Inc. domains in Canada, France, Germany, India and the United Kingdom to its annual blacklist.

USTR cited complaints from U.S. businesses that consumers cant easily tell who is selling items on the Amazon platforms and that the e-commerce companys procedures for removing counterfeit goods "can be lengthy and burdensome.

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Amazon fired back with a statement Wednesday: "We strongly disagree with the characterization of Amazon in this USTR report. This purely political act is another example of the administration using the U.S. government to advance a personal vendetta against Amazon.'' The Seattle-based company said it has taken aggressive steps to combat counterfeiting and to vet sellers. The company said that last year it weeded out 2.5 million potential bad actors before they could start selling.

President Donald Trump has clashed repeatedly with Amazon. The companys founder, Jeff Bezos, also owns The Washington Post newspaper, which has written critical stories about Trump and his business dealings.

Amazon sued the U.S. Defence Department last year after losing a lucrative cloud computing contract to rival Microsoft. Trump has also said he wont approve a $10 billion loan to the U.S. Postal Service unless it dramatically increases the rates it charges Amazon and other big shipping companies.

Last October, the American Apparel & Footwear Association urged the trade representative to add Amazon operations in those five countries to the notorious markets list. The association praised the trade office's decision in a statement Wednesday but did not mention Amazon.

Chinese e-commerce colosses Alibaba Groups Taobao.com online marketplace also remained on the list.

USTR also said Wednesday that Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Venezuela remained on its "priority watch list of countries that do not adequately protect intellectual property. It removed Kuwait from the priority list, saying the country is updating its intellectual property laws and stepping up enforcement against piracy.
Before the coronavirus crisis struck New York, four young adults with autism had come to rely on vocational training they attended every weekday through Quality Services for the Autism Community.

When stay-at-home orders suddenly disrupted that program, the participants were at a loss.

All of them were having a really difficult time adjusting to life outside of their daily routine, said Joseph Amodeo, the senior director of strategy and communications at the nonprofit organization.

After a weeks hiatus, the four convened for their first virtual meeting, which became an emotional reunion. Some cried at the sight of their peers.

Cameras dont make everything better, Mr. Amodeo said, but that moment showcased the power of togetherness.
President-elect Donald Trump, left, stands withNational Security Adviser Lt. General Michael Flynn at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on Dec. 21, 2016. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump: What Happened to Flynn Should Never Be Allowed to Happen Again

President Donald Trump came out in support of his former national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, while accusing former FBI director James Comey of wrongdoing.

What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again! Trump wrote in a social media statement on Thursday.

Evidence unsealed late Wednesday showed an FBI official involved in the decision to do an unusual interview with Flynn questioned whether the bureau was trying to catch Flynn in a lie rather than get to the truth through their questioning.

Whats our goal? Truth/Admission or toget him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? the official, who has not been identified, wrote in notes from January 2017.

Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents during a Jan. 24, 2017, interview, but has since said he did not knowingly mislead the agents. Flynns attorney, Sidney Powell, said evidence in the newly released material show Flynn was deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.

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)

Flynn on Wednesday night shared a short video showing an American flag. Trump shared the video, calling it great!

He also took aim at Comey, calling him a DIRTY COP who GOT CAUGHT!

When Tom Fitton, head of Judicial Watch, said Comey did it in reference to the alleged entrapment of Flynn, Trump said others were involved as well.

Speaking at an event in 2018, a host told Comey that it was hard to imagine two FBI agents entering the White House to interview Flynn and wondered how it happened.

I sent them, Comey responded.

Comey called the Trump administration disorganized, prompting him to think: Its early enough, lets just send a couple of guys over.

Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey leaves the Rayburn House Office Building after testifying to the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 7, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

And so we placed a call to Flynn, said, hey, were sending a couple of guys over. Hope youll talk to them. He said, sure. Nobody else was there. They interviewed him in a conference room in the Situation Room, and he lied to them. And thats what hes now pled guilty to, Comey added.

Trump also shared a bevy of social media posts from others regarding the update in Flynns case, including one from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) that quoted Comey from the event.

Another, from Townhall editor Katie Pavlich, wondered what FBI Director Christopher Wray knew about the situation and when he came to know it.

A third post, from Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), in part accused the FBI and Department of Justice leadership of conspiring against Flynn.

Petr Savb contributed to this report.
Across the country, states have shut down businesses and ordered people to work from home if they can and stay indoors as much as possible to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, with cases beginning to level off, states are looking to jump-start economies hit hard by the virus. Millions of Americans who have been put out of work by lockdown efforts are also eager to get back in the workforce.

Governors have taken different paths in developing plans to loosen stay-at-home orders in their states. States in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast have formed coalitions to usher in a regional recovery. Other states have faced criticism for already allowing nonessential businesses to resume in-person operations. Some governors have yet to release any sort of reopening plan.

Here is a rundown of how every state in the U.S. has responded to Covid-19 in terms of lifting restrictions on citizens and businesses. This list will be updated each day with new developments.
Ready with technologies for sanitising areas of different sizes

In the continuing quest for developing indigenous solutions to combat the Corona Virus Pandemic, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is ready with technologies for sanitising areas of different sizes.

The Centre for Fire Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi has developed two configurations of sanitising equipment. These are spinoffs from technologies developed for fire suppression applications.

Portable Backpack Area Sanitisation Equipment

The CFEES, Delhi with the help of its industry partner has developed portable sanitisation equipment for spraying decontamination solution consisting of one per cent Hypochlorite (HYPO) solution for sanitisation of suspected area.

The portable system can be mounted as a backpack and can be carried by the operations personnel. This system incorporates low pressure twin fluid (air & disinfectant liquid) technology to generate very fine mist. The system is capable of disinfecting upto 300 square metre area. The application areas can include hospital reception, doctor chambers, office spaces dealing with general public, corridors, pathways, metro and railway stations, bus stations, etc.

Trolley Mounted Large Area Sanitisation Equipment

The Centre with the help of its industry partner has also developed a higher capacity which is carried on a trolley. The system incorporates low pressure single fluid (disinfectant liquid) technology generating very fine mist. It is capable of disinfecting upto 3,000 square metre area.

It has a tank capacity of 50 litres and has a lancing (throw) distance of 12-15 metres. This is useful for disinfecting hospitals, malls, airports, metro stations, isolation areas, quarantine centres and high risk residential areas.

Two of these systems are being provided to Delhi Police for immediate use. These can be made available to other agencies with the help of industry partners.
via Facebook

An Illinois woman inspired by pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory videos traveled to New York City on Wednesday with more than a dozen illegal knives and threatened to kill former Vice President Joe Biden, according to police and her own social media posts.

New York police officers arrested dancer Jessica Prim, 37, on Wednesday after she began to act strangely on a city pier. In a live video Prim posted on Facebook of her arrest, she ranted about saving children and claimed she had come to New York because of an internet conspiracy theory video about a cabal of pedophile Democrats.

Have you guys heard about the kids? a tearful Prim said as she was arrested. OK, Im not lying.

Shortly before her arrest, Prim posted on Facebook that Hillary Clinton and Biden need to be taken out.

Hillary Clinton and her assistant, Joe Biden and Tony Podesta need to be taken out in the name of Babylon! Prim wrote. I cant be set free without them gone. Wake me up!!!!!

At another point during her arrest, Prim said she believed Donald Trump was talking to her directly during his coronavirus press conferences. Prim is facing more than a dozen counts of criminal possession of a weapon over the knives, as well as a marijuana possession charge, according to the New York Daily News.

Baby QAnon Was Just Arrested

Prims Facebook page is filled with references to QAnon, a conspiracy theory that holds that top Democrats like Biden and Clinton are cannibal-pedophiles scheming to undermine Donald Trump. Prim encouraged her Facebook fans to check out QAnon clues, anonymous posts from the anonymous person or group of people who direct QAnon believers. In a Facebook video posted just hours before her arrest, Prim ranted about a fictitious video"Frazzled Ripthat QAnon believers claim features Clinton and former Clinton aide Huma Abedin murdering a child.

Prim appears to have gone to the pier because she was convinced it was near the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Comfort, the hospital ship that was sent to New York City to help with the coronavirus pandemic. A faction of QAnon believers have become obsessed with the Comfort, convinced that its being used to rescue mole children abused by the cabal.

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Im at the Comfort, Prim said in the video.

In fact, Prim had mistaken the U.S.S. Intrepid, a former aircraft carrier that now serves as a museum, for the Comfort.

This isnt the first time QAnon believers inspired by fringe internet content have turned to real-world crime. Two QAnon supporters have been charged with murders apparently inspired by the conspiracy theory, including the slaying of a top New York mafia boss. Another supporter pleaded guilty to committing a terrorist incident near the Hoover Dam, while other supporters have been involved in two separate child kidnapping plots.

This also isnt the first time the hospital ships have drawn conspiracy theorists attention. In April, a train engineer in Los Angeles allegedly derailed a train near the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Mercy because he was convinced something suspicious was happening onboard.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Priscilla Batista is stuck at home in Charlotte, N.C., with a highly emotional 4-year-old.Every toddler obviously is emotional, but shes a pretty constant, volatile child, she said. It doesnt allow her to focus. Shes just struggling. Batista doesnt yet have an official diagnosis for her daughter, but, suspecting an attention deficit disorder, she has turned to CBD (cannabidiol) for help.

CBD is one of the more well-known components of cannabis, along with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Both chemicals affect the brain, but while THC makes users feel high, CBD doesnt, though it does make some users feel more relaxed. CBD products have become hugely popular around the world, from oils that can be eaten or rubbed on skin, to soaps, gummy candies and even pet treats.

A 2019 Gallup poll found 14 percent of more than 2,500 Americans surveyed use CBD products, mostly for pain, anxiety and sleep problems. Statistics for kids are much harder to come by, but there are Facebook groups with thousands of followers where parents discuss giving CBD to their kids for conditions including the autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In April, a cannabis-focused magazine published a survey of more than 500 parents and found that 40 percent had given CBD products to their children for behaviors related to the autism spectrum.

Very little controlled research has been done with CBD and kids. There is only one approved drug based on CBD for any age group, and thats for rare kinds of epilepsy in children. There are promising hints  but little proof thus far  that the compound might work on some other conditions in children too, including other kinds of seizures, autism and anxiety.
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Weekly News Digest April 30, 2020  In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITIs Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.



CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items. 'Georgia Copyright Loss at High Court Could Jolt Many States' by Jordan S. Rubin Jordan S. Rubin writes the following for Bloomberg Law: Georgia lost a close U.S. Supreme Court case over the states ability to copyright its annotated legal code, in a ruling heralded by public access advocates over dissent that lamented its disruptive impact on states existing business arrangements. Copyright protection doesnt extend to annotations in the states official annotated code, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 5-4 majority on [April 27] that crossed ideological lines. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh joined Roberts. The high court clarified the scope of the government edicts doctrine, which had previously barred copyright in materials created by judges. The doctrines logic also applies to materials created by legislatures, Roberts wrote. Because Georgias annotations are authored by an arm of the legislature in the course of its official duties, the doctrine bars copyright here, too.  Public.Resource.Org, the pro-access organization that won the dispute, is pleased that the court rejected the possibility that a full understanding of the law could be made available only to those who can afford to pay for first-class access, said Goldstein & Russells Eric Citron, who represented the group. He said theyre looking forward to helping states expand access to their legal codes and they hope this leads to greater public engagement with the law.  [T]he ruling will likely come as a shock to the 25 other jurisdictions22 States, 2 Territories, and the District of Columbiathat rely on arrangements similar to Georgias to produce annotated codes, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a dissent joined by Justice Samuel Alito and partially by Justice Stephen Breyer. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote her own dissent, joined by Breyer. For more information, read the article.

Send correspondence concerning the Weekly News Digest to NewsBreaks Editor Brandi Scardilli
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly.

So should Tanga Resources (ASX:TRL) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

View our latest analysis for Tanga Resources

When Might Tanga Resources Run Out Of Money?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. When Tanga Resources last reported its balance sheet in December 2019, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$1.3m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$1.9m. So it had a cash runway of approximately 8 months from December 2019. To be frank, this kind of short runway puts us on edge, as it indicates the company must reduce its cash burn significantly, or else raise cash imminently. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

ASX:TRL Historical Debt April 30th 2020

How Is Tanga Resources's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Tanga Resources didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. Nonetheless, we can still examine its cash burn trajectory as part of our assessment of its cash burn situation. As it happens, the company's cash burn reduced by 20% over the last year, which suggests that management are mindful of the possibility of running out of cash. Tanga Resources makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth.

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Can Tanga Resources Raise More Cash Easily?

While Tanga Resources is showing a solid reduction in its cash burn, it's still worth considering how easily it could raise more cash, even just to fuel faster growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Tanga Resources's cash burn of AU$1.9m is about 153% of its AU$1.2m market capitalisation. Given just how high that expenditure is, relative to the company's market value, we think there's an elevated risk of funding distress, and we would be very nervous about holding the stock.

How Risky Is Tanga Resources's Cash Burn Situation?

On this analysis of Tanga Resources's cash burn, we think its cash burn reduction was reassuring, while its cash burn relative to its market cap has us a bit worried. After considering the data discussed in this article, we don't have a lot of confidence that its cash burn rate is prudent, as it seems like it might need more cash soon. On another note, Tanga Resources has 6 warning signs (and 4 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about.

Of course Tanga Resources may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Chooseco is skewing its signature interactive reading concept youngersignificantlywith the launch of its Choose Your Own Adventure: Your First Adventure board book line, which is aimed at babies and toddlers up to age three. Due in September, the debut titles are adaptations of the companys first three Choose Your Own middle-grade novels, written by the series founder, the late R.A. Montgomery: The Abominable Snowman, Journey Under the Sea, and Space and Beyond. Kalon Sardin, an artist living in France who makes her book debut with this series, illustrated the board books.

Modifying the publishers multiple-endings concept for the board-book audience has been long in the works, explained marketing manager Elizabeth Middleman. In spring 2007, we began publishing Choose Your Owns for younger children when we started the Dragonlarks imprint for kids ages five to nine, she said. Those books have been a big hit and consistently sell well, so a while back we began talking about creating board books, but there were some big question marks about how to adapt the stories for babies. Since Choose Your Own Adventure storylines are known for danger and immersive excitement, how could we translate them into something cute, sweet, and kind?

Under the direction of associate publisher Melissa Bounty, the editorial team tackled the adaptation task, abridging the texts of the original versions of the three inaugural Your First Adventure titles from 17,000 to 350 words. The project really came together, Middleman added, when Kalon Sardin came on board as illustrator: She did a wonderful job of condensing the big scenes down to simple images portrayed in full color, a drastic change from the original books very detailed, black-and-white line art.

The adaptation process also involved the obvious challenge of integrating the element of choice-making into the dramatically streamlined stories and ensuring that those options were baby-friendly. Each board book presents three possible endings, reached by making simple visual selections involving colors and objectsa spaceship, a goldfish, a rainbowfamiliar to toddlers. The multiple-endings feature adds a new dimension to the traditional board-book reading experience, said Shannon Gilligan, Choosecos CEO and publisher, noting, What I love about these baby books is the idea of parents and very young readers discussing choices together.
In 2014, Charlie McLeish was appointed CEO of Pental Limited (ASX:PTL). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. 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 Pental

How Does Charlie McLeish's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Pental Limited has a market capitalization of AU$54m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth AU$436k over the year to June 2019. It is worth noting that the CEO compensation consists almost entirely of the salary, worth AU$422k. We took a group of companies with market capitalizations below AU$308m, and calculated the median CEO total compensation to be AU$388k.

Now let's take a look at the pay mix on an industry and company level to gain a better understanding of where Pental stands. On a sector level, around 47% of total compensation represents salary and 53% is other remuneration. Pental is focused on going down a more traditional approach and is paying a higher portion of compensation through salary, as compared to non-salary benefits.

So Charlie McLeish receives a similar amount to the median CEO pay, amongst the companies we looked at. While this data point isn't particularly informative alone, it gains more meaning when considered with business performance. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Pental has changed from year to year.

ASX:PTL CEO Compensation April 29th 2020

Is Pental Limited Growing?

Over the last three years Pental Limited has shrunk its earnings per share by an average of 40% per year (measured with a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 25% over the last year.

The reduction in earnings per share, over three years, is arguably concerning. But on the other hand, revenue growth is strong, suggesting a brighter future. It's hard to reach a conclusion about business performance right now. This may be one to watch. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assess this data-rich visualization of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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Has Pental Limited Been A Good Investment?

Since shareholders would have lost about 32% over three years, some Pental Limited shareholders would surely be feeling negative emotions. So shareholders would probably think the company shouldn't be too generous with CEO compensation.

In Summary...

Charlie McLeish is paid around what is normal for the leaders of comparable size companies.

The per share growth could be better, in our view. And it's hard to argue that the returns over the last three years have delighted. So it would take a bold person to suggest the pay is too modest. Looking into other areas, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Pental that investors should think about before committing capital to this stock.

Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Samuel Atta Akyea, Minister for Works and Housing said on Tuesday that the release of funds had paved way for the commencement Ghana's Desilting Programme nationwide as the rains set in this year.

Speaking at the Information Ministry's Media Briefing, on Tuesday, Mr. Atta Akyea said with the emergence of COVID-19, the country could not afford to suffer double jeopardy with casualties from floods.

Mr. Atta Akyea recalled that the Ghana Metrological Agency had forecasted the country would experience heavy rains this year.

He explained the country's open drainage system had done evil than good because some citizens continued to throw rubbish into these open drains thereby choking them.

We have challenges with drains in the entire country, he said, adding that, the construction of drains over the years had caused the State a lot of money.

In the year 2012, the Minister said, the State spent GH17.6 million cedis, while in 2013, it cost 32.3 million cedis.

Also, in 2014, it cost GH24.8 cedis, while in 2016 and 2017 the State spent GH23.2 million and GH12.2 million cedis respectively.

---GNA
HCM City authorities plan to establish a steering committee on the creation of a city within a city that will include districts 2, 9 and Thu Duc, according to Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the city Peoples Committee.

A view of HCM Citys eastern area including districts 2, 9 and Thu uc, where a city within a city will be established.

The 22-member committee led by Phong will develop a master plan for development of the city within city in the eastern area.

The master plan includes strategies for a knowledge-based economy that includes promotion of investment in urban development and a highly skilled workforce.

The committee will study the experiences of major cities in other countries and propose policies for a creative ecosystem and improved competitiveness.

It will also develop a centralised urban database with data about land use, transportation, canals, and other works in the three districts.

In addition, the committee will consult with the public and agencies, and promote international cooperation in investment in the city.

HCM City aims to develop a hi-tech, smart urban development zone, spread over more than 211sq.km and home to more than 1.1 million people in the area.

The city could be the first in the country to have such a city under management of a city.

The city government has asked the Ministry of Construction for guidance to carry out the merger of the three districts, while its Department of Home Affairs has sought assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The 48sq.km Thu uc District has a high concentration of educational institutions and research centres and four large universities with more than 10,000 lecturers and professors and 100,000 students.

The 50sq.km District 2, which includes the Thu Thiem new urban area, will provide infrastructure and international exhibition and financial centres for the new urban area and the city as a whole.

The 114sq.km District 9, which includes the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, would be a hub for research and incubator for innovative technologies.

The eastern part of the city has convenient and modern infrastructure, including metro line No 1 from Ben Thanh in District 1 to Suoi Tien in District 9, which was s still under construction, and the expressway from HCM City to ong Nai Province and Cat Lai Port, the largest in Viet Nam.

The city is carrying out a project to become a smart urban area under which the eastern area would be developed into an innovation hub based on a digital, knowledge-based economy.

HCM City contributes 23 per cent of national GDP, 30 per cent of Government revenues, 16 per cent of industrial output, and 15 per cent of exports.  VNS
Thousands of Chinese merchants and others working in Russia may be stuck there as Chinese authorities struggle to prevent sick travelers from reigniting the Covid-19 pandemic amid a tenuous recovery.

Travelers must present test results showing they were free of the deadly coronavirus within 72 hours of boarding Air China flights from Moscow to China under a government policy taking effect May 1, according to the Chinese embassy in Russia. The move may strand many Chinese nationals who are eager to return home for medical care.

The easing of the domestic outbreak has allowed a steady reopening across China more than two months after the worlds most populous country locked down cities nationwide to fight the first wave of the pandemic. China now faces mounting pressure to control imported cases. There were 22 new infections Tuesday in China, 21 of which involved travelers from abroad, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.

Read more

Caixins coverage of the new coronavirus

Since early April, dozens of Covid-19 cases were found among passengers on several Air China flights arriving from Moscow. The weekly flight CA910 is the only one remaining in operation between the two countries amid the pandemic.

Chinese living in Russia fear that Chinas largest neighbor is running out of medical resources, according to a Chinese merchant in Moscow. The pandemic is raging in Russia as the country has recorded more than 99,000 cases and nearly 980 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

China and Russia temporary closed their land border crossings in the northeast earlier this month. Suifenhe, a small Chinese town where the two countries have a border crossing, implemented a strict lockdown after many Chinese returning from Russia were found to have contracted the virus.

Health authorities in northwest Chinas Shaanxi province reported 20 new confirmed infections and five asymptomatic cases among passengers on a CA910 flight that landed at the provincial capital Xian Monday. All travelers arriving there are required to take a virus test before they can transfer to other Chinese cities.

All of the newly confirmed patients were Chinese nationals. A total of 148 people, all passengers on the flight, were placed under isolation for further medical observation, the provincial health commission said.

Many Chinese merchants in Russia, especially those who suspect they may be infected, worry that they wont be able to get treatment in Russia and want to return to China, a Moscow-based trader told Caixin.

There were about 160,000 Chinese nationals in Russia, according to Chinas ambassador to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui, in an April 7 interview with Chinas state broadcaster. Many of them are merchants who worked at Moscows Lyublino and Sadovod markets.

Clusters of infection have emerged at the two markets. According to Zhang, mass testing organized by the embassy of 300 Chinese business people found 96 positive results. The markets were closed in late March for the outbreak.

A Chinese businessman calling himself Kai was among the 20 CA910 passengers who were confirmed infected upon arrival Monday in Xian and were hospitalized.

I had some symptoms (back in Russia) and was scared. I came back for treatment, said Kai, a trader at the Lyublino market.

Kai said he started to experience diarrhea and lose the sense of smell in mid-April. But without symptoms including high fever and breathing difficulties, most patients in Russia are not admitted to hospitals.

Most of the passengers on the flight were Chinese merchants in Russia and wore protective gear during the trip, Kai said. They took multiple body temperature tests before boarding and during the flight. Some passengers admitted to crew that they took medicine to control body temperature before the flight. About seven people showed fevers during the flight and were isolated in the rear of the cabin, Kai said.

His economy-class ticket cost 14,800 yuan ($2,090), compared with the normal price of less than 3,000 yuan, Kai said. Options for returning to China have become limited since Russia halted most international flights last month.

Kai lived in a hotel in Moscow that housed more than 600 Chinese and was run by Chinese owners. At least 67 residents tested positive for the virus in the hotel, a person with knowledge told Caixin Tuesday.

While Kai said he was lucky to catch the last April flight to China, others waiting to travel said they are worried they may be unable to make it home. A Chinese student in Moscow who booked a ticket for the May 10 flight said she is worried she will be unable to obtain the required test result before her flight due to limited access to testing in Russia.

Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixn.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)
On Monday, Donald Trump claimed China could have stopped the novel coronavirus before it swept the globe and said his administration was conducting 'serious investigations' into what happened.

As a private citizen, Donald Trump was known as a fairly litigious individual. Is it little wonder then that he continues to have the same approach while in office?

On Monday, Trump claimed China could have stopped the novel coronavirus before it swept the globe and said his administration was conducting "serious investigations" into what happened.

"We're doing very serious investigations ... We are not happy with China," he said at a White House news conference. "There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable," he said, hinting that Washington could possibly seek damages from Beijing.

This is hardly the first time Trump, or someone from his administration, has gone after China. On the same day as Trump sounded his warning to Beijing, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro accused China of sending low-quality and even counterfeit coronavirus antibody testing kits to the United States and of "profiteering" from the pandemic.

And the previous week Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ominously warned China that the United States is working with other countries to make sure they understand that coronavirus originated in Wuhan. Pompeo further added, "We need to hold accountable the parties responsible for the deaths here in the United States and the enormous economic costs that have been posted on the US."

Lindsey Graham, a close White House ally and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has called for cancelling the US debt with China, slapping a pandemic tariff on Chinese goods and imposing unspecified sanctions on Chinese officials.

China needs to pay, Graham told Fox News earlier this week, accusing the government in Beijing of gross negligence and willful deception in its handling of the outbreak.

States sue China

Last Thursday, Missouri became the first US state to sue the Chinese government over the coronavirus pandemic followed quickly by Mississippi. Missouri, represented by its Attorney-General Eric Schmitt, accused the communist nation of suppressing information, arresting whistleblowers and denying the contagious nature of coronavirus that led to deaths and job losses in the state.

"COVID-19 has done irreparable damage to countries across the globe, causing sickness, death, economic disruption, and human suffering. In Missouri, the impact of the virus is very real - thousands have been infected and many have died, families have been separated from dying loved ones, small businesses are shuttering their doors, and those living paycheck to paycheck are struggling to put food on their table," Schmitt said, as per the CBS report. "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. They must be held accountable for their actions."

As per a report in The Independent, six of the COVID-19 lawsuits against China stem from the United States. As per The Independent report, Republican Senator Josh Hawley, a staunch ally of the president, has introduced the Justice for Victims of Coronavirus Act to strip China of sovereign immunity for prosecution, and create a task force in the state department to investigate Beijings handling of the disease and secure compensation from the Chinese government.

Sovereign immunity shields Beijing

But experts say it is unlikely that any such effort would succeed. Foreign governments enjoy immunity in American courts under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, a 1976 statute which codified the principle that sovereign states may not be sued in courts of other countries.

Several legal experts told the Washington Post that immunity is just one of several legal hurdles that the plaintiffs will likely face.

"US law  following international law  generally grants foreign states immunity," Jacques deLisle director of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute told the newspaper. "Exceptions exist for commercial activities with direct effects in the United States, wrongful acts (not just harmful consequences) occurring in the United States, and State-sponsored terrorism. But courts arent likely to see the accusations against China as falling within these narrow categories."

"Amid deteriorating US-China relations, such a move risks retaliatory immunity-stripping as well as further damage to the battered US reputation for respecting international law," deLisle said.

With inputs from agencies
For 16 seasons, TV watchers have seen this week's Get a Real Job guests battle weather, waves and each other on Discovery Channels mega-hit show Deadliest Catch, which can be seen Tuesday nights at 8 PM.

Ive talked to these guys a bunch of times, and I will tell you that interviews with them are as unpredictable as Bering Sea weather. (True story: Capt. Sig Hansen once karate chopped me across the throat because...well, no one really knows why.)

Related: In This Job, You Get a Sinking Feeling Every Day

Anyway, I spoke (at a safe distance) with Sig, captain of the Northwestern, and Josh Harris, co-captain of the Cornelia Marie, via phone as they were sheltering in place at home in Seattle. We talked all about the new season, what they've learned about facing danger in isolation and which Deadliest Catch captain you definitely do not want to spend a lot of time with in close quarters. Thanks as always for listening!

Related:

'Deadliest Catch' Captains Explain Working and Living in Pure Chaos

Social Distancing Mental Health Tips From a NASA Astronaut Who Lived in Space

TV Producer-Turned-Novelist: 'I Was Tired of Producing Other People's Dreams'



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Ongoing political controversy is result of hasty nomination



The Civil Together party, a satellite offshoot of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), decided Tuesday to expel its lawmaker-elect Yang Jeong-suk and file a complaint with the prosecution. Yang, a former lawyer, is suspected of dodging taxes and using her relatives' names without their permission in the course of amassing assets.



When Yang registered her candidacy with Civil Together for the proportional representation vote in the April 15 general election, she reported to the National Election Commission that she had assets of 9.2 billion won ($7.5 million), which is nearly double the 4.9 billion won she registered four years ago. Yang has three apartments in Seoul's upmarket Gangnam District and two buildings in the capital city and its vicinity.



Yang denied all of the charges and refused to step down, forcing the party to ask the prosecution to investigate. It was little more than two weeks ago that the party nominated Yang as a candidate under the proportional representation system.



Looking back, however, questions were raised about the increase in Yang's properties during the screening process of would-be candidates. At the time, one of Yang's siblings testified Yang had arbitrarily used relatives' names without authorization. The sibling withdrew the testimony later but failed to clarify the source of Yang's funds. This gave many the impression that the two had ironed out their story after the fact. The DPK and its satellite party, which pledged to remove property speculators, should have examined their candidates' qualifications more thoroughly. After all, the ongoing controversy is the result of the rough-and-ready nomination process. It is only natural for Civil Together to convene its ethics committee and take punitive measures against Yang.



The party should use the scandal as an opportunity to look back on its nomination system and apologize for its poor selection of candidates. Lawmaker-elect Yang, for her part, had better step down instead of sticking to her position, alleging that she didn't violate laws.



The problem is, even if Yang is forced to leave the party, she can serve as an independent lawmaker. It would be good for her to drop the idea as soon as possible, however. If investigations show Yang has committed crimes, she will eventually have to resign from the National Assembly.


The crisis between Oyo State Government and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) continued on Wednesday as the NCS refused to take back the 1,800 bags of rice rejected by the state.

The state government had shown the world last Friday that the rice was infested with weevil, making it unfit for human consumption.

It announced its decision to return the rice, which was part of the Federal Governments palliative to mitigating the negative effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on poor citizens.

The state government collected the rice on Tuesday from the Oyo/Osun State Command of the NCS, which is located at about one kilometer from the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

But on returning the rejected consignment on Wednesday, the NCS refused to allow the three trucks conveying the product into its premises.

The team led by Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Jacob Ojemuyiwa, were also denied access into the Customs premises.

The officials who led the trucks to the Customs premises were told that the command was yet to receive directive from its headquarters to collect the rice.

The trucks returned with the contentious bags of rice to the state secretariat at about 6pm after waiting at the Customs gate for many hours.

The NCS had explained in a statement on Saturday that officials of the Oyo State Government properly inspected the rice on Monday and certified that it was in good condition.

It would be recalled that the Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde, Debo Akande, had on Friday said the committees set up to re-examine the rice have warned that it was not consumable.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on April 30. The 67-year-old actor was admitted in H N Reliance hospital, where he breathed his last today morning. His brother Randhir Kapoor confirmed the news.

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

In February, Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues.

Amitabh Bachchan confirmed the news of Rishi Kapoors demise on Twitter.

T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed ! Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor, the son of Raj Kapoor, broke on to the Indian cinema scene with his first film itself, Mera Naam Joker, in which he played the role of a child artiste. The actor received a National Award for Mera Naam Joker.
By putting their business and personal lives on hold, Canadians have flattened the curve. The reward for that comes with some provinces starting to lift restrictions and others planning for the day they can reopen parts of the economy.

Its what everyone has been working toward and desperately hoping for during these long, hard weeks of being shut in.

But the ability of businesses and schools to reopen and, more importantly, stay open  rather than be forced to shut down again with a resurgence in COVID-19 cases  relies heavily on the ability of our public health agencies to test extensively to identify new cases and quickly trace contacts so a few cases dont balloon into many.

And thats not great news for Canadians, especially those living in the hardest-hit provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Nearly seven weeks after Canada started restricting the movement and activities of its citizens, we still havent managed to push testing into high gear. Its still bumping along in low gear.

A week ago, Canadas Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said testing 60,000 people a day was an initial target just to prepare to reopen the economy. This week, testing is roughly half that.

To put Canadas ongoing testing failure in a global perspective, Germany reports its testing capacity is now 900,000 per week. That means they can test more people in a single week than Canada has managed to do in total from the very beginning of the pandemic to now.

When this began  and its hard to even think back that far  we were told everyone was at risk. Most people would have mild symptoms but COVID-19 could be deadly to anyone. We knew the initial cases were travel-related and spread by close contact.

Over the last few weeks weve been focused on the devastating toll the disease is taking in long-term-care homes. As a consequence, governments are ramping up, albeit belatedly, testing and protection measures in those homes and other group settings like homeless shelters, prisons and daycares.

But how is the virus still being transmitted in the community? Is it happening in workplaces that were deemed essential? Is it people shopping for groceries or taking transit? Are there cases related to people breaking the social distancing rules?

We dont know. Worse still, top public health officials dont know either.

Whos getting infected? Ontarios Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, asked while discussing the many unknowns of community spread this week. Whats the demographics of this group still getting infected? What are the locations?

Its hard to overstate how troubling it is that Williams doesnt know the answers to those important questions.

If officials dont know where the risk points are at a time when the vast majority of businesses are closed and most of the population is staying at home, how can they possibly hope to prepare to minimize the risks when the economy opens up and millions leave their homes?

Right now, testing is the only tool we have to fight the pandemic. There is no treatment. There is no vaccine. We havent even settled on a reliable serological, or blood, test to get a sense of how many people have been infected by COVID-19 without knowing it and may have at least some degree of immunity.

Testing is all we have and were not doing nearly enough.

Other countries have used broad community testing and vigorous contact tracing to control the pandemic and guide their reopening plans. But Canada doesnt have a national testing strategy so much as a bunch of provincial strategies that relate to their ability to get swabs and chemicals and lab capacity at any given time rather than the actual need.

Quebec, which is racing ahead to get workers back on the job, has been testing roughly 5,000 people a day but claims it has the ability to rapidly ramp that up to 15,000. If it can, it should be doing it already.

Ontario is still working on testing everyone in care homes and other group settings. Health Minister Christine Elliott acknowledges that broader surveillance testing in the community is needed and Premier Doug Ford says hes on testing like a dog on a bone, but the province cant seem to advance to that phase.

Ontario said it would be able to do 19,000 tests a day by mid-April. It revised that goal down to 14,000 by the end of April  and it missed even that target by more than 1,000.

Without much more testing, provincial reopening plans  whether its Quebecs go-fast or Ontarios go- slow approach  are based on guesswork and hope more than hard facts.

On Thursday, Ford sought to assure residents and businesses that all the hardships theyve endured have been worth it and will soon come to an end. We have thrown everything we have against the virus, he said.

Only that really isnt true when it comes to testing, and that makes the light at the end of the reopening tunnel dimmer than it should be.
More major retailers could go bust after coronavirus lockdown restrictions are eased, a former Myer boss has warned.

Richard Umbers believes that many retailers that will struggle to recover once they get the green light to reopen, tipped to be May 11.

Businesses will be hit hard as they are forced to pay out for wages, rent and operational costs all at once.

Sales are also expected to lower than usual as consumer confidence plummets.

Mr Umbers predicts consumers will avoid the shops for some time once restrictions are lifted.

Former Myer boss Richard Umbers believes many retailers will struggle to recover when lockdown restrictions are finally eased. Pictured is Myer in Melbourne's Bourke Street as the business temporarily closed its doors during the pandemic

'I think for many businesses that will be the start of a sustained period of having to work with some very challenging circumstances and operational issues that come about as a result of reopening,' he told Fairfax.

'I think we're likely to see a sustained period of nervousness until people have the confidence that businesses are back on track and they feel secure about their future,' he said.

Among the worst hit will be fashion retailers, which will have the added burden of excess off-season stock they can't get rid of.

He said strong management and being a positioned to move business online will be the key to surviving the turbulent times ahead.

'There was no scenario planning that I ever came across in a corporate environment where we predicted this kind of scenario on this scale. It's not something we ever thought of,' Mr Umbers said.

Richard Umbers predicts consumers to steer clear of the shopping centres even after restrictions are removed. Pictured is a lone shopper in a deserted outlet centre in Brisbane

Mr Umbers urged governments to review the environment and consult both the retail and hospitality sectors to give employees assurance.

The former British army officer spent three years in Myer's top role before he sensationally quit in early 2018 amid the department store's dwindling profits.

He relocated overseas to take up a role with with German hypermarket chain Kaufland.

He recently returned home after Kaufland departed the Australian market earlier this year to renew its attention on its European operations.

Mr Umbers hopes to re-enter the Australian retail sector 'in due course'.
New Delhi: Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on Thursday, April 30, 2020, around 8.45 am. He was admitted to Mumbai's Sri HN Reliance Foundation hospital on Wednesday night. Rishi Kapoor battled Leukemia for two long years and underwent treatment for it in New York where he stayed for almost a year.

He is survived by wife and actress Neetu Kapoor, children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor. During his almost 50 years long cinematic journey, the veteran actor was awarded several honours.

Let's a look at his awards and recognition over the years:

1970  Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards: Special Award, and National Film Award for Mera Naam Joker

1974  Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Bobby

2008  Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

2009  Honoured by Russian Government for contribution to cinema

2010  Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Love Aaj Kal

2011  Zee Cine Awards: Best Lifetime Jodi along with Neetu Singh

2011  Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for Do Dooni Chaar

2013  The Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA), Best Actor in a Negative Role for Agneepath

2016  Screen Lifetime Achievement Award

2017  Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor for Kapoor & Sons

2017  Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Kapoor & Sons

2017  Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role  Male for Kapoor & Sons

2017  Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Kapoor & Sons

(The award list has been compiled taking into account records available on Wikipedia)
LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Residents in the presidential primary election approved Lakewood City Schools Issue 28, with 76 percent of the voters casting ballots in favor.

Vote totals for the 3.9-mill levy and 1-mill permanent improvement levy were 7,041 for vs. 2,144 against, according to final, unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

The new tax will cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $144.75 a month.

Issue 28 was a unique new-money levy utilizing the expiration of current district debt. Residents were previously paying $143 a month on a $100,000 home, with the new levy marking a $1.75 monthly increase.

Im flattered, grateful and humbled by this communitys commitment to education, Superintendent Michael J. Barnes said. I think they demonstrated that by casting their ballots. They believe in what were trying to do for children.

Id like to offer a sincere thanks to our campaign chair and the many volunteers that gave time, energy and effort helping our community understand why Issue 28 was important for the Lakewood Schools and its future.

Barnes said the coronavirus pandemic, combined with the delayed primary and mail-only voting, created uncertainty going into the ballot.

We were always cautiously optimistic, but you just never know, Barnes said. We know many of our families, our community members are experiencing the setbacks that the pandemic has had on the economy. We were never thinking that this was a done deal.

Considering what many families are facing during these economic times -- and theyre still willing to lift up their ballots in support of the Lakewood City Schools -- its just a testament to just how awesome this community is.

Instead of cutting programs -- which the superintendent said would have happened if Issue 28 had failed -- the new levy funds will be used to expand preschool and academic programming, retain and recruit professional staff, monitor district facilities and bolster student mental health services.

Barnes noted that the passage of Issue 28 means the district hopes to not return to the ballot for at least three or four years, if not longer.

Read more news from the Sun Post Herald.
The rainy day is here.

Governments that oversee Michigan cities and other municipalities are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local government leaders are forecasting millions of dollars in tax revenue loss, and making plans to try to stay afloat.

With people ordered to stay home, business closed and millions out of work, tax revenue for Michigans local governments are taking a big hit.

Michigans cities face potentially huge revenue reductions  fewer dollars from income taxes, the sales tax and the gas tax  due to the economic toll. Even property-tax revenue, considered more stable than the other sources of government income, is expected to feel the squeeze.

Municipalities are canceling projects such as road construction, suspending programs such as parks and recreation, shutting down non-essential services, reducing employee pay, instituting layoffs and furloughs and dipping into funds saved for a rainy day.

No ones spending money, so youre going to see governmental revenues down substantially, said Tony Minghine, deputy executive director of the Michigan Municipal League.

On top of the revenue challenge, governments are having to provide additional staffing, meet higher demands, provide personal protective equipment and more, as the coronavirus remains a threat.

Theres a lot here communities are dealing with and its going to continue into the foreseeable future, Minghine said.

The problem is hitting Michigan cities regardless of size. Detroit, Michigans largest city, is working to plug a revenue loss in the hundreds of millions of dollars, while Iron Mountain, a small town in the Upper Peninsula, may need to find savings in employee health care and retirement costs because its staffing level never recovered after cuts during the Great Recession.

Tim Bartik, senior economist at Kalamazoos W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, said sales tax and income tax revenues for municipalities will decrease substantially.

State and local governments can do little to offset the budget problems on their own, except increase tax rates or cut spending, he said.

These budget problems will lead to large budget adjustments, either higher tax rates, or, more likely, large spending cuts, Bartik said.

The economic fallout is expected to bring reductions in property tax revenue as well, because of expected depressed home sales and other factors, Bartik said. If landlords do not receive rent from tenants, it could mean more tax delinquencies, he said.

Any hit to new construction will also impact property tax revenue, Bartik said. Impacts tied to property tax revenue will likely show up later than the other revenue impacts, he said.

The challenge has government leaders across the state bracing and creating strategies to balance their budgets with significantly less money coming in.

Revenue holes

Many city managers contacted by MLive are making projections of the revenue reductions for their budget proposals while the pandemic and stay-at-home order continue. Any potential financial assistance from the state and federal governments is unclear and another variable. For many, the budget year begins July 1.

The city of Detroit projects a $348 million revenue loss impacting the general fund for the duration of 2020, through June 30, 2021.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan outlined his ideas to address the expected issue by dipping into rainy day funds, using blight funds, instituting layoffs of part-time and temporary staff, and hour reductions and/or wage reductions for some full-time staff. Duggan said he wants to allow full-time workers to keep their health care coverage.

Places including Detroit, Grand Rapids and Muskegon, which collect income tax, are projecting reductions in that category.

In Muskegon, local income taxes comprise $9.6 million, which represents about a third of the citys annual $27 million in revenue, according to city manager Frank Peterson. But because tax filing deadlines have been postponed, his city doesnt yet know  and therefore cant plan around  how much local tax revenue it will lose.

The city has been finalizing its budget with the assumption that it will lose some money from the final fiscal quarter, during which efforts against the virus were most severe, Peterson said.

Officials in Grand Rapids, Michigan's second largest city, are preparing for shortfalls as they're crafting the 2021 budget.

City Manager Mark Washington said his city is projecting a revenue loss of up to $23 million for the upcoming fiscal year. Grand Rapids officials have already implemented a hiring freeze and paused capital projects to help slash $13 million in expenditures but layoffs and dipping into the rainy day fund remain options, Washington said.

Income tax revenue is hit by the economic shutdown, as unemployment subsidies for those laid off or furloughed are not taxable at a local level, Washington said.

Income tax revenues account for about 26 percent, or roughly $107 million, of the Grand Rapids 2020 budget. City staff estimate nearly $5 million to $6 million in general fund deficits every year from 2021 through 2025 due to slower growth of income tax over years prior.

Ann Arbor city officials estimate an overall $4.5 million to $5 million hit this fiscal year, and potentially a $6.3-$11 million hit next fiscal year, Interim City Manager Tom Crawford reported to the city council on April 20.

Related: Ann Arbors recovery from coronavirus will be a marathon, city predicts huge revenue losses

On the other side of the spectrum in terms of city size, Iron Mountain, an Upper Peninsula city of about 7,000 people bordering Wisconsin, has yet to rehire all the municipal jobs cut during the Great Recession, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said.

In mid-2008, the city had 55 full-time employees. Now, they have 41.

Stachina, who took the job in 2009, said he knows the coming economic hurt will be bad but doesnt know how bad yet. There are a number of variables, he said, including when the economy will reopen and if federal dollars come through to locals.

One thing hes certain of is that the Great Recession cuts have kept staffing levels at the bone.

I dont really see it as an option here, Stachina said of staffing cuts to offset revenue losses. Wed have to look at other big costs, like pensions or health insurance. Those are some areas where we may have to make some adjustments when bargaining comes up.

A good estimate on the loss of sales and gas tax revenues hasnt yet been given, so Stachina is working around a 20 percent loss in both sales and gas tax revenues.

Were just to the point now where were just going to have to go with that 20 percent and potentially, as part of the budget draft up, its going to be, Look, heres the best guess right now. This one may need amending in six months. If or when things become clear, we may need to amend some stuff.

The city has a $2.7 million fund balance to keep them secure and plans to delay or cut projects, as well as nix nonessential equipment purchases, to offset the hit.

The lasting fallout from the previous recession is a factor for other municipalities as well, according to the Michigan Municipal League.

Were still not really recovered from the last recession, and if were not smart about how we handle support for local government here now, it could be really catastrophic and I dont think anybody wants that, Minghine said.

Cities, townships and villages in Michigan take in a portion of sales tax collected by the state through a process called revenue sharing, and the amount they receive will decrease as sales decrease.

The city of Sterling Heights, which has an active retail corridor along Hall Road in southeast Michigan, is encouraging support for federal legislation to provide direct support to communities with less than 500,000 residents, said Melanie D. Davis, the citys community relations director. It is critical local governments receive federal assistance to help offset potential revenue sharing losses, she said.

We're all very concerned about the broader economic impacts, Minghine said on April 22, touching on tax revenue impacts.

Its not crazy to think we've got some pretty diminished buying right now going on with folks hunkered down at home, Minghine said.

Municipalities are concerned about the possibility of property values declining like they did during the last recession, Minghine said.

And amid the reduced revenue and other challenges of daily operations, there is no corresponding reduction in a demand for services such as police and first responders. In some cases, demand has gone up, he said.

The Michigan Municipal League is hopeful that states, including Michigan, will get some significant dollars through the federal stimulus funding, Minghine said.

Hopefully, they can see that a large part of this burden falls down to local level, and we can have them share some of those resources with us to help backfill some of the stuff that we're talking about, Minghine said.

How long will it last?

In the city of Portage, theres a nearly $4 million hole in the budget, City Manager Joseph La Margo estimates.

Broken down, the sales tax portion of that hit translates to about 10 percent of general fund revenues for Portages population of 49,000.

Were just going to have to really tighten our belts here, La Margo said. Its a big chunk.

It's a changing estimate the city staff have to work with as they cobble together next year's budget, which is set for adoption by city council in late May and starts July 1.

The latest estimates put the sales tax revenues, which go into the general fund, down by $2.6 million, La Margo said. Gas tax revenues, which help fund road projects, repairs and maintenance, are estimated down by $1.3 million. General revenues in total are about $26.6 million in current budget.

Officials have so far furloughed 25 seasonal and part-time employees, authorized only essential purchases and prioritized projects with federal or state dollars attached to slow spending to brace for that financial impact, La Margo said.

When we started to see what was going on, we slowed down our spending tremendously -- separating those needs from wants, he said. Unless its an absolute need, were not purchasing it.

With these initial cost-cutting and saving measures and the citys rainy day fund, La Margo said the city hopes to avoid axing any city jobs and nonessential services -- something he said if we can avoid it we absolutely will.

Joseph La Margo answers questions during his interview session for the position of Portage City Manager at Portage City Hall in Portage, Michigan on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.Emil Lippe | MLive.com

He's hoping to learn more as the situation progresses.

I really dont think anybody knows the impact that this is having because if the state opens up again in May or June, thats one thing. If we have, and God forbid, if we have another shutdown in the fall or winter months, you just dont know, La Margo said.

At least a quarter of the year will see diminished revenue streams, Minghine said.

I think were all sort of trying to figure this out what this looks like and how deep and how long do we deal with these things, but in the short term, its going to be significant, Minghine said.

Mount Pleasant, home of Central Michigan University, operates on a Jan. 1 start to their fiscal year. The position has given officials there more of a wait-and-see approach, where they dont have to forecast all the variables of the pandemic and the shutdown and can instead amend the current years budget as loss projections firm up.

As of now, the city is moving forward with planned projects and has not made any cuts, but it may have to.

As we look at our 2021 budget, which well begin looking at in July, then well hopefully have better estimates about how well be doing and then well maybe have to reprioritize projects at that point, said Mary Ann Kornexl, Mount Pleasants finance director.

The coronavirus impact extends to county governments as well.

Kalamazoo County Administrator Tracie Moored said the county is taking steps including asking all county employees to suspend any training due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We are also looking at ways that we can collaborate in operations to see where expenditure wise we can cut back, Moored said.

The county purchased technology to allow employees to work from home for about $180,000, she said.

Moored has asked department heads to look at a 20% reduction for the 2021 budget to address the coming impacts.

Oakland County, with more than 1.2 million residents, expects revenue reduction of $4 million in the county budget for fiscal year 2021. County Executive David Coulter called the expected reduction amount manageable.

The state of the county is strong, Coulter said in a prepared statement on April 22. And that strength gives us the opportunity to beat COVID-19 and help our businesses and residents. As the engine of economic growth for the state, it is vital that we get back on our feet quickly.

Oakland County will use strategies to mitigate any shortfalls caused by expenses not reimbursed by the federal government, including implementing a hiring freeze approved earlier by the board, cutting $3 million in discretionary capital improvement projects, banning out-of-state travel, and requesting the renegotiation of service contracts.

Individual departments may require temporary furloughs, Coulter said, and the county will reduce the amount they pay in hazard pay for essential employees who were not given the option of working remotely.

Coulter formed a COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force, with a stated goal to accelerate the countys recovery.

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

Read more:

Masks now required, motorboating is back and AirBnb rentals are banned: Heres what changed in Michigans latest stay-home order

Michigan will identify nursing homes with coronavirus outbreaks. It comes too late for some families.

Southwest Michigan hospital treating COVID-19 patients with plasma of survivors
NSW Rural Fire Service chief Shane Fitzsimmons says he planned to step down from the organisation last year, but decided to see through one more summer as early forecasts hinted at a catastrophic fire season.

Mr Fitzsimmons made the revelation as he prepared to hang up his uniform on Thursday, after more than 35 years of service that culminated in this summer's devastating bushfires.

He said he first signalled his desire to step down as RFS boss with government officials more than a year ago, and planned to depart after returning from annual leave last winter.

But as forecasts revealed an ominous fire season, he put his plans on hold, informing the Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott that he needed to see the job through for one final summer.
The report puts to the test the earlier raid by law enforcers and their respective announcement.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine on Wednesday, April 29, reported on the discovery at an abandoned children's summer camp in Dnipropetrovsk region of a huge cache of weapons that even had in it some military hardware like an infantry fighting vehicle, an armored personnel carrier, a massive anti-tank gun, as well as mortars, anti-tank guided missile launchers, other weapons, and munitions.

However, confusion ensued after a Ukrainian prominent journalist Yuriy Butusov went forward with a report citing a senior source with the 3 Regiment of Ukraine Army's special task forces stating that the stock actually belongs to the said unit.

In February 2020, the source told the journalist, the whole site, together with the weapons and equipment stored there, was officially handed over to their regiment by one of the country's volunteer units, the Ukrainian Volunteer Army [UDA], by the decision of Ukraine Army's Commander-in-Chief Ruslan Khomchak.

Read alsoVenediktova's appointment as Chief Prosecutor to affect Ukraine's future  experts

A formal inventory of the arms in stock had been drawn up jointly with the SBU Security Service's military counterintelligence operatives, while the site was taken under full control of the 3rd Regiment of Ukraine Army's special task forces two months prior to yesterday's raid by law enforcers.

"As far as I understand, someone is seeking to show off some results  but this is a total lie, which can be easily debunked," the source said.

Chief of the UDA, Dmytro Yarosh, has confirmed to Censor.net publication that the site in question used to be one of their units' base before it was handed over to the 3rd Regiment.

He believes the move by the Prosecutor General's Office was aimed at "discrediting the country with the claim that the owner of that IFV and munitions remains unknown".

As of the time of the publication, no official comment has come from the Ukrainian Armed Forces' press service.
Carrie Symonds had another reason to thank the NHS this week as she confirmed she was clapping for health care workers the day after giving birth.

The 32-year-old posted on Twitter at 8pm tonight confirming she would be taking part in the nationwide weekly clap.

Symonds also took the opportunity to wish Captain Tom Moore a happy 100th birthday.

In the post she said: 'Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero @captaintommoore a very happy birthday.

Symonds (left) gave birth yesterday morning and fiance Boris Johnson was present at the birth. Pictured: Symonds and Johnson arrive at The Midland, near Manchester Central convention complex on the eve of the Conservative Party conference on September 28, 2019

Carrie Symonds took to Twitter to thank the NHS and confirm that she was taking part in the weekly clap for care workers

'I also have another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too

'Thank you so, so much!'

Despite confirming she took part in the clap tonight, Symonds was not seen outside Downing Street with fiance Boris Johnson.

Prime Minister made his first public appearance today since Symonds gave birth to their baby boy as he led the Downing Street press briefing.

This was also the first briefing he has led since recovering from coronavirus.

At his first Downing Street press briefing since recovering from coronavirus the PM thanked the NHS for a 'much happier hospital visit'

Boris Johnson (pictured outside Downing Street this evening at 8pm) led Britain's sixth weekly 'clap for carers' to thank the thousands of NHS staff and healthcare workers putting their lives on the line to fight coronavirus after he overcame the deadly bug

The Prime Minister started by thanking the NHS.

He said: 'I want to thank everybody who has been doing such a good job in my absence, and I want to thank the NHS for so much - including getting me back here and, I might add, a very much happier hospital visit yesterday.'

Downing Street has been tight-lipped with information about their son, only releasing the gender of the child, the fact both mother and child were doing well and that Boris Johnson had been present at the birth.

The PM's father, Stanley Johnson, said he was 'absolutely delighted' and 'thrilled' by the birth of his grandson.

No 10 said that Boris Johnson is not expected to take his two-week paternity leave until later in the year.
A man who allegedly held up a CBD gold dealer while wearing a surgical mask has faced court charged over what is believed to be one of the biggest armed robberies in Victoria's history.

Karl Kachami, 48, from Hawthorn East, was charged on Thursday night with armed robbery, theft, false imprisonment, armed with criminal intent, common law assault and two counts of non-prohibited person in possession of a hand gun.

Police sources told The Age the robbery - which allegedly happened on Monday at 9.40am at the Melbourne Gold Company on the seventh floor of 227 Collins Street - resulted in up to $2 million worth of goods being stolen.

Mr Kachami faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday night wearing glasses and a light blue polo. He has never been in custody before.

He did not apply for bail and was remanded to appear for a filing hearing at 10am on Friday.
Various modes of cancer evolution. A-D) Four main evolutionary modes in cancer. Red stars represent normal driver mutations such as single nucleotide mutations. A green star represents large-scale genetic alterations at the chromosomal or genomic level that produce copy number or structural abnormalities. E) An evolutionary model that explains the temporal shift of the principle generating ITH during colorectal tumorigenesis. Credit: The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Understanding the principles of cancer evolution is important in designing a therapeutic strategy. A research group at The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (IMSUT) announced a new simulation model that describes various modes of cancer evolution in a unified manner.

"We clarified the conditions under which each of the evolutionary modes is realized by performing simulation analysis using a supercomputer. Our findings have allowed us to explain the underlying principles of the evolutionary diversity of cancer." said lead scientist Atsushi Niida, Senior Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Human Genome Center of IMSUT.

To build a unified evolutionary simulation model

Cancer can be regarded as a disease of evolution, which results from natural selection of cells with high proliferative and malignant potential, following the accumulation of mutations in their genomes. Moreover, because cancer has a high evolutionary potential, it easily adapts to treatment-related changes in its environment and acquires therapeutic resistance.

Previous genomic studies have shown that cancer evolution can be roughly divided into four modes of evolution. However, it has remained unclear what conditions give rise to each mode. Therefore, the research group have built a unified evolutionary simulation model that can recapitulate a variety of evolutionary modes.

By performing massively parallel simulations with various conditions on SHIROKANE, a supercomputer at IMSUT, the research group determined the conditions under which each evolution mode is generated. By providing a mathematical basis for understanding cancer evolution, this study is expected to contribute to the understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Various mathematical principles that explain the evolution of cancer

Classically, cancer evolution has been regarded as a process of evolution, in which normal cells evolve step-wise into a homogeneous cell population with high malignancy by serially acquiring driver mutations that favor cell growth and survival while undergoing natural selection (Figure 1A).

However, in recent years, multi-region sequencing, which analyzes DNA samples obtained from multiple regions of a tumor, has demonstrated intratumor heterogeneity (ITH); that is, multiple clones with different mutations are generated during the course of cancer evolution and coexist in a single tumor. Also, depending on the types of cancers, driver mutations present only in a fraction of cells contribute to ITH; that is, natural selection appears to shape ITH (FIG. 1B).

On the other hand, it has been found that ITH can be shaped by the accumulation of neutral mutations that do not affect the growth and survival of cells; that is, ITH can be generated by neutral evolution (FIG. 1C). The evolutionary principle underlying ITH has not only varied among cancer types, but Niida and colleagues have also found that a temporal shift occurs during colorectal tumorigenesis (Saito et al.,2018); that is, it has been found that, in early lesions, ITH is shaped by natural selection while in advanced cancer, ITH is shaped by neutral evolution. Also, in contrast to the gradual evolution that results from the stepwise accumulation of single nucleotide mutations as assumed above, punctuated evolution has attracted attention. This is an evolutionary mode in which large changes occur over a short time at the chromosomal and genomic levels, such as copy number changes and structural abnormalities, explosively expanding from a few initial cells (Fig. 1D).

Thus far, four evolutionary modes have been proposed, but there are many unclear points concerning under what conditions these modes occur. Simulation using an agent-based model is considered to be a useful tool for understanding the principle of cancer evolution. The agent-based model assumes the components of a system called an agent, and specifies rules for the autonomous behavior of the agent itself and the interactions between agents and the environment.

Viewing each cell as an agent, ITH can be easily represented by the difference in the internal state of each agent. Niida and colleagues have recently developed MASSIVE, a new methodology of parameter sensitivity analysis, which examines the dynamics of agent-based simulations (Niida et al., 2019). MASSIVE takes an approach completely different from conventional parameter sensitivity analysis methods; it makes it possible to intuitively search a large parameter space by combining massively parallel computing with interactive data visualization.

Based on the above, in order to clarify the conditions under which the above-mentioned four different evolution modes are realized, we have constructed a unified evolution simulation model that can recapitulate various evolution modes using an agent-based model. Parameter sensitivity analysis utilizing MASSIVE was performed on SHIROKANE, a supercomputer of IMSUT. They found that linear evolution occurs when strong driver mutations are assumed, while ITH is generated by natural selection when the driver mutations are weak. Moreover, the simulation revealed that the generation of ITH by neutral evolution requires a high neutral mutation rate, and the presence of cancer stem cells also contributes to neutral evolution by promoting the accumulation of neutral mutations.

Punctuated evolution could also be reproduced by assuming an explosive driver gene that enables cells to overcome the resource limitation required for cell proliferation. Furthermore, it was shown by simulation that punctuated evolution triggers the above-described temporal shift of the principle underlying ITH from natural selection to neutral evolution in colorectal tumorigenesis (Fig. 1E). This result also helps us understand that each mode works not as discrete, exclusive modes but rather blend continuously as a series of phases of cancer evolution.

The results of all the simulation analyses in this research can be searched interactively at www.hgc.jp/~aniida/canevosim/index.html.

Contributing toward a deeper understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer

"In this study, we clarified the principle underlying the diversity of cancer evolution by simulation analysis using a supercomputer. Since cancer has a high evolutionary potential, it adapts to the environment changed by therapy and easily acquires therapeutic resistance, so understanding the evolutionary principle of cancer is an important problem for designing therapeutic strategies." Niida emphasized

By providing a mathematical basis for understanding cancer evolution, this study is expected to contribute to the understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Explore further The evolution of a tumor

More information: Atsushi Niida et al, A unified simulation model for understanding the diversity of cancer evolution, PeerJ (2020). Journal information: PeerJ Atsushi Niida et al, A unified simulation model for understanding the diversity of cancer evolution,(2020). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8842
The West Bengal government on



Thursday said no approval is required by any hospital for testing an individual for Covid-19 as per the protocol of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

In an advisory, the government asked all hospitals in the state not to deny healthcare services to any patient "for any reason whatsoever".

The advisory was issued a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged private hospitals not to refuse any patient approaching them for treatment of coronavirus infection.

The chief minister's appeal came after allegations were raised that some private facilities are refusing to treat patients with symptoms of coronavirus.

According to the advisory, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on April 28 issued a guideline "on the early normalisation of services in the health sector for providing non-Covid 19 essential service to patients".

The guideline is for the ready reference and necessary action of all hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state to ensure that such facilities are available to every patient, the advisory said.

"Further it is clarified that no government approval is required for either admitting or treating any patient in any healthcare facility or for testing an individual for COVID-19 as per ICMR's testing protocol," it said.

The state government has collaborated with 51 private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients and is bearing all the expenses of their treatment, the chief minister said on Wednesday.

"But other hospitals also can treat coronavirus cases by taking necessary precautionary measures. I appeal to everybody to provide treatment to them," she had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SEOUL, South Korea  Seventy-eight workers, from nine different subcontractors, were busy Wednesday laying tiles and installing cargo elevators to meet a June deadline for completing a four-story cold-storage warehouse. Another crew was coating underground walls with polyurethane foam  a cheap but efficient insulator that can easily catch fire and then emit extremely toxic fumes.

The air was heavy with highly flammable vapors, from solvents that the workers were using to dissolve polyurethane.

Around 1:30 p.m., a spark of unknown origin ignited the air.

A rapid-fire chain of explosions shook the building. Within minutes, the 107,000-square-foot warehouse in Icheon, southeast of Seoul, became an inferno  and a death trap for 38 workers. Toxic, ink-black smoke billowed up so fast that survivors later said they could hardly find the stairways out.

I first saw black smoke billowing out of the building, followed by eight or nine explosions and flames, Kim Yong-nam, a witness, told the all-news channel YTN. It spread so fast that in less than two minutes, the entire building was engulfed in smoke and fire.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has booked former JNU student Sharjeel Imam under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act near Jamia Millia Islamia in December last year, said his lawyer.

Imam has been booked under section 13 (unlawful activities) of the Act in the case, said his counsel advocate Mishika Singh.

The police had earlier charged Imam with sedition, alleging his speech promoted enmity between people that led to riots.

"He was arrested in two cases of violence at Jamia on December 13 and 15, 2019, for instigating and abetting the Jamia riots, due to his seditious speech on December 13 and based on evidences collected, IPC sections 124 A and 153 A were also invoked," said Anil Mittal, Additional PRO, Delhi Police.

In its supplementary charge sheet, the police had said serious riots had broken out in consequence of the protest march organised by Jamia students against the amended citizenship law on December 15 last year.

The mob indulged in large-scale rioting, stone-pelting and arson, and in the process destroyed several public and private properties while a number of police personnel and people were injured in the riots, the agency said in its final report filed before the chief metropolitan magistrate court.

The cases were registered at New Friends Colony and Jamia Nagar Police Stations.

In the New Friends Colony case, Imam was arrested for instigating and abetting the Jamia riots, due to his seditious speech delivered on December 13, 2019.

"During the investigation, on the basis of evidence collected, sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A IPC (promoting enmity between classes) were invoked in the case," a police officer said.

Imam was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on January 28.

He was involved in organising protests at Shaheen Bagh but came into limelight after a video showed him making controversial comments before a gathering at Aligarh Muslim University, following which he was booked under sedition charges.

The Delhi Police had also booked him for an "inflammatory" speech delivered on the Jamia campus.

Another case was filed against Imam in Assam under the stringent anti-terror law for his remark that Assam could be "severed from India, even if for a few months" as a result of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Police in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh had also lodged FIRs against the JNU scholar over his speech in which he threatened to "cut off" Assam and the rest of the northeast from the country.
Sex sells, even in a global pandemic.

While businesses are struggling to make ends meet due to COVID-19, users of the amateur pornography site OnlyFans are enjoying an unprecedented payday.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, OnlyFans has seen a 75 per cent increase in sign-ups since the beginning of the health crisis, meaning that users are earning more for their X-rated content than ever before.

Sex sells! The popularity of amateur porn site OnlyFans has surged in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured: OnlyFans content creators Vanessa Sierra and boyfriend Luke Erwin

OnlyFans creator and nude model Jaylene Cook told Confidential on Thursday that she's noticed changes in the behaviour of her online audience in recent months.

'Since the global pandemic I have noticed a big increase in the amount of time people are spending online and also in the amount of new users signing up to these services,' the New Zealand-born brunette told the publication.

'It seems everyone is seeking human interaction more than ever or some type of companionship and personal connection rather than just scrolling through pointless images/ videos online  they want to feel a connection,' she said.

'They want to feel a connection': OnlyFans creator and nude model Jaylene Cook (pictured) told Confidential on Thursday that she's noticed changes in the behaviour of her online audience in recent months

Plan B: Many Australians who have been left jobless have turned to OnlyFans as a way to earn money in self-isolation

Why you shouldn't sign up for OnlyFans: It comes after the Australian government warned against joining the amateur porn site made famous by Z-list reality stars including Rhyce Power (pictured)

Meanwhile, many Australians who have been left jobless have turned to OnlyFans as a way to earn money in self-isolation.

However, the Australian government recently issued a warning to young people who might be curious about making their own X-rated content for cash.

Earlier this week, Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, reminded OnlyFans creators that their accounts could easily be hacked and their content leaked online.

Wealthy: Rhyce Power (pictured), who shot to fame as Jessika Power's 'hot brother' on Married At First Sight last year, is currently one of the top creators on OnlyFans

Data obtained by News Corp revealed more than 5,000 Australians have registered as content creators on OnlyFans in the past year.

Ms Inman Grant said: 'Australians who share explicit images on the Internet can place themselves at risk of wider circulation of those images across the Internet.'

Reality stars like The Bachelorette's Paddy Colliar and Love Island's Vanessa Sierra charge users a monthly fee for explicit photos and videos - ranging from suggestive selfies to hardcore pornography.

Pornography: Love Island's Vanessa Sierra and boyfriend Luke Erwin (pictured) sell their explicit content on their joint OnlyFans page

Rhyce Power, who shot to fame as Jessika Power's 'hot brother' on Married At First Sight last year, is currently one of the top creators on OnlyFans.

The former carpenter, 28, recently shared his earnings from the site on Instagram, revealing he had made more than $50,000 in just one month.

Australian Instagram model Jem Wolfie is currently the biggest star on OnlyFans, raking in millions of dollars since joining the platform in 2018.

The Perth native, 28, can earn up to $30,000 per day by sharing exclusive photos that aren't much different to the content on her Instagram page.

Hard times: Paddy Colliar (pictured), who starred on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, recently turned to OnlyFans after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic
President Trumps wonderful relationship with Chinas President Xi isnt anywhere near as friendly as he has been claiming. Trump is starting to aggressively vilify Chinas government as the people to blame for the pandemic.

President Donald Trump started this week to insist that Chinas government is going to do everything they can to see to it he loses his reelection in the upcoming November general election. His belief is based on what he sees as a lack of effort by Beijing to cooperate in the U.S. effort to respond to the potentially lethal Covid-19 disease.

During an Oval Office interview with Reuters published Wednesday night, President Trump was unable to provide evidence to back his accusation but went from accusation to threatening to punish China. Trump said he was considering various ways to punish the Chinese government for allowing the virus to spread across the world. Trump said in the interview

China will do anything they can to have me lose this race.

There are many things I can do.

Trump Administration officials in Washington and Chinese government officials in Beijing have been accusing one another over the pandemic for weeks, with the drumbeat of increasingly belligerent accusations coming from the President himself. Yesterday, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo publically declared that China posed a threat to the world by hiding information about the origin of the coronavirus.

Pompeo told Fox News on Wednesday morning, during an interview in which he repeatedly criticized Chinas government.

The Chinese Communist Party now has a responsibility to tell the world how this pandemic got out of China and all across the world, causing such global economic devastationAmerica needs to hold them accountable.

Pompeos comments came after China Central Televisions top evening news program on Wednesday questioned the transparency and accuracy of U.S. data on Covid-19 infections.

The Chinese are believed to have a superior capability to hack U.S. software, flood social networks to a greater extent than either Russia or North Korea. The Republican-controlled U.S. released a report last week; its the fourth such report affirming U.S. intelligence agency conclusion that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election to elect Donald Trump.

Trump now finds himself down 10 points in national polls to the presumed Democrat nominee former Vice President Joseph Biden. The polls in key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, and even Texas show that Biden may be heading towards an electoral tsunami in November.

The irony of the possibility of China doing for Biden what Russia was able to do for Trump is not escaping any serious political observer. This time, however, tipping the election to the former vice president given his polling would be much easier for the Chinese than it was for the Russians in this election.







The issue of tariffs is going to be a huge one in farm states like Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Montana, and Nebraska. The tariffs imposed on Chinese imports are, in every sense, actually taxes on U.S. consumers and companies. Trumps claim that the Chinese are paying these tariffs/taxes is considered to one among over 16,000 of Trumps lies and misrepresentations to the American people as tracked by the Washington Post.

Given the economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump reelection could come while as many as 50 million Americans find themselves unemployed and without unemployment insurance. The election is 24 weeks away, and many state unemployment benefits run out in 12, 16, and 24 weeks. The U.S. economy could shrink by 30% or more by Election Day, labeling the economy as being in the first depression since the 1930s.





U.S.-China tensions escalate over COVID-19 response-CBS News






The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been affecting many people around the world. As countries try to flatten the curve, both celebrities and average citizens alike have been hunkering down in their homes and avoiding physical contact with others.

Before the pandemic, royals like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry lived life differently than most other people, especially since they had household staff members to take care of businesses around their house. However, COVID-19 has given Meghan and Prince Harry a new normal. It has been reported that these days the couple are surprisingly quite relatable with their daily routines.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are currently in Los Angeles

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

Earlier this year, Meghan and Prince Harry announced that they had decided to step away from their role as senior members of the royal family. The couple shared that they wanted to be financially independent as well as spend more time in North America.

Since late last year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been residing in North America, only making trips back to the United Kingdom occasionally for work and family reasons. They lived in Canada for a few months before moving to Los Angeles in March.

It has been reported that Meghan and Prince Harry are currently residing in a secluded compound in the Hollywood area and riding out the COVID-19 pandemic with their son. Sources believe that this will not be their permanent home, however, and they are still looking for another place that can offer them more privacy.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are cooking their meals at home

With the pandemic in full swing, Meghan and Prince Harry are keeping their distance from other people. Because of this, it seems that their household does not include a lot of staff members at the moment, and they are living like many average folks.

An insider told Us Weekly: Harry says moving to L.A. has been liberating. They order from Whole Foods or Trader Joes, and they dont have a chef right now, so Meghan often cooks.

Even before they decided to move to North America, Meghan was already cooking a lot for Prince Harry and their son, Archie. The former actress is known for her healthy lifestyle that includes a lot of nutritious, homemade meals. Back when she used to have a personal blog online, she often liked to share recipes with fans, so its clear that cooking is something she excels at.

Is Prince Harry feeling isolated from his family back in the UK?

Since travel is extremely limited nowadays, Prince Harry cannot go back to the UK as easily. According to a few sources, this has been tough for him to deal with.

His father, Prince Charles, was diagnosed with COVID-19 a few weeks ago. An insider shared that Prince Harry was overwhelmed with feelings of guilt for being far away from his family during this trying time. Prince Harry also allegedly confessed to feeling beyond helpless at the current situation.

Additionally, royal commentator Angela Mollard believes that Prince Harry might also be feeling tremendously isolated since he is an ocean away from the life that he grew up with.

Of all the times to move apart from the royal family, I can imagine that right now he feels tremendously isolated, Mollard said. Everybody, of course, is isolated but he is not just isolated from his family, he is isolated on the other side of the world. He is just with Meghan and their son, they will be having no contact with friends and he cant engage with anything purposeful at the moment.

However, despite being physically on another continent, it has been said that he keeps in touch with Prince William and Queen Elizabeth regularly. Perhaps once the pandemic is over and Prince Harry finds his footing in America, things could be a lot easier for him and his family.
MELBOURNE, April 30 (Reuters) - Australias Newcrest Mining said on Thursday it was ready to resume talks with Papua New Guinea (PNG) to develop its major Wafi Golpu gold project after the government declined to renew a mining lease for Barrick Gold last week.

Newcrest had hoped to get development permits by last June, but the project was delayed after it became entangled in a dispute between PNGs national and provincial governments over any division of royalties.

The disagreement was resolved in court in February, paving the way for the resumption of talks on the project with the with the Pacific countrys government.

We are hearing publicly and through communications to us, that they are ready to restart discussions, we remain ready and able and available to restart when the government is ready to sit down, Newcrest Chief Executive Sandeep Biswas said.

Obviously, they have a lot on at the moment. But I think they do see investments like this as a way forward in PNG to counteract the downturn and effects of the COVID crisis, he said on a quarterly results call.

The downturn in oil and gas markets triggered by the novel coronavirus pandemic could also make the gold and copper project, 65 km from PNGs second biggest city of Lae, more valuable to it, he said.

Investors have grown wary as the resource rich nation has reviewed terms of oil and gas and minerals projects, worried about whether the government was intent on nationalising assets or if it was manoeuvring for better deals.

Papua New Guinea said in September it wanted to keep 40% of gold produced from the Wafi Golpu project before it declined last week to approve the Barrick lease extension, for the Porgera project, which Barrick operates but jointly owns with Chinas Zijin Mining.

PNG officials were not available for comment on Thursday but Prime Minister James Marape, in a social media post, hinted that the government could yet change its mind on the mining lease.

To Barrick, we appreciate that you have been part of us since 2006 ... We want to work with you to properly phase you out (depending on negotiations).

Still, the Porgera project had its own specific issues that did not apply to Newcrest, either its Wafi Golpu project or another existing gold-mining operation, at Lihir, Biswas said.

Its fair to say it clearly has raised concerns ... But I hasten to point out that these things are project specific. Lihir is highly supported by the locals, the province and the state. Our lease is clear until at least 2035, he said.

The Wafi Golpu project is expected to take five years to develop and to produce 320,000 ounces of gold and 150,000 tonnes of copper at peak production. ($1 = 3.5398 kinas) (Reporting by Melanie Burton Editing by Robert Birsel)
They may be one of reality TV's most surprising couples, but Bianca Chatfield and Mark Scrivens recently celebrated their first anniversary together.

In an interview with the Herald Sun earlier this month, the 38-year-old former Block star revealed most people probably had no idea she was dating Mark.

'A lot of people wouldn't know we've been together for a year because we were so conscious of keeping it on the down low,' she said of her relationship with the 42-year-old former Married At First Sight star.

Milestone: They may be one of reality TV's most surprising couples, but Bianca Chatfield and Mark Scrivens recently celebrated their first anniversary together

While the couple initially bonded over their shared experiences of appearing on reality TV, Bianca said their relationship is very much the real deal.

'For us, it was a real relationship and nothing to do with TV. Even though I'm a public person I've always kept my personal life private. But now we're like whatever, it's going well and really cruisy,' she added.

Bianca said they initially traded a few messages, even though she had never watched Married At First Sight.

Surprise: In an interview with the Herald Sun earlier this month, the 38-year-old former Block star revealed most people probably had no idea she was dating Mark

She described their early exchanges as 'a bit bizarre and random', but said they 'share a lot of the same interests'.

'Isn't it a weird world? We kept it under wraps for a while before we were comfortable with it all,' added Mark, who revealed their first date was on March 31 last year.

The couple fuelled dating rumours in September, when they attended the AFL Footy Show grand final together in Melbourne.

Building relationships: Bianca appeared on The Block in 2018, alongside best friend Carla Dziwoki (pictured far right)

Bad match: Mark appeared on last year's season of MAFS, where he was paired with Ning Suriasing

Since then, both Mark and Bianca have been more open about their relationship, sharing a series of loved-up photos together on their respective Instagram pages.

Mark appeared on last year's season of MAFS, where he was paired with Ning Suriasing, while Bianca appeared on The Block in 2018, alongside best friend Carla Dziwoki.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Mark and Bianca for comment.
Today we'll evaluate China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Limited (HKG:308) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires.

First up, we'll look at what ROCE is and how we calculate it. Second, we'll look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. Finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE.

What is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

ROCE measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. In general, businesses with a higher ROCE are usually better quality. Ultimately, it is a useful but imperfect metric. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'.

How Do You Calculate Return On Capital Employed?

Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

Or for China Travel International Investment Hong Kong:

0.032 = HK$603m  (HK$22b - HK$2.9b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.)

So, China Travel International Investment Hong Kong has an ROCE of 3.2%.

See our latest analysis for China Travel International Investment Hong Kong

Does China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Have A Good ROCE?

When making comparisons between similar businesses, investors may find ROCE useful. Using our data, China Travel International Investment Hong Kong's ROCE appears to be significantly below the 5.2% average in the Hospitality industry. This performance is not ideal, as it suggests the company may not be deploying its capital as effectively as some competitors. Regardless of how China Travel International Investment Hong Kong stacks up against its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms is quite low (especially compared to a bank account). It is likely that there are more attractive prospects out there.

Story continues

In our analysis, China Travel International Investment Hong Kong's ROCE appears to be 3.2%, compared to 3 years ago, when its ROCE was 2.2%. This makes us wonder if the company is improving. You can see in the image below how China Travel International Investment Hong Kong's ROCE compares to its industry. Click to see more on past growth.

SEHK:308 Past Revenue and Net Income April 30th 2020

When considering ROCE, bear in mind that it reflects the past and does not necessarily predict the future. ROCE can be deceptive for cyclical businesses, as returns can look incredible in boom times, and terribly low in downturns. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. Future performance is what matters, and you can see analyst predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What Are Current Liabilities, And How Do They Affect China Travel International Investment Hong Kong's ROCE?

Current liabilities are short term bills and invoices that need to be paid in 12 months or less. The ROCE equation subtracts current liabilities from capital employed, so a company with a lot of current liabilities appears to have less capital employed, and a higher ROCE than otherwise. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets.

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong has current liabilities of HK$2.9b and total assets of HK$22b. As a result, its current liabilities are equal to approximately 13% of its total assets. With a very reasonable level of current liabilities, so the impact on ROCE is fairly minimal.

What We Can Learn From China Travel International Investment Hong Kong's ROCE

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong has a poor ROCE, and there may be better investment prospects out there. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

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.
On Monday, the New York Board of Elections (NYBOE) cancelled the Democratic Partys presidential primary election, originally scheduled for April 28, then moved to June 23 by Governor Andrew Cuomo because of the coronavirus emergency.

The justification for the cancellation was given by Douglas Keller, the state Board of Election Democratic co-chair, who said, At a time when the goal is to avoid unnecessary social contact, our conclusion was that there was no purpose in holding a beauty contest primary that would marginally increase the risk to both voters and poll workers.

This rationale is completely bogus, as shown by the boards decision to hold a mail-only vote for all other races, including local elections and primary contests for Congress, meaning that voters will be sent ballots and can return them by June 23. There would be the same amount of social contact if the names of the Democratic presidential candidates also appeared on those ballots.

As a result, no Democratic convention delegates will be chosen by voters. Instead, the New York Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs told the Associated Press he would work out a fair allocation of delegates so that the Sanders supporters are represented in that delegation, adding, To what degree and what number, I dont know. There is little doubt that the purpose of the maneuver is to greatly reduce Sanders share of the 284 delegates from New York state.

The Sanders campaign responded to the news by a statement written by Jeff Weaver, a senior advisor: While we understood we did not have the votes to win the Democratic nomination our campaign was suspended, not ended, because people in every state should have the right to express their preference. What the Board of Elections is ignoring is that the primary process not only leads to a nominee but also the selection of delegates which helps determine the platform and rules of the Democratic Party. New York has clearly violated its approved delegate selection plan.

Weaver warned that the Trump administration might well follow the example of New York state: Just last week, Vice President Biden warned the American people that President Trump could use the current crisis as an excuse to postpone the November election. Well, he now has a precedent thanks to New York state.

Nina Turner, a Sanders campaign co-chair, described the decision as a straight-up power grab. Larry Cohen, chairman of the board of Our Revolution, a non-profit that backs Sanders, said, This is Cuomo trying to be the party boss who goes to the party convention with 284 delegates in his pocket.

The NYBOE did not previously have the power to cancel elections. This was written into a clause inserted into the New York state budget, which was passed by state lawmakers and signed by Governor Cuomo last month, obviously drafted with this action in mind.

While New York is the first state to cancel a 2020 Democratic primary election outright, 15 other states have delayed their scheduled votes. Democratic National Committee rules mandate that states which hold their primaries later than June 9 have their delegates reduced by 50 percent. Kentucky, Virginia, New Jersey, Louisiana, Alabama and Connecticut have all pushed their elections beyond that date.

The reduction of primary delegate allotments and the cancellations of state primaries will have the effect of increasing the power of unelected superdelegates to the convention. These are generally current and former Democratic party politicians who cannot vote on the Democratic Party nominee unless there is a second ballot but will play a major role in determining the party platform adopted at the convention. This means that an already tightly controlled electoral process becomes even more so.

The social explosions sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 33 million unemployed, nearly 60,000 dead, and the development of a strike wave against the back-to-work campaign, are providing the objective impulses for a rapid radicalization of workers. This in turn is pushing the ruling class further to the right, with the outright cancellation of an election as one consequence.

New York is cancelling its election on alleged public health grounds, while Governor Cuomo outlined a 12-step plan on Tuesday to reopen the state for business. Workers will be ordered to work or starve, while at the same time being denied the right to vote.

The undemocratic act of the state government, controlled from top to bottom by the Democratic Party, highlights the farcical character of the claims of the Sanders campaign that this party could be reformed. Although Sanders himself is no threat to the capitalist class, this party of militarism and Wall Street is highly sensitive to the possibility that the demands for social equality by Sanders supporters would find expression in the primary vote.

As we noted in our assessment of the suspension of the Sanders campaign: The growth of anti-capitalist sentiment revealed in the support for Sanders frightened the ruling class. After Sanders initial victories in early caucuses and primaries, the Democratic Party turned sharply against him. The same party that Sanders claimed could be reformed mobilized to resuscitate the campaign of Biden.

These developments are sharp expressions of the fact that there is no road to reform within the capitalist system. As Lenin wrote over 100 years ago in State and Revolution, Democracy for an insignificant minority, democracy for the richthat is the democracy of capitalist society.

There is no way for workers to carry on a political struggle within the capitalist political parties designed to suppress them. In order to preserve their own lives, workers must break from these bankrupt organizations which are fighting to push them back to work in the middle of a pandemic.

This necessarily means a fight for socialism and the building of an international workers party. We urge our readers to take the first step in joining the Socialist Equality Party, the genuine leadership of the working class, by attending the International May Day Online Rally on May 2, sponsored by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International.
But at a roundtable discussion later during the visit, Pence removed his mask, as did other attendees, including Chao.

Pence was accompanied during the visit to the GM facility in Kokomo, Indiana, by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, GM CEO Mary Barra and White House Trade advisor Peter Navarro  all of whom were also wearing masks.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and CEO of General Motors Mary Barra visit the General Motors Components Holding Plant that is manufacturing ventilators for use during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kokomo, Indiana.

Pence, who once served as governor of Indiana, is leading the White House's coronavirus task force.

His tour of the recently reopened plant came two weeks after it began producing ventilators with Ventech Life Systems to deal with a shortage of the medical breathing assistance devices in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Brian Rothenberg, a spokesman for the United Auto Workers union, said that General Motors requires workers at the plant to wear surgical masks there except when they are eating lunch.

Pence has previously said that he does not need to wear a mask to prevent spreading an infection  despite federal health guidance to the contrary  because he is tested regularly for coronavirus, and has been shown to be negative for it.

Health experts have disputed that idea, saying the tests are not always accurate and that there is a risk that Pence could contract the coronavirus between tests and pass it on unwittingly to others.

The Mayo Clinic has said it told Pence's staff before he visited there Tuesday that masks were required for all visitors, staff and patients at its Rochester, Minnesota, facility because of the coronavirus outbreak.

But Pence's wife, Karen, on Thursday said during a Fox News interview that he only learned of the mask policy after he left the clinic Tuesday.

"As our medical experts have told us wearing a mask prevents you from spreading the disease and knowing that he doesn't have COVID-19, he didn't wear one," Karen Pence said on "Fox & Friends."

However, Voice of America reporter Steve Herman, in response to another journalist's tweet about Karen Pence's comment, tweeted Thursday that he and everyone else who had gone on the trip with Pence to Minnesota on Tuesday were "notified by the office of @VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @MayoClinic and to prepare accordingly."

Tweet

Herman's tweet was echoed by Wall Street Journal reporter, Gordon Lubold, who tweeted: "... everyone in the entire Mayo Clinic had a mask on, everyone, and we were all told the day before we had to wear a mask if we entered the clinic."

The Washington Post reported Thursday evening that Herman, the White House bureau chief of government-funded VOA, had been told by Pence's staff that he had violated the off-the-record conditions of a planning memo that was sent to journalists before the trip to the Mayo Clinic.

The Post article said that the White House Correspondents' Association had told Herman that Pence's office had banned him from further travel with the vice president on Air Force Two. The Post said a spokesman in Pence's office later told VOA managers that "any punishment was still under discussion, pending an apology from Herman or VOA."

A spokeswoman for Pence did not immediately respond Thursday night to CNBC when asked about Herman.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in guidance issued in early April urging Americans to wear masks, says, "You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick."
The call came in at shortly after 11 a.m. on Wednesday: A terrible stench was coming from a pair of trucks parked outside a funeral home on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn.

When the police arrived, they made a gruesome discovery. Inside the trucks  a U-Haul rental and what seemed to be a tractor-trailer  were several dozen decomposing bodies.

The New York State Department of Health, which regulates funeral homes, was also called to the scene, in the boroughs Flatlands section, to determine whether the funeral home was handling the remains appropriately, and it issued two summonses, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

The spectacle of dead New Yorkers left to decay in broad daylight in rental trucks on a crowded street in Brooklyn underscored the scale of challenge facing the city as it tries to absorb the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 17,000 people in New York City have died so far from Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.
RIO RANCHO, N.M.  The New Mexico Supreme Court ordered the mayor of the small city of Grants on Thursday to comply with a health order and stop nonessential businesses from reopening.

The court issued its ruling just hours after Attorney General Hector Balderas filed a petition seeking an order following Grants Mayor Martin Modey Hicks move to let his citys businesses to open despite rising New Mexico COVID-19 cases.

Hicks said he would allow stores and the citys golf course in the small western town of 9,000 residents to reopen. That came despite warnings from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that state police would issue citations to businesses that dont comply.

But the high court ruling told Hicks to properly fulfill his official duties and follow the state health orders.

Mayor Hickss actions threaten to erode the footholds of progress New Mexico has made mitigating the pandemic, the attorney generals Civil Appellate Chief Nicholas Sydow wrote in the petition.

Sydow added: The Mayors actions also foster public confusion about which orders to follow: the States directives to maintain social distancing and close non-essential businesses or the Mayors orders to permit gatherings and open the same businesses.

Hicks did not immediately return phone and text messages seeking comment.

Under the lockdown order in place until May 15, public gatherings are limited to five people and all businesses deemed non-essential are prevented from opening.

The mayor  a Democrat like Lujan Grisham  has called the novel coronavirus a little bug and has compared Lujan Grishams actions to prevent the spread to totalitarianism in Nazi Germany  comments that were heavily criticized by her administration.

A day after reopening the city, Hicks fired City Manager Laura Merrick Jaramillo. She told KOAT-TV her firing came after she fought the mayors move to open the citys golf course due to concerns about staff safety. Hicks called the claim a lie but declined to give a reason for her dismissal.

State Police issued a warning Monday to the Coyote Del Malpais golf course in Grants after staff were ordered to allow about 25 golfers to use its facilities.

A Grants pawnshop began this week selling T-shirts with the word defiant inside New Mexicos Zia symbol, a symbol that sits on the states flag, in support of Hicks.

State health officials on Wednesday reported more than 3,400 positive tests of the virus in the state. More than 172 people are hospitalized and 123 have died.

McKinley County, just west of Grants, is the county leading the state with the highest number of cases despite its small population.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

___

Follow Russell Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras http://twitter.com/russcontreras
Horesca is actively preparing for the potential reopening of eateries in the Grand Duchy, installing a number of measures such as health guides and signs.

Horesca are continuing with preparations despite the Prime Minister refusing to confirm any potential reopening date for restaurants and cafes in Luxembourg.

On Wednesday afternoon, the National Federation for Hoteliers, Restaurateurs and Cafetiers shared a press release confirming the development of a sanitary guide for the sector in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce.

The guide will indicate procedures to be followed once the government confirms that restaurants can reopen. Horesca has followed strategies used in Switzerland and Germany for their exit from confinement, referring to documents from German federations such as DEHOGA or IHA, or the Swiss Gastrosuisse and HotellerieSuisse, to prepare a practical guide which should help Luxembourg hotels, restaurants and cafes to guarantee optimum security.

Although not all measures have been specified, the federation said they would ensure sufficient social distancing by minimising contact. Once complete, the guide will be issued to all establishments in the Grand Duchy to help them prepare for reopening. Horesca said a sign will be on display in the restaurants and cafes concerned, to reassure customers that these establishments have prepared in accordance with the rules established in the guide.

Thus far, the government has refrained from communicating a reopening date for the sector, as indicated by Bettel on Tuesday. All will depend on the evolution of the crisis over the next few weeks.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Coral Gold Resources Ltd. (OTCQX: CLHRF; TSX-V: CLH), based in Vancouver focused on Gold today announced that David Wolfin, President and CEO will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on May 6th.

DATE: Wednesday, May 6, 2020

TIME: 12:00 p.m. ET (09:00 a.m. PT)

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/MayResourceVIC-PR

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About Coral Gold Resources Ltd.

Coral Gold Resources is a precious metals exploration company, where it has explored one of the world's richest gold districts in Nevada for over 30 years. The Company's primary asset is a sliding scale net smelter returns production royalty on Nevada Gold Mining's Robertson Property in Nevada. Robertson is located within Nevada Gold Mines' rich Pipeline/Cortez mine land holdings. The Company also holds a portfolio of nearby exploration projects. Our overall objective is to generate long-term wealth for shareholders.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors.



A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network.

SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com

Related Links

http://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com


Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable.
Mumbai: Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan has said a long-drawn lockdown would not be sustainable for India and advocated restarting the economy at the earliest.

In a pre-recorded video interaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that was streamed across all social media platforms of the Congress party, the economist warned that in fact cyclical shutdowns can be devastating.

It in fact means that the government has not been successful in curbing the virus. So, it could diminish its credibility. We should not target 100 per cent success and wait for zero new cases before fully opening the economy.

Rajan, who now teaches at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, told the Wayanad MP that India must not confuse its priorities with those of the West, because, unlike the Western countries, it does not have the financial resources to keep itself under lockdown for a long time.

The Indian economy does not have the capacity to support people for long. Some 100 million are out of jobs due to the coronavirus lockdown. The government needs to prioritise opening up the economy in a measured way soon, he said.

The only way out, Rajan said, would be to continue social distancing in workspaces as well as in routine daily life.

When Rahul Gandhi asked Rajan about the plight of the poor and the migrant workers, the economist stressed on the need to utilise Direct Benefit Transfers to help them tide over the next few months.

Food supply becomes very important in such a crisis. Keeping people fed should be a priority. For that to happen, the Public Distribution System (PDS) needs to work well, he said adding that Rs 65,000 crore would be needed to keep the poor and migrant workers fed in the coming months.

Social harmony a public good

Rajan was characteristically diplomatic during this online conversation with Rahul Gandhi, but he did indirectly raise the point of maintaining social harmony during such a crisis period.

For me, social harmony is a public good. One cannot afford to have our house divided in a crisis situation. Our founding fathers had realised that some issues should be kept on the backburner for the larger good of the country, he said.

Rajans statement comes at a time when India has been witnessing a rise in Islamophobia after members of the Tablighi Jamaat were targeted for being vectors of the coronavirus.

One-of-its-kind interaction

Raghuram Rajans convo with Rahul Gandhi is unusual for the Indian political scene as rarely are politicians seen holding a conversation with public intellectuals.

Moreover, as per reports, the video interaction is being seen as an attempt by the Congress party to rebrand Rahul Gandhi as someone more involved in peoples issues. More such interactions with intellectuals are likely in the future, Congress sources reportedly told a newspaper.

This development comes amid frequent criticism that Rahul Gandhi usually disappears during key crisis situations within the party as well as the country.

Another point to be noted is that this was not the first time that the Grand Old Party roped in Raghuram Rajan to seek his counsel on economic issues. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party had reportedly consulted Rajan, among other economists, on its flagship NYAY policy.
South Kashmir operation called off 13 Jan 2022 | 12:23 PM Srinagar, Jan 13 (UNI) Security forces have called off the anti militancy operation in south Kashmirs Kulgam that was launched on Wednesday evening and which left a policeman and a Pakistani militant dead, officials said on Thursday. see more..

Mayawati announces 2 turncoats as party candidates from Charthaval & Gangoh 13 Jan 2022 | 12:12 PM Lucknow, Jan 13(UNI) Ms Mayawati tweeted on Thursday that Salman Sayeed, son of former Uttar Pradesh Home minister Sayeduzzaman, has joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). see more..

Cold conditions continue in Kashmir valley, Ladakh 13 Jan 2022 | 11:47 AM Srinagar, Jan 12 (UNI) Freezing cold condition continue to prevail in Kashmir and Ladakh even as temperature at several places are showing a slight improvement except the ski resort of Gulmarg which remained the coldest place with temperature plummeting to minus 11.0 on Thursday



A Meteorological Department official said that Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, recorded a slight improvement in the night temperature recorded a low of minus 2.7 degree Celsius against the minus 3.6 degree Celsius the previous day which was minus 0.6 degree below normal during this time of the season, he said. see more..

Amid Covid scare, entry at Srinagar Airport 3 hrs before flight 13 Jan 2022 | 11:22 AM Srinagar, Jan 13 ( UNI) Authorities at the Srinagar Airport announced on Thursday that passengers will be allowed to enter the airport only three hours before their scheduled flight. see more..
By Kim Bo-eun





BC Card will seek to become K bank's majority shareholder, despite the passage of a bill that has allowed telecommunications giant KT to become the largest shareholder of the internet lender.



The National Assembly passed a bill Wednesday containing revisions to regulations on internet banks, which eases the requirements for a company seeking to become the majority shareholder of an internet bank.



KT, which set up K bank, had sought last year to increase its stake in the lender to 34 percent from 10 percent, as a means to help the internet lender boost its capital base. K bank has virtually suspended operations since April 2019 due to a lack of capital.



However, it had been barred by previous regulations that stated it should not have a record of violating rules on fair trade. KT was under investigation last year for suspected collusion with other telecommunications firms in a circuit line business project.



KT is now able to become K bank's majority shareholder, but its affiliate BC Card is set to take this position.



This was a plan KT devised to save K bank after revisions to internet bank regulations failed to pass a National Assembly plenary session in March.



"We will proceed with the initial plan," a BC Card official said Thursday.



"We are still in the process of getting documents ready for the authorities to review our eligibility to become the largest shareholder of K bank, but we will do this as soon as possible," he said.



The official said KT and K bank, meanwhile, will seek to create synergy in their business lines.



KT and BC Card's boards have agreed for the latter to take over KT's 10 percent of K bank's shares.



BC Card is also seeking to buy newly issued shares of K bank, to increase its holding of the lender's shares to 34 percent and inject fresh capital into the bank.



The company is planning to first take over KT's shares of K bank, and then request the authorities to review its eligibility to become K bank's largest shareholder.



The authorities are likely to give the green light to the request, as it approved a similar one involving Korea Investment Holdings and IT firm Kakao.



The holdings company initially sought to sell 29 percent of its Kakao Bank shares to its brokerage unit Korea Investment & Securities, as a means to hand over its Kakao Bank shares to Kakao. This would have made the brokerage Kakao Bank's largest shareholder, but the move was impossible due to a penalty imposed on the unit in 2017 for violating fair trade regulations.



The holdings company accordingly chose to sell its shares in Kakao Bank to Korea Investment Value Asset Management, before the shares were then handed over to Kakao. The financial authorities approved the process.


LANSING, MI -- They cheered. They booed. They honked their horns and waved flags. They stood in the rain and cold to send a message state leaders.

Protesters packed the lawn and sidewalks outside the Michigan Capitol on Thursday, many standing elbow to elbow as they expressed outrage over Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay-home order, pressuring lawmakers to vote against extending the state of emergency declaration that the governor issued at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak

Related story: Protesters tell lawmakers vote no on extending state of emergency, argue freedoms outweigh coronavirus threat

The state of emergency, which expires at midnight, was the subject of debate inside the state House and Senate chambers Thursday as lawmakers considered granting a 28-day extension of the order requested by Whitmer. The House ultimately declined take up the proposed extension, setting the stage for a likely legal fight between the Democratic governor and Republican-led legislature. The Senate was expected to reconvene Thursday afternoon.

Those who gathered on the Capitol Lawn to voice concerns and displeasure with the governors restrictions on business and recreational activity endured heavy bouts of rain to listen to speakers and protest the stay-home order.

Its great that people feel strongly and get the opportunity to express how they feel about the politics of the situation, said protester Mark Young, of Northville.

Young said hes not been to a protest in nearly 40 years, but the current atmosphere made him feel like he needed to be part of the movement Thursday. He hoped gathering would send a message to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle that people want to get back to work, and they want to keep one another safe.

"Theres a happy medium ground here, and it would be great if people could keep cool, keep calm and reach out to find that middle ground, Young said.

While he agreed Whitmers the initial order signed in mid-March, Young says its been in place long enough and its now time to start reopening businesses, especially as more data becoming available on how COVID-19 is spreading in Michigan.

It seems she feels most safe keeping everything locked down. But I think a lot of information has been published that indicates thats not necessarily the best and only way to protect society, Young said. I believe that if we take proper precautions and protect the most vulnerable people, that its possible for people to go back to work.

For Tim Rugg of Highland Township, he said days like Thursday are important because citizens have a duty to inform their political leaders how they feel on government issues.

If we all could be educated well enough to not mince our words, we together could hold our government more accountable than what we have been, Rugg said.

He believes Whitmer has steamrolled those who disagree with her and hasnt listened to the people of Michigan. However, Rugg also said some blame should be directed at Republican leadership that has yet to reign in the governors powers.

The House and the Senate are run by the Republicans. Well, when you have that big majority, whats the problem? Get your act together, do your job, knock it off. You work for us, Rugg said.

Protesters began gathering in numbers around 8 a.m. Speakers began taking the stage about 9:45 a.m.

Jason Howland, one of the organizers of the protest, applauded those who showed up and said they made a difference by exercising their freedom of speech.

This is a victory today. Weve won. Weve shown them they cant keep us in our homes, Howland said.

Along with the several hundred people on the grounds outside the Capitol, dozens of cars drove up and down the surrounding streets honking their horns and shouting encouragement to protesters. They did not significantly slow down traffic as was the case two weeks ago at the Operation Gridlock protest, but their horns could be heard continuously throughout Thursdays rally.

Members of the Michigan Liberty Militia patrolled the grounds, armed with guns after being hired as security detail by the organizers. One of the members of the militia, Phil Robinson of Barry County, said the group brought nine people to serve on the detail.

We are strictly here running security, making sure everybody has a right to peacefully assemble, Robinson said. That is our only mission here today we are not here as protesters or rally goers were strictly here, exercising our Second Amendment right and to make sure that everybody has a right to peacefully assemble.

Robinson said he was surprised at how laid back and easy going the crowd was early on in the protest.

This seems a little more mellow than I anticipated, especially with what happened yesterday, Robinson said. I was expecting more people to be a little more, I guess amped up, which is not the case .Which is a good thing because nobody wants trouble, Robinson said.

Robinson was referring to an incident in the gallery of the House Wednesday in which a handful of protesters were physically escorted out of the gallery.

Shortly after the speakers finished up, protesters piled into the Capitol building causing a backup in the lobby as people stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow attendees in clear violation of state social distancing guidelines. Those inside shouted to be allowed into the House chambers, where lawmakers were meeting at the time, but were denied access.

Other than chanting loudly, its been very calm, said Michigan State Police Lt. Brian Oleksyk.

To abide with executive orders, only 275 people are allowed inside the Capitol building at a time, Oleksyk said, and once that numbers was hit, officers enforced the rule and would not allow anyone in until more people left the building.

One arrest had been made as of 2 p.m. after one protester assaulted another protester, Oleksyk said.

Protesters pack into Capitol, chant let us in when blocked from House proceedings

Michigan House adjourns without extending coronavirus state of emergency
New Delhi, April 30 : Being able to dream about what to do and where to go is now more important than ever - and you can now take a virtual trip to Sydney and regions of NSW without leaving home.

Destination NSW's consumer travel website, VisitNSW.com, has a new suite of still and video Zoom-ready assets available for consumers to download to make their conferencing calls a little more fun.

The Zoom background collection was curated to inspire wanderlust in the dreaming phase of the travel planning cycle, with NSW backgrounds curated around three key themes - native animals, sunrise and sunset, and spectacular scenery.

The NSW destinations and experiences include stargazing in the Southern Hemisphere's first Dark Sky Park in the Warrumbungles, sea life frolicking underwater along the NSW Coast from Tweed Heads to Narooma, aerial shots of regional NSW including Stockton Beach and Broken Hill, breakfast with Coffs Harbour kangaroos, and a timelapse of the world-famous Sydney Harbour.

"Travel might be postponed, but dreaming about travelling is definitely encouraged via our Zoom-ready assets," said Stephen Mahoney, Acting CEO, Destination NSW.

"Our stunning NSW Zoom backgrounds have been created to keep NSW's unique experiences and destinations top of mind, and to provide inspiration for future holidays makers as they dream about travelling while staying connected and entertained through Zoom calls in the current stay-at-home period," said Mahoney.

With a number of virtual wonderlands and three themes to choose from, join the revolution and take your pick of one of the following Zoom backgrounds to immerse yourself in NSW like never before.

Talk with the animals Wombats at Symbio Wildlife Park, Central Coast

Meerkats at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo

Kangaroos in Mungo National Park

Fur seals near Montague Island off the coast of Narooma

A mob of emus in Sturt National Park, Tibooburra

Sunrises & Sunsets

Sydney Harbour featuring both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House

Broken Hill featuring the Living Desert Sculptures

Blue Mountains National Park featuring panoramic views of the Three Sisters

Bondi Beach featuring the very instagrammable Icebergs

Killcare Beach on NSW's Central Coast

Warrumbungle National Park featuring the iconic Breadknife and Grand High Top Walks

Spectacular Scenery

Lord Howe Island

Walls of China, Mungo National Park

Stockton Sand Dunes, Port Stephens

Cabbage Tree Bay, Manly

Kosciuszko National Park

Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Microsoft has recently confirmed that it will be bundling its xCloud game streaming platform with the Xbox Game Pass service.

This creates an extreme value for the consumer who is looking for a high quality gaming experience. Especially for those that already subscribe to Game Pass.

With the two services being offered together, this should bring out the capability to stream games with xCloud on the PC. Microsoft has already been testing this internally and has said that it will end up expanding to PC once things are ready.

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When this will be available and how much it will cost though is still unclear.

xCloud with Xbox Game Pass does not have a price yet

According to Windows Central who reached out to Microsoft on pricing details, there is no price thats been set for the xCloud and Xbox Game Pass bundle.

The company has stated that they will share more details on the cost in the future. But currently theres nothing it was willing to publicize about what consumers will have to pay.

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When the bundle is available, the pricing may stay the same for those that already have a Game Pass membership. It could also cost a little bit more, with Microsoft adding on a new tier to the existing Game Pass pricing options.

Right now there are three different tiers for Game Pass. Console, PC, and Ultimate. The Console and PC plans are basically the same, offering unlimited access to over 100 games for that specific platform. Meanwhile, Ultimate includes both of those together and Xbox Live Gold.

You could see Microsoft tack xCloud onto the Ultimate plan. Or it could be offered as an add-on to which ever plan you want.

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xCloud will launch later in 2020

While the service is still in a preview state right now, it wont be forever.

Microsoft plans to launch xCloud later in 2020. For the sake of absolute perfect timing, it would make a whole lot of sense for xCloud to launch around the Holiday season or sometime just before.

This is when the Xbox Series X is supposed to launch. Having xCloud launch officially around the same time would be a good way to get people interested. It could be bundled with Game Pass and even be offered with promotional discounts for anyone who buys the Xbox Series X.

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Microsoft may not do this of course. If it doesnt plan to though, it should. Because it would be a surefire way to grab new xCloud subscribers.
Ahmednagar : , April 30 (IANS) Popular Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 67, had a religious streak in him that made him hit the road frequently.

It was way back in October 2003 that an aide to Kapoor called up Rajendra Jondhale, the PRO and security chief of the world-renowned Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahmednagar, saying the actor was planning to come for a 'darshan' after visiting the Shirdi temple of Saibaba.

"We decided to follow the traditions and the people of Shani Shingnapur gave him a rousing reception. He changed into a saffron 'dhoti' and a dark 'angavastram' as we escorted him to the open temple dedicated to Lord Shanidev Maharaj," Jondhale told IANS.

Since it was almost lunch time, Kapoor accepted Jondhale's invite and visited his residence in the village to join his family, sitting on the floor to enjoy a typical Maharashtrian vegetarian lunch.

"It was prepared by my wife Ujjwala, with our two minor sons -- Akshay, now an accountant who is married, and Gaurav who will soon join the Merchant Navy -- watching in excitement. Rishi Kapoor Sir enjoyed a hearty meal of 'methi-bhaji, bhakri, chutney and raw onions' with us," reminisced Jondhale.

"I briefed him about the temple history, how the entire village has no doors or locks and yet it is secure thanks to the blessings of Lord Shani Maharaj and other details, which he listened with great attention," he added.

Later, he went around the village in a casual T-shirt and Bermuda shorts as a large flock of children and youth trailed him like the Pied Piper.

As he prepared to leave, a local journalist, Vinayak Darandale, and others suggested that he could consider visiting the nearby Sonai village and join the traditional 'navratri' celebrations which are observed on a grand scale there.

"He readily agreed and we all started for Sonai. That evening, hundreds of thrilled locals welcomed him with cheers and claps, felicitated him on the stage with flowers, and he even addressed the gathering briefly in a mix of Hindi and Marathi," Darandale told IANS.

Unlike most celebrities who abhor or shun crowds, Rishi Kapoor would plunge headlong into such gatherings and spontaneously interact with the people without worries, instantly endearing himself to all.

"He was so impressed by the people of both the villages, the legends surrounding Shani Shingnapur and Sonai, besides the natural beauty that he made it a point to go there at least once every year. I believe the last trip he made here was around 4-5 years ago," Darandale said.

On hearing of the actor's untimely demise, Jondhale was rendered speechless at his new workplace, as the PRO of Bhadra Maruti Sansthan Temple in Khultabad, near Aurangabad.

A pall of gloom descended over Shani Shingnapur and Sonai with Darandale and others in both the villages in a mournful state.

Unable to move around due to the lockdown, they nevertheless recalled the actor's frequent visits and shared memories of his interactions with the commoners there.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Police visit a colleague who was injured in a shootout with suspected insurgents as he receives treatment at a hospital in Pattani, Thailand. April 30, 2020.

Thai security forces shot and killed three suspected insurgents during a raid in southern Pattani province on Thursday, authorities said, alleging the men were planning to mount an attack during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The killings of the suspects was the first act of violence since BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional, or National Revolutionary Front) rebels declared in early April that they were was ceasing all activities on humanitarian grounds because of the coronavirus pandemic. But the group warned it would resume operations if Thai government forces attacked its fighters.

The raid took place before dusk in Pakaruesong, a village in Nong Chik district, as residents of Thailands mainly Muslim Deep South were preparing to break their fast at the end of the seventh day of the holy month, officials said.

Prior to the shootout, we received intelligence that a group of insurgents took a break in the area before they planned to exploit Ramadan to launch an attack, Maj. Gen. Piyapong Wongchan, the chief of police in Pattani, told reporters. This morning informants found suspicious strangers hiding in an unregistered house.

The raid turned violent as joint security forces surrounded a house in Pakaruesong village, he said.

As officials were circling the house and calling them out, the perpetrators opened fire first, Piyapong said, adding that the three men in the house were killed and one police officer was injured in the gun battle.

Piyapong said arrest warrants had been posted for all three men for their alleged involvement in several crimes.

Investigators alleged that one of the men, Yusof Mometoh, had participated in an August 2016 bombing in southern Thailand outside of the Deep South, one of several bombings over two days that killed four and injured more than 30 people. Most of the attacks targeted southern tourist hotspots including Phuket and Hua Hi, which houses the summer palace of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his widow, Queen Sirikit.

Matamesee Sa-e, the second slain suspect, had been charged with looting a gold shop last year, and the third man, Abdul Yasi Pakya, had been charged for his role in the bombing of the Big C superstore in Pattani in 2017, police said.

BenarNews could not contact their survivors on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 4th Army Region spokesman Maj. Gen. Pramote Prom-in said authorities had been put on alert to safeguard the region from possible bombings.

Though Ramadan is a holy month for doing good deeds, we found perpetrators who were trying to mount attacks, Pramote said.

More than 7,000 people have died in the Deep South since the insurgency reignited in January 2004. The region encompasses the Malay-speaking provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, as well as four districts in neighboring Songkhla.

After the BRN declared the ceasefire on April 4, Pramote dismissed the declaration as irrelevant to military efforts to curb violent activities in the southern border region.

In a YouTube posting on Thursday, BRN spokesman Abdul Karim Khalid blamed the government for taking advantage of the COVID-19 shutdown across the region to launch the raid on the suspected rebel hideout.

Thus BRN condemns the Thai government for this inhumanity and we hope that all people are looking forward to managing their villages against the outbreaks and the abusive regime, he said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday kicked-off a detailed interaction with Indian envoys abroad to compare notes on the battle against Covid-19, its impact on India and the road ahead. This is Jaishankars second round of meetings with top Indian diplomats abroad.

A recurring theme in his last interaction on March 20 was the status of stranded Indians. He had then asked the envoys to urge Indian nationals to stay put and not panic, and look around to secure medical equipment supplies that India would need back home.

The governments evacuation plan to bring the stranded Indians home over the next few weeks could figure in Thursdays interaction with the Indian envoys. Jaishankar has started with envoys from the Asia Pacific region; South-East Asian countries will be next and then, South Asia.

Taking virtual diplomacy to the next level.



Began the first of a series of regional reviews. A good video conference with our High Commissioners and Ambassadors in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua & New Guinea and the Pacific Island countries. pic.twitter.com/EqdaWcJfyK  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2020

Jaishankar isnt the only one talking.

Top external affairs ministry officials are holding a parallel global outreach campaign; interacting with foreign envoys posted in national capital Delhi. The foreign envoys are being told how India is fighting the Sars-CoV-2 pathogen.

Indian diplomats are also taking notes on how other countries have dealt with the virus that has, in just about four months, killed 225,000 people, infected over 3 million and driven countries to go into lockdown mode and threatened to push the global economy into a recession.

Diplomacy couldnt afford to go in lockdown mode. Instead, it went virtual, shifted gears and went into an overdrive, a foreign ministry official told Hindustan Times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set the template early in the crisis and has been working the phones to scale up Indias diplomatic engagement with the world. That he had also held a video conference with the heads of Indian missions on 30 March was one step in this direction.

In the next 30 days, PM Modi spoke to leaders of 30 countries.

Had a good discussion with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We discussed the evolving COVID 19 scenario and agreed to work together to address the challenges in the spirit of our excellent bilateral ties and India's neighbourhood first policy.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020

Ditto for Jaishankar who has kept pace with the prime ministers and reached out to his counterparts, even in countries that may have been assumed to be off New Delhis radar.

Grenada, a tiny Caribbean island - one of the smallest countries in the western hemisphere - has a population of just over 1 lakh. Comoros, a volcanic archipelago off Africas east coast, has a population of 8 lakh.

Many of these calls were to offer support and help.

Congratulated the newly appointed FM of #Angola, @amb_tete. Agreed on an early meeting of our Joint Commission. Will work on new areas of cooperation, including health. Recognised the importance of the #IndiaAfricaForumSummit taking place soon.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2020

Jaishankar told the G-20 foreign ministers conference this week that New Delhi is providing pharma assistance to nearly 85 countries on a grant basis, many of them in Africa to support their response to the pandemic.

There have been occasions when the external affairs minister has spoken to counterparts in Russia, Brazil, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Oman in 24 hours. This was on Thursday last.

Jaishankar calls it virtual diplomacy.

Strong friendships thrive even virtually, he tweeted after wrapping up his video calls to leaders in five countries.

Government sources explain that the stepped-up effort is designed to ensure that the diplomatic machinery doesnt go into stall mode but is kept primed for big action.

India will be moving into a lead role at the World Health Organisation next month when its nominee formally takes over as the director general of the World Health Organisation. Next year, India will also get a spot in the United Nations Security Council as one of the 10 non-permanent members.

The last time India had made it to the UNSC ws in 2012; Hardeep Singh Puri, the ex-diplomat in PM Modis council of ministers, was then Indias face at the UN.

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A man who used to eat 7,000 calories a day and weighed 550 pounds has managed to maintain his staggering weight loss under lockdown - with garage circuit training.

Francis Marcell, 38, who was about 550 pounds at his heaviest, admits to consuming a whole chicken in the car on the way to work, plus copious quantities of fast food.

"I'd eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at fast food restaurants," said Marcell, a 38-year-old mental health professional from Greenville, South Carolina.

"I'd eat fourth and fifth meals there too.

"If I ever missed a meal, I'd have a huge one later. Sometimes I'd pick up a whole cooked chicken and eat it on the way to work."

Marcell, who is 5' 11", was so morbidly obese he could barely walk.

"I probably weighed close to 550 at my heaviest.

"I would be eating in my car. I'd open the day with two chicken biscuits and two hash browns with a frappe from McDonald's.

"Maybe three hours later I'd have a double cheeseburger.

"I'd eat every three hours. I'd go to the vending machine at work and get candy and sodas throughout the day as well.

"Other days, I'd go eat a whole pizza pie. It took a lot to gain that weight."

In 2016 Marcell felt too embarrassed to go to his brother's wedding, triggering hm to address the problem.

"It hit me hard that I couldn't be in the wedding. I hadn't seen some of the relatives there in ten to fifteen years, and I didn't want to go because I was embarrassed.

"I had family members call me up and say that they were concerned with me. I had diabetes and knew I had to make a change."

From there, Marcell quickly lost close to 100 pounds.

"I got down to 430 in 2018 and then I was stagnant for a while," he said.

About a year later, his commitment took a more concrete shape.

Story continues

"Now I get my meals from this health food restaurant and it's all portion controlled. I consume under 1,600 calories a day.

"I eat a lot of rice and a lot of meat. I also eat a lot of gluten free stuff, gluten free wraps and tortillas, for my digestive tract.

"About a year ago, I started real hard with the portion control meals and working out.

"All I drink now is water and black coffee. I have about three black cups of coffee a day."

Marcell's workout routine is similarly ascetic.

"I work out twice a day, but because of coronavirus we've shut down gyms. Right now I do a lot of pushups and I do step running. I do stomach twists. I have a speed bag and a body bag. I jump rope.

"I've lost 230 pounds since 2019. I weigh just under 200 pounds now and I'm under a 38-inch waist.

"Everyone in my family seems very happy about it. They're all really positive about it."

Though his prospects have improved, Marcell is focusing on his own goals before trying to start a love life.

"I don't date yet. I'm still trying to achieve my goals and put on more muscle and stuff like that."
It will first launch in Delhi, Gurugram, and Haridwar and as the lockdown unfolds, gradually across India

StayHappi Pharmacy, an initiative of SarvaGunAushdhi Pvt Ltd is all set to launch its online store and make medicines accessible at affordable prices to people at their doorstep.

Arushi Jain, executive director of StayHappi Pharmacy said, "COVID-19 has made all of us more conscious of our spendings. StayHappi Pharmacy App allows people to Compare & Save up to 30 to 90 percent on their medical bills. We are ready to work day and night and make affordable medicines accessible to people during this difficult time.

The Stayhappi Online Pharmacy will first launch in Delhi, Gurugram, and Haridwar and as the lockdown unfolds, gradually across India.

In line with Prime Ministers vision of affordable medicines, and compliance with the guidelines issued by MCI and DCGI, StayHappi pharmacies will also sell generic unbranded medicines which are exactly the same in efficacy, safety, purity, dosage form and strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use, as that of any best quality branded medicine in the country.

The pharmacy believes that the products will rule the market only when they conform to the quality requirement of every customer  first time and every time, meeting world-class standards.

All our products are WHO-GMP, ISO NABL certified and from the best of Indias manufacturers. We offer Quality Medicines  that are affordable said Arushi Jain

StayHappi Pharmacy APP will provide for medicines for all major therapeutic segments like anti-diabetic, respiratory, gynecology, cardiac, CNS, gastrointestinal, antihypertensives, antibiotics, etc., while also providing consultation facility from renowned practitioners to help maximize benefits for patients.
New Delhi, April 30 : As no economic package has been announced so far and restrictions for shops and retail stores still exist in most states across the country, Retailers Association of India's (RAI) CEO Kumar Rajagopalan feels that the condition of the retail sector is becoming untenable now and, will soon require "ventilator support".

Speaking to IANS, Rajagopalan said that in the absence of government support and further regulatory relieffrom the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) there will be a large number of non-performing assets (NPA) in the retail sector, which may go up to Rs 75,000 crore.

"If the banking sector and the government does not come and help now, the retail sector will become an NPA, then they will have to handle a very different problem, which would be a much larger problem. NPAs could be as much as Rs 75,000 crore from retail," he said.

He said that if the retail sector is supported with a package, it would have a positive ripple effect on the manufacturing sector and the supply chain.

"I think slowly the retail industry is going to have the need for a ventilator. If retail is safe then obviously the supply chain of manufacturers, all of them gets saved, because the money comes from retail to the manufacturers. It's one industry that has the maximum amount of multiplier effect," Rajagopalan said.

He said that in case a package is not provided 20-25 per cent of the retail sector will be out of business, which would include a large number of medium scale players.

Among other measures and reliefs, the industry body had urged the government to provide wage subsidy of up to 50 per cent on salaries up to Rs 25,000 and moratorium of 6 to 9 months for repayment of loans. It has also asked for 25 per cent additional working capital credit line to pay salaries and wages, along with reduction in GST for the retail sector.

Rajagopalan observed that retail is not a high margin business and retailers don't sit on large cash reserves like other industries.

On the sales volume for the organised retail sector, he said: "Retail will be achieving about 60 per cent of what it was suppose to achieve this (fiscal) year, a 40per cent dip." He was of the view that even when the sector opens up it will not be operational in a full-fledged manner.

"Slowly customers will build capability to come and there will be lot of times when the government will have interventions to it," the RAI CEO said.

Regarding relaxations for shops and retail stores during the lockdown period, he said that only a few states have so far come up with clear guidelines regarding opening of stores after the Ministry of Home Affairs latest order on resumption of neighbourhood shops.

He told IANS that clarity is required regarding the guidelines.

"So currently we are waiting for some slightly less complicated notice to come. Anyway its next Monday (May 4, when the lockdown is scheduled to be lifted), I think the whole point has to be to try and see how relaxations happen from Monday rather than try to hurry it up and create confusion." The ongoing nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end on May 3, if not extended.
Dozens of protesters, some with rifles slung around their chests, enter the Capitol and demand to be heard.

Hundreds of angry protesters, some carrying firearms, gathered at Michigans State Capitol in Lansing on Thursday to protest against Governor Gretchen Whitmers request to extend the state of emergency to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The protests came as state legislators debated a measure refusing the governors request and voted to authorise a lawsuit challenging her authority and actions to combat the pandemic.

At one point during the legislative deliberations, dozens of protesters  many without face coverings and some with rifles slung around their chests  entered the Capitol and demanded to be let into the House chamber, which was closed to the public to allow room for representatives and reporters to spread apart. The crowd shouted, Let us in while mask-wearing sergeants and state police blocked them.

Demonstrators were allowed in the state Senate, which has fewer members and remained in session to also authorise legal action.

Firearms have been legally allowed in the Michigan state Capitol building for some time.

Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg pic.twitter.com/voOZpPYWOs  Senator Dayna Polehanki (@SenPolehanki) April 30, 2020

The protest appeared to be the largest in the state since April 15, when supporters and allies of President Donald Trump organised thousands of people for Operation Gridlock, jamming the streets of Lansing with their cars to call out what they said was the overreach of Whitmers strict stay-at-home order.

It was one of the countrys first major anti-lockdown rallies and helped sparked a wave of similar events nationwide.

The slow reopening of state economies around the country has taken on political overtones, as Republican politicians and individuals affiliated with Trumps re-election promoted protests in electoral battleground states such as Michigan.

Governor Whitmer, and our state legislature, its over with. Open this state, Mike Detmer, a Republican candidate for US Congress told the crowd. Lets get businesses back open again. Lets make sure there are jobs to go back to.

At the MI Capitol pic.twitter.com/IuYoBhstIg  Anna Liz Nichols (@annaliznichols) April 30, 2020

Other speakers at the American Patriot Rally, which had different organisers to the mid-April protest, questioned the deadliness of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. They also said Whitmers stay-at-home order violated constitutional rights, and urged people to open their businesses on May 1 in disregard of her order.

Protesters, many from more rural parts of Michigan, have argued it has crippled the economy statewide even though the majority of deaths from the virus are centred on the southeastern Detroit metro area.

Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Crowd attempts to get onto Hoise floor. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door. pic.twitter.com/4FNQpimP4W  Rod Meloni (@RodMeloni) April 30, 2020

Whitmers stay-at-home order, the strictest in the US, is in effect through May 15. House Republicans wanted changes, such as allowing elective medical and dental procedures again and certainty on the date she plans to reopen the economy on a regional basis. Meanwhile, the governor has allowed some businesses, such as lawn-care companies and greenhouses, to resume operating.

Many states, including Georgia, Oklahoma, Alaska, South Carolina and Ohio, have already moved to restart parts of their economies following weeks of mandatory lockdowns that have thrown nearly one in six American workers out of their jobs.
A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between Indian and Chinese armies scheduled to be held on Friday on the occasion of the May Day has been called off due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

The meeting was to be hosted by the Chinese military in five designated locations along the nearly 3,500-km border between the two countries.

A decision has been taken to call off the meeting in view of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

The two sides hold Border Personnel Meetings at five points --Daulat Beg Oldie in northern Ladakh, Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Chusul in Ladakh, Bum-La near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and Nathu-La in Sikkim.

The Chinese side hosts ceremonial BPM on the occasion of Chinese National Day on October 1 and on May 1 while India organises it on January 26 and August 15.

Usually, both sides resolve various operational issues at the BPMs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DENVER, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE, TSX: OVV) announced today that the following matters, as further described in the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 6, 2020 (the "Proxy Statement"), were voted upon at its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 29, 2020.

Advisory Vote to Approve Compensation of Named Executive Officers

The results of the non-binding advisory vote for the compensation of the Company's named executive officers were as follows:

Votes For Percent Votes Against Percent 154,683,397 88.95% 19,205,324 11.04%

Election of Directors

Each nominee listed in the Proxy Statement was elected as a Director of the Company. The results of the vote by ballot were as follows:

Name of Nominee Votes For Percent Votes Against Percent Peter A. Dea 161,015,193 92.61% 12,834,387 7.38% Fred J. Fowler 164,732,258 94.75% 9,112,701 5.24% Howard J. Mayson 164,797,869 94.83% 8,967,989 5.16% Lee A. McIntire 161,017,505 92.66% 12,742,562 7.33% Margaret A. McKenzie 164,649,853 94.75% 9,115,476 5.24% Steven W. Nance 166,275,351 95.63% 7,594,318 4.36% Suzanne P. Nimocks 160,811,938 92.54% 12,958,340 7.45% Thomas G. Ricks 156,443,194 89.97% 17,425,160 10.02% Brian G. Shaw 166,318,885 95.71% 7,439,582 4.28% Douglas J. Suttles 162,861,416 93.61% 11,111,079 6.38% Bruce G. Waterman 165,689,347 95.35% 8,070,350 4.64% Clayton H. Woitas 162,653,756 93.60% 11,118,266 6.39%

Ratify PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Independent Auditors

The results for the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the Company's independent auditors were as follows:

Votes For Percent Votes Against Percent 186,054,339 96.71% 6,318,911 3.28%

Stockholder Proposal

The results for the stockholder proposal, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement, were as follows:

Votes For Percent Votes Against Percent 97,670,799 56.41% 75,468,353 43.58%

Further information on Ovintiv Inc. is available on the Company's website, www.ovintiv.com, or by contacting:

Investor contact: (888) 525-0304 Media contact: (281) 210-5253

SOURCE Ovintiv Inc.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, Potential Church is seeking to help those in need in the local community through a food collection drive and distribution. The food drive & distribution will be held at 3 Potential Church Florida campuses--Cooper City, Hallandale Beach, and Pensacola. Pensacola campus hosted a food distribution on April 25 and was able to help and feed over 600 people. It is their ultimate goal to feed and provide aid to over 2,000 people across the state of Florida.

Potential Church

Potential Church is partnering with citizens in the local community to collect a variety of items such as baby needs, dry goods, canned foods, beverages, and perishable items to bring aid to those in need during this unexpected time of hardship. Drop-off for these items will be held Monday through Friday, please check potentialchurch.com or call 954.434.1500 for more information on times and locations for drop-off.

With over 30 years of history based in South Florida, Potential Church is known for providing year-round support and events for the community, and through this health crisis, it is no different. The church's mission is to partner with people to reach their God Potential and according to their website, they welcome people from all walks of liferegardless of age, race or church history. "Our ultimate desire is to serve the communities we are in and show the love of God, and what better way than to show up during times of need and work together with the local community to provide supplies and support to those who need it most!" - Troy Gramling (lead pastor of Potential Church).

Contact:

Danny Fernandez, Potential Church

PotentialChurch.com

(305) 986-8362

[email protected]

Event Details Listed Below

COOPER CITY -

WHAT: Community Food Distribution

WHEN: May 2 & May 9, 10am-1pm (first come, first serve)

WHO: Anyone

WHERE: 12401 Stirling Rd. Cooper City FL 33330

HALLANDALE BEACH -

WHAT: Community Food Distribution

WHEN: May 9, 10am-1pm

WHO: Anyone

WHERE: 214 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd. Hallandale Beach FL, 33009

Related Images

image1.png

SOURCE Potential Church

Related Links

http://potentialchurch.com


London

The U.K. has the third-highest coronavirus death toll in the world after the British government published new figures Wednesday that include deaths outside of hospitals.

After factoring in deaths in all settings such as care homes, the number of people in Britain who have died after testing positive for the virus has now hit 26,097, ahead of the 21,678 announced on Tuesday. Until now, hospital deaths have been reported daily, while deaths in nursing homes and other settings were reported separately on a weekly basis.

Under the new measurement, the U.K. has leapfrogged Spain and France in Europe, with only Italy ahead. The U.S. has the world's highest death toll.

The upward revision prompted renewed criticism of the government's approach throughout the crisis.

The new leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, said the scale of deaths in the U.K. is "truly dreadful" and has accused the Conservative government of being too slow in putting the country into lockdown, in testing people for the virus and in getting critical protective gear for medical workers.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab sought to ease any worries, saying the additional deaths were a cumulative total going back to March 2.

"They don't represent a sudden surge in the number of deaths," he said.

In spite of that, it is becoming increasingly clear that the U.K. could end up with the second-highest coronavirus death toll in the world, partly because Italy is considered to be around a couple of weeks ahead in the epidemic.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

There is also an acknowledgement that the new figures underestimate the total death toll in care homes as they only include those who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Also, the death certificates of those dying in care homes can take a couple of weeks to be issued.

In spite of the grim death news, the number of people being hospitalized with the coronavirus has been falling for the best part of three weeks, particularly in London, which was the epicenter of the outbreak in the country. Also the number of coronavirus-related deaths are falling when measured on a seven-day rolling basis.

Raab said it was too soon for the government to make an assessment as to whether its five tests on easing the lockdown restrictions have been met. Among those tests are a "sustained and consistent fall" in daily coronavirus-related deaths, and reliable data showing that the rate of inflection has moderated to manageable levels.

"We are coming through the peak but we are not there yet, which is why we are keeping our focus on the social distancing measures," he said.
New Delhi: Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor died at a hospital in Mumbai on Thursday morning. He was suffering from cancer. He was taken to the hospital on Wednesday after he had some breathing problem. Rishi Kapoors death has shocked India. It was only on Wednesday that Irrfan Khan, another versatile actor the industry, died.

Bollywood celebs took to social media to pay tributes to the actor and paid their condolences for the family. Rishi Kapoor was married to actress Neetu Kapoor. Actor Ranbir Kapoor and jewellery designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni are the couples two children.

"Heartbroken," tweeted Rajinikanth.

Heartbroken ... Rest In Peace ... my dearest friend #RishiKapoor  Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 30, 2020

Superstar Akshay Kumar said its heartbreaking. It seems like were in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of Rishi Kapoors passing away, its heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family, he tweeted.

It seems like were in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, its heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 30, 2020

Aamir Khan: "We have lost one of the greats today. An amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and 100% a child of Cinema. Thank you for all the joy you brought to our lives. Thank you for being the actor and human being that you were. You will be badly missed Rishiji. Love. a."

Salman Khan said, "Rest in peace Chintu sir, kaha suna maaf, strength, peace and light to family n friends..."

Rest in peace chintu sirrr, kaha suna maaf , strength , peace n light to family n friends...  Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) April 30, 2020

Priyanka Chopra shared a picture with Rishi and Neetu Kapoor and wrote, My heart is so heavy. This is the end of an era. Rishi sir, your candid heart and immeasurable talent will never be encountered again. Such a privilege to have known you even a little bit. My condolences to Neetu ma'am, Ridhima, Ranbir and the rest of the family. Rest in peace, sir.

Karan Johar: "He was my childhood....."

Madhuri Dixit, who had shared screen space with Rishi Kapoor earlier, said, "I've had the honour of working with Rishi ji. A larger than life person, so outspoken yet so warm. We have lost a brilliant actor today. Still can't believe it.. absolutely heartbroken. My prayers are with the family during this tough time."

I've had the honour of working with Rishi ji. A larger than life person, so outspoken yet so warm. We have lost a brilliant actor today. Still can't believe it.. absolutely heartbroken. My prayers are with the family during this tough time. pic.twitter.com/gFNAXUoxFT  Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) April 30, 2020

Ranveer Singh shared an old photo with Rishi Kapoor.

"Yesterday Irrfan Khan and now Rishi Kapoor. Gutted, sad, heartbroken," read Anushka's message.

I'm at an absolute & total loss for words.Holding this phone in disbelief. Yesterday Irrfan and now .... Gutted , sad , heartbroken .I truly believed you'll come out of this .You will be missed , Sir . RIP . Om Shanti.  Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) April 30, 2020

Vicky Kaushal went down the memory lane to post his tribute:

Taapsee Pannu, who worked with Rishi Kapoor in the critically-acclaimed Mulk, posted, Been trying to write something n I cant put my mind n hands in sync. More like the heart in between is just not able to comprehend this. That laugh, that sense of humour, the honesty and even the bully he was, will be missed. No one like you.

Been trying to write something n I cant put my mind n hands in sync. More like the heart in between is just not able to comprehend this. That laugh, that sense of humour, the honesty and even the bully he was , will be missed. No one like you #RishiKapoor  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) April 30, 2020

This is devastating, Tusshar Kapoor said as he shared a picture of Rishi Kapoor with Randhir Kapoor, Jeetendra and Rakesh Roshan.

Anupam Kher tweeted a video of himself with Rishi Kapoor and reminisced the days spent in New York.

With tears in my eyes, I bid this adieu..to an actor who played my brother, father and also my hero eventually..whose songs I grew up loving n dancing to..my most favourite and versatile actor..what a pity never got to meet him after n now never will. RIP Rishi Kapoor, read Urmila Matondkars tribute.

Vidya Balan: "Everytime I watch you on screen,i want to hug you ... so here's sending you the biggest hug #Rishiji ... You are one of a kind our dafliwale and will always be special .. I pray for Neetuji, Riddhima and Ranbir."

Sonakshi Sinha: "Rest in peace Rishi uncle, thank you for the memories...you will be missed"

Kartik Aaryan: "On Kaanchi, I asked Subhash Ji to let me assist him. I took the clapboard duty to be able to stand as close to Rishi Sir as possible. I'm blessed to have witnessed that spontaneity, energy and true greatness up close. Rishi sir's charm was magnetic."

Rishi Kapoor was battling cancer since 2018. He got treated in the US for a year and had returned to India in September 2019.
On Sunday, former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang filed a lawsuit against the New York State Board of Elections for cancelling the states Democratic presidential primary election on June 23.

The suit filed by Yang  who lives in Manhattan  along with several others who had filed to be his delegates at the Democratic National Convention, said that Yang should not have been removed from the states ballot since he met all of the requirements to remain on it. The cancellation of the primary denies voters due process and denies voters the right to vote, and therefore must be invalidated, the suit argues.

The election was cancelled on Monday, after the Democratic-appointed commissioners of the state BOE voted to cancel it. The decision was made following Sen. Bernie Sanders suspension of his presidential campaign on April 8, making Vice President Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee. Sanders has since endorsed Biden. Yang dropped out of the race on Feb. 11 and endorsed Biden on March 10. A provision in this years states budget gave the state BOE the power to remove candidates no longer in the running off the ballot.

While the states presidential primary was cancelled, it will continue to hold all other state and federal primaries scheduled for June 23. As a result, about a third of the states counties that do not have any contested primaries at the congressional or local level will not have polls open.

The state has explained that it cancelled the primary out of concern for its residents welfare. Since New York is the epicenter of the countrys COVID-19 outbreak, sending people to the polls could easily cause the virus to spread. Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration believes it doesnt have the legal authority to exclusively conduct the primary with mail-in ballots, which means that polling places would have remained open.

Cancelling the primary will allow polling places in jurisdictions without any contested elections, including the 20 counties, to close their polling centers. As it is, the state BOEs new responsibility to mail absentee ballot request forms to every registered voter will pose a logistical challenge. Reducing the number of voters and ballots by eradicating the uncontested primary will be safer and easier for the state to manage.

The states Republican presidential primary was cancelled in March, as no other candidates met the ballot requirements other than President Donald Trump. However, leaving Democratic candidates who were no longer in the running for the presidency but met the ballot requirements is what appears to be angering some Democratic voters. Denying the states residents a chance to vote for candidates such as Yang and Sanders can prevent them from getting any delegates from the state to attend the DNC.

The Sanders campaign and many of its supporters in the state had requested that he remain on the ballot, for this reason. What the Board of Elections is ignoring is that the primary process not only leads to a nominee but also the selection of delegates which helps determine the platform and rules of the Democratic Party, Jeff Weaver, one of Sanders senior advisers, said in a statement sent to Politico. New York has clearly violated its approved delegate selection plan. If this is not remedied, New York should lose all its delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention and there should be a broader review by the Democratic Party of New Yorks checkered pattern of voter disenfranchisement.

Weaver has suggested that the state convert the election to a vote-by-mail system if it's concerned with health risks posed by the virus. Sanders has shared the statement written by Weaver on Twitter but has yet to address Yangs lawsuit.

Sanders in particular had hoped to win enough delegates nationwide so they could hold 25% of the seats on major convention committees that dictate the partys rules, platform and convention credentials. The New York Democratic Party will need to submit a new delegate selection plan to the DNC, which will then review it and make a decision regarding the fate of New Yorks Democratic delegates. However, the DNC could ultimately award all of the delegates to the remaining candidate on the ballot: Biden.

Jay Jacobs, chairman of the states Democratic Party, told City & State that the move wasnt intended to completely remove all of Sanders delegates but to keep voters safe, saying that the state will still be voting on delegates sometime before mid-July ahead of a state committee meeting. Jacobs also said that the state party is open to allocating delegates to Sanders. The whole purpose of what we did is not political, its health-related, he said. It wasnt to cut out all of Bernie Sanders delegates, that was never the intention.

We closed all nonessential businesses in New York  to protect people, Jacobs told City & State. I think we should do the same thing for all nonessential elections. And if this isnt an example of a nonessential election, I dont know what is because we know the result.

Despite the underlying logic behind the decision to cancel the primary  being that there is only one Democratic presidential candidate remaining and the state is in the midst of a pandemic  some left-wing New Yorkers have expressed indignation about it on Twitter, referring to it as voter suppression and Machiavellian. Some have lamented the fact that theyre unable to cast a symbolic vote for Medicare-for-all, a major tenet of Sanders platform, by casting a vote for the senator.

An act of voter suppression & NYS is not hiding it. Cuomo is no Democratic hero. NYers have yet to cast their vote for the presidential primary.



There is no reason why we cannot vote by mail instead of finding excuses to undercut voting powers.https://t.co/snlLed8CdI  Shaniyat Chowdhury for US Congress NY5 (@Shaniyat2020) April 27, 2020

If NY removes Bernie Sanders from the NY Ballot, they will have symbolically turned a deaf ear to our progressive movement. Even if it doesn't lead to Bernie getting the nom, keeping him on the ballot means willingness to negotiate on the principles we hold dear. #NYKeepBernie pic.twitter.com/4B6yEMPXqB  Scott Rizzo (@Skifootz) April 23, 2020

In an extremely machiavellian move @NYGovCuomo orchestrated removal of @BernieSanders from NY ballot. This puts Cuomo in charge of how many delegates Bernie gets, undermines influence of #NotMeUs over the platform and harms downballot progressives like @JamaalBowmanNY. Despicable https://t.co/1bLQ5CljVa  Thea Riofrancos (@triofrancos) April 27, 2020

new york has removed bernie from the ballot, denying citizens of a state hit hardest by covid-19 the chance to even cast a symbolic vote for medicare for all  Aisha Ahmad (@aishaismad) April 27, 2020

Some have also suggested that Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a known Biden supporter, is attempting to provide Biden with all of the states Democratic delegates to bolster his own political standing with the DNC. This is Cuomo trying to be the party boss who goes to the party convention with 284 delegates in his pocket, Larry Cohen, chairman of the board of Our Revolution, a progressive group, told HuffPost. Whatever support he built for himself for his handling of the pandemic is definitely eroding.

Many Democrats have argued that the state could have kept the candidates on the ballot and encouraged the states residents to vote by mail to reduce any risk of viral transmission. Jacobs told City & State that hes open to the idea in the future but that its not feasible for the state to make that happen by June 23.
The feeling behind Tesla CEO Elon Musk's expletive-filled tirade against state government stay-at-home orders is shared by more and more Americans, Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Thursday.

"I think that reflects a growing sentiment in this country where that's going to tug against what the governors have to do," Gottlieb said on "Squawk Box." "They have tough decisions to face this month."

Late Wednesday, Musk lashed out, even dropping the F-bomb, on the electric vehicle maker's earnings call, saying that lockdowns meant to help slow the spread of the coronavirus are "fascist." He also said the orders amounted to "forcibly imprisoning people in their homes against all their constitutional rights."

A number of states across the country, such as Georgia, Colorado and Tennessee, has recently eased up on some of the coronavirus-related business restrictions. Other states, such as Ohio, have announced details of a phased reopening to begin in May.

For a complete list of state actions, see: How states are reopening businesses and lifting coronavirus restrictions

A significant majority of Americans continues to support restrictions on restaurants, large sporting events and in-person schooling until there is more widespread testing for Covid-19, according to a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.

Despite the anger and outrage some Americans may feel, Gottlieb said, many states should continue with widespread mitigation efforts because of the number of new Covid-19 cases.
Authorities say a further loosening of social distancing measures is coming as three more residents at the Newmarch House aged care facility in Sydney's west have tested positive for COVID-19.

The new cases push the number of residents to test positive to 37, of whom 12 have died. Almost 60 staff are in self-isolation and 22 of them have the virus.

Three more residents from the Anglicare Newmarch House in western Sydney have tested positive for COVID-19. Credit:Nick Moir

The facility is investigating the cause of the cases and is working closely with NSW Health and an infectious diseases specialist.

From Friday, two adults may visit another household in the state, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urging people to behave sensibly.
The Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has solidified agreements with four Western Massachusetts community colleges, which will allow for students to smoothly transfer into the universitys PharmD program.

Holyoke Community College, Berkshire Community College, Greenfield Community College, and Springfield Technical Community College are involved, linking the WNEU pharmacy program with the regions four junior colleges.

The collaboration comes in the form of articulation agreements, which designate how credits are to be transferred from one institution to another. It gives students a clear path to pursue a degree at the four-year college while beginning at the community college.

This agreement further solidifies our bond between the University and our partners at the community colleges, said Josh Spooner, professor and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Western New England University. It is an excellent opportunity for those students who decided to pursue what can be a very rewarding and fulfilling career in pharmacy.

Prospective pharmacy students attending these schools must take the 67 credits of prerequisite coursework for the PharmD program, complete their associates degree, and formally apply to the PharmD program at WNE. If accepted, these students are eligible for the PharmD Transfer Distinction Scholarship which is currently awarded at $18,000 per year for two years.
I would, of course, try to restrain that daredevil, observing that simple correlations are insufficient evidence for drawing any firm conclusions. The governments of Italy, France, and Spain are larger, more intrusive, and more centralized than the governments of, say, Japan and South Korea. But the very low death rates in the latter two countries may well be because their (leaner) governments reacted quickly and vigorously.

And while Italy and Spain are, along with Britain, the only countries on the list with universal single-payer health systems, it would be premature to assert some causal relationship to their relatively high death rates.

The truth is that researchers across the world will spend many years sifting through dozens of relevant variables and constructing hundreds of statistical models in an attempt to understand why the COVID-19 pandemic has been more deadly in some places than in others, and what implications these events may have for public health interventions, the costs and benefits of lockdowns, and the optimal mix of governmental institutions in our interconnected 21st century.

I say leave them to their work. Its going to take a long while. In the meantime, if you see politicians or activists assert that the crisis proves the need for a radical restructuring of American society and government, feel sorry for them. Say a prayer if you are so inclined. Such daredevils tend to fall on their faces.
Karen Pence said on Thursday that her husband, Vice President Mike Pence, didn't know it was the policy of the Mayo Clinic for visitors to wear masks until he left the facility.

'Knowing that he doesn't have COVID-19, he didn't wear one. It was actually after he left Mayo Clinic that he found out that they had a policy of asking everyone to wear a mask,' she said on 'Fox & Friends.'

Vice President Pence, who is the head of the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, was surrounded by people wearing masks during his visit Tuesday to the Rochester, Minnesota, hospital. He was criticized for not wearing one.

Karen Pence said her husband is 'not someone who would have done anything to offend anyone or hurt anyone or scare anyone.'

A hospital employee told DailyMail.com that it's highly unlikely Pence didn't know the policy.

The person said an announcement is made over the loudspeaker on the Mayo campus regarding the mask policy 'approximately every 30 to 60 minutes, making Karen Pence's claims even more absurd. It is extremely unlikely that the Vice President did not hear these recurrent announcements.'

Karen Pence said Vice President Mike Pence didn't know it was the policy of the Mayo Clinic for visitors to wear masks until he left the facility

Vice President Pence gave a slightly different explanation for not wearing a mask to Mayo.

He did say Tuesday he didn't wear a mask during his visit because he is regularly tested for the virus and doesn't have it.

But he also added he wanted to be able to look people in the eye and thank them. The masks cover the nose and mouth but not the eyes.

'As Vice President of the United States I'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,' he noted, saying he is following CDC guidelines which indicate that the mask is good for preventing the spread of the virus by those who have it.

'And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers these incredible healthcare personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you,' he added.

Vice President Mike Pence flouted the Mayo Clinic's face mask policy during visit even as others wore one

Token effort: Mike Pence ignored the hospital's policy that everyone wears a mask - but he did manage an elbow bump with Dr. Michael Johnson who was introducing him to survivor Dennis Nelson (right)

The Mayo Clinic deleted its tweet saying it informed Vice President Mike Pence of its mask policy

Vice President Mike Pence talks with a lab technician as he tours Mayo Clinic facilities

Vice President Mike Pence visits Dennis Nelson, who survived the coronavirus, and was going to give blood during a tour of the Mayo Clinic

Vice President Mike Pence said he didn't wear a mask because he doesn't have the virus

The Mayo Cinic asks all visitors to wear face masks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, which is also a recommendation the Trump administration has made.

'Part of our protocol for ensuring your safety is to require all patients, visitors and staff to wear a face covering or mask while at Mayo Clinic to guard against transmission of COVID-19,' reads the Mayo Clinic's policy, according to its website. 'If a patient or visitor does not have a mask, Mayo Clinic will provide one.'

The clinic has had the mask policy in place since April 13.

Pence was told of the policy before he visited, the clinic said in a Twitter post that was subsequently deleted.

'Mayo Clinic had informed @VP of the masking policy prior to his arrival today,' the post read.

Dr. Stephen Hahn, the head of the Food and Drug Administration, sported a mask as did Mayo Clinic officials who accompanied Pence when he visited a blood and plasma donation center on the campus. Members of the vice president's entourage also wore face coverings.

During his visit, Pence met Dennis Nelson, a Mayo Clinic employee from Rochester, who contracted the coronavirus at the end of March and recovered.

Nelson made a donation and sat in a chair in the blood and plasma donation center of the clinic while talking to Pence.

Pence also toured the virology laboratory's labeling area, where he thanked some of the employees, all in white coats and masks.

The vice president also held a roundtable with local officials and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

All except Pence wore masks. And the officials observed socially distance guidelines when they sat at the table with several feet between them.

'We will get through this, we will get through this together,' Pence said.

Vice President Pence talking with staff who wore masks while he did not

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz greeted Vice President Mike Pence when he arrived in the state; Walz wore a face mask while Pence didn't; the two men bumped elbows instead of shaking hands

Vice President Pence also held a roundtable at the hospital where participants - except for him - wore a face mask

The Mayo Clinic's policy on wearing face masks

When President Donald Trump announced his administration's recommendation to wear face marks on April 3, he said he wouldn't wear one.

'I don't think I'm going to be doing it,' he said, saying he didn't want to do such a thing in the Oval Office: 'Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens - I just don't see it.'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a face mask in public settings where socially distancing policies are hard to follow.
SAGINAW TWP, MI  A Rite Aid pharmacy in Saginaw Township is offering free self-swab coronavirus testing.

The Rite Aid, located at 4598 State St., began offering the testing on April 22. The pharmacists can oversee about 50-60 tests per day, according to Rite Aid officials.

Other Rite Aid locations offering the service are located at 715 S. Main St. in Eaton Rapids, 9090 Miller Road in Swartz Creek, 46977 Romeo Plank Road in Macomb and 5995 Kalamazoo Ave. in Kentwood.

Those interested in testing are required to register online before heading to Rite Aid. Testing is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Patients are required to provide government issued ID and be at least 18 years old.

They will teach them how to do the nasal swabbing themselves, Jessica Batteen, region pharmacy leader said of the pharmacists who oversee the process.

Tests are done in the pharmacys parking lot and patients are required to remain in their vehicles from the time they arrive until the time they depart. White tents, signs and orange cones are set-up to direct the flow of traffic.

Patients will receive an email with their results two to seven days after the test and will also receive a phone call if they test positive, Batteen said.

Rite Aid partnered with BioReference Laboratories to provide COVID-19 laboratory testing at the drive-up locations with the goal of flattening the curve through accessible diagnostic testing.

Pharmacy Manager Rama Sudarsi said the pharmacy has been inundated with phone calls since the site opened.

I think its a good way of helping our community, Sudarsi said. It gives them a piece of mind. Something they can just come and ride through and get it done.

The test site was established as a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Rite Aid locations in Delaware, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have also added test sites.

As of Thursday, April 30, state officials reported 40,399 confirmed coronavirus cases and 3,670 deaths.

Related news:

Rite Aid to open 3 self-swab coronavirus testing sites in Michigan

Saginaw Health Department expanding coronavirus testing, says hospitals 'not at capacity
Right to access internet is not a fundamental right and the state can curtail the freedom of speech and the right to trade through internet, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has told the Supreme Court while opposing restoration of 4G services in the union territory.

The administration told the apex court that a very reasonable quantum of restrictions have been imposed by reducing the speed of internet to protect the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.

"It is submitted that the right to access internet is not a fundamental right and thus the type and breadth of access for exercising the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and/or to carry on any trade or business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India through the medium of internet can be curtailed," an affidavit filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.

The submissions were made in response to a plea filed by Foundation for Media Professionals seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the union territory in view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

The administration told the apex court that contentions raised by the petitioners in respect of an alleged deprivation of access to education, healthcare facilities and to justice itself with 2G internet speed are incorrect and it is taking all possible steps to ensure that minimum impact of COVID-19 situation is felt.

The increase in internet speed is verily apprehended to lead to swift uploading and posting of provocative videos and other heavy data files, the affidavit said.

"High speed internet services (4G) decrease the time of circulation of various photographs, videos, propaganda audios, and hence enable the associated content to go viral, with the reaction time of law enforcement agencies to such situations decreasing.

"Various Pakistan-based terror outfits are leaving no stone unturned to exploit the present situation as seen by recent infiltration attempts in handling of which many personnel of security forces have lost their lives," it said.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is taking all possible steps to ensure that minimum inconvenience is caused to citizens while keeping the vital issues of national security and internal security as a paramount consideration, it said.

The misuse of data services, applications like WhatsApp and Facebook for mobilising crowds by anti-national elements has the potential to cause large-scale violence, disturb public order and indeed threaten the security of the country.

"It is submitted that the administrative authorities concerned are the best suited to assess and handle the situation depending upon the peculiar needs and facts brought within their special knowledge," the affidavit said.

The administration said that restoration of 4G mobile data services will substantially increase the use of social media and other online platforms in uploading or downloading of videos and other propaganda material and their fast circulation, with resultant deterioration in law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.

It added that miscreants were using different VPNs, but because of low-speed mobile data services, they were not able to upload files of heavy data containing incriminating and other objectionable videos.

"Pakistan-based terrorism handlers like TRF and TMI, instigating youth to join terrorism, are using messaging applications to communicate as also to raise the morale of terrorists; however, 2G mobile data services considerably restrict the use of such applications," the affidavit added.

The administration further submitted in the court that restoration of 4G mobile data services will substantially increase the use of social media and other online platforms in uploading/downloading of videos and other propaganda material and their fast circulation, with resultant deterioration in the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.

Internet is being used to support fallacious proxy wars by raising money, recruiting and spreading propaganda/ideologies and prevalence of internet provides an easy inroad to young impressionable minds, the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.

Giving details, it said that till April 25, 108 terrorism-related incidents took place with 99 incidents being reported from Kashmir province, while nine others from Jammu province.

"Thirty civilians lost their lives, while 114 civilians were injured in terrorist-related incidents. Twenty Security forces personnel were martyred and 54 SF personnel were injured. Seventy-six terrorists were killed apart from arrest of 132 terrorists/ suspects," it said.

The administration also said the right to access internet is not a fundamental right in itself but an enabler of the right to free speech and carry out trade and business.
Community workers and volunteers wearing face masks sort and pack groceries from a supermarket purchased through group orders after supermarkets stopped selling to individuals, in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, in Hubei Province, China on Feb. 24, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

US Intelligence: CCP Virus Not Manmade or Genetically Modified

The CCP virus wasnt manmade or genetically modified, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the head of the U.S. intelligence community (IC), stated that the community concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified.

The office didnt state how it came to the conclusion.

The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan, the office said in the April 30 statement.

The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, originated in China in 2019 before spreading around the world, infecting millions, and killing hundreds of thousands.

An aerial view shows the P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei Province on April 17, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images)

The area where it emerged is near the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a high-level laboratory where scientists study how coronaviruses leap from animals to humans.

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that circulate among animals that can, in rare cases, jump from animals to humans before starting to spread from person to person.

Yuan Zhiming, director of the National Biosafety Laboratory at the lab, told Reuters in a statement that the lab didnt have the capacity to design a new coronavirus and that no information within the CCP virus genome indicates it was manmade. He also said the lab didnt accidentally release a virus it harvested from bats for research.

The Chinese regime has blocked access to the Wuhan lab, U.S. officials said on April 29.

Chinese virologist Dr. Shi Zhengli inside the P4 laboratory, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in Wuhan, capital of Chinas Hubei Province, on Feb. 23, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Look, we still havent gained accessthe world hasnt gained access to the WIV, the virology institute there, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. We dont know precisely where this virus originated from.

Communist officials have spread conspiracy theories that the United States originally took the virus to China before its emergence, but no evidence supports that claim.

President Donald Trump told reporters earlier in April that U.S. officials were doing a very thorough examination of the situation. Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that U.S. officials have taken a keen interest in the origin of the virus and intelligence personnel have taken a hard look at it.

I would just say at this point, its inconclusive, although the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural, but we dont know for certain, he said.

Bowen Xiao contributed to this report.
Douglas R. Green, Ph.D., chair of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Department of Immunology and Peter C. Doherty Endowed Chair of Immunology at St. Jude, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Green is one of 120 new members and 26 international members elected this year by the renowned society of scholars in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Green's research focuses on the process of active cell death and cell survival, extending from the role of cell death in cancer regulation and immune responses in the whole organism to the molecular events directing the death of the cell. Currently one of the world's most highly cited researchers, Green has published more than 600 papers, chapters, commentaries and books. The second edition of his book Means to an End: Apoptosis and Other Cell Death Mechanisms was published in 2018.

"Dr. Green's election to the National Academy of Sciences is well-earned," said James R. Downing, M.D., St. Jude president and CEO. "He has dedicated his career to understanding the mechanisms of cell death and the broader realm of immunology--and his work has progressed understanding about how the body uses cell death to defend against diseases. These discoveries hold the promise of yielding strategies for unleashing the immune response against malignant cancers and chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. We are excited to see where Dr. Green's research leads science in the coming years."

Established in 1863, the NAS is charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Scientists are elected by their peers to membership in the NAS for outstanding contributions to research. The organization is committed to furthering science in the United States, and its members are active contributors to the international scientific community. The National Academy of Sciences charter commits the Academy to provide scientific advice to the government "whenever called upon" by any government department.

"In addition to his remarkably impactful research, Dr. Green is passionate about helping other scientists succeed," said Charles Roberts, M.D., Ph.D., St. Jude executive vice president and director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Under his leadership, our Cancer Biology Program has been re-visioned to foster greater scientific exchange and collaboration among members. He has also developed and led a quarterly grant-writing program designed to mentor and help junior faculty successfully obtain funding. His energy is inspiring."

The 2020 National Academy of Sciences class brings the total number of active members to 2,403 and the total number of international members to 501. International members are nonvoting members of the Academy, with citizenship outside the United States.

"I am honored and humbled, more than words can properly express, to have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences," Green said. "This would not have been possible without the incredible support of our leadership, our donors, my wonderful laboratory and my fantastic colleagues at St. Jude. Thank you from the top of my heart, because the bottom of my heart is too full."

Prior to joining the St. Jude faculty in 2005, Green was at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology. Today, in addition to his roles in the St. Jude Department of Immunology, Green serves as co-leader of the Cancer Biology Program in the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center. He graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in biology. After training at MIT for a year, he returned to Yale to study immunology. He earned his Ph.D. from Yale in 1981.

Green is a recipient of many awards, including the Jurg Tschopp Prize for research on cell death (2017), the Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal of the Yale Graduate School Alumni Association (2018) and the International Cell Death Society Prize (2009). He is an honorary fellow of Trinity College in Dublin, an honorary Einstein Professor in China, a foreign fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and an honorary Ph.D. degree recipient from University Tor Vergata in Rome.

Green joins Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty, Ph.D.; Martine Roussel, Ph.D.; Charles Sherr, M.D., Ph.D.; Brenda Schulman, Ph.D.; and Robert Webster, Ph.D. as St. Jude faculty who are members of the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, this marks the twelfth appointment of a St. Jude faculty member to the collective National Academies. Doherty; Sherr; William E. Evans, Pharm.D.; James Downing, M.D.; Mary Relling, Pharm.D.; and Arthur Nienhuis, M.D., have previously been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

###

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food -- because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 00:04:24|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Somali Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed 19 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 601.

Fawziya Abikar, Health Minister of Somalia, said 18 of the cases were detected in Banadir where covers the capital Mogadishu, while one case was found in the regional South West State.

Abikar said six of the latest cases were male while 13 others were female patients with no death reported from samples tested in the past 24 hours.

The minister said 11 people recovered from the respiratory disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 31.

The majority of the cases, including the first fatality, have no travel history, signifying local transmission of COVID-19 amid a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) that further transmission of the virus can be expected.

Somalia has instituted measures to contain the possible spread of COVID-19, including closing schools, banning large gatherings and suspending international and domestic passenger flights.

Yet the UN refugee agency(UNHCR) said closures of markets and borders, the Gu rainy season and resulting floods, an impending infestation of desert locusts, a drop in imported food commodities, exports and remittances, have a combined devastating economic impact in Somalia that threatens to undermine the country's progress of the past decade.

UNHCR said on Thursday it requires 7 million U.S. dollars to scale up the preparedness and response to help reduce the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia.

According to UNHCR, Somalia's recorded increase in cases of local transmission puts the UN agency's persons of concern, including 2.6 million IDPs, 130,000 Somali refugee returnees, 15,000 asylum-seekers and 14,000 refugees at risk. Enditem
Coronavirus testing has reached record levels in Oregon with nearly 12,000 residents receiving results in the past week, according to state data analyzed by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Daily test results reported from last Thursday through Wednesday averaged more than 1,700. Thats up substantially from the daily average of about 1,300 over the preceding three weeks.

The sharp increase appears to be partially based on growing testing capacity and partially on loosened testing guidance. Some sick Oregonians were still being turned away for testing in mid-April even as kits sat unused. State officials relaxed their official guidance to doctors last week to encourage more testing.

We are seeing a significant increase in our daily testing over the past week or two, Dr. Thomas Jeanne, the states deputy health officer and deputy epidemiologist, told health officials during a weekly conference call this week.

Even with that progress Oregon remains in the bottom half nationally in testing per capita. Among those tested, about one in 20 Oregonians is infected with the coronavirus. State officials say expanded testing will be key in helping parts of Oregons economy reopen.

Oregons daily testing capacity is now approaching at least 3,600, according to state documents obtained by the newsroom through a public records request, meaning even more residents could still be tested.

That 3,600-test capacity includes only local hospital and health care systems and not commercial labs such as Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp.

The Oregon Health Authority has been monitoring how many tests health care systems could do for more than a month, state records show, but at times have been reluctant to release those counts.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state health officer and epidemiologist, told The Oregonian/OregonLive in mid-April that he didnt know the statewide testing capacity and said: For each of the systems out there, you would have to ask them. I dont have their capacity numbers.

But the newly released state records show that public health officials had compiled a dozen counts of the hospitals testing capacity. The figures showed the state had the ability to conduct up to about 2,200 tests a day at that point.

A spokesman for the Oregon Health Authority declined this week to say whether Sidelinger knew about the regular tallies or address why the agency didnt disclose them in response to the newsrooms questions.

The health authority this week also stood by what some health care providers believe are too restrictive guidelines on who should be tested for the new coronavirus.

The agency released data Tuesday from an unscientific survey of providers who voluntarily agreed to answer questions about testing in Oregon. The health authority launched its survey April 21, the same day it relaxed some parts of its testing guidance to physicians.

Ninety medical professionals responded to the survey, according to the health authority.

Some say Oregon's coronavirus testing guidance is too restrictive.

Just under half said testing guidance did not limit their ability to test patients. But nearly one-quarter said the states testing guidance was too restrictive; more than one-fifth said their own organizations guidance was too restrictive; and roughly one in six said guidance from the federal government was too restrictive. Respondents could check more than one answer.

In the weekly conference call with medical professionals, the health authority downplayed its testing guidance.

OHA guidance really is not restrictive, said Jeanne, the states deputy health officer, emphasizing that doctors have the discretion to order tests.

It depends on how your health system, or your clinic, or facility, is choosing to use it, he continued. But its not intended to restrict you, or allow testing, its really to provide guidance. Again, its up to you to decide who you can actually order a test on.

The state changed its guidance last week to say people with mild or no symptoms should call their provider to discuss whether they need to be evaluated. Up to then, the state had discouraged testing people with mild symptoms or no symptoms.

The states current guidance recommends testing for people with fever, cough or shortness of breath in high-risk groups, such as health care workers, nursing home residents, people 60 or older or those with underlying medical conditions.

But it still doesnt encourage testing everyone with those symptoms, unlike some other states, such as Utah.

Oregon also has not updated its guidance to cover an expanded list of coronavirus symptoms recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

State officials did not respond to a request for comment about whether the health authority would change its guidance to incorporate those new symptoms, which include chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of smell or taste.

Asked during Tuesdays conference call what doctors should tell frustrated Oregonians, in the face of media reports that some coronavirus tests had been going unused across the state, Jeanne said the authoritys testing guidance may again be eased  eventually.

We are continuing to revise our recommendations for who can be tested and expand that, he said. At this point were not recommending that everybody with symptoms can be tested yet.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
Northern Ireland needs Brexit clarity from a government "consumed" by the coronavirus emergency, the Belfast civil servant in charge of the country's preparations said. (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Northern Ireland needs Brexit clarity from a government "consumed" by the coronavirus emergency, the Belfast civil servant in charge of the country's preparations said.

Two scenarios have been drawn up at Stormont depending on whether or not the UK secures a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU.

Without one, the border protocol surrounding compliance with aspects of the Republic's system is expected to apply, senior official Andrew McCormick said.

He said: "Time is tight but what is needed from London is clarity on these issues."

Civil servants are assuming neither the UK nor Europe will request an extension of the one-year transition agreement due to run out at the end of the year.

The director general of international relations for the devolved administration gave evidence to a Stormont committee of Assembly members yesterday.

Admitting the focus had been on combating the coronavirus infection, he said: "The UK Government has also been consumed by, the bandwidth for activity has been dominated by the virus."

He added: "There is no lack of pressure from us at official level and then engagements at ministerial level pushing the UK Government for more clarity and resolution of the issues that matter to us."

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath labelled plans to stick to the end-of-year deadline as "ludicrous".

Mr McGrath, chairman of Stormont's Executive Office committee, said the government has refused to "shed its ideological fervour" and believes it will not be able to cope with dealing with Brexit as well as the pandemic.

"It is ludicrous that in these circumstances, the British Government refuses to shed its ideological fervour and admit that it is not possible to construct a new economic relationship with Europe in the short time left," he told yesterday's committee meeting. "Government bandwidth is stretched to its limit dealing with the public health emergency we're facing.

"I have no confidence that it can sustain the pressure of Brexit negotiations on top of that," he added.

A UK Government spokesperson said "the Prime Minister has made clear he has no intention of changing" the transition period deadline, adding: "We have worked closely with the devolved administrations at every step of this process and will continue to keep them updated on the progress of negotiations, to ensure we have a future relationship that works for all parts of the UK."
30.04.2020 LISTEN

A disability group based at Teshie Tsui Bleoo, More Hope for Disabled Foundation, wants to express its profound gratitude to corporate bodies and individuals who supported their members during the recent lockdown.

In a message of gratitude, Mr. Odey Mensah, President of More Hope for Disabled Foundation, said, Our members were amazed at the response to our appeal for support when the partial lockdown was announced to contain the Coronavirus Disease.

Mr. Mensah disclosed that, though they needed more to cater for their numerous members, they were greatly satisfied by the expression of love that highly mitigated the effects of the lockdown on them.

The show of love was great and we owe the donors much gratitude for making time to drop essential items like rice, eggs, oil and cash.

We cant forget the Gadangme Association of Zaragoza, Spain who gave us GHC1,000.00, the LEKMA Assembly, Dr. Hannah Louisa Bissue, one Alhaji Kartey, Mrs. Sackitey, Dr. Okoe Bright of Green Herbal Scientific Clinic, one Mr. Asare, Hopes of Africa and Major Spio Thompson, among others, who gave us food items and other relief items, he revealed.

Mr. Mensah also thanked the media, especially modernghana.com and accranews.ga for highlighting their appeal, leading to the support; he said some of the donors preferred anonymity thus their names are omitted. He appealed for more support as they strive to survive during this COVID 19 period.

On the Foundations plans for the future, Mr. Mensah said, they are seeking support for their members wishing to go into an apprenticeship and other ventures, with the view to eliminating the idea of dependency and begging.

We hope the good people of Ghana and corporate bodies would come to our rescue to empower Persons with Disability (PWDs), he pleaded.

More Hope for Disabled Foundation is an organization of Persons with Disability (PWDs) with a strong desire to empower themselves to play their part in national development.

They are made up of tailors, shoemakers, graphic designers, and other professionals. They seek to create employment opportunities for PWDs in various areas.
KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2020 - 00:28 | All, Japan

Emperor Naruhito on Friday marked one year since he ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne, with he and Empress Masako searching for their role in modern times while continuing his parents' efforts to heal the wounds of war and disasters.

The past year has been full of celebrations and ceremonies associated with his enthronement, which marked the start of the new Reiwa imperial era, although in recent months the imperial couple have been forced to stay out of the public eye due to the new coronavirus epidemic.

After former Emperor Akihito, 86, abdicated on April 30 last year, the first Japanese monarch to step down in about 200 years, Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne that lacks political power the next day, inheriting the imperial regalia of mirror, sword and jewel as well as seals.

The 60-year-old emperor pledged at the time to fulfill his role as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people of Japan," as stated in the Constitution, while "always turning my thoughts to the people and standing with them."

He has visited a number of Japanese cities and taken part in events since then, including a ceremony to mark 74 years since Japan's surrender in World War II at which he expressed "deep remorse," repeating the expression used by his father every year since 2015 in a clear sign he intends to follow in his father's footsteps.

The emperor and empress extended their sympathies to the victims of Typhoon Hagibis, which hit wide areas of Japan in October and encouraged those severely affected in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures in December.

When meeting with the typhoon victims, the imperial couple often bent down and looked into their eyes, a style established by former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko.

The "Sokuirei Seiden no gi" ceremony on Oct. 22 was a highlight of the enthronement events, at which he formally proclaimed himself to be the emperor before 2,000 guests, including some 420 dignitaries from about 190 countries and international organizations.

The ceremony, equivalent to a coronation, and the court banquet held after the rite brought under the spotlight the new imperial diplomacy of the couple. The emperor is the first Japanese monarch to have studied abroad and the empress is a Harvard- and Oxford-educated former diplomat.

The series of events also highlighted the remarkable recovery of the empress, 56, who has long suffered from stress-related illness, as she greeted guests including U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

"She has completed a number of rites and events in the past year and the confidence that came with them has enabled her to perform the next," said a close aide.

When she was crown princess, she was largely absent from public events due to her illness, but the empress has managed to participate in all the scheduled events since last May, including the elaborate "Daijosai," a Shinto thanksgiving ceremony.

On Nov. 14 and 15, Emperor Naruhito made offerings to ancestral deities and prayed for the peace and prosperity of Japan and its people in buildings constructed solely for the ritual and taken apart soon afterward.

After all the enthronement rites were completed in December, the emperor thanked people for their support, saying at a press conference ahead of his 60th birthday on Feb. 23, "One of the most memorable moments in the last 10 months was being given heartfelt congratulations by many people."

He also said he would like to explore new activities in responding to social changes.

The emperor was initially scheduled to greet the public at the Imperial Palace to celebrate his birthday, but the event was canceled for the first time since 1996 amid concerns over the coronavirus spreading in Japan.

The imperial couple have been receiving updates on the virus crisis from medical experts, including a private lecture at the palace on April 10 by Shigeru Omi, a member of a government panel discussing the response to the outbreak.

"I sincerely hope that people will further come together and join their forces in overcoming the difficult situation," the emperor said before the lecture, a speech disclosed by the Imperial Household Agency in a rare move. An aide to the emperor said it was intended as a message to the public.

The couple's first overseas trip after his enthronement, scheduled for Britain in May, has been cancelled due to the pandemic, while a ceremony scheduled for April 19 to formally announce Crown Prince Fumihito, 54, the emperor's younger brother, as first in line to the throne has also been postponed.

Shingo Haketa, a former chief of the Imperial Household Agency, said the past year has probably been "a year of searching by (the emperor) for how a symbol (of the state) should be, based on the needs of the times and his own thoughts."

"It is a never-ending challenge to find what role a symbolic emperor should play and what specifically he should do in the changing times," Haketa said.
CNNs Jake Tapper was brutally direct in his question to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who recently lifted his states stay-at-home order, in favor of a gradual reopening of business. Are you worried, Tapper asked, that a premature move could cost your constituents their lives?

Polis was blandly indirect in his answer. While he might wish to have next weeks information and next months information available to me today, the Democratic governor said, thats not the world we live in. During a pandemic that likely will continue for months, hes looking for a path forward in an ongoing sustainable way, one that takes into account citizens interests psychologically, economically, and from a health perspective.

The murkiness of Polis reply requires translation. To my ear, he was saying something like this: Yes, some people are going to die of Covid-19 who wouldnt if I keep a full lockdown in place. I hope not too many or too fast. But keeping the risk of death as low as possible imposes other costs that are too high, and my job is to balance competing goals.

Lets suppose this is a reasonably fair interpretation. You could call Polis argument provocative: No wonder he speaks so circuitously when what he really thinks is so cruel. Alternatively, you could call his argument banal: There is no one on any side of the shutdown debate who has not made saving lives a top priority, but also no one in a position of authority who has made this the exclusive priority.

The real question is less philosophical (Are you willing to cost your constituents their lives?) than practical (What is your tolerance for some uncertain number of additional deaths against some certain benefits of resuming regular life?).

Like Polis, I am willing to accept that some people must die in order to accommodate the return to whatever the post-pandemic version of normal is. Perhaps unlike Polis, I have a strong preference that some people doesnt end up including me. Ill extend the same wish for anyone who happens to be reading this column. The fact that the governorlike his Republican counterpart in Georgia, Brian Kemp, like Nancy Pelosi or Donald Trumpdoesnt know specifically who will die of coronavirus makes their choice of how fast to open less excruciating but no less profound in its moral implications.

Story continues

Colorado Governor Jared Polis speaks during a news conference to update the state's efforts to stop the spread of the new coronavirus Wednesday, April 22, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Thats why I found Polis foggy words in their own way brilliantly illuminating of how the pandemic is a signal moment in Americas ideological wars.

For most of the past several decades, denunciation of moral relativism was a mainstay of conservative attacks on liberalism. A moral relativist, by these lights, is someone who thinks that if it feels good, do it; who believes that values are no more than personal preference; who does not believe in fixed notions of right and wrong. Moral relativism, to conservatives, was an engine of American decline, and attacks on this flawed way of living were an engine of Republican electoral success.

The pandemic highlights a different way of understanding relativism. It is not that values are no more than a matter of taste, in the way that you like pistachio but I like vanilla. It is to acknowledgein a way our politics usually does notthat any important value is inevitably, at key moments, in competition with other important values. Individual liberties are in tension with public order. Respect for tradition is in tension with tolerance for diversity. And, yes, averting some number of tragic deaths from coronavirus is in tension with the need for a much larger number of people to resume lifesometime after it is no longer reckless to do so but sometime before it is perfectly safe.

An honest brand of politics, which we urgently need, admits the tension and tries in good faithwith reference to evolving evidence and with acknowledgment of uncertaintyto resolve it in the public interest. A dishonest brand of politics, of which we are wearily familiar, assumes a pose of superiority and certitude, and cares about evidence mostly as it can be deployed as a weapon or shield in a partisan argument that began long before the issue at hand and will continue long after.

Its worth noting the shift in worldviews. During the pandemic, conservatives are much more likely to be relativistseveryone dies of something eventually so lets keep this disease in perspectivewhile liberals generally are quicker to assume the absolutist stancelets stay shut down for as long as health experts tell us we need to save lives.

Is this getting a bit too philosophical? Who cares about moral relativism when what we really need are more masks, more gloves, more wipes, and, above all, more coronavirus tests?

One answer is that skill in navigating conflicting values, as we all are clumsily learning to do during the shutdown, is going to be in high demand in other great issues shadowing the next several decades. Combating climate change requires balancing one compelling value, the freedom of individual people and companies to pursue their interests, against the value of protecting the long-term health of the planet. Humane use of artificial intelligence pits attractive goals (public safety, market demand) against other imperatives (privacy, the economic security of workers). The Pandemic Generation has seen its future.

Another answer is that philosophical debates often drive events in much more consequential ways than first meet the eye.

Denunciations of cultural drift caused by moral relativism drove Newt Gingrichs vault to power in the 1990s. Author James Mann in his book Rise of the Vulcans showed how many of the neoconservative architects and promoters of the Iraq War, such as Paul Wolfowitz and William Kristol, had been in or around the orbit of thinkers associated with University of Chicago philosopher Leo Strauss and his disciple Allan Bloom, who wrote the 1987 bestseller, The Closing of the American Mind.

Strauss and Bloom believed in absolutes of right and wrong, and that a highly educated class of elites should have self-confidence in imposing their standards. Years after their deaths, some of their intellectual descendants proved in a war that was far longer and messier than they envisioned that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was right in noting that certitude is not the test of certainty.

In the current context, I did not hear Polisor for that matter most governors of either partyspeaking with the kind of brazen self-assurance that we associate with George W. Bushs Mission Accomplished banner during Iraq or Trumps Feb. 26 boast that within days the number of U.S. coronavirus infections would be close to zero. Although he is lifting legal prohibitions earlier than many health experts recommend, Polis still backs extensive social distancing, is urging people who can still work at home to do so, and pledged he would reevaluate the states policy regularly in the face of new evidence in coming months.

Is he acting too soon? Maybe. Tapper seemed a bit incredulous, as he ended the interview, Alright, governor, I hope it goes well. But whether too soon or just right, Polis is navigating a zone of uncertainty and competing goals that is precisely the one 49 other governors are navigating, too, not to mention every worker heading back to the job sooner or later.

"We have to make the best informed decisions, Polis said, based on data and science with the information we have."


Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie (R), in his April 26 Sunday Opinion column, Dont let our covid-19 response be governed by extremes, suggested that to remain safe we must require that . . . public venues institute temperature checks for everyone as a condition of entry. While there are many things we dont know about the novel coronavirus, one thing we know for certain is that some of those infected are shedding the virus long before they show symptoms. Once an infected patient shows a fever, we know that he or she has likely been infecting others for up to two weeks.
Washington: In the days following the capture of an American contractor in Afghanistan earlier this year, Navy commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network while the US intelligence community tried to track the cellphones of the man and his captors, The Associated Press has learned.

While the circumstances surrounding the abduction remain unclear, the previously unreported operation described by multiple American officials over the past month shed new light on early efforts to locate Mark R. Frerichs. The disappearance several months ago of the contractor from Illinois has been shrouded in mystery, and the case has been the subject of minimal public discussion by the US government.

The new details emerge as violence and political infighting in Kabul threaten to scuttle a Taliban peace deal with the US Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced frustrations after a failed attempt to mediate a power struggle between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political rival Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. The Trump administration said it would cut $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan.

Washington has urged Kabul to release Taliban prisoners, which is part of the peace agreement, arguing the detainees were at risk of spreading the coronavirus.

But there are no public indications Frerichs, a Navy veteran, has been part of negotiations between the US and Taliban leadership, or that his release is part of any peace deal.

The Taliban kidnapped my brother in January. In February, the US signed a peace deal with the Taliban. My brother wasnt part of the deal. Now we are arranging for the Taliban and Afghan government to exchange thousands of prisoners, Charlene Cakora, one of Frerichs sisters, said in a statement provided to the AP. Why cant we make an American hostage be one of them?

Frerichs' father, Art, said in a statement that though he has faith in President Donald Trump and Pompeo, I just need them to tell their people negotiating with the Taliban that America wont lift a finger until my son comes home. Hes a veteran. This is America. We dont leave people behind.

The Pentagon and US Special Operations Command declined to comment on the SEALs raid. The rescue effort is being coordinated through the FBI-led, multiagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which said in a statement that it was working with its partners to ensure that Mark Frerichs and all Americans held hostage abroad are returned home. It encouraged anyone with information about the case to come forward.

The State Department said it was aware of an American whod been abducted in Afghanistan.

The welfare, safety and security of Americans is the Trump Administrations highest priority, the department said. The United States will continue to push for the safe return of this and all other US citizens through all relevant channels.

A former US national security official who is advising the Frerichs family said he urged Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to resolve the situation and that "he is aware of Marks presence, but it does not appear yet that he understands that he needs to get him home. The former official insisted on anonymity to speak candidly since the official sometimes works with the Trump administration.

US officials believe Frerichs, 57, of Lombard, Illinois, was held for at least some time in Khost, an eastern province along the border with Pakistan and its so-called tribal regions, a mountainous area that has historically been a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

The former national security official said that Frerichs has been in Afghanistan for about a decade working on commercial projects and was not a US government contractor.

The first 96 hours is crucial, a senior US government official briefed on the case told the AP on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If theyre not recovered in the first few days, it becomes harder every minute after.

Though no formal demands are known to have been made, US intelligence officials believe Frerichs was captured by members of the Haqqani network, a militant group aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Haqqanis have strong links to North Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan, south of Afghanistan's Khost province.

The Obama administration designated the Haqqani network as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012 for its ties with the Taliban and the group's attacks on US military and civilian personnel. Though the Haqqanis are known to carry out assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, Taliban leadership has not acknowledged Frerichs' capture.

I have not received any information about him, said a Taliban source who asked not to be named. There has been no clue despite my contacts with every side to get information.

In November, the Afghan government released three prominent members of the Haqqani network in exchange for an American citizen and an Australian professor abducted in 2016. Pompeo characterized the prisoner swap as a goodwill gesture.

Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and Army veteran who led the teams that searched for Bowe Bergdahl after the Army soldier abandoned his post in 2009 and wound up captured by the Taliban, said the Taliban frequently hides American hostages until they can move them over the border into Pakistan.

I have real concerns about suggestions that the Taliban are serious about peace, that the Taliban are upholding their end of the deal when  as we speak today  they are holding a former Navy veteran and American citizen hostage that they took, again, during the peace negotiations, Waltz said in an interview.

The search area for Frerichs began in Khost and extended south to the province of Kandahar, according to the senior US government official and a second official at the Defense Department.

Members of the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group, more familiarly known as SEAL Team Six, who were involved in the Frerichs effort had spent late January working to recover the bodies of two American service members who died when their aircraft crash-landed in Ghazni in central Afghanistan, according to the two US officials.

The bitter winter weather that limited overhead surveillance of the airplane wreckage by U.S. military drones also worked against officials during the later SEAL operation on the night of Feb. 3. Periods of poor-to-nonexistent visibility ultimately delayed a planned intelligence-gathering operation on a known Taliban location, said the senior U.S. government official, who has direct knowledge of the raid.

Once the weather cleared, the SEALs loaded onto helicopters and flew to the undisclosed location. The senior official declined to disclose the exact location of the province for operational security reasons.

The senior US government official and the Defense Department source with knowledge of the raid, who also requested anonymity, said the SEAL platoon was not met with any Taliban resistance and that once at the compound, they detained several alleged Haqqani militants and uncovered a weapons cache. Its not known if the weapons cache was destroyed at the scene or given to Afghan security forces.

The suspected Haqqani members were questioned about Frerichs whereabouts and ultimately turned over to the Afghan government, according to the senior U.S. government official.

On Feb. 4, American intelligence officials received a report that Frerichs had possibly been moved to Quetta, Pakistan, a historical haven for the Taliban, the two officials said. But the information was deemed not credible enough to warrant a special operations mission, according to the senior U.S. government official.

The report also conflicted with signals intelligence U.S. officials had at the time. Signals intelligence is information gathered from the electronic signals that are broadcast from devices like portable radios and cellphones. The information can be used to track the movements of individuals or eavesdrop on conversations, known in the spy business as low-level voice intercepts.

US intelligence officials continued to receive location pings from the suspected cellphones of Frerichs and his captors, but the trail went cold on Feb. 5, according to the senior U.S. government and Defense Department officials.

While the senior US government official would not say where exactly the last location ping for Frerichs came from, the official said it was near where he was captured. The AP was not able to determine how the US intelligence community knew to target these specific cellphones to monitor.

Operationally, the reason why time is critical in a kidnapping is because you can close the distance quicker, ideally immediately or by utilizing sources, said the senior US government official. This is not the case right now. He could be two houses down from where he was taken and we would not know.
The federal government is considering the option of home-care treatment for COVID-19 patients as some states are running out of bed spaces, an official has said.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Thursday.

Mr Ihekweazu said the country has about 3,500-bed spaces identified as available for COVID-19 patients.

He, however, said more bed spaces will be needed as the number of COVID-19 cases increases in the country

Concerning the availability of bed spaces for the management of patients, there is no doubt that we are struggling in certain places especially in Lagos State, and to an extent Kano and Abuja. But the biggest challenge right now is in Lagos where bed spaces are really tight.

Across the country we have about 3,500 bed spaces identified as available for coronavirus but in Lagos, we are already struggling.

So, we are going to work with them to keep trying to make more spaces available, he said.

As of April 30, a total of 1,728 persons have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in Nigeria. Although 307 persons have been successfully treated and discharged, 51 deaths have been recorded.

Nigerias COVID-19 cases have increased rapidly in the past week with the country recording its highest daily figure (196) on Wednesday.

New strategy

The NCDC boss said there are considerations of home treatment in certain circumstances.

But ultimately, we might have to change that strategy a little bit and start considering homecare in certain circumstances where  firstly you are able to provide a room where a patient can be managed sufficiently and secondly, we are able to support the care by enabling healthcare workers to come there.

We will always be honest with Nigerians. We are struggling at the moment and we might have to adapt our strategies because of the realities we face.

Over the next few days and weeks, and as we do that, we will make that clear to Nigerians.

Our policy hasnt changed but the pressure is there and that might have to change in the next few days, he said.

Adequate facilities

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, appealed to individuals and group of persons who own properties, especially hotels, to make them available for use in cases of an emergency.

He said the country needs adequate facilities to isolate and treat persons confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 virus.

He also said additional manpower has been brought in from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), to assist in containing the community transmission of the virus.

Bed spaces and isolation centres at state level need to match the increase and necessitates an appeal to all citizens, especially property and hotel owners, to recognize the imminent needs and the social responsibility of working with state governments to make facilities available for temporary use in emergency situations.

It is of concern to us all that everything should not be left to government alone. We must all take collective ownership of the health and wellbeing of our citizens, he said.

Mr Ehanire noted that primary health care workers and community mobilisers would be trained to identify new cases and drive demand for COVID-19 testing.

This ensures that health services provision does not suffer at the primary health care level, but also that health workforce remains safe. NPHCDA will anchor community engagement and mobilisation for COVID-19, he said.
The Ontario seniors home with the most deaths related to COVID-19 has a lengthy history of failing to comply with provincial rules designed to protect long-term-care residents.

A Star review of Ministry of Long-Term Care inspection reports from the last five years found that Orchard Villa long-term-care home in Pickering has faced a litany of citations for non-compliance with regulations and previous ministry orders, including those around ensuring living areas are kept clean and sanitary; protecting residents from staff abuse; meeting residents continence and toileting needs; and preventing falls.

To date, more than 200 residents and staff of the 233-bed Orchard Villa have been infected with COVID-19, while 52 residents have died from the virus.

April Beckett, a spokesperson for Southbridge Care Homes, owner of Orchard Villa, told the Star the companys full attention is focused on the needs of its residents as it works to manage the COVID-19 outbreak at the home and it could not commit resources to address specific details of its inspection history.

Beckett said the company has made significant progress since taking ownership of the home in 2015, adding that it co-operates transparently with the ministry in all inspections and work(s) to quickly resolve any areas noted for improvement or required action.

Last week, Durham Regions medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Kyle, ordered Orchard Villa to address the immediate risk of COVID-19 to residents and staff of this home, and a team from Lakeridge Health was sent in to lead the homes response to the outbreak.

The home is one of the facilities where members of the Canadian Armed Forces were sent to assist staff.

Beckett, in her statement to the Star, said resident complaints or incident reports are immediately filed with the ministry to ensure potential issues are recognized early.

We abide by all legislative requirements for hiring qualified staff. That said, there has been a chronic challenge to achieve adequate staffing in long-term-care homes across the country for a number of years, Beckett said. It is an issue that COVID-19 has highlighted, but it is one we have been actively working to address for some time with government partners, provincial associations, and through collaborative efforts with other providers in the sector.

Our commitment, now and always, is to our residents and providing the care we know they expect of us, she added.

The Star reviewed inspection reports from December 2019, the most recent to be made public, back to July 2015, around the time when Southbridge Care Homes took ownership. During that time, Orchard Villa underwent 34 ministry inspections, two dozen of which led to a combined 127 notices of failure to comply with the Long-Term Care Homes Act and its regulations. Among them were two incidents in which doctors were not notified immediately after patients were injured and found bleeding. In one case, the senior died hours later.

All inspection findings were made before the COVID-19 outbreak at the home.

Seniors advocates say long-term-care facilities records of compliance or non-compliance with provincial legislation raise questions about the ability of some homes to handle the exceptional challenges that come with a pandemic.

I think that the inspections reports provide you with a window into issues that a home is having and allow the public, as well as the government, to see whether or not homes are able to provide the care as required under the legislation, said Jane Meadus, a lawyer with the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly. So if a home has a problem or many problems in a time of relative normalcy, its ability to manage a pandemic where there are far more problems and issues is going to be affected.

In April 2019, following three anonymous complaints, Orchard Villa was cited for failing to ensure that a sufficient supply of clean linens, face cloths and bath towels was always available for residents use.

The inspection report indicates that the availability of clean linens and towels fluctuated at different times and in different areas of the home. On one occasion, an inspector found, in one resident home area, four beds stripped to the mattress and there was no linen available to make the beds. No towels or face cloths in any resident rooms. There were no towels in the spa room. The linen cupboard contained bedspreads, blankets, and one flat sheet.

The home was told to come up with a voluntary plan of correction to address the problem.

The Ministry of Long-Term Care conducts several different types of inspections: those based on complaints; reports of critical incidents  serious incidents affecting the well-being of residents, such as fires, unexpected or sudden deaths, missing residents, and disease outbreaks; and followup inspections to determine if past complaints orders have been addressed. It also conducts resident quality inspections, which it calls a comprehensive inspection of the home designed to take a fuller look at several aspects of resident life; these inspections involve interviews with random samples of residents.

The last time Orchard Villa was the subject of a resident quality inspection was two years ago.

When you have companies that have two years of no full inspections, its really hard to know whats going on in those homes and what is causing them to have a really bad problem, said Meadus.

If youre not inspecting them, you dont know how theyre doing.

Gillian Slogget, a spokesperson for Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton, said every long-term-care home is inspected at least once a year and that the ministry completed 2,882 inspections in 2019.

Ministry inspectors conduct inspections to ensure that long-term-care homes are safe and well operated, and are meeting all the requirements in the Act and Regulation while thousands of health-care providers in Ontario work to provide a high quality of care to residents, said Slogget, who added that the ministry has redeployed inspectors to use their skills and experience to best guide and support the long-term-care system through the COVID-19 crisis.

She added that resident quality inspections are just one type of inspection the ministry uses.

At the time of its resident quality inspection in 2018, Orchard Villa was cited for six compliance failures, and given one compliance order related to medication administration. The ministry ordered Southbridge Care Homes to ensure that three residents in particular and all other residents are administered medications in accordance with the directions for use specified by the prescriber. Inspectors noted that in one case, an incorrect dosage of medication was given to a resident, and, in two other cases, no medication was administered at all. The report notes that the residents did not suffer harm as a result.

Marie Tripp, whose mother, Mary Walsh, was a resident of the home over the last year, says she complained to Orchard Villa about the treatment her mother was receiving. Walsh died on April 20 at the age of 89 after contracting COVID-19.

It started from lack of communication with one nurse, in particular, and she was not communicating through the log book, Tripp alleges.

Tripp says her mother underwent skin cancer surgery while living at the home and was prescribed painkillers. She says she gave it to a nurse at Orchard Villa, but somehow the receipt of the medication wasnt logged. Only after repeated questioning did the home log the medication, she claimed.

When asked about Walshs case, Southbridge Care Homes Beckett said the organization was not at liberty to disclose private information about any of its current or former residents to the media.

Tripp says that after the home was put in lockdown in mid-March, she visited her moms window every day. She and her two daughters put up notes and posters in the window and windmills in the bushes outside to cheer Walsh up.

After her mother died, Tripp says she began to go through Orchard Villas inspection reports but says she has no idea if her complaints were reported by the home to the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

I honestly believe, just my opinion, that it was all dealt with internally, so its not on that list, Tripp says.

An inspection report from April 2016 that issued 19 non-compliance notices found nurses at Orchard Villa failed to contact a doctor as required. The report details how two personal support workers were transferring a resident from a wheelchair to a bed using a mechanical ceiling lift when the residents medical equipment became entangled with the lift. The PSWs heard the resident cry out and observed the resident was in discomfort and bleeding. An hour and a half later the resident was found with vital signs decreasing and was taken to hospital and assessed by a specialist. Later that day, the resident was transferred back to Orchard Villa, where they were found dead four hours later.

The homes director of care at the time told the inspector that the personal support workers assisting the resident werent following the homes Safe Lifting with Care Program and that nursing staff should have contacted the residents physician when the resident continued to experience bleeding. The director of care also told the inspector that they were unaware that a sudden and unexpected death required an immediate notification to the ministrys compliance branch director; it wasnt until 15 hours later that the death was reported.

That same inspection report found Southbridge Care Homes failed to ensure that suspected abuse of a resident  namely financial abuse  was immediately reported to the ministry. The compliance problem was based on an interview with two residents in November 2015 who alleged that $270 and $40, respectively, went missing from their possessions. Inspectors found that there was a documented record of the missing money in one case, but not the other. The inspection report notes that the home administrator confirms that he did not complete or submit a report to the ministrys compliance branch director as required.

In July 2015, the home was cited for failing to comply with the Act after a resident with a cognitive impairment fell and was found on the floor in a pool of blood, with blood on the bedside drapes.

The report notes that the resident was identified as having an extreme high risk for falls and had already fallen five times during the year. The inspection report notes that the physician was not notified of the fall and resulting injuries. Instead, nursing staff tended to the wounds with bandages that became saturated with blood. The Registered Practical Nurse on duty told inspectors the physician was not called because they were fearful of waking the physician during the night.

It took seven hours before the residents family was contacted, at which point the resident was transferred to hospital and treated.

Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of the national seniors advocacy group CanAge, said inspection reports can also reveal the lack of funding for infrastructure and staffing in the long-term-care system.

When we look at inspection reports, we have to not just see whats happening at that moment of time at that home, but we must take a step back and say, are we funding so that homes can meet the standards that are required?

I say we are not.
Members of the USFK Korean Employees Union stage a protest in front of Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, April 1, when nearly half of the Korean staff at U.S. military bases here were placed on unpaid leave in the absence of the defense cost-sharing deal. / Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



Seoul is standing firm against Washington's repeated pressure for a hefty increase in its share of the cost for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong United States Forces Korea (USFK) stationed here. Although the lack of deal has put thousands of Korean workers at U.S. military bases on unpaid leave, the government is not accepting the U.S. demand, but instead responding by setting up special laws to support the workers.



"Korea and the U.S. are still in negotiations over the defense cost-sharing deal and nothing has been officially decided yet," the foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday.



Cheong Wa Dae also said that the allies were still in talks, adding that there was nothing new to reveal.



The government' statements came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters that Korea would shoulder more of the cost, although he did not specify the amount.



"We can make a deal. They want to make a deal," Trump was quoted as saying. "They've agreed to pay a lot of money. They're paying a lot more money than they did when I got here in January 2017."



Since 1991, Korea has partially funded the U.S. troops' stay under the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) and the contributions are used to cover the wages of the 8,600 Korean workers as well as payment for construction projects and logistical support.



The two sides have held seven rounds of talks  between September 2019 and March 20  to renew the SMA for 2020, but the government has refused to accept Trump's demand for a sharp increase in this year's payment. The U.S. president wants Korea to pay $4 billion a year, around quadruple the amount paid for last year, while the government has proposed an increase of around 10 percent.



Diplomatic experts said Trump's remarks were made as part of efforts to put pressure on Korea.



"I think he suggested that Korea pay more of the cost as Korea has offered an increase in the negotiations," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University.



Late last month, Trump urged the Korean government to pay more for the USFK, saying he had rejected Korea's offer of a 13 percent increase from the previous cost-sharing accord.



Park predicted that the SMA talks may be protracted.



"So far, the government has shown no signs of making a fresh proposal to the U.S. In addition, the two heads of state have made it clear that there will be no bargaining from their respective positions. So there is little room for negotiation, which could be a political burden," he said.



Last week, a local media outlet reported, citing multiple government officials, that President Moon Jae-in had repeatedly said the 13-percent increase was Korea's best offer.



Amid the stalled SMA negotiations, the National Assembly passed a bill for a special law, Wednesday, paving the way for the government to pay the wages of furloughed Korean workers in advance.



Starting April, 4,000 out of 8,600 Korean staff were placed on unpaid leave for an indefinite period.



Under the special law, the government will provide relief funds to support the livelihoods of the affected Korean workers if their wages are not paid due to the delay in the SMA negotiations.



According to the defense ministry, each person will receive a payment ranging from 1.8 million won ($1,490) to 1.98 million won per month, about 70 percent of their salaries, a similar allowance for jobseekers under employment insurance programs. This will require a monthly budget of 7.5 billion won.



The government plans to pay the money first and then deduct the amount from its due payment to the U.S. under the SMA framework to be agreed on later. Last month, the government informed the U.S. of this plan but is still waiting for a response.



During the seven rounds of talks, the government suggested that the allies conclude a deal on personnel expenditure first, but the U.S. rejected the proposal, saying such a partial agreement could distract from reaching a comprehensive SMA.


Horse-Drawn Buggy Accident in Kentucky Kills 4 Children, 1 Still Missing

Authorities in Kentucky said a horse-drawn buggy carrying an Amish family was swept away by a flooded creek while making an attempt to cross a low water bridge on April 29.

The horse pulling the buggy lost its footing and slipped, Kentucky State Police said in a statement.

The horse-drawn buggy was holding six people when it overturned Wednesday in Bath County, Kentucky. Four people reported to be children were found dead by first-responders, while one child remained missing as of Thursday morning.

Police said they searched for the fifth child throughout the night. The ages or identities of the victims have not been released.

One adult survived the horrific accident and was able to escape the waters and call emergency responders.

An Amish buggy makes its way down the road in the town of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 5 2006. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

Witness Missi Mosley told WKYT that she and her boyfriend had rushed to the scene after hearing the call.

It was devastating, Mosley told the outlet. The waters are so swift and the rain was pouring down. It was just a somber feeling.

The search and rescue crew worked along the banks of the flooded creek, WBRC reported. Mosley said at one point, about 35 people offered help to rescue the family.

Emergency responders also called in helicopters to help locate the victims, and many people scoured the area throughout the night.

Mosley also told WKYT, two witnesses located the horse and were able to pull it out of the water.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) - The Department of Interior and Local Government has assured that COVID-affected families who have not received the first payment of the state cash assistance due them, will finally get the money together with the second tranche of the financial aid.

Yung di pa nakakatanggap, matatanggap nila yan kasama ng second tranche. Kailangan kasi ma-validate yung hindi nakatanggap, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano told CNN Philippines News Night on Thursday.

[Translation: Those who have not yet received their cash subsidy will receive it along with the second tranche. It has to be validated first those who have not yet received their subsidies.]

The DILG has granted a seven-day extension to local government units in Metro Manila and six other high density areas to complete their distribution of the cash subsidies to needy families.

Ano said that LGUs have to liquidate the first wave of cash aid to avoid a delay in receiving the second tranche.

Then they have to liquidate immediately, even partial liquidation as they go on, so they can immediately receive the second tranche, he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said that only 104 out of 1,634 LGUs have so far completed the cash aid distribution.
As uncertainty surrounds chief minister Uddhav Thackerays nomination to the legislative council and Maharashtra stares at a constitutional crisis, experts differ on whether governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari is duty-bound to nominate Thackeray to the House from his quota, as recommended by the state cabinet.

Thackeray has to get elected to one of the two Houses of the state legislature --- legislative council or the legislative assembly --- by May 27. Since he is not a member of any of the houses, he will, according to Article 164(4) of the Constitution, lose his post unless is he elected within six months from the date of taking oath (November 28).

Under Article 171 of the Constitution, the governor can nominate members to the legislative council from the fields of literature, science, art and social service. Social service has a wider scope and political leaders have been nominated in this category in the past. With the governor yet to take a call on the cabinets recommendation, Thackeray called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

In the wake of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, the Election Commission has put on hold elections to fill vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha, and all by-elections and civic body elections --- a development that has led to the uncertainty in Maharashtra.

The ruling Shiv Sena-Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine has alleged that the governor is not taking swift action. Technically, Thackeray can resign and take oath again as the chief minister after getting elected the leader of the ruling combine comprising the three parties.

While a section of constitutional experts said it is the governors decision alone, others argued that he has to go by the recommendations of the state cabinet.

If the governor decides that it will be his discretion under which the issue will be dealt with, then that cannot be questioned. The governor is bound to act on the advice of the council of ministers except when he chooses to address the issue under his own discretion, constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap said.

Kashyap said the governor can also refer an issue to the President, who, in turn, can seek the advice of the Supreme Court. The second issue is: should a nominated member be appointed a minister or the chief minister? At the Union level, no such appointments have been made in the last 70 years, but at the state level, there have been precedents in Bihar and Maharashtra. I personally feel that a nominated member being appointed a minister or the chief minister is against the spirit of democracy, though it is not illegal, he said.

But constitutional expert and former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said the governor cannot sit on a decision on a matter such as this, and has to go by the advice or recommendation of the state cabinet.

The governor has no other option but to accept it [the cabinets decision] and can, at best, seek a clarification from the government. But once the government gives its clarification, the governor cannot sit over it. I dont know why the governor is not taking a final decision on the issue, he said.

In our constitutional scheme, a governor cannot act independently and has no discretion in this matter because it is an executive function. Nominating a member to the legislative council and the Rajya Sabha is basically an executive act. And a governor acts only on the advice of council of ministers, Achary added.

The first recommendation to the governor by the state cabinet on Thackerays nomination was made on April 9. A delegation of leaders, led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, met the governor a second time on Wednesday to reiterate its demand.

Out of the total 78 members in the Maharashtra legislative council, 12 are nominated by the governor. There are two vacancies from the governors quota, after Rahul Narvekar and Ramrao Wadkute resigned from the council last year. While Wadkute resigned the NCP to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Narvekar got elected to the state assembly on a BJP ticket.

The ruling side also argues that section 151A of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 --- which some see as an impediment to Thackerays nomination --- does not apply in the present circumstances, especially at a time when the election commission has put all polling processes on hold.

This section mandates the election commission to fill vacancies in the Houses of Parliament and state legislatures through by-elections within six months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy, provided that the remainder of the term of a member in relation to a vacancy is one year or more. Terms of both the seats from where Thackeray can be nominated will end on June 6. The ruling side argues this section only deals with the election of member, and not his or her nomination.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said the provision does not necessarily mean that the seats in question will have to remain vacant.

The provision says elections need not be conducted if the term is less than a year, but if it is the Cabinets decision to fill those seats and since the governor is bound by the cabinets advice, there is nothing to say that the nomination would be illegal, he said.

Achary said there is no clarity in the law as far as the term of a nominated member is concerned.

I would say that a governor has to act only by the aid and advice of the council of ministers, irrespective of the term of a member. That shouldnt matter. Instead of sitting on the decision, the governor should seek clarifications from the council of ministers and take a decision, he said.

Mumbai-based political analyst Abhay Deshpande said the governor should accept the state cabinets recommendation because of the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Thackerays matter is different from the past cases. Thackeray is not getting a chance to get elected because the election commission has deferred the scheduled polls in view of the prevailing situation. If elections are not held, you are denying him a chance to get elected. Had elections been held on time, the chances of his elections were very good. So, you cant compare apples with oranges, he said.
Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We can see that China Futex Holdings Limited (HKG:8506) does use debt in its business. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

When Is Debt Dangerous?

Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company can't easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for China Futex Holdings

What Is China Futex Holdings's Net Debt?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at December 2019 China Futex Holdings had debt of CN48.9m, up from CN45.9m in one year. But on the other hand it also has CN148.3m in cash, leading to a CN99.3m net cash position.

SEHK:8506 Historical Debt April 30th 2020

How Healthy Is China Futex Holdings's Balance Sheet?

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that China Futex Holdings had liabilities of CN68.4m due within 12 months and no liabilities due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of CN148.3m as well as receivables valued at CN25.9m due within 12 months. So it actually has CN105.7m more liquid assets than total liabilities.

This excess liquidity is a great indication that China Futex Holdings's balance sheet is just as strong as racists are weak. On this view, lenders should feel as safe as the beloved of a black-belt karate master. Succinctly put, China Futex Holdings boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

Story continues

In fact China Futex Holdings's saving grace is its low debt levels, because its EBIT has tanked 23% in the last twelve months. When it comes to paying off debt, falling earnings are no more useful than sugary sodas are for your health. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is China Futex Holdings's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. So if you're keen to discover more about its earnings, it might be worth checking out this graph of its long term earnings trend.

Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. China Futex Holdings may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. During the last three years, China Futex Holdings produced sturdy free cash flow equating to 66% of its EBIT, about what we'd expect. This cold hard cash means it can reduce its debt when it wants to.

Summing up

While we empathize with investors who find debt concerning, you should keep in mind that China Futex Holdings has net cash of CN99.3m, as well as more liquid assets than liabilities. The cherry on top was that in converted 66% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in CN12m. So is China Futex Holdings's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for China Futex Holdings you should know about.

If, after all that, you're more interested in a fast growing company with a rock-solid balance sheet, then check out our list of net cash growth stocks without delay.

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.
T he number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has increased by 674  bringing the national total to 26,771.

It came as Boris Johnson led his first Downing Street press briefing since returning to office following his life-threatening brush with the disease.

He announced the death toll was 26,711 however data published by the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed it was 26,771.

Announcing for the first time, that the country had "passed the peak of the outbreak", the Prime Minister set out the latest updates on the epidemic.

He said that ahead of todays deadline for carrying out 100,000 tests a day, 81,611 were performed on Wednesday.

He also confirmed that 171,253 people have so far tested positive for the virus  an increase of 6,032 over night.

Of these, 15,043 coronavirus patients are in hospital, down from 15,359.

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Praising the public and the NHS for their "massive efforts," the PM said the country was on the "downward slope."

At no stage has our NHS been overwhelmed, no patient went without a ventilator, no patient was deprived of intensive care, we have five of the seven projected Nightingale wards, he said.

It is thanks to that massive collective effort to shield the NHS that we avoided an uncontrollable and catastrophic epidemic where the reasonable worst-case scenario was 500,000 deaths.

I can confirm today that for the first time we are past the peak of this disease.

We are past the peak and on the downward slope.

The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance confirmed there has been a decrease in the number of cases, as well as a decrease in the number of virus-related deaths.

He said: The number of new cases is down, thats turning into fewer admissions, fewer people in hospital, fewer people in intensive care and were beginning to see that decrease in deaths.

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It comes after NHS England reported 391 deaths overnight, while Scotland confirmed 60, Wales 22 and Northern Ireland nine  bringing the hospital death toll to 22,861.

Whereas figures previously focussed solely on hospital fatalities, as of Wednesday they must now also include those in the wider community.

Yesterday, Public Health England confirmed a total of 26,097 patients had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for the disease.

The total was around 17 per cent higher than previous data showed and included an additional 3,811 deaths recorded since the start of the outbreak.

Of these, around 70 per cent were outside hospital settings.

The change in measurement means the UK death toll is the third highest in the world, behind the US and Italy, based on data from Johns Hopkins University.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast
(Newser)  The Trump administration took some undeserved heat Wednesday after Bernie Sanders claimed it had released $100 commemorative COVID-19 coins. "If the White House Gift Shop is going to produce $100 COVID-19 coins, Trump can sure as hell utilize the Defense Production Act to manufacture the gloves, gowns, and masks our medical workers desperately need," Sanders tweeted, linking to a Daily Beast report. The report mentioned, however, that WhiteHouseGiftShop.com, which has the White House logo at the top of its page, is a privately run store. Talking Points Memo dug into the shop's origins in 2018 and determined it's "a private for profit company which has no connection to the White House or the Secret Service or any other government entity, despite that fact that it seems to go to some lengths to give the impression that it does."

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Other outlets seemed unaware of the fact. "The White House has elected to commemorate this historic time of the coronavirus pandemic with a coin that's on sale and ready to ship by summer," reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Various social media users saw the coin as in bad taste, whether or not it came from the White House. One side features a virus spore over a world map. "Together we fought the UNSEEN enemy," it reads in part. The other side features a White House podium and the names of the coronavirus task force members. The White House Gift Shop, which also sold coins commemorating the Space Force and Trump's 2018 summit with Kim Jong Un, says 100% of profits will go to "five major COVID-19 research hospitals." (Read more commemorative coin stories.)
By Jaya Prakash





Like a bolt from the blue, the coronavirus has hit us all without any warning. And true to the form and nature of a surprise "attack" it has left in its destructive trail nothing but an abomination.



What started as an outbreak in China is now a global pandemic without parallel in modern history except for the Spanish flu of 1918.



With each passing hour, day, week and month the body bags just keep piling up. With nothing of a clue on how to handle and bring the virus to heel, the world as it now seems is at its knees.



The United States to whom the world has always looked, for global leadership, appears mired in quandary, helpless and sclerotic. The rest of Europe is no different. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, while acknowledging an apology from the European Union, is also obliquely chastising the lack of resolve on the part of his European partners to come to Rome's quick aid.



Yet for all the handwringing and saying nothing of the clueless direction major well-funded and well-developed states of the West have now come to grips with, the sudden upside of COVID-19 is the unprecedented attention of governments in all places of the globe to the serious consideration of the health and safety of their people.



This may sound like a return to socialism on the altar of expediency, but that is just what nations demand now. Still, as matters go, if something must be said of the state of Western democracies they compare unfavorably with Asia in their handling of the crisis.



In most of Asia, the pandemic has somewhat ebbed. China where the outbreak first broke out is gradually opening up to business.



South Korea, which at one point was the most infected nation after China, has rung in an election that brought a landslide victory to President Moon Jae-in's ruling party. Moon's party may have grabbed the election win on account of the strict and somewhat anti-democratic measures taken to contain the virus. The virus could well have been Moon's "savior."



Now the nation and its president are basking in some well-deserved glory. "Glory," because their leader pushed all the right buttons in containing the virus; and glory again, that some of their not-so-democratic measures proved crucial, such as maintaining CCTV surveillance and the tracking of credit card and mobile phone usage to identify who to test in the first place.



Such an experiment, if anything, would prove outright bugaboo for many Western liberal states and would be shot down almost immediately!



If expediency has to be taken to its logical conclusion the coronavirus pandemic now represents the medical equivalent of war, requiring the full husbanding of all resources, unquestioned sacrifices and essentially the surrender of all entitlements!



Equal to war



That was not all Korea did. The crisis now before us befits a "wartime" situation thus forcing the nation to continually test its populace, restricting not just their movements but also their civil liberties. Large-scale testing was not just an intrusion, but it was so very necessary that barely a peep was raised over its overt intrusion into peoples' lives.



The exhaustive vetting of mobile phone transactions and usage gave authorities instant knowledge of the movements of its denizens such that the data could be collated on a national government website.



And with government notifications transmitted to everybody's mobile phones so as to make information public  something not allowed in the West  fighting the virus became "complete." On April 19, Seoul recorded for the first time since February the lowest number of new infections, at just eight cases in a single day!



Then there was China. Its continued measures to isolate, quarantine and quarantine even at the slightest hint of infection in any of its people and restricting international and domestic travel, which proved instrumental in the fight against the virus. And social distancing rules were so very religiously enforced on the back of community "vigilantism" that the virus just had nowhere to go.



The crucial issue for constitutional democracies is that such measures would in no time be expelled from all community and national discourses. Surveillance, knowledge of one's movements, would hardly pass the test for acceptance even for soft authoritarian regimes. But then, it must be remembered these are not ordinary times. The enemy is invisible.



Taiwan, which has always been leery of China, is also a sterling success. By recognizing as early as December the impending threat posed by another severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like phenomenon, the tiny nation quickly imposed all manner of controls in social distancing and other measures that presumably appear by all outward appearance to be "undemocratic."



It quickly updated emergency measures, activated a response command center and imposed quick travel bans and quarantines. It even restricted the export of face masks much to the chagrin of the world.



Collectivism, the buzzword



And like Taiwan is Singapore, which recognized the problem very early on and took no chances.



Collectively, both nations have vivid memories of the SARS outbreak, and with the aid of the institutional memory of some 17 years ago, they restricted the movements of their population, ordered the closing of businesses and schools, and telling or perhaps even warning its people to remain indoors.



The key difference between Eastern and Western nations in this critical juncture of human history is that these measures are unlikely to be adopted in the West for nothing more than they intrude into one's private space, and any hint of an Orwellian overreach through surveillance of mobile phones is and will be rejected outright.



That is despite overwhelming knowledge that the kind of information exposure now seen in Korea could have very clearly prevented the need for a lockdown.



Throughout the world, governments and people face a stark choice. Do they respect individual rights or necessitate actions for the common good at the expense of those individual rights?



While South Korea and the other East Asian nations have chosen a trade-off between rights and the need for an effective national health plan, France, Italy and to a narrow degree the United States have grudgingly turned to accept those violations, inferring as otherwise that they may not quite readily take to accepting the suspension of human rights the next time a pandemic hits.



The West, therefore, is in doubt. It is clueless and there is resistance within some in their societies. In fact, if one were to look at all the mortality rates spawned by COVID-19, there is enough empirical evidence to suggest that Asia has done considerably better than most of Europe and the United States.



"East Asia has quite simply outclassed the West. It is also fair to suggest this ratio of deaths to total infections serves as a proxy for the efficiency with which a society or government is managing the diffusion and permeation of the virus," professor Ian Inkster of the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies said.



"Keeping the truly vulnerable alive  is a sign of social care, organization and knowledge: of clear and humane priorities, and coherent reactions among millions of people."



Yet what was fundamental, he observed, was that East Asian economies have been doing this far better than the Western nations that embrace the greatest democratic freedoms and enjoy the largest resources in the world.



The cachet, he continues, of East Asian societies, is in their structure and nature. Laced with traditions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Zen Buddhism with tolerable levels of individualism marked otherwise by healthy doses of benevolence coupled with a shared sense of communitarianism are what have now raced to become the trophy of success, to staving off COVID-19.





Jaya Prakash (jaya@nashschoolofjournalism.com) lectures in journalism at Nash School of Journalism in Singapore.


As the coronavirus causes turmoil around the world, it is forcing all of us to not only grapple with the present but also to consider how it would impact us in the future.

Predictions are always risky. Edgar R. Fiedler, a noted American economist, warns us, "He who lives by the crystal ball soon learns to eat ground glass." Nevertheless, current trends could define, with some accuracy, the trajectory of future events.

Some facts about the near future are clear. We are going to see a period of economic hardship that will leave no one untouched. Even when the lockdown is lifted, many industries will take time to rebound due to reduced demand and a global recession. The poorest will be the hardest hit as unemployment rises and vulnerabilities increase in the unorganized sector.

Even when the curve is flattened, coronavirus will still be prevalent, and social distancing will remain the norm. Our social interactions with all except our close friends and family will be hesitant and tinged with suspicion.

Work culture could also be impacted, with many opting to work from home. The pace to replace humans with robots in manufacturing and with Artificial Intelligence in the service sector would be speeded up.

It would be logical to expect that the world comes together to fight a common enemy. Unfortunately, the reverse will happen. Some trends of our geopolitical future were already visible  de-globalisation, the rise of nationalism, weakening of international institutions, and rivalry between major powers. The advent of the coronavirus has accelerated these trends.

As developed countries turn insular, the benefits of globalisation accruing to the developing world will diminish, adversely impacting already stressed economies. Migration and foreign remittances will be hit. There will be an escalation of the U.S.-China economic and technology decoupling with supply chain disruptions, although this presents some opportunities for countries like India.

Even as the global situation looks grim, the social and political consequences of the pandemic within countries could be more significant. Nation-wide surveillance of citizens could become the norm. The Chinese have used a combination of facial recognition, location tracking, contact tracing, and a host of apps to monitor the spread of coronavirus.

Other nations are not far behind, with almost all of them tracking millions of citizens through specially developed apps or even directly from cellphone operators. Israel approved its intelligence agency, Shin Beth, to track mobile data of people suspected of having the virus. Pakistan Prime Minister has stated that the Inter-Services Intelligence agency is using its track and trace system, meant to be used against terrorism, to fight the coronavirus.

Several countries are now coming to grips with the pandemic, but the virus will be around for a long time until the vaccine is developed. In these circumstances, digital surveillance will continue, and governments will be reluctant to cede control. Countries that have a strong privacy law could see the courts applying some checks on state authority. The Israeli High Court of Justice recently ruled that the Shin Bet security services cellphone tracking of confirmed coronavirus carriers cannot continue unless the government anchors the practice in law. However, citizens of countries like India that have no personal data protection law could find little relief.

As countries close their borders, and there is a weakening of international institutions, it is easier than ever to invoke the nationalist sentiment. In times of crisis, people have little option but to depend on their nation-state and have complete faith in the political leadership. It is for this reason that the approval ratings of most world leaders have surged during the coronavirus crisis. This backing of the people could tempt some leaders to centralise greater authority in their hands, as has already happened in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Hungary.

It is now apparent that while the virus does not distinguish between the rich and poor, it will, at least in the short term, exacerbate inequality. Even in highly developed economies like the US, the coronavirus has taken a disproportionate toll on the low-income groups and people of colour. In Chicago, African-Americans make up 30 per cent of the population but have accounted for 68 per cent of the city's fatalities.

Our problems with the migrant workers have very starkly exposed the rich-poor divide in India. And now, as we stay locked up in our houses, putting out videos of yoga, dancing, and cooking, hundreds of daily workers are out working the fields in Punjab, delivering our essential supplies, and clearing our garbage. They are continually putting themselves at considerable risk to the coronavirus but have no option. Whether they will be able to afford the cost of the vaccine, when developed, is still uncertain. Social disorder could result if a large section of society remains dissatisfied.

In this somewhat gloomy prediction, is there a long-term silver lining? As Albert Einstein said, In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity. The good news is that the pandemic has shown us that governance, as usual, will not work, and priorities must change. Human security should take centre stage with a focus on marginal sections of society, healthcare, unemployment, and a social safety net. People across all spectrums will demand a better economic future that shields them from the disruption of the type that we see today.

Social media could slowly lose its coercive influence and go back to its traditional role of social networking. When people are struggling to make ends meet, there would be little appetite for communal or political polarisation. Citizens would demand visible action by the government on the ground rather than tweets on their phone.

If this leads to a political leadership that is more sensitive to the needs of the citizens rather than a mere focus on winning elections, it may be the best thing that comes out of this crisis. However, for any significant change to happen, the four pillars of democracy - the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and the press - may not be enough. Confidence in these institutions has waned, and peoples power will have to be exerted.

Many of those reading this article could say that both the pessimistic and optimistic scenarios are overstated. Perhaps, but if some introspection leads us to even finding a middle path, it would be an improvement.
ALBANY  New York is aggressively pursuing contact tracing to contain COVID-19, partnering with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University to employ as many as 17,000 people to track and mitigate the spread of the virus.

The plan is part of the state's reopening strategy, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said during his daily press briefing on Thursday, noting that immediately isolating those who came into contact with positive individuals will help slow the infection rate  a data point that must stay low to continue reopening businesses.

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Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, through his philanthropic organization, is helping the state establish the program, recruiting thousands of workers from state universities and local health departments and training them in partnership with Johns Hopkins.

The effort, Cuomo said, will produce a "tracing army." Labs will report daily to trackers, who then interview positive patients about their interactions over the past two weeks. Tracers will then notify and interview the people who were in contact with a person who tested positive and instruct them to isolate themselves for 14 days.

Though the number of tests returning positive daily has continued to decline, Cuomo noted that the scale of the project is still something that has "never been done before." More than 4,600 people tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases statewide to more than 300,000  though the number of hospitalizations and intubations, as well as the daily death toll, continued to fall.

"It's not rocket science to do it on an individual basis," Cuomo said about contact tracing. "The problem is the scale that we have to do this at."

Health experts have recommended 30 contact tracers per 100,000 individuals, translating to a statewide need for 6,400 to 17,000 tracers depending on projected cases, Cuomo said. New York is working with New Jersey and Connecticut to coordinate the contact-tracing plan, he said.

The program, which will continue through the next flu season, will focus on areas with the highest infection rates and regions that could reopen first, the governor's office said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"The better you do at reducing the spread of the virus, the fewer people test positive and the fewer people you need to trace back," Cuomo said.

Bloomberg, who joined Cuomo's briefing on Thursday through a videoconference, has committed $10 million to the tracing effort, first announced last week. He said officials are developing three smartphone applications to gather and disseminate data about the spread of the virus.

Outside experts will also evaluate the contact-tracing program and offer feedback that the state can then provide to others hoping to undertake a similar initiative, he said.

"When social distancing is relaxed, contact tracing is our best hope for isolating the virus when it appears and keeping it isolated," Bloomberg said.

Cuomo was also joined via videoconference at Thursday's briefing by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. They announced that, starting May 6, New York City will stop subway service from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. daily to deep-clean train cars.

Ridership is down 92 percent overall, Cuomo said, and is at its lowest in the middle of the night. About 10,000 people use the subway during that time, and essential workers will have access to buses and other transportation for free during maintenance hours, he said.
Anger among McDonalds workers over how they believe the company is treating its employees during the coronavirus pandemic is boiling over in San Francisco.

A group of cooks and cashiers at the McDonalds at 1100 Fillmore St., where employees said four workers at the restaurant recently tested positive for the coronavirus, went on strike Thursday to protest what they said is the companys failure to prioritize the health of its staff.

Several workers at the location also emailed a complaint to the San Francisco Department of Public Health on Wednesday afternoon, detailing how employees have come to work while visibly sick, and when personal protective equipment was in short supply at the restaurant, employees were told to wear coffee filters as masks.

In an email to The Chronicle, Peter Ou, the local owner-operator of the Fillmore Street McDonalds, said the company has not had any reported or confirmed COVID-19 cases within its workforce, and all of the locations in San Francisco are in full compliance with all state-level orders, including sick pay and PPE requirements.

Our organization remains committed to protecting crew, customers and the community during this unprecedented time, Ou said. We are disappointed by todays activities as they do not represent the actions we have taken in the restaurant as we continue to serve the health care heroes on the frontlines.

Zaira Prieto, an employee at the Fillmore Street McDonalds who spoke to The Chronicle through a translator, said she knows at least one other worker who was told to go home because of flu-like symptoms at a different McDonalds location in San Francisco, but instead came to work at the Fillmore Street restaurant.

We dont get paid if we have to quarantine. We should be getting paid for that time, Prieto said. Workers are just afraid theyre going to get fired if they speak out and say something.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

McDonalds is one of the largest fast-food companies in the world and has more than a dozen locations in San Francisco. The company also has been the source of ire from workers across the country who claim the company is doing little to prevent the spread of coronavirus among workers. In March, more than 700 fast-food workers across the country, many of them McDonalds employees, participated in protests, according to reports.

Workers at various McDonalds locations in Oakland also walked off the job in April and submitted a complaint to the Alameda County Public Health Department that stated the company was behaving irresponsibly and putting us and our customers at risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Both the San Francisco and Oakland protests also are tied to the ongoing Fight for $15 labor movement, which is a campaign to raise the minimum wage.

McDonalds workers in San Jose and Los Angeles protested in April for similar reasons. In response to those protests, McDonalds said it would start wellness checks, increase cleanings and add more social distancing and handwashing guidelines at its restaurants.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
A petition has been filed in the Bombay high court (HC) seeking directions to the Governor to decide on the proposal by the cabinet of ministers to nominate chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray as a member of the legislative Council (MLC) within three days. The petition sought urgent directions on the grounds that if Thackeray is not appointed as an MLC, he will cease to be the CM from May 28, which will lead to administrative uncertainties at the time of Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

The petition, filed by social activist Surinder Arora through senior advocate Satish Talekar, claimed that if state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari does not act upon the cabnets proposal it would lead to administrative uncertainties, destabilisation of the government, social chaos and political disorder in wake of Covid-19 outbreak. The petition added that the Governor is bound by the aid and advise of the cabinet but the BJP, as a part of its political game plan is trying to make Thackeray step down as CM with the help of the Governor.

The plea further states that Thackeray could be nominated as an MLC under Article 171 (5) of the Constitution, which states that members to be nominated to the legislative Council by the Governor shall have special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, cooperative movement and social service, and Thackeray been a professional photographer, editor and social worker.

The petition was mentioned today in the HC and has sought for an urgent hearing on May 5.
Local TD Ged Nash has called on the government to provide additional care to residents of the north Louth area by restoring services to Louth County Hospital.

The Labour Party Deputy believes the Dundalk-based outlet is being underutilised, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic which has resulted in a dramatic surge in patients attending Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Its 10 years since the Louths A&E and public walk-in services were closed following budgetary cuts, though Nash insists the volume of population increase in the area necessitates a further hospital amenity.

We need additional services in the Louth county, Nash told The Democrat.

The Dundalk area is one of the fastest growing in the country, but also currently the second largest town of itself in the entire country.

I think there is huge scope for additional services to be provided in Louth County Hospital; not just to take pressure off Our Lady of Lourdes as the defacto regional hospital, but to deploy the kind of services that the people of Dundalk and north Louth are entitled to and expect.

Were told now that, at least temporarily, weve shifted to a single-tier health service and if we are serious as a state about implementing Slainte Care and more and better services locally and to people who need them, then we need to start resourcing brilliant hospitals like Louth County Hospital in a better way.

Louth County Hospital has been doing remarkable work in terms of day cases over the last few years, but theres much more that it can provide given the experience of staff who are there; the facility is probably being underutilised at the moment. For me, the potential of Louth County Hospital is unmet.

The former senator, who regained the Dail seat he lost in 2016 during Februarys election, also considers Ireland to be at a junction in regard to its treatment of staff and the conditions in which they work.

Are we at a crossroads now about how we treat those who provide our health services and how we treat other important workers, like retail and transport logistics workers; those who work behind the scenes to keep our shops open and our economy going?

Huge sacraments have been made by the Irish people to protect our own health and the health of our frontline service workers and I hope that there will be a reckoning after this crisis where we start to properly value those workers and the services that they provide, and stop paying lip service to them.

Our nurses need to be paid properly, our healthcare assistants, our hospital porters and related people. Our hospitals are bigger than merely the doctors and so-called senior staff and I hope the state responds accordingly and starts to treat our workers better than they have in the past.

By and large the government response has been good, but we would have some concerns with how issues relating to the care of older people in nursing homes in particular have been handled.

Our party leader, Alan Kelly, has been vocal on this from the get-go and Ive been dealing myself with lots of staff and family members who have loved ones in residential nursing homes whod expressed concerns to me from the outset about how this was being handled.

Belatedly, the government has decided that theyre going to test staff and residents of nursing homes and that absolutely has to be the focus over the next couple of weeks.

And not just the nursing homes where weve had Covid-19 outbreaks, but those who havent had to date because theres a huge anxiety and an anxiety that Ive detected among staff as well.

The initial phase was about trying to make sure that there wasnt an enormous surge into our hospitals and I think thats been handled quite well.
A commercial insect repellent is being tested by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to see if it can kill the novel coronavirus causing the current pandemic.

Citriodiol, found in Mosi-guard, has previously proved effective at killing other coronaviruses, including SARS, by destroying the layer which surrounds the virus.

COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus strain closely related to SARS  which caused a pandemic in 2003  called SARS-CoV-2.

The tests at the government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down will determine if citriodiol can also eliminate the strain of coronavirus that has killed more than a quarter of a million people around the world so far.

The chemical is resistant to evaporation and, if it was proven to be effective against the virus, could offer protection for several hours. Regular handwashing with soap and existing anti-virals do kill the virus but do not provide this long-term protection.

Sky News reports that the insect repellent is now undergoing official tests at the government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down.

It was revealed last week that Mosi-guard was given to some soldiers as part of enhanced measures to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Scroll down for video

Citriodiol, found in Mosi-guard, has previously proved effective at killing other coronaviruses, including SARS, by destroying the layer which surrounds the virus. MoD tests will seek to determine if citriodiol can also kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus which has killed more than a quarter of a million people around the world so far

How citriodiol could combat coronavirus Citriodiol is chemical which actively repels insects. It has long been widely used in commercial repellents. It comes from the leaves of the eucalyptus citriodora tree, native to Asia, South America and Africa. Previous studies have found the chemical is also able to kill the SARS virus, which caused a pandemic almost 20 years ago. It remains unknown if the chemical is able to destroy SARS-CoV-2, the virus which leads to COVID-19, but the two viruses are closely related. Deet, another common chemical used to keep bugs away, is not believed to be effective against coronavirus. Mosi-guard, the commercial product that contains citriodiol, is not available at Boots or Superdrug but can be bought online. The company which manufactures the product in the UK, Citrefine International Ltd, based in Leeds, is calling on the Government to test the product and see is it is effective. The Ministry of Defence is believed to be undergoing tests to determine just that. Advertisement

An MoD spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Citriodiol is known to have anti-viral properties and has been used as a barrier against the SARS 1 virus.

'Its utility for protecting against COVID-19 is therefore being explored by the Ministry of Defence as an additional protective measure for personnel working on the response.

'Further work is required to determine its full effectiveness, acquisition and distribution.'

It comes after calls from the manufacturer of Mosi-guard, a Leeds-based company called Citrefine, urged the government to consider its product earlier this week.

In a statement from Citrefine, a spokesperson admitted to MailOnline there is currently no data proving the chemical is effective against this specific virus.

It reads: 'Citrefine has not tested Citriodiol against SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

'We therefore are very pleased with the news that MoD scientists are to implement a formal testing programme.

'If Citriodiol can be used safely and effectively, we would welcome the opportunity to help in this current crisis.'

The company explains it is the chemical's resistance to evaporation which makes it an effective insect repellent.

This, the company suggests, could offer protection from viruses over a number of hours, which is uncommon for anti-viral agents.

The chemical would not be effective against inhalation, but could kill the virus on surfaces or on a person's skin, for example.

Now, tests have been approved and Mosi-guard is being offered to some MoD personnel while the results come back.

The insect repellent is being given to some soldiers as an option and is not obligatory, and the MoD insists it has not been formally rolled out.

There is also no guidance on how to best use the insect repellent, as there is no credible evidence currently available to inform decision-making. The MoD tests will hopefully provide this information.

Government tests have been approved and Mosi-guard is being offered to some MoD personnel while the results come back. The insect repellent is an option and not obligatory, and the MoD insists it has not been formally rolled out. Pictured, Members of the 101 Logistic Brigade deliver a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital

No official plan has been laid out for how the insect repellant chemical would be issued to people if it is found to be effective against the novel coronavirus. Jacqueline Watson, managing director of Citrefine, told Sky News it would most likely be prioritised for people working on the coronavirus frontline. Pictured, a Chinook landingnear an ambulance on the Isle of Wight to test methods of patient transferal to the mainland

Should citriodiol be effective at killing the virus and offering long-term protection, it is designed to be used in conjunction with pre-existing protocols and PPE, not to replace any pre-existing measures.

The experiments will hopefully discern if citriodiol can kill the virus, how it should be applied and how long it can be effective for.

It remains unknown where and to who the chemical would be rolled-out if it is found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2.

No official plan has been laid out, but Jacqueline Watson, managing director of Citrefine, told Sky News it would most likely be prioritised for people working on the coronavirus frontline.

Some politicians have expressed concern at the trials. In separate letters, politicians asked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for more details and clarification.

Chief among their concerns are why, with such little evidence, are resources being diverted to this endeavour.

Stewart McDonald of the Scottish National Party asked to see the evidence that informed the MoD's decision.

The letter states: 'If this is based on science, it is vital that the evidence is made public and all frontline workers are given the same advice.

'If there is no evidence that it will be effective, then the MoD must explain why this product is being issued, creating a false sense of security and putting lives at risk.

'Clarity on this matter is of the greatest urgency.'

Jamie Stone of the Liberal Democrats wrote in his letter: 'The over-riding point is that if your decision has been taken on the basis of sound scientific evidence, then why are other frontline workers not also being provided with citriodiol?'
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-30 09:54:03

Oslo, Norway, 30 April 2020 - PCI Biotech announces the appointment of Mr Ludovic Robin, PharmD, MBA, as Chief Business Officer (CBO). Mr Robin will also serve as a member of PCI Biotechs executive management team. He will lead all business and corporate development activities and be a key contributor to the strategic decision making for the existing pipeline and to capture new opportunities.



Over the last twenty-five years, Ludovic has held numerous international managerial positions providing leadership in the pharmaceutical industry in the areas of international research and development, business development, as well as marketing and sales. In particular, he has participated in the launch of more than fifteen original orphan drugs or specialty pharmaceuticals.

Mr Robin began his career as a scientist developing new cosmetic and dermatological formulations. Subsequently he held various managerial and leadership roles in sales, marketing and business development at LOreal, Servier and Laboratoires Expanscience. During this period, he originated, signed and executed thirteen commercial partnerships in more than twenty countries. In 2004, Ludovic joined Shire for the launch of their dermatology and nephrology franchises. During his twelve years with the company, he went on to serve as Marketing Manager, Business Unit Director, Marketing Director and Commercial Operations Head of France/Benelux. While at Shire he was a member of the French Executive Board from 2008 to 2016. In 2016 he joined Advicenne, a French biotech listed on Euronext (Paris-Brussels) as CBO, deputy CEO, responsible for commercial strategy of the drug candidates under development/registration in EU and US.

Mr Robin holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Lyon I University, a Masters in Industrial Pharmacy from Lyon Institute of Industrial Pharmacy, and an MBA from HEC Paris.

Per Walday, CEO, comments: We are delighted to welcome Ludovic to PCI Biotech. With his broad commercial insight and experience from both biotech and larger organisations, he will bring key value onboard in an exciting phase of PCI Biotechs development towards potential commercialisation.

Ludovic Robin added: I am excited to be joining PCI Biotech and I am impressed by the companys progress this far. My focus will of course be on the strategic decision making and execution of the commercialisation strategy for fimaChem, but I am also enthused by the opportunity space for both the fimaVacc and fimaNAc assets.

Mr Ludovic Robin will commence as CBO in May.

For further information, please contact:

Per Walday, CEO

Email: pw@pcibiotech.no

Mobile: +47 917 93 429

About PCI Biotech

PCI Biotech is a biopharmaceutical late stage clinical development company focusing on development and commercialisation of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer through its innovative photochemical internalisation (PCI) technology platform. PCI is applied to three distinct anticancer paradigms: fimaChem (enhancement of chemotherapeutics for localised treatment of cancer), fimaVacc (T-cell induction technology for therapeutic vaccination), and fimaNAc (nucleic acid therapeutics delivery).

Photochemical internalisation induces triggered endosomal release that is used to unlock the true potential of a wide array of therapeutic modalities. The companys lead programme fimaChem consists of a pivotal study in bile duct cancer, an orphan indication with a high unmet need and without approved products. fimaVacc applies a unique mode of action to enhance the essential cytotoxic effect of therapeutic cancer vaccines, which works in synergy with several other state-of-the-art vaccination technologies. fimaNAc utilises the endosomal release to provide intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, such as mRNA and RNAi therapeutics, thereby addressing one of the major bottlenecks facing this emerging and promising field.

For further information, please visit: www.pcibiotech.com

Contact information: PCI Biotech Holding ASA, Ullernchausseen 64, N-0379 Oslo





Forward-looking statementsThis announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements. PCI Biotech disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Bunnings sausage sizzles, so-called election-day 'democracy sausages' and even the Sizzler all-you-can-eat buffet are unlikely to return in their old form despite Australia's world-beating performance at suppressing coronavirus.

The hardware store's sausage sizzle we all know and love is likely to change, as social distancing stops customers from standing so close to the barbecue hot plate and the self-service tomato sauce table.

The smorgasbord, made famous by restaurants such as Sizzler, has long been popular with families because they offer everything from salads to cold cuts, sliced lamb and desserts - and everything in between.

But buffet-style eating could well be over in Australia because of the danger of asymptomatic infected people spreading coronavirus by touching or breathing on communal utensils, plates and food.

Sizzler's parent company Collins Foods has told Daily Mail Australia it may permanently scrap the salad bar.

Waking up at a hotel may also never quite be the same either, with breakfast buffets unlikely to exist in the same form when lockdown measures are eased in the coming weeks and months.

The Sizzler buffet and Bunnings and election-day sausage sizzles could soon be a thing of the past

Even before the onset of coronavirus, there were hygiene concerns about diners catching E coli if other customers touched tongs without washing their hands.

Infectious diseases experts are concerned COVID-19 could be spread in a similar way.

The risk is particularly high at chains like Sizzler, where people come into close contact with food that other people will later eat.

Professor Raina MacIntyre, head of biosecurity research at the University of New South Wales's Kirby Institute, said Australia would have to adapt until coronavirus is eradicated - and buffets may not survive.

'While we are living with COVID-19, many things will need to change,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

Restaurants are likely to be restricted to table service when they are allowed to reopen with social distancing policies in place.

'It would be a wise business strategy for restaurants too, to minimise the risk of having to shut down again because of an outbreak,' she said.

Hotels across Australia are also likely to permanently stop self-serve offerings of scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages at breakfast. Pictured are diners at the Sun Princess Horizon cruise ship

'There are creative alternatives such as pre-packed takeway boxes, for customers who want a cheap and quick meal.

'We need to look at safer ways of doing all these things.'

Tourist Accommodation Australia, which represents hotels, has declared the era of restaurant buffets over - from breakfast scrambled eggs to self-serve dinner.

'Accommodation hotels have implemented extremely good hygiene protocols over the last few years, even including "sneeze guards" on some buffets,' the group's chief executive Michael Johnson said.

'The sad fact is, however, new rules around social distancing and communal areas will most likely mean the end of the traditional hotel breakfast/lunch/dinner buffet until we get a handle on this terrible virus.'

The Bunnings sausage sizzle as we know it was also likely to change, as social distancing stopped customers from standing so close to the barbecue hot plate and the table with onions and tomato sauce

Mr Johnson said hotels and motels with restaurants would 'for the short-term at least' offer a la carte service and individual packaging of sandwiches.

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

Sizzler has hinted it may scrap its buffets if COVID-19 changed food rules.

'We are eagerly awaiting news from the various government bodies on when in-restaurant dining will reopen and what easing restrictions will be placed on the restaurants,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'We would love to reopen all our restaurants with our famous salad bar however if we are faced with restrictions we would provide our guests freshly made salads of their choice direct from our kitchen.'

Like other restaurants banned from allowing customers to dine-in, Sizzler is offering takeaway food and home delivery service through Menulog.

The Australian National University Medical School's Professor Peter Collignon said sausage sizzles were likely to survive, provided those behind the barbecue wore perspex face shields - more often used for angle grinding or medical work.

'I imagine sausage sizzles will continue in the future - I don't think the sausage sizzle if off the agenda,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'People actually cooking sausages, if they wear face shields because they can't keep the distance, that stops them giving it to other people.

'They're used a lot in health facilities - they protect your face from getting splattered and your eyes in particular; but also, if you've got early disease, if you cough or sneeze it stays on the inside of the shield rather than going over everybody else.'

Sizzler has hinted it may scrap its buffets and become a takeaway-only service if COVID-19 changed food rules. Pictured is a now defunct outlet in Brisbane's city centre 14 years ago

Customers will also be made to keep their distance from other each, as the person behind the hot plate squeezed the tomato sauce over the onions.

Hygiene measures pubs could take to reopen Floor markings and/or bollards next to the bar Bistro tables to be repositioned to ensure minimum distance of 1.5 metres Sterilisation of bar and bistro tables and chairs after patrons leave Constant cleaning of communal items like ATMs Electronic payments where possible Source: Australian Hotels Association proposal put to the federal government Advertisement

'You can keep people apart. Bunnings, they put tables between you and the counter - you can't get closer than a metre-and-a-half so there are ways of achieving that,' he said.

Wesfarmers, the parent company of Bunnings, has indicated it wants the sausage sizzle to return.

'We will be in touch once the sausage sizzles are back up and running,' a spokeswoman said.

'Our sausage sizzles remain suspended for now.

'Bunnings is continuing to follow government advice relating to COVID-19 to keep our customers and team safe.'

Professor MacIntyre said it was possible COVID-19 could spread at buffets like E Coli if diners used the toilet and didn't wash their hands.

'The virus is in the bowel and shed in the stool, so could result in contamination of commonly touched items if people do not practise good hand hygiene,' she said.

'We do not have proof of transmission by the faecal-oral route, but it is reasonable to assume it is possible.

'As such buffets and salad bars may not be as safe as, say, a la carte meals.'

The Australian National University Medical School's Professor Peter Collignon said sausage sizzles were likely to survive, provided those behind the barbecue wore perspex face shields - more often used for angle grinding or medical work. Pictured is a voter in Melbourne at the May 2019 federal election

Even before the onset of COVID-19, Sizzler which only has buffet dining was struggling.

Its parent company Collins Foods closed the Rockhampton Sizzler in central Queensland on March 1, less than a fortnight before the World Health Organisation declared a COVID-19 pandemic.

Revenue at its nine restaurants - in Sydney's west, Perth and south-east Queensland - fell by 8.9 per cent in the six months to October 13 last year.

This period ended two months before the first case of coranavirus was reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Professor Collignon said that when restaurants were allowed to reopen, customers would sit at tables two metres apart from other tables, with no more than four people to a table.

Hand sanitiser would also be provided at every table.

'It means having lots of alcohol hand rub available that people need to use before they start eating,' he said.

Buffets were unlikely to return any time soon.

'They're out for a while, I don't think they're out forever,' he said.

This could also end the traditional election day barbecue. Pictured is former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard on Australia Day, 2011 at Toowoomba west of Brisbane
The COVID-19 pandemic is a horrible human tragedy whose global toll is continuing to rise, but its also an exercise in collecting and examining data for clues to how it is spreading.

The numbers change minute-by-minute but suggest that in America your chances of being infected may depend on where you stand on the economic ladder, how closely you live and work in the company of others, and how diligently you and your neighbors take precautions.

Take, for example, the startling contrast between whats been happening in New York and its neighboring states versus whats been happening, or not happening, in California.

As of Tuesday, according to the New York Times, the nation had counted 37,818 COVID-19 deaths, but New York alone had 14,347 or 38% of the national total, and adding New Jersey (4,377), Pennsylvania (1,366) and Connecticut (1,331) brought the regions share to nearly 57%.

Dan Walters: Newsoms unwieldy economic task force Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed an 80-member task force to guide California's economic recovery. We should not have high expectations, columnist Dan Walters says.

Three-thousand miles away in California, with twice the population of New York, COVID-19 had claimed just 1,225 lives  tragic for those Californians families, of course, but a blessing for the state as a whole. In fact, at just 3 deaths per 100,000 of population, California has had one of the nations lowest mortality rates to date while New Yorks 74 per 100,000 is 25 times as high.

Why the huge difference?

Someday well have a complete scientific answer, but clearly the high densities of living, working and traveling (often on crowded subway trains and buses) in New York City and environs have contributed to the heavy human toll, as did New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios footdragging on imposing precautions.

Most Californians, meanwhile, live in low-density neighborhoods, either in single-family homes or small rental complexes. Californians are often mocked for preferring cars to mass transit, but its probably saved thousands of lives.

Dan Walters: California water war re-ignited Federal and state politicians and water officials are headed for a showdown over who controls the state's water supply, re-igniting California water wars, columnist Dan Walters says.

California also instituted some of the nations earliest shelter-at-home measures to limit person-to-person contact and Californians, most of us anyway, have been diligent about adhering to them.

Within the state, too, one finds very disparate conditions. Californias hot spot is Los Angeles County, which has a quarter of the states population but has accounted for more than half of its COVID-19 deaths.

While Californias death rate is 3 per 100,000 Los Angeles Countys is twice as high at 6, by far the states highest.

Why Los Angeles County?

Dan Walters: Californians complying, but for how long? Californians are voluntarily complying with restrictions on their personal and professional activities to battle coronavirus, columnist Dan Walters says. But for how long and will authorities use coercion if compliance declines?

Most Angelenos, unlike New Yorkers, live in low-rise homes and apartments. However, past studies have told us that because of poverty and a chronic lack of affordable housing, two or even three families may live in one housing unit and that auxiliary units, such as illegally converted garages, are common in poor neighborhoods. Its difficult to practice social distancing in such crowded circumstances, making infection more likely.

Moreover, Los Angeles County has the states highest rate of poverty, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, with at least 40% of its population rated as poor or near-poor. The pandemic-induced recession has hit Los Angeles County particularly hard, with an estimated 50% of its jobs at least temporarily erased.

Dan Walters: A dark economic and fiscal tunnel Even when the coronavirus health threat recedes, California will face a severe recession that will hammer state and local government budgets, columnist Dan Walters says.

Earlier this month, Los Angeles County health officials released preliminary results of a study suggesting that roughly 4.1% of the countys adult population has already had the coronavirus, which translates to between 221,000 and 442,000 people, many times the number of confirmed cases.

That study indicates that the pandemic potentially has a long way to run and that Los Angeles will continue to be its California epicenter. The data also imply that we shouldnt be eagerly pushing Californians to live in high-density housing, give up their cars and ride transit.

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has intensified the fight against illegal entry into the state, following the shut down of the states borders as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Oyo State Government had revealed that it may likely impose travel restrictions at the States entry points, as part of measures for containing the Coronavirus pandemic in the State.

The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA), Dr. Akin Fagbemi stated this last week Wednesday while speaking on COVID-19 at the situation Room on a popular radio station in Ibadan.

The Executive Chairman said, the State Government would only allow essential travels into the State, which would be subjected to thorough health checks.

Makinde in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle, on Thursday said:

Today, we visited some border towns in Oyo State to assess compliance with restricted entry into the state. The issues with compliance are more prominent on the major express roads; Lagos-Ibadan and Ibadan-Ife. Compliance at the smaller entry points into the state is better.

We will continue to work with the security agencies to address the gaps we observed. We will also improve on the working conditions for the security agents manning the posts to enable them carry out their duties more effectively.

We also believe that the implementation of lockdowns in interstate motor parks, as agreed by state governors, will result in less interstate travel.

Today, we visited some border towns in Oyo State to assess compliance with restricted entry into the state. The issues with compliance are more prominent on the major express roads; Lagos-Ibadan and Ibadan-Ife. Compliance at the smaller entry points into the state is better. pic.twitter.com/2uG9ikwkkw  Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) April 30, 2020

We also believe that the implementation of lockdowns in interstate motor parks, as agreed by state governors, will result in less interstate travel. pic.twitter.com/kjL12Ja5Ad  Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) April 30, 2020

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Oyo state has recorded 21 cases of the virus.
When kidney transplants first came into practice in the 1950s, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) could finally picture freedom from the unrelenting routine of blood-cleansing dialysis treatments. Just over a half-century later, demand has completely outstripped supply. The critically ill languish for years on waiting lists, while doctors have little choice but to accept donations of damaged kidneys in a desperate attempt to save lives.



Transplant outcomes are so hard to predict that Dr. Darren Yuen, a nephrologist at St. Michaels Hospital and scientist in the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science in Toronto, compares it to spinning a roulette wheel. But recently published findings in JCI Insight are laying the groundwork to potentially revolutionize this dynamic  and empower physicians to eventually reset the gold standard in transplantation protocol.



The research is an integration of Yuens clinical insights on kidney disease with the medical physics expertise of Ryerson Universitys Dr. Michael Kolios and PhD candidate Eno Hysi, and their respective teams. Both Yuen and Kolios have labs at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Technology (iBEST), a unique collaboration between the hospital and university, bringing together experts from diverse and traditionally siloed research fields.



The teams new method is a world-first in applying photoacoustic (PA) imaging to visualize scarring in kidneys, also known as fibrosis, a common form of damage in donor kidneys. Their results produced clear images of kidney scarring just hours before surgery. During this window of opportunity, an accurate assessment could mean the difference between implanting an organ with decades-long durability  or one that quickly fails, sending a patient right back to dialysis and the years-long waitlist.



Accurate, non-invasive kidney screening

Needle biopsy  a painful procedure fraught with bleeding risk  is currently the only method to assess the amount of kidney scarring in prospective donors. But its reliability is hampered by potentially inaccurate estimates based on a tissue sample size of only 1% of the kidney.



The current research takes a quicker, non-invasive and more comprehensive route to quantify kidney damage, using PA imaging instead. The novel technology combines laser and ultrasound  a sequence that Hysi likens to lightning and thunder. We shine light on kidney tissue, which creates a pressure wave that can be heard using an ultrasound probe.



The sound data is then run through a proprietary algorithm based on a technique called spectral unmixing.



Each kind of body tissue absorbs coloured laser light in its own unique way. Collagen  one of the main components in kidney scarring  absorbs colour in a manner that is distinct from other components in the kidney. Spectral unmixing teases out the differences. Maps generated by the technology show the amount and distribution of collagen, blood or other tissue  thus allowing physicians to see the quality of donated kidneys.





It wasnt at all obvious that it would work

When Hysi first proposed using spectral unmixing to hone in on collagen, nothing in prior medical physics knowledge hinted that the application was even possible. Typically, for the technique to work, you need to see large peaks and valleys in how components absorb light, says Kolios. But collagen is flat, so it wasnt at all obvious that it would work.



Hysi persisted with a counterintuitive approach. With so many other biological substances exhibiting peaks and valleys once spectral unmixing is applied, collagen might stand out conspicuously by virtue of its own flatness.



The problem became so intriguing that Hysi decided to explore this possibility in parallel with his own doctoral research on cancer monitoring. Two years later, the findings validated his hypothesis, and the proprietary algorithms are now being patented.



In less than two minutes, the new technique can generate a 2D image with enough detail to quantify total scarring in a kidney. Within 15 minutes, 3D imaging allows visualization not only of overall scarring, but also its varied distribution throughout the kidney.



Potential for significant, widespread impact

As the research moves into clinical trials at St. Michaels Hospital, Hysi and Yuen will assess how closely their predictions on kidney quality mirror actual outcomes in patients. If successful, their scoring method could have a significant impact on transplantation practice, and become the new gold standard in kidney assessment.



Healthcare systems could save the whopping $100,000 in direct, annual, per-patient costs to manage dialysis patients. But the greatest impact is in giving each patient the best possible kidney, keeping them off dialysis and giving them a new, durable lease on life.



Yuen sums up the two-year whirlwind of research: Ive never seen anything like this before. Clinicians and researchers working together, and discovering such great results in so short a time  its just amazing.



###

Funders: Collaborative Health Research Project grant co-funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (awarded to M. C. K. and D.A.Y.), a Banting and Best Diabetes Centre Pilot and Feasibility grant (awarded to M. C. K. and D.A.Y.), a Canadian Society of Transplantation and Canadian National Transplant Research Program Basic Research Catalyst grant (awarded to M. C. K. and D.A.Y.), and funds from the St. Michaels Hospital Foundation (awarded to D.A.Y.).
Communique

His Excellency, President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa, and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), convened a teleconference Meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government with the Chairpersons of the AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on 29 April 2020.

The Meeting was held pursuant to the Decision of the Bureau at its Meeting of 22 April 2020, with the purpose of apprising the Chairpersons of the RECs of the AU about the actions and initiatives undertaken by the African Union in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the continent. The Meeting also provided a platform for the Chairpersons of the RECs to brief the Bureau about regional measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presided over by President Ramaphosa in his capacity as the Chairperson of the AU and AU Bureau of the Assembly, this was the fourth Meeting convened by the Bureau to discuss joint continental action to combat the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate its economic impact on the continent.

All Members of the Bureau participated in the Meeting as follows: His Excellency, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, His Excellency, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency, President Uhuru Muigi Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya, and His Excellency President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of the Republic of Mali.

Seven (7) Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of the AU were represented in the Meeting as follows:

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Chaired by His Excellency President Andry Rajoelina of the Republic of Madagascar;

Community of SahelSaharan States (CENSAD), Chaired by His Excellency President Idriss Deby Itno of the Republic of Chad;

East African Community (EAC), Chaired by His Excellency President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda;

Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Chaired by His Excellency President Ali Bongo of the Republic of Gabon;

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Chaired by His Excellency President Issoufou Mahamadou of the Republic of Niger;

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Chaired by His Excellency Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of the Republic of Sudan; and

Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), H.E. Mr Mohammed Taher Sayila, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Libya who participated on behalf of the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Mr Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj of the Libyan Arab Republic.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs Mme Amira El Fadil and the Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr John Nkengasong, also participated in the teleconference Meeting.

The Heads of State and Government welcomed the briefing by the AUC Chairperson, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, which highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the AUC in response to the COVID 19 pandemic, which included steps taken to implement the AU COVID-19 strategy, including the establishment of task forces by African Ministers of Health, Finance and Transport from all the AU regions, as well as the operationalisation of the AU COVID19 Solidarity Fund, the appointment of a Board of Trustees. Chairperson Faki acknowledged the difficult economic situation of Member States, but urged Member States to pay their statutory contributions to the AU to ensure the continuity of the essential work being carried out on behalf of the Continent during the pandemic.

The Heads of State and Government took note of the current status of the outbreak in the Continent and expressed concern about the increased infection rate reported as of 29 April 2020, including approximately 1,500 deaths. They also expressed concern at the current rates of infections per region, namely 8000 infections in West Africa, 3900 in Southern Africa, 13000 in North Africa, 3000 infections in East Africa and 3000 infections in Central Africa. They commended the work by the Africa CDC to scale up testing capacity on the Continent to ensure that at least 10 million tests are conducted in the next four months through the AU Partnership for Accelerated COVID-19 Testing Initiative (PACT). They also agreed to use their leverage to ensure that Africa has access to the diagnostics required to meet the target of 10 million tests in the next coming months.

The Heads of State and Government expressed their deep appreciation to the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU Commission for its initiatives which amongst others include, the establishing the Africa COVID-19 Response Fund with pledges amounting to US$ 61 million dollars, engaging the international community to support Africa, the appointment of AU COVID-19 Special Envoys, and the mobilisation of African business leaders and the private sector in support of the AU continental response strategy to combat COVID-19. The Heads of state and governments also called for the AUC/Africa CDC to rapidly establish a continental-led platform for pool procurement and distribution.

The Heads of State and Government welcomed the steps taken by the RECs in combating the virus and called for the AU Commission and the RECs to reinforce existing coordination and collaboration mechanisms, including sectoral information sharing. They also acknowledged the commendable efforts of African leaders in their respective countries to contain the virus and adopt measures to mitigate against its socio-economic impacts. In this regard, they underscored the importance of unity, solidarity, collaboration and cooperation among African countries to ensure a decisive response to COVID-19. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue to work together in responding to the pandemic, including through collaboration and sharing information on best practices. The Heads of State and Government endorsed the call for debt cancellation and the implementation of a comprehensive relief package for African countries in response to COVID-19.

The Heads of State and Government also welcomed the commitment of African business leaders and the private sector to join efforts of governments in fighting COVID19. President Ramaphosa informed the Meeting that he had appointed Zimbabwean businessman Mr. Strive Masiyiwa to coordinate a private sector-led continental effort to procure critical personal protective equipment and other essential supplies. The Meeting endorsed the establishment of a forum of African Business Leaders to support efforts by the AU and Member States to implement the continental COVID-19 strategy.

The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their solidarity with Sudan and Zimbabwe and called for the lifting of sanctions against these countries in order to provide these fraternal republics the fiscal space to focus their resources and efforts in combatting the spread of COVID 19.

The Heads of State and Government expressed their appreciation for the global leadership role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, and reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the WHO, under the capable stewardship of its Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The Heads of State and Government thanked His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and Chairperson of the AU, for convening this historic Meeting of the Assembly of the Bureau with the Chairpersonship of the RECs of the AU, and further expressed their profound appreciation for his inspiring leadership during this crisis.

Remarks by African Union Chairperson President Cyril Ramaphosa at the virtual meeting with AU Regional Executive Communities Chairs

See video below

Allow me to express my deep gratitude to you, the Chairpersons of the Regional Economic Communities of the AU, for availing yourselves to discuss the scourge of COVID-19 on the continent.

We are confronted with an unprecedented public health crisis, which poses a real existential threat, with far-reaching socio-economic consequences.

While the numbers of infections in Africa at this time is lower than elsewhere in the world, we expect that the peak of infections in Africa will come later, with devastating consequences.

We are concerned about the impact the virus will have on our societies, our economies and our public health systems.

To effectively protect our people against the coronavirus, we urgently need more health workers, medical supplies and equipment, including ventilators.

The AU has undertaken various measures to contain the spread of the virus and to mitigate the economic fallout that will be caused by the virus.

In my capacity as AU Chairperson, I have hosted two virtual meetings of the Bureau of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government.

Among other things, the Bureau agreed on the establishment of the AU COVID-19 Response Fund, a drive to raise additional funds for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and intensive lobbying of the international community, including the international financial institutions, for a comprehensive, robust economic stimulus package for Africa.

To date, we have managed to raise $25 million for the Response Fund and an additional $36.5 million to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

We have also appointed five African Union COVID-19 Special Envoys to follow up on pledges, mobilise further international support and campaign for international participation in the AUs COVID-19 economic intervention.

The five envoys are Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, Dr Donald Kaberuka of Rwanda, Mr Tidjane Thiam of Cote d'Ivoire, Mr Trevor Manuel of South Africa and Mr Benkhalfa Abderrahmane of Algeria.

I will soon be announcing the appointment of a special envoy from the Central African region.

We have addressed the virtual Summit of the G20 and a virtual joint meeting of the World Bank and IMF, underscoring the need for a comprehensive, robust economic stimulus package for Africa.

In these engagements we have called for, among other measures, the allocation of more Special Drawing Rights Allocations to Africa to provide much-needed liquidity to central banks, the corporate sector and SMEs.

We also argued for a waiver of all interest payments on multilateral and bilateral debt. This would provide the necessary fiscal space for African governments to devote all available resources to response and recovery.

This economic injection should support both the continents immediate humanitarian needs and place the continent on a path towards economic recovery.

We further emphasised the need to ensure trade and investment flows are not further disrupted by measures inconsistent with WTO rules.

On Thursday last week, I chaired a successful video conference meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly with 21 African business leaders to obtain their support for the AU COVID-19 Strategy.

The meeting expressed its full support for a two-year debt standstill and a proposal to develop a plan for the restructuring of both private and bilateral debt. It was further stressed that grants from the World Bank to the poorest countries must be additional to what had already been planned.

In general, the response from the international community has been positive with various partners making pledges, offering debt relief measures and providing concrete support in the form of medical supplies.

We have been greatly assisted by the work of the World Health Organization.

We call on all African countries to unequivocally support the WHO and its Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

We should welcome the initiative by the WHO, together with many heads of state, to work together to accelerate the development of new vaccines, tests and treatments for COVID-19 and ensure equitable access worldwide.

I call on all African countries to support the pledging initiative that starts on 4 May and which is spearheaded by the European Union to mobilise significant resources towards this effort.

I would like to commend the work of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which is at the centre of the continents health response to COVID-19 and which is doing great work to assist Member States.

There is also an urgent need for economic sanctions against Sudan and Zimbabwe to be lifted, in order to provide the necessary space for these countries to devote their resources to the fight against COVID-19.

At this time, it is also vital that we intensify efforts to end all forms of violence, destabilisation and terrorism on the continent. If we are to be successful in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic, we need to work even harder to silence the guns  and to ensure that they remain silent.

In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge the commendable efforts of African leaders in their respective countries to contain the virus and adopt measures to mitigate against its economic impact.

It is clear that this virus knows no borders or nationality.

In our response, it is therefore essential that we remain guided by the principles of unity, solidarity, collaboration and cooperation among African countries.

Working together  as leaders, as AU members states and as Regional Economic Communities  I have no doubt that our people will be spared from the worst effects of this global crisis and we will be able to place our continent on a path of recovery and reconstruction.

I thank you.
Indias Reliance Industries has cut the pay of some top oil-and-gas division employees by up to 50%, according to six sources and a letter seen by Reuters, as it battles lower profitability because of the coronavirus epidemic.

Reliance, headed by Indias richest man, Mukesh Ambani, has decided that employees earning more than 1.5 million rupees ($20,000) a year will face a 10% salary cut, while the cuts will be 30% to 50% for senior executives, the sources said.

The pay cuts, first reported by Reuters, were cited in a company note to employees dated April 29 and reviewed by Reuters on Thursday.

The hydrocarbons business has been adversely impacted due to reduction in demand for refined products and petrochemicals ... the situation demands that we maintain razor sharp focus on operating costs and fixed costs and all of us need to contribute to make this happen, Executive Director Hital R. Meswani said in the letter.

Our Chairman has agreed to forgo his entire compensation, he added, referring to Ambani.

A spokesman for Reliance did not immediately respond to calls or an emailed request for comment. The company is due to announce its quarterly results later on Thursday.

It was not immediately clear whether other Reliance divisions were affected, but three of the sources said that the companys telecom unit, Reliance Jio Infocomm, did not appear to have been impacted as of Thursday.

Reliance this week also said it would consider its first rights issue in almost 30 years, part of its broader commitment to eliminating net debt by March 2021. Reliances outstanding debt was about $43 billion at the end of last year.

Indias crude processing in March fell 5.7% from a year earlier, its biggest drop since September, as the coronavirus crisis and travel restrictions to curb it hit demand for fuel and forced refineries to cut output.

While Reliance has raised crude processing at its domestic- markets-focussed plant by about 6% it had cut oil refining at its export-focussed plant by 24% in March, from the same month last year.

Facebook this month revealed plans to spend $5.7 billion to buy a 9.99% stake in Reliances digital arm.
Germany has banned Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hizballah's activities on its soil and designated it a terrorist organization, a move welcomed by Tehran's rivals the United States and Israel.



"Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has banned the Shi'ite terrorist organization Hizballah in Germany," Interior Ministry spokesman Steve Alter tweeted on April 30.



The announcement came after German police conducted early morning raids in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen, and the capital, Berlin, to detain suspected members of the group.

Hizballah has already been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel.



U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell welcomed the move and urged other EU countries to follow suit.



The German ban "reflects the resolve of the West to confront the global threat posed by [Hizballah]," Grenell said in a statement, adding that the group "cannot be allowed to use Europe as a safe haven to support terrorism in Syria and across the Middle East."



Grenell's statement was echoed by Iran's archfoe Israel, which also called on other European countries to follow Berlin's example.



"It is a very important decision and a valuable and significant step in the global fight against terrorism," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said.



Germany had previously distinguished between Hizballah's political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad's army in Syria.



The group is also a significant backer of Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab's government which took office in January.



As many as 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hizballah's extremist wing, security officials estimate.

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP
File Photo

Mohali: With the surfacing of 11 more cases of corona virus, including 10 pilgrims, the total count in Mohali district has gone up to 84.

CoronavirusGiving details, Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said that of the 41 samples of the pilgrims who had arrived from Nanded 16 had tested positive. He said besides these, another pilgrim, a resident of Ambala, had tested positive.

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It may be mentioned here that a total of 18 cases have been confirmed positive in Punjab. There were 11 new cases in Mohali, three in Gurdaspur district, three in Sri Muktsar and one in Moga.

File photoIn all, the figure in Punjab has come close to 400, bringing the total to 395. It may be mentioned that most of the new cases are of passengers returning from Shri Hazur Sahib. The number of cases is likely to increase further by evening.
Coronavirus will trigger biggest ever plunge in energy demand, emissions - IEA Electricity pylons are seen during sunset in Gavrelle, near Arras, France

By Noah Browning and Susanna Twidale

LONDON (Reuters) - Economic lockdowns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic look set to cut global energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions by record amounts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday.

Global energy demand could slump by 6% in 2020 due to the restrictions placed on homes and industry in what would be the largest contraction in absolute terms on record, according to Paris-based IEA, which advises industrialised nations on energy.

The slump would lead to a drop in carbon dioxide emissions of 8%, six times larger than the biggest fall of 400 million tonnes recorded in 2009 following the global financial crisis, according to the IEA, which described its estimate as conservative.

"Some countries may delay the lifting of the lockdown, or a second wave of coronavirus could render our current expectations on the optimistic side," the organisation's executive director Fatih Birol told Reuters.

GRAPHIC: Global energy-related CO2 emissions - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/rlgpdwlozvo/CO2changes.png

Business activity has stalled across much of the globe as the containment measures hammer the world economy, cementing economists views of a deep global recession.

Carbon intensive coal demand has so far been hit the hardest by the pandemic, with demand in both the first quarter and projections for 2020 as a whole down 8% compared with the same periods last year.

Global natural gas demand could fall by around 5% in 2020, while electricity generation fell by 2.6% in the first quarter but renewable power generation rose during the period by 3% with new wind and solar projects coming online.

"Given the number of deaths and the economic trauma around the world. This historic decline in global emissions is absolutely nothing to cheer," Birol said, urging governments to seize on the disruptions to build greener energy infrastructure.

The share of renewables in global electricity supply neared 28% in Q1 2020, up from 26% in Q1 2019 and is expected to reach 30% by the end of the year.

Story continues

GRAPHIC: Rate of change in global primary oil demand - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/yxmvjolbopr/energydemand.JPG

OIL STORAGE SHORTAGE

An unprecedented pact by top oil producing countries this month to rein in output to balance supply with flagging demand may not succeed, the IEA warned, with places to store the excess crude running out.

Oil demand fell by 5% over the first quarter but could ultimately be the worst hit fuel over 2020, with total demand down as much as 9%.

"At the current pace in the oil market, we may well see around mid-June the global storage capacity can be full," Birol said, noting the problem was worst in North America.

Global oil demand is expected to fall a record 9.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2020 and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other top producers like Russia agreed to cuts of almost 10 million bpd, equivalent to about 10% of global production, starting on May 1.

"My call to them is to consider further cuts," Birol said.

(Reporting by Noah Browning and Susanna Twidale; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
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Linkedin John Harney (Bloomberg) Washington, United States  Thu, April 30, 2020 12:34 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd52cdcd 2 World trump,China,COVID-19,wuhan,Joe-Biden Free

Donald Trump blamed Chinas response to the coronavirus outbreak on a desire to see him lose in November, as the US president intensified efforts to fault Beijing for his reelection challenges.

Trump -- speaking in an Oval Office interview with Reuters published Wednesday -- didnt provide evidence to support the claim that China would deliberately mishandle an outbreak that has killed more than 4,600 of its citizens. The president said that he was considering various ways to punish the Chinese government, which he has blamed for allowing the virus to spread across the world.

China will do anything they can to have me lose this race, Trump said in the interview. He didnt say what punitive actions he might take, but added: There are many things I can do.

Trump also said during the interview that the US trade deal with China had been upset very badly by the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis. The slowdown has made it more difficult for China to meet purchasing pledges included in a phase one trade pact reached between the two sides in January.

Officials in Washington and Beijing have been firing charges at each other for weeks as the US became one of the countries hardest-hit by a disease first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. The dispute has complicated global efforts to mount a coordinated response to the virus, with US officials emphasizing Chinese responsibility for failing to stop its spread.

Republicans have been ratcheting up efforts to paint China as the villain, as Trump faces increased criticism of his handling of a crisis that has pushed the US economy toward recession. Some 55 percent of Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of the pandemic, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday, while other surveys show the president trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden nationally and in key swing states.

China helped escalate the blame game with the US in March when a foreign ministry spokesman shared speculation on social media that American military personnel introduced the virus to Wuhan. While Trump has held off from the calling the pathogen that causes Covid-19 the Chinese virus, his campaign sent out a letter earlier this month accusing the country of lying about the outbreak.

Earlier Wednesday, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that China posed a threat to the world by hiding information about the origin of the coronavirus. The comments came after state broadcaster China Central Televisions top evening news program questioned the transparency and accuracy of US data on Covid-19 infections.

The Chinese Communist Party now has a responsibility to tell the world how this pandemic got out of China and all across the world, causing such global economic devastation, Pompeo told Fox News in an interview in which he repeatedly criticized Beijing. America needs to hold them accountable.
Chandigarh, April 30 : After the Centre's advisory on return of stranded migrants and others, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, here on Thursday, asked the Deputy Commissioners to prepare state-wise data of migrant labourers to coordinate their movement.

He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange point-to-point special trains for their transport. During a virtual meeting with officials, the Chief Minister said he had written to the Prime Minister about their transport.

The Chief Minister said one officer had been assigned to each state for coordinating return of migrants. Ludhiana alone had over 700,000 migrant labourers and the whole of Punjab, over a million, he said.

Though data was still being collated, around 70 per cent of labourers belonged to Bihar, he said. The movement of such a large number of people would be possible only through trains, with proper screening at the time of departure.

On concern over shortage of food packets in some districts in view of the extended lockdown, the Chief Minister asked the Food Department to increase the ration quota to be distributed to migrants and non-smartcard holders. "Nobody should remain hungry," he said.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said given the large number of workers stranded due to the lockdown, use of buses for transportation would not work.

"Estimates indicate that nearly one million workers will need transport to return to their states," he said and added, the only feasible option in this case was to arrange "special trains, which the Railways may run from point to point, keeping in view the number of persons to be transported to a given destination." Noting that since many other states might also be facing a similar situation, the Chief Minister sought the Prime Minister's intervention, urging him to advise the Ministry of Railways to make special arrangements to ensure safe return of migrant workers.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had, on Wednesday, allowed inter-state movement of migrant workers, while stating "buses shall be used for transport of a group of persons, of course, after proper sanitization and maintaining social distancing norms in seating".

He said stranded workers were engaged in agriculture as well as industries. "But most of them either lost their jobs or could not find employment or work due to curfew imposed in the state to contain coronavirus," he wrote.

Though his government had tried its best to take care of the stranded migrants, who were needed for the state's industries and agriculture, by providing food, shelter and other basic amenities, most of them, unfortunately, still wished to return to their native places, he said.

The Chief Minister expressed the hope that the Prime Minister would appreciate the situation and advice the Ministry of Railways accordingly.
A total of 105 new cases of



coronavirus were reported in the last 24 hours in Pune, taking the overall number to 1



00 in the district on Thursday, a health official said.

With death of six more COVID-19 patients during the same period, the toll has now reached 92 in the district, he said.

"In Pune municipal limits, a total of 92 new cases of infection were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the city total to 1505.

"In PCMC (Pimpri-Chinchwad), three more COVID-19 cases were reported, raising the tally to 113," he said.

In the rural Pune and Pune Cantonment area, the number has gone up to 82 with 10 more cases," said the official from the district health department.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jackie 'O' Henderson has spoken about the perils of TikTok, saying it's almost impossible for parents to tell when their children are filming videos for the popular social media app.

The radio presenter, whose nine-year-old daughter, Kitty, is an avid TikTok dancer, said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday: 'You never know when you're in a TikTok video. They do it all day.

'You could be sitting on the toilet and she just walks in with the iPad doing a TikTok video... you don't have any privacy.'

Better watch out! Jackie 'O' Henderson has spoken about the perils of TikTok, saying it's almost impossible for parents to tell when their children are filming videos for the popular social media app. Pictured with her nine-year-old daughter, Kitty

Jackie made the comments while discussing NRL player Nathan Cleary, who had been caught partying with a group of women despite social distancing rules after footage of the gathering was shared on TikTok.

The Penrith Panthers star, 22, was was fined $10,000 by the NRL, and league bosses have warned the 2020 season may never restart unless behaviour improves.

TikTok is a Chinese social media app that allows users to live stream and record short videos. It is mostly used by teenagers to make singing and dancing clips that are set to well-known songs.

Word of warning: The radio presenter, whose nine-year-old daughter, Kitty, is an avid TikTok dancer, said on Friday: 'You never know when you're in a TikTok video. They do it all day'

The Beijing-based company behind the app says it has more than 500 million active users and is now worth more than $110billion.

Since Instagram took away the option to see how many 'likes' a post has, TikTok has become teenagers' favourite app for checking their popularity.

TikTok also has a direct message function, as well as live-streaming and public comments.

Get out! 'You could be sitting on the toilet and she just walks in with the iPad doing a TikTok video... you don't have any privacy,' Jackie said

Jackie shares custody of Kitty with her ex-husband Lee Henderson.

The couple separated in 2018 after 15 years of marriage, but remain on amicable terms as they co-parent their daughter.

Kitty had previously lived with her father during the week to accommodate Jackie's early starts as a breakfast radio host, but the child is now living with her mother, who is broadcasting from a home studio during the coronavirus pandemic.

Exes: Jackie shares custody of Kitty with her ex-husband Lee Henderson. They separated in 2018 after 15 years of marriage but remain on amicable terms as they co-parent their daughter
The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday extended regulatory benefits to all banks including those deploying their own resources to extend liquidity support to the mutual funds under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF) scheme

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday extended regulatory benefits to all banks including those deploying their own resources to extend liquidity support to the mutual funds under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF) scheme.

Earlier in the week, the Reserve Bank had announced Rs 50,000-crore SLF-MF scheme to bailout the mutual funds facing redemption pressure. The scheme was announced in the backdrop of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund deciding to shut several schemes.

"Based on requests received from banks, it has now been decided that the regulatory benefits announced under the SLF-MF scheme will be extended to all banks, irrespective of whether they avail funding from the Reserve Bank or deploy their own resources under the ...scheme," Reserve Bank of India said in a release.

The RBI further said banks meeting the liquidity requirements of MFs by extending loans and undertaking outright purchase of and/or repos against the collateral of investment-grade corporate bonds, commercial paper (CPs), debentures and certificates of deposit (CDs) held by MFs, will be eligible to claim all the regulatory benefits available under the scheme.

The banks claiming the regulatory benefits would be required to submit a weekly statement containing consolidated information on entity-wise and instrument-wise loans and advances extended or investment made to eligible entities to Financial Markets Operations Department and to Department of Supervision on every Monday till the closure of the scheme, the RBI said.

The Rs 50,000 crore liquidity window came days after, the Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, which has been operating in India for 25 years, decided to shut down 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.

Last time, RBI had opened a special borrowing window of Rs 25,000 crore for banks to help meet the cash requirements of mutual funds in July 2013.

Post the collapse of Lehman Brothers, RBI, in October, 2008, had provided a similar additional liquidity support exclusively for the mutual fund industry.

The central bank also stressed it remains vigilant and will take whatever steps are necessary to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and preserve financial stability.

Under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF), the RBI will conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate.
As finance continues its rapid transformation into the digital era, Stevens is designated a leader in guiding the field into a high-tech, big data world

In one of the strongest acknowledgements that finance has transformed from a low-tech field to one that relies on some of the most sophisticated technology in the world, the National Science Foundation has selected Stevens Institute of Technology to lead the first-ever industry-university cooperative research center, or IUCRC, devoted to financial technology and science.

The five-year award creates a cooperative research center that brings together partners to conduct research that is particularly relevant for industry and has a high potential for commercialization. Stevens was named lead institution for the center, which includes Georgetown University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and between eight and 25+ companies with the goal of finding innovative solutions for complex challenges facing the fintech industry.

"Georgetown and RPI complement our strengths very nicely," said George Calhoun, director of the Hanlon Financial Systems Center at Stevens School of Business and a co-principal investigator on the project. "Georgetown is good in traditional finance and the regulatory end of the business -- what is the Federal Reserve going to do, what is the Treasury going to do -- in ways that reflect their own location advantage. And RPI brings additional scientific and technological capabilities to the table."

Stevens' location and existing relationships with financial firms position it well to lead the center. With its proximity to New York City, Stevens has worked closely with financial firms and banks to identify core challenges facing industry and has responded by addressing those needs, further strengthening these relationships while simultaneously shaping its research endeavors and curriculum to align with those needs. The result: the transformation of the School of Business to a tech-infused powerhouse.

The list of firms who provided letters of support as part of Stevens bid included UBS, Bank of America, Citibank and Royal Bank of Canada among the headliners. Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group; PSEG; OneMarketData; and Capco, a global management consultancy, also supported Stevens' bid. "The reason we were successful is that we showed we would have major industry participation," said Calhoun.

Among the initial areas of focus in the IUCRC will be cybersecurity; high-frequency automated markets; technology risk and regulation; commercialization; and applications of blockchain, quantum computing, natural language processing and A.I. to the finance industry.

That diversity is reflected by the broad expertise of the co-principal investigators, which includ Giuseppe Ateniese (computer science), Jeffrey Nickerson (information systems and networks) and Darinka Dentcheva (mathematics and optimization). Working with such a broad panel of experts -- in addition to thought leaders at Georgetown, RPI and industry -- will empower a multidisciplinary approach that should break traditional research silos, said Steve Yang, the principal investigator on the project.

"I couldn't be more excited to have Stevens play such an important leadership role in an NSF IUCRC center," said Gregory Prastacos, dean of the Business School at Stevens. "The IUCRC will not only help us bring our work to the companies that would benefit from these insights, it also gives us another channel to engage industry and better understand the unique challenges they face."

###

The NSF IUCRC announcement comes on the heels of MaCuDE, a global initiative led by Stevens and AACSB, and funded by PwC, to guide more than 100 universities across the world on how to reboot the traditional MBA curriculum to keep pace with the demands of the digital era. Stevens also recently announced their partnership with Capco, a managment consultancy with a strong focus on financial services will leverage Stevens research strengths in quantum, A.I. and blockchain, among other areas, to improve the digital portfolio of their clients.

Stevens is now in the planning phase for the IUCRC project, which will run for one year to identify an agenda of research topics based on industry feedback. Each industry partner will contribute $50,000 per year to contribute toward these research efforts.

There are about 75 NSF-funded industry-universitycooperative research centers across the United States.
ALBANY  Albany County is starting to look at various ways it will have to change its operations as discussions grow about when and how it will re-open, County Executive Dan McCoy said Thursday.

But McCoy cautioned a re-opening won't happen soon, as Albany County saw the highest new positive case count in a single day Thursday - 94 - since testing began.

The county is operating at about 50 percent capacity as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's directive for local governments to use only essential workers during the pandemic.

McCoy said he was looking at his options for when the county is given the go-ahead to begin re-opening, including possibly splitting county workers into two shifts, rather than having most workers work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staggering shifts would limit how many workers are on the job at the same time and allow more space between them.

The county is open to suggestions as to how it should move forward while keeping workers safe. McCoy said the county was having discussions with nearby counties on a regional approach.

"If you have new ways of re-imagining the way the workforce is going to be or any ideas, please send them to us," he said. "This is something collaboratively we can do together."

Any drastic move, such as splitting the county workforce into two shifts, would raise another series of complications, such as how daycare centers, schools, banks, restaurants and other businesses operate, he said. The county will be reaching out to workers in the near future to get an idea of how many workers will need help tackling issues like child-care when those re-opening plans are put in place.

McCoy urged residents to be patient.

"The last thing we want to do is to (re-open) and have more cases or more deaths," he said.

The county also saw a drastic spike in positive cases with the 94 new cases, the single highest increase since the pandemic began. The county has 1,120 COVID-19 cases, with 562 of them having recovered, McCoy said.

McCoy said two more people died overnight as well, bringing the county's death toll to 41. Both victims were men in their 80s with underlying health conditions.

There are 34 people hospitalized for the disease and 10 are in intensive care.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

As of Thursday, April 30 more than 2,500 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus had been reported in 11 Capital Region counties and 142 deaths had occurred. Known case counts, hospitalizations, recoveries and deaths are available below by county.

Albany  1,120 cases, 37 hospitalized, 10 in ICU, 562 recovered, 41 deaths

Columbia  205 cases, 14 hospitalized, 6 in ICU, 92 recovered, 13 deaths

Fulton  71 cases, 3 deaths

Greene***  130 cases, 50 active, 80 resolved, 7 hospitalized, 5 deaths

Montgomery  54 cases, 34 recovered, 2 under medical care, 1 death

Rensselaer  305 cases, 165 recovered, 9 hospitalized, 2 in ICU, 18 deaths

Saratoga  349 cases, 10 hospitalized, 122* recoveries, 14 deaths

Schenectady  472 cases, 18** hospitalized, 318 recoveries, 27 deaths

Schoharie***  39 cases, 6 hospitalized, 31 recovered, 1 death

Warren  146 cases, 4 hospitalized, 99 recovered, 13 deaths

Washington  135 cases, 65 recovered, 6 deaths

*as of April 14

**includes all hospitalizations in county, regardless of patients county of residence

***As of April 29
The Community Culinary School of Northwestern Connecticut in New Milford has been named a 2020 Top-Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits.

GreatNonprofits is the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits.

The culinary school provides job and life skills training to unemployed and underemployed adults from the greater New Milford area.

All food prepared in classes is donated to local food banks to feed the hungry within the community.

The Community Culinary School is also the congregate meal provider for the New Milford Senior Center as well as being the Town of New Milfords emergency food provider.

We are honored to be named a 2020 Top-Rated Nonprofit, said Dawn Hammacott, executive director.

We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including beginning the senior center congregate lunch program, then finding a way to not only continue the meals with delivery during the pandemic, but to add three times more meals than we were serving at the senior center, Hammacott said.

The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is based on the rating and number of reviews that The Community Culinary School of Northwestern Connecticut received from volunteers, donors and aid recipients.

Kudos to the CCS--they are such a positive and helpful presence in our community and have been for 13 years, one reviewer wrote. So many success stories have come out of the school; careers started, businesses and opportunities created, sometimes for people who had no direction at all.

The senior center is a grateful beneficiary of the school's services, as is the community at large, with delicious food being served and much needed social interaction provided by staff and students, the reviewer continued.

The school is run by caring, creative, and committed people who appreciate their community, and who know that the value they provide is very important. Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful organization, the review summed up.

The Community Culinary School of Northwestern Connecticut is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community, said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits,

Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with The Community Culinary School of Northwestern Connecticut, Ni said.

GreatNonprofits is the leading website where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits.

The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities - as donors, volunteers and recipients of aid.

The complete list of 2020 Top Rated Nonprofits can be found at https://greatnonprofits.org/awards/browse/Campaign:Year2020/Issue:All/Page:1
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. was founded in 1810 and is a renowned insurance company in the United States. The company believes that human-centric investing can create solutions and advisor tools that not only strengthen bottom lines but [also] strengthen advisor-client relationships by helping investors better realize their true-life goals.

Hartford Funds  a segment of Hartford Financial Services  had total assets of $127 billion under management as of Dec 31, 2019 (excluding affiliated funds of funds). The company manages more than 50 mutual funds across a wide range of styles and asset classes.

Below we share with you three top-ranked Hartford mutual funds. Each has earned a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. Investors can click here to see the complete list of funds.

Hartford Small Company HLS Fund Class IA HIASX primarily invests its assets in common stocks issued by small-capitalization companies. The fund may also invest almost one-fifth of its assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers. Small-capitalization companies are those whose market capitalization falls within the collective range of the Russell 2000 and S&P SmallCap 600 indices. HIASX has returned 5.3% in the last three years.

Steven C. Angeli is one of the fund managers of HIASX since 2000.

Hartford Balanced HLS Fund Class IA HADAX invests the majority of its assets in equity securities and a smaller portion in debt securities and cash instruments. Although the fund may invest across all market capitalizations, it may especially focus on investing in securities of large capitalization companies. HADAX has returned 3.8% in the last three years.

As of the end of March 2020, HADAX held 6.4 issues, with 4.4% of its assets invested in Microsoft Corp.

Hartford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund Class IA HIADX primarily invests in equity securities of companies. The fund aims for a high level of current income, which is on par with capital appreciation. The fund invests the majority of its assets in dividend-paying equity securities. HIADX has three-year annualized returns of 2.3%.

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HIAHX has an expense ratio of 0.68% as compared with the category average of 1.00%.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all Hartford mutual funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of funds.

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Even as an estimated five lakh



migrant workers in Maharashtra got a sense of relief following the Centre's nod to facilitate their passage home, labour unions fear that the move may cause a major shortage of manpower, which the state needs to be prepared for.

Although the state government set up shelters and provided them food during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, labourers have continued demanding a safe passage to their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among other states.

Naveen Kumar, who works at a dyeing unit in Dombivli town of Maharashtra's Thane district, wished to head back to his hometown of Aurangabad in Bihar, as he had exhausted all his savings during the lockdown.

"I was only a few months into this job when the lockdown was announced. I have exhausted my savings on food and lodging. I requested several people to allow me and a few of my colleagues to travel to Aurangabad, as we do not feel safe here," he told PTI.

Kumar, is not the only unskilled worker who left his hometown to come to Maharashtra in search of work.

"Although Maharashtra does not have any major mines, around 13 per cent national industrial output comes from here. Maharashtra's gross state domestic product is almost 45 per cent, making it attractive to the labour force," a senior IAS officer from the state industries ministry said.

In Mumbai city alone, there are several small-scale industries that manufacture readymade products, especially in Dharavi, which is considered the country's largest slum.

"My employer told me that I will not get any fresh order till October this year, which is why I want to go back to my family in Uttar Pradesh," said Inayat Shaikh, who makes leather bags in Dharavi.

"We don't understand this pandemic. All I know is that with no earnings for over two months, I will not be able to pay rent," Shaikh said.

While workers eagerly await their return home, trade unions fear that the state may witness a shortage of manpower post the COVID-19 lockdown.

Uday Bhat, national general secretary for All India Council of Trade Union, said, "We are coordinating with the state officials to process permissions and complete mandatory check-ups and procedures for the migrant labourers."



As the Centre has decided to initiate steps to transport migrant labourers, unions were compiling lists of workers who wish to return home, he said.

"In Mumbai alone, manufacturing of bags, leather and bakery products, services such as housekeeping, security, cabs, delivery etc will be affected if more than two lakh people leave for their hometowns," Bhat said.

This will create a huge shortage of manpower in many sectors and the state needs to be prepared for it, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A nurse from Minnesota is facing second-degree murder charges for allegedly killing her foster son on April 24. A criminal complaint stated that Kellie Jo Anderson arrived at Sanford Emergency Department in Fargo on April 23 with a boy who appeared blue and lifeless and had bruising to his face and head.

The doctor who attended to the boy noted that his core temperature was 82 degrees, suggesting that he died approximately 40 minutes before their arrival at the hospital.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office found that the victim had internal injuries. Aside from that, there are also physical injuries to his face, head, legs, arms, chest, back, hand, foot, and penis. His preliminary cause of death was ruled as homicide by probable asphyxia and blunt force trauma.

The suspect's alibi

The 35-year-old suspect allegedly told authorities that she believed her foster son had a seizure, prompting her to take him to the hospital. Anderson also claimed that the boy harms himself and that he recently threw himself from the bath to the toilet, according to Bring Me the News Minnesota.

Anderson's husband, who reportedly was at work when the alleged murder happened, said that the boy had no history of self-harm or seizures. He also stated that the boy had no marks or injuries when he bathed him the night before.

Also Read: Two Transgender Women in Puerto Rico Burned to Death

Reports reveal that Anderson said the boy was babbling and had labored breathing while they were on their way to the hospital. She also recounted pulling over a few blocks from the hospital because the child has stopped babbling and did not have a pulse.

Anderson also said that she was about to perform CPR on the boy but she detected a faint pulse so she got back in the car and continued to drive to the emergency room. The name and the age of the victim were not released by authorities. Anderson is said to have admitted that she and her husband were reconsidering adopting the child. The reports have indicated that the couple had the boy for about a year already.

Anderson is still in custody and the Minnesota Department of Human Services confirmed to KFGO that they temporarily suspended her license to provide foster care.

The foster care system in America

There are more than 430,000 children in foster care in the United States. In 2018, more than 600,000 children spent time in foster care. Children remain in state care for two years and 6% of children in foster care have stayed in the system for five or more years.

Due to the overwhelmed system, not all children can get the focus and attention that they need. There are abusive foster care parents who slip through the cracks of the system. Each week, around 60,000 children in the United States are reported as neglected or abused, with more than 900,000 confirmed abuse victims since 2004. About 520,000 of those children end up in foster care, doubling the number 25 years ago.

Related article: Severed Head Found in Refrigerator at California Apartment

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, shown speaking in Wilmington, Del., on March 12, is scheduled to give an interview Friday on MSNBC in which he will address allegations by a former staffer that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

As he prepares to claim the Democratic presidential nomination, former Vice President Joe Biden is rightly being exhorted to make a fuller and more public response to an allegation by Tara Reade, who asserts that Biden sexually assaulted her when she was on his Senate staff in the 1990s. But what Biden says about the accusation  which his campaign flatly denies  is less important than what he does. And what he should do is agree to an independent investigation of Reades troubling claims.

Reades allegation against Biden has evolved. Last year she said that Biden had touched her inappropriately and that some of her responsibilities were taken away after she refused to serve drinks at an event  allegations that seem to involve sexual harassment, not sexual assault. But in an podcast interview in March she accused Biden of pushing her against a wall, groping her and penetrating her with his fingers.

According to the New York Times, Reade said that she had complained about harassment by Biden  without mentioning sexual assault  to the senators executive assistant and two senior aides, all of whom say they don't remember such a complaint. But on April 27 Business Insider reported that a former neighbor said Reade had told her about the alleged assault in the mid-1990s.

Reade is encountering skepticism not only because of the way her story has changed but because she had supported Biden's rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and once expressed admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But her allegation still needs to be taken seriously.

In a statement denying Reades allegation, Kate Bedingfield, a deputy Biden campaign manager, said: 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. But Biden's legislative efforts don't refute Reades allegations. Politicians  like other human beings  dont always practice what they preach.

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Reade's accusation comes as Biden is wrapping up the Democratic nomination for president, and Republicans unsurprisingly are eager to exploit it  never mind that President Trump has been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual assault or making unwanted advances. Trump denies the allegations.

But the fact that Trump stands accused of sexual misconduct doesnt mean that Biden can ignore Reades account. Unpleasant as it must be, the former vice president must be willing to answer questions about Reades accusations posed by reporters or members of the public. (He is expected to speak about the allegations in a television interview on Friday.)

More important, his campaign should commission an independent investigation of Reades allegations by a lawyer or law firm without clear partisan leanings. Investigators should be given access to papers from his career that Biden donated to the University of Delaware, a potential source that journalists haven't been allowed to inspect. And their report should be made public. It's not guaranteed that such an investigation will resolve the contradictions, but it could dispel suspicions that important documents were being concealed.

The message of the #MeToo movement was that an accusation of sexual impropriety by a powerful man should be taken seriously  including by the subject of the complaint. Even as he protests his innocence, Biden needs to honor that principle.
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a unanimous vote by its board of directors, the John Paul II Cultural Foundation has dissolved and transferred its assets to the John Paul II Shrine and Institute, home to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.

The foundation initiated and oversaw the development of the Pope John Paull II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. to communicate the faith, life, and mission of the Catholic Church through the life and the pontificate of John Paul II, along with a focus on the intersection between faith and culture. The center opened in 2001.

In 2011, the Knights of Columbus purchased the cultural center's building and transitioned it into a shrine dedicated to St. John Paul II, featuring the Redemptor Hominis Church as a center of pilgrimage and prayer and showcasing exhibits on the saint's courageous life and spiritual legacy. In 2014, on the occasion of the canonization of St. John Paul II by Pope Francis, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pronounced it a national shrine.

The contents of the exhibits that were on loan from the foundation, and now owned by the shrine, will continue to be part of the shrine's major permanent collection. The artifacts highlight significant events in St. John Paul II's life and his momentous influence as the spiritual father of one billion Catholics and as a world leader.

Among the items from the collection that can be viewed by visitors are a Congressional Gold Medal awarded to St. John Paul II by a vote of the United States Congress and presented Jan. 8, 2001, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, presented to Saint John Paul II by President George W. Bush on June 4, 2004. Additionally, on display is the red cape, white cassock and gold pectoral cross owned and worn by Pope John Paul II throughout his papacy.

Saint John Paul II National Shrine Executive Director and Deputy Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Patrick E. Kelly said, "It's an enormous honor for the shrine to be entrusted with sharing Pope John Paul II's dynamic life with both those who were touched by him and with younger generations who now are eager to know him. His unwavering faith and courage stirred the hearts of people from all over the world as pope, and he continues to inspire today as a saint. We are grateful and committed to carrying out the John Paul II Cultural Foundation's mission."

Msgr. Charles Antonicelli, executive director of the John Paul II Cultural Foundation, commented, "On behalf of the John Paul II Cultural Foundation Board of Directors, we wish to express our gratitude to the many supporters and benefactors who helped realize the vision of the foundation to educate and inspire the world by sharing the life and messages of St. John Paul II."

Individuals and estates with matters or bequests related to the John Paul II Cultural Foundation may contact Msgr. Charles Antonicelli at (202) 347-2713 as it finalizes winding up. Individuals may also contact Mr. Fred Salancy at (203) 251-3071 regarding donations, bequests, or other matters now under the supervision of the John Paul II Shrine and Institute at 3900 Harewood Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20017.

About the Saint John Paul II National Shrine and the Knights of Columbus

The Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. is a place of worship, religious formation, and cultural renewal that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. It is a major pastoral initiative of the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization with almost two million members around the world. From its conception, the Knights of Columbus intended the shrine to serve as a response to St. John Paul II's call for a "new evangelization," a mission successively proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.



Pilgrims to the shrine are invited to celebrate the Eucharist at daily Mass in the Redemptor Hominis Church and to pray in the Luminous Mysteries Chapel, both decorated by renowned mosaic artist Father Marko Rupnik. The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the shrine promote devotion to the Divine Mercy message, which was entrusted to St. Faustina Kowalska and brought to the world by St. John Paul II. A first-class relic of St. John Paul II's blood is displayed for public veneration.

The shrine also features an extensive and interactive self-guided exhibit entitled, A Gift of Love: The Life of John Paul II. Although currently closed due to the ongoing health crisis, there are numerous ways to virtually engage with its work and mission. Visit www.jp2shrine.org for more information.

SOURCE Knights of Columbus
LOWELL, Mass. - A UMass Lowell researcher investigating how to identify damage in wind turbines before they fail has received $1.4 million to develop a solution.

Murat Inalpolat, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has devised a way to assess the integrity of wind turbine blades by using sound. The new grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will support these efforts.

Wind power is projected to become a more than $170 billion industry over the next four years, according to a study by Global Market Insights Inc. There are nearly 60,000 wind turbines in the country and more than 341,000 around the world, according to figures from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Global Wind Energy Council.

Commercial wind turbine blades, which are made of fiberglass composite, can measure 200 feet or more in length and weigh many tons. Given their exposure to the elements, blades can split, crack or develop holes along their edges. Currently, this damage cannot be detected until after a blade has failed, according to Inalpolat.

"There is no other technology in today's market that can monitor the condition and safety of turbine blades while they are operating," said Inalpolat, a Merrimack, N.H., resident. "Our proposed system is low-cost, reliable, robust and it can be installed on both new and existing wind turbines."

His invention uses wireless microphones mounted inside blades, wireless speakers inside the turbine's cavity and a microphone placed near the structure to monitor the sounds emanating from inside of it. Any changes in audio frequencies would signal blade damage, according to Inalpolat.

In addition to the grant from the DOE, Inalpolat has received support for his research from the National Science Foundation and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, along with UMass Lowell's WindSTAR research center and other areas of the university.

Conducting research alongside Inalpolat are UMass Lowell Ph.D. candidates Jaclyn Solimine from Haverhill and Caleb Traylor from Beeville, Texas. They are analyzing acoustic data they collect from full-size wind turbine blades being tested at the state Wind Technology Testing Center in Charlestown to determine which characteristics of sounds will be most useful in detecting damage, Solimine said.

###

UMass Lowell is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its more than 18,000 students bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. http://www.uml.edu
A 35-year old Indian woman, who was five months pregnant, was founded murdered in her apartment and her husband was found dead in an apparent suicide in the Hudson River near here, authorities said.

Garima Kothari was found unresponsive with trauma to her upper body on April 26 by Jersey City police officers, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said.

Following an autopsy by the Regional Medical Examiner, Kothari's death was ruled homicide. She suffered multiple injuries in her upper body. Additionally, the Medical Examiner determined that Kothari was approximately five months pregnant.

Kothari's husband Man Mohan Mall, 37, was found dead in the Hudson River in Jersey City.

The Jersey City Police Department was responding to a report of the possible suicide attempt in the Hudson River. They found an unresponsive Mall in the river near Montgomery Street and Exchange Place in Jersey City.

Mall was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of Mall's death is still pending with the Regional Medical Examiner.

The Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit is investigating the case with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department.

While it seems that the deaths are the result of a murder-suicide, the final determination is pending till the complete findings of the Regional Medical Examiner's Office.

Authorities have sought information on the murder-suicide.

According to a report in the Daily Voice, Kothari was a talented chef and Mall was an alumnus of the India Institute of Technology (IIT), who had come to the US to pursue his master's degree at the Columbia University.

The couple owned an Indian restaurant Nukkad', a few blocks from their Jersey City high-rise apartment.

"They were a nice couple," said an employee of Nukkad, according to the report.

A family member described Mall as a very intelligent and caring person and Kothari as a talented chef who was extremely friendly and dedicated to her profession, the report said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Grants

ED Grant Competition Offers $300 Million in Funds to 'Rethink Education'

The United State Department of Education has announced a new grant program offering $307.5 million in funds for states to "create adaptable, innovative learning opportunities for K-12 and postsecondary learners in response to the COVID-19 national emergency." The Education Stabilization Fund Discretionary Grants, announced this week by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, will be funded through the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

"If our ability to educate is limited to what takes place in any given physical building, we are never going to meet the unique needs of every student . We must rethink education to better match the realities of the 21st century. This is the time for local education leaders to unleash their creativity and ingenuity, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they do to provide education freedom and economic opportunity for America's students," said Secretary DeVos, in a statement.

The grants will be distributed via two competitions: Rethink K-12 Education Models Grants (offering $180 million in total funds) and Reimagining Workforce Preparation Grants ($127.5 million).

The Rethink K-12 Education Models Grants are focused on access: coming up with innovative ways for students to access K-12 education, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. State educational agencies can apply for funds in one of three categories:

Microgrants for families, to support access to technology and educational services;

Statewide virtual learning and course access programs; and

"Field-initiated models for providing remote education not yet imagined."

On the higher ed side, the Reimagining Workforce Preparation Grants are designed to "expand short-term postsecondary programs and work-based learning programs in order to get Americans back to work and help small businesses return to being our country's engines for economic growth." More information on specific eligibility and selection criteria is forthcoming in a supplemental notice from ED.

"Current students and displaced workers will be navigating a very different job market and economy once America reopens," commented Secretary DeVos. "This competition is a tremendous opportunity for states to think creatively and strategically about what their workforce needs will be and how to support entrepreneurs and small business in order to get the economic engines in their states firing on all cylinders again."

Application packages for both grant competitions will be available within two weeks, with a 60-day application deadline. More information is available on the ED site.
New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim, chair of a House Small Business subcommittee, will help examine how President Donald Trumps administration is spending trillions of dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus funds.

Kim, D-3rd Dist., was one of seven Democrats named Wednesday to the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis.

The committee was formed to determine whether the stimulus funds were being spent correctly and in line with congressional intent. It is expected to do this through hearings and investigations, and to look at what else needs to be done to help the U.S. recover from COVID-19 and prevent a recurrence of the virus.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Congress has passed three spending bills so far and is at work on a fourth.

This is the largest relief package in the history of our country, Kim told NJ Advance Media. It requires oversight to make sure the American peoples resources are used wisely. Without that type of oversight, it leads to a strong potential for corruption and other problems.

Kim is the only member of the panel from New Jersey, which has more coronavirus cases than any other state but New York. The state reported 116,264 cases on Wednesday.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.
President Trumps order to reopen meat processing plants, despite the fact that they're coronavirus hot spots, raises a tangle of liability issues that could keep courts and trial lawyers busy for years.

Why it matters: The scrap over meat plants  which is just heating up  may be a microcosm of the ones other businesses will face once commerce opens up more broadly.

What they're saying: As corporate responsibility for workers' and customers' COVID-19 infections turns into a political and financial flashpoint, the beneficiaries will likely be trial lawyers, bringing torts of all kinds.

"I envision that you are going to see a spike in litigation," Eric Swan, a tort litigation attorney at Lathrop GPM, tells Axios. "You're going to see personal injury claims from consumers against businesses  you're already seeing this a little bit with employees against employers."

He cited a wrongful death suit against Walmart in Illinois brought by the family of an employee who died of COVID-19. The family said the company didn't do enough to protect him.

Driving the news: Meat processing workers, many of them low-income immigrants and minorities, are being recalled to plants where thousands have been sickened. If the administration has its way, their employers will enjoy liability protection, shielding them from lawsuits brought by workers or their family members who contracted COVID-19.

But the issue is fraught. On one side are groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which sent a letter to Trump on Tuesday pushing him to curb the amount of liability businesses could face.

The letter warned against a scenario where "government bureaucrats enforcing a rule book of regulations" could "issue fines when they find a sneeze guard out of place."

The letter was delivered to a receptive audience: Trump and his chief economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, are said to be in favor of a "liability shield" that would "prevent businesses from being sued by customers who contract the coronavirus," per the Washington Post.

On the other side are consumer advocates and unions, some of which sent a letter to Congress saying, "legal liability is one of the most powerful incentives we have to ensure that businesses operate safely."

Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii tweeted: "Forcing meat processing plants to stay open without adequate worker protections while shielding owners from liability just for @realDonaldTrump's personal, political benefit demonstrates a callous disregard for human life."

Details: Lawyers say the meat producers being forced to reopen plants  like Tyson Foods, Conagra, Smithfield Foods, JBS and Cargill  could face a range of legal challenges if their workers get sick or if they're unable to honor contracts with suppliers and customers.

"What if I get sick at work, and I can show that my employer didn't take enough steps to prevent that colleague next to me from from coming in?" Omer Tene of the International Association of Privacy Professionals tells Axios.

A "force majeure" clause in a contract that frees both parties from liability in the event of extraordinary circumstances could suddenly be nullified, leaving the meat company with contracts to fill and cattle it's obliged to buy, David Domina, a trial practice lawyer in Omaha, tells Axios.

And a big percentage of workers could call in sick, leaving the plant unable to function at full capacity.

"The overwhelming majority of the workforce could have worker's comp claims," Domina says.

Even before the president's order on Tuesday, workers at a Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Milan, Mo.  which has not closed  sued the company, seeking an injunction until more safety measures are put in place.

An anonymous plaintiff who works at the plant wrote an impassioned article in the Washington Post saying, "managers never blatantly asked me to risk my life just by showing up  until this pandemic."

The bottom line: No business will be immune from the possibility of liability lawsuits as the nation opens up again.
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Activist investing could drop to levels not seen since 2014 in the immediate aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak, according to new research from Activist Insight. Data in the report shows that there was a significant uptick in proxy statements in 2009, 2017, and 2019 following periods of falling stock prices. The increase in proxy filings during those periods suggests that activists may be gearing up for a series of fights over the next few years. Businesses appear to be positioning themselves more defensively ahead of any action. Companies have responded to this year's volatility by implementing so-called "poison pills," including as many as 40 by April 21. Firms are also changing their bylaws in response to the current environment. Social distancing may end up saving some companies from proxy filings. The report notes that holding annual meetings in person is going to be difficult until there is a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19. Without an annual meeting, it becomes that much harder to launch a proxy fight. Shareholders may also be less focused on proxy issues overall if they are dealing with virus response and may be more inclined to side with management if management says it is dealing with special circumstances as a result of the crisis. For activists to make it through the crisis, the report suggests that they'll have to bring especially high conviction cases to be seen and heard. Or, they will have to be...................... To view our full article Click here
After 40 years of watching real war, I obviously have strong views about the fight which statesmen and politicians and liars  the three are, of course, interchangeable  regard as their war against coronavirus. Both real war and viral war (the Covid variety) produce casualties. They produce heroes. They demonstrate human endurance. But they should not be compared.

For a start, such parallels can prove embarrassing. When Matt Hancock first compared Britains struggle against Covid-19 with the Blitz, he was grotesquely conflating what was then a mere handful of UK fatalities with the massive Luftwaffe killing of around 40,000 British citizens. But now that the figure of UK virus fatalities stands  including the uncounted dead, of course  at more than 44,000, and perhaps much higher, those Second World War comparisons are beginning to look a bit worrying.

Whats the next historical trick that the Brexiteers will play on us? That the total British dead of the Second World War of more than 66,000 shows what our grandparents endured? But by then, Covid-19 fatalities in the UK may very well outrun even that grisly statistic.

But theres another far more important difference between the real wars and the global viral war. For real wars are about conflict, about humans versus humans, and are usually won when the infrastructure of one side  its lands and homes and factories and railways and roads and hospitals, its museums and galleries and its very water supply systems and electricity stations  have been turned to rubble. Survivors emerge from these wars with their countries in ruin. There is no back to normal  because normal has been physically destroyed.

We humanoids are not going to be faced with this catastrophe when our current battle has ended  if it does end, of which more later. When we open all our front doors, our human losses may be great and our economic losses may seem unsupportable, but our physical world will be much the same. Our great institutions, our parliaments and universities, our hospitals and town halls and railway stations, our airports and road and rail networks, our water and sewage systems, our very homes will be untouched. They will look exactly the same as they did a few months ago. We will have been spared the national suicide of real war.

Johnson and Cummings and their Brexiteer school chums  along with the gruesome scientific crew they have on board (for the moment at least)  can still play at war, but must not emphasise the difference between this and the real thing: the fact that the world outside the front door looks very much the same as it did in February and March.

Thats why so many people have found themselves willing to break the house arrest rules which have been laid down for them. Its not because they are all bent on suicide, or selfish, or crazy; its because they have taken a look at the great outdoors and have found it much the same as they remembered it. Little by little, they are prepared to risk danger to themselves and others because they can  this phrase is quite deliberate  somehow accept this.

So here  and now I drop the quotation marks we must return to real wars. One of the most remarkable phenomena of these terrifying conflicts is that ordinary life continues amid the bloodshed and imminent annihilation.

During the Beirut battles and during the most fearful moments of the present Syrian war, I have attended marriage services. A Muslim couple in Beirut and an Armenian couple in the northern Syrian city of Kimishle  when the nearest Isis front line was scarcely 12 miles from the front door of the church  decided to marry, and the appropriate clerics performed the services. I watched, as they say, in awe. In Lebanon and Syria, I have friends who have bought and sold homes during their respective wars. Their lives were in danger but they still needed property documents, banking funds and lawyers. Amid anarchy, the formal bureaucracy of the law must take its course.

All this  the marriages and the property transfers  had to continue because, in the oldest of cliches, life must go on. Just as it does in the global virus war. Our marriages today have few guests, property is bought and sold by email attachments, and funerals  an essential part of normal life, I suppose  are still necessarily performed, albeit without the next of kin seeing the dead or even standing close to their coffins.

But there is something else I have noticed in the real wars I cover: that the civilians who suffer amid the fighting also have an extraordinary ability to endure the losses around them. Its something to do with the idea of society; the idea that it is possible, however appalled by ones personal circumstances, to understand pain and death as something which approaches normality. Real wars, you see, also move towards what might be termed a new normal. Friends and relatives are killed. I know nobody in Lebanon or Syria who has not experienced this shock. But shock is also relative.

During the Northern Ireland conflict, the British home secretary Reginald Maudling  Priti Patels long-forgotten predecessor  referred in 1971 to what he called an acceptable level of violence. This was inevitably condemned by those who believed that any violence was unacceptable, but his remark made ghoulish sense. This was a war which I also had the cursed privilege of reporting, and I recall how journalists understood exactly what Maudling meant: that the toll of death and bombings in the six counties could reach a point where they became normal.

This happened in Lebanon. During ceasefires, or even without truces, Beirutis would go to the beach to sunbathe or swim at weekends. One appalling afternoon, Christian Phalangist guns in the east opened fire on west Beirut and their shells fell among the sunbathers on the beach below the Mediterranean Corniche. The carnage was frightful. The front pages of the next days Beirut newspapers were filled with photographs which would never be printed in Europe or America.

A week later, the beaches were full again. Many Lebanese had consented to an acceptable level of death. This was in one sense inspiring  human beings can show themselves unconquerable  but in a different way it was also deeply depressing. If civilians  the public, to use our very western expression  could become inured to death, then the war could go on indefinitely. And this, remember, was a war caused by the same human species who were dying in it.

But here I reach a troubling thought. We all know that the current mass European house arrest of millions of people cannot go on forever. Sweden never really embarked on such a curfew. Germany and Italy and Holland are now slowly and carefully shaking it off. Even the cocktail of boobies around Boris Johnson know this is true. And, much more to the point, Britons  with or without the Little Brexiteers in Downing Street  will decide for themselves when the lockdown should end. They will not wait for Sergeant Plod to tell them so.

And we all know that the current Covid-19 virus will not end in the traditional sense that a war comes to its conclusion. There will be no last casualty. But when the figures become lower, and if there is no second visitation from this dreadful thing, Britain will reach, Im afraid to say, an acceptable level of death. When the daily statistic moves from the hundreds into the dozens and then to the tens per day, there will be no more Downing Street briefings, far fewer earnest thoughts from our health experts and, alas, less remembrance of the sacrifice of nurses and doctors. We may even take bets on when the next round of Tory cuts will be imposed on the NHS.

Recommended Russia is about to face its biggest test yet in Syria

But the point is that we all  save for those mourning the men and women they loved  have a capacity to absorb death. When the UK government believes that moment has been reached in this present crisis, they will open the doors and the roads and even the restaurants. The economy must survive.

Johnson and his acolytes will announce victory, but this will be untrue. Britons will still be dying. But their deaths will have become normal  like those of cancer or heart attack patients or road accident victims  and thus, in Johnsons deplorable phrase, those who are lost before their time.

And in this way, the British will not need to enjoy herd immunity. With or without protection from this virus or the next, with or without a vaccine, they will have become a herd in a different sense of the word. They will, as the government ultimately wish them to become, a herd which is immune to the deaths of others, one which will have absorbed an acceptable level of death amid their own people. They will all have become a little more indurated  a good Victorian word  to the infliction of such suffering, and they will stop squabbling about the UK governments failure to prevent this outrage.

And they will  let us use the disgusting mantra of all politicians  move on. They will have come to terms with the virus. As the government did a long time ago  and will continue to do.

And we can forget any expensive planning for the next visitation. Until we come across Covid-20 or Covid-22 or Covid-30. Or it comes across us.
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held on April 29 a telephone conversation with Italys minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation Luigi di Maio, the Armenian MFA told Armenpress.

On behalf of the Armenian people and government, FM Mnatsakanyan expressed support to the good people of Italy on effectively addressing the challenges caused by the pandemic and quickly overcoming it.

The Armenian FM introduced his Italian counterpart on the actions and programs taken by the Armenian government to prevent the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and mitigate its economic-social consequences.

In the context of fighting COVID-19 and eliminating its consequences the two FMs exchanged views on the new initiatives of the international cooperation.

Coming to the bilateral agenda-related issues, FM Mnatsakanyan stated that Armenia attaches special importance to the development of relations based on the common Armenian-Italian civilizational values. In this regard they praised the high-level political dialogue between Armenia and Italy, as well as outlined the future steps to further strengthen and expand the cooperation in the fields of mutual interest.

During the phone talk the ministers also touched upon broad range of international and regional security issues, the Armenian MFA said in a statement.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Today we pray for the dead, those who died from the pandemic; and also especially for the deceased - let's say  who are anonymous: we have seen the photos of the mass graves. Many ". This was the invitation to prayer with which Pope Francis introduced the mass celebrated this morning at Casa Santa Marta.

In his homily Pope commented on the passage of the Gospel (Jn 6, 44-51) in which Jesus says "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him", underlining that the apostolate, like going on a mission , is "testimony and prayer". It is certainly possible to study religion or theology, and learn a great deal about Jesus, the Pope said, but unless we are drawn by the Father, we cannot know Christ, or His mystery. This was the case with the Ethiopian eunuch in the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. He was an official in the Ethiopian royal court. The Pope noted that he was reading the Scriptures  a passage from the prophet Isaiah  as he returned home from Jerusalem. God had already prepared his heart, and now the Father sent Philip the Deacon to him.

The restlessness the official felt was precisely the Father drawing him to Jesus. When he saw some water by the wayside, he asked to be baptised. Pope Francis said it is important for us to realize this principle as the basis for our own apostolic work of spreading the Gospel. This is valid for our apostolate, for our apostolic mission as Christians, he said. The work of conversion, the Pope continued, is not something we do. Only God can convert someone. Only the Father can draw someone to Jesus.Our job, the Pope said, is to bear witness. In missionary work, it is not enough simply to teach or instruct people about the truths of the faith. In order to be a true proclamation, we must bear witness in our own lives, and allow the Father to draw people to Christ.

The Pope then asked what we can do so that the Father will make it His business to draw people to Jesus. The answer he gives is simple: Prayer. Witness and prayer go together the Pope said. Without witness and prayer you cannot do the work of apostolic preaching. Ones preaching might be very beautiful, but without the Fatheras action, people will not be attracted to Christ. Our witness opens the door to peoples hearts, leads them to welcome the message and the mystery of Jesus. Prayer then opens the Father's heart, so that He Himself will draw people to Jesus. This applies not only in the missions but is the great rule of our apostolate everywhere, the Pope said. He warned, though, that being missionary does not mean proselytism: Witness, yes, proselytism, no! Pope Francis concluded his homily saying, Let us ask the Lord for the grace to live our work with witness and prayer, so that He, the Father, might draw people to Jesus.
Actor Rishi Kapoor died after a two-year-long battle with cancer on Thursday, maintaining his jovial nature till the very end. He was 67. Rishi Kapoor is survived by wife Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Riddhima, who is on her way to Mumbai, but could not attend the funeral.

Rishi was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium in south Mumbai. Family members including wife Neetu Singh, son Ranbir, Rishis elder brother Randhir, Kareena Kapoor Khan, along with husband Saif Ali Khan and actor Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbirs girlfriend Alia Bhatt and Anil Ambani were among the few present at the funeral.

The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last, The Kapoor family said in a statement, adding that his fans and well-wishers should obey the ongoing lockdown laws and abstain from crowding the streets.

Also read: Rishi Kapoors brave fight against cancer: His 5 statements that prove he was positive till the very end

Rishis death was met with a flood of condolence messages. Everyone from PM Narendra Modi to screen legend Amitabh Bachchan paid tribute to the actor, who sustained a diverse career for several decades, and was known affectionately in the industry as Chintu uncle.

Stay tuned for all the live updates on the developing story here:

Karisma Kapoor pays touching tribute to Irrfan Khan, uncle Rishi

Karisma Kapoor shared a video of Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor. The short clip comes from a scene they shared in the film D-Day. See her post here.

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni posts pictures on Instagram

Riddhima, who lives in Delhi, could not make it to the funeral in Mumbai. She penned an emotional note and shared it on Instagram stories, along with pictures with her father.

Katrina Kaif posts tribute

Words fall short ....You will be remembered forever, Katrina wrote alongside a picture of a young Rishi Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor cremated

Rishi Kapoor was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium in south Mumbai in the presence of close family, according to PTI. His body was brought to the crematorium in an ambulance at around 3.45 pm directly from the hospital amid tight police security due to the coronavirus lockdown. Family members including wife Neetu Singh, son Ranbir, Rishis elder brother Randhir, Kareena Kapoor Khan, along with husband Saif Ali Khan and actor Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbirs girlfriend Alia Bhatt and Anil Ambani were among the few present at the funeral.

Ranbir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Alia Bhatt attend Rishi Kapoors funeral.

Ranbir Kapoor arrives at crematorium

Pictures of Rishis son, Rabir Kapoor, at the crematorium to attend his fathers funeral have been shared.

Anupam Kher shares old video

Remembering a moment spent with Rishi Kapoor, veteran Anupam Kher shared a video shot in New York with the late actor and his wife Neetu Singh. The 65-year-old star took to Instagram and shared a video featuring Rishi and Neetu Kapoor in a yellow cab in NYC where the late actor stayed for almost a year for his cancer treatment.

Video of Rishi in hospital, blessing young man goes viral

A video of the actor in hospital (it is unclear when it was shot), is going viral. In the video, the actor is seen blessing a young man, who sings to him. Work hard, only then will you succeed in life, Rishi tells the young man.

The industry is gathering for his funeral

Randhir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Abhishek Bachchan, and others have been spotted at the crematorium, while Rishis mortal remains begin final journey.

Mumbai: Randheer Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Kareen Kapoor Khan and Alia Bhatt arrive at Chandanwadi crematorium for last rites of #RishiKapoor pic.twitter.com/GqivyjBz9R  ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor's mortal remains will be taken directly to a crematorium

Mumbai Police have reportedly requested the actor's family not to take his mortal remains home owing to the lockdown. Instead his body will be driven directly to a crematorium in Marine Lines Chandanwadi, close to HN Reliance Foundation Hospital where he was admitted, reports timesofindia.com.

Anil Kapoor pens heartfelt note

To my Dear James, I dont know where to begin...from growing up, to living our dreams on screen, we were together through it all... you were like an elder brother to me, a shoulder when I needed the support, a mentor when I needed that push and a friend always, Anil Kapoor wrote in his note. He used to call Rishi James, while Rishi called him Patton. Read his full note here.

Kareena Kapoor Khan pays tribute to her Chintu uncle

The best boys I know... Papa and Chintu uncle, she wrote alongside a black-and-white picture of her father and Rishi.

Neetu Kapoor, Armaan Jain spotted outside hospital

Members of the Kapoor family are on the move. Rishis wife, Neetu Kapoor, and nephew Armaan Jain were spotted outside the hospital.

Remember Rishi through his best films

Rishi Kapoor had once said that cinema as a medium is so universal that it touches thousands of hearts. Though the evergreen romantic hero, who made wearing a sweater cool and chic, is gone now, he has left behind numerous movies that will stay forever in the hearts of many. Revisit them here.

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni posts farewell message on Instagram

Rishis daughter, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni posted a picture on Instagram, and wrote in the caption, Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you everyday I will miss your FaceTime calls everyday! Until we meet again papa I love you.

Riddhima has reportedly been given special permission to travel to Mumbai.

Salman Khan offers condolences

Rest in peace chintu sirrr, kaha suna maaf , strength , peace n light to family n friends, Salman Khan wrote in a tweet.

Rest in peace chintu sirrr, kaha suna maaf , strength , peace n light to family n friends...  Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) April 30, 2020

I am feeling very, very lonely: Rakesh Roshan reacts to Rishi Kapoors death

An emotional Rakesh Roshan, who was Rishis friend and co-star, fought back tears as he spoke to Hindustan Times. I am not okay at all. How can I be I lost my friend? It is too early to even think of my memories with him, I am still not being able to get over the shock of the news. I cant believe that he is not with us. I am feeling very, very lonely, He was my friend. I dont know what to say, he said.

Smriti Irani fondly recalls Rishi Kapoor anecdote

Bhag jaldi Dilli pagal, were the words of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor to Union minister Smriti Irani in 2014 when he came to know that she had been summoned to the national capital to take oath after formation of a new government.

Rishis funeral to be held on Thursday evening

The actors last rites will be performed at the Chandanwadi crematorium in Kalbadevi. His son Ranbir Kapoors girlfriend, Alia Bhatt, was seen visiting the family in the hospital.

Rishis last tweet was a call for peace

In his last tweet, the actor had called for peace and harmony. Rishi was known for his energetic Twitter presence.

An appeal  to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please dont resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 2, 2020

Neetu Kapoor stood by him like a rock

During his cancer treatment, Rishis wife, Neetu, stood by him like a rock. I have learnt to remain calm with my family and fans. I owe it to them; they have given me so much love and sent good wishes. Neetu has been my rock and has shouldered all the responsibilities. So has been my family, who would drop in to give me the strength to battle my illness, the actor had said.

He would like to be remembered with a smile, family says in statement

Rishis family put out an emotional statement, urging fans to respect lockdown laws and remember the actor not with tears, but with a smile. Read the full statement here.

Rishi and Irrfan worked together in D-Day

Rishis death came a day after the demise of fellow screen icon, actor Irrfan Khan. The two had nothing but compliments for each other when they worked on D-Day. He has worked on cultivating his craft so well and he is one of those stars you never have enough of, even if he is doing the same thing, movie after movie. I think thats what makes his second innings so spectacular, Irrfan had said.

Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar lead Bollywood in paying tribute

Everyone from PM Narendra Modi to actors Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan and others paid tribute to the legend. See their messages here.

We have lost one of the greats today. An amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and 100% a child of Cinema.

Thank you for all the joy you brought to our lives.

Thank you for being the actor and human being that you were.

You will be badly missed Rishiji.

Love.

a.  Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) April 30, 2020

See his rare pictures with family

Rishis wife, Neetu, thoroughly documented his final months, and posted frequently on social media. See his family pictures here.

Rishi Kapoor dies at 67

Rishi breathed his last at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. His wife and actor Neetu Kapoor was by his side. Yes, he is no more, Rishis elder brother Randhir Kapoor told Hindustan Times.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
ALTON  Since the start of Gov, J.B. Pritzkers stay-at-home coronavirus order, many outdoor activities have been deemed unsafe because most of them involved groups of more than 10 people.

However, activities such as boating and fishing can still be done while people practice social distancing.

Because the Alton Marina is also considered a park, most of the facility has been closed since the stay-at-home order was issued in March. Slip holders have been allowed one-hour visits to their boats, but only on a scheduled basis between noon and 5 p.m.

Last week, however, Pritzker announced modifications to his stay-at-home order. And on Tuesday, Alton Marina General Manager Karen Baker-Brncic met with Alton Mayor Brant Walker.

Starting at noon Friday, people will now be allowed to take their boats from the marina.

The marina opening is per what the governor (and the) mayor advises, Baker-Brncic said.

Upriver, at Grafton Harbor, boat owners are allowed to take their boats out to the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, although the marina currently is not offering any boat rentals.

The harbor also has announced a change that takes effect Friday with The Oyster Bar restaurant now offering curbside service. Owner Jan DeSherlia said the restaurant had been closed since Pritzkers stay-at-home order was issued.

People are being very, very responsible on social distancing, DeSherlia said.

Bluff City Outdoors at 2813 Broadway in Alton has been able to remain open during the stay-at-home order. According to owner Mark McMurray, the shop has seen an increase in business compared to last year and the areas historic flooding.

McMurray said people are fishing from the bank and buying live bait and minnows. He also said some local charter firms are getting inquiries.

Right now, stuff like this is one of the only things you can do, he said.

For more details about Alton Harbor, call 618-791-5109 or visit altonmarina.com. For more details about the Grafton Harbor call 618-786-7678 or visit graftonharbor.com. For more details about Bluff City Outdoors call 618-465-6175 or visit bluffcityoutdoors.com.
On April 21, 2020, Ramsey County District Judge Thomas Gilligan entered an order that these restrictions on voting assistance violate both the federal Voting Rights Act and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Under the order, the Secretary of State must post foreign language signs at polling sites informing Minnesotans that "any voter who requires assistance to votemay be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union."

The case was brought by the ACLU of Minnesota on behalf of Dai Thao, a candidate for office who faced criminal charges (which were previously dismissed) after assisting an elderly Hmong neighbor who needed help seeing and translating her ballot; community organizers Nelsie Yang and Amee Xiong; and Chong Lee, a first-generation Hmong American born in Thailand who had needed help voting.

Fish was brought into the case because of the firm's success safeguarding the voting rights of individuals in Texas with limited English proficiency. In that case, Fish argued successfully  in the Western District of Texas and at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals  that a provision of the Texas Election Code preventing voters from using the interpreter of their choice during the voting process violated the Voting Rights Act. Last year, Fish donated the nearly $200,000 in attorneys' fees awarded in the pro bono case to local organizations committed to civil rights.

Michael Florey, a senior principal in Fish's Twin Cities office, and Veena Tripathi, an associate in Twin Cities, served as pro bono counsel in the Minnesota ACLU case.

"The ACLU of Minnesota is pleased we were able to reach agreement with the Secretary of State that this law clearly violated the Constitution and Voting Rights Act, and was unenforceable," said ACLU-MN staff attorney David McKinney. "Voting is a fundamental right in our democracy, and a state law that made it harder for people with disabilities or language barriers to vote could not stand. This order is a recognition that Minnesotans should be able to get any assistance they need with voting."

"We are thrilled the ACLU asked us to work on this important case, and honored to be a part of this victory," said Florey. "This was another clear ruling that state restrictions on voting that are inconsistent with the Voting Rights Act are preempted and therefore unconstitutional. This is a win for democracy, and it has enormous implications in the upcoming 2020 elections."

Fish is committed to making pro bono work an integral part of the firm's professional culture, encouraging all of its legal professionals to take on pro bono matters as a regular part of their professional lives.

Fish & Richardson, the premier global intellectual property law firm, is trusted by the world's most innovative and influential companies. From patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution and counseling to our full-service litigation practice, we work together to provide our clients with exceptional advocacy across the life cycle of intellectual property needs in the U.S. and around the world. Our deep bench of attorneys with first-chair trial experience in every technology makes us the go-to firm for the most technically complex cases. Fish was established in 1878, and now has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S., Europe, and China. Our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences, and perspectives. For more information, visit fr.com or follow us at @FishRichardson.

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For several years, Fawn Sharp has seen her tribe on the west coast of the United States move from one crisis to another.

Sharp lives in Washington state and belongs to the Quinault Indian Nation. Rising sea levels have caused flooding in the tribes main village. In nearby rivers, sockeye salmon have all but disappeared. The shrinking numbers of fish have affected the tribes finances and culture.

Sharp is president of the Quinault. She has plans to move the tribe to higher ground, bring back the salmon and change the local economy. But these plans are slow at taking shape, and Sharp blames a lack of federal money to help Native Americans deal with climate change.

The Quinaults struggles reflect the problems faced by Native Americans, who are among those most at risk to the effects of climate change. That is a finding from a report called the National Climate Assessment. It was a project of U.S. federal agencies.

The report says Native Americans often depend on nature for food, jobs and trade. Southwestern tribes, such as the Navajo Nation, face water shortages as the Colorado River dries up. Some northern tribes are experiencing crop shortages because Lake Superior is warming.

Money needed

Tribes are finding it difficult to get the equipment they need to deal with increasing threats from storms, flooding, wildfires and other natural disasters. They do not have the money to buy the equipment, and the federal government offers little help.

The Interior Departments Bureau of Indian Affairs provides $10 million a year for tribal climate resilience planning nationwide. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides another $20 million to tribes under a program to protect communities from natural disasters.

That is not enough money when spread among more than 500 tribes, notes Fawn Sharp. She has made climate change the top issue in her new job as president of the National Congress of American Indians, which represents 535 registered tribes.

In addition to pressing federal officials for more support, Sharp is targeting the businesses that cause pollution and climate damage. To finance the move of some tribe members, she plans to ask for a carbon tax for companies doing business on the reservation. The measure would make her tribe the first in the United States to price carbon.

Sharp is also considering legal action against big oil companies she believes should help pay the cost for climate-damage.

Those who areresponsible for causing the damage should be paying, she said, for generations of exploitation.

An oil industry group would not comment on possible legal action. It said only that oil companies and tribes should be working with each other and not against each other.

Disappearing salmon

Shane Underwood directs the Quinault Indian Nations fish processing center in Taholah, Washington. On a recent morning, she grew frustrated by another small catch of fish. A single fisherman had arrived with five salmon after spending hours on the river.

The salmon is important to Quinault culture. It is often used in artwork and on tribal buildings. It is the traditional meal for families. Now, it is at the center of the issue of climate change.

A glacier in the Olympic mountains once cooled the Quinault river system, but it melted nine years ago. The river has warmed, leading to problems for the salmon, explained Justin James. He is a cultural historian who specializes in forest, fish and wildlife for the Quinault Environmental Protection Department.

The Quinaults Business Committee is trying to increase the salmon population. It also is launching a $1.2 million project to improve the floodplain on the Upper Quinault River in hopes of creating a better salmon environment.

We have been eating the salmon for thousands of years, James said. Its our spirit, our heart.

Higher ground

The Quinault Nation is trying to defeat another threat  flooding of its village.

In 2017, the Quinault agreed on a plan to move nearly 700 people and some important buildings to higher ground. The whole relocation project will cost up to $150 million.

Some work has already begun in the new village, using $15 million worth of tribal money. But finishing the entire relocation project is costly, and the tribe does not have the money. A bill asking Washington state to pay for part of the move was defeated in the legislature.

That was probably the lowest point I had hit in all my years of this climate struggle, said Sharp.

Im Jill Robbins.

The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

reflect  v. to demonstrate or show

reservation  n. land given to Native Americans for their homeland

resilience  n. strength and fortitude

carbon  n. a chemical element that is found in oil products and leads to pollution

exploitation  n. the use of something or someone in a way that helps you unfairly

frustrate  v. to annoy

glacier  n. a large piece of ice
A school board postponed its annual budget meeting Wednesday for a most unusual reason: Too many wanted to participate.

The Red Bank Regional High School District board is now scheduled to meet May 6, and the superintendent said that, by then, officials expect to settle on a secure video conferencing tool that will enable residents to watch online and ask questions from home.

Our meetings should be easily and safely accessible, Superintendent Louis Moore said.

The school board oversees Red Bank Regional High School, where classes were halted March 10  the earliest of the shutdowns in New Jersey  after a student tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, the school board went ahead with two regular meetings in the administration building, on March 18 and April 9  albeit with a twist. Board members participated remotely via Zoom, but neither meeting was streamed online.

The only way to watch the meeting, or ask a question, was to show up in person. Only one person did, at one of the meetings, according to Moore, who was present for both and sat 10 feet from the board secretary, in keeping with social distancing guidelines.

The district settled on the unconventional format because it was leery of streaming online via Zoom, amid complaints elsewhere about conferences elsewhere being hijacked by pornographic messages and threats  a form of cyber harassment the FBI has dubbed Zoom bombing."

Wednesdays scheduled meeting was to involve a public hearing followed by a likely vote on the districts proposed $31 million school budget for next school year. Moore said the district began receiving phone calls Tuesday from residents who either wanted to attend, or watch the meeting online.

Officials consulted with the boards attorney, who reiterated his view that nothing in Gov. Phil Murphys executive orders banning social gatherings would prohibit an in-person school board meeting  though most governing bodies in New Jersey switched to virtual meetings after Murphy issued his stay-at-home directive last month.

Legally, we were under the impression that, with clear social distancing protocols and practices, we could do meetings in public, Moore said.

Moore said he briefly considered moving Wednesdays meeting to a larger location, such as the cafeteria, to accommodate social distancing.

Then, on Wednesday morning, he concluded the better approach would be to postpone the meeting and seek out a secure video conferencing tool.

He then posted a letter to the school districts website explaining what had happened.

I apologize for the cancelation but I wanted to make sure that we respect everyones right to participate virtually. In order to ensure that the community has the opportunity to engage with their representatives, our meeting on May 6 will be conducted online and constituents will be able to attend virtually, ask questions, and make comments to the board, he wrote.

Moore said the districts goal is to be responsive to the community.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
A 25-year-old Easton man has been charged with manslaughter in a two-car crash over the weekend that killed 37-year-old Scott A. Lewis, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Officers responded to a report of a head-on collision near 539 Bay Rd. in Easton around 1:50 p.m. Sunday, the Bristol District Attorneys office said in a statement.

Lewis, a South Easton resident, died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the other car, later identified as Jake McCabe, was taken to Boston Medical Center for injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the statement.

McCabe was cited for his alleged involvement in the crash Sunday, and he was officially arrested at his home Tuesday night, the statement said.

Jake McCabe was arrested without incident and a bail clerk set $10,000 cash bail, which the defendant posted last night, the district attorney said in the statement.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McCabe is not expected to be arraigned on the manslaughter charge until June 2 in Taunton District Court, according to the district attorney.

Police requested in their criminal citation that McCabe also be charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, a marked lanes violation and unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, prosecutors said.

That portion of the matter will be set down for a clerks hearing through the Taunton District Court at a later date, the district attorney said.
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
Numerous museums forced to close by the COVID-19 pandemic have placed current or past exhibitions online, thereby providing the public access to them.

The Academy of Arts (Akademie der KunsteADK) in Berlin, which controls the estate of the legendary left-wing photomontage artist John Heartfield (1891-1968), has placed online a virtual, multimedia presentation of photos, documents and audio-visual testimonials dealing with Heartfields life and work. The online presentation, Kosmos Heartfield, is available in English.

The ADK exhibition, John HeartfieldPhotography plus Dynamite, was due to have opened at the end of March.

The virtual exhibition is well done and, in many respects, highly relevant in the present situation. More than virtually any other visual artist, except perhaps his friend George Grosz (1893-1959), Heartfield is associated with the struggle against reactionary forces in Weimar Germany (1919-1933). His innovative and slashing political montages became directed at the rise of Nazism in particular.

John Heartfield's The Hand Has 5 Fingers

As Christoph Vandreier vividly describes in his book Why Are They Back?, which bears one of Heartfields photomontages on its front cover, militarists, nationalists and fascists are once again coming out of the pores of crisis-ridden capitalism as in the 1920s and early 1930s and taking up leading positions in the state apparatus, police, military, judiciary and intelligence agencies. Reactionary ideologies are being revived in the universities and frequently picked up and promoted in the media.

Once again, and for the first time since the end of World War II, a far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), sits in the German parliament as the official party of opposition and occupies leading posts in Bundestag committees. Its xenophobic and anti-refugee policy has been increasingly adopted as official German government policy.

John Heartfield was born on June 19, 1891 in Berlin-Schmargendorf, the son of the writer Franz Held (actually Franz Herzfeld) and his wife Alice. He was the first of four children. He changed his name, Helmut Herzfeld, to an English one to protest Germanys chauvinist, anti-English propaganda during World War I.

Heartfield was one of a small group of artists and intellectuals who decisively opposed war and militarism in a period when many others went to war enthusiastically, praising the virtues of combat as a cleansing thunderstorm. Heartfields poor health and nervous conditions meant he was able to avoid murderous trench warfare.

John Heartfield, Self-Portrait with the Police Commissioner Zorgiebel

The AKD online presentation explains that he gave up his plan, conceived in his youth, to become a great painter, and committed himself as an artist to the struggle against war and reaction.

The structure of the presentation is based on the five fingers of a workers hand designed by Heartfield for a German Communist Party (KPD) election poster in 1932 (an appeal for workers to vote for slate no. 5, the KPD ticket). The five sections deal with the chronology of his life, the places he lived in, his various artistic genres, his use of materials and the motifs for his work. Heartfields eventful and difficult life is vividly described in the online exhibition and it is not necessary to deal here in any detail with the facts of his biography.

The presentation also illustrates Heartfields artistic environment, which included such figures as Bertolt Brecht, Grosz, Else Lasker-Schuler, Johannes R. Becher and Erwin Piscator, as well as the entire group of artists associated with the Dada movementMax Ernst, Hannah Hoch, Raoul Hausmann and Otto Dix. Heartfields opposition to war was shared by his close friend Grosz whom he had known since 1914. Grosz also adopted an English-sounding first name in protest German chauvinism during World War I.

Heartfields younger brother, Wieland Herzfelde, also played an important role. The two brothers founded the magazine Neue Jugend (New Youth) and later the Malik Verlag (Malik Publishing House), which specialised in contemporary political art and Communist literature during WWI. Heartfield designed the covers for the books published by the Malik Verlag. In typical Dada fashion, he designed a portfolio for Grosz, which appeared in Neue Jugend in 1917.

John Heartfield, War and Corpses, the Last Hope of the Rich

A closer examination, however, of Heartfields biography, his problems, the political decisions he made, and the prevailing political circumstances would have helped a contemporary audience to better understand the artists rather tragic role and fate. The presentation notes that Heartfield joined the KPD immediately after its foundation in 1919 (as did Grosz). He received his party book from KPD leader Rosa Luxemburg herself, but his decision to side with the working class remains unexplained in the current exhibition.

In fact, Heartfield regarded a workers revolution along the lines of the Russian October Revolution of 1917 as the only alternative to capitalist exploitation and warmongering. Further research in the Akademies online archive reveals the numerous references, photos and documents that testify to his intense preoccupation with the Russian Revolution. Like many other artists and intellectuals, Heartfield regarded the Communist Party as the only political force that could effectively combat capitalist reaction and its drive towards dictatorship.

It was therefore not surprising that Heartfield produced the powerful photo montages which appeared on the front pages of the KPD newspapers Die Rote Fahne (The Red Flag) and the Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung (AIZ, Workers Pictorial Newspaper). Many of these montages can be seen in the presentation and a complete documentation is available in the ADK Heartfield online archive.

In the course of the 1920s, the AIZ developed into a publication that found support not only in the working class. The paper published contributions by leading artists and writers such as Kathe Kollwitz, Anna Seghers, Erich Kastner, Maxim Gorki and Kurt Tucholsky (Theobald Tiger). It was also during this period that the KPD increasingly came under the influence of the reactionary Stalinist bureaucracy.

John Heartfield, Tool in God's Hand? Plaything in Thyssen's Hand

Heartfields adherence to the KPD, which became completely subordinate to the Stalinist leadership and policies, is not without tragedy. His photomontages vividly exposed the manifold connections between capitalist crisis, the preparations for a new war and Nazism, but he ignored or chose not to see the role played by the KPD in sabotaging a successful struggle by the working class to prevent the seizure of power by Hitler.

Like many of his friends and intellectuals, Heartfield did not question, at least in public, the catastrophic policy of the KPD. Under the influence of Stalin, the KPD refused to fight for a United Front with workers in the Social Democratic Party (SDP)the policy advocated by the Left Opposition and Leon Trotsky. Instead the KPD denounced the Social Democrats as social fascists, helping to open the door for Hitler.

Heartfield remained loyal to the AIZ in Prague where he fled after escaping from a gang of Nazi thugs by jumping from the balcony of his apartment in Berlin in 1933. In exile in Prague along with many other Communists, Social Democrats and left-wing intellectuals who had fled Germany, he created some of his most impressive and politically astute photo montages. He continued to work for his brothers Malik Verlag, also forced into exile.

Heartfields trip to the Soviet Union in 1931 is not mentioned in the presentation. There is also relatively little information about his half-year stay in the USSR in the ADK online archive and in the exhibition catalog. He lived in Moscow with the writer Sergei Tretyakov, a friend of Brecht and a leading member of the Russian avant garde, who, like many other artists and intellectuals, was not prepared to accept the official Stalinist doctrine of Socialist Realism in artistic production. Tretyakov was a victim of the Stalinist purges in 1937. In Odessa, Heartfield helped build the exteriors for Erwin Piscators film Revolt of the Fishermen (1934) based on the novel by Seghers.

In 1938, the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia and Heartfield began his second exile, in London. He chose flight to the West rather than fleeing east into Stalins sphere of influence. This was no accidenthe evidently avoided exposing himself to Stalins repression. In England, however, he still did not break with Stalinism and remained a member of the countrys KPD community in exile. He was involved in various activities organised by German artists in exile, in particular the Free German Cultural Association (Freier Deutscher Kulturbund).

In the summer of 1940, he was interned as an enemy alien, but released after seven weeks for health reasons.

After the war, his first attempt to return to Germany was initially delayed for health reasons and then became problematic following the outbreak of the Cold War. The Stalinist regime in postwar East Germany regarded with suspicion emigrants seeking to return from Western exile who might be too independent-minded. Even after Heartfield was able to return, he had problems building on his previous successes in the German Democratic Republic. The narrow-minded GDR cultural bureaucracy disparaged his photomontages as formalistic.

In 1951, he wrote in his resume: I work as a freelance artist. I work with my brother Professor Wieland Herzfelde. From now on, my printing work and montages are always undersigned Heartfield Herzfelde. The very fact that the artist bore an English name made him an object of suspicion.

Heartfield was able to make some advances in the theatrical field in the GDR, but in a relatively conventional manner. He was unable, however, to recreate his powerful collaboration with Piscator in the 1920s. His admission to the GDR ruling party, the SED, and then to the East German Academy of Arts only took place following the personal intervention of Brecht in 1957.

Heartfield died on April 26, 1968 in East Berlin.

Should the ADK exhibition with its 400 items eventually open to the public, it is well worth visiting. It is due to travel to Zwolle (Netherlands) and London.

The Photography plus Dynamite catalog by Angela Lammert, Rosa von der Schulenburg and Anna Schultz is available from the Academy of the Arts bookshop at a special price of 29.90 (from July 39.90) plus shipping costs. In the foreword, the ADK draws attention to the growing influence of far-right radicalism today.
VFX specialist and former Managing Director of Mill Film Adelaide Mark Thorley has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the South Australian Film Corporation.

Most recently Chief Operating Officer of Mill Film globally, he has more than 15 years of executive leadership experience including at Lucasfilm, Singapore, where he oversaw studio operations and production strategies, Animal Logic in both Los Angeles and Sydney, where he was head of production, plus senior positions at Screen Queensland and Omnicom.

His credits include Kong: Skull Island, Star Wars: Rogue One, Jurassic World, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. He commences at the SAFC on 11 May.

Meanwhile, after five months in an acting position, Beth Neate has been appointed SAFC Head of Production and Development.

She first joined the SAFC in 2007, returning in 2017 as Production and Development Executive. She has dual qualifications in Media and International Relations and was Media Advisor for the United Nations in Cambodia and has produced hundreds of stories for ABC TV, radio and online, as ABC OPEN Producer for the East Kimberley region.

SAFC CEO Kate Croser said, We are thrilled to welcome Mark Thorley to the SAFC. Mark brings huge depth of experience and strong networks across the industry both in South Australia and globally. Likewise, we are delighted to formally appoint Beth Neate as Head of Production and Development, whose professionalism and commitment to the role over the last five months has been an invaluable asset to the organisation.

In all that we do, and especially at this time, the SAFC is committed to supporting the South Australian screen sector to thrive. Beth and Marks wealth of experience and passion for the South Australian screen sector will strengthen our industry-led approach to overcoming the current challenges, and set our sector on a course not just for recovery but for future growth.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British American Tobacco plc (BATS.L, BTI) said it expects constant currency adjusted revenue growth for fiscal year 2020 to be around the low end of the 3%-5% range. The company now expects the building blocks of high single figure adjusted constant currency earnings per share growth in 2020. The company expects that global industry cigarette and THP volume will decline around 5%. Previously, it was expected to be down 4%. The company maintained its forecast for US industry decline at around 5%. The company said it continues to progress towards its 2023/24 ambition of 5 billion pounds in revenue in New Categories. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The AIM system would monitor imports to identify potential transshipments and tariff circumvention, requiring aluminium importers to identify the metals country of origin, including where it was smelted and poured, according to a Federal Register notice published on Wednesday April 29.The proposed rule was praised by the US Aluminum Association, which has repeatedly called for measures to curb Chinese overcapacity and transshipments.Over the past five years, aluminum overcapacity in China has grown by 60% and increasingly that metal is being exported to third-party countries, further distorting global markets, the trade group said on April 29, noting that China's exports of flat-rolled aluminium products increased by nearly 68% during the period to more than 3.7 million tons in 2019."Increasingly, as Chinese exports displace domestic production in foreign markets, producers in those countries are exporting their own production to the United States, the Aluminum Association added.Commerce will launch a website for aluminium import monitoring, separate from its main website, to publish the gathered information. The agency will accept comments from market participants until May 29, the notice said.The system would replicate the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system, a similar tool used to monitor steel imports that has been in place since 2005.All importers of aluminium products covered under the US Section 232 tariffs will be required to obtain licenses for their shipments and must submit the license number to US Customs and Border Protection.License applicants will have to share the following information: Filer company name , address and contact details; entry type (consumption, foreign trade zone); importer and exporter name; manufacturer name; country of origin and exportation; expected dates of export and import; expected port of entry; current HTS number; country where the metal was smelted and poured; quantity; and customs value.Multiple products can be covered under a single license, provided the importer, exporter, manufacturer and country of origin are the same.Licenses will be valid for up to 75 days and can be applied for up to 60 days prior to the shipments arrival date.Additionally, shipments valued under $5,000 will be exempt but importers will still be required to apply for a reusable low-value license.
A member of a ground crew walks past American Airlines planes parked at the gate during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, April 5, 2020.

"Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge," American's CEO, Doug Parker, said in an earnings release.

U.S. airlines earlier this year, fresh off of their 10th consecutive year of profitability, were expecting further growth in air travel demand. The coronavirus upended those plans, forcing them to park hundreds of planes and cut routes to better match paltry ticket sales.

American, like other airlines is facing a sharp decline in passengers because of Covid-19 U.S. airline travel volumes have dropped by about 95% in recent weeks from a year earlier as travelers stay home because of concerns about the virus and shelter-in-place orders.

American's revenue dropped nearly 20% from a year earlier to $8.52 billion, slightly below analyst estimates. The airline's shares fell 4.9% to $12.01. The loss was the airline's first since 2013 and the biggest since at least 1998, as far back as FactSet data show.

American Airlines had a loss of more than $2.2 billion in the first three months of the year as the coronavirus pandemic drove down demand for air travel.

The company has raced to cut costs, slashing flights, freezing hiring and retiring some jetliners early. In the second quarter it expects to burn through roughly $70 million in cash a day, which it forecast to fall to about $50 million a day in June. Close to 39,000 employees have volunteered for unpaid or partially paid leave, Parker said in a staff memo. American had more than 133,000 staff members as of the end of last year.

American, which started the year with more debt than other U.S. carriers, is also taking steps to shore up liquidity, which it expects to increase to $11 billion at the end June, up from $6.8 billion at the end of the first quarter. American had more debt than its competitors before the crisis.

"We all are going to emerge from this with more debt than we entered. That's how we're going to survive it," Parker told CNBC Thursday. He said that while paying off debt will be a priority coming out of the crisis, "we'll still be in better condition than our industry was in years before" referring to a period of bankruptcies throughout U.S. airlines following the Sept. 11 attacks.

American said it can access $10.6 billion in federal payroll grants and loans under the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package Congress approved last month.

The payroll grants prohibit recipients from involuntarily furloughing or cutting the pay rates of any workers through Sept. 30. However, many employees are working fewer hours, meaning smaller paychecks for workers, because of the reduced flight schedules.

J.P. Morgan airline analyst Jamie Baker said the airline's plan didn't go far enough and that "management is taking an increasingly perilous, knife's edge approach in hoping to ride out the crisis.

"Put differently, current liquidity and further liquidity options appear increasingly insufficient to weather much less than a fairly robust recovery in passenger demand, in both absolute terms and relative to peers," he wrote.

American lost $2.65 per share on an adjusted basis in the three months ended March 31, compared with a $185 million profit in the same period last year. The airline took $744 million in fleet impairment charges as it retires aircraft like its Boeing 757s and 767s ahead of schedule as travel demand drops. It also reported a one-time expense of $218 million for a new contract with aircraft and fleet maintenance workers.

WATCH: S&P cuts Boeing to one notch above junk
Orange County sheriff's deputies applaud as nurses from the cardiac rehab unit walk to their cars after a shift at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo this month. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Orange County public health officials reported 145 new coronavirus cases Thursday  the largest single-day increase since the pandemic began  bringing the countys total case count to 2,393.

This marks the fourth time in the past six days that Orange County has confirmed at least 100 new COVID-19 cases. The increases coincide with a dramatic rise in testing.

So far, 31,534 people have been tested for coronavirus infection in Orange County, including 1,594 on Thursday alone. The county has tested roughly 1,530 people per day on average this week, up from an average of 696 tests being conducted daily a week ago, said County CEO Frank Kim.

The boost in testing is "so important within Orange County to understand how the disease is spreading throughout our community and to provide us good information in terms of addressing the consequences of those infections," Kim said.

County health officials on Thursday also reported another coronavirus-related fatality, bringing the countywide death toll to 45. The county reported two fatalities the previous day.

But the observed mortality rate associated with COVID-19  the disease caused by the coronavirus  continues to be just below 2%, significantly lower than the levels seen in neighboring Los Angeles County and statewide.

Officials also attribute the rise in cases and deaths, in part, to outbreaks in nursing homes, which have been hotbeds for the virus across the state.

There have been positive cases of the virus among staff or residents in at least eight skilled nursing facilities in the county, according to the latest information from the California Department of Public Health.

The county has response teams that it deploys to skilled nursing facilities and other assisted living homes that help prioritize testing and ensure there are adequate infection control measures in place, said County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick.

"We're working on securing more resources to increase the number of teams we have to respond to any outbreak we have in skilled nursing facilities as we expect to continue to see these," she said. "Absolutely we are concerned about it and absolutely this is a priority area going forward."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks during a news briefing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 21, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Outraged Dems Defend Trial Lawyers, Attack McConnells Demand for Medical Worker Liability Shield

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would rather protect big corporations than help small businesses, families, or hospitals on the front lines of the fight against the CCP virus, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

The red line for Sen. Mitch McConnell and Republicans in the next emergency relief package isnt saving small businesses, rescuing hospitals, increasing testing, or helping families, Schumer wrote in a tweet on April 28.

Its protecting corporations that put frontline workers in harms way. How does that make sense? Schumer said. He also vowed the same day on PBSs NewsHour that if its going to help big CEOs and not help the workers or hurt the workers, thats not going to happen.

Schumers comments and similar ones from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) came just hours after McConnell announced that the Senate will return to Washington on May 4 and described his top priority for a possible fourth coronavirus recovery measure.

That priority is liability protection for doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel battling the disease that has thus far killed more than 58,000 Americans.

My red line going forward on this bill is we need to provide protectionlitigation protectionfor those who have been on the frontline. Hospitals, doctors, nurses, McConnell told Fox News April 28.

Imagine you are a businessman thinking about reopening, and youve heard that the trial lawyers all over the country are sharpening their pencils getting ready to sue you, claiming that you didnt engage in proper distancing or other issues related to health and safety, he said.

The stage is thus set for the Senates return, for what promises to be a knock-down, drag-out fight that could lead to a legislative stalemate, with Republicans seeing an opportunity to pass long-sought legal reforms to contain trial lawyers, and Democrats determined to protect their longtime allies.

But there are hints here and there, too, of a possible deal in which Democrats accept modest liability reforms and Republicans look the other way on aid to blue states such as New York that have been hit hard by the CCP virus.

Republicans have argued for years that trial lawyers use the threat of lawsuits to force big corporations, doctors, and small businesses to settle malpractice and consumer tort liability cases out of court to avoid jury trials that often produce costly judgments for plaintiffs and enrich their opportunistic attorneys.

Those same attorneys are among Democrats most reliable and lucrative sources of campaign funding and other less-obvious forms of assistance.

Consumers suffer, too, according to a 2018 Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) study that found that such litigation costs $429 billion annually, an average of more than $3,300 per U.S. family. The ILR is a branch of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Heritage Foundation Senior Legal Fellow Hans von Spakovsky noted another, even more serious, potential cost stemming from the fact those trying to produce an effective vaccine should be protected from lawsuits; otherwise, their work may be hampered because they are risk-averse.

Temperature Rising on Capitol Hill

While congressional and campaign strategists interviewed by The Epoch Times on April 30 agreed the heat is rising on Capitol Hill, they are less sanguine about a possible deal.

It is a wise move for McConnell to prevent trial lawyers from taking advantage of the coronavirus crisis, said Brian Darling, former counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and founder of Liberty Government Affairs.

This will put the Democrats in a box because they will look like they are defending the trial lawyers over medical heroes if they demand McConnell remove a liability shield provision from the bill, Darling said.

Republican campaign strategist Kevin Sheridan agreed, saying, If its opportunistic trial lawyers vs. front line health care heroes, McConnell wins the public opinion battle, and its not close.

However, given the importance of the trial lawyer lobby to the Democrats fundraising, dont expect them to roll over quickly. Every trial lawyer in America is picking out a second beach house right now, so expect them to throw all theyve got at this fight.

South Carolina-based Democratic strategist Jimmy Williams scoffed, however, saying Republican attacks on the trial bar are as old as Donald Trumps hair color. Everyone hates trial lawyers until they need one.

Williams, a former senior economic adviser to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), said Democrats hold the upper hand and should hold out because this virus is going nowhere fast and the GOP controls half the legislative branch and the entire executive branch. Theyre responsible for running the country.

Asked about a potential deal, Jim Manley, former communications director to then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), said he doubted it, since if McConnell tries to hold up aid to state and local governments, he will lose a good portion of his own caucus.

Manley also predicted that this liability issue is going to greatly complicate the upcoming negotiations, and there is a decent chance that it will grind things to a halt.

Veteran tax activist Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), said, Trial lawyers, more than any other political machine, can trash the U.S. economy, leaving it weak going into the 2020 election.

Then, Norquist said, they will finance the Democratic Party blaming Trump for the lousy economy ensured by their own action. The Democrats will never agree to any meaningful limits on trial lawyer predation.

Darling predicted far more partisan fights  because both parties recognize [coronavirus relief] might be the last prominent piece of legislation to pass before the November elections.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
Forecasters predicted gusty northerly winds at the lakeshore of up to 45 to 50 mph, with waves of 9 to 13 feet and occasionally 17 feet, in Lake and Porter counties.

Winds in LaPorte County could be 20 to 35 mph with gust up to 45 mph, causing waves of 8 to 14 feet and occasionally 18 feet, forecasters said.

High waves were expected to wash over piers and jetties. Onlookers who don't keep a distance could be swept into the lake by large waves, forecasters said.

A warning means flooding is occurring or imminent. Residents near the shore should be on alert for rising water and take appropriate action to protect life and property, the weather service said.

The Little Calumet River was at 11.7 feet early Thursday. Flood stage is 12 feet, and the river was expected to rise to 12.2 feet by Thursday morning, the weather service said.

Little Calumet River Basin Commission Executive Director Dan Repay said officials are keeping a close eye on water levels, but there were no imminent flooding concerns.
Actor Rishi Kapoor has died at 67 after a two-year battle with leukaemia. Rishi breathed his last at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. His wife and actor Neetu Kapoor was by his side. Yes, he is no more, Rishis elder brother Randhir Kapoor told Hindustan Times.

A statement from the family read:

Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.

In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.

He would not have it any other way.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.

Watch | Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor dies, Am destroyed, says Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted the news saying he was devastated. Hes GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed ! wrote Amitabh, who has been a friend and colleague of Rishis for years.

T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away ..

I am destroyed !  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 30, 2020

Born in the first family of Hindi cinema, Rishi Kapoor was the son of the man India call the showman, Raj Kapoor, and grandson of the famous Prithviraj Kapoor. Rishi was the second son of Raj and the sibling of Randhir, Ritu Nanda, Rima Jain and Rajeev Kapoor.

He started his career early, as a child actor in his fathers film Mera Naam Joker (1970), for which he also won a Filmfare Award. His first role as an adult came in the iconic Bobby (1973) opposite Dimple Kapadia. He also received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1974 for the film.

He went on to play the romantic lead in 92 films between 1973 and 2000, and was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. He appeared opposite his future wife Neetu Singh in 12 films. The couple had two children--daughter Riddhima and son Ranbir, who is also a popular actor.

He was part of hit films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Laila Majnu, Rafoo Chakkar , Sargam, Karz, Bol Radha Bol and others. In the later stage of his career, he was seen in films such as Kapoor and Sons, D-Day, Mulk and 102 Not Out.

The actor was last seen in Emraan Hashmis The Body and had recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film The Intern, also featuring Deepika Padukone.

His death left the country shocked and distressed. Fans and colleagues who were still reeling from the death of actor Irrfan Khan a day ago, voiced their thoughts. Akshay Kumar called it a nightmare for Bollywood after the death of actor Irrfan Khan just a day before on Wednesday. It seems like were in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, its heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family, he tweeted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote, This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.

Rishis hospitalisation was confirmed by his elder brother, actor Randhir Kapoor. Its true that he has been admitted to the hospital. He is in Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He was not keeping well and had some problem, so we admitted him early this morning, Randhir had said on Wednesday evening. Asked if it was an emergency situation, Randhir said: Thats why he has gone to the hospital. But I know that he will be alright. Neetu (Kapoor) is by his side.

In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer, following which the actor was in New York for more than a year to receive treatment. While he returned to India this year, he had again been hospitalised in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi.
The Centre has indicated that after the Covid-19 lockdown ends on May 3, there will be considerable relaxations in many areas.

In a series of tweets, the Union Home Ministry spokesperson said that a comprehensive review meeting was held on the lockdown situation in the country where it was found that there have been tremendous gains and improvement in the Covid-19 situation due to the lockdown till now.

New guidelines to fight #COVID19 will come into effect from 4th May, which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts. Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come, the home ministry spokesperson tweeted.

However, in the same series of tweets, the MHA spokesperson said that there was a need to maintain a strict lockdown till May 3 so that the gains are not squandered away.

New guidelines to fight #COVID19 will come into effect from 4th May, which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts. Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come.#Corona Update#StayHomeStaySafe @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA  Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 29, 2020

The Centres announcement - the first such official indication of what to expect after May 3 - came hours after the government relaxed the norms for migrant movement. The decision on migrants came on the 36th day of the national lockdown, amid hundreds of thousands of migrant workers stranded away from their home or returning home on foot, and demands by states seeking policy clarity.

The MHA, in an order, said that migrant workers, students, tourists, pilgrims and other persons stranded in other states, should be allowed to move, and issued a protocol on how this should be done.

The first guidelines were issued on March 24 immediately after the prime minister announced the lockdown for 21 days.

The guidelines, issued under the Disaster Management Act by the Union Home Secretary, specified the people and services exempted from the lockdown.

On Wednesday, the number of Covid-19 hotspots in India came down to 129 from 170 a fortnight ago, but in the same period the number of infection-free districts or green zones too decreased from 325 to 307.

During this time, the number of non-hotspot districts, also known as orange zones, increased from 207 to 297.

On April 15, the Centre had declared 170 districts across 25 states and Union Territories as coronavirus hotspots or red zones. Of these, 123 were hotspot districts with large outbreaks and 47 with clusters.

The government has already allowed industrial activities in rural areas with conditions. Similarly, apart from the shops for the essential commodities, standalone business establishments of non-essential goods were also allowed to open during the lockdown.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the number of coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 31,787 and the number of fatalities rose to 1,008 on Wednesday, registering a record jump of 71 deaths in 24 hours.

The number of cases too increased by 1,813 between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Guatemala Coronavirus Update - Coronavirus cases climb to 585, Total Deaths reaches to 16 on 30-Apr-2020

In Guatemala total confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) have increased to 585, while 16 people died due to the growing infection in the country.

Coronavirus (Covid-19) update from around the world:

United States, 29-April-2020: U.S. Covid-19 Deaths is more than the the deaths during Vietnam War. During Vietnam War US lost 58,220 lives, now due to Covid-19 infection total deaths reached over 60,000 in the country.

Mexico, 29-April-2020: In Mexico 1,223 new cases of Covid-19 identified raising the total count to 16,752 in the country.

China, 29-April-2020: China reported over 22 new cases Covid-19 raising the total cases to 82,858 cases in the country.

West Bengal (India), 29-April-2020: West Bengal reported 33 new cases of Coronavirus while total active cases reached to 550 in the state.

Punjab (India), 29-April-2020: Total number of Covid-19 cases in Punjab reached 375. In the state more than 60 fresh cases of Coronavirus reported today.

Dharavi (India), 29-April-2020: Dharavi reported 14 new cases raising the total cases to 344 in Dharavi. No new deaths are reported from Dharavi Today.

Maharashtra (India), 29-April-2020: Maharashtra reported 597 fresh Covid-19 cases today while total cases of Covid-19 infection rises to 9,915 in the state. Over 432 people died so far due to Covid-19 infection in the state.

India, 29-April-2020: Coronavirus hotspots in India decreased from 170 to 129 in a fortnight.

Andhra Pradesh (India), 29-April-2020: An 11-baby among 73 new cases in Andhra Pradesh. In past 24 hours 73 new cases of Covid-19 reported from Andhra Pradesh raising the total Covid-19 patient count to 1,332 in the state.

France, 29-April-2020: Total fatalities due to Covid-19 infection surpasses 23,000 mark in France.

Gujarat (India), 28-April-2020: Gujarat reported 226 new cases of Covid-19 infection raising total count to 3,774 in the state. Over 181 people died so far with Covid-19 infection in Gujarat.

India, 28-April-2020: Total confirmed cases in India have risen to 29,435 while Covid-19 outbreak is spread in 185 counties of the world. India is under nationwide lockdown and today is the 35th day of the lockdown.

India, 28-April-2020: One new case of Covid-19 is reported from Bihar raising total cases to 360 in the state.

India, 28-April-2020: Delhi confirmed cases crosses 3,000 mark with 2,177 active cases in the city. Delhi Government in its bulletin on Monday revealed that the total confirmed cases in the state rises to 3,108, while there are 21,132 active cases of Covid-19 in India.

World, 28-April-2020: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization Director-General said "The pandemic is far from over." Which means the Covid-19 infection will stay for the longer period of time in the world.

Nigeria, 27-April-2020: In Nigeria the lockdown has been extended in three major states Abuja, Lagos and Ogun. Now the lockdown will be imposed till May 4. Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari announced the extension of lockdown today.

India, 27-April-2020: The Tamil Nadu government announced on April 27 to return 24,000 rapid test kits imported from China. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after their test asked the states to stop using COVID-19 rapid antibody kits developed by two Chinese companies. These COVID-19 rapid antibody kits were imported earlier for the testing of suspected patients. But now India will not use these kits because it is not giving satisfactory results, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

France: France is reporting higher number of deaths but but slightly fewer people with severe conditions were admitted into ICU in past fourth day. France reported 315 deaths last day as compared to 345 deaths the day earlier. In France 133,670 confirmed cases and 14,412 deaths reported so far.

Here are the latest cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in Guatemala:

Sr. No. Date Total Cases New Cases Total Deaths Deaths 1. 25-Apr-2020 430 46 11 0 2. 26-Apr-2020 473 43 13 2 3. 27-Apr-2020 500 27 15 2 4. 28-Apr-2020 530 30 15 0 5. 29-Apr-2020 557 27 16 1 6. 30-Apr-2020 585 28 16 0

TOP 10 Deaths by country due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:



1. Europe (132,971)

2. North America (67,130)

3. USA (61,669)

4. Italy (27,682)

5. UK (26,097)

6. Spain (24,275)

7. France (24,087)

8. Asia (18,301)

9. South America (8,150)

10. Belgium (7,501)

Total Deaths Worldwide (228,270)

Globally till now over 228,270 people died due to the outbreak of deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19). The new infection and death cases are increasing fast. Authorities in the Guatemala and other countries are taking proper measures to contain the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19).

As of now Europe is the worst affected country in the world with over 132,971 deaths and 1,348,020 confirmed cases.

Check latest update: Coronaviurs Covid-19 cases around the world
Bored and want to give your curls a makeover?

According to a recent article, bangs have become a traditional symbol of the stress and life crises that lead to a "mental breakdown," and this quarantine period, you have a reason to!

Despite the trend in cutting your hair out of boredom, folks on social media posts are warning women not to go that route. But who cares if you have a lot of time to grow your hair back, right?

Additionally, naturalistas or body positivity advocates have normalized and even slew curly bangs for years. This paved the way to a generation of women embracing their natural locks.

Curly bangs give your locks a fresh look, and, when done correctly, it's a fun way to upgrade your style. Here are seven looks that squash the internet's claim that it's "uncool" to get bangs and will perhaps inspire you to pick up a pair of scissors yourself possibly:

Social entrepreneur and activist Carolina Contreras rocks one of the many popular natural haircuts: the fringe and fro.

2019 was the year of the none stop Hustle and it definitely set the tone for #2020 Thank you all for your love and support, 2020 va ser bello Los Amo  #happynewyear 3,293 Likes, 63 Comments - G A B Y S A N T A N A (@thecurlybella) on Instagram: "2019 was the year of the none stop Hustle and it definitely set the tone for #2020 Thank..."

Not only known for her long and voluminous locks but also for being the curl muse, Puerto Rican blogger Gabrielle Santana loves to share hair care tips and advice you can count on bad hair days.

Check these out!

QUICK QUESTION: What are your go to hair products for HIGH porosity hair? specifically styling products? I was using @sheamoisture high porosity gel but I can't find it anywhere I think it's discontinued  I need something to hold these frizzy curls together. 790 Likes, 28 Comments - BIANCA (@simplybiancaalexa) on Instagram: "QUICK QUESTION: What are your go to hair products for HIGH porosity hair? specifically styling..."

Bilingual vlogger Alexa rocks this 'sunflower cut' which gives shorter layers to the top area of the hair and helps curly bangs move freely without weighing each other down.

Melaner's glam updo here is an inspiration if you're planning to attend an event, night out, or online date.

Is it a wig OR is it @RizosCurls ? #QuarantineWashDay 4,919 Likes, 102 Comments - Julissa Prado (@julissa_prado) on Instagram: "Is it a wig OR is it @RizosCurls ? #QuarantineWashDay"

Not just her bangs, but Rizos Curls founder and CEO Julissa Prado's golden blonde will take your curls to a whole new level.
To contain and tackle the growing number of cases in the state which is amongst the top 5 presently

Noida based Nayati Healthcare & Research Pvt Ltd has dedicated 200 beds for the treatment of COVID-19 patients at their flagship hospital, Nayati Medicity in Mathura. The 200 beds comprise of 102 dedicated ICU and HDU beds along with 98 isolation beds. The announcement is part of its strategy to contain and tackle the growing number of cases in the state which is amongst the top 5 presently.

Nayati Medicity is a 377 beded comprehensive super-specialty quaternary care hospital at Mathura with seven Centres of Excellence and 14 Speciality departments, including a state of the art facility for end to end treatment of cancer center in a Tier 3 city. It is the first of its kind tertiary care super specialty equipped hospital serving a large community and is NABH accredited.

Chairperson & Promoter, Niira Radia said, The responsibility of dealing with such a pandemic cannot be only with the public healthcare system, the private sector is playing an equal. Considering the steep rise in the number of Corona virus cases in the country and Uttar Pradesh contributing substantially to those numbers we are fully geared for treatment of COVID patients at Nayati Medicity Mathura and Agra.

Considering that we are the only advanced critical care centre in this part of the region, and in the wake of corona virus, we have reoriented our hospital and our teams. We have segregated and equipped ourselves with 102 ICU beds, and 98 isolation and high dependency beds. We have equipped ourselves to serve over 1500 -2000 COVID patients in an 8/12 week period which includes critical care too. Three levels of triaging has been prepared and patients in triage are being screened in separate zones being set up. In the 1st phase the 70 bed isolation area will be used which has 70 beds of which ICU beds equipped with ventilator and ECMO.

Nayati Hospital Agra has been converted into a level 1 Quarantine Centre on request of the UP Government. Mathura will handle all the level II & III Covid cases. There is a strong commitment from our 1200 team members who cut across all specialities, nurses para meds - support services etc , to participate and fight this menace together. Additionally, the Nayati Campus, home to the Nayati doctors and paramedics, who have come to this region from all across the country to make Mathura, Vrindavan their home for the last 4 years, will act as the satellite campus providing food and lodging to external teams, who join to support if the need arises.
The mortal remains of



Keralite Industrialist and oil tycoon in the UAE, Joy Arakkal, who allegedly committed suicide, were brought to Kerala by a chartered flight from Dubai on Thursday night.

Arakkal's wife and two children accompanied the body,airport sources said.

The Dubai police had confirmed that Arakkal,54, had committed suicide by jumping from the 14th floor of a building in Business Bay on April 23.

Malappuram SP U Abdul Kareem told PTI that the air ambulance reachedthe Karipur airport around 2000 hrs and the remains were taken to Varayal near Mananthavady in Wayanad district for performing the last rites.

It is the second air ambulance which is landing at Karipur since the lockdown came into force.

On April 24, a chartered air ambulance had airlifted a critically ill patient Prasad Das, from the UK to Kozhikode for treatment at a hospital here.

Bodies of seven people, who died of non-Covid-19 infection, had been brought in cargo flights on April 28 here.

Owner and founder of several business ventures based in the UAE, Joy Arakkal had been a successful business magnate from Kerala, who was recently awarded the UAE Gold Card which grants holders and their dependents a renewable 10 year residency visa in the UAE.

Joy Arakkal has been in the limelight in connection with the house-warming ceremony of his 45,000 square feet palatial house, named Arakkal Palace, at Manathavady in Wayanad few months ago.

This is said to be the biggest house in Kerala.

Arakkal was on the board of 11 companies in the state besides being active in charitable activities in Wayanad.

The funeral is expected to be held at Kaniyapuram St Joseph cathedral near Mananthavady on Friday morning.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
30.04.2020 LISTEN

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has undertaken a total of one hundred thousand (100,000) test samples of suspected COVID-19 cases especially across the southern parts of Ghana since the outbreak of the disease some two months ago.

Prof. Abraham Kwabena Annan who maintained that the cost of the testing of the samples is very expensive to the extent that close to six to seven million Ghana cedis (6 to 7million Ghana Cedi) has been expended since the outbreak adding that the center could undertake seven thousand (7,000) tests a day if well resourced.

The Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Prof. Abraham Kwabena Annan who made the disclosure on Thursday, April 30, during an interview with OTECFMs NYANSAPO morning show hosted by Captain Koda insisted that the research center has improved.

Prof. Abraham Kwabena Annan noted that the research institute has collaborated with other centers to mount other testing centers to help facilitate the process of the sample test, adding that with the growing number of COVID-19 cases it was prudent to increase the testing centers.

We have spent close to six to seven million Ghana cedis on the test so far with the exclusion of the machines used in the testing. A well refurnished machine for carrying out standardized COVID-19 test would cost about forty thousand dollars. It is refreshing to note that more centers for sample test are being established in other regions apart from Kumasi and Accra and there are plans for private laboratories to also be resourced to start testing in future, Prof. Abraham Kwabena Annan stressed.

Touching on the wearing of the nose mask and observations of other protocols, Prof. Abraham Kwabena Annan charged the public to be responsible in adhering to the protocols insisting that everything should not be left to the government to provide all the needs in this COVID-19 fight.

He underscored the need for the wearing of the nose mask to be a matter of major concern maintaining that it remains one of the surest ways to prevent the widespread of the disease.
Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE:DCI), which is in the machinery business, and is based in United States, saw a significant share price rise of over 20% in the past couple of months on the NYSE. With many analysts covering the mid-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stocks share price. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Donaldson Companys outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if the opportunity still exists.

Check out our latest analysis for Donaldson Company

Is Donaldson Company still cheap?

The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my valuation model. Its trading around 7.10% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Donaldson Company today, youd be paying a relatively reasonable price for it. And if you believe the companys true value is $42.10, then there isnt really any room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because Donaldson Companys beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the companys shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

What does the future of Donaldson Company look like?

NYSE:DCI Past and Future Earnings April 30th 2020

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 11% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for Donaldson Company. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.

What this means for you:

Story continues

Are you a shareholder? DCIs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value?

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on DCI, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for the company, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on Donaldson Company. You can find everything you need to know about Donaldson Company in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Donaldson Company, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.


Temisan Oritsejafor

A Nigerian man is facing a significant prison sentence after he spat blood in a police officers eye.

Temisan Oritsejafor, 41, attacked PC Napier who was arresting him after he assaulted his neighbour.

Police were called to his flat in Wyken, Coventry, on April 18 after he became abusive towards neighbour Alison Osborne.

During the incident, Oritsejafor suffered a bloody nose and while he was being arrested he spat in PC Napiers face.

A court heard Oritsejafor was on bail at the time for a previous assault on a police officer.

Oritsejafor admitted common assault and two charges of common assault on emergency workers at Warwick Crown Court.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said: He is charged with two assaults on emergency workers, one of them while on bail.

He must understand the sentence will be one of significant custody.

I will be minded to pass deterrent sentences, and the sentence for the second matter is likely to be consecutive.

Oritsejafor, who was appearing via a video link from the prison, told the judge: I didnt mean to spit in her face.

But the judge told him: It is very likely you will be receiving a significant custodial sentence for these matters.

Prosecutor Mark Phillips said: A male officer who believed he was being aggressive took him to the floor, and was assisted by a female colleague, PC Napier, to restrain him.

As theyre getting him up, he spits into the officers face.

That is spit and blood, because he had had a bleeding nose earlier, and it catches her straight in the eye.

Playing a CCTV recording of the incident, Mr Phillips added: She is clearly upset, and shes very shaken indeed.

Oritsejafor was remanded in custody and will sentenced at a later date.
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford announced an agreement Thursday to produce and distribute a potential vaccine for the coronavirus.

The potential vaccine entered the first phase of clinical trials last week in England with healthy volunteers from ages 18 to 55. Data from the trials should be available by the middle of this year, AstraZeneca said.

Professors at the University of Oxford told the BBC, the partnership with AstraZenca allows a potential vaccine to be manufactured on a global level.

The partnership aims to build capacity to produce tens of millions of doses by the end of the year if the treatment is effective.

A vaccine for the coronavirus produced by Johnson and Johnson is expected to reach clinical trials in the fall. A potential global rollout could occur by early 2021.

Developed at the University of Oxfords Jenner Institute, the vaccine, called ChAdOx1, is a viral vector based on a weakened version of the common cold, AstraZeneca said. It contains genetic material from COVID-19s spike protein.

After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, which prepares the bodys immune system to attack COVID-19 if its later infected.

The vaccine is meant to generate a strong immune response from a single dose and cannot cause an ongoing infection from the vaccinated person, the pharmaceutical company said.

The vaccine has been administered to more than 320 people to date. Side effects included a fever, flu-like symptoms, headache or sore arm.

Related Content:
The international media on Thursday mourned the death of Rishi Kapoor, describing him as Bollywood's romantic hero who redefined the embodiment of the modern-day 'Prince Charming' in India.

Kapoor died after a two-year battle with leukaemia on Thursday in Mumbai at the age of 67.

The British media generally referred to him as the Bollywood's romantic hero and recalled him making a huge splash in 1973 with his first lead role in Bobby.

"He was the big-hearted, sweet-natured leading man with the benign air of an eternal juvenile lead who stole the audience's hearts. His death is another sad day for Indian cinema," The Guardian reported.

The actor played the romantic lead in dozens of films for over two decades, after which he made a successful transition to character roles, BBC said in its report.

"He was a skilful dancer and some of his films had songs that are massively popular even today, it added.

It noted that Kapoor frequently commented on controversial issues and sometimes got into heated exchanges with people on the social media platform.

His last tweet was an appeal to people not to attack medical staff at the frontlines of the fight against the coronavirus saying, "we have to win this war together".

Describing Rishi Kapoor as a widely popular film actor from one of Bollywood's most celebrated families, The New York Times said he was best known as a romantic hero, with a charm and charisma that quickly made him one of the leading men of the 1970s and '80s in the Hindi film industry.

The Russian media noted that the legendary actor-director Raj Kapoor's son and Prithviraj Kapoor's grandson, Rishi Kapoor made a huge success in 1973 with 'Bobby'.

"The picture was a resounding success in India, in the republics of the USSR and in many ways glorified Rishi Kapoor," Russian agency Sputnik said on Thursday.

It also carried a picture of Raj Kapoor with his sons Randhir, Rajiv and Rishi which was taken at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival in July 1983.

"In 1973, when he starred as the lead actor in the film 'Bobby', a musical romance, the actor redefined the embodiment of the modern-day 'Prince Charming' in India," it said.

The Kapoor family, originally from Peshawar in Pakistan, migrated to India after the partition in 1947.

In 1990, Rishi Kapoor along with brother Randeer Kapoor visited their ancestral home in Peshawar called 'Kapoor Haveli' where his grandfather, Prithviraj and his father Raj Kapoor, were born.

The of his death sent a wave of sadness and grief among people in Peshawar. A lot of people visited the Kapoor Haveli to express their grief and condolence over his demise.

Former Mayor of Peshawar, late Saeed Ahmad Jan, had received Kapoor brothers on arrival to their ancestral home.

"We had no relation with Rishi Kapoor, but had a liking for him because of watching him as a film hero from childhood and due to his connection with a place which is also a birth place of me, said Pervaiz Ahmad, a city dweller. "Rishi's death has saddened me a lot, Pervaiz added.

"Perhaps the feeling expressed by Pervaiz portrays sentiments of all the dwellers of Peshawar over sad demise of Rishi, said Ibrahim Zia, a historian who also wrote a book titled as 'Peshawar ki Funkar' (Artists of Peshawar).

"We feel pride over the connection of a number of Bollywood stars with Peshawar like Dilip Kumar, Kapoors, Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Amjad Khan and Vinod Khanna, Zia said.

Several Pakistani stars also expressed their grief on social media.

Zeba Bakhtiar, the Pakistani film actress who made her Bollywood debut with Henna in 1991 starring Rishi Kapoor, posted a picture of the actor on her Instagram account.

"A mentor, inspiration and friend to me, a part of my family in so many ways I can not imagine life without you Chintu (Rishi Kapoor). May you ever be surrounded with the joy, exuberance and integrity that was yours. May you be blessed with the best in the hereafter," she wrote under the picture.

Pakistan's former fast bowler Waqar Younis also condoled Kapoor's death. "Heart Broken. Terrible week for the World cinema. An era ends with your demise but you will stay in our Hearts forever. My deepest condolences to the Kapoor family.#RIP #Legend," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Debris from a Canadian military helicopter that went missing during a NATO operation has been found in the sea between Greece and Italy, a Greek military officer and public television said Thursday. NATO said the Cyclone Sikorsky CH-148 helicopter crashed after taking off from the Canadian frigate Fredericton on Wednesday. "Debris has been found in Italy's zone of control and intervention" in the Ionian Sea, the Greek military officer told AFP, specifying the wreckage belonged to the Canadian helicopter. Six crew were aboard the helicopter when it disappeared, the officer said on condition of anonymity. NATO declined to give details, noting that information "will be released in accordance with national procedures". The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have not said so far how many personnel were on board. Greek public television earlier reported that a body had been found amid the wreckage in international waters off the Greek island of Kefalonia. But the Greek military officer did not immediately confirm a body had been found. CAF have not confirmed that any debris has been found, but said on Twitter it contacted the family members of those who were on board the missing helicopter. The aircraft was "involved in an accident in the Mediterranean Sea", it said, but gave no other details. CAF issued a statement earlier saying it had lost contact with the helicopter deployed on board HMCS Fredericton, which was participating in NATO exercises off the coast of Greece. - Allies join search - "Search and rescue efforts are currently under way," it added. Juanita Chang, spokeswoman for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), said NATO ships and air assets were taking part in the search, supported by maritime and air components from Greece, Italy, Turkey and the United States. Initial reports said the helicopter had been over international waters 50 nautical miles (93 kilometers) off Kefalonia. Italian, Greek and Turkish frigates were taking part in the exercises along with the Canadians. Chang said the Fredericton was part of NATO's Standing Maritime Group Two and had recently sailed from the base of Souda on Crete on a mission of "maritime situational awareness in the Mediterranean". The group "performed several exercises with units of the Turkish navy followed with exercises with the (Greek) navy and airforce this past week", Chang said. The missing helicopter had taken off from the Canadian frigate Fredericton for a patrol
I am honored to be a part of this incredibly important initiative, said Mr. Kleinman. Insigniam exists to serve, and I look forward to being of service to this incredible group of dedicated, passionate professionals who have come together in a shared commitment to the health of all human beings."

Jon Kleinman, a partner at the international management consulting firm, Insigniam, was recently appointed to serve on the advisory board of the APANDEMIC Initiative. He will serve among the group of physicians, medical researchers, therapy developers, data scientists, engineers, and organizational leaders who have joined forces to help end the COVID-19 crisis.

I am honored to be a part of this incredibly important initiative, said Mr. Kleinman. Insigniam exists to serve, and I look forward to being of service to this incredible group of dedicated, passionate professionals who have come together in a shared commitment to the health of all human beings."

The APANDEMIC Initiatives purpose is to deliver access to promising investigational therapies to all patients whose lives are threatened by COVID-19. The organization formed based on a vision to radically transform and accelerate the development, approval, and access to new therapies. As an advisor, Jon brings over two decades of experience in organizational transformation, innovation and breakthrough thinking to the group.

The APANDEMIC Initiative states of their intention, In our approach, patients are offered immediate and broad access to promising investigational therapies. Importantly, their clinical outcomes are tracked and evaluated in real-time, using 21st-century science, methods, and digital technology. This can be achieved through a Real-World Evidence Master Protocol on an Integrated Research Platform (RWE-IRP).

About Insigniam

For over 30 years, Insigniam has consulted with large, complex organizations in generating breakthroughs in strategic results: top-line growth, strategy implementation, improving profitability, strategic innovation, and cultural transformation. Insigniam pioneered the fields of organizational transformation and strategy innovation by marrying breakthrough performance and innovation, creating services and solutions that are unparalleled in their potency to quickly create dramatic growth and market leadership. Clients have documented, in aggregate, more than 50x ROI in results considered critical and essential to the success of their enterprises. Offices are located in Southern California, Paris, and Philadelphia.
Originally known as Decoration Day, what we now know as Memorial Day was first designated after the Civil War as a day to visit the graves of troops who died in the conflict. In 1971, Congress declared it a national holiday.

What is the meaning of Memorial Day in the U.S.?

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, is a day to honor members of the military who were killed in service, both during deployments overseas or in training and service in the U.S. Across the country, Americans spend the day visiting cemeteries, attending Memorial Day events and otherwise honoring those who lost their lives in service to the country. The day also traditionally marks the first unofficial day of summer.

What do you say on Memorial Day?

Because Memorial Day is a somber day to honor those who died in service to the country, saying Happy Memorial Day is considered to be in bad taste. For those who have lost family or friends through military service, the day is far from happy. Avoid wishing anyone a happy Memorial Day. If you feel the need to say something, try Have a meaningful Memorial Day.

What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Memorial Day is a day to honor the sacrifice and loss of members of the military who died in service. Veterans Day, on the other hand, is a day to honor the service of any man or woman who has served in the U.S. military. Read more about the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Should you thank a veteran on Memorial Day?

Because Memorial Day is for honoring the fallen, not the living, it is not considered appropriate to thank a veteran for his or her service on Memorial Day. While the sentiment is always appreciated, save your thanks for a different day and spend Memorial Day honoring those who have died in service to the country.

What flower honors Memorial Day?

The red poppy is often worn on Memorial Day, a tradition started during World War I and inspired by Canadian soldier John McCraes poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

The poppys use as a symbol in the U.S. was first inspired by an American woman, Moina Michael, who in 1918 wrote the poem We Shall Keep the Faith in response to McCraes, and dedicated the rest of her life to getting the red poppy emblem recognized by governments worldwide as a symbol honoring the fallen.

We Shall Keep the Faith

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,

Sleep sweet - to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led;

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies,

But lends a lustre to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought

In Flanders Fields.

How do you pay respects and honor the military on Memorial Day?

Military organizations and bases nationwide are dedicated to honoring fallen military members on Memorial Day. One way to pay respects or honor the military on Memorial Day is to attend a Memorial Day ceremony at a local veterans cemetery. Another is to attend a parade. Many cities also have local veteran memorials where you can leave flowers or a wreath as a sign of respect.

Some organizations, like Wear Blue: Run to Remember, hold special Memorial Day events to honor the fallen. You can also commemorate Memorial Day with your children through age-appropriate activities. If youre using the day to celebrate the unofficial start of summer, consider pausing your festivities for a moment of silence. See more about Memorial Day events.

Stay on Top of Your Military Benefits

Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox.
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Rishi Kapoor's daughter Riddhima to drive 1400 kms from Delhi to Mumbai for father's last rites



Rishi Kapoor's funeral is soon to be held in Mumbai but daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni was stuck in Delhi amidst coronavirus lockdown. Riddhima Kapoor, who is married to an industrialist and stays in Delhi, had reportedly asked the Union Home Ministry last night for permission to fly to Mumbai by a chartered flight. Sources say she was told permission to fly could only be given by Home Minister Amit Shah. As an option, she asked to be allowed to drive to Mumbai in a group of five.



"She sought permission late at night. We had it within minutes," a senior police officer told. Delhi Police has always given permission in such circumstances, he said. She will now travel by road and is expected to reach Mumbai after a 1,400 km-journey, which roughly takes 18 hours.



Riddhima Kapoor posted a moving farewell on Instagram: "Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you everyday I will miss your FaceTime calls everyday! Until we meet again papa I love you." Rishi Kapoor will be cremated at the Chandanwadi Crematorium, Marine Lines, in Mumbai, his brother Randhir Kapoor told the media. Read More...


According to Volodymyr Kravchenko, the Ukrainian headquarters recorded more than 400 cases of coronavirus disease in the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic

Open source

District administrations of the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions hide information about the incidence of Covid-19: hospitals are overcrowded, and health workers are obliged to not disclose information about the epidemiological situation on the receipt. This was stated by the commander of the Joint Forces Volodymyr Kravchenko in an interview with Ukrinform.

He said the vast majority of cases that had similar symptoms to coronavirus were qualified by doctors as pneumonia or SARS.

"Administration of occupied territories is trying to hide the real state of the situation with epidemic... Directly in the health care area, the situation in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is characterized by the fact that the infectious wards in hospitals are overflowing with patients with flu and pneumonia, there are virtually no medical supplies, medications, lack of specialized medical staff and necessary equipment. In this case, the current medical staff was obliged to not disclose information about the epidemiological situation," Kravchenko said.

As we reported earlier, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry urged Russia, as the state-occupant, to provide the protection of life and health of the population in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and annexed Crimea in terms of Covid-19 pandemic.
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: After the Union home ministry issued fresh guidelines for interstate movement to allow stranded migrant labourers, tourists and students to return to their homes, the state has appointed Revenue Secretary Atulya Mishra as the nodal authority.

Mishra will be regulating the issues relating to movement of stranded persons which include pilgrims, tourists, students and migrant workers. According to official sources, the decision on how to send the workers back will be taken after a high-level meeting.

"We got the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines last night and we will be working on it," sources told The New Indian Express. This means there will be a huge movement of pilgrims, migrant workers, tourists and students to their states which will involve a massive logistics exercise. It's up to the state on how it will transport these workers back to their native states.

There are four lakh people from other states in Tamil Nadu including migrant workers, pilgrims, students and those doing petty jobs or businesses. It is learnt that the initial focus of the state will be to facilitate the travel of medical tourists or patients from other states who have been stuck here. "We also have one lakh migrant workers staying in state sponsored relief camps," sources added.

Sources said many patients have been stranded in hospitals in Trichy, Vellore and Chennai. "The first task will be to safely send back the patients and students who were left stranded in the state," sources added.

Besides, the state is also looking at facilitating the return of migrant workers who want to return home. Officials also said most of the migrant workers have considered the state as their home.

Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India Chairman, Tamil Nadu Chapter, S Sridharan told Express that migrant workers at construction sites have not been stranded and are taken care of. "Since we are in touch with the government for work to resume, those living in the sites may resume the work. We may also facilitate the return of those who wish to return," he added.

Meanwhile, students from Tamil Nadu, who were stranded in Delhi, returned to the state by a bus. They were staying at the ITBP quarantine facility in New Delhi prior to their return to the state.
HIGHWOOD, Ill., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new distillery, 28 Mile Distilling Co., is joining in the fight against the Coronavirus. Located in Highwood, Illinois, just 28 Miles from the city of Chicago, 28 Mile Distilling Company is donating 16 oz. bottles of their gel hand sanitizer to every officer in the Chicago Police Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. This donation of almost 12,000 bottles, approximately 1,400 gallons of gel sanitizer, is valued at $90,000. The largest donation The Chicago Police Department has yet received.

"We donated about 100 gallons of hand sanitizer a few weeks ago, but it clearly wasn't enough," said Eric Falberg, Co-Founder of 28 Mile Distilling. "So, we increased our production of hand sanitizer by thousands of bottles per day for our men and women on the front lines."

On Thursday, April 30th, between 11am and 1pm at The Police Academy (1300 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago IL.), police districts will pick up their donations. This much appreciated donation is made possible by the partnership between 28 Mile Distilling Co. and The Chicago Police Memorial Fund (CMPF), allowing each of Chicago's 11,000 armed officers to have their own 16 oz. bottle of sanitizer, which could last over a month. 28 Mile Distilling Co.

"A donation of this magnitude will make a substantial impact in our mission to keep every officer safe from Covid-19 in the line of duty," said Philip J. Cline, Executive Director, CPMF. "This partnership is one of the ways we are able to support our current and fallen officers families."

The distillery normally produces locally-made Vodka, Gin and Bourbon halted production to produce the 80% alcohol grade hand sanitizer by following the guidelines and formula provided to them by the World Health Organization. The gel is bottled in blue, to represent first responders who are risking their lives fighting the invisible enemy, which was donated by Dana Plastics from Roselle, IL. There is a special label, adorned with the title "Tough Town Sanitizer". The exchange of the product to the police officers will be live streamed and available via https://vimeo.com/413161214/fa141005d7 for anyone to watch for free, this service is donated by CPMF Board Member, Owner of Absolute Production Services, Charlie Nicosia.

Contact Information:

THE MAS INK

312.671.3040

[email protected]

SOURCE 28 Mile Distilling Co.
Iowa, Oklahoma and other states reopening soon amid the coronavirus outbreak are issuing early warnings to their worried workers: Return to your jobs or risk losing unemployment benefits.

The threats have been loudest among Republican leaders in recent days, reflecting their anxious attempts to jump-start local economic recovery roughly two months after most businesses shut their doors. In Iowa, for example, state officials even have posted a public call for companies to get in touch if an "employee refuses to return to work."

For some states, the concern is that residents who are offered their old jobs back simply may not accept them, choosing instead to continue tapping historically generous unemployment aid. The $2 trillion congressional coronavirus relief package signed by President Donald Trump in March greatly plussed up weekly benefit checks for out-of-work Americans, and some people now may be earning more than they did previously.

Business leaders say they desperately need workers to return to stores, restaurants and other operations to stay afloat financially. Labor activists, however, contend the reality is far more complicated: Some now-unemployed Americans weren't making much money in the first place, so they may not want to risk their safety just to return to underpaid old gigs.

In the process, some states' public comments have frustrated federal lawmakers, labor activists and public-health officials, who say that forcing workers to return so quickly might be dangerous - and could undermine the country's response to the deadly pandemic.

"These states are offering people the choice to endanger your life or starve," said Damon Silvers, the director of policy and special counsel for the AFL-CIO.

Generally, states have the legal right to revoke benefits if unemployed Americans are offered jobs comparable to their past positions yet decline to take them. In response to the coronavirus, regulators also have put in place special exemptions to protect people out of work because they're sick or caring for family members who been diagnosed with covid-19.

Still, the early threats of enforcement - at a moment when the coronavirus has killed more than 56,000 in the U.S. - has called into question whether some governors are prioritizing economic recovery over public health.

"I would argue having to go back to wait tables during a pandemic might not count as similar working conditions," said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project. She said workers could challenge such reversals of benefits, but doing so might be tough.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Department of Labor has affirmed the restrictions, even as more than 26 million people are out of work and seeking critical jobless aid. "Barring unusual circumstances" the agency said in public guidance, "a request that a furloughed employee return to his or her job very likely constitutes an offer of suitable employment that the employee must accept."

State officials nationwide have echoed that approach. Tennessee, for example, has said it may "potentially disqualify claimants from receiving unemployment insurance benefits" if workers who are temporarily laid off turn down an opportunity to retake their jobs, said Chris Cannon, a spokesman for the state's unemployment agency.

Iowa also has signaled in recent statements it plans to ramp up its enforcement efforts. Its directive has taken on added significance since President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that could result in meat-processing plants staying open - including those in Iowa where workers recently died of the coronavirus. A spokesperson for Iowa's governor did not respond to a request for comment.

And in Oklahoma, top economic officials even publicly discussed restricting benefits last week in an attempt to get residents back on the job faster. The state is among more than a dozen with a minimum wage of $7.25, according to data compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"If there is a claimant out there that says, 'You know what, I can make more money sitting at home, drawing this extra $600, and some other benefits, then if the employer will contact us, that is considered a refusal of civil work and we will cut off their benefits," said Teresa Thomas Keller, the deputy director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, during the call conducted over Zoom and published online. The Frontier, a Tulsa news outlet, first reported on the meeting.

"I know that's been a concern," Keller continued. "When I first saw it, I thought, 'Gee, some of these claimants will be making more money on unemployment than they did while they were working,' but that will be a temporary situation."

In response, Sean Kouplen, the state's secretary of commerce, said it was "the best news that I have heard all day," adding that he had witnessed such reluctance to work firsthand. "I have a lot of companies, and we're trying to hire people back. And they're saying, 'nope, we're good, we're making plenty of money on the unemployment piece.' So I really appreciate you saying that."

Keller later added Oklahoma even could potentially stop sending residents the additional $600 per week in federal unemployment aid authorized under the Cares Act in an attempt to compel people to return to work more quickly. "If it was a huge problem, and we felt like people were taking advantage, we could cut it off," she said.

Asked about the exchange, Kouplen late Tuesday said that no such policy to cut federal aid dollars is under consideration. Otherwise, he said it is "longstanding practice in Oklahoma, and I'm sure in other states across the country" that if you're offered re-employment and turn it down then "your unemployment is removed."

Kouplen himself is a local businessman: He is the chief executive of Regent Bank in Tulsa as well as a local restaurant, which he said recently had to let go a handful of workers - but now is hiring them back with the help of federal small business funds.

"I'm not personally going to turn in an employee that doesn't wish to come back," Kouplen said Tuesday, but still added: "It is a significant issue for employers. It really is; it's a real issue, and it's going to be a nationwide issue where employers of entry-level positions are trying to hire people back."

Top representatives for Oklahoma businesses said Wednesday they share that concern. "In order for the Oklahoma economy to recover, we need those people back in the workforce, we need businesses open," said Chad Warmington, the president of the State Chamber of Oklahoma.

Warmington cautioned that workers shouldn't "get a raw deal being forced to go back to work with an unsafe environment and worse pay." But he added about the recovery effort: "What we don't want to do is have the federal government have a plan thats competing with the private sector."

The potential that people may have their benefits revoked drew sharp rebukes among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, which bolstered unemployment-insurance programs precisely in response to the pandemic. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said the problem began with the fact Republican governors are "casting public health aside and forcing their states to 'reopen.' "

"Everyone wants to find a new normal and get back to our lives," he added in a statement, "but pretending the crisis is over when it's not over will make it much harder to contain the virus and for workers to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads."
Disclaimer: Chromebooks are among the best tools around for those who are working from home. Because of that, at any given retailer, they have been selling quickly as more students learn and more employees work from home. So any of the Chromebooks listed here may or may not be in stock and pricing is subject to change.

The popularity of Chromebooks has increased in the wake of COVID-19 outbreaks and with more people than ever learning or working from home. The devices represent a great solution to that growing demand due to their cloud-centric nature and ease of management.

Thats also due to Chromes focus on optimization for performance and speed over-reliance on expensive hardware. Chromebooks simply dont require the same level of RAM or processing to complete the same tasks.

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Google has also put a significant amount of effort into improving the OS in an enterprise-specific direction. That has included making Linux apps more stable and delivering more tools for IT admins. Those improvements have slowed with the rise of coronavirus. But that doesnt make the platform any less viable.

Best Chromebooks for working from home

Choosing the best of the wide assortment of Chromebooks for working from home, however, has not gotten any easier. Thats not just because the number of devices available has also grown. Top Chromebooks are increasingly scarce precisely because demand has grown. And also because of supply chain disruptions.

When it comes to working from home, not every Chrome OS device is going to be created equal. For some tasks, a powerful processor and high-capacity storage are desirable. Others might require a number pad, flexibility, a stylus, or other key features to maximize productivity. Cost is, of course, another chief concern.

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Fortunately, Android Headlines has spent a lot of time conducting reviews and research on Chromebooks. Some of us also utilize Chromebooks to work on the go. That gives us insight that allows us to make an attempt at making the process of choosing a lot easier. Not every top Chromebook will have made the cut and there are plenty of other options to explore. But, here, weve compiled a list of Chromebooks that we think make working from home a more enjoyable experience.

Price Buy RAM/Storage Processor Google Pixelbook Go From $649 Google Up to 16GB/256GB Up to Intel Core i7 Samsung Galaxy Chromebook $999 Best Buy 8GB/256GB Intel Core i5-10210U Acer Chromebook Spin 13 From $653.98 Amazon Up to 16GB/128GB Intel Core i5-8250U Asus Chromebook Flip C434 From $569.99 Amazon Up to 8GB/64GB Up to Intel Core i7-8500Y Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630 From $499.99 Amazon Up to 8GB/128GB Up to Intel Core i5-8250U HP Chromebook x360 14 From $599 HP 8GB/64GB Intel Core i3-8130U Google Pixel Slate From $799 Google Up to 16GB/256GB Up to Intel Core i7 Acer Chromebook 715 From $499 Amazon 8GB/64GB Intel Core i5-8350U Samsung Chromebook 4+ $299 Best Buy Up to 6GB/64GB Intel Celeron N4000 Lenovo Chromebook C340-11 $279 Best Buy 4GB/64GB Intel Celeron N4000

The obvious Chromebook choice for working from home

Google Pixelbook Go

Price: From $649

Where to buy: Google

Chrome OS is built by Google so an obvious choice when it comes to Chromebooks for working from home is Googles Pixelbook Go. Thats not the only reason though. Pixelbook Go is arguably the most well-rounded Chromebook on the market, giving buyers multiple options to better suit their needs.

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To begin with, the device starts at as low as $649 and ranging as high as $1,399. For that price, users can start with 8GB RAM coupled with either 64GB or 128GB storage. Those also start with either an Intel Core m3 or Intel Core i5 processor. For a bit more money, users can pick up another variant with an Intel Core i5 and 256GB storage coupled with 16GB RAM.

The top model, conversely, ships with an Intel Core i7 processor backed by 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. That variant takes the Full HD 13.3-inch display of its counterparts and bumps that to 4K as well. Corning Concore Glass is used across the board on every Pixelbook Go.

Now, every Pixelbook Go includes a backlit Hush Keys keyboard. They each feature an etched glass trackpad, Titan C security chip for better enterprise security, ambient light sensors, and a 1080p 60fps webcam for conferencing. Two USB-C ports and one headphone jack are included in the magnesium alloy frame. Theres no pen support this time around as this is Googles back-to-basics Chromebook.

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But Google also designed this device with a ridged bottom for better grip while being carried and a lightweight frame. A claimed 12-hour battery backs everything up for all-day use. So whether its editing documents and other media or performing enterprise tasks requiring a bit more performance, Googles latest Pixelbook is more than ready to go.

Buy Pixelbook Go

Best Pixelbook alternative

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Samsung Galaxy Chromebook

Price: $999

Where to buy: Best Buy

Samsungs first Galaxy-branded Chromebook is a monster of a device thats geared toward future-proofing performance and productivity. Its also one of the few devices around that directly challenges Googles dominance at the premium end of the pool. The branding here says it all. As might be expected, Samsung effectively incorporates all of the latest available Chromebook features atop some included perks of its own.

To begin with, the company packed in its world-famous S Pen stylus, built directly into the frame of this 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook. The all-metal frame is just 9.9mm thin for portability but also packs up to 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage. The Intel Core i5 chip packs serious power with a turbo clock speed up to 4.2GHz.

A more affordable variant, with 8GB RAM and 256GB PCI-e storage, is also available and an Intel Core i7 variant is set to arrive at some point in the future. On the storage front, thats going to be aided by support for up to 2TB expansion via micro SD card and up to 512GB via UFS card. The other two included ports are USB-C, setting aside the headphone jack.

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An 8-hour rated batter backs up that hardware.

Gigabit+ Wi-Fi 6 is drives connectivity here and, of course, the keyboard here is backlit. There is both a front- and world-facing HD camera built into the build. Fingerprint unlocking is included standard. But Samsung has, in true Galaxy fashion, also ensured this 13.3-inch 4K Chromebook arrives with an AMOLED touch panel. That means contrast thats more true-to-life with deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.

Working from home with this device, as with Googles Chromebooks, is going to equate to one of the best available experiences. As of this writing, the Galaxy Chromebook is also on sale for just $549 direct from Samsung, making it a great option for budget buyers too.

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Premium Chromebook performance in a premium package

Acer Chromebook Spin 13

Price: From $653.98

Where to buy: Amazon

The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 has been around for a bit longer than other gadgets here but that doesnt rule out its position as one of the best Chromebooks around for working from home. Initially launched as a direct competitor to Googles Pixelbook, this Chromebook offers premium specs in a high-design package at a reasonable starting cost.

Landing squarely in the 14-inch range, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is a beautifully designed Chromebook initially made explicitly for business use. So the currently-available models include up to an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. A 10-hour rated battery rests behind those specs.

A somewhat more durable build has been engineered around those specs. Gorilla Glass is used on the touchpad and display while the rest of the exterior is made of aluminum. Acer includes an EMR stylus co-designed with Wacom for productivity  irrespective of which mode this 2-in-1 is used in. The keyboard is backlit by default.

Aside from the ergonomically-designed keyboard, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13s webcam, speakers, and mics are all perfectly tuned for video calls or chats. Thats as opposed to being tuned for multimedia. Meanwhile, the 13.5-inch display panel has a resolution of 2,256 x 1,504 pixels.

Now, there are also two updated versions of this Chromebook sold under model number CP713-2W-356L and CP713-2W-53AW in some European regions. Those start out at 789.00 and 999.99, respectively, and will be the obvious choice where those are available. But the device also starts out at just $653.98.

Buy Acer Chromebook Spin 13

Best Chromebook for ergonomical typing in the mid-range

ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

Price: From $589.99

Where to buy: Amazon

ASUSs Chromebook Flip C434 is already a popular choice among users in the mid-range. But it makes a particularly good work machine for several reasons. Not least of all, this is a 14-inch Chromebook with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution touchscreen display. That sits on a 2-in-1 folding hinge packed into a slim-bezel all-metal package with a minimal design.

Compounding on that, ASUS includes one of the most ergonomically-designed keyboards around. Not only does the design include a slight lift to the back of the keyboard in clamshell mode. This Chromebook features a key-travel of 1.4mm to help productivity-focused users stay comfortable during long typing sessions. Thats also a backlit keyboard. So typing can continue in low-light environments with ease.

A reasonably-good webcam and dual speakers help in conferencing, meanwhile. And a MicroSD card slot is packed into the frame along with all the ports a user could want.

Under the hood, things hold steady too. Thats thanks to the base models Intel Core m3-8100Y processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage for just $589.99. But those who need a bit more power can pay a bit more for up to an Intel Core i7-8500Y chipset. Thats accompanied by up to 8GB RAM and 128GB expandable storage.

All of that makes the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 a good fit for those who type a lot and need performance to back that up.

Buy ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

Performance and reliable features on a budget

Lenovo YOGA Chromebook C630

Price: From $499

Where to buy: Amazon

Lenovos YOGA-branded Chromebook C630 brings more to the table than meets the eye. This Chromebook has a design thats more akin to a standard laptop but is available with up to a 4K touch panel in a 2-in-one format for those who need it. But brings a 1080p panel for those who dont.

Similarly, the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630 delivers either an Intel Core i5-8250U or Core i3-8130U processor. Thats backed by 8GB RAM and 128GB storage while the more expensive variants deliver a backlit keyboard. A 10-hour rated battery is packed under the standard backlit keyboard too.

The lack of a built-in stylus and standard 720p HD webcam dont really hinder matters for this all aluminum 15.6-inch device either.

What sets this device apart is its pricing. The included ports and plugs are fairly standard for this Chromebook. Connectivity options are a bit more conservative, with dual-band connectivity provided via Intels Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 card. Bluetooth 4.2 provides for more localized connections. The internal components are better-than-respectible.

In summary, Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630 offers little by way of standing apart and above its counterparts on this list. But Lenovo offers premium Chromebook with a starting price of $499 and that makes it an easy option for those who are fans of the brand or who just need a Chromebook with plenty of power and performance to get some work done.

Buy Lenovo YOGA Chromebook C630

Where battery life matters as much as performance

HP Chromebook x360 14

Price: From $599

Where to buy: HP

The HP Chromebook x360 14 is an anomaly among its Chrome OS counterparts in that it offers top performance with a battery that breaches the 12-hour mark. More directly, HP claims the battery in this Chromebook will last users a whopping 13.5-hours on a single charge. Thats going to make it one of the best and an obvious choice among Chromebooks for those who are working from home, particularly where battery life is the primary concern.

Also setting this Chromebook aside is the fact that it features an HP Wide Vision HD Camera with integrated dual array digital microphones. Thats coupled with powerful stereo Bang & Olufsen speakers for a better video call and conferencing experience than many other Chromebooks can offer.

All of thats packed into a comparatively lightweight 2-in-1 convertible design with a comfortable 1,920 x 1,080 resolution touchscreen. Its UHD-capable graphics chip allows even higher resolutions when ported out via USB Type-C.

Starting out at just $599 though, another big selling point is going to be that this Chromebook features an Intel Core i3-8130 chipset. Thats bootable up to a massive 4GHz clock and backed by 8GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB storage.

That all means that buyers can get consistent performance with some of the top Chromebooks around with better battery life to get through the workday without recharging.

Buy HP Chromebook x360 14

Best Chromebook for portability

Google Pixel Slate

Price: From $499

Where to buy: Google

For the best working Chromebook in terms of portability  allowing users to move about their home as they work  buyers need to look no further than the Google Pixel Slate. Ranging in cost from $499 to just short of $900, the Pixel Slate from Google is a tablet that ships with an optional keyboard.

That places its functionality primarily around touch interactions but doesnt detract from it being a great work machine. At any of the price-points in question, this Chromebook is going to be a great option for anybody who needs a higher-resolution display in a 12.3-inch format.

Google packed its Pixel Slate with a molecular 3,000 x 2,000 resolution panel in an all-metal frame. It accented that with an 8-megapixel camera on front and back for more productive conferencing. And the company also currently ships its Slate with a free $99 Pixel Pen stylus to boost productivity further. Theres a fingerprint scanner packed into the power button for security, alongside Googles dedicated security chipset.

On the performance front, for a relatively low cost of $899, Pixel Slate ships with up to an 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 with up to 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. At the lower end, the company offers an Intel Core m3 processor with 8GB memory and 64GB storage.

This device is, in effect, a Google Pixelbook Go with a decidedly more portable design. That makes it a worthy entry for anybody who needs a new work-from-home device  although the keyboard does cost an additional $199. Well-reviewed accessory company Brydge offers an alternative keyboard for just $79.99 as well.

Buy Google Pixel Slate

Best Chromebook with ruggedization and a number pad

Acer Chromebook 715

Price: From $499

Where to buy: Amazon

For a device thats more sleek and minimal, in a lay-flat design without the extra pomp but plenty of power and functionality, Acers Chromebook 715 will easily be one of the best Chromebooks for working from home. Not only is this 15.6-inch IPS Full HD Chromebook offered with a respectable 1920 x 1080 LCD ComfyView panel. The company also packed everything into a MIL-STD-810G rated metal frame. Acer tacks on optional backlighting and a fingerprint scanner at a slightly higher cost.

Acer also packs that keyboard with a full-size number pad. That already makes this one of the best Chromebooks around for those who need to input numbers quickly as part of their everyday working tasks. But Acer went a step further to ensure that users would have a wide selection in terms of internal processing power too.

At the base end of the spectrum, the Acer Chromebook 715 offers an Intel Pentium 4417U processor with 8GB RAM and 32GB storage. At the upper end, Acer offers options with an Intel Core i5-8350U backed by 8GB memory and 64GB storage. Conversely, an Intel Core i5-8250U variant is also available among the six configurations. Thats coupled with 16GB RAM.

Both USB-C and standard USB ports are crammed into the slim frame, providing buyers with a range of options for accessories too. Thats accompanied by a 74-degree wide field of view HD webcam

A 12-hour rated battery and optional 10-point touch display round out the offerings as well. And all of that, taken in conjunction with a low starting cost, makes for a near-perfect minimal Chromebook that can get the work done without sacrificing much by way of features.

Buy Acer Chromebook 715

Best Chromebook for the basics on a budget

Samsung Chromebook 4+

Price: $299

Where to buy: Best Buy

The Samsung Chromebook 4+ stands apart from other Chromebooks for working from home not because it comes with the best specs available. It doesnt. Instead, it stands apart as a capable machine that offers a long battery life, reasonable internals, and a big screen. More directly, it offers that at an affordable price point.

Starting at just $299, the Chromebook 4+ delivers 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and up to 32GB of storage. Thats in combination with an Intel Celeron Processor N4000 and a 15.6-inch Full HD LED (1920 x 1080), anti-glare display. So this Chromebook is going to be great for those who need a larger screen but who dont need all the extra processing power of other entries here.

For just $50 more, Samsung bumps that to 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, if the entry-level offering isnt quite enough.

On the connectivity front, Samsung includes 802.11 ac MU-MIMO 22 and Bluetooth 4.0. Ports arent a let-down either. Samsung packs one USB 3.0 port, two USB-C ports with 4k display out, and a MicroSD card reader. Thats alongside a 3.5mm audio combo jack.

Samsung built all of that into a durable, spill-resistant design. But it also included a 720p webcam for video conferencing and calls as well as a 10.5-hour-rated battery.

That all coalesces into something that allows basic working tasks to be performed without a lot of money invested. The Samsung Chromebook 4+ wont perform every work-related objective due to its budget-friendly chipset. But its going to be a solid option for those who dont need super-powerful hardware, to begin with.

Buy Samsung Chromebook 4+

Best small form-factor Chromebook for working on a budget

Lenovo Chromebook C340-11

Price: $279

Where to buy: Best Buy

Where Samsungs Chromebook 4+ falls short, Lenovos Chromebook C340-11 picks up the slack with some trade-offs. So its going to be one of the best Chromebooks around when it comes to working from home on a budget. Thats not just because it packs almost identical internals with regard to the processor, combined with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, at just $279. Its also among the most practical portables on the market.

Lenovo built the Chromebook C340-11 in an 11-inch, 2-in-1 convertible form factor. The resolution is a bit lower at just 1366 x 768 pixels. But this is an IPS touchscreen that can be used as a laptop or tablet, in addition to tent and stand modes for easier conferencing via the 720p HD webcam.

Lenovo delivers connections via an Intel 9560 802.11AC MU-MIMO 22 chip just like the above-mentioned competitor but thats coupled with Bluetooth 4.2. A 10-hour-rated battery is part of the package too.

The foldable frame houses no fewer than two USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports as well as two standard USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports. A MicroSD card reader, headphone jack, and Kensington lock slot are part of the build as well. Lenovo packed all of that into a lightweight body designed to be ergonomically friendly.

Buy Lenovo Chromebook C340-11
[April 30, 2020] Radian Technology Services Receives Morningstar Top Residential Vendor Ranking

Radian (News - Alert) Group Inc. (NYSE: RDN) today announced that Morningstar, Inc. has affirmed the MOR RV1 residential vendor ranking for the Radian subsidiary Radian Technology Services LLC, a real estate technology solutions provider. The MOR RV1 ranking is the strongest possible ranking in the residential vendor category, and Radian Technology Services has received it each of the last three times it has been assessed. Radian Technology Services, through its proprietary software-as-a-service technology known as Pyramid Platform, offers advanced technology solutions that help investors monitor loan portfolio performance and direct loss mitigation activities; acquire and track non-performing loans; and sell real estate owned through a secure platform. According to the Morningstar Operational Risk Assessment announcement published on April 27, 2020: The affirmed rankings reflect DBRS Morningstar's assessment of Radian Technology Service's infrastructure and client-driven performance results. The Stable forecast for the ranking is indicative of the company's solid vendor performace, which derives from an experienced management team, excellent proprietary technology, solid enterprisewide risk controls, and attention to client-driven performance results.



"We are delighted that our technology platform has once again received the best possible residential vendor ranking from Morningstar," said Tim Reilly, executive vice president, Asset Management Operations, Radian. "Pyramid Platform's strong position is thanks to Radian's deep commitment to its clients, devoted and experienced team, outstanding technology, and sound risk controls. We look forward to continuing to advance its further development and growth in the years to come." Pyramid's MOR RV1 ranking was last affirmed in 2018. To view the full bulletin, please visit Morningstar. For more information on Pyramid Platform, visit here.

About Radian Radian is ensuring the American dream of homeownership responsibly and sustainably through products and services that include industry-leading mortgage insurance and a comprehensive suite of mortgage, risk, real estate, and title services. We are powered by technology, informed by data and driven to deliver new and better ways to transact and manage risk. Learn more about Radian's financial strength and flexibility at www.radian.biz and visit www.radian.com to see how Radian is shaping the future of mortgage and real estate services. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005121/en/

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Ganga Saptami Madhyahna Muhurat is between 10.57 am and 1.36 pm on 30 April.

Ganga Saptami is a Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Ganga. This year Ganga Saptami is being celebrated on Thursday, 30 April.

According to the Hindu calendar, Ganga Saptami falls on the seventh day during Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakh, which is April or May in the Gregorian calendar.

Ganga Saptami 2020: date and time

Saptami tithi began on 29 April at 3.12 pm and will end on 30 April 30 at 2.39 pm. Ganga Saptami Madhyahna Muhurat is between 10.57 am and 1.36 pm on 30 April.

Ganga Saptami legend

There are many legends associated with this festival. According to one of them, King Bhagirath, who was the ruler of Kosala kingdom, sought help from the gods to get rid of his past karma. Lord Brahma assured him that Goddess Ganga will be born on Earth to help him. However, it was feared that the surge of Ganga would destroy Earth. So, Brahma suggested that the king request Lord Shiva to release the river from his hair to control the flow. Impressed by Bhagiraths devotion, Shiva agreed to do so.

How Ganga Saptami is celebrated

Devotees offer prayers and take a holy dip in the River Ganga and perform Ganga aarti on this day. Ganga Saptami is celebrated with fervour, especially at places like Rishikesh, Prayag, Haridwar and Varanasi. However, this year, large scale celebrations would not take place due to the coronavirus lockdown.

It is believed that taking a dip in the river Ganga relieves people of all their sins and ensures fame, happiness and salvation.
Officials in several states that are partially lifting coronavirus lockdown orders are issuing a stark warning to workers, saying that if they refuse to return to their jobs they could lose unemployment benefits.

Iowa, Oklahoma and Tennessee and other states have warned that if people turn down job offers because their unemployment benefits are higher than potential wages, they will see those benefits cut off.

While willingness to work has always been a requirement for receiving unemployment benefits, the current situation is unprecedented, with many workers fearing to return to the workplace in the pandemic.

As well, a federal grant boosting unemployment benefits by $600 a week nationwide for those displaced by lockdowns means that those benefits now exceed average wages in at least 35 states.

Since the pandemic began, more than 30 million people across the country have filed for unemployment benefits -- and as states reopen, many of them will face the prospect of giving up a government check that is bigger than their paycheck if they take their old jobs back.

In Oklahoma, personal care shops such as barbers have reopened by appointment only. Officials there and in many other states warned furloughed workers that refusing to take their old jobs back would disqualify them from unemployment insurance

The percentage of a worker's pay that is replaced by unemployment benefits is called the replacement rate. That rate was about 25 to 45%, but has increased to well over 100% in many states. https://t.co/ujGWLdDp6t pic.twitter.com/AS1kUiJ59P  The New York Times (@nytimes) April 23, 2020

Decisions on how to administer unemployment benefits are administered by the individual states -- and officials in many that are reopening say that they are hearing reports of workers who refused to take their old jobs back at the same wage.

Maine, New Mexico and Idaho have the largest gap between wages and benefits, with the federally-subsidized unemployment benefits exceeding average wages by nearly 130 percent, according to a New York Times analysis.

Those states remain on lockdown -- but in Iowa, the fourth state on the list, restrictions on restaurants, gyms and retailers will begin lifting on Friday for less densely populated counties.

Iowans who qualify for the federal benefit receive, on average, more than 120 percent of their normal salaries while drawing unemployment.

Last week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, warned at a press conference that workers who are offered their job back after a layoff or furlough must return to work, or face their benefits being cut.

'To get the economy going, in order for us to have a good recovery, we need employees to return to work when there's an opportunity for them to do that,' Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said in a Des Moines Register interview last week.

Failing to return to work out of fear of catching the virus would be considered a voluntary resignation, which disqualifies workers from receiving unemployment benefits, officials said.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, warned at a press conference that workers who are offered their job back after furlough must return to work, or face their benefits being cut

The warning was echoed by officials in Oklahoma, Alabama and Tennessee.

In Oklahoma, restaurants, gyms and churches will reopen on Friday, under sanitation and social distancing guidelines.

Federally-boosted unemployment benefits are about 115 percent higher than average wages in Oklahoma.

'Obviously, if somebody turns down employment, then what will happen is, if the company chooses to call OESC (the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission) and let them know, then that individual's unemployment benefits will stop,' Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development Sean Kouplen said in remarks reported by The Frontier, a Tulsa newspaper.

'The individual has a right to appeal that based on, for example, a health concern,' he added.

'We are seeing some businesses around the state who are offering individuals their jobs back at the same pay they had before, and the individuals are turning them down because maybe they're making the same or more with this elevated unemployment payment that we're seeing,' Kouplen said.

'I don't blame the employees for doing that, and we're glad they're getting good unemployment, but the problem is we cannot relaunch the economy without workers,' he said.

A waitress wearing rubber gloves and a mask is seen taking orders for patrons at Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant on April 27 in Franklin, Tennessee. Tennessee is one of the first states to reopen restaurants after the onset of the coronavirus

In Alabama, restrictions will begin to ease at 5pm on Thursday. All retail stores can reopen subject to a 50 percent occupancy rate limit, and elective medical procedures can resume.

The Alabama Department of Labor preemptively warned unemployment claimants that if their employer calls them back they must accept work.

'It's important for workers to know that if their employer reopens or otherwise calls them back to work, they must do so, unless they have a good work-related cause,' said Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington in a statement.

'Attempts to collect unemployment benefits after quitting without a good work-related cause can be considered fraud,' he added.

Tennessee's restrictions begin to ease next week, with restaurants in more rural counties opening on Monday, and retailers following on Wednesday.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development said declining an offer to return to work could be considered a 'refusal to work' which could disqualify a person from receiving further unemployment assistance.
Northern Ireland's politicians were among those sending well-wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds on the birth of their son.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister and his partner said that both mother and baby were "doing very well" following the birth in a London hospital yesterday.

It is understood Mr Johnson was present throughout the birth. The spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds are thrilled to announce the birth of a healthy baby boy at a London hospital earlier this morning. Both mother and baby are doing very well.

"The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team."

First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted: "Wonderful news of the birth of a baby boy! Many congratulations to the PM @BorisJohnson and @carriesymonds. More sleepless nights ahead!"

UUP leader Steve Aiken also took to Twitter. He said: "Congratulations to Carrie & Boris and we wish them, and their son, all the best (and to pass on our wishes to all other newborns and parents as well)."

Secretary of State Brandon Lewis also tweeted his congratulations.

Mr Johnson (55) and Ms Symonds (32) announced in February that they were expecting a baby in "early summer", and said they had become engaged at the end of last year.

The news of the birth comes just weeks after the PM was discharged from intensive care where he had been battling coronavirus.

Ms Symonds also suffered symptoms of the disease. She returned to Downing Street after joining Mr Johnson as he convalesced at Chequers, but it is not yet known which hospital she gave birth in. Mr Johnson has previously suggested he intends to take paternity leave, although it is not known if this remains the case given the current crisis.

He did not appear at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons yesterday.

At the daily Downing Street press conference Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he had spoken to Mr Johnson and that the Prime Minister's fiancee and their newborn son were "doing really well".

Earlier Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the birth was "wonderful news" as he congratulated the couple on Twitter.

Acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "Many congratulations to the PM and Carrie Symonds on the birth of their son."

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said it was "great to hear Downing Street is getting a new resident".

And the PM's father, Stanley Johnson, told the PA news agency he was "absolutely delighted" and "thrilled" by the birth of his grandson.

Foreign leaders, including Australia's PM Scott Morrison and Japanese premier Shinzo Abe, also sent their wishes.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, tweeted: "Wishing them every blessing and happiness."

Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds made history as the first unmarried couple to officially live together in Downing Street when they moved in last year. The new arrival is the third baby born to a serving prime minister in recent history.

Tony Blair's wife Cherie gave birth to son Leo in May 2000, three years after her husband's first election victory, and David Cameron and wife Samantha welcomed daughter Florence in 2010.

The last babies born to PMs before Leo and Florence arrived more than 150 years ago.

The baby is Ms Symonds' first child, while Mr Johnson is known to have fathered five other children.
ALBANY  After a month in which the number of traffic citations and arrests plummeted across the state, troopers have been instructed to resume "routine traffic enforcement" on Friday.

"This pause was a necessary and precautionary step to ensure our members' health and safety," states a memorandum sent to troopers who patrol the state Thruway. "Now that there is additional information known about COVID-19 transmission, and the issuance of necessary PPEs (personal protective equipment) to our members has been ongoing, Division (headquarters) believes it is now reasonable to resume our traffic enforcement initiatives."

State Police vehicle and traffic citations dropped year-over-year from 85,106 in April 2019 to 10,212 this month. Crashes also declined from 4,928 a year ago to 2,232 this month, and arrests fell from 4,727 to 2,717. State Police make thousands of arrests annually during traffic stops.

The memorandum, which was obtained by the Times Union, noted that there has been "an increase of aggressive drivers" noted by troopers during the pandemic. It had been apparent for weeks that State Police, and many local law enforcement agencies, had eased their enforcement of vehicle and traffic violations and other minor offenses. That resulted in troopers and other police officers often stationing their patrol vehicles along roadways but not pulling over speeding vehicles.

A trooper interviewed by the Times Union said the softening of enforcement had also been a result of individual troopers  who have discretion on when to issue tickets or make arrests  declining to target doctors, nurses, first responders and other essential workers who may be driving to or from their jobs.

There have been many exceptions. On Tuesday afternoon, troopers ticketed a 34-year-old Spring Valley man they said was driving his Audi sedan at 142 mph on the Palisades Parkway in Rockland County.

In a statement late Thursday, the agency denied that the internal memo referred to "regular traffic enforcement."

"As Troop T personnel, this effectively is your advisement that you need to go out and do what we always have been expected to do before this started," stated a supervisor's email sent this week to Thruway troopers in southern New York, with the Division's memo attached. That missive added that "routine traffic enforcement and traffic enforcement initiatives shall 'unpause' starting May 1."

The agency, however, said the curtailed enforcement only involved "grant funded traffic initiatives that are conducted every month, which were suspended during the onset of the pandemic."

"Troopers have been out on the regular patrols and posts since the start of the pandemic, and the reduction in tickets is a direct result of the significant decrease in traffic following the closure of all non-essential businesses," the statement reads.

The pause in traffic enforcement had been done, in part, to protect troopers from being infected with the coronavirus, according to the internal memo shared with the Times Union. Many troopers have been receiving PPE from their union, the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, and are being instructed to continue wearing masks or face coverings when interacting with the public, including during traffic stops.

More than 90 troopers have tested positive for COVID-19, and roughly two-thirds have returned to duty after recovering.

"Thats good news, and it appears as though the protocols urged by the NYSTPBA and implemented by Division have worked," PBA President Tom Mungeer wrote in a union newsletter last week. "It also appears as though our members are taking precautionary steps seriously and protecting themselves and their families."

Mungeer also notified his members that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who this week said that first responders  including police  will be widely tested for antibodies of COVID-19, has assured the union that troopers will receive those tests first.

During a phone call with Cuomos office, "I was notified of his plan to test first responders for the COVID-19 antibody starting with every sworn member of the New York State Police," Mungeer wrote in a newsletter sent to his members on Tuesday. "These tests are voluntary and will involve having a small amount of blood drawn. Results will be provided to the individual member, not the Division, and will be available within a week of being tested."

Figures provided to the Times Union by State Police on Wednesday indicated that calls for service this month compared with April 2019 had increased by nearly 1,000 to 48,523. Those calls included nearly 200 trips in which state troopers had delivered coronavirus samples to laboratories.

Many law enforcement agencies have also reported an increase in domestic violence calls during the pandemic.
Boarding a plane could take up to four hours when passengers are allowed to fly again once the coronavirus lockdown eases, it was claimed today.

Flyers could be asked to arrive at airports four hours in advance to allow for health checks and social distancing measures, one expert warns.

Flights will be more expensive because airlines will only be allowed to have a limited number of people on board to ensure they stay two metres apart.

This will push up ticket prices and make for an 'uncomfortable' flying experience for as long as another five years, another travel expert told The Times.

Boarding a plane could take up to four hours when passengers are allowed to fly again once the coronavirus lockdown easest, according to some experts. Pictured: A man boards a plane at an empty Barcelona airport yesterday

Andrew Charlton, managing director of the consultancy Aviation Advocacy, told the newspaper: 'Even if it starts raining vaccines tonight, we are still looking at two years at least to get back to levels seen before the outbreak, and it is probably going to be more like five years.

'There will be fewer flights, fewer seats available, prices will go up and there will be very uncomfortable conditions because of the demands to wear personal protective equipment and maintain social distancing.'

Earlier this month, easyJet announced it plans to keep middle seats empty on its planes when it restarts flights.

But Airline analyst Chris Tarry claims maintaining a two-metre gap between passengers would mean 80 per cent of seats would have to be empty.

To make sure airlines are still profitable, they will have to hike up ticket prices exponentially, he told The Times.

It would also mean that scarcely-used routes would be abolished too.

Air travel has plummeted worldwide to stop the spread of coronavirus from country to country, with airports almost left empty except for a small number of repatriation flights.

Flights will be more expensive because airlines will only be allowed to have a limited number of people on board to ensure they stay two metres apart. File image used

British Airways revealed it has plans to make 12,000 workers - a quarter of its entire workforce - redundant after being hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Wizz Air will become the first commercial airline to start operating again in the UK tomorrow, but says all passengers must wear facemasks.

It will operate 15 routes out of Luton Airport to a range of destinations including Budapest, Lisbon and Tenerife.

Wizz Air will become the first commercial airline to start operating again in the UK tomorrow, but says all passengers must wear facemasks. File image used

Lufthansa is starting up again on Monday, but has told all passengers to wear a facemask or scarf that covers their mouth and nose.

The Government has made it clear that foreign travel will be off the cards for most people in 2020.

Those hoping to still jet off on their summer holidays will be disappointed, with many European destinations such as Italy, Spain and France brutally hit by the virus.

Ministers have told Britons not to swap their getaways with staycations either, warning that beauty spots such as Cornwall and Snowdonia do not have the NHS infrastructure to cope if visitors fall ill.

On cruise ships, passengers will also face stringent medical checks.

The UK's biggest cruise liner P&O is developing plans to introduce a series of 'rigorous measures' to ensure it obeys international health guidelines when it restarts operations once the coronavirus pandemic recedes.

Other changes being considered include reducing the capacity of ships, scrapping self-service buffets and implementing one-way systems on board.
President Donald Trump meets with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on April 28, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump Says Sweden Paying Heavily For Not Imposing Lockdown

President Donald Trump said Sweden is paying heavily for not locking down the country, as much of the rest of the world has, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump, in a critical tweet Thursday, cited the difference in death counts between lockdown-resistant Sweden and its neighbors, which have imposed stiff curbs on citizens in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Despite reports to the contrary, Sweden is paying heavily for its decision not to lockdown. As of today, 2462 people have died there, a much higher number than the neighboring countries of Norway (207), Finland (206) or Denmark (443), the president wrote, adding, The United States made the correct decision!

As the virus spread, Denmark and Norway were quick to close borders and shut schools, while Finland moved to restrict urban centers and closed most of its schools.

Sweden, by contrast, focused on isolating and treating the sick rather than closing down swathes of society.

Unlike most European countries, Sweden has allowed most schools and businesses to remain open even as its mortality rate in the pandemic has run higher than those of its Nordic neighbors.

The disparity with its neighbors has prompted fierce criticism from some, including Swedish scientists and foreign leaders as countries scrutinize Swedens approach as they seek to open shuttered societies and suffering economies.

Still, while on the face of it little has shut down in Sweden, most people have voluntarily heeded calls to social distance, with a survey cited by BBC indicating that 9 out of 10 Swedes saying they keep at least 3 feet away from other people at least some of the time. This is an increase from 7 out of 10 a month earlier.

Also, gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned, high schools and universities have moved to teach online and people have been told not to take unnecessary trips, all low-key measures compared to other European countries and the United States.

It is important to have a policy that can be sustained over a longer period, meaning staying home if you are sick, which is our message, said Swedens Health Agency Chief Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell.

Locking people up at home wont work in the longer term, he said. Sooner or later people are going to go out anyway.

In major parts of Sweden, around Stockholm, we have reached a plateau (in new cases) and were already seeing the effect of herd immunity and in a few weeks time well see even more of the effects of that. And in the rest of the country, the situation is stable, Tegnell told CNBC last week.

Tegnell blamed a recent spike in COVID-19 deaths on the spread of the virus in nursing homes.

Unfortunately the mortality rate is high due to the introduction (of the virus) in elderly care homes and we are investigating the cause of that, he told CNBC.

But as deaths in the Scandinavian country have increased, its strategy has come under fire. Trumps tweet echoed the thrust of an open letter issued by 2,300 academics last month, calling for Swedish authorities to reconsider their lax policies.

We dont have a choice, we have to close Stockholm right now, said Cecilia Soderberg-Naucler, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis at the Karolinska Institute, and one of the signatories of the letter.

We must establish control over the situation, we cannot head into a situation where we get complete chaos. No one has tried this route, so why should we test it first in Sweden, without informed consent? Soderberg-Naucler added.

Swedens total COVID-19 infection case count stands at 21,092 as of April 30, according to Worldometers data, while Norways is 7,738, Finlands is 4,995, and Denmarks is 9,158. In terms of the number of infections per one million of population, Swedens count is at 2,088 as of April 30, while Norways is 1,427, Finlands is 902, and Denmarks is 1,581.

By comparison, the United States total COVID-19 infection case count is 1,068,562, while per one million of population, it is 3,228.

Even though Swedens approach has prompted skepticism, around three-quarters of Swedes have expressed high or very high confidence in the Public Health Agency, a survey from Novus showed this month.

I believe in our strategy and I believe that the authorities cant make us stay at home, said tattoo artist Zashay Rissanen Tastas, who inked Tegnells face onto the arm of a customer as a tribute to the popular epidemiologist.

If we keep our distance its probably going to be fine, Tastas added.

Trump, too, acknowledged that calls for voluntary distancing in Sweden appeared to be having an effect.

The people in Sweden, theyre not running around and shaking hands and hugging and kissing each other, Trump said at a meeting with business leaders at the White House on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister doesnt have to say in Sweden, stay in your house,' Trump said.

The people stay there automatically, he added.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA is seen at the company's headquarters in Sao Jose dos Campos

By Marcelo Rochabrun

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Boeing Co's recently aborted $4.2 billion (3.3 billion pounds) agreement to buy the commercial jet-making operations of Brazil's Embraer specifically forbade either party from calling it off because of a pandemic or a global economic recession, Reuters has found.

As the aviation industry grapples with its worst crisis in generations due to the coronavirus pandemic, analysts now say the deal's contract backed Boeing into a corner when financial conditions worsened globally, pushing it to find a different exit route on the deal. Boeing says it backed out because Embraer failed to meet unnamed conditions.

Potential dealbreakers are often described in contracts as material adverse events. But Boeing and Embraer wrote out a laundry list in the contract signed in January 2019, which Reuters reviewed, of 10 conditions that would not qualify as the kind of material adverse events that could be a pretext for cancelling the deal. A pandemic and any changes to the global economy were among them.

On Wednesday, S&P lowered Boeing's credit rating to just one notch above junk. Meanwhile, the U.S. planemaker announced it would lay off 16,000 people - close to the total number of workers Embraer employs - and that it had already drawn down its entire credit line and was working on a bond offering.

"We will be a smaller company for a while," Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun said on Wednesday after the planemaker disclosed quarterly results.

However, just days earlier, when Boeing called off its deal with Embraer, the U.S. planemaker did not mention adverse conditions within the company or the economy. Instead, it said its ex partner "failed to satisfy a number of important conditions in the contract."

Boeing has not publicly disclosed what those conditions were, but sources told Reuters over the weekend that the U.S. planemaker raised objections about funding and legal matters.

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Embraer says it did indeed meet all conditions and has taken Boeing to arbitration.

Either way, the contract says Boeing could have waived any unmet conditions on the part of Embraer, but the U.S. planemaker decided not to do so and canceled the deal instead.

Both Embraer and Boeing declined to comment on the contract.

"Boeing couldn't afford this deal and they found a way to get out of their obligations," said Scott Hamilton, a longtime aviation consultant at Leeham Company. "They just had to find a way to axe the deal and retain those $4 billion."

Under the contract signed in January 2019, Boeing would have taken over Embraer's commercial aviation unit, paying $4.21 billion for an 80% stake. At the time, demand for jets was soaring with no end in sight and Embraer was feeling the pinch of fighting against titans Boeing and Airbus as an independent planemaker.

The coronavirus crisis worsened in March and Boeing started openly discussing some form of U.S. government assistance, as it was also getting nearer to closing the Embraer deal. Several countries had granted antitrust approvals and Embraer had finished carving out its commercial aviation unit as well as built new headquarters for after Boeing's takeover.

Besides "epidemics or pandemics," and changes in the world's economy, wars and natural disasters were also barred as reasons to cancel the deal.

Embraer's market value fell by over two-thirds to $1 billion during the crisis, leading analysts to begin worrying that the deal would fall apart or at least be renegotiated.

"On an ordinary basis, Boeing would have repriced the deal," Hamilton said.

But the contract banned Boeing from walking away due to "any change in the market price" of Embraer shares. Other conditions that would not allow Boeing to walk away included if Embraer's credit ratings were downgraded or if it failed to meet its own revenue or earnings forecasts.

It is unclear who requested that the contract be this restrictive.

(Reporting by Marcelo Rochabrun in Sao Paulo; Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris, Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Christian Plumb and Andrea Ricci)
The main aim of stock picking is to find the market-beating stocks. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS), since the last five years saw the share price fall 40%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 13% in the last 90 days. But this could be related to the weak market, which is down 9.3% in the same period.

Check out our latest analysis for JinkoSolar Holding

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. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During the five years over which the share price declined, JinkoSolar Holding's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 1.3% each year. This reduction in EPS is less than the 9.6% annual reduction in the share price. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 5.41.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

NYSE:JKS Past and Future Earnings April 30th 2020

We know that JinkoSolar Holding has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts.

A Different Perspective

JinkoSolar Holding shareholders are down 17% for the year, but the market itself is up 1.4%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 9.6% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand JinkoSolar Holding better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with JinkoSolar Holding (at least 2 which are a bit concerning) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Story continues

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US 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.
Even during these lockdowns, [these businesses]  like grocery stores  are allowed to stay open and operate, and the reason behind that is compassion [since] a lot of people are using cannabis as an alternative to opiates for pain mitigation, said Norman Ives, broker and cannabis practice leader at NutraRisk, a division of Worldwide Facilities. Just like any other pharmaceutical you would take for your health benefits, people need access to their cannabis if theyre using that to manage their pain.

Nonetheless, there are also risks that businesses open during this time have encountered as they continue to deal with the public in the midst of a viral outbreak.

Read more: Risks facing cannabis industry compounded by prejudice, lack of data

Much as a grocery store worker would, youre dealing with John Q. Public coming through your location, said Ives, who has seen a number of dispensaries post online about putting up sneeze guards and other barriers between the customers and the areas behind the counters to create an extra degree of separation and protect their employees.

Meanwhile, staff in this industry might be taking on new or increased responsibilities that they may not have had before, such as curbside delivery. In Washington, DC, for example, the mayor signed an emergency rule allowing dispensaries to provide deliveries and curbside pickups until August 12. That means customers can place orders online, pull into a designated parking spot, and have an employee deliver goods to the car with minimal contact.

There are some workarounds that are trying to mitigate the risks wherever possible, but obviously there would be some increased risks to those dealing with the public, added Ives.

More broadly, the key insurance-related question cannabis businesses are posing to brokers at this time has been on business income coverage, which is (as of yet) not available for COVID-19 related losses. Moreover, cannabis businesses are already limited in terms of whats available coverage-wise for BI and this is not likely to improve in the near-term thanks to the pandemic.

All the forms that Im familiar with from the various property carriers offering business interruption coverage require a qualifying loss to the building first, said Ives. A number of carriers are actually stopping issuing business income right now on new placements until we get on the other side of COVID-19 because there has been talk among some of the legislators about trying to require insurance companies to pay out BI losses even if they dont qualify. Carriers are a little spooked right now in issuing that coverage and its probably the largest exposure a business would have in the current environment.

Read more: Getting the right coverage a challenge for cannabis clients

However, the approach of many states to cannabis businesses during the pandemic bodes well for the future of the industry. Ives sees the handling of cannabis during this crisis as a positive sign of the progress made over the past five years.

From just two states that had legalized recreational use of cannabis five years ago, now youre seeing cannabis is being deemed an essential business, said Ives, calling this significant movement. I think that the pandemic is more proof that were heading towards a path [of] legalization in one way, shape, or form.
A plane chartered by Equatorial Guinea arrived on April 29 in the afternoon to bring back 1.5 tons of Covid-Organics. A decoction based on Artemisia, a plant used in particular in anti-malarial drugs.

The remedy produced in Madagascar, is supposed to have preventive and curative effects on Covid-19 according to the Malagasy presidency. For the past two weeks, the Head of State, Andry Rajoelina has been holding talks with his counterparts from African countries.

Though there are no data to prove the effectiveness of Covid-Organics in treating coronavirus patients since clinical studies are still ongoing, Equatorial Guinea has received a donation of just over 10,000 doses of this remedy. According to the Malagasy presidency, several countries on the continent have expressed interest in this decoction.

A plane from Guinea-Bissau is due to land today on the Big Island. During his meeting with Andry Rajoelina, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the head of state of Guinea-Bissau, said that he could pick up the packages in Madagascar and distribute them to the members of ECOWAS, that is to say 15 countries. This has already been agreed with Senegal and Togo in particular, said Lova Hasinirina Ranoromaro, Director of Cabinet of the Malagasy presidency.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 16:50:15|Editor: huaxia

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Mustapha shows the anti-epidemic video he made in Changchun University of Chinese Medicine in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 30, 2020. Mustapha Abdul Raheem has experienced two epidemics in the past six years: one was the Ebola in West Africa in 2014, during which he witnessed sufferings and aspired to study medicine; the other was the COVID-19. This time as a medical student in China, he was better prepared, both professionally and mentally. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

CHANGCHUN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Mustapha Abdul Raheem has experienced two epidemics in the past six years: one was the Ebola in West Africa in 2014, during which he witnessed sufferings and aspired to study medicine; the other was the COVID-19. This time as a medical student in China, he was better prepared, both professionally and mentally.

The 22-year-old Nigerian has a Chinese name -- Shengli, which means victory. His original plan for the winter break was to finish his hospital internship and do some traveling. But the outbreak put a temporary pause to all that.

After taking online lessons on Wednesday afternoon, he helped his teacher to put up posters of the seven-step hand-washing method. As a class monitor of the Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, he has done a lot to fight the coronavirus.

The university has taken timely measures, including taking temperatures for everyone, disinfecting the buildings, and distributing masks. To minimize infection risks, Mustapha volunteered to note down his classmates' needs for necessities, make the purchases and deliver them to their doorsteps.

He also served as an amateur psychological counselor if any of his classmates became anxious.

He paid close attention to the epidemic situation every day. "I'm more interested in the number of cured cases, which brings hope," he said.

Quarantined in his dormitory, he encouraged his classmates to watch movies, read and pick up cooking.

In the meantime, he and his classmates have shot some short videos to be circulated on social media platforms. In those videos, he showed viewers how to protect themselves during the epidemic.

"Shengli has made some solid contributions. The students here are very impressed with his deeds," said Yan Qi, a teacher at the school of international education.

Shengli also shared the videos with his friends and family in Nigeria and introduced China's effective measures in epidemic prevention and control.

"I discussed it with my parents, and they both agreed that China's measures have set quite an example. We have become ever more confident since we knew that China was helping Africa to fight the epidemic," he said.

"Just as my Chinese name tells, together we will get a victory eventually," Shengli said.

The university and its affiliated hospital have sent over 60 medics in two batches to aid the coronavirus fight in Wuhan, some of whom he knew about and respected.

Though desperately wanting to become a doctor and fight the virus on the frontline, he said the special quarantine period taught him something of equal importance -- to be a doctor of noble character.
Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll show how you can use MGM China Holdings Limited's (HKG:2282) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. MGM China Holdings has a P/E ratio of 19.09, based on the last twelve months. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying HK$19.09 for every HK$1 in prior year profit.

Check out our latest analysis for MGM China Holdings

How Do I Calculate MGM China Holdings's Price To Earnings Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for MGM China Holdings:

P/E of 19.09 = HK$9.700  HK$0.508 (Based on the year to December 2019.)

(Note: the above calculation results may not be precise due to rounding.)

Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?

The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That isn't necessarily good or bad, but a high P/E implies relatively high expectations of what a company can achieve in the future.

Does MGM China Holdings Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (15.5) for companies in the hospitality industry is lower than MGM China Holdings's P/E.

SEHK:2282 Price Estimation Relative to Market April 29th 2020

That means that the market expects MGM China Holdings will outperform other companies in its industry. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So further research is always essential. I often monitor director buying and selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

When earnings fall, the 'E' decreases, over time. That means even if the current P/E is low, it will increase over time if the share price stays flat. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings.

MGM China Holdings's earnings made like a rocket, taking off 81% last year. Regrettably, the longer term performance is poor, with EPS down 19% per year over 5 years.

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A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank

It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings.

Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context.

MGM China Holdings's Balance Sheet

MGM China Holdings's net debt equates to 37% of its market capitalization. You'd want to be aware of this fact, but it doesn't bother us.

The Bottom Line On MGM China Holdings's P/E Ratio

MGM China Holdings's P/E is 19.1 which is above average (9.4) in its market. Its debt levels do not imperil its balance sheet and its EPS growth is very healthy indeed. So on this analysis a high P/E ratio seems reasonable.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

You might be able to find a better buy than MGM China Holdings. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Washington, April 29: The US Department of Homeland Security revealed to AFP on Tuesday new technical details regarding its highly anticipated study into how ultraviolet radiation destroys the new coronavirus, saying that its experiment had accurately mimicked natural sunlight.

A summary of the research was presented last week at the White House, with some scientists calling for caution until a more comprehensive report was made public. Donald Trump Predicts 'Great' Economic Rebound As US Tops 1 Million COVID-19 Cases.

US President Donald Trump raised eyebrows last week when he used his daily live national press briefing to ask whether light could become a medical treatment.

"Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous -- whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light," he said. "Supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way." Trump continued on to suggest that people inject disinfectants to cure the virus, an idea that health experts quickly shot down.

DHS official William Bryan had briefed the media that the amount of virus on a non-porous surface shrunk by half in just two minutes when sunlight was present, the temperature was 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 Celsius) and humidity was 80 percent. Coronavirus Cases in United States Tops 1 Million, Death Toll Surpasses 57,000.

The amount of virus suspended in air shrunk to half its amount in just 1.5 minutes at room temperature and 20 percent humidity, he added. These eye-catching results surprised experts because most of the UV light contained in natural sunlight belongs to a subtype called UVA, which causes human skin to tan and age but has not generally been proven harmful to viruses, David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center, told AFP.

On the other hand, a part of the spectrum called UVC is particularly adept at warping the genetic material of animal and virus cells and is widely used in sterilizing lamps, but it is not present in sunlight because it is filtered out by the Earth's atmosphere.

Asked for further details on the type of UV light that was used, Lloyd Hough, a DHS scientist overseeing the test, said: "The spectrum of light that was used was designed to approximate natural sunlight that you would expect to see at noon at sea level at a mid-latitude location (e.g., mid-Atlantic, 40 degrees N) on the first day of summer.

"More specifically, it approximates the wavelengths of light predicted by the National Center for Atmospheric Research's (NCAR) Tropospheric Ultraviolet and Visible (TUV) Radiation Model for noon at 40 degrees N latitude at sea level on June 21st in range of 280 and 400 nanometer wavelengths."

The wavelengths specified pertain only to long- and medium-wave ultraviolet, also known as UVA and UVB -- the UV components of sunlight that penetrate the atmosphere -- and not UVC. Twitter Refuses to Remove Donald Trump Videos Suggesting Injecting Disinfectant And Use of Ultraviolet as COVID-19 Treatment.

Paper Coming Soon

A DHS spokesman added that the test -- which was conducted at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center in Maryland -- was carried out on droplets of simulated saliva on a stainless steel surface.

Brenner, who is himself performing research into another area of the UV spectrum called far-UVC, which kills microbes without penetrating human skin, said the DHS findings did not comport with previous research.

"There is a peer-reviewed paper in the literature from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) showing the earlier SARS-CoV virus did not respond to UVA light (though it did respond to UVC light)," he said, adding it is "reasonable to assume that all coronaviruses respond roughly the same way to light." The results as presented were "straining credulity," he added. Donald Trump Takes No Responsibility For People Injecting Disinfectants, Says 'I Can't Image Why' Calls to US Poison Control Centres Spiked.

But a DHS spokesman said that study would soon be submitted for peer review and published in scientific journals. "While the results are still undergoing a rigorous scientific review, we felt it important to share information on the emerging trends that are being identified in our tests," the spokesman said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 29, 2020 09:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
An Australian doctor has warned against licking the bowl when baking cakes because an unlikely ingredient could lead to a bout of serious food poisoning.

Dr Preeya Alexander, a GP from Melbourne, said while many assume the risk comes from raw eggs, it's actually the raw flour you should be worried about.

The GP - who publishes medical insights on her Instagram The Wholesome Doctor - warned parents to refrain from giving children raw cake batter after an E.coli outbreak was linked to a batch of flour.

Dr Preeya Alexander (pictured) has warned against licking raw cake mixture because of an unlikely ingredient that could lead to a bout of serious food poisoning

What causes food poisoning? Some foods cause food poisoning more than others and need to be cooked properly and/or kept in the refrigerator. These include chicken, meat, seafood, eggs, cooked rice, ham, salami, milk and all dairy foods. The symptoms may include: nausea

vomiting

stomach pains

diarrhoea

feeling weak

fever or chills/sweating

headache Washing your hands with soap and drying them on a paper towel or with a clean cloth is the best way to stop the spread of bad bacteria. People who suffer from salmonella related food poisoning are advised not to stay home until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours. Source: Department of Health Advertisement

'Often people think the risk comes from potentially consuming raw egg - and yes, this can be an issue. Raw egg consumption can be linked to salmonella which can cause significant abdominal pain and diarrhoea,' Dr Alexander said.

'The deal breaker many people don't realise is that raw flour can also harbour bacteria like E.coli.

'You have to remember that flour is made from grain grown in fields - animals can urinate or defecate on these plants causing it to become contaminated with E.coli.'

Dr Alexander said the cakes are perfectly fine to eat once they are baked because the heat and cooking process kills the E.coli bacteria in the flour.

'There have been E.coli outbreaks linked to flour before - hence the recommendation is to cook flour before you eat it,' she said.

'I know, I know - some of you are going to wonder why on earth I would try and murder this age old tradition. Please know I love cake and I love kids but licking cake bowls isn't allowed in our house because it can be risky stuff.

'Ideally, don't lick the cake bow. The last thing you want with your iso-creation is diarrhoea.'

The GP warned parents to refrain from giving children raw cake batter after an E.coli outbreak was linked to a batch of flour (stock image)

Sydney nutritionist Susie Burrell previously warned about the serious risks of eating raw cookie dough, explaining the uncooked flour carries an E.coli risk while the raw eggs may cause food poisoning.

'It's the main reason people can get sick,' she told breakfast show Sunrise in 2018.

'Cookie dough is quite popular because you can buy ice cream with cookie dough in it but it's good to be mindful, especially if you're dealing with a weak immune system, particularly small children.

'It's better to eat it when they're baked than have it as a raw cookie dough.'
Beijing's state newspaper has accused Washington of aggressively intervening in the South China Sea amid the coronavirus pandemic after the American Navy deployed three warships to the hotly contested waters.

The criticism comes two days after the Chinese military announced that it had 'expelled' a US navy vessel from the disputed region, believed to have valuable natural resources.

Political tensions between China and the US have heightened recently, with the two countries blasting each other's handling of COVID-19.

US Secretary of State Pompeo last week accused Beijing of taking advantage of the health crisis to pursue territorial ambitions.

The US Navy has deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (top centre) and two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Barry (top left) and the USS Bunker Hill (centre) to the region

China's People's Liberation Army said it 'expelled' the USS Barry (pictured in the South China Sea on April 28) after it had 'illegally entered' what Beijing calls the Xisha territorial waters

Control of the South China Sea is the most contentious and explosive diplomatic issue in East Asia.

China asserts sovereignty over maritime areas that span 3.5m square kilometres but are also claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Japan.

The South China Sea is thought to have significant oil and gas reserves and is a route for about $4.5trillion (3.4trillion) in trade.

The busy waterway is one of a growing number of flash-points in the US-China relation, which also include a trade war, American sanctions on China's military, Washington's ties with Taiwan and now the coronavirus crisis.

In its latest opinion piece, China's state-run tabloid the Global Times accused the Trump administration of 'pushing hegemony' over the region even in the face of a global health crisis.

China has established new administrative districts for the contested Paracel island chain

The column was penned by Chen Xiangmiao, an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

It said: 'Washington's decision-makers have clear and definite expectations over the South China Sea, which is to maintain US dominant position in setting the agenda and leading discourse that is aimed at securing its leadership in the region.

'Yet, even as the deadly coronavirus spreads around the world and international political and economic order is about to significantly adjust, Washington seems determined to intervene in the waters.'

The author went on to condemn the Trump administration for its 'pursuit of unilateralism in the global economy, security and governance'.

It also blasted Washington's recent criticism towards the World Health Organization and its assessment of the birthplace of the virus.

'The Trump administration has not offered timely help to the EU and other countries during their COVID-19 fight.

'Instead, Trump has vented his anger at the World Health Organization and constantly blamed China over the origin of the virus without solid proof.

'These moves have disappointed the international community.'

The USS Bunker Hill on Wednesday steamed near the Spratly Islands, another disputed archipelago in the South China Sea. Pictured, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk prepares to land on the flight deck of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill on April 7

The political tensions between Beijing and Washington over the South China sea come amid a rise in US-China dispute over the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 227,000

The US Navy has deployed amphibious assault ship USS America and two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Barry and the USS Bunker Hill, to the South China Sea.

On Tuesday, China's People's Liberation Army said it 'expelled' the USS Barry after it had 'illegally entered' what Beijing calls the Xisha territorial waters.

The Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands, are China's most militarised outpost in the region.

The United States rejects China's territorial claim to much of the South China Sea, including the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

China asserts sovereignty over maritime areas that span 3.5m square kilometres but are also claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Japan. In the file picture, Chinese President Xi reviews the Chinese Navy fleet in the South China Sea on April 12, 2018

The Chinese air and naval forces' tracked, monitored, verified, and identified the US ship throughout the journey, and warned and expelled it,' said Senior Colonel Li Huamin, the spokesperson of China's Southern Theatre Command.

'The provocative actions of the United States seriously violated relevant international law norms, seriously infringed on China's sovereignty and security interests, artificially increased regional security risks, and were prone to cause unexpected incidents,' Senior Colonel Li said.

The US action was 'also incompatible with the current joint efforts of the international community to fight against the COVID-19', the spokesperson said.

He urged the US to focus its energy on containing the coronavirus.

The USS Barry undertook the so-called 'freedom of navigation operation' on Tuesday, a week after Beijing upped its claims to the region by designating an official administrative district for the islands.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (pictured on April 29) has told his Southeast Asian counterparts that China is taking advantage of the world's preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to push its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea

The US sought to assert the 'rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law,' the Navy said in a statement.

'Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose an unprecedented threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight and the right of innocent passage of all ships,' it said.

The USS Bunker Hill on Wednesday also steamed near the Spratly Islands, another disputed archipelago in the South China Sea, according to US military news site Stars and Stripes.

The cluster of islets is known as the Nansha Islands in Chinese. Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also claim the islands.

The move came amid a rise in US-China tensions over the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 227,000 and infected over three million worldwide.

Washington has accused Beijing of hiding and downplaying the initial outbreak in December and January in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Beijing has accused Washington of shifting responsibilities and stigmatisation.

Last week, China announced that the Paracel and the nearby Spratly Islands, the Macclesfield Bank and their surrounding waters would be administered under two new districts of Sansha city, which China created on nearby Woody Island in 2012.

It also announced official Chinese names for 80 islands and other geographical features in the South China Sea, including reefs, seamounts, shoals and ridges, 55 of them submerged in water.
Woodford County State's Attorney Greg Minger said he would not enforce the stay-at-home order

A county prosecutor in Illinois has said he will not prosecute any violations of businesses or churches breaking the governor's lockdown orders to reopen because he thinks they are 'unconstitutional' and says that people ought to be able to make up their own minds about going out.

Greg Minger is the Woodford County States Attorney. The county has a population of around 38,000 and is on the outskirts of Peoria in central Illinois.

The county has recorded only 11 cases of coronavirus and one death. It pales in comparison to the rest of the state. In Chicago, there have been more than 31,000 cases and 1,300 deaths, for example.

There have been 50,355 cases and 2,215 deaths in Illinois.

There were 144 deaths on Tuesday, the highest daily number yet, which brings the state's death toll to 2,125.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has called the pandemic a 'perfect storm' for her city which is already battling disproportionately high crime rates and which has a larger population of low income, African American residents.

ILLINOIS PUNISHMENT FOR BREAKING LOCKDOWN ORDERS BUSINESSES 1) a warning 2) possibly a cease-and-desist order 3) business may have its license revoked or suspended 4) the business (or individual) could be charged with a misdemeanor offense INDIVIDUALS Gov. Pritzker says he is not encouraging individual arrests and that local law enforcement agencies should try to educate people instead Advertisement

There is overwhelming data to show that African American and Latino communities are being particularly terrorized by the virus.

There is also an issue with people not following the order.

Earlier this week, police broke up a party where dozens had gathered despite being told to stay at home.

Gov. JB Pritzker has extended the state's lockdown order until the end of May.

Like in other states, the individual consequences for violating it are not severe. Gov. Pritzker has said he is not encouraging arrests and that law enforcement should only seek to educate people who they catch breaking the rules.

For businesses, however, they could lose their license or face misdemeanor charges for reopening.

Minger, however, says he will not enforce the rules.

He says they should be able to make their own decisions about how to resume their daily lives, with precautions, and that it is unlawful for the governor to impose a state-wide quarantine.

In a letter to the Woodford County Sheriffs Office that was obtained by Edgar County Watchdogs, he said: 'I cannot let the powers that be continue to impose their will on the people in violation of separation of powers, due process, and our most basic concepts of liberty and freedom for all.

'We need to live in a world with COVID-19...no doubt about it.

'But the basic ideals our country were established on and that people have fought so hard for over the past more than 200 years cannot be eroded in this way.

'Bottom line is as it stands at this moment, the extension of the stay-at-home order will not be prosecuted or enforced in Woodford County.

'People, not government, need to determine what is best and safest for them, their loved ones, and the community around them. If that means staying at home, then they should.

'If that means going back to work and opening restaurants and bars and stores, then they should,' he said.

Gov. JB Pritzker's has slammed the backlash against his order as dangerous, especially when the state is experiencing its virus peak.

Gov. JB Pritzker has extended Illinois stay-at-home order to last until May 30. Cases there continue to rise and this week the state recorded its deadliest 24 hours

Grocery store workers in Chicago, Illinois, wearing masks. The governor has mandated face coverings in public places

Earlier this week, a civil judge sided with Republican lawmaker Rep. Darren Bailey who sued the governor, demanding to be exempt from the order.

Bailey argued that it was a violation of his right to freedom and that the stay-at-home order was an overreach of government.

'Enough is enough,' he said, adding: 'When this happens, its one event at a time that slowly strips this away'.

The judge granted a temporary restraining order which exempts him and him alone from the order until a final decision is rendered, saying Bailey has 'shown he has a clearly ascertainable right in need of immediate protection, namely his liberty interest to be free from Pritzkers executive order of quarantine in his home.'

Around 1,000 people ignored coronavirus lockdown orders and packed into an apartment to party in Chicago's West Side on Saturday

Pritzker called it a 'cheap' effort by Bailey to 'get his name in the headlines' and said it was an insult to the people who had died from COVID-19.

It comes as other states around the country prepare to reopen despite an ongoing outbreak across the US which has seen more than 1million cases.

There have now been more than 60,000 COVID-19 deaths in America and more than 1million cases of the virus.

President Trump has left the scenario of enforcing lockdown orders in the hands of the state governors but routinely incites frustration among residents in states that do not have severe outbreaks who want to get back to work.

Fresh hope in the fight against the virus came on Wednesday as Dr. Fauci, the White House coronavirus expert, heralded the results of a study using the drug remdesivir as a step in the right direction to treating cases.

More than 61,000 people have died from coronavirus in the United States, as of this morning
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Covid-19: US hands over $3 mn to benefit health facilities under PM-JAY

The US announced on Thursday it will hand over aid worth $3 million to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity (PAHAL) project as part of efforts to help India mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Read more.

Kerala Governor gives nod to ordinance which allows govt to temporarily cut salaries

The Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, on Thursday signed an ordinance brought by the state government to overcome a high court verdict and cut the salary of government employees to fund the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

Rishi Kapoor, Bollywoods original chocolate boy, dies at 67, Amitabh Bachchan says hes destroyed

Actor Rishi Kapoor has died at 67 after a two-year battle with leukaemia. Rishi breathed his last at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. His wife and actor Neetu Kapoor was by his side. Yes, he is no more, Rishis elder brother Randhir Kapoor told Hindustan Times. Read more.

Powerhouse of talent: PM Modi mourns death of Rishi Kapoor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday mourned the death of actor Rishi Kapoor, who after passed away in Mumbai after a two-year-long battle with cancer. He was 67. Read more.

Alia Bhatt visits Rishi Kapoors family at hospital, funeral today at Chandanwadi crematorium. Watch video

Actor Alia Bhatt was spotted in her car, leaving the Mumbai hospital where veteran actor Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on Thursday. Rishis last rites will be performed at Chandanwadi crematorium in Kalbadevi on Thursday afternoon. Read more.

Indias oil revenue loss in lockdown seen exceeding $5 billion

Indias 40-day lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus is curbing oil demand and reducing the governments tax income from the petroleum industry, which contributes about a fifth of budget revenue. Read more.

Google Doodle pays tribute to Clara Rockmore and the theremin, a musical instrument

Clara Rockmore used to play the theremin, an unusual instrument. The theremin is a gesture controlled instrument which has no strings or keys. Googles Doodle today is a tribute to Ms Rockmore, who was the theremins most renowned performer and also helped in developing it. Read more.

Man got caught for walking his pet, it was indeed a fishy affair

A picture posted on the official page of Spanish National Police has grabbed quite a few eyeballs. The photo shows a man surrounded by cops with a fish bowl kept on a bench near him. But thats not what is unusual or strange, its the story behind the picture. Read more.

Nuclear aggression...: Russia slams US argument for low-yield n-warheads

Major war of words broke out between USA & Russia over nuclear arms. Russia hit out at US for reportedly favouring deployment of low-yield nuclear warheads. Moscow said any attack, regardless of weapon type, would be nuclear aggression. A US State Dept paper reportedly favoured fitting low-yield nukes on submarines. Watch here.
By Kim Bo-eun





Suh Young-kyung
The University of Ghana has led the ranking of tertiary institutions in the country in the 2020 Times Higher Education World Universities Ranking.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

In Africa, the University of Ghana was ranked 20th but was ranked within the 800  1,000 band on a global scale.

The likes of Kwame Nkrumah University, University of Cape Coast, University for Development Studies, and the University of Education, Winneba, which are four of the countrys biggest tertiary institutions, were not captured in the 2020 Ranking.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Some Ghanaians are nation wreckers - Oppong Nkrumah

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020 includes almost 1,400 universities across 92 countries, standing as the largest and most diverse university rankings ever.

The table is based on 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institutions performance across teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

In a related development, Ashesi University was ranked number one in the country in the 2020 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking.

The University of Ghana ranked second, with the University of Professional Studies, Accra, ranking third.

Only these three institutions were recognized in the Impact Ranking.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: 80% of victims heal without hospital treatment and 6 other facts from WHO

The Impact Rankings measure the actions taken by higher education institutions to realize the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around the world, and contributions to the worlds economic and social well-being.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that positive cases and deaths from the novel Coronavirus in the world have reached 3.04million and 211K respectively according to worldometers.

Meanwhile, in Ghana, positive cases are 1,550 and reported deaths are 11 according to data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

Rent advance exceeding 6 months could land you in jail in Ghana - Atta Akyea | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: COVID-19: University of Ghana Medical Centre to attend to infected diplomats

Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Crash Landing on You is a love story across borders and reveals aspects of North Korea that are rarely seen.
Well, this is the  this is the issue before us right now, Hegeman said. Weve taken care of the issues with trying to deal with the COVID-19 virus out there.

Both men were wearing masks. The hearing was streamed online. Multiple Democratic state representatives said after the hearing they saw no members of the public present, other than people who normally work in the building.

Republican backers of the resolution say they are not repealing the current system, which 62% of voters approved as part of a package of ethics changes in 2018.

Rather, voters will have the final say on whether to alter the states system of drawing maps for the state House and Senate.

I dont think that asking them to make a change if they are interested in doing so  or to not make a change from what they just enacted  is in any way disrespectful, said Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold.
Who in the world would volunteer to get infected?

Actually, a lot of people, according to Josh Morrison and Sophie Rose, the co-founders of an organization called 1DaySooner, which has gathered signatures from over 8,000 potential volunteers. In The Washington Post, Mr. Morrison and Ms. Rose argue that the idea is not as radical as it sounds: According to one study, the coronaviruss fatality rate for 20- to 29-year-olds in China was 3 in 10,000  the same as that of kidney donation surgery and roughly twice that of childbirth in the United States.

We and many others are willing to take on what we see as an acceptable individual risk to serve the public and the people we care about, they write. As willing and well-informed volunteers, whose autonomy ought to be respected, we feel challenge trials are justified if they mean a vaccine arrives even one day sooner.

Would it be ethical?

We already allow people to risk their lives for the collective good, Dr. Lipsitch, Dr. Eyal and Dr. Smith say. Firefighters, for example, are routinely called upon to rush into burning buildings. (And today, of course, delivery drivers and grocery clerks are being asked to accept a level of risk they did not sign up for.) The question, then, is whether the studys potential cost would be low enough to warrant its potential benefit. Besides recruiting only healthy, young volunteers and guaranteeing them the best care, the authors delineate four ways in which the study would minimize net risk:

The vaccine may protect some of those who receive it.

Absent an effective vaccine, a high proportion of the general population is likely to get Covid-19, so some volunteers may simply be pushing their illnesses forward.

Only people who already have an especially high risk of exposure would be recruited (e.g., New Yorkers).

Volunteers would get priority for any treatments that may become available.

But many researchers and bioethicists balk at the idea of coronavirus human-challenge trials, Jon Cohen writes in Science magazine. For one thing, the risks are hard to gauge, since the virus is so new that we dont know how often people get seriously ill or what its long-term complications are. Where youre going to give somebody a virus on purpose, you really want to understand the disease so that you know that what youre doing is a reasonable risk, Matthew Memoli, an immunologist who stages human-challenge studies of influenza, told Mr. Cohen.

There are also thorny ethical questions beyond risks and benefits, according to Seema Shah, a medical ethics professor at Northwestern University. Justice considerations also matter, such as whether the risks are fairly distributed, she told Vox. There are also other criteria: community engagement, fair selection of participants, robust informed consent, and payment that compensates for time and inconveniences. And there lies another point of contention: Dr. Eyal advises against using high payments, which he says could take advantage of the poor.

Would it be worth it?

Its possible that human-challenge trials wouldnt actually speed up the process, according to Myrone Levine, a vaccine researcher at the University of Maryland who has conducted challenge trials since the 1970s. Infections are still climbing rapidly in many places, so conventional trials could reveal a vaccines efficacy on the same timeline. I cannot imagine that this would be ethical and would really speed up what we have to do, Dr. Levine told Mr. Cohen.

The benefit would also hinge on getting a lot of administrative ducks in a row, Dr. Shah said. For example, researchers would need to coordinate globally to ensure consistency across trials and to ascertain whether the Food and Drug Administration would even accept the results. And as Dr. Lipsitch, Dr. Eyal and Dr. Smith acknowledged, even if all goes well, more studies might be needed to prove the vaccine is safe and effective for older populations.

Were all looking for a Hail Mary, and its easy to see challenge studies as exciting and having a lot of promise, Dr. Shah said. But a lot of things need to fall into place to achieve that promise.
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New Delhi, April 30 : Welcoming the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on examinations and academic calendar in view of COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Jagadesh Kumar Mamidala said the guidelines are a 'fresh breather' to the students and also the educational institutes.

Mamidala said the guidelines take into account the diverse conditions and requirements of higher educational institutions.

"These guidelines emphasize the need to follow the measures taken by the government to contain the spread of COVID-19 while making sure that the educational processes continue by an effective use of various available technological options," Mamidala said.

He also defended rescheduling of academic calendar as suggested by the UGC.

"It makes sense to reschedule the academic calendar 2019-2020 because after the lockdown is lifted, it will take some time for the students to complete their examinations and move on to the next academic session," he added.

In a set of guidelines issued on Wednesday, the UGC recommended that college sessions should begin in August for current students and in September for new ones.

Commenting on the examinations and the methods suggested by UGC, Mamidala said these guidelines would complete examinations without diluting the 'academic rigour'.

"The guidelines also suggest a flexible approach to complete the examinations without diluting the academic rigour and keeping the interests of the students in mind," he said.

For the matters related to examination, the UGC allowed the universities to chart out their own plan of action, but suggested grading intermediate semester students on internal assessment of the present and previous semesters.

In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalized, there will be exams in July, the UGC recommended.

"The six-month extension for the submission of thesis/dissertations by research scholars is particularly welcome," Mamidala said.

On the liberty given to universities by the UGC to alter, add or modify guidelines, Mamidala said, "This will suit the local situations and preparedness of the Universities." The UGC-issued guidelines were based on recommendations made by an expert committee to deliberate on issues related to exams and the academic calendar and take appropriate measures for the future of students.

The expert committee was headed by Prof. R.C. Kuhad, Former Member, UGC and Vice Chancellor, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, Haryana along with other members.
The number of sexual assault reports in the armed services rose 3 percent last year, with the Air Force showing the sharpest jump, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The Defense Department said 6,236 reports were filed by service members in fiscal year 2019, which ended Sept. 30. It was 6,053 in 2018.

The Air Force saw a 9 percent jump from the previous year, a continuation of a long-term trend.

While the Pentagon said in a statement the 3 percent overall rise from 2018 cannot be characterized as an increase in the prevalence of the crime of sexual assault in the military because comprehensive survey of active duty troops wasnt conducted last year, one critic decried what he called a lack of progress despite efforts to contain the problem.

After decades of empty promises by senior commanders claiming they have zero tolerance for sex offense, the military again failed survivors and the American people in 2019, said retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, president of Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy group for military victims of assault and sexual assault.

The annual report for 2019 was required by Congress and contains feedback from focus groups and updates on the Pentagons efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault.

It stated that focus group feedback indicates that military culture is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. It also said male-dominated cultural norms are slowly changing, giving way to more inclusive attitudes.

The problem of sexual assaults has existed for years, with a chart from the latest analysis showing reports have almost tripled since 2010. The issue has made headlines because of service academy incidents and a 2011 scandal involving abusive training instructors at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

The Air Force investigated 35 instructors for misconduct against 69 recruits and technical school students at the base, holding around two dozen trials.

The situation forced a makeover of Air Force basic and technical training and helped push a congressional rewrite of military law, including a requirement that airmen convicted of sexual assault be dishonorably discharged.

A rash of other incidents pressured Pentagon leaders to press harder for reforms. The Defense Department says it made progress reducing sexual assault and increasing help-seeking and reporting between 2006 and 2016.

The report for 2018, however, forced top Pentagon senior leaders to issue a call-to-action memo to address sexual assault and related risk factors that include sexual harassment, workplace incivility and gender discrimination.

On ExpressNews.com: Pentagon: Sex assaults on servicewomen on the rise

Last years report included a survey that found the percentage of female service members ages 17 to 24 who said they had been attacked rose from 4.3 percent of respondents in fiscal year 2016 to 6.2 percent in 2018.

A much smaller percentage of men reporting sexual assaults stayed about the same.

The Defense Department uses the term sexual assault to refer to a range of crimes, including rape, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact and attempts to commit these offenses, as defined by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The most common crime reported over the past two years was abusive sexual contact.

Victims tended to be lower-ranking enlistees. Only 170 were officers.

There are two kinds of reports  restricted and unrestricted. Restricted reports allow victims to receive help without triggering military investigations. Unrestricted reports launch criminal investigations. Assault victims filing restricted reports receive medical and psychological care, even though the matter isn't investigated.

Overall, 5.1 service members per 1,000 filed a restricted or unrestricted sexual assault report in fiscal year 2019, a figure unchanged from 2018 but an increase over previous years.

Those numbers were up slightly for the Air Force and Navy, down for the Marine Corps and unchanged for the Army and the Pentagons total force.

A former Air Force judge who once served as the service's chief prosecutor, Christensen has been critical of the system, noting that while the number of unrestricted reports rose substantially in 2018 over some prior years, convictions were rare.

It shows that theyre failing when it comes to criminal accountability, and theyve been heading the wrong direction for a number of years now with no plan that they have identified in how theyre going to increase convictions, he said.

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The report stated a sexual assault offense warranted discipline in 1,630 cases in the 2019 fiscal year, with 795 cases seeing court-martial charges preferred, 363 going to trial and 264 ending in conviction.

Charges were dismissed in 91 cases. One in five, 360 cases in all, were settled in nonjudicial punishment, where outcomes remain secret. Another 29 percent, 475 cases, ended in administrative discharge or other adverse administrative action.

Commanders have authority over prosecutions. The convening authority, as its called, has been part of the American military since the beginning, with the Pentagon arguing it is needed to maintain good order and discipline. Critics, who now include former Vice President Joe Biden, say those decisions should be left to prosecutors.

There were, nonetheless, omens of an improving climate for women in the military, despite what the report conceded were considerable points of contention and cynicism about exceptions to standards based on biological differences.

It said male-dominated cultural norms were slowly changing, giving way to more inclusive attitudes, and that focus group feedback suggests Pentagon efforts to better prepare new enlisted leaders and officers were targeted at the right grades.

Participant feedback showed there was potential for mid-level enlisted troops, those in grades E4 to E6, to influence the behavior of younger service members.

Still, female participants indicated some traditionally male occupations were not as supportive as others that tend to include a greater mix of the sexes. Women also suggested challenges varied by unit, and moving to organizations with better climates allowed them to do much better professionally.

Data from focus groups showed first responders perceived an increase in male victim reporting, and that such assaults are taken more seriously now by all than in years past, the report stated.

Some focus group participants said they believe victims continue to have concerns regarding confidentiality breaches. They also indicated third-party disclosures sometimes discourage victims from opting into the reporting process.

Leadership is crucial. Focus group participants said troops view their unit commanders as the primary drivers behind encouraging reporting, ensuring training within the unit, and providing perspective on why sexual assault is a readiness issue.

Dr. Elizabeth Van Winkle, executive director of the Pentagons Office of Force Resiliency, said the department is committed to advance a culture of trust, respect, and inclusion within the force, and added, We are acutely aware of the high cost of not succeeding, not only for the readiness of our countrys defense, but for the individual Americans who step forward and volunteer to serve our nation.

Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Sig, become a subscriber. sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday thanked all migrant workers for their contributions to the country and pledged to do everything for their health and welfare amid a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in dormitories housing them.

He said there are still many Covid-19 cases in dormitories.

"Fortunately, most of them (the confirmed cases) are mild, probably because the workers are young. Nevertheless, we are doing everything we can for their health and welfare," said Lee in his May Day message.

The Government has assigned medical teams from hospitals to provide support in the dorms, he said, assuring foreign workers living in them.

Singapore announced 528 new Covid-19 cases, mostly foreign workers, on Thursday, taking the total number of infections in the country to 16,169.

"May Day (on May 1) is a day of celebration for all workers, including migrant workers. I too send my thanks and good wishes to all migrant workers in Singapore, for what you have built and contributed here."



The Prime Minister especially highlighted the work of one foreign worker who had helped build a hospital where he was now hospitalised on testing for coronavirus positive.

"One worker, who was hospitalised, told his doctor that he had laid the tiles in the ward he was staying in. The Sengkang Hospital medical team (treating the worker) were moved. They were happy to be able to give back directly to the workers," Lee said as he paid tribute to foreign workers involved in Singapore's construction sector.

Lee also acknowledged that the circuit breaker measures, to control the spread of COVID-19, have been difficult for everyone, as the restrictions have disrupted businesses and jobs, and created considerable inconvenience.

"But you have been resilient, and you have taken this in your stride," he added.

On the economy, Lee said it will not restart all at once. But it will have to open up step by step even after circuit breaker measures are relaxed.

Lee said that Singapore will progressively restart its economy after it brings down the number of new COVID-19 cases, but this will not be straightforward.

Lee forewarned of the changes that the coronavirus will bring to the global economy and how this might affect Singapore.

The movement of goods and people will be less free. Countries will strive to rely less on imports for food and essential items like medicines and face masks, he said.

This will have major implications for global trade and investments, and thus for Singapore.

Significant structural changes to Singapore's economy are likely, and some jobs will simply disappear, he said, adding that workers in these industries will have to reskill themselves and take up jobs in new sectors.

We will not be able to save every job, but we will look after every worker, he said.

Lee added that Singapore has experienced economic restructuring before and has done it more than once.

We have the resources to support businesses, invest in our workforce and take care of our people, he said.

And the country aims to protect its vulnerable and leave no one behind, Lee promised.

This is why we care for our migrant workers, who have done much for us, as we care for Singaporeans. This is why we have taken unprecedented steps to draw upon our reserves, in order to forestall retrenchments and support the low income.

But he warned that the road to recovery will be long and hard. Experts believe that it may take a few weeks before coronavirus infection numbers in dormitories for foreign workers are under control.

Health Ministry's chief health scientist, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, said the numbers of new infections should start to taper down when most of the infected cases are identified and taken out.

But even after Singapore gets to that point, not all dormitories that have been put under quarantine will re-open at the same time, as some are more affected than others, said Prof Tan.

A total of 38 out of 43 large purpose-built dormitories in Singapore now have Covid-19 clusters, while there are at least 20 smaller factory-converted dormitories with clusters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Some 100 million city dwellers around the world are likely to fall into poverty because of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Bank has warned.

Densely populated cities are on the front line of the outbreak - especially in slums where people are lacking running water, sewage systems or health care, urban experts said.

Those problems will become harder to solve because cities will see a drop of 15 to 25 per cent in tax revenues as a result of the crisis, it is feared.

'Within cities we need to focus on those who need help the most, the poor and the vulnerable have been very seriously affected,' said Sameh Wahba, a global director for the World Bank.

People in crowded cities are on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic, experts warn (pictured, one of Rio de Janeiro's favelas)

'Our estimate is that there will be possibly upward of a 100 million so-called "new poor" on account of loses of jobs and livelihoods and income,' Wahba told reporters.

Many cities lack accurate data about slum areas, making it difficult to know where investments should be targeted, experts say.

A World Bank mapping tool using satellite imagery is helping cities find areas where people use communal toilets or where social distancing is impractical, Wahba said.

So far the tool has been used to produce such maps for Cairo, Mumbai and Kinshasa.

Experts at the World Bank have carried out research along with those at the World Resources Institute and other groups.

Without data, government food and financial aid is not reaching slum areas where about one billion people live worldwide, said activist Sheela Patel.

'Whether you are a slum dweller, or a pavement dweller, a squatter or a homeless person, and if you are migrant, you are presently completely excluded from any form of entitlement in the city,' said Patel, head of an Indian rights group.

Reaching vulnerable communities during and after the pandemic means recognising how systems such as water, health, housing and transport are connected, said Ani Dasgupta, global director of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.

Investments must ensure that systems are integrated and not be 'simple top-down central projects,' he said.

'We have to learn from this,' said Dasgupta. 'We actually have to do things differently.'
An ambulance driver who brought



back some stranded patients of the state from Chennai has tested positive for COVID-19, senior minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Thursday.

Five persons from Udaipur town in Gomati district and Baikhora in South Tripura district went to Chennai for treatment but got stuck there as the lockdown was imposed. They hired an ambulance and the driver drove them over 3,200 km to reach Udaipur town on April 27.

They were screened at Churabari on Assam-Tripura border and allowed to enter the state since they had no symptoms. The driver was allowed to return as his pass was valid till April 28," Nath told reporters at the secretariat.

"The swab samples of the driver and the five passengers were collected for tests. The report of the sample of the driver, who is from Tamil Nadu, came in as COVID-19 positive," he added.

The reports of the swab samples of the other five persons were negative, Nath, the spokesperson of the state cabinet, said.

The driver was located in Siliguri in West Bengal earlier in the day, he said.

The five persons are now undergoing quarantine in Udaipur, the minister said.

Though the reports of the five persons came in as negative, their samples would be tested again for reconfirmation. Their 14-day quarantine is not over yet. So, we shall test them again. Having no symptom doesnt mean one isnt infected by the virus," he said.

The government is also trying to find out if anyone other than the passengers came in contact with the driver, Nath said.

The minister said that about 40,000 people from Tripura are now stranded in different parts of the country, but so far only 6,000 have registered themselves with the state helpline to return home.

It is a tough task to bring all of them back to the state and there is a huge risk in allowing them to enter. Our government is providing all kinds of help to the stranded people," he said.

Tripura would soon start rapid testing for COVID-19, Nath said, appealing to people not to panic.

Nath urged the people of the state not to conceal any coronavirus-like symptoms and report to the authorities.

Tripura reported two COVID-19 cases and both the patients have recovered. At present, 307 persons are under surveillance in the state, including 231 in home isolation and 75 in quarantine centres. So far, 4,613 persons have been tested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An engineer shows an experimental Covid-19 vaccine being tested at the Quality Control Laboratory at the Sinovac Biotech facilities in Beijing, April 29, 2020.

WASHINGTON  The top U.S. spy agency said for the first time on Thursday that the nation's collective intelligence community does not believe that the coronavirus was manmade or genetically modified.

"The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified," the Office of Director of National Intelligence said in a rare statement.

"The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan," it added.

The statement from the Office of Director of National Intelligence contradicts reports suggesting that the new coronavirus had been developed by Chinese scientists in a government biological weapons laboratory.

The U.S. intelligence community was tasked with examining whether the virus that caused the global pandemic emerged accidentally from a Chinese research lab, current and former U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.

The virus has infected more than 3.2 million worldwide, and though many have recovered more than 227,971 have died. In the U.S. more than 1 million cases have been reported so far, with nearly 61,000 deaths, the most of any nation, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Earlier this month, the nation's highest-ranking military officer told reporters at the Pentagon that U.S. intelligence agencies were taking "a hard look" at whether the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab.

"We don't know for certain," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley said on April 14.

When asked about the intelligence on the Today Show on April 16, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, "This is something we've been watching closely now for some time," adding that the results of the investigation are thus far "inconclusive."
London: On the footpath outside a busy London hospital, a spray-painted sign captures the mood of a nation about the staff working inside: "You are the real heroes. Thank you."

The praise sits uncomfortably with Judy Cotterill, an Australian-born lead nurse at the busy Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea.

"I don't think I'm a hero," Cotterill says. "I'm just doing my job."

Judy Cotterill, an Australian-born lead nurse working for the British National Health Service during the coronavirus crisis. Credit:Ian Tuttle

Cotterill and other Australians on the front line of Britain's deadly coronavirus outbreak have felt frightened and anxious in the frantic weeks since the pandemic took hold. They have good reason to be scared: more than 105 hospital medicos and care home staff have died simply by coming to work to save others.
Some parents say they are in no hurry for their children to head back into classrooms as non-government schools decide whether to take the Morrison government's cash offer and reopen.

Independent and Catholic schools in Victoria must choose on Friday whether to accept a 25 per cent advance on their July round of recurrent funding. The offer is conditional on the schools agreeing to reopen classrooms for all students by the end of May.

The Friday deadline means they must choose between the Commonwealth's position that schools are safe for students and teachers and should open, and the more cautious stance of Victorias government, which is yet to commit to a return before the end of term two.

Peter Dalla Rosa has watched his two children settle into a rhythm of remote learning in the past two weeks and as much as he wants to see them back in class, he sees no need to rush.
PA State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, foreground, joins protesters as they gather outside the Capital Complex in Harrisburg on April 20. They were calling for Gov. Wolf to reopen up the state's economy during the coronavirus outbreak. Rep. Bernstine supports the reopening of businesses. Read more

As Pennsylvanians prepare for the eighth week of social distancing under Gov. Tom Wolfs stay-at-home order, psychologists warn that caution fatigue may start to affect peoples choice to make safe decisions for themselves and their communities.

People who experience caution fatigue become desensitized to warnings because their brain has adjusted to the alarms its receiving, explained Jacqueline Gollan, an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral science at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

When a person is exposed to a warning repeatedly, they start to pay less attention to it and that can lead to either ignoring the alarms or not responding as quickly to them, Gollan said. We are adjusting how we perceive that threat  the threat can seem uncertain, or we have a hard time understanding the true threat.

Already, some people have become more relaxed about social distancing. Researchers at the University of Marylands Transportation Institute reported a recent nationwide decline in their Social Distancing Index, which uses location-based service data from cell phones to track compliance with restrictions meant to contain the outbreak.

The decline, which started April 17 and has continued since, is the first since social distancing measures began in March in the United States. This was seen last weekend, when people flocked to the beaches in California and New York despite pleas from both states governors to stay home. In Pennsylvania, hundreds of people gathered outside the state Capitol on April 20, calling for Wolf to reopen the commonwealth.

 READ MORE: At the Jersey Shore, is social distancing even possible? With summer season in view, the question looms heavily.

Eric Zillmer, a professor in neuropsychology at Drexel University, says that not only do people become numb to danger over time, the COVID-19 crisis also has been "abstract.

It is an invisible enemy and it targets specific vulnerable populations more than others, Zillmer wrote in an email. So some, younger populations for example, may not feel particularly threatened. Wearing masks or the energy it takes to comply with safety guidelines gets old very quickly.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

Additionally, when people are worried about things they cannot control, Zillmer said, the body engages in the "fight or flight response, which can cause feelings of anxiety, depression, apathy, and despair.

Fight or flight is meant to be temporary, not permanent, he said. Prolonged stress creates a weakened immune system and mental dysfunction.

Gollan said the negative emotions people are experiencing in response to prolonged social distancing measures can sway judgment. When people make a COVID-related decision, such as whether to stay home or travel to a family gathering, they weigh safety against the things that theyre giving up, she said.

These are complex processes and they take up energy, Gollan said. People dont want to continue making these decisions, so I expect the decline in safety behaviors to continue as people start to show increased stress over the economic strain theyre experiencing.

 READ MORE: Dos and Donts of social distancing

To avoid caution fatigue, Gollan said to focus on things that provide a sense of physical and emotional strength, such as exercising more, eating well, and setting attainable goals. Diversifying where you receive credible sources of information may also be helpful, since people pay more attention to news with variety, Gollan said.

It can help to ask yourself questions when making a decision during this time, like, Do I care about being a citizen? Do I care about being part of a team? Do I respect other people? she said. That can help you make a better decision and hold off on the temptations when we want to bend the guidance that were being given.
Human rights lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu has criticised the Akufo-Addo-led government for failing to account to the people of Ghana the progress made on its efforts to seek justice for victims of police and military brutalities recorded during the three-week partial lockdown in the Greater Accra, Kumasi and Kasoa areas.

The deployment of joint police and military teams to enforce the COVID-19 restrictive measures recorded some excesses, including the murder of a civilian at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region by a soldier who was enforcing lockdown directives.

The Security forces have, on many occasions, denied claims of abuse during the period.

Speaking on the matter, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu, who is the opposition NDCs parliamentary candidate for Madina, told Blessed Sogah, host of Class 91.3 FMs State of the Nation that: I think that all the human rights infractions during the COVID-19 [lockdown], the government has not been very accountable to the peopleand I think that this is the time for the government to give us a report on what happened

With regard to the Ashaiman killing, we need to know the investigation that has gone into it, we need to know whether the military officer who was responsible has either been interdicted or has been put before the law, we need to hear something.

---classfmonline
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declared on social media he refuses to follow directives on social distancing from the World Health Organisation, because it promotes 'masturbation' in children under four.

In a bizarre Facebook post, which has been subsequently removed from his profile page on the social media platform, Bolsonaro cited an obscure guide about sex education to question the WHO's authority on coronavirus.

Bolsonaro, 65, ranted online about the WHO's alleged recommendation children under four derive 'satisfaction and pleasure upon touching their own body *masturbation*'.

He used this and other tenuous references to make his case the global agency is in no position to direct him on the best way to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Brazilian President has been in the public eye constantly for his criticism of social distancing and isolation measures prescribed by the WHO as an effective means to limit the contagion.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured) has repeatedly attacked the WHO for its coronavirus directives, saying Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus 'is not a doctor'

On his official Facebook page, Bolsonaro wrote: 'This is the World Health Organization (WHO) who many say I must follow in the coronavirus case.

'Should we also follow their guidelines for educational policies too?: For children from 0 to 4 years of age: Satisfaction and pleasure upon touching their own body, *masturbation*.

'Expressing their needs and desire, for example, in the context of "playing doctor". Children have sexual feelings in their early infancy.'

He went on to say that the WHO said of children aged four to six 'have a positive gender identity. Enjoyment and pleasure upon touching their own body; masturbation in early childhood.'

Bolsonaro added in his Facebook post young people aged nine to 12 'have their first sexual experience,' according to his reading of WHO guidance.

'This is the World Health Organization (WHO) who many say I must follow in the coronavirus case' - an extract of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's bizarre Facebook post

Bolsonaro was in fact citing a 2010 guide by the Federal Centre for Health Education with the European arm of the WHO.

The text Bolsonaro referenced is designed to help parents to educate their children who between two and four are becoming curious about their own bodies and noticing their difference to others.

As they are curious they begin to touch their sexual organs and want to show them to other children or adults, according to the WHO.

The guide does not however tell parents they should encourage their children, but rather speak to them about this phase in their young lives, reassuring them that 'liking physical contact is common' and normal.

President Bolsonaro has repeatedly attacked the WHO for its coronavirus directives, saying Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus 'is not a doctor', adding: 'It's like if the president of Caixa (a Brazilian bank) weren't from economics'.

Ghebreyesus is a microbiologist and internationally recognised malaria researcher who served as Minister of Health of Ethiopia from 2005 to 2012.

The country of Brazil has 79,685 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,513 deaths to date, according to research from Johns Hopkins University.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday appointed seven Democratic members to a newly created House panel meant to police the Trump administrations coronavirus response efforts.

The appointments are expected to ignite a wave of congressional action to spotlight President Donald Trumps handling of the multitrillion-dollar pandemic relief packages meant to confront the illness devastating toll on American life.

"We must make sure that the historic investment of taxpayer dollars made in the CARES Act is being used wisely and efficiently to help those in need, not be exploited by profiteers and price-gougers," Pelosi said in a "Dear Colleague" letter.

Pelosi had already announced that she intended to name the Houses third-ranking Democrat, Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), to lead the committee. On Wednesday, she selected six additional members, a mix of trusted lieutenants, veteran policy-writers and a vulnerable freshman to fill the high-profile positions.

The panel will include three chairs of existing House committees: Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Small Business Committee Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.). Pelosi also named Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), a freshman from a competitive district.

Its unclear whether Republicans will participate in the panels work. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) may name up to five additional panelists, though some of his allies have encouraged him to boycott the committee altogether, blasting it as a political exercise. Republicans have indicated their decision may rest on the makeup of the Democratic roster.

But Pelosi has dismissed their concerns and insisted that the new oversight panel will eschew partisan politics and instead focus on realtime accountability for problems that arise amid the crisis response  from testing shortages to helping hospitals access lifesaving medical equipment.

Story continues

Clyburn has not said yet how the panel  which will function as part of the House Oversight Committee  plans to operate, or what its specific focus will be, though the new members skew heavily toward financial services and small business expertise.

Democratic leadership and House committee leaders are just beginning to figure out how to conduct remote work, debating ways to hold virtual hearings at a time when lawmakers remain homebound.

At least one panel, the House Appropriations Committee, will hold an in-person hearing next week. That subcommittee, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), has not yet announced witnesses but has privately signaled that it intends to bring in top officials in the federal response, starting with Dr. Anthony Fauci.

House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, takes her mask off to speak during a signing ceremony for the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, H.R. 266, after it passed the House on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Washington. The almost $500 billion package will head to President Donald Trump for his signature. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The new oversight panel, though, will immediately become a focal point of Congress action amid the ongoing crisis, with Democrats eager to shed light on the administrations missteps in handling the pandemic, which theyve already labeled a key contributor to the severe outbreak that has ground the country to a halt.

And despite Pelosis assurances, the committees work is destined to become heavily politicized. Waters, for example, has long been seen by Trump allies as an archnemesis of the president, agitating for his impeachment and removal months before most of her colleagues were prepared to join her. And other Republicans have argued that the committees only purpose can be to run interference for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as the calendar inches toward Election Day.

Democrats have countered that Republicans complaints ring hollow, given the heavily politicized Benghazi Committee that dogged Hillary Clintons run in 2016, despite admissions from some Republicans that the panel, at least in part, had a political purpose.

In addition to the fire it has taken from Republicans, the panel has drawn head-scratching from some Democrats who already serve on the Houses many oversight committees. Some have privately wondered how the new panel will interact with existing investigative committees, a slew of which have already signaled that they plan to probe the White Houses response to the outbreak.

Congress already established a new commission of lawmakers and aides to oversee the largest component of the coronavirus relief effort: a $500 billion U.S. treasury fund to rescue struggling industries and companies. Pelosi recently named Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) as one of the panels five members, joining McCarthys pick Rep. French Hill, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and former Elizabeth Warren aide Bharat Ramamurti.

Pelosis choice of Shalala, a former Health and Human Services secretary who hails from a competitive congressional district, disappointed some on the partys left flank who had hoped she would pick Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), who had openly lobbied for the post.

Porter was also left of Clyburns panel, further irritating progressives in the House and nationally who have pushed for her to have a spot.

Some Democrats, too, have privately worried that the panel would wind up simply becoming a political bludgeon against Trump, just months until the November elections  potentially undermining the panels actual oversight findings.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba had a phone call with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, as reported AnalitikaUA.net, citing the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The interlocutors discussed the state of and prospects for development of the bilateral cooperation in all directions of mutual interest, mentioned the strong historical ties between the Ukrainians and Armenians and paid special attention to the development of trade and deepening of economic dialogue.

The foreign ministers positively assessed the cooperation for the return of citizens of Ukraine and Armenia and exchanged experiences in overcoming the consequences of COVID-19, the press release reads.

In the commentary given to AnalitikaUA.net, President of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine Vilen Shatvoryan emphasized the importance of official contacts at the level of foreign ministers and voiced hope that there would be more frequent interactions.
The German Interior Ministry Thursday put Lebanese powerful Shia movement, Hezbollah, on its shortlist of terrorist group few year banning its military wing, Anadolu news agency reports.

Interior minister, Horst Seehofer, according to the ministry ordered ban on movements activities in the EU member country.

Security forces have been also instructed to immediately implement the ban across all states, the ministry also stressed.

There are reportedly around 1,000 Hezbollah supporters in the Germany according to countrys own domestic intelligence agency BfV.

Germany in 2013 outlawed military wing of the movement but stopped short to blacklist political arm despite pressure from the U.S and Israel, the Turkish state-run news agency reports.

Both Washington and Tel Aviv have listed the Shia group as a terrorist organization. Israel and Hezbollah have fought several wars including the 2006 last confrontation.
The Hanoi administration has announced that all middle school and high school students will resume their study on May 4, while the back-to-school date for kindergarten andelementary school students follows a week later.

The municipal Peoples Committee on Wednesday convened a meeting with the citys steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control to discuss the back-to-school dates for local students.

According to Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, middle and high schools in the capital will reopen next Monday.

Kindergarten and elementary school students will return on May 11.

Chairman Chung asked district-level authorities to work with local schools on preparing necessary measures to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.

All schools have to monitor the body temperature of their students, teachers, and staff, as well as preparing sufficient hand sanitizers.

Different schedules for each grade or class should also be considered to avoid the gathering of too many students at a time.

A physical distance in the classroom will be decided by the board of each school.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 3.22 million people and killed more than 228,200 globally, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

Vietnam has confirmed 270 cases so far, with 219 having recovered.

No death from the disease has been recorded in the country.

Hanoi has recorded 123 patients, of whom 99 have recovered.

School closure began after the Lunar New Year holiday ended in early February and has been repeatedly extended due to the complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The nation underwent 15 days of enhanced social distancing from April 1 to 15.

A prolonged social distancing period from April 16 to 22 was then imposed on 28 provinces and cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A nurse died from suspected coronavirus in the arms of her 12-year-old daughter at home and a fundraiser has raised nearly 8,000 to fly her home to the Philippines.

Maria Victoria Prado, known to friends as Vicky, worked at Elvy Court in Sittingbourne, Kent, and died after her daughter, Alex, tried to resuscitate her.

The nurse from the Philippines suffered from asthma which is thought to have been aggravated after catching the deadly bug.

A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for Vicky's funeral back in her home country and has generated more than 7,700 since April 21.

Maria Victoria Prado, known to friends as Vicky, worked at Elvy Court in Sittingbourne, Kent, and died from suspected coronavirus in the arms of her daughter, Alex, 12

The money is also being raised to send Alex, who is currently in foster care, back to family in the southeast Asian country.

Maria Theresa Guerzon, from Canterbury, said: 'She was a hardworking nurse always willing to go extra miles to help.

'Vicky recently worked in a nursing home with positive cases of COVID-19.

'She had isolated herself due to her high vulnerability in catching the cruel virus but succumbed to asthma which could have been aggravated by the virus COVID-19.'

Vicky worked for the NHS and in the private sector for more than a decade after moving over to the UK from the Philippines.

It is understood she was employed by more than one care home at the time of her death.

A fundraiser has been set up for 'hardworking nurse' Vicky to send her back to her native Philippines along with her daughter, who is currently in foster care, to live with family. It has raised 7,700 so far

Ms Guerzon said Vicky was dedicated to her daughter, Alex, and died in her arms as she tried to resuscitate her.

Ms Guerzon said: 'Vicky's daughter Alex was her life, her reason to [work] hard.

'As a very loving mother, she [chose] to self-isolate at home as she [did] not want to leave her 12-year-old daughter alone. Alex is now under foster care.

'She [did not deserve] to handle all the nightmare of having to call 999 and resuscitate her own mother.

'Vicky died in the hands of her daughter, Alex.'

Analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics shows that, as the number of hospital deaths being reported has declined (blue bar), the number of fatalities being recorded outside of hospitals - mainly in care homes - has risen (red bar). The data used has been backdated and counted by actual date of death, making it appear more stable than the erratic numbers announced each day by the Department of Health, which are counted by the date they are registered

The money raised will go towards bringing Vicky's family over to the UK for the funeral and then transporting her body back to the Philippines.

Alex will also then go to the Philippines but needs financial assistance to continue her education.

Ms Guerzon said: 'Vicky was a fighter and a survivor.

'With the pandemic going on, it was unfortunate that she and her daughter had to suffer the consequences.

'Please help. Take them home.'

Avery Heath Care Group, which owns Elvy Court, paid tribute after Vicky's tragic death.

The number of people dying with the coronavirus in England and Wales is around 55 per cent higher when non-hospital deaths are included, according to the Office for National Statistics

A spokesperson said: 'The staff and management at Elvy Court Care Home in Sittingbourne were deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing one of the nurses who worked at the home, and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

'She was a popular member of our team within the home and will be sadly missed.'

Tributes have also poured in from those who knew and worked with Vicky.

Linda Du Preez, her former colleague, said: 'I have worked with Vicky and she was devoted to her 12-year-old daughter and needs our help to get her family to the UK.

'We loved Vicky's enthusiasm and care towards her patients. We are very sad and shocked to lose her to COVID-19.'

'A lovely lady,' echoed Sarah Weeks.

'Let's get Vicky and her daughter back home with their family.'
Dr Step by step: Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan is searching for a path out of the coronavirus lockdown. Photo by Steve Humphreys

Cabinet ministers have heaped pressure on Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan to ease cocooning restrictions for over 70s.

During a meeting with Mr Holohan, ministers insisted older people should be allowed leave their homes when the current lockdown period ends next week.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney, Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring, Business Minister Heather Humphreys, Defence Minister Paul Kehoe, Transport Minister Shane Ross and Disability Minister Finian McGrath all raised the plight of people asked to cocoon.

Mr Holohan said he was aware that social distancing rules are difficult for older people but said they were put in place for their best interests.

Ministers who attended the meeting said the Chief Medical Officer gave no indication that he would be lifting restrictions for older people when the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) makes a recommendation to government tomorrow.

One minister said the briefing was very grim while another said Mr Holohan did not give us much hope.

Read More

It is understood there are concerns that if older people are allowed to leave their homes they will congregate in the same places.

One minister said Mr Holohan seemed to suggest the next phase of lockdown could even be for another three weeks rather than the expected two week extension.

Minister McGrath said there were contradictions in over 70s being asked to cocoon while people are working in closed factory settings.

He also suggested some pubs that serve should be allowed reopen at the same time as restaurants.

Mr Holohan responded by saying he was told by the Vintners Federation of Ireland that most of their members could not safely apply social distancing measures.

Mr McGrath separately raised concerns on behalf of the disability community who he said felt left behind during the pandemic. He said more personal protective equipment and staffing were need for the sector.

Government Chief Whip Sean Kyne raised angling and suggested people should be allowed fish in rural settings.

Transport Minister Shane Ross asked when sport could return and said he it was important for the nations mental health.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 01:35:15|Editor: huaxia

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Tamas Menczer (R), state secretary from the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Duan Jielong show a list of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government at the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, on April 29, 2020. A batch of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived at the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport on Wednesday to help the country fight COVID-19. The medical supplies include testing kits, N95 masks, surgical masks and protective garments. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A batch of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived at the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport on Wednesday to help the country fight the novel coronavirus.

The medical supplies include testing kits, N95 masks, surgical masks and protective garments.

The donations were welcomed at the airport by Tamas Menczer, state secretary from the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Duan Jielong.

Menczer expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government and people for the help, adding that true friends stand by each other in hard times.

Duan said that solidarity is the best weapon for the international community to overcome this global challenge and China is willing to continue the cooperation with Hungary to fight the virus.

According to official figures, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 2,727 on Wednesday, with 536 recoveries and 300 fatalities. Enditem
Details emerged on Wednesday about the case the Nigerian government made to secure the approval of the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to its request for a $3.4 billion emergency loan. The loan is to assist the countrys effort to contain the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on her economy.

An IMF Country/Staff Report on Nigeria No. 20/142 published on Wednesday disclosed that between April 21 and 22, Nigerian officials in charge of economic development, led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo engaged the IMF Board through a web conference on the request.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, also participated in the conference arranged to deliberate on Nigerias request under the Rapid Financing instrument (RPI).

The report said Nigeria told the IMF how the COVID-19 pandemic was severely impacting the countrys economic activity following the sharp fall in international oil prices and reduced global demand for Nigerias oil.

These developments, the Nigerian delegation noted, were worsening the countrys fiscal and external positions, as Nigerias oil and gas exports (84 per cent of total exports) were expected to fall by more than $26.5 billion.

With the economy projected to contract by almost 3.5 per cent in 2020, a six-percentage point drop relative to pre-COVID-19 projections, the officials said the already high downside risks have heightened with the pandemic.

Apart from sharper and protracted falls in crude oil prices, a declining oil production from future Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) output caps or inability to sell oil cargoes, the officials said more protracted disruptions to economic activity were due to a more expansive effect of the pandemic.

On justification for the request for support, Nigeria said it was facing an immediate balance of payments challenge, given the sharp contraction in oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, which, if not addressed, would result in immediate and severe economic disruption.

There is also a high degree of uncertainty on the duration and scale of the COVID-19 impact, which imply that an upper credit tranche (UCT) quality programme cannot be quickly put in place.

The authorities are seeking financial assistance under the IMFs Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) exogenous shock window of SDR 2454.5 million, equivalent to 100 per cent of quota. The authorities intend to use the resources for budget support. Staff supports this request, Nigeria said.

On macroeconomic policies, Nigeria said since the onset of the crisis, its authorities have allowed greater exchange rate (FX) flexibility and have taken important steps towards unification of existing FX windows, which should be finalised immediately.

Nigerias finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed [PHOTO: Pulse.ng]

In assuring the IMF of governments seriousness, Nigeria resolved to put certain measures in place to contain the pandemic and mitigate its economic impact.

Once the COVID-19 crisis passes, it said, government intends to resume the revenue-based fiscal consolidation programmewhich it started this year by increasing the VAT rate from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

Other policies include introduction of an automatic fuel pricing mechanism, while creating fiscal space for priority spending and avoiding recourse to central bank financing. Staff would assess public debt to be sustainable and ensure that there is adequate capacity to repay the Fund.

The IMF acknowledged that the Nigerian government was committed to continue to strengthen financial supervision and regulation in order to safeguard macro-financial stability.

To ensure financial assistance received as part of the COVID-19 response is used for intended purposes, the Nigerian authorities committed to undertake an independent audit of crisis-mitigation spending and related procurement processes and to publish procurement plans and notices for all emergency-response activities, including names of awarded companies and beneficial owners.
DeSantis declared a victory of sorts while saying the states hospitals are far under capacity and that Florida has set the standard for responsible reopening. Still, he said, his states pace would be more moderate than others. Trump, who last week blasted the governor of Georgia for his aggressive reopening plan, issued DeSantis the ultimate endorsement this week, bringing him to the Oval Office and showering him with praise over Floridas response to the coronavirus.
TRENTON  A city man was arrested for the second time in as many weeks after he was caught setting fire to his ex-wifes home, police said.

Carlos Jimenez-Najera, 35, was arrested the first time April 15 after neighbors saw him that morning watching a fire burn at a home on the 200 block of Pearl Street.

He was evicted from the home a week before and allegedly attempted to set fire to it multiple times before he was nabbed, police said.

Jimenez-Najera was charged with counts of aggravated arson for the April 15 fire and picked up the same night after being identified as the alleged arsonist.

Police also recovered a burnt bottle of accelerant near the home, Trenton Police Lt. Jason Kmiec said.

The accused arsonist was charged on a complaint warrant the first time, meaning he was sent to the county jail for at least 48 hours before prosecutors decided not to move to detain him at his initial hearing, amid the coroanvirus pandemic.

At that time, he had no prior arrests and his public safety assessment recommendation was a one, said Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutors Office. The court released him subject to level three conditions at our request.

Soon, Jimenez-Najera was back on the streets. Police on Tuesday charged him a second time with aggravated arson, when he tried again to burn his ex-wifes home to the ground.

Officers were called out to same block of Pearl Street around 8:30 p.m. when residents smelled smoke and saw the blaze breaking out on the side of the home.

Jimenez-Najera allegedly had charcoal lighter fluid in his hand. Residents rushed outside, extinguished the flames and held the alleged serial arsonist until police arrived, Kmiec said.

Prosecutors are now asking a judge to detain Jimenez-Najera, DeBlasio said.
BRUSSELS - The European Unions top diplomat denied Thursday that his agency bowed to pressure from China and watered down a report that criticized the countrys role in promoting disinformation about the coronavirus.

In an April 24 article, the New York Times said EU officials had softened their criticism of China in a report on the way governments push disinformation during the pandemic because the officials were worried about the repercussions of angering one of the blocs biggest trading partners.

The article, backed by internal email correspondence, caused an uproar at the European Parliament, with EU lawmakers angry that the 27-nation blocs reputation was at stake. The assemblys foreign affairs committee demanded that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell explain.

During a grilling via videoconference, Borrell said the newspaper had compared the contents of a report meant for internal use within the External Action Service  essentially the EUs foreign office  with a different document prepared for broader publication on the agencys website.

Borrell acknowledged that China did complain about the report, but he said that kind of objection was the daily bread of diplomacy and insisted Beijing had absolutely no influence on thinking inside the EU agency.

Chinese officials expressed their concern through the diplomatic channels, but the text published on the EUvsDisinfo website remains critical of China and speaks for itself, Borrell said.

For sure, they were not happy. They will continue not being happy, he said.

There was no watering-down of our findings, the EU diplomat said. He underlined the blocs policy toward Beijing as treating it as a key partner, but also a competitor and a systemic rival.

While some lawmakers accepted Borrells explanation, quite a few were critical. Some demanded to see all versions of the reports.

Honestly, your explanation doesnt really convince me, Belgian parliamentarian Hilde Vautmans said, going on to ask Borrell to tell lawmakers who interfered, which Chinese official put pressure, at what level, what means of pressure. I think that Europe needs to know that otherwise were losing all credibility.

The public report  a Short Assessment of Narratives and Disinformation surrounding the coronavirus  points to what the authors described as evidence of a co-ordinated push by official Chinese sources to deflect any blame for the outbreak of the pandemic and publicizing announcements and deliveries of bilateral assistance.

The report also states that Chinese officials and state media try to curtail any mentions of Wuhan as the origin of COVID-19.

The report is more critical of Russias role in the spread of coronavirus-linked fake news.
Buttery wine has been on my mind.

Butter is what comes to many peoples minds when they hear California Chardonnay. The category earned that stereotype during the 1980s and 90s, an era so abhorrent to some wine drinkers that their distaste spawned an unofficial movement: A.B.C., or anything but Chardonnay.

The idea of such a wine smacks of 80s-era excess, the vinous equivalent of a perm and glittery shoulder pads. Today, buttery Chardonnay is a punchline in highbrow circles, even as it continues to enjoy mass popularity.

The reason its been on my mind is because last week I wrote about a lawsuit that centers around buttery Chardonnay. JaM Cellars, which makes a wine called Butter, is seeking to limit Franzias ability to use rich and buttery as a name for one of its boxed Chardonnays, claiming trademark infringement. This isnt the first time JaM has gone after other buttery wines in court: It has also sued  and settled with  Bread & Butter, Butterball, Butter Bomb, Butter Knife, Buttercream and Butterkissed. (Theres an additional lawsuit against Franzia relating to jam.)

In that article, I was simply concerned with preserving freedom of expression when it comes to wine descriptors. Butter is too intrinsic to the character of Chardonnay to be exclusively held by one winery.

But there was a very important follow-up question that was beyond the articles purview. Many of you alluded to it in your responses to the piece on Twitter. The rest of you, I know, were thinking it. Isnt buttery Chardonnay gross?

It certainly can be. The sort of Chardonnay that A.B.C. adherents object to often exhibits an unfortunate confluence of buttery diacetyl, vanilla-forward oak barrel influence and residual sugar. Brand names that evoke cupcakes or frosting are particularly apt in this case. Some people might want to drink that sort of wine; not me.

On its own, however, a buttery character in Chardonnay can be beautiful. Ive got nothing against it. Steely, lean, mineral-driven  and emphatically un-buttery  Chardonnays have been in vogue in California in recent years, and Im as guilty as anyone of favoring them at the expense of richer versions. Which has made it easy to forget how delicious buttery Chardonnay, when done well, can be. Anyone who loves the effusive Chardonnays of Meursault, in Burgundy, knows what Im talking about.

If theres one thing I look for in Chardonnay, its tension. I love wines that contain multitudes: richness and acidity, generosity and austerity, creaminess and crispness. When butter is part of that equation, all the better.

So, in honor of buttery California Chardonnay, here are a few bottles that get it right. Buttery-in-a-good-way Chardonnay.

What Im drinking

Esther Mobley / The Chronicle

 Chalk Hill Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2018 ($20, 14.1%): This wine is made of fruit from the Carneros, Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill AVAs, and it represents a superb value. The butteriness is subtle, veering more toward a sweet-cream note, with hazelnut, pear and lightly smoky flavors.

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 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay Napa Valley Spring Mountain District 2016 ($40, 14.4%): A great example of a bold, juicy, full-bodied wine that achieves balance. The nose gives the impression of salted clarified butter and peaches, leading into a palate of lemon curd, mango and toasted nuts. Gratifying, but refreshing enough that you cant help but take another sip.

 Beauregard Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains Beauregard Ranch 2018 ($55, 13.7%): The nose here is pure lime zest, with a decisively lean, linear structure that nevertheless recalls pastry cream and salty, buttery pie crust.

 Qupe Chardonnay Y Block Santa Barbara County 2018 ($22, 13.5%): A floral, lightly buttery Chardonnay that recalls the smell of clean laundry. The wine is now made by Blake Kuhn, who took over after founder and longtime winemaker Bob Lindquist sold Qupe to Vintage Wine Estates.

 Merry Edwards Chardonnay Russian River Valley Olivet Lane 2017 ($68, 14.3%): The savory, toasty, nutty aromas of this wine recall browned butter. Its texture is round and creamy, hinting at brioche and Werthers Original candy, with a firm backbone holding it all together. (Merry Edwards Winery sold last year to Louis Roederer.)

 Chappellet Chardonnay Petaluma Gap Calesa Vineyard 2018 ($49, 14.1%): Think of a piece of toasted bread with a small pat of butter melting into it  thats as far as the butter goes in this otherwise creamy, complex wine, which also suggests jasmine flower, hay and pineapple.

Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob
NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Urban School Food Alliance ("Alliance") announced that it has received grants to jump-start its Student Emergency Food Access Fund and invited other funders to join in supporting 12 of the largest districts in the country in distributing hundreds of thousands of meals daily to students and their families. This fund is critical to support the 22 million+ kids who rely on school meals, especially during a global pandemic.

The Alliance gratefully acknowledged the seed funding from The Rockefeller Foundation, a private foundation whose mission is to promote the well-being of humanity, and support from No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end child hunger in America. The Alliance also urged other foundations, corporations and individuals to join them in raising money for the Student Emergency Food Access Fund. In addition, the Alliance is also a beneficiary of America's Food Fund to aid in the efforts to combat the growing food security problem in America.

"Addressing the food security crisis exposed by COVID-19 means making sure every family in America can access the nutritious food they need," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation. "We are proud to support the Urban School Food Alliance in this essential work."

In order to meet the demands of the pandemic meal operations across the nation's school districts, the Alliance anticipates a total loss of $38.9 Million per week according to Katie Wilson, executive director of the Alliance. "Schools have become communities' emergency feeding sites and these districts are operating without any indication of reimbursement for essential costs," says Ms. Wilson. "Every one of these schools that has their doors open are literally heroes on the front line." These schools have quickly adapted and remain nimble to meet the growing needs of students and families, but they are in desperate need of funds to remain in operation indefinitely.

The Alliance's Student Emergency Food Access Fund will be deployed in the following ways:

Transportation equipment to ensure food is safely transported and distributed to families who do not have access to transportation to pick up meals during this time. This is particularly important for homeless students living in shelters and other areas without transportation.

to ensure food is safely transported and distributed to families who do not have access to transportation to pick up meals during this time. This is particularly important for homeless students living in shelters and other areas without transportation. Safety and staff support to meet needs for hiring and paying staff overtime, as well as taking necessary considerations to provide staff proper protection.

to meet needs for hiring and paying staff overtime, as well as taking necessary considerations to provide staff proper protection. Suitable meals for grab and go models for the full family. Grab and go meals require additional resources and preparation to individually package meals and ensure food safety when not eaten immediately.

"No Kid Hungry is working with schools and organizations across America to make sure children are fed both during this crisis and in its aftermath. In supporting the Urban School Food Alliance, we are able to efficiently support programs that can reach millions of students in twelve of the largest districts in the United States," states Tom Nelson, President and CEO of Share our Strength, the organization behind No Kid Hungry. "The road to economic recovery begins with families having the food they need for their kids to thrive."

Details on how organizations or individuals can donate and help Urban School Food Alliance meet their goals in reaching more students who need nutrition can be found at https://www.urbanschoolfoodalliance.org/donate/.

About the Urban School Food Alliance:

Founded in 2012, the Urban School Food Alliance ("Alliance"), is a 501C3 nonprofit, consisting of 12 of the nation's largest school districts, that represent 3,600,000 students, serving 635,000,000 meals annually. School districts include: New York City Public Schools; Dallas Independent School District; Baltimore City Public Schools; Chicago Public Schools; Orange County Public Schools (Fla.); Boston Public Schools; Los Angeles Unified School District; Broward County Schools (Fla.), Palm Beach County (Fla.), Miami-Dade County Public Schools (Fla.), The School District of Philadelphia, DeKalb County School District (Ga.).

About No Kid Hungry

No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many as 1 in 4 kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger through effective programs that provide kids with the food they need. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization working to end hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation advances new frontiers of science, data, and innovation to solve global challenges related to health, food, power, and economic mobility. As a science-driven philanthropy focused on building collaborative relationships with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation seeks to inspire and foster large-scale human impact that promotes the well-being of humanity throughout the world by identifying and accelerating breakthrough solutions, ideas, and conversations. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @RockefellerFdn.

Media contact:

Nicole Pierce [email protected]

SOURCE Urban School Food Alliance

Related Links

http://www.urbanschoolfoodalliance.org


A warrior mum who fought Covid-19 as well as a litany of other dangerous conditions to give birth to her miracle son has now to plan a funeral for his twin she never knew existed.

New mum Dionne O'Rourke Ryan from Donore, Co Meath became the first woman with Covid-19 to undergo a Caesarian Section in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital when little Bradan Fergus came into the world twelve days ago.

The five-pound bundle of joy was the baby Dionne and Eddie was told for seven years that they may never have naturally.

It was also the little boy that doting mum feared wouldn't make it as she fought hyperemesis gravidarum and pre-eclampsia before contracting the deadly Coronavirus.

However the elated couple was devastated when they were hit with the news that tests showed another little fetus clinging on to her placenta.

Eddie with little Bradan

"I had been told that I may never produce my own eggs for a baby and was told that my weight could be a factor," said Dionne, who now lives in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin.

"So I lost over six stone in weight. I felt sick one day with what I thought was a kidney infection as I have low functioning kidneys but when I went to the pharmacy, a friend recommended I do a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side before taking medication.

"I remember being at home and standing over the pregnancy test in disbelief and then screaming for Eddie who nearly flew into the wall in his hurry to see what happened. We were just thrilled."

However Dionne (36) began to suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum which causes severe sickness in pregnancy and had to give up her job as a healthcare manager because she was getting sick in her car before home visits.

She also developed pre-eclampsia which she was being monitored by medics for when she developed a high temperature and headaches.

Dionne with little Bradan

"I was tested twice for Covid-19. The first was negative and the second came back positive, just before I was rushed into the Rotunda with breathing problems.

"I have to say it was the most lonely and terrifying time of my life. I was on my own and two midwives were dressed in PPE and came in periodically to check on me. I was petrified for what would happen my son and at 36 weeks pregnant, underwent the C-Section without Eddie present."

Thankfully she is now Covid-19 free and little Bradan tested negative when he was born - but the drama didn't end there as the couple learned of a second baby who didn't make it.

"Last Saturday, I was rushed into the Rotunda again with high blood pressure and had to spend the night there for observation. When I returned on the Monday for a check-up, I was met with a bereavement counsellor.

Dionne and Eddie with little Bradan

"She told us that my placenta had been sent off for tests to see if Covid-19 was active. They found a seven-week-old fetus attached to the placenta.

"I never even knew I was pregnant with twins. We've been given the baby's remains and are organising a little funeral to bury the baby with my grandfather in Duleek.

"I don't know if the baby was a boy or girl but in my head, I imagine a little girl so we've called her Hope.

"I guess I just want other mums-to-be or women trying for children that there is Hope. Hope to be a mum, Hope that everything will be ok and Hope that others will beat Covid-19."
The death toll due to coronavirus



in Madhya Pradesh's worst-hit Indore rose to 68 after three more people succumbed to the disease, a health official said on Thursday.

Three men, aged 40, 64 and 69, died of complications due to COVID19 in different hospitals of the district in last 12 days, Indore's Chief Medical and Health Officer Praveen Jadia said while confirming their deaths on Thursday.

He also said that the number of coronavirus cases in the district has gone up to 1,485 after 19 more people tested positive for the infection in the last 24 hours.

The number of new patients getting infected by the virus is declining, he said, expressing hope that the disease may be contained to a large extent in the district in next 15 days.

An analysis of the data showed the death rate in the district stood at 4.58 per cent till Thursday.

Curfew has been clamped in the urban limits of Indore since March 25 after the first COVID-19 case was detected.

Strict lockdown has also been imposed in rural areas of the district to contain the spread of coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NASA named three prime contractors today, including Huntsvilles Dynetics, to design a lander to put Americans back on the surface of the Moon.

Dynetics will compete with SpaceX and Blue Origin to build prototype landers, and one will be chosen. The total value of the contracts to all three companies is $967 million for the 10-month-base period of the project.

President Donald Trump has challenged NASA to return Americans to the Moon by 2024. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said today he does not expect government spending on COVID-19 to affect that effort. The agencys budget will be about $25 billion next year, a number Bridenstine said is small compared to the funds being spent on the coronavirus.

Theres really no more exciting mission than delivering humans to other planetary bodies, said Kim Doering, Dynetics vice president of Space Systems. However, its also among the most challenging endeavors, particularly given the goal of landing on the moon in 2024. We believe Dynetics has the recipe for success.

Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, has a team of 25 subcontractors working with it on the project including United Launch Alliance, which builds its rockets in Decatur, L3Harris Technologies in Huntsville, and Tuskegee University. Well-known partners include Sierra Nevada Corp.

Dynetics plan is to build a single structure that will launch on a ULA Vulcan launch system.

The lead center for the lander is Huntsvilles Marshall Space Flight Center, and team developing the lander is led by Marshalls Lisa Watson Morgan.
The people of Northern Ireland have shown how seriously they take the threat of coronavirus by willingly giving up their freedom - the very lifeblood of our democracy - in order to protect themselves and others.

This is an enormous sacrifice, which comes at a terrifying cost. Economy wrecked. Livelihoods ruined. The dreadful possibility that deaths caused by the effects of the lockdown could massively exceed those caused by Covid-19 itself.

And yet we did it just the same, sustained by the collective belief that it's the right thing to do. We're still doing it. Staying at home, under house arrest by consent.

So why, now, is the Northern Ireland Executive refusing to trust us with the truth?

Why won't our government tell us its plan for a pathway out of this paralysis?

We all know that the lockdown cannot continue indefinitely. Other countries, with death tolls similar to our own, are already on the move.

Where is the proof that people are "relaxing their guard"? There is none. All the so-called evidence is anecdotal

This week, Spain - one of the worst-hit countries in the world - followed Italy in publishing a detailed de-escalation plan.

Yet instead of crediting the public with the great good sense and self-control they have already demonstrated, our politicians keep schtum and scold us like naughty children for apparently showing signs of "complacency".

Where is the proof that people are "relaxing their guard"? There is none. All the so-called evidence is anecdotal.

What I see when I'm out on my permitted walks - which is also obviously anecdotal - are people stringently observing the measures.

Are we bored, anxious, frustrated, uncertain of the future? Of course we are. But we're still following orders - so far.

The big risk is that this could change if people don't feel they are being trusted with the truth. What we need to hear are the facts as they stand, and the thinking on the best way forward.

To be fair, the facts themselves are in short supply. This is a new disease, and little is known about it.

While we do know that the vast majority of people who die from it are elderly and/or have pre-existing health conditions, we don't know the true mortality rate (the percentage of people who die as a result of contracting the disease), because we don't yet know how many people have been infected.

The mathematical modelling on which governments rely is little more than theoretical guesswork, with huge margins for error.

To see this confusion in action, you only have to look at the wild fluctuations in the potential death figures from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, cited by Health Minister Robin Swann.

On March 19, Mr Swann warned of "a surge of Biblical proportions", saying that 15,000 people could die in Northern Ireland. That swiftly changed to 14,000 and then to 9,000. By April 1, Mr Swann was reported as saying 3,000 people could die.

The assumption seems to be that the public can't handle uncertainty, and yet the uncertainty is blatantly obvious

At the time of writing, 329 people have died from coronavirus in Northern Ireland (although that figure is likely to increase since it relates largely to hospital fatalities).

This is where the vital need for openness, transparency and accountability comes in. If you want people to keep following the necessary social distancing measures, you have to be honest and clear with them.

The assumption seems to be that the public can't handle uncertainty, and yet the uncertainty is blatantly obvious.

Robin Swann says that the Executive won't set a date to begin easing lockdown because it could increase complacency as people "rush to that date".

With the utmost respect, Mr Swann - and that's a lot more than you're showing us, the public - you are taking us for heedless fools.

What's more, basic psychology should tell you that we are more likely to continue complying if we're trusted to see the exit plan. Keep us in shutdown limbo, with no end in sight, and there could be revolt down the line.

Of course, Stormont has a long history of secrecy, obfuscation and indefensible economy with the facts. Notoriously, during the RHI inquiry it emerged that minutes were not taken at some meetings because they might be released to the public under Freedom of Information requests.

Sweden has taken a very different approach. It has chosen not to impose a total coronavirus lockdown, on the grounds that citizens could be trusted to follow social distancing protocols. Sweden's current death rate of 22 per 100,000 is about the same as that of the locked-down Republic of Ireland, which has been praised for its control of the pandemic.

Every death is a dreadful loss. We all want to protect lives and support the NHS. But people aren't stupid. So please don't treat us as if we are.
A class-action lawsuit alleges that not enough is being done to protect Michigan prison inmates from the spread of the coronavirus, as testing results from state correctional facilities illustrate how quickly the virus can spread in a confined population.

The suit, filed on Wednesday against the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) on behalf of the states 37,000 inmates, argues that they have been denied proper and equal access to vital preventative measures to avoid the transmission of Covid-19.

The complaint says that MDOC has failed to isolate sick inmates, provide adequate testing or cleaning and hygiene supplies, nor enforce social distancing. Inmates want the court to order the state to implement coronavirus guidelines advised by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

For its part, MDOC has published a comprehensive plan to stop the spread and mitigate the impact of virus on its inmate population. The legal action and comments from inmates published by HuffPost claim not enough has been done.

Chris Gautz, a spokesperson for the department, refutes all of the claims put forward in the HuffPost article, in which he argues: The department has been incredibly proactive in working to slow the spread and keeping our prisoners and staff safe.

MDOC has released test result totals to date from across its prison system. The department says that it leads the nation when it comes to consistent testing of the prisoners  originally once they develop symptoms, but this has now expanded to whole prison populations where an outbreak has been identified.

Out of the total prison population in the state, 2,675 tests have been conducted with 1,395 confirmed as positive for Covid-19, 52 per cent of those tested, 39 prisoners have died.

Two correctional facilities stand out from the table of figures released. At Macomb, 83 per cent of the tested inmates were found to be positive, but only 109 had been tested to date and they were already displaying symptoms, so it is difficult to gauge the wider impact of the virus at that location.

However, at Lakeland, where the entire prison population has been tested, an alarming 56 per cent of 1,403 inmates were found to be positive, demonstrating the swift spread of the virus in a prison environment.

Mr Gautz say that the uptick in testing at Lakeland came about because they were particularly concerned about that population. Controlling the spread of the disease was difficult, as many prisoners were asymptomatic.

The vast majority of prisoners who tested positive last week were confused as to how they were positive because they hadnt had any symptoms, Gautz told ABC13.

MDOC plans to reopen an unused facility to house the sick, to separate them from the larger prison population. The lawsuit asks the court to order the department to open other similar empty facilities to stem the spread of the virus.

Dan Manville, who is representing the plaintiffs in the class action case, writes: Time is running out for the proper protections to be put in place.

Similar worries have been reported across the US, with concerns that a prison environment, much like a care home, is an optimum environment for the spread of the virus.

Michigan has 40,399 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and has recorded 3,670 deaths.
Millions of Britons could lose the right to a cash refund for cancelled flights with the EU set to change consumer rights and force fliers to accept vouchers instead.

A dozen EU member states have asked the European Commission to suspend passengers' rights to a full refund as part of moves to help the hard-hit industry through the coronavirus crisis.

The group, which includes France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal, issued a joint statement calling for a temporary amendment to consumer law because carriers 'continue to incur high running costs' despite most planes being grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Enabling airlines to issue vouchers rather than cash refunds would be 'a solution for current cash flow constraints of airlines', they wrote.

The group called for a common level of consumer protection in relation to vouchers, including the right of reimbursement if a new booking is not used by the end of their validity.

Under the regulation commonly referred to as EU261, which continues to apply in the UK, passengers are entitled to a full cash refund within seven days after the cancellation of a flight due to depart from an EU airport.

Millions of Britons could lose the right to a cash refund - Pictured: A small fleet of Lufthansa Boeing 747 aircraft parked silently at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 20

It also covers flights operated by an EU-based airline from outside the EU to an airport within the bloc.

But many carriers are refusing to offer refunds or are not making payouts within the legal timeframe.

Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'It's incredibly concerning that a number of EU member states are asking to temporarily suspend consumers' legal right to cash refunds for cancelled flights amid the coronavirus outbreak, not least when so many people are now in difficult financial situations of their own and need their money back.

'Not only would this move be bad news for consumers, it would be a disaster for tour operators waiting for payments to be returned by airlines in order to fulfil their own legal obligations to refund customers.

'The UK Government must urgently confirm that it will continue to support consumers' right to cash refunds, and step in with support for the industry to allow them to fulfil this legal obligation.'

A number of airlines in Europe, including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, are currently seeking state-funded support after the pandemic grounded fleets indefinitely more than a month ago.

But increased customer complaints about holiday providers failing to issue refunds and pressuring them to accept vouchers which can only be redeemed during more expensive periods is now under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

'Not only would this move be bad news for consumers, it would be a disaster for tour operators' - This aerial view shows a giant fleet of Lufthansa planes at Berlin Brandenburg International Airport in Schoenefeld, Germany, April 23

The twelve issued a joint statement to the EU's executive body at a virtual meeting of transport ministers, saying the Commission should implement a temporary amendment to the rule 'as a matter of urgency', according to Reuters.

The dozen said consumers should be made to accept airline vouchers instead of refunds, with certain conditions.

However, the European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean has previously stated airlines must provide refunds for cancelled flights and can only offer vouchers if passengers accept them as an alternative.

Some EU member states also present at the Wednesday meeting opposed the proposal, 'so as not to frustrate the legitimate expectations of passengers', according to Reuters.

Locked down - An AirFrance fleet parked on the tarmac at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, on April 25. The dozen said consumers should be made to accept airline vouchers instead of refunds

As part of the terms under the proposed amendment, transport ministers said vouchers should be valid for a set period and include the right to reimbursement if not redeemed during that time.

The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating claims people are being pressured to accept vouchers for holiday accommodation, which can only be used during a premium period.

Transport ministers said the amendment would protect airlines in the event of bankruptcy, help airlines facing cash-flow constraints, and 'allow a common and adequate level of consumer protection'.

The measures were tabled as part of a wider discussion on how to handle an easing of travel restrictions as EU nations' economies reopen.

No decision was taken during Wednesday's meeting.

Transport ministers also urged the Commission to present guidelines to the transport sector about sanitary measures that could be implemented across all EU nations to tackle Covid-19. The commission is expected to present the guidelines next week.
Ukraine president's office: Ad hoc group elaborates creation of state air carrier operating Antonov aircraft

14:20, 30.04.20 1096

The aircraft could perform all intercity flights within Ukraine and those to foreign destinations within the region.
Staff members and former inmates who were inside Chicago's Cook County Jail during the coronavirus pandemic say they aren't surprised cases are now surging there. With 291 confirmed cases, the jail is experiencing one of the largest outbreaks inside a U.S. correctional facility.

CBS News spoke to three staffers and two former inmates on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. They said despite growing concerns about coronavirus in January, staff wore no protective gear while working with detainees until late March. The employees said they've since only been supplied with a single pair of gloves for the entire day."If you take the gloves off because you have to go to the restroom or do something else, it's not like you have more gloves to keep changing out," one employee said.There are 221 detainees and 70 staffers who have tested positive for the virus as of Saturday, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. The facility, which typically houses more than 5,000 inmates, is one of the largest single-site jails in the country. The first corrections officer tested positive on March 22. The following day, the first two detainees were confirmed sick.The former inmates spent over a year inside Cook County Jail before being bonded out by the Chicago Community Bond Fund last month. They said the aid could have been the difference between life and death."Inside, everybody knows it's going to be one of two things: you're either going to die or you're going to get out," one said about experiencing the pandemic from behind bars. "That's the conversation every day. We're going to die."

There have been at least seven inmate deaths at federally run prisons in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Prisons. More than 260,000 people have contracted the virus across the country, and over 7,000 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Story continues

The employees and former inmates said tensions ran high after officials announced the first confirmed cases inside the facility.

The former inmates and one staffer said more fights broke out after inmates were encouraged to report if they saw anyone exhibiting any flu-like symptoms. Both inmates said they often became upset because staffers weren't taking precautions like wearing gloves.

The employees, who interact closely with inmates on a daily basis, are now going in once a week and working from home the other four. They said that in addition to the daily pair of gloves, they're being told to bring their own supplies of personal protective equipment to work because the department is not able to supply them."We have fear of taking this virus home to our families and they're giving us almost nothing to protect ourselves," an employee said.In a statement to CBS News, the sheriff's department said hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and gloves are being provided to staff. Adding that, "masks are readily available, and staff are instructed on how to and when to use them in accordance with CDC guidelines.""I believe that the sheriff's department may have the gear but it's not being administered or given out to everyone equally," added Erik Roberts, an education facilitator at Cook County Jail and union steward for SEIU Local 73. "We need to account for the whole picture, we need to do as much as we can to make sure everybody is safe."

Roberts fields concerns from union members daily and said the coronavirus has added extra urgency to their calls for transparency. The three employees said they believe the lack of proper equipment is responsible for the rapid rise in cases.

The former inmates told CBS News the facility urged them to wash their hands more often but did not supply more soap in their weekly ration to do so. "We didn't know who would wake up with it in the morning," one former inmate added. "It was like we're at war with no weapons. We have no defense for ourselves."A former inmate said one additional bar was provided to a communal bathroom, saying it was "real mini, like the type you'd get at a hotel." An employee said each inmate is now given a three-pack of travel-size soap every week after a soap-sock beating occurred last month. The employee said the distributed amount makes it "impossible" for inmates to practice good hygiene."I know soap is used to kill the virus, but when 48 people are using the same bar at a time like this, that should raise some eyebrows," the former inmate added.In a statement, the sheriff's office said allegations that inmates and staff are not receiving ample cleaning supplies or soap are false. It said alcohol-based hand sanitizer, normally considered contraband, has been declassified and that inmates can ask a staff member for more soap if they run out.The sheriff's office has built a 500-bed quarantine facility and said that cleaning protocols have been ramped up in "all parts of the jail, especially high touch areas." The office said it's "ensuring that all staff and detainees have access to the supplies they need to help protect their health."

90940495-3311820388831440-1050468195086893056-o.jpg

This March 25, 2020, image shows inside a building that officials were preparing to house infected inmates away from the Cook County Jail. Cook County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

Advocates warn that disease spreads quickly in jails and prisons since confined spaces and often inadequate healthcare makes it nearly impossible for inmates to abide by social distancing recommendations and sanitary precautions.

The sheriff's office said there's been an "effort to move everyone in double cells to single cells to provide more social distancing." The two former inmates said they were still sharing cells with another person before they were released.

The county has taken steps to reduce its jail population. Last month, the Cook County State's Attorney's office said it would stop prosecuting low level, non-violent narcotics offenses to decrease the number of bookings. The sheriff's office has said all detainees that do arrive are being screened for flu-like symptoms.An expedited court process has also been instituted to get more bond reviews in front of judges. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office has said they've reviewed 1,500 cases and recommended the release of hundreds. The state's attorney's office could not confirm the exact number of inmates who have so far benefited. With 4,711 inmates, the sheriff's office said the jail now has its lowest population level ever.

Officials across the country are taking similar precautions. A judge in Harris County, Texas said about 1,000 inmates were going to be granted early release. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at least 650 inmates had been released from Rikers Island.The employees in Chicago said while efforts may have been implemented for inmates, staff safety has fallen to the wayside. They expressed frustration at what they called inadequate communication from county officials. According to a copy of a daily staff update obtained by CBS News, the sheriff's office has been providing employees information on the number of tests, cases and efforts to move infected detainees.The employees argue a lack of specifics for each department is putting their lives at risk. Two allege someone in their department is sick, but they haven't been directly notified to self-quarantine by management. All believed privacy laws prevented them access to the information.The sheriff's office said in its statement that it's "doing all it can to ensure that staff and detainees who may have come into close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 are informed that they may have been exposed." The office said all employees are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms."We don't expect our department to violate HIPAA or disclose a name, but I do think it's important we be notified if we possibly interacted with someone who has it," one employee added. "The sheriff's department needs to support us more as employees. We're risking our lives coming in on a daily basis."

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The Health Minister is urging people to stay home this weekend, saying the efforts of Irish people have already saved 3,500 lives.

In the Dail, Mr Harris said the public health modelling shows that the rate of reproduction of the virus has dropped from 2.4 per infected person when the first wave of restrictions were announced, but that it is now "stable" between 0.5 and 0.8.

Minister Harris said that if Ireland had not taken the steps it had, along with the adherence to those steps by the public, a further 3,500 people would have died: "Sadly, 1,190 lives have been lost to this virus. But thanks to the incredible efforts by the Irish people that we  that you  have saved over 3,500 lives. That is 3,500 reasons to stay at home, 3,500 reasons to stay the course and 3,500 reasons to keep with us on this journey."

"We have made significant progress but we cannot let that progress mask the current reality. Up to 40 people a day are being hospitalised, between three and four are being admitted to our ICUs. We must finish the job. If we want to continue to save lives, we must stay united, we must stick together."

"I understand the fatigue that people are feeling at this stage, I really do, its human nature. Were all human and denying ourselves of many of the things that are most intrinsic to our very humanity.

Mr Harris said that he does "not accept the premise" that restrictions cannot be lifted at midnight on Monday because of a lack of testing or contact tracing. He said the HSE has a "roadmap" in place on how to grow capacity to 100,000 tests per week by the third week in May. However, he said that it is not just testing which makes the lifting of restrictions impossible, pointing to ICU capacity and behaviour of the virus.

On the wearing of masks, Mr Harris said cabinet will consider issuing guidance on this tomorrow, but that he does not envisage making them mandatory.
LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global returnable packaging market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 6.4% during the forecasting period 2020 to 2027 and to reach around US$ 64.3 Bn by 2027.

Returnable packaging is highly preferred by the manufacturers due to cost-effective option for transportation. Major raw materials used for manufacturing of returnable packaging are glass, plastic, and woods.



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North America is expected to account for major revenue share in the global market due to high demand from healthcare industry. In addition, presence of major players operating in the country, coupled with new product offerings is expected to support the growth of regional market.

Moreover, business expansion activities through strategic merger and acquisitions in order to increase the customer base and enhance the profit ratio are factors further supporting the growth of regional market.

In 2017, Menasha Corporation acquired ARI Packaging that is supplier of contract packaging and fulfillment services for merchandising packaging and displays used by consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies.

The market in Asia Pacific is expected to witness faster growth over the forecast period due to high demand for returnable packaging from automotive industry. Presence of major automotive manufacturers operating in this region, growing demand for luxury vehicles, is resulting in demand for returnable packaging in order to ship the vehicles overseas without damaging the product.

In addition, easy availability of raw materials and low cost labor is attracting players across the globe to shift the manufacturing in developing countries which is another factor responsible to impact the market growth positively. Moreover, with the emergence of small and mid-size enterprises and novel product offerings is expected to support the growth of target market in this region.

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Increase in trade activities across the globe, increasing manufacturing activities, coupled with manufacturers approach towards adoption of sustainable packaging solution are major factors expected to drive the growth of global market. There is a gradual increase in trade activities in developed and developing countries. There is an increase in production capacity on regional level. With various government initiatives supporting the business is encouraging the establishment of mid-size enterprises and production units.

Manufactures are focused on developing well-organized supply chain system; their approach towards development of better logistic system is increasing demand for returnable packaging solution. This is another factor expected to support the growth of global market. In addition, increasing demand for returnable packaging due to their ability to transfer the product safe is expected to impact the market. Returnable packaging is usually made of robust material such as wood, plastic, and metals this aid in easy transportation of products without damaging.

Moreover, increasing demand from various end use industries such as automotive, food & beverages, consumer durables, healthcare, etc. due to low carbon footprints of returnable packaging is expected to support the growth of target market to a certain extent.

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However, factors such as stringent government regulation related to raw materials used and increase in logistic cost are hampering the growth of the global market. Government has imposed various regulation related to use of wood and plastic as raw material. In addition, returnable packaging increases the cost of logistics as the seller has to manage the cost associated to reshipping.

Increasing investment by major players for R&D activities and introduction of new products is expected to create new opportunities for players over the forecast period. In addition, major players focus towards emerging economies in order to increase the profit share is expected to further support the market revenue traction.

The global returnable packaging market is segmented into product type, material, and end use industry. Among the product type segment the pallets segment is expected to account for significant revenue share.

Players operating in the global returnable packaging market are Brambles, Schoeller Allibert, Menasha Corporation, DS Smith, Myers Industries, Nefab Group, Rehrig Pacific Company, IPL Plastics, Schutz GmbH & Co. KGaA, and Vetropack Holding. High presence of players operating on the global level is resulting in high competitive scenario. In addition, new product development and merger and acquisition activities in order to increase the business presence are expected to increase the competition.

Market Segmentation

Market By Product Type

Pallets

Crates

Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)

Drums & Barrels

Bottles

Dunnage

Others (Racks, Sacks, and Carts & Dollies)

Market By Material Type

Plastic

Metal

Wood

Glass

Foam

Market By End Use

Automotive

Food & Beverages

Consumer Durables

Healthcare

Others (Aerospace, Construction, Chemical, and Oil & Lubricants)

Market By Region

North America

US

Canada

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

Australia

South Korea

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest if Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Meddle East & Africa

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Acumen Research and Consulting (ARC) is a global provider of market intelligence and consulting services to information technology, investment, telecommunication, manufacturing, and consumer technology markets. ARC helps investment communities, IT professionals, and business executives to make fact based decisions on technology purchases and develop firm growth strategies to sustain market competition. Among the industries served include aerospace and defense, information and communication technology (ICT), semiconductor and electronics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, advanced materials, banking, finance services and insurance (BFSI), and others.

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DENVER, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTC: CBDD), a full-line CBD / Hemp oil company ("CBDD") that sells Black Pearl CBD / Hemp Products and the owner of CBD Social Network, announces that our Q4 has been filed.

Because of difficulties with our old accounting firm, it's understandable our late filings may have caused some uncertainty with new and current shareholders. However, this is all in the past. Swiss Industry Ventures Ltd (SIV) have hired new accounting and legal teams and indicated filing issues to be a top priority. SIV's long term goals are to become a fully reporting company, so we have chosen our new accounting and legal firms carefully. SIV is also working aggressively to reduce our long-term debt and accounts payable by Q1 which will eliminate all toxic debt.

The Swiss are very enthusiastic and have embraced their new burgeoning CBD industry with all its ancillary businesses and commerce. Competitive advantages are geography, only country in the EU to legalize production / sales of 1% CBD products and legendary Swiss quality. To date we are pleased with the business expertise and knowledge SIV brings to the table.

Black Pearl CBD Hand Sanitizer is back in stock and we have reduced the price to $12.99 which makes it more affordable in these troubling times. Our Hand Sanitizer and other products can be found on our ecommerce site, https://blackpearlcbd.com/.

CBD of Denver is focused on the development of innovative CBD products and creating social networks for those interested in the benefits of CBD.

Information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future financial performance, involving known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation publicly about update or revise these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE CBD of Denver, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cbdofdenver.com/


With coronavirus lockdown hitting businesses hard, India's largest company Reliance Industries has decided to cut the salary of most of its employees by 10 to 50 per cent with firm's chairman and richest Indian Mukesh Ambani agreeing to forgo all his remuneration.

Also, the oil-to-technology conglomerate has deferred annual cash bonus and performance-linked incentives that are normally paid in the first quarter, according to an employee communique.

The nationwide lockdown that began on March 25 had led to evaporation of demand as factories shut down, offices closed, air flights suspended, trains stopped and restrictions on the movement of people and goods placed.

Reliance's hydrocarbon business was adversely impacted due to a reduction in demand for refined products and petrochemicals.

The company's different vertical heads wrote to their employees about the salary cut decision.

"This has, of course, put pressure on our hydrocarbons business necessitating optimisation and cost reduction across all fronts," it said. "The situation demands that we maintain a razor-sharp focus on operating costs and fixed costs and all of us need to contribute to making this happen."



While Ambani will forgo his entire Rs 15 crore compensation, Reliance board of directors including executive directors, Executive Committee (EC) members, and senior leaders will forgo 30 to 50 per cent of their compensation.

Employees with compensation of less than Rs 15 lakh will have no reduction in compensation but those earning higher than that could see a 10 per cent reduction in fixed pay.

Ambani draws Rs 15 crore in annual compensation for being chairman and managing director of India's largest company. His salary has remained unchanged since 2008-09, forgoing over Rs 24 crore per annum.

"We will closely monitor the economic and business environment, re-evaluate our response to the situation on a continuous basis and strive to improve the earning capacity of our business," it said.

The lockdown period, the company communique said, has also provided several opportunities to reorganise and digitalise business processes to generate significant improvements in productivity, efficiency and costs.

"Together, we will embrace these opportunities and work towards restoring our compensation levels to normalcy," it said.

The communication said the firm's various initiatives on all fronts will help it strengthen organisation to become more resilient in coping with business uncertainties in a volatile and uncertain world. They will help us navigate through these challenging times with agility and emerge as industry leaders and as accretors of top talent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, on February 20, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Roger Stone, a longtime Republican operative and friend of President Donald Trump, appealed his criminal conviction and his 40-month prison sentence on Thursday.

The notice of appeal, which was expected, came as speculation grew that Trump would issue a pardon to Stone, a Florida resident who remains free on bail two weeks after the judge in his case rejected his request for a new trial.

Stone was convicted at trial in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., last fall of seven felony counts related to lying to Congress and witness tampering. Stone lied to a House committee about his discussions with members of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

The two-page notice of appeal filed in federal district court on Thursday, the deadline for doing so, does not identify the grounds for Stone's challenge to his conviction and punishment.

Full arguments for overturning the verdict and his sentence are expected to be filed eventually with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Stone's lawyer, Seth Ginsberg, declined to comment Thursday.

Stone last week added Paul Kamenar, a Washington lawyer who specializes in appeals, to his legal team, according to a court filing.

It is not clear if Stone will have to report to prison while his appeal is pending. He could be allowed to remain free pending the outcome of his appeal. If not, federal prison officials might delay his surrender because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokesman declined to comment on the question whether the BOP had set a date for Stone's surrender.The spokesman said that under agency policy "the BOP does not provide information on the date or location that an individual who is not in our custody may enter the BOP's custody."

Trump has been critical of the case against Stone, which was originally lodged by then-special counsel Robert Mueller as part of a sprawling investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and into Trump's campaign.

Shortly before the appeal became public Thursday morning Trump posted a Twitter message casting doubt on the fairness of his trial.

"Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly," Trump wrote. "How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias."

TWEET

Stone last week said "I am praying for a pardon" in an interview with New York radio host Frank Morano.

However, Stone said he has neither asked Trump for a pardon nor been promised one.

"Nobody tells Donald Trump what to do, and nobody tells him what not to do," Stone told Morano. "He will make his own judgment in his own time. His public comments have certainly been encouraging."

Stone also said he feared possible death from Covid-19 if he had to go to prison now.

"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," he said in the interview.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson earlier this month denied Stone's bid for a new trial. His lawyers had argued that the verdict against him was tainted by juror misconduct.

Jackson rejected the claim jury that forewoman Tomeka Hart lied during jury selection and had exhibited such a bias against Trump on social media that she should have been barred from sitting on the panel during Stone's trial.
Supplier News

30 April 2020

Zurich, April 14th, 2020. Honouring a longstanding commitment to hospitality research and innovation, Creative Supply-a leading brand strategy consultancy based in Zurich-is excited to announce the release of its Hotel Concept Handbook. Published in association with the prestigious Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne, the handbook is the ideal companion for aspiring and established hoteliers in need of a creative fix. The English version of the handbook is available for download here.

The Hotel Concept Handbook brings together the worlds of hotel design and hotel management through the lens of a transversal idea: the hotel concept. Moving beyond aesthetics or management, a hotel concept integrates all the constituent elements of hotel operation into a coherent and compelling narrative, making it a much easier sell for hotel stakeholders, from guests to investors.

The Hotel Concept Handbook is split into three parts. The first highlights some of the defining trends shaping the hospitality industry, and illustrates how they can affect or influence a hotel concept. The second part revolves squarely around the Hotel Concept

Framework: what it is, how it works, and how it can be used to create or refine a winning hotel concept. The last part of the handbook is a practical application of the Hotel Concept Framework, taking the example of 5 successful hotel concepts and using the framework to break down their formula for success.

This new guide is made possible thanks to the collaboration between Creative Supply and Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL). EHL is a global leader in hospitality education and research, with an extensive network of partner institutions and companies. Meanwhile, Creative Supply has built a reputation as one of the most successful brand strategy specialists in Europe, and has demonstrated the strength of its Hotel Concept Framework with commissions from leading independent hoteliers and chain owners.

Youri Sawerschel, Founder of Creative Supply and EHL alumnus

"At a time where hoteliers are wondering whether they should also become retailers, neighbourhood cafes or art galleries, having a firm grip on what your concept is can help you go beyond the hype and concentrate your efforts and resources where they really matter. This handbook provides a framework and examples to help you achieve just that."

About EHL Group

EHL Group encompasses a portfolio of specialised business units that deliver hospitality management education and innovation worldwide. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Group includes:

EHL Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne is an ambassador for traditional Swiss hospitality and has been a pioneer in hospitality education since 1893 with over 25,000 alumni worldwide and over 120 nationalities. EHL is the world's first hospitality management school that provides undergraduate and graduate programs at its campuses in Lausanne, Singapore and Chur-Passugg, as well as online learning solutions. The University of Applied Sciences is ranked n1 by QS World University Rankings by subject and CEOWORLD Magazine, and its gastronomic restaurant is the world's only educational establishment to hold a Michelin Star.

EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality has been one of the leading hospitality management colleges for hotel specialists for 50 years. The College delivers Swiss-accredited federal diplomas of vocational education and training and of higher education in its 19th century spa-hotel in Chur-Passugg, Graubunden, to Swiss and international students from 20 countries.

EHL Advisory Services is the largest Swiss hospitality advisory company specialising in service culture implementation, business consulting, as well as the development and quality assurance of learning centres. EHL Advisory Services has offices in Lausanne, Beijing, Shanghai and New Delhi and has delivered mandates in more than 60 countries over the past 40 years.
(@FahadShabbir)

A further seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Moldova have died over the preceding 24 hours, raising the total death toll in the country to 116, the national Ministry of Health announced on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2020) A further seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Moldova have died over the preceding 24 hours, raising the total death toll in the country to 116, the national Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.

"To date, 1,182 people have recovered, 116 people have died due to COVID-19," the ministry wrote on Facebook.

On Wednesday, the ministry announced two deaths related to the coronavirus disease over the preceding 24 hours.

The official case total in Moldova remains 3,771, including 960 health care professionals who have tested positive for the disease.

Elsewhere in Europe, nine new cases of the coronavirus disease were confirmed in Latvia over the preceding 24 hours, raising the overall total to 858, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control said.

The country's COVID-19 death toll still stands at 15, after two new deaths were reported on Wednesday.

Latvian Health Minister Ilze Vinkele said on Wednesday that she expects a second wave of COVID-19 in the Autumn as the flu season begins.

Moldova and Latvia have both introduced stringent social distancing measures to curb the spread of the outbreak. A 60-day state of emergency was declared in Moldova on March 17. All international air travel has been suspended and the country's land borders have been closed. Educational institutions have canceled all activities, and all public events are banned.

Similar measures are in force in Latvia, as a state of emergency is in force until May 12. Along with border restrictions, schools and universities remain closed and all public gatherings have been banned.
South Korea has today reported no domestic coronavirus cases for the first time since February.

Only four new cases were identified across the country, all of them imported from the Americas or elsewhere in Asia.

South Korea has been widely praised for its mass testing and contact-tracing strategy, which other countries have sought to emulate.

Meanwhile in Vietnam, which also took early action to restrict travel and quarantined tens of thousands of people, the government says it has contained the outbreak after just 270 cases and no reported deaths.

Hong Kong, a city of seven million where there have been just four virus deaths, reported no new cases for the fifth straight day on Thursday.

This graph shows the daily number of coronavirus cases in South Korea, which has slowed to a trickle after the country rolled out mass testing and contact-tracing strategies

The handful of new patients in South Korea take the tally from 10,761 to 10,765, an increase of only 0.04 per cent.

The last time that no domestic cases were reported was on February 18, the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

South Korea was one of the early virus hotspots after a cluster of cases linked to a controversial religious sect, but the epidemic has since lost pace.

Even now, more than 48 per cent of South Korea's total cases are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

Korea reported only one new death in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 247 - fewer than some European countries have been reporting each day.

Of the four imported cases, one came from China, one from elsewhere in Asia and two from the Americas. Three out of four were Korean nationals.

Authorities have also found no signs of contagion during the April 15 general election, after voters were required to wear masks and gloves.

'Twenty-nine million voters participated in the April 15 parliamentary election... Not one case related to the election has been reported during the 14 days of incubation period,' said public health chief Yoon Tae-ho.

President Moon Jae-in's party won the election in a landslide after widespread praise for the government's handling of the outbreak.

Nurses wearing white protective suits along with masks and face shields line up to enter a treatment ward at the Dongsan Hospital in Daegu

A voter receives plastic gloves from a staff member at a polling station in Seoul on April 15, during an election which does not appear to have caused a spread of virus cases

Seoul started its testing programme when the numbers were still small, telling companies to develop testing kits as early as January 27.

The first diagnostic kit was approved on February 4, and nearly 100 laboratories are now equipped to carry out tests.

When cases started mounting around the Shincheonji church, officials said they would test every member of the sect.

The city of Daegu announced that nearly all the 10,000 worshippers had been tested by March 10.

Similarly, Vietnam increased its number of testing laboratories from three to 112 - allowing it to carry out 213,743 tests. The country has confirmed only 270 cases and no deaths.

Todd Pollack, a Hanoi-based infectious diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School, said less than 10 per cent of Vietnam's confirmed patients were over 60 - an advantage against a disease which is most menacing to older people.

Vietnam suspended flights from Wuhan as early as January 23 and closed its 870-mile border with China to all but essential travel a week later.

Tens of thousands of people were quarantined, many of them expats returning home to escape the outbreaks in Europe and the United States.

Medical officials tested suspected cases several times, gradually discharging people from quarantine after they negative several times.

Vietnam has also limited the coronavirus outbreak after introducing mass testing (pictured here, people wait to be tested near the Bach Mai hospital in Hanoi last month)

By mid-March, Vietnam made the wearing of masks in public places mandatory nationwide, well ahead of most other countries.

Kidong Park, the World Health Organizations representative in Vietnam, said there was no indication of any outbreaks beyond what the government has reported.

Guy Thwaites, director of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, also said the government's figures were in line with what his laboratory had seen.

'If there was ongoing and unreported or unappreciated community transmission, we would have seen the patients in our hospital. We have not,' he said.

One funeral home manager said requests for funerals had actually gone down during the countrys lockdown because of the reduction in traffic accidents.

South Korea was also a pioneer of contact tracing, using phone location data and smartphone apps to identify clusters of cases.

Mandatory testing and quarantines now apply to nearly all arrivals from overseas, including citizens.

South Korea installed testing facilities this month at Seouls Incheon International Airport to screen anyone who arrives with symptoms.

People keep their distance as they prepare for an examination set by the General Insurance Association of Korea in Seoul last weekend

All arrivals must download a government app that tracks their location and requires users to report any symptoms.

Everyone must self-isolate for two weeks if they do report symptoms, regardless of nationality or whether they tested negative.

After the two-week period, the app shows a message saying users are free to delete it from their phones.

In its latest research, a clinical expert panel has found that recovered patients who were feared to have tested positive a second time were in fact false positives.

The country has reported 292 such cases, but the panel said the patients had not been reinfected with the virus.

The false positives were caused by the technical limits of PCR testing, the head of the committee said.

The World Health Organisation has warned that it is not yet clear whether everyone becomes immune to the virus after catching it once, or for how long.

Many countries hope that immunity tests will allow life to return to normal for those who are no longer susceptible, but the tests are not yet fully reliable.
THE Mid-West Hospital Campaign group has issued an appeal to the public for personal protective equipment (PPE) for nursing home facilities in Limerick.

It comes with reports emerging that these homes where vulnerable older people live are struggling for the supplies to kit out its staff.

Group spokesperson and former councillor Mary Cahillane said: Members of our campaign came together to see if we can assist in accessing equipment. We spoke to groups in other areas who are helping us to source materials and designs to start making PPE.

She said she will be using Facebook and Twitter to source the vital gear.

"It was felt that our group having had a good profile and thousands of followers may be able to help. All types of PPE are needed but it has become apparent that hand sanitiser and disposable gowns are in very short supply. It is our intention to compile a comprehensive list and to approach companies, individuals, organisations etc who may be able to supply equipment, use their skills to make products such as gowns or help in any way, she added.

The group is asking anyone in Limerick City and county who can assist to get in contact.

"We have already received pledges of support from volunteers willing to sew masks scrubs etc. There is a lot of good will out there and we just need to direct that into actions which will help support our healthcare workers, she said.

If you can help, please email hospitalcampaignmidwest@gmail.com.
The headline of this story was corrected at 4:42 p.m. to reflect that the attorney generals letter did not threaten a lawsuit. A spokesman for the AGs office said there is no threat from the AG; the letter expresses worries over litigation being brought against the city. The mistake was made by an editor.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sent a letter to the city of Birmingham calling the citys ordinance requiring masks be worn in public excessive and unconstitutional.

In the letter sent to the city on Monday, Marshall said the city should reconsider putting fines and potential jail time behind the ordinance, arguing officers should use restraint. Violating the ordinance could result in up to a $500 fine and/or 30 days in the city jail.

With your announcement that the mask requirement will be enforced, I am concerned that Birmingham law enforcement officers are going to be placed in a very difficult position and may feel pressure to divert limited manpower and resources away from more direct threats to public safety, Marshall said in the letter.

City officials say police have not charged or fined anyone for violating the shelter-in-place and do not plan to charge anyone for violating the mask ordinance.

The ordinance  like the shelter in place ordinance  is tied to standard fines/potential arrest, but like we said with the shelter in place ordinance, the intent is not to arrest people. Over the next week or so  like with shelter in place  the city and BPD will work to educate the public on this ordinance, said Rick Journey, director of communications for the city.

No citations have been issued for shelter in place violations. Many gatherings were halted by police intervention, but we found people willing to be in compliance when approached and educated.

Marshalls letter calls the mask ordinance excessive in relation to the recommendation given by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), on which the ordinance purports to rely...Yet, the ordinance requires people to wear face coverings or masks at all times . . . when in public places, which the ordinance defines as any place other than an individuals home or personal vehicle. The ordinance does not limit the duty to wear a face covering or mask to only those public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

My objective in writing you, therefore, is two -fold: 1) to ask that you reconsider enforcement of this ordinance and ensure that law enforcement has clear guidance from you in this regard; and 2) to raise your awareness of the high volume of constitutional questions and concerns that my Office has received in the last day and a half, in order to give you the best opportunity to protect your City against unnecessary litigation.

Woodfin responded to Marshall on Thursday with a letter.

In the letter, Woodfin says Marshalls office took objection to the citys shelter in place order, but many other cities and the state later also issued such orders.

We were the first city in Alabama to issue a stay-at-home order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. At that time, your office objected to that action as an overreach, but as you know, Gov. Ivey soon rook similar action statewide. Since that time, stay-at-home orders have been commonly implemented by most states," he said.

In the letter, Woodfin said the mask ordinance is in support of guidelines provided by the White House, CDC and the Alabama Public Health Officer. The letter said the Jefferson County Department of Health and other healthcare leaders supported the ordinance. The letter also notes that 50 other cites in America have taken such action.

This morning, I spent several hours with our public safety leaders, including our police chief and fire chief. I can assure you that the Birmingham law enforcement is very mindful of the reasons for this action and has clear guidance on how to implement it....We have included many exemptions to make this order practical and effective, Woodfin said in the letter.

I commend our leaders in Birmingham and Jefferson County for taking early and decisive action to fight this battle. Nonetheless, Jefferson County has experienced one of the states highest number of cases and deaths, and I would remind you our states African American residents have been disproportionately affected. We are making progress, but Jefferson County still has clear incidence of community transmission. We still have a threat that must be carefully managed."

Read both letters below:
With a price tag of $70,000, this isnt exactly an inexpensive truck, and it kind of missed a full onslaught on the F-150 Raptor, which is available in the fully-loaded spec at the TRXs base price point. Can it dethrone the apex predator, or will both the trucks be able to co-exist in peace?

After four long years, the production-spec 2021 Ram 1500 TRX has finally arrived. The truck is as impressive as it seemed back then in concept form if not more so. This performance off-road truck has all the ingredients to make a perfect recipe - theres a mighty V-8 Hellcat mill under the hood that makes over 700 horses, an advanced four-wheel-drive system, a strong suspension system thats good enough to hit triple-digit speeds off-road, and a luxurious cabin that can put even premium sedans to shame.

From what we know about it so far, it seems like one of the most wholesome packages that weve seen in recent times LISTEN 17:04

What Powers The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX

6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 HEMI Hellcat engine

702 Horsepower

650 Pound-Feet Of Torque

Eight-speed Automatic Transmission

Heavy-duty Advanced Four-Wheel-Drive System

0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds

Top speed of 118 mph

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is powered by a 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 HEMI Hellcat engine that produces 702 horses and 650 pound-feet of torque.

The supercharger is a twin-screw unit that has a maximum speed of 14,600 rpm and can regulate boost pressure up to 11 psi. The engine is mated to an eight-speed, high-torque-capacity TorqueFlite 8HP95 transmission, the same updated one that we recently saw in the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat as well.

Thanks to this powerful engine-supercharger-transmission combo, the Ram 1500 TRX takes just 4.5 seconds to hit the 60 mph mark from a standstill and goes all the way up to 118 mph before losing breath. Launch Control aids perfect straight-line launches, which allows this beast to complete a quarter-mile run in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. No wonder Ram went on boast that the 1500 TRX is officially the Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Mass-produced Truck in the World.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX specifications ENGINE: 6.2-LITER HEMI SUPERCHARGED V-8 Type and Description 90-degree V-type, liquid-cooled Displacement 376 cu. in. (6,166 cu. cm) Bore x Stroke 4.09 x 3.58 (103.9 x 90.9) Valve System Pushrod-operated overhead valves, 16 valves with sodium-filled exhaust valves and hollow stem intake valves, 16 conventional hydraulic lifters, all with roller tips Fuel Injection Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless Construction Deep-skirt cast-iron block with cross-bolted main bearing caps, aluminum-alloy heads with hemispherical combustion chambers Compression Ratio 9.5:1 Power (SAE J2723) 702 hp (523 kW) @ 6,100 rpm Torque (SAE J2723) 650 lb.-ft. (882 Nm) @ 4,800 rpm Max. Engine Speed 6,200 rpm (electronically limited) 0-60 Mph 4.5 Seconds Top Speed 118 MPH

Drive Modes

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is offered with multiple drive modes. The different selectable drive modes control the throttle response, four-wheel-drive system, transmission, suspension, and the electric power steering. The drive modes even include three off-road dynamic modes:

Sport

Snow

Auto

Tow

Custom

Mud/Sand

Rock

Baja

Since the truck is a performance off-roader, Ram has offered something known as Jump Detection. This function derives wheel-speed and ride-height data from the sensors and accelerometers at each corner to identify when the vehicle is airborne and acts to prevent driveline-damaging power spikes. Coupled with the off-road dynamic drive modes, this will be immensely helpful and give a lot of confidence to take it fast on rough terrains.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Suspension System

Front Independent Suspension System

Dana 60 Solid Rear Axle

Front and Rear 2.5-inch Bilstein Performance Shocks

13 inches of Wheel Travel Range

BorgWarner Transfer Case

The 2021 Ram TRX rides on a new frame thats built using high strength steel. It features a new independent front suspension system with active damping and a Dana 60 solid rear axle with a coil-spring setup.

The TRX also features an electronic locking rear differential and a BorgWarner full-time active transfer case. The Ram trucks final drive ratio is 3.55:1 whereas the low-range four-wheel-drive ratio is rated at 2.64:1. Do the math and youll ascertain a crawl ratio of 44:1 here.

The final drive ratio isnt the lowest, which means rock crawling wont be as easy as it is in the F-150 Raptor, but it wont make much of a difference unless you are taking it for hardcore off-road crawling. However, Ram shouldve offered a feature like the Fords Trail Control, that is essentially a cruise control system for low-traction and rugged off-road terrains, to make up for the higher final drive ratio. But, again, were just nitpicking and it wont matter most of the time.

Apart from this, the 2021 TRX is also equipped with new front and rear 2.5-inch Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks. These truly make it a desert runner as they provide better reaction time and vent out the heat faster. The company says itll help traverse over harsh terrains even with speeds greater than 100 mph. The TRX has a front-wheel travel range of 13 inches and a rear-wheel travel range of 14 inches.

How Much Can the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Tow?

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX come tow up to 8,100 pounds and haul up to 1,310 pounds.

How Is The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX On The Outside?

Unique TRX-specific Grille

Skid Plates

Steel Bumpers

Massive Hood Scoop

Potent Air Intake System

Full-LED Adaptive Front-Lighting System

18-inch Beadlock Wheels

35-inch, Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Tires

Offered In Seven Different Exterior Shades

On the outside, Ram seems to have taken a lot of inspiration from the Rebel and the Power Wagon.

As mentioned earlier, it will be available only in a single body style - crew cab with a 5.7 feet cargo bed. Looks are subjective, so well leave it up to you decide if it looks good or bad, but it certainly has a very strong road presence. The 2021 TRX is built on Rams Free-flow design philosophy that not only serves for the aesthetics but also aids performance. It features bold RAM lettering on the grille and a massive scoop on the hood, both of which help with the airflow into the engine.

Since the truck features a huge V-8 mill under the hood, Ram has paid special attention to its breathing capabilities. Ram has said that 50-percent of air intake to the engine will be through the massive hood scoop, whereas the other 50-percent airflow will be through the grille. A dual-path air induction system with a 92 mm throttle body and the segments largest air filter is present as well. The mill is capable of 2.38 liters of air intake revolution. Theres a 29-liter airbox to filter out the dirt and sand and avoid it from getting into the engine. To give it a rough look, the TRX is devoid of any chrome bling on the outside and features stuff like marker lights near the hood scoop, a skid plate underneath, etc.

Full-LED Adaptive Front-lighting System in all-black headlamps is offered on the TRX. Thanks to the integrated composite fender flares, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is around eight inches wider than the standard 1500.

This beast will be offered with 18-inch Beadlock wheels wrapped in specially-developed 35-inch, 325/65 section Goodyear Wrangler Territory All-Terrain Tires.+

It also features 15-inch brakes at the front, which are the segment-best. To top it all, namesake graphics and badges will be present all around the body, however, most of them are optional and priced exorbitantly high. It must also be noted that the truck doesnt feature a MultiFunction Tailgate. Instead, theres a simple power tailgate in place.

Apart from all this, there are four oversized two hooks in the front and the rear and dual five-inch exhaust outlets. There are a lot of functional accessories on offer, that will even make the truck look tougher than it already is. This includes off-road side steps, factory-installed rock rails, a bed-mounted spare-tire carrier that can accommodate up to 37-inch tire, and a rambar. Ram will offer the 2021 1500 TRX in seven different shades, plus one exclusive for the Launch Edition:

Flame Red

Hydro Blue

Granite Crystal

Billet Silver

Diamond Black Crystal

Bright White

Ignition Orange (late availability)

Anvil Grey (Launch Edition)

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Dimensions, Angles, and Weight

The 2021 1500 TRX is offered in a single body layout with a 5.7 feet truck bed. It measures 232.9 inches in length, 88 inches in width, and 80.9 inches in height.

The wheelbase measures 145.1 inches and the ground clearance, with the skid plate, is rated at 11.8 inches. Speaking of the track width, the TRXs front track width measures 74.5 inches and rear track width measures 74.1 inches. This is roughly six inches wider than the standard Ram 1500.

As for the angles, the Ram TRXs approach angle is a healthy 30.2 degrees and the departure angle is 23.5 degrees. For a truck that is 233 inches long, a wheelbase of 145.1 inches seemed on the shorter side, but perhaps that was done intentionally to keep the breakover angle on par with the Raptor. It is rated at 21.9 degrees. The TRX also boasts of a water wading depth of 32 inches. The TRX is also pretty heavy, weighing in at 6,350 pounds. To put things into perspective, the F-150 Raptor weighs 5,697 pounds in the SuperCrew body style.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX dimensions Length 232.9 inches Width 88 inches Height 80.9 inches Approach Angle 30.2 degrees Breakover Angle 21.9 degrees Departure Angle 23.5 degrees Ground Clearance 11.85 inches Water Wading depth 32 inches

How Is The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX On The Inside?

Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifters

Three Different Interior Options

Conventional Floor-Mounted Gear Shifter

Control Panel with Ram TRX-specific Transfer Case Switches

Head-Up Display

Digital Rearview Mirror

Performance Pages In The Instrument Cluster

Six Drive Modes Plus Three Off-road Modes

Optional 360-degree Camera System

Optional Trailer Reverse Steer Control

On the inside, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX feels very premium and luxurious; so much so that even got us questioning if the Ram 1500 TRXs cabin is too luxurious for off-roading? Starting from the cockpit, theres a new SRT-signature, flat-bottom, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters. It can be had with suede and carbon-fiber accents. It also features paddle shifters. An instrument cluster with a multi-information display sits behind it, more of which can be found in the Technology sub-section.

The seats are heavily bolstered to keep you in place when you take this beast hard around the corners. The automaker is offering the truck with three different options to choose from cloth and vinyl, leather and suede, leather and suede with red and carbon fiber accents. It doesnt make a lot of sense to offer suede on an off-roader since it is tough to maintain and is a dirt-magnet. But, it could find buyers. You can have ventilated seats, power-adjustable seats, etc. as an option. Ram also offers the TRX with a dual-pane panoramic sunroof.

Ram has skipped the rotary knob gear shifter in favor of a conventional floor-mounted gear shifter. In place of the rotary knob, the truck features a control panel that has Ram TRX-specific transfer case switches (4WD High/Low, Axle Lock, etc.) along with Drive Mode selector and Launch Control button.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Technology

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRXs center console features a massive 12-inch UConnect 4C touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Sirius XM.

A future upgrade to the UConnect 5 could be offered as well to support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can also find wireless charging dock and five USBs, including Type A and C ports below the center console. The truck comes with a 10-speaker sound system as standard, but a 19-speaker, 900-Watt Harman-Kardon audio system can be had as an option.

Coming to the instrument clusters MID, Ram has configured this seven-inch LCD display to throw up drive related info and performance pages that can be monitored and recorded. It displays stuff like:

Reaction time

Quarter-mile time

0-60 and 0-62 mph acceleration times

Dyno page

G-Force meter

A new color Head-Up Display is also available that can be customized with five different contents as per your needs. If you dont the standard rearview mirror, you can also opt for a digital rearview mirror with a 9.2-inch-wide LCD monitor, something similar to the Land Rover Defender. A forward-facing camera is available as optional as part of the 360-degree camera system. Then, theres also Trailer Reverse Steer Control thats similar to Fords Pro-Trailer Backup Assist. This optional feature makes use of a dial to point the trailer in the desired direction while the system controls the steering wheel.

How Much Does The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Cost?

The automaker has announced a starting price of $69,995 plus a $1,695 destination charge for the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. The Launch Edition is priced at $90,315 plus destination.

Ram is also offering a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty on the TRX, and a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty on the powertrain.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Competition

The TRX was touted as the Raptor-killer, but I feel Ram has put the TRX on a level above in terms of specs, features, and most importantly, the pricing. So, it leaves the F-150 Raptor in a safe zone, but you can expect a lot of customers to get lured to the Ram. Nevertheless, customers in this niche now have a strong contender apart from the Raptor to choose form.

The F-150 Raptor has a strong road presence and is fairly well-equipped on the inside, but definitely not as much as the TRX. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 EcoBoostmill that dishes out 450 horses and 510 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all the wheels via a ten-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. The truck is loaded to the gills in terms of off-road equipment and tech features, such as:

Trail Control

Off-road FOX Racing shocks

Long-travel suspension

Terrain-management system

4.10 front Axle with Torsen Differential

Torque-On-Demand Transfer Case

The F-150 Raptor starts at $53,455 for the Regular Cab and $56,440 for the SuperCrew. The build tops out at $75,840 before equipping it with the additional aftermarket accessories.

Read our full review on the Ford F-150 Raptor

Although the Ram TRX is sold in a single trim with a lot of customizable options. However, the company introduced a Launch Edition limited to 702 examples. This package is priced at over $20,000 more than the standard TRX, but despite this, all the copies of the special edition were officially sold out within three hours after the bookings opened. The Launch Edition essentially comprises of two different packages - TRX Launch Edition Package and TRX Level 2 Equipment Group. It is available only in one shade  exclusive Anvil Grey color.

TRX Launch Edition Package

TRX Exterior Graphics

TRX Hood Graphics

18" x 9.0" Beadlock-Capable Alum Wheels by Mopar

19 Speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound System

4-Adjustable Cargo Tie-Down Hooks

Adaptive Cruise Control

Deployable Bed-Step

Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof

Heads-Up Display

Lane Keep Assist

Leather and Carbon Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel

LED CHMSL Lamp

Pedestrian Emergency Braking

Pick-Up Box Lighting

Real Carbon Fiber Interior Accents

Rear- View Auto-Dimming Digital Display Mirror

Spray-In Bedliner

"TRX Launch Edition" Console Badge

"TRX" Red Interior Accents

TRX Level 2 Equipment Group

Body-Color Door Handles

Wrapped Driver and Passenger Assist Handles

Front Door Accent Lighting

Full-Length Premium Upgraded Floor-Console

Heated Front Seats

Heated Steering Wheel

Instrument-Panel LED Ambient-Light Piping

Leather and Suede Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel

Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats

Luxury Front Door-Trim Panel

Pick-Up Box Lighting

8-Way Power Driver and Passenger Seats

Power Adjustable Pedals with Memory Function

Premium Wrapped Instrument- Panel Bezel

Rain-Sensitive Windshield Wipers

Rear-Door Accent-Lighting

Rear Under-Seat Storage Compartment

Rear Window Defroster

Sun-Visors with Illuminated Vanity-Mirrors

Universal Garage-Door Opener

Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection

Driver-Seat Memory

Exterior Mirrors with Memory

Heated Second-Row Seats

ParkSense Front and Rear Park-Assist with Stop

Driver-Seat/Radio/Mirrors/Pedals Memory Pre-Sets

Remote-Proximity Keyless Entry

Remote-Start System

Remote Tailgate-Release

Rear 60 / 40 Folding Split Recline Seat

Surround-View Camera

Trailer Brake-Control

Ventilated Front Seats

Ventilated Rear Seats

Wireless Charging-Pad

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Safety Features And Optional Accessories

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is available with more than 100 advanced safety and security features.

Stuff like a rear backup camera, electronic stability control with electronic roll mitigation, and six standard airbags are offered as standard. You can further opt for features like Available features include Blind-spot Monitoring, adaptive cruise control, Ready Alert Braking, and Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus. Mind you, the Ram 1500 was the first full-size pickup truck to earn a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS. So, the TRX will be equally competent in that aspect.

Ram has also announced that the 2021 1500 TRX will be available with more than 100 Mopar-exclusive accessories like off-road lights, Beadlock-capable wheel rings, and so on, right from launch. Multiple packages like Advance Safety Group, Technology Group, Carbon Fiber Package, etc., are available apart from two TRX Equipment Groups that feature a lot of goodies.

Final Thoughts

The 2021 Ram TRX is a terrific package and looks very impressive from what is on offer. The price with all the additional accessories and packages may tick people off, but youre not a budget, the TRX is one of the best half-ton truck you can buy today. The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX will be built at the companys Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan, and bookings are already open. The TRX is expected to reach the dealerships in early 2021.

Overview and Backstory

dodge ram str10

Ram was one of the first automakers to venture into the performance pickup truck niche. It started the trend almost 15 years back when it launched the Ram SRT-10 with the Dodge Vipers V-10 mill. However, the market was not mature enough to handle it, thus sending it off the production line within three years from its inception. But, this laid the foundation of the niche segment which saw many automakers develop hardcore performance trucks. First came the Ford Raptor in 2010, later the Chevy Colorado ZR2, and they were fairly successful in those days. Now, Ram has decided to give it another shot and re-enter the market with the Rebel TRX.

Back in September 2016, Ram released the Rebel TRX Concept at the State Fair of Texas. The concept was based on the Ram 1500 Rebel and came with a ton of off-roading equipment, a wide body, and a powerful mill under the hood.

The automaker claimed that it came with the same supercharged HEMI V-8 mill that is found in the Dodge Charger and Challenger, but detuned to make 575 ponies.

Even a drive mode selector was seen here beside the steering wheel.

Post this concept reveal, there wasnt a lot of hustle from Ram until the 2019 Ram 1500s reveal where there was an Easter egg in the official press photos. The touchscreen system of the 1500 Rebel showed the time 7:07 which indicated that the upcoming TRX will not be a detuned version of the Hellcat mill. Then, a couple of years later, the truck was seen dune bashing at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Michigan, along with 10 FCA vehicles and a Ford Raptor in attendance. Now, finally, the truck is revealed and it doesnt look too different from the concept. It doesnt feature 707 horses in the production form, but 702 horses is not a bummer either.
With 163 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported Thursday, Missouri City continues to emerge as a COVID-19 hot spot in the greater southwest Houston suburban area and tops the list for Fort Bend County cities with roughly 14 percent of overall cases in addition to 10 more reported within the Harris County portion of the city, according to the Harris County Public Health Department statistics.

We do consider Missouri City is a hot spot right now, State Rep. Ron Reynolds said Thursday. I have been sounding the alarms about the number of cases here to Fort Bend County Judge KP George, who shares my concerns. We are working together to establish a new testing site there this week and provide more support to the Missouri City community.

Dr. Jacqueline Minter, director of Fort Bend County Health and Human Services Department, said a new testing site was being set up at Missouri Citys Marshall High School. The site is expected to open Friday. In comparison, the number of cases reported by Missouri City, where the population stands at approximately 74,705, outpaces that of Pasadena, the largest of Harris Countys suburban cities with a population that almost doubles that with approximately 148,159 residents, reports 116 cases currently. Approximately 18 percent of the Missouri City cases are linked to Park Manor of Quail Valley Nursing Home, where 28 residents and staff members reported positive test results on March 31.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: COVID-19-related death reported at Richmond State Supported Living Center

The county-wide total for Fort Bend Countys confirmed COVID-19 cases also continues to trend upward trend, reporting 1,052 confirmed cases and 26 deaths on Thursday, positioning it as one of only six Texas counties with over 1,000 cases. Of the total, 75 people are being treated in the hospital, 814 are recovering at home and 137 people have recovered. Fort Bend Countys death county related to COVID-19 stands at 26, according to statistics provided by the Fort Bend County Health and Human Services Department.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Missouri City councilman survives rough bout with coronavirus

Statistics indicate the number of cases reported among Sugar Land residents also continues to trend upward with a current total of 114 cases followed by Rosenberg with 57 and Stafford with 40 active cases. A total of 564 cases, more than half the countys overall total, are reported among residents who live in the extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) areas outside city boundaries. Fort Bend County is home to a large a number of densely-populated master planned communities such as Sienna Plantation near Missouri City where over 8,200 houses have been built in the countys ETJ area.

RELATED: Missouri City nursing home reports 28 COVID-19 cases

The countys African American community appears to be taking a much harder hit than others, reporting a significantly larger share of the countys COVID-19 cases as compared to Hispanic, Asian and white residents. According race and ethnicity data reported by county health officials, African Americans make up 35 percent of the COVID-19 cases followed by Hispanics with 22 percent, whites with 21 percent and Asians with 20 percent. Fort Bend County Health and Human Services provide COVID-19-related statistics which are updated daily and posted to the countys website. Weve compiled information from April 29 reports for the following Fort Bend County cities reporting at least one confirmed case:

Missouri City: 153

Sugar Land: 114

Rosenberg: 57

Stafford: 40

Houston: 22

Richmond: 15

Fulshear: 12

Meadows Place: 11

Pearland: 9

Katy: 6

Needville: 3

Pleak: 2

Thompson: 2

Arcola: 1

Beasley: 1

Orchard: 1

MORE COVID-19 COVERAGE: Houston-area animal shelters in urgent need of fosters due to coronavirus threat

Note: the totals listed for Missouri City, Houston, Katy and Pearland include only the areas located within Fort Bend County and do not reflect each municipalitys overall total.
A Ugandan court on Wednesday ordered lawmakers to pay back money they had awarded themselves to combat Coronavirus.



The High Court of Uganda ruled that MPs return all the money they received as part of a package they approved to fight Coronavirus in their constituencies must be repaid or transferred to national or district Covid-19 taskforces.



According to The Observer newspaper, an allocation of 2.4 million euros was paid into the individual accounts of lawmakers earlier in April.



The publication claimed that the money was initially approved as part of a bigger budgetary package, and was intended to be used for sensitisation about the virus before the lawmakers decided to pay the money into their individual accounts.



President Yoweri Museveni condemned the lawmakers for their decision to share the large sum among themselves, describing the move as morally reprehensible.



According to the statistics from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Uganda has 79 confirmed cases of Coronavirus with no deaths so far.













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Gimpo International Airport in Seoul is busy with passengers traveling during holidays that started Thursday./ Yonhap



By Kim Se-jeong



Korea reported four new cases of COVID-19, Wednesday, all of which were imported, marking the first day without any domestically reported cases since Feb. 18.



According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the total number of cases rose to 10,765, with 247 fatalities.



Also, the quarantine authorities said they hadn't seen any people suspected of contracting the virus after visiting polling stations April 15. Wednesday was the last day of the 14-day incubation period for the virus.



Almost 29 million citizens, including those who were under self-quarantine, participated in the election, and the authorities were highly concerned of a possible massive outbreak.






(Photo : REUTERS/Nathan Frandino) A Dahua Technology thermal imaging camera is seen during a demonstration of the camera at an office in San Francisco, California, U.S. April 24, 2020. Picture taken April 24, 2020.

Amazon had purchased cameras to take the temperatures of workers from a company previously blacklisted by the United States, Reuters reported.

People familiar with the matter said China's Dahua Technology Co Ltd exported 1,500 cameras to Amazon this month in a deal valued close to $10 million. At least 500 Dahua systems are being used by Amazon in the U.S., they added.

ALSO READ: Amazon To Focus On Essential Products Amid COVID-19 Outbreak; Will It Threaten to Throw Its Third-Party Merchants to a Tailspin?

Is it even legal?

Amazon's procurement, which has not been previously reported, is legal because the rules handling U.S. government settlement awards and exports to blacklisted firms, The Guardian reported.

The U.S. "considers that transactions of any nature with listed entities carry a 'red flag' and recommends that U.S. companies proceed with caution," according to the Bureau of Industry and Security's website. Dahua has disputed the designation, and Beijing has denied the mistreatment of the minority organizations.

Amazon declined to confirm its purchase from Dahua but said its hardware complied with national and state laws. Its temperature checks have been allowed "support the health and safety of our employees, who continue to provide a critical service in our communities."

The organization said it was implementing thermal imagers from various manufacturers, which it declined to name. These vendors include Infrared Cameras, which Reuters formerly reported, and Flir, according to personnel at Amazon-owned Whole Foods, who saw the deployment. Flir declined to touch upon its clients.

"It's troubling to learn [those] well-known American companies [turn] a blind eye to companies that are fueling the [China's] treatment [to their own people]," said Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House foreign affairs committee.

Dahua's thermal cameras were utilized in hospitals, airports, train stations, government offices, and factories throughout the pandemic. In addition to selling thermal technology, Dahua makes white-label safety cameras resold under dozens of different manufacturers inclusive of Honeywell, according to the studies and reporting firm IPVM. Dahua was among the 28 companies blacklisted by the Department of Commerce because of such human rights violations reports.

Face detection privacy

The coronavirus has infected staff from dozens of Amazon warehouses, ignited protests over allegedly unsafe situations amid the outbreak, and brought on unions to demand warehouse closures. Temperature checks help Amazon stay operational. Amazon stated the kind of temperature reader makes use of varied by way of building.

In order to check if someone has a fever, Dahua's thermal compares a person's radiation with a separate infrared calibration device. The device makes use of face detection technology to track subjects on foot by and make sure it is detecting someone's temperature accurately.

ALSO READ: Thermometer Guns Used By Coronavirus Front Lines Are 'Notoriously Not Accurate;' Should We Be Scared?

An extra recording tool keeps snapshots of faces the camera has spotted and their temperatures, The Guardian reported. An optional facial recognition software program can fetch images of the same subject to determine who a possible patient may have interacted with.

Amazon clarified it no longer uses of facial recognition on any of its thermal cameras. Civil liberties agencies have warned the software program may want to strip human beings of privacy and lead to arbitrary apprehensions.

In reaction to questions about the thermal systems, Amazon said in a statement: "None of this equipment has network connectivity, and no personally identifiable information will be visible, collected or stored."

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Helena-based Shodair Childrens Hospital has opened the childrens outpatient mental-health clinic that has been in the planning stages since late last year.

The clinic is already seeing patients. So far, because of COVID-19, restrictions, visits have been via telemedicine, but the clinic is at 225 S. Clark St.

We are looking forward to being part of the Butte community and serving the needs that exist there, Shodair CEO Craig Aasved said Wednesday.

Shodair has seen a huge need for childrens psychiatric services from across the state, particularly since the closure of the Acadia residential psychiatric facility. When plans for the Butte clinic were announced last year, Shodair was seeing patients commuting to Helena from 47 of the states 56 counties. Shodair has also opened a clinic in Missoula.

The Butte clinic will have three therapists and a psychiatrist on staff  all from the Butte and Anaconda area, a Shodair spokesperson said, adding that the clinic can also draw from its Helena staff to serve southwest Montana.

The clinic will see patients from ages 3 to 24. Dr. Tom Hoffman, a psychiatrist formerly associated with Acadia, is working with the clinic, Aasved said.

The clinics opening has been immediately noticed by the healthcare community. We had physicians contacting us right away, Aasved said Wednesday. There is a big need. Shodair is seeing patients from across the state. Were trying to create strategic locations that make it more convenient for patients to be seen by mental health professionals. Increasing access and removing barriers.

At the time the plans for the clinic were announced, Aasved stressed that Shodair had been invited to Butte by others in the healthcare community. Jay Doyle, CEO of St. James Healthcare, said at the time, Specialized psychiatric care for children and adolescents is critical  Shodair's services will make a major difference and as a community leader we see this as an opportunity to bring more services to Butte."

Soon, Aasved said, the clinic will have the opportunity to see patients in person, but probably will continue see patients remotely for some visits, particularly if patients are more comfortable staying at home. Were entering this new world of healthcare, he said. Even after COVID, its going to look different.

Receptionist Jessica Hardesty will be the clinics main point of contact, Aasved said. The clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information: 406-444-1125.

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California Wildfires Utility CEO FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2019, file photo, Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Bill Johnson speaks during an oversight hearing of the Energy, Utilities and Communications committee at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Johnson will step down from the job just 14 months after the nation's largest utility hired him to rescue it from a crippling financial mess caused by a long history of negligence and chance a corporate culture that had emphasized profits over safety. The announcement Wednesday, April 22, 2020, that the 66-year-old Johnson will retire June 30 comes as PG&E tries to push through its plan to end a stint in bankruptcy that was triggered by a series of deadly wildfires ignited by its decaying electrical grid. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP)  PG&E Corp. CEO Bill Johnson will step down from his job just 14 months after the nation's largest utility hired him to rescue it from a financial mess caused by a history of negligence and to change a corporate culture that emphasized profits over safety.

Johnson's June 30 retirement was not expected, but the announcement made Wednesday didn't come as a surprise either as PG&E tries to emerge from a bankruptcy triggered by deadly 2017 and 2018 wildfires ignited by its decaying electrical grid.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the head of the chief agency that regulates PG&E have pressured the company to oust its entire 14-member board of directors, including Johnson.

The California Public Utilities Commission, which oversees PG&E's operations, said it will closely monitor" who the company picks as its next long-term CEO. Newsom's office didn't respond to a request for comment.

PG&E gave Johnson a $3 million bonus when it signed him to a three-year contract last April. Under terms of that agreement, he will be able to keep that bonus on top of a pro-rated portion of his annual $2.5 million salary, even though he is leaving before his contract expires.

PG&E valued Johnson's entire compensation package last year at $18.5 million, but most of that consisted of stock options and other awards that he won't be able to keep upon his retirement. The company told The Associated Press Johnson isn't eligible for a severance payment.

Johnson's retirement is timed to coincide with the deadline for PG&E to wrap up its bankruptcy case with a deal that includes $25.5 billion to pay for losses suffered in Northern California wildfires that killed nearly 130 people and destroyed more than 25,000 buildings.

As part of its bankruptcy plan, PG&E had agreed only to replace some board members and gave no sign it planned to ask Johnson to step aside so soon after bringing him in from Tennessee, where he ran another large utility.

Story continues

PG&E recruited Johnson to replace Geisha Williams, who stepped down as the company's CEO shortly before it filed for bankruptcy in January 2019. Williams had become a target of scorn and derision after PG&E's equipment started a 2018 wildfire that wiped out Paradise, California. PG&E plans to plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for that inferno next month and will pay a $4 million fine for those felony.

Johnson's departure clears the way for PG&E to work with the state to bring in a new leader who government officials believe is better qualified to oversee the utility. Priorities for the next CEO include installing about $40 billion in badly needed equipment upgrades and managing deliberate blackouts during wildfire season to reduce the the chances its equipment ignites more fires.

As we look to PG&Es next chapter, this great company should be led by someone who has the time and career trajectory ahead of them to ensure that it fulfills its promise to re-imagine itself as a new utility and deliver the safe and reliable service that its customers and communities expect and deserve," Johnson, 66, said in a statement.

PG&E declined an AP request to interview Johnson.

Once Johnson steps down, he will be temporarily replaced by a former AT&T executive, Bill Smith, who joined PG&E's board four months ago. PG&E gave no timeline for how long Smith will serve as interim CEO.

This marks the fifth full-time CEO to part ways with PG&E since the San Francisco company got out of a prior stint in bankruptcy in 2004. The utility has been a frequent lightning rod for criticism since then, partly because of high electricity prices but mostly for its shoddy safety record.

Besides its role in deadly wildfires, PG&E's natural gas lines blew up a neighborhood in 2010, killing eight people in the process. The company is in the midst of a five-year criminal probation for that tragedy.

PG&E has a pattern of bringing in new CEOs with great fanfare and then having them leave in disgrace," said Mindy Spatt, a spokeswoman for The Utility Reform Network, a consumer group that has long been critical of the company's practices. We keep hearing promises they are going to make things better, but they only seem to make things worse.

Johnson's biggest misstep came last autumn when PG&E carried out a previously disclosed plan to turn off the power in parts of its sprawling service territory to reduce the risks of its grid starting more fires during dry, hot and windy conditions.

The deliberate blackouts at times left more than 2 million people without electricity, a difficult situation that was further complicated by the inability of customers and local government agencies to find out when their communities would lose and regain power.

In testimony before lawmakers and regulators, Johnson later conceded that PG&E botched the blackouts and promised the utility would handle them better in the next wildfire season.

And now he wont be around to fulfill those promises," Spatt said.

State regulators are still investigating last fall's blackouts and assessing whether PG&E should be penalized.




The number of babies born in South Korea dropped 6.5 percent in February from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday, in the latest evidence underscoring the low birthrate that has plagued Korea's economy for more than a decade.







The data compiled by Statistics Korea showed that 22,854 infants were born in February, compared with 25,772 tallied in the same month of 2019.







It marks the lowest number of newborns for any February since the statistics agency started compiling monthly data on newborns in 1981.







In the first two months of this year, 49,672 babies were born in South Korea, also down 6.1 percent from a year ago.







South Korea's total fertility rate hit an all-time low in 2019, a clear sign of its population decline down the road.







The country's total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime, came to 0.92 last year, down from 0.98 a year earlier.







Last year marked the second consecutive year for the rate to fall below 1. South Korea was the only member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that had a total fertility rate below 1.







The 2019 figure is far below the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea's population stable at 51 million. It is also a sharp drop from the 4.53 in 1970, when the government began to compile related data.







The crude birthrate  the number of births per 1,000 people per year  also came to a new low of 5.9 in 2019, down from the previous year's 6.4. (Yonhap)


Adam Smigielski/iStockBy PATRICK REEVELL, ABC New



(MOSCOW) -- When he landed in Moscow in early March from South Korea, Vladimir Bykovsky said he was ordered into self-quarantine for two weeks. Under the rules, he was not permitted to leave the house. But after a few days -- and showing no symptoms of novel coronavirus -- he said he stepped out of his building and threw out his trash. Then he went back inside.



Thirty minutes after that, the police were ringing at my door, Bykovsky, a 32-year-old worker at a patent firm, told ABC News.



Bykovsky said officers told him he had been spotted on a camera set up on the front door of his apartment building and identified through a facial recognition system, which had then alerted them.



Honestly, I always thought it was something to do with our intercom, Bykovsky said of the camera. But it turns out its connected to the surveillance system thats working across the whole of Moscow.



Russias capital now has one of the largest facial recognition systems in the world and it is using it to police its quarantine restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.



Since January, the system, developed over the last five years, has moved from its test phase into large-scale use, according to authorities. It is now operating across 105,000 cameras around Moscow, the head of video surveillance at the city's information technology department, Mikhail Golovin, said in February.



It's an example of how countries like Russia and China have turned to authoritarian technologies to fight their epidemics. In Moscow, authorities also appear to view it as an opportunity to showcase their surveillance capabilities. And while some experts question how effective the facial recognition system is yet in reality, civil rights advocates worry how the system and its capabilities for pursuing political enemies will outlast the health crisis.

How it works



The system allows police to search in real-time across those cameras for a person using just a single image, according to its developers.



As in other countries, Moscows technology works through training a neural network (machine learning modeled loosely on the human brain) to recognize faces by feeding it millions of images. The system can then construct a unique profile for each face it analyzes. In Moscow, the AI software scans and creates a temporary profile for every person passing in front of the tens of thousands of cameras and compares them to those of people on a watchlist, its developers said.



If the system detects a match, it sends an alert to a police command center.



Originally designed to catch criminals, authorities have found the system can be used to track people during lockdown. Since late March, Moscow residents have been ordered to stay in their homes, except for visiting grocery stores, pharmacies or seeking urgent medical care. Those who don't obey face fines.



For now, the facial recognition technology is being used only to monitor a narrower category: those who have tested positive for the virus or deemed high risk of having it, including those returning from abroad, like Bykovsky. He described how passengers landing in Moscow were stopped by medics and photographed three times while being tested for the virus. They were then entered into a quarantine watch-list.



The system can also be used for contact tracing, allowing police to follow an infected persons movements over previous days, said Artyom Kukharenko, the head of research and development at NtechLab, the primary developer for the system.



Kukharenko said the system can complete a search in under 10 seconds and that it largely works even when people are wearing face masks by identifying them by their eye line.



The company soon hopes to roll out a function analyzing silhouettes, he said, meaning it could spot large gatherings and also automatically detect when people are standing too close together.



Since March, Moscows authorities said the system has allowed them to catch several hundred people violating quarantine. Other Russian cities are also introducing similar systems.

Does it work?



Russia is not the only country to turn to expansive surveillance technologies. Facial recognition was already in wide-use in China before the pandemic and many countries are now already using or considering using mobile phone location data as well as downloadable surveillance apps to track people. In the United States, the federal government, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is using location data from millions of cellphones to understand how people are moving during the pandemic.



Outside observers though cautioned about the Russian claims for the facial recognition system, noting its application is likely more limited than officials suggest.



I wouldnt discount what theyre saying, but I would caveat it significantly in terms of their spread and abilities to do what theyre claiming, said Magarita Konaev, a research fellow at Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology, who is focused on the Russian militarys use of artificial intelligence.



She noted that the technology was still emerging and applying it in real-world conditions on a large-scale would usually mean a fall off in accuracy.

I think right now that reporting it the way that theyre selling it is doing marketing for them, she said.



Some police departments in the United States have also experimented with facial recognition before the virus, but outside China, there is perhaps nowhere where authorities claim to have implemented it as widely as in Moscow.



Aside from anecdotal evidence, it is hard to verify the Moscow systems effectiveness. A study in March commissioned by the U.S. Department of Commerce included some of the algorithms it uses, including those from NTechLab and another company, Vision Labs. It found both algorithms could perform a correct identification in a fraction of a second using a single basic computer processor.



Patrick Grother, a scientist at the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology and an author of the study, said whether the technology could maintain similar speeds in the real world was primarily a question of how much computing power a city was willing to purchase.



The contract to supply the equipment for the system, published on Russias government procurement site, shows the city ordered 258 servers as well as 16 of the U.S. company Nvidas latest graphics processing units, the Tesla T4. The Russian newspaper, Kommersant, calculated that the systems planned total storage capacity is 9 petabytes. For comparison, 1.5 petabytes is equivalent to 60 billion photos stored by Facebook



Several companies provided algorithms for Moscow. The lead developer, NtechLab, was previously known for an app, FindFace, which allowed users to find peoples social media profiles with a photo.



The Russian systems developers said the Moscow system had been designed from the beginning to work across massive numbers of cameras without demanding too much power or storage capacity. Importantly they said it could be applied to ordinary CCTV cameras already in-use.



We built a super power-efficient system, so we consume very few resources, said Alexander Khanin, founder of Vision Labs, which supplied one of the algorithms.



Three developers said it was not difficult to turn the systems to monitoring quarantine and cities with the system already installed would have sufficient capacity for it.



If the system is set up properly from the beginning, then it needs 2-3 days to switch it, said Andrey Khrulev, business development manager at Speech Technology Center, which has installed the system in other Russian cities, including St. Petersburg and Nizhnii Novogorod. We just adjust the algorithm a little.



Data for sale and other concerns



Critics of the surveillance also tend to believe it is rapidly becoming a reality. The anti-Kremlin opposition worry it provides a powerful new tool for repression and some activists have warned it will further deter people from joining protest rallies.



Behind the authorities sleek representation, its critics said there is also a seamier side to the system.



A freelance journalist, Andrey Kaganskikh, in December reported it was possible to buy access to the system. Dealers on Russian internet forums offer to perform searches for people that, Kaganskikh said, are carried out by law enforcement officers.



For a report for the independent Russian news outlet, MBKhMedia, Kaganskikh said he paid one dealer to run a search for him using his photograph. The dealer sent him back a dossier containing around 200 screengrabs from cameras where the system thought it had spotted him. But although many of the people in the images looked like him, Kaganskikh said none of them was actually him.



He said the system reported it had found him with 67% certainty, suggesting it may not be so accurate. But, Kaganskikh said, at the time only 3,000 cameras had been connected to the facial recognition software. With over 100,000 now linked, he said, he thought it would not be a problem to find him.



Security for the system is also minimal. It can be logged into from the open internet by anyone with a username and password. Kaganskikh said the price for buying a search, as he did, is low -- around $40 to $70.



Kaganskikh said while he believes there are legitimate uses for the surveillance system, it was being implemented with virtually no discussion and few legal safeguards, making it ripe for abuse. The pandemic, he said, was accelerating the systems expansion.



They were going to implement it anyway but now they have the perfect time to test it, he said. This pandemic can become like a big advertising campaign for this system.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
OTTAWA, April 29, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada continues to take direct action to support Canadian workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing support to those who need it most.

Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, introduced legislation to establish the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), which would provide income support to post-secondary students who lost work opportunities due to COVID-19.

Through the CESB, currently being considered by Parliament, students who are not receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit would receive $1,250 per month for up to four months (May-August 2020). Students with disabilities, students with dependents would receive an additional $750. The CESB would be available to:

students who are enrolled in a post-secondary education program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate;

students who ended their studies or graduated no earlier than December 2019 ;

; high-school graduates who have applied for and will be joining post-secondary programs in the coming months; and

Canadian students studying abroad meeting one of the above criteria.

The Government of Canada is working to get money quickly into the pockets of Canadians who need it most. Students who have been unable to find employment or self-employment due to COVID-19 during the four week period for which they are applying for the CESB would be able to do so starting in May. Details will be available soon.

The CESB is a key element of the Government of Canada's $9 billion framework to support post-secondary students and recent graduates. Comprehensive measures, including more student grants and expanded student and youth programming will help students, job seekers and youth looking for service opportunities through these extraordinary times.

Quotes



"The priority of our government during this COVID-19 pandemic is to provide support quickly to those who need it most. Canada's students face a unique set of challenges, and the legislation introduced today brings us one big step closer to helping them. The Canada Emergency Student Benefit would help approximately one million eligible students pay their bills and stay connected to the labour market."

 The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

"These are uncertain times for everyone, including young Canadians. Our government recognizes that our role  now more than ever  is to do everything we can to support our youth, who are concerned about their own futures, the well-being of their communities, and of their loved ones. These programs provide an array of opportunities to youth, to help them grow and to contribute as they have so much to offer."

- The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

"Canadian students are facing unprecedented challenges brought on by COVID-19. From interruptions in their studies to reduced employment and development opportunities, they are facing an uphill battle. Delivering benefits to Canadians is at the core of the Canada Revenue Agency's business. I am proud of the CRA's work on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit which is sending financial assistance to millions of Canadians. I am confident in the CRA's ability to deliver this important measure to equip students to address the unexpected circumstances they are grappling with as a result of this pandemic."

 The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue

Quick Facts

The CESB represents an investment of $5.2 billion and is expected to reach approximately one million students.

and is expected to reach approximately one million students. The CESB complements the Government of Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which already commits $146 billion in support to Canadians and businesses through these unprecedented times.

COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which already commits in support to Canadians and businesses through these unprecedented times. Already-announced measures aimed at helping students include the doubling of student grant amounts and a raised cap on student loans for the upcoming school year. A six-month, interest-free moratorium on student loan repayment is already in effect.

Associated Links

Follow us on Twitter

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Marielle Hossack, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, 819-654-5552, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]

Related Links

www.hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca


The people of Northern Ireland have worked very hard to make the lockdown effective.

We have reduced the number of Covid-19 cases in the community and reduced the number of people admitted to hospital. We now have a manageable number in ICU.

The greatest risk to what we have achieved with all this hard work is complacency.

We must continue thoroughly washing our hands, keeping our hands away from our faces and maintaining social distancing for all and social isolation for the most vulnerable. We have to avoid social gatherings or we will suffer a second wave of infections.

The process of easing the lockdown will have to be flexible across the UK. Health Minister Robin Swann has assured us that it will be appropriate for the conditions prevalent in Northern Ireland and that it will only happen when the time is right.

The focus over the next phase should be on maintaining suppression of Covid-19 and protecting lives while gradually resuming economic activity.

This is likely to last for months until we have an effective vaccine.

The process of easing lockdown will be informed by the best available data and research. We will learn from the experiences of other countries as they ease their lockdowns.

We have been increasing our testing for Covid-19. Contact tracing is being planned and staff recruited for this effort so that we can control outbreaks and limit the spread of the disease.

Vulnerable and at-risk groups must have their physical, mental and social needs prioritised.

Testing for infection and running antibody tests to see has had the infection will be an important element of controlling transmission.

We will need to continue our efforts to ensure an adequate supply of PPE for our NHS workers and our health and social care staff. We'll have to focus all our efforts on care homes to support the excellent staff there.

Social distancing will have to continue for the foreseeable future, facemasks will become a common sight in the community and we won't be shaking hands or hugging friends for a long time

GPs will soon begin to open their practices for more routine services using telephone and video consultations.

Patients are being encouraged to attend emergency departments and hospitals because there are concerns about illnesses other than Covid-19 being missed.

Red-flag referrals for cancer diagnosis will be a priority.

Mental health services will have a challenging time the once lockdown is eased.

We will see new ways of working in the health service continued.

Social distancing will have to continue for the foreseeable future, facemasks will become a common sight in the community and we won't be shaking hands or hugging friends for a long time.

We are at the end of the beginning. If we allow complacency to creep in, it will cost lives.

Everyone has done well to follow the guidelines so far, but history teaches us that we need to maintain this short-term pain for the long-term gain of getting our normal lives back.

Wash your hands, keep your distance and stay safe.

Tom Black is chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Northern Ireland
When his state on Brazil's northern coast needed ventilators to handle a surge in coronavirus victims, Maranhao Governor Flavio Dino imported 190 units from China through an unusual route.

The cargo made a stop in Ethiopia before arriving in Sao Paulo, where it skipped customs and was flown straight to Sao Luis do Maranhao, the state's capital. Dino had no time to spare -- his state is the poorest in Brazil, with a health care system ill-prepared to cope with the pandemic -- and he was running out of options. Previous purchases had fallen through while in transit through the U.S. and even in Brazil.

"We saw a purchase of 600 ventilators get canceled, probably because of the surge in demand globally," he said in an interview. "We had to think of new ways."

Dino is not alone. Brazilian governors are coming up with creative ways to get much-needed medical equipment, avoiding regular routes through Europe and the U.S., and bypassing even the federal government to make it happen.

Their strategies show the great lengths states with little financial and political clout are going to in a bid to secure medical equipment during the pandemic. As Brazil increasingly becomes a global virus hotspot, with more than 5,000 deaths since the outbreak started, state governors say they're competing for scarce global supplies with little assistance from President Jair Bolsonaro, who has downplayed the coronavirus as "just a little flu."

Brazil's health ministry said that, while it's supplying the public health system with 14,100 ventilators purchased from national producers, it has the power to take control of medical equipment in case of emergency.

"The measure is temporary and seeks to regulate our system, guaranteeing that everyone is supplied in accordance with the constitutional principal of fairness," the ministry said in a statement.

Unable to wait for federal help, another Brazilian state had a hard time importing equipment. Pernambuco, in Brazil's northeast coast, tried buying ventilators from China and Germany, but was told that both nations were out of stock. Turkey had supplies, but could not guarantee a delivery date. State officials then hired an intermediary -- a Las Vegas-based trader -- to bring the equipment from China through Dubai to Recife, the state's capital.

The nearby state of Bahia had a similar experience. After an initial order worth 43 million reais ($7.6 million) never made it past the U.S., it made a new purchase with another Chinese supplier, demanding that the cargo would not make a stop in any U.S. port or airport.

"We bought respirators from China through an American trader, who canceled the purchase," Bahia's health secretary Fabio Vilas-Boas said in a interview. "We found out after it moved the sale to New York."

The alternative, Vilas-Boas added, is to use routes via Argentina or the Middle East, even as they became as much as five times more expensive.

To be sure, not all states are having trouble. Sao Paulo, the hardest-hit by the pandemic, is buying directly from China, fast-tracking payment to avoid issues. Parana and Rio Grande do Sul have successfully imported ventilators, while Distrito Federal, where the capital of Brasilia is located, and Roraima are sourcing all equipment locally.

Meanwhile, as the virus toll continues to mount, Maranhao's Dino is still waiting on part of his Chinese order to arrive. But he won't reveal the route they're taking to get to him.
Beirut, Lebanon  Lebanons central bank governor Riad Salameh said Wednesday that policies he crafted during his near-30-year tenure prevented the Lebanese state from going bankrupt. He stressed his efforts succeeded despite politicians failing to implement reforms for decades.

In an almost hour-long televised address, Salameh  the head of the Banque du Liban or central bank  hit back at bubbling criticism from politicians who blame him for the national currencys rapid slide.

Salameh noted that successive governments were privy to his decision-making, but politicians were now trying to single him out amid the countrys worst-ever financial crisis. Lebanons currency depreciated at least 12 percent in a single day last week.

Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salamehs once-stellar reputation as a guarantor of currency stability in Lebanon has been shaken by its rapid devaluation [File: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters]

There is no unilateralism in spending decisions, and saying the opposite is slander aimed at misleading public opinion and falsely attributing responsibility for financial decisions to the central bank, Salameh said, near the beginning of his address.

Salamehs address  uncharacteristic in its direct style, but standard in that he took no questions  was prompted by a jab from Prime Minister Hassan Diab, who last week blasted Salameh for gaps in performance, strategies, frankness, clarity, [and] monetary policy.

Diab also derided suspicious ambiguity surrounding a controversial policy directive, which allowed all foreign-currency account holders to withdraw money in Lebanese pounds at a market rate set by banks instead of the official rate. The official rate values the currency at more than double its real value  1,500 Lebanese pounds to $1 instead of around 3,800 to the greenback.

Withdrawing US dollars from Lebanese banks used to be standard, but it is now impossible in Lebanon because of capital controls that have been in place for the last six months to combat an acute dollar shortage.

Salamehs directive has been criticised as leading to increased circulation of Lebanese pounds  also called lira  while making dollars scarce, which experts say could cause the currency to devalue further.

Diab went so far as to say that the man who has led the Banque du Liban for 27 years may be intentionally attempting to hurt the currency.

While Salameh was synonymous with the currencys stability over that last three decades, he has come onto ever-more-shaky ground as it depreciates. Lebanese President Michel Aoun asked ministers at a cabinet session last week whether Salameh should be replaced, but there was no agreement.

Salameh was known for dryly stating the lira is stable at every opportunity  something which he said had come from his drive to protect the currency.

If you want to blame me for that, do, he said.

I didnt spend the money

Speaking slowly and deliberately, Salameh repeatedly placed blame for the dire state of Lebanons financial, economic and monetary situation at the feet of the countrys entrenched political elite.

The central bank has funded the state, but it has not spent the money, he said. We must know who has spent the money, and there are constitutional and administrative institutions that have the task of revealing how it was spent.

Despite qualms over Lebanons notoriously corrupt politicians desire to reform, Salameh said the law forced him to continue to fund the states advances and treasury bonds.

Anti-establishment protesters have criticised Salameh for continuing to sit at the banks helm and cooperate with a long line of governments that dug Lebanon into debt, while offering little to show for all that burden.

Lebanon is one of the most indebted nations in the world in terms of its debt as a ratio of economic output. It has defaulted on its obligations and is seeking to restructure $90bn of debt.

Promises unfulfilled

Salameh said he undertook financial engineering operations in the last few years that aimed to boost the

central banks foreign currency reserves at heavy losses to buy time for Lebanon.

There were promises of reform, he said, but these promises were not translated for political reasons.

He went on to dispute an explosive claim by Diab that $5.7bn had left Lebanon in the past few months despite informal capital controls being in place on transfers abroad.

Salameh said $3.7bn was used to cover loans, and $2.2bn was withdrawn from banks in Lebanon, most of it in local currency. So this didnt leave Lebanon, he said curtly.

Diab is set to finalise the cabinets financial rescue plan at a cabinet session on Thursday. One of its most controversial provisions proposes slashing a percentage off of large deposits  also known as a haircut.

There is no need, and we shouldnt implement a haircut, Salameh said, using some of the most forceful language of the entire press conference. This will terrify depositors and delay the revival of the banking sector and its role in financing the economy.
At a time when local administrations in each of the 11 districts of Delhi are pulling out all stops to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the southwest district administration Wednesday suffered a setback with three officials in the district magistrate (DM)s office testing positive for the coronavirus infection. This is the first instance of cases being reported from a DMs office, Delhi health officials said.

As per the Delhi governments rules, an area has to be declared a containment zone if three or more Covid-19 cases are reported from there. As soon as a place reports three positive cases, our officials declare the identified area as a containment zone. As of today, 90 of the 100 containment zones in Delhi have not reported any new Covid-19 case. So, our strict containment policy has helped prevent the spread of the virus, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said, during his daily media briefing Wednesday.

When asked if this meant that the southwest DMs office, too, would become a containment zone, a senior government official said that would not be possible as all Covid-19 management activities in that district are being carried out from the office complex.

A senior official in the southwest DMs office who is authorised to speak to the media, said their office is functioning as usual.

The entire office complex has been sanitised and social distancing is being maintained, the official said.

As a precautionary measure, DM (south-west) Rahul Singh has put himself in home quarantine, while 17 others, who were in close contact with the first official who tested positive, have been kept under observation at the Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurvedic Hospital, which is a dedicated Covid-19 health centre.

The disease spread in the DMs office come to fore Sunday night when Singhs personal secretary tested positive for Covid-19. On Wednesday, we received the test reports of 17 others from DMs office. Unfortunately, two civil defence volunteers have tested positive for Covid-19. Both are contacts of the first case (personal secretary to the DM), the official said.

The administration said contact tracing is currently being done and samples will be collected of their primary contacts.

The personal secretary, who was the first case from this office, is likely to have contracted the infection from Uttam Nagar. Thats where he lives and that area also has reported a number of Covid-19 cases. So, preliminary findings indicate that the virus was contracted from his area of residence. The 17 other staff members will be in isolation for the next few days before returning to work, the official said.

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Shortly after closing his barbershop in mid-March, Jeremy Regan (owner/operator of Hunter & Gunn on Broadway) sat down with his wife, Jane, to discuss the trouble headed their way.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shortly after closing his barbershop in mid-March, Jeremy Regan (owner/operator of Hunter & Gunn on Broadway) sat down with his wife, Jane, to discuss the trouble headed their way.

Social-distancing restrictions had forced businesses to shutter, and, like most small operations, when the doors are closed, the future gets pretty dim, pretty quickly. There was rent, insurance and utilities to cover, and not a single dollar coming in.

There were government support programs, but Hunter & Gunn made for an awkward fit.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jeremy Regan, owner/operator of Hunter & Gunn on Broadway, was able to get a $40,000 federal line of credit  but he won't spend any of it until he knows when his Winnipeg barbershop can reopen.

Wage subsidies were not really useful because the business was not permitted to continue operating, even in limited fashion. Some of the shop's employees qualified for enhanced employment benefits, and Regan was able to get a $40,000 federal line of credit  but he won't spend any of it until he knows when his Winnipeg barbershop can reopen.

The writing was on the wall, and Regan wanted to make sure he and his family read it all.

"We just took a look around at what was happening and decided that if the shutdown continued for a long time, we were going to go bankrupt and we'd have to sell our home," said the 46-year-old.

"We, obviously, didn't want that to happen, but we thought we should be prepared. And mostly, we were okay with it. We're not people who worry that much about stuff, but we had to face the reality."

So far, none of those drastic actions have been required. Now that he will be allowed to reopen May 4, as per the recent guidelines provided by the province, a lot of the uncertainty has been alleviated.

"We now for sure know that there was nothing available to help small businesses through things like this. Not really. They don't really understand us."  Hunter & Gunn owner Jeremy Regan

Although, Regan said, he is still concerned this crisis has confirmed how little government knows about small business.

"We now for sure know that there was nothing available to help small businesses through things like this," he said. "Not really. They don't really understand us."

The lockdown necessitated by the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus hit almost all sectors of the economy hard, but none more so than small businesses. With limited employees and small profit margins, most run close to break-even, and that's with a fully-functioning economy.

Government has tried to respond: Ottawa unleashed a broad range of supports for both individuals and businesses; there are employment insurance benefits, wage subsidies and various forms of loans or lines of credit.

However, the programs being delivered are, in many instances, not meeting stated goals.

"Many people, not just politicians, underestimate the degree to which the finances of small firms are geared... day-to-day," said Ted Mallett, chief economist for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. "Most don't have large financial stockpiles or rainy day funds to rely upon."

Small business split on federal wage subsidy Click to Expand A customer uses digital mapping technology designed by Waterloo, Ont.-based technology startup MappedIn. The company's founder Hongwei Liu says the federal government's emergency wage subsidy may not account for technology businesses like his that can't easily show a 30-per cent revenue declines in their business over the past year due to COVID-19. TE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-MappedIn MANDATORY CREDIT Posted: 1:16 PM Apr. 7, 2020 TORONTO - When the impact of COVID-19 led Hongwei Liu to temporarily lay off some employees and slash company forecasts, the founder of Waterloo, Ont.-based technology startup MappedIn hoped he might qualify for a helping hand under the federal government's emergency wage subsidy. Like many other small businesses across the country, the indoor digital mapping developer expects to be hammered by the economic fallout caused by the virus  except proving it on the financial books isn't so simple right now. Read Full Story

In early April, a CFIB survey found only one-third of Manitoba small businesses were able to continue operating during the pandemic; another 30 per cent are "worried about permanent closure."

The survey matches up against national data from Statistics Canada, which shows one-third of all businesses reported revenue losses of 40 per cent or more from the same period a year earlier.

There have been several problems with the federal and provincial supports, Mallett noted.

Programs such as a wage subsidy or rent assistance are only available after-the-fact; businesses must find the money to pay wages and rent upfront and will only receive the subsidy funds months later. That is simply unrealistic for many small firms who are cash-poor within days of shutting operations, he said.

Ottawa's hard eligibility requirements are also leaving many businesses in limbo. "For example, you need a 30 per cent drop in revenues to qualify for the wage subsidy," Mallett said. "Well, if you've got a 29 per cent loss, you're out of luck. We really hope there will be some movement in those barriers over time."

Another criticism has been too many support programs focus on providing loans.

"It's impossible for us to take advantage of the loan when we didn't have any idea about when we can reopen," said Kristen Cheremika, 35, who, along with husband Kyle Lew, owns Lark restaurant in Winnipeg's Exchange District.

"Even interest-free, I don't want to build up a bunch of loans if I don't know when I can start paying them back. The loan, for us, would be just another albatross around our necks."

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS "It's impossible for us to take advantage of the loan when we didn't have any idea about when we can reopen," said Kristen Cheremika, 35, who, along with husband Kyle Lew, owns Lark restaurant in Winnipeg's Exchange District.

The pandemic lockdown could not have come at a worse time for Cheremika and Lew. After several years building up positive reviews and a loyal clientele at Chew restaurant on Corydon Avenue, the couple decided late last year to pursue a new concept and location at 91 Albert St.

The first few months in their new location were successful, Cheremika said, but the business still needed time to grow and become established. When the pandemic forced restaurants to close, there was some thought to providing take-out or delivery service (as many others have done). However, online delivery services charge high commissions and there didn't seem to be a scenario where Lark could break-even.

"Our staff was, to be honest, comfortable when we closed," she said. "They were scared and concerned about the virus. And even if you're doing takeout, you need a certain number of staff to make it work. Many of them got employment benefits and they'll be okay for a while.

"We're just not sure about how we're going to make out."

Now that there is a reasonably firm June 1 timetable for the limited resumption of sit-down dining, Cheremika said wage and rent subsidies may prove to be beneficial  but only if her customers show an appetite for going out and eating in a restaurant with other customers.

Cheremika said she is astounded by how useless some of the support programs have been. When the Manitoba government announced a rebate on workers compensation benefits, Cheremika said she could only chuckle.

"We don't pay high premiums because we don't have a lot of workplace accidents. So, the rebate works out to be about $200 for us. That's not a huge help."

For small businesses that have been able to continue operating in a limited fashion, the future remains just as uncertain.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS "I'm trying to keep as many of my guys working because I honestly believe in karma, and even if it's not the best business decision, I have to try and keep those guys working," said Stephen Jenkyns, owner of Jenkyns Construction.

Stephen Jenkyns, owner of Jenkyns Construction Ltd. in Winnipeg, has been able to maintain a baseline of work throughout the lockdown, but even that may come to an end soon.

"We're still doing some jobs, but they're all things that I was working on before all this happened," said Jenkyns, 31, who has owned and operated his contracting business since 2009. "But it's not business as usual. We were lucky because we were deemed essential.

"A lot of people think: that's great, you can continue working. But if people don't want to let you into their home, it doesn't matter."

Many projects have been delayed or cancelled, Jenkyns said, as clients deal with economic uncertainty. Sometimes, the concern is just having workers in close contact with family; other times, delays or cancellations are a function of lost jobs and wages.

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.

"A lot of people think: that's great, you can continue working. But if people don't want to let you into their home, it doesn't matter."  Stephen Jenkyns, owner of Jenkyns Construction

"I had one client who lost his job and just couldn't afford to do the work," Jenkyns said. "He had all this money saved for a project, but now he needs to live on it until he can find another job. Another client works in an industry where her pay was all on commission and she didn't know if the business was going to come back after this ends."

The impact of the slowdown in work has been felt most by a handful of employees Jenkyns was forced to layoff. To help keep as many people employed for as long as possible, Jenkyns said he got the $40,000 emergency loan from the federal government. Even with a reduced workforce, that money will run out soon and it's unclear when, or if, people will start renovating their homes again.

"I'd like to think that I've been a lot luckier than most small businesses," he said. "I'm trying to keep as many of my guys working because I honestly believe in karma, and even if it's not the best business decision, I have to try and keep those guys working.

"When this blows over, I think I'm going to have employees who are thankful and there will be a lot of loyalty. We're going to feel like we all got through COVID-19 together and survived. That's what I hope, anyway."

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
DALLAS, April 30, 2020 -- Less than a month after issuing a rapid response call for scientific research proposals for fast-tracked studies of the effects of COVID-19 on the body's cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, the American Heart Association has awarded $1.2 million in grants to teams at 12 institutions across the U.S. to begin this unprecedented work. Additional funding for special research projects within each of the four new Health Technologies & Innovations Strategically Focused Research Centers brings the Association's COVID-19 related scientific research funding to $2 million.

The COVID-19 and Its Cardiovascular Impact Rapid Response Grant initiative received an overwhelming response, with more than 750 proposals submitted, marking it as one of the Association's largest submissions to a single topic request for applications.

"We were just blown away and so impressed to see this level of interest and commitment from the teams submitting such thorough proposals so quickly -- our submission deadline was less than two weeks," said American Heart Association president Robert A. Harrington, M.D., FAHA, Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine and chair of the department of medicine at Stanford University. "Once those responses started coming in, we were yet again amazed as over 150 of our volunteers stepped up immediately to offer to review these proposals and got those reviews completed in less than 10 days. What a testament to our researcher community being so ready to activate in these extraordinary times, it's just very gratifying and humbling."

Cleveland Clinic was selected to serve as the initiative's COVID-19 Coordinating Center. A team from this center, led by Mina K. Chung, M.D, Professor of Medicine, will collect results from the research projects and coordinate the dissemination of all study findings.

The research projects include:

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, led by Sanjum S. Sethi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine -- A Comprehensive Assessment of Arterial and Venous Thrombotic Complications in Patients with COVID-19: Working with New York-Presbyterian and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, this team will evaluate the clotting complications of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients, develop a risk score to aid in bedside decision-making and conduct a clinical trial to determine optimal medical treatment to prevent clotting complications in future COVID-19 patients.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, led by Joseph Loscalzo, M.D., Ph.D., Hersey Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine -- Repurposing Drugs for Treatment of Cardiomyopathy Caused by Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2): Working with the Center for Complex Network Research of Northeastern University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory at Boston University, this team will look at repurposing already approved drugs for faster applications in treating COVID-19 patients.

Kaiser Permanente Southern California, led by Jaejin An, Ph.D., Research Scientist I -- Risk of Severe Morbidity and Mortality of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among Patients Taking Antihypertensive Medications: This team will evaluate antihypertensive medication treatment in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and high blood pressure and their results could have an immediate impact on clinical guidance for patient care.

Massachusetts General Hospital, led by Michael T. Lu, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Radiology -- Deep learning using chest radiographs to predict COVID-19 cardiopulmonary risk: Working with the Mass General Brigham hospitals, this team will use deep learning techniques and the initial chest x-ray of patients admitted for treatment to develop a new way to predict COVID-19 cardiopulmonary collapse and death.

Mayo Clinic, led by Ognjen Gajic, M.D., Professor of Medicine -- Cardiovascular Outcomes and Biomarker Titrated Corticosteroid Dosing for SARS COV-2 (COVID-19): A Randomized Controlled Trial: This team will expand its current SMART randomized clinical trial to add the evaluation of biomarker-titrated corticosteroids dosing compared to usual care for treating COVID-19 patients.

Stanford University, led by Paul Heidenreich, M.D., Professor of Medicine -- Outcomes for Patients with Hypertension, Diabetes and Heart Disease in the Coronavirus Pandemic: Impact of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Treatment: Working with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford Health Care and Northern California Kaiser, this team will study the use of ACE and ARBs on patients with high blood pressure or diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine trends in the rates of COVID-19 infection, influenza, medication adherence, hospitalizations and deaths to improve patient management practices.

University of California, Los Angeles, led by Tzung K. Hsiai, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Bioengineering -- Rapid COVID-19-on-A-Chip to Screen Competitive Targets for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Binding Sites: Working with the UCLA Cancer Virology Program, California Nanosystems Institute, Statistics and Epidemiology, Data Science, Behavioral Sciences, UCLA Medical Center and West Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, this team will set out to develop the first-of-its-kind COVID-19-on-a-chip, targeting the heart for now, but adaptable to other organ systems impacted by the infection, including the lung, gut, kidney and brain.

University of California, San Francisco, led by Michelle A. Albert, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Medicine -- COVID-19 Infection, African-American Women and Cardiovascular Health: Working with the UCSF NURTURE Center and the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University, this team will use the Black Women's Health Study cohort to understand the experiences and cardiovascular effects of COVID-19 on African-American women, a population historically at the intersection of the worst health and economic disparities in the United States.

University of Colorado, led by Michael R. Bristow, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Cardiology -- Myocardial Virus and Gene Expression in SARS CoV-2 Positive Patients with Clinically Important Myocardial Dysfunction: This team will study the specific mechanisms for how COVID-19 impacts the cardiovascular system either due to a robust inflammatory response and direct myocardial injury because that distinction can define therapeutic treatment. University of Massachusetts, led by Jane E. Freedman, M.D., Professor of Medicine -- The Role of the Platelet in Mediating Cardiovascular Disease in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: This team will study the mechanisms of the platelet-mediated immune response of the COVID-19 virus on the cardiovascular system collecting fundamental molecular knowledge about the disease course of infection that will enable development of novel tools and strategies for clinical management that will lead to improved outcomes.

University of Nebraska Medical Center, led by Rebekah L. Gundry, Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Cellular and Integrative Physiology -- Harnessing Glycomics to Understand Myocardial Injury in COVID-19: This group will be exploring specific pathways and biomarkers to identify those most at risk for COVID-19 infection and cardiovascular complications from the virus, and ultimately will look to develop the means for personalized medicine and future genomic testing and treatment.

"Several of these studies focus on disparity and underserved populations and many with pre-existing conditions and that's critical because we're seeing these people coming in sicker and getting sicker faster from the complications of COVID-19 and we need to understand what's causing that and how we can help them," Harrington said. "There's so much we don't know about this unique coronavirus and we continue to see emerging complications affecting both heart and brain health for which we desperately need answers and we need them quickly."

The research projects are considered fast-tracked to report results as quickly as possible to address the COVID-19 crisis. Research will get underway as early as June 1, with findings expected in less than six to nine months for most of the studies. Several researchers aim to have actionable outcomes before a new anticipated wave of COVID-19 strikes in the winter.

Along with these new rapid response research grants, the American Heart Association is also funding $800,000 in supplemental, short-term special projects for the four centers in its new Health Technologies & Innovation Strategically Focused Research Network. This funding is in addition to their original grants announced earlier this month and will focus on rapid technology solutions to address the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Those projects include:

Cincinnati Children's Hospital -- Ejection Fraction as the Sixth Vital Sign for Patients with COVID-19: Improved triage using point-of-care echocardiography

The Johns Hopkins University -- In-Home Diagnostic Triage via Smartphone Video Virtual Check-In for Potential Stroke Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Novel Approach to Improving Cardiovascular Health Equity and Long-Term Cardiovascular Prevention

Stanford University -- Digital COVID-19 Patient Tracking and Reporting Tool Kit Focused on Patients with Cardiovascular Complications and Disease

University of Michigan -- COVID-19 Health Evaluation & Cardiovascular Complications (CHECC) Study: Using mHealth to Track Physiological and Cardiovascular Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic

###

Funding research such as these projects is a cornerstone of the American Heart Association's lifesaving mission. The Association has funded more than $4.6 billion in cardiovascular research since 1949, making it the single largest non-government supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S.

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By Easton Sanders

Apr. 30, 2020 | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

By Easton Sanders Apr. 30, 2020 | 03:45 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer is proposing a water tower banner to show unity within the county.



During the Wednesday Paducah Water Board meeting, Clymer proposed placing a banner that says 'United We Stand' on the water tower located directly across from the Confederate Park in Reidland.



"As the elected leader of all the residents of this county, regardless of race, I really can no longer stay silent and still and allow the divisiveness to divide our community," Clymer said. "We are all neighbors in McCracken County. We must step forward and speak out with one voice and reject any messages of racial discord."



Clymer presented the idea during the Water Board meeting because the water tower is owned by the Paducah Water Board and the city. He said he only wants their permission, not their money, and plans to move forward with the project using community donations.



He said the Sons of Confederate Veterans have a right to free speech, yet he believes there needs to be a response.



"The answer lies not in suppressing any hate speech asserted by the Confederate Flag. Instead the answer is in diminishing it with a different message and a stronger voice," Clymer said.



He told the Paducah Water Board that he'll get it done if they will give him permission.



"The time is right for this, the position of the tower is right, the message is right, and I'm asking that the board do right. Give me the signal and I'll get this done."
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reported Wednesday its first positive case of COVID-19.

The patient is hospitalized at the Cheyenne River Health Center, an Indian Health Service facility in Eagle Butte.

The tribe reports the patient, whose age and gender were not disclosed, was infected while in Pierre, according to tribal Chairman Harold Frazier. Contact tracing was completed by the tribe's Command Center.

We would never have known where this case originated had it not been for our Command Center and our checkpoints, Frazier said.

The tribe is now implementing Emergency Plan Level 3 mandates, which went into effect Thursday. Mandates include a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., a stay-home order, closure of all daycares across Cheyenne River and the closure of tribal health clinics.

Curfew violations result in the following penalties: the first violation is $25 per incident, the second is $50 and the third is $500.

The tribes actions are more strict than the states actions, which is one of five states without a statewide stay-home order.

Both the Oglala and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes have implemented border checkpoints to limit who can enter and leave the reservations.

Frazier said he can see COVID-19 potentially coming in and spreading like wildfire, according to a previous Journal story. "Limiting travel and protecting borders is one of our first lines of defense, he said.

Frazier said the IHS facility in Eagle Butte only has eight beds, so the tribe created 42 more in a dental office, veterans center and school dormitory.

IHS has four ambulances and is trying to obtain staffing for three more since patients who require advanced care will need to be taken to Rapid City.

The tribe has obtained portable oxygen tanks and is working on identifying locations to quarantine people who dont have the space to do so at home, Frazier added.

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Set in the unfamiliar world of African-American backyard rodeos, Annie Silversteins Bull handles hot-button issues with a cool eye and a calming tone. Racism, opioid use, poverty and pain weave gently in and out of her story (co-written with her husband, Johnny McAllister) without distracting us from either its primary concerns or central relationship.

Instead, theres a matter-of-fact quality to the filmmaking, a rejection of melodrama and embrace of naturalism that slows the movies pulse and softens its edges. At its center is the unlikely bond between a white teenager, Kris (Amber Havard, in her acting debut), and a black rodeo wrangler in his 40s named Abe (a perfect Rob Morgan). Kris lives with her little sister and chronically ill grandmother (Keeli Wheeler) in a semirural neighborhood in Texas. Their mother (Sara Albright) is in prison, and Kris, with her quietly disengaged affect, appears beaten down before her life has barely begun.

Abes bruises run deeper and are more debilitating. A former bull rider worn out by accumulated injuries, he now risks his life to distract the enraged animals and protect the fallen. Pills and alcohol help alleviate the pain, and ease the humiliation of clowning when hes unfit for more agile duties. Yet hes sympathetic to youngsters who have lost their way; when Kris and her friends trash his house one weekend, hes willing to accept her cleanup help rather than have her sent to juvenile detention.
Police on Thursday arrested 825



people in Kolkata for various reasons, including defying the lockdown, a senior officer said.

While 609 were arrested till 8 pm for deliberate violation of the "total safety restrictions, 167 were arrested for not wearing masks, he said.

Another 49 persons were held for spitting in the public, he added.

"We will prosecute those arrested under sections dealing with disobedience of order duly promulgated," the officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan in a video talk with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, streamed by the party, said that country needs Rs 65,000 crore to feed the poor.

Raghuram Rajan said, "Rs 65,000 crore is needed to feed the poor and India can afford it as the GDP is Rs 200 lakh crore," adding that "Social harmony is a public good; we cannot afford to have our houses divided at the time when challenges are big".

He said that there should be efforts to give money to the poor through DBT, MGNREGA, old age pension and also supporting through PDS.

LIVE: Shri @RahulGandhi in conversation with Dr. Raghuram Rajan on COVID19 & its economic impact. #RahulShowsTheWay https://t.co/azomUpU1eW

Raghuram Rajan said that India needs to be smarter in lifting the lockdown as it has limited capacity to feed the poor.

"There are ways country can take advantage but I think there will be no positive impact of this situation as there may be rethinking in global economy."

"There will be strategic change but these types of pandemic have rarely any positive effects in general," said Rajan.

ALSO WATCH:

When Rahul Gandhi asked the former RBI Governor about the testing capacity for coronavirus, Rajan said India needs at least 5 lakh testing per day.

The Congress leader also exchanged views about the authoritarian way the situation in the country is being handled, as more centralisation is happening contrary to liberalisation and decentralisation.

While Rahul Gandhi asserted that southern states are doing better in strengthening the panchayati raj system, northern states are more for centralisation of power.
The White House on Wednesday explained that its Twitter handle typically 'follows' the accounts of officials from host countries for a brief period during a presidential trip to retweet their messages in support of the visit.

Washington: The White House on Wednesday explained that its Twitter handle typically 'follows' the accounts of officials from host countries for a brief period during a presidential trip to retweet their messages in support of the visit.

During President Donald Trump's visit to India in the last week of February, the official Twitter handle of the White House @WhiteHouse  had started 'following' the accounts of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister's office, the Indian Embassy in the US, the US Embassy in India and the US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster.

Early this week, the White House 'unfollowed' all these six Twitter handles.

"The White House Twitter account normally follows senior US government Twitter accounts, and others as appropriate. For example, during the time of a presidential visit, the account typically follows for a short time, the host country's officials to retweet their messages in support of the visit," a senior administration official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

The official was responding to a question on the reasons for the White House 'following' and then 'unfollowing' the Twitter handles of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Modi, the PMO, and the other Indian officials.

The White House 'unfollowing' the Twitter accounts of President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew reactions on social media in India.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was "dismayed" at the development.

I'm dismayed by the "unfollowing" of our President & PM by the White House. I urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take note.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 29, 2020

As of Wednesday, the White House had 22 million followers.

It has traditionally been following 13 accounts including that of President Donald Trump and his official Twitter handle, the First Lady, the Vice President, the Second Lady, the new Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, the National Security Council and the former White House Press Secretary, Stephanie Grisham, among others.
Gov. Phil Murphy has three things he was to discuss with President Donald Trump when he meets with him at the White House Thursday amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed at least 6,770 residents, the governor said this morning ahead of the meeting.

Murphy said he first wants to thank Trump for being a partner in battling the outbreak in the state, which has the second most cases and deaths in the nation behind New York.

Weve done a lot together in this awful pandemic of the past couple of months. Jerseys been hit incredibly hard, Murphy said in a morning interview on Fox & Friends.

The president knows New Jersey well, his team knows it well (and hes) got a lot of New Jersey blood on his team, Murphy said.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The governor has said New Jersey  one of the nations coronavirus hotspots  needs to at least double testing as one of the conditions to gradually lift the unprecedented stay-at-home and business-closing orders he placed on the state last month to help slow the virus spread. The governor has repeatedly said the state needs help from the federal government to expand testing.

"Secondly, talk about furthering the testing partnership that weve been weve been endeavoring to get to, and thats that holds a lot of promise, he said. Thirdly, we got to talk about financial assistance.

The governor insisted the federal aid wouldnt be for legacy issues, such as the states pension fund, which has taken an additional beating amid the outbreak. He said stabilizing the state budget would assure those battling the coronavirus outbreak can continue to receive paychecks. Murphy has warned that without aid, there could be historic state worker layoffs.

This is to allow us to keep the frontline workers, educators, firefighters, police, EMS in their seats to their jobs, Murphy said.

Murphy will return to Trenton later in the day to give his regular briefing on the outbreak, though the briefing will be later than normal at 3:30 p.m.

The meeting with Trump is scheduled for 11 a.m. and Murphy said the goal is planning for the future.

But a lot of thanks and a lot to look into the crystal ball and figuring out where we can continue to work together, Murphy said.

Murphy will then travel back to Trenton to hold his daily coronavirus press briefing, according to his public schedule.

On Wednesday, he announced there were at least 6,770 total deaths and at least 116,264 total cases of COVID-19 in the state.

Murphy said the 6,770 total deaths is more than the combined number of New Jersey residents who died in World War I, the Korean War, Vietnam War, both Gulf Wars, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hurricane Sandy, and Sept. 11.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.
Donald Trump is not ruling out both pardoning Michael Flynn and bringing the retired Army general, whom he fired just 25 days into his term, back into his administration.

The president, who has in the past has broken with previous presidents by weighing in on Justice Department cases, said he thinks evidence of internal FBI communications released earlier Thursday show a federal judge should completely "exonerate" Mr Flynn.

"I would certainly consider it," Mr Trump said of re-hiring Mr Flynn, who faces federal charges on lying to investigators about his conversations with a Russian official and about his private-sector lobbying work. "I think he's a fine man."

Documents turned over to the Justice Department show FBI investigators debating whether and how to inform Mr Flynn before a January 2017 interview that he could face federal charges. Their contents have led Mr Trump and many Republicans to call for all charges against the retired general to be dropped.

"What is our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" an unidentified person wrote in notes apparently taken before Flynn was interviewed on Jan. 24, 2017, four days after Trump took office.

Mr Trump denied Mr Flynn had done anything wrong when he fired him in February 2017, saying instead he let Mr Flynn go because he misled Vice President Mike Pence.

Sources said at that time that Mr Pence was livid that Mr Flynn lied to him, and convinced the president to fire the man who then was his national security adviser.

But on Thursday, Mr Pence said he is now convinced Mr Flynn did not intentionally mislead him, helping open the door to Flynn's possible return to the Trump administration.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Hollywood stars, including Chris Pratt, Salma Hayek and Bryce Dallas Howard, are mourning the demise of actor Irrfan Khan by not only remembering him for his exceptional talent but also his good nature.

"So sad to hear that Irrfan Khan passed away, I was a big fan and had the honour to meet him. He was a great actor and a lovely man, may he Rest In Peace," Hayek posted on Instagram.

Pratt, who worked with Irrfan on their 2015 blockbuster "Jurassic World", called him an "exquisite human being".

"So sad to hear about the passing of screen legend @irrfank . Irrfan Khan played Masrani in 'Jurassic World'. He was an exquisite actor and human. He will be missed," Pratt tweeted.

"Jurassic World" Howard posted two pictures of herself with Irrfan from the Colin Trevorrow-directed adventure thriller, and condoled his death.

"Irrfan, you are an exquisite human being and we will all miss you dearly. These images are from the first and last day of filming, and I was lucky enough to spend them working with you. Love to you and your family always," she posted.

Irrfan breathed his last early on Wednesday at the age of 54. He was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection earlier this week. However, unfortunately he succumbed to his ailment.

The Academy also mourned the loss.

"A mainstay of Bollywood cinema and incredible talent in films like 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'Life of Pi' and 'The Namesake', Irrfan Khan left his imprint on global cinema. An inspiration to millions, he will be greatly missed," read a post on the official twitter account of The Academy.

According to deadline.com, filmmaker Marc Webb, who directed Irrfan in 2012 superhero hit "The Amazing Spider-Man", will always be a "dedicated" fan of the actor's work.

"In Irrfan, power and gentleness co-existed perfectly. When he sings to his new wife at the bathroom door in 'The Namesake' or speaks of his father in 'Life of Pi' his talent is positively mystical. He is the most nuanced actor I've worked with. I am forever his dedicated fan," he tweeted.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee called Irrfan "a great artist, a true gentleman and a brave fighter" while mourning his demise.

"His passing away is cinema's loss. We will miss him dearly. May you Rest In Peace my dear friend," said the director of "Life of Pi".

Indian-origin Hollywood star Mindy Kaling is "devastated" after hearing the news of his demise.

"The loss of Irrfan Khan - at such a young age - is devastating. He was my favorite actor. I can't think of someone who gave such layered and thoughtful performances but was also a movie star; you couldn't take your eyes off of him onscreen. Love and peace to his family," Kaling said in a post on Twitter alongside a photo of Irrfan.

"Suits" star Gabriel Macht recalled his meeting with Irrfan when his wife, Jacinda Barrett, who worked with the actor in "The Namesake".

"I met Irrfan Khan when he worked with @JacindaBarrett on 'The Namesake'. One of the most pleasant, down to earth, and gentle beings in the few times I had with him. What a beautiful actor as well. Blessings to he and his family. #RIPIrrfanKhan" he tweeted.

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman has sent her love to the near and dear ones of Irrfan.

Remembering Irrfan, Portman took to Instagram to share a photo of herself with the actor. In the photo, she is in a white bridal wear and is held by Irrfan, who is in a black and white suit with a hat.

"Sending love to Irrfan Khan's loved ones today," she captioned the snap.

The two had featured together in Mira Nair's segment of "New York, I Love You", a 2008 American romantic comedy-drama anthology film.

Earlier, Hollywood star Angelina Jolie had also expressed her condolences, in a message shared with IANS.

"I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of 'A Mighty Heart'. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him. I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world," Jolie said in her message.
A 13th elderly patient has died from COVID-19 at an embattled Sydney care home, with the NSW premier calling the situation 'horrific'.

Anglicare's Newmarch House in western Sydney has become a coronavirus cluster, after an infected staff member went to work for six days despite having symptoms.

The outbreak, identified on April 11, is still spiralling out of control, with another three vulnerable residents testing positive in the past 24 hours.

There are now 56 confirmed cases at the home in Cadden, including 34 residents and 22 members of staff.

Anglicare said the 13th resident died on Thursday afternoon, after its CEO admitted the home had become a 'pseudo hospital'.

Six residents of Anglicare's Newmarch House (pictured) in western Sydney have now died from coronavirus

'This is a time of great grief for the family and we want to extend our deepest sympathies,' Anglicare said in a media statement.

'The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on all our residents and families.'

The tragedies have prompted urgent calls from medical officials for workers, especially those who care for vulnerable people, to stay home if they feel even mildly ill.

The female worker was said to be 'mortified and distraught' that she had been the catalyst for the cluster, which spread quickly through the vulnerable residents.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said workers should avoid leaving home if they feel even slightly unwell, particularly if they work with vulnerable people.

'We have talked about this numerous times but now it appears that some staff are still going to work, even when they have symptoms,' he said.

A man is seen walking near Sydney's Dee Why beach on April 23 (pictured) wearing a face mask

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

'Please don't go to work if you're feeling sick. Just don't go.'

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian told ABC the situation at Newmarch House was 'horrific' and accused the care provider of 'unacceptable' management of the home.

'The Federal Government [has] involved the Aged Care Assurance Advocacy Association to deal with the matter,' she said.

'Because what's happening there isn't acceptable and unfortunately you do notice a difference in the way people who run these aged care homes across the nation are dealing with the issue.

'This particular operator has been left wanting on a number of levels.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 13:51:37|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

TORONTO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A Canadian helicopter has gone missing off the coast of Greece during a mission with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, the country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed on Twitter on late Wednesday.

"A Canadian helicopter involved in Op REASSURANCE with NATO allies has gone missing off the coast of Greece. I have spoken with (National Defense) Minister @HarjitSajjan, and search and rescue efforts are currently underway," Trudeau tweeted, adding that updates will be provided as soon as possible.

Greek media reported earlier this week that the helicopter, with no more than six people on board, crashed into the Ionian Sea when taking part in a NATO operation.

Colonel Juanita Chang from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe confirmed the incident involving a helicopter from a ship under NATO command, according to a report by Turkey-based Anadolu Agency on Tuesday. Enditem

reference: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/canadian-military-helicopter-crashes-in-ionian-sea/1823543#
A grandmother has shown her love for fast cars after her son took her for a drive amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Adorable footage showed Jason taking his mother Hendrika, 87, for a quick drive around streets on the New South Wales Central Coast as she is unable to leave her home regularly due to coronavirus.

The Alzheimer's sufferer seemed over the moon in the footage shot on April 29.

Hendrika didn't want the trip to end and asked Jason if they could go around the block again.

Adorable footage showed Jason taking his mother Hendrika, 87, for a quick drive around streets on the NSW Central Coast

She then started making a 'vroom' noise, mimicking the car, much to her son's amusement.

'Do you want to go fast,' Jason asked his mother.

'Yes! Vroom,' she replied.

The woman, who Jason described as having a 'need for speed', clutched as a newspaper as they went around turns and bends.

Hendrika continued to make car noises and Jason laughed and told her 'that's enough tiger'.

'You love a bit of speed, don't you? You love it, don't you,' he asked.

'We've got something special when we got fast,' she replied.

Jason started to take his mother out on drives when Australia went into lockdown and she could no longer do the links she loves.

Hendrika didn't want the trip to end and asked Jason if they could go around the block again

Jason told Newsflare: 'In lockdown and unable to visit her weekly shops, she's now satisfied with a quick spin around the suburb... within the speed limit of course!'

Australia has had 6,752 diagnosed cases of coronavirus with 91 deaths. A total of 5,709 people have recovered.

People over 70 have been advised against leaving the home due to their greater risk during the coronavirus pandemic.

In New South Wales people aren't allowed to leave their homes unless it is for essential reasons - such as grocery shopping, providing care or buying other necessary items.

The pair appeared to have purchased items such as a newspaper during their outing.

As of May 1 two adults, and children in their car, will be allowed to visit friends and relatives in their home.

People in New South Wales are also still able to learn how to drive during lockdown, as well as drive for essential item purposes.
In the past few weeks, Chubb CEO Evan Greenberg has issued several stark warnings about the impact of the coronavirus on the insurance business. On a company earnings call on April 22, he said it will be the largest event in insurance history, adding that the virus and its ripple effects will impact both the asset side and the liability side of the balance sheet. In the same call, he explained that business interruption insurance does not cover COVID-19 and Chubb policies will only trigger if theres direct physical loss to property.

This follows Greenbergs warning for policymakers on April 16, where he said the industry would be damaged by any measures to retroactively force insurers to pay out for losses that policies didnt cover and werent priced for. He added that forcing insurers to pay for business interruption losses not covered by policies would bankrupt the industry.

Despite Greenbergs clear stance on the matter, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre states in legal documents that insurance policies are not one size fits all. As The New York Times reports, the centre is claiming direct physical loss to property on the grounds that COVID-19 can attach to surfaces. The non-profit also argues that while its policy excluded coverage for damage from pollutants such as smoke, vapor, soot, fibres, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals, and waste, viruses were not listed as pollutants.

Chubb said it does not comment on client claims or pending litigation.
Lockdown-like restrictions to return in Maharashtra? Here's what CM Uddhav Thackeray has to say

Day after Uddhavs call to PM, Guv asks EC to declare polls for 9 council seats

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Apr 30: The Election Commission is likely to discuss on Friday demands for holding legislative council polls in Maharashtra which were deferred due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who was sworn in on November 28 last year, has time till May 27 to get elected to the state legislature, failing which he will have to step down.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday has requested the Election Commission of India to declare elections to the 9 vacant seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council "at the earliest."

Press Release pic.twitter.com/OaEMcXnKny  Governor of Maharashtra (@maha_governor) April 30, 2020

In his letter, the Governor has stated that the Central Government has announced many relaxation measures regarding the enforcement of lockdown in the country. As such the elections to the council seats can be held with certain guidelines, he has said.

The letter comes a day after Thackeray spoke to Modi on phone and told him that attempts were being made to create political instability in the state, sources told PTI.

According to PTI sources, in the poll panel said though they have not received the communication of the governor so far, the issue could be discussed on Friday as all three ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra -- the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress -- have appealed to the EC to conduct the Legislative Council polls, saying social distancing and other precautions can be taken during the voting procedure.

Since the Raj Bhawan has written, the communication would also be on the Commission's table on Friday, the sources said.

Earlier, the state cabinet had recommended appointing the Shiv Sena chief as a member of the Legislative Council as a Governor's nominee, but there had been no progress on the proposal.

The Election Commission had deferred the elections to the nine legislative council seats that fell vacant on April 24 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
The coverage on this live blog has ended  but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus outbreak, visit the live blog from CNBC's Asia-Pacific team. Jobless claims have surpassed 30 million over the past six weeks, with Florida now topping California as the state with the most weekly unemployment claims, according to data released Thursday. With unemployment skyrocketing, companies are pushing to return to business. Macy's is planning to open the doors to all of its stores over the next six weeks, while Ford aims to bring back office workers in June. Read on for more news on how companies are responding to the fast-evolving public health crisis. Global cases: More than 3.2 million

Global deaths: At least 232,817

US cases: More than 1 million

US deaths: At least 62,860 The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University. All times below are in Eastern time.

7:08 pm: Macy's CEO on working remotely: 'It's much better than expected'

With its stores shuttered for six weeks, Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette is trying to guide his company through the Covid-19 crisis. In a wide-ranging interview, Gennette discussed why he expects Macy's to survive. Gennette also reflected on what it's like to work from home. Like many people, he's juggling video calls and missing the comradery of the office. But there are perks. "I get to see things I haven't seen before, with my [team members'] lives," Gennette said. "I know their dogs' names. We are more intimate with each other in that way, and it's much better than expected." The downside: The mix between personal and professional life is harder. "We don't have that decompression time anymore," he said. Macy's has furloughed employees, drawn down credit and is looking for new financing. Gennette also is forgoing his salary. Courtney Reagan

6:39 pm: Ex-TARP watchdog says Washington is to blame for large companies receiving small business loans

6:23 pm: Trump suspects coronavirus outbreak came from China lab, doesn't cite evidence

President Donald Trump said  without offering any evidence  that he has reason to believe that the coronavirus outbreak originated from a laboratory in China. "I can't tell you that. I'm not allowed to tell you that," Trump said when asked what evidence he has seen to make him believe the virus emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Trump initially was asked by a reporter at a White House event on Thursday about the origins of the virus, and answered, "You have heard all different things. Three or four different concepts as to how it came out." "We should have the answer to that in the not-so-distant future and that will determine a lot how I feel about China," the president said. But he later was asked by a reporter if he had "seen anything that gives you a high degree of confidence, at this point, that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source of this virus?" Trump replied, "Yes, I have," and then repeated that assertion. Dan Mangan

6:07 pm: Dow futures fall 300 points after Wall Street wraps up best month in three decades

5:30 pm: Delta will require passengers to wear face masks

A Delta Air Lines Inc. employee cleans a counter at the check area at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, April 2, 2020. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Delta Air Lines on Thursday became the latest airline to require travelers wear masks on board their planes as carriers take steps to try to protect the health of passengers and crew. Delta's policy requires travelers to wear a mask or other face covering in the check-in area, premium lounges, boarding gate areas and on board for the whole flight, except during meals. The airline is also urging travelers to wear them on security lines and in restrooms. The policy takes effect May. 4. Frontier Airlines issued a similar requirement that goes into effect May 8. JetBlue Airways earlier this week became the first major U.S. airline to mandate masks for travelers. Frontier Airlines took a similar step Thursday. "We want our passengers to feel comfortable when flying with us by protecting themselves and their fellow travelers as we all navigate the Covid-19 pandemic," Barry Biffle, Frontier's CEO said in a release. "This new measure is aligned with CDC recommendations and those of many municipalities within the U.S. that include wearing a face covering when out in public. Leslie Josephs

5:10 pm: United Airlines swings to $1.7 billion loss in first quarter

United Airlines Thursday posted its biggest quarterly loss since 2008 and expects to burn an average of $40 million to $45 million a day in the second quarter as the coronavirus continues to hurt bookings. The Chicago-based airline and its competitors are facing a 95% decline in U.S. air travel, just as customers are normally gearing up for summer vacation. The second and third quarters are generally the most lucrative for airlines but the virus and shelter-in-place orders are keeping would-be travelers home. United swung to a $1.7 billion loss in the three months ended March 31, from a $292 million profit in the same period of 2019. Revenue dropped nearly 17% to $7.98 billion, slightly below analysts' estimates. Leslie Josephs

4:58 pm: Apple reports flat revenue and does not offer guidance because of coronavirus uncertainty

Apple shares were down slightly in extended trading after the company's second-quarter earnings in which it reported $58.3 billion in revenue, a slight year-over-year increase, during a quarter in which supply and demand for Apple's products was negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. iPhone revenue was down to $28.96 billion, a 7% year-over-year decrease. The shortfall was partially made up by a 16% rise in services revenue, which include iCloud, Apple Music, and other subscriptions, to $13.34 billion. Total revenue growth for the quarter decreased to 0.5% from 9% a quarter ago. Apple's cash hoard now stands at $192.8 billion, down from $207.1 billion at the end of the previous quarter. The company did not issue guidance for the quarter ending in June, as it usually does. It withdrew guidance for this quarter in February as the Covid-19 coronavirus spread in China. Apple had addressed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic while it was still mainly affecting China, but on Thursday CEO Tim Cook struck an optimistic note about worldwide recovery in his interview with CNBC. "There was a significant, very steep fall-off in February. That began to recover some in March, and we've seen further recovery in April. So, it leaves us room for optimism," Cook said. Kif Leswing, Jordan Novet

4:50 pm: California Gov. Gavin Newsom to close Orange County beaches after weekend crowds

Thousands of beach-goers enjoy a warm, sunny day at the beach amid state-mandated stay-at-home and social distancing mandate to stave off the coronavirus pandemic in Huntington Beach, CA, on April 25, 2020. Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he plans to close state and local beaches in Orange County, calling the images of huge crowds that occupied the beaches over the weekend "disturbing." "Orange County has been on our list of health concern and they've done a wonderful job down there, I just think we can tighten that up a little bit. So we're going to have a temporary pause down there," Newsom said at a press conference on Thursday. Newsom said beaches in the southern part of California, including those in Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, have raised alarm bells, including images of people who were congregating there and not following physical distancing guidelines. He said the state wants to work closely with local officials, and if they can create better guidelines, the beaches can "reopen very very quickly." "My job as governor is to keep you safe, and when our health folks tell me they can't promise that if we promote another weekend like we had then I have to make this adjustment," Newsom said. Noah Higgins-Dunn

4:42 pm: Gilead says it can produce 'several million' rounds of remdesivir treatments next year

Gilead Sciences said that it can produce "several million" rounds of its antiviral drug remdesivir next year to help patients fight the coronavirus. The company expects to produce more than 140,000 rounds of its 10-day treatment regimen by the end of May, and anticipates it can make 1 million rounds by the end of this year. "Our focus at this time is on both our work with remdesivir and our ongoing commitments to the people who depend on our medicines today," Gilead CEO Daniel O'Day said in the company's first-quarter earnings release. On Wednesday, Gilead released preliminary results from its clinical trial on remdesivir, showing at least 50% of the patients treated with a five-day dosage of the drug improved. The clinical trial involved 397 patients with severe cases of Covid-19. The severe study is "single-arm," meaning it did not evaluate the drug against a control group of patients who didn't receive the drug.  Berkeley Lovelace

4:10 pm: Amazon expects to spend entire $4 billion in Q2 operating profit on pandemic-related expenses

Amazon said it expects to spend its entire $4 billion operating profit in Q2 on coronavirus-related expenses including "hundreds of millions" to develop its own testing capability for the virus. Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky told CNBC's Deirdre Bosa he expects the company will spend $1 billion on testing in the full year 2020. Amazon has designated a team of researchers, engineers, procurement specialists and program managers to work on building incremental testing capacity. Amazon said the team is building a lab and has already begun a pilot test of front-line employees. "We're not sure how far we will get in the relevant timeframe, but we think it's worth trying, and we stand ready to share anything we learn," Amazon said in the release. Some of the $4 billion will also fund higher wages for workers, personal protective equipment (PPE), better cleaning protocols at facilities and "less efficient process paths" that will allow for social distancing. "If you're a shareowner in Amazon, you may want to take a seat, because we're not thinking small," Amazon said in the press release. "Under normal circumstances, in this coming Q2, we'd expect to make some $4 billion or more in operating profit. But these aren't normal circumstances." Lauren Feiner

3:45 pm: Schiff calls on Google and Twitter to adopt misinformation policy like Facebook

3:30 pm: Honda is producing ventilator parts

Honda Motor is joining General Motors, Ford Motor and others in assisting the health-care industry with ventilators amid the coronavirus pandemic.



The Japanese automaker announced it has started producing and delivering critical components for ventilators to Dynaflo of Reading, Pennsylvania.



Honda is producing diaphragm compressors, a key component of portable ventilators, in a 6,000-square-foot area at one of the automaker's development centers in Marysville, Ohio.



The companies are aiming to produce 10,000 compressors per month once production reaches capacity, according to Honda. The automaker expects to continue production through August.



Both GM and Ford are building tens of thousands of ventilators under the Defense Production Act with health care partners at auto facilities. Mike Wayland

3:07 pm: Bill Gates says this is what you need to know about a vaccine

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates laid out what the world needs from a Covid-19 vaccine in order to reopen society. "Realistically, if we're going to return to normal, we need to develop a safe, effective vaccine. We need to make billions of doses, we need to get them out to every part of the world, and we need all of this happen as quickly as possible," Gates said in a blog post. The vaccine only needs to be at least 70% effective to stop the outbreak, Gates said. He added that a vaccine that's 60% effective is usable, but society would still see localized outbreaks, while anything under 60% is unlikely to stop the virus. Gates said he's optimistic a safe and effective vaccine could emerge in 18 months, though it could be as short as 9 months or up to two years. Jessica Bursztynsky

2:53 pm: Macy's CEO says the retailer will emerge from the pandemic as a smaller company

Macy's Chief Executive Jeff Gennette is sure of one thing: The retailer's sales will be more "modest" for some time as it emerges from this crisis. "We are going to emerge out of this as a smaller company," Gennette said Thursday afternoon during a virtual fireside chat with Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom. "We don't really know what the ramp back looks like." Macy's is, meantime, already planning to see lower volume this holiday season, in part because millions of Americans are now unemployed and without paychecks. Gennette also expects its hundreds of department stores and specialty shops, including Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury, to reopen in phases. Macy's shares were recently down about 7%, following the conversation with Gordon Haskett's Grom. The stock has fallen more than 66% this year. Macy's has a market value of about $1.8 billion. Lauren Thomas

2:45 pm: House Democrats aim to put more than $80 billion into broadband expansion

House Democrats released a plan to invest more than $80 billion into boosting broadband internet access as the coronavirus forces Americans to work, learn and seek medical treatment from home. The proposal by 12 lawmakers resembles bills Democrats have released before to bolster a core piece of U.S. infrastructure. The issue has taken on more urgency, though, as efforts to slow the outbreak's spread have forced governments to close businesses and schools, leaving millions at home without reliable internet service. "This broadband deployment is very, very necessary," House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., told reporters earlier Thursday in previewing the plan. He said ensuring more households have the internet was "made even more necessary by this current pandemic that we're trying to respond to." Jacob Pramuk

2:30 pm: Vice President Mike Pence wears mask after criticism for Mayo Clinic visit

Vice President seen wearing a face mask at the GM plant in Kokomo, IN with Transport Secretary Elaine Chao and General Motors CEO Mary Barra, after being criticized for not wearing a mask during a recent visit to the Mayo Clinic. White House Pool

2:13 pm: Former NYC Mayor Bloomberg is developing mobile apps to help New York state trace cases

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is developing three smartphone apps to help New York state trace every person who comes into contact with someone infected with Covid-19 cases to help control the spread of the virus. Contact tracing requires scores of people to interview coronavirus patients and track down all of their contacts over the past 14 days so those people can be notified, tested and quarantined. The team, led by Bloomberg, is partnering with the health-care nonprofit Vital Strategies to develop the three new smartphone apps. The first app will help contact tracers find information and data quickly, the second will allow the public send data directly to local health departments and the third will provide guidance to people in quarantine and allow them to report any symptoms, Bloomberg said. "When social distancing is relaxed, contact tracing is our best hope for isolating the virus when it appears and keeping it isolated," Bloomberg said from the governor's press conference in Albany. Noah Higguns-Dunn, Will Feuer

1:50 pm: Ford plans health screenings, temperature checks to bring office workers back beginning in June

Ford Motor expects to begin calling back salaried employees who have been working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic beginning in late-June, executives said. About 124,000 white-collar workers are expected to be in the "final group" of employees to return to their offices, according to Ford Chief Human Resources Officer Kiersten Robinson. She said employees will gradually return starting in late June and into early July. Plant workers are expected to gradually return to work as early as next month as the company plans to gradually reopen its U.S. plants beginning in the second quarter. The facilities have been shut down since last month due to Covid-19. Farley and other executives said Thursday both groups of workers will return to work with extensive safety measures and protocols in place. The plans include extensive cleaning; mandatory face masks and, in some cases, face shields. Employees will need to clear a pre-work health assessment and temperature checks, including thermal body scanners and handheld readers, when entering the building. Ford is also redesigning workplaces to allow for social distancing where possible. Mike Wayland

1:42 pm: Trump says he's 'in charge' of 'fast track' work to produce a vaccine

President Donald Trump said U.S. officials and scientists are working as quickly as possible to produce a coronavirus vaccine, and he asserted that he's in charge of its development in "Operation Warp Speed." "I hope we're going to have a vaccine and we're going to fast-track a vaccine like you've never seen before if we come with a vaccine. I think they probably will," he told reporters during a White House meeting with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. "I'm not overpromising," he added. "Whatever the maximum is, whatever you can humanly do, we're going to do." When asked by a reporter who is in charge of the vaccine operation, Trump said, "honestly, I am." "I'm really in charge of it," he said. "I think probably more than anything I'm in charge." Berkeley Lovelace

1:30 pm: 'It's safe to go back to work'  Dow CEO sees its strict plant screenings as 'best practices'

Dow Inc. CEO Jim Fitterling told CNBC that strict worker screening and the use of personal protective equipment have allowed the material science giant to continue to operate its plants and labs as safely as possible during the coronavirus outbreak. "We're working safely. We're sharing those best practices with governments around the world," Fitterling said on "Squawk on the Street." "We think it's safe to go back to work, and we're going to start to demonstrate that." Dow is currently operating with around 14,000 workers in its production facilities, Fitterling said, noting that governments classified many parts of the company as essential "because we supply so materials that are in need today." Dow has 36,500 employees at more than 100 manufacturing sites in 31 countries. Fitterling said that returning workers safely to plants and labs are the focus of the company's efforts now. "When we get spaces where they're tighter, like offices, that will probably come later," he said. "We want to make sure we're taking care of the basic functions and the people that are working effectively from home can continue to do that." Kevin Stankiewicz

1:19 pm: UK is 'past the peak,' PM Boris Johnson says

Britain has officially passed the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. "I can confirm today that for the first time we are past the peak of this disease," Johnson said in his first appearance at the government's daily briefing since returning to work after falling ill with Covid-19. "We're past the peak and we're on the downward slope." Johnson did not however lay out a roadmap for the U.K. to eventually lift its restrictions on public life, something which countries elsewhere in Europe have been gradually doing. Ryan Browne

1:09 pm: Top US spy agency says coronavirus was 'not man-made or genetically modified'

The top U.S. spy agency said for the first time that the nation's collective intelligence community does not believe that the coronavirus was man-made or genetically modified. "The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified," the Office of Director of National Intelligence said in a rare statement. "The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan," it added. The statement from the Office of Director of National Intelligence contradicts reports suggesting that the new coronavirus had been developed by Chinese scientists in a government biological weapons laboratory. The U.S. intelligence community was tasked with examining whether the virus that caused the global pandemic emerged accidentally from a Chinese research lab, current and former U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News. Amanda Macias

12:48 pm: New York City pauses 24-hour subway service to disinfect trains and buses overnight

New York City is suspending 24-hour subway service to disinfect subway cars during the coronavirus crisis, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday. "They (MTA) can disinfect all trains and buses every night, it can best be done by stopping train service from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. every night during the pandemic so they can actually perform this service," Cuomo said at a news briefing. The Metropolitan Transit Authority, which runs the city's public transit system, will still provide buses as well as for-hire vehicles and "dollar vans" at no cost to essential workers during those hours, said Cuomo. William Feuer, Noah Higgins-Dunn, Jasmine Kim

12:25 pm: Why the US is facing a hospital bed shortage

12:14 pm: Florida has overtaken California as the US jobless claims capital

Florida has overtaken California as the U.S. state with the most weekly unemployment claims as Tallahassee began to process in earnest its sizable backlog of filings. Florida, which reported 432,465 jobless claims for the week ended April 25, topped California's 328,042, marking the first time since the week ended March 21 that the Golden State didn't lead the nation in the number of workers filing for unemployment benefits. Though both states reported declines in the number of workers seeking insurance from the prior week, that Florida is now leading the chart is notable since its labor force is about half that of California's. Texas and Georgia also saw a significant number of claims last week with each state reporting at least 250,000. The relative surge Florida in claims is likely thanks to an improvement in the state's ability to process filings. John Schoen, Tom Franck

11:53 am: She fled Brooklyn to live in Oklahoma  "You're just in this survival mode"

Lindsey Marvel, 38, moved to New York three years ago because, she said, "I'm literally going big or going home." Now she's going home to Tulsa, Oklahoma to escape the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit New York harder than any place in the nation. The outbreak's impact on her personal life, and on the city she loves, was simply too much. "My neighbor died. Friends were seeing body bags from their windows, and you're just in this survival mode. I just was terrified," said Marvel, who lived alone in a rental apartment in Brooklyn. "Things in New York are not easy-- and that's some of the charm, you knowit's not so easyand it just became way too difficult." Marvel, an optometrist who left Tulsa 20 years ago, actually applied for a program last year called Tulsa Remote. In an effort to attract new employee talent, it offers a $10,000 grant and additional benefits to eligible remote workers who move to and work from Tulsa. She was accepted, but declined because she just couldn't bear to leave Brooklyn. She called back last week and asked if they'd still take her. They did. Diana Olick

11:32 am: It's 'unconscionable' that a New York City funeral home left corpses in vans, Mayor Bill de Blasio says

Workers secure a van full of bodies of deceased people, during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn, New York, April 29, 2020. Lucas Jackson | Reuters

It is "unconscionable" and "absolutely unacceptable" that a Brooklyn funeral home left corpses in storage vans as the city's mortuary system is overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday. "Why on earth did they not either alert the state who regulates them or go to the NYPD precinct and ask for help?" de Blasio said at a news briefing. "Do something rather than leave the bodies there. It's unconscionable to me." The mayor was responding to reports that the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Services in Brooklyn left corpses to decay in unrefrigerated U-Haul and other rental trucks on a crowded city street on Wednesday. When CNBC reached the funeral home for comment, a man who did not identify himself hung up before any questions could be asked. "I have no idea in the world how any funeral home could let this happen," de Blasio said. "Absolutely unacceptable. Let's be clear about this." New York City's mortuaries, cemeteries, crematories and morgues have been overwhelmed by the casualties of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed almost five times as many New Yorkers in two months as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. William Feuer, Jasmine Kim

11:15 am: NBA team execs, agents call on the league to cancel the rest of the season

A view of the empty AmericanAirlines Arena before the start of an NBA basketball regular season game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 in Miami. David Santiago | Miami Herald | Getty Images

Even though the current NBA season is still technically suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, its return this year seems less and less likely with each passing day. Team executives are starting to feel the pressure, frustrated with the lack of information from the league and pushing for an outright cancellation of the season so everyone can focus on safely resuming play next season. NBA team executives and players' agents spoke to CNBC in recent weeks about the challenges in resuming play. They said team owners are concerned with liability issues and are conflicted about whether or not to give up on the current season. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity as they aren't authorized to discuss league matters publicly. Billions of dollars are on the line if the NBA can't rescue its season. NBA teams split the roughly $2 billion per year in national TV money the NBA receives from ESPN and Turner Sports. But clubs also gain revenue from local media deals with Regional Sports Networks. Jabari Young

11:05 am: McDonald's says this quarter's same-store sales will be worse

McDonald's is expecting steeper same-store sales declines in the second quarter as international restaurant closures due to the coronavirus pandemic continue to weigh down sales. McDonald's global same-store sales shrank 3.4% in the first three months of the year after plunging 22% in March. "Looking at comparable sales, we expect the second quarter as a whole to be significantly worse than what we experienced for the full month of March," CEO Chris Kempczinski told analysts on the conference call. More than half of restaurants in McDonald's international operated markets segment, which includes France and Australia, are closed. Four countries in the segment  the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and France  have closed down restaurants entirely to slow the spread of the virus. In April, the segment's same-store sales are down about 70%. Amelia Lucas

10:57 am: US wind industry installed over 1,800 megawatts in Q1, but the outbreak remains a risk

The first quarter of 2020 saw the U.S. wind industry install more than 1,800 megawatts (MW) of new capacity, a report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has revealed. According to the AWEA's report, 11 new projects with a total capacity of 1,821 MW commenced operations in the first three months of the year. The AWEA noted that this represented more than double the installations compared with the first quarter in 2019, AWEA said in a statement issued Wednesday. While there are clear positives in the report  which also said construction activity hit a new record in the first three months of the year  the coronavirus is casting a shadow over the sector. Citing its own analysis from March, the trade association said an estimated 25 gigawatts of planned projects  which represent $35 billion in investments  were at risk. Anmar Frangoul

10:32 am: Tyson temporarily closes Nebraska beef plant for cleaning

Tyson Foods said it was temporarily suspending operations at a large Nebraska beef processing that serves as the largest employer for neighboring Sioux City, Iowa, after a surge of coronavirus cases in the area. Tyson said it would close the Dakota City plant Friday through Monday to perform a deep cleaning of the facility. State health officials in recent days have reported hundreds of new coronavirus cases in both Nebraska's Dakota County, where the plant is located, and Woodbury County, Iowa, where Sioux City is located. Tyson previously disclosed that some workers at the plant had tested positive for the virus, but it has not said how many. The Arkansas-based company said it was screening Dakota City employees for the virus this week with the help of the Nebraska National Guard. The Dakota City facility is one of the largest beef processing plants in the country, employing about 4,300 people. The move follows recent closures of other meat processing facilities across the country due the coronavirus, which spreads rapidly among workers who often stand shoulder to shoulder on production lines. Associated Press

10:30 am: Denmark says virus spread has not accelerated since reopening began

Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark Kun Tawan | Twenty20

The spread of Covid-19 in Denmark has not accelerated since the country began a gradual loosening of restrictions in mid-April, the State Serum Institute, which is responsible for preparedness against infectious diseases, said. The so-called R rate, which shows the average number of infections one person with the virus causes, has increased slightly in the past two weeks but remains below 1.0, the institute said. "However, there are no signs that the COVID-19 epidemic is accelerating," it said. Reuters

10:20 am: 'The lasagna guys' collected $1.26 million to feed NYC's hospital workers

Restaurateur Luca Di Pietro and his team have become known as the "lasagna guys" among New York City's frontline workers. That's because Di Pietro and his team have helped deliver more than 64,000 meals to health-care workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. "The lasagna is always a big hit," Di Pietro, 50, who is the owner of owner Tarallucci e Vino restaurant group in Manhattan and now the founder of Feed the Frontlines NYC, told CNBC Make It. "It puts a smile on my face. It's hard times...at least they get to eat something good. To think the food has been brought by and prepared by New Yorkers is a morale boost for frontline workers." Di Pietro started Feed the Frontlines NYC, a for-profit initiative, to raise funds for his restaurant, Tarallucci e Vino, and other local restaurants. It also provides hospital hospital workers in the country's hardest hit city with free and delicious food. So far the initiative has raised over $1.26 million in donation to pay for meals, and its success has even inspired others to create their own Feed the Frontlines initiatives in other cities. Beyond feeding local hospital workers fighting the pandemic, Feed the Frontlines has helped keep participating restaurants alive and their workers employed. Taylor Locke

10:01 am: Mike Pence touring Mayo Clinic without a mask 'sets an example of recklessness,' says Jim Cramer

Vice President Mike Pence visits with lab physicians and techs while touring Mayo Clinic facilities supporting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) research and treatment in Rochester, Minnesota, U.S., April 28, 2020. Nicholas Pfosi | Reuters

CNBC's Jim Cramer blasted Vice President Mike Pence for not wearing a coronavirus mask while touring the Mayo Clinic earlier this week. "Until we get this under control, we can't have the vice president of the United States go to the Mayo Clinic without a mask because that sets an example of recklessness," Cramer said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Cramer's commentary on Pence came as the "Mad Money" host praised Costco for its new policy, starting Monday, that requires all shoppers to wear a face covering in its stores. Costco already requires its employees to wear masks. "I think this will be the standard of care two weeks from now," Cramer said, predicting people won't be going anywhere without a mask. Matthew J. Belvedere

9:33 am: Dow drops more than 200 points to end April after more dismal economic data

Stocks fell on the last day of April, as investors digested another round of dismal economic data along with the latest batch of major tech earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded down 252 points, or 1%. The S&P 500 slid 0.7%. The Nasdaq Composite chopped around the flatline in early trading. The Labor Department said another 3.84 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the six-week total to more than 30 million. U.S. consumer spending also dropped 7.5% in March on a year-over-year basis. Fred Imbert, Thomas Franck

9:26 am: Elon Musk's F-bomb rant against lockdowns reflects 'growing sentiment,' says Dr. Scott Gottlieb

The feeling behind Tesla CEO Elon Musk's expletive-filled tirade against state government stay-at-home orders is shared by a growing number of Americans, Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC. "I think that reflects a growing sentiment in this country where that's going to tug against what the governors have to do," Gottlieb said on "Squawk Box." "They have tough decisions to face this month." Late Wednesday, Musk lashed out, even dropping the F-bomb, on the electric vehicle maker's earnings call, saying that lockdowns meant to help slow the spread of the coronavirus are "fascist." He also said the orders amounted to "forcibly imprisoning people in their homes against all their constitutional rights." A number of states across the country, such as Georgia, Colorado and Tennessee, have recently eased up on some of the coronavirus-related business restrictions. Other states, such as Ohio, have announced details of a phased reopening to begin in May. Kevin Stankiewicz Disclosure: Scott Gottlieb is a CNBC contributor and is a member of the boards of Pfizer and biotech company Illumina.

9:01 am: How states are reopening businesses and lifting coronavirus restrictions

Across the country, states have shut down businesses and ordered people to work from home if they can and stay indoors as much as possible to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. However, with cases beginning to level off, states are looking to jump-start economies hit hard by the virus. Millions of Americans who have been put out of work by lockdown efforts are also eager to get back in the workforce. Governors have taken different tactics in developing plans to loosen stay-at-home orders, each taking different paths in removing social-distancing restrictions. States in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast have formed coalitions to usher in a regional recovery. Other states have faced criticism for already allowing nonessential businesses to resume in-person operations. Some governors have yet to release any sort of reopening plan. Here is a rundown of how every state in the U.S. has responded to Covid-19 in terms of lifting restrictions on citizens and businesses. This list will be updated each day with new developments. Hannah Miller

8:53 am: New cases reported daily by region

8:50 am: How Mercedes-Benz reopened an Alabama auto plant

Mercedes-Benz reopened its U.S. plant this week in Alabama, becoming one of the first manufacturers to resume operations since the coronavirus pandemic halted auto production across the country last month. Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, said it took "robust and best practice safety measures" to ensure that the reopening of the plant was safe for its 4,200 workers who produce the Mercedes-Benz GLE, GL and GLE Coupe SUVs. New protocols to reduce the spread of the virus include the mandatory wearing of face masks, temperature checks at entry and separation of employees in break rooms, cafes and common areas. Only one of the plant's three shifts of workers was initially called back Monday as the plant ramps up production and the safety measures are implemented. Michael Wayland

8:42 am: US weekly jobless claims hit 3.84 million, topping 30 million over the last 6 weeks

First-time filings for unemployment insurance hit 3.84 million last week as the wave of economic pain continues, though the worst appears to be in the past. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting 3.5 million. Jobless claims for the week ended April 25 came in at the lowest level since March 21 but bring the rolling six-week total to 30.3 million as part of the worst employment crisis in U.S. history. Claims hit a record 6.87 million for the week of March 28 and have declined each week since then. The surge in unemployment has come amid efforts to contain the coronavirus spread. While some states and municipalities have begun to bring their respective economies back online, much of the key U.S. infrastructure remains locked down. Jeff Cox

8:31 am: The latest on US hot spots

8:30 am: Energy demand is set to see record drop this year

The International Energy Agency said it expects global energy demand to plunge this year in what the Paris-based agency called the biggest drop since World War II. With roughly 4.2 billion people around the world subject to some form of lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the IEA is forecasting a 6% decline in energy demand for the year. In absolute terms this is the largest on record. Percentage wise, it's the steepest decline in 70 years. The demand hit from the pandemic is expected to be seven times greater than the decline in the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008. "In absolute terms, the decline is unprecedented  the equivalent of losing the entire energy demand of India, the world's third largest energy consumer," the agency's Global Energy Report said. Pippa Stevens

8:22 am: Macy's plans to have all stores reopened in 6 weeks

Macy's is planning to reopen 68 department stores Monday in states including South Carolina and Georgia, where local governments are loosening coronavirus lockdown restrictions. It expects to have all of its roughly 775 stores reopened in six weeks, should Covid-19 infection rates taper off and local governments allow retailers to proceed, a spokeswoman confirmed to CNBC. A second wave of roughly 50 stores is scheduled to reopen May 11. Macy's, which also owns Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury, said it has been offering curbside pickup at about 20 Macy's locations for the past week, in a bid to drive some sales. The 68 Macy's stores set to reopen will be operating on reduced hours, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. About 25% of these locations are in Simon Property Group's malls. All of Macy's stores have been shut since March 19. Lauren Thomas

8:18 am: Gov. Newsom expected to close all California beaches

Thousands of beach-goers enjoy a warm, sunny day at the beach amid state-mandated stay-at-home and social distancing mandate to stave off the coronavirus pandemic in Huntington Beach, CA, on April 25, 2020. Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles | Getty Images

The California Police Chiefs Association told members in an email Wednesday that Gov. Gavin Newsom will announce Thursday that all beaches would be closed as of Friday to prevent the kind of crowding seen over the weekend, when warm weather prompted thousands to flock to the Orange County coastline. State parks are also expected to be closed. The email, which appeared to include a memo, was confirmed to NBC News by two law enforcement sources. NBC News

8:09 am: Quarterly results reveal pressure

7:08 am: Prada has gradually resumed production, will use antibody tests

Victor Sokolowicz | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Italy's Prada said it had gradually resujmed production in several sites across Italy after almost two months of lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus. The fashion company said it had reopened its industrial sites in Tuscany on April 20 and those in the central regions of Umbria, Marche and the northern region of Veneto  one of the hardest-hit areas  after that. It said some workshops in its Milan headquarters were also back at work. The group said it implemented a full range of security measures for its staff, including a double-screening method for staff and the use of antibody tests. Reuters

7:01 am: UK researchers should know by July if vaccine is effective

Live samples in test tubes are held in a container Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 22, 2020. Andrew Milligan | WPA Pool | Getty Images

The U.K. will know by July whether its Covid-19 vaccine is effective, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said. The company said it has partnered with Oxford University to help develop and distribute the vaccine being researched by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca would be responsible for the worldwide manufacturing and supply of Oxford's vaccine, which entered phase one clinical trials last week. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot told BBC Radio 4s "Today" show that the company would know within months whether the coronavirus vaccine was effective. "By June, July we will already have a very good idea of the direction of travel in terms of its potential efficacy," he said. Chloe Taylor

5:44 am: Japan is preparing to extend emergency for about a month

Japan is preparing to extend its state of emergency for about a month, government sources told Reuters. It was originally set to end next Wednesday. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament he will consult infectious disease experts on whether to extend the emergency, which he declared on April 7 for seven prefectures including Tokyo. The meeting will take place on Friday, the economy minister said. Holly Ellyatt

5:32 am: Spain's daily death toll falls to lowest in nearly six weeks

A nurse and a firefighter talking are seen in the Villalba General Hospital on April 05, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. David Benito

The number of new coronavirus-related deaths in Spain fell to 268, its health ministry said, marking the lowest tally in nearly six weeks, Reuters reported. The total number of deaths rose to 24,543 on Thursday, up from 24,275 on the previous day, the ministry said. The total number of cases in Spain now stands at 213,435, up 1,309 from the previous day. Holly Ellyatt

5:15 am: Sweden had no lockdown but the economic damage could be just as bad

People walking at Strandvagen in Stockholm. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND
Closed since late March, parks in Sonoma and San Mateo counties will start reopening trails this week, with a caution to the public to avoid clustering amid fear of spreading the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, on the eve of the summer recreation season, the U.S. Forest Service said it could begin reopening California campgrounds starting in May. The service will coordinate with rural counties.

The trail openings in Sonoma and San Mateo counties are the first break from complete shutdowns in both areas. During this time, its critical that park users follow the new rules developed to prevent overcrowding, discourage gatherings and support social distancing, said San Mateo County Parks Director Nicholas Calderon.

Trails will reopen Monday in 13 of 23 parks in San Mateo County, Calderon said. The parks include Huddart and Wunderlich near Woodside, San Pedro Valley in Pacifica, Pescadero Creek near La Honda, and San Bruno Mountain, according to park staff. The segment of the Bay Trail that passes through Coyote Point in San Mateo will be accessible on foot or bicycle, but the park will remain closed.

San Mateo Countys order differs from the orders in other counties by restricting outdoor recreation to within 10 miles of a persons residence, said Carla Schoof at San Mateo County Parks. This restriction applies not only to San Mateo County residents but also to residents of other counties who wish to travel to San Mateo County for outdoor recreation.

Tom Stienstra / Tom Stienstra / Special to The Chronicle

In Sonoma County, modified rules took effect Wednesday. The county Health Department requires that park visits must originate from a residents home and cannot involve the use of a motor vehicle. Park users must carry a face covering and wear it if they come within 6 feet of other visitors.

The opening of national forest sites would roll from May into early June, said Eli Ilano, forest supervisor for Tahoe National Forest and the coordinator for the U.S. National Forests public information office for the regions COVID Emergency Team.

Were trying to be consistent with what the local counties are doing, Ilano said.

The U.S. Forest Service manages 20 million acres of public land across 19 national forests in California, with roughly 800 campgrounds accessible by vehicle at lakes, streams and trailheads. When recreation closures started amid the coronavirus pandemic, most Forest Service campgrounds were gated with notices that the closure would be in effect through Thursday, April 30. That date has been pushed forward.

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 Tahoe and other destinations in the High Sierra, the openings could be in line with dates of last year, when snowmelt from high snow levels pushed the start of camping season past Memorial Day weekend.

The timeline is also dependent on the publics behavior, Ilano said. In some cases, visitors have passed the gates at campgrounds and left trash near closed dumpsters and restrooms, where animals have plundered the garbage.

Last week, the U.S. Forest Service sent out an urgent national message for the public to avoid high-risk activities. The reason, Ilano said, is because search-and-rescue teams, wilderness rangers and staff in the field will remain extremely limited until late May.

Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicles outdoor writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom
My wife, Laurie, and I are about to plant. Its our 44th year of putting seed into the ground just outside of Culbertson, on the banks of the Missouri. Were the third generation of Mattelins to do so on this spot.

Its an act of faith and determination, planting, not knowing what weather or markets will bring. But its also a commitment to our family, to our community, and our country.

Ive often thought that how we educate our kids is rooted in that exact same commitment   investment in each other and the future. Thats why my family has five generations of teachers   my great-grandfather, grandmother, mother and sisters all taught. They understood that a communitys future is its kids. And I couldnt be more proud of my daughter who carried on the family tradition to dedicate herself to children and Montanas future.

Education levels the playing field in our state and country. But it only works if access to quality education is equal for all. Years ago on an agricultural trade mission to Asia, I was unprepared for the contrast I saw in living conditions from high-rise condos in Hong Kong to the slums of Manila. For the children I saw that were born into poverty, their destiny was predetermined, unlike here, where education    along with hard work   offers a child with humble beginnings an opportunity for a bright future.

That picture stuck with me and made me see the value of good government. It is not happenstance that our government supports farmers  its because our society knows the value of abundant and healthy food. It is not happenstance that our government supports public education  its because our society sees the value and promise of educating our kids. Its what makes me honored to come from a family of hard working teachers and farmers.

Thats why, when Whitney Williams asked me to be her running mate, I said yes. I realized that to ensure a government that works for all of us, we need to ensure rural Montana has a voice in Helena.

And its why, even as normal turns upside down with the COVID-19 pandemic, I have faith that Montana will stay Montana and pull through.

We dont know what the new normal will be. But I believe we need someone like my running mate, Whitney Williams, to be our next governor. Shes a problem solver and has experience bringing diverse people to the table to find solutions. We can no longer afford to stay in the same silos and must work together for Montanas future generations.

This pandemic presents us with challenges that we hadnt anticipated, but some of the basics of what we need to chart our future have become abundantly clear. We need to level the playing field, and bring broadband internet to all corners of our state: so that all kids have access to the learning opportunities it brings, so that all businesses have access to the markets and telecommuting opportunities it brings, and so that our rural health clinics can provide consistent telemedicine that links specialists in our cities with patients in our rural communities.

We need to level the playing field with our agricultural markets, too. We are about to see the effects of a handful of meatpackers supplying our nation with meat, as packing plants shut down in the Midwest. For years, producers have tried to bring a meat plant back to Montana, and Whitney and I will work with laser focus to get that job done.

These are just a couple of examples of the kind of work that needs to get done. As our economy changes and grows, to tackle new challenges, we need a new generation of leadership, a fresh perspective, and someone tough enough to win. I believe deeply that Whitney Williams is just that person, which is why I am on her ticket. Join our team.

Buzz Mattelin is a third-generation Montanan, farmer, president of the National Barley Growers Association, and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.

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Punjab & Sind Bank rose 3.96% to Rs 15.49 amid bargain hunting after a recent slide.

Shares of the public sector bank have lost 7.68% in five sessions to end at Rs 14.90 in yesterday's session from its recent closing high of Rs 16.14 recorded on 23 April 2020.

Punjab & Sind Bank scheduled a board meeting on 5 May 2020 to consider raising equity capital up to an amount of Rs 500 crore through QIP route in one or more tranches within the next 12 months. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 29 April 2020.

Punjab & Sind Bank is a commercial bank. The bank offers its customers a wide range of banking products and services. Government of India held 83.06% stake in the bank as on 31 December 2019.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In this time of uncertainty, Giving Tuesday Now creates a time of coming together in community to bring hope to those who need it.

Salt Lake Community College will participate in #GivingTuesdayNow, a special global day of giving during which the college aims to raise $10,000 on May 5 for its students who have been impacted by COVID-19.

Giving Tuesday, recognized as the annual global day of giving, traditionally takes place on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. This year, in the midst of COVID-19, #GivingTuesdayNow has been planned to bring awareness to the needs of the nonprofit sector and to generate support for those affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

SLCC students and families include some of the most vulnerable in our community, and they have been deeply impacted by COVID-19. The college created its Students in Crisis Fund to provide compassionate assistance to students in an emergency. To date, hundreds of students have applied to the fund. The top five needs, in order of request, include:

1. Rental assistance

2. Unemployment (COVID-related)

3. Tuition

4. Food insecurity

5. Utility assistance

The purpose of participating in a giving day is to bring new and established donors and members of our community a special reason to engage with Salt Lake Community College, said Nancy Michalko, executive director of the Salt Lake Community College Foundation. In this time of uncertainty, Giving Tuesday Now creates a time of coming together in community to bring hope to those who need it.

To join SLCC #GivingTuesdayNow Campaign efforts, visit the colleges Students in Crisis Fund donation page. For more information on this years global day of giving and #GivingTuesdayNow, visit http://www.GivingTuesday.org.

Salt Lake Community College is Utahs largest open-access college, educating and training Utahs most diverse student body in 8 areas of study at 11 locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs.
- The couple got married after a few months of dating and were blessed with an adorable baby girl

- According to the man, he texted the lady in 2013 but it was not until 2017 when she finally responded

- The two arranged for a meet up which saw the man board a flight to the US from Ghana to meet his soulmate

- He gushed about the lover on her birthday as she turned 24 years old and did not hide the fact that they met online

- The man encouraged young people looking for love online not to give up

Ever come across a cheesy chat-up line in your DM that makes you blush but your ego would not let you respond to it?

Yes, that is a real-life example of the perils some one faces when a dating app match slides into her DM, and as such, disillusionment in this new swipe-addicted culture is rife.

READ ALSO: Nairobi woman narrates how Ghanaian lover conned, left her homeless

READ ALSO: 17 relatives of Siaya COVID-19 victim released from quarantine after testing negative 4 times

In this fast-paced world where self-esteem eroders such as ghosting, orbiting and the internet reign, it is easy to find a match. But a match that will last forever?

It is tough out there, but that is not putting singletons off in taking a gamble on a digitally induced relationship, just like Ghanian man identified as Alex Opoku Zintin did.

The father of one took to Twitter on Sunday, April 26, to gush about his wife who was turning 24 years old and did not shy away from reminding his follower that they had met on Twitter.

READ ALSO: Working from home: Sierra Leone Minister feeds, carries 10-month-old daughter on his back during Zoom meeting

According to Zintin, he met his wife Alexia Opoku after he slid into her DM and slowly they fell in love and eventually got married after several months of dating.

"So today is our first year anniversary. We have been blessed with Alexandria within the year and Im grateful to God," Tin tweeted on June 20, 2019.

"But I can not stop saying there is love here on Twitter because I got my joy from here," he added.

READ ALSO: Death of a hero: Top ER doctor who treated coronavirus patients dies

Screenshots of first ever messages exchanged between the love birds shared by Tin showed Alexa lived in the United States while he lived in Ghana.

To convince her that he was determined to be her happily ever after, he boarded a plane to visit Alexia in the US after she turned down his request to visit him in Ghana.

"Thanks to Twitter, I found and got married to my soulmate," tweeted Alexia in July 2018, when they exchanged their marriage vows.

READ ALSO: Wafanyakazi wa JKIA watupwa nje kwenye baridi baada ya kufutwa kazi usiku

Zintin took it upon himself to always remind tweeps seeking love on the platform not to give up in their search.

The two love birds have an adorable baby girl together.

Sure love does exist on the streets of Twitter.

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New Delhi: India on Thursday hit back at allegations of Islamophobia being levelled against it in some Gulf countries. New Delhi said stray tweets on which such allegations are founded cannot be considered as representing the reality in India as the real picture was very different.

Responding to questions, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar have been in touch with their counterparts in the Gulf region and that there have been requests by the Gulf countries to send medical teams including doctors and nurses from India to help them in their fight against the coronavirus. One such medical team is already in Kuwait.

Responding to a query on Oman, the MEA spokesperson indicated that the Oman government had assured India that visas of Indians staying there would be extended in view of the pandemic and that the issue would be taken care of. He also made it clear that there was no policy of the Oman government that specifically sought to target Indians.

It may be recalled that a huge controversy broke out on Monday when it surfaced that the Kuwait Cabinet had in early March this year soon after the Delhi riots in February-end alleged that ethnic attacks on Muslims were taking place in India and had asked the international community to stop it.

However, clearly on the back foot and in damage-control mode following the revelation, Kuwait immediately assured New Delhi that it does not support any interference in the internal affairs of India and that it is deeply committed to friendly relations with India.

Some influential individuals in the Gulf countries have been mounting a campaign against India and accusing it of Islamophobia. In addition, there have also been fake tweets seeking to attack New Delhi.

Observers also point out that New Delhi is aware that anti-India elements in the Gulf region are sniffing an opportunity to damage ties between India and the Arab world.
As COVID-19 continues to spread, many local newspapers have been forced to close due to loss of revenue. Gannet, the company whose papers include the Des Moines Register and the Iowa City Press-Citizen, recently announced furloughs at more than 100 of their newspapers, requiring certain employees making more than $38,000 annually to take one week of unpaid leave.

College newspapers, however, are often volunteer-based student-run outlets with no such financial constraints, leaving them an important news source for communities nationwide in this time of crisis. Editors of student newspapers now face the challenge of balancing their new academic and social environments while being propelled into previously uncharted areas of coverage.

Morgan Doherty, co-Editor in Chief of Macalester Colleges independent student newspaper The Mac Weekly in St. Paul, Minn., said that her first priority was sending an email to the staff emphasizing support for anyone who might be struggling logistically or emotionally.

For us, it was mostly just about making sure we could still communicate with the staff now that people are spread out across the country, said Doherty. [Our staff] are prepared to report in unconventional situations and [they] are interested in going after stories like this, so we had enthusiastic participation right away.

Within days of their semester becoming remote, stories about how Macalesters community was responding to COVID-19 were being posted on their website, covering the campus shut-down and impact on community businesses, as well as opinion pieces from students.

We were also hoping to have a very enterprising semester, Doherty said, referencing The Mac Weeklys newly launched live interview series. The staff planned to cap off the semester with a live interview with Macalester President Brian Rosenburg, who announced his retirement after 17 years at the college. Editors are now working with college administration to move the interview online.

Media editor Kori Suzuki adapted a podcast series to specifically discuss COVID-19s impact on the Macalester community. Despite the difference from routine, Its exciting to get to publish some of these alternative media opportunities, said Doherty.

This flexibility is the foundation of college newspapers ability to adapt and continue with their coverage amidst ever changing circumstances. Even before the pandemic hit, the national closure of local outlets over the past decade has left some college newspapers as the only sources of news in their communities, such as The Michigan Daily, the independent newspaper of the University of Michigan which covers Ann Arbor.

Benjy Renton, Editor at Large for The Middlebury Campus at Middlebury College in Vermont, said that innovation is critical for college journalists amid COVID-19.

People have been forced to come up with creative solutions and other ways to cover their communities when theyre no longer on campus, [and] now that we no longer have the print deadline, we can be more flexible with when our stories are published, he said. [It is] kind of like a coverage-as-it-happens model instead of producing the news for a set time each week.

Like at The Mac Weekly, editors at The Middlebury Campus are also turning to alternative forms of news coverage to encourage engagement from students and community members.

We launched something called The Off-Campus Project, [which] is designed to capture some sort of vignettes about what peoples experiences are in the current state that theyre in, where they are reporting from, and how COVID-19 has impacted their lives, said Renton.

While students, faculty, alumni and parents continue to respond to the Off-Campus Project, editors at Middlebury are also planning an online version of their annual debate for student government president, which is traditionally moderated by the newspapers editor in chief.

Were hoping to make the paper a way for people to be brought together in these times, said Renton. And whether thats launching these projects [or] hosting a webinar or online activity,  those kinds of activities I think will definitely bring the community together.

Community building and collaboration have also been key for Kaylie Mclaughlin, Editor in Chief of the Kansas State Collegian at Kansas State University. The Collegian normally publishes print editions three times each week, but Mclaughlin moved the paper completely online following news of the campus closure.

This year McLaughlin had prioritized strengthening the Collegians online presence to maximize engagement. My project [was] relaunching the website, redesigning it and pushing social media hard, said Mclaughlin. And Im so glad that I did that, because it made this time a little bit easier, she said.

Mclaughlin also noted that her ability to track online engagement is reassuring; the Collegian has been reaching about 17,000 readers weekly.

Despite the chaos that COVID-19 has caused, there have been silver linings, according to Mclaughlin. [Kansas State] has a lot of student media publications, and this time has allowed for a lot more collaboration, she said, specifically referencing work with the campus television station. Weve [also] enhanced our partnership with the journalism school  so that a lot of our content coming through the website right now is written by journalism students, not necessarily Collegian staffers.

Amidst all the coverage, however, student journalists have also had a unique opportunity to reflect on the current global state of affairs. Its definitely been a huge learning experience, but [its] also a weird thing to know that youre living through history and that youre actively keeping the historical record, said Mclaughlin.

Mclaughlin also added that people should not be surprised by student journalists continued coverage. I havent talked to one college newspaper editor who questioned whether or not they would cover COVID-19, said Mclaughlin. Were not going to put our job on the back burner because the news is hard. The news is very hard, and its difficult to write about, but [we] have to do it.
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Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Thu, April 30, 2020 17:29 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd546733 1 National COVID-19,West-Java,PSBB,infection,infectious-diseases,pandemic,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,ridwan-kamil Free

The rate of COVID-19 transmission in West Java has flattened since large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) were implemented in the province.

The number of new cases has stayed at around 40 each day, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said in a written statement received by The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

As of Thursday, West Java has recorded a total of 1,012 COVID-19 cases  the second-highest after Jakarta, the epicenter of the outbreak which recorded 4,175 cases  and 83 deaths.

Read also: West Java plans to operate 24-hour checkpoints to enforce 'mudik' ban

The Bogor, Depok and Bekasi have been under the PSBB since April 15. The policy was extended for another two weeks on April 29. Meanwhile, Greater Bandung (Bandung, West Bandung, Cimahi and Sumedang) is implementing the PSBB from April 22 to May 6.

I can conclude that the PSBB has been able to reduce the rate of infection because the strict policy has resulted in people refraining from going outside and gathering in public, Ridwan said.

The Jakarta Post still saw people walking the streets around Margahayu in Rancasari district, Bandung, although the number of cars and motorcycles has decreased significantly around the area.
[April 30, 2020] Three Finalists Announced for the 2020 Bloom Burton Award

Bloom Burton & Co. is pleased to announce the three finalists for the 2020 Bloom Burton Award. Bestowed annually and nominated by the public at large, the Bloom Burton Award honours an individual who made the greatest contribution to Canada's innovative healthcare industry in the previous year. The three finalists are, in alphabetical order: Gordon Keller, Scientific Co-founder, BlueRock Therapeutics;

Arun Menawat, CEO of Profound Medical; and

Simon Pimstone, President and CEO, Xenon Pharmaceuticals. All three finalists will be invited to and celebrated at the Bloom Burton Award Gala on September 24, 2020 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bloom Burton Award finalists and winner are chosen by an independent panel of esteemed judges, all of whom are respected international leaders in healthcare investment, entrepreneurship and journalism. The panel includes: Michael Altman, Managing Director, Perceptive Advisors

Christopher Arendt, Head of Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit, Takeda

Karen Bernstein, Co-Founder and Chairman, BioCentury Inc.

Carl Gordon, Partner and Co-Head of Global Privte Equity, OrbiMed Advisors

Dennis Purcell, Founder and Senior Advisor, Aisling Capital

Melinda Richter, Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS

Camille Samuels, Partner, Venrock



Gordon Keller's pioneering academic work in the stem cell therapy field led to the founding of BlueRock Therapeutics in 2016. He is being nominated for BlueRock's exit to Bayer for $1 billion in 2019, and for the build-out of a major laboratory in Toronto, where more than 100 world-class scientists have been recruited.

As one of Canada's most successful medical device leaders, Arun Menawat is being nominated for his banner year at Profound Medical. Last year, the company's TULSA-PRO prostate cancer ablation system met all efficacy and key safety endpoints in its pivotal trial, and it subsequently received FDA 510(k) clearance and Health Canada approval. Under Simon Pimstone's steadfast leadership, Xenon Pharmaceuticals has created one of the world's most exciting epilepsy drug pipelines, and several of its programs are poised to enter mid-to-late stage clinical trials or generate important data this year. In December 2019, Xenon announced a significant collaboration with Neurocrine Biosciences that included a $50 million upfront payment and up to $1.7 billion in potential milestone payments." Mr. Bloom continued, "We look forward to celebrating Gordon Keller, Arun Menawat and Simon Pimstone at the 2020 Bloom Burton Award Gala!" A limited number of table sponsorships and tickets are available. Please visit www.bloomburton.com, or contact: View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005514/en/

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Chronic iron imbalances -- having either too little or too much iron in the blood -- can result in medical conditions ranging from anaemia and haemochromatosis through to more severe diseases, such as cancer, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease.

Haemochromatosis is one of Australia's most common hereditary diseases and the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates approximately 780,000 people live with anaemia.

School of Biomedical Engineering PhD candidate and Sydney Nano Institute student ambassador, Pooria Lesani, who is undertaking his studies under the supervision of Professor Hala Zreiqat and Dr Zufu Lu, has developed a multipurpose nanoscale bio-probe that allows researchers to precisely monitor iron disorders in cells, tissue, and body fluids as small as 1/1000th of a millimolar.

The test is more sensitive and specific than blood testing currently used to detect iron disorders, which begin at very low, cellular level concentrations.

Using novel carbon-based fluorescent bio-nanoprobe technology, the test, which involves non-invasive subcutaneous or intravenous injections, allows for a more accurate disease diagnosis before the onset of symptoms, potentially allowing for the early treatment and prevention of more serious diseases.

"More than 30% of the world's population lives with an iron imbalance, which over time can lead to certain forms of cancer, as well Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease," said Mr Lesani from the Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Research Unit and the ARC Centre for Innovative BioEngineering.

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"Current testing methods can be complex and time consuming. To counter this, and to enable the early detection of serious diseases, we have developed a hyper-sensitive and cost-efficient skin testing technique for detecting iron in the body's cells and tissue.

"Our most recent testing demonstrated a rapid detection of free iron ions with remarkably high sensitivity. Iron could be detected at concentrations in the parts per billion range, a rate ten times smaller than previous nano-probes.

"Our sensor is multifunctional and could be applied to deep-tissue imaging, involving a small probe that can visualise structure of complex biological tissues and synthetic scaffolds."

Tested on pig skin, the nanoprobe outperformed current techniques for deep tissue imaging, and rapidly penetrated biological tissue to depths of 280 micrometres and remained detectable at depths of up to 3,000 micrometres -- about three millimetres -- in synthetic tissue.

The team aims to test the nanoprobe in larger animal models, as well as investigate other ways in which it can be used to determine the structure of complex biological tissues.

We hope to integrate the nanoprobe into a "lab-on-a-chip" sensing system -- a portable, diagnostic blood testing tool which could allow clinicians to remotely monitor their patients' health.

"Lab-on-a-chip systems are relatively simple to operate and require only small blood volume samples from the patient to gain an accurate insight of potential ferric ion disorders in the body, assisting early intervention and prevention of disease," he said.

The nano-sensors can also be made from agricultural and petrochemical waste products, allowing for low-cost, sustainable manufacturing.
The US announced on Thursday it will hand over aid worth $3 million to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity (PAHAL) project as part of efforts to help India mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided $5.9 million so far to assist India in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak. This aid will help India slow the spread of Covid-19, provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, and strengthen case finding and surveillance.

The US administration had said on April 16 it would provide the aid of $3 million through the USAID. These funds will be used in coordination with the Indian government for the PAHAL project, an innovative financing platform of IPE Global, according to a statement from the US embassy.

Through the PAHAL project, USAID will support the National Health Authority to establish a financing facility that can mobilise resources from the private sector to assist more than 20,000 health facilities enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), the health insurance scheme for 500 million poor and vulnerable people.

US ambassador Kenneth Juster said in the statement, This additional funding to support India in its continuing efforts to combat Covid-19 is yet another example of the strong and enduring partnership between the US and India.

The US has been one of the worlds largest providers of bilateral aid in public health. In India, the US government, through USAID and department of health and human services agencies, including the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, has provided more than $1.4 billion in health assistance and nearly $2.8 billion in total assistance over the past 20 years.

Because an infectious disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, the United States calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat Covid-19, the statement said.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a video conference with the foreign ministers of the Normandy Four countries (Germany, France, Russia, Ukraine) declared the need for the release of Ukrainians who are illegally detained in Russia, as well as in the occupied Crimea. He appealed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with an appeal to carry out active work with a view to their release.

"And, of course, we paid attention to the issue of the exchange of held individuals, welcomed the exchanges that have already taken place, but, of course, we are still far from implementing the formula for exchanging 'all for all,' so we need to move forward. Here Russia and Ukraine should continue to interact. And I separately emphasized - I took the opportunity during our conversation to raise the issue of the release of Ukrainians who are being held in Russia, as well as in Russia-occupied Crimea. I appealed to my Russian colleague with an appeal to conduct active work to free them," Kuleba said during an online briefing following the video conference.

Kuleba confirmed that for his part he was ready to cooperate so that Ukrainians would return home not only from the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but also from Russia and Russia-occupied Crimea.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) has received a seven-day ultimatum to make public the total number of COVID-19 funds and material donations received from local and international organisations from February to April this year.

Since February when the first coronavirus index case, an Italian, was discovered in Nigeria, funds from governments, individuals and corporate organisations have continued to trickle in.

In a Freedom of Information letter of request sent to the CBN this week, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) said the apex bank has the moral and constitutional obligations to make known to the public the total numbers of funds received.

It said without any prompting, the CBN should have been releasing to the public the figure of any fund received on behalf of the people of Nigeria.

In pursuit of its demand, HEDA Resource Centre has sent a Freedom of Information request to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, urging him to release the figures within seven days.

The FOI request signed by HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said his group wants a comprehensive breakdown of financial donations received towards responding to COVID 19 as of April 20 this year.

The group also wants CBN to indicate the names of the donors (individual, corporate and international organizations), date of donation, source(s) of the donations, the amount contributed by each individual and corporate body.

The CBN holds resources in trust for the people. The Bank needs to set standards in line with global best practices. The receipt of funds in the form of donations either in cash or in material forms should be done in an open and transparent manner. We want to see the CBN act in accordance with a culture of accountability which should be the hallmark of business transactions in Nigeria, Mr Suraju said.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci answers a question during the daily CCP virus task force briefing as Vice President Mike Pence listens at the White House in Washington on April 9, 2020. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Fauci Suggests Some States Reopening Too Quickly

A top public health official suggested on Thursday that some states are reopening from lockdowns too quickly.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said states that arent able to do contact tracing should go very slowly in reopening.

You cant just leap over things and get into a situation where youre really tempting a rebound, he said. Thats the thing I get concerned about. I hope they dont do that.

Contact tracing refers to identifying everyone who came into contact during a set period of time with a person who tests newly positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus from China. The effort involves isolating contacts who test positive and then tracing their own contacts.

States should adhere to guidelines issued by the federal government, said Fauci, who helped craft the guidelines. Reopenings should only begin if states see a steady decline in the number of new CCP virus cases for two weeks.

Surin Nguyen (R), wearing protection gear, works on the nails of a customer at Allure Nail Bar in Atlanta, Georgia on April 24, 2020. (Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images)

If thats the case, states can start reopening, according to the infectious disease doctor.

Even in states with contact tracing, there will undoubtedly be blips after harsh restrictions start loosening, Fauci warned.

He was speaking during an appearance on NBCs Today show.

Dozens of governors have started reopening their states or plan to do so soon, according to a tally from The Epoch Times.

Even most governors who have extended stay-at-home orders altered them to allow some businesses to reopen.

Federal social distancing guidelines expired on April 30 after President Donald Trump chose not to extend them.

President Donald Trump meets with Louisiana Gov. Jon Bel Edwards (L) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Pool/Getty Images)

Separate guidance outlined a phased reopening for states.

Governors were advised not to start reopening until states saw a 14-day decline of new CCP virus cases. Hospitals should also be able to treat all patients without crisis care.

But Trump emphasized governors were welcome to make the final decision on how and when to reopen.

According to the guidelines, large venues including sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, and place of worship can operate under strict physical distancing protocols during phase one.

Phase two would see an expansion of large gatherings along with allowing non-essential travel and schools and organized youth activities to resume.

All workplaces can reopen in the third phase.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) speaks during a House Intelligence Committee hearing featuring the testimony of Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 15, 2019.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has a message for the CEOs of Google, YouTube and Twitter when it comes to coronavirus misinformation: please be more like Facebook.

It's an unusual request from a D.C. lawmaker after Congress has spent the past few years scolding Facebook for its policies on misinformation. The company has struggled to escape the shadow of the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal and its role in spreading disinformation by Russian actors during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. But the coronavirus pandemic has given Facebook an opportunity to reclaim its reputation and at least one lawmaker is taking notice.

Facebook said earlier this month that it would notify users if they had engaged with a post that had been removed for including misinformation about Covid-19 in violation of its policies. The social media company will also direct users to myths debunked by the World Health Organization. That marked a major step for Facebook, which has wrung its hands over other forms of misinformation, most notably in political ads. But even while it has refused to fact-check or remove most political ads that contain false information, Facebook said it would remove any that contain misinformation about the coronavirus.

Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee that investigated Russian meddling in the 2016 election, asked the chief executives of Google, YouTube and Twitter to consider a similar policy to Facebook's in letters sent Wednesday.

"While taking down harmful misinformation is a crucial step, mitigating the harms from false content that is removed requires also ensuring that those users who accessed it while it was available have as high a likelihood of possible of viewing the facts as well," Schiff wrote to the CEOs.

The three companies all have policies about misinformation but have not explicitly said they would notify users who engaged with false content as Facebook has. Taking that extra step could be important given the volume of misinformation that users post to the platforms, making it difficult for content moderators to crack down on all of them in time before they can reach others.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Google-owned YouTube said, "Since early February, we've removed thousands of videos violating our COVID-19 misinformation policies -- such as content that disputes the existence or transmission of COVID-19 as described by local health authorities, or that promotes medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent or cure COVID-19 in place of seeking medical treatment -- and have seen over 20 billion impressions on our information panels for COVID-19 related videos and searches."

A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the company received the letter and is regularly in contact with congressional staff about the issue. A Google spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

-- CNBC's Julia Boorstin and Stephen Desaulniers contributed to this report.

Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.

WATCH: Here's how Big Tech companies are combatting coronavirus misinformation
BERLIN  Germany on Thursday banned the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah from carrying out any activity on its soil and declared the group a terrorist organization, in a move, long sought by Israel and the United States, that deals a blow to its ability to operate in Europe.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer ordered raids on four mosques and organizations suspected of being linked to Hezbollah, as well as some private addresses, as part of the measures.

The activities of Hezbollah violate criminal law, and the organization opposes the concept of international understanding, whether in its political, social or military structures, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Germany, like several other European countries and the European Union as a whole, had previously classed Hezbollahs military wing as a terrorist group. But it had not applied the designation to the wider organization, which plays a powerful political role in Lebanon, with seats in both Parliament and the cabinet.
Australian Self-Sufficiency Essential on Road to Recovery

Australias road to normality and sovereign capabilities relies on an economic recovery plan focused on economic self-sufficiency, less dependency on China, innovative businesses, and fewer restraints on competition in manufacturing and other sectors said Prime Minister Scott Morrison on April 29.

It isnt achieved through nationalisation or large public subsidies and protectionism. Its achieved by having competitive businesses that can operate in these sectors and be successful. That is what the road back looks like, he said.

Australia, like many countries, has suffered an economic downturn caused by CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

In response to a question about dependency on China, Morrison said, Australians will find markets, as we have been now for a long time, all around the world, and for many years now our markets have been diversifying.

Morrison seemed confident that trade with China could continue even as Australia pushes for an inquiry into the origins and handling of the CCP virus outbreak in Wuhan, and despite recent growing tensions between the two nations.

Responding to a reporter who asked whether the wheels had fallen off Australias relationship with China, Morrison responded, The thing about our relationship with China is it is a mutually beneficial one.

China is the leading exporter of steel and needs Australias iron ore to make it. Iron ore export is worth in excess of $63 billion (US$41 billion) to Australia, with China making up a large proportion of that. In the wider scope of resources and energy, China imported about $82 billion (US$53.6 billion) worth in 2018.

Australia is a growing competitor in the international market for resources and energy, with coal and iron ore some of its strongest assets. Another advantage is that the mining industry is not hugely subsidized by the federal government, annually it contributes in the region of $31 billion in taxes and royalties.

Protecting Public Health and the Economy

Australia is fighting a battle on two fronts: health and the economy. As the curve continues to flatten, restrictions have begun to ease. However, the economic recovery is still a long way off.

Australia will learn to live with the CCP virus and new cases and more outbreaks are expected.

Morrison said the aim isnt to eradicate the virus, which is why the governments contact tracing app, COVID Safe is vital to managing future outbreaks. Launched on April 26, to date 2.4 million people have downloaded the app.

Morrison said we are close to a COVID safe environment as many states and territories have begun to ease restrictions. National Cabinet will meet on May 11 to discuss easing more restrictions.

We dont want to just win the battle against COVID-19 but lose a broader conflict when it comes to the economy and the functioning of our society, Morrison told reporters in Canberra on April 29.

Of course there will continue to be additional cases, of course, there will be outbreaksthats what living with the virus will be like, he said.

The Jobkeeper program has been vital to protecting Australias economy during the economic downturn.

Writing in The Conversation on March 30, tax expert and visiting scholar at Australian National University Steve Hamilton said, This is a welcome move by the government that will keep many businesses afloat and connected to their employees, which are critical to a speedy recovery. It is commendable that the government reversed course so quickly given rapidly deteriorating economic conditions.

You cant shut down the economy for months without providing massive support to businesses and workers, he said.

Australia has seen over 800,000 people sign up for Jobkeeper and Jobseeker since the start of the CCP virus outbreak.

The $130 billion (US$83.2 billion) Jobkeeper package legislated on April 9 grants around 6 million Australian workers a $1500 per fortnight lifeline subsidy. The money is paid to employers to continue paying their employees for six months. It also brings the total economic support provided by the government and the Reserve Bank of Australia to a staggering $320 billion (US$205 billion)more than 16 percent of GDP.

In addition, the governments coronavirus supplement is a $550 per fortnight additional payment to recipients of the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance jobseeker, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance, and Special Benefit.

This was an emergency response measure, Morrison said. This was not a change in the governments view about the broader role of the social safety net in Australia.

Unemployment is expected to rise again from its current rate of 5.2 percent to almost double at 10 percent as the fallout from the CCP virus continues to take effect.
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Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is safeguarding the nation in many ways  to include a priority focus in the months ahead on economic security.

Economic security is really homeland security, said Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf in a virtual live event hosted Thursday by Auburn Universitys McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security.

Wolf said that, in addition to its newfound role of fighting COVID-19, his department has taken a stronger position on its role dealing with economic security. Wolf noted that whether its imports, exports, airports or seaports, it all weaves together homeland and economic security.

In response, the department created the Office of Economic Security to provide recommendations on best practices and policies. With 90 percent of everyday consumer goods coming through ports, Wolf said its imperative for his department to take a stronger role on the economic side.

I think what weve seen here, really highlighted by COVID-19, is really that the supply chain and how its under an immense amount of pressure and even the small little hiccup has really a trickle effect and big effect I would say across the board, he added.

During the 45-minute virtual event Thursday, Wolf addressed COVID-19 and other issues of core concern and responsibility, to include the departments role in responding to natural disasters and fighting cyber terrorism. Wolf said the department has had three priorities during the current pandemic: respond, recover and restore. This involves all agencies working together to address the current issues, plan for the short term and be prepared for the long term, he said.

The department has been particularly focused on restoring trade, travel and commerce to the American economy and ensuring the supply chain, particularly for personal protective equipment, or PPE, is protected and prepared. This includes the formation of a supply chain task force, accelerating the timeframe of PPE delivery from Asia to the United States and building up the capabilities to produce more domestically.

Were restocking the national stockpile, Wolf said, and figuring out how do we preserve what we have here today.

Thursdays event was moderated by Auburn University McCrary Institute Director Frank Cilluffo, who said that the breadth and the depth (of Homeland Security) is incredible. The Department of Homeland Security has to be open 24/7, regardless of the crisis.

While COVID-19 has been ever present in the minds of the nation, so, too, is the threat of natural disasters, especially in Alabama. Wolf made an analogy to what his department and its agencies, such as FEMA, are dealing with when considering the current pandemic is on top of their other normal responsibilities.

Its like a hurricane; some states are dealing with a category 5, some are dealing with a category 3, Wolf said.

To prepare for the current tornado season and the impending hurricane season, the department is building a mirror National Response Coordination Center site and taking a portion of the FEMA workforce to work on tornado and hurricane activity.

The pandemic has also forced the department to be creative in the way it would normally assess and respond to natural disasters by using more virtual capabilities, such as satellites and drones, and placing displaced individuals from tornado-damaged areas in local hotels instead of shelters since many hotel capacities are far below normal.

Like anything else, COVID is changing how the department works, Wolf said.

Lastly, Wolf addressed the need of the private and public sectors to come together like they have during the recent pandemic. There is much work ahead, but he said the state of Alabama is a great example of how that can happen.

The department has a number of resources in the state of Alabama, both from a FEMA standpoint and cybersecurity standpoint, and we find great partnerships, not only with the private institutions in the state, but also with Gov. Ivey. The state of Alabama has been a great partner to the Department of Homeland Security over the years, Wolf said. I really appreciate the work of Auburn University and the McCrary Institute. The partnership has been great, and I look forward to continuing this conversation.

Auburn University and the McCrary Institute have hosted a number of high-ranking officials on campus in the past yearincluding TSA Administrator David Pekoske, CISA Director Chris Krebs, CISA Assistant Director Brian Harrellas a result of the partnership with Homeland Security. The institute also hosted CIA Director Gina Haspel and FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich.

The McCrary Institute is focused on practical, interdisciplinary research and innovation in infrastructure and cybersecurity. Founded through a gift from the Alabama Power Foundation in 2014, the institute is tasked with developing next-generation technologies aimed at improving the security and operation of the nations infrastructure.
Anthony and Joe Russo  also known as the Russo brothers  have been sharing their favourite crowd reactions from one of the first Avengers: Endgame screenings in celebration of its one-year anniversary.

The superhero blockbuster, which is the highest-grossing film of all time, was released in April 2019.

People around the world rushed to see how the Infinity Saga would end, and most were not left disappointed by a film that, among other things, featured the death of Iron Man and the departure of Captain America.

The film had its fair share of huge moments, with comic book fans particularly loving the scenes that saw the dusted heroes make their big return, as well as Captain America wielding Thors hammer in the climactic battle sequence.

Naturally, excitement was in overdrive and the Russos, knowing the moments were on their way, sat at the back of an opening night screening in California and (naughtily) caught the moment on their video phones.

Its not every day you hear people in a cinema collectively cheering, and the videos certainly hammer home that the film was a brilliant experience for many film-watchers.

"We eagerly await the day that we can all be back together in a theater, sharing these experiences once again," Anthony Russo wrote on Twitter.

Marvel Studios recently confirmed a touching Easter egg from the film that doubles up as a tribute to Tony Stark.

Next on the MCU agenda is Black Widow, which will now be released in November after being pushed back from May due to coronavirus.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified many of the vulnerabilities that exist in communities across the country. Food insecurity is atop this list as more Americans are looking for ways to gain access to affordable food.

No matter the social or economic reasons a person finds themselves in a state of food insecurity, the results of stress and poor nutrition are always the same. Food insecurity forces people to make tough choices between purchasing food or paying for things like medical care or utility bills. Recently, the Washington Post reported that stimulus checks have been largely used to purchase food. While people choosing to spend money on key needs may not come as a shock, it should sound an alarm for credit unions as we consider how many Americans were food insecure prior to COVID-19 and how this situation is impacting their financial well-being.

Food banks are facing an increase in demand, decrease in donations

With millions of Americans filing for unemployment or working reduced hours, food insecurity is on the rise. The demand for food banks and pantries has skyrocketed over the past few weeks. Stories, such as this one from San Antonio, tell of the thousands lining up for emergency food aid. According to a survey conducted by Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization, 95 percent of food banks reported higher operational expenses and 37 percent reported an immediate critical funding shortfall. Food donations are also down as people stockpile supplies during lockdown and many restaurants which would normally donate perishables are now closed.

Furthermore, nearly 1 in 6 children in the US are food insecure. Many families rely on their children having access to free or reduced-price lunches at school throughout the year. Long-term school closures have impacted this access and while there are some very effective programs that are rising to meet this challenge, there are many children who are living outside of program service areas and continue to be impacted.

Credit unions roots in combating hunger

Throughout history, credit unions have thrived by serving the unique needs of their members and communities. In 1850, the first credit union was created in Germany to help those facing hard times due to crop failure and famine. Since then, credit unions have found success by being a source of affordable credit, combating poverty, and helping people avoid food insecurity.

The National Credit Union Foundations DE Program explores a number of development issues, including hunger, that serve as barriers to the prosperity and financial well-being of members. While we may not have products and services directly associated with food assistance, hunger and finances are intrinsically linked.

Through our programming we have been fortunate to work with many credit union leaders who are working to combat hunger in their communities. Here is a list of tips to help make a difference for people experiencing food insecurity:

Discover What Food Insecurity Looks Like in Your Community. Feeding America has a ton of resources on food insecurity and data that drills down to state and county levels. Additionally, you can find out if any food deserts  areas where people lack access to affordable or healthy food sources  exist within your field of membership by using USDAs Food Access Research Atlas. These resources might reveal opportunities for your credit union to plug-in to local efforts and educate employees on what members might be facing.

Feeding America has a ton of resources on food insecurity and data that drills down to state and county levels. Additionally, you can find out if any food deserts  areas where people lack access to affordable or healthy food sources  exist within your field of membership by using USDAs Food Access Research Atlas. These resources might reveal opportunities for your credit union to plug-in to local efforts and educate employees on what members might be facing. Research, Share, and Provide Food Assistance Resources. What food banks and pantries or other resources exist within your community? What could you offer at your own credit union? Credit unions are encouraged to compile food assistance resources (along with other local charities and non-profits) in a way that can be shared with members and employees as needed. Do not overlook the fact that some of your own staff may be food insecure. Consider providing or promoting food assistance programs internally and creating a trusted environment for employees to share and seek help confidentially.

What food banks and pantries or other resources exist within your community? What could you offer at your own credit union? Credit unions are encouraged to compile food assistance resources (along with other local charities and non-profits) in a way that can be shared with members and employees as needed. Do not overlook the fact that some of your own staff may be food insecure. Consider providing or promoting food assistance programs internally and creating a trusted environment for employees to share and seek help confidentially. Practice Active Listening & Empathy. People struggling with food insecurity often feel shame or embarrassment for their situation even if it isnt visible. Practicing empathy during member interactions may help someone feel comfortable to talk about an issue that doesnt involve an account balance. Helping a member through a transaction is expected, but helping to connect them with food assistance would truly be a memorable service experience.

People struggling with food insecurity often feel shame or embarrassment for their situation even if it isnt visible. Practicing empathy during member interactions may help someone feel comfortable to talk about an issue that doesnt involve an account balance. Helping a member through a transaction is expected, but helping to connect them with food assistance would truly be a memorable service experience. Contribute Resources to support Food Banks and Pantries. As COVID-19 continues to impact donations and volunteer numbers, many non-profits are in need of additional support. In order to stay in operation, food banks and pantries still need healthy, low-risk volunteers and partnerships that will help to purchase bulk food and other items at lower price points. Credit unions should reach out to learn how to best help during this time.

As more people are impacted by the pandemic and face financial uncertainty, credit unions must encourage the practice empathy and look for ways to help people who need access to affordable food. Its not just a return to our roots, but a way to evolve our role as financial institutions into trusted community partners that truly put the needs of our members and communities first.
Nothing quite compares with the expectation of a forth- coming holiday.

Whether its a short UK getaway or a trip halfway across the world, the very thought of new surroundings and a changed routine  preferably under sunny skies  never fails to raise spirits.

Encouraged by glossy adverts, millions of us usually plan our summer holidays at the start of the year, and then its a case of getting through a few cold, showery months, in the knowledge that a deserved break is not so far away.

Frustration

But all that has been stymied by the Covid-19 outbreak, and the worlds reaction to it. No ones going anywhere.

The very thought of new surroundings and a changed routine never fails to raise spirits. But this year, no one's going anywhere

Nearly 17,000 planes are sitting idle on runways across the world  thats 64 per cent of all aircraft  while hotels, villas, holiday apartments, safari parks and all-inclusive beach resorts are shut, with no guarantee that they will open any time soon.

It is estimated that 7 billion has been spent by Britons on holidays they will now not be able to enjoy.

Its a sorry situation  but one that most of us accept with good grace and understanding, as the death toll from coronavirus continues to rise across the globe.

Whats far harder to deal with  and whats rightly giving rise to growing anger and frustration  is the way travel agents, tour operators and airlines are either refusing to give customers full refunds for paid-for holidays or making the process hideously stressful.

Nearly 17,000 planes are sitting idle on runways across the world  thats 64 per cent of all aircraft

The law is on the side of the consumer, but in the coronavirus jungle that doesnt seem to count for much. Certainly, holidaymakers arent feeling that were all in this together when theyve shelled out money for trips which, through no fault of their own, have been cancelled.

Under the Package Travel Regulations (2018), anyone who has booked a package holiday which is then cancelled is due a full refund within 14 days. But, with a nod of approval from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), holidaymakers are being asked to accept Refund Credit Notes for future travel, or simply to book the same holiday at a different time.

As ABTA puts it: In normal circumstances a refund should be paid within 14 days, but these are not normal circumstances and the 14-day rule is simply impossible for many companies to adhere to.

Yes, but why should consumers have to pay the price?

ABTA has spent a lot of time lobbying the Government to change the regulations and yesterday called on the Chancellor to extend the Governments salary support scheme for the travel industry.

Specifically, it wants a relaxation of the current furlough rules to allow travel staff to help tackle the backlog of requests from customers.

Such a move might make it easier to talk to someone rather than being held in an indefinite queue listening to canned music, but its unlikely to result in quicker refunds.

There are other options, but they can be just as perilous.

For example, you can take a travel company to the small claims court, where in theory its a relatively simple process, with a fee of 60 for claims up to 1,000 or 105 for up to 3,000. But do you really want the mind-numbing hassle and aggravation that this entails?

Alternatively, under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, if you have used a credit card and spent more than 100 on your holiday you can contact your card provider for reimbursement.

But, displaying that familiar fat cat behaviour, many banks are reluctant to help, sending customers round in circles or saying that, because travel firms are offering credit notes, there has been no breach of contract.

Lets not forget that these are the banks which were themselves bailed out by the Government following the 2008 financial crash, banks which like to put out emotive messages about how they are with you every step of the way, when often they are putting up barriers every step of the way.

No wonder the Competition and Markets Authority  which works to ensure that consumers get a fair deal  reports that four in every five current complaints are to do with travel refunds.

So, yes, the Government needs to act. Extending the 14-day refund rule makes sense  and is something that has been adopted across the EU as a temporary measure  but ministers seem determined to drag their feet, merely muttering platitudes about hoping to strike a balance between the plight of consumers and the future of travel companies.

It is estimated that 7 billion has been spent by Britons on holidays they will now not be able to enjoy

Turmoil

Underwriting credit notes is essential and would encourage more of us to rebook a holiday once travel restrictions have been lifted, because we would be guaranteed to get our money back even if the tour operator goes bust.

But with every day that passes and nothing happening, grievances pile up.

Assurances about credit notes might also mean banks would be happy to redeem them for cash as long as they know those notes have a government-guaranteed value.

Every sector likes to think of itself as special and the world of travel  which last year contributed 10.3 per cent of GDP around the globe and for nine successive years has been responsible for generating one in four of the worlds new jobs  is no different.

But ministers are in danger of letting the industry drift or, rather, crash-land with fatal consequences.

Every day brings more turmoil. Virgin Atlantics future is uncertain; British Airways this week warned that as many as 12,000 employees may be made redundant; and yesterday, Tui  the UKs biggest travel company, with six million customers a year  announced that it is cancelling all beach holidays until June 11, and all cruises up to June 30.

Whats certain is that the way we travel is about to change dramatically  and we British are inveterate travellers. We always have been.

Tourists flock to the sunshine in Torrevieja, Spain, in 2018 but this year that might not be possible

Limits

Wherever you go in the world, we are there, seeking out  like Captain Cook in the 18th century or Scott and Shackleton in the 20th century  new frontiers or just sitting on a favourite beach with a dripping ice lolly.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) will today outline what the so-called new normal will look like as countries begin to end their coronavirus lockdowns and ease travel restrictions.

It expects domestic tourism in Britain to restart in July and through August and September, followed by a pick-up of short-haul holidays to the rest of Europe from September, and then long haul from November.

Travellers should be tested at airports before they fly and upon their arrival, and can expect to wear face masks, observe practical social distancing on board aircraft and ensure strict cleansing regimes, according to the WTTC.

It doesnt sound glamorous. Perhaps the old maxim coined by Robert Louis Stevenson about how to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive wont stand up to scrutiny for a year or so.

But we need to travel  and the Government, banks and travel companies must do everything in their power to make sure we can.
Russias foreign minister has dismissed claims a Russian agent was sent to Prague to poison its mayor and two other city officials as fabrications, in the highest-level denial yet on an issue that is straining ties between the two countries.

Respekt, a Czech investigative weekly, published a report on April 26 quoting unnamed security sources as saying that a suspected Russian intelligence officer traveling on a diplomatic passport had arrived recently in Prague carrying the deadly toxin ricin as part of an alleged poisoning plot.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on April 30 that it was "unthinkable Czech authorities would identify the man carrying poison and let him in the country.

They found a deadly poison and let him into the country? he said at a briefing. Would any sound person believe in these fabrications?

Moscow, suspected in the 2018 poisoning in Britain of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a nerve agent, earlier this week dismissed the alleged poisoning plot against the three Czechs as part of a "disinformation campaign" aimed at discrediting Russia and threatened "serious consequences" to Czech-Russian relations.

The Czech counterintelligence service, BIS, has previously issued reports warning of the threat posed by Russian spies using diplomatic cover at the Russian Embassy in Prague to carry out espionage activity.

Upon arrival, the suspected intelligence agent was driven to the Russian Embassy, according to Respekt.

The weekly said the Russian national entered the country with a suitcase containing the toxin ricin around 3 1/2 weeks ago. That suitcase or any diplomatic envelope could have escaped customs inspection as per diplomatic protocol.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis on April 28 said the Czech Republic was a "sovereign state" that would not tolerate "any world power" trying to interfere in its internal affairs.

"It's not acceptable -- if it's true -- for a foreign state to take action against our citizens here," Babis said.

Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek is reported to have warned Aleksandr Zmeyevsky, Russia's ambassador in the Czech Republic, of repercussions if anything happens to the three Czech officials.

Police Protection

All three have taken or supported actions that have angered the Kremlin, including the renaming of the square in front of the Russian Embassy after a slain former Kremlin critic and the removal of a statue of a Soviet-era general. As possible payback, Moscow is suspected of having a role in a recent wave of cyberattacks in the Czech Republic.

The officials have all confirmed they have been given around-the-clock police protection.

One of them, Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib, told RFE/RL on April 30 that he cant comment on details surrounding the police protection.

But Hrib said that around a month ago, he had filed a criminal complaint after noticing I had been followed near my home."

Ondrej Kolar, the Prague 6 district mayor who is also in hiding, told Prima TV on April 28 that he was restricted from disclosing details about the case, which also involves Pavel Novotny, another Prague district mayor.

"I can really only tell you that I have police protection. It was ordered on the basis of certain facts and those facts are that there is a Russian here who was given an assignment to liquidate me," Kolar said. "Not only me, but Mr. Hrib and Mr. Novotny."

Kolar was criticized by the Kremlin after his district on April 3 removed the statue of Marshal Ivan Konev, who led the Red Army forces during World War II that drove Nazi troops from most of Czechoslovakia. Moscow called the statue's removal an insult and an attempt to rewrite history. Days later, several masked attackers threw smoke bombs at the Czech Embassy in Moscow and placed a banner saying "Stop Fascism" on the compounds fence.

Commenting on the statue on April 30, Lavrov said its removal violated a 1993 friendship treaty that obliges the Czech Republic to protect memorials to Russian World War II heroes.

Kolar previously said the statue would be moved to a new museum.

Novotny irritated the Kremlin after proposing to erect a monument to a controversial World War II military division called the Vlasov Army made up of Soviet defectors that fought alongside the Nazis but turned against them in the final days of the war and helped liberate Prague.

Novotny told RFE/RL on April 28 that he was under police protection but also said he was under restrictions when speaking about the case.

Asked whether he found the ricin poisoning plot credible, Novotny didn't hesitate.

"Are [the Russians] capable of something like that?" he asked. "Definitely."

Relations between Prague and Moscow also soured over a Czech decision to rename the square where the Russian Embassy is located, a decision backed by Hrib.

Two months ago, Prague officials dedicated the leafy square in front of the embassy complex to former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was fatally shot in Moscow in February 2015.
The Indian Army has issued a warning to its personnel against Pakistani agencies nefarious designs to hack the phones of Indian military personnel through a malicious application similar to the Aarogya Setu app.

Inimical intelligence agencies have developed a malicious app by the name Aarogya Setu.apk. Such apps were found to be sent by Pakistan-based Pakistani Intelligence Operatives to WhatsApp groups of Indian Army personnel, the Army has stated in its warning.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Senior Army sources told ANI that Pakistani agencies are using social media accounts with Indian names to target the Indian personnel.

Known Pakistani Intelligence Operative account under the fake name of one Anoshka Chopra also found sending the malicious application to Indian Army personnel, the sources said.

The Army in its warning has asked personnel about the need to be sensitised about the Pakistani spy agencies designs while downloading the application.

The Army has also told its men and women that the Aarogya Setu application must be downloaded only from the Indian government website (mygov.in) or Android Play Store or iOS Apple Play Store.

Click here for the latest updates from the coronavirus outbreak

All forces personnel have been asked to download the Aarogya Setu application to help in the detection and checking the spread of COVID-19. The application has been developed by government agencies and is being used by almost all government employees.

Recently, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane had stated that while India is busy fighting coronavirus both internally and globally, Pakistan is busy in exporting terrorism in India and other places.

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Almost 320,000 teaching jobs could be lost if states cut their education budgets by 15 percent in a coronavirus-inflicted recession, a new analysis has found.

That hypothetical cut would mean an 8.4 percent reduction in the U.S. teaching corps, with some states seeing reductions as large as 20 percent, according to the analysis by the Learning Policy Institute. With schools cutting that many teaching positionseither through layoffs or eliminating vacant positionsclass sizes would increase.

What were hearing from some states is its going to be a lot higher than [a 15 percent cut], but everyones guessing at this point, so we stayed on the conservative end, said Michael Griffith, a senior school finance research and policy analyst at LPI and the author of the analysis.

On Wednesday, the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy contracted at a 4.8 percent pace from January to March, signaling the start of a recession. Thats the biggest decline since the Great Recession, when the United States lost more than 120,000 teaching positions. (The country would have likely lost about 250,000 more teaching jobs during that time period without federal recovery money, Griffith said.)

The LPI analysis assumes that local and federal funding will remain flat. It includes the $13.5 billion that schools received from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act but does not assume any additional federal funding. (A coalition of education groups has asked Congress for $200 billion in new aid for schools, but federal lawmakers have not signaled that another infusion of emergency money for schools is coming.)

Public schools spend about 80 percent of their budgets on staff salaries and benefits, and the analysis assumes that districts would continue their current spending patterns. If states slash education budgets, Griffith said, school districts would likely lay off early-career teachers first.

A national economic downturn would impact states in different ways, depending on how much their schools rely on state revenue, Griffith said. California, New York, and Texas would see the largest teacher reductions, the LPI analysis shows, while South Dakota, Rhode Island, and Montana would lose the least amount of teachers.

The impact of these cuts could come quickly, Griffith warned.

Weve never fully recovered from the last recessionwe still have fewer teachers than we did in 2008, he said. Last recession, [districts] had a lot more cushion there, and they were able to ... eliminate administrative positions, eliminate certain programs, tighten their belts, and still kind of make it [for a while] before laying off teachers.

And school districts that serve high percentages of children from low-income families will be hurt the most, since wealthy districts have high levels of local property tax revenue that can soften the blow, Griffith said.

The more reliant you are on state funding, the harder this is going to hit you as a school district, he said. There starts to be a separation of the haves and the have nots.

Earlier this week, the Council of the Great City Schools estimated that 275,000 teachers could lose their jobs in big-city school districts alone , although the group did not provide details about that projection.

Just Horrifying

For the past couple years, teachers across the country have been gaining momentum as they fight for more education funding. Now, they fear, all that progress will be lost.

Already, several states have reduced anticipated pay raises for teachers. In Hawaii, the governor is considering cutting teachers pay by 20 percent starting June 1. Corey Rosenlee, the president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, said hes worried more about teachers being driven out of the profession en masse than he is about potential layoffs.

I dont know how many years its going to put us behind, he said, adding that Hawaii was just about to fund a program to address persistent teacher shortages when the coronavirus outbreak happened. Theres going to be a short-term consequence of losing teachers, ... but what is the long-term impact going to be? Right now, a lot of our students are saying, I cant afford to be a teacher.

In Arizona, where teachers staged a six-day strike in 2018 for higher wages and more school funding, there could be an 8 percent reduction in teaching jobs, according to the LPI analysis. That translates to about 4,200 lost teachers.

That would be just horrifying for our students, said Kelley Fisher, a kindergarten teacher and a lead organizer for the grassroots group Arizona Educators United. We already have one of the highest class size averages in the nation, and that would just make it go up.

The cuts made to school funding during the Great Recession devastated districts, she said, and theyre still catching up to where they were in 2008.

To think of going back to that againits not even a possibility in my mind, Fisher said. There are so many teachers in Arizona that are willing to stand up and not let that happen again.

Image: CharlieAJA/iStock/Getty. Data provided courtesy of the Learning Policy Institute. For more details, please see this LPI blog.


Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) stated, "The agreement represents a long-lasting historical relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, and the UNRWA to support Palestinian refugees. This partnership has resulted in many great projects. The commitment of UNRWA is something we count on in this critical time and we hope this agreement will support UNRWA to be able to help poor people in Gaza in facing this prename. Thank you very much and we hope to see more cooperation and projects in the near future."

Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said, "Thank you for your strong support to UNRWA. This contribution is very timely. This is definitely an indication of how important and committed you are in supporting the efforts of UNRWA to provide critical services to the Palestinian refugees. I would like to acknowledge the resource support by Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, to UNRWA, especially last year's support that played a critical role in securing funding for our projects which as you know is very fundamental to ensure the continuation of all these critical services. Without it we certainly wouldn't have been able to be at forefront of the response for the COVID-19. Thank you very much again for this support it is highly needed in Gaza Strip, where we have one the weakest and poorest health systems in the region."

The signing ceremony was via a video call between Dr. Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSrelief and Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General UNRWA. It is the second agreement, where a similar agreement was recently signed in Riyadh to also support the health sector in Gaza. Saudi Arabia provided a total of USD 6,473,586,361 in support to Palestine, USD 250 million was allocated for UNRWA.

The agreement will support the health sector in the Gaza Strip with important items including medical equipment and supplies of ventilation, patient monitoring system, syringe pumps, oxygen meters, transport stretcher trolleys, blankets, personal protective equipment (N95 masks, surgery masks, isolation gowns, disposable head and foot covers), medicines of antivirals and antibiotics, sterilizers, medicines for chronic diseases, clinical detection supplies, and oxygen cylinders. The support, which are highly needed in this critical time, will contribute to reducing the spread of a serious pandemic in the Gaza Strip and meeting the urgent needs of the medical teams working there.

SOURCE King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre
A used needle and a Wisconsin ID was found in the females purse with the photo matching the female passenger. Using the ID card, the female was identified as Colleen Hammer. Hammer was shown the ID, to which she replied that she was sorry I lied. Hammer was placed under arrest and transported to the Juneau County Jail.

Platt informed Edge he was being placed under arrest. The male passenger, who was not under arrest, and Edge were placed in the squad car. After dropping the male passenger off at a restaurant in Mauston, Platt searched the rear of the squad car, where he found a bag on the floor containing a white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine and several oval-shaped pills. Edge and the male passenger denied owning the bag.

Due to both denying ownership of the bag, Platt handcuffed the male passenger and escorted him back to the car. As he brought the passenger back to the car, Platt heard Edge say that was mine, he didnt have anything to do with it.
Pilots of the Madhya Pradesh



government's aviation department are used to ferrying VVIPs, but now they are faced with a new challenge of transporting COVID-19 test samples to laboratories outside the state.

These are no ordinary flights as pilots have to follow a set of stringent protocols and wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) while taking samples for testing to labs, as far as Puducherry and also Delhi.

"It is the most challenging task for us. We have to wear PPE to fly the plane, which is tough as we are not used to it, but I and my senior pilot, Captain Majid, did it in the interest of the nation, Captain Vishwas Rai from the state aviation department told PTI.

He said they have so far undertaken four flights- three to Delhi and one to Puducherry - carrying about 6,000 samples in all to laboratories there for testing.

On his experience of flying the aircraft while wearing the PPE, Rai said, "It is tough as the entire body is covered. The PPE makes the body sweat. We can't wipe the sweat even if it comes over the eyes. It is difficult, but we somehow manage as saving lives is more important than anything else."



He said the first flight for the task was tough, but later they were mentally prepared for it.

A team involving medical experts, aviation department staff and local municipal employees ensures safety of the entire process.

"Before and after every flight, the entire plane is sanitised, including the cockpit and cabin area. A doctor accompanies us for taking the samples to the destination and we follow all protocols of the health department, Rai said.

Asked about the response of their family members, Rai said they understand it.

"As a precaution, I have shifted my family to my brothers house located next door in order to quarantine myself. We are also advised to take hydroxychloroquine tablets as a preventive medication," the pilot said.

"As everyone in the country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and frontline health and social workers are doing their job, we are also doing it in the interest of the nation," he added.

State aviation departments director Ilayaraja T told PTI that so far they have undertaken four flights - three to Delhi and one to Puducherry - to send the test samples there to reduce pendency.

"We will carry out more flights if required by the health department," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DAKOTA CITY, Neb.  Facing growing public scrutiny over an outbreak of COVID-19 at its Dakota City, Nebraska, beef plant, Tyson Fresh Meats said late Wednesday it will shut down the 4,300-employee facility for four days beginning Friday.

Tyson officials plans a deep cleaning of the entire plant, the meat giants largest beef processing facility.

The temporary closure of metro Sioux Citys largest employer comes amid a surge in novel coronavirus cases. Last week, the spike landed the metro area at the top of the list of U.S. cities with the highest daily growth rate, with cases doubling every day or so.

Both area residents who have died from COVID-19 worked at the Dakota City plant.

Tyson said Wednesday it started screening workers for COVID-19 this week with assistance from the Nebraska National Guard.

Tyson testing all employees is a step in the right direction, said a health care provider who has treated local COVID-19 patients and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Dakota County, which is one-fifth the population of neighboring Woodbury County, had no cases as recently as April 11, but has since reported 704 positive tests, third most among Nebraskas 93 counties. Woodbury County has 749 cases.

Thirty Woodbury County residents were admitted to Sioux City hospitals for treatment of the virus as of Wednesday, up from 17 hospitalizations the previous day, according to data released by Siouxland District Health.

The health care provider said the inpatient numbers are expected to continue to grow, with MercyOne Siouxland and UnityPoint Health-St. Lukes requesting more ventilators from the state in anticipation of a further surge.

Its just alarming to see that type of increase and the potential for the loss of life and  people being very sick in our community, Mayor Bob Scott told CNN in a live interview Tuesday night. Were hopeful now the curve will start to go down like it has in other places.

Maintaining pay

Workers will continue to be compensated, according to company officials.

A spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 222, which represents hourly workers at the plant, offered support for the shutdown.

We believe that in every meatpacking and food processing plant, the safety of the workers must come first, UFCW spokesman Evan Yeats said in a statement. We share Tysons concern for the safety of their workers and will continue to encourage them to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure our members safety.

South Sioux City Mayor Rod Koch also applauded the companys decision.

With that type of work, if theyre having a lot of positive tests out there, I think the leadership of Tyson is being responsible and getting in there and doing a deep cleaning, and then Im sure theyll have a game plan coming back to make sure everybodys healthy that comes in that building, Koch said. And I think that speaks well to their commitment to the community, to make sure that place is safe.

Tyson officials previously acknowledged some Dakota City workers had tested positive for the virus, but has repeatedly refused to disclose a number of cases. State and county health officials also have refused to discuss any link to the plant and a spike in positive tests in the last two weeks.

For some reason, Tyson is unwilling to share those numbers, which, to me, doesnt make any sense, Scott told CNN.

On Monday, Scott, Koch and three other metro area mayors called for greater transparency from state and county health officials about places contributing to the recent spike in local COVID-19 cases.

The Dakota City facility is the latest meat plant to temporarily close to contain the virus. Other shutdowns have included Tyson pork plants in Waterloo and Columbus Junction, the Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the JBS USA pork plant in Worthington, Minnesota.

On Tuesday, Seaboard Triumph Foods announced that 11 workers at its Sioux City pork plant had tested positive for COVID-19.

Tyson noted it was one of the first food companies to start taking worker temperatures and has installed over 150 infrared temperature scanners in its facilities. The company said it also started efforts to secure a supply of facial coverings before the Centers for Disease Control recommended them and now requires and provides them for all employees in its facilities.

Team member safety has and continues to be top priority for us and were grateful for our team members and their critical role in helping us fulfill, to the best of our ability, our commitment to helping feed people in our community and across the nation, said Shane Miller, senior vice president & general manager beef enterprise, Tyson Fresh Meats.

The Dakota City plant normally produces enough beef in one day to feed 18 million people, Tyson said. Due to increased absenteeism over the last few weeks, the company been forced to scale back production.

Tysons closure announcement Wednesday came a day after President Trump signed an executive order that requires Tyson and other meatpackers to keep their plants open during the pandemic. The order invokes the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure.

Bonus pay

In a separate announcement Wednesday, Tyson announced $120 million in bonuses for its 116,000 front-line workers and truckers, up from the $60 million announced in early April. The company is moving up the first $500 bonus payment to early May. The second $500 bonus will be paid in July.

Employees unable to work due to illness or child care will continue to qualify, but bonus eligibility will depend on attendance, the company said in a news release.

In metro Sioux City, Tysons expanded bonuses will now total more than $4 million for the employees at Tysons flagship Dakota City beef plant, its fresh meats division in Dakota Dunes and a cold storage facility in Sioux City.
VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria might demand a stake in Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> in exchange for granting emergency aid to the German flag carrier's unit Austrian Airlines, the country's conservative chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, said on Wednesday.

Kurz met Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr in Vienna on Wednesday, a meeting he said Spohr requested and was their first face-to-face discussion of a bailout.

"Aid without advantages for Austria as a business location, without a stake in Lufthansa, just for the sake of it, is not going to happen," Kurz told national broadcaster ORF after the meeting.

Kurz is under pressure from opposition parties to take a stake in Lufthansa. When pressed on whether Austria would do that, however, he appeared to say there were various options.

"We want to achieve the maximum for Austria as a place to do business, we want to protect Austrian employees at Austrian Airlines as much as possible, and what can be the right way to do that is something we will look at. Today was the first discussion. Negotiations start now," he told ORF.

While Lufthansa is in talks with the German government over a 9 billion-euro ($9.8 billion) rescue package, Austrian Airlines has applied for 767 million euros in funding from Austria, much of it in the form of loans and the remainder in grants that have yet to be negotiated.

While Austrian is eligible for government coronavirus aid schemes, it is asking for more than what is usually available - loans guaranteed to 90% by the state are normally capped at 120 million euros or three months' revenue, though the public agency administering that aid can sign off on larger amounts.

Based on Lufthansa's annual report https://investor-relations.lufthansagroup.com/fileadmin/downloads/en/financial-reports/annual-reports/LH-AR-2019-e.pdf for 2019, a quarter's revenue for Austrian would be around 527 million euros. Austrian Airlines also has around 7,000 staff.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy in Vienna; Editing by David Goodman and Matthew Lewis)
Boris Johnson has led his first daily press conference for almost a month.

The prime minister, who returned to work on Monday after recovering from coronavirus, said I genuinely think, when I look back at what the UK has done, we did the right measures at the right time.

He said it was completely right to make the lockdown period coincide with the peak of the epidemic and emphasised that when we put in the lockdown it was earlier in the curve of our epidemic than it was... in France, Italy and Spain.

Johnson told journalist Robert Peston that the only real comparison is going to be possible at the end of the epidemic.

We are learning lessons every day, but I do think broadly speaking, we did the right thing at the right time, he said.

Boris Johnson has delivered his first daily briefing since recovering from coronavirus (Julian Simmonds - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Let me remind you that when we made those decisions we were in a situation where it seemed all to plausible that people would not get ventilated beds... and it seemed really possible that people would not have access to intensive care.

Johnson said the UK had done very well by comparison to a lot of places around the world when asked by BBC reporter Laura Kuennesberg about the effect of lockdown on the economy.

Research published ahead of the briefing on Thursday showed that 66% of Britons think the government acted too late in taking stricter measures on coronavirus.

Boris Johnson returned to work on Monday (Steve Taylor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The PM had earlier on Thursday urged Britons to keep going with social distancing measures.

Before leading Thursdays briefing, he wrote on Twitter that he understands the publics impatience and anxiety regarding the lockdown measures.

He said: I know how hard and how stressful it has been to give up even temporarily those ancient and basic freedoms.

But I must ask you to keep going in the way that you have kept going so far, so we can protect our NHS and save lives.

1/3: I know how hard and how stressful it has been to give up even temporarily those ancient and basic freedoms, not seeing friends, not seeing loved ones, working from home, managing the kids, worrying about your job and your firm.  Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 30, 2020

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Story continues

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area

6 charts and maps that explain how coronavirus is spreading

Meanwhile, a former Tory MP has hit out at Johnsons coronavirus response, describing it as unacceptable.

Dr Phillip Lee, who quit the Conservatives in 2019 in protest at the PMs handling of Brexit, said his government has failed spectacularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Lee, who lost his seat in the 2019 general election when he stood as a Liberal Democrat, told LBC: "The scale of unnecessary loss of life in this country is unacceptable. What angers me most is we could have done so much better.

"We have to ask ourselves why our governance has failed so spectacularly."

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
WASHINGTON  Several prominent Democratic women have voiced their support for former Vice President Joe Biden as he faces a sexual assault allegation by his former Senate staffer Tara Reade.

Reade says that Biden assaulted her when she worked for him in 1993. The Biden campaign has repeatedly denied the assault took place, and in an appearance Friday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Biden addressed the claim directly for the first time, also saying it never happened.

"This, never, ever happened," Biden said. "I don't know what is motivating her. ... But it's irrelevant. It never happened. It never happened. Period. "

While some have called on the presumptive Democratic nominee to drop out of the race for president, he's seen support from many leading party voices, including some of the women whose names have circulated as potential running mates.

Read the statement: Joe Biden's statement on Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Monday, March 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) ORG XMIT: MIPS112

Reade's allegation comes during the first presidential race since the rise of the #MeToo movement, which champions the importance of listening to women's stories. Biden and many of his allies have spoken out in strong support of women coming forward with credible allegations against powerful figures. In recent days Democrats backing Biden repeated that it's important that women have the chance to tell their stories.

More: Joe Biden has addressed Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation. Will voters care?

"He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard  and 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," said Biden's deputy campaign manager and communications director Kate Bedingfield in a statement to the media.

Here's how some big names in the Democratic Party have responded to the allegation:

Story continues

Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told reporters at the Capitol on Monday that she appreciates Biden taking "a lot of questions, tough questions, and that he answered them directly and respectfully regarding Reade's allegation.

Warren, who endorsed Biden in April, said she thought Biden's "answers were credible and convincing.

On Friday, Biden vehemently denied any allegation from Reade, and openly invited reporters to investigate, pointing to "responsible news organizations" that "should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story, which has changed repeatedly in both big and small ways."

More: Read Joe Biden's full statement on Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation

Warren reiterated Monday, I support the vice president, I support his campaign, and Im proud to endorse him for president.

Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reiterated her support for Biden when pressed about the assault claim during a news conference on Thursday and said she was "satisfied" with how he has responded. She had officially announced her endorsement earlier in the week.

"The happiest day for me this week was to support Joe Biden for president of the United States," she said. "He's a person of great integrity, great concern for the American people."

'A person of great integrity': Nancy Pelosi defends Joe Biden over Tara Reade allegation

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

She said that "there was never any record" of the allegation. Reade says she brought up sexual harassment, rather than assault, in conversations with supervisors in Biden's office, and to a Senate personnel office. News investigations have not found a record of a complaint, and former employees of Biden's at the time say they don't recall any such conversation, The New York Times reported.

"So I want to remove all doubt in anyone's mind, I have great comfort level with the situation as I see it with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward, with all the highest regard for Joe Biden," Pelosi said.

Kirsten Gillibrand

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who was an early contender for the Democratic nomination, said she supports Biden and doesn't see a contradiction in the way her party has reacted to Reade and how it reacted to allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, CNN reported.

"So when we say believe women, it's for this explicit intention of making sure there's space for all women to come forward to speak their truth, to be heard. And in this allegation, that is what Tara Reade has done," Gillibrand said.

What we know: Former staffer Tara Reade says Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993

Gillibrand also pointed to Biden's history of "supporting women" and said she stands by him.

"She has come forward, she has spoken, and they have done an investigation in several outlets. Those investigations, Vice President Biden has called for himself. Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations and I support Vice President Biden."

Gillibrand was the first senator to call for the resignation of former Sen. Al Franken in 2017 after he was accused of sexual misconduct.

Kamala Harris

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., another former 2020 candidate and rumored vice presidential contender for the Biden ticket, said in a San Francisco Chronicle podcast interview that she can "only speak to the Joe Biden I know."

"The Joe Biden I know is somebody who really has fought for women and empowerment of women and for womens equality and rights," she said.

Harris also said she would be "honored" to be Biden's running mate. The two battled during debates over Biden's record on race, but she's since thrown her support behind the former VP. She was also a vocal critic of Kavanaugh as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation proceedings because of the assault claims against him.

She told the Chronicle the current case raises "a bigger structural issue, frankly, which is that women must be able to speak without fear of retaliation."

Stacey Abrams

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams told CNN's Don Lemon that she believes Biden when asked about Reade's accusation. She has expressed her interest in becoming Biden's VP pick.

Abrams denied a double standard in her treatment of Biden's and Kavanaugh's allegations when Lemon pointed to a 2018 tweet saying it was "shameful" the justice's nomination was being rushed, and "I believe women, and I believe survivors of violence always deserve to be supported and to have their voices heard."

Biden needs his Biden: A look at the women who could be his VP candidate

Stacey Abrams, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate

"I believed then and I believe now that women deserve to be heard because too often they are not," Abrams said on CNN. "And Tara Reade deserved to have her story listened to and investigated."

Abrams pointed to the reporting done by The New York Times on Reade's case as supporting the Biden campaign's stance.

"They found that the accusation was not credible," Abrams said. "I believe Joe Biden."

The Times issued a statement in response to a BuzzFeed News report about Biden campaign talking points to refute the claim the outlet concluded the assault did not happen. The Times said its investigation "made no conclusion either way."

"I know Joe Biden and I think that he is telling the truth and that this did not happen," Abrams said.

Amy Klobuchar

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a potential pick for VP and former candidate for president, told NPR Biden is a "champion of abuses of power against women."

She also pointed to the Times' reporting, saying "I agree with Vice President Biden about this, that all women in these cases have the right to be heard and have their claims thoroughly reviewed. And in this case ... there was a thorough review by The New York Times. And I think that's very important to have, especially involving public figures."

The search for a VP: Meet the team who will help Joe Biden pick his running mate

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Asked if Democrats should be more focused on responding to the allegations, Klobuchar said the party is focused on holding people in power accountable.

"I think what we should all be focused on is stopping abuses of power, getting to the truth. And Vice President Biden has supported that work that I did and others did in the Senate to change the rules," she said.

Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of saying in an NPR interview how the allegations would affect her support for Biden. But in a separate part of the conversation, she said it was "flattering" to be part of conversations on running mate possibilities.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

When asked earlier in April about Reade's accusations, Whitmer said it was "hard" to give her insight without knowing more details about the situation.

"Well, I think women should be able to tell their stories. I think that it is important that these allegations are vetted, from the media to beyond," Whitmer said. "And I think that, you know, it is something that no one takes lightly. But it is also something that is, you know, personal."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president until his campaign suspension and then said she'll vote for Biden as the nominee, also weighed in on the allegation in mid-April.

In an online conversation with The Wing reported by CBS News, Ocasio-Cortez said it was valid to talk about such issues. She pointed to Biden's "long history of being creepy to women," a nod to previous complaints that the former VP has engaged in overly physical displays of affection with women.

"I think it's legitimate to talk about these things. And if we want, if we again want to have integrity, you can't say, you know  both believe women, support all of this, until it inconveniences you, until it inconveniences us," she said.

Reade told CBS at the time that she was grateful for Ocasio-Cortez's statements because other politicians hadn't expressed support for her. But since then, Reade pointed out Ocasio-Cortez said she would vote for Biden to the Daily Caller and added, "She still had to toe the line."

Contributing: Savannah Behrmann

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pelosi, Democrats stand by Biden amid Tara Reade assault allegation
But states do not forfeit all autonomy over their own police power merely by accepting federal grants, Rovner writes. And the attorney generals perception of the urgency of immigration enforcement does not corral for the executive branch the powers entrusted to the legislative branch. The executive branch has significant powers over immigration matters; the power of the purse is not one of them.
Women in Mwirua village in Muranga County are an unsettled bunch over the bizarre theft of panties from their homes.

The women on Monday staged a protest against the unknown panty thieves who allegedly steal womens and childrens undergarments that are left to dry on the cloth line.

People Daily reported on Wednesday that some of the women said the panty bandits are even breaking into houses to steal their undergarments. This, they said, has forced them to carry their prized inner garments in their purses.

We are worried because these thieves are stealing women and girls underwear while leaving mens on the line. We dont know what our children shall wear when schools re-open, said one of the women as quoted by the publication.

Another villager speculated that the stolen panties are used to make face masks.

I am hearing they are using our panties to make face masks. One pantie can make two face masks. For the big-sized underwear, I am hearing it can make five face masks or even more, said the villager.

Another seemingly superstitious woman claimed the theft could be connected to witchcraft.

Maybe these thieves do not want our young girls to give birth when they come of age. I think they want to kill their Mandacu (sexual health), she said.

This comes barely two weeks after it was reported that residents of Mathare village in Muranga county had been duped into purchasing womens underwear in the pretext that they were face masks.

Read: Muranga Residents Duped into Wearing Panties as Face Masks
For more than three weeks, progressive activists and women's rights advocates debated how to handle an allegation of sexual assault against Joe Biden. The conversations weren't easy, nor were the politics: Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, faced one allegation; his opponent, President Donald Trump, at least a dozen.

Finally, several of the women's groups prepared a public letter that praised Biden's work as an "outspoken champion for survivors of sexual violence" but also pushed him to address the allegation from Tara Reade, a former aide who worked in Biden's Senate office in the early 1990s.

Then Biden's team heard about the advocates' effort. According to people involved in the discussions, the group put the letter on hold as it began pressuring Biden advisers to push the candidate to make a statement himself before the end of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Along with liberal organizers, they urged him to acknowledge the importance of survivors and the need for systemic change around issues of sexism and assault.

Nearly two weeks later, Biden and his campaign have yet to make that statement, and the advocates have not released their letter.

As two more women have come forward to corroborate part of Reade's allegation, the Biden campaign is facing attacks from the right and increasing pressure from the left to address the issue. And liberal activists find themselves in a tense standoff with a candidate they want to support but who they say has made little attempt to show leadership on an issue that resonates deeply with their party's base.

"It's difficult for survivors to see that a woman who has more corroborating sources than most survivors have in similar situations is being tossed aside and actively being weaponized by cynical political actors," said Shaunna Thomas, a founder of UltraViolet, a women's rights advocacy group that is involved in the effort to push the campaign. "It would be an incredible moment of leadership for Joe Biden to show up."

Since Reade spoke out in March with her allegation  that Biden penetrated her with his fingers in a Senate building in 1993  his aides and advisers have denied it, saying it is "untrue."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Top Biden aides are telling allies that they do not see the allegation resonating with voters in a measurable way, these people say. They're confident that the allegation will not shake voters' perceptions of Biden's character as a devoted father and husband, with family ties forged through deep tragedies. They also believe that voters will view the allegation with great skepticism.

A Biden campaign spokesman declined to comment for this article Wednesday.

"Joe Biden himself needs to respond directly," said Yvette Simpson, chief executive of Democracy for America, a progressive advocacy organization.
WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said on April 29 he believes the Chinese regimes handling of the CCP virus is proof that Beijing will do anything they can to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

In an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office, Trump talked tough on the Chinese regime and said he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for Beijing over the virus. I can do a lot, he said.

Trump has been heaping blame on the Chinese regime for a global pandemic that has killed at least 60,000 people in the United States according to a Reuters tally, and thrown the U.S. economy into a deep recession.

The Republican president said he believed Chinese regime should have been more active in letting the world know about the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus much sooner.

Asked whether he was considering the use of tariffs or even debt write-offs for China, Trump would not offer specifics. There are many things I can do, he said. Were looking for what happened.

China will do anything they can to have me lose this race, said Trump. He said he believes Beijing wants his Democrat opponent, Joe Biden, to win the race to ease the pressure Trump has placed on Chinese regime over trade and other issues.

Theyre constantly using public relations to try to make it like theyre innocent parties, he said of Chinese officials.

He said the trade deal that he concluded with Chinese leader Xi Jinping aimed at reducing chronic U.S. trade deficits with China had been upset very badly by the economic fallout from the virus.

A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that an informal truce in the war of words that Trump and Xi essentially agreed to in a phone call in late March now appeared to be over.

The two leaders had promised that their governments would do everything possible to cooperate to contain the CCP virus. In recent days, Washington and Beijing have traded increasingly bitter recriminations over the origin of the virus and the response to it.

However, Trump and his top aides, while stepping up their anti-CCP rhetoric, have stopped short of directly criticizing Xi, who the U.S. president has repeatedly called his friend.

Trump also said South Korea has agreed to pay the United States more money for a defense cooperation agreement but would not be drawn out on how much.

We can make a deal. They want to make a deal, Trump said. Theyve agreed to pay a lot of money. Theyre paying a lot more money than they did when I got here in January 2017.

The United States stations roughly 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty.

Trump is leading a triage effort to try to keep the U.S. economy afloat through stimulus payments to individuals and companies while nudging state governors to carefully reopen their states as new infections decline.

Trump spoke about the strong economy that America had enjoyed compared with now, when millions of people have lost their jobs and GDP is faltering.

We were rocking before this happened. We had the greatest economy in history, he said.

He said he is happy with the way many governors are operating under the strain of the virus but said some need to improve. He would not name names.

Gilead Sciences Inc. said its experimental antiviral drug remdesivir was showing progress in treating virus victims.

Trump has also seeking an accelerated timetable on development of a vaccine.

I think things are moving along very nicely, he said.

At the end of the half-hour interview, Trump offered lighthearted remarks about a newly released Navy video purportedly showing an unidentified flying object.

I just wonder if its real, he said. Thats a hell of a video.

By Steve Holland

NTD staff contributed to this report
China, taking a step toward a return to business as normal, announced Wednesday that its previously postponed national legislature session will be held in late May. The National People's Congress, delayed from early March because of the coronavirus outbreak, will start on May 22, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the 3,000 or so delegates would come to Beijing for what is the biggest political meeting of the year, or if it would be held virtually through videoconference. A more than 2,000-member advisory body that meets in tandem with the Congress will start one day earlier on May 21, Xinhua reported.

"I'm not aware of the specifics, but I believe because of the epidemic, the two sessions this year will be somewhat different from other years," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said when asked if there would be any changes.

The two-week annual meetings are largely ceremonial, with the legislature rubber-stamping decisions reached earlier by Communist Party leaders, but in typical years they are a colorful spectacle in the nation's capital.

The delegates to the congress normally descend on Beijing by plane and train and sit shoulder-to-shoulder in the colossal auditorium at the Great Hall of the People to hear a state-of-the-country address from the country's No. 2 leader, Premier Li Keqiang.
Four Iraqi militant groups affiliated with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest Shiite authority in Iraq, said they are withdrawing from the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in a move that could result in a shake-up of the military organization. The four paramilitary forces, usually called the Shrine Units, are known to have an uneasy relationship with Iranian-backed militant groups in the country.

In a joint statement issued April 23, the Abbas Combat Division, Imam Ali Combat Division, Ali Akbar Brigade and Ansar al-Marjaiya Brigade said their transfer out of the PMU was authorized by a decree signed by outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who also is the commander in chief of the armed forces.

According to the April 22 decree addressed to Faleh al-Fayadh, the Iraqi national security adviser and head of the PMU Commission, the four units will be directly under the commander in chiefs office, administratively and operationally.

One day after the Shrine Units joint statement, the commander in chiefs spokesman, Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, said that Abdul Mahdi was not consulted about the statement and that the decree is strictly about the administrative and operational arrangements of the Shrine Units. He said the prime minister does not approve of other details mentioned in the statement.

The most controversial piece of information in the joint statement is about the intention of the Shrine Units to help facilitate other forces to withdraw from the PMU. The statement says the command of the Shrine Units is considering joining the rest of the forces and brigades that are willing to do so according to national criteria, legal structures and constitutional obligations.

The pro-Iran groups understand the gravity of this development. A source close to the Shrine Units told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Hadi al-Amiri, head of the Badr Organization, the largest pro-Iran group in Iraq, who also leads the Fatah Alliance in parliament, went to visit two of the most important of Sistanis representatives, Ahmad al-Safi and Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai, to coax them out of their decision to part ways with the PMU Commission. In this April 26 meeting, Amiri promised the Shrine Units better positions in the PMU Commission and to pay greater attention to the Shrine Units' perspectives in the PMU Council. The source did not say how Sistanis representatives responded. However, given the nature of the long-standing grievances of the Shrine Units, it seems unlikely they were convinced by this sort of promise.

Extending the olive branch has not been the only strategy employed by pro-Iran groups to deal with this serious development. Reacting to the news of the defection of the Shrine Units, Hamed Abbas al-Musawai, a Fatah Alliance member of parliament, said in a Facebook post published April 23 that any drop of blood of the holy Hashd al-Shaabis [PMU] fighters shed by the hand of  the United States and Israel would be blamed on people who try to "divide" the PMU. The Fatah Alliance is formed of political wings of Iran-backed militias in the PMU.

Iran-aligned social media activists and platforms have also been immensely critical of the Shrine Units' move, calling it a blunder committed for personal gains and whims.

The animosity did not stop at accusations. Reports came out April 24 of threats being sent to Shrine Units' commanders, indicating they could be killed should they refuse to stop dividing the PMU.

The Shrine Units' commanders did not capitulate to the threats. Hamid al-Yaseri, the commander of Ansar al-Marjaiya Brigade, addressed only the free people of Iraq in a message posted on the brigades Facebook page April 25. He wrote, Religion equals homeland. There is no value in [saying your prayers] if you are loyal to another country rather than Iraq. Then, in a clear indication of the threats that he has received, he ended his message with a hashtag that reads I am Iraqi, I dont get frightened.

Evidently, the Iran-backed militias believe that a valuable organization that has helped them consolidate their influence is at stake.

Since its formation in 2014, the PMU has benefited immensely from the religious legitimacy it has received from Sistani. After all, Sistani's edict to take up arms against the Islamic State's surge invigorated the idea of a paramilitary organization to support the collapsing Iraqi security forces at the time.

Nonetheless, Sistanis instructions were clear. He asked all able men to join the fight under the security forces. Instead, Iran-backed militias labored to turn the military organization into an offshoot of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

This caused continuous friction between the Shrine Units and the PMU Commission, which has been controlled by figures loyal to the IRGC.

Splitting from the PMU takes away a great amount of the religious legitimacy the PMU has enjoyed for the past six years. It is not surprising that some Iran-affiliated media platform have been trying to frame the Shrine Units' defection as a move done on individual commanders' accord without the approval of Sistani.

Needless to say, they will have a hard time convincing the Iraqi Shiite general public and thousands of fighters who joined the organization to answer Sistanis call that such is the case.

The defection process was not an abrupt one. The Shrine Units have been publicly talking about a major restructuring for a while. The commanders of the four units met with Ahmad al-Safi, Sistanis confidant, March 19 to receive his instructions on the plan to restructure the units. He emphasized that the whole process needed to be done according to the national interest, clearly distancing himself and Sistani from units loyal to Iran. Safi also criticized those who grant all the benefits to those who agree with them and deny those who disagree with them any advantages. He added, How can one work with these people?

The Shrine Units have long complained about the PMU Commissions "unjust" distribution of the organizations resources.

Splitting from the PMU under the Sistanis confidants instruction, with great emphasis placed on following Iraqs national interest, is a clear message that Sistani is not content with the pro-Iran organization. This could prove to be a serious blow to the militias, which brand themselves as the defenders of the Shiite ummah (community) and its values.

In these circumstances, it is not surprising that Iran-backed PMU groups fear that more militant groups will join the Shrine Units in splitting from the PMU Commission. According to an unconfirmed report published April 26, 10 other groups are contemplating defection from the PMU. This is in line with the Shrine Units' admission that they will try to help other PMU groups split and to take on a "reformation" endeavour.

Losing the legitimacy bestowed by Sistanis approval will not harm the pro-Iran groups just in the military sphere. In politics, they can lose some of their support among Shiite constituents. Some of the pro-Iran PMU militias such as the Badr Organization and Asaib Ahl al-Haq are major players in parliament. In the last parliamentary elections, they used their role in fighting the Islamic State as a selling point to gain votes. The fact that Sistani is not satisfied with their performance within the PMU can be read by the Shiite public as an indicator of his dissatisfaction with their political performance, too, setting the table for them to lose some of their constituents.

All of these developments are happening while the Iran-backed groups are suffering from the loss of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, and PMU leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were assassinated by the US military in early January. Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, Soleimanis successor, has not been able to fill the void left by Soleimanis departure just yet.
3 1 of 3 SKIP DICKSTEIN Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy of Neil Golub Show More Show Less 3 of 3





ALBANY  Jane Golub, the late Capitol Region teacher, businesswoman and philanthropist, will be honored May 15 during a virtual breakfast meeting featuring Israels Consul General to New York, the Jewish National Fund-USA announced this week.

Golub, whose family owns the Price Chopper Supermarkets/Market 32 grocery chain and who served in various leadership positions at the company, died at age 80 last April after a brief illness. She was a passionate supporter of several charity efforts in the Capital Region and helped to found the local chapter of JNF-USA.
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

So should Nevada Sunrise Gold (CVE:NEV) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

Check out our latest analysis for Nevada Sunrise Gold

When Might Nevada Sunrise Gold Run Out Of Money?

A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at December 2019, Nevada Sunrise Gold had cash of CA$55k and no debt. Importantly, its cash burn was CA$766k over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of under two months as of December 2019. To be frank we are alarmed by how short that cash runway is! You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

TSXV:NEV Historical Debt April 29th 2020

How Is Nevada Sunrise Gold's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Because Nevada Sunrise Gold isn't currently generating revenue, we consider it an early-stage business. Nonetheless, we can still examine its cash burn trajectory as part of our assessment of its cash burn situation. Given the length of the cash runway, we'd interpret the 52% reduction in cash burn, in twelve months, as prudent if not necessary for capital preservation. Nevada Sunrise Gold makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow.

Can Nevada Sunrise Gold Raise More Cash Easily?

Story continues

There's no doubt Nevada Sunrise Gold's rapidly reducing cash burn brings comfort, but even if it's only hypothetical, it's always worth asking how easily it could raise more money to fund further growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash to drive growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Nevada Sunrise Gold has a market capitalisation of CA$1.6m and burnt through CA$766k last year, which is 48% of the company's market value. That's high expenditure relative to the value of the entire company, so if it does have to issue shares to fund more growth, that could end up really hurting shareholders returns (through significant dilution).

So, Should We Worry About Nevada Sunrise Gold's Cash Burn?

As you can probably tell by now, we're rather concerned about Nevada Sunrise Gold's cash burn. Take, for example, its cash runway, which suggests the company may have difficulty funding itself, in the future. On the other hand at least it could boast rather strong cash burn reduction, which no doubt gives shareholders some comfort. After considering the data discussed in this article, we don't have a lot of confidence that its cash burn rate is prudent, as it seems like it might need more cash soon. On another note, Nevada Sunrise Gold has 6 warning signs (and 3 which are significant) we think you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

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.
At the initiative of the Armenian side, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a phone call with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Luigi Di Maio, as reported the news service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

On behalf of the Armenian people and the Government of Armenia, the Armenian foreign minister expressed solidarity with the friendly people of Italy for effectively addressing the challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and overcoming them quickly.

Minister Mnatsakanyan presented the steps that the Armenian government is taking and the programs that it is implementing to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus and mitigate the social and economic consequences.

Touching upon issues on the bilateral agenda, Minister Mnatsakanyan emphasized that Armenia attaches special importance to the development of relations hinged on the common values of the civilizations of the Italians and Armenians. In this context, the foreign ministers positively assessed the high level of political dialogue and benchmarked the steps to be taken for further strengthening and expansion of cooperation in the sectors of mutual interest. They also touched upon a broad range of international and regional security issues.
Normal People Episode 3 Season 1 Episode 3 Editors Rating 5 stars * * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Enda Bowe/Hulu/

Tonight is a big night. Tonight Marianne says YES to eyeliner (liquid, applied impeccably for someone with so little practice), YES to a bold lip, YES to wearing her hair down, YES to a little black dress that says to all the world, Hey, my clavicle is DOWN HERE. If I know anything about teen dramas, the fact that our girl is putting in so much visible effort and is allowing herself to feel optimistic about her outing here is  not a good sign for how the evening is going to play out.

Things get off to an unpleasant start when her gross older brother snarks that theres no point in Marianne participating in a fundraiser for a dance no one will ask her to and that he expects her to find some way to humiliate him, and her mom  glass of wine beside her, duh  gives Mariannes getup some cruel maternal side-eye, which is echoed word for word by mean blonde Rachel: Youve certainly gone all out.

I love that in Normal Peoples visual language, hair color is your identity. Connell is a dirty blond, halfway between the mean girls and Marianne. Meanwhile, the only girl in the popular clique who isnt a straight-up monster to Marianne is Karen, a redhead. Sensing a potential friend, Marianne asks Karen to dance with her. Surely, Marianne is emboldened by the knowledge that Connell cant stop staring at her. Still, brave!

And how does the world reward this rare act of public happiness? By sending one of Alans grimy friends Mariannes way, to harass and grope her in front of all of Connells jerk brigade. Marianne runs out crying, and Rachel is still a dick, even though she just watched this aggressive man grab Mariannes breast while she told him she did not want to dance with him. Remember that special place in hell, Rachel! Karen, however, is actually nice, and Connell does what Connell has never done before: He tells Rachel to fuck off. This jolt of integrity is short lived, but its lovely while it lasts.

Connell tells Marianne she can come back to his place because his mom  Lorraine, hero of the episode  will probably be asleep and wouldnt even mind if she were awake. Of course Connell dated Rachel before, which explains their whole deal, though he says that, while they had sex, there werent feelings involved (red flag, red flag!). Marianne, already in a vulnerable spot, confides in Connell that her dad used to hit her mom and asks him if hed ever hit a woman. Hes scandalized by the question. No spoilers, but  we will come back to this later! Anyway, Connell just goes for it and tells Marianne, I love you. !!!!!

Marianne accidentally falls asleep, and Im worried her family will give her hell for staying out all night, but if they do, we are spared seeing that awful interaction. Lorraine catches Marianne on her way out the door. She clearly endorses this choice. What she does not endorse is her son saying that his relationship (my word, not his) has to be a secret.

At school, everyone is gossiping about Connell and Marianne. Removed from the cozy confines of his bed, Connell does not have the strength to just own this relationship and/or at least continue telling his rude friends to fuck off. The only person who sticks up for Marianne is redhead Karen. Connell watches his popularity stock plummet. He makes it through maybe four hours of social exile before asking blonde Rachel to the Debs (which, for you U.S. viewers, is basically Irish prom) so he can get back in with this group of idiots he doesnt even like and wont even be going to school with in like three weeks. BOYS.

Marianne, who does not know of Connells betrayal, answers her door that afternoon beaming, and my heart breaks a little for what is about to happen to her. At least Connell tells her to her face that he asked Rachel, instead of letting her find out through the school grapevine? Marianne is devastated. She insists she does not care in a voice that is screaming I wish I could take back every orgasm I ever gave you. And then she kicks him out. Honestly not sure how Connell thought this news was going to go over. Did he think he could say Rachel and I arent having sex, and were just going as friends!!, and Marianne would be  fine? Has he met her?

Upon learning what her son has done, Lorraine, who again is the white knight of this whole situation, demands Connell pull over the car hes driving. She knows he and Marianne have sex every single day after school, and she knows that he obviously shouldve asked her to this dance. I think youre a disgrace, and Im ashamed of you, she says, and then she gets out of the car to take the bus home on principle! We should all be so lucky to have Lorraines in our lives.

Im not sure how she swings this, but Marianne just  never goes back to school. For a while, she just lies around in bed, her hair in the low bun of defeat. Then she does all her work from home. Given her home life, she must REALLY not want to see Connell or blonde Rachel or their friends ever again. Connell texts her, and she ignores it, and I am proud of her. Lorraine, who knows exactly what is up, encourages this silent treatment. He doesnt deserve you, Lorraine says, and when Marianne offers this flimsy defense  compared to most people, he was actually pretty nice to me  Lorraine gives her this firm, great hug. (Guys, I miss hugging so much. Look at this hug! Sorry, back to non-pandemic programming.)

Connell feels like shit about this, and when he tries to get his mom to tell him to feel better, she refuses, because shes the best. Mariannes a very vulnerable person, and you did something really unkind, and you hurt her. ACCURATE on all counts. I dont think its a bad thing that youre feeling bad about this. AGREED. Lorraine 2020?

The best part of this whole episode, though, is when Marianne rolls up to examinations looking so much cooler than all her classmates, who are wearing their dorky uniforms. The high messy bun (she is FEELING herself), the biker jacket, the sleeveless top so Connell will be distracted by her arms for the duration of the test? Yes yes yes. Shes also wearing jeans. I remember jeans! Maybe I should put on jeans today? Hmm  probably not.

The day of the dance arrives, and Connell does not want to go. Lorraine sends him out the door with some encouraging words (dont poison yourself  youll have fun once you get there), and he picks up Rachel, who is looking very Taylor Swift does a red carpet in 2009. Rachel brags to her parents that Connell is planning to attend Trinity. When Connell says hell be studying English  the disappointment in Rachels parents eyes! Perfection.

At the dance, Connell attempts to force himself to have fun. There are bro hugs for everyone. But every beer makes him sadder, as does the (late but okay) realization that his friends suck. One of these friends is passing around naked pictures of the girlfriend who is dancing like ten feet away! Another rude friend tells Connell that everyone knew he and Marianne were a thing, and wonders aloud, Were you doing it for the laugh, or what? Connell cannot be at the dance anymore. He goes into the street and leaves this agonized voice-mail on Mariannes phone. I cant really talk to anybody the way I talk to you. And I really love you. He is crying, like full-on sobbing, shouting into the sidewalk. And Marianne is fast asleep.

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Germany says up to 1,050 people part of groups hardline wing as it adds Hezbollah to list of terrorist organisations.

Germany has banned Hezbollah on its soil, designating the Iran-backed group a terrorist organisation, the Federal Ministry of the Interior said on Thursday.

Police conducted early morning raids in Germany to detain suspected members of the political group, which is based in Lebanon under the leadership of Hassan Nasrallah.

Security officials believe as many as 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollahs extremist wing. Hezbollah does not acknowledge the existence of separate wings.

Police searched mosque associations in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Berlin which they believe are close to Hezbollah, and the private residences of the leaders of each association.

The associations under investigation are suspected of forming part of Hezbollah due to their financial support and propaganda for the organisation, said the interior ministry.

The activities of Hezbollah violate criminal law and the organisation opposes the concept of international understanding, it said in a statement.

The move means that Hezbollah symbols are banned at gatherings and in publications or in the media. Hezbollah assets can be confiscated, but because it is a foreign organisation, it was not possible to dissolve the group, the ministry said.

Earlier this month, the United States offered up to $10m for information on Hezbollah commander Sheikh Mohammad al-Kawtharani, an associate of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a US air attack in January.

The group is already considered a terrorist organisation by the US, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Israel as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League.





Israel praises move

Applauding Germanys decision, Israels Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz said Berlin had taken a significant step in the global fight against terrorism.

I call on other European countries as well as the European Union to do the same. All the parts of Hezbollah, including the social, political and military wings are terror organisations and they should be treated as such, he added.

The American Jewish Committee also hailed Germanys move.

This is a welcome, much-anticipated, and significant German decision, said AJC head David Harris.

As a legacy of the Holocaust, Germany feels a special responsibility towards protecting Israel.

Germanys interior ministry said Hezbollah calls for the violent elimination of the State of Israel and questions its right to exist.

The organisation is therefore fundamentally against the concept of international understanding, regardless of whether it presents itself as a political, social or military structure, it said.

Until now, Germany had only outlawed Hezbollahs military wing while tolerating its political wing, which is the current EU policy.

Hezbollah was established in 1982 during Lebanons civil war. It is now a major political party in the country, where it holds a majority in Parliament along with its allies.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a war in 2006.

The movement also backs Syrias President Bashar al-Assad in the countrys civil war.
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CHONGQING, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / On April 29th, Liangjiang Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cluster-2020 International Cloud Road Show was held in Sino-Switzerlamd Technological Park (SSTP). The online roadshow of 8 digital economy projects from the U.S.A, Singapore and Switzerland were completed.Digital economy has been new impetus of global economy development. Based on the key carriers such as Liangjiang Digital Economy Industrial Park, Liangjiang New Area is facilitating the deep combination between digital economy and real economy to improve the impetus for high-quality society and economy development. In the year 2019, the digital economy grew by over 20% in Liangjiang New Area, taking up more than 1/4 in scale in the whole city.The reporter learned that the 8 projects participating the road show covered several industries including IOT, intelligent manufacture, block chain and big health. Among them, one local Chinese IOT platform with self-owned world-leading cloud service and cloud module development technology, has set R&D centers on five continents around the world, and spread business to more than 230 countries and areas including North America, Europe, China and Japan.Liu Yulong, CEO of that company, said that they now provide whole-house intelligent one-stop solution in realms from kitchen & bath fixtures, major appliance, small appliance to security system, and that they have maintained steady development in domains of long-run apartment, smart hotel and commercial real estate and achieved remarkable sales performance.Another domestic company presented an AI-driven business war simulation system which provides an experiential business environment that quite similar to the reality. The academic system derives from A-Level Business Studies, a business education knowledge system of University of Cambridge. A professor advisory team led by Dr. Thomas, the General Director of Management Science of London School of Economics, is a member of the construction of the curriculum system frame."From 5 years ago when the company was established, we have always been troubled about the matter of market scale. Now the reality tells that a lot of enterprises, schools and business academies need this business war simulation system." Wang Dongmei, the head of the company, introduced that the order quantity grew like a blowout during the pandemic period because the company had gained some online bases."All these projects are comparatively huge in scale, and they cover a very wide fields and industrial range, for example, the hot fields at present such as block chain, IOT and new energy, etc." Ma Xiuyong, Chairman and General Manager of Chongqing Share Zhihe Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., spoke highly of the projects participating in the roadshow at the scene.Ma Xiuyong said that the most impressive one among the 8 projects to him is the IOT platform mentioned above, "That company is growing rapidly with customer quantity accumulating continuously. Its service covers from hardware, software to agreement and user ecology, i.e. a whole industry chain. It's a relatively complete business model." The director of Technology and Innovation Office of Liangjiang New Area said that Liangjiang New Area has been selecting a big quantity of high-quality start-up business projects, building an all-round service platform for the entrepreneurs to promote connection with capital, intelligence, and support policies, hence to promote the growing of the enterprise with "Wisdom Liangjiang" as a brand and "connection with capital, intelligence, and support" service as the core and by holding theme activities of "weekly forum, monthly roadshow, seasonal carnival and annual ceremony".Currently, Liangjiang New Area is trying to grab the strategical opportunity of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and 6 newly-built municipal-level new type upscale R&D platforms, accounting for 3/4 platforms of the whole city, have been completed. There are in total 280 municipal-level or higher level R&D institutes, and more than 2800 authorized patents, managing in more than 30 patents for every 10 thousand people.Liangjiang New Area, by relying on the construction of National Offshore Innovation & Entrepreneurship Base for Overseas Talents, will also make more efforts to link global and domestic high-quality projects, and to gather national, even global advanced innovation resources to promote the high-quality development of the new area.Media Contact:36krName: Suzy YuanE-mail: yuanjiuxiang@36 kr.com SOURCE: 36kr
New Delhi, April 30 : The Delhi Police Crime Branch on Wednesday sent a fourth notice to Maulana Saad, the main accused in the Tablighi Jamaat case, asking when he would join the investigation.

Along with the notice to Jamaat chief Maulana Saad, the team led by DCP Joy Tirkey of the Crime Branch investigating the case, also have some new questions for Saad and his colleagues. According to Crime Branch sources, "Most of these new questions are related to the raid on Maulana Saad's farmhouse in Kandhla in UP." The Crime Branch team did not get anything significant in that raid.

The Delhi Police had registered a case against Maulana Saad and some of his associates on March 31. The FIR was registered on the complaint of Mukesh Walia, SHO of Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station. In the initial FIR against Saad and the people named with him, a case was registered for spreading epidemic, gathering crowd etc. Later, the Delhi Police also added the section of non-willful murder in the FIR.

Maulana Saad had sent replies to the earlier three notices by the Delhi Police Crime Branch through his lawyer. In response to one of the notices, Saad had assured the Crime Branch that he was not running away from the investigation and that he was in home quarantine. He had said as soon as his medical corona report is received, he would join the investigation along with his colleagues.

According to Delhi Police Crime Branch sources, "Maulana Saad told us that his corona test by a private lab has come out negative." They said, "By law, we have to present the corona test reports of all the accused to the court. The court will not recognise any private lab report. Hence, the accused will now have to submit the corona reports from any government lab to the police."
The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 1,074 after 66 more fatalities and the number of cases climbed to 33,050 in the country on Thursday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 23,651, while 8,324 people have recovered and one patient has migrated. The total number of cases include 111 foreign nationals, the ministry said.

Out of the 66 deaths reported since Wednesday evening, 32 were from Maharashtra, 16 from Gujarat, 10 from Madhya Pradesh, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Tamil Nadu and Delhi, and one from Karnataka.

Maharashtra now tops the tally with 432 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 197, Madhya Pradesh at 129, Delhi at 56, Rajasthan at 51, Uttar Pradesh at 39 and Andhra Pradesh at 31.

The toll reached 27 in Tamil Nadu, 26 in Telengana, 22 in West Bengal while Karantaka has reported 21 deaths and Punjab 19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The pathogen has claimed eight lives in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Kerala, while Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each.

Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported a fatality each, according to the ministry data.

According to the ministry data updated in the morning, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra with 9,915 infections, followed by Gujarat with 4,082, Delhi with 3,439, Madhya Pradesh with 2,561.

Rajasthan has 2,438 cases, Tamil Nadu has 2,162 and Uttar Pradesh has 2,134 cases. The COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,332 in Andhra Pradesh and 1,012 in Telangana.

The number of infections has risen to 758 in West Bengal, 581 in Jammu and Kashmir, 535 in Karnataka, 495 in Kerala, 392 in Bihar and 357 in Punjab.

Haryana has reported 310 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 125. A total 107 people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 55 in Uttarakhand.

Chandigarh have reported 56 cases, Himachal Pradesh has 40 while Assam and Chhattisgarh have registered 38 infections each so far.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands has 33 COVID-19 cases, while Ladakh has reported 22 infections so far.

Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, Puducherry has eight cases, while Goa has seven COVID-19 cases. 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.
: Violating lockdown



protocol, at least 100 guest workers took out a march here on Thursday demanding immediate arrangementsto return to their home states.

The demonstration comes a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued guidelines to allow inter-state movement of stranded migrant workers, tourists, pilgrims, students and others.

Holding placards and raising slogans, the workers took outthe march at around 10 am at nearby Chattiparambilbazaar.

"Less than hundred workers from other states took out a protest march seeking assistance to go back to theirnative. states. We used force to disperse them and held discussions and noted down their demands," the Malappuram DySP told P T I.

He said the workers were demanding transport facilities to move back to their native land as there was no work here.

Malappuram district, which falls under the red zone in Kerala, has over 1,500 people under observation and one positive case, as per the medical bulletin issued on Wednesday.

"They said their families were suffering back at their homes as the workers here were unable to send money due to lack of work during lockdown period. They said they had food and other facilities here but were unhappy as they were unable to return to their families," the official said.

Another official said some of the protestors have been taken into custody.

"We are investigating whether there has been any conspiracy or instigation behind the move," a senior police official said.

Severalguest workers had assembled in Paippad town in Kottayam district on March 29 urging the State Government to arrange vehicles for them to travel to their home destinations in north India.

However, due to the nation-wide lockdown, the governmenthad turned down their plea, but instead arranged freemeals for them at various places where they have been lodged.

Presently in Kerala, 3.61 lakh guest workers are lodged in 20,826 camps.

Attracted with the high wages for labourers in Kerala, lakhs of people from the north-eastern states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Manipur have been working and living in Kerala since the past many years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[April 30, 2020] Harris Williams Advises Kalkomey Holdings, LLC on its Sale to Cove Hill Partners

Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces that it advised Kalkomey Holdings, LLC (Kalkomey), a portfolio company of Inverness Graham, on its sale to Cove Hill Partners (Cove Hill). Kalkomey is a leading provider of online recreational safety education and cloud-based agency management solutions to both government agencies and outdoor enthusiasts. The transaction was led by Mike Wilkins, Tyler Dewing, Andy Leed, Brian Titterington and Ben de Fiebre of the Harris Williams Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) Group. "It was a pleasure working with Kalkomey's management team and Inverness Graham on this transaction," said Mike Wilkins, a managing director at Harris Williams. "Under the leadership of CEO Jason Alexander, Kalkomey has become one of the largest e-learning and software providers to the outdoor recreation sector through a combination of strong organic growth and strategic M&A." "We are excited to see how Kalkomey will continue to evolve in partnership with Cove Hill over the coming years," said Andy Leed, a director at Harris Williams. "This transaction extends our experince advising premier companies in the education and government technology sectors, having completed eight transactions in the space over the last two years. It's also a testament that, although market dynamics may be challenging and are leading to less traditional M&A, transactions are still closing."



Kalkomey is a leading provider of online recreational safety education, certifications and cloud-based agency management solutions. The company serves both outdoor enthusiasts and state and local government agencies in all 50 U.S. states, as well as Australia, Canada, Guam, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Through its modern learning management system, Kalkomey delivers regulatory-approved safety education courses and certifications for a broad spectrum of outdoor recreational activities, including boating, hunting, snowmobiling, ATVs and scuba diving, among others. Each year, the company trains and certifies nearly one million outdoor enthusiasts. Additionally, Kalkomey's agency management solutions enable state agencies to drive greater operational efficiencies of key workflows from licensing and registration, to certification and event management, to compliance and reporting. Through the integration of its online safety education and agency management solutions, Kalkomey is able to deliver a single platform for recreational safety management that makes outdoor recreation more accessible, drives recreational activity participation and increases civic engagement. Headquartered in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Inverness Graham is an operationally focused private investment firm that has raised approximately $1 billion of assets. Inverness Graham acquires innovative tech-enabled manufacturing, service and software companies. Founded by senior executives of the Graham Group, a family owned multi-national industrial company, the firm brings premier resources, developed over a 50-year operating history to support its portfolio companies. Inverness Graham partners with businesses to provide the financial and operational support necessary to accelerate growth while enabling owners to achieve their key liquidity objectives.

Cove Hill Partners is a long-term oriented private equity firm focused on partnering with management teams in the consumer and technology industries. The firm manages a long-duration fund with over $1 billion of commitments from its investors and founders. The firm was founded in 2017 by seasoned private equity investors to invest their personal capital alongside a small group of likeminded investors. Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC (News - Alert) Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). The Harris Williams TMT Group advises leading private and public companies, entrepreneurs, private equity firms and venture capital firms on mergers and acquisitions and capital-raising transactions worldwide. The TMT Group has deep domain expertise in the Software/SaaS (News - Alert) and Internet & Digital Media segments, with particular emphasis on specific verticals including education technology, data analytics, energy technology, fintech, public sector and supply chain/logistics-with a dedicated healthcare technology (HCIT) practice. Across verticals, the firm also advises technology services and networking solutions businesses. For more information on the TMT Group and its recent transactions, visit the TMT Group's section of the Harris Williams website. Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: [email protected]). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005792/en/

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Les Roberts is a Westhill graduate. He teaches at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health and lives in Chenango County.

By Les Roberts | Special to Syracuse.com

As an epidemiologist who has worked in some of the worst outbreaks and disasters across the globe, from the Rwandan genocide in 1994 to the West African Ebola crisis in 2014, I am struck that the COVID-19 outbreak might change our relationship with the world.

In New York state, typically 400 people die per day. For two weeks in April, we had double, and some days triple that number of deaths because of this outbreak. Back in 1992, the CDC put forward the notion that when the ongoing mortality rate doubles within a population, that is a humanitarian crisis, and when it goes up four-fold, that is a humanitarian emergency. Within two years, the U.S. State Department and the United Nations adapted those definitions. In all my years working in war zones, such as the Congo, it never occurred to be that my homeland could become a humanitarian emergency.

In some ways, the experience of the pandemic in New York state does not feel like those other crises. I have never been in an ongoing crisis where most people had running water or electricity. Not even in Iraq in 2004 or Armenia in 1993, where they had possessed it historically. Never have I been in a crisis where there was plentiful food. Yet, many aspects of these crises are similar. The fear of dealing with an unknown and unpredictable threat feels exactly the same. The frustration that one has worked to establish a life that is being taken away by anonymous forces outside ones control seems familiar. More encouragingly, the sense that people look out for the most vulnerable, are nice to elderly people in the market, and appreciate children a little more, seems near universal in times of hardship. From Bosnia to Burundi, people have always told me that in times of crisis, the majority of people in society are being more attentive of their neighbors, more appreciative of a meal and more polite on the street. I see that happening in New York state, for instance in checkout lines, and it heartens me no end.

Through the years, I have measured mortality rates in conflict settings approximately 50 different times. When, in years past, I mentioned at a picnic or dinner to non-health professionals about some international crisis I had been working in, far too often I heard, Well, there are lots of people in need here. While there are individuals in need everywhere, the COVID-19 outbreak has shown everyone that there are certain things, like having enough hospital beds and ventilators, having a laboratory testing system and running water, that call for a coordinated, collective response from governments or agencies. People in a crisis, be it cholera in Yemen last year or locusts in Kenya today, have a lot in common with New Yorkers in terms of fear of the unknown, and having what they worked for taken away by unstoppable forces. Thus, I am hopeful in the years to come when people hear about a crisis, they will not say there are needy people here, but instead will say, We were once in need here.

Most importantly, of all the things that have given me hope in this outbreak, the most astonishing is how quickly and widely New Yorkers have complied with the disease preventing social directives. The epidemic curve has come down, including outside of New York City. A survey of grocery shoppers last week showed the Upstate attack rate was one-fifth that of the city. Thus, this decline is not because we have run out of susceptible people, as occurred in most major outbreaks where I have been. People are staying at home, are social distancing and washing their hands. Every model I saw in early and mid-March predicted far more cases and deaths in New York than have arisen. This is largely because the general population has reduced the transmission dynamics more than any modeler predicted was possible just a month ago. In China, in South Korea, in Singapore, states more authoritarian than ours, people also complied with hygiene and social distancing guidelines and reduced transmission. Americans are famous for valuing personal liberties, for example, ignoring government advisories about vaccinating children or wearing motorcycle helmets. Yet we complied with stay-at-home advisories? That is inspiring.

Across the globe, in outbreak after outbreak where I have been, the populations feel that the rich people, those rare few with electricity and cars, rarely comply with quarantine and behavior-changing demands during outbreaks. Thank you, New Yorkers, for giving those of us in the public health world an example of what collective public response can do.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
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The Wall Street Journal broke the story that is now making headlines everywhere: The Secret Group of Scientists and Billionaires Pushing a Manhattan Project for Covid-19.

They call themselves Scientists to Stop Covid-19. Their group includes chemical biologists, an immunobiologist, a neurobiologist, a chronobiologist, an oncologist, a gastroenterologist, an epidemiologist, and a nuclear scientist. Biologist Michael Rosbash, a 2017 Nobel Prize winner, says that of all the scientists at the center of the project, Theres no question that Im the least qualified.

Their work had not been reported before the Journal article. They are led by a thirty-three-year-old physician-turned-venture capitalist named Tom Cahill. He lives in a one-bedroom rental near Bostons Fenway Park and owns just one suit. But his connections through his investment firm have made the groups work possible.

The article describes scientific proposals from the group that are already being discussed or implemented by government leaders. They are now looking at ideas for the post-COVID-19 world.

No one involved with the effort stands to gain financially. Their desire is to add their expertise and connections to the coronavirus battle effort. Stuart Schreiber, a Harvard University chemist and member of the group, says, We may fail. But if it succeeds, it could change the world.

A teleconference that impressed me greatly

One of the most hopeful aspects of the pandemic is the fact that the entire world is united in fighting it. Our best minds from around the globe are focused on our common foe. Unlike a war in which nations fight each other, this is a conflict in which our enemy has made us all allies.

We are seeing such collaboration not just in science but across our nation and culture. This is one way God is redeeming this crisis.

Jesus prayed in John 17 that his followers would be united so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me (v. 23). As the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), we obey our head and fulfill his purpose far better when our members are working in unity.

I was asked this week to join a teleconference of Houston-area religious leaders. They crossed all denominational and cultural boundaries. Their common desire was to support and encourage each other as they sought ways to move forward together.

One example that impressed me was their concern for smaller churches meeting in area schools. These schools are closed into the summer, meaning that these congregations will have no place to meet once in-person services begin. So the larger churches began working on ways the smaller churches could use their campuses.

I am convinced that Jesus was smiling in heaven.

Competition and intercession

Our free-market economy is based on competition. The theory is that the more companies and workers compete, the better their products become and the lower their prices. By contrast, I have seen the state-sponsored economy work in Cubaor not work, I should say. When people own what they make and can advance based on their hard work and initiative, society benefits.

One downside of this competitive environment, however, is that it can so easily foster spiritual independence and conflict. Churches compete with churches for members. Pastors compete with pastors for acclaim and advancement. Church growth can be a zero-sum game: if the new family in our community joins your church, they did not join my church.

I have witnessed such competition across my entire ministry. But the common enemy we face today is being used by God to unify his people in transformative ways. The astounding evangelistic movement I profiled in yesterdays Special Edition is one result of such collaboration. The pastors in Houston who discussed ways to help smaller congregations are another.

So, heres my question: As we face the ongoing pandemic, could Gods people be united in prayer more powerfully and intentionally than ever before?

We have responded financially to crises in the past. For example, you were incredibly generous when I asked you to help us raise funds to support those devastated by Hurricane Harvey in my hometown of Houston.

As we face physical, financial, social, and relational challenges unseen in living memory, is there a better time for us to answer Jesus intercession for unity through united intercession of our own?

Find a movement and join it

My purpose today is not to announce a prayer movement in response to the pandemic. God has led other believers to do this very thing. Some are centered on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and pray at 7:14 every morning and evening in response. Others are being supported by churches, denominations, and ministries.

The Lord might lead you to find and join such a movement. He might lead you to begin one. He might lead you to ask a handful of other believers to join you in specific intercession for each other and our world. Two believers in agreement are enough to pray in powerful unity (Matthew 18:20).

My purpose is to emphasize the urgency of prayerful unity today and tomorrow. Defeating our viral enemy will require medical and social collaboration. Defeating our even more dangerous spiritual enemy will require spiritual collaboration.

What step will you take to pray in unity today?

Originally posted at denisonforum.org
The British Museum has made over half of its extensive collection  more than four million objects  viewable online for free during the coronavirus lockdown.

Items including a once-lost watercolour by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the striking Lewis Chessmen can be viewed virtually from the comfort of your own home.

The revamp of the online collection includes a zooming facility that allows some objects to be examined at 'a level of detail inaccessible to the naked eye.'

This includes Hoa Hakananai'a, a moai  or statue  from Easter Island that has been in the museum for 150 years and islanders have called for it to be returned.

Also viewable at digital 'close quarters' is a 1,600-year-old Chinese narrative painting on a silk scroll  with more zoomable images to be added in the coming weeks.

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The British Museum has made over half of its extensive collection  more than four million objects  viewable online for free during the coronavirus lockdown. Pictured, Hoa Hakananai'a from Easter Island, one of the objects that online users can examine up close

The online collection  first made available in 2007  already included the museum's most famous objects, such as the Rosetta Stone, the artefacts of Sutton Hoo, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Elgin Marbles and the Benin Bronzes.

However, the revamp has seen the user interface improved and many more recent acquisitions added  including a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age pendant and the previously lost Rossetti watercolour.

Notably, the online repository now boasts the museum's entire collections from both Ancient Egypt and Australia.

Also accessible online are various sculptures from Ancient Greece and Rome, and some 50,000 English coins that were minted from the medieval period up to the time of the Tudors themselves.

These are accompanied by more than 750,000 prints by famous artists including Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, William Hogarth and Kara Walker.

In total, around 280,000 new object photographs and 85,000 new records have been added to the online collection, with the timing of the revamp's launch having been brought forward to let the public enjoy the museum in spite of the lockdown.

The revamp of the online collection includes a zooming facility that allows some objects to be examined at 'a level of detail inaccessible to the naked eye.' Pictured, the Lewis Chessmen

The revamp has seen the online collection's user interface improved and many more recent acquisitions added  including a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age pendant and the previously lost Dante Gabriel Rossetti watercolour, pictured

In total, around 280,000 new object photographs and 85,000 new records have been added to the online collection, with the timing of the revamp's launch having been brought forward to let the public enjoy the museum in spite of the lockdown. Pictured, a 'Royal Game of Ur' board from the third millennium BC of Iraq

'As the world grapples with this current crisis, I am glad that so many people are coming to the website and online collections of the British Museum,' said its director, Hartwig Fischer.

'Our collection bears witness to humanitys ability to survive and indeed thrive in precarious times,' he added.

'We are delighted to be able to unveil this major revamp early, and hope that these important objects can provide inspiration, reflection or even just quiet moments of distraction during this difficult time.'

The museum has reported a huge surge in traffic to its website since it closed its doors on March 18 due to the COVID-19 crisis  with online visitor numbers up by 120 per cent in comparison with this time last year.
Daniel McMahon, 31, who court papers say espoused white supremacist views online, also pleaded guilty to cyberstalking a second victim, an offense that came to light after his arrest last year. He pleaded to those two counts as part of a deal with prosecutors and could face up to six years in prison when he is sentenced July 23.
Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order unilaterally allows restaurants across Texas to open up their dining rooms at a 25% occupancy come Friday.

However a wide range of Laredo restaurants will not be doing so.

We continue to be concerned about our clients and employees health, said Julio Venegas, owner of Organic Man Coffee. We will continue doing curbside/pick up and delivery only until we see the numbers of infected community members stop rising.

Venegas said some of their main clients are essential workers, and he feels obligated to take care of them by continuing to take preventative measures at his coffee shop.

Even if it means our sales are not the same, right now it is not about money for us, but (about) taking care of each other, he said.

Owners of other local eateries such as Quickie Bakery, Taco Mais, Caffe Dolce and Katsumi Ramen Haus have expressed that they do not yet feel it is safe for their employees or customers to open up their dining rooms, and will continue to offer curbside service, as they have since mid-March.

Likewise all local McDonalds will continue operating only via drive thru, carry out and delivery. Mike Marasco, president of McDonalds of Laredo, said they do not have a date set for when customers will be able to dine inside.

As part of the reopening process, restaurants may not have more than 25% occupancy at any time and have nor more than six customers per table, according to guidelines recently released by the City of Laredo.

Physical distancing measures must be taken to ensure that customers remain six feet apart at all times. Additionally, Laredo restaurants must also use disposable menus and have a hand sanitizing station at the entrance of the restaurant. Items cannot be left on unoccupied tables and condiments cannot be shared.

Jorge Gutierrez, owner of Ringos BBQ, is tentatively and begrudgingly planning to open the dining room of his north side location on Saturday. But Gutierrez said he has employees who are scared to go back to work, and he himself will not be going in. His gut tells him to only operate through curbside and drive thru, but hes afraid of losing business to other restaurants who will be opening their dining rooms.

I dont want to open. I dont think thats the right answer. But I can lose the future by not opening. If everybodys closed, thats fine. But if (Abbott) lets everybody open, we have to open. In my opinion its a mistake, Gutierrez said.

He hopes this will not be the case, but believes these measures will lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases that will cause another shutdown.

Ringos closed at the end of March due to slow sales. Gutierrez said his landlord has been flexible about rent payments while they have been closed. But now that theyre allowed to open, landlords will be expecting rent.

Its a trickle-up effect in this situation. If I dont open, then I cant pay the rent, and if I cant pay the rent then Im going to get kicked out. But Im getting kicked out because the guy thats renting to me has to pay his note. So I have no choice, he said.

Gutierrez is afraid he and his business partner are going to lose Ringos location in the south, which will not be opening at all under the governors order. Without a drive thru, its designed for people to come in and sit down. And including staff, 25% occupancy will not produce the sales needed to operate, he said.

I really wish he wouldnt have done this, Gutierez said, referring to the governor. His message is for customers to utilize Ringos drive thru and curbside services.

Youre welcome to come in, but I wouldnt do it, he said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
Hospitals are facing multimillion-dollar drops in revenue during the worst viral outbreak in a century, causing thousands of Michigan health care workers to lose their jobs.

Early in Michigans fight against the coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order closing medical centers and dental offices, while requiring hospitals to temporarily postpone non-essential procedures. Terminating lucrative non-emergency services while prioritizing the treatment of COVID-19 patients left hospitals strained for cash while they are most needed, resulting in layoffs and furloughs across the state.

Whitmers order was tailored to conserve personal protective equipment and prepare for a surge of COVID-19 patients that threatened overwhelm the states health care networks. The coronavirus has killed 3,670 people in Michigan since March 10 and put thousands of patients in the hospital, though state data shows hospitalizations steadily declined during the last weeks of April.

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The governors orders cut off a significant source of income for health care systems. Non-emergency procedures like hip and knee replacements are generally bread and butter sources of revenue for hospitals, said Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of the Center for Health & Research Transformation at the University of Michigan.

Michigan hospitals reported steep losses in March and April; in some cases revenue dropped between 50% and 70%. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association estimated hospitals are losing more than $300 million a week while spending $100 million on supplies, protective equipment, staffing and other costs associated with a surge of COVID-19 patients.

This has this has had a huge impact on the bottom line of every hospital in Michigan and we have seen a variety of different types of layoffs or furloughs as a result, said Ruthanne Sudderth, MHAs senior vice president of public affairs and communications.

Most of the layoffs across Michigan affect administrative staff instead of employees working directly with patients. But hospitals may not be able to avoid cutting doctors and nurses, especially medical systems in rural areas that were already vulnerable before the coronavirus outbreak.

Two of Michigans largest health systems, both serving communities hit hardest by COVID-19, announced layoffs and other measures to cut costs this month.

Beaumont Health is laying off 2,475 workers -- 6.5% of its employees -- and will permanently eliminate 450 positions.

Henry Ford Health System reported a $43 million drop in operating income for March and a 50% decline in revenue from patient services for the last week in April. Losses for April and May are expected to be worse, the health system said in a release.

This resulted in temporary furloughs for 2,800 Henry Ford employees, 9% of its workforce. The furloughs will affect employees in areas where workloads have been drastically reduced or where operations were temporarily closed.

Beaumont Health had 613 COVID-19 patients as of Monday, while Henry Ford is treating 492 patients. Both declined to comment for this story.

Trinity Health, a non-profit Catholic health system with hospitals in West Michigan and metro Detroit, is laying off 2,800 staff -- around 10% of its Michigan workforce. President and CEO Rob Casalou said the health care system has experienced a 70% drop in patient activity, resulting in revenue declines of $50 million in March, $112 million in April, and estimated declines of $112 million in May.

Its almost like I cant believe Im saying the words, because weve never seen anything like this before, but its all driven by the loss of revenue, Casalou said. Our supply costs doubled and our revenues have dropped. Ive never seen it before in my career."

The coronavirus has not been a cash cow for hospitals. Casalou said Trinity Health lost an average of $25,000 for each COVID-19 patient treated in March and April. There are 315 COVID-19 patients at Trinity hospitals as of April 27, with 69 patients in the intensive care unit.

Many of the coronavirus patients treated by Trinity Health are older and are insured through Medicare. Spokeswoman Laura Blodgett said Medicare uses a flat fee system to standardize payment for an entire in-patient stay, so hospitals are paid the same regardless of the duration of a patients stay.

For complex cases which involve long ICU stays and ventilator use, such as treating COVID, the costs hospitals incur are larger than what we are reimbursed," Blodgett said in a statement.

Congress created a 20% premium for COVID-19 Medicare patients as part of relief legislation. Blodgett said hospitals are still losing money per patient, despite the added payment.

Hospitals are also spending more on personal protection equipment due to price gougers and the overall surge in demand. The price of N95 respirator masks increased from 50 cents per mask to $4 to $8 per mask, Casalou said.

Trinity Healths monthly spending on PPE increased from an estimated $750,000 to $2 million, a spokesperson said.

Spectrum Health System, based in West Michigan, spent more on personal protective equipment in one month than it would typically spend on those supplies in an entire year.

The health system will stop matching contributions to employee retirement accounts from July through the rest of the year. A spokesperson said decisions are being finalized on layoffs and furloughs that could impact hundreds of employees.

Kevin Lingell, a spokesperson for the Service Employees International Union, said hospitals will struggle to hold off layoffs without elective procedures.

I guess pandemics dont pay, Lingell said.

Limits on procedures remain

Michigan officials are optimistic that the state is turning the corner on its coronavirus response, but also say its too early to bring back non-emergency medical services.

Whitmer relaxed some provisions of her broader stay-at-home order last week, citing an encouraging slide in daily confirmed cases and deaths. Whitmer said hospitals are discharging more COVID-19 patients than they are accepting, while state data shows most hospitals have enough PPE to last several weeks.

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However, rural hospitals with less intensive care unit space are still at risk of being overwhelmed.

Half of the 59 ICU beds across the Upper Penninsula are occupied, while four counties report ICU space is completely filled. Arenac, Lapeer, Branch, and Mecosta counties had no ICU beds available as of Monday, according to MDHHS.

The governor is facing mounting pressure to lift restrictions on hospitals. Whitmer said an announcement could be coming in the near future during a Thursday press conference.

As we are proceeding, weve been having intensive conversations with our public health experts as well as leadership of our various hospital systems, Whitmer said.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said the state will continue to monitor things like the number of tests taken, percentage of tests that are positive, and hospital capacity as it relates to ventilators, hospital bed capacity and PPE. Khaldun indicated the state is still concerned that rural health care systems will have a harder time responding to a surge in cases.

We will continue to move forward cautiously and incrementally so we do not have another surge in cases and overwhelm our hospital systems, Khaldun said in a statement.

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The governors order provides some flexibility for physicians to determine what constitutes an emergency procedure. Medical providers can perform procedures deemed necessary to preserve the health and safety of their patients.

The Republican-majority state Senate adopted a resolution Tuesday urging Whitmer to allow health care systems to resume elective procedures. The resolution, introduced by state Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, states reengaging non-emergency procedures is a key step to improve the financial stability of hospitals.

State Sen. Ed McBroom, a Republican whose district covers most of the Upper Peninsula, said rural hospitals have more than enough capacity for few COVID-19 patients. He argues its time to allow them to resume non-emergency procedures.

Everybodys just saying, we need to start rolling; if something comes up and it looks like its getting bad, we can crack back down," McBroom said. "But we cant just sit around here and hope and pray that it wont get here or that itll get here soon and well get it over with.

Hillsdale Hospital sent a letter Tuesday asking Whitmer to allow elective procedures in communities where COVID-19 numbers are low. Chief Operating Officer JJ Hodshire said many rural hospitals face a very serious risk of closing permanently and are being penalized by the response effort in larger communities with higher infection rates.

Blanket restrictions in your executive orders have placed our small, rural hospital in the same standing as those in large, highly-populated areas like Detroit, Hodshire wrote.

Hillsdale Hospital announced plans to temporarily cut its staff by 10% due to financial losses associated with a state order related to the coronavirus pandemic. The hospital is estimating a $10 million revenue shortfall by the end of its fiscal year on June 30.

How ironic that during a global pandemic, hospitals are laying off nursing staff throughout Michigan because we cant sign their paychecks, yet we are expected to treat the sickest of patients in our communities without interruption, Hodshire wrote.

Hospitals will need to document they have enough PPE and available capacity to treat non-coronavirus patients before opening their doors to the general public, Udow-Phillips said.

I am expecting that well start seeing in May some cases coming back into the hospital," Udow-Phillips said. It really depends on how well we do in containing this virus. If the health system gets overwhelmed again, then theyre going to have to cut back.

Even if Whitmer lifts restrictions on hospitals, Udow-Phillips said patients will likely remain hesitant to seek care and risk exposure to the virus. More people could delay treatment for their health conditions due to those concerns, she said.

Sudderth said MHHA is working with hospitals to ensure clinicians are evaluating patients who may have delayed care but can now come to the hospital safely. Better access to PPE for patients and staff has helped improve the safety of emergency rooms, she said.

Whitmer is facing more pressure from Republican lawmakers to include hospitals in her plan to re-open the state economy.

Hospitals have retained some patient services by expanding telemedicine options, which can be performed more safely and is cheaper compared to in-patient visits. In a post COVID-19 shutdown world, virtual visits could replace routine appointments for minor medical issues.

I think consumers are feeling good about telehealth visits; it keeps (patients) from having to go to a facility and potentially be exposed to other sick people, and a lot of care actually can be delivered in that way pretty effectively, Udow-Phillips said. Telehealth is not a huge money-maker, but its offsetting some of the revenue declines for sure.

Casalou said telemedicine has greatly expanded at Trinity Health facilities in Michigan.

Theres an old expression I use: Nothing clears the mind like a lack of options, Casalou said. We were doing maybe 30 or 40 video visits a day before the outbreak. Our medical group just in Southeast Michigan is (now) doing 1,200 video visits a day.

Federal aid, a drop in the bucket

Federal aid secured through bipartisan by Congress provides some relief to offset the strain on hospitals, but health officials said more help is needed.

The $2 trillion CARES Act, signed by the president on March 27, includes $100 billion to stabilize cash-strapped hospitals and other health care entities responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Another $484 billion emergency spending package included $75 billion for hospitals.

Michigans U.S. senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, sent a letter urging the Trump administration to help hospitals access the relief immediately.

In my view, its still a drop in the bucket, Udow-Phillips said. Its coming nowhere close to what the hospitals have really experienced in terms of their losses as a result of the shutdown.

Hosptial leaders like Hodshire said the stimulus packages have so far done little to stop the bleeding." Casalou said the first round of funding only covers one month of Trinity Healths operating losses.

The federal government is going to have to look into sustained funding to the hospitals if they dont want hospitals to close their doors down the road, Casalou said. Some will not be able to weather this storm without continued support.

Dr. Rob Davidson, a Newaygo County emergency physician and executive director of the Committee to Protect Medicare, said independent community hospitals operating on tight profit margins face the greatest risk of going out of business.

If anyone is gonna close because of this or go bankrupt, those will be the ones that go first, he said.

Oaklawn Hospital in Calhoun County announced temporary layoffs for 200 of its 1,150 employees. The hospital will reduce salaries and suspend paid time off and holiday pay for remaining employees.

McLaren Macomb Hospital announced plans to temporarily furlough 10-20 nurses. McLaren Health Care declined to comment for this story.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital furloughed 400 employees in April, approximately 20% of its workforce. Senior executives at the Grand Rapids hospital are taking 25% pay cuts.

Spectrum Health will end matching contributions to employee retirement accounts from July through December. The West Michigan health care provider also warned of future layoffs in an April 17 press release after experiencing a multimillion-dollar drop in revenue in March due to its cancellation of non-emergency surgeries and procedures.

Spectrum Health CEO Tina Freese Decker will take a 40% pay cut, and her leadership team will take a 30% pay reduction. Executives are donating surplus paid time off to employees.

Beaumont Health CEO John Fox will take a 70% temporary pay cut to his base salary. Beaumonts executive leadership team will also take temporary pay cuts up to 45% of their total compensation, while the health systems executive team and senior leaders contribute portions of their salary to emergency funds created to help employees.

Henry Ford also created emergency reserves to help employees. The health systems executive team and senior leaders will commit portions of their salary to the funds.

Compensation for executive leaders at Trinity Health will be cut by up to 25%, and all performance-based incentives are being eliminated, Casalou said.

Udow-Phillips said community health clinics and dentists offices are bracing for tough times ahead.

I think theyre dipping into reserves at this point and hoping the CARES Act and future recovery dollars will help them survive, Udow-Phillips said. This cannot go on for many more months before we start to see health system, hospital and clinic practice failures across the country."

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more on MLive:

Michigans universities and colleges bleeding revenue amid coronavirus closures

Michigan set to lose billions in tax revenue as coronavirus hits state budgets nationwide

Whitmer moves to further expand unemployment eligibility during coronavirus crisis

Despite crashes, 820,000 of 1.1M Michiganders filing for unemployment have gotten paid
As reported by Justice Info on the 7th and 14th April 2020, for the first time, a high-level prosecution witness, Gibril Massaquoi, a relocated insider from the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), has been arrested and charged with a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture and rape. The Finnish authorities decision to prosecute has laid bare a schism in the SCSLs Office of The Prosecutor (OTP), with some regarding the Finnish move as justified, especially in light of Massaquois refusal to come clean  a failure that undermined his utility as a cooperating witness  and others viewing it as a politically damaging action that will impact future war crimes prosecutions.

Of course, as the two-part article published in Justice Info discusses, such diverging views may well have some basis in the differing legal cultures of those ex-OTP staff, some from the US and some from Europe. They may also have a lot to do with what Eric Witte, a former special assistant and political advisor to Chief prosecutor David Crane from 2003 to 2005, observed  the role of the investigation section in cultivating insiders and the questions raised by the way the section was run.

However, none of these explanations fully hit the mark. Differing legal cultures do not tend to lead to such vastly differing views concerning the importance of particular insiders and the probative value of their evidence. Moreover, investigation sections in international courts are not independent organs but subordinate entities that exist for the sole purpose of serving the court process. The role of the investigation section in handling insiders cannot be divorced from either the hierarchy of the OTP or the requirements of due process. They work according to the direction and oversight of their superior OTP offices and the judiciary in charge of the cases.

Opening the Pandora box

Instead, the divergent OTP views concerning the utility and relocation of Massaquoi reflects a more troubling feature of the SCSLs judicial process: the uncontrolled quid pro quo that provided prosecution insiders with significant cash and other benefits, including relocation, in exchange for testimony, without any meaningful oversight by either the OTP or the SCSLs judiciary. The refusal of the Registrar and the Prosecutor of the Residual Court  the body that has taken over the SCSL  to speak out on the Massaquoi case, even though it challenges the authority, interests and reputation of the UN court and the prosecutors office in particular, speaks volumes about this particular Pandoras box. Sometimes least said, soonest mended.

To this extent, Gilbert Morissette, who, during his tenure, occupied both deputy and chief of the investigations at the SCSL, is to be applauded for his honesty. He is the only one to admit what was obvious to anyone interested in fair trials at the SCSL. As he said in court in the trial of three former leaders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), including my client Issa Sesay, and repeated recently in the Justice Info article, the Prosecution at the SCSL paid witnesses for information: You scratch my back, Ill scratch yours. [ ] Money is given to sources for valuable information, transport and communications, for example. This is perfectly normal practice, very well recognized in Canada and the United States, morally accepted by the courts. Whilst somewhat sobering to be reminded of this practice at an international criminal court, it is rare, if not unheard of, for anyone in the OTP at any international criminal court, let alone the SCSL, to be so candid.

After four years of trial, despite the evidence indicating thousands of dollars and relocation packages for the benefit of those heavily implicated in war crimes and crimes against humanity, the SCSL Judges preferred to turn a blind eye, says Wayne Jordash.  HO / Special Court for Sierra Leone / AFP

A question of institutional integrity and the rule of law

Putting aside the morality of paying tens of thousands of dollars for testimony to ex-rebel commanders who only months before had been raping and pillaging their way through Sierra Leone villages, if it was to be accepted as perfectly normal practice, then that process had to be open and transparent so that the impact on the judicial process could be properly assessed. It is not only a question of the immediate testimony and the immediate trial, essential though those enquiries were. It is a question of making sure that all concerned parties, the witnesses themselves, the accused, the judiciary, the affected communities and purportedly cooperating states such as Finland were fully in the picture concerning the nature of the benefits and the bargaining process, allowing the obvious risks to be properly managed. It was a question of institutional integrity and the rule of law.

Instead, the SCSL had none of the critical safeguards in place and the Massaquoi affair speaks eloquently to those deficits. Investigators interviewing potential witnesses or accused failed to keep or preserve notes, even when those interactions lasted for months and even when those individuals were, like Massaquoi, heavily implicated in the most serious crimes and more than happy to save their necks and feather their own nests at the same time. The Rules of Procedure and Evidence did not provide any mention of the practice of cultivating insiders, let alone paying witnesses. The OTP never developed or recorded a set of Standard Operating Procedures, or SOPs, for its investigators. Investigators involved in covert missions to gather evidence from sources abroad or secure the cooperation of an insider witness were expected to adhere only to a set of vague standards referred to by the founding Prosecutor as tradecraft. David Crane described the OTPs tradecraft as, Techniquesinvestigative techniques and intelligence techniquesthat were followed by our office, that didnt have to be written down. Its part of the way things are done I called it dancing with the devil.

When the end justifies the means

The evident problem exposed by the Massaquoi affair is that the devil appears to have been leading the dance. And he was not alone. The OTPs Witness Management Unit (distinct from the Registrys Witness and Victims Unit available to the Prosecution and the Defence) was responsible for the tradecraft. Despite the unwillingness of the OTP to explain the nature of the bargains being struck, details of some of the payments emerged, often from the witnesses themselves or other organs of the Court. Despite being in the care of the Registrys Witness and Victims Unit, Massaquoi was taken on regular Sunday sojourns, including to the most expensive restaurant in town and received thousands of dollars for his trouble. Another witness received $15,000, explained only as benefits. A witness in the RUF case confirmed that the Prosecution gave him $100 every time he went to them: it was just possible that they wanted to help. One critical insider witness in the RUF case confirmed during cross examination that the Prosecution had handed them money in an envelope and told them to put it to good use and take care of yourself.

Of course, prosecuting organs of international criminal tribunals must guard against this type of inducement. It is incumbent upon international prosecutors and the investigators they supervise to resist the temptation to adopt an ends-justify-the-means approach to investigation or prosecution. It is even more important that the judiciary when confronted with this type of conduct insists upon transparency and is prepared to lift the veil.

Recommended reading The Massaquoi Affair: Special report on the Judas of Sierra Leone (Part 1)

The judges turning a blind eye

At the end of all the insider evidence, the RUF Defence filed a Motion to hear evidence from the OTP to explain the nature of the payments so that their legitimacy or otherwise could be fully assessed. Rejecting the motion, the Chamber claimed that it was not raised at the earliest opportunity and that no material prejudice has been caused. Of course, this was offensively nonsensical. It is never too late to hear evidence of this kind in a trial and benefits administered through an unregulated slush fund available only to one party causes nothing but material prejudice.

Even more shocking, at least to those with an interest in due process and fair trials, in the final RUF Judgment, the Trial Chamber simply airbrushed the payments out of existence. Each Prosecution insiders testimony was accepted as true without even a single, passing reference to a single payment. Even the reliability of a critical insider who candidly confirmed that since cooperating with the Prosecution he was able, to sleep in a decent place, had decent food to eat and consequently wanted to help them, today and tomorrow was not worthy of judicial comment. It was as if the issue had never been raised, let alone raised continuously over a 4-year trial. At the end of the trial, despite the evidence indicating quid pro quos involving thousands of dollars and relocation packages for the benefit of those heavily implicated in war crimes and crimes against humanity, the SCSL Judges preferred to turn a blind eye.

And so, the Finnish authorities are right to prosecute Massaquoi. As Penelope Van Tuyl observed in her eloquent critique of the OTPs investigative processes, [d]ue process is not a gratuitous entitlement or privilege of the accused  it is the sine qua non of this entire experiment with international criminal justice. It ought to go without saying that bargains of the kind that were commonplace at the SCSL cannot be left to the discretion of the OTP. If the ends are to justify the means then those bargains struck in the name of so-called international justice must be examined. If the OTP cannot even decide amongst themselves the value of an insider and are able to pay those witnesses irrespective and without any judicial concern, the court cannot claim to care about fair trials. Nor can they expect others, whether the Finnish authorities, other national judicial authorities, or the affected communities, to respect their quid pro quos, that ultimately sees them disregarding serious violations of international criminal law in exchange for cooperation. If international courts decline to do so, then others must step in to bring insiders like Massaquoi to justice and otherwise safeguard procedural integrity and ensure the rule of law.


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WASHINGTON  A sexual assault allegation is raising Joe Bidens first big challenge as the Democrats presidential nominee, fueling Republican attacks and leaving many in his own party in an uncomfortable bind.

Biden's campaign has denied the allegation from his former Senate staffer Tara Reade, who has said Biden assaulted her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the 1990s. But the story garnered fresh attention this week after two of Reade's associates said she previously told them about elements of her allegations.

Republicans who are worried about President Donald Trump's increasingly precarious political standing are seizing on the allegation to portray Democrats as hypocrites who only defend women who allege wrongdoing against conservatives. They are digging in despite the fact that it could renew attention on the multiple sexual assault allegations lodged against Trump.

Democrats, meanwhile, are in an awkward position of vigorously validating women who come forward with their stories while defending the man who will be their standard-bearer in what many in the party consider the most important election of their lifetimes.

The tension is heightened because Biden himself is saying nothing about the allegation.

Like many Americans, he has spent the past several weeks at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Biden has participated in a handful of local and national interviews, during which he wasn't asked about the allegation. But he hasn't held a press briefing for the broader press corps that covers him since April 2, before multiple news organizations reported Reade's story. The public appearances he has made, such as fundraisers or events alongside prominent Democrats, have been controlled.

Some Democrats say that approach isn't working and are urging a more forceful response.

"The campaign has issued statements, but he hasn't issued any statements in his own voice," said former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile. "It's not helping, it's just damaging  not only to the person who has come forward, but it's also damaging the candidate."

Lis Smith, who worked as a top strategist on Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign, also called on the Biden campaign to speak up.

"These accusations have not been found to be credible, so it's in the Biden campaign's interest to nip this in the bud directly and do it quickly," she said.

The November contest between Biden and Trump will be the first presidential race of the #MeToo era, which has led numerous women to come forward with allegations of sexual assault. Trump himself has been accused of assault and unwanted touching by numerous women, allegations he denies. He was forced to apologize during the 2016 campaign after he was heard on a recording bragging about using his fame to assault women.

Women are a core constituency for Democrats, and Biden has a mixed history. While he wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a senator, he also came under heavy criticism for his handling of Anita Hill's Senate testimony in the 1990s. Just before he launched his 2020 campaign, several women accused him of unwanted touching, behavior for which he apologized.

Biden has pledged to pick a woman as a running mate, and the allegation has left those thought to be in contention in a tough spot.

Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia Democratic governor candidate, said, "Women deserve to be heard, and I believe they need to be listened to, but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources."

"The New York Times did a deep investigation and they found that the accusation was not credible," she added. "I believe Joe Biden."

That echoed talking points issued by the Biden campaign to surrogates last week that were obtained by The Associated Press. They pointed to investigations by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the AP that found no other allegation of sexual assault and no pattern of sexual misconduct.

Some Democratic donors and fundraisers say the issue has not come up in calls with party financiers. Others worry that it could be used against Biden, much as Hillary Clinton's private email server and the activities of the Clinton Foundation were wielded against her by Trump.

Some, most notably women, say they are paying close attention to the allegations, which gave them pause.

Alex Sink, a donor and former Democratic nominee for governor of Florida, said she was "not happy" to read about the allegations against Biden. While she still plans to vote for him, she worried his campaign was too quick to categorically deny Reade's story.

"They put themselves immediately out on a limb by saying, 'It didn't happen, we categorically deny it, it's not true,'" Sink said. "That's a dangerous position to be in because they aren't leaving any room for themselves."

Some female Democratic operatives expressed concerns the allegation is particularly damaging because it's an indictment of Biden's central campaign rationale: that he provides a moral counter to Trump and that the election is a "battle for the soul of America."

"I think the stakes could not be higher for defeating Donald Trump  but at the same time, I think we have to apply a consistent standard for how we treat allegations of sexual assault, and also be clear-eyed about how Donald Trump will use these allegations in the general election campaign," said Claire Sandberg, who worked as Bernie Sanders' organizing director this cycle.

The silence from the Biden campaign has given Republicans an opening on an issue that was, in 2016, far more fraught for the GOP, when Trump was asked to answer for the more than two dozen women who alleged varying levels of sexual assault and harassment from him. The GOP argues Democrats aren't being consistent, pointing to the aggressive questioning and coverage of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when he faced an allegation of sexual assault.

"The left, and their media allies, has one standard for Republicans and another standard for Democrats like Joe Biden," said Steve Guest, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee. "The double standard is appalling."

Trump himself has yet to address the issue, but Donald Trump Jr. has spent weeks highlighting the allegation on Twitter, as has Trump's campaign manager Brad Parscale.

Even some Trump antagonists within the GOP say the opportunity for the president and his allies is obvious.

Rick Tyler, a former spokesman for Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and a prominent Trump critic, noted that the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent economic crash have "ruled out any prospect that Republicans could run on great economic times."

"And so what's left? What's left is scorched earth, and that means digging up anything they can about Biden," he said. "They're trying to make Joe Biden into something that's worse than Donald Trump."

___

Alexandre Jaffe of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP writers Brian Slodysko in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Kerala seeks special non-stop trains to facilitate return of migrant workers

India

pti-PTI

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 30: With the Centre issuing guidelineson inter-state movementof migrant workers, the Kerala government on Thursday renewed its demand forspecial non-stop trains to transport those who are keen to leave for their respective states.

State Chief Secretary has written a letter in this regard to the Union Home secretary, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here. The state government had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange for special non-stop trains to transport the workers.

There are 3.60 lakh workers in over 20,000 camps in the the state and majority of them, hailing from West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, wanted to return home, Vijayan said.

The Union Home ministry in an order issued on Wednesday allowed migrant workers, tourists, students and other people who are stranded in differentparts of the country to move to their respective states with certain conditions.

As per the order, buses would be used for transporting the stranded persons and these vehicles would be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms on seating. "There were so many people who wish to leave for their respective states.

The distance they have to traverse from the southern state is very long it would be tiresome journey to transport them by bus and there was a possibility of the virus spreading", Vijayan said.

Social distancing can be maintained in trains the health authorities can monitor, food and water. "We need to follow certain norms before arranging them to travel. Not all can leave at the same time. Some workers may show some haste. Police will look into it. They will be assisted with other health workers," he added.
Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 30th April 2020.

Here are the major headlines.

FG Dispatches 110 Trucks Of Palliatives Foodstuff To Kano State

Sadiya Umar Farouq, minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development says the federal government has dispatched 110 trucks of palliatives foodstuff to Kano State.

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National Grid Collapses, Plunges Power Generation to 2983MW

The transmission company of Nigeria(TCN) has confirmed that the national grid suffered a collapse in the early hours of Wednesday.

Ondo Government Begins Production Of Nose Masks

Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has announced that the state has started the production of locally made nose masks.

Germany Grants Nigeria 8.9bn Relief Funds

In support of Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19, Germany has granted Nigeria a debt relief worth 22.4 million (N8.9bn).

Kaduna Government Relaxes Lockdown Amidst Pandemic

Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-rufai has announced relaxation of its lockdown order.

FG Rescues Nigerian Lady Put Up For Sale By Lebanese

The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has announced that the Nigerian lady put up for sale by a Lebanese, Wael Jerro on Facebook, has been rescued.

We May Ask Madagascar To Sen Us A Plane Load Of Herbs To Treat COVID-19  SFG

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says the country may ask Madagascar for a planeload of herbal solutions to treat COVID-19.

Why Buhari Eased Lockdown In Lagos, FCT, Ogun State  Mustapha

The relaxation of lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, and Ogun State have been eased for Nigerians to slowly return to their daily lives, the federal government has said.

MURIC Says Kano Deaths May Be A Plot To Decimate Muslims

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) says the recent deaths in Kano, may be a deliberate attempt at decimating the population of Muslims in Nigeria.

Umahi Lifts Ban On Okada Operators, Curfew Against Journalists

Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi has relaxed the curfew he earlier imposed in the state as well as the activities of motorcycle operators.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of engaging in illegalities other than its defined mandate.

The Deputy General Secretary of the party, Peter Boamah Otukonnor, alleged that the Commission held meetings at the City Escape Hotel in Accra yesterday [Wednesday], despite an injunction preventing the Commission from holding a similar meeting in the Ningo Prampram constituency.

There is a ban on all public gatherings including conferences and workshops, religious activities, funerals and festivals as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, hence the ex-parte injunction by the court.

Peter Boamah Otukonnor said the conduct of the EC is an attack on the country's democracy.

After the breach of the injunction secured by Sam George, and subsequent to the report we forwarded to the CID, it was very surprising that this afternoon, we picked another notice and intel that the Electoral Commission was still meeting at the City Escape Hotel. We sent people to verify and indeed they had the meeting at the City Escape Hotel. I think this is very unfortunate.

This is an attack on our democracy and an attack on the Rule of Law. The Electoral Commission, clearly under E.I 64 has not been classified as an essential service provider and for that matter, any meeting, any social meeting they organise is in direct contravention of the E.1 64. The judgement in the Sam George injunction spells it out clearly that the E.1 64 does not classify the Electoral Commission as an essential service provider.

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 EC was however stopped from holding the meeting after an injunction was secured by the Member of Parliament for the Ningo Prampram Constituency, Sam Nartey George.

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 were 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
Kelloggs (K) is selling a ton of cereal to a nation eating breakfast at home during the coronavirus pandemic. They are also apparently eating Frosted Flakes and Fruit Loops for dinner, too, which means more sales for the cereal giant.

One thing I mentioned on the earnings call is that one of the highest growth occasions is cereal for dinner. And one of the things driving that is people are making a lot more food at home and they get tired after a while of cleaning up and they say let's have cereal for dinner. The clean up is economical and everybody in the family loves it, Kelloggs CEO Steven Cahillane explained to Yahoo Finance in an interview on Thursday.

Kelloggs reported first quarter sales came in at $3.41 billion compared to forecasts for $3.39 billion. Sales surged across Kelloggs power food brands such as Frosted Flakes, Eggo Waffles and Cheez-Its. Adjusted earnings of 99 cents a share outpaced projections of 95 cents a share. Kelloggs reiterated its outlook for full-year organic sales growth of 1% to 2% and for adjusted earnings per share to fall 3% to 4%.

Yahoo Finance spoke with Cahillane at length about the quarter, outlook and the future of his workforce. What follows is an edited and condensed version of the chat.

Brian Sozzi: What is it like managing through a situation such as this pandemic?

Steven Cahillane: This is an unprecedented time. And so the first thing that we did was we established, my leadership team which we call the executive committee here, each and every morning setting aside at least one hour to talk about the situation as it unfolds and what we need to do in the short term, medium term and long term to protect our people, to provide food to the marketplace, and to give back to our communities. So we said those are our three priorities everywhere around the world and nothing is more important than keeping our people safe.

We were very early out of the gates to all sorts of things that have become common practice. We immediately stopped travel. We stopped meetings. We social distanced. We closed offices. We established the safety protocols, beyond what we were already doing in our plants and factories.

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And I think that really put us in a great position because our plants have been operating 24/7 at the highest level of productivity ever with an incredibly engaged workforce with incredibly high morale and that came from sharing learnings all around the world and making sure that the the urgency of the moment was tackled at the highest level of the company.

It's a bit of the foxhole mentality. The team's probably closer than they've ever been even though we're seeing each other through a video screen. But everybody's engaged against those three priorities. I'm thinking about when the new normal comes out what that is going to be and how are we going to be a stronger company when that happens.

Sozzi: What does that new normal look like for your company? Do you need to redesign the workplace? Will working from home be extended?

Kellogg's CEO Steven Cahillane has been hard at work managing his global workforce during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Cahillane: Thats a great question and a really important one that we're spending a lot of time talking about. We've got a very comprehensive plan around how we go back to work and what that looks like. What you've seen  what we've all seen  is you can actually run a company like ours with a remote worker base. It's absolutely stunning that we close a quarter with our whole back office working remotely.

The other thing that we learned though is not everybody wants to stay at home all the time. But I think what you'll find is, because we've proven that it can be done we have the opportunity to be a much more dynamic workforce where there is a balance between time spent working at home or remotely, and time spent working in the office being with colleagues. And so that's going to be important because I think the new normal will be one where social distancing is really important. And so making sure that you have the right density of employees in a workspace is going to be incredibly important. And the fact that people can work from home lends itself to the right variable to make that happen.

So that's the way we're thinking about it, what's the right balance, what's the right cadence and how we do that.

The other thing that we know is we are not going to be asking people or demanding that people return to work. Its going to be at a very deliberate cadence and based on what people want to do, based on their own comfort levels, based on the new capacity that we have in the office. The other thing I say is now school is not going back and all the different challenges that individuals face in this environment, we are very cognizant of that and so we want to maintain that flexibility and in a way that recognizes that people have other demands on their time and their attention that are really important requirements.

But, I'm very confident that two three years from now, the world's going to be different, and there will be lasting impacts of this. And I hope it's one of the positive things that comes out of an otherwise horrible situation.

Sozzi: Do you think some of these eating occasions such as eating cereal again in the morning sticks around post pandemic?

Cahillane: We know that people are eating more of our cereal. They're not only buying more of it they're eating an awful lot more of it. And we're using consumer research to understand exactly how we can capitalize on that. One thing I mentioned on the earnings call is that one of the highest growth occasions is cereal for dinner. And one of the things driving that is people are making a lot more food at home and they get tired after a while of cleaning up and they say let's have cereal for dinner. The clean up is economical and everybody in the family loves it.

And so a lot of these things are going to stick around. For how long and at what level is dependent on a lot of things, but also dependent on how we take advantage of making sure that we continue to communicate with our consumers in ways that are engaging, innovative and lend themselves to building that brand equity.

Same thing for our snacks business, which was growing very nicely and best served from people snacking more at home. And the one portion of our business where we've seen softness is the on the go occasion. People arent putting Rice Krispies Treats in the lunchbox because Johnny's not going off to school. An RX bar usually being consumed at the gym isn't being consumed because that on negotiation is on pause.

How that changes over time we'll have to wait and see as well.

Frosted Flakes sales have been hot amidst the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Sozzi: How does this current point in time change your longer term thinking on the company? Do you have fewer SKUs in the market?

Cahillane: I'd say the bias is probably in that direction because what we're finding is in this environment people are gravitating towards brands they love and that they trust, and that's certainly a lot of our portfolio. Some of the more insurgent brands have had a harder time. Now again, that'll be one of those questions. In the next year or so there's probably going to be less SKUs in grocery stores. But the magnitude of that we'll just have to wait and see.

But having the right marketing programs around our big power brands is something we were already focused on. And then we'll continue to focus on that.

Sozzi: What have you seen demand wise in oil-rich markets such as Nigeria? Oil prices have really plunged.

Cahillane: Nigeria is a big market for us. They got into the COVID-19 situation a little bit later. And so we're seeing access for consumers, a lot of the points of sale becoming more challenging. And so we're starting to see some demand issues around how consumers can shop. From an overall macroeconomic standpoint we haven't yet seen the real impact of lower oil prices. But with an oil dependent economy, there's going to be pressure on currency, on the overall state budgets and so we'll just have to stay close to that manager.

We've got a great business there. We got a partner that has been doing business in Nigeria for 40 years, and seeing this play out before he's got a playbook for recessionary environments and we sell a lot of staples there. We'll be able to manage our way through it. The Middle East, Russia, some Latin American countries, Brazil obviously we'll have to stay close to it because it's going to create a lot of recessionary pressure. That will double against what COVID-19 has done.

Sozzi: We are in a severe U.S. economic downturn as well. How has that impacted Kelloggs?

Cahillane: As I said on the earnings call, we know what happened in the last recession and others before it. I think [with this one] you just don't see a shock like this happen so quickly, whether it be GDP, unemployment, and so forth. And everybody's behavior is changing because of the pandemic and so what's happened for us obviously has been a surge in demand.

I think people's spending habits are going to change fairly dramatically. We're conscious we play an important role as a brand that people rely on and trust. Affordability is really important. Bringing innovation is really, really important because people don't want to hunker down and be miserable they want the brands that they love to bring a little bit of excitement. So we're going to overstate the role we play, but we want to be there for our consumers and we want them to trust our brands and we want them to understand the affordable nature of the meal solution that ready-to eat cereal is. That a MorningStar Farms and Eggo Waffle are.

And so that's how we're thinking about that.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-anchor of The First Trade at Yahoo Finance. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn.

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Will Smith gathered the cast of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in an epic virtual reunion for the finale of his Snapchat series, Will at Home, and together the group shared an emotional tribute to one of their late colleagues.

Getting the group back together for the first time in decades for the two-part finale was a delight for fans of the long-running nineties sitcom, however there was something missing - Uncle Phil.

Actor James Avery, who played the larger-than-life, sometimes short tempered but ultimately loving wealthy uncle of Will's character, died in 2013.

Remembering: Will Smith gathered the cast of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in an epic virtual reunion for the finale of his Snapchat series, Will at Home, and together the group shared an emotional tribute to to Uncle Phil actor James Avery

During the Snapchat episode, Will played a tribute video for the cast dedicated to Avery which included a mashup of some of his best moments on the show.

While the video played on half of the screen, fans were able to watch each of the cast members react to the clips in real time on the other half.

Clearly beloved and deeply missed, each of the actors welled up with tears and even enjoyed a few laughs as they watched clips of Avery with fondness.

When the video concluded Will said: 'That just makes me tearyJames Avery, James Avery, James Avery.'

Rest in peace: During the Snapchat episode, Will played a tribute video for the cast dedicated to Avery which included a mashup of some of his best moments on the show and viewers were able to watch each of the cast members react to the clips in real time

Looking back: During the minute or so that the video played, each of the actors welled up with tears and even enjoyed a few laughs as they watched with fondness their former co-star

With tears in her eyes, Daphne Reid, who played James' on screen wife Aunt Viv added: 'I loved that man.'

The entire cast who was on the digital call, Tatyana Ali, Alfonso RIbiero, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Karyn Parsons and Joseph Marcell each shed some tears while the video remembrance played.

Smith shared the tribute clip on Instagram with the caption: 'Our show wouldnt have been HALF what it was without the talent and light that was James Avery. We all love and miss you, James.'

Heartbreak: On New Year's Eve 2013, at the age of 68, Avery passed away suddenly due to complications from open-heart surgery (Avery pictured in 2005)

With tears in her eyes, Daphne Reid (pictured), who played James' on screen wife Aunt Viv added: 'I loved that man.'

On New Year's Eve 2013, at the age of 68, Avery passed away suddenly due to complications from open-heart surgery.

At the time, Smith had taken to his Facebook page to express his deep sadness at the loss writing: 'Some of my greatest lessons in Acting, Living and being a respectable human being came through James Avery. Every young man needs an Uncle Phil. Rest in Peace'

The two parts of the Will at Home finale dropped this Wednesday and Thursday and feature a nostalgic walk down memory lane for Smith as he reminisces with his old cast-mates about his star-making role.

At one point, Will recalled that it was because of Alfonso's advice that he decided to use his real name Will Smith for his character on the program.

Smith shared the tribute clip on Instagram with the caption: 'Our show wouldnt have been HALF what it was without the talent and light that was James Avery. We all love and miss you, James.'

It was such a deep insight that you had,' said Will. 'You said: "Because people are going to call you that for the rest of your life."'

Meanwhile DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will looked back with a laugh on the famous handshake they greeted each other with on the show.

'Any of you have a problem feeling stuck in the world expecting you to be your character?' Will asked his guests.

'I got really, really annoyed that everybody wanted to do the handshake,' said Jeff prompting a huge laugh from Will.

Getting the band back together: The Fresh Prince Of Bel-AIr cast virtually gathered together and had a reunion retrospective 30 years after they filmed the pilot

Amazing: The two parts of the Will at Home finale dropped this Wednesday and Thursday and feature a nostalgic walk down memory lane for Smith as he reminisces with his old cast-mates about his star-making role

'You would see in people's eyes when they were about to sneak the handshake and I would just grab their hand and hold it, so besides that I'm good,' Jeff shared.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air ran for 148 episodes across six seasons on NBC from 1990 through 1996 and turned Will into a major star.

Will's guests on his Snapchat series have ranged from supermodel Tyra Banks to Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The man found dead Wednesday in a grocery stores air ducts went missing eight days before an exterminator discovered his body, family said.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner on Thursday identified the man as Daniel Collins, 54. The medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death, but police said they found no obvious signs of violence and that Collins likely entered the air ducts on his own.

Collins lived in a home directly behind the Save A Lot grocery store on Kinsman Avenue and East 143rd Street, where his body was found, family said.

A store manager called an exterminator Wednesday morning after smelling a foul odor emanating from the air ducts, police said. The exterminator found the body and called police.

Collins brother, Albert Collins, said family members last saw his brother alive about 1 a.m. April 21.

Family members said Daniel Collins was a handyman and subcontractor who painted and fixed homes. He enjoyed working on cars, his niece Tameka Mills said.

Family members flocked to the area as Cleveland police and firefighters cut a large hole in the roof to access Daniel Collins body. Many stayed in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the body and asked officers if they could identify him at the scene.

Another of Collins brothers said he could see from an upstairs window of his brothers home what appeared to be his brothers jacket on the roof of the grocery store.

Daniel Collins had a criminal history of mostly low-level offenses, including one breaking-and-entering convictions in 2001.

Family members said he was considered somewhat of a black sheep of the family, but that he was beloved.

He was a ball of energy, Mills said. "He was the type of person who lived life to the fullest.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Man found dead inside Cleveland grocery stores air ducts, police say

Cleveland police investigating after dead body found at grocery store in Mount Pleasant neighborhood, police say

Man charged in accidental shooting that killed uncle during 25th birthday party in Cleveland
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the government to refund Rs733 crore to Vodafone Idea Ltd in a tax case related to the year ended March 2015 for which assessment has been completed but dismissed the companys plea seeking refunds for three years following that as scrutiny of tax filings is pending.

The refund for assessment year 2014-15 has to be issued within four weeks, directed the top court division bench comprising Justices Uday Umesh Lalit and Vineet Saran while hearing an appeal challenging a Delhi high court order of 14 December 2018 on tax refunds.

The high court had turned down an appeal filed by the company seeking a direction to the assessing officer for expeditious processing and issue of Rs4,759.74 crore refund for 2014-15 to 2017-18.

The plea was initially filed by Vodafone Mobile Services, which in August 2018 had merged with Idea Cellular to form Vodafone Idea, seeking refunds for the four assessment years.

While the refund claim of Rs 1,532 crore for 2014-15 was slashed by half after scrutiny, claim for a refund of Rs 1,355.51 crore for assessment year 2015-16 was rejected by the department in October and instead a demand for Rs 582 crore in tax was raised against the telecom operator.

Two months later, instead of a claim of Rs 1,128 crore for 2016-17, the scrutiny led to a demand notice of Rs 2,825 crore against the company. Scrutiny of the companys claim for a refund of Rs 743 crore for 2017-18 is pending.

The Supreme Court in its judgment did not give directions on the income tax departments demands as the requisite action is not even initiated.

Still, the latest judgement provides some relief to Vodafone Idea, which owes about Rs50,000 crore in licence fee and spectrum dues to the department of telecommunications after the Supreme Court in October upheld the governments definition of adjusted gross revenue, on which it calculates levies on telecom operators.

In the latest judgement, the top court upheld the high courts order on withholding Vodafone Ideas refunds pending scrutiny of assessments.

The court held that if an income tax return has been selected for detailed scrutiny in accordance with law, it shall not be necessary to process the return and grant refund to the taxpayer till the order is passed, according to Sumit Mangal, a partner at L&L Partners.

The apex court rejected the appeal filed by Vodafone Idea for refunds for assessment years 2014-15 to 2016-17, said Sandeep Chilana, managing partner at Chilana & Chilana Law Offices.

It is high time that the government looks at such long pending disputes with corporates and comes up with measures to resolve such litigations in a more efficient manner, especially in cases were huge amount of refunds are pending with the authorities, said Chilana.

The court directed the income tax department to conclude the proceedings in respect of assessment year 2016-17 and 2017-18 as early as possible.

This is sentimentally positive for Vodafone Idea as it is a cash-starved company and any little cash they get will help them stay afloat longer, but net-net there is no impact especially because with covid, there will be delayed recharges and this will hit their revenues, said Himanshu Shah, an analyst at Dolat Capital Markets.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the government to refund 733 crore to Vodafone Idea Ltd in a tax case related to the year ended March 2015 for which assessment has been completed but dismissed the companys plea seeking refunds of more than 2,100 crore for which scrutiny is pending.

The refund for assessment year 2014-15 has to be issued within four weeks, directed the top court division bench comprising Justices Uday Umesh Lalit and Vineet Saran, while hearing an appeal challenging a Delhi high court order of 14 December 2018 on tax refunds.

The high court had turned down an appeal filed by the company seeking a direction to the assessing officer for expeditious processing and issue of 4,759.74 crore refund for 2014-15 to 2017-18.

Still, the latest judgement provides some relief to Vodafone Idea, which owes about Rs50,000 crore in licence fee and spectrum dues to the department of telecommunications after the Supreme Court in October upheld the governments definition of adjusted gross revenue, on which it calculates levies on telecom operators.

In the latest judgement, the top court upheld the high courts order on withholding Vodafone Ideas refunds pending scrutiny of assessments.

The court held that if an income tax return has been selected for detailed scrutiny in accordance with law, it shall not be necessary to process the return and grant refund to the taxpayer till the order is passed, according to Sumit Mangal, a partner at L&L Partners.

The apex court rejected the appeal filed by Vodafone Idea for refunds for assessment years 2014-15 to 2016-17, said Sandeep Chilana, managing partner at Chilana & Chilana Law Offices.

It is high time that the government looks at such long pending disputes with corporates and comes up with measures to resolve such litigations in a more efficient manner, especially in cases were huge amount of refunds are pending with the authorities, said Chilana.

The court directed the income tax department to conclude the proceedings in respect of assessment year 2016-17 and 2017-18 as early as possible.

The companys claim for a refund of Rs 1,355.51 crore for assessment year 2015-16 was rejected by the department in 2018 and instead a demand for Rs 582 crore in tax was raised against the telecom operator.

The company had initially claimed around Rs 2,100 crore for 2016-17 and 2017-18, which would be looked at by the tax department.

This is sentimentally positive for Vodafone Idea as it is a cash-starved company and any little cash they get will help them stay afloat longer, but net-net there is no impact especially because with covid, there will be delayed recharges and this will hit their revenues, said Himanshu Shah, an analyst at Dolat Capital Markets.
BYD, a Chinese automaker with an assembly plant in L.A. County, agreed to make 200 million masks a month for California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has said, though details of the deal are under wraps. (Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)

The first shipment of protective masks purchased from a Chinese company by advisors to Gov. Gavin Newsom arrived in California over the weekend, part of a still-confidential agreement costing California taxpayers almost $1 billion.

Newsom briefly mentioned the delivery in his remarks Wednesday on the state's coronavirus response, and it was later confirmed by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. In all, the state received some 3 million surgical masks made by BYD, a company known for building electric vehicles with an assembly plant in Los Angeles County.

The masks "arrived on Saturday night, got into the state warehouse on Sunday, started getting distributed to 18 specific sites yesterday," Newsom said. "And as more protective gear comes in, more quickly, we'll get it out."

Newsom has said BYD agreed to make 200 million masks a month for California, a contract that runs through the end of June at a total cost of $990 million. Most of those will be N95 masks, highly sought by emergency responders and healthcare workers. The contract reportedly calls for 150 million N95 masks. Those that arrived Saturday on a flight from China to Los Angeles were traditional surgical masks, of which the state expects to receive 50 million.

The exact details of the lucrative contract have been kept under wraps since the governor revealed its existence during an interview with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on April 7. The following day, The Times asked for the agreement and the details of the purchase, a request has not yet been fulfilled by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Administration officials have declined to tell anyone, including members of the Legislature, exactly how much each mask is costing the state.

Three million masks made by Chinese electric-car maker BYD arrived in California this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. (California Governor's Office of Emergency Services)

In two separate public hearings, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have criticized the secrecy surrounding the BYD contract. The same night that Newsom touted the deal on national television, administration officials asked the Legislature's joint budget committee for permission to waive an existing 72-hour rule to spend $495 million for a first installment on the purchase. On Monday, officials told lawmakers a $104.7-million payment was due  bringing the total paid to BYD's healthcare supply subsidiary to $599.7 million.

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BYD launched its effort to enter the protective mask-making business in March. Though the products are being made in China, the partnership with the state involves the company's California subsidiary  the operator of a vehicle assembly plant in Lancaster that was awarded a $3-million state tax credit in 2015.

"This is an organization that has a manufacturing capability that is specifically designed to meet this need. And this is a great partnership because it is a California-based company," said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, on April 8.

State officials have insisted that the undisclosed contract requires the N95 masks made by BYD to first be approved for effectiveness by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. A BYD spokesman said Wednesday that the certification could come as soon as the end of the week and that the first shipment of surgical masks was slightly ahead of schedule.

Communities across California have an urgent need for masks and other protective gear. On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the city will purchase 24 million N95 masks from North Carolina manufacturer Honeywell. The first 100,000 masks in that order are expected to arrive in May and will cost 79 cents each, Garcetti said.

The cost per mask of those made by BYD could be much higher. State officials have declined for more than three weeks to provide additional details, citing concerns that the masks could somehow be commandeered by an outside entity during the process of delivering them to California.

Newsom hinted at the first installment of BYD masks in three successive public events this week but never mentioned the company by name. On Wednesday, he said the masks will be a key component of California's pandemic response.

"We recognize the totality of the need is in the tens of millions," he said. "And that's why we went forward with a rather substantial procurement."
Song Hye Kyo's heart-stopping beauty once again graced a magazine cover - Elle Singapore! The actress is slated to bless our eyes through the magazine's May issue.

In the stills released, Song Hye Kyo looks breathtaking with her piercingly deep and appealing gaze. The photos were taken with warm tones and bright light in the background that highlights her tender features. In an interview, the actress discussed her successful career and gave thanks to her viewers, fans, and as well as co-workers for giving her so much love and support.

Song Hye Kyo also shared that she thinks she has been very fortunate to be able to work with amazing productions ever since she was young, and luckily, those productions are all performing well. She's thankful for receiving a lot of love from so many people and said that they are the reason why the actress is where she is today.

Song Hye Kyo also did a fashion film for the luxury brand Bottega Veneta in early April. She also shared some facts about herself in this fashion film, titled Bottega Veneta's Summer/Spring 2020 collection is "La Donna Che Amiamo" or "The Woman We Love." She answered some questions through a voiceover.

When asked to choose between mornings or late nights, the beautiful celebrity said that she personally enjoys late nights since she feels like she can make most out of her free time alone during this time.

The next question was, "When do you feel most like yourself?" Song Hye Kyo responded that it's during the time when she eats and has a conversation with the people she loves dearly. It around this time that she can express her natural self.

And lastly, she was asked for something that has stayed the same since she was young, wherein Song Hye Kyo revealed that her personal relationships with people closest to her never changed. She added that the people she has been with when she was younger are still by her side up until this very moment.

Song Hye Kyo was born on November 22, 1981. She became a prominent star in Asia through her leading roles in television dramas, such as "Autumn in My Heart" (2000), "All In" (2003), "Full House" (2004), "That Winter, the Wind Blows" (2013), "Descendants of the Sun" (2016), and "Encounter" (2018). She also starred in films, namely "Hwang Jin Yi" (2007), "The Grandmaster" (2013), "My Brilliant Life" (2014), and "The Queens" (2015).

Song Hye Kyo proved her enormous fame when she ranked 7th in Forbes magazine's Korea Power Celebrity list in 2017, and 6th in 2018. She established her status as a top Hallyu star because of her success in television dramas that spread internationally.

In 2016, the actress starred in the mega-hit romantic comedy series "Descendants of the Sun." This drama was when Song Hye Kyo was reestablished as the leader of Hallyu and also topped the hall of fame polls in Asia. She took home the Daesang (Grand Prize), which is the highest award at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards, along with her leading man and now-ex-husband, actor Song Joong Ki.
A Brooklyn man has been arrested on federal charges after prosecutors say he stole more than $12,000 in coronavirus stimulus checks from mailboxes.

According to a criminal complaint, 31-year-old Feng Chen was arrested on Tuesday in the Sunset Park neighborhood after police officers observed him looking inside a medical collection bin at a closed doctor's office.

Chen then was seen walking to a nearby residential building and examining mail left at the door, stated a press release from the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announcing the suspect's arrest.

Scroll down for video

Feng Chen, 31, has been charged with a federal count of mail theft for allegedly stealing stimulus checks in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn

Chen was arrested on Tuesday after police allegedly caught him in the act on 7th Avenue

His next stop was the gated area of another building. Shortly after, Chen was spotted carrying what appeared to be mail.

When the suspect noticed the cops, he reportedly dropped the envelopes in his hand on the sidewalk.

At that moment, police got out of their unmarked vehicle and 'observed a bulge in Chen's jacket pocket.'

When officers searched Chen, they recovered multiple checks, nine Economic Impact Payments from the US Treasury totaling more than $12,000, credit cards, opened envelopes and letters bearing different names and addresses.

Under questionings, Chen initially claimed he was delivering food to someone in the building, then that he was waiting for someone he knew in the building, and finally that he lived there himself.

When police searched Chen's name and date of birth on an NYPD database, they learned that he had an open bench warrant in Manhattan involving a charge of identity theft.

Chen was found to be in possession of nine stimulus checks issued by the US Treasury, along with credit cards (stock image)

Investigators have spoken to the intended recipients of two of the stimulus checks and both confirmed that Chen did not have their permission to take their mail.

'For many families, these stimulus checks are a lifeline in these difficult times and anyone who tries to cut that lifeline will face the full weight of the law,' stated US Attorney Donoghue. 'This Office will vigorously prosecute all those who seek to take advantage of the public health crisis. I commend the NYPD police officers for their truly outstanding work and service under difficult conditions.'

If convicted of stealing mail, Chen could face up to five years in prison.
If youre spending too much time daydreaming about traveling, Sicily is ready for you to book your trip.

Visit Sicily will be offering vouchers to cover half of flight costs, a third of hotel expenses and free tickets to multiple museums and archaeological sites, Evening Standard reported.

The island has lost $1.09 billion in tourism-related revenue during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Insider.

Although, the deal could be costing the island 50 million euros, Insider reports, the goal is to get people traveling again after the pandemic.

Its not clear when the voucher will be released. Italy plans to start reopening starting May 4 by allowing restaurants to open takeout services.

As if you need more of a reason to go, the island has white sandy beaches, lots of history and is a great spot for foodies.

But if you cant wait Visit Sicily is bringing the island to your home.

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David A. Shomar, of Manlius, has written about the Middle East and human rights.

By David A. Shomar | Special to Syracuse.com

The coronavirus pandemic has taught us some lessons, showed us our commonality and revealed the strength of united effort.

It has shown us inescapable truths about our fellow citizens and the foundation of our economy. Our heroic medical professionals have great value. So do the farmers who grow our food, the truckers who transport it and the grocery staffers who stock it and sell it. We see how postal workers, delivery persons and garbage collectors are essential. The custodians who scrub and swab and disinfect are essential. So are caregivers, police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel. So much of this work is described as blue collar. Too many of the rich and powerful treat the people in all of these jobs as disposable. Yet society itself has deemed these jobs as essential.

Thats because they are essential.

We have an economic system and a political system that routinely ignore that fact. These systems have ignored the real-life issues we citizens face  day in and day out, not just during a pandemic. These systems have atrophied and, in fact, work against ordinary citizens. These systems no longer work to promote for the general welfare as attested to in our foundational Constitution. Nor do they allow for the pursuit of happiness enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

Instead, our economic system purchased our political system and usurped our rights and our responsibilities. It made us mere consumers who bargained away our standing for cheaper products. This system turned us into a polluting, throwaway society. Too often it was people being thrown away. This system no longer harnessed self-interest and free enterprise for the good of all. Instead, it elevated the efficiency of capital at the expense of citizens.

Its no wonder Americans became angry and divided. Its no wonder they turned to politicians who, in reality, were already bought and controlled by powerful and unseen forces.

Ask people on either side of the political divide why they are angry, and they will describe a political system that became subject to the very wealthy and unresponsive to the citizenry. That happens little by little, almost imperceptibly, until a tipping point occurs. It finally becomes obvious when, for example, institutions like the Supreme Court of the United States elevate corporations to the status of citizens and equate money with citizens free speech. Thats when the political and economic systems seem rigged. It no longer seems like liberty and justice for all.

It takes a moment like the pandemic to reveal that a weak and unresponsive government that we can drown in a bathtub does not promote our welfare. In fact, its weakness is a danger to our standard of living and to the very lives of people we love.

Our political system tells us time and time again that the corporations are the job creators and that masters of Wall Street know best. Pandemic 2020 came and unmasked the truth. The so-called job creators depend on everyone else. When an economic catastrophe takes place, we eventually learn root causes lie with mismanagement, with machinations of financial institutions, and with the greed of a wealthy elite that bought the political elite and prevented our government from defending and promoting the general welfare.

Those catastrophes soon reveal the true concerns of the economic elite as relayed to us by the political elite. Overnight, these politicians find trillions of dollars of our money to save the wealth of the wealthy.

When citizens want similar protections, these same politicians proclaim there is no money. Money to promote the general welfare? A living wage? A clean and safe environment with air we can breathe and water we can drink? Thats when the politicians tell us it would harm the so-called job creators and that we must tighten our belts. Citizens, small business owners, family farmers, factory workers, truck drivers, caregivers, nurses, grocery stockers and workers of every kind are told to fend for themselves. But not the controllers of the economic system. They are coddled, protected and further enriched with our money.

Without all those citizens, big business cannot function and will not survive. The same is true for our society. When the rights and needs of citizens are diminished, when the definition of who is essential is turned on its head, when our general welfare is no longer the focus of government, it is time to re-align our economic and political structures to once again serve we the people. Lets get to work.

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Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: - Maldives reports first death - The Maldives reported its first coronavirus fatality Thursday with the death of an 83-year-old woman, as the Indian Ocean holiday hotspot extended a nationwide lockdown. Health minister Abdulla Ameen said the woman died on Wednesday in hospital. She had been under home quarantine since coming into contact with another Maldivian patient. There have now been 280 confirmed cases since the virus was first detected on March 7. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday extended the country's two-week lockdown by two weeks after the number of infections rose sharply in the densely populated capital, Male. The shutting of the lucrative tourism industry in the nation of 340,000 people has taken a heavy toll on the economy. - Chinese workers barred from entering Indonesia - About 500 Chinese workers have been blocked from entering Indonesia over fears they could be carrying the coronavirus even though they had permits to enter the country. They were due to work at a nickel smelter in Marosi, southeast Sulawesi, but the governor rejected their arrival. Authorities also refused permission to dock to a Chinese vessel carrying 1,500 cement pipes destined for the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Aceh. The 18 crew members from China and Vietnam have been stranded onboard for a month and are reportedly running out of food and clean water. - Social distancing on wheels in India - An Indian school drop-out has built a motorbike with a one-metre gap between the rider and the passenger to drive home the importance of social distancing. Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bike from a scrap dealer, removed the engine and cut the machine in two, before modifying the frame to create the extra length "Now I can ride with my eight-year-old daughter while maintaining a safe distance," he told AFP from Agartala in the northeastern state of Tripura. Saha's new bike runs on battery power and has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). - Australia's capital 'virus-free' - Health officials declared Australia's capital free of the virus while the country's Northern Territory announced the most comprehensive easing of restrictions in the nation. Canberra and its surrounding areas were said to be rid of the disease after two patients recovered overnight. The city, home to about 427,000 people, had recorded 106 cases and three deaths from COVID-19 before eliminating all known active infections by Thursday. Restaurants, bars, cafes, libraries, gyms and beauty salons in the Northern Territory, meanwhile, will be allowed to reopen from Saturday, though physical distancing rules will still apply. The huge rural territory closed its borders to interstate and overseas travellers on March 23, and has remained largely free of the virus with just 28 cases and no deaths recorded. - ANZ profits dive - Australia's ANZ Bank announced a 50-percent dive in after-tax profits as the lender set aside Aus$1 billion ($655 million) to cover expected losses resulting from the coronavirus fallout. It also deferred a decision on its interim dividend amid ongoing uncertainty about the economic outlook. burs-axn/fox
To wrap up our April content feature on radio and podcasts, I interviewed radio industry veteran Lance Rothschild on his newly launched radio awards programme.

Radio industry veteren Lance Rothschild and founder of the newly launched Lalela Radio Awards.

How did you come up with the name, Lalela Radio Awards?

How is it (going to be) different to the Radio Awards?

Comment on your partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters.

What strides have you made in terms of sponsorship?

What were some of the challenges in starting the programme?

You told The Media Online that you will be moving the timing of the awards to be better attuned to the needs of the industry and more aligned to the industrys contract season from a workflow perspective. When are the 2020 awards taking place, and why do you believe this to be the case?

Where will the gala event take place?

When is the presentation roadshow scheduled to take place?

You posted on Facebook that radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a societys experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organisations and operations. Why do you believe its important that radio stations uphold diversity, both in their newsrooms and on the airwaves?

Comment on the current state of radio and podcasting.

Rothschild no longer heads up the Radio Awards, managed by Arena Events, due to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between his company and Tiso Blackstar having terminated at the end of April 2019. It was then that he set about pursuing various other sponsors for a radio awards event. "With no remuneration and at risk, I determined to run my own radio awards programme with a view to the programme being beneficial to the industry and contributing financially to the NAB."I asked him to tell us more about the new programme set to take place in September and why he believes it's important that radio stations uphold diversity, both in their newsrooms and on the airwaves...Lalela is the Zulu word for listen and the entire ethos of the radio awards programme is to promote, acknowledge and reward radio that compels people to listen. I did some research on the name and it found favour across a broad spectrum of the industry.The programme is similar in nature to other radio awards programmes around the world, but with customised local elements.A key differentiator will be in the way the title sponsors marketing and communication strategy will be leveraged through the awards programme.There is no official partnership with the NAB, however, on initially establishing a new radio awards programme, I decided that the NAB should benefit financially from this programme, and ultimately own the awards. I attribute this to several discussions with a former colleague, who still plays an important role within a commercial station and who has always felt that the awards should collectively belong to the industry.In the USA and in the UK, the Radio Industry Body (the RAB in this instance) runs the awards on behalf of the industry, thus making the awards an industry-wide programme, endorsed by the industry.Securing sponsorship has been exceptionally challenging in the present market environment. Notwithstanding this, I am engaging with several organisations who are looking at this as a potential sponsorship and marketing platform.I have successfully built the radio awards in South Africa, and logistically I have the ability to create all the systems required to run a radio awards programme (entry and adjudication).At present, the planning is for the 2020 Lalela Radio Awards to take place in September. This allows for entries to include material that is broadcast after the typical contractual musical chairs that takes place in April as the entry window includes material broadcast up to the end of June. The relevance of this is that the winners of the 2020 Awards will be broadcasters who actually broadcast material in 2020. Discussions with various people within the industry revealed that the end of January deadline was too pressing for people who had just returned from leave with a highly-pressured workflow. The discussions also revealed that the industry would prefer the awards later in the year as this would ensure that their line-ups were established, contracted and a reflection of their brands.We are still in discussion with various venues and we will also take the sponsors requirements into account. There are several venues that would like to host the awards at this stage and we are reviewing all options.The presentation roadshow will only take place once the sponsorship is secured and the programme is established. The roadshow will not only promote the awards but will provide insights and training to the industry  with the possible inclusion of certain industry stakeholders.In the pre-democratic era, the government-controlled the broadcasting environment and thus controlled the messaging that the listeners received. The lack of diversity of voices and choices meant that the content was controlled and manipulated to ensure that only state-approved propaganda was disseminated.In the democratic era, radio serves to create a broader debate and to air a diversity of opinions that better serve the listening constituency. Furthermore, the access to more information and the breadth of opinions serves to promote political accountability as listeners can hold public officials to account through a broader access to the media.The overall standard of the South African radio industry is quite high, however, Icasa should review the frequency spectrum allocation and increase competition, particularly in the commercial radio environment. This would serve a listening audience a whole lot better and would ensure that programming and content would be more compelling and competitive. It will challenge the status quo within the industry, but the ultimate winners would be the listeners. In addition, it would create more jobs  something our economy sorely needs.Podcasting is rapidly growing in South Africa with the number of downloads increasing substantially on a monthly basis. Whilst the bulk of the material presently being accessed is re-purposed radio material, there is substantial growth in the area of podcast-specific content being curated and created. I dont think that podcasting will replace radio listening, but an increasingly hungry audience will seek material to satisfy their information needs through podcasting channels.Podcasting has the potential to create many more employment opportunities in the coming period and the sector needs an awards programme to cast a spotlight on the excellent content available and to set standards for ever-improving achievement.
South African anti-apartheid activist Denis Goldberg has died at his home near Cape Town, aged 87.

Goldberg was a prominent member of the now-ruling African National Congress and stood trial alongside Nelson Mandela. He spent 22 years in prison for his involvement with the ANC's fight against apartheid, the racist system of oppression imposed by the white minority government.

When his fellow accused were sent to Robben Island, as a white prisoner Goldberg was separated from them and imprisoned in the capital, Pretoria.

Goldberg's niece, Joy Noero, said the liberation stalwart died peacefully Wednesday after having lung cancer and diabetes.

Goldberg had continued his activism in post-apartheid South Africa and was a critic of former president Jacob Zuma, who stepped down in 2018 and faces multiple allegations of corruption.

Goldberg was a critic of the ANC's performance in government and the socio-economic conditions of the largely black poor majority in South Africa, one of the world's' most unequal countries.

Tributes poured in Thursday for Goldberg, with many acknowledging the role he played in the fight against apartheid.

His commitment to ethical leadership was unflinching and even during his advanced age he formed part of the movement of veterans of the struggle calling for reassertion of moral center of society,



President Cyril Ramaphosa said. We will hold him in our thoughts and prayers as we say farewell at a time when we are not allowed to gather in numbers to say our goodbyes. He was a member of a generation of leadership which shaped the country's history in profound ways, said Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive Sello Hatang.

The ANC also paid tribute to Goldberg, saying his was a life well-lived in the struggle for freedom in SA. We will miss him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A move by the House of Representatives to repeal the Quarantine Act and enact the Control of Infectious Diseases bill stirred controversy on Thursday.

The bill, which scaled second reading before it was stood down on Tuesday, has 82 sections.

Sponsored by House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the bill seeks to strengthen the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and make it more proactive and not just reactive and function when there is an outbreak.

The piece of legislation seeks to empower the president, the minister of health as well as the director-general of NCDC, and the institutions they head, to make regulations on quarantining, vaccination and prevention of infectious diseases in Nigeria.

Mr Gbajabiamila, while presenting the bill, said the Quarantine Act provides a penalty of N500 for defaulters, but the new bill proposes a penalty of between N200,000 and N5 million as well as jail terms.

While some members of the House backed the bill, some called for caution and asked for time before giving it further consideration.

Some of the members who opposed the bill said they did so as they had not seen or read it.

I have not seen the bill and I have asked some colleagues around here and they have not either, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) noted.

READ ALSO:

I do not know if the bill compels states to establish centres for emergencies, I do not know if the bill makes it compulsory for palliatives measures under such circumstances.

To the observations, Mr Gbajabiamila apologised, but insisted that tough times require tough measures. The bill was later withdrawn.

Other provisions of the bill

Just as possession of the yellow fever card is mandatory to move from one country to another, the bill seeks to make similar provisions for international travellers leaving or arriving in Nigeria.

By this, travellers are expected to have undergone vaccination or other prophylaxis against all or any of the diseases as may be prescribed.

This means they are to produce valid international certificates of vaccination or other prophylaxis to authorities before travelling.

Controversy

Nigerians have raised varying concerns about the bill on Twitter. While some welcomed some provisions of the bill, many of the commentators on the microblogging site opposed it.

Those who opposed the bill see it as draconian as its section 48 proposes that the director-general of the NCDC may by order direct unvaccinated persons to undergo vaccination or other prophylaxis within such period as may be specified in the order.

Also, sections 55 and 56 of the bill say the DG of NCDC and the police may at any time without warrant enter, inspect and search any premises or conveyance where a suspected outbreak has taken place.

Others noted that the wording of the bill has a striking semblance with Singapores Infectious Diseases Act of 1976, which was introduced under the dictatorship of Lee Kuan Yew.

The DG of NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, while commenting on the bill Thursday, said while he takes the propositions in good faith, he would advise against a rushed legislation during this time of crisis.

Having been withdrawn, the bill is now up for reintroduction on another legislative day. If it is passed by the House, it will be subject to the Senates concurrence as well the presidents assent before it becomes law.

Below are some of the tweets by Nigerians:

https://twitter.com/OvieSheikh/status/1255838589985964032?s=20

https://twitter.com/cliqik/status/1255873589347266560?s=20

Lol You better not offend the minister, lest your house be turned into an isolation center for "as long as he pleases".

The DG NCDC can also authorize the destruction of your goods. All this power at their discretion to be excercised if you're "SUSPECTED" #StoptheNCDCBill pic.twitter.com/dX6wC9PC8M  MAYOR OF ZION (IG:@THE_AUXESIS) (@lordzoey360) April 30, 2020

As if the oppression Nigerians face isnt enough. Lets give a non-elected government official near absolute power then sneak in a clause shielding him from accountability #StoptheNCDCBill pic.twitter.com/UQKpo8KWUe  sunday school dropout (@oakburitto) April 30, 2020

A Bill just passed it's 1st and 2nd hearing in a space of 2hours? A Bill that ceases the liberty of Nigerian citizens and allows NCDC to forcefully allow the injection of vaccines? And you people are still on tik-tok?

#StoptheNCDCBill pic.twitter.com/6TBBJsLnWh  KVNG_FIT (@Gididre) April 30, 2020

Imagine even the NCDC Director thinks there should be room for good debate before the passage of this bill. That times like this should not be when there should be passage or discussion of such bills. Morale of the story: NCDC not consulted on this bill. #StoptheNCDCBill  Okus17 (@MicOkus17) April 30, 2020

The bill violates-

The Right to Life;

To Personal Liberty;

Freedom from Degrading and Inhumane Treatment:

Right to Personal and Family Life

Right to Privacy

The Right to Acquire and Own Property

Freedom of Movement;

The Freedom of Religion#stoptheNCDCbill  Hephzibah Christly #theSpiritualWarrior (@Hefzibuh) April 30, 2020

https://mobile.twitter.com/Thereal_s_o_g/status/1255856001640796161

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https://mobile.twitter.com/Atiprince_A/status/1255860444549562369

https://mobile.twitter.com/wema_b/status/1255885359721963522

https://mobile.twitter.com/KfCuteOne/status/1255862355994587138
MANILA, Philippines  The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has defended the police officer involved in a clash with a foreigner in Dasmarinas Village in Makati City, saying the cop acted according to established police protocols.

Amid all the buzz and trial by publicity going around this incident, we stand with Police Senior Master Sergeant Roland Madrona since he did his job properly. The incident was handled in accordance with established police protocols. He was just doing his job, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Ano also said Madrona acted by the book when he made the arrest and should not be judged solely by the video circulating online as there were a lot more going on prior to the shooting of the video.



In the case of our police officer, Police Senior Master Sergeant Mardona, he did his job well and ipaglalaban ko yan kahit mababang ranggo ng pulis, paglalaban natin yan, he said in a media interview.



They were on the street, and he [Madrona] was already doing the arrest that led in front of the house. Its allowed by the law, its called hot pursuit, even if the guy went inside the house, if youre arresting somebody, youre allowed by law, he added.

Madrona was conducting a patrol in the village, together with Bantay Bayan personnel Esteban Gaan when he noticed Parras house helper, Cherilyn Escalante, watering the plants outside without wearing a face mask.

Madrona claimed he politely approached and advised the maid to wear a face mask for her safety.

The helper then went inside the house, but minutes later, Parra and his wife, Abegail Salvador went out of their residence and confronted the police officer.

In the now viral video, Parra can be seen and heard throwing foul words at the cop, and supposedly lectured him on how to implement the quarantine protocols.

The foreigner also allegedly shouted at Madrona to get off his property.

Story continues

The cop tried to arrest the furious foreigner, but Parra evaded and went inside his house.

Madrona and the Makati City Police have already filed complaints against Parra on Tuesday.

Ano said that in incidents like this it is always the easiest to judge a certain situation by referencing a video, but we cannot pass a verdict na iyon lamang ang ating pinagbabasehan. Full investigation must ensue so that we can consider all the other evidences and eyewitness accounts.

The Philippine National Police has ordered an investigation into the matter.



Ano assured that the probe will be done with complete impartiality and due process.

I am the chairman of the National Police Commission and I dismissed more than 2,000 police officers for various offenses and abuses of authority. I wont let any policeman abuse and use his position to hurt others, he said.

Meanwhile, Ano reminded the public that during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), enforcement of the law is stricter as a public health measure to contain the transmission of COVID-19, even the simplest wearing of mask must be adhered to.

The post DILGs Ano defends cop in clash with foreigner in Makati village appeared first on UNTV News.
Despite US sanctions, 6.8 million barrels of oil are en route to Syria, which will help Iran who has been struggling with a drop in demand from China writes Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

A large convoy of Iranian vessels were detected approaching Syrias Baniyas port on Tuesday, according to a maritime group which monitors the movement of oil tankers.

They were allegedly carrying a staggering 6.8 million barrels of oil, the Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) have estimated.

Despite US sanctions on Tehran, the Syrian regime has received roughly 2 million barrels of crude from staunch regional ally Iran every month since May 2019. In recent weeks, that figure has increased threefold, according to Tanker Trackers.

China  Irans biggest oil customer  heavily cut imports in January and February, Radio Farda report, as the country dedicated its national efforts to controlling the coronavirus pandemic. Within that period, Syria took Chinas place to become Irans largest oil importer.

Analysts believe the reasons behind this are two-fold. While exporting group OPEC agreed to cut output by almost 10 million barrels a days from May. To shore up markets amid the global oil glut, Iran had little option other than to store its excess oil  already subject to US sanctions  in a friendly country.

The close ties Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad enjoys with the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group would have also provided ample opportunities to gain access to the black market.

In March however, there was a bounce back in Chinese demand, reaching over 625,000 barrels per day from Iran, petroleum pricing news site Oilprice report. As the crisis has largely subsided in China, it now seeks to build its crude reserves by taking advantage of record-low oil prices, despite finite storage space.

According to IMF estimates, Iran will be able to export 340,000 barrels a day in 2020, compared to the peak of 2.5 million prior to US sanctions. This will deal a further blow to Irans already crippling economy, leading to billions of dollars of budget deficit and greater shortages of foreign currency.

Daily production in Iran stands 2 million barrels, 1.8 million of which are reserved for domestic consumption, leaving 200,000 barrels to export, according to OPEC reports. However, the more pressing issue for Iran is its 100 million barrels of unsold oil.

Last week, WTI prices  the general index for US oil  bounced back after falling into negative territory amid global output cuts and rising tension between Washington and Tehran.

US President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boats that harassed American ships in the Gulf, prompting the Islamic Republics Revolutionary Guards to warn 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.

Gibraltar seized an Iranian tanker heading to Syria last year, sparking a diplomatic war between Iran and the UK, which controls the city state.

The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Mrs. Hamburger was one of the most popular residents in her community. Read more

People Weve Lost Ethel Hamburger

92 years old

Lived in Elkins Park

A dozen men proposed to her, and Irv was the big winner More Memorials

There were Larry and Sam, Sidney and Fred, Marvin, Melvin, and Norm.

These were just some of the suitors for the heart of Ethel Jacobson, who rejected 10 marriage proposals before she said yes in 1954 to Irvin Hamburger.

And even after she and Irv had four children, another man was so smitten with Ethel that he asked for her hand. No thanks.

 Video: Ethel Hamburger tells the story of all those marriage proposals

Ethel Hamburger, who grew up in the Midwest before moving to Elkins Park in 1993, died from complications of COVID-19 on Thursday, April 23. She had just turned 92.

Irv, who died in 2014, was an engineer whose accomplishments included designing the hangar for Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews. He used to call his wife the Queen.

They were living in West Virginia in the 1970s when Mrs. Hamburger came across a boy with a tattered old book he had read nine times. It was the only book he had, his mother told Mrs. Hamburger.

Inspired, Mrs. Hamburger went on a book drive that conjures up images of a scene in The Shawshank Redemption. She collected 12,000 books, started a library, and persuaded Sen. Jay Rockefeller to attend the dedication.

She was an educator all her life, saying succinctly: I didnt teach a subject. I taught children.

Every person I meet I try to make feel good about themselves." Ethel Hamburger, 2010

Mrs. Hamburger was one of the popular residents at the Wesley Enhanced Living center. Shortly after arriving she helped organize a party for a dozen of her new friends, all of whom were turning 100. One man was so touched he called it one of the best days of my life.

Mrs. Hamburger was friends with the late Inquirer columnist Bill Lyon and in 2010 started a 5K run/walk to help raise money for a special wing at Wesley to treat dementia. Not bad for an 82-year old.

She was very much a leader, said Arielle Cohen, one of Mrs. Hamburgers seven grandchildren. She wasnt just a member of an organization, she had to be president. She had to be on the board. She really wanted to make a difference and a mark on everything she touched.

In addition to her grandchildren, Mrs. Hamburger is survived by children, Pamela, Mitchell, Evan, and Melanie, and three great-grandchildren.

 Ed Barkowitz
London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's life has always had a you-can't-make-this-up quality to it, never more so than this month, when he went from desperate coronavirus patient, kept alive by oxygen, to the proud father of a baby boy.

In a photo issued by 10 Downing Street of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson arriving back at Downing Street from hospital after the birth of his baby son with his partner Carrie Symonds in London. Credit:AP

The announcement by Johnson and his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, that she gave birth to a healthy baby at a London hospital on Wednesday added a joyful milestone to a year of dizzying highs and lows: an election victory, a divorce, an engagement and a life-threatening illness  not to mention Brexit and a world-altering pandemic, which has killed more than 26,000 people in the country Johnson leads.

The latest twist in the Boris chronicles deprived political commentators of an important, if less anticipated moment: the Prime Minister's first scheduled face-off in Parliament with the Labour Party's new leader, Keir Starmer, at a time when the government's handling of the virus has come under intense fire.

Johnson, who returned to work on Monday, skipped the session because of his son's birth. Starmer raised difficult questions about the rising death toll and the lack of testing or protective masks for health workers, but he prefaced them with congratulations to Johnson, 55, and Symonds, 32, who also suffered symptoms of the virus but was reported to be healthy.
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke over phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, with both sides expressing commitment to beefing up cooperation to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Li said that in the face of the global spread of the epidemic, China and the European Union (EU) have been supporting and helping each other.

Under the current circumstances, China is ready to join hands with the EU to carry forward the spirit of solidarity and boost exchanges and cooperation on the prevention and control of the epidemic as well as on economic recovery, Li said.

China hopes that the EU will continue to provide security guarantee for the Chinese nationals in Europe, he said.

Li pointed out that the virus knows no borders, and both China and the EU advocate multilateralism.

The EU has responded positively to the initiatives of the United Nations and the World Health Organization to carry out international cooperation in combating the epidemic, Li said.

China is ready to work with the EU to actively participate in the research, development and production of vaccines, drugs and diagnostic reagents and provide support to those places where the public health systems are weak, he said.

The Chinese premier expects the international community to make joint efforts and overcome the epidemic at an early date.

Von der Leyen, for her part, said since the COVID-19 outbreak, the EU and China have maintained close coordination to tide over the difficulties.

The response to the global pandemic requires the solidarity and coordination of all countries in the world, she said.

The EU stands ready to reinforce cooperation with China to fight against the epidemic jointly, restore economic development gradually and carry out international cooperation on the research and development of vaccines and drugs, she added.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Rohan Patil

Benchmark Index Nifty formed an ascending triangle pattern breakout on the daily time frame on April 29.

After a short consolidation, it has given a breakout and looks geared for its next leg of the up move.

The 21-day exponential moving average acted like a sheet anchor for the index as Nifty didn't breach the moving average and continued to close above it.

Last week's bearish Dark Cloud Cover candlestick pattern was neglected by a sharp positive surge in the benchmark index.

We believe 9,400 will act as support and Nifty is likely to march towards 9,800 in the coming trading session. The beach of 9,400 will drag Nifty to 9,200  9,000 levels.

Bank Nifty has formed a smaller degree Rounding Bottom Pattern on the daily charts. The state-run banks are yet to particulate in the current rally of banking index.

The majority of state-run banks are trading at an extremely oversold zone and a sudden positive spike in these banks cannot be ruled out in the coming trading sessions.

Bank Nifty is likely to take the support of its 21-day exponential moving average which is placed around 20,400 level on the daily chart.

Bank Nifty, on the daily chart, seems to have completed its intermediate third wave at 16,116 and currently, we are on the fourth wave which is in a zigzag formation.

Due to recent up move, the key technical indicators and oscillators have turned slightly in the favour of bulls on the weekly interval, which is a positive sign for the index.

Here are three stock recommendations for the next 3-4 weeks:

Bank of Baroda (BoB) | Buy | LTP: Rs 47.90 | Target price: Rs 55 | Stop loss: Rs 44.50 | Upside: 15%

Shares of Bank of Baroda have formed a bullish ABCD Harmonic pattern on the daily time frame and is currently trading near its potential reversal zone (PRZ) level.

The counter seems to have taken a lot of beating in an ongoing bear market. Momentum Oscillator RSI (14) is currently reading below 25 levels on weekly and daily intervals.

Bullish Harmonic pattern and oversold reading in oscillator indicate sharp oversold rally in the counter in the coming days.

Traders can accumulate the stock in the range of Rs 47.80  48.40.

Deepak Nitrite | Buy | LTP: Rs 510 | Target price: Rs 570 | Stop loss: Rs 470 | Upside: 12%

After a short consolidation, the stock is again geared for its next leg of the up move. On April 29, the stocks witnessed a Bullish Pole Flag Pattern and are looking to accelerate on the higher side.

Momentum oscillator RSI (14) is reading above 60 levels on the weekly chart with positive crossover on the cards.

Currently, the stock is trading above its trend line support, sustaining above its 21 and 50-days EMA on a daily interval.

Traders can accumulate the stock in the range of Rs 504 - 511.

Asian Paints | Sell | LTP: Rs 1,775 | Target price: Rs 1,640 | Stop loss: Rs 1,850 | Downside: 8%

Shares of Asian Paints have formed a Bearish BAT Harmonic pattern on the daily time frame and is currently trading below its potential reversal zone (PRZ) level.

The counter was constantly outperforming benchmark index in recent days. Currently, the stock seems to have overextended its rally and profit-booking at the current level cannot be ruled out.

Momentum Oscillator RSI (14) has witnessed a negative crossover on April 29 due to a sharp price cut, which is an early indication of profit-booking in the counter.

Traders can short the stock in the range of Rs 1,760-1,775.

(The author is a technical analyst at Bonanza Portfolio)

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
The Sensex surged 997 points while the Nifty reclaimed the 9,850-level on Thursday as short-covering on expiry of F&O contracts and encouraging results from a COVID-19 drug trial in the US turbocharged sentiment.

Rising for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex settled 997.46 points or 3.05 per cent higher at 33,717.62.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty soared 306.55 points, or 3.21 per cent, to 9,859.90.

Global markets shrugged off US GDP contraction data after American pharma firm Gilead's remdesivir drug showed promising results in treating COVID-19 patients.

Further, a strengthening rupee and rising buzz of another stimulus package by the government, focussed on industries, kept domestic investor sentiment positive, traders said.

ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying 13.40 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Hero MotoCorp, TCS, Maruti and Infosys.

Shares of Reliance Industries and Tech Mahindra climbed around 3 per cent ahead of their earnings announcements, while HUL settled in the red.

Sun Pharma, IndusInd Bank and Asian Paints too closed with losses of up to 2.72 per cent.

During the holiday-shortened week, Sensex rallied 2390.40 points or 7.63 per cent, while Nifty Surged 705.50 points or 7.70 per cent.

Domestic financial markets will remain closed on Friday for 'Maharashtra Day'.

"The NSE Nifty 50 has posted its best monthly gain since April 2009, registering gains of over 14 per cent. Buying was seen among huge volumes on weekly F&O expiry day with old economy stocks (including auto, oil & gas, metals) advancing well accompanied by IT stocks.

"Asian markets rose on Thursday, carried by optimism overnight on Wall Street that a new drug could help to treat COVID-19," said Deepak Jasani, Head Of Research, HDFC Securities.

BSE metal index zoomed 8.27 per cent, followed by auto, IT, teck, oil and gas, basic materials, telecom and energy.

On the other hand, healthcare and FMCG indices ended in the red.

Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices advanced up to 1.46 per cent.

On the global front, US GDP shrank 4.8 per cent in Q1 amid the coronavirus crisis, while Chinese factory activity expanded for the second straight month in April as the country resumed work after the lockdown.

Top US epidemiologist Anthony Fauci said that Gilead Science's remdesivir "has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery".

Bourses in Shanghai and Tokyo ended with significant gains, while those in Hong Kong and Seoul were closed for a holiday.

However, stock indices in Europe were trading on a tepid note in early deals after data showed the euro zone economy contracted 3.8 per cent in the first quarter.

International oil benchmark Brent crude futures rallied 9 per cent to USD 26.40 per barrel.

The rupee surged 57 paise to provisionally close at 75.09 against the US dollar.

Meanwhile, global tally of coronavirus infections climbed to 31.93 lakh, with around 2.27 lakh deaths.

The death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 1,074 and the number of cases climbed to 33,050, according to the union health ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 1970 army mutiny remains one of the biggest scars on our nations history.

Yet every time it is discussed, even as recently as in articles published in newspapers on April 26 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that unfortunate event, the perpetrators are portrayed as being dreamers, standing up in defence of the oppressed, and doing what was best for the country at that time.
WASHINGTON - The White House has eyed Justin Walker, an ally and protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for a seat on the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals since at least early September 2018, according to new documents provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Walker, then a young lawyer who had been working fervently on behalf of Brett M. Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, discloses that he was contacted by the White House Counsel's Office that month to see if he were interested in the vacancy on the D.C. Circuit that would open up once Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate.

Walker had served as a clerk to Kavanaugh on that appeals court.

He interviewed with White House lawyers for the job on Sept. 10, 2018, but the position ultimately went to Neomi Rao, then the Trump administration's regulatory czar. Last year, Walker was nominated for a lower court slot - the Western District of Kentucky - amid criticism from Democrats and the nonpartisan American Bar Association that he was not qualified for that position because he lacked the requisite courtroom experience.

Still, he was nominated by President Donald Trump, with heavy influence and support from McConnell, for a promotion to the D.C. Circuit earlier this month. Walker, 37, is the youngest nominee to the D.C. Circuit since 1983, and the first from outside Washington since 2005.

His interactions with the White House surrounding his eventual nomination by Trump were detailed in a questionnaire submitted to the Judiciary Committee and obtained by The Washington Post. His confirmation hearing is scheduled for May 6 despite protests from Democrats that the committee's chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., should be holding coronavirus-related hearings instead.

"With so much at stake for health care in our country right now, Republicans shouldn't be tipping the scales of justice against families' health care and toward disaster," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the third-ranking Senate Democrat, said in a conference call hosted by Alliance for Justice and other groups working to defeat Walker's nomination. "Confirming judges who will make it harder for people to get the care they need might be Senator McConnell's first priority - but it's the last thing we need right now,"

That has not deterred McConnell, who has made it abundantly clear that confirming lifetime appointments to the courts will be at the top of the agenda once senators return to Washington next week. And Walker, whom the majority leader has known since the judge was a teenager, is among the highest of priorities for McConnell.

Proponents of Trump's judicial nominees outside the Senate are also heavily focusing on this nomination. Mike Davis, the former chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, said barring a Supreme Court vacancy this year, Walker's confirmation battle "will be the biggest judicial fight this year."

Walker writes in the questionnaire that McConnell reached out to him in late 2019 to see if he was still interested in the D.C. Circuit job "in anticipation of a long-rumored upcoming vacancy." That opening was ultimately announced in early March, when Judge Thomas B. Griffith, a former Senate counsel who was nominated by George W. Bush, said he would be retiring.

He and McConnell met with Trump in the Oval Office on Jan. 8 to "discuss the vacancy," Walker writes. He was told by the White House Counsel's Office on April 2 that he would be nominated, and the pick was announced April 3.

Since then, Walker has attracted more attention with a fiery opinion issued the day before Easter on April 12 that blocked Louisville's mayor from trying to prevent drive-in church services as a way to stem the spread of the coronavirus - a decision that drew applause from conservatives.

"The Senate will confirm Judge Walker, because he's already proven himself as a brilliant rising star on the federal bench with his recent ruling smacking down the Louisville mayor for mindlessly attempting to ban drive-up Easter services while permitting drive-up liquor sales," said Davis, who now leads the Article III Project, an outside group focused on backing Trump's judicial picks.

In the 20-page opinion, Walker wrote that an "American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter."

"That sentence is one that this Court never expected to see outside the pages of a dystopian novel, or perhaps the pages of The Onion," Walker continued in the April 11 opinion. "But two days ago, citing the need for social distancing during the current pandemic, Louisville's Mayor Greg Fischer ordered Christians not to attend Sunday services, even if they remained in their cars to worship - and even though it's Easter."

Walker's temporarily restraining order against the mayor and 20-page opinion were issued before the city of Louisville had an opportunity to officially respond in court to the lawsuit from On Fire Christian Center.

In a subsequent statement, Fischer expressed disappointment with the decision. He had urged churches not to host in-person or drive-in services Easter weekend, but said there was never a "formal ban" on drive-in religious services.

---

The Washington Post's Ann Marimow contributed to this report.
A 16-year-old girl was allegedly strangulated, burnt and buried in a village in Pali district of Rajasthan by her mother and uncle in a suspected case of honour killing, police said on Thursday.

The charred body of the girl was exhumed and sent for post-mortem examination while the accused mother Sita Devi and uncle Sawaram were arrested, they said.

The incident took place on March 19 but came to light after more than a month following a tip-off from a police informer, said Superintendent of Police (Pali) Rahul Kotoki.

We have registered a case against the victim's mother and uncle and arrested them, he added.

According to the officer, families of brothers Shesharam and Sawaram from village Sonai Majhi in Pali district had shifted to Pune long back where they owned a grocery shop.

The victim Rinku was the daughter of Shesharam and in a relationship with a local boy in Pune with whom she had eloped about two months ago, Kotoki said.

However, Rinku's family lodged a police complaint accusing the boy of kidnapping the girl following which the Mumbai Police held the couple at Dadar Railway Station.

The man was arrested but the girl, being a minor, was handed over to the family, he said.

A month later when the man got out on bail, Rinku insisted on marrying him but her family members refused and instead took her to their village in Rajasthan on March 18 on the pretext of visiting a local deity, said the officer.

The following day, on March 19, they killed the girl and returned to Pune, Kotoki said, adding that the role of other family members is also being investigated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A screen shows Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivering the budget for 2020-21 at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on February 26. EPA




STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A controlled trial showed that an HIV drug could be a possible treatment for the coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Wednesday.

The trial started on Feb. 21 and included more than 1,090 individuals, Fauci said.

The trial, which focused on comparing the effect of the experimental anti-viral drug remdesivir and a placebo, was an international trial that included Germany, Denmark, Spain, Greece and the United Kingdom, Fauci explained while meeting with reporters in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump.

The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery,'' Fauci said. This is really quite important for a number of reasons.''

Those who took remdesivir and were positive for COVID-19 recovered in 11 days, while those under the placebo recovered in 15 days, Fauci added.

Although a 31% improvement doesnt seem like a knockout hundred percent, it is a very important proof of concept, because what it has proven is that a drug can block this virus, he said.

The mortality rate was also better among those who were treated with remdesivir, with an 8% rate, as opposed to an 11% rate in the placebo group, but Fauci also warned that the mortality rate has not yet reached statistical significance, but the data needs to be further analyzed.

This drug happens to be blocking an enzyme that the virus uses and thats an RNA polymerase, but there are a lot of other enzymes that virus uses that are now going to be targets for this. This will be the standard of care, Fauci said.

While the study is awaiting peer review, the Food and Drug Administration could issue an emergency approval of remdesivir by the end of the day Wednesday. Such approvals are issued only when there isnt another possibility for a cure, the New York Times reported.
By PTI

KOLKATA: The date of publication of the results of the West Bengal Secondary Examination will be fixed after normalcy returns and lockdown is lifted, Education minister Partha Chatterjee said on Wednesday.

Chatterjee told reporters the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education(WBBSE) will take a call on deciding on the date of publication of results after normalcy is restored and lockdown is lifted.

"The sorting, evaluation process of papers are going on full swing after the exams were completed in February and the rest of the job won't take much of time once normalcy returns. We will decide accordingly," he said.

The minister said the exams for the remaining two Higher Secondary papers will be undertaken after June 10.

"We will prioritise completing the HS exam process first after June 10," he said.

Chatterjee said the academic calendar of different state universities and affiliated colleges, involving 19 lakh students in UG and PG, will be fixed by the respective universities in consultation with the higher education department.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged private hospitals of the state not to refuse any patient approaching them for treatment of coronavirus infection.

The chief minister's appeal came after allegations were raised that some private facilities are refusing to treat patients with symptoms of coronavirus.

"We have collaborated with 51 private hospitals (to treat COVID-19 patients). Do not forget that the state government is bearing all the expenses of their treatment. But other hospitals also can treat coronavirus cases by taking necessary precautionary measures. I appeal to everybody to provide treatment to them," she told reporters at the state secretariat.

"But we also have to look after the vaccination of the children, dialysis of patients, pregnant women and cardiac patients.

We will soon issue an advisory for private hospitals so that they keep their facilities operational and do not refuse the patients coming for treatment (of COVID-19)," she added.

Banerjee also urged doctors to reopen their chambers and start providing treatments strictly following the social distancing norms.

Meanwhile, in order to normalise services at hospitals after the lockdown is revoked, the health department has issued a directive asking the state-run facilities to draw up a blueprint for crowd management.

"While there is lack of clarity on when and how the lockdown will be lifted, it is certain that we will have to normalise hospital services in a phased manner, commensurate with the evolving situation," the directive said.
Fake: Sadhus chillam in Jaipur did not infect 300 people with coronavirus

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 30: A news portal claimed that 300 people were affected with coronavirus due to a chillam (pipe) of a sadhu.

The news portal said that this incident took place in Transport Nagar, Jaipur. The report said that due to the pipe of the sadhu at least 300 people were affected by the coronavirus.

Fake News Buster

The district collector has clarified that no such incident has taken place. The DC said that no such incident had taken place at Transport Nagar and this news report is baseless and fake.

Please do not believe such news reports as they are only aimed at spreading panic and sensationalising issues. The news is fake.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on April 30, 2020

2020/04/30

CCTV: We have noted that at the second meeting of the China-ROK joint response and cooperation mechanism on COVID-19, the two sides announced the establishment of a "fast track" arrangement for travelers on essential and urgent businesses. Could you give us more details?

Geng Shuang: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and the ROK have always stood together and helped each other. In accordance with the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, China and the ROK took the lead in setting up a joint response and cooperation mechanism led by the two foreign ministries and involving multiple departments, and strengthened anti-epidemic cooperation with remarkable results. Since the establishment of the mechanism, China and the ROK have continued with the heart-warming cooperation in terms of mutual assistance in epidemic prevention materials, and maintained the record of zero exported case added to each other's caseloads. This has supported the overall anti-epidemic efforts of the two countries and set a good example for international cooperation in fighting the virus.

Yesterday China and the ROK held the second video conference of the joint response and cooperation mechanism on COVID-19. The most important outcome was the establishment of a "fast-track" entry system for travelers who have essential and urgent trips to make in the sectors of business, logistics, production and technical services. I would like to give you more details.

China and the ROK are important neighbors and partners for economic and trade cooperation. The purpose of the "fast track" entry is to expedite entry for those who are urgently needed for resumption of essential work and production, while ensuring adequate epidemic prevention and control, so as to maintain and develop bilateral economic and trade cooperation and keep the industrial and supply chains of the two countries stable and unimpeded. Both sides believe that this will help better coordinate the two goals of epidemic control and socio-economic development, and also contribute to the stability of regional and global industrial and supply chains.

The general principle of the "fast track" arrangement between China and the ROK is reciprocity and mutual benefit, but as the two countries have different requirements in epidemic prevention and control, the specific measures adopted by the two sides on the ground do not have to be exactly the same. Specifically, the "fast track" arrangement will first be applicable to ten Chinese provinces and cities. ROK travelers can apply for visa after applications submitted by their companies are approved. After passing through health-screening and quarantine procedures, they will be quarantined for a shorter period of time in China, and their whole stay in China will be effectively managed, forming a closed loop to ensure safety.

Chinese travelers to the ROK who wish to use the "fast track" need to apply for exemption from quarantine when applying for visa from the ROK embassy or consulates in China. If they meet the conditions for approval of the ROK side and test negative for the coronavirus before departing for and after arriving in the ROK, they will be exempted from quarantine and accept flexible epidemic prevention management of the ROK side.

As epidemic prevention and control becomes a new normal, the establishment of a "fast track" entry between China and the ROK represents a groundbreaking initiative. The two sides will strengthen communication and coordination, and continue discussing ways to improve and expand the program in light of the situation and the prevention and control policies of the two countries.

At present, the situation requires the joint efforts of all countries in the world. China is ready to work with the international community, including the ROK, to further strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation, make contributions to overcoming the virus at an early date, maintaining regional and global public health security and stabilizing the world economy, and jointly build a harmonious and beautiful homeland for mankind.

Bloomberg: Just a quick follow-up on that. Do you have other plans or similar programs with other countries? If so, which countries?

Geng Shuang: I talked about the latest developments of the "fast track" between China and the ROK. We would like to discuss establishing such "fast track" arrangements with other countries. Against the backdrop of regular epidemic prevention and control, the "fast track" arrangements can help resume work, production, economic growth and the stable functioning of international industrial and supply chains while preventing the resurgence of COVID-19.

We are discussing that with some other countries.

CNS: US Secretary of State Pompeo said on April 28 that the world hasn't gained access to the WIV (Wuhan Institute of Virology) to know more about the origin of COVID-19, and he hoped partners of the US will continue asking China to respond. I wonder if you have any comment?

Geng Shuang: Regarding some people's rumors on the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Mr. Yuan Zhiming made a thorough statement during his recent interview with Reuters. Mr. Yuan is a researcher at the WIV and director of China's National Biosafety Laboratory.

Like Mr. Yuan Zhiming pointed out, there is no evidence to prove that the virus has traces of artificial synthesis. The claim of this virus being synthesized by the WIV is just baseless, because the WIV doesn't have the capability to design and synthesize the virus, and it has never done so. Mr. Yuan also clarified the rumor of "accidental leakage of the virus that was collected from bats", stressing that the lab strictly follows biosafety procedures.

I'd like to emphasize that tracing the origin of the virus is a complex matter of science, which should be studied by scientists and professionals. We urge American politicians to stop shifting the blame to China and diverting the attention of the international community. They should be focusing on containing the epidemics at home.

Shenzhen TV: Some foreign academicians and media recently said China failed to take effective and timely prevention and control measures at the early stage of the COVID-19 epidemic as it claimed, leading to export of novel coronavirus cases to other countries. How do you respond to that?

Geng Shuang: Such allegation runs counter to the facts and utterly disrespects the tremendous efforts and sacrifice made by the Chinese people.

In face of the epidemics, as a signatory to the WHO's International Health Regulations, China has taken the most comprehensive, strict and thorough measures in an open, transparent and responsible manner, earnestly fulfilled the duties and obligations and adopted and adjusted border exit health and quarantine measures in a scientific and timely fashion in accordance with the Border Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases to prevent cross-border transmission. Here I'd like to share the timeline with you all.

Since January 3, China has been updating the WHO and relevant countries and regions of the epidemic on a regular basis. The General Administration of Customs of China on the same day issued a document which asked local customs to take targeted border exit health and quarantine measures.

On January 20, the NHC issued a notice to classify the novel coronavirus pneumonia as a quarantinable infectious disease according to the Border Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and category-B infectious disease according to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, and take preventive and control measures on the level of a category-A infectious disease. Accordingly, China asked all cross-border travelers to cooperate with the customs in temperature monitoring, medical inspection and screening, and other quarantine measures. Those among travelers going abroad who were confirmed cases, suspected cases, having symptoms and having intimate contact with confirmed cases were transferred to local epidemic control authorities for quarantine and further examination.

On January 23, the city of Wuhan suspended outbound transportation including by air and rail. Before that, the Chinese customs already took proper measures to manage outbound travelers with symptoms of fever, who were exhorted to suspend their travel plan or transferred to designated medical institutions for diagnosis and treatment.

Since January 23, all ports in China have conducted COVID-19 nucleic acid test on each and every outbound suspected case. China also reported the newly-tested positive cases to the WHO every day so that all countries can assess and study the situation timely.

On January 25, the GACC started to launch the health declaration measures by requesting all outbound travelers to declare their health status to health and quarantine officers of China Customs, including their health conditions and history of travel.

On January 30, the WHO Director-General declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, or PHEIC, following a meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee. There were only 82 confirmed cases outside China, of which five were in the US and ten in Europe, with no fatality by then.

What I detailed is just part of what China has done in an attempt to stem the COVID-19 spread. Since the outbreak, China has been racing against time and the virus by continuously refining and strengthening prevention and control measures. The Chinese government and people have striven to overcome difficulties and made enormous sacrifices to fulfill due obligations to reduce the cross-border spread of the COVID-19 while maintaining anti-epidemic efforts at home. Our important contributions have been well recognized by the international community.

As I recall clearly, certain countries that are now hurling groundless accusations against China were actually applauding China's combat against the epidemic not long ago. How could they flip-flop to deny what was kept in public records? Is it because of anything wrong on China's part, or just because they want to hide or fudge anything?

RIA Novosti: To follow up on the "fast track" arrangement between China and the ROK, if I heard correctly, you said those coming from the ROK will be quarantined for a shorter period of time in China. So exactly how many days will they be quarantined?

Geng Shuang: It is 14 days now, correct?

Follow-up: Yes.

Geng Shuang: So now is 14 days. I'm sure the quarantine period will be shorter. I don't have an exact number now, but I think since the policy is to facilitate personnel exchange, the time period will be substantially shortened. It won't make much of a difference if it's only a day or two shorter, right?

Reuters: President Trump told Reuters in an interview yesterday that China wants him to lose the election and will do anything they can to make him lose. What is your comment? He also said in the same interview that he's looking into different options in terms of consequences that China may face over its handling of the virus, in response to a question about tariffs and other measures. What's the ministry's comment?

Geng Shuang: Regarding the first question, like we said repeatedly, the presidential election is an internal affair of the US. We are not interested in meddling. In the meantime, we hope the US will stop dragging China into its domestic politics.

On your second question, I've been answering similar questions lately and sharing a detailed time-line of China's efforts on many occasions. One thing is clear: in an open, transparent and responsible spirit, China has contained COVID-19 at home and made important contribution to the global fight, which is fully recognized and highly commended by the international community.

For some time, certain US politicians neglects facts and attempt to shirk their responsibility and hide their incompetence by blaming China. But such attempts, instead of eliminating the progress our people made through arduous efforts, will only expose certain US individuals' malicious intentions and the serious problems in the US.

As for "demanding accountability", like we said many times, the virus is a common enemy to all mankind. China is a victim, not an accomplice. As victims hit by the same virus, we have a stake in each other's well-being and should stay united and work together. Certain people in the US should be aware that their enemy is the virus, not China.

Faced with a major public health crisis, the international community needs to join hands instead of undercutting others' efforts under various pretexts. The US should also be clear that countries should tide over the difficulties together. Undermining others' endeavors will only end up damaging its own.

CNR: Spain's mainstream media like El Pais and El Mundo have published sensational stories about the quality of China's epidemic prevention materials, saying that the permeability rate of some masks exported by Shandong Garry Galaxy Biotechnology Co.Ltd is so high that they are not up to the standards of surgical masks. Also, the COVID-19 test kits exported by Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology Co.Ltd in Guangdong failed to meet the standards in two rounds of tests. What is China's comment?

Geng Shuang: Regarding these exports' quality issue reported by the Spanish media, relevant departments attach great importance to it and have conducted in-depth investigations. The masks exported by Garry Galaxy are for daily protection, thus they are not surgical ones. What Bioeasy Biotechnology exported are COVID-19 antigen test kits. Such products have not been approved by China's National Medical Products Administration due to insufficient verification data, but some products have obtained foreign certification according to the standards of some other countries and have been approved to enter the market. The Chinese companies explained the situation to the purchasing parties in advance, but the latter insisted on the purchase and raised the quality issue afterwards. The Chinese companies fully refunded the advance payment.

I would like to reiterate that China attaches great importance to the quality of exports for epidemic prevention and control purpose. Recently, the Ministry of Commerce, together with the General Administration of Customs, the National Medical Products Administration and the State Administration of Market Regulation, has taken a number of measures to ensure orderly export of medical materials and strengthen quality control. Many quality problems appeared because of different standards applied in and outside China, differences in usage habits, and failure to strictly follow instructions for users.

China will continue to strictly implement regulatory policies to ensure the quality of epidemic prevention materials. We also hope that the purchasing party will strengthen quality testing during the import process and use the products in strict accordance with the scope of application and operating procedures. In case of any problem, both parties shall settle it properly through consultation following commercial principles.

De Telegraaf: This week the Netherlands trade and investment office in Taipei changed its name into the Netherlands office in Taipei. What's your comment on this issue?

Geng Shuang: I understand that the Chinese embassy in the Netherlands has responded to that. You may read their statement.

There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China. China firmly opposes any official ties between the Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic ties with China, not to mention the establishment of any official agencies in Taiwan. Our position has been clear and consistent. We urge the Netherlands to earnestly abide by the one-China principle, properly handle issues related to Taiwan, correct its wrongdoing and uphold bilateral relations through concrete actions.

AFP: Recently the Chinese ambassador to France said in an interview that French correspondents in China always report negative things. Is it the role of an ambassador to criticize the media of the country where he works?

Geng Shuang: You asked if Chinese ambassadors have the right to criticize the countries where they work. I don't have a direct comment on that, but I'd like to remind you to read the China-related statements made by European ambassadors in China. I don't know if they are applauding or criticizing China. Frankly, we can accept both as long as they are out of sincerity and aiming to promote bilateral relations between China and the countries they represent. But if they say things out of bias or some bad motives, then their words will be unacceptable to us.

Bloomberg: President Trump said in the interview that he was considering various ways to punish the Chinese government. How do you see this consideration specifically?

Geng Shuang: As I said in response to a question from Reuters, the COVID-19 is a natural disaster. China, like the US, is a victim of the virus. The victims share the same destiny and should work together to overcome the difficulties. The US should know that its enemy is the virus, not China. At this particular time, they should focus on domestic epidemic control and international anti-epidemic cooperation, rather than attack, smear and shift the blame to China.

As for the so-called punishment and accountability, as I recall, we said many times at this podium that there is neither legal basis nor international precedent for such claims.

Was anyone punished or held accountable after major outbreaks such as the H1N1 flu, Ebola and Zika?

It is imperative for the international community to enhance mutual trust, strengthen unity and jointly combat the pandemic. As I just said, undermining others' endeavors will only end up damaging one's own.

Beijing Daily: Speaking of the incident of Chinese warship aiming a radar gun at a Philippine ship in an interview on April 28, the Philippines' defense chief Lorenzana said that the Chinese side had no real intention to hurt Filipinos and maybe they were testing the Philippine side's reaction. The Philippine Foreign Secretary tweeted that they already filed a protest to the Chinese side through a note. Do you have any comment?

Geng Shuang: According to what we know, the Philippine side's accusation about radar gun-aiming is not true. The Chinese warship was patrolling in relevant waters of China's Nansha Islands. Its operation was professional and standard, which accords with international law and relevant safety rules. China has lodged representations with the Philippine side, asking certain individuals on the Philippine side to respect facts and refrain from issuing groundless remarks.

Reuters: Just one more question relating to that interview. President Trump said that the trade deal had been upset very badly by the economic fallout of the virus. We are already pulling out comment with the Ministry of Commerce, but does the foreign ministry have any information on the status of the trade deal under the coronavirus?

Geng Shuang: Regarding the phase one trade deal between China and the US, I'd still refer you to the Ministry of Commerce.

Beijing Youth Daily: Recently there has been much concern on the possible impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global food security. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the COVID-19 spread is a threat to food security and we must make sure that all supply chains are maintained. A World Bank report projected that the spreading COVID-19 has the potential to spark a food security crisis. According to a WFP projection, the number of people facing acute food insecurity stands to rise to 265 million in 2020, up by 130 million compared to last year, as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19. What is China's view on safeguarding food security against the backdrop of the pandemic? Will it extend a helping hand to countries in need?

Geng Shuang: Humans cannot survive without food. Food security is the precondition for the stability and development of a nation and the basic need of people in all countries. The impact of COVID-19 on global food security has become one of the major concerns on the global agenda.

Facing such a black swan as the novel coronavirus, the international community should work together to guard against the grey rhino in food security. We believe that all countries should strive to stabilize their food production and uphold normal agricultural production while ensuring epidemic prevention and control and safeguarding global public health; maintain stable food supply and price, reduce trade restrictions to ensure unfettered global food supply chain; support the role of FAO and other international organizations and strengthen information and experience sharing, technical cooperation and policy coordination in food production; increase funding and technical support to developing countries, especially the least developed countries so as to help them better guarantee food security and uphold global food security.

As the largest developing country and a responsible major country, China has all along proactively participated in world food security governance, sent experts and technicians to Asian, African, Latin American and the Caribbean and the Pacific Island countries and provided utmost assistance to relevant countries. China has now become the developing country that contributed the most funds, experts and projects under the FAO South-South cooperation framework.

Since COVID-19 began, China has been actively responding to FAO's initiatives and other countries' demands. A Chinese working group was sent to Pakistan to help contain the locust plague, share experience and provide supplies, which has yielded good results. We are also planning to offer technical and material support to East African countries affected by locust plagues. China actively puts forward propositions in the UN, G20 and other multilateral occasions, works with all countries to safeguard the stability and security of international industrial chain of food, prevent regional food crisis and strengthen the basis for greater development in all countries.

As an old Chinese saying goes, "food is the first necessity of people." Food security anchors people's wellbeing and a nation's prospects, secures the peaceful development of the world, and constitutes an important part in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All countries must make concerted efforts to safeguard global food security. While combating the coronavirus, China is ready to continue cooperating and coordinating with all sides, working tirelessly to protect global food security and making new contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

*********************************

According to the 2020 Labor Day holiday schedule, the MFA regular press conference will be adjourned from Friday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 5 and resumed on Wednesday, May 6. During the holiday, you may still reach the MFA spokesperson's office if you have any questions. Have a nice holiday!
For the past five weeks, 1.3 billion Indians have been under one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, with just about everyone instructed to stay indoors. Many emerge only a few times a week to buy food. All airlines have been grounded, train service has stopped and most businesses shut.

India has reported around 34,000 infections and 1,100 deaths, still relatively low for such a populous country. But with testing also low, public health experts suspect that the virus is lurking unseen.

The lockdown has thrown legions of poor people out of work. Many live hand-to-mouth and have no way to feed their families except for the charity of others.

So the passing of a pair of cherished actors has shifted the focus, for a moment. For hours, television news channels took a break from shots of masked people trudging out of hospitals or police officers blocking roads to show the two at the top of their careers in films like Bobby, Mr. Kapoors breakout hit, or Slumdog Millionaire, with Mr. Khan, which became a worldwide sensation.



Still, many people said they felt especially sad that the two men were sent off without a befitting crowd of those who loved and adored them.

My Chintu darling has gone, wrote Simi Garewal, a famous actress, on Twitter, using one of Mr. Kapoors pet names. My dearest friend  my co-star  my playmate. The one who used to make me laugh till I cried! Now there are only tears. No last goodbye. No funeral. No consoling embraces. Silence. Emptiness. Grief.

Reporting was contributed by Shalini Venugopal Bhagat, Sameer Yasir and Hari Kumar.
For New York City tour guide Megan Marod, the first warning of the pandemic's financial toll came weeks before Broadways theatres and Manhattans museums closed.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this Friday, April 24, 2020, actress and part-time tour guide Megan Marod walks through the Hamilton Grange Historic site in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of New York. Since those early days of the citys coronavirus outbreak, out-of-towners have become scarce. In just one late February day, Marod lost income from cancellations by student groups that typically flood the city in the early spring  her most lucrative months. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

For New York City tour guide Megan Marod, the first warning of the pandemic's financial toll came weeks before Broadways theatres and Manhattans museums closed.

In just one late February day, she lost $5,000 from cancellations by student groups that typically flood the city in the early spring  her most lucrative months.

I started panicking, and people told me not to, she said. Everyone said I was overreacting. Then everything started shutting down.

Since those early days of the citys coronavirus outbreak, out-of-towners have become scarce. Times Square, the Crossroads of the World, is eerily empty, and a section of Central Park is home to a makeshift field hospital. It all has devastated the tourism economy that aided the citys recovery from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and posted a decade of steady spending growth that topped out at $46 billion last year.

Roughly 300,000 people are employed in the industry, driving double-decker buses, taking tickets at theatres and cleaning hotels  more than the number working in the citys finance and tech sectors, according to a study by the Center for an Urban Future, an economic think-tank .

Now a large share are unemployed and facing months without work, not knowing when the tourists or their jobs will come back. The attractions that draw big crowds are unlikely to open soon, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week there wont be any public events through at least June, dealing a blow to restaurants and retail stores as well.

Marod, whos also an actress in musical theatre and works as a guide at the One World Trade Center observatory, said its hard to overestimate the sudden downfall.

In this Friday, April 24, 2020, actress and part-time tour guide Megan Marod walks through the Hamilton Grange Historic site in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of New York. Since those early days of the citys coronavirus outbreak, out-of-towners have become scarce. In just one late February day, Marod lost income from cancellations by student groups that typically flood the city in the early spring  her most lucrative months. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Tourism literally encapsulates everything in the city, she said. When you take out tourism, every single profession in the city is going to feel it.

Close to 400 of the citys tour guides who responded to a survey said theyve lost more than $2.5 million already from thousands of cancellations since early March, according to the Guides Association of New York City.

Unable to work, Marod feels fortunate she was able to quickly get unemployment because many tour guides she knows have yet to get a check from the state or a federal stimulus payment.

Still, shes dropped her voice and dance lessons and stopped ordering from restaurants because of the uncertainty. Its a lot of hot dogs and scrambled eggs, she said.

Like many tour guides, Marod is spending her down time creating virtual tours. Some guides are charging for webinars while others are hoping to build their brand and entice tourists to come back once its safe.

Patrick van Rosendaal, a guide who specializes in showing off New York City to people from his home country of Belgium, has been sending postcards to those who were forced to cancel their trips and recording podcasts with past customers.

After seven years, this was shaping up to be his best yet, he said. Now he doesnt expect much business to come his way until next year, especially from international travellers.

Im not even thinking about the summer anymore, he said. Lots of people who live paycheque to paycheque are hoping. I am afraid for these people who are counting on starting up in June.

Friends and former customers have organized an online fundraiser for van Rosnedaal and his family, raising close to $20,000. Some have offered to cover their rent for a few months. The biggest thing Ive learned as an entrepreneur is that community is what matters most, he said.

He imagines that when his tours do resume, it will be special. The first person I will be guiding around, I will be giving him the tour of my lifetime, he said.

But the unanswerable question is when that will be.

Its a scary prospect, said Ethan Fuirst, an educator and tour guide at The Tenement Museum in Lower Manhattan. My greatest fear is that when the museum comes back, it doesnt come back at full capacity and not everyone can come back at the same time."

Hes been furloughed since mid-March, but the museum already has laid off about a dozen staff members. As long as unemployment keeps coming in, I feel like I can wait it out, Fuirst said.

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What he thinks about now is whether its realistic to keep working at a museum where hes interacting with visitors all day or whether those visitors will want to be in the same space with strangers from around the world.

But then I also wonder, Whos hiring in New York, where else can I go? he said. It feels very much, out of the frying pan and into the fire. At this point, I dont see a world where I can find another job.

Once the museum does open again, Fuirst expects that its stories will take on new meaning, especially those telling of prejudices that arose against Italian and Jewish immigrants during polio and tuberculosis outbreaks.

Those will become more relevant as people understand the threat of disease, he said. To me, The Tenement Museum is all about what happens when you live way too close to some people and way too far from your family in another country.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
It is common to record changes in business performance as a result of unforeseen situations. Such will be the case of this COVID-19 pandemic which has directly affected over 2.6 million people across the world and has already resulted in the death of over 180,000 people. A lot changed overnight, with businesses and organizations required to change the way they conduct business.

On March 9, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested people turn to cashless transactions to halt the spread of the virus, a piece of advice many governments and businesses acted upon.

In Ghana, for example, one of the first steps we took was for banks to step up the provision of digital banking alternatives for customers. Mobile money transactions were also made cheaper and more flexible by Telcos. As a result, transactions that could be handled online have been moved online.

In addition, working from home, which many employers dread due to possible productivity loss has become routine with employees also having to adjust to a new work culture. There will be enough time to focus on the future of banking post-COVID-19 but it is reasonable to already start some discussions on what the future has in store.

According to Victor Asante, the Managing Director of FBNBank Ghana, many of the changes caused by the global pandemic especially to business operation and regulations should become the new normal after Coronavirus pandemic.

Why would banking move back to the pre-coronavirus mode of operation when the potential for digital transformation has had such a significant lift? Why would a bank require a customer to visit a branch to complete routine transactions like account opening or loan application? Why would a customer want to revert to old ways of conducting banking transactions after experiencing the convenience of digital channels? Mr. Asante asked rhetorically.

He projected that banks will implement their digital strategies ahead of their timetables and remain committed to the new methods in order to stay relevant in the banking and finance industry. The cashless economy agenda has been handed a great opportunity for accelerated implementation. The crisis of COVID-19 is too good an opportunity for the cashless agenda and this in all probability should not be wasted.

Banking transactions on mobile applications and other digital channels have increased significantly due to the pandemic. For instance, in the United States, time spent on finance apps increased by 35% between December 2019 and March 2020 according to Liftoff (a Mobile App Marketing & Retargeting Company) while E-commerce increased by 25% between January 2020 and March 2020 according to Forbes Magazine (a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle).

This validates the result of the 15th March survey of 1,000 customers by Lightico, a technology firm with a focus on digitally transforming the connection between businesses and their customers. The result of the survey was that about 60% of the customers were more inclined to try a digital app. Similarly, the usage of blockchain payment apps has also increased. Everywhere in the world, coronavirus is expected to cause monumental growth in the use of mobile money transactions.

Mr. Asante believes that other payment channels aside mobile money will also record increased usage and will become more integrated into the payments system. Also, he thinks other aspects of banking such as relationships, retail banking and marketing may alter significantly post the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, digital transformation powered by artificial intelligence (AI), which makes high level of personalization and real-time information dissemination a key part of product development, innovation and marketing will receive a huge boost.

He, however, cautioned against challenges that could emanate from the digitization process, especially fraud. The report of TransUnion's global fraud and identity solutions division showed a 347% upsurge in account takeovers.

In this regard, the MD of FBNBank acknowledged that as digital channels increase, so will the routes and opportunities that will be available to fraudsters.

He, therefore, admonished banks and banking professionals to concern themselves with fraud management and prevention.

He posited that as banks transform technologically, fraudsters become more sophisticated. Therefore, as the industry is adopting faster and more convenient channels, banks now more than ever require potent fraud management strategies to stay ahead of the fraudsters.

Cyber security's place in banking and finance has just shot up to number one on the risk agenda. The issue of cost of business is another area he commented on, drawing attention to the fact that banks would have to accelerate spending plans on digital platform roll out as the issue has moved from just being a competitive advantage to that of health and safety.

Digital platforms used to be about banking convenience, but now all of a sudden it is also a health issue. He also reckoned there will be strict regulation and supervision to match the times.

This too shall pass, concluded Mr. Asante, quoting the now very popular phrase.
The High Court has confirmed the appointment of joint liquidators to the Irish arm of Debenhams.

Debenhams Retail Ireland operated 11 stores here and employed 950 people directly.

An additional 500 people worked at the 26 concession stands operated by other retailers located in the Debenhams stores.

Earlier this month it was announced the company was closing its Irish stores permanently, arising out of a decision by its UK-based parent to enter administration and cease providing funding to its Irish subsidiary.

At the High Court today Mr Justice Mark Sanfey said he was satisfied to confirm the appointment insolvency practioners Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary of KPMG as joint liquidators of the company.

The liquidators had been appointed on a provisional basis by the court two weeks ago.

The Judge said the evidence before the court was that the Irish company had been in financial difficulties "for some time," and before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It incurred losses of over 40m in the years 2018 and 2019, and was being "propped up" by its UK parent, he said.

The "last straw" for the Irish firm came when the UK-parent, which also had suffered financial difficulties and has entered administration for the second time in two years, decided to end its financial support.

This left the directors of the Irish subsidiary no alternative other than to seek the appointment of the liquidators and have the firm wound up, he said.

The judge said this was regrettable, particularly as a large number of people have lost their jobs.

The Judge said he hoped the liquidators would treat the workers, and the company's creditors "with sensitivity".

There were no objections to the application to confirm the liquidators' appointment.

However a small number of people supporting the Debenhams' workers held a peaceful protest outside the Four Court complex.

James Doherty SC for the liquidators told the court his clients have taken certain steps since their appointment.

In reply to the judge's expression of concerns about the employees Mr Doherty said the workers' concerns were "to the forefront" of their efforts to date, and a 30 day consultation period over the redundancies has commenced.

Counsel said the liquidators have entered into a consultation process with the employees, the Mandate and Siptu trade unions which represent the bulk of the employees and the Minister for Social Protection.

Counsel said the liquidators believe it is unlikely the business will be acquired by another party and unfortunately all the employees will be made redundant.

Rossa Fanning SC for Debenhams said it was "with great regret" the retailer was seeking an order for its winding up, however the company was wholly insolvent.

He said the company had been in Ireland since the mid-1990s and had expanded its operations 14 years ago.

In 2016 it entered and emerged from an examinership process, which resulted in it making significant costs saving.

Counsel said in recent years it had made substantial losses and well before the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in the stores being closed in late March.

Counsel said the company had availed of the government scheme to help pay its workers during the Covid-19 crisis.

However, the Debenhams group's ongoing losses along with projected losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic left the Irish company with no option other than seek a winding up order, he said.

The Irish firm's creditors include including revenue which is owed 3.8m, the landlords of the premises they had operated from, trade creditors, other firms within the group and its employees.
Earlier in the pandemic, health systems were masking only patients with suspected infection and frontline health care workers. At most hospitals now, everyone is required to wear a mask, even patients seeking treatment for something like a broken ankle, as well as all staff members.

If you arrive by ambulance, the paramedics will likely have already given you a mask. If not, a hospital staff member will hand you one before you walk in the door.

Depending on the hospital's supply, you may be given a surgical mask or a donated cloth version. Physicians recommend bringing your own mask if you have one.

Because people can spread the virus before showing signs of the disease, treating everyone as potentially infectious helps stem its spread, doctors say.

After Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston put a universal masking policy in place, for instance, new coronavirus infections diagnosed in its staffers dropped by half, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Visitors are not allowed

To reduce the risk of infection, most hospitals are restricting visitors. That means a family member won't be able to accompany you into the emergency room or be with you during treatment. Exceptions are made for laboring mothers, patients who are under 18 and those at the end of life.

Doctors know the restriction is a hardship for families, especially when a patient is critically ill, says Rade Vukmir, M.D., an emergency physician at Highmark's Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh. He says he tries to give family members regular updates by phone or in person outside the hospital.

Vukmir says he even uses FaceTime on his personal cell to help a patient see a family member. Sometimes it's important for everyone to see everyone, he says. The daughter who's outside can say, I love you, Mom. It's 30 seconds, and it's reassuring for everyone.

If a patient needs to be admitted, many hospitals provide video-chat technology. Scripps Health hospitals give patients and family members iPads, for example, while Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta is experimenting with Amazon Echo Shows.

You may never see a COVID patient

Most hospitals or medical centers have a COVID-only ICU as well as an isolated wing or floor for admitted patients. Some hospitals with more cases have repurposed surgical centers or other separate medical buildings exclusively for contagious patients.

The COVID zones typically have their own dedicated medical team.

"If you come in here and don't have a COVID problem, you will never see a person with COVID, and the nurses who take care of you will never see a COVID patient, says Todd Taylor, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and an ACEP spokesperson.

Whenever possible, hospitals also put infected patients in so-called negative pressure rooms, which are designed to prevent contaminated air from escaping.

Most hospitals initially had only a few such rooms, but many have quickly figured out how to create more by converting their HVAC system and making structural changes. Baptist Health Lexington transformed an entire wing of its ER, as well as two CT scanners, into negative pressure areas, Stanton says.

What's more, COVID-positive patients are kept inside their rooms as much as possible. We don't send those patients to the X-ray room. We bring the portable X-ray to them, Vukmir explains.

If an infected patient does have to be moved, the elevator is locked down to prevent anyone else from getting on, and the patient is escorted in a private procession. It's almost like the president is coming through; we don't let anyone near them, Stanton says.

Hospitals are finding solutions to PPE shortages

Nationwide, hospitals still face a critical shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment), especially N95 respirator masks, says Akin Demehin, director of policy at the American Hospital Association. But hospitals have been creative in coming up with solutions, he says.



Many are using hydrogen peroxide vaporization to sterilize masks so they can be reused. Others ask medical workers to rotate through a fixed number of masks, placing used ones in a paper bag at the end of a shift and not using them for a specific number of days. (Studies show that coronavirus particles on a surface lose their viability significantly after 72 hours.) Both processes have been temporarily approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the pandemic.

To help their N95 masks last, many physicians wear a surgical mask or a plastic face shield on top of it. And a growing number have purchased reusable respirators  hard plastic masks with cartridges that trap airborne particles  meant for industrial painting or manufacturing. They can be easily sterilized between patients, and the CDC says they protect as well as, if not better than, N95 masks.

"It looks like an astronaut helmet, but I know I'm breathing in uncontaminated air, says Angela Fusaro, M.D., an emergency medicine physician in Albany, Ga.
Hayes Valley

Ver Unica's store at 526 Hayes St. | Photo: Nuala Sawyer/Hoodline

After 10 years at 526 Hayes St. (and Octavia), Hayes Valley's longstanding vintage boutique Ver Unica has permanently closed its doors. Its space is now up for lease.

"Even if the pandemic hadn't hit," store owner Cindy Spade said, she was expecting a significant rent increase in the near future that would have forced her to close.

Combined with the shelter-in-place order, "brick-and-mortar didn't make sense anymore."

Spade noted that Hayes Valley has increasingly become the province of larger corporations, many of which just squeak in under the neighborhood's formula retail law (which generally prohibits chains with more than 11 locations).

The trend started with apparel brand Kit and Ace, which opened the eighth of a planned 50 shops on Hayes Street in 2015, despite neighborhood pushback. (It has since closed.)

More recently, a number of ecommerce startups have decided to open brick-and-mortar stores in the neighborhood. Their ranks include Allbirds, Interior Define, Madison Reed Color Bar and Outdoor Voices.

"Hayes Valley has changed so much," Spade says, adding that small business owners are unable to pay the higher rents that these well-funded companies can.

Tourists are looking for "those funky little shops," not something they can also buy in their hometowns, she noted. "You are watering down anything special."

Cindy Spade models a vintage silk mini-dress from the 1980s. | Photo: Ver Unica/Instagram

Spade first opened Ver Unica in 1997, at Noe and Henry streets in Duboce Triangle. Her first Hayes Valley store was at 437B Hayes St., but she eventually had to move down the block because a missing gate led to numerous break-ins.

Spade says she also operated another business in Hayes Valley for two and a half years before she started Ver Unica, and at one point, she also had a third store on Octavia Street.

Of late, many of Spade's out-of-town patrons told her they were thankful she had managed to remain in business in a changing San Francisco.

Story continues

"'Thank god you are still here,' they kept saying," Spade said. "That kept me going for so long."

She now hopes that those customers will now find her online. She's selling vintage clothing and art via Instagram, and has a Shopify store in the works.

Sourcing vintage clothes won't be a problem, even during shelter-in-place. "I have enough connections," she said.

Cindy Spade in the now-empty Ver Unica space. | Photo: Ver Unica/Instagram



Spade, who lives in the East Bay, says she is not yet done with Hayes Valley  she hopes to return in the future for pop-ups at friends' stores.

"I'm going to miss seeing people and working with my employees," she said, adding that she believes the store had a special atmosphere "created by everyone that worked there."

Thanks to Hoodline tipster Sebastian L.! See something interesting while youre out on an essential trip? Text Hoodline and well try to find out what's going on: (415) 200-3233.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Cuyahoga Countys primary election results werent posted for public viewing until slightly after 2 a.m. Wednesday, more than four hours past the original deadline set by Secretary of State Frank LaRose for Ohios first election conducted predominantly by mail.

So what caused the delay?

An unprecedented number of ballots arriving at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on election day and a limited number of scanners to process them, according to board of election officials.

The 23,000 ballots received Tuesday in Cuyahoga County were roughly double the 10,000 to 12,000 ballots the board was expecting to process that day, said Anthony Perlatti, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, and board Chairman Jeff Hastings in an interview with cleveland.com.

In a normal election, in which most voters vote in-person, the board generally expects about 6,000 mail-in ballots to be delivered on election day, they said.

The board doubled those normal expectations for Tuesdays election, but the large number of ballots received was difficult to predict, Perlatti said. Thats because there was no historical reference point to go by, and because the timing was largely dependent on when voters decided to put their ballots in the mail.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRoses office said last week that it had received wide reports of first-class mail, which normally takes 1-3 days to deliver, taking as long as a week or more.

The count also took longer than expected because the Board of Elections only had five scanners at its disposal. Those typically deployed at local precincts are not the same machines used to count mail-in ballots, they said.

There also was a short timeline to get prepared. The legislatures plan to conduct the primary election by mail passed March 25, one week after the original March 17 election was set to take place, prior to its cancelation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The scanners used to process the mail ballots must be obtained several weeks in advance, Hastings said.

If the November general election is to be conducted as an all-mail process due to lingering concerns about the virus, the board will have more time to prepare and possibly obtain more scanners, Perlatti said.

But that doesnt necessarily mean the board will buy them  it will first need to consider whether the price tag is worth it, Hastings said. The scanners for absentee ballots only need a few poll workers apiece to operate, but each costs about $100,000.

Like other county agencies, the administration of Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish has asked the Board of Elections to come up with a plan to cut 15% of its expenditures due to an expected drop in tax revenues from the economic downturn prompted by the pandemic, the officials said.

Said Hastings: Were going to be walking a tight line, and if it means that we wont spend the money or dont have the money to expend for additional scanners, the results might come in at 3 a.m. instead of 1 a.m. or midnight. As long as were fair, accurate and transparent [in how we count the ballots], thats what matters to us.

Other Ohio counties experienced large volumes of ballots arriving on election day.

Both Cuyahoga and Franklin County received about 17,000 ballots by mail on Tuesday, and Hamilton County received 17,000 ballots via mail and in-person deliveries. Franklin County results, along with a handful of smaller counties, were also reported late, well after midnight.

What matters is accuracy  not speed, said a spokeswoman for LaRose. As we prepare contingencies for November, we will certainly be working with every county to determine what worked and what needs improvement.
The working group has completed the work over the bill on a nationwide referendum, First Deputy Chairman of Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk said.

"Fulfilling the order of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, we completed work on the elaboration of the first bill from the bloc of democracy on the all-Ukrainian referendum. We have already received not only positive reviews, but also comments from Ukrainian experts, scientific institutions and international institutions. We are now awaiting conclusions from the Swiss institutions, for this we called on the Ambassador of Switzerland to help in obtaining such a conclusion. For the representative of the Venice Commission, we translated it into English and made available for the entire world and expect feedback on this bill," said Stefanchuk during the conciliatory council's meeting on Thursday.

He added that the working group would convene one more time when the quarantine ends, after which the bill would be submitted to the parliament.
Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar Migrants Return from Thailand Delayed Over Travel Hassles

Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand waiting in Myawaddy to enter Myanmar on March 24. / Kyaw Kha / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe return of more than 16,000 Myanmar migrant workers from Thailand on Friday will be delayed for a few more days as authorities on both sides are discussing safe travel procedures for the migrants within Thailand, where travel restrictions and a curfew are in place due to the coronavirus.

U Tayzar Aung, the district administrator of Karen States Myawaddy Township, on the Thai border, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the plan for the Myanmar workers to return has been halted due to the recent extension of the state emergency in Thailand. Myanmar had previously secured approval from Thailand to bring its workers home via land borders and repatriation flights.

We are discussing allowing a travel pass for our workers and holding a meeting between Myanmar and Thailand today, U Tayzar Aung said on Thursday.

He said that they expect that Myanmar migrant workers will be able to return home on Sunday.

As of Tuesday, more than 16,000 Myanmar workers in Thailand had registered to return home, said U Thant Zin Aung, a member of the Karen State parliament from Myawaddy. The Myanmar embassy in Bangkok also encouraged the workers to register if they want to return to Myanmar.

However, all returnees must be quarantined at government facilities for 21 days and then enter home quarantine for seven additional days.

In late March, after around 40,000 migrants returned home to Myanmar through land border checkpoints, the government initially requested that all other Myanmar citizens wishing to return home wait two weeks before crossing at the Myawaddy-Mae Sot border point. But the border closure was extended to the end of April, as Myanmar needed to prepare enough quarantine centers and health care provisions.

However, as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha extended the countrys state of emergency on Tuesday for one more month until May 31. The move extended restrictions on travel between provinces as the country maintains a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., according to Thai media.

The Myanmar Embassy in Thailand issued an announcement on Wednesday saying that they have been discussing with the Thai government how to allow Myanmar migrants to return home.

Currently, the Myanmar government has also planned to arrange relief flights from about five countries to bring home Myanmar nationals stranded abroad by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in a video conference with health professionals on Wednesday that an estimated 100,000 Myanmar migrant workers abroad would return home if they are able. She said an estimated 50,000-100,000 migrant workers would return from neighboring countries, including Thailand, China and Malaysia.

According to our policy, we must accept all returnees whether they are legal or illegal workers abroad, said the State Counselor.

The Myanmar Embassy in China announced on Wednesday that about 25,000 Myanmar workers who are working in China will enter Myanmar soon, passing through the Kokang Self-Administered Zone in Shan State.

The workers in China are primarily agricultural laborers sector who normally depart for China in November and December after the farming season in Myanmar ends, and then return home in April and May, according to the Myanmar Embassy in China.

You may also like these stories:

Military, Govt and Private Medics Staff Makeshift COVID-19 Hospital in Myanmar

Health Certificates Required to Enter Mandalay Religious Sites as Myanmar Struggles With COVID-19

Myanmar Pastors Face Prosecution for Defying Ban on Religious Gatherings Amid COVID-19
Earlier this month, when Apple and Google announced that they would be working together, it could only be classified as an unprecedented announcement. And perhaps timely too, considering the world is fighting the COVID outbreak. Now, that partnership has taken a crucial step forward, with Apple and Google releasing the COVID-19 Exposure Notification API for testing, as part of software updates rolled out to them, The two big tech companies are developing a contract tracing solution that uses the Bluetooth technology in iPhones and Android phones, and will allow government and health agencies around the world to track and notify you in case you have met with or have come in close proximity with someone who is now confirmed to have been affected by the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. Apple and Google have also detailed the privacy aspects and how the data will be collected, time and again. The expectation is that this, once implemented sooner rather than later, will work seamlessly across Android phones and the iPhones.

The proposed solution will work in two stages. The first are the APIs that are now available on iOS for iPhones and Android for a variety of Android-powered smartphones, albeit they are available for testing at this stage. The second will be an integration of contact tracing tech within Android and iOS, for instant access to all users, which will be rolled out in the coming weeks. At this stage, Apple has released a beta version of Xcode 11.5 and the third beta of iOS 13.5the Xcode includes tools that developers would need for building iOS apps that incorporate the COVID API, while the iOS beta integrates the code needed by apps that will be developed by health authorities around the world. Google has also released similar updates for developers via updates to Google Play Services and the Android Developer Studio.

Have you also read?

Industry Dialogue: There is The Need For an Anonymous Yet Open Flow of Data For Contact Tracing

Apple and Google Have Started Testing their COVID-19 Exposure Notification API

PM Modi Says Aarogya Setu Can Facilitate Travel: Future of The App Beyond COVID Contact Tracing

This is How BLE Tracing works

The contact tracing is essentially a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) service registered with the Bluetooth SIG with 16-bit Universally Unique Identifier, UUID 0xFD6F, that is designed to enable proximity sensing of Rolling Proximity Identifier between devices for the purpose of computing an exposure event. The two phones, which could be your phone and someone elses phone in your proximity, will exchange anonymous identifier keys. All the discovered data shall be kept on the device, which is your smartphone. These logs will be uploaded with the users consent in case they are confirmed to have been infected by Coronavirus, or COVID. These logs will then be downloaded by your smartphone and matched against the logs your phone has collected via Bluetooth tracing over time. If your logs match any smartphone user who has now been confirmed with COVID, you will see a notification on your phone alerting you about it with steps on what to do next.

You do not require any location data for this to work

If you have met someone who has now been confirmed with Coronavirus, or COVID, your phone will be able to notify you and the health authorities. (Image: Apple and Google)

Apple and Google say that at no point does the Bluetooth based contract tracing require any location data access. It can work very well without it too. The Contact Tracing Bluetooth Specification does not require the users location; any use of location is completely optional to the schema. In any case, the user must provide their explicit consent in order for their location to be optionally used, they say.

All the data stays private, but with caveats

Apple and Google also take pains to emphasise on the point that the list of contacts never leaves your phone, list of people who you may have come in range with never leaves your phone and at no point is the data shared with Apple or Google, in case of a positive test. Only public health authorities will have access to that datathough Apple and Google will have no say in who these authorities then share the data with.

The roadmap for Apple and Googles Contact Tracing Rollout

Apple and Google say that they will roll out the application programming interfaces (APIs) for this on iOS and Android respectively by mid-May, which will allow health authorities to use apps that users can opt-in for to collect data. They say these official apps by health agencies and governments will be available for download via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Countries including India, Singapore, Taiwan and China, to name a few, have contact tracing platforms and apps in place, and smartphone users can download these and share data. In India, we are specifically talking about the Aarogya Setu app.

The second stage would be where Apple and Google will work on a Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform which will also be used by apps made by health authorities to track user proximity dataand this will be built into iOS and Android and the option will be available to all users without having to download another app.

This is why Contract Tracing is critical

Contact tracing is critical in curbing the Coronavirus spread around the country and indeed around the world. A person who may be infected with the COVID-19 virus may not show any signs or symptoms for as many as 14 days more but can spread the infection in the meantime through cough, for instance. As and when a confirmed COVID case is taken in for treatment, health authorities scramble to track as many people this infected person may have met in the past few days. Contact Tracing makes it possible to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus by alerting participants of possible exposure to someone who they have recently been in contact with, and who has subsequently been positively diagnosed as having the virus, says Apple.

Apple and Google insist the development of this solution is a two-step process. First, in May, both companies will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores, says Google in an official statement. Software developers are contributing by crafting technical tools to help combat the virus and save lives, says Apple.
This month Fiona Apple released her fifth album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, an event that was received with significant awe and rapturous praise. Apple often takes her time between records  her previous one, The Idler Wheel , was released in 2012  but the greeting she received was about much more than a long absence.

Early in her career, following the wild success of her 1996 debut Tidal, Apple was vivid and intense in her choice of subject matter, and vocal about her pop-star reluctance. She was often met with resistance in the male-dominated music press. But in the decades that have passed, Apples singular vision has remained firm, and shes become a role model for generations of artists in her wake.

On this weeks Popcast, a conversation about Apples career, and about the music on Fetch the Bolt Cutters, which is uninhibited, flexible and free.

Guests:
The Bombay High Court has said



the gathering of hundreds of migrants near Bandra station here earlier this month was a one-off incident, and refused to pass urgent orders in a plea seeking deployment of adequate security personnel in the city.

Justice B P Colabawalla made the observation on April 27 while hearing a petition filed by one Shankar Pai and two others, who claimed to be residents of suburban Bandra, Khar and Mahim and said they were directly aggrieved by the April 14 incident.

The petitioners said such gatherings would increase the chance of the spread of COVID-19.

The plea sought a direction to the Maharashtra government to make an assessment if military could be deployed in such vulnerable spots.

The petition sought for armed forces, or the Central Reserve Police Force and State Reserve Police Force personnel to be deployed in the city.

Refusing to accept the petitioners argument that the Bandra incident demands urgent orders to be passed, Justice Colabawalla said, One incident does not make out an urgency. These are extraordinary times and the government and civic authorities are doing their best to keep things under control."



The court is sure the government and civic authorities will do whatever is necessary to ensure an incident like the one that took place in Bandra on April 14 will be avoided till the lockdown is effective, the HC said.

Nearly 1,000 migrant workers gathered near the Bandra railway station here on April 14, demanding transport arrangements for them to go back to their native places.

The migrants were later dispersed and assured that they will be provided accommodation and food till the lockdown lasts, a police official earlier said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For Peru, the trend is a reversal of decades in which rural families traveled from the countryside to Lima in search of work. That migration changed the face of the country, turning it into one of the more urbanized nations in the world.

Javier Torres, the director of a news site that focuses on rural needs, Noticias Ser, called Peru a country of migrants, saying that movement is part of our culture.

He is used to tracking movement into Lima. But he could not recall a time when so many people were trying to leave. Nearly a third of all Peruvians have lost their jobs in recent weeks, according to a poll by the Institute of Peruvian Studies conducted recently for the newspaper La Republica.

Government statistics estimate that even amid mass migration to the cities, the vast majority of people in the country remain in the informal labor sector  working at jobs that are typically paid in cash, with no benefits and little economic security.
Online Learning

COVID-19's Ultimate Impact on Online Learning: The Good and the Bad

Higher education's current move to online learning may be leaving a sour taste in the mouths of students and faculty across the country, but there is a silver lining.

As colleges and universities have shuttered their physical campuses in the face of the spread of COVID-19, they have moved their courses to remote and online formats in rapid fashion. And that's prompted many to wonder what the ultimate impact this period of time may have on online learning in higher education.

Based on the present situation, where individuals come to stand on online learning will depend on where they sit currently. That is, there will be both positive and negative impacts on the state of online learning in higher education.

The Bad

On the bad side, given that college and university faculty hastily moved courses online without much support, online learning is being done poorly in many quarters of the United States. It's consequently getting a bad reputation at many campuses.

Students are voicing their disgruntlement in a variety of ways, including asking for refunds. Some students have even gone as far as filing class action lawsuits seeking money back.

Faculty members who have struggled in the online environment and haven't received enough support from their college or university are unlikely to have much enthusiasm for online learning in the future. Even in cases where teaching and learning centers on campuses intervene and help build the courses, they are likely overstretched at the moment, and so many courses have been poor substitutes for the originals (even if the originals weren't terribly inspiring).

When colleges eventually resume physical instruction, many will breathe a collective sigh of relief and resume their studies as usual. It's unlikely they will look back fondly on their online experiences and wonder why it is that they ever dragged themselves to a classroom in the first place.

Where Online Benefits

But that's not the whole story.

If the closure of physical campuses continues into the fall, some residential students and their parents will start asking why they should pay large tuition bills for an in-person experience they are not receiving. If they are going to be learning online anyway, why not opt for a provider that has strong experience with online learning and that can offer it more affordably than can a traditional college or university?

Those institutions with robust online learning programs  particularly if they are more affordable than a traditional program  will stand to gain ground. Online learning will grow from where it was pre-COVID-19, when already over a third of postsecondary students took at least one online class and roughly 30 percent of graduate students studied exclusively online. Mega-universities that offer affordable programs, such as Western Governors University and Southern New Hampshire University, will grow. Places like Arizona State University that offer robust online programs as well as in-person ones and can offer the potential for seamless transfer between the two are also likely to benefit.
PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / April 22, 2020 / The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Custom Protection Services Inc. (OTC PINK:CSPS) ("the Company"), a company offering a comprehensive portfolio of security and protection services which can be tailored to meet specific needs and situations. CFO of the Company, John Kuykendall, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Kuykendall began the interview by sharing some background information about the Company and its current projects. "We offer a comprehensive portfolio of security and protection services tailored to your needs," explained Kuykendall. "We have a proven and sustainable business model that is in revenue and growing," he added.

Jolly then asked for an in depth description of the Company's services, and inquired about their target market for these products. Kuykendall shared that the Company's services range from personal protection for corporate executives and celebrities to mobile patrol services. "We offer undercover surveillance," he added, noting that this also includes background checks and verifications.

"Are all of these services offered only in Texas?" asked Jolly. "We're not outside of Texas at the moment. We've got our hands full with Houston right now, however we are going to be looking into acquisitions," said Kuykendall.

"We do have something new, and that is the COVID-19 screening services that we launched in March," shared Kuykendall. "We've designed it in such a fashion to be non-invasive, flexible in implementation, and to allow clients to screen employees and customers as desired or necessary."

"Has COVID-19 affected your business in either a negative or positive way?" asked Jolly. Kuykendall shared that the Company is being challenged by the pandemic like many other businesses, however noted that COVID-19 has made security more relevant and necessary. "The screening services will lead to longer-term contracts," said Kuykendall.

"What are your growth strategies moving forward?" asked Jolly. "In the short-term, we're trying to develop new business through target advertising and marketing campaigns," explained Kuykendall. "Our long-term growth plan is to grow through acquisition," he continued.

Story continues

The conversation then turned to the Company's goals throughout 2020. "We're going to keep pounding on our marketing plan to grow the revenue," said Kuykendall. "We think we can be fully reporting to the SEC by the end of the summer," he shared, adding that the Company has drafted a Form-10 and is working on a two-year audit.

Jolly then asked how the Company manages to stand out compared to its competitors. "We have a sustainable and profitable business model. We don't need any large funding to get into revenue and profitability. The services we offer are becoming more and more relevant in today's world, and with a tight share structure and a low public float that puts us in a great position," said Kuykendall. "We really are poised for significant growth."

To hear John Kuykendall's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7563196-custom-protection-services-inc-discusses-its-2020-growth-strategy-with-the-stock-day-podcast

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/

About Custom Protection Services Inc.

Custom Protection Services Inc. is a Delaware incorporated company with head offices in Conroe, Texas. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of security and protection services which can be tailored to meet specific needs and situations. Services offered include personal protection, risk analysis, crisis response, guidance & strategic planning, maritime protection, travel security, legal investigation and POA security programs. Client contracts range from hourly to yearly depending on the type of service being provided. The Company can fulfill any client contract by utilizing a network of specialized consultants. Management has 100+ combined years of experience conducting security and protection operations.

Company Contact Information:

Tel: 936-703-5855

Email: info@customprotectionservices.com

Website: https://www.customprotectioninvestor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/customprotectioninvestor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/customprotect

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Custom Protection Services Inc.'s filings with OTC Markets, which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Stock Day Media

602-441-3474

SOURCE: Custom Protection Services Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/586382/Custom-Protection-Services-Inc-Discusses-Its-2020-Growth-Strategy-with-The-Stock-Day-Podcast




Amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, the Delhi Police has registered over 140 cases under the Excise Act and arrested 155 people in the first two weeks of April, officials said on Thursday.

On an average, police seized 1,237 liquor bottles daily between April 1 to 15, they said.

The police have registered 147 cases and seized 18,556 bottles of liquor in the first two weeks of this month, senior officials said, adding the outer district registered the maximum 27 cases, arrested as many people and seized 1,243 liquor bottles from there.

The Crime Branch seized the maximum 8,460 bottles, registered only one case and arrested one person. The New Delhi district, railways, metro and special cell units of the Delhi Police have not registered any case under the Excise Act, they said.

Seventeen people have been arrested in 18 cases in Rohini district while 3,130 liquor bottles were seized. In Dwarka district, 1,713 bottles of liquor were seized, 16 cases registered and 20 people arrested police said.

In North district, where some people had broken into a liquor shop earlier this month, eight cases were registered and 10 people arrested with 38 bottles.

The government had last week allowed opening of neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those located in residential complexes in municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions. However, the liquor shops remain closed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Although a Dub by birthright, John Hayden is, by now, truly one of our own. The local author is unequivocal on this point: I wouldnt move back to Dublin, I love it here, he says quickly.

It was his wife Irene (nee Duffy) that brought him to the town all those years ago. Four children and two grandchildren later, Johns part of the fabric of this area, now living in Mullaharlin Park off the Dublin Road.

The 54-year-old has been writing since he was 18-years-old, but only recently decided to write his first novel - The Last Land. Prior to that, it was mostly poetry that allowed him to flex his creative muscles.

But, there was a far more serious reason for making the eventual step-up to writing a book.

I never thought of myself as someone who could put together a book or books, John admits, speaking to the Democrat this week. I might not have received the opportunity were it not for me falling ill with cancer in 2004.

I see that illness, which was the worst thing in the world back then, as the key that freed my mind to indulge in what I can only call an absolute passion.

It was fear that drove him, he says now. Fear of not having enough time to do what he felt he needed to do.

Back then, during my convalescence, I captured the essence of three stories. I quickly published the first two stories; fearing in my heart that the cancer was coming back to get me.

With cancer beaten, what happened to that third story?

I was on the verge of releasing the last story when I paused, the Finglas-born writer adds. The story told of a sacred manuscript, and I felt I had not given sufficient insight to the reader, as to where this sacred manuscript originated. So I decided to take some notes about the origins of the sacred manuscript.

As it turned out, his very first note bloomed into what became his novel.

The Last Land brings the reader back to Celtic Ireland, in 367 AD, John explains, the time of the Druids, Chieftains and the High King, when the land was full of Celtic warriors.

Its a swashbuckling, adventure story told through a mythology that seems, at times, very local. John says that was intentional. His adopted home of Louth fired his imagination and got under his skin.

The stories of Cu Chulainn and Ferdia and, of course, Dundalk is in Louth and the Gaelic for Louth is Lu; referring to Lugh of the long arm from Celtic mythology. Lugh has a prominent character display within the storyline. And just a stone throw from Dowth, Knowth, Newgrange and Tara and a tad further to the hill of Druids all prominent in the novel.

Covid-19

With the novel published in the midst of Covid-19 outbreak on April 13 - I am certain it was coincidental - John has also decided that the first 1000 made from sales of the book will go towards ALONE. A wonderful cause he adds.

Getting the novel from his fertile imagination to print has been a long process, but one that John now realises is all part of his own creative process and lifes journey.

I began writing my debut novel in 2012, and I completed the first draft in 2015 and have been polishing up my work since then.

There has been help along the way, he admits.

I am so grateful for the attentiveness, excellent guidance, and assistance from some of the most selfless people I have yet encountered - I extend my gratitude to those beautiful people; without them, my work may not have come to fruition. They are mentioned in my acknowledgments.

Now that everyone remains in lockdown, what does John do these days?

I am as busy as can be - people do find reading as an outlet, so its a good time to push it (the book) out there.

He used to work in construction back before the cancer, but theres no going back for John now. Writing and being creative is in his very soul.

To be afforded enough time to tap into creativity and to indulge in my life's passions. That I may express that which flows there; I have been allowed the freedom to be me - such a gracious gift.

You can order a copy on www.johnhaydenwrites.com
Drive-through coronavirus testing sites across the UK were pictured almost empty today as Matt Hancock faced a backlash because he is set to miss his target of conducting 100,000 checks a day by the end of April.

The Health Secretary announced on April 2 that the government would achieve six-figure daily testing by close of play today but the latest numbers show 52,429 tests were carried out in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday.

Of that number, some 28,539 were done at dozens of drive-through centres across the nation while 23,648 were carried out by the NHS and Public Health England.

But there are growing questions about the accessibility of testing sites as facilities in Bradford, Nottingham, Ipswich, Ebbsfleet, Boston and elsewhere were today photographed with only a trickle of motorists waiting to get checked.

Daily available capacity is now just shy of 80,000 but even if ministers can boost that number to 100,000 before tomorrow it seems incredibly unlikely that they will be able to almost double the number of tests being administered.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland conceded this morning the aim was 'probably' going to be missed as he blamed the fact the government started from a 'low base' in terms of testing capacity.

But Downing Street this afternoon insisted the Health Secretary and his staff are still trying to hit the target as time runs out.

The likely failure to hit the goal has prompted Tory fury as Mr Hancock was accused by MPs of 'over-promising' and 'under-delivering' amid fears it will damage public confidence in the government.

Meanwhile, experts slammed the target as a 'red herring' that has hampered the response to the outbreak.

NHS Providers, which represents health service trusts, has launched a scathing attack on Mr Hancock's handling of the situation, saying the push to hit the number has been a 'distraction' and led to chaotic expansion of the regime.

A coronavirus drive-through testing centre in Nottingham is pictured empty this morning

The drive-through testing centre at Haydock Park Racecourse in Merseyside was also seen almost empty today

Staff wait for people to arrive at an empty drive-through regional coronavirus testing centre which opened yesterday at Bradford University

A testing centre in Ipswich, Suffolk is pictured mid-morning today with only a trickle of cars

A mobile coronavirus centre provided by The Royal Anglian regiment is pictured in Boston today

Matt Hancock (pictured in Downing Street yesterday) faces humiliatingly missing his coronavirus testing target today - as experts brand it a 'red herring' that has hampered the response

Why did Matt Hancock set the 100,000 tests target and why is the government set to miss it? Matt Hancock announced on April 2 that he wanted 100,000 daily coronavirus tests to be carried out by the end of the month. Today is the deadline for hitting the goal but ministers have conceded they are unlikely to make it. Why did the Health Secretary set the target? Critics have accused Mr Hancock of coming up with the number because of growing public pressure over the UK's underwhelming testing operation. Those accusations increased after Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty revealed the government's scientific experts had not recommended the figure but had just urged for numbers to increase. Mr Hancock has previously said one of the aims of the target was to 'galvanise' industry and the public sector to rise to the challenge and boost capacity. On that measure he has succeeded with capacity now at more than 70,000. But he is yet to explain why specifically he chose 100,000. Why is the government set to fall short of the target? The main reason appears to have been difficulty in actually accessing the checks. Throughout the crisis the number of tests carried out has run at approximately half of the available capacity. There have been numerous horror stories of self-isolating NHS staff facing four or five hour journeys to get tested at a drive-through site only to be told to come back another day. Staff without their own transport have also struggled to get checked with home tests only just becoming available. Another reason appears to be that the government may have overestimated demand within the health service for tests as ministers have moved on a number of occasions to expand the eligibility for checks so that more capacity is taken advantage of. Meanwhile, when the target was announced Mr Hancock suggested testing would be split between antigen and antibody but the government is yet to find a working, mass-produced antibody test making ministers entirely reliant on more laborious antigen tests. Where are tests being carried out? The government's testing operation is split into different pillars. One pillar relates to testing in hospitals - this applies to both patients and now to asymptomatic staff. Another is drive-through testing with 42 sites open across the country, rising to 48 by the end of the week. Then there are mobile testing facilities being run by the army. There are 17 of those units currently operational, rising to 70 by the end of this week. Then there is home testing. When it launched last week there were only 5,000 home check kits available a day but it is hoped that will increase to 25,000 by the weekend. Why can't NHS staff just get tested at hospitals? The government only extended the testing eligibility to asymptomatic NHS staff this week. Up to that point frontline workers needed to have symptoms to get checked but anyone with symptoms was told to self-isolate at home. That means they have had to use drive-through sites. How successful have the different testing pillars actually been? The latest official statistics showed that in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday there were 52,429 tests carried out. Some 23,648 were carried out in NHS settings and by Public Health England. Some 28,539 were at drive-through sites. Total available capacity was 77,365. What is the political reaction to Mr Hancock missing the target? Some Tory MPs believe Mr Hancock was 'stupid' to set such a high target and that he should have reversed away from it weeks ago. One senior Conservative figure said the Health Secretary was 'extremely unwise' to bet so heavily on hitting the number and that he would have to 'carry the can' for the failure. Number 10 insiders said the problem with the target was that it was 'arbitrary'. The government will be concerned that failing to hit the target could damage public confidence in the coronavirus response. Advertisement

In a report, it said the English health and care system 'started from a poor position' as Covid-19 tightened its grip on Europe, and consistently 'struggled' to demonstrate a 'clear, effective and well communicated strategy', with a lack of clarity on who would be tested, when, how, and with what frequency.

Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, said members are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clarity on how the testing regime will be developed for the next phase.

The Government has insisted lockdown measures cannot be eased unless its five criteria, including manageable infection rates and testing capacity, are met.

Mr Hopson said: 'Testing is one area where, despite all the work delivered by trusts and the NHS, the health and care system as a whole has struggled to develop an effective, coordinated approach.

'As we consider the route out of lockdown, what trust leaders need now is clarity on the testing regime from here on.

'Setting a target for a number of tests for April 30 may have had a galvanising effect. But what matters most is an updated strategy to take us through the exit from lockdown.'

Testing numbers were languishing at around 10,000 a day when Mr Hancock set the goal.

Mr Buckland told BBC Breakfast today: 'Even if it isn't met, we're well on our way to ramping this up and 100,000 is an important milestone, but frankly we need more.

'Yes, 52,000 isn't 100,000, I know that ... but we are straining every sinew to get there.

'If he hadn't set a target he would have been criticised for being unambitious. I think now is the time in respect of this to be bold ... being brave is something we should acknowledge even if the target isn't met today.'

Professor John Newton, the Government's testing supremo, said yesterday that he remained confident of reaching the 100,000 landmark by the end of April.

Number 10 appeared to slap down Mr Buckland as the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said at lunchtime the Government is still 'working hard' to hit the target.

The PM's Official Spokesman said that as of April 28, testing capacity had been increased to 77,365.

He said: 'The target is for 100,000 tests today and the Health Secretary and all of his team are working hard to hit it.'

He added: 'You can chart the progress that we've made towards hitting that target and that we are working hard today to ensure that people who need tests get them.'

The PM's spokesman said 42 drive-through test sites are now open and 17 mobile sites are operational.

The final testing figure for today will not be known until Saturday due to the amount of time it takes to turn the numbers around.

The decision by Mr Hancock to announce, and then stick to, the figure has prompted fury among some Conservative MPs who have claimed the Health Secretary has 'damaged' his reputation and potentially that of the government.

One senior Tory told MailOnline: Poor old Matt has been damaged by this. This will have damaged confidence in him because he looked like someone new to the job, under pressure and reacting with something that bought him time - but it was always doomed to failure.

It was silly. It has been obvious for 10 days he would not hit it.

Another Tory MP said: The problem has been throughout that we have over-promised and under-delivered and we should have done it the other way around.

They seemingly wanted an announcement every day but that was not the right way to do things.

The big mistake has been over promising. They should stop trying to spin people.

Meanwhile, Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, has called for Mr Hancock to quit if he fails to hit the target.

She tweeted: As this is literally a matter of life and death, of course he should resign if the target is not met.

The NHS Providers report described how members felt 'on the end of a series of frequent tactical announcements', with 'no visibility on any long-term strategy'.

It said: 'They are being expected, at the drop of a hat, to accommodate these changes with no advance notice or planning, despite the fact that many of the changes have significant operational impact.'

The report added: 'The recent public focus on whether 100,000 tests will be performed on April 30 is a red herring.'

NHS Providers described the target as 'arbitrary' and said it risked preventing the development of a 'proper, next stage testing strategy', adding: 'It may be testing for testing's sake.'

The report calls on the Government to update its existing testing plan - published before the perceived first peak of the virus - by addressing several matters, including how it intends to improve access for key worker testing, how it expects to prioritise who is swabbed, and how it plans to track and trace any new outbreak once lockdown is lifted.

It said it would be for any subsequent public inquiry to determine why these problems have occurred and whether the response was adequate.

A Department of Health spokesman said testing was 'absolutely critical' and capacity at NHS and Public Health England laboratories had more than doubled within weeks.

He added: 'Our aim as we tackle this virus is to make it easy, fast and simple for any essential worker who needs a test to get a test.

'In addition to setting up a nationwide network of drive in testing sites, we have introduced home testing kit delivery, deployed mobile testing units operated by the Armed Forces, and built three new 'mega labs' to analyse test samples.'

When Mr Hancock announced the target on April 2 he said he was 'determined we'll get there'.

At the time it was thought that the 100,000 figure would be a mix of antigen tests which show if someone currently has symptoms and antibody tests which show if someone has had it and may now have immunity.

However, government hopes of finding a working antibody test which can be mass-produced have fallen flat which means ministers have been entirely reliant on more laborious antigen testing to get to the goal.

Throughout April the Health Secretary said he was sticking to the target and repeatedly said he believed it would be met.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland conceded this morning that the aim was 'probably' going to be missed

He did soften his stance as the month progressed as he described 100,000 daily tests as an 'ambitious goal' and insisted one of the reasons he set the target was to 'galvanise' the public and private sectors to ramp up capacity.

On Wednesday this week Mr Hancock said it was a 'big, big ask' but that the government was still 'on track' as he accepted a 100 charity wager that he would hit the target.

But he also insisted 'there's no guarantees in this life' as he appeared to lay the groundwork for falling short.

As well as the antibody issue, there appear to have been a number of other reasons why the government has struggled to hit the target, with difficulty in accessing the checks at the top of the list.

There have been numerous horror stories of self-isolating NHS staff facing four or five hour journeys to get tested at a drive-through site only to be told to come back another day.

Staff without their own transport have also struggled to get checked, with home tests only just becoming available.

Another reason appears to be that the government may have overestimated demand within the health service for tests as ministers have moved on a number of occasions to expand the eligibility for checks so that more capacity is taken advantage of.

Mr Hancock is under growing pressure over his decision to pick 100,000 as his target after the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said it had not been signed off by the government's scientific experts.
By Alexander Marrow

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia believes a political and diplomatic process is the only way to resolve the conflict in Libya, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, after Libya's eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar moved to seize control of the country on Monday.

Haftar said his Libyan National Army (LNA) was accepting a "popular mandate" to rule over the country, apparently brushing aside the civilian authorities which nominally govern eastern Libya.

"In Moscow, we remain convinced that the only possible resolution in Libya can be through political and diplomatic communication between all parties, above all those in conflict," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Russia remains in contact with all participants in the Libyan process. We believe that there are no other ways to resolve the Libyan problem."

Libya has been split since 2014 between areas controlled by the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and the northwest, and territory held by eastern-based forces in Benghazi.

Haftar is supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The GNA is backed by Turkey.

The conflict escalated sharply this month, with fierce fighting on several different fronts in the west of the country despite urgent calls from the United Nations and aid agencies for a truce to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

Russia described Monday's power grab by Haftar, whom Moscow supports, as "surprising", state news agency RIA cited a foreign ministry source as saying.

Most important was for the military and political decisions reached at a conference in Berlin in January to be implemented by Libyans themselves, with the assistance of the international community, the source said.

The EU's top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy made a joint call on Saturday for a humanitarian truce in Libya, saying all sides must resume peace talks.

(Additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov and Andrey Kuzmin; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Angus MacSwan)
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Livid that Governor's rule has been imposed in Assam's Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), the ruling BJP ally Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) said it was looking at other alternatives.

In a series of tweets, rebel leader-turned-politician Hagrama Mohilary, who is the chief of BPF as well as the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), expressed his unhappiness over the fact that Governor Jagdish Mukhi "assumed to himself the administration" of the BTC.

The BPF has already filed a petition in the Gauhati High Court challenging the governor's order.

"Due to the #COVID19, the elections of Bodoland Territorial Council have been postponed. In this time of emergency, people here need our government more. But instead of extending the term, the Honourable Governor has given the charge of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts to the Principal Secretary of Assam. We strongly oppose this decision and have filed a petition in the Gauhati High Court against the order," Mohilary tweeted.

"Though we are in an alliance with @BJP4India in the state, we are forced to reconsider our understanding. We are looking at other alternatives. I request Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, BJP President Shri @JPNadda and Home Minister Shri @AmitShah to look into the matter," another tweet by him read.

What riled the BPF, which rules the BTC, was that its appeal for an extension of the Council's term by six months was not entertained.

The autonomous BTC administers the four districts of BTAD, which falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The governor is the constitutional head there. Governor's rule was imposed in the BTAD as the term of the 40-member BTC expired without an election being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 11, the State Election Commission had announced the holding of the election on April 4. However, in the wake of the pandemic, it was deferred indefinitely.

The state's ruling dispensation comprises BJP, BPF and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). If the BPF severs its ties with the BJP and pulls out of the government, it will not create a problem for the saffron party as it continues to enjoy the support of AGP. The BJP and AGP together have 75 MLAs in a House of 126. Assembly elections in Assam will be held early next year.
Turkey should keep up the pressure on the hard-line Islamist group in control of Syrias embattled Idlib province, the US special envoy for Syria said today.

We hope to see the Turks continue to put pressure on the terrorist organizations there, the most powerful of them Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ambassador James Jeffrey said while speaking at a virtual panel hosted by the Washington-based Atlantic Council.

The problems with that organization and others have given the Russians and the Syrian government the excuse before to break the cease-fire, said Jeffrey. "We don't want them to have that excuse this time."

Why it matters: Syrias Idlib province is home to a number of rival opposition groups, including Turkey-backed rebel factions and the al-Qaeda derivative Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which wrested control of Idlib province from its more moderate rivals in January 2019, is considered a terrorist organization by Russia, Turkey and the United States, as well as the UN Security Council. The latest annual report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, released this week, calls on Washington to designate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham an entity of particular concern."

The groups presence in Syria's last opposition stronghold is repeatedly invoked as justification by President Bashar al-Assad and Russia to launch what the United States has described as deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. Both Damascus and Moscow deny carrying out indiscriminate attacks and instead claim to be targeting groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

A renewed government offensive in December displaced roughly 1 million people in Idlib, most of them women and children, according to the United Nations. The March cease-fire brokered by Russia, which supports Assad, and Turkey, which backs some of the opposition groups fighting the government, is the latest effort to quell the fighting.

Whats next: The cease-fire tasks Ankara with reining in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other radical groups from Idlib, something Moscow says Turkey failed to do under previous accords with Russia and Iran.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham doesnt recognize this cease-fire or support the joint military patrols conducted by Turkey and Russia along a strategic Syrian highway. If the truce fails to hold, aid agencies have warned of another all-out conflict and refugee crisis on Turkey's doorstep.

Know more: Fehim Tastekin writes that Turkey might attempt a strategy shift in war-torn Idlib, and Semih Idiz explains how Syrian rebel groups remain Turkeys Achilles heel in the region.
SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois attorney generals office asked the states highest court to consider arguments in a state representatives case challenging the governors authority to oversee the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the Illinois Supreme Court agrees, it would take over from the fifth appellate district, which has not yet held a hearing in Xenia Republican Rep. Darren Baileys lawsuit.

Of the 203 similar requests made to the highest court since 1995, only 22 were allowed by the justices, according to a spokesperson for the court.

In a document filed with the court Wednesday, the attorney generals office argued Clay County Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaneys ruling that Bailey is no longer subject to Gov. J.B. Pritzkers stay-at-home order was grounded on an erroneous conclusion.

Bailey alleges Pritzker does not have the power to issue successive 30-day disaster proclamations for the same disaster  COVID-19, in this case. The state disagrees.

Because COVID-19 has killed over 2,000 Illinois residents and continues to infect more, and because the circuit courts ruling threatens the governors authority to protect the public from the virus, the public interest requires an expeditious and definitive determination of this appeal by this court, the state argued in the court filing.

The state is asking the Supreme Court to either order Baileys attorney Thomas DeVore to respond by Friday or halt McHaneys ruling from taking effect until arguments can be held.

DeVore did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

At issue in this case is whether the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act prevents a governor from declaring more than one state of emergency per disaster.

Governors historically have issued successive proclamations, according to the state. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn did so in 2009 in response to the H1N1 virus and after flooding in 2011. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Pritzker also responded to severe flooding in 2017 and 2019 respectively with successive proclamations.

In the court document, the state maintains this is legal.

The act does not specifically prevent a governor from doing so, according to the attorney generals office, although it does not specifically permit it either.

Its only requirement is for a disaster to exist, the filing continued, so when the COVID-19 emergency concludes, Pritzker will be unable to continue using the extraordinary powers.

Without those disaster proclamations, the state argues, Illinois would be unable to quickly purchase gloves, gowns, masks and other personal protective equipment; prevent price gouging; establish alternative health care facilities such as the one at McCormick Place in Chicago; or deploy the National Guard.

Pritzker issued those proclamations  on March 9 and April 1  because the novel coronavirus still qualifies as a disaster, the attorney generals office continued.

He ordered residents to stay at home due to internal data showing that action would prevent a spike in virus-related deaths, according to the court document.

Bailey, as a government employee, is already exempt from its provisions, the state added.

While the circuit court order on its face pertains specifically to Bailey, the implications extend far beyond Bailey and jeopardize the health of Illinois residents throughout the state in several ways, the office wrote.

McHaneys ruling threatens the legitimacy of the governors actions as well as any further actions he deems necessary, according to the filing. And if the ruling is allowed to stand, the General Assembly would need to meet to determine what further steps are needed. That would be risking the health of its members and staff, the office argued.

The state also wrote that because Baileys win at the circuit court level inspired other residents to file related cases, this will cause a patchwork of conflicting orders from courts across Illinois.

In light of these significant, time-sensitive, life-or-death public health concerns, and the potential restraint on the governors necessary authority to manage them given the circuit courts (order), it is important the Supreme Court take over this case, the attorney generals office argued.

McHaneys ruling harms (Pritzkers) ability to protect the other branches of Illinois government who have been relying on his emergency authority, the residents of Illinois who have been staying at home in order to protect themselves and each other during this crisis and the Illinois residents, including medical providers and other essential workers, who cannot stay home, the state wrote in the court document.

...While it may be stressful and frustrating to remain mostly at home, the modest harm to Bailey is shared by many, fully justified in the circumstances, and pales in comparison to the dire public consequences that (McHaneys ruling) carries, it added.

Coming together while we're apart: Southern Illinoisans show support, love from a distance
Its not uncommon for multiple actors to play one character when it comes to daytime soap dramas. Over the years, a few once unfamiliar faces have played the role of Adam Newman on CBSs hit, The Young and the Restless  and thats only the adult version. Here are the notable men whove taken the big task of being Victor Newmans (Eric Braeden) outcast son through the years.

A brief history of Adam Newmans origin

Justin Hartley as Adam Newman | Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty Images

Years ago, it became known to The Young and the Restless fans that another Newman child, Adam, had been born and raised on a Kansas farm with his parents, Hope and Cliff Wilson. The year Hope passed from cancer, she revealed her sons true birth father is that of the powerful creator of Newman Enterprises, Victor Newman.

Hope urged Adam to seek out his biological father and develop some kind of relationship. Theirs is sordid and complicated, to say the least.

The Young and the Restless has a long history of bringing some of their biggest names back over and over again  such as Eric Braedens Victor Newman.

Once the adult version of Adam Newman was introduced, however, this hasnt been the case. There are four main players who can claim the Adam Newman moniker.

Chris Engen 2008-2009

Though Chris Engen may be most known for his one-year stint as Adam Newman on Y&R, his time on the set is the shortest. He started in February 2008 and left around May 2009.

Engen reportedly walked off the set after a disagreement about the direction of the character. According to Soap Opera Network, he posted a statement on MySpace.com at the time.

He said, in part: I never stormed off the set, nor have I stormed off any set in my 18 years of struggle as an artist. I felt generally unhappy about my contribution to the show, and had greater and greater difficulty making any sense of the challenges they were asking me to face. If that makes me a limited actor, then so be it. I was allowed ONE meeting with Maria Bell, and I called in sick ONCE in my 16 months on the show. In the end, I didnt feel that decisions were being made in my best interests, personally or professionally. Soap Opera Network

In the end, he thanked everyone for the opportunity.

Michael Muhney 2009-2014

In 2009, Michael Muhney became the newest face for Adam Newman and a fan favorite almost immediately. His portrayal of Adam felt, according to fans, spot-on  especially because of the characters creep-factor (which Muhney played well).

However, after numerous incidents in which Muhney attributes to his ego, and differences with Braeden, Muhney was let go at the tail end of 2014.

Following his termination, gossip tabloids claimed Muhney sexually harassing Y&R co-star, Hunter King. Muhney refuted the claims and revealed later that he felt suicidal after all was said and done. Luckily, h reached out and is doing better today. Fans still hope for Muhneys return to Y&R.

Justin Hartley 2014-2016

Before Justin Hartley became the famous Pearson triplet on This Is Us, he, too, too on the role of Adam Newman. Hartley was somewhat of a veteran actor, having played on dramas similar to daytime soaps like Mistresses and Revenge.

Hartleys work is impressive enough. But, its his spot as Fox Crane on Passions, from 2002-2006, may have set the tone for his stint as Adam. It was his second-ever role. It might not have made him the household name hes become today, but it didnt hurt.

Mark Grossman 2019 to present

The final version of Adam as of now is Mark Grossman. His IMDb credits only go back as far as 2012 with credits like Freeforms Famous in Love. The model and semi-pro Motocross racer may be the fresh new face of Adam, but so far, it looks like hes here to stay which, in soap opera time could be a week or a decade.

The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS.
US scientist Dr Anthony Fauci unveils data on Gileads experimental coronavirus drug remdesivir because of press leaks.

Concerns over leaks compelled the top US infectious disease official to reveal data on Gilead Sciences experimental drug remdesivir, the first in a scientifically rigorous clinical trial to show benefits in treating coronavirus.

The dramatic announcement by Anthony Fauci on Wednesday prompted concern among scientists that the Trump administration was raising hopes about a coronavirus treatment before sharing the full data with researchers.

As a cautionary example of inflating the potential value of a therapy, some pointed to US President Donald Trumps repeated endorsements of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, with no evidence that it works.

Newer data suggests the malaria treatments may carry significant risks for some sufferers of the respiratory disease caused by the virus.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is running the trial, said he took the first opportunity to get the word out that patients taking a placebo treatment should be switched to remdesivir in hopes of benefitting from it.

He expressed concern that leaks of partial information would lead to confusion. Since the White House was not planning a daily virus briefing, Fauci said he was invited to release the news at a news conference with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.

It was purely driven by ethical concerns, Fauci told Reuters news agency in a telephone interview.

I would love to wait to present it at a scientific meeting, but its just not in the cards when you have a situation where the ethical concern about getting the drug to people on placebo dominates the conversation, he said.

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An independent data safety and monitoring board, which had looked at the preliminary results of the NIAID trial, determined it had met its primary goal of reducing hospital stays.

On Tuesday evening, that information was conveyed in a conference call to scientists studying the drug globally.

There are literally dozens and dozens of investigators around the world, Fauci said. People were starting to leak it.

But he did not give details of where the unreported data was being shared.

Several scientists said the White House setting seemed inappropriate for the release of highly anticipated government-funded trial data on the Gilead therapy.

They had expected it to be presented simultaneously in a detailed news release, a briefing at a medical meeting or in a scientific journal, allowing researchers to review the data.

Information from various trials of remdesivir has been leaked to media in recent weeks. In a statement on Wednesday, Gilead said the NIAIDs much-anticipated trial had met its primary goal, but gave no details.

Data in a separate NIAID statement after Fauci spoke detailed preliminary results showing patients who got the drug had a 31 percent faster recovery than those who got a placebo, cutting hospital stays by four days.

The trial also came close to showing the drug helped people survive the disease, but the data fell just short of statistical significance.

I want to see the full data. I want to understand the statistics. I want to understand the benefit and risk. I want to understand the structure of the study and all of it, said Dr Steven Nissen, the chief academic officer at the Cleveland Clinic.





Am I encouraged from what Ive heard? Yes, Im encouraged. But I want to get a full understanding of what happened here, and not get it via a photo opportunity from the Oval Office.

Unimpressed

Data Gilead released on its own trial of remdesivir drew less attention, as it did not compare outcomes between those receiving therapy and those who did not.

Results from a third study in China suggesting remdesivir failed to help COVID-19 patients were released in the British medical journal the Lancet after review by a peer group of scientists.

Thats the only thing Ill hang my hat on, and that was negative, said Dr Eric Topol, director and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California.

He was unimpressed by remdesivirs modest benefit.

It was expected to be a whopping effect, Topol added. It clearly does not have that.

At the Oval Office news conference, Fauci compared the study findings to AZT, the first drug to show any benefit against HIV decades ago.

We know that was an imperfect drug. It was the first step, Fauci said in the interview.

Similar to AZT, its [remdesivir] the first baby step towards what hopefully will be a number of better drugs that will come in and be able to treat people with COVID-19.
[April 30, 2020] Intermap Technologies Provides an Update on Business and Board of Directors

Intermap welcomes world leader in geospatial intelligence to the board as independent director Intermap teams with McElhanney to complete a challenging mapping project for the Commonwealth of Dominica and the World Bank Intermap announces major insurance contracts and expansion into financial services Annual general meeting set for July 3, 2020 DENVER, April 30, 2020 /CNW/ - Intermap Technologies Corporation ("Intermap" or the "Company"), a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, today provided an update on its business and Board of Directors. Intermap welcomes world leader in geospatial intelligence to the board as independent director Intermap is pleased to welcome Jack Hild as an independent member of the Board of Directors of Intermap Technologies Corporation. Mr. Hild will serve as an independent member of the Board of Directors of Intermap Technologies Corporation and Intermap Federal Services Inc. (IFSI), which provides services to the U.S. government. Mr. Hild has a multitude of experiences in the geospatial, government, defense and intelligence sectors. Mr. Hild spent 30 years at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where he held numerous senior executive positions, including Deputy Director of Source Operations and NGA's Assistant Chief Information Officer. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mr. Hild crafted NGA's Homeland Security mission, including major policy reviews and the development and implementation of geospatial data and tradecraft initiatives. Mr. Hild served as Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Defense and Intelligence Strategy at DigitalGlobe. Throughout his career, Mr. Hild supported major crisis actions as a cartographer and executive leader. He was a principal in NGA International Initiatives, leading bilateral production and analysis strategies with many nations and providing executive oversight during the creation and implementation of the Multinational Geospatial Co-Production Program (MGCP). Mr. Hild is the recipient of numerous awards, including NGA's Distinguished Civilian Award and the Norwegian Defense Medal. Mr. Hild has been appointed to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, as Co-Chair of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Working Group. "Intermap is delighted to welcome Jack Hild to our board, which reflects a major evolution in our defense intelligence business that will benefit existing and future clients," commented Patrick A. Blott, Intermap's Chairman and CEO. "Jack is an internationally well-known and respected industry pioneer. He will leverage his intimate understanding of Intermap's capabilities, past and present, to help our team expand our business in our largest and most established vertical market. At the same time, Michael Zapata will be leaving the board to pursue other responsibilities, and, on behalf of the Company, I would like to thank Mike for his service to Intermap during a critical leadership transition." Intermap teams with McElhanney to complete a challenging mapping project for the Commonwealth of Dominica and the World Bank Intermap has signed a strategically important contract with McElhanney Ltd., a geoscience and engineering company, to map the highlands of Dominica, which have been historically challenging to collect with LiDAR due to almost continuous cloud cover. Intermap is seamlessly fusing McElhanney's LiDAR data with Intermap's NEXTMap OneTM elevation product to provide complete coverage of the island. Nearly one third of the area was completed with NEXTMap One, resulting in a high-quality, homogenous dataset that ensures accuracy, maximizes value, minimizes cost, and most mportantly, guarantees on-time delivery. The high-acuity, wide-area solution is enabled by the Company's patented IRISTM technology and will be available on-demand in the cloud through Intermap's NEXTWaveTM API. The work is being conducted under a program funded by the World Bank. More information can be found here.



Intermap announces major insurance contracts and expansion into financial services In Europe, Intermap recently signed major contracts with leading insurance carriers and leading financial services providers, marking the first subscriptions to Intermap's updated insurance solutions for European clients. The insurance contracts are with Direct pojistovna, a.s. of the Czech Republic and Generali CEE Holding B.V. of Generali Group, a leading insurer in the region of Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia. The financial services contracts are with Ceska sporitelna, a.s. of ERSTE Group, Deloitte Advisory, s.r.o. and MONETA Money Bank, a.s. The new cloud-based version of Aquarius RMA released this year enables growth throughout Europe by using a single, central software architecture. This approach powers expansion of current solutions for existing clients and expansion into new markets.

"From supporting existing government and commercial customers to winning new business, Intermap is leveraging its patented, proprietary technology to power data-as-a-service, growing renewable subscriptions and repeat data collection programs," added Patrick Blott. "As we transition the business model away from one-time, one-source, one-off data sales towards recurring and scalable multi-source solutions, which leverage our low-latency capability and infrastructure, we are rapidly expanding geographically and by industry vertical, entering into promising strategic partnerships with established market leaders, and continuing to position Intermap for recurring revenue and renewed growth." Update on Continuous Disclosure Filings and Annual General Meeting As previously announced by the Company on April 2, 2020, Intermap is relying on exemptive relief recently granted by Canadian securities administrators that allows it to delay the filing of certain of its continuous disclosure filings. In accordance, the Company is delaying the filing of its audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, annual management's discussion and analysis for the corresponding period, related management certifications of annual filings and its annual information form (collectively, the "Filings"). The Company expects to be able to complete the Filings and related deliveries on or before May 14, 2020 and confirms there have been no material undisclosed business developments since April 2, 2020. The Company's insiders and management remain restricted from trading in Intermap securities pursuant to the Company's insider trading policy, which reflects the principles in section 9 of National Policy 11-207 Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions. During the COVID-19 crisis, the Intermap team is working remotely to support customers, honor contracts and pursue business development. The Company is experiencing some delays in foreign government contracting as a result of the current environment. Intermap intends to hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on July 3, 2020. Intermap Reader Advisory

Certain information provided in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "will be", "will consider", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap's Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law. About Intermap Technologies

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP) (ITMSF: BB) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions. The Company's proprietary NEXTMap database and value-added geospatial data management, processing, analytics, fusion and orthorectification software and solutions are utilized across a range of industries that rely on accurate, high-resolution elevation data, including aviation, engineering, environmental planning, government markets, hydrology, insurance, land management, law enforcement and patrol, oil and gas, renewable energy, telecommunications, transportation and utilities. Intermap's commercial applications include location-based intelligence, risk assessment, geographic information systems, global positioning systems and 3D visualization. For more information, please visit www.intermap.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intermap-technologies-provides-an-update-on-business-and-board-of-directors-301050679.html SOURCE Intermap Technologies Corporation

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Beijing, April 30 : China opposes any "arbitrary" probe into the origin of coronavirus pandemic that is based on the presumption of its guilt, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said.

"This is an arbitrary investigation based on the presumption of guilt. That is what we firmly oppose," Efe news reported on Thursday citing Le as saying.

"We support professional exchanges between scientists. What we oppose, however, is unfounded charges against China. One should not accuse China first and then run so-called international investigations just to make up the evidence." He made the comments on Tuesday in an exclusive interview with NBC News aired on Wednesday.

The comments come after US President Donald Trump said his administration was conducting "serious investigations" into Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, that was first reported in Wuhan last December, and suggesting he would seek damages for Washington.

Trump has also lashed out at the World Health Organization, calling it "literally a pipe organ for China".

However, Le said he would not object to scientific investigations into the virus' origins but questioned why this probe was targeting only China and not other countries "with rapid spread and surge of confirmed and fatal cases".

"We oppose the politically-driven investigation to stigmatize China." He said the virus was a natural disaster and "China is a victim" and sought to assure that the measures adopted by China to contain the outbreak were "open, transparent and responsible".

"We did not cover up anything, and did not delay any efforts," he said.

He called Trump's call for reparations over coronavirus an "unreasonable and legally unfounded" which is "not different from blackmail".

"The intention is nothing but shifting blame to China for the inadequate response of someone else. Blame game finds little support, and ends up nowhere." Beijing and Washington have, in recent weeks, exchanged accusations over the origin of the virus.

In an interview with Fox News, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Chinese authorities knew about the virus before they made the information public.

Le said it was unfortunate that some politicians were politicizing the issue.

"This is not something we want to see. Under the current circumstances, it is the time for solidarity, for working together to combat the virus and tide over the difficulties. It is not a time for accusation and political manipulation." The Chinese official said experts have widely confirmed that the virus "has a natural origin, and is not artificially synthesized".

Citing the WHO, Le said the source of the virus was still unknown "but all the available data suggest an animal source, and hence it cannot be developed in a lab".

He reiterated that China had informed the global health body about the virus on January 3 and on January 12 the country shared genome sequencing of the coronavirus that has been critical for diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development.

"We put Wuhan, a city of over 10 million people, under quarantine. That was an important decision that was unseen before in our history. The US government should have become fully aware of the severity of the issue. If it were anything less serious, how could we lock down an entire city?" Le asked.

As of Thursday, there were 83,944 coronavirus cases in China, with 4,637 deaths.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Indias First Real-time Technology to Intensify Centralised COVID Surveillance

In a major COVID-19 pandemic Public Health initiative, the Public Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt of Telangana, swiftly deployed Indias first automated COVID  19 Monitoring System App developed by Vera Smart Healthcare to identify, undertake live surveillance, track, monitor, and provide real-time analytics to Chief Minister and the Health Department.

COVID  19 Monitoring System App, developed in a record time to deal with the pandemic, enables live surveillance, monitoring, tracking, reporting, and major bulletins. The analytics by the app also facilitate assurance to the stakeholders by providing the facts and figures in their fingertips.

The system empowers each health-caller to handle 1500+ calls, and simple chatbot interaction every day with a patient, to ensure that the symptomatic or confirmed positive, quarantined and is under treatment, helping to strengthen the COVID contacts outreach significantly. The callers will also persuade and remind the patient to self-administer the prescribed treatment, to maintain social distancing, as well as give a reminder to stay home and stay safe.

This user-friendly app is developed by the US and Hyderabad based, early stage start-up Vera Smart Healthcare, which had earlier helped Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, to create detailed health profiles for more than 50000 people across these 3 states in a record number of days.

Vera has introduced the first-ever mobile hospital in India to help increase healthcare accessibility in rural areas covering most of the Indian villages. The company focuses on building smart hospitals in India along with its technology partner Fellow.

Announcing the successful deployment of Veras COVID  19 Monitoring System App, Director of Public Health Dr. G Srinivas Rao, for COVID surveillance, commended Vera Smart Healthcare expertise to handle COVID surveillance complexities, understand the protocol, and developing the technology platform in a record of 3 days.

The system has helped us first, track and monitor the foreign returnees; community spread and already hospitalised for severe acute respiratory infection (SARS) very early to control spread of COVID pandemic in the state.

Vera Centralised COVID Monitoring System is a timely technology innovation, eased the pain off by effective surveillance, and deploy a meticulous tech-enabled method to collate vital data, at the click of a button empowering active associates across the state, from the hierarchical polity to bureaucracy to the front line ASHA & ANM workers, to make COVID  19, a history. Dr. Srinivas stated

The Monitoring System which is built on a digital platform, erases human errors, and provides accurate information. The quick turnaround, and the innovative psyche, has initiated improved surveillance, tracking  effective monitoring, and supervision. Dr. Srinivas added.

Explaining its benefits, Dharma Teja Nukarapu, Founder and CEO of Vera Healthcare stated Our technology is based on IoT, Smart devices, GPS and Geotag via a super lite centralized App  COVID  19 Monitoring System, which is installed in the phones of all associates from the ground level till the Chief Ministers Office. The system was built by Vera in record time. Every stakeholder got comprehensive training on using the App.

Among the vital features of the app is Geotagging and GPS tracking of the home quarantined person, to ensure that he/she is not breaching the law of quarantine. With instant trace and trackability, accurate information is pushed to the authorities even if there is a breach. Every detail reported reaches the Chief Ministers Office through various updaters like the ASHA worker, Doctor, Police, concerned Bureaucrat.

Vera Healthcare is now readying to release a batch of SMART PATCH which tags the patient geographically, monitors and disseminates his / her real-time health progress Dharma Teja added.
As part of his guilty plea, Mr. Flynn said he knew lying to the F.B.I. was a crime, but he has since said he was innocent. Mr. Flynn is now asking Judge Sullivan to allow him to withdraw from the guilty plea, saying he was forced into the decision. The judge, who carefully walked Mr. Flynn through the plea in 2018, has not ruled on the request.

The newly disclosed notes appear to be written by Bill Priestap, the former head of the F.B.I.s counterintelligence division, whose initials are on them. Mr. Priestap played a central role in the F.B.I.s Russia investigation. He approved the opening of the case, known as Crossfire Hurricane, in July 2016 to determine whether any Trump campaign officials, including Mr. Flynn, had conspired with Russia during the presidential election.

The notes were taken on Jan. 24, 2017, only days after Mr. Flynn lied to Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials about his discussions with Mr. Kislyak. The notes show that F.B.I. officials were debating how to deal with Mr. Flynn and figure out the goals of the interview.

In one instance, Mr. Priestap writes: Whats our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? In another, Mr. Priestap appears to understand the risks of the interview, adding, Protect our institution by not playing games and If were seen playing games, WH will be furious.

Among the documents handed over to Mr. Flynns lawyers was an email talking about whether agents needed to warn the national security adviser that lying to the F.B.I. was a crime. Another email described the questions that agents should be prepared to answer if Mr. Flynn asked them.

Mr. Priestap did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Mr. Flynns lawyers told Judge Sullivan last week after receiving the materials that there was little doubt what they proved: that Mr. Flynn had been deliberately set up by corrupt F.B.I. officials.

Since August 2016 at the latest, partisan F.B.I. and D.O.J. leaders conspired to destroy Mr. Flynn, the lawyers wrote to the judge. These documents show in their own handwriting and emails that they intended either to create an offense they could prosecute or at least get him fired.
Global remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 per cent in 2020 due to the economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic shutdowns across the world.

The projected fall, which is expected to be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country.

A World Bank report dated April 20 noted that remittances to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by 19.7 per cent to $445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households.

Over the years, remittances alleviate poverty in lower and middle-income countries, improve nutritional outcomes, are associated with higher spending on education, and reduce child labor in disadvantaged households.

A fall in remittances affect families ability to spend on these areas as more of their finances will be directed to solve food shortages and immediate needs.

Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank Group President, David Malpass.

Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities access to these most basic needs.

The World Bank said it is assisting member states in monitoring the flow of remittances through various channels, the costs and convenience of sending money, and regulations to protect financial integrity that affect remittance flows.

It is also working with the G20 countries and the global community to reduce remittance costs and improve financial inclusion for the poor.

Regional Pattern

Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 per cent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 per cent), South Asia (22.1 per cent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 per cent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 per cent).

Data showed that remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa registered a small decline of 0.5 per cent to $48 billion in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, remittance flows to the region are expected to decline by 23.1 per cent to reach $37 billion in 2020, while a recovery of 4 per cent is expected in 2021.

The anticipated decline can be attributed to a combination of factors driven by the coronavirus outbreak in key destinations where African migrants reside including in the EU area, the United States, the Middle East, and China.

These large economies host a large share of Sub-Saharan African migrants and combined, are a source of close to a quarter of total remittances sent to the region.

In addition to the pandemics impact, many countries in the Eastern Africa region are experiencing a severe outbreak of desert locusts attacking crops and threatening food supply.

The report showed that sending $200 remittances to the region, for instance, cost 8.9 per cent on average in the first quarter of 2020, a modest decrease compared with the average cost of 9.25 per cent a year before.

The most expensive corridors are observed mainly in the Southern African region, with costs as high as 20 per cent. At the other end of the spectrum, the less expensive corridors had average costs of less than 3.6 per cent.

The large decline in remittances flows in 2020 comes after remittances to LMICs reached a record $554 billion in 2019.

Even with the decline, remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for LMICs as the fall in foreign direct investment is expected to be larger (more than 35 percent).

In 2019, remittance flows to LMICs became larger than FDI, an important milestone for monitoring resource flows to developing countries.

In 2021, the World Bank estimates that remittances to LMICs will recover and rise by 5.6 per cent to $470 billion.

The outlook for remittance remains as uncertain as the impact of COVID-19 on the outlook for global growth and on the measures to restrain the spread of the disease. In the past, remittances have been counter-cyclical, where workers send more money home in times of crisis and hardship back home.

This time, however, the pandemic has affected all countries, creating additional uncertainties.

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Effective social protection systems are crucial to safeguarding the poor and vulnerable during this crisis in both developing countries as well as advanced countries. In host countries, social protection interventions should also support migrant populations, Michal Rutkowski, Global Director of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank, said.

Meanwhile, the global average cost of sending $200 remains high at 6.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, only slightly below the previous year.

Sub-Saharan Africa continued to have the highest average cost, at about 9 per cent, yet intra-regional migrants in Sub-Saharan Africa comprise over two-thirds of all international migration from the region.

Dilip Ratha, lead author of the brief, noted that quick actions that make it easier to send and receive remittances can provide much-needed support to the lives of migrants and their families.

These include treating remittance services as essential and making them more accessible to migrants, he explained.


Sign ETAN's Petition: Free West Papua Political Prisoners



Sign ETAN's Petition: Free West Papua Political Prisoners

ETAN Condemns Violence and Racism Against West Papuans



Calls for freeing Papuan Political Prisoners





Condemnations of Papuans and what is perceived as their ingratitude for Indonesias supposed largesse toward the population were common in the mass media. Articles about the demonstrations and violence in the mainstream media almost exclusively cited government, police and military sources who condemned the Papuans.

May 1, 2020 - The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) condemns the ongoing violence and racism against West Papuans living in various parts of Indonesia and in West Papua (the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, and the governments reactions to these expressions of discontent.We condemn the recent conviction of the Jakarta Six for their peaceful expression of their opposition to Indonesias heavy-handed rule in West Papua.We call for the immediate release of these prisoners and other Papuans arrested for freedom of expression and for the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the terrible violence perpetrated on them.As Indonesia struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19, t he government continues to hold anti-racism and pro-independence activists in overcrowded prisons across West Papua, in Jakarta and in Balikpapan. In many cases, trials have continued against these political prisoners endangering the health of the prisoners, lawyers, judges and court staff.The six were charged with treason for demanding self-determination for West Papua and flying the morning star flag at a demonstration at the end of August 2019. Paulus Suryanta Ginting, Ambrosius Mulait, Ariana Elopere, Dano Tabuni, and Charles Kossay were sentenced to nine months in prison; Isay Wenda was sentenced to eight months. (These sentences include time-served. Suryanta - also known as Surya Anta - is the first non-Papuan Indonesian to be detained on treason charges for supporting West Papuas freedom.)On August 16, 2019, the day before Indonesians celebrate independence, Papuan students in dormitories in East Java were targeted by students after rumors spread that the Papuans had disrespected the Indonesian flag. Students and later vigilantes such as the Islam Defenders Front, a notoriously violent Islamist group, attacked West Papuan students, calling them pigs, monkeys and dogs. Accounts of these attacks show Indonesian security forces directing attacks, and in later attacks participating in the violence against Papuans.The demonstrations and violence spread to other parts of Indonesia. In West Papua, security forces used overbearingly violent means to subdue protests, killing dozens. Racist language directed at Papuans by a teacher in Wamena led to protests that authorities met with violence, with nearly 30 Papuans killed. The Indonesian government implemented a media blackout in West Papua. Although information of the horrific violence leaked out in real time, these reports were portrayed as hoaxes designed to spread conflict. Journalists in West Papua were detained and assaulted. In West Java, Indonesian journalist and filmmaker Dandhy Laksono was arrested for tweets describing the violence in West Papua and voicing support for self-determination. Papuan protesters linked these recent grievances to their decades of suffering under Indonesian authority, and in some cases they raised the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag, a symbol of Papuan nationalism, and renewed their calls for a referendum. Following the violence, the governor of East Java apologized for the treatment of the Papuans. But this was an atypical reaction. Condemnations of Papuans and what is perceived as their ingratitude for Indonesias supposed largesse toward the population were common in the mass media. Articles about the demonstrations and violence in the mainstream media almost exclusively cited government, police and military sources who condemned the Papuans. There was very little sympathy expressed for their situation as poor and marginalized, nor were Papuan voices allowed to express their version of events. As Papuan writer Tamara Soukotta asked , if West Papua is  as the Indonesian state officially claims  part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, why then are the West Papuans, as citizens of the Republic of Indonesia, denied their constitutional rights?

This is an excellent question, and one for which Indonesia should be taken to task.

Recent events threatening tolerance and pluralism and of course the situation in West Papua and with Papuans elsewhere in Indonesia have called into question Indonesia's commitment to a fully realized democracy.





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The US government is concerned by the actions of a separatist group that declared self-rule in parts of southern Yemen over the weekend, said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

On Sunday, the Southern Transitional Council declared a state of emergency and autonomous rule in the south of the country, including the strategic port city of Aden, which functions as the de facto capital of the Yemeni government.

Such unilateral actions only exacerbate instability in Yemen, said Pompeo in a statement Tuesday evening. They are especially unhelpful at a time when the country is threatened by COVID-19 and also threaten to complicate the efforts of the UN special envoy to revive political negotiations between the government and the Houthi rebels.

Why it matters: The southern rebellion threatens to unravel a Saudi-brokered deal between the UN-recognized government and the separatists. The November 2019 pact, known as the Riyadh Agreement, ended a months-long power struggle over the city of Aden.

The separatists announcement also complicates US-backed and UN-led efforts to hold peace talks to end the wider civil war between the coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa.

Whats next: On April 24, Saudi Arabia announced a month-long cease-fire extension to help contain the novel coronavirus outbreak and allow for UN-brokered negotiations. During a news conference Wednesday, Pompeo commended Riyadh for agreeing to pause hostilities amid the pandemic and asked the Houthis to simply do the same.

According to the International Rescue Committee, fighting between both sides increased by 30% last week, putting at risk efforts to both fight the virus and prevent a cholera outbreak.

Earlier this month, Yemen reported its first case of COVID-19, and aid agencies have warned the health infrastructure in the war-torn country would be unable to cope if it spreads. Torrential rains and severe flooding, meanwhile, have impacted more than 100,000 people across Yemen since mid-April, the United Nations said.

Know more: Read what the Saudi-led coalition and the United Nations had to say this week about the separatists declaration of self-rule. For more on how a funding shortage at the United Nations could impact efforts to fight the coronavirus in Yemen, check out this report from Bryant Harris.
The grim accounting in New Jerseys long-term care facilities continues to only get worse with the state reporting 3,247 deaths as of Wednesday.

That number includes both lab-confirmed and suspected coronavirus deaths in nursing homes, but the state only includes the lab-confirmed cases in its overall count of COVID-19 deaths in N.J., state officials said.

According to the Department of Health, 489 out of 670 nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have reported viral outbreaks.

The overall death toll from COVID-19 in New Jersey was up to 6,770 people.

The battle against COVID right now is taking place in long-term care facilities," said Mark Parkinson, who heads the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, which represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the country. Unfortunately the elderly are particularly vulnerable to COVID and the majority of those who live in our facilities are not only elderly, but have underlying health issues.

According to the latest data from public health agencies, more than 5,700 nursing homes and other long-term care facilities nationwide have coronavirus cases, said the group.

In New Jersey, at least 16 facilities in the state had 25 or more deaths associated with COVID-19.

Questions about the accuracy of the Department of Health data, though, continue to be raised. In some cases, the figures has been challenged by facility administrators as well as employees and family members of those who have died. State officials have acknowledged that a number of facilities have been jointly reporting resident and staff deaths, and say they are continuing to reconcile the numbers.

Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center, which has been under state and federal scrutiny ever since the discovery of 17 bodies there in a makeshift morgue on Easter Sunday, was at the top of the state accounting of the coronavirus toll. As of Wednesday, it reported 57 of its residents had succumbed to the coronavirus at its two separate buildings in Andover Township, according to the Department of Health.

On Wednesday night, a Sussex County freeholder put the death toll at Andover even higher, at 64, and called for the National Guards assistance there. He charged the state health department was not doing enough to address the ongoing crisis at the facility.

State Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal has been asked to look into what happened at Andover. At the same time, the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare has its own inquiry ongoing into the facility, which is New Jerseys largest nursing home.

The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, which is operated by the state, had the highest number of residents testing positive for COVID-19, at 217. The facility has had 52 deaths. The Veterans Home at Menlo Park reported 45 deaths and 137 active cases of the coronavirus.

Earlier this week, Mark Piterski, a deputy commissioner at the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs who oversaw New Jerseys three veterans homes in Paramus, Menlo Park and Vineland, resigned from his post. Gov. Phil Murphy, at his daily coronavirus briefing, told reporters he did not know why Piterski resigned, but said he had been replaced by retired New Jersey Army National Guard Colonel Walter Nall, currently director of Veterans Services.

Murphy had earlier ordered the National Guard into the states veterans homes.

The VA is in Paramus in a big way, the governor said, helping run the operation in both Paramus and Menlo Park.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said a complete assessment in Paramus and Menlo is now underway.

Parkinson, the American Health Care Association CEO and president, said while nursing homes have done their best to keep the virus at bay, doubling down on infection control procedures and keeping visitors out, it has become clear that coronavirus is very, very hard to stop in places such as U.S. Navy ships, cruise ships and nursing homes.

He added that it was beyond time for state and federal officials to rally around nursing residents and caregivers, calling for more testing, personal protective equipment and funding.

Clearly for the last two months, we have not been at the head of the line, he said.

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Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com.
AG Barr threatens legal action against states COVID-19 orders that infringe on civil rights

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U.S. Attorney General William Barr has threatened to take legal action against state officials who violate people's civil rights by taking draconian measures to enforce stay-at-home orders.

On Monday, Barr sent a two-page memo to federal prosecutors asking them to consider legal action against state and local governments that infringe upon citizens' civil liberties as they enforce state lockdown policies in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of COVID19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court, the memo reads.

In the past several weeks, orders restricting the types of businesses that can open and places people can gather have forced millions of people to stay home and numerous businesses, organizations and places of worship to suspend or alter their operations.

Barrs memo acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has required the imposition of extraordinary restrictions on all of our daily lives.

However, he cautioned that even in times of emergency, the First Amendment and federal law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers.

Barr's memo comes as churches in several states and localities have filed lawsuits in recent weeks against state and local authorities as some services have been shut down during the pandemic and citations have been issued to pastors and churchgoers.

The churches claim that bans against large gatherings that dont exempt in-person or drive-in worship services but allow people to pack into big-box stores violate their freedom of religion as guaranteed under the First Amendment.

Barr warned in his memo that legal restrictions on state and local authorities are not limited to discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers as there are other types of civil rights violations that can occur.

For example, the Constitution also forbids, in certain circumstances, discrimination against disfavored speech and undue interference with the national economy, he wrote.

Specifically, the memo directs the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Matthew Schneider to oversee and coordinate our efforts to monitor state and local policies and, if necessary, take action to correct them.

Though her name is not mentioned in the memo, Barrs direction to the Michigan attorney comes as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Witmer has imposed some of the strictest COVID-19 related policies in the country. Her stay-at-home order has led to protests outside the state capital.

Whitmers order bars residents from traveling to in-state vacation homes and even prohibits stores from selling items such as paint, furniture, carpets, flooring and plants.

Additionally, Whitmers order prohibits advertising of products that are not groceries, medical supplies, or items that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and basic operation of residences.

Many policies that would be unthinkable in regular times have become commonplace in recent weeks, and we do not want to unduly interfere with the important efforts of state and local officials to protect the public, Barr wrote. But the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis. We must, therefore, be vigilant to ensure its protections are preserved, at the same time that the public is protected.

Michigan is one of the states that has been hit hard by the pandemic. According to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, there have been over 3,400 coronavirus-related deaths in the state. Nationwide, there have been over 990,000 cases and over 56,000 COVID-19-related deaths.

Other protests against stay-at-home orders have been held outside of state capitols in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Some states are now starting to slowly reopen their economies as the infection rate has dropped in some hotspots. However, some fear that the easing of restrictions could lead to another wave of COVID-19 cases.

Judges have affirmed the First Amendment rights of churches to gather during the pandemic.

On Friday, a federal judge ruled that a Pentecostal church in Mississippi may stay open for drive-in worship services after the churchs pastor was issued a citation for holding Easter services.

In mid-April, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the city of Louisville, Kentucky, from barring a church from holding a drive-in Easter worship service on grounds that doing so would violate their religious beliefs.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department issued a statement of interest and an amicus brief in support of a Mississippi church where churchgoers were each fined $500 for attending a Wednesday night drive-in worship service. After the Justice Departments intervention, the mayor of Greenville, Mississippi, said the fines would not be enforced.

The United States Department of Justice will continue to ensure that religious freedom remains protected if any state or local government, in their response to COVID-19, singles out, targets, or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions, Barr vowed in the April 14 statement.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

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CAIRO (Reuters) - Ten Egyptian army members including an officer were killed or wounded on Thursday when a bomb exploded in an armoured vehicle south of Bir al-Abd city in the Northern Sinai region, a military spokesman said in a statement.

He did not specify how many had been killed in the attack, which not immediately claimed by any group. Militants loyal to Islamic State are active in the strategic border region.

Egypt has been fighting Islamist insurgents who have killed hundreds of police and soldiers in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula since the ousting of Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following mass protests against his rule.

Militants have also carried out attacks elsewhere in the country.

An Egyptian policeman and seven suspected militants were killed on April 14 in an exchange of gunfire after the ministry of interior received information about potential Easter attacks against Coptic Christians, the ministry said, adding that three other policemen had also been wounded.

The military and police launched a major campaign against militant groups in 2018, focusing on the Sinai Peninsula as well as southern areas and the border with Libya.

(Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad; Editing by Sandra Maler and Philippa Fletcher)
Three men have been arrested after a man was punched in the face and a gun was allegedly pulled during a domestic dispute across the road from Australia's biggest mosque.

Riot police and the bomb squad rushed to Wangee Road in Lakemba, in south-west Sydney, at about 4.05pm on Thursday.

They were responding to an alleged domestic dispute and found a gun during the operation.

The alleged altercation was recorded by a young woman as she walked along the street and turned into a property across the road from Lakemba Mosque.

The footage, which was shared with The Daily Telegraph, showed three men trudging along behind her before a heated war of words exploded at the front fence.

'What's the f***ing problem bro?' one men said.

A man in a black shirt then leaned across the front fence and allegedly punched the woman's father in the face.

'You little dog, don't f***ing hit my dad,' the woman filming said.

The two parties continued to shout at each other and a man wearing a white hoodie allegedly showed a silver gun hidden in his front pocket.

The trio then walked away from the property but were pursued by the woman behind the camera and her father, who ran up the road.

A man wearing a white hoodie allegedly appeared to latch onto a silver gun hidden in his front pocket

Additional footage showed the man in the white jumper being handcuffed and searched by two police officers

Additional footage at the other end of the street showed the man in the white jumper being handcuffed and searched by two police officers.

Officers were also seen combing through bushes and grass outside Canterbury Vale Public School, as one man sat on the footpath nearby wearing handcuffs.

The man appeared distressed as he sat cross legged while officers spoke with him.

Wangee Road was locked down between Punchbowl Road and Lakemba Street and caused traffic chaos through the thoroughfare. It has since re-opened.

Lakemba Mosque is the largest mosque in Australia and is normally packed with worshipers during Ramadan.

The three men were taken to Campsie Police Station and are assisting with police inquiries.

A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a crime scene has been established.

There were no reported injuries.

Footage taken at the scene shows officers combing through bushes and grass outside Canterbury Vale Public School
An 18-year-old woman was



allegedly raped by seven persons, including three minors, when she was returning to her village near here in Madhya Pradesh with her brother, police said on Thursday.

The accused threw the victim's brother in a well before committing the crime on the intervening night of April 29-30, they said.

The police have taken five accused, including the three minors, into custody while two are absconding, an official said.

Kotwali Police Station in-charge Rajendra Dhurve informed the woman was returning on a motorbike with her 21- year-old brother on Wednesday night to their village.

The seven accused intercepted the motorbike and threw the woman's brother in a well at around 8.30 pm, he said.

The accused took turns to sexually assault the woman till 2 am on Thursday, he said.

After being freed by the accused, the woman took out her brother from the well and reached the village in the morning, Dhurve said.

They later filed a police complaint, he said.

Two of the accused, identified as Shubham Bele (22) and Sandeep Khatiya (23), and three minors were taken into custody, he said.

The other two accused, identified as Lokesh Soni (22), a resident of Nemawar (Dewas district), and a local resident, Pawan Bele (24), are absconding, the police officer said.

Dhurve said the accused have been booked under IPC sections 376 (rape), 365 (kidnapping) and 307 (attempt to murder).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEC Technologies India (NEC India), a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, has helped Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) convert its smart city control center into a war room to combat the spread of coronavirus in the city. The Integrated Command Center has been set up to coordinate traffic management and to maintain law and order in the city.

NECs Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) is used to keep a tight vigil on human and vehicular movements during the lockdown period, especially in areas inside the red zone. The teams stationed at the war room will provide real-time updates of anomalies that potentially impose a threat to the communities. In some selected areas, NEC has also deployed a special analytics function on selected cameras for crowd control to ensure appropriate social distance measures are in place to mitigate community transmission of the virus. This feature will send alerts to the control room as soon as it detects five or more people moving in any of these CCTV cameras. NEC also provided special training to the authorities on managing the live cameras and alerts.

A GMDA spokesperson said, NECs significant contribution to GMDAs Integrated Command Center Room gives us the capability for real-time situational awareness through a central dashboard to the authorities. Through the use of modern CCTV cameras that are connected by an optical fiber network, we are able to monitor communities and make pre-emptive moves wherever necessary. We are hopeful that with this successful implementation, we will help Gurugram become a COVID-free city.

Mr. Pradeep Kushwaha, Head of Public Safety Business UnitNEC Technologies India (NEC India), said, In these unprecedented times, we at NEC are committed to health and well-being of everyone while playing a constructive role in supporting the administration on the frontlines against COVID-19. Leveraging NECs leading position in the field of public safety, we have set up an emergency war room and control center, which will play a key role in containing the spread of the virus. The need of the hour is to remain focused and we will continue to work with the authorities in providing the maximum possible support in the current situation to create a safe and healthy society.

In 2019, NEC Technologies India (NEC India) was selected as the master system integrator by GMDA for public safety and adaptive traffic management system project in Gurugram & Manesar. Under this project, NEC is implementing a broad range of solutions, including traffic violation detection, vehicle number plate detection & many other AI based video analytics solutions to support citizen services from GMDA.

A leading master system integrator in public safety and smart city space, NEC Technologies India (NEC India) has already implemented large and complex ICT projects in cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Hubballi-Dharwad and Gurugram.
Seoul, April 30 : Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been seen exerting increasing clout in Pyongyang as of late, raising the possibility of her succeeding her brother amid speculation that he may be seriously unwell, a Sotuh Korean legislative think tank has said.

In an analysis report of the latest meeting of the North's Supreme People's Assembly held earlier this month, South Korea's National Assembly Research Services on Wednesday projected that the 32-year-old Kim Yo-jong's reappointment to the Workers' Party politburo "will strengthen the governing foundation of the Paekdu bloodline (in North Korea)", reports Yonhap News Agency.

The Kim dynasty is often referred to as the "Paekdu bloodline" in the North, as Mount Paekdu, while widely disputed by outside experts, is known in the country as the birthplace of Kim Il-sung, the nation's late founder.

"This suggests the possibility of expanding her status and role as official successor," the report said.

The report comes amid media speculation that Jong-un might be seriously ill.

Unconfirmed rumours spiked after he skipped an annual visit to the mausoleum of his grandfather Kim Il-sung on the late national founder's April 15 birth anniversary, the North's most important national holiday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"Kim Yo-jong has virtually taken on the role of the party's core, undertaking the responsibility of the party's monolithic leadership system." the report said.

Her ascent to supreme leadership, if it were to take place, would not occur immediately, the think tank forecast, adding that an official process would be required after Kim Jong-un returns to the spotlight.

The report noted Kim Yo-jong's official statements toward South Korea and the United States in place of her brother earlier this year as some of her recent major activities.

First seen in public during the funeral of late leader Kim Jong-il in 2011, Kim Yo-jong's public profile has been quite visible in the past two years.

She was spotted near her brother at summit events with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump.


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Bollywood celebrities, are not always about glitz and glamour, but also fall prey to the dark phases in the most mysterious ways. Over the years, B-town has definitely seen some sudden tragedies that left the entire nation in shock. Here are 6 Bollywood celebrities who died mysteriously.

1. Guru Dutt

 Wikimedia

Guru Dutt who was known as an actor of classic movies, was found dead in his rented apartment in Mumbai in 1964. It was said that he had alcohol with sleeping pills but the real reason for his death is not known, yet. He was only 39 when he passed away and had not shown any signs of depression before that, which makes everything about the accident quite shocking, to be honest.



2. Divya Bharti

 Instagram/DivyaBharti_Fanclub

The most promising actor Divya Bharti, who won millions of hearts, passed away when she was just 19 years old. Her death was a sudden misfortune and there were speculations that she fell from the 5th floor of her house in Versova, Mumbai which could either be suicide or murder. Her funeral took place on April 7th, 1993. Many also believed that her secret husband Sajid Nadiadwala was a part of all this but the investigation ended soon and yet her death is a mystery to the world.



3. Silk Smitha

 Twitter/Silksmitha_fc

The famous actor, Silk Smitha, also took some extreme steps and committed suicide back in 1996, in her Chennai apartment. The actress was going through a lot of problems and due to severe depression, death became her final decision. The film, The Dirty Picture, played by Vidya Balan, is also based on Silk's life. Yet, no one till date knows what exactly went wrong.



4. Nafisa Joseph

 IMDB

You would remember Nafisa Joseph quite well! A very well-known VJ on MTV, she had also hanged herself in Mumbai, in 2004. The winner of Femina Miss India Universe, 1997, had called off her wedding before she died and it was reported that her to-be-husband, Gautam Khanduja, had lied to her about his personal life. But, the reports suggest that she died due to extreme depression.



5. Parveen Babi

 Pinterest/Sonika Kara

We'll never forget the impeccable and a stellar actress, Parveen Babi. The one to bag Times Magazine cover was found dead on January 22, 2005. The actress's life was in complete disarray. She became mentally weak and it was reported that she was suffering from a disorder as well. Rumours also surrounded that all this was a result of alcoholism and failed relationships. Babi was found lying in her bedroom and she left everyone questioning how she actually died.



6. Sridevi

 Instagram/Sridevi_fanclub

Sridevi died at the age of 54 in February 2018. The actress who is also hailed as a dancer extraordinaire, died in a bathtub in Dubai as she lost consciousness. The report suggested that it was an accidental drowning. However, this fateful evening will always remain under wraps and no one yet knows what led to such a situation, where everything felt so abrupt and sudden.


Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech in Lansing, Mich., on April 13, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP)

Michigan Governor Proposes Free College for Essential Workers

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a new program Wednesday that would offer free college education to essential workers during the ongoing pandemic.

Modeled after the post-World War II G.I. Bill that helped service members and veterans cover their education and training costs, Whitmers Futures for Frontliners program would provide an opportunity to earn college degrees or technical certificates for essential workers, including hospital and nursing home staff, grocery store workers, public safety officers, waste collectors, and many others.

The Futures for Frontliners program is our way of saying thank you to those who have risked their lives on the front lines of this crisis, Whitmer said in a statement. I want to assure all of our workers we will never forget those of you who stepped up and sacrificed their own health during this crisis. Youre the reason were going to get through this.

Whitmer said the program would help Michigan to achieve a goal of increasing the number of working age adults with a technical certificate or college degree from 45 to 60 percent by 2030. She did not specify the estimated number of eligible workers, the cost, or how the program would be funded.

Enacting the proposed plan would depend on bipartisan support in the state legislature, the governor said. The same bipartisan legislative coalition helped pass Reconnect last month, a program that makes community college tuition fee-free for residents aged 25 and older.

Whitmer also called on Congress to support Sen. Gary Peterss (D-Mich.) Heroes Fund to provide hazard pay for frontline workers. If passed, the fund would provide an estimated 3 million workers with an additional $13 per hour up to $25,000 a year, with an additional potential recruitment incentive of up to $15,000 for medical workers.

The governor has recently referenced World War II, comparing those who gathered in protest of Michigans social distancing restrictions to those who protested the American wartime production effort in the 1940s. The states social distancing rules have provoked backlash, drawing over 3,000 people to a protest called Operation Gridlock in the area surrounding the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing.

In World War II, there werent people lining up at the Capitol to protest the fact that they had to drop everything they were doing and build planes or tanks or to ration food, Whitmer said in a public statement on Monday. We were all in this together, and it wasnt indefinite. It was until wed beaten the enemy.

As of Thursday morning, Michigans health department had reported over 40,000 COVID-19 cases, including 8,432 recoveries and 3,670 deaths.
The former Philadelphia District Attorney who had pleaded guilty in a bribery scandal has been released early from prison.

Seth Williams, who was sentenced to five years in federal prison in October 2017, has now been released into a residential facility, NBC 10 is reporting.

According to reports, Williams had received a one-year reduction of his sentence after participating in the federal prisons Residential Drug Abuse Program.

He is expected to stay at a residential facility until the end of his sentence September 30, reports indicate.

Williams, a two-term Democrat and the city's first black district attorney, pleaded guilty to a single count of accepting a bribe from a businessman in exchange for legal favors. The plea came as a surprise development two weeks into a trial that included damaging testimony about a stream of money and gifts showered on him, from a lavish Caribbean vacation to cash bribes.

He was also accused of fraudulently using thousands of dollars from his campaign fund for personal expenses, misusing city vehicles and misappropriating money intended to fund his mother's nursing home care.

He had been charged with multiple counts of bribery, extortion and fraud. Although all but one count was dismissed, prosecutors said that Williams admitted he committed all the conduct.

Im very sorry, Williams said in court after the guilty plea.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The total number of coronavirus infected people in Uzbekistan rose to 2,017, Trend reports on April 30 with reference to the Ministry of Health.

To date, 1096 patients have fully recovered from the coronavirus infection in the country, nine have died.

On April 30, Uzbekistan's Special Republican Commission for the preparation of a program of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country introduced new measures with the quarantine regime.

From 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the citizens are allowed to go out without special permission for the purposes of going to and from work and purchase of medicines and necessities.

Citizens are also allowed to walk directly in front of their houses, observing a social distance (intermediate distance of two meters) and wearing masks.

In addition, the heads of higher education and research institutions, as well as professors, are allowed to continue their scientific work and other activities.

Recently, quarantine in Uzbekistan was extended until May 10.

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 227,000. Over 3,1 million people have been confirmed as infected, over one million people have reportedly recovered.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
After a two-year long battle with leukemia, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor breathed his last at a Mumbai hospital on Thursday (April 30). The evergreen star's demise is a huge blow to the film industry. As soon as the news of Rishi's death hit the internet, condolences poured in on social media, as various celebrities shared their fond memories of the Chandni actor.

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, took to his Instagram page to pen an emotional note describing their relationship over the years.

He wrote, "Dear Chintu sir, You have been an inspiration to me throughout my life and career. You have taught me to live life to the fullest and to face life even when I was going through my low days. I had the honour to work with you in many films where you always guided me. You fight against cancer has been long. But you never made me feel once that you were suffering even when I spoke to you in New York... even at that time you were so full of life.

Recalling their last meeting, he further added, "The last time I met you at home a few months back for dinner, you were still so concerned about me. You have always cared for me. Today is the saddest day for me because I have lost a family member, a friend, a brother and a person who showed me to live life with a smile no matter what. I will miss you Chintu sir. May God bless you and may you always be happy in heaven. I love you Chintu sir. Always will."

Have a look at his post here.

Last year, post Rishi's return from New York where he was stationed for his cancer treatment, Dutt had paid a visit to him at his Mumbai residence. Later, Rishi's wife Neetu Kapoor had posted a picture and captioned it as, "Feels great when friends come over to just say How much they love you How much they missed you ."

Sanjay Dutt and Rishi Kapoor worked together in films like Sahibaan, Raju Chacha, Agneepath, and many others.

Rishi Kapoor's Death: Riddhima Permitted To Travel By Road To Attend His Funeral Amid Lockdown

Rishi Kapoor No More: These Rare Pictures Of The Bobby Star Will Leave You Teary-Eyed!
He also said that only 0.33 percent patients are on ventilators, 1.5 percent patients are on oxygen support and 2.34 percent patients are in ICU.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said of the total active COVID-19 cases in the country, only 0.33 percent patients are on ventilators, 1.5 percent are on oxygen support and 2.34 percent are in ICU.

Active COVID-19 patients are those who have been diagnosed with the disease and are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals or are lodged in quarantine facilities.

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 1,008 and the number of cases climbed to 31,787 in the country on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stand at 22,982 in the country, according to the data updated on Wednesday evening.

Oxygen therapy is given to supplement the oxygen deficiency usually through masks or nasal prongs while the ventilator is a mechanical respiratory device which does the work of the lungs when the body is unable to do the required breathing.

Vardhan, who interacted with the Lions Club International members across the country through video conference, said the doubling rate of coronavirus cases is 11.3 days in the country for the last three days.

The Union minister said the mortality rate in COVID-19 patients in India is three percent as compared to seven percent globally and around 86 percent of the fatalities have been reported among those with co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney and heart-related issues.

"Only 0.33 percent patients are on ventilators, 1.5 percent patients are on oxygen support and 2.34 percent patients are in ICU, which reflects the quality of care being provided across the country," Vardhan said.

In case of any further eventuality, the country is well equipped with isolation beds, ventilators, personal protection equipment and masks among others, he said.

Vardhan also informed that 288 government laboratories are working along with 97 private laboratory chains with around 16,000 sample collection centres and testing around 60,000 tests per day.

The government is working to increase the testing capacity to one lakh tests per day within the next few days, he added.

Since the development of a vaccine is going to take a longer time, lockdown and social distancing are serving as effective 'social vaccine', Vardhan said.

"The Ministry of Science and Technology, under my charge, has also been working on innovations and have been funding certain projects which are going to make the testing procedure quite fast," he said.

Maintaining a continuous situation awareness, pre-emptive and proactive approach, graded response as per continuously evolving scenario, inter-sectoral coordination at all levels and creating a people's movement to combat this disease has been India's approach in combating COVID-19, the minister highlighted.

Commenting on the country's strength in tackling the disease, he said, "India has successfully tackled public health emergencies of international concern and pandemics in the past as well.

Highlighting the global fame of @lionsclubs, I spoke about their continued service & sacrifices for society. I appreciated the Lion leaders for their contribution in India's fight against #COVID19Pandemic as well as in field of education & literacy@MoHFW_INDIA @CovidIndiaSeva pic.twitter.com/vl3pdvUow4  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 29, 2020

"Our nation has the requisite national core capacities stipulated in the International Health Regulations to manage public health emergencies."

The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), which is a nation-wide surveillance system for epidemic-prone diseases, has been activated towards COVID response, and is being further strengthened with substantive digital inputs," Vardhan said, he said.

"I value Lions Club members having made an appreciable contribution in our fight against COVID-19, especially through PM-CARES contribution, equipment, sanitizers food, PPE kits and N95 masks for hospitals," Vardhan said.

Vardhan expressed his gratitude to the Lions Club members for contributing an amount of Rs 9.1 Crores in the PM CARES fund and of Rs 12.5 Crores to the various Chief Ministers Relief Funds.

Meanwhile, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan chaired a meeting through video conference with representatives from states and districts to discuss on health infrastructure and other aspects related to COVID-19 management on Wednesday.

The functioning of GIS Dashboard, COVID-19 portal and dedicated RT-PCR referral App was discussed during the meeting.

She urged states to promote the Arogya Setu App which is a self assessment tool helpful in the prevention efforts of the government.

She emphasised that non-COVID essential medical care should not be neglected.

It was reiterated during the meeting that patients needing care like dialysis, cancer treatment, diabetics, pregnant women and those suffering from cardiac ailments must be given adequate care.

Speaking on the management of COVID-19 cases, Dr Balram Bhargava, Secretary (DHR) and DG, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) emphasized on the importance of the meticulousness in the collection of samples and filling up of the accompanying forms.

States were informed that the RT-PCR app has been made functional and needs to be put to use immediately.

It's an App used for collection centres to fill data at the point of sample collection, to ensure real-time data to cut time delay and avoid duplication in efforts of filling in same data at multiple points.
New research has found that women who give birth to their first child full-term but who had complications during their pregnancy may have a higher chance of giving birth prematurely in their next pregnancy.

Carried out by researchers at the University of Bergen and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Norway along with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Duke University in the USA, the new study looked at data gathered from 302,192 women in Norway's Medical Birth Registry.

The researchers looked at a possible link between five complications in the first pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery, which is before 37 weeks, in the next pregnancy. The complications included pre-eclampsia (abnormally high blood pressure and too much protein in the urine), placental abruption (when the placenta comes away from the womb), stillbirth, neonatal death (in the first 28 days) and having a small baby (small for gestational age).

The findings, published Thursday in The BMJ, showed that even after taking into account other potentially influencing factors, such as mother's age, pre-pregnancy weight, and smoking status, women who carried to full term but who experienced any of the five complications appeared to have a substantially increased risk of preterm delivery in their next pregnancy.

More specifically, the risk of preterm delivery in second pregnancy was 3 percent for women with none of the five term complications, 6 percent after experiencing pre-eclampsia, 7 percent after term placental abruption, 13 percent after term stillbirth, 10 percent after term neonatal death and nearly 7 percent after term small for gestational age.

Having one of the complications appeared to double the risk of a preterm birth, compared with having none of the five complications, and having two or more complications more than tripled the risk.

The researchers point out that as an observational study, they cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between first pregnancy complications and preterm risk in the second pregnancy, however, they add that the findings could help identify women who are at increased risk of preterm delivery, even if they previously had a full-term birth.

They conclude that serious pregnancy complications "imply an increased risk not only of recurrence of the same outcome but also of preterm birth in a subsequent pregnancy. These findings might inform antenatal clinical care by helping to identify women at increased risk of preterm delivery."
Over 70 years after Bord na Mona was established to create and sustain employment in the Midlands, communities in the region are facing economic lockdown unless Government policy is reversed.

That is the grim warning from trade union Unite, which represents craft and administrative grades in the company. Following the announcement of layoffs without appropriate consultation, agreement or a transparent selection process, Unite members affected by the decision turned up for work today and will continue reporting for work in expectation of being paid their contracted wages.

Commenting, Unite Regional Officer Colm Quinlan said: Even after the current Covid-19 emergency is over, communities throughout the Midlands will be facing economic lockdown unless the incoming Government reverses recent decisions by Bord na Mona and works with unions and communities to develop a viable strategy for the company and the region going forward.

The recent decision by Bord na Mona to lay off workers was just the latest in a series of unnecessary decisions taken without appropriate consultation and agreement, and the lack of a transparent selection process has undermined confidence in the companys industrial relations approach. Our members do not accept the validity of this decision, went to work today, and will continue reporting for work as usual in expectation of being paid their contracted wages.

Workers are particularly concerned at the hands-off approach adopted by Minister Richard Bruton and the outgoing government to the growing crisis in Bord na Mona.

It will be up to the incoming Government to take control of the situation and ensure that Bord na Mona is once again a driver of development and prosperity in the Midlands.

If confidence among workers and their communities is to be restored, a number of simple steps need to be taken as a matter of urgency. Layoffs must be immediately halted, both earnings and pensions must be protected now and into the future, and there needs to be a clear strategy for the company and the Midlands.

In this context, it is vital that the report by the Just Transition Commissioner is published without delay so that all stakeholders can engage in mapping out the way forward, Mr Quinlan concluded.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding is one of the dreamiest weddings of all -- it was like a fairytale and the couple was the perfect Prince and Princess in character.

Nine years and three children later, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is still one of the most looked-after royal couples in history, not only for their honorable works but also for their undying love and affection for each other.

After years of marriage, a royal correspondent revealed Queen Elizabeth II's true feelings about the romantic royal wedding in 2011.

Rejoicing For Kate And William

According to Victoria Murphy, Prince William's grandmother was very delighted with their union and was in full high spirits during the special day.

"The deafening cheers greeting the newlyweds as they stepped on to the balcony at Buckingham Palace spoke far louder than words," Murphy said.

"Nothing could have told the Queen more clearly how important Kate Middleton was going to be to the Royal Family."

The royal expert said that Prince William's wedding to a commoner inspired the 2 billion people who witnessed the ceremony worldwide. A royal courtier also revealed how the Queen reacted during the wedding day.

"The Queen was so happy on the wedding day, she was practically skipping," the Palace aid told Murphy. "Seeing her family full of joy and also seeing the public support and excitement touched her greatly."

Murphy also claimed that even during the days leading to the wedding day, Her Majesty had been very supportive of William and Kate. She was aware that the whole of Britain would be rooting for the couple, which would greatly benefit the monarchy as well.

Other royal insiders also claimed that even after a couple of years, Queen Elizabeth II is still fond of her granddaughter-in-law and has high hopes for her as the future Queen.

Impressed With Kate And William

Ever since the coronavirus global pandemic hit the United Kingdom, Prince William and Kate have been on top of their game to make sure they fulfill their duties.

Because of the extra effort, a source revealed that Queen Elizabeth II repeatedly commends the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's excellent COVID-19 response.

"The wonderful thing about Kate and William is that they remain focused and calm even during their most challenging times," a source told Us Weekly.

The insider added that Her Majesty is very impressed and proud of how Kate and William have been leading the support efforts to those affected by the health crisis.

"She couldn't be prouder. She takes pride in being on top of everything but recognizes that it's time to hand off some responsibility," the source furthered.

Modern Royals

No lockdown or quarantine protocols can stop Kate and William from fulfilling their royal duties too. The couple is keeping in touch with their supporters and charities through the help of a video conference app and social media.

Kate and William are practicing their leadership and connecting with people through their official Instagram account (@kensingtonroyal).
Dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah during the early hours of Thursday

Poilice stand in front of Al-Irschad Mosque during a raid today. (AFP)

Berlin: The German government on Thursday said it was banning all activities of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Germany, calling it a "Shiite terrorist organisation".

Interior minister Horst Seehofer "has today banned the operation" of the group in Germany, his spokesman wrote on the ministry's Twitter account.

Raids were taking place in several places across the country, he added.

Dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah in Bremen, Berlin, Dortmund and Muenster in the early hours of the morning, German media reported.

"Even in times of crisis the rule of law is upheld," the ministry spokesman tweeted.

Although Hezbollah has no official presence in Germany, security forces believe its members use the country as a safe haven and to raise funds, including through criminal activities.

Like the European Union, Germany had until now only outlawed Hezbollah's military wing while tolerating its political wing.

The United States and Israel have long designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group and urged allies to follow suit.

Britain outlawed Hezbollah's political wing last year, making membership of the Shiite movement or inviting support for it a crime.

The decision follows outrage over the display of the Hezbollah flag, which features a Kalashnikov assault rifle, at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London.

The mood began shifting in Germany too with the German parliament passing a resolution last December to ban the group from operating in Germany altogether.

Among other things, today's ban means the group's supporters would no longer be allowed to wave Hezbollah flags at marches in Germany.

Hezbollah, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war, is seen by Israel as an Iranian proxy, seeking to extend the Islamic republic's military reach to the Jewish state's northern border.

Israeli warplanes have carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria over the past few years against what Israel says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets.

Hezbollah was established in 1982 during Lebanon's civil war. It is now a major political party in the country, where it holds a majority in parliament along with its allies.

Israel and Hezbollah also fought a 2006 war.
The habitat of 25 globally threatened species  19 birds and six mammals  among other flora and fauna, face threat owing to the proposed Etalin hydroelectric power project in Arunachal Pradeshs Dibang Valley, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has said.

Earlier this week, BNHS had submitted a letter to the chairman of the forest advisory committee (FAC), a body constituted under the Union environment ministry, strongly opposing the project and calling it a fit case to be out rightly rejected. BNHS has shared a copy of its letter with HT.

The proposed project site, 14km from the protected areas of the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, will require the diversion of 1,150.08 hectare (ha) forest land for the 3,097 megawatt (MW) hydroelectric project, which is expected to be one of the largest in India.

BNHS, which has carried out research across the Dibang Biosphere Reserve part of Mishmi Hill for more than two years, said over five lakh trees would be lost for the project, contrary to the current estimate.

The regional office of the Union environment ministry in its site inspection report had not recommended the proposal in the present form for forest clearance. It had raised concerns that the enumeration of trees has not reflected the ground reality as huge trees (old-growth) are not identified in the final list, the BNHS letter read.

Deepak Apte, director of BNHS, who drafted the letter, said, The decision to grant forest clearance for this project is not just unprecedented but most tragic and unfortunate. We thought the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us lessons to respect nature but it isnt the case. We request environment minister Prakash Javadekar to intervene, and not to grant final clearance for this project and save this pristine forest, added Apte.

Though the minutes of last Thursdays meeting on the final approval for the project is awaited, an FAC sub-committee had recommended it citing economic remuneration for wildlife conservation. A decision will be taken regarding the feasibility of the project once we see the FAC minutes of the meeting, an official from the Union environment ministry told HT on the issue.

Around 680 bird species have been recorded from the region, accounting for 56% of the total bird species in the country, BNHS has said. Among the 19 globally threatened species, four are critically endangered, including the Bengal Florican, White-rumped vulture, Slender-billed vulture, and Red-headed vulture, while two others  Greater adjutant and Black-bellied tern  are in the endangered category. Thirteen vulnerable species include three rare range restricted endemic birds (Chestnut-breasted partridge, Blyths Tragopan, and Sclaters Monal). The habitat of six globally threatened mammals was also at risk, including the endangered Hoolock gibbon, red panda, and Bengal tiger, and vulnerable species such as the leopard, Mishmi takin, and Chinese goral.

Apte added that the entire region falls under two categories designating high protection by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Endemic Bird Area, Global Biodiversity Hotspot and Key Biodiversity Area, all indicating its importance at the global scale.

It is not just about how many trees are felled, it is about the whole ecosystem and ecosystem services we take down with it, said Apte.

Two dams will be built over two rivers (Dri and Talon) with an underground powerhouse downstream having turbine units. The letter raises an alarm that the project site was in a seismically active zone (Zone V) in the Himalayan belt which has reported four earthquakes in Talon River basin in 2008, 1997, 1993, and 1983 ranging between 3.7 and 5 on the Richter Scale. This makes it vulnerable to natural disasters. It not only threatens life of people downstream but also threatens the larger landscape in Brahmaputra flood plains, said Apte.

BNHS suggested that the FAC should protect the area in accordance with the National Forest Policy, 1988. Since India is committed to the Paris Agreement for reducing deforestation and adding additional forest areas, in a biodiversity rich area such as this, the FAC should avoid diversion of forest land, the letter added.

Meanwhile the Mishmi indigenous communities from Arunachal Pradesh have also placed their concerns before the Union environment ministry over the project.

There are gross anomalies and contradictions in the Wildlife Institute of Indias study in clear violations of FACs recommendation. We want studies to be re-conducted in a transparent, factual, and scientific manner. However, such studies cannot be impartial unless there is a clear case of conflict of interest. We request ministry to look into these anomalies without bothering to decorate an environment management plan, said Tilu Linggi, representing members of the Kera-Initiatives for Cultural and Ecological Security (KICES), a grassroots NGO and Mishmi indigenous communities.

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P Ramdas By

Express News Service

KOCHI: While people stranded around the world are making frantic attempts to get back home, a 74-year-old US national has gone the legal way to keep himself in Kerala.

Theatre director and writer Terry John Converse has approached the Kerala High Court seeking to extend his visa by as many as six months.

I feel far safer in India than I do in the United States, an elated Converse told TNIE on Wednesday, after having received a favourable HC order on Tuesday evening.

I would like to get a six-month extension on my visa so that I will be able to stay in India as the situation in the US is currently very grim. India has been far more methodical and successful than the US in containing the virus.

Converse is an emeritus professor of theatre at the Washington State University, teaching all levels of directing, contemporary world theatre, and script analysis.

Currently staying at Panampilly Nagar in Kochi, he had extended his visa till May 20 in the belief that international flights would commence by then.

With the Coronavirus pandemic showing no sign of abating, he approached the court through advocate KP Santhi.

The HC said: It is needless to state that, if in case international flights do not start their operations by then, the petitioners visa will have to be extended beyond that period also.

Having come to India on a Fulbright grant in 2012, Converse studied the varieties of indigenous theatre in the country, especially in Kerala. He is in the state now on a tourist visa allowing a maximum of 180 days stay, which has expired.

The theatre activist is living with the family of Charu Narayanakumar, who runs the Phoenix World Theatre group in Kochi.

Im fortunate to be living with an Indian family in Kochi where I am very comfortable and safe, Converse said.

India in general, and specifically Kerala, is doing a far better job of containing the virus. The Kerala government is making people aware of the pandemic very efficiently and the quality of work is amazing.
A bird's-eye view of Yucun village in Anji county, Zhejiang province, to which President Xi Jinping paid a visit on March 30, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved much progress in environmental protection and taken the lead in green development in recent years.

The efforts have exemplified Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal of "working together for a green and better future for all" made a year ago in his speech at the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 Beijing.

In the keynote speech, Xi proposed a five-point initiative on promoting green development, namely pursuing harmony between man and nature, pursuing the prosperity based on green development, fostering a passion for nature-caring lifestyle, pursuing a scientific spirit in ecological governance, and joining hands to tackle environmental challenges.

China's hard work on environment protection has paid off.

The ecological environment has improved significantly. People are enjoying more days of blue sky, cleaner water, and fertile land.

China has achieved the goal of zero growth of desertified land by 2030 set by the United Nations ahead of time. Besides, forest stock volume increased by 4.56 billion cubic meters compared with that of 2005.

Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2018 fell by 45.8 percent compared with that of 2005, exceeding the target set for the year.

After more than 30 years of hard work, the seventh largest desert in China, the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, once known as the "sea of death" difficult for birds to fly across, has turned into a green valley.

In January 2020, in a letter in reply to the student representatives of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate, the Chinese president mentioned his thoughts about ecological civilization in his youth.

"Over four decades ago, I lived and worked for many years in a small village on the Loess Plateau in western China. Back then, the ecology and environment there was seriously damaged due to over-development and the local people were trapped in poverty as a result," Xi wrote.

"This experience taught me that man and nature are a community of life and that the damage done to nature will ultimately hurt mankind," said Xi.

China's progress and achievements are recognized worldwide.

The ecological civilization and green development advocated by China are actually an endeavor to find a way to balance economic development and environmental protection, said John Cobb, Jr., the founding president of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Noting that the endeavor is a remarkable exploration, he expressed his hope that it will succeed.

China is on the right path in dealing with global climate change and achieving sustainable development, said Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum.

In addition to making efforts at home, China has also rolled out a series of measures to support the global combat against climate change.

In September 2015, ahead of the Paris climate change conference, Xi pledged a 20-billion-yuan (3-billion-U.S. dollars) China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund, which was dedicated to help other developing countries combat climate change.

China has also been fulfilling the obligations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and achieved the goal of its intended nationally determined contributions submitted to the secretariat of the Climate Change Convention as scheduled.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his appreciation for China's important contributions to addressing the climate change and building a green "Belt and Road," and said he expects China to continue to play a leading role in addressing the climate change and other issues.

"Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," a concept put forward by Xi in 2005 when he visited Yucun Village in southeast China's Zhejiang Province as the party chief of the province, has become the motto of the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In March 2020, when Xi returned to Yucun, he said that economic development should not be achieved at the expense of the ecological environment. To protect the ecological environment is to develop the productive forces, he said.

The history of civilizations shows that the rise or fall of a civilization is closely tied to its relationship with nature, Xi said at the International Horticultural Exhibition last year.

Only by joining hands can the humankind advance a global ecological civilization and march towards the bright future of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The city of Alameda will begin a "slow streets" pilot program on Thursday.

The program, which is similar to initiatives already in place in Oakland and San Francisco, calls for implementing "soft" closures of selected streets in Alameda to through traffic in order to make it easier to maintain social distancing of more than six feet during the coronavirus pandemic.

City officials said they expect the program to last for at least the duration of Alameda County's shelter-in-place order.

The city says that by limiting traffic on selected streets it will create more places for people to safely walk, run, bike, use scooters and rollerblade, in alignment with its "Vision Zero" effort to provide safer streets for everyone.

A homicide investigation was underway Wednesday in Santa Cruz County following the discovery of a body in a wooded area and a subsequent autopsy, sheriff's officials said.

Douglas Murdock, 36, of Santa Cruz County was listed in December as missing until his body was discovered in a wooded area off of Glen Canyon Road. An autopsy showed Murdock was killed, probably in a stabbing.

Sheriff's officials decided to do an autopsy because the location and condition of the body were deemed suspicious.

Murdock was listed as missing with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Anyone who has information about the death is asked to get in touch with Santa Cruz police at (831) 420-5820.

A federal judge ordered PG&E on Wednesday to hire its own crew of tree inspectors and keep records of the age of every piece of equipment on its transmission towers and lines to prevent future catastrophic wildfires.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup of San Francisco issued the requirements as new conditions of PG&E's probation in a criminal pipeline safety case stemming from the fatal explosion of a natural gas pipeline in San Bruno in 2010.

Alsup wrote that PG&E failed to maintain its electric grid adequately to prevent deadly North Bay and Butte County fires in 2017 and 2018 that were caused by trees falling on distribution lines and breakage of hardware on its high-voltage transmission lines.

The order requires PG&E to hire its own crew of "a sufficient number of inspectors to manage the outsourced tree-trimming work" on distribution lines, with inspections before and after the work.

The new probation condition requires PG&E to "keep records identifying the age of every item of equipment on every transmission tower and line." If the age of a part is unknown, PG&E must conduct research and estimate the year of installation.

A federal judge in San Francisco, citing a "significant risk of harm" from the spread of the coronavirus, on Wednesday ordered a process for possible release of some of the more than 400 immigrants being held at two crowded California facilities.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement "has not come close to achieving social distancing" needed to protect detainees from the virus at the Yuba County Jail in Marysville and Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield.

Many of the immigrants, who are in civil administrative detention while awaiting immigration hearings, "are still sleeping in barracks-style dorms within arms-reach of one another," Chhabria wrote.

The judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring ICE to provide information, including medical conditions, about immigrants at the two facilities by noon Friday.

He said he will then conduct a two-week series of bail hearings, possibly with the assistance of several federal magistrates, to consider the release of individual detainees.

Antioch residents and some City Council members are calling for the removal of the chairman of the city's Planning Commission, Ken Turnage II, for his controversial social media post supporting a "culling the herd" idea.

Turnage, a local contractor, wrote in his personal Facebook account recently that "the World has been introduced to a new phrase Herd Immunity which is a good one. In my opinion we need to adapt a Herd Mentality. A herd gathers it ranks, it allows the sick, the old, the injured to meet its natural course in nature."

He added, "then we have our other sectors such as our homeless and other people who just defile themselves by either choice or mental issues. This would run rampant through them and yes i am sorry but this would fix what is a significant burden on our Society and resources that can be used."

During Tuesday evening's remote City Council meeting, three public comments called for Turnage's resignation or removal. Councilmember Monica Wilson, called the comments disgusting, inappropriate and reckless while asking for his immediate resignation or removal. Similar reactions came from Mayor Sean Wright and other councilmembers. Wilson also asked the mayor to call a special meeting to deal with the controversy.

Turnage insisted on Wednesday that he has no intention of resigning or backing down from his comments. He also strongly objected to apparently being called racist saying his position was simply an issue of "ecological balance." He said he was "baffled" by the reaction to what he called his personal opinion. He insisted that most people who saw his post expressed support.

The city of San Francisco has acquired more than 120 recreational vehicles and trailers to house homeless people living on the streets in the city's Bayview and Hunters Point neighborhoods during the coronavirus pandemic, city officials said Wednesday.

During a briefing at the city's Emergency Operations Center, city officials said trailers and RVs will be located at Pier 94. Of the 120 trailers, the city has leased 29 and 91 were provided by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

Human Services Agency Executive Director Trent Rhorer said the city decided to put the site in the neighborhood in order to reach some of the city's historically disadvantaged residents.

The three-acre site at Pier 94 was chosen because of its size, access to utilities, land management capabilities, and rent relief opportunities, among other factors.

On Tuesday, the Port of San Francisco's port commission unanimously approved a land use agreement with the city, making way for the site.

Thursday will be partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming sunny. Highs will be in the 50s to upper 60s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph.

Thursday night will be mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows will be in the lower 50s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph.

Friday will be partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming sunny. Highs will be in the 50s to upper 60s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
THE fish vendor who was mauled by barangay peacekeepers in Quezon City (QC) over a violation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) protocols was released from detention on Thursday, April 30.

Kamuning Police Station officer-in-charge Lieutenant Colonel Lucio Simangan Jr. said Michael Rubia was released around 11 a.m. after the QC Task Force dropped the charges filed against him for alleged violation of the ECQ guidelines, and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.

Rubia was beaten by members of QC Task Force Disiplina along Panay Avenue in Barangay South Triangle in Quezon City, near M Place Condominium. A video of the incident went viral over social media.

QC Task Force Disiplina head Rannie Ludovica said they have decided to withdraw the charges against Rubia for humanitarian reasons.

He said he also recommended the suspension of the barangay personnel involved in the beating pending the conduct of an investigation on the incident.

Meanwhile, the QC government offered assistance for Rubias rehabilitation after he tested positive for illegal drugs.

Rubia, however, refused to undergo rehabilitation. (SunStar Philippines)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has termed Chinas battle against Covid-19 as a major strategic achievement, as the ruling Communist Party is all set to hold the postponed Parliament session on May 22 amid a steady decline in the coronavirus cases. Chinas National Health Commission (NHC) on Thursday said the country reported only four new confirmed Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total number to 82,862, while no death due to the disease was registered. The virus has claimed 4,633 lives in the country.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

Chinas arduous efforts to contain the coronavirus have brought a decisive outcome to the fight of defending Hubei and its capital city Wuhan, Xi told a high-powered Central Committee meeting of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday.

The nationwide battle against the epidemic has gained major strategic achievements, the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying. Xi said Hubei, including Wuhan, should continue strengthening community-level epidemic prevention and control. He asked officials to make efforts to contain the virus case at Heilongjiang Province bordering Russia, where a large number of Chinese returning from Russian cities were tested positive for coronavirus.

The meeting emphasised the need to accelerate work resumption and business reopening, help companies especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises address difficulties, and promote the recovery of pillar industries such as auto manufacturing, electronic information, new materials and bio-medicine, the report said.

The meeting stressed accelerating farm production and expanding sales channels for agricultural products to boost income for farmers. The Hubei province and its capital Wuhan -- where the COVID-19 first emerged in December last year -- were the epicentres of the deadly virus, which later turned into a pandemic, bringing the world to a standstill.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues its explosive growth overseas, Xi said, noting the mounting pressure to prevent imported infections and the growing complexity of stemming domestic epidemic resurgence. Xi demanded no relaxation in epidemic control to safeguard the hard-earned achievements, the report said.

According to the NHC, all the four Covid-19 patients reported on Wednesday were imported cases.

The number of imported cases rose to 1,664, including 13 patients in severe condition, it said. The CPC Central Committee meet was held amid mounting pressure for an international inquiry into the origin of coronavirus and the allegations that the deadly virus was originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) before it spread across the world and wreaked havoc.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

China has come under increasing global pressure over lack of transparency in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far infected over 3,193,960 people and claimed more than 227,640 lives across the world.

State-run CGTN TV on Wednesday reported that American scientists are working with their Chinese counterparts to investigate the origin of the novel coronavirus, a prime demand of US President Donald Trump and several other countries. The report said the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDCP) is facilitating the cooperation between Dr Ian Lipkin, Director for Centre for Infection and Immunity of Columbia University, and Prof Lu Jinhai of Sun-Yat-Sen University of Guangzhou to conduct the probe.

The two are working together to determine whether the virus emerged elsewhere in China before Wuhan in December last year, the report said.

It is not yet clear whether the investigation has the official consent of the US government, it said.

Besides the US, the UK, Australia and Germany have also called for more transparency from Beijing on the COVID-19 origin.

China on Wednesday announced to hold the annual meeting of its Parliament --National Peoples Congress (NPC), which was postponed in March due to Covid-19, from May 22, signalling that the pandemic which paralysed the country for over three months is finally under control.

Official media said the meeting period of the NPC, which has over 3,000 deputies, could be shortened and held through video link. However, no official announcement has been made so far.

The annual session of the national advisory body, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is also expected to be held in Beijing on May 21, official media reported.

Dubbed as the annual political season, the NPC and CPPCC sessions -- which together have over 5,000 members, are held every year in early March during which the CPC unveils its national agenda for the year, including the annual budget and formulates new laws.

According to the National Health Commission, 77,610 coronavirus patients have been recovered so far.
A New York couple found dead in their home last month in a suspected murder-suicide, accidentally killed themselves, according to local authorities.

Jonathan Fava, 25, and 24-year-old Kelly Lynn Bray died from a single bullet according to investigators who found only one round at the scene in Hampton Bays on Long Island.

After obtaining a witness statement from the babysitter of their young child, authorities learned the couple had been drinking and believed the semi-automatic Glock handgun was not loaded.

It was unclear whether 'the trigger pull was intentional or accidental.'

Jonathan Fava, 25, and 24-year-old Kelly Lynn Bray died from a single bullet according to investigators. It was unclear whether 'the trigger pull was intentional or accidental'. Their young child was in another room with a friend

Both of them were believed to be holding the semi-automatic Glock handgun at the same time

Authorities arrived at the couple's home at 49 Ponquogue Avenue in Hampton Bays just before midnight after receiving a call from a woman in the house. They found only one round at the scene on Long Island

'This is a tragic event that underscores the dangers of alcohol use while handling weapons,' Southampton Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said in a briefing last Thursday.

'The investigation has concluded the forensic evidence at the scene, the [Suffolk Medical Examiner's] report, and an interview with an individual who was present at the house all demonstrate that it was a single shot fired from the weapon that was recovered from the scene that unfortunately passed through both victims.'

Police did not say who the gun belonged to but Fava was arrested in 2015 for shooting at houses and animals while also pulling over drivers with his gun.

Fava worked at a heating and plumbing company was a was a lifelong resident of Hampton Bays.

Police retrieved a long gun, a hand gun and a bow and arrow from the couple's home last month.

'This is a tragic event that underscores the dangers of alcohol use while handling weapons,' Southampton Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said in a briefing last Thursday

Authorities arrived at the couple's home at 49 Ponquogue Avenue just before midnight after receiving a call from a distraught friend of the couple.

The woman was inside the home, unharmed, with the baby who turns two on July 4. She was found in another room of the house.

At the time police said it was too early to establish what occurred.

Fava has been arrested before. He was detained in 2015 for shooting at houses and animals while also pulling over drivers with his gun

There was evidence of alcohol at the scene, according to police, but there was no history of domestic violence involving the couple.

'There is nothing to indicate that it was a significantly tumultuous relationship,' Skrynecki previously said. 'There might have been some bickering. Nothing outstanding, to our knowledge, in terms of their relationship.

'I think it's premature to speculate on exactly what happened.

'There were three people in the home, very possibly three people in close proximity when the gunshots were fired.'

Last month, neighbors were shocked by the news.

'It's very upsetting, very sad,' Jeff Kirby said.

Police shared that the baby has since been placed in the care of other family members.

A funeral home website described Fava as 'a devoted and loving father and loved his time spent with family'.
JOS, Nigeria, April 29, 2020 (Morning Star News)  Muslim Fulani herdsmen in northwest Nigeria killed 12 Christians and kidnapped a couple from their church wedding ceremony in attacks this month, sources said.

In Tegina Kabata village in Niger states Shiroro County, herdsmen attacked a church site where a wedding was taking place on April 12, abducting the couple and some church members, area resident Danjuma Iliya told Morning Star News.

As the pastor was officiating during the wedding solemnization, the herdsmen stormed the church and took away everyone who was unable to escape from the church building, including the bride and groom, Iliya said. In that village, five Christians were killed in the series of attacks carried out by the herdsmen.

Two other Christians were killed by herdsmen in Niger states Gidigori village, Kusherki District, in Rafi County, on April 20, area resident James Ayuba said. They were two of seven Christians killed in three herdsmen attacks over five days in Rafi County, he said.

Others were injured in herdsmen attacks in the countys Madaka and Sabon Gari villages on April 20-21, he said.

Church Elder Abducted

Also in Niger state, five missionaries kidnapped on March 2 were released on April 22, sources said. In a short statement on April 22 that gave no details, leaders of Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) expressed joy that their missionaries had just been released.

Please rejoice with us as the remaining five of our missionaries kidnapped in Kamuku Field, Niger state 52 days ago are now safely back to freedom, the statement read.

The missionaries were abducted when armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen on March 2 raided a school in Maruba, Shiroro County, run by CAPRO.

The announcement came the same day that a church elder in north-central Nigerias Kaduna state had been kidnapped. Armed Fulani herdsmen abducted Emmanuel Iliya Agiya, elder and treasurer of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Atang village, Jemaa County on April 22, area resident Aku Joshua Shai told Morning Star News by phone.

After shooting into the air to send villagers scampering into the bushes, the herdsmen broke into Iliyas house that night and took him away at gunpoint, he said.

The armed herdsmen first tried to forcefully gain entry into the house of the brother of the victim but were unsuccessful, Shai said. They then proceeded to the next house, the victims house, dragged him out, and then took him away at gunpoint.

Iliya is son of community leader Chief Iliya Agiya, Shai added.

Christian Killed

Also in Kaduna states Jemaa County, armed Fulani herdsmen on April 14 attacked Zakkan village, killing one Christian and wounding two others, Shai said.

Abel Danjuma, 40, was killed, and his two brothers, 45-year-old Henry Tuta, 50-year-old Chairman Tuta were injured. Henry Tuta was treated and discharged from Kafanchan General Hospital, while Chairman Tutas serious injuries required that he be transferred to Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Shai said.

The three victims are members of the Catholic Church at Zakkan village, he said. The herdsmen, too, blocked the Abuja-Jos route at Zakkan village and kidnapped two young girls who were traveling from Abuja to Taraba state. The girls were later rescued and set free by Christians from Zakkan village who went in pursuit of the herdsmen and rescued the girls.

On Jan. 30 Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a genocide warning for Nigeria, calling on the Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to take action. CSI issued the call in response to a rising tide of violence directed against Nigerian Christians and others classified as infidels by Islamist militants in the countrys north and middle belt regions.

Nigeria ranked 12th on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution but second in the number of Christians killed for their faith, behind Pakistan.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: Pixabay
Almost 5,500 victims and 78,162 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus were registered in Brazil by Wednesday.

The case of Genina de Castro highlights how these numbers have left the country's health system near collapse.

The 64-year-old was brought to the Salgado Filho hospital in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, with health workers wearing protective gear rushing her inside.

De Castro, who had heart problems, suffered respiratory failure when she arrived at the hospital and died shortly after being admitted.

According to relatives and a friend of hers who is a doctor, De Castro had presented with apparent symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, during the last three days.

Her younger brother, Clovis de Castro, spent seven hours in the hospital until he recognised his sister's body and obtained a death certificate.

To his surprise, the reason of the death was given as "undetermined".

De Castro complained about the lack of tests or at least an autopsy to confirm if his sister had the virus.

Experts say the lack of tests and resources have caused a serious underreporting of the number of cases in Brazil, which has the highest rate of victims and cases in Latin America.

Not just a lack of tests, but a shortage of protective gear, resources, beds in intensive care units and professionals, is pushing the Brazilian health system to the limit.

According to De Castro, the morgue at the hospital was full of bodies.

He said he himself had to help to put his sister's remains in a coffin, as there was only one man working in the morgue.

Public health workers have been vocal in their criticism of the lack of equipment, ICU beds and investment as Brazil struggles to conquer the pandemic.

Days after the death of a nurse infected with the virus, a small group of workers demonstrated outside the Carlos Chagas hospital in Rio de Janeiro.

They demanded better working conditions and above all, the right protective gear to help them stay safe during the many hours they spend treating patients.

Speaking off the record because they were afraid of losing their job, nurses and other professionals have said that conditions in the health units of Rio de Janeiro are chaotic.

They claim that the number of cases suspected of COVID-19 is increasing rapidly and that hundreds of health workers have already been infected.

According to Rio's state health secretary, at least 12 workers working in state hospitals and intensive care units have died.

Another 1,169 were suspended from their jobs because were suspected of having been infected with the virus.

That number does not include professionals working in hospitals that are run by Rio's City Hall.

The Rio's Nurses Union says that 22 professionals died in the first half of April in the city and its suburbs.
US President Donald Trump accused Beijing on Wednesday of wanting to do anything to make him lose in November.

China has no interest in interfering in the United Statess presidential election, Beijing said on Thursday, following remarks by President Donald Trump that it will do anything they can to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

Geng Shuang, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters during a daily briefing the election was an internal affair of the US and Beijing hoped Americans would not try to bring China into it.

We hope the people of the US will not drag China into its election politics, he said.

China will do anything they can to have me lose this race, Trump said during an interview on Wednesday, adding that he believes Beijing wants his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, to win the race to ease the pressure Trump has placed on China over trade and other issues.

Trump said he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for China over the coronavirus spread. I can do a lot, he said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic began, the US and China were already engaged in a trade war that has resulted in billions of dollars in tariffs.

Deflecting blame

Trump has been heaping blame on China for weeks for the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 61,000 people in the US, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The COVID-19 outbreak has badly affected the US economy while undermining his presidential campaign for a second four-year term.

On Tuesday, Trump said he wants to conduct serious investigations into Chinas handling of the pandemic.

Were doing very serious investigations  We are not happy with China, Trump said. There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable.





The US president temporarily suspended funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this month over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said the WHO failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable, and it had promoted Chinas disinformation about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak.

Geng reiterated during Thursdays briefing that China was a victim of the epidemic and not its accomplice, adding attempts by certain politicians to shift the blame away from their poor handling of the outbreak to Beijing would only expose the problems of the US itself.

The US should know this: the enemy is the virus, not China, he said.
(Natural News) Federal and state officials all over the country face pressure to ease coronavirus restrictions as Americans show signs of coronavirus fatigue. However, the nations top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that a second wave of coronavirus infections is inevitable in the United States later this year should restrictions be eased too soon.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned that the nation could see a surge that would get us right back in the same boat that we were a few weeks ago, should states ease their restrictions too early. He also added that widespread testing is necessary to avoid going down that path.

If by that time we have put into place all of the countermeasures that you need to address this, we should do reasonably well, Fauci said in an interview. If we dont do that successfully, we could be in for a bad fall and a bad winter.

Expanded testing is key to keeping the virus under control

Faucis statement on the need for testing echoes a report by the Harvard University Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics. The report argues that the U.S. needs to conduct 5 million tests daily to keep the coronavirus outbreak under control. (Related: Did CDC deliberately delay testing kits, allowing the coronavirus to spread?)

However, Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, blasted the reports recommendations on Wednesday, saying that it was an Ivory Tower, unreasonable benchmark.

There is absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet, that we can do 20 million tests a day, or even five million tests a day, he added. Giroir noted that the U.S. will ramp up testing to eight million per month by May.

During the same Oval Office meeting, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, also suggested that the United States was still a way off from achieving the five million daily tests number.

I think we do need that kind of a new breakthrough to a new technique, a new measurement to get to the kind of numbers that Harvard is talking about, said Birx. But I think weve made it clear all along that states have controlled and mitigated with the current number.

States will now handle social distancing guidelines

Faucis warning of a second wave comes as the federal government looks to be handing more responsibility to individual states to handle the outbreak moving forward. On Wednesday, Trump suggested that he does not plan to extend federal social distancing guidelines. He noted that the state governors will instead make decisions on what guidelines work best for their constituents.

Theyll be fading out, because now the governors are doing it, Trump said of the federal guidelines in a meeting with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Were speaking to a lot of different people, and theyre explaining what theyre doing. And I am very much in favor of what theyre doing. Theyre getting it going. And were opening our country again, the president added.

The federal guidance was first issued in March; the president later extended it through April.

While the president did not explicitly say so, his comments Wednesday seem to indicate that the administrations broad guidelines for states to follow as they begin reopening will replace the earlier, nationwide guidance. The guidelines suggest that states should first see a decrease in confirmed COVID-19 cases over a 14 day period.

Some states, however, have proceeded to partially reopen even without having met that criteria.

Sources include:

MSN.com

TheHill.com 1



TheHill.com 2

CNBC.com

Ethics.Harvard.edu
The third book in the adventuresome and bully-busting series for tweens, Dorothys Derby Chronicles, Boot Vicious Bites Back is set to be released in 2020. In the series, which began with book one Rise of the Undead Redhead, the main character, Undead Red, and her pals learned important lessons about being yourself and working as a team while rolling through adventures of mystery and roller derby in this diverse series. The second book focused on Jade Doe, who single-handedly saved the rec center.

Continuing from the second book where Dorothy's onetime enemy Alex is now a friend, while her friend Jade keeps missing practices. Then the skating rink shuts down, and Dorothy's life becomes as jumbled as a derby jam. And that's not to mention the bizarre things happening to anyone who enters the rink. It was haunted. The third book focuses on Booty Vicious, whose Dad runs for office, and the team is moving away and falling apart. Meanwhile,. a new mystery evolves when it's learned that a hidden treasure could save the rec center.

Co-authors Meghan Dougherty and Alece Birnbach were inspired to use roller derby as a coming of age platform for adventure and positive lessons. Meghan Dougherty discovered those positive traits of the sport when she joined the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls in 2007, just retired in 2018.
New Delhi, April 30 : The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to stay the Central Vista project, estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crore, and which seeks to build a new parliament and other central government offices in Lutyens' zone in central Delhi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said, "In COVID-19 times no one is going to do anything. There is no urgency." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said, "A new parliament is being constructed. Why should anyone have a problem?" The plan for the project has been prepared in accordance with India's 75th Independence Day in 2022.

The apex court was hearing a plea, through video conferencing, filed by advocate Rajeev Suri challenging Central Vista redevelopment plan on the ground that there is an illegal change in land use. The petition argued that the government's notification on March 20, which supersedes a public notice issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on December 19, 2019, is a subjugation of Rule of Law and judicial protocol as the 2019 notice is under challenge and being heard by the Supreme Court itself.

The Central Vista houses iconic buildings like the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the North and South Block buildings, which house important ministries, and also the India Gate. The Centre is proposing to redevelop by constructing a new parliament house, a new residential complex, which would house the Prime Minister and the Vice President besides several new office buildings.

The apex court observed that a similar petition opposing the project is pending in court. Suri had already filed a petition against the project, which is pending in the top court.

"A similar petition is pending. There is no need to duplicate it," said the court, insisting the petitioner can amend the pending petition.

The work on the Central Vista is slated for completion by November 2021. By March 2022, a new parliament building and a common central secretariat by March 2024, according to the government.
Boutique shopkeepers put protective masks on mannequins before they open their store on Wednesday for the first time since March in Berlin, Germany. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Germanys 16 federal states have made it mandatory for people to wear face masks when they enter shops or board public transport from next Monday.

It was up to each state to decide whether it would insist on mouth-and-nose covering in public, and several of them already mandated masks last week. There are no set rules about what kind of masks they should be  home-made cotton ones are also acceptable as protection.

Johns Hopkins University data shows that as of Wednesday, Germany has 148,704 confirmed coronavirus cases, and 5,100 recorded deaths.

Authorities have stressed that wearing a face mask does not mean people should not stick to social distancing rules  the masks can only help prevent asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus from infecting others.

Read more: Merkel warns 'we mustnt think for one second that we are safe' as Germany eases restrictions

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in a recent report that masks may prevent people spreading respiratory droplets by coughing or sneezing.

While many EU countries strongly recommend that people should use some form of mask, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria all made mask-wearing compulsory.

In the UK, the government is reportedly set to require people to wear masks in public soon.

Germany took the first steps towards easing the country-wide lockdown this week, with small shops of up to 800m floor-space allowed to reopen; including car dealerships. Some classes in primary and secondary schools are allowed to begin from 4 May.

Read more: Germany approves first human trials of a coronavirus vaccine

Strict lockdowns still apply to public movement  only in groups of two, apart from members of one family  and the 1.5m social distance rules will be in place until further notice. Chancellor Angela Merkel warned this week that Germany is still at the beginning of the pandemic, urging people to follow rules as it would be a crying shame if we had a relapse with our eyes open.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 in a prison.



At least four inmates have tested positive and many more are quarantined in Ndolo prison in the capital city, Kinshasa.



The overcrowded prison is hosting inmates at nearly four times its capacity.



Human rights organisations are concerned the virus could easily spread among prisoners and to the relatives who visit them.



Rights groups are asking for the release of prisoners accused or convicted of petty crimes to ease overcrowding.



Health officials have dispatched a team to the prison to investigate the outbreak.



DR Congo has confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in at least seven provinces, but the majority of the cases have been concentrated in Kinshasa.



The eastern part of the country, which has no active cases at the moment, has today reopened travel between cities in those provinces.

Source: BBC









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NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont Natural Gas today announced it will donate up to $25,000 to The Nashville Food Project's Community Cupboard initiative to help area hospitality workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Piedmont will match contributions five to one, meaning the company will give $5 for every $1 donated.

The Community Cupboard is a program to provide 100 "shares" of groceries  such as eggs, milk and produce  each week at no cost to those who have experienced job and wage loss as a result of COVID-19 business closures.

Some of the produce comes from supplies that local farmers normally would have sold to restaurants. With fewer restaurant orders due to the pandemic, the program also helps farmers by providing a market for their excess produce.

"We are extremely proud to support the Community Cupboard program in addressing food needs for our local hospitality employees, some of whom were the first to lose their employment due to coronavirus closings," said Stephen Francescon, community relations manager for Piedmont. "And by purchasing excess produce from our local farmers, this program ends up helping so many in need in our community."

As part of an additional partnership between The Nashville Food Project and Fat Bottom Brewing, at least 50 of the weekly grocery shares will be distributed to out-of-work hospitality workers from the Nashville area.

"Fat Bottom Brewing and The Nashville Food Project are proud to partner with community leaders such as Piedmont Natural Gas to help support Middle Tennessee's hospitality industry during this difficult time," said Fat Bottom Brewery business development director Quinn O'Sullivan. "With Piedmont's support, we can offer groceries to even more folks each week."

To donate to The Nashville Food Project's Community Cupboard, visit https://thenashvillefoodproject.kindful.com/piedmontng.

To learn more about The Nashville Food Project's Community Cupboard program, visit https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/nashville-food-project-provides-groceries-pay-to-hospitality-workers-in-need.

For more information on how Piedmont is assisting the community and its customers during the pandemic, visit piedmontng.com/updates.

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to more than 1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company also supplies natural gas to power plants. Piedmont is routinely recognized by J.D. Power for excellent customer satisfaction, and has been named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Jason Wheatley

24-Hour: 877.348.3612

SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas

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New Delhi, April 30 : In a startling revelation, popular video meet app has meekly admitted it does not have over 300 million daily active users (DAUs) but these are actually the numbers of meeting participants.

In a recent blog post, Zoom declared it more than 300 million DAUs users "around the world are using Zoom during this challenging time".

The California-based company later deleted these references from the original blog post, claiming "300 million daily Zoom meeting participants".

First caught by The Verge, Zoom has admitted the mistake and posted it on the original blog post.

"This blog originally referred to meeting participants as 'users' and 'people.' This was an oversight on our part. The blog also correctly used the term participants, but not consistently. The oversight was corrected," said the company.

Daily meeting participants can be counted multiple times during the video meet call but a DAU is counted once per day, and is used by companies to measure service usage.

"Only counting meeting participants is an easy, somewhat misleading, way to make your platform usage seem larger than it is," said the report.

Zoom said "this was a genuine oversight on our part".

In December, Zoom had 10 million daily meeting participants which soared in COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing times as millions of people stay home.

Other video conferencing apps are fast closing the gap with Zoom.

Inspired by the growing use of its video conferencing app Meet - 30 lakh new users joining the platform daily - Google on Wednesday announced to make its premium video meeting app free for everyone in social distancing times.

Google Meet is currently hosting 3 billion minutes of video meetings and adding roughly 3 million new users every day.

Microsoft's enterprise communication tool Teams now has more than 75 million daily active users and number of organisations integrating their third-party and line of business apps with Teams has tripled in the past 2 months.

Microsoft saw more than 200 million meeting participants in a single day this month, generating more than 4.1 billion meeting minutes.
Food banks in the United States are facing a crisis of epic proportions as tens of millions of people across the country are finding themselves in need of aid from food pantries and soup kitchens to stave off hunger. The coronavirus pandemic has brought alongside it a staggering rise in joblessness and wage reductions, driving underfunded charitable food services to the brink due to the explosion in need.

In scenes that recall the long breadlines during the great depression of the 1930s, millions over the past month have been compelled to wait in massive line ups and drive-through food banks to seek emergency food assistance. Major cities such as San Antonio, Las Vegas and Cleveland are witnessing lines up to six miles long at pop-up distribution points, where thousands of recently furloughed and unemployed people are waiting hours for grocery boxes. Now, the shortening of food supplies in food banks is bringing a significant portion of the American population face to face with the very real prospect of starvation.

Demand for food aid is growing against the backdrop of an unprecedented economic and health care crisis. In the United States, the death toll from COVID-19 accounts for more than one-quarter of the global total, surpassing 61,000, and is poised to climb to more than 70,000 next week. US infections have now reached over 1 million, one-third of all infections worldwide.

Cars line up for food at the Utah Food Bank's mobile food pantry at the Maverik Center Friday, April 24, 2020, in West Valley City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Since late March, over 27 million people filed unemployment claims, on top of 7 million that had already been unemployed. This is a significant undercount of the number now out of work, with millions ineligible to file since they are independent contractors or undocumented immigrants.

The corporate and financial oligarchy, along with the media and political establishment is exploiting the widespread social suffering sparked by the virus spread in a reckless effort to compel workers to risk their lives going back to work under conditions in which the pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down. Health experts have warned that a hasty return to work will result in a second wave, which could cause a return to nationwide lockdowns and business closures on an even greater scale, not to mention an acceleration of the already skyrocketing death toll.

Under the current conditions, Feeding America, which is one of the largest non-profit food bank organizations in the US, is already struggling to maintain its supplies. According to Chief Operating Officer Katie Fitzgerald, its food banks are seeing a 40 percent increase in demand. Officials for the organization are reporting that they are fielding double to quadruple the number of requests for assistance than they have normally had to deal with.

In an interview with CNN earlier this month, Fitzgerald said her organization has suffered a significant and fast plummet of meal lending from their retail and supermarket partners. Its donations from food manufacturers total 580 million meals and their inventory has dropped by over half just this month. Due to the decline in donations, Feeding America and many other non-profits have turned to purchasing supplies directly from food manufacturers and distributors, but this may take up to four weeks to reach the hundreds of food banks in the organizations network.

Inventories for food banks depend mostly on donations from giant supermarket conglomerates such as Walmart and Kroger. But due to the rise of purchases from consumers, supplies for food banks are beginning to diminish rapidly as shelves in retail and grocery stores go empty. As a result, deliveries to food pantries have been vastly reduced, making it nearly impossible to accommodate the flood of newly unemployed clients

Fitzgerald raised concern over the possibility that food banks will not have enough in their stock to feed the growing surge of hunger-stricken people, some of whom are members of the middle class who have never had to use such services. According to one Pennsylvania-based distributor, which supplies more than 40 food banks in the state, the wholesale cost of rice alone has almost tripled and more will not be available until June.

Vast sections of the working population have sought meal assistance over the last two months. At pantries in Silicon Valley, home to 74 billionaires, the demand for food has increased by over 50 percent each week. First-timers at these services have ranged from security and cafeteria staff furloughed by tech companies, to teachers and restaurant workers, accounting for half of those needing food. Even more affluent individuals have been forced to seek relief. One operator of Nevadas Three Square food bank said, when you see a Lexus in line at 4 a.m. prepared to wait six hours, you know theres a real need, in reference to drivers in luxury vehicles queueing for food boxes.

Earlier this month in San Antonio, Texas, a jaw-dropping 10,000 people showed up in their cars to a food distribution drive-through service. The center usually saw 400 people before the pandemic occurred. Much of the semi-truck loads of food were handed out to newly laid-off hospitality staff whose last paycheck had been exhausted, according to the president of the food bank.

On top of dwindling supplies, food banks are confronting a shortage of personnel. Food banks rely on roughly 2 million volunteers to assist in packing and distribution. Most of these individuals are elderly people who are especially vulnerable to getting sick due to coronavirus and have been forced to stay home. This has been the case for communities across the country that have been crushed by rising demand but with minimal hands to process foods. Social distancing regulations have also made it even more difficult for volunteers to coordinate and distribute food to clients

In the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the number of volunteers dropped dramatically at the initial outbreak, in large part because of statewide social distancing guidelineswhich require that workers remain six feet apartand regular staffers staying home either to self-quarantine or out of fear of contracting COVID-19.

This sudden explosion in need comes under conditions where hunger was already a persistent problem for Americans. A Department of Agriculture report released last year found that 37 million people in the United States were affected by hunger issues at some point in 2018. Households with children are also more likely to experience food insecurity and these households rely heavily on food banks and similar hunger-relief institutions. In 2019, an estimated 40 million Americans received free meals or groceries through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 pantries, schools, soup kitchens and shelters, according to Feeding America. The majority of these meals were typically given to the working poor, elderly and disabled.

Even as the need grows, food banks across the country have started to close down because of the decrease in volunteer staffing, or they are incapable of acquiring sufficient cleaning supplies to keep work conditions safe. Nearly a third of food pantries nationally have closed in recent weeks, according to the New York City Mission Society. Small food banks in New York City, which has over 162,000 cases of COVID-19 and 12,000 deaths, have closed due to shortages of both volunteers and food.

California, New Jersey, Texas and Washington, DC have seen their food banks shuttered in response to insufficient donations. In Washington, Capital Area Food Bank saw a decrease of 75 percent in donations after just one week. CEO of the organization, Radha Muthiah, told CNBC that the speed of the virus spread did not give the non-profit enough time to anticipate the dramatic rise of needy clients. What typically would take us eight to 12 days once we placed an order for a truckload of food can take up to eight weeks for our food supply to arrive, Muthiah reported.

In New Jersey, Community Food Bank, the states largest nonprofit, lost about 800,000 pounds of bulk food donations in March and April. In Pennsylvania, food banks are spending an extra $1 million a week but are still turning hungry families away. As a testament to the anarchy of capitalist production, food shortages through non-profits have occurred while dairy farms and producers are dumping millions of dollars worth of milk into the ground due to the collapse of traditional dairy markets, and poultry farmers are euthanizing chickens and smashing eggs by the tens of thousands.

Grace Klein Community, which operates a pantry service in Birmingham, Alabama, is reporting that it projects to go $3.6 million over budget by August as food clientele and utility costselectricity, cleaning materials, boxes and overtimehave tripled. Lisa Scales, president of a Pittsburgh food bank, indicated the money spent on food alone has tripled, warning with so many businesses shutting, were concerned community donations wont sustain this level.

Fifty-five out of the 550 feeding programs to which Second Harvest, a food bank based in Central Florida, provides food have already shut down due to staffing shortages. In Florida, coronavirus cases have now surpassed 32,000, making it the eighth largest hotspot in the country. The number of Floridians needing assistance has ballooned over the past month as a result of increasing joblessness and the particular difficulty which workers in the state face in getting access to unemployment payments. Second Harvests local interactive map that shows food locations is now getting 1,200 clicks a day, which is up from 35 before the pandemic began.

While hundreds of thousands have submitted jobless claims in the state, a large percentage has still yet to see either a stimulus check or unemployment benefits, forcing many into food banks. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) released data showing that, as of last Friday, one in four jobless Florida workers got their claim denied by the state. By Sunday, that number had increased to 40.3 percent. As of Sunday evening, more than 263,000 Florida residents had their claims ruled ineligible by the DEO. This is the reality for millions all across the US left without any form of income and still waiting for their much hyped $1,200 stimulus check.

Second Harvest food bank, which is based in Orlando, has been forced to double its meal distributions to 280,000 a day. Donations from local retailers to the organization have dropped to near zero and have forced the non-profit to purchase $350,000 worth of groceries instead of $85,000 for a three-week supply. Organizations like Second Harvest have had to rely on the infusion of supplies from the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program. The federal program, which provides aid to organizations throughout the US, has received just $850 million in two recent congressional stimulus packages, a pittance compared to the trillion-dollar bailouts for the major corporations and banks.

Many food banks, including Second Harvest, have yet to receive any emergency funding authorized by the EFAP, which has caused major alarm that food supplies may begin to drastically diminish in the next few weeks. After noting that some pantries have been forced to turn away hungry and desperate people, the CEO of Second Harvest, Dave Krepcho, told CNN my concern is that we will see food and funding dwindle and that the level of service would diminish considerably. He warned that tens of thousands of people in the Central Florida area will be placed in a situation where they will have no access to food.

In Louisiana, which has been another major hotspot of the pandemics spread, at least one in three people are at risk of hunger, compared with one in five before this crisis, according to Natalie Jayroe, president of South Harvest food bank. We think it will conservatively cost us $15m for six months, she revealed in an interview with the Guardian. In south Louisiana, weve been through our share of disasters but this is different.
Colorado Politics senior political reporter

Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist.
[April 30, 2020] Risen Energy receives TUV Rheinland TMP accreditation

NINGBO, China, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhou Chicheng, vice president of solar Products at TUV Rheinland and Zhang Yichi, general manager of modules, together with several of their colleagues, visited Risen Energy on April 27. During their visit, Zhang Yichi, on behalf of TUV Rheinland, granted Risen Energy the qualification of TUV Rheinland accredited TMP Laboratory. Executives from Risen Energy, including president Xie Jian, group senior R&D director Liu Yafeng and global customer service director Hu Yuhui, attended the licensing ceremony.



Over the past twelve months, TUV Rheinland conducted multiple reviews of Risen Energy's technical capabilities in the areas of management systems, environment, staff and equipment based on IEC/ISO 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories and other technical requirements as per related test standards. As a result, Risen Energy was found to fully comply with its external laboratory management protocols. Hence, awarding of this qualification demonstrates Risen Energy's excellence in lab management and testing. Risen Energy president Xie Jian said, "We are very pleased to be a TUV Rheinland accredited TMP Laboratory, which not only showcases the qualifications of our industry-leading staff and equipment, facilities and environment, but demonstrates our strict requirements when it comes to product testing. We are looking forward to collaborating with TUV Rheinland as we continue to drive the sustainable development of the industry."

Mr. Zhou added, "This recognition shows that in addition to a strong manufacturing capacity, Risen Energy also has high-level R&D and quality management capabilities, which are the marks of industry-leading manufacturing companies. We look forward to further enhancing continued exchanges and communications around the technology with TUV Rheinland and to benefit from each other through ongoing collaborative efforts and also promote the healthy development of industry." Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200428/2788149-1 SOURCE Risen Energy Co., Ltd

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Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: The Maharashtra health department on Thursday said that 27 new coronavirus deaths and 583 new cases were reported in the state, taking the total number of cases 10,498.

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"This is the highest number of cases in a 24 hour cycle recorded to date and represents a 73 percent increase on the day before," it said, adding in a separate tweet that the number of deaths had risen by 10 to 103.

South Africa registered another 354 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, reporting the highest single-day increase so far, and brought the overall count to 5,350, the health department said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,560 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 130 deaths have been reported in Madhya Pradesh so far, said the state's Health Department.

Dr Praveen Jadia, Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer confirmed three new deaths due to the disease in Indore took the toll to 68.

With 19 new COVID-19 cases reported in Indore on Wednesday, the total number of confirmed cases in the city now stood at 1,485.

According to data shared by the Delhi government, 125 fresh cases were reported on Wednesday. The number of fatalities due to the viral infection has now gone up to 56 in the Union Territory.

The number of coronavirus cases in the National Capital rose to 3,439 on Wednesday, with two deaths being reported, according to the Delhi government.

The excise department of the state issued a notification on Thursday increasing the excise duty by 10 percentage points on IMFL and beer to 45 percent. For some categories of IMFL, the excise duty is lower at 35 percent.

In an attempt to increase its revenue, liquor and beer will now be costing in Rajasthan as the state government on Wednesday hiked excise duty on Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and basic license fee on country liquor.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,560 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 130 deaths have been reported in Madhya Pradesh so far, said the state's Health Department.

Dr Praveen Jadia, Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer confirmed three new deaths due to the disease in Indore took the toll to 68.

With 19 new COVID-19 cases reported in Indore on Wednesday, the total number of confirmed cases in the city now stood at 1,485.

He said the former Congress president will be interacting with Mr Rajan and other experts on critical issues related to COVID-19 and its impact on the economy.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Gandhi will be in conversation with Mr Rajan in the first such dialogue and the same will be aired on social media from Thursday morning.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on Thursday initiate his series of dialogues with experts on economy and health, with the first one being with former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan.

Rahul Gandhi will also be later having dialogues with health experts on how to deal with the pandemic, besides talking to experts in different fields on the effect of the novel coronavirus, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Extending lockdown suggests that government wasn't successful in its first attempt, said former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.

"Our fiscal resources are restricted but, it is pivotal to reopen economic activities," said Rajan.

A second or third lockdown will be devastating for the Indian economy, said former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.

According to the data released by the Union Health Ministry, the fatalities due to COVID-19 pandemic have reached 1,074. The total confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus climbed to 33,050 on Thursday.

India needs Rs 65,000 crore to help the poor during the novel coronavirus crisis, said former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on Thursday.

It is difficult to ensure 100 percent success in eliminating the novel coronavirus and register zero COVID-19 cases when we open up, Raghuram Rajan told Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at is Rs 200 lakh crore, so we can afford Rs 65,000 crore to save the livelihood of India's poor, Raghuram Rajan said during the interaction with Rahul Gandhi via video conference on Thursday.

We need to create good quality jobs so that people do not depend on government jobs and the comfort that comes with it, said Raghuram Rajan during the interaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

"Social harmony is a public good; we cannot afford to have our houses divided in times when challenges are big," said Rajan.

We need to be cleverer in lifting lockdown; need to open up in measured way as India does not have capacity to feed people for long, said Raghuram Rajan during the interaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

"What is important for us to understand is that India cannot continue in this situation for too long. Because at some point of time, deaths due to hunger will far outweigh deaths due to coronavirus," he told business leaders at a webinar on Wednesday.

The death rate in India due to hunger will be more than from the COVID-19 pandemic if the lockdown continued to be in place, said Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy. He further said that the novel coronavirus must be accepted as the new normal and the return-to-work of able-bodied must be facilitated while protecting the most vulnerable.

These guidelines concern aspects such as the academic calendar, admissions, online teaching etc. and are intended to be flexibly adopted by Universities in a transparent manner to avoid academic loss during the pandemic.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an advisory to chart out academic calendar for universities and conduct of exams in view of COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, Bar and Bench reported.

To underscore his confidence, Trump said Wednesday he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House, starting with a trip to Arizona next week.

President Donald Trump said the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be "really rocking again."

With three more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Jajpur district, the overall count in Odisha climbed to 128 on Thursday, PTI quoted officials as saying.

Forex traders said a positive start of domestic stocks supported the local unit. Moreover, investor risk appetite is improving as India could relax restrictions in many areas from 4 May.

The rupee appreciated by 63 paise to 75.03 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday tracking positive opening of domestic equities and fresh foreign fund inflows.

Out of the total 276 cases, 253 have been reported from Malegaon, 10 from Nashik city, 11 from other parts of the district and two patients are from outside the district who are undergoing treatment in hospitals here. There was no change in the death toll which stood at 12, the official said.

Most of the new cases are from the district's Malegaon town, he said. The new patients include six police personnel and three children - aged three months, 5 years and 11 years.

The number of coronavirus cases in Nashik district of Maharashtra has gone up to 276 as 71 more people have tested positive for the disease, an official from the district administration said on Thursday.

However, there is now a sudden spike in the number of patients in the capital island as well as far off islands with no traceable source of infection.

First cases of COVID-19 were reported at tourist resorts in this Indian Ocean archipelago state and authorities for sometime kept it from spilling over into the community.

The Maldives has reported its first death to the new coronavirus with the total number of positive cases standing at 280. Health Minister Abdulla Ameen said Thursday that the victim was an 83-year-old woman from the capital Male', reports The Associated Press.

"We have already ordered 10,000 PPE kits. But due to shortage, only 3,000-4,000 kits have been received so far. Over 6,000 PPE kits are being purchased at the district level," he said. "We have to take extra precautions to save our personnel from coronavirus," the state police chief said.

Director-General of Police Hitesh Chandra Awasthi also asked district police chiefs to purchase necessary safety kits at the local level wherever needed. "Till Thursday, 28 policemen have been found coronavirus positive in different districts of the state," Awasthi told PTI.

The Uttar Pradesh police has ordered over 10,000 personal protective equipments and asked cops above the age of 55 years with a health history to stay off the frontline duty after 28 of them tested positive.

Four more traders associated with Delhi's Azadpur Sabzi Mandi have tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday. "They did not commute to and fro the vegetable market. A total of 15 positive cases in the vegetable market have been reported so far," Azadpur Mandi official told ANI.

"The family members and all those who came in contact with him will be quarantined. The entire area has been sealed and sanitised," Kumar said. The district had not reported any new COVID-19 case after six people had tested positive on 4 April.

District Magistrate Ujjwal Kumar said the sample of the man, who had returned from Delhi six days ago to his native Ratanpurwa village in Paniyara area, tested positive in the report received from the Gorakhpur medical college late on Wednesday.

A man who had recently returned from Delhi tested positive for novel coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Mahrajganj district, which had not reported any infection for over three weeks, an official told PTI.

Punjab reported 6,061 cases, Sindh 5,695, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,313, Balochistan 978, Gilgit-Baltistan 333, Islamabad 313 and Pakistan-cccupied Kashmir reported 66 cases, a statement from the ministry said. So far 4,052 patients have recovered while the total active cases in the country were 11,361.

The Ministry of National Health Services said the death of 19 more patients have been reported in the provinces of Punjab, Balochistan among others, taking the total death toll to 346.

Pakistan reported 874 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 15,759 with 346 deaths so far in the county, an official statement said on Thursday.

71 new positive cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh in last 24 hours. The total number of COVID19 cases in the state stands at 1403, including 1051 active cases, 31 deaths and 321 discharges. No death reported in the last 24 hours, according to the latest media bulletin by the government.

Following Rishi Kapoor's demise this morning, his family appealed to fans not to gather to mourn the death of the Bollywood actor. "In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way," his family said in a message.

Ten out of 11 districts in Meghalaya have been declared 'green zones' by the state government on Thursday, PTI quoted officials as saying. The government has permitted inter-district movement in these areas.

"The inter-district movement has been allowed in the green zones on the condition that people do not transit through East Khasi Hills district," he said.

Barring East Khasi Hills district, all other 10 districts in Meghalaya are in the green zone as they have not reported any COVID-19 cases. All deputy commissioners in the green zones may allow inter-district movement," Political Department secretary Cyril VD Diengdoh said in a letter to the district magistrates.

The toll due to the viral infection has also seen an increase by 173 to 6,288 within the same period of time. Over 123,000 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Germany since the beginning of the outbreak.

Germany has confirmed 1,478 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, with the overall count at 159,119, the Robert Koch Institute said on Thursday.

According to the state administration, by the end of day an order will be issued on detailed screening of the workers before they are put on buses, which will then ply to their respective states.

Over 6.5 lakh migrant labourers, a majority of them from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, are stranded in various parts of Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai and Pune.

DC Bathinda said, "Two pilgrims, who returned to Bathinda, have tested positive for COVID-19."

Pilgrims from Sri Hazur Sahib, stranded in Maharashtra's Nanded, returned to Bathinda in Punjab on Wednesday. As of now, around 3613 such pilgrims have returned to the state.

"The buses will leave from Kota on Thursday morning," the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) official said, adding that only 20 students will be allowed in each bus and the vehicles will halt at two to three places for food breaks.

The vehicles left from Maharashtra's Dhule district around 10.30 am on Wednesday and arrived in Rajasthan by night.

The Maharashtra government has deployed 70 buses to bring back over 1,700 students who are stuck in Kota, Rajasthan, News18 reported on Thursday.

KCDC reported four new infections, all imported cases, taking the national tally to 10,765. The death toll rose by one to 247, while 9,059 have been discharged.

South Korea on Thursday reported no new domestic coronavirus cases for the first time since February, the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

The Additional Chief Secretary and State Control Room in- charge ICP Keshri informed that on Wednesday, labourers in 200 buses reached Neemuch, Agar-Malwa, Sheopur and Guna entry points of the state from Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur and Jaipur.

Nearly 20,000 migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh stranded in other states due to the lockdown imposed in view of the novel coronavirus have been brought back to their native districts so far, according to All India Radio News.

"It will affect all children, now and in the long term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most," she added.

"Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child rights crisis," Thunberg, 17, was quoted as saying in the UNICEF statement.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has donated a $100,000 prize she won from a Danish foundation to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for use against the COVID-19 pandemic, the world body said Thursday.

Karnataka government on Thursday said it would allow interstate movement, especially for students and migrant workers. "They'll have to bear the transport charges. We'll allow inter-district movement for once. It'll happen according to guidelines," said state Minister JC Madhuswamy.

As many as 22 positive COVID-19 cases have been detected on Thursday morning in Karnataka taking the total number of cases to 557. The figure includes 21 deaths and one non-COVID death and 223 discharged persons.

While three cases from Bengaluru Urban have been detected including two from Padarayanapura, two are from Vijayapura and one each from Davangere, Tumakuru and Dakshina Kannada.

More than half of the new 22 COVID-19 cases - 14 - are from Belagavi, taking the total number of positive cases from the district to 67.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday tweeted that the government was making arrangements to bring back stranded students in Kota, Rajasthan to their hometowns.

All district collectors will be designated noodal authority for receiving and sending suh stranded individuals between States/UTs and also within Maharashtra

"Due to the lockdown, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at different places. They would be allowed to move as per the conditions in the attached Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) as ANNEXURE A," read the statement.

In accordance to the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Maharashtra government on Thursday released the guidelines on the implementation of movement of stranded migrant labourers.

As many as 36 persons have recovered from the deadly infection in the state, which now has only two active cases left.

Two COVID-19 patients, including a pregnant woman, were discharged from Chhattisgarhs All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur on Thursday, after recovering from the illness.

There are 11 active cases in the state and one COVID-19 patient has succumbed to the disease so far.

With these, the total confirmed cases in the state stood at 41, of which 29 have been discharged.

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that four more people tested COVID-19 positive in the state and the cases were reported in Bongaigaon district.

Bihar registered 407 COVID-19 cases after four more individuals tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday. All the fresh cases were reported in Sitamarhi district.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said the two deaths occurred in Jaipur, which accounted for 32 of the total 57 fatalities in the state.

The toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 57 in Rajasthan on Thursday with two more fatalities, while the number of cases climbed to 2,524 after 86 people tested positive, an official said.

Loss of job, annual holiday, expiry of visas and being released from jail are some of the reasons cited for returning home. The Chief Minister also said that there are 9,561 children and 9,515 pregnant women among the people who have registered with NORKA for this purpose.

Of this, over one lakh non-resident Indians (NRIs) have registered to return to the state due to job loss or for annual holiday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that over three lakh Kerala expatriates have registered on the online portal of NORKA (Department of Non-Resident Keralite Affairs) from Sunday to Wednesday, to return to their home state amidst the pandemic, The News Minute reported.

The state now has 2,524 total confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, of which 592 have been discharged from hospitals. There are 1,662 active cases.

Four infections were detected in Ajmer, three in Chittorgarh, two in Tonk and a case each in Alwar, Baran, Dholpur and Kota districts, the Health Department official said.

As many as 86 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Rajasthan on Thursday. Of the fresh cases, 59 were reported in Jodhpur and 14 in Jaipur.

"There has been some speculation in media regarding an NSG personnel being affected with coronavirus. This is to clarify that he had mild fever day before, but has had no fever or symptoms since yesterday. As a precaution he has been tested, is asymptomatic and in quarantine," the Assam Police tweeted on Thursday.

There have been no local COVID-19 cases recorded in 11 days, and it was the seventh time in the same period that the city overall had no new infections, with the total remaining at 1,037.

Hong Kong recorded no new cases of coronavirus for a fifth day in a row on Thursday, but health experts expected the number of infections to potentially rebound with imported cases in coming days, as the first batch of residents stranded in Pakistan would return home by chartered flight ion Thursday evening.

Prakash Rao, Chairman, CII-Mangaluru said, "This industry employs about 60,000 women. We have created SOPs and are following all guidelines like use of masks and maintaining social distance."

The Gurugram district administration has issued notification for enforcing stricter measures through curbs on cross-movement across all borders of the district from 10 am on 1 May 2020.

The Bihar health minister on Thursday said that the government had conducted a door-to-door drive to screen people for COVID-19 in some districts that reported relatively higher number of cases. The door-to-door screening led to identification of more cases in those districts.

"People will have to undergo necessary medical screening before boarding the buses for Uttar Pradesh. 100 buses have left Madhya Pradesh to bring back people to Uttar Pradesh and we are sending people to Madhya Pradesh in 40 buses," he added.

He said, "Government is making arrangements to bring them back. Chief Secretary and Home Department will hold discussions with states to bring workers in a staggered manner."

Uttar Pradesh additional chief home secretary Awanish Awasthi on Thursday said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed to migrant workers not to travel back to the state on foot.

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said that two more coronavirus patients, who are being treated at Shillong's Civil Hospital have tested negative on Thursday.

Bihar minister and JD(U) leader Ashok Chaudhary said on Thursday, "If we follow social distancing norms, about 1.70 lakh buses will be required to bring 25 lakhs registered labourers of Bihar stranded in different states. We've constituted a nodal team for it, but the situation is not favourable for government to bring them."

He added that there are 23,651 active cases in the country, with 360 having recovered in the last 24 hours. A total of 8,324 people have recovered cured so far.

In the daily briefing at 4 pm on Thursday, Health Ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal said that 1,718 new cases of coronavirus were reported across the country in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 33,050 cases so far.

When asked if the Centre is considering the proposal by many state governments for running special trains to transport stranded people like students and migrant labourers, MHA joint secretary PS Srivastava said that as of now, the directives are to use buses.

Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo said that two more people tested positive for coronavirus in the state on Thursday, taking the total number of cases to 40, of which 36 have fully recovered.

"The fatality rate is 3.2 percent. Comorbidities were found in COVID-19 patients in 78 percent of the deaths. Doubling rate of the cases has now increased to 11 days," said Lav Agrawal, health ministry joint secretary.

The Union health ministry on Thursday said that the recovery rate of COVID-19 cases is at 25.19 percent, which was 13.06 percent 14 days ago.

The Union health ministry on Thursday said that a total of 58,686 tests were done on Wednesday. He added that 49,000 tests are being conducted on an average per day.

"We are in touch with resident commissioners of different states. People will need to register themselves for the travel. Please don't pay heed to rumours," said Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa.

The Delhi Police on Thursday said that the police and state government are finalising modalities for the movement of people of other states.

"Testing kits from China are under examination under the ICMR, priority is now to enhance rapid test kits. MEA is helping as part of the empowered group," the statement added.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India had provided 2.8 million HCQ tablets and 1.9 million paracetamol tablets as part of assistance to other countries. "India also provided HCQ and Paracetamol tablets on a commercial basis to 87 countries," the statement sais.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Kasaragod district collector D Sajith Babu, IG Vijay Sakhare and IG Ashok Yadav have gone into self-quarantine after a journalist in the district tested COVID-19 positive on Wednesday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 33,610, including 24,162 active cases, 8,373 cured, discharged, migrated and 1,075 deaths.

The Union health ministry said that 1,823 new coronavirus cases and 67 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, across the country.

The Karnataka health department said that 30 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the state from 5 pm on 29 April to 5 pm on 30 April.

"Hospitals should ensure that no admissions are granted to asymptomatic positive patients without comorbidity. Similar patients in private hospitals should be stamped and sent away for home quarantine after proper counselling according to the Government of India guidelines," the statement added.

The Maharashtra government on Thursday said that in order to decongest hospitals, all asymptomatic positive patients without comorbidity should be shifted to appropriate COVID-19 Care Centres.

Tw new coronavirus cases were reported in Kerala on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 497. The new cases have reportedly been detected in Malappuram and Kasargod districts. Kerala now has 117 active cases.

With 161 new coronavirus cases reported in Tamil Nadu in the last 24 hours, the state recorded the highest single-day jump in the tally of cases. The total number of cases is now 2,323. Chennai has the most number of COVID-19 cases, with 906 infections, followed by Coimbatore with 141

"The jawan was performing duty at a metro station on a rotational basis. Total number of COVID-19 cases in CISF in Delhi has reached three, other two were deployed at Delhi airport," the statement said.

The CISF on Thursday said that a personnel who was deployed at the Delhi Metro has been tested COVID-19 positive.

"Local authorities must not insist on separate passes at inter-state borders across the country. This is essential to maintain the supply chain of goods and services in the country," the statement said.

The Tamil Nadu health department said that 105 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state on Thursday, taking the total number of cases to 480, out of which 356 cases are active. 104 patients have been cured of the infection while 20 other lost their lives.

"We'll make arrangements to drop them at their respective blocks where they will be screened again and quarantined," he added.

Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey on Thursday said that migrant workers, students and others returning to the state will be provided food and screened for COVID-19 at the state borders.

The Uttarakhand health department said that two new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Thursday. taking the total number of cases in the state to 57.

139 patients have been cured/discharged for different hospitals so far. 1,905 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

The West Bengal government on Thursday said that 36 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state, taking the number of active cases to 572. Reports added that the toll increased by 11 in the state, and the total toll tose to 33.

"Houseboat workers, shikarawalas registered with tourism department, poniwalas, pithuwalas working at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and different tourism development authorities will be given Rs 1,000 per month for three months," the government said.

The Jammu and Kashmir administrative council on Thursday approved Rs 350 crore relief package for eight categories of people affected due to COVID-19 lockdown. Rs 1,000 will be given to 1.8 lakh construction workers for three months. One month's relief has already been given.

Out of the total cases, 551 patients have been cured while 40 others lost their lives due to the infection.

The Uttar Pradesh health department on Thursday said that 77 more people have been tested positive for coronavirus in the state, taking total number of cases to 2,211.

Eight patients have succumbed to the disease while 216 others have recovered. 80 percent COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic.

The Jammu and Kashmir government said that 614 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the UT so far, of which 390 cases (384 in Kashmir, six in Jammu) are active.

Mumbai reported 417 new COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the city's tally of coronavirus cases to 7,061. The toll rose to 290.

"In the last four weeks, no new case has been reported and today the apartment is being de-contained," he added.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the government had implemented 'Operation Shield' to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the Vardhaman apartment.

The Maharashtra health department on Thursday said that 27 new coronavirus deaths and 583 new cases were reported in the state, taking the total number of cases 10,498.

The Government of Delhi has issued a notification stating guidelines for home isolation of very mild/pre-symptomatic COVID-19 cases.

The total number of cases in Assam now stands at 42. (29 are discharged, 1 death, so active hospital cases 12), he added.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that one person from Karimganj, a secondary contact of a Nizamuddin Markaz attendee, has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Uttarakhand police said that "personnel above the age of 55 years will be deployed in areas where they have minimum direct contact with people considering their higher vulnerability to infections," India Today reported.

Two medical teams have been deployed at Azadpur Mandi after COVID-19 positive cases were detected at the wholesale market.

Welcoming the Centre's decision to allow inter-state movement of migrant labourers, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday demanded special non-stop trains for them.

Captain Amarinder Singh has written a letter to Narendra Modi saying 'given the large number of workers stuck due to lockdown, use of buses for their transportation would not work'. He urged the prime minister to advise Railway Ministry to make special arrangements for migrants, according to a statement by the chief minister's office.

Delhi reported 76 new coronavirus cases and 3 deaths on Thursday. The total number of cases in the capital has reached 3,515.

The total number of cases in Assam now stands at 42. (29 are discharged, 1 death, so active hospital cases 12), he added.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that one person from Karimganj, a secondary contact of a Nizamuddin Markaz attendee, has tested positive for COVID-19.

According to India Today, a nine months pregnant woman tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Thursday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the district to 138.

The Uttarakhand police said that "personnel above the age of 55 years will be deployed in areas where they have minimum direct contact with people considering their higher vulnerability to infections," India Today reported.

The Rajasthan health department said that three COVID-19 deaths and 146 new cases were reported in the state on Thursday, taking the total number of cases to 2,584, including 58 deaths.

Delhi: Two medical teams have been deployed at Azadpur Mandi after #COVID19 positive cases were detected at the wholesale market. pic.twitter.com/vVIljA8lcR

Two medical teams have been deployed at Azadpur Mandi after COVID-19 positive cases were detected at the wholesale market.

ANI has quoted Nipun Jindal, Himachal Pradesh's state special secretary (health) as saying that 28 people have recovered from coronavirus till date. He added that the total number of active cases in the state is now 7.

Welcoming the Centre's decision to allow inter-state movement of migrant labourers, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday demanded special non-stop trains for them.

Captain Amarinder Singh has written a letter to Narendra Modi saying 'given the large number of workers stuck due to lockdown, use of buses for their transportation would not work'. He urged the prime minister to advise Railway Ministry to make special arrangements for migrants, according to a statement by the chief minister's office.

Delhi reported 76 new coronavirus cases and 3 deaths on Thursday. The total number of cases in the capital has reached 3,515.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The Maharashtra health department on Thursday said that 27 new coronavirus deaths and 583 new cases were reported in the state, taking the total number of cases 10,498.

The Jammu and Kashmir administrative council on Thursday approved Rs 350 crore relief package for eight categories of people affected due to COVID-19 lockdown. Rs 1,000 will be given to 1.8 lakh construction workers for three months. One month's relief has already been given.

The BMC said that 25 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Mumbai's Dharavi on Thursday. The total number of cases in Dharavi is now 369, toll is at 18.

The MHA instructed state governemnts to ensure free movement of trucks/goods carriers, including empty trucks.

"Local authorities must not insist on separate passes at inter-state borders across the country. This is essential to maintain the supply chain of goods and services in the country," the statement said.

With 161 new coronavirus cases reported in Tamil Nadu in the last 24 hours, the state recorded the highest single-day jump in the tally of cases. The total number of cases is now 2,323. Chennai has the most number of COVID-19 cases, with 906 infections, followed by Coimbatore with 141.

The Union health ministry said that 1,823 new coronavirus cases and 67 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, across the country.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 33,610, including 24,162 active cases, 8,373 cured, discharged, migrated and 1,075 deaths.

The Union health ministry on Thursday said that the coronavirus doubling rate of cases in India, which was 3.4 days before the lockdown, has improved to 11 days.

Health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal said that 16 states, had performed better than national average.

11-20 days: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab,

20-40 days: Karnataka, Ladakh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Kerala,

Above 40 days: Assam, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh

The Bihar health minister on Thursday said that the government had conducted a door-to-door drive to screen people for COVID-19 in some districts that reported relatively higher number of cases. The door-to-door screening led to identification of more cases in those districts.

As many as 86 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Rajasthan on Thursday. Of the fresh cases, 59 were reported in Jodhpur and 14 in Jaipur.

Four infections were detected in Ajmer, three in Chittorgarh, two in Tonk and a case each in Alwar, Baran, Dholpur and Kota districts, the Health Department official said.

The state now has 2,524 total confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, of which 592 have been discharged from hospitals. There are 1,662 active cases.

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that four more people tested COVID-19 positive in the state and the cases were reported in Bongaigaon district.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday tweeted that the government was making arrangements to bring back stranded students in Kota, Rajasthan to their hometowns.

As many as 22 positive COVID-19 cases have been detected on Thursday morning in Karnataka taking the total number of cases to 557. The figure includes 21 deaths and one non-COVID death and 223 discharged persons.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has donated a $100,000 prize she won from a Danish foundation to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for use against the COVID-19 pandemic, the world body said Thursday.

"Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child rights crisis," Thunberg, 17, was quoted as saying in the UNICEF statement.

Nearly 20,000 migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh stranded in other states due to the lockdown imposed in view of the novel coronavirus have been brought back to their native districts so far, according to All India Radio News.

Over 6.5 lakh migrant labourers, a majority of them from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, are stranded in various parts of Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai and Pune.

According to the state administration, by the end of day an order will be issued on detailed screening of the workers before they are put on buses, which will then ply to their respective states.

The number of coronavirus cases in Nashik district of Maharashtra has gone up to 276 as 71 more people have tested positive for the disease, an official from the district administration said on Thursday.

Most of the new cases are from the district's Malegaon town, he said. The new patients include six police personnel and three children - aged three months, 5 years and 11 years.

71 new positive cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours. The total number of COVID19 cases in the state stands at 1403, including 1051 active cases, 31 deaths and 321 discharges. No death reported in the last 24 hours, according to the latest media bulletin by the government.

The Uttar Pradesh police has ordered over 10,000 personal protective equipments and asked cops above the age of 55 years with a health history to stay off the frontline duty after 28 of them tested positive.

With three more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Jajpur district, the overall count in Odisha climbed to 128 on Thursday, PTI quoted officials as saying.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an advisory to chart out academic calendar for universities and conduct of exams in view of COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, Bar and Bench reported.

These guidelines concern aspects such as the academic calendar, admissions, online teaching etc. and are intended to be flexibly adopted by Universities in a transparent manner to avoid academic loss during the pandemic.

The death rate in India due to hunger will be more than from the COVID-19 pandemic if the lockdown continued to be in place, said Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy. He further said that the novel coronavirus must be accepted as the new normal and the return-to-work of able-bodied must be facilitated while protecting the most vulnerable.

"What is important for us to understand is that India cannot continue in this situation for too long. Because at some point of time, deaths due to hunger will far outweigh deaths due to coronavirus," he told business leaders at a webinar on Wednesday.

We need to be cleverer in lifting lockdown; need to open up in measured way as India does not have capacity to feed people for long, said Raghuram Rajan during the interaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

India needs Rs 65,000 crore to help the poor during the novel coronavirus crisis, said former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on Thursday.

A second or third lockdown will be devastating for the Indian economy, said former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.

"Our fiscal resources are restricted but, it is pivotal to reopen economic activities," said Rajan

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on Thursday initiate his series of dialogues with experts on economy and health, with the first one being with former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Gandhi will be in conversation with Mr Rajan in the first such dialogue and the same will be aired on social media from Thursday morning.

India registered a record jump of 71 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, taking the toll from the novel coronavirus past 1,000. The number of confirmed cases also recorded a growth of 1,813 new infections, pushing the total to 31,787.

Meanwhile, the Centre allowed migrant workers, students and others stranded in different parts of the country to begin their journey homewards provided certain norms and conditions were followed.

The development comes after some states including Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh this week began bringing back students and labourers stuck outside the states.

1,813 new cases, 71 deaths recorded in 24 hours

According to the 5 pm update issued by the Union health ministry, India now has 31,787 coronavirus positive cases with 1,813 new patients confirmed in the past 24 hours.

The total number of cases include 111 foreign nationals.

While the number of active COVID-19 cases stand at 22,982, 7,796 people have recovered, and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.

"Thus, around 24.52 percent of the patients have recovered so far," PTI quoted a health ministry official as saying.

The highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 9,318, followed by Gujarat at 3,774, Delhi at 3,314, Madhya Pradesh at 2,561, Rajasthan at 2,364, Uttar Pradesh at 2,115 and Tamil Nadu at 2,058.

The ministry in its updated chart said that "repeat case from Betul district (was) removed" from Madhya Pradesh.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,332 in Andhra Pradesh and 1,012 in Telangana. The number of cases has risen to 725 in West Bengal, 565 in Jammu and Kashmir, 532 in Karnataka, 486 in Kerala, 383 in Bihar and 322 in Punjab.

Maharashtra and Gujarat account for most deaths

According to the ministry, 71 persons also succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, the highest rise in fatalities so far in a single day, taking the toll due to COVID-19 to 1,008.

Of the 71 deaths reported since Tuesday evening, 31 fatalities were from Maharashtra, 19 from Gujarat, six from Madhya Pradesh, five each from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, two from West Bengal and one each from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

Of the 1,008 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 400 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 181, Madhya Pradesh at 119, Delhi at 54, Rajasthan at 51, Uttar Pradesh at 36 and Andhra Pradesh at 31.

However, a PTI tally put the countrywide toll at 1,064 and case count at 32,657 till 9 pm on Wednesday, while 8,091 have been cured of the infection.

The Gujarat health department said that 308 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the state in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the state to 4,082, including 527 cured/ discharged and 197 deaths.

Tamil Nadu reported more than a 100 cases for the second consecutive day, pushing the state total to 2,162, said the state health department. Four children, aged between two and six, were among the newly infected.

In Maharashtra, Mumbai's Dharavi area reported 14 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the overall tally to 344. Dharavi, considered as the biggest slum in Asia, has so far reported 18 deaths.

In the National Capital, the new confirmed cases included 11 family members of an LNJP Hospital dietician, who had earlier tested positive. However, none of the hospital employees, who came in contact with the dietician, have tested positive.

Punjab extends curfew till 17 May

Punjab, which has reported 375 cases and 19 deaths, announced extension of the lockdown in the state by two weeks after 3 May, though some relaxations have been given in areas that do not fall under the containment or red zones. However, containment zones will continue to remain under total lockdown, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said.

Chief Minister @capt_amarinder Singh announces extension of curfew/lockdown in #Punjab till May 17, with limited lifting of restrictions in non containment & non red zones beginning tomorrow. #PunjabFightsCorona #coronavirus #lockdown  CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) April 29, 2020

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said experts and doctors are of the opinion that the restrictions imposed to check the spread of COVID-19 should continue in the state till the end of May.

She, however, also announced some relaxations, including opening of standalone shops in green zones and non-containment zones with all precautionary and social distancing measures.

The Tamil Nadu government announced that the four-day total shutdown in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore Corporation limits ending on Wednesday will not be extended, even as Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the contagion is "easily" spreading in Chennai due to its large population. He, however, observed that the spread of COVID-19 in the rest of the state is largely under control and asked district collectors to work on a "war footing" towards resumption of normalcy.

Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has already announced extension of the lockdown in his state till 7 May without any relaxation.

During his last interaction with chief ministers on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told them that the economy would need to be given importance too while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

MHA issues guidelines to bring back migrants workers, students stranded in other states

Days after Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments undertook special initiatives to bring back migrant workers and students, the the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday passed an order to allow inter-state movement of migrants and students to reach their respective destinations, subject to certain conditions.

The order will also apply to pilgrims, tourists, students and other people stranded at different places.

In the order, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating.

Listing the conditions, the ministry said that all states and Union Territories should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons to their respective destinations. In case of movement beyond states or UTs, the sending and receiving states will need to consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road.

These people would be screened and only those found asymptomatic would be allowed to proceed. On arrival at their destination, they would be assessed by local health authorities and kept in home or institutional quarantine, as required by the assessment, the order said.

In Maharashtra, home minister Anil Deshmukh said that his government is in talks with chief ministers of other states over facilitating the return of migrant workers to their native places in a planned manner.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he is in touch with other state governments on the Home Ministry order and told migrant workers to stay put till he informs them about the final decision in one or two days.

Mumbai and Delhi are among major urban centres where a large number of workers from other states are stranded and have been demanding transport arrangements be made for them to go back to their native places.

Some states are said to be reluctant in allowing return of their natives from other places due to fears of infection.

New lockdown guidelines to come into force from 4 May

The MHA, in a review meet, also observed that tremendous gains had been made due to the lockdown and stressed that the lockdown guidelines need to be followed strictly till 3 May.

The ministry's spokesperson said that the new lockdown guidelines shall come into force from 4 May, under which "considerable relaxations" shall be given to many districts. "Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come," said the ministry.

New guidelines to fight #COVID19 will come into effect from 4th May, which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts. Details regarding this shall be communicated in the days to come.#coronavirus update#StayHomeStaySafe@PMOIndia @HMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA  Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 29, 2020

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said of the total active COVID-19 cases in the country, only 0.33 percent patients are on ventilators, 1.5 percent are on oxygen support and 2.34 percent are in ICU.

"Since the last three days, the doubling rate (of coronavirus cases) is 11.3 days in the country. Although the global mortality rate is around 7 percent, India has a mortality rate of around 3 percent, while around 86 percent deaths are of persons with co-morbidity," said Vardhan.

On Wednesday, the Central government also made it mandatory for its 48.34 lakh employees to download the 'Aarogya Setu' mobile app immediately and report to office only when it shows "safe" status for commuting. The app, developed by the government, helps people assess themselves on the risk of them contracting the infection.

Drop in number of infection-free green zones

Earlier in the day, official sources told PTI that the number of COVID-19 hotspot districts in India has come down to 129 from 170 a fortnight ago, but in the same period the number of infection-free districts or green zones too decreased from 325 to 307.

During this time, the number of non-hotspot districts, also known as orange zones, increased from 207 to 297, they said.

The Centre had on 15 April classified districts into three categories. Those with high load of COVID-19 cases or which have a high growth rate of the disease are marked as hotspots or red zones, while those with considerably fewer cases of the respiratory infection fall in orange zone or non-hotspots. Districts with no COVID-19 cases are categorised as green zones.

However, a red zone or orange zone district can be demarcated as green zone if no new coronavirus case is reported from those places for 28 and 14 days, respectively.

UGC announces timeline for new academic session

The University Grants Commission (UGC), in the meantime, said that the new academic session for freshers will begin in universities from September and for already enrolled students in August.

It also advised universities to follow a six-day week pattern and devise proforma to record travel or stay history of staff members and students during the lockdown period.

Global count climbs to 31,42,942

Ever since its emergence in China last December, 31,42,942 persons have tested positive for the deadly virus infection worldwide while the 2,18,649 persons have died due to the disease, according to John Hopkins University data.

The US, which is among the worst hit globally with 1,015,289 cases, reported that its economy shrank at a 4.8 percent annual rate in the last quarter, triggering a recession that will end the country's longest ever expansion period.

Meanwhile, China which had begun to emerge from under the shadows of the infection, said that it will hold its annual parliament session from 22 May. Beijing, which recorded 593 coronavirus cases and nine deaths on Wednesday, closed the COVID-19 special hospital after clearing all the cases.

With inputs from agencies
Peak NSW business group and union leaders have increased pressure on the state and federal governments to provide support for jobless international students.

Universities Australia has backed the calls, warning that many of the more than 310,000 higher education students living and studying in Australia have lost their part-time jobs and face financial hardship.

Universities Australia wants more government aid for international students in Australia. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Business NSW chief executive Stephen Cartwright and Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey have separately written to the governments urging them to help the students who are out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Cartwright said NSW had the largest share of an estimated 570,000 international students in Australia. He said supporting international students would help protect 250,000 jobs in the $38 billion international education sector. NSW Treasury has also been sent a copy of the letter Mr Cartwright wrote to the federal government on behalf of the NSW International Education Advisory Board, which he chairs. The letter warns of an unfolding "humanitarian crisis".
Britons are having less sex because of the coronavirus lockdown, according to the maker of Durex condoms.

Laxman Narasimhan, chief executive of Reckitt Benckiser, said sales of condoms had been hit particularly hard in the UK and Italy - with restrictions 'limiting the number of intimate occasions'.

However, sales have not been affected in China, where restrictions are now being lifted.

Mr Narasimhan said social distancing had limited opportunities for sex and couples were being less intimate than usual, possibly because of stress.

'Intimate occasions are going down and that is a manifestation of anxiety,' the chief executive added.

Maker of Durex condoms has revealed that sales of condoms had been hit particularly hard in the UK and Italy (stock photo)

Mr Narasimhan added that young people in the UK were having 'significantly' less sex than before.

At the same time, the consumer goods giant yesterday revealed that other parts of its business have been supercharged by the pandemic, with hygiene and health products flying off supermarket shelves.

It also noted that it expected demand for condoms to recover when lockdown ends, and said its condom factories would not scale back production.

However, condom manufacturers around the world have warned of the impact of coronavirus.

Karex, the world's largest condom producer which makes one in five of all condoms, closed three of its factories.

The firm warned it expects to produce 200m fewer condoms than usual from mid-March to mid-April.

Goh Miah Kiat, Karex's chief executive, told AFP earlier this month: 'The world will definitely see a condom shortage.

Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, suggested at the start of lockdown that the restrictions could be a 'test' for couples

'It's challenging, but we are trying our best right now to do whatever we can. It is definitely a major concern  a condom is an essential medical device.'

The government was asked about the impact of coronavirus on romance and relationships at the start of the lockdown.

In response, it was suggested the restrictions are an opportunity to 'test relationships'.

Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, said: 'If the two halves of a couple are currently in separate households, ideally they should stay in those households.

'The alternative might be that, for quite a significant period going forwards, they should test the strength of their relationship and decide whether one wishes to be permanently resident in another household.'
Two armed men appeared at a shopping center in Texas to 'protect the constitutional rights' of businesses wanting to open despite the coronavirus lockdown.

The men were seen standing in a parking lot of the Spring Creek Village shopping center in Dallas on Wednesday, where a hair salon owner has refused to close, carrying large rifles, wearing face masks and utility vests.

The two open carry advocates refused to use their real names and instead identified themselves as Duncan Lemp, a Maryland who was shot and killed by police in March while they were serving a warrant for gun offenses.

Lemp's' friends say he was a Libertarian who posted frequent references to anti-government militia on internet forums and social media. His death started a movement among so-called 'boogaloo boys' who have pushed back against gun control laws.

They started their patrol alongside a series of protests in the state calling for the strict stay-at-home order to be relaxed so more businesses can reopen.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this month announced a series of orders intended to restart the state economy, but salons and dine-in restaurant services are not yet allowed.

In the state, 27,839 people have been infected and 776 have died.

Two armed men in face masks who both identified themselves as Duncan Lemp, standing in a parking lot of a shopping center in Dallas on Wednesday. Lemp was shot and killed by cops in Maryland in March while they were serving a warrant for gun offenses

The pair (pictured) said they were on site to protect the constitutional rights of businesses wanting to open

Shelley Luther, the owner of the Dallas hair salon Salon a la Mode the pair was standing outside, recently issued a citation after reopening her business in violation of local and state stay-at-home orders

Demonstrators have described the virus restrictions as unconstitutional for curtailing their freedoms.

On Friday a handful of Texas businesses reopened in defiance of state guidance in the fight against the virus, which allows retailers to offer 'to go' service but leaves other restrictions in place.

Lemps' friends say he was a Libertarian who posted frequent references to anti-government militia on internet forums and social media. He was shot and killed during the raid on March 13 while he was asleep

In Dallas, hair salon owner Shelley Luther was issued a citation at midday but she refused to close her business.

She had two stylists and a nail technician on duty, a fraction of her normal staff.

The Salon A la Mode boss said at the time: 'We're all wearing protective gear. We're all sanitizing. Everything is completely sanitary in there.'

Several supporters came to the salon, including a man carrying a long gun he made into a pole for a Texas flag with a coiled snake on it reading 'Don't Tread on Me'.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins' office sent a 'cease and desist' letter to Luther and yesterday she was sent a second restraining order.

Police served her a $1,000 citation and temporary restraining orders on Tuesday, then again on Wednesday.

Luther said Judge Jenkins is abusing his power and she's rallying for all businesses to be opened.

Salon owner Shelley Luther holding a citation and speaking with a Dallas police officer after she was cited for reopening her Salon A la Mode in Dallas on Friday

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.

In Austin last week, armed protesters also gathered outside the Texas State Capitol during a rally calling for the reopening of Austin and Texas.

Luther also spoke to a crowd of supporters at an 'Open Texas' rally against coronavirus restrictions outside City Hall in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday.

At the rally she ripped her cease and desist letter into pieces before a cheering crowd.

Officials for the City of Dallas said if the salon does not shut down immediately local residents 'will suffer irreparable injury'.

Matt Brice, owner of Federal American Grill in the upscale enclave of Hedwig Village, Houston, was not accepting walk-in diners and was limiting the restaurant to 30 per cent capacity to prevent crowds inside.

Armed protesters gathered outside the Texas State Capitol during a rally calling for the reopening of Austin and Texas on Saturday

A man carrying a rifle and Texas flag standing with salon owner Shelley Luther (left) and others in front of her salon on Friday

But he called for businesses to be allowed to start getting up and running again, saying 'it's time to open'.

Brice said: 'The small businesses of this world, not just this community but this world, are hurting. They're hurting badly and not being able to open has been a big struggle for us.'

More than 30 million Americans have now lost their jobs in the six weeks since the outbreak began, new figures said today.

There were 3.8 million new claims for unemployment benefits filed last week, according to the latest Labor Department figures released today.

More than 26 million have applied for aid in the previous five weeks, adding up to the largest streak of US job losses on record.
Rapper DMX hosts a Bible study on Instagram, thousands tune in

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Rapper DMX led thousands of his followers in a Bible study over the weekend in hopes to calm down the anxiety brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Instagram live video reached 14,000 viewers while live and then thousands more after as Earl Simmons, better known by his stage name DMX, recited scriptures from the book of Ecclesiastes while holding a cigarette.

A time for embracing, and a time to avoid embracing, he said in his iconic raspy voice talking about social distancing. A time for embraces and time for avoiding embraces. What! Come on.

The New York native, who admittedly has lost people to COVID-19, told his audience to keep the faith and believe in the will of God.

At the end of the day, at the beginning of the day, its going to be Gods will, DMX continued. If you try to understand why He does, what He does, youre just going to end up with a headache. Just do the right thing.

He encouraged the thousands watching live to get their lives right with God and follow Jesus.

The mainstream rapper has never shied away from sharing his Christian faith and his recent Bible sent his fans into a holy frenzy. Many of them thanked him for leading people to Christ;, others asked for more Bible studies.

The hip hop artist, whose lyrics are sometimes vulgar, has recorded several songs talking about his Christianity, including Lord Give Me a Sign and Damien.

DMX has openly said in the past that he wants to become a pastor. In a video posted on Facebook in 2016, he stated that his dream of becoming a minister is slowly becoming a reality. The video showed the emcee behind a pulpit preaching about the miracle that is birthed from tragedy.

"If I wasn't a threat to the devil he wouldn't waste his time. If I wasn't special to God, how would I know what He's willing to do for me? We know what He's able to do. The word says, 'All things are possible through Christ who strengthens,' Amen!" DMX exclaimed. "So we know what He's able to do. How can you know what He's willing to do until you've been placed in a situation where you need Him to do it for you? If you haven't been somewhere where you need God to get you out of the situation, you wouldn't know what He's willing to do for you. We know what He's able to do but we won't know what He's willing to do until we're there."

The hip-hop recording artist has had many public mishaps, from a drug overdose to various arrests, and in his sermonette he said tragedy is in fact what has brought him closer to God.

"So now I embrace difficult situations. I praise God for difficult situations because through these situations I see what He's willing to do for me. On a daily basis, if it gets rough I praise God; it goes wrong, I praise God; it goes left, I praise God. I praise God because there's nothing that He can't get me through. So I thank Him for every opportunity that is presented for me to see what He's willing to do for me," DMX concluded.
East-based Libyan rebel Gen. Khalifa Haftar has assigned a close aide wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to recruit fighters near Tripoli, reports say.

Field marshall Haftar who declared himself the rightful ruler of Libya early this week has assigned Mahmoud Al-Werfalli to enlist new fighters for Haftars so-called Libyan National Army (LNA) opposed to UN-backed Government of National (GNA), Anadolu news agency reports citing Libyan sources close to the east-based war lord.

Al-Werfalli reportedly went to to Bani Walid province, south of Tripoli, with a large amount of money to recruit more soldiers.

ICC in 2017 issued an arrest warrant for the head of Saiqa Special Forces aligned with the LNA for his involvement in the execution of about 33 bound captives in cold blood, in Benghazi, during the capture of the city in July 2017 after nearly three years of combat.

Several videos emerged showing Werfalli participating directly and indirectly in the execution of Islamic State group (IS) suspects.

After the photos emerged, Haftar reportedly ordered the arrest of his aide and pledged cooperation with Hague-based court but Werfalli was accused again in 2018 by the UN for being behind another brutal and outrageous summary executions of at least nine prisoner in blue jumpsuits in front of Bayaat al-Radwan mosque, in Benghazi.

Haftars forces have been stuck on the outskirts of Tripoli in their push to topple the GNA. The operation launched in April last year has recently received major blows as the UN-backed government with help of Turkey, Qatar and several Syrian mercenaries managed to recover several towns lost to the LNA.
[April 30, 2020] Guidehouse Insights Report Shows the Global Commercial Heat Pump Market Is Expected to Experience an 8.6% Compound Annual Growth Rate from 2020-2029

A new report from Guidehouse Insights examines the global market for commercial heat pump and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems with a focus on North America. Global market forecasts are provided through 2029. Although multiple options exist to decarbonize heat in commercial buildings, electrification is widely considered the most commercially viable pathway. Technologies such as electric heat pumps and VRF systems can meet heating needs and help meet greenhouse gas targets in most climates in North America, and for many other areas globally. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, the global commercial heat pump market is estimated at $25.2 billion in 2020, growing to $52.8 billion in 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. "Around the world, new climate-related targets are spurring added growth and competition among market players," says Sasha Wedekind, research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. "Heat pumps and VRF systems have seen sustained growth in adoption over the past 5 years, and the market is now reaching a tipping point." Given the diversity of electrification and decarbonization policies and agendas across global markets, different technology mixes are expected to evolve to support local needs. According the report, the US market is expected to be the fastest growing opportunity for heat pump and VRF manufacturers in the short term. Growth is expected to be driven by the speed of regulations around decarbonization and electrification and low adoption of heat pump and VRF systems in the region to date. The report, Commercial Building Electrification, examines the global market for commercial heat pump and VRF systems considering increasing building decarbonization and electrification priorities set by governments around the world. The report provides an analysis of this market with a focus on North America and a 10-year (2020-2029) global forecast. Trends in the European and Asia Pacific markets are also discussed, in part to provide context to the North American market. The forecast includes three regions (North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific) segmented by heat source type (air, water, and ground), heat pump type (VRF and other), project type (new construction and retrofit), and eight commercial building types. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Insights website.



About Guidehouse Insights Guidehouse Insights, the dedicated market intelligence arm of Guidehouse, provides research, data, and benchmarking services for today's rapidly changing and highly regulated industries. Our insights are built on in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research, and demand assessment, paired with a deep examination of technology trends, to provide a comprehensive view of emerging resilient infrastructure systems. Additional information about Guidehouse Insights can be found at www.guidehouseinsights.com.

About Guidehouse Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public and commercial markets with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. We help clients address their toughest challenges with a focus on markets and clients facing transformational change, technology-driven innovation and significant regulatory pressure. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and technology/analytics services, we help clients create scalable, innovative solutions that prepare them for future growth and success. Headquartered in Washington DC, the company has more than 7,000 professionals in more than 50 locations. Guidehouse is led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit: www.guidehouse.com. * The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Commercial Building Electrification, is a summary and reflects the current expectations of Guidehouse Insights based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Guidehouse Insights nor Guidehouse undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005289/en/

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The "Germany Contactless Payment Market 2019-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Germany contactless payment market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR 15.4% during the forecast period.

Germany is one of the leading markets for ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) sector. Well-established ICT sector supports the number of opportunities for ICT market players to emerge in advanced technologies such as digital payment services. Major IT sector companies such as IBM, Google, Microsoft, and SAP are the leading ICT market players in the country. Due to favorable government policies, Germany has substantial capital investments in the ICT sector.

The economic and technical policies are focused on the digital economy, e-infrastructure, digital public administration, and internet-oriented workplace, the involvement of internet services in finance, education, science, and research. Security, protection, speed, and transparency through internet services are adding a significant amount of government's efforts in the digitalization. Policies such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and EU Digital Single Market are continuously increasing demand for ICT market. According to the US Department of Commerce, Germany's ICT market is valued at $211 million in 2017 with an increase of 6% as compared to 2016.

Therefore, with the emergence of the digital economy in the country, the demand for secure and fast financial services is increasing. NFC-based payments are considered as a reliable and secured method for financial transactions. However, with the digital economy, the number of cyber threats is estimated to increase substantially. Therefore, cyber threats act as a challenge in the adoption of digital payment methods. Despite the challenges, contactless payments require smart gadgets such as smartphones, smart watches, smart cards, and others, thus, the source of payment is easily available in the country as German population is highly exposed to the smart devices.

This report covers:

A comprehensive research methodology of the Germany Contactless Payment market.

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 Germany Contactless Payment market.

Insights about market determinants which are stimulating the Germany Contactless Payment market.

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

1.2. Market Breakdown

1.2.1. By Segments

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. Rules Regulations

3. Competitive Landscape

3.1. Competitive Share Analysis

3.2. Key Strategy Analysis

3.3. Key Company Analysis

3.3.1. Overview

3.3.2. Financial Analysis

3.3.3. SWOT Analysis

3.3.4. Recent Developments

4. Market Determinants

4.1. Motivators

4.2. Restraints

4.1. Opportunities

5. Market Segmentation

5.1. Germany Contactless Payment Market by Device

5.1.1. Smartphones

5.1.2. Smart Cards

5.1.3. Point of Sale Terminals

5.1.4. Others

5.2. Germany Contactless Payment Market by End-user

5.2.1. Retail

5.2.2. BFSI

5.2.3. Transportation

5.2.4. Others

6. Company Profiles

6.1. Gemalto N.V.

6.2. Giesecke+Devrient GmbH

6.3. IBM Corp.

6.4. Infineon Technologies AG

6.5. Ingenico Group S.A.

6.6. Prepay Solutions

6.7. Thales Group

6.8. Verifone Systems, Inc.

6.9. VISA, Inc.

6.10. Wirecard AG

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xd5sa2

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005587/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

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Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang



on Thursday said stranded people of Sikkim on their way home would be quarantined in Siliguri in neighbouring West Bengal for 14 days before they are allowed to enter the state.

The government will facilitate the return of all people stuck outside the state following the guidelines of the Centre, he said.

"All home-bound people will be put through screening for COVID-19 in Siliguri, West Bengal, and quarantined there for 14 days before being allowed to travel back to Sikkim," Tamang said in a video message.

However, it is not yet clear whether or not the Sikkim government has made an arrangement in this regard with the authorities of West Bengal.

"The returnees will be put in isolation at various facilities such as hotels and schools to be arranged by the government before they are allowed to go to their homes," the chief minister said.

With lakhs of migrant workers and students stranded at various places for over a month due to the nationwide lockdown, the Centre had on Wednesday announced plans to allow their movement to help them reach their homes, including by crossing state borders.

The patients and their companions or family members will be given "first preference" to facilitate their return to Sikkim, Tamang said.

The students, stranded in various states, will also be allowed to travel back to Sikkim, the chief minister said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Secretary S.C. Gupta presided over the State Level Task Force meeting to review the action plan in line with the new guidelines issued by the Centre.

He said the state government has appointed Ringzing Bhutia, Secretary, Coordination (Covid-19), as the State Nodal Officer to coordinate with other states to facilitate the return of people stuck outside Sikkim.

An online registration portal has already been prepared for the purpose, an official said.

No COVID-19 case has so far been reported from the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Authorities in a Spanish coastal village have apologised after a bleach solution was sprayed on a beach to protect children, causing reportedly devastating damage to its ecosystem.

A 1.2-mile stretch of beach in the village of Zahara de los Atunes was sprayed with the disinfectant using tractors in an attempt to kill off coronavirus.

Environmental officials in the southern Andalusia region have now opened an investigation into the incident following fears that protected animal species may have been badly affected, local website el Periodico reported.

Daniel Sanchez, a delegate from the regional agriculture ministry, said the tractors may have damaged the eggs of migratory birds which nest in the dunes at this time of year. Zahara de los Atunes could face a fine of up to 60,000 (52,000).

Environmental activist Maria Dolores Iglesias told Spanish media she had visited the beach and that the bleach had killed everything on the ground, nothing is seen, not even insects.

She said she saw at least one birds nest with eggs that had been crushed by a tractor.

Bleach is used as a very powerful disinfectant, it is logical that it be used to disinfect streets and asphalt, but here the damage has been brutal, she was quoted as saying.

They have devastated the dune spaces and gone against all the rules. It has been an aberration what they have done, also taking into account that the virus lives in people, not on the beach. It is crazy.

After being badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Spain is looking to lift its lockdown measures and announced a four-phase plan to allow residents to return to normality.

Zahara de los Atunes official Agustin Conejo said the bleaching had been carried out in anticipation of children who would visit the beach after six weeks of quarantine, but admitted it was a wrong move.

He told broadcaster Canal Sur: I recognise it was an error. But it was done with the best of intentions.

The authorities in Zahara de los Atunes has been sharply criticised by environmental groups for their actions.

Greenpeace Spain compared the incident to the wild suggestion made by Donald Trump that injections of disinfectant should be investigated as a potential coronavirus treatment. Mr Trump later claimed he was being sarcastic.

The organisation tweeted: Fumigating beaches with bleach in the middle of bird-breeding season or during the development of the invertebrate network that will support coastal fishing  is not one of [Donald] Trumps ideas. It is happening in Zahara de los Atunes.

Two environmental groups have said they will file a complaint about the incident in court, seeking to charge the authorities with an ecological crime.

The Agaden-Ecologists in Action and Trafalgar Volunteers said in a statement that the actions of the authorities had endangered the species that inhabit or transit [the beach], causing serious damage to the ecosystem of the area.

They added: Faced with this nonsense, we also appeal to common sense and sanity so that the rest of the coastal municipalities of the province of Cadiz, from Sanlucar de Barrameda to San Roque, do not copy this destructive model that brings more damages than benefits.
If theres a silver lining in the wake of the pandemic, its the increase in adoptions and foster families stepping up to take a pet into their home at a time when it's needed the most. After successfully finding forever homes for 3,325 pets in the past month, BISSELL Pet Foundation is once again aiming to Empty the Shelters across the country, by appointment only, starting Saturday, May 9 through Sunday, May 17.

You can adopt a pet from one of the 120+ participating organizations, including the Humane Society of Midland County, for $25 and BPF will sponsor the remainder of the adoption fee. Also, for one week following the Empty the Shelters promotion, BPF will cover the same cost for new foster families who fall in love and decide to adopt their pets. All adoptions will be facilitated by appointment only to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The National Liberation Army in Colombia, better known as the ELN, announces it will be resuming its five decades old armed struggle, after a month long ceasefire, taking account of the Coronavirus.

By James Blears

In a statement the ELN blames the Colombian Government and more specifically President Ivan Duque, for a lack of a tangible response to its ceasefire olive branch declaration on March 30th. The truce ends on Mayday. It says Government representatives showed little or no enthusiasm for revamping the peace talks, which were taking place in Havana, Cuba. There`s now an issue of how the ELN negotiators are going to gain safe passage home.

Listen to James Blears' report

UN Special Envoy Carlos Ruiz Massieu, is appealing directly to the ELN, to further extend, rather than scrap the ceasefire, as a gesture of goodwill. Thus far it's held.

The ELN, which was founded in 1964, is the largest remaining hostile guerrilla group, still waging war against the Colombian Government. The larger, more numerous and more powerful Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia...the FARC, signed a peace agreement in 2016, and has since evolved into a political party.
Emergency funding to support community radio stations

Community radio stations will soon be able to apply for emergency funding to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

The government has announced that the 400,000 Community Radio Fund is to be redirected to help struggling stations meet core costs of providing vital programming to local communities during the public health crisis.

As administrator of the fund, Ofcom has today published the application form and guidance notes for those stations who wish to apply for an emergency cash grant. This includes the eligibility criteria and information on the application and award process.

The window for applications opens on 4 May 2020 and closes at 5pm on 11 May 2020
Scooter-sharing firm Lime is laying off 13% of its global workforce, as the coronavirus pandemic has wiped out demand for on-demand transportation services.

About 80 employees are being let go as a result of the cuts, Lime CEO Brad Bao said in a letter to staff Thursday. They will receive an email and meeting invitation to talk through the departure process and exit package, he added.

"Almost overnight, our company went from being on the eve of accomplishing an unprecedented milestone  the first next-generation micromobility company to reach profitability  to one where we had to pause operations in 99% of our markets worldwide to support cities' efforts at social distancing," said Bao.

"Needless to say, while we thought we had planned for all possibilities this year, we did not anticipate a global pandemic."

At the start of the year, Lime said it would let go roughly 100 employees and close operations in 12 markets in a bid to achieve profitability this year. Further cuts suggest the company will struggle to meet that target as global lockdown restrictions heavily disrupt the nascent "micromobility" space.

"While we certainly can't predict what comes next, we remain confident that Lime will emerge stronger than ever once we get to the other side of this pandemic," the company said.

Layoffs in the scooter space haven't been limited to Lime. U.S. peer Bird recently laid off 406 employees over a Zoom call  a move that drew backlash online  while Swedish rival Voi has laid off and furloughed most of its staff to survive the impact of lockdowns in Europe.

Meanwhile, others in the urban mobility space have also been affected by the pandemic. Uber is reportedly mulling plans to lay off about 20% of its staff  more than 5,400 employees  amid a sharp decline in its ride-hailing business.

In 2018, venture capital investors were gushing over electric scooter companies like Lime. Investment into e-scooter start-ups continued last year with Voi and German rival Tier raising sizable sums. But concerns over the pandemic  in addition to existing cash burn worries  will likely slow the brakes on that trend.

According to The Information, Lime has been seeking emergency funding from new investors at a valuation of just $400 million  a $2 billion drop from the $2.4 billion the company was last valued at.
The Covid-19 crisis must lead to a reckoning where health staff and other key workers are properly respected and treated, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council has said.

Speaking as part of Workers Rights and Social Justice Week and ahead of May Day, the Mayor said a fairer society was the best tribute to those who have put themselves on the front line of the fight against the pandemic.

The Mayor said: When we are through this crisis - and we will get through it together - there must be a reckoning.

"We must ensure that no more are ordinary workers neglected, underpaid, under-protected or undervalued. If we are to salvage anything from the Covid-19 catastrophe, then it must be to ensure that a better society emerges on the other side of it.

Applause on a Thursday night is one thing. But a new, fairer society is the best tribute we can pay to the workers who have proven time and again over these traumatic weeks that they are the bedrock of our community.

The Mayor also encouraged the public to take part and support the range of events being hosted online by Council as part of its Workers Rights and Social Justice Week and May Day events programming.

The programme is delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council in partnership with Derry Trades Union Council and includes a range of events including Guest Talks, Exhibitions, Music, Art Workshops and initiatives for all ages.

Programming will culminate in a day of action in support of workers on Friday 1st May when Derry Trades Union Council is urging everyone to hang out banners or red flags and to take part in 5 Minutes of Noise for Workers Rights at 6pm. The Mayor has also facilitated the lighting of the Guildhall Clock to red and the lighting up of the Council building on Strand Road.

For more information and how to get involved and take part visit - www.derrystrabane.com/workersrights
Joe Biden says embassy should not have been moved, but now that its done, he would not move it back to Tel Aviv.

Joe Biden, the presumptive United States Democratic presidential nominee, said on Wednesday that if he was elected, he would keep the US embassy in Israel in Jerusalem even though he does not agree with the context in which US President Donald Trump moved it there from Tel Aviv.

It should not have been moved, the former vice president said in response to a question asked during a virtual fundraiser with supporters in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

The move shouldnt have happened in the context as it did, it should happen in the context of a larger deal to help us achieve important concessions for peace in the process, Biden added.

Bidens remarks on Wednesday were among the most detailed explanations of the issue he has given during the 2020 campaign.

Congress authorised the embassy move to Jerusalem in 1995  with Biden voting for the measure as a Delaware senator  but a succession of presidents from both major parties delayed the shift, setting conditions as part of ongoing peace negotiations.

Biden said Trump gave away that leverage.

Moving the embassy when we did without the conditions having been met was short-sighted and frivolous, the former vice president said. But now that is done, I would not move the embassy back to Tel Aviv.

Biden also reportedly said he would reopen the US consulate in occupied East Jerusalem to engage the Palestinians.

Trump was scrutised worldwide when he recognised Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the city.

Since then, Trump, whose evangelical Christian support base is staunchly pro-Israel, has granted a wish list to Israel.

His so-called Middle East plan would let Israel annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank  which much of the rest of the world considers illegal.

The Palestinians would be granted a sovereign but demilitarised entity along with promises of major investment. The Palestinian states capital would be on the outskirts of Jerusalem, the holy city that would remain fully under Israeli sovereignty.

Palestinians have flatly rejected the Trump proposal.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in remarks that aired last week that his administration would regard agreements with Israel and the US completely cancelled if Israel annexes land in the occupied West Bank.

Biden foreign policy adviser Tony Blinken, who joined a webinar of a prominent Jewish group, reportedly said that Biden has been on the record several times saying that unilateral steps taken by either side that make the prospect of a negotiated two-state outcome less likely is something he opposes, and that includes annexation.
Officials of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in the Ashanti Region say they will repatriate some foreign nationals who recently entered the country illegally when the borders are re-opened.

The over 200 nationals from neighbouring West African countries, according to the regional Security council, entered without proper documentation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo had warned that foreigners who entered the country during this period would be severely dealt with alongside their Ghanaian accomplices.

But the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Michael Kwadade, tells Citi News the Service cannot recommend any punitive action against the foreigners since most of them are ECOWAS nationals.

They will be repatriated. Currently, the borders are closed so when the borders are opened, they will be closed. They have been tested. Some are in hotels while others are in accommodations around the region. We have 167 Beninoise, 30 Sierra Leoneneans, two Malians, 25 Togolese and two Gambians who are been taken care of by the Regional Coordinating Council. Most of them are ECOWAS nationals so we will just have to repatriate them and not take any stricter punitive actions against them.

Ghana has closed its land, sea, and air borders to human traffic.

The move is part of efforts to stop the spread of Coronavirus in the country, yet some foreigners continue to illegally find their way into Ghana.

20 Burkinabes busted for entering Ghana illegally

The Immigration officials in the Upper West Region earlier in the month arrested 20 Burkina Faso nationals who came into Ghana without approval amidst the Coronavirus outbreak.

The 20 were busted at Tumo-Dakpla junction in the Lawra Municipality en route Wa in the early hours of today, Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Border closure: We'll deal with illegal immigrants, Ghanaian accomplices  Nana Addo

President Akufo-Addo has said foreigners who enter into Ghana within this period when the country's borders have been closed will be dealt with together with their Ghanaian accomplices.

The President said this on Sunday, April 26, 2020, when he addressed the nation on measures put in place to curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

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President Donald Trump says hed consider pardoning his former national security adviser Michael Flynn and would certainly consider bringing him back on as a member of the administration.

Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday that recent documents released by the Justice Department exonerate Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the U.S.

Flynn has tried to withdraw his plea and his attorneys say the internal FBI notes released this week show he was set up before the questioning that led to charges against him, The Associated Press reported.

It looks to me like Flynn would be exonerated, Trump said. Im not the judge but I have a different type of power. I think hes exonerated. I guess well get to (pardoning) maybe someday, maybe not. Hopefully we wont have to get there.

Pressed on whether hed ask Flynn to rejoin the administration, Trump said he would certainly consider it. He did not specify what role hed consider asking Flynn to fill, noting it was the first time anyone had posed the question.

I think hes a fine man. I think hes got a great family, Trump said. They did everything possible to destroy him and hes still breathing very strongly. I think hell be fully exonerated one way or another.

Trump said Flynn was under artificial pressure by the FBI, which he claimed was out to destroy him and to hurt this presidency.

What happened to Gen. Flynn should never happen again to a citizen in this country, Trump said.

Flynn was among the first of the presidents aides charged in connection to Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and alleged ties between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign.

In exchange for his plea, Flynn cooperated extensively in the investigation, and prosecutors said he should receive probation instead of prison, AP reported. A U.S. District Court judge has not yet decided whether to let Flynn reverse his guilty plea.

The Justice Department released the internal FBI notes after Attorney General William Barr ordered a review of how the investigation was handled.
WASHINGTON  Joe Biden has named the team of people to advise him in his search for a vice presidential running mate.

Biden's vice presidential selection committee, announced Thursday morning, will include four co-chairs: Former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd; U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; and Cynthia Hogan, former White House and Senate counsel to Biden.

These four co-chairs reflect the strength and diversity of our party, and will provide tremendous insight and expertise to what will be a rigorous selection and vetting process," campaign manager Jen OMalley Dillon said in a news release announcing the committee.

More: Elizabeth Warren says she would be Joe Biden's running mate against Trump if asked

Sen. Kamala Harris, left, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, second from right, have both been mentioned as possible vice presidential picks for Joe Biden.

The co-chairs "will conduct conversations across the party as well as work with a network of vetting teams led by former White House Counsel Bob Bauer, campaign General Counsel Dana Remus and former Homeland Security Adviser Lisa Monaco," according to the news release.

Biden has reiterated on multiple occasions that his Democratic running mate will be a woman, and myriad names have circulated as possible options, including former rivals Sens. Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren. At a fundraiser Wednesday, Biden said he hopes to have a vice presidential candidate vetted by July, according to a pool report from the event.

Himself a former vice president, Biden reportedly views the selection process that put him on the Democratic ticket as the model for his own search, according to The New York Times.

Then-nominee Barack Obama's vice presidential committee in 2008 included: Eric Holder, who was later appointed attorney general by Obama; Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy who was later named by Obama as ambassador to Japan; and Jim Johnson, who worked for Walter Mondale's presidential campaign in 1984 and assisted in John Kerry's search for a running mate in 2004 but eventually stepped down from Obama's committee.

Story continues

Want to talk more about politics?: Join our Facebook group: Across the Aisle, Across the Nation.

Here's more about the four people who will be leading Biden's search committee:

Former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd speaks about Vice President Joe Biden (not pictured) during the 2019 Accessibility, Inclusion, and Outreach Conference, hosted by Accessibility for All and the Linn County Medical Society, Saturday, Nov., 2, 2019, at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Chris Dodd

Dodd, a former senator from Connecticut, has been a friend and colleague to Biden for almost 40 years. The two served in the Senate together for nearly 30 years and he endorsed Biden for president in October 2019. Dodd, who helped co-author the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, also played a role in helping pass the Affordable Care Act, a signature piece of legislation for the Obama administration. The senator joined Biden as a Democratic presidential candidate in the 2008 election cycle, exiting the race on the night of the Iowa caucuses. He is currently senior counsel at the law firm of Arnold & Porter, according to the campaign's announcement.

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (right) attends the Return Day candidate reception at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown on Nov. 8, 2018.

More: Joe Biden needs his Joe Biden. Here's a look at the women who could be on his shortlist

Lisa Blunt Rochester

Blunt Rochester, a Democratic representative from Biden's home state of Delaware, became the first African American and first female member of Congress to be elected from the state in 2016. Blunt Rochester is an assistant whip for House Democrats and was named a national co-chair of Biden's campaign in March. She will likely be an important voice as co-chair of the committee, as many Democrats have called for Biden to choose a black woman as his running mate. She was born in Philadelphia, but grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, just as Biden did.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016.

Eric Garcetti

Garcetti endorsed Biden in January and has since served as a national co-chair for the campaign. He was a member of the LA City Council before being elected mayor of Los Angeles in 2013. He is on the board of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, a Rhodes Scholar and served as an intelligence officer in the Naval Reserve. He also is the co-founder of Climate Mayors, which includes 438 mayors committed to the principles of the Paris Agreement, according to the campaign news release. Climate change is a key issue for many Democratic voters, especially young progressive voters whom Biden is trying to woo.

In this photo from June 2, 2009, then-Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor walks through the Capitol to a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., on Capitol Hill in Washington. She is accompanied by Cynthia Hogan, right, Vice President Biden's counsel, and White House adviser Stephanie Cutter, center.

Cynthia Hogan

Hogan is a longtime aide to Biden, serving as the deputy assistant to the president and counsel to the vice president from 2009 to 2013. She led the administration's efforts to get Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the news release, and has held senior policy roles at Apple and the NFL. She has also served as the staff director and chief counsel of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In that role, she helped with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, which was co-sponsored by then-Sen. Biden in 1994.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden vice presidential selection committee announced
Allentowns small businesses can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to help offset the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

The city's Department of Community and Economic Development announced the $500,000 Small Business Stabilization Program on Wednesday.

Applications will be available Friday on the city website allentownpa.gov.

The effort follows a loan program in Easton that distributed over $177,000 to 21 small businesses. Bethlehem is offering loans through its Small Business Emergency Relief Fund.

Allentowns grant funding comes from the CARES Act, through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"The primary objective of the program is to help neighborhood businesses survive this health crisis and assist employers with emergency cash flow needs," Allentown officials said in a news release. "The program intent is to help retain and continue to pay small neighborhood business employees where possible and to continue to provide goods and services to Allentowns residents to the maximum possible extent."

Grant funds are intended for businesses passed over by larger U.S. Small Business Administration efforts, to provide emergency operating funds for neighborhood businesses that are closed or have had their foot traffic significantly reduced. Eligible activities include rental or mortgage payments, utilities, payroll, real estate taxes and outstanding vendor invoices.

Visit allentownpa.gov for more details, including eligibility requirements.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.

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MBC's upcoming Wednesday-Thursday drama, titled "Old School Intern," starring Park Hae Jin, has released new stills!

The series is an office comedy-drama that centers the story on a man, portrayed by actor Park Hae Jin, who achieved his sweet revenge on his former boss, played by Kim Eung Soo, who made Park Hae Jin's life miserable. Then, their luck suddenly shifted when the boss gets hired as Park Hae Jin's subordinate at a new company.

The visual of Park Hae Jin's shone in the newly released poster as he played the character who reached the top of the ladder with a swift promotion at a new company. As seen in the poster, Park Hae Jin is standing confidently at a desk. Beside him is an open tablet, and behind him are stacked up ramen boxes. The background of the poster is the office of the marketing sales team.

However, the thing that attracted attention the most is the part of the poster wherein a large text "kkondae" is seen, which is a Korean slang phrase for an older person or in the English connotation more known as "boomer."

There was also some sneak peek of Park Hae Jin portraying his new character, who is always dressed, looking neat and picture-perfect. He is seen wearing a variety of shirts, and his fashionable ties are always worn perfectly. Thanks to being hardworking, he is no longer a mere employee but became a rising star in the ramen industry.

Park Hae Jin was born on May 1, 1983. The actor became famous for his supporting roles in dramas, namely "East of Eden" (2008-2009), "My Love from the Star" (2013), and Doctor Stranger (2014). He played the leading role in dramas Bad Guys (2014), Cheese in the Trap (2016), Man to Man (2017), and Forest (2020).

Park Hae Jin's parents separated when he was young, and he eventually moved back in with his mother after 17 years of not being together.

Fun fact: The actor is also known to be a collector of shoes, particularly sneakers. Can you guess how many shoes he owns? Well, it's actually 1800 pairs!

When Park Hae Jin experienced the ascend in his popularity, he then received a lot of endorsement offers. And in the year 2016, the actor won the Best Actor award at the Korean Cable TV Awards. Since becoming very famous not only in South Korea but also overseas, it led him to be featured in Chinese postage stamps, making him the first Korean to be on Chinese stamps that were released as both regular issues and limited edition.

Fast forward to the year 2017, Park Hae Jin was cast in the romance thriller "Four Men," this was scheduled to premiere in the year 2018. However, the project faced some delays, and production was later canceled due to contractual breach.

This current year, the actor's latest project was the comedy-drama "Forest," where he portrayed the character of a special emergency rescue team worker.
Professor Paddy Mallon, consultant in infectious diseases at St Vincents Hospital in Dublin has said that reports of the success of the drug Remdesivir in treating Covid-19 were encouraging.

However, he cautioned that peer reviews will still have to be completed.

Prof Mallon told RTE radios Today with Sean ORourke show that the drug is traditionally used for viral infections and it blocks the ability of the virus to replicate.

This is good news, he said.

But the results will still have to be validated and research cannot rely on just one trial, he added.

Prof. Mallon said that Ireland is very active in the search for a cure for Covid-19 conducting stand-alone trials while also participating in larger international trials.

There is a lot of work going on in the world, but we need research and further studies to be up and running rapidly.

Prof. Mallon said he thinks there will be a treatment drug for Covid-19 before there is a vaccine and his hope is that in the short term the medical profession will be able to control the virus, not eradicate it.
An effort to teach the correct understanding of the Gospel of missionaries and seminary faculty of The International Mission Board(IMB) has led a hopeful impact on the spiritual state of Kenya.

While 85.5% of Kenyans identify as Christians according to the 2019 U.S. State Department's World Factbook, most of them lack correct understanding about Jesus and the Bible, said Daniel Lowry, an IMB missionary who serves in Nairobi.

One popular idea is the prosperity gospel movement which was influenced by western practices infiltrating and weaving the Kenyan culture and tradition in post-colonized era, Lowry shared on IMB.

"Traditional Kenyan religious culture promotes the concept of a 'big man' or a moderator who is the mediator between God or evil spirits and the common people. This 'big man' speaks to the people on God's behalf or protects them against the evil spirits," said the missionary. "The prosperity gospel has coupled itself with the mindset through the 'big man in charge' mentality. The moderator promises health and wealth through faith, if the people do what he says," he added.

Lowry and his wife, Kristen, have dedicated themselves to teach and raise faithful preachers of the Gospel in Kenya together since 2018. As a professor at Kenya Baptist Theological College and seminary, Lowry has taught the correct understanding of the Gospel to Kenya ministry students.

Lowry and the other professors at the seminary believe that a well-trained Kenyan could do more work in Kenya than they could ever do. Their goal is to see Kenyans leading churches who are faithful to God's Word.

"We recognize the ripple effect we can have here. We hope to impact a nation through the faithful teaching of God's Word," said the professor.

Currently 40 students attend the seminary, both male and female, from all walks of life and professions. Although each term is relatively short as four to five week considering financial situation of the students, students shared that their eyes are opened to the truth of the Gospel. After studying the four Gospels through the class, a student responded, "I have never heard this taught before in my church. How can I go back with this new information?"

Lowry shared that he wants to see students trained not only in academical ways but also practical application. He wants to partner students with faithful pastors, which will help students to see how to live out what they are learning in the class.

The work of Lowry and other seminary faculty is vital to the spiritual state of the country, IMB noted. Although it is equally-if not more- challenging to teach Christians not knowing the true Gospel, the dedication of the students and faculty of the seminary for the truth of God's world has changed the whole spiritual atmosphere in Kenya greatly.
An 18-year-old girl in Illinois was found dead from the coronavirus just moments after telling her father that she was 'fine' - and two weeks after her celebrating her birthday.

Caitlin Whisnant, from Will County, was born with a genetic immune deficiency and was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier in the month.

Her father said that she did not have severe symptoms while she stayed at her sister's home under quarantine.

'I talked to her in a video call,' her father, Jody Whisnant, explained to CBS Chicago. 'Honey, how are you feeling?' 'Dad, I feel fine. I'm just a little tired.''

But her mother, Kristan Whisnant, found her unresponsive just moments after.

Scroll down for video

Caitlin Whisnant, from Will County, was born with a genetic immune deficiency and was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier in the month. She died just two weeks after her 18th birthday

'I found her passed away and tried to revive her,' Kristin said.

The parents describe Caitlin, the youngest of five children, loved to make other people happy.

'Caitlin, she was my right hand here,' said Kristin. 'If something needed to be done, she was always here helping me.'

Caitlin's funeral was on Saturday but only certain family members could attend as her mother is currently recovering from the coronavirus herself.

Caitlin's father Jody Whisnant, right, said that she did not have severe symptoms while she stayed at her sister's home under quarantine.

Caitlin, pictured, was found unresponsive by her mother just moments after speaking with her dad

Her father added: 'Even as a teenager she would hold my hand. She would my wife's hand when we'd go out in public, and you know how rare that is. She didn't care who knew how much she loved her family.'

'I would want the world to know how wonderful our daughter was.'

The teen, who excelled in math and science, is just one of the few cases of children dying from the coronavirus, which has killed more than 2,000 deaths in Illinois.

'Children compared to adults are a relatively less affected population when it comes to COVID-19,' said Doctor Larry Kociolek.

The doctor is the director of Infection Prevention and Control at Lurie Children's Hospital.

'About 80% of children that we have diagnosed withCOVID-19 have not required hospitalization, and many of those children have had such a mild illness that they probably did not need to be seen by the pediatrician either.'

It is not exactly clear why the mortality rate is so low among the young, according to the doctor.

Kociolek said physicians don't have a full understanding why the mortality rate is so low among the very young, but he said many of those with difficulty have pre-existing conditions.
The Mumbai Police have pulled down more than 600 objectionable posts related to the coronavirus pandemic from social media platforms, officials said on Thursday. The posts include video and audio clips, communal posts, photos and fake news.

Five FIRs have also been registered in this regard and 155 accused arrested so far, said Harish Baijal, deputy inspector general of Mumbai Polices cyber wing.

A senior police officer told Hindustan Times that the Social Media Lab (SML) of Special Branch-1, the intelligence wing of Mumbai Police, has pulled down objectionable posts during the lockdown period. These posts were highly misleading, baseless and had potential to trigger panic among people and also communal tension in the city, the officer said.

The officer further added that the messages circulating initially on the social media platforms had misinformation regarding Covid-19, but later, messages on the Tablighi Jamaat incident of Delhi spread like wildfire.

We keep close eye on trends and patterns and analyse them to identify the platforms or groups which are regularly spreading such inflammatory videos or posts. Then appropriate legal action is taken against such elements, another officer said.

A team of 30 highly trained, technologically sound, multilingual officers keep an eagles eye on the suspicious activities on various social media platforms. These officers work in three shifts so that the monitoring continues for 24 hours, 7 days a week.

They look for objectionable content on popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram etc with the help of advanced filter tools. Once objectionable content is discovered, it is immediately blocked or removed with the help of the service providers. Members of this team are regularly given training by Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), anti-terror agencies and other government agencies about the new tools, filters and softwares that can be used to trace troublemakers operating online.

How its done:

Whenever a problematic content is identified on internet by the Social Media Lab (SML) officials, it is sent to an Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) or Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Special Branch. After senior officials find it fit for further action, they approve the same for sending it to the cyber wing, which is the nodal authority of Mumbai Police for such action. While sending out instructions, the senior officials also keep in mind that freedom of speech or artistic or creative liberty is not curbed.

The cyber police then writes email to concerned service provider under Section 91 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and request them to remove the content.

The service providers do not accept the polices request everytime as they adhere to their local laws and are not bound by our laws. But, in cases related to terrorism or any other emergency they usually accept our request and promptly remove the content from their platform. They also follow a verification process before taking down the content, a DCP rank officer said, who once headed the cyber police decision, told Hindustan Times.

The police officers also shared tips on how to spot fake news:

 Fake news often goes viral: Even if a message, post or video is shared multiple times and you receive it from multiple sources, consider the fact that a matter being shared multiple times does not make it true.

 Look for mistakes and errors in messages: Most fake messages are full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

 Check the unbelievable information: On receiving information that seems a little far-fetched, check on internet, official websites to determine whether it is true or not.

 Photos, videos can be edited: Always understand that it is not difficult to edit photos and videos. Even if a photo is real, it is not a tough task to spin a story around it. Always look online to see where the photo came from.

 Check links as well: Sometimes links look like they are too well-known websites but there are often spelling mistakes and unusual characters present in them.

 Dont share if your are unsure: If you are unaware of the source or are unsure about the information, then avoid sharing such matters.
Police investigating the 'murder' of missing sex worker Natalie Jenkins are today scouring a North Yorkshire park, lake and waterways for clues after three were arrested over her disappearance.

Albert Park in Middlesbrough has been closed to the public and an underwater team is checking the park's 30-hectare lake and waterways for evidence. The search is expected to last several days.

Cleveland Police detectives leading the murder investigation following the disappearance of the 32-year-old have arrested three people, including a man and a woman in their 60s.

Two men, aged 40 and 66, have been arrested on suspicion of Natalie's murder. She disappeared in December, from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire.

A 65-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Cleveland Police initially appealed for help in finding Miss Jenkins after she stopped contacting her family or friends.

Albert Park in Middlesbrough has been closed to the public and an underwater team (pictured) is checking the park's 30-hectare lake and waterways for any sign of Natalie Jenkins, 32

Police investigating the 'murder' of missing sex worker Natalie Jenkins are today scouring a North Yorkshire park

Natalie Jenkins (pictured left and right), 32, who disappeared in December, from the city of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. Cleveland Police appealed for help in finding Ms Jenkins after she stopped contacting her family, but later upgraded the appeal to a murder investigation

Specialist officers have turned their attention to Albert Park in Middlesbrough, in their search for Natalie Jenkins, from Thornaby, Teesside

Detectives from the marine unit were at the park today to search for evidence following her disappearance

Cleveland police are pictured at Albert Park in Middlesbrough today as they search for clues

But detectives upgraded the missing-persons appeal to a murder investigation in January.

Natalie's mother Sylvia Jenkins also issued an emotional appeal for people to help with inquiries.

She said: 'I am begging people to come forward. Someone knows what has happened to Natalie and if they come forward to tell police, I would help them.

'We will never stop looking for Natalie and this is never going to go away.

'I am asking for people to contact police if they have seen or heard anything that will bring my beautiful daughter home to me.'

Last month, detectives released CCTV footage of Miss Jenkins walking towards Albert Park on Park Road South in Middlesbrough at 23.38pm on December 10

Last month, detectives released CCTV footage of Miss Jenkins walking towards Albert Park on Park Road South in Middlesbrough at 23.38pm on December 10.

Police say she walked from Thornaby to Middlesbrough on the night of December 10.

The CCTV footage showed her wearing a white hat, which she was also wearing in other CCTV footage from earlier in the evening.

Police are continuing to appeal for information from the public, with Crimestoppers offering a 10,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction of the person or persons responsible for Miss Jenkin's murder.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dimelow, said: 'We are still appealing for information from the public and urge them to come forward to us, or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Natalie's mother Sylvia Jenkins also issued an emotional appeal for people to help with inquiries.

'We're very interested in the Albert Park area of Middlesbrough and what happened to Natalie in the early hours of December 11.

'As always, our thoughts are with Natalie's family, who have shown such strength in the face of their harrowing ordeal.'

Miss Jenkins is described as a white female, of very slim build, around 5'5' tall with a fair complexion and straight brown hair.

She has hazel eyes and a missing front tooth and has a tattoo saying 'SWANNY' on her neck and another on her wrist saying 'SWANN'.

Anyone with information can contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Information can also be given through the Major Incident Public Reporting Site https://mipp.police.uk
During these times of extreme gloom and depression following continued lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, students of the Lucknow University are giving a message of positivity and a ray of hope using their brush and colour.

Within a few days of getting an invitation by Sanskritiki, the cultural board of the university, several students -- not only those associated with the faculty of fine arts -- have given expression to their thoughts during the present times through innovative paintings, displaying hope and giving message on how to cope up with the COVID-19 crisis, professor Rakesh Chandra of the department of philosophy and director of Sanskritiki told PTI.

These drawings and posters, which have been shared by the students with Sanskritiki and which would eventually be used in the campaign for the upcoming centenary celebrations of the university later in the year, depict the immense hopes in the heart of our students who are stuck in their homes in different districts of the state during the lockdown, Chandra said.

Since there is no mobility because of complete lockdown, Sanskritiki will make a special video of the paintings as also on the making of these artworks and share it on the YouTube.

On the creativity displayed by the students, the professor said they had responded innovatively and creatively, and some of the works were very interesting like the contemporary take on the art masterpieces.

One of them is an innovative interpretation of Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' by a student showing God with a mask handing over a bottle of sanitiser to Adam.

Another interesting piece is the Ajanta painting of the Bodhisattva with a mask and a sanitiser in hand, Chandra said.

Behind the reasons that prompted him to ask the students to express themselves in this manner, Chandra said it was an attempt to give hope, and encourage them to think positively about the nature and good things in these critical times.

Interestingly, students of different streams and those not trained in arts are giving a pictorial display of their expressions. It is not just the artwork but also the idea that is exceptionally good and show the thought processes of these youngsters during such challenging times.

"After seeing these posters, I am confident that nothing can keep the youngsters down," he said, adding that the younger lot was keeping their creativity and hope intact.

Rajan Fulari of the faculty of fine arts, who collaborated with his students for these paintings and posters through his WhatsApp group, said soft copy of drawing or painting was invited suggesting topics which give hope as well as message of social distancing in the time of COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
AUSTIN, Texas, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RigUp is excited to announce a new partnership with Parsley Energy, rolling out a comprehensive COVID-19 screening and mitigation program to oil and gas workers at Parsley's job sites in the Permian Basin.

Parsley's decision to expand the program to its workers in the Permian follows a successful two week pilot program, with the goal of offering its essential workers better access to testing and treatment should they need it, while benefiting from additional tools to help manage the overall health of their workforce and mitigate the risk of exposure on job sites.

"At Parsley, the safety of our employees and contractors is a top priority," says Landon Martin, VP of Drilling and Completions at Parsley Energy. "We were proud to partner with RigUp to execute safe and efficient COVID-19 screening in our field operations. We look forward to expanding the testing capabilities alongside them."

RigUp began offering the program to operators in the Midland/Odessa and San Angelo areas in early April, through a partnership with Houston-based digital health organization imawareTM. The comprehensive solution includes digital health surveys, at-home or on-site nasal swab testing, daily temperature monitoring, telemedicine consults and follow-up care, and back to work testing. The group also plans to offer at-home antibody test kits, pending FDA approval.

In the two weeks since the pilot launched, approximately 1,000 oil and gas, solar, and wind industry workers have been digitally screened, with at least 500 workers physically tested.

"We know that getting access to the testing isn't easy in more rural and remote areas," says RigUp Managing Director Leslie Elliott. "That's why we created a solution that brings this to where the core of our workforce is, which is the Permian Basin, Midland/Odessa, and San Angelo areas. And thanks to imaware's supply of test kits and its partnerships with a network of licensed medical professionals, we're actually able to deliver this solution to job sites across the continental U.S."

RigUp is currently working with job site operators to expand the program to its workforce across the oil & gas, solar, wind, and construction industries nationwide in the coming weeks.

Additional information on the program can be found at: www.rigup.com/putting-workers-first/

For more information, contact: [email protected]

SOURCE RigUp

Related Links

http://www.rigup.com


Urgent measures are needed in Ukraine to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in penitentiary institutions, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner has stated.

I am very concerned that there are now cases of COVID-19 infection in penitentiary institutions in Chernivtsi and Kropyvnytskyi. There is an urgent need to strengthen the measures already taken in places of detention, since COVID-19 can spread rapidly in institutions, where people are in close contact with each other, Bogner said.

I call on the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health to boost Ukraines COVID-19 response in the penitentiary system, in particular by improving the screening of personnel and incoming detainees, implementing social distancing, provision of sanitizers and taking other measures to stop the spread of the virus. I also call on donors to help provide protection equipment in penitentiary institutions, she noted.

Measures to reduce the prison population are another effective means of reducing the potential spread of the virus. I encourage the Parliament to adopt the law on amnesty, and call for additional steps to reduce the prison population, including the broader application of non-custodial measures, she said.

Finally, I would like to commend the active role of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights regarding prevention of COVID-19 in the penitentiary system, and urge her Office to continue to pay attention to the respect of the rights of detainees, Bogner concluded.
Workers take down a Belt and Road Forum panel outside the venue of the forum in Beijing on April 27, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinas Belt and Road Not in National Interest: Australian Senator

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has called on Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews to pull out of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Henderson said the BRI was not in Australias national interest, considering the fallout from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Writing on Facebook on April 30, Henderson said: Victorias #BeltandRoad initiative is not in our national interest, not consistent with our economic sovereignty and the wrong road for our state. Dan Andrews should cancel these deals.

First announced in 2013 by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the BRI seeks to increase investment and trade links between China and the world mainly through joint infrastructure projects.

There has been a backlash in many countries, however, including Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, where locals are saying the program is nothing more than a debt-trap.

In October 2018, Andrews signed an initial Memorandum of Understanding (pdf) to be involved in the BRI. The federal government had not signed up and Victoria was the only state or territory to do so.

In October 2019, Andrews flew to China to sign a second agreement, which outlined opportunities for Chinese companies to be part of Victorias $107 billion infrastructure program and apparently gave Victorian companies inside running on projects in China.

Andrews emphasised the relationship between China and Victoria saying, We dont see China as our good customers, we see them as our good friends.

The move was criticised then by Home Affairs Ministers Peter Dutton who told reporters on Oct. 23, 2019, Why does he believe this is in our national interest? Why does he believe its in Victorias interest?

Senator Henderson said the premier did not explain in any detail why Victoria was signed up to the agreement, even when foreign interference was currently a major issue for the federal government.

Henderson said the BRI was wrong for Victoria and backed the foreign ministers calls for an inquiry into the virus.

A full, transparent and comprehensive independent inquiry is in the interests of all countries including China.
New Delhi, April 30 : The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a plea, challenging the treatment of COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and antibiotic azithromycin (AZM), saying that the apex court "is not an expert on the issue".

A bench headed by Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B.R. Gavai, taking up the matter through video conferencing, asked the petitioner an NGO, People for Better Treatment (PBT), to make a representation before the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for its consideration.

Ohio-based Indian-origin doctor and PBT President Kunal Saha contended before the bench that he has not challenged the line of treatment for COVID-19, instead the use of HCQ and AZM combination has side effects, and these proving fatal on the people.

The bench noted that there is no medicine for the viral infection and doctors are trying different ways, and if a treatment is being followed or not, it has to be decided by the doctor. "If particular type of treatment has to be given, it is for doctors' to decide", said the bench.

When, Saha contended warning has been issued regarding the side effects by an American heart institute, which should be taken into consideration, Justice Ramana said, "Can a court say use this type of treatment? Are we experts?" The bench asked Saha to take this petition as a representation before ICMR, which can examine the suggestions made.

Saha insisted that the argument is not about whether a particular line of treatment is correct or not, instead it is about taking precautions, as people are dying due to side effects. He told the court that an informed consent from the patient is required, as he/she has a right to know if there is a risk involved in a particular line of treatment. The patient should decide whether he/she is willing to take the risk, added Saha.

The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Centre, to provide the petition to ICMR.

The PIL contended that use of HCQ and AZM was recommended for most serious COVID-19 patients by the Health Ministry, which was primarily based on anecdotal evidence and not as a specific therapy.

"Ministry of Health has specifically advised that although no specific anti-viral medicines are available against COVID-19, a combination of HCQ and AZM may be administered as an 'off-label' use to the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients who are in ICU," said the plea.

--IANS ss/in

A AA

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Almost 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy, nearly half of the global workforce, face an immediate danger of losing their livelihoods due to the continued sharp decline in working hours because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the International Labour Organization has said.

More than 430 million enterprises in hard-hit sectors such as retail and manufacturing risk "serious disruption", the UN agency added. The findings appear in the ILO Monitor third edition: COVID-19 and the world of work, released Wednesday. Globally, there are some 3.3 billion workers. Two billion have jobs in the informal economy, the most vulnerable workers in the labour market.

The agency said 1.6 billion in the informal economy "have suffered massive damage to their capacity to earn a living" as a result of the economic meltdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to lockdowns or because they work in hard-hit sectors, these workers globally have seen a 60 per cent drop in income during the first month of the crisis, according to ILO estimates.

This translates into a more than 80 per cent decline in Africa and the Americas, 70 per cent in Europe and Central Asia, and 21.6 per cent in Asia and the Pacific, the ILO said. ILO Director General Guy Ryder said as the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve, the need to protect the world's most vulnerable workers becomes even more urgent.

"For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future. Millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing. They have no savings or access to credit," he said. "These are the real faces of the world of work. If we don't help them now, they will simply perish."

The UN agency estimated that compared to the pre-crisis levels, there will be a 10.5 per cent deterioration in working hours during the second quarter (Q2) of the year, equivalent to 305 million full-time jobs. Previous projections had put the figure at 6.7 per cent, or 195 million full-time workers.

The situation has worsened for all major regions, again compared to pre-crisis levels. Q2 estimates suggest a 12.4 per cent loss of working hours in the Americas, and 11.8 per cent for Europe and Central Asia. All other regions are above 9.5 per cent.

The ILO added that the proportion of workers living in countries where workplace closures have been recommended, or required, has decreased from 81 per cent to 68 per cent over the past two weeks. While this is largely due to changes in China, measures have been stepped up elsewhere.

At the same time, 436 million enterprises operating in wholesale and retail, manufacturing, accommodation, and other economic sectors that have been hardest hit, face "high risks of serious disruption". The ILO called for "urgent, targeted and flexible measures" to support both workers and business, particularly smaller enterprises and those in the informal economy.

"Measures for economic reactivation should follow a job-rich approach, backed by stronger employment policies and institutions, better-resourced and comprehensive social protection systems. International coordination on stimulus packages and debt relief measures will also be critical to making recovery effective and sustainable. International labour standards, which already enjoy tripartite consensus, can provide a framework," it said.

The ILO also stressed that international coordination on stimulus packages and debt relief measures will be critical to making recovery effective and sustainable.

Also read: Coronavirus India live updates: 33,050 total COVID-19 cases, 1,008 deaths; lockdown 3.0 in cards?

Also read: Coronavirus lockdown: Work from home boosted employee productivity in customer service, finance segments, says Deloitte survey
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:46:21|Editor: huaxia

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MACAO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The average occupancy rate of Macao's hotel rooms fell by 67.6 percentage points year-on-year to 23.2 percent in March, and representing an increase of 8.0 percentage points compared to February, the special administrative region (SAR)'s statistic department said here on Thursday.

The latest report from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the rate of five-star hotels tumbled by 74.9 percentage points to 16.9 percent, while the rates of two-star hotels (47.9 percent) and guesthouses (46.1 percent) dropped by 27.1 percentage points and 19.6 percentage points respectively.

A total of 112 hotels and guesthouses were open for business in March, with two other establishments designated for medical observation. The number of available hotel rooms decreased by 13.2 percent year-on-year to 34,000.

A total of 240,000 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses in March, a plunge of 79.7 percent year-on-year. The number of guests coming from Chinese mainland (170,000) and Hong Kong SAR (44,000) dipped by 79.8 percent and 58.8 percent respectively, and those from other major markets showed cutbacks of more than 90 percent.

Meanwhile, the average length of stay of guests extended by 0.5 night year-on-year to 1.9 nights.

In the first quarter of 2020, the average occupancy rate of guest rooms stood at 41.4 percent, representing a decline of 50.5 percentage points year-on-year.

The guest number of hotels and guesthouses fell by 57.6 percent to 1,477,000, while their average length of stay went up by 0.1 night to 1.6 nights. Enditem
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on



Thursday expressed grief over veteran actor Rishi Kapoors death, saying the Indian film industry has lost a versatile and charismatic artist.

The 67-year-old actor, who was suffering from cancer, died in a Mumbai hospital.

"Saddened to know about the sad demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor. Indian film industry has lost a versatile and charismatic actor. My sincere condolences to Kapoor family, Pawar tweeted.

Pawar's daughter and NCP Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule also expressed grief over the untimely demise of Chintu, as Kapoor was fondly called.

She said Kapoor was a highly talented and acclaimed actor and a very fine human being and friend.

My Deepest Condolences to Neetu, Ranbir, Daboo, Rima, Chimpu and the rest of the Kapoor family. RIP Chintu, you will be missed, Sule said on the micro-blogging site.

Rishi Kapoor, a third generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, was taken to the H N Reliance Hospital by his family on Wednesday.

His death comes a day after after his "D-Day" co-star Irrfan Khan passed away, also of cancer. Three months ago, the disease claimed Kapoor's sister Ritu Nanda.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The occupants used weaponry prohibited by the Minsk agreements

Over the last 24 hours, pro-Kremlin militants violated the ceasefire in Donbas 15 times, wounding one Ukrainian soldier. The press service of Ukraines Defense Ministry reports.

The occupants used 120-mm and 82-mm caliber mortars, forbidden by the Minsk agreements, as well as grenade and rocket launchers, anti-aircraft installation, large-caliber machine guns and small arms.

As a result of the shelling, one Ukrainian serviceman received a combat injury.

On April 28, Ukrainian soldier Oleksiy Lysin was killed in Donbas.

He was born on March 30, 1990. Almost the same age as the state for which he died ... He joined our team last year when we defended the Avdiivka direction in the Donetsk region, the message said.

As we reported earlier, the Trilateral Contact Group on the situation in Donbas will hold its next meeting on May 14.

Several working subgroups should meet a few days before the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group takes place.

The last meetings were held in a mode of the video conference on March 26, April 8, and April 22.
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Linkedin Tauvik M. Soeherman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has delayed the deliberation of the job creation omnibus bill just a week before labor groups were gearing up to mark the International Labor Day in a nationwide rally on Thursday to protest the draft law.

Labor unions view the bill as a regulatory framework that facilitates easy hiring and firing . They have argued that it provides a red carpet to massive investment at the expense of workers protection. This absence of protection for workers rights is evident in the lax minimum wage mechanism and the increased flexibility for termination and outsourcing. The labor unions have also claimed that, as key stakeholders in the bill, they had been left behind in the drafting process.

The unions welcomed the postponement of the House of Representatives' deliberation of the bill, but employers regretted the decision. They said that the debate was even more pressing in anticipation of mass layoffs as an adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A woman was found shot dead inside a north Houston apartment Thursday morning.

Houston police were called to the Concord at Little York, near the North Freeway, around 11:10 a.m. Once officers arrived, they found a woman shot to death, police said.

MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Driver injured in shootout with police after lengthy pursuit ends in Baytown

No other information was immediately available.

This is the second homicide at the apartment complex this month. On April 6, Shawn Baldwin allegedly gunned down 27-year-old Demi Foster, who was the partner of Baldwins ex-girlfriend, police said.

He was charged with murder and has since been released on a $50,000 bond.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / ParkerVision, Inc. (OTCQB:PRKR) announced today that the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Orlando division) issued its patent claim construction ruling, or Markman Order, in the ongoing patent infringement action between ParkerVision and Qualcomm, Inc. (QCOM) and HTC. The court adopted ParkerVision's position as to the proper interpretation of the majority of the key terms in dispute in the litigation.

The parties identified a total of ten disputed claim terms. The court's order adopted ParkerVision's proposed construction for seven of the disputed terms and adopted a slightly modified version of ParkerVision's proposed construction for the remaining three terms.

In a Markman Order, the presiding district court sets out the meaning of specific disputed terms that appear in the asserted patent claims. The court reviews written briefs and hears oral arguments from the patent holder and the alleged infringer each of whom makes recommendations to the court as to how the disputed terms should be defined. The court then issues a Markman Order, also known as the claim construction ruling, in which the court determines how each term is to be construed. The court's claim constructions are then applied in motions and at trial in the determinations of patent infringement and validity.

Jeffrey Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ParkerVision stated, "We are pleased with the court's Markman Order, and we remain confident in our position concerning Qualcomm's infringement of the patent claims at issue in this case. We believe the court's Markman Order is another significant step towards the successful resolution of this litigation."

This patent infringement action, filed in May 2014, alleges that certain Qualcomm and HTC product infringe numerous claims of four patents owned by ParkerVision. The parties originally filed claim construction briefs in June 2015 and presented arguments in a claim construction hearing in August 2015. Prior to the court's ruling, the case was stayed pending resolution of other actions. After the stay was lifted in 2019, additional briefs were filed by the parties and a second claim construction hearing was held in November 2019. The case is currently scheduled for trial commencing December 1, 2020.

About ParkerVision

ParkerVision, Inc. has designed, developed, and patented proprietary radio-frequency (RF) technologies which enable advanced wireless solutions for current and next-generation wireless communication products. ParkerVision is engaged in a number of patent enforcement actions to protect patented rights that it believes are broadly infringed by others. For more information, please visit www.parkervision.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, each of which speaks only as of the date made. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are disclosed in the Company's SEC reports, including the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated or projected.

CONTACT:

Cindy Poehlman

Chief Financial Officer

ParkerVision, Inc.

904-732-6100

cpoehlman@parkervision.com

SOURCE: ParkerVision, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/587730/ParkerVision-Receives-Favorable-Markman-Order-in-Patent-Infringement-Action-Against-Qualcomm-and-HTC
The US Federal Reserve on Thursday widened a key program to nurse the "Main Street" economy through the coronavirus pandemic, agreeing to lend to even larger firms, taking on more risk in participation with banks, and hinting at some form of dedicated help for non-profits.

The central bank said it would expand its "Main Street Lending Facility" into three separate programs to support businesses with up to 15,000 employees and $5 billion in revenue compared to an initial program limited to 10,000 workers and $2 billion when it was announced on April 9.

Some 2,200 business, individuals and non-profits had written in with suggestions about how to tailor the Fed's unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the "real economy."

The result is a program that will now be open to more firms, and allow more risk-taking. The initial program required banks to hold 5 percent of any loan they made, with the rest coming from the Fed. For companies with more leverage, and thus more risk, the Fed will allow them to participate if banks agree to take on 15 percent.

In addition, the Fed said firms now had to offer a reasonable assurance they could pay their bills for at least 90 days and would not go bankrupt in that period - a measure of protection that the lending will have an impact.

Firms also have to promise they will make "commercially reasonable efforts" to maintain employees - a change from just the "reasonable efforts" demanded previously.
Anita Nemarich, the commanding officer of the Australian warship HMAS Parramatta, waves at the USS America, an amphibious assault ship, during exercises in the South China Sea, April 18, 2020.

The Philippines on Thursday strongly protested Chinas creation of two districts in the disputed South China Sea, saying Beijings move violated the Southeast Asian nations territorial sovereignty.

Manila had been protesting Beijings self-declared Sansha City and the extent of its administrative jurisdiction since 2012, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement. It marked the latest in a series of recent protests by the foreign office over Chinese actions in the sea.

The Philippine government strongly protests the establishment of the so-called districts of Nansha and Xisha, it said.

On Thursday the Philippines also rejected the designation of Kagitingan Reef within the administrative center for the so-called Nansha district. The Kagitingan Reef is within the Kalayaan Island Group and, Philippine officials said, is an integral part of Philippine territory.

Manila does not recognize Sansha, nor its constituent units, nor any subsequent acts emanating from them, the department said.

The Philippines also objects to and does not recognize the Chinese names given to some features in the Kalayaan Island Group, the statement read.

The establishment and supposed extent of jurisdiction of Sansha City of which the new two districts are part, violate Philippine territorial sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, and infringes on Philippine sovereign rights over the waters and continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea, the DFA said.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a vital waterway through which about U.S. $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes annually, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim parts of those waters.

Thursdays statement from the Philippine foreign office came eight days after Manila filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing after Filipino officials said Chinese sailors had pointed a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship. Manila at the same time filed a separate diplomatic note regarding the Chinese move to name the districts.

On Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang responded to a reporters question related to the alleged laser-gun incident.

According to what we know, the Philippine sides accusation about laser gun-pointing is not true, he told a daily press conference.

The Chinese warship was patrolling in relevant waters of Chinas Nansha Islands, he said, using the Chinese name for the contested Spratly Islands. Its operation was professional and standard, which accords with international law and relevant security rules. China has lodged representations with the Philippine side, asking certain individuals on the Philippine side to respect facts and refrain from issuing groundless remarks.

Earlier this month, the State Council, Chinas top administrative body, approved the creation of two new municipal districts  Nansha District, which is based at Fiery Cross Reef, an artificial island built by China that it said will oversee all of the Spratly Islands and their surrounding waters; and Xisha District, based on Woody Island, which will oversee the Paracel Islands.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague sided with the Philippines in its arbitration case against China. The international community, including the United States, hailed that win as historic, but Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte never enforced the ruling and instead sought closer ties with Beijing.

The DFA statement on Thursday also called on China to adhere to international law and impose self-restraint in conducting activities in the South China Sea, which is believed to lie atop vast mineral and oil deposits.

It underscored that the international arbitral tribunals ruling had comprehensively addressed Chinas excessive claims and illegal actions in the South China Sea.

Manila has been protesting the passage of Chinese warships as well as fishing boats near its sea territory. Last year, Duterte held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping after a Chinese trawler rammed into a Filipino fishing boat, leaving 22 Filipino fishermen adrift at sea.

But Dutertes government subsequently accepted Chinas apology for the incident, with the president saying he had no choice but to do so because he had to consider Beijings military might.

The Philippines stronger position against China came shortly after Duterte spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump recently. While complete details of the dialogue were not released to the press, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said the two leaders had agreed to maintain the strong and enduring ties between the allies.

This week, a resolution filed at the Philippine Senate urged Dutertes government to exert legal and diplomatic pressure against China over its activities in the South China Sea. The resolution called for reparations by China to damage it has caused on Philippine territory in the sea region.

Also this week, the U.S. Navys USS Bunker Hill, a guided missile cruiser, completed an innocent passage maneuver in the disputed waters. It was the U.S. governments second freedom of navigation operation in the area in just two days.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato City, Philippines, contributed to this report.
New guidance around contact between separated parents and their children during the lockdown have been announced.

Following fresh guidance from the Lord Chief Justice, parents who are concerned about the potential health risk to their children of moving between homes can agree temporary changes without going back to court.

All changes must be in keeping with the spirit of existing court orders and they may include contact taking place remotely by telephone or using online tools.

Health Minister Robin Swann and Justice Minister Naomi Long made the announcement.

Mr Swann said: "Parents should consider the child's health, the risk of infection and the presence of any vulnerable individuals in homes children may be visiting."

Mrs Long added: I hope that, as set out in the guidance issued, (parents) are reassured the court will consider the reasonableness of actions taken when considering future orders, and that parents may be able to make up time missed with their children."
WASHINGTON -- Two years ago today, three journalists with Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys (RFE/RL) Afghan Service were killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, in a coordinated double suicide-bomb attack that shocked the world with its deliberate targeting of first-responders.

The extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the April 30, 2018 blasts, which the Afghan Journalists Center reported killed at least nine journalists, the worst toll ever among media workers in a single attack in the country.

We are still devastated by this attack, which took three remarkable young journalists from us, from their families, and from their communities, said RFE/RL President Jamie Fly. Our Afghan Service has built a formidable reputation for being on the front lines and an essential news source for the Afghan people, but this day reminds us of the profound risks, and the sacrifices our journalists make every day. They are not forgotten, and their spirits live on in the work of their colleagues in Kabul and at our headquarters here in Prague.

Video journalist Abadullah Hananzai, 26, was killed after rushing to the site of an attack in the capital citys Shash Darak region, where a suicide bomber on a motorcycle had blown himself up. He died at the scene when a second suicide attacker posing as a cameraman exploded a bomb targeting responders to the first blast. Hananzai had been the lead reporter on an extensive anti-narcotics project run by the Afghan Service, known locally as Radio Azadi.

Sabawoon Kakar, 30, an unflinching reporter who often put himself at the scene of Kabuls unremitting violence, was one of the first journalists to arrive at the site of the Shash Darak blast. He was critically wounded in the second attack and died in a hospital several hours later. Kakar was a leading and versatile member of the Services video team, who reported on counterterrorism operations and security issues.

Maharram Durrani, 28, a recent hire who was still in training, was on her way to the Afghan Services Kabul bureau when she was killed in the first blast. She was a third-year student of Islamic law at Kabul University who was interested in the media as a means to provide information to all people, and had joined Azadi to expand its programming for women.

Afghan Service Director Qadir Habib said in a ceremony recalling his colleagues that we grieve and mourn the death of these young members of the Radio Azadi family, but we continue to report We were hit hard on that day, but now we stand taller and stronger than before in the face of extremist propaganda and disinformation.

Kabuls Shash Darak region is home to NATO headquarters, the Afghan intelligence service, and several foreign embassies and offices. Afghan Health Ministry officials at the time put the number of dead from the attacks at 25, and police said 45 persons were hospitalized.

Other journalists killed in the April 30 attacks were AFP photographer Shah Marai, Ali Salimi and Salim Talash of MashalTV, Nawruz A. Khamoosh and Ghazi Rasuli of 1TV, and Yar Mohammad Tokhi of ToloNews. BBC Afghan reporter Ahmad Shah, 29, was killed the same day in a separate attack in Khost Province on the Pakistani border.

Hananzai, Kakar, and Durrani were among 21 journalists whose names were added in 2019 to the Newseum's Journalists Memorial commemorating reporters who died in the line of work.

About RFE/RLs Afghan Service

RFE/RLs Afghan Service, which reports in Dari and Pashto, is an online pioneer and media leader in Afghanistan, reaching 25 percent of the adult audience nationally. In the past 12 months, Afghan Service videos have been watched more than 100 million times on its Facebook pages alone.

About RFE/RL

RFE/RL relies on its networks of local reporters to provide accurate news and information to more than 37 million people in 26 languages and 22 countries where media freedom is restricted, or where a professional press has not fully developed. Its videos were viewed over 3.6 billion times on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram/IGTV in FY2019. RFE/RL is an editorially independent media company funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

----

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Joanna Levison in Prague (levisonj@rferl.org, +420.221.122.080)

Martins Zvaners in Washington (zvanersm@rferl.org, +1.202.457.6948)
By Robert Song





As the world grapples with the devastating coronavirus pandemic, many nations are rethinking their relationship with China. Most nations or companies doing business with China had for the most part looked the other way when human rights or intellectual property issues popped up as money poured in and China was doing what they do best  make things cheaply and fast.







But now, their mishandling of this virus, which has devastated the world, has put China in a different kind of spotlight. If there is one silver lining in this dark cloud, it is that many nations want China to pay.







As it becomes clearer that China obviously mismanaged this crisis to the detriment of the world, Beijing's past wrongdoings have come to the fore after mostly being forgotten as yesterday's news.







Whether it's Tibet or Tiananmen Square, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has killed, tortured and jailed many of its own who stood up to its brutal rule. Isn't the harvesting of organs for money enough for us to cry foul?







And at present, there are somewhere between 1 to 3 million Uyghur in concentration camps where their language and culture are being wiped out by the CCP. It is appalling and mainstream media seems to avoid covering this Nazi-like totalitarian state called the CCP. Is everyone too beholden to it economically or politically to speak up?







Worse of all, this virus pandemic has shown how the CCP treats its own people. Thousands have perished since the outbreak due to pure negligence. As everyone suspects, their numbers are a lie and experts estimate the real figures to be at 10 to 40 times those they are giving us.







For real facts, forget about CNN, BBC et al., but go to more independent media outlets such as NTD Media or Epoch Times as they reveal eyewitness account footage and interviews that show the truth. Their accounts are filled with harrowing stories of families being blown apart by death caused by this virus.







Due to China's negligence and opaque behavior during the start of this pandemic, many countries are vying to sue the CCP for trillions of dollars. How these lawsuits will pan out is anyone's guess but there are other actions that countries can take that will make China pay and take back what it has stolen from many countries such as jobs and entire industries.







Japan was the first country to announce a $2.2 billion fund to help Japanese companies get out of China. Kudos to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for such a bold move! President Trump has been touting this for a long time and his trade war with China is the backbone of this plan to bring back jobs to America.







As to whether other countries will adopt this strategy, only time to tell. But it has become a popular notion among politicians worldwide.







According to Kyle Bass, a financial analyst and an expert on China, the U.S. holds the key to China's future. He thinks one simple way would be to force Chinese companies on the U.S. stock exchanges to open their books as other countries' companies must do.







Also, making Chinese investment companies that make money off investing in U.S. companies pay capital gains tax is another sensible way. For some odd reason, China is allowed to play by different rules. By pushing them to adhere to the standards of all other players, China will be finally made accountable.









Robert Song (





robertssong@me.com ) is a Korean-Canadian small business owner in Seoul. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.
* Brazil's central bank intervenes in FX market * MSCI Latam stocks index rises 3% * Mexican, Colombian pesos lead gains in FX By Ambar Warrick April 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's real eyed a fresh record low on Monday after plummeting last week, while Mexico's peso led other Latin American currencies higher as continued global stimulus measures sparked some appetite for riskier assets. The real fell about 0.9%. Its sharp decline since the coronavirus outbreak, which has seen it underperforming its peers, has prompted sustained intervention by the Brazilian central bank to stop further weakness. The resignation of Brazil's popular justice minister last week dealt a severe blow to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who had already faced backlash over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Investors further cut their exposure to Brazil on the likelihood Latin America's largest economy was headed for a political crisis. The Mexican peso and the Colombian peso edged up for the day, taking some support from increased stimulus measures in Japan to dampen the economic shock from the coronavirus pandemic, which has battered the global economy. Still, both currencies were relatively close to lifetime lows hit during the initial rout caused by the spread of the virus, which has spurred sustained outflows from emerging markets in favor of the U.S. dollar. The pandemic is also expected to hit emerging markets particularly hard, given that many economies in that space were already in dire straits before the outbreak culled business activity across the globe. "We see risks skewed towards a renewed increase in EM FX volatility as the economic shock on EM economies intensifies and risks of further waves of virus cases increases," wrote Mitul Kotecha, senior emerging markets strategist at TD Securities. "Unlike developed economies, the capacity for EM governments and central banks to deal with the economic and health shock is lower." However, Latin American stocks have been slightly more receptive to the slight improvement in risk appetite, with the MSCI's index of regional stocks adding 3% for the day. The index is nearly 10% above the lows hit in March, but is a long way off levels seen prior to the outbreak. Brazilian stocks added 3.6%, recovering from deep losses over last week, while Chilean stocks rose 1.2%. Among notable individual movers, shares of Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA plunged 12% after it began arbitration proceedings against former partner Boeing Co. Markets were now awaiting the outcomes of crucial central bank meetings in the developed world to gauge further how the world's largest economies outline measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1405 GMT Stock indexes Latest Daily % change MSCI Emerging Markets 895.38 1.82 MSCI LatAm 1547.19 3 Brazil Bovespa 78067.88 3.63 Mexico IPC 34538.55 -0.14 Chile IPSA 3723.91 1.2 Argentina MerVal - - Colombia COLCAP 1115.98 -0.57 Currencies Latest Daily % change Brazil real 5.6344 -0.91 Mexico peso 24.7950 0.62 Chile peso 857.2 0.19 Colombia peso 4025.87 0.33 Peru sol 3.3897 0.15 Argentina peso 66.5200 -0.14 (interbank) (Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru Editing by Paul Simao)
RemoteLock, the leading provider of cloud-based software for smart lock management and access control, today announced it has welcomed Eric Owen as chief revenue officer (CRO) and Brad Mushovic as chief marketing officer (CMO).

As CRO, Eric Owen will be responsible for leading the sales team, driving revenue to the organization and overseeing all revenue management systems. Owen comes to RemoteLock with nearly 20 years of executive leadership experience having served most recently as chief executive officer for Predictive Safety SRP where he led all aspects of business development, strategic partnerships and global revenue expansion initiatives.

Owens background includes early stage SaaS companies as well as Fortune 100 experience. In addition to revenue and product management, he also has extensive experience in M&A, strategy and channel management. His past leadership roles include both US and internationally-based organizations, positioning him well to help drive RemoteLocks global expansion.

Eric brings to RemoteLock a unique blend of expertise in global market development strategies and corporate development specifically in SaaS companies, said Nolan Mondrow, CEO of RemoteLock. His insights, along with his tireless focus on customer satisfaction, are only a couple of the reasons I am so thrilled to have him on the team.

The company also welcomed Brad Mushovic as CMO. In this role, Mushovic will be responsible for leading the marketing team, driving lead generation programs, building the RemoteLock brand and overseeing corporate communications for the organization. Prior to joining RemoteLock, Mushovic was the managing director of marketing and communications for Rocky Mountain Institute, a global non-profit that advances clean energy solutions. There he led marketing and communications and branding for the organization. Mushovic brings over 26 years of experience in marketing management, strategy, business development and operational expertise to RemoteLock.

Prior to Rocky Mountain Institute, Mushovic was vice president of marketing, sales, and customer service for Outward Bound USA. Other leadership experience includes Registry-SafeRenta service provider for the multi-family housing industryQwest Communications and Procter & Gamble.

Brads eye for strategic development through the marketing lens is one of the many reasons he makes a great addition to our team,  said Mondrow. His expertise in marketing, communications and business development are all rooted in customer-centric principles which fit into what we value and apply at RemoteLock every day.

For more information about RemoteLock, visit http://www.remotelock.com.

About RemoteLock

RemoteLock is the leading provider of cloud-based software for smart lock management and access control. RemoteLocks software allows users to remotely control access for renters, guests, employees and contractorssaving time and money. RemoteLock provides clients ultimate flexibilitythe ability to control any door, using any credential, with locks from every leading manufacturerall from one dashboard. Every year, RemoteLock opens doors over 100 million times across 65 countries. RemoteLock is headquartered in Denver, CO. Learn more at http://www.remotelock.com.
- Airtel presented the cheque to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund that was created by President Uhuru Kenyatta to help fight the pandemic

- The employee committed to making the contributions from their salaries for three months to help government control spread of the disease

- The telco entered into a partnership with Longhorn Publishers to help learners access its online classroom resources for free

- Airtel earlier zero-rated transactions for customers sending money within the network

Mobile network provider company Airtel has announced its employees have contributed KSh 12.7 million to help firm up efforts in the fight against coronavirus.

Airtel, on Thursday, April 30, when unveiling the kitty, said the money was drawn from its staff salaries.

READ ALSO: Kiambu: Police officer dies while partying with colleagues at friend's house

Airtel Kenya unveiled the funds on Thursday, April 30. Photo: Airtel Kenya.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Remdesivir: Antiviral drug shows promise for treating COVID-19

The cheque was presented to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund by Airtel Africa PLC Vice President Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Michael Okwiri, and was received by chairperson Jane Karuku.

"The contributions are from Nairobi-based employees of Airtel Africa in support of the governments initiatives to control the spread of COVID-19 in Kenya," Airtel said in a statement.

READ ALSO: Raila aliagiza Gumbo kufutwa kazi, Moses Kuria asema

According to Karuku, as of Thursday, April 30, the emergency kitty had received donations totalling to KSh 2.6 billion since its establishment in March 2020.

Other measures the company instituted to help the country fight the pandemic included zero-rated transactions for customers sending money within the network and free transactions when transferring money from bank accounts to Airtel mobile wallets for 90 days.

READ ALSO: She is not his girlfriend: TV anchor caught with clothless woman during live broadcast

The telco also increased the daily transaction limit from KSh 150,000 to KSh 300,000 and entered into a deal with book publishing firm Longhorn to help learners access its online classroom resources for free.

In a separate story, TUKO.co.ke reported that Equity Bank, its founder James Mwangi and Mastercard Foundation pumped KSh 1.1 billion in the COVID-19 Emergency Fund.

The fund was created by President Uhuru Kenyatta to eliminate duplication of responses by various partners who were donating funds and resources to the course.

As of Wednesday, April 29, Kenya had recorded 384 cases of the disease out of which 14 were deaths and 129 recoveries.

Globally, the number of infections had raised past 3,235,000 as of Thursday, April 30 with those who had succumbed being 228,605 while 1,009,390 others had recovered.

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.

Floods and Coronavirus taking Kenya by storm | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Britain was promised 100,000 daily virus tests by today  but Matt Hancock is on course to be humiliated and miss his ambitious target by nearly half.

Latest figures show 52,429 virus tests were performed on Tuesday, tens of thousands off the daily goal meant to be reached by today.

This was despite a huge expansion of the eligibility criteria the previous day, which saw tests offered to over-65s with virus symptoms, those who have to leave home to work and all care home staff and residents.

The Health Secretary made his pledge to boost testing to 100,000 a day on April 2, when the UK was carrying out just 10,000 daily.

A scathing report by hospital leaders yesterday claimed the target was merely a 'red herring' to distract from failings in the Government's testing plan.

NHS Providers claimed the UK had 'started from a poor position' and then consistently 'struggled'  with a lack of clarity on who would be tested, when and how, adding: 'A vast amount still remains to be done to reach a testing regime that can be described as fit for purpose.'

The document highlights how the English health and care system 'started from a poor position' as Covid-19 tightened its grip on Europe, and consistently 'struggled' to demonstrate a 'clear, effective and well communicated strategy'.

Matt Hancock is on course to miss his ambitious target of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests by nearly half. Latest figures show 52,429 virus tests were performed on Tuesday

Boris Johnson will warn the public TODAY that he will not risk a second wave of coronavirus by relaxing the rules too soon Boris Johnson will warn the public today that even a modest relaxation of the lockdown could risk a deadly second wave of the virus. The Prime Minister is expected to set out his latest thinking on social restrictions this evening when he leads the daily Downing Street press conference for the first time this month. Government sources said he would hail the progress made in bringing the virus under control and preventing the NHS from becoming overwhelmed. But he will also level with the public about the difficulty of easing the crippling lockdown, which is thought to be costing the economy 2 billion a day. Mr Johnson will warn that the Government will not countenance lifting any measure that would risk a return to the exponential growth in the virus. Advertisement

NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and NHS trusts in England, said leaders 'stand ready to play their part' in testing regimes, but said they needed to know 'a lot more, as quickly as possible' to do so.

It also suggested ministers were too set on driving up testing numbers rather than focusing on which individuals needed them most.

Although that number has increased five-fold over the past four weeks, Mr Hancock now faces accusations his testing strategy has been 'chaotic' and too focused on an arbitrary goal.

Meanwhile, former Labour health secretary and mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, branded the strategy 'haphazard' and said it contained little discussion with public health officials.

He said there is a view among council leaders that ministers had been 'chasing the target without fully thinking through the strategy at a local level'.

Professor Allyson Pollock, a public health doctor and former director of the Institute of Health and Society at Newcastle University, claimed the Government's approach was 'chaotic and confused'.

She said there was no point in ramping up testing criteria without 'contact tracing', which means tracking down anyone else patients with the virus have been in touch with.

A medical worker at a drive-in coronavirus testing facility at the Chessington World of Adventures Resort in south west London

The government's testing co-ordinator Professor John Newton said he is 'pretty confident' the 100,000 daily target for coronavirus tests will be met

Mr Hancock was also suspected of desperately trying to boost testing numbers at the 11th hour by suddenly offering tests to NHS workers without symptoms.

Dr Julia Prague, of Imperial College Hospital in west London, claimed her NHS Trust had suddenly announced a one-day pilot to test 'asymptomatic' workers.

She tweeted: 'Call me a cynic but why, when we've repeatedly not been offered tests as symptomatic front line doctors, today... my large London NHS Trust announces a one-day pilot to test all asymptomatic staff who'd like a test.'

Earlier, Professor John Newton, the Government's testing co-ordinator, said: 'We are pretty confident we will hit that target.'

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that 'by the end of the week we will know whether we have reached that target'.

No 10 had said ministers would not necessarily know if they have reached the target until next week due to a lag time in reporting of home testing figures.

On a more positive note, Professor Newton revealed an antibody test to show which individuals have already had the virus could be ready by the end of May.

Meanwhile, it was reported the Government turned down an offer from Californian firm Curative to do 10,000 tests a day earlier this month, according to The Guardian.
Vulnerable communities like people held in prisons and jails are often most at risk during public health emergencies. They have fewer protections from an outbreak, and may face more significant fallout from any disruptions in daily life. Many of those arrested for crimes post bond in order to avoid time in prison before trial.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - During a national pandemic, many in law enforcement are concerned about packing their jails with many sick people and they want to protect inmates. Also, those arrested don't want to be infected by fellow prisoners during the worldwide pandemic.









With 35 years of experience as a bail bond agent, Cathy Crespo is a leading bail bond agency.

Hire Bail Bondsman, Catherine Crespo, by calling 954-463-6363.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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After getting arrested, many people seek a bond agent to avoid the risk of being in prison.

Cathy Crespo with A Aabbott and Cathy Bail Bonds has served Broward County for 35 years. Her expert knowledge as a bail bond agent comes from her many years of experience offering her bail bond service for signature bonds and bonds with payment plans to families. She understands how difficult it can be to understand the bond process. She is there to answer questions and help people through the entire process of posting a bond.

To better aid her customers, Catherine Crespo puts her focus on educating her clients on the laws that govern bail bonds. She makes sure that her customers fully understand what securing a bond means and what they are signing up for. Catherine charges the fees that are required and maintains full transparency with her customers during the process.

Hire Bail Bondsman, Catherine Crespo, by calling 954-463-6363.

Catherine Crespo's office is at 1101 S Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33316 . Go to https://bondmeout.com for information.

Cathy opened A Aabbott & Cathy Bail Bonds in 1985, just 9 years after moving to Broward County. Cathy Crespo has adapted to the laws that have changed for the bail industry several times, and that has made her a reliable resource for community members and other bail bondsmen in Florida. Cathy informs her customers and her colleagues of new laws and processes that bail bondsmen must follow.

Cathy now offers bail bond service 24 hours per day and 7 days per week across the nation. A Aabbott & Cathy Bail Bonds is a Fort Lauderdale based company that provides bail bond services to those who need to bail out a loved one or themselves. They offer collateral bonds, signature bonds, and bonds with payment plans to Florida residents.

Secure a bond in Broward County with A Aabbott and Cathy Bail Bonds by calling 954-463-6363.

Cathy Crespo's years of experience have made her one of Florida's most trusted bail bond agents. People contact her from Broward, Palm Beach, and for Nationwide bail bond service.

For more information call 954-463-6363 or visit A Aabbott & Cathy online at www.bondmeout.com. One could also find A Aabbott & Cathy Bail Bonds on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bondmeout1

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With 35 years of experience as a bail bond agent, Cathy Crespo is a leading bail bond agency.

Hire Bail Bondsman, Catherine Crespo, by calling 954-463-6363.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55209
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- On Tuesday night, President Trump signed an executive order that could shield meat producers from lawsuits waged by workers whove contracted Covid-19. The order also pressures meat-processing plants to remain open to ensure a continued supply of protein to Americans and to reverse unnecessary closures. This is a reckless and uninformed move. Even as threats to the global food supply increase, along with the costs of plant closures, the lives of thousands of workers could be imperiled if these facilities rush to reopen. The plan could also backfire  causing large-scale, long-term, global food supply disruptions that make the current plant closures look trivial.

Sixteen major poultry, pork and beef processing centers in the U.S. closed in recent weeks after they became Covid-19 hotbeds, including the Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Tyson Foods chicken-processing center in Waterloo, Iowa and the Cargill meat plant in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. As of Tuesday, there were more than 4,135 reported Covid-19 cases tied to 75 meat-processing plants in 25 states, according to the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. Among the infected workers, 18 have died across nine states.

Pork production has been hit the hardest. Nearly half of all hog processing in the U.S. is currently offline, whereas poultry and beef production have barely dipped. The story of the Smithfield facility in Sioux Falls, which processes 5% of the pork produced in the United Sates, is a cautionary tale about the risks of operating a processing plant with sickened employees  and it bears out key criteria for safe reopening.

Under normal conditions at the Sioux Falls plant, 20,000 hogs a day  1,300 per hour  are slaughtered and rendered into chops, strips, loins and ground meat. The workers here do fast-paced, shoulder-to-shoulder work, often in warm, wet conditions  the kind of environment that increases the risk of communicable diseases. Until the facility was shuttered on April 11, it was the number one Covid-19 hotspot in the United States. Even now, as the plant lays dormant, it remains in the countrys top hotspots. Nearly a quarter of the plants workers  about 900 of 3,700  have contracted the virus, as have hundreds of the employees family members.

Story continues

Read more: The Coronavirus Wont Bring the End of Big Meat

Labor leaders who represent the workers at the Sioux Falls plant are balking at President Trumps executive order and condemning a statement made Monday by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem on Fox News that she wants to reopen the Smithfield plant in a matter of days.

Mustafa Kolombo, a longtime line-worker for Smithfield, who represents the plants employees at the local labor union, United Food and Commercial Workers, says the governor is showing little regard for the lives of workers. We would like to come to work, but, how will we, if it's not safe for us? he told me in an interview. Kolombo wants Governor Noem and President Trump to put the lives of workers and our families into consideration before they rush out to force the company to reopen.

Trumps executive order may also encourage plant operators to cut corners on the CDCs safety recommendations. Last week, the CDC conducted an inspection of the Sioux Falls plant and produced a 15-page report with recommendations for Smithfield management and the South Dakota Department of Health. The report underscores the importance of testing workers before they return to facility, of providing proper PPE for every employee and of reforming plant operations to allow for social distancing.

Yet, Kolombo said, We have gotten no guarantee that any of these recommendations will be met.

Kolombo applauds Smithfield for inviting the CDC to conduct its inspection and for agreeing to give its employees two weeks of full wages and benefits through May 1. But he estimates that it will take at least 4 to 5 weeks to implement the CDC recommendations before the plant is reopened, during which time the workers and their families should remain in quarantine and continue to receive company support.

Theres good reason to believe that it will take weeks, not days, before the plant operators can fully meet safety recommendations  if they can be met at all.

The CDC recommendations are, to begin with, voluntary. Kooper Caraway, the president of the Sioux Falls AFL-CIO, told me that the report goes out of its way to say that its recommendations are not enforceable by law. And on Sunday, April 26, the CDC quietly announced on its website that critical infrastructure workers  who include meat and poultry processors  may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic.

The statement is confounding given that the CDC has acknowledged that Covid-19 can be transmitted by carriers who show no symptoms. Comprehensive testing is the only way to ensure that workers with Covid-19 dont spread the disease. But its highly unlikely that thousands of tests can be obtained, let alone administered, in a matter of days if Smithfield rushes to reopen the plant.

Its also unlikely that the plant will get adequate PPE. The Food Safety and Inspection Service has already tried to place large orders for PPE and hand sanitizer for federal food inspectors, yet the delivery date keeps getting pushed back.

Internally, plant workers had been asking for increased PPE and social distancing measures since early March, to no avail. Smithfield mishandled the early stages of the outbreak, says Kolombo, and, as a result, there is now so much fear and hurt among our workers and so little trust.

The Sioux Falls plant is known to be one of the most diverse in the nation. The employees speak 40 different languages  mostly Spanish, Nepalese, Swahili and Amharic  and a hundred different dialects. They had been getting early-warning calls from their families in Asia, Europe and across the African continent as the pandemic spread overseas. Union leaders pushed management to do temperature checks, increase sanitizer stations, implement social distancing and schedule breaks.

Management drug its feet. They didn't think it was necessary, says Caraway, adding that Smithfield offered a $500 responsibility bonus to any worker who didnt call in sick during the month of April. It was a very tone-deaf way of addressing a pandemic, he says. Now, Trumps executive order further disempowers the 900 Smithfield employees and their family members who have contracted Covid-19, by limiting their ability to recoup the costs of their illness via lawsuits.

Smithfield, as well as South Dakota Governor Noem, blamed the spread of the disease not on what was happening inside the plant, but rather on employees close-knit lifestyles  a notion Kolombo found disrespectful and discriminatory. Blaming employees who are essential to your organization is ungrateful. We invest our lives, our time, our energy, our everything [in our jobs]. The governor of our state and the company we work for have insulted our dignity, he says.

Theres no question that Governor Noem, who has not implemented a stay-at-home order, nor a temporary ban on evictions and foreclosures in her state, is motivated by fears of economic freefall. The Smithfield plant is one of the largest engines of GDP in the region, producing 18 million servings of pork a day, and it hemorrhages revenue every hour its offline.

And Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken says disruption is rippling up and down the supply chain, especially among the 550 hog farmers who sell their animals to the Smithfield plant. I bet I got two dozen calls to my office yesterday from hog farmers. One said, Mayor, I had to shoot and kill three thousand hogs today because theres no market for them right now. TenHaken added that the Sioux Falls city landfill is now having to alter our operations to accept euthanized pork.

Pork farmers face the terrible specter of having to euthanize their animals by the tens of thousands in the coming weeks. This is a food crisis in its own right, and there must be a coordinated effort at the local, state and national level to help these producers redirect their animals to local meat lockers, food banks and the many processing facilities nationwide that are still safely operating.

But we need to be wary of claims by meat industry executives that a global food security crisis is nigh. The food supply chain is breaking, wrote Tyson Foods chairman, John Tyson, in a full-page ad on Sunday. He cautioned that millions of pounds of meat will vanish from groceries and millions of animals  chickens, pigs and cattle  will be depopulated because of the closure of our processing facilities.

Lets be clear: U.S. consumers will not be forced to go vegan anytime soon. The threats to protein production are real, but meat companies have large reserves of product in cold storage that can temporarily fulfill consumer demand while the plants remain offline. Forcing coronavirus-affected meat plants to stay open is hardly the solution to an emerging crisis  instead, it will only deepen it.

Smithfield did not grant my requests for an interview, but in a public statement, the companys CEO, Ken Sullivan, stressed his obligation to help feed the country, now more than ever. We have a stark choice as a nation: we are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19. This is shortsighted. Sullivans primary responsibility is not to his consumers, but rather to the health and wellbeing of his employees, without whom none of his food can be produced.

Trumps executive order empowers his Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, and meat companies to carry out his directives. In the coming weeks, the decisions made by Perdue, Ken Sullivan, John Tyson and other industry leaders will define the future of their industry. They must proceed with great care and caution. They must ask bacon-loving consumers like me to adapt to the near-term reality of lower volumes and higher costs of meat. Chances are good that most of us, especially those in higher income brackets, can survive with fewer hot dogs and sausages patties for a few months (we might even be better for it).

If, instead, the President and meat industry leaders panic  if they force plant workers to operate in unsafe conditions so that huge volumes of low-cost meat can continue to flow to global consumers  well be looking at future waves of plant shutdowns far more economically devastating than the cost of getting it right, right now.

(Corrects languages spoken at the plant in 15th paragraph.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Amanda Little is a professor of journalism and science writing at Vanderbilt University. She is the author of a Bloomberg Opinion series on the fate of food after Covid-19 as well as the book "The Fate of Food: What We'll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World."

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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The National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan recently announced that the novel coronavirus that has spread rapidly in the country since March is most likely to have been brought over from Europe and America, as reported by some Japanese media.

(Photo/National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan)

The Japanese institute reached this conclusion after comparing the genetic features of 560 pneumonia patients in Japan with those of about 4,500 cases from all over the world.

According to the research institute, the analysis suggests that the latest virus detected in Japan is more similar to that in European countries than in Wuhan, China.

The institute also told media that it is predicted that the virus will mutate every 14 days on average.

It was also reported that the virus that is rampant in the East Coast of the U.S. and European countries like Italy, Spain, France and England is more harmful.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan, formerly known as the National Institute of Health that was established in 1947, is an authoritative institution in the country for the research, monitoring and prevention of infectious diseases. It has been studying the connection between the novel coronavirus in Japan and that in other countries.
Like many women all around the world, Viola Davis has had good days and bad days when it comes to self-confidence. She is a beautiful, talented, multi-award-winning actress, but in the days before she was a Hollywood icon, she experienced more than her fair share of self-doubt. In a recent, revealing interview with InStyle magazine, Davis opened up about how her mindset towards beauty has changed over the years and what she would choose to tell her teenage self about beauty.

Viola Davis had a troubled childhood

Viola Davis of How to Get Away With Murder | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Born in South Carolina in 1965, Davis was raised on a farm as one of six children. Although there was a lot of love in her family, there was not a lot of money, and Davis and her family struggled financially for many years.

Davis has been open about her struggles as a child and has admitted that there were many times when she and members of her family went hungry or were simply unable to find food. There were times when Davis and her siblings had to rely on friends or other adults in their lives to help them find their next meal.

Fortunately, Davis was able to overcome the tragedy in her life and went on to study acting. She appeared in a wide variety of big movies throughout the late nineties and early 2000s and by 2008, she was an Academy Award nominee.

Davis is probably best known for her nearly six years on the hugely popular series How to Get Away with Murder. These days, Davis is staying busier than ever and is widely recognized as one of Hollywoods brightest and most talented stars.

Viola Davis sets her own trends

In Hollywood, many stars seem to follow the same beauty looks and fashion trends. Davis, on the other hand, has always blazed her own trail and rocks the red carpet with confidence. She also isnt afraid to call out the establishment and famously slammed a review that claimed she was less classically beautiful than some other actresses.

Id like to thank Paul Lee, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Bill DElia, and Peter Nowalk for thinking that a sexualized, messy, mysterious woman could be a 49-year-old dark-skinned African-American woman who looks like me, Davis said as she accepted the Screen Actors Guild Award for her work in How to Get Away with Murder. Thank you to all the people who love me exactly how God made me.

What would Viola Davis tell her teenage self about beauty and self-love?

Davis hasnt always been so confident. In her interview with InStyle, Davis claimed that she was insecure about everything as a teenager and that she would pray to God to start over on her.

Davis revealed that if she could go back and tell her teenage self anything, it would be: That youre perfect. Thats what I would tell myself. Every single day, I would wake up with that mantra, I would go to bed with that mantra. I never even thought that was an option.

Davis continued: I thought that there was a factory that was out there that there were Barbie dolls coming out of it, and if you werent that one Barbie doll then you werent even on the radar. It didnt even occur to me that I was created with a perfect palette.

Fortunately, Daviss days of self-doubt are over, and she provides inspiration to thousands of fans all over the world on a daily basis.
Mexico's Interior Department recently denounced towns putting up roadblocks and imposing curfews. They believe the measures made to curb the spread of the virus violates constitutional rights.

The department urged towns and states to stop observing lockdown measures to preserve the people's right to free movement. They argued that local government officials do not have the power to impose restrictive policies. The Interior Department also said the health emergency does not call for the suspension of rights.

Roughly 340 Mexican municipal governments have put up checkpoints or limits to people's movements. Most concentrated on beach towns, banning travelers who could potentially spread the virus.

Dozens of towns have also imposed strict curfews. Three states threatened to imprison those who do not obey the social distancing rules.

The department said arresting people encourage abuse of authority and can profoundly impact food and medicine supplies.



Roadblock Shooting

Police in southern Mexico may face charges after they allegedly opened fire at a group of anti-virus roadblock protesters on Wednesday.

According to the initial investigation, at least one man was seriously injured when police from the Yajalon fired on protesters who believe the roadblocks cut their community from the rest of the world. The man is now receiving medical care after being shot in the back and the chest.

The anti-roadblock demonstrators gathered at a health-services checkpoint at Yajalon. They began throwing stones at the officials. The activists said the inspections cut the Tumabala township off from much-needed services.

Local prosecutors said they plan to file murder charges against the public servants involved in the incident. Some demonstrators will also be given assault and gang charges for injuring law enforcement officers during the confrontation.

The Digna Ochoa, Human Rights Committee, said Tumbala residents had no access to bank offices and other services. They also believe the Chiapas government and health department provoked the protest by setting up illegal roadblocks around the township.

The checkpoints were put up to keep the Tumbala residents - who are mainly indigenous members- from entering other towns on the belief that they had a higher infection rate.



Maximum Capacity

At least five of Mexico City's most significant private hospitals have reportedly filled up all bed spaces available. Although other medical centers still have over 100 beds available, they are no longer receiving COVID-19 carriers.

A doctor at the ABC medical center also reported a shortage in respirators, with 37 of its total 40 being used.

The demand for beds surged in recent days as health workers grapple with 16,752 coronavirus patients, with the capital seeing 4,400 infected individuals. Authorities recorded 1,569 deaths as of Wednesday. However, the real tally is significantly higher than reported.

Former health secretary, Jose Narro, criticized Hugo Lopez-Gatell's for releasing coronavirus figures that do not add up. He says the tally does not fully cover the virus in its full dimension, generating mistrust and uncertainty.

He believes the number of COVID-19 infected patients is eight or even 30 times higher than what is being reported. "The difference," he said, "can be between 120,000 and 500,000."
DETROIT -- A Michigan doctor who operated medical spa facilities across the U.S. was charged with one count each of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud for an alleged multi-million dollar scam.

The fraud charge has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, unless the violation results in serious bodily injury to a patient. Then the maximum sentence is 20 years. If the violation results in death, a life sentence can be imposed.

The doctor is also accused of ordering employees known to have tested positive for COVID-19 to continue working with patients at the medical spa. However, criminal charges have not been filed in relation to those accusations.

According to an unsealed 47-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit, Dr. Charles Mok II, the lone defendant in the case, is the owner of the Allure Medical Spa. Mok is accused of having Allure falsely bill the federal medicare system for treatments given to patients.

A cooperating witness who worked directly with Mok and has access to company records shared information with investigators that showed the facility allegedly improperly billed Medicare for services that were unreasonable, unnecessary, or that simply did not occur as Allure reported to have occurred, according to the complaint.

The Allure offices in Shelby Township was raided last week by the FBI following contact with the witness and interviews with other employees of the company.

The complaint says that between Jan. 1, 2018 and April 7, 2020 Allure billed approximately 27,580 claims for services to 3,131 Medicare beneficiaries. Those billings totaled $41.4 million to Medicare and led to approximately $12.5 million paid to Allure. One billing code in particular -- code 36466 -- was used to bill Medicare at an extraordinary rate.

According to a peer comparison of Medicare data for the 2nd half of 2019, Allure was paid approximately $3.1 million, more than five times as much as the next highest practice in the nation, which was paid approximately $588,000 reads a portion of the complaint.

The complaint further alleges that Mok billed for cosmetic services at a rate far higher than nearly every other doctor in the country.

Mok himself has been identified as an extreme outlier for Michigan-based physicians. His billing records place him in the 99.9th percentile in the country in billings for potentially cosmetic procedures, reads the complaint.

Mok is also accused of falsely billing patients for a COVID-19 treatment that used heavy doses of Vitamin C to combat the virus. Despite no medical evidence that the treatment worked, Mok published a handful of videos promoting the service saying Vitamin C reduces the duration and severity of symptoms of COVID-19.

The investigation found that Allure submitted at least 98 claims to insurance companies, including Medicare for the vitamin treatments. In other statements, Mok said the treatment was not approved by the FDA, according to the complaint.

The witness who provided documents to investigators reported the facility saw more than 900 patients from March 24 through April 14. During that time, the witness said the waiting rooms were full and patients were not adhering to social distancing guidelines set forth by the state. Staff was also working without proper personal protective equipment and in close proximity to one another.

Many of the patients at the facility are older than 50 and have other health problems, according to the complaint.

At least five members of the staff tested positive for COVID-19 during that time, according to the complaint, but were allowed to continue working or return to work shortly after testing positive.

One nurse -- identified as employee 3 in the complaint -- who tested positive for the virus returned to work on April 9, the complaint alleges. After taking another COVID-19 test on April 17, the nurse allegedly told the cooperating witness that she was still positive for the virus. The nurse said Mok ordered her to continue to treating possible COVID-19 patients because she had already contracted the virus, according to the complaint.

Mok is also accused of telling another employee who tested positive for COVID 19 -- identified as employee 4 in the complaint -- not to tell colleagues about their positive test. Mok also told management not to mention the positive test to other employees because he didnt think it was warranted. That employee tested positive on March 30 and saw 69 patients from March 30 through April 8, according to the complaint.

Most of the patients treated by (employee 4) are over the age of 50 and many are in their 60s, 70s, and some patients are in their 80s, reads the complaint.

Mok was released on a $10,000 bond and a preliminary exam is scheduled for May 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

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus

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Your Colleagues

Jacobs School physician spends 11 days at COVID-19 hospital in Brooklyn

David Holmes (right) with (from left) Steve Short, a volunteer pulmonologist who is the only pulmonologist in the entire hospital, and Kuru Paran, a volunteer assisting Short.

By ELLEN GOLDBAUM

The needs are so great and I feel that anything I do is just a drop in the bucket. However, Im learning to be content, knowing that we may have different types of training and skill sets, but we all have a part to play. If everyone is putting their drop in the bucket, then soon it will be full and the need will be met.  David Holmes, clinical associate professor of family medicine Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

David Holmes was supposed to be in Sierra Leone this month on a global health trip with UB medical students. But when the trip was cancelled because of the pandemic, he decided to fill out an application to volunteer to care for COVID-19 patients in New York City. Holmes is a clinical associate professor of family medicine and director of global health education in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, and a physician with UBMD Family Medicine. For decades, he has led medical missions of UB students and practitioners all over the world. This month, his lifelong commitment to providing holistic, patient-centered care took him not to a remote village in an underdeveloped country, but rather to Woodhull Hospital in downtown Brooklyn, a designated COVID-19 facility. Holmes is not unique among UB faculty-physicians: Hundreds of faculty and medical residents are working on the front lines of the pandemic, caring for COVID-19 patients in Buffalo hospitals. I know I speak for our entire community in expressing deep gratitude to our dedicated health care workers and our UB faculty physicians and medical residents who are providing care to our communitys most vulnerable members during this pandemic, said Michael E. Cain, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School. More than 500 faculty physicians and more than 700 medical residents from the Jacobs School provide care to patients in UBs affiliated teaching hospitals throughout Western New York. Many are treating COVID-19 patients in the region.

Upon his arrival in New York in April, Holmes was struck by the quietness. The city is a peaceful place to be right now, he told UBNow. Unlike the streets, however, the hospitals are not peaceful. Because it was designated a COVID-19 hospital, Woodhull had transferred many of its non-COVID-19 patients to other hospitals. When Holmes arrived April 13, about 200 of the hospitals 240 beds were filled with COVID-19 patients, with about 70 on ventilators. Woodhull normally has two intensive care units (ICU), but it turned three additional medical floors into ICUs with ventilators to meet the need. In addition, Holmes said, many patients, including those on ventilators, were backed up in the ER, requiring the ER to have a medicine service and a mini-ICU until beds opened up on the floors.

Tragic consequence

Holmes said the hospital was lucky to get old, but functional ventilators from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, but, he explained, COVID-19 also can cause kidney failure, so many patients required dialysis. Unfortunately, there werent enough dialysis machines. A tragic consequence, Holmes said, is that some patients died simply because they couldnt get dialysis in time. The hospital has had an all-hands-on-deck response to the crisis, he said. Ambulatory clinics are closed and outpatient physicians, subspecialists and surgeons are now working as general medicine hospitalists. Volunteer physicians from various specialties have been working as hospitalists to help meet the need.

David Holmes speaks with one of the internal medicine residents in the ER about a patient they admitted, who they believe has COVID-19 -- lab results are pending.

Normally, the hospital has five in-patient medicine teams, but there were 13 when Holmes was there. All medicine residents were pulled from electives to help out on the in-patient services. Residents from other specialties, including pediatrics and oral and maxillofacial surgery, were assigned to in-patient medicine teams. Temp agencies also sent mid-level practitioners and nurses to help with the crisis. A few weeks ago, at the peak of the COVID crisis, there were about 40 patients dying each day in this hospital, Holmes said. Then it went down to 20, and lately there have been about 10 patient deaths a day, so it seems things are getting better, but we still have a long way to go. Normally, pre-COVID, he said about 15 patients die each month in the hospital.

Between a rock and a hard place

Woodhull Hospital in downtown Brooklyn, where UB faculty member David Holmes spent 11 days treating COVID-19 patients.

Once a COVID-19 patient is intubated and placed on a ventilator, its very difficult for them to get off the ventilator and breathe on their own again, Holmes observed. Therefore, doctors do everything they can with high-flow oxygen to avoid using the vent, he said. However, eventually, it gets to the point where many patients will die from respiratory failure if they dont go on the vent, so were between a rock and a hard place. But some patients do manage to get off the vent and start breathing on their own, and when they do, its a celebration. At Woodhull, whenever a patient was weaned off the vent, they played rock music throughout the hospital. Hearing that music would always bring a smile to my face. The hospital had sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and vents, but other critical supplies were lacking, such as tubing for high-flow oxygen, medications, catheters and central line kits that are badly needed in the ICUs.

David Holmes with two other volunteers doctors. When they weren't treating patients, the three spent time talking, eating pizza and praying together.

At first, most COVID-19 patients were given hydroxychloroquine, the antimalarial drug thats also used to treat some autoimmune diseases. Holmes was told by the hospitals full-time attending physicians that they gave this medicine because it was standard of care, even though most didnt think it did much good. By the time he left the hospital, some research had confirmed that it wasnt effective treatment for COVID-19 and may be doing harm by increasing the risk of cardiac arrhythmias, so hydroxycholoroquine is being used much less often now. On the other hand, some of the critically ill patients were given plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients, and in some of them it seemed to make a difference in helping wean them of the ventilator. But here, too, Holmes noted, it isnt entirely clear that the plasma antibodies are whats making the difference. The jury is still out on this one, he said. Proning, where patients with respiratory distress and hypoxia are placed on their stomachs, rather than their backs, to help improve oxygenation, seemed to make a positive difference, he said.

David Holmes (left) talks to an internal medicine resident and a nurse practitioner.



During his 11-day volunteer stint at Woodhull, Holmes cared for approximately 30 COVID-19 patients. He treated a 77-year-old woman with Parkinsons dementia, whose husband, her caregiver, was hospitalized with COVID-19. She also tested positive but was asymptomatic. She was going to be placed in a nursing home until her husband recovered; however, as Holmes noted, there is no guarantee. One of the hardest parts about treating COVID-19, Holmes said, was the no-visitor policy. The no-visitor policy is understandable and needed, but I still feel badly that so many people are seriously ill and cant be visited by family or friends. Too often, when people bring their loved one to the ER, thats the last time they ever see them alive. During the day, when I had time, I would try to check in on a few patients whom I had seen in the ER to see how theyre doing and just listen to what they wanted to talk about. One patient I saw in the ER was a woman in her 60s with a beautiful Caribbean accent. At home, she felt weak, had a cough and was short of breath. Her children, who live out of town, tried calling several times. She didnt answer because she didnt have the energy. When they couldnt reach her, they called the police, who checked on her. They called the ambulance. Not surprisingly, her COVID test came back positive.

The importance of social visits

David Holmes (center, rear) with other volunteer physicians at Woodhull Hospital.


Australians are starting to plan their next holiday destination despite the international and state borders remaining closed due to the coronavirus, and the areas they've decided on might surprise you.

Online travel company Expedia has calculated the regions people have been searching for in the month of April for check-in dates between October 1 and December 31, 2020, and January 1 to February 28, 2021.

With Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirming that he can't see international travel being made available to citizens for a 'long time', it's more likely trips will be planned interstate.

So, as a result, the Gold Coast, Queensland, came in as the number one most researched spot, followed by Bali, Indonesia.

It was interesting to see the Gold Coast, Queensland (pictured), coming in as the number one most researched spot on the map, followed by Bali, Indonesia

Bali in Indonesia (left) and Phuket in Thailand (right) also made the cut, perhaps for their tropical locations

Both locations remain balmy year-round, making them perfect for a springtime escape, and contain both family-friendly and youth-related activities.

Warm weather locales like the Sunshine Coast and the Whitsundays made the list, showing that Australians are looking for tropical hot spots.

They might also be wanting to engage in outdoor exploration after being kept inside for weeks.

Interestingly a number of American cities like Los Angeles (pictured), California; Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York made the cut

Oahu in Hawaii, known for its surfing and laid-back lifestyle, also made the list for both time frames, pointing to the way we're looking for a quick flight - Hawaii is only nine hours away - rather than a lengthy European stint.

In the Asia Pacific region searches for Singapore; Phuket, Thailand and Tokyo, Japan, were high on the charts, possibly because they are faring slightly better against COVID-19 than the northern hemisphere.

Interestingly a number of American cities like Los Angeles, California; Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York made the cut.

Bali (pictured) is already a tourist hot spot for Australians seeking a cheap overseas destination, but it will likely become more popular once travelling resumes again

TOP DESTINATIONS FOR OCT - DEC 2020: 1. GOLD COAST 2. BALI 3. SYDNEY 4. SUNSHINE COAST 5. OAHU 6. MELBOURNE 7. NEW YORK 8. WHITSUNDAY 9. LOS ANGELES 10. LAS VEGAS Advertisement

TOP DESTINATIONS FOR JAN - FEB 2021: 1. GOLD COAST 2. BALI 3. SYDNEY 4. OAHU 5. MELBOURNE 6. SINGAPORE 7. PHUKET 8. TOKYO 9. LAS VEGAS 10. NEW YORK Advertisement





However, the United States has almost a third of the world's total coronavirus cases at 1.03million and has seen 58,955 succumb to the disease.

The likelihood that Australians will be permitted to fly within the vicinity of Trump's America in 2020 or early 2021 is slim.

Therefore it might be more feasible to book a holiday within your own state in the coming months, enjoying some winter camping or national park trails, depending on your interests.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As California firefighters are on the front lines of wildfires and other natural disasters, so too are the many organizations supporting families and communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The California Fire Foundation is stepping forward to help those severely impacted by the pandemic by taking part in two days of charitable giving with Sacramento region's Big Day of Giving, May 5 and the global #GivingTuesdayNow, May 7.

"The California Fire Foundation has already provided nutritional and economic support to some of the hardest hit regions of our state, with the support of our generous donors," said Brian K. Rice, chair of the California Fire Foundation and president of the California Professional Firefighters. "The Foundation's involvement in these two charitable days of giving will allow us to continue to 'pay it forward' in support of those facing hardship from the COVID-19 outbreak, as we have in times of catastrophic wildfire and other natural disasters."

Even as the scope of the COVID-19 disaster was developing, the California Fire Foundation was working to get help where it's needed. Non-profit groups that have already received assistance through the California Fire Foundation include:

"As an organization created by California's firefighters, the California Fire Foundation is committed to its mission of providing emotional and financial support for firefighters, their families and the communities they protect," said Rice. "Charitable giving opportunities such as Big Day of Giving and #GivingTuesdayNow help to ensure the Foundation can continue supporting the victims of this unprecedented crisis, as it has for so many Californians affected by natural disaster."

To join California's firefighters in paying it forward during this crisis, support the California Fire Foundation on #GivingTuesdayNow May 5th and on the Big Day of Giving on May 7th.

About:

The California Fire Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect. Formed in 1987 by California Professional Firefighters, the California Fire Foundation's mission includes survivor and victim assistance programs and a range of community initiatives. cafirefoundation.org.

Big Day of Giving - May 7, 2020. An annual 24-hour community-wide movement that unites the Sacramento region to help raise funds for the nonprofit organizations that strengthen the region's communities. bigdayofgiving.org

#GivingTuesdayNow - May 5, 2020 A new global day of giving and unity. Building on #GivingTuesday, an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of holiday season, #GivingTuesdayNow is bringing people around the world together for an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. now.givingtuesday.org.

CONTACT: Fera Dayani, CFF Communications Director; 916-605-9513, [email protected]

SOURCE California Fire Foundation

Related Links

www.cafirefoundation.org


Government orders for people to stay home to halt the spread of the coronavirus have resulted in a sharp decrease of vehicle traffic around the world.

Cities such as Delhi, India, Los Angeles in the United States and Seoul in South Korea all have reported better air quality. But that is not the case with Mexicos capital, although its traffic has decreased by 60 percent.

The official website of Mexico City says that air quality there is poor. It warns that exercising at certain times of the day presents a high to very high health risk. Photographs taken by Reuters last week show a thick haze over the city.

Mexico City is about 2240 meters above sea level and is surrounded by mountains. The city and the area around it is home to more than 20 million people.

Most are staying inside their homes, but they have increased the use of gas and other fuels possibly for cooking. Methane gas is released from open-air waste holding areas. In addition, a lot of industrial activity continues. All these things have cancelled the reduction in pollution that was expected from putting the economy on hold.

Sergio Hernandez oversees air quality in the city. He told Reuters news agency, Were seeing that its come down form the peaks, but its not enough to bring the air quality below the norm.

Carlos Alvarez is head of Mexico Communication and Environment, an environmental group. He said that there are 400 open-air waste holding areas, or dumps. They release methane gas.

There also are 50,000 industrial generators in the city. The generators provide electricity to hotels, offices and businesses. Most are still operating. The generators use gasoline or diesel fuel, as do the 350,000 trucks and buses that operate in the area.

Environmental experts say diesel is a leading cause of harmful pollution. Other causes include the state oil company Pemexs oil processing center in the north, forest fires and ash from the volcano Popocatepetl to the southeast.

The air quality in Mexico City is better than it was when the World Health Organization said it was the worlds most polluted city in 1992. But, it is still poor. Bad air quality is linked to high rates of diseases that affect the lungs. Experts warn that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, could be more dangerous in Mexico City than in other places.

Roxana Trejo takes care of patients infected with the coronavirus at the ABC medical center in Mexico City. (Pollution) can be a serious issue once you get the disease, she said.

Im Mario Ritter, Jr.

Raul Cortes Fernandez reported this story for Reuters. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

haze n. dust, smoke or mist that fills the air

norm n. the usual way that something is, what is expected

issue n. a problem that has to be dealt with
Telefonica could launch a legal challenge against Millicom if the latter operator fails to honor its planned $570 million acquisition of Telefonica Costa Rica (Movistar).

Millicoms purchase of the unit is part of a broader US$1.65 billion deal covering a number of Telefonicas operations across Latin America, including Nicaragua and Panama. The agreement was struck in February 2019 and cleared in September that year by Costa Rican regulator Sutel.

However, Millicoms lack of action on the deal has prompted Telefonica to force its hand. To this end, Telefonica has informed Millicom that it will take legal action in the courts of the State of New York to ensure that the deal goes through, or otherwise pursue all the damages that this unjustified breach could cause Telefonica.

In a filing to the Spanish National Securities Market Commission, Telefonica argues that Millicoms refusal to close the transaction places it in violation of the February 2019 sales agreement. Telefonica has stated that it will pursue the matter once the courts reopen for non-emergency actions (they are currently suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic).

However, Millicom has pushed back against Telefonicas assertion, claiming that the regulatory approvals required for the deal to close were due to be issued on 1st May. Millicom added that it if the approvals are not received by this date it intends to terminate the SPA in accordance with the terms of the agreement, adding that it will vigorously defend any action brought by Telefonica in this matter.

Millicom closed its acquisitions of Telefonicas Nicaragua and Panama units for US$430 million and US$650 million respectively in May 2019 and August 2019. It conducted the purchases via its Latin American ISP unit Tigo (Millicom Cable Costa Rica).
It was a dramatic day on Israels political scene. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit wrote to the High Court today that in his opinion, there are no legal obstacles to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forming the next government, despite the criminal charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust he is facing. Mandelblit also argued that despite the legal difficulties, the unity deal should be accepted and not invalidated by the court. The attorney general stated, Despite the significant difficulties that arise in this matter, they do not constitute grounds for judicial intervention.

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated today outside the High Court in Jerusalem, both in favor and against Netanyahu, ahead of Mandelblit submitting his opinion and ahead of Sundays discussion.

It was the first time the attorney general has given his opinion on the matter. Until the signing of the unity deal, Mandelblit had demurred, saying that the issue was theoretical and discussions were premature. In the past two weeks, the High Court has received several petitions against Netanyahu forming a next government and leading it while under indictment. The court is expected to discuss the issue on May 2 in an expended panel of 11 justices. The discussion is expected to be broadcast live from the courthouse.

Legal experts think it unlikely for the court to rule against the opinion of the attorney general. If the court does accept it on Sunday, the road would be clear for Netanyahu to form a unity government with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz. The two concluded a deal for a national unity government on April 20 and must formalize it before May 7 by presenting their new government to the Knesset and receiving the backing of a parliamentary majority.

Shortly after Mandelblit greenlit Netanyahu to head the next government, the Knesset approved the unity deal in a first reading, with a majority of 72 Knesset members against 40. Israels parliament voted in favor of amending the quasi-constitutional Basic Law: The Government to enable the rotation deal between Netanyahu and Gantz. In order for the amendment to be enacted, it must be approved in two more Knesset readings.

These final readings are expected to take place next week. Amendments should also enable the establishment of Israels largest-ever government. Members of the new coalition said today that the quick adoption of the amendments and the expected endorsement of the new cabinet by May 7 are necessary for Israel to exit its 17-month political stalemate and for facing the novel coronavirus pandemic. Legislators from the opposition said in response that the new coalition only seeks to offer its members comfortable ministerial portfolios.
California Homeless Data System Looks to Hire Tech Talent

New York City Group Releases Census Messaging Guide

Connecticuts Open Data Program Rolls Out Online Programming

As the COVID-19 crisis wears on, government work with data surrounding its impact has evolved along with it.One tangible example of this can be found right now in Pittsburgh, where the Pittsburgh Department of Innovation and Performances GIS team has created a platform to map positive COVID-19 test results by neighborhood. That map can be found here , and its color-coded with a deeper shade of red to represent more positive tests.Pittsburgh, of course, is not alone in creating more precise and localized uses for data within the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the work has extended outside of government as well, with entities in other sectors also using data to visualize the impact of the virus within the United States.The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, a nonprofit organization, has an internal group called the GISCorps , which coordinates volunteer efforts to use data to help communities in need across the country. That group created a new data map that visualizes the locations of COVID-19 testing sites nationwide, which can be found here . Developers also invite government entities and health-care organizations to contribute their own data to the map, which is free and open to all.These are just two examples of similar civic tech work that has taken hold in communities across the country. Data itself is a key part of helping the country recover from the outbreak of an infectious disease pandemic, necessary as it is to gauge related risk factors including chance of infection and risk of exposure to the disease.Data work is not the only tech work within government accelerating to meet new needs accentuated by the crisis. There are myriad examples, one of which is a pair of states  California and Arizona  receiving federal approval to pilot a new program that would allow the recipients of public food assistance benefits to order groceries online and have them delivered, minimizing their need to go out during the pandemic and risk their health.While state and local government budgets have been decimated by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, one entity at the state level is currently looking to hire tech talent  the California Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS).The job position is a project manager within HDIS, under the general direction of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency information officer and deputy secretary for homelessness in the IT project management domain.In short, California is looking for a project manager to join its Homeless Data Integration System Project. The posting as of now is a 12-month position with the potential to become permanent, and interested parties can learn more about what it all entails here The codifying of such a database is a concept that was recently introduced within the California state Legislature.A lightly discussed aspect of COVID-19 is that it essentially upended months and even years of outreach planning related to the 2020 U.S. Census.As such, a New York City-based Census support entity created a new messaging guide for those still working to get the word out about the importance of the count, which will determine federal support for the communities over the next decade  which is even more important given the damage wrought by the virus.There were massive national and local Census outreach efforts planned throughout April and the weeks to follow to ensure an accurate count of Americans. Many of those efforts were predicated on things that were entirely derailed by the pandemic, including ads during March Madness and the Olympics, ads on public transportation, and in-person conversations at public events, libraries and door-to-door visits.The group that created the messaging guide is the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), which is a nonprofit aimed at supporting growth and renewal in Americas largest city. A key part of a successful Census effort is for larger entities  such as the city of New York or the U.S. Census Bureau  to deputize more grassroots, street-level community organizations to reach people, leveraging their own trust and relationships. This is the role ABNY is essentially playing.With the messaging guide  which is free and can be found here  the goal is to give outreach groups well-researched data, best practices and input to help them make their messaging even more specific.In the wake of the pandemic, the window for the Census has been extended through the end of October, and efforts seem likely to continue right until the end.Finally, the Connecticut Data Collaborative  which supports data-driven decision-making within that state  has joined the growing number of civic tech organizations that are hosting virtual events and other online programming during the pandemic.The full slate of upcoming virtual events can be found here . The topics of the events, which are slated for May and June, are varied, but theyre largely all related to civic technology. These events include workshops on guidelines and practices for survey design, a happy hour event for women in data, and collecting data in ways that will help rather than harm.The events are all free.
Saying ICE has failed to protect the health of 400 immigrants held at two crowded facilities in California, a federal judge in San Francisco ordered the agency Wednesday to immediately provide their names, records and health conditions so he can decide whom to release during the coronavirus pandemic.

Migrants held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Mesa Verde in Bakersfield and the Yuba County Jail in Marysville are still sleeping in barracks-style dorms within arms reach of one another long after COVID-19 was declared a national emergency, said U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria.

The agencys failure to provide a list of medically vulnerable detainees six weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsoms statewide shutdown order speaks volumes about where the safety of the people at these facilities falls on ICEs list of priorities, Chhabria said.

He told ICE to promptly provide information on all detainees at both facilities and said he would then decide who should be set free on bail while their cases are pending in immigration courts.

Chhabria said he would not free anyone who was shown to be dangerous to the public or seemed unlikely to appear for a court hearing. But he said ICE has not come close to achieving social distancing for most detainees because of the number of people it holds and the conditions at both centers.

Time is of the essence, the judge said.

Chhabria told lawyers that, with the help of federal magistrates, he will be releasing the detainees during the next two weeks, said attorney Bree Bernwanger of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco. The two facilities are not safe for anyone, she said.

Other federal judges have ordered ICE to release detainees at the two facilities and others in California who are vulnerable to the coronavirus because of their age or medical condition.

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.

U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter of Los Angeles issued an order April 23 requiring the agency to reduce the population of its detention center in Adelanto (San Bernardino County) to a level that would allow remaining inmates to stay at least 6 feet apart at all times. He said ICE could take such actions by releasing some detainees, deporting some and transferring others to less-crowded facilities.

The American Civil Liberties Union represents detainees in the Adelanto case and in Chhabrias court. The ACLU released a declaration to the court by Lawrence Mwuara, 27, a Kenyan citizen and longtime U.S. resident who is being held by ICE in Yuba County despite health infirmities that the ACLU said put him at a particular risk from the coronavirus.

Being unable to protect myself from infection here, especially because of my medical conditions, makes me feel like nothing  like dirt, Mwuara said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke over phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, with both sides expressing commitment to beefing up cooperation to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Li said that in the face of the global spread of the epidemic, China and the European Union (EU) have been supporting and helping each other.

Under the current circumstances, China is ready to join hands with the EU to carry forward the spirit of solidarity and boost exchanges and cooperation on the prevention and control of the epidemic as well as on economic recovery, Li said.

China hopes that the EU will continue to provide security guarantee for the Chinese nationals in Europe, he said.

Li pointed out that the virus knows no borders, and both China and the EU advocate multilateralism.

The EU has responded positively to the initiatives of the United Nations and the World Health Organization to carry out international cooperation in combating the epidemic, Li said.

China is ready to work with the EU to actively participate in the research, development and production of vaccines, drugs and diagnostic reagents and provide support to those places where the public health systems are weak, he said.

The Chinese premier expects the international community to make joint efforts and overcome the epidemic at an early date.

Von der Leyen, for her part, said since the COVID-19 outbreak, the EU and China have maintained close coordination to tide over the difficulties.

The response to the global pandemic requires the solidarity and coordination of all countries in the world, she said.

The EU stands ready to reinforce cooperation with China to fight against the epidemic jointly, restore economic development gradually and carry out international cooperation on the research and development of vaccines and drugs, she added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 29)  Over a month after the National Telecommunications Commission agreed to allow media giant ABS-CBN to continue operations beyond the expiration of its franchise, a television group has aired its opposition to the order.

The Federation of International Cable T.V. and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines, or FICTAP, penned a letter to the NTC, urging the agency not to grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN, which the commission committed to do last March 10.

FICTAP is a group of micro and medium cable TV operators from all over the country, composed of 600 member-operators, including Bohol Cable TV, Buenavista Cable in Antique, and Maguindanao Sky, among others.

The group argued that as mandated by law, broadcasting companies should have congressional franchises in order to operate, citing previous cases. Should ABS-CBN remain on-air after May 4, the date when its franchise was supposed to end, the NTC should issue a show cause and cease and desist order to the network, FICTAP added.

The NTC said it will grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN while its permit renewal is pending, following the advice of the Justice Department.

FICTAP also reiterated its arguments on ABS-CBN's supposed violations such as its alleged unlicensed pay-per-view options. The network shrugged off these claims since regulatory bodies already gave them the go signal to operate even with these services.
Coronavirus cases in the country rose to 33,050 on Thursday. According to the latest figures updated by the Ministry of Health, there are 23,651 active coronavirus cases in the country, 8,324 patients have been cured or discharged while 1,074 people have died from the deadly contagion.

Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra have crossed the 9,000-mark and now near 10,000. National capital Delhi is fast catching up with Gujarat, the second worst-affected state. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have more than 2,000 cases of the coronavirus disease.

Here are the latest developments:

1. The US announced on Thursday it will hand over aid worth $3 million to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity (PAHAL) project as part of efforts to help India mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

2. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday kicked-off a detailed interaction with Indian envoys abroad to compare notes on the battle against Covid-19, its impact on India and the road ahead. This is Jaishankars second round of meetings with top Indian diplomats abroad.

3. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said India is doing better than other countries on all parameters in its fight against Covid-19, news agency PTI reported. I am sure in the coming few weeks, we should be able to win the decisive war against Covid-19, the minister claimed.

4. In a conversation with former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said a second or third lockdown will be devastating for Indias economy.

5. Ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said Rs 65,000 crore is needed to help the poor during the Covid-19 crisis and the country can afford it.

6. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has said the state government is not considering withdrawal of the ongoing lockdown in near future but will weigh options to relax some restrictions in a phased manner.

7. Kerala governor, Arif Mohammad Khan, on Thursday signed an ordinance brought by the state government to overcome a high court verdict and cut the salary of government employees to fund the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

8. Heavy traffic was seen in three Tamil Nadu cities of Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai after the state government announced relaxation during the Covid-19 lockdown, news agency ANI reported.

9. Indias Covid-19 doubling rate is slower and the mortality rate is lower than the US, Italy, Spain, UK, PTI reported citing data from the health ministry and Worldometer.

10. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the administration is making arrangements to bring back students stranded in Rajasthans Kota due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 15:22:47|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, April 30 (Xinhua) -- East China's Zhejiang Province launched an online services trade exhibition on Wednesday.

Scheduled from April 29 to May 1, the cloud exhibition has attracted over 80 domestic businesses and more than 180 overseas firms.

The exhibition is hosted by the department of commerce of Zhejiang Province. The department has planned a consultative conference via cloud technologies with authorities and business associations in eight countries, including Finland, Italy, Britain, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, on international services trade cooperation.

The cloud exhibition aims to maximize Zhejiang's advantages in services trade and digital sectors to facilitate its foreign trade and explore the global market, said Sheng Qiuping, head of the province's commerce department.

Zhejiang has established trade relations with over 200 countries and regions worldwide and is a frontrunner in terms of services trade in China.

The eastern China province saw trade growth in 10 services trade sectors in the first quarter of this year. The exports of telecommunications, computer and information services surged by 118.8 percent year on year to 31.32 billion yuan (about 4.44 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March. Enditem
Its getting harder and harder to keep my little kids  ages 5 and 6  interested in a bedtime story. In quarantine, screens have become an integral part of their everyday lives. Even school is done on an iPad! Forget about one 28-minute episode of TV at the end of the day. Now, I just try to make sure theyre off screens as much as theyre on them. At night, my youngest two (I also have teenage twins!) are so hopped up on pixels, its hard to get them to calm down. Here are a few new releases that have passed the test in my home  if only I could get the kids to stop asking when these stories will also be on Netflix.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 15:30:19|Editor: huaxia

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Combo photo shows Li Wenqi checking the permit of a vehicle at a pandemic prevention checking point in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 3, 2020 (upper, taken by Wang Jianwei) and Li Wenqi introducing a speaker to a customer at a stereo speaker store in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, April 23, 2020 (lower, taken by Liang Xu). Li Wenqi, born in 1993, has a job in the southern Chinese modern metropolis of Shenzhen. During the traditional lunar New Year holidays this year, Li returned for family reunion as usual to her hometown of Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. However, influenced by the sudden COVID-19 pandemic, Li couldn't travel back to Shenzhen after the holidays and must stay at home like others in the country to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. After a month, when she heard from a friend that a local community lacked volunteers for its pandemic prevention work, Li voluntarily filed for a checking post at the community. Every day, she worked nearly 12 hours to check the permits of vehicles into and out of the community. As the pandemic wanes in the country, enterprises have been allowed to gradually restart business, and people to travel. On March 11, Li returned to Shenzhen and got back to work at a stereo speaker store. "During the pandemic, our country's younger generation, most of whom were born in the 1990s, made a contribution to the fight against the novel coronavirus. I felt proud of them." said Li. (Xinhua)
DUBLIN, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ResearchAndMarkets.com published a new article on the pharmaceutical industry, "Impact of the Coronavirus on Cough & Cold Medications - GlaxoSmithKline, Vernalis, Pfizer, Taro Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Seeing Increased Demand for Their OTC Products"

In most cases, mild symptoms of COVID-19 which can include a high temperature and persistent cough, can be treated with over-the-counter medications without the need for hospitalization. Authorities have advised people with mild symptoms to self-isolate in their homes and avoid going out in public or to healthcare facilities where they could risk infecting vulnerable people.



In response to this, many consumers have started stocking up on over -the-counter cold and flu medications, cough suppressants, lozenges and painkillers in order to be prepared in case they begin to experience symptoms of COVID-19. Many pharmaceutical companies are seeing increased demand for their over-the-counter products including GlaxoSmithKline, Vernalis, Pfizer, Taro Pharmaceuticals and Bayer.



To see the full article and a list of related reports on the market, visit "Impact of the Coronavirus on Cough & Cold Medications - GlaxoSmithKline, Vernalis, Pfizer, Taro Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Seeing Increased Demand for Their OTC Products"

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Kapoor, who starred in popular films including Bobby and Mera Naam Joker, dies after a two-year battle with leukaemia.

Celebrated Indian actor Rishi Kapoor has died in a hospital in Mumbai after a two-year battle with cancer  Bollywoods second loss in as many days. He was 67 years old.

Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukaemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last, Kapoors family said in a statement on Thursday morning.

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents, said the statement.

Kapoor belonged to Bollywoods most famous film dynasty with several generations of actors. His father, Raj Kapoor, was one of Indias most revered filmmakers.

His death came as a severe blow to the Indian movie industry and film lovers, who were already reeling from the passing on Wednesday of Irrfan Khan, one of the countrys most feted actors, aged 53. Khan also died of cancer.

Kapoor is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor  with whom he had acted in nearly a dozen films before their marriage  and son Ranbir, also a popular actor, and daughter Riddhima, a jewellery designer.

Fellow actor Amitabh Bachchan was among the first to mourn Kapoors death, tweeting, I am destroyed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was anguished by his demise and called him a powerhouse of talent.

Bona fide Bollywood royalty

Born September 4, 1952, into the prolific Kapoor dynasty, Rishi Kapoor made his debut in the 1970s epic Mera Naam Joker.

He received Indias national award for best child actor for his performance in the film, which his father Raj produced, directed and starred in.

Saddened by the sudden demise of Rishi Kapoor ji & Irfan Khan sir. This is a great loss for our country & Indian film fraternity. May their soul RIP pic.twitter.com/BxWWAoGUov  Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) April 30, 2020

But it was his later persona as a romantic lead that won him legions of fans.

They flocked to cinemas to see him sing, dance and charm his way into their hearts in films such as the 1973 superhit Bobby and the 1975 thriller Khel Khel Mein.

His trademark look  a sweater tied around his shoulders as he courted chiffon sari-clad leading ladies in the Swiss Alps  became shorthand for Bollywood romance.

Bona fide Bollywood royalty, Kapoor churned out hits as a solo hero, playing a lovelorn youth in the 1976 romance Laila Majnu and a rockstar in the 1980 musical thriller, Karz.

But he also felt secure enough to take second billing to other actors in blockbusters such as the 1977 comedy Amar Akbar Anthony  starring Bachchan and Vinod Khanna  although he would frequently steal the show.

He enjoyed an easy chemistry with male and female co-stars, playing Bachchans younger brother in the 1981 melodrama Naseeb and his son in the 2018 film, 102 Not Out.

Rishi Kapoor gestures during the trailer launch of his film All Is Well in Mumbai on July 1, 2015 [AFP]

Versatile star

As Kapoor grew older, the romantic roles dried up, allowing him the opportunity to display greater versatility.

He terrified audiences as a human trafficker in 2012s Agneepath and won applause for his portrayal of a cantankerous grandfather in 2016s Kapoor & Sons.

His forays behind the camera were less successful.

A 1999 directorial debut Aa Ab Laut Chalen was panned by critics, becoming the last movie produced under the RK Films banner established by his father.

In a 2016 interview with talk show host Simi Garewal, he praised Bollywoods younger generation for taking more chances with their work.

We in our times never got a chance to [do] one film at one time we survived, he said.

He was never afraid to speak candidly, whether about his movies  most of which deserved to be forgotten, he joked to Garewal  or about his struggles with alcoholism.

In recent years he won a legion of new and younger fans with his frank, and often funny, tweets.

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2018 he sought treatment in New York, but was looking to resume work shortly with plans to film a remake of the 2015 Hollywood production The Intern.

He was forced to return to hospital this month, where, his family said, the doctors and medical staff said he kept them entertained to the last.

He was grateful for the love of his fans they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.
DALATA doesn't plan to sell any more hotels or tap shareholders for cash to ride out the coronavirus crisis, according to CEO Pat McCann.

Last week, the company, which is Ireland's largest hotel operator, agreed a sale and leaseback of its Clayton Charlemont hotel in Dublin for 65m to German real estate investment company Deka.

Of the hotels in its portfolio across Ireland and the UK, Dalata owns 29, while 11 are leased and three are managed, said Mr McCann.

He added that the sale to Deka had been in motion for a number of months prior to the pandemic, with the German fund having approached Dalata about a sale.

"We own a great variety of very high quality assets and it's a huge advantage to us now," Mr McCann told the Irish Independent following its annual general meeting yesterday.

He pointed out that Swedish group Scandic Hotels yesterday announced a major rights issue equivalent to about 40pc of its market capitalisation to help see it through the crisis.

"Thankfully, we will not be in that space," said Mr McCann.

"For us, having the cash initially on the balance sheet, having the assets there as well to underpin that, is a fantastic advantage to a company like Dalata today.

"We still have sufficient resources and assets to be able to pretty much deal with anything that's thrown at us," he added.

Chairman John Hennessy also insisted that a rights issue is not on the cards for Dalata.

"That's the view of the board," he said. "It's something of last resort and I don't see us going there. It's not something we favour at all and we're well positioned not to have to do that."

Mr McCann envisages an eventual tapered reopening of properties, some of which are currently being used by the HSE.
Facade with logo at office of pharmaceutical company AstaZeneca, South San Francisco, California, April 11, 2020. Photo: by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

AstraZeneca (AZN) and the University of Oxford have teamed up to make and distribute a potential coronavirus vaccination, as scientists across the world race to develop drugs to combat the pandemic.

There are more than 70 coronavirus vaccines currently in the works and a finished product could take more than a year to emerge. The usual lead time for the development of a vaccination is five to seven years.

The new coronavirus has so far infected over 3 million people and killed more than 215,000 across the globe.

The vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is being developed by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford.

It entered phase I clinical trials last week and was tested on healthy volunteers aged 18 to 55 years across five trial centres in southern England.

Data from the phase I trial currently taking place could be available as early as next month, while advancement to late-stage trials should take place by the middle of this year.

The Cambridge-based drug maker is responsible for development and worldwide manufacturing and distribution of the vaccine.

London-listed AstraZeneca shares rose more than 2% in early trading on Thursday.

Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca said: Our hope is that, by joining forces, we can accelerate the globalisation of a vaccine to combat the virus and protect people from the deadliest pandemic in a generation.

Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, said: Our partnership with AstraZeneca will be a major force in the struggle against pandemics for many years to come.

AstraZeneca is among other companies in the drug industry working on a vaccination for COVID-19. US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer and biotechnology company Gilead are also working on vaccinations and treatments.

Since the announcement, the AstraZenecas CEO told Sky News that it should know if the vaccine works by June to July:
Climate change has long been one of the most polarizing issues dividing conservative and progressive voters, but a recent Colorado College pol
With the PPP loans made so far, and with more money being disbursed, thousands of small businesses that would otherwise have closed permanently will remain open, their employees either still at work or more confident that their employer will be in business and rehiring once the crisis abates. According to Mnuchin, the PPP has already benefited 30 million workers, and the administration expects it will be another 30 million workers by the time we get done with this, so close to 50 percent of the private payroll. Having these businesses and jobs intact will help smooth the countrys return to economic strength.
Amputees could be able to use bionic arms with nothing but their thoughts within the next two years, Swedish researchers have said.

An implant system that allows the use of a bionic arm without the need for any supporting equipment is already available in Sweden, now the team behind it are working toward getting European certification to help more people.

Three Swedes who have had an amputation use the technology, which can connect to any arm prosthesis that is commercially available.

Three people in Sweden use an implant system that allows amputees to use a bionic arm with just their thoughts, Dr Max Ortiz Cataln (left) hopes the technology can be expanded to Europe in the next two years

The implant system anchors the prosthesis to the skeleton in the stump of the amputated limb

Dr Max Ortiz Catalan, an associate professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, said that their prosthesis could be a clinically viable replacement for a lost arm.

He told the PA news agency: 'People in Sweden can have this technology now.

'We were working to ramp up the production before the pandemic began.

'We are aiming to have it CE marked soon, within two years, and once it is CE marked, it can be available in Europe as a product.'

Two of the three patients involved in their clinical trial have been using their bionic arms for around three years, while the third participant has been using his artificial limb for seven years.

One of the Chalmers University of Technology patients can use the bionic arm while fixing a car, without any support equipment

A new functionality - the sensation of touch - has recently been added to all the three prosthetic arms.

Dr Ortiz Catalan said that the implant system, which anchors the prosthesis to the skeleton in the stump of the amputated limb, is stable and can be used for long periods of time without any intervention from the scientists.

He said: 'The real breakthrough here is that this neuromusculoskeletal interface, as we call it, allows the artificial limb to be connected to the body.

'And when you have that intimate connection between the technology and biology, you can have a better control and establish sensory feedback.'

According to Dr Ortiz Catalan, the system delivers sensations that feel like they are arising from the missing hand.

The implant system is self-contained, so patients do not need to carry additional equipment such as large computer backpacks or batteries.

Three patients have started using the prosthetic implant, with researchers saying it can work for longer without the intervention of scientists

Electrodes fixed in the remaining muscle in the stump deliver sensory information, which allows users to have greater sensation and control over the hand.

Patients are able to feel when they are touching an object, its characteristics, and how hard they are pressing it, the researchers said.

Dr Ortiz Catalan said while the prosthetic is not as good as real hand it does allow people to be able to go about their daily lives.

He added: 'We are not under the illusion that this technology is perfect - there is still long way to go.

'In the meantime, we are looking to increase functionality by adding more sensations and more control.'
Coronavirus testing was expected to be ramped up beginning this week with the acquisition of PCR testing capability.

If all goes well, this country was expected to begin local PCR testing, for the coronavirus this week.





Minister of Health Luke Browne said at a press briefing last week Thursday, that there had been a positive development as it related to having a PCR testing machine here.





Restrictions enforced by the United States government had prevented earlier acquisition of the machine.

With the machine in the country, this would allow for more tests to be conducted, a preferred option as against having to send samples (for testing) to the Caribbean Public Health Agency laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago.





And on the issue of tests, Minister Browne disclosed that as of last week Thursday, April 23, 101 samples from persons here had been tested in Trinidad and Tobago, with 13 having been confirmed as positive and 88 negative.





"We use these tests for the purposes of medical diagnosis and clearance, Browne said, adding that while it appeared that SVG was doing reasonably well by regional standards in terms of the numbers being tested, officials had identified the need to do more testing.





He assured that this was not an advocacy for the entire population to be tested, but rather that increased testing allow health officials the opportunity to conduct rigorous investigations of persons who satisfy certain established criteria for testing, and to identify any group profiles.





He referenced that earlier testing had identified a number of local cases as linked to a common place of employment overseas, which then led to the remaining members of that group being tested.





"And this is one of the successes I believe that we have had in terms of surveillance, and it was an important development from the standpoint of containment, the health minister commented.





As far as rapid testing kits received from Venezuela were concerned, Minister Browne revealed that the World Health Organization did not endorse them as an effective method of testing for the Covid-19 virus, as compared to the PCR testing method.
Newzroom Afrika celebrates its one-year anniversary on 2 May 2020 at a time when a trusted information service is more important than ever.

Thokozani Nkosi, Newzroom Afrika Co-founder and CEO

Thabile Ngwato, Newzroom Afrika Co-founder and CEO

Amid a once-in-a-lifetime global health and economic crisis unfolding with breath-taking speed, accurate, balanced and thoughtful news reporting and commentary is a vital service to the public to combat false, sensationalist or outright misleading information, which clouds citizens ability to make informed decisions.Newzroom Afrika made a commitment from the beginning to shun sensation in favour of accuracy, to rather be right, than first with the news and to give the human story pride of place in its reporting.This brand of fearlessly unbiased journalism has stood Newzroom Afrika in good stead during the coronavirus pandemic, as viewers rely on South Africas newest 24-hour television news channel to keep them up to date and equipped with credible information in a time of great anxiety.We couldnt be prouder of the way our news team has responded to Covid-19  the biggest story of our lifetimes  with courage, total commitment to their craft and unflinching professionalism, says co-founder and CEO Thokozani Nkosi.In one incredibly eventful news year, spanning everything from national elections to the coronavirus pandemic, Newzroom Afrika has cemented its place as the channel of choice for up-to-the minute, authoritative news coverage, delivered with passion by our journalists and respected team of anchors, says Nkosi.Co-founder and CEO Thabile Ngwato said the team would not be resting on their laurels.Our journey from new kid on the block a year ago to where we are now as a trusted and valued presence in the daily lives of our viewers has been earned through the relentless commitment of the entire team, says Ngwato.But we know this is a highly competitive space and we have to maintain our edge or be left behind. We will use the occasion of our one-year anniversary to review our progress and accelerate our strategy to keep growing, adds Ngwato.The one thing that will not change is our absolute commitment to the truth - we will always tackle the issues head-on, with people at the centre of everything we do. Our stories have the power to stir emotions and stimulate debate and we are very conscious of the great responsibility that comes with that, emphasises Ngwato.We have a duty, as our country grapples with the grave threat of Covid-19, to inform, but also to question and help to keep the spirit of our democracy alive during possibly its greatest test to date. We take that duty very seriously and we will honour it.Newzroom Afrika is a premier South African 24-hour television news channel broadcasting in Southern Africa, East and West Africa. Newzroom Afrika is live on DStv channel 405.Contact:Zamahlasela GabelaHOD: Marketing and communicationsNewzroom AfrikaTel: +27 10 448 4050
For these states, the record number of claims in recent weeks has not only presented a logistical challenge, but also demanded an abrupt change of approach: Systems built to root out fraud must now presume that millions have legitimately lost their jobs.

Related: The Labor Department reported today that 3.8 million new unemployment claims were filed last week, bringing the six-week total to more than 30 million. Here are the latest financial updates.

Another angle: U.S. gross domestic product, the broadest measure of goods and services output, fell at a 4.8 percent annual rate in the first quarter, the worst such drop since 2008. Economists expect the current quarter will bring a scale of contraction unseen since the Great Depression: 30 percent or more. (The bad news has not deterred the markets.)

Administration is said to seek link to Wuhan lab

Trump administration officials have pushed U.S. intelligence agencies to hunt for evidence to support an unsubstantiated theory that the coronavirus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, current and former American officials told The Times.

Republicans have sought to blame China for the pandemic. Scientists say the overwhelming probability is that the virus passed from animal to human in a nonlaboratory setting, as was the case with H.I.V., Ebola and SARS.

Response: Spokesmen for the White House and the National Security Council declined to comment. An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that the intelligence agencies had not agreed on an origin theory but were tracking down information.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who died on Thursday after a two-year battle with cancer, was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium in south Mumbai in the presence of close family. Rishi died at HN Reliance hospital in south Mumbai on Thursday at 8.45 am at the age of 67.

His body was brought to the crematorium in an ambulance at around 3.45 pm directly from the hospital amid tight police security due to the coronavirus lockdown. His daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni could not be there at the funeral as she is travelling from Delhi.

Also read: Rishi Kapoors daughter Riddhima to travel by road to Mumbai

Family members including wife Neetu Singh, son Ranbir, Rishis elder brother Randhir, Kareena Kapoor Khan, along with husband Saif Ali Khan and actor Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbirs girlfriend Alia Bhatt and Anil Ambani were among the few present at the funeral.

Abhishek Bachchan attended Rishi Kapoors funeral. (Varinder Chawla)

Keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown rules laid by the government, family members and friends present at the crematorium were seen wearing gloves and masks.

Rishi Kapoors funeral: Son Ranbir Kapoor attends. (Varinder Chawla)

The Delhi Police has granted permission to Riddhima Sahni, the actor's daughter, to travel to Mumbai for his last rites amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, a senior officer said. "Along with Riddhima, four other people -- Bharat Sahni, Samara Sahni, Akshay Sahni and Drigalakshmi Rai -- got permission to travel to Mumbai," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R P Meena said. Sahni lives in southeast Delhi.

Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Randhir Kapoor at Rishi Kapoors funeral.

Rishi Kapoor, a third generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, was taken to hospital by his family on Wednesday. His family said the actor remained "jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents".

Also read: Rishi Kapoors funeral, latest updates: Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan pay their last respects

"Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," the family said in a statement, adding the actor would like to be "remembered with a smile and not with tears".

Follow @htshowbiz for more
NEW YORK, April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pzena Investment Management, Inc. (NYSE: PZN) (the Company) today announced that it will hold its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) on May 19, 2020 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time in a virtual meeting format only. Stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting physically.



As described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting previously distributed, all holders of common stock as of March 23, 2020 (the Record Date) will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. To be admitted to the virtual Annual Meeting at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PZN2020, stockholders must enter the control number found on their proxy card or voting instruction form that they have previously received. Once admitted to the Annual Meeting, stockholders may submit questions or vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions that will be available on the meeting website.

It is important that stockholders read the proxy materials previously distributed and we encourage them to vote their common stock promptly in advance of the Annual Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials. The proxy card included with the proxy materials that have been previously distributed will not be updated to reflect the change in location. Stockholders may continue to use the proxy card to vote their common stock in connection with the Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting on May 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. is available at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PZN2020. The Proxy Statement and the Companys Form 10-K for the 2019 fiscal year are available at www.proxyvote.com. These materials are also available on the Companys Investor Relations website at investors.pzena.com under FILINGS & FINANCIALS.

About Pzena

Pzena Investment Management, LLC, the firms operating company, is a value-oriented investment management firm. Founded in 1995, Pzena Investment Management has built a diverse, global client base. More firm and stock information is posted at www.pzena.com.

A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/e9e20737-14a8-4faf-a1d9-7c9826f4845a
University News

University of New Haven President Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D., has been asked to be part of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Groups Education Committee that is being co-chaired by former Yale president Richard Levin.

President Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D.

Steven H. Kaplan, the president of the University of New Haven since 2004, has been named to the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group that is providing recommendations to Governor Ned Lamont. The only current university president named to the taskforce, Dr. Kaplan was appointed to the Education Committee that is being co-chaired by former Yale president Richard Levin.

I look forward to collaborating with Dr. Levin and all of the members of the Education Committee, said Dr. Kaplan. This is a critical time for our state, and I am proud to be able to provide my experience and to serve as a voice for the University of New Haven and all private colleges and universities in Connecticut as we continue to navigate this unprecedented situation and chart a path forward.

Members of the advisory group, along with Governor Lamonts Chief of Staff Paul Mounds Jr., will be meeting weekly with the leadership of the Connecticut General Assembly to provide advice and counsel.

Im as anxious to reopen our economy and get back to business as usual as everyone else, but if we dont do this in a thoughtful way, all of our efforts to mitigate the spread of this virus to date will have been worthless, Governor Lamont said in a release announcing the formation of the taskforce.

The actions weve taken so far in Connecticut, while painstaking, have been helping to slow down its spread, he continued. The steadily slowing rate of hospitalizations shows that what weve done so far is having an impact, but we are not out of the woods yet. This group of medical professionals, local business representatives, professionals who work with our at-risk communities, and education officials will provide Connecticut with a valuable resource in our efforts to get our state moving again, while doing so in the safest and most sensible way possible.

"This is a critical time for our state, and I am proud to be able to provide my experience and to serve as a voice for the University of New Haven and all private colleges and universities in Connecticut..." President Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D.

At the University of New Haven, President Kaplan has announced that he has created several working groups that are charged with examining what a late summer, in-person reopening would look like and planning for all eventualities related to the impact of COVID-19 for the fall semester.

As part of a continuing University-wide effort to deliver high quality, student-centered remote education, the University recently hired Cynthia Gallatin, a higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience who served as vice president and chief operating officer for online programs at Quinnipiac University. There, she launched QU Online, a division focused on providing instructional design, technical and administrative support, and admissions and marketing for all online programs.

Cindy is a visionary leader in building vibrant and engaging remote and online educational experiences, said Dr. Kaplan. She is collaborating with faculty to help ensure we are delivering a comprehensive virtual student experience that is worthy of the University of New Haven name.

Also joining Dr. Kaplan on the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Groups will be K. Oni Chukwu '94 MBA, '15 Hon., a member of the Universitys Board of Governors. He is chair of the Business Committee and a member of the Main Advisory Group. A technology pioneer, Chukwu serves as the executive chairman of Aventri, a cloud-based software company headquartered in Norwalk.

Help University of New Haven Students Charge Ahead

We've launched the Charge Ahead Student Support Fund in an effort to raise financial assistance for our students for such necessities as remote learning technology, food, housing, medical expenses, and other emergency needs. Please click here to make a contribution that will assist those in our University community who need our support.
The coronavirus facility at the Liacouras Center as it was being set up. Read more

Philadelphia will begin to wind down the operation of surge hospital space at Temple Universitys Liacouras Center, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said Wednesday, as the rate of new cases of the coronavirus in the city continued to slow.

Farley said admissions will likely stop by early next week, and patients already at the Liacouras Center will remain there until they are healthy enough to go home.

As of Wednesday there were five COVID-19 patients at the Liacouras Center, which was set up to hold at least 200 patients.

I dont believe weve ever had more than six patients there at a given time, Farley said.

The citys hospitals, however, remain busy; there were 1,012 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Philadelphia hospitals, and 1,858 hospitalized in the greater Philadelphia area.

"Those hospitals in the city are busy but clearly theyre able to handle the epidemic at this stage, Farley said.

Managing Director Brian Abernathy said the city will keep equipment at the center in case of a return surge of the virus, either as a second wave or just as circumstances change.

Abernathy said medical workers stationed there, including military personnel, may be redeployed to help at local hospitals.

 READ MORE: Inside the hospital that's ground zero for Philly's coronavirus response

Mayor Jim Kenney said he was still happy the city used the Liacouras Center to prepare for a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Better to build it and they dont come than to not build it at all, he said. The number of COVID-19 deaths reported per day in Philadelphia is starting to decline, Farley said, as he reported 25 deaths connected to the coronavirus. The citys total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic is now 541.

That is certainly very good news if that does continue to decline, Farley said.

 READ MORE: How the Liacouras Center was transformed into an overflow hospital site

The city also reported 358 new cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, which Farley said shows that the number of cases in the city are continuing to slowly drop.

The decline is unfortunately very slow, he said.
We cant stream it. We are technologically in the Stone Age, he said, adding he has been in email communication with the countys other judges and he hasnt heard anything about live-streaming from their courtrooms. I think here in Porter County, were just going to wait it out and start (proceedings) up the first moment its safe."
C oronavirus lockdown measures could remain in place "for a very period of time", Downing Street has suggested.

It comes as Boris Johnson chaired his first Cabinet meeting since he was admitted to hospital with Covid-19, just over three weeks ago.

The Government was set to discuss its lockdown exit strategy as it faces ongoing pressure to release its plans while social distancing measures cripple the economy.

After the meeting, the Prime Ministers official spokesman was asked about reports that the lockdown may be extended until June.

He said that the UK will have to take measures "for a long period of time", telling reporters: I think we will have to wait for the review to take place and I dont think it is wise for me to pre-empt that.

What youve obviously heard from Chris Whitty is that this is a disease that is going to be around for a significant amount of time  hes said we have to be realistic. Were going to have to do a lot of things for a long period of time.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

The spokesman added: Lets not pre-empt the review but, as the PM himself has said, the worst thing we could do is relax the social distancing measures too soon and throw away all of the progress which has been made thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of the British public.

The comments came after the PM chaired the daily coronavirus morning meeting, followed by meetings of his political Cabinet and full Cabinet.

Boris Johnson has chaired his first Cabinet meeting (file photo) / AFP via Getty Images

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance updated the Cabinet on the response to coronavirus so far, the PM's spokesman said.

Secretaries of State then updated colleagues on the work their departments are doing.

Coronavirus lockdown could last for "a very long time" / REUTERS

Downing Street also insisted the Government is working hard to hit its target of 100,000 coronavirus tests day by the end of Thursday.

The PMs spokesman said that as of April 28, testing capacity had been increased to 77,365 and told a Westminster briefing: The target is for 100,000 tests today and the Health Secretary and all of his team are working hard to hit it.

He added: You can chart the progress that weve made towards hitting that target and that we are working hard today to ensure that people who need tests get them.

Earlier on Thursday, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland acknowledged the 100,000 target may not be met.
Record number of abortion pill reversal calls to pro-life ministry amid COVID-19 crisis

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A record number of calls have been received by the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, which helps women seeking to reverse the effects of the abortion pill.

We are now seeing over 80% of our callers start the reversal process," Andrea Trudden, communications director for Heartbeat International, told Live Action. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network is run by Heartbeat International, a pro-life ministry aimed at providing alternatives to abortion to help moms keep their babies.

We understand this is a stressful time for many, and some women are starting chemical abortion because that is the only option they can see, she said, noting that many of the calls come from from the abortion facility parking lot or from the car on the drive home because the regret is immediate.

In the month of March, 105 mothers started the process of halting their chemically-induced at-home abortions after they called the APRN hotline.

A chemical abortion occurs where a woman ingests mifepristone  which is also known as RU-486  to block the progesterone hormone, causing the unborn child to die due to lack of oxygen and nutrients. When progesterone is withdrawn, the uterus lining, the source of nourishment for the baby, breaks down. The mom takes another pill 24 to 48 hours later to induce contractions and expel the body of the baby.

"If a mother who changes her mind after beginning a chemical abortion receives supplemental progesterone before taking the second pill, there is a chance to save the babys life and continue with a normal pregnancy. The abortion industry has attempted to discredit the abortion pill reversal process and is using the pandemic to push for expanding dangerous telemedicine abortions," Live Action noted.

The 2019 motion picture "Unplanned"  which dramatically recounts the story of former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate Abby Johnson as told in her 2014 memoir of the same name  powerfully depicts this kind of chemical abortion. In the film, a distressed Johnson self-administers the drugs, which she obtained at the same Planned Parenthood clinic where she would later work to end her second pregnancy.

Johnson is portrayed by actress Ashley Bratcher, who has since gone on to partner with Heartbeat International to provide scholarships in the name of the movie for mothers who find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy but want to keep their babies and continue their education in pursuit of career goals.

The uptick in abortion pill reversal calls to the Abortion Pill Rescue Network comes amid a worldwide pandemic and a shutdown of U.S. businesses and services deemed "non-essential," though the criteria for that designation has varied state by state. In some states, like Texas and Ohio and Alabama, abortion clinics have been ordered to close, arguing that abortions are not medically necessary procedures though those bans have been contested in the courts.
There are few things that matter more to the insurance business than predicting and managing risk, but that is no easy task given the scale of the coronavirus pandemic and the prospect of a sharp economic decline.

Tens of thousands of people have been hospitalized and thousands more have died. Small businesses are struggling. Driving has been greatly reduced. For companies that provide health, business and auto insurance, there are potentially a host of outstanding problems.

State lawmakers are preparing for virtual hearings tentatively scheduled for May that would consider many of these issues, with in-person hearings possible over the summer, similar to what the state Legislature did after Superstorm Sandy. The state Department of Financial Services meanwhile is continuing to flex its power over an industry that is a key pillar of the health care system and other parts of the economy. Superintendent Linda Lacewell said it is time for the insurance industry to step up as the state begins to reopen.

There are opportunities to improve the industry, according to Assembly Insurance Committee Chairman Kevin Cahill. But if the state is not careful, important principles could be sacrificed, state Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Neil Breslin said.

City & State recently spoke with all three key insurance leaders to hear where things stand with the industry and what could happen in the upcoming months. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Linda Lacewell

Superintendent, state Department of Financial Services

Where do things stand with the insurance industry during this turbulent time?

Now is the time for government to step up. We have to be not reactive but proactive. We have to act quickly and with agility to adjust to this new world that were in, particularly with a public health emergency. And insurers are a big part of that. Thats why early on we said that mortgage servicers needed to suspend payments for a period of time until people get back on their feet. We followed that with suspending a whole range of insurance premiums: life insurance, auto insurance, property insurance and health insurance, which we did together with Connecticut.

What has that meant for health insurers?

We need every health care worker in a hospital working on the clinical needs of patients. They cannot be spending time on paperwork for insurers. Theres no reason that you need preapproval for emergency services. We need the hospitals on the front lines to be strong and have all the energy and resources at their disposal to deal with this life-and-death situation. So we talked to them before we acted. We tried to forge agreement and do it in partnership. And many of them have really stepped up and wanted to do exactly that.

But some companies in the industry say that they have to dip into their reserves, which means premiums could go up.

The regulator with respect to approving premium increases for commercial health insurance for consumers is DFS  and the superintendent of DFS. So of course, as we go along the way, and we take whatever action or forge whatever agreement that we forge, we always have in mind, essentially, the consumer and what the impact is going to be for the consumer.

A lot of the things that we asked the health insurers to do was not handing over money. Its paying whats due. You got a bunch of bills. You know that theyre right. Dont hold on to them for 30 days so you can get the interest. Pay the hospitals so the health care heroes can operate for the benefit of all of us.

So what comes next?

The point of insurance is to protect people. So many people are affected in one way or the other, whether its on the health side or the business side. We need to look now at how are people protected and how were they not protected? How do we learn the lessons for that to move forward in a responsible way for industry, for consumers and for the industries that we regulate? Many on the industry side are ready to have that conversation.

Kevin Cahill

Chairman, Assembly Insurance Committee

How is the state Legislature going to approach insurance in the upcoming weeks?

We are in discussions with our colleagues to conduct joint hearings and roundtables on a variety of issues that have surfaced because of the COVID crisis. We may be doing them with other committees, but we are certainly going to follow up in this instance as we did after Hurricane Sandy and as was done after the 9/11 attacks. Were in discussions with leadership right now about how they want to roll out the hearings in a world where we will probably have to do it virtually, and how we do that by making sure we comply with Open Meetings Laws.

What is one topic of discussion that could have a big impact on New Yorkers?

We have some of the highest automobile insurance rates in the country, but unlike other states, companies cannot voluntarily reduce premiums because of antiquated anti-rebating laws. If youre not using your car, you are not imposing any liability that needs to be insured. The risk has gone down and the very ideas upon which you paid for an annual insurance policy for your car have changed. We did hear back from the (state Department of Financial Services), but this is new territory for the superintendent.

How might people change their approach to life insurance?

As a result of COVID, we will see a spate of early retirements. Those early retirements may in fact mean that people will be tapping into their annuities sooner rather than later. And we want to know whether that changes the economics of it.

Besides health, property and life insurance, what else has to be done?

We have to arrive at a permanent fix for medical malpractice and its unaffordability. We want to resolve the limousine safety issue. We want to rationalize the payment system for outpatient substance abuse treatments. We want to bring ambulances and other medical transportation services into the area of independent dispute resolution  and take the consumer out of that. We have title insurance issues that are lingering from last year.

Is there any hope to get back to regular legislative work in the upcoming months?

Any individual member who sponsors the bill can insist on committee consideration and we are required to consider it. That invariably means that the bill gets held in committee, but it has to be brought up for a vote. I believe there are about 20 (bills) in the Insurance Committee and probably a similar number in other committees. We have to find out how we deal with them if we are not meeting in regular session or a regular committee session.

Neil Breslin

Chairman, state Senate Insurance Committee

How has the pandemic affected small businesses?

A lot of businesses have fire insurance, flood insurance, and if those things happen then it interrupts their business (and) theres an insurance policy. Theres been over the last number of years discussions about pandemic insurance, but that really hasnt had any traction. Most insurance policies would specifically say viruses are excluded in contracts because most insurance companies were unable to really measure that risk. When they did, it was so expensive it would preclude anybody from carrying it.

Some of your colleagues are proposing that pandemic coverage apply retroactively to small businesses, what do you think?

If this were ever allowed to happen, and it passed the muster challenge in court, it could cost upwards of $25 billion to $30 billion. I feel very sad for small businesses who obviously didnt expect this to happen. We have to make sure that theres state, local and federal intervention to make sure they can bridge the gap. But I dont think you can do it by attacking insurance contracts to change it retroactively.

What lessons do past disasters have for making pandemic coverage affordable moving forward?

After the World Trade Center, construction just stopped in New York City because insurance companies were reluctant to insure the construction of the new high-rise buildings. Thats when the federal government stepped in and said: OK, lets work out an arrangement where youll cover the first $1 million and we will cover you for the remainder. We will be the backstop. It worked out well. If you say that were limited to the first $1 million, then you can figure out whats the profit margin, whats acceptable with other financial services, and come up with a number. I dont think that businesses want to continue unless they have some coverage in that area. And I think the government is going to have to come in with a backstop.

Any chance single-payer health care would move forward if lawmakers meet remotely?

Maybe its just my familiarity with it during budget season, but I find Zoom exceedingly difficult. I like to have open discussions in a room with me (and) fellow Democratic members and then discussions on the floor. Negotiating by way of Zoom is very limiting so I expect that a lot of the big-ticket items will not be taken up during the session when we wont be meeting in the Capitol.

How are life and auto insurance companies doing?

In my discussions with life insurance companies, they feel as though they can handle any of the results of the pandemic. Obviously, automobile insurance (companies) are having a windfall. Theyre able to provide significant reductions in premiums to people who dont drive their cars now.
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Grieving relatives arrived at a Brooklyn funeral home looking for answers Thursday, a day after police discovered up to 100 decomposing bodies stacked in unrefrigerated trucks outside.

Tamisha Covington said she was charged $15,000 for her mother's body to be kept 'in a U-Haul truck for however long' following her death from a heart attack related to COVID 19, aged 60, on April 9.

Breaking down in tears she said she got 'no responses, no answers' from Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in Flatlands following the grim discovery by officers on Wednesday. She told The New York Post: 'This is too much on humanity. Im really hurt. I dont even know what Im looking for other than the fact that I expect to lay my mother down properly with respect and at a reasonable time.'

Authorities found two unrefrigerated U-Haul box trucks being used to store the bodies after police responded to 911 complaints from neighbors who had filmed body bags being dragged into the trucks.

Police found the bodies in various stages of decomposition; locals said 'you could smell the death'.

Bosses at U-Haul on Thursday slammed the use of their trucks as 'wrongful, egregious and inhumane'. They told TMZ: 'Our trucks are designed for household moves. Properly caring for the remains of peoples loved ones requires vehicles suited specifically for that purpose. Our trucks absolutely cannot be rented for this reason.'

Scroll down for video

Tamisha Covington, pictured, said she was charged $15,000 for her mother's body to be kept 'in a U-Haul truck for however long' following her death from a heart attack related to COVID 19, aged 60, on April 9

A casket is taken to a hearse from the Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home on Thursday in Brooklyn, New York City

People in Hazmat suits transport a deceased body on a stretcher outside the funeral home in Brooklyn following the outrage over the use of the U-Haul trucks

Police found the bodies in the trucks in various stages of decomposition; locals said 'you could smell the death'. Now they are being loaded into refrigerated trucks

There were as many as 50 corpses being stored in each truck, according to ABC News , as the facility struggled to keep up with the overwhelming surge of bodies due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The owner told city officials that its freezer had stopped working and they were forced to use the trucks as storage while bodies awaited burial or cremation.

One grieving relative said he was told 'the refrigerators were filled and they were going to embalm' his late ex wife.

The man, known only as Paul, said his deceased relative came to the funeral parlor on Friday. He added: 'And now they are saying she was in the refrigerator as soon as they brought her here on Friday, so I dont know.

'Im frustrated. This is ridiculous.'

A casket covered in a sheet is transported by men wearing hazmat suits outside the funeral home

New York's Department of Environmental Protection issued the home with two summonses after residents reported the morbid storage of the bodies that U-Haul has described as 'inhumane'

The funeral industry in New York has been overwhelmed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Another body is seen on the street at Andrew Cleckley's Funeral Home in Brooklyn

'For weeks already, there have been trucks constantly outside unloading bodies. You could smell the death,' Jay Fredo told New York Daily News. 'Some of them have been dropped. I know it's a pandemic, but this is crazy. It's sick.'

No criminal charges were brought but the home was cited for failing to control the odors.

The facility was able to obtain a larger, refrigerated truck later in the day, the official said, and workers suited up in protective gear could be seen in the afternoon transferring bodies.

'I saw 15 bodies in the U-Haul box truck stacked up on one another, and more in the other,' one officer told the New York Daily News. 'They stored them right out on the street.'

Authorities found two unrefrigerated U-Haul box trucks being used to store the bodies after police responded to 911 complaints from neighbors who had filmed body bags being dragged into the trucks

A man sticks his head out from a truck holding dozens of bodies outside the Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home

One grieving relative said he was told 'the refrigerators were filled and they were going to embalm' his late ex wife

Cops in masks were seen maintaining a cordon around the funeral home on Thursday as their investigation continued

A member of staff told ABC that there were a further 30 to 40 bodies inside and some were being kept on the floor.

'This funeral home is over-capacitated with human remains and that is true,' said Dr. David Penepent, a funeral director who teaches at SUNY Canton and was brought in by the state to help.

'He got overwhelmed with the number of remains that he had and he didn't know what to do and I'm here to assist him in this operation.'

John DiPietro, who owns the neighboring property, told the New York Post that cadavers had been mounting up at the funeral home for weeks.

'You don't respect the dead that way. That could have been my father, my brother,' said DiPietro.

According to the Post, the funeral home told police officers that the bodies were due to go to the crematorium, but nobody had come to collect them.

In contrast, ABC News reports that the funeral homeowner told city officials that their freezer was broken.

Funeral homes across New York City have been overwhelmed in recent weeks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn Wednesday after authorities found that the facility was storing up to 100 bodies in two unrefrigerated U-Haul storage vans

Pictured here, workers secure a van full of bodies of deceased people during the outbreak of coronavirus disease at the Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn om Wednesday. The owner of the home said that its freezer broke and overwhelmed with the surge of bodies caused by the coronavirus outbreak, they used these vans as storage for weeks

After neighbors complained for weeks about the smell coming from U-Haul vans being used to store bodies at the funeral home, the NYPD investigated Wednesday and discovered 100 bodies in various stages of decomposition

Police responded to a report of human bodies in vehicles in Brooklyn on Wednesday which they determined were connected to the nearby funeral home. They discovered 100 decomposing bodies in two U-Haul truck. A freezer truck was brought in by officials who helped workers transfer the corpses which had been wrapped in body bags

The homes are required to store bodies awaiting burial or cremation in appropriate conditions that prevent infection.

The city was forced to obtain freezer trucks this month to temporarily hold bodies as funeral homes reached capacity and no space remained to store bodies properly.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said Wednesday night that he was going to Flatlands to investigate the complaint as he called for an urgent reform of the city's burial process.

'This is exactly what I spoke about over the weekend regarding the urgent need for reform in the handling of bodies and burial processes,' Adams tweeted.

'We demand decent treatment of our deceased.

'While this situation is under investigation, we should not have what we have right now, with trucks lining the streets filled with bodies.

'It was people who walked by who saw some leakage and detected an odor coming from a truck.'

Neighbors took these videos of the bodies being unceremoniously stacked into the back of the trucks in recent days. They had complained for weeks about the smell coming from the trucks

The bodies were packed in body bags inside the U-Haul trucks for weeks as they awaited cremation or burial. Neighbors had made complaints to the authorities after they filmed the decomposing corpses being stacked into the trucks

NYPD officers secure trucks full of bodies in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Officers made the gruesome discovery of as many as 100 bodies stored in two U-Haul vans outside of the Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home

It is reported that as many as 100 bodies were being kept in unrefrigerated storage trucks outside the funeral home

Aerial footage showed the bodies being taken from the U-Haul vehicles and transferred to a refrigerated truck

Police cordoned off the area around the funeral home and the trucks on Wednesday night as the complaints about piles of bodies was investigated

The funeral home workers were pictured coming in and out of the building wearing protective gear on Wednesday

The smell from the bodies being stored in the trucks was reaching the surrounding buildings pictured here. The owner told officials that the freezer in the home broke. The city brought in a freezer truck Wednesday to store the bodies

Local residents told New York Daily News of the increasingly foul smell coming from the funeral home and that trucks were seen for weeks constantly unloading bodies.

'I've seen bodies stacked up on top of one another inside the trucks with both doors open,' said Abdul Kamara, 40.

'They've been storing bodies in the trucks. It's been going on since the beginning of COVID. These people have passed. This is not the way they should be treated on the way out.'

The Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home on Utica Ave. and Ave. M in the Flatlands has been cited for not controlling the smell of dead bodies after they used unrefrigerated rental U-Haul trucks as storage for weeks after their freezer broke

The New York Times reports that the state Department of Health, which regulates funeral homes, was called to the scene to determine whether the home was handling human remains appropriately.

Cleckley is not a member of the New York Funeral Directors Association, the organization said.

Wednesday's terrible discovery came after city officials declared last week that they would freeze bodies temporarily rather than burying them on Hart Island.

The city says that freezer trucks will be used that can keep human remains frozen for up to a year.

Adams has said that he wishes to form a bereavement committee from next Monday to help the city deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the large number of deaths it has experienced in the past few weeks.

'This community is going to be traumatized by this long after COVID-19,' the borough president said.

'It's gonna take coordination between funeral directors, cemeteries and the city to address this situation.'

Nearly half of all New York City residents say they know somebody who has died of coronavirus, a new poll finds, shedding a stunning light on just how deeply the pandemic has hit the Big Apple.

The state-wide survey, carried out by Siena College and released this week, discovered that 46 percent of New York City residents personally knew someone killed by COVID-19, as do 36 percent of respondents living in the suburbs, and 13 percent of those living upstate.

The deadly virus has had a particularly large impact on New York's minority communities, with 52 percent of Latino voters and 48 percent of black voters confirming they know someone who has died, compared to just 25 percent of white respondents.

In total, around one in three people across New York State know a fatality of the outbreak.
Irrfan Khan passed away due to colon infection on April 29 in Mumbai. The sudden demise of the 53-year-old actor, who had been suffering from neuroendocrine tumour, shocked everyone. Many celebs are mourning his death, but filmmaker and cinematographer Anil Mehta revealed something about Irrfan's cancer treatment, recently.

Anil Mehta worked with Irrfan on his last film, Angrezi Medium, which released last month. Anil revealed that Irrfan Khan was unwell during the filming of Angrezi Medium. In an interview with SpotboyE, Anil said, "He used to go to the hospital and we used to hear all that. However, I never personally spoke to him about it. But yes, I did speak to his wife Sutapa and she explained to me about his struggle."

"She told me about his chemotherapy and how because of the infection which he had developed, he had been put on antibiotics and consequently, they were unable to do some chemo sessions. So sad," Anil Mehta added.

Anil Mehta also revealed that after shooting for Homi Adajania's Angrezi Medium, Irrfan stayed in London for further treatment. He said, "We finished shooting for the film in London and he stayed back for a while to get more treatment. He returned to India only after that treatment was over."

Irrfan Khan is survived by his wife Sutapa and two sons - Babil and Ayan. The actor was buried at the Versova graveyard around 3 pm. Many celebrities couldn't attend his funeral due to the lockdown.

Also Read : Rishi Kapoor & Irrfan Khan Have THIS Unfortunate Thing In Common, Which Will Shock You

Irrfan had lost his mother, 95-year-old Saeeda Begum, in Jaipur just four days ago and sadly, he couldn't attend the funeral due to the lockdown.

On a related note, Angrezi Medium also stars Radhika Madan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Deepak Dobriyal in key roles. It was released on March 13, 2020.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.N. humanitarian chief said Wednesday that more than 40 cases of COVID-19 and at least three deaths have been reported in Syria, signaling that tragedy beckons after nine years of war that has left the countrys health care system decimated.

Mark Lowcock told the U.N. Security Council that while the number may sound low compared to other countries, testing in Syria is very limited. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, meanwhile, called for a lasting cease-fire to fighting in the country.

With millions of people displaced in crowded conditions and without adequate sanitation, he said Syria cant be expected to cope with a crisis that is challenging even the wealthiest nations.

Efforts are being made to set up isolation areas in displacement camps and health facilities in Syria, but measures aimed at containing the virus are already having side effects such as skyrocketing food prices in some areas, he said.

Lowcock said essential medical supplies and equipment must be allowed into the country, and that the Al Yarubiyah border crossing from Iraq to Syrias northeast must be reopened.

The border crossing was closed in January at Russias insistence, and Lowcock said deliveries of medical supplies to the northeast from Damascus have not filled the gap.

Syrian Kurds established an autonomous zone in the northeast in 2012 and were U.S. partners on the ground in fighting the Islamic State extremist group. A Turkish offensive in October against Syrian Kurdish militants led the U.S. to abandon its Kurdish allies, leading to strong criticism of both Washington and Ankara.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a cease-fire to all conflicts around the world on March 23 to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, and at separate Security Council meetings Wednesday on Syrias political and humanitarian situation there was widespread support for his appeal.

Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, welcomed the fact that there has been significant calm in many areas of Syria, with no all-out offensives since early March.

Story continues

He said Russian-Turkish arrangements have taken hold in the northwest, the last opposition stronghold, and cease-fire arrangements between Russia, Turkey and the United States in the northeast also continue to broadly hold."

He said the calm was uneasy and fragile and there is a constant risk of things escalating.

He appealed for a cease-fire that results in sustained calm and is nationwide in scope  one that does not see new assaults across lines of contact, and enables Syrians to access equipment and resources necessary to combat COVID-19.

But Russia and the U.S. disagreed about who should be in the lead in pursuing a cease-fire and an end to the Syrian conflict.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council that the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey  the guarantor states in the so-called Astana process aimed at ending the Syria conflict  held a video conference on April 22 and underscored the leading role of Astana in promoting a Syrian settlement.

He said this includes stabilizing the situation in the country, dealing with refugees, resolving humanitarian problems and promoting a dialogue among Syrians in the committee that is to draft a new constitution.

Nebenzia said the ministers of Russia and Iran, who support Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, would prepare for the next Astana summit.

The acting U.S. deputy ambassador, Cherith Norman Chalet, said the U.N. "must be at the center of any effort to establish a comprehensive, enduring, and verifiable nationwide cease-fire.

Frances U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere also stressed that the U.N. must be at the forefront of cease-fire efforts.

He called for a broader political process than just the constitutional committee and told the council that France is deeply concerned about the growing instability everywhere in Syria.

Russias Nebenzia ticked off terrorist groups operating in Syrias northwest and stressed that the pandemic cannot be used as a pretext to whitewash terrorists.

Appeals to Damascus to step up its efforts to fight the pandemic are irrelevant as to 30% of territories which are under effective control either of foreign troops or of opposition or of terrorists, Nebenzia said. Those controlling these territories should be responsible for it.
Laura Migls career path took a slight detour when she became a nurse, but it turns out that vocation puts her right where she always wanted to be.

Migl was on her way to earning a degree in public health studies at Texas A&M University when tragedy struck her family.

My dad (the late Larry Lewellen) was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer when I was in college, she said. His nurse went so far above and beyond for him and our family, and I wanted to be able to do that for somebody else.

A profound effect

She had a profound effect on my family as we were going through a very difficult period. Ill never forget how she made us feel.

So, after graduation, Migl moved on to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to study nursing. A 10-year stint at Houston Methodist Hospital followed, and for the last five years she has served as the school nurse at Friendswoods Westwood Elementary School.

Right now, she is wrapping up the school year at Westwood, but come fall she will be at Friendswood High School.

We are in the middle of a virtual kindergarten registration, she said. I have 40 shot records in my inbox right now that I have to get into our system and making sure everybody is up to date. Then if we find out about any health concerns with the new kindergarteners, I will be making plans for them that I can pass on to the new nurse.

Public health roots

Moving to the high school will give Migl the opportunity to get back to her public health roots.

Part of the job that I really like is health education; so Im looking forward to working with the high school students so that they can make healthy decisions, she said. We can talk about things like, if they are having headaches, Are you drinking enough water? Are you getting enough rest at night? Are you eating healthy foods?

These things are important. Their decisions now can affect the rest their lives and if you can get them into healthy habits, its easier to follow them as they get older.

Her time at Houston Methodist gave her some first-hand experience on that front.

I sat with patients in the hospital with all types of health issues and perhaps, if they had done things differently starting in high school, things might have been different for them, she said.

Daughters are students in her new school

The move to the high school will also give Migl the opportunity to interact more with her daughters. Mallory is a freshman, while sixth-grade Lilly will be on the campus in a few years.

(Mallory) said I dont have to talk to her in the hallways, but I can DoorDash lunch for her any time I want, Migl laughed.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp

@gmail.com.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has cancelled the licenses granted to two importers who supplied COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits made by Guangzhou Wandfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics in China.

The central drug regulator has issued show cause notices to these two importers and asked to stop the import of rapid test kits based on the observation by the apex health research body ICMR.

"The CDSCO has cancelled the licenses of two importers who imported COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits made by Guangzhou Wandfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics in China," a senior government official said.

In a letter to drug controllers in all states and Union territories, the central drug regulator on April28 had said that the license holders of COVID-rapid diagnostic kits from two sites in China have been asked to stop import of the said equipment in public interest.

"It is to communicate for your information and necessary that the import license holders of COVID-rapid diagnostic kits from the sites (Guangzhou Wandfo Biotech, China and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics, China) have been asked to stop import of the said kits in public interest and issued show cause notices in light of information of ICMR that these kits have shown wide-variation in their sensitivity in the field," the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) said in the letter.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday asked states to stop using the COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits procured from the two Chinese companies and return them to be sent back to the suppliers.

In an advisory sent to chief secretaries of all states and UTs recently, the ICMR said it "evaluated the kits of Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livson Diagnostics in field conditions. The results have shown wide variation in their sensitivity, despite early promise of good performance for surveillance purpose".

The Union Health Ministry also issued a statement saying it has "not lost a single rupee" with respect to the supplies of the COVID-19rapidantibody test kits.

"It needs to be stressed that the ICMR has not made any payment whatsoever in respect of these supplies. Because of the due process followed (not going for procurement with 100 per cent advance amount), the Government of India does not stand to lose a single rupee," the health ministry said while issuing a fact sheet to clear controversies surrounding prices of rapid antibody test kits.

India recently had procured five lakh rapid antibody test kits from the two Chinese firms and they were distributed to states for districts with high burden of COVID-19 infection.

Some states, including Rajasthan, had complained that the rapid testing kits for coronavirus were giving out inaccurate results.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This time, it was a fairly routine question that Chanel Rion, a correspondent for One America News Network, posed to President Donald Trump during Tuesday's White House news briefing: How many clinical trials would it take before a potential coronavirus drug he has touted could be approved? Trump wasn't sure and turned the question over to Anthony S. Fauci, his infectious-diseases expert.

But the brief Q&A raised its own question: What was Rion doing there in the first place?

Under strict new guidelines jointly imposed last month by White House officials and the White House Correspondents' Association, which represents journalists, access to the cramped briefing room is now restricted to about 15 reporters each day, to enforce social-distancing measures amid the coronavirus crisis, and several smaller news organizations can rotate in only once every several days.

And it wasn't OANN's turn on Tuesday. Nor on Wednesday, when Rion showed up in the room again - prompting the correspondents' association to vote to remove OANN from the rotation.

"We did this because a reporter for this outlet twice attended press briefings in contravention of this policy," the board of the WHCA said in a statement late Wednesday. "We do not take this action lightly. This is a matter of public safety."

Rion and her employer, a tiny conservative cable outlet known as OANN, appear to have gotten special permission from the White House, in violation of the guidelines. The reasons, and the source of the approval, are unclear, but OANN and Rion have a history of reporting favorably about Trump. Rion herself has pushed conspiracy theories that advance his political interests, such as the unfounded allegation that officials in Ukraine secretly manipulated the 2016 election to help Hillary Clinton. Trump, in turn, has tweeted praise of OANN's reporting dozens of times.

The White House, in effect, on Tuesday bent the rules - which were designed to ensure the health of journalists, the president and the nation's top public-health officials - in granting access and a national spotlight to a correspondent from an obscure but Trump-friendly news outlet.

OANN was founded 2013 by Robert Herring Sr., a millionaire Republican donor from San Diego who made his fortune in the circuit-board business before starting over in media. His son, Charles Herring, president of One America's parent company Herring Broadcasting, told The Post last week that the channel "is designed to report just the news" and that "we would not describe our news reporting as right-leaning."

But for a 2017 story, more than a dozen former and current employees described Robert Herring to The Post as a heavy-handed unofficial news director who frequently ordered coverage favorable to Trump. It was the first channel to carry Trump's 2016 campaign speeches live, and internal emails showed Herring directing that other candidates' rallies not get the same treatment.

Rion, who did not respond to repeated requests for comment, has socialized with the Trumps at Mar-a-Lago, according to photos she has posted on Facebook, and brags on her personal website about having "been aboard the Trump Train from its first week" at the start of the 2016 campaign

At both Tuesday and Wednesday's briefings, she stood at the back of the press room - and this, too, was a violation of the guidelines: Reporters are required to occupy a seat, with no standing in the aisles or behind the seating area.

WHCA President Jonathan Karl said he alerted White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham and the White House press office on Tuesday that Rion's presence was "a clear violation" of precautions that have been strictly followed at the White House for weeks.

"The rules are clear," said Karl, ABC News's White House reporter. "If you don't have a seat in the briefing room on your given day, you cannot be there. The rules are established to protect the health of the White House press corps. We're abiding by the [Centers for Disease Control's] guidelines."

Grisham declined to comment on Wednesday.

In an email, OANN founder and chief executive Charles Herring said Rion's presence "was appropriate" and that she was invited to attend the briefing. He declined to say who invited her or why.

Trump clearly has been delighted by OANN's participation, calling on Rion and a colleague, Jenn Pellegrino, who handles weekend shifts at the White House, several times over the past two weeks. "OAN. Very good," he said after calling on Rion in one briefing. "They treat me very nicely."

Rion has attracted attention at the briefings with bizarre or heavily loaded questions. At Monday's session, she compared the number of coronavirus deaths to the number of "children killed by their mothers through elective abortions every day" and then asked the president: "Do you agree with states who place coronavirus victims above elective abortions?"

In a previous briefing, Rion brought up Trump's controversial use of the term "Chinese virus" by rhetorically asking whether he considered the term "Chinese food" to be racist because "it is food that originated from China?" After Trump amiably replied that he didn't think it was "racist at all," she went on to argue that "major left-wing media . . . have teamed up with Chinese Communist Party narratives" to push criticism of the president for using the term.

Rion, who joined OANN last May, has pushed some odd conspiracies. In October, she claimed that former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had had an affair - a story later retracted by OANN. She later traveled to Ukraine with Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer, to produce a documentary series for OANN about Giuliani's claims in support of Trump's actions in withholding military aid to the country.

During a special report that aired on the network in mid-March, Rion suggested that the coronavirus came from "a biosafety level-three lab in North Carolina" and that it was then smuggled into China by lab workers and released. She cited as her source a "citizen investigator." None of the claims have been confirmed.

In her previous pastime as a political cartoonist, she produced illustrations suggesting that Hillary Clinton was behind the unsolved 2016 murder of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich - an evidence-free conspiracy popular in right-wing circles.

On her website, she calls herself "a fierce foe of anything Clinton, of everything Obama, and as a total and unrelenting enemy of academic left-liberalism and political correctness anywhere." She is engaged to be married soon to Courtland Sykes, an also-ran in the GOP primary for the 2018 U.S. Senate race in Missouri, who briefly went viral that year with a social media rant blasting feminists as "she devils" with "snake-filled heads" and explaining how he expects Rion to prepare for him "a home cooked dinner at six every night."

This, of course, was before Rion took a job that lately has kept her at the White House past 6 p.m. Neither she nor Pellegrino appear to have had much journalism experience before covering the White House for OANN, a network that typically attracts a fraction of the audience watching Fox News, MSNBC and CNN.

Before joining OANN two months ago, Pellegrino was an intern for Bill O'Reilly, a booker for the home-shopping network QVC, and a production assistant at Fox News, interspersed with sales and business development jobs, according to her LinkedIn profile.

On Sunday, Trump called on Pellegrino twice to ask a question - one of which seemed to please him immensely.

"Mr. President, your approval ratings have been the highest they've ever been, as well as the ratings on your handling of the virus," she asked. "Yet there are some networks that are saying they're debating whether to carry these briefings live. Do you think there's a link between the two?"

"Well, I don't know," Trump replied. "I know that - boy, that's a nice question. Thank you very much."
Boris Johnson tonight revealed his happiness at being present for the birth of his son.

The Prime Minister, 55, spoke during his first public appearance since fiancee Carrie Symonds, 32, had a baby boy at a London NHS hospital yesterday morning.

Downing Street has so far been extremely tight-lipped about the birth, refusing to divulge any details apart from the child's gender, that mother andson are doing well, and the fact that the Prime Minister was present when he was born.

Leading his first Downing Street press briefing since recovering from coronavirus, Mr Johnson paid tribute to the NHS.

'I want to thank everybody who has been doing such a good job in my absence, and I want to thank the NHS for so much - including getting me back here and, I might add, a very much happier hospital visit yesterday,' he said tonight.

The baby's this big? Boris Johnson addressing the nation during tonight's Downing Street press conference

Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured arriving back at 10 Downing Street yesterday from hospital after the birth of his baby son

The PM's father, Stanley Johnson, said he was 'absolutely delighted' and 'thrilled' by the birth of his grandson.

The Queen has sent a private message of good wishes to congratulate the couple on the birth of their son, Buckingham Palace said.

The baby is Ms Symonds' first child, while Mr Johnson is known to have fathered five others.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds, pictured together on March 9, before the UK went into lockdown

Mr Johnson, who missed PMQs yesterday afternoon after visiting his wife-to-be in hospital, is said to have been by his 32-year-old fiancee's side throughout the labour in the early hours.

But as he scrambles to get a grip on the coronavirus crisis, the PM left Carrie in a London hospital and returned to Downing Street amid concerns that key decisions over the lockdown and how to ease Britain out of it could slip because of the new baby.

Mr Johnson also said in early March that he would probably take his two-week paternity leave when their child was born - but No 10 confirmed this afternoon he will delay his fortnight off until 'later in the year'.
These are strange times that we are all going through and the lockdown seems to be driving people to do even crazier things. For some, its out of boredom for others its pure desperation. Sample this, a mother in Ghaziabad asked her son to run some quick errands. He ended up coming home with a bride! No, kidding!



ANI

According to an ANI report, shocked and perturbed by her son's sudden and secret wedding, the mother denied him entry into the house when he brought his newly-wed bride home.

The mother then went to the police complaining about her son. The amusing incident happened in Sahibabad area of the city, news agency ANI reported.

"I had sent my son to do the grocery shopping today, but when he returned, he came back with his wife. I am not ready to accept this marriage," a teary-eyed mother told ANI.

The wedding took place at an Arya Samaj Mandir in Hardwar two months ago and the newlyweds are hopeful of getting a marriage certificate once the lockdown is lifted.

"We could not get the marriage certificate at that time due to lack of witnesses. I had decided to visit Haridwar again but could not due to the lockdown," Guddu, 26, says.

Guddu's decision to bring his wife home was prompted by the lockdown. Savita, his wife, was apparently asked to vacate the rented accommodation in Delhi she was staying at due to the lockdown.

Reuters/Image For Representation

"Today I decided to bring her to my mother's house as she was told to leave the rented accommodation due to lockdown," Guddu says.

Giving a solution to the family feud, the Sahibabad Police have asked Savita's house owner in Delhi to let the couple stay there during the lockdown period.

In a similar incident, a 24-year-old man from Khatauli area of Muzaffarnagar district travelled 100 km amid lockdown, to secretly marry. According to reports, his father accompanied him in an ambulance that they arranged from a known person.

They used an ambulance so as to not get caught by the cops upon reaching Ghaziabad. Police in Khatauli area got a tip-off after rumours started spreading about the man's secret wedding. The two were immediately arrested and investigated for breaking lockdown rules.
Profits at Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) plunged 67% in the first quarter on an annualized basis, as Germany's largest financial institution reported net income of 66 million euros.

Total net revenues on a year-over-year basis were essentially flat, but like most of the world's banks, Deutsche Bank took a huge credit provision of $506 million to prepare for the loan losses it anticipates will start hitting it as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bank's loan loss provision is up from 247 million euros last quarter, and 106 million euros in the first quarter of 2019.

"In the current crisis, we have shown robust numbers and demonstrated strong performance in support of our clients across all core businesses," CEO Christian Sewing said in a statement. "Conservative balance sheet management enables us to navigate the current environment from a position of strength as the leading bank in Europe's strongest economy."

The company's investment bank division was its best performer in the quarter, with revenue up 18% on an annualized basis. Specifically, the bank assisted corporations and governments in raising 150 billion euros of debt since mid-March. It handled roughly 40% of all European corporate issuances.

Revenue in the private bank was up 2% on an annual basis, while revenues in the bank's asset management and corporate bank were essentially flat.

Deutsche Bank's common equity tier 1 capital ratio, a measure of core capital to total risk-weighted assets, expressed as a percentage, dropped 90 basis points (0.9%) from the prior quarter, settling at 12.8%.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday constituted a Special Investment Promotion Task Force to attract investors from countries which are planning to relocate their manufacturing bases post COVID-19. The committee will submit its first report within one month and the final report within two months to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

The task force headed by Chief Secretary K Shanmugam would identify sectors in which Tamil Nadu can attract investment due to relocation from other countries post-COVID and formulate special incentive packages and facilitations which need to be provided to attract these investments.

The task force would also identify key infrastructure projects including dedicated industrial townships that need to be undertaken or expedited to attract investments. Besides, it would identify measures to fast-track clearances to promote these investments. It would also recommend outreach activities and brand building to position Tamil Nadu as an attractive investment destination and other related measures.

Explaining the reasons for this move, the G.O issued in this regard said, The economic upheavals and supply constraints caused by COVID-19 have prompted many countries to rethink their existing supply chains which are excessively dependent on some countries. Reports indicate that countries like the US, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore are likely to diversify by establishing supply chains originating in India. Tamil Nadu which is already a favoured investment destination is well placed to attract these investments and needs to take proactive steps to attract them.

Nominees from Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Korean Chamber of Commerce and Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), Indo American Chamber of Commerce, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and US-India Business Council (USIBC), Enterprise Singapore, Japanese Industrial Parks, Japanese, Korean, USA and Taiwanese companies in Tamil Nadu will be among the members of this task force.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  Marikina City's COVID-19 testing laboratory has finally received accreditation from the Department of Health, a health official confirmed on Thursday.

Health Spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the facility may start operations tomorrow, Friday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 testing centers in the country to 20.

She added that there is still no updated total testing capacity since the laboratory just got approved. As of recent data, the country's testing facilities can conduct 6,420 tests per day.

Mayor Marcy Teodoro earlier said the city's testing center can process 400 samples daily.

This new development caps off Marikina's long battle of building a COVID-19 laboratory, after a few rejections from the DOH.

Mayor Marcy Teodoro proposed for a local testing center as early as March, but the agency turned it down due to space and biosafety issues. After another attempt, DOH then held off operations of the second proposed facility, saying its personnel still needed to be trained. Teodoro earlier made it known that he would proceed with operations even without the DOH's approval, and he was ready to face any legal consequences.
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air said it will be resuming flights from London Luton tomorrow.

The flights will service Budapest, Burgas, Lisbon, Sofia, Tenerife, Tel Aviv and Varna. The airline had planned to resume flights to Romania but authorities in Bucharest have extended their lockdown restrictions.

The airline is promising low fares to stimulate demand, however, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office still advises against all foreign non-essential travel.

Passengers won't be able to get refunds if they wish to cancel their flight, even if they know they won't be let into the country they are flying to.

Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air said it will resume flights from London Luton airport tomorrow morning after implementing new Covid-19 guidelines for staff and passengers

The airline's chief executive Jozsef Varadi, pictured, said he hoped to have 70 per cent of services back between July and August

The airline is planning to resume services to locations such as Tenerife, Lisbon, Slovakia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Israel

The airline said anyone who has had their flight cancelled will receive 120 per cent of the price of the flight in the form of vouchers than can be used over the next two years.

The credit will be applied automatically to the customer's account. They will also have the option of getting a full refund via bank transfer or to a credit or debit card.

According to research produced by Bank of America, Wizz Air is currently sitting on massive cash reserves and could refund all passengers three times over.

Passengers on the resumed services will also be obliged to wear face masks and in-flight magazines will not be available.

Wizz Air's UK 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 airline is also preparing to resume flights to Italy - including the Covid-19 hotspot of Milan,

According to the company's chief executive Jozsef Varadi, the airline will run 10 per cent of its services during May and hopes to have 70 per cent of its jets in the air by August.

Mr Varadi told the Financial Times: 'While today looks like a huge concern, a life changing moment, in a year or two nobody remembers.'

How airlines bend the rules British Airways: The refund option has been removed from its website but the option to claim a voucher remains. The customer service line is frequently engaged or puts callers on hold for hours. Customers are being encouraged to apply for a voucher equal to the value of their flight but must pay more if it ends up being more expensive. BA says customers should call to rebook, refund or choose a voucher. Refunds can be requested up to 12 months after the original departure date. EasyJet: The refund option was taken off the website, but reinstated after customer complaints. The airline is trying to refund customers within 28 days, but admits it could take longer. A spokesman says: 'We assure customers these entitlements will be available long after their cancelled flight was due to fly.' Ryanair: Offered full reimbursement within 30 working days, then did a U-turn and is 'highly recommending' customers apply for a voucher instead. Says customers will be able to exchange vouchers for cash after a year. A spokesman says: 'Customers who choose a voucher but don't redeem it within 12 months may still apply for and obtain a refund. Customers who choose not to accept a free move or voucher will be refunded in due course, once this crisis is over.' Virgin Atlantic: Credit notes are being issued but can be rejected in favour of a full refund, with claims processed within 90 days. A spokesman says: 'The credit [equal to the value of the cancelled flight] can be used to rebook on alternative dates, allowing for a destination and name change, for travel until May 31, 2022. If the rebooked date is before November 30, 2020, we'll waive any fare difference.' Refunds will take longer than normal. Tui: Customers can choose a refund or credit note but can only apply for their money back once their refund credit has been received  up to four weeks after the departure date. A spokesman says requested refunds will take about four weeks. Jet2 is offering cash refunds but with delays because of an 'unprecedented' number of calls. Advertisement

He said: 'Whatever crisis we look back on in history, one conclusion you can certainly make is peoples' memories tend to be very short. While today looks like a huge concern, a life changing moment, in a year or two nobody remembers.'

A spokesperson for London Luton Airport told MailOnline: 'The safety of our passengers and staff is our number one priority and we continue to rigorously implement all Government guidance.

'This includes deep cleaning, the installation of sanitiser across the airport and floor markings to remind customers to maintain a safe distance, as well as segregating staff shift patterns where practical.

'Air links for both passengers and freight have been recognised as a key service and the Government has asked airports to remain open where possible, to ensure these services are not interrupted.

'The decision to operate individual flights is a matter for each airline and any passengers using these services will need to adhere to all restrictions imposed both in the UK and in the country of travel.'

However customers who have booked flights and holidays with various airlines are finding it incredibly difficult to secure cash refunds.

Tui, the UK's biggest tour operator, has extended the suspension of its holidays for the next six weeks.

The company said all trips would be cancelled up to and including June 11, and warned customers wanting cash refunds that its call centres are 'incredibly busy'.

It had previously suspended its operations up to May 14.

Tui also cancelled its Marella Cruises sailings up to the end of June, and postponed the launch of its river cruises until late November.

A total of nearly 900,000 people have had their holidays cancelled, a spokeswoman said.

The firm told affected customers that they will receive a refund credit for the full value of their holiday.

This can be used to book another trip taking place before the end of October 2021.

Package holiday customers will receive an additional credit worth up to 20 per cent of their booking.

Tui said customers who are 'unable to accept' a refund credit can apply for a cash refund, but warned that its call centre staff are 'incredibly busy' so waiting times are 'considerably longer than usual'.

Simon Cooper, founder and chief executive of rival travel agency On The Beach, told the PA news agency last week that failing to pay cash refunds is 'a bad idea for everyone concerned' as struggling companies will be forced to 'massively increase' their prices for next year's holidays to avoid bankruptcy.

UK laws state that full refunds should be given within 14 days for cancelled package holidays.

Consumer group Which? found that none of the UK's 10 biggest holiday companies or 10 most popular airlines are offering full refunds within the legal timeframe, and some are refusing to provide refunds altogether.

Many travel firms are suffering huge financial losses due to the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential international travel since March 17.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said Tui 'must ensure it is making the refund process as straightforward as possible'.

He added: 'The travel industry is under unprecedented strain, and the lack of action from the Government on measures to support operators to process refunds is unacceptable.'
Jordan Flowers never thought he would become a labor leader. Then the coronavirus forced him to risk his life every time he clocked in.

The robotics operator at Amazons Staten Island warehouse helped lead one of the first walkouts at the site  a protest over the companys lack of protective equipment. A month later, even after Amazon scrambled to provide masks and gloves and check employees temperatures, workers continue conducting scattered walkouts to protest what they say are still-risky conditions in warehouses where workers have had the virus.

You risk your life putting in 10 hours every day, said Flowers, 21, who has an autoimmune disease and is at heightened risk for infection. Youre surrounded, and you dont know who has it or who touched what to pass it on.

Across the country, the unexpected front-line workers of the pandemic  grocery store workers, Instacart shoppers and Uber drivers, among them _ are taking action to protect themselves. Rolling job actions have raced through whats left of the economy, including Pittsburgh sanitation workers who walked off their jobs in the first weeks of lockdown and dozens of fast-food workers in California who left restaurants last week to perform socially distant protests in their cars.

To labor activists and historians, the often-spontaneous job actions echo other moments in the labor movement when alarm about worker safety and public health spurred organizing and reforms in meatpacking plants, New Yorks garment factories or coal mines.

Peoples fears of sickness and death are finally stronger than peoples fears of their employer, said Daniel Graff, a labor historian at Notre Dame University. It might be a sort of cataclysmic opening.

Labor faces plenty of other hurdles. One involves logistical barriers  organizing generally needs to happen via text or Zoom in the era of social distancing. Workplace protests tend to happen in cars, and labor is operating under the hostile eye of the Trump administration.

Basic economics also pose a challenge. Unions typically have more power in times of low unemployment, when its easier for unhappy workers  or striking ones  to find another job. The U.S. unemployment rate is projected to hit 20% soon, a level not seen since the Great Depression.

In the scramble to adjust to the outbreak, some companies that are part of the essential economy are rushing to hire new workers, which may temporarily give current staff some bargaining power. But many economists project more than a year of widespread joblessness, said Jed Kolko, an economist at Indeed.

High unemployment and the end of a tight labor market create the headwind for more worker power, Kolko said.

Even without that headwind, the labor movement has withered in past decades as employers found new ways to fend off unions. Republican presidents stocked the National Labor Relations Board with members unsympathetic to labor, and the economy became dominated by large companies that are harder to organize and have an increasing array of tools to keep unions at bay. So-called right to work laws that allow workers to opt out of paying union dues have proliferated in more than half the states.

Unions have tried to adapt, targeting some of the biggest employers like Walmart and Amazon with new organizing strategies.

Amazon says it has made more than 150 safety updates to guard against the coronavirus, including enhanced cleaning, disinfectant spraying and providing masks.

We encourage anyone interested in the facts to compare our overall pay and benefits, as well as our speed in managing this crisis, to other retailers and major employers across the country, the company said in a statement.

Only 10.7% of U.S. workers are union members, and they tend to be in the public sector, like teachers or police officers. In the private sector, unions tend toward older-line jobs like utility workers. Only about 1% of restaurant workers are in a union.

Led by the Service Employees International Union, labor has also targeted the fast-food industry seeking not only to gain new members but to force industry-wide concessions that could help all workers, rather than just those who pay dues, such as the Fight for $15 campaign to raise the minimum wage.

Efforts like that may contribute to the increasingly positive image of labor  according to Gallup, nearly two-thirds of Americans had a favorable view of unions last year, the highest since 1999. MIT researchers in 2017 found that 48% of non-unionized workers would join a union if they could.

The battle at McDonalds has shifted from the minimum wage to hand sanitizer.

Laura Pozos, a McDonalds worker in Los Angeles, joined the occasional brief walkout to push for a higher wage and other improvements last year. Now she is on her second week of striking to demand safer conditions at her restaurant. The walkout began after one of the workers she spent the day elbow-to-elbow with in the cramped kitchen was diagnosed with coronavirus. That woman is now on a ventilator.

Its more important now, Pozos, 57, said of her labor activism. We are so scared  At least give us security.

Last week, McDonalds U.S. president, Joe Erlinger, said the company was requiring franchisees to provide masks and gloves and conduct temperature checks when workers arrive for their shifts. Those changes will roll out to all U.S. restaurants in the coming weeks, he said.

SEIU President Mary Kay Henry said fighting for masks is just a logical extension of other labor struggles.

Every one of these workers thinks of this moment as `We cant go back to the way things were before the pandemic, Henry said in an interview.

Some unions have been able to flex their muscle during the pandemic. Nurses unions have helped hospitals secure masks, gloves and gowns for their workers. Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler closed their U.S. plants on March 18 under pressure from the United Auto Workers union. Those plants remain closed.

I have said for some time that the only litmus test in reopening the economy is whether you would send your son or daughter into the workplace, UAW President Rory Gamble said last week.

Still, other powerful unions have been decimated by mass layoffs. UNITE HERE, which represented 300,000 largely hotel and restaurant workers, said 98% of its members have been laid off. The union has been raising money to help members pay bills, coordinating food banks and pushing Congress to extend health care for laid-off workers.

Nonetheless, the union known for its aggressive tactics is also making plans for when life someday returns to normal.

In the long term, spokeswoman Meghan Cohorst said, were still going to have to organize and go into new industries.

About the photo: In this April 21, 2020, file photo, people protest what they say is a lack of personal protective equipment for employees as they close down the drive-thru at a McDonalds restaurant in Oakland, Calif. Across the country, the new, unexpected front-line workers of the pandemic  from grocery store and fast food workers to Instacart shoppers and Uber drivers  are taking action to protect themselves. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Anjali Rai and Pratika Pradhan had mixed feelings  whether to feel elated or sad  as they left a private nursing home in Siliguri on Tuesday evening after recovering from coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Both Rai and Pradhan, who belong to Lebong and Tindharia in the Darjeeling hills, respectively, and work as nurses at the state-run North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH), had tested Covid-19 positive after attending the regions first patient, who had contracted SARS-CoV-2 that causes the disease.

North Bengals first Covid-19 positive, a woman from Kalimpong, had died at the NBMCH on March 30.

Rai and Pradhan were admitted to the NBMCH on April 4 and 11, respectively, and later shifted to the private nursing home that the West Bengal government has earmarked for Covid-19 patients in Siliguri.

Later, Rais 22-month-old son, husband and mother also tested Covid-19 positive.

Though she and her mother have recovered, her child and husband are still undergoing treatment.

The two nurses said their sheer will power helped them face the ordeal and they were thankful to their colleagues for the support. However, they are hurt by peoples attitude towards Covid-19 patients.

Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, ward boys and sweepers  all those who at the frontline in battling the pandemic  arent getting the appreciation they deserve, Pradhan said.

When I initially got the symptoms I requested many people in my neighbourhood to keep my son with them for a few days. But, they refused on the pretext that other residents might object, Rai said.

Rais neighbours, however, welcomed her and her mother when they returned to their apartment, which is located close to the NBMCH. Pradhan, too, received flowers when she returned to her parents home at Tindharia, which is located 27 kilometres north of Siliguri. But her relatives said some local people at Darjeeling More in Siliguri pressured the owner of the house, where she lives as a tenant, not to let her in.

Shed have loved to stay in her rented accommodation in Siliguri, if shed have been allowed to go there, said Anjana Sinchury, a Tindharia resident.

When I tested Covid-19 positive, I felt very low. But I didnt break down because I knew that Id have to face the crisis, Pradhan said.

Rai said had the NBMCH authorities were more cautious, her family members might not have been infected. Some of her colleagues, who didnt wish to be identified, agreed with her assessment.

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The Centre on Thursday informed the



Madras High Court that a Special Nodal officer has been appointed at the Indian mission in Maldives to reach out to Indian migrants in the island nation for any help, including medical facilities, in view of the COVID-19 situation.

Justices M Sathyanarayanan and M Nirmal Kumar, before whom the submission was made by the Centre's counsel, directed the government to file details about the appointment.

The directive was given during the video conference hearing of a PIL by an advocate from Kanyakumari district which sought a direction for appointment of the nodal officer citing the plight of Indian migrants in Maldives.

After Centre's senior panel counsel Srinivasa Moorthy informed that the officer had already been appointed, the bench directed him to file details and posted the matter for further hearing to May 12.

The petitioner who filed his plea based on a media report and an online petition filed by Kanyakumari MP H Vasanthakumar submitted that around 29,000 Indian migrant workers, including nurses, teachers, doctors, engineers and unskilled personnel, were in Maldives with around 22,000 in Male, the capital city.

Several of the Indians at Maldives have stated that there were no sufficient quarantine and medical facilities in Maldives to treat the patients for COVID19 and posted pictures on social media about "unhygienic" conditions at a shelter.

I further understand that the migrant workers are not even having enough food as they could not access the bank or ATMs in this lockdown situation, besides there are no hotels/restaurants opened to avail the food," the petitioner said.

Hence, he wanted a Special Nodal Officer for COVID-19 to enable the Indian migrants to reach out for any sort of help.

He also sought setting up of a free testing facility at the Indian Mission at Male, hygienic quarantine accommodation and arrangements to airlift them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Permian Basin Adult Literacy Centers students and tutors have been meeting online for the past several weeks.

At first the center was unprepared to handle distance-learning classes and did not have mobile resources such as laptops and significant virtual learning curriculum for staff or volunteer instructors,

Executive Director Alba Austin said in an email. The center has been offering students learning opportunities primarily through virtual meetings and other platforms.

As with the traditional classroom, we have some students who have embraced any opportunity they are given because they want to continue studying or have access to an instructor by any means necessary, she said. Then there are those who refuse. They suspect the technology. They dont trust it. They dont trust themselves. They arent sure what it will do to their phone or the impact on their data plan.

She said some students have had concerns about privacy and being susceptible to identity theft. PBALC is finding ways to help prepare the team to prepare the students better. She said that post-pandemic learning will need to be blended and remote learning should become more of the norm.

We are finding that some of our students either do not have adequate technology resources and/or the digital literacy skills for virtual classrooms, she said in the email. In addition, you have to remember we serve adults, and many of our students also have children at home at this time and are unable or dont have time to login to classes.

Support adult literacy --Permian Basin Adult Literacy Center is moving to a virtual format the raffle that would have been part of its annual LookBook Brunch. Tickets are $10 each, or five for $40. They are available at https://events.pbalc.org/event/the-lookbook-brunch-raffle. --To donate to the nonprofit, go to www.pbalc.org/donate. See More Collapse

Austin said that some students have also lost their jobs and learning might be the last thing on their mind. PBALC forwards, shares and posts for their students any information regarding Texas Workforce Commission.

Students have continued their learning through Voxy, an English Language Learning program, to continue learning independently until in-person classes cam resume. Some classes are held on Zoom, and PBALC has been taking advantage of free subscriptions to video conferencing memberships.

These classes have been a great way for our students, volunteers and staff to feel connected during these temporary times of social distancing and self-isolation, Austin said.

Program coordinator of students and volunteers, Hunter Smith, said at the beginning, distance learning was not easy for him or for the students and volunteers.

However, once we were able to launch our classes virtually for the first time and see how excited everyone was to be there, it made the experience well worth the countless hours of struggle with transitioning online, he said in an email.

Student Yngrid Romero shared with Austin that learning online has been a good option and opportunity during this time. The online tools have helped increase communications skills and helped them keep in touch, Romero told Austin.

Austin said she hopes to be able to resume in-person sessions next month but might have to push it into June depending on guidelines.

She said that literacy remains important during the pandemic because of how much information people are being given each day.

Now more than ever people are being inundated with information, she said. Its important that adults have the literacy skills to navigate the information correctly. We must keep going, and we thank the Permian Basin for its continued support.
tech2 News Staff

Xiaomi is all set to launch a couple of smartphones today at an online global event. These smartphones will include Mi Note 10 Lite and Redmi Note 9. To recall, Xiaomi recently launched Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max in India at a starting price of Rs 12,999 and Rs 14,999 respectively. Xiaomi also launched MIUI 12 in China this week.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite, Redmi Note 9 launch event: How to watch the livestream

The global launch event will begin at 8.00 pm UTC, which means, as per India timing, you can watch the live stream at 5.30 pm IST today. You can catch the live updates on the company's YouTube page or by clicking at the link in bio.



Redmi Note 9 expected specifications

As per a listing on Geekbench, Redmi Note 9 is likely to be powered by a MediaTek Helio G70 chipset and might offer 6 GB RAM. The listing also revealed that the smartphone might run on Android 10 base MIUI 11. As per the company teasers, Redmi Note 9 is expected to feature a quad-camera setup at the back that houses 48 MP primary sensor.

A tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore, revealed on Twitter, that Redmi Note 9 might come in white, blue and green three colour options. The tweet also suggested that the smartphone is likely to come in a square-shaped camera module.

Here's your first look at the official press renders of vanilla Redmi Note 9 in all 3 colors!

RT's appreciated #RedmiNote9 #RedmiNote9Series #Xiaomi pic.twitter.com/GZriiuecZB  Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) April 29, 2020

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite expected specifications

As per a company teaser, Mi Note 10 Lite is expected to feature a waterdrop notch on the top and a rectangular camera module in the top left corner at the back. The smartphone is likely to come in white, black and blue colour options. Mi 10 Lite is also expected to come with a quad rear camera setup.

As per a report by MySmartPrice, the smartphone is likely to be powered by Snapdragon 730G chipset. It is expected to come with a 5,260 mAh battery that supports 30W fast charging tech.
Elective surgeries, state parks, golf courses and so many of the things that weve opened up just in this (new) executive order that only is in effect for a month here is an indication, indeed, (of) my recognition and our recognition that its different from one area to another and well be talking more about that as we put forward plans for reopening, he said.
In the days following the capture of an American contractor in Afghanistan earlier this year, Navy commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network while the US intelligence community tried to track the cellphones of the man and his captors, The Associated Press has learned.

While the circumstances surrounding the abduction remain unclear, the previously unreported operation described by multiple American officials over the past month shed new light on early efforts to locate Mark R. Frerichs, a contractor from Illinois whose disappearance has been shrouded in mystery and whose case has been the subject of minimal public discussion by the US government.

The new details emerge as violence and political infighting in Kabul threaten to scuttle a Taliban peace deal with the US Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced frustrations after a failed attempt to mediate a power struggle between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political rival Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. The Trump administration said it would cut $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan.

Washington has urged Kabul to release Taliban prisoners, which is part of the peace agreement, arguing the detainees were at risk of spreading the coronavirus.

But there are no public indications Frerichs, a Navy veteran, has been part of negotiations between the US and Taliban leadership, or that his release is part of any peace deal.

The Taliban kidnapped my brother in January. In February, the US signed a peace deal with the Taliban. My brother wasnt part of the deal. Now we are arranging for the Taliban and Afghan government to exchange thousands of prisoners, Charlene Cakora, one of Frerichs sisters, said in a statement provided to the AP. Why cant we make an American hostage be one of them?

Frerichs father, Art, said in a statement that though he has faith in President Donald Trump and Pompeo, I just need them to tell their people negotiating with the Taliban that America wont lift a finger until my son comes home. Hes a veteran. This is America. We dont leave people behind.

The Pentagon and US Special Operations Command declined to comment on the SEALs raid. The rescue effort is being coordinated through the FBI-led, multiagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which said in a statement that it was working with its partners to ensure that Mark Frerichs and all Americans held hostage abroad are returned home. It encouraged anyone with information about the case to come forward.

The State Department said it was aware of an American whod been abducted in Afghanistan.

The welfare, safety and security of Americans is the Trump Administrations highest priority, the department said. The United States will continue to push for the safe return of this and all other U.S citizens through all relevant channels.

A former US national security official who is advising the Frerichs family called on Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to resolve the situation and that he is aware of Marks presence, but it does not appear yet that he understands that he needs to get him home. The former official insisted on anonymity to speak candidly since the official sometimes works with the Trump administration.

U.S. officials believe Frerichs, 57, of Lombard, Illinois, was held for at least some time in Khost, an eastern province along the border with Pakistan and its so-called tribal regions, a mountainous area that has historically been a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

The former national security official said that Frerichs has been in Afghanistan for about a decade working on commercial projects and was not a US government contractor.

The first 96 hours is crucial, a senior US government official briefed on the case told the AP on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If theyre not recovered in the first few days, it becomes harder every minute after.

Though no formal demands are known to have been made, US intelligence officials believe Frerichs was captured by members of the Haqqani network, a militant group aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Haqqanis have strong links to North Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan, south of Afghanistans Khost province.

The Obama administration designated the Haqqani network as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012 for its ties with the Taliban and the groups attacks on US military and civilian personnel. Though the Haqqanis are known to carry out assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, Taliban leadership has not acknowledged Frerichs capture.

I have not received any information about him, said a Taliban source who asked not to be named. There has been no clue despite my contacts with every side to get information.

In November, the Afghan government released three prominent members of the Haqqani network in exchange for an American citizen and an Australian professor abducted in 2016. Pompeo characterized the prisoner swap as a goodwill gesture.

Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and Army veteran who led the teams that searched for Bowe Bergdahl after the Army soldier abandoned his post in 2009 and wound up captured by the Taliban, said the Taliban frequently hides American hostages until they can move them over the border into Pakistan.

I have real concerns about suggestions that the Taliban are serious about peace, that the Taliban are upholding their end of the deal when  as we speak today  they are holding a former Navy veteran and American citizen hostage that they took, again, during the peace negotiations, Waltz said in an interview.

The search area for Frerichs began in Khost and extended south to the province of Kandahar, according to the senior US government official and a second official at the Defense Department.

Members of the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group, more familiarly known as SEAL Team Six, who were involved in the Frerichs effort had spent late January working to recover the bodies of two American service members who died when their aircraft crash-landed in Ghazni in central Afghanistan, according to the two US officials.

The bitter winter weather that limited overhead surveillance of the airplane wreckage by US military drones also worked against officials during the later SEAL operation on the night of Feb. 3. Periods of poor-to-nonexistent visibility ultimately delayed a planned intelligence-gathering operation on a known Taliban location, said the senior US government official, who has direct knowledge of the raid.

Once the weather cleared, the SEALs loaded onto helicopters and flew to the undisclosed location. The senior official declined to disclose the exact location of the province for operational security reasons.

The senior US government official and the Defense Department source with knowledge of the raid, who also requested anonymity, said the SEAL platoon was not met with any Taliban resistance and that once at the compound, they detained several alleged Haqqani militants and uncovered a weapons cache. Its not known if the weapons cache was destroyed at the scene or given to Afghan security forces.

The suspected Haqqani members were questioned about Frerichs whereabouts and ultimately turned over to the Afghan government, according to the senior US government official.

On Feb. 4, American intelligence officials received a report that Frerichs had possibly been moved to Quetta, Pakistan, a historical haven for the Taliban, the two officials said. But the information was deemed not credible enough to warrant a special operations mission, according to the senior US government official.

The report also conflicted with signals intelligence US officials had at the time. Signals intelligence is information gathered from the electronic signals that are broadcast from devices like portable radios and cellphones. The information can be used to track the movements of individuals or eavesdrop on conversations, known in the spy business as low-level voice intercepts.

US intelligence officials continued to receive location pings from the suspected cellphones of Frerichs and his captors, but the trail went cold on Feb. 5, according to the senior US government and Defense Department officials.

While the senior US government official would not say where exactly the last location ping for Frerichs came from, the official said it was near where he was captured. The AP was not able to determine how the US intelligence community knew to target these specific cellphones to monitor.

Operationally, the reason why time is critical in a kidnapping is because you can close the distance quicker, ideally immediately or by utilizing sources, said the senior US government official. This is not the case right now. He could be two houses down from where he was taken and we would not know.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has allocated UAH 1.655 billion from the anti-COVID-19 fund for assistance to children of individual entrepreneurs, member of the European Solidarity faction Oleksiy Honcharenko said.

According to his message in Telegram, the government allocated UAH 1.655 billion from the fund for the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) to the Social Policy Ministry of Ukraine for assistance to children of individual entrepreneurs who switched to the simplified tax system and belong to the first and second groups of single tax payers.

As reported, on April 22, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to start making allowance payments for entrepreneurs' children for the time of the quarantine.

The payments will be allocated for each child aged up to 10 years old in the amount of a living wage determined for children of the respective age group as of January 1, 2020.
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India has shipped 50 million tablets of hydroxychloroquine to the United States, an Indian source with direct knowledge of the exports said, although US regulators warned the anti-malarial drug may have harmful side effects in the treatment of COVID-19.

The trade, India's biggest export of the drug to any country, follows a request by US President Donald Trump for New Delhi to release supplies of hydroxychloroquine as a possible treatment for the respiratory disease.

"It amounts to 50 million tablets... Commercial companies are pursuing. It's ongoing," said the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of discussions with the United States.

The US Food and Drug Administration, the European Union's drug regulator and the Canadian health department have cautioned against the use of hydroxychloroquine, citing side effects such as abnormal heart rhythms and a dangerously rapid heart rate.

However, the health warnings have done little to deter the drug's imports to the United States, where some doctors are continuing to prescribe the drug for the treatment of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

"There is high demand for hydroxychloroquine in the international market including US," Viranchi Shah, senior vice-president, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), told Reuters.

This month India said it would allow some exports of hydroxychloroquine after Trump touted it as a "game changer" and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send supplies.

In Modi's home state of Gujarat, 68 new licences have been issued to drugmakers to manufacture hydroxychloroquine formulations, HG Koshia, commissioner, Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat, told Reuters.

"Majority of these licences are for exports," he said.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, IPCA Laboratories and Cadila Healthcare are among India's leading suppliers of hydroxychloroquine.

Cadila Healthcare recently said it was ramping up production tenfold to 30 metric tonnes per month.

Sales of the decades-old treatment had soared overnight after Trump's advocacy of the drug, raising questions whether political pressure had overridden scientific criteria in the crisis.

As the US coronavirus death toll topped 60,000 on Wednesday - the highest in the world - doctors in the United States are desperate for anything that might alter the course of the disease, which attacks the lungs and can shut down other organs in severe cases.

"Pharma companies in Gujarat are continuing to produce and export hydroxychloroquine in large quantities," IDMA's Shah said.

The foreign ministry said India was continuing to supply hydroxychloroquine, and other essential medicines produced in India, to other countries. These supplies were taking place both on a humanitarian and a commercial basis.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
Whether it's the swinging Sixties or the minimalism of the Nineties, every decade has a distinctive style, each championed by certain celebrities.

Style icons help encapsulate everything that is fashionable from their time, while not necessarily being the celebrities who had the most out-there or unique style. Instead, they're individuals who captured the feel and fashion of a specific era, set trends everyone wanted to follow, and are still today associated with the style of a particular decade.

These are some of the most stand-out icons from the Fifties to today...

1950s: Audrey Hepburn

With her sleek black Givenchy dresses, strings of pearls and big sunglasses, Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany's is still one of the most fashionable characters in film.

By its release in 1961 though, Hepburn was already a style icon in her own right, known for sleek silhouettes with nipped in waists, strapless dresses and a love of preppy collars. It's an aesthetic that has proved timeless, and endlessly inspiring.

1960s: Twiggy

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There's no doubt Twiggy's aesthetic sums up the 1960s: super slight, with a pixie crop and voluminous lashes.

Twiggy - real name Lesley Lawson - was everything you'd want from a supermodel of the time, dressed head-to-toe in mod outfits from stripy dresses to the ever-present miniskirt (Mary Quant reigned supreme).

1970s: Bianca Jagger

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Bianca Jagger was a Seventies it-girl, known for her association with the New York club, Studio 54, which was frequented by the likes of Andy Warhol and Elton John.

Jagger was often seen in perfectly tailored suits with flared trousers, showing suiting wasn't just for men, but also played with sequins, feathers and excellent hats.

Born in Nicaragua, she shot to fame after marrying Mick Jagger and was known for her glamorous, party-girl life. Arguably Jagger's most iconic moment came in 1977, when she mounted a white horse in Studio 54 on her 34th birthday. She did so in classic style: with blown-out hair and a slinky, off-the-shoulder dress.

1980s: Diana Ross

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In all honesty, Diana Ross was a defining icon of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.

She's such a style chameleon she's managed to adapt to each era, championing trends while keeping her own signature brand of glamour.

Ross is arguably best known for her Eighties fashion though, which was full of shoulder pads, glitter and big hair.

1990s: Kate Moss

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The fashion of the Seventies and Eighties was all about maximalism, but this all changed in the Nineties.

Supermodel Kate Moss represented a more low-key, grungy kind of glamour, wearing a slew of jeans, spaghetti straps and barely-there slip dresses.

This wasn't an era of sparkles and sequins - instead, Moss became synonymous with the so-called 'heroin chic' trend: being super skinny and having that 'just got out of bed' look.

2000s: Rihanna

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Nowadays, we know Rihanna as a red carpet powerhouse, and as the creative director of Fenty, making her the first black woman to run a major luxury house under LVMH.

Back in the 2000s, Rihanna was still a fashion icon, but in a very different way to today. Instead of forging her own path, she pretty much wore every trend of the decade. Red carpet events appeared to be an exercise in Noughties fashion box-checking, from low-rise jeans to babydoll dresses and lots of ruched satin. This was before Rihanna found her fashion 'voice', but in the Noughties, we were all copying her.

2010s: Kim Kardashian

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Love her or hate her, you can't deny Kim Kardashian's impact. There are so many trends we can thank the Kardashian/Jenner clan for, spearheaded by Kim. She helped bring bicycle shorts to the fore, along with fancy athleisure wear, skintight dresses and an obsession with neutral tones and colour blocking.

Whatever she wears is watched by eagle-eyed fans and retailers - so much so, Kardashian won a lawsuit against fast fashion brand Missguided USA last year, arguing it was "notorious" for "knocking off" the designer clothes she wore.

We're now in a new decade, which begs the question: is there space for a new style star to emerge and dominate the 2020s? Only time will tell.
Passengers are seen wearing protective masks and gloves at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, United States on March 29, 2020.

Major U.S. airlines on Thursday said they will require travelers to wear face masks on board their planes as carriers take steps to try to protect the health of passengers and crew.

Delta's policy requires travelers to wear a mask or other face covering in the check-in area, premium lounges, boarding gate areas and on board for the whole flight, except during meals. The airline is also urging travelers to wear them in security lines and in restrooms. The policy takes effect Monday.

United will also start requiring masks for passengers Monday. American's policy goes into effect May 11. Frontier Airlines issued a similar requirement that goes into effect May 8. JetBlue Airways earlier this week became the first major U.S. airline to mandate masks for travelers.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The panic is visible in Chennai. With the city recording 103 positive cases on Tuesday and 94 on Wednesday, officials are gearing up to intensify containment measures. A substantial number of cases reported on Wednesday are from three zones: Tiru Vi Ka Nagar (34), Teynampet (25), and Anna Nagar (12).In Tiru Vi Ka Nagar, only four are fresh cases. The remaining are contacts of previous cases. In Pulianthope, 10 more of the family that held a joint prayer session amid lockdown have tested positive. Already, 15 members of that family are under isolation after they tested positive for the virus.

In Nochikuppam, a 38-year-old resident working as a pharmacist with a Primary Health Centre in Pudupet has tested positive. The PHC has now been shut down, and officials are tracing all patients who might have come in contact with him. More cases are being reported from Koyambedu Market. A 50-year-old woman, working as a sweeper there, has tested positive.

Her pregnant daughter-in-law, though negative, has been put in isolation. A family of four, including a couple running a store, have tested positive in Mandaveli. Officials suspect they could have contracted the virus from Koyambedu Market, which they used to frequent to get supplies. Officials are now tracing his regular customers.

Food delivery agent positive

A 36-year-old man working as food delivery agent with Swiggy in the city has tested positive. He is the son of a 65-year-old man who died of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The delivery staff was working in Chennai till April 23, and was quarantined on April 24 along with his family members. Officials say all other members of his family, but him, are negative. He was the only one visiting his father in the hospital, and he could have caught the infection there, they added. The city corporation has made a list of 64 houses, where he made deliveries in the last 10 days, and contact tracing is underway.

When contacted, a Swiggy spokesperson told Express that they are working with health authorities and extending cooperation in all possible ways. A statement released from their end said, As per the latest update, we are relieved that his brother and 5 other family members have all tested negative and have been cleared and are currently quarantined for safety. Following our predefined protocol, the delivery partner was immediately quarantined as soon as the incident was discovered and he is currently in the good care of health authorities.

Focus on high priority areas

Corporation Commissioner G Prakash, in a press briefing on Wednesday, said the focus would be on Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Teynampet and Kodambakkam zones which have registered a high number of cases. In Chennai, around 22,000 samples have been taken of which only 673 have tested positive. These are not random samples but from contacts of positive patients.

Prakash said 95 per cent patients in the city were asymptomatic, and the recovery rate is high.

The mortality rate in Chennai is among the lowest in the country, he said. Testing will be increased from 1,250 a day to 2,000. From Koyambedu, 200 samples have been drawn of which six were positive, he said. Retail vending of vegetables will be shifted from Koyambedu to the City Corporations 240 playgrounds.For 44 cases in the city, a direct link to the virus could not be initially drawn out based on the information provided by the patients, who may sometimes withhold information due to stigma. For this, two special teams are at work to question them further for links, he said, adding that there was nothing to suggest community spread in Chennai so far.

Till now, 1,09,961 samples have been taken. Among them, as many as 2,162 persons tested positive and 1,05864 tested negative.Testing of 1,935 samples are under process and 8,886 samples are repeat samples of same persons. The tests are done in 33 government and 11 private labs all over Tamil Nadu. As on date, as many as 30,580 people are under home quarantine for 28 days. A total of 48 are at government quarantine facilities and 1,821 are under hospital isolation.
Captain Brett Crozier addresses the crew for the first time as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt during a change of command ceremony on the ships flight deck in San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2019. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sean Lynch/Handout via Reuters)

Navy Orders Deeper Probe Into Virus-Hit Carrier, Delaying Decision on Fired Commander

The civilian head of the Navy has ordered a deeper review of the controversial events involving the virus-hit aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt that resulted in the ships commander being fired.

An initial inquiry, completed this week, may have recommended the reinstatement of Captain Brett Crozier, who was fired over an email that was leaked to the press.

However, acting Secretary of the Navy James E. McPherson said on April 29 that the preliminary inquiry left unanswered questions that could only be answered by a deeper investigation.

The carrier is still sidelined in Guam but is now moving sailors back aboard after the whole crew was tested and the ship cleaned, according to the latest Navy statement. The only active U.S. military service member to die of COVID-19 so far was onboard the carrierechoing the warnings of Croziers leaked message.

The scope of the deeper review has not been precisely explained but will include the sequence of events, actions, and decisions of the chain of command surrounding the outbreak.

The controversy surrounding the outbreak started when an emailed letter from Crozier to leaders calling for more help to deal with the blossoming outbreak was leaked to the media.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly fired Crozier, saying that the captain knew the message would be leaked, accusing him of breaking the chain of command. Modly said that Croziers message created the false impression that actions were not being takenwhich were already underway.

Modly flew to Guam to justify his unpopular decision to the crew and lambasted the captain in a speech that was then leaked to the media. That stirred further outrage and ultimately prompted his resignation.

After Modly stepped down, McPherson took over, responsible for unpicking the chain of events that had led to his appointment.

In a statement on April 28, McPherson said: After carefully reviewing the preliminary inquiry into the events surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Gilday, provided me with his recommendations. Following our discussion, I have unanswered questions that the preliminary inquiry has identified and that can only be answered by a deeper review.

Therefore, I am directing Adm. Gilday to conduct a follow-on command investigation, McPherson said. This investigation will build on the good work of the initial inquiry to provide a more fulsome understanding of the sequence of events, actions, and decisions of the chain of command surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt.

The initial report recommended the reinstatement of the captain, according to anonymous Navy officials who spoke to The Associated Press.

Talking to the press on April 29, President Donald Trump wouldnt be drawn on whether he thought Crozier should be reinstated as the commanding officer of the carrier, saying only, I have my feelings on it.

Trump said he didnt know Crozier but reiterated previous remarks, saying, I think hes a very good man who had a very bad day.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said that the increase in coronavirus cases nationwide is a result of overcrowding in the period leading up to Ramadan, which began on Friday.

He said that the pre-Ramadan period saw crowding at markets and in shops, according to the governments estimations.

Egypt saw 269 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total so far to 5,537, including 392 fatalities.

The country hit the 1,000-case mark on 4 April, and surpassed the 5,000 mark on 28 April.

The government has shortened the nighttime curfew instituted in March by one hour for Ramadan, so that it now begins at 9pm instead of 8pm.

During a video conference on Thursday, Madbouly called on governors to intensify efforts to implement the coronavirus precautionary measures during curfew times, focusing also on pre-curfew hours, which have seen crowding and caused the disease to spread, he said.

He urged governorates to coordinate with municipal security authorities in this respect.

The holy month of Ramadan typically sees a surge in shopping activity, particularly for food and drink products.

Egypt imposed a set of health measures in March after the detection of the first infection locally in February.

It has halted public gatherings, including shuttering schools, restaurants, mosques and churches.

The government has indicated that it will take steps to return to normal life after the Eid Al-Fitr religious holiday, which marks the end of the holy month.

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Syracuse, N.Y.  New York Conservatives are planning rallies in eight cities, including Syracuse, to protest Gov. Andrew Cuomos shutdown policies aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The rallies are scheduled for Friday afternoon, according to a notice posted on the state partys website. The local Conservative Party chairman said he wasnt aware of any event, though the local Republican chairman shared the flyer and urged people to attend.

The rally comes as conversations intensify about when, exactly, Upstate New York should be allowed to reopen segments of its economy. Cuomo, however, has cautioned that rushing to reopen could lead to another spike in the virus.

As the shutdown enters its seventh week, political organizers, particularly on the right, are increasing pressure on elected officials like Cuomo.

Gov. Cuomo, you are such an arrogant know-it-all, ready to blame everyone for not being as smart as you, wrote Shaun Marie Levine, executive director of the state Conservative Party, on the partys website.

In recent weeks, protesters have gathered in Albany, Buffalo and Watertown to decry the shutdown and insist businesses be allowed to reopen. In other states, like Michigan and Ohio, protesters used vehicles to cause traffic jams around municipal buildings and hospitals.

New York has become the global epicenter for the coronavirus pandemic. More than 18,000 people have died of the disease and as many as 2.7 million New Yorkers may have already had it. New York City and Long Island have endured the worst of the outbreak.

Cuomo closed many parts of the state in March, including schools, events and all non-essential businesses. Some Central New York organizers and business owners argue the region should be allowed to reopen now, or soon, since theres been a lower rate of infection here than anywhere else in New York.

In Central New York, about 7% of people tested for the disease have been positive, according to data shared by Cuomo this week. Thats one of the lowest rates in the state. Thats partly due to lower population density. Upstate also shut down earlier in its curve than Downstate, likely preventing more widespread infections. Experts say Upstates respiratory virus season usually lags about two weeks behind Downstate.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has said he is working on a plan to reopen the economy along with his counterpart in Utica. And Cuomo has said hes considering a regional reopening.

McMahon said hes gotten pressure daily from people insisting the shutdown be sustained and others demanding the economy be reopened.

At every point in this process, weve had decisions weve had to make that there were people on both sides, he said. Theyre well intentioned, screaming at me from both sides.

McMahon said its up to him to find a balance between extreme views on both sides.

Glenn Harding, chairman of the Onondaga County Conservative Party, said he hadnt heard of a protest being organized locally, and didnt have a role in it. But it wouldnt surprise him if it happened.

It just seems that all the politicians are focused on New York City and not Upstate New York, as usual, he said. They just typically take from us and give nothing back.

The local Republican Party chairman, Tom Dadey, promoted the Conservative Partys rally online this week.

Join a Rally to Free New York on May 1  CPNYS, he tweeted.

Dadey did not respond to a request for comment.

Dadey has spent weeks criticizing Cuomo for keeping businesses closed in Upstate New York. Hes said this region shouldnt be governed by the same policies as Downstate, which has been hit harder by the virus. On Twitter, Dadey suggested the shutdown is part of a power-grab by Cuomo.

Hes been careful, however, not to provoke McMahon, one of his partys top elected officials locally. In a radio interview last week, he praised the county executive.

McMahon, like Cuomo, has stressed the importance of remaining closed until its safe to reopen.

Hes said repeatedly he will let data, not emotion, guide any decisions on a restart.

Lets not overreact right now, McMahon said last week. I see protests, I get it. People are concerned about their liberty, theyre concerned about economic ruin, I get it. I feel it. People are also concerned everythings going too fast. We gotta find that balance.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

A problem for NY businesses: Workers wont return when they can get unemployment on steroids

Heroes of CNY: Physician assistant spends weekends in NYC to fight coronavirus face-to-face

Onondaga County coronavirus: 35 new cases, more ongoing infections now than ever; 30th death

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) ("UNFI"), today announced that it has named Jim Gehr as its new Chief Supply Chain Officer effective Monday, May 4. In this role, Gehr will lead an organization of over 12,000 associates working across four regions and 59 distribution centers, delivering 1.3 billion cases annually to UNFI's more than 30,000 customers. He will immediately focus on UNFI's warehouse logistics while further advancing UNFI's automation investments, distribution center expansions and network optimization. Gehr will report to Eric Dorne, UNFI's Chief Operating Officer.

"Jim is a highly-regarded supply chain executive who brings operational excellence experience to UNFI along with a proven track record of building and motivating teams," said Dorne. "He has a history of creating and growing business opportunities, establishing sustainable processes, and developing a strong culture of continuous improvement that drives value throughout the supply chain and, ultimately, to customers. His unique experiences - from integrating emerging technologies to effectively utilizing data analytics - will enhance UNFI's long-term operating model and help accelerate our innovation. Jim is an engaging leader and we're excited to welcome him to UNFI."

Gehr joins UNFI after having spent the past 29 years at DHL Supply Chain where, since 2004, he has served as President, Retail North America. In this role, Gehr oversaw the operations for 72 facilities providing store, eCommerce, and multi-channel fulfillment as well as import center deconsolidation, return center operations, and store delivery across national networks for more than 30 major North American retailers. While continuing to lead DHL's Retail organization, Gehr also assumed leadership of the transportation organization, serving as President, Transportation North America from 2013 to 2016. Prior to joining DHL, Gehr was a senior manager at Ernst & Young in Harrisburg, Pa.

Gehr received his BSBA in Accounting from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and his CPA from Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

As announced earlier this year, Paul Green, UNFI's current Chief Supply Chain Officer, will take on a new role as President, UNFI Fresh, where he will oversee the Company's meat and produce business and will report directly to UNFI Chairman and CEO Steven L. Spinner.

"I want to thank Paul for the tremendous job he's done overseeing our supply chain throughout many years of rapid growth and change," said Dorne. "I truly appreciate Paul's leadership, exemplary results, partnership and friendship, and know he will do an amazing job overseeing our Fresh business."

About United Natural Foods

UNFI is North America's premier food wholesaler delivering the widest variety of products to customer locations throughout North America including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, ecommerce retailers, and food service customers. By providing this deeper 'full-store' selection and compelling brands for every aisle, UNFI is uniquely positioned to deliver great food, more choices, and fresh thinking to customers everywhere. Today, UNFI is the largest publicly-traded grocery distributor in America. To learn more about how UNFI is Moving Food Forward, visit www.unfi.com.

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WATERBURY  U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, announced Thursday that she and her family would enter self-quarantine after her husband, a first responder in Waterbury, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Hayes said her husband appears to be healthy and asymptomatic, while she tested negative for the coronavirus.

Out of an abundance of caution, and in keeping in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, my family and I will be quarantining at home for the next 14 days and self-monitoring for symptoms, Hayes said in a statement. I will continue working remotely, talking with constituents and community leaders, and communicating daily with colleagues as we work on the next relief package to combat the health and economic crisis that our country is in.

The diseases effect on her family reinforces that there is real danger in a premature return to regular order for Congress and the country, without appropriate precautions, Hayes said.

This test result highlights that COVID-19 does not discriminate and presents in many forms  it has and will touch every family in some way. But it also underscores that workers who have been deemed essential  whether they are keeping our streets safe, stocking grocery shelves, or producing the food to feed us  are inherently at a greater risk of contracting this deadly virus, Hayes said. Every day I am in awe of the courage of these Americans  who are doing their part to help their neighbors.

Hayes said the need to support essential workers with workplace protection, living wages and benefits has never been more clear than in this moment.

She advocated for Connecticut residents to continue to stay home and socially distance, thus lowering the risk for essential workers, and follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I am so proud of how my community and my state have responded to this unprecedented crisis. I am humbled by the unity, strength and resilience that I have seen firsthand. No matter what happens, we will get through this. And we will do it by working together, and supporting each other, said Hayes. As always, my staff and I remain here to help and will continue to fight for Connecticuts Fifth District. I pray for the safety of you and your families.

william.lambert

@hearstmediact.com
The passing of former Canadian Supreme Court Justice Peter Cory will be noted with genuine sorrow by many in Ireland, including myself. He played an important role in the Northern Ireland peace process and left memories behind him of a genuine and humane individual. He had come to our shores to assist in resolving one of the thorniest issues in the conflict, namely policing.

The two communities in Northern Ireland had diametrically opposed opinions of the old Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). To the Unionist community, they were a brave force which resisted terrorism, while Nationalists regarded the RUC as a partisan and at times a feared institution which could not be relied on.

When a new policing dispensation was devised post the Good Friday Agreement, including the transition from the old RUC to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the matter of disputed killings remained unresolved. These were killings were there was credible evidence of State involvement and collusion with paramilitaries. The new PSNI would never be fully accepted while this festering wound remained untreated.

The most prominent of these killings involved the murder of defence lawyers, Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson. To resolve the matter, six cases were selected, including these two, to be examined by an independent international judicial figure. These six cases were emblematic of a whole range of murders and involved individuals on both sides of the communal divide.

When the British Government suggested Peter Cory, there was genuine surprise and welcome on the Irish side. Even the most cursory research showed us that he was a man with a proven track record of upholding human rights and had been a leading judicial figure in utilising the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Canadian Constitution. Right from the start, Cory was very insistent in remaining independent of both governments.

He demanded the right to appoint his own supporting staff; access to all papers and that his report would be published. He later stated that he looked British Prime Minister Tony Blair straight in the eye and asked for a categorical commitment that all papers would be made available. Blair immediately gave that assurance and Cory, rightly in my opinion, believed that Blair was genuine.

Since these events all had occurred while his Conservative political opponents were in power, Blair had no huge incentive in shielding anybody who was guilty. Once a figure of Corys stature was on board, it was possible to move the process forward. This greatly helped the overall momentum for reform and the creation of a police service which would have the support of the entire community.

Cory operated from two offices, one in Belfast and another in Dublin. He later told me that while in Dublin he manage to locate the house from where a previous generation of his family had migrated to Canada. He never spoke publicly about his Dublin connections while in Ireland for fear of compromising his investigation.

When he completed his report on the cases, there were attempts by some security elements in Britain to redact parts but Cory was adamant that he had been assured of uncensored publication and if his report was unfairly doctored, he would publish it himself. Eventually a mutually acceptable version was published.

Cory found that five of the six cases merited full public inquiries. I spoke to members of several of the victims families after the report came out. I had been tasked by the Irish government to press all the families involved to accept Corys findings. All those I met regarded Cory highly and mentioned the compassion and understanding he displayed in his encounters with them.

I remember the late David Wright, father of Loyalist Billy Wright, being very impressed by Cory. The respect was mutual because Cory later told me in Canada that the sincerity and dignity of the victims families also left a deep and lasting impression on him.

I met Cory in Toronto soon after British PM David Cameron confirmed that there would be no public inquiry into the Finucane case. Cory was in ailing health at the time but still able to articulate his disappointment but told me he was not really surprised. The material on the files which he reviewed on the case was pretty bad. As always, he was the perfect gentleman on that occasion.

Cory was part of an extraordinary Canadian contribution to resolving the conflict in Northern Ireland which also included Gen. John de Chastelain, Judge William Hoyt of New Brunswick, Al Hutchinson of the RCMP and many others. Ireland owes them a debt of gratitude.
The New York City Police Department is looking into a devious coronavirus-themed blackmail scheme where con artists threaten to infect online users' families unless they pay them.

The law enforcement agency had internally circulated a confidential document titled Scams and Fraud Campaigns Exploiting COVID 19 Likely to Continue, alerting officers to fraudulent activity inspired by the global pandemic.

According to the April 20 memo reviewed by The Daily Beast, the scam involves 'threat actors leveraging fears of the virus to perpetuate a variety of malicious and criminal exploitation.'

NYPD is warning of a scam where con artists threaten to infect people's families with coronavirus unless they pay them money or cryptocurrency

As part of the con, cyber-criminals purchase in bulk hundreds of thousands of hacked and leaked user names and passwords of unsuspecting people on the darkweb.

Next, the crooks reach out to their 'marks' and threaten to somehow infect their loved ones with the deadly virus unless they hand over cash or cryptocurrency.

It is unclear how the rogues would make good on their threat, making the entire concept somewhat implausible, according to experts.

The idea behind the sickening racket exploiting people' fears is not new: it is based on the model of last year's much more successful porn extortion scheme, according to officials.

In that scenario, targeted users were sent an email containing their online credentials, which was the blackmailers' way of showing that they had access to the victims' personal information.

As of Thursday morning, COVID-19 has claimed more than 62,000 lives in the US alone

The email would say, 'now that I have your attention I need to tell you I have access to all your accounts and your passwords, as well as the kind of material youve been looking at.'

The idea is that the blackmailers have caught the targeted user visiting porn sites and have accessed the person's web camera, recording video of them looking at unsavory or embarrassing material.

But according to law enforcement officials, it is all a fabrication: the blackmailers never have access to their mark's computer camera. The only problem is, the victims cannot know for sure whether or not their online activities have been exposed, especially after getting proof of a breach from the scammers in the form of their user name and password.

So far, according to the NYPD document, the coronavirus-inspired scam has been less successful than its pornography predecessor, arguably because of the vague nature of the threat.

The novel coronavirus, which as of Thursday morning has claimed more than 61,000 lives in the US alone, is mainly transmitted through sneeze or cough between people in close proximity.

NYPD Deputy commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller told The Daily Beast the agency is raising awareness about the new scheme so that people will know to recognize it if they see it, and ignore it.

'They also need to know this person has not hacked their computer, hasnt had access to all their information, and that the fraud depends on people believing that those claims are true,' he told the outlet.

People receiving a COVID-19 blackmail email are advised not to engage the sender in any discussions and to delete it.

The infection scam is part of a growing trend of opportunistic bad actors preying on people's fears by flooding the Internet with malware and phishing emails for financial gain.

Scams include 'investments' in phony COVID-19 cures and charging people in advance for nonexistent home tests, fake protective gear or even overpriced toilet paper that never arrives.

Other fraudsters offer 'help' finding a new job or quickly getting federal stimulus checks, if people provide bank account and Social Security numbers or pay upfront fees.

The Federal Trade Commission reported that through March 31, Americans filed complaints about losses to coronavirus-related fraud totaling nearly $6million.
Bonilla, known as the Tiger, is in Honduras, where he does not face any charges. He served in the police force from 1985 to 2016, according to the charges, and held the top job from 2012 to 2013, under then-President Porfirio Lobo. Juan Orlando Hernandez was leader of the Honduran Congress from 2010 to 2013. He became president in 2014.
New Delhi, April 30 : The Delhi government on Thursday made '1077' the Covid-19 helpline number for senior citizens in the national capital.

Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev in his capacity as the Chairperson, Delhi State Executive Committee, directed that the 1077 helpline of the Delhi Revenue Department "shall also function as the helpline for senior citizens for Covid-19".

In an order, Dev said the Deputy Commissioner (HQ) will be responsible for efficient functioning of the helpline on a 24x7 basis.

"The Principal Secretary is directed to give adequate publicity of the said helpline number in the newspapers and on social media. Further, SIO, NIC, shall create an online application on an urgent basis for capturing the requests and grievances of the senior citizens and sending the same to the District Magistrate concerned," Dev said in the order.

The online application must also provide for SMS acknowledgement to the senior citizens concerned and SMS alert to the District Magistrate concerned and his nodal officer.

"Furthermore, all District Magistrates shall appoint a nodal officer at the district level for this purpose who shall ensure that all the grievances are attended to by the department concerned at the district level and send a feedback on the online application for record and onward information to the senior citizen," he said in the order.

Citing an order from the Delhi High Court dated April 22, Dev said it was observed that a dedicated helpline has not been set up by the Delhi government for the senior citizens just as the Delhi Police have done.

"The government had assured the court that a dedicated helpline shall be activated within two days and adequate publicity of the said helpline number shall be given in the newspapers and on social media to ensure that the information is disseminated among all concerned," Dev said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Love Island 2020 could be axed as it would send the wrong signal during the coronavirus lockdown, ITV bosses have revealed.

Channel head Kevin Lygo confirmed on Thursday they may abandon plans for a summer series this year as it would feel inappropriate to have its stars 'slavering all over each other' while the country adheres to social distancing measures.

It comes as Kevin also ruled out talks that a new series of Love Island could be filmed in the UK, despite reports the iconic villa could be moved to Cornwall.

No show this year? Love Island 2020 could be axed as it would send the wrong signal during the coronavirus lockdown, ITV bosses have revealed

Kevin admitted they're at a point when they have to decide whether to go ahead with Love Island this year.

During a virtual interview hosted by the Edinburgh TV Festival, he said: 'We're approaching the moment of is it feasible? Will Majorca open its doors?'

The channel boss added that they wouldn't want to send the wrong signal to viewers when the country is asked to stay and home and keep at least two metres apart'

'What signal might it be sending out if we're doing a show where everyone is crammed together slavering over each other, and the rest of the world is told not to go near anyone in the park?' he added.

Taking a break: Kevin Lygo confirmed on Thursday ITV may abandon plans for a summer series this year, dismissing claims a new series could be filmed in the UK

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Kevin added that they did consider moving filming for this year's series to the UK from its usual spot in Mallorca.

He went onto dismiss reports the new series could be filmed in Cornwall saying it 'wouldn't be the same.'

Kevin also said that they are hoping to reach a decision on the new series of Love Island 'very soon,' and there would be a 'big commercial impact' if the series failed to go ahead.

It was reported earlier this month that Love Island bosses were hoping to go ahead with filming the new series, and would delay the start date until July.

A TV source exclusively told MailOnline: 'The team are still committed to the series airing this summer. The show will go on.'

'Production on Love Island have been told the upcoming series is still scheduled to take place but the show will launch a month later in July. All the usual preparations are going ahead,'

Uh oh: It comes following reports much of this year's cast will have missed on thousands of pounds in big-money deals during the lockdown (Shaughna Phillips and Demi Jones, pictured)

It comes following reports much of this year's cast will have missed on thousands of pounds in events and big-money deals as the country is ground to a halt during the lockdown.

On Thursday, Jack Cooper of EdHopkinsPR revealed to Metro that stars have missed key moneymaking moments which have previously bagged stars up to millions of pounds.

He said: 'They are also missing out on club appearances due to them being closed, which could have earned them up to 5,000 per hour.

'With no events to attend, they are also missing out on a huge range of exposure in the media, having no stories for the press to write about...

'The Winter Love Island stars are set to lose huge amounts of money, some contestants up to 500,000. Brand deals at the moment are at an all-time low.

'Many of the participants have approached us to represent them during this tough time. Due to our books being full and also the lack of opportunities in the industry at this time, we have had to decline them.'

Stand in: Laura Whitmore took over as host from her friend Caroline Flack, who went onto tragically take her own life in February

Love Island last aired on screens at the beginning of this year when ITV2 commissioned the show's first ever winter series, filmed in South Africa.

Laura Whitmore took over as host from her friend Caroline Flack, who went onto tragically take her own life in February.

Shortly after the show came off air that month, the global coronavirus pandemic spread around the world, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson enforcing a lockdown on 23 March.

Despite these concerns, the number of applications for the summer series is anything to go by, fans are hoping the ITV2 dating show does return as potential islanders are at a record high.

Oh no! Despite these concerns it's been reported this summer's Love Island has seen its highest number of applications yet (series winner Paige Turley pictured)

According to The Sun, Love Island has received its highest number of applications yet and show bosses are hoping to snap up new reality stars by holding virtual auditions.

An insider told the paper that applications have surpassed 12,000, claiming: 'Applications have gone through the roof since lockdown. Never before have so many people applied in this six-week time span.'

They continued: 'Over seventy per cent of the applications have come from 18 to 28-year-olds and the videos being sent in have been more creative than ever as people have more time on their hands.'

The insider suggested that once the candidates for Love Island's summer series have been shortlisted in the 'coming weeks', they'll then be interviewed virtually by the team, with ITV having to bring in 'extra staff' to accommodate the high numbers.
A 25-year-old man took nearly two months to reach his home in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand from Tehran, capital of Iran amid the Covid-19 outbreak. In the process, he was quarantined once in Iran and twice in Rajasthan. And on Tuesday, when he reached Champawat, it was only to be quarantined again.

Praveen Burathi, a resident of Khatoli, a village 40 km from Champawat works as a navigation officer at a shipping company in Tehran. He was sanctioned two months leave by his company but the flight he was to take on February 28 was cancelled.

 When I reached Tehran airport on February 28, I was informed that flight for Delhi was cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak . I was told there was no certainty when the next flight would leave for India, said Burathi.

He contacted the Indian embassy in Tehran.  I was advised by officials that I would be quarantined in a hotel till the next flight was available. I remained in quarantine till March 14 and my sample was taken by Iranian officials, which tested negative on March 16.

The quarantine was necessary because Iran was among the earliest to be hit hard by the viral pandemic.

One he cleared the quarantine, he was put on the next flight to India.

Finally I boarded an Air flight for Delhi with r 195 other Indians on March 18 from Tehran. After we reached Delhi we were taken to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan through two domestic flights and quarantined there for 14 days, Burathi said.

Every Indian flown in from countries ravaged by the virus -- China and Iran, for instance -- were placed in manatory quarantine.

After completion of the quarantine period, their samples were taken again for Covid-19 testing on March 31. The report was received on April 5, which showed two people tested positive for COVID-19. So we all were quarantined again for 14 days at the same centre. We completed the second quarantine period on April 19, when samples were again sent for the testing, Burathi said.

That report came in negative on April 23; he and the others were free to go. But it took me three more days to obtain a movement pass from the authorities in Jaisalmer. Then, I hired a taxi for 30000 and left for Champawat, said Burathi.

Burathi reached Champawat on Tuesday and went to the local police station to inform them about his arrival as is the practice during the lockdown. Once he told them about his travel history, he was quarantined again in a local hotel for 14 days.

The chief medical officer of Champawat district Dr RP Khanduri said: Though we are quarantining (all) people who come from outside the state, given this mans travel history we are being extra cautious. After he completes his quarantine period, his samples will be sent for testing. If they come negative, he will be sent home and advised to stay there.

In Uttarakhand, where 57 people have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, 11,120 people have been home quarantined and 2,218 have been quarantined in various institutions .

I so badly want to go home, said Burathi.

This is the longest and most tiresome journey I have taken so far in my life.
Two-thirds of British businesses applied for Government help paying wage bills for furloughed staff, but less than a fifth have received support so far, official figures reveal.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 66% of surveyed firms had applied to the Government's coronavirus job retention scheme - making it the most popular support programme.

But the data revealed that 19% of firms that applied received help since it went live on April 20.

More than half - 56% - of firms have also applied for the VAT deferral scheme, although just 42% have received the support.

The ONS data showed the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on businesses across Britain, as it revealed nearly a quarter of firms - 24% - have said revenues have more than halved.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced on April 15 that the cut-off date to be eligible for the government's coronavirus furlough scheme was extended

The ONS surveyed 17,623 businesses in the UK, of which 5,158 responded for the period between April 6 to 19.

It found that of all businesses continuing to trade, 57% reported their turnover had decreased in some way, while 13% expected revenues to fall 'substantially' in the next two weeks.

What does it mean to be furloughed? Being furloughed by your employer means you're being sent home, but will still receive 80 per cent of your salary by the Government, up to a maximum of 2,500 a month. This Government job retention scheme is only for employed people, it does not apply if you are self-employed. However, you first need to agree to be put on furlough by your employer, who can then apply for the money to the Government. You cannot apply for it yourself. Your employer can choose to pay the remaining 20 per cent of your wages, although it is not obliged to do so. If you earn more than 2,500 a month, your employer can choose to 'top up' your salary, but again it is not forced to do so. You will still continue to pay income tax and national insurance contributions while on furlough. The Government advice says: 'If you and your employer both agree, your employer might be able to keep you on the payroll if theyre unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus. This is known as being "on furlough".' Advertisement

Under HMRC's job retention scheme, the government will cover 80 per cent of a workers wages, up to 2,500 a month, if they are not working but are kept on the payroll.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced on April 15 that the cut-off date to be eligible for the government's coronavirus furlough scheme was extended.

Employees originally had to be on a company's payroll by February 28 in order to be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - but Mr Sunak pushed back the date to March 19 - the day before the scheme was first set out.

The Government's furlough scheme website opened for applications on April 20 - receiving 67,000 claims in the first 30 minutes.

Fury has erupted over the mega-rich using taxpayer money to furlough staff during the coronavirus lockdown.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who is worth 240million, is among those using tax-payer money to furlough his staff.

Dragon's Den star Peter Jones, worth 490million, reportedly furloughed 400 Jessops workers.

Jones follows former Dragons' Den panellist Duncan Bannatyne who said he will have to dip into cash offered by the Government to keep paying his staff for the months of May and June.

Some 2,500 out of 3,000 have been put on furlough although he has topped up their salaries for April.

Victoria Beckham, part of a family worth 335million, earned criticism by furloughing 25 of her fashion staff.

Sir Richard Branson and Sir Philip Green have also faced the wrath of the public for relying on government funds to pay their staff.

Almost 200 people who work for the Prince of Wales were furloughed as a result of the coronavirus crisis  but Prince Charles will use reserves at his charity to pay the salaries of his staff.

Community businesses in England that have suffered due to the virus can apply for grants of up to 25,000 from charitable trust Power to Change, the Sun reports.

And British small businesses have won another 1.33 billion of funding in the last week as part of the chancellor's Covid-19 support scheme.

The loans were approved between April 21 and this Tuesday, according to new data from bank trade body UK Finance.

It brings the total lent under the government's coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS) to more than 4.1 billion, UK Finance said.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 66% of surveyed firms had applied to the Government's coronavirus job retention scheme - making it the most popular support programme

Almost 53,000 completed applications have been sent to the lenders and just over 25,000 of these have been approved to date.

UK Finance chief executive Stephen Jones said: 'The banking and finance sector recognises the role we must play in getting the country through these tough times and staff are working incredibly hard to get money to those viable businesses that need it.

'More than 4 billion has been delivered to over 25,000 businesses so far through the CBIL scheme, as part of a broad package of support for SMEs including capital repayment holidays, extended overdrafts and asset-based finance.

'The changes to the scheme announced by the Chancellor this week will enable lenders to streamline their application processes and help even more businesses access the support they need.

'This extensive support will be complemented by the new bounce back loans scheme targeted at smaller businesses, which lenders are now working at pace to get up and running from Monday.'
Cam Birge Appointed Interim CEO

Strategic Review Initiated

Financial Results Filed

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 29, 2020) - Mojave Jane (CSE: JANE) (OTCQB: HHPHF) (FSE: OHCN) today announced that, effective immediately, Mr. Cam Birge, current Chairman of the Board, will replace Gary Latham as CEO on an interim basis. Mr. Latham has also resigned from the Company's Board of Directors. The Company also announced it has filed its financial results for the quarter ended February 29, 2020 on SEDAR. Additionally, the Mojave Jane Board of Directors announced it is initiating a strategic review.

Chairman of the Board and Interim CEO Cam Birge comments:

"We have come to a point where the Company is faced with a number of critical decisions. The extreme correction in the cannabis sector followed by the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic has made obtaining the financing required to execute on various initiatives impossible. Consequently, there have been drastic changes to the way the Company is run, as well as the need to suspend or terminate certain initiatives such as the intended acquisition of Pacific Crest 4 (Adelanto), in order to preserve shareholder value and continue as a going concern. We are currently holding a strategic review of our assets and liabilities, and are developing our go forward plan. The success of this plan is dependent upon successful negotiations with previous partners and creditors, which are underway. At this point, no guarantees can be made as to the outcome of this process."

Stock Exchanges

Mojave Jane trades in Canada, ticker symbol JANE on the CSE, in the U.S. on the OTCQB, ticker symbol HHPHF, and in Europe on the FSE, ticker symbol OHCN. Neither the CSE, the OTCQB, nor the FSE have approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the OTCQB, nor the FSE accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Marijuana Industry Involvement

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Canadian listings (CSE) will remain in good standing as long as they provide the disclosure that is rightly required by regulators and complying with applicable licensing requirements and the regulatory framework enacted by the applicable state in which they operate. Marijuana is legal in certain states however marijuana remains illegal under US federal law and the approach to enforcement of US federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that adverse enforcement actions could affect their investments and that Mojave Jane's ability to access private and public capital could be affected and or could not be available to support continuing operations.

For more information about Mojave Jane, please contact:

Marc Lakmaaker

Email: info@mojavejane.com

Phone: (647) 289-6640

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Mojave Jane Brands Inc.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the intention of the parties to complete the Acquisition and certain ancillary transactions contemplated thereby. These transactions are subject to a number of material risks, and there is no assurance that they will be completed on the terms or within the timeframes currently contemplated, or at all. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

All monetary references herein refer to Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55190
Syrian Kurdish groups have condemned Tuesday's bombing in Turkish-controlled Afrin and denied responsibility after Turkey accused them of carrying out the attack that killed more than 50 people.

Mazlum Kobane, the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), called the event a terrorist act and blamed Turkish-backed forces for it.

What happened in Afrin yesterday was a condemnable terrorist act resulting in the loss of innocent lives, Kobane posted in Arabic on Twitter today. This criminal act is the result of the policy of destruction carried out by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries.

On Tuesday, an explosives-laden fuel truck blew up in Afrin in northern Syria, leading to at least 52 deaths, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. There were fighters, as well as civilians and children, among the dead, the observatory said. The blast caused a massive fire in the area of the explosion that engulfed nearby vehicles and structures.

The Kurdish group the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) took control of Afrin, which has a mixed Kurdish and Arab population, in 2012. Turkey considers the YPG an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party in Turkey that has long fought the Turkish state. The United States backed the YPG in its fight against the Islamic State, and Turkey grew anxious as the YPG took control of much of Syrias border area with Turkey and established autonomous rule there. In 2015, the YPG joined with Arab and Christian groups to form the US-backed SDF to continue fighting in IS. YPG commanders lead the SDF, though it is a multi-ethnic force.

Turkey and rebels it supports in the Free Syrian Army took Afrin from the YPG in 2018, causing Kurds to flee. The Turkey-YPG conflict continued in October 2019 when Turkey invaded northeast Syria, taking more areas from the western parts of SDF territory as part of Operation Peace Spring.

Following Tuesdays explosion, the Turkish Defense Ministry blamed the YPG for the attack.

The YPG issued a statement saying claims of its involvement in the attack are removed from the truth.

Some of the parties that occupied Afrin attributed responsibility to the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) before confirming that, the statement read. We have no connection to what happened.

The Syrian Democratic Council, which is the SDFs political wing, likewise condemned the attack. We in the Syrian Democratic Council condemn and denounce this cowardly terrorist act that targeted innocent civilians, the statement read.

The council also called on the international community to remove Turkish-backed forces from Afrin and other parts of Syria. We also call upon the international community to carry out its responsibilities towards the Syrian issue and work to end the Turkish occupation of the city of Afrin and all other areas that it occupied, the statement read.

Major hostilities between Turkey and the YPG ended in November of last year. Some fighting continues, however.
FILE PHOTO: Thai Airways airplanes are parked at the tarmac of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Airways International PCL plans to seek a 58.1 billion baht ($1.80 billion) emergency loan to maintain liquidity and see it through a coronavirus-induced drop in demand, showed a document from the airline detailing the plan.

The proposed bridge loan, guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance - its majority shareholder - was approved on Wednesday by a committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and will be put to the Cabinet for approval as early as next week, a person involved in the decision to seek the loan told Reuters.

Thai media has reported the airline was seeking a multi-billion baht loan. The document seen by Reuters reveals the carrier's detailed plan for the first time.

After the loan, the money-losing national carrier plans to raise 77.04 billion baht in capital by issuing new shares around November, and use the proceeds to pay off the loan plus interest as well as to maintain liquidity, the document showed.

Thai Airways had no comment when contacted by Reuters. The finance and transport ministries did not respond to requests for comment. The document's authenticity was confirmed by two people involved in the decision to seek the loan, who declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak with media.

The national carrier, which marks its 60th anniversary this year, was already facing financial trouble before the coronavirus outbreak, having reported losses since 2017.

It suspended flights in March as travel demand slumped, with governments worldwide imposing restrictions on movement to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Its president then resigned after less than two years in the job.

Under the plan, Thai Airways will receive emergency funds gradually based on operational requirements, said one of the people.

It will reduce the number of aircraft to 84 from 103 by 2024, and types of aircraft to six from seven, and will lay off some of its 21,000 employees, the document showed.

The airline is also looking for partners and is considering spinning off business units such as catering and engineering, the document showed.

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Its share sale - which would dilute the finance ministry's shareholding to under 50% from 51% - could see buyers include state-owned banks and government funds, said the person.

Under Thai law, companies that have a direct government holding of over 50% are considered state enterprises and are subject to additional regulation such as regarding management and labour.

Major investment decisions such as aircraft procurement require approval from multiple government agencies and expose the airline - whose presidents have been political appointees without aviation experience - to outside influence.

Diluting the government's shareholding will allow Thai Airways to operate more dynamically, experts said.

"Breaking away from state-enterprise regulation is a good signal, which could lead to improvement in management and ward off political influence," said Ben Kiatkwankul of political advisory Maverick Consulting Group.

"However, the airline will have to overcome long-standing practices and traditions and bring on professional leadership with a strong aviation background to be successful."

Like Thai Airways, Thailand itself is heavily reliant on travellers. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy stands to lose 1.3 trillion baht, mostly in the tourism sector, due to the impact of the virus, which has infected over 3 million people globally and led to more than 225,000 deaths.

($1 = 32.3300 baht)

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
Hours after Uttar Pradesh this week began using buses to bring back its migrants stuck in Haryana, the states helplines serving Maharashtra went crazy with over 97,700 distress calls from migrant workers wanting to go home. Meanwhile, Insaf Ali made it back from Mumbai to his Mathkanwa village in Shravasti district, UP, hitchhiking over 1,500 km over 14 days. But the tale ended in tragedy. The construction worker died soon after from dehydration. Nudged by the Supreme Court to take cognisance of a developing national tragedy of stranded migrant people, the Centre has allowed opening road transport to states wanting to ferry people back. But a more comprehensive policy is required.

An estimated 139 million migrants, serving the economy in diverse tasks, were caught off guard when the prime minister declared a 21-day curfew in March. Public transport was frozen. The rich and the well-heeled were lucky. They had a small window when flights operated to bring them back. But the daily wage migrant was stuck without a job or support. When the future is bleak, it is natural, a survival instinct, for them to try and make it back to ones own village and family for succour. The coronavirus lockdown has unfortunately denied this last option to millions.

As the Centre prepares for the tasks after the current round of lockdown ends on May 3, it is necessary that public transportboth rail and roadis opened for a few days for these hapless people to return home. There are the naysayers pointing to the risk of the infection being carried to rural districts. However, a graded response is possible. Those in hotspots can be kept back. Those returning can be screened at departure. On arrival at their destinations, a two-week quarantine can be imposed. UP deployed special buses to bring back stranded students from Kota. Why should the same humanity not be extended to the bricklayer? The plight of the migrant worker is a ticking time bomb, and his swift transfer home must be high on the 3rd May agenda.
Rotary members across India have contributed Rs. 30 crores to support Indias government in the fight against COVID-19

From contributing 30 Crores to the PM Cares Fund, to providing food and personal protective equipment to those in need, Rotary members are responding to the impact of COVID-19

In the wake of the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, Rotary members across India have contributed Rs. 30 crores to support Indias government in the fight against COVID-19.

To date, 1.5 lakh Rotary members across 4,000 Rotary clubs in India have distributed 75,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, more than one crore face masks, 6,50,000 packets of food and grain, and more than 25 lakh meals to those in need across the country.

Shekhar Mehta, president-nominee, Rotary International 2021-22, said, The COVID-19 pandemic response requires worldwide solidarity and an urgent global effort. Rotary clubs are working with local governments to provide food, medical equipment, sanitizers, masks and other items as required. Rotary members aim to do their part to flatten the COVID-19 curve and support those who are most impacted in our communities. We all have a responsibility to help those who are struggling during this time of crisis. We need to work together so that we emerge out of this stronger.

As eliminating polio worldwide is Rotarys top philanthropic goal, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative will use the infrastructure they built to end polio in India  including its tools, workforce, and extensive surveillance networks  to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by supporting preparedness and response activities.

Rotary is also working closely with governments to build awareness about the virus across communities. Special efforts are being undertaken towards training of frontline workers as they are at high risk of contagion.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 17:21:31|Editor: huaxia

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Medical staff of Xiaotangshan Hospital clean up a ward after the hospital cleared all COVID-19 cases in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

The outbreak of a virus is not the fault of any country, and the only reason Schmitt and other politicians made such allegation is to pass the buck, distract domestic public outcry, and seek political gains.

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The so-called legal actions against China for damages in the coronavirus pandemic are based on falsehood and prejudice, and are nothing but political pandering by a few U.S. politicians to win elections.

Attorney generals of the states of Missouri and Mississippi filed the lawsuits last week, trying to blame China for losses during the coronavirus outbreak. Such frivolous litigations are only aimed to fault other countries for their own inactions and failures.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt alleged that China lied about the dangers of the virus and did not do enough to slow its spread. His groundless accusation, however, can be easily refuted by facts.

China's measures to counter the unknown virus have been the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough, in an open, transparent and responsible spirit. Earlier this month, China published a detailed timeline of China releasing information on COVID-19 and advancing international cooperation on epidemic response.

Since Jan. 3, China has been regularly informing the WHO, relevant countries, including the United States, on the latest development of the situation. On Jan. 12, China shared with the WHO information on the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus, which has laid a solid basis for global efforts of scientific research and vaccine development against COVID-19.

The United States has unfettered access to information and data from China.

Medical staff of Xiaotangshan Hospital see off one of the hospital's last group of COVID-19 patients(2nd R) who have recovered from the disease in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

When the Chinese people suffered from a rampaging epidemic since January, it made all-out efforts to contain the spread of the virus, including putting the megacity of Wuhan on lockdown. These effective measures, however, were once bashed as "overreacting" by some politicians and news outlets in the west.

Until early March, U.S. President Donald Trump was still downplaying the threat of the coronavirus outbreak and comparing it to a common flu. The losses of lives and economic pain in the United States are due to their own delay and incompetence.

In fact, such lawsuits are known to lead nowhere. In accordance with the principle of sovereign equality under international law, U.S. courts have no jurisdiction over the sovereign actions taken by Chinese governments at all levels in response to the epidemic.

The outbreak of a virus is not the fault of any country, and the only reason Schmitt and other politicians made such allegation is to pass the buck, distract domestic public outcry, and seek political gains.

In history, the blame-other-countries strategy, including demonization of China, has often been used in the United States to sway public opinions in elections.

Evasion of responsibility is just an act of ill-intentioned cowardice in the face of the real enemy: the virus. Instead of pointing fingers at other countries, cooperation is needed in these difficult times.

It is certain such scapegoating will further erode the international trust in the United States and undermine its long-held status as a global leader. And it will in no way help the world to fight against COVID-19.

If such lawsuits are not dismissed, all members of the international community are prone to be made the scapegoat for the failure of the United States. 
A Trump fanatic from Illinois who was on the Secret Service's radar for making a death threat against Joe Biden was arrested Wednesday afternoon after she drove into Manhattan armed with 18 knives, pulled up near the USNS Comfort hospital ship and manically declared 'I'm the coronavirus!' sources exclusively told DailyMail.com.

Jessica Prim, 37, of Peoria, driving a silver Toyota Tundra with Illinois license plates, initially pulled up to the USS Intrepid museum, a few blocks south of the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship that was sent to New York Harbor to aid in the coronavirus fight.

A security guard for the Intrepid flagged down NYPD cops, who were stationed nearby. As the officers approached, Prim was breathing heavily and trembling, while uttering a series of cryptic comments.

She broadcast much of the exchange on Facebook Live. 'I felt like I had to come here to this ship because I need help,' Prim cried in the video. 'I feel like I'm the coronavirus.'

Jessica Prim, 37, was taken into custody in New York City Wednesday after showing up to the USS Intrepid with 18 knives and martial arts weaponry. She live streamed her arrest of Facebook

Law enforcement sources told DailyMail.com that the woman was being tracked by the Secret Service for making threats against Joe Biden

Prim told officers that she was headed to the Navy hospital ship the USNS Comfort, docked a few blocks away

'No, you're not the coronavirus,' one of the officers replied, and tried to sooth her. 'Hey listen, Jessica, we're here to help.'

Prim, a conspiracy theorist and Trump supporter, was taken to a hospital in Manhattan for evaluation

They called for an ambulance and then discovered that she was wanted by the Secret Service for making threats against former Vice President Biden, as well as Hillary Clinton and lobbyist Tony Podesta.

A law enforcement alert had been issued earlier in the day with her name and license number.

Prim posted a message on Facebook hours earlier stating: 'Hillary Clinton and her assistant, Joe Biden and Tony podesta need to be taken out in the name of Babylon! I can't be set free without them gone. Wake me up!!!!!'

Her Facebook features a series of live rants during a drive that went on for hours and apparently began in her home state.

On Tuesday, she blasted the governor of Illinois for his decision to extend the state's stay at home order by another month.

'One of the most corrupt governors that I've ever experienced,' she wrote in one posting. 'Why are we shut down. President Trump open up the country May 1st. Why do we have 30 more days to wait. What is this governor so scared of. I left but I will be back.'

Prim posted a message to Facebook hours before her arrest stating: 'Hillary Clinton and her assistant, Joe Biden and Tony podesta need to be taken out in the name of Babylon!'

Earlier in the day Prim has made threats against former Vice President Biden, as well as Hillary Clinton and lobbyist Tony Podesta

Prim live streamed her arrest on Facebook Live where she could be seen telling officers, 'I am the coronavirus'

During Prim's apparent road trip from her home state to New York, Prim flooded her Facebook page with messages of support for the president

Prim identified herself as an entertainer who goes by the stage name Nikita Steele

During her apparent road trip, Prim flooded her Facebook page with laudatory videos featuring Trump and messages of support for the president.

'I trust Trump!!!!' she wrote.

'Do not touch our president Donald Trump,' she declared in another.

'Give me strength God,' she wrote hours before showing up on the West Side, reacting to a May 2010 tweet she posted from the president that states: 'My campaign for president was conclusively spied on. Nothing like this has ever happened in American politics. A really bad situation. TREASON means long jail sentences, and this was TREASON!'

Prim also blasted some of Trump's favorite political targets and spread conspiracy theories about them.

In one Facebook Live session, she described a 'dark web' video she purportedly saw in which 'Hillary Clinton and her assistant tied up some girl to a tree, cut her face off, tore her intestines out, hung it around their neck and was dancing around.'

'You've got to understand that all hell's about to break loose on this planet and you're going to have to stand up for yourself and your kids,' she added. 'God will judge who the good ones are.'

'I really trust Trump,' she continued. 'He really helps me figure this out.'

She also took a cryptic shot at the mayor of New York for a tweet he wrote Tuesday calling for mourners to be fined or arrested for crowding a rabbi's funeral in Brooklyn. She added, cryptically, 'They're trying to stop me from getting to the president!!!!!'

She also spoke of torture she said she and a sibling endured as children, claiming she was 'burned' and 'tranquilized.'

Prim, who is seen in a previous mugshot, was charged with 18 counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and unlawful possession of marijuana

Prim's Facebook features a series of live rants during a drive that went on for hours and apparently began in her home state

After she pulled up to the Intrepid on Wednesday, cops were struggling to make sense of her statements.

'I'm really scared,' Prim told them. 'I'm like right by Hell's Kitchen, you guys, so I'm terrified that they're going to burn me. I'm so scared. Please God, please help me.'

The officers asked her to explain why she was so unsettled.

'You should really look to my Facebook, it will explain everything,' she said.

She told cops that she was at home a couple weeks ago, decorating costumes, and that, 'I was watching the press conferences with Donald Trump on TV. I felt like he was talking to me, okay?'

As she rambled on, one of the cops asked, 'Are you taking any medications?'

Prim told them she smokes marijuana regularly. She cried and initially resisted as officers told her to step out of the vehicle.

Prim was arrested in New York City after showing up to the USS Intrepid Wednesday with knives and martial arts weaponry

'I want you know I'm on Facebook Live right now, okay?' she said. 'Don't open the door because I'm on Facebook Live.'

She eventually emerged. An officer placed her in handcuffs, explaining it was 'for your safety and mine.'

She acknowledged there were knives in the truck. Authorities searched and found several, including ninja throwing stars.

Prim was taken to a hospital in Manhattan for evaluation. She was charged with 18 counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and unlawful possession of marijuana.

The Secret Service declined to comment to DailyMail.com, referring calls to the NYPD.
Citizens stand in a queue to buy anti-aerosol masks and disposable medical masks at a sales booth in front of the Beuel town hall during the novel coronavirus crisis on April 29 2020 in Bonn, Germany.

As countries across Europe start to lift their lockdowns, close attention is being paid to the so-called "R" rate as an indication of whether a second wave of coronavirus infections could be on the horizon.

Epidemiologists and governments are not just watching the daily number of cases recorded as restrictions are lifted, they are also keeping a close eye on this key metric in gauging the coronavirus' ability to spread.

Also known as the "basic reproductive number" or R value or rate, the figure indicates the number of secondary infections generated from one infected individual, on average, assuming there is no immunity among a population already.

Simply put, it gives experts an indication of the extent to which the coronavirus is being spread, or reproduced, among a population. The higher the reproduction rate, the higher the risk of a virus spreading exponentially.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) told CNBC Thursday that it is important to keep the reproduction rate to less than 1, as this means that each person infected is likely to infect less than one person on average. "If this is the case, the outbreak can be contained," a spokesman for the center said.

Germany prompted concern Tuesday when it said that its R rate had increased up to 1.0, from 0.7 earlier in April, just as the country started to reopen its economy.

"The number should stay below one, that is the big goal," Lothar Wieler, the president of the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases (RKI) in Germany told a news conference Tuesday.

"The further it is below one, the more secure we can feel, the more leeway we have, but there are other numbers that are also important," he said, including the number of cases per day, and testing capacity. On Thursday, however, the RKI said the reproduction rate is currently estimated at 0.76 on average.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 14:09:26|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on April 28, 2020 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

As the world's sole superpower, the U.S. has with little doubt an unparalleled power to sway or shape global public opinions for its own purposes.

In recent years, as Washington has turned ever reckless in the international arena, its mega bully pulpit seems becoming a strong-arm bully's pulpit.

The most recent case is some Washington politicians' incessant rhetorical attacks that smear China amid a ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

by Xinhua writer Wang Lei

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- More than a century ago, then U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase "bully pulpit" when inviting journalists to the White House to share his thoughts on public policy.

The term has been commonly used to describe a prominent position of authority that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to. As the world's sole superpower, the United States has with little doubt an unparalleled power to sway or shape global public opinions for its own purposes.

In recent years, as Washington has turned ever reckless in the international arena, its mega bully pulpit seems becoming a strong-arm bully's pulpit. The most recent case is some Washington politicians' incessant rhetorical attacks that smear China amid a ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press briefing in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Over the past months, it seems that some beltway politicians like U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House trade advisor Peter Navarro seldom open their mouths without defaming China. Using groundless and brazen theories, they have tried to promote ridiculous conspiracies about the origin of the virus, accused Beijing of craving a bigger global role, and tried to let China take the blame for the outbreak.

Washington has treated the World Health Organization (WHO), the backbone of the global public health response system, in a worse manner. This U.S. administration has not only bombarded the global health body with similar gratuitous verbal attacks, but also moved to defund it at a time when the WHO needs more, not less, support to do its job.

Sober minds around the world know that those politicians are launching their desperate misinformation campaign to cover up Washington's botched response since the outbreak, and to turn the pandemic into an excuse to legitimize their strategy to contain China.

Medical workers take a sample at a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 28, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Just as some U.S. citizens did ingest bleach or other cleaning agents after the White House hinted it might help kill the virus, those malicious allegations could not only kill cells of common sense in some people's brains, and even claim lives, but also fan fears, feed racist sentiments, help grow mistrust globally and undermine solidarity, which is extremely crucial to stamping out the virus at the moment.

Washington in fact has a history of abusing its power for global domination. One infamous example is former Secretary of State Colin Powell's UN presentation, in which he used fabricated "evidence" to prove to the world that Iraq was concealing weapons of mass destruction, paving the way for America's invasion of the Mideast country, and a long-running war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. Powell later called this episode a "blot" in his life.

When Theodore Roosevelt came up with the term "bully pulpit," he meant to use the influence of his power to command attention, and to inspire his people with high-minded ideals.

A formation of the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels fly over New York City, the United States, on April 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Today, the United States, with all of its mighty military, economy and technological prowess, can still easily command the attention of the world, yet what those Washington politicians did by smearing others in the high-stakes global fight against the pandemic shows that the country has failed to inspire and lead in a way a responsible superpower should do.

With great power comes great responsibility. The Peter Parker principle has never been so relevant at this challenging moment when the world is plagued with the deadly virus, which so far has infected more than 3 million people and claimed over 200,000 lives worldwide.

These U.S. politicians should purge themselves of those outdated mindsets that might always makes right, call off their blame game, and join the rest of the world to beat the pathogen and save as many lives as possible. Otherwise, Washington's bully pulpit will only serve to expose the abusive and high-handed nature of a U.S. hegemony. 
By Express News Service

KOCHI: A Group of 10 India seafarers, who were stranded in a merchant vessel due to the restrictions imposed in view of Covid- 19 outbreak, disembarked at Kochi port on Wednesday. The ship, M V Tomini Destiny, set off for South Africa after the seafarers, who joined duty nine months ago, signed out on Wednesday morning. Sources said the seafarers included nine North Indian officers and a Kasaragod native.

The Marshall Island flagged vessel, owned by Tomini Shipping, Dubai, was the first vessel to call at Kochi port to disembark Indian seafarers after the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 24. Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Director General (DG) of Shipping had issued circulars and provided standard operating procedure (SOP) for crew change to be conducted at Indian ports to bring back Indian seafarers stranded on board various Indian and foreign ships.

The vessel operators diverted the vessel from her planned route from Chittagong in Bangladesh to Port Elizabeth in South Africa to facilitate the crew repatriation. Though final SOP was not released, the operators decided to divert the vessel after contacting Indian authorities.

The Kochi authorities had made all arrangements complying with the directives issued by the MHA and DG Shipping. The crew members underwent medical tests and were shifted to a hotel where they will be quarantined for 14 days. After completing the quarantine, they will be permitted to go to their native places by road for which the DG Shipping has provided epasses. The shipping firm has made arrangements for transportation of the seafarers to their native places.


Norwich School makes face masks for NHS Norwich School makes face masks for NHS

Teachers from Norwich School have responded to NHS concerns about personal protective equipment by manufacturing their own.

In response to the rise in patients being treated for coronavirus, art and design teachers from Norwich School have given up their time to make protective visors for healthcare staff and key workers.



Staff from Norwich School volunteered over the Easter holidays to help and currently approximately 4,000 face shields have been produced.



These have been delivered to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, to nursing homes, hospices and GP surgeries around Norfolk and beyond. Norwich School has also been sharing our design with other schools around the country so they can make their own.



The deliveries included around 100 pairs of goggles and 30 boxes of gloves donated from the schools science department.



Ed Cann, the teacher who initiated the effort, said: We have had numerous requests from the local medical community for the schools support.



Following prototyping on Sunday, we managed to produce 138 on Monday using the materials we had in stock.



The visors are being constructed with the schools laser cutter, with available materials suggesting they can produce at least 150 face shields each day.



Headteacher Steffan Griffiths said: Norwich School has remained open to supervise the children of key workers and is now pleased to be able to use its resources to support the NHS in another way.



I am grateful to my colleagues for giving their time and using their expertise to make equipment which enables health workers to assist those in need.



It is important that everyone plays their part in helping the community respond to the coronavirus outbreak and we will continue to explore ways in which we can be useful to these wider efforts.

Factfile
With COVID-19 deaths surpassing 50,000 in the United States, many politicians are quick to pivot to getting back to a sense of normalcy.

We shouldnt want to return to normal.

The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the inequities that made the old normal undesirable for far too many people. African Americans suffer disproportionately from COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and asthma. As Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an April press briefing, Health disparities have always existed for the African American communityWe will get over coronavirus, but there will still be health disparities.

There shouldnt be. Health disparities are not a normal human condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines health disparities as preventable differences in the rate of disease experienced by socially disadvantaged populations  people who live with racism, inadequate educational and job opportunities, substandard housing, poverty and the lack of access to good and affordable health care.

I grew up in a neighborhood that was infested with gangs, violence, crack houses, prostitution and liquor stores, but it didnt have a grocery store or medical facility close enough to serve people who lacked transportation. Forget having the financial resources to purchase healthy food or pay for decent medical care. We did what everyone else did. We found a way to make do with what little we had.

As a professor who studies health disparities that impact our most vulnerable populations, I continue to see the injustices I saw growing up.

I have no interest in an old or new normal where health disparities are normalized, and where victims are routinely blamed for the disproportionate burdens they shoulder. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, a black male, recently noted that in Milwaukee County, black people make up 26 percent of the population but half of the coronavirus cases and 81 percent of the deaths. He noted the inequities that make it more challenging for people of color to adhere to social distancing, as only one in five African Americans and one in six Hispanics have a job that allows them to work from home.

But the surgeon general then went on to admonish these populations to avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs, to take care, if not for themselves, for their abuela or big mama. People of color need  to step up and help stop the spread so that we can protect those who are most vulnerable, he said.

How can you stop the spread when you have to go to work, when you cant afford to order food delivery, when you dont have equal access to gloves and masks? Not to mention fear that many people of color feel at the idea of wearing a mask in public; it is an invitation to racial profiling.

Even knowing if you have the virus is more complicated for communities of color, given that many cases are asymptomatic and testing is not readily available. That will remain a barrier until mobile units are deployed into neighborhoods with rapid point-of-care testing devices.

So no, I have no interest in an old or new normal where these health disparities remain, where those born into poverty are blamed for their poor health outcomes and the burden for fighting a virus is disproportionately placed on the have-nots.

What we need is a better normal, where all lives are valued. Where public health interventions are immediately deployed to solve national crises, not just when and where it affects White America. Where the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education and Department of Agriculture work synergistically to eliminate food, health and educational disparities.

We need a better normal where the inherent brilliance of all segments of society is leveraged to solve our most pressing challenges and where the people who are affected have a seat at the table.

In this better normal, lets take advantage of the fact that it is more cost-effective to prevent chronic diseases than to provide care for the sick. Lets eliminate the preventable and social determinants of health and invest in making sure everyone has a lifetime of health.

Lets never go back to normal.

Obasi, Ph.D., is associate dean for research and a professor of counseling psychology at the University of Houston College of Education. He is founder and director of the UH HEALTH  Helping Everyone Achieve A LifeTime of Health  Research Institute.
By Patricia A. Epple

CEO of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association

We want the public to know that Pennsylvanias independent pharmacists are doing all we can to make sure families in our local communities have the medicine they need while remaining at home and practicing social distancing.

We are following the practice of: Step Up  Pitch In  Limit Contact  Make Free Deliveries.

As you well know, Medicaid patients not only have numerous physical health care deficiencies, but also deal with a myriad of behavioral and social problems  psycho-social issues, literacy and poverty to name a few. Where would these individuals turn for help when their local independent pharmacy is no longer there? Thats a real possibility due to the behavior of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) during this pandemic.

What are PBMs doing? At a time when independent pharmacists are going above and beyond the already superior service we provide, PBMs are slashing our reimbursements to line their own pockets. Their dramatic cuts in reimbursements are nothing less than a form of price gouging at a time when we should all be pulling together to fight this pandemic.

Since the pandemic hit the United States and Pennsylvania, PBMs have cut reimbursements for a variety of drugs, including those that treat high blood pressure, depression, high cholesterol, ADHD and heartburn. For example:

PBMs cut the reimbursement for aripiprazole, a medication that treats depression and bipolar disorder, from $86 to $17.

A heartburn medication, omeprazole, reimbursed for $9.11 as recently as Feb. 20. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, its been reduced to $1.72.

Pharmacies are being paid less than $1 for some blood pressure medications. Not only does this not cover the cost of the medication in many instances, it fails to consider that a pharmacys overhead to fill a prescription is between $12 and $13.
Compliant conservatives, such as Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton, earn positive coverage and ruthless campaigns targeting their opponents. Rupert Murdochs declaration to Kerry Stokes in mid-2018, never denied, that "Malcolms got to go" reveals who signed the death warrant of an Australian prime minister. In a democracy, thats for voters to decide. Turnbulls book reinforces the case for a royal commission into abuses of media power.

Wherever I go, foreigners are astounded that Murdoch commands 70 per cent of Australian newspaper circulation. In Queensland, a key electoral battleground, he owns 14 of the 15 daily newspapers. This media monopoly is a cancer on our democracy. Turnbulls thesis echoes my own: News Corp behaves like a political party in alliance with the Liberal right. Leaders who resist Murdoch, or outlive their usefulness, are destroyed.

With every political memoir comes a barrage of salacious headlines, often obscuring the forest for the trees. Malcolm Turnbulls book is no exception. While I disagree with him on many points of fact and policy, Turnbulls major contribution is his account of the Murdoch medias pernicious role in Australian politics. Hence, News Corps relentless denigration of both the book and its author, even leaking it before publication.

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First, his chapter on broadband is a shocker. It opens with Liberal folklore about Labor designing the NBN on a beer coaster mid-flight to Brisbane (or was it a napkin flying to Darwin?) and then claims his subsequent butchery saved $30 billion. Hogwash. The facts are: Turnbull's copper NBN is now three years overdue, $21 billion over-budget and ranked 62nd in the world for speed. His claim that Labors NBN was secretly over-budget is political fantasy, akin to Barnaby Joyces prediction of $100 lamb roasts under climate action. If Turnbull had kept our full-fibre plan, the rollout would virtually be finished, costing about $45 billion instead of $51 billion, with speeds around 100Mbps.

Second, Turnbulls claim he never backed me for UN secretary-general is fiction. Malcolm personally urged me to run while visiting my New York home just before his leadership challenge in 2015. That November, we discussed it in his Canberra office, where he sought a list of countries to lobby. He authorised a full diplomatic campaign, which I then planned over several meetings with Australias UN ambassador and her staff. As Julie Bishop confirms, she was "told to campaign quite heavily" and "worked very hard to promote" my candidacy. Turnbull also asked New Zealands then prime minister, John Key, to release Australia from Tony Abbotts earlier commitment to Helen Clark, which Key then did publicly.

Turnbull backflipped at the last minute to avoid a cabinet revolt by the far right. This duplicity was disappointing because, while prime minister, I selected conservatives for many senior roles, sending Brendan Nelson to Brussels, Peter Costello to the Future Fund and Tim Fischer to the Vatican. Malcolm also seems to have forgotten how, after Abbotts ascension, I asked him to become ambassador for the environment (mere months after he falsely accused me of corruption during the "Utegate" affair). Prime ministers shouldnt be afraid to reach across the aisle.

Third, Turnbull claims Labor damaged relations with India by cancelling the quadrilateral security dialogue with it, Japan and the United States in February 2008. Wrong. It was John Howard who withdrew from the "quad". Defence minister Brendan Nelson announced in June 2007: "I have reassured China that the so-called quadrilateral dialogue with India is not something we are pursuing." Japan cooled on the quad after changing leaders in September 2007, while Indias prime minister Manmohan Singh rejected it in January 2008.
President Donald Trump says former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, should respond to a former Senate staffers sexual assault allegation.

Trump, whos been accused of sexual assault or harassment by more than a dozen women, mentioned Tara Reades allegations against the former Delaware senator in response to a question about attacks on Biden by his surrogates and campaign.

I dont think theyre going hard with him with regard to Tara Reade, Trump said of his allies. I think he should respond.

One of several women who last year accused Biden of uncomfortable kissing, hugging or touching, Reade made the new allegation during a podcast interview in March. The campaign team for Biden, long a champion for womens rights, has said the assault claim is false.

Trump noted that it could be false accusations.

I know all about false accusations, Trump said. Ive been falsely charged numerous times.

Trump also said Brett Kavanaugh, his nominee for the Supreme Court who eventually was confirmed by the Senate, was also falsely charged.

Kavanaugh was confirmed after contentious hearings over a sexual assault allegation during high school. The New York Times later reported that Kavanaugh faced another allegation from his time at Yale University and that the FBI did not investigate the claim, The Associated Press reported.

What happened with (Kavanaugh) was an absolute disgrace to this country, Trump said.

Trump had not previously referenced Reades allegations directly. But his re-election campaign, including manager Brad Parscale, have gone after Biden on the issue.

I nominate Tara Reade. https://t.co/5VIUViFH6f  Brad Parscale - Download our Trump 2020 App today! (@parscale) April 27, 2020

Womens groups and liberal advocates have also pushed Biden to respond.

I think he should answer them, Trump reiterated.

In several interviews, Reade has said she complained to top Biden staffers about his behavior around her, which allegedly included looks and touching that made her uncomfortable. She said she received no response and was fired, prompting a harassment complaint with a Senate human resources office.

In a report filed with Washington, D.C., police, Reade alleged that in 1993, Biden pinned her against a wall, kissed her and placed his hand under her skirt. Reade said he propositioned her but stopped after she pulled away.

A next-door neighbor of Reades in the mid-1990s, Lynda LaCasse, recently told Business Insider that, This happened, and I know it did because I remember talking about it."

Kate Bedingfield, a deputy campaign manager for Biden, previously said that the former vice president "firmly believes that women have a right to be heard  and 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.

Related Content
(Bloomberg) -- The Trump administration may announce as soon as Thursday a plan to offer loans to the ailing oil industry possibly in exchange for a financial stake, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette have already briefed President Donald Trump on a plan to provide financial aid to oil drillers beset by a historic crash in prices, the people said.

Brouillette, during a conference call Tuesday with an industry group, said Mnuchin was leaning toward aid that includes two separate programs -- bridge loans and emergency lending authority through the U.S. Federal Reserve -- designed to help smaller and medium sized companies.

This is not going to be a bailout, Mnuchin told reporters in the White House Wednesday. He said a team at both the Treasury and the Energy department are talking with people around the world and are considering a lot of different strategies.

Trump said an announcement would come shortly.

The move comes as companies coping with a devastating plunge in prices have been laying off tens of thousands of workers and idling drilling rigs while asking for government assistance as they seek to stave off bankruptcies. Trump last week vowed to make funds available to oil and gas companies, saying he would never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down.

More Storage

Mnuchin said the administration was also exploring the opportunity to store another several hundred million barrels of oil, which would exceed the current physical capacity of the governments Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The administration has been considering a way around that physical barrier, by buying undeveloped oil reserves and making them part of the U.S. emergency stockpile. Under the approach, the government would effectively pay some domestic drillers to halt production indefinitely -- or at least until prices rebound.

Trump earlier helped broker a deal by top international oil producers to pull nearly 10 million barrels of crude from the market. Yet demand has collapsed by at least twice that amount and storage tanks will keep filling with crude as long as coronavirus restrictions keep planes grounded and drivers off the roads.

If the federal government steps in, some forms of lending would involve it taking a stake in the companies -- a condition oil companies are likely loathe to accept, according to the two people familiar with the discussions.

There are some in the industry who are more in need of these types of resources then others, Brouillette said in a phone call Tuesday, a recording of which was posted on North Dakota Petroleum Councils website.

The White House referred queries to the National Security Council which declined to comment. The Energy and Treasury Departments declined to comment.

Eligible Companies

The Trump administration has been working to identify oil companies that would be eligible for loans under the existing Main Street program without being forced to establish a new industry-focused initiative that could be unpopular with the public, said a person familiar with the matter who, like the other people, asked not to be named detailing private deliberations.

The administration intends to focus the efforts on small to medium oil companies that had strong or fair credit ratings before the pandemic.

Mnuchin earlier this month authorized the Fed to establish a so-called Main Street lending program, aimed at supporting mid-sized businesses with as many as 10,000 employees and less than $2.5 billion in revenues.

The Fed has not yet launched the program. It will purchase as much as $600 billion in loans from banks, and could buy even more if Mnuchin commits more Treasury funds to backstop the program, which he said he is willing to do.

The Fed will expand the Main Street program, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday at a press conference, adding that it would add sectors and lending products to address credit needs across the broader economy.

Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and the Independent Petroleum Association of America have stressed that oil companies need flexibility to use Main Street loans to repay existing debt.

The program bars recipients from using loan proceeds to finance pre-existing debt and places restrictions on the size of loans for businesses with large amounts of debt. Those limitations are enough to prevent small- and medium-sized oil companies from taking advantage of the program to gain the short-term liquidity they need to avoid bankruptcy, Cruz said in a letter to Mnuchin and Powell last week.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
As we go through the process of locking down and opening up, scientists around the world are gathering data at a furious pace. We should welcome this and use it to refine or even reverse our views about the pandemic. And we should welcome those who have heterodox approaches. T.J. Rodgers, the founding chief executive of Cypress Semiconductors, ran an analysis of the available data that led him to conclude that the speed with which cities locked down had little appreciable effect on lowering the death rate from covid-19. Its a fairly crude model but is still worth examining. It suggests, for instance, that high population density is eight times more likely to correlate with a high death rate than a late lockdown is. This might explain why densely populated cities such as New York  with crowded public transportation networks  have been hit so hard, and why a state such as Florida, despite waiting longer to lock down, has had relatively few deaths.
Two Saturdays ago the Prime Minister announced that the current COVID-19 lockdown/lockout measures would be extended until May 15, the situation to be reviewed on May 10 when more scientific information will become available through ramped up testing. Given T&Ts burgeoning psycho-social and economic breakdown that worsens with each passing dayRome is burning, it is prudent, and fair, to probe the factors that may have driven the decision-makers to ask citizens fast approaching the breaking point to hold strain.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has granted permission to Riddhima Sahni, daughter of actor Rishi Kapoor who passed away on Thursday morning, to travel to Mumbai for his last rites amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, a senior officer said.

"Along with Riddhima, four other people -- Bharat Sahni, Samara Sahni, Akshay Sahni and Drigalakshmi Rai -- got permission to travel to Mumbai," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R P Meena said.

Riddhima Sahni lives in southeast Delhi.

The 67-year-old actor, who was suffering from cancer, died in a Mumbai hospital.

His death comes a day after his 'D-Day' co-star Irrfan Khan passed away due to cancer.

The Delhi Police also paid tribute to both the actors.

"Two of the finest personalities of the film world, who made us laugh and cry with their performances, are not among us today.

Delhi Police pays them an emotional tribute," it tweeted.

Rishi Kapoor, a third generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, was taken to the H N Reliance Hospital by his family on Wednesday.

His family said the actor remained "jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents".

"Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," the family said in a statement, adding the actor would like to be "remembered with a smile and not with tears".

On Wednesday, Irrfan Khan (54), lost his battle with a rare form of cancer and died in a Mumbai hospital.

He was buried at the Versova graveyard in the afternoon.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created new barriers to routine immunisation around the world, putting millions of children at risk of a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, warns the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI).



Over the last 20 years GAVI and its partners have vaccinated more than 760 million children in 70 countries, saving the lives of more than 13 million.



But in celebrating World Immunisation Week, the worry is that millions of children would be missing out on vaccines against measles, diphtheria and polio.



Even before the coronavirus pandemic, measles, polio and other vaccines were out of reach for 20 million children below the age of one every year.



Given the current disruptions, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has warned that this could lead to disastrous outbreaks in 2020 and well beyond.



GAVI estimates that at least 21 low- and middle-income countries, are already reporting vaccine shortages as a result of border closures and disruptions to travel.



So far, 14 vaccination campaigns supported by GAVI against polio, measles, cholera, human papillomavirus, yellow fever and meningitis have been postponed, which would have immunised more than 13 million people.



The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said this week: The tragic reality is that children will die as a result.



GAVI has set an ambitious goal to immunise 300 million more children with 18 vaccines by 2025 and to attain this the organisation is looking to raise US$7.4 billion in its upcoming third replenishment that has been scheduled for June.



Dr Tedros said: We call on the global community to ensure GAVI is fully funded for this life-saving work.



This is not a cost, its an investment that pays a rich dividend in lives saved.

Just as immunisation has been disrupted in some countries, so have services for many other diseases that afflict the poorest and most vulnerable people  including malaria.



Immunisation is one of the greatest success stories in the history of global health, he said, adding: More than 20 diseases can be prevented with vaccines.



Dr Richard Sezibera, a former Minister of Health in Rwanda, and a long-serving member of the GAVI Board explained in an Op-Ed for the Africa Briefing website earlier this month: Now more than ever, the need to bring together public and private sectors in strengthening our healthcare systems is being shown.



With GAVI, this kind of collaboration has been going on for 20 years and is still going strong with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children and persons all around the world.



Dr Sezibera, who is also Chair of GAVIs Programme and Policy Committee, said this years replenishment was seeking to build on the historic gains it has made with governments and other partners.



He added: We will need to step up with even more.

Commitments are needed towards increased domestic financing and for recognition of the critical role of vaccines to primary healthcare in Africa, at least for the next period of 2021-2025.



GAVI said that immunisation campaigns required a coordinated approach that factors in the unique challenges of each country.



It added: For example, in areas with densely populated urban settlements, there may be challenges with communicating the importance of vaccines, so social mobilisation activities are required.



Conversely, many GAVI-supported countries have very remote regions that demand a new approach to vaccine delivery, like using autonomous drones to efficiently deliver medical supplies.



The alliance said it was making health system strengthening grants more flexible to allow countries to reallocate funding towards their COVID-19 response, as well as working with our partners to continue immunisation campaigns where possible.



The immunisation infrastructure that GAVI has helped build over the past two decades is also being used to help fight the pandemic, the organisation said.

Source: GNA









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Featured Video
Chinese and U.S. flags flutter near The Bund in Shanghai

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China remains "very, very committed" to meeting its commitments under a Phase 1 trade deal with the United States, despite the unprecedented economic and health impacts of the new coronavirus outbreak, a senior U.S. trade official said on Wednesday.

The official told reporters that U.S. officials were talking regularly, and often daily, about implementation of the trade deal and to make sure that China fulfilled its extensive agreements to buy American goods and services.

The U.S. Trade Representative's office kept China on its priority watch list for concerns about intellectual property (IP) protections, and was watching closely to see whether it implemented changes agreed to as part of the trade agreement and continue to open its market to foreign investment, the official said.

"China's placement on that list reflects the urgent need to remedy a range of IP-related concerns, including China's system of pressuring, and coercing, technology transfer, the need for fundamental structural changes to strengthen IP protection, and enforcement in the widespread infringing activity within its borders," the official said.

He said the Phase 1 agreement did include "very robust" provisions on IP protections and they were being implemented through a number of actions by China.

"We will continually assess its implementation of the Phase 1 agreement," said the official. "We've had very good interactions with Chinese (officials) on that, and they are continuing to implement their obligations."

The official said there were challenges presented by the coronavirus outbreak, but the overall experience showed Beijing was sticking to its commitments under the trade deal.

As part of the trade deal signed on Jan. 15, Beijing agreed to nearly double its U.S. farm product purchases and lower several agricultural trade barriers that Washington said limited access to the lucrative Chinese market.

Story continues

However, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said the outbreak could have an impact on the size of the purchases this year.

The U.S. official said India and Saudi Arabia also remained on the USTR's priority watch list for IP concerns, but Greece had been removed due to what he called "signficant progress" in protecting IP rights.

He said the pandemic underscored the importance of solid IP protection to encourage innovation in development of new pharmaceuticals and other health technologies.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Franklin Paul and Jonathan Oatis)
Scientists were inspired by antibodies produced by this llama, named Winter, to develop their antibody against SARS-CoV-2. Winter is four years old and still living on a farm in the Belgian countryside operated by Ghent University's Vlaams Institute for Biotechnology. Credit: Tim Coppens

The hunt for an effective treatment for COVID-19 has led one team of researchers to find an improbable ally for their work: a llama named Winter. The teamfrom The University of Texas at Austin, the National Institutes of Health and Ghent University in Belgiumreports their findings about a potential avenue for a coronavirus treatment involving llamas on May 5 in the journal Cell. The paper is currently available online as a "pre-proof," meaning it is peer-reviewed but undergoing final formatting.

The researchers linked two copies of a special kind of antibody produced by llamas to create a new antibody that binds tightly to a key protein on the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This protein, called the spike protein, allows the virus to break into host cells. Initial tests indicate that the antibody blocks viruses that display this spike protein from infecting cells in culture.

"This is one of the first antibodies known to neutralize SARS-CoV-2," said Jason McLellan, associate professor of molecular biosciences at UT Austin and co-senior author, referring to the virus that causes COVID-19.

The team is now preparing to conduct preclinical studies in animals such as hamsters or nonhuman primates, with the hopes of next testing in humans. The goal is to develop a treatment that would help people soon after infection with the virus.

"Vaccines have to be given a month or two before infection to provide protection," McLellan said. "With antibody therapies, you're directly giving somebody the protective antibodies and so, immediately after treatment, they should be protected. The antibodies could also be used to treat somebody who is already sick to lessen the severity of the disease."

This would be especially helpful for vulnerable groups such as elderly people, who mount a modest response to vaccines, which means that their protection may be incomplete. Health care workers and other people at increased risk of exposure to the virus can also benefit from immediate protection.

When llamas' immune systems detect foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses, these animals (and other camelids such as alpacas) produce two types of antibodies: one that is similar to human antibodies and another that's only about a quarter of the size. These smaller ones, called single-domain antibodies or nanobodies, can be nebulized and used in an inhaler.

"That makes them potentially really interesting as a drug for a respiratory pathogen because you're delivering it right to the site of infection," said Daniel Wrapp, a graduate student in McLellan's lab and co-first author of the paper.

Inspired by a special kind of antibody produced by llamas, researchers created an antibody dubbed VHH-72Fc (blue) that binds tightly to the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 (pink, green and orange), blocking the virus from infecting cells in culture. The spike protein structure was discovered by part of the same research team and published in the journal Science on February 19, 2020. Credit: University of Texas at Austin

Meet Winter

Winter, the llama, is 4 years old and still living on a farm in the Belgian countryside along with approximately 130 other llamas and alpacas. Her part in the experiment happened in 2016 when she was about 9 months old and the researchers were studying two earlier coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. In a process similar to humans getting shots to immunize them against a virus, she was injected with stabilized spike proteins from those viruses over the course of about six weeks.

Next, researchers collected a blood sample and isolated antibodies that bound to each version of the spike protein. One showed real promise in stopping a virus that displays spike proteins from SARS-CoV-1 from infecting cells in culture.

"That was exciting to me because I'd been working on this for years," Wrapp said. "But there wasn't a big need for a coronavirus treatment then. This was just basic research. Now, this can potentially have some translational implications, too."

The team engineered the new antibody that shows promise for treating the current SARS-CoV-2 by linking two copies of the llama antibody that worked against the earlier SARS virus. They demonstrated that the new antibody neutralizes viruses displaying spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures. The scientists were able to complete this research and publish it in a top journal in a matter of weeks thanks to the years of work they'd already done on related coronaviruses.

McLellan also led the team that first mapped the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, a critical step toward a vaccine. (Wrapp also co-authored that paper along with other authors on the current Cell paper, including UT Austin's Nianshuang Wang, and Kizzmekia S. Corbett and Barney Graham of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Vaccine Research Center.) Besides Wrapp, the paper's other co-first author is Dorien De Vlieger, a postdoctoral scientist at Ghent University's Vlaams Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), and the other senior authors besides McLellan are Bert Schepens and Xavier Saelens, both at VIB.

This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.), VIB, The Research Foundation-Flanders (Belgium), Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Belgium) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany).

Scientists were inspired by antibodies produced by the llama in front, named Winter, to develop their antibody against SARS-CoV-2. Winter is four years old and still living on a farm in the Belgian countryside operated by Ghent University's Vlaams Institute for Biotechnology. Credit: Tim Coppens

Backstory

The first antibodies the team identified in the initial SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV tests included one called VHH-72, which bound tightly to spike proteins on SARS-CoV-1. In so doing, it prevented a pseudotyped virusa virus that can't make people sick and has been genetically engineered to display copies of the SARS-CoV-1 spike protein on its surfacefrom infecting cells.

When SARS-CoV-2 emerged and triggered the COVID-19 pandemic, the team wondered whether the antibody they discovered for SARS-CoV-1 would also be effective against its viral cousin. They discovered that it did bind to SARS-CoV-2's spike protein too, albeit weakly. The engineering they did to make it bind more effectively involved linking two copies of VHH-72, which they then showed neutralizes a pseudotyped virus sporting spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2. This is the first known antibody that neutralizes both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2.

Four years ago, De Vlieger was developing antivirals against influenza A when Bert Schepens and Xavier Saelens asked whether she would be interested in helping to isolate antibodies against coronaviruses from llamas.

"I thought this would be a small side project," she said. "Now the scientific impact of this project became bigger than I could ever expect. It's amazing how unpredictable viruses can be."

More information: The finalized paper will appear here on May 5: DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.031 Journal information: Cell The finalized paper will appear here on May 5: www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)30494-3
A mother suffering from muscular dystrophy is pleading with booking giant Flight Centre to refund the $18,508 she spent on a dream trip to the United States that never went ahead because of the coronavirus, as the company deals with 170,000 booking cancellations as a result of the pandemic.

Flight Centre is yet to promise a full refund to Brisbane public servant Emma Weatherley, but when contacted by The Age a spokesperson apologised and said she would be in a "good position" to get her money back.

Emma Weatherley with her husband Robert and two children Alyssa and Hannah. Credit:The Age/SMH

As more disgruntled consumers line up behind a potential lawsuit against the embattled travel firm and Flight Centre makes efforts to soothe client anger, many are still owed tens of thousands of dollars amid a sharp downturn in the national economy.

Ms Weatherley, 39, and her family booked a trip to Florida in the middle of February, when there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and the Australian government had not yet imposed a travel ban.
The Conroe Lake Conroe Chamber is seeking nominations for the 3rd Annual ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon. The event is scheduled to take place July 30 at 11 a.m. at Madera Estates in Conroe.

The ATHENA Leadership Award - a part of an international business program that recognizes women - was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment.

The two past recipients are Marlen Tejeda, founder and CEO of Alliance of New Americans-Conroe Alianza de los Nuevos Americanos-Conroe in 2019 and Danielle Scheiner, executive director of the Conroe Economic Development Council, was the award recipient for 2018.

This year, the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic will factor into the process.

We want to emphasize the new criteria this year. In addition to the criteria weve had for the past two years weve added a criteria to really spotlight a woman in business that has shown exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, said Courtney Galle, Director of Special Events for the Chamber. During this pandemic there have been a lot of people in our community who have really gone above and beyond and we just felt like this was the right time to honor them and keep our event in the forefront of what is going on.

Nominees need to meet a certain criteria and qualifications. Qualifications and criteria are listed on the form. The criteria is listed below including a new requirement focusing on leadership skills during the COVID-19 pandemic:

- Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession

- Provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the Conroe and Montgomery County community

- Actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential

- Demonstrate extraordinary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic in the areas of health care, small business, nonprofit, first responders, education and financial sectors.

Only one nomination per person is needed and they do not need to be a member of the chamber to be nominated. Previous nominees are eligible to be nominated again.

All nominations are sent to ATHENA International where a group of staff and board members will recommend the local finalists and the recipient. The finalists and recipient will be honored at the event.

Nominations are due June 12.

Tickets and tables will go on sale in May. Sponsorships are available now. If you have questions or interested in sponsorship information, please contact Courtney Galle, director of special events, at courtneyg@conroe.org. Visit conroe.org for more or contact Courtney Galle with questions.
INDIANAPOLIS - Any easing of Indianas statewide stay-at-home order wont limit the authority of city or county officials from imposing tighter restrictions in their attempts to slow the coronavirus that has killed at least 1,000 people across the state, the governor said Thursday.

Gov. Eric Holcomb is poised to announce on Friday modifications to the business and travel restrictions that have been in place since March 25 as a growing number of states are loosening their shutdown orders.

Indianapolis officials, however, extended the citys stay-at-home order on Thursday by two weeks through May 15, saying the states largest city was still experiencing too many COVID-19 cases to safely relax restrictions. Some other cities and counties around the state also have adopted rules responding to outbreaks in their communities.

Holcomb said he supported Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsetts decision and that the new state order wouldnt strip away local authority.

Local jurisdictions can always be stricter than what we have said, Holcomb said. This has been the case, not just once, in the state of Indiana. Well seek to 100% of the time work with those local officials.

Holcomb spoke Thursday from Kokomo, where he joined Vice-President Mike Pence in touring a General Motors electronics plant thats been converted to produce critical care ventilators for hospitals around the country.

Holcomb said his changes to statewide restrictions will be methodical and come in stages, but did not provide any details

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APS PREVIOUS STORY IS BELOW.

Indiana health officials added 43 confirmed coronavirus-related fatalities to the states death toll on Thursday as the governor nears an announcement on changes to the statewide stay-at-home order.

The state has recorded 1,007 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak hit Indiana in early March, the Indiana State Health Department said.

Six more presumed COVID-19 deaths added to the state statistics give Indiana 107 such fatalities. Those are deaths that state officials said doctors blame on coronavirus infections without confirmation of the illness from test results.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has said he would announce changes Friday to the statewide stay-at-home order that has been in effect since March 25.

State officials are considering information such as hospitalization and death rates, along with the availability of intensive care unit beds and ventilators for those who are seriously ill, in deciding whether to lift any restrictions, Holcomb said.

Plans for significant increases in coronavirus testing and contact tracing have been announced by state officials this week.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APS PREVIOUS STORY IS BELOW.

About 57,000 more people applied for unemployment benefits in Indiana last week as the state continues to see record numbers of newly jobless people stemming from the coronavirus economic slowdown.

Federal statistics released Thursday show Indiana has had nearly 570,000 people seek jobless aid over the past six weeks. That growth in the unemployed since March 15 is more than five times greater than Indianas total of about 105,000 people seeking jobs in February.

More than 30 million people across the country have now filed for unemployment since coronavirus closures started and economists have forecast that the national unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has said he would announce changes Friday to the statewide stay-at-home order that has been in effect since March 25. Holcombs decisions are coming as health officials reported Indiana now has more than 1,000 people who have died with confirmed or likely coronavirus infections since the outbreak hit the state early last month.

But Indianapolis officials announced Thursday the citys state-at-home order will continue until at least May 15, including a ban on dine-in service at restaurants and the closure of nonessential businesses such as movie theatres, fitness centres and hair salons.

The challenges we face here in Indianapolis are unique  a city filled with large venues, densely populated neighbourhoods, and active business centres, Mayor Joe Hogsett said. To ensure that we see continued progress in our fight against this virus, we must recommit to our social distancing efforts even as we plan for the future.
Rishi Kapoor passes away after two-year battle with cancer, says brother Randhir

Rishi Kapoors top ten films: A tribute to the legend who charmed millions with 'Bobby' & 'Chandni'

Rishi Kapoors last tweet was appeal to refrain from violence towards health care professionals

PM Modi condoles Rishi Kapoor's death

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Apr 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered his condolences on the demise of actor Rishi Kapoor, who passed away in H N Reliance hospital in Mumbai.

Condoling the demise of the actor Rishi Kapoor Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted,

"Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent.

I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India's progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti."

Rishi Kapoors top ten films: A tribute to the legend who charmed millions with 'Bobby' & 'Chandni'

The veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday aged 67.

Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020

Rishi, who was suffering from cancer, was taken to the H N Reliance hospital by his family on Wednesday.

The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year. In February, he was hospitalised twice.
Mayor Garcetti acknowledges the disproportionate resources within underserved communities; Increased testing accessibility is the presented solution

Wednesday, April 29. The Los Angeles City Mayor reported the latest news surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. The elected official acknowledged the rise in sexual violence on Denim Day; associated with that movement was the acknowledgement of growth within domestic violence cases. People are staying indoors and since then, there has been a rise in the act of domestic violence within the city. Mayor Garcetti shared the data surrounding the COVID-19 virus within the Los Angeles region. Eric Garcetti acknowledged this preexisting inequality that haunts underserved communities. These discrepancies have led to higher death rates within particular minority groups. The response presented is that the County of L.A. has ramped of testing capacity in high-density areas such as the Crenshaw Christian Center. However, the concern for future practices to close racial inequalities post pandemic continues to grow.

The Los Angeles City Mayor shared the latest update behind the COVID-19 outbreak in L.A. The elected Official shared as of Wednesday, April 29. there were 56 additional deaths. That accounts for a 6% increase since the report on April 28. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 1,056. The average death rate in a week has been 47 fatal cases per day. There were 597 new cases reported, bringing the total of positive COVID-19 reports to 22,485. There is a daily average of 886 new cases. Within the city of L.A., the new report reflects 8,541 COVID-19 cases.

Denim Day falls on Wednesday, April 29. to represent a movement in response to a ruling in the Italian Supreme Court; a rape conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing tight denim pants, she must have assisted the perpetrator remove her jeans, therefore proving the sexual act to be consensual. Today, Mayor Garcetti sported Denim Jeans to support the awareness of the movement; to reprimand those committing violating acts, regardless of what the victim is wearing. This opened the window of opportunity to acknowledge the raising number in domestic violence since the Safer at Home Order has been into play. L.A. County does supply resources to receive assistance, local domestic shelters remain open during this time.

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Based on the L.A. Public Health reports, neighborhoods that experience poverty and working class Angelenos, face a higher rate in deaths due to COVID-19 than any other demographic. Coronavirus highlights neglect and lack of resources within underserved communities. However, the only defense listed is testing capacity, the mayor mentioned that it is the strongest tool against spreading the virus. While that may be true, the target issue is not being hit. The problem that is being noted, but not resolved, is the neglect living among those who fall under the poverty line. Eric Garcetti referenced the action plan the L.A. Board of Supervisors developed in a meeting that was held on Tuesday.

The L.A. Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, highlighting the recovery stages Los Angeles is entering after the COVID-19 outbreak. Item five on the agenda led by 2nd district supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas highlighted the ethnic and hyperlocal community outreach recommendation. Which is a beaker that the county is looking to engage with ethnic communities through local media. This is a progressive step towards new resources available to all minority communities.

However, Testing seems to be the primary solution to a preexisting condition within minority communities. There is needed clarity to explain how ramping up testing capacity is addressing the disease of disproportionate resources, that have plagued underserved communities, long before COVID-19 escalated the death rate within particular demographics. The antiquity in the neglect is acknowledged, but the solution based in testing capacity only addresses the tip of the deeply rooted issue; the lack of support and awareness of people who do not have the means to have a stable livelihood, they now face a scarier reality of losing their life.
G oogle's next phone launch, the Google Pixel 4a, may finally be on its way.

Last year, Google released a more affordable version of its Pixel phone line in the form of the Google Pixel 3a at its annual Google I/O conference. With a better battery and just as good camera, the Pixel 3a was a big hit for those unsure about forking out more for the Pixel 3.

Things have been a little different for the 4a. For one, Google cancelled I/O due to the coronavirus which left the rumoured phone without a release date. But given the 3a is no longer on sale at the Google Store, this is a pretty big hint an upgraded version is right around the corner.

Heres what we know so far...

Google Pixel 4a: Design

The big design change for the Pixel 4a will be on the front of the phone according to 9to5Google. Instead of sporting the thick-ish bezel (frame) like the Pixel 4, the new phone will instead feature a punch-hole selfie camera, a la the new OnePlus 8 range and Samsung S20 devices.

This also means the phone wont feature face unlock as there wont be enough space to squeeze in the Google Soli sensors. Given the original issues Google had with its facial recognition last year, such as unlocking when someone had their eyes closed, this is probably a good thing.

The phone will have a 5.8-inch OLED full HD+ screen, which should be easy to handle, with a fingerprint sensor on the rear.

Like the 3a, it will have a plastic body which helps to keep the cost down, as opposed to the glass design featured on the Pixel 4 range.

How the Pixel 4a may look according to renders from OnLeaks and 91Mobiles (OnLeaks x 91Mobiles ) / OnLeaks x 91Mobiles

The new phone will come in three colours in true Google style: black, white and a new Barely Blue which is replacing last years Purple-ish lilac colour.

Google Pixel 4a: Camera

The camera on the Pixel 4a is going to be interesting. Last year, Google added a second lens to the Pixel 4, however it appears to be keeping this to just one 12.2 MP camera on the back of the 4a. Despite only having one rear lens, Google is keeping the blocky design to house it.

9to5Google says that the front-facing camera is identical to the 3as too, with 8MP and an 84-degree field of view.

The Pixel 4a is likely to have a blocky rear camera design like the Pixel 4 (pictured here) / Google

Last years Pixel 3a was such a hit in part because it had the same camera as the more expensive 3 model. However, Apple has also chosen to keep just one rear lens on its cheaper new iPhone SE2 model which is supposed to be the best single-lens camera system of any iPhone. Well have to see how it works in practice before we judge it too harshly.

Google Pixel 4a: Specs

Its thought the new Pixel 4a will sport Qualcomms Snapdragon 730 system chip, an improvement on last years 670 processor. Benefits of using the 730 include better power efficiency, faster graphics rendering for gaming, and 2x faster AI processing.

The phone will also include Googles Titan M security chip, like the Pixel 4.

Battery-wise, the phone is likely to include a 3,080 mAh battery, but you wont be able to charge it wirelessly. This is bigger than the Pixel 4s, which comes with a 2,800mAh battery as well as the Pixel 3 range. Given that the Chinese phone brands bring out devices with 4,000 and even 5,000mAh batteries, its always strange that Google tries to keep this to a minimum.

When it comes to memory, the 4a is thought to be available with 6GB of RAM, which is again bigger than its predecessor, and either 64GB or 128GB of storage.

Headphone jack fans: youll be happy to know that Google is keeping the 3.5mm jack for the 4a range too.

Google Pixel 4a: Price and release date

The Pixel 4a was initially thought to be launched at this years Google I/O in May, however, this was cancelled earlier this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the German website Caschys Blog, the smartphone will be available to order via Vodafone on May 22, which was thought to be a global release date. However, it's now July and we're still no closer to finding out when the new phone will be announced.

Prices for last years Pixel 3a started at 399, and its likely the 4a will cost $399, so were hoping this stays the same for the UK.
T he BBCs adaptation of Sally Rooneys Normal People has set our hearts fluttering this week, with the nuanced will-they-wont-they love story of Connell and Marianne.

The series has perfectly captured the books essence, the intense feeling of first love, the frustration viewers feel as Connell struggles to say what hes feeling, and it also carefully tackles mens mental health .

If youve read the book and finished the series, theres probably a Normal People-sized hole in your life right now which is why weve asked our team what their favourite love stories are.

From engrossing holiday reads to modern classics and books guaranteed to make you ugly cry, scroll down to see our recommendations.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

The tragic love story of Ethan Frome and Mattie Silver is one of the great weepies of all time. When young Ethan, a New England farmer, falls in love with his wife Zeenas charming cousin, we know that all three of their lives are doomed, but who could imagine quite such an awful ending? - Katie Law, Deputy Literary Editor

Footprints on the Sand by Judith Lennox

This holiday read was picked up from a hotel room by my friends mum yonks ago and has since been passed around our entire friendship group, and beyond, as a rite of passage. Its the story of the Mulgrave family spanning 60 years - from before World War One to the 1960s. Lennox pulls you in as you get to know each member of the family, and it's as if you're living right alongside them, feeling the happiness and sorrow of their lives. I grieved when it ended. At the centre of it all is the will-they-wont they story of Faith and Guy. A book to get lost in., and one that's crying out for a BBC Sunday night adaptation. - Suzannah Ramsdale, Digital Head of Lifestyle

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Dodie Smith may be best known as the author of 101 Dalmatians but her 1948 novel I Capture the Castle is one of the most romantic novels ever written. Everything about it will stay with you long after youve finished it, from the setting  a crumbling castle in Suffolk, which Smith saw through rose tinted lenses because she was writing in America and missed England, her home  to the story, which is all about realising who you are in love with. The brilliant narrator Cassandra and her older sister Rose slightly lose their minds when two young Americans come to stay. Rose longs for the romance of a Jane Austen novel but feels she should ignore her feelings and go for a sensible match, the brother with money. Cassandra is more swayed by her feelings, as she recounts in her funny, honest, unjaded voice. Both girls are missing their dead mother and crave the heady rush and drama of first love, painful as it is. - Susannah Butter, Comments Editor and Features Writer

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

There must be something about teenage girls falling for their housekeepers sons. Malorie Blackmans Noughts & Crosses might be set in an alternate universe but the chemistry is real: growing up, it was the first book I remember reading where the true heartbreak of forbidden love stayed with me long after I finished its pages. Like Normal People, its a tale of star-crossed lovers, class divides and teenage angst, and just as with Rooneys pair, youre left with a distinct feeling that the characters are yours. The best part? Its now a BBC series, too. - Katie Strick, Features Writer

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

A laconic hero with an unceasing supply of one-liners; a fiery-tempered heroine plucked from the Paris streets; a willing sidekick in a wonky wig; a depraved villain; a shameful secret - plus cross-dressing, a breakneck carriage chase across France and a wardrobe to rival Mad Men: Heyer's reputation-making romantic romp (written when she was 24) is an unbridled joy. My copy is so well-thumbed you could shuffle and play a game of piquet with it. - Nancy Durrant, Arts Editor

Atonement by Ian McEwan

It all starts with the National Trust version of sexting: a very steamy letter written on a clackety typewriter, hand-delivered on a country estate. Next thing you know Robbie and Cecilia are putting two fingers up to the class divide and having a steamy liaison in the library. What makes the love story at the heart of Ian McEwans novel powerful is how the electric crackle of desire is so abruptly halted by the yearning of separation. Its as much about how the idea of love can comfort or torment us than the reality. - Jessie Thompson, Deputy Arts Editor

Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern

If books could give you a hug, this novel would envelop you completely. Set in Ireland (and the Debs plays a pivotal role, a la Normal People), it follows Rosie and Alex, two childhood best friends from their seventh birthdays to their 50s and is told in epistolary style: through letters, emails, instant messaging (it was the early 2000s) and texts. After Alex is whisked away to the US in his final year of high school, Rosie plans to join him but fate sends her on a different course and we follow how this decision shapes both of their lives. Both heartbreaking and joyous, this novel will stick with you long after youve turned the final page. - Laura Hampson, Digital Lifestyle Writer

One Day by David Nicholls

The mark of an enduring love story is one that ends too soon, yet one youd wish for an eternity with. David Nicholls One Day is that. I have read it at least eight  possibly eighty  times, passed it round to every friend, acquaintance and relative, had it lost, and then ordered new copies like a puppy-eyed ex that wont quit. We trace the lives of two will-they-wont-they star-crossed lovebirds, Dex and Em, as sparks fly on their last post-exam days at Edinburgh University. Then we drop back in on one day, the same day, for years as they totally fail to get it together. It therefore flies by in an immensely readable hurly-burly about insecure, self-entitled posh people having a good time being unhappy  my wheelhouse  demonstrating Nicholls unmatchable gift for dialogue and romantic plotting. Go on then, cue up reread number eighty-one. - Samuel Fishwick, Features Writer

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
After allowing some activities outside the containment zone from April 23, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddiyurappa, on Thursday, announced that all industrial activities will be allowed to resume across the state in all areas except containment zones from May 4. Currently, Karnataka's Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally stands at 535 cases with 21 deaths.

Karnataka to allow select activities in non-containment zones from April 23; details here

Karnataka industrial activities to resume

We have decided to give permission for starting industrial activities in all places except containment zones from May 4: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2020

COVID-19: Five ministers undergoing test after coming in contact with video journalist who tested positive

5 Karnataka ministers quarantined, flout quarantine

Earlier on Wednesday, five Karnataka ministers underwent tests for coronavirus infection after they reportedly came in contact with the video journalist of a Kannada news channel who tested positive for COVID-19 las week. The journalist, who had visited containment zones demarcated by BBMP (city civic body), was confirmed positive on April 24. However, reports allege that the ministers had flouted mandated quarantining and are going about with routine work.

Karnataka passes Epidemic Diseases Ordinance to punish COVID attackers; details here

Karnataka passes Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020

On April 22, the Karnataka government promulgated the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020, after the Centre passed a similar order to protect COVID warriors. Karnataka's order is similar to the one Kerala had passed, giving the state government sweeping powers to seal borders, restrict essential services, punish those attacking public servants, property damage etc. Under the category of the offence, the ordinance mentions that 'all offences are cognizable and bailable' and can impose a 3-year jail term and a fine upto Rs 50000.

Coronavirus Live Updates: India's tally at 33050 with 1074 dead; doubling rate at 11 days

Coronavirus in India

As of date, 23651 active cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 8324 have been discharged and Maharashtra reported the highest at 9915. 1074 deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries. PM Modi has extended the lockdown till May 3, with a relaxation allowed in non-COVID hotspots after April 20.


As a middle finger to The Virus currently keeping 62% of the worlds aircraft grounded (and all but one of the worlds recreational travellers at home), a group of Czech nudists recently indulged in a bit of bronzing.

As a sign of the times, and in a heartening display of efficiency vs. empathy, when law enforcers came across them, they were not told to cover up their bodies; only their mouths.

As CNN Travel reports, Face masks arent mandatory everywhere, but strict rules on wearing them have been enforced in the Czech Republic  even for nudists.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by   || (@irina_czech) on Apr 27, 2020 at 10:50pm PDT

The European country has begun to relax restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus, but at the height of concerns late last month, police were called in to remind people that while it was OK to get naked in designated public places, mouths needed to be covered.

RELATED: The Worlds Best Nudist Resorts Have Been Revealed

As for the specifics? According to CNN Travel, Czech police issued a warning after being called out on March the 27th in the small town of Lazne Bohdanec, east of Prague, because of complaints about maskless naturists basking in warm weather.

Unfortunately, many of the sunbathing citizens were gathered in large groups, and some were not wearing face masks, a police statement said. Upon the arrival of the police, everyone agreed to respect the government regulation [that face shields are compulsory outside the home].

Citizens are allowed to be without clothes in designated locations, but they still must cover their mouths, and only gather in appropriate numbers.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cesko je krasne (@cesko.je.krasne) on Nov 4, 2019 at 1:59pm PST

The statement then said a subsequent police patrol found that of 150 people encountered, only half needed reminding about masks.

RELATED: Classic Italian Beach Scene Sparks Age-Old Debate

Meanwhile, in countries like Australia, sunbathing of any kind is still banned, much to the dismay of European backpackers (and, to be fair, locals alike), who are not accustomed to such a curtailing of personal liberties.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Linn Clark  (@_linnclark) on Mar 1, 2020 at 10:34pm PST

Though Australians will soon be able to go for a (takeaway) coffee with one mate, and visit one or two friends in their houses individually, it remains unclear when we will, once again, be able to sunbake like in the image above (taken pre lockdown).

Read Next
Military families are worried that with changes coming to the military health system that include outsourcing some care to community providers, they won't be able to find quality providers or access decent care.

In some locations, families already are facing problems, said members of the Defense Department's Military Family Readiness Council Wednesday. For example, at Newport, R.I., military personnel face difficulties finding good pediatricians for their children, while in Europe, service members and their dependents have had trouble accessing mental health services, including via telemedicine.

They also worry that as the Defense Department pursues plans to restructure the military health system, the problems will get worse.

"We are having difficulty finding quality providers that are in the network. Is there anything being done to encourage civilian providers to participate with Tricare, or is there any real incentive for them to work with Tricare?" asked Jill Waters, a pediatric nurse and wife of an Army recruiter in Michigan, speaking to Defense Health Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Place.

"We're just not sure what the future will hold," added Carolyn Stevens, director of DoD's office of Military Family Readiness Policy.

Related: Military services will Absolutely, Positively See Better Health Care After Merger, DHA Head Says

Since 2013, the Defense Department has undertaken efforts to restructure what was once a $50 billion health care system. The stated goal of the effort is to improve services while reducing costs by cutting redundant programs and systems that existed in triplicate under separate Army, Navy and Air Force medical commands.

But that effort grew substantially under the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which gave administrative authority of military hospitals and clinics to the Defense Health Agency and subsequently realigned the service medical commands to shift their focus toward caring primarily for active-duty personnel.

The transformation plans call for reducing the number of civilian beneficiaries, including retirees and their family members, seen at military hospitals in locations where comparable health care services are available in the local community under Tricare.

But as DHA and the services pursue these sea changes, troops and families are trying to sort out what health care services will be available down the road.

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Troy Black said Wednesday that changes at Naval Hospital Beaufort, S.C., which serves Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, have put the Marine Corps in the position of relying on community care for its recruits.

The aging hospital facility had already closed its emergency room and urgent care facilities. Under the DHA transformation plans, its slated to become an outpatient ambulatory care clinic with no overnight beds.

Marine officials have been concerned that personnel will face long wait times for emergency care at the local hospital or recruits will need to be transported to major medical centers farther away.

"I use [the recruit depot] as one example to highlight some of the challenges we're looking at with network care ... having to rely on a civilian facility, there are challenges," Black said. "As we go through this over time, as we develop, how do we see this as being a priority? How does the military leadership influence the civilian leadership of those hospitals? How do we balance out major level training as a priority, accessions as a priority?" Black said.

Families also said they not only had questions about access to care but how they were supposed to meet military medical requirements such as being cleared for travel for overseas orders or qualifying for the Exceptional Family Member Program under a new system.

Place sought to assuage concerns, first noting that he, his wife, children and grandchildren are all beneficiaries in the military and Tricare systems.

"When I look at quality in our system, safety in our system, access or transparency, everywhere I look, I look at it as a surgeon, but I look at it as a patient, as a husband, as a parent and as a grandparent ... I also understand the stress the entire family bears," he said.

He added that medical requirements for families will be improved once the process for meeting them is standardized across the services -- one of the goals of transformation.

"We're not there yet, but I fully understand the requirements to the Defense Health Agency standardize the process,'' Place said.

Regarding concerns over the availability and quality of providers in the Tricare networks, Place said several regulations restrict DoD's ability to recruit doctors or work with hospital systems directly, including on the contracts for managed care with Humana Military and Health Net Federal Services, the companies that oversee Tricare, and reimbursement rates linked to Medicare rates.

"In general, Those hospitals and doctors ... that are in our networks are doing it out of a sense of patriotism. They are not making huge cash off of us," Place said. "We try to extol the virtues of our patient populations, that they are generally healthy, that they are motivated, that they are patriotic themselves. [And] in many areas of the country that's actually a successful marketing tool for which we are able to get high quality hospitals and practitioners. The limitations [are] where the market is tight, [the rates] can harm us."

How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the system's overhaul has yet to be determined. On March 25, Defense Health Agency officials said they decided to delay the next step in the reforms -- establishing administrative markets responsible for military treatment facilities in five regions across the U.S.

But Place said he wishes the transformation could move more quickly and the plan will maintain "greater access to high quality care for every single beneficiary."

After the meeting -- the first Military Family Readiness Council meeting held virtually -- Patty Barron, a council member and director of the family readiness directorate at the Association of the United States Army, said she appreciated Place's overview but said military families are craving specifics.

She added that the "'What's next?' was not answered."

"Military families will deal with what you tell them if you can be as specific as possible," she said, saying she was speaking as a spouse and not for the council. "What we need is a FAQ on this. We have one for COVID-19, why not for this?."

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Read More: Heres the List of Military Clinics That Will no Longer Serve Families, Retirees
Related Egypt's Media Syndicate bans controversial prank show host Ramez Galal from screens MBC network not suspending Ramez Galals prank show despite criticism: Spokesperson Egypts Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) said it doesnt have the power to impose sanctions on MBC Masr satellite channel following complaints about Ramez Galals prank show because it does not operate in Egypt.

The council, however, urged the channel to legalize its status in Egypt before August.

The SCMR issued a statement on Thursday on the controversy over the prank show Ramez Is Officially Crazy, broadcast on MBC Masr, and the numerous calls to stop airing it.

The council said it has no authority to impose sanctions or take measures against the channel if it violates the Egyptian media framework since it neither operates in Egypt's free media zone system nor is authorised by the SCMR.

MBC Masr is a Saudi channel owned by MBC group, with a foreign licence from the Dubai Creative Collectors Authority in the UAE and its headquarters is in Dubai Media City, the statement explained.

The channels broadcasting signal is transmitted from Dubai City to the foreign satellite Arabsat and the incoming signal is transmitted to the Egyptian satellite Nilesat via a domain leased to MBC, the statement added.

The council, however, warned that the channel has a six-month time-limit - starting from February - to legalize its status to continue to operate in Egypt in accordance with an executive regulation of the Press and Media Regulation Law issued on 16 February 2020.

The prank show tricks Egyptian and Arab celebrities into attending what they think will be a talk show in Dubai, only to find themselves strapped into a moving chair and ordered by Galal to repeat phrases glorifying him or demeaning themselves.

If they refuse, they are threatened with electric shocks, a snake, or other forms of humiliation.

The show unleashed a storm of criticism in Egyptian society for normalising torture. Several MPs, NGOs, and state institutions filed complaints against the show.

On Thursday, Egypts National Council for Women filed an official complaint against the show saying it relies on bluntly insulting and bullying the guests, as well as humiliating and degrading female guests.

On Wednesday, Egypts Media Syndicate issued a decision banning host and actor Galal from appearing on any media outlet broadcast in Egypt until legalizing his status.

According to a statement on Wednesday, Media Syndicate head Tarek Seada said Galal was making appearances as a presenter on MBC Masr without being a syndicate member or being licensed to practise the profession.

Egypts famous Abbasiya Psychiatric Hospital has also issued a statement condemning the show, describing it as a psychological threat to the mental health of Egyptian citizens, especially given the current pandemic situation.

The MBC network, however, said on Tuesday it will not be suspending the show.

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In case of victory, Trump's presumptive challenger will not move the US embassy back to Tel Aviv; however, he would reopen the US consulate in East Jerusalem. For Rabbi Milgrom, Biden does not want to lose Jewish votes. The embassy is a secondary issue; annexation of the territories is the heart of the matter.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews)  Joe Biden, Donald Trump's democratic rival in the November 2020 presidential election, said that if he is elected, the US embassy in Israel would remain in Jerusalem.

During a virtual townhall with supporters in Boston yesterday evening, he said he did not agree with President Trumps controversial decision to move the US diplomatic legation from Tel Aviv, but now that it is done, he would not reverse it.

The move shouldnt have happened in the context as it did, Biden explained. It should happen in the context of a larger deal to help us achieve important concessions for peace in the process.

For the former vice president, Moving the embassy when we did without the conditions having been met was short-sighted and frivolous. However, now that is done, I would not move the embassy back to Tel Aviv.

Asked by AsiaNews Jeremy Milgrom, an Israeli rabbi and member of the NGO Rabbis for Human Rights, noted that "the democratic party has two different souls at its base, one more conservative and the other more progressive".

We must see which of the two will have the most influence" both during the election campaign and in case of victory. However, "support for Biden by the more reformist and progressive wing is not a given now, he believes. For this reason, Trump is likely to win and get a second term.

For the rabbi, yesterday's statement shows that the democratic candidate does not want to lose the Jewish vote. At the same time, "the issue of the embassy in Jerusalem" is certainly not the central point of the discussion. Other issues will dominate the campaign, including regional issues.

The presumptive Democratic candidate in the presidential election of 3 November also said that he intends to reopen the US consulate in East Jerusalem to engage the Palestinians.

As one of his aides noted the previous day, Biden is against the unilateral annexation of the occupied territories in the West Bank, a move that Benjamin Netanyahu plans to complete by July with the support of his new government ally Benny Gantz.

Ive been a proud supporter of a secure, democratic Jewish state of Israel my entire life, Biden said, adding My administration will urge both sides to take steps to keep the prospect of a two-state solution alive.

For Biden, any "unilateral" decision would make a deal less likely and this should me rejected as should any annexation plans.

For Rabbi Milgrom, the heart of the matter is precisely that, the annexation, which represents "the most important issue" in Israel today. The US election in November can be an element of change, perhaps for the worse, he added, with unilateral actions expected to continue in the region. For now, nothing suggests the situation can improve.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A San Francisco sheriff's deputy shot a dog Thursday morning at a hotel being used as a shelter in San Francisco during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, sheriff's officials said.

Around 10 a.m., two deputies assigned to provide law enforcement services at the shelter at 1231 Market St. responded to a loud argument at the site's back entrance.

There, a man with a dog was arguing with a security officer and when the dog's owner saw the deputies, he began arguing with them, sheriff's officials.

The dog became increasingly agitated and at one point got loose and charged at the deputies. One of the deputies then fired his service weapon at the dog to protect himself and others, according to sheriff's officials.

The shooting caused the dog to retreat, with its owner chasing after.

Deputies followed and detained the owner. The owner, whose identity has not been released, has been booked into jail in connection with a felony warrant for his arrest, sheriff's officials said.

MORE: Ex-California FBI agent accused of taking $200,000 in bribes

Despite suffering several bullet wounds, the dog is alive and was taken for treatment by San Francisco Animal Care and Control.

The shooting is being investigated by the sheriff's Criminal Investigations Unit and the Sheriff's Internal Affairs Unit, as well as the San Francisco Police Department.

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.
Karen Pence, the wife of Vice President Mike Pence, is defending his decision to not wear a mask during a recent visit to the Mayo Clinic, saying he was unaware of the hospital's coronavirus policy until after he left.

In an appearance on Fox Channel on Thursday morning, Mrs. Pence said the vice president was following the advice of medical experts and hadn't intended to offend anyone. Pence, like other senior White House staff, is tested for the virus at least once a week.

"As our medical experts have told us, wearing a mask prevents you from spreading the disease. And knowing that he doesn't have COVID-19, he didn't wear one," Mrs. Pence said, adding that it was actually after he left Mayo Clinic that he found out that they had a policy of asking everyone to wear a mask.

So, you know, someone who's worked on this whole task force for over two months is not someone who would have done anything to offend anyone or hurt anyone or scare anyone, she said.

The Mayo Clinic had tweeted then deleted that it had informed the vice president of its "masking policy prior to his arrival. Mayo shared the masking policy with the VP's office, the health care system later said in its response.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in supermarkets, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

Pence toured the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, on Tuesday. Footage of the visit showed him mask-less as he met with an employee who had recovered from the virus, visited a lab where Mayo conducts coronavirus tests and during a roundtable discussion on Mayo's coronavirus testing and research programs. Pence explained his decision that day by stressing that he has been frequently tested for the virus.

As vice president of the United States I'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus, Pence said.

And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and look them in the eye and say 'thank you.'



President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed discomfort about mask-wearing, saying he did not intend to wear one when the CDC's recommendations were unveiled. And most senior staff have followed his lead, at least when they're in the White House.

People who enter the White House complex have their temperature taken, and those who will be in close proximity to the president and the vice president are given rapid COVID-19 tests to ensure they're not infectious.

Senior staff also are given tests on a rolling basis, so that infections are quickly detected.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

It has infected more than 1 million people in the United States, and more than 60,000 have died, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Irish study found that pollution affects cognition and they're unable to detect an ideal shell when they see one.

Hermit crabs are pros when it comes to moving house. As soon as they outgrow a shell, they scope out new options and upgrade to a bigger size. They have this down to a fine art, with entire groups of crabs lining up from biggest to smallest and waiting till the right moment to exit their too-small shell and beeline for the bigger one. Needless to say, this behavior is essential to their survival. Crabs are vulnerable without their shells and they're always growing.

But plastic debris is wreaking havoc with their ability to choose new shells, and it goes beyond mistaking plastic containers for shells, which Melissa wrote about several months ago. New research from Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland, has discovered that exposure to microplastic particles in the water actually inhibits a crab's ability to assess the potential of a new shell. As study co-author Dr. Gareth Arnott explained, "The striking thing in this study was when [we offered them a better shell], lots of the crabs that had been exposed to the microplastics didnt make the optimal decision to take [it]."

The study, published in Biology Letters, describes the research process. Two groups of female crabs were placed in two separate tanks, one with 29 and one with 35. Both tanks were filled with seawater and seaweed, but one contained 4mm-diameter polyethylene beads. The crabs remained in the water for five days, then were removed, taken out of their shells, and given new shells to move into  except that these were not shells that the crabs would've chosen themselves, "about half the ideal weight for each crab." Two hours later the crabs were presented with new shells of suitable size. The researchers were surprised by their observations:
What might be in there? No one really knows until they look. The Senate does not operate under any equivalent of the 1978 Presidential Records Act, under which presidents and vice presidents are required to manage and preserve their records carefully. Then an archivist judges which should be made available to the public, which have information too sensitive to be disclosed and which are purely private.
Tara Reade, the woman who accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 when she was a Senate aide, said in an interview this week that no television network except Fox has invited her on to speak.

Reade spoke Wednesday with The New York Times' media columnist Ben Smith and said that the major networks 'are not offering to put me on TV - they're just doing stories. No anchors, no nothing like that.'

She told Smith she was trying to avoid being branded as a partisan. 'I've been trying to just kind of wait to get someone in the middle. I don't want to be pigeonholed as a progressive, I don't want to be pigeonholed as a Trump supporter.'

Tara Reade told The New York Times' media columnist on Wednesday that she hasn't been asked to do a sit-down interview on her allegations against Joe Biden by any of the major mainstream news networks

Joe Biden, the Democrats' presumptive nominee, hasn't addressed Reade's allegations of sexual assault head-on, with his campaign sending out a statement denying them in March, when more mainstream outlets began picking up the story

Reade told Smith she'd like to do a sit-down with an anchor she admires.

She listed CBS 'This Morning' host Gayle King as an example.

But since CBS hasn't called, according to Reade, the former Senate staffer of the presumptive Democratic nominee plans to accept the offer with Fox News Channel.

She wanted to talk to 'someone a little more in the middle,' but didn't reveal to Smith a name.

His own reporting sniffed out that Reade is in talks with Chris Wallace, the host of 'Fox News Sunday,' which is broadcast on the Fox broadcast networks before being replayed on cable's Fox News Channel.

A spokesperson for Wallace's show 'Fox News Sunday' has yet to respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on whether the interview has been booked.

CBS has yet to comment - though CBS reporters have spoken to Reade on-the-record as part of the network's coverage.

CNN didn't respond to a request for comment.

The New York Times reported that Reade was in talks for a sit-down interview with Chris Wallace, who hosts 'Fox News Sunday,' but a spokesperson for the show has yet to respond to comment on whether the interview has been officially booked

NBC News declined comment.

But NBC News and MSNBC have interviewed Reade, including on April 12 and 13 with MSNBC political reporter Ali Vitali. Since then Biden has only appeared on MSNBC once - for a coronavirus-specific hit on 'Morning Joe.'

And the liberal-leaning cable channel MSNBC has taken heat for covering the story, with the hashtag #FireChrisHayes trending on Twitter after 'All In' host Chris Hayes did a segment on Reade's allegations Wednesday night.

Hayes had asked New York Magazine writer Rebecca Traister to come onto his program to discuss her essay 'The Biden Trap,' in which she criticized the former vice president for not responding to the assault allegation head-on.

That's led to his female surrogates - and his eventual, female vice presidential pick - 'drinking from a poisoned chalice,' Traister wrote.

'Because the promise to choose a woman ensures that whoever she is, she will be forced to answer - over and over again - for Biden's treatment of other women, including the serious allegations of assault leveled by Tara Reade,' Traister said in the essay.

Smith likened Reade's predicament to that of Juanita Broaddrick, the Arkansas nursing home administrator who claims she was raped by Bill Clinton in 1978 when he was running to be the state's governor.

In 1999, Smith describes the American mainstream media of 'getting cold feet' on Broaddrick's credible rape allegation against a sitting Democratic president. NBC News sat on an exclusive interview with Broaddrick for weeks.

Broaddrick eventually took her story to the conservative Wall Street Journal's editorial page, where Democrats could then ignore it because it looked like a partisan hit.

Reade's Biden story - that details him forcing his hands down her skirt in a Congressional hallway and then telling her she means 'nothing' - was first told to journalist Katie Halper for her 'Katie Halper Show' podcast on March 25.

She was then interviewed by Hill.TV and Vox.

Halper's friendly to Bernie Sanders - who was still in the race at the time. The Intercept, another publication that's friendly to Sanders, also did early reporting.

Reade, too, was supportive of Sanders in tweets - allowing the progressive-versus-moderate Democratic split displayed in the last two presidential primaries to taint the Biden accuser's claims.

Since then, Business Insider has produced reporting that corroborates Reade's claims.

And the primary campaign has wrapped up - with conservatives now left wondering how the political left and the mainstream media could react one way to a sexual assault claims against conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and in another way to Biden, the Democrats' presumptive nominee.

The press has covered a number of sexual assault and harassment allegations against President Trump as well. Trump has denied every one of those claims.

Biden hasn't addressed the allegation, leaving it up to his deputy campaign manager and communications director, Kate Bedingfield, who gave a statement as mainstream news outlets began to report the story.

'Women have the right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims. We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false,' Bedingfield said.
Officials from North Jutland Police patrol during the enforcement of distance rules while businesses reopen, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Aalborg

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark, the first country outside Asia to ease its coronavirus lockdown, said on Thursday the spread of Covid-19 has not accelerated since the gradual loosening of restrictions began in mid-April.

The Nordic country began reopening day care centres and schools for children in first to fifth grade two weeks ago followed by hairdressers and other small businesses on April 20 after seeing number of infections and deaths decline.

"There are no signs that the COVID-19 epidemic is accelerating," said the State Serum Institute, which is responsible for preparedness against infectious diseases.

The so-called 'R rate', which shows the average number of infections one person with the virus causes, has increased slightly in the past two weeks but remains below 1.0, it said.

Governments around the world want the 'R rate' to be below 1.0 - meaning each infected person transmits the virus to less then one other - before loosening their lockdowns.

Germany said on Tuesday that its 'R rate' had edged up back to 1.0 after a lockdown relaxation last week.

Denmark, which was one of the first in Europe to shut down, had 452 coronavirus-related deaths as of Thursday, while the number of hospitalizations has fallen steadily during April.

"There are no signs what so ever that the partial reopening has caused a bigger spread of infection," said Christian Wejse, a scientist at the department of infectious diseases at Aarhus University.

"At least there is no indication that we are heading into another wave. That has been the concern, but I can't see that at all," he told Reuters.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Wednesday that the spread of the virus was "under control" and that she would present a plan for the next steps in the reopening before May 10.

"We are by no means home safe, but we have a really good starting point now to get the number of infected further down," said Wejse.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, Stine Jacobsen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Full-service airline Vistara said it will minimise in-flight services, which will now have only cold meals and fewer entertainment options.

The changes, Vistara said, will reduce "touchpoints" by 80 percent during flights and limit the risk of COVID-19. The airline added that it will make further changes in line with the government's guidelines.

These will also help the joint venture company between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, to save on costs. Like its peers, Vistara too has been impacted by the disruption caused by the pandemic, and has already cut salaries and sent some of its staff on leave without pay.

Domestic and international flights are currently suspended during the nationwide lockdown, which began on March 25.

No more Starbucks coffee

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

Vistara said it will withdraw on-board sales, welcome drink, hot meals, beverages in the premium economy and economy offerings. Only cold refreshments will be served in premium economy and economy services.

The number of meal options on board will be reduced, Vistara added.

The airline also said it will replace water-pouring with 200 ml water bottles, and will withdraw services such as Starbucks coffee and Turkish towels.

In-flight magazines and other reading material will be suspended, Vistara added. The airline's cabin crew will wear masks and gloves throughout the duration of the flight.

The airline said it will make further changes once the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) finalises the guidelines.

Vistara added that it is also reviewing services on international flights to reduce touchpoints.
Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr

Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Sacramento.

Pancake Circus worries pandemic may spell the end of a Sacramento staple

A Sacramento staple may soon be forced to close its doors for good.



Read the full story on FOX40.

Memo says California governor will order all beaches closed

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed starting Friday after people thronged the seashore last weekend despite his social distancing order that aims to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Read the full story on FOX40.

Carjacking suspect killed in crash after stealing good Samaritans vehicle

A good Samaritan is recovering after the man he tried to help attacked him and carjacked him on Highway 99 in Sacramento.

Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento.

Sacramento County extends stay-at-home order, issues some clarifications to allowed activities

Sacramento County has extended its stay-at-home order as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento.

Sacramento business owners say they wont be able to survive the governor's reopening timeline

Sacramento business owners say they may not be able to survive Governor Newsom's four-stage reopening plan.

Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
A fire that caused structural damage at a mosque in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, hours after the start of Ramadan was allegedly set by man who caused property damage to the same building over 10 years ago, police said.

Nicholas Proffitt was arrested on Monday without incident for allegedly setting fire to the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau.

Federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that Proffitt was charged with maliciously damaging a building by means of a fire. Cape Girardeau police said he is also facing state charges of burglary, arson and property damage as he was "knowingly motivated to do so by reason of a motive related to the religion of the people who worship at the Islamic Center."

PHOTO: Nicholas J. Proffitt in a police booking photo. (Cape Girardeau Police Department )

Proffitt, 42, was allegedly seen on the center's surveillance cameras on April 24 entering the building with two containers by breaking a glass window.

The alleged break-in occurred hours after the beginning of Ramadan, a time of spiritual reflection for Muslims who pray and fast for the entire holy month.

MORE: FBI offers $5000 reward for information about fire at a Missouri Islamic Center

"Attacks against houses of worship are attacks against people of faith and their right to exercise their religion freely and without fear," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division in a statement, adding, "The Justice Department will defend the right of all people in our country to exercise their religion, no matter the creed."

Proffitt allegedly slashed liquid that were in the containers inside the center and ignited the fire with "some type of fire starter," prosecutors said.

PHOTO: Firefighters responding to an early morning fire at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau, Mo., April 24, 2020. (Cape Girardeau Fire Department)

No injuries were reported.

He's being held on a no-bond warrant and is expected to face a judge for arraignment on April 30.

Proffitt was previously jailed in 2009 on charges of first-degree property damage for throwing rocks at the same mosque.

Federal prosecutors said this is an "ongoing investigation," suggesting Proffitt could potentially face federal hate crime charges moving forward.

Missouri man charged with setting fire to an Islamic center originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SAN FRANCISCO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global extruded snacks market size is expected to reach USD 74.52 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing consciousness among consumers regarding their snacking habits and rising adoption of healthy products during snacking time are the key factors boosting the market growth.

Moreover, growing party culture among millennials and working-class population across the globe is anticipated to offer growth opportunity for the market over the forecast period. Extruded snacks are considered beneficial in many ways as they help in weight management and improving metabolism. Furthermore, these healthy products offer various nutrients and vitamins to the body, thus promoting the adoption among all the consumer groups.

Key suggestions from the report:

By product, potato accounted for a share of more than 25% based on volume as well as revenue in 2019. It is expected to maintain its lead over the forecast period owing to large consumption of potato based extruded snacks, including chips and pallet snacks

The online retail distribution channel is anticipated to be the fastest growing segment with a revenue-based CAGR of 5.4% from 2020 to 2027. The growth of online retail is attributed to its easy, comfortable, and convenient accessibility, coupled with doorstep delivery

Europe emerged as the largest regional market for extruded snacks in 2019 with a share of more than 40.0% based on volume owing to high consumption of product on social occasions as well as for on-the-go snacking

Key players in the market include Nestle S.A.; The Kellogg Company; General Mills Inc .; PepsiCo, Inc.; Campbell Soup Company; Calbee, Inc.; ITC Limited; Old Dutch Foods Inc.; Europe Snacks; and Universal Robina Corporation.

Read 80 page research report with ToC on "Extruded Snacks Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Potato, Corn, Rice, Tapioca, Mixed Grains), By Distribution Channel, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/extruded-snacks-market

Europe emerged as the largest regional market for extruded snacks in 2019 with a share of more than 40.0% based on volume owing to high consumption of extruded snacks on social occasions as well as for on-the-go snacking. In recent years, the region has witnessed a significant increase in the demand for wholegrain wheat and other cereals snacks. These trends are anticipated to boost the demand for extruded snacks in the region over the forecast period.

The extruded snacks market is fragmented owing to the presence of a large number of local as well as international players. Moreover, major market share is captured by some of the strong players, including Nestle S.A.; The Kellogg Company; Calbee, Inc.; PepsiCo, Inc.; and Campbell Soup Company, with large customer base across the globe. Moreover, major players are adopting various strategies, including merger and acquisition, for expanding their customer base. For instance, in October 2018, Calbee, Inc. acquired a British brand, Seabrook Crisps in order to strengthen its presence in Europe.

Grand View Research has segmented the global extruded snacks market on the basis of product, distribution channel, and region:

Extruded Snacks Product Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Potato



Corn



Rice



Tapioca



Mixed Grains



Others

Extruded Snacks Distribution Channel Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Supermarkets & Hypermarkets



Convenience Stores



Specialty Stores



Online Retail



Others

Extruded Snacks Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

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U.K.



Asia Pacific



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Caramel Ingredients Market - The caramel ingredients market is mainly driven by a booming convenience food industry, rise in disposable income of consumers, and widespread urbanization, especially in developing economies.

Amla Extract Market - Rising awareness regarding numerous benefits of amla extract to improve body composition, weight loss, metabolism, immune and digestive system, and liver and heart health is anticipated to drive the product demand.

Organic Beverages Market - Increasing awareness about the health benefits associated with the consumption of organic products is expected to drive the demand over the years to come.

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STOCKHOLM, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Climate Investment Coalition (CIC) took a first important step on its 2020 roadmap at the Nordic Council's Climate and Environment Ministers Meeting today, when the Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities chaired a Roundtable discussion between Nordic governments and institutional investors on climate investment mobilisation in the coming years. Focus for the discussion was not only on how to solve the climate crisis but also how institutional investors can contribute to the recovery of pandemic affected economies in a climate-friendly way.

"The political response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic must reap the synergies between job creation and climate action. Huge amounts of money will be mobilised to boost our economies, and we must seize that as an opportunity to tip the scales from black to green. Institutional investors will play a key role in making the recovery a green one," says Dan Jrgensen, Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities in Denmark

"Financial commitments from institutional investors are required to fund the transition to a net-zero economy in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Given the current pandemic and its impact on economies globally, these investments can now have even more impact. It is important to also see green investments as a key approach to help stimulate and regenerate the economy", says Chairman of IIGCC, Peter Damgaard Jensen.

In 2019, the Danish Pension Funds committed USD 50 billion to be invested in the energy transition and climate mitigation, and to be applied with the required framework conditions from 2020 to 2030. This commitment was made through a public-private partnership between the Danish Government and Insurance & Pension Denmark and led to the establishment of the Climate Investment Coalition.

"The Danish insurance and pension industry support the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celcius, preferably 1.5 degrees. Institutional investors can play an important role in the green transition by financing green investments, given suitable framework conditions. Through the activities of the Climate Investment Coalition, the Danish pension industry will share its experiences in good green investment practices and framework conditions to promote the green transition internationally," says Deputy Chief Executive at Insurance & Pension Denmark, Jan V. Hansen.

Nordic pension funds are ready to follow suit in committing to increased climate investments over the next years. Nordic pension funds are among the largest in Europe, and participating in the Nordic Roundtable were Norwegian pension fund Storebrand, Swedish pension fund AP4 and Finnish pension fund Varma.

"The Covid-19 pandemic constitutes an enormous challenge for humanity and economic activity, but it will also in the next phase create an opportunity for politicians, regulators, investors and corporates to jointly address climate change and the transition to a sustainable world. Initiatives to implement a relevant system for global pricing of carbon emissions would be an extremely strong tool in this endeavour", says Niklas Ekvall, CEO of AP4.

"Varma's goal is that by 2025, one fifth of the investment portfolio will consist of investees that either directly or indirectly mitigate the advancement of climate change. This means focussing on companies and investees that have low emissions, provide solutions for reducing emissions, and promote the use of renewable energy or offer carbon sinks," says Hanna Kaskela, Director, Responsible Investment at Varma.

"Before COVID 19 the trend on sustainable investments was strong. COVID 19 has demonstrated the impact of a crisis that knows no boundaries. Whilst the S in ESG is likely to be increasingly important in the recovery, the climate changes are still pressing risks and opportunities. COVID 19 has also demonstrated the power of acting together; corporates, governments, and consumers. Capital will play an important role in the recovery we need. Working together works. Partnership is the new leadership", says Jan Erik Saugestad, CEO Storebrand Asset Management.

Information on the Climate Investment Coalition

Climate Investment Coalition mobilises financial commitments from institutional investors towards green investments and shares best practice business models and enabling framework conditions to stimulate global climate action towards 2030.

The Nordic Roundtable was a part of the Climate Investment Coalition's roadmap to COP26, which includes a key steppingstone, the Climate Investment Summit, in Copenhagen later this year. This Summit will aim to catalyse private investments in the energy transition, highlight best practice business models and framework conditions, and promote green economic strategies for a post-pandemic economic recovery.

Climate Investment Coalition and Climate Investment Summit websites were also launched today. Through these websites you can find more information on key announcements by CIC, information on upcoming events in 2020 and currently collected best practice business examples, including investments towards clean energy infrastructure and investments into green bonds.

Partners behind the Climate Investment Coalition are the Government of Denmark, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), Insurance & Pension Denmark and World Climate Foundation.

More information on the Climate Investment Coalition's Roadmap can be found here.

More information on the Climate Investment Summit can be found here.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/climate-investment-coalition/r/nordic-council-of-ministers-meeting-discuss-collaboration-on-green-investment-mobilisation,c3101961

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India on Thursday described a flurry of social media posts in West Asia on the treatment of Muslims in the country as propaganda and said countries in that region were keen to work with New Delhi for economic recovery after the Covid-19 crisis.

Over the past few weeks, several commentators from West Asia and a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates have called out what they said were Islamophobic social media posts by a handful of Indians working in the Middle East. They have also criticised what they said was the targeting of Muslims in India.

As the issue gained prominence, external affairs minister S Jaishankar reached out to many of his counterparts in the West Asian countries, especially members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to address the matter and also to discuss the welfare of some eight million expatriates in the region.

Responding to a string of questions on the issue during an online news briefing, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava described much of the material on social media platforms as propaganda by interested parties.

Stray tweets cannot be used to characterise our bilateral relations with these countries, and the real picture of these relations is very different. The prime minister and external affairs minister have been in regular touch with their counterparts from the region, and spoken to them over the past few days, he said.

The West Asian states, he said, also want a priority discussion with India on the post-Covid-19 economic recovery.

Srivastava added: So what comes out clearly in these discussions is that these countries are deeply committed to friendly relations with India. They also dont support any interference in the internal affairs of India. It is, therefore, important that the friendly and cooperative nature of our relations is accurately recognised and the misuse of social media is not given credence.

The West Asian states have also made requests for India to send medicines and medical teams. Theres a request to send doctors and nurses from India, Srivastava said, adding that so far, a medical rapid response team had been deployed in Kuwait for a fortnight.

India has also made special efforts to ensure uninterrupted supply of food and essential commodities required by these countries during the holy month of Ramzan.

Responding to a report that Oman, which is home to 770,000 Indians, has launched a drive to replace expatriates working in the government sector, Srivastava said this was a decades-old policy that isnt specific to India and doesnt target Indians in any way.

Countries such as Oman greatly value relations with India and also value the large and important role that our diaspora has played in contributing to the economic prosperity of that region, he said. Oman has also been taking special care of Indians amid the Covid-19 crisis by providing them free testing and treatment, he added.

Omans finance ministry recently issued a circular calling for the expatriates employed in the government sector to be replaced by Omanis, with proposals in this regard to be submitted by July. The circular also said the replacement of expatriates should be done in a speedy manner.

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Rishi Kapoor

Chandigarh: The chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday condoled the demise of actor Rishi Kapoor.

Shocked by the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor Ji. An actor par excellence who charmed millions, he will be deeply missed by all. My deepest condolences to his family & fans all over the world. RIP., Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted.

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PhotoHaryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar too expressed grief over the passing away of Rishi Kapoor as well as actor Irrfan Khan, who died on Wednesday.

We have lost two cine stars yesterday it was Irrfan Khan and today it was Rishi Kapoor. Their demise is irreparable loss to the cine world, their thousands of fans and to the nation, Khattar said in a tweet, describing Khan and Kapoor as versatile actors.

PhotoRishi Kapoor, the romantic star of many a Bollywood film was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018 and died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday morning. He was 67.

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The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year.

Ranbir And Rishi KapoorKapoor's death comes a day after Khan passed away at a Mumbai hospital after a two year fight with a rare form of cancer. He was buried at the Versova graveyard.
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 18:08 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd54d17a 1 Business Garuda-Indonesia,Airlines,Angkasa-Pura-I,Angkasa-Pura-II,Airport,COVID-19,coronavirus,rapid-testing Free

Airline passengers may need to anticipate that the new normal for air travel could require that they be tested for COVID-19 before boarding.

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is planning to provide rapid testing services for future passengers to curb the spread of the highly infectious virus on airplanes, president director Irfan Setiaputra told a hearing with House of Representatives Commission VI on Wednesday.

There is a plan that we, along with Angkasa Pura I, Angkasa Pura II and the air transport authority, will conduct [the COVID-19] rapid test for anyone [on] aircraft once flights [resume], Irfan said, referring to the two state-owned airport operators.

Airlines operating routes in Indonesia have grounded their aircraft to comply with the governments ban on travel to and from COVID-19 "red zones". The large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) implemented in major Indonesian cities with hub airports has also heavily impacted airline frequency.

Irfan said that the flag carrier had already implemented health protocols including regular disinfection of aircraft, temperature scanning and check-ups for passengers, and onboard physical distancing.

The airline had already suspended its in-flight distribution of newspapers and magazines as well as pillows, and switched to using disposable food packaging for its in-flight meals to prevent indirect transmission through contaminated surfaces and objects. It also plans to provide hand sanitizer for all passengers.

Flag carrier Emirates Airlines of the United Arab Emirates became the first airline in the world to implement on-site COVID-19 rapid testing for passengers on April 15. The serology test returns results on blood samples within 10 minutes.
UW Educational Health Clinics Use Telehealth to Advance Patient Care During Pandemic

UW Albany Community Health Clinic nursing supervisor Katie Doherty, right, speaks with psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Nancy McGee via video conferencing. This same technology is employed by health care providers using telehealth. (Richelle Keinath Photo)

While the COVID-19 virus has altered or even halted the routines of many peoples lives, health care providers at the University of Wyoming Educational Health Center of Wyoming (EHCW) clinic sites not only have continued to serve patients -- they also have taken the next steps to ensure health care delivery now and beyond the pandemic.

One primary tool that has evolved to ensure patient and provider safety during the extremely volatile spread of the novel coronavirus is telehealth.

Albany Community Health Clinic

Katie Doherty, a registered nurse and nursing supervisor with the Albany Community Health Clinic (ACHC) in Laramie, says an important aspect of being a nurse is the connection with patients. Yet, that seemed to change overnight due to the pandemic.

Fortunately, our clinic was moving down a path to initiate more telehealth and, thus, some of the technology was in place. It was a matter of how to use it and educating our patients on this technology as well, Doherty says.

The ACHC also initiated a telephone triage for patients calling with potential COVID-19 symptoms. These calls included a significant increase in patients with mental health concerns related to anxiety and increased stress due to isolation and worries over possible infection.

Nancy McGee, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with the ACHC, provides evaluation, diagnosis, medication management and brief psychotherapy interventions for people with mental health and substance abuse problems. She serves as a consultant for primary care providers at the ACHC.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the ACHC team had been working to expand telebehavioral health services (a form of telehealth) in an attempt to increase access to behavioral health treatment throughout our rural state, McGee says. We were fortunate to have already developed telehealth policies and procedures, and had begun the early implementation phases of telebehavioral health services in the weeks prior to the outbreak.

Moving behavioral health appointments to telehealth platforms allowed the behavioral health providers to work remotely, thus reducing the number of patients and providers on-site at the clinic each day. Primary care also has shifted health care delivery models to telehealth platforms -- phone and secure Zoom.

I think the innovation that has come out of this crisis will ultimately move health care forward, McGee says. In many ways, telehealth has allowed me to continue interacting with patients in the same way we always have. In a state like Wyoming, with critical health care provider shortages in many communities, my hope is that telehealth is here to stay.

Casper Family Medicine Residency Program

Cynthia Works has served as a family physician with the Casper Family Medicine Residency Program since 2002. She says the Casper clinic started early by helping the elderly and those considered immunocompromised through phone calls and telehealth so they could stay safe at home and avoid risking potential exposure by coming to the clinic.

During this challenging time of COVID-19, the clinic and residency teams have been called upon to shift and change at a rapid pace to keep our patients and staff safe and to continue to meet the needs of the patients we serve, Works says. Our clinic and residency leadership has stepped up and lived up to the description of servant leaders, as they have guided not only the clinic, but also have helped the Casper community by playing key roles in the response to COVID.

UW Casper Family Medicine Residency Program second-year resident physician Katrina Culmer demonstrates telehealth technology for a virtual visit with her patients. (Beth Robitaille Photo)

Long-term care facility visits also were done virtually, so health care providers who work in many different settings would not carry COVID-19 into the care settings of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Every department of the clinic has pulled together to take care of each other and our patients, Works says. Our pharmacy delivering meds, curbside lab draws, resident physicians and medical students volunteering -- along with many more efforts -- have been true to our mission of service to help meet the health care needs of the Casper community.

Becky Griffith, clinic nursing director and herself a longtime nurse, says COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way she takes care of her patients by taking away a lot of hands-on contact.

I have always given my heart and gentle words to my patients with hugs and sympathetic understanding, Griffith says. With the pandemic happening, patients and co-workers have been quite stressed out and very anxious about what this has done to all of us and our normalcy. Nerves have been on edge and patience short at times.

But the situation has improved, she says.

Now that we have been doing our new and always changing normal for about five weeks now, everyone seems to have settled in and are focused on taking the best care we can of our patients and each other, Griffith says. We have been working feverishly to reassure and educate our patients with the information that we have on symptoms of COVID, quarantining, screening, refilling medications and any other issues that are happening.

A second-year resident physician, Jared Lambert, also has adapted to the changes resulting from COVID-19. Lambert, originally from Phoenix, Ariz., works closely with his attending physician supervisors.

It has required me to ensure that Im up to date with current events to best reassure and provide recommendations to my patients, Lambert says. I plan to more closely follow current medical events, both in and out of this pandemic situation, to ensure I am prepared to answer any questions my patients may have.

There have been some negative consequences from the pandemic that have affected clinic staff and operations.

In the short term, we have experienced a 30 percent decrease in the number of patient visits over the past month, Lambert says. However, I believe this pandemic will actually have a lasting positive benefit to our clinic in having necessitated all of us to adapt in serving our patients through the use of telehealth and phone visits.

Cheyenne Family Medicine Residency Program

Resident physician Baier Rakowski, with the Cheyenne Family Medicine Residency Program, shares Lamberts concerns for patient/provider safety during the current crisis.

Rakowski, from Portland, Ore., notes that while telehealth is an interesting tool, established standards for ensuring a high-quality telehealth visit have been put aside as secondary to many of the challenges posed by the pandemic.

As we work toward performing more virtual visits, we will need to learn to balance the risks of exposure with the need to evaluate patients, Rakowski says.

Karen Jefcoat, a Cheyenne resident and physician assistant with the clinic, was skeptical, at first, using telehealth to interact with patients.

Having now done several telehealth encounters, I realize that good patient care can be accomplished even in nontraditional ways, Jefcoat says. It surprised me to see how much my patients seem to enjoy the video visits.

Jefcoat now sees the quick initiation of telehealth in the Cheyenne clinic as a way to provide better care to patients when there are issues such as transportation, weather or viral outbreaks such as COVID-19 and influenza.

As a nursing supervisor with the clinic, Cheyenne native John Goetz points to the effects of the pandemic as having deprived both patients and nurses of this sense of interconnectedness. Still, however challenging the current and future conditions imposed by COVID-19 are, Goetz sees positive outcomes for not only the Cheyenne clinic, but also all clinics included in the EHCW.

Almost overnight, the entire clinic embraced telehealth, Goetz says. The transition had a few challenges in the beginning, but now we have hit our stride. We have discovered, unsurprisingly, the key benefit of telehealth is improving access to care.

Positive Outcomes for Patients and Students

With many changes taking place in the delivery of health care due to COVID-19 -- through either telehealth or other means -- and the positive outcomes for patients who use these services, providers are continuing to review these technologies with the goal of continued advancement in patient care.

For students who are considering careers in health care, this rapidly changing environment offers both new challenges and opportunity.

We will use the lessons we have learned as a health care community during this unprecedented time to increase training opportunities around telehealth, McGee says. While most traditional field placements were halted by the pandemic, telehealth has allowed many health sciences students an opportunity to continue their education and participate in direct patient care.

For all those students considering careers in health care, may service be at the heart of their motivation to enter these careers, Works says.
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WashKaro aims to provide the right information to the right people in the right format at the right time

IIIT Delhi is contributing in the battle against COVID-19 by innovating unique ideas and solutions. The institute has come up with several strategies in a short interval of time to raise awareness among the people regarding the Coronavirus and has furnished tools that can help them maintain a safe distance from the disease.

One such solution is the WashKaro app. Currently available for Android users (iOS version under development), the app functions as Infodemic Management Suite. For this reason, it was also presented at WHO, Geneva on 8th April, via video conferencing.

WashKaro aims to provide the right information to the right people in the right format at the right time. It is targeted at the layman and the daily updated content is delivered in Hindi as bite-sized audios for those who may not be able to read. The app delivers government advisories from official pages and contains a Symptom Tracker (based upon WHO) for people to know if they are safe.

It also houses CovidTracer, which is a breakthrough technology that tells people if their safety is compromised because they're close to someone COVID-19 positive. It's a peer-to-peer network and uses Bluetooth technology for communication. It doesn't need internet or location services and no data is stored anywhere on any server.

onAIr is one of the features of the app. It makes use of the Artificial Intelligence technology to cross-reference news with WHO documents. This ensures that people are shielded from fake information and hoaxes. Besides that, the app has abundant information regarding the pandemic and therefore serves as a conduit of verified information compared to other social media sources.

Dr.Tavpritesh Sethi, a Clinican Data Scientist and an Assistant Professor of Computational Biology at IIIT Delhi said, "I have been focusing on the marriage of medicine and artificial intelligence because of my training in both. Wrong information about COVIDspreads faster than the disease itself. So wefocused on stopping this with AI and medical expertise working together. WashKaro is the first AI-powered Infodemic Management App that provides a suite of tools to keep users safe at all times by providing authentic audios in hindi, bluetooth based physical distancing,and self tracking."

Prof Ponnurangam Kumaraguru, Professor of Computer Science and Dean of Students Affairs at IIIT-Delhi said, "I have been working on fake news and misinformation for a while now, and my broad theme of research is Saving Lives. The current Covid-19 situation demanded a multi-disciplinary approach. WashKaro is a very satisfying collaboration of Medicine and Computing and IIITD is well known for building AI and machine learning based systems that are widely used.

Besides the app, the institute has also developed a website by the name CoronaActionIndia, which is an updated website aggregating all the government advisories and vetted information along with a dashboard for ease of access.

Another positive initiative has been the development of Patient Management and Tracking Tools. Given the increasing number of patients every day, it can be very helpful to have an organized online ledger that can track and monitor the affected individuals. It will help maintain a publicly available repository of guidelines, algorithms and calculators for patient management, which have been sourced from trusted sources like WHO, public advisories from ICMR and reputed institutionssuch as AIIMS, New Delhi.

IIITD is known for its multidisciplinary research, and these initiatives have been a result of the collaboration between two professors from different fields  one from Computational Biology and the other fromComputer Science. Students and Researchers working on the projects have been crowdsourced; students are from AIIMS, IIITD, and even employees of otherorganizations are contributing to the efforts.
The first-quarter 2020 reporting cycle for the Zacks Business Services sector commenced last week on a fairly positive note amid the coronavirus rampage. In this cycle, analysts are expecting a modest improvement in sector earnings. Total earnings are expected to be up 1.9% on 6.9% higher revenues (read more: Previewing Tech Sector Earnings).

So far this earnings season, we have seen impressive quarterly results from Equifax EFX, Interpublic IPG, IQVIA Holdings, S&P Global and Omnicom, each reporting better-than-expected top- as well as bottom-line numbers. Robert Half RHI reported lower-than-expected earnings but higher-than-anticipated revenues.

FCN, NLSN, EXPO, SPSC and HURN in Spotlight

Here we discuss five business services companies, scheduled to report first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 30.

Our quantitative model suggests that the combination of the following two key ingredients  a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better  increases the odds of a positive earnings surprise. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

FTI Consulting, Inc.FCN: This Washington-based provider of business advisory services to manage change, mitigate risk, and resolve disputes worldwide is scheduled to report results, before market open.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $613.08 million, indicating growth of 11.2% from the year-ago periods reported figure. Higher demand across all business segments is likely to have aided the top line.

The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $1.60 per share, indicating decrease of 1.8% from the year-ago periods reported figure. Unfavorable impact of FX remeasurement losses, resulting from the strengthening of the British pound and euro against the U.S. dollar are likely to have weighed on the bottom line.

.FTI Consulting has an Earnings ESP of -11.88% and currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Story continues

FTI Consulting, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

FTI Consulting, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

FTI Consulting, Inc. price-eps-surprise | FTI Consulting, Inc. Quote

Measurement and data analytics company, Nielsen Holdings plc NLSN is scheduled to report results, before market open.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $1.58 billion, indicating growth of 0.9% from the year-ago periods reported figure. Strong product lines and continued investment in the addressable TV platform, strengthening presence in the advertising market, and increasing digital initiatives across the Media business are likely to have aided the top line.

The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 30 cents per share, indicating decrease of 14.3% from the year-ago periods reported figure. Sluggish growth in emerging markets, ongoing investments in technology and infrastructure (which may have hampered margin expansion and profitability) and higher expenses are expected to have weighed on the bottom line.

Nielsen has an Earnings ESP of -0.66% and currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. (Read more: Nielsen to Report Q1 Earnings: What's in the Offing?)

Nielsen Holdings Plc Price and EPS Surprise

Nielsen Holdings Plc Price and EPS Surprise

Nielsen Holdings Plc price-eps-surprise | Nielsen Holdings Plc Quote

Exponent, Inc.EXPO: This California-based science and engineering consulting company worldwide is set to report results, after market close.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $99.68 million, indicating growth of 6.7% from the year-ago periods reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 44 cents per share, indicating increase of 4.8% from the year-ago periods reported figure.

Exponent has an Earnings ESP of -3.45% and currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

Exponent, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Exponent, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Exponent, Inc. price-eps-surprise | Exponent, Inc. Quote

SPS Commerce, Inc. SPSC: This Minnesota-based provider of cloud-based supply chain management solutions worldwide is set to report results, after market close.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $73.89 million, indicating growth of 10.4% from the year-ago periods reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 32 cents per share, indicating increase of 6.7% from the year-ago periods reported figure.

SPS Commerce is unlikely to beat on earnings in the first quarter as it has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

SPS Commerce, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

SPS Commerce, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

SPS Commerce, Inc. price-eps-surprise | SPS Commerce, Inc. Quote

Professional services firm, Huron Consulting Group Inc. HURN is set to report results, after market close.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $214.78 million, indicating decline of 3.7% from the year-ago periods reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 38 cents per share, indicating decrease of 5% from the year-ago periods reported figure.

Huron Consulting has an Earnings ESP of -2.17% and currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

Huron Consulting Group Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Huron Consulting Group Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Huron Consulting Group Inc. price-eps-surprise | Huron Consulting Group Inc. Quote

Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020

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Equifax, Inc. (EFX) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Sabry Ghobriel and Ragaa Taodros have been married for 45 years.

They immigrated legally from Egypt nearly three years ago to be closer to their three children and eight grandchildren who live in the U.S. and Canada.

Ghobriel, 76, said he worked two jobs before the coronavirus pandemic hit, one as a school bus aide in Newark and the other as a security guard.

I would wake up at 5 a.m. every morning to pick up kids for school and go home, sleep for a couple of hours and then go to my second job from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. to avoid running out of money, he said.

He lost both jobs on March 13.

Taodros, 65, worked as a school bus aide, too. She also lost her position on March 13.

The Lyndhurst couple has been living for 48 days without a penny of income.

Well, almost.

They both filed for unemployment benefits. Neither has received what they were hoping to get.

Ghobriel first filed when he lost the jobs. But on March 20, his security guard employer asked him to work for one day. He reported it to unemployment and that lowered his unemployment benefits so he received one benefit check of $54. He has yet to get additional unemployment benefits based on his past two jobs.

After that week, I have been filing my claim every week and I'm not getting anything. It says you are eligible for $0 every week, he said. We don't deserve this. We are hard workers that paid taxes. We were on W-2 and paid taxes every year.

His wife hasnt had it any easier. Her claim was denied.

Im trying to be calm but this is very disappointing and frustrating, Taodros said. If at least one of us got benefits  that would have helped  but to have both of us without any answers is adding more stress to both of us.

They are both permanent residents  green card holders  so that makes them eligible for the CARES Act stimulus payment. But that hasnt come through yet, either.

Most people their age would be eligible for Social Security benefits, but the couple hasnt worked here long enough to qualify.

They said they havent been able to pay their bills.

I am depending on my children for funds. They paid my rent, medical insurance and car insurance last month and they agreed to pay them again this month, he said. But this is a loan. I have to pay them back when I go back to work or get my unemployment.

Ghobriel said the Labor Department could do better. Should do better.

New Jersey has let them down, he said.

At the time I need them most, the least they could do is answer our phone calls or set up a system that allows us to communicate with them and resolve our issues, but we feel we are talking to a wall, he said.

He said the phone lines are always busy or he gets a message saying representatives are busy and he should call back the next business day.

If you are understaffed, authorize overtime. Work seven days a week to resolve our issues, he said. Extend the staff hours. There are solutions.

What's even more frustrating is the state of denial and the fact that we don't know when this will get resolved, Taodros added. And what if they dont pay us?

Thursday will be day 49.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at bamboozled@njadvancemedia.com.
Marco Bello/Bloomberg News Service

The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits climbed 23 percent in the five-county Albany metropolitan area last week from the week before as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on the local economy.

Nationally, initial claims topped 30 million since the pandemic's start, according to U.S. Labor Department figures. But claims in the most recent week were down 603,000 to 3,839,000, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday morning. The previous week's claims were revised upward by 15,000 for 4,442,000.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 17:49:39|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Zhao Yang

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China has strived to ensure the well-being of the Chinese people while combating the COVID-19 epidemic, offering social assistance with wider coverage and better services as well as promoting employment through multiple channels.

A STRONGER SAFETY NET WITH WIDER COVERAGE

Highlighting the welfare of people in difficulties, the country provided targeted assistance to secure their employment while increasing their disposable income with the help of social security programs.

China has offered social assistance with wider coverage and more funds to disadvantaged groups to mitigate the impact of the epidemic.

The Ministry of Finance has allocated 103 billion yuan to support the basic livelihoods of people in need and will further grant around 53 billion yuan as aid to the group, Wang Xinxiang, a senior official of the ministry told a press conference on April 10.

A total of 3.71 billion yuan in temporary relief has been distributed to support disadvantaged groups in purchasing life necessities, benefiting around 81.69 million people including those living on subsistence allowances and in extreme difficulty, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA).

The country also decided to double the relief during the March-June period, while involving 8 million more people in the mechanism, including orphans, unattended children and people out of work, said the National Development and Reform Commission.

Scaling up the coverage of unemployment insurance system, the country decided to grant six-month unemployment allowances to those ineligible for unemployment insurance or with expired unemployment insurance under the existing mechanism, said the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS).

Some 9.3 billion yuan of unemployment insurance premiums had been offered to 2.3 million unemployed people by the end of March, while 67,000 jobless migrant workers have received 410 million yuan worth of one-off living allowances.

Individual consumption has also been supported, with individual consumer loans rising by 609.4 billion yuan in March, reversing a net losing streak in February, according to the PBOC. Meanwhile, China's banking and insurance regulator encouraged the flexible adjustment of repayment arrangements for credit card debts, housing and automobile mortgages to ease people's financial pressure.

Basic living demands of people in need were also emphasized, as the MCA urged local civil affairs authorities and community workers to regularly visit and offer timely assistance to orphans, left-behind children, the elderly and other disadvantaged groups including those severely ill or disabled who are placed in isolation at home because of the epidemic.

On Feb. 24, volunteers of the Jiangxinyuan Community in Wuhan visited 19 people in need, including unaccompanied senior citizens and disabled residents, bringing life necessities such as rice, flour and vegetables.

This is just one example of community-based services to people in need, as targeted assistance such as shopping and cleaning, health care and psychological counseling was provided at the community level.

EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION AT FULL STEAM

Stressing the role of employment in stabilizing people's income, China promoted employment through facilitating work resumption, easing the financial pressure of firms and creating new jobs.

A package of benefits has been offered to cut firms' spending on insurance, rent, tax and fees. For example, the country has exempted 232.9 billion yuan of social insurance premiums and refunded 38.8 billion yuan of unemployment insurance, benefiting nearly 81 million employees, according to the MHRSS.

"Point-to-point" non-stop transportation has been offered to nearly 5.9 million migrant workers to help them return to work, MHRSS data showed.

More than 13.39 million job posts from 1.34 million companies had been offered by April 16 at the special online job fair organized by the MHRSS, which was launched on March 20 and will last until the end of June.

The country encouraged poor laborers to work in sectors related to agricultural production and infrastructure construction while creating new public job opportunities to tide them over the present difficulties.

In the first quarter, 2.29 million new urban jobs were created, and the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 5.9 percent in March, down 0.3 percentage points from February, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. Enditem
Movie moguls, directors and lawyers are searching for radical solutions to reopen Hollywood as soundstages gather dust and studio profits slide weeks after cameras stopped rolling due to coronavirus. The film industry has been on lockdown in California since mid-March following strict stay-at-home orders, with movie and television shoots particularly exposed to the pandemic because of the large casts and crews required. But even as politicians mull a gradual easing of restrictions, insiders say Tinseltown's sky-high costs -- and liabilities -- mean filmmaking could look very different to what came before, and be many months away. "It's impossible to make a 'Star Wars' or a Marvel movie tomorrow morning," said Nicolas Chartier, Oscar-winning producer of "The Hurt Locker." "Logically, there's too much liability and there's too much fear," agreed fellow producer Stephen Nemeth ("Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.") "I can't see a movie like 'Dune' getting produced now. I can't see another epic film like 'Mad Max' -- these films are 250 crew members and 250 extras. We just can't control it." Though California has been praised for its pandemic response, the movie industry heartland has still recorded 45,000 cases, disproportionately centered around Los Angeles. As such, insurance companies refuse to cover future production halts caused by on-set coronavirus outbreaks -- delays that could cost millions on blockbuster projects. "Coronavirus waivers" signed by employees have been touted as a way to protect studios from lawsuits, but are unproven particularly where A-list stars are involved. Replacing crowd scenes with computerized background actors is another option being explored, but "would cost a fortune," said Chartier. "In my opinion, the big movies as we knew them -- to the extent that they're ever going to be back as we knew them -- won't be until there is an actual vaccine," added Nemeth. - 'Moral dilemma' - One possible interim solution is temperature, virus or antibody tests for those entering sets. On-set social distancing is being trialed in Sweden and Denmark, where production has resumed on sterilized soundstages, and studios are discouraged from hiring over-70s or those with health conditions. Steven Soderbergh, director of prescient 2011 pandemic thriller "Contagion," is leading a taskforce to explore similar options in Hollywood. But those restrictions are far from practical on crowded film sets, and could lead to discrimination and other dangers, warned producers Jean de Meuron and Elena Bawiec. "The crew that are most vulnerable is the 'below-the-line' crew -- the gaffers, the grips, the electric, the camera," said de Meuron. "You can't put six-feet distance... the focus puller is right next to the camera operator, they're within a couple of inches from one another." "How are you going to change that?" Crews of workers "who have tested positive for antibodies and bring certificates" could become a reality, suggested Bawiec. "But are there going to be people who are going to go and get themselves infected on purpose, so that they could have the virus and then be immune? "It's a moral dilemma." - 'For peanuts' - Filmmakers are being forced to experiment with new locations, techniques and even genres which lend themselves to a locked-down world. Most involve dramatic downsizes. Nemeth is planning to shoot a movie at his home in the Hollywood Hills, where he can house a skeleton cast and crew throughout a brief shoot. "We could have hyper-regional, hyper-close productions... it would work in Silver Lake, in Malibu, in Hollywood Hills," he said, referring to local movie hotspots. "I'm doing it and I promise you I'm not the only one." Chartier intends to make a film "for peanuts" shot via Zoom or Skype in which four couples discuss a murder. "The actors will film themselves at home, with their own clothes and no makeup," he explained. Hollywood lore is filled with heroic filmmakers who overcame huge obstacles to shoot great movies, but Chartier is not getting carried away. "Either it will be a good script and the story will be good and it will be interesting, or we will get bored after 15 minutes and... too bad!"
In this July 24, 2103 file photo, Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Associated Press/J. Scott Applewhite

Rep. Justin Amash, an Independent from Michigan, has launched an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian Party's 2020 presidential nomination.

"Let's do this," Amash tweeted on Tuesday, along with a link to a website asking for donations.

A former Republican and member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, Amash made headlines over the last year for his sharp and frequent criticisms of President Donald Trump.

The Republican Party disowned Amash after he called for Trump's impeachment. The congressman was the only non-Democratic lawmaker in the House of Representatives to vote in favor of impeaching Trump.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan officially launched a presidential exploratory committee on Tuesday.

Amash, a former Republican and fervent critic of President Donald Trump, announced his decision on Twitter, writing that he will seek the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination.

"Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people," Amash tweeted.

"Let's do this," he wrote, along with a link to his website. "We're ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I'm excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president."

A message on the homepage of Amash's website struck a similar tone, saying Americans are ready "for something new."

It continued: "For a government that secures our rights. For equality before the law. For an end to cronyism. For a government that fulfills its purpose and recognizes its limits. For practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people. For an honest, principled president who will defend the Constitution and put individuals first."

Amash made headlines over the last several years for his frequent clashes with the Trump White House, beginning as early as April 2017. Last May, Amash became the first Republican lawmaker to call for Trump's impeachment based on the former special counsel Robert Mueller's findings in the Russia investigation.

Story continues

The congressman said Trump's actions "meet the threshold for impeachment" and he likely would have been indicted on obstruction of justice charges, had he not been president.

The Republican party apparatus disowned Amash after he called for Trump's impeachment, and he also stepped down from the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus.

"I have the highest regard for them, and they're my close friends," Amash said at the time. "I didn't want to be a further distraction for the group."

Got a tip? Email ssheth@businessinsider.com or sonamsheth@protonmail.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Lilly Endowment has awarded over $100 million to local and statewide nonprofits and community organizations to support areas such as food access, homeless and shelter care, disaster planning and infrastructure support and e-learning.

The United Way of Central Indiana received a total of $19.5 million, of which $15 million was earmarked to create the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF). Indiana United Ways gave the organization the other $4.5 million from a $30 million Endowment grant.

The development of the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund is our way of ensuring our communitys most vulnerable are being served during a global health crisis, Jennifer Hashem, the public and community relations manager for United Way of Central Indiana, said. Outside of C-CERF, we will continue to rally our community around areas of greatest need and convene with donors, advocates and volunteers to raise funds that generate true impact for our region.

The $4.5 million United Way of Central Indiana received from Indiana United Ways will go toward COVID-19 relief in Boone, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties.

Our coalition of funders has been in daily communication with community leaders across Central Indiana to assess emerging needs and direct service providers to better understand their most pressing challenges, Ann Murtlow, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, said. With this information, the founding funders of C-CERF were able to make decisions on grants to organizations that serve in critical service areas that provide flexibility to problem solve in a rapidly changing environment.

The Endowment also donated $5 million to the state of Indiana to help state leaders respond to the needs of the citys homeless population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said pandemic homeless individuals are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, as they often arent able to practice hygiene recommendations.

Lilly Endowment also set aside funding specifically for e-learning.To help educators and students adapt to online schooling, the Endowment gave a $1 million grant to the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee to create the Indianapolis E-Learning Fund.

A large focus of the grant will be used for technology access for students. Roughly 30% of students in Indianapolis Public Schools dont have reliable internet access to do their online work.

Claire Fiddian-Green, the president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, a funding partner for the program, said the fund is about creating an equal playing field for students.

Not all students have access to devices or reliable internet connectivity, she said in a statement. The Indianapolis E-Learning Fund will help address acute short-term needs not covered by federal stimulus funds and will also support the development of a longer-term e-learning strategy. The Fairbanks Foundation is pleased to join with other philanthropic, corporate and civic leaders in support of this very important effort.

Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.

Lilly Endowment
Working under government control, reporters in Laos write and broadcast stories supporting state policy and official views, carefully steering clear of subjects deemed controversial by authorities, media watchdogs and sources in the country say.



Meanwhile, Lao citizens risk arrest, and are sometimes disappeared outside the country, for posting criticisms of the countrys communist government online.



In an annual survey released in April, Laos was ranked this year near the bottom of the list at 172 out of 180 countries surveyed by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which said the countrys ruling Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) exercises total control over the media.



Increasingly aware of the restrictions imposed on the official media, Laotians are turning to the Internet and social media. However, the use of online news and information platforms is held back by a 2014 decree under which Internet users who criticize the government and the Marxist-Leninist LPRP can be jailed, RSF said.



Foreign media working in Laos operate under similar restrictions, with a January 2016 decree by the countrys prime minister requiring them to submit reports to government censors for approval, the press freedoms group said.



Speaking in an interview with RFAs Lao Service, an educational development consultant based in Laos noted that all news media in the one-party communist state are government-controlled, and the government tells reporters what to do.



So they have no freedom to conduct independent investigative reporting or cover news stories in-depth, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



News content in Laos is now reported according to the desires of government policymakers, the source said.



What I know is that reporters working in the field are directed by high-ranking officials who are in charge of particular projects, so they report the news in ways that support official objectives, he said.



With the government of Laos now giving priority to foreign investment in the country, news media have been assigned to report stories supporting the investments, and have been forbidden from reporting news criticizing the negative impacts of hydropower projects or the Lao-China railway, he said.



Lao reporters must report the news very carefully, or they must censor themselves by covering news stories that dont clash with anyones interests, added a Lao reporter, also speaking on condition his name not be used.



Reporters cover only the simple stories instead of tough and controversial topics, he said.



Any news negatively impacting government policy is banned, added a resident of the Lao capital Vientiane. Most news reporting supports the government. Otherwise, it isnt acceptable, he said.



Positive and negative news



Speaking to RFA, Phonekeo Vorakhoundeputy editor-in-chief of the English-language Vientiane Timesinsisted, however, that Lao media operate free from government interference.



We report the news according to our duties and rights without restrictions from the government, even though we are a state-owned newspaper, he said.



We report both negative and positive news. [For example], if there is a negative impact from the railway project, we will report this based on the facts.



Addressing the low ranking given Laos in this years RSF press freedoms index, Phonekeo said the media group may feel that if Lao media always report positive news, they must balance those reports by covering what is bad.



I think they have an agenda, instead of looking at the facts, he said.



The Lao media is state-owned, and so they have to report according to the governments policy and understanding, said Ian Baird, an associate professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with many years experience of working in Laos.



Some Lao journalists have creative ideas, but they are restricted in what they can report, he said, adding that Lao citizens are now turning more and more to getting their news from reports on social media.



When Lao people do not trust the media in the country, they are more likely to believe the rumors that they hear, he said.



Risks on social media



RSF noted in its April report that a blogosphere is slowly growing now in Laos, even if comments on social media can lead to prosecution.



In November 2019, authorities in Laos sentenced a woman to five years in prison for criticizing the government on Facebook.



Houayheung Xayabouly, 30, also known by her nickname Mouay, was arrested Sept. 12 after she voiced her concern about the government response to flooding in the countrys southern Champassak and Salavan provinces in her Sept. 5 Facebook Live video.



The delayed government response had left many Lao villagers stranded and cut off from help, she said in the video, which was viewed more than 150,000 times.



Meanwhile, Od Sayavong, a Lao man working in Thailand, disappeared on Aug. 26 after criticizing his countrys government and calling for political freedoms online and in public protests, Lao sources told RFA in an earlier report.



Part of a group of Lao dissidents living in Bangkok, Od had taken part in a June 16 protest in the city calling for political freedoms and human rights in Laos, especially for the victims of government land grabs and dam collapses that have left hundreds stuck in poor housing without a way to earn a living.



He had also called for the release of three Lao workers given long prison terms in April 2017 for criticizing their government while working in Thailand, and for a U.N. investigation into the disappearance of rural development expert Sombath Somphone.

Reported and translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFAs Lao Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
30.04.2020 LISTEN

The Minority in Parliament wants the Electoral Commission (EC) to be summoned to brief Parliament on its preparedness and readiness for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, the EC must present their road map to MPs as the country battles with Covid-19.

The Constitution requires that presidential and parliamentary elections be held this year even as we struggle with COVID. The independent Electoral Commission created under Article 45 of this constitution owes this country and Members of Parliament an explanation.

They have to be summoned to give us their road map as to their preparedness. They need to apprise this House on their level of preparedness for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary election. If we cannot get them to brief the Committee, on the whole, they have to come to the Special Budget Committee.

Suspension of new register compilation

The EC was forced to suspend indefinitely plans to compile a new voters register which was scheduled to begin on April 18, due to COVID-19.

The EC had said it is collaborating with health experts to decide on a more favourable date depending on the prevalence rate of the Novel Coronavirus.

Alleged EC workshop

Just recently, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) filed a complaint at the Airport Police Command over an alleged meeting held by the EC at the City Escape Hotel in Accra.

The EC had announced a national planning meeting and key trainers training workshop to prepare and plan for the upcoming voter registration exercise ahead of the 2020 general election

The programme was scheduled to take place from 24th to 29th April 2020 at the City Escape Hotel, Prampram, in the Greater Accra Region.

But the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, secured an injunction to stop the workshop from being held.

The injunction was meant to be in place from April 24, 2020, to April 27, 2020.

The party filed the complaint over suspicions that the said meeting was a conference by the EC which the court stopped from taking place.

---citinewsroom
SHANGHAI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Acorn International, Inc. (NYSE: ATV) ("Acorn" or the "Company"), a leading marketing and branding company in China, today announced its preliminary unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

First Quarter Estimated Results Highlights

Net revenues decreased 7.2% year-over-year in Q1 2020 to US$8.0 million .

. Gross profit decreased 12.3% year-over-year in Q1 2020 to US$5.5 million .

. Gross margin was 68.8% in Q1 2020, compared to 72.8% in Q1 2019.

Loss from continuing operations was US$0.3 million in Q1 2020, compared to income from continuing operations of US$0.6 million in Q1 2019.

in Q1 2020, compared to income from continuing operations of in Q1 2019. Net income was US$2.7 million in Q1 2020 as compared to net income of US$4.8 million in Q1 2019. In Q1 2020, the Company recorded a $3 .0 million gain from the sale of shares of E-Money Holding Co., Ltd. ("E-Money") (formerly known as Shanghai Yimeng Software Technology Co., Ltd.). The year-ago period includes a US$3 .8 million gain on the sale of the Company's former principal office in Shanghai to a third party.

"Our results for the first quarter of 2020 reflect the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on our business. As previously disclosed, although we have seen some increased demand for certain products as more Chinese consumers are shopping from home, we have also experienced some demand reduction, supply-side disruption and delivery challenges caused by COVID-19," said Mr. Jacob A. Fisch, CEO and President of Acorn International.

Preliminary Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2020:

Total net revenues were US$8.0 million in the first quarter of 2020, down 7.2% from US$8.7 million in the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 as well as lower revenues of oxygen-generating products related primarily to the sale of the Company's subsidiary Zhuhai Acorn Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Cost of sales in the first quarter of 2020 was US$2.5 million, up 6.5% from US$2.4 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to the inclusion of Acorn Digital Services in revenues and cost of sales in the first quarter of 2020 (in the year ago period, this business segment was included in other operating income), and a higher proportion of Acorn Fresh products, which have a slightly lower margin than Babaka branded products, in the product mix.

Gross profit in the first quarter of 2020 was US$5.5 million, down 12.3% from US$6.3 million in the first quarter of 2019. Gross margin was 68.8% in the first quarter of 2020, compared with 72.8% in the first quarter of 2019.

Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2020 were US$5.8 million, up 0.9% from US$5.7 million in the first quarter of 2019.

Loss from continuing operations was US$0.3 million in the first quarter of 2020, as compared to income from continuing operations of US$0.6 million in the first quarter of 2019.

Other income was US$3.0 million in the first quarter of 2020, primarily due to a US$3.0 million gain from the sale of shares of E-Money. The year-ago period includes a US$3.8 million gain on the sale of the Company's former principal office in Shanghai to a third party.

Net income from continuing operations was US$2.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. This compares to net income from continuing operations of US$4.9 million in the first quarter of 2019. Net loss from discontinued operations, which reflects the sale of a majority stake in the Company's HJX electronic learning products business to a third-party investor and operator in 2017 as well as the Company's call center operations which were discontinued in the third quarter of 2019 (refer to "Discontinued Operations" discussion below), was US$28 thousand in the first quarter of 2020, compared to net loss from discontinued operations of US$0.1 million in the first quarter of 2019.

Net income attributable to Acorn was US$2.7 million in the first quarter of 2020. This compares to net income attributable to Acorn of US$4.8 million in the first quarter of 2019.

As of March 31, 2020, Acorn's estimated cash and cash equivalents, with restricted cash, totaled US$13.9 million. This compares to cash and equivalents, with restricted cash, of US$13.5 million as of December 31, 2019.

Discontinued Operations

In 2017, Acorn reached an agreement to sell a majority stake in its HJX electronic learning products business ("HJX Business") to a third-party investor and operator, allowing the Company to focus on its core business. Acorn maintains a 37.5% stake in a joint venture established with this third party. As a result of this transaction, the Company is required by applicable accounting rules to treat the historical operations of the wholly-owned HJX Business as discontinued operations and the minority stake in the HJX Business as equity in losses of affiliates in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented, subject to the consolidation of the HJX Business into the joint venture entity.

In the third quarter of 2019, the Company completed closing of its call center in Wuxi, China. As a result, the Company is required by applicable accounting rules to treat the historical operations of the call center as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

About Acorn International, Inc.

Acorn International is a leading marketing and branding company in China, leveraging a twenty-year direct marketing history to monetize brand IP, content creation and distribution, and product sales, through digital media in China. For more information visit www.acorninternationalgroup.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "strives," "expects," "future," "going forward," "intends," "outlook," "plans," "target," "will," and similar statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, including the extent and duration of the COVID-19 crisis, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those in these preliminary financial results and the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Other factors that could cause forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual future events or results include risks and uncertainties related to: the Company's ability to successfully improve or introduce new products and services, including to offset declines in sales of existing products and services; the Company's ability to stay abreast of consumer market trends and maintain the Company's reputation and consumer confidence; the Company's ability to execute and maintain a successful market strategy; potential unauthorized use of the Company's intellectual property; potential disruption of the Company's manufacturing processes; increasing competition in China's consumer market; the Company's U.S. tax status as a passive foreign investment company; and general economic and business conditions in China, as well as potential friction between the U.S. and China associated with their current trade dispute and related factors, which could potentially impact Acorn. The financial information contained in this release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's 2018 annual report on Form 20-F filed with SEC on April 30, 2019. For a discussion of other important factors that could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 9 of the Company's 2018 annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019. The Company's actual results of operations for the first quarter of 2020 are not necessarily indicative of its operating results for any future periods. Any projections in this release are based on limited information currently available to the Company, which is subject to change. Although such projections and the factors influencing them will likely change, the Company will not necessarily update the information. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.

Statement Regarding Unaudited Financial Information

The unaudited financial information set forth above is preliminary and subject to potential adjustments. Adjustments to the consolidated financial statements may be identified when audit work has been performed for the Company's year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited condensed financial information.

- Financial Tables Follow -

ACORN INTERNATIONAL, INC. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In US dollars)









For the three months

ended



2019/03/31

2020/03/31

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited) Net revenues





Direct sales 7,204,182

$ 6,894,582 Distribution sales 1,449,322

1,138,259 Total net revenues 8,653,504

8,032,841







Cost of revenues





Direct sales -1,836,452

-2,097,431 Distribution sales -519,897

-411,327 Total cost of revenues -2,356,349

-2,508,758







Gross profit





Direct sales 5,367,729

4,797,151 Distribution sales 929,425

726,932 Total gross profit 6,297,154

5,524,083

72.8%

68.8% Operating (expenses) income





Other selling and marketing expenses -3,868,281

-4,089,335 General and administrative expenses -2,452,609

-2,138,118 Other operating income, net 580,576

434,297 Total operating (expenses) income -5,740,314

-5,793,156 Income (loss) from continuing operations 556,841

-269,073







Interest expense -

-21,378 Interest income 82,361

46,017 Other income (expenses), net 4,573,849

3,048,180 Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

and equity in losses of affiliates 5,213,051

2,803,746







Income tax - current -307,585

- Income tax - deferred 0

-36,812 Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in

losses of affiliates 4,905,466

2,766,934







Discontinued operations :





Income (loss) from discontinued operations -110,673

-27,887 Income (loss) from discontinued operations before equity in

losses of affiliates -110,673

-27,887 Equity in losses of affiliates



-







Net income (loss) 4,794,793

2,739,047







Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests 1,738

-211 Net income (loss) attributable to Acorn International, Inc. $4,796,531

$2,739,258

ACORN INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In US dollars)









2019/12/31

2020/03/31















Cash and cash equivalents $13,461,368

$13,825,003 Restricted cash 75,543

74,918 Accounts receivable, net 3,611,177

4,731,741 Inventory, net 3,042,762

2,528,777 Other prepaid expenses and current assets 7,112,042

9,837,301 Loan receivable 3,754,735

3,776,552 Held-for-sale assets 468,191

466,431 Assets to be abandoned 116,559



Current assets 31,642,377

35,240,722







Property and equipment, net 559,964

544,058 Investments in affiliates -

91,309 Available-for-sale securities 25,681,848

20,705,511 Loan to related party 14,804,052

14,698,550 Right of use assets 1,785,194

1,533,427 Deferred tax assets, net 4,997,111

4,963,568 Other long-term assets 693,518

732,396 Total assets $80,164,064

$78,509,540







Accounts payable 3,172,263

2,141,762 Dividend payable 133,405

131,206 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 6,564,390

8,773,664 Lease Liability 881,349

858,089 Income taxes payable 1,648,520

1,615,086 Deferred revenue 68,798

42,338 Liabilities to be abandoned 222,578

- Current liabilities 12,691,303

13,562,145







Lease Liability 1,032,645

814,786 Deferred tax liability, net





Total liabilities 13,723,948

14,376,932







Ordinary shares 918,844

918,844 Additional paid-in capital 117,445,969

117,445,969 Statutory reserve 8,350,141

8,350,141 Retained earnings (77,913,299)

(75,174,041) Beginning balance (87,749,530)

(77,913,299) Net income (loss) attributable to Acorn 9,836,231

2,739,258 Appropriation of statutory reserve fund





Accumulated other comprehensive income 45,635,771

40,594,179 Treasury stock, at cost (28,320,324)

(28,320,324) Total Acorn International, Inc. shareholders'

equity 66,117,102

63,814,768







Noncontrolling interests 323,014

317,841 Total equity 66,440,116

64,132,609 Total liabilities and equity $80,164,064

$78,509,540

SOURCE Acorn International, Inc.

Related Links

www.acorninternationalgroup.com


Bhubaneswar, April 30 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday discussed with his Tamil Nadu counterpart Edappadi K. Palaniswami the safe return of Odia people stranded due to nationwide lockdown.

In a video conferencing, Patnaik requested his Tamil Nadu counterpart to extend support for the safe return of the Odisha residents.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined the video-conferencing from New Delhi.

The Odisha Chief Minister also thanked Palaniswami for taking good care of the people staying in Tamil Nadu.

Officials from both the states will coordinate for the return of the people to the state.

Meanwhile, the first batch of 217 migrant workers, stranded in Gujarat's Surat, has returned to Ganjam district after undertaking nearly 60-hour bus journey.

Ganjam district collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said four buses carrying the migrant workers reached on Wednesday night.

They have been quarantined at a facility, he said.

Besides, some students stranded at Kota in Rajasthan have also started their journey to Odisha on Wednesday night, said an official.

The government has initiated the process to bring back around 975 Odia students stuck at Kota.

The state government is expecting return of over 5 lakh migrants, stranded at several places across the country, in the coming days.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Wednesday to use all means available to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran, including working through a nuclear accord that President Donald Trump has trashed. A ban on selling conventional weapons to Iran ends in October under a 2015 Security Council resolution that blessed the denuclearization accord negotiated by former president Barack Obama. "We're not going to let that happen," Pompeo told a news conference. "In the event we can't get anyone else to act, the United States is evaluating every possibility about how we might do that." Pompeo said he would ask the UN Security Council to prolong the ban. But China and particularly Russia, which stand to win major new arms contracts with Iran, are certain to oppose an extension. They only agreed to the five-year ban in 2015 as a compromise reached with the Obama administration. There is one way to avoid a veto by China or Russia -- a participant in the nuclear deal can trigger a return of sanctions by declaring Iran to be in violation. Pompeo said that the United States will seek action from Britain, France and Germany -- which remain part of the nuclear accord. But the US allies are critical of the US approach, saying that Europe still has a ban on arms exports to Iran and that the nuclear issue is more important. Pompeo confirmed that the United States was ready to argue that it is itself a participant because it is listed as one in the resolution from 2015, even though Trump has repeatedly said that Washington has bolted the "worst deal ever" after he took over. "There's nothing magic about this," Pompeo said. "It's unambiguous, and the rights that accrue to participants of the UN Security Council resolution are fully available to all those participants," he said. "We're going to make sure that come October of this year, the Iranians aren't able to buy conventional weapons that they would be, given what president Obama and vice president Biden have delivered to the world in that terrible deal." Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee expected to face Trump in November elections, days after the scheduled expiration of the arms embargo. UN inspectors said Iran complied with the nuclear deal and drastically reduced its program as it sought promised sanctions relief. But Trump, who is close to Iran's rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel, said the goal should be to reduce the clerical regime's regional activities and slapped sweeping sanctions.
The Orissa High Court has directed the State government to quickly investigate the death of a 70-year-old man with renal malfunction who died after allegedly being denied dialysis at a private hospital in Cuttack early this month over his Muslim identity.

In an order, a bench of Orissa High Court asked the Cuttack district collector to inquire into the death of Sayed Abdul Hasan on April 10 due to the alleged denial of dialysis at Shanti Nursing Home in Cuttack town during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The State shall also ensure that no person is denied treatment for any ailment by any hospital of the government or a private entity, if such facility is available with the hospital, and if not available, he or she should be referred to an appropriate hospital, where such facility is available. However, such treatment must be guided by the guidelines or instruction given by the State Government in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, said the bench comprising justices Shatrughan Pujahari and KR Mohapatra.

Azra Jamal, a lawyer-activist, had filed a PIL in Orissa HC seeking action against Shanti Nursing Home, alleging it denied dialysis treatment to Hasan, which led to his death on April 10. Shanti Hospital in Cuttack had refused to treat the chronic kidney disease patient because he belonged to the Muslim community. As a result of which he died on the same day, Jamal had said in her petition. She said the private hospital had turned the patient away, demanding the production of negative Covid-19 test result before allowing him to access the dialysis facility.

The son of the deceased had initially lodged a complaint with the police alleging his father was asked to follow a lot of protocol compared to other patients upon his arrival at the hospital on April 10. Though the man was a regular patient with the nursing home for a year and a half, the hospital staff allegedly advised him against coming for dialysis. Members of the hospital management asked my father to come back with personal protection equipment for the medical staff who would give him the dialysis, the son of the deceased alleged.

The petitioner in her PIL said news reports over Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi had resulted in fear and hatred towards the Muslim community.
By Akbar Mammadov

The Azerbaijani armed forces repelled the Armenian armed forces attack using 82-mm mortars on April 29, the Defence Ministry told Trend news agency.

The ministrys described as untrue Armenian reports on Azerbaijans alleged violation of the cease-fire on the line of contact on April 29.

Contrary to the Armenian sides statement, this afternoon the Armenian armed forces, grossly violating the ceasefire regime, opened fire on the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the ministry said.

It should be noted that on April 30, Armenian armed forces violated the ceasefire regime 24 times throughout the day in various direction of the front, using sniper rifles and mortars of various calibers, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reported.

Mortar units of the Azerbaijan Army suppressed the attack, the ministry said.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Prince Charles apears to have moved two new pictures into his office since his last video call at the beginning of April.

Speaking from his Aberdeenshire home office in Birkhall, the Prince of Wales, 71, appeared via video link to raise awareness about the 70 million refugees and displaced people in Syria and Cameroon who are most at threat Covid-19.

And notably, two new photo frames had appeared on the shelf behind him since his last remote call from his home on the Queen's Balmoral estate, where he shared a message about the coronavirus on April 2nd.

To the right of the royal, where there used to be a photo of a stag, Charles has now placed a photo of him walking Lord Mountbatten's great granddaughter Alexandra Knatchbull down the aisle in 2016.

Prince Charles apears to have moved two new pictures into his office since his last video call at the beginning of April, including him walking Lord Mountbatten's great granddaughter Alexandra Knatchbull down the aisle in 2016, right, and a picture at Balmoral, left

Two new photo frames had appeared on the shelf behind him since his last remote call from his home on the Queen's Balmoral estate, where he shared a message about the coronavirus on April 2nd

On the far left three black and white landscape picture which weren't previously visible can be seen in matching frames

Charles accompanied Miss Knatchbull, the daughter of his close friend Norton Knatchbull, who holds the title of Lord Brabourne, down the aisle for her wedding to Thomas Hooper at Romsey Abbey, in Hampshire, four years ago.

The bride's father, Norton Knatchbull, Lord Brabourne, did not give his daughter away as he was too ill to perform the necessary duties.

Alexandra is the second goddaughter of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was left a legacy in the Princess's will when she died in 1997.

Charles accompanied Miss Knatchbull, the daughter of his close friend Norton Knatchbull, who holds the title of Lord Brabourne, down the aisle for her wedding to Thomas Hooper at Romsey Abbey, in Hampshire, four years ago

Another new picture to the left of Charles appears to have been taken at Balmoral, and looks to be a candid unseen snap.

The photo appears to be an old photo, possibly of Prince William as a teenager with another child - though it is unclear who it is.

On the far left three black and white landscape picture which weren't previously visible can be seen in matching frames.

Elsewhere books on Charles' shelf include Kings in Grass Castles by Mary Durack, Shattered by Dick Francis, crime writer and Queen Mother's favourite jockey.

Books The Door Wherein I Went by Lord Hailsham and Tropica: Color Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Trees from the Tropics and Subtropics by Alfred Byrd Graf also take pride of place.

Charles' favourite things: 1. A vase of lilies; 2. Photograph of grandson Archie; 3. Shattered by Dick Francis, crime writer and Queen Mother's favourite jockey; 4. The Door Wherein I Went by Lord Hailsham; 5. Tropica: Color Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Trees from the Tropics and Subtropics by Alfred Byrd Graf; 6. Black and white photo of a stag; 7. Custom bookshelf; 8. Framed photo of the Queen, Prince Philip and Queen Mother at a black tie engagement; 9. Stuffed teddy bear with a bow around its neck; 10. Gold desk ornaments

Elsewhere the prince pays tributes to his family with a framed photograph of the Queen, Prince Philip, the Queen Mother and a separate snap of a baby, thought to be his youngest grandson Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

Yesterday, in a video message, the heir to throne, who has recently recovered from coronavirus, said that the 'situation is desperately grave' in areas of 'conflict and crisis' where hospital beds are a 'rarity' and 'livelihoods are precarious even without the additional threat of this disease'.

The prince's comments were made in support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), founded by Albert Einstein, which aims to help people survive and recover after their lives have been disrupted by conflict and disaster.

Charles, who is the UK patron of the IRC, has also donated an undisclosed amount to its coronavirus appeal.
By John Jannarone

Carbyne, a next generation emergency-response technology firm whose services have been in heavy demand during the coronavirus pandemic to help those in need, said former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will step down from its Board, the latest move in its transition from a startup to a global company.

Effective May 1, Mr. Barak will be replaced by Founder and CEO Amir Elichai, who started the company in 2014 and whose backers include Peter Thiels Founders Fund.

Its been a privilege and honor to lend my knowledge and experience to Carbyne during its early growth phases, Mr. Barak said. Im extremely proud of what the company has been able to accomplish and of working with this group of young leaders to revolutionize the emergency communications industry  while saving lives in the process. After nearly six years involved with Carbyne, it is time for me to focus on my other endeavors.

The news comes as Carbyne has done more business in the U.S. and relocated its headquarters from Israel to New York, where Mr. Elichai now works and resides. The company, which employs Amazon.com Incs AWS could, may also seek additional board directors who bring experience at large multinational companies or have taken firms public on major stock exchanges.

Mr. Barak was instrumental in helping Carbyne grow from its early stages into the global technology company that it is today, Mr. Elichai said.

Mr. Elichai, who studied at New York University, spent several years working with startups before founding Carbyne. The inspiration for the company came when he and a date were mugged and he was shocked by the slow response time by emergency responders. Once the company was founded, Mr. Elichai took on highly-experienced advisors including President George W. Bushs secretary of homeland security Michael Chertoff and ex-commissioner of Londons Metropolitan Police Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe.

Prior to the coronavirus, Carbyne had already worked with nearly 30 counties in the U.S. In mid-March, Carbyne began helping 911 responders in New Orleans, Louisiana, which has been overwhelmed by emergency calls since the pandemic began. Carbynes technology allows 911 centers to request access to locations and camera video from emergency callers, speeding up response times. Carybne can send requests to emergency callers via SMS texts or Facebook Inc.s WhatsApp messages.

Story continues

The Carbyne system itself can be put in place fast: The technology was implemented just three days after Carbyne spoke to New Orleans officials. In addition to New Orleans, Carbyne has also helped local emergency responders in Texas and Mississippi, along with 10 other locations in countries including Peru, Chile, and Israel.

Even as countries attempt to resume normal life, emergency call volume will likely remain elevated for some time. That suggests cities that have adopted Carbynes technology during the crisis will keep it in place and others may follow suit.

Carbyne has partnered with technology giants to provide its service. Last year, it linked up with Alphabet Inc.s Google in Mexico, where the two companies have initiated service in 11 states, delivering emergency location and expediting incident resolution for millions of calls.

The company also works with IT and networking leader Cisco Systems, Inc., to deliver cloud-based solutions for emergency dispatch centers. As a partner, Carbyne will be offered as part of Cisco Kinetic for Cities, a secure data platform that provides automated data sharing across community infrastructure, smart city solutions, applications and connected devices.

In addition to Mr. Baraks resignation from the Board, all shares owned by Mr. Baraks Sum (E.B) LLP are being moved to IBI and will be sold in the coming weeks to a new investor who has been identified, the company said.

Contact:

John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief

www.CorpGov.com

Editor@CorpGov.com

Twitter: @CorpGovernor
A Ugandan court on Wednesday ordered lawmakers to pay back money they had awarded themselves to combat coronavirus. Meanwhile, in Malawi, President Peter Mutharika announced Covid-19 cash packages for the poor to help them survive the pandemic over the next three-months.

The high court in Uganda has ruled that MPs must pay back any money they received as part of a package they approved to fight coronavirus in their constituencies, local media reported.

An allocation of 2.4 million euros was paid into the individual accounts of lawmakers earlier in April, according to The Observer newspaper. It must be repaid or transferred to national or district Covid-19 taskforces.

The money was initially approved as part of a bigger budgetary package and was intended to be used for sensitisation about the virus.

However, the payment irked President Yoweri Museveni, who described it as morally reprehensible.

Some MPs had already refunded the money. Opposition lawmaker Bobi Wine described the payment as wrong and immoral, saying he would return the money and not participate in such a vile fraud.

Uganda has confirmed 79 cases of coronavirus with no deaths, according to the latest statistics from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Malawi's emergency cash transfer programme

Authorities in Malawi on Tuesday announced cash payments would be made to the most vulnerable, helping them cope during the Covid-19 crisis.

President Peter Mutharika said vulnerable households would be paid 43 euros per month for a three-month period, according to the Nyasa Times.

Malawi's government has been blocked by the country's courts from implementing a coronavirus lockdown because no assistance was provided for those in need.
We, the tenants, are exhausted, we are out of work, we are attempting to survive, and we are fearful about securing the future of our own basic needs regardless of our rent responsibilities, reads a letter sent to the owners of an apartment building in Northwest Washington. We are in need of your help as owners, and you are in an ideal position to provide us that help immediately.
- The last nine poverty-stricken county-level regions in east China's Anhui Province have been removed from the country's list of impoverished counties.

- This marks that all county-level regions in the Yangtze River Delta, consisting of Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, have been officially lifted out of poverty for the first time in history.

HEFEI, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Sitting in front of his smartphone, Zhang Chuanfeng touts dried sweet potatoes to viewers on China's popular video-sharing app Douyin, also known as TikTok.

"These are made from sweet potatoes I grew myself. They are sweet and have an excellent texture," said Zhang while livestreaming in Tangjiahui Township of Jinzhai County in east China's Anhui Province. Tucked away in the boundless Dabie Mountains, the township used to have the biggest poor population in the county.

Aerial photo taken on April 16, 2020 shows residential buildings in Dawan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)

Jinzhai County is among the last nine county-level regions in Anhui that have been removed from the country's list of impoverished counties, according to an announcement issued by the provincial government Wednesday. They are also the last group of county-level regions that bid farewell to poverty in the Yangtze River Delta.

E-COMMERCE

Zhang might seem like a typical e-commerce businessman reaping success in China's booming livestreaming industry. But his road to success has been a lot bumpier: he suffers from dwarfism.

A little more than 1.4 meters tall, Zhang has a babyface, making him "look like a junior school student," he said. But the man, 38, is the father of a nine-year-old boy.

For Zhang, life was tough before 2014. "Nobody wanted me because of my 'disabilities' when I went out to look for jobs," he said. "I was turned down again and again."

Zhang was put on the government's poverty list in 2014 as China implemented targeted poverty-relief measures. With the help of local officials, he got a bank loan of 10,000 yuan (about 1,400 U.S. dollars) and bought 22 lambs. He tended the animals whole-heartedly and seized every opportunity to learn how to raise them more professionally.

Zhang Chuanfeng feeds his lambs in Zhufan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, April 26, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

Within a year, the number of his lambs expanded to hundreds. In 2016, Zhang's earnings exceeded 100,000 yuan, more than enough for him to cast off poverty.

Riding on this success, Zhang began to seek new opportunities. He rented a shop and started selling products online to embrace an e-commerce strategy the local government introduced in 2017.

More than 100 online shops, including Zhang's, in the county have helped more than 7,000 poverty-stricken households sell about 73 million yuan worth of local specialties since 2018. Zhang alone earned 500,000 yuan from a sales revenue of 5 million yuan last year.

A villager arranges local specialties for sale at Dawan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, April 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)

WICKERWORK SUCCESS

About 100 km north of Jinzhai lies Funan, a place that used to be vulnerable to constant floods.

Zhang Chaoling, who lives by the Huaihe River in Funan County, had to flee her hometown at a young age due to floods, but has flourished on a willow plantation along the river later.

"The land is largely covered by silt following continual flooding in the past. It is an ideal place to plant willows and make wickerwork," Zhang said.

Zhang left her hometown for Guangzhou in 1993 and found a job in a garment factory. A few years later, she founded a trading company with her husband in Guangzhou, selling wickerwork products from her hometown to other countries.

Zhang returned to her hometown and set up a wickerwork production base in 2011. Funan is famous for its delicate wickerwork. Skilled craftsmen traditionally use local willow as a raw material to weave products such as baskets, furniture and home decorations.

A villager arranges wickerwork products in Funan County, east China's Anhui Province, April 15, 2020. (Photo by Zhou Mu/Xinhua)

"The flood is well controlled now. I remember the last huge flood came in 2007," Zhang said.

Taking advantage of the fertile land along the Huaihe River, she plants over 130 hectares of willow trees and employs hundreds of locals mostly in their 50s and 60s.

"I can process 100 to 150 kg of willow twigs per day, from which I make around 80 yuan," said Geng Shifen, who peels willow twigs with a clamp next to the plantation.

A total of 130,000 people are engaged in the wickerwork industry in Funan, creating an output of nearly 9 billion yuan in 2019, and helping 15,000 locals shake off poverty, local statistics showed.

POVERTY REDUCTION FEAT

The Anhui provincial government Wednesday announced that its last nine county-level regions including Jinzhai and Funan are removed from the country's list of impoverished counties.

This marks that all 31 impoverished county-level regions in Anhui have shaken off poverty, echoing China's efforts to eradicate absolute poverty by the end of 2020.

With the announcement, all county-level regions in the Yangtze River Delta have been officially lifted out of poverty for the first time in history.

A bus runs on a rural road in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, April 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)

Covering a 358,000-square-km expanse, the Yangtze River Delta, consisting of Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, is one of the most populated and economically dynamic areas in China, contributing one-fourth of the country's GDP.

Anhui had a population of 63.65 million as of 2019, official data showed. The poor population in the province had decreased from 4.84 million in 2014 to 87,000 in 2019, and the poverty headcount ratio had been reduced from 9.1 percent to 0.16 percent during the period, according to the provincial poverty relief office.

A county can be removed from the list if its impoverished population drops to less than 2 percent, according to a national mechanism established in April 2016 to eliminate poverty in affected regions. The ratio can be loosened to 3 percent in the western region.

By the end of 2019, 5.51 million people in China were still living in poverty.

"We will continue our work to prevent people from returning to poverty, and help the remaining poor population shake off poverty by all means," said Jiang Hong, director of the Anhui provincial poverty relief office.
CHESTERTON  In addition to allowing medical professionals to ride at no cost, the South Shore Line is also giving law enforcement members free train rides.

Police officers, correctional officers, TSA agents and security personnel can ride for free during May and June, according to a South Shore news release.

To ride for free, members of law enforcement and medical personnel need only present a valid work identification that shows they are employed at a hospital, doctors office, medical facility, local fire department or law enforcement agency.

Any medical or law enforcement personnel who have purchased a paper monthly ticket for May can request a refund by going to mysouthshoreline.com/contact. Those who have purchased a digital monthly ticket for May via the mobile app can request a refund by emailing App Support in the app menu and attaching a photo of their valid work identification.
New Delhi, April 30 : In view of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, India should impose sanctions on Pakistan for perpetrating cross-border terrorism in Kashmir and other parts of the country.

This policy recommendation has been made by one of India's top foreign policy think tanks, Gateway House based in Mumbai. Established in 2009 by Manjeet Kripalani, 'Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations', engages India's leading corporations, thinkers and scholars on international relations.

The think tank has recommended that the government should sanction Indian stakeholders and corporations that have a presence in Pakistan or that have a business relationship with Pakistan entities. This and several other recommendations have appeared in a paper written by Ambika Khanna, a senior researcher on international law at the Gateway House.

Following the US-Taliban peace deal in Afghanistan and the coronavirus pandemic, the Pakistani army has assumed a central role in the region, bolstering the confidence of Islamabad to revive tensions along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The incessant ceasefire violations on the LoC and the creation of a new outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF) as fronts of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, is an indicator of ISI's renewed temerity even as Pakistan continues to be in the grey list of Financial Action Task Force, the global watchdog of terror-funding.

"Now is the time for India to consider new strategies to manage Pakistan effectively in the post-COVID era. One such is the imposition of sanctions," the Gateway House has recommended after analysing its feasibility and impact on India too.

It has identified Dabur India, TAFE, KPMG, Oppo, ExxonMobil and other companies which the government can sanction by pressurizing them to withdraw their investments from Pakistan. The Gateway House has also suggested that India can sanction its citizens or residents for featuring in advertisements meant for Pakistan; for example, Kareena Kapoor who appears in Pakistan's Dabur ads.

The government can sanction Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies in sectors such as e-commerce, retail, pharma, financial services and energy (Amazon, Nestle, P&G, Pepsi, Cocoa-Cola, Total, Colgate) from selling Pakistani or Pakistan-origin goods in India. The Centre can further impose blanket bans on Foreign Direct Investment and Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) to Pakistan under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and related regulations.

The think tank has recommended that the government should establish a strong legal framework for imposing sanctions.

To accomplish the objective, the government must "amend India's laws and regulations on foreign exchange and the Companies Act for stricter disclosures and embargoes; adopt a whole-of-government approach so that all government departments can come together to ensure that the sanctions are phased and targeted." The paper has also suggested that India should amend export laws to control re-export. "For example, when Sri Lanka imports electronic chips from India, it should not be allowed to re-export them to Pakistan. The US has successfully enforced similar control on re-export of certain commodities under the Export Control Act.

Khanna has recommended that the government should impose sanctions in line with international humanitarian law.
A pair of cybersecurity researchers have discovered a major breach in a traffic camera database, exposing license plate and travel details from more than 8.6 million car trips.

The breach involved the automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) system used in Sheffield, England to levy tolls on vehicles traveling into the city center at certain times of day.

The database - which kept records of individual license plates, time of day and intersection location from 100 different cameras placed around the city - could be accessed by entering its IP address into a web browser with no extra passwords or authentication necessary.

Security researchers discovered an enormous breach in the database that kept records from traffic camera footage in Sheffield, England, part of a program that was initially implemented in 2014 to levy tolls on vehicles driving into the city center

The breach was first discovered by security specialist Chris Kubecka and writer Gerard Janssen while using Censys.io, a tool that analyzes web hosts for potential security flaws.

Eugene Walker, Sheffield's executive director of resources, told The Register that no individuals had been harmed or 'suffered any detrimental effects' because of the breach but admitted it was unacceptable.

'We take joint responsibility for working to address this data breach,' Walker said in a statement with David Hartley, assistant chief constable of the the South Yorkshire Police. 'It is not an acceptable thing to have occurred.'

Tony Porter, commissioner of the UK's surveillance camera oversight organization, was shocked by the news and promised a full investigation.

'As chair of the National ANPR Independent Advisory Group, I will be requesting a report into this incident,' Porter told The Register.

'I will focus on the comprehensive national standards that exist and look toward any emerging compliance issues or failure thereof.'

3M helped design the camera network and software for the city of Sheffield, which ultimately recorded a database of 8,616,198 trips across 100 traffic cameras placed around the city

Sheffield's ANPR system was first implemented in 2014 when the city contracted with the American corporation 3M to design the network of traffic cameras.

In 2018, the system began keeping permanent records of every vehicle that passed through every camera, with some cameras logging as many as 21,000 entries in a single day.

In total, the database contained 8,616,198 individual records.

Eugene Walker, Sheffield's executive director of resources, accepted responsibility for the breach. 'It is not an acceptable thing to have occurred,' he said in a joint statement with David Hartley, Assistant Chief Constable of the the South Yorkshire Police

According to Edin Omanovic of Privacy International, a non-profit that advocates for improved data security, the breach is an example of how even well-intentioned surveillance programs can be exploited.

'Time and again we've seen the introduction of surveillance tech for very specific purposes, only to creep into other areas of enforcement,' Omanovic said.

'ANPR use must be proportionate to the problem it's trying to address  it's not supposed to be a tool of mass surveillance.'

'Both the council and police have a responsibility to ensure their use is proportionate and subject to a data protection impact assessment.'
After decades of scrubbing in on surgeries as a surgical technologist, Juan Martinez was looking forward to retirement. He planned to travel with his wife and spend more time with his grandchildren. He was so dedicated to his job that he kept working even as the coronavirus crisis coincided with the final weeks before his retirement.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Today would have been Anita McClendons 47th birthday.

Instead of a celebration, friends and family have come together in remembrance.

McClendon, 46, was killed by a hit-and-run driver Monday night, April 27, near the intersection of Ada Street and North Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoos Northside neighborhood.

By Wednesday, much of the parking lot of the North Pole Party Store near that intersection had turned into a makeshift vigil for McClendon, known by many in the community by her nickname: 69.

Somebodys got to pay for this, Feleshia Ellis, McClendons sister, told MLive. She was somebodys sister, somebodys mother, somebodys daughter.

She was important.

Ellis, like others, said her sister was someone who loved to sing and dance. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Nobody is ever going to forget her, thats for sure," Ellis said. "Not the streets. Not the stores. Not nobody. Everybodys going to always remember her and miss her.

Kalamazoo County Commissioner Stephanie Moore said she and McClendon grew up in the same neighborhood together and were in touch almost daily right up until Anitas death.

I just loved her for who she was, Moore said. She was a beautiful, beautiful person, very charismatic. She had a voice like an angel, she would sing, she would dance, recite poems.

Its definitely going to be hard turning that corner and not seeing her out there and all the great vibes she always sent out."

Moore, like McClendons friend Janice Hightower, both referred to McClendon as a community fixture.

She was difficult, but her, said Hightower, while stopping by the vigil. Everyone loved her.

Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson and Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin shared a message of condolences for McClendons family and friends on Twitter Wednesday.

Message from Mayor David Anderson and Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin on the passing of Anita McClendon: pic.twitter.com/7dNeZgXpyg  City of Kalamazoo (@KalamazooCity) April 29, 2020

Anyone with information on the hit-and-run is asked to call the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-337-8911 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.

The driver, officers said, was in a dark-colored SUV. The crash occurred at around 9:40 p.m. Monday, April 27, in the 500 block of Ada Street, near the intersection of North Westnedge Avenue.

Also on MLive:

Kalamazoo woman killed in hit-and-run identified

Kalamazoo Ribfest 2020 canceled due to coronavirus concerns

Michigan sees 100 more coronavirus deaths, 1,100 new confirmed cases
[April 30, 2020] In the Face of a Global Farming Crisis, Taiwan's Tano Security is Helping to Solve the World Bank's Agriculture Challenges

TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Undoubtedly, the agriculture industry will become even more important these next few decades. Yet, the global farming sector is facing ever-increasing risks as natural disasters become more frequent and disruptive as a result of climate change. What's more, the world's population continues to increase, with the United Nations estimating that it will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. As a result, the agriculture sector is looking to incorporate new technologies to maximize yields and improve efficiency in order to feed the planet's growing population. In fact, some estimates say that global agriculture production will need to rise by 69 percent between 2010 and 2050 to meet this need. Actually, incorporating technological innovation into farming is nothing new. The Industrial Revolution, for example, brought about the cotton gin, grain elevators, chemical fertilizers, and gas-powered tractor, among many other innovations. In the late 1900s, farmers started using satellites to plan their work. Today, the Internet of Things (IoT) is shaping the future of farming at the next level. It is clear that smart, digital, and efficient agriculture is already becoming more commonplace among farmers, with high-tech agriculture increasingly becoming the standard. In Taiwan, which is famous not only for its technology but also for some of the most amazing fruit in the world, agriculture is increasingly becoming a lot more like manufacturing. When it comes to modern, tech-based smart farming, no other place in the world is better equipped for this change than Taiwan. Whether it is indoors in multi-story hydroponic farms, small-sized plots of land, underground cultivation, or large-scale warehoused plantations, the use of solr power, drones, IoT, semiconductors, and software can be seen across the island.



One of the hottest teams in Taiwan to capture the interest of both the business and government sectors is Tano Security. Over the past 5 years, the team's cutting-edge and down-to-earth projects have grabbed the attention of many farmers, who can see the benefits that this technology can deliver to agriculture. "Smart, digital, IoT framingswhatever you want to call it[these] are only toolsbetter toolsto farmers. Farmers care only about resultsbetter yieldsand if a tool can help to generate better yields. And that is it!" stated Robert Chen, CEO of Tano Security. Unlike many tech-based companies entering the agriculture field, the members of Chen's team have been instructed by Chen to be farmers first in order to understand exactly what their problems are. "It is important to find out what the real needs are in order to provide help, (and) not the other way around," Chen commented.

In April, Tano Security teamed up with Taiwan's National Chung Hsing University to enter the finals of the World Bank's 2020 Agriculture Risk Innovation Challenge. For years, the World Bank Agriculture Observatory has tried to generate solutions that demonstrate alternative ways of collecting or monitoring critical datasets to assess the impact of agriculture stressors. For this innovation challenge, Tano Security proposed a solution that featured an early-warning system for the fall armyworm pest that could reduce agriculture losses by more than 90 percent and cut the use of pesticides by 50 percent. This solution originated from the company's real-life field experience in China, and, clearly, the World Bank was impressed, with Tano Security being awarded the Top Innovator Prize in the competition. Generally speaking, Taiwan can already be considered one of the most successful food producers in the world, despite the many challenges it faces, including soil erosion, typhoons, and heavy flooding. "As a matter of fact, Taiwanese farmers learn and grow from these challenges," Chen has said. This combination of technological know-how, electrical-engineering skills, and extensive manufacturing capabilities along with the natural pride of the nation's farmers in producing high-quality fruits and vegetables could make Taiwan a very strong ally in the world's biggest (and perhaps most important) industryagriculture. For more information, please visit: https://www.tanosecure.com.tw/?locale=en // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MOLTGvr5f8 Media contact:

George Hu

[email protected]

886-919563599 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-the-face-of-a-global-farming-crisis-taiwans-tano-security-is-helping-to-solve-the-world-banks-agriculture-challenges-301050047.html SOURCE Tano Security

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Senior security official killed, 5 injured by blast in southern Afghanistan - source

Kabul, Apr 30 (Sputnik) An explosion of a roadside bomb in one of the districts of the southernmost Helmand province of Afghanistan left the local director for security killed and five soldiers injured, a security source told Sputnik on condition of anonymity on Thursday.

"The blast of a roadside bomb killed Mohammad Ismail, the chief of National Security Directorate for Nawa District, and injured five soldiers," the source said.

No armed group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he will not be able to recommend a relaxation of lockdown measures to combat the coronavirus crisis tomorrow.

Speaking at a briefing last night, he said that as of yesterday he could not advise there be any relaxation of emergency measures.

"The number of people in intensive care and in a hospital bed are still too high. There are a few days left between now and May 5 and I hope things will change."

But he said he does not anticipate any additional change in the coming days in deaths, hospitalisations, or admissions to intensive care.

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The number of people infected through community transmission - where they pick up the infection and do not know the source - is also too high to recommend an easing of restrictions, he added.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will meet tomorrow and is expected to advise Government on what happens after May 5.

Meanwhile, more people are picking up the coronavirus in their own homes, official figures reveal.

The number of clusters or outbreaks of the virus which have sprung up in private homes has increased and the latest figures show 83 have been reported since the crisis started.

Although the focus has previously been on outbreaks in nursing homes and other residential centres, which have been worst hit by the spread of infection, the latest trends show how people are picking up the virus in their own households.

Last night, it was announced there had been 31 more deaths from Covid-19 in Ireland.

There were also 376 new confirmed cases of the virus, pushing the total number of infections here to 20,253.

The outbreaks in people's own homes have been highest in the south and west of the country, accounting for 46 of the incidents, while just two have been reported in the east.

The public health appeal to people has been to "stay at home" as much as possible but the new figures highlight this can also be the place where a person picks up the virus.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre's (HPSC)figures do not shed light on household outbreaks, but experts say a range of factors are contributing to the problem.

They include people who have the virus or potential symptoms not adhering to self-isolation rules.

Failure to adhere to physical distancing and guidance around disinfecting surfaces or sharing spaces can also increase the risk of transmission.

Cramped conditions heighten the chances of spread, particularly in cases where one person may be asymptomatic and so unaware they have the infection.

The extent of the problem of household transmission is highlighted in reports showing that the number of clusters in people's own homes is now higher than in hospitals, where 82 were reported.
While Oyo does not plan to completely exit any market, it will either terminate or not renew contracts with loss-making hotels, sources said.

New Delhi/Bengaluru: Oyo Hotels and Homes, backed by SoftBank Group, plans to offload more properties around the world, three sources familiar with the matter said, as the coronavirus pandemic prompts it to speed up a retreat from a rapid global expansion.

The hospitality sector has been one of the worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with global and domestic travel coming to a near-halt.

While Oyo does not plan to completely exit any market, it will either terminate or not renew contracts with loss-making hotels, two of the sources said.

A fourth source aware of the plans added that Oyo had already ditched a number of loss-making properties as part of a broader restructuring that began last year.

The source also said the company may furlough additional staff in countries where travel curbs to prevent the spread of the virus persist for several months, making it difficult for hotels to operate.

The retreat comes just a year after a heady expansion beyond India and China into Europe, Southeast Asia and the United States, which made Oyo one of the worlds biggest hospitality brands by room count. However, the push also widened its losses to $335 million last year.

It was not immediately clear how many hotel contracts Oyo plans to end nor in which countries, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions were still private.

Oyo did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Oyo will prioritise business and investment in India, Southeast Asia, Europe, China and the United States while sustaining a presence in places like Japan, Brazil, Mexico and the Middle East, said the fourth source.

The company has $1 billion of cash and the measures, along with other cost-cutting initiatives and furloughs outlined in early April, are aimed at reducing monthly expenses to about $25 million by June from $40 million, the source added.

Other large hotel operators like Marriott International have also abandoned their financial outlooks and furloughed staff to conserve cash.

On 8 April, Oyos founder Ritesh Agarwal, said the pandemic had resulted in a 50 percent-60 percent drop in revenues and occupancy levels, putting severe stress on the companys balance sheet.

Given how unprecedented the current situation is, its natural for Oyo to prepare for the worst, said one of the three people cited above.

Heady expansion

Oyo is one of SoftBanks biggest bets with the Japanese group holding a 46 percent stake.

The six-year-old hotel startup had already consulted turnaround specialist Alvarez & Marsal and Accenture Plc last year, two of the four people said, and more recently it tapped human resources advisor Aon Hewitt.

Alvarez and Accenture did not respond to emails seeking comment. Aon Hewitt declined to comment.

Between January and March, Oyo cut 5,000 jobs mainly in China and India, leaving it with about 25,000 employees, and amended contracts with hotels to remove revenue guarantees.

It also decided to end contracts with hotels that did not generate annual revenues of at least $100,000, the two sources said. Emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia and Latin America bore the brunt of the cuts, one of the two people said, adding that Oyo now operated in 400 Indian cities from 550 previously.

The measures helped Oyo halve its monthly costs to $40 million from $80 million in January, said the two people.
LINCOLN  Lincoln College intends to open in the fall with residential operations and in-person courses, the institution announced Thursday. Reduced class sizes and visitor restrictions are among options it is considering to enhance safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

The step is being taken in accordance with Gov. J.B. Pritzkers emerging strategy to reopen Illinois following restrictions put in place because of the pandemic, said Lincoln College President David Gerlach.

Any plans for fall semester will be in accordance with declarations made by Gov. Pritzker, health agencies and industry best practices, said Gerlach. All decisions will have the safety of the campus community at the forefront.

Lincoln College moved course instruction online and essentially closed the campus following directives from the governor designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The closure was a necessary step in the interest of safety, said Gerlach.

In announcing its plans to reopen, the college noted the effect continued closures could have not only on the institution and its students but also the community. Lincoln College has a $53 million annual regional economic impact, according to the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities economic impact calculator, Lincoln College officials said.

To prepare for reopening, working groups are developing policies on how housing and operations can be controlled or modified to minimize contact and meet safety needs, said Gerlach.

Other options might include examining class schedules and reducing class sizes, restricting campus visitors and non-students through building access, use of protective equipment, additional sanitation efforts and management of campus gatherings, he said.

The college noted that Logan County has one of the lowest infection rates in Illinois. There have been seven positive cases and no deaths reported in Logan County, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health website on Thursday.

Gerlach said, We believe being a small, residential campus will work to our advantage in safeguarding the students, staff and faculty, and families can find reassurance in that.

Lincoln College had 756 full-time and 75 part-time students on its Lincoln campus fall semester.

8 changes to the Illinois stay-at-home order starting tomorrow

My town: Great outdoors, indoors for Lenore Sobota

Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota

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File Photo

Chandigarh: ASI Harjeet Singh has been discharged from PGI today. On this occasion Harjeet Singh said that I am appealing to the people who are fighting against the doctors, police and administration of Corona to support them.

File PhotoHe also thanked the PGI doctors. DGP Dinkar Gupta reached PGI and encouraged Harjeet Singh. The son also received an appointment letter.

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It may be recalled that Harjeet Singh's hand was dismembered during a scuffle between Patiala police and Nihangs recently after which PGI doctors operated and fixed the hand of ASI Harjeet Singh.

PhotoDoctors have discharged Harjeet Singh today due to his health condition. It may also be mentioned that the surgery to join Harjeet Singh's hand was started at 10 am.

During this time the patient's arm was joined and the operation lasted for 7.5 hours. The surgery was technically very challenging and was completed successfully.

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PhotoMeanwhile, Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta also thanked the doctors for the successful operation. He said that the surgery of our dear comrade ASI Harjit Singh went well and was completed by the grace of God.
WASHINGTON  Trying to dispel economic gloom, President Donald Trump said Thursday hes anticipating a major rebound in the coming months and a spectacular 2021.

While economists are warning of serious long-term damage as the country plunges into recession because of the coronavirus, Trump is predicting a strong fourth quarter thanks to pent-up demand.

I think we can actually surpass where we were, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, while allowing he was relying on his gut.

I feel it, he said. I think sometimes what I feel is better than what I think, unfortunately or fortunately.

Trumps comments came during a meeting with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrats, who exchanged praise with Trump, despite past criticism. Trump said Murphy had stepped up to the plate, while Murphy said Trump has delivered in his states darkest hour.

Weve been crushed and appreciate your consideration on the financial side as well, Murphy said, while telling Trump his state needs $20 billion to $30 billion just to keep firefighters, teachers, police officers and others on the job.

The comments are the latest sign that Trump is trying to turn the page on the virus, even as the nations death toll continues to climb and jobless claims rise. Trump had been hoping to ride a strong economy into another four-year term, but the virus and the economic damage it has wrought upended that strategy.

But economists have waned a sharp comeback may not be realistic. They point to expected flare-ups that could force reopened businesses to shut down again, concerns that employees and consumers afraid of contracting the virus could continue to stay home, and the fact that shuttered business may not open again. With so much of the economy paralyzed, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that economic activity will plunge this quarter at a 40% annual rate.

Trump has nonetheless given consistently high marks to his administrations handling of the virus, despite persistent criticism that he waited too long to act.

I think we did a spectacular job, he said, days after the nations death toll surpassed the Vietnam War, with more than 60,000 dead and a million infected.

Im not even referring to me, Im referring to all of these people, including your people who have been working with my people so closely, he told Murphy. But the federal government has done a spectacular job.

The nations top infectious disease expert said earlier Thursday that new cases of the virus are a certainty as states begin to roll back restrictions. States need to proceed carefully as they take steps to reopen businesses and allow greater freedom of movement, Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

We will get blips  theres no doubt, Fauci told NBCs Today show. When you pull back there will be cases, and what we need to do is make sure (states) have in place the capability of identifying, isolating and contact tracing individuals.

Fauci urged states that dont have that capability to go very slowly. You cant just leap over things and get into a situation where youre really tempting a rebound. Thats the thing I get concerned about, he said.

His warnings came a day after Trump said the federal government would not extend its social distancing guidelines past Thursday, and Trumps son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country would be really rocking again, despite health experts assessing that as highly unlikely.
Looking To Buy A New Car Now? - Virus Induced Money Saving Deals and Programs From Car Makers







Special to The Auto Channel

From JD Power

In one of the most expansive programs, Hyundai Motor America's Assurance Job Loss Protection will make up to six months of payments for new owners who lose their jobs and have purchased or leased their vehicles between March 14 and April 30, 2020, through Hyundai Capital. The same offer applies to Hyundais luxury brand, Genesis, through the Genesis Cares program.

Furthermore, anyone who anticipates trouble making their payments should reach out to the financial institution that made the car loan or financed the lease even if that lender is not linked to the manufacturer. This will enable people who owe money on a loan to discuss their options, which can include flexible payment arrangements and payment extensions. Lessees might be able to arrange deferred lease payments as well.

In addition to financial support for existing customers, automakers are introducing new programs to prompt potential buyers who might be on the fence to purchase their vehicle immediately.

General Motors is offering "very well-qualified customers" interest-free financing for 84 months with deferred payments for up to 120 days. Ford Credit is offering to make your first three loan payments while also giving customers the option to delay their first payment for an additional 90 days. Buy an eligible Ford model by April 30, 2020 and you need not pay anything for six months.

Other automakers are also unveiling coronavirus car deals, according to their business requirements.

"Every OEM has a different need based on current inventories and future inventories," J.D. Power's Houston said. "Any program that assures consumers the affordability of the vehicle they are purchasing during uncertain times and gives after-sale support for those who financed their vehicle helps to generate consumer confidence."

With consumer confidence in short supply right now carmakers are also scurrying to assure potential car buyers that in most areas of the country their affiliated dealerships are open for both vehicle sales and service.

Many are emphasizing their online shopping, vehicle purchase, and vehicle delivery options. For example, GM's "Shop. Click. Drive." program at participating dealerships enables customers to browse a dealership's inventory on desktop and mobile devices 24 hours a day. Through that and similar programs, automakers offer consumers the ability to choose a vehicle, estimate a trade-in value, agree on payment, add accessories, and schedule delivery without ever setting foot into a showroom.

Other companies, such as FCA, are also ramping up online buying programs and tools. In light of the fact that many Americans are self-isolating, automakers hope these options will prompt consumers to reconsider buying a vehicle in what has been and could continue to be a troubling economic time.

Projections for U.S. auto sales for the remainder of 2020 range from dreary to disastrous. One "worst-case" projection, a scenario in which prolonged COVID-19 infections combine with a long-term economic slowdown, forecasts that new light-vehicle sales could tumble to 12.1 million this year from 16.9 million in 2019. Should the epidemic be shorter-lived, the latest J.D. Power forecast is for 14.8 million light-vehicle sales in 2020.
On Tuesday PM Pedro Sanchez unveiled his plan to lift the lockdown restrictions by province and in several stages, a plan that as expected will be overseen by the Spanish Health Ministry. In the end he never really engaged in serious talks with Spains regional governments although he had asked them to appoint representatives and put forward their proposals. The central government have got their way with the excuse of coordinating the exit effort, even though what they meant all along was for Madrid to effectively run the whole operation.

The plans most troublesome point is the choice of Spains provinces as the default administrative division. The concept that dates back to 1883 and resulted from drawing a grid on the map with little regard for the reality of every area. To make matters worse, Catalonias administration and health service are organised differently: around counties, health care regions and ABS (basic healthcare areas). We hope that Spains Health Minister, Salvador Illa, will accept the proposal from the Catalan government on the subject.

Besides the decision to lift the lockdown by province, the prime ministers address left many questions unanswered and cast confusion on some issues, such peoples mobility. For instance, we remain in the dark as to what criteria will have to be met in order to move on to a new stage. As for the restrictions that will be kept in place in every phase, it is hard to understand why people will be permitted to sit outside a bar or a restaurant and even inside the premises during phase 2 but they wont be allowed to visit friends or family. Likewise, visiting residents in care homes will be forbidden until phase 3, in a months time, which will likely take its toll emotionally. Furthermore, hotels will be allowed to open while mobility remains restricted and foreign tourists arent allowed to visit. Finally, we still dont know how schools will go about taking on the children whose parents both must go to work.

In actual fact, the complexity of the restrictions and the wide range of cases will make it practically impossible to enforce the rules and people will need to be trusted to behave responsibly. For this reason, as we progressively exit the lockdown, the authorities should focus more on monitoring potential hazards at the workplace and in crowded spaces instead of controlling the population in general. On the whole, the public have shown that they can behave sensibly and realise what is at stake. Now it is the time for the economy, especially the retail sector, to start recovering one step at a time without jeopardising public health.

Ultimately, the lesson we have learnt from this crisis is that Spain has dismally failed to take onboard the notion of regional devolution. Pretending to listen is not enough: you need to show that you trust the administration closest to the people in a given region. Instead, when there is a crisis they default back to the province. That is, to the 19th century.
It was confirmed Wednesday that his daughter Gigi Hadid, 25, is expecting a baby girl with her on-and-off boyfriend Zayn Malik, 27.

And Mohamed Hadid was spotted for the first time since news broke at one of his many building sites in Los Angeles.

The 71-year-old real estate mogul cut a casual figure in a white button down shirt and a pair of black skinny jeans.

Big news: Mohamed Hadid was spotted for the first time since news of daughter Gigi Hadid's pregnancy broke hitting up one of his many building sites in Los Angeles

Mohamed finished off his errand run ensemble with a pair of black lace-up sneakers.

In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, TMZ provided confirmation that Gigi is five-months along in her pregnancy and that the couple are to welcome a daughter.

The outlet also reported that Gigi and Zayn had informed all of their close family and friends of the couple's baby news before it broke.

Gigi and Zayn have had an on-and-off romance since 2015, when they met on the set during the filming of Zayn's music video for his single Pillow Talk.

Down to business: The 71-year-old real estate mogul cut a casual figure in a white button down shirt and a pair of black skinny jeans

Confirmed: It was confirmed Wednesday that his daughter Gigi Hadid, 25, is expecting a baby girl with her on-and-off boyfriend Zayn Malik, 27; Gigi and Mohamed pictured in 2018

The pair reconciled in December after a year long separation that Gigi and Zayn addressed publicly.

Mohamed's ex wife and Gigi's mother Yolanda Hadid, 56, offered baby confirmation of her own to Dutch broadcasting station RTL Boulevard on Wednesday.

In the interview, Yolanda admitted to being 'still shocked' by the news but 'excited to become a grandmother in September.'

Mohamed has yet to make a statement regarding his daughter's pregnancy.

Blended family: Mohamed was married to Yolanda from 1994 until their divorce in 2000. Aside from Gigi, the former spouses also share 23-year-old daughter Bella and 20-year-old son Anwar. He also has two daughters Marielle, 39, and Alana, 34 with ex Mary Butler

Mohamed was married to Yolanda from 1994 until their divorce in 2000. Aside from Gigi, the former spouses also share 23-year-old daughter Bella and 20-year-old son Anwar.

Prior to his marriage to Yolanda, the property tycoon was husband to a woman by the name of Mary Butler until 1992.

During their marriage, Mohamed and Mary welcomed daughters Marielle, 39, and Alana, 34.

Amid news of his granddaughter-to-be, DailyMail.com revealed that Mohamed currently owes almost $1.2 million in back taxes on his controversial mega-mansion.

Uh oh: Amid news of his granddaughter-to-be, DailyMail.com revealed that Mohamed currently owes almost $1.2 million in back taxes on his controversial mega-mansion

In December, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Craig D. Karlan ordered the structure be torn down 'after May 4' and deemed it a 'danger to the public,' according to the Los Angeles Times.

According to new court documents filed by Douglas Wilson - the receiver appointed by LA Superior Court to oversee demolition - 'review of the tax bills shows a total amount due of $1,178,754 for the main house parcel, which includes delinquent amounts dating back to 2017.

Neighbors fear that the 'unstable' structure could fall victim to a landslide as it rests above several multi-million dollar homes.


WCG FDAnews

Using Monte Carlo Simulation to Aid Your Medical Device Design

An FDAnews Webinar

Thursday, May 14, 2020  1:30 - 3:00 p.m. EDT

https://www.fdanews.com/montecarlosimulation

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for risk management and predictability when combined with Monte Carlo simulation.

Monte Carlo simulation uses random numbers from a variety of statistical distributions to assess risk and uncertainty in forecasting models. With its built-in functions, Excel can generate random numbers to inform simulation, helping practitioners evaluate processes and activities, particularly for models that are difficult to calculate using analytical methods.

Join FDAnews and presenter Dan OLeary to discover how to use Monte Carlo simulation for medical device design during a webinar on Thursday, May 14.

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Determine the use of models in assessing activities and processes

Critically evaluate the role of Monte Carlo simulation in the model

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Examine the relationship between probability density functions and cumulative density functions

Apply Excel functions that can produce random numbers from various statistical distributions

Combine the random numbers in the model to produce results

BONUS MATERIAL: An Excel workbook with examples from the presentation is included.

Understand the impact of risk and uncertainty in prediction and forecasting models.

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Webinar Details:

Using Monte Carlo Simulation to Aid Your Medical Device Design

An FDAnews Webinar

Thursday, May 14, 2020  1:30 - 3:00 p.m. EDT

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FDAnews is the premier provider of domestic and international regulatory, legislative, and business news and information for executives in industries regulated by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals rely on FDAnews' print and electronic newsletters, books and conferences to stay in compliance with international standards and the FDA's complex and ever-changing regulations
H eavy rain will continue to batter Britain this week, with downpours lashing most parts of the country.

A weeks worth of rain is set to fall over the next two days, while the latest Met Office forecast also shows plummeting temperatures.

It marks a stark departure from the lockdown heatwave Brits have enjoyed of late.

According to forecasters, "Atlantic weather systems bring further bands of rain to many areas, particularly in the south and the west of the UK.

Costco shoppers queue in the rain while marking a one minute silence for fallen NHS heroes on Wednesday / PA

"It is expected to be windy at times, especially along southern and western coastlines.

These areas will have been more than 10C higher in the past few days, so its a big change.

Parts of southern-central England are braced for flooding to hit.

The Environment Agency has brought in seven flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible - be prepared - covering Berkshire, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire, including Alton, High Wycombe and the Lambourn Valley.

Meanwhile, the mercury will plummet from the 28C highs that have been seen during the first 37 days of lockdown, hitting mid-teens and even 7C in some areas.

Motorists battle showers on the M4 as traffic begins to spike despite the continued lockdown / PA

On Wednesday evening heavy showers and some hail and thunder will sweep the nation, with frost and fog patches in parts of Scotland and north England, the Met Office said.

Friday will see more heavy showers in northern and eastern areas but there will be some sunny spells in the south.

The weekend is shaping up to be cloudy with sunny spells and further showers in the north and east.

The Met Office added: "The confidence towards the end of this period is low, but after the unsettled start to May, there could be a return of more settled conditions, bringing longer drier spells into the second week of May.
IRS stimulus website

United States Internal Revenue Service

Millions of Americans are getting a $1,200 payment from the US government as part of the coronavirus pandemic response.

The easiest way to check on the status of your payment is through the IRS website, but a lot of users are getting a "payment status not available" error when entering their personal information.

A surprising solution has emerged: Typing your information in all caps circumvents the issue for most people.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Millions of Americans are set to receive a $1,200 check from the US government as part of the $2 trillion stimulus package. If you still haven't received your payment, there's a good chance you've been to this IRS website before.

The form asks for some personal information  your Social Security number, your address, your date of birth, and your zip code  and is supposed to tell you the status of your stimulus check. It also allows users to enter their bank account information for direct deposit.

But a lot of folks are encountering the an error message that reads "Payment status not available" after entering their information.

Great news: There's a very simple way to circumvent the error, and all you have to do is enter your address information into the form in all caps:

What Homer Simpson's form might look like.

United States Internal Revenue Service

Though it's a somewhat ridiculous solution, it appears to be an effective one.

Los Angeles Times coronavirus reporter Jessica Roy tweeted about the potential solution on April 25. She received hundreds of responses and retweets, many including confirmation that the trick did indeed work.

In a piece in the LA Times, Roy recounted her own experience with the trick. "Many people, including this reporter, have found that entering their street address in all capital letters was the key to getting in and being able to enter their bank account information in order to have their stimulus funds deposited electronically instead of waiting for a check in the mail," she wrote. "My husband Joe and I tried it, thinking 'no way.' Yes way."

Give it a shot yourself right here on the IRS website.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Akufo-Addo says a decision on when restrictions on public gatherings to be lifted has not yet been discussed.

He said a lot of information has been gathered on the geographical footprint of the virus, which has influenced the manner in which Ghana has handled the outbreak but relaxing the public gatherings restrictions is undecided at the moment.

We have not taken a decision on when public gathering can resume, President Akufo-Addo said, when he addressed a webinar series by Africa.com.

President Akufo-Addo has been praised for the manner in which he has handled the outbreak of Covdi-19 in Ghana.

The country, as of April 28, 2020, has 1,671 confirmed cases of the respiratory infection, 188 recoveries and 16 deaths.

Measures, including a partial lockdown of the four hotpots of the outbreak  Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa  has been lifted. However, a ban on public gatherings and social distancing has been extended for another two weeks.

President Akufo-Addo believes, an extension is necessary and admonished the public to adhere to the directive, if the country's current progress is to be improved.

Addressing the over 3,000 participants who tuned into the webinar, the President said, Ghana's borders, which have been closed to prevent the influx of foreigners carrying the disease into the country, will remain closed.

that is a measure we are not about to undo anytime from now, he stressed.

The overall picture, President Akufo-Addo noted, is that the rate of infection has remained relatively constant.

With a positivity rate of 1.58 percent, he indicated that, we are not seeing this large explosion that was feared for our country at the beginning and therefore, the ability to manage those who have been affected is much more within our means.

Despite this, President Akufo-Addo said government is making a significant preparation and investment in the public health system, not just for Covid-19 but also enable it cater to the country's health needs as a whole.

Also, measures are being put in place to boost Ghana's domestic production to wean the country off heavy dependence on importation, President Akufo-Addo said.

Speaking to the theme of the conference, 'This isn't the West  How Africa's Informal Sector Reacts to Covid-19', President Akufo-Addo said the attention of his government has been to adopt a Ghana-focused approach in dealing with the disease.

He said, although tackling the virus has been a difficult and expensive venture, we have said that as much as possible, we should look at the Ghanaian first.

Myjoyonline
The mother of a baby who beat coronavirus after previously surviving open heart surgery says she will 'always be grateful' to NHS staff who saved her daughter's life.

Six-month-old Erin Bates was left fighting for her life in a high dependency unit at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, in Liverpool, after she was diagnosed with the virus, having already overcome problems with her heart and windpipe.

Erin, who was born weighing just 5lbs 4oz, required major surgery and will remain a long-term patient due to her other medical issues, but has made a full recovery from the virus, with mum Emma, hailing her child as a 'real fighter'.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain from the hospital, Emma was surprised by nurse Jane Guy and ward manager Laura Knight, who she said had gone 'above and beyond' to save Erin's life.

Six-month-old Erin Bates (pictured) was beft fighting for her life in a high dependency unit at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, in Liverpool. She appeared on Good Morning Britain with mother Emma after fully recovering from coronavirus

Erin, who was born weighing just 5lbs 4oz, required major surgery and will remain a long-term patient due to her other medical issues. Pictured, Emma and Wayne with Erin before her coronavirus diagnosis

'She's fantastic, she's doing really well', said Emma. 'We were frightened and obviously it was the unknown.

'We didnt know if she was going to be okay, but she did really well, she fought on. She's done so well.'

After hosts Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid announced that the staff would also be appearing, Emma said: 'I just want to say, we cannot thank you enough.

'You've been incredible, you've gone above and beyond. We will always be grateful.'

The mother, who spent 14-days isolating with her baby daughter says she will 'always be grateful' to NHS staff who saved daughter's life

Emma was surprised nurse Jane Guy (left) and ward manager Laura Knight (right) , who she told went 'above and beyond' to save Erin's life

Nurse Jane added: 'Erin did most of the hard, work she's a real fighter and she's amazing.

'It was heightened concern and it still is, but Erin battled. She's a real fighter, it's just amazing, and Emma too, Emma has been amazing.'

The new mother went on to insist she was 'so thankful' to have been able to spend 14-days isolating with her baby, helping look after her.

'I was isolated with her,' said Emma. 'When we got the news I spent the full 14 days with her, which I was so thankful of, to help look after her. But all the staff were really supportive when we went into isolation.'

The new mother went on to insist to host Piers Morgan (pictured) she was 'so thankful' to have been able to spend 14-days isolating with her baby helping look after her

Erin was applauded by nurses as her cot was wheeled out of Alder Hey's high dependency unit yesterday FRI. She is pictured chatting with host Susannah Ried

Erin was applauded by nurses as her cot was wheeled out of Alder Hey's high dependency unit last week.

Her mother went on: 'She certainly a fighter, she battled open heart surgery and then had respiratory problems as well, but she just battled on. I can't believe how well she's done.'

Emma's husband Wayne was able to visit his wife, but still cannot see Erin because it is hospital policy for only one family member to be able to visit a patient while the coronavirus outbreak continues.

'He's had to isolate at home, said Emma, 'He wasnt able to see our angel. We FaceTime him every day to make sure he had contact.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 01:01:11|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Healthcare experts from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and African Union (AU) member states have discussed with Chinese experts on potential ways of replicating the experience of China in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent.

This came during a joint special webinar entitled "Global MediXChange for Combating COVID-19 (GMCC): The Experience of China" that was held on late Tuesday in collaboration between the Africa CDC and the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation.

"We are pleased of the partnership and extremely appreciative of the personal commitment of Jack Ma in the spirited fight against the terrible enemy COVID-19," said John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC, during the joint special webinar.

"The continent is extremely appreciative of the continuous support received from the Jack Ma Foundation for several member states including the one today to fight COVID-19," Nkengasong said.

He also stressed that the special joint webinar for combating COVID-19 across the African continent and beyond with particular emphasis on the experience of China would enable medical experts from Africa, China and other parts of the world to share knowledge, experience and best practices for treating COVID-19.

According to co-organizers of the special webinar, over 1,600 healthcare workers from more than 20 African nations participated in the live exchange on sharing the Chinese experience in dealing with COVID-19 in Africa.

The Chinese tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, Jack Ma, also during the webinar commended the AU Commission, through the Africa CDC, for its effective leadership in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic across the continent.

"The AU and the Africa CDC have demonstrated what we need most today, leadership, action and efficiency. Through our partnership, our first donation to Africa was distributed to 50 African countries in just only 6 days, this is amazing," Jack Ma said.

"Here, I want to give my special thanks to the Ethiopian Airlines for the great commitment and capability," he said, adding that "the Africa CDC, your dedication and responsibility in leading experience-sharing with international medical practitioners deserves our admiration."

During the discussion, Jack Ma also vowed to further strengthen the support being made by his foundation to the African continent amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Solidarity and collaboration are the only ways we can succeed," he said. "The solution is not isolation but cooperation instead," he said, while calling on others to stand together to battle the global pandemic.

The GMCC platform, which was launched in March to facilitate open knowledge sharing and online communication to combat COVID-19 and supported by technologies and tools from Alibaba Health and Alibaba Cloud, mainly features three main components that are digital access to epidemic prevention resources, videos and webinars, and tools for online discussions, it was noted.

Nearly 3,000 medical professionals have already joined the platform globally and thousands of medical staff from hospitals across Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe have so far participated in live exchange sessions organized by the GMCC to better understand how to respond to this new virus disease, according to the Africa CDC.

On Monday, the Africa CDC had received the third donation of medical equipment and supplies from the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The donation, which will be distributed to all AU member states in support of their national COVID-19 fight, includes 4.6 million masks, 500,000 swabs and test kits, 300 ventilators, 200,000 sets of protective clothing, 200,000 face shields, 2,000 temperature guns, 100 body temperature scanners, and 500,000 pairs of gloves. Enditem
On Tuesday, former presidential candidates Julian Castro and Sen. Kamala Harris brought national attention to a video filmed Monday of a police officer in Rancho Cordova, California, brutally assaulting a 14-year-old boy over the underage purchase of a Swisher cigar.

The footage of Elijah Tufonos beating itself is almost too horrifying to watch:

This is a horrific abuse of power. This officer must be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/jcAABFzWvj  Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) April 28, 2020

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Further footage, posted on social media by Tufonos sister, shows the child identifying himself to the officer as a 14-year-old, the officer punching him repeatedly, and the child screaming as the officer pins his head to the pavement.

As a result of this clear use of excessive force, the police officer in question was immediately identified and stripped of his badge, and is now facing criminal charges for assaulting a minor.

Just kidding!

The Rancho Cordova Police Department issued a statement on Tuesday defending the officers behavior and suggesting the teenager had it coming. Here is the key section of the response from Sgt. Tess Deterding:

Its important to put video footage into context, especially in relation to a use of force incident. In this case, the deputy saw what he believed to be a hand-to-hand exchange between an adult and juvenile. As the deputy turned around, he lost sight of the adult, who left the area. When the deputy approached the juvenile, the juvenile was uncooperative and refused to give the deputy basic identifying information. He told the deputy he was 18 years old. Having reasonable suspicion that criminal activity was occurring, the deputy attempted to detain the juvenile so he could conduct further investigation. The juvenile became physically resistive at that time, causing the deputy to lose control of his handcuffs, which landed several feet away. The deputy attempted to maintain control of the juvenile without his handcuffs and while alone waiting for his partners to arrive and assist him. Ultimately, the deputy recovered tobacco products from the 14-year-old juvenile, which is presumably the reason for his resistance. The juvenile was cited and released to his guardians. This type of situation is hard on everyonethe young man, who resisted arrest, and the officer, who would much rather have him cooperate. The community should know our deputies have a heart for the Rancho Cordova community, especially for the youth they serve through the schools, PAL sports, and our new Youth Center.

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Again, Tufono, who reportedly has a life-threatening heart condition, can be heard on the video identifying himself as a 14-year-old.

If you can, its worth watching the footage with the context of the Rancho Cordova Police Departments description.

The official statement is meant to put video footage into context. What is the context, exactly? The child was uncooperative and refused to give the deputy basic identifying informationthat is, he was asking for it. He told the deputy he was 18 years oldthat is, he lied (before later giving his real age). Ultimately, the deputy recovered tobacco products from the 14-year-old juvenile, which is presumably the reason for his resistance, so the child was breaking the lawby purchasing a cigar. And the officer himself is a victim here: This type of situation is hard on everyonethe young man, who resisted arrest, and the officer, who would much rather have him cooperate. Finally, the community should know our deputies have a heart for the Rancho Cordova community, especially for the youth they serve, so you should just look the other way, again.

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The department further said that it is conducting an investigation, but based on the statement it seems clear what it will determine. All the facts that are necessary are in that footagethe officer beat the childbut the department has determined that he was merely attempting to maintain control of the juvenile. As Black Lives Matter Sacramento founder Tanya Faison told a local ABC News affiliate, the officer would be charged with a crime if not for his badge. And other officers will be taking note of what happens to him.

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Its common for them to terrorize our kids, Faison told the ABC reporter. They intimidate our kids and humiliate our kids. They often detain us for something really small or nothing at all then they sit the kids on the curb for hours for all to see.

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Rancho Cordova is a suburb of Sacramento, and, as the Sacramento Bee noted, the area has a recent history of horrific police brutality incidents that resulted in zero consequences for the offending officers.

Nearly three years after three Sacramento sheriffs deputies shot a disturbed African American man named Mikel McIntyre to death on Highway 50and two years after Sacramento Police Department officers killed an African American man named Stephon Clark in his grandparents back yardour community must once again confront a scene of horrific police violence against black people, the Bee observed.

As ABC News also noted, just last week the family of a 12-year-old boy who was arrested for panhandling at a carnival sued the Sacramento Police Department after an officer put a spit mask over his head during the arrest.

Even after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last year increasing the standards for use of deadly force, its clear that something is still very rotten in the state capital.
The 1619 Project is the New York Times attempt to make Americans view their country as evil. Its race-centric view of American history has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum of academia.

Much of the criticism has centered around the Projects claim that the American Revolution was, in significant part, the result of a desire to preserve slavery in America. The short answer to this claim is that slavery in the Colonies faced no immediate threat from Great Britain, so colonists wouldnt have needed to secede to protect it.

Nor, if the goal of the Revolution had been to preserve slavery, would the Declaration of Independence  the statement of the reasons for rebelling  have included language inconsistent with the institution of slavery. The signers understood the inconsistency, and were not into irony.

It happens that I have re-read two old books about the Revolutionary and Confederation period. The books are: The American Revolution by John Richard Alden and The New Nation by Merrill Jensen.

Both books include a discussion of slavery and the Revolution. Both argue that Britain was an obstacle to limiting slavery in America, something many Americans, including leaders of the revolutionary movement, wanted to do.

Here is what Alden wrote:

The Revolutionary generation, seeking to assert the natural rights of mankind, could not but be conscience-stricken when it considered the lot in America of some of the children of Natures God  the Negroes, who composed one-fifth of the total population and half of that of South Carolina. Almost all of the Negroes were slaves. . . . Slavery, then as later, had its horrors, the worst of which was the traffic in human bodies between Africa and America. That brutal commerce had aroused indignation before the war, and the importation of slaves had been halted in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, but the British government and its representatives had prevented the passage of similar laws in the royal colonies. When Britain and British officials could no longer interfere, American legislatures, with Delaware leading the way in 1776, undertook to put an end to the traffic. During and immediately after the war, the introduction from foreign lands of enslaved blacks was forbidden in all states, save for South Carolina and Georgia. Even in the far South, there was much sentiment in favor of such action, and importation was temporarily forbidden in South Carolina in 1787 and again in 1788. The patriots did not content themselves merely with endeavors to destroy the oceanic slave trade. In the Spring of 1775, there was formed in Philadelphia the first antislavery society in America [note: with Benjamin Franklin in a lead role], and many patriots, Conservative and Radical, including Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Patrick Henry, and Horatio Gates, were soon afterward urging the outlawing of Negro bondage. Economic interest, ignorance, feelings of racial superiority, and fear of the consequences of emancipation usually postponed or prevented action. Nevertheless, a few Negroes received their freedom in return for honorable service in the war; and many thousands obtained it by manumission, made relatively easy by law in Virginia in 1782 and also by other states in the South. Moreover, Pennsylvania provided for gradual emancipation by a law of 1780; and statements of the Massachusetts Bill of Rights of the same year, including one which declared that All men are born free and equal, were construed three years later by the highest court of that state to mean that slavery was outlawed. Certain other Northern States soon followed the examples of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Others did not act until after the close of the century. In the South, however, where there were both proportionately and absolutely more slaves, sentiment began to swing after the war toward protecting that institution.

(Emphasis added)

Jensen, who was a Progressive School historian in the tradition of Charles Beard, says basically the same thing:

Negro slavery had long been opposed in the colonies. . .Freedom from Britain made it possible to act, for the British government had consistently supported slavery and the slave trade. In the decade just before the Revolution several of the colonies, including some in the South, made serious efforts to stop the trade only to have all legislation vetoed in London. . . . Within a few years after 1775, either in constitutions or in legislation, the new states acted against slavery. Within a decade all states except South Carolina and Georgia had passed some form of legislation to stop the slave trade. Freeing the slaves was much more difficult except in those states where there were very few of them. Vermont [note: a Republic at the time] abolished slavery in her Constitution in 1777. In 1780 the Massachusetts Constitution declared that all men were born equal and endowed with freedom. It was at once agreed that this part of the bill of rights freed all slaves held in the state, and the state supreme court agreed. New Hampshire followed the lead in its Constitution of 1784. Other states such as Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island passed acts for piecemeal abolition. . .By 1800 Pennsylvania had less than 2,000 slaves left as a result of her gradual emancipation law and the watchful vigilance of the [Philadelphia anti-slavery society]. . . . There was important opposition to slavery in the South during and after the Revolution. Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Patrick Henry all hoped that slavery could be ended in some fashion. They were in the minority, although Virginia did pass laws making it easier to free slaves. Further to the south there was bitter opposition to the idea of abolition and to any restriction on the slave trade. Tolerance soon disappeared from Virginia as well and the law making it easy to free slaves was repealed and petitions for abolition were ignored. Economics and idealism met head on and the former won an easy victory.

(Emphasis added)

Jensen also says that during the Revolutionary War, Virginia slaveholders lost approximately 30,000 slaves to the British, and the slaves were not returned after the war. South Carolina slaveholders lost about 25,000.

When these colonies severed ties with Britain, they could not know that losing slaves would be a consequence. However, inviting war with the most powerful nation in the world is not well calculated to preserve stability, protect existing arrangements and institutions, and safeguard property. The patriots surely understood this.

Alden and Jensen wrote more than half a century ago, without the benefit of much recent research. However, I trust Alden and Jensen, even with less material, to write better history on this subject than some modern historians with axes to grind.

In any event, as noted, modern liberal historians reject the notion that the Revolutionary War was fought to preserve slavery. Alden and Jensen show how ludicrous that thesis is.
Zamfara State Government has described the plan by its Osun state counterpart to deport Northern youths who allegedly sneaked into Osun as unlawful.

Osun state government had on Wednesday raised the alarm that most northern youths who sneaked into its state are Zamfara indigenes adding that they would all be deported.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Zamfara Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, Osun state governments statement is not statesmanlike and smacks of bad taste.

The attention of Zamfara State Government was drawn to a story credited to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State, Prince Adeyanju Abdullahi Biniyo, where he alleged an influx of Zamfara indigenes into the state and described it as dangerous.

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As if the entrants brought in war, he also called on the Osun indigenes not to panic as the state has instructed Amotekun to fish them out and ensure that anyone escorting trucks that offload goods is turned back and escorted out of the state.

Doubtlessly, the above position as portrayed by the Deputy Chief of Staff is not statesmanly and smacks of bad taste. Indeed, it is condescending and totally negates good practices expected of leaders in a Federal setting such as Nigeria.

It is, therefore, against federal law to instruct Amotekun to arrest all Northern Youth who had escaped into the state by hiding in trucks as quoted by Mr Binuyo for deportation back to their so-called state of origin.

Nigeria and the World at large is facing a serious and challenging pandemic. All civilised societies are joining hands together to fight the spread of this pandemic and even extending helping hands to others. It is, therefore, disheartening that Osun state will take the path of isolating assumed outsiders and segregating what should be a common fight by all Nigerians.
Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says the only way to understand the scale of COVI...





Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says the only way to understand the scale of COVID-19 is by testing.





He had earlier said Kogi, Yobe and Cross River, the three states yet to record any case of COVID-19, had not sent in enough samples for tests.





Kogi government had dismissed his comments, describing it as unfair and an attempt to shame the state.





The state also said it was already using a self-assessment app for checking for COVID-19 cases in the state.

But reacting at the presidential task force briefing on Wednesday, Ihekweazu said viruses are not written on the forehead and only tests could show if anyone is infected.





I wont join issues with any executive governor of any state in Nigeria. I think I have made my position very clear yesterday. My role is to interpret the evidence the best way we can. This is not only about COVID-19, when we urge people to go for HIV testing, it is because nobody has written HIV on his forehead, he said.





The only way you can know whether you have this virus in the early days is to get tested. The way we talk about it, weve had the largest number of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria ever. We have it because weve become more aware, we are testing more and we are finding more.





The only way we can understand the scale of COVID-19 is by testing. So, its really not a controversial issue, everybody has agreed on that fact, we are pushed everyday to test more. I dont think my comments were controversial, my role is to continue supporting every state in Nigeria with labs, opportunities to test.





Most states in Nigeria are asking us, pushing us; how do I get a lab, how do I test more people and we will continue to do this on behalf of every state.




Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have both recovered from the coronavirus in time to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Rita took to Instagram to wish her beloved husband a happy 32nd anniversary along with a sweet message and a photo of the pair on Thursday.

Over the last few months, the 63-year-old stars each contracted, fought and beat the novel coronavirus after being diagnosed positive while away in Australia.

Happy couple: Rita Wilson took to Instagram to wish her beloved husband Tom Hanks a happy 32nd anniversary along with a sweet message and a photo of the pair on Thursday

Rita penned a short, affectionate message to her husband on social media: '2 years with this guy! @tomhanks Happy Anniversary, my love. Lets go 32 more and then some!'

Along with the loving words, Rita shared a snap of the duo smiling in winter coats in front of an impressive looking snow-capped mountain in the ground.

Tom and Rita, who over the years have become one of Hollywood's most beloved couples, tied the knot back in 1988. They share son Chet, 29, and Truman, 24.

The pair first met on the set of his early 80s sitcom Bosom Buddies and the reconnected again on the 1985 film Volunteers. At the time, Tom was married to Samantha Lewes who we wed in 1978.

Rita penned a short, affectionate message to her husband on social media: '2 years with this guy! @tomhanks Happy Anniversary, my love. Lets go 32 more and then some!'

Hollywood darlings: Tom and Rita, who over the years have become one of Hollywood's most beloved couples, tied the knot back in 1988; they share son Chet, 29, and Truman, 24 (Pictured in 1988)

Together, Tom and Samantha share son actor Colin Hanks, 42, and daughter Elizabeth Hanks, 37. The couple divorced in 1987.

This year, Rita and Tom's anniversary will be low key due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

The couple both individually beat cases of the virus this year and recently Tom Hanks shared photos of himself on Twitter donating plasma which may help researchers find a cure for the deadly illness.

Destined to be: The couple first met on the set of Tom's early 80s sitcom Bosom Buddies and the reconnected again on the 1985 film Volunteers; at the time Tom was married to his first wife (Pictured in 2014)

The actor performed the good deed last week after he and Rita were deemed to be carrying antibodies that could be beneficial to researchers looking to beat the virus.

Hanks shared a photo of a huge bag containing a pale yellow liquid, along with the caption, 'Here's last week's bag of plasma. Such a bag!'

He continued the caption, 'After the paperwork, its as easy as taking a nap. Thanks @arimoin and UCLA. Hanx'.

The couple's blood will be used by medical researchers who are developing a vaccine for coronavirus after they won their battle with the illness.

Good deeds: This year, Rita and Tom's anniversary will be low key due to the current coronavirus pandemic and after each of them beat COVID-19 they have moved on to help researchers find a cure

The beloved actor joked about the creation of a 'Hank-ccine' while appearing on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! earlier this month.

The married couple were among the first high-profile individuals to contract COVID-19 - which infects the respiratory system and can be fatal - and they fell ill whilst in Australia where Tom Hanks was making his new movie, Baz Luhrmann's upcoming Elvis Presley biopic.

After going public with their diagnosis and keeping fans updated on their condition whilst in isolation Down Under, they made a full recovery and were allowed to return to their home in Los Angeles.

Upon arriving back in the US, Tom and Rita enrolled in a medical study to determine if their antibodies would be useful for scientists working on developing a vaccine.

Wow: Tom recently shared photos of himself on Twitter donating plasma after he and Rita were deemed to be carrying antibodies that could be beneficial to researchers looking to beat the virus

Now the Saving Private Ryan star has revealed that they have been approved to donate blood because they do 'carry the antibodies'.

Tom hopes if his and his wife's blood proves to be useful in the fight against coronavirus and has joked he's responsible for the creation of a 'Hank-ccine'.

On the public radio game show he said: 'We just found out that we do carry the antibodies.

'We have not only been approached; we have said, do you want our blood? Can we give plasma? And, in fact, we will be giving it now to the places that hope to work on what I would like to call the Hank-ccine.'

'We have not only been approached; we have said, do you want our blood? Can we give plasma? And, in fact, we will be giving it now to the places that hope to work on what I would like to call the Hank-ccine.'

The Forrest Gump actor previously revealed that his producer-and-actress wife Rita suffered much worse coronavirus symptoms than he did and he was concerned for her health.

He said: 'Rita went through a tougher time than I did. She had a much-higher fever and she had some other symptoms.

'She lost her sense of taste and smell. She got absolutely no joy from food for a better part of three weeks. She was so nauseous, she had to crawl on the floor from the bed to the facilities. It lasted a while.'
Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne has escaped the lockdown in Britain to jet off to his palatial villa in Portugal with his glamorous wife Nigora.

The 71-year-old multi-millionaire flew on a private jet to his 3 million villa on the Algarve - and urged his Twitter followers to heed Boris Johnson's advice to 'stay home and protect the NHS'.

The businessman said he had 'repatriated' to Portugal with his family and will be going into 14 days self-quarantine.

However his arrival coincides with the country easing some of the restrictions imposed during a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the killer virus.

Restrictions are due to be lifted in just three days with Portugal one of the few European countries with a low death and infection rate, while the UK's lockdown is expected to continue another month.

Writing on Twitter he said: 'I have repatriated myself & my family back to my home in Portugal after being locked down in London due to bad timing.

Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne has escaped the lockdown in Britain to jet off to his palatial villa in Portugal with his glamorous wife

The 71-year-old multi-millionaire flew on a private jet to his 3 million villa on the Algarve - just hours after urging his Twitter followers to heed Boris Johnson's advice to 'stay home and protect the NHS'

The businessman said he had 'repatriated' to Portugal with his family and will be going into 14 days self-quarantine. His arrival coincides with the country easing some of the restrictions imposed during a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the killer virus

Restrictions are due to be lifted on May 2 with Portugal, while the UK's lockdown is expected to continue another month. The former Dragons Den star has had to close his health clubs and spas and put 2,500 of his 3,000 staff on furlough

'Luckily I had friends that gave me a place to stay in London but it is good to be home.... Lockdown will start to ease of (sic) this Monday.'

His wife Nigora, 40, posted a video to her Instagram account showing Bannatyne lounging in a wicker swing chair overlooking the pool at the villa in the exclusive resort of Val do Lobo, but deleted it shortly afterwards.

The former Dragons Den star has had to close his health clubs and spas and put 2,500 of his 3,000 staff on furlough.

He topped up their salaries above the 80 per cent government assistance for April, but warned his company would be unable to do this in May or June.

While in London, he is believed to have been staying with telecoms billionaire John Caudwell during his stay in London.

During their stay in London, Nigora posted a photo in a near deserted Bond Street in London with the message : 'Take everyday as a chance to become a better human being.'

She also made a short video where she showed off her hairdressing skills while she cut her husband's hair.

The 22,000 followers on her instagram page were asked to vote if they approved.

Many other shots featured Nigora working out in her home gym, her posing with a pillow and blanket and the couple venturing out for a coffee.

While in London, he is believed to have been staying with telecoms billionaire John Caudwell during his stay in London

During their stay in London, Nigora posted a photo in a near deserted Bond Street in London with the message : 'Take everyday as a chance to become a better human being.'

She also made a short video where she showed off her hairdressing skills while she cut her husband's hair. The 22,000 followers on her instagram page were asked to vote if they approved

Many other shots featured Nigora working out in her home gym, her posing with a pillow and blanket and the couple venturing out for a coffee

Bannatyne has said he expects the coronavirus to cost his group 30 million.

His decision to furlough comes after he waded into the controversy involving Virgin tycoon Richard asking the Government for a taxpayer bailout.

In a furious Twitter row, Bannatyne - who has a net worth of 300million - said the billionaire Virgin Group boss should instead go to a bank for help.

Bannatyne and his wife were married in Portugal in 2017 and in the past they have rented out their Portuguese property due to the amount of time they spend elsewhere.

His visits to the UK are usually for business and to see his family and days before leaving he heaped praise on the NHS after his daughter gave birth at a hospital in Edinburgh.

He has yet to see his new baby granddaughter and likely to be several weeks if the UK imposes a 14 day quarantine rule on anyone arriving in the UK.

While he counts Portugal as his main home he also has a villa in Miami and is a frequent visitor to Monaco.

Since the financial crisis, Portugal has allowed expats to pay no Portuguese tax on their foreign income for 10 years if they qualified for 'non-habitual residence' (NHR) status and live in the country for at least six months a year.

Emphasising that he will be abiding by the Portuguese rules, Bannatyne wrote on Twitter: We are 100% in quarantine. When you land here they take full details of your quarantine address and you complete a declaration agreeing to self quarantine. To not do that is a serious offence.'

Bannatyne and his wife were married in Portugal in 2017 and in the past they have rented out their Portuguese property due to the amount of time they spend elsewhere

His visits to the UK are usually for business and to see his family and days before leaving he heaped praise on the NHS after his daughter gave birth at a hospital in Edinburgh

Bannatyne is a father of six and has three grandchildren.

His Uzbekistan born wife  his third - is active on instagram posting photos from locations around the world posing in designer clothes and sporstwear.

A spokesman for Bannatyne said: 'Duncan lives in Portugal. He was not at home when the lockdown happened and has repatriated himself at the earliest opportunity.'
Mayor de Blasio of New York City recently tweeted what has become a controversial tweet. After hearing of a large gathering of Chasidic Jews in Brooklyn attending a funeral for a well known neighborhood rabbi, de Blasio tweeted: "My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups."

While I don't think de Blasio is an anti-Semite, nonetheless, I would wager my last subway token that he would never publicly tweet against the Muslim, Hispanic, or black community in the general terms he did just now regarding the Jewish community. He was wrong to extrapolate regarding the entire Jewish community based on something done by a subset  namely, the Chasidim of Brooklyn's Williamsburg and Boro Park sections. He should have confined his remarks to them, not the 95% of the Jewish community that is not Chasidic and never will be. The "sensitive," virtue-signaling mayor, like so many in the "progressive" community, confines his virtuousness to the preferred minorities that make up the intersectionality menu.

While too many Democrat governors and mayors are overstepping their bounds and, in authoritarian fashion, prohibiting citizens from practicing their basic constitutional rights of freedom of assembly, speech, and religion, as well as the right and need to make a living, practices such as social distancing used to stem the spread of the corona virus are correct and reasonable. I understand, therefore, de Blasio's frustration regarding Tuesday's funeral situation inasmuch as this has happened repeatedly in the Chasidic community  namely, gatherings of dozens where social distancing is not practiced, and doing so at events where religious freedom does not demand the heavy crowding of people in order to pay their final respects. They were wrong and displayed certain indifference.

One suspects that with this tweet, de Blasio is distracting us from focusing on the greater cause of the spread of corona in New York City, which was, and still is, his unwillingness to enact subway rules that could have lessened the terrible contagion spread on the subways and buses, as well as his urging people to visit Chinatown well after President Trump had stopped flights from China, the major source of the spread and contagion. Furthermore, de Blasio and Governor Cuomo are guilty of abandoning the elderly in nursing homes across New York City, thereby causing an exponential rise in COVID-19 deaths. Now, to counteract his weak and out-to-lunch image, de Blasio is acting like the tough new sheriff in town. The Chasidim are also easy pickins.

Furthermore, both the mayor and the governor have terribly mismanaged the hospital situation in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and parts of Manhattan. That's the real New York story. As mentioned, Cuomo and his people didn't have the basic medical supplies needed for nursing homes and allowed the homes to become bastions of infection and contagion. When asked about his lack of preparedness regarding nursing homes, Cuomo cavalierly answered: "It's not our job." The matinee idol quick to tell President Trump that Mr. Trump is responsible for everything under the sun refuses to take responsibility for a jurisdiction specifically under his state authority: nursing homes. But because he is seen as a daily challenger to Mr. Trump, Cuomo is given a free pass by most New Yorkers who hate Trump more than they love honesty, fair-mindedness, and even their city.

Cuomo and especially de Blasio are always quick to condemn President Trump, though President Trump has been the nation's hero, who has done far more things to rescue New York than New York's own mayor and governor. I think the mayor's and governor's current authoritarianism is designed to make them appear serious in light of how negligent and ill prepared they truly have been. It is highly alarming and worrisome to behold the utter partisanship of a media establishment that ignores the blatant negligence of de Blasio and Cuomo while maligning all the masterful accomplishments of President Trump during this virus episode. This bias and lack of fair play is un-American. But what can we expect from smug elitists who despise the American value system?

The whole country has been shut down for a situation that is centered far more in the very southern tip of New York than the rest of the country. There is no doubt that the elitist cosmopolitans in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including de Blasio and Cuomo, would have never allowed New York City to fold its streets and stop human activity if the epicenter were in Idaho or Alabama.

I imagine that de Blasio will amend his tweeted remarks. To their credit, the Chasidic group in Williamsburg today expressed their regret for allowing the packed crowds. Hopefully, they learned their lesson. Mr. de Blasio's tweet, however, is but a sideshow to the much bigger epidemic of negligence and corruption in 2020 New York. Equally upsetting is de Blasio's announcement two days ago that New York City will be sending 500,000 free meals to NYC's Muslim population for their upcoming Ramadan. I doubt that de Blasio sends out millions of free meals to Catholics for Easter.

The mayor says, "Ramadan is a holiday reminding us of the Koran's message to feed the hungry." If so, let the Islamic community themselves, the followers of the Koran, demonstrate and fulfill their sacred text by offering meals to their own community, paid for by them as a way of verifying their belief in the Koran's teachings. I suspect that the $7.8-billion bill de Blasio plans on sending Congress, paid through the taxes of people from South Dakota and Iowa, will list a $10-million catering item. No, I don't think de Blasio would have publicly tweeted against the entire Islamic community.

Rabbi Aryeh Spero is president of Caucus for America, author of Push Back, and a frequent guest on Fox News and Newsmax.

Image: Public Advocate Bill de Blasio via Flickr.
Seoul, April 30 : South Korean tech giant Samsung is in talks with Chinese electronics company BOE to make some of the OLED screens for future Galaxy smartphones.

According to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), Samsung is looking for a flexible 6.67-inch OLED display for at least one member of the next year's Galaxy S21 or S30 series. Moreover, the Galaxy A91 is also going to feature a BOE-made 6.6-inch display with FHD+ resolution.

Currently, BOE is the biggest smartphone LCD supplier in the world but it only comes third for OLED panels after Samsung and LG.

With the new strategy the company may be able to bring the costs of its smartphones down with BOE OLED displays.

Recently, the company said mobile demand is expected to drop sharply in most regions due to an economic downturn caused by COVID-19 in the second quarter.

The overall market demand fell significantly quarter-on-quarter and the company's smartphone shipments also declined in the first quarter.

The company expects a decline in product sales and its overall business performance as the market shrinks and effects of store closures continue to have direct impacts.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A leading scientist's transition from climate science to solutions

Posted on 30 April 2020 by dana1981

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections

Georgia Tech scientist Kim Cobb emphasizes a point at a December 2019 TedX talk.

Dr. Kim Cobb is an award-winning climate scientist at Georgia Tech and a lead author of the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. However, over the past several years, the very climate changes she has researched have conspired to change the course of her career.

2016 was the turning point. That year, global warming combined with a monster El Nino event to shatter the previous record for Earths hottest year and devastate the coral reefs she had studied for nearly two decades. In 2017 and 2018, flooding events along the Georgia coast brought the impacts of climate change even closer to home.

I decided to go all in on climate solutions, personally and professionally, Dr. Cobb said in a phone interview from her home office. She began changing her lifestyle to lower her personal carbon footprint, slashing her flights to scientific conferences despite that decisions professional costs, and shifting her focus in the direction of climate solutions.

Devastating coral bleaching

Cobb and her colleagues had been studying coral reefs in the Northern Line Islands  located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 1,200 miles south of Hawaii  since 1997. By examining the oxygen isotopes in the calcium carbonate of their coral samples, the team was able to create a valuable reconstruction of ocean temperatures in the region going back as far as 7,000 years.

Coral reefs, among the most diverse ecosystems in the world, are highly vulnerable to the one-two punch of heatwaves and ocean acidification that result from rising carbon dioxide levels due to humans burning fossil fuels. El Nino events warm sea surface temperatures by disrupting the mixing of cooler waters from below, and the El Nino of 2015-2016 was the strongest such event since, coincidentally, that of 1997-1998, when Cobb first began her regular treks to the Line Islands.

The main difference between the two events? Global warming continued to raise baseline temperatures during the intermediate two decades. As a result, in the central Pacific, the marine heatwave of 1997-1998 was not as strong or long-lasting as that in 2015-2016. The corals at her research site were minimally impacted by the former, but the latter was a much different story.

Most of the reef was obliterated in 2016, with up to 90% mortality, Cobb explained. Nothing prepared me for those dives. The feeling of loss was worse because it was an avoidable loss. As scientists, weve been warning about this for decades. For me, it was a bellwether event.

While some of the Line Island corals have begun to rebound since 2016, a full recovery of coral size and diversity would take over 50 years under good conditions. Climate change, however, will continue to stress the coral reefs. In fact, they experienced mild bleaching stress again in 2019 despite the lack of an El Nino event last year.

In October 2019, Cobb and her colleagues published a paper that used their Line Islands coral record to show that climate change appears to have intensified El Nino events over the past 50 years as compared to the prior 7,000 years. Cobbs corals were able to tell the story of their own demise.

Dr. Cobb, meet Dr. Clark

In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage in Georgia, including flooding the home of Dr. Russell Clark, a research scientist in Georgia Techs School of Computer Science. On Thanksgiving Day in 2018, Clark found his neighborhood unexpectedly inundated again  this time on a sunny day. Such sunny day flooding events can occur when strong winds in the right direction coincide with high tide, which will happen more frequently as sea levels continue to rise due to global warming. A few months later, his path intersected with Cobbs.

I met Kim Cobb at an organizational meeting for the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge, said Clark. In retrospect, the timing was perfect for both of us to turn our passion for the importance of addressing climate change into a new research initiative.

Cobb in early 2018 became inaugural director of the Georgia Tech Global Change Program. That effort trains a new generation of leaders to pursue climate solutions, and it was looking to build cross-campus collaborations. Her expertise in oceanography and climate change, combined with Clarks expertise in sensors and information technology, presented an opportunity to address the data gap that had led to Clarks lack of advance warning on that soggy Thanksgiving Day.

After obtaining a starter grant and meeting with local government agencies, their new team was able to develop and deploy a Smart Sea Level Sensor Network along the coast near Savannah, Georgia. The sensors provide tidal data in an area that was previously covered by a lone tide gauge, to verify and improve predictions made by an area-specific coastal ocean model. The model will give local residents advanced warning of potential flooding events like the one that ruined that 2018 Thanksgiving day.

The Smart Sea Level Sensors project has been successful because of the personal commitments of so many people to engage students and community members in creating solutions for adapting to the realities of sea-level rise and the broader challenges of climate change, Clark explains.

Working with social justice groups

During workshops with local stakeholders, Cobb and her colleagues took note of the absence of local minority communities. Together with her city of Savannah partners, they arranged a meeting with leaders at the Harambe House who long have worked on environmental justice issues in the city. It became clear that concerns of underserved populations differ significantly from those of wealthy coastal property owners. Communities further inland are sandwiched between a major interstate highway and the industrial operations at the Port of Savannah. In those neighborhoods, the detrimental health effects of poor air quality and exposure to industrial toxins posed much more pressing concerns than coastal flooding.

As a result, Cobbs team developed an air quality sensor network using the same infrastructure as the sea level sensors and began deploying the network of sensors in February 2020. The leaders at Harambe House suggested focusing deployment first on local schools, where the data can be integrated into the student curriculum while monitoring the quality of the air the students breathe.

Testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

In February 2019, Cobb testified on a climate change at a hearing held by the House Natural Resources Committee. After she delivered her testimony, committee members engaged others testifying, but not Cobb, with follow-up questions. She acknowledges that the resulting discussion focusing on environmental justice was an important one.

Still, Cobb says she had hoped to engage committee members in a conversation about what science-based climate policy could look like. In addition to pricing carbon pollution, she had hoped to discuss nature-based climate solutions, including measures to both mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.

For example, coastal wetland maintenance can help protect communities from rising seas and promote diverse ecosystems. Forest management  especially in a world with growing wildfire risks  is critical to both slowing global warming through the carbon sequestered by the trees, and minimizing hazards to communities at the forest-urban interface. However, the Australian bushfires and new research indicating that climate-related factors like worsening droughts are limiting the carbon storage potential of tropical forests worry Cobb, who described herself as sobered to my core by the shifting landscape for forest potential, just as the new House Republican climate plan centers around planting trees.

For Cobb, the experience helps illustrate the need for climate policy to be based on sound up-to-date climate science research, which will require better coordination between policymakers and climate scientists.

Creating more climate solutions

In the meantime, the Georgia Tech Global Change Program is churning out students well-informed about climate policy solutions. The program includes the Carbon Reduction Challenge, in which students design and conduct large-scale energy efficiency projects over a period of 10 weeks. The winning team in 2017 included students who had interned at Truist (formerly SunTrust) Banks. Their plan included changing the bank employee default rental car size during travel from intermediate to economy class and reducing travel by using more video conferencing. The plan was quickly implemented and saved the bank money while reducing its carbon footprint.

Cobb has also taken steps to minimize her own personal carbon footprint. She now bikes to work, composts, and dries clothes on a line, and she has installed solar panels on her home and has become vegetarian. I just wish Id started sooner, she says. But my hope is that more and more folks will pick up the cause and use their unique talents and passions to advance climate solutions at all scales.

When she realized that air travel was her biggest source of emissions, Cobb scaled back her flights to scientific conferences and instead offered to speak remotely. In February 2020, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) retracted her invitation to be a plenary speaker at a major ocean sciences meeting because she declined to fly to San Diego, and AGU did not provide a remote speaking option. Cobb says she was incredibly disappointed.

Were living through an era of accelerating climate change, with thousands of AGU scientists playing a key role in documenting those indicators. I understand that its hard to imagine a remote keynote delivering the same value as an in-person keynote, but were going to have to get creative, and fast, in transitioning to alternative models. We have to start somewhere, embrace its imperfections, and improve it as we go. Im excited that my pledge to stay on the ground for 2020 has sparked some larger conversations, and that more and more folks are joining that conversation through pledges of their own. Well get there, but the gears will have to grind a bit on the way.

Cobbs shift toward focusing more on climate change solutions, spurred by its direct impacts on her research site and coastal communities in her own state, is illustrative. She may be blazing a path for more climate scientists to follow, although she notes that academic funding and rewards structures will have to change to adjust accordingly.

Im incredibly heartened by the broad array of scientists who want to pivot to climate solutions research. From social scientists to natural and physical scientists, the response to large-scale projects focused on climate solutions has been amazing. People want to do this work, to lend their talents, to learn new techniques and new applications. We know whats required, and its not what we learned in graduate school, she says.

Funding streams generally do not reflect this drive towards transdisciplinary research, and accordingly many scientists are stuck in funding ruts to keep their labs afloat, even while they devote time and energy to unfunded work on climate solutions, Cobb says. That situation could change as the rewards of this new research roll out in coming years. In the meantime, there is an emerging generation of students already benefiting from these early forays. They can chart careers in climate solutions that I can only dream of right now.
Dame Penelope Wilton hadnt met Ricky Gervais before he offered her the role of Anne in his Netflix comedy-drama After Life. But she was surprised to discover he was a secret fan of hers.

When I met him, he told me he was a fan of a comedy I did called Ever Decreasing Circles, she says.

She is being modest, of course. The Bob Larbey and John Esmonde-penned sitcom is an 80s BBC classic.

It focused on pedantic suburban Martin (Richard Briers), who was envious of and infuriated by the social ease of his new neighbour Paul (Peter Egan), and fearful his wife Anne (Penelope) would find him lacking in comparison.

British actress Penelope Wilton (pictured) revealed she's starring in the new series of Netflix's After Life

Ricky adored it, particularly Martin, who was not a fitter-inner, Penelope says. Ricky called my character in After Life Anne too, as a little homage.

Penelope was catapulted to international stardom thanks to her role as Downton Abbeys Isobel Crawley, who married Lord Merton, and now shes about to return to the screen in series two of After Life, which Ricky created and was Netflix UKs second most popular series of last year behind fantasy show The Witcher.

Ricky stars as Tony, whose life is turned upside down after his wife dies from breast cancer. He contemplates suicide, but instead decides to punish the world for her death by saying and doing whatever he wants.

He thinks of this as his superpower, but his plan is undermined when everyone around him tries to make him a better person.

Penelopes character Anne has been recently widowed after 48 years of marriage. In the first series she befriended widower Tony at the cemetery where she sits by her husbands grave, and Penelope was charmed by Rickys script.

Although I didnt know Ricky, I was an admirer of The Office and knew of his reputation.

'I thought the After Life scripts were extremely good and it was a very out-of-the-ordinary piece.

Penelope as Anne in classic 80s sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles with Richard Briers and Peter Egan

She was especially attracted to the nature of Annes relationship with Tony, as strangers who share confidences in spite of the fact  or perhaps because of it  they dont know each other.

Anne is reflective and philosophical and gently encourages Tony to see the good in himself. I love the nature of their relationship  its so pure, because each only knows as much about the other as they tell them, she muses.

I find that really interesting. And is she like Anne? I wish I was as calm as Anne is. I dont quite have her philosophical outlook, but I suppose Im a good listener, like her. I try to be.

Although After Lifes occasionally fruity language would make Isobel Crawley choke on her tea, Penelope says the shocking terms Rickys character uses in everyday conversation dont faze her at all.

Oh Im fine with it  Im an actress! she exclaims with a half laugh.

Swearing doesnt offend me, Im an actress!

Actors get on a stage and speak nicely, but come into the dressing room and youll have a shock. I dont get offended by that.

She pays generous tribute to Ricky as a colleague.

Hes the easiest person to work with. He allows you to do your thing and if he wants to say something about the scene, he does.

But she confirms that sometimes he surprises her by improvising. Hes a great extemporiser and you go along with it, its a laugh.

Ricky sprang another Ever Decreasing Circles-themed surprise on Penelope this series  he hired Peter Egan to play Paul (also the name of Peters character in the sitcom).

Penelope avoided the spotlight for decades, despite having hits like Downton. Pictured: Dame Penelope Wilton with Dame Maggie Smith in series 4 of Downton Abbey

Paul is the proprietor of the Tambury Gazette for which Tony works as a journalist.

Penelope says Ricky forgot to tell her until Peter showed up at the read-through. I was delighted, she chuckles. Weve been friends all these years.

So could Paul become a potential love interest for Anne in After Life, the way he never was in Ever Decreasing Circles? Well, Martin was always suspicious that Anne would be in some way in a liaison with Paul, even though she loved Martin  but that was the tease.

'We had wonderful times  we laughed heartily making that series. I learned so much from working with Dickie.

Although she has hits like Downton and now After Life under her belt, Penelope is not a natural star.

For decades shes flown below the radar, avoiding the spotlight that contemporaries like Dames Judi Dench and Helen Mirren have embraced.

She seems to have much in common with the largely unassuming characters shes played with such flair in films such as Calendar Girls, Pride & Prejudice and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel  quintessential Englishwomen whose innate reserve conceals the depth of feeling.

Dame Penelope Wilton hadnt met Ricky Gervais before he offered her the role of Anne in his Netflix comedy-drama After Life. Pictured, Penelope in After Life series 2

Shes not a natural interviewee either. Though polite and perfectly charming, she clearly prefers discussing her work to sharing deep thoughts or details of her personal life.

She has been married twice, to the late actor Daniel Massey from 1975-84 and to Sir Ian Holm from 1991-2001.

Her only child is theatre producer Alice Massey, now 43, but she does offer a rare glimpse into her life when discussing her grandchildren Daniel, eight, and Ella-Rose, three.

Oh its wonderful being a grandmother, she says. I havent done it all the time because Ive done three plays in the past five years, so Ive been very busy.

I dont give young actors advice unless Im asked

'But I enjoy my grandchildren immensely and all their little foibles. I take them on holiday to Norfolk by myself and I love their company, although we have to watch some terrible films, like Pokemon.

'Were surrounded by popcorn and all those other treats theyre not usually allowed.

Its work that appears to have sustained Penelope throughout lifes personal disappointments, and she remains as much in demand as ever.

Shes been a darling of the theatre set for decades, her mantelpiece fairly groaning with awards, but it was Downton that turned her into a global star in 2010.

Her portrayal of the fair-minded if bossy Isobel was a masterclass in nuanced acting and served as a counterpoint to the acidic Dowager Countess, played by Penelopes old friend Dame Maggie Smith.

For decades Dame Penelope's flown below the radar, avoiding the spotlight that contemporaries like Dames Judi Dench and Helen Mirren have embraced. Pictured, in 2019

Their verbal sparring matches were some of the best scenes. But while viewers were enchanted, Penelope reveals it was mostly a technical challenge for the actresses.

Those scenes are difficult because youre filming them six different ways, over your shoulder, from the side... she explains. Keeping your energy and the lightness of touch going is always difficult.

It appears Penelopes bond with Maggie has remained strong since the actresses first met in the theatre decades ago.

Im a bit younger than Maggie and I learned a lot just watching her work with the National Theatre, she says graciously.

Rickys four-legged friend Ricky Gervais grew up with dogs. And like his character Tony in After Life, whos mourning the loss of his wife, he says hes never been able to get over losing a pet. So he couldnt have been happier when the acting dog Anti reprised his irresistible turn as Tonys dog Brandy in series two. Ricky Gervais revealed he's never been able to get over the loss of a pet. Pictured: Ricky with Penelope, in After Life I nearly cried when I said goodbye to Anti after the first season, says Ricky. Hes trained for TV shows, but he doesnt know that, does he? He wasnt doing any tricks with me, he was allowed to act like a normal dog, so he was being my dog. 'I played with him and threw things for him. It was great, he was a lovely dog. So for the six weeks of filming he thinks hes found a new friend, and for the longest time afterwards I was thinking, What does that dog think of me now? Because a dog doesnt think, OK, it was just a job, I was on the payroll. He thinks, Wheres my mate who threw me the ball? Thats why I couldnt have a dog in real life. 'I wouldnt be able to go on holiday because I couldnt explain it to the dog! Gabrielle Donnelly Advertisement

Im very fond of Maggie and I think shes very fond of me. We have a laugh. I saw her for her birthday in December, and we keep in touch on the phone.

She is close friends with Downtons below-stairs stalwarts Phyllis Logan, who played Mrs Hughes, and Jim Carter who was Carson and his wife, Imelda Staunton, who also starred in last years Downton Abbey film.

Penelope says the best thing about reuniting with the Downton cast last year was catching up with the younger actors.

Some of the young ones had started their careers on Downton, so you see them years later and theyre flourishing, she says.

Does she offer them career advice? Not unless they ask me! Theres nothing worse than unasked-for advice.

'I dont think any of them did. Theyre very clued up now, and so clever. I was rather naive when I started.

Naive or not, she was in demand from the moment she first trod the boards in the 60s. She reels off amazing roles she got straight out of drama school opposite the likes of Ralph Richardson, Michael Hordern and Peter OToole.

She was a regular in Harold Pinter plays and was in Karel Reiszs 1981 movie The French Lieutenants Woman with Jeremy Irons.

Perhaps it was inevitable she would go into acting. Her mother and aunt had been actresses  her mother gave it up when Penelopes elder sister was born  and her maternal uncle was the late Bill Travers, best known for the movie Born Free.

She remains close to his wife Virginia McKenna. Funny, Im going to call her today, she says.

I see her as often as we can, when shes not travelling for the Born Free Foundation.

Yet during her childhood in Scarborough as the middle of three girls, Penelope never had a rosy view of the actors life.

Not everyone was working all the time, so it was precarious, she says. But I liked reading plays and thats how I got into it.

Its led to a career thats still going great guns after half a century in which she now has the global attention her talents have always warranted, even if she doesnt enjoy the spotlight.

But if people keep asking me, Ill keep doing it, as long as the scripts are good. Im so lucky I can do something I have passion for.

After Life is out now on Netflix.
Bollywood and India suffered another shock after Bollywood legend Irrfan Khans passing on Wednesday, when veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away today after battling leukaemia for the past two years, at the age of 67. The actor was admitted to Mumbais HN Reliance hospital on Wednesday, and since the news of his death, social media has been flooded with condolence messages from fans, celebrities, friends and family of the actor, from all around the world.

The statement released by Rishi Kapoors family read, Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukaemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

It went on, He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears. In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way.

Among those who shared their grievances were Bollywoods favourite designers, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Manish Malhotra, who took to his Instagram to share his grief about the death of the actor. Sabyasachi posted Rest In Peace Rishi Kapoor on his Instagram stories like he had for Irrfan yesterday.

Manish, on the other hand, wrote in a post, I am heartbroken. This is sad and terrible. Rishiji will be truly missed. His brilliance is irreplaceable. My most favourite actor and a warm wonderful human being. RIP Rishiji, Rest in Peace. My heart goes out to Neetuji, Ridhima, and Ranbir and the entire Kapoor family. He was always so warm.

The post, featuring a black and white photo of a young Rishi Kapoor, continued, This January in my friend Natasha Nandas house we were having dinner and he always was very jovial and spirited and was telling me how I should take my clothes to Capri and how people shop there we chatted that night and since I have heard the disheartening news this morning I have been remembering our conversations and the fact that he always was so warm and wonderful.

Manish also posted a picture with Rishi Kapoor on his Instagram stories, and he had shared one for Irrfan Khan as well.

Randhir Kapoor confirmed that the actor will be cremated at the Chandanwadi Crematorium, Marine Lines. Rishi Kapoor is survived by wife and actor Neetu Kapoor, actor son Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni.

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She's the Instagram influencer who is a doting mum to her gorgeous children, son Wolf, four, and daughter Saskia, three.

And on Wednesday, Tammy Hembrow, 26, shared a sweet moment from her private life, while wearing her brand new clothing range.

The mother-of-two posted a series of cute images of her posing with her children to Instagram.

'My liddle love bugs': Instagram sensation Tammy Hembrow (pictured) cuddled up to her son Wolf, four, and daughter Saskia, three, in adorable new family portrait on Wednesday

Tammy and Saskia opted for matching pink tracksuits, while Wolf looked every inch a cutie in white.

'Jus me & my liddle love bugs,' she wrote alongside an emoji of a caterpillar.

Tammy also used the opportunity to mention she will be releasing her new Saski winter collection next week.

Happy family: 'Jus me & my liddle love bugs,' she wrote alongside an emoji of a caterpillar

Tammy shares her children with ex-fiance, Reece Hawkins, who is now dating American model London Goheen.

On Wednesday, Tammy showed her fans how they can achieve her signature glow-up during a YouTube makeup tutorial.

In the clip, she took her loyal followers through all the products she uses on her visage.

Tammy revealed she mostly uses Fenty products by Rhianna, along with Nars, favouring the brand's liquid blush and highlighter.

The eyes have it! Tammy finished with a peach colour for her eye shadow, along with palettes from Anastasia Beverly Hills

'I love liquid blush and liquid highlighter, especially on days that I am not putting on proper makeup,' she says.

Elsewhere in the video, Tammy speaks about how Saski Collection was still going to do Miami Swim Week this year.

She also complained that she was in desperate need of a manicure and pedicure, as she hasn't been able to get one during coronavirus lockdown. She also said she was finding it difficult to work out at home.

'I find it a bit difficult to workout at home. I get distracted by the kids or I go on my phone in between sets,' she added.
[April 30, 2020] Intelligent Waves Appoints Tony Crescenzo as President to Lead and Scale the Company in Support of Its Exponential Growth; IW Projects $300 Million in New Business Wins In 2020

Intelligent Waves LLC, a leading-edge trusted IT systems integrator, that delivers high-impact transformational IT solutions to Government's most mission-critical challenges in austere and demanding environments, is pleased to announce it has appointed Mr. Tony Crescenzo, a high-growth focused and seasoned IT industry leader, as its President. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005584/en/ Chief Executive Officer Jared Shepard welcomes newly appointed Tony Crescenzo as President of Intelligent Waves LLC (Photo: Business Wire) The announcement comes on the heels of Intelligent Waves LLC's unprecedented year of growth and continued momentum for the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, headquartered in Reston, Virginia. In 2019 and 2020, the firm experienced exponential growth in contract awards and new employees, expanding at a rate of 130%, including over $220 Million in single award contracts in 2019. IW is projecting an additional $300 Million in new business wins in 2020. Intelligent Waves has earned its outstanding reputation by solving complex high-end challenges with specialized IT integration solutions in areas such as Enterprise IT, Software Defined Networks (SDN), Cybersecurity, Secure Mobility, Advanced Analytics, Knowledge Managemen, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine-Learning (ML), and other innovative solutions developed for Operations, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance.



Jared Shepard founded intelligent Waves after serving in United States Army as an Infantryman and Communications NCO, whom, after that, was immediately presented with the opportunity as a civilian to remain focused on the mission by becoming the Senior Technology Advisor to US Army's III Armored Corps. Shepard then accumulated over 40 months deployed alongside US Forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Africa, and other austere locations, during which Jared created Intelligent Waves LLC. The firm's marquee client roster features mission-critical federal agencies and programs across the Department of Defense, including USSOCOM, AF DCGS, Air Force Research Laboratory (News - Alert) (AFRL), DISA-DODIN, INSCOM, JEIDDO, and most recently USAF's 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron. Jared Shepard, IW's CEO, stated: "We are thrilled to add Tony Crescenzo to our first-class line up of proven and tested leaders to capitalize on our momentum, leveraging our significant growth and technical innovation. Tony's experience will elevate the company to the next level of industry leadership while ensuring the integrity of our impact-focused culture."

Shepard added, "Tony Crescenzo brings to Intelligent Waves three strategic assets that will help Intelligent Waves realize its full growth potential. First, as a proven leader, he has achieved exceptional growth and delivered a higher impact in every company he's led. Second, as a former Marine and fellow military veteran, Tony's personal and business values perfectly align with our company's dedication to meeting our customers' missions anytime, anywhere, no matter how complex the challenge. Third, Tony's immense information technology acumen in swiftly solving complex customer problems through accelerated innovation, is precisely what we need to scale our continued growth effectively and efficiently. Simply put, Intelligent Waves is rapidly scaling, and Tony Crescenzo is the person that will help us make it happen." Tony Crescenzo commented, "I am honored to join Intelligent Waves and contribute to its continued growth and expansion. From my first meeting with Jared and the leadership team, it was clear to me that Intelligent Waves is where I wanted to be. Jared's demonstrated personal ethics and leadership values, which I share as a fellow veteran, along with the quality and success of the leadership team, make Intelligent Waves a formidable competitor. The company's ethos and employees' shared purpose and dedication to mission success in the most challenging and austere of environments inspire me. "As a veteran, I was impressed with IW's level of proactive corporate social responsibility and dedication to customers, colleagues, and the community. What's most exciting is the company's proven history of making the impossible possible for Government's most critical challenges. Intelligent Waves is on the leading edge of innovation in support of real-world mission outcomes, and I feel privileged to join such a great organization." About Intelligent Waves LLC Intelligent Waves LLC is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB). The business provides enterprise systems engineering, cloud computing and managed services, cyber and security architecture, mobility, and operations and intelligence analytics. For more information visit intelligentwaves.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005584/en/

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Melbourne has had its wettest April since 1960 and its wettest start to the year since 1924, as unseasonably low temperatures brought snow to the state's ski resorts.

More rain has fallen on the city in the first four months of the year than in the whole of last year, bringing much-needed relief to parched farmland on its outskirts.

Snow blankets Mt Buller on Thursday after a cold snap hit Victoria. Credit:Teddy Laycock

Some 138 millimetres of rain fell in Melbourne in April, with the city set for 15 millimetres on the first day of May. In April 1960, 195 millimetres fell in Melbourne.

About 401 millimetres of rain had been recorded as of Thursday evening, the highest end-of-April total since 1924, when almost 410 millimetres fell before May.
BANGALORE, India, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global reinsurance market size for 2018 was USD 254.90 Billion and is forecast to hit USD 318.90 Billion by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 3.3 % in 2019-2025.

Reinsurance is bought by an insurance firm from another insurance company to protect itself from the possibility of a major claim case. In other words, reinsurance is the practice of insurers shifting parts of risk portfolios to certain parties through a type of arrangement to minimize the probability of making an insurance claim arising from significant liability. The faction that diversifies its portfolio of insurances is known as the ceding faction. The reinsurer is recognized as the party which assumes a portion of the future liability in return for a share of the insurance premium.

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The Reinsurance Market report studies the size of the reinsurance market by participants, countries, product types and end industries, historical data for 2014-2018, and forecast data for 2019-2025. Furthermore, this report also analyzes the global competitive environment, market drivers and patterns, opportunities and challenges, risks, and barriers to entry, distribution channels, distributors, and Porter's Five Forces analysis.

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE REINSURANCE MARKET SIZE

Emerging reinsurers market is driven by economic strengthening, increasing population, urbanization, and rising middle class. From a consumer perspective, reinsurers should consider local market conditions and consumer needs with regard to product growth. The increased sums of alternative capital in the sector and the existing soft market are also significant factors. This forced reinsurers to diversify their business mix further and to boost their performance in other market and product areas.

Rapidly advancing technology such as cloud storage, external data mining, and analytics can revolutionize the speed and intensity with which the reinsurance industry recognizes and analyzes risk. This advancement in technology is expected to increase the reinsurance market size.

New structuring strategies can make it easier to turn a wider variety of real estate catastrophes and other risks into investable assets. They would also help to resolve the 'trapped collateral' problem (where creditors are unable to recover their principal before losses have been quantified and those figures stopped 'moving'). This would allow a more diverse group of investors to invest in reinsurance, speeding up the entry of alternative capital and thereby increasing the market size.

Vast pools of lower-cost capital and alternatives to the balance sheet capital of reinsurers will continue to flood the market in search of yield and returns uncorrelated to major asset classes. This will increase the capital stock available to back up the risk and improve the competitiveness for players benefiting from alternative capital.

Large reinsurers and brokers incorporate value-added services into their core offerings. This allows them to retain customers and place pressure on smaller, less differentiated players. Infrastructure providers can bundle services into their networks to promote the establishment of a reinsurance company. This, in turn, is expected to increase the reinsurance market size.

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REINSURANCE MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

The US reinsurance sector remains somewhat concentrated with the presence of largest industry players. Among the major players, General Re (a Berkshire Hathaway division) is predicted to control the largest reinsurance market share.

REINSURANCE MARKET COMPETITOR ANALYSIS

Reinsurance firms pay careful attention to market conditions because their portfolio exposures are balanced to different risks. Premiums are usually influenced by changes in policy counts and prices, which fluctuate between soft and hard periods. The transition between these two periods is highly dependent on returns on investment, as unexpected rises in claims and decreased reserves and productivity in investment income curtail.

REINSURANCE MARKET SEGMENTATIONS

Reinsurance Market segment by Type, the product can be split into

P&C Reinsurance

Life Reinsurance.

Reinsurance Market segment by Application, split into

Direct Writing

Broker

Reinsurance Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers

United States

Europe

China

Japan

Southeast Asia

India

Central & South America

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Major Key players in the Reinsurance Market are:

Munich Re

Swiss Re

Hannover Re

SCOR SE

Lloyd's

Berkshire Hathaway

Great-West Lifeco

RGA

China RE

Korean Re

PartnerRe

GIC Re

Mapfre

Alleghany

Everest Re

XL Catlin

Maiden Re

Fairfax

AXIS

Mitsui Sumitomo

Sompo

Tokio Marine

Others.

The study objectives of this report are:

To analyze global Reinsurance status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.

To present the Reinsurance development in the United States , Europe and China .

, and . To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies.

To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions.

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SIMILAR REPORTS

?Life Reinsurance Market Report

Life reinsurance is insurance for life insurance companies - transferring some or all insurance liability to another insurer. It allows life insurance companies to spread their risks, lower their costs, and increase assets.

The report offers a detailed overview and reliable player revenue estimates for the 2015-2020 period. It also provides detailed analysis backed up by players' reliable revenue statistics (global and regional level). The specifics are company overview, main sector, total company sales and revenue generated in the Life Reinsurance industry, date of entry into the Life Reinsurance market, the launch of the Life Reinsurance product, recent developments, etc.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-39C896/global-life-reinsurance

?Crop Reinsurance Market Report

The Crop Reinsurance Market report studies the various methodologies and analyses for providing reliable and in-depth market information. Based on global sales, the study lists the major players in the regions and their market share, respectively. It also outlines their strategic moves in recent years, investments in product innovation and leadership changes to remain ahead in the market.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-32O1735/global-crop-reinsurance

?Agriculture Reinsurance Market

Agriculture reinsurance applies to farmers production and financial risks and associated loss from interrelated stakeholders, such as suppliers of inputs and grain processors. Agricultural reinsurance is insurance paid out by insurers in clear terms.

North America, Europe, China, the rest of Asia Pacific, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa, etc. are the main regions covered in the study. It includes every region's revenue review for 2015 through the 2026 year.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-37R1694/global-agriculture-reinsurance

?Global Property and Casualty Reinsurance Market Report

The study provides in-depth details on the competitive environment in the industry. The study estimates the bargaining power of both suppliers and buyers using Porter's Five Forces analysis. The study also offers insights into the challenge posed by new entrants and available alternates. Growth approaches implemented by leading players in the industry are also analysed.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-27O774/global-property-and-casualty-reinsurance

?Marine Reinsurance Market

By recovering some or all of the sums paid to claims, reinsurance helps insurers to stay solvent. Reinsurance limits net exposure to individual risks and compensate against damage from significant or multiple damages. It also gives ceding firms the opportunity to improve their underwriting efficiency in terms of the number and scale of risks.

The global impacts of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are already beginning to be felt and will have a significant impact on the 2020 market for marine reinsurance. The study provides in-depth details on the Marine Reinsurance Market.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-3G246/marine-insurance-market

?Cyber Insurance Market Report

The Cyber Insurance Market size is projected to benefit USD 14 Billion by 2022, recording a 28 percent CAGR during the 2016-2022 forecast period.

The cyber insurance market is expected to expand as a result of an increase in incidences of data breaches over the past 2-3 years. These attacks are escalating in severity and duration, posing a threat to citizens, organizations, and countries. Cyber-attacks have adverse effects on companies such as diminishing consumer base, market interruption, regulatory fines, legal penalties & fees, loss of intellectual property, and reputational harm.

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Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs.

Valuates is curating premium Market Research Reports from the leading publishers around the globe. We will help you map your information needs to our report repository of Market research reports and guide you through your purchasing decision. We are based out of Silicon Valley of India (Bengaluru) and provide 24/6 online and offline support to all our customers and just a phone call away.

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Cole Calhoun and Kalin Alberts had good roommate luck. They were matched by a roommate service about a year and a half ago, after they moved to New York  he from California, she from Pennsylvania  and became fast friends.

The pair shared a rental in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, with a third roommate, paying around $800 each. The radiators were loud, and the space cramped. I had enough room to stand up beside the bed, and that was it, said Ms. Alberts, an aspiring actress who was waiting tables before the pandemic cost her the job.

Also, the neighborhood was remote. If we wanted to get bagels or go out at night, we would have to take the train, said Mr. Calhoun, who works in public relations.

[Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

They decided to move together when the lease expired last winter, seeking more space and a livelier neighborhood. They could pay around $1,000 each.

For that price, though, they still couldnt afford a desirable two-bedroom. Unless you win the housing lottery, its not possible to find a two-bedroom for $2,000, unless you are giving up one of your top criteria, Ms. Alberts said.

So they decided to find a new roommate. As it happened, a colleague of Mr. Calhouns, Ali Cappetta, was enduring a long train commute from her familys house in Suffolk County and wanted to move to the city.

With a budget of $1,200, Ms. Cappetta had briefly hunted for a share on the Upper East Side, which she had heard was one of Manhattans more affordable areas. Anything I was seeing was extremely dated and falling apart, or on the sixth floor of a walk-up, or not located near any convenient transportation, she said. There was no laundry in the building and so many stairs.

So she was glad to join the others in their hunt. I felt so defeated, she said. If I could afford it, I was willing to take whatever.

The trio, all in their 20s, focused on lively Brooklyn neighborhoods with nearby subway stations.

Among their options:
A unique embroidered purse made for a navy admiral who helped restore the British monarchy after the Civil War has emerged for sale for a whopping 200,000.

The 17th century relic belonged to Sir William Penn who was tasked with bringing Charles II back to England from exile in Holland after the death of Oliver Cromwell.

The new King was so indebted to him he later granted the state of Sylvania in the U.S. to his son, renaming it Pennsylvania after Sir William.

The outer design of the 17th century purse belonging to Sir William Penn, which is on sale for 200,000, shows him standing beside a globe with his dog Port

King Charles II (left) named Pennsylvania after Sir William Penn (right) who brought him back from exile in Holland after Oliver Cromwell died

The inside of the purse, believed to have been made by Sir William Penn's daughter when she was 15, displays his coat of arms and a leopard signifying 'protector'

Charles purportedly told Penn's son, also named William: 'I'm naming it after that jolly fellow, your father.'

The silk purse is believed to have been made by Sir William's daughter Margaret when she was aged 15.

It is embroidered with an image of her father standing beside a globe with his trusty dog Port.

It is inscribed with his initials 'W.P' and the word 'Port' and the inside shows Penn's coat of arms - a leopard signifying the 'protector' - and several flower motifs.

The 8.5in by 6in purse, with a red silk lining, is being sold by US embroidery dealers Stephen and Carol Huber.

British Civil servant Sir Percival Griffiths owned the relic for much of the 20th century as part of his very fine art collection and was then subsequently owned by an American private collector.

It is unknown when the purse left the Penn family and passed into private hands.

The silk purse, which depicts his dog with its name 'Port' on its collar, is said to be a 'phenomenal' example of needlework from this period

The initials 'W.P' are sewn into the unique relic which was given to the naval officer who the U.S state of Pennsylvania is named after

Steve Huber said: 'Sir William Penn's purse is a national treasure both in America and England.

'He is the man Pennsylvania was named after and his achievements as a naval officer are legendary.

'He managed to be a loyal naval officer to King Charles I and II and to Oliver Cromwell in between so it's not surprising that his ship was sent to the Netherlands to bring Charles II back to England in 1660.

'Even without its historical significance, this is a phenomenal example of this period of needlework.'
President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government's coronavirus social distancing guidelines will be ``fading out'' when they expire Thursday, counting on states taking charge as they pivot to reopening .

The administration says the its cautionary guidance issued 45 days ago has been incorporated into recommendations given to the states on how they can begin gradually easing restrictions and reopening their economies.

``They'll be fading out because now the governors are doing it,`` Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Wednesday as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.

Edwards told Trump that his state has turned the corner in its fight against the virus, meeting on a day that brought hopeful signs for a new treatment but also grim economic numbers.

The US economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate last quarter _ a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the pandemic that has shut down much of the country and triggered a severe recession.

While Trump spoke confidently of the governors steering recovery in their states, transition is not going smoothly everywhere.

``I just wanted to congratulate you,'' Trump said to Edwards, commending him on the job he's done after New Orleans became one of the nation's coronavirus hot spots.

However, Edwards is currently under fire from Republican lawmakers in his state after he extended Louisiana's stay-at-home order through May 15.

As he was in Washington, some GOP legislators were trying to rally support to take the extraordinary step of trying to override the governor's emergency decision-making about the state's outbreak.

During the meeting, Trump, who has both threatened to force states to reopen and said decisions will be left to them, confirmed the White House will not be extending its ``30 Days to Slow the Spread`` guidelines when they expire Thursday.

Those guidelines _ which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30 _ encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

The White House on Wednesday was also talking up the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study run by the National Institutes of Health, shortening the time it takes for patients to recover by four days on average.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31% _ 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

``It's highly significant,' said the usually cautious doctor. ``What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.''

The White House and Trump in particular have been eager to give the country positive news as they work to move past the crisis and rebuild the economy, even as the country's death tally continues to rise.

The US has now recorded more than 58,000 deaths from the virus, surpassing the total number of Americans who were killed in the Vietnam War. More than one million people have now tested positive.

Trump said that number has risen so high in large part because of increased US testing.

``That's a tremendous amount and the reason is because of testing,'' he said.

The US has dramatically increased its testing after a slow and rocky start, but many health experts say the country still must do more _ as many as 5 million a day _ to safely reopen the economy. Otherwise, they warn, cases will skyrocket as Americans return to work, creating another deadly spike.

Trump has dismissed that recommended number, calling it unnecessary and a ``media trap.''

Separately on Wednesday, Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, told ``Fox and Friends'' that the administration is preparing the country to ``get as close back to normal as possible as quickly as possible.''

``I think what you'll see in May, as the states are reopening now, is May will be a transition month,`` he said. ``And I think you'll see by June, a lot of the country should be back to normal and the hope is that ... by July the country is really rocking again.''

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Panic As 11 Year-Old Boy Commits Suicide After Losing Fight Over TV Remote Control To Sister

An 11-year-old boy from Mulalio Village in Ikolomani Constituency in Kakamega County, Kenya allegedly committed suicide after he lost a fight over TV remote control early Wednesday, April 29.

Canton Litiku, a Class Five pupil at Kakamega Hill School, is said to have disagreed with his younger sister on which television programme to watch, resulting in his frustrations.

After losing the fight for remote control to his 8-year-old sibling, the boy is said to have reached for his mothers leso and went to his room, where he tied the shawl to the roof.

His mother, Roselyne Mavia, said she found her sons body hanging from the leso.

The deceaseds father, Emmanuel Litiku, told K24 Digital that his son committed suicide after the fight over TV remote control.

Confirming the incident, area assistant chief, Sylvester Esabu, urged parents to be quick and strategic in resolving conflicts between their children to avert incidents similar to the Ikolomani one.

The boys body was taken to the Kakamega County Referral Hospital morgue.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website offers car insurance info about different coverage types, available discounts, and money-saving tips.

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Buying online car insurance will help drivers save time and money. Many insurers encourage drivers to get coverage online and offer discounts to those that opt for this method. Furthermore, drivers can compare rates online and even select the sum of money they are willing to pay. To get free car insurance quotes from the best insurers, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/.

Have all relevant documents nearby when getting quotes or purchasing coverage . It is recommended to keep car's papers nearby when requesting online quotes. This will ensure that the provided info is correct.

Visit the state's Department of Insurance . Before buying coverage, make sure to be updated with the state's current legislation. Drivers should know more about the minimum state requirement, laws involving totaled or stolen cars, usage of credit score in premium's determination and no-fault status. Also, a person can check an insurer's complaint ratio via the Department of Insurance.

Use multiple sources to get online quotes . It is recommended to get as many quotes as possible before buying coverage. To get in touch with multiple insurance companies selling in a particular area, use a brokerage website. It provides estimates from multiple insurers or redirects to multiple insurers available in the area.

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Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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(CNN)  A leading United Nations human rights expert claims the Myanmar military is carrying out "war crimes" against ethnic minorities, emboldened by special extended powers intended to help control the spread of the coronavirus.

Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, accused the military of targeting ethnic Rakhine Buddhist civilians during recent clashes with the Arakan Army (AA), a separatist militant group in the western Rakhine State.

Lee told CNN that houses had been burned, a monastery was attacked, and people had been arrested and tortured.

"And then, we find bodies that have been decapitated  these are Rakhine people," Lee said Tuesday, as she prepared to conclude her six-year tenure as special rapporteur.

"I am calling the situation crimes against humanity and war crimes. These are the highest, the most heinous, and the gravest crimes of international law," she added.

CNN has reached out to the Myanmar government regarding Lee's comments, but has not yet received a response.

Lee said the Myanmar military has been given a "significant" political role in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far infected 150 people in Myanmar, including six who died, according to data published by Johns Hopkins University. Key military generals and military-controlled ministries were appointed to a new coronavirus committee in March, increasing the remit of the military under its delicate power-sharing agreement with the country's civilian-led government.

Under the constitution, the military  also known as the Tatmadaw  controls the borders, defense, and home ministries, and holds a quarter of the seats in parliament.

"It's emboldening the Tatmadaw," Lee said. "Already, they have a strong arm; and now, if they have these additional powers in the name of enforcing or preventing the spread of the pandemic; then, they are really given another layer, a greater, higher level of power to do what they've done always in the past few decades, but in a more severe and horrific manner."

Lee's comments were echoed by Human Rights Watch, which explained that as the military fights the Arakan Army's separatist movement in Rakhine State, civilians are being caught in the crossfire.

"Myanmar's military, and its accomplices in Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government, are taking advantage of the world's distraction with COVID-19 to press forward with military atrocities to try and break the back of the Arakan Army resistance; and they don't care who they kill or maim to do it," said Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, in a statement to CNN. 

CNN asked the Myanmar government about accusations that the military is using the pandemic to carry out abuses, but did not receive a response.

The Arakan Army is also carrying out attacks on civilians, Lee says.

"We have proof that they have kidnapped local parliamentarians," Lee said. "They also have kidnapped people, and civilians and gathered civilians, too."

The UN has previously called for a global ceasefire during the coronavirus crisis.

"The Myanmar military onslaught has increasingly targeted civilians with indiscriminate artillery attacks and aerial bombings that amount to soldiers wantonly retaliating against populations living near spots where the Arakan Army has staged ambushes or IED attacks," Robertson said.

The coronavirus pandemic has also led to increased roadblocks in Rakhine State by the military, Lee says  meaning, it is harder for people to get to hospitals. Aid agencies are also getting caught in the crossfire during the clashes.

On April 20, a World Health Organization (WHO) driver of a UN vehicle was killed, and a government official in the car was severely injured after their vehicle came under attack while they were transporting COVID-19 samples.

The government has expressed its "deepest condolences and sympathy," and says it is "fully committed to investigate the incident."

In a statement, the office of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on April 21 that the military is fighting against the "terrorist group" Arakan Army, which has "engaged in destructive activities."

The statement said the government was "deeply saddened to learn of civilian casualties in Rakhine and Chin States," adding that it will "continue with efforts to take the peace process."

A history of violence

Rakhine State is a restive border area, which neighbors Bangladesh, and has a long history of violent military crackdowns and ethnic clashes between the majority Rakhine Buddhist population and the minority Rohingya Muslims.

In 2016 and 2017, the military carried out what it described as "clearance operations" against the Rohingya population after attacks on police posts by militants. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were forced to flee across the border and thousands more died.

A UN fact-finding report released in 2018 said the military generals should be "investigated and prosecuted in an international criminal tribunal for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes," and said that some members of the Rakhine Buddhist population had been found to have collaborated in the violence.

But now, the Rakhine Buddhists under the Arakan Army are the focus of a military crackdown themselves.

The Arakan Army and the Myanmar military have been clashing in Rakhine State since December 2018, displacing tens of thousands of people, and killing and injuring "numerous" civilians, Human Rights Watch says.

The Arakan Army is an armed group which operates in several states in Myanmar, and was formed more than a decade ago. The group says it represents the ethnic Rakhine people, the majority population in Rakhine State, but an ethnic minority within Myanmar, which is dominated by the Bamar population.

"It's hard to fathom that a government and its military could actually commit crimes against humanity against two different ethnic groups  the Rohingya and the Rakhine  in one province; but somehow, Myanmar has managed to do it. And now, they need to be held accountable for it," Robertson said.

Lee said she has been barred from entering Myanmar since her last visit in 2017, when she says she was told by Suu Kyi that she would no longer be given access if she continued to pursue the "narratives of the UN" on what was happening in Rakhine State.

CNN has reached out for comment from the Myanmar government on this, but has not received a response.

But Lee said she continues to gather information from a network of sources and observers on the ground inside Rakhine State, and has also taken several trips to neighboring Bangladesh to speak to refugees who fled there from Myanmar.

War crimes investigation

In January, a government-appointed panel investigated the military operation against the Rohingya population in 2016 to 2017, and concluded that war crimes had been committed, and "are now being investigated and prosecuted by Myanmar's national criminal justice system," a Myanmar Foreign Ministry statement says.

The panel also concluded that there was no evidence of "genocidal intent."

The government also denied accusations of ethnic cleansing or genocide, and said the military "clearance operation" targeted Rohingya "terrorists" from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) militant group.

The UN estimates that more than 10,000 Rohingya people died during the crackdown. The government did acknowledge military crimes in a massacre of 10 Rohingya men in the village of Inn Din in Rakhine State, and jailed seven soldiers for "contributing and participating in murder."

The government describes the Rohingya population as illegal immigrants from what is now known as Bangladesh, despite the ethnic group tracing their roots in the area back centuries. Myanmar is a majority Buddhist population with 135 official ethnic groups  none of which are Rohingya. The majority Bamar group, which represents 70% of the population, dominate most government and military positions.

In January, the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands ordered Myanmar to prevent acts of genocide against the Rohingya, and to prevent the destruction of evidence, in a landmark case at The Hague. Suu Kyi called genocide accusations "misleading" during a previous hearing.

Access to the conflict areas of northern Rakhine State has long been heavily restricted, with limited entry for aid agencies and the media, making getting information out of the region difficult  even more so since a mobile internet blackout was imposed in some areas of the state in June 2019.

On February 13, a joint statement from 29 organizations, including Amnesty International, called on the government of Myanmar to lift the internet restrictions to enable communications and to protect the civilian population.

An April 11 article in state-run newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar said that the government shut off internet services to some parts of Rakhine State "to prevent the misuse of the internet by the Arakan Army (AA) for their political and military agenda," because the AA "exploited internet services and social media as a tool for planned attacks, detonating landmines, recruitment, and incitement of hatred among different national races."

"I feel very helpless"

When Lee's tenure as special rapporteur began, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Suu Kyi was a democracy icon, who had spent decades under military-imposed house arrest. Lee said back then, she had "great hopes" and "great respect" for Suu Kyi when she came into power in a landslide election in 2015.

"It's really sad. It saddens me to see how Daw Suu has changed so much," Lee said, referring to the leader with the honorific for "mother." "I started seeing some changes in her; she was not willing to listen to what concerned people had to say."

After six years as special rapporteur, Lee believes that Suu Kyi's strategy is based on a political calculation on how to stay in office.

"She wants to stay in power, and the only way to stay in power would be to cooperate with the Tatmadaw, to work with the Tatmadaw, and listen to the majority, the Bamar majority, the Buddhist Bamar majority; and that's the only way she thinks that she will stay in power," Lee said.

A national election is due to be held in Myanmar later this year, likely in November.

"It enrages me to see how the people of Myanmar are left to suffer like this for decades," Lee said.

"The UN and the international community always says never again, but we see this never again happening over and over in different parts of the world. But we're seeing it happening in Myanmar. We saw it happen in 2016 and 2017; and we are seeing it happening now again. So these are my emotions. And I feel very helpless."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Coronavirus is 'emboldening' Myanmar military to carry out 'war crimes' says UN human rights expert"
Married At First Sight star Stacey Hampton has been tested for coronavirus at one of the new drive-through facilities.

The 26-year-old law graduate revealed on Thursday she got the test just to be 'safe'.

The mother-of-two has been splitting her time between Melbourne and Adelaide for 'essential work' over the past month, previously spotted heading to the hair salon, shopping for cars and hanging out her friend, Bitcoin investor Anthony Hess.

'Better safe than sorry': Married At First Sight's Stacey Hampton was tested for coronavirus as she continues her 'work' holiday in Melbourne on Thursday

Stacey shared footage of her rolling up to the coronavirus testing facility in her Range Rover rental, filming medical professionals as they filled out paperwork.

'Corona testing is now set up for anyone who works as essential workers. Better safe than sorry,' she told fans on Instagram stories.

On Wednesday, Stacey stopped off at Joey Scandizzo Salon and picked Anthony up in her new wheels, before spending another night at the five-star Crown Towers Melbourne.

'Corona testing is now set up for anyone who works as essential workers': Stacey shared footage of her rolling up to the coronavirus testing facility in her Range Rover rental, filming medical professionals as they filled out paperwork

Anthony has been documenting their trip on social media, posting elevator selfies with Stacey, photos of expensive champagne, and videos of their luxury suite on Tuesday.

Since March 21, Stacey has flown almost 6,000km on four round trips - but she insists they are all 'essential travel'.

The law graduate turned aspiring influencer told Daily Mail Australia she has been following the government's advice on business trips and self-isolating in hotels during any downtime.

Luxury lockdown: The law graduate turned aspiring influencer told Daily Mail Australia she has been following the government's advice on business trips and self-isolating in hotels during any downtime

Driving in style! Before heading to the hotel, Stacey posed for this photo inside the Range Rover she was driving while in Melbourne

'I've been travelling to Melbourne for my charity and I also do essential service work for a transport company every second week,' Stacey said on Tuesday.

'I'm only travelling to and from business locations, otherwise I'm isolating in my hotel until I return. I do the legal and accounts for the transport company [in Melbourne].'

The mother-of-two has 'clearance' to travel for work during the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of Australians stay at home to help flatten the curve.

On Monday, Stacey made the 750km journey from Adelaide to Melbourne yet again, which means she will have travelled 6,000km in five weeks once she returns.

Essential travel: 'I've been travelling to Melbourne for my charity and I also do essential service work for a transport company every second week,' Stacey explained on Tuesday

She has previously spoken of her reluctance to work a full-time job, saying that motherhood is her main priority.

'A lot of people ask why I'm not using my law degree, but not many law firms like to take on people who only want three days a week,' she said.

'If I did five days a week then I feel like I'm not being fair on my children and I'm not there for them.'

When she's not jetting across the country, Stacey lives in Adelaide with her two sons, Kosta and Kruz.
Researchers from Osaka University demonstrate how DNA replication machinery plays an important role in the choice of recombination pathway at the centromeres of chromosomes to limit harmful gross chromosomal rearrangements

Osaka, Japan - Homologous recombination is an essential process of DNA repair to maintain genomic integrity of the organism. Now, researchers from Japan have identified mechanisms that choose between alternate pathways of DNA repair to limit anomalous and deleterious chromosomal combinations that may be predisposed to cancer and genetic diseases.

In a recent study, researchers from Osaka University show that Rad52-dependent single-strand annealing (SSA) is the mechanism of homologous pairing that leads to gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs) at the centromere. They also identify mutations that allow this pathway to predominate in preference to the error-free Rad51 pathway.

Cells are under constant genotoxic pressure from exogenous and endogenous factors. Genome instability underlies several diseases including cancer. Consequently, DNA repair necessarily occurs thousands of times per day in each human cell to correct detrimental mutations, blockage of replication and transcription, and chromosomal breakage. Paradoxically, this recombination may occasionally cause dysfunctional GCRs.

The centromere of a chromosome is the specialized DNA sequence that links a pair of sister chromatids. Many organisms, including humans and fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), have repetitive sequences at centromeres. This renders them vulnerable to isochromosome formation dysfunctional mirror-imagesdue to a specific type of recombination between inverted repeats. In experiments conducted on fission yeast, the researchers demonstrated that DNA replication mechanisms reduce the occurrence of GCRs by inhibiting SSA activity at centromeres.

"At centromeres, Rad51-dependent recombination predominates and other recombination pathways appear to be inhibited," explains Atsushi T. Onaka, lead author. "As Rad51 promotes conservative non-crossover recombination, the choice of recombination pathways is important for suppressing GCRs. This recombination predominantly occurs between inverted repeats, thereby suppressing formation of isochromosomes. However, how Rad51-dependent recombination predominates at centromeres is unknown."

Jie Su, co-lead author, explains further. "We showed that Rad52-dependent SSA is the mechanism of homologous pairing that leads to centromeric GCRs. The rad52-R45K mutation impairs SSA activity of the Rad52 protein and reduces isochromosome formation in rad51 mutant cells. To better understand how Rad52-dependent SSA is suppressed at centromeres, we performed a genetic screen and found that specific mutations in replication fork proteins and a fork protection complex increase Rad52-dependent SSA at centromeres and isochromosome formation."

"Our research implicates DNA replication machinery in the recombination pathway choice at centromeres, preventing Rad52-dependent SSA that results in GCRs," explains senior author Takuro Nakagawa. "This knowledge identifies Rad52 as a promising target in treating cancer."

###

The article, "DNA replication machinery prevents Rad52-dependent single-strand annealing that leads to gross chromosomal rearrangements at centromeres," was published in Communications Biology at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-0934-0

About Osaka University

Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and now has expanded to one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities. The University has now embarked on open research revolution from a position as Japan's most innovative university and among the most innovative institutions in the world according to Reuters 2015 Top 100 Innovative Universities and the Nature Index Innovation 2017. The university's ability to innovate from the stage of fundamental research through the creation of useful technology with economic impact stems from its broad disciplinary spectrum.

Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/top
The city of Toronto plans to resume the clearing of outdoor encampments for the homeless  something the city stopped doing during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic but is restarting because the dwellings have since grown and are raising concerns about potential spread of the virus.

(The encampments) have begun to raise serious public health concerns about the risk of COVID-19 spreading in these large groups where there is often no physical distancing, Toronto Mayor John Tory told a news briefing Wednesday afternoon.

But the city has a plan.

Rather than simply kicking homeless people out of these outdoor dwellings and leaving them to find someplace else to live, eat and sleep, Tory announced an agreement with a local property developer to make 125 residential units in two midtown apartment buildings slated for demolition available to the city for homeless people during the pandemic.

The spaces are temporary, with meals served, round-the-clock staff support and case management focused on finding residents permanent housing.

Access to these units will be prioritized for people in encampments that have health and safety concerns and are at high risk of COVID-19, Tory told reporters. Our goal is to house people and as we succeed  encampments will be cleared by city staff.

Mary-Anne Bedard, general manager of the citys Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA), told the Star the focus will be on approaching people in the encampments and offering them housing.

Once people accept, they move with their possessions and anything remaining is cleaned up. Today (Wednesday) we worked with five encampments along the Lakeshore.

Our teams will continue to engage and offer a range of options to anyone who remains in the encampments, Bedard said.

Her department works with the citys parks and recreation or transportation department, depending on which public property the encampments are on.

Teams assess the sites and the people who remain, and if there is a risk, police are called to assist.

Meanwhile, the Times Group Corporation, the owner of the two adjoining four-storey buildings near Yonge and Eglinton, is leasing them to the city for three to six months or longer for $55 a night per unit which includes operating costs and utilities. The residents will have their own kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Some homeless people have already moved in.

The developer has pledged to donate the net proceeds  in the neighbourhood of $500,000  from the lease to Toronto food banks.

Our partnership with the city at this unprecedented time in history enables us to provide living space for the most vulnerable when it is needed most, Hashem Ghadaki, president of the Times Group Corporation said in a statement.

He operates the company with partners Mohammad Ghadaki, Ali Mesgarzadeh and Saeid Aghaei.

Speaking for my partners and our entire staff, we feel its our duty as citizens to help,  Ghadaki added, referring to the donation and provision of living space.

The city is leasing a number of hotels and private property in Toronto to provide appropriate social distancing space for the citys homeless residents. The space in existing shelters in the city is insufficient for social distancing.

Other services the city is providing the homeless during the COVID-19 outbreak are recovery sites for those who test positive for the virus and an isolation facility for homeless people awaiting results of their COVID-19 tests.

The new midtown shelter isnt for COVID-positive homeless people, but rather it is a facility for them to self-isolate. Residents will be screened regularly for the virus.

Ending chronic homelessness is not a slogan, its possible. Everyone deserves to have a safe and affordable home and access to services that help individuals achieve housing stability. The fact is we need a range of housing options that meet the different and unique needs of people experiencing homelessness, city councillor Joe Cressy, chair of Torontos Board of Health, said in a statement Wednesday.

The Times Group acquired the property in 2015 and planned to redevelop it into condos. An application to demolish the two buildings was approved by the city in 2018. Last September, tenants in the building were asked to vacate, and in April the last of the tenants had left.

But the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent government orders that non-essential businesses cease operating put a hold on the demolition, explains Hessam Ghadaki, general counsel for the developer.

He said the company was inspired to lease the property for a shelter after seeing health-care workers doing an incredible job during the crisis and other businesses stepping up to help.

This is something were doing that were really proud of, Hessam Ghadaki added. The Times Group is a company founded in 1985 by civil engineers. The four business partners running the Times Group are all immigrants who fled turmoil in Iran in the 1980s.

The idea of turning the apartments into shelters for the homeless grew from discussions in March between the developer and the University Health Network, a network that includes the Toronto General and Toronto Western hospital and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

UHN, which helped launch another COVID-related initiative to help the homeless  the recovery centre in Torontos west end  also co-ordinated the lease between the Times Group and the city.

Homelessness and health are inextricably linked, even more so in a pandemic. UHN has been advocating to put housing first, both to better protect individuals in this crisis and as a lasting measure post-recovery, said Dr. Andrew Boozary, UHNs executive director, health and social policy.

This is the second time the city has partnered with the Times Group. In 2018, the developer provided a 90,000 sq.ft. building to the city, now the Willowdale Welcome Centre, a 400-bed shelter for refugees.

The Willowdale Welcome Centre, on Yonge St. north of Finch Ave., opened after the developers saw a notice from the city seeking a location for a temporary refugee shelter. The building was a decommissioned Toronto Hydro facility the developers had purchased for $122.5 million. Unfortunately, it has become the location of a significant COVID-19 outbreak.

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Greece's prime minister has expressed his condolences after a Canadian military helicopter crashed off the coast of a Greek island during NATO maneuvers.

A Greek navy helicopter was taking part in the search for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter that went missing on Wednesday night, defense officials said. The effort was being coordinated by Italian authorities. I express my grief over the crash of the Canadian helicopter in the Ionian Sea last night, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday, speaking in parliament.

He said he would contact Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to express his government's condolences. There was no immediate word on the exact number of crew aboard the helicopter.

The Canadian armed forces said the helicopter had been "involved in an accident and that the families of the missing crew members had been contacted but gave no further details. The search was being carried out west of the Greek island of Kefalonia, where the maneuvers were being held as part of a NATO naval operation run from Naples, Italy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Since the emergence of COVID-19 , a number of media commentators and academics have reflected on the  spiritualisation  of the pandemic among responses in different African settings.

There's been particular interest in the influence of prominent Pentecostal pastors on public health messaging. Some have expressed concern about the possible consequences of their invocations of spiritual warfare.

We've examined how idioms of (spiritual) warfare have been deployed in response to the coronavirus pandemic and wish to bring a broader perspective to recent debates about these dynamics. We consider examples from Tanzania and Zimbabwe, drawing on our ongoing research in these settings.

Many Pentecostal Christians, in Africa as well as other continents , portray the coronavirus as a  spiritual force of evil  rather than as a biomedical disease.

Through this lens, the world is presented as a battleground between God and the agents of Satan. For those who enlist to fight for Jesus, the most effective weapon is prayer.

Spiritual warfare provides a framework for explaining and responding to both mundane and extraordinary events  from a cancelled flight to a global pandemic. But despite their close association with Pentecostals, these militarised idioms may also resonate with other groups.

The prophet

In Zimbabwe, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has been criticised for reassuring his congregants that they will be spared from the virus. This will happen through prayer and the divine protection he mediates. You will not die, because the Son is involved in what we are doing, he says, calling it

the freedom that no medication can offer.

This declaration epitomises a sense of Pentecostal exceptionalism, embodied in the claim to be  in this world but not of this world . It clearly risks instilling a level of complacency among his followers about the threat of the virus. It amplifies the possibility of noncompliance with government safety measures . Advert for online service led by Prophet Makandiwa. Christ TV Channel/Twitter

Prophet Makandiwa has also been accused of perpetuating conspiracy theories . Drawing Biblical allusions to the  mark of the beast , he has warned followers about microchip implants. These, he predicts, will accompany future vaccination campaigns. This claim has also been made by pastors elsewhere in the African continent.

In Uganda, steps have already been taken to prosecute pastors spreading misinformation.

The president

Efforts to spiritualise the virus have also been pursued by some African leaders. For example, Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli described COVID-19 as a demon (shetani). Through it Satan seeks to  destroy  Tanzanian citizens.

Despite the government promoting physical distancing, he declared that churches or mosques would not be closed because this is where God and true healing (uponyaji wa kweli) are found.

Invoking the idiom of spiritual warfare, Magufuli explained that COVID-19

cannot survive in the Body of Jesus (and) will be burned away.

Commentators have observed that Magufuli is himself a Roman Catholic (albeit with Pentecostal ties ). Yet few have acknowledged his implication that God can also be found in mosques, nor his recommendation that Tanzanians also embrace indigenous medicinal practices for protection.

In a country where Christians don't constitute a clear religious majority, Magufuli invokes the rhetoric of spiritual warfare to articulate a sense of national religious identity. A woman walks past an election billboard featuring now president of Tanzania, John Magufuli in Dar es Salaam. Daniel Hayduk/AFP/Getty Images

These invocations mostly adopt a rhetorical style reminiscent of Pentecostal pastors but maintain a broad, inclusive focus on God (Mungu).

Tanzanians responded enthusiastically to Magufuli's call for citizens of every faith to participate in three days of national prayer. Many took to social media to circulate photos and videos featuring the Tanzanian flag and words of prayer.

Some perspective

Yet a growing number of commentators have criticised Magufuli. As with Makandiwa, they argue that his use of spiritual warfare rhetoric generates a dangerous expectation of viral immunity.

Some commentators have taken Magufuli's emphasis on prayer to be emblematic of the government's perceived failure to adequately address the pandemic .

The government, say critics, has fallen prey to  superstitious  thinking. Some draw allusions to the use of water-based medicine in the Maji Maji rebellion against German colonial rule.

As others have observed , the act of giving spiritual agency to the virus as a personal demon can also serve to downplay structural failures which have contributed to its spread. It divests responsibility to both COVID-19 as a sentient enemy and citizens.

There is a risk, however, that exaggerating the idiosyncrasy of the Tanzanian government's response to COVID-19  and indeed that of Prophet Makandiwa  may perpetuate another myth of exceptionalism. One which echoes colonial depictions of African populations as singularly superstitious and  incurably religious . A billboard in Lagos, Nigeria. Markus Matzel/ullstein bild/Getty Images

In truth, spiritual warfare idioms have been diversely invoked  and unevenly received  across the continent. They have prompted lively  religion and science  debates.

Moreover, the plausibility of spiritual warfare idioms should not be exclusively attributed to people's religious sensibilities. After all, warfare is the signature trope with which global political figures, health experts, and media commentators have framed COVID-19.

Like Magufuli, world leaders like the UK's Boris Johnson , France's Emmanuel Macron and the US's Donald Trump have all invoked warfare motifs against the single, identifiable enemy.

European governments have also been accused of using this framing to shift responsibility onto citizens as combatants, whether for failing to adhere to physical distancing or for their biomedical frailty. Narratives of individuals heroically  winning their war  against a decidedly personal demon are no less persuasive to some in Europe than to some in Africa.

None of this is intended to take away from the ambivalent and sometimes plainly harmful effects of attempts to spiritualise the pandemic. Nor is it to imply that religiously informed strategies of communication and implementation are incompatible with more temporal methods.

Religious groups like Pentecostal congregations may indeed constitute an important  public health resource  when it comes to delivering services and messaging . And they can cultivate a sense of hope and mutual care in the face of uncertainty.

Rather, we suggest as anthropologists and scholars of religion, this warfaring rhetoric might stem from a shared discomfort among Africans and Europeans alike at the prospect of an adversary without discernible self-will or conscience. An impersonal demon.

As literary critic Anders Engberg-Pederson articulates it:

We declare war on the virus, because we want it to be something that it is not.

Dr Benjamin Kirby receives funding from the British Academy.

Josiah Taru has previously received funding from a Human Economy Programme (University of Pretoria) to conduct fieldwork between 2015-17.

Tinashe Chimbidzikai receives funding from Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, Germany.

By Benjamin Kirby, British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Leeds And

Josiah Taru, Lecturer, Great Zimbabwe University And

Tinashe Chimbidzikai, Doctoral Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity
The Mexican government's decree to reopen maquiladoras producing "essential goods" has spiked controversy and protest.

In an interview over the telephone with a Regal factory worker alias Mariana, BBC shed light on the current situation of maquiladora workers. She barely earns $80 a month, and so she cannot afford to become unemployed during the pandemic.

For many factory workers in Ciudad Juarez, they would rather not risk their health going to work during the pandemic, especially since the environment of assembly plants does so little to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Mariana explained that there was little distance between the workers on the assembly queue. She added, "If a machine breaks, they put us all on the same one. Right on top of each other."



Bodies Were Dropping on the Factory Floor

At the same time, she also cannot risk bringing the virus home. Mariana worries about her family, who she considers being immunocompromised.

"I have a family member who's diabetic, and another with asthma. I'm trying to think of them," she said.

Mariana added that so many of the other workers who reported having high temperatures have died after they were sent home. She said, "And now other [workers] have high temperatures."

Official reports say that the death count of the factory workers in Ciudad Juarez, who died of COVID-19, is at 13. Still, a Mexican labor lawyer and activist Susana Prieto believed a more accurate figure might be three times greater. She also said that the factories in Ciudad Juarez only started closing when bodies began dropping on the floor.

There was genuine panic among the workers. The U.S.-owned factories breached the emergency public health decree by reopening ahead of the announcement of the president of the federal government.



Check these out!



Pressure for U.S. Factories in their Interest

The United States' National Association of Manufacturers urged Mexico to reclassify some industries as essential so that U.S.-owned factories can be fully operational again.

In the past week, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard was contacted by U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Ellen Lord. She asked him to help the associations reopen international suppliers in Mexico. She said, "These companies are especially important for our U.S. airframe production."

Currently, Mexico is back to reopening factories in the automotive industry for transactions in North America.

Prieto argued that the emergency decree prioritized the wrong products. This also endangered many Mexican workers' lives.

"These factories should be closed," she said.

Head of the Economic Development agency Arturo Perez defended the U.S. businesses by saying that the pressure they were exerting on the factories was understandable.

"It's in their interest." In an interview with NPR, Perez added, "But for us in government, the interest of Mexicans comes first."

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Acting Assistant Secretary of Western Hemispheric Affairs Christopher Landau believed it was possible to not risk the lives of the workers without ruining supply chains.

While Mexico had more restrictive criteria for what constituted as essential work, goods assembled in Mexico were crucial to the supply chain in the U.S.

There are 300,000 maquiladora workers in Ciudad Juarez. Last week, there were 13 cases in the factory that Mariana works in, but cases have been underreported.

Because of the poor conditions in these factories, employees forced to go back to work are now at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus.
The Good Fight The Gang Gets a Call From HR Season 4 Episode 3 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Patrick Harbron/CBS

The politics of The Good Fight arent exhilarating because theyre affirmative. The show could certainly be described as left-leaning, but its definitely not doctrinaire  if anything, the writers seem most excited about making progressive-minded people uncomfortable. As our own Angelica Jade Bastien wrote about this seasons audacious premiere episode, the show used an alternate-reality scenario where Hillary Clinton won the 2016 election to criticize corporate feminism, pegged to the likelihood that Harvey Weinstein, a Clinton supporter, might have been understood as a reliable donor to womens causes and not a convicted sexual predator.

After taking a breath with a relatively straightforward episode, The Good Fight is back throwing bombs with The Gang Gets a Call From HR, which returns to the internecine battles of the Democratic Party  and, consequently, the numerous conflicts within Reddick, Boseman itself. The office gets a visit from Frank Landau, Marissas bete noire, and assumes hes there to scold her on behalf of her father for some ideological heresy, like her support of Juliuss bid for a judgeship last season. (She greets him with a hilarious preemptive rant: Im not a Republican and Im not going to vote Republican, but I might fall in love with a Republican and have little Republican children.) But Frank is there with other business.

Big business, as it happens. Heading into the 2020 election, the DNC wants to reenergize black voters, a constituency the party has long taken for granted without feeling like it has to do anything to earn their loyalty. And who better than the minds at a majority-black law firm to strategize a new way forward? So all of the firms black employees are gathered into the conference room and Frank poses a simple question: Whats the biggest issue facing the African-American community today? A few issues get tossed around, like civil rights and police brutality, and everyone nods in agreement when one lawyer says he wants to feel like Dems are talking right to me about me. And then Jay drops a bomb: The Democratic Party is doing jack shit to combat racism.

With that, The Good Fight finds that sweet spot where it just makes everyone squirm. Adrian asks Jay to dial down the DNC-bashing, so as to not alienate a potentially massive client. The conversation turns to reparations, which definitely energizes the room, but also divides them into different camps over whether payment is necessary for past oppression and whether any amount could ever be considered sufficient. One voice in the room presents a fascinating contrary thought: I say keep the reparations, she says. Id rather have white guilt. That I can leverage.

When the sentiments in the room get too radical, white members of the firm are gathered as a twisted kind of diversity measure, which leads to the decidedly unhelpful contributions of guys like David Lee, who asks, Whats 40 acres and a mule in 2020 dollars? The entire fiasco becomes a referendum on Democratic Party politics in general, where dysfunction is high, consensus is nearly impossible, and the interests of black voters are often mediated by white leadership. Then Adrian drops the N-word into an anecdote about Vernon Jordan and an entirely new discussion about speech in the workplace opens up. (In the middle of it all, the DNC quietly exits stage left.)

The N-word issue becomes a statement of principles for The Good Fight, which advocates for candor over soft, HR-approved (or network-approved) language. Adrian feels hes well within his rights to use the N-word in the context of the Vernon Jordan story  and in the context of being a black man himself  but Mr. Finch and the firms new overseers have a zero tolerance policy for that kind of language. So theres an absurd investigation launched, with multiple people brought in front of the (white) HR head, and the strongest airing yet of philosophical differences between the partners of Reddick, Boseman and STR Laurie. (Or STD Laurie, as Marissa puts it.)

Suspicion falls on a white member of the firm as the whistle-blower here; when everyone naturally turns their heads in David Lees direction, he says, Oh, come on. Id rather cut my wrists than go to HR willingly. Most of the black lawyers in the room are adamant over their right to say it, e.g., Autonomy over that word is our reparations, but the complaint turns out to have come from one of their own. Which is the type of uncomfortable revelation expected from The Good Fight, where examples of plain old easy-to-condemn racism are difficult to find. The only position it ever takes unambiguously is that these conversations be allowed to happen. So in the N-word discussion, it sides firmly with Reddick, Boseman.

Elsewhere, the mysteries of Memo 618 continue to haunt Diane, who discovers not only that the injunction meant to protect her clients diner cant be found, but the case itself doesnt exist in the system. When she and Marissa take their complaints straight to Julius, he acts as if he doesnt remember the case and then, when his denials get too obviously ridiculous, he refers them to Adrians girlfriend, who they come to learn is Charlotte. Dianes clever gambit is to bring the case again to Charlottes court as if it never existed, but even there she meets some roadblocks. A key line of questioning gets shut down when a clerk shuffles Memo 618 under Charlottes face.

The origins of Memo 618 are unknown, though it still seems like a cabal of powerful elites working the system to its benefit. When a law message board boots Diane and Jay on a TOS violation just for asking about the memo, they discover that the shutdown only happens on STR Lauries Wi-Fi. To paraphrase When a Stranger Calls: The cabal is coming from inside the house.

Hearsay:

 Fascinating answer to the question of why the DNC is hiring lawyers rather than PR people for its outreach to black voters: It wants attorney-client privilege. A good early signal of how messy the process is about to get.

 John Larroquette telling Zen master stories has become a delightful ongoing thread this season, because no one can roll their eyes openly at someone of his stature. So Diane, Adrian, and Liz have to sit there listening to the story of the Zen master holding a young mans head under water for one minute and then telling him, Come back when you want truth as much as air.

 I know its a parody of a time-wasting video game, but Im ready for the peeling-rutabaga app should anyone be inspired to develop one.

 An office full of black lawyers being forced to watch a racial-sensitivity training video is about right.

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IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), downwardly revised its forecasts for global light vehicle sales and production as the impact COVID-19 impact has depressed demand. According the new analysis, global light vehicle sales are now forecast to be 69.6 million units this year in the wake of the pandemic. IHS Markit forecasts a similar decline for global light vehicle production, falling to 69.3 million units.

Auto sales forecast to drop 22.0 percent, with risk for further deterioration

Impacts to global auto demand in the wake of COVID-19 have rapidly progressed to severity levels higher than the 2008-2009 recession, and significant uncertainty around prospects for a meaningful recovery remain. Global light vehicle sales in 2020 are now forecast to drop to 69.6 million units, 22.0 percent lower than in 2019, with risks to the forecast still skewed to the downside.

"The pandemic remains a clear and present danger to the autos sector, with months of uncertainty expected to cloud hopes for global recovery prospects," said Colin Couchman, executive director, global autos demand forecasting at IHS Markit. "The expected cycle of decline, stabilization and recovery for autos varies by market, reflecting variations in containment strategies and policy responsiveness," he said.

In recent weeks, Mainland China is seeing green shoots of recovery, while much of the rest of the world remains in lockdown. The IHS Markit forecast for Greater China sales in 2020 sees volume at 21.4 million units, a drop of 15 percent from 2019 levels. Though government incentives could help underpin a more orderly recovery profile, these are not yet indicated. Nearly all dealers are back to work and there are signals of an uptick in showroom traffic, but consumer confidence remains fragile. We may see a first-in, first-out phenomenon in China, and auto demand could bottom out midway through 2020 and begin to recover in the second half of the year. In 2021, volume could recover to 23.2 million units, based on current forecasts.

In Europe, COVID-19 lockdowns remain firmly in place for Italy, Spain, France and the UK, though show signs of easing in Germany. Prior to the pandemic, Europe had already faced uncertainty on the CO2 fleet target timetable and UK and European Union trade talks. Europe will see mixed recovery cycles, as a result of local restrictions and varied economic support and stimulus. Planning is further plagued by varied containment restrictions across the region, and recovery strategies are a work in progress. The forecast is for Europe to see sales fall 24.6 percent to 15.5 million units.

North America is forecast to see sales drop 26.7 percent y/y in 2020. In the U.S. a consumer-led recession looks inevitable for 2020 and autos face a bleak demand slump. There is no national consistency on rules relative to sales activity or duration for stay-at-home orders; there remains risk of another increase in infections, which could result in another wave of state or local-level restrictions, changing the dynamic again. IHS Markit expects that the known monetary and fiscal measures are not enough to prevent a collapse in auto sales, and in 2020, the U.S. market sales forecast is 12.5 million units.

Production expected to reflect demand levels

Affected first by stay-at-home orders in effort to contain the virus and then by expected weak demand, global light vehicle production is now expected to drop to 69.3 million units in 2020 a 19.6-million-unit decline from 2019, according to the latest IHS Markit forecast.

Though production remains essentially shuttered in Europe, North America and South America, China has resumed. For shuttered regions, automakers are developing production re-start plans, factoring in production/capacity implications relative to instituting social distancing, various virus testing options and providing personal protective equipment (PPE). Global automakers can take best practices and lessons learned from re-starting in China to other markets, though are still restricted by local economic restrictions and consumer demand.

The primary driver of the latest outlook for Greater China includes delayed and sluggish resumption of operations in the Hubei province. Output is forecast to drop to 20.9 million units in 2020, compared with 24.7 million in 2019. Further, for many European OEMs in China, the comprehensive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe may create shortage of key components and bottlenecks in China production. Similar risks for Japanese OEMs in China exist as well, as facilities for semiconductors and other components have been shut down in the ASEAN region in recent weeks. Despite modest improvement in the pace of production in the summer, demand is expected to remain low given the broader global macroeconomic conditions.

In Europe, expectations for declines in production are broad-based, impacting essentially all OEMs in the region as plants have been shuttered to comply with mandated lockdown measures. With regard to restarting production, a mixed picture is emerging with some plants resuming production in late April and others extended to early May all under a fairly slow, methodical ramp-up scenario. The deterioration in the macroeconomic outlook and the broad COVID-19 containment measures have resulted in material reductions in the demand outlook. Production is forecast to drop to 15.9 million units, compared with 21.1 million in 2019.

In North America, IHS Markit forecasts further deterioration relating to the COVID-19 crisis and its impacts on U.S. auto sales. The 2020 forecast reflects a nine-week shutdown across the region with production for most plants expected to resume beginning the week of May 18. April production is projected at roughly 4,300 units, marking the lowest monthly production level since 1945, following the end of World War II. Production is expected to return at a gradual pace with reduced shifts and continue to ramp-up through the second quarter of 2020. Further, the forecast reflects manufacturers utilizing summer shutdowns to assess inventory and demand, making additional plant adjustments to ensure worker safety and resuming maintenance and retooling efforts where needed. The latest IHS Markit forecast sees North American production dropping to 12.2 million units, from 16.3 million in 2019.

In Japan, lost volume related to the COVID-19 outbreak will reach over 400,000 units by the end of June as the Japanese government announced extended lockdowns in various parts of the country. Full-year 2020 Japan production is now expected to decline by 20.4 percent y/y to 7.3 million units. In South Korea, automakers have been operating normally since the 4th week of February. However, production adjustments are expected in the second and third quarters due to reduced demand, as the COVID-19 outbreak started to intensify in the middle of March. Export demand from Europe and the United States, which accounts for more than 60 percent of total exports from South Korea, has been materially downgraded. As a result, full-year 2020 Korea production is forecast at 3.2 million units, declining by 16.7 percent relative to 2019.

About IHS Markit(www.ihsmarkit.com)

IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world's leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.

Automotive offerings and expertise at IHS Markit span every major market and the entire automotive value chain-from product planning to marketing, sales and the aftermarket. For additional information, please visit www.ihsmarkit.com/automotive or email automotive@ihsmarkit.com.

IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners 2020 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved.

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PONTOON BEACH  A St. Louis man faces felony charges after allegedly making false claims about someone trying to kill him and shots being fired inside Menasha Packaging on Tuesday.

Johnny B. Sesson, 27, is charged with one count of disorderly conduct and one count of possession of methamphetamines. The case was presented to the Madison County States Attorneys Office Wednesday.

Sessons bond was set at $50,000. He was being held at Madison County Jail awaiting a psychological evaluation as of Wednesday afternoon.

The charges come after Pontoon Beach Police Department received a 911 call from a male suspect, who was later identified as Sesson, at 8 a.m. Tuesday reporting shots being fired inside Menasha Packaging. The warehouse  which is Sessons place of work  is located at 9 Gateway Commerce Center Drive.

Officers arrived on the scene about two minutes after the initial call, Pontoon Beach Police Chief Chris Modrusic said. Upon arrival, Modrusic said, a warehouse supervisor told officers he did not hear any gunshots or see anything out of the ordinary.

Several agencies from around Madison County were called for mutual-aid assistance. Multiple searches produced no active shooter or evidence that any shots were fired inside or outside of the building.

No injuries occurred in the incident and no weapon was found after about three hours on scene.

During a search of the roughly 200 employees that were evacuated, Sesson approached an officer and stated he was the 911 caller.

Modrusic said Sesson then pointed out another male who he claimed was the suspect.

Sesson was placed in the back of an unmarked squad car and the alleged suspect was detained before both were transported to the Pontoon Beach Police Department for further questioning.

The departments detective interviewed both subjects and determined there were never any threats made or shots fired by the detained male or any other Menasha employee.

The detained male was released without charges.
His campaign has strongly denied it but pressure is mounting on Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential hopeful, to personally respond to a sexual assault allegation made by a former Senate aide.

Tara Reade, 56, claims that the assault took place in 1993, when she was a 29-year-old staff assistant in the office of Biden, then a US senator from Delaware.

Kate Bedingfield, Bidens deputy campaign manager and communications director, issued a statement dismissing the allegation but there has been no comment so far from the 77-year-old former vice president himself.

Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women, Bedingfield said in the April 13 statement.

What is clear about this claim: it is untrue, she said. This absolutely did not happen.

The denial has however done little to calm media coverage of the claims, which have drowned out other news about Biden, such as his search for a running mate, who he has pledged will be a woman.

President Donald Trumps campaign manager Brad Parscale has flooded his Twitter feed with mocking references to Reades allegation, ignoring the string of accusations made by women against his own candidate.

More than a dozen women have accused the real estate mogul of sexual misconduct before he became president, including a writer who claims he raped her in a Manhattan department store.

Biden has not been asked directly about Reades allegation in the interviews he has given from his Delaware home, where he has been confined because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The question has also not come up at the various online events he has held, including one on Tuesday during which 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton endorsed his White House bid.

- Had me up against the wall -

According to Reade, the assault took place in August 1993 in a hallway on Capitol Hill.

We were alone, and it was the strangest thing, Reade said in a late March interview on the Katie Halper Show podcast. There was no, like, exchange, really, he just had me up against the wall.

His hands were on me and underneath my clothes and, yeah, he went, he went down my skirt but then up inside it and he penetrated me with his fingers, she said.

He was kissing me at the same time, she said.

Reade said she pulled away and Biden allegedly said: Come on man, I heard you liked me.

For me everything shattered at that moment, Reade said.

Reade has since recounted her story to several other media outlets and according to US press reports, she filed a complaint with the Washington police in early April but did not name Biden.

Other women have accused Biden of touching or embracing them inappropriately in the past, and Reades initial claims were similar -- less severe than her most recent allegations.

The New York Times reported that it had interviewed Reade on multiple occasions, along with her friends and others who worked for Biden in the early 1990s.

According to the Times, no former Biden staffers corroborated her account, and a pattern of misconduct was not uncovered.

A friend said Reade had told her about the alleged assault at the time. A second friend said Reade told her in 2008 of a traumatic experience while working in Bidens office.

Reade said she had also related the incident to her brother.

The allegations have led some supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders, who dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination and endorsed Biden, to call on the former vice president to end his White House bid.

Now is the time to deal with the ramifications of Tara Reades accusations, not this fall, said Claire Sandberg, the former national organizing director of the Sanders campaign.

There is simply no moral justification for Biden to continue as the presumptive nominee, Sandberg said.

Out of respect for survivors and for the good of the country, he should withdraw from the race.

elc/cl/sst
The statements by LaCasse are far more troubling. Her on-the-record remarks come in addition to an account by another friend of Reades, who declined to be named, that Reade told her about the assault at the time. Reades brother told The Post that she had told him that Biden behaved inappropriately by touching her neck and shoulders. But it was not until several days after the initial interview that he added in a text that Biden had put his hand under her clothes. The brother first told ABC that he had heard Reades account of the assault only this spring, then texted to clarify that she had told him that in 1993.
HOUSTON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular dividend of ten cents ($0.10) per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be paid on May 28, 2020 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 14, 2020.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading independent natural gas producer, with its entire resource base located in the continental United States. For additional information, visit the Company's homepage at www.cabotog.com.

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It was confirmed on Wednesday that Gigi Hadid is expecting a baby girl with on-and-off boyfriend and former member of One Direction Zayn Malik, 27.

And the 25-year-old Supermodel appeared to be taking all the proper pregnancy precautions, when she took to Instagram to show off the vodka-free pasta dish she conjured up for dinner.

'Yummy [and] easy spicy vodka sauce, but have no vodka... so without, but still gooood,' captioned Hadid, who is reportedly five-months along.

None for her: Gigi Hadid appeared to be taking all the proper pregnancy precautions, when she took to Instagram to show off the Vodka-free pasta dish she conjured up for dinner

In the snapshot - seen by Hadid's nearly 53million followers - there were two plates filled to the brim with noodles and topped with a generous amount of parmesan cheese.

Hadid was generous enough to provide fans with a step-by-step demonstration as to how she created the delectable pasta dish from scratch.

'Recipe for two tonight,' wrote Gigi, who many presumed was crafting a plate for beau Zayn.

TMZ initially confirmed the news of Gigi's pregnancy, as well as the baby's gender, on Wednesday morning, while her mom Yolanda, 56, offered her own confirmation to Dutch broadcasting station RTL Boulevard.

Baby onboard: It was confirmed on Wednesday that Hadid is expecting a baby girl with on-and-off boyfriend and former member of One Direction Zayn Malik, 27; the pair pictured in 2016 in New York

Dinner for two: 'Recipe for two tonight,' wrote Gigi, who many presumed was crafting a plate for Zayn

The news outlet reported that, both, Zayn and Gigi had shared the news of their impending daughter with close family and friends.

In her interview with RTL Boulevard, Yolanda admitted that she is 'still shocked' by the news, but that the Hadid family is 'so excited' to welcome the couple's little one.

'I'm excited to become a grandmother in September especially after I lost my mom so recently.'

In August last year, the former supermodel revealed her mother Ans van den Herik had passed away at the age of 78 following a battle with cancer.

Chef Gigi: Hadid was generous enough to provide fans with a step-by-step demonstration as to how she created the delectable pasta dish from scratch

'But this is the beauty of life, one soul leaves us and a new one comes in. We feel very blessed,' she added.

Yolanda shares Gigi with ex husband Mohamed Hadid, 71, who she divorced in 2000.

The former couple also share 23-year-old daughter Bella and 20-year-old son Anwar.

Speculation surrounding Gigi's pregnancy began earlier in the week, when some online sleuths began to wonder if the model's 25th birthday party had doubled as a gender reveal.

Evidence of this claim included pink balloons, pink 'Hello Little One' gift bags and pink cakes spotted in the background of photographs from the celebration.

Grandmother-to-be: In her interview with RTL Boulevard, Yolanda admitted that she is 'still shocked' by the news, but that the Hadid family is 'so excited' to welcome the couple's little one; Yolanda (left) pictured with Gigi and Zayn

For the quarantined birthday party, Gigi was joined by Yolanda, Zayn, sister Bella, and some of their close family friends.

In photographs taken during the party - held at Yolanda's Pennsylvania ranch - Gigi sported a black turtleneck and attempted to conceal her burgeoning baby bump beneath a pair of high waisted jeans.

Gigi posed for a variety of snaps alongside Bella before taking a few photos with her beau Zayn.

Despite the happy news, it's been a rocky four-year relationship for Gigi and Zayn, who have been on-and-off since 2015.

The pair met for the first time on set of Zayn's music video for his song Pillow Talk, where Gigi played video vixen.

Speculation: Speculation surrounding Gigi's pregnancy began earlier in the week, when some online sleuths began to wonder if the model's 25th birthday party had doubled as a gender reveal

Baby bump: In photographs taken during the party - held at Yolanda's Pennsylvania ranch - Gigi sported a black turtleneck and attempted to conceal her burgeoning baby bump beneath a pair of high waisted jeans

They confirmed their coupledom, when they were photographed leaving Justin Bieber's American Music Awards after-party together that same year.

The pair reconciled in December of last year after a year long split, during which time she briefly dated former Bachelorette contestant Tyler Cameron.

In an interview with i-D Magazine back in February, Gigi hinted at the idea of eventually having children and starting a family of her own.

'I think that as I get older, well one day I'll start a family and I don't know if I will always be modeling,' said the Vogue covergirl.

'I love the creative side of fashion, it's so fulfilling. The people I work with make me so happy, I'm so lucky to be around them. But who knows? Maybe I'll take up full time cooking!'
US President, Donald Trump, has continued his criticism of the United Nation's chief health body, the World Health Organization (WHO), calling the organization a 'Pipe organ' for China during the Coronavirus outbreak.



Earlier in April, Trump froze payments of close to $500m to the WHO, accusing the health body of working with China to cover up the spread of the virus.



Trump has also asked US intelligence agencies to find out if China and the WHO covered up knowledge about the early spread of COVID-19, a disease that has affected 3,207,285 worldwide while 227,369 deaths have been recorded .



Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, Trump and other world leaders have blasted China for its lack of transparency and for hiding the true number of coronavirus cases in China.



Trump on Wednesday blasted the WHO and China saying China misled us, then he now said the WHO should have been looking out for the interest of the US and other nations of the world rather than China as the US payment to the WHO is about $500 million compared to Chinas contribution of around $38 million.



They must have known more than they knew, he told reporters about the UN agency during a meeting with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in the Oval Office.



We knew things that they didnt know, and either they didnt know they didnt tell us  right now, theyre literally a pipe organ for China, thats the way I view it, the president said.



''Despite the difference in payments they seem to work for China, and they should have been in there early on. They should have known what was going on. And they should have been able to stop it, Trump said.









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Minnie Driver has admitted she's been keeping quiet amid the coronavirus lockdown as she thinks no one wants to see celebrities broadcasting from their luxurious homes.

The actress, 50, who joked she has been passing the time by getting drunk in her underwear, said she has been watching certain celebrities on social media during the pandemic and thinks they shouldn't 'say anything about what [they're] doing'.

Speaking to Vulture, she said: 'Celebrities have been really coming in for it. Ive been keeping really f*****g quiet, but Ive been watching [other celebrities] like, just put up another awesome video of, you know, somebody doing something funny that will make people smile.

Laying low: Minnie Driver, 50, has been keeping quiet amid the coronavirus lockdown as she thinks no one wants to see celebrities broadcasting from their luxurious homes

'Thats the extent of our duties right now. Dont say anything about what youre doing, because, oh my God. Its bad right now.'

Minnie recently shared an Instagram that featured a Finnish term called 'Pantsdrunk' that refers to people getting drunk at home while sitting in their underwear.

The Will and Grace star joked that's what she has been up to during lockdown as she gave further advice to celebrities, saying: 'Anything thats like, You know, Im just doing laps in my pool  nobody wants to hear that!'

Minnie suggested they open a bottle of wine and drink in their underwear like everyone else instead.

Lockdown: Minnie has been watching certain celebrities on social media during the lockdown and thinks they shouldn't 'say anything about what [they're] doing' (pictured in February)

The actress is self-isolating in Los Angeles with her fiance Addison O'Dea and her son Henry, 11, who she shares with her ex Timothy J Lea.

Minnie said that whenever she feels stressed during lockdown, she FaceTimes her mother or her friends, saying its comforting knowing everyone is going through the same thing.

During the interview, the film star also reminisced on her early days of fame after she became widely known from starring in Good Will Hunting opposite Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

Post: Minnie shared an Instagram that featured a term called 'Pantsdrunk' that refers to people getting drunk at home in their underwear and joked that's what she has been doing

The actress said she knew no one wanted to hear about the difficulties of being famous considering all of the perks that come along with it but she did find the experience 'overwhelming'.

Minnie's comments come after actress Gal Gadot received criticism from social media users for uploading a video featuring several celebrities singing John Lennon's Imagine.

While the video was intended to lift people's spirits during lockdown, many thought the video was out of touch, saying they didn't want to see stars like Will Ferrell, Jamie Dornan, Natalie Portman and Mark Ruffalo isolating in luxury.

Couple: Minnie is self-isolating in Los Angeles with her fiance Addison O'Dea and her son Henry, 11 (pictured in January 2020)

The Israeli starlet said she was inspired by a viral video of an Italian man playing trumpet for his neighborhood as the country continues its lockdown.

'There was something so powerful and pure about this video,' Gal said before kicking off the song.

Things persists with a new celebrity delivering each line including Eddie Benjamin, Jimmy Fallon, and Sia.

Gal even enlisted the original Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, along with Leslie Odom Jr., Pedro Pascal, Chris O'Dowd and Dawn O'Porter.

Star-studded: Gal Gadot recruited several A-list stars to take part in the video which was widely criticised as the celebrities were all isolating in their luxurious homes

Although he has not seen any of the online criticism himself, Jamie Dornan admitted he could understand why some people were unimpressed with the video.

Speaking on the Tea With Me podcast, he said: 'Ill tell you what the problem was. I literally did mine in the toilet of my house. Quite clearly, some people had escaped to their second home.

'Theres too much acreage in the background, too many beautiful trees swaying in the background, clearly in front of an ocean, that sort of craic. I was quite aware of that whenever I was doing it, to make it normal.'
The education department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducted a lottery for admissions to its newly opened Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) schools on Thursday morning. The lottery was conducted only with a select few officials from the department and was broadcasted online for parents.

There were a total of 332 applications for the 308 seats in Woollen Mills Municipal School in Mahim, which is set to be affiliated to ICSE board. While lottery was carried out for junior KG to Class 1, all students who had applied for Classes 2 to 6 got in. For Poonam Nagar Municipal School in Jogeshwari (East), which is set to be affiliated with the CBSE board, there were over 2,000 applications for 308 seats. Of the total application 1,510 were found valid after scrutiny. Lottery for both of these schools was conducted simultaneously on Thursday.

In both of these schools, each class has a capacity of 38 students. In the first year, these schools would run pre-primary to Class 6 under the new board.

Students who have made it to the schools would get a text message on their parents phones. In the coming days, parents have to fill out a form to confirm admission.

While the academic year for both these schools is set to begin in June, a decision with respect to the dates would be taken depending on the situation in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, students would be given some online learning resources to keep them engaged.

This is a first-of-its-kind initiative for students under BMC, and we are happy that it is materialising, said Sainath Durge, member of the BMCs education committee.

Admissions in both these schools would be free. Students who are admitted in these schools would have to study Marathi as a compulsory third language. A number of teachers, who are already teaching in BMC schools, have been selected through a rigorous process to become a part of the board. The move hopes to bring in more students to municipal schools, which over the years have been struggling to get students.
This aerial photo shows deserted roads during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in New Delhi on March 27, 2020.

The International Energy Agency said Thursday it expects global energy demand to plunge this year in what the Paris-based agency called the biggest drop since World War II.



With roughly 4.2 billion people around the world subject to some form of lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the IEA is forecasting a 6% decline in energy demand for the year. In absolute terms this is the largest on record. Percentage wise, it's the steepest decline in 70 years.

The demand hit from the pandemic is expected to be seven times greater than the decline in the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008.

"In absolute terms, the decline is unprecedented  the equivalent of losing the entire energy demand of India, the world's third largest energy consumer," the agency's Global Energy Report said.

The projections are based on the assumption that shelter-in-place and social distancing measures will slowly ease in the coming months, with a gradual economic recovery following. Under a faster return-to-business scenario, the IEA said demand loss could be limited to 3.8%, while a possible second wave of the virus could cause a greater than 6% decline.

"This is a historic shock to the entire energy world. Amid today's unparalleled health and economic crises, the plunge in demand for nearly all major fuels is staggering, especially for coal, oil and gas," IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in a statement.

"It is still too early to determine the longer-term impacts, but the energy industry that emerges from this crisis will be significantly different from the one that came before," he added.
In a significant development, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday wrote a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) requesting it to declare polls to the nine vacant seats of the state Legislative Council "at the earliest".

Koshyari's decision to request the poll panel to hold elections comes despite the state cabinet's two recommendations to the him to nominate Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the Upper House of the state legislature through the governor's quota. He has to get elected to either House of the legislature by May 27.

A statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said a letter written by Uddhav Thackeray requesting the governor to write to the ECI regarding holding of the biennial elections was handed over to him on Thursday evening.

The letter was handed over by state Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena secretary Milind Narvekar, it said.

The biennial elections to the nine seats from the MLAs' quota, which fell vacant on April 24, were postponed by the ECI in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thackeray was sworn in as the chiefminister on November 28 last year when he was not a member of the legislature. As per the rule, he has to get elected as legislator within six months.

The tenure of the two vacant seats from the governor quota ends by mid-June.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat, the legislature party leader of the Congress said that Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress have written separate letters to the ECI requesting it to hold elections to the nine vacant council seats to avoid uncertainty over continuance of Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister.

Thorat said the letter mentions that the MVA, comprising Sena, NCP and Congress, enjoys a clear majority in the Legislative Assembly and Thackeray has won the vote of confidence in the 288-member state assembly.

Thorat said that in his letter to the ECI, he has mentioned that social distancing norms and all lockdown protocols will be followed during the election process.

Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the decision of the governor to write to the ECI.

He said the governor has followed the constitutional norms and precedent that a governor-nominated member should not be a minister or a chief minister.

"I am confident that the ECI will consult the Ministry of Home Affairs and announce the election dates soon. I wish the chief minister well. Ina democratic process, solutions can be found through dialogue. There is no point in criticising a person holding a constitutional post," he said.

Among the nine seats which fell vacant the BJP had three, Congress two, NCP three and Shiv Sena one. But according to the present numbers in the Assembly, BJP is slated to get four, Shiv Sena and NCP two each and Congress one.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japan is preparing to extend its state of emergency over the CCP virus, originally set to end on May 6, for about a month, government sources told Reuters on April 30, even as some other countries begin to reopen after strict lockdowns.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament that he would consult infectious disease experts on whether to extend the emergency, which he declared on April 7 for seven prefectures including Tokyo.

Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said the meeting with the experts would start at 10 a.m. local time on Friday.

The state of emergency gives local governors greater power to tell people to stay at home and ask businesses to close, but it does not mandate penalties in most cases for non-compliance, relaying instead on social pressure and respect for authority.

With the emergency declaration set to conclude at the end of Golden Week holidays, there remain worrying signs that Japans low testing regime has undercounted many CCP virus cases.

At the same time, data showing consumer confidence at a record low along with slumps in factory output and retail sales illustrated the economic damage from the CCP virus.

We would like to consult experts analysts and views, Abe said in parliament, referring to a possible extension of the emergency. He said he wanted to make a decision before the last minute.

Japan has had more than 14,000 confirmed cases of the CCP virus and 436 deaths, according to public broadcaster NHK, still far lower figures seen in the United States and Europe.

Of the confirmed cases, more than 4,000 were in Tokyo, with 46 new cases on Thursday, media reported.

A study using antibody tests among people in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo indicated nearly 6 percent of people had been exposed to the CCP virus, the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper reported, echoing a similar study of patients at Keio University Hospital.

Faster  Shorter

Japan has carried out 1.3 CCP virus tests per 1,000 people, compared with 12 in South Korea and 18 in the United States, according to figures compiled by Our World in Data.

Japan should have acted faster, locked down, and contained in a shorter period of time, said Kenji Shibuya, director of the Institute of Population Health at Kings College, London.

If this situation continues, for a longer period of time, than that under the lockdown, then not just health care but the economy will suffer more.

Health authorities say they follow World Health Organization guidelines on testing, and that an expansion of testing could flood already overwhelmed hospitals with mild cases.

Abe will make a final decision about extending the emergency declaration by about a month following a meeting of experts on Friday, government and ruling party sources told Reuters.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike told reporters on Wednesday the situation in the capital remained difficult and called on Abes cabinet to extend the emergency.

The response of social media users ranged from resignation to frustration at not being able to meet relatives or friends. But many more worried about the economic impact, especially on smaller businesses.

If you extend it another month for the whole nation, you will have to pay out subsidies to businessesand 100,000 yen to each resident also wont nearly be enough, wrote on social media user called Katuotoko.

Places with low infection rates need to get the economy moving again.

Japan has rolled out more than $1 trillion to soften the economic blow from the CCP virus pandemic.

By Yoshifumi Takemoto

NTD staff contributed to this report.
A total of 309 MPs of 382 registered in the session hall backed the relevant decision.

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, has passed a resolution to appeal to foreign parliaments and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn Russia's ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and the occupation of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, political repression against Ukraine nationals, and toward the release political prisoners  citizens of Ukraine (No. 3068).

A total of 309 MPs of 382 registered in the session hall backed the relevant decision, an UNIAN correspondent reports.

The Verkhovna Rada appeals to continue the policy of non-recognition of the Crimea grab and to condemn Russia's actions aimed against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine as contrary to generally recognized principles and norms of international law. Deputies also ask foreign partners to intensify political, diplomatic, and sanction pressure on the occupying state until it completely ceases armed aggression and restores sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The Verkhovna Rada also calls to condemn violations by the Russian occupying administration of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the temporarily occupied territories; apply all international political, diplomatic and sanction mechanisms available toward the Russian Federation aimed at immediate release of all persons who have been captured as a result of Russia's ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as all other Ukrainian citizens whom Russia illegally holds in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Sevastopol, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and on own territory.

The parliament calls to demand from Russia that they abandon the expansion of aggressive moves in the Black Sea region, practices of blocking for commercial navigation large areas of the Black and Azov Seas under the pretext of military exercises, practices of blocking Ukrainian ports using hybrid tools, and to adhere to all norms and requirements of international maritime law.

Read alsoFinland should brace for Russian hybrid aggression  experts

The Verkhovna Rada also calls on partners to demand from Russia to lift the ban on the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and provide access to education in Ukrainian; condemn Russia's actions on persecuting people for expressing their opinions and on religious basis, for participating in peaceful assemblies, associations; and to demand the free development of traditions and cultural identities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Parliament also calls to demand from the Russian Federation to cease deportation of the civilian population of the temporarily occupied Crimea and Sevastopol and the resettlement of Russian citizens to the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, which leads to the altering of demographics in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.

Also, Parliament calls to condemn Russia's illegal construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait and its use as a means of illegally crossing the Russian-Ukrainian border by road and rail; demand from the Russian Federation to ensure unhindered and proper access of established international human rights mechanisms to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to continuously monitor the situation in the field of human rights.

The Verkhovna Rada calls for applying all possible sanctions against individuals and legal entities, government bodies of the Russian Federation, bodies of the Russian occupying authorities involved in the implementation of the occupation policy in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and gross violations of human rights.

Separately, the Ukrainian parliament calls to demand from the Russian Federation to stop trying to expand its jurisdiction over nuclear facilities and infrastructure in the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, and the use of captured Ukrainian defense industry enterprises; demand from the Russian Federation a halt in the buildup of military presence in the Black and Azov seas.

In addition, the Verkhovna Rada calls for an end to the massive looting of cultural assets belonging to Ukraine from the temporarily occupied territories to the territory of Russia, and to force the Russian Federation to return the illegally displaced cultural assets exported from the Russian territory.

Lawmakers also call for providing the international community with clear assurances regarding non-deployment of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Read alsoRussia once again refutes direct participation in Donbas conflict

"To refuse all types of military cooperation with the Russian Federation, including with the holding of joint military drills and transfer of defense technology, as well as to refrain from actions and statements that will encourage the Russian Federation to continue its aggressive and militaristic foreign policy, including the continued armed aggression against Ukraine," reads the report.

The resolution shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
The Spanish government confirmed on Thursday that it will set time slots for adults to go out for walks and to exercise. According to the communication state secretary, the deescalation expert committee, which is headed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, reached the decision on Thursday based on the figures which show a positive evolution of the pandemic in Spain.

The Spanish Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of daily coronavirus deaths had fallen to 268, the lowest figure since March 20.

One of the goals of the timetable is to protect seniors, who are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus

Starting this weekend, adults will be allowed to go outside as part of the deescalation of the coronavirus confinement measures. Since Sunday of last week, children under the age of 14 have been allowed to go out for supervised walks within a one-kilometer radius of their homes and for no longer than an hour.

But it is not yet known what conditions will apply to the rest of the population. The health minister, Salvador Illa, said the plan would be organized in collaboration with regional governments and local officials, who have the authority to open municipal parks. All this has to be discussed at length so that there is not a mass exit of people, so that we can combine childrens outings, couples going for a walk and also exercise, he said.

A ministerial order will set out how the rest of the population will be able to go out onto the street, what time slots will be involved, as well as the time and distance limits that will be applied. The health minister was scheduled to announce these conditions on Thursday morning, but the press conference has been pushed back to 6pm. At noon, Illa told Spains lower house, the Congress of Deputies, that the measures were being finalized.

On Monday, Illa met with regional health chiefs to discuss proposals for how trips outside should be regulated. Many of these regional leaders argued that time slots should be set in order to avoid crowds, after photos on Sunday showed families allegedly breaking social distancing measures. The government, however, insisted on Monday that no serious breaches were committed on the first day of children outings.

Families enjoying the seaside promenade in Barcelona on Sunday. MASSIMILIANO MINOCRI

Some of the regions that proposed setting specific times by age group include Catalonia, the Canary Islands and Andalusia. The latter regions government believes that the ideal time to avoid contagion would be for seniors to go out for walks in the morning  from 9am to 2pm  and for children to go out in the afternoon, from 4pm to 9pm.

The plan proposed by the Catalan regional government involves four different schedules. It suggests the following: individual exercise and sport from 6am to 8am, outings for seniors and people with disabilities from 9am to 11am, and childrens outings from 11am to 6pm. The hour between 8am and 9am would be reserved for people who need to commute for work.

The Canary regional government proposed dividing the population into two groups. Under this plan, people who have a street address that falls on an odd number will be allowed to go out on odd-numbered days, for example May 3, 5, 7, and vice versa for street addresses with even numbers.

One of the goals of setting a timetable is to protect seniors, who are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus. Under the governments Plan for the Transition Toward a New Normality, seniors will be allocated a special time to go to shops once these reopen.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:20:41|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday replied to a letter from the staff of a large private service company, extending greetings to them and other working people across the country ahead of the International Labor Day.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, praised the hard work of workers at Yuanfang Group in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, during the COVID-19 epidemic, in answering the letter from the company's head written on their behalf. Enditem
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 17:59 622 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd54b54a 1 Business Gojek,Moka,acquisition,technology,start-up,App,cashier Free

Gojek has announced that it has acquired Indonesian payments start-up Moka to boost the digital operations of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially during the pandemic.

Gojek co-CEO Andre Soelistyo said online businesses had better resilience than their offline counterparts during the COVID-19 pandemic as offline stores were highly dependent on the physical arrival of consumers.

We want to help more offline businesses go online through this collaboration with Moka, he said in a written statement. We want to help MSMEs to grow and be better equipped to face competition in the digital era.

The deal, which had reportedly been in discussions since last year, was worth US$130 million, sources familiar with the issue told Bloomberg.com. Gojek chief of corporate affairs Nila Marita declined to comment on the value of acquisition when contacted by The Jakarta Post.

Moka co-founder and CEO Haryanto Tanjo said that, through the acquisition, the two companies could combine their services by using Mokas point-of-sales system to accept food delivery orders from GoFood.

Being a part of Gojeks ecosystem will give us access to its user networks and hopefully help our users to become successful in both online and offline business  an important survival and recovery aspect in times of pandemic, he said.

Moka will continue operating as part of Gojeks ecosystem but will retain its independent entity. The start-up was established in 2014 and has 40,000 users in 200 cities across Indonesia. Its application offers programs ranging from bookkeeping and inventory to sales analysis. (eyc)
A 52-year-old driver stopped by Oregon state troopers Tuesday near Grants Pass told police he was driving home to Wisconsin.

Police said they eventually allowed the man to continue his journey, but not without a citation for illegal export of marijuana.

Troopers said they found 132 pounds of marijuana in the mans car.

State police said they stopped the driver on Interstate 5, and the man told them he had flown into Medford. Troopers said they noticed something was amiss and searched his car. Thats when they discovered dozens of vacuum-packed bags of marijuana inside two duffle bags, police said.

The discovery led to the illegal export citation. The driver, identified by police as Bryant Oglen, was eventually released.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
Royal Dutch Shell: "I say 'no thank you'."

Childrens Place Inc.: "We're not recommending any retailers here, other than the WATCH retailers of Walmart, Amazon, Target, Costco ... and Home Depot."

Franco-Nevada Corp.: "I like Franco-Nevada very much, but you now I don't like it as much as Barrick, but FNV's been real, real good. I think you've got a winner there. Matter fact, if that comes back any more, I would tell you to buy some more."

Cracker Barrel: "I have always felt that Cracker Barrel is cheap ... but right now I want to stay away" because "people aren't driving that much."

United Parcel Service: "If you can get it at $90, I would tell you that that's where you want to go."

Exelixis: "We like the cancer treatment specs."

Raytheon Technologies: "I don't like aerospace right here. ... I say you get a little lower and then you're good."
Bar Council of India (BCI) should "consider assisting its brethren" keeping in view the prevailing situation, the Supreme Court Thursday said while hearing a plea seeking creation of an emergency fund for independent practising advocates who are in need of financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana, which was hearing the plea through video-conferencing, said it cannot pass direction for creation of funds and set up a special category for lawyers when unfortunately the entire country is facing a difficult situation.

"Having heard the petitioner-in-person and taking into consideration the grievance of the petitioner, we are of the opinion that the best course is that the Bar Council of India should consider assisting its brethren, keeping in view the prevailing situation," the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and B R Gavai, said.

The bench, which disposed of the petition, observed during the hearing that some bar councils have taken up this issue and have also decided to help independent lawyers.

"This is something for the BCI to consider," the bench told advocate Pawan Prakash Pathak, who filed the petition.

The apex court, while referring to the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, said the whole country is suffering and lawyers are also a part of it.

Pathak referred to the provision of the Advocates Act and said the BCI, an apex body of lawyers regulating the legal profession, is responsible for safeguarding the rights, privileges and interests of advocates.

He said that courts and tribunals are closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown and independent practising lawyers are left with no other source of income.

He argued that the top court can direct the BCI to take action in this regard as also for the future.

However, the bench said it is for the BCI to consider as to how well it is in a position to help.

Pathak, who filed the plea along with advocate Alok Singh, said that "advocates are also hit by this lockdown and facing financial crunch and if the lockdown further extend then this pose a serious threat to the life and liberty of the advocates who have litigation as there only source of income."



The plea has claimed that various state bar associations across the country are coming up with financial aid scheme for advocates but there is "no uniformity or equality" in those policies.

It has also sought a direction to the BCI and bar council of states to frame a policy for fund disbursal to independent advocates who are in dire need of financial assistance within specified time limit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Many more jobs will be lost and companies will go out of business if the coronavirus lockdown is extended beyond May 7, an expert has claimed.

Gareth Latimer, a director at business advisory firm Grant Thornton, made the prediction as the Prime Minister announced that an exit strategy would be unveiled next week.

"It is likely we will see an increase in both personal and corporate insolvencies, given the economic circumstances," Mr Latimer said.

"Obviously, if the economy suffers a deep recession, there will be more corporate failures.

"If unemployment rises as expected, there will be more personal insolvencies.

"The outlook is not positive. However, the Government support is an attempt to limit the effects of the crisis."

Mr Latimer's warning came before the CBI said the UK economy had suffered a "momentous downturn" in the first quarter of the year, with a 25% fall in private sector activity - the steepest decline in 11 years.

Economic development agency Invest NI said 29 of its client companies had made redundancies and 500 had furloughed a total of 30,000 staff.

First Minister Arlene Foster said the economy suffered a loss of approximately 1.3billion for each month of lockdown.

Gareth Hetherington, director of the Economic Policy Centre at Ulster University, said it was not known whether each successive month of lockdown compounded the impact.

He added: "If the lockdown extends, the cost will certainly increase. The questions are, by how much and who bears the greater cost between households, businesses and the Government?"

Business advisory firm EY estimated that the number of job losses resulting from the current restrictions could range from 78,000 to 132,000.

That is likely to increase by hundreds more if lockdown is extended.

Stephen Kelly, the chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said he was opposed to extending the lockdown "in its bluntest form" but would be in favour of a tailored approach under which different parts of the UK would reopen at different times.

Mr Kelly warned that any extension would make life very difficult for companies.

"From the public health point of view, it's understandable - and that's what we need to be focused on - but from the economic point of view, it would be very damaging," he added.

There is a growing understanding that different parts of UK can be different places at different times. We think consideration should be (given to) the local circumstances Stephen Kelly, Manufacturing NI

Mr Kelly also argued for separate arrangements for different parts of the UK.

"Not all of the UK is in the same curve as places like London," he said.

"There is a growing understanding that different parts of UK can be different places at different times. We think consideration should be (given to) the local circumstances."

Manufacturing firms have not been compelled to shut as part of the restrictions and are allowed to remain open where they have suitable safety measures.

Mr Kelly said: "It's not a good thing if lockdown is going to be extended in its bluntest form.

"We have a greater understanding now on how the virus is impacting on communities and how it spreads within those communities, so what's required is a staggering principle on a risk-based analysis.

"The longer lockdown goes on, the deeper the damage, but we all have to be aware of the public health emergency we're in too."

Mr Kelly added he was receiving more queries from members considering making people on the Government's furlough scheme redundant.

Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill, meanwhile, warned of even more suffering ahead for pubs, restaurants and their workforces.

"The longer it goes on, the harder it gets. The Government is going to have to carry on support in various existing and new forms," he said.

Glyn Roberts, the chief executive of Retail NI, which represents independent retailers, said the sector was going through a "worrying, difficult and challenging" time.

While all but essential retailers have been closed, Mr Roberts accepted the authorities "have to be guided by the science".

"The members who have been open, trading and have social distancing in place, will in future be able to give guidance which could apply to other independent retailers," he added.
The hope is really to be there for families when theyre at that rock bottom trauma moment, and remind them that room is theirs, and that space is theirs, and they have a job to do for their child, Scott Kramer said. You dont control treatment, and you dont control outcomes, but the one thing you do control is trying your best to help your kid still be a kid.
CINCINNATI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Halo Health announces it will host a webinar "Best Practices for Implementing a Mobile Clinical Ecosystem" on Thursday, May 21st from 3-4 PM ET. Speakers from Halo Health, Amazon Web Services and Clinical Mobility will discuss strategies, considerations and learnings from complex health system deployments on how to establish a mobile clinical ecosystem. By mobilizing clinical workflow and communication an organization achieves the scale and speed needed for COVID-19 response. Register for the webinar at https://halohealth.zoom.us/webinar/register/4015875724540/WN_-SmplURVToiwYg6KD6zLDw

Best practices for selection, preparation and implementation of the following key mobile clinical ecosystem components will be discussed:

Wi-Fi network

Mobile device and management software

Clinical communication platform hosted in the cloud

EHR and on-premise system integrations

Mobile governance

Examples of positive impact that mobilizing clinical communication has on the organization will also be reviewed:

Expedited COVID-19 team coordination and notifications

Instant delivery of time-sensitive information, such as critical results, to the right person or team

Scalability of communication across the health system and physician community

Technology consolidation

"Now more than ever, mobile clinical communication is just as mission critical to a health system as an EHR," explains Jose Barreau, CEO of Halo Health. "It is essential that a reliable, scalable ecosystem of hardware, software, integrations, services and management is in place to support mobile healthcare growth across health systems' communities," adds Barreau

The Halo Platform

The Halo Platform is a scalable, AWS cloud-based solution that includes secure messaging, on-call, role-based scheduling, VoIP calling, critical results, alerts and care team tools in a unified mobile platform. The Halo Platform's unique workflow management system instantly delivers time-sensitive information to the right person, role, or team. This workflow and communication efficiency results in improved clinical and financial outcomes.

About Halo Health

Halo Health was founded by physicians in 2010 to develop a secure mobile, cloud-based application that bridges gaps in critical real-time clinical communication that cause delays in patient care. The Halo Clinical Communication and Collaboration Platform uniquely supports the complex needs and scale of health systems. The Halo Platform combined with professional services enable health systems to accelerate patient care, increase clinician efficiency and improve financial outcomes. Halo is a strategic technical and clinical workflow partner dedicated to achieving customer objectives such as standardizing communication, consolidating technology and connecting the physician community. Visit www.halohealth.com to schedule a demo.

SOURCE Halo Health

Related Links

http://www.halocommunications.com


Led by UCSF Quantitative Biosciences Institute Director, Nevan Krogan, PhD, international effort including researchers from UCSF, Gladstone Institutes, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Institut Pasteur unveils promising compounds for clinical testing

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An international team of more than 120 scientists has detailed the impact of 75 over-the-counter prescription and development-stage drug compounds on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Several of these agents show promise in blocking SARS-CoV-2 replication in laboratory experiments. One compound investigated in the research, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medicines, appears to have the potential to promote the growth of the virus.



The collaborative study, published in Nature on April 30, 2020, was assembled and led by Nevan Krogan, PhD, director of the Quantitative Biosciences Institute at UC San Francisco and a senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes. As the first hints of the pandemic emerged in January, over a matter of just a few weeks, Krogan formed a rapid-response research team of dozens of scientists and clinicians -- hailing from UCSF, Gladstone, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and Institut Pasteur in Paris -- to search for potential treatments for COVID-19.

Rather than focusing on an antiviral approach to block SARS-CoV-2, the researchers first combined biological and computational techniques to create a "blueprint" of more than 300 human proteins that the virus requires to infect human cells and to thrive and replicate in the body. They then explored the question of which drugs, both those that are currently marketed as well as those in development, might be repurposed to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection by targeting those human proteins.

The researchers emphasized that while the drugs identified in the study are promising, they have only been tested against the virus in laboratory experiments. The researchers do not advocate anyone prescribing and/or using the drugs unless human clinical trials find them to be safe and effective.

Repurposed Compounds that Show Promise for Fighting COVID-19; Further Research Needed

Looking at a list of drugs that interact with the protein blueprint, UCSF researchers Brian Shoichet, PhD, and Kevan Shokat, PhD, led studies employing chemical biology and computational approaches. Two drug categories emerged as promising agents to effectively reduce viral infectivity: protein translation inhibitors (including zotatifin and ternatin-4/plitidepsin), and drugs that modulate proteins inside the cell known as Sigma1 and Sigma2 receptors, including progesterone, PB28, PD-144418, hydroxychloroquine; the antipsychotic drugs haloperidol and cloperazine; siramesine, an antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug; and the antihistamines clemastine and cloperastine.

Among the protein translation inhibitors, the strongest antiviral effect in vitro was seen with zotatifin, which is currently in clinical trials for cancer, and ternatin-4/plitidepsin, which is FDA-approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Among the Sigma1 and Sigma2 modulators, the antipsychotic haloperidol, used to treat schizophrenia, showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Olanzapine, used to treat both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, had no measurable effect on the virus. Two potent antihistamines, clemastine and cloperastine, displayed antiviral activity, as did PB28 and to a lesser extent the female hormone progesterone.

"While a large amount of COVID-19 therapeutic development research focuses on the antivirals and vaccines, we've taken a different approach, targeting the human counterparts and vulnerabilities required for viral infection in a human cell," said Krogan. "Our work leverages approved and development-stage molecules and will help to focus clinical trials toward the most promising agents to combat COVID-19. We also continue to search for additional agents that target the human proteins used by SARS-CoV-2 to expand the armamentarium against the virus," he said.

"While these are early data, we have a high degree of confidence in the results, since similar observations on the antiviral activity of these drugs arose from work done independently at both Mount Sinai and Institut Pasteur. Research at this speed and magnitude could only have been accomplished through a collaborative effort from several scientists at multiple institutions, each bringing unique but complementary skill sets towards a common research goal," said Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, PhD, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Director of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Garcia-Sastre led the virological studies along with Marco Vignuzzi, PhD, principal investigator in the Viral Populations Unit at Institut Pasteur in Paris.

Vignuzzi commented, "This study provides novel potential antiviral strategies that need to be explored, and it is unique in that it extends our knowledge on our basic understanding of how the virus interacts with the host."

PB28 Shows Significantly Greater Antiviral Activity than Hydroxychloroquine

Among drugs targeting Sigma1 and Sigma2 receptors, a preclinical compound called PB28 had approximately 20 times greater antiviral activity than hydroxychloroquine in laboratory experiments, which is being studied as a potential therapy for COVID-19 in multiple clinical trials.

Theory for Cardiac Side Effects of Hydroxychloroquine

The new study presents a possible explanation for the serious cardiac side effects observed in some halted clinical studies of hydroxychloroquine. The researchers showed that, in addition to targeting the Sigma1 and -2 receptors, hydroxychloroquine also binds to a protein known as hERG, which is critical for regulating electrical activity in the heart. These laboratory findings may help explain the possible risks associated with this agent as a potential therapy for COVID-19.

Caution Urged for Dextromethorphan

Finally, the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, which acts on Sigma1 receptors, promoted viral infection in the laboratory experiments, and the researchers said that its use merits caution and warrants further study in the context of COVID-19.

Next Step: Testing Compounds in Animal and Human Clinical Studies for COVID-19

Krogan said the next step is to further investigate the most promising compounds to advance them as quickly as possible through clinical trials. "We are working with several pharma and biotech companies to evaluate the antiviral effectiveness and safety of drug candidates that showed the most promise in our laboratory experiments," he said. "Conversely, because our research shows that dextromethorphan promotes SARS-CoV-2 infection in the laboratory, we urge that this compound be used prudently during the pandemic."

Shokat added, "Our collaborative efforts have successfully mapped the proteins in the human body associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, which has informed swift, science-based drug discovery. Uncovering the proteins targeted by this coronavirus has unveiled compounds across different drug classes that might have otherwise not have been obvious to study in a viral setting."

Background on innovative scientific approach

The researchers introduced the coronavirus proteins into human cells in culture. Once inside the cells, the viral proteins found specific human proteins that they could latch onto-very much as they would during a normal infection.

After identifying these proteins and determining small molecules known to bind them based on prior scientific research, the scientists identified 69 molecules that seemed most promising based on their targeting specificity.

Subsequently, the team assessed the impact of 47 of these compounds in cells infected with live virus, as well as an additional 28 compounds known to act on two key targets identified by other methods. These experiments were required to quickly establish robust and quantitative viral replication inhibition assays under high biocontainment to study the impact of these compounds on the biological cycle of the SARS-CoV-2

Aside from helping scientists quickly identify the most promising drug candidates to pursue, which may result in the initiation of new clinical trials, these results also provide broad insights into SARS-CoV-2 infection. Scientists can use this information to understand or anticipate the effect of experimental treatments already attempted in the clinic. Additionally, this novel approach for drug discovery can be leveraged across other viral and non-viral diseases.

About QBI: The Quantitative Biosciences Institute.

About UCSF: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. UCSF Health, which serves as UCSF's primary academic medical center, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. Learn more at ucsf.edu or see our Fact Sheet .

About Gladstone Institutes: To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impact-unsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. It has an academic affiliation with UC San Francisco. Learn more at gladstone.org .



About the Mount Sinai Health System: The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality care-from prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Department of Microbiology and the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute at ISMMS is comprised of several research groups advancing research and understanding on emerging and re-emerging virus pathogens, and has quickly reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic by dedicating research and clinical resources to mitigate COVID-19. For more information, visit mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.



About the Institut Pasteur and the Institut Pasteur International Network: The Institut Pasteur, a non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status established by Louis Pasteur in 1887, is today an internationally renowned center for biomedical research with a network of 32 institutes worldwide. In the pursuit of its mission to prevent and control diseases in France and throughout the world, the Institut Pasteur operates in four main areas: research, public health, education and training, and development of research applications. A globally recognized leader in infectious diseases, microbiology, and immunology, the institute also investigates cancer, genetic and neurodegenerative diseases, genomics and developmental biology. Its research aims to expand knowledge of the living world in a bid to lay the foundations for new prevention strategies and novel therapeutics. Since its inception, ten Institut Pasteur scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, including two in 2008 for the 1983 discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. Visit pasteur.fr for more information.

Authorship and funding: This work was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Center for Research for Influenza Pathogenesis, the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Centers of Excellence for Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases of the Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

Media Briefing

April 30, 2020

8:00 a.m. PDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 17:00 CEST

Register in advance, or log in live

https://ucsf.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uNP6aRn6QEWUGQk78rGACA
Recently, the IRS and U.S. Treasury began distributing the first round of stimulus checks to taxpayers across the nation. While millions of taxpayers began to receive their stimulus relief, many questions have gone unanswered for some. Retirees, vets and disabled Americans are asking stimulus questions and weve got a few answers here below.

I receive retirement or disability payments and Im not required to file taxes, do I qualify for the stimulus payment?

The stimulus package passed by Congress offered relief to certain low-income citizens including Social Security beneficiaries, railroad retirees, veterans and others with disabilities. So if you didnt file a 2018 or 2019 tax return because you werent required to file, youre still eligible to receive your stimulus payment.

How much will the payment be?

Individuals will receive $1,200, $2,400 for married couples and an extra $500 per qualifying dependents under 17. The payments phase out for individuals who made over $75,000-$99,000 and $150,000-$198,000 for married filers. Its reduced by $5 for every $100 between income limits and then eliminated completely.

I have dependents. How do I receive a stimulus payment for them too?

Non-filing beneficiaries who have dependents under 17 need to take additional steps. To receive payments for qualifying dependents, youll need to add any dependent information to the IRS non-filer portal to ensure they receive the economic impact payment you qualify for. If you didnt do this by April 22, youll have to wait until the next filing season to receive the applicable payments for qualifying children. If you filed your taxes and claimed a dependent on your 2018 or 2019 tax return, the IRS will use that information to determine eligibility, calculate the correct payment automatically and send the payment for taxpayers and their qualifying dependents.

What should I do to get my check?

Most beneficiaries dont need to do anything to get their economic impact payment from the IRS. Those who were required to file a 2018 or 2019 must have a return on file and the IRS will automatically mail or direct deposit the payment using the bank account or mailing address found on the most recent return.

Non-filing beneficiaries with no dependents will automatically receive their stimulus payments the same way they receive their benefits. The vast majority of payments will be directly deposited to a bank account, direct pay debit card and others will be mailed.

I still havent received my stimulus, when can I expect my relief to arrive?

Earlier in April the government began depositing stimulus checks to those who filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return and had their direct deposit information on file. Payment disbursements started in reverse AGI order, so they were issued to those with lower income first. According to the IRS, Retirees and certain others should begin seeing direct deposits as early as this week but will continue to roll out over the next several weeks. If youre receiving your check in the mail, it could take much longer. Checks are in the mail now but are expected to be delivered anywhere from now through September. If you want to track your payment or add direct deposit info visiting the IRS Get My Payment at IRS.gov will allow you to do that.

Will stimulus money affect my benefits or next years taxes?

The economic impact payment is not considered additional income and thus will not affect your benefits in any way. You wont have to pay it back and it wont lower your refund. The payment is actually an advance of a 2020 refundable tax credit, so its non-taxable and it wont affect next years taxes in a negative way.

What else should I know?

Youve got to watch for scams! Theres a lot of crooks and scoundrels out there looking to bamboozle taxpayers out of their stimulus money. So be careful. Con artists prey on the vulnerable, and in times like these, older members of society are often a target. Remember that no one should be calling you to sign up for your check or to get your personal information. The IRS or U.S. Treasury will never call you, email you or contact you on social media about your stimulus check. If youre contacted by a potential scammer, disconnect and dont entertain them. You shouldnt engage with a scammer even if you think you know that its a scam.

For official, up-to-date information about the economic impact payment visit IRS.gov/Coronavirus. To update payment information or track your payment visit IRS.gov and click the Wheres My Payment link. To learn more about scams and reporting visit IRS.gov and visit the Report Phishing and Online Scams page.

Brittany Sabalza, enrolled agent, is director of continuing education for Pro Tax Solutions Indianapolis and a tax columnist.
I bet you never stopped to think that a small bottle of hand sanitizer could explode and cause injuries, but it turns out, this happened to one poor little girl pretty recently.

Her mom is now warning people about the dangers of hand sanitizer after her 11-year-old daughter suffered a chemical burn when a bottle exploded into her eye.

Just a few days ago, Alex Chadwick took her 11-year-old daughter Olivia-Layla Chadwick with her to a local pharmacy to pick up a prescription.

On their homes security footage that Alex later shared with Kennedy News and Media, you can see the mom and daughter duo walk out to their car.

They climb into their black Mercedes, pull out of their driveway, drive awayand then disaster struck.

Kennedy News and Media; 11-year-old Olivia is pictured above

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Agreement will continue deliveries of new and repaired components and spare parts for the long-term maintenance of Trenitalias ETR500 fleet

BERLIN, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Note to editors: To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/de5c2f43-9672-4721-b17b-8a3a21fca76b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2fafa8ec-5f8e-42e2-b19b-a3992978d23c

Bombardier Transportation and Trenitalia have signed a new contract for integrated logistics services to support the fleet of ETR500 very high-speed trains. The base order is for six years and there is also an option for a further six years. This is an important step in the ETR500 fleets lifecycle as it enables Trenitalia to leverage the benefits of Bombardiers service excellence acquired during its management of previous logistics and rolling stock maintenance contracts.



Franco Beretta, President and Managing Director of Bombardier Transportation Italy, said, We are very pleased to continue our long-term collaboration with our customer Trenitalia with this new agreement for integrated logistics support services. This tailored contract will ensure continuous availability of consumable spare parts and repairable components for the ETR500 Frecciarossa fleet. He continued, I would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Italys rail industry, especially our Bombardier employees, as they play their part in supporting our nation during these unprecedented times.

The ETR500 trains are very high-speed electric multiple units and the fleet of 58 trains were manufactured by a consortium of Bombardier, Alstom and AnsaldoBreda. The trains have been in service in Italy since the mid-1990s and they have been operating under Trenitalias Frecciarossa (red arrow) brand since 2008. With this new contract, Bombardier will provide around 120 different components to Trenitalia within a 48-hour delivery time, including new, repaired and overhauled items. The contract includes critical components such as traction cooling equipment and transformers.

Bombardier Transportation has approximately 700 employees in Italy located at its Vado Ligure production site, Rome signalling site and at service depots throughout the country, as well as a team based at the Rome Fiumicino Airport. Bombardier has extensive experience of delivering high-speed rail technology in Italy, most recently as a leading supplier to the V300ZEFIRO high speed trains, known in Italy as the Frecciarossa 1000, developed together with Hitachi Rail.

About Bombardier Transportation

Bombardier Transportation is a global mobility solution provider leading the way with the rail industrys broadest portfolio. It covers the full spectrum of solutions, ranging from trains to sub-systems and signalling to complete turnkey transport systems, e-mobility technology and data-driven maintenance services. Combining technology and performance with empathy, Bombardier Transportation continuously breaks new ground in sustainable mobility by providing integrated solutions that create substantial benefits for operators, passengers and the environment. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Bombardier Transportation employs around 36,000 people and its products and services operate in over 60 countries.

About Bombardier

With over 60,000 employees across two business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in over 25 countries across the segments of Aviation and Transportation. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Bombardier posted revenues of $15.8 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Notes to editors

For news, related material and photos, visit our newsroom at www.rail.bombardier.com/en/newsroom.html. Please subscribe to our RSS Feed to receive press releases or follow Bombardier Transportation on Twitter @BombardierRail.

Bombardier and V300ZEFIRO are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.



For Information

Media Relations, Italy Global media relations Emma Brett press@rail.bombardier.com Bombardier Transportation +44 7717 700597 emma.brett@rail.bombardier.com

Bombardier Transportation Italy Press Office:

SEC Spa  Tel. +39 02 624999 1

Irene Fusani

+39 340 1280512

fusani@secrp.com
At this session, chaired by Cambodian Ambassador and head of the ACW Chum Sounry, the ASEAN ambassadors and charge daffaires discussed the outcomes of the special ASEAN and ASEAN+3 summits on COVID-19 on April 14 and the special ASEAN-US foreign ministers meeting on the issue on April 23.

They thanked and congratulated Vietnam on its timely response, proactivity and flexibility as the ASEAN Chair amidst the COVID-19 pandemics complex developments which have affected multiple aspects, including external activities.

The diplomats also highly valued Vietnams initiative to promote cooperation within ASEAN as well as between the bloc and partners, including the US, in coping with the pandemic.

Looking into the pandemics economic impact on the Southeast Asian region, they shared the view on an economic growth slowdown, stressing the importance of maintaining the connectivity in supply chains of food, medicine and medical supplies.

They also underlined the need for ASEAN to keep enhancing ties in the disease prevention and control, vaccine and medication development, and post-pandemic economic recovery, thereby helping to intensify the ASEAN-US strategic partnership.

At the meeting, Ambassador Ngoc updated participants about the initial encouraging outcomes of the Vietnamese Governments anti-COVID-19 measures, noting that the test kits produced by Vietnam have been recognised by the World Health Organisation and European countries.

The diplomats highly valued Vietnams efforts to concurrently fight the pandemic in the country and assist other ASEAN nations with medical supplies. They also called on Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand to share the research outcomes on the vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.

The Philippine ambassador appreciated Vietnams continuation of rice export and hoped that the country will maintain the activity to help ensure food security.

Participants also asked countries to issue notifications before applying new policies that may affect other members of the association.
In a startling admission, The Atlantic magazine has just run an article by two law school professors that openly advocates for the kind of censorship and speech control usually seen only in communist dictatorships.

The two professors, Jack Goldsmith of Harvard and Andrew Woods of the University of Arizona, argue that "in the great debate of the past two decades about freedom versus control of the [internet], China was largely right and the United States was largely wrong."

The coronavirus pandemic has given the tech monopolies both the excuse and the rationale for imposing a degree of digital surveillance and censorship that, only months ago, would have been regarded as unthinkable.

However, while mainstream legal experts have called these extreme measures necessary but temporary, Goldsmith and Woods argue that they are, in fact, essential.

"Significant monitoring and speech control are inevitable components of a mature and flourishing internet, and governments must play a large role in these practices to ensure that the internet is compatible with a society's norms and values," the law professors write.

In their chilling and detailed overview of the rise of digital surveillance, Goldsmith and Woods point out that censorship and digital surveillance practices seen in the coronavirus crisis are "not a break from prior developments, but an acceleration of them."

They frankly admit that digital surveillance and speech control found on private social media platforms in the U.S. are very similar "to what one finds in authoritarian states such as China."

The only difference, they say, is that "constitutional and cultural differences" mean that, in the U.S., the private sector takes the lead rather than federal and state governments. Nevertheless, in both communist China and the U.S., "the trend toward greater surveillance and speech control here, and toward the growing involvement of government, is undeniable and likely inexorable."

Many other observers have pointed this out  from conservative groups to the more left-leaning Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF). What makes Goldsmith and Woods and The Atlantic unusual is that they openly endorse communist-style "speech control" as not just inevitable, but almost certainly necessary.

"Significant monitoring and speech control are inevitable components of a mature and flouring internet, and governments must play a large role in these practices to ensure that the internet is compatible with a society's norms and values," they write.

The two cite two events for why this is true, both of which they merely assume and don't prove. The first was the revelations in 2013 by former CIA tech analyst Edward Snowden of massive U.S. government surveillance of private citizens. The second was "Russia's interference in the 2016 election."

The two law professors provide no proof for their claim that Russian interference had a significant effect on the actual outcome of the 2016 election. They even concede that it was a "relatively limited social-media strategy" and, as Barack Obama termed it, "not particularly sophisticated."

Yet Russians sending mean tweets and buying $100,000's worth of Facebook ads apparently justifies jettisoning the First Amendment and 200 years of constitutional jurisprudence.

Indeed, the law professors point out that the First Amendment and America's guarantees of civil liberties are actually a hindrance for adequate policing of the internet.

The Russian social media mischief "highlighted how legal limitations grounded in the First Amendment (freedom of speech and press) and the Fourth Amendment (privacy) make it hard for the U.S. government to identify, prevent, and respond to malicious cyber operations from abroad."

The law professors' conclusion is inevitable: in the contest between the internet and the Bill of Rights, the Bill of Rights will likely have to go.

"[S]ince the Russian electoral interference, digital platforms have taken the lead in combatting all manner of unwanted speech on their networks  and, if anything, have increased their surveillance of our lives," they say.

As usually happens with advocates for censorship, the two professors conflate actual criminal conduct  such as child pornography and planning for terrorist attacks  with speech deemed not "compatible with a society's norms and values."

The digital platforms now use armies of human censors and artificial intelligence algorithms to suppress any information or political outlooks deemed "hate speech" or "misinformation."

Both Twitter and YouTube for a time outsourced their policing of "hate speech" to left-leaning organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), despite criticism that both organizations display significant bias.

Conservative critics, such as Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, criticized the censorship that resulted for targeting Christian and conservative viewpoints, such as when statements by Mother Teresa of Calcutta about abortion were removed from digital platforms as "hate speech."

Now, the authors write, digital platforms increasingly turn to "authoritative" organizations and corporate news organizations, such as CNN, to determine whether specific content needs to be suppressed.

Recently, both Facebook and YouTube announced that they would remove any content from their platforms they deemed not in harmony with what the World Health Organization asserts, despite substantial evidence that the WHO has engaged in covering up the role China has played in the coronavirus pandemic.

Of course, the Internet has exploded with outrage over what appears to be an unprecedented call for digital totalitarianism. Many point out that the law professors ignore completely the issue of who decides what is "compatible with a society's norms and values"  corporate CEOs, government bureaucrats or both.

Donald Trump, Jr., tweeted, "You have to be 100% out of touch or 100% bought & paid for to publish an oped calling on America to follow the CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY'S model on free speech, privacy & Big Tech."

"If all of this sounds familiar, that is because it is," the Washington Examiner agreed. "American academics, politicos, and the like have been praising the Chinese Communist Party for years."

While Goldsmith and Woods' article is largely a descriptive overview of the current state of digital surveillance and speech control, it is also a manifesto for a complete progressive takeover of the Internet. Emboldened by the coronavirus crisis, progressives no longer fear showing their true intentions.

Those who value the civil liberties that make such a takeover difficult  such as the First and Fourth Amendments  should be very concerned.

Robert J. Hutchinson is the author of many works of popular history, including, most recently, What Really Happened: The Lincoln Assassination (2020).
High-Tech Grunderfonds (HTGF) together with Bayern Kapital has invested a seven-figure sum in Munich-based IT start-up Erium as part of a seed financing round. SAR Elektronic GmbH is also on board as a co-investor. Eriums software solution HALerium is used to model and optimise highly complex production and assembly processes using small volumes of data in a transparent and comprehensible way.

Industrial manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly complex. In terms of production, this growing level of complexity is leading to erroneous machines settings, rising error rates, extra work and an increased use of resources. Machine learning models and artificial intelligence can help to counter this trend, but they often lack a sufficient database and adequate data quality in practice. Processes are also frequently non-transparent and incomprehensible for employees. Furthermore, the creation of such models by data scientists is often a lengthy and costly process.

Erium, an IT company based in Garching near Munich, has now developed HALerium, an innovative IT solution that helps process managers (e.g. engineers or production managers) to create these machine-learning models themselves based on their domain knowledge and to then train these models using a fraction of the amount of data that would otherwise be required. Artificial intelligence can thus be systematically linked up with in-house process and expert knowledge. To this end, HALerium helps employees understand existing, complex processes, making them objectively comprehensible for all involved. HALerium is integrated into a companys existing software products and can thus predict the outcome of individual management decisions as well as undesired end results (e.g. material waste quantities). HALerium is subsequently able to give concrete recommendations for action in real time in terms of how to optimise relevant processes. By using HALerium, companies can increase production quality, reduce the wear and tear of manufacturing equipment, save resources and minimise the amount of extra work required. At the same time, employees can benefit from the solution without requiring any prior knowledge of how artificial intelligence can offer assistance.

Erium has already secured a number of renowned clients. BMW, for instance, is already using HALerium at one of its production lines. Erium is also currently in talks with another renowned car manufacturer. The Munich-based firms software is also successfully being used by Festo SE (control and automation technology) and Meissner AG (tool manufacturing). With the funds raised from the latest financing round, Erium is planning to take on additional staff and invest in the continued development of its products.

"Dr. Theo Steininger, CEO of Erium, explains: Young IT companies dont always have it easy on the market, particularly during the initial phase. Were convinced that our AI solution can provide huge support for many industrial companies. Were therefore very grateful to our three investors for helping to ensure that we are ideally positioned for growth in the coming years, despite the challenging financial environment at present", Dr. Theo Steininger, CEO of Erium, explains.

"Were delighted to be able to support Erium together with two experienced investors from the fields of venture capital and industry. Data-driven processes for the prediction and optimisation of processes are in high demand against the backdrop of Industry 4.0. Despite this, clients often lack successful optimisation processes, or do not use them productively, due to the often complex and highly dynamic nature of production environments. It is here that Erium, as a young company, can already boast a number of promising client successes", Gregor Haidl, Investment Manager at High-Tech Grunderfonds.

"On the path to Industry 4.0, new technologies such as machine learning are being used for highly complex fields of application. With its software solution, Erium has impressively demonstrated that while process modelling and process optimisation still remain challenging, they can be made transparent, easier to understand, and manageable. For Bavaria as a hub for industry and high-tech, and also beyond, investments in young innovators like Erium are becoming increasingly important, with companies and employees alike profiting from their solutions", Roman Huber, Managing Director of Bayern Kapital.
MAGNIT PJSC (MGNT)



Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which offers or sales would be prohibited by law. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, the securities to any person in the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registered under the US Securities Act or offered in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act. The offer and sale of the Securities referred to herein has not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada or Japan. Subject to certain exceptions, the Securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada or Japan. There will be no public offer of the Securities in the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan or elsewhere. Members of the general public are not eligible to take part in the sale. In member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") (each, a "Relevant Member State"), this announcement and any offer if made subsequently is sent and addressed to and directed only at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (Regulation 2017/1129/EU, as amended or superseded) (Qualified Investors). In the United Kingdom this announcement is sent and distributed to and directed exclusively at Qualified Investors (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order") or (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, and the Securities will only be available to, and any investment activity to which this announcement relates will only be engaged in with, such persons and it should not be relied on by anyone other than such persons. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND MATERIALS CONTAINED IN IT ARE PROVIDED EXCLUSIVELY FOR INFORMATION AND ARE NOT AN OFFER OR A PART OF AN OFFER OR AN INVITATION TO ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION INCLUDING THE USA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND JAPAN. Press Release | Krasnodar | April 29, 2020 PJSC Magnit Announces the Completion of the Exchange-Traded Bonds Placement Krasnodar, Russia (April 29, 2020): Magnit PJSC (MOEX and LSE: MGNT; Issuer; Company; Group), one of Russia's leading retailers, announces the completion of the Exchange-traded bonds placement. Parameters of the bonds placement: Type of securities: Non-convertible interest-bearing uncertified exchange-traded bonds of PJSC Magnit of the BO-002P-02 series with centralized accounting of rights, placed under the Program of the exchange-traded bonds of 002P series with the identification number of 4-60525-P-002P-02E as of 27.07.2016 (hereinafter - the Exchange-traded bonds), ISIN RU000A101MC3 Registration number assigned to the issue and the date of assignment: 4B02-02-60525-P-002P as of 27.04.2020 International securities identification number (ISIN) RU000A101MC3 Authority which has assigned the registration number to the securities issue: Public Joint-Stock Company Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS Maturity date: 1 092 (one thousand ninety second) day from the commencing date of the Exchange-traded bonds placement Amount of placed securities: 10,000,000 bonds Nominal value: 1,000 rubles each Placement method: open subscription Date of the actual initiation of the placement: April 29, 2020 Date of the actual completion of the placement: April 29, 2020 Share of the placed securities out of the total number of securities subject to placement: 100% Actual placement price: 10,000,000 Exchange-traded bonds were placed at the price of 1,000 rubles per each bond (100% of the nominal value of one Exchange-traded bond) Payment method: The payment of 10,000,000 Exchange-traded bonds was made with monetary funds in Russian rubles by means of non-cash settlement Dmitry Kovalenko Director for Investor Relations Email: dmitry_kovalenko@magnit.ru Office: +7 (861) 210-48-80 Dina Chistyak Director for Investor Relations Email: dina_chistyak@magnit.ru Office: +7 (861) 210-9810 x 15101 Media Inquiries Media Relations Department Email: press@magnit.ru Note to editors: Public Joint Stock Company "Magnit" is one of Russia's leading retailers. Founded in 1994, the company is headquartered in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar. As of March 31, 2020, Magnit operated 38 distribution centres and 20,860 stores (14,594 convenience, 472 supermarkets and 5,794 drogerie stores) in 3,718 cities and towns throughout 7 federal regions of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the audited IFRS results for FY 2019, Magnit had revenues of RUB 1,369 billion and an EBITDA of RUB 147 billion. Magnit's local shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange (MOEX: MGNT) and its GDRs on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: MGNT) and it has a credit rating from Standard & Poor's of BB.


The deadline for the New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards has been extended to close of business on 31 July 2020. Agencies, corporates and individuals within marketing, media, communications and the influencer sectors are invited to submit their entries. This year's awards ceremony will be streamed in early September on social and digital media and through various media partners' online platforms. Click here to learn more about the New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards and to submit your entry.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Less than a week after we witnessed crowds packing California beaches, Governor Gavin Newsom looks to be gearing up to close all beaches and state parks.

Many beaches were opened last weekend, drawing huge crowds.

Gov. Newsom's possible decision on closing beaches and state parks cames from a memo obtained by CBS News from the California Police Chief's Association, intended to give police departments more time to prepare. Read More

The memo says the governor will make the announcement at his noon press conference on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Click Here to watch live.

If it's all set and stone it would go into effect Friday, May 1, 2020.

The state parks impacted in our viewing area include:

Butte County:

Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park

Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park

Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area

Glenn County:

Butte City Project Park Property

Shasta County:

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park

Castle Crags State Park

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

Shasta State Historic Park

Tehama County:

William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park

Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area

Trinity County:

Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park

Modoc County does not have a California State Park.

For a complete list of state parks in our state, CLICK HERE.
Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print.

Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition.

If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create.
Its only been a few days since we found out that former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his wife of seven years, Kristin Cavallari, are getting divorced. But those few days are all it took for the split to start getting messy.

According to E! News, which obtained a copy of a new court filing, Cavallari is accusing Cutler of withholding money from her  money for Cavallari to buy a new house for her and her kids.

In the filing, Cavallari said that shed originally initiated the purchase of a home back in the fall of 2019, when she and Cutler were on the cusp of separating or divorcing. Cutler reportedly had no problem with it at the time, but the purchase was never completed because the couple decided to give their marriage another try.

The attempted reconciliation lasted just a few months. The couple began to seriously discuss divorcing after they returned from their quarantine-extended Bahamas vacation, and Cavallari began looking for a house again. In the filing, she said that she assumed Cutler would be fine with that due to his "lack of objection in November."

Kristin Cavallari is accusing husband Jay Cutler of withholding money from her in newly-filed divorce documents. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)

She apparently assumed wrong. Cavallari is now accusing Cutler of punishing her by refusing to give her the money to buy a new house, and she also says that he wont leave their shared house in Tennessee.

Cutlers refusal to leave is a problem for Cavallari, who feels that their three children will be exposed to a harmful environment if she and Cutler continue to live together.

Heres what Cavallari claims in the new court documents, via E! News:

"Wife does not believe that it is in the best interest of either party or their minor children to reside in the same household ... Wife fears that if the parties are required to remain in the same residence, it would be an unhealthy environment, causing irreparable harm to their minor children." "Husband makes inappropriate statements to and about Wife and attempts to draw her into an argument in front of their minor children. Now that Husband has announced he will not leave so Wife can exercise parenting time with the children, Wife fears the situation will escalate.

Story continues

Cavallari also claims that Cutler is attempting to intimidate her into accepting an unfavorable custody agreement by refusing to allow her to purchase a house.

More from Yahoo Sports:
Ever since our lives became largely confined to our homes and surrounding streets, many of us have seen a drop in our daily step count. And our smartwatches and phones are not-so-gently reminding us of that.

At the end of last month, data from Fitbit showed that step counts were falling by up to about a third in countries worst hit by the coronavirus at the time.

Georgina McInnes is working on improving her step count after seeing it fall during lockdown. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Sydney woman Georgina McInnes is among those seeing a drop in her activity. Before the pandemic she would clock a whopping number of steps  anywhere between 17,000 and 25,000 each day  largely due to her job as a tour guide on NSW's Lord Howe Island.

"I moved back to Sydney with my family and on average I started recording about 5000 steps per day. However if I missed my daily run or workout, I would only clock up to 1000 steps," she says, adding that finding motivation has been an issue. She has since started using online programs, managing to raise her Fitbit's step count to about 8000 a day.
The 1,000 Army cadets returning to West Point to attend their graduation ceremony -- headlined by President Donald Trump -- will be subjected to strict screening and testing with New York state still at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump's decision to speak in person at the military academy's June 13 graduation raised concerns that the Army was unnecessarily risking exposing cadets and other staff to the virus at a time when New York is reeling from the health crisis and the military has struggled to address some incidents of contagion, especially on ships.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and West Point Superintendent Darryl Williams pushed back on those worries, saying the procedures being put in place will limit risk, even though cadets will raise their potential exposure by traveling back to academy. The graduates have been away from campus since early March, before widespread lockdowns and social distancing were established.

"We will do it safely," Williams told reporters Thursday at the Pentagon. "They'll eat separately, they'll live separately and we'll make sure that they are ready to join our great United States Army. We have the ability to test and make sure that safety bubble is there for the cadets."

The Army graduation follows that of the Air Force Academy, whose main guest was Vice President Mike Pence. At that event, graduates were seated at least six feet part, prompting Trump -- who has often minimized the virus and refused to wear a face mask -- to say officials were being "politically correct."

Even if Trump didn't speak at the West Point ceremony, graduating cadets would have had to return to pick up gear, start clearance procedures and the process of the physicals they need to take before graduating, Williams and McCarthy said. Parents won't be attending the commencement, they added.

"They left March 6 on spring break," Williams said of the cadets, who go on to be officers in the Army. "They didn't have an opportunity to get any of their gear. They have to secure their gear, get their cars, but those are the lesser in priority in terms of the readiness they have to achieve before I turn them over to the Army."

A graduation ceremony is the culmination of a "hard-earned experience," added McCarthy.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-30 15:27:48

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 /With Newswire's Earned Media Advantage Strategist acting as an extension of the team, Dealers United received media mentions in nine different industry publications. By leveraging the expertise of the strategists and the power of the Newswire platform, the firm managed to expand both their presence, as well as their public relations efforts, through the Earned Media Advantage Guided Tour.The mentions that their strategist worked to garner for the firm were published in several industry publications that were very targeted. The strategist worked to ensure that the brand's placements and mentions would be in publications that covered content relevant to the firm's industry and operations.This success was the result of effective distribution campaigns. Additionally, their strategist put a strong emphasis on strategic outreach, as they dispersed the firm's messaging through email campaigns to their target market."I am thrilled to see the success of this client as they continue to expand their reach during this difficult time," said Earned Media Advantage Strategist Melissa Fair. "Their mission is one that is driven by the desire to help others. At a time such as the one we are currently experiencing, there is no better messaging to promote than one fueled by generosity." Auto dealers (the firm's target market) have been hit especially hard during the COVID-19 crisis. The firm has taken the lead to help these dealers navigate the industry through this unprecedented time; Newswire has been there to help develop and distribute this messaging to auto dealers in need."We've always recognized the value of earned media, but were previously unable to dedicate the time and resources necessary to make it a pillar of our marketing strategy," said Brooke Jensen, CMO at Dealers United.Jensen continued, "With Newswire's Earned Media Advantage plan, we have an entire team behind us helping to craft our message and get it to the right audiences and avenues. We've since landed in numerous top automotive news sources and anticipate many more." Customers can now transform owned media (press releases) into the Earned Media Advantage: greater brand awareness, increased traffic, greater return on media spend and increased sales. As a result, customers can lower their costs of press releases, increase the value of each release and lower paid-media costs while shortening the journey for the Earned Media Advantage.The journey is designed to empower the Earned Media Advantage by developing a plan that is based on a media communications survey that defines press release content value and distribution. Customers are also provided a media communications calendar, services to set up, operate and manage media databases, media monitoring alerts, statistical analysis, reporting and media room news collection and sharing to ensure Customer Success.Find out how Newswire is Transforming the Value of a Press Releases and discover how to empower your go-to-market strategies with the Earned Media Advantage: greater brand awareness, increased traffic, generate greater return on media and marketing communications spend and increased sales.About NewswireNewswire delivers press release and multimedia distribution software and services (SaaS) that empower the Earned Media Advantage: greater brand awareness, increased traffic, greater return on media and marketing communications spend and the competitive edge. With over a decade of experience, Newswire continues to provide its customers with the ability to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time through the right medium. To learn more about how Newswire can help you, visit http://www.newswire.com Contact InformationCharlie TerenzioVP of Earned MediaNewswireOffice: 813-480-3766Email: charlie@ newswire.com Related FilesRelated ImagesSOURCE: Newswire
Schools across the Lake Geneva region were forced to close for the remainder of the school year April 16 when Gov. Tony Evers extended his Safer At Home order to control the coronavirus.

The statewide closure of schools keeps students away from their campuses and classmates, but it does not end the education process.

Schools have been using internet-based teaching tools ever since the state March 13 ordered a temporary closure of schools to prevent a spread of the virus, also known as COVID-19.

While the new year-end declaration might sound drastic, after a month of remote learning already under their belts, local school officials say they were prepared for the possibility that they would not be able to welcome students back to classrooms this academic year.

We are disappointed, but we werent surprised that this would continue until the end of the school year, Lake Geneva school Superintendent Jim Gottinger said.

As video lectures, online assignments and digital textbooks have become the new normal, the schools in Lake Geneva, Williams Bay and Walworth have been proactive to make sure no student gets lost by the wayside.

Students at Badger High, Big Foot High and Williams Bay High have all been given school-provided laptops to use for their at-home studies. In fact, the schools have provided students with laptops for the past few years, before the coroanvirus pandemic hit.

The schools have also been providing free meals to students, either daily or a few times a week, to make sure that students who rely on school lunches will not go without food at home.

Attendance has been lower somewhat since instruction moved online in March. But school officials have been reaching out to students who are slipping behind, and they say that many of those students are helping their families through these uncertain times by either babysitting siblings or picking up extra work where they can.

Even with those things considered, administrators at the three local high schools suspect that there will not be more students forced to repeat classes because of online learning than there would be in a normal school year.

Quite frankly, the kids that let it slip here are the kids that are letting it slip online, Williams Bay principal Bill White said. Kids on top of it when theyre here in person are heavily on top of it in the virtual world.

Even though the day-to-day online learning routine is becoming more entrenched, schools do still have to deal with other changes under the states Safer At Home safeguards.

Proms have been postponed for now, and extracurricular activities have been cancelled altogether. The schools are still discussing what will be done for final exams and graduation, although with more than a month left in the academic years, officials say they still have a few weeks before making any final decisions.

School administrators want to spend as much time as possible exploring options for graduations and such, considering how many students would be impacted by any changes.

Theyve had the rug pulled out from underneath them here, Big Foot principal Dan Dowden said.

As the number of cases of coronavirus continues to climb in Wisconsin, Evers announced his Safer At Home order March 13 to restrict public exposure to the virus in businesses, schools, churches and other places. The order originally continued until April 24, but the governor now has extended it until May 26  ensuring that schools will not resume normal operations this academic year.

Economic woes have hit many sectors of the regions economy during the public health emergency, but all three schools say they have not had to lay off or furlough any staff members.

Teachers are still teaching, albeit in a new way. Cafeteria workers still make lunches for the kids who need them. And other employees help out around the schools however they can, sometimes doing maintenance and improvements that typically occur over the summer when the buildings are empty.

This may not be the way that the school districts hoped the school year would be coming to a close. But officials say they have done everything necessary to make sure that the 2019-20 academic comes to a close as smoothly as possible.

If this is the best way to do it, Williams Bay Superintendent Wayne Anderson said, then were going to make the best of the situation.

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President Donald Trump vented outrage Thursday over the FBIs treatment of Michael Flynn following the release of government records and recent media reports regarding the bureaus 2017 investigation into his former national security adviser.

Look at what they did to the guy. I mean, he couldnt have known too much [about] what was happening, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. They came at him with 15 buses, and hes standing in the middle of a highway. What they did to this man, they tormented him. They destroyed him. But hes going to come back. Like I say, hes going to come back bigger and better.

Trump argued his former aide was victimized by dirty, filthy cops at the top of the FBI, and lamented how Flynn, his longtime informal political adviser Roger Stone and other associates became ensnared by the far-reaching Russia probe that consumed the early years of his administration. It should never be allowed to happen in this country again, he said.

The presidents fiery remarks represented Trumps latest reaction to a cache of FBI records unsealed late Wednesday by a federal judge. The documents disclosed new details about the origins of the bureaus criminal case against Flynn and suggested internal deliberation over how to approach the politically explosive investigation.

Trump had previously weighed in on the revelations online, firing off a remarkable series of nearly 30 tweets and retweets within a 12-hour time frame. Turning to social media as the number of Americans killed by the coronavirus surged beyond 60,000, the president excoriated former FBI Director James Comey, questioned the bureaus current leadership, and fiercely defended Flynn.

What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again! Trump tweeted, hours after criticizing CNNs coverage of the Flynn case in a separate post just before midnight.

.@CNN doesnt want to speak about their persecution of General Michael Flynn & why they got the story so wrong. They, along with others, should pay a big price for what they have purposely done to this man & his family. They wont even cover the big breaking news about this scam! the president wrote. A spokesperson for CNN did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Earlier in the evening, Trump shared stories from Fox News, the conservative online magazine The Federalist and the right-wing news website The Daily Caller that reported on the records. He also retweeted Thursday a short video posted by Flynn which the retired Army lieutenant general and former Defense Intelligence Agency chief appeared to have filmed himself, showing an American flag fluttering above a lush green, hilly landscape.

Imagine having your life and reputation ruined by rogue US govt. officials. Then years later when the plot finally comes to light the first thing you do is post an American flag, Donald Trump Jr. wrote in a tweet shared by his father. This is the guy they wanted you to believe was a Russian asset.

Those were just some of the many messages the president circulated on his Twitter feed Wednesday night and Thursday morning, including several posts chastising Comey  whose firing in May 2017 resulted in the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller later that month  and even a tweet targeting FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Trump tapped to head the bureau in June 2017.

What did FBI Director Christopher Wray know and when? And why has he been covering for these scum bags? wrote Katie Pavlich, editor of the conservative news outlet Townhall and a Fox News contributor.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), one of Trumps most ardent congressional attack dogs, also homed in on the director Thursday. Where is Christopher Wray? Why didnt we learn any of this from him? Thank goodness for Sidney Powell and Bill Barr, or we would have never got this information, the congressman told Fox & Friends, referring to Flynns lawyer and the attorney general, respectively.

The four pages of FBI documents, provided to Flynns defense attorneys last week, have been seized upon by the presidents defenders and his allies in conservative media in a continued effort to paint the Flynn investigation and Muellers probe as an excessive, politically motivated ambush on the White House by federal law enforcement officers.

He was unfairly and unjustly targeted by Deep State bureaucrats that clearly, with all the evidence now to prove it, wanted to take him down, Fox News host Sean Hannity said of Flynn on his Wednesday night broadcast.

Flynn served as national security adviser for just 24 days before he was dismissed in February 2017 for a lack of candor about conversations he had with Russias ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential transition period before Trumps inauguration. He reportedly misled Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials about the details of those talks.

I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies, Trump tweeted in December 2017. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!

Pressed Thursday on whether his decision to oust Flynn was a mistake, Trump said, What I wish I had was all the information, where they were out to get him.  They were trying to force him to lie.

Pence also appeared to sympathize with Flynn in a conversation with reporters on Thursday, praising Flynns military service.

He called the new revelations of what appears to have been investigative abuse by Justice Department officials deeply troubling and vowed that we are going to continue to look into that very carefully.

Asked whether he believed Flynns firing was appropriate, Pence responded that I know what Gen. Flynn told me and Im more inclined to believe it was unintentional than ever before.

One page of handwritten notes contained in the documents  dated the same day Flynn was interviewed by the FBI on Jan. 24, 2017  appeared to indicate a debate over how forthcoming to be with him or others at the White House about the nature of the bureaus investigation, warning that if were seen as playing games, WH will be furious.

The notes also reflect discussion among FBI officials about whether confronting Flynn with a lie in real time would be helpful to their investigation. What is our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? the notes read.

Flynn eventually pleaded guilty in December 2017 to one felony count of lying to the FBI about conversations he had with Russias ambassador, and a federal judge in February indefinitely postponed his sentencing. But Trump repeatedly dodged questions on Thursday about the widely held assumption that he would eventually grant Flynn a pardon, arguing that Flynn is in the process of being exonerated. If you look at those notes from yesterday, that was total exoneration.

Look, Im not the judge, but I have a different type of power, the president said later in the day following a White House event on seniors. But I dont know that anybody would have to use that power.

He also would not rule out the possibility that Flynn could rejoin his administration if cleared of the charges, saying he would certainly consider it. Trump wouldnt say in what capacity that could be.

The president also complained Thursday about Stones arrest in January 2019 and the Republican operatives conviction in November of that year for impeding congressional and FBI investigations into connections between the Russian government and Trumps 2016 campaign.

Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly, Trump tweeted. How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias. Same scammers as General Flynn!

Stone was sentenced in February to just more than three years in prison after the president praised the attorney general for taking charge of the matter. Following Trumps criticism of prosecutors initial sentencing recommendation, the Justice Department submitted a revised filing that offered no specific term for Stones sentence  prompting the four attorneys who shepherded his prosecution to either resign or step off the case.

Caitlin Oprysko contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) suggested on Thursday the use of alternative forms of transportation after the COVID-19 quarantine in the country

Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon cited the usage of bikes and modernized jeepneys in post-pandemic period, as these transport modes lessen human contact and reduce the risk of the virus among passengers.

Tuazon added that bicycles are one-passenger vehicles, thus the transmission of the disease can be contained because there is less contact with other people.

On the issue of safety among bikers, Tuazon said the transportation department is working on designated bike lanes in major roads in the country.

The Department of Transportation already has initiatives for green ways which we will be pursuing," he said. "There will be lanes in areas where there are enough space for designated bike lanes."

Tuazon also clarified that using modernized jeepneys post-quarantine does not mean the old jeepneys will be phased out of the roads.

Initially, we will be using the modernized jeeps," he explained. "If the quantity is not enough to service the population of the riding public, then we will go back to using the older jeeps."

Tuazon pointed out that older jeepneys must be in good condition before they are allowed to serve the commuters.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano excluded jeepneys in the partial operations of public utility vehicles in areas placed under general community quarantine.

"Iyong jeepney, hindi pa pinapayagan kasi makikita niyo iyong configuration ng jeepney, magkakaharap ang mga tao diyan," said Ano in the Palace briefing earlier today.

[Translation: Jeepneys are still not allowed because if you look at its configuration, passengers are facing each other]

Meanwhile, Tuazon reminded travelers entering the country that they will be tested for the virus upon arrival at airports. The DOTr said it prefers rapid testing method.

Tuazon disclosed that the International Air Travel Association is still drafting guidelines on the observation of physical distancing inside airplanes.

The enhanced community quarantine is extended up to May 15 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON regions. The provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet, Iloilo, and Cebu are also covered by the quarantine extension.
YORKTOWN, Va., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Marine Sonic Technology, a brand of ATLAS North America, a leader in the imaging Sonar market is pleased to announce the release of The Hunter, a low frequency deep tow Side Scan Sonar. The ARC Hunter builds on the ARC Explorer & Scout family of products, providing high-resolution Adaptive Chirp Side Scan Sonar hailed by professional users as the most technologically advanced imaging sonar on the market today. The Hunter utilizes the same technology but leverages a larger, heavier tow body paired with your choice of Low Frequency Transducers. This combination provides the user a deep tow long-range capability significantly reducing the required search time. The Hunter's operational depth of 200 meters makes it the optimal system for locating shipwrecks, commercial construction projects, oil and gas line surveys, and geologic surveys.

The Hunter is available as a single or dual frequency Side Scan Sonar system. Transducers are available in the following frequencies: 150 kHz, 300 kHz, 600 kHz, 900 kHz and 1800 kHz, or in combinations of 300,600, 900 or 1800 kHz. This Sonar when equipped with the 150 kHz transducers is capable of ranges to 500 meters (1000 meter swath width) with an along track resolution of 1.5 cm and an across track resolution of 60.8 cm. Shipwrecks and underwater infrastructure cannot hide from the Hunter covering a kilometer of search area in a single pass.

Sergio Diehl, Atlas North America's President said "Search operations are time consuming and expensive. This sensor, with its high definition processing and data quality, was designed to survey the largest ocean areas thereby significantly reducing search times and substantially reducing operating costs."

"Simply outstanding", reports Tom Crossmon who provides recovery, salvage and training services, following deployment and testing of The Hunter in the Great Lakes.

ATLAS North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH of Bremen, Germany with a specific focus on naval mine countermeasures and high-resolution imaging sonars for defense, first responders, and commercial use. ATLAS North America is located in Virginia, and is an industry leader in towed and AUV side scan sonar products.

For further information please contact:

ATLAS North America LLC

Sergio Diehl

President and Chief Executive Officer

120 Newsome Drive, Suite H

Yorktown, VA, USA 23452

Tel: +1.757.463.0670

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Atlas North America

Related Links

https://www.na.atlas-elektronik.com/


Vedanta Ltd on Thursday said it has enabled mass production of personal protective equipment (PPEs) in Gurugram and around 15,000 PPE have been manufactured so far to support frontline healthcare workers and doctors in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, the company imported 23 PPE machines in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, and has teamed up with authorised apparel manufacturers to produce 5,000 PPE per day.

The company has also provided over 3.5 lakh masks through its business units to local communities and has handed over another 2 lakh N95 masks to the Ministry of Health.

"India has shown tremendous resilience in fighting the impact of COVID-19. We have earned goodwill from the world for supplying critical medicines to many countries. I am confident that we will rise above this setback. We are working towards creating a New India and will help create a self-reliant economy as the lockdown lifts in a calibrated manner," Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said.

As part of strategy to support the local community, Vedanta is now focusing on innovative solutions to support the poor and the marginalised.

The company has spent Rs 151 crore on COVID-19 initiatives till now, and has reached out to over 7 lakh community members across 7 states in the past one month.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group company, has started an innovative movement, Grain Bank, wherein Sakhi SHG women collect grains and pulses at the village level so as to reach out to the daily wage earners.

More than 8,000 kg of foodgrains have been procured under this plan, which is now being adopted by other Vedanta business units as well.

Vedanta Lanjigarh is offering telemedicine facility to the local communities in the region, helping patients connect with doctors for free consultations.

A team of specialist doctors, including pediatricians, orthopedicians, general physicians, and Aayush doctors attends to the sick people over phone and WhatsApp every day and medicines can be collected from Vedanta hospital pharmacy free of cost.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When he landed in Moscow in early March from South Korea, Vladimir Bykovsky said he was ordered into self-quarantine for two weeks. Under the rules, he was not permitted to leave the house. But after a few daysand showing no symptoms of novel coronavirus-- he said he stepped out of his building and threw out his trash. Then he went back inside.

Thirty minutes after that, the police were ringing at my door, Bykovsky, a 32-year-old worker at a patent firm, told ABC News.

Bykovsky said officers told him he had been spotted on a camera set up on the front door of his apartment building and identified through a facial recognition system, which had then alerted them.

Honestly, I always thought it was something to do with our intercom, Bykovsky said of the camera. But it turns out its connected to the surveillance system thats working across the whole of Moscow.

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.

Russias capital now has one of the largest facial recognition systems in the world and it is using it to police its quarantine restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Since January, the system, developed over the last five years, has moved from its test phase into large-scale use, according to authorities. It is now operating across 105,000 cameras around Moscow, the head of video surveillance at the city's information technology department, Mikhail Golovin, said in February.

It's an example of how countries like Russia and China have turned to authoritarian technologies to fight their epidemics. In Moscow, authorities also appear to view it as an opportunity to showcase their surveillance capabilities. And while some experts question how effective the facial recognition system is yet in reality, civil rights advocates worry how the system and its capabilities for pursuing political enemies will outlast the health crisis.

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How it works

The system allows police to search in real-time across those cameras for a person using just a single image, according to its developers.

Russia tries again to win UN approval for virus resolution

As in other countries, Moscows technology works through training a neural network (machine learning modeled loosely on the human brain) to recognize faces by feeding it millions of images. The system can then construct a unique profile for each face it analyzes. In Moscow, the AI software scans and creates a temporary profile for every person passing in front of the tens of thousands of cameras and compares them to those of people on a watchlist, its developers said.

If the system detects a match, it sends an alert to a police command center.

Originally designed to catch criminals, authorities have found the system can be used to track people during lockdown. Since late March, Moscow residents have been ordered to stay in their homes, except for visiting grocery stores, pharmacies or seeking urgent medical care. Those who don't obey face fines.

For now, the facial recognition technology is being used only to monitor a narrower category: those who have tested positive for the virus or deemed high risk of having it, including those returning from abroad, like Bykovsky. He described how passengers landing in Moscow were stopped by medics and photographed three times while being tested for the virus. They were then entered into a quarantine watch-list.

The system can also be used for contact tracing, allowing police to follow an infected persons movements over previous days, said Artyom Kukharenko, the head of research and development at NtechLab, the primary developer for the system.

Kukharenko said the system can complete a search in under 10 seconds and that it largely works even when people are wearing face masks by identifying them by their eye line.

The company soon hopes to roll out a function analyzing silhouettes, he said, meaning it could spot large gatherings and also automatically detect when people are standing too close together.

Since March, Moscows authorities said the system has allowed them to catch several hundred people violating quarantine. Other Russian cities are also introducing similar systems.

Does it work?

Russia is not the only country to turn to expansive surveillance technologies. Facial recognition was already in wide-use in China before the pandemic and many countries are now already using or considering using mobile phone location data as well as downloadable surveillance apps to track people. In the United States, the federal government, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is using location data from millions of cellphones to understand how people are moving during the pandemic.

Outside observers though cautioned about the Russian claims for the facial recognition system, noting its application is likely more limited than officials suggest.

I wouldnt discount what theyre saying, but I would caveat it significantly in terms of their spread and abilities to do what theyre claiming, said Magarita Konaev, a research fellow at Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology, who is focused on the Russian militarys use of artificial intelligence.

She noted that the technology was still emerging and applying it in real-world conditions on a large-scale would usually mean a fall off in accuracy. I think right now that reporting it the way that theyre selling it is doing marketing for them, she said.

Some police departments in the United States have also experimented with facial recognition before the virus, but outside China, there is perhaps nowhere where authorities claim to have implemented it as widely as in Moscow.

Aside from anecdotal evidence, it is hard to verify the Moscow systems effectiveness. A study in March commissioned by the U.S. Department of Commerce included some of the algorithms it uses, including those from NTechLab and another company, Vision Labs. It found both algorithms could perform a correct identification in a fraction of a second using a single basic computer processor.

Patrick Grother, a scientist at the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology and an author of the study, said whether the technology could maintain similar speeds in the real world was primarily a question of how much computing power a city was willing to purchase.

The contract to supply the equipment for the system, published on Russias government procurement site, shows the city ordered 258 servers as well as 16 of the U.S. company Nvidas latest graphics processing units, the Tesla T4. The Russian newspaper, Kommersant, calculated that the systems planned total storage capacity is 9 petabytes. For comparison, 1.5 petabytes is equivalent to 60 billion photos stored by Facebook

Several companies provided algorithms for Moscow. The lead developer, NtechLab, was previously known for an app, FindFace, which allowed users to find peoples social media profiles with a photo.

The Russian systems developers said the Moscow system had been designed from the beginning to work across massive numbers of cameras without demanding too much power or storage capacity. Importantly they said it could be applied to ordinary CCTV cameras already in-use.

We built a super power-efficient system, so we consume very few resources, said Alexander Khanin, founder of Vision Labs, which supplied one of the algorithms.

Three developers said it was not difficult to turn the systems to monitoring quarantine and cities with the system already installed would have sufficient capacity for it.

If the system is set up properly from the beginning, then it needs 2-3 days to switch it, said Andrey Khrulev, business development manager at Speech Technology Center, which has installed the system in other Russian cities, including St. Petersburg and Nizhnii Novogorod. We just adjust the algorithm a little.

In coronavirus pandemic, authoritarians around the world see opportunity to crack down

Data for sale and other concerns

Critics of the surveillance also tend to believe it is rapidly becoming a reality. The anti-Kremlin opposition worry it provides a powerful new tool for repression and some activists have warned it will further deter people from joining protest rallies.

Behind the authorities sleek representation, its critics said there is also a seamier side to the system.

A freelance journalist, Andrey Kaganskikh, in December reported it was possible to buy access to the system. Dealers on Russian internet forums offer to perform searches for people that, Kaganskikh said, are carried out by law enforcement officers.

For a report for the independent Russian news outlet, MBKhMedia, Kaganskikh said he paid one dealer to run a search for him using his photograph. The dealer sent him back a dossier containing around 200 screengrabs from cameras where the system thought it had spotted him. But although many of the people in the images looked like him, Kaganskikh said none of them was actually him.

He said the system reported it had found him with 67% certainty, suggesting it may not be so accurate. But, Kaganskikh said, at the time only 3,000 cameras had been connected to the facial recognition software. With over 100,000 now linked, he said, he thought it would not be a problem to find him.

Security for the system is also minimal. It can be logged into from the open internet by anyone with a username and password. Kaganskikh said the price for buying a search, as he did, is lowaround $40 - $70.

Kaganskikh said while he believes there are legitimate uses for the surveillance system, it was being implemented with virtually no discussion and few legal safeguards, making it ripe for abuse. The pandemic, he said, was accelerating the systems expansion.

They were going to implement it anyway but now they have the perfect time to test it, he said. This pandemic can become like a big advertising campaign for this system.

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

How Russia is using facial recognition to police its coronavirus lockdown originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
In 2018, historic heavy rainfall battered the Chesapeake Bay's oyster industry. Over an eight-month growing season at Orchard Point Oyster Co., for example, farmers saw their oysters achieve just two months of growth. "It was like watching paint dry," said co-owner Scott Budden.

Things didn't get fully back on track until around July 2019, so Budden was counting on 2020 for a comeback. "We were finally going to have the supply to start expanding sales," he said. Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit, shutting down restaurants and events. "Over a period of a weekend or so, all of our sales basically went to zero."

In response, Orchard Point hustled to pivot. The company started taking text and email orders and set up customer pickup points on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In early April, it launched "tide-to-table" cold shipping, which allows families sheltering in place in the Mid-Atlantic, New York and Philadelphia to receive oysters overnight via FedEx. By the third week of April, it had a new website with online ordering.

Oyster farmers throughout the region are hurrying to establish pickups and organize deliveries to get their oysters to new buyers - at home.

The pandemic's shuttering of restaurants has upended the entire seafood industry, since about 70 percent of the seafood Americans purchase is eaten outside the home, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Oyster farmers, in particular, are reporting catastrophic losses in markets and revenue, since their product is seen more as a social happy hour treat than a staple food, and very few home cooks are skilled at shucking.

The Chesapeake Bay's oyster aquaculture industry, which has seen exponential growth in Maryland and Virginia over the past decade, may be hit particularly hard. Many of its farmers are still recovering from the losses of 2018, and April, May and June are important harvest months for some.

In addition to impacting the economy in both states, farmers and environmental organizations are worried about what the disruption will mean for the health of the bay. Part of the driving force behind the industry's growth has been environmental benefits that oyster farms provide - such as restoring water quality, reducing nutrient loads and providing habitat to improve the overall ecosystem - and the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance is working to add 10 billion oysters to the bay by 2025.

To do that, farmers need to harvest and sell the thousands that are ready now. That means establishing new business models on the fly and convincing those who have suddenly taken up bread baking to also learn to shuck and make mignonettes in their kitchens.

Rappahannock Oyster Co. co-owner Travis Croxton saw the writing on the wall early on. Rappahannock harvests about 10 million oysters annually from its three farms on Virginia's Eastern Shore, but it also owns and operates a network of restaurants in several states. Its restaurant in Los Angeles closed first, and Croxton watched as other states began to issue orders, one by one. "It was like a snowball that turned into an avalanche," he said.

Rappahannock transitioned most of its restaurants to takeout, and while that shift has been difficult, the farms presented an even greater challenge, especially after Croxton and his partner cut the operations team from 20 people to four. "It's a living, breathing thing. The animals are growing," he said. "It's very hard for us to tend to the massive crop we have with limited resources."

The company was lucky in that it already had a system for online orders and nationwide delivery. Before the pandemic, it generated about 5 percent of sales, with 95 percent coming from food service. Now, nearly all of their oysters need to go to online customers, and Croxton is in the warehouse packing orders himself. "At 3 o'clock, I talk to the UPS driver, and at 6 o'clock the FedEx driver, and that's about it," he said.

Generating sales is also about more than immediate cash flow. "Selling those market-size animals frees up the cages they're in for the animals coming in behind them that need room to grow," he said. "That whole process has been decimated." In other words, there's an oyster growth bottleneck, and it's at the time when some farmers are seeding a new crop that will be harvested years later. It's a labor-intensive process, and they can no longer afford labor.

At Rogue Oysters, co-owners (and husband and wife) Aaron Rowland and Taryn Brice-Rowland are also concerned about their next crop, starting with how they'll be able to afford the cost of seed, which they estimate will be about $6,500 for their small Lancaster, Va., farm.

The couple put their first oysters in the water in 2017, and the extreme weather in 2018 wiped out 80 percent of the crop, impacting more than two years of inventory. Like the farmers at Orchard Point, they were just getting back on track when the pandemic emerged. "It was a really good growing year, so we were getting ready to scale the farm back up," Brice-Rowland said. "Now, we're obviously not able to take advantage of all the work that we've put into this."

Before, they were primarily selling wholesale through another nearby farm, which stopped ordering in March. With an estimated 30,000 market-ready oysters on hand and no customers, they started selling to people at home. After appearing in a video series produced by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to highlight the impact of covid-19 on the aquaculture industry, they drummed up enough interest to set up a pickup point in Richmond and have since added additional locations.

Brice-Rowland, who works a 9-to-5 job while Aaron runs the day-to-day farm operations, spent her after-work hours setting up online ordering, and she expects to have infrastructure in place to start shipping soon.

Some oyster farmers are using established channels, such as UPS, while others are bootstrapping delivery. Chef Rob Rubba placed an oyster order with Sapidus Farms farmer Mike Manyak and found out that the contactless house drop promised was just "him in his truck."

Rubba was in the process of opening the anticipated restaurant Oyster Oyster (named for the animal and the mushroom and their respective importance to sustainable ocean and land ecosystems) in the District when restaurants in the city were ordered closed. Now, he's serving oysters to his family. "My 3-year-old loves them," he said. "She crushed half a dozen on her own."

Given his profession and experience, Rubba is the ideal customer, but he's confident that home cooks can handle learning to shuck via online video tutorials. "The best part about what we're going through right now compared to past historical events is that YouTube exists," he said. Many oyster farmers and sellers are also demonstrating shucking techniques on Instagram. Budden posted a five-minute tutorial to Orchard Point's Instagram at the end of March. Dylan's Oyster Cellar in Baltimore, which is selling oysters from Johnson Bay Oyster Co. for pickup, hosted "Shuck School" on April 10.

Rubba said a good knife and a good towel are key. And while one might not develop the speed and consistency of a pro, a slow process is fine. For condiments, making a mignonette is simple and requires little more than pantry staples: vinegar, onion, salt and pepper.

While oysters are often eaten raw, they're also delicious cooked. Rubba recommends broiling them with butter infused with garlic and chile flakes and finishing them with lemon juice and vinegar. Add some good bread, and it's a meal.

And if taking them out of the shell to fry or make a stew is appealing, it is possible to avoid an oyster knife altogether. Just evenly layer the oysters in a steamer basket and place the basket over boiling water once there is a steady supply of steam. "You can steam-shuck them pretty quickly," he said. "They'll pop open enough that you can loosen it up with a butter knife and scoop them out."

- - -

Held is senior policy reporter at Civil Eats and the host and producer of the Farm Report on Heritage Radio Network.
Technavio has been monitoring the baby toiletries market and it is poised to grow by USD 5.55 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005122/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Baby Toiletries 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. Beiersdorf AG, Johnson Johnson Services Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corp., The Procter Gamble Co., and Unilever Group are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Awareness about baby health and hygiene has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Baby Toiletries Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Baby Toiletries Market is segmented as below:

Distribution Channel Offline Online

Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America



To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31792

Baby Toiletries 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 baby toiletries market report covers the following areas:

Baby Toiletries Market Size

Baby Toiletries Market Trends

Baby Toiletries Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies product portfolio extension and innovation leading to product premiumization as one of the prime reasons driving the baby toiletries market growth during the next few years.

Baby Toiletries Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the baby toiletries market, including some of the vendors such as Beiersdorf AG, Johnson Johnson Services Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corp., The Procter Gamble Co., and Unilever Group. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the baby toiletries market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Baby Toiletries Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist baby toiletries market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the baby toiletries market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the baby toiletries market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of baby toiletries market vendors

Table Of Contents :

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Market segmentation by distribution channel

Comparison by distribution channel

Offline Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Online Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by distribution channel

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

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

Increased offering of multipurpose baby toiletry products

Growing demand for natural and organic products

Increase in R&D investment

Other trends

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Beiersdorf AG

Johnson Johnson Services Inc.

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

The Procter Gamble Co.

Unilever Group

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

Definition of market positioning of vendors

PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005122/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: www.technavio.com/
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 18:27:53|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's Ministry of Health has confirmed one new case of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 35.

Makur Matur Koriom, undersecretary in the Ministry of Health of South Sudan who is also the spokesperson of the high-level task force on COVID-19 said the latest case is a 23-year-old female.

He said the new patient has no contact with the previous 34 cases, signaling a spike in community transmissions.

The task force urged the health ministry to expedite the procurement of three more polymerase chain reaction machines to enhance the testing capacity of the public health laboratory.

Koriom urged the public to follow the World Health Organization mandatory guidelines of washing hands with soap, including keeping social distancing as a means to contain the spread of the virus. Enditem
ThousandEyes Announces New VP of Customer Engineering and Establishes Office of CTO

ThousandEyes, the Internet and Cloud Intelligence company, today announced that customer success veteran Trevis Schuh has joined the management team as VP of Customer Engineering to ensure unmatched customer satisfaction in post-deployment support and services. To further empower customers, ThousandEyes has also established the Office of the CTO with the appointment of Cameron Esdaile as VP of Technology and Innovation. Esdaile will spearhead product exploration and acceleration, identifying how innovations can be applied to different ThousandEyes product areas.

"To accelerate our vision of excellent customer service, we're scaling our Customer Engineering function, which provides unique value by going beyond typical support and being an extension of our customers' teams, helping them solve critical outages and performance issues," said Mohit Lad, co-founder and CEO, ThousandEyes. "This team has been especially crucial in solving user experience challenges for customers managing the surge of remote workers due to COVID-19. Our unique ability to see broader Internet and Cloud health enables us to provide this business-critical support, which we're further expanding with the Office of the CTO to work closely with our customers as a partner in innovation. I am thrilled to have Trevis and Cameron lead these key areas for us through this next phase of growth, to empower all of our customers in their digital journeys."

Prior to joining ThousandEyes, Schuh served as VP of Global Operations at Nextiva. Schuh also served in senior global leadership roles at Zscaler, Procera Networks (News - Alert), Meru Networks, and Trapeze Networks, where he delivered superior customer service on a global scale. He also served in the US Army Signal Corps, earlier in his career.

"ThousandEyes' offerings solve real customer issues, where value is easily seen and recognized, and is truly focused on people, both internally and externally," said Schuh, on his decision to join ThousandEyes. "I'm excited to join the team at a time of such rapid growth to help scale the level of quality support and services that ThousandEyes customers have come to expect."

Esdaile joins ThousandEyes from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, where he led innovation and rapid prototyping initiatives in Aruba's own CTO Office. Prior to Aruba, Esdaile was a co-founder of a startup acquired in late 2010 that became the foundational technology for Aruba's Enterprise Access Management solution, ClearPass.

"I'm excited to be working closely with Product and Engineering to help drive and manage cross-functional initiatives and I look forward to translating my ast experiences to help unlock innovation and technology agility across the teams at ThousandEyes," said Esdaile.







Schuh and Esdaile join ThousandEyes at a time of accelerated growth, as the company recently announced its year-end results and key accomplishments from its fiscal year ending January 31, 2020 (FY20). In FY20, total customer contractual commitments surpassed $100M, growing almost 80% YoY. ThousandEyes had a record year welcoming new customers, now counting more than 80 Fortune 500 and 150 Global 2000 customers, including Abbott Labs, C.H. Robinson, NetApp, Splunk (News - Alert) and Wolters Kluwer, 6 of the top 7 US banks, 20 of the top 25 global SaaS companies and hundreds more of the world's biggest brands and fastest-growing startups.

Learn more about ThousandEyes:

About ThousandEyes

ThousandEyes, the Internet and Cloud Intelligence company, delivers the only collectively powered view of the Internet enabling enterprises and service providers to work together to improve the quality of every digital experience. The ThousandEyes platform leverages data collected from an unmatched fleet of vantage points throughout the global Internet, from within data centers and VPCs and on end user devices to expose key dependencies that impact digital service delivery, empowering businesses to see, understand and improve how their customers and employees experience any digital website, application or service. ThousandEyes is central to the global operations of the world's largest and fastest growing brands, including 150+ of the Global 2000, 80+ of the Fortune 500, 6 of the 7 top US banks, and 20 of the 25 top SaaS (News - Alert) companies. For more information, visit www.ThousandEyes.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @ThousandEyes.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005286/en/
[April 30, 2020] TAG Analysis of Asia-Pacific Markets Shows Success of Industry Anti-Fraud Programs SINGAPORE, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), an advertising industry initiative to fight criminal activity in the digital advertising supply chain, today released a snapshot of ad fraud across a range of Asia-Pacific markets, showing dramatically lower IVT rates in TAG Certified Channels when compared with global industry averages. Conducted by The 614 Group, the analysis found a 91 percent overall reduction in invalid traffic (IVT) when advertisers used TAG Certified distribution channels which involve multiple companies that have achieved the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal. "Ad fraud is a global problem, and this data supports our efforts to build a worldwide solution," said Mike Zaneis, CEO of TAG. "When advertisers and agencies in APAC use supply chain partners that have achieved TAG's rigorous anti-fraud standards, their risk of fraud drops dramatically, helping ensure they are reaching customers and not enriching criminals. We are delighted to work with a growing roster of companies across the Asia-Pacific region to build a common defense against ad fraud and other criminal activity." The 614 Group study compared invalid traffic (IVT) rates in TAG Certified Channels against industry norms by measuring more than 3.2 billion ad impressions from October to December 2019 from two of the largest advertising agency holding companies across Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore. The results found a dramatic reduction in IVT rates across those markets - to just 0.82 percent - when using TAG Certified Channels, as opposed to industry norms of 9.2 percent.



Study 2020 TAG Asia-Pacific Fraud Snapshot Countries Included Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New

Zealand, and Singapore Inventory Type Desktop, mobile web, mobile in-app

display, video Types of Fraud

Examined General Invalid Traffic (GIVT),

Sophisticated Invalid Traffic (SIVT) SIVT + GIVT Rate

(TAG Channels

Only) 0.82 percent Overall Fraud Rate

(Blended

Benchmark) 9.2 percent Reduction in Fraud 91 percent Agency Holding

Companies Involved

in Study Omnicom Media Group Publicis Groupe This is the third region in which The 614 Group has studied the effectiveness of the TAG Certified Against Fraud Program, all with similar and reinforcing results. TAG's second annual analysis of fraud in Europe, released last month, found an IVT reduction of 94 percent in TAG Certified Channels in five major European countries, while TAG's most recent US study, released in December 2019, found an 88 percent IVT reduction in that market. "This analysis highlighted the urgent need for a widely accepted, independent benchmark on IVT rates for the Asia-Pacific region, so companies can set aggressive, yet achievable, thresholds for their anti-fraud efforts," said Rob Rasko, CEO of The 614 Group. "We are delighted to expand our measurement efforts to APAC, and we believe this data will offer a valuable tool for companies to measure their progress." The full 2020 snapshot can be found here. Additional information about TAG's Certified Against Fraud Program and how companies from across the advertising ecosystem can received the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal can be found at https://www.tagtoday.net/certified-against-fraud-program/. Methodology The 614 Group analyzed data from the ongoing and annual TAG Global Research Report to measure the impact of TAG Certification in reducing fraud in actual campaigns and to assess the industry's perception of both TAG and the fight against fraud in markets across Asia and Oceania. This snapshot focused on discovering rates of both General Invalid Traffic (GIVT) and Sophisticated Invalid Traffic (SIVT). The 614 Group partnered with agency holding companies and their MRC-accredited technology partners to review data from campaigns that ran in six countries (Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore). Working with the holding companies' MRC-accredited measurement vendors, The 614 Group collected and aggregated all impressions for campaigns that were executed during the period of Q4 2019. These campaigns included display media and video ads in desktop, mobile web and in-app environments. The study did not use sampling of any kind: 100% of all TAG Certified Against Fraud impressions given to The 614 Group were included in the measurement. Upon receipt, all data was aggregated within a secure database in order to create the proper reporting. About the Trustworthy Accountability Group The Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) is the leading global certification program fighting criminal activity and increasing trust in the digital advertising industry. Created by leading industry trade organizations, TAG's mission is to eliminate fraudulent traffic, combat malware, prevent Internet piracy, and promote greater transparency in digital advertising. TAG advances those initiatives by bringing companies across the digital advertising supply chain together to set the highest standards. TAG is the first and only registered Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) for the digital advertising industry. For more information on TAG, please visit tagtoday.net . Media Contact

Andrew Weinstein

202-667-4967

239041@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tag-analysis-of-asia-pacific-markets-shows-success-of-industry-anti-fraud-programs-301050298.html SOURCE Trustworthy Accountability Group

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Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

No hospital can turn away any patient in Maharashtra: Govt

After a number of complaints of hospitals denying admission to patients or delaying treatment, the Maharashtra government on Thursday issued an order that no hospital can turn away any patient without examination and required intervention under any circumstances. Read more

23 Nanded pilgrims test Covid-19 positive, dist tally up by 164% in a day

Twenty-three persons from the district tested positive for Covid-19 at Amritsars Government Medical College (GMC) here on Thursday. Read more

Rajasthan farmer used Rs 50 lakh life savings to feed needy during lockdown

Few people would give up their life savings and familys security to help others. But a farmer in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan has donated his life savings of Rs 50 lakh to help feed the hungry during the lockdown. Read more

China says it has no interest in meddling in 2020 US Presidential polls

China has no interest in interfering in the US presidential election, it said on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump said he believed Beijing would try to make him lose his re-election bid in November. Read more

Only a captain like him can win the title: Yusuf Pathan picks IPL skipper who can win league even without big players

Even though his international career has been really short, Yusuf Pathan has had an established career in the Indian Premier League. He has won three IPL titles while playing a pivotal role in his teams success. Read more

Delhi Police thanks AIIMS medical workers, performs sirened parikrama on bikes. Watch

As a gesture of respect towards the unwavering commitment of the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in the battle against coronavirus, Delhi Polices Covid Patrol performed a parikrama of AIIMS. Read more

RIP Rishi Kapoor: Designers Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra pay their final respects to the legendary actor

Bollywood and India suffered another shock after Bollywood legend Irrfan Khans passing on Wednesday, when veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away today after battling leukaemia for the past two years, at the age of 67. Read more

Indian govt working on a Covid-19 contact tracing solution for feature phones: IT Minister

The Indian government has been aggressively pushing the national contact tracing app Aarogya Setu. After making it mandatory for all government employees and making it necessary for all inter-state travel, the government has also pushed to have the app pre-installed in new smartphones that will be sold after the lockdown lifts. Read more

Watch: Amid lockdown, Gurugram citizens group steps up to feed the needy
Fairfield, NJ, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StayinFront , a leading global provider of mobile retail execution, POS data analytics and digital image recognition solutions for the Consumer Goods industry has announced today it is partnering with MCA (Merchandising Consultants Associates), a leading sales, merchandising and data collection company headquartered in Woodbridge, ON, Canada.

The partnership will enable MCA to extend its CPG retail execution offerings with StayinFront 20:20 RDIs actionable POS alerts and StayinFront Digitals image recognition solutions. StayinFront 20:20 RDI will enable us to more rapidly identify and value in-store execution issues, optimize our field resources to take action and, ultimately, measure and demonstrate the ROI of the overall field sales investment, said Jean Daniel Bouchard, President & Chief Operating Officer, MCA. Partnering with StayinFront will enable MCA to enhance the value we provide to our CPG customers and the return on their retail execution investments.

We are impressed with MCAs CPG industry coverage and professionalism, said Jeremy de Silva, Managing Director, StayinFront Canada. This partnership is an ideal combination of each companys strengths and will ensure we can provide our CPG manufacturer customers with superior retail execution outcomes.

About Merchandising Consultants Associates

MCA (Merchandising Consultants Associates) is a leading North American Merchandising Company celebrating 30 years in business, servicing Retailers and Consumer Goods companies across North America. MCA offers Sales, Merchandising, Price Audits, Retails Audits, Data Collection services and much more. MCA provides thousands of professional retail and sales specialists covering all regions in North America; including Canadas Territories, Labrador and in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. For more details about MCA, visit www.mca.ca .

About StayinFront

StayinFront is a leading global provider of mobile, cloud-based field force effectiveness and customer relationship management solutions for consumer goods and life sciences organizations. Companies of all sizes, in over 50 countries use StayinFront software to streamline sales operations and reduce the complexity, time and expense associated with field efforts. StayinFront products are seamlessly integrated to provide companies with timely, accurate field data and actionable insights, enabling field reps and management to Do More, Know More and Sell More. Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, StayinFront has offices in Chicago, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Ireland, Poland, India, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand. Through its 20:20 Retail Data Insight and StayinFront Digital subsidiaries, StayinFront delivers stand alone and tightly integrated actionable insights and guided selling by analyzing retail images and data to brand managers and sales forces around the globe. For more details about StayinFront products and solutions, visit www.stayinfront.com .

StayinFront Contact

Ken Arbadji

Vice President of Sales, North America

+1 (973) 461-4800 x3247

karbadji@stayinfront.com

Media Contact

Crystal Ozsoy

+1 (973) 461-4800 x3390

pr@stayinfront.com
Police have handed out more than 9,000 fines to people in England and Wales for flouting the new coronavirus lockdown laws - including 397 repeat offenders, it was revealed today.

One so-called 'covidiot' has been given six fixed penalty notices in the past month after refusing to comply with the rules to stop the spread of the virus that has claimed 26,097 lives in the UK.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said 8,877 tickets have been handed out by forces in England between March 27 and April 27, while 299 were issued in Wales over the same period.

These peaked over the Easter weekend with an average of 500 fines per day issued as temperatures reached 26C [79f] and people held parties, BBQs or headed to the local park or beach.

Forces have also had 214,000 calls from the public with tip-offs about people breaching the social distancing rules in the past month - compared with 106,000 for the same period last year.

And revealing a picture of who has been fined for refusing to stay at home, eight out of ten fines were given to men - and 54 per cent of rebels were aged between 18 and 29. In cases where ethnicity was recorded, 58 per cent of people were white, ten per cent were Asian and four per cent were black.

Police have been given powers to hand out a 60 penalty, that is reduced to 30 if paid within two weeks, for breaches of the Government's restriction of movement rules. Repeat offenders face fines of up to 960 and arrest.

A Police officer speaks with a lone person in St James Park as people enjoyed the sunshine over the weekend as it was revealed 9,000 people have been fined 60 or more

Police have broken down fines day by day but officers have found that the better the weather the more they have had to bring enforcement

There were 8,877 fines in total in the past month - with the most handed out in Lancashire

Mohammed Boshaala, 23, pictured outside court last week, told Greater Manchester Police officers 'they can f*** off' when he was caught breaching the coronavirus lockdown for the fourth time in five days in the city centre

Police powers to tackle people flouting the coronavirus lockdown Up to two years in prison if you cough deliberately on someone after spate of attacks on police and emergency service workers

People who continue to flout coronavirus lockdown rules will be breaking the law and can be arrested as part of new enforcement powers announced by the Home Office.

Officers can also tell them to go home, leave or disperse an area and ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking the law.

Those who refuse to comply could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of 60, which will be lowered to 30 if paid within 14 days.

Second-time offenders could be issued a fixed penalty notice of 120, doubling on each further repeat offence.

Those who do not pay the penalty can be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose fines up to 1,000 or more; Advertisement

One of the known repeat offenders was Mohammed Boshaala, 23, who told Greater Manchester Police officers 'they can f*** off' when he was caught breaching the coronavirus lockdown for the fourth time in five days in the city centre last week.

Across the city Steven Mackie, 53, was arrested outside a Tesco store in Stalybridge last Saturday after within 15 minutes he twice flouted emergency restrictions brought in place to attempt to halt the spread of the virus.

GMP has handed out 171 fixed penalty notices and revealed house parties are a 'particular challenge'.

Officers even stopped 'four young men who had travelled from Yorkshire to get a burger'.

One parent was fined by Lincolnshire Police officers because his child 'repeatedly breached' Covid-19 rules.

NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said that fines were only being issued in circumstances when people were refusing to leave the area and go home.

He added: 'As the latest provisional figures on the number of fines issued show, the vast majority of people continue to do the right thing, staying at home in order to protect the NHS and help save lives.

'The figures also show our use of the enforcement powers remains proportionate with just 0.02% of the population in England being issued with a fine.'

Police forces have hired 3,005 extra officers in the first six months of the Government's recruitment drive to sign up 20,000 more over the next three years, it has also emerged today.

The overall provisional headcount of officers in England and Wales is now 131,596.

This is a 5% rise on March last year, of which the recruitment drive accounts for approximately half, a Home Office report showing the progress in the scheme since its launch in October to March said.

Plans are 'on track' to meet the first year's target of 6,000 by March 2021 and the new recruits are on top of those hired to fill existing vacancies, the Home Office said.

Hundreds were allowed to queue to enter this B&Q in Watford as Ken Marsh, chair of the Met Police Federation, said the rules 'don't make sense'

Crowds of travellers were ordered away by police five days ago as they descended on Roath Park in Cardiff with their horses

What ARE the lockdown rules? Regulation 6 of the The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 states no person may leave the place where they live without a reasonable excuse. The National Police Chief's Council has released its interpretation of what constitutes a 'reasonable excuse': It classifies explains its interpretation of how the law relates to everday activities. It defines activites that are likely to be reasonable as: - Buying several days' worth of food, including luxury items and alcohol. - Buying tools and supplies to repair a fence panel damaged in recent bad weather. - Exercise including: going for a run or cycle or practicing yoga. Walking in the countryside or in cities. Attending an allotment. - Stopping to rest or to eat lunch while on a long walk. It defines activities that are 'not likely to be reasonable' as: - Buying paint and brushes, simply to redecorate a kitchen - A short walk to a park bench, when the person remains seated for a much longer period - A person who can work from home choosing to work in a local park. By way of explanation on each area it adds: Shopping - There is no need for all a person's shopping to be basic food supplies; the purchase of snacks and luxuries is still permitted. In general terms, a person has a reasonable excuse to visit the shops which remain open to customers under the Regulations. If a person is already out of the address with good reason, then it would not be proportionate to prevent the person from buying nonessential items. Food could include hot food from takeaways. Exercise - Exercise must involve some movement, but it is acceptable for a person to stop for a break in exercise. However, a very short period of 'exercise' to excuse a long period of inactivity may mean that the person is not engaged in 'exercise' but in fact something else. Home improvements - The regulations specify maintenance and upkeep. This does not extend to renovation and improvements. Advertisement

Boris Johnson has been told to 'get a grip' by police chiefs over nonsensical lockdown rules that saw lone sunbathers scolded but hundreds allowed to gather outside B&Qs across Britain last weekend.

With no exit plan in sight, large numbers of Britons went out to shop and enjoy the weather over the weekend amid fears the lockdown appears to be unravelling.

Police were seen speaking to individuals sunbathing alone or with a partner in Greenwich Park, Hyde Park and St James' Park in London.

Yet B&Q's decision to reopen 130 stores saw massive queues forming outside its outlets in Watford, Edinburgh, Bristol and Swansea, as people used the shutdown to catch up on DIY.

Ken Marsh, chair of the Met Police Federation, said: 'You can't have a scenario where police are telling two people in a park not to sit on a bench but 50 yards away there's 300 people, can't put a fag packet between them, queuing to go into a DIY store'.

He told TalkRadio : 'If officers are confused about all this then so will the public be.

'Police officers are on the front line of combating the coronavirus crisis. We need clear and unambiguous laws, guidance and communication from the Government around what the public can and can't do. What is essential and what isn't'.

There have been signs that the public's temperance was creaking as beaches in Brighton and Bournemouth as well as parks all over the UK were busier than they had been over the past five weeks.

Various forces have highlighted the most flagrant breaches of the guidance they have come across on social media - but others have complained of a heavy-handed approach.

Devon and Cornwall Police fined a couple from Kent for driving around 300 miles for a 'mini-break' by the sea. Their car was confiscated after the driver was found to have no licence or insurance.

Ten people from London who travelled 245 miles to go walking in North Wales were sent home and reported by police for breaking lockdown rules.

The group, travelling in two separate vehicles, had travelled the five-hour journey from the capital earlier on Sunday.

But they were stopped by police near their destination on the A5 in Bethesda.

They told officers they were intending to go walking in Snowdonia, the mountainous National Park in North Wales.

Instead, officers from North Wales Police, who tweeted brief details of the incident, reported them for breaching lockdown laws.

Two couples from Slough have been sent packing by police after they turned up at an Airbnb 100 miles away in Gloucestershire for a weekend break in flagrant breach of lockdown rules.

The incident near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was one of several breaches reported in the area over weekend.

The two couples were warned and told to leave the county by the police.

Officers in the same area of Gloucestershire also shut down a hand car wash and gave warnings to people attending BBQs and house parties.
A policeman gestures in front of Al-Irschad Mosque during a raid today in Berlin, as dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah. (AFP)

Berlin: The German government on Thursday said it was banning all activities of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Germany, calling it a "Shiite terrorist organisation".

Interior minister Horst Seehofer "has today banned the operation" of the group in Germany, his spokesman wrote on the ministry's Twitter account.

Raids were taking place in several places across the country, he added.

Dozens of police and special forces stormed mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah in Bremen, Berlin, Dortmund and Muenster in the early hours of the morning, German media reported.

"Even in times of crisis the rule of law is upheld," the ministry spokesman tweeted.

Although Hezbollah has no official presence in Germany, security forces believe its members use the country as a safe haven and to raise funds, including through criminal activities.

Like the European Union, Germany had until now only outlawed Hezbollah's military wing while tolerating its political wing.

The United States and Israel have long designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group and urged allies to follow suit.

Britain outlawed Hezbollah's political wing last year, making membership of the Shiite movement or inviting support for it a crime.

The decision follows outrage over the display of the Hezbollah flag, which features a Kalashnikov assault rifle, at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London.

The mood began shifting in Germany too with the German parliament passing a resolution last December to ban the group from operating in Germany altogether.

Among other things, today's ban means the group's supporters would no longer be allowed to wave Hezbollah flags at marches in Germany.

Hezbollah, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war, is seen by Israel as an Iranian proxy, seeking to extend the Islamic republic's military reach to the Jewish state's northern border.

Israeli warplanes have carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria over the past few years against what Israel says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets.

Hezbollah was established in 1982 during Lebanon's civil war. It is now a major political party in the country, where it holds a majority in parliament along with its allies.

Israel and Hezbollah also fought a 2006 war.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop speaks during a press conference at the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) at the Hoover Institution on the campus of Stanford University on July 24, 2018 in Stanford, California. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis are participating in the two-day AUSMIN forum at Stanford University. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Wrong Time for Chinas Threats or Coercion: Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has called on China to fulfill its international obligations and support an investigation into the global pandemic.

Speaking to Channel 7s Sunrise on April 30, Bishop said an investigation is essential to determine whether this might happen again.

There must be an investigation into how the virus got into human populations, wherever it was first reported so that we can be better prepared; so that we can determine whether the virus could have been contained, she said.

China has a unique responsibility to uphold international peace and security as a member of the United Nations Security Council. Bishop believes the pandemic has been a threat to international security because of its disruption to the global economy and societies.

Bishop pointed out the precedence of an inquiry into the Ebola outbreak. I do believe it is essential for there to be such an investigation, and there have been in the past, she said.

Threats and Coercion

Bishop also said it was not the time for threats or coercion by China, given the international community is amid a global pandemic.

Australia and China are currently experiencing an increase in diplomatic tensions after the Chinese Ambassador tried to use economic coercion to halt Australias probe into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye on April 26 said in an interview with the Australian Financial Review that if Australia continues to probe into the origins of the CCP virus, the Chinese public may avoid Australian products and universities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on April 28 then in a rare step, released a statement calling out the Chinese embassy for breaking protocol over its release of diplomatic communications between the embassy and DFAT Secretary Frances Adamson.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press conference on April 29 that Australia would continue to pursue an independent assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic since the virus had taken more than 200,000 lives globally and shut down the world economy.

We dont lightly form the views that we do on these things, and we hold the position that we have, he said.

The prime minister also noted that Australia was not pursuing a targeted attack but rather a very reasonable and sensible course of action.

Australia will do what is in our interest, in the global interest, and we will, of course, continue to support moves to ensure there is a proper independent assessment of what has occurred here. I mean, that is in the global health interest, it is in the global economic interest, said Morrison.
He's been referred to as Australia's very own Tiger King, but apart from his surname, Vaughan King doesn't have much in common with Joe Exotic.

Vaughan King on the hunt for Australia's elusive big cats. Credit:Clementine Zawadzki

The Netflix show's star and the former WA boy both have a thing for big cats and, from May 5 when King appears in a new Discovery Channel documentary, both will be on television screens.

That, though, is where any similarity ends.

"Ive only seen two episodes of the show, and it gave me the weirdest nightmares," King said.
Material Bank will use the funding to accelerate expansion into new categories, build a new robotic logistics facility to support increased demand, and further develop its SaaS platform. For Q1 2020, Material Bank recorded 45% quarter-on-quarter revenue growth and the company is on track to grow revenue 200% and will double its participating brands in 2020.

Material Bank is the world's largest material marketplace of its kind. It simplifies the complex process of material search and sampling by enabling architects, designers, and corporate buyers to search hundreds of thousands of materials such as paint, flooring, and textiles across hundreds of vendors. Material Bank's powerful database is combined with its propriety robotic distribution facility, allowing users to order samples until midnight (ET) to be delivered free of charge anywhere in the US, in one box, by 10:30 AM the next morning. Material Bank also significantly improves the sustainability of the design industry by reducing the number of inbound packages to firms by over 70%.

"Our mission is to remove the friction that exists when searching and sampling materials. Material Bank has almost doubled its member base within the last six months and is rapidly transforming the architecture and design industry," said Material Bank founder and CEO Adam I. Sandow. "Our dramatic growth is a result of the changing demands of the industry and our ability to efficiently serve them. We're thrilled to announce support from Bain Capital Ventures during this time of rapid expansion."

Material Bank has over 35,000 approved members who use the platform to source billions of dollars of materials for more than 75,000 construction and design projects since its official launch in January 2019.

"Material Bank is a perfect fit with Bain Capital Ventures' mission of investing in industry-leading B2B companies. We are excited about the potential of online marketplaces to transform the B2B commerce landscape, and Material Bank's exponential growth over the past year shows they are very well positioned to become the dominant marketplace in the materials industry," said Merritt Hummer, partner at Bain Capital Ventures.

In today's rapidly changing environment, Material Bank is uniquely positioned to help drive the industry forward while design professionals adapt to working differently. Material Bank is used by architects, designers and corporate buyers from a wide range of industries, including real estate, government, retail, healthcare, education and hospitality.

About Material Bank

Material Bank is a marketplace for design professionals and brands in the architecture and design industry, providing the fastest and most powerful way to discover and sample materials. The revolutionary platform powers complex searches across hundreds of brands in seconds. Samples ordered by midnight (ET) are delivered in a single box by 10:30 AM the next dayalways free for design professionals. With a rapidly growing community of members, Material Bank is the easiest way for brands to connect with thousands of vetted design professionals in the specification process. Follow Material Bank via LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Bain Capital Ventures

Bain Capital Ventures partners with disruptive founders to accelerate their ideas to market. The firm invests from seed to growth in startups driving transformation across industries, from SaaS, infrastructure software and security to fintech and healthcare to commerce and consumer tech. The firm has helped launch and commercialize more than 240 companies, including DocuSign, Jet.com, Kiva Systems, Lime, LinkedIn, Rapid7, Redis Labs, Rent the Runway, Rubrik, SendGrid and SurveyMonkey. Bain Capital Ventures has $5.2 billion in assets under management with offices in San Francisco, New York, Boston and Palo Alto. Follow the firm via LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE Material Bank
Lorraine Sanchez, who worked with Reade in California after her tenure in Washington, was quoted by Business Insider as saying that Reade had told her she had been sexually harassed by her former boss while she was in DC and as a result of her voicing her concerns to her supervisors, she was let go, fired. Sanchez has not responded to messages left by The Post.
LONDON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln International, a global investment banking advisory firm, today announced the expansion of its global financial sponsors coverage capabilities with the addition of Florus Plantenga as a Managing Director who will be based in the firm's London office. Florus will strengthen Lincoln International's efforts to enhance the firm's connectivity with key European and international sponsors, bringing them compelling investment opportunities, market insights and unmatched advisory services.

"Year over year, we source and lead an increasing number of cross-border European deals on behalf of private equity sellers and buyers," stated Jim Lawson, Chairman and Global Co-CEO for Lincoln International. "With the addition of Florus, we are expanding upon our proven and highly successful financial sponsors coverage model in the U.S. while acting as a complement to the outstanding coverage provided by our industry and service bankers."

Florus brings more than two decades of experience in investment banking, during which he has developed lasting relationships with private equity professionals, gaining deep insight into the drivers of success and intricacies of each individual client.

Phil McCreanor, Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking for Lincoln's U.K. and Nordics regions, continued, "The extent of Florus' relationships with European private equity houses will be immediately complementary to the many efforts of Lincoln's European investment banking advisors. COVID-19 has created challenges and a new environment for our clients and Florus' experience and relationships will yield immediate value as he collaborates with his Lincoln colleagues in helping our clients successfully navigate the way forward."

Florus spent the last 12 years of his career as a Managing Director in the Financial Sponsors Group at Houlihan Lokey where he led client relationship development among leading private equity firms in the U.K., Benelux and other European countries. Previously, he served as a Director at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking within their Egret Capital CLO and in financial sponsors coverage. Before that he was a Vice President at Merrill Lynch within the financial sponsors coverage team. Florus also spent time as a Vice President for JP Morgan Investment Banking executing transactions in the Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT), chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. He began his career in corporate finance at Kleinwort Benson where he was Assistant Manager focused on the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industries.

"The growth in capital available for investment in mid-market private equity is driving incredible transaction volume and opportunity," stated Florus. "I am looking forward to being part of Lincoln International's platform  the firm's global reach, deep industry expertise and brand recognition in the mid-market are essential elements for assuring success for the private equity community."

Florus holds a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. He also earned a Master of Law (cum laude) from Rijksuniversiteit Leiden in the Netherlands.

About Lincoln International

We are trusted investment banking advisors to business owners and senior executives of leading private equity firms and public and privately held companies around the world. Our advisory services include mergers and acquisitions and capital markets advisory for the mid-market. We also provide valuations and fairness opinions and joint ventures advisory services. As one tightly integrated team of more than 600 professionals across 16 countries, we offer an unobstructed perspective, backed by superb execution and a deep commitment to client success. With extensive industry knowledge and relationships, timely market intelligence and strategic insights, we forge deep, productive client relationships that endure for decades. Connect with us to learn more at www.lincolninternational.com.

SOURCE Lincoln International LLC

Related Links

http://www.lincolninternational.com


In response to a lawsuit that questions Gov. Ralph Northam's authority to close recreational businesses, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring says reopening prematurely could risk a new wave of COVID-19 infections.

"Reopening too quickly risks triggering a second wave of cases, requiring the imposition of renewed restrictions, and erasing the hard-won gains made possible by the sacrifices of Virginians over the past several weeks," Herring writes.

Two Republican state senators are representing the owner of Golds Gym facilities in Virginia, including two in the Richmond area, in a lawsuit that challenges Northams authority to close private fitness centers as nonessential businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, and Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, filed a lawsuit in Culpeper County last week on behalf of Merrill C. Sandy Hall, the owner of Golds Gym facilities in Virginia, including centers in Chesterfield and Henrico counties. The suit seeks temporary and permanent injunctions to prevent enforcement of the executive order.

A Circuit Court judge in Culpeper County will hold a hearing in the case Thursday morning.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.  After state officials signaled an intention to close all California beaches, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday chose instead to shutter only Orange Countys coastline, a clumsy rollout that left local officials livid and had Republicans claiming politics was at play.

Newsom has engendered strong bipartisan support for most of his actions during the virus outbreak. But more recently, some of the more rural and GOP-leaning areas of the state have begun chafing against what they see as an overly cautious move toward reopening California.

The divisions were laid bare by the beach announcement.

The California Republican Party accused Newsom of backpedaling. The Orange County GOP, desperate to regain ground lost to Democrats in what was once a Republican stronghold, accused him of targeted harassment and petty politics.

Newsom, a Democrat, said he was only reinforcing his vow to make sure California doesnt backslide on its progress against the virus by allowing crowds to gather on beaches as they did during the weekend in Orange County.

We have been consistent, we have been clear, we have been transparent, Newsom said of his closure decision.

Still, his administration sowed confusion with its handling of the issue.

On Wednesday, administration officials spread the word to police and other local officials that the governor planned to order all beaches closed starting Friday. That evening the state police chiefs association sent a bulletin to its members alerting them so they would have time to plan for it.

However, a senior administration official who was not authorized to publicly discuss internal deliberations told The Associated Press that Newsoms final decision wasnt made until Thursday morning.

At his daily noontime briefing where he announced the closing, Newsom said he never saw the memo sent by the police chiefs organization, which later issued a statement expressing regret for sending out information regarding decisions that were still evolving.

But San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said his office was told by an official in Newsoms Natural Resources Agency on Wednesday that the governor would be closing all beaches.

Faulconer, a Republican, told the AP he spent Thursday morning pleading with the Newsom administration to reconsider. Minutes before the scheduled announcement, Faulconer said an aide to Newsom called his chief of staff to say the order would only apply to Orange County.

Great news: the Governor heard us, Faulconer tweeted.

Newsoms hands-on management style has been on display during the virus crisis. He is deeply involved in decisions big and small. Officials within the administration rarely speak out of turn, knowing Newsom wants major announcements to come only from his office.

Newsom has said local governments need his approval to alter their stay-at-home orders. Six rural Northern California counties recently sent him a letter saying they are ready to reopen more quickly than other parts of the state because the virus hasnt been prevalent there. He has demurred, and they have not moved ahead with their plans.

Newsoms authority may face a stiffer challenge in sparsely populated Modoc County on the Oregon border. It plans to reopen schools, hair salons, churches, restaurants, the countys only movie theater and other business Friday as long as people exercise appropriate social distancing, said Ned Coe, a cattle rancher and county supervisor.

That action would violate Newsoms stay-at-home order. It was unclear what he would do if that happens.

Modoc is far removed from the beaches that are an integral part of California coastal life. Access to them has been one of many hot-button topics as Newsom and local governments crafted and refined stay-at-home orders.

Los Angeles County and its communities have chosen to close all beaches. San Diego County reopened beaches Monday with restrictions stipulating they only be used for surfing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, running and walking. People arent allowed to sunbathe, sit or even stop.

Orange County, located between those counties, is home to more than 3 million people and some of Californias signature beaches. Huntington Beach proudly declares itself Surf City, USA.

While some communities in the county have closed beaches, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach refused to limit access. Last weekend about 80,000 people filled Newport Beach, and photos soon flooded social media, earning a scolding from Newsom on Monday. A day later, Newport Beach officials voted to keep their beach policies intact.

Newsoms order prompted anger from local officials, who said the vast majority of beach-goers act responsibly and are being punished unfairly.

There is no rational basis for this action, said Michelle Steel, chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and a GOP candidate for Congress. The major point of contention that has led to this situation are a few misleading pictures.

Her opponent in the House race, freshman Democrat Rep. Harley Rouda, was gentler with his criticism.

We need to develop a common-sense plan that prioritizes local residents physical and mental health  not indefinitely shut-down our beaches, Rouda said.

Newsom said his order is not an indictment of the people that wanted to go to the beach, saying he is passionate about your right and our collective responsibility not only to give you access but to keep you safe.

My job as governor is to keep you safe. When our health folks tell me they cant promise that if we promote another weekend like we had, then I have to make this adjustment, he said. I hope its a very short-term adjustment.

Newsom noted 200 state parks remain open, giving people options for outdoor recreation. That reference angered Republican state Sen. John Moorlach, a former Orange County supervisor who represents the area in the Legislature.

Why would (Newsom) allow people to go to 200 parks? What makes a beach different? he said. Governor Newsom, would you please trust your citizens?

Newsom said California saw a 5.2% increase of coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, offering a reminder that this disease has not gone away.

California has more than 49,000 cases and more than 2,000 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.

___

Associated Press reporters Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, Stephanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Olga R. Rodriguez, Janie Har and Juliet Williams in San Francisco contributed reporting.
Phone lines are tied up, and answers seem to be trickling in only a little bit at a time. Desperate for clarity, unemployed Hoosiers are relying on each other.

The Facebook group Indiana Unemployment Peer to Peer Information has nearly 1,800 members and gets dozens of posts per day.

One woman said she emailed 79 claims investigators at once about an employer stopping her unemployment payment.

Someone else wanted answers, too.

will you send email list? he commented. [sic]

More than 75,000 people made unemployment claims in the week ending on April 18. It was the third consecutive week of that number declining. To put that in perspective, though, there were 2,719 claims made during the third week of April last year, according to state data.

Nationwide, a record 22 million Americans had applied for unemployment benefits in the four weeks through April 11.

This has been a unique recession because the government is essentially trying to incentivize not working  or at least not working around others  due to the current danger of being in a physical workplace with other people.

That means a temporary jolt to unemployment benefits.

In addition to traditional unemployment insurance, Congress created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program  Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA  for people who wouldnt normally be eligible for benefits.

The program is part of the federal CARES Act.

Eligible workers now include gig workers, those who are self-employed and those who dont have a sufficient work history to qualify for benefits.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) had to create a new system in order to implement the federally-funded program, so applications for PUA just recently became available online.

Applicants must first apply for traditional unemployment insurance and get denied.

For those who applied for PUA as soon as it was possible on April 24, DWD Commissioner Fred Payne said the first payments are targeted for May 8.

The PUA program also provides an additional $600 to existing unemployment benefits through July. That money, which applies to anyone who qualifies for unemployment benefits, is taxable and subject to child support withholding.

The $600 payments are effective back to March 29 and will be paid retroactively. Applicants who qualify for traditional unemployment benefits or PUA dont need to do anything else to get the $600.

Some who were already receiving regular unemployment benefits already started seeing the $600 payments. For the first weekend those payments were added, the department paid out $276 million over a three-day period. Thats $46 million more than what the department paid out in unemployment benefits total last year.

The average wait time for benefits is about 21 days, Payne said, but he noted that can vary significantly.

Those receiving benefits must file a voucher each week in order to keep receiving the benefits. Its recommended to file vouchers on a Tuesday or later to take stress off of the DWDs system, which is experiencing high traffic volumes.

As of April 27, the department had already received about 65,000 PUA applications, according to Payne, though some were duplicates from regular unemployment insurance.

The federal CARES Act also provides 39 weeks of unemployment benefits, 13 more than normal.

Payne said during a recent COVID-19 briefing hes not worried about the state running out of money to pay benefits. Indiana has a little under $650 million in a trust fund to pay those benefits, he said, and there is federal money available in case that fund gets too low.

One of the common complaints from those looking for answers about unemployment benefits is how difficult its been to actually talk with someone from the DWD.

Payne said its best for people to use the self-help tool on the website because it takes a massive amount of time to answer those questions over a phone call. The department has been hiring and training more staff to keep up with demand.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
A woman living in direct provision is criticising the decision to move her and her children around the country during the coronavirus outbreak.

Precious Moyo was moved from hotels in Dublin to Kerry, then to Cork before being returned to Dublin all in the last month.

The mother-of-two from Zimbabwe says they were placed on crowded buses with others living in direct provision.

Her seven-year-old daughter tested positive for the virus.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Precious says the experience has been traumatic.

"I'm dealing with my own trauma that I'm coming with from my own country and now it's another trauma," she said.

"That cannot go away for me, that my daughter got Covid. In a hotel with kids it's so hard, it's traumatising.

"I don't know why they can't give us facilities whereby we can take care of our kids in a proper way."

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said they do not comment on individual cases but said that "any transfers are undertaken in the best interests of the resident(s) and with full consideration of their individual circumstances."
Midlands restaurant and bars took a significant hit after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all bars and restaurants to close their dining halls due to coronavirus concerns.

Midland County recorded a year low in alcohol sales in March, according to the latest available records from the Texas comptroller's Office.
Mumbai, April 30 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday extended the regulatory benefits announced under the SLF-MF scheme to all banks, irrespective of whether they avail funding from the Central Bank or deploy their own resources.

The RBI announced special liquidity facility for mutual funds (SLF-MF) worth Rs 50,000 crore on Monday to ease liquidity in the segment, which intensified in the wake of redemption pressures related to closure of some debt MFs and potential contagious effects.

The decision on scheme followed Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund shutting down six of its funds due to credit issues.

It has now been decided that all banks meeting the liquidity requirements of MFs by extending loans, and undertaking outright purchase of repos against the collateral of investment grade corporate bonds, commercial paper (CPs), debentures and certificates of deposit (CDs) held by MFs will be eligible to claim all the regulatory benefits available under the SLF-MF scheme without the need to avail back to back funding from the RBI.

The bank claiming the regulatory benefits would only be required to submit a weekly statement containing consolidated information on entity-wise and instrument-wise loans and advances extended or investment made, the apex bank said in a statement.

On April 27, the Reserve Bank had announced the special liquidity facility to ease liquidity strains on MFs, which intensified in the wake of redemption pressures related to closure of some debt MFs and potential contagious effects.

Under the SLF-MF scheme, the RBI will conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate. It is an "on-tap and open-ended", scheme and banks can submit their bids to avail funding. Besides, the scheme is available from April 27 till May 11, 2020 or "up to utilisation of the allocated amount, whichever is earlier".

"Liquidity support availed under the SLF-MF scheme would be eligible to be classified as held to maturity (HTM) even in excess of 25 per cent of total investment permitted to be included in the HTM portfolio. Exposures under this facility will not be reckoned under the Large Exposure Framework (LEF)," an earlier RBI statement on the scheme has said.

The scheme had come after the suspension of redemptions in six Franklin Templeton bond funds, with combined assets under management (AUM) of approximately $4.1 billion equivalent, on April 23, 2020, and outflows from other funds in March 2020.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Jetstar and Qantas have begun selling interstate flights from June leading to suggestion the government will lift domestic travel bans sooner than expected.

The airlines continued to offer a select number of routes - including Sydney to Melbourne - throughout the coronavirus pandemic and government-imposed restrictions on travelling.

But they are now advertising flights out of Darwin, as well as more destinations for residents in Perth, following the flattening of the COVID-19 curve in recent weeks.

The increase in services suggests the carriers are preparing for the Federal Government to loosen travel bans across the country which have brought air travel to a halt.

Jetstar has now advertised flights out of Darwin, as well as more destinations for residents in Perth, following the flattening of the COVID-19 curve in recent weeks (stock image)

Jetstar is selling flights out of Darwin to all major Australian cities from June 1.

The increase in routes comes as the Northern Territory becomes the first jurisdiction in Australia to return to a 'new normal'.

All businesses including restaurants, bars, cafes and gyms will reopen over the next five weeks. On Thursday, the Territory had not had a new coronavirus case for 24 days and all but three of its 28 cases had recovered.

There have been no deaths or community transmission, which Chief Minister Michael Gunner said was a remarkable achievement.

'We have had a generation's worth of challenges and and change in the space of less than two months,' he told reporters.

But he said the NT's borders would stay shut for now with no plans to reopen them and increase the risk of anyone bringing in the coronavirus.

'It is a business before borders plan, we can do all these things before everyone else because our borders are staying shut,' Mr Gunner said.

Jetstar is selling flights out of Darwin (pictured: Darwin Airport) to all major Australian cities from June 1

'The whole idea is to get our lives back as close to normal as possible without putting you at risk and without putting some of Australia's most vulnerable at risk.

'The new normal will be with us for a while. That's why we are making changes that are sustainable and built to last for as long as we need them.'

Qantas and Jetstar are offering daily Darwin to Sydney services from June 1.

A Jetstar spokesman said further cancellations are likely as the airline continues to review operations during the health crisis.

'The Prime Minister has flagged an extension to international travel restrictions and quarantine for travellers arriving back into Australia,' the spokesman told NT News.

Qantas and Jetstar are offering daily Darwin to Sydney services from June 1

'We will update customers should their flights be impacted.'

It's a similar case in Western Australia, with an increase in flights advertised come June.

There are no flights from Perth to Sydney or Melbourne throughout May but daily services on sale from June 1.

In the latest update on coronavirus restrictions, the Federal Government said the international travel ban is expected to remain in place long-term, but domestic travel is likely to restart sooner depending on the situation in each state.

State and federal leaders will meet on May 11 to discuss which measures will be the next in line to be relaxed.
She has been isolating at her family home.

Yet Lydia Bright has revealed she has had to cut short time with her mum and dad, as she and her daughter Loretta, two months, have relocated to her own home.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the former TOWIE star revealed her parents, who have been fostering for 30 years, had just taken in two new foster children so there was no room for the duo, before she shared a video of their first morning alone.

Hometime! Lydia Bright has revealed she has had to cut short time with her mum and dad, as she and her daughter Loretta, two months, have relocated to her own home

Lydia welcomed Loretta with her ex-boyfriend Lee Cronin in February and when lockdown was instated amid the coronvirus pandemic, she relocated from her own home to her mum and dad's Brentwood pad.

Having decorated her home during her pregnancy to prepare for Loretta's arrival, she revealed on Thursday that she is now on her way back.

Taking to her Instagram story, she wrote: 'Yesterday two new members joined our foster family. They are absolutely adorable and I'm so excited for Loretta to have playmates when she visits nanny and granddad's...

'However it does mean there is no more room at the inn. So me and Loretta have finally moved home to our house. Going to miss being with my family all day, every day but I am going to walk past the house daily for chats through the window.'

Sweet: Lydia is famously close to her family - sisters Georgia and Roma, mum Debbie, dad Dave and brother Freddie - along with the many foster children in their lives

Home time! Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the former TOWIE star revealed her parents, who have been fostering for 30 years, had just taken in two new foster children so there was no room for the duo, before she shared a video of their first morning alone

Lydia then wrote: 'Here is how we coped. Day one of isolation just mummy and Loretta', before sharing a timelapse video of their first day together.

In the video she showed the ins and outs of her morning, including changing Loretta's nappy, baby sensory time, making breakfast and eating biscuits.

In 2018, Debbie confessed she adores the chaos of life as a carer, while also juggling her own four children, yet admitted the devastation of giving up babies she has looked after since they were just days old.

Coping: Lydia then wrote: 'Here is how we coped. Day one of isolation just mummy and Loretta', before sharing a timelapse video of their first day together

Her love: Lydia welcomed Loretta with her ex-boyfriend Lee Cronin in February and when lockdown was instated amid the coronvirus pandemic, she relocated from her own home to her mum and dad's Brentwood pad

Touching: Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the reality favourite candidly discussed her life as a foster parent and the highs and lows of the tough yet rewarding job

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the reality favourite candidly discussed her life as a foster parent and the highs and lows of the tough yet rewarding job.

Debbie burst on to TV screens nearly eight years ago in a supporting role on The Only Way Is Essex in support of her reality star daughter Lydia, before garnering huge praise from fans as one of the loving mums of the show.

While she has kept her fostering off screens, Debbie has always spoken with passion about the work yet admits there are difficulties with the job.

Busy day! In the video she showed the ins and outs of her morning, including changing Loretta's nappy, baby sensory time, making breakfast and eating biscuits

She told MailOnline: 'The hardest thing is when you have to give up babies, when you take a baby from a week old, a year or 18 months have to move on, thats heartbreaking. You have to remember you are just part of their journey...

'Some of the behaviours are so difficult to deal with. Its much harder to unlearn behaviours than to learn them. If you dont get a child until theyre 10, sometimes you can break through but sometimes you cant...

'You know that child is going to have a difficult life, but they have to go through that journey to become that person theyll become in later life'.
There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case, Trump tweeted during a hearing earlier this year in which federal prosecutors were defending the jury verdict. Look at her background. She never revealed her hatred of Trump and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge. Roger wasnt even working on my campaign. Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!
A 15-year-old has revealed that she and 33-year-old mother look so much alike that people are constantly mistaking them for twins.

TikTok user Kennedy Rian from Utah paid tribute to her incredibly youthful-looking mom, Chelsie D'Amico, on her birthday last month by sharing a video of them standing side by side  and many viewers couldn't figure out who was who.

'Happy birthday mamma, love you,' she captioned the clip, which has been viewed more than 5.6 million times.

Like twins: TikTok user Kennedy Rian (right), 15, shared a video of herself standing next to her mom, Chelsie D'Amico (left), last month in honor of her 33rd birthday

Lookalikes: In the clip, Kennedy (wearing white) shared that people often tell them they 'look like twins' and could easily pass for sisters

The video begins with Kennedy and Chelsie standing with their hands covering their faces as she shares just some of the things people have said about her mom.

'U guys have to be sisters,' one person commented, while another insisted that there is 'no way she's your mom.'

'You guys look like twins,' someone else gushed, and then there were those who couldn't resist telling Kennedy that her 'mom is hot.'

When they remove their hands and reveal their faces, it's difficult to tell which one of them is the mom and which is the teenage daughter.

Like twins: The teen and her mom (right) both have highlighted blonde hair, light eyes, and dark lashes, never mind the fact that they have nearly identical facial features

Confused: Many people admitted that they couldn't tell who was who in the video

They both have highlighted blonde hair, light eyes, and dark lashes, never mind the fact that they have nearly identical facial features.

Some correctly guessed that Kennedy's mom was the one wearing a black turtleneck simply because she had on a more mature-looking outfit compared to her daughter, who donned a Champion sweatshirt and beaded bracelets in the clip.

More than 3,200 people have commented on the video, with many admitting that they couldn't tell them apart.

'Wait who is the mom,' one person asked. 'I swear I cant tell.'

Looking back: Chelsie gave birth to Kennedy when she was 17 years old (left)

Genetics: Kennedy (left) has always looked like her mom, even when she had darker hair

Bond: The mother (right) and daughter not only lookalike, but they are also as close as can be

'Dang she looks like your older sister,' someone else said, while another commented: 'How old is she? Like 20?'

Some insisted that it was impossible for Chelsie to be her mom, but Kennedy insisted that she wasn't lying.

'Did ur mom have u in 4th grade?' one person asked.

'She aged well I guess,' Kennedy responded.

Crazy: Chelsie revealed on Instagram in February that even her cellphone's facial identification software can't tell them apart. Kennedy is unable to unlock her mom's cellphone with her face

Full house: Chelsie (pictured in a denim jacket) and her husband also have a younger daughter, Elliott, and a son, Jagger

Chelsie ended up replying to the comments, confirming that she is 33 years old and gave birth to Kennedy when she was age 17.

The married mom of three also has a younger daughter, Elliott, and son, Jagger, who both have blonde hair just like she does.

Chelsie revealed on Instagram in February that even the facial identification on her cellphone has trouble telling them apart.

'I stole her from school today to go to lunch. She makes parenting a teenager a breeze,' she captioned a photo of them together. 'She can also unlock my phone with her face  which really is so weird because I dont feel like we look THAT much alike.'
The high court of Himachal Pradesh has issued notice to the chief secretary, principle secretary (health) and managing director of GVK-EMRI, over non-availability of personal protection (PPE) kits to the employees deployed in the 108 and 102 ambulances.

A division bench of chief justice L Narayana Swamy and justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed the orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the court as a PIL addressed to the chief justice through e-mail by Puran Chand, chairman of Himachal Pradesh 108/102 Contract Worker Union.

The applicant had alleged that the employees deployed in ambulances are providing their services round-the-clock, but the GVK-EMRI management has not provided PPE kits till date.

He further alleged that in some ambulances, the company has provided only two kits and once used these cannot be reused without sanitisation. All employees have been directed to use available kits only. The petitioner said that 108/102 ambulance employees are exposed to risk.

The case will now be heard on Friday.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox.

Eye Contact

Vice President Mike Pence defended himself from criticism over his failure to wear a mask while touring the Mayo Clinic this week. Pence said that since he didnt have the coronavirus, he wanted to take the opportunity to look health care workers in the eye and say thank you.

But he might be OK, Seth Meyers said Wednesday night, because looking at him, he drinks plenty of bleach.
Ariel Investments co-CEO and president Mellody Hobson speaks at the 2017 Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C.

Investment expert Mellody Hobson is a firm believer in teaching kids about investing.

She'd like it taught at every school in America  even at a young age.

"It should be like learning a language," Hobson, co-CEO and president of Chicago-based Ariel Investments, said in a recent online interview with Sal Khan, founder and CEO of the nonprofit education platform Khan Academy. "I have a 6-year-old and she takes Spanish at school.

"Once you can start early, you become very facile in the language and I think that's very, very important," added Hobson, who was named by Time magazine in 2015 as one of the "100 Most Influential People" in the world. She also also serves as vice chair of the Starbucks board and director of JPMorgan Chase's board, and previously the chairman of the board for DreamWorks Animation.

Yet for many Americans, early schooling in investing is not a reality.

More from Invest in You:

This is the biggest money lesson kids will learn during the coronavirus crisis

5 free online courses that can help you learn how to invest

Here's a great home-school idea: Teach your kids about money

Aside from having the family's banker, stock broker or financial analyst imparting lessons, one thing parents can do is buy their children a share of stock every year as a gift for their birthday or a holiday.

It's something Ariel Investments co-CEO and chief investment officer John Rogers received from his father every birthday and Christmas instead of toys, starting when Rogers was 12 years old, according to Hobson.

While you may not want to do the "instead of toys part," you can still teach your kids the fundamentals of investing, she said.

"You can do that with a child by giving [them] gifts of stock of things that they know and like," Hobson noted. "That's the gift that keeps giving, instead of the toy that becomes obsolete at some point."

That could mean names like toy-maker Mattel, Playstation maker Sony, McDonald's or Nike  things that kids, or teens, "understand fundamentally," she explained.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The nations top infectious disease expert said Thursday that new cases of the coronavirus are a certainty as states begin to roll back restrictions. States need to proceed carefully as they take steps to reopen businesses and allow greater freedom of movement, Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

We will get blips  theres no doubt, Fauci told NBCs Today show. When you pull back there will be cases, and what we need to do is make sure (states) have in place the capability of identifying, isolating and contact tracing individuals.

Fauci urged states that dont have that capability to go very slowly. You cant just leap over things and get into a situation where youre really tempting a rebound. Thats the thing I get concerned about, he said.

His warnings came a day after President Donald Trump said the federal government would not extend its social distancing guidelines past Thursday, and Trumps son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country would be really rocking again, despite health experts assessing that as highly unlikely.

Trump planned to meet on Thursday with Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J., as the president aims to focus on the reopening process that has started in many places.

Murphy told Fox News before leaving for Washington that he intended to discuss with Trump both testing capacity and federal money for New Jersey, among the states hardest hit by the pandemic.

We need help with the here and now, the governor said. Educators, police, fire, EMS, the front-line stuff. Were bleeding resources, helping people whether theye lost their jobs, whether theyre sick, small businesses, et cetera. Thats where we need a big dose of federal cash.

Trump is trying to shift to a different phase in the virus response as the rate of new hospitalizations and cases has slowed in many states, even as the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed American lives lost in the Vietnam War.

The president said Wednesday he plans to resume out-of-state travel, starting with a trip to Arizona next week, after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House. He also said he hopes to hold large campaign rallies in the coming months, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by that time.

Trump laid out a vision of returning to pre-coronavirus times  with or without a vaccine  with packed restaurants and full stadiums. That vision flies in the face of assessments from public health experts who say the United States will need to embrace a new normal that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.

I dont want people to get used to this, Trump told reporters. I see the new normal being what it was three months ago.

White House spokesman Judd Deere tweeted that Trump would visit a Honeywell facility in Phoenix on Tuesday to highlight production of critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state.

That word came after Trump said he would not extend the White Houses 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidelines past their scheduled expiration Thursday.

Those guidelines were originally supposed to last 15 days but were extended an additional 30 days. They encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel. They also advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the guidance from the White House this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

The White House also is pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.

Fauci said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31%  11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

Its highly significant, said the usually cautious doctor. What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.

Meanwhile, Kushner, who has been helping lead response efforts, said in an interview with Fox and Friends that the administration had achieved all the different milestones that are needed. So the federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story.
After moving the event to the Berry Center, Cy-Hope and the Houston Food Bank have managed to serve more than 7,500 families with 100 pounds of food for their third mega food distribution since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the Greater Houston area.

Cy-Hope Executive Director Lynda Zelenka said 1,100 cars were able to fit into the Berry Center parking lot on April 30 before distribution began, with traffic control handled by Cy-Fair ISD Police Department and the National Guard. Texas House District 135 Representative Jon Rosenthal helped Cy-Hope with distributing the food, Zelenka said.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: AG's office calls Harris vote-by-mail statements 'misleading'

We knew traffic was going to be an issue, but Cy-Fair Police Department was incredible, Zelenka said.

Cy-Hope, a nonprofit organization benefiting low-income families in the Cy-Fair area, supplied the volunteers for the event while the Houston Food Bank provided the food.

Although Cy-Hope and the Houston Food Bank plan to host the event again next week, the future of the event is up in the air as businesses like retail and malls look to open May 1 with up to 25 percent capacity based on the latest executive order from Governor Greg Abbott.

As of now were waiting for feedback and if everything is smoothed out with the traffic, I anticipate that we will be there again next week, Zelenka said. I dont know about the weeks that follow.

MORE FROM CHEVALL PRYCE: Klein-area first responders get their chance to shine with free photoshoot

While the event may end soon, Zelenka said Cy-Hope is still working to provide for the community. The organization is reopening The Hopes Chest resale shop on May 1. Proceeds from The Hope Chest go directly to Cy-Hope programs. Cy-Hope also plans to begin face-to-face counseling services on May 4.

Were just here to support the Houston Food Bank to volunteer at a capacity that they need, Zelenka said. Were in partnership with Hope Disaster Recovery. Were doing a food collection to distribute to underserved families. Cy-Hope helps by hosting it at the Cypress Alamo.

The Houston Food Bank coordinated the aid from the National Guard for the mega food distribution, Zelenka said. All three groups are also participating in the produce sorting with Hope Disaster Recovery on Thursdays and Tuesdays weekly.

The next mega food distribution is scheduled for May 7 at the Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress, from 2 p.m. until food is no longer available. Cars must come into the parking lot from the main entrance. Cars will be served with social distancing in mind as volunteers load the car without recipients having to exit their vehicle. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CyHopeTx/.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
According to the UNDP, the coronavirus pandemic is not only a global health emergency; it is a systemic human development crisis

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released Thursday two new data dashboards that highlight significant disparities in countries abilities to cope with and recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

The UNDP said in a statement that the pandemic is more than a global health emergency: it is a systemic human development crisis, already affecting economic and social aspects of development in unprecedented ways.

Policies to reduce vulnerabilities and build capacities to tackle crises, over the short and long terms, are crucial if individuals and societies are to better weather and recover from shocks like the pandemic, according the statement.

UNDPs Dashboard 1 is on preparedness, presenting indicators for 189 countries, including level of development, inequalities, the capacity of existing healthcare systems and internet connectivity, in order to assess how well a country can respond to the multiple impacts of a crisis like Covid-19, according the statement.

The UNDP illustrated that while every society is vulnerable to crises, abilities to respond differ significantly around the world. It cited that the most developed countries, those in the very high human development category, have on average 55 hospital beds, over 30 physicians, and 81 nurses per 10,000 people, compared to seven hospital beds, 2.5 physicians, and six nurses on average in least developed countries.

And with widespread lockdowns, the digital divide has become more significant than ever, as 6.5 billion people around the globe, or 85.5 percent of the global population, still dont have access to reliable broadband internet, which limits their ability to work and continue their education, according the UNDP statement.

UNDPs Dashboard 2 is on vulnerabilities, which presents indicators that reflect countries susceptibility to the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.

Those already living in poverty are particularly at risk. Despite recent progress in poverty reduction, about one in four people still live in multidimensional poverty or are vulnerable to it, and more than 40 percent of the global population does not enjoy social protection.

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All Michigan health systems and hospitals have at least 19 percent bed capacity available, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is addressing what hospitals can and cant do in the event of overwhelming pressure on bed space at Michigan care facilities amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-64 on Wednesday, April 29, preventing health care providers from discriminating in certain ways, when deciding who to treat and who not to treat, if demand exceeds availability.

"No person should be denied medical care on the basis of stereotypes, assessments of quality of life, or judgments about a persons relative 'worth,'" the order said. "Including judgments about a persons worth based on the presence or absence of disabilities."

Medical decision making must not be made based on stigmas or stereotypes like age, color, criminal history, gender identity, sexual orientation, poverty, religion, height, weight, immigration status and incarceration status. For the full list, read the order here.

Whitmer spoke about the order during a virtual disability town hall on Wednesday.

The thought that hospitalized people with disabilities might be devalued  in high-demand situations  is "shocking," Whitmer said during the town hall. The event was organized through groups like Special Olympics Michigan and the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Health care providers must prepare non-discriminatory ways of deciding how to distribute its resources when demand exceeds supply, the order said. It also mandates hospitals provide sign language interpreters, if requested.

Everyone, no matter who they are, deserves access to quality, affordable health care, especially during a pandemic," Whitmer said in a news release.

Whitmer praised Michiganders for helping flatten the curve by staying home in recent weeks. Michigan reported 103 new deaths and 1,137 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Wednesday.

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

Wednesday, April 29: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

U.P.s painful dilemma: Almost no coronavirus now, but at what cost?

Protesters of Michigans coronavirus response removed from House gallery

Construction to resume May 7 in Michigan

Henry Ford doctor who nearly died from coronavirus was on ventilator 9 days ago, now hes home

Michigan offers money to childcare providers to reduce rates

Protest over Michigans state of emergency to go on, despite Facebook removing 2 events
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni Gets Permission To Attend Father Rishi Kapoors Last Rites, To Arrive Mumbai From Delhi
Recoveries from the novel coronavirus in the US are now double the number of total deaths, new figures reveal.

As of Thursday afternoon, at least 128,141 Americans are confirmed to have recuperated from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

That's double the number of people who have died, which currently sits at 62,547.

It's a promising sign for the US, which is reporting five-figure numbers when it comes to new cases per day, five times as many as China did during its peak.

Of the 1.07 million people in the US who have been diagnosed with coronavirus, at least 128,141 are confirmed to have recovered - double the number of Americans who've died, which is 62,547 (above)

To be considered recovered, patients must have no fever for 72 hours without drugs and two negative tests results taken at least 24 hours apart. Pictured: Phlebotomist Jenee Wilson talks with Melissa Cruz, an ER technician who has recovered from coronavirus, as she finishes donating plasma in Seattle, Washington, April 17

Researchers believe the number of recoveries is likely higher due to the number of people with antibodies who never tested positive for the virus. Pictured: Dr Jan Levora (left) and nurse Kristen Renner (right) wait outside CHI-St Alexius Health in Bismarck, North Dakota, with Gery (left) and Betty DeGreef of Mandan, both of whom recovered from the virus

To be considered recovered, a patient must have no fever without the help of drugs for 72 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additionally, the person must also show improvement in his or her respiratory health and have two negative tests results taken at least 24 hours apart.

The current numbers are a far cry from the week of March 16 to 22 when 472 people died and 668 had recovered, only about a 41 percent difference.

But while deaths are increasing exponentially week over week, recoveries are rising at a faster rate.

Last week, total recoveries sat at 109,483 and total deaths was around 55,490.

That means recuperations from the virus are 1.16 times higher than the previous week and deaths are 1.11 times higher.

However, the true figure is likely much higher because thousand of patients have tested positive for antibodies, but never were tested for the virus itself.

'People are recovering from this, absolutely,' Dr Casey Kelley, a clinical instructor of family and community medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, told US News & World Report earlier this month.

'They absolutely are, and most people will. We just don't have the data because we don't have the manpower to monitor that right now.'

The new figures come on the heels of reports that the number of confirmed recoveries worldwide has surpassed one million.

That means roughly 33 percent - or one-third - of all diagnosed coronavirus patients have recuperated from the illness.

And while the US is leading the globe in the number of positive cases at 1.07 million, it also leads in recoveries.

By comparison, Spain has 137,984 recoveries, Germany has 123,500 recoveries and Italy has 75,945 recoveries, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Won In-choul speaks at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters in South Chungcheong Province, Thursday, during a video conference with air force chiefs from across the Indo-Pacific region. Won shared the Korean military's knowhow related to containing COVID-19. Twenty countries, including the United States, France and Japan, participated in the conference. / Courtesy of ROK Air Force
The Myanmar military is using special extended powers meant to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19 to carry out war crimes, said a United Nations special rapporteur.

Human rights expert Yanghee Lee called for an investigation into the situation in Myanmars Rakhine and Chin States, just before she finished her tenure in the position.

Myanmar has imposed movement restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus, shutting down large public events, cinemas and some tourist sites until 15 May. Residents in Yangon are ordered to stay home except to go to work and must wear masks and carry ID at all times when outside their homes.

Ms Lee accused the military of targeting civilians in the Rakhine state, home to ethnic Rakhine people who are predominantly Buddhist, as it clashed with a separatist militant group, known as the Arakan Army.

She said in a statement: While the world is occupied with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Myanmar military continues to escalate its assault in Rakhine State, targeting the civilian population.

The military, known locally as the Tatmadaw, have ignored calls for a ceasefire and are systematically violating the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and human rights, she added.

Its conduct against the civilian population of Rakhine and Chin States may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity For decades, its tactics have intentionally maximised civilian suffering; we all know what they did to the Rohingya in 2017.

In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Ms Lee said the assailants burned houses, attacked a monastery and tortured residents.

And then we find bodies that have been decapitated, these are Rakhine people. I am calling the situation crimes against humanity and war crimes. These are the highest, the most heinous and gravest crimes of international law, she said.

A new coronavirus committee was appointed in March to enforce the new measures, giving the military  which has the powers to control borders, defence and home ministries  even more authority over residents.

The new powers are emboldening the Tatmadaw, said Ms Lee. Already they have a strong arm, and now if they have these additional powers in the name of enforcing or preventing the spread of the pandemic, then they are really given another layer, a greater, higher level of power to do what theyve done always in the past few decades, but in a more severe and horrific manner.

A mobile internet shutdown, imposed in June 2019, has not stopped journalists from passing information on the ground to the UN, but Ms Lee said ethnic Rakhine journalists have gone into hiding out of fear.

She called for the shutdown to be lifted and for the media to be allowed to operate freely in order to report on these critical issues.

I also call on the United Nations to step up its efforts to protect civilians in Rakhine and Chin and ensure that there is not another systemic failure like in 2017.

In 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled over the border into Bangladesh to escape rape, murder and the destruction of entire villages in the Rakhine state at the hands of the Burmese military.

At the time, the UN called the violence a textbook example of ethnic cleansing and the Rohingyas plight became one of the biggest crises in the region.

The countrys de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyis office said in a statement on 21 April that the government was deeply saddened to learn of civilian casualties in Rakhine and Chin States, but added the military is fighting against the terrorist Arakan Army.

It said it will continue with efforts to take the peace process.

According to data by Johns Hopkins, Myanmar has recorded just 150 cases of Covid-19, with six deaths.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 10:15PM

Google Meet graduates from just being a videoconferencing solution for G Suite enterprise and education customers to now being free-to-use for anyone with a Google account. Google Meet supports up to 100 people and a single host on a single free meeting that can last any amount of time. But after September 30, meeting lengths will be restricted to 50 minutes.

The service will gradually open up Meet to more users, and you can get an alert through this link to know when your account can get access.

A pain point could be requiring people to have Google accounts to use Meet. But this gives the host better control as well as potentially avoid Zoombombing (or having unsavoury characters crash meetings and harassing participants). Users' names and profile pictures will show up on calls, but their email addresses won't be displayed.

Some of the other safety features Google Meets will get include not getting landline dial-in numbers for meetings as well as putting people not explicitly added to a meeting via a calendar invite into a green room first when they try to join the meeting. Only the host can approve their entry into the session.

Google Meet calls go through Google's servers, which means it gets features like automatic captioning and compliance with the company's legal requirements when it comes to sharing users' data. Meet will not use its consumer data for advertising to users. And those using the free service will not have their calls stored. Businesses and schools are the only ones to get exclusive access to recording meetings.

Recently, Google Meet added the Gallery view style, which Zoom has widely popularized. This new mode is available on mobile and in browsers.

Source: Reuters + The Verge
New Delhi: Delhi Police Crime Branch on Thursday issued fourth notice to Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad, whose outfit has been blamed for spreading coronavirus infection in the country.

In its fourth notice, the Crime Branch has asked the Tablighi chief to confirm he had undergone the coronavirus test and if had done so, why he didnt submit the medical report to Delhi Police.

After getting his medical report, the Crime Branch will consult a doctor and plan it next course of action for questioning him in connection with the cases lodged against him, his family members and other Tablighi members.

The supporters of Nizamuddin Markaz Chief have been claiming that Saad had undergone the COVID-19 test and the report is negative.

Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad Kandhalvi has tested negative for Covid-19 on Monday, in a test done in a private laboratory, his lawyer Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi had said recently.

The Tablighi Jamaat chief, who is currently in home quarantine, has not been summoned by the Delhi Police so far, the lawyer said.

Maulana Saad has tested negative for Covid-19. He is not an absconder, nor has he been asked by the Delhi Police to appear. We have not received any summons. We have received three notices till now and have responded to all three of them, Ayyubi said.

People of Markaz and Tablighi Jamaat are fully co-operating with the Delhi Police. Delhi Police has recently searched Maulana Saads office in Markaz and offices and residences of other accused, the lawyer said.

The chief of Tablighi Jamaats Nizamuddin Markaz was in the midst of a row over allowing the global congregation amid the coronavirus pandemic and is being investigated in cases lodged against him under various sections, including by the Enforcement Directorate.

His lawyer, however, indicated that the Maulana was cooperating with the police and the investigative agencies have not asked him to join investigations yet.

The Markaz chief had earlier said that he believed in the judicial system of the country and the truth shall prevail.

Earlier this month, Maulana Saad had asked his followers, who tested positive for coronavirus and had recovered, to donate their plasma for the treatment of other Covid-19 patients.
Two outstanding REALTORS with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate were recently honored with awards at the Golden Isles Association of REALTORS 80TH Annual Awards Gala. The Gala was presented on Facebook Live on Monday, April 20th.

Missy Neu, Associate Broker and VP of Business Development with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate, earned REALTOR of the Year award. Each year, GIAR accepts nomination ballots for REALTOR of the Year. Eligibility criteria include a combination of factors including business accomplishments, high standard of ethics, civic activity and participation in the local, state and national associations.

We are so proud and thrilled to have Missy as part of your company. She is professional and ethical in everything she does, and is an inspiration to everyone that has the privilege to work with her, shares Pat Cooper, Owner and Broker.

Robert Kozlowski, 2019 President of GIAR virtually presented her the award, sharing {Missy} takes great pride in being a REALTOR and proudly wears her realtor hat wherever she goes.

Margaret Butler, REALTOR with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate, garnered the Rookie of the Year Award for 2019. This award recognizes an individual in their first two years in the business. With just twelve months under her belt, Margaret has shown her hard work, dedication, and knowledge and expertise in the real estate industry. She is also a dedicated and active member of the Association, volunteers in the community, and is a true team player. Robert Kozlowski virtually presented her the award.

Margaret shows up every day and is ready to go to work. Its exciting to see someone starting in this business with such enthusiasm and drive and its an honor to have her as part of our realtor family,  said Pat Cooper.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate is so incredibly proud of both Missy and Margaret for these outstanding achievements.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate

Hodnett Cooper Real Estate is a family-owned and operated company with four offices throughout the Golden Isles offering a full range of real estate services including real estate sales, residential rentals, property management and commercial sales. The brokerage is the premier real estate company in southeast coastal Georgia with a professional and diverse team of agents. Visit http://www.BHHSHodnettCooper.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, based in Irvine, CA, is a brand-new real estate brokerage network built for a new era in residential real estate. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity.

About HSF Affiliates LLC

Irvine, CA-based HSF Affiliates LLC operates Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Prudential Real Estate and Real Living Real Estate franchise networks. The company is a joint venture of which HomeServices of America, Inc., the nations second-largest, full-service residential brokerage firm, is a majority owner. HomeServices of America is an affiliate of world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Contact:

Catherine Maybank

(912) 638-5450

catherine@hcrega.com
Spain hasn't yet specified when international tourism will be able to resume

Spain's hotel chiefs have warned they can't afford to reopen after coronavirus lockdown ends unless British holidaymakers are allowed to return.

Under current government plans, Spanish hotels would be allowed to reopen starting on May 11 but borders would remain closed to international tourists.

Spanish beaches, a major draw for tourists, are also set to remain shut until at least the end of June under the plan.

That has led hotel owners to complain that the costs of reopening will outweigh the potential benefits since they will be cut off from their largest market.

Hoteliers on the islands of La Graciosa, El Hierro and La Gomera and Formentera, which have been given permission to open early on May 4, have already said they plan to stay closed due to lack of business.

Spain's hotel chiefs have warned they won't be able to afford to reopen after coronavirus lockdown ends unless British holidaymakers are allowed to return. Pictured: A Torremolinos restaurant shows what life cold be like for diners at the end of lockdown as it showcases screen between tables

Meanwhile The Mallorca Hotel Business Federation has warned that the Balearics 'absolutely depend on arrivals by air' and opening without tourists from other European countries is 'just not feasible'.

Hotels will need to spend millions to ensure compliance with government health guidelines while also reducing capacity to ensure social distancing.

While the Tourism Ministry has not yet outlined measures for the hotel industry, it has given guidance for shopping centres - giving a guide as to what can be expected.

They will include: Floor marks to show safe spacing, partitions between staff and customers, hand sanitizing stations, increased cleaning services, support for card payments, use of CCTV and security to enforce measures, no activities that encourage people to gather and a system to count people in and out to avoid crowds.

Jorge Marichal, president of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations, said the government has not told hoteliers how to manage the health crisis when guests start to arrive

Spain has been leading calls for a pan-European effort to restart tourism, but it is expected to be among the most difficult to get back to pre-crisis levels.

Even if Spain reopens its own borders, it will rely on other countries restarting flights and allowing their own citizens to leave in order to be effective.

The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT) has also voiced major disappointment that the government has not told hoteliers what they need to do, what guidelines they should follow and how to manage the health crisis when guests start to arrive.

President Jorge Marichal said: 'Tourist accommodation establishments such as hotels, apartments, resorts, hostels, camping sites, spas, which the Confederation represents, don't know how to proceed with this opening and it will not be viable either in the vast majority of hotel facilities.

'We need to be told exactly how to proceed with the opening and what measures will be necessary.'

He said hoteliers could only afford to make all the sanitary arrangements if there was 'authorised reasonable mobility.'

'If we do not have free movement, with all the necessary control measures, we will not action protocols,' Mr. Marichal added and, referring to the 70 per cent decrease required in occupation, he added: 'This is useless. We simply cannot open.'

He said despite the disappointment, hoteliers would not 'throw in the towel' and would 'continue to work to save tourism in this country.'

In Benidorm and on the Costa Blanca, the hotel association HOSBEC said the government's de-escalation plan must not become a 'concrete-filled lifebuoy for tourism'.

President, Toni Mayor said: 'In the conditions that President Sanchez has proposed, the opening of hotel establishments in these de-escalation phases is very complicated: on the one hand, because the limitations of capacity and services are hardly compatible with the tourist activity itself and, on the other hand, because it allows hotels to be opened without at the same time allowing the displacement of clients and tourists, which is a manifest inconsistency.'

'Thus, the first conclusion we draw from the government plan is that the hotel activity that allows the de-escalation phases is very minimal.

'In addition, the uncertainty goes even beyond the end of phase III scheduled for the end of June: without international air operations, there will be no tourism that recovers or activity that can guarantee a return to normality at reasonable levels.'

Without more financial help, Hosbec warns of 'a cascade of layoffs, destruction of employment and even bankruptcy proceedings among hundreds of tourist companies.'

A mother and her son relax on a usually-crowded beach in Malaga, Spain, after children were allowed to go outside but hotels remain closed

A deserted beach in Ibiza, Spain, as international tourists are banned due to coronavirus

Benidorm's Mayor, Toni Perez said despite the difficulties, hoteliers had to offer health safety guarantees so they could win tourists back, wherever they came from.

Hoteliers in Mallorca and Ibiza have also voiced concern that it isn't worth opening unless there are international tourists.

'The de-escalation plan does not solve at all how to proceed to the opening of hotel establishments. The conditions in which it is posed are unfeasible, although they give a false impression of back to the new normal,' said a spokesman for the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation.

'It is much worse in the case of the Balearic archipelago where we absolutely depend on arrivals by air and our majority issuing markets come from European countries. Reopening of hotels is just not feasible.'

Spain recorded its lowest daily coronavirus death tally in six weeks on Thursday, but data showing the economy shrank by the widest margin on record in the first three months of the year laid bare the heavy cost of measures to control the outbreak.

Spain has had one of the world's worst outbreaks with more than 24,000 COVID-19 fatalities and in mid-March imposed one of the strictest lockdowns, though officials are confident the worst has passed and want to start easing measures next week.

Across the country, devastated businesses are contemplating how to return to normal in an environment where meticulous hygiene and social distancing will be of paramount importance.

'They force us to take measures - but it is impossible to get what they ask for,' said Livia Patare, a hairdresser on the Canary Islands who can open on Monday. 'Yesterday I went crazy going to pharmacies and establishments looking for gloves.'

Canary Islands, Tenerife, during lockdown. Spain hasn't yet specified when international tourism will be able to resume with no dates yet set for the opening of ports and airports. International travel is expected to be last on the agenda after local, regional and national holidaymakers

Beaches and hotels lie empty in a tourism sector that is one of the biggest contributors to the economy. Another big driver, construction and real estate, is at a standstill after only just recovering from the 2008 financial crisis.

'This crisis will be worse for hotel workers than 2009 was for construction. At least then we still had tourism,' said Francisco Rullan, who works at a hotel on the holiday island of Mallorca.

The number of fatalities related to the coronavirus recorded overnight in Spain fell to 268, the lowest since March 20, according to the health ministry. Cases rose to 213,435 - in a population of 47 million - from 212,917 the day before.

Spain's economy shrunk by 5.2% in the first quarter compared to the previous period, preliminary data showed, with household spending plunging 7.5% as people hunkered down at home with most shops, bars and restaurants closed in March.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez outlined a four-phase plan to lift the lockdown with a planned return to normality by end-June.

Under the plan, hairdressers and other businesses that operate via appointment will open from Monday, while restaurants will be able to offer takeaway services.

By the end of June, beaches will be able to reopen.

Different areas of the country will progress through the stages at different rates depending on how the rate of infection evolves and other criteria like compliance with social distancing rules.
More than 60 people lined the highway in Skidegate on Monday afternoon to ask any visitors arriving via BC Ferries to return to the terminal and leave Haida Gwaii.

Residents with masks, drums and signs gathered at the Haida Heritage Centre around 2 p.m. to organize along with local leaders, including Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) President Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, Skidegate Band Chief Councillor Billy Yovanovich, Village of Queen Charlotte Mayor Kris Olsen and Skidegate Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kyle Marshall.

We cant have physical altercation, Marshall told the crowd. We want to keep it professional ... and we dont want to overwhelm the folks coming off, especially our local people.

Marshall also warned people not to rush the ferry arriving from Prince Rupert since the captain could decide to turn it around.

If he sees a band of people sitting at the top of the ferry landing, hes not going to dock. Hell pull back and head back to Rupert. With that goes our groceries ... and our residents, the loved ones who are coming back from medical appointments. So we want to make sure that the ferry docks.

He said he had been in contact with BC Ferries earlier that morning and although the company could not confirm who would be on the ferry, he said they were expecting about 34 passengers, including four who were coming as essential workers for the Dinan Bay diesel spill cleanup efforts.

As far as visitors to the island, it is not confirmed that we have any non-residents coming in on this ferry, Marshall said.

If visitors to the island did go through the checkpoint, he said the plan was to ask them to shelter in place in the heritage centre parking lot until they can leave the islands on the next ferry.

We want to detain them here, we dont want to shame them, he said. We want to put our foot down and say enough is enough.

Yovanovich and Olsen also reminded the crowd that they were sending a peaceful message.

Today if we can just have a peaceful show of support to everybody that we want to look after our islands. This is our only defence, to avoid it. If it comes here, we dont have the medical capacity, Yovanovich said.

Thats our message, just to get people to stay home. If its inconvenient for them, well, everybodys inconvenienced by this. Our elders have been holed up in their homes for weeks now. Theyre getting equally frustrated with this, so somebody thinking they should come on a holiday, its just not a good idea.

Olsen said, were doing this for our citizens and our elders, so lets just keep this respectful.

Before the crowd dispersed to take their positions, Alsop reminded them to stand at least two metres apart.

We do have to keep our distance, keep following the rules and leading by example, he said.

Queen Charlotte RCMP officers were present at the checkpoint and Sgt. Greg Willcocks told the Observer the detachments role is just to keep everything peaceful.

Willcocks also confirmed that drivers did not have to stop at the checkpoint if they did not want to stop.

I hope that they do, but I have no enforcement provisions if they dont stop at the checkpoint, Willcocks said.

As for being asked to leave the islands, he said that is a voluntary thing, too.

They cannot be forced to do anything, he said. If people do not want to comply ... its not something we can arrest somebody for.

Some demonstrators drove to the terminal to await the ferry, while most of the people who had gathered took up posts along the highway in front of the heritage centre parking lot, drumming and singing, and holding signs with messages that said no trespassing, no visitors at this time, and more until the ferry traffic started to arrive.

Some vehicles with residents on board honked their horns in support, while at least one resident pulled over to explain that they felt intimidated.

Yovanovich went to speak to the driver and later told the Observer they said they did not feel welcomed, but thats the message today, visitors just arent welcome, he said.

In the end, Marshall said only residents and essential workers drove through the checkpoint at the heritage centre, aside from one vehicle that refused to stop and another believed to have turned toward Queen Charlotte.

We were informed of a particular vehicle that may have got through, he said, adding that it was not known if the people in the vehicle were visitors.

After the protesters began to disperse from the heritage centre at around 3:30 p.m., Willcocks told the Observer that individuals had been shooting fireworks from a residence near the terminal when the ferry traffic was arriving and officers told them to stop.

He also said a vehicle had been purposely trying to impede northbound traffic at the terminal and had been towed as a result.

Yovanovich told the Observer that although no visitors were stopped at the checkpoint, some people were still coming on those earlier ferries, so this is just a message for future ferries that now is not the time.

If we have to assemble everybody again for the next ferry, well do it.

A press release distributed earlier on Monday by the CHN Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) said the communities of Haida Gwaii were no longer welcoming or serving visitors and people who are not full-time residents of the islands.

This restriction will be in effect so long as the global pandemic of COVID-19, including the expected second wave, is over, the release said. Visitors will be asked to return immediately to the ferry and wait for the next one.

When provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked about the protests Monday afternoon, she said Indigenous communities have the ability and the authority to make decisions for their communities.

Mondays blockade follows an information checkpoint set up in early April by the Skidegate EOC to stop the spread of COVID-19, as well as gates set up in Old Massett.

Read more about:
NEW DELHI: Indian cinemas icon Rishi Kapoor, who was admitted to Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital on Wednesday night, died on Thursday morning. He was 67-year-old. The news about his demise was confirmed by his brother-veteran actor Randhir Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor was battling cancer since 2018. He got treated in the US for a year and had returned to India in September 2019. He was hospitalised after he complained of some breathing problems.

In February, Rishi Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues. He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At that time, he had said that he was suffering from an "infection". After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after.

He is survived by wife Neetu Kapoor and children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor, who was quite active on social media, hadn't posted anything on his Twitter account since April 2.

His last tweet was about the coronavirus pandemic and he had expressed hope that the nation will tide over the COVID-19 crisis soon.

"An appeal Folded hands to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please dont resort to violence, stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!," the late actor had tweeted on April 2.

An appeal to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please don't resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 2, 2020

Rishi Kapoor, son of Indian cinema legend Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor, had starred in several blockbuster films. He was also a filmmaker. He debuted in 1970 with Raj Kapoors Mera Naam Joker while his first film as a leading hero was in Bobby opposite Dimple Kapadia in 1973.

In a career spanning five decades, he played prominent roles in films such as Karz, Khel Khel Mein, Amar, Akbar and Anthony, Laila Majnu, Nagina, Saagar, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Chandni, Damini, 3. Do Dooni Chaar, D-Day, Agneepath and Kapoor & Sons.

Rishi Kapoor had won several accolades for his work, including the National Film Award for his debut role as a child artist in Mera Naam Joker. Rishi Kapoor had recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film 'The Intern', also featuring Deepika Padukone.
The Bombay High Court has said the gathering of hundreds of migrants near Mumbai's Bandra station earlier this month was a one-off incident, and refused to pass urgent orders in a plea seeking deployment of adequate security personnel

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has said the gathering of hundreds of migrants near Bandra station earlier this month was a one-off incident, and refused to pass urgent orders in a plea seeking deployment of adequate security personnel in the city.

Justice BP Colabawalla made the observation on 27 April while hearing a petition filed by one Shankar Pai and two others, who claimed to be residents of suburban Bandra, Khar and Mahim and said they were directly aggrieved by the 14 April incident.

The petitioners said such gatherings would increase the chance of the spread of COVID-19.

The plea sought a direction to the Maharashtra government to make an assessment if military could be deployed in such vulnerable spots.

The petition sought for armed forces, or the Central Reserve Police Force and State Reserve Police Force personnel to be deployed in the city.

Refusing to accept the petitioners argument that the Bandra incident demands urgent orders to be passed, Justice Colabawalla said, "One incident does not make out an urgency. These are extraordinary times and the government and civic authorities are doing their best to keep things under control."

The court is sure the government and civic authorities will do whatever is necessary to ensure an incident like the one that took place in Bandra on April 14 will be avoided till the lockdown is effective, the HC said.

Nearly 1,000 migrant workers gathered near the Bandra railway station in Mumbai on 14 April, demanding transport arrangements for them to go back to their native places.

The migrants were later dispersed and assured that they will be provided accommodation and food till the lockdown lasts, a police official earlier said.
Commander Brenton Cain and other SVGCG Officers along with benefactor Neil Collinger (2nd from tight) and Samantha Barrow (left) practising social distances at a recent presentation ceremony.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service (SVGCG), which some citizens consider to be the unheralded arm of the Royal SVG Police Force, came in for some needed help recently.





On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the SVGCG received a donation of a tractor from the United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, an ongoing benefactor of the Coast Guard.





According to Commander of the Coast Guard Mr. Brenton Cain, the tractor will be used at the Coast Guards main base at Calliaqua, for vessel rotation and maintenance.





On Monday 27th April, the Service was the recipient of a donation of US$500.00, to be used in the annual Youth Development Summer Programme, hosted by the SVGCG.





The donation was made by Mr. Neil Collinger, Captain of the yacht NEMO, and crew member, Ms. Samantha Barrow.





According to Collinger and Barrow, the donation was a show of their gratitude to Lieutenant Commander (Ag), Mr. Enos Hamlette and his team of officers from SVG Coast Guard Service, for their valiant effort in saving their lives and vessel approximately one (1) month ago in waters of SVG.





The story is that "the vessel was experiencing difficulties with its rudder. It caused it to drift approximately sixty-five (65) nautical miles off the western coast of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Collinger said.





The Coast Guard was contacted for assistance, to which Lieutenant Commander (Ag) Enos Hamlette and his team promptly responded onboard Coast Guard Vessel Hugh Mulzac, which towed the vessel and its occupants to safety.





All in all, the operation lasted for some 24 hours.





Speaking on behalf of the Coast Guard Service, Commander Brenton Cain applauded the donors for their financial contribution, and assured that their donation will go a long way in moulding the youths of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for "lifes high seas.
Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis has sent a demand letter to Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai demanding financial restitution from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for significant harm to the State of Florida and its residents related to CPCs incompetent and fraudulent actions in response to the early outbreak of COVID-19, according to a statement from the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS).

In the letter distributed by DFS, which oversees the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Patronis says his office will review state vendors to identify Chinese owned or controlled businesses that are set to receive a payment from the state. The payments could potentially be withheld to offset costs to the state of Florida.

I am demanding financial restitution from the CPC for this significant harm to the State of Florida and its residents, Patronis wrote in the April 24 letter.

Patronis detailed several reasons as his basis for his demand, including:

Denying the virus could be transmitted between humans  Chinese officials neglected to report the potential for human-to-human transmission to the World Health Organization for weeks.

 Silencing whistleblowers  Chinese officials reportedly arrested eight doctors and silenced others from speaking out about the novel contagion as it spread from Wuhan. Additionally, reports have arisen that journalists covering the outbreak in the early stages disappeared.

 Failing to contain the outbreak  While denying human-to-human transmission, Chinese officials held off on containing the outbreak. Patronis wrote that the Chinese government took no serious steps to contain the outbreak until January 23after community spread took hold across multiple regions.

 Withholding personal protective equipment (PPE)Reports indicate that Chinese officials, began hoarding quality PPE at the same time they were concealing the extent of the outbreak, permitting only defective PPE to be exported to the rest of the world. This hoarding endangered the lives of health care workers and first responders in the State of Florida and across the world, the letter states.

Patronis cited widely reported media claims and a lawsuit by the State of Missouris against CPC as the basis for his claims.

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused hardship in Florida and across the globedeath, isolation from sick and dying loved ones, massive unemployment, economic devastation, uncertainty, and billions of dollars in economic losses. The CPC must be held legally responsible, he said.

Additionally, Patronis noted his office is reviewing two options for recovery of the funds, including: identifying Chinese-owned and controlled companies who have unclaimed property currently in the possession of the State of Florida; and conducting a thorough review of Floridas vendors to identify Chinese owned or controlled companies set to receive a payment from the State of Florida.

If such companies are identified, pending payments from the State of Florida may be withheld as necessary to offset the debt CPC owes the people of Florida, the letter stated.

Patronis said once the information is obtained, DFS will weigh all legal options to best serve the people of Florida.

Patronis said DFS will work with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody to discuss the potential of filing a civil action in Federal Court.

As the States Chief Financial Officer, I will aggressively protect the fiscal wellbeing of Florida residents and will deploy all available options in this pursuit, Patronis concluded.

Patronis is also a member of the Reopen Florida Task Force established by DeSantis. Florida news outlets reported earlier this week that DeSantis indicated he may follow the lead of the states of Missouri and Mississippi and sue China over the outbreak, which started in Wuhan, China.

The Missouri lawsuit, filed in federal court by the states top lawyer last week, alleges Chinese officials are responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians.

I saw that Missouri lawsuit, Gov. Ron DeSantis said. I want to see if Florida can be involved in that. You see what a disaster this has caused. It is because of their malevolence, so they had opportunities to deal with this. They didnt do it  they covered it up.

Chinese officials have slammed the Missouri lawsuit as very absurd.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the legal action has no factual and legal basis at all and repeated Chinas defense of its response to the outbreak, which has largely subsided in the country where it was first detected.

The full letter by CFO Patronis can be viewed on the DFS website.

Topics COVID-19 Florida China Missouri
[April 30, 2020] Sartorius Stedim Biotech Closes Acquisition of Selected Assets of Danaher Life Sciences

AUBAGNE, France, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB), a leading partner of the biopharma industry, successfully closed the acquisition of selected life science businesses of Danaher Corporation as part of a broader transaction between Danaher and Sartorius Group, SSB's major shareholder. The transaction was completed on April 30, 2020 after receiving the required regulatory approvals. "The acquisition of this portfolio is a further milestone for Sartorius Stedim Biotech. The assets we purchased are an excellent strategic and operational fit. We are very pleased to welcome approximately 100 new employees at Sartorius Stedim Biotech and to combine our expertise to become even more relevant together for our biopharma customers," said Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg, CEO of Sartorius Stedim Biotech. The total purchase price of the transaction between Danaher and Sartorius Group is 825 million U.S. dollars of which about a third will be allocated to the businesses purchased by Sartorius Stedim Biotech. Upon execution of the purchase agreement on October 19, 2019, SSB has been preparing for integration of the acquired businesses. Despite the special conditions prevailing during the pandemic crisis, integration can therefore be initiated immediately following the closing. The businesses acquired by Sartorius Stedim Biotech generated revenue of approximately 100 million U.S. dollars in 2019 and cover various bioprocessing technologies, which are complementary to the portfolio lineups. The company's broader offering as a result of the acquisition will support customers even more comprehensively in the safe and efficient production of such pharmaceuticals. Sartorius Stedim Biotech is thus extending its market position in key areas ofthe manufacture of biotech medications.



With the chromatography systems and resins business acquired, Sartorius Stedim Biotech is expanding the portfolio in the downstream processing area. This business addresses an essential step in the purification of biopharmaceuticals and encompasses both reusable and single-use equipment, columns and resins. Furthermore selected product groups in the areas of stainless steel hollow fiber and single-use technology tangential flow filtration systems and single-use flow kits will additionally strengthen the portfolio lineup in downstream processing. A further asset is the SoloHill business covering a microcarrier technology and particle validation standards used in cell cultures and other bioprocesses. Together, these various business entities employ approximately 100 people at their sites in Portsmouth, U.K.; Cergy, France; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; and Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA. Sartorius Stedim Biotech already provided information on the ramifications of this transaction on its financial forecast for the current year in its first-quarter earnings release of April 21, 2020. You will find this publication here at https://www.sartorius.com/en/company/newsroom.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future development of Sartorius Stedim Biotech. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sartorius Stedim Biotech assumes no liability for updating such statements in light of new information or future events. This is a translation of the original French-language press release. Sartorius Stedim Biotech shall not assume any liability for the correctness of this translation. The original French press release is the legally binding version. A profile of Sartorius Stedim Biotech Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading international partner of the biopharmaceutical industry. As a total solutions provider, the company helps its customers to manufacture biotech medications safely, rapidly and economically. Headquartered in Aubagne, France, Sartorius Stedim Biotech is quoted on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris. With its own manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, North America and Asia and an international network of sales companies, Sartorius Stedim Biotech has a global reach. The Group has been annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. In 2019, the company employed approximately 6,200 people, and earned sales revenue of 1,440.6 million euros. Contact

Petra Kirchhoff

Head of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

+49 (0)551.308.1686

[email protected]

sartorius.com Follow Sartorius on Twitter @Sartorius_Group and on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sartorius-stedim-biotech-closes-acquisition-of-selected-assets-of-danaher-life-sciences-301050302.html SOURCE Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.

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French English

Press release





Paris, 30 April 2020

Financial results at 31 March 2020

Continued growth in Revenue and EBITDAaL at the onset of the Covid crisis

In millions of euros Q1 2020 Q1 2019

comparable

basis Q1 2019

historical

basis change

comparable

basis change

historical

basis Revenues 10,394 10,290 10,185 1.0% 2.1% EBITDAaL 2,602 2,588 2,583 0.5% 0.7% eCAPEX (excluding licenses) 1,580 1,631 1,632 (3.1)% (3.2)% EBITDAaL - eCAPEX 1,022 957 951 6.8% 7.4%

 Orange Group revenues were up 1.0%1 year on year in the 1st quarter, driven by solid growth in Africa and Middle East and improvement in the Enterprise, France and Europe segments.

Revenues in Africa and Middle East grew by 6.2%, and in France by 0.5%, with a 2.2% increase in retail services excluding PSTN. Enterprise revenues grew by 0.8% and Europe by 0.3%. Spain revenues declined by 2.4%.

This momentum occurred against the backdrop of the very beginning of the Covid crisis, which led to a decrease in equipment sales due to the closure of three quarters of Orange stores in European countries from mid-March and a decline in roaming revenues.

EBITDAaL was up 0.5% year on year and EBITDAaL from telecom activities which reached 2.64 billion euros, was up 0.1%.

eCapex was 3.1% lower year on year, or -51 million euros less, due to delays in fixed and mobile network investments, in particular related to the impact of the Covid crisis.

These good results reflect the Group's strategy that is built around increased connectivity and new growth areas.

Convergent offers totalled 10.8 million customers at March 31, 2020, up 3% year on year, confirming Orange in its position as Europe's leading convergent operator.

Fibres continued success resulted in 8.1 million very high-speed fixed broadband customers at March 31, 2020, up 20.7% year on year. In Europe, with 40.5 million households connectable to very high-speed broadband of which 39 million are FTTH lines, Orange remains the undisputed leader in fibre deployment.

In France, Orange has become the French telecoms market leader in terms of customer experience measured by NPS (Net Promoter Score).

In Africa and Middle East, the deployment of 4G continues, reaching 26.5 million customers, up 50.6% in the last 12 months.

Orange Money remains a major growth driver for Orange's operations in Africa and Middle East, and the service continued to be extended with the launch of the service in Morocco in March.

2020 outlook

Based on currently available information, Orange does not expect a significant deviation from its financial objectives for the fiscal year 2020 but will closely monitor developments. The Group will therefore consider an update of its 2020 financial objectives at the publication of its second-quarter results when it has the benefit of greater visibility on the impact of the crisis linked to Covid-19.

Commenting on the publication of the 1st quarter 2020 results, Stephane Richard, Chairman and CEO of the Orange Group, said:

During this first quarter, the final weeks of which were struck by an unprecedented crisis linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Group continued its growth momentum in terms of revenues (+1.0%) and EBITDaL (+0.5%). This growth has been underpinned by strong performances in our Africa & Middle East business, progress in the Enterprise market, in France and in Europe. We recorded a solid performance in our retail operations, although this was mitigated in the second half of March by the closure of the vast majority of our stores in Europe.

The importance of telecoms in this crisis in ensuring the continued functioning of the economy and of our societies confirms the strategic nature of our activities and provides further confirmation for our strategy in very high-speed networks. Our fibre deployment continues to accelerate with close to 40 million households now connectable to the fibre optic network, underpinning our strong commercial performance. In this quarter the number of fibre customers reached 7.8 million, up 20% and boosted notably by uptake in France which saw a record quarter with 192,000 new subscriptions. In mobile, Orange passed the threshold of 70 million 4G customers, of which 26.5 million are in Africa & Middle East. More than ever, the roll-out of very high-speed mobile coverage throughout our territories remains a priority.

Elsewhere, we continue to reap the rewards of our investments in the quality of our customer experience. In France, for example, Orange is now the countrys leading operator in terms of Net Promoter Score (NPS).

The announcement of these results gives me the opportunity to underline how Orange has more than risen to its responsibilities in the face of the health crisis. Rarely in greater demand, our networks have withstood the pressure and allowed us to satisfy the even more than usual essential needs of our retail and business customers. Beyond our day-to-day operations, strengthened by our roots in our local communities, Orange has acted responsibly, contributing 400 million euros in support of collective efforts and cohesion through a wide range of initiatives.

All this has enabled the flawless deployment of Oranges entire workforce. Id like to express my special thanks to the 20,000 Orange colleagues who since the very beginning of the crisis have been at work, on the ground and with our customers, in Europe, in Africa and in the Middle East. The mobilisation of the whole company, in a way that is as strong as ever, will continue as long as necessary so as to contribute to the relaunch of the economies of all the countries where the Group is present.

Key figures

Quarterly data

In millions of euros 1Q 2020 1Q 2019

comparable

basis 1Q 2019

historical

basis variation

comparable

basis variation

historical

basis Revenues 10,394 10,290 10,185 1.0 % 2.1 % France 4,431 4,409 4,407 0.5 % 0.6 % Spain 1,287 1,318 1,318 (2.4)% (2.4)% Europe 1,401 1,396 1,389 0.3 % 0.8 % Africa & Middle East 1,445 1,360 1,349 6.2 % 7.1 % Enterprise 1,934 1,918 1,831 0.8 % 5.6 % International Carriers & Shared Services 374 371 371 0.7 % 0.7 % Intra-Group eliminations (477) (482) (480) EBITDAaL (1) 2,602 2,588 2,583 0.5 % 0.7 % o/w telecom activities 2,636 2,632 2,627 0.1 % 0.3 % As % of revenues 25.4 % 25.6 % 25.8 % (0.2 pt) (0.4 pt) o/w Orange Bank (34) (44) (44) 23.1 % 23.1 % eCAPEX 1,580 1,631 1,632 (3.1)% (3.2)% o/w telecom activities 1,574 1,623 1,624 (3.0)% (3.0)% as % of revenues 15.1 % 15.8 % 15.9 % (0.6 pt) (0.8 pt) o/w Orange Bank 6 8 8 (28.1)% (28.1)% EBITDAaL - eCAPEX 1,022 957 951 6.8 % 7.4 %

(1) Adjustments to the presentation of EBITDAaL are described in Appendix 2.

More detailed information on the Group's results and performance indicators is available on the Orange website in the "Investors/Results and Presentations" section:

https://www.orange.com/fr/Investisseurs/Resultats-et-presentations



Comments on key Group figures

Revenues

Orange Group revenues totalled 10.4 billion in the 1st quarter, up 1.0% year on year. This momentum was driven by growth in all segments except for Spain. Africa and Middle East grew by 6.2%, France by 0.5%, posting 2.2% growth in retail services excluding PSTN, the Enterprise segment by 0.8%, and Europe by 0.3%. Spain declined by 2.4%.

At Group level, the performance of the principal services was as follows:

Revenues from Convergence services in all European countries were 1.83 billion in the 1st quarter, up 4.5% year on year. This increase enabled Orange to consolidate its position as the leading convergent operator in Europe.

Revenues from mobile-only services were 2.6 billion in the 1st quarter, up 0.4% year on year.

Revenues from fixed-only services were 2.33 billion in the 1st quarter, down 2.3% year on year. The 2.0% increase in fixed broadband revenues, which now represent more than 39% of fixed-only services, did not offset the 13.6% decline in fixed narrowband services.

Revenues from IT and integration services posted accelerated growth of 10.3% in the 1st quarter (779 million). This growth was driven by the Enterprise market as well as by Poland.

Wholesale revenues totalled 1.93 billion in the 1st quarter, up 1.9% compared with a 1.4% decline in the 1st quarter of 2019. This growth was driven by wholesale fixed services, in particular revenues related to the construction of PINs in France.

Revenues from equipment sales were down 10.0% (650 million) and were impacted by a slowdown in the market and, since March 16, by the closure of 3/4 of the stores in the European countries where Orange is present.

Customer base growth

In the 1st quarter of 2020, the Group revised its method of counting Internet accesses on its services, the changes to which are explained in detail in Appendix 2 "Key performance indicators". At March 31, 2020, the Group's principal customer bases showed the following performance:

The convergent customer base totalled 10.8 million customers, up 3% year on year, enabling Orange to consolidate its position as Europe's leading convergent operator.

totalled 10.8 million customers, up 3% year on year, enabling Orange to consolidate its position as Europe's leading convergent operator. The 4G customer base totalled 70.1 million customers, up 19.3% year on year, with sustained growth in all countries where Orange markets 4G, and particularly in Africa and Middle East, where the customer base grew 50.6% year on year.

totalled 70.1 million customers, up 19.3% year on year, with sustained growth in all countries where Orange markets 4G, and particularly in Africa and Middle East, where the customer base grew 50.6% year on year. The very high-speed fixed broadband customer base totalled 8.1 million customers, up 20.7% year on year. In Europe, with 40.5 million households connectable to very high-speed broadband of which 39 million are FTTH lines, Orange remains the undisputed leader in fibre deployment.

totalled 8.1 million customers, up 20.7% year on year. In Europe, with 40.5 million households connectable to very high-speed broadband of which 39 million are FTTH lines, Orange remains the undisputed leader in fibre deployment. The IPTV and satellite TV customer base totalled 10 million customers as of March 31, 2020, up 3.5% year on year.

EBITDAaL

Group EBITDAaL amounted to 2.60 billion in the 1st quarter, up 0.5% year on year.

EBITDAaL from telecom activities was 2.64 billion in 2020, up 0.1% year on year.





eCAPEX

Group eCAPEX amounted to 1.6 billion, down 3.1% in the 1st quarter due to delays in fixed and mobile network investments related in particular to the impact of Covid.

Despite this decline, the Group continued to reap the benefits of its ambitious fixed and mobile broadband deployment strategy. As a result, at March 31, 2020, the Group had 41.6 million households connectable to very high-speed fixed broadband, a year-on-year growth of 43.7% in France, 6.6% in Spain and 24% in Poland. The Group also continued to improve its mobile network, with more than 98% 4G coverage in France, Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg, Romania and Moldova. Coverage reached at least 96% in its other European countries and included 15 countries in Africa and the Middle East. 5G has been marketed in Romania since the 4th quarter of 2019.

Changes in asset portfolio

The Group did not make any changes to its asset portfolio in the 1st quarter of 2020.

2019 dividend

Taking into account the uncertainties generated by the exceptional crisis resulting from the Covid-19 epidemic, the Board of Directors will propose to the Shareholders Meeting of May 19, 2020 that the dividend for the fiscal year 2019 be reduced from 0.70 to 0.50 per share and that the distribution of a dividend of 0.50 per share be approved. Given the payment of an interim dividend of 0.30 on December 4, 2019, the balance of the dividend will be, subject to approval by the Shareholders Meeting, 0.20 per share and will be paid in cash on June 4, 2020, with an ex-dividend date of June 2, 2020.

For the period 2020 to 2023, the objective to distribute a dividend of 0.70 per share will be reviewed at a later date in light of the evolving situation. The Board of Directors has provided for the right to offer shareholders the option of being paid a 2020 interim dividend in Orange shares.

Covid impact

The exceptional conditions resulting from the start of the Covid crisis in March demonstrated the vital importance of Orange and its networks, which absorbed a significant increase in traffic with excellent quality of service. However, these conditions also impacted the Group's commercial activities, with a reduction in equipment sales due to the closure of three quarters of the Groups stores in European countries and a decline in roaming revenues.

Review by operating segment

France

In millions of euros 1Q 2020 1Q 2019

comparable

basis 1Q 2019

historical

basis variation

comparable

basis variation

historical

basis Revenues 4,431 4,409 4,407 0.5 % 0.6 % Retail services 2,692 2,693 2,692 (0.0)% 0.0 % Convergence 1,137 1,078 1,072 5.4 % 6.0 % Mobile Only 565 580 586 (2.7)% (3.6)% Fixed Only 991 1,034 1,034 (4.2)% (4.2)% Wholesale 1,336 1,303 1,300 2.6 % 2.8 % Equipment sales 252 297 297 (15.2)% (15.2)% Other revenues 151 117 117 29.3 % 28.7 %

In France, revenues grew with strong fixed broadband sales despite the Covid impact and a record Q1 for fibre.

Revenues in France were up 0.5% in the 1st quarter year on year, driven by services billed to customers excluding PSTN (+2.2%) as well as wholesale services driven by the deployment of PINs.

Revenue from retail services was stable in the 1st quarter, an improved trend compared to 2019, when it was down 1.6% for the full year. In the 1st quarter, convergent revenues grew by 5.4% driven by the increase in the number of lines per convergent offer, fibre penetration and the base price increase on Open mini launched last autumn. Mobile-only revenues alone were down 2.7% and fixed-only revenues were down 4.2%, impacted by migration to convergence services and the continued decline in narrowband services. Wholesale revenues grew 2.6% in the 1st quarter, compared to 0.9% growth in the 1st quarter of 2019, driven by the construction of PINs, as well as sales of our wholesale FTTH offers to third-party carriers, which offset the decline in the unbundled market and in mobile roaming. Revenues from equipment sales fell 15.2%, impacted since March 16 by the closure of all stores in France and a slowdown in the market.

"Other revenues" growth of 29.3% year on year (34m) in the 1st quarter was driven by the impact of the launch of the built-to-suit program, which will enable Orange to undertake the accelerated deployment of its mobile network and increase the density of its coverage in rural areas and on transportation routes while still retaining the investment power needed to consolidate its leadership across the entire network.

Excluding ePresse and audiobook offers, convergent ARPO increased by 1.50 over the quarter to 68.6, a 2.3% growth, accelerating from the 1.6% growth in the previous quarter. Mobile-only ARPO decreased by 0.10 year on year to 16.60 in the 1st quarter due to decreases excluding international voice and roaming rate plans partly related to the Covid impact and new European pricing. Fixed broadband ARPO alone registered a limited decrease of -0.19 year on year to a level of 36.2 thanks to the price increase in streaming and the discontinuation, for two quarters now, of the 5 discount for ADSL to FTTH migrations.

In terms of sales performance in the 1st quarter, mobile contracts recorded a decline in net adds of 58,000 whereas churn (down 0.6 pts) continued to improve (11.7%).

Fixed broadband recorded 37,000 net adds in the 1st quarter, driven by a very good quarter for fibre with 192,000 net adds, an all-time high for a 1st quarter. The pace of fibre deployment accelerated in the 1st quarter, at least until mid-March, with 17.8 million connectable households, up 43.7% year on year, and 3.5 million fibre customers.

The broadband convergent retail customer base grew by 1.8% year on year. The profusion-led marketing strategy continues to bear fruit (19,000 more multi-line Open customers) with 1.68 mobile lines per convergence offer, up 2% year on year.

Spain

In millions of euros 1Q 2020 1Q 2019

comparable

basis 1Q 2019

historical

basis variation

comparable

basis variation

historical

basis Revenues 1,287 1,318 1,318 (2.4)% (2.4)% Retail services 910 953 953 (4.6)% (4.6)% Convergence 517 530 530 (2.4)% (2.4)% Mobile Only 267 296 296 (10.0)% (10.0)% Fixed Only 124 125 125 (1.3)% (1.3)% IT & Integration services 2 1 1 48.1 % 48.1 % Wholesale 220 210 210 4.8 % 4.8 % Equipment sales 145 155 155 (6.3)% (6.3)%

Spain had commercial success with its high-value offers but continues to be impacted by an overall market shift towards low-cost products.

Orange Spain revenues declined 2.4% in the 1st quarter, as revenues from retail services decreased 4.6%.

Revenues from convergent offers were 2.4% lower in the 1st quarter, while mobile-only revenues fell 10.0% and fixed-only revenues fell 1.3%. Revenues from wholesale services rose 4.8% in the 1st quarter, driven by continued strong international traffic, and revenues from equipment sales declined 6.3%, impacted by a market slowdown and, since March, by the closure of more than 90% of stores in Spain.

In a market that is becoming polarized, the more-for-more commercial strategy with the launch of our unlimited offers in February on the upper end of the market is bearing fruit with an increase of more than 0.20 year on year in convergent ARPO, which stands at 58.30.

The contrasting effect of this more value-oriented strategy is a decline in net adds of fixed broadband (-59,000) and mobile contract excluding M2M (-127,000).

At the lower end of the market, our net add volumes continue to grow and almost tripled year on year. The launch of convergent offers across all of our low-cost brands in the coming months will aim to capture the volume potential of this segment.

Europe

In millions of euros 1Q 2020 1Q 2019

comparable

basis 1Q 2019

historical

basis variation

comparable

basis variation

historical

basis Revenues 1,401 1,396 1,389 0.3 % 0.8 % Retail services 921 883 876 4.3 % 5.1 % Convergence 178 142 142 25.3 % 24.9 % Mobile Only 515 529 529 (2.7)% (2.8)% Fixed Only 156 165 165 (5.2)% (5.2)% IT & Integration services 72 48 39 51.0 % 83.1 % Wholesale 260 259 260 0.6 % 0.3 % Equipment sales 186 203 203 (8.3)% (8.5)% Other revenues 33 51 51 (34.2)% (33.9)%

Growing revenues.

In the Europe segment (which includes Belgium, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) rose 0.3% in the 1st quarter. This increase is the result of a solid increase of 4.3% in revenues from retail services in the 1st quarter, accelerating from a 2.4% increase in the previous quarter.

In this segment, revenues from convergent offers continued to grow strongly, up 25.3%. Mobile-only revenues were down 2.7% in the 1st quarter impacted in particular by migrations towards convergence. Fixed-only revenues declined 5.2%, an improvement compared to the 8.0% decrease in the 4th quarter of 2019. Revenues from IT and integration services continued to increase strongly rising 51.0%, compared to 13.4% in the previous quarter, driven primarily by Poland.

Wholesale revenues recovered growing 0.6% due to better MVNO momentum, which offset the decline in mobile termination rates and the end of domestic roaming agreements. Revenues from equipment sales decreased 8.3% impacted by a slowdown in the market and, since March, the closure of three quarters of the stores in that region.

In terms of sales performance in the 1st quarter, the mobile contract base excluding M2M recorded 28,000 net adds, a better performance than in the 1st quarter of 2019 (+26,000). Broadband growth drivers were confirmed with the FTTH customer base growing by 54,000 net adds in the 1st quarter.

At the European country level, Poland posted a 7th consecutive quarter of growth, up 0.9%, driven by a 5.1% acceleration in retail services. Revenue growth in Belgium and Luxembourg was 1.9% in the 1st quarter, down from the previous quarter's growth of 4.8%, still driven by momentum from retail services (4.6%) and convergent services in particular. Central Europe revenues decreased 1.7% in the 1st quarter, compared to an increase of 0.5% in the previous quarter, mainly due to lower mobile call terminations in Romania.

Africa & Middle East

In millions of euros 1Q 2020 1Q 2019

comparable

basis 1Q 2019

historical

basis variation

comparable

basis variation

historical

basis Revenues 1,445 1,360 1,349 6.2 % 7.1 % Retail services 1,233 1,131 1,125 9.0 % 9.6 % Mobile Only 1,094 1,009 1,005 8.4 % 8.9 % Fixed Only 133 119 117 12.0 % 13.5 % IT & Integration services 6 3 3 94.2 % 94.9 % Wholesale 181 199 197 (9.5)% (8.3)% Equipment sales 20 22 21 (7.4)% (3.8)% Other revenues 10 7 6 42.8 % 81.3 %

Africa & Middle East continued on its growth trajectory with an increase in revenues driven by solid momentum in retail services.

Africa & Middle East revenues rose 6.2% in the 1st quarter, a slight improvement compared with the previous quarter (+6.1%). Revenues from retail services rose strongly up 9.0%, an acceleration compared to the 4th quarter of 2019 (8.5%), driven by the efficiency of the growth drivers which are data, Orange Money and now fixed broadband.

Mobile-only revenues grew 8.4% in the 1st quarter with the 4G customer base reaching 26.5 million, an increase of 50.6% in 12 months. This increase is supported by the growth of data in particular. The composition of the mobile base is improving, with the billed base rate (one act per month minimum) up 1 percentage point and the churn rate down 2 points compared to the 1st quarter of 2019.

Fixed-only revenues rose 12.0% in the 1st quarter, a marked acceleration compared to the 6.4% increase in the previous quarter. The number of fixed broadband customers grew 21% year on year, reaching 1.3 million customers at March 31, 2020, thus confirming its role as a growth driver.

Revenues from wholesale services were down 9.5% in the 1st quarter, impacted principally by the decline in international transit business. This segment now represents only 12% of the consolidated total. Revenues from equipment sales also fell, down 7.4% due to a market slowdown.

Orange Money revenues climbed 22.3% in the 1st quarter, with an active customer base* of 18.6 million, which grew by 20.3% over the last 12 months.

For all Africa & Middle East countries, the mobile customer base rose 4.8% to over 123 million customers, even taking into account the impact of the exit from Niger.

The countries that contributed most to total revenues in Africa and the Middle East continued to grow at a steady pace in the 1st quarter. Egypt grew 10.6%, driven by data and very significant equipment sales. Cote dIvoire increased 9.5% thanks to data and the development of a value-oriented market. In addition, the Sonatel Group continued to grow fuelled by retail services, due to data and Orange Money, with Senegal in particular having clearly regained leadership in mobile net adds after a disputed 4th quarter of 2019.

Enterprise

In millions of euros 1Q 2020 1Q 2019

comparable

basis 1Q 2019

historical

basis variation

comparable

basis variation

historical

basis Revenues 1,934 1,918 1,831 0.8 % 5.6 % Fixed Only 974 992 986 (1.8)% (1.2)% Voice 307 328 327 (6.5)% (6.2)% Data 667 664 659 0.5 % 1.3 % IT & Integration services 737 690 609 6.9 % 21.2 % Mobile * 223 237 237 (5.8)% (5.8)% Mobile Only 166 181 181 (8.6)% (8.5)% Wholesale 10 10 10 0.5 % 0.5 % Equipment sales 48 46 46 3.9 % 3.9 %

Enterprise revenues grew for the 6th consecutive quarter, mainly due to continued growth in IT and integration services.

Revenues in the Enterprise segment increased 0.8% in the 1st quarter, the 6th consecutive quarter of growth. IT and integration services and, to a lesser extent, data services were the primary engines of this growth.

Revenues from IT and integration services rose 6.9% in the 1st quarter, an acceleration compared to the 5.3% increase in the previous quarter. At March 31, 2020, IT and integration services represented 38% of Enterprise segment revenues.

Data revenues, which remain resilient, grew +0.5%. Revenues from traditional voice services, however, were down 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Mobile* revenues declined 5.8% in the 1st quarter principally due to lower roaming revenues which were strongly impacted by the Covid 19 crisis.

The Covid 19 crisis further revealed the crucial role played by Orange Enterprise Services, with dozens of customer testimonials emphasizing that the mobilization and responsiveness of Orange Enterprise Services teams had been essential to the continuation of their business. Many interventions for emergency services and the healthcare sector were carried out within tight deadlines, enabling them to deal with the crisis. This was made possible thanks to the immediate activation of the Orange Enterprise Services Business Continuity Plan, which demonstrated its reliability and efficiency, as well as the involvement of all teams around the world.

* Mobile revenues include mobile services and mobile equipment sales invoiced to businesses and incoming mobile traffic from businesses invoiced to other carriers.

International Carriers & Shared Services

In millions of euros 1Q 2020 1Q 2019

comparable

basis 1Q 2019

historical

basis variation

comparable

basis variation

historical

basis Revenues 374 371 371 0.7 % 0.7 % Wholesale 271 274 274 (0.9)% (0.9)% Other revenues 103 96 97 6.6 % 6.2 %

Revenues from International Carriers and Shared Services rose 0.7% in the 1st quarter, a clear improvement over the 9.3% decline in the previous quarter, driven by the laying and maintenance of submarine cables and content (OCS).

Other revenues from the operating segment increased, rising 6.6% in the 1st quarter, an acceleration compared to the 3.6% increase in the previous quarter. Other revenues consist mainly of the laying and maintenance of submarine cables, content (OCS and Orange Studio), consulting (Sofrecom) and secure-TV access (Viaccess).

Orange Bank

At March 31, 2020, Orange Bank had over 580,000 customers, representing growth of more than 30% year on year due to both the diversification of the products offered in France and strong sales momentum in Spain. Our value-oriented approach is bearing fruit: 50% of new customers in France in the 1st quarter chose a paid offer.

Schedule of upcoming events

05/19/2020  Annual Shareholders' Meeting

07/30/2020 - Publication of first-half 2020 results

Contacts

press: +33 1 44 44 93 93







Jean-Bernard Orsoni

jeanbernard.orsoni@orange.com



Tom Wright

tom.wright@orange.com



Olivier Emberger

olivier.emberger@orange.com



financial communication: +33 1 44 44 04 32



(analysts and investors)



Patrice Lambert-de Diesbach

p.lambert@orange.com



Isabelle Casado

isabelle.casado@orange.com



Samuel Castelo

samuel.castelo@orange.com



Didier Kohn

didier.kohn@orange.com



Aurelia Roussel

aurelia.roussel@orange.com



Andrei Dragolici

andrei.dragolici@orange.com



Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Oranges financial situation and results of operations. Although we believe these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including matters not yet known to us or not currently considered material by us, and there can be no assurance that anticipated events will occur or that the objectives set out will actually be achieved. In particular, the consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak are uncertain; it could have an impact on the Groups business and financial situation and may exacerbate the risks that the Group could face. More detailed information on the potential risks that could affect our financial results is included in the Registration Document filed on 20 April 2020 with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) and in the annual report (Form 20-F) filed on 21 April 2020 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Other than as required by law, Orange does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments.

Appendix 1: adjusted data to income statement items

1Q 2020 1Q 2019

historical basis In millions of euros Adjusted data, Presentation adjustments, Income statement, Adjusted data, Presentation adjustments, Income statement, Revenues 10,394 - 10,394 10,185 - 10,185 External purchases (4,384) - (4,384) (4,274) - (4,274) Other operating income 137 - 137 144 - 144 Other operating expense (86) (2) (88) (101) (4) (105) Labor expenses (2,195) (19) (2,215) (2,158) (86) (2,243) Operating taxes and levies (915) - (915) (887) - (887) Gains (losses) on disposal of fixed assets, investments and activities - 57 57 - 47 47 Restructuring costs - (6) (6) - (12) (12) Depreciation and amortization of financed assets (9) - (9) (1) - (1) Depreciation and amortization of right-of-use assets (312) - (312) (297) - (297) Impairment of financed assets - - - - - - Impairment of right-of-use assets - - - (1) - (1) Interests expenses on liabilities related to financed assets (0) 0 - - - - Interests expenses on lease liabilities (28) 28 - (29) 29 - EBITDAaL 2,602 57 - 2,583 (26) - Significant litigation - - - (65) 65 - Specific labour expenses (17) 17 - (20) 20 - Fixed assets, investments and business portfolio review 57 (57) - 47 (47) - Restructuring program costs (6) 6 - (12) 12 - Acquisition and integration costs costs (4) 4 - (5) 5 - Interests expenses on liabilities related to financed assets - (0) (0) - - - Interests expenses on lease liabilities - (28) (28) - (29) (29)





Appendix 2: key performance indicators

In thousand, at the end of the period March 31

2020 March 31

2019 Number of convergent customers 10,825 10,506 Number of mobile accesses (excluding MVNOs) (1) 208,532 201,122 o/w Mobile accesses of convergent customers 19,291 18,425 Mobile only accesses 189,241 182,696 o/w Contract customers 74,860 71,617 Prepaid customers 133,671 129,504 Number of fixed accesses (2) 45,193 46,465 Number of fixed retail accesses 29,349 30,189 Number of fixed broadband accesses 20,776 20,273 o/w Accesses with very high-speed broadband 8,105 6,713 Accesses of convergent customers 10,825 10,506 Fixed only accesses 9,952 9,767 Number of fixed narrowband accesses 8,572 9,916 Number of fixed wholesale accesses 15,844 16,276 Group total accesses (1+2) 253,725 247,587

2019 data is on a comparable basis.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Group revised its method of counting accesses. This change mainly results from a difference in the methodology used for aggregating bases and also from a harmonization between countries and the integration of Wholesale FTTH access bases.

Previously, the Group distinguished between (i) mobile service customers, (ii) fixed-line telephony customers and (iii) fixed broadband service customers. Since January 1, 2020, the Group has made a distinction between (i) mobile accesses and (ii) fixed accesses, which now include fixed broadband accesses. In addition, fixed accesses now include Wholesale FTTH accesses in France and Spain (co-financed lines and leased lines).

On total accesses for the Group, this change leads to a net decrease of 13.1 million in the Group's accesses as of December 31, 2019, through (i) eliminating double counting (mainly fixed broadband customers without PSTN access who were counted in the fixed broadband customer base and in the fixed-line telephony customer base), (ii) for the PSTN customer base, measured by number of accesses (and no longer by number of lines), (iii) aligning methodology between countries, and (iv) the integration of Wholesale FTTH access bases. Data for 2019 and 2018 were adjusted on this basis.

The key indicators by country are shown on the Orange Group website orange.com, in the Investors section of the document "Orange Investors data book Q1 2020", directly accessible through the following link:

https://www.orange.com/en/Investors/Results-and-presentations/Folder/All-consolidated-results



Appendix 3: glossary

Key figures

Data on a comparable basis: data based on comparable accounting principles, scope of consolidation and exchange rates are presented for previous periods. The transition from data on an historical basis to data on a comparable basis consists of keeping the results for the period ended and then restating the results for the corresponding period of the preceding year for the purpose of presenting, over comparable periods, financial data with comparable accounting principles, scope of consolidation and exchange rate. The method used is to apply to the data of the corresponding period of the preceding year, the accounting principles and scope of consolidation for the period just ended as well as the average exchange rate used for the income statement for the period ended. Changes in data on a comparable basis reflect organic business changes. Data on a comparable basis is not a financial aggregate as defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-named indicators used by other companies.

EBITDAaL or EBITDA after Leases: operating income (i) before depreciation and amortization of fixed assets, effects resulting from business combinations, reclassification of cumulative translation adjustment from liquidated entities, impairment of goodwill and fixed assets, share of profits (losses) of associates and joint ventures, (ii) after interest on debts related to financed assets and on lease liabilities, and (iii) adjusted for significant litigation, specific labor expenses, fixed assets, investments and businesses portfolio review, restructuring programs costs, acquisition and integration costs and, where appropriate, other specific elements. EBITDAaL is not a financial aggregate as defined by IFRS standards and may not be directly comparable to similarly-named indicators in other companies.

eCAPEX or economic CAPEX: (i) acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, excluding telecommunications licenses and financed assets, (ii) less the price of disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. eCAPEX is not a financial performance indicator as defined by IFRS standards and may not be directly comparable to indicators referenced by similarly-named indicators in other companies.

Organic Cash Flow (telecoms activities): for the perimeter of the telecoms activities, this corresponds to the net cash provided by operating activities, minus (i) lease liabilities repayments and debts related to financed assets repayments, and (ii) purchases and sales of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, net of the change in the fixed assets payables, (iii) excluding effect of telecommunication licenses paid and significant litigations paid or received. Organic Cash Flow (telecoms activities) is not a financial aggregate defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to similarly-named indicators used by other companies.

Convergence

The customer base and the revenues invoiced to convergence services customers (excluding equipment sales) was for convergent offers defined as the combination of, at a minimum, a fixed broadband access and a mobile contract subscribed by retail market customers.

Convergent ARPO: the average quarterly revenues per convergent offer (ARPO) is calculated by dividing revenues from retail convergent services offers invoiced to customers generated over the past three months (excluding IFRS 15 adjustments) by the weighted average number of retail convergent offers over the same period. ARPO is expressed by monthly revenues per convergent offer.

Performance indicators

The fixed retail accesses correspond to the number of fixed broadband accesses (xDSL (ADSL and VDSL), FTTx, cable, Fixed-4G (fLTE) and other broadband accesses (satellite, Wimax and others)) and fixed narrowband accesses (mainly PSTN) and payphones.

The fixed wholesale accesses correspond to the number of fixed broadband and narrowband wholesale accesses operated by Orange.

Mobile Only services

Revenues from Mobile Only services consists of revenues invoiced to customers of mobile offers excluding retail convergence and equipment sales. The customer base includes customers with a contract excluding retail convergence, machine-to-machine contracts and prepaid cards.

Mobile Only ARPO: the average quarterly revenues from Mobile Only (ARPO) is calculated by dividing the revenue from Mobile Only services (excluding machine-to-machine and IFRS 15 adjustments) generated over the past three months by the weighted average of Mobile Only customers (excluding machine-to-machine) over the same period. The ARPO is expressed as monthly revenues per Mobile Only customer.

Fixed Only services

Revenues from Fixed Only services include the revenue of fixed services excluding retail convergence and equipment sales: traditional fixed-line telephony, fixed broadband and enterprise solutions and networks2. The customer base consists of fixed-line telephony and fixed broadband customers, excluding retail convergence customers.

Fixed Only Broadband ARPO: the average quarterly revenues from Fixed Only Broadband (ARPO) is calculated by dividing the revenue from Fixed Only Broadband services (excluding IFRS 15 adjustments) generated over the past three months by the weighted average of Fixed Only Broadband customers over the same period. ARPO is expressed as monthly revenues per Fixed Only Broadband customer.

IT & integration services

Revenues from IT and integration services include revenue from unified communication and collaboration services (Local Area Network and telephony, consulting, integration, project management and video conferencing offers), hosting and infrastructure services (including cloud computing), application services (customer relations management and other application services), security services, machine-to-machine services (excluding connectivity), as well as equipment sales for the products and services above.

Wholesale

Revenues from other carriers consists of (i) mobile services to other carriers including incoming traffic, visitor roaming, network sharing, national roaming and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), and (ii) fixed services to other carriers including national networking, services to international carriers, high-speed and very high-speed broadband access (fibre access, unbundling of telephone lines and xDSL access sales) and the sale of telephone lines on the wholesale market.







1 Unless otherwise stated, all variations in this press release are presented on a like-for-like basis

2





Attachment
A sudden surge in the price of bitcoin has made the cryptocurrency the top performing asset of 2020, outpacing gold, silver and crude oil.

Over the past four months, the price of bitcoin has risen by almost a third despite a major crash in March that wiped more than $4,000 (3,200) from its value.

In the same time period, gold has only risen by around 13 per cent, while silver has fallen by 14 per cent and crude oil has dropped by more than 70 per cent in value.

Bitcoins recovery comes less than two weeks ahead of a rare event known as a halving, whereby the number of new bitcoins created will fall by 50 per cent.

It is only the third time a halving has happened in bitcoins 11-year history and some market analysts believe it could push the cryptocurrencys price to new all-time highs this year.

Both bitcoin and gold have seen significant gains since around mid March, when countries around the world began to introduce lockdown measures in an effort to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.

This resulted in a global economic slowdown and caused stock markets to crash, as investors looked to secure their holdings in safe haven assets.

This has been why gold has traditionally performed well during times of economic uncertainty, however market data suggests that the finite supply of bitcoin means it is increasingly being viewed as a safe haven asset.

Bitcoin has been surging ahead of the May halving event, with investors eagerly anticipating the positive impact of a tightening in supply that comes once every four-years, Joshua Mahony, a senior market analyst at financial services firm IG, told The Independent.

As things stand we are in line to post a 182 per cent rise for bitcoin since the lows of December 2018, and the surge we are currently seeing paints a bullish picture for the months following this third halving.

From a wider perspective, the huge growth in central bank easing and government debt does highlight why many feel the need to store their wealth in alternative assets to avoid the apparent depreciation that could be on the cards.

Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins  the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images

Other cryptocurrencies have performed even better than bitcoin, with ether (ethereum) experiencing gains of more than 60 percent since the start of the year.

Despite their recent gains, bitcoin and ethereum remain a long way off the highs of late 2017 and early 2018, when one bitcoin was worth more than twice its current value.
British farmers union has predicted a national catastrophe in dairy and beef industries and some are already suffering.

Farmers leaders in the United Kingdom are warning of a potential catastrophe for dairy farming unless action is taken.

Owing to the coronavirus lockdown, fresh products that would usually go to restaurants and cafes are being thrown away.

Farmers are known for coping with the unpredictable, finding solutions in the worst of seasons.

Al Jazeeras Emma Hayward reports.
Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here!

(Kitco News) - Junior gold explorers, while off last month's four-year lows, remain in a holding pattern and continue to underperform major producers. However, the tide could shift as higher gold prices make acquisitions more attractive, according to one explorer executive.

In a recent interview with Kitco News, Eric Saderholm, president of American Pacific Mining, said that the higher gold prices appear to be helping the precious metals mining sector weather the economic storm brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eric Saderholm, president of American Pacific Mining

He explained that growth within the mining sector might have slowed because of the global pandemic, but it hasn't completely vanished. The systemic issue of replacing lost production remains a very real issue for larger producers, he said. He added that junior explorers can only solve this problem.

"Maybe now the appetite for ounces has maybe been pushed back a year, but the reality is that still need to replace ounces," he said.

Saderholm said that in the current environment, junior explorers offer the best value in the mining sector; however, he also said investors need to be little bit more discerning in their investment decision as not all companies will be treated equally when the global economy starts to recover from the impact of the coronavirus.

In the current environment, Saderholm said that one factor investors should be paying attention to is how much cash companies have available during the economic crisis.

"If you're cashed up and you're a junior right now, you're probably hunkered down. You've cut your salaries, you're trying to figure out what the next step is and you're just waiting for the next shoe to drop if you're," he said. "But I think if you're not cashed up, you very well might be dropping assets that could be of value."

Saderholm said that his company has a monthly burn rate of about $20,000 a month, a big enough war chest to see them through the next two years.

Along with a solid cash supply, Saderholm said that size in the mining sector is also going to matter when it the world starts to recover from the coronavirus.

Saderholm said that they are seeing renewed investor attention after they purchased the Madison mine project from Madison Metals. The purchase of the Montana property was finalized last month as the world went into lockdown to slow the spread of the virus.

American Pacific Mining's newest project has already attracted the attention of a major producer. Last year Rio Tinto, through a subsidiary, signed an earn-in joint venture agreement that could see the base metal producer spend up to $30 million to earn a 70% stake in the project.

Saderholm said that before the crisis hit Rio Tinto was expected to start a $4 million drill program on the project May 4. At the time of the interview, he had heard of any change in those plans.

"You've got the second-largest mining company in the world, spending $30 million to earn into a juniors project," he said. "They're not looking for something small. They're looking for something big. Rio Tinto put their stamp of approval on this project and now they're spending a lot of money. That creates excitement in any market."
Help India!

Amid the ongoing nationwide battle against COVID-19 and the crisis created by the lockdown, Muslim groups in communally sensitive Gujarat have lent a helping hand to the administration, and aided scores, MAHESH TRIVEDI reports.

Mahesh Trivedi for TwoCircles.net

Support TwoCircles



GUJARAT: As the coronavirus cases in BJP-ruled Gujarat spiralled to 3,548 and killed 162 people by April 29, the Muslim community of the state and voluntary organizations run by them have been silently lending a helping hand to the beleaguered state administration in fighting the deadly virus.

Muslims constitute 10 per cent of the population in this communally sensitive western Indian state. In spite of being a hard-pressed minority and having faced an anti-Muslim pogrom in 2002, the community has brushed aside its sorry state and in current pandemic has worked to bring relief to poor people of the state.

In Ahmedabad, a voluntary organization Vikalang Sahayak Kendra run by differently-abled Ghulam Murtaza (Babubhai) has not only distributed nearly 500 kits containing rice, sugar, wheat flour, edible oil, etc to widows, slum-dwellers and physically-challenged men and women but also has been providing meals once a day to homeless, besides guiding them on personal hygiene during the pandemic.

It wont be possible to give succour to the have-nots without financial assistance from generous donors from both Hindu and Muslim communities like Shankar Patel, Talha Sareshwala, Hanif Memon, Mohsin Memon, Akhtar Malik, Raju Patel, Ankur Patel, Ankit Patel, etc, Babubhai told TwoCircles.net.

Other Muslims organizations like School of Education Campus, Chhipa Samast Jamaat, Anjuman-e-Saifee Jamaat, Qaswa Charitable Trust (Bhuj), etc have distributed hundreds of food and grains packets to needy in the ongoing lockdown.

At one of Indias largest Muslim ghetto on the outskirts of Ahmedabad in Juhapura, housing nearly 400,000 people, Muslim youth belonging to Ahmed Shah Army, an NGO took it upon themselves to sanitizing 30,000-odd houses.

Besides sanitizing the houses, the Muslim youth did not hesitate in providing free hair cuts to beggars  at least 180 of them, who had been lodged in a hostel by local authorities in Valsad in south Gujarat. The Muslim youth from the NGO also handed over two pairs of clothes to the beggar community.

In Vadodara, the citizens remember a benevolent Muslim auto driver Ali Hussain Udawala, who has been ferrying passengers to hospital during the lockdown without charging any fare.

Riddhi Soni, a 28-year-old visually-challenged college teacher at Rajpipla in south Gujarat, lives alone in the staff quarters and could not go back to her parents in Ahmedabad because of the shutdown. It was her neighbour and colleague Numa Ansari (26) who has come to her aid in the current lockdown.

Soni told TwoCircles.net that Ansari has always remained at her beck and call, sanitized her room, bought essentials for her, and took care of her.

With the shortage of isolation units in municipal-run hospitals in Ahmedabad to house the increasing number of suspected cases of COVID-19, Issa Foundation, which has already been running community kitchens, offered its three buildings as quarantine facilities with 1,200 beds and also offered to bear food expenses of patients and medicos.

In Baroda, where the services provided by the 300-member Baroda Muslim Doctors Association (BMDA), headed by chairperson Dr Muhammed Husain is earning them laurels.

Ever since the government enforced the lockdown, BMDA has organized free medical camps, launched blood donation campaigns, and joined hands with the Vadodara municipal corporation in preventive and curative interventions to boost its anti-virus drive.

Husain told TwoCircles.net that 150 dedicated doctors of the association have been risking their lives by conducting door-to-door surveillance in COVID-hit areas declared as danger zones in the cultural city.

Ever since BMDA was set up in 2012, the association, besides organizing events for medicos, has also been carrying out a number of social activities for the underprivileged to bring the marginalized into the mainstream.

BMDA has done this by promoting academic scholars, helping high-school drop-outs to join skill-based learning, starting reading rooms in slums and semi slums, free malnutrition check-ups and so on.

According to Zuber Gopalani, famed social activist and educationist, BMDAs biggest achievement came recently when an expert group from the federal government lauded the invaluable services rendered by the doctors and paramedics of the association at an ideal COVID-care centre at the Ebrahim Bawany ITI Hostel in Vadodara.

BMDA medicos threw their full heart and soul into this COVID care centre while working with the civic bodys health team, regularly examining the patients blood sugar, blood pressure, temperature, etc and monitored their hygiene and sanitation. The result was that for the first time in India as many as 45 COVID-19 patients were completely cured within 10 days and discharged together from one single care centre, Gopalani said.
(Natural News) On May 15-16th, as part of the True Legends Ancient Cataclysms and Coming Catastrophes online conference organized by Steve Quayle at GenSix.com, I will be presenting a nearly three-hour talk entitled, The Depopulation Trifecta: Coronavirus, vaccines and 5G.

The two-day streaming event also features Bob Griswold, Derek Gilbert, Celeste Solum, L.A. Marzulli and many other gifted presenters and thought leaders.

The series focuses on dire catastrophes that humanity may be facing right now or in the near future.

My own talk focuses on what I call the trifecta of assaults against humanity: The coronavirus, vaccines and 5G. These are indicative of biological weapons, chemical weapons and electromagnetic weapons, all formed and deployed against humanity in order to achieve the global depopulation that people like Bill Gates so desperately seek to achieve.

Heres an overview of the sections of my talk:

 The beliefs of the globalists: What they are trying to achieve through depopulation. (Hint: Planet Earth is being prepared for a post-human era.)

 How we are already in a biological war launched by globalists to destroy human freedom and exterminate most of the human population. The coronavirus attack wave is just the first of many to come.

 The three weapons of extermination: Bioweapons, vaccines and 5G  How they synergistically function to both enslave and exterminate the human race through electromagnetic weapons, chemical weapons and biological weapons, all without resorting to nuclear weapons that would pollute the planet for all life forms.

 The three layers of collapse: Debt (finance), Health and Cognition  how the collapse is being engineered at these three levels to attack the body, the mind and the spirit.

 How the information war against humanity is being waged with censorship of natural cures, independent journalism and pro-human information, where online information gatekeepers are actively pursuing an anti-human, anti-life agenda that ends with the mass extermination of most humans living today.

Also in the presentation:

How to survive the culling of the human race:

 Nutritional strategies to protect yourself from 5G exposure (and save your brain).

 Strategic relocation to evade the high population density targets such as US cities.

 How to make yourself resilient against the planned, engineered food supply collapse.

 How to preserve your wealth and assets to survive a global debt reset.

 How to protect your health from the multiple waves of bioweapons that will be released.

 Which hard assets to acquire that will be the most resilient against global geopolitical collapse.

 How globalists will seize control over the internet and block all traffic to sites they dont want you to read.

 The Fourth Turning revolution thats coming to the world as middle class workers grow tired of being looted by the elite.

Streaming access is available at GenSix.com. A DVD set will is also available for pre-order. I am not compensated in any way for sales of streaming or DVDs, or anything else. Im participating in this event out of respect for Steve Quayles mission to try to awaken humanity before its too late for us all.

Spread the word. This is going to be a must-see event to understand what we all face in the months ahead. Humanity has been targeted for termination, and most people have no clue whats coming.
- On Tuesday, April 28, employees at JKIA were forced to sleep in the cold after they were fired at night

- The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) had written to the contracted company, Colnet, that was working with the employees asking for discount on services amid coronavirus pandemic

- The contractor refused to offer a discount saying they had nowhere to borrow money to sustain their budget and the authority went ahead and terminated the contract

Details are now emerging on the circumstances that led to over 300 Jomo Kenyatta International Airport employees getting fired at night.

As earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, the employees had reported for their night shift on Tuesday, April 28, when their security passes were taken away and the staff kicked out of the airport premises.

READ ALSO: She is not his girlfriend: TV anchor caught with clothless woman during live broadcast

Colnet employees who were left stranded in the cold after they were fired at night. Photo: Screenshot

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Health Ministry on the spot over KSh 2M spent on airtime after Safaricom offered free package

The cleaners were forced to spend the night in the cold given it was curfew time and they could not go anywhere.

In 2018, Colnet Cleaning Company had been awarded two contracts worth KSh 85, 739, 722 which were to run for a period of three years.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the KAA's managing director Alex Gitari wrote to Colnet asking for a reduction on charges owing to the reduced scope of service primarily on the use on consumables.

READ ALSO: Trump aishtumu Uchina, asema inampiga vita ili asichaguliwe kwa muhula wa pili

In a rejoinder, Colnet wrote to the authority detailing its monthly expenses which included KSh 4.9 million for its 314 employees, KSh 600,000 for transport and over KSh 862,330 for taxes.

"It is to this end that inasmuch as we are willing to support the authority in this uncertain times bearing the above stated in mind, we can confirm that we have no reserve to borrow from that would allow us to offer discount to the authority and as such will not be in position to negotiate for any discount," said the company.

READ ALSO: Senator Stewart Madzayo becomes first politician to defend Kilifi DG Saburi after his COVID-19 case

After receiving the feedback, the authority invoked clause 21 of the contract saying the coronavirus pandemic was an "event under force majeure".

"Kindly, be advised that the contract hereby stands suspended with immediate effect with no liability on the part of the authority until such a time when the pandemic is over and normalcy resorted at the authority's airports," read the letter dated April 28.

Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Follow us on Telegram: Tuko news

Source: TUKO.co.ke
I think the state needs to start opening up things. Why are all the other states around us starting to open up things, but yet Illinois isnt opening up much at all. This governor is holding this state hostage and I think it is wrong. I can go to a grocery store and a hardware story and encounter many people, but yet I cant go to work. I personally would see less people at work than I see at the grocery store and the hardware store.
Police in New York City have discovered dozens of bodies stored in four trucks parked outside a Brooklyn funeral home after someone alerted them to a bad smell.

NYPD investigators who responded to a 911 call on Wednesday found that the home had rented four trucks to hold almost 60 corpses, an official said.

Comments made to CNN by another NYPD official claim that fluids were also reported dripping from the trucks parked outside The Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn.

Faced with the current coronavirus outbreak, the home appeared to have run out of room for bodies, which were awaiting cremation, and used the trucks for storage.

One law enforcement source told CNN that at least one of the four trucks was not refrigerated, with bodies instead put on ice.

The Andrew Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn was cited for failing to control the odours, but no criminal charges were brought.

City and state officials sent a larger refrigerated truck that afternoon. Workers then filled the new truck with bodies from the other trucks using protective gear.

Funeral homes across New York City have struggled since the pandemic began, with the city setting up temporary morgues and hospitals which have used refrigerated trailers to transport bodies.

Crematoriums have meanwhile been backed up, and funeral directors across the city have pleaded for help as they have run out of space.

Funeral directors are required to store decedents awaiting burial or other final disposition in appropriate conditions and to follow their routine infection prevention and control precautions, said the state health department regarding the incident on Wednesday.

The NYPD notified the state Department of Health, which oversees funeral homes, about the situation at the Andrew T Cleckley Funeral Home.

Brooklyn Borough president Eric Adams told the Daily News on Wednesday evening: While this situation is under investigation, we should not have what we have right now, with trucks lining the streets filled with bodies.

It was people who walked by who saw some leakage and detected an odour coming from a truck.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday that New Mexico is ready  after more than a month of closures  to begin relaxing some restrictions on businesses amid the virus outbreak.

But the changes will be gradual, she said, and New Mexicans must continue to limit the spread of the deadly disease by wearing masks outside their homes and maintaining a 6-foot distance from other people.

I believe, based on the evidence, its a safe relaxation, Lujan Grisham said during a public briefing broadcast online.

The governor said she was extending New Mexicos stay-at-home instruction  scheduled to expire at the end of the day Thursday  through May 15, urging people to limit their trips to essential outings only.

But she is making significant changes to relax some restrictions on businesses.

Starting Friday, under the new public health orders, retail stores that have been closed can operate through curbside pickup and delivery, if permitted by their licenses. State parks, Lujan Grisham said, may reopen on a modified basis.

Golf courses will be permitted to open for golf only, not dine-in or other services. Gun stores, meanwhile, can start operating by appointment only, and veterinary clinics can resume operations.

This public health crisis, Lujan Grisham said, has also become an economic crisis. Theres great urgency to address both.

The Thursday announcement came amid escalating calls from Republican lawmakers, business groups and others to ease the restrictions on business that have caused state unemployment claims to skyrocket and led to big revenue declines for cities, counties and the state government.

Lujan Grisham said Thursday that she hopes the throttled-back restrictions are good for New Mexico businesses  and individuals.

But she said a broader reopening of all retailers, dine-in restaurants and places of worship will happen in the coming weeks only if certain criteria are met.

The criteria include the COVID-19 spread rate, the states coronavirus testing capacity, the burden on New Mexicos health care system and contact tracing to determine who had contact with infected individuals.

For now, significant restrictions will remain in place.

Remaining closed are indoor malls, gyms, theaters and casinos. A state-imposed 14-day isolation period for out-of-state travelers arriving by air will also remain in place.

Gatherings of five or more people also are banned.

If were not practicing social distancing, there will be more spread, Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said during Thursdays briefing.

The relaxed health orders, Lujan Grisham said, wont apply to parts of northwestern New Mexico, where the outbreak has been particularly difficult to contain.

Next phase

Lujan Grisham said New Mexico could move to the next reopening phase in mid-May, but only if residents continue to succeed in slowing the transmission of the virus.

The governor said she hopes the state will be ready to reopen restaurants and bars at 50% capacity in mid-May. Retailers could open at 20% capacity, and gyms, salons, hotels and churches could operate in limited fashion with social distancing.

But moving to that phase, Lujan Grisham said, will be possible only if New Mexicans do the hard work necessary to slow the spread of the virus.

If you dont, Lujan Grisham said, then sustaining this recovery phase will get very hard to do.

The relaxed business restrictions were announced even as the coronavirus outbreak continues to move through New Mexico.

The governor announced Thursday that 11 more people had died in the pandemic, pushing the statewide total to 123. Testing, the governor said, also confirmed 198 new cases of the virus for a total of 3,411.

Nine of the 11 deaths were residents of group living facilities, including seven deaths at Life Care Center in Farmington.

While infection rates have decreased in recent weeks in much of New Mexico, the states northwestern corner has had skyrocketing case numbers and deaths.

In particular, outbreaks have ignited on the Navajo Nation and on several tribal pueblos that have prompted curfews, restricted access and other measures.

Native Americans make up 52.8% of the states total confirmed coronavirus cases, according to Department of Health data. They make up about 11% of the states population.

Modeling

Scrase, the only physician in Lujan Grishams Cabinet, said he sees reason for optimism in some data, even though new cases are emerging each day.

The states doubling time  how long it takes for the number of virus cases to double  has climbed from 1.9 days to 6.1 days, a really dramatic improvement, he said.

The transmission rate  the number of people infected by each person who has the disease  is down to 1.24 people. It was 2.5 earlier in the outbreak, Scrase said.

The state is pushing to get the rate of spread down to 1.15 as part of its criteria for reopening more of New Mexicos economy.

We have to move carefully, slowly, step by step, Scrase said.

The state, he said, will also publish more of its modeling information and projections online.

But Scrase acknowledged that keeping businesses not deemed essential closed indefinitely is not a realistic option.

The current situation isnt something we can do for another year while waiting for a coronavirus vaccine, Scrase said.

One of the state orders issued Thursday, he said, will allow hospitals and surgical clinics to gradually resume operations under state guidelines. They will have to report to the state daily on supplies of protective equipment.

Mixed reaction

The Republican Party of New Mexico slammed the governors new health orders, arguing they didnt go far enough to reopen businesses.

The GOP said the orders favor big-box stores over local businesses.

New Mexicos restrictions deem grocery stores essential, for example, so Walmart and similar stores are allowed to remain open if they sell groceries.

The governor must understand that small businesses can operate safely with the same health precautions as the big-box stores, state GOP Chairman Steve Pearce said. She cannot discriminate.

Lujan Grisham has said her orders are based on the type of the business, not how big it is or who owns it.

The state Democratic Party said Thursdays reopening steps represent sound decision-making guided by science and expert advice.

Throughout this pandemic, Democratic Chairwoman Marg Elliston said, the governor has put the health and well-being of New Mexicans first, and were proud to see her continuing that trend with these new guidelines.

Meanwhile, the New Mexico state director of the National Rifle Association, which had teamed up with other pro-gun groups to file a lawsuit over the closure of gun shops, called the governors revised order allowing them to reopen a first step toward restoring the self-defense and Second Amendment rights of New Mexicans.

Other states

Adjacent states Colorado and Texas are also moving toward a phased reopening.

In addition, Arizona extended its stay-at-home order through May 15, but with some adjustments that allow for a gradual reopening of some establishments.

Lujan Grisham said New Mexicos path will be set by local data, not the actions of other states or political pressure. State health officials, she said, will keep an eye on the spread of the disease and change course if needed.

In some ways, Lujan Grisham said, the next phase is even more difficult  because people will have to get used to maintaining strong social distancing strategies even as they spend more time outside their homes.

This requires discipline, she said. Were all in this together, New Mexico.

Health order changes

 Nonessential retailers can operate with curbside pickup and delivery if permitted by their licenses

 State parks can reopen for day use, but not for camping and only if staff is available

 Veterinary clinics and pet services, including grooming and boarding, can resume operations

 Golf courses can open for golf only, not dine-in or retail services

 Gun stores can operate by appointment only given need for background checks

 Hospitals will be allowed to gradually resume doing more surgeries
You don't often see a letter to the editor in the newspaper complaining that we don't have enough bureaucrats. But the COVID-19 crisis has shown how truly vital these government employees and the essential services they provide are to our daily lives.As we face a public health crisis of epic proportions, it's clear that no amount of charity or free-market solutions can meet the scope of the coronavirus pandemic. Only our public institutions can offer solutions at the scale we need. When we don't make the necessary investments in these institutions and the people who run them, the consequences are counted in lives lost.In the midst of a crisis, it's hard to look beyond the immediate threat. To be sure, we must dramatically expand testing, resource our health-care professionals with the protective equipment and ventilators they need, and support the tens of millions of Americans who have filed for unemployment assistance. The passage of the $2 trillion federal CARES Act is a step in the right direction, but at best it is only stanching the bleeding.We missed our chance to prevent the wound when we eliminated the National Security Council's pandemic response team and cut nearly a quarter of our state and local health department workforce . If we want our governments to work in the worst of times, we need to invest in them during the best of times. For years, we've done the opposite.This is particularly true for our state and local governments, which have borne the greatest burden of responding to the COVID-19 crisis in the absence of adequate federal action. States, cities and counties are building temporary hospitals, working to secure child care for front-line workers and issuing moratoriums on evictions. But due to a legacy of disinvestment, these efforts to rapidly scale up response capacity are falling short.This isn't surprising. In the five years following the 2008 financial crisis, states faced $600 billion in cumulative budget shortfalls, which, along with similar fiscal challenges at the local level, contributed to a decline in public-sector employment and services. This pain has been particularly acute in our state and local health departments, which have lost more than 50,000 jobs since 2008, but this story has played out across government. The pressure on our public-sector employees has increased as they are asked to do more with less. But with tax revenues plummeting as a result of stay-at-home orders and business closings, we're already seeing hiring freezes and furloughs , and more will follow in the weeks to come.In times of crisis, we should be able to count on our governments to respond effectively. Here are a few steps we should take now  even in the face of extraordinary budgetary pressures  to build government systems that can respond to our needs in the future:The COVID-19 crisis shows that we need a robust government workforce that is positioned to address 21st-century challenges. We must provide advancement opportunities to exceptional public employees and encourage millennials and members of Generation Z to pursue public-service careers.State and local government IT infrastructure has not kept pace in an era when more people are relying on government services. These problems, exposed by high demand amid the current crisis, suggest that the state of our government technologies poses a persistent lurking threat.Innovative policy actions  from expanding voting by mail to reducing administrative burdens for social services  should be part of the coronavirus response. We as citizens must demand and support innovation by state and local government, particularly protections for vulnerable and marginalized populations.Now that we see the consequences of inaction, perhaps we'll be more open to making the necessary investments in our state and local governments before the next crisis. This is a moment to do more than hope. Let's not squander it.GoverningGoverning
Digital banks Monzo and Starling were among the biggest winners in terms of gaining customers using the seven-day switching service in the last three months of 2019, figures show (Lauren Hurley/PA)

Digital banks Monzo and Starling were among the biggest winners in terms of gaining customers using the seven-day switching service in the last three months of 2019, figures show.

Monzo made a net gain of more than 20,000 customers using the Current Account Switch Service (Cass) between October and December, while Starling Bank gained more than 9,000.

The report from Cass said it was the first time that Monzo had recorded the highest number of net switching gains among the providers covered.

It was followed by Nationwide Building Society and Lloyds Bank. Starling Bank and NatWest were in fourth and fifth place respectively for net switching gains.

Meanwhile, Barclays, Halifax, Santander, RBS and TSB were among the banks which made net losses of customers switching using Cass during the same period.

The service takes the hassle out of switching banks by automatically moving payments over to the new account and closing the old account.

There is also a guarantee which promises customers that will not be left out of pocket if something goes wrong with the move, which completes in seven working days.

Small businesses and small charities can use the service to change banks, as well as individuals.

Figures from the service also show that a total of 107,611 personal switches and 5,426 business switches took place in March 2020, despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are the net gains and losses banks and building societies made from customers using Cass between October 1 and December 31 2019. The figures do not include switches made outside the scheme and therefore do not reflect all switches made during the period:

AIB Group UK (includes First Trust Bank and Allied Irish Bank GB

brand switches), minus 1,140

Bank of Ireland, minus 905

Bank of Scotland, minus 1,356

Barclays, minus 3,547

Clydesdale Bank (includes Yorkshire Bank brand switches), minus 4,154

Co-operative Bank (includes Smile brand switches), minus 4,632

Danske Bank, minus 644

Halifax, minus 22,130

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Triodos Bank, 539

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Ulster Bank, 1,144
It is a tragedy when great actors die before their time, for art and for connoisseurs of cinema. Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Uttam Kumar, Om Puri, Robin Williams, Heath Ledger  one wonders what they would have done over the decades they had left. What roles would they have played when they were old men, these actors who had been so versatile since they had first faced the camera?

We feel sad when musicians and writers die young too, but we have their words and their voices and their worlds.

Cinema is different. We see characters that these actors should have played, would have played if they had been alive, and we think about other characters that never made it to the screen because they were written only for them. All that they have done is never enough, because we will keep seeing reminders of what they could have done.

But my initial reaction to the news of Irrfan Khans death was not that of someone who has enjoyed his acting.

My first thought was, Thank heavens his mother went before him. She had passed away only four days earlier, on Saturday, and Irrfan had been unable to travel to Jaipur for her last rites because of the lockdown.

Why was my reaction so personal? I did not know him, and had barely met him at the odd film festival. Wed known for some time that he was gravely ill, and when I read news of his hospitalisation, I had a feeling it was the end. And I had been sad for an entire day before his family put out a statement confirming that he had passed away.

Perhaps my first thought was of his mother because Irrfan was mine. A lot of people think of him as theirs.

When one sees an actor before he becomes famous and loves his work, and wants the best for him because he has so much talent, the connection is somehow personal.

Irrfan  and he is Irrfan to all those who think of him as theirs  was introduced to me through a film which showcased what I still believe to be his best performance. It was The Warrior (2001), directed by Asif Kapadia. I had watched the DVD at the film school in my university, and was stunned by his performance. He had no dialogue. He didnt need any. His eyes said all there was to say. What he showed was the power of stillness, silence, movement, and facial expressions  things great dancers talk about, things that cinema has no time for, things that the theatre cannot exploit because the stage is too far away from the audience for them to spot nuance like a film audience can.

This is why he was, and will always be, an actors actor. There is so much an actor can learn from him, so much an actor can admire in him.

I was thrilled when he became a star, but I was glad that he remained an actor, always looking to challenge himself, never resting easy on his laurels.

I was irritated by his silly role in Jurassic World. Why did he have to make a blink-and-miss-it appearance, as a ridiculous character, when he was so much more? It wasnt like he had anything to prove in Hollywood, I thought, he who had starred in The Life of Pi and so many big-budget films. I hoped he would never do a role like that again, and he didnt. His next role in Hollywood was as a reclusive jigsaw puzzle aficionado in the film Puzzle (2018), a quiet character whose magnetism and intelligence shone through, turning an average storyline into a haunting film.

This was the same magic he brought to The Namesake (2007), playing a character who was far more rounded in the film than in the Jhumpa Lahiri book on which it was based. I wasnt moved by the book, but Irrfan made me cry. I cried for the gentle Calcutta man who had left everything that was familiar to make a life abroad, I cried for this admirer of Gogol whose son resented his name, I cried for this man who died before his time.

And I thought about how different this character was from the ones he had played in the other films I had watched of his. Id seen The Warrior in 2005, and Life in a Metro (2006) when it was released. In the latter, he was just in-your-face enough to be annoying, and just innocent enough to be endearing.

He would go on to do other roles, each worlds away from his previous work. Take The Lunchbox (2013), a film which would have fallen flat without him. He brought a certain pathos and loneliness, along with strength, that no other character or actor in the film did. You wanted this Mr. Fernandes in your life. You wanted to be special to this man, who had nobody and who seemed to care about nobody.

The same year, he played a pauper prince who is obsessed with regaining his lost pride and thirsty for revenge against the man whom he blames, in Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster Returns. The film was stylised, luxuriating in the decadence and avarice of its characters, and through all this, Irrfan stood alone and aloof, a noble angry that the word does not see his nobility.

And one of my favourite roles is the titular character of Paan Singh Tomar (2010), if for nothing else, for how well it brought out Irrfans abilities as an actor. He played a soldier and an athlete and a dacoit, aging from 19 to 50 when he was 43 years old himself. Most people admire him most in and as Maqbool (2010), but to me, his Tomar was superior to everything but The Warrior.

One of his most beautiful traits was that just as he was never Irrfan on screen, he was always Irrfan off screen. In his social media posts, in interviews, at film festivals, he was Irrfan, who laughed and joked and rolled his own tobacco. He was charming because he did not bother turning on the charm.

That is why the loss feels personal, like the loss of a friend and guide, not the loss of an artist.

More Columns by Nandini Krishnan:



Nobel for economist, tailspin for economy



Why the Diaspora has so much love to give



Hindi debate: We are all obsessed with homogeneity



We are choking the earth



When Kamal Haasan endorsed harassment



The Dalai Lama and the death of humour



The delusionary Indian intellectual



India's culture of worship has to end





Nandini is the author of Invisible Men: Inside India's Transmasculine Networks (2018) and Hitched: The Modern Woman and Arranged Marriage (2013). She tweets @k_nandini. Her website is: www.nandinikrishnan.com
After Kerala and Gujarat, West Bengal has sequenced the SARS-CoV-2 genome and identified one unique mutation in the S2 domain of the spike protein of the virus in all samples sequenced from the state when compared to those sequenced in the other two states and Wuhan in China. There is one more mutation in S1 domain of the spike protein, which is similar to what Gujarat has found.

S1 attaches the virus to the cell membrane by interacting with host receptor while S2 mediates fusion between the virus and cell membrane , according to Uniprot which provides resources on protein sequence.

But it is too early to say how these mutations will affect us, said independent experts. The paper, led by CSIR Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) in Ghaziabad, said that five sequences from West Bengal have been deposited on the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) on April 27. Scientists compared the sequences from West Bengal with other sequences reported in India and with isolates of Wuhan origin.

Authors explain in their paper which is yet to be peer reviewed published in Medrxiv, a pre-print server for health research that when a virus tries to adapt to a new environment and population it would change its genetic makeup to utilise the hosts body in favour of viruss survival and propagation. Broad mutation profile of this protein from extensive genome sequencing from different geographical areas is key to designing effective antiviral therapy or vaccine.

While the sequences from West Bengal do tell us they are different from those in Gujarat and Kerala, the knowledge is inadequate in understanding how that can impact virulence or disease.

There appears to be a new mutation in West Bengal, which hasnt been described previously. Some mutations are important while some are not. Its too premature to say anything. The spike protein is a hotspot for mutation. We need some real-life studies of how these mutations change the virus. Some of these mutations may affect the way the virus enters the body, said Dr Shobha Broor, former head of the AIIMS department of virology, who has read the study. There will be mutations. For example, the Kerala sequence was very similar to the one from Wuhan, the rest were similar to those from Italy. Mutations are critical, depending on where they are happening. For example, the receptor binding area of the RNA is important, she added.

There can be better understanding only though large scale global sequencing studies but for now it doesnt seem like SARS-CoV-2 is mutating very rapidly or significantly. The question is whether one vaccine will hit all viruses globally. It might or might not. That is to be studied by several groups globally. There are umpteen examples in case of measles, polio, Japanese Encephalitis where one vaccine managed to hit all mutated viruses globally. In HIV, there was an antigenic shift which is why one vaccine didnt help. In Influenza, we see antigenic drift, so one vaccine cannot be of help but this paper doesnt address these questions. The mutations in SARS-CoV-2 are unlikely to affect the critical part of the spike glycoprotein. As of now, one vaccine is expected to protect all, said Dr T Jacob John, professor emeritus and former head of virology at Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Kolkata, April 30 : The West Bengal government on Thursday said patients with suspected symptoms of Covid-19 or those who are contacts of those detected with the virus would be tested for coronavirus ahead of a planned surgery.

Clarifying that the test for Covid 19 was not mandatory for all planned surgeries, the health department said pre-surgery test may also be done if the parent comes from a red zone of the deadly disease.

"Test for Covid-19 before planned surgery.... is not considered mandatory for all cases," a health department bulletin said.

"Cases of planned surgery, if having symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, or is a cose contact for a confirmed Covid-19 case, will be tested for SARS-cov2 (the Covid test) before the surgery. Pre-surgery test may also be done if a case for planned surgery comes from a red zone of Covid-19," the bulletin said.

In case of emergency surgery, the surgical intervention may be undertaken with standard precaution for the surgery team, the bulletin added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mark Addison says, "NO! A Quarantini should be as unique as your personal quarantine experience and as creative as some of the way we entertain ourselves and our families. I'd like to challenge you... a Quarantini Challenge: to create a unique cocktail using what you have at home, post it online with a picture or a video and share it with the world!"

We are taking the Quarantini Challenge to the next level and hosting the Quarantini Challenge Contest for the most creative and unique Quarantini! We have assembled a distinguished panel to judge the competition, all of whom just happened to be self-quarantined along with Mark in the majestic Green Mountains of Vermont.

"However, this IS a worldwide competition for the most inventive Quarantini in the world we just happen to live near each other!", says Addison.

QUARANTINI CHALLENGE JUDGES

Chef Will Dodson , Barnard Inn & Max's Tavern in Barnard, VT .

, Barnard Inn & Max's Tavern in . Anne Marie Delaney , SILO Distillery in Windsor, VT .

, SILO Distillery in . Mark Addison , Author of the "Best in the World" award-winning book Cocktail Chameleon.

The judges are looking for entrants to create an innovative cocktail recipe: consisting of 3 or more ingredients that you have at home, give it a creative name (other than Quarantini), and a unique presentation (i.e. unique glassware and garnishes). The Grand Prize winner be announced LIVE on Mark Addison's new web series "Shaking Things Up!" live streaming on the Cocktail Chameleon Facebook page on Friday, May 15th, 2020 at 3:30 pm.

Mark Addison shares all of the contest information and his Quarantini Cocktail in his latest segment of "Shaking Things Up!"  Click here to watch.

"Shaking Things Up! with Mark Addison" live streams weekly on Fridays at 3:30 pm on Facebook.com/CocktailChameleon with replays on Instagram.com/CocktailChameleon and YouTube.com/MarkAddison.

LINKS:

Full Contest Details

Contest Video

Contest Assets

Contact: Mikado Darns

Mark Addison | Cocktail Chameleon

Phone: 646-830-1601

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Mark Addison | Cocktail Chameleon
Fire Chief Seo Seung-hyeon told the Associated Press news agency that about 78 workers were believed to be in the four-story warehouse under construction in Icheon, about 80 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Officials in Korea say a fire at a construction site has killed at least 36 people and injured 10 others.

The chief said emergency workers found 36 bodies and were still looking for at least one other person believed to be inside the building. He said eight of the 10 injured were in serious condition.

Seo said that investigators suspect the fire was caused by an explosion in an underground level, where some workers used urethane, a combustible chemical used for insulation work.

Dozens of fire engines were sent to control the flames. President Moon Jae-in urged his government to dedicate every available resource to the operation.
New Delhi, April 30 : Government will need to pump prime the economy hit by COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns by putting in place a massive Rs 11.2 lakh crore ($150 billion) worth of economic package, Acuite Rating has said in a report.

The economic package working out to around 4.8 per cent of FY20 GDP, is the amount of loss that the present lockdown starting from mid March and now expected to end on May 3 had created. The rating agency has said that with economy losing GDP worth $4.5 billion per day in the period of lockdown, only a big stimulus package from the government could create the environment to where the economy hoped to revive from the second half of current year.

Given that the virus lockdown came closely following a weak growth trajectory, Acuite believes that a contraction in GDP in Q1FY21 aside, there is a significant downside risk to our growth estimates of two per cent- three per cent for FY21 unless there is an appropriate and timely stimulus package for the economy.

"Ideally, we would like the government to opt for a stimulus package of Rs. 11.2 Lakh Cr ($150 billion), the economic loss that is already set to be recorded for the current lockdown period and that will tantamount to 4.8 per cent of FY20 GDP," the report said.

"However, in our opinion, it is not so much the size of the package but its effectiveness that will be the key to a healthy revival of the economy by H2 FY21. The stimulus should primarily focus on maintaining productive government expenditure including capital expenditure to the extent possible, given the latter's ability to push up growth," it added.

With limited fiscal resources with the government, Acuite has suggested that the burden should be shared between the Centre, RBI and the states.

It has said guarantees or loss reimbursement facility needs to be provided to banks. The estimate made is that an amount of Rs 1.8 lakh Crore additional working capital funds will be required by MSMEs and another Rs 1.2 lakh crore by corporates in relatively more vulnerable sectors.

Given the extraordinary nature of the global economic and health crisis sparked by Covid-19, Acuite believes there is adequate justification to raise debt or finance the deficit directly from RBI at this juncture albeit within specified limits.

"In order to ensure that the interest obligations on such additional off-market borrowings is not unsustainable, the feasibility of a special one-time issuance of special zero coupon securities by both the Central and the state governments to RBI can be explored. If the entire proposed stimulus amount of Rs 11.2 lakh crore is raised through this route, there will be a sharp growth in the balance sheet of RBI to the extent of 47 per cent as compared to the average growth of 22-24 per cent," Suman Chowdhury, Chief Analytical Officer, Acuite Ratings said.

A portion of the economic package should also be shared by the states. Since the fiscal health of many states is not good, a few relatively stronger states with lower fiscal deficit levels may volunteer to take up around Rs three lakh crore of additional borrowings.

Acuite has suggested a group of six states, i.e. Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Haryana and Telangana where the current fiscal position is relatively better vis-a-vis other states with an average state fiscal deficit of 2.4 per cent.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
OHare 21 is a long-term project to meet the airports long-term needs, as well as to address needed investments in the future economic growth of the City, said Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Matthew McGrath, in an emailed statement. The Terminal Area Plan, the centerpiece of the capital program, is still in the planning and design phase and is continuing.
Disruption to the inbound flow of foreign trainees caused by the coronavirus pandemic has created labor shortages in Japan's agricultural sector and led farmers to turn to workers in the tourism industry as a stop-gap measure.

Motoyoshi Hashizume was stunned when he heard the news this month that Japan would ban the entry of foreigners from more than 70 countries and regions in a bid to contain the spread of the pneumonia-causing virus.

The executive director at Tsumagoi Cabbage Promotion Business Cooperative in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, said about 250 cabbage farmers in the village had planned to hire a total of 320 foreign trainees to plant young cabbages starting late April and harvest them in fall.

Japan has been accepting foreign trainees in the agricultural, fisheries and manufacturing sectors since 1993 under a program to transfer technologies and knowledge to developing countries, but some critics fear that the internship program could be used as a cover for companies to import cheap labor.

As of the end of 2018, about 330,000 foreign trainees were in Japan, according to the Organization for Technical Intern Training.

In the case of Tsumagoi, one of the major cabbage production areas in the country, 220 workers from China, Indonesia and Myanmar were unable to enter Japan, leaving the village in a difficult position.

Hotels in hot spring resorts in and around the village, meanwhile, have suffered many cancellations of reservations since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and some other populous prefectures, asking people to avoid nonessential outings and some businesses to shut.

The declaration was later expanded to cover all the nation's 47 prefectures.

The obvious solution for Hashizume's cabbage cooperative was to hire people from the dormant tourism industry to help out its member farmers.

"Some 20 hotel workers in and around the village have consulted us and had interviews with farmers on their working conditions," said Hashizume, adding that three have agreed to start working from May.

He said the cabbage cooperative has received an increasing number of inquiries on the program not only from Gunma but also from other prefectures. Those who come from outside Gunma will be required to quarantine themselves for two weeks.
She has been enduring coronavirus lockdown by herself.

But Shailene Woodley is using her now free-time to learn a few different skills.

The 28-year-old actress virtually visited The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday and taught the host how to do a flawless handstand.

Virtual guest: Shailene Woodley virtually visited The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday and taught the host how to do a flawless handstand

The Big Little Lies star joined Fallon, 45, both from their own homes to discuss how she was getting through lockdown.

In true style, the actress revealed that after a few weeks of uncertainty, lounging in pajamas and endless movies nights she is finally feeling productive.

Now, she is making the most of her days, learning Spanish and perfecting her handstand.

From lazy to busy: In true style, the actress revealed that after a few weeks of uncertainty, lounging in pajamas and endless movies nights she is finally feeling productive

From home: Jimmy has been doing his nightly talk show from home amid the coronavirus pandemic

For Zoom talent show, inspired by Tina Fey's show for kids of SNL alums, Shailene is working on part tricks.

'I was determined that roller blading would be my party trick,' she said but after struggling to learn how to stop she decided it was time to move on.

'[Now] I'm determined to get my handstand down,' the California native said. 'I know it's such a thing right now Jimmy, everyone on Instagram, all these fitspo people can do handstands and they look cool.'

Adding: 'I'm jealous, I'm really jealous they can do a handstand and I can't.'

Party trick: '[Now] I'm determined to get my handstand down,' the California native said on perfecting her handstand as her party trick after giving up on roller blading

Hand standing together: Getting the host on his feet she encouraged him to join her in doing a handstand on camera

Getting the host on his feet she encouraged him to join her in doing a handstand on camera.

'You have to tuck your shirt in,' she cautioned. 'Here's the rules, all you have to do to do a handstand is throw yourself against a wall. I put my hands on the floor and just kick my legs against a wall...And if you fall you try again.'

After a few tries of kicking her legs in the air, she finally reached them against the wall, while Jimmy seemed to be doing a headstand, with arm support against a tree in his home.

'Oh my god, you did it, you got it, Jimmy! How are you good at this too? Can you just not be good at one thing, for the sake of humanity,' Shailene said.

Jimmy can do it all: 'Oh my god, you did it, you got it, Jimmy! How are you good at this too? Can you just not be good at one thing, for the sake of humanity,' Shailene said

But it's not just her handstand she is working on.

'I'm in a super productive mode, I'm learning all these new things,' she said. 'I'm learning so... I feel like I should streamline what I'm trying to learn.'

Jimmy added 'I get like that where I'm learning four things at once, and you're like "just focus on one."'

The actress added: 'I'm finally teaching myself Spanish, which has been a life long dream. I took a few classes in high school, like a lot of people in LA, but it just didn't really stick.'

Learning more: The actress added: 'I'm finally teaching myself Spanish, which has been a life long dream. I took a few classes in high school, like a lot of people in LA, but it just didn't really stick'

Too much: Jimmy added 'I get like that where I'm learning four things at once, and you're like "just focus on one"'

She ordered high school textbooks, is writing flashcards and practicing every night and is diligently taking notes.

'[Apps are] a weird way for me to learn. I'm so tactile, I need to touch things,' she said of why she has gone old school with books.

She is currently starring in Endings Beginnings which streams on Amazon after premiering at TIFF last year.

Shailene rose to fame after starring in ABC Family's Secret Life of the American Teenager and went on to star in the successful Divergent films as well as HBO's Big Little Lies.
THE Bishop of Limerick has asked family to consider giving the Rosary a go for the month of May.

This Friday begins the traditional month of Marian devotion, and the leader of the Catholic Church in Limerick wants to see people follow up their reconnection with the Church by creating a new link with the decades of the Hail Mary.

He pointed out that May is the month traditionally dedicated to Mary, the mother of family, and asked that the public accepts Pope Francis invitation to rediscover the Rosary in the coming month.

From this Friday at 8pm, the Bishop will be reciting the Rosary in Mount St Alphonsus Church, Limerick.

It will be streamed via the webcam on novena.ie.

Pope Francis has also offered two prayers that hell be saying along with the Rosary this May and they can be found on line.

I want to invite everyone, either as a family or individually, to take up the Rosary and to give it a go. A definite positive of us staying at home is that families are praying more and they have the resource of the Internet to help them, including with the Rosary this coming month, he said.

For all the trials and tribulations of the coronavirus, it has led to a huge reappreciation of family, not least with parents stepping off the spinning wheel that has generated huge work-life imbalance. Im hearing so much about parents getting to do things with their children that they havent had the opportunity to before and children are really benefiting from this. Parents are benefiting from this, Dr Leahy added.

Im hearing of adult children developing a deeper connection with their parents as this mutual need brings us back to some wonderful basics and closer to each other. Mary is the mother of family and she is the Queen of Peace and, with May the traditional month of devotion to her, we have an opportunity to turn to her this month so that families can pray together and pray for peace in their families at this difficult time.

Meanwhile, the Limerick Diocese has revealed that visitors to the St. Johns Cathedral website for streamed midday Masses have increased seven-fold January to April, with 3,267 people watching Mass live from the Cathedral in April, and thousands more engaging with other streamed Masses across the diocese. Limerick Dioceses website had double the traffic in the month gone by compared to January, while social media following is also close to being double what it was three months ago.

Prayer and the Rosary, Bishop Leahy said, does not always come easy.

Some days its easier than others to say the Rosary but, like in all good relationships, youve got to work at your friendship with God, with Jesus, with Mary. Saying the Rosary certainly helps you a lot. Its worth trying and keeping at it, he concluded.
Christopher Eccleston pictured at the 47th Annual International Emmy Awards last November. (AFP via Getty Images)

Christopher Eccleston was expecting a negative reaction last year when he opened up on his struggles with anorexia and mental health. However, that wasn't the case.

The Doctor Who star received an outpouring of support when he bravely spoke out about his troubles in his autobiography I Love the Bones of You, noting he felt it was a "filthy secret" due to being northern, male and working class.

In an interview with The Scotsman, the 56-year-old shared: "I was glad to get that monkey off my back and its very easy for me now to speak to people just generally and say, oh I suffered from anorexia, I suffered from depression, I was hospitalised.

Read more: Tyson Fury offered Kerry Katona support with bipolar illness

"Ive found it opens up others and Ive been surprised how many have given me their stories. I thought society would react to me in a negative way but that was not the case and I feel easier in my skin for having spoken about it.

Christopher Eccleston on the red carpet for the world premiere of Thor: The Dark World in 2013. (Invision/AP)

In his book, Eccleston detailed how he had wanted to reveal being a "lifelong anorexic and dysmorphic" many times in his life.

The actor will be returning to TV next week in The A Word for the show's third series, but it was during the making of the first season that he began contemplating suicide after falling into clinical depression after the breakdown of his marriage in 2015.

I was in a state of extreme anxiety, convinced I was either going to die or I was going to kill myself. In my despair I reached for my phone and looked up a psychiatric hospital, I rang ahead, grabbed my bag and ran.

Christopher Eccleston is returning to the screen in the BBC's The A Word. (BBC/Fifty Fathoms)

I was 100% sure I was in the last few weeks of my life.

Following treatment, Ecclestone said he was prescribed antidepressants and could be on them "for the rest of [his] days".

For confidential emotional support at times of distress, contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.
Veteran actor Dharmendra said he is unable to come to terms that his co-star of many films and a dear friend, Rishi Kapoor, is no more.

Kapoor, who acted in over 150 films during his five decade long career, died on Thursday at HN Reliance hospital here after a two year long battle with leukaemia.

The 67-year-old actor was crematedat the Chandanwadi crematorium in the evening.

Dharmendra, who starred with Kapoor in movies such as "Sitamgar", "Katilon Ke Kaatil", "Hathyar" and "Sher Dil", said their bond was beyond films.

"After he was unwell I did call him a few times I felt bad that I couldn't meet him in person. I feel it was just now that I called to check on his health. I feel I can see him and he is doing fine," he told PTI.

"I will remember him in a way that I will never forget him. I can never forget him, he will always be there for me, for all of us, in our conversations and even when I will meet his family, he will be there (around)," he said.

The 84-year-old actor said he used consider Kapoor like a son, just like Sunny and Bobby Deol.

"He was a very jovial person. He was like a son to me. We were friends but he would listen to me and respect me a lot. Like how it is with (my sons) Sunny and Bobby.

"There was a film called 'Naukar Biwi Ka', in which he did a guest role. He did it because I had told him to do it and he didn't charge any money for it," he said.

Dharmendra said he is deeply saddened by the back-to-back untimely demise of two stalwarts of Indian cinema, Kapoor and actor Irrfan Khan, who died on Wednesday.

"Since yesterday, there is weird silence, a void that I can feel first with the passing away of Irrfan Khan and now Kapoor. I am deeply saddened.

"Both fought a long and tough battle with cancer. I was hoping they would both be fine. They both are fantastic actors. They had started working again in a way and suddenly they left us. It is shocking.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2020 / Vivakor, Inc. (OTC PINK:VIVK) (the "Company"), a clean technology and environmental remediation company, today announced that through its subsidiary VivaVentures, Inc., it has entered into a strategic licensing agreement with, and has agreed to purchase equipment from solvAQUA Inc., a Canadian based clean water technology company. The technology allows for the remediation of oil and solids contaminated water, leaving both clean water and usable oil/solids byproduct.

The Company's initial deployment for this technology will be for a contract that is currently being finalized with an American Indian Nation to clean its contaminated water.

"This is a perfect match with Vivakor's patent-pending, clean technology solution for the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated sands. Adding this proprietary water treatment technology to our portfolio will now provide us with the ability to remediate both dry and wet contamination sites," stated, Matthew Nicosia, Chief Executive Officer of Vivakor.

The solvAQUA Wastewater Management System (WMS) is a compact solution that continually processes and separates large volumes of wastewater (4,000+ m3/day for each WMS) with an ability to scale to remove any volume of oil, grease and suspended solids from wastewater, in most cases removing 99.99% of waste. The processed water stream can in some cases be discharged or reused without further treatment.

"We are excited about the combination of Vivakor and solvAQUA clean technologies as these two technologies allow us to not only benefit the primary producer but also communities and even the environment," commented, Chris Tesarski, Chief Executive Officer of solvAQUA.

About solvAQUA

The solvAQUA proprietary process is an effective solution to wastewater management - whether it is water for industrial use, agriculture, and community infrastructure; or it can be for clean, fresh water for reuse.

The solvAQUA process has been tested in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; onshore and offshore. Hundreds of tests have confirmed that our unique nano-polymer process works with oil and gas, industrial, and municipal wastewater streams. Our process reduces the discharge of untreated wastewater, injection of produced water, and trucking of produced water. All reduce impact on the environment and lower operating costs.

For more information, please visit: https://solvaqua.com

About Vivakor, Inc.

Vivakor, Inc. (VIVK) provides clean technology solutions in remediation, waste oil to energy and critical natural resource delivery. Our focus on socially responsible technologies aim to prove profitable for investors and deliver a positive impact to the world. These holdings are proprietary and largely disruptive intellectual properties centered principally on revenue producing projects across the globe. The corporate mission is to acquire or develop distinct assets, intellectual property, and technologies that increase the value and longevity of our natural resources while improving our environment. Our primary objective is to deliver the strongest industry model while providing solid returns to our valued shareholders and partners. We carry forward lessons learned and further refine our technologies which enhances our capability to leverage assets from our projects across the globe.

For more information, please visit website: https://vivakor.com

Forward-Looking Statements

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HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's visible trade deficit widened less than initially estimated in February, final figures from the Finnish Customs showed on Thursday. The trade deficit increased to EUR 746 million in February from EUR 121 million in the same month last year. According to the initial estimate, trade deficit was EUR 770 million. Exports dropped 14.6 percent year-on-year in February. In the initial estimate, exports fell 15.2 percent. Imports fell 2.7 percent annually in February. According to the initial estimate, imports fell 2.5 percent. Exports to the EU countries decreased 13.6 percent in February. In the initial estimate, exports fell 14.6 percent. Imports from EU countries fell 1.5 percent in February. According to the initial estimate, imports fell 1.9 percent. Shipments to countries outside the EU dropped 15.7 percent and imports from them declined 3.7 percent. For the January-February period, trade deficit widened to EUR 1.0 billion from EUR 393 million a year ago. According to the initial estimate, trade deficit was EUR 1.1 billion. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Global efforts to fight the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) have come to a critical point. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons against the disease. The ferocity of this highly infectious, fast-spreading pandemic has rarely been seen in the past. Facing this unprecedented challenge, no country has the perfect solution. Countries are striving to explore the most effective measures based on their national situations. What is needed most in this process is mutual respect, understanding and cooperation.

China was the first to report the outbreak and stand up to this challenge. We established a centralised and efficient command system, undertook comprehensive and thorough control and lockdown measures, and tried our best to prevent the epidemic from spreading. Medical and community workers, volunteers and others made great sacrifices in the fight against the epidemic. China has been releasing information and sharing the viral genome sequences. Since the outbreak, we have updated information daily and held nearly 200 press conferences to disseminate information about the governments efforts.

Meanwhile, China offered proposals for global cooperation to overcome the challenge. At the extraordinary G20 leaders summit on Covid-19, President Xi Jinping set out four proposals for a global war against the virus, forging a collective response for control and treatment, supporting international organisations in playing active roles, and strengthening macroeconomic policy coordination.

China has provided support to the international community, working closely with the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other organisations. We have had 83 medical experts on video conferences with 153 countries, and sent 14 medical teams to 12 countries that were facing a difficult situation. We have also provided over 140 countries and international organisations with medical supplies, and signed commercial procurement contracts with more than 60 countries and organisations. What we have done is based on the belief of building a community with a shared future for humankind in keeping with Chinas tradition of reciprocation.

China and India have maintained communication and cooperation on epidemic prevention and control. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a letter of condolence to President Xi. The leaders attended the G20 summit on Covid-19. State councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi had conversations with external affairs minister S Jaishankar twice, exchanging views on anti-epidemic cooperation.

This reminds me of the touching stories of Dr DS Kotnis, who went to China to support the war of resistance against Japanese aggression and died there. This year marks the 110th birth anniversary of Dr Kotnis. We must carry forward his spirit of internationalism and cooperate in fighting the epidemic. At a critical moment in Chinas battle against the pandemic, the Indian government provided medical supplies to China. Indians have shown their support in various ways.

Since the outbreak in India, China shared its experiences in epidemic prevention, control and treatment with India through video conferences. As sister provinces and cities, Guangdong Province and Chongqing city have, respectively, donated medical materials to Gujarat and Chennai. Alibaba, Fosun and other Chinese enterprises and charities have assisted India with medical supplies such as protective masks, suits, medical gloves and ventilators. China has provided India with assistance for its commercial procurement in China. The civil aviation administration of China has opened a green channel and approved 35 new Indian cargo flights to deliver medical supplies.

Viruses respect no borders, and epidemics do not distinguish between races. Only by working together can we win this battle. Finger-pointing or scapegoating is not the way. Such moves will divide the international community, lead to prejudice against specific ethnic groups and hurt the shared interests of the world. We must reject all ideological biases and attempts at labelling the virus, politicising the response, and stigmatising any specific country.

India is fighting the pandemic under the leadership of PM Modi. The Indian government has taken a series of decisive and strict prevention and control measures which have delivered positive outcomes. Indias victory in this is of great significance to the global fight against Covid-19.

As a friend, neighbour and partner, we sincerely wish India success. China and India are ancient civilisations with populations accounting for nearly 40% of the world. China is willing to work together with India to win this battle, safeguard global and regional public health security, and contribute to greater care for our common homeland.

Sun Weidong is the Chinese Ambassador to India

The views expressed are personal
Its been all go for Tauranga restaurants and cafes since level 4 lockdown restrictions were lifted, and now they are figuring out how to best operate under level 3.

Some owners say they have been inundated with takeaway orders, while others say it hasnt been as busy as expected.

SunLive asked local hospitality business owners about how they are coping with operating under the new guidelines, and what it was like opening-up shop after being shut for more than a month a month.

EasyGo Thai restaurant had an unbelievably busy night on Tuesday. Owner Nick Boyes says they had to turn off online ordering because of the sheer number of orders.

A night like is a one of a kind situation - we are never going to repeat that. We had to turn off our online ordering at about 7.30 because we got up to about a 1.5-hour wait for food.

He says at one point there were 60 orders lined-up that all needed to be cooked. It was manic.

The Mount Maunganui restaurant has set up a makeshift walk-by drive-thru so customers can pick up takeaways without coming into contact with staff.

They are also working with New Zealand business Deliver Easy for deliveries.

Nick says he is overwhelmed by customers support during these tough times.

Not just the support of buying from us, but the patience of people waiting for their orders. They could see us staff through the window running round like headless chickens.

The positive vibes mean so much. This little business has been my lifes work, and the support means everything.

Sidetrack Cafe customers finally got their caffeine fix on Tuesday after a long, hard month.

Petra-Lee says they are stoked to be back up and running, despite the challenges of figuring out exactly how to operate under level 3 restrictions.

The Main Beach cafe has a group of regulars that have been coming every single day for the past 20 years, says Petra.

We got some positive feedback from a lot of customers and it was good to be open. It was a bit difficult going through the systems and operations - its all new to us.

She has created a contactless counter with a perspex screen which customers can order through. Then theres a table out the front where customers collect coffee and food.

Petra says a steady amount of customers are coming through the doors, but its not as busy as initially expected.

Sharandeep Sokhal, who owns both Tauranga and Greerton Domino's Pizza stores, says sales were strong on Tuesday night.

The team worked hard to get orders out to our customers using our Zero Contact Delivery method.

Sharandeep says in-store safety measures include using stickers on the ground to show team members where to stand, and are limiting the number of staff in-store at any one time.

Pepperoni, Hawaiian and Meatlovers pizza proved to be the most popular orders across the Tauranga and Greerton Dominos on Tuesday night.

Greerton and Tauranga Dominos owner Sharandeep Sokhal and his business partner Ajay Kumar. Photo: Supplied.

Customers cannot pick-up food from Dominos stores, with contactless delivery being the only option.

We ask that our customers help us maintain physical distancing though by remaining inside while our driver delivers their order, says Sharandeep.

Local restaurant owner Rohan McClosky has created a reduced takeaway menu takeaway for his businesses across Tauranga during level 3.

Rohan owns The Brooklyn on The Strand, Neighbourhood in Otumoetai and Rain Bar in Papamoa.

All three restaurants opened for business on Wednesday night, Rohan saying the number of pre-orders each restaurant received before opening was overwhelming.

Every single venue has had quite a lot of pre-orders that have already come through, and the support from the locals has been pretty outstanding.

Its really encouraging that people are looking forward to going back to their local restaurants to get their food.

Local restaurant owner Rohan McClosky has reduced his menu sizes to serve takeaways during level 3.

Rohan says he has made sure to keep all the favourites on the new takeaway menu.

We have essentially just reduced our menu size but we have kept a lot of the people's favourites. It still fits in line with what we normally do, its food that people will be able to recognise.

New Zealand ordering app Regulr issued a statement saying on Tuesday they experienced traffic usage they have never experienced before

Across New Zealand, we processed $390k in five hours through the system. It was significantly more than we had ever processed before through Regulr and what we had forecasted to happen.

Tay Street Store, Mixture Eatery, The Fresh Kitchen, Fishop and Avenue Pizza are just some of the Tauranga Hospitality businesses using Regulr App.
It was announced on the official social media account of Mexican President AMLO that strengthening the MSMEs would help overcome the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before this statement, Lopez Obrador announced he ensured that the Finance Ministry would not permit the program to take place due to how he misconstrued the nature of the arrangement. Lopez Obrador said he would not allow these banks to give loans that might become public debt should they not be paid back.

"We can't give preferential treatment to those who have economic means," he added, asking for consideration for those living in poverty in the country.



A Separation of Economic and Political Power

At the news conference last Tuesday, the president claimed that there would likely be corruption in the loan scheme program by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Mexican Business Council, also known as IDB Invest and CMN, respectively.

Lopez Obrador went on to say that top-down schemes that he suspected the program by IDB Invest and CMN of attempts at company corruption disguised as opportunities to financially support businesses and the economy, calling them "bailouts."

Mexican Business Council president Antonio del Valle said that the president misunderstood the nature of their program.

In response to Lopez Obrador, del Valle clarified by saying this endeavor was a private operation, which meant there would be no increase to the public debt. He said, "There is no loan guarantee, no resources from the government or the public sector."

Following this clarification, Lopez Obrador responded that he would allow the IDB Invest and CMN loan program to proceed with their efforts since they said they would not involve the federal budget. Nonetheless, the president said the federal government would monitor their operation closely.

Initially, the program was supposed to include the support of the Finance Ministry, which Lopez Obrador rejected because he feared a greater public debt. He added, "There is a separation between the economic power and the political power."



Check these out:



Banks Support Businesses With Loans Worth US$12 Billion

The IDB Invest, which was the development bank's private sector arm, and the Mexican Business Council, a conglomerate of Mexico's largest businesses, have announced holding a program that will seek to benefit micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises with loans worth $12 billion.

Other participants of the program will include local commercial banks, international investors, and other development banks. Micro, small, and medium-sized businesses are offered loans at considerably low rates.

The CMN estimated there was over 4 million micro to medium-sized businesses in Mexico, which meant that they make up 42% of the gross domestic product and 78% of employment. A representative for the IDB, Tomas Bermudez, said the program would seek to complement the austerity measures of the federal government to support the businesses.

The program is aiming to offer revolving credit lines to companies that would last up to 90 days. In addition to that, IDB Invest and the CMN would also plan to develop another program that would be designed to complement present plans being run by the IDB in Mexico factoring lines of credit.
DAKOTA CITY - Facing growing public scrutiny over an outbreak of COVID-19 at its Dakota City beef plant, Tyson Fresh Meats said late Wednesday it will shut down the 4,300-employee facility for four days, beginning Friday.

Tyson officials said the halt in production will provide time for a complete deep cleaning of the entire plant, the meat giant's largest beef processing facility.

The temporary closure of metro Sioux City's largest employer comes amid a surge in novel coronavirus cases. Last week, the spike landed the metro area at the top of the list of U.S. cities with the highest daily growth rate, with cases doubling every day or so.

Both of the metro residents who have died from the novel coronavirus worked at the Dakota City plant.

Tyson also said Wednesday it has started screening plant workers for COVID-19 this week, with assistance from the Nebraska National Guard.

"Tyson testing all employees is a step in the right direction," said a health care provider who has treated local COVID-19 patients. The provider spoke to The Journal on the condition of anonymity.

Dakota County, which is one fifth the population of neighboring Woodbury County, had no cases as recently as April 11, but has since reported 704 positive tests, third most among Nebraska's 93 counties. Woodbury County has 749 cases.

Thirty Woodbury County residents were admitted to Sioux City hospitals for treatment of the virus as of Wednesday, up from 17 hospitalizations the previous day, according to data released by Siouxland District Health.

The health care provider said the inpatient numbers are expected to continue to grow, with MercyOne Siouxland and UnityPoint Health -- St. Luke's requesting more ventilators from the state in anticipation of a further surge.

"It's just alarming to see that type of increase and the potential for the loss of life and  people being very sick in our community," Mayor Bob Scott told CNN in a live interview Tuesday night. "We're hopeful now the curve will start to go down like it has in other places."

MAINTAINING PAY

While the Dakota City plant is temporarily idled, workers will continue to be compensated, according to company officials.

A spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 222, which represents hourly workers at the plant, offered support for the shutdown.

We believe that in every meatpacking and food processing plant, the safety of the workers must come first," UFCW spokesman Evan Yeats said in a statement. "We share Tysons concern for the safety of their workers and will continue to encourage them to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure our members' safety."

South Sioux City Mayor Rod Koch also applauded the company's decision.

With that type of work, if theyre having a lot of positive tests out there, I think the leadership of Tyson is being responsible and getting in there and doing a deep cleaning, and then Im sure theyll have a game plan coming back to make sure everybodys healthy that comes in that building, Koch said. And I think that speaks well to their commitment to the community, to make sure that place is safe."

Tyson officials previously acknowledged some Dakota City workers had tested positive for the virus, but has repeatedly refused to disclose a number of cases. State and county health officials also have refused to discuss any link to the plant and a spike in positive tests in the last two weeks.

"For some reason, Tyson is unwilling to share those numbers, which, to me, doesn't make any sense," Scott told CNN.

On Monday, Scott, Koch and three other metro area mayors called for greater transparency from state and county health officials about places contributing to the recent spike in local COVID-19 cases.

The mayors also asked businesses to "take responsibility for any outbreak or spread" of the virus, publicly disclose any positive cases and release a detailed plan for reducing the spread of the virus.

Employers who fail to comply with those conditions should close "until such time a response plan is in place," according to the statement, which also was signed by Sergeant Bluff Mayor Jon Winkel, North Sioux City Mayor Randy Fredericksen and Dakota City Mayor Jerry Yacevich.

The Dakota City facility, which is by far metro Sioux City's largest employer, is the latest meat plant to temporarily close to contain the virus. Other shutdowns have included Tyson pork plants in Waterloo and Columbus Junction, Iowa, the Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls and the JBS USA pork plant in Worthington.

Meatpackers have struggled to contain the virus in the plants, where workers typically work side by side in production lines and often share crowded locker rooms and cafeterias.

On Tuesday, Seaboard Triumph Foods announced that 11 workers at the Sioux City pork plant had tested positive for COVID-19.

In an interview with The Journal Wednesday prior to Tyson's temporary closure announcement, Scott noted he had spoken with Tyson Fresh Meats President Steve Stouffer.

"I'm not going to pick on Tyson, because today we had Seaboard," Scott said. "It could be Wells (Enterprises in Le Mars) tomorrow. It could be any of them.

"All I'm asking for and will continue to ask for is better information coming out of these plants and better information telling us what they're doing to do their part to make sure we minimize the exposure. I think most people around here probably have gotten that message now."

Tyson noted it was one of the first food companies to start taking worker temperatures and has installed over 150 infrared temperature scanners in its facilities. The company said it also started efforts to secure a supply of facial coverings before the Centers for Disease Control recommended them and now requires and provides them for all employees in its facilities.

Team member safety has and continues to be top priority for us and were grateful for our team members and their critical role in helping us fulfill, to the best of our ability, our commitment to helping feed people in our community and across the nation, said Shane Miller, senior vice president & general manager beef enterprise, Tyson Fresh Meats.

The Dakota City plant normally produces enough beef in one day to feed 18 million people, Tyson said. Due to increased absenteeism over the last few weeks, the company said it has been forced to scale back production.

Tyson's closure announcement Wednesday came a day after President Trump signed an executive order that requires Tyson and other meatpackers to keep their plants open during the pandemic. The order invokes the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure.

In a separate announcement Wednesday, Tyson announced $120 million in bonuses for its 116,000 frontline workers and truckers, up from the $60 million announced in early April. The company is moving up the first $500 bonus payment to early May. The second $500 bonus will be paid in July.

Employees unable to work due to illness or child care will continue to qualify, but bonus eligibility will depend on attendance, the company said in a news release.

In metro Sioux City, Tyson's expanded bonuses will now total more than $4 million for the employees at Tyson's flagship Dakota City beef plant, its fresh meats division in Dakota Dunes and a cold storage facility in Sioux City.

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The Vietnamese Fatherland Front and TH Group  a leading dairy producer in Vietnam - announced a program on giving fresh milk produced by the group to nurses, doctors, and those who are in isolation due to COVID-19 in Vietnam. The program launched on March 10 and now has reached its target.

Giving milk to people in quarantined area of Hanoi

"One million cups of fresh milk" is one of several programs launched by TH group which aims to support frontline health workers throughout the country who are fighting the outbreak of the Corona virus. Among others are donating ventilators to hospitals and cash for buying personal protective equipment (facemasks, body bags - PPE, gowns, thermometers) for the medical workforce. So far, the group has donated a total worth of VND15 billion for the fight against COVID-19 in Vietnam.

Tran Thi Nhu Trang, representative of TH Group and director of the group's Fund for Vietnamese people's health, said that in the context of the raging COVID-19 outbreak, all people need to stay united and join hands, as well as raise awareness about the fight against the epidemic, contributing to the nation's great efforts to eradicate COVID-19.

Earlier on March 3 in China's Wuhan city, ground zero of the epidemic, TH Group also presented 240,000 glasses of fresh milk to patients and doctors. The milk is the sole Vietnamese fresh high quality milk allowed to be exported to China.

TH Group not only presents one million glasses of milk, it will also stand ready to co-operate with other socio-political organizations to fight the epidemic." Tran Thi Nhu Trang, representative of TH Group

Truong Thi Ngoc Anh, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, said that the front has been co-operating with by people and firms like TH Group via several programs.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 13:48:02|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Ron, a police officer in the U.S. state of Virginia, said he's concerned about the U.S. lockdown that's in place to slow the rate of novel coronavirus infections.

"If this keeps going on, people won't have any money," Ron told Xinhua.

He added that if people are broke, there could be a surge in crime -- something that would make his job difficult and dangerous.

He's not alone in his concerns over the state of the economy, as millions of Americans are being furloughed or outright laid off amid the lockdown triggered by the novel coronavirus.

Many of these are blue collar workers, who tend to have jobs in which they must physically be present -- factory workers, hair stylists, waiters and bartenders -- as opposed to white collar workers, who can usually work from home.

Indeed, a sharp difference in the two groups' attitudes toward the lockdown has appeared. While many white collar Americans don't mind it, blue collar workers want the economy to reopen now.

White collar workers, such as attorneys and employees at major corporations, favor the lockdown. Most have been able to keep their jobs and are working at home. Many said it's comfortable working at home, and they enjoy more fresh air and exercise than usual, so they support the government's stay-at-home mandate.

However, Anita, a chiropractor who is now only working part time because most of her clients have canceled their appointments, dismissed the public's fear. She told Xinhua that if people are healthy and not elderly, there's no reason to fear the virus.

The young and healthy should be able to go back to work, she said, citing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's statements that the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths are elderly people and those with compromised immune systems.

Many states are now making efforts to reopen, albeit slowly, with guidelines requiring businesses, such as restaurants, to operate at 50 percent capacity and maintain social distancing guidelines.

The number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States topped 60,000 on Wednesday afternoon, reaching 60,207 as of 4 p.m. (2000 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

A total of 1,030,487 cases have been reported in the country, according to the CSSE.

The state of New York suffered the most, with 299,691 cases and 23,384 deaths. Other hardest-hit states included New Jersey with 6,771 deaths, Michigan with 3,673 deaths and Massachusetts with 3,153 deaths, the data showed. Enditem
HONG KONG, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday condemned some U.S. congressmen for interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large.

A spokesperson of the office said in a statement that those congressmen made unwarranted remarks on Hong Kong affairs in an open letter, distorting the Basic Law, condoning anti-China forces and undermining the rule of law in Hong Kong, and even calling for implementing the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.

The spokesperson said their remarks were blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs.

The congressmen turned a blind eye to the illegal assembly of Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee and their ilk, and mentioned nothing about Hong Kong opposition lawmakers' abuses of power to paralyze the Legislative Council with a "burn with us" mentality, the spokesperson said.

On the contrary, they openly endorsed anti-China forces, distorted the Basic Law in a bid to deny the Chinese central government's overall jurisdiction, and even accused the central government of eroding the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and violating the Basic Law, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the motive of the U.S. congressmen is to turn Hong Kong into an independent or semi-independent political entity, and play Hong Kong as a card to impede China's development, stressing that some external forces, including some U.S. politicians, are the fundamental threat to the well-being of Hong Kong people, the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and China's sovereignty and security.

In meddling with other countries' internal affairs by using domestic law such as the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and threatening sanctions, the anti-China forces in the United States have trampled international law and basic norms governing international relations, and seriously hurt the vital interests of all Hong Kong people, as well as the interests of international stakeholders in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

The Chinese government is firmly committed to upholding national sovereignty, security and development interests, to implementing the "one country, two systems" policy, and to opposing any external interference in Hong Kong affairs.

Should the United States insist on meddling with Hong Kong affairs and undermining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability by implementing the relevant act, China will definitely take resolute countermeasures, the spokesperson added.
Opalesque Industry Update - Latham & Watkins LLP is pleased to announce that Kate Withers has joined the firm's New York office as a partner in the Corporate Department and as a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Private Equity Practice. She advises clients of all sizes in connection with private equity and strategic corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, technology-focused joint ventures, carve-outs, structured investments, and complex licensing transactions. "We are thrilled to welcome Kate to our premier global Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practices," said Marc Jaffe, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins' Corporate Department. "Kate's experience advising on sophisticated corporate transactions, combined with her highly technical background and deep understanding of data, software, and technology businesses, will be of tremendous benefit to our clients. Latham is deeply committed to growing in line with our clients' needs and to serving them as a one-stop legal advisor on their most sophisticated matters. The addition of Kate to our continuously expanding Corporate Department underscores that priority." Withers represents private equity sponsors and public and private companies in connection with M&A, joint venture, carve-out, and structured investment transactions involving the acquisition, licensing, and sale of innovative technologies and high value intellectual property assets, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, blockchain technology, data, gaming and esports platforms, software, and media assets. Her industry experience spans financial services, life sciences, internet, social media, gaming, software, and media. Paul Sheridan, Global Chair of the Private Equity Practice at Latham & Watkins, added: "Kate has an excellent reputation for her work on extremely sophisticated and complex deals, and she is a tremendous addition to our M&A and Private Equity Practices. She brings a strong commercial sense, deal savvy, and a collegial approach, which aligns perfectly with our approach to serving clients across the firm's global platform." "Latham is known for its deep industry expertise, collaborative culture, and international reputation as a premier legal advisor on the world's most sophisticated transactions. I am looking forward to joining the team and providing my clients with the many benefits of the firm's integrated global platform," said Withers. Withers joins Latham from Kirkland & Ellis. She is the latest addition to an extensive group of prominent partners who have joined Latham's Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practices since 2019, including Neal Reenan and Ian Bushner, who joined the firm in March. Withers received her LL.M. from New York University School of Law, her JD, cum laude, from Georgetown Law School, and her M.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she was a Fulbright Scholar.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. Yonhap



Fear of the coronavirus could have been keeping North Korean leader Kim Jong Un out of public sight, a South Korean minister and U.S. sources said on Tuesday, following intense speculation and concern as to his whereabouts and health.



Under Kim's rule since 2011, North Korea has expanded its arsenal of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, and with no obvious successor, any change in leadership in the secretive, authoritarian state would raise concerns about instability that could impact other North Asian countries and the United States.



Speculation about Kim's health erupted after his unprecedented absence from April 15 celebrations to mark the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung.



South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, who oversees engagement with North Korea, said it was plausible Kim that decided against attending due to the coronavirus, given stringent steps his government has taken to head off an outbreak.



"He had never missed the anniversary for Kim Il Sung's birthday since he took power, but many anniversary events including celebrations and a banquet had been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns," the minister told a parliamentary hearing.



"I don't think that's particularly unusual given the current (coronavirus) situation," the minister said, although North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus.



An authoritative source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments said credible reports to the U.S government suggested the reason Kim's presidential train had been spotted near a presidential retreat at the resort of Wonsan last week was that Kim had been staying there to avoid catching the virus.



U.S. government experts lacked categorical evidence to prove this, but were for the most part dismissing media reports suggesting that Kim had contracted some kind of serious illness, the source said.



Kim Yeon-chul described reports that Kim had undergone a heart procedure, and that a Chinese medical team had travelled to North Korea, as "fake news."



A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Washington's view was largely in line with the South Korean minister's assessment.



U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he has a good idea of how Kim Jong Un is doing and hopes he is fine, but would not elaborate.



On Tuesday, Trump was asked by a reporter about these comments and whether he thought Kim was still in control of North Korea and replied: "I don't want to comment on it. I just wish him well."



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 neighbours. While talks have stalled, Trump has continued to hail Kim as a friend.



TRAIN AND BOAT WATCHING



The South Korean minister noted that there had been at least two instances since mid-January when Kim Jong Un had not been seen in public for nearly 20 days.



The last time official media in North Korea reported on Kim's whereabouts was when he presided over a meeting on April 11, but there have been near-daily reports of him sending letters and diplomatic messages.



South Korean officials have said they have detected no unusual movements in North Korea and have cautioned against reports that Kim may be ill.



Washington-based North Korea monitoring project 38 North said on Saturday satellite images from last week showed a special train that was probably Kim's at Wonsan, lending weight to reports he had been spending time in the resort area.



On Tuesday, the website NK News said leisure boats often used by Kim off the coast of Wonsan had been active throughout this month, indicating his likely continued presence in the area.



Reuters reported on Saturday that China had dispatched a team to North Korea, including medical experts to advise on Kim Jong Un, though it was unclear what the trip signalled in terms of his health.



Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was paying close attention to developments.



North Korea has responded to the global coronavirus pandemic by cancelling some large events and imposing a border lockdown and quarantine measures.



If Kim Jong Un is hiding out due to fears surrounding COVID-19, it would "puncture a hole in the state media narrative of how this crisis has been perfectly managed", said Chad O'Carroll, CEO of Korea Risk Group, which monitors North Korea.



"If he is merely trying to avoid infection, it should theoretically be very easy to release photos or videos of a healthy looking Kim," he said. (Reuters)


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Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Thursday said it has become the first company in India to receive approval from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct clinical trials of Favipiravir antiviral tablets for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Having internally developed the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and the formulations for the product, the company filed the product for clinical trials with the DCGI and has received approval for conducting the trial on mild to moderate patients, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said in a statement.

The Mumbai-based company is the first pharmaceutical company in India to be given an approval by the regulator to start the trial on COVID-19 patients in the country, it added.

Favipiravir has demonstrated activity against influenza viruses and has been approved in Japan for the treatment of novel influenza virus infections, it added.

As per the clinical trial protocol approved, 150 subjects with mild to moderate COVID-19 will be randomised in the study in a 1:1 ratio to Favipiravir with standard supportive care or standalone standard supportive care, the company 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

Treatment duration is a maximum of 14 days and the total study duration will be a maximum for 28 days from randomisation, it added.

In the past few months, following the outbreak of COVID-19, multiple clinical trials have been initiated on such patients in China, Japan and in the US.

The drug firm said its product is a generic version of Japan-based Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co Ltd's Avigan tablets.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Executive Vice President - Global R&D - Sushrut Kulkarni said the company is all geared to immediately begin clinical trials on Favipiravir on COVID-19 patients in India.

"The clinical trial will let us know the efficacy of this molecule on COVID-19 patients. If the clinical trials are successful, Favipiravir could become a potential treatment for COVID-19 patients," he added.

Shares of the company were trading at Rs 346.80, up 5.19 percent from their previous close on BSE.
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Share price of Motherson Sumi Systems jumped 9 percent in the morning trade on April 30 after global research firm Morgan Stanley maintained its overweight call on the stock with a target at Rs 103 per share.

It expects a sharp earnings recovery in FY22 as volumes normalise, according to a report by CNBC-TV18.

The stock price has surged over 46 percent in the last one month and was quoting at Rs 88.85, up Rs 7.45, or 9.15 percent at 09:30 hours.

The company in a filing to the exchanges informed that more than half of its production facilities around the world have resumed operations. The leading auto component manufacturer assured that its workers are taking all necessary precautions.

The company in a statement on Wednesday said that more than 80 of its 152 manufacturing plants across the world have now operational. "While 30 per cent of them are now running at more than 80 per cent capacities, rest of them are now running at up to 50 per cent capacities and slowly and steadily gearing up," Motherson Sumi said.

The board of auto components major has given in-principle approval to raise Rs 1,000 crore to enhance liquidity during uncertain times of coronavirus pandemic, according to a company statement.

Motherson Sumi Chairman Vivek Chaand said, "Our team has done a phenomenal job in almost doubling MSSL's turnover over the last five years to USD 9.6 billion on an unaudited basis.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
The UN has condemned Tuesdays attack in northern Syria, and reiterated the call for a nationwide ceasefire to combat the coronavirus.

At least 46 people, including 11 children, were killed when a bomb in a fuel truck exploded in the city of Afrin, which has been under the control of Turkish-backed fighters for two years.

Turkey blamed the attack on the Kurdish YPG group, which says it does not target civilians.

The United Nations secretary-general again appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Syria following what he described as the horrific bombing of a market in the north of the country.

On Wednesday, UN officials warned that with COVID-19 looming, there is an urgent need to end violence and ensure the delivery of critical medical supplies to Syrians.

Al Jazeeras diplomatic editor James Bays reports.
Ensuring the supply chain of essential goods and services, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, on Thursday, has written to all state chief secretaries advising them to allow free movement of trucks across state borders. Highlighting several incidents where trucks have not been allowed to move freely, he said local authorities must not insist on separate passes at inter-state borders across the country. Currently, India has 33610 Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 1075 deaths.

COVID-19 doubling rate at 11 days; quarter of all patients recovered: Health Ministry

MHA writes to states on truck movement

Maharashtra govt allows movement of stranded persons after MHA order, issues SOP

India's recovery rate at 25.19%

Earlier in the day, the Union Health Ministry informed that India's COVID-19 doubling rate has now increased to 11 days and many States are performing better in this regard. Doubling rate is the number of days in which the number of cases doubles; an important metric to track the trajectory of the viral spread. The country's recovery rate too is at 25.19%.

"States with a doubling rate of 11 to 20 days are Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Punjab while States with a doubling rate of 20-40 days are Karnataka, Ladakh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Kerala. Some States like Assam, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh have a doubling rate of over 40 days," Joint Secretary for Health, Lav Aggarwal told media persons.

Karnataka allows resuming all industrial activities outside containment zones from May 4

Centre allows movement of stranded migrants

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs permitted the inter-state movement of stranded persons in the country. This move will help migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists who have been stranded in different parts of India to return to their home state. While buses will be used for the transportation of the persons, they will be allowed to proceed only after being medically screened and undergoing 14-day quarantine in institutional facilities or home-quarantine.

Coronavirus Live Updates: India's tally at 33610 with 1075 dead; doubling rate at 11 days

Coronavirus in India

As of date, 24162 active cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 8372 have been discharged and Maharashtra reported the highest at 9915. 1075 deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries. PM Modi has extended the lockdown till May 3, with a relaxation allowed in non-COVID hotspots after April 20.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Jimmy Walters was an old-school hellfire and brimstone pastor at a Baptist church on the Navajo Nation.

His wife, Rachel Walters, was equally devout and spent her time caring for their children, tending to their home and weaving Navajo rugs to sell.

Their son, 48-year-old Davis Begaye, lived with them in a four-bedroom house overlooking the mesas, plains and Ute Mountain in the small community of Cudei, outside Shiprock. He worked at the Home Depot in Farmington for several years.

Thats where the family suspects Begaye got infected with COVID-19  the illness caused by the coronavirus  in early April.

Over the next three weeks, Begaye, and then his parents, died of the disease, one after the other.

Now, three siblings are left, still in quarantine after testing positive themselves.

Out here, its quiet, said Marvin Walters, who lives in Albuquerque but is staying in the house at Cudei for at least the next month. I just sit out here with my thoughts and wonder whats next. And at the same time remember my family.

Marvin said he took leave from his job to return to San Juan County and help his parents, who were making arrangements for Begayes funeral and caring for his other brother, Murphy, who has cerebral palsy.

Shortly after Begaye died, his mother, 68-year-old Rachel, started feeling sick and was admitted to the Indian Health Service Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock. A couple of days later, her husband, Jimmy, 71, joined her there.

The couple died four days apart, first Rachel and then Jimmy.

My moms burial was already set for today, Marvin said Wednesday. The funeral home, I talked to them, and they said they could do a double burial. Today they were both laid to rest.

San Juan County deaths

Jimmy and Rachel Walters and their son Davis Begaye are three of the 38 people who have died of COVID-19 in San Juan County since New Mexico saw its first death caused by the disease a little over five weeks ago.

San Juan and McKinley counties, which include parts of the Navajo Nation, have been hit hard by the virus, with infection and death rates far higher than in any other area of the state.

McKinley County has reported 953 cases of COVID-19  almost 200 more than Bernalillo County, whose population is nine times its size  for a rate of 1,294 reported cases per 100,000 people.

San Juan County, where the Walters family is from, has a population of 128,000 and 576 reported cases, for a rate of 449 per 100,000 people.

On Wednesday, state officials announced 239 new positive tests statewide, bringing the total to 3,213. More than 200 of the latest cases were in the two northwestern New Mexico counties.

It was by far the largest single-day surge in new cases so far, though the state has been expanding its testing.

Officials also announced two additional deaths, a woman in her 50s from McKinley County and a man in his 50s from Sandoval County, bringing the total to 112.

The state also announced that 163 patients are hospitalized and 734 people are designated as having recovered.

Second employee death

Begaye is at least the second employee of the Home Depot in Farmington to test positive and die of COVID-19. Vladimir Keeswood, 35, died of the disease on April 15, two days after Begaye.

A spokeswoman for Home Depot would not say how many other employees at the store have tested positive for the virus.

We are heartbroken over the loss of our associates and friends, and our hearts go out to their families, spokeswoman Sara Gorman wrote in an email.

Gorman said the company reached out to all of the employees at the store to inform them of the death and offered additional paid time off and counseling to those who may need it.

Were taking this very seriously and have been working with local health authorities and are taking their guidance for the safety of our associates and customers, she said. For several weeks now, weve taken additional steps to clean and disinfect our stores and continue disinfecting high-touch and high-traffic areas several times a day. This store has received additional deep cleaning and disinfecting.

Begayes cousin, Surina Whitehorse, said he knew Keeswood from work, and knew he had tested positive.

Whitehorse said she texted with Begaye frequently while he was quarantined in his bedroom in his parents home, trying to cheer him up.

He just said he was not feeling too good, he was getting tired of lying down, he was tired of being in that room, Whitehorse said. I would tell him to open the window, look out the window, or go for a walk.  Sunday is when they took him to the ER because of the weakness, and he was having a hard time breathing.

Marvin Walters said that although his father didnt sugarcoat anything, he also had a reputation for being incredibly kind and encouraging. He said that since his parents deaths, hes been getting messages from all over the continent from people who knew them through Navajo Baptist Temple, where Jimmy was a pastor for decades.

Marvin said that when his father and mother married, his father adopted her two children, Davis and Ermalinda, as his own, bringing them into a large, close-knit family.

He said that growing up, he idolized his older brother, although he was frequently a guinea pig in his pranks and tricks. One time, Marvin said, Begaye persuaded him to stand against a wall while he threw dirt clumps all around him. Another time, the two were playing around with a BB gun and Marvin was shot in the chest. The little metal ball can still be seen on X-rays.

The two remained close as adults, with Begaye coming to Albuquerque to celebrate the birth of Marvins son, and in February making the trip so the two could watch Marvins favorite team compete in the Super Bowl.

At Begayes funeral, which Marvin and his sister were able to attend in person, he said he was struck by the way the mourners had to stand away from one another and not hug or touch.

Its a new type of hurt, Marvin said. You have family and friends standing in front of you crying, and you cant hug because you dont want this virus to keep on spreading.

Journal staff writer Dan McKay contributed to this report.
New York, April 30 : New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has apologised after he criticised a large gathering for a Jewish funeral amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was reported.

In response to reports of the mass gathering of mourners on Tuesday night, de Blasio had warned "the Jewish community" that police would make arrests, the BBC reported.

The Hasidic Jews were mourning a late rabbi at the service in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighbourhood.

Following his comments, the Mayor was accused of anti-Semitism for his comments.

"If in my passion and in my emotion I said something that was hurtful, I'm sorry about that," de Blasio said in his apology on Wednesday.

"I have no regrets about calling out this danger and saying we're going to deal with it very, very aggressively." De Blasio's original comments called the crowd "absolutely unacceptable".

After apologising for his comments, de Blasio said he "understood" that people were in pain, but there were consequences for those who attended.

"Some will be sick with that disease," he said. "It's just a fact, we know this," the BBC quoted the Mayor as saying.

"Some will spread the disease to others. People, as a result, will die." It was not known how many people attended the funeral.
A dazzling bolt of lightning striking next to a rainbow proved to be a bright spot for residents bogged down by a thunderstorm in Idaho this week.

In Idaho, the unexpected weather phenomenon shocked residents on Wednesday when a powerful bolt of lightning appeared next to a rainbow.

A photo of the moment shows the lightning strike shooting down overhead of Lewiston-Clarkson Valley.

The area has been hit with a series of thunderstorms this week that is expected to continue into the weekend.

Scroll down for video

Rainbow and lightning appeared side-by-side in Lewiston-Clarkson Valley on Wednesday in a rare weather phenomenon

Social media users called the sight a 'Mother Nature's wonder' and said it was 'beautiful and scary' at the same time.

A similar occurrence happened in Oklahoma. Stormchaser Jake Heitman told Storyful that captured the incredible moment on Tuesday just outside of Tulsa.

'I punched through the storm and went to the backside of it to find this amazing rainbow!' Heitman said.

Footage of the spectacle shows a rainbow clouded by the evening sky as strikes of lightning crackle overhead.

Lightning can be seen at least three times throughout the video.

Heitman said he captured the unusual shot just seconds after he began recording.

'I set up my cameras and not 30 seconds after I started recording, a beautiful spider bolt of lightning reached across the sky,' he said.

What shocked him the most was how the lightning appeared to strike from the middle of the rainbow.

'I have never seen anything like this before, a rainbow with lightning originating in the center of the rainbow! Doesn't get better than that!' said Heitman.

Stormchaser Jake Heitman captured the stunning footage on Tuesday in Oklahoma

Lightning and rainbows are rarely seen together, as the former is seen during storms and the latter comes afterwards

Lightning often occurs during heavy storms while rainbows are generally formed after the rain has stopped - making the display across the sky a seldom seen sight.

Rainbow lightning is a rare as the chances of lightning striking near a rainbow are slim, explained Randall Cerveny, a professor of meteorology at Arizona State University in Tempe.

'Usually, you don't get those two things to line up at the same time,' he said in a 2015 Live Science piece.

Both use raindrops in different ways, with rainbows using them to scatter sunlight. Lightning, on the other hand, can be created when raindrops shuttle electrical charges.

But to capture both at the same time, it must be raining with enough sunlight for a rainbow to form and lightning strikes still sizzling.

People have to be standing in between the sun and the storm at the exact moment the sunlight hits the raindrops and electrical charges create lightning.
Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has confirmed he will not usher in a new era of austerity to pay for the spiralling costs of the coronavirus pandemic, as he on Thursday hinted at a future stimulus package to deliver an economic bounce back.

With experts warning that economic hit from the virus could cause the deficit to rise to its highest level in peacetime, topping 260bn, there are fears that ministers may be forced to slash public services in order to pay down the national debt.

However, Mr Johnson signalled a clear shift away from the policies of the two previous Conservative administrations in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

Asked about austerity at the daily Downing Street press conference, he made clear that his instincts on fiscal policy differed to his predecessors.

"I think the economy will bounce back strongly, I think that this Government will want to encourage that bounce back in all kinds of ways, he added.

Ive never particularly liked the term that you just used to describe Government economic policy. It will certainly not be part of our approach.

In response to an earlier question on the economic impact of the lockdown, Mr Johnson said that as well as mourning every loss of life he regretted the economic damage that the country is sustaining, and for the dreams of people in their businesses they are seeing shattered, the anxiety in their jobs.

We totally understand that. As you know, the Government has made a huge effort to look after workers, to protect them with our furloughing scheme, colossal sums in loans are going out of the door.

We are doing everything we can. I really pay tribute to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, for the speed in which he has come forward with the schemes that he has.I do think the UK has done very well in comparison with a lot of places around the world.

Story continues

His comments come after several ministers said they believed Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak would soon begin planning a major economic stimulus package to help accelerate the recovery after lockdown.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, one said: Phase one was dealing with a global pandemic emergency, phase two was then beginning to think of the restart, and phase three is the economic stimulus to get a dynamic economy back up and running.

Echoing their comments, a second minister played down the prospects of a return to public sector cuts, adding that even before the coronavirus crisis Mr Johnson had committed to a significant increase in public spending and borrowing.

During the election the Conservatives pledged to deliver 100bn on infrastructure projects, with Sajid Javid, the then chancellor, also loosening constraints on borrowing.

In the weeks before the pandemic hit, Downing Street is understood to have been pushing for even greater freedom to spend, as part of Mr Johnsons pledge to level up every part of the UK.

Others have pointed out that Mr Johnsons opposition to austerity stretches back to his time as Mayor of London, with his economic action plan directly after the financial crash centred on growth rather than cuts.

Commenting on Mr Johnsons financial instincts earlier this month, Sam Freedman, a former Government adviser, wrote on Twitter: I very distinctly remember a meeting with Boris Johnson in 2011 where he compared austerity to the bombing of Dresden (in front of a large number of rather horrified looking officials). So I can't see him wanting to go down that route again.
The sealed documents produced by the government to counsel for General Flynn this past Friday were unsealed last night. They include handwritten FBI notes documenting internal discussion on the day of the interview of Flynn by agents Peter Strzok and Joe Pientka. The author of the notes (identified elsewhere as assistant counterintelligence division director Bill Priestap) questioned whether the goal of the Flynn interview was Truth/Admission (regarding Flynns supposed violation of the Logan Act) or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?

Catherine Herridges cautious story for CBS News includes the consent motion to unseal the documents previously filed as Exhibit 3 to Flynns supplement in support of his motion for dismissal of the case against him. The consent motion is accompanied by the unsealed documents. I have embedded the motion and accompanying documents below.

Sean Daviss Federalist column gets to the heart of the matter. The tenor of the documents supports Powells assertion that Flynn was set up. The documents reek of bad faith. They strongly suggest that Flynn was not the object of a bona fide criminal investigation or dealt with honestly or legally. (UPDATE: Perhaps more to the point, as Andrew McCarthy puts it, any false statements allegedly made by Flynn when he was questioned in January 2017 were immaterial to an investigation.)

Herridge adds: The FBI declined comment on the notes. The FBI has a lot of commenting to do. Whenever it gets around to it, the comments should probably include a forthright confession of misconduct, an apology to Flynn, and on offer of restitution.

Davis explains:

The FBI notes also show that the author of the document had misgivings about the FBIs conduct in interviewing Flynn. I agreed yesterday that we shouldnt show Flynn [REDACTED] if he didnt admit, the FBI author wrote. I thought [about] it last night, [and] I believe we should rethink this. We regularly show subjects evidence, with the goal of getting them to admit wrongdoing, the notes said. I dont see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is going easy on him. The redaction portion of the notes is believed to reference transcripts of phone calls between Flynn and other foreign officials. Those transcripts have never been publicly released, making it impossible to independently assess whether Flynn lied about those conversations. The handwritten FBI notes end with a prophetic line, given the voluminous evidence of misconduct by FBI and DOJ officials in their investigation of Trump and their attempt to oust him from office. If were seen as playing games, [the White House] will be furious, the author wrote. Protect our institution by not playing games.

American Thinkers Andrea Widburg covers the story here Widburg among others identifies Priestap as the author of the notes.

Our friend Techno Fog comments on Twitter:

How they planned to get Flynn removed: 1) Get Flynn to admit to breaking the Logan Act; or 2) Catch Flynn in a lie. Their end goal was a referral to the DOJ  not to investigate Flynn's contacts with the Russians. pic.twitter.com/Vty3FYaSt9  Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) April 29, 2020

In the event, the firing/prosecution of Flynn was not an either/or matter. It was both/and, with shame and financial ruin thrown in for good measure.

Recall that these documents were turned over to Flynn by the government as a result of the review of his case ordered by Attorney General Barr. What we have here is not the end of the case, but rather, it is to be hoped, the beginning of the end, with justice yet to be administered in some manner to James Comey and the rest of the FBI officials involved in this disgraceful affair.

Michael Flynn documents by News Team on Scribd
The Central Vista project will not be put on hold for now, the Supreme Court said on Thursday while hearing a petition challenging the Centres decision to notify a change in land use regarding the redevelopment plan.

The renovation of the Parliament building is a segment in the Centres larger Central Vista project which includes a new Parliament house, a new Central secretariat complex for ministries, and new residences for the Prime Minister and the Vice President. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2024.

The Delhi Development Authority last December had changed the land use of a 15-acre plot from recreational to residential on Dalhousie Road near South Block where the PMs new residence has been proposed.

The opposition parties have criticised the Centres decision to go ahead with the project as the country battles the deadly coronavirus disease.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to the PM, on April 10, in which she urged him to suspend the 20,000 crore allocated to the project.

At a time like this, such an outlay seems self-indulgent to say the least. I am certain that Parliament can function comfortably within the existing historical buildings. There is no urgent or pressing requirement that cannot be postponed until this crisis is contained, she wrote.

Trinamool leader and MP Mahua Moitra also slammed the move.

The government is suspending MPLADS funds for two years for generate resources to fight Covid-19 but wants to spend 20,000 crore on the central vista project, she said.
E urostars direct route from Amsterdam to London was meant to launch today, April 30, but a spokesperson has told the Standard that it has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We have delayed the launch of the direct route from the Netherlands to the UK due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic," the spokesperson said. "This is clearly an unpredictable situation, but at the moment we are working towards launching later in the year."

Eurostar launched its direct route from London to both Amsterdam and Rotterdam two years ago, but until now travellers have had to make a stop in Brussels on the way back from Amsterdam. The new direct route will allow passengers to go to and from Amsterdam from London without making a stop.

The new route is expected to take just over four hours and it will launch with two direct services a day, looking to increase to three or four services per day over time.

Prices on the route start from 35 one-way, which means to can nab yourself a return journey to the Netherlands for just 70, as well as reducing your carbon footprint by 80 per cent compared to flying.

Eurostar is currently still running albeit with an extremely reduced service of one train per day on the Paris and Brussels routes.
Help India!

Dalit artist Shrujana Niranjani Shridhar sees in art the opportunity to tell the unadulterated story of her community. Musheera Ashraf of TwoCircles.net writes on the young artists dreams and inspirations to commemorate Dalit History Month.

Shrujana Niranjani Shridhar is a 27-year-old independent illustrator based in Mumbai. For her, art means giving life to the multiple layers of life and a voice where everyone can express themselves  especially those who have been denied a voice in the mainstream culture.

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In one of her recent illustrations, Shrujana shows a girl seen holding the hand of Dr Ambedkar, with her other hand carrying a placard declaring NO CAA  No NRC. The illustration came to her mind after she had been thinking about what Ambedkar would have felt in the current atmosphere in India.

Talking to TwoCircles.net, Shrujana says that Baba Saheb (Ambedkar) gave India the constitution and we have to save it.

When I think about how Baba Saheb would have reacted to whats going in the country, I think he would have felt heartbroken, she told TwoCircles.net.

With her father belonging to a Scheduled Caste (SC) community and mother from an OBC Bahujan community, Shrujana says that as far as she remembers she always wanted to be an artist.

Shrujana says that people from Dalit and Bahujan community often think that they dont have any legacy. Raja Dhale urges people to look at the Buddhist movement in which the sculptures are Bahujan, which makes you realise that you are not a cultural orphan in this country and you feel proud to be in connection with the larger history, she says.

Shrujana writes and illustrates childrens storybooks and is a co-founder of Dalit Panther Archive, which is a digital archive digitizing posters, magazines etc from the Dalit Panther movement.

After completing her schooling from St. Xaviers Junior College, Shrujana went to Arts College in Bombay to study art.

I want art to be an expressible thing for everyone. Art should not be confined to art galleries, rich peoples home or students who draw, everyone should be able to represent themselves through art. I feel the responsibility to represent my community through this medium, she says.

Art has always been one of the most effective mediums of reflecting the trappings of society. Putting forth the example of Bella Ciao, Shrujana says how the anti-fascist song of Italy has taken shape as the protest song in India.

This is what art can do. One of the things which separate humans from animals is that we can articulate our ideas, says Shrujana.

Shrujanas first major published work was for Time Out India, where Shrujana did all the illustrations for a cover story on sex. Earlier, her illustrations were published in a storybook. Every illustration I make, reflects my Bahujan point of view, says Srujana, adding, art has been an integral part of our community but we are still exploring visual art as compared to poetry and other forms.

Initially, Shrujana followed Russian Revolution art, which is a propaganda art. I was trying to chase after it, but then I realised that thats not me, the colours which I was using were not satisfying, she says.

Moving ahead of her earlier influences, Shrujana began working on her style, refraining from using the traditional bright ones. Even if Im doing political work, I try to use the kind of style that I truly enjoy, she says, adding that, some people falsely think propaganda art is a revolutionary art but representing everyday life and representing oppression is also revolutionary art.

Deeply inspired by the ideology of B.R. Ambedkar, Shrujana claims that when she sees women coming together for a protest or women raising their voices against oppression the first image that comes to her mind is of Fatima Sheikh and Savitri Bai Phule.

I made an illustration that depicts all the women who helped draft the Constitution of this country, she says.

Shrujana feels that there is very little representation of Ambedkarites or anti-caste perspective in the society. Her future goals include starting a publishing house with the help of her friend to fill this gap where they could publish short storybooks for children.

I think I exist because of Baba Sahib. If he would have not existed, then I couldnt have imagined my existence. I owe everything in my life to him, says Shrujana.

It is to encourage artists like Shrujana that Dalit History Month is observed in India. Through websites like Dalit Nation and Dalit History, a group of women celebrate April as Dalit History Month to commemorate Ambedkar Jayanti. The Dalit History Month month is collectively observed in India, Canada and the United States.

One of the founders of Dalit History Month, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, in one of her interviews says that she was inspired to create the project when she was tired of having her aspect of history mistold by people of oppressor caste backgrounds.
North Central College 2020 graduate Mayra Rios, of Aurora, is the first member of her family to graduate from college. While she will participate in the college's virtual ceremony Sunday, Rios said she is looking forward to the day when the college will host a commencement so she can walk across the stage before family and friends. (Mayra Rios)
NEW YORK - Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz is urging the Justice Department to closely monitor New York City for potential religious discrimination amid the pandemic after its mayor singled out the Jewish community following the breakup of a large gathering of Orthodox Jews.

In a letter sent Thursday to Attorney General Bill Barr, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, Cruz lauded a Justice Department memo issued this week asking federal prosecutors to keep watch on state and local orders crafted to help stop the coronavirus that risk infringing on individuals civil liberties.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios chastising of Jews after a local funeral drew a crowd of thousands, Cruz added, raises questions about whether one faith is being singled out for special burdens.

This is dangerous in and of itself, Cruz, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees Constitution subcommittee, wrote to Barr. But it is especially dangerous to single out the Jewish community in a city that is experiencing a substantial rise in violent anti-Semitism.

The Department of Justice should not hesitate to closely monitor New York City to ensure that the mayors rhetoric does not translate into constitutional violations, Cruz added.

The mayors press secretary, Freddi Goldstein, responded to the letter by noting that de Blasio has apologized to anyone he offended by his word choice. That was certainly not his intention.

De Blasio cannot stand idly by if there are gatherings that pose a risk to New Yorkers health and safety, Goldstein added by email in response to Cruzs letter, which sought greater attention to all local officials who might single out specific religions under the guise of protecting public health.

More than 100 Jewish leaders and organizations released a letter to de Blasio Thursday to air our anger and disappointment at your scapegoating the Jewish community in the aftermath of the funeral breakup. The synagogue that organized the funeral had tried to plan for staging in accordance with social distancing rules.

Public debate over the balance between protecting public health and safeguarding civil liberties has simmered since the first state and local closure orders emerged last month, in the first days of the pandemic. At least a dozen court challenges filed as the coronavirus has spread have alleged incursions on religious freedom, including a Mississippi challenge to a local restriction on drive-in church that the Justice Department weighed in on, supporting the church.

De Blasio sparked criticism from conservatives and Christians last month when he first waded into the issue of restricting faith gatherings during the pandemic. The mayor warned then that religious services held in violation of public health orders would be shut down, adding that the houses of worship holding them risked punishment that could include permanent closure.

Cruz first took aim at the Democratic mayor for those remarks earlier this month on his podcast.

Who the hell are you to permanently shut a church or synagogue down? the Republican senator said in reference to de Blasios warning. Cruz added that he had shifted his attendance to virtual worship services during the pandemic and saw merit to limiting public gatherings.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

___
For many decades, the Chinese financial markets remained a tightly controlled affair that, for the most part, locked out foreign and exotic investments. That started to change during the last decade with the countrys capital markets slowly but surely moving into the global investment mainstream. Two years ago, the worlds largest oil importer achieved another milestone after it launched crude oil futures trading that allowed its citizens to participate in the giant market.

While the futures market flourished during its first two years of existence, it did not take long for the proverbial Yang to arrive: Chinese investors have suffered horrendous losses after the latest oil market crash that has also devastated their American brethren.

South China Morning Post has reported that Bank of China clients have suffered losses amounting to more than 7 billion yuan (US$1 billion), or 11x bigger than its earlier estimates. The bank had estimated the losses at ~600 million yuan ($85.7 million) during the middle of the week but sharply hiked the estimate after gathering more information from more than 10,000 outlets.

The final tally is subject to change and could still rise as more data comes in.

WTI Collapse

The massive losses stem from the oil price crash on April 21, which sent the price of WTI deep into negative territory. The ill-fated May contracts underpinned Bank of China Crude Oil Treasure that it launched in May 2018, leaving thousands of customers counting their losses and demanding that the bank should shoulder some of the pain.

Source: BloombergQuint

Although the bank does not disclose the performance of Crude Oil Treasure, the losses could be significantly higher than the latest estimate considering that as many as 60,000 customers had invested in the product as per a report by Chinese publication Caixin.

The crude futures appear to have rapidly gained in popularity, challenging well-established crude futures markets just a few months after their launch.

Premium: 2 Stocks To Consider As Oil Nears $15

In January 2019, investment firm Jordan Knauff and Co (JKC) reported that daily trading volumes for front-month crude futures at the Shanghai International Energy Exchange clocked in at nearly 250 million barrels, ~20% of global trading in similar contracts and pretty close to Brent front-month futures trading volumes. That was less than a year since their launch.

Source: JKC

It could have been a lot worse, though.

The Bank of China doesnt allow any leverage, which is a good thing because applying leverage would have multiplied those losses. The bank revealed that ~46% of the investors liquidated their positions a day before the contracts were due for settlement while the rest either chose to settle at expiry or roll over their positions.

The result: Investors lost 4.2 billion yuan of their margin and another 5.8 billion yuan that they owe the bank

However, just like its U.S. peer, the USO ETF, which quickly moved its money from near-term to longer-term contacts in a bid to minimize risk, Bank of China has said that it will review the products design and risk controls as well as take responsibilities within the legal framework. It also went a notch higher after suspending trading in the product, with Chinas other big banks following suit.

However, that might not be enough to prevent further carnage in the future, if the American market is any indication.

Greenhorn Investors

Over the past few months, oil punters have been betting that the coronavirus pandemic would be quickly brought under control, thus allowing crude prices to rebound. However, many retail investors might not be aware that where the USO ETF, the largest crude oil ETF in the country, is one of the easiest instruments to gain exposure to the oil market due to its ample liquidity, it does not accurately track the physical commodity.

Traditionally, the oil ETF is meant to hold long the front-month contract, which gives investors access to the oil spot price. Yet, it has changed its mandate multiple times over the past couple of weeks and now acts more like a hedge fund. While its latest move to shift its money to longer-term dated contracts is likely to make it less volatile, oil prices are not likely to recover in a hurry given that most oil producers would rather sell at low prices than risk even heavier losses through well shut-ins.

The chilling development is that USO long positions have actually tripled since last weeks huge selloff to 200,000, meaning greed is still rampant in the oil market.

Over the past couple of years, Beijing has gone into a heavy deleveraging drive while also trying to instill more risk awareness among millions of its retail investors. The latest rout shows that the lessons have been falling on deaf ears, and these investors are just as likely to follow the heady path being taken by their American peers once the shackles are removed.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of actor Rishi Kapoor. PM Modi said that he was anguished by the death of the actor. PM Modi called the actor "multifaceted" and "endearing" and a "power house of talent".

PM Modi sent out thoughts and prayers to the actor's family

Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India's progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020

The 67-year-old actor passed away at Mumbai's HN Reliance Hosptial at 8:45 am after a two-year battle with leukemia.

Also read:Rishi Kapoor death: Legendary actor bagged a National Award for his first film

Rishi, a third-generation actor of the Kapoor dynasty, is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, actor son Ranbir and daughter Ridhima.

Kapoor was known for playing the lead in scores of Bollywood movies. He was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Kapoor was first appeared on the screen as a child artiste in his father Raj Kapoor's film Shri 420 , where he appeared in the song Pyaar hua ekraar hua . This was followed by "Mera Naam Joker". He had his first lead role as an adult in the film Bobby (1973). His last film was "The Body" with Emraan Hashmi released on December 13, 2019.

Also read:Rishi Kapoor death: Actor was working on film Sharmaji Namkeen with Juhi Chawla

Also read:Rishi Kapoor death: Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth mourn demise of legendary actor

Also read:Rishi Kapoor death: Actor appealed for peace amid coronavirus in his last tweet
Pastor Tony Spell breaks house arrest to hold church service

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Controversial Louisiana pastor Tony Spell, who had been placed on house arrest for allegedly backing up a church bus toward a person protesting his constant defiance of state stay-at-home orders, held an in-person church service Sunday while wearing an ankle monitor.

Spell, the pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, ministered to a crowd at his church Sunday, two days after a judge asked him if hed comply with state orders that limit the number of people who can gather, according to WAFB9.

In his response, Spell quoted a Bible verse to the judge, said East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore. The attorney added that the pastor remained silent when asked a second time, which resulted in the judge concluding that Spell was unwilling to comply.

Spell made national headlines in recent weeks as he already faced several misdemeanor charges for holding in-person worship services attended by hundreds despite bans on mass gatherings to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The police department in the city of Central near Baton Rouge issued a warrant for the Pentecostal pastor last Monday for rapidly backing up a large church bus on the shoulder of a public road outside of the church and nearly hitting a protester. Spell was taken into custody outside of Life Tabernacle Church the following day and transported to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

A video of the incident showed the church bus being backed up at a seemingly rapid pace in the direction in which a protester was standing with a picket sign. Not until the bus was a few feet from striking the protester were the brakes rapidly applied and the bus brought to a halt.

Spells attorney, Joseph Long, told NBC News that his client did not try to run over the protester.

A fair viewing of the video will prove that Spell did not attempt to run over the protester, and the protester did not feel threatened, as he never moved when the bus came near, Long was quoted as saying.

According to The Washington Post, Spell earlier wrote in a text message to one of its reporters Monday night that he would not surrender and that authorities will have to take him out of his church.

Recently, Spell asked people to donate their stimulus checks to ministers and evangelists who havent had an offering in a month.

Im donating my entire stimulus, $1,200. My wife is donating her stimulus, $1,200. My son is donating his stimulus, $600. #PastorSpellStimulusChallenge. If you dont have a church, give through my website www.ltcbr.com, Spell said in a video.

The pastor claims the order preventing gatherings in Louisiana is politically motivated and an attack on all Christians across the world.

If this is not about religion, then are the Waltons not being issued summons and arrested for keeping Walmart open? Spell previously said. Nobody will tell us as God-fearing Christians and Americans that we are non-essential in our society.

We feel that we are as an essential part of our community as the retail stores, Spell told Dr. Phil last month. It is in persecution of the faith for us to be asked to close our doors whenever more people are being contacted in those Targets and Walmarts than are in my service  We reach out, we minister to people, feed people. We are the last stable institution in this community today.
Boris Johnson tonight announced a huge spike in the number of daily coronavirus tests to 81,000 as Matt Hancock appeared to be closing in on his 100,000 a day target.

Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said some 81,611 tests were carried out yesterday, a huge leap from the previous daily figure of 52,429.

Mr Hancock announced on April 2 the government would achieve six-figure daily testing by close of play today and he appeared to have no hope of hitting the goal as numbers were only half of where they needed to be with just two days to go.

Statistics from earlier in the week showed less than 30,000 people per day were being tested at drive-through centres across the country.

Meanwhile, numerous facilities in Bradford, Nottingham, Ipswich and elsewhere in the UK were today photographed with barely a trickle of motorists waiting for checks.

But Mr Johnson's announcement suggests the government has some how been able to turn the situation around with capacity thought to be at approximately 90,000 yesterday.

Earlier today Justice Secretary Robert Buckland had appeared to concede defeat on the issue as he said the target would 'probably' be missed before Downing Street then insisted Mr Hancock was still working to hit it.

The prospect of failing to hit the target prompted Tory fury as Mr Hancock was accused by MPs of 'over-promising' and 'under-delivering' amid fears it would damage public confidence in the government.

Meanwhile, experts slammed the target as a 'red herring' that has hampered the response to the outbreak.

NHS Providers, which represents health service trusts, has launched a scathing attack on Mr Hancock's handling of the situation, saying the push to hit the number has been a 'distraction' and led to chaotic expansion of the regime.

Boris Johnson told today's Downing Street coronavirus press conference that daily yesting had hit more than 81,000

A coronavirus drive-through testing centre in Nottingham is pictured empty this morning

The drive-through testing centre at Haydock Park Racecourse in Merseyside was also seen almost empty today

Staff wait for people to arrive at an empty drive-through regional coronavirus testing centre which opened yesterday at Bradford University

A testing centre in Ipswich, Suffolk is pictured mid-morning today with only a trickle of cars

A mobile coronavirus centre provided by The Royal Anglian regiment is pictured in Boston today

Matt Hancock (pictured in Downing Street yesterday) is aiming to hit 100,000 tests carried out by close of play today

Why did Matt Hancock set the 100,000 tests target? Matt Hancock announced on April 2 that he wanted 100,000 daily coronavirus tests to be carried out by the end of the month. Today is the deadline for hitting the goal and it is still not clear if it will be reached. Why did the Health Secretary set the target? Critics have accused Mr Hancock of coming up with the number because of growing public pressure over the UK's underwhelming testing operation. Those accusations increased after Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty revealed the government's scientific experts had not recommended the figure but had just urged for numbers to increase. Mr Hancock has previously said one of the aims of the target was to 'galvanise' industry and the public sector to rise to the challenge and boost capacity. On that measure he has succeeded with capacity now at more than 70,000. But he is yet to explain why specifically he chose 100,000. Why has the government struggled to hit the target? The main reason appears to have been difficulty in actually accessing the checks. Throughout the crisis the number of tests carried out has run at approximately half of the available capacity. There have been numerous horror stories of self-isolating NHS staff facing four or five hour journeys to get tested at a drive-through site only to be told to come back another day. Staff without their own transport have also struggled to get checked with home tests only just becoming available. Another reason appears to be that the government may have overestimated demand within the health service for tests as ministers have moved on a number of occasions to expand the eligibility for checks so that more capacity is taken advantage of. Meanwhile, when the target was announced Mr Hancock suggested testing would be split between antigen and antibody but the government is yet to find a working, mass-produced antibody test making ministers entirely reliant on more laborious antigen tests. Where are tests being carried out? The government's testing operation is split into different pillars. One pillar relates to testing in hospitals - this applies to both patients and now to asymptomatic staff. Another is drive-through testing with 42 sites open across the country, rising to 48 by the end of the week. Then there are mobile testing facilities being run by the army. There are 17 of those units currently operational, rising to 70 by the end of this week. Then there is home testing. When it launched last week there were only 5,000 home check kits available a day but it is hoped that will increase to 25,000 by the weekend. Why can't NHS staff just get tested at hospitals? The government only extended the testing eligibility to asymptomatic NHS staff this week. Up to that point frontline workers needed to have symptoms to get checked but anyone with symptoms was told to self-isolate at home. That means they have had to use drive-through sites. What is the political reaction to the prospect of Mr Hancock missing the target? Some Tory MPs believe Mr Hancock was 'stupid' to set such a high target and that he should have reversed away from it weeks ago. One senior Conservative figure said the Health Secretary was 'extremely unwise' to bet so heavily on hitting the number and that he would have to 'carry the can' for the failure. Number 10 insiders said the problem with the target was that it was 'arbitrary'. The government will be concerned that failing to hit the target could damage public confidence in the coronavirus response. Advertisement

In a report, it said the English health and care system 'started from a poor position' as Covid-19 tightened its grip on Europe, and consistently 'struggled' to demonstrate a 'clear, effective and well communicated strategy', with a lack of clarity on who would be tested, when, how, and with what frequency.

Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, said members are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clarity on how the testing regime will be developed for the next phase.

The Government has insisted lockdown measures cannot be eased unless its five criteria, including manageable infection rates and testing capacity, are met.

Mr Hopson said: 'Testing is one area where, despite all the work delivered by trusts and the NHS, the health and care system as a whole has struggled to develop an effective, coordinated approach.

'As we consider the route out of lockdown, what trust leaders need now is clarity on the testing regime from here on.

'Setting a target for a number of tests for April 30 may have had a galvanising effect. But what matters most is an updated strategy to take us through the exit from lockdown.'

Testing numbers were languishing at around 10,000 a day when Mr Hancock set the goal.

Mr Buckland told BBC Breakfast today: 'Even if it isn't met, we're well on our way to ramping this up and 100,000 is an important milestone, but frankly we need more.

'Yes, 52,000 isn't 100,000, I know that ... but we are straining every sinew to get there.

'If he hadn't set a target he would have been criticised for being unambitious. I think now is the time in respect of this to be bold ... being brave is something we should acknowledge even if the target isn't met today.'

Professor John Newton, the Government's testing supremo, said yesterday that he remained confident of reaching the 100,000 landmark by the end of April.

Number 10 appeared to slap down Mr Buckland as the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said at lunchtime the Government is still 'working hard' to hit the target.

The PM's Official Spokesman said that as of April 28, testing capacity had been increased to 77,365.

He said: 'The target is for 100,000 tests today and the Health Secretary and all of his team are working hard to hit it.'

He added: 'You can chart the progress that we've made towards hitting that target and that we are working hard today to ensure that people who need tests get them.'

The PM's spokesman said 42 drive-through test sites are now open and 17 mobile sites are operational.

The final testing figure for today will not be known until Saturday due to the amount of time it takes to turn the numbers around.

The decision by Mr Hancock to announce, and then stick to, the figure has prompted fury among some Conservative MPs who have claimed the Health Secretary will 'damage' his reputation and potentially that of the government if he falls short.

One senior Tory told MailOnline: Poor old Matt has been damaged by this. This will have damaged confidence in him because he looked like someone new to the job, under pressure and reacting with something that bought him time - but it was always doomed to failure.

It was silly. It has been obvious for 10 days he would not hit it.

Another Tory MP said: The problem has been throughout that we have over-promised and under-delivered and we should have done it the other way around.

They seemingly wanted an announcement every day but that was not the right way to do things.

The big mistake has been over promising. They should stop trying to spin people.

Meanwhile, Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, has called for Mr Hancock to quit if he fails to hit the target.

She tweeted: As this is literally a matter of life and death, of course he should resign if the target is not met.

The NHS Providers report described how members felt 'on the end of a series of frequent tactical announcements', with 'no visibility on any long-term strategy'.

It said: 'They are being expected, at the drop of a hat, to accommodate these changes with no advance notice or planning, despite the fact that many of the changes have significant operational impact.'

The report added: 'The recent public focus on whether 100,000 tests will be performed on April 30 is a red herring.'

NHS Providers described the target as 'arbitrary' and said it risked preventing the development of a 'proper, next stage testing strategy', adding: 'It may be testing for testing's sake.'

The report calls on the Government to update its existing testing plan - published before the perceived first peak of the virus - by addressing several matters, including how it intends to improve access for key worker testing, how it expects to prioritise who is swabbed, and how it plans to track and trace any new outbreak once lockdown is lifted.

It said it would be for any subsequent public inquiry to determine why these problems have occurred and whether the response was adequate.

A Department of Health spokesman said testing was 'absolutely critical' and capacity at NHS and Public Health England laboratories had more than doubled within weeks.

He added: 'Our aim as we tackle this virus is to make it easy, fast and simple for any essential worker who needs a test to get a test.

'In addition to setting up a nationwide network of drive in testing sites, we have introduced home testing kit delivery, deployed mobile testing units operated by the Armed Forces, and built three new 'mega labs' to analyse test samples.'

When Mr Hancock announced the target on April 2 he said he was 'determined we'll get there'.

At the time it was thought that the 100,000 figure would be a mix of antigen tests which show if someone currently has symptoms and antibody tests which show if someone has had it and may now have immunity.

However, government hopes of finding a working antibody test which can be mass-produced have fallen flat which means ministers have been entirely reliant on more laborious antigen testing to get to the goal.

Throughout April the Health Secretary said he was sticking to the target and repeatedly said he believed it would be met.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland conceded this morning that the aim was 'probably' going to be missed

He did soften his stance as the month progressed as he described 100,000 daily tests as an 'ambitious goal' and insisted one of the reasons he set the target was to 'galvanise' the public and private sectors to ramp up capacity.

On Wednesday this week Mr Hancock said it was a 'big, big ask' but that the government was still 'on track' as he accepted a 100 charity wager that he would hit the target.

But he also insisted 'there's no guarantees in this life' as he appeared to lay the groundwork for falling short.

As well as the antibody issue, there appear to have been a number of other reasons why the government has struggled to hit the target, with difficulty in accessing the checks at the top of the list.

There have been numerous horror stories of self-isolating NHS staff facing four or five hour journeys to get tested at a drive-through site only to be told to come back another day.

Staff without their own transport have also struggled to get checked, with home tests only just becoming available.

Another reason appears to be that the government may have overestimated demand within the health service for tests as ministers have moved on a number of occasions to expand the eligibility for checks so that more capacity is taken advantage of.

Mr Hancock is under growing pressure over his decision to pick 100,000 as his target after the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said it had not been signed off by the government's scientific experts.
Iran to build houses on Persian Gulf islands

04/30/20

Source: Tehran Times

The Iranian islands of the Persian Gulf will be turned into residential areas, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri announced on Wednesday. Tangsiri said the decision came according to an order issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The announcement was made as Iran marked the National Persian Gulf Day on Wednesday.



Source: Iranian daily Vatan-e Emrooz

"We plan to prepare the Persian Gulf islands for the people to live on by creating the residential infrastructure," he said.



He said the decision is intended to show that Iran is after establishing security in the region.



"Iran has always transmitted the message of peace to regional countries and believes that security of the Persian Gulf can be ensured by regional countries' cooperation," he remarked, Mehr reported.



He named the presence of foreign forces in the region as the major source of insecurity.



"Illegal presence of American forces in the Persian Gulf is a big threat to its security and Iranian forces do not permit any foreign flotilla to enter its territorial waters," he added.



The admiral also said Leader of the Islamic Revolution has a great interest in the strategic waterway.



He also said littoral states can make foreign forces leave the Persian Gulf.



Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb & Greater Tunb

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in his Wednesday remarks in the cabinet meeting, addressed the U.S. saying that "this gulf's name is the Persian Gulf not the gulf of New York or Washington gulf."



"The U.S. must stop applying its conspiracy plots against the Iranian nation who has its name on this gulf and has protected it in history," Rouhani said.



"The Iranian nation and soldiers beside the IRGC, Armed Forces and Basij forces will continue protecting the Persian Gulf," he underlined.



Iranian officials have repeatedly said that the Persian Gulf belongs to its littoral states and that they are capable of providing its security and there is no reason for the United States to be in the Persian Gulf to have its Navy there.
By early January 2017, F.B.I. agents were on the verge of ending the investigation into Mr. Flynn for lack of evidence, the documents showed, and they planned to close it without questioning Mr. Flynn.

But a separate intelligence review revealed that Mr. Flynn had privately advised Mr. Kislyak days earlier that Russia should avoid retaliating against sanctions imposed by the Obama administration as punishment for Russias election interference. The phone calls prompted a flurry of activity among national security officials, including high-level discussions among law enforcement and intelligence officials.

The documents made clear that F.B.I. agents wanted to keep the inquiry into Mr. Flynn open based on the new information, and eventually the bureau decided to interview Mr. Flynn after Mr. Pence denied on national television that Mr. Flynn had discussed sanctions with Mr. Kislyak. Classified transcripts of their calls, obtained from a wiretap of Mr. Kislyak, proved otherwise, and agents began to suspect that Mr. Flynn had lied to the vice president.

Law enforcement officials warned White House aides at the time that because the Russian government knew of the nature of the Flynn-Kislyak discussions, they posed a blackmail risk to Mr. Flynn.

The F.B.I. interviewed Mr. Flynn on Jan. 24, and he lied repeatedly even after agents gave him multiple opportunities to correct his false statements by revisiting key questions, prosecutors have said.

The newly disclosed materials also include text messages between the former F.B.I. officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok talking about editing notes on the questioning of Mr. Flynn. His lawyers said they were further evidence that the F.B.I. doctored the interview notes known as a 302, a claim that the judge overseeing Mr. Flynns case, Emmet G. Sullivan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, has previously rejected.

Asked on Thursday about the new documents, Mr. Pence told reporters during a trip to Indiana that he was deeply troubled by the revelations but declined to say whether Mr. Flynn should have been fired.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 04:45:53|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Moscow regrets the attempts of several Western countries to put the blame on China for the coronavirus pandemic, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

"I would like to say that we are upset by the attempts to point a finger at a particular country. You mentioned that the U.S. is blaming China. In Europe, there are also accusations against China," Lavrov said in an interview with the TASS news agency.

"We all see it. This, of course, is sad," Lavrov said, adding that the priority now is to beat the coronavirus.

According to the minister, it is necessary to investigate the cause of the pandemic so that people will know how to develop optimal approaches to defeat the threat in the future.

"The investigation is not for people to say 'I was right. That's who is to blame. I did everything right, so let's vote for me,'" Lavrov said. Enditem
The IUCRC will not only help us bring our work to the companies that would benefit from these insights, it also gives us another channel to engage industry and better understand the unique challenges they face," said Gregory Prastacos, dean of the Stevens School of Business.

In one of the strongest acknowledgements that finance has transformed from a low-tech field to one that relies on some of the most sophisticated technology in the world, the National Science Foundation has selected Stevens Institute of Technology to lead the first-ever industry-university cooperative research center, or IUCRC, devoted to financial technology and science.

The five-year award creates a cooperative research center that brings together partners to conduct research that is particularly relevant for industry and has a high potential for commercialization. Stevens was named lead institution for the center, which includes Georgetown University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and between eight and 25+ companies with the goal of finding innovative solutions for complex challenges facing the fintech industry.

Georgetown and RPI complement our strengths very nicely, said George Calhoun, director of the Hanlon Financial Systems Center at Stevens School of Business and a co-principal investigator on the project. Georgetown is good in traditional finance and the regulatory end of the business  what is the Federal Reserve going to do, what is the Treasury going to do  in ways that reflect their own location advantage. And RPI brings additional scientific and technological capabilities to the table.

Stevens location and existing relationships with financial firms position it well to lead the center. With its proximity to New York City, Stevens has worked closely with financial firms and banks to identify core challenges facing industry and has responded by addressing those needs, further strengthening these relationships while simultaneously shaping its research endeavors and curriculum to align with those needs. The result: the transformation of the School of Business to a tech-infused powerhouse.

The list of firms who provided letters of support as part of Stevens bid included UBS, Bank of America, Citibank and Royal Bank of Canada among the headliners. Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group; PSEG; OneMarketData; and Capco, a global management consultancy, also supported Stevens bid. The reason we were successful is that we showed we would have major industry participation, said Calhoun.

Among the initial areas of focus in the IUCRC will be cybersecurity; high-frequency automated markets; technology risk and regulation; commercialization; and applications of blockchain, quantum computing, natural language processing and A.I. to the finance industry.

That diversity is reflected by the broad expertise of the co-principal investigators, which includ Giuseppe Ateniese (computer science), Jeffrey Nickerson (information systems and networks) and Darinka Dentcheva (mathematics and optimization). Working with such a broad panel of experts  in addition to thought leaders at Georgetown, RPI and industry  will empower a multidisciplinary approach that should break traditional research silos, said Steve Yang, the principal investigator on the project.

I couldnt be more excited to have Stevens play such an important leadership role in an NSF IUCRC center, said Gregory Prastacos, dean of the Business School at Stevens. The IUCRC will not only help us bring our work to the companies that would benefit from these insights, it also gives us another channel to engage industry and better understand the unique challenges they face.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Samir Ali  Trend:

In connection with the coronavirus pandemic, the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijans Ministry of Justice is working under heavy pressure, and 260 prisoners have been granted an early release, Chief of the Human Rights and Public Relations Department of the ministry Aynur Sabitova said at a press conference, Trend reports.

The meetings of prisoners with relatives have been suspended, and they have been provided with medical attention, Sabitova noted.

All these measures are aimed at preventing the occurrence of coronavirus infection. According to the Act of Pardon signed by President Ilham Aliyev, 176 prisoners aged over 65 years were released due to high risk of getting coronavirus-related complications. Along with this, 260 prisoners have also been granted early releases, which is an embodiment of the humane policy of the head of state, she emphasized.
Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani will forego his salary in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the nation and forced a lockdown in the country until 3 May

New Delhi: With coronavirus lockdown hitting businesses hard, India''s largest company Reliance Industries has decided to cut the salary of most of its employees by 10 to 50 percent with firm's chairman and richest Indian Mukesh Ambani agreeing to forgo all his remuneration.

Also, the oil-to-technology conglomerate has deferred annual cash bonus and performance-linked incentives that are normally paid in the first quarter, according to an employee communique.

The nationwide lockdown that began on March 25 had led to evaporation of demand as factories shut down, offices closed, air flights suspended, trains stopped and restrictions on the movement of people and goods placed.

Reliance Industries says Mukesh Ambani, Chairman has agreed to forgo his entire compensation w.e.f April 1, 2020. Board Of Directors including EDs, EC members & senior leaders will forgo 30-50% of compensation. Here's more pic.twitter.com/9b1DC2CkwA  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) April 30, 2020

Reliance's hydrocarbon business was adversely impacted due to a reduction in demand for refined products and petrochemicals.

The company's different vertical heads wrote to their employees about the salary cut decision.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak

"This has, of course, put pressure on our hydrocarbons business necessitating optimisation and cost reduction across all fronts," it said. "The situation demands that we maintain a razor-sharp focus on operating costs and fixed costs and all of us need to contribute to making this happen."

While Ambani will forgo his entire Rs 15 crore compensation, Reliance board of directors including executive directors, Executive Committee (EC) members, and senior leaders will forgo 30 to 50 percent of their compensation.

Employees with compensation of less than Rs 15 lakh will have no reduction in compensation but those earning higher than that could see a 10 percent reduction in fixed pay.

Ambani draws Rs 15 crore in annual compensation for being chairman and managing director of India's largest company. His salary has remained unchanged since 2008-09, forgoing over Rs 24 crore per annum.

"We will closely monitor the economic and business environment, re-evaluate our response to the situation on a continuous basis and strive to improve the earning capacity of our business," it said.

The lockdown period, the company communique said, has also provided several opportunities to reorganise and digitalise business processes to generate significant improvements in productivity, efficiency and costs.

"Together, we will embrace these opportunities and work towards restoring our compensation levels to normalcy," it said.

The communication said the firm's various initiatives on all fronts will help it strengthen organisation to become more resilient in coping with business uncertainties in a volatile and uncertain world. They will help us navigate through these challenging times with agility and emerge as industry leaders and as accretors of top talent.

(Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Firstpost)
Zoho Corporation has halted employee bonuses and has not ruled out a pay cut in the future "if required", company CEO Sridhar Vembu said. He however stated that at "no cost" any employee would be given the pink slip.

"The impact of COVID-19 on our business is not as bad as we feared, though we are still in April. I have prepared our staff for a very tough time ahead, Vembu told Business Standard, adding that bonuses have been cancelled.

But we have not pruned salaries  we may have to be prepared for a pay cut though  nobody can predict anything. But at any cost we want to avoid layoffs," he added.

On work from home (WFH), he said that even once curbs are lifted, Zoho would likely continue keeping 50-70 percent of staff on WFH as precaution. The virus is not going to go away so quickly, he added.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

On outlook for the sector, Vembu felt that the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) segment is expected to consolidate, but recovery would be slow. He also emphasised that for the sector, players with strong balance sheets and control of their expenditure will survive.

Adding that almost 90 percent of the companys revenue is from overseas, he told the paper that since the US saw a 30 percent drop in GDP some other larger organisations have also shifted to Zoho for savings.

Five to seven years back, exposure to India was almost nil. But in the emerging new world, it is a worry. The company is trying to improve its domestic market penetration. The mix between overseas and domestic exposure in terms of revenue could change to 50:50 or 70:30 over a period of time, he added.

The companys Zoho Classes is on offer for early access, while its online discussions platform Zoho Meeting is already being used by the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology.
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New York City mayor Bill de Blasio was forced to apologize Wednesday after he singled out the Jewish community for attending a large orthodox funeral in Brooklyn.

The lawmaker on Tuesday said he had instructed police to arrest large groups of mourners in a new 'zero tolerance' approach after personally traveling to break up the Hasidic funeral of Rabbi Chaim Maertz.

But his actions and words sparked a furious backlash, with critics pointing out he travels 11 miles from his home to go for a walk and that crowds had earlier gathered to watch a military flyover but were not similarly treated by officials.

De Blasio was later forced to say sorry - but still insisted he had 'no regrets about calling out this danger and saying we're going to deal with it very, very aggressively'.

He said Wednesday: 'If in my passion and in my emotion, I said something that in any way was hurtful, I'm sorry about that.

'That was not my intention. But I also want to be clear: I have no regrets about calling out this danger and saying we're going to deal with it very, very aggressively.'

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De Blasio pictured Tuesday after he traveled to personally shut down a Orthodox Jewish funeral in Williamsburg when images surfaced on social media of massive crowds gathered for a rabbi who died from coronavirus

The Hasidic funeral of Rabbi Chaim Maertz saw thousands gather in one Williamsburg block of Brooklyn, New York City, on Tuesday night

The mayor added: 'For decades I've made it my business to stand up for the Jewish community, and people know that. Won't tolerate anti-Semitism, won't allow it to grow in the city.

'My message was to all communities, and that was written in black and white.

'But it was also to be clear that what I saw I had not seen anywhere else, and I was trying to be honest about the fact that this is a problem that people have to come to grips with and deal with, or else people in the community will die.'

De Blasio had tweeted Tuesday: 'Something absolutely unacceptable happened in Williamsburg tonite: a large funeral gathering in the middle of this pandemic.

'When I heard, I went there myself to ensure the crowd was dispersed. And what I saw WILL NOT be tolerated so long as we are fighting the Coronavirus.

'My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups.

'This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.'

De Blasio personally attended the funeral in an attempt to disperse crowds along with New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea.

More than 2,500 people turned up to mourn the prominent rabbi in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, which is home to the Satmars, an ultra-orthodox sect of Jews.

Shea said Wednesday that 12 summonses were issued.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio was forced to apologize at his daily briefing Wednesday

Community leaders from the across the city had been quick to rebuke de Blasio's actions. The Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted: 'Hey @NYCMayor, there are 1mil+ Jewish people in #NYC.

'The few who don't social distance should be called out  but generalizing against the whole population is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews. This erodes the very unity our city needs now more than ever.'

Councilman Kalman Yeger added: 'Mr. Mayor, your words are unacceptable. To condemn our entire community over one group of people is something you would not do to any other ethnic group, and I know you long enough to know that you know this.'

'Only bigots have a problem when a few 100 Hasidim do what thousands of people in the same city have done the same day (not social distance).' the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council tweeted.

De Blasio on Wednesday night retweeted the NYPD after an antisemitic hate crime in Brooklyn. He said: If you have any information on this vicious attack please contact the NYPD IMMEDIATELY. This kind of loathsome hate has no home in our city.'

That sparked further criticisms online, with Twitter users quick to point to his earlier actions and words and suggest that they fuel antisemitism.

De Blasio slammed the Jewish community in a Twitter rant Tuesday night after he had broken up the gathering with the NYPD

Over 2,500 people turned up to mourn the prominent rabbi in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, which is home to the Satmars, an ultra-orthodox sect of Jews

A new York City police officer keeps watch as hundreds of mourners gather in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Mayor Bill de Blasio chastised 'the Jewish community' following the breakup of the large funeral that flouted public health orders

Community leaders had coordinated with authorities in an attempt to control the group of mourners after the Rabbi's death was announced at 3:30pm that day, despite this many crowded together without masks.

At the press conference Wednesday de Blasio said: 'We're here to protect human beings and people were put in danger last night. Members of the Jewish community were putting each other in danger. They were putting our police officers in danger.'

NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said: 'This large gathering is putting members of my department at risk and is going to be met with very stern consequences. There are to be no gatherings in NYC such as what we saw last night.'

He noted that NYPD funerals for officers who have died as a result of the virus have not been carried out in the same manner as norm. Shea confirmed 12 summons were issued for social distancing and refusal to disperse.

But Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, later tweeted: 'Mayor DeBlasio, YOU cannot instruct the NYPD to violate peoples rights! If you wanted to save lives YOU should of closed schools, NOT sold ventilators and NOT tell people to go out to dinner.

'This event was a funeral this community will NOT leave bodies in their homes for you.'

Mullins later called the mayor an 'idiot' in an interview.

Community leaders had coordinated with authorities in an attempt to control the group of mourners after the Rabbi's death

Jewish Hasidic community members gather for a funeral procession, during lockdown amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Williamsburg, New York

Earlier in April another Hasidic funeral in Williamsburg was disrupted by police using sirens and loud speakers.

Ronald Lauder, heir to the Estee Lauder cosmetics company and president of the World Jewish Congress, said in a statement: 'Last night, the Mayor painted the Jewish community as lawbreakers and unconcerned about the city's public health.

'This type of horrible stereotyping is dangerous and completely unacceptable at any time, but particularly while the world is gripped in fear and the worst among us are looking for scapegoats.'
DES MOINES, Iowa  Local officials worry that President Donald Trump's executive order requiring meatpacking plants to remain open could threaten the health of 2,800 workers at the Tyson plant that closed last week because of a COVID-19 outbreak.

But pork producers say the president's action provides "hope and relief" for farmers who face destroying thousands of pigs backed up on farms as the novel coronavirus has both slowed and closed meatpacking processing plants across the country.

"Farmers are making decisions that are devastating to them. These producers would give you the pigs" rather than have them destroyed and the food not go to consumers, said Howard "A.V." Roth, president of the National Pork Producers Council.

Trump addressed threats of possible meat shortages Tuesday by signing an executive order that said meat processing plants are part of the nation's critical infrastructure and must remain open to ensure a "continued supply of protein for Americans."

The conflict between the president, meat processors and local officials has been brewing for weeks, as the number of positive virus tests among meatpacking employees has shot up. As the workers have gotten sick, companies have shut down massive plants, raising supply chain fears amid health fears in communities.

"We've tried to be a partner throughout this entire COVID pandemic working with our processing plants, because it is critical infrastructure and they are essential workers and we need to make sure that we can keep them up and running to keep the nation's food supply flowing," said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican.

Meatpacking: Tyson chairman warns of 'meat shortages'

Iowa state Rep. Ras Smith, a Democrat who represents parts of Black Hawk County, which houses the massive Tyson processing plant in Waterloo, said on Wednesday that he needs more details from the White House about how such a reopening will work.

Story continues

Smith said his priority is the health and safety of the Tyson workers, and that means demanding more stringent oversight and requirements of meatpacking plants.

Smith noted it had only been a week since the Tyson plant in Waterloo, Iowa, closed, and COVID-19 testing for employees there is not complete. He said the White House needs a robust, continuous testing infrastructure in place for workers and their families.

Smith said the federal order to reopen came as a surprise.

It seems bizarre to me and extremely negligent, he said.

Concern about Tyson's meatpacking plant in Waterloo is rising as Black Hawk County sees a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Trump's order also seeks to shield meat companies from legal liability if they are sued by employees who contract COVID-19 while on the job.

"With the president's actions, we might end up in the same place all over again, with more workers sick and a larger disruption to the food chain," said Chris Schwartz, a Black Hawk County supervisor.

About 90% of the 1,326 people testing positive for COVID-19 in Black Hawk County, Iowa are tied to the Tyson pork processing plant, health officials have said. State data, which lags local reporting, show 1,082 positive cases in Black Hawk, the most in an Iowa county as of Wednesday. Thirteen people in the county have died from the novel coronavirus.

Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart said he hopes Tyson and other companies that have closed plants "aren't forced to open" before they've put the necessary safety precautions in place to protect workers.

Other Iowa plants have also struggled with workers getting sick from the coronavirus. As of late last week, a JBS pork processing plant had 34 employees test positive in Marshalltown; Prestage Foods said it had 25 people who tested positive for COVID-19.

Mike Naig, Iowas agriculture secretary, said the states increased testing, especially of meatpacking plant workers, will help give employees confidence that they can safely return.

Naig said some Iowa pork producers are euthanizing pigs, since the state has lost processing for about 50,000 pigs a day. Every day we move closer to widespread depopulation, given that disruption, said Naig, who along with other Republicans have asked the federal government to provide financial assistance to producers who must destroy animals.

State Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo, is also a health care worker who is overseeing a COVID-19 testing clinic in town.

Brown-Powers filed a complaint several weeks ago, along with Smith, to the Iowa division of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration regarding worker safety at the Tyson plant. The lawmakers alleged, on behalf of Tyson workers, that the company failed to protect its employees from exposure to the virus.

Brown-Powers said any potential reopening right now makes her nervous.

I don't think we have a healthy enough workforce to even go out there to work, she said of the plant. If we open up right now  and don't have everything in order, then those folks that do get pushed back in, will likely get sick because it's so active in our community. And then we'll start the process all over again.

A big issue for Tyson and other companies, Hart said, will be how many employees can return to work after COVID-19 has swept through plants.

Tyson officials warned Sunday that the country faces a meat shortage as plants close, even temporarily, with potentially millions of pounds of meat disappearing from the supply chain.

Tyson said Wednesday that employee safety remains its top priority as it works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on its "next steps."

The federal agency will provide details on how the Trump order will be implemented, said North American Meat Institute, a lobbying group that represents large meat processing companies. The Center for Disease Control and U.S. Department of Labor also issued guidance for keeping meat processing workers safe over the weekend.

Tyson officials said Wednesday they haven't determined when the Waterloo plant might reopen. The Arkansas company reopened its Columbus Junction pork processing plant last week after closing it for nearly three weeks.

Tyson officials said they added more sophisticated temperature screening equipment, erected additional barriers between work stations, and provided more space in break rooms, among other safety efforts.

Analysts say about 33% of the U.S. meatpacking capacity is gone as workers have become sick with COVID-19. In Iowa, pork producers have lost about 40% of the processing capacity, with a Smithfield plant closed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a JBS plant in Worthington, Minnesota, mostly shuttered. Both are just across the Iowa border.

JBS said Wednesday it partially reopened, allowing producers to bring pigs to be slaughtered. The carcasses will be rendered, sent to landfills, composted or buried. JBS said it can kill about 13,000 hogs a day, with about 20 workers working with state and federal veterinarians.

While our focus is on getting the Worthington facility back to work on behalf of our team members producing food for the nation, we believe we have a responsibility to step up when our producer partners are in need, said Bob Krebs, president of JBS USA Pork, in a statement.

Typically, the plant process about 20,000 pigs a day for food with about 2,000 workers.

Roth, a Wisconsin farmer, who was among those in the meat industry who talked with Trump Wednesday, said farmers need the help.

"We're backed up with millions of pigs right now," said Roth, adding that some pork producers have told him they've begun euthanizing animals.

Roth said he faces that possibility soon with pigs he owns a partial interest in, that can no longer be sent a Smithfield plant in Monmouth, Illinois, which closed Friday.

Jerome Amos, a Waterloo City Council member, said workers will return to the Tyson plant, regardless of how safe it is, because they need the paycheck. "They'll do what they have to do," Amos said.

Amos said workers' health is more important than meat supplies. "We could go without eating meat for a while," said Amos, who teaches machining at Hawkeye Community College. "And I eat meat."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Trump's orders meat plants open, bringing anxiety, hope to Iowa town
Shock, anger and disbelief. That's how some cartoonists from both sides of the political aisle have reacted after watching Vice President Mike Pence meet with patients and staff members Tuesday at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic with no face mask.

"Mouth agape, eyebrows up, complete shock," Sacramento Bee cartoonist Jack Ohman says of his visceral response. "One would assume the chairman of the covid-19 task force would know better, as Dr. Fauci and everyone standing with him recommends it for everyone else."

"I was dumbstruck that Pence did it," Politico cartoonist Matt Wuerker says, "and equally dumbstruck that the doctors at the Mayo Clinic allowed him to do it. If this had been an episode of 'ER,' Dr. George Clooney would have dramatically barred the door and explained that the doctors in the hospital had sworn an oath and it wasn't to Trump."

"Not only did he put himself and others at risk - and violate his own policy and that of the hospital - he set a horrible example for his followers and all of us out here watching his every move," says Rick McKee, a longtime Augusta Chronicle cartoonist who now draws for the syndication site CagleCartoons and the newsletter CounterPoint. "Just beyond stupid."

The challenge for editorial artists then became how to channel those emotions into a sharply succinct cartoon.

"My solution was the Grim Reaper in a MAGA hat throwing away his mask," says McKee, a conservative commentator. "And that's exactly what I think will happen. Pence just gave this chunk of society already disinclined to wear a mask a license not to."

Ohman originally captioned his cartoon with an unmasked character "The Loon Ranger" before changing it to "The Alone Ranger."

"I felt as I was finishing up that the lunacy was self-evident, and the true issue was that he was alone in a crowd," Ohman, a left-leaning cartoonist, says of Pence.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Mike Luckovich thinks Pence went maskless to impress President Donald Trump. "I thought, 'What a wimpy idiot,' and tried to come up with an image that reflected that," the left-leaning cartoonist says. "Pence explaining that it's a face mask you wear on your head seemed like something typical of what a Trump administration official would say" - so Luckovich drew Pence wearing a surgical mask as a dunce cap.

A key element when capturing Pence is his distinctive expression.

"His eyes - they are the main peg you can hang a caricature on," says Wuerker, a self-described liberal cartoonist. "They're deeply set and determined to remain opaque, offering no window on the soul. If you can capture those eyes, combined with the constant unnatural rectitude of his very stiff body language, you can get pretty close with the caricature."
Stacked tables and benches sit along the wall at Lucatelli's in Center City Philadelphia on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. All nonessential businesses are closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Restaurants are takeout or delivery only. Read more

Joshua B. Coffin was laid off from his job as a risk management consultant in March, one of more than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians to lose their jobs to the coronavirus pandemic. He filed for unemployment benefits on March 22, and dutifully posted regular status updates with the state: Yes, Im still unemployed.

But no money landed in his bank account. Coffin, who lives in Center City, could get no answers from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The phone lines were always busy. Emails went unanswered. The departments web-chat portal was a dark hole.

An explanation finally arrived in his mailbox late last week, when he received a financial determination letter stating he was ineligible for benefits. The letter was dated April 2, and it was postmarked April 22.

Coffin says he wants to contest the decision, but the deadline for filing an appeal  April 17  had expired before the letter even left the labor departments mail room in Harrisburg.

The system just seems to fundamentally be broken, said Coffin, 41.

Coffin is among an increasingly frustrated legion of Pennsylvania workers who have been suddenly thrust into an Unemployment Compensation system that advocates say is not so much broken as overwhelmed by an unprecedented volume of claims that caught officials unprepared.

Nationwide, 3.8 million more Americans filed new unemployment applications last week, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. That brings the total number of jobs lost to 30.3 million in six weeks as the worlds largest economy came crashing to a standstill from the pandemic response.

 READ MORE: Pandemic has claimed 1.5 million Pennsylvania jobs, but a forecaster sees a temporary summer pop in rehiring

In Pennsylvania, more than 131,000 workers filed a claim in the week ending April 25 after losing their jobs or getting hours reduced, bringing the states total in six weeks to more than 1.6 million  or 24.7% of the workforce.

In New Jersey, the six-week total has climbed to 888,000, or 19.5% of the workforce. More than 71,000 New Jersey workers filed new claims for assistance last week, according to the federal data.

New applications nationwide have declined for five straight weeks since the end of March, but the numbers are unlike anything the nations unemployment insurance system has ever experienced.

The administrative costs of state unemployment offices are funded under a federal formula based upon last years volume of jobless claims, which were at a record low. Many states anticipated that unemployment claims would increase this year because economic indicators suggested an oncoming recession  but nothing like the pandemic-induced economic crash, said Michele Evermore, an unemployment insurance expert at the National Employment Law Project in Washington.

States did start putting in place contingency plans: If unemployment goes up 10% weve got a plan for that, said Evermore. Nobody expected unemployment to go up a thousand percent.

The Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation received about 40,000 unemployment claims in the three weeks before the coronavirus lock down. It experienced a 25-fold increase in the following three weeks, to about one million claims.

We went from record low unemployment to numbers that we had never, ever seen before, Jerry Oleksiak, the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, told reporters Monday.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

Frustrated, feeling desperate

The state has distributed $3.5 billion dollars in benefits since the avalanche of claims began in March, Oleksiak said, and most of that in the last two weeks. About $900 million of those benefits were payments authorized under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which provides a supplemental $600-a-week benefit through the end of July.

But delays in payments and communications glitches have triggered an upsurge in complaints from exasperated workers, often expressed on the labor and industry departments Facebook page. State officials say they are hearing the discontent, loud and clear.

We know that there are people who are frustrated, feeling desperate, said Oleksiak, a former Upper Merion special-education teacher and president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. We want to help them. We are doing all we can as quickly as we can.

He said the departments unemployment compensation unit has about 500 employees to respond to emails and calls, including many who were temporarily reassigned from other labor department offices. It has also brought back about 70 retirees familiar with the system. Most of the staff is working remotely from home.

Weve got over 500 staff from other agencies that we are training and getting ready to bring on to help with the emails and phone calls," Oleksiak said. "Weve got 100 new hires that will be starting their training mid-May and we hope to have them working soon.

 READ MORE: What you can do if youre laid off or furloughed during the coronavirus pandemic

The department has used the IBM Watson artificial intelligence system to respond to more than 95,000 calls, mostly routine questions.

Some applicants have practically given up hope on getting a response through the departments normal channels, and are barraging elected officials for help. Some are even looking up names and emails of legislative staffers online, seeking a sign of life, anywhere.

We cant get any response to email or social media messaging, said Beth Patterson, 29, who lives in Bellefonte, Centre County, with her husband, Kyle, 28. They moved to Pennsylvania from Virginia in August so that she could attend Penn State School of Law. Kyle Patterson lost his job in March as a restaurant manager.

Phone lines and the website chat have completely crashed," she said. "The only people I know of who got through had to redial anywhere between 300 and 600 times in one day.

 READ MORE: Unprecedented job losses infuriate Pa. workers as unemployment benefits cant keep up: We are getting desperate

The Pattersons have received two contradictory emails from state officials, one suggesting Kyles application was approved, and another indicating he was disqualified.

But we dont have any paperwork," said Beth Patterson. She said she and her husband have reached out to legislative offices and received sympathetic responses, but no action.

While the department has sagged under the huge volume incoming calls  it responded to more than 20,000 calls each of the last two weeks  it has also experienced a bottleneck of outgoing correspondence to claimants and employers.

Coffin and several others said their financial determination letters were stamped and postmarked several weeks after the letters were issued. The state appears to have put a priority on mailing out personal identification numbers to claimants, allowing them to access the online system. But other mail has suffered.

While many workers are receiving benefits without problems, those who are lost in a rabbit hole do not see the state making quick progress.

You try to be a little patient, right? said Delores Halstead, 54, a Philadelphia school bus driver who has previous experience with the states unemployment system because of the seasonal nature of her job.

Halstead filed for unemployment benefits in March after she was furloughed by her employer, Durham School Services. Her application appeared to be making headway, and then the state reported back that the claim was inactive since last July. She cant figure out where her claim went off the rails. She is unable to file a new one, and she cant get through to the department to resolve the problem.

Ive been reading the states website about the updates that theyre claiming have fixed some of the problems in the system, she said. But I dont see it. Im not getting anywhere.

Modernizing the system

About 20% of claims  more than 300,000 applicants so far  were disqualified initially, Susan Dickinson, the director of the office of unemployment compensation benefits policy, told reporters Monday. Others are disqualified after additional review if the state determines they were self-employed, or their jobs were terminated for willful misconduct and they are ineligible for benefits.

Dickinson said theres no backlog with financial determination letters going out. If claimants have not received the letters by now, she said, it likely means theres a specific problem with their claim  their identity has not been verified or an address was not entered into the system correctly.

It does take time for someone to get to that claim and make sure the identity is verified, she said.

Another problem that has emerged is the aging mainframe computer system, which has been undergoing a multi-year modernization that is scheduled to be completed in October. The new system is more user-friendly, and will allow easier communication with claimants. But its unavailable now.

We wish we had it before the pandemic started, but you know, timing is everything, Dickinson said.

The current system is not designed to handle applicants with incomes greater than $100,000 a year. I guess back in the late 60s, no one imagined anyones salary would ever be that high, said Dickinson. Those applicants are handled manually, slowing the response time.

 READ MORE: Philly businesses shuttered by coronavirus say they cant reopen until you feel safe leaving your house

The state also decided to quickly roll out a new system on April 18 to handle applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program approved by the federal government in March, which extends benefits for the first time to self-employed gig workers who are not covered by the conventional unemployment system.

But the system crashed under the onrush of initial applications, and the lack of communication about the new program has created confusion. The state has received 107,000 applications for PUA, but payments have not yet been issued.

Any new system is going to have some rollout problem, right? said Julia Simon-Mishel, the supervising attorney of the Unemployment Compensation Unit at Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Rolling out a new program in the middle of a pandemic is almost certainly going to have some problems.

One problem: Until the state makes a financial determination on how much a worker is entitled to receive, the new system is "automatically spitting out a weekly benefit rate of $195, which is the lowest benefit rate no matter what information people provided. That causes some claimants entitled to larger checks to panic and take to the phones.

People immediately fear that they did something wrong or its not going to work and theyre never going to receive this money, Simon-Mishel said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 05:34:01|Editor: huaxia

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People wearing face masks walk on a street in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

CAIRO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday that Turkey is at the peak point of the coronavirus outbreak, with 2,936 new cases reported, while the total infections in Iran reached 93,657 after 1,073 new cases were added in the past 24 hours.

"I can say that we are at the peak period, but we see a fall in the number of (new) cases," Koca stated at a press conference, noting a risk of a new wave is not foreseen if the current measures are followed.

With a total confirmed cases of 117,589, Turkey also registered 89 new fatalities of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 3,081 in the country.

So far, 44,022 patients have recovered from the viral respiratory disease in the hardest hit country by the novel coronavirus in the Middle East.

Iran, now the second hardest hit country in the Middle East, has continued to witness slowdown in the epidemic, where the death toll from the novel coronavirus has hit 5,957 while 73,791 have recovered with 2,965 still in critical condition, according to the country's health ministry.

With increased testing capacity, Saudi Arabia reported 1,325 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 21,402, while the death toll increased by five to 157 in the kingdom.

Among the 18,292 active cases in Saudi Arabia are 125 in critical condition, while 2,953 recoveries have been recorded, Mohammed Al Abdulaali, spokesman of the health ministry, told the daily press briefing on Wednesday.

It is worth noting that markets and malls in Saudi Arabia started to partially reopen on Wednesday, with a limited operating hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.

In Israel, the total number of COVID-19 recoveries has exceeded the number of active cases for the first time, the health ministry said Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the number of active cases has dropped to 7,337, while the number of recoveries reached 8,233, with 487 new ones added.

Israel has so far reported 15,834 COVID-19 cases, with only 106 new ones added on Wednesday, the smallest single-day increase since March 20 when 28 new cases were added.

The Israeli government is expected to discuss the gradual reopening of the education system, markets, shopping malls and cinemas, as well as allowing swimming at sea, according to the media reports.

In Palestine, six new coronavirus cases were reported on Wednesday, raising the total number in the Palestinian territories to 507.

Qatar's health ministry on Wednesday announced 643 new infections of the novel coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 12,564, of which 11,311 are under treatment.

As the first among the Gulf countries to report COVID-19 cases, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday announced 549 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 11,929.

The UAE's health ministry also confirmed nine more deaths, bringing the death toll to 98.

Egypt recorded on Wednesday 226 new COVID-19 cases and 21 new deaths, bringing the total number of the cases and the death toll in the country to 5,268 and 380 respectively.

The Egyptian government is currently trying to strike a balance between fighting COVID-19 and resuming services, businesses and economic activities through a coexistence plan, according to a video cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday attended with his African counterparts a virtual mini-summit held by the African Union to discuss joint efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic in the continent, the Egyptian presidency said.

In Morocco, 69 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 4,321 in the North African country, with 168 deaths and 928 recoveries.

Algeria on Wednesday reported 199 new cases of COVID-19, the highest single-day increase in the country, raising the total number of infections to 3,848.

On Wednesday, Kuwait reported 300 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death, bringing the total infections in the Gulf country to 3,740 and death toll to 24, the health ministry said in a statement.

A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Kuwait on Monday night to help the Arab country fight coronavirus.

During their stay in Kuwait, the Chinese experts will exchange experience with their Kuwaiti counterparts, assisting them in the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

Iraq confirmed 75 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number in the country to 2,003.

The Tunisian Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday five new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 980 in the country.

Earlier in the day, Lobna Jribi, Tunisian minister in charge of major national projects, announced that the nationwide lockdown measures will be phased out starting May 4.

However, Tunisian Health Minister Abdellatif Mekki warned that his country is "not immune to a second wave of the novel coronavirus epidemic."

War-torn Yemen recorded on Wednesday five new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country's southern port city of Aden. Enditem
Brett Coomer, Staff / Houston Chronicle

Despite social distancing and virtual life being the norm during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Lamar CISD still needs to fill anticipated openings beginning in the fall semester. With that in mind, the school district is moving forward virtually.

The Lamar CISD Virtual Teacher Job Fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 8. According to a news release, teacher candidates can meet with campus representatives in a live virtual setting and explore teaching opportunities in Lamar CISD.
We live in a time when digital technology has become more fully ingrained in our society than ever before. Ecommerce was already experiencing significant growth prior to the global crisis, with the U.S. Department of Commerce reporting 14.9 percent sector growth in 2019.

In addition to ecommerce, technology such as cloud operations, automated tools for managing day-to-day tasks and remote work solutions have become increasingly important for businesses.

However, its important to keep in mind that while all of these advancements can improve efficiency and help your bottom line, they also increase your risk for a cybersecurity attack. If you arent prepared, the results can be devastating  in fact, the Committee on Small Business estimates that 60 percent of small to medium-sized businesses go out of business within six months of a successful cyberattack.

Understanding your deficiencies and taking preventative actions will prove essential for protecting your digital assets  and your business as a whole.

1. Your employees havent received cybersecurity training

Your employees may have your companys best interests at heart, but they can easily prove to be an unintentional cybersecurity liability. The 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report from Verizon found that 94 percent of malware attacks were delivered via email.

These phishing attempts most often try to convince employees to download a file or click on a link that will install malware on their computers. Many of these emails can be highly sophisticated, designed to look like a message from one of your business partners or someone else within your organization.

Despite this, SmallBizTrends reports that only 31 percent of employees receive annual cybersecurity training. The best firewalls in the world wont help your company if you dont account for human error. Make sure your employees know how to identify malware so errant clicks dont compromise your security.

Related: 10 Cybersecurity Best Practices for Your SMBS

2. You find yourself with inadequate physical security

While you certainly should take steps to establish comprehensive digital security, you cannot neglect your facilitys physical security needs. If someone were to break into your office and steal a computer with confidential files, the results would be just as devastating as if the information was stolen via malware.

A blog post from SysArc, an IT security services provider, notes that such deficiencies even extend to government facilities, where you would expect greater physical security to be present.

Some auditors found that physical security at DoD facilities was inadequate, the post notes. For example, server racks that are not locked up can be compromised by workers or intruders. Similarly, some officials failed to adequately protect classified data that was stored on removable media, which can easily fall into the wrong hands.

While security cameras and improved entry security can deter break-ins, business owners should also pay close attention to how equipment is used throughout the day. Some facilities may even find it beneficial to effectively ban USB drives, as these devices are easily lost or stolen.

3. Youve overlooked multi-factor authentication

Despite recommendations to have different passwords for each account, data from Statista reveals that 65 percent of internet users use the same password for some or most of their accounts. This means that a breach at another retailer could help hackers gain access to employee accounts.

Fortunately, multi-factor authentication provides an easy way to counter this. Rather than simply allowing a user to log in with a username and potentially compromised password, it requires that a one-time code be sent to the users email or phone before they can complete the login.

This extra step is often enough to prevent a security breach  and can also alert users when an unauthorized individual is trying to log in with their account. Without this system, a major security breach could easily go unnoticed.

As Celu Ramasamy noted in Entrepreneur, other authentication methods could be even more secure: Fast Identity Online (FIDO), which uses biometric or vocal recognition, is becoming more widely accepted and presents a more secure alternative to passwords. Even technology like blockchain offers a significant upgrade in verifying and authenticating users thanks to robust, transparent protocols that remove the need for obsolete and unsafe passwords.

4. You havent reassessed your security programs

Most business owners understand the importance of installing firewalls and anti-malware programs to protect their networks and devices. But not all cybersecurity tools are created equal. If you opt for a less-than-adequate system that doesnt continuously update to stop new threats, you will be putting your company at risk.

Hackers are constantly working to discover new cybersecurity vulnerabilities and are quick to take advantage of them. In fact, a report from Security Boulevard found that 60 percent of all data breaches that occurred in 2019 could be attributed to unpatched vulnerabilities. On average, it took 12 days for a security flaw to be patched.

That period is more than enough time for hackers to attack your business  especially if the security flaw gets widely publicized. When partnering with a security vendor, do your due diligence to ensure that they are proactive in identifying and addressing any flaws in your systems.

Related: 4 Major Cybersecurity Risks of Working From Home

Today, take action to protect your business from cyberattacks

From your customers financial data to proprietary information related to your products and business operations, there is a lot of valuable data being stored digitally these days. Its little wonder that even a relatively small business serves as an attractive target for hackers.

By taking a step back to evaluate your weaknesses and then proactively implementing measures to address these issues, you will greatly reduce your risk of a security breach. It just might save your company.

Related:

4 Telltale Signs Your Business Is Ripe for a Cybersecurity Attack (and How to Respond)

FBI: Think Twice Before Posting Your High School Photos on Social Media

Zoom's Security Pile-on Caused a Lawsuit - Are Microsoft, Cisco and Others Next?



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  The Philippines appears close to the tail-end of the COVID-19 crisis, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua said Thursday, with the reopening of more businesses by May seen to hasten economic recovery.

While he acknowledged that uncertainties remain, the newly-minted Cabinet official said that the revival of several industries starting Friday could kick off the economys rebound, following a six-week slump due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon  the countrys biggest business hub.

Tomorrow is May 1, you will see many provinces transferred from the ECQ status to the GCQ or general community quarantine status as announced by Malacanang. That, I think, is an indication that we are getting towards the end of the tunnel, Chua said in an online forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

I think theres a strong possibility of a rebound by June so that we can begin the recovery phase, and we will prepare for that well in the coming weeks, Chua added.

LIST: Businesses allowed to reopen by May 1

Chua said around 75 percent of residents in GCQ areas will be allowed to return to work or operate their businesses again starting Friday, subject to minimum health standards like the wearing of face masks, frequent and proper hand washing, and social distancing.

Some provinces and regions remain under strict stay-at-home rules, including Metro Manila, for the next two weeks.

RELATED: Some reopening businesses may require health declaration, COVID-19 testing for employees  DTI

The National Economic and Development Authority has been tapped to lead the crafting of the governments COVID-19 recovery program, which will be implemented after authorities are able to keep the spread of local infections under control.

First-quarter growth data will be released next week, with Chua acknowledging that the January-March figure could already reflect the initial slump during the first two weeks of the Luzon lockdown and even the disruption due to the Taal volcano eruption in January, which affected business operations in Calabarzon.

The Presidents economic team assumes a zero-growth scenario for the economy in 2020, a far cry from the 6 percent yearly average over the past few years. Economic losses are estimated at least 700 billion based on a survey on businesses, while Chuas rough calculation point to as high as 1.1 trillion.

READ: Luzon braces for massive economic meltdown due to lockdown

The only thing we are sure of is we are not really sure about the trajectory of the economy, Chua said, as he acknowledged that the Philippines had bright prospects entering 2020 until the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdown came.

Future decisions to lift the strict quarantine protocols nationwide would entail a balancing act that will weigh the tradeoff between the health and economy, he added.

For now, the government is focusing on the delivery of subsidies to the poorest families and displaced workers, Chua said, adding that cash aid through the Small Business Wage Subsidy Program will start releasing funds within the week.
What Can the World Do To Stand Up To the CCP? Curtis Ellis Says Its Time to Boycott China

Curtis Ellis, a top Trump economic advisor and Policy Director with America First Policies, is calling for a boycott of the Chinese regime. He argues that given the CCPs history of abuses, its forms of subversion against other nations, and its cover-up of the CCP Virus which has gone on to become a pandemic, everyone has the ability to stand up against it through a boycott.

In this episode of Crossroads we sit down with Ellis to discuss why he believes a boycott is necessary, and whether it is likely or not that current global lawsuits against the CCP can succeed, and why the calls for investigations into the regime and its handling of the CCP Virus are necessary.

And President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to order meat processing plants to stay open. We explain the story behind the order.

These stories and more in this episode of Crossroads.

Crossroads is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube.
Garda and members of Garda forensics pictured at the house at Moore Park in Newbridge where a man in his 60s received serious injuries during an assault. Photo: Frank McGrath

A 65-year-old 'Good Samaritan' was clinging to life in hospital last night after being the victim of a savage knife attack.

An exact motive for the brutal incident, which happened at a house in Newbridge, Co Kildare, at around 9pm on Tuesday, has not yet been established, but the victim remained in a critical condition at Naas General Hospital last night.

He has been named locally as Peter Kennedy (65), who had worked as a supervisor for the Probation Service in Co Kildare.

It is understood he was stabbed in the side of the head and also in the face in the attack, suffering "catastrophic injuries".

Gardai said they were following a definite line of enquiry in the case and the only suspect, who is aged 19, was arrested yesterday afternoon following a major manhunt. He was being detained in Newbridge garda station last night.

Earlier, the suspect's details were distributed among officers who were advised to be "extremely cautious" if approaching the teenager who has a "history of using knives and being engaged in violence".

An older woman who is very well known to the suspect had been staying in the victim's house and the suspect had previously stayed there as well.

Sources said the teenager had been visiting this woman when Mr Kennedy was brutally attacked. There was no break-in at the house.

The suspect has links to Co Kildare and Dublin city centre and is well known to gardai.

"Mr Kennedy was not in a relationship with that lady - he took her in to his home because he was a Good Samaritan and she was homeless," a source said last night.

"The suspect in the case had also lived on occasion in the house at Moore Park but had not been residing there in recent times because his volatile behaviour was causing huge concern," the source added.

Local Fianna Fail councillor Noel Heavey, who is a friend of Mr Kennedy, described the victim "as a highly respectable man with a great community spirit who watched out for other people.

"I have known him since the 1980s, when he became a director of the resource centre for the unemployed in Newbridge.

"He is very well known and this has caused huge shock in the town," said Mr Heavey.
Nobodys going to, you know, run in and break up a gathering of churchgoers at the moment, but I will tell you that there are consequences. Of course the state has the ability to enforce orders, but weve been looking to people to do the right thing," Pritzker said.
Egypt's coronavirus cases continued to rise after recording 269 new infections on Thursday, up nine cases from the highest infections toll reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 5, 537 nationwide.

The country's health ministry also declared 12 fatalities. The total death toll has reached 392.

The newly detected cases -- including three foreigners --have been detected through the ministry's investigation and contact tracing protocols in accordance with the World Health Organisation's guidelines.

Meanwhile, 46 Egyptians have fully recovered and have been discharged from quarantine hospitals, bringing the total number of fully recovered patients to 1,381.

The number of patients whose PCR tests changed from positive to negative has become 1,780, including the recoveries.

Last week, Egypt shortened the night-time curfew by one hour for Ramadan, amending curfew hours to begin at 9pm instead of 8pm.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly warned last week that the number of infections is expected to rise, yet he assured the public that the government is still able to contain the virus.

If the rate of infections surges significantly and gets out of control, however, the government will take immediate measures that will be stricter than those currently in place, he said.

Earlier this week, Egypt's presidential health adviser Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din said the current infection rate and the death toll in Egypt remain within predictions, adding that the rising curve of infections is expected to continue until it levels off.

He said that finding a vaccine for the virus would take at least nine months.

Tag El-Din noted that the coronavirus will not completely disappear and will become a chronic disease like influenza and swine flu after the world manages to curb its swift spread.

The health ministry announced on Thursday it has started trials on plasma collected from donors who recovered from the coronavirus to test whether plasma can be an effective treatment for patients who are severely ill with the disease.

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The roads are quieter these days, and that means leaner times for companies in most segments of the auto industry, including the dealers. However, leaner times are eventually displaced by better times, when profits come rolling in again.

If we were to kick the tires of the two biggest auto dealership groups now, which would be the more promising for future returns?





AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN), based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, describes itself as the largest auto retailer in the U.S. "As of December 31, 2019, we owned and operated 317 new vehicle franchises from 231 stores located in the United States, predominantly in major metropolitan markets in the Sunbelt region." Roughly three quarters of its revenue comes from the sale of new and used cars, but three quarters of its gross profit comes from parts/service and finance/insurance activities.

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:PAG), based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, describes itself this way in its 10-K for 2019: "We believe we are the second largest automotive retailer headquartered in the U.S. as measured by the $20.6 billion in total retail automotive dealership revenue we generated in 2019. As of December 31, 2019, we operated 321 retail automotive franchises, of which 145 franchises are located in the U.S. and 176 franchises are located outside of the U.S."

Both firms are investing in online capabilities, with AutoNation reporting, "Consumers are increasingly shopping for new and used vehicles, automotive repair and maintenance services, and other automotive products and services online and through mobile applications, including through third-party online and mobile sales platforms, with which we compete, that are designed to generate consumer sales leads that are sold to automotive dealers." To back up its efforts, AutoNation made a $50 million minority investment in Vroom, an online car retailer.

Story continues

The stock price of AutoNation was stronger in the first half of the 2010s, but in the latter half fell back in line with Penske's:

GuruFocus AutoNation Penske price charts

Behind the prices, of course, are data on the fundamentals, which should help us better understand their strengths and weaknesses. To assess which company is the better investment, I will use the Macpherson model, an initial screening process used by Thomas Macpherson of Nintai Investments. It has four criteria: moat, financial strength, profitability and valuation.

Moat

To determine whether a company's margins and ultimately its profits are protected from competitors, we first look for a potential economic moat based on having at least 15% return on capital (RAC) and at least 15% return on tangible equity (ROTE). These are the results for the two companies:

GuruFocus AutoNation Penske competitive advantages

The high return on tangible equity suggests these companies have little in the way of intangible assets (including goodwill) in relation to their total tangible equity.

Financial strength

The Macpherson model favors companies with no debt and a GuruFocus financial strength rating of at least 9 out of 10:

GuruFocus AutoNation Penske financial strength

Both companies have low financial strength. This chart shows the long-term debt and capital lease obligations for both companies:

GuruFocus AutoNation Penske financial strength

The sharp uptick in the Penske graph shows that the company added more than $2 billion in long-term debt and capital lease obligations in 2019.

Profitability

The GuruFocus profitability rating is based on five different measures:

Operating Margin % Piotroski F-Score Trend of the Operating Margin % (5-year average). The company with an uptrend profit margin has a higher rank. Consistency of the profitability Predictability Rank







Ideally, a company needs to have a GuruFocus profitability rating of at least 9 out of 10:

GuruFocus AutoNation Penske valuation

Valuation

Finally, we review the relationship between the companies' intrinsic/fair values and their market prices, looking for a margin of safety as per an earnings-based discounted cash flow model:

GuruFocus AutoNation Penske valuations

Summary

Looking at the overall results for all four sets of tests, these two competitors are not much different. Penske has the edge after assessing moats. On financial strength, AutoNation has a modest edge because Penske roughly doubled its long-term debt and obligations last year. For profitability, Penske ranks slightly better, despite having a weaker operating margin and Piotroski score. Finally, on valuation, Penske looks stronger, with a wider margin of safety.

Though these are not major differences, Penske has the edge in three out of four tests.

Ownership

Ten of the investing legends followed by GuruFocus have holdings in AutoNation. The single biggest holding is that of Edward Lampert (Trades, Portfolio) of RBS Partners, who owned 2.4 million shares at the end of 2019. He was the only guru with more than one million shares.

Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) of Gamco had the second-largest holding, while Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) of Renaissance Technologies had the third largest holding.

Penske had only five guru owners at the end of last year. Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) was the largest holder with just over a half-million shares, while Tom Gayner (Trades, Portfolio) of Market Gayner and Louis Moore Bacon (Trades, Portfolio) of Moore Capital held the second and third largest holdings.

Besides Gabelli, Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) is also an owner of both companies, suggesting some of the gurus are splitting their bets between the two.

24.7% of Penske's shares are owned by institutional investors, while 2.26% are held by insiders. For AutoNation, 41.24% of its shares were held by the fund professionals and 1.16% belonged to insiders.

Covid-19 response

Both companies have been affected seriously by the pandemic and also will be hurt by the economic crisis that is now unfolding.

In a statement on March 30, Penske reported it had taken proactive measures to deal with the financial and operational issues that were emerging. At the time, it had access to liquidity of $1.3 billion, which included $850 million in cash. It also had some $450 million in real estate that was potentially financeable.

Conclusion

After comparing America's two biggest auto dealership groups, Penske appears to me to be a better prospect, but not by a lot.

Based on the Macpherson model, Penske comes out ahead on the fundamentals, but there are areas within each of its categories where AutoNation has the edge. At the end of last year, gurus seemed to have more interest in AutoNation. Perhaps, like Gabelli and Simons, we might split an investment between the two of them.

But, all in all, I'm nowhere near ready to invest in either of them. The discounted prices, especially for Penske, are interesting, but it appears there are better opportunities currently available.

Disclosure: This article is only an introduction to the company and investors must do their own due diligence. I do not own shares in it and do not expect to buy any in the next 72 hours.

Read more here:

UFP Industries: A New Business Model Is Paying Off

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CP Rail: A 5-Star Stock at a Bargain Price







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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio

Suspicious person: Ohio Turnpike

Police responded at 6:22 p.m. April 25 to a call that a nude man was on the west side of the Ohio Turnpike performing a lewd act on himself. Officers checked the area on foot. They then drove to Usher Road and Columbia Road locations to search for the suspect. An Ohio Department of Transportation employee also checked the area. They did not find the suspect.

Car crash: Bagley Road

Police cited a driver for an improper left turn at Bagley and Usher roads. The car crash occurred at 5:12 p.m. April 23. One of the cars was towed from the scene.

Noise: Lakeview Drive

Police went to a residence at 1:54 a.m. April 26 for a complaint about loud music. An officer spoke to the homeowner, who agreed to turn down the music. The officer also saw juveniles, who lived at that home, walking through the neighborhood. The officer advised them of the curfew law.

Theft: Lake of the Falls

A Berea Plumbing worker reported that someone had stolen two signs from a job site over the April 25-26 weekend.

Drugs: Columbia Road

Police checked out a car at 2:39 a.m. April 28 and found that the passenger had a warrant. A K-9 was brought to the scene and alerted officers to something on the passengers side. The driver was detained.

Burning: Lewis Road

Police assisted the fire department at 12:43 p.m. April 28 when they were alerted that smoke was coming from a back yard. They smelled burning leaves upon arrival. The resident was warned about open burning and put the fire out.

Trespassing: Columbia Road

Police received a call at 6:30 p.m. April 28 that juveniles were walking on the railroad tracks between Lewis and Columbia roads. The officer found one person, who was an adult. He was advised about trespassing on the tracks.

Read more from the Sun Post Herald.
Debris from a Canadian military helicopter operating as part of a NATO surveillance force has been found in the sea between Greece and Italy, a Greek military source said Thursday. The helicopter was attached to the Canadian frigate Fredericton, from which it had taken off for a patrol. "Debris has been found in Italy's zone of control and intervention" in the Ionian Sea, the military source told AFP, specifying the wreckage belonged to the Canadian helicopter. "Greece has sent a marine helicopter to participate in the rescue operation," the source said. Six crew were aboard the helicopter when it disappeared Wednesday, he said. Greek public television reported that a body had been found amid the wreckage in international waters off the Greek island of Kefalonia. But the military source did not immediately confirm the report. The Canadian armed forces earlier issued a statement confirming a search was underway after contact was lost with the helicopter. "There is a developing situation regarding one of our CH-148 Cyclone helicopters, deployed onboard HMCS FREDERICTON, which is currently contributing to Op REASSURANCE," the Canadian armed forces said in a statement. "Contact was lost with the aircraft as it was participating in Allied exercises off the coast of Greece. Search and rescue efforts are currently underway," it added. The statement did not give details on how many personnel were on board. Initial reports said the helicopter had been over international waters 50 nautical miles off Kefalonia, the Greek air force said. Italian, Greek and Turkish frigates also took part in the patrol that had moved from Greek to Italian waters on Wednesday, with the Greek frigate remaining in Greek waters. Greek naval and air forces were ready to assist in a rescue operation "if Italy requests it", a military source told AFP earlier. A spokesperson for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), which plans and carries out all NATO operations, added: "I confirm there has been an incident involving a helicopter from a ship under NATO command. "There is currently a search and rescue operation being conducted and national notifications taking place."
Elementary schools in Quebec must reopen in May, the premier and education minister insist, in part because children with special needs and learning difficulties need to return to the structure of the classroom.

Supporting those children, Premier Francois Legault has repeated, is paramount and one of the driving forces behind the decision to reopen schools, which some have criticized as too hasty.

But some parents of children with special needs say they dont buy Legaults argument.

We have not heard the words special-needs kids or children with disabilities this entire time. These families have kind of been left on their own, said Naureen Hunani, whose nine-year-old son, Isaac, has autism. Now that the schools are reopening, one of the things that keeps coming up is: Oh, were doing it for the special-needs kids, which I feel is complete B.S.

Isaac attends Summit School, a private centre that specializes in students with special needs. He loves it and has the support he needs, Hunani said. Last year, Isaac was in the public system and things did not go so well, his mother added.

Isaac has been keeping well since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, but hes excited to go back to school. If he attended a public school, Hunani wouldnt send him back.

Its not like our kids are really happy or well-supported in the public sector anyway, she said. Its not like their needs are being met.

The Quebec education system has failed to adequately recognize or care for special-needs children, many parents say, leaving them puzzled why there seems to be such a sudden focus on their kids. Many remain unconvinced that school will be the best place for children as Quebec continues to battle the worst coronavirus outbreak in Canada.

School can be difficult for many children with learning difficulties. Its a source of stress, many parents said, but it also provides much-needed social interaction and structure. Home life can be boring and repetitive and attempting home-schooling can be a chore.

Im not saying its easy at school, Im just saying its a little harder at home, said Max Sposato, whose nine-year-old son, Liano, has autism, but is high-functioning and attends a public school in Laval.

Sposato isnt sure about sending Liano back to class on May 19.

How much is (the opening of schools) going to advantage special-needs (children)? he asked. The question still remains to be answered because it was already problematic prior to this.

For some parents of special-needs children, establishing a routine and attempting school work at home has been hard. Online tools are rarely tailored to the needs of children with learning difficulties and some feel left behind.

Organizations like The West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped (WIAIH) and the Montreal Fluency Centre have taken many of their programs online in an effort to continue to provide support and therapy to parents and children. Many parents said such programs help them cope with the stress of lockdown.

Lynda Kachaamis eight-year-old son, Alex, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Her 11-year-old son, Gabriel, has autism. Like Isaac, Gabriel attends Summit School and misses it, Kachaami said, but he cant go back because his brothers immune system is vulnerable.

Kachaamis family is used to taking precautions to protect Alex, but Gabriel is having a hard time understanding the pandemic. He misses his school, where there are enough sensory stimuli to keep him busy. The lockdown also prevents him from letting off steam in other ways.

I cant take him to a place like Skytag (a trampoline gym) to let some of the energy out, so hes literally climbing the walls, Kachaami said.

Years of practice and an optimistic mindset had, in a strange way, prepared Kachaami and her husband for the stress of the lockdown, she said.

Were dealing with these big issues every day, she explained. From the time our children were born and/or diagnosed, weve been dealing with this overwhelming stress and fear all the time and you have to learn how to handle it.

But to Kachaami  and many other parents  the governments sudden focus on children with special needs rings hollow.

Typically, we have to fight to get services for our kids in public schools, she said. Resources are few and far between and the staff tend to lack training and experience. So how exactly is sending them to school beneficial?

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"He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him," his family said in a statement.
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When Pat Biswanger's family was planning to hold their Easter get-together by videoconference because of the coronavirus pandemic, her sister insisted on using Microsoft Teams instead of Zoom, because of bad press about the popular newer company's privacy and security flaws.



"My sister's smart about these things, and I was happy to go along," Biswanger recalls, but she wondered whether all videoconferencing services were equally bad on privacy. When she got together online with her grandchildren the next weekend, the Philadelphia attorney hosted it on Zoom, which she finds easier to use. However, she still wasn't quite sure which platform was safer.



At Consumer Reports, we had the same question as Biswanger: Are there differences in how major videoconferencing platforms handle privacy?

It's an important issue at a moment, when consumers are making heavy use of videoconferencing platforms for business meetings, classes, and visits with family.

We had already looked at Zoom, which is now fixing a number of privacy and security problems. Next, we decided to evaluate the privacy policies of the biggest, best-known videoconferencing platforms.

These are Webex from Cisco; Skype and Teams from Microsoft; and Meet, Duo, and Hangouts from Google. A single privacy policy governs Google's three videoconferencing services, and Teams and Skype share the same Microsoft privacy policy.

"While there are differences among the privacy policies of the different platforms, on balance, the differences aren't enormous," says Bill Fitzgerald, a privacy researcher in Consumer Reports' Digital Lab who analyzed the documents. "And from a privacy point of view, none of these options are great."

According to their privacy policies, all three companies can collect data while you're in a videoconference, combine it with information from data brokers and other sources to build consumer profiles, and potentially tap into the videos for purposes like training facial recognition systems.

Story continues

All of the companies responded to questions by Consumer Reports, saying that they respect consumer privacy without refuting our core findings. Cisco, for example, said that "privacy is a basic human right, and we never rent or sell our customers' information."

Some companies have made improvements. While we were evaluating the platforms, Google gave hosts in Meet the option to require a password to enter a meeting. That was a welcome change; until then, it was harder for Google users to secure their meetings against intruders.

Consumer Reports is writing to Cisco, Google, and Microsoft with a number of recommendations on how to improve their privacy policies, and publishing a complete report on what we found. We think the reforms we're proposing also make sense for teleconferencing platforms we haven't evaluated, from Facebook's recently announced Messenger Rooms to Houseparty, which calls itself a "face-to-face social network."

You can see more details below. But first, there are steps you can take to protect your privacy while using any videoconferencing service.

How to Stay More Private in Videochats

When you join a videoconference, you face several potential threats to your privacy and security.

One risk is a Zoombombing-style attack in which a meeting is disrupted by an intruder. There's been a lot written on how to protect yourself on Zoom, but the same thing can happen on other platforms, too.

On the privacy side, information about the call could be collected by the companies that built the platform, as well as the host or administrator of your meeting, or even by other participants. And that information can then be shared either publicly or with businesses.





Here are four strategies from CR's privacy and security experts for keeping your personal information safe while teleconferencing.

Pick a platform. For starters, see whether you can use any of these services as a "guest," to share as little information as possible. If you decide to sign up, perhaps to access more features, you can minimize your digital footprint by sticking to a single platform. That way, fewer companies are watching you. There's another benefit, too: You can become acquainted with the service's privacy and security features, and learn to use those tools more effectively.



Use outside privacy tools. This tip applies to almost anything you do online. First, if you decide to create a videoconferencing account, use a dedicated "burner" email that you don't use for anything else, or at least for important functions like banking, healthcare, and social media accounts. It's also smart to use a highly rated password manager with the platform's password function. That can help keep your meetings secure from a Zoombombing intrusion.



Assume you're being recorded. Anything you say or do in a meeting can be recorded. It can be captured officially by a host, administrator, or another participant, or just grabbed by someone with screencasting software or even a smartphone. The solution? Turn off your camera and mic whenever possible. When you do have to be onscreen, consider using a virtual or blurred background if you don't want to show co-workers, clients, or strangers the personal details that can be gleaned from books on your shelf, your children's toys, or art on your wall. Videos can leak into public or end up being shared with a wider circle of friends, clients, or co-workers.



Just make a regular phone call. Many meetings simply don't need video. When that's the case, pick up the phone to talk to a colleague or loop a small group into an old-fashioned conference call.

What Platforms Should Do

When CR's testers delved into the privacy policies for these videoconferencing platforms, they found that none provide much detail on what kind of data the companies collect or how they use it. And because Cisco, Google, and Microsoft are sprawling companies with many products, it's often hard to tell which policies actually apply to videoconferencing.

The privacy policies differ in the details. But, broadly, all three companies reserve the right to store information on how long a call lasts; who's on it; and everyone's IP, or internet, address. They can combine this information with personal details they get from data brokers and potentially create individual consumer profiles that are not directly related to helping anyone make a call. They can access the audio, for instance, when a host orders a transcription of a meeting and to improve their voice-to-speech technologies. And it's unclear whether they might have people spot-check video recordings to develop facial recognition or similar technologies. (Consumers have been upset to learn about this practice by security camera companies in the past.)

When we reached out to the three companies, we got a small amount of new information. Cisco emailed us a PDF, which we then hunted down to a hard-to-find location on its website. It provides a much clearer run-down than its privacy policy about what kind of data the company collects. And all three companies told Consumer Reports that they only record videos or generate transcripts when a participant hits Record, and that the contents are not directly used for advertising.

Justin Brookman, director of privacy and technology policy for Consumer Reports, points out that these responses came in emails to a reporter, not published promises that any consumer could look up online.

"We're more likely to trust privacy policies because they're public commitments that are enforceable by regulators," he says. "Without self-imposed restrictions, tech companies have a history of surprising consumers by collecting, sharing, and using data in expansive and disturbing ways."

Here are the best practices Consumer Reports is recommending for all videoconferencing companies.

Minimize data collection. During a videoconference, companies should store only the information needed to deliver the service. Then, they should limit how that data is shared with third parties.



Restrict how data is used for "product improvement." Videoconferencing companies should only use data they collect to develop or improve features that are clearly related to the service the user is getting. They should not use the data to develop other products unless they've first acquired clear and informed consent from users. Video and voice recordings from videoconferences should not be used for machine learning or viewed by people for product development.



Turn on the most secure settings by default. The goal is for companies to help hosts and administrators to do everything they can to protect participant privacy and security. Make it clear to ordinary participants when a school or a business is running a conference and therefore has heightened access to the participant's information.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
65% of Americans support Trump's pause on immigration during COVID-19: poll

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A majority of Americans  as much as 65 percent  favor a temporary pause on most immigration to the United States as the coronavirus pandemic continues, according to two separate new surveys.

A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released Tuesday shows that even though a majority of Americans they surveyed seemingly disapprove of President Trumps response to the outbreak, they approve of his plan to temporarily halt nearly all immigration to the U.S.

The survey of 1,008 Americans was launched after Trump announced on April 20 that he planned to pause immigration during the pandemic to protect high skilled jobs for the tens of millions of Americans who've filed for unemployment in recent weeks.

However, the survey was launched before the details of the executive order were made public two days later on April 22.

Respondents were asked if they support or oppose temporarily blocking nearly all immigration into the U.S. during the coronavirus outbreak.

With over six in 10 respondents saying that they support such a plan, 34 percent said they oppose.

Broken down by self-identified party affiliation, 83 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of Independents and nearly half (49 percent) of Democrats said they support a temporary ban.

The poll also shows consensus between races as a majority of white respondents (67 percent) and nonwhite respondents (61 percent) support the proposal.

According to the surveys co-director, University of Maryland government and politics professor Michael Hanmer, a majority of 18-to 29-year-olds are also supportive of the idea to temporarily block nearly all immigration.

Another poll released last week by Rasmussen Reports found similar results.

In a survey of 1,000 likely voters conducted between April 22 and April 23, the research group found that 57 percent favor a temporary halt to most immigration because of the economic impact of the coronavirus.

The poll showed that 31 percent opposed the idea and 13 percent were undecided.

The survey also found that 52 percent agreed and 38 percent disagreed with Trumps rationale for the immigration freeze: to help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs.

The findings come as polling in recent years has suggested that most Americans view immigration is a good thing.

One way for people to deal with the reality that so many scientific and policy questions have yet to be answered is to look to concrete solutions, Hanmer said.

On April 22, Trump signed the order restricting various categories of immigrants from entering the U.S. for 60 days, such as those who are not already inside the country and dont have a valid immigrant visa to travel to the U.S.

Those barred from entering the U.S. during this period include family members of green card holders and adult children of U.S. citizens.

The order exempts spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens, health care workers, immigrant investors, special immigrant visa-holders and other categories of immigrants such as those essential to criminal investigations.

Although Democrats widely and repeatedly criticized Trumps China travel ban that was also expanded to include Europe to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that she thinks the Trump administration should have banned U.S. citizens and green card holders from returning to the U.S. from China, where the virus originated. Pelosi's suggestion that U.S. citizens should be banned from returning home is unconstitutional.

Trump issued partial travel restriction in January barring Chinese foreign nationals from coming to the U.S. Pelosi told CNN that the ban allowed U.S. citizens and green card holders to return home from China.

If youre going to shut the door because you have an evaluation of an epidemic, then shut the door, Pelosi said Sunday.

Pelosi had previously slammed Trump's travel restrictions as "outrageous" and "un-American."

Speaker Pelosi on Trump's China travel restriction: "Tens of thousands of people were still allowed in from China. It wasn't as it is described as this great moment. ... If you're going to shut the door because you have an evaluation of an epidemic, then shut the door" #CNNSOTUpic.twitter.com/jpKFxYVCu6  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 26, 2020

The Washington Post survey also found that 52 percent of respondents rated Trumps response to the virus as not so good or poor. Meanwhile, 47 percent rated the presidents response to the pandemic as excellent or good.

When asked about their state governors, 77 percent of respondents rated their governors responses as excellent or good, while 22 percent rated the responses as not so good or poor.

Sixty-six percent of respondents said that they think current restrictions on how stores and other businesses operate in their states are appropriate. Seventeen percent felt the restrictions were too restrictive and 16 percent felt they were not restrictive enough.
Londoners gathering at landmarks such as Westminster Bridge for the country's weekly 'clap for carers' event will be told to return home, the Metropolitan Police have said.

It comes two weeks after the force's commissioner Dame Cressida Dick was filmed leading dozens of officers in the weekly applause for key workers on a crowded Westminster Bridge.

The increasingly large gatherings on the bridge have provoked outrage on social media in recent weeks.

Two weeks ago Met Police chief Cressida Dick was slammed on social media after she joined huge crowds at the central London landmark to take part in the weekly event.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick took part in Clap For Carers by showing her support on Westminster Bridge in London two weeks ago

Cressida Dick on Westminster Bridge for the clap for the NHS. She attracted criticism for the move and not dispersing large crowds

Today Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said Met officers and staff will continue to join the tribute at 8pm on Thursdays.

But he warned that people who are out without a reasonable excuse outlined in the Government's lockdown rules will be asked to return home.

'We have repeatedly reminded colleagues that they must maintain an appropriate social distance at all times where operationally possible. But to do this they also need the support and assistance of the public,' he said.

'As this event has gained prominence it is understandable that major landmarks, including Westminster Bridge in central London, have become focal points for those who wish to applaud.

'However, it is not acceptable for people to disregard the safety of themselves and others. Officers will be present tonight to engage, explain and encourage them to observe social distancing rules.

'Members of the public who are not away from their homes for one of the reasons outlined in the Government's emergency legislation should expect to be asked to return home.

'In keeping with our approach to these rules throughout the lockdown, officers will only enforce this legislation as a last resort.'

Increasingly large numbers of people have travelled to Westminster Bridge for the weekly Clap For Carers

On Thursday Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the only people who can be out tonight are those keeping in line with the Government's emergency legislation

Last week hundreds of people including police and emergency workers were once again blasted after ignoring social distancing rules to applaud NHS workers on Westminster Bridge.

Shocking photographs described as 'absolutely shambolic' showed members of the public clearly defying guidelines to stay 6ft apart as they took part in the Clap for Carers salute to frontline staff.

Police had planned the event to showcase support for key workers, turning their cars' blue lights on, but the applause resulted in overcrowding.

Met Police chief Cressida Dick came in for criticism on social media after she joined crowds on Westminster Bridge to clap, two weeks ago.

Members of the public gather on Westminster Bridge on April 23. Some were seen flouting the 6ft rule

Dame Cressida, 59, drew harsh criticism for failing to prevent the crowding, in what was supposed to be a press opportunity for the force.

She was branded the 'worst commissioner of all time' after the failed photo opportunity became a public embarrassment.

Last Thursday those in the crowd could be seen smiling and taking photos as hospital staff at nearby St Thomas' Hospital joined people outside.

Ambulances were parked with their sirens on and emergency workers chatted with members of the public.

The scenes took place while the rest of the country stood out on their doorsteps to clap to thank brave NHS staff battling the coronavirus pandemic for the fifth consecutive week.

After footage and images from the event circulated on social media, many hit out over the clear breach in lockdown rules.

MP for Telford Lucy Allan wrote: 'How did this happen again? You can't comfort your loved one on their death bed, but it's fine to go Westminster Bridge and party on a Thursday.'

Another wrote: 'More stupidity on Westminster Bridge. Please explain Matt Hancock'

Bryn Jones said: 'Can you explain why this was allowed to happen this evening on #WestminsterBridge? Were no lessons learnt from last week's fiasco @metpoliceuk @MayorofLondon?

'No wonder we are having hundreds of deaths day after day from #coronavirus #ClapForCarers should only be a doorstep thing.'

Junior doctor Damir Rafi captured footage of Westminster Bridge that was watched more than 10 million times and caused outrage on social media.

Dr Rafi, who works at St Thomas' hospital, said: 'I'm a doctor working at the hospital that's right there. And yes, I was also somewhat perplexed by the lack of social distancing.'

In the video, crowds were within touching distance of each other, seemingly oblivious to the government's rules on social distancing.

Police watched on and joined in with the applause instead of breaking up the crowd, which is in clear violation of lockdown policy.

Social media users blasted 'idiots' for smashing social distancing rules by cramming onto London's Westminster Bridge to clap for NHS workers

People carrying babies and looking after young children were also there, as one man snaked through the crowd with a bike.

The week before, one critic said on social media: 'Beyond a joke. But that's Cressida Dick for you. Worst commissioner of all time.'

Another added: 'Met Police Chief Cressida Dick was on Westminster Bridge last night and did nothing!'

Daniel Aherne wrote: 'Hope this brings a long overdue end to Cressida Dick's career.'

Downing Street responded by urging people to follow social distancing guidance.

Number 10 said: 'We would ask that everyone takes responsibility and adheres to social distancing rules so that we can safely show our appreciation for those who are working so hard to fight coronavirus.

'We would ask that in showing their appreciation for those who are working so hard as carers, they do so in a way which adheres to the social distancing rules.'
It is information-based classes for childbirth preparation and breastfeeding

In order to help pregnant women to fight anxiety, stress during COVID-19, Motherhood hospital has launched virtual LAMAZE (information-based classes for childbirth preparation and breastfeeding) and prenatal yoga classes for their regular as well as new patients.

Dr. Shilpi Srivastava, Consultant, Physiotherapist & Lactation expert, Motherhood Hospital Noida is guiding the hour-long session. She has personally monitored the ultrasound reports and doctors consent of each patient before letting them be a part of the virtual class. She is teaching basic yoga asanas like pranayam (breathing exercise), bridging pose, clam pose, cat and cow pose and child pose which are highly beneficial during pregnancy. Patients with high-risk pregnancies are not allowed to join the virtual sessions.

Dr Shilpi Srivastava said, Regular exercise is one of the cornerstones of a healthy body and mind. If you are in the habit of exercising daily, but find yourself unable to do so because of mobility restrictions, then yoga is the perfect solution. Thats why we have come up with this yoga session for pregnant women, who have been advised to stay indoors. Yoga not only offers great flexibility when it comes to indoor exercise options, but also helps to keep the stress and anxiety away. The best line of defense is to stick to a healthy lifestyle. It also boosts your immune system functions a lot better.

We (doctors) all are available round the clock on call for our patients, especially those who are in a nuclear family setup or are single mothers. We have also been providing consultation to new mothers whenever they are feeling low or isolated. We talk to them till the time their anxiety doesnt go away. Thats how we are supporting each and every patient of ours. Sometimes, we also ask them to practice breathing session for 10 minutes while we are on call with them, added Dr Shilpi.

Its also giving the opportunity to interact online with doctors online and fellow participants.
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 Jeannette Young has served as Queensland's Chief Health Officer since 2005. In fact, she is the longest-serving CHO in Australia. She has advised four premiers through six epidemics, including MERS, swine flu and the 2009 dengue outbreak. But until the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus this year, Dr Young has remained a largely unrecognised health bureaucrat. Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. Credit:AAP/Dan Peled She began her career as a doctor at Westmead Hospital in western Sydney, after graduating from medicine at the University of Sydney. With a self-described short attention span, she decided to go into fast-paced emergency medicine, where patients are treated quickly then moved on. Pressured by the breakdown of her first marriage and the shiftwork required in an emergency department, Dr Young packed up and moved to Rockhampton to start work as the hospital's medical services director.

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"You couldn't get childcare then, you just couldn't, so I went into medical management instead. "I had four years in Rockhampton and it was so much fun, I was young and I was single ... it was wonderful." Then in the late 1990s, she took the same job at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she spent seven years. "And then [Jayant] Patel happened in Bundaberg and the director-general asked me to come here [as chief health officer]. "I didn't really want to because I liked my job at PA, but I thought I better try something different. "I have loved it, some of the things I've been able to do ... I've been so lucky, I've been here 15 years." Since Dr Young became the state's chief doctor in 2005, she has advised former premiers Peter Beattie, Anna Bligh and Campbell Newman. She now has the ear of Annastacia Palaszczuk.

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"I've been really lucky because they've always listened," she says. "I mean, I've been in such a fortunate position to be able to directly advise ministers and premiers and for them genuinely to listen, and they do. They really do." Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on April 3. Credit: AAP/ Dan Peled It was a call to Ms Palaszczuk on Wednesday, January 22  100 days ago on Friday  that would start the state's unprecedented response to the coronavirus. "On the 22nd of January, I thought, 'now, this is going to be pretty awful'. I hoped I was wrong and that I was overinterpreting the information," she says. "Unfortunately, I think I was right to be wary. "I can remember going into that weekend thinking 'this might be the last weekend of sanity before this all blows', and it blew on the Saturday." On Saturday, January 25, Australia confirmed its first case of COVID-19. Three days later, the virus invaded Queensland, and by March, the state was recording dozens of new cases a day.

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"To be honest with you, I was really worried. I thought, 'this is the start and it's going to be a nightmare'," Dr Young said. "So my advice to the Premier was, 'we have to throw everything at this, absolutely everything and anything'." Dr Young told Ms Palaszczuk to shut down schools on March 26. She says while evidence showed schools were not a high-risk environment for the spread of the virus, closing them down would help people understand the gravity of the situation. "If you go out to the community and say, 'this is so bad, we can't even have schools, all schools have got to be closed', you are really getting to people," Dr Young says. "So sometimes it's more than just the science and the health, it's about the messaging.

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"So my advice to the Premier was, 'we've got to do it. It'll be awful, but we've got to do it'. "But that was critical, decreasing the number of kids who go to school." Dr Young has backed the Premier's decision to hold off reopening classrooms until May 15 while the Education Department works out how to keep students, parents and teachers away from one another. Michelle Merriman helps her nine-year-old daughter, Audrey, with schoolwork as she and her sister, Grace, 8, learn from home on the first day of Term 2 in Brisbane. Credit:AAP Image/Dan Peled "They've got to sort out that classes don't merge, if possible, because then if we have a case, we could then just ask that whole class to be quarantined, and not the whole school. "They've got to stagger their lunchtimes and morning teas, and they can't have big assemblies, so there's an awful lot of work schools need to do, which they're doing because they've got time to do it now, before they can safely open." Dr Young believes that decision is a major factor in containing Queensland's new cases.

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With the newly rescheduled Pennsylvania primary fast approaching, state lawmakers on Thursday heard the testimony of a cadre of election officials and experts on a slew of concerns pertaining to an election cycle that has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

During a public hearing, members of the Senate State Government Committee broached a myriad of questions regarding the June 2 primary, but in particular, questions dealing with potential fraud.

Elections officials and voters have expressed ongoing concerns about the ability of counties to handle the unprecedented groundswell of requests for mail-in ballots and the decreasing pool of election poll workers who are deciding to stay home on election day rather than risk endangering their health by working the polls.

Wendy Underhill, the director of Elections and Redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures, reassured members of the committee that while all-mail election systems across the country have largely run smoothly, Pennsylvania, like dozens of other states, was on the right path by providing a hybrid election.

Pennsylvania recently approved a measure that opens the way for all voters to vote by mail, with no excuses needed. In addition to moving the primary from April 28 to June 2 as a result of the pandemic, the Wolf administration is also allowing counties to consolidate polling places.

Underhill said in-person voting remained critical for some voters, and especially given the circumstances.

Asked by committee chairman Sen. John DiSanto (R-Dauphin) to provide her assessment of mail-in voting, Underhill explained that the process tends to increase voter turnout, particularly in smaller elections. Utah, she noted, which adopted all-mail voting by county, has recorded higher voter turnout in counties that have ratified it.

Underhill also noted that mail-in voting in a state like Pennsylvania, which does not allow early canvassing or tabulating, has the potential of slowing down the release of results. Mail-in voting also has the downside that its hard to get a ballot to people who move around a lot, or even a homeless person.

We are not talking huge numbers, but since every vote counts in America..its important to know thats the case, Underhill said.

Pennsylvania in recent weeks has seen a number of county elections officials advocating doing away with in-person voting amid coronavirus concerns and making the primary an all-mail election.

More than 44,000 people have contracted the virus and nearly 2,200 have died.

Gov. Tom Wolf said he plans to begin lifting restrictions on some regions in early May. On Friday, the Wolf administration is slated to announce the first counties to be lifted from the stay-at-home order.

Underhill noted that across the country, states that have gone to all-mail elections have required several years to transition into the new system.

Without a doubt, though, voter and election fraud was prominent among the Republican members of the committee.

Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York County) asked what steps could be implemented to ensure all mail-in ballots were accounted for.

You need to make sure there is accountability in the process, she said. Im looking for a good recommendation.

Underhill noted that voting was ultimately a choice.

The ballot is out in the community, she said. But you may have a voter choosing to not participate.

Underhill listed some of the measures to ensure the integrity of the mail-in system, including cross checking ballot requests against state IDs or social security numbers; as well as signature verification.

To date 880,000 Pennsylvania voters have applied for mail-in ballots, the majority of them having done so online. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar noted that figure was eight times higher than the number of voters who voted absentee in the last presidential election.

The state this week distributed to counties an additional $13 million in federal emergency funds to help cover the cost of supplies, equipment and staff needed to run safe in-person polling.

She noted that the state was unable to do away with in-person voting across the board as it would leave out voters with disabilities who cannot vote by mail. The Department of State is working to implement mail-in ballot access to persons with disabilities in time for the November general election.

Sen. David Arnold (R-Lebanon County) raised concerns about fraud stemming from allegations that the state had been sued for allegedly keeping hundreds of thousands of inactive voters on the rolls.

Boockvar challenged the accuracy of those allegations, noting that the state annually updated voter rolls in accordance with state and federal laws.

Jeff Greenburg, the elections director for Mercer County, warned that Pennsylvania counties are facing challenges keeping up on processing of mail ballot applications. He noted the election debacles that have happened across the country, most notably in Wisconsin, which saw extraordinary long lines for voters and delayed results.

Greenburg said there was voter confusion as to the accessibility of polling places on election day. He asked the governor to issue a public directive immediately asking all polling locations to be open for voters on June 2.

Ed Allison, the elections director for Lawrence County, noted that election officials have never accounted for every ballot that had been mailed and determine why it was not returned.

We have never received back every absentee ballot that was sent out...never. Individuals once they look at it, say I m not going to bother, Allison said. You will never account for every ballot and why it did not come back. That will not ever happen.

If the state does away with precinct voting, the Legislature will have to look at reimbursing counties for their recent costs to upgrade voting and put in place new machines.

As far as November, if you are going to move in that direction to all-mail, its got to be done now so we can make the necessary preparations, Allison said. If the Legislature is going to act, if its going to change the date, if you are going to change the method by which we are going to vote, it has to be done now. November has to be done now. I cant stress it enough.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

This report has been updated to clarify attribution of comments.
Employer banned from hiring domestic workers and referred for criminal investigation after a tip from Al Jazeera.

Beirut, Lebanon  The employer of a Nigerian domestic worker accused of abuse was blacklisted and referred for a criminal investigation after Al Jazeera exposed the case.

Ariwolo Olamide Temitope, 31, said she was beaten by Mahmoud Zahran, the husband of her employer, Feyzeh Diab, on April 25 at a home where they live in Choueifat, south of Beirut. Temitope also mentioned past beatings by Diab.

Diab was called in for interrogation at the Labor Ministry on Tuesday and was subsequently blacklisted  meaning she will not be able to hire any more domestic workers.

Temitopes case follows the arrest of a man last week accused of putting a Nigerian domestic worker up for sale on a Facebook page that is used mostly to sell second-hand items.

Both cases have caught the eye of Nigerian authorities, who told Al Jazeera they are worried about increasing abuse of Nigerians, trafficked as domestic workers in Asia and the Middle East, amid complaints of abuse and sexual exploitation.

Julie Okah-Donli, head of Nigerias National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, said trafficking has soared in the past two years.

Estimates of the number of such victims in the Middle East range between 5,000 and 10,000, Okah-Donli said. The majority of these girls have been trafficked for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, she told Al Jazeera.

Look how they beat me!

On the night of April 25, Temitope said Diab overheard her speaking on a mobile phone and accused her of stealing it. She said Zahran then hit her in the mouth, causing serious bleeding.

Temitope said she had been calling her family in Nigeria to wish her son a happy birthday  he had turned six years old two days before.

Reeling from the blow to her mouth, Temitope took a video of herself, revealing the scale of the injury.

Help me. Oh lord. How long do I want to keep doing this? And I didnt take the phone. Look how they beat me! Look how they beat me! she says as she films.

200427115538948

Diab told Al Jazeera her husband pushed Temitope out of self-defence after she attacked them.

She claimed Temitope had stolen the phone and said she had in the past pulled a knife on me and hit me.

That is a big, big lie. There is nothing of the sort, Temitope said of the claims. If I had beaten them before, why would they leave me in the house working with them?

The day after the alleged assault, Temitope said she was locked in an empty room on the second floor of the same building her employers live in.

Fearing what they might do to her next, she contacted a Nigerian activist in Lebanon.

He agreed to help her, and so she scaled down the outside of the building via the balcony, leaving behind possessions and her passport, and made her way to a safe location.

The day their attitude changed

Temitope said the employers had initially treated her well. When her phone broke following her arrival in Lebanon on October 1, 2019, they had provided one for her, allowing her to contact her husband and two children, aged 6 and 11, back home.

But then, she said, Zahran made sexual advances and even offered to pay her $100 a month in exchange. Her entire months salary was just $200.

I shouted at him. Im not going to lie  I spoke to him roughly to say that Im here to work, so I can have a good life, not for sex, Temitope said. Since then, their attitude changed.

Diab denied that her husband had made sexual advances, saying he was an old man who spent much of his time away working on a farm.

200420080556822

Al Jazeera was unable to contact Zahran directly. Diab said he was away, without elaborating.

After she turned down the advance, Temitope said the phone she was provided was taken away, and she secretly bought herself a new one and used it only at night.

Temitope said she was not allowed to rest, being made to work seven days a week.

These are common grievances of domestic workers in Lebanon, of which there are an estimated 250,000.

Harsh conditions are facilitated by the notorious kafala system, which ties the legal residence of domestic workers to their employers.

This means they cannot end their contracts or transfer to another employer without the consent of their current employer  a system former Labor Minister Camille Abousleiman likened to modern-day slavery.

Rogue agents

One of the main concerns of experts is the manner by which domestic workers are brought to Lebanon  through a chain of recruitment offices that have been known to mislead and abuse women.

These agents are legal in Lebanon, but Nigerian authorities told Al Jazeera the system is illegal there because of human trafficking regulations

Temitopes move to Lebanon was facilitated by an agent in Abule Egba, a suburb of Nigerias commercial capital, Lagos.

The agent  who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity  said they do not force women to travel  they only help with processing travel documents and identifying potential employers.

The agent said he collects 100,000 naira ($256) as his fee, while 50,000 naira ($128) goes towards bribing immigration staff at the airport.

He said a salary of $250 a month in Lebanon was justified by the fact that employers were paying about $1,800 in expenses on each domestic worker.

They like women in their early 20s  and it depends on your physique. They prefer people who are small, the agent said. It takes about a month to process the travel arrangements. There are also opportunities in Baghdad and they treat workers better. They pay around $300 there.

The agent said his role ends when the domestic worker leaves Nigeria  they do not intervene when any problem arises between the domestic worker and the employer.

Okah-Donli of the Nigerian anti-trafficking agency expressed confidence in their efforts to weed out rogue recruiters would save domestic workers overseas.

Despite her experience of abuse in Lebanon, Temitope said a lack of opportunity back home was pushing her to stay.

I want to make it, I cant go back to Nigeria empty-handed, she said. And I want justice.
A Swedish city is to spread a tonne of chicken manure across its central park in an attempt to deter people from gathering for a traditional festival, as the country continues in its unconventional efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Thousands of people in Lund, home to one of Swedens biggest universities, usually hold picnics and light bonfires in huge crowds to mark Walpurgis Night  which is widely celebrated across central and northern Europe on 30 April.

While the Swedish government has opted against enforcing a nationwide lockdown  one of the few countries to do  local authorities in Lund have taken measures into their own hands to prevent a possible outbreak in the city.

Lund could very well become an epicentre for the spread of the coronavirus on the last night in April, [so] I think it was a good initiative, the chairman of the local councils environment committee, Gustav Lundblad, told the Sydsvenskan newspaper.

We get the opportunity to fertilise the lawns, and at the same time it will stink and so it may not be so nice to sit and drink beer in the park, Lundblad said.

I am not a fertiliser expert, but as I understand it, it is clear that it might smell a bit outside the park as well. These are chicken droppings, after all. I cannot guarantee that the rest of the city will be odourless. But the point is to keep people out of the city park.

Reflecting on the upside of spreading chicken manure, Philip Sandberg, the leader of council, said it will be good for the lawns as it contains a lot of phosphorus and nitrogen. He added: So well get a really nice park for the summer.

Citizens across Sweden have been asked to skip Walpurgis Night, the origins of which date back to pagan celebrations of spring.

Although the festivities are classed as spontaneous, the government has banned gatherings of more than 50 people as part of its response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

This is one of the few strict measures enforced by the country, having adopted a soft approach that bucks the European trend.

While Nordic neighbours such as Denmark and Norway enacted early lockdowns, Swedens primary schools, shops, restaurants and bars remain open, with people allowed to go out and exercise.

Citizens have been trusted to behave as adults, in the words of prime minister Stefan Lofven, by keeping their distance and acting in a responsible manner when out in public.

To date, Sweden has reported 20,302 cases and 2,462 deaths from coronavirus.
TAMPA, Fla., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelytics, a Tampa-based mobility advertising startup takes great pleasure in welcoming Gaia Amatteis , Marcello Novelli , and Margaux Pages . The three were part of the team of five Techstars associates assigned to the 13-week Techstars Smart Mobility Accelerator program 2020.

Gaia Amatteis, Marcello Novelli, and Margaux Pages

Techstars is a global network that helps entrepreneurs prosper. The program allows founders and their teams to connect with other experts who help their companies grow. Currently, the Techstars accelerator portfolio includes over 1,500 companies with a market cap of over $13.9 Billion.

The 2020 class presented an assortment of technologies ranging from autonomous vehicles to skier avalanche safety. The program ran for an exhilarating three months and Nickelytics is thrilled to have been supported with mentorship on business modeling, sales, fundraising, marketing, and other matters needed to build large impactful companies.

The Techstars program takes pride in developing smart mobility technologies with a special focus on smart infrastructure and smart cities. 13 weeks, 15,950 new relationships, and 279 years of experiencethese numbers went into growing eleven startups into prospective unicorns.

Gaia's role at Nickelytics is People and Operations Manager, where she brings her unmatched skills in planning and organization, project management, process optimization and event management to our team. She has previous leadership experience in project management at Procter and Gamble, Techstars and Bosch. She has a double master's degree in International Business and Economics. She loves to help startups and enjoys working in a dynamic and vibrant environment.

Marcello will be joining Nickelytics as Business Development and Operations Manager, where he will add new skills in venture development, commercial strategy, business operations, and customer development to our team. Marcello obtained his Bachelor in Business Management from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science in Technology Entrepreneurship from University College London. Before joining Nickelytics, Marcello worked as an Operations/Sales Lead at Carv by Motion Metrics and founded Vitruvia Labs as well. As Business Development & Growth Associate at Techstars, Marcello was vital in establishing clear objectives and trajectory for the Smart Mobility Accelerator companies.

Margaux will be joining Nickelytics as a Financial and International Growth Manager, where she will be working for Nickelytics on growth planning, international expansion strategy, financial planning, and partner negotiations. Margaux obtained her Masters' Degrees in European & International Law, as well as in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Before joining Nickelytics, Margaux was the Fundraising & Strategy Associate at Techstars Turin where she helped companies in the Techstars program get ready for fundraising through decks and market research, financial modeling, and investor pipeline. Margaux was previously an Innovation & Strategy Officer for PwC's international accelerator, in Paris (France). She is also a co-founder of a startup involved in designing individual indoor farms for restaurants.

"We are extremely excited to welcome these incredibly talented people to our team at such an early stage of our business. These hires are strategically aligned with our goals and we are thrilled to see the lasting impact each new member will bring to our company and our growth," said Judah Longgrear, CEO and Founder of Nickelytics.

Nickelytics is a Techstars backed company that brings together advertising solutions into the rideshare, on-demand, and micro-mobility industry. We pride in delivering the power of traditional out-of-home advertising with digital retargeting to businesses that need quantifiable results. Through our platform , you can create, run, and analyze personalized marketing campaigns with digital ads through various channels.

Media Inquiries:

Nissa Weisser

[email protected]

256-867-5026

SOURCE Nickelytics
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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.
As the US shale patch suffers, political pressure mounts on Trump to take Saudis to task.

An armada of tankers laden with an estimated 50 million barrels of Saudi Arabian crude is heading towards United States shores  cargo US shale oil producers regard as a foreign invasion delivered by a lower-cost competitor hell-bent on driving them out of business.

For President Donald Trump, the timing is particularly vexing. With US voters heading to the polls in November, Trump is under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, while the US economy  a cornerstone of his re-election campaign  is being annihilated by lockdowns.

Now an oil price crash rooted in COVID-19 disruptions and aggravated by Saudi shenanigans has many US oil firms staring down the barrel of bankruptcy. Last week, prices of US benchmark crude turned negative for the first time ever. Tens of thousands of energy jobs in Republican-controlled states are at risk of vanishing. US lawmakers who previously supported the status quo in US-Saudi relations are calling for a ban on crude imports from the kingdom.

More ominously for Saudi Arabia, the threat posed to the US shale patch has landed the 75-year-old alliance between Washington and Riyadh firmly in the electoral crosshairs, heaping pressure on Trump to make good on his signature campaign motto to put America first.

The latest inflection point

Despite diametrically opposed core values, the US-Saudi relationship has held together for three-quarters of a century on the strength of mutual security and business interests. But the marriage of convenience has been far from frictionless.

The 1973 oil embargo by the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) helped push the US economy into recession. Images of American motorists queuing in petrol lines are still etched in the nations collective consciousness. The kingdom is also inextricably linked with the 9/11 attacks carried out by 19 hijackers, 15 of whom were Saudi nationals.

Over the past two decades, whenever oil prices become uncomfortable for US consumers and businesses, the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (NOPEC) tends to rear its head on Capitol Hill. By taking aim at OPEC price fixing, the legislation, which has struggled through the years to find White House support, would strip Saudi Arabia of the sovereign immunity that shields it from a potential tsunami of lawsuits in the US.

The Saudis have also had their grievances with Washington. Riyadh famously bristled at the Obama administrations efforts to defuse tensions with Iran, Saudi Arabias fiercest regional rival.

But the relationship between Riyadh and the White House warmed significantly when Trump took up residency at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

To the kingdoms delight, the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the Iran-nuclear deal in 2018 and went on to slap Tehran with relentless rounds of economic sanctions.

Trump has vigorously supported weapons sales to Riyadh despite its abysmal record on human rights, while his son-in-law Jared Kushner has forged a close relationship with the kingdoms de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

But politicians in Congress have not been nearly as willing to ignore troubling behaviour by Riyadh.

MBSs disastrous military campaign in Yemen and the profound humanitarian crisis it has spawned prompted efforts in Congress to block weapons sales to Riyadh. US politicians on both sides of the aisle were horrified by the murder of Saudi journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi  an assassination US intelligence concluded had been ordered by MBS.

But the existential threat to the US oil and gas sector  and the more than 150,000 Americans directly employed by it  has prompted a backlash against Saudi Arabia arguably not seen since the 1970s.

The United States-Saudi Arabia relationship was in trouble before the coronavirus and oil double-crisis, said Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow and director of the Brookings Intelligence Project.

The Saudis are now losing support across the board politically. Trump and his son-in-law Jared are the only holdouts and that is not a good place to be when oil prices are so low, Riedel told Al Jazeera.

Price routs and rhetoric

Oil prices started to retreat in January and February as COVID-19 marched across the globe, decimating demand. But they fell off a cliff in March after Saudi Arabia initiated an oil price war in retaliation for Russias refusal to back Riyadhs calls for deep output cuts.

The resulting market carnage roiled US shale oil producers, especially firms that took on heavy debts to drill new wells when prices were higher.

With a strategically crucial industry on the ropes and tens of thousands of jobs on the line, Republicans in Congress  led by legislators from states whose fortunes depend heavily on a thriving domestic oil patch  amped up the rhetoric.

The Saudis were accused of engaging in economic warfare. On March 24, Senators Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Dan Sullivan of Arkansas introduced the Strained Partnership Act calling for the removal of US troops and military equipment from Saudi Arabia unless it slashed output.

As Congressional pressure piled on, Trump personally appealed to MBS and Russian President Vladimir Putin to call a truce and stabilise oil markets.

During a phone call on April 2, Trump told MBS he could not stop US politicians from passing The Strained Partnership Act if OPEC did not curb production, Reuters News Agency reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Trumps diplomatic efforts culminated in an April 12 agreement by OPEC and its allies to scale back production by a record 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd).

But coronavirus has crushed demand by at least 30 million bpd. So while the historic production cut deal rendered the Strained Partnership Act moot, it failed to arrest, let alone reverse the oil price crash. Or calls for Trump to get tough with the Saudis.

Trump thinks he delivered the deal of the century for everyone a few weeks ago  it doesnt seem to be working out that way, Tarik Yousef, senior fellow and director at Brookings Doha Center told Al Jazeera. At some point, he will have to reinvent his own message.

Indeed the price rout has since gotten worse as crude supplies continue to overwhelm demand.

Analysts estimate the storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma  where US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is delivered  will reach capacity sometime next month.

That prospect triggered yet another historic milestone in oil markets last week when the price of WTI for May delivery plunged to negative $40 a barrel as investors paid to have oil taken off their hands rather than get stuck with crude they have nowhere to stash.

That same day, Trump said he would look into a proposal by Senator Cramer of Oklahoma calling on the White House to block Saudi Arabian oil shipments to the US.

We cannot allow Saudi Arabia to flood the market, especially given our storage capacity dwindling. Right now, the highest number of Saudi oil tankers in years is on its way to our shores, Cramer said.

But some analysts say such calls will not fix the underlying problem, nor are they likely to find real traction with the White House.

While a discussion about a Saudi flotilla of oil is a popular rhetorical device, in practice it really doesnt do much to reverse the oil dynamics, Reed Blakemore, deputy director of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center told Al Jazeera. The President is aware of how much that would contradict the sentiment behind his negotiations with the Russians and Saudis. 

Rhetoric and reality

The trajectory of oil prices ultimately hinges on how quickly demand will rebound and how long it takes to draw down the glut.

At some point, the consequence for Saudi Arabia and Saudi-US relations will crystallise, especially when the US shale and oil industry is really disseminated, said Yousef. The big question is how much of this is temporary and how much of it is permanent.

Like the course of the coronavirus pandemic, the outlook for oil prices and US producers is cloaked in uncertainty. But there are possible lifelines Trump could throw to struggling US oil firms that do not involve punitive measures against Riyadh.

The administration is exploring a range of options to try to provide a bit of a safety net to oil and gas companies, including SPR [Strategic Petroleum Reserve] buys to alleviate the storage crisis, said Blakemore.

The Trump administration is also considering offering bridge loans to struggling US energy firms, possibly in exchange for a financial stake, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Given the unprecedented and innovative measures that have been deployed to shore up businesses against the ravages of the coronavirus, some analysts say legislation like NOPEC that could complicate US foreign policy objectives, is unlikely to come out of hibernation.

While the US has a limited hand to save US Shale, it recognises that a bill like NOPEC will likely do more harm than good, said Blakemore. The president has remained committed to having a productive and pragmatic relationship with Saudi Arabia, which is an important element of this situation.

But with an election less than seven months away and an economy that is already shrinking dramatically, that commitment could be sorely tested.

My intuitive feeling is the president is hoping this will wash away soon but I dont think its going to, said Yousef. The impact even with recovery and some of the demand coming back will not come on time for him. He will do what he does best: start pointing his finger and blaming others for whatever damage has been done.
BONIFAY, Fla.  The Holmes County Health Department has announced an additional case of COVID-19.

According to the HCHD, the patient is a 16-month-old boy. He and his parents are being isolated at home and will remain so until cleared by public health officials.

As of Thursday, Holmes County had 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when a person coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as little as two days or as much as 14 days after exposure.

Most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing special treatment.

The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.

There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
Moscow imposed a strict coronavirus lockdown nearly five weeks ago - Pavel Golovkin/AP

Moscow police engaged in a shoot-out with suspected gangsters over ventilators - which are becoming hot commodities on the black market - as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia surpassed 100,000.

Police and intelligence agents in a recent raid outside Moscow exchanged gunfire with the men suspected of trafficking in the vital equipment, the Russian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday without specifying the date of the raid.

Seven people were detained in a sting operation after they tried to sell 287 ventilators worth about 200 million rubles (2 million) to undercover agents.

Footage from the scene released by the Moscow police showed several men lying face-down on the floor at an abandoned warehouse.

Five people were placed under house arrest and two were released on bail with a travel ban. They are facing fraud charges that carry up to ten years in prison.

Life, a Russian news website with close ties to the security services, reported on Wednesday that one of the suspects who tried to escape in his car during the shoot-out went to a hospital earlier that day where CT scans indicated a suspected coronavirus.

His test results later came in as positive, and the police officers who detained the man have been ordered to self-isolate.

It was not immediately clear where the ventilators came from but the officials said that they were made more than 20 years ago and did not come with any certificates to show their provenance. Medical experts are examining the equipment, the police said.

The Moscow Times reported last month that wealthy Russians, spooked by the prospect of ending up in hospital, were buying ventilators for their own homes in case they became infected with coronavirus.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, sought to assuage fears about shortages of medical equipment for treating Covid-19, saying in this televised address on Tuesday that Russia has boosted production of ventilators from 70 a month at the start of the year to 800.

Story continues

Russia on Thursday recorded its biggest single-day jump in new coronavirus cases, bringing the tally to over 106,000.

The number of new cases in Moscow, epicentre to the largest outbreak in the country, somewhat plateaued in recent days as the City Hall ramped up testing and expanded hospital capacity. But fears over how Russias impoverished regions will handle the growing outbreak persist.

In the city of Ufa, some 700 miles east of Moscow, about 1,000 patients and medical workers were quarantined in one of the regions largest hospitals earlier this month after 170 of them tested positive for coronavirus. A second test confirmed only 52 cases.

Dozens of the hospitals desperate staff on Thursday recorded a video appeal, urging Mr Putin and other top officials to investigate what they describe as a cover-up of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The medics said that they had warned health officials about a worrying outbreak of pneumonia weeks before the first Covid-19 case was confirmed but the officials were in denial, turning down their pleas for personal protective equipment and restrictive measures.

Several medics spoke about inhumane conditions that they faced during the quarantine, with one of the doctors, now recovering from pneumonia, saying the hospital had no facilities for sleep and rest - I had to sleep on the chairs at the canteen.
Ukraine ready to handle gas transit from Slovakia to Poland if Russia halts Yamal flow  GTS operator

22:59, 30.04.20 1637

The Polish-Russian gas transit contract engaging the Yamal gas pipeline is expiring on May 18.
Leo Varadkar has admitted he has not discussed Brexit or coronavirus with Boris Johnson for several weeks.

The UK Prime Minister and his fiancee Carrie Symonds announced the birth of a son on Wednesday.

Mr Johnson, who has just recovered from coronavirus and spent three nights in intensive care, has returned to work at Downing Street where he is leading the response to the pandemic.

He is expected to take a short period of paternity leave at some point later this year.

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Independent TD Michael Lowry raised the issue of Irelands preparations for Brexit in the Dail on Thursday and said it had fallen off the agenda since the pandemic started.

The Taoiseach said the issue of Brexit has not gone away but he has not spoken to his UK counterpart about it in several weeks.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he "hasn't had a chance to speak about substantive issues such as Covid-19 and Brexit" with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson since the middle of March.



He said he called him about the birth of his son earlier this week and regarding his illness.  Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) April 30, 2020

He said: In the last couple of days I contacted him to wish him well on the birth of his baby boy. Previously I was in contact with him regarding his illness.

We have not had a chance to speak about substantive issues such as coronavirus and Brexit since the middle of March but he is back to work this week.
By Anita Komuves and Krisztina Than

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Schools in Hungary will remain closed until the end of May and events with more than 500 participants cannot be held until Aug. 15, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said on Thursday.

Orban announced late on Wednesday that, outside Budapest, some restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak would be lifted starting next week, when shops and restaurant terraces would be allowed to reopen without time limits.

But existing strict restrictions will continue for now in the capital, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths.

A phased reopening is the government's strategy to head off deeper and more lasting harm to the economy, which is expected to shrink by about 4% this year based on a Reuters survey.

Gulyas told a news conference that written graduation exams would be held nationwide from Monday onwards for tens of thousands of secondary school students, with safety measures in place.

"With a maximum 10 students in a room, keeping a safe distance, with the smallest possible risk the exams can be held...as it is in everybody's interests that students should be able to continue their studies (at universities)," Gulyas said.

As of Thursday, Hungary had reported 312 deaths among a total of 2,775 cases of COVID-19, the lung disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Gulyas said about 70% of infected people were in Budapest.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves; Editing by Alison Williams and Alex Richardson)
The Tara Reade story wont go away quietly, partly because Joe Biden refuses to deal with it himself. There are several new stories in the mainstream media over the last 48 hours that exhibit great latent anxiety among Democrats over the story.

The New York Times ran with a story that is a model of ventriloquist journalism and a memo to their candidate telling him to get his act together:

Democratic Frustration Mounts as Biden Remains Silent on Sexual Assault Allegation . . . As two more women have come forward to corroborate part of Ms. Reades allegation, the Biden campaign is facing attacks from the right and increasing pressure from the left to address the issue. And liberal activists find themselves in a tense standoff with a candidate they want to support but who they say has made little attempt to show leadership on an issue that resonates deeply with their partys base.

Its difficult for survivors to see that a woman who has more corroborating sources than most survivors have in similar situations is being tossed aside and actively being weaponized by cynical political actors, said Shaunna Thomas, a founder of UltraViolet, a womens rights advocacy group that is involved in the effort to push the campaign. . . It cant appear that she is being ignored, said Nina Turner, a former national campaign co-chair for Senator Bernie Sanders, Mr. Bidens last rival for the nomination. If we want to keep our credibility as a party, then we will have to agree that this allegation and any allegation should be vetted in the public. Apart from the discussions with the campaign, some progressive activists have been debating how to respond to the allegation, a conversation that has intensified in recent days. Joe Biden himself needs to respond directly, said Yvette Simpson, the chief executive of Democracy for America, a progressive advocacy organization, which plans to back the Democratic nominee. While it is absolutely essential that we defeat Donald Trump in November, trying to manage the response through women surrogates and emailed talking points doesnt cut it in 2020  especially if Democrats want to continue to be the party that values, supports, elevates, hears and believes women. . . . Privately, some female Democrats are growing frustrated with being put in the position of answering for Mr. Biden when he has remained silent, and male progressive leaders, even outspoken allies in combating sexual assault, have not been pressured to address this point.

The subtext is pretty clear: Joe needs to step up and get everyone off the hook.

The Washington Posts fact checker Glenn Kessler notes that Reades story now has five or more contemporary witnesses (though not all of them said or recall whether Biden was the offending person).

And completing the trifecta is a story from NPR!

New Information Emerges Around Biden Sexual Assault Allegation New information has emerged in recent days about a sexual assault allegation against the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, made by Tara Reade, a former staff assistant in Bidens Senate office. For the first time, someone has gone on the record to say that Reade detailed the allegation to her decades ago in the same way Reade is describing it now. . . This additional information is renewing attention on Bidens behavior and has put pressure on the presumptive Democratic nominee to respond, which he has not yet done directly. Reades allegation has put Democrats in an uncomfortable spot, torn between defending the presumptive Democratic nominee and believing all women who make allegations against any powerful men. Asked about the allegation on Thursday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who formally endorsed Biden this week, said I have complete respect for the whole #metoo movement. I have four daughters and one son. And theres a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and listened to. There is also due process. [Emphasis added.]

Slow Joes memory lapses and gobbledygook may come in handy for him just now.

JOHN adds: Am I the only one who is worried that the Reade allegations will ultimately come in handy for the Democrats? I think they provide a better excuse for forcing Biden off the ballot than the fact that he is inept and apparently suffering from dementia.

In the end, I believe he has to consent to withdrawing from the race. If he does that after the convention, the DNC can pick anyone it wants to replace him. So the scenario I fear is that the Dems nominate Biden, the chatter about Reade grows, and the Dems go to Biden and tell him that to remain consistent on this issue they need to replace him. Confronted with a united front of party leaders, Biden resigns on grounds of health. So Reade ultimately helps the Democrats field a viable candidatesomeone who is neither senile nor an open socialist.

Someone please tell me Im wrong.
Q1 GAAP EPS of $0.50; Adjusted EPS* of $0.62

Solid First Quarter Performance

Withdrawing 2020 Guidance on Near-Term Uncertainty

Well-Positioned to Navigate Challenging Environment; Substantial Available Liquidity

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPX Corporation (NYSE:SPXC) today reported results for the quarter ended March 28, 2020.

Gene Lowe, President and CEO, remarked, SPXs first quarter 2020 performance was strong overall. Our Engineered Solutions segment generated a significant increase in segment income, partially offset by the impact of lower weather-driven demand of HVAC heating products compared with the strong prior-year winter. During the quarter, we experienced only a modest impact from the COVID-19 crisis. However, the effect accelerated during March and April, as actions to slow the rate of infection grew outside of China. As a result of the current uncertain economic environment, we are withdrawing our full-year 2020 guidance.

Mr. Lowe continued, We believe that SPX is well positioned to manage through the current difficult environment with our strong balance sheet and liquidity position, our high portion of replacement sales, and our leadership role in niche markets for products and services that are essential to critical infrastructure. Our business system has enabled us to adapt successfully to a rapidly changing environment by leveraging the processes and practices we have put in place company-wide to drive efficiencies. Additionally, our team remains keenly focused on managing the levers in our control to mitigate the effect of near-term economic weakness, while continuing to make employee safety our top priority, and protecting SPXs ability to react quickly in a recovery.

First Quarter 2020 Overview:

For the first quarter of 2020, the company reported revenue of $369.3 million and operating income of $32.7 million, compared with revenue of $343.6 million and operating income of $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2019. Diluted income per share from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2020 was $0.50, compared with a diluted income per share of $0.01 in the first quarter of 2019.

SPXs adjusted revenue* was $365.3 million and adjusted operating income* was $39.2 million, compared with adjusted revenue* of $351.5 million and adjusted operating income* of $31.9 million in the first quarter of 2019. Adjusted income per share* in the first quarter of 2020 was $0.62, compared with $0.51 in the first quarter of 2019.

First Quarter Financial Comparisons:

GAAP Results:

($ millions) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Revenue $ 369.3 $ 343.6 Segment Income 47.2 20.8 Operating Income 32.7 3.0

Adjusted Results:

($ millions) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Adjusted Revenue* $ 365.3 $ 351.5 Adjusted Segment Income* 53.8 46.3 Adjusted Operating Income* 39.2 31.9

* Non-GAAP financial measure. See attached schedules for reconciliation to most comparable GAAP financial measure.

HVAC

Revenue for Q1 2020 was $118.5 million, compared with $128.4 million in Q1 2019, a decrease of 7.7%, including an 8.5% increase from acquisitions and a 0.5% unfavorable impact related to currency fluctuation. Organic revenue* decreased 15.7%, primarily reflecting a decrease in seasonal market demand for heating products. A decline in international cooling volumes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic was largely offset by higher sales of cooling products in the Americas region.

Segment income in Q1 2020 was $15.0 million, compared to $18.4 million in Q1 2019. Adjusted segment income*, which excludes intangible amortization expense of $0.8 million and acquisition related costs of $0.1 million, was $15.9 million, or 13.4% of revenue. This compares with adjusted segment income* of $18.5 million, or 14.4% of revenue in Q1 2019, which excludes intangible amortization expense of $0.1 million. The decrease in adjusted segment income* and 100 basis point decrease in adjusted segment income margin* was due to lower sales volumes of heating products.

Detection & Measurement

Revenue for Q1 2020 was $91.9 million, compared with $85.1 million in Q1 2019, an increase of 8.0%, including a 2.5% increase from the Sabik acquisition and a 0.9% unfavorable impact related to currency fluctuation. Organic revenue* increased 6.4%, largely due to the timing of project-related sales compared with 2019.

Segment income in Q1 2020 was $18.2 million, compared to $17.0 million in Q1 2019. Adjusted segment income*, which excludes intangible amortization expense of $1.8 million, was $20.0 million, or 21.8% of revenue. This compares with adjusted segment income* of $19.8 million, or 23.3% of revenue, in Q1 2019, which excludes intangible amortization expense of $1.5 million and acquisition related costs of $1.3 million. The 150 basis point decrease in adjusted segment income margin* was driven primarily by a less favorable business mix.

Engineered Solutions

Revenue in Q1 2020 was $154.9 million, compared with $138.0 million in Q1 2019, an increase of 12.2%. The increase was driven by higher revenue in our Transformers business and, to a lesser extent, in our process cooling business.

Segment income in Q1 2020 was $17.9 million, or 11.6% of revenue, compared with segment income of $8.0 million, or 5.8% of revenue, in Q1 2019. The increase in income and margin was driven primarily by the higher revenue noted above.

All Other

All Other, which includes the South African and Heat Transfer operations, had revenue of $4.0 million in Q1 2020, compared with ($7.9) million in Q1 2019. The increase was due largely to a prior-year asset impairment that reduced the cumulative revenue associated with the South African projects by $17.5 million.

All Other incurred a loss in Q1 2020 of $3.9 million, compared with a loss of $22.6 million in Q1 2019. The decrease in the loss was due primarily to the asset impairment noted above associated with the South African projects in the prior year period.

Financial Update:

As of March 28, 2020, SPX had total outstanding debt of $511.5 million and total cash of $163.1 million. During Q1 2020, SPX generated net operating cash from continuing operations of $2.7 million, including net cash usage associated with the South African operations of approximately $3 million. Net leverage, as calculated under the companys bank credit agreement, was 1.6x, unchanged from the end of 2019.

Non-GAAP Presentation: To provide additional clarity to its operating results, the company discusses results that include adjusted non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted results for the company exclude, among other items, the effect of the South African and Heat Transfer operations, categorized as All Other in the companys segment reporting structure. The company reports separately on the results of the All Other category. The company anticipates reporting the results of businesses included in the All Other category as discontinued operations, at such time as they meet the accounting requirements for this treatment.

Form 10-Q: The company expects to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 28, 2020 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before May 11, 2020. This press release should be read in conjunction with that filing, which will be available on the company's website at www.spx.com, in the Investor Relations section.

Conference Call: SPX will host a conference call at 4:45 p.m. (EDT) today to discuss first quarter results. The call will be simultaneously webcast via the company's website at www.spx.com and the slide presentation will be available in the Investor Relations section of the site.

Conference call

Dial in: 877-341-7727

From outside the United States: +1 262-558-6098

Participant code: 3364666

A replay of the call will be available by telephone through Thursday, May 7th.

To listen to a replay of the call

Dial in: 855-859-2056

From outside the United States: +1 404-537-3406

Participant code: 3364666

Upcoming Investor Events: Company management plans to conduct virtual meetings with investors during the second quarter of 2020 and SPX will also be virtually participating in the Oppenheimer Industrial Growth Conference on May 5th. In addition, SPX will be virtually hosting SPX Corporations Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Thursday, May 14th at 8am eastern time.

About SPX Corporation: SPX Corporation is a supplier of highly engineered products and technologies, holding leadership positions in the HVAC, detection and measurement, and engineered solutions markets. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPX Corporation had approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue in 2020 and over 4,500 employees in 17 countries. SPX Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SPXC. For more information, please visit www.spx.com.

*Non-GAAP financial measure. See attached schedules for reconciliation to most comparable GAAP financial measure.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Actual results may differ materially from these statements. The words believe, expect, anticipate, project and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Please read these forward-looking statements in conjunction with the companys documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the companys most recent annual reports on Form 10-K. These filings identify important risk factors and other uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition to the risks and uncertainties identified in those filings, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of the pandemic or related government responses on the companys businesses, the businesses of its customers and vendors, and whether the companys businesses and those of its customers and vendors will continue to be treated as essential operations under government orders restricting business activities or, even if so treated, whether health and safety concerns might otherwise require certain of the companys operations to be halted for some period of time. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, forward-looking statements are based on the companys current complement of businesses, which is subject to change.

Statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and SPX disclaims any responsibility to update or revise such statements.

SOURCE SPX Corporation.

Investor and Media Contacts:

Paul Clegg, VP, Investor Relations and Communications

Phone: 980-474-3806

E-mail: spx.investor@spx.com

Pat Uotila, Manager, Investor Relations

Phone: 980-474-3806

E-mail: spx.investor@spx.com





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited; in millions, except per share amounts) Three months ended March 28, 2020 March 30, 2019 Revenues $ 369.3 $ 343.6 Costs and expenses: Cost of products sold 255.2 260.4 Selling, general and administrative 78.9 76.7 Intangible amortization 2.6 1.6 Special charges, net 0.3 0.1 Other operating (income) expense (0.4 ) 1.8 Operating income 32.7 3.0 Other income, net 0.7 7.2 Interest expense (4.7 ) (5.3 ) Interest income - 0.3 Income from continuing operations before income taxes 28.7 5.2 Income tax provision (6.0 ) (4.6 ) Income from continuing operations 22.7 0.6 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax - - Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax - (1.4 ) Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax - (1.4 ) Net income (loss) $ 22.7 $ (0.8 ) Basic income (loss) per share of common stock: Income from continuing operations $ 0.51 $ 0.01 Loss from discontinued operations - (0.03 ) Net income (loss) per share $ 0.51 $ (0.02 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding  basic 44.309 43.618 Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock: Income from continuing operations $ 0.50 $ 0.01 Loss from discontinued operations - (0.03 ) Net income (loss) per share $ 0.50 $ (0.02 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding  diluted 45.527 44.880





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited; in millions) March 28, 2020 December 31, 2019 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and equivalents $ 163.1 $ 54.7 Accounts receivable, net 239.6 265.9 Contract assets 73.6 63.4 Inventories, net 175.1 154.9 Other current assets (includes income taxes receivable of $22.7 and $23.0 at March 28, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 92.6 93.2 Total current assets 744.0 632.1 Property, plant and equipment: Land 18.7 18.7 Buildings and leasehold improvements 121.0 121.9 Machinery and equipment 343.3 342.6 483.0 483.2 Accumulated depreciation (306.1 ) (304.1 ) Property, plant and equipment, net 176.9 179.1 Goodwill 446.6 449.3 Intangibles, net 247.6 251.7 Other assets 592.0 605.9 Deferred income taxes 14.8 16.4 TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,221.9 $ 2,134.5 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 148.0 $ 141.6 Contract liabilities 94.0 100.8 Accrued expenses 195.0 220.4 Income taxes payable 2.2 2.2 Short-term debt 260.3 142.6 Current maturities of long-term debt 2.6 1.0 Total current liabilities 702.1 608.6 Long-term debt 248.6 249.9 Deferred and other income taxes 26.2 26.3 Other long-term liabilities 729.9 747.3 Total long-term liabilities 1,004.7 1,023.5 Equity: Common stock 0.5 0.5 Paid-in capital 1,298.5 1,302.4 Retained deficit (562.6 ) (584.8 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income 231.4 244.3 Common stock in treasury (452.7 ) (460.0 ) Total equity 515.1 502.4 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 2,221.9 $ 2,134.5





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES RESULTS OF REPORTABLE AND OTHER OPERATING SEGMENTS (Unaudited; in millions) Three months ended March 28, 2020 March 30, 2019  %/bps HVAC reportable segment Revenues $ 118.5 $ 128.4 $ (9.9 ) (7.7)% Gross profit 40.4 41.6 (1.2 ) Selling, general and administrative expense 24.6 23.1 1.5 Intangible amortization expense 0.8 0.1 0.7 Income $ 15.0 $ 18.4 $ (3.4 ) (18.5)% as a percent of revenues 12.7 % 14.3 % -160 bps Detection & Measurement reportable segment Revenues $ 91.9 $ 85.1 $ 6.8 8.0 % Gross profit 41.9 39.4 2.5 Selling, general and administrative expense 21.9 20.9 1.0 Intangible amortization expense 1.8 1.5 0.3 Income $ 18.2 $ 17.0 $ 1.2 7.1 % as a percent of revenues 19.8 % 20.0 % -20 bps Engineered Solutions reportable segment Revenues $ 154.9 $ 138.0 $ 16.9 12.2 % Gross profit 31.7 21.6 10.1 Selling, general and administrative expense 13.8 13.6 0.2 Income $ 17.9 $ 8.0 $ 9.9 123.8 % as a percent of revenues 11.6 % 5.8 % 580 bps All Other Revenues $ 4.0 $ (7.9 ) $ 11.9 150.6 % Gross profit (loss) 0.1 (19.4 ) 19.5 Selling, general and administrative expense 4.0 3.2 0.8 Loss $ (3.9 ) $ (22.6 ) $ 18.7 82.7 % Consolidated Revenues $ 369.3 $ 343.6 $ 25.7 7.5 % Consolidated Segment Income 47.2 20.8 26.4 126.9 % as a percent of revenues 12.8 % 6.1 % 670 bps Total segment income $ 47.2 $ 20.8 $ 26.4 Corporate expense 11.1 12.4 (1.3 ) Long-term incentive compensation expense 3.5 3.5 - Special charges, net 0.3 0.1 0.2 Other operating (income) expense (0.4 ) 1.8 (2.2 ) Consolidated operating income $ 32.7 $ 3.0 $ 29.7 990.0 % as a percent of revenues 8.9 % 0.9 % 800 bps





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited; in millions) Three months ended March 28, 2020 March 30, 2019 Cash flows from (used in) operating activities: Net income (loss) $ 22.7 $ (0.8 ) Less: Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax - (1.4 ) Income from continuing operations 22.7 0.6 Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash from (used in) operating activities: Special charges, net 0.3 0.1 Gain on change in fair value of equity security - (6.3 ) Deferred and other income taxes 3.9 2.5 Depreciation and amortization 9.2 8.1 Pension and other employee benefits 2.2 2.8 Long-term incentive compensation 3.5 3.5 Other, net 0.7 0.3 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions: Accounts receivable and other assets 23.8 47.5 Inventories (22.7 ) (14.4 ) Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other (40.4 ) (32.2 ) Cash spending on restructuring actions (0.5 ) (1.0 ) Net cash from continuing operations 2.7 11.5 Net cash used in discontinued operations (3.1 ) (0.9 ) Net cash from (used in) operating activities (0.4 ) 10.6 Cash flows from (used in) investing activities: Proceeds from company-owned life insurance policies, net 1.1 0.5 Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired - (77.0 ) Net proceeds from sales of assets - 5.5 Capital expenditures (3.6 ) (3.7 ) Net cash used in continuing operations (2.5 ) (74.7 ) Net cash from discontinued operations - - Net cash used in investing activities (2.5 ) (74.7 ) Cash flows from (used in) financing activities: Borrowings under senior credit facilities 178.7 89.3 Repayments under senior credit facilities (88.7 ) (64.5 ) Borrowings under trade receivables financing arrangement 55.0 40.0 Repayments under trade receivables financing arrangement (27.0 ) (29.0 ) Net borrowings (repayments) under other financing arrangements (0.7 ) 2.8 Payment of contingent consideration (1.5 ) - Minimum withholdings paid on behalf of employees for net share settlements, net of proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options (2.8 ) (5.9 ) Net cash from continuing operations 113.0 32.7 Net cash from (used in) discontinued operations - - Net cash from financing activities 113.0 32.7 Change in cash and equivalents due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates (1.7 ) 1.6 Net change in cash and equivalents 108.4 (29.8 ) Consolidated cash and equivalents, beginning of period 54.7 68.8 Consolidated cash and equivalents, end of period $ 163.1 $ 39.0





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CASH AND DEBT RECONCILIATION (Unaudited; in millions) Three months ended March 28, 2020 Beginning cash and equivalents $ 54.7 Cash from continuing operations 2.7 Capital expenditures (3.6 ) Proceeds from company-owned life insurance policies, net 1.1 Borrowings under senior credit facilities 178.7 Repayments under senior credit facilities (88.7 ) Net borrowings under other financing arrangements 27.3 Payment of contingent consideration (1.5 ) Minimum withholdings paid on behalf of employees for net share settlements, net of proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options (2.8 ) Cash used in discontinued operations (3.1 ) Change in cash due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates (1.7 ) Ending cash and equivalents $ 163.1 Debt at Debt at December 31, 2019 Borrowings Repayments Other March 28, 2020 Revolving loans $ 140.0 $ 178.7 $ (88.7 ) $ - $ 230.0 Term loan 250.0 - - - 250.0 Trade receivables financing arrangement - 55.0 (27.0 ) - 28.0 Other indebtedness 5.3 - (0.7 ) 0.6 5.2 Less: Deferred financing costs associated with the term loan (1.8 ) - - 0.1 (1.7 ) Totals $ 393.5 $ 233.7 $ (116.4 ) $ 0.7 $ 511.5





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - ORGANIC REVENUE HVAC, DETECTION & MEASUREMENT AND ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS REPORTABLE SEGMENTS (Unaudited) Three months ended March 28, 2020 HVAC Detection & Measurement Engineered Solutions Net Revenue Growth (Decline) (7.7 ) % 8.0 % 12.2 % Exclude: Foreign Currency (0.5 ) % (0.9 ) % - % Exclude: Acquisitions 8.5 % 2.5 % - % Organic Revenue Growth (Decline) (15.7 ) % 6.4 % 12.2 %





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - REVENUE AND SEGMENT INCOME (Unaudited; in millions) CONSOLIDATED SPX: Three months ended March 28, 2020 March 30, 2019 Consolidated revenue $ 369.3 $ 343.6 Exclude: "All Other" operating segments(1) 4.0 (7.9 ) Adjusted consolidated revenue $ 365.3 $ 351.5 Total segment income $ 47.2 $ 20.8 Exclude: "All Other" operating segments(1) (3.9 ) (22.6 ) Exclude: One time acquisition related costs (2) (0.1 ) (1.3 ) Exclude: Amortization expense (3) (2.6 ) (1.6 ) Adjusted segment income $ 53.8 $ 46.3 as a percent of adjusted revenues (4) 14.7 % 13.2 % HVAC REPORTABLE SEGMENT: Three months ended March 28, 2020 March 30, 2019 HVAC segment income $ 15.0 $ 18.4 Exclude: One time acquisition related costs (2) (0.1 ) - Exclude: Amortization expense (3) (0.8 ) (0.1 ) HVAC adjusted segment income $ 15.9 $ 18.5 as a percent of HVAC segment revenues (4) 13.4 % 14.4 % DETECTION & MEASUREMENT REPORTABLE SEGMENT: Three months ended March 28, 2020 March 30, 2019 Detection & Measurement segment income $ 18.2 $ 17.0 Exclude: One time acquisition related costs (2) - (1.3 ) Exclude: Amortization expense (3) (1.8 ) (1.5 ) Detection & Measurement adjusted segment income $ 20.0 $ 19.8 as a percent of Detection & Measurement segment revenues (4) 21.8 % 23.3 % (1) Represents the removal of the financial results of our South Africa and Heat Transfer businesses. Note: These businesses are reported as an "All Other" group of operating segments for U.S. GAAP purposes due to certain wind-down activities that are occurring within these businesses. (2) Represents one-time acquisition related costs during the three months ended March 28, 2020 and additional "Cost of products sold" recorded during the three months ended March 30, 2019 related to the step-up of inventory (to fair value) acquired in connection with the Sabik and Cues acquisitions. (3) Represents amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets. (4) See "Results of Reportable and Other Operating Segments" for applicable percentages based on GAAP results.





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - OPERATING INCOME (Unaudited; in millions) Three months ended March 28, 2020 March 30, 2019 Operating income $ 32.7 $ 3.0 Exclude: Aggregate operating losses of the South Africa and Heat Transfer businesses (1) (4.1 ) (22.6 ) One-time acquisition related costs (2) (0.2 ) (2.9 ) Other operating income/expense (3) 0.4 (1.8 ) Amortization expense (4) (2.6 ) (1.6 ) Adjusted operating income $ 39.2 $ 31.9 as a percent of adjusted revenues (5) 10.7 % 9.1 % (1) Represents the removal of the financial results of these businesses, inclusive of "special charges" of $0.2 and $0.0 during the three months ended March 28, 2020 and March 30, 2019, respectively. (2) Represents charges during the three months ended March 28, 2020 for integration and transaction costs of $0.2, and charges during the three months ended March 30, 2019 associated with the Sabik and Cues acquisitions associated with inventory step-up $1.3 and integration and transaction costs of $1.6. (3) Represents income/expense associated with revisions to estimates of certain liabilities retained in connection with the 2016 sale of the dry cooling business. (4) Represents amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets. (5) See "Results of Reportable and Other Operating Segments" for applicable percentages based on GAAP results.





SPX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - EARNINGS PER SHARE Three Months Ended March 28, 2020 (Unaudited; in millions, except per share values) GAAP Adjustments Adjusted Segment income (1) $ 47.2 $ 6.6 $ 53.8 Corporate expense (2) (11.1 ) 0.1 (11.0 ) Long-term incentive compensation expense (3.5 ) - (3.5 ) Special charges, net (3) (0.3 ) 0.2 (0.1 ) Other operating income (4) 0.4 (0.4 ) - Operating income 32.7 6.5 39.2 Other income, net (5) 0.7 0.5 1.2 Interest expense, net (4.7 ) - (4.7 ) Income from continuing operations before income taxes 28.7 7.0 35.7 Income tax provision (6) (6.0 ) (1.3 ) (7.3 ) Income from continuing operations 22.7 5.7 28.4 Dilutive shares outstanding 45.527 45.527 Earnings per share from continuing operations $ 0.50 $ 0.62 (1) Adjustment primarily represents the removal of (i) operating losses associated with the South Africa and Heat Transfer businesses ($3.9) and (ii) amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets ($2.6). (2) Adjustment represents the removal of acquisition related expenses incurred during the period. (3) Adjustment represents the removal of restructuring charges associated with the South Africa business. (4) Adjustment represents removal of income associated with revisions to estimates of certain liabilities retained in connection with the 2016 sale of the dry cooling business. (5) Adjustment represents the removal of (i) non-service pension and postretirement charges ($0.2) and (ii) removal of foreign currency losses associated with the South African projects ($0.3). (6) Adjustment represents the tax impact of items (1) through (5) above.




[April 30, 2020] Amid COVID-19 Outbreak, Jackson Township, New Jersey Moves Government to the Cloud

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As COVID-19 advances across the country, it is exposing the need for remote work capabilities for local governments. Officials from Jackson Township, New Jersey have elected to shift its departments and operational management to a cloud-based platform. The township of 55,000 people located in central New Jersey - east of the capital Trenton - has selected Hoboken, NJ based GovPilot as its provider of government management software. "Now is the time to take on digital transformation and for our government and employees to transition to GovPilot's cloud-based platform," said Jackson's Business Administrator, Terrence Wall. "Our employees need to be able to conduct business remotely, and our residents must be able to interact with their government digitally, by submitting forms, applications, requests, and concerns online." "Whether during a global pandemic, a natural disaster like we faced with Superstorm Sandy, or other more common disruptions, our government needs to be able to continue to function efficiently and provide the services that our residents depend on. By moving our departments to the unified cloud-based platform that GovPilot provides, our employees will be able to work from any device or environment be it their office, or their living room, and our residents will be able to submit forms digitally from the comfort of their homes," added Mr. Wall. Last year, Bloomberg highlighted the fact that many American cities are running on antiquated software from the 1980's. Now according to Axios and GovTech , amid the COVID-19 outbreak, local government officials are scrambling to get employees set up remotely - if workers can't come into the office.



Officials from Jackson Township were initially drawn to the ten free software modules - including drive-thru test registration, FEMA expense tracking, and volunteer registration - that GovPilot has made available to local governments nationwide to help them organize their efforts against COVID-19. "It quickly became apparent to us that GovPilot's entire platform of 100+ modules will be essential to our operations during the current crisis, and will provide increased efficiency, productivity, and security to our operations long after we put COVID-19 behind us," said Mr. Wall.

Michael Bonner, GovPilot's founder and CEO added, "Our mission is to enable local governments to operate at their full potential. Now more than ever it is vital that local governments are able to operate efficiently while serving their residents without a lapse in services. Whether providing a public GIS map, digitizing obsolete paper processes, or unifying departments on one cloud-based platform - towns, cities, and counties across the country are recognizing the need to ensure business continuity by modernizing their government management systems. In that regard we are thrilled to be working with Jackson Township and applaud their leadership's forward thinking, and their employees' receptiveness to this initiative." Since early April, GovPilot has worked with Jackson Township employees to quickly onboard seventeen critical modules including a public facing GIS map with custom data layers and a digital Report-a-Concern feature, Public Open Records Requests, Construction Permitting, and Receipting and Expense Tracking which among other things will be utilized by Jackson to track COVID-19 related expenditures for FEMA reimbursement. Additional modules will be implemented over the coming weeks. About GovPilot:

GovPilot - named a GovTech 100 company for three consecutive years - is the leader in digital transformation for local governments. Across the U.S. 40,000 local governments manage a multitude of critical processes - all with different, often obsolete approaches. GovPilot's cloud-based platform was built with the sole purpose of enabling local governments to operate at their full potential by standardizing, digitizing, and unifying more than 100 operational and constituent service processes on one system. By providing a product catalog of digitized processes developed with the input of subject matter experts and real-world users, GovPilot serves as a repository of best-practices and is the Gold Standard in efficiency, productivity, and security for local governments. To learn more visit www.govpilot.com or book a consultation HERE . Follow @GovPilot on Social. GovPilot Media Contact:

Evan Achiron, Director of Marketing & Communications

[email protected] | (929) 299-7969 (Google Voice #) View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amid-covid-19-outbreak-jackson-township-new-jersey-moves-government-to-the-cloud-301049696.html SOURCE GovPilot

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Photograph: Jorge Cabrera/Reuters

US federal prosecutors have accused the former national police chief of Honduras of trafficking tonnes of cocaine to the US on behalf of the countrys president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, and his brother, who was convicted of similar charges in October.

Hernandez was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial of his brother Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, but the US has continued to call him an ally in its war on drugs.

According to the complaint filed on Thursday by the Southern District of New York, the former police chief Juan Carlos Bonilla participated in extreme violence, including the murder of a rival trafficker, to further the conspiracy.

Prosecutors also allege that Bonilla was entrusted with special assignments, including murder by President Hernandez  who is identified as a co-conspirator  and his brother, Tony.

Bonilla, an imposing figure known as El Tigre (the Tiger), was appointed as national police chief in May 2012 at a time when Honduras had one of the highest homicide rates in the world.

In the role, Bonilla collaborated with US counter-narcotics forces operating in Honduras and helped to create a special unit of the police that works with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), leading to the indictment of numerous high-profile drug traffickers including the presidents brother.

Bonilla, who was also identified as an alleged co-conspirator of Tony Hernandez last year, has repeatedly cited his relationship with the DEA as evidence of his innocence.

The US pushed for his removal from the police job in 2013 owing to persistent allegations of violence, including that Bonilla had participated in death squads targeting suspected gang members.

Bonilla was previously the regional police chief of the Copan department on the border with Guatemala, one of the most crucial points on the drug trafficking route.

During that time, prosecutors allege, he orchestrated the murder of a rival drug trafficker who was threatening a route controlled by Tony Hernandez and an associate.

Story continues

Related: What links a prison murder, a New York drug trial and the Honduras president?

Bonilla has denied all allegations, telling a local news station on Thursday: I am not a villain. I am a former officer of the national police with the rank of general who served my country and served society.

It is unclear if the US has formally requested Bonillas extradition. If so, the president would be faced with a dilemma of whether to order the capture of a person who could some day testify against him in court.

Experts believe Bonilla is likely to follow the example of others who have been indicted on drug trafficking charges and turn himself in to the DEA.

US prosecutors allege that President Hernandez received millions in bribes from drug traffickers including Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the notorious former leader of Mexicos Sinaloa cartel.

The president has vigorously denied all allegations of ties to drug traffickers, referring to them as fairytales.
John Partridge has told how signing up to do Celebrity MasterChef helped him in kicking his cocaine addiction as he found a passion for cooking.

The former EastEnders star, 48, was crowned the winner of the 2018 series of the show and revealed getting into the kitchen helped him to change his habit.

Speaking to The Mirror, John said he first went to Narcotics Anonymous meetings which he eventually left and then asked his agent to sign him up for MasterChef.

Change: John Partridge, 48, has told how signing up to do Celebrity MasterChef helped him in kicking his cocaine addiction as he found a passion for cooking (pictured in December 2019)

Recalling how cooking became his distraction when he joined the show, John said: 'Every day for the next three weeks Id go to the supermarket instead of going to NA.

'When it came to that time in the evening  the witching hour  when my husband, Jon, would go to work and Id be here alone Id start to get twitchy fingers. So, Id buy random ingredients and cook. That was how it started.'

The actor said he would use drugs after work as a way of 'rewarding himself', with his addiction getting out of control after the death of mother Bridget, aged 80, from dementia and Alzheimer's.

The soap star did not have a big emotional upheaval when he decided to quit drugs and simply contacted a friend to ask for help when he knew the time had come to change his life in October 2017.

Champion: The former EastEnders star was crowned the winner of the 2018 series of the cooking show and revealed getting into the kitchen helped him to change his habit

John told how his partying began as a teenager when he started to dabble in recreational drug use.

The actor attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings for three weeks before deciding it was not for him.

It was then he watched MasterChef on TV and got himself onto the next celebrity series of the show.

He said: 'Cooking food from my past helped me reconnect with my present  it reconnected me with that little boy. When I lifted the trophy it was really emotional, because I was having all these revelations about myself and remembering. I suddenly appreciated all of it.'

Getting help: John said he first went to Narcotics Anonymous meetings which he eventually left and then asked his agent to sign him up for MasterChef

John admitted he was never entirely dependent on alcohol but did have a reliance on cocaine.

The actor, who described cooking as an act of self-care, has parlayed the skills he learned on MasterChef into writing his new book, There's No Taste Like Home.

John is best known for his role as Christian Clarke on EastEnders which he played from 2008 to 2012 and again in 2014 to 2016.

The TV star said he loved his time on the show and made lifelong friends with some of his co-stars.

Family: John said his addiction got out of control after the death of mother Bridget, aged 80, in October 2017 from dementia and Alzheimer's

However, the former Celebrity Big Brother star has no plans to return to the soap anytime soon as he is thinking about taking a break from acting.

John said he wants to focus on spending time with his husband Jon Tsouras with the couple thinking about fostering children.

Asked if he ever misses his party days, the actor said he misses the social aspect of it, but not the feeling he would have the morning after.

Forthright as ever, John said you don't see 70-year-old cocaine addicts, adding that was not the path he wanted to go down for the rest of his life.
State officials are considering information such as hospitalization and death rates, along with the availability of intensive care unit beds and ventilators for those who are seriously ill, in deciding whether to lift any restrictions, Holcomb said.
Nineveh Plains Transitional Justice Report: April

While COVID-19 dominates most of daily life in the Nineveh Governorate, sectarian tensions are further defining the landscape. Residents report competing mandates between the governorate and checkpoints operated by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). A fracture within the PMF could further engrain Iranian influence in Nineveh and deepen the governorate's disputed status. Meanwhile, Shabak activism has increased regarding their growing presence near Christian areas. Christians are negotiating their role with the immigration portfolio in Iraq's government.

Organization

Understanding of COVID-19 is a global challenge, but the pandemic makes an already difficult living environment in Nineveh even more demanding. "COVID-19 is a mystery," says one interviewed resident. "Some reports and even patients say if you have even very simple symptoms, you need to go to the doctor, while others say you are safe unless it is advanced symptoms. We don't understand which is right."

Another adds, "It is very hard to get tested, but we are safe in Qeraqosh. We are born and raised on an organic system. Everything is fresh. Our immune system could be the strongest in the world. We also have faith in God and his saints; he will protect us."

A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) reported only six confirmed cases in Nineveh (five cured, one active), placing the governorate in the bottom 3 for locations where the virus was confirmed in Iraq. Like Nineveh, the other two governorates were also occupied by ISIS. No cases were reported in Sinjar.

Nearly 30 NGOs have warned that COVID-19 has the potential for disaster in Northern Iraq. Nineveh lacks a solid infrastructure system, thus impacting health care access. Doctors Without Borders reported that the main referral hospital for COVID-19 patients in Nineveh is al-Shifaa Hospital in Mosul. Other reports indicate that while the test can be conducted in Mosul, analysis must occur in Baghdad, causing delays. The expense of traveling to medical facilities is already a significant burden for families impacted by ISIS. These challenges could be impacting numbers reported to WHO. Another challenge, reported by Reuters, is that Iraq is significantly underreporting confirmed COVID-19 cases and is making attempts to restrict whistleblowing efforts.

Because of the low number of cases in Nineveh, Governor Jabouri had reduced restrictions on movement beginning on April 18th "to relieve the burden of citizens as the month of Ramadan approaches." An earlier statement by the governorate had reduced these kinds of restrictions for agriculture. However, despite these official statements, residents report difficulties traveling within the governorate.

For example, a farmer told ICC that "I don't know why do we have a government? There is a signed letter by the Governor of Mosul, Naim al-Jabouri, ordering all checkpoints to allow trucks to pass. At the checkpoint, my truck driver has been told by the office that he is the master. He is the one who makes decisions, not the governor."

A driver for a local fodder seller also shared that, "I've been struggling at checkpoints. I stayed 6 hours last time to pass, even with hundreds of phone calls, talking to the importer, exporter, more and more people to get me past with these tons of fodder."

Traveling within their home cities, however, is not always a challenge for Nineveh residents. "It is no big difference in daily life for Qeraqosh before and during coronavirus. We are not a crowded city," explains one.

Polarization

As a disputed territory, the future of the Nineveh Governorate is constantly caught between the cross-hairs of Iraq's competing militia and political system.

Shabak -- Christian tensions in Nineveh appear to have become slightly more elevated through media engagement. The Shabak, who are supported by Iran, have repeatedly been reported as facilitating demographic change in Christian areas such as Bartella. In one recent media report, Shabak activists stated that "Many Christians have left Iraq, so areas became Shabak and pictures of Imam Hussein appeared. It was a result, not a plan. We just wanted water, services, schools for the children. If the government had given us land, we would've never left our areas."

Meanwhile, Christian immigration has become a source of political tension. Because of the massive amount of Christian immigration due to persecution, it has become traditional for Christians to handle the Central Government's Ministry of Displacement and Migration portfolio. However, the appointment has been lacking because of the authorities' inability to form a united government and underlying sectarian tensions.

The PMF militias are also showing signs of significant stress. Four brigades affiliated with Sistani in Southern Iraq have now made the choice to split from the PMF brigades associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which are those brigades who control the Nineveh Governorate. This has caused significant in-fighting, leading some to explain this as the reason why ISIS has greatly increased attacks in the areas surrounding Nineveh. However, others say that these attacks are of a defensive rather than offensive nature, while still others say that these attacks are more reflective of KRG -- ICG tensions impacting disputed territories.

Regardless, an increase of ISIS attacks has not been observed in Nineveh, only the surrounding areas. Incidents involving ISIS within Nineveh appear split between an offensive and defensive nature. In one case, security forces blew up a hideout of ISIS fighters. In another, two civilians were killed by a roadside bomb near the border with Saladin. The PMF is usually involved in ISIS-related incidents, on the one hand, providing counter-terrorism support in Nineveh. On the other hand, their harassment and intimidation of residents make them an unwelcome presence.

Investigation

COVID-19 has effectively stalled much of the fieldwork of UNITAD, the United Nations team investigating the genocide of ISIS. UNITAD announced that they have signed an agreement with the European Union to support the digitization of evidence related to the crimes of ISIS. This involves a 3.5 million EUR contribution to this project from the European Union. It is hoped that this will deepen the evidential foundation for future prosecutions, some of which are moving forward in Europe. "By establishing a comprehensive documentary record of these acts, we also contribute to global efforts to promote peace and security by ensuring that the ideologically bankrupt nature of ISIL is exposed," said UNITAD in a statement.
There was concern from individuals in the Osage Nation that this had come too soon upon the close of the trials. However, Hoover thought it was important for his agency, outweighing any negative criticism. (PBS American Experience)

In the 1940s, crime comics were the popular item with stories about secret agents and FBI cases. One comic in particular, costing ten cents, was done on the Osage murders: Steve Saunders, Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in The Mystery of the Osage Indians. The front cover had bare-chested Natives wearing headdresses while dancing around a bonfire. (msu.edu) Convicted murderer John Ramsey would later object to his name being used in the comic. (letter to the FBI)

In 1959, a movie based on Don Whiteheads bestseller The FBI Story starred James Stewart. It was about the creation of the FBI. The Osage murders were one of a few backdrops highlighting how the agency achieved the prominence it has today. FBI Director Hoover practically directed the movie. He looked at everything. He looked at  every reference, every scene, every actor. He approved it all. (Dateline NBC)
Oregon restaurants may be asked to consider keeping the names, contact information and dates of visits for patrons as part of the states effort to reopen parts of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a draft version of the plan obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

That suggested guidance is intended for all businesses that would reopen to serve customers at potential close range, such as retail stores and salons, according to the records. But there is no suggestion such businesses would be required to track customers personal information.

The draft documents offer a first glimpse into the details of Gov. Kate Browns efforts to eventually reopen some Oregon businesses largely shuttered since her stay-home order in March. State officials have said Oregon cant remain closed forever but want to ensure the virus doesnt surge as businesses are allowed to restore hours and services.

The guidance around keeping logs of patrons is a new provision added to the draft documents and shared with key business officials Wednesday. Leah Horner, an aide to Brown, told email recipients on the restaurant sector subcommittee that such information could be useful for contact tracing.

Please let me know if you have comments on if or how that could work, she wrote.

Brown last week rolled out details of her Reopening Oregon framework, which will eventually include specific plans for testing and contact tracing, among other things. Brown also formed subcommittees to focus on details for reopening restaurants, retail, personal services, child care, transit and outdoor recreation.

Its unclear what specific provisions will ultimately make the final cut of the guidance for restaurants and other businesses. Charles Boyle, a spokesman for Brown, emphasized that "these are draft documents only, and are subject to change.

These are draft guidance documents that are a product of our sector-specific working group discussions with business owners and other stakeholders, he said in a statement. Generally speaking, the goal is to develop guidance for restaurants that will keep employees and patrons safe from COVID-19 as we work to gradually and safely reopen Oregon."

The draft guidance to employers asks them to consider temperature checks, or self-reporting of health conditions, for employees and visitors that look to reopen. It also suggests that businesses seeking to obtain names and contact info from patrons explain why.

Businesses should inform customers/visitors of the reason the information is being collected and how the information will be used, the draft guidance says. Example language: This business is collecting basic information to share with public health in the event a COVID-19 case is identified associated with this business.

Details from the draft plan for restaurants, bars, breweries and tasting rooms require a minimum of six feet spacing between tables to keep patrons separated, with individual parties limited to 10 people. Dining establishments would be limited to 50% overall occupancy and would need to close by 10 p.m.

The draft guidance also would prohibit self-service operations, including buffets, salad bars, soda machines and growler refilling stations. Counter and bar seating would be prohibited, unless a business finds that such seating decreases worker exposure.

Menus would be single-use and amenities like pool tables or karaoke machines would be off-limits.

Restaurants and bars would be encouraged to ensure only one employee provides service to a patron or party. Visitors and workers would be strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.

Customers do not need to wear face coverings while seated at the table, the draft guidance says. If a business sets a policy that all employees and customers are required to wear cloth face coverings, business management should consult with their legal counsel to determine whether or not such a requirement can be enforced and whether or not the business will provide a cloth face covering when a customer does not bring their own.

Before the pandemic struck, Southeast Portlands Coquine was in the middle of a dining room expansion into a former yoga studio next door. Chef Katy Millard and partner Ksandek Podbielski had signed a lease on the space two weeks before Gov. Kate Browns stay-home order. They got the keys on April 1.

Now, instead of hosting diners eager to visit The Oregonians 2016 Restaurant of the Year, that space is being used to organize and sort boxes of produce from local farms that once provided Coquine with its seasonal produce. Along with selling family meal kits to-go, those CSA boxes have helped the restaurant keep on 60% of their staff at 60% of their hours.

For Coquine, a future where diners are kept six feet apart could mean limiting the already intimate dining room to as few as four or five tables.

"My first reaction is that just doesnt work, that just doesnt pan out, Podbielski said. It definitely completely changes what it means to dine out in the restaurant. In order to survive, does every restaurant have to become either crazy high-end or a crazy counter-service? I dont know.

For Naomi Pomeroy, the James Beard Award-winning chef at Beast, enforcing six feet of distance between diners would probably mean limiting her celebrated Northeast Portland restaurant to about 10 customers per seating.

I dont know one restaurant that could survive running at 50% capacity, Pomeroy said.

Pomeroy is dubious that restaurants will be comfortable checking customers temperatures or quizzing them on whether or not theyve been tested. And she worries that restaurant workers are being put back on the front lines of the pandemic without the proper guidelines for reopening.

The real crux of this is the people in our state government are literally asking our restaurants to get back to being the canaries in the coal mine, Pomeroy said. The number one thing that will shut us down forever is if we do have to open and we dont have the proper measures in place and we have another outbreak and we have to shut all over again.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

-- Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com; @tdmrussell
World Immunisation Week is celebrated in the last week of April every year. The aim is to recognise efforts to develop new vaccines and increase vaccination coverage worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also uses the week to galvanise national and international communities to keep pushing for more: greater demand for vaccines, better access, equity and higher coverage.

Vaccines are some of the most equitable and cost-effective health interventions available. As global attention is captured by the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign to champion all vaccines matters now more than ever.

Lives saved due to immunisation

The world before vaccination was a very different place. On the African continent, before a yellow fever vaccine was developed and routinely delivered (as recommended by the WHO in 1988), epidemics occurred every three to 10 years. Up to a quarter of those showing symptoms would get severe disease and among those with severe disease, half would die. Outbreaks still occur in at-risk areas where vaccination services have broken down. But if the vaccine is available, 99% of people who get it are protected within 30 days of the injection and will survive.

Similarly with measles, between 2000 and 2018 the vaccination is estimated to have prevented 23 million deaths worldwide. In the 1960s, before widespread vaccination, measles epidemics used to occur every two or three years, not only causing millions of deaths, usually in children, but also long-term disabilities. Measles can attack every organ in the body, and even after recovering from the illness, children can be left blind or deaf, with detrimental effects on their immune systems.

There have been substantial gains in measles prevention. But there were still 140,000 measles deaths worldwide in 2018 due to pockets of unvaccinated children transmitting the disease. In the African region alone, the WHO estimates there were 1.7 million cases of illness and 50,000 deaths in 2018 .

While calling for a COVID-19 vaccine we must remember to ensure that the highly effective vaccines in our existing armoury, like the one for measles, continue to be made available for all who need them. COVID-19 provides a stark reminder of what a world without vaccines would look like.

Limitations

If vaccines are so effective, why don't we have them for all diseases?

HIV and malaria are hard hitters on the African continent and have been for decades, so why are there still no vaccines available?

A large part of the challenge boils down to how rapidly these germs can change their identity. Vaccines aim to simulate a natural infection, so that when a true infection comes along, your body can recognise the germ quickly and launch the correct response to disarm it. They are, in that way, one of the most natural medical interventions you could think of. Essentially they just prepare your own immune system to react more effectively than it would if coming into contact with the germ for the very first time.

The route to developing an effective vaccine, therefore, depends on the nature of the germ itself, how your natural immune system responds to it and the safety of different possible types of vaccine material. Unfortunately, both malaria and HIV are highly complex organisms that can rapidly change the way they look to your immune system. This makes it hard to make a vaccine, as the organism itself is constantly changing and has inbuilt ways to evade recognition by your immune system.

The safety of potential vaccines is also crucial. Research moves sequentially from test-tubes to animals and, if it meets all the criteria indicating that it is safe, then the trials move to include a small number of healthy adults. Gradually, the number and diversity of those included in trials is expanded, until enough safety and efficacy data are accrued to pass it through to the next stage of development.

There is a huge amount of ongoing research to identify possible candidate vaccines for both HIV and malaria (and COVID-19). A few malaria vaccine candidates have looked promising and there is a large scale implementation trial of the RTSS malaria vaccine to demonstrate effectiveness; researchers are optimistic . Despite testing a large number of HIV vaccine candidates in the past few decades, they have failed to demonstrate efficacy, and the search continues.

But the frustration from decades of failed attempts should not reduce the rigour of the research needed. The vaccine development process has to be long enough to ensure the end product is safe. Continued focus on developing new vaccines is needed, alongside patience and political will to get them to the populations that need them most when they do become available.

Remaining challenges: access and attitudes

Getting vaccines to the populations that need them most encompasses a range of problems. The WHO estimates that in 2018, 20 million children remained unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. That is, they had not completed the full course of recommended vaccinations by the time they reached one year of age. That is one in every seven infants worldwide.

This statistic hides considerable complexity. The number varies by vaccine, across countries and within countries.

Leaving a proportion of the population under-vaccinated doesn't just affect those individuals, it reduces herd protection. Herd protection is the effect achieved by vaccinating most people in the herd and therefore reducing transmission of the infection to such an extent that the remainder don't come into contact with it. This protects vulnerable people who cannot be vaccinated because they are too young or have certain health conditions.

Pockets of under-vaccinated people put themselves and others at risk as they act as reservoirs for transmission of the infection.

Vaccine hesitancy or anti-vax sentiment has become a growing issue, to the extent that the WHO considered it one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019 . It is still relatively rare in Africa, but it has arisen recently in populations more sceptical of health authorities and for whom the memories of uncontrolled infection have disappeared.

It must be guarded against, especially in the uncertain times of COVID-19. A global pandemic like this one threatens to reverse the victories that are won every day over vaccine-preventable diseases in low-income settings, including gains towards polio eradication .

The pandemic reduces the staff and resources available to continue routine immunisation services as resources are redirected to COVID-19 wards. Uncertainty over whether services are continuing as many workplaces are temporarily shut down, together with reduced transport options, makes it harder for parents to access care.

Fear of contracting the virus in transit or while at the health facility may additionally prevent parents from bringing children to the health centre. If the uptake of vaccines does drop, outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases such as bacterial meningitis and pneumonia, measles, rotavirus diarrhoea and others will cause even higher rates of death when patients present to a health system that is already straining under the weight of COVID.

Now more than ever, routine vaccination must continue. The WHO has released guidelines on maintaining routine immunisation services during the COVID-19 pandemic. While everyone has their eyes on the coronavirus pandemic, it is vitally important that national immunisation programmes, front line health workers and parents find a way to sustain the routine immunisation system and continue to save millions of children's lives.

Katherine E. Gallagher receives funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom National Institute for Health Research.

I have received funding for vaccine related research from Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; The Wellcome Trust; The Medical Research Council of the UK; the National Institute of Health Research; PATH Vaccine Solutions.

Ifedayo Adetifa receives funding from the following: United Kingdom's Medical Research Council, Department for International Development and National Institute for Health Research, and from Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.

John Ojal receives funding from National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Mucosal Pathogens using UK aid from the UK Government.

Shirine Voller is Programme Manager on a project funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Wangeci Kagucia is a co-investigator on a project funded by Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.

By Katherine E. Gallagher, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine And

Anthony Scott, Professor of Vaccine Epidemiology, Director HPRU in Immunisation, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine And

Ifedayo Adetifa, Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom & Clinical Epidemiologist, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme And

John Ojal, Research Fellow in Infectious Disease Modelling, NIHR Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine And

Shirine Voller, ED Programme Manager, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme And

Wangeci Kagucia, Research Fellow, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme
The Armenian side has repeatedly stated that the staff of the laboratories consists only of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, the presence of foreign specialists in the territory of the laboratories is excluded. This is what Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan said in response to a question from tert.am.

Question. In November, at the joint press-conference of Foriegn Ministers of Armenia and Russia in Yerevan, it was announced that a memorandum on access of Russian specialists to the US-funded biolaboratories in Armenia will be signed in the near future. Would you provide any information about that memorandum? When the singing of the document is intended to take place?

Answer: First, I would like to emphasize that the biological laboratories operating in the Republic of Armenia belong to Armenia and are fully controlled by the state structures of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian side has repeatedly stated that the staff of the laboratories consists only of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, the presence of foreign specialists in the territory of the laboratories is excluded.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Ensuring Biological Safety between Armenia and Russia is neither about issues related to biological laboratories in Armenia nor the right of access of Russian specialists. As we have noted on numerous occasions, that document addresses a wide range of issues related to ensuring biological safety. The current draft of the Memorandum does not envisage the right to access to the working areas of laboratories for any side or exercise any other unilateral control.

The draft Memorandum currently undergoes internal procedures, which are delayed because of the declaration of a state of emergency in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data models projecting the prevalence of COVID-19 in Manitoba suggest severe public health orders that shuttered businesses, delayed health care, and disrupted education and livelihoods reduced the provinces potential caseload by half.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Data models projecting the prevalence of COVID-19 in Manitoba suggest severe public health orders that shuttered businesses, delayed health care, and disrupted education and livelihoods reduced the provinces potential caseload by half.

Provincial chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin released for the first time Wednesday the latest projections used by public health officials to guide the governments response to the novel coronavirus.

The data modelling projected Manitoba would have hit roughly 1,000 cases of COVID-19 on May 1 had only minimal public health interventions been put in place. The first case of COVID-19 was identified in Manitoba on March 12.

With the public health orders currently in effect, the province is projecting slightly fewer than 500 cases by the same date.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer.

"The measures that we implemented were much stronger than what we would say is minimal public health interventions  all those interventions that weve talked about with social distancing, the orders, travel restrictions is what put us in the position that were in today," Roussin said.

"As Manitobans have all stepped up and kept our numbers down, now we can loosen some of these restrictions."

Manitoba was one of the last provinces to release its numbers and unlike many other jurisdictions, did not include projected deaths.

Roussin said Manitoba could reach 500 cases by May 8. The current caseload sits below projected numbers  with 273 cases recorded on Wednesday  but is still within the range of possibility.

"As Manitobans have all stepped up and kept our numbers down, now we can loosen some of these restrictions."  Provincial chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin

Former chief public health officer of Canada Dr. David Butler-Jones said models are best used to look retrospectively at how outbreaks could have gone if left unchecked.

"Models are not predictive; they give you a set of potential changes," said Butler-Jones. "Theyre generally more useful in terms of If we hadnt done X, it would have looked like this."

And while forecasts can be unreliable, Roussin said the province is projecting as many as 6,250 cases over the course of a year, if current restrictions were to be maintained. The novel coronavirus has a mortality rate of two to three per cent.

Roussins predecessor, Dr. Joel Kettner, was critical over the lack of transparency in how Manitoba made its modelling.

"Im a bit disappointed that theres no real description of what the modelling method was, or what kind of input-information they used in the model," said Kettner, a University of Manitoba professor in community health.

"The public is more likely to do what they're being asked to do if they understand and trust the people that are asking them to do it, especially if its really restricting their normal behaviour and interfering with the quality of their lives, not to mention their income."

With non-essential businesses set to resume operations Monday  with strict physical-distancing guidelines in place  Kettner said Manitobas entire public conversation now surrounds those measures, but there is no modelling to help understand policymakers goals and expectations.

Manitobans are also unable to compare the impact of opening retail spaces and other businesses against maintaining current restrictions, or other interim measures.

"I have not seen ever a comparison of different strategies, in terms of the outcomes; all that we've seen is a comparison of if everybody complies with the distancing, with what happens if nobody complies."

Roussin said his team is currently running models to determine what potential case numbers could be expected with the easing of restrictions.

"Those are things that were going to adjust and revisit and share again as time goes on," he said.

We want to ensure that we continue to detect cases early, to isolate cases, and do aggressive contact management. Its going to be a large part of our strategy going forward.  Dr. Brent Roussin

The provinces top doctor also said hes comfortable with the relaxed restrictions and confident in current capacity of the health-care system to respond to increased demands.

"Manitoba now has quite a broad testing criteria," Roussin said. "We want to ensure that we continue to detect cases early, to isolate cases, and do aggressive contact management. Its going to be a large part of our strategy going forward."

Butler-Jones echoed Roussin and said Manitobans have followed the strict policies so far, and will likely keep a distance from each other and wear masks.

Manitobans have followed social-distancing policies so far, and will likely keep a distance from each other and wear masks even as patio season approaches.(Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Even at a patio with nachos, he expects people wont be sharing a sip of their beer.

"Some modification of this is probably going to stick with us, and people are generally going to be more cautious," Butler-Jones said.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

"At a certain point, it starts to get really wearing, and we're seeing that in terms of impacts on mental health plus frustration with not being able to have a normal life," he said. "Especially when our summers are so short."

Kettner added the existing lockdown is likely making some Manitobans more ill, due to postponed treatments and surgeries. He was also stunned the province had nothing to say about how many deaths could come, even if the number was too absract to be helpful.

"Some would say it's the most important information to project," said Kettner, who stressed that public-health officials are doing well in an evolving situation.

"I think its hard to maintain trust with the public if all you're doing is smoothing this over without giving information that is transparent, that is explainable, that is logical; where you show your thinking and where you allow others in a democratic society to ask questions and challenge the premises."

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca

Danielle Da Silva

Reporter Danielle Da Silva is a general assignment reporter. Read full biography
Stocks in Asia rose on Thursday following positive developments overnight on a potential new treatment for Covid-19.

Mainland Chinese stocks rose on the day, with the Shanghai composite up 1.33% to about 2,860.08 while the Shenzhen composite added 1.885% to around 1,763.36.

Stocks in Japan saw robust gains as they returned to trade following a Wednesday holiday. The Nikkei 225 jumped 2.14% to close at 20,193.69 as shares of robot maker Fanuc soared 5.63%. The Topix index also rose 1.03% to end its trading day at 1,464.03.

The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia also rose 2.39% to close at 5,522.40.

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index rose 1.4%.

In corporate earnings, Singapore's DBS Group posted a 29% plunge year-over-year in its first quarter net profit. The bank's shares jumped more than 4% in afternoon trade on Thursday.

Markets in Hong Kong and South Korea were closed on Thursday for a holiday.

Investors watched for market reaction to developments overnight regarding the use of Gilead Sciences' antiviral drug remdesivir as a potential new treatment for Covid-19 patients.

Gilead Sciences said Wednesday preliminary results of a coronavirus drug trial showed at least 50% of patients treated with a five-day dosage of remdesivir improved and more than half were discharged from the hospital within two weeks.

Later Wednesday, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said NIAID's remdesivir drug trial, which enrolled about 800 patients, showed "quite good news" and that the drug would set a new standard of care for Covid-19 patients.

Globally, the coronavirus pandemic has infected more then 3.1 million and taken at least 226,771 lives, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University.
Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca said higher sales of two medications used to treat asthma and lung cancer sufferers helped its first quarter sales soar by 17 per cent to $6.31billion.

Symbicort, which is regularly used in inhalers, and Tagrisso, which treats non-small cell lung carcinomas, all experienced large double-digit rates of revenue growth last quarter of 35 per cent and 56 per cent respectively.

Oncology medicines saw the biggest rise in sales, with immunotherapy treatment Imfinzi climbing 57 per cent to $462million, and ovarian cancer drug Lymparza increasing by two thirds to nearly $400million.

AstraZeneca has donated nine million face masks to help protect healthcare workers from contracting Covid-19 and is working with rival GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the University of Cambridge to try and get 30,000 people tested for the virus each day by next month

They were followed by a 21 per cent jump in respiratory and immunology drug sales, which passed the $1.5billion mark.

There was also a 7 per cent upswing in Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) drugs sales, with the new antiplatelet remedy Brilinta and diabetes medication Farxiga both having revenues jump by about a sixth.

Farxiga is also one of two AstraZeneca products that is being assessed for its ability to fight the coronavirus, along with Calquence - a drug normally used to treat a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma called mantle cell lymphoma.

It has also donated nine million face masks to help protect healthcare workers from contracting Covid-19 and is working with its business rival GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the University of Cambridge to try and get 30,000 people tested for the virus each day by next month.

Revenue from the Chinese market, which had been severely disrupted by the coronavirus, rose 17 per cent to $1.42billion, accounting for about 23 per cent of total revenue

The popularity of AstraZeneca's newer treatments, which also include those for cancer, have put the company's business on track for its third consecutive year of growth, with a strong line-up in place for future sales.

Revenue from the Chinese market, which had been severely disrupted by the coronavirus, rose 17 per cent to $1.42billion, accounting for about 23 per cent of total revenue.

The company now says that all of its China operations had come quickly back on line, and while it assumed the pandemic would last for several more months, sales have been helped in the short term by stockpiling by distributors.

Drugmakers including AstraZenecam (whose Cambridge offices are pictured) are halting or stalling existing trials as they divert funds and research into potential COVID-19 treatments

Europe, which saw less severe disruption, saw earnings grow by a larger percentage than China, rising 22 per cent, as did the US market, which expanded by 16 per cent to more than $2billion.

Commenting on the latest financial results, the firm's CEO Pascal Soriot remarked:

'Our focus ensured another quarter of strong growth across every therapy area and region. The new medicines performed extremely well, and our pipeline continued to deliver.

'I could not be prouder of how the AstraZeneca team has responded to the challenges of COVID-19.

We moved quickly to maintain continuity of care, contribute to society, and use our scientific expertise to fight the pandemic,' he added.

Drugmakers worldwide are also having to halt or stall existing trials as they divert funds and research into potential COVID-19 treatments, but AstraZeneca said it did not expect any delays to late-stage trials in 2020 and 2021.

Shares at AstraZeneca were 0.6 per cent higher today at 8,237.5p following the publication of their latest update.
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
Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has promoted Deniz Tas, an industry veteran, as its partner in the Middle East, further strengthening its M&A (merger and acquisition) practice in the region. The promotions take effect from tomorrow (May 1).

Tas is part of a global cohort of 26 lawyers elected to the partnership, drawn from all of the firm's market-leading practices and every region, demonstrating strong growth and investment in our future talent, said a statement from Clifford Chance.

Tas is a member of our preeminent M&A practice in the Middle East and is based in the Dubai office. He advises on private and public M&A transactions, focusing on regional sovereign wealth funds, corporates and international financial investors.

He also has extensive experience advising on transactions in the energy & resources sector. He qualified in Australia (New South Wales) and joined our Sydney office in 2012, prior to relocating to our Dubai office in 2015.

Since then, he has been involved in several significant M&A mandates in the region and globally.

Recently, Deniz has been part of the team advising Port & Free Zone World (a wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai World) on its $2.7 billion cash offer to take DP World private.

Clifford Chance has one of the largest M&A teams in the Middle East, led by seven M&A partners in our Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh offices, in addition to two M&A partners of our affiliated firm in Saudi Arabia, AS&H Law Firm.

Mohammed Al-Shukairy, the regional managing partner at Clifford Chance for the Middle East, said: "I am delighted to welcome Deniz to the partnership, a reflection of his expertise and outstanding client service. The Middle East is and will remain an area of significant focus for Clifford Chance."

"We will continue to invest in our people and see organic growth in the years to come, despite the economic headwinds. Congratulations to Deniz on his promotion to the partnership, which further strengthens our market leading M&A practice and ability to serve our clients," he added.-Trade Arabia News Service
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has released an official notification regarding IIT PG admission 2020 on its official website.

Interested and eligible candidates can submit online applications on or before May 10, 2020, as the application date has been extended.

According to the official notification, M.Tech/M.Des selections for the academic year 2020-2021 will be conducted on the basis of GATE or CEED score with shortlisting criteria set at institute minimum for all categories.

The interviews (via videoconferencing) to be conducted for candidates who are valid applicants but do not have a GATE/CEED score (IIT graduates with CGPA more than or equal to 8.00 part-time, sponsored and international candidates, reads the notice.

The revised dates for test and interview is between May 18 to June 17, 2020.

The notice further reads MS(R) admissions will be made through interviews through video conferencing. However, these may also be done based on the GATE score only (along similar lines of M.Tech selections). If any academic unit decides to do so.

IIT Delhi also said that the interviews for candidates seeking admission to the Ph.D. program will also be conducted online through videoconferencing.

Candidates can read the official notification here:
India on Thursday targeted Pakistan at a special virtual meeting of the UN human rights agency on the Covid-19 pandemic, saying it was engaged in a disinformation campaign instead of tackling a rising number of Coronavirus infections.

Delivering Indias statement at the virtual meeting with special procedures, first secretary Mini Kumam of Indias permanent mission to the UN in Geneva, said without naming Pakistan: Its sad that instead of joining the global and regional efforts in combating Covid-19, one country continues its disinformation campaign against India.

One can only advise this country to focus its efforts in tackling the pandemic domestically and particularly the sharp rise in number of cases only in the occupied territories and addressing the discrimination meted out to its minorities even in these hard times.

In recent weeks, Pakistani authorities have faced criticism over reports that members of the Hindu minority in Karachi were not provided relief materials by an NGO. The Imran Khan governments handling of the pandemic has also faced criticism within Pakistan.

During the virtual meeting on the Covid-19 pandemic, India said the impact of the crisis is still unfolding in a multidimensional manner, including on human rights and fundamental freedoms. India said the guidelines issued by the special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing are very relevant in this crisis.

As we all are aware, the flow of information is very crucial is carrying out mandated activities by the special procedures. In the current situation, we would like to ask how the pandemic has affected the flow of credible information to the special procedures, the Indian statement said.
(Oslo, Norway, 29 April 2020) StrongPoint ASA (StrongPoint, OSE: STRONG) reported revenues of NOK 279.8 million in the first quarter of 2020, down from NOK 288.2 million in the same quarter in 2019. The companys EBITDA in the period came in at NOK 16.5 million (27.7), impacted amongst others by a negative currency effect of NOK 4 million. StrongPoint experiences short-term effects from the COVID-19-situation but reiterates the 2025 ambition of NOK 2.5 billion in revenues and EBITDA margins of 13-15%.



In the last few weeks, our main focus has been upholding the highest level of safety for our employees, customers and business partners as part of the joint pan-national efforts to protect vulnerable groups. I would like to express my gratitude to the entire StrongPoint team and to our partners for their dedication and hard work to rapidly adapt to a new reality, to mitigate the effects of this pandemic and to help others where we can contribute. Despite the COVID-19 situation, StrongPoint delivered growth in two of three business areas in the first quarter and I am proud of what we have achieved during these difficult times, says Jacob Tveraabak, Chief Executive Officer of StrongPoint.

StrongPoint reported revenues of NOK 279.8 million (288.2) in the first quarter of 2020 and an EBITDA of 16.5 million (27.7), were the segment Retail Technology delivered a growth of four per cent. A negative currency effect of NOK 4 million impacted the EBITDA result in the period. Reported operating profit was NOK 4.5 million, down from NOK 14.1 million in the corresponding quarter in 2019, while the cash flow from operating activities ended at NOK -4.9 million (10.7). The company had a cash balance of NOK 54 million at the end of the quarter and flexible credit facilities to cover short-term changes in working capital. StrongPoint provided a COVID-19 business update 23 March 2020, outlining the operational and financial effects from the current situation.

Story continues

We delivered solid financial performance in the first quarter despite the negative COVID-19 effects at the end of the period and have a solid financial position. StrongPoint plays a vital role in providing safe and efficient solutions for the grocery retailers, and my colleagues have gone the extra mile to safeguard uninterrupted supply and services for our customers in this situation. StrongPoint as a company has also been affected by travel restrictions and social distancing measures in various markets. As an example, the normal service program for non-grocery stores in Spain is not possible to maintain in a lockdown situation. We have implemented short-term measures to mitigate these effects while maintaining the momentum when resuming to a more normalized situation, Tveraabak continues.

In a strategy update session in the first quarter of 2020, StrongPoint outlined the strategy and ambitions for the company towards 2025. As a foundation for creating shareholder value, the growth strategy is based on profitable and organic growth, cost control and a solid balance sheet, targeting revenues of NOK 2.5 billion and EBITDA margins of 13-15% in 2025.

The COVID-19 situation has also emphasized the many advantages of StrongPoints solutions and we are experiencing an increased interest from major retailers for our entire e-commerce solutions offering, including our picking solution, Pick & Collect, as well as our Click & Collect locker solutions. As deliveries of our lockers from China commences, we expect the roll-out of such locker modules to increase in the months and years to come. The next months will be challenging, but with our strong market position, the order intake in the last few weeks, and the increased interest in our e-commerce solutions provides room for optimism and we reiterate our long-term ambitions, Tveraabak concludes.

StrongPoint ASA will present the financial results for the first quarter 2020 at 08:15 CET Wednesday 29 April 2020. The presentation will be streamed live and can be followed at the company website.

EBITDA and other alternative performance measures (APMs) are defined and reconciled to the IFRS financial statements on page 21 in the attached quarterly report.

For additional information please contact:

Jacob Tveraabak

CEO, StrongPoint ASA

Phone +47 90 82 13 70

Hilde Horn Gilen

CFO, StrongPoint ASA

Phone +47 920 60 158

About StrongPoint | www.strongpoint.com

StrongPoint is driving productivity for European retailers by providing innovative, integrated technology solutions for multi-channel retailing based on long-standing relationships with customers and partners. StrongPoint is also a leader in IBNS solutions for Cash-In-Transit (Cash Security), and Labels for customers in Norway and Sweden. StrongPoint offers best-in-class service and consultancy expertise through its team of 520 employees in Norway, Sweden, the Baltics, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Russia. StrongPoint is headquartered in Rlingen, Norway, and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: STRONG).





This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

Attachments
Just how much do you value your toast in the morning? Enough that youd pay top dollar to have a near-ideal texture every time? You now have a chance to prove your commitment. Japanese brand Balmuda has released its fabled The Toaster in the US, making its one-of-a-kind steam tech available on this side of the Pacific without extraordinary efforts. It costs a staggering $329 on the company website (and soon on Amazon and Williams Sonoma), but theres a reason for that  its a significant step up from a pop-up toaster.

Instead of the usual wires, The Toaster relies on precisely controlled steam on all sides to heat your bread more consistently while preserving more flavor and moisture. Wired noted in its 2016 review that Balmudas device couldnt make ordinary toast seem sublime, but it did preserve the innate tastiness of higher-quality options and could even revive some stale bread. You might just notice the difference if you prefer to shop at a local bakery instead of the supermarket.

You can also use it for meals beyond plain bread, including pizza, cookies and some frozen food. In that light, it could be easier to justify if youre less than thrilled with your oven, not just your existing toaster.
Owners of small businesses in Greece have warned of the long-term impacts of the coronavirus lockdown and say they're worried they won't even be able to cover their costs, in spite of government measures aimed at easing financial pressure.

In Europe, almost every measure of the economy is in free fall because of the pandemic.

Figures due to be released on Thursday are expected to show a drop of about 4% in the first three months of the year in the eurozone, and an even steeper hit is projected this quarter.

Unemployment, meanwhile, is expected to rise to about 8%.

The Greek government, like others in Europe, did put in place measures aimed at helping businesses during the nationwide lockdown.

Companies were allowed to temporarily suspend workers' contracts for March and April and were prohibited from firing staff.

The workers in question received a stipend of 800 euros (870 US dollars) from the government.

Although they're receiving help employees are worried about the impact on them after lockdown ends.

George Sakkas, 26, has worked as a waiter in a cafe in a northern Athens suburb for a year and a half.

He was one of the cafe's seven employees to have their contracts suspended.

Sakkas said receiving the stipend has helped, especially as this figure is around the same amount a waiter earns, depending on shifts.

He said he was able to help his household with the funds.

Sakkas expressed concern however that once businesses do start to reopen, enterprises such as cafes and restaurants will have to operate with fewer clients because of social distancing regulations.

He is expecting to get fewer shifts.

His boss, Andreas Ghikas, says the social distancing regulations will also result in less business and a loss of income.

Ghikas, 47, was content that his business qualified for the 800-euro stipend from the government to help support his workers.

But he complained that that the government should have allowed both him and his brother to get the stipend separately, instead of having to share the one sum for the business they have shared for 15 years.

He also said the government should have ensured companies forced to shut would be exempt from paying the full amount of utility bills and of other standing charges.

Ghikas said the timing of the closure was particularly painful as he expected the usual annual boost of business ahead of the Easter holiday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 04:25:40|Editor: huaxia

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ADEN, Yemen, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Wednesday declared a three-day 24-hour curfew, in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country's southern port city of Aden.

Responding to the recording five confirmed cases of COVID-19, the STC that's controlling Aden and the neighboring southern cities announced a series of measures to curb the spread of the disease in the main cities.

According to the STC's official website, the measures included imposing full curfew for 72 hours starting at midnight local time in all the neighborhoods of Aden in addition to shutting down all the large shopping centers.

Meanwhile, the department of Yemen's Ministry of Endowment and Religious Guidance banned congregational prayers in Aden until further notice.

Earlier in the day, a statement posted on Twitter by Yemen's supreme national emergency committee for COVID-19 said that five new confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded in Aden.

On April 10, Yemen's supreme national emergency committee declared that a 60-year-old Yemeni man, who worked in Ash Shihr, was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Yemen's Ministry of Health announced Monday that the first confirmed case had recovered.

Plagued by cholera, malnutrition, and diphtheria, Yemen lacks the ability to cope with deadly epidemics as its five years of civil war has almost destroyed its healthcare system.

According to UN estimates, nearly 80 percent of the population in Yemen require humanitarian assistance and protection.

The country has 10 million people who are a step away from famine and 7 million people who are malnourished. Enditem
Food workers have accused Donald Trump of sacrificing lives for profit after his executive order to keep processing plants open.

On Tuesday, the president used the Defense Production Act for meat packing facilities to stay open amid fears of a food shortage in the coronavirus pandemic.

But one Tyson employee, a Texas woman in her 30s, wrote on Medium: 'He says we're part of critical infrastructure, that we're essential workers. Well, I don't feel critical. I don't feel essential. I feel sacrificial.'

A number of plants across the country have been forced to shutter amid outbreaks of the coronavirus at the facilities. Many workers say they have been left without adequate protection in a close working environment.

But supply experts have warned 'last two weeks in May will be the peak of the meat crisis'. Victor Colello, a meat supervisor, told The New York Post: 'The plants that have remained open are only operating at 40 percent to 50 percent capacity.'

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Food workers have accused Donald Trump of sacrificing lives for profit after his executive order to keep plants open. Protesters are pictured in Crete, Nebraska

Dallas Teaxs on Thursday: A number of plants across the country have been forced to shutter amid outbreaks of the coronavirus at the facilities. Many workers say they have been left without adequate protection in a close working environment

Signs in a Costco Wholesale store in Dallas advises members of a purchase limit for meat

Harlem, NYC, Thursday: The president used the Defense Production Act for meat packing facilities to stay open amid fears of a food shortage in the coronavirus pandemic

The anonymous Texas worker told Medium: 'This is about money. This is what theyre always telling us: If the production chain stops for a minute, the company loses $700,000.

'This is about how if Tyson had to close to handle the virus, they would have to pay us while we stayed home.'

Workers are also threatening that they won't return to work, despite the order, and say their bosses profits have become the main priority.

'I'd rather starve and wait this out than go back to work', Menbere Tsegay, a worker at the Smithfield Foods plant in South Dakota, said.

Workers are also threatening that they won't return to work, despite the order

Twenty meatpacking workers have died nationwide, and another 5,000 have been infected by the virus or shown symptoms of COVID-19, according to one union

More than 800 workers have confirmed cases of COVID-19 at her workplace. Two people have died, and the plant has been shut down since mid-April.

Tsegay, a 35-year-old single mother of four children, added: 'Does it make sense to have meat in the markets if it takes the blood of the people who are dying to make it every day?

Is meat from affected factories safe to eat? Experts agree that there is little to no risk of contracting coronavirus from food, even from meat packing plants affected by worker outbreaks. Coronavirus is transmitted mostly through close contact with contagious individuals. 'Currently there is no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 associated with food,' the USDA said in a statement. The FDA says: 'We want to reassure consumers that there is currently no evidence of human or animal food or food packaging being associated with transmission of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.' As well, coronavirus is known to be quickly killed at temperatures above 135 degrees. Cooking meat according to instructions should kill any harmful pathogens present. Advertisement

The big meatpacking companies that have struggled to keep plants running during the coronavirus crisis said Wednesday that they welcomed President Trump's executive order requiring them to stay open.

But unions, employees and Democrats questioned whether workers could be kept safe.

Twenty meatpacking workers have died nationwide, and another 5,000 have been infected by the virus or shown symptoms of COVID-19, according to one union.

In her Medium blog post the Tyson Foods beef plant worker from Amarillo added: 'Its not about the food supply chain.

'We have enough meat in America to last us a couple weeks, or a month. People could also just not eat bacon burgers for a little bit. Tyson could clean out the plant and make sure the workers were healthy. This is about money.'

'Im not naive, but its hard to accept that to Tyson corporate, we are completely replaceable. If I died today, thered be somebody in my job tomorrow.

'To my loved ones, I am not replaceable', she said.

Shoppers cleared shelves in Dallas, TX on Thursday amid meat shortages concerns

Dallas Texas, Thursday: Supply experts say the 'last two weeks in May will be the peak of the meat crisis' as some stores ration their produce

Mariano's grocery store in Chicago, Illinois, Thursday: Meat plant closures mean pork slaughter capacity has plunged 25 percent and beef slaughter capacity by 10 percent

Near empty racks of meat due to increase in demand and growing meat shortages, at Stop and Shop Market in Suffolk County, New York on Wednesday

In Worthington, Minnesota, where a JBS pork plant closed last week because of the virus, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday that they hope the plant can reopen soon  but only if workers are protected.

Donald Trump used the Defense Production Act for meat packing facilities to stay open amid fears of a food shortage in the coronavirus pandemic

Marisol Avelar, who works at the Worthington plant, said she dreads the call from management telling her to come back. But she said her three children depend on her, and she has no other job prospects in town.

'At the moment they tell me I'm going to work, I'm going to need the money,' she said.

Trump used the Defense Production Act to classify meat processors as critical infrastructure to prevent supermarket shelves from running out of chicken, pork and other meat.

Meatpacking plants across the country have closed as COVID-19 infections spread rapidly between workers, who often stand shoulder to shoulder on production lines.

The closures mean pork slaughter capacity has plunged 25 percent and beef slaughter capacity by 10 percent.

That's also raised the prices for consumers; in New York City it has gone up by $3 a pound in some stores. Morton Williams owner Avi Kaner said: 'With the shutdown of the meat plants, its difficult to say today what the price of our meat will be three weeks from now.'

Market analyst Ed Czerwien told Beef Magazine: 'The daily Choice cutout then continued to climb higher and set a new all-time highest price at $330.82 on Tuesday, April 28.'

And while the U.S. beef and pork supply chain has been harder hit than poultry in the coronavirus crisis, some North American producers are scaling back on boneless chicken in an effort to streamline production lines.

That means boneless chicken could be the first meat to disappear from store shelves. Quebec-based Goodfood Market Corp. will be substituting bone-in products for its regular boneless chicken, as the poultry industry shifts away from de-boning to ramp up production, according to Bloomberg.

Customers at a refrigerated meat section at Pioneer Supermarket on Thursday in the Bronx

A protest calling for a safe and healthy workplace outside Smithfield Foods, Inc. in Sioux Falls

Protesters staged a drive by outside the Smithfield Foods, Inc. in Sioux Falls on April 9

Rural America braces to become the next coronavirus epicenter because of outbreaks at factories and food processing plants Rural America is bracing to become the next coronavirus epicenter after a number of outbreaks in factories and food processing plants. Experts say the numbers show communities with factories and farm work have seen a spike in cases - and that's down to 'lots of people working in very close contact in these essential jobs'. Angela Hewlett, associate professor in infectious disease at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said: 'The epicenter of this outbreak really has shifted into the smaller rural areas.' Current data shows there are 1,939 cases in Minnehaha County - where Sioux Falls is located. The death toll stands at six. South Dakota has a total 2,313 cases and 11 deaths as a whole In Salinas, California, many cases are connected to local lettuce farms. In Monterey County, where Salinas is located, data shows there are 191 confirmed cases there with five deaths Greeley, Colorado, where there is a large JBS meatpacking plant, has seen a spike in cases Areas that show a rise in cases include Sioux Falls in South Dakota where a shuttered Smithfield meat processing plant has been responsible for a large proportion of the cases in the state. As of Wednesday data shows there are 1,939 cases in Minnehaha County - where Sioux Falls is located. The death toll stands at six. South Dakota has a total 2,313 cases and 11 deaths as a whole. In Salinas, California, many cases are connected to local lettuce farms, Vox reports. In Monterey County, where Salinas is located, data shows there are 191 confirmed cases with five deaths. And Washington, DC has less cases per capita within its hospital region that Greeley, Colorado, where there is a large JBS meatpacking plant, the report adds. Advertisement

Beef prices hit a record high and shelves stay empty - but cost of filet mignon plunges by 40% The price of beef has surged to a record high, plunging the US meat industry deeper into crisis. Latest figures from the US Department of Agriculture reveal that wholesale American beef now costs a staggering $357.38 per 100 pounds. That is a record high and up 75 per cent from a low in February. The surge in beef prices comes as customers continue to stockpile on product amid nationwide food shortages, leaving store shelves near empty. Many stores have had to enforce a strict one product per customer rule in a bid to stall stockpiling. Pork prices have also gained 2.5% to the highest since 2017. But top-shelf meats have dropped to their lowest prices in a decade as steakhouses across the country are shut down due to nationwide lockdowns. The cost of filet mignon has plunged by 40 per cent, to its lowest prices in 10 years. At the same time the cost of simpler meats like ground beef and ribeyes have surged as customers flock to stores and stock up food to wait out quarantine orders - and the prices will likely keep rising due to meat packing closures. 'Tenderloin (filet mignon) prices are at 10-year lows as they are not typically purchased at retail. Others include outside skirts and briskets. Most people cant or dont have tools to cook these beef items, so discounts have become the norm,' Gary Morrison, a reporter who tracks the meat industry at commodity research firm Urner Barry, said to CBS Advertisement

Trump, who consulted with industry leaders before issuing the order, said it would relieve 'bottlenecks' that the largest companies faced after workers fell ill and some died.

'They are so thrilled,' Trump said Wednesday after getting off a call with meatpacking executives. 'They're so happy. They're all gung-ho, and we solved their problems.'

The executive order was widely seen as giving processors protection from liability for workers who become sick on the job. It came soon after a lawsuit accused Smithfield Foods of not doing enough to protect employees at its plant in Milan, Missouri. A federal judge in that case ordered Smithfield to follow federal recommendations.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union said it would appeal to governors for help, asking them to enforce rules that workers be kept 6 feet apart and that employees be provided with N95 masks and access to virus testing.

Companies have already sought changes to reduce risks by providing personal protective equipment, installing plexiglass shields between workers and reducing congestion by staggering shift start times, among other reforms.

The union said plexiglass barriers should not be used as a substitute for putting workers at a safe distance from one another. Union officials also want to slow down meat processing, including getting rid of waivers that allow plants to operate at faster speeds.

Smithfield Foods, which is working on a plan to reopen the Sioux Falls plant, said in a statement welcoming Trump's order that it should make for easier access to protective equipment and testing for employees.

Faced with thinning workforces as workers become infected or stay home in fear, meatpacking companies have also put millions of dollars towards boosting pay and giving workers bonuses to encourage healthy workers to stay on the job.

On Sunday a letter from company chairman John Tyson was published in three US papers that warned American grocery stores would have a depleted supply of meat until plants came back.

But Jim Roth, director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University, said meatpacking plants will likely continue to have problems finding enough workers operate at full capacity.

'There's a shortage of workers to begin with, and then with the illnesses and the need to self-quarantine for 14 days after exposure, I'm not clear where the workers come from to keep the plants open,' Roth said.

Trump's order called on the Department of Agriculture to ensure that plants stay open.

The USDA said in a statement Wednesday that a team including the Department of Labor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would review companies' mitigation plans 'and work in consultation with the state and local authorities to resume and/or ensure continuity of operations at these critical facilities.'

Trump promised Wednesday that a report on protecting workers would be coming soon.

Federal agencies have already issued recommendations for operating plants that largely track with steps many companies say they have already taken.

Wendell Young, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the union, described Trump's order as an attempt to appeal to voters rather than to ensure protections.

Marshall Tanick, an employment lawyer in Minneapolis, said the order 'does not necessarily immunize' meatpackers from lawsuits.

Legislation to give employers immunity in these situations has been proposed, but it's 'very unlikely that anything like that will be enacted soon at the federal level,' Tanick said. He said such measures might be easier to achieve at the state level, because it's less burdensome. Without specific legislation immunizing employers, they act at their own risk.

'No executive order is going to get those hogs processed if the people who know how to do it are sick, or do not feel like they can be there,' Walz said.

Cost of filet mignon plunges by 40% to lowest prices in 10 years after steakhouses close due to pandemic lockdowns

Top-shelf meats such as filet mignon have dropped to their lowest prices in a decade as steakhouses across the country are shut down due to nationwide lockdowns.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen the value of prime meats typically sold in restaurants and steakhouses plunge nearly 40 percent to a decrease in demand.

At the same time the cost of simpler meats like ground beef and ribeyes have surged as customers flock to stores and stock up food to wait out quarantine orders - and the prices will likely keep rising due to meat packing closures.

'The March 20 to April 17 period saw price increases, but they were more muted. Tenderloins, typically bought at restaurants, plummeted,' Gary Morrison, a reporter who tracks the meat industry at commodity research firm Urner Barry, said to CBS.

'Tenderloin (filet mignon) prices are at 10-year lows as they are not typically purchased at retail. Others include outside skirts and briskets. Most people cant or dont have tools to cook these beef items, so discounts have become the norm,' he added.

Top-shelf meats such as filet mignon are selling at their lowest prices in a decade, plunging by nearly 40 percent as steakhouses close due to coronavirus lockdowns. A picture of LongHorn Steakhosue casual dining restaurant in Princeton, New Jersey above

At the same time the cost of simpler meats like ground beef and ribeyes have surged as customers flock to stores and stock up food as they bunker down in their homes to wait out quarantine orders. Racks of empty meat counter shelves at a Walmart in Emporia, Kansas pictured above

With restaurants seeing a slump in demand for prime cut stakes, meats like beef tenderloin are now selling at bargain prices. Sam Stevenson carries beef at Ronnie's Quality Meats in Detroit, Wednesday, April 29

This graph shows how the number of cattle slaughtered per day has steeply declined from March and April, as prices of beef have surged in that same time period

The Urner Barry Choice Boxed Beef Cutout, which represents the estimated gross value of a beef carcass, has seen the price of meat surge from March to April.

The price of beef was set at $206.18 'per hundredweight' for the week ending in March 7.

That price jumped to $240.16 in the week ending on March 20. It rose further to $260.49 on April 23, Morrison said.

As prices rose, the number of cattle slaughtered steeply decreased.

In the five-day week ended April 24, the number of cattle slaughtered was 31 percent lower than in the five-day week ended March 27, according to daily figures compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center. The number of hogs slaughtered was down 27 percent for that time period.

But while everyday meats are seeing a surge in prices, fancier cuts can be purchased at bargain prices.

Worries over the country's meat supply chain are mounting as at least 20 meatpacking plants have closed over the past two months. A closed Tyson Fresh Meats plant pictured in Logansport, Indiana on April 23
Amid rising speculations over the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, South Korean and US officials have said that Kim is missing from public life because he is sheltering himself from the coronavirus pandemic.

Interestingly, North Korea claims it has yet to identify a single case of COVID-19.

South Korean unification minister, Kim Yeon-chul, said that Kim decided to skip anniversary event as a precautionary measure against coronavirus. Kim did not attend a ceremony held on April 15 to mark the anniversary of the birth of his grandfather  and North Koreas founder  Kim Il-sung.

We have intelligence capacity that allows us to say confidently that there are no unusual signs [in North Korea], Kim Yeon-chul told a parliamentary hearing.

He had not missed the anniversary  since taking power, but many anniversary events, including celebrations and a banquet, have been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns. I dont think thats particularly unusual given the current situation, he added, stressing that reports claiming Kim had undergone heart surgery are fake news.

US officials also echoed similar feelings saying that Kim had taken his private train to the east coast resort town of Wonsan to protect himself from coronavirus.

It may be recalled that Kim was last seen in public on April 11 when he chaired a party politburo meeting.

Jiro Ishimaru, who heads the Osaka-based Asia Press website and operates a network of citizen journalists in North Korea, told Guardian that the confirmation of news that Kim was in isolation would prove that COVID-19 had spread inside the country.

I dont think he is dead  if that was the case there would be a lot more identifiable movement, Ishimaru told the Guardian. One theory is that either he himself has the virus or people around him have it and hes is sheltering.

Here are some other possible reasons behind Kim's absence from public life:

Recovering from surgery

The Daily NK, a Seoul-based news outlet, earlier reported that Kim underwent a cardiovascular surgical procedure few days ago and was recovering at a villa.

The report mentioned that Kim was treated at the Hyangsan Medical Centre on the outskirts of Pyongyang. South Korean officials later said that Kim was involved in normal activities in a rural part of the country.

In grave danger

US news outlet CNN claimed the US was monitoring intelligence that suggested that the North Korean leader was in grave danger after surgery. Bloomberg News reported that Kim was in critical condition, but US officials were unsure of his current status.

Seeking attention

South Korean politician Yoon Sang-hyun has claimed that Kim has planned the disappearance act as a way to draw attention to the regime. Yoon speculated that Kim would have to come out in public very soon to end the ongoing debate about his grip on power and potential successors.

If he doesnt, its a real big issue, Mr Yoon told reporters on Monday, according to the DongA Daily. Kim is apparently not running the country as he would normally do now.
FINANCE Minister Paschal Donohoe has said government ministers do not plan to take a Covid-19 wage cut.

Mr Donohoe said he and his colleagues have not been given a wage increase that public servants or other politicians have received.

He said he as a result does not plan to "implement any further changes in that area."

"The reason for that is I, as a member of cabinet, and it's been a great privilege to have been a member of the Irish government now for a number of years, I have not experienced any of the wage increases in recent years that every other public servant, or indeed many politicians have.

"I didn't believe at the time, and don't believe now that it would have been appropriate for me to get the wage improvements that were available to many," he told Newstalk's Pat Kenny Show.

Because of that my current plan at the moment is not to implement any further changes in that area."

He added: "We are paid well for doing that job, and because of that we have not experienced the changes that others have, and I believe that was correct then and I believe that was the right course of action for us to take."

Commenting on research from Chambers Ireland which said 85pc of businesses will close due to the Covid-19 health crisis, Mr Donohoe said: "We have very large parts of our economy that have either went into a form of stasis or indeed have shut down because of where we are with Covid-19.

"However, what I should emphasise is what is so different to where we were in recent years, is while our economy has unfortunately changed very quickly over a short period of time, it has done that because of the public health choice that we have made as opposed to economic issues."

He continued: "Both those things together do give us a foundation for rebuilding not only the public health of Ireland, but also the economy of our country, which I'm confident that we will do."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today told the Dail that the government is to decide on a "roadmap" for reopening Ireland.

He said it will be presented for consideration by Cabinet tomorrow.
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(Kitco News) Unable to repatriate its gold back from the Bank of England (BOE), Venezuela now wants to sell part of it to the United Nations to help with coronavirus relief, according to news reports.

Venezuela is once again making the headlines in the gold space after its failed attempt to repatriate its 31 tons of gold stored by the BOE in 2018 after the U.K. central bank refused to recognize Nicolas Maduro as the countrys legitimate leader following a disputed re-election that year.

Venezuela wants the proceeds of the U.N. sale to help the country battle the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

The United Nations Development Program stated that it has been approached recently to explore mechanisms to use existing resources held by the Central Bank of Venezuela in financial institutions outside the country to fund the ongoing efforts to address the ... the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reuters report said.

It is unclear how much of its gold Venezuela wants to sell, but the total amount is currently wroth about $1.7 billion.

The effort signals that Maduro is desperately seeking financial resources around the world as the countrys economy struggles under low oil prices, crippling U.S. sanctions and a paralyzing coronavirus quarantine, Reuters reported.

The highly disputed Maduro re-election back in 2018 was at the center of the BOE decision not to release the gold. There are concerns that Mr. Maduro may seize the gold, which is owned by the state, and sell it for personal gain, the Times reported back in 2018.

Maduro began the repatriation ordeal after the U.S. President Donald Trump introduced additional sanctions against Venezuela.

Former U.N. aid chief Jan Egeland spoke out on Tuesday, calling for sanctions on Venezuela and other countries to be lifted and Venezuelan funds soared in Britain, the U.S. and Portugal to be released.

As of Tuesday, Venezuela officially had only 329 coronavirus cases with at least 10 deaths, but many observers have questioned that figure as being too low, citing lack of running water and poor public health-care system.
Bhopal: The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is activating the party apparatus to monitor the schemes to ensure facilities reach the intended beneficiaries during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

The government will constitute "Deendayal committees" (named after Bharatiya Jana Sangh co-founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay) at the ward and panchayat level.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday conveyed this to the BJP's district presidents, mandal chiefs and party MLAs through the audio bridge system.

"It is our responsibility to ensure the government's efforts help the people. I have talked to the (Party's) president and organisation general secretary. We have decided to constitute the Deendayal committees soon at every panchayat level in the rural areas and ward level in the urban areas," Chouhan told the party leaders.

Chouhan said these committees will engage in the monitoring of schemes to ensure that the government facilities reaching to the people.

The help of these committees in the distribution work (any kind of government's assistance) will also be taken, he said.

Chouhan also informed the party leaders and MLAs about the government decisions taken in view of COVID-19 spread including the distribution of packets of powdered decoction of herbs to boost up the immunity of the people to fight against the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the state BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal said the chief minister has been continuously seeking feedback from party workers about the ground realities. The effort will help the BJP engage party workers to connect with people and gain crucial political mileage before the upcoming by-elections to state assembly.

In an unprecedented situation, the state will witness by-elections for 24 assembly seats due to the resignations of Congress MLAs and ministers who helped the BJP to come to power in March.

"The Chief Minister has been regularly talking to the ground workers and seeking feedback about the government assistance reaching the people. He also told all the leaders to share the feedback about the arrangements in the time of COVID-19 lockdown," Agrawal said.
Starting Friday, Texas is ending restrictions placed on travelers from Louisiana about a month ago aimed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Travelers from Louisiana to Texas will no longer have to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to an executive order signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday. Texas' own stay-at-home order is expiring Thursday and businesses will reopen in phases starting Friday.

Exemptions are made for drivers with commercial, medical, military or critical infrastructure purposes.

Abbott issued an executive order in March restricting all travel into Texas from anywhere in Louisiana. Previously, Abbott placed a restriction on only air travel from New Orleans, a hotspot for the virus.

"This is intended simply to achieve the goals that have been articulated by the CDC and the White House organization focused on reducing the spread of the coronavirus in the United States," Abbott said late last month.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who didn't take issue with Texas' travel restriction, extended Louisiana's stay-at-home order through May 15 on Monday. While the state's numbers are looking better, some areas like Baton Rouge, Acadiana and northeast Louisiana are still seeing case numbers and hospitalizations rise.
HUD to pay atheist group over $3K after settling lawsuit involving cabinet Bible study

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A leading secular legal group says the Department of Housing and Urban Development has agreed to pay $17,800 after settling a lawsuit related to Secretary Dr. Ben Carsons participation in a Bible study and his daily schedule that might include a Bible study.

Last Thursday, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation announced that it, along with the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, settled a federal lawsuit filed after the denial of a Freedom of Information Act-related request by the agency.

FFRF and CREW filed a lawsuit in January 2018 accusing the agency of a pattern of rejecting requests to waive fees associated with processing their FOIA requests.

The requests filed by both groups were for the disclosure of records related to the influence Carsons family members have at HUD, emails Carson or other HUD officials have exchanged with a ministry that leads a weekly Bible study for top political leaders, any internal correspondence regarding the weekly Bible study that Carson sponsors, and copies of Carsons daily schedules schedule that include the daily Bible study.

The organizations claim that under FOIA law, agencies should produce requested documents at no charge to the requester if the disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.

Both organizations requested that HUD waive fees associated with their FOIA requests but their requests were denied.

FFRF contends that the only explanation HUD gave for the denial of their request was: You state that fees should be waived because of your nonprofit status and because the release of records is in the public interest. Your request for fee waiver is denied.

According to FFRF, HUD has displayed a pattern of denying fee waivers on FOIA requests where disclosure of the documents is likely to cast the agency or HUD secretary in a negative light.

As part of the settlement, HUD has reportedly agreed to pay FFRF $3,400 in attorney fees and $17,400 in attorney fees to CREW. Both organizations have subsequently received their desired documents, according to FFRF.

In the settlement, HUD agreed to offer two sessions of in-person mandatory fee waiver training for its FOIA office and will issue and updated fee waiver guidance.

The Christian Post reached out to HUD for comment on the settlement. A response is pending.

One of the major benefits is that the updated training and guidance will ensure that citizens and groups will have access to agency records, FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott said in a statement. It is FFRFs information and understanding that HUD had been illegally rejecting requests to waive fees. The lawsuit has remedied that situation by forcing the agency to give FFRF and CREW the records without charge and making it promise to hold trainings to update staff.

FFRF, which advocates for a strict separation of church and state, has been critical of the weekly Bible studies organized by Capitol Ministries and pastor Ralph Drollinger since the beginning of the Trump administration in 2017.

FFRF has claimed that weekly Bible study is a big waste of taxpayers and has called for cabinet members to study the Bible in your private capacity, not in your official capacity and at your government desk.

Do it on your on time, not the taxpayers, the group said in 2017.

The group renewed its call in March after Drollinger made headlines when one of his blog posts was misrepresented by the mainstream media in articles suggesting that Drollinger had linked the coronavirus outbreak to homosexuality.

Following the media backlash, the White House distanced the president from Drollinger and the Bible study, with a White House spokesperson saying that the president has never attended the study nor is it held at the White House.

Along with Carson, the Bible study is sponsored by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alex Azar, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, other former and current cabinet members as well as Vice President Mike Pence.

On the ministrys website, Carson is quoted as calling the ministrys work more important than ever.

Having enough perspective to realize that people who disagree with you are not automatically your enemies and learning how to treat each other and the constituents of this nation with respect will go a long way toward healing our nation, Carson said in a statement posted to the website. The work of Capitol Ministries is interwoven into those goals.
President Donald Trump has signed a fourth recession stimulus bill that included an additional $310 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for small-business owners on top of $349 billion in such loans a month ago. The bipartisan resolve shown by Congress and the Trump administration to help small businesses weather the massive recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the countrys closures is commendable and something all too uncommon in the days before the crisis. But good intentions are not enough.

Whats needed is well-crafted legislation that ensures that businesses most at risk of never reopening get help. The initial $349 billion in small business loans was gone in two weeks, and ever since then, evidence has emerged that many well-capitalized companies were prime beneficiaries.
The Supreme Court on Thursday sought CBIs response on a plea of former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, serving life term in an 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, seeking grant of either interim bail or parole for eight weeks in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Khokhar and former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar are serving life imprisonment in Tihar jail in the case after the Delhi High Court convicted them on December 17, 2018.

A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justice Aniruddha Bose took note of the submissions made by Khokhars counsel that prisons need to be decongested to contain the pandemic as has been suggested by courts as also the government.

The bench, hearing the plea via video conferencing, then asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, to file the response. Khokhar was earlier granted 4-week parole on January 15 by the top court following the death of his father.

Senior advocate H S Phoolka, who represented riot victims and was in his native village in Punjab, opposed the bail plea.

That the Applicant is constrained to approach this court for enforcement of his rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution in order to save his life. Applicant who is a senior citizen around 65 years of age suffering from various ailments like diabetes, hypertension and severe joint pains and is languishing in jail for more than six years. The applicant has been denied parole which has been liberally granted to hundreds of prisons in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic putting his life in jeopardy, the convict said in his plea.

It said that in March, when COVID-19 had started gripping the country, a statement was made by Delhi government in the high court that in order to contain the spread of the contagion, it would amend the Prisons Rules to give an option of parole to convicts and under trial prisoners.

The convict sought parole under amended Prison Rules 1211 and said that he was suffering from various ailments which made him vulnerable to the virus, it said.

The parole was denied to the convict under the Rule which prohibited such a relief in cases where investigations have been conducted by the CBI. That rejection of applicants prayer for parole on this very ground is apparently unjustifiable and unconstitutional being violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, it said.

Earlier, the top court had said that it would hear the bail plea of other convict Sajjan Kumar in the case during summer vacation.

Khokhars life sentence was upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2018, while it had reversed the acquittal of Kumar by the trial court in 2013, in a case related to the killings of five Sikhs in the Raj Nagar Part-I area in Palam Colony in southwest Delhi on November 1-2, 1984, and burning down of a gurdwara in Raj Nagar Part-II.

The anti-Sikh riots had broken out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by her two Sikh bodyguards.

The high court had also upheld the conviction and varying sentences awarded by the trial court to the other five -- Khokhar, retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and former MLAs Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar.

It had also convicted them for criminal conspiracy to burn down residences of Sikh families and a gurdwara in the area during the riots.

The trial court in 2013 had awarded life term to Balwan Khokhar, Bhagmal and Lal, and a three-year jail term to Yadav and Kishan Khokhar.

Following the high court verdict, life term of Balwan Khokhar, Bhagmal and Lal has been upheld and the sentence of Yadav and Kishan Khokar has been enhanced to 10 years in jail.
Omoyele Sowore

#RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore has appealed the bail condition which restricts his movement only around Abuja.

Recall that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had imposed a N100m bail bond on Sowore who was arrested on charges of treason, money laundering and insulting the president in 2019.

She subsequently reduced Sowores bail from N100m to N50m, and further directed that he must produce sureties who reside in Abuja and must also have landed property worth the bail sum in Abuja. The activist was also directed to deposit his passport with the registry of the federal high court in Abuja, and also barred him from travelling outside Abuja pending the period of the trial.

Sowore has now filed an appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Channels Television reported that he is is challenging the bail condition restricting him to stay in the Federal Capital Territory, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed against him by the Federal Government.
A petition was filed in the



Bombay High Court on Thursday by a social worker, seeking a direction to the Maharashtra Governor to decide on the state cabinet's recommendation to nominate Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the Legislative Council through his quota.

The petition, filed by one Surinder Arora through his advocate S B Talekar, noted that with the COVID-19 outbreak the administration of every establishment across the world has come to a standstill.

"The BJP as part of its political game plan is trying to make Uddhav Thackeray step down from the post of chief minister with the help of Maharashtra governor (B S Koshyari). However, today is not the time to play when the state has to fight the battle against coronavirus," the plea claimed.

The petition sought the court to direct the governor to take a decision on the proposal submitted by the cabinet expeditiously or within three days.

Arora's plea is likely to be taken up for hearing on May 5.

"In India, the Election Commission of India has postponed all elections across the states. Owing to this, the chief minister of Maharashtra, who is a non-legislator, will not be in a position to become a member of the Legislature within a period of six months from the date of his appointment," the plea said.

The government of Maharashtra will be destabilised due to non-availability of chief minister, which will prove to be a disaster in such challenging times, it added.

The plea said that the governor has not yet taken a decision on the recommendation made by the council of ministers despite lapse of 20 days.

"The petitioner being a citizen of India and a valid voter is seeking a direction to the governor to decide upon the recommendation as expeditiously as possible so as to avoid a situation of a destabilised government in such crucial times," the plea said.

Thackeray, who is not a member of either house of the state legislature, was sworn in as chief minister on November 28, 2019. He has to become a member by May 28 when he completes six months in office. Otherwise he will cease to the chief minister.

The Maharashtra cabinet had on April 9 recommended Thackeray's nomination as one of the governor nominees in the Legislative Council.

A delegation of MVA leaders led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar met the governor on Tuesday, and handed over the cabinet decision's copy to him.

The recommendation was made as all elections have been postponed by the Election Commission due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the governor accepts the cabinet's recommendation, Thackeray will continue in the post.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man accused of stalking an elderly couple before using a power tool and giant hammer to force his way into their home claims he was just trying to save a dog.

He recorded a six-minute video of himself breaking into the home with a grinder and sledgehammer while screaming at the homeowners to give him his dog back.

'Where's my f***king dog?' he yells out as he successfully opens the security door to the Gold Coast home in December last year before claiming in court this week he was trying to rescue a Shih Tzu which was being attacked by two sausage dogs.

He then warns the couple he's about to start cutting into the front door as he rummages through his bag looking for another tool.

Holding a screwdriver to the door and hammering it, the alleged perpetrator yells out again asking where his dog is, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

'What are you doing?' the resident could be heard saying.

'I'm cutting my way through here and I'm cutting my way through anyone else,' he allegedly responds.

As he continues bashing on the door, the dogs begin to bark and he calls out that he's bringing his sledgehammer.

The man allegedly used a screwdriver and hammer to break into the Gold Coast home in December last year

The man allegedly comes back with a drill and warns them to 'watch their hands' as he cuts through the door.

The drilling continues as he tells them that they won't be able to 'torture' his dog for any longer and to give him his dog.

The video suddenly ends as police sirens near as the man rushes back to his car.

The alleged stalker told said Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday he didn't mean to put anyone in danger when he broke into the Gold Coast home.

He is facing multiple charges including stalking, making threats and attempted enter dwelling with intent but applied for bail.

He claimed he was helping another man who was trying to rescue the dog from being attacked.

'It was a bloke that had a drinking problem and the sausage dogs were attacking the white dog,' he told the court.

'I was trying to help the guy.'

The man allegedly used multiple tools to attempt to break into the home to take his dog

Magistrate Pam Dowse expressed concern that the man could endanger the elderly couple if he were released.

'That's not true, I would never do that to anyone,' he replied as he represented himself.

He told the magistrate during his bail application that his situation had changed during the pandemic and he is now able to live with his sister.

The court heard that the man had previously tried to snatch the dog from the woman in October.

Magistrate Dowse adjourned the bail application for two weeks so the man can seek legal advice before matter returns to court.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua said remittances are unlikely to falter even during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the diversity in professions would allow others to keep making money to send home to their loved ones.

Chua said that while thousands of workers are coming home because of job losses abroad, thousands more continue to earn dollars elsewhere despite the lockdowns.

Our OFWs are one of our biggest contributors to the economy The good thing about the profile of our OFWs is they are in a very diverse field. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, many of them are working in healthcare, and they are actively employed and they can help and send back remittances. Many of them are working in professional services and they are working from home, the Cabinet official said in a media forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

This diversity does not translate to any collapse. There will be temporary setbacks in certain occupations or countries that are hardest hit, but they are continuing to help.

READ: IMF chief: Global economy now in recession

A number of repatriation flights and ships brought back hundreds of distressed OFWs to Manila. Protocol requires them to be isolated for 14 days or be tested for the disease before they are allowed to travel to their hometowns and reunite with their families.

Chua said those sent home will likely find jobs in the country after the crisis is over.

I don't know the profile of these OFWs, but I know that unemployment and underemployment in this country has gone down to record lows, suggesting more and more opportunities available for them, in particular, in the construction sector where we actually have a shortage of qualified labor, he said.

Remittances support consumer spending at home, which in turn contribute to overall growth. Filipinos overseas sent $30 billion in 2019, but analysts said that trend could be broken due to the coronavirus outbreak.

ING Bank senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa said last week that remittances will likely drop by 2.5 percent this year, which would also drive the economy further into a slump.
The SpaceX Starship vehicle being developed in Texas is among three human landing systems that NASA could use to land astronauts on the moon.

NASA on Thursday announced its selection of SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics to develop vehicles that will help the government agency in its effort to reach the moon in 2024.

This is the last piece that we need in order to get to the moon, and now were going to have that under development, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during a news conference.

More on returning to the moon: NASA shares its vision for creating sustained human presence on the moon

NASAs Artemis program is working to create a sustained human presence on the moon. The agency is developing its own Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to get the first woman and the next man to the lunar surface. And then its partnering with commercial companies on other facets of returning to the moon. Houston-based Intuitive Machines, for instance, is building an uncrewed lunar lander to carry science and technology payloads to the moon.

For the human landers, a combined $967 million will be awarded to the three companies for a 10-month base period ending in February 2021, according to NASA. During the base period, NASA teams will be embedded with the companies as they refine their human lander designs. NASA will then select which of the companies gets to build landers for NASAs first missions to the moon. NASA could return to the other companies as it looks to build a more sustainable presence with more frequent trips to the lunar surface.

And ultimately the companies  not NASA  will own these landers. Its the latest example of NASA seeking to be one of many customers rather than a vehicles owner and operator.

Weve got these great companies that have many years of history, but we also have great companies that have already invested so much of their own resources into this effort, Bridenstine said. Were further ahead than many people might believe based on the fact that were making the announcement today.

It nevertheless remains an extremely ambitious timeline. I think 2024 has always been pretty unrealistic and its more of a political decision than anything else, said Patrick Rodi, a professor of mechanical engineering at Rice University. He previously worked at Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for NASAs Orion spacecraft. Even before the pandemic that was not very obtainable.

Hawthorne, Calif.-based SpaceX proposed using its Starship vehicle, a reusable launch and landing system thats being developed and tested outside of Brownsville. Blue Origin, which is based in Kent, Wash. but has a West Texas launch site where it does some testing, is partnering with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper to develop the Integrated Lander Vehicle. And Huntsville, Ala.-based Dynetics, a company that has worked with NASA for decades and was acquired by Leidos Holdings in January, is working with more than 25 subcontractors to develop its Dynetics Human Landing System.

Two of the companies were founded by billionaire space enthusiasts: Elon Musk founded SpaceX and Amazons Jeff Bezos founded Blue Origin. This is Blue Origins first big contract with NASA. The company has been relatively quiet about its progress, so it will be interesting to learn more about Blue Origin through this public contract, said Rodi.

Absent from the list of companies building human landers is aerospace stalwart Boeing, which has hit some snags lately with its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft designed to take astronauts to the International Space Station. Boeing is also prime contractor for the Space Launch System rockets core stage. This project is behind schedule and over budget, though it is now approaching a key engine test.

While Boeing is disappointed not to have been selected for (the Human Landing Systems), we remain focused on delivering our elements of NASAs Space Launch System, the rocket that will take Americans to the Moon and Mars, Boeing said in a statement.

NASA in the pandemic: Coronavirus pandemic puts pressure on time-sensitive space missions

Rodi said contract evaluations do consider a companys past performance, but he didnt think this was the deciding factor for Boeing. He said the other companies, particularly those backed by enthusiastic billionaires, likely offered lower prices.

One thing from Thursdays announcement did stand out to Rodi. All three companies proposed launching their lunar landers on commercial rockets that have not yet flown: Blue Origins New Glenn, United Launch Alliances Vulcan Centaur and SpaceXs Super Heavy. This adds another hurdle for the already ambitious timeline of reaching the moon in 2024, he said.

But NASA and its commercial partners remained optimistic on Thursday. And they said 2024 is just the starting point for learning to live on another planet and continuing on to Mars.

Were ready to go to work, said Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith. And were going to go do everything in our power to move quickly to get us to the moon safely and without sacrificing the ability to go there in a sustainable fashion. Thats how well build a future in space step by step.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

Twitter.com/a_leinfelder
Several states have set in motion the process of compiling data and coordinating efforts to bring home stranded migrant workers, tourists and students, a day after the ministry of home affairs issued guidelines on the protocol to follow for their transportation.

Even as there is pressure from several states such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Rajasthan to start special trains for transporting people, the centre for now has allowed movement only in buses.

Though the ministry of railways has said it has made no decision on running special trains thus far, an official said the ministry is working out plans on deploying special trains, contingent on the decision by the home ministry.

The Home ministry will take the call soon. Phase-wise plans will be drafted by each zone based on the expected crowds, a senior official said on condition of anonymity.

Bihar, which had insisted on a central guideline on the movement of people during the lockdown, has appointed the secretary of its disaster management authority as the nodal officer to coordinate with other state governments.

The state too has made the request for starting special trains to make the process of transportation easier.

Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar on Thursday also appealed to Centre for special trains to bring back migrants. I appeal GOI to allow special trains to bring migrants from distant places, he tweeted.

The Bihar administration has announced that it will enforce quarantining for migrant workers at facilities set up at the block level across the state. Students and tourists will be screened and allowed to quarantine at home if they are found asymptomatic.

The process of registration has begun. And once we bring them into the state we will provide food, shelter and even provisions such as utensils and other basic necessities to those in quarantine shelters or in isolation centres if they are found positive, said Sanjay Jha, minister of water resources and the national general secretary of JD(U).

The minister also said that the state will take penal action against anyone, willfully breaking protocol and entering the state without following the due process.

The state, which has received about 28 lakh requests from workers stranded outside Bihar for getting Rs 1,000 transferred by the state government through direct transfer, will develop an app to create a data bank of those who need to be transported back from across the country.

In Uttarakhand, where officials have received the most calls from stranded persons in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat; efforts are underway to organise buses for their transportation.

The MHA guidelines will be followed. We had already been receiving calls from people on the helpline that was started just after the lockdown began; but now we will start taking requests afresh, said an official of the Uttarakhand government.

Though states such as UP and MP had begun the process of bringing back stranded domiciled residents, Bihar and Jharkhand had insisted that the Centre should draft a common guideline for all states to follow so that the provisions of the disaster management act that is in force are not violated.

In UP, an official said arrangements are nearly ready to set up a quarantine facility and a community kitchen for 10 lakh people.

Between March 28 and 29 we brought 4 lakh people from Delhi, nearly 50,000 from Haryana and Rajasthan; we also brought back students from Kota. The state chief secretary has written to all other states to inform us about our residents there and what kind of help is needed so that we can make arrangements, said an official in UP.

UP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath has also urged migrants not to undertake their journey on foot and said that the UP government is preparing an action plan for the safe return of all.

On whether the state will wait for the special trains to start before bringing back people, the Uttarakhand official said the administration will stick to the MHS guidelines and start the process of transportation using buses.

As part of its internal brain-storming exercise, some railway officials have also drafted a paper titled Facilitating Migrants Travel, suggesting free-of-cost travel, ensuring social distancing, close coordination with states, movement of migrants in phases using a cluster-based approach.

A meeting was held by senior home ministry officials with the railway board and RPF officials Thursday according to an official aware of the development. A decision on running special trains may be taken following home ministry and the Prime Ministers nod.
TAMPA, Fla., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital is partnering with SME Solutions Group, Inc. and other hospitals in Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida to share data across systems. This new collaborative allows health care systems that typically compete for market share to join forces and battle the COVID-19 pandemic together.

Through this partnership, interactive dashboards have been developed to aggregate data among 51 hospitals. The dashboard, called the COVID-19 Florida West Coast Regional Data Exchange, is giving health care leaders a bird's eye view with real-time data, so clinical teams in multiple locations can make the best decisions to help patients find care at the right time and in the right place.

Tampa General Hospital is monitoring a dashboard that shows how many patients are being treated for COVID-19 at these 51 hospitals in Florida, including those in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. The dashboard reflects critical information that includes highlighting the resources available at each hospital such as the number of available negative-pressure rooms, ICU rooms and ventilator counts.

"As we navigate day by day, through this public health crisis this dashboard is critical in helping us potentially save lives. It gives us situational awareness of resources that are available across the region to take care of COVID-19 patients," said Dr. Peter Chang, TGH vice president of care transitions. "It breaks down silos between competing hospitals for this collaborative community effort."

The result is a powerful partnership between TGH, AdventHealth, BayCare Health System, HCA Healthcare, Lakeland Regional Health, Lee Health and Manatee Memorial Hospital.

"Today more than ever, data integrity and data trust are of the utmost importance to ensure proper communication and to improve the speed of decision making. At a time when the balance between speed and accuracy is crucial, making critical data readily available, accessible, and reliable to these hospitals is a must," said Chris Moyer, President & CEO of SME.

SME worked closely with Tampa General and partnered with Qlik to donate and deploy Qlik Sense Enterprise software as part of the project. One of SME's key roles in this project was to rapidly deploy a cloud environment allowing approved users to access the data while maintaining privacy and security protocols.

The dashboard shows the number of patients with COVID-19 and those without COVID-19, as well as which hospitals have the capacity to take in additional patients. Every hospital bed count differs, so this data is life-saving to see how many ICU beds are available simultaneously in the region.

This is not only helpful for hospital leaders, but also for emergency managers and state health officials who can make better decisions with a wide overview of how the region is responding to the pandemic. Among other metrics, the COVID-19 Regional Data Exchange:

Tracks the number of "patients under investigation," who may have COVID-19 but are awaiting test results;

Tracks the number of available negative-pressure hospital rooms, ICU beds and ventilators; and

Incorporates a forecasting model developed by IBM to anticipate COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

"Tampa General Hospital has a vision to become the safest and most innovative academic healthcare system in the country. We look for partners that can help us be creative in ways we've never thought imaginable. This data is helping us join forces as health care leaders and systems to fight this global pandemic affecting our entire world," said TGH President and CEO John Couris. "It's a great use of technology, but even more than that, it's a powerful tool of collaboration to benefit our community."

Media Contact: Curtis Krueger

Senior Public Relations Editor

(813) 844-7322 (direct)

(727) 580-1813 (cell)

[email protected]

www.tgh.org

SOURCE Florida Health Sciences Center, Inc. d/b/a Tampa General Hospital

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If the governor does not intervene, one rural California county plans on lifting its shelter-in-place order this week.

On Tuesday, the board of supervisors for Modoc County, population 9,000, signed a resolution that will lift many components of the state's shelter-in-place mandate on May 1.

It's one of five California counties with no reported coronavirus cases; the others are Lassen, Mariposa, Sierra and Trinity.

According to the plan, non-essential businesses, schools, churches, restaurants and bars can reopen with social-distancing practices. People must maintain six feet of distance at all times, and large gatherings that do not allow for this are still barred. Restaurants can have indoor dining but must operate at half-capacity.

"We cannot stress enough how important it is to do this right. COVID-19 is not over," news release from the sheriff's office and county public health director reads. "This is the beginning of a very long road to recovery. The reopening plan was made in the best interest of residents' physical, mental, and economic health.

"Modoc County is unique in that our residents and businesses have been able to adapt their framework to fit the physical distancing guidelines put forth by California. Modoc needs to be open to salvage our local economy and to move forward in this pandemic. We know that we need to do this now, we need to do this in the smartest way possible and we need to do this together."

The tentative proposal indicates shelter-in-place rules would go back into effect if the county had confirmation of more than two COVID-19 cases. At-risk individuals and people 65 or older are to stay home until May 15 and, if there are still no confirmed cases at that time, the order will be reevaluated for them as well.

Modoc County  located in far Northern California  is not the only rural location chafing under quarantine orders. Officials in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama, Yuba, Sutter and parts of Stanislaus County have reportedly asked Gov. Gavin Newsom if they may begin loosening restrictions. Heather Hadwick, the public information officer for Modoc County's Office of Emergency Services, told KRCR that the county plan has been submitted to the governor but they had not yet received a response.

State orders supercede local ones, so it is possible Newsom could order the county to halt its reopening plan.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

Katie Dowd is a senior digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: katie.dowd@sfgate.com.
Medicine is international. The human condition is international, so we need to share the best practices," said Vaughn, who performed a surgery at the hospital Tuesday night and then reported for Guard duty Wednesday morning. There are many instances when the United States is ahead on certain processes. There are other instances where Europe is ahead because they were exposed first. So you dont have to reinvent the wheel. You dont have to make the same mistakes.
Former Vice President Joe Biden selected former Sen. Chris Dodd as a key member of his committee that will select a female running mate Thursday - despite allegations about the Connecticut senator's conduct involving a woman at a D.C. restaurant with Sen. Ted Kennedy in the 1980s.

Biden, who has announced that his running mate will be a woman, revealed his search committee a day after picking up the endorsement of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

He has come under fire for not yet issuing a public comment on sexual assault allegations by former Senate aide Tara Reade. His campaign has furiously denied the allegations, which it says are untrue.

Dodd served in the Senate from 1981 to 2001, where he helmed the Senate Banking and Financial Services Committee and helped author the Dodd-Frank legislation that bares his name. He has known Biden for decades.

He also developed a close friendship with the Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, and the two men became the subjects of reporting about alleged alcohol-fueled conduct.

Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), pictured with Joe Biden in 2005, is helping lead a search committee for a Biden running mate

Dodd was close friends with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, and the two were allegedly involved in an incident at a D.C. restaurant where a waitress said Kennedy jumped on top of her and threw her in Dodd's lap

A story by the late Michael Kelly published in GQ in 1990 included allegations about a drunken encounter alleged to have involved the two men long before the arrival #MeToo movement would tarnish the reputations of many powerful men.

Kelly reported that a waitress confirmed the details of the 'waitress sandwich' story, which was originally published in Penthouse.

According to the story, the men were finishing up a long dinner - in December 1985 - in a private room at the D.C. restaurant La Brasserie and were 'drunk.'

'Their dates, two very young blondes, leave the table to go to the bathroom. (The dates are drunk too),' according to the article.

'Betty Loh, who served the foursome, also leaves the room. Raymond Campet, the co-owner of La Brasserie, tells [waitress Carla] Gaviglio the senators want to see her.

'As Gaviglio enters the room, the six-foot-two, 225-plus-pound Kennedy grabs the five-foot-three, 103-pound waitress and throws her on the table. She lands on her back, scattering crystal, plates and cutlery and the lit candles.

'Several glasses and a crystal candlestick are broken. Kennedy then picks her up from the table and throws her on Dodd, who is sprawled in a chair. With Gaviglio on Dodd's lap, Kennedy jumps on top and begins rubbing his genital area against hers, supporting his weight on the arms of the chair,' according to the story.

'As he is doing this, Loh enters the room. She and Gaviglio both scream, drawing one or two dishwashers. Startled, Kennedy leaps up. He laughs.

'Bruised, shaken and angry over what she considered a sexual assault, Gaviglio runs from the room. Kennedy, Dodd and their dates leave shortly thereafter, following a friendly argument between the senators over the check.'

According to Kelly, Carla Gaviglio, who was 24 at the time, declined to be quoted but said the story or the initially reported version was full and accurate.

The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment about whether it had vetted the situation or if Dodd denied the story. Dodd didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. He got married in 1999 and has two children.

Dodd once dated 'Star Wars' actress Carrie Fisher, who had her own account of an alleged interaction involving Dodd and Kennedy. Fisher described the blind date with Dodd in her memoir.

'So, do you think you'll be having sex with Chris at the end of your date?' she says Kennedy asked her. Dodd looked at her with 'an unusual grin hanging on his very flushed face,' according to her account.

Fisher brushed off the crude remark. 'I'd have to be truly loaded to just fall into bed with someone I've only recently met. Even if that someone is a Democrat,' she wrote, according to a Washington Post account of her description of the date.

Dodd's appointment comes at a time when Biden himself is under scrutiny, having survived accusations during the campaign from women who said he touched their neck and hair in ways that made them uncomfortable.

Biden's campaign has called Reade's allegations, that he forced himself on her in 1983 and penetrated her with his fingers, 'untrue.' She did not make that claim a year ago when she said Biden had made her uncomfortable but without raising the assault allegation.

Joining Dodd are Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Biden aide Cynthia Hogan.

According to the Biden campaing, Dodd 'has been a longtime friend and colleague of Vice President Biden for almost forty years.'

He helped push Obamacare through Congress and 'has a long history of foreign affairs experience serving with then-Senator Biden on the Foreign Relations Committee for three decades.'

Dodd also is 'no stranger to the importance of the upcoming election, having both served as the General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the reelection of Bill Clinton, and having coauthored landmark election reform legislation after the controversial 2000 election.'

Among the possible contenders as his running mate are Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Stacey Abrams of Georgia, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.
LOS ANGELES - A coalition of marijuana companies, churches and advocacy groups is asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom for a temporary cut in the states hefty pot taxes.

The group that includes the California State Conference of the NAACP, Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches and the industry group Southern California Coalition warned in a letter to the governor that the coronavirus crisis and a crashing economy will take an especially heavy toll on businesses run by minorities who were disproportionately targeted during the decades-long drug war.

If action is not taken now many of our business colleagues and friends may be pushed into the gray, or worse, back into the illicit market, said the letter, dated April 23.

At a time where unemployment is at a record high, the legal industry is seeing its customers flock to lower priced cannabis products in the illegal market regardless of quality or safety, the group said.

As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact communities of colour, our social equity businesses and our customers will be impacted even more, the group warned.

California kicked off broad legal sales in 2018. But the states legal marijuana industry has long blamed tax rates that can approach 50% in some areas for driving business into the illicit market. According to some estimates, consumers are spending roughly $3 in the states underground pot economy for every $1 in the legal one.

Because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, most banks dont want to do business with pot companies, and they arent included in the federal coronavirus rescue package that will help other businesses.

Other groups that signed the letter included Americans for Safe Access, Black Womens Cannabis Council, the California Minority Alliance and the National Diversity and Inclusion Cannabis Alliance.
According to Salums lawsuit, Travelers defended its denial for the restaurants claim by stating the policy specifically excluded losses caused by bacteria and viruses. However, the Deluxe Coverage policy contains no such language, it states. The lawsuit also said that Travelers claimed that Salum has not suffered because restaurants are allowed to sell food to-go, even though Salum has never offered takeout service.

In Froschs lawsuit, the company cited that its policy would pay for [T]he actual loss of business income  sustain[ed] due to the necessary suspension of your operations. The policy also allegedly promised to pay for additional coverages, such as damages that occur when a business is closed by civil authorities  such as the mandatory closure ordered across the US in the wake of the pandemic. But Travelers claimed that Frosch had not suffered a cessation of business because it was still open and had not sustained property damage, the lawsuit said.

This is the definition of bad faith, said Matthew McCarley, a trial lawyer with Fears Nachawati, in a statement. Insurance companies like Travelers have systematically taken advantage of loyal policyholders, promising coverage but backing out when businesses need them the most.

Both lawsuits seek declaratory judgments that Travelers must honor the policies and cover for the damage claims. In addition, the lawsuits seek damages for breach of contract, violation of the Texas Insurance Code, and breach of Travelers duty of good faith and fair dealing.

Read more: Travelers fires back against law firm suing for business interruption cover

Travelers provided the following comment to Insurance Business in response to the lawsuits: "We recognize that the spread of COVID-19 has affected many of us in ways we never could have expected, and we are taking many steps to support our customers, agents, brokers and communities during this difficult time. In our standard commercial property policies that include business interruption coverage, we have very specific exclusions stating that losses resulting from a virus or bacteria are not covered."

A week ago, Travelers responded to a lawsuit from another law firm that was seeking business interruption coverage, by filing a countersuit of its own. The insurer is seeking a declaratory judgment under two businessowners insurance policies that it had issued to the law firm Geragos & Geragos.
That the political editor of The Times newspaper should, on live television, accuse Boris Johnson of having been too vague about his reproduction rate comes as sweet relief that even these tragic times remain entirely auto-parodic.

The prime minister was back doing the 5pm press conference and had with him a little video explaining how lowering what is known as the R-number  that being the capacity of the virus to reproduce  is the single most important challenge facing the nation.

It is not yet 24 hours since all of Boris Johnsons official spokespeople declined all opportunities to clarify the prime ministers own R-number, which cannot now fall below 6, the upper limit being set only by how deep investigative journalists can be bothered to dig, and thus is unlikely ever to be known.

Some time ago, and in relation to some story or other I cannot recall, a columnist superior to me described Boris Johnson as a rapidly mutating hospital superbug hoping to stick around long enough for the nations immunity to lower itself far enough as to no longer be resistant to him.

Alas, that clinical outcome has now come about, rendering Johnson something of a medical miracle. Failed diseases usually achieve success by mutating into more potent forms, rather than aggressively undermining the hosts power to fight them, as has been his lifes work.

Of course, it hasnt helped that for almost five full years, the Labour Party was unable to produce a vaccine that wasnt demonstrably worse than the disease itself.

While major breakthroughs have now been made on that front, delivery will not be rolled out until 2024 at the earliest; by which point, Britain is likely to have become the first known case of a country to have actually died of herpes.

The UK is very much on course to have the worst coronavirus death toll in Europe, despite having long weeks of luxurious opportunity to learn from the stunningly self-evident misfortune of our neighbours. But such trivialities were never going to be sufficient to prevent Boris Johnson taking every imaginable opportunity to pay tribute to his own successes, which very palpably do not exist.

We havent seen hospitals overwhelmed. There hasnt been a shortage of ventilated beds as weve seen in other countries, he said, in what could yet be the faintest, most damning self-praise ever to have been uttered.

We have, apparently, just come through a long alpine tunnel but we may yet run slap-bang into another mountain, so there can be no end to social distancing just yet. The mountainous imagery refers as ever to the peaks on various graphs with which the world has become obsessed.

Painful though it is to have to state again, there are plenty of graphs out there to show that the UK has not been through any kind of tunnel. The tunnellers are the Germans or the South Koreans. We have been sent up Everest in our shorts and T-shirts.

The only terrifying peak we have avoided is the one with hundreds of thousands of deaths on it, which for a while we were actively taking on, while all other governments around the world locked down their people and gazed upon us in wonder at our suicidal stupidity. But were not allowed to talk about that now.

Johnson's big announcement was that we are officially past the peak, an announcement which could have been made days ago, but that would have meant somebody other than Boris Johnson making it, and of course that wont do.

We are on the downward slope, he said. Only the very churlish would point out that two minutes ago we had tunnelled through the mountain, yet now here we were coming down it after all.

Even Boris Johnson couldnt stick to that piece of particularly artless bulls**t for long. And dont expect the epic size of the mountain he sent us up to fade in the rearview mirror for a very long time to come.
UK-based development, funding, and distribution business DRG, has been rebranded as NENT Studios UK.

DRG owner, the Nordic region streaming company, NENT has now incorporated DRG into the existing NENT Studios UK brand.

Richard Halliwell, previously DRG CEO and Managing Director of NENT Studios UK, has now been appointed as CEO of NENT Studios UK to take over from Jakob Mejlhede Andersen, who left the business in February.

NENT Studios UK was launched in September 2019 as part of NENT Groups NENT Studios content creation, production and distribution business, which comprises 32 companies in 17 countries. NENT Studios UK is focused on the development, funding, production and distribution of both scripted and unscripted content.

NENT Studios UK will make investments in the UK and internationally, to deliver content for NENT Groups growing streaming service Viaplay, and will partner with other media companies, broadcasters and platforms around the world to do so.

NENT Studios UK will work with new production partners, as well as the independent producers with whom DRG already has long-standing relationships. NENT Studios UK will be run from DRGs current offices in central London.

DRG was established as a conventional programme distributor in 2007 and has evolved into a 360-degree content business that is involved in programme origination and development, financing, talent, production, production services and distribution. Covering scripted and unscripted content, as well as formats, DRG works with a wide range of production companies, as well as incubating start-ups.

Richard Halliwell, CEO of NENT Studios UK: NENT Group has a long-term commitment to the UK, which is a truly global content centre. Bringing DRG fully into NENT Studios UK will create fantastic new opportunities, both for the team and for our current and future partners. I am delighted to be at the helm of this ambitious new local studio, which has the strategic vision, resources, talent and creative verve to deliver a raft of stand-out scripted and unscripted content to the international marketplace. We have a number of exciting projects in advanced development and anticipate being able to announce our first scripted commission in the next few weeks.

Share this story
The question of whether to take down the presidents comments on social media is an unwinnable argument, said Claire Wardle, executive director of First Draft, an organization that fights online disinformation.

Facebook, which owns Instagram and WhatsApp, said it continued to remove definitive claims about false cures for Covid-19, including ones related to disinfectant and ultraviolet light. YouTube said Mr. Trumps comments did not violate its misinformation policy. Twitter said satire and discussions of Mr. Trumps remarks that did not include a call to action, as well as his comments themselves, did not violate its policies.

Some lawmakers have said the companies need to do more. On Thursday, members of Parliament in Britain criticized representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter for not responding more aggressively to posts by world leaders and celebrities who shared false or scientifically dubious information. They pointed to posts promoting President Trumps comments about disinfectant and the conspiracy theory shared by the actor Woody Harrelson that coronavirus was caused by 5G wireless technology.

The social media companies came under scrutiny after Mr. Trump, at his daily White House briefing on the virus last Thursday, floated the idea that an injection inside the human body with a disinfectant could help combat the illness. He then turned to Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator, and asked if she had heard of using the heat and the light to treat the coronavirus.

Not as a treatment, Dr. Birx said, before Mr. Trump cut her off.

Medical experts and scientists immediately pounced on the comments as medically unsafe and urged people not to inject themselves with disinfectants or bleach.

Last Friday, after right-wing news outlets such as Breitbart published articles saying Mr. Trumps words were being taken out of context, the president said he had made his comments about UV lights and disinfectant injections sarcastically.
Kolkata, April 30 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was ridiculed on Thursday by state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, who wondered whether her government was being run by "ghosts", after she claimed not being involved in the formation of the controversial death audit committee that has been tasked with declaring whether a corona positive patient has died due to Covid-19.

"I was dumbstruck on hearing the chief minister say that she was not involved in the formation of the committee. The chief minister says she even doesn't know who all are in the panel. Then who is running the government? It must be a ghost. Otherwise, she wouldn't have made such a remark," Ghosh said.

The BJP leader said even for the most trivial work, the state government officers and ruling Trinamool Congress leaders take clearance from Banerjee.

"The committee comprises officers and some experts who are special people of the chief minister. And now she is feigning ignorance about the formation of the committee. That's indeed surprising," he said.

On Wednesday, Banerjee had claimed before the media that neither was she involved in the formation of the panel nor did she have any knowledge about its members.

"I didn't form the audit committee. I don't even know who all are it's members. The chief secretary and the departmental (health) secretary are the authorised persons," she said.

The opposition parties and a section of doctors have accused the Mamata Banerjee government of constituting the committee to suppress the death count in the state due to the viral disease.

The Inter-Ministerial Central Teams, now touring the state, have also raised a number of questions about the committee.

--IANS ssp/in

A
The Oregon State Hospital has reopened to patients waiting in county jails for mental health treatment, after temporarily halting those admissions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Yet the new, slower admissions process has left dozens of defendants sitting in jail days or weeks longer than allowed under a 2002 federal court order. The ruling requires the state hospital to admit defendants ordered to mental health treatment within seven days of a judge making that decision.

The state filed an April 17 motion asking a federal judge to modify the court order to allow hospital administrators to do what theyre already doing  admitting patients at a slower rate than the court order requires, until it becomes safe to resume admitting patients at the normal rate. But mental health advocates are pushing the state to come up with another way to house mentally ill patients. The advocacy group Disability Rights Oregon has asked the judge to deny the states request.

If admission to the state hospital is limited, for good reason, then they should be released to community restoration placement, where they will not only be safer, but get the court-ordered treatment they need, said Emily Cooper, the groups legal director.

In a March 19 letter, Cooper asked the Oregon Health Authority to designate non-jail sites for people with serious mental illness. She suggested placing patients in mental health beds at community hospitals, expanding community-based restoration services, or discharging patients to community settings, such as the hotels left vacant due to the virus, and providing wraparound services.

But state hospital spokeswoman Rebeka Gipson-King said those suggestions remain unfeasible, especially during the pandemic.

We believe it is safe to say that our community hospitals continue to be taxed responding to COVID-19 and do not have the capacity to start or maintain new competency restoration programs, Gipson-King said. Even if they do have open beds, they are not equipped to serve this unique population.

She added that community restoration programs or community settings dont offer the level of care required for people who need hospital treatment.

If someone needs hospital-level care, by that very definition, they cannot be served safely in the community, she said.

As a federal judge considers the issue, nearly 50 defendants statewide are sitting in jail while awaiting admission to the state hospital, said Jesse Merrithew, a Portland attorney who represents public defenders in Oregon.

Attorneys for one of those defendants filed a lawsuit in the Oregon State Supreme Court, asking the judge to declare his stay in a Multnomah County jail unconstitutional.

The defendant, who has schizophrenia, is facing assault, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief charges. He was ordered to the state hospital March 24, but has been waiting in jail because of the hospitals coronavirus restrictions. His attorneys have asked the court to release him.

Court documents say the continued incarceration is causing irreparable harm to the mans health, as his delusional system involves persistent beliefs that he is being raped and tortured in custodial settings.

Restructuring admissions

The Oregon State Hospital can serve more than 650 patients at its Salem and Junction City campuses. Patients include those who have been civilly committed, found guilty except for reason of insanity or found unable to aid and assist in their criminal defense.

On March 14, two weeks after the coronavirus arrived in Oregon, hospital administrators announced they were temporarily closing admissions to the aid and assist patients, to limit the risks of new patients who had been potentially bringing the virus into the hospital.

Officials announced April 10 that they would begin admitting those patients again, but in smaller groups, and in the order that their court orders were signed. The announcement came one day after The Oregonian/OregonLive wrote about the halted admissions process.

Gipson-King said the hospital always planned to resume admissions after the temporary closure to aid and assist patients.

Gipson-King said hospital officials created three protective units on the Salem campus to serve medically high-risk patients, as well as two units to treat people who are under investigation for or have tested positive for the virus. As of April 23, Gipson-King said 10 patients had been tested for the virus, and all had come back negative.

Employees who work with at-risk, quarantined or newly admitted patients are limited to those units, Gipson-King said.

She said the hospital is admitting new patients on a cycle, alternating between 15 patients admitted on one week, and 19 on the next, followed by a 10-day period with no new patients admitted, except for guilty-except for insanity patients and those who meet expedited admissions criteria. Each new group of patients will spend 14 days in quarantine before being transferred to the general population. Jail officials monitor inmates health for signs of the coronavirus before they are sent to the hospital, Gipson-King said.

Hospital administrators say the limited admissions process and preventative measures are necessary to quell the risk of a coronavirus outbreak.

Gipson-King acknowledged the slower process isnt permitted by the federal court order.

Even though we started increasing our rates for admission, were still not going to be able to meet that rate for a few months, Gipson-King said. We still have to have this very controlled process to keep current and new patients safe.

Cooper, the legal director for Disability Rights Oregon, said the group supports the hospitals efforts to be cautious. However, she said state officials need to find alternatives to leaving would-be patients in jail.

We want these individuals out of jail, Cooper said. Theyve already been found to be so mentally ill they cant help their lawyers and need court-ordered treatment.

Hospital workers worry about daily risks

The hospitals current state also raises some concerns for employees.

Angie Ceja, a mental health therapy technician at the state hospital, said she and others worry about being exposed if they step in for a sick colleague.

Hospital officials said 3 staffers have tested positive for COVID-19.

I know theyre trying to limit it, but people get floated, she said. If theres a staff member that tested positive in one unit, and someone gets floated to that unit the next week  those are real concerns.

Hospital administrators have been working with union representatives so some employees can work from home, Ceja said. But for line workers like herself, thats not an option.

Because of her risk of exposure, shes decided not to go and see her parents during the pandemic. Her father has a severe heart condition, and her mother has asthma.

Ceja said shes not sure what more the hospital can do to protect workers or patients. She said they have been cautious, screening staff before every shift and sending people home if theyre sick.

I think its a hard situation to be in on both ends, she said. I think the risk is out there. Were doing everything we can as staff.

A better alternative?

Disability rights advocates say state health officials could be doing more to accommodate defendants waiting in jails for mental health treatment.

Their push comes as jails statewide reduce their inmate populations in response to the pandemic. Data collected from 26 county jails, shows that on average, those facilities have reduced the number of inmates in their jails by nearly 50%, according to a survey by Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon State Sheriffs Association.

Cooper, the groups legal director, said community services for mentally ill patients could allow those defendants to be released, too.

If through community restoration we can divert those people from institutions, serve them in the community and give them the mental health services they need, theres a lot of good evidence out there that folks can recover, she said.

Ultimately, the issue comes down to constitutional rights, Merrithew said.

Everybody seems to be wanting to pass the buck of responsibility for a clear and blatant violation of the constitution, he said. The trial courts blame the hospital, and the hospital wants to blame the trial court for sending them too many people. Whos getting left behind  the individuals sitting in jail.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Every major American art museum is sitting on assets that, from the outside, look enviable. They're called works of art. If they're by Vincent van Gogh or Frida Kahlo or Jackson Pollock, they may be worth tens, or even hundreds, of millions of dollars.

Even if they're by less famous artists and consigned to storage - along with perhaps 90 percent of any given museum's collection - they can still be valued at eye-watering amounts. Set beside, say, a scary budget deficit or the prospect of having to lay off employees, this knowledge can take on an almost voluptuous glow.

To counter the constant temptation to regard art works as a way to get quick cash, the museum world heavily polices the sale of works from permanent collections - otherwise known as deaccessioning. The powerful Association of Art Museum Directors, made up of directors of museums in the United States, Mexico and Canada, has long frowned on any museum that sells off art for purposes other than acquiring new art.

AAMD's frowns have an effect. Museums that dare to ignore its guidelines - as the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, did in 2018, ultimately selling more than 20 works from its collection to raise money for a renovation - are censured, sanctioned and publicly shamed. For a renegade - or perhaps simply desperate - museum director, a decision to sell works from the collection, even if it's to raise money deemed necessary for survival, might mean career death.

However, in an unprecedented move, and as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, the AAMD has recently relaxed its guidelines. It's too soon to gauge the effect, but it is already big news in the art world. Once unthinkable, the notion of selling off a Claude Monet or two to plug a budgetary hole - or to fend off a total financial meltdown - is suddenly something to contemplate.

The only problem, of course, is that once you've sold a Monet, or a Norman Rockwell, or an Albert Bierstadt, it's very hard to get it back.

"There are many members of the association who think that this is way too much, and others who think it's way too little," Brent Benjamin, the AAMD president and the director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, told the Art Newspaper.

No one doubts that they're a sign of how bad the picture is looking for museums now.

Since mid-March, when museums began closing because of the coronavirus outbreak, income from admissions and retail has evaporated. Turmoil in financial markets has caused endowments to plummet. Fundraising has been severely constrained. And for many museums, it has quickly become a question of figuring out how to survive.

The revised guidelines touch on two areas. First, they state that any museum that "decides to use restricted endowment funds, trusts, or donations for general operating expenses" will not be censured or sanctioned. The idea here is to allow museums the financial flexibility they need in an uncertain economic environment.

The more striking announcement concerns deaccessioning. According to AAMD, museums may now "use the proceeds from deaccessioned works of art ... to support the direct care" of their collection.

The language here is careful. But there's no doubt: This represents a major departure, and a recognition that many art museums are in financial free fall.

AAMD says it recognizes "the extensive negative effects of the current crisis on the operations and balance sheets of many art museums." It acknowledges, too, the impossibility of knowing when revenue streams might return to normal.

The new guidelines are temporary, and are "not intended to incentivize ... the sale of art." But their effect may do just that.

Conscious of the significance of its about-face, AAMD has tried to look as though it is still walking calmly in the same direction. The organization's "long-standing principle" - that money raised from the sale of art from a permanent collection may not be used for general operating expenses - remains in place, according to the announcement in mid-April. Museums that choose to deaccession must maintain records of how money was raised and how it was used. They must have in place "a board-approved policy outlining what expenses it considers direct care, and the policy must be publicly accessible."

All this caution and qualification make sense. But in reality, almost any museum expense - from the salaries of curators, conservators and other staff members to costs associated with building maintenance and utilities - could conceivably fit the description of "direct care of the museum's collection."

And let's be honest: It's very theoretical. At a practical level - especially during a crisis - money inside big institutions such as art museums is fairly fungible. If a work of art is sold, the money raised is difficult to silo.

In normal times, and despite the strict guidelines, deaccessioning goes on all the time. The results can be transformative, restorative or alarming - sometimes all three at once. In 2011, for instance, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston sold eight works from its permanent collection to raise the money it needed to buy a single painting, "Man at His Bath," by Gustave Caillebotte. The paintings it auctioned off included canvases by Monet, Paul Gauguin, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

At the time, it seemed an extraordinary exchange. But after taking into account that the MFA has one of the world's greatest Impressionist collections; that most of the works it chose to sell tended to languish in storage; and that paintings by Caillebotte - an artist regarded as increasingly important - rarely come on the market, the decision began to look rational (if still controversial).

More recently, the Baltimore Museum of Art selected work by white men whose art they own in abundance - such as Andy Warhol and Franz Kline - to raise money for the acquisition of new work by underrepresented groups, especially women and African Americans, including Amy Sherald, Charles Gaines, Faith Ringgold and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

Here, too, the thinking was sound, and only mildly controversial. "I don't think it's reasonable or appropriate for a museum like the BMA to speak to a city that is 64 percent black unless we reflect our constituents," Chris Bedford, the museum's director, told Artnet in 2018.

And yet the practicalities of deaccessioning are rarely straightforward.

To begin with, there is a tension inherent in any decision by a museum to raise money by selling art. To justify selling the works, museums must play down their importance. But to get top dollar at auction, they must talk up their value.

This awkwardness can be managed. But the assumption that there are endless riches in a museum's storage rooms just waiting to be tapped is unrealistic.

In 2018, Michael O'Hare, a professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley, argued in the San Francisco Chronicle that the Art Institute of Chicago could offer free admission in perpetuity by selling 1 percent (by value) of its collection and putting the resulting money in an endowment. The interest on the endowment alone, O'Hare said, would cover the cost.

His argument rested on dubious premises. Attempts to assign credible value to the works in a museum's permanent collection are notoriously fraught. The vast majority of the financial value of a museum's collection often resides in a very limited number of works, almost all of them on permanent display. So if a museum wants to avoid selling its most precious works, selling off 1 percent by value probably would mean selling vast amounts of art.

Logistically, that would be challenging, as Martin Gammon, the founder of Pergamon Art Group, pointed out in a 2018 response to O'Hare in the Art Newspaper. The museum probably would face lawsuits from donors who gave works with conditions attached. The market, too, may not cooperate with such a scheme.

Museums, after all, guarantee scarcity, because when they own works, it's understood that they won't come back on the market. This is a crucial factor in keeping prices high. Once undone, such a reliable assumption could trigger a market collapse. The bad publicity generated by a prestigious museum's desperate-looking fire sale also would be likely to affect prices.

Then there are the administrative costs. Deaccessioning involves time-consuming research. Museums that want to sell works have an obligation to look into restrictions and secure necessary approval from donors and their heirs. There also are costs involved in selling at auction.

So the potential gains from any kind of large-scale deaccessioning are almost invariably less than simple market valuations may suggest.

What museums need now is a combination of direct help and the flexibility to act in their own best interests. The new guidelines are an effort to provide the latter. But I believe the old principles remain sound. Even in these unprecedented circumstances, museum directors should not panic or be drawn into overly short-term thinking.

The choices they face aren't simple. In some cases, they may have to act to ensure their very survival (if they fail at that existential level, their entire collections may hit the market). But they have been entrusted with the care of things that are, collectively as well as individually, of profound and lasting importance. It is their job to safeguard these collections for the future, not to sift them with a view to finding parts of them wanting, expendable and convertible to cash.
Melbourne, Australia, April 29, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX.AX - News) (HAM:TA8.F - News) is pleased to announce its 4th consecutive positive quarterly operating cash flow contained in the Appendix 4C and our quarterly business activity report.

Financial Analysis 1Q20

- 1Q20 is the Company's 4th quarter of positive operating cash flows, +$1.78m for the quarter.

- Cash balance at end of quarter was $17.5m in consolidated Group Cash, broadly flat from $17.7m as at 31 December 2019.

- 1Q20 receipts from customers were down 33% from 4Q19 to $10.5m due to the impacts from COVID-19, combined with seasonality in some merchants' volumes and other issues mentioned below.

- Client funds held are now over $100m, up from $96m as at 31 December to $101m as at 31 March 2020.

- The Company made a $4.2m investment in NSX Limited during the quarter for a 12.96% stake, per our announcement dated 20/2/2020.

- In the Quarter the Company completed the acquisition of UAB Baltic Banking Service for a total cost of EUR75k cash and 1,394,533 ordinary ISX shares.

- Administration and corporate costs were up circa $430k in the quarter, due mainly to the ASX related legal proceedings.

- Cash flows in the quarter also include a $3.2m cash contribution from the joint venture partner, as previously announced.

Business Activities 1Q20

- Probanx executed a A$4.5m agreement to develop a Delivery versus Payment (DvP) Platform for the NSXA, to be delivered over 24 months (excluding any COVID Delays).

- Probanx mobilised key personnel to meet its obligations under the ClearPay JV agreement.

- Integrated UAB Baltic Banking Service team under "Probanx" banner.

- UAB Baltic Banking Service's SEPA Core and SEPA Instant services now integrated with Probanx COREPlus system. Available as a service by ISXPay under our Bank Institution Code (BIC) of ISEMCY22XXX.

- SEPA Instant also now available as a SaaS module to Probanx COREPlus third party financial institution customers.

Story continues

- Injunctive relief was sought against the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with the Federal Court hearing the matter on the 16th April 2020. Judgment is scheduled for 30th April 2020.

- Enquiries for Probanx CORE banking and network products increased, with several (individually non-material) agreements executed with EU regulated entities.

- Flykk(R) app approved by Apple Inc, with release to worldwide app store expected during May/June 2020. Refer to www.flykk.it for details.

- Focus on enhancing AML compliance, including:

o Partnership agreement executed with Lexis Nexis, allowing the incorporation of Lexis Nexis data into our systems for resale to third parties consuming our Paydentity service or Probanx solutions.

o Paydentity(TM) cascade extended to include BankID from Norway and Sweden, with Finland under integration, to complement the previously integrated 3rd party instant electronic verification sources, further expanding our 'instant' KYC(C) capability. The Company's patented Payment Instrument Verification (PIV) processes continue to be utilised where instant electronic verification methods are not available, reducing KYC(C) from a manual process that takes days, to a process that is online and takes minutes. PIV relies upon verification of bank accounts and regulated cards.

- Integration completed to two key gaming platforms, extending our platform integrations beyond the exchange and trading platforms integrated during 2018.

- Due to the COVID-19 lock down requirements of Federal and State governments in Australia, and Governments of Cyprus, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, ISX, similar to other companies, implemented work from home and other operational strategies, as part of its Pandemic Policy and Business Continuity Plans, to mitigate the effects on staff and operations of the spread of the virus in the wider community.

- COVID-19 impacted March revenues indirectly, with almost 3 weeks of processing time being lost. The Company failed to process transactions across a number of card schemes as a consequence of either the scheme itself being technically or commercially un-responsive, arrangements with the schemes being subject to further commercial or due diligence requirements, or the Company itself changing its systems without taking into consideration the impact on the scheme. By way of example, our PCI DSS certification, despite having been successfully audited and submitted to the relevant scheme on time, was not updated by one of the card schemes, leading to suspension of some processing services.

- Processing to merchants across the Visa network was also suspended for parts of March pending response to Visa re queries on ASX "investigation", concerns re "derogatory media" and the focus on high risk merchants. The Company is providing Visa with information regarding the ASX "investigation" and other matters. Visa has notified that their response times on this matter have been impacted by COVID-19.

- Other COVID-19 impacted matters include:

o Our Tier 1 Australian processing rollout being delayed and will not meet the May 2020 anticipated timetable, due to unavailability of test slots from the major card schemes. This is as yet to be rescheduled but is anticipated to be later in the year.

o SWIFT rollout has also been deferred, until such time as test slots will become available. The Company does not at this stage have visibility on expected dates.

o ASIC has advised that as a direct consequence of COVID-19, consideration of our application under Corporations Regulation 7.2.16 is taking longer than anticipated to assess.

To view the full quarterly report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/68T613S3

About iSignthis Ltd:

Australian Securities and Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX.AX - News) (FRA:TA8.F - News) is the global RegTech leader in remote identity verification, payment authentication with deposit taking, transactional banking and payment processing capability. iSignthis provides an end-to-end on-boarding service for merchants, with a unified payment and identity service via our Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) solutions.

By converging payments and identity, iSignthis delivers regulatory compliance to an enhanced customer due diligence standard, offering global reach to any of the world's 4.2Bn 'bank verified' card or account holders, that can be remotely on-boarded to meet the Customer Due Diligence requirements of AML regulated merchants in as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Paydentity(TM) has now onboarded and verified more than 1.5m persons to an AML KYC standard.

iSignthis Paydentity(TM) service is the trusted back office solution for regulated entities, allowing merchants to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, and focus on growing their core business. iSignthis' subsidiary, iSignthis eMoney Ltd, trades as ISXPay(R), and is an EEA authorised eMoney Monetary Financial Institution, offering card acquiring in the EEA, and Australia.

ISXPay(R) is a principal member of Visa Inc, Mastercard Inc, Diners, Discover, (China) Union Pay International and JCB International, an American Express aggregator, and provides merchants with access to payments via alternative methods including SEPA, Poli Payments, Sofort, Trustly, WeChat, AliPay and others.

UAB Baltic Banking Service, a wholly owned subsidiary of iSignthis Ltd, provides API based access to SEPA Core, SEPA Instant and SEPA business scheme, for neobanks, banks, credit unions and emoney institutions, and provides a bridge to the Central Bank of Lithuania's CENTROLink service.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Chris Northwood

Investor Relations Director

iSignthis Limited

chris.northwood@isignthis.com

+61 (0) 458 809 177

Media Enquiries

Mark Hawthorne

Director

Civic Financial Communications

mark.hawthorne@civicfinancial.com.au

+61 (0) 418 999 894

Investor Relations Europe

Dr Eva Reuter

Friedrich Ebert Anlage 35-37

Tower 185

60327 Frankfurt

e.reuter@dr-reuter.eu

+49 (0) 69 1532 5857

Source:

iSignthis Ltd

Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
Samsung has put out its latest earnings report and in it the company more or less confirms that the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Fold 2 are coming later this year.

While most of the report is dedicated to discussing the sales of its electronics, there are some juicy mobile-related tidbits. Specifically about these two new phones that have already been suspected of releasing later in 2020.

Samsung does not come out and directly name each phone though. Rather, it simply mentions what it will do help improve its products sales in the second half of the year.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 & Galaxy Fold 2 are the linchpin of second-half sales

Samsung knows that its first half of the year has not been as strong as it would like, and to that end it will look to offer consumers new Galaxy Note and Fold models, such as the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Fold 2.

As noted above Samsung does not refer to these devices by name. It simply states that new Galaxy Note and new Galaxy Fold models are part of its plan for the second half of 2020.

Samsung also points out that each of these devices will be products offered in the premium segment. Which means these are going to be the latest iterations of the currently available devices consumers know  the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Fold.

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Nothing specific about either of these devices is mentioned in the report. So theres nothing thats been confirmed other than that the devices are coming later this year.

The company will expand 5G adoption

Part of Samsungs plan for the later part of this year revolves around bringing 5G devices to more people.

The company says it will expand 5G adoption to mass-market smartphones as part of its initiative to increase competitiveness. This is noted directly after stating that the company is releasing new Galaxy Note and new Galaxy Fold models for the second half of 2020.

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This could mean that both devices will be 5G-capable. But its also likely a statement that Samsung will be releasing more 5G-capable phones this year that arent as expensive. The Galaxy Note and Galaxy Fold lines are certainly available globally.

But they arent really mass-market devices. Not like you would consider something from the Galaxy S line a mass-market device. Samsung also plans to ramp up operational efficiency across its numerous segments. This includes its Research and Development, supply chain, production, channel, and marketing segments.
By Marine Strauss

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Twelve European Union governments urged the EU's executive body on Wednesday to suspend rules forcing cash-drained airlines to offer full refunds for cancelled flights instead of vouchers for future travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Airlines across Europe, including Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> and Air France-KLM <AIRF.PA>, have sought state rescues as coronavirus lockdowns have forced them to ground their fleets for more than a month, with no end in sight.

Transport ministers of Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal have asked the European Commission for a temporary amendment to the rules.

In a joint statement issued before a meeting of EU transport ministers, they said the bloc's executive body should propose the amendment as a matter of urgency. Consumers should be made to accept vouchers instead of refunds with certain conditions.

However, at the meeting, some EU governments opposed changes to the current rules so as not to frustrate the legitimate expectations of passengers. No decision was taken.

The EU's transport chief has previously said airlines must provide refunds for cancelled flights and can only offer vouchers if the passengers accept them instead.

In their statement, the transport ministers said vouchers should be valid for a set length of time and include the right for reimbursement if they are not used before the end of that period. Protection should also be provided in the case of airline bankruptcies.

The solution, the ministers said, would help airlines facing cash-flow constraints while allowing a common and adequate level of consumer protection.

The bloc's transport ministers met by video link on Wednesday, along with counterparts from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, to discuss how to coordinate the relaxation of travel restrictions as EU nations start reopening.

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The ministers asked the commission to present guidelines as soon as possible for the transport sector and said rules such as sanitary measures for different modes of transport should be harmonised across Europe to ensure connectivity.

The commission is expected to present the guidelines next week.

(Reporting by Marine Strauss; editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Leslie Adler)
Despite the infamy of the transatlantic slave trade, scientific research has yet to fully explore the history of the enslaved Africans brought into Latin America. In a study appearing April 30th in the journal Current Biology, scientists tell the story of three 16th century African slaves identified from a mass burial site in Mexico City. Using a combination of genetic, osteological, and isotope analyses, the scientists determined from where in Africa they were likely captured, the physical hardships they experienced as slaves, and what novel pathogens they may have carried with them across the Atlantic. This study paints a rare picture of the lives of African slaves during early Spanish colonization and how their presence may have shaped disease dynamics in the New World.

"Using a cross-disciplinary approach, we unravel the life history of three otherwise voiceless individuals who belonged to one of the most oppressed groups in the history of the Americas," says senior author Johannes Krause, an archaeogeneticist and professor at the Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.

The three individuals were found within a mass grave at San Jose de los Naturales Royal Hospital in Mexico City, an ancient hospital site largely devoted to servicing the indigenous community. "Having Africans in central Mexico so early during the colonial period tells us a lot about the dynamics of that time," says first author Rodrigo Barquera (@jrockdrigo), a graduate student at the Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. "And since they were found in this mass burial site, these individuals likely died in one of the first epidemic events in Mexico City."

Researchers extracted genetic and isotope data from the individuals' teeth, piecing together their lives before enslavement. "Their genetics suggest they were born in Africa, where they spent all of their youth. Our evidence points to either a Southern or Western African origin before being transported to the Americas," says Barquera.

A close look at their bones revealed a life of severe hardship once they arrived in the Americas. Anthropologists found large muscle insertions in the upper body of one skeleton, likely pointing to continuous physical labor. Another individual had the remnants of gunshot wounds from copper bullets, while the third had a series of skull and leg fractures. The team could also tell, however, that the abuse did not end their lives. "Within our osteobiographies we can tell they survived the maltreatment that they received. Their story is one of difficulty but also strength, because although they suffered a lot, they persevered and were resistant to the changes forced upon them," Barquera says.

From the remains, researchers also recovered the genetic material of two pathogens that infected two of the individuals while they were alive. "We found that one individual was infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), while another was infected with the bacterium that causes yaws--a disease similar to syphilis," says co-senior author Denise Kuhnert, a mathematician working on the phylogeny of disease, from the Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. "Our phylogenetic analyses suggest that both individuals contracted their infections before they were likely forcibly brought to Mexico."

These are the earliest human remains in Americas in which HBV and yaws have been identified, suggesting that the slave trade may have introduced these diseases into Latin America very early into the colonial period. This is particularly meaningful for yaws, as it was rather common in Mexican people during the colonial period. "It is plausible that yaws was not only brought into the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade but may subsequently have had a considerable impact on the disease dynamics in Latin America," says Kuhnert.

By conducting science in this interdisciplinary manner, researchers are now able to answer deep questions about the roots of Mexican culture. "We want to get insights into how pathogens emerged and spread during the colonial period in the New Spain, but we also want to continue to explore the life stories of the Africans brought here and other parts of the Americas. That way they can take a more visible place in Latin American history," says Barquera.

###

This work was financially supported by the Max Planck Society.

Current Biology, Barquera et al.: "Origin and health status of first-generation Africans from early Colonial Mexico" https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(20)30482-6

Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones urged Alabamians today not to go to surrounding states with open restaurants and possibly bring coronavirus home.

Speaking in a virtual press conference streamed on his Facebook page, Jones said he shares state health officials concern about looser rules in Georgia and Tennessee. We dont have a wall built between Alabama and Georgia, Jones said, but if they keep going that way, we might have to.

Seriously, people are wanting to get out. Nobody wants to get out more than me and my family, Jones said. "But weve got to resist the urge to even go somewhere else to have a good meal or to do something and get out and satisfy that emotional desire weve got.

I really would encourage people to stay away from those areas right now..., Jones said. If you go, youre going to probably be in a restaurant that is open, that folks are not wearing a mask, that you dont have a clue who in there could be infected. That could come to you and you bring it back to your family, your community.

Jones said Alabama cant be lulled into complacency and reopen without being able to test more people than it can today. He shared the press conference with scientists who urged people to keep wearing face coverings.

Face coverings are necessary, agreed Neil Lamb, a researcher and educator at Huntsvilles HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. They do provide some level of protection for you  maybe more importantly, this virus can be spread by people who have no idea they have symptoms or havent developed symptoms yet.

Wearing face coverings is a courtesy to our community, our colleagues, Lamb said. It is the most neighborly, most appropriate, the best thing we can do as we go out in public.

Jones was asked about other criticism of Gov. Kay Iveys phased re-opening of state businesses and institutions.

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has called Alabama a nanny state for its original shutdown rules and said government shouldnt pick winners and losers by keeping some businesses closed. Restaurants should be free to open and customers free to go to them, Brooks said.

Ive gotten to a point its hard to comment on all the things Congressman Brooks says that are out of touch with reality, Jones said.

Jones said he doesnt think a second round of individual direct checks is coming to workers idled by the virus. The emphasis now is going to be unemployment compensation and the payroll protection program, he said. Lets just keep people on the payrolls and their benefits so they can get back to work quickly.

He also said he is pushing for financial aid to college towns and states whose revenues dropped when students went home because of the virus. Youre going to see layoffs for first responders, fire, police, healthcare workers, you name it  if the federal government doesnt step up and do the right thing by our cities and our counties and our states the way were trying to do it for businesses and individuals, Jones said.
Four Amish children were dead and one was missing on Thursday after the horse-drawn buggy they were riding in with their mother overturned on a bridge in northeastern Kentucky, the authorities said.

The family were members of the Amish community in Peasticks, in Bath County, about 50 miles northeast of Lexington, Michael Gray, the deputy coroner, said in an interview on Thursday.

They were returning home from church on Wednesday afternoon when their buggy flipped while they were trying to cross a low-water bridge spanning a branch of a waterway that feeds into the Licking River, he said.

Their mother summoned help. She was washed away, too, but then she got to the side and she climbed out of the creek, Mr. Gray said.
Sutapa Sikdar paid tribute to her late husband and acclaimed actor Irrfan Khan with a moving note. She changed her Facebook profile picture to one with him and wrote in her caption, I have not lost, I have gained in every which way.

Irrfan died at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Wednesday morning due to a colon infection. Earlier, in 2018, he was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour and underwent treatment in London for the same.

Sutapa Sikdars Facebook post.

Days after Irrfan announced his illness on Twitter, Sutapa lauded his courage. My best friend and my partner is a warrior, he is fighting every obstacle with tremendous grace and beauty, she had written in a note shared on Facebook.

Sutapa stood by Irrfan like a rock during his battle with cancer. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror last month, the actor had said that it was she who kept him going even in the most difficult of times. What to say about Sutapa? She is there 24/7. She has evolved in care-giving and if I ever get to live, I want to live for her. She is the reason for me to keep at it still, he had said.

Also read | Irrfan Khans son Babil posts heartfelt note, thanks everyone for condolences: Will get back to each one of you but just not right now

Irrfan is survived by his wife and two sons, Babil and Ayan. A statement from his spokesperson said he was surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about in his last moments. The actor was cremated at the Versova kabrastaan in the presence of a few close friends and family members.

Irrfans son Babil thanked well-wishers for their outpouring of love. Im deeply grateful for all the condolences you beautiful friends are pouring in for me. Although I hope you understand that right now Im not being able to reply because my vocabulary is dizzy. I will get back to each one of you but just not right now. Thank you so much. I love you, he wrote in a note shared on Instagram stories.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

It's a classic good news, bad news, good news story.

In early April, many people needing help paying their mortgage because of financial woes caused by the coronavirus crisis were heartened to learn that they could hold off payments for a year without any late fees or extra charges, thanks to the recently passed $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

But when they contacted their mortgage companies to avail themselves of the provision, they were told about a big catch: Theyd have to make up any skipped payments, in full, as soon as the forbearance period was up.

Many wrote to Consumer Reports to express their outrage and fear.

How would I suddenly have three months' worth of payments stockpiled to pay back in full by then? wrote Alison Byrne of Wall Township, N.J., after agreeing to repay her servicer, a company called Mr. Cooper, in full after 90 days. "What a racket! It's not helpful in the least. How dare they?

If one had that money, there would be no need for any kind of relief, Denise Pawlukiewicz of Bay Village, Ohio, wrote of her servicers balloon-freighted four-month forbearance offer. Give with one hand, take away with the other.

Its just kicking the can down the road, adding to an already stressful time, wrote Maryland healthcare worker Antonio Calderon after being told that hed have to come up with $4,000 in three months, even though his work hours had been slashed and his wife, a nurse, was on the front lines of the COVID crisis.

But the message these consumers were hearingthat theyd owe a lump-sum payment at the end of the forbearance periodwas incorrect. The vast majority of homeowners who accept a COVID-related forbearance will be offered less painful ways to get current on their home loans.

Mangled Messaging

As early as April 8, Fannie Mae and Freddie Macwhich combined own the majority of U.S. mortgages and therefore determine how servicers wind down most forbearanceshad issued guidance to servicers listing a range of workout options for consumers to catch up on missed payments.

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Yet as was made clear by the dozens of consumers who wrote to CR after that date, many were still being misinformed about their options. And a new report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, based on an April 17 study of websites of the 30 top servicers, found that several servicers gave the impression that lump-sum payments would be required at the end of the forbearance period.

On April 23, Consumer Reports advocates wrote to the top mortgage servicers, calling on them to ensure that "consumers who need relief are able to access it and that your staff are trained to make clear to borrowers the range of post-forbearance repayment options in keeping with your organization's policies and federal guidance."

Finally, on April 27, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac directly addressed the confusion. We want every homeowner who is struggling because of this pandemic to know they have mortgage options. We do not require a homeowner to repay missed payments all at once at the end of the forbearance plan, unless they choose to do so, wrote Fannie Mae CEO Hugh Frater in a press release. Freddie Mac issued a similar statement.

We may never know why so many consumers wereand perhaps still arebeing misinformed. Lisa Sitkin, senior staff attorney at the National Housing Law Project, suspects a combination of factors, including differing federal and investor guidelines, poor internal communication by the servicing companies, and a longstanding tendency for those companies to discourage forbearance. (Servicers, after all, are on the hook to pay mortgage investors even if the borrowers dont make their payments.)

But the fact that so many consumers were given the wrong information about repayment options could itself cause financial problems for them. If people who needed forbearances declined to take them because they were told the wrong terms, they may still miss payments, meaning they could be headed toward foreclosure, Sitkin says. The poor communication undercut a key purpose of providing these forbearance plans in the first place, she adds: Reducing people's stress and anxiety at a difficult time.

What Are Your Options?

Again, to be clear, most homeowners who accept forbearance will ultimately be offered an alternative repayment plan that does not require a large lump-sum payment. Per Fannie and Freddie guidance, servicers of federally backed mortgages are instructed to contact borrowers around 30 days before their forbearance ends to determine an appropriate workout option.

Depending on the borrowers financial situation, such options will likely include simply adding the missed payments to the end of the mortgage, which many consumer advocates believe to be the best option for many consumers who can afford to restart their monthly payment. Its the simplest, cleanest way to do it, for everyone involved, Sitkin says.

Others will be asked to catch up to the original payment schedule by resuming their full monthly payments and making modest extra payments over a period of, say, one or two years.

Borrowers who are unable to resume full payments, meanwhile, could be required to go through a formal loan modification process, where their payments are lowered and the term extended further into the future.

Those unable to pay anything going forward, unfortunately, may lose their homes to foreclosure.

Keep in mind that these guidelines, like the forbearance provisions of the CARES Act, apply only to federally backed mortgages. (If you arent sure if that includes your mortgage, read our article How to Get Help With Your Mortgage During the Coronavirus Pandemic or call your servicer.)

And it remains true that if you dont anticipate a substantial loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should probably pay your mortgage as usual.

On the positive side, some servicers seem to have done a better job of communicating with borrowers all along.

We dont want you up to your ears. Thats what Danny Chisholm, a self-employed personal trainer and massage therapist in Chicago, says he was told when he called his servicer, Flagstar Bank, in mid-March.

He was sent to a dedicated website, where he agreed to a three-month forbearance and was immediately informed that hed have several ways to get current afterwardsincluding adding the missed payments to the end of his 15-year mortgage.

I was like, Thank God, he says. Id heard stories of people waiting eight hours on the phone. But after five minutes there was nothing left to be done.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
A 50-year-old coronavirus patient,



who allegedly ran away from the COVID ward of a civil hospital in Gujarat's Surat city two days back, was found dead on a bench outside the medical facility on Thursday morning, police said.

A probe is underway into the matter, they said.

Preliminary inquiry and CCTV footage of the hospital indicate that the man did not go outside the hospital campus, located in Khatodara area, during the last two days, an official from Khatodara police station said.

The official further said the man "secretly" walked out of the COVID ward on the night of April 28 and disappeared.

Though the police tried to search for him at every possible location, he was not found, the official said.

"As of now, we don't know why he ran away in the middle of his treatment, where he went and how he died. We are carrying out a thorough investigation into it," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vidhi Chaudhari said.

As per the civil hospital records, the man was a resident of Salabatpura area and got admitted to the hospital on April 21 after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Before that, his wife had also tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to the same hospital, another official said, adding that she is currently undergoing treatment at the medical facility.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Two more teenagers have been arrested in connection with a shooting in the St. Martin community early Monday which left one 18-year-old dead and another hospitalized with serious injuries in a Mobile hospital.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said 15-year-old Elijah Boudreaux of Ocean Springs and 17-year-old Keaton Morano of Biloxi have each been charged with accessory after the fact. Bond has been set at $25,000 for each.

As of Thursday afternoon, it was undetermined whether Boudreaux and Moreno would be charged as adults.

About 1:30 a.m. Monday, Jackson County deputies responded to a call near the intersection of Amhust and Hamilton Drive, where they found 18-year-old Marcello English dead in the roadway. Another 18-year-old, Derrick Craft, was with English and was also shot. He was transported to University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile.

Ezell said investigators believe the shooting was the result of an altercation between the teens.

Charged with aggravated assault are Christian Kennedy, 19, and Caden Walker, 16. Walker is being charged as an adult. Bond on the aggravated assault charge was set at $250,000 each.

Kennedy was hit with two additional charges in the wake of the new arrests: directing a minor to commit a felony and tampering with physical evidence. The new charges resulted in a total of $20,000 added to Kennedys bond.

Ezell said his office is working with the district attorneys office to present the case to a Jackson County Grand Jury, which will determine if the charges against Kennedy and Walker will be upgraded to murder.
30.04.2020 LISTEN

While the country has been thrown into a state of unrest and anomaly as a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), some parts of the country are battling more than just the novel coronavirus.

As Accra is the epicentre of the novel coronavirus with the highest cases recorded, other parts of the country are expected to be much safer from the spread of the novel coronavirus. Unfortunately for Ghanaians in the northern part of Ghana, they are battling Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), a recurring disease that happens annually in the northern part of the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), is an infection of the meninges, the thin lining that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. The bacteria are transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions, close and prolonged contact, e.g. kissing, sneezing and coughing on someone, living in close quarters or dormitories (military recruits, students), sharing eating or drinking utensils etc. facilitate the spread of the disease. The average incubation period is four days, ranging between two and 10 days. N. meningitides only infects humans; there is no animal reservoir.

Some of the symptoms of the virus disclosed by the WHO include sudden high fever, stiff neck, severe headache that seems different than normal Headache with nausea or vomiting, confusion or difficulty concentrating, seizures, sleepiness or difficulty waking sensitivity to light, no appetite or thirst and Skin rash (sometimes, such as in meningococcal meningitis).

The WHO further reveals that the bacteria are environmentally sensitive. According to them, the bacteria very commonly occur in sub-Saharan Africa known as the meningitis belt. The bacteria is hyperendemic in the northern areas of the sub-Saharan Africa where the people get infected during the dry season (December to June), because of dust winds and upper respiratory tract infections due to cold nights.

This explains why the bacteria are exclusive to the Northern part of Ghana and is also annual as the result of climate change.

On April 24th 2020, a report by citinewsroom indicated that seven (7) people out of twenty- one (21) positive cases of meningitis in the Upper East Region have died as a result of the disease.

The affected twenty-one cases were from the total number of seventy-one suspected cases of the disease. The Upper West Region, however, has recorded about 40 deaths out of about 258 confirmed cases of the disease in the region. The report also revealed that about 400 cases of the disease have been recorded in the northern part of the country and that, the new strain of the bacteria is the Neisseria meningitides serotype X, which has no vaccine.

Mayoclinic.org described this strain of the bacteria as another leading cause of bacterial meningitis that commonly causes an upper respiratory infection but can cause meningococcal meningitis when they enter the bloodstream. This is a highly contagious infection that affects mainly teenagers and young adults. From the figures from the report, this means 33% of the numbers of people infected with the disease in the Upper East Region have died from the disease while only 16% of the people infected in the Upper West Region have succumbed to the virus. This shows that, although the Upper West has more recorded cases, the percentage of death is more significant in the Upper East Region with the least recorded cases as compared to the Upper West Region with the highest cases.

Considering the total number of cases recorded in the Northern part of the country shows that, the death rate falls of the disease in the entire Region is 12%. The percentage of death in the entire country as a result of the virus is at 0.7% at the moment where the country has recorded some 1550 cases. A comparison between the percentage of death between the COVID 19 pandemic in the country and that of Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), clearly indicates that the latter is killing more people in the northern part of Ghana as compared to how the former (COVID 19) is killing people in the whole of Ghana.

Although the disease is hyperendemic, it is just as contagious as COVID 19 and causing harm to a section of the Ghanaian populace. Arguably, more attention has been given the fight against COVID-19 to the neglect and detriment of those battling these bacteria wreaking havoc on the people in the North. This is evident in the report by citinewsroom where the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has attributed the challenges with tackling the bacterium to lack of financial resources.

It is worrying that a bacterium that is killing has more people than the global pandemic in Ghana isn't been tackled effectively because of financial resources. This bacterium is not one that cannot be treated as indicated by mayoclinic.org. According to them, this strain of the bacteria that is contagious can be prevented through vaccination. Unlike the COVID 19 virus that took the world by shock, CSM has been in existence since 1959 in the northern parts of the country till today.

It is an annual endemic that occurs within the dry period. This means adequate preparation can be made to help mitigate the spread of the bacterium within such period. Waiting for the bacterium to affect people especially when we know its timelines and how deadly it is will only mean we are playing with the lives of our people. It is very necessary that government starts paying much attention to the fight against this endemic by making resources available to help fight it now and also make efforts to be more proactive in the fight against the endemic by setting fund banks among other purposely to help fight this annual outbreak.

The bacterium will continuously lurk around especially when climate change is constant. It is therefore imperative we start preparing for them before they arrive.

Written by: Grace Nana Adwoa Essel, student of Ghana Institute of Journalism
Nurses from Saint Vincent Hospital say that furloughs and staff reductions amid the COVID-19 pandemic have led to dangerous delays in care at the Worcester facility.

In the time since the staff reduction plan was implemented, nurses have filed more than 50 reports documenting specific incidents when the lack of staff and resources reportedly jeopardized the health and safety of patients, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

The majority of those patients have COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and need a higher level of care, the statement read.

Our administrators have no understanding of what these COVID patients need, and have no idea what it is like to be responsible for these patients, knowing they are not receiving the care and attention they need at the worst time in their lives, said Dominique Muldoon RN, a nurse on a COVID floor at the hospital.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Saint Vincent Hospital criticized the MNA and said that actions the hospital has taken during the pandemic have been with the support of many of the hospitals nurses.

As we focus all efforts at Saint Vincent Hospital on protecting everyone who walks through our doors, we are very disappointed that the MNA, has instead, prioritized a campaign rife with inaccurate and misleading statements in order to raise their own profile," the statement read.

Our culture at Saint Vincent Hospital is based on safety, integrity and compassionate care  and we have built every COVID-19 protocol consistent with those values, the statement continued. "Any suggestions to the contrary are false, and we, along with our community and many SVH nurses, struggle to understand how  in the middle of a public health emergency  the MNA could be so focused on their own agenda with a blatant disregard for the health and well-being of our Worcester families. Every action we have taken, together with the support of many of our nurses, is helping to bring us all through this crisis.

Saint Vincent Hospital is owned by Tenet Healthcare. Earlier this month, Tenet furloughed staff and started daily staff reductions of nurses, nurses aides and other caregivers, said the MNA.

The hospital has eliminated previously agreed upon additional staffing necessary to support the increased need for stringent infection precaution measures and to provide for the increased complex care needs of COVID-19 patients, the statement said.

Those reductions have led to an increased workload for nurses and other staff and have limited the time nurses can spend with patients who need monitoring, according to the MNA.

As a result, nurses report patients who wait too long for needed treatments and medications, patients who are at increased risk for falls, patients left alone for too long, frightened and unattended with no family support, the statement read.

Nurses in the emergency department have reported needing to board patients in the department, sometimes for hours, the MNA said.

In thirty years of nursing, I have never witnessed the conditions I am seeing now at this hospital, nor have I been more ashamed to work for a corporation that would treat our patients this way, said Marlena Pellegrino, RN, the co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit. Our nurses are appalled and disgusted by the lack of humanity shown by Tenet, yet I am proud to say we come to work every day, despite these obstacles, to do whatever we can for our patients.

Beckett Augat, an emergency department nurse, said the cuts are a travesty and totally unnecessary.

The other day, management sent four nurses home in the middle of our shift, and two hours later, we were bombed with patients, yet they wouldnt call them back," Augat said. "So our patients suffered, waiting longer for care, and some waiting on a stretcher for a bed that should be staffed and open to take them. All the while [Saint Vincent Hospital CEO Carolyn Jackson] is up in her board room looking at her spread sheets.

Tenet CEO Ron Rittenmeyer said earlier this month that the cuts were done consciously, thoughtfully ... to ensure we were focused on maximizing our cash position, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Tenet had $500 million in cash in hand as of March 31 and $1 billion in available credit, according to the newspaper, citing Tenet Chief Financial Officer Daniel Cancelmi.

Related Content:
SAN FRANCISCO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and technology company Higg Co today announced the launch of "Weaving a Better Future: Rebuilding a More Sustainable Fashion Industry After COVID-19," a public report that highlights how sustainability in fashion is at risk in a post-crisis world and lays out a framework for a phased rebuilding that elevates the role of social and environmental commitments within forward-looking business resiliency strategies.

The report offers four actions that must be taken to avoid backsliding on progress and to actively prepare for a changing industry:

Protect critical assets to survive the economic crisis: Fashion companies must safeguard workers, employees, capital, value chain partnerships, channels and the trust and support of their customers. This moment is an opportunity to remove unnecessary complexity and costs, in order to prepare for reinvestment.

Fashion companies must safeguard workers, employees, capital, value chain partnerships, channels and the trust and support of their customers. This moment is an opportunity to remove unnecessary complexity and costs, in order to prepare for reinvestment. Solve immediate inventory challenges in partnership with suppliers: Leaders will recognize the importance of open dialogue and constructive partnership across the value chain in order to find shared solutions for protecting worker livelihood and sustaining trust. Cancellation of completed orders will be a measure of last resort, while cancellation without consultation or collaboration will be an unacceptable practice.

Leaders will recognize the importance of open dialogue and constructive partnership across the value chain in order to find shared solutions for protecting worker livelihood and sustaining trust. Cancellation of completed orders will be a measure of last resort, while cancellation without consultation or collaboration will be an unacceptable practice. Integrate sustainability throughout business recovery strategies: Sustainability will be an imperative for strong companies after the crisis. Leaders will make sustainability central to post-pandemic decision-making, while laggards will view sustainability as an effort to resume once convenient.

Sustainability will be an imperative for strong companies after the crisis. Leaders will make sustainability central to post-pandemic decision-making, while laggards will view sustainability as an effort to resume once convenient. Accelerate transparency while increasing sustainability ambitions: Companies must take advantage of digitalization, innovative business models and end-to-end solutions  with transparency playing a central role  in order to assess and demonstrate positive environmental and social impact to stakeholders.

"The pandemic has forced all of us to take a step back and reset our priorities. One key takeaway is that a new transparent model that showcases verified sustainable practices will have an edge over other traditional business models," said Sanjeev Bahl, Founder and Chief Executive of Saitex, a leading sustainable denim manufacturer.

The 12-page report paints a bleak picture of what the fashion industry is facing in a post-crisis world, noting the unprecedented challenges that have arisen from the crisis, including that fashion and luxury together are the most negatively impacted of all consumer goods and services, after travel and tourism. From March to April, sales decreased by 60 to 70% in the worldwide fashion and luxury industry  with foot traffic in retail and recreation stores down by 44% in the U.S., 52% in Germany, 78% in India and 59% in Brazil.

"This is a moment of truth for fashion industry players," said Javier Seara, BCG Managing Director and Partner and Global Leader, Fashion & Luxury Sector. "Companies will need to change and are already changing their businesses (every day) to adapt to the new reality. Relentlessly incorporating sustainability practices into these changes will be the critical factor that separates winners from idlers."

Further back in the global supply chain, a survey of over 500 manufacturing facilities across all main production regions conducted by the SAC and Higg Co in April, shows 86% of all facilities have been impacted by cancelled or suspended orders. As a direct consequence, 40% now struggle with paying employees, leading to layoffs and factory closures

However, it also takes a more optimistic stance on the possibilities that exist to integrate sustainability efforts into core business strategy as the industry rebuilds following the pandemic, suggesting that those who maintain commitments to supply chain partners, proactively keep an open dialogue and collaborate on solutions will benefit from deeper trust from consumers and value chain partners alike.

"Nine out of 10 Generation Z consumers believe companies have a responsibility to address environmental and social issues. By committing to sustainability, we can secure our long-term growth, stay relevant to our customers and establish market-leading differentiation against our competitors," says Kate Heiny, Director Sustainability, Zalando SE.

The SAC, one of the largest multi-stakeholder industry efforts representing the apparel industry, encourages collaboration that drives social and environmental sustainability measurement and improvements in the apparel, footwear and textile industry.

"As we watch the apparel industry struggle due to COVID-19, the SAC's vision of an industry that increases social justice, reduces environmental impact and has a positive impact on communities is more important now than ever," said SAC Executive Director Amina Razvi. "This report outlines what's at risk if sustainability is deprioritized and offers a positive outlook of what's possible for companies that choose to fully integrate sustainability into their business operations moving forward."

Higg Co is a technology company spun out of the SAC in 2019 that hosts sustainability measurement tools, allowing companies to integrate measurable data directly into their internal systems. This in turn better enables sustainability decisions throughout the enterprise and presents an even bigger opportunity to unify measurement across the industry.

"This global crisis throughout the fashion industry has demonstrated the critical need for supply chain data to enable decision making and avoid fallout later," said Jason Kibbey, CEO of Higg Co. "Manufacturers who have invested in sustainable facilities and processes are looking for new models to benefit from those investments and new ways to engage with their customers and their upstream suppliers on sustainability." Kibbey adds, "Fashion needs digitalization to accelerate sustainability and transparency, just as it has accelerated all other dimensions of business."

Although the future remains unknown, "Weaving a Better Future" observes that retailers and brands that are integrating their sustainability efforts more deeply into the business and not retreating from them are poised to come out of the crisis in a position of strength. The post-COVID consumer will make purchases in part based on trust and purpose, and companies will be judged on how they acted during the crisis, as well as how they prioritize sustainability and transparency after the storm has passed.

"COVID is no excuse to back off from sustainability. Moreover, sustainability will be among key product priorities, together with quality and durability," says Luis Cascuberta, Managing Director of Woman & Kids at Mango.

Razvi of the SAC adds, "This crisis is showing us that anything is possible when you have individuals, communities, businesses and governments working hand in hand to solve a global threat. While this may not be how we wanted to realize this, we now know that collective action on a global scale is possible. Climate change is the next great challenge we need to address together, and this pandemic is forcing us to acknowledge that economic, environmental and human health are all deeply interconnected, and meaningful solutions will only be possible if integration, collaboration and transparency are at the forefront of a new industry paradigm."

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we help clients with total transformationinspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact.

To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting along with technology and design, corporate and digital venturesand business purpose. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, generating results that allow our clients to thrive.

About the Sustainable Apparel Coalition

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is an industry-wide group of more than 250 leading apparel, footwear and textile, brands, retailers, suppliers, service providers, trade associations, nonprofits, NGOs and academic institutions working to promote social justice throughout the global value chain and reduce the environmental impacts of products. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, the SAC seeks to lead the industry toward a shared vision of sustainability built upon a common approach for measuring and evaluating apparel, footwear and textile sustainability performance that spotlights priorities for action and opportunities for technological innovation. The SAC was incorporated as a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization and launched the groundbreaking Higg Index suite of tools in 2011. For more information, visit www.apparelcoalition.org .

About Higg Co.

Higg Co. is a technology company formed to deliver, implement and support unified sustainability measurement tools for consumer goods industries, beginning with the Higg Index. Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Higg Index is a suite of tools that enables brands, retailers and facilities of all sizes  at every stage in their sustainability journey  to accurately measure and score a company or product's sustainability performance. The Higg Index delivers a holistic overview that empowers businesses to make meaningful improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, local communities and the environment. For more information visit www.higg.com .

CONTACTS:

Boston Consulting Group, Eric Gregoire, [email protected], +1 617 850 3783

Higg Co., Shai Larsen, [email protected], +1 415 420 0477

Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Mandy Mooney, [email protected]

SOURCE Sustainable Apparel Coalition

Related Links

www.apparelcoalition.org


'Lockdowns cause poverty." That certainty was stated on Monday by David Nabarro of the World Health Organisation during an online discussion with the think tank I work for.

Tomorrow, the Government will decide on whether the restrictions designed to 'flatten the curve' of Covid-19 infection, will be eased, allowing more people to return to work.

Among the most important facts that is not being given enough consideration in this decision is the manner in which Covid-19 affects people of different ages.

It is clear from every country that it disproportionately affects older people and those with underlying health conditions. It is one of the few rock-solid pieces of information available that can help decision-makers in the hard choices they face.

According to Government figures on Covid-19, 13 people under 45 have died of the disease. There are three million people under 45 in the Republic.

The last time someone under 45 was reported to have died of the virus was on April 17, almost two weeks ago. This points to the measures taken to clamp down on the virus, along with voluntary changes to behaviour, having reduced the risk of dying from it for the younger half of the population.

Behaviour changes and shutdown have also contained the number of younger people being hospitalised and requiring intensive care. Since the last reported death of a person under 45, 99 people in that age group have needed hospital treatment to deal with the effects of the virus and 17 have gone into ICUs.

Many of the risks to health of the coronavirus remain unclear, but what is not in any doubt is that hundreds of thousands of people are now unemployed. That is not a risk, it is their current predicament.

The longer the economy is shut down, the longer it will be their predicament, and the more permanent it will become.

It has to be asked again and again if the Government's current approach to shutting the economy is proportionate for younger people. If they were to go about their lives and return to work, while maintaining all the precautions that the health experts advise, they would take a risk with their health. But how great would it be when set against the certainty of mass unemployment?

This question needs to be posed, discussed and addressed by medical experts so we can decide on what risks we are prepared to take individually and collectively.

There is a danger the question will not be confronted by the political class. Our political culture is conservative. It tends to follow other countries in big policy choices. Risky experiments are not favoured, something that may be reflective of society more generally.

Irish society is cohesive. That is reflected in its public sector, which responds well to crises and major challenges. But there is a thin line between group cohesion and groupthink.

Comments made privately to me by people with knowledge of Government policy formulation suggest that those whose views differ from the current position feel unable to voice them.

If there are signs of groupthink in Dublin, there were few signs of it at last Friday's meeting of European leaders. The heads of 27 EU governments were again discussing their collective response to the pandemic. It was billed as a 'make or break' moment for the EU. In fact, it was neither.

Unlike the only time when the EU really came close to breaking - during the 2010-12 euro crisis - financial markets are not threatening a run on any of the euro area members.

As the most senior Irish person in the European Commission civil service put it yesterday, the financial system now is part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Sean Berrigan was not uncritical of the EU's stance, but he made the valid point that there is a mismatch between what is expected of the EU and what powers it has to act in certain spheres.

The only EU institution which really matters at this point in the crisis is the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. It is doing what peer central banks are doing elsewhere - printing money.

It is assuring investors that there will always be a buyer for the government bonds they hold. As long as investors have that assurance, they will continue to lend to governments in the euro zone, from Ireland to Italy. If and when the ECB removes that assurance, the euro, and the wider EU, could indeed break apart.

What about the 'make' part of the make or break moment? Even if EU leaders had agreed to the issuing of joint IOUs, aka Coronabonds, it would not have transformed the EU into a better functioning entity or led to any material change in how the virus is being tackled across the continent.

The most warranted criticism of EU leaders is that they have wasted a lot of time during an emergency on a matter that was not an immediate priority.

That may have been reflected in an opinion poll on Irish attitudes to the EU this week.

It showed more than four out of five people wanted Ireland to remain a member, but that support had dropped to its lowest level since 2013.

Taken in late March, when leaders and finance ministers were highlighting their disagreements on Coronabonds, the poll found that 46pc of respondents didn't believe that the EU had responded well to the crisis. That is not surprising.
By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Concerns over leaks compelled the top U.S. infectious disease official to reveal data on Gilead Sciences Incs experimental drug remdesivir, the first in a scientifically rigorous clinical trial to show benefit in treating COVID-19.

The dramatic announcement by Dr Anthony Fauci in the Oval Office on Wednesday prompted concerns among scientists that the Trump administration was raising hopes about a coronavirus treatment before sharing the full data with researchers.

As a cautionary example of inflating the potential value of a therapy, some pointed to President Donald Trumps repeated endorsements of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, with no evidence that it works.

Newer data suggests the malaria treatments may carry significant risks for some sufferers of the respiratory disease caused by the virus.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is running the trial, said he took the first opportunity to get the word out that patients taking a dummy treatment or placebo should be switched to remdesivir in hopes of benefiting from it.

He expressed concern that leaks of partial information would lead to confusion. Since the White House was not planning a daily virus briefing, Fauci said he was invited to release the news at a news conference with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards(D).

"It was purely driven by ethical concerns," Fauci told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"I would love to wait to present it at a scientific meeting, but it's just not in the cards when you have a situation where the ethical concern about getting the drug to people on placebo dominates the conversation."

An independent data safety and monitoring board, which had looked at the preliminary results of the NIAID trial, determined it had met its primary goal of reducing hospital stays.

On Tuesday evening, that information was conveyed in a conference call to scientists studying the drug globally.

"There are literally dozens and dozens of investigators around the world," Fauci said. "People were starting to leak it." But he did not give details of where the unreported data was being shared. Several scientists interviewed by Reuters felt the White House setting seemed inappropriate for the release of highly anticipated government-funded trial data on the Gilead therapy.

Story continues

They had expected it to be presented simultaneously in a detailed news release, a briefing at a medical meeting or in a scientific journal, allowing researchers to review the data.

Information from various trials of remdesivir has been leaked to media in recent weeks. In a statement on Wednesday, Gilead said the NIAID's much anticipated trial had met its primary goal, but gave no details.

Data in a separate NIAID statement after Fauci spoke detailed preliminary results showing that patients who got the drug had a 31 percent faster time to recovery than those who got a placebo, cutting hospital stays by four days.

The trial also came close to showing the drug helped people survive the disease, but the data fell just short of statistical significance.

"I want to see the full data. I want to understand the statistics. I want to understand the benefit and risk. I want to understand the structure of the study, and all of it," said Dr. Steven Nissen, the chief academic officer at the Cleveland Clinic.

"Am I encouraged from what I've heard? Yes, I'm encouraged. But I want to get a full understanding of what happened here, and not get it via a photo opportunity from the Oval Office."

Data Gilead released on its own trial of remdesivir drew less attention, as it did not compare outcomes between those receiving therapy and those who did not.

Results from a third study in China suggesting remdesivir failed to help COVID-19 patients were released in the British medical journal the Lancet after review by a peer group of scientists. "That's the only thing I'll hang my hat on, and that was negative," said Dr. Eric Topol, director and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California.

He was unimpressed by remdesivirs modest benefit.

"It was expected to be a whopping effect," Topol added. "It clearly does not have that."

At the Oval Office news conference, Fauci compared the study findings to AZT, the first drug to show any benefit against HIV, decades ago.

"We know that was an imperfect drug. It was the first step," Fauci said in the interview.

"Similar to AZT, it's (remdesivir) the first baby step towards what hopefully will be a number of better drugs that will come in and be able to treat people with COVID-19."

(Corrects paragraph 1 spelling of "clinical")

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Clarence Fernandez)
Struggling to keep focused while working from home? If so, you're not alone.

Having too many noise distractions or cluttered spaces can make it difficult to stay productive, which is why now might be the best time to make your make-shift workspace more zen.

Zen is the Japanese term for the practice of dhyana, a Buddhist state 'of perfect equanimity and awareness'. Adding zen-minded items into your home can help to promote a sense of calm, peace and tranquility, while also reducing stress and increasing your focus.

Below, we have rounded up six zen-inspired buys to help you create a more productive workspace.

Listening to music can help calm and focus your mind, especially if you live in a busy household. Thanks to noise-cancelling technology for a purer music experience, these headphones from Mpow are ideal for working and studying as they help you to escape distracting noises and sounds.

The all-day battery power and and comfortable lightweight design means you can listen to your favourite songs for hours. With a built-in CVC 8.0 noise suppression microphone, the Mpow headphones are also perfect if you have a video conference call.

One shopper wrote in their review on Amazon: 'The sound is unreal, the noise cancellation is superb & they are really comfortable, easy to use. I can't understand why they are so cheap. Great value for money & I highly recommend.

Buy now on Amazon

Both calming and soothing, this 'Relax' aromatherapy reed diffuser makes a great addition to your zen workspace. The fragrance is beautifully presented in a glass bottle with six thick black reeds.

With a relaxing blend of light floral lavender, tangy bergamot and deep woody cedarwood essential oils, the pure natural fragrance helps to enhance inner well-being and banish stress.

Imogen's Luxuries Reed Diffusers are all uniquely handmade by a mother and daughter team in Hertfordshire with vegan friendly ingredients.

Buy now on Amazon Handmade

You might chuckle when you see your mum's 'Live, Laugh, Love' quotes dotted around her home, but inspiration prints can help keep you motivated and focused.

Not on the High Street offers wide array of affordable wall art, including personalised prints. We particularly liked this handmade Estee Lauder typography print from Buckinghamshire based brand 'The Motivated Type'.

Buy now on Not on the Highstreet

Adding a touch of greenery to your workspace can give your mind an energising boost. If you pick a plant with air purifying properties, such as a peace lily, it can also help increase concentration and happiness.

If you're not green-fingered, this tender perennial from Patch Plants is the right type of foliage for you. It is very hard to kill and likes most light conditions. In fact, it should only be watered when at least one inch of its top soil is dry.

Buy now on Patch Plants

Practicing gratitude is a key part of zen. It is all about stopping for a moment to appreciate what you have, and the life around you.

At a time where there are so many uncertainties, it's easy to get lost in negativity, which is why starting a gratitude journal is a good idea. There are many different jouranls and books to choose from, but we love this offering from Swedish stationary brand Kikki.K.

It is filled with fun exercises, prompts and inspiring quotes to help you reflect on positive thoughts and to promote happiness.

Buy now on Wolf & Badger

A tidy desk means a tidy mind. Create clean lines with a simplified space by raising your computer monitor or laptop on a monitor stand.

Not only will it give you more workspace and make your area feel less cluttered, but the raised screen will also make you more comfortable during your work hours.

One Amazon shopper wrote in their review: 'I use this with my home office. Laptop tucked underneath on first shelf and external monitor above tidy keyboard and mouse underneath when not in use. Excellent product, easy to assemble, sturdy and aesthetically pleasing.'

Buy now on Amazon

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NEW YORK and OSLO, Norway and LONDON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Confirmit has announced a series of initiatives designed to support the Market Research, Customer Experience (CX), and Employee Experience (EX) industries over the coming months as result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Resource Hub delivers a program of solutions and resources that will help insight professionals interact with each other, learn from Confirmit's experienced consulting team, and take advantage of dedicated solutions using the Confirmit Horizons platform.

The initiative is broken into three critical areas for insights teams:

Connecting the community: Confirmit will connect peers in discussion groups, share webinars, and deliver a growing library of online resources to provide support and guidance to CX and EX teams and to Market Researchers. Supporting insights professionals: Confirmit is offering one-to-one conversations with its experts to talk through key areas where insight can support the organization. Further resources are available to enable insights professionals to learn more about the skills they need to develop to deliver business value. Free dedicated solutions: Businesses already using the Confirmit Horizons platforms can use new dedicated solutions harnessing Confirmit's latest digital solution and text analytics capabilities to help better understand the needs of their customers and their employees.

Henning Hansen, interim CEO at Confirmit explained: "Our clients and the wider insights market are finding ways to adjust to our new reality, and we are committed to supporting them in every possible way. The ability to understand customers, employees and markets has never been more critical to helping companies make the right decisions. To that end, we must also focus on the future to ensure our customers are supported in the long term. We continue to work hard to ensure that our merger with Dapresy delivers exceptional solutions that deliver business-critical insight."

"This is a challenging time for our customers, and we have found great value in using the Confirmit text analytics tool, including their proactive addition of the new Covid-19 features, to understand their needs and expectations," said Barbara Lincoln, director of customer satisfaction and integration at Erie Insurance. "By leveraging insights the tool provides, we have been able to better anticipate and provide support to ERIE's customers, agents and employees."

Confirmit's COVID-19 Resource Hub is available here, and the free solutions are available immediately to Confirmit Horizons users.

About Confirmit

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The Nigerian Interreligious Council invites Christians and Muslims in the country to pray on Thursday against Covid-19.

By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

Christians and Muslims in Nigeria are invited to spend Thursday in prayer, beginning at noon, for an end to the Covid-19 crisis in the nation. The prayer initiative is available for viewing on the social media pages of the Nigerian Interreligious Council and national television stations.

This prayer initiative is organized by the Nigerian Interreligious Council (NIREC), an organization that consists of representatives of Nigerias two principal religions: Christianity and Islam

An instance of dialogue of social engagement

In an interview with Vatican News, the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua explains the idea behind the prayer initiative. He notes that it was inspired by the example of Christians and Muslims in Liberia who prayed together during the countrys revolution. Based on that model, NIREC started to develop a dialogue of social engagement where Christians and Muslims come together to pray for common concerns.

By praying together, we are accepting the fact that we have a basis for dialogue. First that God is the creator of all of us, and there is only one God. And that Abraham is our father in faith, said Fr. Omonokhua.

Explaining that the idea came from Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory, he says it is organized in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saadu Abubakar.

Listen to the interview with Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua

Interreligious collaboration in fight against Covid-19

NIRECs Executive Secretary describes the organization as a nexus, a liaison between religion and the government. He explains that NIREC was contacted by government officials when Nigeria began to take precautionary measures against the coronavirus. The aim was to ensure the collaboration of religious leaders with government efforts against the pandemic.

We want people to see Christians and Muslims praying together so that they know that it is not Christian or Islamic to fight, says Fr. Omonokhua. Right now with Covid-19 on ground, nobody is talking about Christianization or Islamization Covid-19 is not a respecter of religion, he adds.

Nigeria currently has 1728 confirmed coronavirus cases, 51 deaths, and 307 recovered patients in the pandemic that has infected over 36,000 Africans.

NIREC

The Nigerian Interreligious Council was created due to the incessant ethno-religious crisis which punctuates the sociopolitical landscape of Nigeria. NIREC provides religious and traditional leaders with a forum to promote interactions and understanding among the faithful of Christianity and Islam, as well as lay foundations for peace and harmony in the country.

The Nigerian Interreligious Council is made up of 60 members (30 Christians and 30 Muslims). .
Were very pleased that Representative Mazzochi is trying to help us out with this. I hope they will listen to her, Lalmalani said. It was disappointing to not get any response from IDOT, and hopefully, she will be able to help us do something about this.
Q. I am married and resident of New Jersey. Last year in March, we bought condo property in Florida. I also have a rental property in New Jersey and my house with a mortgage. We both are retired and have income from Social Security, a pension and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Whats the best way to handle income taxes and for the future, what is the best way to handle residency?

 Trying to decide

A. Residency and domicile can make a big difference in your tax bill.

Before you make a decision, just remember that the decision on where to live should take into account more than just taxes.

Because you are currently living in New Jersey, you will have to file New Jersey taxes for this year, said Melissa Raimundo, a certified financial planner with Beacon Trust in Morristown.

She said the amount of income that will be reportable on your N.J. tax return will be your rental income, pension, and the amount of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

Social Security income is not taxed at the state level in N.J.

New Jersey also allows for a pension income exclusion, which could possibly include all, or a portion, of your RMD.

The 2020 amounts for the pension exclusion are $75,000 for single tax filers and $100,000 for those married filing jointly, she said. You can qualify for this exclusion if you are 62 or older as of Dec. 31, 2019, and your total income, line 27 on the NJ-1040, is $100,000 or less  not including Social Security income.

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Raimundo said Florida has a very compelling income tax status because there are no state and local income taxes in the state. So if you were to change your state of domicile to Florida, there would be no state income tax on your pension, RMDs or your Social Security income.

You would, however, still have to pay N.J. state tax on the income you make in N.J. Your N.J. rental income would be taxed in N.J., she said.

Apart from income tax, it should also be noted that N.J. has inheritance taxes whereas Florida does not, she said.

In N.J., inheritance taxes are assessed based on relationship of the heir to the decedent and the amount inherited, she said. There is no tax on money left to spouses, civil union partners, direct descendants, direct ancestors or step-children, but there are taxes which range between 11% and 16% for other heirs such as siblings, sons- and daughters-in-law and others.

Raimundo said there is certainly savings to be had by transferring your legal state of domicile from New Jersey to Florida, however, it is not as easy as just having a home in Florida and spending some time there.

You will have to establish intent to change legal domicile and proof of that intent.

She said domicile is defined as a persons fixed, permanent, and principal home that they reside in, and that they intend to return to and/or remain in.

You can begin to establish domicile by finding a permanent residence in Florida, which you seem to have already accomplished with your new condo purchase.

Raimundo said you may also want to consider either selling or downsizing your New Jersey residence.

If you plan to split time between the two states, you must be able to show proof that you are spending the majority of your time in Florida, which is 183 days or more to fulfill the domicile requirement, and avoid being classified as a statutory resident of N.J., she said. While the terms residence and domicile are often used interchangeably, in the eyes of the law, they are different.

If you establish domicile in Florida, but then spend 184 days or more in New Jersey, you may be deemed a New Jersey resident, and then be subject to N.J. taxes and tax laws. Thats why its important for you to keep a calendar and a record of the days spent in each state.

You should update your drivers license and ensure that any and all legal documents are updated to reflect your new state of domicile. This should include any trusts, wills, medical items, as well as your tax returns, Raimundo said. The more of your daily life and activity that you transfer to Florida the easier time you will have proving your intent to establish domicile.

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.
He recently addressed his staggering weight loss as he continues to recover following a stint at a Thailand rehab for drug and drink addiction.

And James Argent displayed his slimmed-down frame on Wednesday in a shirtless snap posted to Instagram.

The TOWIE star, 32, shared a photo of himself FaceTiming pal Ferne McCann and her daughter Sunday, two.

Amazing: James Argent displayed his slimmed-down frame on Wednesday in a shirtless snap posted to Instagram

Arg sweetly captioned it with: 'You are the sunshine of my life  I love & miss you Sunday, Can't wait to watch you on the tele tonight ' making note of Ferne's TV series First Time Mum.

The reality star's fans and fellow celebrities were quick to comment on the snap.

Ferne said: 'Ahhhhhh this is soooo cute she loves her uncle Arg x.'

Sam Faiers put a heart emoji and heart eyes.

Go Arg! He recently addressed his staggering weight loss as he continues to recover following a stint at a Thailand rehab for drug and drink addiction

Sweet: The TOWIE star, 32, shared a photo of himself FaceTiming pal Ferne McCann and her daughter Sunday, two

While Scarlett Moffatt commented: 'Too cute x.'

James Argent addressed his staggering weight loss as he shared a before and after photo on Instagram earlier this month.

The former TOWIE star is continuing his recovery after he flew to Thailand earlier this year to go to rehab for his drug and drink addiction.

Arg posted a picture from a recent run, alongside a photo of himself at pal Elliott Wright's son's christening in April last year.

Sweet: Arg sweetly captioned it with: 'You are the sunshine of my life  I love & miss you Sunday, Can't wait to watch you on the tele tonight ' making note of Ferne's TV series First Time Mum

Support: The reality star's fans and fellow celebrities were quick to comment on the snap

The reality star captioned the post: 'I'm making progress, Inside & Outside One day at a time'.

Dozens of the Arg's celebrity pals applauded him for his efforts, while also encouraging him to stay motivated.

James is reportedly getting a helping hand from his supportive longtime friend Mark Wright in adjusting to life after rehab.

According to The Sun, Mark, 33, and his wife Michelle Keegan, 32, have remained in touch with the TOWIE star throughout his challenges, and most recently since he returned to the UK from Thailand.

A source said: 'Mark was straight on the phone to James to make sure he is OK. Theyve spoken a lot and James knows that Mark is there for him. Michelle will be too. They both think the world of him and want him to get back to his very best.'

Determined: The TV star started his fitness journey by taking part in swimming the English Channel in Sink Or Swim for Stand Up To Cancer in 2019 (pictured)

According to the friend, Arg has struggled somewhat since returning to his native Essex, given the recently mandated nationwide coronavirus lockdown but is 'looking to the positive and making sure he gets plenty of rest, eats right and does a bit of exercise everyday.'

MailOnline contacted representatives for James Argent and Mark Wright for comment at the time.

The troubled star was taken to hospital for the second time in two months last year after friends and family feared he had attempted a second 'overdose'.

Paramedics rushed to his 1.3million home in South Woodford, Essex in December, where they found the star 'disorientated' shortly before friends - including Mark - rallied around in a bid to help him get the support he needs.

Insiders told MailOnline: 'Mark was at his house for around six hours to support him. This was after Arg had been to hospital and come home again...

'Arg cant afford rehab but Mark and other close friends and family are clubbing together to put him in a good place so he can overcome this.

'He has realised he needs help with his recent addiction issues and with his weight loss battle, so has turned to professionals.

'Arg is receiving some of the best care in the world and so is in an environment to finally improve his physical and mental state.'

Arg has battled drink and drug addiction since finding fame on TOWIE. In 2014 he was suspended from the show after he failed a routine drugs test.

James checked into The Priory and returned to the ITV reality show in 2015.

The TV star spent three months in a facility in Thailand over the festive season in 2016 in a bid to curb his addiction and revealed he checked himself in to a programme in order to get the 'ongoing support' he needed.

Lean on me: James is reportedly getting a helping hand from his supportive longtime friend Mark Wright in adjusting to life after rehab
No plans for Wales to follow Scotland on face mask advice

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 30th, 2020

Dr Frank Atherton, the Chief Medical Officer of Wales, was asked today if the public should be wearing face masks.

The Scottish government has recently recommended people cover their faces while in enclosed public spaces, such as shops or on public transport.

Dr Atherton said he had seen people wearing face masks in public, and that the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has looked into the issue, SAGE has looked at this issue and there a potential small effect but the effect is really quite, quite marginal in terms of enclosed environments.

As I understand it, there is no evidence really that wearing face masks in the general public outdoors, for example, has any benefit.

Dr Atherton referred to dis-benefits from use of masks, including that the public sourcing masks could mean supplies for hospitals could be leeched from.

Dr Atherton did acknowledge the new guidance in Scotland, noting it was not mandatory, and said Wales would watch what happens around that however currently there were no plans in Wales to move in that direction.

A question was posed if someone close to him said they were going to a shop, and asked Dr Atherton if they should wear a mask what would his advice today be and could it change in a week.

Dr Atherton said , My advice today, and unless anything in the science changes in the next week, will be no.

What is important to you is maintaining that social distance that weve all now starting to become accustomed to, that is far more important.

You can view the full brief, plus the Q&A on the below video
Chennai, April 10 (IANS) The UK will be using charter flights from various Indian cities to ferry its nationals stranded across the country. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, April 30 : Another batch of US nationals were airlifted from here on Thursday by a special relief flight of Air India, operated from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

It took the stranded US nationals to Mumbai, from where they will be flying to their destinations in the US.

According to GMR-led Airport, the special flight from Mumbai landed at 02.46 p.m. It departed with 101 US nationals to Mumbai at 3.52 p.m. As per the flight itinerary, the passengers were to be airlifted by the Delta Airlines from Mumbai to the US.

The passengers were serviced through the fully-sanitized main terminal building of the domestic departures, which was kept ready for evacuation operations. With the support and collaboration of the US consulate, Hyderabad and the Telangana government, the US citizens arrived at the airport from various parts of the city.

Special screening and safety measures were in place during the flight's handling as part of Covid-19 precautionary steps that included thermal screening, mandatory social distancing enforced through special queuing arrangements at all passenger processing points.

With this, the GMR Hyderabad International Airport has handled 11 evacuation flights, serving over 850 foreign nationals. They were repatriated by various special relief flights from Hyderabad to the countries like the UK, the UAE, the US and Germany.
OSLO, Norway, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Solutions reported first-quarter revenue of NOK 6.5 billion, a decline of 10 percent compared with the first quarter 2019, as the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and sharp decline in oil prices impacted activity levels.

1Q 2020 Financial Highlights

Revenue NOK 6.5 billion

billion EBITDA NOK 149 million

million EBITDA margin 2.3%

EBITDA ex. special items NOK 314 million

million EBITDA margin ex. special items 4.8%

Order intake NOK 6.6 billion

billion Order backlog NOK 26.4 billion

The results were impacted by lower activity levels towards the end of the quarter, as operators postponed offshore work to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp drop in oil prices caused significant disruption to the global economy during the quarter. The global energy sector was hit particularly hard, as commodity prices collapsed and operators significantly reduced spending plans.

"Under these extreme and unprecedented circumstances, after protecting the health and safety of our people, our focus is to safeguard the financial strength of our company," said Luis Araujo, chief executive officer of Aker Solutions. "At Aker Solutions actions have been implemented to address the situation. We are doing our utmost to mitigate the effects for employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders around the world."

Orders totaled NOK 6.6 billion in the quarter, bringing the backlog to NOK 26.4 billion. Key awards included a five-year agreement to provide brownfield services to Brunei Shell Petroleum, to maintain production levels for more than 200 offshore assets. During the quarter, Aker Solutions also signed a 20-year exclusive master agreement to provide umbilicals for Chevron-operated oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico. The company also secured the first work order under the new agreement, to provide umbilicals for Chevron's Anchor project.

Revenue and EBITDA

Revenue fell to NOK 6.5 billion in the quarter from NOK 7.3 billion a year earlier. The EBITDA was NOK 149 million, compared with NOK 634 million in the first quarter of 2019. Excluding special items, the EBITDA was NOK 314 million with a margin of 4.8 percent compared with 8.8 percent in the same period last year.

Aker Solutions has two reporting segments: Projects and Services. Revenue in Projects fell 14 percent to NOK 5.1 billion in the quarter from NOK 6.0 billion a year earlier. Excluding special items, EBITDA margin was 6.0 percent in the quarter, versus 8.0 percent a year earlier.

Revenue in Services was NOK 1.4 billion, up 7 percent from NOK 1.3 billion in the same quarter last year, mainly driven by the subsea lifecycle services business. The EBITDA margin excluding special items was 5.6 percent in the quarter, down from 14.4 percent a year earlier. This was driven by the lower activity level within Production Asset Services, in particular in Brazil and the North Sea by the end of the quarter, and one-off adjustments of about NOK 60 million related to the COVID-19 situation and some contract-related adjustments in Brazil - not included in special items.

The company's liquidity position at the end of the first quarter was NOK 5.8 billion. This is made up of a NOK 3 billion revolving credit facility and NOK 2.8 billion in cash.

In response to new market conditions, Aker Solutions is implementing a series of measures to reduce cost. The measures include temporary and permanent lay-offs, removing contractors, site closures and freezing pay levels. The cost-cutting initiatives aim to reduce the fixed cost level by about NOK 1 billion on an annualized basis, up from NOK 750 million announced in early April. The company is also cutting capex investments by 40 percent from the 2019 level, to NOK 500 million in 2020.

Outlook

The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with low oil prices has led to a significant slowdown in activity. Oil companies have reduced their investment plans by at least 20 percent for 2020, and several projects have been postponed. In this environment, the company's main financial priority is on cash conservation, protecting the balance sheet and financial performance.

"The depth and scale of the decline is still unclear, but the second quarter is likely to be one of the most uncertain and disruptive quarters our industry has been through," said Araujo.

Given the significant market uncertainty, the company finds it challenging to provide detailed guidance. The company expects full-year revenues to decline about 30 percent versus the full year 2019 level.

CONTACT:

Media Contact:

Ivar Simensen, mob: +47-464-02-317, email: ivar.simensen@akersolutions.com

Investor Contact:

Fredrik Berge, mob: +47-450-32-090, email: fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-solutions-asa/r/aker-solutions-asa--first-quarter-results-2020,c3101070

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Can you be essential and disposable?

When it comes to many of the people we depend on during the pandemic  whether for manning our hospitals, processing our food or stocking store shelves  the answer has been a callous shrug. Across the country, as front-line workers get sick and die, our message to them has been as simple as it is shameful: You are needed. You are vital. But dont expect us to keep you safe.

Meat and poultry processing plants in Texas have turned rural counties into coronavirus hot spots, with workers forced to stand side by side regardless of the danger. Health care workers have not only struggled with lack of protective equipment, they were left out of expanded paid sick leave protections by Congress. Grocery store workers are required to wear masks to protect the public, but customers too often fail to return the favor.

This is outrageous and a dark omen as retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls prepare to reopen Friday following Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order. His approach to reopening has been appropriately measured, but if more isnt done to ensure worker safety, the new order will put even more workers at risk of serious illness or death.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust on HoustonChronicle.com

It is not enough to thank them for their service or to appreciate their sacrifice. We must do all we can to make sure workers are protected. That means demanding state and federal governments attune workplace safety rules to fit the immediate crisis.

So many people are going to be facing these horrible choices of weighing their safety, and the publics safety, against what for many is a desperate need to have a paycheck, Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy told the editorial board.

So far, neither federal nor state governments have adopted standards to safeguard workers from the novel coronavirus, and those who refuse to work out of safety concerns have little recourse.

Texas doesnt have any agency with oversight over workplace safety, so it is up to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA has taken a largely hands-off approach and been slow to address complaints, worker advocates said. It has failed to issue specific guidelines for employers on dealing with the pandemic, limiting its own ability to enforce safety issues related to the outbreak.

Without a clear set of rules, workers must rely on their employers to do the right thing. Fortunately, some have.

Responsible companies, such as the 151 businesses who have signed on to the Greater Houston Partnerships Work Safe program, have agreed to much-needed common-sense safety measures, including allowing employees to work from home when possible, implementing social distancing, requiring sick workers to stay home and adjusting paid sick leave policies.

CORONAVIRUS CHRONICLE: Subscribe to our new daily podcast for pandemic insights through a Houston lens

These principles echo the recommendations included in a report released Monday by the governors Strike Force to Open Texas. Both are worthwhile efforts to keep workers safe, but whats needed are enforceable rules  not principles and recommendations  which allow accountability and protect vulnerable employees working for bosses who arent as responsible.

These rules would protect workers who are on the job and give workers the right to delay a return to their jobs if the risk is too high. A bright spot on the latter issue emerged Tuesday, as the Texas Workforce Commission said it is working to develop clarity on what would allow people to remain on unemployment if they are uncomfortable returning to work during the outbreak.

Otherwise, Texans must ordinarily go back to work as businesses reopen. If they dont, they become ineligible for aid, forcing them to choose between their health and their livelihood.

The TWC must move quickly and allow for broad discretion, otherwise the point becomes moot. It is unconscionable to ask someone who has tried to navigate the states broken unemployment system for weeks to now spend more time making a case for their health concerns in the hope they will prevail.

Workers deserve far better than what theyve gotten. In the rush to restart the economy and get Texas back to a semblance of normalcy, we need to make sure they have the protections they need. Otherwise, the work may still be there but workers may not.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. - A civil rights organization is demanding a federal investigation into the deadly shooting of a black man chased through a South Georgia neighbourhood by two armed white men who thought he seemed suspicious.

The February killing of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery appears to have been racially motivated, the Southern Poverty Law Center said in a statement Thursday.

No one has been arrested or charged in the case.

Greg McMichael and son Travis were frustrated by earlier burglaries and auto break-ins in their neighbourhood near Brunswick when they spotted Arbery running through the area and considered him suspicious, a Glynn County police report states.

Both men grabbed their guns and began chasing Arbery, police said. Greg McMichael told police that he saw Arbery violently attack his son when they caught up with him, The Brunswick News reported.

Greg McMichael told police that Arbery and Travis fought over his sons shotgun and his son fired two shots, killing Arbery.

The police report does not say whether Arbery was carrying a weapon, the newspaper reported.

Absolutely no one should ever be targeted because they are Black or brown, and absolutely no family should ever endure the pain of losing a loved one at the hands of someone else as a result of their bias and hate, Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said in a statement.

At least on the surface, it appears that Ahmaud is the victim of a senseless violent act by people who are motivated by racist intent, she added.

Greg McMichael was a longtime investigator for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorneys office before retiring a few months ago and was a Glynn County police officer for seven years before that, the Brunswick newspaper reported.

Arbery had been a linebacker at Brunswick High School and had been chosen to play in the Georgia/Florida All Star Game his senior year in 2012, the newspaper reported.

The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center is a non-profit civil rights group with offices in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Washington, D.C.
I TVs Kevin Lygo has revealed that Love Island producers are looking at alternatives to allow the series to go ahead in the summer.

He revealed that show bosses had considered Cornwall as a potential location for a new edition of the ITV2 dating show but had eventually ruled out filming the UK, as it wouldnt be the same show.

Speaking at a controller session at the Edinburgh TV Festival, which is being held online due to the coronavirus outbreak, he noted that there was more of a time pressure on decisions about Love Island, which typically kicks off in June.

With Im A Celebrity, its November, December. I dont think we can talk about it now but were looking at alternatives, he said.

We dont have to make a decision yet were proceeding on the basis itll happen in a normal way.

Love Island 2020: Series 6 - In pictures 1 /126 Love Island 2020: Series 6 - In pictures ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV Siannise ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV Paige plays the couple challenge. ITV Connagh and Mike chat. ITV ITV Sophie interrupts Connagh, Mike and Nas' chat. ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV Twins Jess and Eve on their double date ITV Leanne and Mike chat after his date ITV ITV Rex Features ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV ITV Love Island contestants were flabbergasted as it was revealed XX's favourite sex position was the butter churner ITV2 Eve and Jess Gale ITV Laura Whitmore ITV Leanne Amaning and Mike Boateng ITV The girls around around the fire pit ITV Shaughna enters the villa ITV Paige and Ollie ITV Sophie ITV Shaughna and Callum ITV Siannise and Nas ITV Sophie and Connor ITV ITV Leanne enters the villa ITV ITV ITV ITV

He questioned whether it would be feasible to send contestants and a production crew to Majorca, where the summer edition is usually filmed, so soon.

Will Majorca open its doors to hundreds of production people arriving? he speculated.

The most recent series of Love Island aired earlier this year (ITV ) / ITV

Will there have to be quarantining, all these things. And so we have to factor all of that in and also, what signal might it send out.

Lygo said he was uneasy about sending the wrong message by bringing the show back at a time when social distancing is of the utmost importance.

What kind of message are we sending out if were doing a show where the couples are crammed together all slathering over each other, and the rest of the world is told not to go near anyone in the park? he added.

He confirmed that ITV would make a decision [about the show] in a proper way quite soon.
In a qualitative assessment done by techARC with leading OEMs representing over 65% of the market share by sales, the industry is acting very maturely tackling the Covid-19 situation. There is a sentiment of helping the society first while business takes a back seat. The industry does feel that mobile handset selling should be allowed treating it as an essential category product because many people would be still left unconnected for a device despite being within connectivity. However, every major OEM supports governments wisdom in deciding what to allow and what not.

The major insights coming from these qualitative assessments done with main OEMs including Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme and OPPO are:-

The present focus is all on engagement with stakeholders including employees, partners and customers.

Employee and partner employee welfare is paramount and every step is being taken for their safety and wellbeing.

The companies are upbeat about the future and are utilising this period in sharpening the axe. There are special training sessions being held where the focus is to cross-skill employees widening their horizons and outlook about the business, industry and society as a whole.

OEMs are committed to Make in India and even if volumes reduce will not consider centralising the production out of China or anywhere else.

The good thing is that the industry is not demanding anything from the government at the moment. Rather, they are cognizant of the fact that they need to support government in endeavours of fighting with Covid-19. Though, they would want some decisions like increase of GST from April 1 to be reconsidered.

The OEMs have built and are continuously revising the Business Continuity Plans (BCP) for manufacturing and retail functions.

There is no plan to cancel the launches of Smartphones and other product categories scheduled for 2020. However, the launch calendar is being revised pushing most of the launches May onwards.

There is also no plan under consideration of revisiting or realigning the focus in terms of segments being pursued by different OEMs. They do not feel any major shift in demand pattern or cannibalisation of one segment for another.

techARC Conclusions:

Basis these interactions and inputs from other industry stakeholders, techARC concludes the following:-

Manufacturing will resume first and will come to its optimal level over a period of 8-12 weeks from the time of resumption. Initially the factories may start with 30-40% of the capacities.

There will be contraction in the market in 2020; however major OEMs might be able to sail through. Smartphone market could de-grow 8-10% for calendar year 2020.

Tier II and other smaller Smartphone players will feel more stressed as their cash flow and other financial health deteriorates faster due to Covid-19 lockdown.

The mid (Rs 10,001-25,000) and premium (Rs 25,001-50,000) range will have stable demand compared to other segments of Entry, Basic and Luxe which will see some change in demand for various factors. Entry and Basic potential buyers will have issues due to unstable incomes / job outlook and some segment of users which go for Luxe category phones like iPhones on EMIs, etc., will reduce their budget to meet other contingencies.

The Covid-19 pandemic will impact Smartphone market as well like most of the other industries / verticals. However, in the long term the significance of Smartphones is only going to increase as they continue to become the hub of all activities for consumers. While markets will evolve on their own in next couple of years to increase the Smartphone penetration, the Government shall have to play an enabling role in achieving a billion Smartphone users. As per techARCs estimates there are 250-300 million potential Smartphone users if the cost of the device is brought in the range range of Rs 2,500  3,500. This cannot happen though without governments support through driving a focused programme encouraging major OEMs to make Smartphones for the Entry level, where we are seeing them divesting from due to obvious reasons of not being able to give the desired experience at such aggressive price points.
Working days, nights and weekends for roughly two months, a team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and the the Georgia Institute of Technology collaborated to create a coronavirus simulator tool that was made public last week.

The program shows how states caseloads, hospitalizations and COVID-19-related fatalities may change if officials alter social distancing guidelines, according to Dr. Jagpreet Chhatwal, senior scientist at the MGH Institute for Technology Assessment and one of the founders of the simulator.

We dont want the efforts that have brought down the number of cases to be wasted if we lift restrictions too early," Chhatwal said.

The eight-person staff who manages the simulator are tasked with updating it weekly and look at a variety of factors when making calculations. They observe state-to-state data on testing as well as national hospitalizations and mortality and transmission rates in communities, according to Chhatwal.

Differential equations are looked at, a standard approach when tracking viral outbreaks used for decades, Chhatwal said.

However, the pandemic is constantly evolving, and officials are updating preventative measures week to week. The predictions MGHs simulator makes may therefore not be 100% accurate and should be contextualized, according to the doctor.

In Massachusetts, for instance, the tool found that letting the states stay-at-home advisory expire on May 25 may result in as many as 21,940 additional deaths by the end of the summer than if officials were to extend those guidelines to Aug. 17.

The numbers should not be taken at face value, though, Chhatwal said, as researchers cannot fully anticipate what will happen by the end of August. The program offers a theoretical scenario as to what would happen if restrictions were completely done away with and no coronavirus patients were isolated.

What our modeling is showing is the worst case scenario, Chhatwal told MassLive. I think the most important message is not the numbers, but that if the restrictions are lifted too early, that may result in a second wave.

The program also predicts a spike in hospitalizations if guidelines are done away with prematurely. The simulator expects tens of thousands of more hospital and intensive care unit beds needed in Massachusetts if restrictions are lifted in late May versus mid-August.

But, again, the modeling may be slightly off as Mass. Generals simulator uses national, not statewide, hospitalization rates to make their calculations at first. Researchers then back-calculate the number of hospitalizations in each state, and those numbers are later updated, according to Chhatwal.

States have different hospitalization rates that may be incorporated later," he said.

The doctor added that fluctuations in testing, mistakes in reporting and an undercounted number of deaths due to the illness are all variables that can lead to discrepancies in the models projections.

We dont expect smooth trends in real world, so there will be fluctuations," he said. We expect variation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data this month showing that the overall death rates in Massachusetts and six other states have been significantly higher in the first three months of 2020 than over the same timeframe last year, leading some to believe that coronavirus deaths may be undercounted.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday officials are reexamining recent fatalities that were not linked to the COVID-19 to see if they should have been included in the states coronavirus death toll.

There will be some underreporting," Chhatwal said, adding that the MGH simulator does not take a lack of reporting into account when producing calculations. We dont know the extent. The underreporting is inevitable. We can only try to minimize that.

Massachusetts continues to be one of the states hardest hit by the virus, with more than 60,000 confirmed cases and 3,405 total COVID-19-related deaths as of Wednesday.

To stave off transmission of the viral respiratory infection, Gov. Charlie Baker has extended the commonwealths stay-at-home advisory to May 18 and cancelled in-person school programming through the end of the academic year.

National social distancing measures are also expected to continue through the summer, a member of the White House coronavirus task force said Sunday. The announcement comes as some federal officials are forecasting a second wave of the disease in the winter that may be more devastating than the current one.

Though coronavirus simulators may overestimate the number of future positive diagnoses as well as hospitalizations and fatalities, it is still crucial that state and national leaders keep guidance in place to reduce those numbers and continue to flatten the curve, according to Chhatwal.

He understands that economic concerns are mounting and unemployment is increasing drastically, but, the doctor noted, Georgia and other states that are working to reopen society are potentially doing so prematurely. This may result in an influx of cases.

Our analysis is showing that its not the right time to lift restrictions in Georgia or any other state," he said. Otherwise, we expect an increase in cases or a second wave."

Countries like Australia and China are slowly starting to ease guidelines after implementing extensive advisories, but they are at different stages in the outbreak than the United States is, Chhatwal said.

It is important to make sure efforts to combat transmission of the virus are uniform as well, the doctor said. Certain nations in Europe are lifting restrictions earlier than others, which may be a cause for concern as people travel between countries and potentially spread the disease.

With a number of states in the U.S. beginning to reopen their economies and others still keeping theirs partially closed, this may, similar to Europe, result in people traveling between states and bringing the coronavirus with them, according to Chhatwal.

Its going to make things worse if Massachusetts lifts restrictions, and people go to New York, he said. Its important to make a coordinated effort.

He addd, That is making things worse: states taking different actions at different times.

Chhatwal supports keeping federal social distancing guidelines in place through the summer and noted that Baker made the right move in extending the commonwealths stay-at-home advisory.

I would not be surprised if they extend it further, which is a very plausible scenario," he said.

Related Content:
EUGENE, Ore.-- Inmates and their families say they are concerned by a lack of social distancing at the Shutter Creek Correctional Institution in North Bend.

As of Tuesday, two staff members have tested positive for coronavirus and 13 inmates have too.

According to the Oregon Department of Corrections, the entire Shutter Creek facility is in quarantine, meaning inmates are only being transferred for life-saving measures.

Families of some inmates said that they have doubts that officials took appropriate steps to protect the inmates. Some report that bunks in large dormitories were just three feet apart and that not enough hygiene supplies are available.

Kaylyn's partner is inside Shutter Creek and has asthma. She asked that her last name not be shared out of fear of retaliation inside the facility.

"My partner was like, 'The guards are coughing, I'm really scared of this COVID stuff,'" she said. "I'm really scared because we have these plans for the future. Starting a family, getting married in January. And so there's this fear that I may never see this person again."

The ACLU of Oregon said that social distancing measures are largely impossible inside the state's prisons at their current capacity.

"Our prison officials have a constitutional obligation to protect people from the risk of harm, including the risk of death. This is a very serious virus and we have yet to see a plan put in place to safely house people," said interim legal director Kelly Simon.

Even the DOC acknowledges on their website that their facilities are not built for social distancing. While they have increased cleanings and implemented social distancing where possible, dormitories do not have six feet of distance between bunks. However, inmates report that symptomatic patients are held in a different dormitory.

Though Gov. Kate Brown backed off on the idea of releasing some inmates early, the ACLU said it could be a reasonable solution at minimum-security facilities like Shutter Creek, where many inmates are nearing the end of their sentences.

"A significant number of people who are being infected are close to their release dates. What public safety benefit are we getting by keeping these people incarcerated in congregate living situations we know are unsafe?" said Simon.

The ACLU has filed public records requests with state officials to learn if they knew how coronavirus could impact prisons and if they failed to take this information into account.

These are questions Kaylyn would like answers to.

"If we really took a look case by case, there's the potential that some people don't need to be there," she said.

KEZI 9 News reached out to the Department of Corrections for comment on this story but did not receive a reply.
Can you use drones to inspect tanks?

Inspecting tanks is dangerous, and requires expertise which seafarers dont usually have. Being able to use drones could be a big improvement  in safety and also perhaps supporting better inspections. There are interesting projects in Denmark and Alaska.

Inspecting tanks is dangerous, and requires expertise which seafarers dont usually have. Being able to use drones could be a big improvement  in safety and also perhaps supporting better inspections. We found two interesting projects in Denmark and Alaska aiming to explore what is possible. Denmark In Denmark, the Technical University of Denmark, FORCE Technology, shipping company Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S and Lloyds Register have DKK 11.8m (USD 1.8m) from Innovation Fund Denmark to develop a self-driving drone with intelligence for shipping inspections. The total project budget is DKK 19.4m, with the balance paid by project partners. The project is called Inspectrone - Autonomous and high-level commanded system for remote inspection of marine vessels to support classification and commercial operations. It was announced in October 2019, and will last for 3 years. It aims to develop a drone which will use visual sensors (video cameras) and ultrasound detectors. The system is intended to not require expert users, providing objective and accurate inspections on its own. It could be used in enclosed spaces and other hard to access areas. FORCE Technology, one of the project partners, has a number of years experience doing drone based inspections. Lloyds Register will provide expertise related to structural integrity of ships. Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S will provide its ships for use testing and training the drones. The Technical University of Denmark will develop technology to identify defects in images. I am convinced that this technology will be able to give the Danish inspection and Danish shipping industry a leading position on the market, says Evangelos Boukas, Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Denmark. Cyberhawk Drone operator Cyberhawk, based in Edinburgh, UK and with an office in Houston, was asked by ConocoPhillips to provide drone based inspections of 12 cargo oil tanks and two slop tanks, on tankers travelling between Alaska and Los Angeles. In a test, carried out by a two man team, Cyberhawk examined the quality of the entire internal surface of 14 tanks in 7 days. The US coastguard (USCG) and a class certification body was there to witness the inspection. Cyberhawk subsequently provided high quality inspection reports which enabled the client to understand the tanks condition. It can produce a 360 degree digital model of the tank which can be viewed from different levels, including close-up view of areas of interest. Cyberhawk claims to be the first company ever to complete an internal tank inspection using UAVs, and says it has worked in multiple environments and projects since the launch of this service. This technique allowed Cyberhawk to quickly and efficiently undertake a safe audit of the structure, which in turn meant the client could prioritise further contact inspection or maintenance work, it said. The data can be examined by someone safely at a desk onshore, rather than being examined by someone onboard. Cyberhawk now says it is happy to undertake similar internal inspections of large tanks on vessels including FPSOs, bulk carriers and tankers. It usually takes one day per tank to do the inspection, while traditional inspections can take around seven days, the company says. This survey is normally done by a technique called rafting, where a tank to be inspected is partially filled with water, and a ship surveyor sits in a raft or dinghy on the water, to inspect areas of the tank which are inaccessible from the tank floor. This creates a large volume of oil contaminated water, which needs to be transferred from the vessel to a waste reception facility. Using a drone (or UAV) eliminates the need to do this. It also reduces the safety risk to workers. FPSO Cyberhawk also reports that it completed an inspection of an FPSO in the North Sea, with a task to provide a detailed inspection of the flare tip and supporting structure, inert gas vent, internal tank and a survey of the hull of the vessel. The client had initially planned to use a relatively inexperienced drone operator, Cyberhawk says, but while developing the risk assessment with said operator, it became clear that the work scope was complex. This meant a more experienced UAV operator was required, with a proven track record and multiple similar projects under its belt. Alternative methods for carrying out this scope of work, such as rope access, elevated cradles or scaffolding, would have taken weeks to complete the inspections. The hull of the boat would have been especially tricky, since there was a water outlet with built up growth that was hard to access, and high risk of LSA exposure (Low Specific Activity) which is naturally occurring radioactivity. Conoco Phillips perspective The client, Conoco Phillips, presented its own perspective. The traditional method of inspecting a tank could be to build a scaffolding inside the tank, known as staging, and have surveyors and technicians making a visual survey and taking thickness measurements from the scaffold. This method was developed to meet US Coastguard and American Bureau of Shipping requirements. Risks include dropping objects on the tank floor, damaging tank coatings, and from people working at height enclosed spaces. It also prevents other work being done at the same time. Engineering Superintendent John Strebel was project lead for the drone inspection program at ConocoPhillips. The inspection covered 12 cargo, two slop and five ballast tanks. Separately, in September 2018, Cyberhawk used three drones to inspect 14 cargo and five ballast tanks on the Polar Resolution tanker at the Sembcorp shipyard in Singapore, in a test project. Two drones were flown simultaneously, with drone operators on the ships main deck. They also used a drone to fly a 36 inch cargo pipeline, a task normally done by a person crawling through it, to look for erosion, damaged valves and overall condition. It entered the pipeline from an access hatch in the cargo tank. The results were excellent, providing good clarity for general inspection purposes, Mr Strebel said.




VANCOUVER, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Galiano Gold Inc. ("Galiano" or the "Company") (TSX, NYSE American: AKG) (formerly Asanko Gold Inc.) announced that all the resolutions put to shareholders at the Company's Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") held on April 30, 2020 were duly passed. The results for each of the matters voted upon at the Meeting are set out below:

Number of Directors

The number of directors of the Company was set at seven (7), with 150,776,256 votes FOR and 204,146 votes AGAINST.

Election of Directors

The seven nominees listed in the Company's Management Information Circular dated March 17, 2020, were elected at the Meeting as directors of Galiano.

Director Name Votes For % Votes For Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld Greg McCunn 150,696,539 99.81% 283,863 0.19% Marcel de Groot 126,015,530 83.46% 24,964,872 16.54% Gordon Fretwell 126,041,376 83.48% 24,939,026 16.52% Shawn Wallace 126,021,365 83.47% 24,959,037 16.53% Michael Price 150,719,457 99.83% 260,945 0.17% Judith Mosely 150,699,653 99.81% 280,749 0.19% Paul N. Wright 150,604,657 99.75% 375,745 0.25%

Appointment of Auditors  KPMG LLP

Votes For % Votes For Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld 169,770,060 99.81% 326,543 0.19%

Approval of Amendments to Share Option Plan

Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against 149,273,283 98.87% 1,707,119 1.13%

Renewal of Share Option Plan

Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against 149,208,588 98.83% 1,771,814 1.17%

Approval of Share Unit Plan

Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against 121,437,203 80.43% 29,543,199 19.57%

Approval of Name Change to Galiano Gold Inc.

Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against 150,448,546 99.65% 531,856 0.35%

Approval to Remove Preferred Shares

Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against 150,584,271 99.74% 396,131 0.26%

Adoption of New Articles

Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against 149,647,242 99.12% 1,333,160 0.88%

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against 149,361,026 98.93% 1,619,376 1.07%

A report on all matters voted on at the meeting has been filed on SEDAR.

Galiano Gold Inc.

Following the approval at the Meeting to change the name of the Company from Asanko Gold Inc. to Galiano Gold Inc., the Company expects to commence trading under the new ticker symbol "GAU" on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange American on May 5, 2020 at the market open.

About Galiano Gold Inc.

Galiano is focused on creating a sustainable business capable of long-term value creation for its stakeholders through organic production growth, exploration and disciplined deployment of its financial resources. The company currently operates and manages the Asanko Gold Mine, located in Ghana, West Africa which is jointly owned with Gold Fields Ltd. The Company is strongly committed to the highest standards for environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighbouring communities. For more information, please visit www.asanko.com.

Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Galiano Gold Inc.
We were on a busy street in Washington, D.C., waiting for the light to change, when my teenage daughter asked, out of nowhere, "Dad, what are you afraid of?" That might have been a cue for a heartwarming father-daughter conversation about overcoming life's challenges. Nope. From my lizard brain, or from the primordial soup in my guts, came an answer I didn't even consider, out of my mouth before I had a conscious thought of it.

"Being poor. That's what I'm afraid of." Then we crossed the street.

I keep returning to that exchange over the past few weeks, as my inbox fills with coronavirus-driven bad news. A paid speaking engagement in Texas? Canceled. Several days of work at an international conference? The organizers decided not to take the risk. A gig moderating a climate change conference in Chicago? Postponed, maybe until October. When I traveled as a reporter to health crises in Africa and Latin America in recent years, exposed to malaria, tuberculosis and pneumonia, I knew that if I got sick my health-care costs would be paid by my employer, as would any days I needed to recover. In 2010, covering the devastating Port-au-Prince earthquake in Haiti for PBS, I caught something that lingered when I got home, so I called in sick.

Now that I'm a gig worker over 60, "sick days" are simply salary-free days off. Even if work dries up, that $2,800-a-month health insurance bill still comes due on the first of the month. The electric company won't take a podcast, a column or a television documentary as in-kind payment for kilowatt hours.

In the first two decades of this century, wages declined for working men over 55 with bachelor's degrees. When men over 50 who are displaced from their job finally get another one, they can expect their wages to fall 20 percent. Such declines signal the decreasing bargaining power of older men. In a downturn, older men do hold on to their jobs more regularly than younger ones, but when they lose work it takes them considerably longer to find their next position.

Men older than 55 can't command higher salaries in the marketplace, but they also can't walk away and rely on their savings, which, for millions, are inadequate. Northwestern Mutual has reported that one on three baby boomers, knocking at the door of retirement, have less than $25,000 saved. A study from the New School estimates that 8.5 million older workers over 55 would fall into poverty or near-poverty if they retired at 62 and began taking Social Security payments. It is, the researchers found, the end point of more than 20 years of lagging behind younger men in wage increases, both among college-educated and non-degree-holding men.

An eye blink ago, I was anchoring a nightly program for the cable news network Al Jazeera America. Before that, I had long tenures with "PBS NewsHour" and NPR. When I read warnings that workers could face sudden and catastrophic losses of income in their final years of employment, I was empathetic but concluded it could never happen to me. After all, I had worked hard to build in bumpers around my life, and my career, to avoid that. I climbed the ladder in a very competitive business to jobs of greater renown, greater responsibility and higher pay. I did all the things that would have made me the hero of a financial advice column: got married and stayed married, paid off my mortgage years early, fully covered three college educations so my kids wouldn't have to borrow. Then the wheels came off. After Al Jazeera pulled the plug on its young network, I headed to Amherst College as a visiting professor while beating the bushes for jobs in radio, television and print. I shoved down the rising panic, kept one eye on my bank balance as I started freelancing, and kept the other eye out for the next big thing. Like hundreds of thousands of men in their early 60s across the country, I had to get used to the idea that the marketplace might have already decided I was "done." Many men my age are "job bound," more convinced than their young co-workers that they couldn't find a comparable position, even in a tight labor market.

"What's this about? Corporate greed. Greed has a lot to do with it," says Nick Corcodilos, the author of the Ask the Headhunter blog and an employment consultant. "I'll get a guy in my office who'll tell me: 'I was making $150,000. I'm scrambling to get jobs at $115 or $100. I just need a job.' " Corcodilos knows what companies say. "You'll hear explanations like, 'They cost more, their benefits cost more, they're out more often because they're sicker.' It turns out, it's all BS."

For me, the financial strain arrived quickly. As my COBRA health coverage reached its time limit, my wife and I had a long talk about how to lower our enormous monthly health-care costs. One quick fix was to drop dental coverage, so we did it. Two weeks later, I was riding my bike on D.C. streets when I hit an enormous, and unexpectedly deep, pothole. The shock slammed my jaw shut, but I shook it off and continued to pedal. Then the pain began - first searing, then a steady, throbbing ache radiating from my jaw to my eyes to the top of my head. It felt as if my teeth were misaligned. I was having trouble chewing food. In just a few weeks I had moved from being a guy who had top-drawer health coverage to being one of the guys I read about, one of the guys I covered, who deferred health care for fear of the cost.

The pain eventually subsided, but the complications that allowed it to persist are still with me. I am years away from what I had thought of as the age when I could transition to part-time work. I have worked hard to avoid raiding my retirement savings to cover current expenses. Home repairs I would have had done without a second thought have to wait until there's money: The front steps need to be re-mortared and reset. A dying tree in the yard needs to be cut down and carted away.

These past few weeks indicate that I'll soon have plenty of company. Take the predicament of men my age at a time of 3.7% unemployment and add the army of people now filing unemployment claims - 4.4 million in one recent week alone. It's unclear at the moment just what federal and state government emergency programs will do for millions of self-employed and gig economy workers, many already hustling in the best of times, who've been watching their work dry up and disappear.

If my own experiences are any indication, what comes next for many of them is insecurity about self-worth, status and place in the world. My name appears on mailing lists from my days as the old me. I'm asked to make generous contributions to organizations for which I had written big checks in the past; today, that's out of the question. I feel sheepish talking publicly about all this, because I know how many live a lot closer to the edge than I do. But I'm not whining when I say my life is different now. Even before social distancing rendered the outside world strange, I would do a walk-through at the supermarket with my wife's list in hand, to see if items close enough to what was specified were on sale. A pair of old shoes is resoled for a second time instead of being replaced. There will be no vacations for my family when this crisis ends.

And that doesn't change the fact that I have some serious decisions to make about what these years of my life, and what's left of my working years, can be. If I for once don't follow the rules, take my Social Security early and start drawing from my 401(k) accounts, I will be poorer in retirement than all my planning and saving ever assumed. I can swallow hard and realize that a chapter in my life may be over. That would mean proceeding on the theory that a cratered annual income is now the reality, rather than just an aberration. I have to scratch together the dough for my property tax, my homeowner's insurance and my monthly premium. I'll keep an eye on the calendar and cross the line to Medicare as so many friends have begun to do.

One thing I don't ask is, "Why me?" Given my age, given the numbers, given the realities of work in America for those who are displaced, I could well ask, "Why not me?"

- - -

Suarez co-hosts the program and podcast "WorldAffairs" for KQED-FM and the World Affairs Council. He was a senior correspondent for "PBS NewsHour" and host of the public radio show "America Abroad." This article was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.
Maharashtra minister Eknath



Shinde and Shiv Sena leader Milind Narvekar on Thursday called on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the latest in a series of meetings amid uncertainty over nomination of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the legislative council.

Shinde, a senior Sena leader and the urban development minister, and Narvekar, a close aide of Thackeray, called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan this evening, sources said.

What transpired at the meeting was not immediately known, but it took place a day after Thackeray spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and told him that attempts were being made to create political instability in the state, sources had said on Wednesday.

The state cabinet has twice made recommendation to Koshyari requesting him to nominate Thackeray to the Upper House from the Governor's quota, but there has been no response from Raj Bhavan.

A delegation of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders met the Governor on Tuesday and handed him a copy of the cabinet recommendation.

Earlier, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant, along with Narvekar, had called on Koshyari.

Thackeray, who is not a member of the state legislature, was sworn in as chief minister on November 28, 2019.

As per constitutional norms, Thackeray has to become a member of either house of the legislature by May 28 to continue in office.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac;NYSE: AGM and AGM.A), the nation's secondary market provider that increases the availability and affordability of credit for the benefit of rural America, today announced changes to the date and time of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") as well as the opportunity to participate in the Annual Meeting remotely due to the ongoing public health impact of the novel coronavirus 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic and to support the health and well-being of Farmer Mac's stockholders, employees, directors, and community. Specifically, Farmer Mac's board of directors has approved changing the date and time of the Annual Meeting to Tuesday, May 12, 2020 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time at Farmer Mac's office located at 1999 K Street, N.W., Fourth Floor, Boardroom, Washington, D.C. 20006. Farmer Mac will provide an audio conference call and webcast access for the Annual Meeting.

Farmer Mac also announced today that it will release its financial results for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020 on Monday, May 11, 2020 after the closing of equity markets. A conference call to discuss Farmer Mac's first quarter 2020 financial results will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, prior to the Annual Meeting.

Annual Meeting Telephone and Webcast Information

In light of the current COVID-19 public health and safety recommendations, Farmer Mac encourages voting stockholders as of March 6, 2020 (the "Record Date") to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the Annual Meeting remotely on May 12, 2020 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The audio conference call for the Annual Meeting can be accessed by telephone or webcast:

Dial-In (Domestic): (888) 346-2616

Dial-In (International): (412) 902-4254

Webcast: https://www.farmermac.com/investors/events-presentations/

When dialing in to the call, please ask for the "Farmer Mac Annual Meeting of Stockholders." This call can be heard live and will also be available for replay on Farmer Mac's website for two weeks following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.

Stockholders who vote their shares by proxy do not need to attend the Annual Meeting. Farmer Mac asks that any stockholder who plans to attend the Annual Meeting in person or who wishes to inspect a list of voting stockholders for a purpose related to the Annual Meeting please notify Farmer Mac at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting by email to [email protected]. In accordance with recent guidelines recommended by federal and local authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restricting group gatherings, seating will be limited and attendees may also be subject to health screening procedures upon entering the building.

Whether or not any stockholder plans to attend the Annual Meeting in person or participate via audio conference call, Farmer Mac urges all voting stockholders as of the Record Date to promptly submit their proxies by executing and returning the proxy cards previously mailed to them. Please note that the proxy cards included with the proxy materials previously distributed will not be updated to reflect the change in the date and time of the Annual Meeting, but can still be used to vote stockholders' shares at the Annual Meeting. Farmer Mac did not receive any stockholder proposals for consideration at the Annual Meeting, so the only matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting will be the election of ten directors, the ratification of Farmer Mac's auditors for 2020, and an advisory vote on the compensation of Farmer Mac's named executive officers. Any questions or comments from stockholders who participate in the Annual Meeting will be limited to those related to the three matters being voted on. Farmer Mac encourages any stockholders with questions or comments about other matters to participate in Farmer Mac's earnings conference call being held immediately before the Annual Meeting on May 12, 2020, the details of which are provided below.

More information about the Annual Meeting can be found in the proxy statement and supplemental materials filed by Farmer Mac with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 6, 2020 and April 30, 2020. These materials are also available on Farmer Mac's website at https://www.farmermac.com/investors/events-presentations.

First Quarter 2020 Earnings Release and Conference Call

Farmer Mac will release its financial results for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020 on Monday, May 11, 2020 after the closing of equity markets. A conference call to discuss Farmer Mac's first quarter 2020 financial results will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 and can be accessed by telephone or webcast as follows:

Dial-In (Domestic): (888) 346-2616

Dial-In (International): (412) 902-4254

Webcast: https://www.farmermac.com/investors/events-presentations/

When dialing in to the call, please ask for the "Farmer Mac Earnings Conference Call." This call can be heard live and will also be available for replay on Farmer Mac's website for two weeks following the conclusion of the conference call.

About Farmer Mac

Farmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of credit for the benefit of American agricultural and rural communities. As the nation's secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer Mac's customers benefit from our low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. For more than thirty years, Farmer Mac has been delivering the capital and commitment rural America deserves. More information about Farmer Mac is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com.

SOURCE Farmer Mac

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http://www.farmermac.com


Xtalks Life Science Webinars This unique solution can assist biopharma companies to get meaningful insights from their samples used in clinical trials and gain knowledge in drug mechanism of action and its impact on the immune contexture of the tumor.

Immunotherapeutic approaches have revolutionized the treatment of multiple cancers and a large diversity of immunomodulation technologies compete now to reach market authorization.

It is accepted that the characteristics of each patients tumor microenvironment (TME) before, during and after a treatment have a major influence on therapy response. The challenge for immunotherapies developers is then to map the key biomarkers of this very complex and diverse TME, to link them to the mechanism of action of the investigated drug and leverage this information with the objective of rationalizing and accelerating the pace of clinical programs from early phases to registration.

The TMExploreTM is a unique tissue-based approach, developed by HalioDx, combining different technologies and an in-house immuno-oncology expertise perfectly adapted to the comprehensive characterization of the tumor microenvironment. From one to hundreds of biomarkers, this customizable solution allows to identify precise cell populations, observe gene expression profiling and focus on biomarkers spatial analysis via multiplex IHC technologies. All those parameters can be combined into an Immunogram multimodal analysis, providing a 360 degree view of the tumor microenvironment.

This unique solution can assist biopharma companies to get meaningful insights from their samples used in clinical trials and gain knowledge in drug mechanism of action and its impact on the immune contexture of the tumor.

Join Jerome Galon, PhD, Director, Inserm, Cordeliers Research Center, Paris, France and Jacques Fieschi, PhD, VP R&D HalioDx in a live webinar on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 11am EDT (4pm BST/UK).

For more information or to register for this event, visit Capturing the Complexity of the Tumor Microenvironment.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/
RIO DE JANEIRO - Divina Baldomero awoke, looked out the window at Rio de Janeiros Copacabana beach under a cloudless sky, and decided to take her first stroll in 40 days.

The 75-year-old restaurant owner, like most Brazilians, had been adhering to her governors call to stay home to contain the spread of the coronavirus. But on this day she decided to ignore that, urged on by the view of President Jair Bolsonaro that the shutdown is wrongheaded, will wreck the economy and that anyway, the virus isnt all its cracked up to be.

At first I thought (the shutdown) was viable. Later, I came to think we will have more economic difficulties, with the poverty there is. There should be a different way so we can be free of this, said Baldomero, speaking Wednesday in front of the shuttered Copacabana Palace hotel. Her legs, virtually unused for more than a month, began trembling after seven minutes of standing.

Egged on by Bolsonaro, who has routinely scoffed at both the virus and stay-at-home policies, Brazilians are heeding his call for revolt. Support for isolation is faltering, particularly among the wealthy, and more people are milling and mixing. From the sun-worshipers to the Instagram influencers and pro-Bolsonaro protesters, denial is spreading and quarantine is coming apart. But, unlike other countries looking to ease restrictions, Latin Americas largest nation is still weeks from the peak in its viral curve.

Bolsonaro first staked out his argument that the economy needs to get back to work in a national address at the end of March, when he referred to the coronavirus as a little flu and said his history as an athlete would protect him.

Since then, he has doubled down time and again, saying only high-risk Brazilians need to be isolated, even as the official count of cases rockets past 85,000 and deaths surpass 5,900  more than the amount suffered by China. Experts consider both figures to be significant under-counts due to a lack of widespread testing.

Asked about the grim milestone Bolsonaro responded, So what? Im sorry. What do you want me to do?

Personal trainer Gabriela Pugliesi would seemingly have little reason to question risks posed by the virus. The 34-year-old was infected last month at her sisters wedding. Several other guests also contracted COVID-19 at the five-star resort with beachfront bungalows.

Coughing and feverish  yet no less bronzed and blonde  Pugliesi repeatedly told her 4.5 million followers on Instagram to stay home and take care of themselves. She recovered in late March, and on Saturday threw a party at her apartment in Sao Paulo, the epicenter of Brazils outbreak. No one wore masks and in one video Pugliesi posted, she and friends shouted Screw life! into the camera.

Flouting isolation drew an immediate backlash and more than 100,000 people unfollowed her. She also lost about a dozen sponsors, who also bailed on her influencer guests.

Tata Werneck, a TV talk show host, was a fierce critic.

My cousin is a doctor and arrived home in tears. They already have to choose who to save, Werneck posted on Pugliesis account. This behaviour of yours, even more so because you have so many followers ... is inadmissible.

Pugliesi apologized then suspended her Instagram account. She didnt respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Others in Sao Paulo and elsewhere are defying social distancing, albeit more discreetly. Local authorities said in multiple news conferences that some bars in poor areas are welcoming clients behind closed doors, and police have been called to end gatherings in isolated spots.

On Thursday, the governor of Rio de Janeiro state extended restrictions on activity and gatherings until May 11; Sao Paulo had previously extended them until May 10. The two states have the largest virus incidence.

Still, a poll by Datafolha showed 52% of people surveyed believe even those who dont belong to at-risk groups  the elderly and people with chronic illness  should remain in isolation, down from 60% at the start of the month. Among the wealthiest, support for continued quarantine is just 39%.

Bolsonaros hard-core base has staged rallies to shore up support for their leaders views, most recently on Sunday in the capital, Brasilia. Many of the several hundred demonstrators draped themselves in the Brazilian flag, and the few face masks were in the national colours of green and yellow. Most neglected to use masks altogether, even as they shouted into a shared bullhorn.

Not all of Bolsonaros ministers have fallen into lock-step behind him, but those who dont do so risk losing their jobs. Luiz Henrique Mandetta, his former health minister, strongly supported the restrictions imposed by state governors and his handling of the crisis was widely praised. But earlier this month, Bolsonaro fired him and appointed Nelson Teich, who has said he sees eye-to-eye with the president.

And what do the morning walkers in Copacabana and beach-side Barra da Tijuca, Rios two hardest-hit neighbourhoods, say?

Walking along Barra, not far from Bolsonaros personal home, 76-year-old Fernando Ferreira, recommended reading the Bible and Albert Camus The Plague, saying they are evidence that pandemics have always happened in history.

The retired dentist and lawyer said local governments restrictions on commerce are absurd. He pointed to how France is moving to ease its isolation measures, without acknowledging that the European nations viral curve, unlike Brazils, has begun to plateau.

Lilia Santiago, a 51-year-old dentist, was ambling with her 77-year-old mother. She insisted forcing everyone to stay home amounts to buffoonery, particularly as poor people in Brazil often live in close quarters under the same roof.

People at risk, with respiratory problems, auto-immune diseases, should take care, which doesnt mean they cant go out, Santiago said. We cant be locked inside an apartment or house. We need to circulate, but safely.

You dont stand next to someone with a cold. Same thing,? she said, echoing Bolsonaros belittling of the virus dangers. Flu kills more than coronavirus, folks! A lot of things kill more than coronavirus!
Microsoft came up with a live dashboard on Bing to keep its users up to date with information on coronavirus pandemic. Launched in March, Microsoft said that the tracker would give our information from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Now, Microsoft's Bing Covid-19 tracker has introduced some features, especially for its Indian users.

The Bing Covid-19 Tracker can come in handy for Indian users as it provides information related to Covid-19 from government sources. It also provides users with statistics on infection, recoveries, and fatalities in their states and districts.

The tracker also gives the latest news and authentic information on helpline numbers as well as guidance and advisories from credible sources, including those from the Government of India, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and WHO.

Users can also get access to both national and local news, Microsoft's blog stated.

Moreover, they can save locations of their family or friends to view the stats of those areas in one place.

The tracker will provide information in nine Indian languages to "provide people across the country access to critical information related to the pandemic in a preferred language." These include Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujrati, Marathi, Malayalam, and Kannada.

Users can access their preferred language by clicking on the top of the page that will offer them a drop-down menu which gives them access to information in their language.

Microsoft has partnered with Apollo hospitals to assist people in checking if they are at risk by checking the symptoms. Users can conduct a self-assessment of potential symptoms and risk levels for Covid-19, Microsoft's blog stated.

The bot has been built on Azure and has been developed based on guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHW), Government of India.

Moreover, the tracker's Telemedicine support hub offers options for online consultation with healthcare service providers in India.

Microsoft has held talks with digital payment firm Paytm for fresh funding. Microsoft is reportedly going to invest 100 million dollars which is around Rs 760 crore, in extension to the 1 million dollars which was initiated as a fundraiser for Paytm last year.




The ban on single-use plastics will be pushed back in South Australia so restaurants and cafes can open and use disposable items during the coronavirus pandemic.

The legislation banning plastic straws and cutlery was introduced on Thursday in South Australia, making it the first Australian state to ban the products.

But in a bid to keep improve hygiene and stop the spread of COVID-19, the ban has been pushed back to allow restaurants and cafes to operate with single-use plastic.

The ban on single-use plastics will be pushed back in South Australia so restaurants and cafes can open and use disposable items during the coronavirus pandemic (stock image of straws)

The legislation banning plastic straws and cutlery was introduced on Thursday in South Australia, making it the first Australian state to ban the products (takeaway meals pictured)

The original start date of June 30 has now been removed from the legislation.

The Restaurant and Catering Association and State Government are together forming guidelines to allow businesses to re-open as soon as possible, ABC reported.

Chief executive Wes Lambert said disposable menus, plastic cutlery and plastic condiment packaging could be sticking around.

But in order for restaurants to open completely Mr Lambert said the entire dining experience would be different from what Australians once knew.

Signing in at the front door with a name and phone number would be critical with records being kept for different people sitting at the one table.

'Menus on the table would have to go  they'd have to be disposable or laminated to wipe off  and you'd have to have disposable or recycled cutlery,' he said.

Mr Lambert said most diners do nut understand how many times cutlery is touched even after it is washed.

In a bid to keep improve hygiene and stop the spread of COVID-19, the ban has been pushed back to allow restaurants and cafes to operate with single-use plastic

'It's one of the highest touch points,' he said.

Condiments would also have to be taken off the table, with salt, pepper and sauces being given to each customer individually in disposable packets.

Environment Minister David Speirs said the ban on single-use plastics was widely supports across the state but the coronavirus pandemic has 'dramatically' changed the situation.

'We know the public is very strongly in support of the general direction of this, but we are very conscious that the world has changed dramatically in the last 12 weeks or so,' he said.
On April 29, the armed formations of the Russian Federation launched 15 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in Donbas.

The enemy used 120mm and 82mm mortars, which must not be kept on the contact line under the Minsk agreements, grenade launchers of different systems, weapons on infantry fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft mounts, heavy machine guns, and small arms to shell Ukrainian positions. Ukrainian defenders effectively used duty fire weapons to stop the enemy activity. The situation in the JFO area is reliably controlled by the Joint Forces, the press center of the JFO Headquarters reports.

Russian-occupation troops launched 12 attacks in the zone of action of tactical force East, using tripod-mounted antitank grenade launchers, ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft mount, and heavy machine guns to shell Ukrainian troops near Verkhniotoretske (22km north-east of Donetsk); sniping weapons  outside Novomykhailivka (28km south-west of Donetsk); grenade launchers of different systems, weapons on infantry fighting vehicles, heavy machine guns  in the area of Vodiane (94km south of Donetsk); grenade launchers of different systems  outside Pavlopil (25km north-west of Mariupol); 120mm mortars, tripod-mounted antitank grenade launchers  in the area of Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol); grenade launchers of different systems and small arms  near Starohnativka (51km south of Donetsk), Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), Taramchuk (29km south-west of Donetsk); grenade launchers of different systems  on the outskirts of Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk).

In the zone of action of tactical force North, Ukrainian positions came under 82mm mortar fire near Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk) and Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk); 120mm mortars fire - in the area of Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk).

One Ukrainian soldier got combat injury over the past day.

According to the intelligence data, one Russian invader was killed and at least two invaders were wounded on April 29.

Today, the Russian-occupation forces have not opened fire yet.

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Long before Prince Louis mad face during an appearance on the royal balcony went viral, another youngster caught everyones attention and became an internet sensation when she joined Louis parents on the royal balcony after they tied the knot.

Who can forget the young bridesmaid who had it with the noise and scowled while putting her hands over her ears as Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge kissed? All these years later, royal fans have wondered about the little girl since we havent heard much about her since. Read on to find out whats she up to today.

Bridesmaid Grace Van Cutsem, Kate Middleton, and Prince William | Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding party

Nearly 2,000 guests attended the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges nuptials on April 29, 2011. Prince Harry was Williams best man and Pippa was Kates maid of honor. The rest of the wedding party consisted of two pageboys and four young bridesmaids.

One of their pageboys, Tom Pettifer, was 8 years old at the time and is the son of William and Harrys former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke. The other page boy, William Lowther-Pinkerton, was 10 years old then. Hello! noted that he is the son of Prince William and Kates former aide, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.

The bridesmaids in the wedding party were Lady Margarita, who is Princess Margarets granddaughter; Eliza Lopes, who is Camilla Duchess of Cornwalls granddaughter; Williams cousin, Lady Louise; and Grace van Cutsem who was the most memorable of all.

Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding party | Dave Cannon/GP/Getty Images

Who is Grace van Cutsem?

Grace was just 3 years old when she appeared on the royal balcony with the bride and groom after they said I do. Her parents are Williams best friend Hugh van Cutsem and his wife, Rose Astor, who is an ancestor of William Waldorf Astor.

Grace is the Duke of Cambridges goddaughter and sparked plenty of internet memes for how grumpy she looked on her godfathers big day. Grace covered her ears when the crowd noise got to be too much and her face said it all. After that day she became known by a few names including the Royal Wedding Girl and Frowning Flower Girl.

Grace is now a veteran bridesmaid having been in about a dozen weddings. Her cousin, Florence, was a bridesmaid in Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs wedding.

Maid of Honor Pippa Middleton with bridesmaids Grace van Cutsem and Eliza Lopes | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

What Grace has been up to?

Following the royal wedding, Grace and her family spent time in Sri Lanka where she and her two brothers were home-schooled. Their mother told the Sunday Times that her children now attend a private school.

I just want them to be happy, confident, and have good manners and a work ethic, Astor said.

Some of Graces hobbies over the years have included doing yoga with her mom and playing the violin. She has become very well-traveled too as Astor shared video of her dancing on the island of Cabo Verde and enjoying a visit to the Zakynthos Island in Greece.

Read more: Kate Middleton Says She Gets Teased by Prince Williams Family for What She Does During Walkabouts
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

Uzbekistan is the largest partner of ERIELL among the countries in which the company operates, a representative of ERIELL Group company, told Trend in an interview.

According to ERIELL, the company together with Uzbekneftegaz is working on the largest project in Uzbekistan, the main task of which is to ensure gas supplies to regions of the country for the long term.

"The company is successfully implementing the program. During the first quarter of 2020, ERIELL employees completed drilling 28 wells at Alan, Shurtan, Samantepe and Zevardy fields,as well as Istmok (Kashkadarya region), Uchtepa (Andijan region), Arslan (Ustyurt region), Uzunshor, Tumaris (Bukhara region), Shimoli Berdak (Karakalpakstan) fields and others. The passage was more than 59,000 meters," ERIELL's rep noted.

The company drilled more than 1.4 million meters in Uzbekistan, finished drilling 539 wells, and in 2020 the company plans to drill more than 150 wells and more than 400,000 meters.

"The company continues working together with Uzbekneftegaz on the "Program of measures to increase hydrocarbon production in 2017-2021". This is a program for the construction of new wells, overhaul of existing wells and creation of new technological facilities. It is planned to finish drilling more than 80 wells in 2020," said the rep.

"ERIELL Group is also working on regional basic projects in Uzbekistan, the largest and most complex of which is "25 years of independence". The project's reserves are estimated at more than 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and nine wells are planned to be drilled through it in 2020," said the rep.

ERIELL Group is an international oilfield service company providing well construction and workover services to leading oil and gas companies in Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East. The company started its operations in Uzbekistan in 2007.

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Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
The PDF Associations enhanced role will help accelerate the pace of development in PDF technology.

The PDF Association, a worldwide Berlin-based non-profit industry association, through its U.S. subsidiary PDF Association, Inc., is pleased to announce that it has been accredited by ANSI to serve as the U.S, Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Administrator for the U.S. TAG to ISO Technical Committee (TC) 171, Subcommittee (SC) 2, that focuses on the PDF file format, PDF subsets (including PDF/A and PDF/UA) and related file formats. The role was previously held from 2017-2020 by the 3D PDF Consortium.

The ANSI-Accredited U.S. TAG represents the United States at ISO meetings by developing and communicating votes on the activities and ballots of the ISO subcommittees working groups. In its new role as U.S. TAG Administrator and ISO committee manager on behalf of ANSI the PDF Association will execute the administrative and management functions required to operate the U.S. TAG and ISO working groups in accordance with the ANSI International Procedures and ISOs rules.

Aligning and integrating the standards development program for PDF and related technologies with the PDF Associations own membership communities strengthens all the work that we are doing, said Duff Johnson, CEO of the PDF Association. We look forward to accelerating the refinement and extension of the family of PDF standards, driving new features that will enrich the formats value for all users and industries across the entire economy.

PDF Association Chairman Matt Kuznicki said, The PDF Association already connects the industry to the ISO standards development process via its liaison relationship with ISO. Assuming management of the responsible TAG allows us to tighten our alignment with the standards development process and more fully integrates the PDF Association and its members with that process. This will serve to better drive innovation in the PDF ecosystem and ensure the continuing prominence of PDF as the leading digital document technology platform.

The current global pandemic underscores the importance of reliable and ubiquitous technologies that enable remote working, said Leonard Rosenthol, a PDF Association Board Member, Adobe Senior Principal Scientist and the Chair of TC 171 SC 2. The PDF Associations enhanced role will help accelerate the pace of development in PDF technology.

Adobe, a Partner member of the PDF Association, has enhanced its support to help launch the expanded organization via its Adobe Standards Support Endowment.

Although the PDF Association is a membership organization, the U.S. TAG is open to anyone meeting the definition of U.S. National Interested Party. It is not limited to members of the PDF Association or to those involved strictly with PDF.

PDF Association expansion

To support the PDF Association becoming a full-fledged standards development organization (SDO), the organization itself is growing. Longtime Executive Director Duff Johnson will assume the new role of CEO. Thomas Zellmann, longtime Berlin-based Managing Director, will focus on PDF technology evangelism, while Betsy Fanning, formerly of the 3D PDF Consortium and AIIM, is joining the team as Director of Standards.

A number of new initiatives are already underway, including new working groups, new services for members and all-new events in 2020.

About the PDF Association

First established as the PDF/A Competence Center in 2006, today, the PDF Association is an international standards development organization promoting awareness and adoption of open standards in digital document applications using PDF technology. The association facilitates education, networking and communication, and the sharing of expertise and experience with interested parties worldwide. The current membership includes over 150 enterprises and numerous individual subject-matter experts from more than 35 countries.

The management board includes industry leaders from Adobe, callas software, Dual Lab, Foxit, intarsys consulting, iText, levigo solutions, Nitro Software and PDFTron, and ISO 32000 Project Leader Peter Wyatt. The associations chairman is industry veteran Matt Kuznicki. The Chief Executive Officer is Duff Johnson, ISO Project Leader of ISO 32000 and ISO 14289.
A drug used to treat Ebola patients has shown "very promising" early results in a trial of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus.

Patients given remdesivir had a recovery time that was almost a third faster than those given a placebo, the first results from a global clinical trial showed.

Preliminary results also suggested a survival benefit, with a lower mortality rate of 8 per cent for the group receiving the drug.

Thats compared with 11.6 per cent for the placebo group, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) said.

More than 1,000 patients have been recruited across the world, including 46 from the UK, for the Adaptive Covid-19 Treatment Trial.

It began at the start of April.

Coronavirus in numbers: UK hospital death toll rises to 26,097

Scientists involved defined recovery as a patient being well enough to come off oxygen, being discharged from hospital or returning to normal activity levels.

During the trial, which involved more than 70 hospitals across the globe, patients were given the antiviral drug every day for 10 days while in hospital.

Professor Mahesh Parmar, director of the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, oversaw the EU portion of the trial.

TODO: define component type apester

Prof Parmar said scientists will continue to gather further data while the early results are reviewed by regulators.

"These results are very promising indeed. They show that this drug can clearly improve time to recovery, prof Parmar said.

"Before this drug can be made more widely available, a number of things need to happen: the data and results need to be reviewed by the regulators to assess whether the drug can be licensed and then they need assessment by the relevant health authorities in various countries.
Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: - Maldives reports first death - The Maldives reported its first coronavirus fatality Thursday with the death of an 83-year-old woman, as the Indian Ocean holiday hotspot extended a nationwide lockdown. Health minister Abdulla Ameen said the woman died on Wednesday in hospital. She had been under home quarantine since coming into contact with another Maldivian patient. There have now been 280 confirmed cases since the virus was first detected on March 7. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday extended the country's two-week lockdown by two weeks after the number of infections rose sharply in the densely populated capital, Male. The shutting of the lucrative tourism industry in the nation of 340,000 people has taken a heavy toll on the economy. - Chinese workers barred from entering Indonesia - About 500 Chinese workers have been blocked from entering Indonesia over fears they could be carrying the coronavirus even though they had permits to enter the country. They were due to work at a nickel smelter in Marosi, southeast Sulawesi, but the governor rejected their arrival. Authorities also refused permission to dock to a Chinese vessel carrying 1,500 cement pipes destined for the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Aceh. The 18 crew members from China and Vietnam have been stranded onboard for a month and are reportedly running out of food and clean water. - Social distancing on wheels in India - An Indian school drop-out has built a motorbike with a one-metre gap between the rider and the passenger to drive home the importance of social distancing. Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bike from a scrap dealer, removed the engine and cut the machine in two, before modifying the frame to create the extra length "Now I can ride with my eight-year-old daughter while maintaining a safe distance," he told AFP from Agartala in the northeastern state of Tripura. Saha's new bike runs on battery power and has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). - Australia's capital 'virus-free' - Health officials declared Australia's capital free of the virus while the country's Northern Territory announced the most comprehensive easing of restrictions in the nation. Canberra and its surrounding areas were said to be rid of the disease after two patients recovered overnight. The city, home to about 427,000 people, had recorded 106 cases and three deaths from COVID-19 before eliminating all known active infections by Thursday. Restaurants, bars, cafes, libraries, gyms and beauty salons in the Northern Territory, meanwhile, will be allowed to reopen from Saturday, though physical distancing rules will still apply. The huge rural territory closed its borders to interstate and overseas travellers on March 23, and has remained largely free of the virus with just 28 cases and no deaths recorded. - ANZ profits dive - Australia's ANZ Bank announced a 50-percent dive in after-tax profits as the lender set aside Aus$1 billion ($655 million) to cover expected losses resulting from the coronavirus fallout. It also deferred a decision on its interim dividend amid ongoing uncertainty about the economic outlook. burs-axn/fox The shutting of the Maldives' lucrative tourism industry has taken a heavy toll on the economy Saha's new bike runs on battery power and has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph) Canberra and its surrounding areas were labelled virus-free after two patients recovered Thursday
10.41 PM: Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin diagnosed with coronavirus

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has told President Vladimir Putin that he has been diagnosed with novel coronavirus. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov will serve as acting prime minister in his absence.

8.33 PM: Elections rquested in Maharashtra legislative council

In a major relief to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, elections have been requested in the legslative council of the state. This will allow Thackeray to become a member of state legislature.

7.46 PM: Sending back migrants in buses not feasible, states tell Centre

In response to a home ministry order asking states to ferry back migrant labourers in buses, states have called the move infeasible. The labourers who work far away from their homes will have to travel across many states, which is impractical.

6.47 PM: Reliance Industries FY20 profit grows 0.1% to Rs 39,880 crore

Reliance Industries reported consolidated net profit for financial year 2019-20 at Rs 39,880 crore, 0.1 per cent higher than the year ago period. Consolidated revenue for last fiscal stood at Rs 6.59 lakh crore.

5.52 PM: Rishi Kapoor funeral: Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan attend last rites

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor cremated in Mumbai. He passed away earlier today after a long battle with cancer. Actors Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan were present during Rishi Kapoor's funeral.

5.33 PM: Index of Eight Core Industries

Index of Eight Core Industries declines by 6.5 per cent in March 2020 as compared to the year ago period. Its cumulative growth during April to March, 2019-20 was 0.6 per cent.

5.15 PM: Tech Mahindra result: FY20 profit at Rs 4,033 crore

Tech Mahindra reported consolidated net profit for the year ended March 31, 2020 at Rs 4,033 crore. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the company posted consolidated net profit of Rs 803.9 crore. The Board of Directors has recommended a final dividend of Rs 5 per share for FY20, which will be paid by August 7, 2020, if approved.

3.40 PM: RIL ANNOUNCES PAY CUTS

Ahead of its first quarterly results, RIL has announced up to 10 per cent salary cuts for some of its employees working in hydrocarbon division in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The company's board of directors will also forgo 30-50 per cent of their salary. MD and Chairman Mukesh Ambani will forgo his entire compensation, says a letter signed by Reliance Industries Executive Director Hital R Meswani.

Also read: Coronavirus impact: RIL announces pay cuts; board members take 30-50% hit; Ambani to forgo full compensation

This is a developing story. More details are being added..5

3.23 PM: Rishi Kapoor funeral to be held in evening

The veteran actor Rishi Kapoor's last rites will be held at the Chandanwadi crematorium in Mumbai's Marine lines today evening.

2.57 PM: Bollywood industry shocked over legendary actor's death

Rishi Kapoor's death has shocked the entire Hindi film fraternity that was just grappling with the loss of another legendary actor, Irrfan Khan, who passed away on Wednesday.

Also read: Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth mourn demise of legendary actor

11.26 AM: Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji: PM Modi

"Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India's progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti," PM Modi said.

Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020 10.38 PM: Rishi Kapoor's last tweet Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor who passed away on April 30, urged people to not resort to violence and appealed for peace in his last tweet. The legendary actor did not share anything on social media after April 2. As reports of people attacking healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic emerged, Kapoor said he appealed people to work together to win against coronavirus. Also read: Rishi Kapoor death: Actor appealed for peace amid coronavirus in his last tweet 10 AM: Terrible week for Indian cinema, Rahul Gandhi on Rishi Kapoor's death This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief. Also read: Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67 9.38 AM: Rishi Kapoor's brother confirms that his brother has died Rishi Kapoor death: Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan tweeted that veteran actor Rishi Kapoor has passed away. He was 67 year's old. Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor was not keeping well and had been admitted to a Mumbai hospital here. The actor returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for cancer in the US for almost a year. In February, Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues. T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away ..

I am destroyed ! Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 30, 2020 9.15 PM: 1,718 new cases in 24 hours With 1718 new cases and 67 deaths in the past 24 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India rises to 33,050 (including 23651 active cases, 1,074 deaths, 8,325 cured/discharged/migrated), says the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With 1718 new cases & 67 deaths in the last 24 hours, the total number of #COVID19 positive cases in India rises to 33050 (including 23651 active cases, 1074 deaths, 8325 cured/discharged/migrated): Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/CHfLjMn8Iq ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2020 8.30 AM: Rahul Gandhi, Raghuram Rajan to discuss COVID-19 situation Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hold a conversation with Raghuram Rajan, former RBI governor, on the Covid-19 crisis in India. This is the first of a series of conversations with global and Indian thought leaders, he says. At 9 AM today, you can watch my conversation with Dr Raghuram Rajan, former RBI Governor, on dealing with the #Covid19 crisis & a new vision for India on my Twitter, Facebook & Youtube platforms. This is the first of a series of conversations with global & Indian thought leaders. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

Also read: Coronavirus India live updates: 33,050 total COVID-19 cases, 1,008 deaths; lockdown 3.0 in cards?
Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: The MCGM said that 751 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Mumbai on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 7,625.

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"We are conscious of the fact that the lockdown has led to hardships to a number of people. The UT administration under the directions of the LG has been implementing a number of welfare measures for labourers, workers, the destitute, etc," he said.

The administrative council, in its latest meeting under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu, has approved the relief package for various categories of people, Principal Secretary of Planning, Development and Monitoring and Information Rohit Kansal said.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced a Rs 350-crore package to mitigate hardships of people, particularly labourers and the destitute, during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

Balasore recorded as many as 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far. The total number of RT-PCR tests conducted in Odisha in past 24 hours stood at 2437.

With one more individual testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Balasore district, the total confirmed cases in Odisha on Friday climbed to 143. The figure also includes 143 active COVID-19 cases.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 67 more deaths were reported since Thursday thereby, bringing the toll to 1,075.

Amid the citizens gearing up for a staggered removal of the 40-day nationwide lockdown after 3 May, the total number of novel coronavirus cases in the country has increased to 33,610 after 1,823 fresh positive COVID-19 patients were reported in the past 24 hours.

There will be no restriction on the movement of ambulances.

In a prohibitory order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, Faridabad District Commissioner Yash Pal said: "Travel of government employees and common people from neighbouring states and districts to Faridabad is prohibited. Doctors, paramedical staff, police and bank employees to be permitted on producing their identity cards, only till 12 pm on Wednesday."

With a surge in COVID-19 cases, Faridabad has prohibited travel of government employees and laypersons from neighbouring states and districts.

The president, however, refuses to provide any details, except for saying that investigations are on and it would be out soon.

"Yes, I have. Yes, I have," Trump told reporters at the East Room of the White House when asked if he has seen anything at this point that gives him a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology is where the virus originated.

The novel coronavirus, that has killed over 230,000 people globally so far and has shattered economies, emerged from a virology lab in the Wuhan city of China, US President Donald Trump claimed Thursday with a high degree of confidence.

This marks that Hubei, the once hardest-hit Chinese province, has had no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for 27 consecutive days since 4 April.

No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease were reported in central China's Hubei Province Thursday, the provincial health commission said Friday.

Of the total confirmed cases, 25,007 were active cases while one COVID-19 patient migrated. The recovery rate of the nation was at 25.4 percent with as many as 8888 COVID-19 patients being cured.

India registered a total of 35,043 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, according to the latest data by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The total number of deaths caused due to the novel coronavirus so far stood at 1,147.

Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code is related to disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. Also, 16,962 people were arrested for violation of lockdown-related norms, he said.

While combating COVID-19 and enforcing lockdown since late March, police have registered offences under section 188 of IPC against 85,586 persons, who violated prohibitory orders, he said.

Enforcing prohibitory orders strictly, the Maharashtra police have registered over 85,500 offences against lockdown violators across the state and arrested 16,962 people so far, an official said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 May hoped that Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin recovered soon from the novel coronavirus. "My best wishes to Russian PM Mishustin for early recovery and good health," Modi tweeted in Russian and English. "We stand with our close friend Russia in efforts to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic." Mishustin had said on 30 April that he tested positive for COVID-19 and he would will self-isolate.

Vehicles lined up in a queue at Delhi-Gurugram border on Friday as cross border transit into Gurugram will be prohibited from 10 am. Only vehicles involved in the movement of essential goods and services and certain government offices are exempted, reported ANI.

65 more COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh on Friday as the state tally reaches 2,625, reports ANI.

A 53-year-old male patient, the first to undergo plasma therapy in Maharashtra passed away on 29 April in Mumbai, Dr Ravishankar, CEO Lilavati Hospital told ANI.

Among the devotees who have returned from Hazur Sahib (in Nanded, Maharashtra) to the district, 3 new positive cases have been reported on Friday. The total number of cases in district now stands at 89, of which 30 are cured. Two deaths reported to date in Mohali, said Girish Dayalan, DC Mohali.

A man was arrested in Nargunda village in Madhya Pradesh for attacking and misbehaving with an Asha worker, when she along with a medical team were carrying out a health checkup in the village, ANI quoted Station House Officer, Rural Tikamgarh as saying.

The chief minister further said that he was working towards bringing back the migrant labourers with all the state authorities and is in constant touch with them.

"It has been requested to all states to maintain a record like name, telephone number and medical status of the workers before sending them back to Uttar Pradesh," said Aditynath.

Releasing a leaflet in major dailies, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Friday assured the stranded migrant workers from the state that all suitable arrangements will be made to bring them back to their hometowns. He also appealed them not to travel back to the state on foot.

5. A vaccine still far away. A certified vaccine and its distribution is still an uncertain reality, which is why the disease still remained a perpetual threat.

3. The virus can bounce back. Experts, including the WHO, have repeatedly called for a phased easing of restrictions in countries, as the viral disease may make a comeback after lockdown concludes.

As India inches towards the end of the 40-day nationwide lockdown imposed in view novel coronavirus, Niti Aayog's CEO Amitabh Kant shared a six-point strategy that could be the road ahead for the country.

"On the supply side, we are working to build a global consortium of pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers to expand global capacity and production and have pledged to donate all our existing supply for patients in need," Gilead spokesperson told Moneycontrol in an interview.

Gilead Sciences, the US-drug maker, said it is open to working together with governments and pharmaceutical companies, including from India, and is considering proposals of patent-pooling to provide access to its antiviral drug Remesdesivir for COVID-19 patients across the world, reported Moneycontrol .

All due processes including quarantine etc will be followed as per guidelines. According to the report, the train will not stop anywhere till it reaches Hatia.

The first train carrying over 1,000 migrant labourers from Telangana to Jharkhand began its operations on Friday at 4.50 am. The 24 coach train will arrive at Hatia in Jharkhand from Lingampally in Telangana at 11 pm on Friday, reported India Today.

The districts have been divided into three categories Red Zone, Orange Zone and Green Zone.

Consulting the state governments and the chief secretaries of the states, the health ministry has decided to put all metro cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, in the Red Zone. The Red Zone cities also include Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

The health ministry has finalised the list of containment zones and divided the states and districts into different categories according to the COVID-19 situation in these areas.

As per the list, 130 districts fall under the Red Zones, 284 in the Orange Zones and 319 in Green Zones. A district will fall under the Green Zone if it has either not reported any confirmed case so far or not reported a single case in the last 21 days.

After a detailed discussion with the state governments, the health ministry has decided to include all metro cities in the 'Red' zone category. The list will help the Centre devise a lockdown exit plan post 3 May.

In Tamil Nadu, 12 districts fall under the Red Zones, 19 in Uttar Pradesh, 10 in West Bengal while nine each in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan has eight Red Zones.

All districts of Delhi have been included in the Red Zone category. Maharashtra, the most affected state, has the highest number of Red Zones - 14 districts - among all states.

This classification is multi-factorial and takes into consideration incidence of cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback to classify the districts.

Since recovery rates have gone up, the districts are now being designated across various zones, duly broad-basing the criteria.

Health Secretary Preeti Sudan noted that districts were earlier re-designated as hotspots/red zones, orange zones and green zones, primarily based on the cumulative cases reported and the doubling rate.

All those above 55 years of age with comorbidities, will be asked to work from home. While those above 55 years of age with no comorbidities issues will attend closest offices and would not go on field visits.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hs asked 100 percent of its staffers to resume duty, reported News18. The municipal corporation also said that all the workers who stay outside Mumbai can rejoin duty in their closest ward offices.

The 12 people, including nine from Thailand and two from Tamil Nadu, were held on 2 April from a mosque where they were hiding. Their samples and that of a local were sent for testing, an officer said.

Twelve Tablighi Jamaat members, including nine from Thailand, were sent to a temporary jail in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district after they completed their quarantine, police said on Friday.

Sources in the Election Commission had earlier said that polls can be conducted amidst the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown, provided precautions as advised by the Health Ministry are taken, and MLAs follow social distancing while casting their vote.

The elections to the nine Legislative Council seats in Maharashtra, which fell vacant on 24 April, will be held on 21 May, the Election Commission announced on Friday.

"He was earlier in the ICU but, was discharged on Thursday," said Kejriwal adding, "Initial results of the therapy are good."

We were permitted by Centre for trial of plasma therapy at LNJP hospital. We administered it to a few patients, the first one among them was discharged after he made recovery, said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday.

This figure includes 22 deaths and 253 discharges. The recovery rate in the state stood at 44 percent.

With 11 more individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Karnataka from 30 April at 5 pm till 1 May at 12 pm, the total confirmed cases in the state climbed to 576, said the health department in the state.

All migrant workers have been given sanitizers, facemasks, and gloves. They have been provided with food and water. Social distancing is also being followed in all train coaches.

As many as 54 migrant labourers are seated per coach in the 24-coach train that departed from Telangana on Friday, News18 reported. The first train carrying migrant workers will arrive at Jharkhand's Hatia at 11 pm on Friday

"People will turn around and say, what was the use of the lockdown even if cases are still rising. I see it as a speedbreaker in terms of cases, or as the Singaporean PM calls it, a circuit-breaker, so consider it as that," said Thackeray.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday called the lockdown imposition in view of COVID-19 a "speedbreaker" in terms of the rising coronavirus cases.

"We have identified some places as containment zones and quarantined some people. The growing cases are in those areas. Fortunately, of the entire count, if you see around 80% are asymptomatic," said Uddhav.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said "80 percent patients of coronavirus are asymptomatic" in his state  which has the largest number of COVID-19 patients in the country.

After 3 May when the nationwide lockdown ends, its is important to reopen districts in accordance to the division in categories of red zones, orange zones and green zones, said Uddhav Thackeray on Friday.

Maharashtra government will not halt agricultural activities in the state, said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray during the State address on COVID-19 situation. "We are gradually opening the state up," said Thackeray.

The chief minister further warned against a rushed reopening of the state as it might lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases. "We are taking gradual and cautious steps towards reopening the state, but if we did it in a hurry, it would negate all that we have achieved so far," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray further said that the state is taking assistance from the AYUSH ministry to treat COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra. "Municipal, state and private doctors are all in touch with the state medical task force," said Thackeray.

People who have been given permission to go back to their hometowns should do so patiently and not all at once, otherwise once again, the permission will be denied, said Uddhav Thackeray on Friday while reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the state.

"Government has appealed to the employers to protect the interest of their workers and pay their salaries," said Karnataka Chief Minister's Office.

Karnataka government has decided to resume economic activities in the state soon after holding a meeting with representatives of associations of commerce and industries on Friday.

It is for the first time that the state has reported more than 100 coronavirus cases in a single day. With the fresh detections, the number of COVID-19 cases in Punjab now stands at 480, they said.

Punjab saw the steepest rise in the number of novel coronavirus cases on Thursday with 105 persons, mostly pilgrims who returned from Nanded, testing positive for the disease, officials said.

"They were under Maharashtra government's observation. It was their duty to implement Centre's guidelines; their samplings and tests should've been done there. Had they told us it hasn't been done, we would've sent two teams there," said Singh after the state reported more than 100 coronavirus cases in a single day.

Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Friday blamed the Maharashtra government for not implementing Centre's guidelines on movement of migrant labourers after several pilgrims who returned from Nanded to Punjab tested COVID-19 positive.

Earlier, the ACP had said that the restrictions will not be applied to media persons. He further said that for the healthcare professionals living in Gurugram, arrangements would be made there.

"Individual movement has also been curtailed as we're enforcing the curbing of inter-state and inter-dist movement. Be it media persons/Police/doctors, their inter-state and inter-district movement through these borders (Delhi-Gurugram border) will also not be allowed," said ACP Karan Goyal.

Inter-district and inter-state curtailment of movement between Delhi and Gurugram will now be applied to individuals, including media persons, police personnel and doctors.

Based on the current parameters of the Centre for categorisation of areas for COVID-19, the districts in the Red Zone are only four - Kolkata, Howrah, North-24 Paraganas and Purba Medinipur.

West Bengal Principal Health Secretary Vivek Kumar wrote to the Union Health Ministry, informing it that there were only four red zones in the state as against "the ten shown in the presentation during the Cabinet Secretary's video conference with states on 30 April 30".

As many 18 more individuals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Bihar, thereby taking the total confirmed cases in the state to 450, ANI quoted Sanjay Kumar, Bihar Principal Health Secretary as saying.

The number of positive cases in Uttar Pradesh has risen to 2,203.

"15 persons have died and 103 patients have been discharged after treatment. The administration is keeping a vigil on the 39 hotspots in the city," Agra district administration said.

17 more COVID-19 cases were reported from Agra on Friday taking the total confirmed cases in the district to 496, the administration said.

"At least 10 more nurses at the hospitals neo-natal unit and a ward boy are currently down with fever, the sources said. It is not known whether they are also infected with the coronavirus as their samples have not been collected yet," the report said.

An eight-year-old boy and a nurse tested positive for coronavirus at the Indian Institute of Child Health (ICH) in Kolkata, News18 reported.

The West Bengal principal health secretary Vivek Kumar reportedly wrote to Union health ministry and informed that there are only four red zones in the state as against 10 shown in the presentation during the cabinet secretary's video conference with states, ANI reported.

The CRPF on Friday said that 12 more jawans of the force, which has recorded the maximum amount of COVID-19 cases, tested positive for coronavirus on Friday. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the battalion crossed 60.

Six new coronavirus cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir's Gonipora on Friday. All six patients are contacts of an earlier positive case and are asymptomatic. Primary contacts being isolated for sampling tomorrow, the government said.

Union health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal said that a total of 1,993 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in last 24 hours, taking the total to 35,043. At least 564 people have recovered in last 24 hours. The recovery rate stands at 25.37 percent, he added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday allowed the movement of migrant workers, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places, by special trains.

The Union health ministry at 4 pm said that in the last 24 hours, 1,993 coronavirus cases had been reported, taking the total number of cases is now 35,043.

"State and district administrations should ensure, through focused efforts, that in 'Red' and 'Orange' zone districts the chain of transmission is broken through effective and stringent containment measure," said Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs are likely to hold a press conference on "important issues" at 6 pm on Friday.

The Union health ministry said that there has been a spike of 1,755 new COVID-19 positive cases and 77 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 35,365 including 9,064 cured/discharged and 1,152 deaths, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to further extend the nationwide coronavirus lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond 4 May, ANI reported, quoting an official statement.

However, movement of persons by air, rail and road is allowed for select purposes, and for purposes as permitted by MHA.

Under the new guidelines, a limited number of activities will remain prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the Zone. These include travel by air, rail, metro and inter-State movement by road; running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/ coaching institutions; hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants; places of large public gatherings, such as cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes etc; social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings; and, religious places/ places of worship for public.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, issuing the extension of the coronavirus lockdown on Friday, issued new guidelines ordering "considerable relaxations" for districts falling in Green and Orange Zones.

"Four-wheelers will have a maximum of two passengers besides the driver and pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers," the statement said.

The MHA on Friday said that in Orange Zones, inter-district movement of individuals and vehicles will be allowed for permitted activities only.

In Orange Zones, in addition to activities permitted in Red Zones, taxis and cab aggregators will be permitted with one driver and two passengers only, the MHA said.

This includes the functioning of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/coaching institutions.

The MHA said that a limited number of activities will remain prohibited across India, irrespective of the zone, including travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road,.

Plying of cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws Running of taxis and cab aggregators Intra-district and inter-district plying of buses Barber shops, spas and saloons.

In Red Zones outside Containment Zones, these activities are prohibited in addition to those prohibited irrespective of the zone:

The Kerala government food and water to Aluva railway station from where a 'Shramik Special Train' will leave for Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, on Friday. Around 1,140 migrant labourers from here will board the special train to Odisha

Travel by air, rail, metro and inter-State movement by road Running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/ coaching institutions Hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants Places of large public gatherings, such as cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes etc Social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings Religious places/ places of worship for public

The Defence Ministry was quoted as saying, "The plan of action and various activities of thanksgiving from the armed forces to COVID-19 warriors was finalized at today's meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three Service Chiefs."

Migrant workers in Kerala's Aluva and Maharashtra's Nashik began to arrive at train stations to board the scheduled special trains set to take them back to their native places, as per the MHA order.

The Gujarat health department said that 326 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state in the last 24 hours. The state's total number of cases rises to 4,721 including 736 cured/discharged and 236 deaths.

"Animal husbandry activities are now fully permitted, including inland and marine fisheries. All plantation activities are allowed, including their processing and marketing," the report added.

The Centre on Friday lifted restrictions on all agriculture activities, "including sowing, harvesting, procurement and marketing operations in the agricultural supply chain", The Indian Express reported.

Social distancing at work places shall be ensured through adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc.

All persons in charge of work places shall ensure social distancing as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, both within the work places and in company transport

Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all work places and adequate stock of such face covers shall be made available

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued additional guidelines on rational use of Personal Protective Equipment (setting approach for Health functionaries working in non-COVID areas).

The Maharashtra health department said that 1,008 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Friday, which is the highest single-day jump of cases in the state. The the total number of cases rose to 11,506.

"Movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists,students and other persons stranded at different places to be carried out by Shramik special trains. Freight and Parcel train operations shall continue," the statement said.

The Ministry of Railways on Friday said that the cancellation of all passenger train services has been extended till 17 May.

"The schools may also begin/continue online classes for them, while awaiting the conduct of remaining papers," the statement added.

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations on Friday said that schools may give "provisional admission to the ICSE (class 10) students into class 11, subject to Board results".

The MCGM said that 751 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Mumbai on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 7,625.

The Rajasthan health department said that 82 more people have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of cases to 2,666 and 62 deaths have been recorded so far.

"We've learnt that private hospitals in state are not following the norms. Even those that are enlisted under Ayushman Bharat-Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojna are charging more amount from patients.We've warned all such hospitals of strict action," said Rajasthan health minister Dr Raghu Sharma on Friday.

Reports said that a 69-year-old man, who was having comorbiditydies, passed away at a hospital in Karnataka's Davanagere on Friday. "The patient had tested positive for COVID-19 and was on ventilator support.," India Today reported.

Reports said that seventeen people, including four children, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Friday. India Today reported that this the "highest number of COVID-19 detections in a single day that has taken the district's tally to 155".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said, "I welcome the announcements by the Chief of Defence Staff today....Now, our Forces are, in a unique way, saying a big thank you to our frontline COVID-19 warriors for their endeavour towards making India COVID-19 free."

"We've learnt that private hospitals in state are not following the norms. Even those that are enlisted under Ayushman Bharat-Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojna are charging more amount from patients.We've warned all such hospitals of strict action," said Rajasthan health minister Dr Raghu Sharma on Friday.

India Today reported that four more Delhi Police personnel tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, taking the number of COVID-19 infections in the force to over 45.

Reports said that a 69-year-old man, who was having comorbiditydies, passed away at a hospital in Karnataka's Davanagere on Friday. "The patient had tested positive for COVID-19 and was on ventilator support.," India Today reported.

Reports said that four zones have been removed from the COVID-19 containment zones list in Delhi, the total number of containment zones in the National Capital is now at 97.

Reports said that seventeen people, including four children, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Friday. India Today reported that this the "highest number of COVID-19 detections in a single day that has taken the district's tally to 155".

"UNICEF called for support to unlock a massive backlog in vaccine shipments, saying the delays had been caused by "unprecedented logistical constraints" linked to lockdowns," News18 reported.

The United Nations on Friday said that many countries risk running out of vaccines for diseases like measles because of restrictions on flights brought in to tackle the new coronavirus.

AFP reported that the United Kingdom (UK) COVID-19 toll rose by 739 on Friday, taking the total toll to 27510.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The MCGM said that 751 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Mumbai on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 7,625.

Migrant workers in Kerala's Aluva and Maharashtra's Nashik began to arrive at train stations to board the scheduled special trains set to take them back to their native places, as per the MHA order.

The MHA said that a limited number of activities will remain prohibited across India, irrespective of the zone, including travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road.

This includes the functioning of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/coaching institutions.

A large number of other activities are allowed in the Red Zones. All industrial and construction activities in rural areas, including MNREGA works, food-processing units and brick-kilns are permitted: MHA on the extension of lockdown.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to further extend the nationwide coronavirus lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond 4 May, ANI reported, quoting an official statement.

PD Vaghela, chairman of Empowered Group 3 of the Centre's COVID-19 response team, on Friday said, "Demand for PPE kits has been projected at 2.01 crore in India. We have placed orders for 2.22 crore kits out of which 1.42 crore kits are being procured in the domestic market. 1.87 lakh kits are being produced daily in the country."

Seventeen more COVID-19 cases were reported from Agra on Friday taking the total confirmed cases in the district to 496, the administration said.

Inter-district and inter-state curtailment of movement between Delhi and Gurugram will now be applied to individuals, including media persons, police personnel and doctors.

"Individual movement has also been curtailed as we're enforcing the curbing of inter-state and inter-dist movement. Be it media persons/Police/doctors, their inter-state and inter-district movement through these borders (Delhi-Gurugram border) will also not be allowed," said ACP Karan Goyal.

Earlier, the ACP had said that the restrictions will not be applied to media persons. He further said that for the healthcare professionals living in Gurugram, arrangements would be made there.

Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Friday blamed the Maharashtra government for not implementing Centre's guidelines on movement of migrant labourers after several pilgrims who returned from Nanded to Punjab tested COVID-19 positive.

"They were under Maharashtra government's observation. It was their duty to implement Centre's guidelines; their samplings and tests should've been done there. Had they told us it hasn't been done, we would've sent two teams there," said Singh after the state reported more than 100 coronavirus cases in a single day.

People who have been given permission to go back to their hometowns should do so patiently and not all at once, otherwise once again, the permission will be denied, said Uddhav Thackeray on Friday while reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the state.

Maharashtra government will not halt agricultural activities in the state, said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray during the State address on COVID-19 situation. "We are gradually opening the state up," said Thackeray.

With 11 more individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Karnataka from 30 April at 5 pm till 1 May at 12 pm, the total confirmed cases in the state climbed to 576, said the health department in the state.

This figure includes 22 deaths and 253 discharges. The recovery rate in the state stood at 44 percent.

The elections to the nine Legislative Council seats in Maharashtra, which fell vacant on 24 April, will be held on 21 May, the Election Commission announced on Friday.

Sources in the Election Commission had earlier said that polls can be conducted amidst the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown, provided precautions as advised by the Health Ministry are taken, and MLAs follow social distancing while casting their vote

The first train carrying over 1,000 migrant labourers from Telangana to Jharkhand began its operations on Friday at 4.50 am. The 24 coach train will arrive at Hatia in Jharkhand from Lingampally in Telangana at 11 pm on Friday.

All due processes including quarantine etc will be followed as per guidelines. According to the report, the train will not stop anywhere till it reaches Hatia.

All districts of Delhi have been included in the Red Zone category. Maharashtra, the most affected state, has the highest number of Red Zones - 14 districts - among all states.

In Tamil Nadu, 12 districts fall under the Red Zones, 19 in Uttar Pradesh, 10 in West Bengal while nine each in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan has eight Red Zones.

As India inches towards the end of the 40-day nationwide lockdown imposed in view novel coronavirus, Niti Aayog's CEO Amitabh Kant shared a six-point strategy that could be the road ahead for the country.

A 53-year-old COVID-19 patient, the first to receive plasma therapy in Maharashtra, passed away on 29 April in Mumbai, Dr Ravishankar, CEO Lilavati Hospital told ANI.

The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India reach 35,043, 1,147 deaths recorded, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday. 73 deaths and 1993 new cases reported in the last 24 hours in the country due to the novel virus.

India registered a total of 35,043 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, according to the latest data by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The total number of deaths caused due to the novel coronavirus so far stood at 1,147.

Of the total confirmed cases, 25,007 were active cases while one COVID-19 patient migrated. The recovery rate of the nation was at 25.4 percent with as many as 8888 COVID-19 patients being cured.

With one more individual testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Balasore district, the total confirmed cases in Odisha on Friday climbed to 143. The figure also includes 143 active COVID-19 cases.

Balasore recorded as many as 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far. The total number of RT-PCR tests conducted in Odisha in past 24 hours stood at 2437.

The number of coronavirus toll in India crossed 1,000 on Thursday after 67 new deaths were reported, and cases rose to 33,610 with 1,823 new infections in a day. State governments also began preparations to help lakhs of migrant workers and students reach their homes from different parts of the country, where they have been stranded for over a month due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

As people waited for further clarity on the government's next move on the nationwide lockdown, whose second phase ends this Sunday, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said India should open up up its economy in a measured way soon to save jobs and estimated that Rs 65,000 crore would need to be spent to support the poor amid the crisis.

Interacting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi through video conferencing, Rajan said it is "all too easy to have a lockdown forever", but that is not sustainable for the economy and India does not have the capacity to support people across the spectrum for too long.

A nationwide lockdown has been in place since 25 March. Initially, it was announced for 21 days till 14 April, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi later extended it till 3 May, as a measure to contain the coronovirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, in the Union health ministy's daily briefing on Thursday, officials said that the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients has improved to nearly 25.2 percent, from about 13 percent a fortnight ago.

The ministry's evening update said that 1,075 people have died due to COVID-19 so far across the country after 67 deaths were reported since Wednesday evening.

However, a PTI tally of the toll reported by various states and union territories, as of 8.30 pm, showed at least 1,137 people have lost their lives while close to 34,500 people have been infected so far.

At the press briefing, Health Ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said that the current fatality rate among detected is 3.2 percent, with 65 percent being men and 35 percent women.

"If we divide it on the basis of age, then 14 percent fatality has been seen in those aged below 45 years, 34.8 percent between 45-60 years and 51.2 percent in those above 60 years," he said.

Agarwal further said that the recovery rate for COVID-19 has improved from 13.06 percent to over 25 percent in the past 14 days. He added that the doubling rate for COVID-19 cases has improved to 11 days as against 3.4 days before the lockdown was imposed.

Additionally, he said the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases was found to be between 11-20 days in Delhi (11.3), Uttar Pradesh (12), Jammu and Kashmir (12.2), Odisha (13), Rajasthan (17.8), Tamil Nadu (19.1) and Punjab (19.5).

A doubling rate of between 20-40 days was seen in Karnataka (21.6), Ladakh (24.2), Haryana (24.4), Uttarakhand (30.3) and Kerala (37.5), Agarwal said.

A doubling rate of over 40 days was noted in Assam (59), Telangana (70.8), Chhattisgarh (89.7) and Himachal Pradesh (191.6), he added.

Speaking about testing being scaled up, Agarwal said starting with one single laboratory, the RT-PCR tests are now available in 292 government and 97 private facilities across the country.

"On Wednesday, 58,686 tests were performed and if you see the average number of tests performed each day in the last five days, it comes to 49,800 tests. It is important to understand that whatever capacity is needed, we have progressively increased it," he said.

COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra cross 10,000-mark, Gujarat reports 313 new patients

Maharashtra alone saw its tally crossing 10,000 with 583 new cases during the day, while 27 more people died. The state tops the nationwide tally with a total 10,498 confirmed cases and 459 deaths so far. Mumbai alone now accounts for 6,874 confirmed cases and 290 deaths.

Gujarat also saw its tally of confirmed cases rising by 313 to 4,395, while 17 more people died on Thursday to take the state's death toll to 214. Ahmedabad reported more than 3,000 cases and 149 deaths.

Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka and West Bengal also reported new cases.

There are more than 24,000 active patients across the country, while more than 8,300 people have recovered and one patient has migrated. The total number of cases include 111 foreign nationals.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said India is doing better compared to other countries on all parameters in its fight against COVID-19 and should be able to win this decisive war in the coming few weeks.

About 60,000 foreign nationals from 72 countries have also been evacuated from India, while the issue of evacuation of Indians stranded abroad is also under discussion, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

States take steps to facilitate movement of stranded people

Several states, in the meantime, announced steps they were taking for facilitating the movement of migrant workers and students, stranded in various cities due to the lockdown, to help them reach their respective native places, in line with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines announced on Wednesday. Some states have already brought back some migrant workers from other places.

The Madhya Pradesh government said it has brought back over 20,000 migrant labourers, who were stranded in other states due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath asked officials to ready quarantine centres, shelter homes and community kitchens as the state readied for the return of migrant workers stranded in different parts of the country.

Maharashtra issued a notification designating all the district collectors as the nodal authority for the movement of stranded people into or outside the state and also within the state, while the Gujarat government appointed 16 bureaucrats as nodal officers to facilitate the movement of such people across borders.

The Kerala government renewed its demand for special non-stop trains to transport those who are keen to leave for their respective states. There are 3.60 lakh workers in over 20,000 camps in the state and majority of them, hailing from West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, wanted to return home.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also urged the prime minister to arrange special trains for transportation of migrant workers, while he directed all deputy commissioners to prepare data of migrant labourers stranded in the state due to the lockdown.

As per the MHA order, buses will be used for transporting those stranded, and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms on seating. A senior official said all states and UTs will have to "strictly follow" these guidelines.

While the movement of trucks is already allowed for transportation of goods during the lockdown, the MHA separately clarified that no separate passes are required for their inter-state movement, including for those carrying goods or returning after delivery, and licence of the driver is enough.

There have been reports that movement of trucks is not allowed freely and local authorities insist upon separate passes at inter-state borders in different parts of the country.

Over 30 million Americans file for unemployment benefits

Bleak new figures on Thursday underscored the worldwide economic pain inflicted by the coronavirus: The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits has climbed past a staggering 30 million, while Europes economies are in an epic slide, AP reported.

The statistics are likely to turn up the pressure on politicians to ease the lockdowns that have closed factories and other businesses.

In the US, the government reported that 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for jobless benefits last week, raising the total to about 30.3 million in the six weeks since the outbreak took hold. The layoffs amount to 1 in 6 American workers and encompass more people than the entire population of Texas.

Some economists say that when the US unemployment rate for April comes out next week, it could be as high as 20 percent  a figure not seen since the Depression of the 1930s, when joblessness peaked at 25 percent.

The virus has killed over 2,20,000 people worldwide, including more than 61,000 in the US, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Confirmed infections globally topped 3.2 million, with 1 million of them in the US, but the true numbers are believed to be much higher because of limited testing, differences in counting the dead and concealment by some governments.

With inputs from agencies
She thought it unlikely that she might have a gene mutation, which can indicate a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer as well as other cancers. The mutation affects only a small percentage of the population.

However, once more, Shawnna found herself with a positive test result, this time for mutation of the BRCA-2 gene.

I never imagined it would be positive, she said.

They then tested her mother and discovered the same genetic problem. The women found out later that Shawnnas maternal cousin was in the same boat. She has the exact mutation that my mom and I have, she said.

Mutation

BRCA 1 & 2 are tumor suppressor genes that prevent uncontrolled cell growth and help keep normal cells from becoming cancerous. If either is mutated, a woman will have a 40-70% risk of having breast cancer and 27-44% chance of ovarian cancer during her lifetime.

In men, such mutations can result in male breast cancer (6% risk) or prostate cancer (20%). Both genders are also at risk for melanoma and pancreatic cancer.
Rotunda Rumblings

Mask off: Will-he or wont-he is usually reserved for television drama, but Gov. Mike DeWine has embodied that saying this week as hes flip-flopped on mask requirements in retail settings. As cleveland.coms Seth Richardson writes, DeWines inconsistency on facial coverings has been one of a the few serious missteps in his coronavirus response.

Diploma-cy: DeWine also clarified Wednesday that, despite what he suggested the day before, traditional mass graduation ceremonies are still banned. As cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer reports, the governor outlined some allowed graduation formats under which students would still be handed their diplomas in person. But virtual ceremonies are preferred.

Protect yourself: The number of Ohioans infected with coronavirus Wednesday afternoon was 17,303, with deaths marching toward 1,000, cleveland.coms Laura Hancock reports. During his daily briefing, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a ton of personal protective equipment was sent to emergency management agencies, though he acknowledged the scarcity in sectors that can reopen Friday, including dental offices. But the states official policy is businesses cant reopen if they cant keep their employees safe.

Nursing homes: The state reported Wednesday that 1,511 nursing home patients and 584 staff currently have coronavirus. This does not include people who have recovered, are hospitalized or have died. Details were provided for each nursing home with known cases. Separately, the state said that 276 nursing home patients have died with coronavirus, cleveland.coms Rich Exner reports.

Case study: One nursing home in Tallmadge last week tested every patient and staff member as a proactive measure. Positive results came back this week for 59 of the 104 residents and several staff members, even though most people tested had previously shown no symptoms, CommuniCares Colony Healthcare Center said. The goal, the facility said, was to identify patients with COVID-19 so they could be separated from others, Exner reported.

Coronavirus data report: While the numbers for coronavirus hospitalizations and cases continued a steady line with the latest report from the Ohio Department of Health, deaths took a big jump (17 percent) in increasing to 937 on Wednesday. Thats the result of catching up on a lot of older cases. Seventy-eight of the deaths reported Wednesday were from deaths that occurred more than a week ago, Exner reports in his daily data and mapping story. State officials have repeatedly said the reporting of known deaths lags.

Just OK: Cleveland.coms Andrew Tobias spoke with elections officials and voter-rights advocates about Ohios just-ended primary election and all agreed: things could have gone better. Some outlooks were rosier than others, but the experience gave officials plenty to think about while planning for November. Read more here.

Race track: Pelzer has a rundown of unofficial results from legislative primaries around the state. House Speaker Larry Householders favored candidates appear to have won their respective primaries -- with the exception of House District 65 in Clermont County, where ex-school superintendent Adam Bird seems headed to victory in a hotly contested three-person contest.

Dis-Morganized: Morgan Harpers primary challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty won national media attention from, among others, the Washington Post and the New York Times, who compared her to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But unofficial results from Tuesday show that Beatty won more than two-thirds of the vote.

Promises kept! Thats the slogan for President Donald Trumps re-election campaign, which is out with a new digital ad in Ohio and other states featuring Democratic governors praising Trumps coronavirus response (while, of course, ignoring the heaps of criticism). But it certainly seems like a strange move in the Buckeye State since the president already has a built-in defender in DeWine, whos boasting a net approval rating of 63 percent compared to Trumps net disapproval rating of 5 percent. DeWines gone out of his way to praise the president when asked about him. Why not use that?

Suffering cities: Plunging income-tax revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic has left Parma and other Ohio municipalities with huge budgetary holes that their mayors would like Congress to fill during its next relief package, cleveland.coms Sabrina Eaton reports.

Prime factor: Should Amazon be liable for a Lorain County teens overdose death from caffeine powder promoted by and purchased through the e-retailer? Thats the question the Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments about Wednesday. Pelzer has the details.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the Feb. 28 financial disclosure statement of Adam Bird of Clermont County, who unofficial primary results show has won this years Republican nomination for House District 65:

1. Bird retired last year as a New Richmond schools superintendent and began collecting state teachers retirement benefits. However, he continued to work as an assistant principal at Batavia Middle School.

2. He is a volunteer trustee at the Clermont County Public Library.

3. He listed investments in two mutual funds: one managed by Putnam, the other by Voya.

4. At some point in 2019, Bird owed at least $1,000 to Regional Acceptance Corporation (an auto finance company), Visa, and Superior Credit Union.

5. Last year, he received travel reimbursements totaling $1,673.91 from the New Richmond Exempted Village School District.

Straight from the Source

Hows everyone doing on their Quarantine Fifteen? I dont mean to brag, but Im almost to my goal weight. Id like to acknowledge Little Debbie for her abundant and unwavering support.

- Columbus Dispatch photographer Barbara Perenic, on Twitter Wednesday, joking about the 15-pound weight gain that can come with isolating at home and snacking frequently.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
Sexual Assault Complaint Against Biden Is Now Inactive: Police

The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are no longer investigating Tara Reades sexual assault complaint against Joe Biden, a spokesman for the agency told the Washington Examiner.

This is an inactive case, and there are no additional details to provide, a police spokesman said April 29, providing no further comment.

Reade, a former Biden staffer, filed a report on April 9, 2020 with police in which she said she was a victim of sexual assault but did not name Biden. The court filing stated, Subject-1 disclosed that she was the victim of a sexual assault which was committed by Subject-2 in 1993.

She told The Associated Press that the former vice president and presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee pushed her against a wall in the basement of an office building on Capitol Hill in 1993 before sexually assaulting her. At the time of the incident, Reade was working for Biden while he was a U.S. senator representing Delaware, his home state.

He was whispering to me and trying to kiss me at the same time, and he was saying, Do you want to go somewhere else?' she said. I remember wanting to say stop, but I dont know if I said it out loud or if I just thought it. I was kind of frozen up, she said, adding when she pulled away Biden appeared shocked and told her, Come on, man, I heard you liked me.

Four people have now come forward to corroborate certain details about Reades claims, although none say they were witnesses to it. Her brother, a former neighbor, and a friend who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, said they heard Reade describe the accusation against her boss following the alleged incident.

Former colleague Lorraine Sanchez, who worked with Reade between 1994 and 1996 for a state senator, has also said Reade told her about being sexually harassed by her former boss while she was in D.C. and as a result of her voicing her concerns to her supervisors, she was let go, fired. However, Sanchez said she did not remember if Reade specifically named Biden.

At the time of Reades report filing, a Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner, This is an active, ongoing investigation, and there are no further details to provide at this time.

Cases that are handled by the Metropolitan Police Departments Sexual Assault Unit go through a multi-review prior to being assigned a disposition. This case is progressing through the review process, they added.

Reade, 56, told the Washington Examiner Wednesday that she had filed the report due to concerns over her safety and had expected that it would not result in criminal charges but maintained that her allegation is true.

I made a police report knowing I was outside the criminal statute of limitations, Reade said. I did this for safety and also to demonstrate I will cooperate with law enforcement of any investigation going forward or in the future, and go under oath if I need to about what happened.

Reade is one of several women who came forward in early 2019 to accuse Biden of inappropriate touching, hugging, or kissing. In April last year, Biden collectively addressed the allegations from the seven women in a Twitter post in which he pledged to be more respectful of peoples personal space.

Social norms are changing. I understand that, and Ive heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. Thats my responsibility and I will meet it, he wrote.

However, Biden has remained silent on Reades claims, and no one in the media has asked him a direct question about her, although his campaign has categorically denied her allegations.
A Delhi Police sub-inspector from the Amar Colony police station who was posted at Okhla Mandi has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). He has been sent to a quarantine facility on Thursday. Three constables, who were also deployed there, had tested positive for the virus in the last four or five days, taking the total number of infected personnel from the police station to four, so far.

With the four cases, the total number of Delhi Police personnel infected with the virus rose to 36. Five of them have already recovered and got discharged from the quarantine facilities they were admitted to. The five included three constables from the Chandni Mahal police station, one assistant sub-inspector (ASI) from the traffic police unit and his batch mate, who was deployed at the AIIMS Trauma Centre police post.

On Thursday, the ASI from the police post was welcome with flowers by his colleagues at the Safdarjung Enclave police station, where he is posted with.
Updates related to COVID-19 and its effects on Albuquerque and the rest of NM.

PICTURES





UPDATES

8:24 p.m.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 cases rise by 164, with 9 new deaths

The Navajo Department of Health reported 164 new COVID-19 cases Thursday. There are now 2,141 cases on the reservation. There were 9 additional COVID-19 deaths reported by the NDOH, Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service. In total, there have been 71 deaths from the disease on the Navajo Nation. The agencies are reporting a total of 8,639 negative test results. The average age of COVID-19 patients on the reservation is 46. The average age of COVID-19 deaths is 65.

The 539 Navajo reservation cases in McKinley County are more than any other county on the reservation.

In a call with reporters Thursday, Dr. Loretta Christensen, chief medical officer for the Navajo Area IHS, confirmed that cases in Gallup and McKinley County have surged primarily because of initial outbreaks at a local detox center and among the citys unsheltered population.

As soon as we learned one person was positive, we worked to find shelter for that population, Christensen said. We did very intense tracing very quickly, and we were successful with that.

The IHS predicts the Navajo Nations virus peak will be around May 10.

New Mexicos northwest corner, which overlaps with the Navajo Nation, is experiencing the states highest case numbers and infection rates.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the Navajo Nation Rapid Response Team to help bridge the gap between tribal and state resources. The team includes physicians and leaders from the New Mexico National Guard, Navajo Area IHS, Cochiti Pueblo, ABQ Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, UNM Health Sciences and U.S. Homeland Security.

 Theresa Davis

5:41 p.m.

Lujan Grisham relaxes some NM business restrictions

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday that New Mexico is ready to begin relaxing some restrictions on businesses for the first time amid the coronavirus outbreak.

She announced that she will extend New Mexicos stay-at-home instruction through May 15, but with significant changes.

Starting Friday, under the new public health orders, nonessential retailers can operate via curbside pickup and delivery when permitted by their license, and state parks may reopen on a modified basis.

Golf courses will be permitted to open for golf only, not dine-in or other services. Gun stores, meanwhile, can start operating by appointment only. Veterinarian clinics can resume operations.

The new order goes into place Friday and will last through May 15.

Read more >>

 Dan Boyd, Dan McKay

3:50 p.m.

COVID-19 testing offered in South Valley next week

Free COVID-19 testing will take place on Tuesday, May 5, in the South Valley, according to the City of Albuquerque.

The state Department of Health will offer the testing from 9 to 11 a.m. at South Valley Health Commons, 2001 N. Centro Familiar SW, by appointment only. Call 505-873-7477 to make an appointment.

According to the news release, testing is offered to:

 People experiencing such symptoms as fever, cough, chills, or shortness of breath;

 Essential workers with or without symptoms, including health care workers, first responders, public works and grocery store employees;

 People with or without symptoms who are contacts or household members of residents who have already tested positive for the COVID-19;

 Employees and residents of congregate settings  such as nursing homes  with or without symptoms; and

 Anyone who may have traveled to any area with community spread in last 14 days.

 Journal Staff

3:06 p.m.

UNM making plans on how to reopen in the fall

Top officials at the University of New Mexico are planning on holding classes next fall, though what those classes will look like isnt known.

Officials with UNMs main campus and the chancellor of the Health Sciences Center discussed the issue of when the college with reopen to in-person discussion during meetings this week. But they said that much will depend on city and state public health orders.

We have to align with the state and the city, Provost James Holloway said during a virtual regents committee meeting on Thursday. We cant get ahead of them.

HSC Chancellor Dr. Paul Roth said in a virtual chat that it will depend on how they can reopen safely.

Its not really a question in my mind so much as when students will come back, its how were going to do it, he said.

Holloway said there are working groups on main campus discussing possible strategies, which will include wearing masks and other social distancing measures.

For example, he said its likely there wont be large gatherings. So lectures that meet three days a week could potentially only draw a third of the students in the class with the rest watching online.

The school is also likely to change the flow of buildings to have one-way hallways, modify cleaning procedures and reduce student events. And much will also depend on the capacity to test students and employees for COVID-19 and trace the illness.

One of the challenges is that people would like definitive answers  but of course theres so much we dont know, Holloway said. We do know we are going to be under various levels of social distancing and public health orders for the next year or more. Were not going to be out from under this in the fall and probably next spring.

President Garnett Stokes said that while no decision has been made about college football, shes hopeful a season could be held in some fashion.

 Ryan Boetel

8:30 a.m.

Decline in new cases a key to reopening

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hasnt set a target date for when she believes it will be safe to reopen more of New Mexicos economy.

But guidelines issued by the White House and Johns Hopkins University offer a few clues about what to watch for.

One of the standards, for example, suggests phasing in a reopening of businesses after a decline in new cases over a two-week period  a standard New Mexico doesnt appear to meet yet.

The number of new cases announced Wednesday, in fact, represents the biggest single-day surge so far.

Read more >>

 Dan McKay

6:05 a.m.

Shiprock alternative care site completed, Navajo COVID-19 cases reach 1,977

The Navajo Nation reported 104 new cases of COVID-19 on the reservation Wednesday, bringing the total cases to 1,977. There have been 62 total COVID-19 deaths reported by the Navajo Department of Health, Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, an increase in 2 from Tuesdays reports. The agencies report a total of 8,239 negative tests.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer toured a new alternative care site Wednesday at a school gymnasium in Shiprock.

What we envision here  is to relieve some of the pressure at Northern Navajo Medical Center with patients that have tested positive for COVID-19, so they can be here as a step down from the hospital, and free up some beds over there at the main hospital, Nez said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and the National Guard helped build the 40-bed facility, as well as alternative care sites in Gallup and in Chinle, Arizona. The crews installed plumbing for hand-washing stations and copper piping for oxygen into the patient bays.

Lt. Colonel Robin Scott with the Army Corps of Engineers said the facilitys design is simple, making it ideal for quick construction and decommissioning.

Nez and Lizer also visited food distribution sites in Pueblo Pintado and Torreon in the eastern Navajo Nation. Nez reminded reservation residents of the upcoming weekend-long curfew and the requirement to wear a mask in public.

Its really up to all of us, Nez said. If we want our Navajo Nation to open back up, lets help each other flatten the curve.

He thanked those who had donated money and supplies to the reservations emergency efforts.

How to help

Theresa Davis
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 22:09:32|Editor: huaxia

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Members of the Chinese medical expert team pose for a group photo in Belgrade, Serbia, on April 30, 2020. At a ceremony held here on Thursday, Serbia awarded military memorial medals to the six-member Chinese medical expert team for their contribution to Serbia's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu

BELGRADE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- At a ceremony held here on Thursday, Serbia awarded military memorial medals to the six-member Chinese medical expert team for their contribution to Serbia's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Serbian army's most prestigious military awards were handed out to the doctors by Serbia's Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin at the "Dom Garde" military facility in the presence of military officials and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo.

Thanking the experts for their guidance, advice and suggestions, Vulin recalled that the presence of the Chinese doctors helped the authorities in Serbia overcome fear even in the darkest moments of the pandemic.

"When other great powers were fighting over every package of masks and gloves and shattered any sense of humanity and forgot about old alliances and solidarity, when they were grabbing each other's ventilators and medicine, closed borders towards their closest neighbors and refused to help anyone -- the People's Republic of China rushed to help its friend, Serbia," Vulin said.

Hardships reveal the true nature of all peoples, countries and politicians who lead them, he said. "Serbia and China showed courage and solidarity."

Vulin said that the "steel friendship" between China and Serbia has been tested once again in the fierce battle against the coronavirus, and it became even stronger.

Peng Zhiqiang, head of the Chinese expert medical team was awarded the "Memorial military medal for outstanding contribution to Serbia's defense system." He said that the medals confirmed their hard work, and were also a symbol of that "steel friendship."

He said that "by spotting the transition from mild to severe form of the disease early, and by reacting with a proper intervention to treat severe cases, the death rate from COVID-19 here is currently the lowest in Europe."

"We are sure that the future will bring even better epidemic control measures, that production will gradually restart, that people will return to work and that the economy will recover quickly along with efficient epidemic control," Peng said.

Ambassador Chen said that the medals awarded to the Chinese doctors prove Serbia's care and respect.

"The epidemiological situation in Serbia is getting better but the battle is still ongoing. China is ready to continue its cooperation with Serbia and invest efforts into joint victory," she said.

Chen said that the Chinese doctors have already spent a month in Serbia and provided valuable contributions to the fight against COVID-19. Three doctors will remain in Serbia to continue assisting their hosts in overcoming the pandemic, and the other three will return to China. Chen said that if needed, China is ready to send three more experts to Serbia.

)
T here's really no substitute for seeing artwork in the flesh, but the next best thing is getting to know everything about it in preparation for when you can.

Now is the perfect time to brush up on your art trivia to impress your pals with when the gallery doors open again.

Whether you're looking to learn more about the history, broaden your horizons or want to wade into the mysteries of the art world, here are some art podcasts to sink your teeth into:

Bow Down

Frieze editor-at-large Jennifer Higgies podcast is all about giving recognition to female artists. These bite-size episodes  20 minutes each  have guests including Turner Prize shortlisted artist Helen Cammock, author Olivia Laing and film theorist Laura Mulvey each discussing a different artist. Artemisia Gentileschi, Agnes Martin and Kathleen Collins all get their moments to shine.

Where to find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

The Lonely Palette

Described as the podcast that returns art history to the masses, this series puts one painting under the spotlight in each episode. Each artwork is described by museum visitors (Well, look, theres a creepy skull of an animal, is someone's summary of Georgia OKeeffes Deers Skull With Pedernal) before going into a deep dive of its history, meaning and significance. Featured artworks include the Arnolfini Portrait, Hokusais The Great Wave and Cassius Marcellus Coolidges Dogs Playing Poker.

Where to find it: thelonelypalette.com

Meet Me at the Museum

Missing visiting your favourite museum while were all in lockdown? This podcast series will take you there, accompanied by a few familiar faces. There are no stuffy lectures here  instead, its friendly chit-chat and musings, with expertise thrown in from curators. Highlights include author Jessie Burton taking her mum to Charleston (the Bloomsbury Groups artistic home in Lewes) and Jane Garvey going to Tate Liverpool with her Fortunately podcast co-host Fi Glover.

Where to find it: Apple Podcasts, Acast

Talk Art

Actor and art collector Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament host this podcast dedicated to the world of art. They speak not only to artists such as Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin and David Shrigley about their work, but also to fellow enthusiasts. Theyve added a series of special QuarARTine episodes, recorded in lockdown, with the likes of Elton John, Billy Porter and Rufus Wainwright.

Where to find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

A Piece of Work

(Getty Images) / Getty Images for Comedy Central

Is there a lot about modern and contemporary art you dont understand but feel afraid to ask? Us too. Broad City star Abbi Jacobson hosts the New York Museum of Modern Arts podcast, maybe not to answer those questions, but to join you in asking them. From a bicycle wheel on a stool to a giant paint splatter, she talks to friends including Hannibal Buress, RuPaul and Tavi Gevinson about what on earth art is on about.

Where to find it: moma.org

Sculpting Lives

Art history, sexist? Perish the thought. But, sadly, yes  one of the many instances of women being underestimated in the world has been in the medium of sculpture. However, this podcast series presented by art experts Jo Baring and Sarah Turner celebrates five female sculptors who have, somehow, managed to use their lady hands to make incredible works of art. From Barbara Hepworth to Rana Begum, the presenters travel the country to tell the stories of their life and works.

Where to find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

The Week in Art

Evening Standard art critic Ben Lukes podcast for the Art Newspaper is what you need to keep up to date with the goings-on in the art world. With the help of guests such as National Gallery boss Gabriele Finaldi and artists including Anselm Kiefer and Tschabalala Self, he discusses the biggest stories of the week.

Where to listen: theartnewspaper.com/podcast

Alternative arts podcasts to download 1 /5 Alternative arts podcasts to download Making It With Temi Wilkey The UKs theatre scene is dynamic to say the least, but it comes with its challenges for actors, playwrights and directors. Rising star Temi Wikley hosts this podcast which explores the UK theatre landscape, delving into what it means to be an actor in 2020 and what its like creating works. Every week, the show welcomes emerging theatre companies, playwrights and more to hear first-hand why they make theatre and how they get through the difficult times. Matt Writtle Royal Court's Playwrights Podcast Playwright Simon Stephens now has four seasons of this theatre-based podcast under his belt. Stephens - who is known for his stage adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - chats to fellow playwrights, covering all kinds of topics from their lives, work, approaches to writing and career so far. The podcast is developed by The Royal Court - a theatre known for helping and supporting undiscovered, emerging and established writers - in the hope that it shines a light on important industry issues. Off Book Podcast The Young Vic goes back through its archives interviewing a plethora of creatives who have worked with the theatre over the years - from acclaimed directors, writers and performers to rising stars. Special guests - which include The Inheritance writer Matthew Lopez and director Nadia Latif - all share their first experience of the theatre and explain how it's influenced the work they produce today. Ellie Kurtz Hamilcast This is a podcast for those who live, breathe and dream all things Hamilton. Set up by theatre fanatic Gillian Pensavalle back in 2016, the podcast delves into everything to know about the award-winning show. From speaking to company members, crew, musicians and creatives along with historical experts, its safe to say that Gillian has all bases covered. No Swan So Fine/Creative Commons

The Great Women Artists

Another fantastic podcast giving much-deserved attention to women artists is art historian and curator Katy Hessels show (make sure to follow her Instagram account of the same name too here). A recent episode with feminist art historian Dr Jo Applin puts the spotlight find Louise Bourgeois, an artist whose work was so frequently born of rage or an anger that isnt unfocused, thats laser-sharp [and] enables us to think about a feminism, about a woman artist who is able to face some of the most uncomfortable truths about life and the world in an entirely uncompromising way. And theres plenty more where that came from.

Where to find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Last Seen

AFP via Getty Images

If you love a good true crime podcast but want to hear less about women being gruesomely murdered, then Last Seen is for you. This ten-part investigative series looks into the biggest unsolved art heist in history, when 13 artworks were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990. While the series doesnt solve the mystery  works by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Degas worth $500 million remain missing to this day  it provides plenty of insight into how the thieves were able to pull the heist off.

Where to find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

ArtCurious

Curator Jennifer Dasals podcast brings art history to life by telling some of its strangest stories. Episodes include investigations into the odd coupling of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Hitlers career as a failed artist and whether Man Ray inspired the infamous Black Dahlia murder.

Where to find it: artcuriouspodcast.com

Secret Artists

Something a little light-hearted: Annie McGrath invites fellow comedians onto her podcast to draw or paint together and chat about art. As well as a comic, McGrath is an artist herself, but most of her guests...are not. Its all about enjoying the process, and with guests such as Phil Wang, Lolly Adefope, Mae Martin and Lou Sanders, whats not to enjoy?
The news is suddenly awash in reports that, on May 6, Netflix and the Barack and Michelle Obama production company will premiere a documentary about the book tour Michelle Obama did in connection with her memoir. Both the memoir and the documentary are entitled Becoming. What's interesting is that this premiere is a surprise:

Michelle Obama 'Becoming' documentary is a surprise new Netflix release [snip] "Those months I spent traveling  meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe  drove home the idea that what we have in common is deep and real and can't be messed with," she wrote in Monday's press release announcing the documentary. "In talking about the idea of 'becoming,' many of us dared to say our hopes out loud. I treasure the memories and that sense of connection now more than ever as we struggle together to weather this pandemic, as we care for our loved ones, tend to our communities and try to keep up with work and school while coping with huge amounts of loss, confusion and uncertainty. "Even as we can no longer safely gather or feed off the energy of groups, even as many of us are living with grief, loneliness and fear, we need to stay open and able to put ourselves in other people's shoes," she added. "Empathy is our lifeline here. It's what will get us to the other side."

Am I the only one who finds this "surprise" an amazing coincidence when taken in conjunction with Joe Biden's declining candidacy?

Additionally, Michelle has been popping up all over the place. She recorded a PSA for the District of Columbia, as well as setting up robocalls and radio ads. She's suddenly popped up on PBS reading books to children ("Mondays with Michelle Obama"). She's also out there pushing for voting by mail and is generally making more appearances.

In an almost desperate manner, Joe Biden is also putting her name out there as his preferred running mate:

Joe Biden, the apparent Democratic presidential nominee, had an update about his search for a vice presidential partner: He said he would choose Michelle Obama as his running mate "in a heartbeat." "She's brilliant. She knows the way around. She is a really fine woman. The Obamas are great friends," the former vice president told KDKA-TV of Pittsburgh.

Speaking through Valerie Jarrett, the Obama family consigliere, Michelle has let it be known that she doesn't want to be the vice president. Jarrett claims as well that Michelle isn't interested in any part of the presidential ticket:

Former Obama White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Tuesday that Obama would not consider being Biden's vice president in an interview with The Hill, telling the outlet that she simply is not interested in being on the Democratic presidential ticket. "The reason why I'm being so unequivocal is that there just simply has never been a time when she's expressed an interest in running for office," Jarrett said. "She's not demurring here. She's not being hard to get. She doesn't want the job," she continued.

That may even be true, insofar as Michelle's wishes go, but I suspect that she's getting an enormous amount of pressure to step up as Biden's fortunes go down. Indeed, her husband may be assuring her that she'll just be a figurehead while he does all the real work. She may find it hard to resist that kind of pressure to "save the party" or "save the country."

However, a very savvy friend of mine (whom I won't name since I haven't had a chance to clear this with him) believes that Michelle knows there's too much dirt out there for her to overcome. He believes we'll soon learn just how deeply Barack Obama was involved when it came to the Russia hoax. Michelle will also find herself having to answer for multiple Obama-era policies, such as the Iran deal, the sluggish economy, the mess that Obamacare proved to be, etc.

Michelle has always been drawn to the high life, says my friend, and she'll be reluctant to give it up the freedom she has (augmented by the millions coming in on her book sales) in exchange for the stress and constraints of the White House.
Borussia Dortmund have set their sights on Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati as a replacement for Jadon Sancho, according to Sport.

The Spanish newspaper claim that the Bundesliga giants have been scouring the market for a talented youngster to fill the boots of Sancho, who is a 100million target for Manchester United and Chelsea this summer.

And after landing wonderkids including Ousmane Dembele and Erling Haaland in recent years, 17-year-old Fati has emerged as their next target.

Spanish paper Sport claim that Borussia Dortmund want Ansu Fati to replace Jadon Sancho

Manchester United target Sancho is expected to leave Dortmund for 100m this summer

It is now clear how much Barca would expect for Fati, although Sport claim that the club would only consider a deal if a buy-back clause is included.

The winger, who came through the club's famous La Masia academy, has enjoyed a breakthrough season after making his debut last August.

Fati became the club's second-youngest player when he came off the bench in a LaLiga clash with Real Betis, and scored his first professional goal a few days later.

He has made 24 appearances for the first team in all competitions this term, netting five goals and providing one assist.

Barca have struggled to develop youngsters into first team stars in recent years and are unwilling to let Fati leave unless they can buy him back for a pre-agreed price at a later date.

Fati scores for Barcelona during a LaLiga clash with Levante at the Nou Camp in February

The 17-year-old, who came through the club's La Masia academy, celebrates with Lionel Messi

They used the same tactic with Gerard Deulofeu when selling the winger to Everton in 2015 and are known to often include clauses in deals for young players.

Dortmund see Fati as an exciting talent who could follow in Sancho's footsteps if he is given the right amount of playing time in Germany.

Sancho appears certain to depart the club this summer after becoming one of the hottest young players on the planet over the last two years.

The England winger is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's top transfer target, but Chelsea and Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in him.
She was just 12 when she dropped out of school and began clocking in for endless shifts at one of the garment factories springing up in Bangladesh, hoping to pull her family out of poverty.

Her fingers ached from stitching pants and shirts destined for sale in the United States and Europe, but the $30 the young woman made each month meant that for the first time, her family had regular meals, even luxuries like chicken and milk.

A decade later, she was providing a better life for her own child than she had ever imagined.

Then the world locked down, and Shahida Khatun, like millions of low-wage workers around the world, found herself back in the poverty she thought she had left behind.

In a matter of mere months, the coronavirus has wiped out global gains that took two decades to achieve, leaving an estimated two billion people at risk of abject poverty. However indiscriminate the virus may be in its spread, it has repeatedly proven itself anything but that when it comes to its effect on the world's most vulnerable communities.
The White House Wednesday explained that its Twitter handle typically 'follows' the accounts of officials from host countries for a brief period during a presidential trip to retweet their messages in support of the visit.

During President Donald Trump's visit to India in the last week of February, the official Twitter handle of the White House -- @WhiteHouse -- had started 'following' the accounts of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister's office, the Indian Embassy in the US, the US Embassy in India and the US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster.

Early this week, the White House 'unfollowed' all these six Twitter handles.

"The White House Twitter account normally follows senior US government Twitter accounts, and others as appropriate. For example, during the time of a presidential visit, the account typically follows for a short time, the host country's officials to retweet their messages in support of the visit," a senior administration official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

The official was responding to a question on the reasons for the White House 'following' and then 'unfollowing' the Twitter handles of President Kovind, PM Modi, the PMO and other Indian officials.

The White House 'unfollowing' the Twitter accounts of President Kovind and PM Modi drew reactions on social media in India.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was "dismayed" at the development.

"I'm dismayed by the "unfollowing" of our President & PM by the White House. I urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take note," he said in a tweet on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, the White House had 22 million followers.

It has traditionally ben following 13 accounts including that of President Donald Trump and his official Twitter handle, the First Lady, the Vice President, the Second Lady, the new Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, the National Security Council and the former White House Press Secretary, Stephanie Grisham, among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As condolences started pouring in for after Rishi Kapoor death on Thursday, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah shared a photograph where the veteran actor is seen posing outside a hut popularly known as Bobby Hut in picturesque Gulmarg.

The hut in the tourist resort earned the moniker after the song hum tum ek kamray mai band ho, starring Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, from the film Bobby was shot here.

Rishi Kapoor outside the Bobby Hut in Gulmarg. For decades now people have wanted to see the hut he & Dimple made famous with that memorable song Hum tum........ (sic), Omar said in the tweet.

Rishi Kapoor outside the Bobby Hut in Gulmarg. For decades now people have wanted to see the hut he & Dimple made famous with that memorable song Hum tum........ https://t.co/25GcZyU0Ue  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 30, 2020

Film Bobby, released in 1973 by Raj Kapoor, was a top grossing blockbuster. The plot of the film about class clash in teenage romance inspired several movies in the following years. In another tweet, Omar remembered Rishi Kapoor for his contribution to the BOllywood. From Bobby to Karz to Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, your movies & some of the dialogues have been such an integral part of my childhood. You made a little hut in Gulmarg an iconic place with one song. Farewell @chintskap & thankyou for the memories, he said.

From Bobby to Karz to Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, your movies & some of the dialogues have been such an integral part of my childhood. You made a little hut in Gulmarg an iconic place with one song. Farewell @chintskap & thankyou for the memories. #riprishikapoor  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday morning. He was detected with cancer in 2018 and had returned from USA in September last year after undergoing treatment there.
WA Green Ribbon Schools Plaque How these Washington Green Ribbon Schools have addressed sustainability and other environmental issues is impressive.

California Casualty congratulates the Washington schools and school districts that have been recognized as U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools this year. Recipients were selected for their successes in reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness, and offering effective sustainability education.

As the Washington Green Ribbon Schools Sponsor, California Casualty is providing $1,000 to each designee to continue sustainability efforts or to help with travel expenses to the national honors ceremony this August in Washington, D.C.

Receiving this honor for their commitment to healthy, safe, and sustainable learning environments, the 2020 Washington Green Ribbon Schools Program recipients are:



Carl Sandburg Elementary/Discovery Community School (CSE/DCS), Kirkland, WA

Montessori Childrens House (MCH), Redmond, WA

Pullman Public Schools (PPS), Pullman, WA

Seattle Public Schools (SPS), Seattle, WA

Wahluke School District (WSD), Mattawa, WA

They are among 39 schools, 11 districts and five postsecondary institutions across the nation that achieved the honor.

Elizabeth Schmitz, Environmental and Sustainability Education Program Supervisor at the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, is also being recognized for her efforts to advance school sustainability.

To reach Green Ribbon School status, the districts and schools had to meet three key pillars:



Pillar 1: Reduce environmental impacts and costs

Pillar 2: Improve the health and wellness of schools, students and staff

Pillar 3: Provide effective environmental and sustainability education, incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); civic skills and green career pathways

The comprehensive list of 2020 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools is available online at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/awards.html

The Carl Sandburg Elementary and Discovery Community School (CSE/DCS) cares about protecting the planet. Together they are one community where environmental stewardship has become a valued cultural norm for teachers, students, and the community.

The nomination package for Sandburg/DCS outlining all that they have done and continue to do to earn this honor is available at https://www.greenstrides.org/sites/default/files/webform/nomination-package-256.pdf

Montessori Children's House (MCH) provides a holistic educational experience. The

Schools mission is, Nurture AND Nature: developing your child's individual passions and strengths because today's child is tomorrow's future. The student green team was founded ten years ago and has worked to help the school community think about how seemingly small everyday choices have a broader impact.

The MCH nomination package with details surrounding their efforts is available at https://www.greenstrides.org/sites/default/files/webform/nomination-package-263.pdf

Pullman Public Schools (PPS) established a sustainability committee to support overall district operations and individual building goals to reduce environmental impacts, improve health and wellness, and enhance environmental and sustainability education. The foundation of this work involves partnering with community organizations with like-minded sustainability missions, to increase the breadth and depth of sustainability education for all 2,815 students in PPS. The committee consists of teachers from each of the districts six schools, several administrators, and a high school student that is passionate about environmental conservation.

The nomination package with the information about the comprehensive plan PPS made to reduce energy consumption, improve performance, and implement sustainability efforts in the district is online at https://www.greenstrides.org/sites/default/files/webform/nomination-package-265.pdf

All schools at Seattle Public Schools (SPS) are encouraged to create green teams and become certified with Washington Green Schools. SPS has certified five schools per year on average for the last 10 years. Underpinning its work are the districts resource conservation policies and guidelines, which are both aspirational and providing specific guidance in shaping resource conservation at SPS.

SPS prioritizes the advancement of student wellness and safety in order to pursue positive student outcomes and accomplishes Green goals through a comprehensive effort across interdisciplinary teams that have unique skill sets. The Green goals and mission of SPS are accomplished by district staff, students, parents, and volunteers, and through numerous partnerships with community organizations.

View the details surrounding their efforts at https://www.greenstrides.org/sites/default/files/webform/nomination-package-259.pdf

Many people across the Wahluke School District (WSD) are involved in helping achieve the districts green goals. WSD goals are to provide fun, hands on, learning experiences for students; support teachers with professional development and access to cross-curricular learning activities for their classes; and become visible in, and communicate with, the larger community. WSD will continue to build partnerships with supporting organizations, apply for grants to support our projects, and reduce operating costs in the district.

The WSD nomination narrative is available at https://www.greenstrides.org/sites/default/files/webform/RevisedNominationPackage_WSD_3-23-2020.pdf

California Casualty Assistant Vice President, Brian Goodman, who attended the virtual presentations, said, Our world is a fragile place. The sustainability efforts of Washington schools are impressive. We are honored to support this valuable program and congratulate all who have achieved this commendable status.

About U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and Green Strides

Created in 2011, the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) award encourages state education, health, and environment authorities, stakeholders, and school communities to consider matters of facilities, health and environment comprehensively, strengthening the critical collaborations that ensure all of our nation's schools are healthier, safer, and more sustainable.

In early 2013, the Green Strides website was added to connect all school communities with free, publicly-available resources such as webinars, case studies, promising practices and collaboration so that all schools can make progress across every Pillar of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award.

In 2015, to offer a more dynamic and user-friendly web portal, Green Strides was moved off of ed.gov through the generous assistance of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.

About California Casualty

Founded in 1914, California Casualty has been providing educators trusted auto and home insurance since 1951. As the endorsed benefit partner for NEA Member Benefits in Washington since 2001, California Casualty offers members exceptional rates, waived deductibles for vandalism or collisions to your vehicle parked at school, holiday or summer skip payment options and free Identity Defense protection. Learn how to save by getting a quote at http://www.calcas.com, or by calling 1.800.800.9410.
The government is picking winners and losers in industries, so being able to have an understanding of . . . the pulse of this administration and thought patterns, and their processes as to how they got to these decisions years ago, provides help, said one lobbyist and former Trump official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment frankly about private conversations with clients.
ST. LOUIS  Some counties report more COVID-19 infections than the state reports for them. Others fewer. If youre confused by this, youre not alone.

In the end, the discrepancies are all about new technology, old practices, mixed messages and health departments trying hard to understand whats in front of them.

Here are some reasons the number of cases, deaths, tests or other data that your county is reporting, and what the state is reporting for the same county, may not match:

 Counties receive results and update their websites more quickly than the state.

 Laboratories are used to notifying counties first for other infectious diseases, and do that out of habit.

 The state receives results from its labs before counties do.

 Labs sometimes call doctors offices to notify them of results, Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, told the Post-Dispatch in early April. Doctors then inform local health departments. It may take days for the state to be notified.
From nurses to cannabis farmers, California's hurting from the coronavirus and the associated economic downturn. Now, we've all got the same question: Are we anywhere near getting back to normal?

Filling in for the wonderful Arlene Martinez, I'm Mark Olalde, an environment reporter with The Desert Sun in Palm Springs. Today, I've got the news you need to know from around the Golden State, and, yes, we're focusing a bit on the environment...

But first: Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that Colorado and Nevada are joining the California-Washington-Oregon partnership that will together strategize how to relax restrictions across much of the West. All five states have Democratic governors who continue to take a cautious approach that could favor continuing to wait out the virus before allowing many businesses to reopen.

What happens if we get ahead of ourselves and start to see a surge of new cases? Newsom said.

Stay safe and informed with news and resources from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond: Sign up for In California today (it's free!). And while you're at it, why not also sign up for our weekly Climate Point newsletter that digs into everything climate, energy and the environment (also free!).

What does reopening look like? That's the million-dollar question.

Counter-protestors to opponents of stay-at-home order congregate to express their opposition in Downtown Palm Springs on April 26, 2020. The stay-at-home order was put in place by the state government in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 which has caused the death of over 50,000 people in the U.S. as of April 26, 2020. The opponents cite their constitutional right to an open economy.

Perhaps we start with the least-hit areas, or that's at least what those counties are hoping. Siskiyou, Tehama and Modoc counties, as of Sunday, had only registered six confirmed coronavirus cases among them, leading to one death.

These and other more rural counties are getting restless and have begun asking Newsom for exemptions allowing more of their businesses to reopen in an attempt to kick-start local economies. In preparation to potentially allow nonessential businesses to flip the signs in their windows to "open," local governments are contemplating ways to slow a potential spread of the virus, from face coverings for employees to removing oft-touched magazines from common areas.

Story continues

Palm Springs was hit by a small, anti-stay-in-place protest Sunday, marked by people wearing Trump 2020 gear, waving American flags and holding signs, some decrying mandatory vaccinations. The gathering's organizer often shares false conspiracy theories on social media and argued that businesses need to be reopened.

Palm Springs was quicker than many parts of the state to mandate a shut-down, and its rate of new infections has slowed considerably. In advance of the protest, Mayor Geoff Kors lambasted the event's leaders for putting other residents at risk.

Urban areas are by no means out of the woods, as Los Angeles County saw its number of coronavirus-related deaths double over the past week. As of Sunday, 916 people had died in that county alone, with 40% of those coming from nursing homes. Also, the virus appears to be disproportionately killing people of color living in low-income communities.

Are you consuming enough vegetables...and environment news?

A tractor kicks up dust in Imperial County on December 5, 2017.

There's more news than just the coronavirus, though. On Monday, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Environmental Health launched litigation against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, calling for stricter emissions reduction standards in Imperial County to combat smog. The EPA, which declined to comment, had previously announced that Imperial County had met its goals because pollution was actually coming across the border from Mexico.

American farmers are still cranking out fresh food, but much of it is going to waste. A dangerous combination of market forces spurred on by the pandemic meant that, while food was needed just as much as before, farmers were cut off from their supply chains when people stopped eating in restaurants.

U.S. Department of Agriculture has the ability to purchase and distribute this food on an emergency basis, but a new investigation found the federal agency waited weeks to step up. California and several other states had already set up their own systems to try to meet supply and demand, but it wasn't enough without a quick federal response. California's agricultural industry is estimated to be losing $1 billion per month while fruits and vegetables are left to rot.

Why haven't we solved climate change by shuttering the global economy? Misconceptions continue to swirl that the upcoming  perhaps already present  recession could in some way be good for climate change because emissions will slightly drop. Experts predict that even Los Angeles' blue skies will be but a temporary reprieve as the lack of systemic change so far implemented in recovery efforts leaves the status quo  meaning an upward trend in greenhouse gases and temperatures  largely in place.

But it's tough to overstate the virus' economic impact

Edward Reyes, left, and Steven Sharble of From The Earth manufacture hand sanitizer at the THC extraction facility to be given to local hospitals and first responders in Desert Hot Springs, April 2, 2020.

For cannabis, a growing California industry, the virus has hurt. Because the substance remains illegal federally, cannabis businesses have struggled to access emergency loans or other relief available through banks.

Dozens of companies have written state leaders to request assistance to get through the pandemic, and they say that their listing as "essential" businesses doesn't go far enough in keeping them afloat. But, neither the Bureau of Cannabis Control nor Newsom are yet to directly respond.

The state's Employment Development Department has been overwhelmed by a crush of unemployment filings. If you've had trouble applying and getting through the system, you're not alone.

I know this sounds crazy because we are in California, we are the tech center of the world, but our system is built on multiple antiquated systems, and because of that it is inflexible  it is very difficult to change, state Labor Secretary Julie Su said on Friday.

California health care workers continue battling on the pandemic's front lines

Hospital staff in Oxnard got a show of appreciation over the weekend when a group of four pilots conducted a flyover to express their thanks. "The community outpouring for our health care team has been incredible," said Darren Lee, the president of the hospital, St. John's Regional Medical Center.

Four local pilots coordinated a flyover of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard on Saturday morning as a gesture of gratitude for front line healthcare workers.

But these essential workers received bad news elsewhere in the state, as several hospitals in the Coachella Valley were recently hit by furloughs. Among those employees affected: nurses.

One hospital in Rancho Mirage is projecting a $100 million revenue shortfall from March through June alone, in large part because visits for non-coronavirus reasons have significantly fallen. Hospital spokespeople called these adjustments to staffing levels "standard practice" to save money.

The Stanford hospital system is experiencing similar cutbacks. It's handing out 20% pay cuts and furloughing workers around their network. Linda Cornell, a long-time unit secretary there said, "People are shocked. It's like: 'Why are they doing this?' It doesn't seem right."

In California is a roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Also contributing: AP, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Politico and Grist.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In California: Colorado and Nevada join forces with the West Coast
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KSrelief signed today a financial contribution memorandum to procurement of medical supplies and equipment for supporting UNRWA to counter the emerging coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Gaza Strip region, Palestine. The project will support two million people by providing medical equipment, medicines and preventative pharmaceuticals to combat COVID-19 in Palestine.

Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) stated, "The agreement represents a long-lasting historical relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, and the UNRWA to support Palestinian refugees. This partnership has resulted in many great projects. The commitment of UNRWA is something we count on in this critical time and we hope this agreement will support UNRWA to be able to help poor people in Gaza in facing this prename. Thank you very much and we hope to see more cooperation and projects in the near future."

Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said, "Thank you for your strong support to UNRWA. This contribution is very timely. This is definitely an indication of how important and committed you are in supporting the efforts of UNRWA to provide critical services to the Palestinian refugees. I would like to acknowledge the resource support by Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, to UNRWA, especially last year's support that played a critical role in securing funding for our projects which as you know is very fundamental to ensure the continuation of all these critical services. Without it we certainly wouldn't have been able to be at forefront of the response for the COVID-19. Thank you very much again for this support it is highly needed in Gaza Strip, where we have one the weakest and poorest health systems in the region."

The signing ceremony was via a video call between Dr. Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSrelief and Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General UNRWA. It is the second agreement, where a similar agreement was recently signed in Riyadh to also support the health sector in Gaza. Saudi Arabia provided a total of USD 6,473,586,361 in support to Palestine, USD 250 million was allocated for UNRWA.

The agreement will support the health sector in the Gaza Strip with important items including medical equipment and supplies of ventilation, patient monitoring system, syringe pumps, oxygen meters, transport stretcher trolleys, blankets, personal protective equipment (N95 masks, surgery masks, isolation gowns, disposable head and foot covers), medicines of antivirals and antibiotics, sterilizers, medicines for chronic diseases, clinical detection supplies, and oxygen cylinders. The support, which are highly needed in this critical time, will contribute to reducing the spread of a serious pandemic in the Gaza Strip and meeting the urgent needs of the medical teams working there.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that he had "no information" about the health of Kim Jong Un, amid unconfirmed reports that the North Korean leader is unwell.

Guterres was responding to a question on whether any UN official had spoken to any North Korean official about the health and whereabouts of Kim.

"We have no information about the situation of Kim Jong Un," Guterres said during a virtual press briefing.

There have been unconfirmed reports that Kim is not in good health. The rumours began after he missed the April 15 commemoration of the 108th birthday of his grandfather, North Korea founder Kim II Sung.

North Korea has not dispelled the rumours of ill health of its ruler.

According to reports, citing satellite images, a train likely belonging to Kim has been parked in his compound on the country's east coast for a week.

US President Donald Trump has said he has a "very good idea" about the status of Kim but he cannot talk about it.

"I can't tell you exactly - yes, I do have a very good idea but I can't talk about it now. I just wish him well," Trump told reporters at a White House conference Monday.

The UN chief also said the US and China were "absolutely vital" countries in the international community and their contribution to fight the COVID-19 as well as in development of international relations was "absolutely essential", amid mounting tensions between Washington and Beijing in the wake of the pandemic.

"It is clear for me that the US and China are two extremely important elements in the international community both from the economic dimension, from the political dimension, from the military dimension. These are two absolutely vital countries," he said



The contribution of China and the United States to fight the COVID-19, and all other aspects in the development of international relations is "absolutely essential", he said.

Trump has lashed out at China over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far killed 229,447 people across the world and infected more than three million people.

In a interview on Wednesday, Trump said he believed China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was proof that Beijing "will do anything they can" to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

Slamming Beijing for failing to contain the novel coronavirus at its origin, Trump said the virus outbreak "should have been stopped at the source, which was China. It should have been stopped very much at the source, but it wasn't. And now we have 184 countries going through hell."



The US has also accused China of covering up the extent of its coronavirus outbreak.

China has denied it and accused the US of attempting to divert the public attention by insinuating that the virus originated from a Wuhan lab.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Like Shakespeare's Hamlet, the Democrat National Committee (DNC) is facing a terrible dilemma. Should it go with Joe Biden as the party's nominee, or should he be switched out? And make no mistake: the choice is the DNC's to make, not Biden's. Given his career-long history of corruption and now credible accusations of sexual abuse, Biden would be politically torn apart in a second if it weren't for the massive protection he's receiving from the Democrat-controlled media. Remove that and give Biden a fair and objective hearing in the press, and he's a dead duck.

So should Joe stay, or should be go? From the DNC's prospective, there are pros and cons to each side. Whatever choice it makes won't be good.

To start with, thanks to eight years of the narcissistic Barack Hussein Obama, the Democrats have an extremely weak bench from which to choose. Speculation ranges far and wide. The mix is eclectic. The top-tier candidates to replace Biden would include Governor Andrew Cuomo, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, and even former first lady Michelle Obama. Maybe Mike Bloomberg can be resurrected from the political graveyard with a flow of his money. But all these potential candidates are seriously flawed. None has wide voter appeal. The likelihood of any of them prevailing in November is slim.

Further vexing the Democrat National Committee is the ideological split within the Democrat Party itself. With Biden as the presumptive nominee, there might have been a chance, albeit a small one, of a cold truce prevailing between hard left wing of the party and the so-called "moderates," at least until Election Day. But with Biden pushed aside and the DNC essentially choosing the party's nominee  which under no circumstances would be Crazy Bernie  the Bernie Bros will revolt. They will argue, with justification, that their man actually participated in the primaries and has accumulated the most delegates after Biden. Not to give Sanders the nomination would be the ultimate insult to the radicals.

Looking at this mess, the DNC might just decide to close its eyes, stay with Biden, and rely on the media, the Chinese Wuhan virus, and voter fraud to carry him through. But even here, the DNC faces additional risks. It has to cross its fingers and hope Slow Joe doesn't self-destruct during the general campaign, a distinct and growing possibility.

The media wall that has so far insulated Biden from Tara Reade's sexual abuse charge and his Ukraine and Chinese corruption can be overcome with talk radio and the internet. That is, even if the media can maintain its silence on these matters, the news of it can still get out to the general public. Furthermore, the mainstream media have an ever-growing percentage of "info-babes" and reporterettes within. And even though the large majority of them are liberal, they still might take umbrage at covering up for creepy Joe Biden. The media wall can crack at any time.

At this stage, it is impossible to say which way the DNC will jump. Sober minds in the DNC know that the odds of defeating President Trump in November are long no matter who its nominee is. And it is hard to see Biden holding on long enough to lead the party into November. The Democrats will therefore focus on protecting their congressional candidates from a wipeout. From this perspective, Andrew Cuomo is a decent choice to replace Biden. Cuomo would be selected not so much in the hope of defeating Donald Trump, but to avoid a rout of downline Democrat candidates. And the DNC sees an additional advantage to a Cuomo candidacy. It would boost the New York governor's prospects in 2024, thus driving a stake through the heart of the radical movement.

The DNC is in the unenviable position of damned if it does and damned if it doesn't, which is only good news for America.
With a handful of states reopening parts of their economies, a coronavirus model routinely cited by the White House warns that no state should be opening before May 1.

South Carolina and Georgia, which are leading the pack to get their economic engines humming again this week, should not open until June 5 and June 19, respectively, according to the model maintained by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. It was updated Tuesday.

Your coronavirus questions answered

Montana has the best forecast at May 1, while the only other states that should open by May 10, the model says, are Alaska, Hawaii, North Carolina, Vermont and West Virginia. North Carolina is the only of the six states with more than 1,000 cases, as of Wednesday afternoon.

About half the states in the country should remain closed until May 25 or later, with Arizona (June 23), South Dakota (June 25), Iowa (June 26), Nebraska (June 30) and North Dakota (July 12) rounding out the bottom of the list.

The reopening dates are based on an assumption that states will have other measures in place -- aggressive testing, contact tracing, isolation, limits on the size of gatherings -- to prevent a resurgence of the virus.

The IHME model relies on a conservative threshold of one infection per 1 million people, which is the level of infection each state could conceivably manage using containment strategies, such as widespread testing, contact tracing and isolation of new cases, according to an explanation of the model.

While the model has been influential, it is one of many, and the IHME has warned against relying too heavily on its projections.

"If I were a governor of a state, I would certainly not make a decision based just on our model," IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray said in a virtual news briefing last week.

Another IHME model offered more grim news, as the projected US death toll by August jumped 10%, to 66,000.

The change came as states began updating their death tallies, adding residents of nursing homes whom officials are now counting as presumptive positives, Murray said Tuesday.

Experts to states: Slow down

As the numbers grow, the timeline for relaxing social distancing measures should be slowed down, Murray said.

Murray's team was taken aback when Georgia, which still has a high number of infections, announced it would soon ease restrictions, he said. Gov. Brian Kemp has said his state is prepared to handle an uptick in cases as businesses begin reopening Friday.

"If people start to go back to normal social interaction or even progressively go back, the risk of transmission will go up ... and then you go back to the sort of exponential rise that was happening before we put in social distancing," Murray told CNN. "The risk is very great for resurgence from these early openings."

That's as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director gave an ominous forecast of a possible second wave of the virus in the winter.

"There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Robert Redfield told The Washington Post. "We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time."

The US has recorded more than 839,000 infections and at least 46,000 deaths.

News emerged Wednesday that the first death in the nation -- previously believed to the February 29 death of a patient in Kirkland, Washington -- actually came February 6 in Santa Clara County, California.

California is first state to recommend testing for asymptomatic people

To safely move forward, experts have emphasized the country should be able to track, trace and isolate cases.

The spread is something health officials all over California are trying to tackle, now recommending coronavirus testing for asymptomatic people who live or work in high-risk environments such as nursing homes or hospitals.

The new guidelines from the state's health department were announced in a Sunday memo. They make California the first state in the nation to broaden its guidelines for testing to include those without symptoms, state health officials told CNN.

The CDC previously advised testing high-risk patients and health care workers who have symptoms, a California Department of Public Health spokesperson said.

California is averaging 14,500 coronavirus tests a day, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday, calling the number "still inadequate." The state has a long way to go before it can attempt to reopen, he said.

The US has so far conducted 4 million tests

In two plans for reopening society, economists and public health experts say millions of tests should be conducted each week before restrictions can be lifted.

One report estimates at least 3,000,000 and up to 30 million tests should be conducted weekly, while the other says the US should be conducting 20 million tests each day.

So far, the country has performed about 4 million tests. While federal officials tout the country's testing capacity, some state leaders -- including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker -- have reported that while they may have the necessary machines, they lack the materials and staff to run them.

A test that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration may mean Americans can mail in their results. The test would allow patients to collect their samples using an at-home test kit and then mail it into the lab for testing, the FDA said Tuesday.

In most states, the test could be available within weeks to patients with a doctor's order, the agency said, and FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn told "CBS This Morning" that may mean the country "could double the number of tests that are done in a very short period of time."

States are grappling with how to move forward

Despite the questions surrounding tests, many US governors and mayors have turned their attention to reopening their economies.

In a startling interview on CNN, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said the city's businesses should reopen, but she refused to provide any social distancing guidelines on how to do so safely.

"I am not a private owner. That's the competition in this country. The free enterprise and to be able to make sure that what you offer the public meets the needs of the public," Goodman, an independent, told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday.

"Right now, we're in a crisis health-wise, and so for a restaurant to be open or a small boutique to be open, they better figure it out. That's their job. That's not the mayor's job."

Last week, the federal government said in order to launch the first of three phases of reopening, states should wait to see a 14-day decline in cases.

South Carolina and Georgia have hit neither milestone but announced they'll be easing restrictions.

Atlanta is exploring whether the city has legal grounds for putting different orders in place than what Kemp has announced, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN on Tuesday

"I am at a loss as to what the governor is basing this decision on," she said.

In Boston, officials have plenty of work to do to contain the virus, Mayor Marty Walsh told CNN, and it's "pretty scary" to think some states are considering reopening.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced certain stores are allowed to open at 20% capacity, and beaches can reopen, too, but schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year.

In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee announced most businesses across the state will be able to reopen May 1, once the state's stay-at-home order has expired -- but hinted some may be able to open sooner.

California's governor was not optimistic about the timeline for the return to normalcy.

"No one wants to share that information more with you than I do," Newsom said at the start of his daily press conference. But he stopped short with the words, "There is no date."
Anatoly Moskvin was a self-proclaimed expert on cemeteries and dubbed himself a "necropolyst." Too bad he took this expertise to unhealthy levels.

The historian was arrested after 29 girls' corpses from the ages of 3 to 25 were discovered to be mummified in his apartment in the central Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

The bodysnatcher dressed the corpses in knee-high boots with lipstick for his collection. He would hold tea parties with his dolls.

Psychiatrists claimed that they cured Moskvin, 53, in 2018 and recommended outpatient treatment for him but then remarkably reversed their claim.

Police discovered the brightly dressed dolls with their faces and limbs covered in cloth in the grave robber's flat and garage. Officials said he was charged with desecrating bodies and graves.

It was unclear whether each doll consisted of human remains.

A video was released by police officials showing an eerie collection of what looked like life-sized dolls clothed in shabby dresses and headscarves with their faces and hands wrapped in fabric. Some had platinum blonde wigs. Some of the corpses had music boxes inserted into their rib cages, making them have sounds when interacted with them. Also, some had buttons or toy eyes in their eye sockets, so he could "watch cartoons with them."

"During a search of his flat and garage, 29 self-made, life-size dolls dressed in the clothes of buried people were found," according to a spokesman for police officials in Nizhny Novgorod, located 400 km (250 miles) east of Moscow.

The concept of a fully-grown man keeping a huge collection of life-sized dolls in his parents' house, which was where Moskvin was lived, was said to be very creepy in its own right.

Also Read: Kentucky Mayor Finds Woman Hiding in His House Cellar

Moskvin reportedly spent an inordinate amount of time in cemeteries doing legitimate academic work. He dug up 150 graves.

After being jailed and sentenced to compulsory psychiatric treatment, the deranged man is now freed as the order keeping him in the secure hospital expired in December 2018. The relatives of the deceased young girls whose bodies were turned into dolls were outraged after Moskvin's release.

The mother of Moskvin's initial victim, Natalia Chardymova, believes he should remain in custody for the remainder of his life.

"This monster brought fear, dread, and panic in my (lifetime). I shudder to think he will have liberty to go where he needs. Neither my family nor the families of the other victims will have the ability to sleep peacefully. I insist on a life sentence. Only under medical supervision, without the right of free movement," she said.

It has now emerged that he will not stand trial for his dreadful crimes.

Moskvin speaks 13 languages and was labeled by some as a "genius."

The genius was previously noted for finding sex disgusting.

He had told detectives who found the morbid collection of corpses in his flat "not to rebury the girls too deeply because I will gather them again when I am free."

Related Article: 5-Year-Old Boy Dead After Playing 'Bite Game' With Mother's Boyfriend

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The patients in the isolation facility will be monitored by the doctors and nurses of Narayana Health City

Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys and Narayana Health, one of the largest healthcare provider in the country, launched a 100-room quarantine facility for COVID patients in the vicinity of Narayana health city in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The facility, aimed at serving patients belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society, will accommodate patients, provide regular monitoring by doctors, nurses, and essential medication free of cost.

The patients in the isolation facility will be monitored by the doctors and nurses of Narayana Health City. This partnership is another step in the Foundations efforts to expand hospital and quarantine facilities and ensure proper medical treatment for the patients belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society.

Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, said, Diseases often hit the underprivileged the hardest, because not only can they not afford proper treatment, but they also lose livelihood when they are dealing with the illness. This is a small effort by the Foundation to ensure that the underserved people of our society get access to clean, hygienic accommodation as well as appropriate medical treatment. We are thankful to Narayana Health City for their partnership and the thoughtfulness of this initiative.

Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health, said, We are pleased to partner with Infosys Foundation to open this 100-room quarantine facility for underprivileged patients. Providing safe-spaces, with proper medical care to enable patients to isolate themselves, will play a big role in Indias fight against COVID-19, and we thank Infosys Foundation for their support in this endeavor.

Earlier this week, Infosys Foundation announced its commitment of INR 100 crore to help the government with COVID-19 relief efforts.
WASHINGTON - Roger Stone, a longtime confidant of President Donald Trump, is appealing his three-year prison sentence following his conviction as part of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation.

Stones lawyers filed the notice of appeal Thursday in federal court in Washington. They are appealing his prison sentence and a judges order denying Stones request for a new trial based on Stones accusations of jury bias.

Stone was convicted in November on all seven counts of an indictment that accused him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign co-ordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election.

Stone was the sixth Trump aide or adviser to be convicted on charges brought as part of Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Stone remains free as he awaits a date to surrender to a federal prison system that has grappled with outbreaks of the coronavirus.

FBI records released this week also revealed the extent of communications between Stone and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, as well as efforts by associates of Trump to glean inside details about Russia-hacked emails that WikiLeaks was going to publish. Those associates expected the email would embarrass Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 race.

After his conviction, Stone claimed the jury forewoman was biased. He petitioned for a new trial and Stones lawyers have alleged misconduct after some jurors spoke out publicly following the case. The judge presiding over his case, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, held a hearing and called nearly all the jurors back in a highly unusual move.

Jackson said Stones lawyers had not proved the forewoman was biased or that any jurors acted inappropriately.

The prosecutors on Stones trial team quit the case in February after Justice Department leaders, including Attorney General William Barr, overruled their initial sentencing recommendation for Stone of between seven to nine years and ordered the filing of a new sentencing memorandum. The department backed away from its initial recommendation hours after the president tweeted his displeasure with it.

Barr has said he ordered the new filing hours before the presidents tweet because he was caught off guard by the initial sentencing recommendation and believed it was excessive based on the facts of the case.

The presidents tweets about the case led to a brief flare-up between Barr and Trump.
HMS Queen Elizabeth has sailed from Portsmouth today to ensure she is ready to conduct her first operational deployment in 2021.

HMS Queen Elizabeth has sailed from Portsmouth today to ensure she is ready to conduct her first operational deployment in 2021.

HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves her home port of Portsmouth in January 2020 to conduct sea trials with the lightning jets in UK waters (Picture source: Royal Navy)

The Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier will undergo several weeks of training and assessment with the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) to ensure the UK can deliver on its commitment to have a Carrier Strike Group ready to deploy from the end of this year.

While many Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel from the regular and reserve forces remain ashore supporting the current national fight against COVID-19, the ships company of HMS Queen Elizabeth are focused on ensuring that UK Defence remains prepared for future global threats.

HMS Queen Elizabeth will be put through her paces in UK waters off the south coast, facing simulated battle damage, fires and floods, as well as warfare training and mission rehearsals.

The training will include more qualifying training for UK F35 Lightning fighter jet crews, who will be conducting practice manoeuvres from her decks, giving vital experience to the aircrews and ships company involved in air operations.

This training will prepare the ship for further training later in the year with other Royal Navy ships to ensure they are ready to deploy as a task group next year.

All personnel sailing with the ship have undergone testing for coronavirus. As a further precaution, HMS Queen Elizabeth will conduct a period of isolation at sea, before she starts her training with the FOST staff.

She will be operating in waters close to the UK coast and the Commanding Officer has the discretion to cease the training if it is deemed necessary.

HMS Queen Elizabeth has a key role to play in the Defence of the United Kingdom and the Royal Navy will continue to conduct essential training ashore and at sea in order to fulfil its critical outputs now and in the future. Her sailing today marks yet another significant milestone in the regeneration of the United Kingdoms carrier strike capability.
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

David Toren, a Holocaust survivor and patent lawyer who waged a single-minded quest to recover art looted from his family by the Nazis, died on April 19 at his home in Manhattan. He was 94.

The cause was the novel coronavirus, his son, Peter Toren, said.

Mr. Torens campaign to recover the stolen works drew headlines when a painting by Max Liebermann, Two Riders on the Beach, surfaced in the collection of Cornelius Gurlitt, an elderly recluse. Mr. Gurlitt had hoarded the art he inherited from his father, a dealer for the Nazis, in his homes in Munich and Salzburg. Mr. Toren had been searching for the painting for years.

Images of the work with other rediscovered paintings were displayed at a news conference given by the state prosecutor in Augsburg, Germany, in November 2013. By then Mr. Toren was blind, a consequence of a severe case of shingles, but he could remember last seeing the painting hanging in his great-uncles villa in Germany 75 years earlier  on Nov. 10, 1938, the day after Kristallnacht. The Gestapo eventually seized his great-uncles art collection, and Two Riders wound up in the hands of an unscrupulous museum director, who sold it to Mr. Gurlitts father.
Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of household maids in Latin America, were furloughed due to the global pandemic without receiving their salary. Two reasons for their death could be the virus or hunger.



Maids in Latin America

Millions of families not only in the United States but also in Latin America depend on their household chores and entrust their babies and elderlies to their household maids. Most of them are paid $4 a day with no benefits.

They are one of the sectors that are hit by this global pandemic because families who belong to the middle class have to let go of their workers due to financial constraints.

This means that thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of families of the household maids, are now starving to death, most especially those who only depend on them.

In 2018, an Oscar-winning movie, "Roma," showed the world about the life of domestic helpers. Some have to sleep in rooms located at the roof of their employers while others are renting a room. It was also shown in the movie on how they took care of their employer's children more than themselves.

Now, these situations are becoming worse. Those who stayed in their employers' homes can no longer leave the house due to the fear that they may catch the virus outside. Additionally, they are loaded with more responsibilities as more members of families are staying. Meaning, there are more cleanings to do.

Meanwhile, thousands of those who are renting a house are notified not to come back anymore because of the same reason. Employers are afraid that they might be carrying the virus.



A Nationwide Survey Regarding Housemaids in Brazil

Household maids became a very trending topic in Brazil. Brazilian actress Maite Proenca posted a humorous video of her giving instructions about how to use the vacuum who use it for the first time. She said that everyone needs to value those who are doing it daily and recommend to pay them continually.

Recently, a survey was conducted in Brazil, which was initiated by Locamotiva. Around 1,131 people participated in the nationwide poll during mid-April. The study revealed that 39 percent of employers furloughed their maids without paying them.

Meanwhile, additional results of the study revealed that the same percentage of household maids in the country where employers still allow their maids to work and continually pay them. At the same time, almost a quarter still has with them their maids working while the rest chose to stop due to COVID-19.



Maids in Mexico

In Mexico, household maids who are stuck in their employers' houses have more workloads from families who now stay at home with the same pay. Some of the employers are not allowing their maids to go out to visit their children or to visit a doctor.

One of the household maids, who chose not to be named, said: "Today I feel very bad, so I asked for permission to go to the hospital. My employer said I couldn't go. She said, 'Don't you remember, we can't go out?' But she still has people coming in to visit her. How is that a quarantine?"

Meanwhile, the National Union of Domestic Workers has complained already that there are employers who are asking their workers to use more aggressive chemicals in disinfecting their house. An example of this is chlorine bleach, which is mixed with other chemicals that can release toxic vapors.

The Union said that if this pandemic will continue there are only two reasons why household maids will die. It is either the virus or hunger.



Read related articles:
BIOGRAPHY

HOUSE OF GLASS

By Hadley Freeman (4th Estate 16.99, 464pp)

Sara Glass is young, beautiful and in love, living life to the full in 1930s Paris, when suddenly, in the face of growing anti-Semitism and the imminent threat of war, the best decision  and the one her family pushes her to make  is to leave her fiance and travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic to New York to marry a man shes met only once and for whom she has no feelings.

This is the source of the palpable sadness that emanates from Hadley Freemans paternal grandmother, Sara Glass, and which caused Freeman to be both fascinated and distanced from her in her lifetime.

Hadley Freeman reflects on the life of her paternal grandmother Sara Glass (pictured) in a fascinating new biography

After Saras death and in an attempt finally to know her, Freeman, then a fashion journalist, resolved to write about her grandmothers faultless French sense of style. Rifling through Saras impeccably maintained closet in Florida, she uncovered a red shoe box containing secrets in the form of papers, photographs and an enigmatic sketch by Picasso.

As so many family memoirs find their genesis, Freeman realised that she now had a bigger, better story to tell. With her fathers help and painstaking research, she spent the next decade piecing together the lives of her grandmother and her three brothers.

Born Jehuda, Jakob, Sender and Sala Glahs, the four siblings fled the pogroms in former Austria-Hungary for Paris in the 1920s to become respectively Henri, Jacques, Alex and Sara Glass. The trajectory of each of their lives represents a separate strand of 20th century Jewish experience, a story that goes far beyond personal past to the political present.

Jacques makes his home in the Jewish ghetto in the Marais and, in 1940, on his return from a stint in the Foreign Legion, obeys orders to register as Jewish  with tragic and predictable consequences. Jacques was in the first round-up of foreign Jews and sent to the Nazi transit camp, Pithiviers.

Allowed home briefly to meet his new-born daughter, his brothers exhort him to run, but Jacques wife Mila says he must return to the camp as he has given his word. His reward is deportation and death in Auschwitz-Birkenau, just 18 km from the town of his birth in Poland.

Jehuda, now Henri Glass, invents the Omniphot, a prototype of a photocopier, which was able to copy documents to thumbnail-sized microfilm, a machine that came into its own during the war and made him a rich man after its end. He and his wife, Sonia, survive the war in hiding in Paris, secretly returning periodically to their registered address to destroy the notices affixed there denouncing them as Jews and revealing their hiding place.

Finally granted French nationality after the war, even in the 1960s they carry their Jewishness like a guilty secret and practise their religion away from their grandchildren.

Sara had met her husband, Bill, only once in Paris when he fell in love with her at first sight. Pictured: Sara Glass with Picasso

Sender becomes Alex Maguy, the most colourful of the siblings. A man who was keen to assimilate as quickly as possible and became, improbably, a noted couturier, it is Alexs unpublished memoir that provides much of the source material and the starting point for Freemans research as she seeks to corroborate his claims.

In it, he writes of his arrival in Paris, I wanted to know everything, to devour life like a man eating a big chunk of meat.

He opened his own couture salon at the age of 20 and kept company with the likes of Marc Chagall and Maurice Chevalier. He employed Christian Dior as his assistant and, in his bid to belong, he made clothes that were Frencher than French, an expression of love for his adopted country.

Freeman does not shy away from the cloud that hung over Alex after the war when many felt that, despite his membership of the resistance, his survival may have been due to him spying or collaborating. After the war, Alex reopened his Paris salon and went on to become an art dealer with great success, counting Picasso as a friend and Hollywood movie stars of the day as his clients. The mysterious Picasso in the shoebox was a gift from the artist to Sara.

80,000 Number of Jewish people deported from France in WW2 Advertisement

Saras own story, the impetus for Freemans book, is harder for the author to grasp, just as her grandmother was herself.

By her own admission, it is easier for her to write about her uncles because they led lives of masculine adventure which were then recorded in official archives, whereas her grandmother represented a quiet, feminine domestic hidden life.

Prior to her arrival in the U.S, Sara had met her husband, Bill, only once in Paris when he fell in love with her at first sight.

Forced by her family to flee her beloved home in the belief not only that Bill would keep Sara safe, but that he would be able to provide safe passage to America for all of them if necessary, Sara complied and moved to America but, emotionally, she never really unpacked her bags there.

HOUSE OF GLASS By Hadley Freeman (4th Estate 16.99, 464pp)

Isolated and unhappy in her new home in Farmingdale, Long Island, rising anti-Semitism soon caused Sara, her husband and their two sons to move to Manhasset and change their name from Freiman to the less Jewish Freeman.

House Of Glass, like Stoppards latest play Leopoldstadt (which tells the story of a Viennese family in the same period), is a personal family narrative that speaks to a far wider issue.

Freemans account of the Glass familys story spans the 20th century from Henris birth in 1901 to Alexs death in 1999, and their lives reflect the most dramatic shift, from the Holocaust to American immigration and the founding of Israel to assimilation.

The book resonates not only for all of us in the Jewish diaspora, estranged and distanced from our larger families by our long history of persecution, but for those separated from their loved ones by intolerant and repressive regimes.

Its also a timely warning from history, drawing a line from the anti-Semitism of the late 19th century to the cultural and religious intolerance increasingly expressed today. Freeman reveals the complexity of how culpability for the Holocaust stretched beyond Nazi Germanys borders to all countries with anti-Semitic legislation that prevented immigration and integration.

This is a deeply moving book, part history, part detective story, part memoir, peopled by colourful and memorable characters that breathe beyond the confines of its pages, their lives stitched into the era in which they lived, while their spirits reach far beyond it.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a revolutionary technology for the treatment of patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis. Demand for TAVR has grown tremendously across Canada, but there are significant differences in capacity and wait-times across the country with some patients waiting up to 60 percent longer for the procedure, report investigators in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, published by Elsevier.

Aortic stenosis restricts the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, reducing blood flow to the rest of the body, and may also affect the pressure in the left atrium. TAVR has emerged as the treatment of choice for elderly patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis. A minimally invasive surgical procedure, it repairs the valve without removing the old, damaged valve. Instead, the procedure "wedges" a replacement valve into the aortic valve's place via a catheter inserted through a blood vessel in the leg or chest. Importantly, it can be performed in patients with medical conditions that make them unfit for full open heart surgery.

In the past, such patients needed open heart surgery for surgical aortic valve replacement or would be untreated. TAVR is a transformative treatment. There has been an exponential growth in demand in Canada. However, in some provinces there has not been a corresponding growth in capacity." Harindra C. Wijeysundera, MD, Ph.D., Schulich Heart Centre, Divisions of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES); and Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Investigators looked at the increase in the number of procedures across Canada and determined whether there are differences in access based on wait-times depending on geographic location. TAVR procedures are currently performed by 29 TAVR programs, which involve 31 hospitals across nine of the 12 Canadian provinces and territories. Researchers identified nearly 5,000 TAVR procedures that took place from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2017 across these nine provinces. Wait-time was defined as the number of days from the initial referral for the TAVR procedure. They found that despite a year-over-year increase in overall capacity, there was a greater than three-fold difference in capacity among provinces.

They also noted a marked variation in wait-times across Canada, for example, from 71.5 days in Newfoundland to 190.5 and 203 days in Manitoba and Alberta, respectively. On average, the same patient could potentially wait up to sixty percent longer in some provinces compared to others.

"The current study is very concerning in that there are long waits for TAVR and that these are markedly different across the country. Being on the waiting list for TAVR for long periods is associated with increased risk of death and hospitalization," noted Dr. Wijeysundera. "Such inequity is a call for policy makers across Canada to re-evaluate provincial funding mechanisms for this therapy to ensure that every Canadian has access to the standard of care for aortic stenosis in a timely fashion."

In an accompanying editorial, Janarthanan Sathananthan, MBChB, MPH, and Kenneth Gin, MD, both of the Centre for Heart Valve Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia; Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation, University of British Columbia; and Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada, noted that in Canada, TAVR is currently offered predominantly to patients of high and intermediate surgical risk. "As TAVR expands to low risk patients with increasing demand on TAVR services, these inequalities may continue to worsen and may result in poor outcomes," added Dr. Sathananthan.

The ability to increase patient capacity and reduce waiting time does not necessarily require an increase in resources wrote Dr. Sathananthan and Dr. Gin, observing that in some situations, inequalities can be reduced by improving processes of care. Two recently reported studies have demonstrated that by optimizing and delivering consistent care before, during, and after the procedure, patients can achieve a high rate of safe next-day discharge, which has the potential to increase both access to care and patient volume, while using current resources.

"While achieving consistent, reproducible care is desirable at a center level, there is a need for national guidelines for TAVR care across Canada," commented Dr. Gin. "Improving access to healthcare for TAVR patients will require both provincial and national coordination. This is of importance as TAVR increasingly becomes an accepted alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis."
An 18-year-old man is facing a murder charge after he allegedly drove into a skateboarder in a Vancouver parking lot Wednesday and killed him.

Joshua Jones, 18, is booked in the Clark County Jail on one count of second-degree murder.

Vancouver police said they found a 45-year-old man trapped under a car around 1:05 p.m. in a shopping complex parking lot near East Fourth Plain Boulevard and Stapleton Road.

Police said the man, whose name they did not release, had been skateboarding in the parking lot when he allegedly approached Jones vehicle and punched the window.

Police said witnesses told them that Jones made a U-turn in his car and drove toward the man, and didnt brake until after he had struck him.

Witnesses tried to free the man by using a car jack, the Vancouver Fire Department said. Fire and rescue crews were eventually able to free him.

Emergency responders transported the man to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, the fire department said.

Police said the man later died at the hospital.Officers interviewed Jones and arrested him later.

Police did not release any more information about what happened between the two men before the collision. Vancouver Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said she hadnt heard anything about the two men having known each other previously. She said as far as she knows, Jones remained at or near the scene after he hit the man.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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JEREMIAH GRAHAM, Chariho, Boys Basketball, Junior; Graham scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a victory over Cranston West. Graham is averaging 13.1 points per game.

JESSE SAMO, Westerly, Boys Basketball, Sophomore; Samo made a baseline game-winning shot with 0.8 seconds remaining as Westerly beat Central by two points in overtime. Samo made four 3-pointers in the game and scored 21 points. He is averaging 10.9 points per contest.

KEITH ZARDIES, Wheeler, Boys Basketball, Sophomore; Zardies scored 15 points and made seven steals as Wheeler beat Putnam. The 15 points was a season high. Zardies is averaging 10.1 points and 3.9 steals per game.

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Off-screen Hollyoaks couple Gregory Finnegan and Ariana Fraval have celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary by sharing a series of photos from their big day on social media.

The couple exchanged vows in 2011, five years before Gregory made his first appearance on the Channel 4 soap as James Nightingale and eight-years before Ariana made hers, playing DS Cohen.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the pair - who raise three children - paid tribute to on another by looking back at their wedding day while privately celebrating the milestone.

Memories: Off-screen Hollyoaks couple Gregory Finnegan and Ariana Fraval have celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary by sharing a series of photos from their big day on social media

Sharing a photo of himself and Ariana raising a toast at their reception, Gregory wrote: '9 Years since we tied the knot...!  this girl.'

Meanwhile Ariana posted her own throwback photo of the couple sharing a kiss after exchanging vows, adding: 'Happy 9th wedding anniverary to my one and only.'

Hours earlier Gregory wished his Best Man on the day, former actor Jonny de Mallet Morgan, all the best for his 40th birthday by sharing a shot of his close friend giving a speech at his wedding.

I do: Ariana posted a own throwback photo of the couple sharing a kiss after exchanging vows, adding, 'Happy 9th wedding anniverary to my one and only'

Speaking in 2019, Gregory admitted he was delighted to be working with his wife after her casting in Hollyoaks, but admitted they were struggling to balance work with their responsibility as parents.

He told the Radio Times: 'Now my wife has joined the show any change in the filming schedules is a double whammy for childcare. So it's all go, it makes things somewhat difficult but we are getting through it!

'It's lovely having her here. The first scenes she did were actually with me when James had to identify the body.

Have a good one: Hours earlier Gregory wished his Best Man on the day, former actor Jonny de Mallet Morgan, all the best for his 40th birthday

'She has got to know the cast and is making friends - now she finally can put faces to the names I've been talking about all these years! It's good fun working with her.'

The Chester based show is currently suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with no clear indication as to when it will return.

Issuing a statement in March, Channel 4 revealed they would air a Hollyoaks Favourites series on E4 from April 2 while winding down production of the show.

It read: 'Soaps are an important part of people's lives and we have 25 years of Hollyoaks Favourites to revisit over coming weeks, celebrating the history of the show that you love.

'We will remain as present as ever on our social platforms so please keep in touch with us here, stay safe and take care of yourselves. Thank you for your ongoing support.'
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The New York City Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in identifying two men sought for questioning in connection to a burglary at a gas station in Fort Wadsworth.

The robbery happened at the Mobil gas station, located at 5 Fingerboard Rd., on Saturday, April 11 at 3:25 a.m., police said.

The two men allegedly forced their way into the gas station through the front door and, once inside, they removed the cash register that contained about $500, the NYPD said in a statement.

The men fled on foot on Fingerboard Road, according to police.

The NYPD provided surveillance photos taken from the gas station.

Anyone with information in regard to the identities of the individuals is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls will remain confidential.
Chick-fil-A founder's daughter on how mother's quiet faith, strength led to company's success

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Trudy Cathy White, the daughter of Chick-fil-A's founder S. Truett Cathy and his wife, Jeannette, shared how the faith and quiet strength of her mother contributed to the massive success of the fast-food restaurant beloved by millions of Americans.

White sat down with The Christian Post to discuss her new book, A Quiet Strength, which recounts the life and legacy of Jeannette Cathy, who died in 2015 at the age of 92. Truett Cathy preceded her in death in 2014.

A lot of people know about my dad who invented Chick-fil-A in 1946; theyve heard his story and read a great deal about him, White said. But the story of my mother has never been told. She was such an inspiration to our family. In fact, we would say that we would not be who we are, nor would the business be what it is today, had it not been for the influence of our mom.

When Truett and Jeanette Cathy first married, they worked side-by-side, faithfully building up the Chick-fil-A business, White revealed.

My mother worked as a waitress and did all the accounting and bookkeeping for the restaurant, she recalled. And then when children came along, she realized that my dad was going to be working long hours, and she needed to be a stay at home mom and work from there.

But she did not take that calling lightly at all, she said. She actually is what I call a domestic engineer. She took care of that house, she kept everything organized. She took us wherever we needed to be. And she felt a sense of calling and fulfillment in that.

According to White, her mother was dubbed the "Chief Supporting Officer" for the positive, uplifting way she championed her husband, family, and the company behind-the-scenes.

She was the support behind my dad and everything that he did, White added. She always wanted to make sure that when he walked out the door, he was ready to be able to do his very best. Because of her, he was able to be successful."

The companys dedication to prayer and biblical principles, she said, is largely due to Jeannettes influence. She described her mother as having a simple, yet powerful motto she lived by: "You can with God."

My mother was a prayer warrior, White said. A big part of our culture at Chick-fil-A is to pray for one another, and that is the influence of my mother that has permeated the restaurant culture. She, like my father, believed good business practices are a result of good biblical principles, and we can apply those biblical principles to the practices that we have in business. She believed that God really has the formula for success in life.

The goal of our restaurants is to be a faithful steward of what's been entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A, she continued. So much of this stemmed from mom's intimate walk with the Lord. She would constantly challenge us to make sure that we were stewarding well what God's entrusted to us.

The companys policy of closing on Sunday, White revealed, was also influenced by her mother, who believed in the importance of taking a day of rest after a long work week.

My father would work so hard for six days, and hed physically be very tired, she said. He and my mother decided it was best to close on Sunday because the Bible teaches that we need to take a day of rest to honor the Lord.

Thats why, today, we're committed as a family to keep our restaurants closed on Sunday, White added. Not only is it a big help to our staff to realize they have that day off, but we know it's an opportunity to really honor God through it.

Jeanettes love for her Heavenly Father was birthed from a place of longing, White said, explaining that her grandfather had abandoned her mother when she was just 3 months old.

She (my mom) was raised by a single mother, White recalled. When she realized that she could be a child of God's, she was just enthralled by that and realized that she wanted to give her life to Christ and follow Him. Her Heavenly Father became her perfect Father for the rest of her life.

My mother understood that life can be tough, and there are a lot of difficulties that we all have to face, she continued, but we get to choose how we respond to our circumstances. Jesus was so real to her; she talked to Him, sang songs to Him, memorized Scripture, and challenged us to walk with the Lord as well. She would always say: Remember whose you are. She wanted to help us to remember that our identity is wrapped up in who God is and what He's doing in our lives and not in who we are, what we do, or what we have accomplished.

Though she worked at the family business for many years, White and her husband, John, went on to serve as missionaries in Brazil. Later, they co-founded Lifeshape and the Impact 360 Institute, two faith-based nonprofit organizations. Married for 40 years, the couple has four children and 15 grandchildren.

My mother was not just an incredible role model for me as a person as a follower of Christ, but as a wife, mother, and grandmother as well, White said. She prayed for all of us and was our biggest encourager. There's a great verse In Isaiah that says, In quietness and trust is your strength. And that is the reflection of who my mom was.

Today, alongside her brothers, Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A, and Bubba Cathy, senior vice-president of the fast-food chain, White continues to support the family business and carry on her parents' legacy of faith and perseverance.

I hope my mothers story encourages other women  whether they are businesswomen or stay-at-home mothers  to know that they can make a significant, God-glorifying impact wherever they are, White said. A lot of times women feel that if theyre not in the spotlight, they cant be much of an influence. But my mother was perhaps the greatest influence behind both the success of Chick-fil-A and her family due to her faith and quiet strength.

My mother, she added, was willing to step aside and let others get the praise. She always said, If you help others get what they want in life, youll get what you want out of life. Thats the challenge my mother took on. She helped others achieve what they wanted to achieve because she didnt need the praise. Her identity was firmly placed in Christ, and thats an example I think will inspire all women.
Islamabad: Pakistan's Sindh government has approached the Supreme Court, seeking an early hearing of its appeal which challenged the provincial high court's verdict that acquitted British-born top al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi in 2002.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

The Sindh government last week challenged in the Supreme Court the provincial High Court's April 2 dated order that overturned the murder conviction and found Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping.

It also acquitted three other persons namely Sheikh Adil, Fahad Naseem and Salman Saqib, who had earlier been sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi.

In the new application filed on Tuesday, the Sindh government apprised the Supreme Court that there was apprehension about Sheikh's absconsion as there was strong evidence of his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of the American journalist, the Dawn newspaper reported.

"The matter is of great urgency, therefore, the application for the suspension of April 2 Sindh High Court judgement be heard as early as possible," the fresh application stated.

It requested the apex court to fix the hearing as early as possible, preferably in the coming week. In 2002, Omar Sheikh was arrested after a graphic video showing the American journalist's decapitation had been delivered to the US consulate. Subsequently, Sheikh was sentenced to death by the trial court.
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Boris Johnson urged Britons to 'keep going' with lockdown tonight as he prepares to signal curbs must stay until June at his first Downing Street briefing since falling ill.

Having chaired Cabinet this morning, the Prime Minister said on Twitter that he 'understands the impatience' of people to end the draconian restrictions crippling the economy.

But dashing hopes of an imminent loosening, he made clear that a new flare-up of the deadly disease would be worse. 'I must ask you to keep going in the way that you have kept going so far, so we can protect our NHS and save lives,' he said.

The reiteration of the tough lockdown message Mr Johnson delivered on the steps of Downing Street earlier this week comes as he puts the 'R' number - the reproduction rate of the virus - at the heart of the battle. He will insist nothing can be done that lets it rise above one, which would mean the outbreak was growing again.

Government sources have indicated he will also defy calls to treat the public like 'grown ups' by spelling out an 'exit strategy'.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon jumped the gun at a briefing in Edinburgh earlier, saying she believed it would be 'too early' when the formal review happens next week to lift restrictions 'in any meaningful way'. She also voiced alarm that people were already starting to flout the social distancing rules - revealing traffic was up 10 per cent in the past week in some parts of Scotland.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan delivered an even bleaker assessment, warning there will be 'no return to life as it was' and suggesting it will be a long time before bars and restaurants can reopen.

Downing Street said it was clear Britons were going to need to adjust their lives for 'a long period of time'.

Despite the hard line in public, frantic work has been going on behind the scenes to develop an 'exit plan'. Island communities with controllable transport links are set to be used to trial ways of loosening restrictions while ramping up community testing. The Isle of Wight will be among the first pilot sites.

In other developments with no end in sight to the crisis:

Britain today announced 473 more coronavirus deaths in hospitals, taking the UK's official death toll to 26,570;

A report has warned that London's transport network could be crippled when the UK eases lockdown measures after TfL furloughed 7,000 staff;

Ministers have admitted that the government will 'probably' miss Matt Hancock's target for carrying out 100,000 tests a day;

A poll has found two-thirds of the public believe the government acted too late in imposing the lockdown;

Fresh questions have been raised about the SAGE group amid claims that it has been influenced by politicians and senior officials;

NHS fundraising hero Tom Moore has been promoted to colonel and honoured with an RAF flypast to mark his 100th birthday;

Top surgeons have warned thousands of people will die of Covid-19 if Britain's strict lockdown is lifted at this stage, saying the NHS must not be used as a 'punchbag' to avoid economic damage;

Germany has said its coronavirus reproduction rate is 0.76, well below the growth level of one, despite fears over easing of curbs. But scientists have warned the UK has less room to manoeuvre on lockdown because it has far fewer intensive care beds

Boris Johnson pictured chairing Cabinet in No10 today for the first time since he recovered from coronavirus

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland (left) said in interviews this morning that the mood among ministers was 'extreme caution', endorsing a strong hint from Nicola Sturgeon (right at a briefing in Edinburgh today) that restrictions will be extended for another three weeks when the formal review takes place on May 7

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty was in Downing Street for the Cabinet meeting this morning

Scotland: Apple data for Scotland shows driving activity is slightly higher than the rest of the UK. Driving across the rest of the UK was down 58 per cent from baseline on Tuesday compared to 54 per cent north of the border. Many areas of Scotland are remote with limited public transport links

UK: Department of Transport data also shows that traffic across the UK is slowly increasing. It recorded a 3% rise in traffic across the UK this week when compared to last week. Use of Public transport including the tube its still very low

Ministers finally admit they will MISS Matt Hancock's 100,000-a-day testing target TODAY as NHS chiefs say the number is a 'red herring' Ministers have admitted they face missing Matt Hancock's coronavirus testing target today - as experts brand it a 'red herring' that has hampered the response. Amid criticism that the UK was lagging behind countries such as South Korea and Germany, the Health Secretary dramatically pledged on April 2 that 100,000 checks a day would be carried out by the end of the month. But while daily capacity is now over 70,000 the number of actual tests is still running at barely half the goal. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland conceded this morning that the aim was 'probably' going to be missed, blaming the fact the government started from a 'low base' and saying he now hoped the figures would reach the mark in the next few days. NHS Providers, which represents health service trusts, has launched a scathing attack on Mr Hancock's handling of the situation, saying the push to hit the number has been a 'distraction' and led to chaotic expansion. Advertisement

Mr Johnson's appearance at the press briefing tonight will be his first since resuming charge at Downing Street on Monday, and will come less than 36 hours after his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth to their son.

The premier has delayed his paternity leave until later in the year as the country struggles to fight off the coronavirus outbreak.

At the briefing in Edinburgh today, Ms Sturgeon said: 'It may very well be too early even this time next week in any meaningful way to safely lift the current restrictions...

'The margins we have for making sure the virus doesn't take off again are really really tight.'

She said overall traffic in Scotland was up 5 per cent over the past week, even though it is still less than a third of pre-lockdown levels.

'In some of our town and city roads traffic has been 10 per cent higher than in the week before,' she said.

She asked people to think about if they were now 'a little more active' than they had been at the start of lockdown.

'You might think it is only you making an extra journey, and it is only one trip. And you might feel you deserve it after weeks of restraint. Believe me, I really understand all of that.

'But all of it adds up. And if everybody starts easing off, the virus will quickly take off again and it will have devastating consequences for all of us.'

Writing in the Evening Standard, Mr Khan took an even harder line. 'There will be no return to life as it was  instead we face a new normal even once lockdown is eased,' he wrote.

'We may be able to occasionally see our closest loved ones  but interactions will be limited and for a while there will be no larger gatherings.

'While non-essential shops will be able to reopen after introducing social distancing measures, it is difficult to see how this can safely be extended to bars, restaurants or social spaces in a practicable way soon.

'And most people who are currently able to work from home will need to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.'

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said in interviews this morning that the mood among ministers was 'extreme caution'.

He said: 'I think the common thread between the Governments is one of extreme caution following the evidence of the Sage committee, making sure that we don't do anything in a premature way that could risk a second spike. That would be a disaster.'

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think, within Government, there is already a lot of work going on as to what the future is going to look like - I think it would be a dereliction of duty if we didn't do that.

'Certainly in my department, I'm looking ahead now to the medium term as to what the summer and autumn are going to look like in the prison and court system. We've got to start that work, in fact the work is already under way.

'That's, of course, not saying that we're suddenly going to move into a new phase - we need to be absolutely sure that the five tests that were set out some weeks ago are going to be met, and in particular the need to avoid that second or even third spike in the disease is clear to me both in terms of health and the well-being of the economy as well.'

One No10 source said of Mr Johnson's message: 'It will very much be in the area of how we satisfy our five tests for coming out of lockdown, chief among which is making sure we don't risk another exponential rise in infections.

'It's still too early to be setting out any details of what any easing of the lockdown might look like.'

Data published yesterday showed that Britain has one of the world's worst coronavirus death rates, better only than Spain and Belgium per capita.

UK announces 473 more coronavirus deaths in hospitals - taking the total to 26,570 Britain today announced 473 more coronavirus deaths in hospitals, taking the UK's official death toll to 26,570. NHS England declared 391 COVID-19 victims, while Scotland recorded 60 and Wales posted 22. Northern Ireland has yet to announce. The Department of Health said official count, which is expected to be even higher and include deaths that occurred outside of hospitals, will be published later this afternoon. Amid fears thousands of victims were being missed, ministers caved in to mounting pressure to include COVID-19 fatalities in care homes in the daily update. Officials yesterday - the first day of the new recording scheme - added an extra 3,811 deaths onto the tally. The revised count saw Britain jump to third in the global COVID-19 fatality table, and meant Britain's daily death toll exceeded 1,000 nine times in April. But top statisticians argued the recount was still thousands short because only Brits who tested positive for the virus were included. One leading expert claimed the true number would be more than 30,000. Advertisement

Revised UK figures including deaths outside hospitals showed that there have been nine days when the death toll topped 1,000 - ranging from April 7 to as recently as April 24.

Mr Johnson chaired the daily coronavirus morning meeting, followed by meetings of his political Cabinet and full Cabinet, the PM's official spokesman said.

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance updated ministers on the response to coronavirus so far and the progress made in slowing the spread of the disease.

Secretaries of State then updated colleagues on the work their departments are doing.

The Prime Minister's gave another signal that there is little chance of a loosening before June.

He told a Westminster briefing: 'I think we will have to wait for the review to take place and I don't think it is wise for me to pre-empt that.

'What you've obviously heard from Chris Whitty is that this is a disease that is going to be around for a significant amount of time - he's said we have to be realistic, we're going to have to do a lot of things for a long period of time.'

The spokesman added: 'Let's not pre-empt the review but, as the PM himself has said, the worst thing we could do is relax the social distancing measures too soon and throw away all of the progress which has been made thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of the British public.'

Labour leader Keir Starmer said he believed a public inquiry into the coronavirus response was now 'inevitable'.

'I think the government were slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment, and may now be slow on our exit strategy,' he told ITV News.

Wales' chief medical officer warned 'there is a long way to go' in the fight against coronavirus, adding that moving forward will be 'extraordinarily difficult'.

Dr Frank Atherton told a virtual meeting of the Welsh Assembly's health committee that Covid-19 had 'many surprises' that emerged on a daily basis.

He called for a 'more systematic approach' to understanding how the virus was affecting the UK and the rest of the world, as each country has differing perspectives and responses.

Dr Atherton said the reproduction rate of the virus - the number of new cases linked to a single individual - is now less than one in Wales, meaning that lockdown measures are working.

But the meeting heard that there is little 'headroom' for an increase in infections that are likely if such measures are significantly lifted.

'We're not out of this yet and we have a long way to go,' Dr Atherton said.

London: Apple mobility data for London shows driving has increased 2 per cent this week and walking was up 8 per cent at the weekend during the sunny weather but plunged when rain hit on Monday

Slowly rising traffic: At rush hour 8am today traffic was up on the same day last week but down on yesterday . Congestion was 50 per cent below average today - almost as high as Monday's busiest day of the lockdown yet when it was 49% below average. That was a 2 per cent increase on last week

A handful of ministers and officials attended Cabinet in person today, while others joined by video conferencing

'This virus has many surprises and they pop up on a daily basis.

'Getting out of this predicament is extraordinarily difficult.

'It is one that we don't do alone, we do in concert with our colleagues across the rest of the UK, and we need to continue learning from others.

'The virus is not finished with us yet. We continue to adapt our strategy and our approaches.'

Dr Atherton said the lockdown restrictions had been successful in ensuring the NHS was not overwhelmed but warned that Wales was 'not out of the woods yet'.

He told the meeting that the 'sting in the tail' was that completely suppressing transmission risked a second or possibly third wave of the virus.

'That's something we somehow have to avoid,' he said.

Dominic Raab pointed to the perils of a premature easing last night, noting that Germany, though it contained the virus commendably, has now seen a surge in transmission since opening back up.

London's transport network could not get back to capacity for 'FOUR WEEKS' if lockdown eased London's transport network could be crippled when the UK eases lockdown measures after TfL furloughed 7,000 staff, a stark report has revealed today. The briefing to emergency planners, seen by the BBC, warns the Underground will be 'rapidly overwhelmed' if social distancing were maintained, and says police would be under pressure if needed to maintain crowd control. London's transport system would need four weeks to prepare for the new challenges, according to the 'lockdown release' briefing. The London Strategic Co-ordination Group (SCG) document stated the capacity of the Tube and buses would be cut to 15 per cent and 12 per cent respectively compared with normal levels, if a two-metre space between passengers is enforced. Militant RMT union bosses presented another hurdle last week, saying there was 'zero chance' their workers would return without proper PPE  as London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged Londoners to wear masks when they travel. Britain is beginning to see a return to some normality as traffic returns to the country's motorways - but the Government insists it does not want to lift lockdown measures too early while the country is still facing a 'dangerous moment' in the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement

'Chancellor Merkel has made it clear that they might need a second lockdown in Germany if the infection rate continues to rise,' the Foreign Secretary said at the Downing Street briefing.

Despite the tough public messages, there is evidence of a wider move to get more of the economy up and running.

DIY stores, fast food chains, coffee shops and garden centres have been scaling up their activities.

Councils have also been told by ministers to reopen rubbish tips.

Ministers are working on a series of workplace guides detailing how they could look once the lockdown is eased.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has asked officials to produce advice on how a gradual return to work could be managed safely for seven different kinds of workplace including offices, factories and construction sites.

Firms will be told to shut canteens and other communal spaces, as well as operating new shift patterns to allow for social distancing and limit the pressure on public transport at rush hour.

Office staff are likely to be encouraged to continue working from home where possible.

Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said a partial reopening of schools was 'in the mix' but it was 'premature' to expect early action given the difficulty of social distancing in them.

One Whitehall source said the three-weekly review of lockdown measures, due on May 7, would involve only modest changes at best.

'We are looking at whether we can undo the top button and make things more comfortable in one or two places for the economy,' the source added. 'But any idea of a widespread lifting is plain wrong.'

Ipsos MORI research published today suggests Britons

Masked passengers are seen crowding onto a platform at Canning Town underground station in London this morning

Dominic Raab (left) and Matt Hancock were among those physically attending Cabinet today - with other ministers opting to dial into the meeting

Ministers have outlined five tests that must be met before lockdown can be lifted in the UK

Britain's roads are becoming noticeably more busy, sparking fears the country is easing itself out of lockdown against Government advice. Pictured is the A102 in Greenwich, south east London, this morning

Surgeons warn PM not to use NHS as 'punchbag' to stop economic damage Top surgeons have warned thousands of people will die of Covid-19 if Britain's strict lockdown is lifted at this stage. The Royal College of Surgeons has warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson against using the NHS as 'an economic punchbag' as he works on his plan to return Britain to normality. The RCS said the lockdown cannot be loosened at this stage because not enough healthcare staff are being tested and there is insufficient PPE available for frontline medics. Professor Neil Mortensen, president-elect of the RCS told the Daily Telegraph: 'Just because the NHS has not been overwhelmed so far, it does not mean the government can use the health service as its economic punchbag. 'It has been a close-run thing, and to use Boris Johnson's own words 'we have begun to wrestle it to the floor', but the virus is certainly not yet defeated.' Advertisement

The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies will hand new evidence to ministers in the coming days, but it is expected to say lifting many of the restrictions would immediately lead to the infection rate rising.

A government source said Mr Johnson will be 'very clear that we will not do anything that might risk [this] because then you are back with the virus spreading exponentially and the risk of a second lockdown'.

In more pressure on the PM to be cautious, top surgeons have warned thousands of people will die of Covid-19 if lockdown is lifted at this stage.

The Royal College of Surgeons said the NHS must not be used a 'punchbag' to avoid damage to the economy.

The RCS said the lockdown cannot be loosened at this stage because not enough healthcare staff are being tested and there is insufficient PPE available for frontline medics.

Professor Neil Mortensen, president-elect of the RCS told the Daily Telegraph: 'Just because the NHS has not been overwhelmed so far, it does not mean the government can use the health service as its economic punchbag.

'It has been a close-run thing, and to use Boris Johnson's own words 'we have begun to wrestle it to the floor', but the virus is certainly not yet defeated.'

At last night's No 10 press conference, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab noted a reported rise in virus cases in Germany, which has eased its lockdown.

He said a similar uptick in the UK 'is a very real risk'.

The news came after a day that saw the UK's coronavirus death toll surge by 3,811 to 26,097 now that the Government has started counting people who died in care homes or their own houses.

It was the first time the Department of Health included people dying outside of hospitals in its daily statistics, and the backdated numbers have added thousands to the death toll, which was yesterday 21,678.

But a bigger surge had been expected. The Office for National Statistics reported that more than 4,300 people are known to have died in care homes by April 17, but the Care Quality Commission has recorded more than 4,300 in just a fortnight in England alone.

However, the Government will only include people who have tested positive for the virus in its statistics, despite rationing almost all the testing kits to hospitals for the first month of the outbreak.

Professor John Newton, the Government's testing chief, explained officials had been working on the assumption that if one person tested positive for COVID-19 in a home then anyone else who developed symptoms probably also had it and didn't need testing.

Traffic levels are down across the country, but the roads were still relatively busy in west London this morning

The daily Downing Street briefing revealed the numbers of new cases of coronavirus in the UK, the numbers of intensive care beds in use and total hospitalisations

The ONS and CQC continue to put out more reliable but slower statistics which include reports of people who were suspected to have the disease but were never diagnosed and, as a result, put the number of people dying outside of hospitals significantly higher.

ONS data suggests that the real number of victims may be 55 per cent higher than the Government is letting on, putting the figure at more than 40,000 already. Records in Scotland, meanwhile, show hospital deaths now account for just 52 per cent of fatalities, suggesting the true number is 43,000. The Financial Times estimates that 47,000 people have died already.

The Department of Health's data today, however, suggests that hospital patients still make up 83 per cent of all fatalities - something which is not borne out by any other statistics being published in the UK.

Britain today announced 765 more hospital patients have died of the coronavirus, of whom around 600 died in hospitals. NHS England announced 445 more victims, including a healthy 14-year-old, to add to 83 declared in Scotland and 73 in Wales.

It comes as the number of people known to have died in care homes is soaring and one expert from the University of Cambridge said people may now be dying at a faster rate in homes than in hospitals.

The professor, a highly regarded statistics expert and an OBE recipient, spoke of 'massive, unprecedented spikes' in the numbers of care home fatalities and said there was no evidence that care homes were over the worst of the outbreak, as the rest of the country is believed to be.

He told MailOnline the updated death toll was not high enough and the truth was 'at least as much again', putting the total higher than 30,000.

Speaking about yesterday's updated data collection, Professor Spiegelhalter said: 'It's actually a lot more than that [3,811].

'The true number is probably at least as much again as they added in today, which would take it well above 30,000. They're doing their best and it is a lot better than what we've been getting but it is still not the full picture.

'If you put those two datasets (ONS and CQC) [with] the new data being reported [it] is still missing a good few hundred deaths each day.'

Separate data released today by the National Records of Scotland has made it abundantly clear that the hospital deaths being announced by government officials each day are only showing a fraction of the reality.

National Records data revealed that hospital patients only made up 52 per cent of all fatalities, while 39 per cent happened in nursing homes and 11 per cent elsewhere. When they were added together Scotland's total death toll for April 26 almost doubled from 1,262 to 2,272.

Care homes, which are believed to still be in the grip of the coronavirus, are disaster-struck and the Government is facing heavy criticism over alleged failures to help the industry prepare.

In England and Wales the number of residents dying of any cause has almost tripled in a month, from around 2,500 per week in March to 7,300 in a single week in April - more than 2,000 of the latter were confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports suggest care homes are now seeing around 400 coronavirus deaths each day, on average - a number on par with hospitals in England.

The way data is backdated means that the true picture of what's happening in care homes is unclear because we currently only have statistics from two weeks ago.

The true scale of the crisis has also been masked by a lack of routine testing, meaning hundreds of elderly residents may have died without ever being diagnosed.

Public Health England data has revealed that almost a third of all nursing homes in the country have reported coronavirus outbreaks.

Boarding planes could take FOUR HOURS with added health checks and much higher ticket prices after lockdown ends, experts warn

by LARA KEAY for MailOnline

Boarding a plane could take up to four hours when passengers are allowed to fly again once the coronavirus lockdown eases, it was claimed today.

Flyers could be asked to arrive at airports four hours in advance to allow for health checks and social distancing measures, one expert warns.

Flights will be more expensive because airlines will only be allowed to have a limited number of people on board to ensure they stay two metres apart.

This will push up ticket prices and make for an 'uncomfortable' flying experience for as long as another five years, another travel expert told The Times.

Boarding a plane could take up to four hours when passengers are allowed to fly again once the coronavirus lockdown easest, according to some experts. Pictured: A man boards a plane at an empty Barcelona airport yesterday

Andrew Charlton, managing director of the consultancy Aviation Advocacy, told the newspaper: 'Even if it starts raining vaccines tonight, we are still looking at two years at least to get back to levels seen before the outbreak, and it is probably going to be more like five years.

'There will be fewer flights, fewer seats available, prices will go up and there will be very uncomfortable conditions because of the demands to wear personal protective equipment and maintain social distancing.'

Earlier this month, easyJet announced it plans to keep middle seats empty on its planes when it restarts flights.

But Airline analyst Chris Tarry claims maintaining a two-metre gap between passengers would mean 80 per cent of seats would have to be empty.

To make sure airlines are still profitable, they will have to hike up ticket prices exponentially, he told The Times.

It would also mean that scarcely-used routes would be abolished too.

Air travel has plummeted worldwide to stop the spread of coronavirus from country to country, with airports almost left empty except for a small number of repatriation flights.

British Airways revealed it has plans to make 12,000 workers - a quarter of its entire workforce - redundant after being hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Virgin Atlantic has gone into administration in Australia with founder Sir Richard Branson desperately trying to cling onto the UK business.

Wizz Air will become the first commercial airline to start operating again in the UK tomorrow, but says all passengers must wear facemasks.

It will operate 15 routes out of Luton Airport to a range of destinations including Budapest, Lisbon and Tenerife.

Wizz Air will become the first commercial airline to start operating again in the UK tomorrow, but says all passengers must wear facemasks. File image used

Lufthansa is starting up again on Monday, but has told all passengers to wear a facemask or scarf that covers their mouth and nose.

The Government has made it clear that foreign travel will be off the cards for most people in 2020.

Those hoping to still jet off on their summer holidays will be disappointed, with many European destinations such as Italy, Spain and France brutally hit by the virus.

Ministers have told Britons not to swap their getaways with staycations either, warning that beauty spots such as Cornwall and Snowdonia do not have the NHS infrastructure to cope if visitors fall ill.

On cruise ships, passengers will also face stringent medical checks.

The UK's biggest cruise liner P&O is developing plans to introduce a series of 'rigorous measures' to ensure it obeys international health guidelines when it restarts operations once the coronavirus pandemic recedes.

Other changes being considered include reducing the capacity of ships, scrapping self-service buffets and implementing one-way systems on board.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 18:05:41|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran will target U.S. bases across the region if its national security is endangered by U.S. forces, said Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, was quoted as saying by the state TV on Thursday.

"We will never initiate a war with the United States, but the end of any war that Washington may start will be decided by Iran," said Rezaei, a former chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Trump's recent threats are "mere propaganda," Rezaei said, adding that, however, "if our national security is threatened, the U.S. bases in the region are under surveillance, and we will hit them with missiles."

Last week, Trump said that he had ordered the U.S. navy to fire upon Iranian "gunboats" that "harass" U.S. ships in the Gulf.

Earlier, the IRGC said the U.S. navy had resorted to "unprofessional and perilous" behavior in the Gulf and called for full withdrawal of all American forces from West Asia. Enditem
India on Thursday conveyed its readiness to provide all possible assistance to Myanmar to lessen the economic and health burden on the country due to the novel coronavirus disease. This comes against the backdrop of China reaching out to countries in Indias immediate periphery with medical aid and supplies to battle the covid-19 pandemic.

This was conveyed by prime minister Narendra Modi to Myanmars State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during a telephone conversation between the two leaders, a statement from the Indian foreign ministry said.

The leaders discussed the evolving covid-19 scenario in the domestic and regional contexts and updated each other on the steps being taken to control the spread of the pandemic," the statement said.

Underlining the importance of Myanmar as a vital pillar of India's Neighbourhood First policy, Prime Minister Modi conveyed India's readiness to provide all possible support to Myanmar for mitigating the health and economic impact of covid-19," it said.

The leaders agreed to remain in touch and work together to address the present and future challenges posed by covid-19," the statement added.

Indias offer to Suu Kyi comes at a time when China has been seen as making special efforts to reach out to countries like Myanmar and others in the Indian Ocean Region including Indias periphery. On Wednesday, Modi had made a similar offer of help to Bangladesh during a call with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In the past two months  ie March and April -- China has sent masks, ventilators and other equipment to countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. For Sri Lanka, China has also extended a concessional loan of $ 500 million to battle covid-19. Sri Lanka is a special friend of China. We have long standing and cordial relations between the two countries. When we faced COVID- 19 disaster recently, Sri Lanka stood with us. China is willing to return that goodwill in the form of fullest cooperation to revive Sri Lankas economy in the post-COVID  19 period," the Acting Ambassador and Charge daffaires of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo Hu Wei said to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, says the readout of the meeting between the two.

To Bangladesh and Myanmar, China has dispatched medical teams as well, according to news reports. In the Maldives, where the Ibrahim Mohamed Solih government is seen as leaning towards India, China is helping in the construction of shelters for stranded foreign workers, according to posts by Chinese ambassador Zhang Lizhong on Twitter.

India on its part has sent hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) the anti malarial drug, and a large consignment of medical supplies to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. In recent days, New Delhi has also activated a currency swap agreement for $ 150 million for the Maldives which is part of a $ 400 swap agreement signed in July 2019 to help the atoll nation deal with revenue losses from the tourism sector. With Sri Lanka too, India is negotiating $ 400 million currency swap agreement. In March, India convened a meeting of South Asian heads of government to decide on a strategy to deal with the pandemic. One of the outcomes of the meeting was the setting of a covid-19 fund that countries of the region could draw from.

The Chinese efforts also come at a time when Beijing is being slammed by many countries across the world for not doing enough to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease. Countries like the US, Australia and others have called for an impartial probe into how the covid-19 pandemic assumed the proportions it has, four months after it reportedly surfaced in Wuhan in December. Worldwide, the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes covid-19 has sickened 3.2 million people and claimed almost 230,000 lives in 185 countries or regions since it surfaced in Wuhan in December. Countries like the UK and France have indicated that it cannot be business as usual with China. There is talk of moving supply chains out of China. Japan for instance has announced a $ 2.2 billion package to support its businesses to move home from China.

Then there are tensions between China on one hand and Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia in the South China Sea  in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. This has made countries criticize China for taking advantage of the crisis to push its claims in the disputed waterway.

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When Dennis Carlson first drove through Whiteclay in June 2015, he couldnt believe his eyes.

So, in April 2016, he visited again. The sights hadnt changed, with people passed out drunk or urinating on sidewalks in the unincorporated community of 12 residents.

It was something I could not imagine was taking place in Nebraska. Im a lifelong Nebraskan, said the retired counsel for discipline for the Nebraska Supreme Court. It was stunning. It was so immoral, and it reeked of evil.

A year after Carlson confirmed his suspicions, the four beer stores in town  which sold an average of 3.5 million cans of beer to residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation a few hundred yards across the South Dakota border  were denied a renewal of their liquor licenses by the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, which cited a lack of law enforcement in the area.

On April 30, 2017, the stores closed for good, over the objections of many Sheridan County residents. Whiteclay hasnt sold a drop of alcohol since.

In the three years that have followed, the ripple effects of the closures have spread across Sheridan County and the Pine Ridge.

Using statistics from state agencies, John Maisch, a Nebraska native who teaches business law at the University of Central Oklahoma, has quantified some of the differences in a research paper he published last week.

Many of the changes  such as decreases in drunken-driving crashes and felony charges filed in county court  flowed logically from the closure of the beer stores.

Not only Whiteclay, but Sheridan County is better off with these stores closed, said Maisch, who also produced the documentary "Sober Indian, Dangerous Indian" about Whiteclay. Nebraska today is less complicit than it was three years ago in the destruction of a tribe and a community.

Ever since President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 shrunk the 50-mile buffer zone around the Pine Ridge to 1 mile, Whiteclay sat in a prime location to sell beer to the officially dry reservation  and did just that for more than a century.

The violence alcohol fueled in Whiteclay has dried up, said Sheridan County Sheriff Jeff Brewer. Gone are the vagrants and drunks passed out on the streets, the fights that occasionally turned fatal.

He estimates his department handles no more than one or two calls from Whiteclay per week.

As far as problem areas in the community, I wouldnt say its one, said Brewer, who was elected to his post in 2018 after serving as police chief in nearby Gordon.

I cant say something wont pop up tomorrow. But that environment there always had problems that raised issues we didnt have the manpower to deal with.

Despite the volume of beer sales that disappeared quite literally overnight in 2017, sales tax receipts increased in subsequent years. State sales taxes collected in Whiteclay and Sheridan County have grown 11.5% and 3.2%, respectively, since 2016.

The construction of a Family Dollar store in 2017 spurred much of the growth in Whiteclay. Pine Ridge residents noted the store always seems busy, along with more patrons at the towns grocery store and restaurant.

Much of that, they say, stems from the safer environment.

People feel comfortable going up there now, said Bryan Brewer, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from 2013-14, and a cousin of Jeff Brewer. Before, you were harassed by street people, following you into stores, asking you for money.

Whiteclays streets cleaned up quickly following the end of alcohol sales.

Restoring the damage the beer store owners caused the tribe, Maisch said, will take far longer.

Once we turned the faucet off," he said, "its going to take time."

Oglala Lakota County, across the South Dakota border from Whiteclay, is entirely within the Pine Ridge Reservation. It has the lowest per-capita income of any of the 3,143 counties in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2017, the Journal of the American Medical Association found no countys residents had a shorter life expectancy (66 years).

Bootlegging remains on the reservation, said Favian Kennedy, executive director of Anpetu Luta Otipi, the Oglala Sioux Tribes comprehensive alcohol- and substance-abuse treatment program.

Substance abuse and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are widespread. A 2013 survey found the average Pine Ridge resident had 10 drinks per sitting  far above the federal guidelines for binge drinking  despite "a large portion" of Pine Ridge residents abstaining from alcohol.

He noted the agency also sees far fewer people addicted to just one substance than in years past.

Individuals affected most by Whiteclay have the most severe alcohol-abuse disorders, Kennedy said. Thats not going to go away with the stores closing. The norms are changing in a positive direction, but thats slow.

Though the closures still anger some residents, Jeff Brewer said, a safer Whiteclay has freed up Sheridan County deputies to more aggressively combat methamphetamine.

Bryan Brewer now considers Whiteclay a regular little town  something hed never thought hed say  primed for business growth.

Carlson, too, is amazed at the transformation in the five years since he discovered and became involved with Whiteclay.

Its hard to describe the feel of old Whiteclay, Carlson said. It was a place of hopelessness and despair and depression. To think that Nebraska participated in that shocks ones conscience.

Though the societal and health problems on the Pine Ridge remain far from solved, the end of alcohol sales marked the first step down a new path forward for tribe  and brought about a new noun to describe Whiteclay.

Hope.

Theres a lot of hope for Whiteclay, Kennedy said. The cloud of hopelessness has lifted.

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Euro-zone Q1 2020 GDP contracts record 3.8%, Euro/US dollar steady as markets wait for latest ECB response and Euro exchange rates reaction

According to the preliminary flash estimate issued by Eurostat, Euro-zone GDP declined 3.8% in the first quarter of 2020 following a 0.1% increase for the final quarter of 2019. The data was close to currency market consensus forecasts and the sharpest contraction on record for the Euro-zone area.

There was a 3.3% year-on-year decline, the weakest reading since the third quarter of 2009.

At this stage, Eurostat does not provide a breakdown by individual countries. Earlier in the day, however, France reported a 5.8% GDP decline for the first quarter, the worst performance since the series started in 1949 while consumer spending declined 17.9% on the month. Spain reported a 5.2% decline compared with consensus forecasts of 4.4% contraction.

Image: Euro GDP

Italian GDP contracted 4.7% for the quarter compared with expectations of a 5.0% decline.

German GDP is due to be released on May 15th.

The situation will clearly get worse in the short term with a much steeper decline in second-quarter GDP as lockdown measures take full effect.

Germany has opened some retail businesses from late April, but the economy will continue to weaken in the short term.

The government is now forecasting a GDP decline of 6.3% for 2020.

The latest labour-market data recorded a huge 373,000 increase in unemployment for April compared with consensus forecasts of a 75,000 increase.

Chancelor Merkel stated that social distancing measures would continue until at least May 10th.

There will be further concerns over the short-term French outlook. Berenberg economist, Florian Hense expressed concerns over the French economy; Besides the harsher lockdown, a bigger services sector and a smaller fiscal response will contribute to France weathering the Covid-19 pandemic worse than Germany.

Italian Prime Minister Conte stated that a further easing of lockdown measures could be taken after May 18th, but the tourism sector would be affected for many months.

The EU Commission is scheduled to release its latest economic forecasts on May 5th.

According to Rabobank, the Euro should be protected by the Eurozones large current account surplus.

The bank, however, points to the persistent risk of internal strains; Speculation that the North of the region will recover soonest due to lighter lockdowns and greater fiscal ammunition, suggests scope for a prolonged period of strain within the Eurozone that could weigh on the EUR.

Overall, We see risk of EUR/USD dipping to 1.05 on a 3-month view.

In this context, Franc could be a potential bridge between the North and South given that France will be very badly hit by the coronavirus.

Immediate Euro market reaction was limited, especially with markets waiting for the ECB policy decision and President Lagarde press conference.

Euro/dollar initially moved higher and tested the 1.0890 level before edging lower to 1.0870 while Euro-zone equities edged into negative territory and Euro/Sterling dipped below 0.8700.

German 10-year bond yields declined to 1-month lows at -0.51% while Italian yields edged higher to 1.78%. The German/Italian yield spread will be watched very closely after the ECB meeting.

Mauro Vittorangeli, chief investment officer at Allianz Global Investors, commented; I would expect the ECB to widen the programme at some point, and that would allow it to buy more BTPs if needed and give EU authorities more space to act.
Mexican Government Decrees Restart of Non-Essential Activities Such as Mining in Areas with No or Low SARS-CoV2 Virus Cases on May 18, 2020

Posted by Publisher Internet

Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK) (TSX: EDR  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/endeavour-silver-corp/) announces that the Mexican government has decreed an extension of the suspension of all non-essential activities until May 30, 2020.? However, the suspension of activities will cease to be applicable as of May 18, 2020 in municipalities that present low or no known cases or transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus, subject to criteria to be defined by the Secretariat of Health.

Mining was previously deemed by the Mexican health authority to be a non-essential activity, leading Endeavour to suspend its three mining operations on April 1, 2020.? However, the Company?s three mines are located in municipalities with low or no transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus.? Therefore, Endeavour now anticipates reopening its mines around May 18, 2020, pursuant to the government decree. The Company has also filed applications for exemptions to reopen earlier if feasible and permitted.

Bradford Cooke, CEO, commented, ?We look forward to bringing our mines back to production in a safe and orderly manner.? Naturally, we will continue to apply all aspects of our coronavirus plan to maintain the health of our people and the local communities.?

?We also filed a new shelf prospectus in the USA as our previous one was due to expire.? The new shelf prospectus has a two-year life and expedites our access the Canadian and US capital markets for debt and equity financings.? For example, it should facilitate the financing we need to construct the high grade Terronera project which has the potential to become our next core asset.?

Base Shelf Prospectus

Endeavour also announces the filing of a final short form base shelf prospectus (?Prospectus?) to provide the Company with the flexibility to take advantage of debt, convertible debt, equity and other financing opportunities that may arise during the 25?month effective period of the Prospectus. The Company?s existing base shelf prospectus dated April 10, 2018 has been withdrawn.

The Prospectus has been filed in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, and a corresponding shelf registration statement on Form?F?10 (?Registration Statement?) was also filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (?SEC?). These filings enable offerings of common shares, warrants, subscription receipts, debt and convertible debt securities or units of up to an aggregate initial offering price of CAD$150?million at any time during the period the Prospectus is effective.

Copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein can be obtained by contacting Endeavour Silver at Suite 1130?609?Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1G5, Attention: Daniel?Dickson, Chief Financial Officer. Copies of the Prospectus and the Registration Statement are also available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.? If any securities are offered under the Prospectus or Registration Statement the terms of any such securities and the intended use of any net proceeds will be established at the time of any such offering and will be described in a Prospectus supplement filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the SEC at the time of any such an offering and would be made available by Endeavour at the above address.

About Endeavour Silver ? Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns and operates three high-grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a development decision and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico and Chile to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.? Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders.

SOURCE Endeavour Silver Corp.?

Contact Information

Galina Meleger, Director, Investor Relations

Toll free: (877) 685-9775

Tel: (604) 640-4804

Email: gmeleger@edrsilver.com

Website: www.edrsilver.com

In Europe:

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Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this release are forward?looking statements within the meaning of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and forward?looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, such as statements that describes the uncertainty of the ultimate impact of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic on operations, the ability to restart operations on May 18, 2020 or earlier, ?the anticipated offering of securities under the Company\-\-s Prospectus and Registration Statement, the future effectiveness of the Company\-\-s Prospectus and Registration Statement, the anticipated use of proceeds from any offering made under the Company\-\-s Prospectus and Registration Statement, and other statements. Since forward?looking statements are not statements of historical fact and address future events, conditions and expectations, forward?looking statements by their nature inherently involve unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors well beyond the Company?s ability to control or predict. Actual events, results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward?looking statements. Material factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those described in such forwarding?looking statements include risks related to the ?ultimate impact of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic on operations, the risks in restarting operations on May 18, 2020 or earlier, Company\-\-s Registration Statement not becoming effective, risks related to the Company\-\-s condition requiring anticipated use of proceeds to change, timing of, and ability to obtain, required regulatory approvals, and general economic and regulatory changes. These forward?looking statements represent the Company\-\-s views as of the date of this release. There can be no assurance that forward?looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual events and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward?looking statemen
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The apparel supply chain will look very different in 12 months time. Operational and strategic responses to the coronavirus will have implications on product design, development, sourcing and manufacturing resiliency for months and years to come.

Here are some likely scenarios that the apparel industry can begin to prepare for now:

More from WWD

1. Post-Pandemic Supply Chain Consolidation

The pandemic has put the lights out for many SME manufacturers and suppliers in markets like India, China and Bangladesh, with government small-business support obsolete. Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers will be absorbed by larger entities to localize manufacturing and take advantage of the benefits of vertical integration for supply chain control, resiliency and risk management. Brands and retailers will find that the diversity of their supply chain partners may be changing in the months and years to come.

Post-pandemic, upstream consolidation will offer manufacturers the potential to provide integrated solutions and become a strategic partner to its international retailer and brand customers, achieving faster product innovation and lead-times. Welspun in India started with a solitary textile mill and has invested Capex in purchasing yarn spinning capacity locally to support its textile production, making it vertically integrated from fiber to finished product.

Brands and retailers will be seeking to de-risk product development with every step of the supply chain under scrutiny  from yarn spinning, weaving to dying to cut and sew. Those retailers that have liquidity may now even invest capital into their core vendors and manufacturers for equity or do joint-ventures. Integration, consolidation and investment could ensure a more reliable supply chain system for the future.

2. Inventory Management: From Just-In-Time to Just-in-Case

Story continues

Inventory management from raw materials to semi-finished to finished goods will move from just-in-time to just-in-case. Every retailer and manufacturer is impacted by this crisis in some way; in January, it was the lack of fabric availability from China; in April, an update from Italian yarn suppliers indicates that the industrial lockdown and expected production constraints will continue until at least early June. Supply chain roadblocks are coming from all over the world.

From yarn production to cut-and-sew, some manufacturers have ceased production completely, some have seen greatly reduced demand and others have seen a huge increase in demand. Companies with limited product offerings can have greater control of the supply chain output in crisis times. Levis is an example of how its main attraction of denim jeans provides upstream visibility for materials sourcing core replenishment and downstream assortment stability, where stock can be carried to future seasons mitigating discounting and margin erosion.

Real-time visibility into the availability of raw materials, finished goods, work in progress, etc. would be the ideal toolkit, exposing capacity constraints into first-, second- and third-tier suppliers. The next pandemic playbook may involve increasing safety stock, alongside blended inventory management strategies that maintain fast access to core materials on a regional and product basis.

3. Faster Diversification of Raw Materials Sourcing and Production Ex-China

Trade tensions between the U.S. and China began a diversification process more than two years ago. The pandemic is accelerating this trend, as company leaders experience the supply chain risk of a country whose factories are closed.

To what extent governments will subsidize domestic production remains to be seen. At the onset of the coronavirus, the Japanese government pushed its industries to move manufacturing, announcing more than $2 billion in aid to shift production out of China and into local and regional suppliers.

Even without government intervention, the expectation is that contingency planning for sourcing and production will become a consideration alongside the cost benefits of developing manufacturing economies of scale. Regions like Turkey, Jordan and India might now see their efforts to win bigger orders and larger market share pay off.

These markets will need to show a careful transition post-pandemic into productivity. At the factory-level, investments into stringent employee health monitoring will be imperative, ensuring there is enough capacity to screen thousands of workers at scale whilst maximizing output given the likelihood of government-stipulated caps on working hours.

Near-shoring will be accelerated in response to a heightened desire for products made closer to home, according to McKinsey. New manufacturing hubs may emerge encouraging brands to think laterally about production, with capabilities and performance tested through smaller capsule collections. The ability to faster deliver on trends that near-shoring affords may enable a higher sell-through and offset concerns about margin loss from low-cost manufacturing from Asia.

4. Coronavirus and Sustainability; Demand-pull and Supply Pushback

In an industry undergoing real-time demand collapse and seismic supply shocks, where does sustainability sit? Post-pandemic, there will be a conundrum; consumers are thinking hard about their choices and the need for a more sustainable way of life after the coronavirus, making choices based upon values. On the other hand, many in the apparel industry will not have the resources to invest in transparent supply chains and responsible sourcing programs in a meaningful way.

Online sales for apparel and footwear retailers fell 37 percent in March, according to Rakuten, and foot traffic to U.S. stores fell 58.4 percent in late March, according to ShopperTrak. Online retailers from high-end to ath-leisure showed deep discounts of more than 30 percent in the past weeks, crushing revenues and profitability, and leading to many company liquidations and insolvencies.

And if there are any category winners  perhaps value players and discount retailers  sustainability is not always an agenda item. As priorities for retailers and manufacturers focus on survival, sustainability will need to reinvent itself in the supply chain as a cheaper, faster, better model driven by innovation and easy to adopt tech and transparency tools.

5. Coronavirus Will Change Not Just How Consumers Buy, but What They Buy

As working from home becomes the new normal and video conferencing replaces in-person meetings and business travel, consumer needs are set to shift from conspicuous consumption to cautious conservatism.

According to retail analytics company Edited, as lockdown measures scaled back in China, higher retail sell-through numbers were tracked in denim outerwear and blazers alongside hats, and scarves that offer physical coverage and protection from infection.

Apparel and accessories that are functional as well as fashionable will take center stage. Protection from disease, from cold and even from food stains will be valued. Even comfort can be considered functional, especially in bottoms that are not seen on video.

We see the less is more mantra to accelerate, with apparel collections offering fewer items per season. Consumer value may be measured in terms of durability and transcendence of trend. With unemployment at an all-time high, nonessential apparel might well be an investment piece that can help the wearer land a job.

Jag Gill is the chief executive officer of Sundar, an emerging technology company based in New York and built at MIT, providing digital apparel sourcing platforms and sustainability tracking tools.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Daughter of legendary actor Rishi Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni penned a heart-touching note remembering her late father on Thursday.

Riddhima took to Instagram and shared a picture with her father saying that she will always miss her dad. She wrote, "Papa I love you I will always love you - RIP my strongest warrior I will miss you everyday I will miss your FaceTime calls everyday! Until we meet again papa I love you - your Mushk forever."

Niece Karisma Kapoor too reminisced a moment with her uncle in a throwback picture. The 45-year-old actor took to Instagram and shared a monochromatic picture from her childhood days. It featured little Karisma standing in front of her father Randhir Kapoor while Rishi Kapoor is looking at the baby girl from a distance.

Taking to the captions, she wrote, "Always looking over family.. chintu uncle will miss discussing food and restaurants with you.. #uncle"

Kareena Kapoor Khan also took to Instagram and shared a throwback picture featuring her father Randhir Kapoor and late actor Rishi Kapoor from their childhood days and wrote, "The best boys I know... Papa and Chintu uncle."

Rishi passed away at 8:45 am this morning after a two-year-long battle with leukaemia, his family said in a statement. He was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday.Earlier today, Amitabh Bachchan was the first to confirm the news of the demise of the 67-year-old.

He was last seen in the 2019 film 'The Body' alongside Emraan Hashmi and Sobhita Dhulipala.

Often branded as Bollywood's first chocolate boy, he touched heights of stardom in the film industry with iconic roles in blockbuster hits like 'Bobby', 'Chandni', 'Karz' and many others.

Son of Bollywood's showman Raj Kapoor and his wife Krishna Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor is survived by wife Neetu and children Ranbir and Riddhima.
Indias borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh havent witnessed any major illegal activities such as infiltration of terrorists, human trafficking, fake currency or drug smuggling for the past five weeks, according to the head of the BSF and ITBP.

There were only a few negligible incidents as the frontiers are sealed, according to Surjeet Singh Deswal, who heads the worlds two largest border guarding forces  Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibet Border Force (ITBP).

In an exclusive interaction with HT, the IPS officer of the 1984 batch said: We have maintained high level of alertness at the borders, which are completely sealed with no movement of any kind.

Our priority during the lockdown has been to stop infiltration of Coronavirus carriers from across the border, while maintaining tight vigil on other activities.

Last week, Jammu and Kashmir director general of police Dilbagh Singh had said Pakistan is pushing militants infected with Covid-19 to spread the disease in the Kashmir Valley. Intelligence agencies have pointed out that more than 300 Pakistani terrorists are waiting across the border to sneak into India.

Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) for more than a week this month.

Without going into specific incidents over the past month, Deswal said: All the mischievous acts of Pakistan, be it on the international border or LoC, have been responded to with double impact.

Similarly, the Bangladesh border has witnessed very few incidents of smuggling or people sneaking across in the past month.

According to the data compiled by BSF, 97 kg of heroin was seized along the Pakistan border in Punjab between January 1 and March 24, while only 17 kg of heroin was seized between March 25 and April 12.

Another BSF officer, who didnt want to be named, said: There has been no infiltration of terrorists. A couple of incidents had taken places in Punjab, including when a Pakistani national was stopped from crossing over at Pulmoran in Amritsar on March 25, while another Pakistani was apprehended from Bamer in Ferozepur on March 26. Otherwise, the border is quiet.

BSF is posted along the 2,289-km international border with Pakistan from Gujarat to Jammu, and it manages 237 km of the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir with the army having operational control over its personnel. It guards the entire 4,092-km border with Bangladesh.

Data on the Bangladesh border compiled by BSF showed that more than 20,000 heads of cattle were smuggled into the neighbouring country from January 1 to March 24. After the Covid-19 lockdown, the number dropped to 300.

The smuggling of heroin, Yaba drugs, gold and silver too has drastically declined since March 25.

Deswal said vigil is maintained along 100% of the India-China border as well.

Referring to Covid-19 infections in BSF and ITBP, Deswal said both forces are now corona free, and the few BSF personnel who were infected have recovered.

We have told all troops and their families to indulge in extra physical exercise, as having a healthy body is the best medicine against Coronavirus, Deswal said.

He has also partially started calling personnel, who were on extended leave due to the lockdown, back to duty, especially from areas with no cases of Covid-19.

The ITBP is making masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) in bulk for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which may resume services at the Delhi Metro and airport soon.

Deswal has also directed all his troops deployed at Indian missions in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to follow safety measures.
As Spaniards begin to plan their exit out of one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, many will not be able to return to their jobs.

In Europe, almost every measure of the economy is in free fall because of the pandemic.

Figures due to be released on Thursday are expected to show a drop of about 4% in the first three months of the year in the eurozone, and an even steeper hit is projected this quarter.

Unemployment, meanwhile, is expected to rise to about 8%.

Spain is no exception - millions of workers have been furloughed ever since the lockdown was imposed in the country in mid-March.

On 2 April, the Labor Ministry said that almost 900,000 workers had lost their jobs since authorities ordered people to stay indoors and closed most retail and service industries on 14 March.

That number is expected to have risen significantly since then.

Construction and services, including the country's important tourism industry that represents 12% of its GDP, have been the hardest-hit areas.

The director of the Barcelona Restaurants Association has warned 25% of restaurants and bars in the city will close in the next 12 months.

Igor Abascal, 48, has been working since 1996 as a waiter and most recently served at an Italian-style restaurant chain inside a shopping centre in Barcelona.

He is one of 22,000 workers the restaurant group has furloughed in Spain due to the state of emergency.

Abascal said that due to his years at the company, he has a better-than-average salary of 1,300 euros (1,406 US dollars) a month.

Even so, Abascal says that his paycheck for March was only for half the month since the government ordered all restaurants and other non-essential retail to close in mid-March.

He and thousands more furloughed workers have to wait until the second week in May before the first unemployment check should come.

And Abascal worries there could be a further delay due to the massive number of filings for unemployment.

Official statistics show that Spain's unemployment rate rose to 14.4% in the first quarter of 2020, up from 13.8 in the last three months of 2019.

At least 285,600 jobs were lost in the same period, the worst result since the financial crisis hit Spain hard in 2013, a quarterly survey by Spain's National Institute of Statistics showed.

At the other end of the spectrum, Keke Sarasola, founder and president of Room Mate Hotels, says he has had to close 28 of his 30 hotels worldwide, including those in Spain.

"I don't have a business," the hotel magnate said, adding that his revenue had dropped to nearly zero and that he also had to furlough most of his employees.

In the meantime, he's made his hotels available to local authorities during the pandemic, and already 13 of them have been hosting health workers and nursing home residents.

Sarasola's boutique hotels cater largely to international business and upscale tourists, and given the collapse of global transport, he fears things won't be the same for a long time.

"Let's not be mistaken. Either we all get out of this one together, or nobody will," he warns.
LONDON  Senior British doctors have warned that 250 ventilators the United Kingdom bought from China risk causing "significant patient harm, including death," if they are used in hospitals, according to a letter seen by NBC News.

The doctors said the machines had a problematic oxygen supply, could not be cleaned properly, had an unfamiliar design and a confusing instruction manual, and were built for use in ambulances, not hospitals.

The British case is not an isolated one, and it comes as a stark example of a procurement problem that has plagued many countries as the coronavirus has spread throughout the world.

Since March, many governments have been scrambling to buy more medical equipment  much of it from China  to make up for large gaps in their supplies. While much of this equipment has been vital in combating the pandemic, some has been faulty or unsuitable.

As in the United States, the government in Britain has been heavily criticized for its coronavirus response.

With more than 26,000 people dead, critics say the government has failed to provide protective equipment for health care workers and widespread testing.

IMAGE: Royal London Hospital (Justin Tallis / AFP via Getty Images)

On April 4, Cabinet ministers triumphantly announced that they had scored a much-needed win, buying 300 ventilators from China that were unloaded with some fanfare at a military base in England.

"I'd like to thank the Chinese government for their support in securing that capacity," Michael Gove, a senior member of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government, said at a briefing that day.

But nine days later, a group of senior doctors and medical managers issued a grave warning about 250 ventilators that they had received, the Shangrila 510 model made by Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd., one of China's major ventilator manufacturers.

"We believe that if used, significant patient harm, including death, is likely," according to an April 13 letter seen by NBC News. "We look forward to the withdrawal and replacement of these ventilators with devices better able to provide intensive care ventilation for our patients."

Story continues

The doctors said that the ventilator's oxygen supply was "variable and unreliable" and that its build quality was "basic." Its fabric case could not be cleaned properly  essential when fighting a highly infectious virus  and it arrived with a "non-E.U." oxygen connection hose.

As well as these serious concerns about the quality of the ventilators, they said part of the reason they were unsafe was because the devices were unfamiliar to British doctors and unsuitable for use in the current crisis.

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

Crucially, it was the wrong type of machine altogether: one that had been designed for use inside an ambulance rather than beside a hospital bed, according to the letter. Doctors said they had to jury-rig a makeshift stand for the device out of a hospital trolley.

The letter was written by a senior anesthesia and intensive care doctor, who was representing a group of clinicians and senior managers working in and around Birmingham, the U.K.'s second-largest city and one of the country's hardest hit areas.

The doctor who wrote the letter works at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, a regional division of the U.K.'s publicly funded National Health Service, and it was directly addressed to a senior NHS official.

The sender was not available for comment on what, if any, measures were taken to address the concerns raised.

It is not clear who in the British healthcare system directly saw the letter, but the Department of Health and Social Care, which oversees the NHS and the purchase of ventilators from abroad, said in an email to NBC News that it was aware of doctors' concerns and has raised them with the manufacturer.

The department declined to answer several detailed questions about the letter, including how many of these ventilators were bought in total, why that model was chosen, and whether front-line doctors were consulted beforehand. It said none of the ventilators are currently in use.

On Friday, after the original publication of this article, the department issued a statement saying that "no patients are at risk" because of the ventilators.

After repeated emails and phone calls, NBC News got through to the international sales manager for Beijing Aeonmed, who said "I don't know" when asked whether the company was aware of the concerns about its product before hanging up the phone.

The company has not responded to detailed questions about this model of ventilator, nor about where else in the world it has been exported.

A 'global battle of narratives'

Britain is far from alone in encountering problems after ordering lifesaving equipment made by Chinese companies.

In late March, the Netherlands was forced to recall 600,000 masks that it bought from China and distributed to its doctors after its health ministry found that they were not up to the required standard.

And earlier this month, the head of Finland's emergency medical supply agency resigned after a multimillion-euro shipment of masks from China was found not to be up to the standard needed by hospitals.

It's not just masks. The Spanish government said it had to withdraw and return a batch of 50,000 coronavirus testing kits that originated in China because they were only 30 percent accurate. The U.K. ordered 3.5 million Chinese testing kits but found none of them to be good enough for widespread use. The British government said it was seeking refunds from the suppliers.

Seemingly most of the equipment reported to be faulty has come from China, which has sought to portray itself as a country that has not only successfully dealt with its own outbreak but is now helping others tackle their crises by sending out tons of gear.

IMAGES: Hazmat suit production in China (Neol Celis / AFP via Getty Images file)

As the world's top manufacturing superpower, China makes much of the equipment essential in fighting the coronavirus.

Before the crisis began, it churned out 20 million medical masks every day  around half the world's total output  but by the end of February, it had already ramped up production to 116 million daily units, according to Chinese state media.

As of Saturday, 74 countries and six international organizations had signed 192 contracts for Chinese medical supplies totaling $1.41 billion, Li Xingqian, director of the Commerce Ministry's foreign trade department, said at a briefing Sunday.

Much of the equipment is received without complaint, but the manufacturing blitz has also led to increased reports of faulty orders and counterfeiting of established brands.

The Chinese government has been quick to address the concerns, vowing to "crack down on counterfeit and shoddy products" and "mete out punishment with zero tolerance" to any company found to be exporting substandard equipment, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said at a briefing April 15.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry announced this month that it had revoked the export licenses of two companies, warning that faulty exports "seriously damaged the country's image." Spokesman Gao Feng also suggested that some complaints from other countries were the result of "differences in production standards" or European doctors being "not familiar enough with how to use the products, and even making mistakes."

Many outside the country are wary of what they see as China's attempts to capitalize on the crisis, boosting its power by casting itself as the world's benevolent savior. Critics say the narrative ignores the allegation that some Chinese officials covered up aspects of the crisis in its early stages, as well as more recent claims that they suppressed death and infection data  which the Beijing government vehemently denies.

One of those doubters is Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, who warned last month of a "global battle of narratives" with China.

"China is aggressively pushing the message that  it is a responsible and reliable partner," Borrell said in a statement, calling it a "struggle for influence through spinning and the politics of generosity."

He warned that other countries risked being stigmatized in the PR war. In the early days of the crisis, several European nations squabbled with their neighbors and accused them of withholding vital medical exports. And the U.S. has faced claims that it outbid allies for equipment and redirected orders its way.

'Solid as a rock'

Like many other countries, the U.K. was scrambling to make up the shortfall in its ventilator capacity by the middle of March.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that Britain would need to increase its number of the machines from 10,000 to 18,000 to stop the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Although some doctors have recently moved away from relying so heavily on ventilators, warning that they could harm certain patients, for much of the crisis the machines have been seen as vital in coping with the projected surge in intensive care cases.

There are many different types  ranging in complexity and price, with top models costing upward of $50,000. They work by pushing oxygen into the lungs of patients who cannot breathe for themselves, and they are used to treat the most serious COVID-19 patients.

IMAGE: Ventilators at MOD Donnington (Sgt. Ben Beale / Ministry of Defense via PA)

On April 4, the British government announced a major step toward that goal after 300 ventilators from China arrived at MoD Donnington, a military base in England.

However, less than two weeks later came the letter from senior doctors and managers at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

In a five-page document seen by NBC News, they detail a litany of concerns with the Shangrila model by Beijing AeonMed, which was established in 2001 and says it has branches in Germany, Mexico, Indonesia and India.

According to listings on Made-in-China.com, which connects global buyers with Chinese manufacturers, the ventilator is a relatively cheap machine, costing $1,500 to $3,000.

AeonMed describes it as a "solid as a rock ... emergency transport ventilator" that was the first device in China to get a "CE marking"  meaning it would have passed the E.U.'s health and safety requirements. It says the device was the sole emergency ventilator used at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Li Kai, assistant to the chairman of Beijing Aeonmed Co Ltd, told Chinas state-run Global Times newspaper that all of its products go through inspections before being imported overseas. "Our plants are working around the clock to increase production capacity as we have received orders from several countries," he said.

But because of the ventilators' problems, the British doctors said, they would be usable only with careful and time-consuming supervision by senior specialists. They warned that its unreliable and unfamiliar settings were "highly likely to cause serious harm" when used by the army of nonspecialist doctors and nurses who have been conscripted into ICUs to fight the virus.

The unfamiliarity was compounded by an "inadequate" instruction booklet, according to the doctors, who said they could not find a U.K. distributor for support, spare parts and servicing.

Image: A general view of Sandwell General Hospital, West Bromwich. (David Jones / PA Images via Getty Images file)

"There is no confidence that this device should be used to transfer critical care patients within or between hospitals due to the unreliability of oxygen and ventilation delivery, lack of adequate safety alarms and continued need for fine titration of settings," it said, using a technical term relating to the fine-tuning of the devices.

'The public wanted headlines'

The NHS department that sent the letter declined to comment, instead directing NBC News to the Department of Health and Social Care.

But Dr. Ron Daniels, a senior ICU doctor in another NHS region covering Birmingham, said his team was sent a small number of the same model and shared some of the same concerns. He believes the hasty purchase was the result of the U.K. government's seeking a quick public relations win.

"The public wanted headlines and the public wanted good news, so the government chose to supply ventilators that were not really fit for purpose just to grab some headlines  I don't think that's an unreasonable angle," said Daniels, who is also the founder and executive director of the Sepsis Trust, a British charity.

He said that he did not have as much experience using the ventilator and that it was possible it could be used on less serious patients or in other circumstances.

The Department of Health and Social Care did not respond to detailed questions about the procurement process for the Shangrila 510: how and why it was purchased, whether front-line doctors were consulted beforehand and whether it had passed the relevant safety and regulatory checks.

Instead, the department said in an emailed statement: "We are leading a coordinated effort to rapidly increase ventilator capacity and ensure these vital pieces of equipment are delivered to the frontline. Patient safety is our absolute priority and new orders are all dependent on machines passing robust regulatory tests to ensure they are up to standard."

It said that none of the machines in question were currently being used and that all NHS hospitals had spare capacity and the option to use other models if needed.

Alexander Smith reported from London, and Eric Baculinao and Leou Chen reported from Beijing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBV79HUK1GQ

Another drama title has snuck into ABCs guide with 2017s Top of the Lake: China Girl getting a free to air broadcast from tonight.

This is a sequel to Jane Campions AU / NZ 2013 drama.

Filmed in Sydney the cast includes Elisabeth Moss, Gwendoline Christie, Nicole Kidman and Ewen Leslie.

Top of the Lake: China Girl is a crime mystery story that finds Detective Robin Griffin recently returned to Sydney and trying to rebuild her life. When the body of an Asian girl washes up on Bondi Beach, there appears little hope of finding the killer, until Robin realises China Girl didnt die alone. Robin looks to the investigation to restore herself, but her problems are personal. Haunted by a daughter given up at birth, Robin desperately wants to find her, yet dreads revealing the truth of her conception. But her search to discover China Girls identity will take her into the citys darkest recesses and closer than she could have imagined to the secrets of her own heart.

Top of the Lake: China Girl sees Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaids Tale, Mad Men) reprise her Golden Globe winning role as Detective Robin Griffin. She is joined by Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Nicole Kidman.

Also joining the cast are David Dencik (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Alice Englert (Beautiful Creatures, Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell) and Ewen Leslie (The Daughter).

Filmed in Sydney, Top of the Lake: China Girl received rave reviews and a standing ovation at its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the first time the festival had screened a television series.

Top of the Lake: China Girl is directed by Oscar winner Jane Campion (Bright Star, The Piano), and Ariel Kleiman (Partisan) and co-written by Campion and Gerard Lee. Top of the Lake is being produced by Philippa Campbell (Rain, Top of the Lake season one) and Libby Sharpe (Jewboy). Executive producers are Campion with See-Saws Emile Sherman, Iain Canning (The Kings Speech, Shame) and Jamie Laurenson, alongside Lucy Richer for the BBC.

Top of the Lake: China Girl is co-produced by BBC First and Foxtel with BBC Two, See-Saw Films, BBC UKTV in New Zealand, SundanceTV and Hulu in the United States, ARTE in France and BBC Worldwide.

8:30pm Fridays on ABC.
OSLO, Norway, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Solutions reported first-quarter revenue of NOK 6.5 billion, a decline of 10 percent compared with the first quarter 2019, as the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and sharp decline in oil prices impacted activity levels.

1Q 2020 Financial Highlights

Revenue NOK 6.5 billion

billion EBITDA NOK 149 million

million EBITDA margin 2.3%

EBITDA ex. special items NOK 314 million

million EBITDA margin ex. special items 4.8%

Order intake NOK 6.6 billion

billion Order backlog NOK 26.4 billion

The results were impacted by lower activity levels towards the end of the quarter, as operators postponed offshore work to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp drop in oil prices caused significant disruption to the global economy during the quarter. The global energy sector was hit particularly hard, as commodity prices collapsed and operators significantly reduced spending plans.

"Under these extreme and unprecedented circumstances, after protecting the health and safety of our people, our focus is to safeguard the financial strength of our company," said Luis Araujo, chief executive officer of Aker Solutions. "At Aker Solutions actions have been implemented to address the situation. We are doing our utmost to mitigate the effects for employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders around the world."

Orders totaled NOK 6.6 billion in the quarter, bringing the backlog to NOK 26.4 billion. Key awards included a five-year agreement to provide brownfield services to Brunei Shell Petroleum, to maintain production levels for more than 200 offshore assets. During the quarter, Aker Solutions also signed a 20-year exclusive master agreement to provide umbilicals for Chevron-operated oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico. The company also secured the first work order under the new agreement, to provide umbilicals for Chevron's Anchor project.

Revenue and EBITDA

Revenue fell to NOK 6.5 billion in the quarter from NOK 7.3 billion a year earlier. The EBITDA was NOK 149 million, compared with NOK 634 million in the first quarter of 2019. Excluding special items, the EBITDA was NOK 314 million with a margin of 4.8 percent compared with 8.8 percent in the same period last year.

Aker Solutions has two reporting segments: Projects and Services. Revenue in Projects fell 14 percent to NOK 5.1 billion in the quarter from NOK 6.0 billion a year earlier. Excluding special items, EBITDA margin was 6.0 percent in the quarter, versus 8.0 percent a year earlier.

Revenue in Services was NOK 1.4 billion, up 7 percent from NOK 1.3 billion in the same quarter last year, mainly driven by the subsea lifecycle services business. The EBITDA margin excluding special items was 5.6 percent in the quarter, down from 14.4 percent a year earlier. This was driven by the lower activity level within Production Asset Services, in particular in Brazil and the North Sea by the end of the quarter, and one-off adjustments of about NOK 60 million related to the COVID-19 situation and some contract-related adjustments in Brazil - not included in special items.

The company's liquidity position at the end of the first quarter was NOK 5.8 billion. This is made up of a NOK 3 billion revolving credit facility and NOK 2.8 billion in cash.

In response to new market conditions, Aker Solutions is implementing a series of measures to reduce cost. The measures include temporary and permanent lay-offs, removing contractors, site closures and freezing pay levels. The cost-cutting initiatives aim to reduce the fixed cost level by about NOK 1 billion on an annualized basis, up from NOK 750 million announced in early April. The company is also cutting capex investments by 40 percent from the 2019 level, to NOK 500 million in 2020.

Outlook

The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with low oil prices has led to a significant slowdown in activity. Oil companies have reduced their investment plans by at least 20 percent for 2020, and several projects have been postponed. In this environment, the company's main financial priority is on cash conservation, protecting the balance sheet and financial performance.

"The depth and scale of the decline is still unclear, but the second quarter is likely to be one of the most uncertain and disruptive quarters our industry has been through," said Araujo.

Given the significant market uncertainty, the company finds it challenging to provide detailed guidance. The company expects full-year revenues to decline about 30 percent versus the full year 2019 level.

CONTACT:

Media Contact:

Ivar Simensen, mob: +47-464-02-317, email: [email protected]

Investor Contact:

Fredrik Berge, mob: +47-450-32-090, email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-solutions-asa/r/aker-solutions-asa--first-quarter-results-2020,c3101070

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/18353/3101070/beb667558d959333.pdf 1Q 2020 Presentation

SOURCE Aker Solutions ASA
A 16-year-girl from Pali district of Rajasthan was allegedly killed for having an affair with a boy from another caste. The girl was reportedly strangulated to death by her mother and uncle who later burned the body and buried it near the river banks.

According to police officials, the girl used to live with her family members in Punay district of Rajasthan and was a native of Sonai Manji village - 10-kilometres from Pali district headquarters.

The victim, identified as Rinku Sirvi, allegedly had an affair with a boy from Maharashtra with whom she had escaped three-months back. She was later found at Dadar railway station in Mumbai. The boy with whom she had escaped was arrested on charges of kidnapping and other relevant sections under the POCSO Act, said Rahul Katakey, superintendent of police (SP), Pali.

Also read: Rajasthan police starts dedicated helpline for corona warriors

The boy, who was around 20-years-old, was granted bail a month later after which Sirvi told her mother that she wanted to get married to him once she is an adult. Her mother and uncle were allegedly completely against it. Irked by Sirvis persistence, her mother Sita and uncle Savaram made a plan to kill the minor. They took the victim to Sonai Manji village instead of visiting their deitys temple.

On March 19, Sita and Savaram went to visit their deitys temple located in isolated farms where they strangulated the victims neck and burned her body later. As the body was burnt partially, they packed it in a sack and buried it near a river bank located 1.5 kiolmetres away from the spot where the victim was killed, the SP added.

After disposing of the body, Savaram returned to Punay while Sita went to her parents home in Sodawas village of Alwar district.

Few days back, the Pali police received a tip and recovered the body. The officers later interrogated the parents after which Sita and Savaram confessed to the crime and were arrested on Wednesday. Further investigation is underway.
The domestic carriers have recently rejected the aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)'s proposal to keep the middle seats empty when the flight operations resume. The airline bosses argue that such a decision would upend the economics of the business, hurt their profitability, and demand for seats. Instead, the airlines argue that the government should ask passengers to use PPE (personal protective equipment) like suits, masks and gloves at all times during the flight. The chairman of SpiceJet Ajay Singh has reportedly called this step by DGCA as a mere "eyewash".

While the airlines have all the rights to keep their interests first, they must understand that they are in the services business. Like any other services business, perception matters more than anything else. Instead of thinking about cost-economics at this stage, the focus should be on the bringing the passengers' confidence back. Keeping the middle seats seems more like a precautionary gesture since it doesn't really fulfill the internationally-accepted norm of maintaining at least two metres of social distance.

Also, it's not that travellers will start flying shortly after the lockdown is lifted. Some amount of business travel will surely happen, but a bulk of the seats will still remain unsold due to low demand. Then why worry about seats which are in any case expected to remain empty.

Now look at the airlines' logic from economic perspective. If an airline is flying 180 seats, keeping the middle seat empty will result in 60 seats going empty which essentially translates into 67 per cent of seats up for sale. If an airline manages to fill all those seats, it will still be much lower than the PLFs (passenger load factor) of above 85 per cent that large carriers had been registering prior to the lockdown; in the new scenario, historical data and benchmarks seem to have no relevance - not just in aviation but in nearly every industry. In a depressed demand scenario, airlines should feel lucky if they are able to reach that kind of PLF in the near future. The airlines argue that in a low-cost model (LCC), their profitability is dependent on high volumes.

But even if airlines try to sell tickets for cheap, the volumes will remain low - at least until a cure or a vaccine comes out. It's hard to imagine a family of four going on a flight dressed up in PPEs to enjoy a holiday. Those days are never going to come. So what's going to be left with the airlines - after a few weeks of mad rush after the lockdown when stranded passengers would move to their safe zones - are business class passengers who would travel only for essential purposes. These types of passengers - mostly self-employed and SME entrepreneurs - will not mind paying fares three times costlier than those in February. For them, travelling through aircraft will have an economic value attached to it.

Historically, the aviation market in India has remained price sensitive. The cut-throat competition over fares has led to domestic airlines going bankrupt once in every four-five years. Even those who survive typically don't have enough resources to weather even the cyclical trend of high crude prices. The current pandemic, which is a problem of different magnitude, has exposed the inefficiencies of the sector. Keeping the fares low just to annihilate the competition has been the standard practice of large domestic carriers.

This has also affected the FSC (full service carrier) segment in a big way where carriers like Jet Airways could not survive the high cost-low fares environment. Even the promising FSCs like Vistara cannot command drastically higher fares for its premium services since the whole market economics has been skewed in favour of low-cost.

Also read: Coronavirus impact: SpiceJet to pay part salaries to 92% employees, says no layoffs

Also read: Coronavirus impact: Lufthansa makes masks mandatory on flights from May 4
Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil, mourning the sudden demise of actor Irrfan Khan, has written a heartfelt tribute to the versatile star on his Facebook page. In a long statement, Fahadh said he owes his career to him and how he regrets not having met and shook hands with him.

Irrfan Khan, aged 53, breathed his last on Wednesday in a hospital in Mumbai due to endocrine tumour. The actor had revealed his diagnosis two years ago.

Recalling how he was introduced to Irrfan Khans work for the first time, Fahadh shared an incident from his college days. I used to live on campus and had no access to Indian films then. So my friend Nikunj and I used to drive to a Pakistani grocery close to our campus to rent Indian DVDs over the weekend. On one of our visits, Khalid Bhai, the store owner, recommended a film called Yuh Hota Toh Kya Hota. The first thing I noticed was that the film was directed by Nasseruddin Shah. I decided to grab the DVD for the weekend show. That night, a few minutes into the film, when the character Salim Rajabali came on screen, I turned to Nikunj and asked, Who is this guy? I mean there are actors who are intense, who are stylish and who are charming. In all honesty, this was the first time I ever saw an actor who was ORIGINAL on screen. And his name was IRRFAN KHAN, Fahadh wrote.

He further recalled how the Indian community in America was excited for Irrfan when he was announced as the actor playing the character Ashoke from in The Namesake.

I may have been late to notice him but it was just a matter of time for the world to discover the talent he was. Irrfan Khans growth was like a popular song. Everyone was singing it and feeling it. I kept watching his films. I used to get carried away so much that most of the time I lost narratives of the films. Or it was more like I didnt care about the narrative as long as he was performing. He made acting look so easy and I was fooled. Amidst discovering Irrfan Khan, I decided to drop out of engineering school and return to India. TO ACT IN FILMS, Fahadh added.

Fahadh said one of his biggest regrets in life will be not meeting and shaking hands with Irrfan, even when he was shooting in Kochi for Karwaan, which also starred Fahadhs good friend Dulquer Salmaan.

I have been acting or trying to for the last 10 years. I have never met Irrfan Khan. For that matter, I havent even seen him. But I was fortunate enough to have collaborated with actors and filmmakers who have worked with him. The first thing I spoke to Mr. Vishal Bharadwaj when I met him was about Maqbool. Even when my dear friend Dulquer was shooting in our home town I couldnt meet him as I was going through a hectic schedule myself. I had no reason to believe why I had to rush. Today, I regret not shaking hands with him. I should have just gone to Bombay and met him, he said.

Also read: Rishi Kapoor, Bollywoods original chocolate boy, dies at 67, Amitabh Bachchan says hes destroyed

Finally, Fahadh said he feels sorry for the writers and filmmakers saddened by his departure.

The country has lost an impeccable artist. I can only imagine the loss for family and friends. We just didnt have enough for him. Today, when my wife barged into the room and broke the news to me, I will be lying if I say I was shocked, because I continued what I was doing. The entire day went by today and I couldnt stop thinking about him. I feel obliged to him. I feel like I owe my career to him. I dont think I would have come this far if I hadnt picked up that DVD and watched an actor who changed my life. Thank you, sir.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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At each location, the group talked about environmental cleaning, infection prevention and control, how work is done and how people associate with one another.

The topics include donning and doffing  how to correctly put on and remove personal protection equipment.

In addition to the availability of such equipment, they talked about areas where patients have tested positive and how that space might be different from other spaces.

The team also talked about how each facility screens its health care workers.

Teresa Anderson of Central District Health is glad that Schwedhelm and her colleagues visited the Grand Island facilities.

Shellys the expert, said Anderson, who had a long talk with Schwedhelm on the phone Wednesday. Anderson is happy that the group provided some direction on the use of personal protective equipment and other subjects.

Central District Health requested, and has been assigned, a representative of the state Department of Health and Human Services to work specifically with our long-term care facilities, Anderson said. That woman has been working in the district for a couple of weeks.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that the format and agenda of the negotiations in the settlement process of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remain unchanged, the ministrys website reported on April 29.

Mammadyarov made the remarks during the phone conversation with the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar.

Mammadyarov informed his interlocutor about the recent video-conference meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia with the mediation and participation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Furthermore, the minister stressed the importance of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, and the related UN Security Council resolutions, including the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the return of the internally displaced persons to their homes and properties, the ministry said.

During the telephone conversation, the sides also exchanged views around the current situation in the region, as well as in the EU member states in light of fighting global pandemic and noted the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in this regard.

EU relations with Azerbaijan date back to 1991 and are based on the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (signed in 1996, entering into force in 1999), which provides for a wide-ranging cooperation in the areas of political dialogue, trade, investment, economy, legislation and culture. Since then, the European Union has gradually expanded the scope of its assistance to and cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Since 2004, Azerbaijan has been included (as a southern Caucasus country) in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), and also in the Eastern Partnership initiative since its inauguration in 2009.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 17:01:42|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed on Thursday in a house fire on the outskirts of Labasa, capital city of Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island, which is in the northern part of the nation.

According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) on Thursday, when the house fire took place on Thursday morning, the owner of the house, a neighbour and two other women are believed to have been trapped inside the house and all the four women are believed to be in their 70s.

The 35-year-old son of the house owner said that the fire is believed to have started from his mother's room. He tried to save his mother and other people but failed to do so because of the big fire and smoke.

He said that they were having continuous disputes with some people in their area and he alleged that their house was set on fire.

The Fijian police are investigating the cause of the fire, saying that the investigation is still in its early stages and they cannot speculate until the real cause of the fire is determined. Enditem
A court in Assam's



Cachar district has sentenced a Bangladeshi to three years in prison for illegally entering India seven years ago.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate M Newpane on Tuesday sentenced Enamuddin, a native of Habiganj district of Bangladesh, to three years in prison besides slapping a fine of Rs 500 on him for illegally entering India on April 5, 2013 near Kinokhal border outpost in Cachar district.

BSF personnel had nabbed the man after he slipped into India and had handed him over to the local police.

A case under sections of the Foreigners Act was registered against Enamuddin with the Katigorah police station.

He was forwarded to the Silchar Central Jail.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Post is updating a searchable database of Medicare-certified nursing homes that have at least one reported case of the coronavirus among patients or staff, using state lists and media accounts of local outbreaks. The count is incomplete. In New York, officials are releasing the names of only homes with at least five deaths, citing patient confidentiality. Virginia has released a total count of all long-term care facilities with covid-19 cases but has declined to name them.
And the rules give all schools room to move. The first advance is worth 12.5 per cent of next year's funding for schools that have a plan to fully re-open classrooms by June 1. The key word is "plan"  because nobody can be sure what might happen with COVID-19 four weeks from now. The second advance is worth another 12.5 per cent and has been described as requiring schools to have half their students in classrooms by June 1. Yet the federal government fact sheet merely asks for schools to "commit to a target of at least 50 per cent of students" in class by that date. The key word is "target"  because nobody will be inspecting schools on June 1 to count the students. In fact, the plans do not even need to be lodged with the Department of Education. They just need to be available in case an official asks for them later. So the financial reward is complex. The government is not being as generous as it first seemed, but it is not being as aggressive, either. The offer is optional and the rules are not too strict.

This leads to a logical question. Does Morrison want the outcomes, or just the headlines? The policy result will never be clear because we will never know how many more students will be sitting in classrooms, due to this offer, four weeks from now. The government may be able to claim a certain number of schools have signed up, but this will not show how many students are actually at their desks. Nor will it show how many would have been there anyway. Loading The political outcome is simpler. Morrison has left families in no doubt that he wants children back in class faster than any other political leader. He challenges state teachers' unions and emphasises education when there is strong academic evidence about the inadequacy of online learning. Morrison has played the politics hard but his message appeals to parents who are frustrated with the restrictions on public schools when it seems the health crisis is being brought under control.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is restarting school even if there is frustration with her chosen model. In Queensland and Victoria, however, state Labor leaders are holding out against a Liberal message from Canberra that puts a higher priority on classroom teaching. This might not matter if there was a correlation between case numbers and school restrictions in each jurisdiction, but there is not. Political power, including union power, is a bigger factor. The Labor stronghold of the Australian Capital Territory has the toughest school restrictions but the best COVID-19 results, with no active cases. The number of active coronavirus cases in Queensland fell from 280 to 94 over the seven days to Wednesday afternoon, with no increase in deaths. The number in Victoria fell from 78 to 49 over the same period, with one additional death. Victoria has no active cases among school-age children from 5 to 19. The number of active cases in NSW fell from 1185 to 711 over the same week, with eight deaths. Loading Parents can see the situation improving while Labor leaders act as if there has been no change. It is only a matter of time before Andrews and Palaszczuk adjust: the Victorian Premier is hinting at changes after the state of emergency ends on May 11, while the Queensland Premier is waiting until May 15 to reveal whether schools will welcome students other than those who are vulnerable or those whose parents are essential workers.
[April 30, 2020] HackerOne Uses Sumo Logic to Help Protect Organizations from Today's Modern Threats

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sumo Logic , the leader in continuous intelligence , today announced HackerOne , a world-leading hacker-powered security platform, is leveraging real-time intelligence and insights from the Sumo Logic Continuous Intelligence Platform to secure IT environments and support its efforts to help organizations identify security vulnerabilities in their most important software and internet-connected systems.

HackerOne is a security platform that connects the largest community of ethical hackers with organizations to surface vulnerabilities within their assets before they can be exploited. Some of the biggest organizations in the world use the HackerOne platform for vulnerability management, bug bounty programs, and time-bound security testing. As part of its digital transformation, HackerOne migrated entirely to the cloud and needed a continuous intelligence platform that was able to keep up with the increasing volume of data from several different sources such as their production platforms and internal IT security tools. Early on, we knew a self-hosted performant logging model would come at a high cost in terms of human resources, said Aaron Zander, Director of IT, HackerOne. Sumo Logics Continuous Intelligence Platform gave us the technical flexibility we needed to customize our log handling with our own preferred tools, without limitations. No matter what the project, having insights provided by Sumo Logic at our fingertips made decision-making infinitely easier. HackerOnes product engineering, IT, infrastructure, and security teams use Sumo Logic to support the companys own Bug Bounty Program by leveraging continuous intelligence from log data to understand how an ethical hacker has identified a vulnerability and determine if this vulnerability is unque in nature. In addition, the HackerOne IT team uses Sumo Logic to identify and address malicious behavior and processes, such as malware, occurring within their IT environment. In one case, Sumo Logic helped alert the IT team of a malicious file minutes after it was downloaded, allowing them to quickly dissect the malware and completely wipe the threat from the users computer before any damage was done.



Sumo Logic has been instrumental in helping us boost security across our ecosystem, said Zander. Its Continuous Intelligence Platform enables our team to spend more hours tackling projects that require creativity only humans can provide as well as maximizing our value for customers, hackers on our platform, and our employees. Today, Sumo Logic has become the go-to place for HackerOne's IT, infrastructure and security teams on all things relating to investigation and analysis. In the future, as HackerOne continues to add new services and tools across their organization, they will continue to leverage continuous intelligence delivered by Sumo Logic to stay ahead of issues and maintain general hygiene across their various environments.

In todays age of digital transformation, organizations are under constant attack from rapidly evolving cyber threats. It is vital that we support companies, like HackerOne, who are the front line protectors against cybercriminals, said Dione Hedgpeth, chief customer officer, Sumo Logic. We are pleased to see the creative and effective ways HackerOne is using continuous intelligence from our platform to thwart modern threats across an ever-expanding digital surface and expand their position as a category and industry leader. Sumo Logic is a recognized expert in building and operating multi-tenant, highly distributed cloud systems and is the industrys first machine data analytics platform to natively ingest, index and analyze structured and unstructured data together in real-time. As one of the most powerful cloud-native services, the Sumo Logic platform ingests and analyzes vast amounts of data and runs millions of queries every day, which powers tens of millions of insights for customers who rely on this type of continuous intelligence to more effectively build, run and secure their modern applications. Additional Resources Learn how to leverage operational intelligence from Sumo Logic

how to leverage operational intelligence from Sumo Logic Sign up for a Sumo Logic free trial About Sumo Logic

Sumo Logic is a leader in continuous intelligence, a new category of software, which enables organizations of all sizes address the data challenges and opportunities presented by digital transformation, modern applications, and cloud computing. The Sumo Logic Continuous Intelligence Platform automates the collection, ingestion, and analysis of application, infrastructure, security, and IoT data to derive actionable insights within seconds. More than 2,000 customers around the world rely on Sumo Logic to build, run, and secure their modern applications and cloud infrastructures. Only Sumo Logic delivers its platform as a true, multi-tenant SaaS architecture, across multiple use-cases, enabling businesses to thrive in the Intelligence Economy. Founded in 2010, Sumo Logic is a privately held company based in Redwood City, California, and is backed by Accel Partners, Battery Ventures, DFJ Growth, Franklin Templeton, Greylock Partners, IVP, Sapphire Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Sutter Hill Ventures, and Tiger Global Management. For more information, visit www.sumologic.com . Sumo Logic is a trademark or registered trademark of Sumo Logic in the United States and in foreign countries. All other company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Any information regarding offerings, updates, functionality, or other modifications, including release dates, is subject to change without notice. The development, release, and timing of any offering, update, functionality, or modification described herein remains at the sole discretion of Sumo Logic, and should not be relied upon in making a purchase decision, nor as a representation, warranty, or commitment to deliver specific offerings, updates, functionalities, or modifications in the future. Media Contacts United States

Melissa Liton

Sumo Logic

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Things go missing in The Wretched  a bunny, a baby, assorted children  and hardly anyone seems to notice. A darkened basement reverberates with eerie, snap-crackle-pop sounds and images that feature ghostly shots of a childs crib. Something ancient and evil is crawling out of a butchered deer carcass. And its hungry.

Opening with a spookily effective, 1980s-set prologue, this old-fashioned witchy brew from Brett and Drew Pierce (billed as the Pierce Brothers) jumps to the present where Ben (John-Paul Howard), a moody teenager, is having trouble dealing with his parents divorce. Visiting his father (Jamison Jones) for the summer, Ben takes a job at a marina and befriends Mallory (Piper Curda), a down-to-earth type and perfect sidekick. Especially when the little boy next door disappears and Ben needs help investigating his unsettling mother (Zarah Mahler).
(Natural News) As weve seen when all the flawed math and science in recent coronavirus report, we arent exactly living in a math-centric world. In fact, basic skills in math and statistics are sorely lacking, even among people who consider themselves journalists or reporters.

Its not that we expect everyone to be a statistician or epidemiology expert, but it sure would be great if the people writing about the coronavirus could do basic calculations in aggregate risk, infection rates or false positives.

Wouldnt it be great to have a simple quiz you could share with people that would determine whether they know much about math?

Ive put together a short collection of simple math and statistics questions below. You can rest assured that the vast majority of people writing about the coronavirus these days would fail this test, even though its really just high school math. Thats a pretty good indication you probably shouldnt take any advice from them on topics like pandemics or finances, by the way.

Try it out for yourself and see how you do. By reading the answers at the bottom, you might even learn some important concepts that are strongly related to the coronavirus pandemic were dealing with right now. You are also welcome to double check my math, as I sort of wrote this in a hurry and may have made a hasty error myself. Bonus points if you spot any errors. (Some answers are rounded.)

Good luck!

The pandemic math quiz

See answers below. Dont sneak a peek!

Math question #1: The coin flip

An authentic, perfectly manufactured U.S. quarter (coin) is flipped 100 times. The last 10 results happen to come up all heads. What are the odds that the next single flip will be heads?

Math question #2: The bacteria colony

A colony of bacteria living in a petri dish doubles its population every minute. The petri dish is exactly full at minute 60. At what minute is the petri dish half full?

Math question #3: Compounded interest

A mutual fund generates a 12% annual return. Compounded annually, roughly how many years would it take for a $10,000 investment to double to $20,000 if left in the fund to continue compounding?

Math question #4: Aggregate risk

You have 100 coworkers in your office. There is a 1% chance for each coworker to be carrying the coronavirus. What is the overall chance that at least one of your coworkers carries the virus?



Math question #5: The pregnancy test (false positives / false negatives)

A pregnancy test kit has a 4% false positive rate and a 6% false negative rate. Aside from the false positives and false negatives, the test is always accurate. If 100 women take the test, and 18 are truly pregnant but 82 are not pregnant, how many women will the test show to be pregnant? And how many of those will truly be pregnant? (You can round the answers to the nearest whole number, since we arent dealing with fractions of women.)

Math question #6: The transgender pregnancy test

The same pregnancy test kit described above is used to run pregnancy tests on 100 biological men who now claim to be women. How many will test positive for pregnancy, assuming the test kits have the same rates of false positives and false negatives described in question 3? (This is not a trick question.)

BONUS Math question: Bailout money

The US government decides to give every American $1 million in bailout money to boost the economy and turn every American into a millionaire. What will the value of the U.S. dollar be one year from now? (Sort of a trick question.)

ANSWERS:

Math answer #1: The answer is 50%.

Thats because coins and other inanimate objects dont have memories. The results that came before the next flip are irrelevant. Past flips do not influence future flips. This simple truth is widely misunderstood by most people who convince themselves that streaks of luck have memories.

Math answer #2: The answer is at minute 59.

And at minute 58, its only 1/4th full. Exponential growth sneaks up on you.

Math answer #3: The answer is about 6 years.

People who dont understand compounded interest tend to think it would take more than 8 years, but the rule of 72 allows us to easily estimate the actual time to double the investment at just 6 years.

Math answer #4: The answer is 63.4%

To answer this question, flip it around and calculate the odds of 100 people all not carrying the virus. Theres a 99% chance for each person to not have the virus. If you multiply 99 by itself 100 times, which is the same as 0.99 ^ 100, youll get the aggregate odds of all 100 people not carrying the virus. That number is 0.366, which means there is a 36.6% change of all 100 people not carrying the virus. That comes out to a 63.4% chance that at least one person is carrying the virus. This helps demonstrate why the coronavirus spreads so easily in indoor environments, even when a very small percentage of people might be carrying the virus.

Math answer #5: The answer is 20.

The 4% false positives means that 4% of those who are not positive will actually show positive. Since there are 82 woman who are not pregnant, 4% x 82 is 3.28. That means 3 of the tests out of 100 will falsely show a positive, in addition to the ones that are actually positive.

The 6% false negatives means that out of the 18 women who are truly pregnant, 6% of them will falsely show they are not pregnant, which is 6% x 18, or 1.08. Thus, it means one woman who is truly pregnant will falsely be shown to be not pregnant.

With 3 false positives and 1 false negative, the test actually shows 20 women are pregnant, even though only 18 are truly pregnant. (18 + 3  1 = 20). Even though the total is only off by two (it shows 20, but only 18 are truly pregnant), there are actually four women who are affected by the bad results. There will be one woman who is truly pregnant but thinks she is not, while there will be three women who are not pregnant but think they are.

Interestingly, this means that out of the 20 women who think they are pregnant, 3 out of the 20 are not actually pregnant, which means 15% of the women who think they are pregnant actually arent. Thats how a 4% false positive rate, which seems low, can actually skew 15% of the apparent final results. Keep all this in mind when you see people writing about antibody tests related to covid-19. Almost nobody is getting the math right, not even most doctors. The mathematical ignorance of false positives is astonishing, even in the medical community.

Math answer #6: The answer is 4.

Since all the participants are biological men, and men cant get pregnant because they have no ovaries or female reproductive organs, none of them are truly pregnant. But the pregnancy test has a 4% false positive rate, so 4 out of 100 will see false positive test results. This is a reminder that when antibody tests arent accurate, even men can test positive for being pregnant.

BONUS Math answer: Zero

Thats because fiat currency always fails and goes to zero. The more the Fed tries to print bailout money, the less the fiat currency is worth. Thats because you cant print value, even if you can print funny money. If the Federal Reserve could simply print real wealth and distribute it to everyone, there would be no point in anyone ever working again, or ever paying taxes again.

Bailout money isnt free money, its theft of money from the middle class, who pay most of the taxes. The government, in other words, is looting the middle class to send bailout billions to the rich, wealthy corporations. And thats a mathematical fact.
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The Substation Automation Market is anticipated to reach around USD 207.8 billion by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the Intelligent Electronic Devices segment dominated the substation automation global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.

The growing adoption of smart cities, along with high demand of smart grids has boosted the adoption of substation automation. The rising demand for electricity, and growing demand for efficient and low-cost solutions in the solar energy sector further support the growth of substation automation market. Increasing investments by vendors in technological advancements, growing need to update existing networks, and increasing demand for retrofitting conventional substations would accelerate the adoption of substation automation during the forecast period. Growing demand from emerging economies, increasing adoption smart grid applications, and technological advancements are expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years.



Get More Insights About The Substation Automation Market Or Request For Sample Of This Report- https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/substation-automation-market/request-for-sample

North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global substation automation market throughout the forecast period. The presence of established telecom and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing trend of smart cities drive substation automation market growth in the region. The growing demand from energy sector, and technological advancements further support market growth in the region. The use of smart technologies in energy and utilities, industrial automation, and intelligent buildings is expected to support substation automation market growth in this region during the forecast period.

The companies operating in substation automation market include Schneider Electric SE, Cisco Systems, ABB Ltd., Siemens AG, Eaton Corporation Plc., General Electric, Honeywell International, Inc., Larsen & Toubro Limited, Crompton Greaves, and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.

Any Special Requirement | Speak to our Industry Expert @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/substation-automation-market/speak-to-analyst

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(Photo : Khaled Abdullah on Reuters ) Coronavirus Aftermath: Mental Health Problems Increases; Global Starvation at the End of 2020, Experts Predict (Photo : Mike Segar on Reuters)

Have you ever think about what's next after Coronavirus? The United Nations (UN) recently warns each country of a possible event of global starvation, in just a matter of months. As predicted, at the end of 2020, over 130 million people will be pushed to famine due to the disease. Meanwhile, the different report states that a lasting mental health problem occurs now on people staying in their homes in the United States due to the experienced unemployment and loss of jobs.

What will happen after the Coronavirus disease? Here are the sad possible facts

On Apr. 30, coronavirus does not just affect our bodies but even our minds. According to Fox News, in more than 30 million Americans that were forced to stay in their homes and lose their jobs, mental health problems also increase over time.

Dr. Charles Herrick, chair of psychiatry at Nuvance Health, warns Americans that mental health problems may occur to anyone in today's pandemic, and it could leave a lasting impact even the disease is gone.

"Based on what we know from past crises we've lived through, there's usually a spike in the need for people to touch base with a mental health professional," said Herrick. "They want to know if they're OK, or if they need help. Most people are OK and just need that reassurance."

Interestingly, Dr. Herrick explains that most of the people that experience job losses do not just go to a psychiatrist. To cure the mental health issue, people go back to work. Unfortunately, with a recent status, no one is allowed to do this-- making it worse for a person's mental health.

One tip that Dr. Herrick said is to allow yourself to get in touch with the people surrounding you.

"We rely heavily on these relationships to feel good about ourselves," he said. "Without these connections, we can experience social and sensory deprivation, which can have a negative impact on mental health. Fortunately, this pandemic happened at a time when technology is available to help us stay connected. Without it, we'd see far more psychological damage than we do today."

A possibility for global famine after 2020

Meanwhile, the mental health problem is not the only issue to think about once coronavirus ends. The U.N. reveals that within the next months, possible multiple famines may occur worldwide.

"While dealing with a COVID-19 pandemic, we are also on the brink of a hunger pandemic," David Beasley told the U.N.'s security council. "There is also a real danger that more people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself."

An estimated number of 135 million people might face starvation if the virus and lockdown won't be terminated soon. This number will be added to the 821 million already facing famine for quite some time now-- having a total of 1 billion people starved at the end of the year.

Ten countries were identified by the U.N. to have a potential case of famine during or after coronavirus. These are Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria, and Haiti.

"These countries may face an excruciating trade-off between saving lives or livelihoods or, in a worst-case scenario, saving people from the coronavirus to have them die from hunger," the report said.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Update: Summer, UV Lights Won't Likely Save People From Coronavirus - Experts Say

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
He lashed out at Parscale and said it was other peoples fault that there had been fluctuations in a race they had all seen as his to lose just two months ago. At one point, he said he would not lose to Biden, insisted the data was wrong and blamed the campaign manager for the fact that he was down in the polls, according to one of the people familiar with the conversation. Trump even made a threat to sue Parscale, mentioning the money he had made, another person familiar with the call said, although it did not appear to be serious.
[April 30, 2020] Gateway First Bank Included in National Mortgage News' Top Producers Ranking

Gateway (News - Alert) First Bank is proud to announce 11 of its team members have been named Top Producers by National Mortgage News. The loan officers included in the list produced a total of 2,406 loans with a total dollar volume of $536,381,987. In its 22nd year, Top Producers rankings are open to mortgage loan officers and mortgage brokers who work at depository, nonbank and mortgage brokerage firms in the United States. The rankings are compiled from 2019 loan production information submitted by employees that represent the entire spectrum of the origination business, with titles ranging from loan officer all the way to company president. Gateway's Retail Mortgage team ended 2019 with a record $7.6 billion loans funded, demonstrating strong growth and demand. The company currently has more than 160 mortgage centers across the United States and is licensed in 40 states. Gateway would like to recognize the following loan officers for their hard work last year







Paddi Bailey Bryan Davenport Chris Doke Trever Kerr Jack Little Lisa Mathews Chris Padley Michael Steele Jill Taylor Steve Thompson Christofer Wilhelm

"We are thrilled to have several Gateway team members recognized by National Mortgage News this year," said Scott Gesell, CEO at Gateway. "Their inclusion demonstrates Gateway's competitiveness and the strong demand for home financing within its communities. As we face changes related to the COVID-19 crisis, there is still a demand for mortgage services. With our team members' dedication and hard work, Gateway will continue to achieve strong momentum." To view the full list from National Mortgage News, visit: https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/top-mortgage-producers-2020-full-rankings About Gateway First Bank In May of 2019, Gateway Mortgage Group merged with an Oklahoma community bank to become Gateway First Bank. With bank roots dating back over 100 years and a 20-year mortgage history, a new kind of financial institution emerged. Gateway First Bank is a leading financial institution that provides digital banking and mortgage services for consumers and commercial customers. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gateway funds over $7.7 billion in mortgages annually, maintains $1.5 billion in assets, and operates six bank branches in Oklahoma and over 150 mortgage centers in 40 states. With over 1,300 employees, Gateway is one of the largest banking operations in the state of Oklahoma and has one of the largest mortgage operations in the United States. Learn more at www.GatewayFirst.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender (NMLS 7233) Follow Gateway First on Facebook (News - Alert) (https://www.facebook.com/GatewayFirstBank/), LinkedIn (News - Alert) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gatewayfirst/) and Twitter (News - Alert) (https://twitter.com/Gateway1st). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200430005064/en/

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This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 -- also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19 -- isolated from a patient in the US. Virus particles are shown emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. The spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like. Credit: NIAID-RML

Scientists from The University of Western Australia's Faculty of Science are part of a global team that is developing a new DNA test for COVID-19, which can provide faster and more detailed results than other tests.

This test can be used to understand how COVID-19 is mutating, aid vaccine development and understand its journey across populations globallyfor instance, how it adapts to a new host. It is currently being used for COVID-19 research, but once approved by the US Food and Drug administration it can be used for both the diagnostic testing of patients and to enable a better understanding of the virus.

The test is based on technology developed through the DNA Zoo project, a global initiative that analyses DNA from different species to help researchers, leaders and policy-makers better understand species through their DNA as well as threats to their survival.

Dr. Parwinder Kaur, from UWA's School of Agriculture and Environment, who is the Australian project lead, said the new test would enable one person to process hundreds of samples a day, at a cost comparable to current tests.

"Following full genome sequencing, the results can be processed rapidly in less than two minutes using local high-performance computing software through WA's Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, Microsoft and the technology company DUG."

First author of the study, Brian St Hilaire, graduate student from The Aiden LabBaylor College of Medicine, said that the preliminary testing approach published on bioRxiv, provided more than just a positive or negative result for the virus.

"Instead, this test extracts intricate and highly complex genetic data surrounding the strain of the virus and its behaviour," he said.

Project lead Dr. Aviva Presser Aiden, from the Baylor College of Medicine, said as COVID-19 continued to spread across the world, global healthcare systems faced significant challenges.

"Extensive diagnostic testing is integral to disease control," Dr. Aiden said. "This test will help us understand a number of unknowns about the disease and its transmission."

Dr. Kaur said because the test was able to detect low viral concentrations compared to other diagnostic tests, it could also be used to monitor COVID-19 through wastewater treatment plants to track its spread through communities.

"We hope the test will provide important new insights into the infection by analysing the genetic makeup of the virus which will assist with disease control into the future," she said.

"For years to come, humans will be co-existing with animals that can transmit diseases like COVID-19, so understanding the genetic makeup and behaviour of these diseases is going to be vital in preparing us for pandemics in the future."

Explore further Potential COVID-19 test delivers results in less than 10 minutes

More information: Brian Glenn St Hilaire et al. A rapid, low cost, and highly sensitive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic based on whole genome sequencing, (2020). Brian Glenn St Hilaire et al. A rapid, low cost, and highly sensitive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic based on whole genome sequencing,(2020). DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.25.061499
An Indiana man charged with murdering a U.S. postal worker this week admitted he confronted her because his mail delivery had been suspended due to his aggressive dog, prosecutors said.

Tony Cushingberry-Mays, 21, was charged with second-degree murder, assaulting a federal employee, and discharging a firearm during a crime for the death of Angela Summers, a 45-year-old postal worker who was gunned down Monday afternoon during her mail delivery route in east Indianapolis, according to the United States District Court of Southern Indiana.

The mother-of-one, who had joined the U.S. Postal Service in 2018, died in the hospital.

According to federal law, killing an on-duty federal employee can be punishable by death or a life sentence. To date, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says four postal workers have been killed during workplace homicides in the last seven years.

Angela was such a joy to be around, she was such a breath of fresh air. This is the worst thing thats happened in my career, Paul Toms, president of the National Association of Letters Carriers Indianapolis branch, told The Daily Beast on Wednesday. This is a federal crime, but more importantly this is a senseless crime that should have never happened. It breaks my heart.

Summers, a city carrier assistant at the USPS Linwood Indianapolis Post Office, was delivering mail at about 4 p.m. Monday when she bypassed Cushingberry-Mays home in compliance with a suspension that had been put in place until he contained his dogs, according to court documents obtained by The Daily Beast.

An angry Cushingberry-Mays approached Summers on his neighbor's front porch, standing about 6 feet away, and repeatedly asked her for the mail.

Both Toms and a witness who spoke to WTHR said Cushingberry-Mays was allegedly upset about not getting his COVID-19 stimulus check when he confronted Summers.

Summers, however, could not deliver his mail because she was having a problem with the dog at his residence, the complaint said, adding that Summers had reported several issues with the dog, which had resulted in mail being held.

Story continues

Prosecutors said the USPS Linwood Indianapolis Post Office last sent a letter to the Cushingberry-Mays residence on April 13 indicating they would have to pick up mail from the post office.

Toms said that, in compliance with USPS guidelines, Summers had reported an issue with dogs at the home. After three warning letters were sent, mail had been blocked from the home for about two weeks and wasnt even given to Angela that day of the incident.

She was just following protocol, and the Postal Service curtailed the mail. It was not her fault that she didnt have the mail that day, Toms said. My understanding is that she tried to explain that the mail could be picked up at another location and an argument ensued. I heard she was called horrible, horrible names.

The postal workers response triggered an argument, escalating to the point that Summers had to use pepper spray on the 21-year-old.

Cushingberry-Mays then pulled his handgun from the right side of his waistband (no holster), pointed his handgun at the letter carrier, and fired one shot at the letter carrier, the criminal complaint states. He acknowledged the mace was not deadly but led to discomfort from his asthma.

According to the complaint, Cushingberry-Mays admitted in a Tuesday interview with police that he ran away after shooting Summers, first going to his aunts house before hiding the gun in the garage at his mothers. He told authorities he did not mean to kill the letter carrier but wanted to scare her, according to court documents.

Immediately after the shooting, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service launched an investigation and offered a $50,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest. Its not clear if Wednesdays arrest was made due to information obtained through the reward.

U.S. Postal Inspectors are charged with ensuring the safety and security of USPS employees, and that is a charge that we do not take lightly, Felicia George, USPI Detroit Division Acting Inspector in Charge, said in a statement. Anyone who threatens, assaults, or otherwise harms a postal employee fulfilling her critical mission will be apprehended and held fully accountable.

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With 26 fresh fatalities, Pakistan on Wednesday recorded the highest single-day jump in the number of deaths due to coronavirus disease Covid-19, health authorities said.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Moeed Yusuf told the media that besides the new 26 deaths, there were 44 infected people in critical condition, Pakistani media reported.

However, he said the mortality rate was only 2.1 per cent in Pakistan as compared to around seven per cent in other countries.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to bring back 7,500 overseas Pakistanis in the first week of May.

Our major focus will be on the Gulf states as thousands of Pakistanis have become jobless or their visas have expired. So they will be brought back from Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Estates. Some flights will be operated from Sudan, Kenya and the UK, Dawn news quoted Yusuf as saying.

The number of Covid-19 cases reached 15,759 in Pakistan after 874 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, health authorities said. Three hundred forty six people have died of the disease so far in the country.

Punjab province is the worst hit with 6,061 cases, followed by Sindh with 5,695, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with 2,313, Balochistan with 978, Gilgit-Baltistan with 333, Islamabad with 313 and Pakistan-cccupied Kashmir with 66 cases.

So far 4,052 patients have recovered while the total active cases in the country were 11,361.

Pakistans Ministry of National Health Services said that local transmission was 84 per cent and foreign travel 16 per cent.

The government said that 3,560 patients were admitted across the country in 717 hospitals with Covid-19 facilities, while others were isolated at their homes.

Among the high profile people who got infected by the coronavirus includes Governor of Pakistans southern Sindh province Imran Ismail, a very close aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In what is touted as a piece of good news the Union government on Tuesday said India now has 17 districts which have not reported a single new coronavirus case in the past 28 days. These districts are those that had earlier reported cases of the outbreak.

The period of 28 days is significant because it indicates that after two cycles of the incubation period of the virus, nil reporting of fresh cases could mean that the chain of transmission may have been broken in the area. But is this really an achievement?

A detailed analysis of the data reveals that most of these districts had just one or two sporadic cases, mostly imported ones, that were quickly identified and, therefore, contained, to begin with.

The only exceptions in the list are two districts, Kalimpong in West Bengal and Wayanad in Kerala. While Kalimpong had 11 cases  nine of which were from the same family  Kerala had three patients, but in these districts too, the numbers were not high.

The other districts in the list include Durg, Bilaspur and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, South Goa, Chitradurga, Devangere and Kodagu in Karnataka, Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, Gondia in Maharashtra, Imphal West in Manipur, Mahe in Puducherry, Pratapgarh in Rajasthan, Bhadradari Kothamgedum in Telangana and Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand.

A piece of not so good news, which the government has not made public, on the other hand, is that as on Friday, there were as many as 430 districts in the country that had recorded at least one coronavirus case.

A month back on March 28, this number was only 129. Even more worrying is the fact that in the hotspot districts  there are at least 170 of them across India with a significant outbreak of the diseases  cases are only spiralling, signalling that in areas where mega clusters have emerged or community transmission has happened, the government is struggling to curb the outbreak.

Public health specialists said the government may be tomtoming the inconsequential data while holding back the information that are most crucial.

Dr Sanjay K Rai, president of Indian Association of Public Health who teaches community medicine at AIIMS-Delhi, said while every district which has managed to find its way into green zone needs a pat on the back for nipping the bud, it does not call for big celebration because these were easy areas to begin with.

Its only when the number of cases is huge and a tremendous surveillance effort involving

contact tracing and isolation exercise is required that the governments response is put to test, he said.

This kind of claim is only a distracter and largely useless, said Dr T Sundararaman, community medicine expert and former director of the National Health Systems Resource Centre under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

There should be credit only where it is due. The government should rather tell us how many hotspot districts have they managed to move from red to orange or green zone.
US slaughterhouses are being forced to stay open on government orders despite deadly coronavirus outbreaks among workers, as authorities move to ensure supermarkets are fully stocked with meat.

President Donald Trump signed the executive order on Tuesday under the Defense Production Act, a law designed for use in wartime to divert private business for defense and security needs.

Several major plants where farmers send cattle, pigs and poultry have shut due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 between employees, who are often in close proximity on production lines and on breaks.

At least 18 plants across the United States have been temporarily closed in the last two months, cutting pork processing capacity by as much as 20 percent and beef processing capacity by 10 percent, the Farm Bureau industry group said.

In some cases, the closures were due to outbreaks among workers at the plants. In other cases it is a struggle to keep workers, who are afraid of getting sick, coming into the plant, it said.

The stoppages raise the risk of empty shelves in US stores, while  on the production end  breeders have nowhere to send their animals to slaughter.

Cows can continue to graze, but many pigs are fattened indoors on a tight schedule and, if they become too fat, they lose their value and can be injured.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set up a special unit to support farmers who need to process animals, including helping breeders to slaughter them themselves.

The presidents executive order will help avert hardship for agricultural producers and keep safe, affordable food on the tables of American families, said Julie Anna Potts, president of the Meat Institute, which represents meat packers and processors.

 Virus hotspot 

Slaughterhouse owners say they have introduced extra sanitation measures to protect workers, including screening tests, temperature checks, face gear and plexiglass shields.

But unions say that management did not take the situation seriously enough and the precautions came too late.

The shuttered Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where some 3,700 people usually slaughter, butcher and process thousands of pigs every day, is very old, Kooper Caraway, local leader of the AFL-CIO union, told AFP.

The hallways are very narrow, the locker rooms are small, the lunch rooms are small, he said.

Not only are workers working shoulder to shoulders on the assembly line, but they are changing clothes and eating shoulder to shoulder.

The plant instituted all the changes that workers requested but by then several dozens workers had already tested positive and the plant was already a hot spot.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union says 20 meat industry employees have died and at least 6,500 have been affected.

For the sake of all our families, we must prioritize the safety and security of these workers, said union president Marc Perrone, calling for authorities to closely monitor prevention measures taken by companies.

Food and Water Watch, a non-profit group that campaigns for greater accountability in the food chain, denounced giant meat companies for claiming there was a risk of shortages despite high levels of frozen beef and chicken.

Its crucial the food industry protects workers by closing plants when necessary in order to keep the food system from collapsing entirely, its government affairs representative Tony Corbo said.

The federal government should be stepping in  to get our abundant frozen meat supplies to stores and food banks that need them.

SOURCE: AFP
By Tim Krochak

SHUBENACADIE, Nova Scotia (Reuters) - Canadian police faced mounting criticism on Wednesday for using social media and not a provincial emergency alert system to notify the public that a gunman was at large for some 13 hours after he murdered the first of his 22 victims over the weekend.

During the worst mass shooting in the country's history, the Nova Scotia provincial detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sent a series of tweets to about 90,000 followers warning that there was an active shooter in the area.

But some of the families and friends of the victims said a provincial warning system, which would have sent out text, radio and TV warnings, might have saved the lives of their loved ones.

"I don't use Twitter, and I don't know anyone that does use Twitter," Nick Beaton said in an interview broadcast by CTV News. Beaton's wife, Kristen, a nurse and mother from Debert, was shot dead on Sunday while on her way to work.

Beaton said he would have never let his wife leave the house that morning had he known the gunman was still at large.

Nova Scotia RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather defended the use of social media on Wednesday, saying he was "very satisfied" with the messaging, which he said the media helped spread, and that the "communications being provided were the best and clearest information that could be provided."

Police were in the process of preparing to use the emergency alert system when the gunman was shot and killed by police, Leather said.

The shooter, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, began the rampage on Saturday night which continued in several small Nova Scotian towns and ended around noon on Sunday.

Wortman's motive remains unknown. Police have said some of his victims were known to him, but others appear to have been chosen randomly.

Police are still piecing together the timeline of events, Leather said, adding more details could come on Thursday. Wortman did not possess a firearms license in Canada, he said.

Story continues

Police set up two barriers around the initial crime scene in Portapique on Saturday night, but they did not realize until between 7 and 8 o'clock the next morning that the shooter had disguised himself as an RCMP officer and was driving a vehicle resembling a police car.

There are 22 confirmed victims, but police have cautioned they are still investigating crime scenes, including more than five homes Wortman burned to the ground.

Meghan Nearing, a resident of the area where many of Wortman's victims lived, was home with her son on Saturday night and heard about the shootings, but did not know the gunman was still active when she woke up the next morning.

"There was nothing, no alert, so I thought everything was OK," she told Reuters, speaking not far from where RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson was shot and killed by Wortman on Sunday.

"Little did I know he was in my town when I was thinking that."

(Reporting by Tim Krochak in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia; Writing by Moira Warburton and Steve Scherer; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Matthew Lewis)
A north London teenager, 16, has been found guilty of kidnapping a stranger in the street and forcing him to withdraw money from a cash machine.

The defendant from Enfield, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was riding a moped with no number plate when he mounted the pavement and approached the 16-year-old victim as he walked down the street on August 15 last year.

The then 15-year-old started speaking to the victim, quizzing him on where he lived and saying: I havent seen you around here before, before asking him if he had money and ordering him to empty his pockets, a court heard.

When the victim replied that he didnt have any money, the defendant said he would stab him if he didnt get onto the moped.

Fearing for his life, the victim complied and he was driven to a bank in Hertford Road, Enfield.

The defendant walked the victim to an ATM and made him enter his pin. He then withdrew 230 in cash from the victims bank account and walked off.

The distressed 16-year-old retrieved his bank card from the ATM and walked to a nearby bench.

He was consoled by members of the public before a passer-by drove him back to his home address. His father then called the police.

The defendant was arrested on January 31, following a police investigation, and was charged on March 21.

He pleaded guilty to kidnap and robbery at Highbury Corner Youth Court on April 28 and was sentenced to a four-month detention training order.

Detective Constable Jade Lubin, of Scotland Yard's specialist crime unit, said: This was an absolutely despicable crime, which understandably left the victim extremely traumatised. Id like to thank the victim for the courage he showed throughout the investigation.

His assistance undoubtedly helped us to build a strong case against the defendant, leaving him no choice but to plead guilty due to the overwhelming evidence against him.
Chiranjeevi's upcoming film, Acharya, is once again in deep trouble. Initially, the movie was supposed to feature Trishna Krishnan as the female lead. But the gorgeous actress backed off from the project, just a few days before joining the sets of the social-drama. The news, obviously, shocked a lot of fans and moviegoers, but soon Kajal Aggarwal was brought on board as the leading lady of the film.

But now, according to Tollywood.net, even Kajal has quit the project, which is being helmed by Koratala Siva. Yes, you heard that right. But why? Well, the Singham heroine has also signed a big film in Tamil and her dates for the said movie were clashing with Acharya. Since Kajal has already received an advance amount for her Tamil film, the actress felt it was best for her to walk out of Chiranjeevi's much-awaited film.

However, an official announcement regarding Kajal's exit is still awaited. Neither the makers nor Kajal herself, has confirmed this piece of news. So let's hope this isn't true because we would definitely love to see Kajal and Chiranjeevi together on the big screen, no?

For those unaware, Koratala Siva and his team were originally planning to rope in Baahubali actress, Anushka Shetty, for the movie. But things didn't work out and Trisha came into the picture. She signed on the dotted line but later, left the makers in a tricky situation by backing off from Acharya. And now, with Kajal walking down the same path, we wonder who will be cast opposite Chinrajeevi this time around.

Makers To Resume Shooting Post Lockdown Without Kajal Aggarwal?
SAN MATEO, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After the San Mateo County Health Department declared a need, Gurnick Academy students are stepping up and answering the call to fight COVID-19. As part of a County-deployed Medical Task Force, more than 20 vocational nurse and medical assistant students are volunteering at a residential care facility for seniors in Redwood City.

Gurnick Academy Students Helping at the Residential Care Facility for Seniors in Redwood City

"We truly appreciate the partnership and support Gurnick is offering to our ongoing effort to respond to the vulnerable populations in our community," said Travis Kusman, Director of Emergency Medical Services at San Mateo County Health.

The students are operating along with registered nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare personnel from across the United States. The students are assisting healthcare personnel to correctly wear, remove, disinfect, and dispose of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

"It is an amazing experience. Nurses from different places are getting together to help overcome COVID-19. Nurses have left their families and are traveling from all over the country to California to help assist," stated Obah Ali, a student volunteer.

The San Mateo County Health Department reached out directly to Gurnick Academy's San Mateo campus director, Fred Faridian, for critically needed volunteers.

"We received the request Friday, April 17, and were in communication with our students Friday evening and Saturday. The student volunteers showed up at 7:00 a.m. that Sunday," described Faridian.

The request sought to mitigate a staffing shortage at a residential care facility. By filling these vacancies, the student volunteers are freeing emergency personnel to concentrate in the areas of greater need.

"The students are showing their dedication by the lengths they're willing to help," attested Joe Kheuasida, Concord campus director.

"Our students are volunteering and traveling from our San Mateo, Concord, Modesto, Fresno, and Sacramento campuses to help," stated Burke Malin, Chief Operating Officer. "We are so proud of these future healthcare professionals."

Students volunteer an average of two to three days per week for eight hours at a time while also attending school. The students receive one hour of clinical credit for every hour they volunteer.

As San Mateo County Health is reviewing other facilities that may need future help with COVID-19, Gurnick Academy is disseminating the message to the current Vocational Nurse and Medical Assistant program students to meet this developing need.

To learn more, please contact:

Fred Faridian

San Mateo Campus Director

Gurnick Academy

[email protected]

650-685-6616 #101

Gurnick Academy is a private academy offering quality allied-health and nursing programs operating six (6) campuses in California with locations in San Mateo, Modesto, Fresno, Concord, Sacramento, and Van Nuys. Gurnick offers allied healthcare, nursing, and medical imaging programs to over 2,500 students each year.

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Business has plummeted for downtown Portlands NKossi Boutique because of the coronavirus crisis, so designer Jean Pierre Nugloze decided to put his down time to good use.

Nugloze has been making face masks, which he sells via the boutiques Facebook page. For each pair he sells he donates two to either the Sisters of the Road Cafe or the IRCO Africa House.

Sisters of the Road serves free meals to Portlands houseless population. Africa House is a non-profit that helps immigrants to Portland from Africa.

Nugloze estimates he has donated 40 to 50 masks. Counting his time and materials, he isnt earning a profit in the process.

Making masks is not going to make the business survive, he says. I needed something to focus on.

The first masks provided to Sisters of the Road arrived in the nick of time. The cafe was in the process of reopening for meals to go after having shut down at first because of the pandemic.

We got them enough masks for all of the people serving, and they were able to pass some onto houseless folks, says Emma Colburn, a marketing and sales associate at NKossi.

She says masks provided to Africa House are then given to families in need.

We wanted the masks to go to non-profits we already had relationships with, she says.

NKossi Boutique is open for online clothing purchases, too. The masks are about something more.

This is not something to get money, Nugloze said. Right now, the need is to help people survive and continue life.

Switching from making hats to masks

Kori Giudici is both a naturopathic physician and CEO of Flipside Hats. Her medical background might have helped her refocus the company when the pandemic struck.

Kori Giudici put her medical background to good use by redirecting Flipside Hats to make masks. (Courtesy/Kori Giudici)

Flipside Hats has been using upcycled, recycled and organic materials since 2002. Much of what the company uses to make hats also can be used for face masks.

It was easy for us, Giudici says. We had all of our material. I spent one day prototyping the different kinds of masks.

Flipside then got busy. At first, many of the masks went to people in the medical community. But there clearly was a need in the general population, too.

We were able to pivot and start producing them like crazy, says Giudici, who added some contract sewers to increase output.

Flipside sells masks on its website and at the walkup window at its Southeast Belmont Street location. The company also has donated more than $12,500 worth of face masks.

Among the recipients are hospice workers, grocery workers, senior communities, Sisters of the Road Cafe, Gather:Make:Shelter and Human Solutions, both of which aid the homeless population, and Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus.

Giudici says Flipside has produced and distributed more 35,000 face masks in the last month, some going to hospice workers as far away as New York, New Jersey, Louisiana and Arizona.

Its been a pretty phenomenal experience, she says. Making hats is fun and light. To shift to doing this, were creating something so necessary right now. People are so appreciative and thankful. Its pretty wonderful.

Upcycled t-shirts that help wildlife

The Herbivore Clothing Company, which sells apparel targeted to the vegan community, has created and sold face masks as a part of a benefit for wildlife sanctuaries.

The decision to stage the benefit came in the form of an inspiration by store manager Krysti Weddle. She suggested they refashion t-shirts with printing flaws that made them difficult to sell into face masks.

The Southeast Portland store then could sell the masks and use proceeds to benefit animal sanctuaries.

The Herbivore Clothing Company sold face masks to benefit animal sanctuaries. (Courtesy of Herbivore Clothing)

Co-owner Michelle Schwegmann liked the idea. She reached Lindsey Stallings, who has formidable skills as a seamstress.

I wrote her and said, Hey, would you want to sew some masks for us, Schwegmann says. She said, Heck, yeah.

Stallings provided 23. Herbivore offered them on the store website, and they were gone in just over an hour. Stallings made 32 more. That offering sold out in 40 minutes.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

Herbivore then sent checks to the Odd Man Inn Animal Refuge in Washougal and to the Wildwood Farm Sanctuary in Newberg.

I dont feel right making a profit for myself on it, Schwegmann says. It was a lot of work. But the return is obviously not financial for us. Its emotional, and just to be helping.

It provided a way to put the stores principles into action at a time in which it only has been able to operate online.

All those people who bought masks could have bought them somewhere else, Schwegmann says. But they wanted to buy one that was helping animals, and then helping people who are helping animals.

Herbivore isnt selling masks at the moment, but Schwegmann isnt ruling out doing it again in the future.

I wish had more seamstresses, she says.

More in The Oregonian/OregonLive

-- Portland womans giant cinnamon rolls raise money for the Oregon Food Bank.

-- Salem Sikhs feed hospital workers.

-- Hillsboro toy store owner hits on winning solution to fight coronavirus.

-- Students at Ridgeview High bring their teachers to tears with heartfelt video.

-- Wilsonville church quilting group goes national to fight the coronavirus.

-- Portland artist and local business executive team up help Portland nurses.

-- Ken Goe

kgoe@oregonian.com | @KenGoe

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
The Trump administration on Wednesday placed five foreign domains of Amazon, including the one in India, to its "notorious markets" list, accusing the global e-commerce giant of engaging in substantial trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.

The Seattle-based company strongly objected to the decision by the US Trade Representatives (USTR), dismissing it as a purely "political act" and "personal vendetta" against Amazon.

"We strongly disagree with the characterisation of Amazon in this USTR report. This purely political act is another example of the Administration using the US government to advance a personal vendetta against Amazon," an Amazon spokesperson said.

Placing the five foreign domains - Canada, Germany, France, India and United Kingdom - in its list of 38 global online markets that are reported to be engaged in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy, USTR said that submissions by right holders have expressed concerns regarding the challenges related to combating counterfeits with respect to e-commerce platforms around the world.

One submission specifically highlighted example of the challenges right holders face with alleged high levels of counterfeit goods on the e-commerce platforms amazon.ca in Canada, amazon.de in Germany, amazon.fr in France, amazon.in in India, and amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom, it said.

The right holders expressed concern that the seller information displayed by Amazon is often misleading such that it is difficult for consumers and right holders alike to determine who is selling the goods and that anyone can become a seller on Amazon with too much ease because Amazon does not sufficiently vet sellers on its platforms, the USTR report said.

"They also commented that Amazon's counterfeit removal processes can be lengthy and burdensome, even for right holders that enroll in Amazon's brand protection programs," it added.

In addition, as the scale and sophistication of the counterfeiters have continued to grow and evolve over the years, these right holders indicate that Amazon should commit the resources necessary to make their brand protection programs scalable, transparent, and most importantly, effective, the report noted.

"More specifically, they ask that Amazon take additional actions to address their concerns, including by collecting sufficient information from sellers to prevent repeat infringers from creating multiple storefronts on the platforms, making detailed information about the real seller of a product obvious to consumers and right holders, being more responsive to complaints," the USTR said.

It said that in its Federal Register Notice, the USTR did not request submissions on US based e-commerce platforms and online third-party marketplaces, such as Amazon.com.

However, the administration has been looking further at their role following the issuance in April 2019 of a Presidential Memorandum addressing trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods, it said.

Strongly disagreeing with the report, an Amazon spokesperson said that the company makes significant investments in proactive technologies and processes to detect and stop bad actors and potentially counterfeit products from being sold in its stores.

"In 2019 alone, we invested over USD 500 million and have more than 8,000 employees protecting our store from fraud and abuse. We also stopped over 2.5 million suspected bad actors from opening Amazon selling accounts before they published a single listing for sale, blocking more than 6 billion suspected bad listings before they were published to our stores," the spokesperson said.

"We have developed industry-leading programmes like Project Zero, Transparency, and Brand Registry for brands to partner with us and together, drive counterfeits to zero," the spokesperson said.

More than 99.9 per cent of pages viewed by customers on Amazon have never had a report of counterfeit, and this is a testament to the company's continued innovation, collaboration, and commitment to fighting counterfeit, the spokesperson claimed.

"We also work closely with law enforcement agencies and are reporting all confirmed counterfeiters to help them build stronger criminal cases. We are an active, engaged stakeholder in the fight against counterfeit, and we call on lawmakers to increase funding and resources for law enforcement agencies so we can hold the real criminals accountable "the current ramifications for tricking consumers are too weak," the spokesperson said.

Referring to a recent report of the Department of Homeland Security, the USTR said that although the e-commerce has supported the launch of thousands of legitimate businesses, e-commerce platforms, third-party marketplaces, and their supporting intermediaries have also served as powerful stimulants for the trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods.

Selling counterfeit and pirated goods through e-commerce platforms and related online third-party marketplaces can be a highly profitable venture, USTR observed.

"Moreover, when sellers of illicit goods are in another country, they are exposed to relatively little risk of criminal prosecution or civil liability under current law enforcement and regulatory practices," the report said.

In light of these concerns, USTR believes e-commerce platforms need to take additional actions to combat trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods and reduce the availability of such goods on their platforms, the report noted.
US B-2 stealth bombers and nuclear-armed ICBMs are ready to attack and defend in minutes, should America be suddenly catapulted into a war, despite the challenges of COVID-19, Fox News reported referring to senior Air Force officials said.

Rest assured, we have taken the necessary steps to make sure our bomber and ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile] forces are ready to go and can reach any target on the planet at any time, Gen. Tim Ray, Air Force Global Strike commander, said in an Air Force statement.

Units operating in the US nuclear arsenal have taken some measures of distance and isolation while maintaining their most important command and control systems, which will allow them to instantly respond to attacks if necessary.

According to Fox News, Rays comments are aimed at sending a clear message to the opponents that the COVID-19 crisis does not make the US vulnerable to attacks in case rivals want to take advantage of the current circumstances.

As Ray noted, operations involving an arsenal of nuclear weapons and a fleet of bombers continue.

Most recently, in March this year, the Air Force deployed a target group of B-2 bombers in Portugal in support of the US European command. The Air Force report explains that advanced Whiteman-based bombers in Missouri carry out integration operations and flight training missions from various sites on the European continent.
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Istanbul, April 30, 2020  Turkish authorities should drop the charges against journalist Fatih Portakal and allow him to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the state Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency filed criminal complaints against Portakal, an anchor for the privately owned broadcaster Fox TV Turkey, on April 7, alleging that the journalist had posted false social media messages to manipulate the public, according to news reports.

Today, in response to the banking regulators complaint, an Istanbul court formally charged Portakal with damaging the reputation, prestige or assets of Turkish banks, a criminal offense under the countrys Banking Law, according to reports.

The charges stem from a tweet that Portakal posted on his professional account on April 7, commenting on a speech by Erdogan the previous night, stating that the presidents reference to a tax law in his speech meant that the government may impose a tax to raise funds amid the coronavirus pandemic. Portakal has more than 7 million followers on Twitter, where he often posts political commentary.

If found guilty, the journalist may face up to three years in prison and judicial fines under Article 74 of the Banking Law. CPJ could not determine when he is next due in court; many hearings in Turkey have been delayed due to the pandemic, according to reports.

Fatih Portakal and all other Turkish reporters and commentators must be free to voice their ideas on air and on social media, and to discuss matters of public interest, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. The charges against him must be dropped immediately, and journalists should not be forced to live in fear of being prosecuted over their commentary.

Todays indictment alleges that Portakals tweet aimed to create a perception and an opinion that the state could ask for money from depositors on the excuse of the epidemic and would pay the money back after the epidemic according to reports.

Portakal gave a statement included in the indictment saying that the tweet was meant to be totally ironic, according to news reports. The court also blocked access to the tweet within Turkey, according to those reports. CPJ was able to view the tweet from the United States, but not from Turkey.

CPJ called the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency for comment, but no one answered.
Tara Reades allegation that Joe Biden sexually assaulted her now has more than minimal corroboration, and certainly more corroboration than allegations, such as Christine Blasey Fords, that Democrats and feminists concluded were true and disqualifying. This state of affairs is highly embarrassing for Democrats and feminists, and will amount to a major blow for the MeToo movement  a blow thats well deserved given that movements overreach.

But will the allegation materially harm Joe Bidens presidential campaign? No one knows for sure, but my view is that it probably will not.

I just dont think Americans care all that much about sexual misconduct when its time for them to pick a president. Bill Clinton very likely would have been reelected in 2000 even though he admitted having an improper sexual relationship with a young intern and even though there were allegations by Kathleen Willey and Juanita Broderick of serious sexual assault.

Donald Trump won in 2016 even though he admitted to sexual assault (he claimed the admission was just locker room talk). More than two dozen women came forward to say they were victims of sexual misconduct, in some cases sexual assault, by Trump.

The fact that Biden is running against a president with this record will make it easier for those who want to vote for the former VP to go ahead and do it. But even if Biden were running against a conservative Republican as pure as the driven snow, I dont think a meaningful number of voters would base their decision on Reades allegation  even with the existing corroboration and even if more corroboration is forthcoming.

But if voters conclude that Biden likely assaulted Reade and is lying about it, might not they vote against him because of his dishonesty? They might. But Clinton lied about Lewinsky and remained popular. Only hard core Trump partisans consider him consistently honest, I think. Yet he has plenty of support from voters outside of his base.

Given all of the challenges that face America, including but not limited to coping with the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic and the economic effects of our response to it, I just dont think many Americans are going to be swayed by a decades-old allegation of the kind Reade has made.
- Claudine Barretto expressed her heartfelt thanks to her older sibling, Gretchen Barretto

- Ate Gretchen sent her tons of groceries, which could last her for quite a long time

- The generous package included canned goods, bread, coffee, snacks, chocolates and a lot more

- Claudine could be heard saying that her Ate Gretchen is the sweetest

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Claudine Barretto received tons of groceries from her generous Ate Gretchen. She posted a short clip where she thanked her older sister and also gushing over the boxes and packages of food.

The groceries she received included canned goods, bread, coffee, KitKat, Cheetos, and a whole lot more.

Clau could be heard describing her ate as very sweet. In a recent post, Claudine posted a now arranged corner where she put the groceries that her ate sent her.

She said, "Thank u again to @gretchenbarretto for replenishing my Sari sari corner. Palanggas pls keep safe & Godbless u always."

It has been quite a long time already since Claudine and Gretchen made up. It can be remembered that the Barretto sisters had some issues before, but the post of the said sisters shows that all is okay and well.

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In a previous report by KAMI, Claudine reacted to a netizen who questioned her about the death of Rico Yan. This came after the actress posted a photo montage of Rico during the latter's death anniversary.

Claudine Barretto is one of the popular actresses in the Philippines. She is a member of the famous Barretto sisters, the eldest of whom is Gretchen Barretto. Claudine is the ex-wife of action star Raymart Santiago.

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!

A young boy made a difference by being very generous to others. He is Jhon Rellores. 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
Arunachal Pradesh Health



Minister Alo Libang on Thursday inaugurated the state's first laboratory at a hospital near hear for conducting COVID-19 tests, making it the third state after Assam and Mizoram in the north-east region to have such facility.

The laboratory was inaugurated at the state-run Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIMHS) in Naharlagun, which was designated as a dedicated centre for treating coronavirus-infected patients.

The new facility can conduct 100-120 COVID-19 tests per day, and now there is no need to send samples to Guwahati or Dibrugarh, the minister said.

A similar laboratory will also be set up at Pasighat General Hospital, he said, adding that the government is building infrastructure to set up a temporary healthcare centre at Midpu, about 20 km from here, for treating COVID-19 patients.

Libang said the work for strengthening infrastructure at 10 hospitals across the state has been going on.

The state government led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu are making all the initiatives to improve infrastructure of the health sector and leaving no stone unturned to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, he said.

TRIMHS director Dr Moji Jini said the number of tests in the laboratory can be increased to 200 per day by engaging more technicians.

Health secretary P Pratibhan applauded the authorities of the institute to set up the laboratory in a record time.

The health minister paid tribute to former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu on his death anniversary on Thursday and said the TRIMHS, the only medical college and hospital of the state, was the outcome of his personal initiative.

Dorjee Khandu died in a helicopter crash near Luguthang in Tawang district in 2011.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
May 20 would be the day that currently closed businesses, including restaurants, stores and hair and personal care shops, could take baby steps toward a new normal in Connecticut, with mandatory social distancing and aggressive sanitizing in place.

The slow reopening depends on a decline in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continuing, Gov. Ned Lamont and the co-chairs of his Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group said Thursday.

Restaurants would be limited to outdoor service, with no bar areas open. Some offices would be allowed to open, but the state would encourage companies to keep employees working from home, if possible.

In the initial phases, people over 70 would be encouraged to to stay home. Everyone in public would be required to wear a mask, especially restaurant employees. Restaurant restrooms, in particular, would be targeted for relentless sanitizing, especially in light of the viruss ability to linger in the air and on some hard surfaces.

I hope people follow the rules, said Indra Nooyi, co-chair of the advisory group, during a 70-minute tele-conference Thursday with reporters and Lamont in the State Capitol.

The announcement came on a day when 89 new fatalities brought the statewide total to 2,257 in the pandemic.

A decline of 41 hospitalizations, for a current total to 1,650,marked the eighth straight day of reduced COVID-19 inpatient numbers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests 14 days of decreasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as the benchmark for states to consider reopening.

The May 20 date is still just a proposal by the advisory group. Lamont said he will make a decision public next week on whether to close school for the rest of the academic year. Many people expect schools not to reopen until the fall at soonest.

The virus has affected older state residents the most, with 58 percent of the fatalities in people 80 or older, and 80 percent in people age 70 or older, according to the state Department of Public Health.

We know that certain members of our community are hit particularly hard by this pandemic, Lamont said. Were going to focus on those communities: the African American community, the urban communities, those who live in denser populations. Its the right thing to do, but its also the smart thing to do, because if you want to make sure this pandemic stays under control, we want to do everything we can to make sure there are no flare-ups around the region and around the world.

Baby steps

Under the tentative reopening plans, jobs representing 30 percent of the more than 400,000 people who have filed for jobless claims would restart. While there are about 160,000 restaurant employees statewide, many of them idled in the shutdown, outdoor dining-only would not return them all to work.

Were going to have to work our way through it, said Josh Geballe, Lamonts chief operating officer.

In response to the outline, Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, expressed a mixed response.

We fear it would not be nearly a big enough step to save thousands of restaurants on the brink of going out of business, Dolch said in an early evening written statement. Were asking the group to be flexible as they refine these plans, and we stand ready to help them do it. There are ways to project customers while still opening the economy, and we have put those ideas on the table.

Asked what he envisions for the state in the summertime, Lamont said, I think that the consumers and the people of Connecticut you might find are cautious.

He stressed the need to watch what scientists and public health officials say, and said he would rethink plans for allowing stores and restaurants to reopen if hospitalization rates rise again.

As many as as 42,000 state residents would tested each week by May 20  a dramatic rise from about 15,000 a week at the current rate.

Testing gives the consumer confidence that were doing everything we can to keep them safe, even at, say that open-air restaurant, Lamont said, stressing that much more personal protective equipment has arrived in the state and will become more readily available.

Lamont and Dr. Albert Ko, a Yale epidemiologist and co-chairman of the advisory committee, acknowledged that many concerns remain to be worked out  such as restaurant patrons using bathrooms, the way tables are laid out and so forth. Generally, the idea will be to meticulously clean and disinfect surfaces and maintain six feet of distance between customers who arent living in the same household.

Certainly the recommendations are going to be to continue to shelter in place for the elderly, Ko said. This is a virus which is very transmissible. This is a virus thats not going to go away, even with our best public health and control measures. We are always going to have the threat of resurgence.

Ko doesnt see an effective vaccine coming for another year or a year-and-a-half.

The various calculations for reopening include the proximity, length and intensity of personal contacts, such as one-on-one care in barber shops and hair and nail salons. Decisions by Lamont are from discussions with industry professionals and business groups. Labor interests are also represented in the group, though the AFL-CIO said Thursday that four labor representatives out of nearly 50 people are too few.

Breaking down the impact

Lamont pegged the total value of non-government economic activity in the state at about $245 billion a year. About $106 billion of that remains open, including essential retail, construction and manufacturing that has continued during the pandemic. Still, he said, 11 percent of the newly unemployed came from those sectors just the same, because of loss of demand.

Another 29 percent of the unemployed  about $38 billion in total output  comes from businesses that could have stayed open but didnt, including some child care facilities, landscaping and some stores.

About $77 billion of state output is from the sectors that are still open with employees working remotely, including technology, insurance, finance and professional services. That group accounts for have about 12 percent of the unemployment currently.

Finally, about $24 billion of the states economy, just 10 percent, is shuttered  restaurants, salons, bars, tourist attractions, events  that chunk accounts for 48 percent of the people thrown out of work, Lamont said.

While theyre not a big piece of our overall economy, they are an enormous piece of our unemployment rate, he said.

Nooyi said it is premature to talk about how many employees would return to work right away.

Its consumer demand and if Georgia is an example, consumers are staying away, said Nooyi, noting that the southern states attempt to reopen has indicated a very tentative consumer base that is mostly staying home. So we have to figure out how to do marketing programs to bring consumers back into these establishments.

She believes that by mid-June it will become clearer which employees are returning to work.

Kaitlyn Krasselt contributed to this story.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
An Indian mother got the shock of a lifetime this week when she sent her son out to get groceries and he came back with a woman he claimed was his wife.

The unnamed woman from Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad city told Indias ANI news agency that she had sent her son out to buy groceries, but instead he came back with a strange woman he said was his wife. The teary-eyed woman said the shock was too much for her and she was unable to accept their union.

Photo: Pixabay

I had sent my son to do the grocery shopping today, but when he returned, he came back with his wife. I am not ready to accept this marriage, the woman said, according to the Hindustan Times.

As for the newlyweds, they apparently married in secret a couple of months back, and the bride was living alone in a rented apartment in Delhi. The groom planned to tell his mother about the marriage further down the line, but the Covid-19 lockdown messed up his plans. Savita, his wife, was apparently asked to vacate the rented accommodation in Delhi, so he had to bring her home to mommy dearest.

#WATCH Ghaziabad: Mother denied entry to son who had gone out to purchase groceries&returned after marrying a woman in Sahibabad area. The man says, We performed our marriage in a temple today & priest said that he would help us get marriage certificate once #lockdown is lifted pic.twitter.com/Sfs8K79RO0  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 29, 2020

Today I decided to bring her to my mothers house as she was told to leave the rented accommodation due to lockdown, 26-year-old Guddu said. We could not get the marriage certificate at that time due to lack of witnesses. I had decided to visit Haridwar again but could not due to the lockdown.

As the newlyweds could not convince the grooms mother to let them stay in her house, police stepped in to help and asked Savitas landlord in Delhi to let them stay in the rented accommodation until they can find something better, or until the scorned mother comes around.
Congressman Max Rose questions the response of President Trump to the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps he can look inward, along with his politician colleagues, and address these questions:

1. Why is Staten Island the only borough without a publicly funded city hospital?

2. If there were a city hospital here, would it have reduced the strain on SIUH and RUMC in responding to the virus?

3. How much funding was cut over the years for hospitals, medical staffing and supplies to support other, less critical, entitlement and mayoral sweetheart programs?

4. Were needed supplies stolen from city storage facilities, or were they just never ordered because the city had other priorities?

5. If the governor and mayor are doing such a great job, why do New York state and New York City account for over one third of the total virus cases and deaths in the entire countryand have cases and deaths greater than any other country in the world?

6. Why can we go to Home Depot, Costco and liquor stores, but no religion can conduct open air religious services?

7. I have donated my last two paychecks to my church. Will you and other politicians donate even one paycheck from your taxpayer-sponsored guaranteed incomes? After all, we are all in this together, right?

(Vito Cannavo is a Todt Hill resident.)
Children of parents with mental illness are at greater risk of injury than their peers.

A study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that the risk is elevated for children of parents with mental illness up until the age of 17.

We found that children of parents with mental illness have a higher risk of injuries, but the risk is highest during the first year of life. We also found that the risk is higher regardless of whether it is the mothers or the fathers who are living with mental illness, Alicia Nevriana, a PhD student at the Department of Global Public Health at the Karolinska Institutet and the study's corresponding author, told Theravive.

The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Manchester in the UK, monitored 1.5 million children living in Sweden born between 1996 and 2011. From that group, more than 330 thousand children had at least one parent who had been diagnosed with a mental illness.

In Sweden, seven to 11 per cent of children have at least one parent with a diagnosed mental illness. Methods of protecting these children have largely focused on preventing neglect or maltreatment as a priority, with stopping accidents or injuries as a lower priority.

In the United States, it is estimated that more than 12.5 million parents have a mental illness. 2.7 million parents have a serious mental illness. Mental illness is more common in mothers than fathers and is the least common in Asian parents when compared with other races. Parents aged 50 years and older had lower rates of serious mental illness when compared with younger age groups.

In the Swedish study, the researchers found that children aged from newborn to 12 months were at a 30 per cent higher risk of injury if they had at least one parent with a mental illness. This risk declined as the child grew up, but remained six per cent higher from the age of 13 to 17 for children with mentally ill parents when compared with their peers.

The risk of injury was marginally higher for children of parents with mental disorders like depression, anxiety or stress related illness when compared with mental illnesses like psychotic disorders and schizophrenia. The risk of injury was higher for those with a mother who was mentally ill than a father who was mentally ill.

The risk of uncommon forms of injury, like that from interpersonal violence was more common when compared with common injuries like traffic accidents or falls. Though the authors note interpersonal violence is still uncommon in these families.

The study did not determine why children who have parents with a mental illness had a higher risk of injury, though the researchers hypothesise issues surrounding child-proofing the home, and adequate supervision, may play a role.

We know that people with mental illness are often exposed to vulnerable living conditions, so it might be more difficult for them to make the housing child-secure. It might also be difficult for some parents under all these circumstances to maintain parental supervision, Nevriana told Theravive.

Parents with mental illness might benefit from access to parental support for child injury prevention, as well as from early identification and treatment of the mental illness, she said.

But Nevriana notes implementing support programs may need to be dependent on context, to best help families.

We might start from a dialogue between the parents and healthcare professionals on what they think and what their experiences are around child safety. Then we could go from there to help the parents identify feasible child safety measures given their living situations, while also managing their illness.

In future studies, Nevriana hopes to explore other factors that might contribute to injury in children with mentally ill parents.

It would be interesting to see how much the influence of factors such as housing conditions, neighbourhood, parenting, or medications actually plays a role in these associations. It would also be interesting to see whether tailored support for these families might actually help with child injury prevention.

Nevriana says the research highlights that parents with mental illness need increased support, particular in the first 12 months of a childs life.

This study is not a call to put the blame on parents with mental illness. The interplay between parental mental illness and child injury is likely to be more complex than what our study could capture. If anything, we as a society should do our best to support these families.
Baratelli Properties acquires, refurbishes, develops, and leases affordable housing in communities throughout the Southeastern and Midwestern United States. The new venture, kathy ireland  American Home, launches with a real estate portfolio of 138 properties in various stages of development in thirty-one cities in six states. kathy ireland  American Home is funded through Baratelli Capital Management, LLC and is managed by Baratelli Properties.

kathy ireland American Home is one of the inaugural partners of the kathy ireland Small Business Network which also includes Kahwa Coffee (www.kahwacoffee.com) and My Medical Images (www.mymedicalimages.com). The partnership will see Mr. Baratelli become the first member of the Board of Advisors for the kathy ireland Small Business Network, which is co-chaired by Ms. Ireland and Tommy Meharey, Board Member, Vice President, kathy ireland Worldwide.

"I believe the concept of speed and urgency is important. It is time to build. People need affordable housing now, to help them realize their hopes and dreams for them and their families," says Mr. Baratelli. "We created our model, executed our plans, and developed many of our properties in just twelve months. Kathy and I connected, and with her leadership and passion this partnership was accomplished in one week. In thirty years of business, I have never seen anything come together so quickly, powerfully and respectfully. To Kathy and everyone on the kiWW team, I say Thank You," adds Mr. Baratelli who initially met Ms. Ireland after making contact with her through business social network, LinkedIn.

"Phil Baratelli is an inspiring, passionate entrepreneur whose unique skill sets are extraordinary in finance and real estate. Phil is an executive in the truest sense. He is an entrepreneur with great dreams and the strength to realize those dreams in an accelerated timetable," says Ms. Ireland. "We developed kathy ireland American Home several years ago and waited patiently for the correct partner. Phil Baratelli is indeed this partner. We welcome Phil, his companies and team to the kathy ireland Small Business Network. Our goal and strategy is to bring kathy ireland American Home managed by Baratelli Properties to all fifty states. Where appropriate, our residences which are furnished will offer product from kathy ireland Home partners, including Pacific Coast Lighting, Nourison, Michael Amini kathy ireland home designs, Bush Furniture, Blue Ridge Home Fashions, Fame hardwood Floors, and Global Kitchen Concepts | kathy ireland will be the planned installation resource for kitchens going forward. So many people are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with many families worried about being able to afford rent. We look forward to working with Phil to grow this venture and expand it to the rest of our country. The housing units manufactured and built will be places families can proudly call home. They will be fully renovated and pristine. This is a great day."

"Special thanks to Kathy, Stephen, Jon and our Board of Directors for allowing me the opportunity to co-chair the kathy ireland Small Business Network," says Mr. Meharey. "My journey with kiWW began as a residential contractor and veteran of the Marines fifteen years ago. From day one, Kathy said 'we must find a way to give people lovely homes within their budget.' Today, Kathy's dream becomes a reality."

As part of kiWW's philanthropic initiatives, every brand partner that joins kathy ireland Small Business Network supports National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research to eliminate childhood cancer. As part of the agreement, Mr. Baratelli and his company are supporting NPCF on an annual basis through the organization's Team43 Campaign, in support of the 43 children who are diagnosed with childhood cancer each day.

SOURCE Baratelli Properties
Authorities recently arrested a Florida resident after the local narcotics team found the suspect in possession of deadly and illegal drugs following a residential search.

On Tuesday, the Hernando County officials arrested a 43-year-old man for possessing more than two pounds of illicit substance in his home at Brooksville. According to the police, they found enough fentanyl in the man's home to kill more than half a million people.

The sheriff's office received a tip regarding the distribution of narcotics near 871 Josephine Street in Brooksville. David Gayle was arrested on two charges-both stemming from warrants for selling heroin near a church.

Detectives executed a search warrant for his home on April 24, where they uncovered two pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine, more commonly known as a mixture called "goofball."

In a statement released by the sheriff's office, the amount of fentanyl they discovered could have led to a devastating number of overdose deaths in Hernando County alone.

Investigators found seven grams of cocaine, oxycodone, and 13 grams of hashish in Gayle's home. They also found marijuana and drug apparatus.

The suspect was charged with one count of trafficking the synthetic drug fentanyl. He was given one count for trafficking methamphetamine. Law enforcement officials dealt him separate charges for possession of the other drugs found.

Gayle has an extensive criminal history in the county since 2011. Most of his previous cases were for cocaine possession. As of Tuesday, he was being held in the county jail on a $215,000 bond. If convicted, he will spend life in prison.

"We can never measure what we prevent," Sheriff Al Nienhuis said. "Anyone who believes that illegal drug trafficking is a victimless crime does not understand the killing power in the drugs seized during this investigation."

He also commended his Vice and Narcotics team for contributing and doing their part to keep the county safe for residents.



More Fentanyl in South Carolina

Investigators also arrested a man from Sumter County after more than 150 grams of fentanyl was found in his apartment.

According to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, 29-year-old Tyrell Billups will be charged with:

Felon in possession of a firearm.

Three counts of trafficking fentanyl with an enhancement for trafficking more than 28 grams at one time,

Four counts of distribution of narcotics near a school,

Possession of a weapon, and

Two counts of distribution of heroin,

County deputies reportedly found more than 150 grams of fentanyl and about 51 grams of marijuana after officials searched a unit in the Alice Drive Apartments.

They also found pills, roughly $8,900 in cash, and a gun. Authorities estimate the value of the fentanyl to be around $31,000 and the marijuana at $510.

Anthony Dennis, the sheriff, said they are seizing more fentanyl in the county. He said the amount they find in a single traffic stop or an approved search is a cause for alarm, primarily because of the deadly potential of the drug.



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Abe first declared a monthlong state of emergency until May 6 for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures on April 7 amid a sharp rise in infections in such urban areas. He expanded it on April 16 to all 47 prefectures ahead of the Golden Week holidays from late April when many Japanese people usually return to their hometowns or travel for vacations or day trips.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to seek opinions, possibly on Friday, from a panel of experts tasked with assessing the spread of coronavirus infections across the nation, before he makes a judgment on the extension, the sources said.

TOKYOThe Japanese government is considering extending the current nationwide state of emergency through May 6 by around one month in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, government sources said Thursday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a session of the House of Councillors budget committee in Tokyo on April 30, 2020. / KYODO

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a session of the House of Councillors budget committee in Tokyo on April 30, 2020. / KYODO

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In discussing the plan, Mr. Cuomo said that shuttle buses, so-called dollar vans and even for-hire vehicles would provide what he described as an essential connector to take essential workers to their jobs when the subway is not running.

The governor also said that Mayor Bill de Blasio would help lead the effort to coordinate transportation during the nightly halt.

Its a heck of an undertaking by the mayor and I applaud him for his ambition here in stepping up and taking this on, Mr. Cuomo said.

Mr. de Blasio, who called in to the briefing, said the initiative would be helpful to homeless people, whose life on the subway he called an unacceptable reality.

Advocates for homeless people called the move counterproductive, and they again urged the mayor to move more people from shelters and into hotel rooms. They also argued that an increase in police officers to help clear out trains and stations overnight would undermine any effort to help homeless people.

By involving law enforcement officers, the initiative will discourage people from engaging with the accompanying outreach teams for fear of being criminalized, said Peter Malvan, who is homeless and an advocate for those in similar circumstances.

The governor said in an afternoon interview on 1010 WINS that the authority would pay any added cost associated with the plan and would post the routes for the essential connector on its website once the shutdown started.
- More than half (52%) of global sector executives are taking steps to reconfigure supply chains as exposures revealed, with 45% re-evaluating

- Most manufacturers (82%) expect hostile M&A activity to rise on the back of lower valuations

- A majority (53%) also expect a "U-shaped" recovery extending into 2021

LONDON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of the economic effects of COVID-19, the focus for manufacturers is on the immediate pressure on global supply chains, according to the 22nd edition of the EY Global Capital Confidence Barometer (CCB).

The economic shutdown seen in many parts of the world has increased the urgency of supply chain for manufacturers. The survey found that more than half of manufacturing business leaders (52%) are already taking steps to change their supply chains, while 45% are actively re-evaluating their processes.

COVID-19 is also shaping global manufacturing leaders' strategy when it comes to the management of people and processes. More than two-thirds (69%) are already taking steps to change the way they manage their workforce or are re-evaluating their current approach. Meanwhile, the speed of automation and digital transformation in the sector is set to increase considerably, with more than two-thirds of manufacturers evaluating or already taking steps toward transformation on both fronts (78% and 67%, respectively).

David Gale, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing Transactions Leader, says:

"Manufacturers are working rapidly to limit the impact of the already tragic human cost of COVID-19 on livelihoods. The first step is going to be tackling supply chains, which have been left dangerously over-exposed in many industries.

"As this unfolds we can expect a shrinking of supply chains for the long-term, with more key components made locally. The term 'unprecedented' can be overused, but I think it is perfectly apt in this situation."

Post-crisis boost for manufacturing M&A

While boards continue to deal with the immediate situation, many are also looking beyond the crisis with more than half (53%) of all responding manufacturers expecting the global economy to enter a "U-shaped" dip that will extend into 2021.

In previous versions of the CCB, high valuations were called out as a barrier to M&A activity in the manufacturing sector. That is expected to change. The vast majority of those polled (82%) expect an increase in hostile and competitive M&A activity in the wake of the crisis. At the same time, 47% of respondents predict a drop in valuations, which is likely to increase competition for targets.

The survey also shows an expectation that the crisis will reshape what is considered an attractive target, with nearly a third (32%) saying they will prioritize business resilience when evaluating a transaction.

Gale says: "M&A drivers on both sides of manufacturing deals are likely to be transformed in the post-COVID environment. Sellers are looking to rebuild depleted cash reserves, while buyers may be looking for a bargain with valuations dropping. Any buyer, however, will be looking closely at the resilience of a business when it comes to assessing a deal in the post-COVID world.

"We can certainly expect a more hostile environment in the coming year, and perhaps beyond, which will see as much activity from private equity as it will from corporate buyers."

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation is available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

About EY's Global Advanced Manufacturing & Mobility Sector

Urbanization, changing consumer expectations and emerging digital technologies are reshaping what's possible, from the production and distribution of goods to the transportation of people. To succeed in this new world of mobility and smart manufacturing, incumbents must transform themselves at unprecedented speed - to think like an innovative startup, tap into new talent and engage the customer. With experience across the value chain and key technology alliances, our teams show clients how to create efficiencies now while adopting digitization and optionality for long-term growth. Automotive, transportation, aerospace, defense, chemicals and industrial products companies can draw on the strength of our network of cross-industry players and put our diverse range of approaches to use today to equip their businesses for tomorrow.

About the survey

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On Wednesday, all team bosses met again in a videocall to discuss the development of the 2021 car with the technical working group. The coronavirus is causing financial problems at the race stables and for that reason a radical new measure seems to have been introduced.

After a long meeting it would have appeared that the development of the chassis, the gearbox and the suspension will be frozen. As of the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix this will be the case, so also in the coming season no adjustments would be possible. It is a new measure of Formula 1 to reduce costs.

It was expected that there would be a tactical and political joust, because experience shows that Formula 1 teams cannot agree quickly, but according to Motorsport.com intellect has triumphed. In the meeting Ross Brawn was by the way the chairman of Liberty the big absent.

Tokens return

The plan is that in 2021 the teams will have tokens that they can use to develop elements other than the chassis, gearbox and suspension of the car. The aerodynamic development will remain free, so especially in this area the teams will have to gain ground.
New subcutaneous formulation reduces the time taken for patients to receive daratumumab treatment from hours to approximately three to five minutes, with similar efficacy and fewer infusion-related reactions compared to intravenous administration 1,2

If approved, daratumumab subcutaneous formulation will be the first monoclonal antibody approved in Europe for subcutaneous administration for patients with multiple myeloma

Positive Opinion is based on data from the Phase 3 COLUMBA (MMY3012) and Phase 2 PLEIADES (MMY2040) studies

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a Positive Opinion recommending approval for DARZALEX?(daratumumab) subcutaneous (SC) formulation for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma in frontline and relapsed/refractory settings. The novel SC formulation of daratumumab is co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) [Halozyme's ENHANZE drug delivery technology] and reduces treatment time from hours to approximately three to five minutes, with similar efficacy, and fewer infusion-related reactions compared to intravenous (IV) administration.1,2 The CHMP's Positive Opinion for daratumumab SC formulation applies to all current daratumumab indications including newly diagnosed and transplant-ineligible patients, as well as relapsed or refractory patients.

"Despite therapeutic advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma, the time taken for administration of most intravenous treatments is relatively long and there have been few significant improvements over the years," said Maria-Victoria Mateos, M.D., Ph.D., COLUMBA primary investigator and Director of the Myeloma Unit at University Hospital of Salamanca-IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain. "The daratumumab subcutaneous formulation has the potential to transform the treatment experience for patients and physicians as it reduces time in the chair from hours to minutes, and, because it is administered as a fixed dose from the first treatment, it reduces preparation time and chances of error by eliminating the need for dose calculations."

The Positive Opinion is supported by data from the Phase 3 COLUMBA (MMY3012) and Phase 2 PLEIADES (MMY2040) studies presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, respectively.1,2 The COLUMBA presentation included a non-inferiority comparison of daratumumab SC formulation to daratumumab IV formulation for co-primary endpoints of overall response rate and maximum C trough concentration.1 Furthermore, in a subsequent paper published in The Lancet Haematology, patient-reported treatment satisfaction scores with daratumumab SC versus daratumumab IV were reported using the modified-Cancer Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire.3 The PLEIADES study evaluated the daratumumab SC formulation in different combination regimens in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma or with relapsed/refractory disease.2

"The subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab showed similar efficacy and fewer infusion-related reactions compared to intravenous daratumumab, and, overall, patients expressed satisfaction with subcutaneous therapy. If approved, we are hopeful this new formulation could offer improved quality of life for patients with multiple myeloma," said Patrick Laroche, M.D., Haematology Therapy Area Lead, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Janssen-Cilag. "Janssen is proud to have developed a new formulation to meet the needs of our patients and continue to make a meaningful difference to the lives of those living with multiple myeloma."

"Since its first European approval in 2016, intravenous daratumumab has been used in the treatment of more than 100,000 patients worldwide and, if approved, both new and existing patients with multiple myeloma will be able to start or switch to the subcutaneous formulation as part of their multiple myeloma daratumumab-based treatment regimens," adds Craig Tendler, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development and Global Medical Affairs, Oncology at Janssen Research Development, LLC. "Today's Positive Opinion represents Janssen's commitment to continuing to improve the treatment experience for patients living with multiple myeloma."

ENDS#

In Europe, daratumumab is indicated:4

in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone or with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant

in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant

in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy

as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, whose prior therapy included a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy

About the COLUMBA Study (MMY3012)3,5

The randomised, open-label, multicentre Phase 3 study included 522 patients with multiple myeloma who had received at least three prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), or whose disease was refractory to both a PI and an IMiD. In the arm that received the subcutaneously (SC) administered formulation of daratumumab (n=263), patients (median age of 65) received a fixed dose of daratumumab 1,800 milligrams (mg) co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) 2,000 Units per millilitre (U/mL), SC weekly for cycles 1 2, every two weeks for cycles 3 6, and every four weeks for cycle 7 and thereafter. In the daratumumab IV arm (n=259), patients (median age of 67) received daratumumab for intravenous infusion 16 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) weekly for cycles 1 2, every two weeks for cycles 3 6, and every four weeks for cycle 7 and thereafter. Each cycle was 28 days. Patients in both treatment arms continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Co-primary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR) (non-inferiority 60 percent retention of the lower bound [208%] of the 95% CI of the SIRIUS trial, with relative risk [RR] analysed by Farrington-Manning test) and pre-dose cycle 3, day 1 (C3D1) daratumumab C trough (non-inferiority lower bound of 90 percent confidence interval (CI) for the ratio of the geometric means [GM] =80%).

About the PLEIADES Study (MMY2040)6

The non-randomised, open-label, parallel assignment study Phase 2 PLEIADES trial included 240 adults either newly diagnosed or with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were treated with 1,800 mg of the subcutaneous formulation in combination with either bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) or bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone (D-VMP). Patients with relapsed or refractory disease were treated with 1,800 mg of the subcutaneous formulation plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd). The primary endpoint for the D-VMP and D-Rd cohorts was overall response rate. The primary endpoint for the D-VRd cohort was very good partial response or better rate. An additional cohort of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma treated with daratumumab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone was subsequently added to the study.

About daratumumab

Daratumumab is a first-in-class7 biologic targeting CD38, a surface protein that is highly expressed across multiple myeloma cells, regardless of disease stage.8 Daratumumab is believed to induce tumour cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), as well as through apoptosis, in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death.4 A subset of myeloid derived suppressor cells (CD38+ MDSCs), CD38+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD38+ B cells (Bregs) were decreased by daratumumab.4 Since launch, it is estimated that 100,000 patients have been treated with daratumumab worldwide.9 Daratumumab is being evaluated in a comprehensive clinical development programme across a range of treatment settings in multiple myeloma, such as in frontline and relapsed settings.10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess its potential in other malignant and pre-malignant haematologic diseases in which CD38 is expressed, such as smouldering myeloma.18,19 For more information, please see https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/.

For further information on daratumumab, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics at https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/darzalex.

In August 2012, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Genmab A/S entered a worldwide agreement, which granted Janssen an exclusive licence to develop, manufacture and commercialise daratumumab.20

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterised by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells.21 In Europe, more than 48,200 people were diagnosed with MM in 2018, and more than 30,800 patients died.22 Almost 60 percent of patients with MM do not survive more than five years after diagnosis.23

Although treatment may result in remission, unfortunately, patients will most likely relapse as there is currently no cure.24 Refractory MM is when a patient's disease progresses within 60 days of their last therapy.25,26 Relapsed cancer is when the disease has returned after a period of initial, partial or complete remission.27 While some patients with MM have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms that can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.28 Patients who relapse after treatment with standard therapies, including proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents, have poor prognoses and few treatment options available.29

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson

At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Learn more at www.janssen.com/emea. Follow us at www.twitter.com/janssenEMEA for our latest news. Janssen-Cilag, Janssen Research Development, LLC and Janssen Biotech, Inc. are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the benefits of daratumumab for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behaviour and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

ENHANZE is a registered trademark of Halozyme.

References

1 Mateos MV, Nahi H, Legiec W, et al. Efficacy and safety of the randomized, open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3 study of subcutaneous (SC) versus intravenous (IV) daratumumab (DARA) administration in patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM): COLUMBA. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(Suppl.): abstract 8005.

2 Chari A, San-Miguel J, McCarthy H, et al. Subcutaneous daratumumab plus standard treatment regimens in patients with multiple myeloma across lines of therapy: Pleiades study update. Blood. 2019;134(Suppl.1):abstract 3152.

3 Mateos MV, Nahi H, Legiec W, et al. Subcutaneous versus intravenous daratumumab in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (COLUMBA): a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Mar 23 [epub ahead of print].

4 European Medicines Agency. DARZALEX summary of product characteristics. Available at:

https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/product-information/darzalex-epar-productinformation_en.pdf Last accessed April 2020.

5 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Subcutaneous Versus (vs.) Intravenous Administration of Daratumumab in Participants With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma. NCT03277105. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03277105 Last accessed April 2020.

6 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate Subcutaneous Daratumumab in Combination With Standard Multiple Myeloma Treatment Regimens. NCT03412565. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03412565 Last accessed April 2020.

7 Sanchez L, Wang Y, Siegel DS, Wang ML. Daratumumab: a first-in-class CD38 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of multiple myeloma. J Hematol Oncol. 2016;9:51.

8 Fedele G, di Girolamo M, Recine U, et al. CD38 ligation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of myeloma patients induces release of protumorigenic IL-6 and impaired secretion of IFNgamma cytokines and proliferation. Mediat Inflamm. 2013;2013:564687.

9 [Data on file]. DARZALEX: New Patient Starts Launch to Date. RF-82203

10 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study to evaluate daratumumab in transplant eligible participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma (Cassiopeia). NCT02541383. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02541383 Last accessed April 2020

11 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study comparing daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. NCT02076009. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02076009 Last accessed April 2020.

12 ClinicalTrials.gov. Addition of daratumumab to combination of bortezomib and dexamethasone in participants with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. NCT02136134. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02136134 Last accessed April 2020.

13 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study of combination of daratumumab and Velcade (bortezomib) melphalan-prednisone (DVMP) compared to Velcade melphalan-prednisone (VMP) in participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma. NCT02195479. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02195479 Last accessed April 2020.

14 ClinicalTrials.gov. Study comparing daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma. NCT02252172. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02252172 Last accessed April 2020.

15 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study of Velcade (bortezomib) melphalan-prednisone (VMP) compared to daratumumab in combination with VMP (D-VMP), in participants with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are ineligible for high-dose therapy (Asia Pacific region). NCT03217812. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03217812 Last accessed April 2020.

16 ClinicalTrials.gov. Comparison of pomalidomide and dexamethasone with or without daratumumab in subjects with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma previously treated with lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor daratumumab/pomalidomide/dexamethasone vs pomalidomide/dexamethasone (EMN14). NCT03180736. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03180736 Last accessed April 2020.

17 ClinicalTrials.gov. Study of carfilzomib, daratumumab and dexamethasone for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (CANDOR). NCT03158688. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03158688 Last accessed April 2020.

18 ClinicalTrials.gov. A study to evaluate 3 dose schedules of daratumumab in participants with smoldering multiple myeloma. NCT02316106. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02316106 Last accessed April 2020.

19 ClinicalTrials.gov. An efficacy and safety proof of concept study of daratumumab in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma. NCT02413489. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02413489 Last accessed April 2020.

20 Johnson Johnson. Janssen Biotech announces global license and development agreement for investigational anti-cancer agent daratumumab. Press release August 30, 2012. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/janssen-biotech-announces-global-license-and-development-agreement-for-investigational-anti-cancer-agent-daratumumab Last accessed April 2020.

21 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Multiple myeloma: introduction. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/multiple-myeloma/introduction Last accessed April 2020.

22 GLOBOCAN 2018. Cancer Today Population Factsheets: Europe Region. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/908-europe-fact-sheets.pdf Last accessed April 2020.

23 De Angelis R, Minicozzi P, Sant M, et al. Survival variations by country and age for lymphoid and myeloid malignancies in Europe 2000-2007: results of EUROCARE-5 population-based study. Eur J Cancer. 2015;51:2254-68.

24 Abdi J, Chen G, Chang H, et al. Drug resistance in multiple myeloma: latest findings and new concepts on molecular mechanisms. Oncotarget. 2013;4:2186-207.

25 National Cancer Institute. NCI dictionary of cancer terms: refractory. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?CdrID=350245 Last accessed April 2020.

26 Richardson P, Mitsiades C, Schlossman R, et al. The treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2007:317-23.

27 National Cancer Institute. NCI dictionary of cancer terms: relapsed. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?CdrID=45866 Last accessed April 2020.

28 American Cancer Society. Multiple myeloma: early detection, diagnosis and staging. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8740.00.pdf Last accessed April 2020.

29 Kumar SK, Lee JH, Lahuerta JJ, et al. Risk of progression and survival in multiple myeloma relapsing after therapy with IMiDs and bortezomib: a multicenter international myeloma working group study. Leukemia. 2012;26:149-57.

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Its been a bit since the Coronavirus came and disrupted all our lives. A majority of us have been stuck at home for weeks now and may have been wanting something new and exciting to watch. Well, we here at Digit have just the thing for you. Check out these top Netflix sci-fi movies thatll definitely make you think as well as entertain you. Some of these films are also Netflix original sci-fi movies but a lot of them come from other studios as well. There are also a few Netflix sci-fi movies from 2020 but again, a lot of them will be from years past.

Sci-fi as a genre is wide and vast and can often pair up with other genres like horror or even mystery and still retain a sci-fi edge. It truly is a unique genre and some of the Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix streaming also embody this very principle. So, sit back, grab your remote and check out some of the best sci-fi films on Netflix today.

And away we go:

Zathura

A companion piece to the wildly successful Jumanji, Zathura was not the box office hit that many hoped for but its still an exciting and fun-filled sci-fi film. The story follows a family who get sucked into a space fantasy game called Zathura and must battle aliens, black holes and more.

The Wandering Earth

What if we could move the Earth away from our solar system? Well, The Wandering Earth aims to answer that very question. Do ignore the sappy Chinese melodrama and youll be treated to a visual and metal spectacle. The film was a huge hit in China, and we can see why.

Super 8

A modern re-telling of E.T of sorts, Super 8 is one of the best coming of age films out there and it's even better that it's wrapped around a missing alien in a small town. The film is well directed by JJ Abrams, and he really gets to stretch his creative muscles with Super 8.

Upgrade

Upgrade is ultra-violent, funny and has got a ton of heart. The film follows a mechanic in the future who undergoes a radial transformation after a mugging leaves his wife dead and him paralyzed. What follows is a nifty little revenge tale that really build the world of the film in more ways than one. Definitely do not miss this film.

Event Horizon

One of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix, Event Horizon was also one of the better films by director Paul W Anderson. A basic haunted house in space, the film follows the crew of a rescue vessel who are out to rescue the Event Horizon, a ship that has gone missing for decades! Its creepy, violent and really brings the scares. If youre looking for a quality sci-fi horror movie, you cant go wrong with Event Horizon.

Annihilation

Directed by Alex Garland and starring Natalie Portman, Annihilation was and still is one of the most inventive and beautiful sci-fi films on Netflix. If youre looking for an action-packed film, this is definitely not it. More of a thinking mans science-fiction film, Annihilation has more in common with the directors previous film Ex Machina than it does with The Matrix. The story basically follows four women who head into a sealed-off area known as The Shimmer. Caused by an extraterrestrial being crashing to Earth, this film could even be seen as a modern retelling of the H.P Lovecraft classic, the Colour Out of Space.

Automata

Starring Antonio Banderas in an almost unrecognizable role, Automata takes a deeper look at the age-old question of android gaining consciousness. The film is a low-budget affair but dont let that fool you as the film has some incredible special effects and excellent storytelling as well. The idea that robots could learn to become more human than humans is an old sci-fi idea but it has been given new life in Automata. If you enjoy deep sci-fi films, you should check this movie out.

Snowpiercer

Based off an extremely important and influential French graphic novel, Snowpiercer is a science-fiction epic that is almost a parable of our times. The entire film is set in the confines of a powerful globe-trotting train where the have-nots must battle from the decrepit and slum-like back of the train to the front, where they can take over. The film draws parallels to our reality where the have and have-nots pretty much live side-by-side. Its a harrowing tale and the performance of the entire cast is phenomenal.

Life

One of the better sci-fi horror films in the last few years, Life has a stellar cast including Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal and Rebecca Ferguson. The story follows a team of astronauts as they encounter life on the surface of Mars. What starts out as a fascinating discovery soon ends in horror as the life-form they brought on to the spaceship is hungry and the only prey around are the astronauts. The film is thrilling and has a ton of cool effects to really ratchet up the tension.

Arrival

One of the smartest and most competent sci-fi films out there, Arrival takes a very different look at what first contact with an extraterrestrial being could actually be like. Starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, Arrival tells the tale of aliens who land on Earth, seemingly benevolent and scientists are tasked with figuring out what they want. Shot and directed beautifully, Arrival is truly a thinking mans science fiction epic.

Lockout

Now for some more action-oriented fare. If youre a fan of cool, rebellious characters who are just there to complete the mission and absolutely ooze charm then youll love Lockout. Guy Pearce stars as a disgraced special forces vet who is sent to retrieve the Presidents daughter who has been taken hostage by a dangerous gang of criminals abroad a floating space prison! Yes, its as insane as it sounds and the action makes it even better. This is a true throwback action-packed, sci-fi film.

Europa Report

;

Space exploration has always been a major theme in a lot of science-fictions stories and Europa Report is one such film. The film tells the tale of a bunch of scientists who make their way to Europa, a moon in Jupiters orbit. The moon actually does contain water and scientists think that it could actually harbour life. Which is what this particular team in the film find out. Also, its a found footage film, so if youre into that genre of film, youll have a blast.

2001 A Space Odyssey

One of the most important sci-fi films in the history of cinema, 2001: A Space Odyssey was director, Stanley Kubricks masterpiece/. The film is difficult to summarise as it truly is a journey through the stars. The story begins with a bunch of astronauts who have to deal with a malevolent AI called HAL and then takes a turn for the fantastical. If you havent seen the movie, please stop whatever youre doing and check it out, right now!

Illang: The Wolf Brigade

This film just did not resonate with critics but actual movie lovers really enjoyed Illang: The Wolf Brigade. Based on the manga and anime of the same name, Illang is a tender love story in a world gone wrong. The film tells the tale of the Wolf Brigade and their star soldier and their fight against a terrorist group known as The Sect. The set pieces in this film look far better than their Hollywood counterparts with a sense of grounded realism and action. A must watch, in our opinion.

Gantz:0

For fans of the gory Gantz anime, this CGI-animated feature is just as brutal as the anime but has a bit more edge to it. The story is simple, a bunch of people are kidnapped by a giant black orb that outfits them with these super suits and sends them out to battle uber-powerful aliens hell-bent on destroying Earth. IF that sounds insane, know that the film is absolutely bonkers! ITs violent, action-packed and does not pull any punches. You want a mature animated feature, well, youve got exactly that with Gantz:0.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

And finally, how could we forget to include one of the best science-fiction films of all time on the list. Whats even better is that this version of Blade Runner is the original directors cut which means more footage and more Rutger Hauer, which is always cool. One of the original cyberpunk films, Blade Runner has had a ton of imitators over the years but none have been able to come close to the majestic dystopia of Ridley Scotts world.
President Donald Trump and his supporters seized on newly disclosed documents to argue Thursday that his former aide Michael Flynn was railroaded into pleading guilty as part of the FBI investigation into the 2016 campaign and Russian interference, but legal experts said the material is unlikely to convince a judge that agents entrapped the former national security adviser.

The documents released Wednesday evening include notes showing that FBI officials discussed in advance how to handle a January 2017 interview with Flynn about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office. Three people familiar with the matter said the notes were written by E.W. Priestap, a former assistant director of the FBI's counterintelligence division. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because Flynn's case is still being considered by the courts. A lawyer for Priestap did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Flynn's lawyers, Sidney Powell and Jesse Binnall, have called the materials "stunning" evidence showing Flynn was "set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI."

Trump, who removed Flynn less than a month after taking office but has long accused those who investigated him of corruption, told reporters Thursday: "They destroyed him, but he's going to come back, like I say, he's going to come back, bigger and better."

Trump's comments in support of Flynn, who pleaded guilty in late 2017 to lying to the FBI, have revived speculation that he intends to pardon his former aide, one of several people close to the president who were charged as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

But Trump suggested Thursday that he might wait to see how the courts deal with the case. "I don't have to stay out of it, at all, but I like to stay out of it," he said.

He also criticized James Comey, who as FBI director sent agents to interview Flynn in 2017. Trump fired Comey in May 2017, setting the stage for Mueller's appointment to investigate the president.

"DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT!" Trump tweeted.

Vice President Mike Pence, whom officials said Flynn lied to in early 2017, said Thursday that he was "deeply troubled" by the latest documents, adding: "I know what General Flynn told me, and I'm more inclined to believe it was unintentional than ever before."

While Flynn, Trump and their supporters argue that the retired Army general was entrapped by the FBI, it remains to be seen whether the judge overseeing his case, or the Justice Department's leadership, will agree with that assessment. Prosecutors are due to file legal papers about the FBI documents on May 11.

The notes show that before the Flynn interview, FBI officials discussed the possibility that he would lie to them, given that he had already apparently denied to other White House officials that he'd discussed sanctions against Russia weeks earlier in phone calls with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

"What is our goal?" Priestap wrote in the notes. "Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" Priestap also wrote that the FBI should "protect our institution by not playing games."

Another set of documents filed Thursday revealed the code name the FBI gave to a 2016 investigation into Flynn's possible ties to Russia. That case, Crossfire Razor, was shutting down just as the FBI took a renewed interest in Flynn while Trump was preparing to take office, the documents show.

"These notes raise questions about the investigation, and it is not surprising that Flynn's defense team is pressing the defense of entrapment," said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. "But entrapment is a high bar. It is not enough simply to show that government agencies solicited a criminal act from a defendant. The critical issue for the defense is proving that investigators induced the defendant to engage in criminal conduct that the defendant would not otherwise have committed."

"In order to succeed here," Mintz continued, "the defense will have to prove not merely that the FBI anticipated that Flynn might lie during the interview but that the FBI encouraged him to lie and induced him to commit a crime that he otherwise would not have committed."

Chuck Rosenberg, a former U.S. attorney who also served as Comey's chief of staff, said the notes do not make a case for entrapment.

"It is not a close call," said Rosenberg. "In this situation, Flynn had three options: tell the truth, lie, or refuse to talk. The FBI did not plant a lie, urge him to repeat the lie, record him in the lie, and then prosecute him for lying. That might be entrapment. Here, Flynn was predisposed to lie, chose to talk, and then lied. That's not entrapment."

Rosenberg called Priestap "a thoughtful and careful agent, and if you read the entire page of notes and put it in context, you can see that he is trying to be fair."

Gregory Brower, a former Republican U.S. attorney and FBI official under Comey, said the entrapment argument seems aimed primarily at Attorney General William Barr and Trump.

"I can't think of a case in the past where a defendant has been able to get any traction at all with the Justice Department to undo his guilty plea - that's a very unusual thing," said Brower.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said the documents were released after Barr appointed Jeff Jensen, the U.S. attorney for St. Louis, to review Flynn's case.

Jensen, the spokeswoman said, "determined they should be provided to the court and defense counsel."

Late Thursday, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered Flynn not to file more internal FBI documents to the court until Jensen had finished his review.

Since his guilty plea, Flynn, 61, has changed course and has sought to withdraw the plea, arguing that he was entrapped, received poor advice from his previous lawyers, and is innocent.

The single page of handwritten notes written by Priestap, dated the day of Flynn's interview, appear to reflect his view that if Flynn lied in the interview, agents should confront him with a redacted piece of evidence so he will come clean.

"I don't see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is going easy on him," the notes say, adding, "If we're seen as playing games, WH will be furious."

Priestap authorized the opening of an investigation into Trump campaign advisers in August 2016. Unlike other FBI officials, Priestap has so far emerged from the various reviews of that investigation relatively unscathed.

The Justice Department inspector general, for example, said Priestap's approving the opening of the case "was in compliance with Department and FBI policies," and investigators "did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced his decision."
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  A volunteer team of faculty and staff members at Purdue University has spent the past two weeks manufacturing, assembling and delivering medical supplies to hospitals, emergency management organizations, nursing homes, and hospice care organizations.

Nathan Hartman, Purdue's Dauch Family Professor of Advanced Manufacturing and head of the Department of Computer Graphics Technology, as well as co-executive director of the Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), said the effort is now in full swing.

We have produced and donated approximately 350 face shields and 600 glasses so far, Hartman said. In the next 10 days we will manufacture and deliver approximately more 6,000 face shields, and we hope to soon be able to deliver 1,000 sets of gowns, caps, and foot covers per week.

Ventilator connectors/fittings will likely be next based on feedback from the health care community. If we can get enough raw materials, we can produce high hundreds or more of these items per day.

The maker team has been working with staff from Franciscan Health, Parkview Health, Indiana University Health, Lutheran Health Network, Witham Hospital and Saint Anthony Rehabilitation and Nursing Center to distribute supplies throughout Indiana.

There have been many recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in nursing homes, and Hartman says nurses and health care workers at these facilities, as well as other non-hospital health care workers, will benefit from the Purdue effort.

We have received requests from nursing home facilities, hospice care facilities, and dental offices, Hartman said. This part of our community is often overlooked in favor of hospitals and clinics, but we are looking at ways to support them as well, if possible.

The effort has been facilitated through an arrangement between Tippecanoe County health officials and the Purdue University Fire Department under Indianas mutual aid program. Purdue is partnering with these institutions to augment their supplies. Purdue will be centrally supporting the material and items needed to support the Maker effort, until such time as resources become available for the state and federal stimulus funds to reimburse the university for these efforts.

Eastman Chemical of Kingsport, Tennessee, has donated more than 100,000 pounds of plastic film to be used in the eye shields and masks.

Because Purdue conducts research and teaches a variety of classes in manufacturing, technology and engineering, the university has several small manufacturing facilities. Capabilities include injection molding, vacuum forming, roll-to-roll manufacturing, machining, 3D printing, laser scanning and assembly operations.

The volunteer Makers group has approximately 40 faculty and staff members participating, representing Purdue Polytechnic Institute, the College of Engineering, the College of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing, as well as Birck Nanotechnology Center, Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, the Bechtel Innovation Design Center and the Envision Center for Data Perceptualization.

A subgroup composed of faculty and staff from Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences and the Department of Theatre within Purdues Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance is producing soft goods for health care workers to wear.

The soft PPE group is ramping up production. They have volunteers sewing across the local community, and we have a reasonable logistics mechanism worked out, Hartman said.

Joan Goetz, a laboratory technician for the textile and apparel laboratories, has for years trained teaching assistants and students on how to use the apparel equipment  now she is working with a large volunteer team, including students in Purdue's EPICS team, to produce isolation gowns and caps.

The hardest part was locating fabric that is a good barrier for the medical PPE and that is available in the United States," she said. "We are using Tyvek housing cover. Our team of students cuts out the fabric, and then we pass them along to local seamstresses for assembly."

Anthony "Tony" Sirk, costume shop manager in the Purdue Theatre, is a part of this effort.

As a theater artist, whose craft hasnt changed much over the last century, I always jump at the chance to use my skills for something that is bigger than the stage, and I cant think of anything bigger than helping out the medical community during this pandemic," Sirk said. "Vince Lobello, who supervises the Scene Shop for the Theatre Department, and I have been working together on patterning mock-up prototypes for different PPE elements."

In addition to producing supplies, Hartman's team is working to develop a new design for N95 face masks that can be sanitiezed and reused, which would use filters commonly found in hospitals and clinics.

We have a working prototype, he said. We are working on a fit test for the prototype, and we are investigating dimensions on commercially made filter cartridges that will fit this geometry.

Writer and media contact: Steve Tally, 765-494-9809, steve@purdue.edu, @sciencewriter

Sources: Nathan "Nate" Hartman, nhartman@purdue.edu

Joan Goetz, jgoetz@purdue.edu

Anthony "Tony" Sirk, asirk@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Video b-roll of Purdue individuals creating personal protective equipment and a photo are available here.
"We have public health issues that we are now looking at, so I think were working with an eye to make sure everybody who is in is in to protect the public," the prosecutor said. "If they are supposed to be in, we are still saying they should be, but if we can release them, we are."

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/4/2020 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

"We have public health issues that we are now looking at, so I think were working with an eye to make sure everybody who is in is in to protect the public," the prosecutor said. "If they are supposed to be in, we are still saying they should be, but if we can release them, we are."

This from a crown attorney, speaking on condition of anonymity, in Accused to be isolated before entering provincial jails (Winnipeg Free Press, April 1). Doesnt this raise the question: "Shouldnt we have made sure in the first place that they needed to be in?"

Of course, our institutions must do everything in their power to control COVID-19, for all the reasons laid out in the April 7 editorial Corrections must act to reduce virus risk. Their current physical state and long-standing policies, which favour restriction over rehabilitation, will make this extremely difficult, however. A system based on restorative-justice models that relies on proven community-based supports and programs would be both safer and more effective for all.

Our provincial adult institutions total rated capacity is 2,023; on Jan. 27, we know they housed 2,250 people. The most recent available data show that Manitoba has continued to default to incarceration as its primary response to crime. In 2017-18, Manitoba jailed 19 of every 10,000 children; eight out of 10 other provinces jail fewer than five.

Across Canada, 83 adults per 100,000 are incarcerated; in Manitoba, the number is 231. Most troubling, though, is that of all those serving federal, provincial and community-based sentences in Manitoba, 75 per cent are Indigenous.

Manitoba was the first province to adopt a Restorative Justice Act, back in 2015. There has been some movement since  the Restorative Justice Centre was opened a couple of years ago, and the Winnipeg Police Service has mandated a minimum number of pre-charge referrals be done on a monthly basis.

Within Manitoba Corrections there is the Winding River program, a small but welcome addition. Some process reforms led to a small decrease in detention rates; however, the default is still incarceration. On January 27, Manitoba was still 227 over its maximum capacity. In 2020-21 alone, incarceration costs will exceed $204 million.

Restorative-justice models focus on creating the capacity for accountability in a person who has committed a crime. They address the conditions, addictions, cognitive issues, lack of employment and education and other factors that led to the crime. Victim impact and empathy are prioritized; direct restitution is even possible when appropriate.

Crime victims routinely report greater satisfaction with a restorative-justice process. Their own healing has been helped, and they are more confident in the rehabilitation of the person who harmed them. In restorative justice, the victim gets far more information on what led to the crime against them and the work done by the perpetrator to address their risk factors.

Restorative justice can also be used as a carceral sentence is coming to an end. It has even been used in murder cases as someone is approaching parole or their statutory release date. The victimized loved ones of the person killed can choose, or not, to take part; those who have, again, report more peace of mind. While their loss cannot be "restored," there is some peace knowing the person has fully accepted responsibility for the pain and loss they caused and has changed as a result.

Winnipeg (10 per cent) and Manitoba (six per cent) saw increases to their violent crime index from 2017 to 2018. All agree that methamphetamine abuse and addiction seems to be a major contributing factor, yet our response has remained punitive rather than treatment-focused. Former MP Jane Philpott and Senator Kim Pate accurately outline our current situation:

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"If youre poor, homeless, racialized, living in violence or with the ravages of the intergenerational trauma of residential school and colonial inequity, and anesthetizing yourself to such pain with drugs or alcohol, you are more likely to get prison than you are to get treatment, housing, retraining or employment" (Policy Options Politiques).

This is true across Canada and especially true in Manitoba, which remains home to three of the five federal ridings with the highest child-poverty rates in Canada. In 2017, despite the Canada Child Benefit, 85,450 children in Manitoba were living in poverty. One in every three children under the age of six lives in poverty. The debilitating effects of poverty on childhood development are well proven.

At the beginning of March, when COVID-19 was not yet the concern it is, the Manitoba government announced a spending increase of $400,000, for a total of $2.8 million on restorative justice programs. This is welcome. However, it pales in comparison to the more than $200 million spent on jailing more than 2,000 people per year.

Restorative-justice programs, especially those that are culturally appropriate and rooted in trusted community-based organizations, routinely report much recidivism rates that are half of what corrections reports.

The third pillar in a restorative-justice approach is the role of the larger community. Once the COVID-19 crisis has passed, it will be up to us to resolve the crisis we have allowed poverty to create and perpetuate. Transforming our justice system into one that is both just and effective would be a good place to start.

Kate Kehler is chair of the Restorative Justice Association of Manitoba and executive director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.
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Lawmakers were seen wearing bulletproof vests as armed protesters stormed Michigan's Capitol in Lansing just moments before the state's House of Representatives denied Gov Gretchen Whitmer's request to extend her state of emergency.

Photos from inside the Michigan House Chamber showed elected officials wearing bulletproof vests while men holding guns stood above them.

'Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today,' Sen Dayna Polehanki tweeted Thursday afternoon.

In Michigan, guns are permitted inside the state's Capitol as long as they are visible and carried with lawful intent.

Protesters, who weren't wearing masks, were seen yelling within inches of officers from the Michigan State Police.

Others were heard chanting: 'Let us in! Let us in!'

The 'American Patriot Rally' which was organized by Michigan United for Liberty, drew in hundreds of residents who carried pro-Trump banners and held anti-Whitmer signs while protesting outside of the Capitol.

Demonstrators began descending on the Capitol at 9am Thursday morning while lawmakers were trying to decide whether to extend Whitmer's state of emergency request for 28 more days.

Ultimately, the lawmakers denied the governor's request and passed a resolution authorizing the Speaker of the House to commence legal action, which will challenge the governor's actions during the pandemic. Whitmer is unable to veto the resolution.

Scroll down for video

Protesters tried to enter the Michigan House of Representatives chamber and were being kept out by the Michigan State Police during the American Patriot Rally organized by Michigan United for Liberty

Demonstrators were seen arguing with officers from the Michigan State Police as they tried to enter the capitol building

Armed men are seen inside the Michigan State Capitol after they stormed inside during a rally on Thursday

Protesters tried to enter the Michigan House of Representatives chamber but were being kept out by the Michigan State Police

Photos from inside the Michigan House Chamber showed elected officials wearing bulletproof vests while men (pictured) holding guns stood above them

Trump supporters wearing 'Make America Great Again' hats are seen crowding inside the state Capitol building

A militia group with no political affiliation stands in front of the governors office after protesters occupied the state Capitol building

People protest against the governor's coronavirus lockdown inside the Capitol on Thursday

One protester wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat is seen selling at officers inside the Capitol building

A protester is seen yelling at Michigan State Police while holding a gun after storming the Capitol Thursday afternoon

Matt Maddock a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives, speaks with protesters inside the Capitol

Many of those gathered for the protest included militia group members carrying firearms and people holding up pro-Trump signs.

Most of them appeared to be ignoring state social-distancing guidelines as they clustered together within six feet of each other. Few people wore masks.

Michigan's directive, while stricter than most, has the same goal: to keep Americans safe from the coronavirus.

In the United States, more than 1 million people have been infected with the virus. The death toll increases each day and as of Thursday afternoon it surpassed 62,000. In Michigan, more than 3,600 people have died from the virus and more than 40,000 people have contracted the illness.

But nonetheless protests to open governments have erupted across the United States, with Thursday's rally occurring just a day after a Michigan judge sided with Whitmer in a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs who claimed her stay-at-home order violated their constitutional rights.

Court of Claims Judge Christopher M. Murray disagreed, saying that the plaintiffs' arguments were not strong due to the severity of the pandemic.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Michigan's state Capitol in Lansing on Thursday to protest Governor Gretchen Whitmer's request to extend the state of emergency to combat COVID-19

Protesters rally outside of the state capitol building before the vote on the extension of Whitmer's emergency stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus outbreak

Armed protesters provide security as demonstrators take part in an 'American Patriot Rally', organized by Michigan United for Liberty

A protester wears an upside down flag painted on her face as she stands at an American Patriot Rally on Thursday

One demonstrator held a sign that has Gov Whitmer depicted as Adolph Hitler during the rally on Thursday

Ryan Kelley, a protest organizer for the American Patriot Rally, is seen speaking to attendees on Thursday

A woman wearing a Trump 2020 hat is seen holding a sign that reads: 'Every job is essential. Get workers back to work safely now'

Demonstrators hold a banner with the word 'freedom' during Thursday's protest against the governor's stay-at-home directive

Murray wrote in the court order: 'Although the Court is painfully aware of the difficulties of living under the restrictions of these executive orders, those difficulties are temporary, while to those who contract the virus and cannot recover (and to their family members and friends), it is all too permanent.'

During Thursday's protest, Mike Detmer, a Republican US congressional candidate running for the state's 8th district spot held by Democrat Elissa Slotkin, told the crowd: 'Governor Whitmer, and our state legislature, it's over with. Open this state.

'Let's get businesses back open again. Let's make sure there are jobs to go back to.'

Other speakers at the rally questioned the deadliness of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

They also said Whitmer's stay-at-home order violated constitutional rights, and urged people to open their businesses on May 1 in disregard of her order.

Thursday's rally began around 9am under steady rainfall with some protesters chanting 'USA' and 'lock her up,' referring to Whitmer, but alluding to a refrain often chanted at 2016 Trump rallies directed at Hillary Clinton.

As the event began around 9am under steady rainfall, some protesters chanted 'USA' and 'lock her up,' referring to Whitmer (left), but alluding to a refrain often chanted at 2016 Trump rallies directed at Hillary Clinton

Hoisting American flags and handmade signs, protesters denounced Whitmer's stay-home order and business restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic while lawmakers met to consider extending her emergency declaration hours before it expires

Protesters hold Trump 2020 banners during the rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on Thursday

Armed protesters provide security as demonstrators take part in an 'American Patriot Rally,' organized on Thursday

One woman held a sign that called the coronavirus a 'hoax' despite the deaths of more than 62,000 people across the US, with at least 3,670 of those in Michigan

Another protester held a sign with a heart in front of Trump's name during the rally outside of Michigan's State Capitol

Demonstrators were clearly violating the recommended six-feet apart social distancing order as they protested on Thursday

A man is seen holding an American flag with a sign that reads: 'I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees'

A woman is seen holding a sign demanding the governor 'unlock us now' during Thursday's rally

State authorities have warned that protesters could be ticketed for violating social-distancing rules.

Judge: Stay-at-home order does NOT infringe on constitutional rights Michigan's stay-at-home order imposed during the coronavirus outbreak does not infringe on constitutional rights, according to a judge's ruling that threw out a lawsuit filed against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Court of Claims Judge Christopher M. Murray denied granting an injunction of the governor's March 24th order requested in the lawsuit filed by five state residents. Judge Murray, however, said the residents' claims that the order infringed on their constitutional rights were not strong enough due to the severity of the pandemic. Reversing the order 'would not serve the public interest, despite the temporary harm to plaintiffs' constitutional rights,' wrote the judge in the court ruling. Advertisement

The mayor of Lansing, Andy Schor, said in a statement on Wednesday that he was 'disappointed' protesters would put themselves and others at risk, but recognized that Whitmer's order still allowed people to 'exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of speech'.

Whitmer has acknowledged that her order was the strictest in the country.

Protesters, many from more rural, Trump-leaning parts of Michigan, have argued it has crippled the economy statewide even as the majority of deaths from the virus are centered on the southeastern Detroit metro area.

Organizers of a mid-April protest in Michigan took credit when Whitmer recently rolled back some of the most controversial elements of her order, such as bans on people traveling to their other properties.

Whitmer's stay-at-home order is set to continue through May 15, though she has said she could loosen restrictions as health experts determine new cases of COVID-19 are being successfully controlled.

On Wednesday, she said the construction industry could get back to work starting May 7.

The rally saw attendees bring their children who also held signs in protest of the stay-at-home order

Some people held American flags while others wrapped themselves with Trump 2020 banners

Some people used their trucks and boats (pictured) to display demands during the rally on Thursday

'Set us free from tyranny,' one protester's display read as demonstrators chanted during the rally

A woman wore a mask that reads: 'Whitmer lied and people died.' She was one of very few people wearing protective gear on Thursday

There was at least one counter-protester near the rally on Thursday who held a sign that reads: 'Go home! Covidiots!'

Thursday's protest appeared to be the largest in the state since April 15, when supporters and allies of President Donald Trump organized thousands of people for 'Operation Gridlock,' jamming the streets of Lansing with their cars to call out what they said was the overreach of Whitmer's strict stay-at-home order.

That was one of the country's first major anti-lockdown rallies, and helped sparked a wave of similar events nationwide.

The slow reopening of state economies around the country has taken on political overtones, as Republican politicians and individuals affiliated with Trump's re-election promoted protests in electoral battleground states, such as Michigan.

Many states, including Georgia, Oklahoma, Alaska, South Carolina and Ohio, have already moved to restart parts of their economies following weeks of mandatory lockdowns that have thrown nearly one in six American workers out of their jobs.

Public health authorities warn that increasing human interactions now without appropriate safety measures may spark a fresh surge of infections.

Regardless of the warning, people have taken to the streets to demonstrate against lockdown orders.

There are more than 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States with at least 62,547 deaths

Earlier this week, hundreds of lockdown rebels attended the 'Reopen North Carolina' rally despite the group's leader, Audrey Whitlock, testing positive for the coronavirus.

The group, which has been campaigning for government officials to reopen the state and relax coronavirus restrictions, were seen gathered outside the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh.

Many waved American flags while others held signs that read: 'Set our people free.'

Hardly any of the protesters were wearing masks or other protective gear as they clearly violated the social distancing order to remain six feet apart.

The demonstrators called on Gov Roy Cooper to ease the stay-at-home orders for the state where there are more than 9,900 confirmed cases and 354 deaths.

ReOpen NC is promising to hold rallies in Raleigh every Tuesday until the governors restrictions are lifted. His stay-at-home order has been extended until May 8.
Public health experts warn that quick, effective contact tracing is key to reducing the spread of the coronavirus. It turns out theres an app for that  several apps, actually.

Massachusetts isnt implementing mobile contact tracing because of privacy concerns, but the governor hasnt dismissed the idea altogether.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that the state has looked into electronic contact tracing programs, but he is concerned about what data could be collected from residents across the state.

He also said a contact tracing app could deter people from participating. Smartphone apps these days are typically associated with the undetected, often clandestine, collection of user data for surveillance and commercial purposes.

The state contact tracers ability to connect with coronavirus patients and other individuals is because theyve fostered trust, which Baker said is crucial to the programs success.

If you talk to some of the folks who are making these calls and talking to people on the other side, its not a clinical conversation per se. It is a trust conversation, Baker told MassLive Tuesday afternoon during a news conference at the Massachusetts State House. People ask questions. People are looking for information. Its a much more free-flowing and open dialogue than I think a lot of the people who are doing this were expecting.

The Baker administration has looked into using smartphone technology to bolster the states COVID-19 response.

Bakers office reportedly reviewed a paper by a coalition of scientists and tech executives recommending strategies recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. One of the key recommendations was mass, voluntary use of an app in which people would self-report any symptoms they may have before going to work or school after the state reopens.

Baker said Thursday that he spoke with Google and Apple about their contact tracing efforts. The technology giants are working on a joint initiative to expand contact tracing using Bluetooth signals.

Meanwhile, MIT researchers are developing their own app called Private Kit, but the team has not publicly disclosed which states and municipalities are on board.

What I said about this from the beginning is that I dont see this as an either-or. I think it needs to be done in a way that doesnt subtract from the importance of sort of the credibility of our tracing program, Baker said. I think its certainly something we should try to figure out how use it but to make it better.

The states contact tracing program has recruited 1,000 workers to make calls to people who tested positive for or were exposed to the coronavirus. The team has also gotten help from 80 local boards of health and the nonprofit coordinating the program, Partners in Health. Since its launch earlier this month, the program has reached 5,000 people.

With its current team, Massachusetts program has roughly 15 contact tracers per 100,000 people, compared to 4 contact tracers per 100,000 people in New Zealand and 7 per 100,000 in Iceland, according to an April 10 report by the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University. But those countries are smaller and also had lower numbers of coronavirus cases.

Technology might be necessary to speed up COVID-19 tracking because it spreads much more quickly and undetected than other viruses that have been monitored through contact tracing, such as Ebola or HIV, according to the report. Yet researchers cautioned against a program that implements technology without responsibly managing data and protecting users privacy.

To increase the chances that these efforts will be effective, trusted and legal, use of technology in the contact tracing space should be conceived of and planned with extensive safeguards to protect private information from the beginning, the report states.

South Korea, whose contact tracing plan is seen as a model, used patient data in addition to interviews. They reviewed medical records, cellular GPS records, credit card transactions and other information that would be considered too invasive in the U.S.

Sinagpore launched a mobile app that uses Bluetooth signals to determine when users are close to each other. The records are stored for 21 days and can be used by health officials to identify those who may have been exposed to a virus. Although downloading the app is voluntary, critics argue it promotes government surveillance.

A white paper published April 16 by the American Civil Liberties Union raises concerns about the personal information that could be collected, or even unintentionally exposed, by people who voluntarily download an app. If launched effectively, however, the ACLU argues an app that uses Bluetooth signals would work better than a location-tracking system. The technology would be more accurate, leading to fewer false positives, and could avoid compiling geolocation data that can be incredibly revealing and privacy-invasive.

Austria, Denmark and Germany are all looking into contact tracing apps that monitor Bluetooth signals, though the apps would be used on a voluntary basis.

Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty program at the ACLU of Massachusetts, said its too early for the state to successfully implement a contact tracing app. Even if it found one that respects user privacy, as Baker suggested, the state would need to improve its testing capacity before expanding the contact tracing program using a mobile app.

Even if someone gets a text saying theyve been exposed, they cant even get a test, Crockford said. Public health officials told us state is doing the right thing by and large.

Crockford said the states best strategy at the moment is to continue the measures the Baker administration already put in place: social distancing rules, the stay-at-home advisory and interview-based contact tracing.

If the state did pursue a contact tracing app, privacy advocates and public health experts recommend taking steps to limit data collection and safe, brief data storage.

The ACLU recommends rolling out a smartphone app that is voluntary, temporary and secure, as well as an app that limits how much data it collects.

A voluntary app means no penalties for failing to download the app, the ACLU argues. That includes not making a residents ability to go to work or shop for food contingent on whether the app is installed and running.

An ideal contact tracing app would not only avoid collecting data that isnt necessary for the COVID-19 response, but also would have firewalls in place to protect the data that is compiled and shared to state health officials, according to the ACLU. Some suggestions include keeping data encrypted, separating key data from identifying markers such as phone numbers and IP addresses, submit key data in large batches and destroy the data periodically.

Massachusetts has hit what Baker describes as a plateau in coronavirus cases. The number of hospitalizations are down, but the state hasnt seen a steep decline in new cases. The latter is key for the state to reopen and start to move past the outbreak.

On Thursday, Massachusetts health officials announced 157 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 3,562. Altogether, 62,205 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the state Department of Massachusetts.

Baker hasnt ruled out using smartphone technology for contact tracing, but he said its implementation would need to be done in a way that makes people comfortable.

There are some confidentiality and privacy issues associated with this, he said, but thats an ongoing discussion were having with the folks that are involved.

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U.S. Auto Sales details its variety of benefits offered to customers. Pictured is the 2020 Nissan Altima.

Shoppers in the southeast U.S. will be excited to hear that U.S. Auto Sales is offering a variety of benefits to drivers that purchase a used vehicle. Benefits that customers can enjoy include a limited warranty, rental reimbursement, vehicle inspection, vehicle history report and the U.S. Auto Sales Trade Up Program.

Prior to being sold, every used vehicle available at U.S. Auto Sales will be carefully inspected by an expert mechanic. Any major issues found will be repaired or replaced prior to being put up for sale. If a customer is interested in a vehicle, U.S. Auto Sales will provide the Carfax vehicle history report for the customer to review before purchasing. At no additional cost, every vehicle sold by U.S. Auto Sales will include a 30-day/1,000-mile limited warranty. If the vehicle needs to be repaired during the warranty period and needs to be kept by the mechanic overnight, U.S. Auto Sales will offer up to $35 a day for rental reimbursement up to five days. Any driver unhappy with their current vehicle can participate in the Trade Up Program. With this program, customers can trade in their vehicle and use the credit for a different one. Little or no cash as a down payment will be required with this program.

U.S. Auto Sales is located at 2875 University Parkway in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The dealership also has locations throughout Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Customers that are interested to contact the dealership in Lawrenceville can call the sales team at 770-280-2976. Those interested to visit U.S. Auto Sales at one of its other locations are encouraged to browse all locations on its website at http://www.usautosales.info.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The number of foreign citizens who visited Uzbekistan for tourism in the period from January through March 2020 decreased by 12 percent compared to the same period of 2019, Trend reports citing the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan.

The number of tourists who visited Uzbekistan in the period from January through March 2020 amounted to just over 1.2 million people, the report said.

The most tourists came from the CIS countries - 1.1 million people (95.6 percent of the total), and only 53,600 people (4.4 percent) came from non-CIS countries.

The largest flow of foreign citizens to Uzbekistan was observed from the following countries: Kazakhstan - 397,600 people (32.8 percent of the total number of all arrivals), Tajikistan - 332,700 people (27.4 percent), Kyrgyzstan - 298,100 people (24.6 percent), Russia - 64,700 people (5.3 percent), Turkmenistan - 60,600 people (five percent), Azerbaijan - 2,000 people (0.2 percent) and Belarus - 1,200 people (0.1 percent).

Significant tourist flows from non-CIS countries were observed from Turkey - 13,500 (1.1 percent), South Korea - 5,200 (0.4 percent), China - 3,700 (0.3 percent), India - 3,600 (0.3 percent), Japan - 1,300 (0.1 percent) and France - 900 (less than 0.1 percent).

The inflow of tourists from abroad to Uzbekistan significantly declines due to the spread of coronavirus in the world, the report said.

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Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
Royal fans were left gobsmacked when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced at the beginning of January that they would be stepping away from their roles as senior royals, effective from March 31.

The couple had just returned from a Christmas spent in California with Meghans mum, Doria, and had come off the back of a highly successful royal tour of South Africa with their adorable son, Archie.

Prince Harry is said to be upset at how his life has been turned upside down. Photo: Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now living in LA after stepping down from their roles as senior royals in the monarchy. Photo: Getty Images

But just a few short weeks later, the decision was made and Prince Harry was forced to relinquish his roles as Captain General Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant, RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.

When it was revealed that the couple were in fact moving overseas to LA, many thought the Sussexes had made a hasty choice in abandoning the monarchy.

The former wild child of the royal family left the UK in the blink of an eye and now, according to friends, hes missing parts of his former life.

Prince Harry and Prince William sit together on the steps of Highgrove House wearing army uniforms on July 18, 1986. Photo: Getty Images

According to The Telegraph, the 35-year-old is longing for the camaraderie of his days in the Army and thinks it may have helped him cope with all the changes that are occurring in his life.

He has been telling friends he still can't believe this has happened. He can't believe his life has been turned upside down, his friend said.

He was in a happy place when he was serving in the Army, then he met Meghan and since then life has been great. But I don't think he foresaw things turning out quite as they did.

Harrys friend went on to say that Harry doesnt blame Meghan for wanting to move back to her hometown of LA, but he feels that he might have been better protected if he was still in the Army.

Despite having an impressive military career spanning over ten years, Harry was forced to relinquish his titles when he stepped down from his role as a senior royal in March.

"As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties, a statement from Buckingham Palace read.

Story continues

Prince Harry was forced to relinquish his military titles. Photo: Getty Images

Its thought Prince Harry was deeply hurt that he had to give up his three military titles.

Just hours after it was announced he appeared at a private reception for the charity Sentebale, where he was a patron, and gave a heart-wrenching speech about his decision to abandon his duties.

The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back, is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges.

And I know I havent always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.

What I want to make clear is were not walking away, and we certainly arent walking away from you.

Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding.

Unfortunately, that wasnt possible. Ive accepted this, knowing that it doesnt change who I am or how committed I am.

But I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.
19362020

Horace Delanoe Lawson, known to most as Dee or H.D., passed away at Kenosha Memorial Hospital on Sunday, April 26, 2020, at the age of 83, due to complications related to COVID-19. Dee was born the youngest of ten children to Mike Lawson and Mossie (Heatherly) Lawson, on September 6, 1936 in Caryville, TN.

In his late teens, Dee moved north and settled in Kenosha, WI, where hed meet the love of his life. He joined the United States Army in 1958 and married Lois Jean Floyd on December 26th that same year. He was later stationed at Fort Lewis, WA with the Strategic Army Corp (STRAC), during the Berlin Crises.

After 34 years of employment, Dee retired from Chrysler/American Motors in 1994.

Dee and Lois were married for 61 years and raised three beautiful children together: Brenda, David, and Michael.

Dee had a passion for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He frequented up north and when there was extra time, he liked to be in Tennessee. Dee also loved spending time with friends and family  especially his great-grandchildren. He was loved by so many and made friends wherever he went. He was known for his stories from the past, his quick wit, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit.

Dee is proceeded in death by his mother, his father, and eight siblings.

Dee leaves behind his beloved sister, wife, three children, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and so many loving friends and family members.

A gathering honoring Dees life will be held at a later date.

Donations in Dees memory can be made to Kenosha Bible Church, where him and Lois have been members for many years.
The oil industry continues to pump out vast quantities of crude despite free-falling global demand that crushed prices, as companies come up against severe technical and financial obstacles.

Despite a lack of storage for the excess crude, "producers remain reluctant to cut production in the short term as there are costs and consequences of shutting in wells", Chris Midgley, head of analytics at S&P Global Platts, told AFP.

In Russia for example, "any shut-ins means the wells freeze solid, necessitating completely new drilling", according to independent analyst Peter Zeihan.

"Last time this happened it took the Russians nearly 15 years to get production back."

Rystad Energy analyst Louise Dickson told AFP that "the main obstacles to Russia lowering its production are technical.

"Turning off production at a well in Russia is much more technically complex and expensive than in Saudi Arabia," she noted.

A vicious price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has been the main reason, alongside the coronavirus crushing global energy demand, for the collapse in prices.

Across the Gulf region, shutting down and re-operating conventional oil wells can cause huge problems.

With them holding organic deposits that need pressure to extract, shutting down the wells risks massive damage to reservoirs that could be too costly to repair.

Such action could lead also to a permanent loss of vast amounts of oil, according to experts.

Meanwhile in Canada's heated oil-sand mines, "large parts of the resource base can be lost when it is shut in and cools down", noted Raphaela Hein, analyst at JBC Energy.

She added that a company cutting production risks losing out to rivals.

"Often it is a 'who blinks first' game. Also, regulatory factors can play a role, mainly in the US, where operators risk to lose their lease when they stop producing from it, leading to states like Oklahoma currently waiving this regulation."

Even in the absence of oil prices bouncing back strongly since hitting negative territory last week, energy companies were not going to make knee-jerk reactions to levels of operation.

"Oil production is in general extremely capital intensive," said SEB analyst Bjarne Schieldrop.

"Letting oil flow out of the well and out to market... carries very little cost," he pointed out.

According to TD Securities analyst Bart Melek, "nobody wants to shut down" as companies take massive financial hits.

"They're cutting dividends, they're cutting buybacks (of shares) and capital expenditure has collapsed.

British energy giant BP on Tuesday said it slumped into a $4.4-billion net loss in the first quarter, but noted that production was falling only slightly.

In a boost for the industry, benchmark oil contracts "WTI and Brent crude have been jolted higher by two energy inventory reports", noted David Madden, analyst at CMC Markets UK.

Data Wednesday showed "US oil stockpiles grew by 8.99 million barrels (last week), but the consensus estimate was for an increase of more than 11 million barrels".

On Tuesday, the private "API inventory report also showed that US oil stockpiles expanded by less than expected", he added.

In reaction, WTI prices soared by more than one-third on Wednesday to almost $17 per barrel, though still massively down on the start of the year when crude futures traded around $70.
Mr. Richard Amponsah the District Chief Executive for Achiase and Dean of Eastern Regional DCEs has told the public to adhere to the directives and strategies outlined to combat coronavirus by the President of the Republic.

He said the coronavirus has caused destructions to many countries including Ghana and that since the outbreak of the pandemic, the government under the leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo has put a number of measures in place to curtail it.

He said various Assemblies have adopted several approaches to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the Akyemansa Block which is made up of Akyemansa district, Asene Manso Akroso District, Achiase District, Birim South District and Birim Central Municipal have coordinated its programmes for effective combating coronavirus.

Mr. Amponsah said this at Akyem Oda during a joint press conference by the Akyemansa Block in a coordinated programme to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Amponsah indicated that, the Block will mount three barriers at each of the district to check the temperatures of passengers entering the districts to augment the Central Governments efforts of combating the coronavirus.

He added that the barriers will help the security agencies to check drivers for overloading and overspeeding.

He said in the Achiase District barriers will be place on a spot at the Akenkasu road, Achiase Agric road and Anamaase road whilst the Birim South District barriers will be mounted at Ningo road, Aduasa road, and Apoli junction.

At Birim Central Municipality barriers will be placed at Oda crossing, Akim State University College Junction and Oda Nkwanta whilst the Asene Manso Akroso District barriers be mounted at Teacher Atta, Eshiem, Aboabo. At Akyemansa District Mr. Amponsah said barriers will be placed at Chia, Akyem Adubiase and Abenase.

He further indicated that the Akyemansa Block has started public education to explain to the residents to adhere to the physical distancing, hygiene etiquettes, wearing of face mask and among others. He stressed that the Akyemansa Block has also started distribution of face masks to the vulnerable persons who cannot afford to buy and said that the Assemblies which formed the Akyemansa Block have contracted Seamstress Associations to sew standardized face masks to make the Block distributes them to the many residents.

Mr. Amponsah cautioned parents who allow their children under eighteen years of age to sell face masks on the streets and markets to put an end to it and hinted that any child who will be caught in such an act will be allowed to face prosecution.

Journalists who took turn at the programme asked questions and were answered by the District Chief Executives.

The press conference which was held at Birim Central Municipal Assembly Hall was attended by dignitaries such as Mr. Paul Asamoah, the District Chief Executive for Akyemansa, Mr. Alex Incoom, the District Chief Executive for Asene Manso Akroso, Mr. Asare Danso, the District Chief Executive for Birim South, Mr. Richard Amponsah, the District Chief Executive for Achiase and Mrs. Victoria Adu, the Municipal Chief Executive for Birim Central.
LONDON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Meticulously researched and written by Farabi Shayor, Exponential Progress takes readers on a journey through over seven decades of progress, as technology has shaped and controlled everything from banking and business to education, medicine, and the very basis of the human genome. IntelXSys, a UK-based business and deep tech R&D startup, is the official distributor for Exponential Progress. Through over 400 citations, Shayor cuts to the principle of what humanity has accomplished since the invention of the computer, where the new jaw-dropping technological innovation will come from, and where the line is drawn between fact and fad.

IntelXSys Research

In contrast with the past thousand years, the advancement of technologies over the past few decades is unfathomable. From a business standpoint, these ideas are anticipated to become the "investments for the decade." On the contrary, some are leading humanity to the world of the unknown. Exponential Progress attempts to look back at history, comprehend the need for advancement and, in parallel, the potential, reflecting the necessity of control, the balance of ethical values and our rights.

This book intends to bridge the gap between scientifically-grounded information and the knowledge on the Internet. "From the scientist's perspective, these technologies are not definite answers, but a constantly evolving passion and competition to find the next breakthrough and continually improve our stunning inventions," explains the author. "Public science communication is paramount in the world of social media. The book will definitely leave readers with plenty to think about the true future of humanity."

In 2020, technology has seeped into every facet of humanity. Just ask researcher Farabi Shayor, currently collaborating with senior academics at Imperial to explore the potential of AI and blockchain to help prevent any cataclysmic pandemics  in contrast to the current outbreak. In his new book, Exponential Progress, Shayor discusses his research work from previous years, digs to the base of where technology has been most influential, why it's had such an impact  and what the future might look like at its helm.

Shayor has been leading student research teams as a part of the Clinical Research and Innovation (CRI) module at the Imperial College School of Medicine for over four years. Under his supervision, up to 15 medicine students work towards uncovering various aspects of breakthrough technologies every year. His focus of research is applied computational intelligence in various industries.

Exponential Progress is due for release in May and will be available to purchase on Amazon in the U.S., U.K., UAE, India, China, Singapore, Australia and the European Union.

For more information, watch the book's official trailer here or visit the website.

About Author:

Farabi Shayor BSc MSc MIScT is an experienced and qualified researcher in the field of emerging technologies. He has also spoken at a number of international conferences and worked with over 100 companies as a technology consultant.

Queries:

Farabi Shayor

[email protected]

+443301332077

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Exponential Progress

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SOURCE IntelXSys Research

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I didnt want to post about it but I was talking to a friend of mine and he said, Lori, you really need to talk about it for the younger generation. (The decision to post) started with me seeing that party online.
Government explains whether Ukrainians to be able to spend summer vacations abroad

09:00, 30.04.20 21167

EU countries are unlikely to reopen their borders until mid-summer, official notes.
BERWYN, Pa., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE American: ANVS), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing Alzheimers disease (AD), Parkinsons disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that the protocol for its Phase 2 clinical study in PD and AD patients was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Company has received no comments from the FDA and is therefore able to proceed with the launch of the clinical trial.



The protocol is a two-part study designed to treat a combined total of 68 Alzheimers and Parkinsons patients for one month with Annovis compound, ANVS401. The study compares in both patient populations how nerve cells die by measuring all the steps in the toxic cascade leading to nerve cell death and how Annovis drug candidate, ANVS401, might reverse the toxic cascade and recover normal brain function. As regards AD, there has been a string of clinical trial failures whose drugs were based on the belief that sticky brain plaques causes AD. With 500 failed drugs based on that hypothesis, Annovis has developed a new approach to treat AD as well as PD by attacking multiple neurotoxic proteins simultaneously. In two animal models, ANVS401 reduced neurotoxic proteins, improved axonal transport, lowered inflammation and restored healthy nerve cells in both AD and PD. Based on publicly available data, no other drug has been shown in animal studies to impede the whole toxic cascade and show preclinical efficacy in both AD and PD.

We decided to add an Alzheimers arm to our Parkinsons study because we want to treat patients the exact same way, monitor them the exact same way, and measure the exact same biomarkers, transport proteins, inflammatory markers, synaptic and degenerative markers. Although this is a short study, for safety purposes we will also measure cognition and function, commented Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D., CEO of Annovis Bio. This study will allow us to compare neurodegeneration in two different diseases and show that ANVS 401 works in both neurodegenerative diseases the same way.

The clinical trial is expected to take place at 10 sites across the US. The Company expects to begin recruitment and enrollment in May, with treatment starting in June. The Company believes the study will be completed before the end of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the studys commencement may be delayed until later this summer and completion may be delayed until the first quarter of 2021.

PD affects an estimated one million people in the U.S. and as many as 10 million globally. An estimated 5.8 million people in the U.S. have AD and there are approximately 44 million people worldwide living with the disease. AD and PD significantly impact quality of life for patients and their families.

About Annovis Bio

Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio, Inc. (Annovis) is a clinical-stage, drug platform company addressing neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimers disease (AD), Parkinsons disease (PD) and Alzheimers in Down Syndrome (AD-DS). We believe that we are the only company developing a drug for AD, PD and AD-DS that inhibits more than one neurotoxic protein and, thereby, improves the information highway of the nerve cell, known as axonal transport. When this information flow is impaired, the nerve cell gets sick and dies. We expect our treatment to improve memory loss and dementia associated with AD and AD-DS, as well as body and brain function in PD. We have an ongoing Phase 2a study in AD patients and plan to commence a second Phase 2a study in PD patients. For more information on Annovis, please visit the companys website: www.annovisbio.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, expect, believe, will, may, should, estimate, project, outlook, forecast or other similar words, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the timing, effectiveness and anticipated results of ANVS401 clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are based on Annovis Bio, Inc.s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled Risk Factors in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Annovis Bio, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations:

Dave Gentry, CEO

RedChip Companies Inc.

407-491-4498

Dave@redchip.com

SOURCE: Annovis Bio Inc.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

IT major Tech Mahindra is expected to announce a subdued set of Q4FY20 numbers owing to disruption caused by COVID-19, shutdown in China and India, and cancellation of a few network projects.

The company will release its March quarter results on April 30.

A few points to watch out for in the results are - strategy to improve the work from home coverage for BPO work, measures taken to ensure that profitability is higher than FY20 levels, impact on 5G rollouts from the recent chain of events, demand outlook from the impacted auto vertical and large deal pipeline, and drivers of revenue in FY21E, according to brokerages.

Kotak Institutional Equities expects a 21.9 percent year-on-year (YoY) fall and 22.8 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) fall in Tech Mahindra's adjusted net profit at Rs 884 crore for Q4FY20.

The estimates of the brokerage show the EBIT of the company for the quarter may see a 15 percent YoY decline while EBIT margin may fall by 348 bps YoY.

Revenues may rise 9.8 percent YoY to Rs 9,763.8 crore while revenue in constant currency (CC) terms may fall 30 bps YoY, Kotak said.

"We expect a steep net profit decline sequentially due to forex loss against forex gains of Rs 143 crore in December 2019 quarter and decline in EBIT margins," Kotak said.

Motilal Oswal Financial Services expects a 7.7 percent YoY increase in Tech Mahindra's revenues at Rs 9,578.8 crore for Q4FY20. EBIT margin is expected at 11.8 percent while EBITDA margin is expected at 15.9 percent, said Motilal.

As per Motilal, margin commentary, outlook on telecom vertical and progress on deal ramp-ups are key things to watch out for when Tech Mahindra declares its Q4 results.

Brokerage Sharekhan expects a 20.8 percent YoY and 21.8 percent QoQ fall in Tech Mahindra's net profit to Rs 897 crore.

Sharekhan expects revenue to decline by 0.2 percent QoQ on CC basis despite additional revenue contribution from BORN acquisition and ramp-up of Prudential deal.

"The decline in revenue during the quarter is expected due to lower billings in BPO (10 percent of its total revenue), a drop in AT&T revenue, decline in Pininfarina revenue, China shut-down, and cancellation of few network projects. Further, the cross-currency headwind is expected around 110 BPS on its dollar revenue," Sharekhan said.

As per Sharekhan's estimates, EBIT margin is expected to decline by about 21BPS QoQ, owing to transition costs of large deals, lower billing and decline in utilisation.

On the other hand, ICICI Direct expects Tech Mahindra's dollar revenues to grow 1 percent QoQ to $1,367 million mainly driven by partial contribution by the acquisition of Born group, AT&T deal and Jackson National Life Insurance deal.

Rupee revenues may grow 2.6 percent QoQ to Rs 9,903 crore. EBITDA margins could decline 50 bps QoQ to 15.7 percent on account of the continuity of large deal transition cost in the quarter partially offset by rupee depreciation, ICICI Direct said.

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
(CNN)  A New York City emergency room doctor who recovered from COVID-19 and continued to treat coronavirus patients has died by suicide, her father confirmed to CNN.

Dr. Lorna Breen, 49, died a hero, said her father, Philip Breen.

"She was in the trenches," he said. "She was a hero."

Lorna Breen died Sunday morning by suicide in Charlottesville, Virginia, her father said.

Breen worked in the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian hospital system.

'Killed by the enemy on the front line,' father says

"She went down in the trenches and was killed by the enemy on the front line," Philip Breen said. "She loved New York and wouldn't hear about living anywhere else. She loved her coworkers and did what she could for them."

"I just want people to know how special she was," he added.

Philip Breen is a retired trauma surgeon, and he and his daughter would speak frequently about work, he said.

Lorna Breen told her father that her colleagues were putting in 18-hour days and sleeping in hallways, and that ambulances couldn't get in because it was so busy.

She worked in the emergency department and had been on the front lines for weeks, handling the onslaught of cases, her father said. New York City has been the US' pandemic epicenter, recording nearly 300,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths as of Tuesday morning.

Breen contracted Covid-19 and took a week and a half off to recover, but when she went back to work, she couldn't last through a 12-hour shift, her father said. Still, she felt like she had to get back in there to help her colleagues.

Then, a doctor friend visited Breen at home and told her she should go home to Virginia, where most of her family is based, Philip Breen said. Some friends and relatives helped get her to Charlottesville.

She was hospitalized and treated for exhaustion

Lorna Breen soon was admitted to the hospital at the University of Virginia for exhaustion, her father said, adding that her mother is a doctor in the ward where she was treated.

After about a week, Lorna Breen left the hospital to stay with her mom, her father said. Then, last weekend, she went to stay with her sister, and that is where she died.

Officers responded Sunday to a call for medical assistance and identified the victim as Breen, the Charlottesville Police Department said in a news release. She was taken to University of Virginia Hospital for treatment and "later succumbed to self-inflicted injuries," police said.

"Frontline healthcare professionals and first responders are not immune to the mental or physical effects of the current pandemic," said Charlottesville Police Chief RaShall Brackney. "On a daily basis, these professionals operate under the most stressful of circumstances, and the Coronavirus has introduced additional stressors."

"Words cannot convey the sense of loss we feel today," the New York City hospitals where Breen worked said in a statement.

"Dr. Breen is a hero who brought the highest ideals of medicine to the challenging front lines of the emergency department," they said. "Our focus today is to provide support to her family, friends, and colleagues as they cope with this news during what is already an extraordinarily difficult time."

For those in need of immediate assistance, you may call the HOPELINE (02) 804-4673 and 0917-558-4673. GLOBE and TM subscribers may call 2919 toll-free.
NEW YORK, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fireblocks ( www.fireblocks.com ) announced today its platform has been used to secure $30 billion in digital asset transfers to date, surpassing more than $7 billion in monthly transfer volume from its 40+ institutional customers. To drive the next wave of technological innovation in one of the most mature digital asset markets in the world, Fireblocks is bringing its MPC-based technology to the Asia-Pacific region with the opening of two new offices in Singapore and Hong Kong.

The company's APAC offices will be led by Stephen Richardson, VP of Product Strategy and Amy Zhang, VP of Sales Asia, to provide strategic support to existing customers and onboard new institutions and exchanges onto its patent-pending Secure Transfer Environment.

"With the region's unique eco-system of trading, payment and exchange activities, there has been a surge in demand for Fireblocks in Asia," explains Michael Shaulov, CEO and Co-founder of Fireblocks. "In Hong Kong, Amber Group was one of the first adopters of Fireblocks' MPC-based technology. Because they are one of Asia's leading liquidity providers, they need maximum security and strict controls to protect customer funds. The only way to deliver that at scale is through our infrastructure."

In the region, Amber Group, Blitz Group, Singapore-based crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, and more have implemented MPC with Fireblocks to securely expand digital asset services.

"Fireblocks provides a secure and highly advanced solution for our customers by allowing us to securely transfer top assets while also being able to interact with new protocols, which is important for strategic portfolio construction," said Michael Wu, CEO of Amber Group. "Many operators in Asia are transferring large value settlements and require an advanced MPC framework to keep up with new security demands that HSMs and Multisig solutions fail to address."

Fireblocks' defense-in-depth approach to digital asset security combines MPC (Multi-Party Computation) with hardware isolation to protect customers' private keys, API keys, and deposit addresses from cyberattacks and internal fraud. By leveraging Fireblocks' Secure Transfer Environment, institutions can securely transfer digital assets between 25+ exchanges, custodians, counterparties, and other wallets while automating governance policies with quorum based approvals.

"Given the engagement of regulators here in Asia around blockchain-related technologies and financial institutions, it will be critical for institutions and exchanges to operate with the highest level of speed, security, and compliance," said Stephen Richardson, VP of Product Strategy at Fireblocks. "By bringing Fireblocks to one of the most advanced crypto ecosystems, we hope to provide the infrastructure needed for sustainable growth."

Designed to eliminate the root cause of digital asset security vulnerabilities, Fireblocks ensures that funds are protected from unwanted external or internal interference by creating a safer, more operationally efficient environment for the digital asset industry. Fireblocks continues to provide support for the largest financial operators in the industry such as B2C2, Celsius, Genesis Global Trading, Galaxy Digital, Woorton, Dunamis, GSR, Blockfills, LGO, Nexo and more.

About Fireblocks

Fireblocks is an enterprise-grade platform delivering a secure infrastructure for moving, storing and issuing digital assets. Fireblocks enables exchanges, custodians, banks, trading desks, and hedge funds to securely scale digital asset operations through patent-pending SGX & MPC technology. They have secured the transfer of over $30 billion in digital assets and have a unique insurance policy that covers assets in storage & in transit. For more information, please visit www.fireblocks.com .

SOURCE Fireblocks

Related Links

https://www.fireblocks.com


Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Quality of life is an ancient concept dating back to at least Aristotle, although the philosopher equated a good life or doing tasks well with happiness, rather than what we refer to today as quality of life. There is much talk of mental health and wellbeing today and the purported problems of neuroticism and addictive behavior. Nowhere does this seem to be more sharply in relief than when we talk of internet addiction and how this might be modulated by the neurotic type personality and be detrimental to quality of life.

Writing in the International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research, a team from Iran discusses exactly how so-called internet addiction can have an effect on people of a neurotic disposition and their quality of life. Fundamentally, their study shows that neuroticism as a personality trait can lead to avoidance of everyday life as a coping mechanism and this is commonly manifest in dependency and addiction to the internet and perhaps more obviously online social media.

"Our results indicate that those [students] who score high in neuroticism are more prone to move towards addictive behavior such as internet addiction," the team writes. This corroborates earlier independent work and also reinforces the idea that neuroticism is usually accompanied by an avoidance of face to face communication with other people. The internet and online social media lend themselves heavily to this behavior. The team adds that overuse of the technology required to engage with the internetcomputers and mobile phones, for instanceoften do not lend themselves to appropriate posture nor physical activity and in many cases lead to avoidable repetitive strain injury, all of which can have a negative impact on quality of life.

Explore further Is there such thing as an addictive personality?

More information: Khayyer, Z., Najinia, M.A. and Harandi, R.J. (2019) 'Neuroticism and quality of life: the mediating role of internet addiction', Int. J. Behavioural and Healthcare Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp.3748.
Irrfan Khan, the man, the legend, gone way too freaking soon.

He was one of the best actors of our generation and on top of that, he was one of the best human beings who had nothing but a positive impact on the world. When the world loses someone like that, it actually feels like a personal loss for everyone.

His impact was undeniable and even now, he's being remembered not just in India, but the world over. We are all mourning his untimely death and tributes for him have been pouring in from not just Bollywood, but even Hollywood can feel the enormous loss.

 Twitter

Hollywood is remembering him, actors looking back at their memories with him fondly and it's heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. An old quote by Tom Hanks about Irrfan Khan has been circulating since yesterday and it is completely spot on. He said, "Here's what I hate about Irrfan Khan... I always think I'm the coolest guy in the room, and everybody's hanging on to every word I say and everybody's a little intimidated to be in my presence. And then Irrfan Khan walks into the room. And he's the coolest guy in the room. And everybody's intimidated to be in his presence and everybody's hanging on to his every word."



It's unforgettable.

I love this @tomhanks quote about #IrrfanKhan. I read it in an interview and never forgot it. Its TOM HANKS. pic.twitter.com/NBSX4UFLA7  Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) April 29, 2020

In a message, Angelina Jolie paid tribute to him. She said, "I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of A Mighty Heart. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him. I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world."

Even Chris Pratt had a message for his Jurrasic World co-star.

So sad to hear about the passing of screen legend @irrfank Irrfan Khan played Masrani in Jurassic World. He was an exquisite actor and human. He will be missed.  chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) April 29, 2020

Natalie Portman shared a picture with him.

 Instagram/Natalie Portman

The directed of The Amazing Spider-Man, Marc Webb, said in a statement, "Irrfan made it clear that power and gentleness could co-exist in a perfect balance. When he sings that song to his new wife at the bathroom door in The Namesake, it speaks of his father in Life of Pi you are witnessing the magic of a magnificent talent. He may have been the most nuanced actor I have ever worked with and I will always be his dedicated fan. My thoughts and whole heart are with his loved ones."



Freida Pinto penned down a heartfelt note.

Calling him one of the greatest actors of our time, Riz Ahmed shared his condolences.

Rest in peace one of the greatest actors of our time, Irrfan Khan. I never met him but he was an inspiration and a hero to me and millions of others. His work was consistently transcendent, he was a guiding light for so many of us. pic.twitter.com/BwobeLvNLn  Riz Ahmed (@rizwanahmed) April 29, 2020

Director Colin Trevorrow, who worked with him in Jurrasic World, shared a beautiful message.

Deeply sad to have lost #IrrfanKhan. A thoughtful man who found beauty in the world around him, even in pain. In our last correspondence, he asked me to remember the wonderful aspects of our existence in the darkest of days. Here he is, laughing. pic.twitter.com/8eAsSOO9Ie  Colin Trevorrow (@colintrevorrow) April 29, 2020

Director Ava DuVernay said the truest words - "He lives on in his films."

A grateful fan of #IrrfanKhan here. Gone too soon. When he is on screen, you cant take your eyes off of him. He lives on in his films. pic.twitter.com/aA9RAjsxSl  Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 29, 2020

Actor Gabriel Macht remembered him fondly.

I met Irrfan Khan when he worked with @JacindaBarrett on The Namesake. One of the most pleasant, down to earth, and gentle beings in the few times I had with him. What a beautiful actor as well. Blessings to he and his family. #RIPIrrfanKhan https://t.co/R2CYNP6Sks  Gabriel Macht (@GabrielMacht) April 29, 2020

Actress Leslie-Ann Brandt paid tribute to the "beautiful artist".

#IrrfanKhan such a beautiful artist. His eyes, I always got lost in them. On screen they told so many stories. Rest In Peace.  Lesley-Ann Brandt (@LesleyAnnBrandt) April 29, 2020

Even The Academy paid tribute to the extraordinary man.

A mainstay of Bollywood cinema and incredible talent in films like Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi and The Namesake, Irrfan Khan left his imprint on global cinema. An inspiration to millions, he will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/o21DMMC2o5  The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 29, 2020

British Film Institute and the Toronto International Film Festival remembered him.

Today, we remember the charismatic and incomparable Irrfan Khan, who passed away this morning at the age of 53.  pic.twitter.com/GMesF503Pq  TIFF (@TIFF_NET) April 29, 2020
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With the merger of the state-owned banks (public state banks or PSBs) being complete, their shareholding in insurance companies will also see changes over the next 12 months.

Sources told Moneycontrol that though the banks will continue to hold stakes in the insurance companies, the share could reduce to below 10 percent so that they dont violate norms.

Under existing rules, one bank cannot be a promoter in multiple insurance companies of the same segment. However, they can sell products of three insurers each in the segments of life, non-life and standalone health insurers, as distribution partners.

The government hasn't yet set a deadline for the same.

In August 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the merger of 10 public sector banks (PSBs) -- Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) and United Bank of India; Union Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank; Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank; Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank; under four separate entities.

Among these, OBC, PNB, Canara Bank, Union Bank and Andhra Bank are promoters in life insurance companies. OBC and Canara Bank are promoters in Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance, PNB is a promoter of PNB MetLife Insurance, Union Bank is a promoter in Star Union Dai-ichi Life while Andhra Bank is a promoter in IndiaFirst Life Insurance.

Union Bank has said that it will reduce the stake of Andhra Bank, which has now been merged with itself, in IndiaFirst Life Insurance to below 10 percent. While Andhra Bank was earlier planning to sell its 30 percent stake in the insurer, no deal was finalised.

A similar decision to reduce stake in Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance by PNB (which now owns OBCs 23 percent stake) will be taken. PNB already holds 30 percent stake in PNB MetLife. It is likely that this transaction will be completed in FY21.

Moneycontrol had reported in November 2019 that PSU banks are likely to let go of the promoter tag by reducing stake.

We will take time to cut down the stake since the market is not very opportune for deals right now. Uncertainty over the business will continue in H1 and hence banks will take 12 months to complete the stake sale, said a senior public sector banker.

While no specific guidelines for reducing stakes in the insurance ventures has been given by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the PSBs are mandated to cut down their stake as per law.

For the merged PSBs selling insurance, IRDAI has allowed the new parent banks to continue the existing bancassurance (banks selling insurance) agreements for the next 12 months.

IRDAI has said that even if the number of bancassurance tie-ups exceed three each in life, non-life and standalone health category, banks can continue with the partnerships for one more year.
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External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday kicked off a detailed interaction with Indian envoys abroad to compare notes on the battle against Covid-19, its impact on India and the road ahead. This is Jaishankars second round of discussions with top Indian diplomats overseas.

A recurring theme in Jaishankars last interaction on March 20 was to urge the envoys to tell Indians stranded abroad to stay put where they were and not to panic; he also asked them to look around to secure medical equipment supplies that India would need.

The governments evacuation plan to bring the stranded Indians home over the next few weeks could figure in Thursdays interaction with the Indian envoys. Jaishankar has started with envoys from the Asia-Pacific region -- Jaoan, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Paua New Guinea. South-East Asian countries will be next and then, South Asia. Jaishankar isnt the only one talking. Top external affairs ministry officials are holding a parallel global outreach campaign, interacting with foreign envoys posted in New Delhi. The foreign envoys are being told how India is fighting the Sars-CoV-2 pathogen that causes Covid-19.

Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage

Indian diplomats are also taking notes on how other countries have dealt with the virus that has, in just about four months, killed 225,000 people, infected over 3 million, driven countries to go into lockdown mode and threatened to push the global economy into a recession. Diplomacy couldnt afford to go in lockdown mode. Instead, it went virtual, shifted gears and moved into an overdrive, a foreign ministry official told Hindustan Times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the template early in the crisis and has been working the phones to scale up Indias diplomatic engagement with the world. That he had also held a video conference with the heads of Indian missions on 30 March was one step in this direction.

In the next 30 days, PM Modi spoke to leaders of 30 countries. Ditto for Jaishankar ,who has kept pace with the prime ministers and reached out to his counterparts even in countries that may have been assumed to be off New Delhis radar. Grenada, a tiny Caribbean island - one of the smallest countries in the western hemisphere - has a population of just over 100,000. Comoros, a volcanic archipelago off Africas east coast, has a population of 800,000.

Many of these calls were to offer support and help.

Jaishankar told the G-20 foreign ministers conference this week that New Delhi is providing pharma assistance to nearly 85 countries on a grant basis, many of them in Africa, to support their response to the pandemic. There has been at least one occasions on which Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts in Russia, Brazil, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Oman in a matter of 24 hours. This was on April 23.

Jaishankar calls it virtual diplomacy.Strong friendships thrive even virtually, he tweeted after wrapping up his video calls to leaders in five countries. The stepped-up efforts are designed to ensure that the diplomatic machinery doesnt go into a stall mode but is kept primed for big action, government officials say..

India will be moving into a lead role at the World Health Organisation next month when its nominee formally takes over as director general of WHO. Next year, India will get a spot in the United Nations Security Council as one of the 10 non-permanent members. The last time India made it to the UNSC was in 2012; Hardeep Singh Puri, the ex-diplomat in PMs council of ministers, was then Indias face at the UN.

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A former U.S. national security official who is advising the Frerichs family called on Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to resolve the situation, saying he needs to understand from the top that getting an American hostage home is also part of his job. He is aware of Marks presence, but it does not appear yet that he understands that he needs to get him home. The former official insisted on anonymity to speak candidly since the official sometimes works with the Trump administration.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced that it has received approval from the DCGI (Drug Controller General of India), the regulator in India to conduct clinical trials on Favipiravir Antiviral tablets on COVID-19 patients. The product is a generic version of Avigan of Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co., Japan, a subsidiary of Fujifilm Corporation.

Favipiravir has demonstrated activity against influenza viruses and has been approved in Japan for the treatment of novel influenza virus infections. Recently in the past few months, post the outbreak of COVID-19, multiple clinical trials have been initiated on COVID-19 patients in China, Japan and in the US.

Having internally developed the API and the formulations for the product, Glenmark filed the product for clinical trials with the DCGI and has received approval for conducting the trial on mild to moderate patients.

As on date, Glenmark is the first pharmaceutical company in India to be given an approval by the regulator to start the trial on COVID-19 patients in India. As per the clinical trial protocol approved, 150 subjects with mild to moderate COVID-19 will be randomized in the study in a 1:1 ratio to Favipiravir with standard supportive care or standalone standard supportive care. Treatment duration is a maximum of 14 days and the total study duration will be maximum for 28 days from randomization.

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COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Following the suspension of its outlook for 2020 on April 2 due to uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Danish brewer Carlsberg (CABGY.PK) Thursday reported that its revenue declined by 6.8 percent to 12.9 billion Danish Kroner for the first quarter, with 7.4 percent decrease in organic revenue. On an organic basis, the Group posted a decline of 6.9 percent in Western Europe as well as 12.4 percent in Asia, but a modest 2.2 percent rise in Eastern Europe. During the quarter, the Group posted 7.6 percent decrease in volume, both on reported and organic basis. On an organic basis, volume was down 6 percent in Western Europe, 15.5 percent in Asia, while it was up 3.3 percent in Eastern Europe. Looking ahead, the Group said 'the situation remains unchanged with a high degree of volatility and uncertainty in most markets and, consequently, the 2020 guidance remains suspended.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
It is a Ramadan like never before in the Muslim-majority region yet to recover from an earlier months-long shutdown.

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir  After living through two back-to-back lockdowns that have devastated the local economy, people in Indian-administered Kashmir have settled for a quiet Ramadan.

The threat of the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus has emptied the usually overcrowded mosques in the picturesque, Muslim-majority Himalayan valley.

For many, the sight of deserted mosques in the current lockdown is a never-before experience.

Our neighbourhood mosque is completely sealed. Everything is so heartbreaking but it is also a matter of life, said Ghulam Ahmad, a 63-year-old retired government employee.

Ahmad lives in Gund Kaisar, a village in the northern district of Bandipora, which remains one of the most affected parts of Kashmir with more than 100 cases of COVID-19 disease.

Fishermen offer prayers on their boats at Wular Lake in northern Kashmirs Bandipora district [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera]

Not a usual Ramadan

Gund Kaisar, like many villages of Bandipora, is under a strict lockdown to contain the spread of the infection that has brought the world to an unprecedented standstill.

Ahmad said his family made no usual preparations for Ramadan, which involves hectic shopping in the run-up to the fasting month.

We could not even buy dates to break our fasts as the markets here are completely closed and not allowed to open, he said. The entry and exit to the village are also sealed.

In the neighbouring village of Gund Jahangir, which has been declared a highly volatile red zone by the regions administration, Ahmad said at least 35 families have been placed under quarantine.

It is really painful how suddenly everything has happened, he said. Earlier, the village would be like a family and we would go around after iftar and have a chat and visit each other.

The lockdown during Ramadan, Ahmad said, has subjected the families to immense difficulties.

Triggered by the spread of the novel coronavirus that originated in China and has infected more than three million people across the globe, the lockdown in Kashmir came as the disputed region still had not come to terms with a crippling earlier shutdown, which lasted nearly seven months.

The previous lockdown was imposed in August last year when the Indian government abrogated the regions semi-autonomous status and divided the state into two federally-administered territories.

Policemen stop a man in the northern part of Indian-administered Kashmir amid a countrywide lockdown [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera]

Kashmirs economy suffers

The two lockdowns have brought Kashmirs economy to a halt, with large scale employment-generating businesses, such as tourism, suspended for nine months now.





The current lockdown was imposed in mid-March when the first coronavirus case was detected in the region.

Since then, the number of positive cases has increased to 500 as more than 60,000 people remain under various levels of observation, including home and hospital quarantine.

Half of the neighbourhoods in the main city of Srinagar, home to more than a million people, remain sealed. Only pharmacies have been exempted from the shutdown.

Coils of razor wire block the citys main roads as hundreds of police and paramilitary troops stand guard at various checkpoints  a common sight in a region where an armed insurgency has raged for the last three decades.

In the area around 14th-century Jama Masjid, one of the oldest and largest mosques in Srinagar, residents say Ramadan feels incomplete without visiting their mosque.

It feels like something is incomplete this month, said Sajad Khan, who runs a shop outside the mosque where residents from nearby neighbourhoods would spend long hours during the holy month.

There is no hustle and bustle to give you a feel of this month and make you forget for the time being all the troubles we go through, he told Al Jazeera.

Testing time for people globally

The two lockdowns have also taken a toll on the poorer sections of society, who have lost work in the last nine months.

Abdul Majid Mir, a daily wage earner from Payir village in south Kashmirs Pulwama, says the latest lockdown has doubled his hardships.

I continue to struggle to find any work and have to feed a family of six, he told Al Jazeera. Sometimes, I get work and have to settle for less money.

Mir said the usual festivities were missing this year. We manage with whatever is available at home. We are under tremendous stress.

In the Muslim-majority region, the authorities broadcast video messages from religious scholars to sensitise people about staying in and praying at home.

There is a hadith [Prophet Muhammads sayings] that when a plague hits any place, people should stay wherever they are, said Mufti Khateeb, who leads prayers at the grand mosque in north Kashmirs Sopore.

Khateeb said people should offer prayers with their families and they will get the same reward. Muslims everywhere should act with caution and stay in their homes, he told Al Jazeera.

Saleem Khan, who teaches social and preventive medicine at a government medical college, told Al Jazeera, This is an unprecedented lockdown but the believers have a responsibility towards people and God.

This is a testing time for people globally, he said.
PUNK

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM McLAREN

by Paul Gorman (Constable 30, 880 pp)

I blame the granny. Malcolm McLaren  summed up in this new 880-page biography by Paul Gorman as entrepreneurial cultist, sexual evangelist, businessman, artist and fetishist  grew up in a dysfunctional, sweary 1950s household in North London, looked after by his maternal grandmother Rose, as his mother Emily was too busy having affairs and his father Peter had left.

Rose spoiled Malcolm but she also threaded embroidered silk ribbons into his pubic hair to ward off sexual encounters. Most significantly for his future, she advised her grandson, To be bad is good, because to be good is simply boring.

Paul Gorman reflects on the life of Malcolm McLaren in a new biography. Pictured: McLaren outside his shop Sex, on the Kings Road, London

Armed with this nugget of wisdom, McLaren arrived at adulthood as an amoral risk-taker. With his gang of angry art student friends he threw bricks wrapped as Christmas presents through church windows. That, said McLaren, was my little conceptual art gesture. How pretentious that sounds in hindsight. But you have to hand it to him: he was a kind of genius, always first to come up with something attention-grabbingly subversive.

He designed, for example, a T-shirt showing a picture of Snow White surrounded by seven aroused dwarves to sell in his and Vivienne Westwoods shop, Sex, on the Kings Road. Why did they call the shop Sex? Because that is the one thing that scares the English, he explained. In the mid-1960s McLaren had met the unhappily married suburban housewife, Vivienne Westwood. She fell madly in love, and thus began a productive partnership, her daring technical expertise combining with his unbounded imagination.

She divorced her husband and moved in with McLaren to a council flat in London. They had a baby, Ben, in whom McLaren took no interest. Vivienne would be in thrall to McLaren for 16 years, combining domestic drudgery with sewing from dawn to dusk to bring his fashion ideas to fruition.

In 1973, McLaren flounced off to the U.S. to chase another woman and discovered punk while he was at it.

His subsequent creating and managing of the Sex Pistols in the mid-1970s was the apogee of his philosophy: he positively wanted the group to be bad: to play badly and to do bad things such as hate each other, get high in the morning and throw beer glasses at fans.

As McLaren explained, they were the epitome of chaos and disorder . . . This was where I had been most at home since I was a child.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM McLAREN by Paul Gorman (Constable 30, 880 pp)

This book brilliantly evokes the subversive buzz of the Worlds Ends fashion outlets in the 1970s. Police raided Sex to confiscate T-shirts showing naked men  good for publicity. One day, John Lydon, a livid-faced hobgoblin with undernourished, prole features, walked in and was hired  he became Johnny Rotten. Another hiring, John Ritchie (later Sid Vicious), was a spectacularly poor sales assistant.

McLaren saw the potential in these musically inept nihilists. He also made them sign away their rights, causing later legal battles.

After touting the Sex Pistols round the world, with as few concerts as possible to keep the public on edge, he broke up the group on purpose. Viciouss girlfriend died from stab wounds at their New York apartment, and Vicious died of an overdose. Meanwhile things were falling apart at 430 Kings Road: the staff were stealing clothes to feed their heroin habits. He and Vivienne were throwing bowls of soup at each other. Eventually she broke free of him.

With hundreds of pages still to go at this point, I got bogged down when McLaren went from project to project. Steven Spielberg hired him as a movie producer, but not one film was made in six years, and he felt stale and bored.

In the late 1980s he appeared stoned on television: Im going to see my mother, and I havent seen her in 22 years, he explained. Their reunion was disastrous  she told him he was the spitting image of his grandmother Rose, the most hideous woman who ever lived.

Asked by an interviewer in 2005 whether he had ever loved anybody, Malcolms answer was, surprisingly and touchingly, Vivienne.
#WPFD Haris Jamalzada: " Its our duty as journalists to fight against violence, injustice, bigotry and inequality"

Haris Jamalzada is the current affairs manager at Khurshid TV and a Rana Journalism Faculty Lecturer. He is a member of the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association and has more than 10 years experience in Afghan media

1. My biggest concern for press freedom?

"With the coming of World Press Freedom Day, I am concerned about the ongoing restrictions of freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Afghanistan. Its our duty as journalists to fight against violence, injustice, bigotry and inequality".

2. What are your daily challenges as a journalist?

"Trust is a huge challenge. I dont trust the Taliban and they are the biggest obstacles to media freedom and freedom of expression. Violence against journalists is a daily routine. Another challenge are government officials' limitations on sharing information".

3. What are the most important stories to cover right now?

"Hunger and poverty, the Afghan peace process, increased Taliban violence, the ongoing political crisis and currently Covid-19".
While Indonesia stands on the brink of an unprecedented social disaster, which could result in the loss of thousands of lives, two members of the governments COVID-19 taskforce announced on Monday that a return to normal lives would be possible by July.

Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Doni Monardo and Professor Wiku Adisasmito, told a press gathering that these hopes were based upon a decline in coronavirus infections. Adisasmito said: Previously, we thought that the peak would be reached around May. But with the trend, at least in the last week, its going down.

Soon after the announcement, infectious disease experts, epidemiologists, and data analysts contradicted these assertions. The numbers of daily cases over the week preceding the announcement375, 283, 357, 436 (a record high), 396, 275, and 214do not indicate a clear downward trend.

Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo: Vian Kadal/Wikipedia)

The official total has reached 9,771 infections, having grown more than five times within the space of a month. As a result of widespread community transmission, all of Indonesias 34 provinces are affected.

The pandemic tallying website Worldometer shows Indonesia has one of the lowest testing rates in the world. At the beginning of the week it had conducted only 59,000 tests, or 210 tests per million people. The government claims to be waiting on some 479,000 reagents to arrive from South Korea and China, but as with previous deliveries, these will only allow a temporary boost to the testing rate.

At the end of last month, government spokesman on COVID-19 affairs Achmad Yurianto admitted that between 600,000 and 700,000 people have likely come into contact with individuals infected by the virus. The official case numbers are, therefore, likely to be far from the reality.

At the moment, the country has one of the worlds highest mortality rates, and the death toll of 784 fatalities is the highest in Asia outside of China.

The real death toll could be far higher.

A recent review by Reuters of the most current data from 16 provinces has shown that there were at least 2,212 deaths of patients suffering from acute symptoms of COVID-19. As they were not tested, they have not been counted in the official toll. If all of these people were indeed victims of the coronavirus, this would mean that the countrys total has already reached nearly 3,000 deaths.

This discovery follows another Reuters review, published two weeks ago, of statistics which found that Jakarta cemeteries had experienced a 40 percent rise in burials in March.

Government officials have divulged that many of the countrys 19,897 suspected coronavirus sufferers had not been tested due to the number of specimens awaiting processing at under-staffed laboratories. As a result, some had died before their samples were analysed.

As the spread of the virus worsens, medical facilities across the country are overwhelmed and under-equipped. The severe scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE) is putting health workers at extreme risk of contracting the disease. At least 26 doctors, including the directors of two hospitals, and nine nurses have died from the virus. Most health workers are using cheap plastic raincoats as medical gowns.

In a hospital in the Sumatran province of Aceh, for instance, 40 suspected coronavirus cases are being treated. One patient died and, days later, doctors discovered he had tested positive for the virus. They had treated him over the course of a week without any protective gear.

A doctor working at a government hospital in Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores spoke to the Los Angeles Times about the situation facing the Indonesian healthcare system. She remained anonymous, as workers at her hospital were prohibited from speaking to the media. She said: Were terrified. Were using homemade face shields. Doctors are developing mild symptoms. Three have been quarantined The central government didnt take COVID seriously. So no one was prepared for this.

The virus impact on health facilities threatens to grow even worse after a mass exodus of people from the major cities to the countryside over the past week.

The closure of non-essential workplaces in Jakarta has left millions of workers jobless and without sufficient financial assistance. A government stimulus package provided a paltry $US7 billion as a social safety net for the millions who were laid off. Most have consequently had no choice but to return home to their villages.

Last Monday, President Joko Widodo declared a domestic travel ban leading up to the religious holiday of Idul Fitri, which was anticipated to see tens of millions moving to the country. Trains and buses were overcrowded in a rush of passengers hoping to escape the cities, before the ban came into effect on Friday. More than 14,000 people left Jakarta last week.

Even though the ban, which will remain until June, is set to prevent any further spread of virus to the provinces, it has left vast sections of the working class stranded in viral hotspots like Greater Jakarta, and unable to meet the cost of living.

Dozens of workers have described their plight to foreign media outlets. Edi, a factory worker, has lost his income and cannot afford to pay his rent of $US50 a month. I cant live in Jakarta without a job, he told Al Jazeera. I cant afford it, so I decided to go home before the ban.

In comments to the LA Times, Diro, a 25-year-old ride-hailing motorcycle driver, said he would need further government assistance to survive in Jakarta. Despite wanting to return to his hometown in Central Java and fall back on his family for support, he explained: Im afraid if I go back home, I could spread the virus there. I may look healthy, but I dont know if the virus is already inside me.

The government proposal for a return to business as usual by July, under such conditions, is part of an international campaign by the ruling elites to force workers back onto the job in the interests of corporate profit, despite the immense health risks.

The government response to the crisis has provoked widespread anger, with many denouncing its initial denial of the problem in February and March, along with its current resistance to impose a full lockdown. Discussion on social media has erupted, with the Twitter hashtag #LockdownOrDie being used widely.

The pandemic response has included partial lockdown measures in only two provinces, Jakarta and West Sumatra. Unrestricted movement in tourism centres, most notably the Balinese capital Denpasar, continues.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has justified his opposition to a lockdown by claiming to be concerned about its potential impact on the working poor. This is belied by his administrations refusal to provide anything more than token social assistance during the crisis.

Indonesia is a country of astonishingly high levels of wealth inequality, which have only grown during Widodos time in office. Nearly 10 percent of the nations 273 million people earn less than one dollar a day. The four richest individuals, on the other hand, have a combined wealth greater than the poorest 100 million.

The pandemic is being viewed by the Indonesian financial oligarchy, not as a public health crisis, but as a market event.

The COVID-19 taskforce announced earlier this month that the shortage in medical equipment would be quickly addressed. Around 3,000 garment factories would be retooled to produce 17 million items of PPE. It was claimed that within a week one million face masks would be produced per day.

These promises, however, went unfulfilled despite Indonesia's substantial manufacturing capacity. The country, for instance, is the largest producer of cars in Southeast Asia. The government could enable a speedy manufacturing of desperately-needed health equipment, but this would not be profitable.

Instead, Widodo has in recent weeks implemented a string of emergency measures, worth around $US28 billion, aimed primarily at ensuring the corporate sector can return to normal as soon as possible, with only a fraction allocated for an already buckling healthcare system.
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin retired on Thursday. Bidding adieu to Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN via video conferencing, he extended him a Namaste. Akbaruddin was appointed to the post on November 16, 2015, and is known to be one of the finest Indian diplomats. He will be succeeded by another seasoned diplomat TS Tirumurti, currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs Ministry.

Posting a video of his conversation with the UN chief on Twitter, Akbaruddin said that it is time for him to 'bow out'. He said that before leaving he would make only one demand from the chief. "Before I leave secretary-general I have one small last request. And that request is in the Indian tradition when we leave or when we meet we don't say hello, or shake hands, we say Namaste, so before it ends, I want to say Namaste to you and if you can reciprocate."

Time to bow out, with the usual pic.twitter.com/BM6m7j7qQW  Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) April 30, 2020

READ | Syed Akbaruddin scorches Pakistan after UNSC 'closed-doors' meet, takes on all comers and steals the show



READ | 'India leading the battle against COVID-19': Syed Akbaruddin praises govt's efforts

Syed Akbaruddin at the UN

The Indian ambassador Syed Akbaruddin had a noteworthy career at the UN, with many feathers on his hat including when 26/11 mastermind Masood Azhar was designated as a global terrorist. Last year, he punctured all attempts of Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations after the abrogation of Article 370 by the taking-on-all-comers approach and exposing Pakistan's fake news.

It was during Syed Akbaruddin's tenure that India created history at the United Nations in 2017 by winning a fiercely-fought electoral contest against its former colonial ruler Britain for the re-election of Justice Dalveer Bhandari at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague.

READ | Syed Akbaruddins strong response against Pakistan at UNSC leads to a flurry of memes

About TS Tirumati

A 1985-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Tirumurti will succeed Syed Akbaruddin, a prominent face in Indian diplomacy who is credited with successfully presenting the country's position at the global body on a range of key issues for last several years. Tirumurti is serving as Secretary, Economic Relations at the ministry's headquarters in Delhi.

The government has also appointed senior diplomat Namrata S Kumar as India's next ambassador to Slovenia, while Jaideep Mazumdar goes to Austria as the country's next envoy. Joint Secretary in the ministry Deepak Mittal was appointed as the Ambassador of India to Qatar. Another senior diplomat, Piyush Srivastava, has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to Bahrain.

READ | UNSC on J&K Issue: India's UN representative Syed Akbaruddin's top witty responses to the media
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Gov. Mike DeWine ended his Monday news conference exuding confidence that he made the right decision on how to start reopening the state following the coronavirus pandemic.

He said his more cautious approach to reopening the economy was the correct path and was defiant  as defiant as DeWine can really be  when questioned about requiring face coverings in retail settings.

But the next day, DeWine announced he was reversing his decision to mandate face masks for customers in retail settings. Instead, masks would be a recommendation. During his Tuesday coronavirus briefing, DeWine also said it would be up to employers whether to require masks for workers. Then later, his office said theyd be largely required for workers, with exceptions.

Its a confusing folly by DeWine who has been mostly consistent with his communication up to this point.

Lets rewind briefly to Monday when DeWine was adamant that requiring face masks in retail settings was the only safe way forward.

"The facial covering is not something I grew up with, DeWine said. Its not something most of us grew up with. And its not going to be with us forever. But during this time if you want to get back to work and you want to get folks back to work, we have to do logical things to protect them. To not do it would be negligent. To not do it would be a mistake."

By Tuesday, it apparently wasnt so negligent.

There will certainly have to be  and have been  adjustments as we go, DeWine said. Within the last 24 hours, it's really become clear to me that a mandatory mask requirement  a mandatory mask requirement for people who are shopping, going into a retail business  is offensive to some of our fellow Ohioans. I understand that, DeWine said.

The about-face was the second big misstep for DeWine following his decision to postpone the primary election the night before in-person voting started, which led to chaos as candidates, campaigns, reporters and voters tried to figure out in real time what was happening.

Otherwise, DeWine has been lauded for following the science and not bending to political reaction during the pandemic. But DeWine pretty much admitted he submitted to political pressure on the mask issue.

Its important the people have confidence in me, have confidence in this administration, think that what were doing and the things that we require them to do are reasonable to do and the things we require them to do are not obnoxious to them, DeWine said. This was one example where the people felt this was just one step too far.

That statement alone undermines much of what the governor has said thus far in the response to the crisis. Plenty of people find it obnoxious that DeWine is not loosening restrictions more quickly. There are 33 of them alone in the Ohio House of Representatives and plenty who show up and protest at Capitol Square on a regular basis, demanding an immediate and full reopening of the economy. But he has not bent under those pressures.

The governors detractors are predictably taking a victory lap on this.

My fellow Ohioans. Your polite and consistent pressure just won a big one, tweeted Scott Pullins, an aide to Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who has been critical of DeWines mandates. Masks will be recommended, not mandatory. State government heard us. Let's keep it up, but be realistic and cordial. The GOP legislature is not going to impeach a GOP governor.

DeWines decision is especially bewildering considering the basic reason he made the decision to require masks in the first place: to protect workers in retail settings.

The science behind masks is that they dont always protect you from others, but protect others from germs you might spread.

Retail workers can be considered an especially susceptible population for exposure since they are interacting with customers all day long. Customers might be spreading the coronavirus without having any symptoms.

DeWine clearly subscribes to that line of thinking. He said so Tuesday.

It was for the protection of these employees, the people who are serving us every single day, that we made that decision that original order was issued, DeWine said. Although its not a mandate now, it is clearly in the best interest of Ohioans to wear a mask in retail.

DeWines newfound decision on masks grants much more latitude to basically everyone except the employee. Customers can decide if they dont want to wear facial coverings. Business owners can decide if they want to let customers in without facial coverings.

So, what are we doing? Are we prioritizing worker safety or not offending some Ohioans? Is not requiring masks negligent and dangerous as the governor said? If so, does the governor consider himself negligent in his response?

DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney didnt comment specifically on the logical inconsistencies Wednesday, but said protections were put in place for workers through other measures like requiring sanitation and social distancing measures.

Someone looking at this announcement and thinking masks are the only protection or this changed the only protection for workers, thats simply not correct, Tierney said. The goal is were putting measures in place to protect workers.

But in the same interview, Tierney said that removing the requirement of facial coverings for customers was removing a layer of required protection for workers. He was less clear on if the priority was worker safety or public reaction.

Were trying to do it in such a manner that we balance safety and make sure these rules are simple and a higher likelihood of being complied with, Tierney said. Our comfort is by and large in Ohioans doing a fantastic job up to this point complying with guidance.

In short, DeWine caved on this one.

Read more cleveland.com politics coverage:

Costco requires all members and guests to wear masks in stores due to the coronavirus

Ohio judge rejects lawsuit seeking electronic signatures for state ballot issue petitions

Gov. Mike DeWine faced pressure to rapidly scale back coronavirus restrictions. He didnt cave.

Ohio poll shows Donald Trump, Joe Biden in dead heat for November election
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 30, 2020 09:20 623 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd51ab20 1 National DPR,house-of-representatives,COVID-19,Perppu,pandemic-bonds,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,Jokowi,state-budget Free

While the country struggles to flatten the infection curve, a debate has erupted over a regulation that grants the government the power to allocate emergency COVID-19 spending and a legal shield that protects officials executing the programs.



The executive order, Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2020, which is pending approval from the House of Representatives, allows the government to extend the state budget deficit beyond the legal cap of 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and allocate the spending for programs related to COVID-19 without the approval of the House.



The spending will be declared as costs to save the country from the pandemic, and any officials executing the related policies in good faith and according to the law cannot be subject to criminal or civil charges.



Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Arteria Dahlan said the Perppu infringed on the Houses right to deliberate the state budget.



The [Perppu] is to guarantee peoples welfare. But isnt it trespassing constitutional rules [by granting sole authority over the budget] to the government? he said on Wednesday during a hearing on coronavirus budget monitoring.



Arteria said the emergency response to the pandemic should not sacrifice government oversight.



Facing the unprecedented crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the government has imposed extraordinary measures to curb transmission. Aside from applying social and travel restrictions, the government has budgeted Rp 405.1 trillion (US$24.6 billion) for COVID-19 relief measures, Rp 150 trillion of which will be allocated to economic recovery while another Rp 110 trillion will fund social aid. About Rp 75 trillion will go to health care.



If the Perppu is passed by mid-year, the government will not have to propose an amendment to the 2020 state budget to the House to make the large amount of COVID-19 funding available before the end of this year.



Lawmakers and antigraft activists have questioned the large allocation for economic recovery, as the government has also allocated large budgets for social assistance and support for industries.



A group of activists has submitted a judicial review petition to the Constitutional Court, demanding a review of Article 2 of the Perppu, which strengthens the governments budget spending authority, and Article 27 on government officials impunity.

Read also: Angered by Perppu on pandemic response, civil groups turn to Constitutional Court Marwan Jafar, a lawmaker from the National Awakening Party (PKB), praised the Perppu for accelerating efforts to combat the virus but also noted that the government should abide by the Constitution, which mandated that amendments of the state budget be passed by the House.



We must not allow a repeat of the BLBI [Bank Indonesia liquidity support] and Bank Century graft scandals that caused great state losses, he said.



The BLBI and Bank Century bailouts are considered among the largest financial scandals in the countrys history, and saw government officials imprisoned after being implicated in embezzlement of budget funds.



In the BLBI case, BI provided liquidity support to commercial banks to restore public faith in banks as they suffered massive runs during the 1998 financial crisis, but most of the money was later found to have been embezzled.



In a verdict later overturned, former Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) chairman Syafruddin Arysad Tumenggung was sentenced to 13 years for allegedly discharging Sjamsul Nursalim, the owner of Bank Dagang Negara Indonesia (BDNI), from the obligation to repay the government, reportedly causing Rp 4.58 trillion in state losses. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court last year.



The bailout of Bank Century (now Bank Mutiara) in 2008 turned into a political scandal with lawmakers questioning the ballooning cost of bailing out the bank, which amounted to Rp 6.76 trillion.



The House launched a legislative inquiry into the case in 2010 that almost led to former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono being impeached. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who held the same position at that time, was forced to leave her post.



In July 2014, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced former BI deputy governor Budi Mulya, the first suspect in the case investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), to 10 years in prison. The investigation, however, has since moved at a snails pace.

Read also: Bail-in, not bailout banks KPK chief Firli Bahuri said the antigraft agency monitored the disbursement of COVID-19 funds by the central government and local administrations regardless of the Perppu. He warned officials that, under the Corruption Law, people convicted of graft during a natural disaster could receive a maximum penalty of death.



We will conduct firm law enforcement, he said during Wednesdays hearing at the House.



Despite numerous natural disasters and public emergencies since 1999, the death penalty has not yet been handed down to a person convicted of such a crime.



The finance ministers special staff member Yustinus Prastowo said extending the budget deficit was the only way the government could fund the extraordinary policies taken during the pandemic. He dismissed concerns that the government would go astray with the budget deficit, as it would have to pay for it in the coming years.



The government will not commit suicide with the state budget. It will still report to the audit agencies, Yustinus said.
The mainstream American media in 1999, for reasons that are hard to explain or excuse today, got cold feet on a credible allegation of rape against the president. And after NBC News sat for weeks on an exclusive interview, Broaddrick went to the only people who would listen to her, Clintons partisan enemies at The Wall Street Journals editorial page. That move helped turn her straightforward allegation into a weaponized political story. And while Americans watching at home could make up their own minds about Broaddricks credibility, they were left with new reasons to shake their heads at the media.
If they have all of those pieces, its time to get them into the hands of people who need them, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid about private conversations. We know theres a need. . . . These sitting in a state warehouse somewhere doesnt do anyone any good.
The novel coronavirus has already claimed the lives of more than 61,000 Americans. But experts fear that number could be far higher at this point in the outbreak -- perhaps by 50% -- once the pandemic subsides enough for officials to go back and make a true reckoning of the dead.

Experts are urging leaders to take measures right now to preserve data and medical specimens so that science has the chance to determine the precise number of people who succumbed during one of the most severe global pandemics in memory.

"Under-counting deaths in this particular epidemic is happening all over," said Dr. Daniel Lopez-Acuna, an epidemiologist and former top World Health Organization official, who spent 30 years at the organization. "Its almost inevitable."

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.

Calculating the precise number of COVID-19 deaths is remarkably complicated for a number of reasons. But leading epidemiologists, pathologists, medical examiners, medical history professors and local, state, federal and global health officials told ABC News that more testing is the single most important factor in determining an accurate national death count.

"We need to have the testing available because the big question now with COVID-19 is the denominator -- of anything," said Dr. Alex Williamson of the College of American Pathologists. "How many people get it? How many people recover? How many are hospitalized? How many died? We don't know the true denominator. More testing is the most important thing we need to do."

MORE: Coronavirus death toll in US likely worse than numbers say

PHOTO: Funeral Director Joe Neufeld inventories the bodies of coronavirus victims bound for burial, in the main chapel of the Gerard J. Neufeld Funeral Home in Queens, New York, April 26, 2020. (Timothy Fadek/Redux)

Ongoing testing kit shortages in cities and states nationwide means that only clearly symptomatic patients are currently being tested in many places. There also is no uniform national system in the U.S. for investigating deaths, and until two weeks ago, the U.S. was only counting Americans who lab-tested positive, before or after death, for COVID-19.

Story continues

Left out of the tally are people who died without being tested and those who died at home or some other non-healthcare facilities before they could seek medical care.

"It is an extraordinary challenge," said Dr. Sally Aiken, president of the National Association of Medical Examiners. "There just isn't really the infrastructure."

Further undermining an accurate national count are new analyses that suggest the virus was spreading in the U.S. much earlier than previously believed, likely playing a role in more deaths than currently known.

MORE: When each state's stay-at-home order lifts

Californias first known COVID-19 death to date was Patricia Cabello Dowd, 57, in Santa Clara County. Dowd died on Feb. 6 of heart complications, which were later determined to have been unleashed by the COVID-19 virus. Dowd's death -- in which an autopsy obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle listed a heart rupture "due to Covid-19 infection" -- came three weeks before the earliest previously identified American coronavirus-related death.

New data on cardiac arrest emergency calls reviewed by ABC News suggests that New York Citys catastrophic outbreak likely began in close-knit neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn as far back as mid-February.

MORE: In the 'epicenter of the epicenter,' were early heart attacks a missed coronavirus warning?

Cardiac Arrest and COVID19 Concentration by NYC Zip Code (ABC News Illustration / FDNY / NYC.gov)

Finally, as the cardiac arrest data suggested, scientists are contending with an ever-evolving understanding of how COVID-19 attacks the body. Initially, it was believed to primarily attack the lungs, but new research suggests its a danger to nearly every organ.

Experts say that many people like Dowd, who died of a nonrespiratory COVID-19 complication early in the outbreak -- before the pandemics impact became apparent -- may never be accurately counted.

The confusion and complications inherent in tracking pandemics have left a weary nation wondering just how high the actual U.S. death count may be -- and how bad things really are.

Less than 2% of all Americans have been tested for the coronavirus to date, according to White House figures -- nearly 5.5 million people. It's a figure that experts say is both higher than most nations and far lower per capita than where the U.S. should be at this point.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health and White House "testing czar" Admiral Brett Giroir told George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that the Trump administration doesnt concur with a Harvard University study which concluded last week that the U.S. needs to be testing 5 million people a day in June and up to 20 million by July in order to safely re-open the country.

"We dont believe those estimates are accurate, nor are they reasonable, " Giroir said.

Yet either way, that testing is still mostly focused on the living. Experts told ABC News that an accurate death toll is not only important to later get a better picture of what happened, but if possible, real-time or near real-time death counts can also help public health officials in their battle to contain the virus now.

History: A chilling guide

Researchers retrospectively calculate overall deaths from a pandemic by studying excess deaths year-to-year in a given region. But thats a difficult figure to gauge until a pandemic is over.

Previous studies of other recent virus outbreaks suggest the actual number of COVID-19 deaths to date is very likely dramatically higher than the more than 60,000 deaths currently reported.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis of the H1N1 swine flu virus outbreak in the U.S. in 2009 and 2010 concluded two years later that the actual tally was likely 15 times higher than the officially recorded figures. A 2013 study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health determined the figure was seven times higher than the official count.

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

But scientists said that the current coronavirus pandemic is of an entirely different magnitude.

"Ive never  none of us have ever  seen an infection like COVID-19, that literally stopped the world," said Williamson.

While most news organizations rely on the Johns Hopkins University figures, which are pulled directly from state and local government websites and are considered more timely picture of the problem, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a branch of the CDC, is the primary agency responsible for U.S. health statistics, which are compiled by collecting data on births, deaths and health surveys.

Due to the lack of a uniform U.S. system, the NCHS system lags about two weeks behind in reporting said, Dr. Robert Anderson, chief of mortality statistics. On May 1, the CDC acknowledged in a bulletin that nearly 40% of U.S. deaths are still not being reported to the federal agency within ten days.

Daniel Weinberger, an epidemiologist from the Yale School of Public Health, analyzed NCHS death count data to estimate how many COVID-19 deaths may have gone uncounted from March 1 to April 11.

He concluded the official death toll in the U.S. is "probably a substantial underestimate of the true number."

PHOTO: An employee of the office of the New York Chief Medical Examiner looks through fencing blocking a view of refrigeration trucks lined up to serve as an expanded morgue in New York, April 3, 2020. (Justin Lane/EPA via Shutterstock)

The actual figure, he said, may be "1.5 times higher."

The NCHS reports 23,500 COVID deaths in the 6 week period from March 1 to April 11. But Yale researchers analyzing publicly available mortality data report to ABC News found the country saw 36,000 more deaths than would normally be expected this time of year, suggesting the COVID death count could be around 1.5 times higher than what is being officially reported.

The data on deaths for March and early April continue to fill in, so we are now getting a more complete picture of the early toll of the epidemic," Weinberger said. "As we get more data from the period when the epidemic was accelerating, these numbers will continue to climb sharply.

Given the still-looming threat to the U.S., researchers are urging municipalities to maintain as much detailed data about COVID-19 records as possible.

With patchwork of reporting protocols, a 'pipe dream' to gauge actual death toll

As the pandemic rages across all 50 states and around the globe with no uniform reporting protocol in place, experts said the official death count is hard to even estimate.

"One of the difficulties is that every state does things differently," said William Hanage, an epidemiologist at Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "When I look at the data, Im sitting there thinking, Okay, this is Oklahoma. What kind of modifier am I adding to that to figure out whats going on here? It would be incredibly helpful not to have to do that."

Hes doubtful that a uniform national death count reporting process is possible anytime soon.

"Its a bit of pipe dream," he said.

PHOTO: A funeral worker is assisted moving a deceased patient into a van at the Brooklyn Hospital Center on April 27, 2020, in New York. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

And that's before taking into account the ways other countries count their own death tolls.

"Even now if youre comparing reporting among different countries, youve got to ask, Are they reporting only deaths in hospitals? Only people they are sure had COVID? Which test did they use? What about deaths occurring elsewhere  in nursing homes and at home? Are they being counted?"

COVID-19-related deaths in non-hospital settings -- largely nursing home deaths and deaths at home -- are also fueling revised death counts in some U.S. regions and nations around the world.

As many as half of the COVID-19 deaths in Europe may have come from nursing homes, Hans Kluge, the WHO's regional European director, said in a press briefing last week. When France added nursing homes to its tally, the nations death count spiked 40%, according to The Wall Street Journal.

While the U.S. is not currently counting nursing home deaths nationally, its estimated that thousands have died from or with COVID-19 complications in these facilities across the U.S. Last week ABC News reported that based on the reporting of 28 states, the death toll in long-term care facilities has already surged past 10,000.

Yet it was also only last week that the CDC began the laborious process of preparing to incorporate nursing home deaths into its overall death count. The agency issued a notification saying it would soon begin requiring that nursing homes report communicable disease deaths promptly to federal authorities. Its unclear when the U.S. will begin including those figures in its national death count.

On April 14, the CDC directed all U.S. states and territories to begin counting suspected as well as lab-confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Officials in some states have said theyll adhere to the new CDC guidelines, but "each state has their own laws, which sometimes takes time," said Janet Hamilton, executive director Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE).

In mid-April, New York City released its first death count to include suspected -- not just lab-confirmed -- cases. That metric accounted for at-home deaths. The revised city figures, which added 3,700 deaths, drove up the nationwide death count by 17%.

Last week, scientists at Yale School of Public Health published a scholarly paper, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, that estimated that the actual death count in New York and New Jersey could be up to three times higher than the official tally of confirmed COVID-19 deaths or deaths that would be expected normally this time of year with respiratory diseases.

"Some states, such as Florida and Pennsylvania, might have missed deaths early on and might be under-counting deaths by a substantial degree currently," the Yale scientists concluded. "Other states, like Washington, have an accurate estimate of the mortality burden of the pandemic virus due to intense testing," the paper said. "And in states that have been hit hard by the pandemic virus, such as New Jersey and New York, the total excess mortality burden is 2-3 times that ascribed to COVID-19 in official statistics."

The golden question

Many U.S. states remain too overwhelmed by the outbreak or too short on supplies to perform postmortem COVID-19 testing.

Yet experts say localities inclusions of suspected cases in their death counts is vital going forward.

"It is critical to include both the probable and the confirmed cases so we have the full picture of the impact," said Hamilton, of CSTE. Failure to do so, she said, "would be a failure of our public health system."

Even those areas that can include probable and suspected COVID-19 deaths face challenges due to how little we yet understand about the disease, and how long the dead may carry it.

"Post-mortem, we don't know how long the [COVID-19 diagnostic] test is valid for after death," said CAPs Williamson. "If a person is not found in their house for five days, does the COVID-19 test still work? We don't really know the answer to that."

There are two main types of death investigations in the U.S.: medical examiner autopsies and hospital-based autopsies.

PHOTO: A worker organizes bodies in the Gerard Neufeld funeral home in Queens on April 22, 2020, in New York. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Medical examiners are the most rigorously trained forensic pathologists in the death investigation field -- but even they do not have uniform national reporting protocols for COVID-19 deaths.

The CDC first introduced a common code to list COVID-19 as a cause of death on U.S. death certificates on March 24, followed by formal guidance on April 3, but the guidance will take time to take root nationwide, experts said.

Beyond a shortage of testing that is forcing hospital officials to prioritize testing of live patients over the deceased, many hospital pathologists remain wary of conducting autopsies during the pandemic because of all that is still unknown about the coronavirus, according to ABC News interviews around the nation.

Even swabbing the nose of a corpse could potentially re-introduce the virus into the air surrounding the body, pathologists said -- urging their colleagues to only conduct such testing in the proper settings.

One pathologist who spoke with ABC News on the condition of anonymity said a recurring theme online among prominent U.S. academic pathologists is that due to a limited, evolving understanding of how the virus spreads, shortages of personal protective equipment and limited autopsy rooms with appropriate precautions in hospitals, many pathologists "are scared to do the autopsies" for fear of being infected.

Yet postmortem samples and tissue can be preserved until more testing is available.

"You can freeze the nasal pharyngeal swabs and test them later," Aiken said. "And medical examiners and coroner's draw blood for toxicology. Eventually that blood could be used for antibody testing. So even though the lab tests are limited now, in the long run, they may be able to determine if deaths are COVID-19 related."

The final factor that undermines a complete COVID-19 death count, according to experts, is that many if not most of the people who have died had at least one additional underlying chronic medical condition that contributed to the deaths  particularly obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

But which factor actually caused the death?

"Thats the golden question: who died with COVID-19, and who died of COVID-19," Williamson concluded. "Thats what we still dont know."

ABC News' Josh Margolin and Lee Ferran contributed to this report.

How accurate is the US coronavirus death count? Some experts say it's off by 'tens of thousands' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Omnicuris will provide digital lectures on how to fight against coronavirus to these medical students

As it was announced that final year medical students can join coronavirus pandemic fight, leading digital CME provider Omnicuris, which offers medical skill upgradation to doctors through online modules and courses, has joined hands with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences to train their medical and nursing students for making them aware on how to deal with coronavirus using digital technology.

The module includes precautions to be taken while in contact with a suspect, how to take care of personal hygiene, how to conduct testing for a suspect and guidelines on how to treat patients.

With total count increasing to 1071 in India including 215 in Maharashtra and 81 in Karnataka, this initiative will strengthen the health care workforce, speed up the process of testing and treatment and provide protective cover to ageing doctors who are themselves at high risk of contracting the infection and, possibly, dying of it. The development came after sector experts suggested an all-hands-on-deck approach with strategic protection to older specialists.

Through this association, Omnicuris will be able to strengthen its scientific expertise and facilities and widen its reach to doctors. By going digital for lectures, Omnicuris reach out to the final year students of these universities in the times when people are going through a nationwide lockdown.

Savitha Kuttan, Founder & CEO of Omnicuris said, We are very happy to collaborate with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. Through this association, we will be able to teach final-year medical students about COVID-19, which has so far affected over 1000 people in India. Making this training available to the budding doctors and nurses is an important element to breaking the unbreakable chain of coronavirus pandemic and will also provide an aid to our healthcare industry. With our disease burden due to the COVID-19 is constantly increasing, continuous skill upgradation and training healthcare professionals become very important for all doctors.

According to various reports, India has one doctor for every 1,500 persons; World Health Organization (WHO) norms suggest that there must be one doctor for every 1,000 persons. In rural India, however, this ratio goes down to as low as one doctor for over 10,000 patients. Every year, nearly 38,000 postgraduation and 70,000 MBBS students graduate from colleges in India.

Dr Dilip Mhaisekar, Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences said, The main aim of conducting this online lecture series is to provide maximum knowledge to the person, who is working in the field. They should also have proper understanding of the innovations that are happening everyday. They should also gain knowledge on the new ideas to fight Covid. The HCPs and PG students of students of MUHS working on the field are not getting spare time to read on Covid-19 and through the collaboration with Omnicuris they now will get updated knowledge and know what is happening on a day to day basis.

Dr S. Sachidanand, Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences said, Coronavirus is a vast topic and the way its affecting people across the world, students need to be prepared when they are working on the ground. They should know every detail about the COVID-19 pandemic and what all precautionary measures they should adhere to as a healthcare professional. We are sure that Omnicuris will help our students to stay updated about it.

In India, everybody has access to specialists in tier 1 cities. However, in smaller towns, primary care physicians are usually the first line of medical help people receive. Ability to perform appropriate diagnosis and reference is crucial for primary care physicians who act as the most important cogs in the medical wheel. Omnicuris is also planning to do the same in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) react during a break at the Democratic Presidential Debate at Otterbein University on October 15, 2019 in Westerville, Ohio. A record 12 presidential hopefuls are participating in the debate hosted by CNN and The New York Times.

Big money donors are pressuring Joe Biden to not choose Sen. Elizabeth Warren as his running mate, even while the centrist former vice president tries to appeal to progressive voters.

Biden and his team, according to people familiar with the matter, have heard from many donors in the business community about who they think would be best to be chosen as his vice presidential nominee.

Those conversations have recently included attempts to push the campaign away from picking Warren and encouraging the choice of other candidates purportedly on his list, such as Sens. Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Many Biden contributors spoke on the condition of anonymity as these conversations, both with Biden and among his associates, were in private.

"I think a lot of the donor base, on board and coming, would prefer almost anyone but Elizabeth. I don't see him choosing her for veep" said a longtime fundraiser for Biden who is regularly in touch with him.

"She would be horrible. He would lose the election," said a Wall Street executive who was once backing others running in the Democratic primary and later joined Biden's donor ranks.

Biden has started the vetting process of selecting a vice presidential candidate while he practices social distance in his Delaware home. His campaign has gone entirely virtual during the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, it announced the creation of a VP vetting committee, which includes former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Dodd was the longtime CEO of the Hollywood lobbying organization the Motion Picture Association of America.

Donors concerned about a Biden-Warren ticket are worried about a range of issues, from Democrats potentially losing her seat in the Senate to Warren being possibly too divisive on the campaign trail against President Donald Trump.

Other financiers have privately encouraged Biden to hold back on choosing a running mate and focus on issues connected to Americans' struggles with the coronavirus, which has infected more than a million in the U.S. and cost the economy more than 30 million jobs.

Warren endorsed Biden for president earlier this month after running against him in the Democratic primary. She has since been advocating in subsequent media appearances for her supporters to donate to his campaign. When she ran for president, her campaign funded on small dollar donors and she refused to take part in any private big money events.

Her campaign finished raising well over $100 million, Federal Election Commission records show. Warren had her run-ins with many on Wall Street donors during her campaign. Several said in private that they planned to sit out or back Trump instead if she went on to capture the party's nomination.

There are some signs, however, that Biden is shrugging off anyone vocalizing discontent with Warren. He is plowing ahead with appeasing progressives who backed her campaign while possibly looking to bring her into the fold. The Washington Post reported that Biden's team hired two of Warren's fundraising advisors and channeled some of the Massachusetts senator's progressive views at a virtual donor event last week.

"Look, you know Wall Street is  they're good folks. But guess what they didn't build America. Ordinary Americans, middle class built America," Biden said, while noting that he believes the pandemic has shown "the institutional racism, the institutional difficulties that are set out there for ordinary people."

Another move that suggests Biden is trying to appeal to Warren and fellow progressive, Sen. Bernie Sanders, is his appointment of longtime advisor Ted Kaufman to help put together a presidential transition team. During his short stint in the Senate, Kaufman introduced an amendment to the 2010 Dodd Frank reform bill that could have cut down the size of a few of the big banks. It failed to pass in the Senate. Still, some progressive activists are happy that Kaufman, a Wall Street critic, is assisting in crafting a group of advisors for Biden.

"The Ted Kaufman news is encouraging. Kaufman has an excellent reputation as a committed opponent of Wall Street banksters and financial fraudsters more generally from his two years in the Senate," Jeff Hauser, an executive director at the liberal Revolving Door Project, tweeted in reaction to the developments.

Other Biden donors are worried that Massachusetts' GOP governor, Charlie Baker, may appoint a Republican to the vacant seat if Warren were to jump into the election as Biden's running mate. Currently, the GOP enjoys a 53-47 edge in the Senate, although it is defending more seats than Democrats are during this year's elections.

Another concern is that Warren could be too polarizing to be on the ticket, namely that her often liberal beliefs could alienate moderate voters in swing states, particularly those in the Midwest such as Michigan and Wisconsin. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Biden ahead of Trump in these states, along with Pennsylvania, by about six points.

Warren has often called for raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Her latest effort is a bill co-sponsored by progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y, which would halt mergers and acquisitions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"There are two Elizabeth Warrens. The one I had in my home when she was a U.S. senator and consumer champion. She was awesome," Florida businessman John Morgan, who is fundraising for Biden, told CNBC in discussing her as a possible VP pick. "Then came Warren the socialist trying to out-Bernie Bernie. That is her dilemma." During the campaign, Warren sought to distinguish herself from Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, by saying she is a capitalist.

Morgan previously hosted fundraising events for Warren during her campaigns for Senate. Warren led the way in conceiving of and setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau during President Barack Obama's first term in office.

Biden's business allies have also been suggesting to him that he shouldn't be even moving ahead with choosing a VP at all in the current political climate. Instead, they argue, he should be putting all of his efforts into showing voters how he would be the better alternative to Trump in such a crisis.

"My private advice to him is that he doesn't have to make that choice now. Go out and speak to the people who are voting for you," Bernard Schwartz, a longtime Democratic financier who has given to the campaign and super PACs backing his candidacy.

"The vice president is not the important choice for you," he added, and pointed to the struggling economy as a place Biden could focus his message.

Representatives for Biden and Warren did not return requests for comment.
This article is in two parts. This (part one) discusses the measures put in place to contain and manage the COVID-19 in the country and how misinformation may adversely affect the fight. The concept of misinformation, how it is sustained and accepted even in the face of facts are also discussed.



The second part takes a look at how ignorance, beliefs/superstition and falsehood/fabrication may negatively affect the efforts to contain and manage the COOVID-19. Other issues discussed are the way forward around these challenges.



A third world war?



The raging COVID-19 pandemic has been referred to by some historians, analysts and commentators as the third world war. This assertion has been premised on the fact that the COVID-19 disease has affected more countries (currently 184) than in the two world wars put together (less than 50). In addition, if the trend (infection rates, fatalities, socio-economic impact, etc.,) continues for the next couple of months, the adverse effects on individuals, private businesses, corporate institutions, and countries across the globe would not only be dire but might surpass that of the cumulative effects of the First and Second World Wars.



Unlike the two previous wars which were fought among identifiable countries, this time round, the enemy is not another human being, a nation, a continent, allies nor does the war involve the use of sophisticated weapons of mass destruction, to brutalize, maim and kill others; rather the enemy is a microorganism (a particle which cannot be seen by the human eye without the aid of advanced electron microscope) referred to by microbiologists as a virus. This virus has since January this year been invading continent to continent, country to country and community to community via humans. It has weaponized the human being and attacked people regardless of race, power, wealth or vulnerability.



Different modus operandi



In the case of COVID-19, as against the use of sophisticated weapons of mass destruction during the two World Wars, no one can run into a bunker, use a patriot missile, anti-grenade or anti-aircrafts for protection. Our self-defense lies with relevant information and proper attitude. Fortunately, the health professionals have provided the general public with the relevant information known about the virus and have in addition directed the public on what to do or refrain from, in order to avoid infection. Furthermore, communication aimed at throwing more light on the major issues surrounding COVID-19 in order to enhance better understanding of, and compliance with, the protocols recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health (MoH) are on-going. Alongside the above, is the dissemination of useful information to facilitate behavioural and attitudinal change to enable the population adjust to the new condition of life brought about by COVID-19.



Support systems



Psychologists have also been providing counselling and other psychological services to those under quarantine as well as those who have been tested positive for COVID-19, their families, friends and co-workers. In addition, through radio, television, newspapers, and social media, efforts are being made to enhance education and sensitization to help reduce fear and anxiety. The migration service and other security services are very alert at different points of entry into the country to ensure that the Presidents directives to close our borders are duly enforced.



The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in anticipation of the potential economic challenges COVID-19 is likely to have on individuals, employers and the country, has come out with plans (including tax exemptions for employers) to mitigate some of the expected side effects. The Bank of Ghana has also reduced the lending rate which has in turn reflected at the commercial Banks. The MoH continues to provide the necessary kits and personal protective equipment (PPEs) for medical staff and the frontline security personnel to protect them and facilitate their work. In addition, life insurance has been procured by the same Ministry for some frontline medical staff as further recognition of, and support for, their sacrifices. Tax exemption has been granted to all medical staff for three months, effective April, while frontline staff of the same profession have been given 50% increase on their basic salary for three months.



The challenges



With these measures and several others in place (and I guess more will be forthcoming), the country seems to be on track to effectively manage and contain the pandemic in such a way that it will not get to the point where our medical personnel, facilities and other required resources will be overwhelmed and lead to more fatalities. Regrettably, certain unfortunate developments which have come up over the past couple of weeks have the potential to adversely affect our collective efforts and must therefore be checked in order not to derail the gains made in the fight against the pandemic. On the surface and under normal circumstances, these issues (discussed below) are minor and peripheral part of everyday mundane life (if not fun and comic relief) hence they should not attract any serious attention but in our present situation, they are, and have become critical and therefore deserve urgent consideration.



As indicated earlier, peripheral issues are mostly very minor or insignificant and therefore of no or very little importance and consequence. Ironically however, in this context and in our current situation, the issues seem to have gained more weight and have become part of everyday conversation with the potential to impact negatively our combat against COVID-19; hence, from the perspective of psychology, they must be tackled head on. For the purpose of this discussion, the issues are categorized into misinformation/rumours/fake news, ignorance/beliefs/ superstitions and outright fabrication/lies/mischief.



Misinformation, rumours and fake news



Among others, misinformation simply connotes fabrication, deception, misrepresentation, distortion and propaganda. In essence, misinformation is mostly carried out deliberately by individual(s), group(s) or institutions with the aim of achieving varied personal, group, institutional or other sectional goals including deception. It must be emphasized however that there are others who engage in misinformation as a result of ignorance and/or just for the fun of it. In effect, such persons may not necessarily have any ulterior motives for the action beyond the fun and may also not even be aware of, or anticipate the potential adverse effects such misinformation may have on others and the larger society.



Misinformation is not the preserve of any group of persons as it transcends age brackets, sex/gender, educational background, socio-economic background, geographical location and race. Misinformation may also be carried out by officialdom in a well-organized format aimed at rallying support for or against a proposal, existing policy/program, as a means of indoctrinating or protecting others, inducing fear or diverting attention from the real or factual issues. An individual or a group may also engage in misinformation for the same or similar reasons as that of officialdom.



Why is obvious misinformation believed?



One of the major reasons why misinformation, rumours or fake news is easily believed is that a significant percentage of our society strongly believe in, and largely depend on anecdotal evidence - hearsay, subjective, circumstantial, or sketchy information (as we say in our local parlance, akee, akee, yese, yese, jeetah, jeetah, wobena, wobena, etc.,). Therefore, for this group of persons, almost anything they hear and/or read/view is true, reliable and appropriate for consumption. They most often embrace the information and add it to their stored knowledge which in turn influences their thoughts and subjective actions. In Ghana (and experiences in other African countries show similar trend), anecdotal evidence seems to be somewhat engrained in our socialization processes, culture and belief systems and indeed, as part of our everyday life hence such pieces of information are not difficulty for us to accept, imbibe and retain.



As a matter of fact, in a predominantly anecdotal society, individuals who are inquisitorial and have the habit of asking the W questions (who, when, which, where, what etc.) are usually tagged as being all knowing/too known and even arrogant hence with time most of them also come to terms with, and accept the prevailing norm/status quo. After all, it is the order of the day. Put different, a child growing up in such an environment/society is likely to accept anecdotal evidence as the main or one of the dominant and very reliable source of information hence it is likely to become part of the his/her stored knowledge and an acceptable means of information gathering and acquisition. Another reason is that misinformation/rumors/fake news tends to be fun, interesting and very easy to relate to because they are purposeful spiced and flavored/seasoned to taste good for ready and easy consumption by the general public especially the gullible and those who do not want to subject issues to strict proof and analysis.



Repetition



Furthermore, misinformation tends to be trusted more than the real facts because the former is usually repeated several times over a short period of time and that tends to give it credibility/credence. The question that comes up is if it is not true why is it all over and on the lips of a lot of people? This is one of the common strategies used in propaganda and to some extent in advertising. Think of any radio or television advertisement or a song which you used to or currently sing along almost perfectly any time it is played though you did not make any conscious effort(s) to learn the words. This is an aspect of a principle referred to as sub-liminal absorption/engagement/assimilation or sub-conscious learning - picking/adapting information without the usual conscious attention or efforts. Repetition enhances encoding and storage of information. The principle is the same in misinformation, rumours and fake news.



Repetition and trust in the media



Taking cognizance of the important association between repetition, retention and recall, lower primary teachers in particular make very good use of the concept to enhance teaching and learning at the lower primary level in particular. At that level, they place more emphasis on the concept of repetition by ensuring that pupils regularly go over most of the things taught because they are very much aware of the critical links between repetition, retention and recall of information. Besides the fun, repetition is one of the reasons why many of us still recall with ease and sing most of our kindergarten and primary one and two songs and rhymes. Another reason why misinformation has popular appeal in Ghana in particular is that many Ghanaians believe and trust almost everything reported by the media (radio and television stations in particular) and in recent times most of what are posted on social media platforms.



This position is supported by studies by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and other institutions which have over the years found high public trust in the media. Indeed, NO CREDIBLE traditional media house will deliberately peddle misinformation as part of its everyday news items, reports, commentaries and program. However, media houses do support/substantiate their news/reports with interviews and other pieces of information which under the context of this discussion may fall under misinformation. In doing so, the intention is not to endorse misinformation but it becomes an unintended consequences which inadvertently create the impression that since they (media houses) have been reported by the media, they are factual and reliable.



Formal education



The level of adult illiteracy (about 21% as at 2019 - for the population who are 15 years and above) in the country also makes it very easy for a cross section of the citizens to easily believe in misinformation, rumours and sometimes blatant lies and fabrications. This is not to imply that very little or no formal education necessarily makes an individual gullible, illogical or unreasonable. No, not at all! The import here is that the worldview, attitudes, perception, beliefs and the attributional disposition of these groups tend to be shaped somewhat differently from that of those with at least fifteen years of formal education hence the former tend to be more susceptible to misinformation. The sad issue is that although invariably misinformation/ rumors/fake news tend to go contrary to known facts and figures, which are mostly verifiable, because the misinformation is usually in line with the predominant structures of thinking and belief systems (traditional and/or religious and superstition) of the individual, it reinforces that thought pattern. Therefore, the misinformation does not meet any strong resistance from the already stored knowledge - the architecture of the new information is not alien to the system so it is readily welcome and absorbed.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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One in five offers of PPE help in Wales either fraudulent or not up to scratch, says First Minister

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 30th, 2020

Around one in five offers of help to make Personal Protective Equipment in Wales have been found to be either fraudulent or not to have the correct quality certificate, the First Minister has said.

There has been a huge drive in the country to boost the amount of masks, gowns and other items available to frontline workers fighting the coronavirus.

On Tuesday a chartered flight carrying 200,000 fluid resistant gowns arrived in Cardiff from Cambodia.

The Welsh Government says it has been inundated with offers of assistance from businesses, schools and countless others.

But during a virtual question and answer session with AMs held yesterday, Mark Drakeford that not all of them were genuine.

I need to explain to members that not every offer of help turns out to be genuine, he said.

Almost one in five of offers subsequently investigated by the experts at our own surgical materials testing laboratory in Bridgend turns out to rely on incorrect certification or to be straightforwardly fraudulent.

Each one of those offers takes time and effort to investigate and is an inevitable distraction from responding to the far greater number of generous and well-intentioned possibilities.

Sadly, this virus has been exploited by some to prey on the vulnerable. The Minister for Finance and Trefnydd published advice last week on avoiding the risks of online scams and being vigilant to the serious risks this poses to vulnerable members of our community.

Mr Drakeford described the latest influx of PPE as important and said it was secured through the efforts of the Welsh Government.

He added it would be shared with other parts of the United Kingdom if needed, as part of a mutual aid system.

The First Minister also highlighted a number of other positive examples where businesses have responded to the governments call for action.

They include Transcend Packaging in Ystrad Mynach, which has changed its processes to make a million face shields a week for the NHS in Wales, with capacity to double the number if needed.

He added: For the first time, were close to self-sufficiency in scrubs in Wales. By the end of next week, we will be making 5,000 a week, bringing back jobs from overseas and anchoring them in our Welsh economy.

We have worked with a UK company supplying the NHS with scrubs, and primarily with three Welsh businesses and social enterprises.

Two of these are in north Wales and the third is in a factory we have created from scratch in Ebbw Vale, in partnership with a social enterprise, creating jobs for 50 machinists who otherwise had been long-term unemployed.
The United Kingdom (UK) has granted a one year automatic visa to all frontline health workers combating the coronavirus.

The policy also applies to social workers whose visas are due to expire in October.

The United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care made this in a tweet on April 30.

According to the Department,

Frontline health and social care workers with visas due to expire before 1 October 2020 will receive an automatic one year extension.

This will apply to staff from overseas working as:

midwives

radiographers

social workers

pharmacists, it tweeted.

---Daily Guide
Ola will station its cabs at each Cloudnine hospital

In response to the growing customer demands for transportation services during the health crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Indias leading chain of maternity, fertility and child care has collaborated with Ola, Indias leading mobility platform, to offer mobility services to its customers. This service will be available across all six Cloudnine centres in Bengaluru located in Jayanagar, Old Airport Road, Malleshwaram, Bellandur, Whitefield and HRBR layout. Following the governments advice, booking an Ola ride will remain restricted to essential visits to the hospital only.

As a part of this collaboration in Bengaluru, Ola will station its cabs at each Cloudnine hospital. A special area has been designated for Ola pick-ups and drop-offs where Cloudnine staff will help customers in and out of the vehicles. All the bookings will be facilitated to the customers through the Cloudnine call centre.

This service comes as an extension to the hospitals recently launched teleconsultation services allowing customers to consult doctors from their homes via video thereby avoiding all the non- essential travel to the hospital. Doctors will advise patients to visit the hospital only when there is an urgent need to undergo a medical scan or test which requires immediate attention.

Speaking on the collaboration with Ola says Raviganesh Venkataraman, CEO, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals Safe patient transport is a critical area in healthcare access, serving as a link between home and health facilities. Our collaboration with Ola is an endeavour to play an active role in easing challenges in the current situation and streamline the delivery of our services to our customers. We are confident that this service, along with accessible healthcare shall ensure access to affordable means of mobility. We are privileged to provide safe and reliable transportation options through our collaboration with Ola thereby making our services accessible to customers under all circumstances.

Adding further, Raviganesh Venkataraman said: As our country faces challenging times, availability of transportation services comes as an extension to our teleconsultation services. At Cloudnine, customer centricity has always been our core value and we are happy to make this service easily accessible and available to address their needs and requirements. We are constantly innovating and looking into all available options to increase accessibility of care for our customers.

Speaking about the collaboration, Anand Subramanian, Spokesperson and Head of Communications Ola said: In the face of this unprecedented medical and economic crisis, it is imperative that we come together to mobilise all resources at our disposal to fight this pandemic. By enabling access to mobility, in this case for expecting mothers to and from Cloudnine Hospitals, we are filling in for a much needed reliable and secure mobility solution in these challenging times. Olas collaboration with Cloudnine Hospitals is yet another initiative through which we will continue to serve essential travel for citizens, as we all emerge stronger together in these testing times.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued his charm offensive on President Donald Trump, with a letter praising his coronavirus measures and calling for stronger collaboration between the NATO allies.

The letter accompanied Turkey's shipment of a military cargo plane carrying medical supplies to the U.S. to boost its fight against the pandemic, in a gesture of solidarity after years of fractious relations. The donation ordered by Erdogan included 500,000 surgical masks, 40,000 protective overalls, disinfectants, goggles and face shields.

"I am following with appreciation your determined struggle to control the pandemic in the U.S., and I am very pleased to observe that, thanks to your measures, America has taken the first steps towards normalization by achieving a downward trend in the number of new cases," Erdogan said in the letter, according to a statement by the presidency in Ankara.

Erdogan told Trump that Turkey will continue to be a "reliable and strong partner of the U.S." to meet basic needs during the outbreak and normalization process thereafter. He underlined the importance of collaboration between the two countries on measures to restore order, saying he looks forward "to exchanging ideas and suggestions on this issue at the earliest convenience."

The U.S. and Turkey have been at odds over a series of flashpoints, most recently Turkey's purchase last year of a Russian missile-defense system that the U.S. says could help Moscow gather critical intelligence on NATO systems. Erdogan's personal relationship with Trump has remained publicly warm despite the disputes, even as Washington threatened Turkey with sanctions if it deployed the S-400 missile batteries.

Turkey has "slowed down" the planned April activation of the missiles, top defense industry official Ismail Demir told state-run TRT television on Tuesday.

Erdogan said he hopes Congress and media also understand the strategic importance of the relationship between the two countries and "act in a way that our common fight against our common problems necessitates."
Rendering of Bloom at Magnolia Building supportive housing for our citys most vulnerable populations is now more critical than ever. We are proud of innovative developments like Bloom at Magnolia that offer residents improved quality of life and access to a wide range of onsite social and supportive services.

Linc Housing announced the start of construction on Bloom at Magnolia, an all-new, 40-unit apartment community in Long Beach for people who have experienced homelessness.

Located in the South Wrigley neighborhood in central Long Beach, Bloom at Magnolia is aligned with key concepts in the Citys proposed General Plan Update by incorporating smart growth principles to develop a thriving and livable community that promotes healthy living, education, opportunity and neighborhood engagement. The 37,900-square-foot site was purchased from the City of Long Beachs nonprofit affiliate, the Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC), following a competitive bidding process.

Building supportive housing for our citys most vulnerable populations is now more critical than ever, said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. We are proud of innovative developments like Bloom at Magnolia that offer residents improved quality of life and access to a wide range of onsite social and supportive services.

The new community, located at 1770 Magnolia Avenue, will have 39 one-bedroom apartments and one managers unit. Other features include a computer lab, office space for supportive services case managers, dedicated bicycle parking, 3,000 square feet of indoor community space, 3,000 square feet of outdoor common areas, and convenient access to public transportation, shopping and community services.

"Now, more than ever, we see that housing formerly homeless individuals can be life changing, said Emilio Salas, acting executive director, Los Angeles County Development Authority. Among the various dangers that exist for an unsheltered individual, avoiding illnesses, like COVID-19, is yet another. The Measure H funds used to build Bloom at Magnolia will serve as a long-term investment for some of our most vulnerable populations."

Construction of affordable housing has been designated an essential activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the construction team will follow recommended safety protocols to keep the job site safe.

Our work has always been essential, but these challenging times raise this idea of essential to new heights, said Rebecca Clark, Linc Housing president and CEO. Even with so many on our team and others working remotely, our partners at the City of Long Beach and the County of Los Angeles have remained committed to helping us get this much needed development underway by working with us to finalize the financing and obtain needed permits. We cant thank everyone enough for ensuring our work can continue through these trying times. We want to get this supportive housing built as quickly as possible.

With funding support from Los Angeles County, residents will receive intensive case management to help ensure they thrive. Supportive services will include mental health and physical health services, employment counseling and job placement, education, substance abuse counseling, money management, assistance in obtaining and maintaining benefits, and referrals to community-based services and resources.

Funding for the development comes from a variety of sources including $8.5 million from the Los Angeles County Development Authority (general funds, Mental Health Housing Program Funds, and Measure H Funds), $2 million in gap financing from the Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC), a conventional loan from the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, a construction loan from Union Bank, tax credit equity from Raymond James Tax Credit Funds, Inc., and Affordable Housing Program funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank. The California Endowment provided predevelopment support. Bloom at Magnolia also benefits from the federal Opportunity Zone incentive program intended to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities.

The new community was designed by Withee Malcolm Architects and will be built by Sun Country Builders. The development is due to be completed in late 2021. All units will be filled through referrals from the County of Los Angeles Coordinated Entry System (CES). Bloom at Magnolia is Linc Housings third development in Long Beach. Spark at Midtown, with 95 units, will be completed in early 2021, and The Palace, opened in 2012, has 13 homes for transition age youth.

About Linc Housing Corporation

Linc Housing, one of California's most productive nonprofit developers of affordable housing, is committed to building communities and strengthening neighborhoods for people underserved by the marketplace. Linc has helped create more than 8,000 homes in 80 communities throughout the state. The organization's properties are known for excellent design, outstanding management and life-enhancing services for its residents. Linc has 36 years of service to families, seniors, people with special needs, and local governments - helping to create sustainable communities via new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, and historic preservation. Visit http://www.Linchousing.org for more information.

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YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Victory Day, the Armenian Government announced it will pay 300,000-dram rewards as assistance to all World War II veterans in Armenia.

PM Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting that 287 WWII veterans are currently living in Armenia.

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan reminded that this one-time payment is not related to the stipend that the veterans are already receiving, which in turn was doubled in 2019.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan


Quarterly Activities Report

Brisbane, April 30, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - State Gas Limited ( ASX:GAS ) is owner and operator of the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL 231) in central eastern Queensland, approximately 545 km northwest of Brisbane and 50 km southwest of Rolleston, in the Bowen Basin Central Queensland. The permit hosts both conventional and unconventional gas and is approximately 45 km from the high pressure gas pipeline network in Queensland.In August 2018 Pipeline Survey Licence 2028 was issued to the Company, enabling investigations to commence for a pipeline route to market. In late 2018 State Gas drilled the first coal seam gas well in the region into the Reid's Dome Beds and established the potential for a significant coal seam gas project in PL 231. Permian coal measures within the Reid's Dome Beds are extensive across the entire permit but the area had not been explored for coal seam gas prior to the drilling program undertaken by State Gas.State Gas has adopted a strategy to bring gas to market from PL 231 to meet near term forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market. The strategy involves progressing a phased appraisal program in parallel with permitting for an export pipeline and development facilities to facilitate the fastest possible delivery of gas to market.The rationale for the strategy was supported by the Australian Energy Market Operator's Gas Statement of Opportunities 2020, released in late March, which warns that the southern states of Australia could face gas shortfalls by 2024 and as early as 2023. While this report pre-dates the current COVID-19 crisis your Board believes it remains essentially valid: while COVID-19 may depress gas demand, the oil price crash may well lead to equal or greater reductions in domestic supply. The development of the Queensland LNG projects has caused the linkage of the east coast domestic gas and international LNG markets, particularly in Asia, with surplus Queensland produced gas moving between each. Asian LNG demand has been severely impacted by COVID-19, but is showing signs of recovery, particularly in China. At the same time we have seen several major new LNG projects cancelled or deferred, and it can be anticipated that US LNG supply will also reduce, as gas is no longer so freely produced as a by-product of oil shale. If these reductions in supply outweigh the recovered demand we can anticipate Australian gas moving to meet the international market, and a commensurate reduction of gas available to meet Australian shortfalls.The drilling of the Aldinga East-1A and Serocold-1 wells during the December 19 Quarter confirmed the extension in the northern and central areas of the permit of the Reid's Dome coal measures previously identified in the south by Nyanda-4. The objective of the March Quarter was to confirm producibility of the gas through production testing of the Nyanda-4 and Serocold-1 wells.PROJECT ACTIVITIESThe March 2020 Quarter commenced extremely well, with production of gas from Nyanda-4 commencing on 9 December 2019, after just 5 days of dewatering. The gas rate and increased consistently as the water level (and hence downhole pressure) was lowered. A gas rate of 227 mscf/d was recorded on 23 January 2020. However, at that point the pump shut down with technical problems. Frustratingly, widespread heavy rain and floods in late January to March washed out site roads and prevented access to enable remediation of the pump. Gas continued to flow from the well at reducing rates as down hole pressures gradually increased with the recharging water. The slow water recharge is consistent with the low water make during pumping from the well, suggesting water management costs (a large component of CSG operating costs) will be at the lower end of the range for coal seam gas projects.Production testing commenced at Serocold-1 in the central area of the permit on 17 January 2020 and early signs of gas production were also seen within a week. However as with Nyanda-4, pump problems and wet weather intervened and dewatering was shut down.Access to site was re-established in April 2020 and works to recommence dewatering undertaken after Easter. While pumping issues are currently being addressed the high gas flow rates and low water discharge proved in this campaign augur well for future production.At Aldinga East-1A the Company has also observed a build up in wellhead pressure commensurate with the reservoir pressure measured during logging operations, suggesting that access to the conventional gas discovered in the Cattle Creek Formation has been re-established. The Company continues to monitor this pressure and has commenced planning for a short-term flow rate test of Aldinga East-1A.Export PipelineWhile field activities were restricted during the wet season, State Gas has also progressed plans for an export pipeline from the Reid's Dome gas field. A desktop study of potential options has been undertaken and has confirmed a viable route from the gas field to the high pressure east coast gas pipeline network, via the Queensland Gas Pipeline (approximately 45km to the east of the field).Financial PositionAs noted above, your Board believes the mid-term outlook for gas from Reid's Dome remains strong, and accordingly we continue to move the Company towards achieving gas to market as soon as possible, while at the same time focussing tightly on near term activities most likely to build reserves and hence company value. Board and management remuneration has been restructured, and reductions from suppliers negotiated where possible.Options for future development funding are being considered, including strategic partnering and pre-sales, along with and debt and equity.At the end of the Quarter the Company had cash at bank of $1.54m, after expending $2.26m in Project development costs, and $0.14m in other costs. The Company is in a good position not only to weather the COVID-19 storm, but also to advance our commercial aims.To view tables and figures, please visit:About State Gas Limited

State Gas Limited (ASX:GAS) is a Queensland-based developer of the Reid's Dome gas field, originally discovered during drilling in 1955, located in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. State Gas is 100%-owner of the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL-231) a CSG and conventional gas play, which is well-located 30 kilometres southwest of Rolleston, approximately 50 kilometres from the Queensland Gas Pipeline and interconnected east coast gas network.

Permian coal measures within the Reid's Dome Beds are extensive across the entire permit but the area had not been explored for coal seam gas prior to State Gas' ownership. In late 2018 State Gas drilled the first coal seam gas well in the region (Nyanda-4) into the Reid's Dome Beds and established the potential for a significant coal seam gas project in PL 231. The extension of the coal measures into the northern and central areas of the permit was confirmed in late 2019 by the Company's drilling of Aldinga East-1A (12 km north) and Serocold-1 (6 km to the north of Nyanda-4).

State Gas is also the 100% holder Authority to Prospect 2062 ("Rolleston-West"), a 1,414 km2 permit (eight times larger than PL 231) that is contiguous with the Reid's Dome Gas Project. Rolleston-West contains highly prospective targets for both coal seam gas (CSG) and known conventional gas within the permit area. It is not restricted by domestic gas reservation requirements.

The contiguous areas (Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West), under sole ownership by State Gas, enable integration of activities and a unified super-gasfield development, providing economies of scale, efficient operations, and optionality in marketing.

State Gas is implementing its strategic plan to bring gas to market from Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West to meet near term forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market. The strategy involves progressing a phased appraisal program in parallel with permitting for an export pipeline and development facilities to facilitate the fastest possible delivery of gas to market. State Gas' current focus has been to confirm the producibility of the gas through production testing of the wells.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Glencore Plc (GLCNF.PK, GLNCY.PK, GLEN.L) said Thursday that its own sourced copper production for the first quarter of 2020 declined 9 percent from the year-ago period to 293,300 tonnes. The company noted that no production was reported in the quarter for Mutanda and Mopani. The company's own sourced nickel production for the quarter rose 4 percent to 28,200 tonnes, reflecting the offsetting effects of disruptions in the base period at INO and Koniambo, and maintenance in the current period at Murrin Murrin. Own sourced zinc production rose 13 percent to 295,600 tonnes, mainly relating to the Antamina joint venture, the Iscaycruz mine in Peru that restarted in the third quarter of 2019 and higher grades from Canada. Glencore's coal production decreased 4 percent to 31.9 million tonnes, mainly reflecting operating challenges in South Africa and mining sequencing in the Australian coking portfolio, partly offset by higher Australian thermal coal production. Looking ahead to 2020, Glencore now forecast its copper production to be 1.255 million tonnes, plus or minus 45 thousand tonnes. Earlier, the company projected production of 1.300 million tonnes, plus or minus 50 thousand tonnes. The company also said it expect a reduction of about $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion in 2020 capex compared to its original 2020 guidance of $5.5 billion. Glencore noted that focused cost control, lower energy costs, favorable movements in producer currencies and higher precious metals' by-product credits, have underpinned reductions in forecast full-year unit cash costs for its key commodity departments. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Two Montgomery residents waited in the car at the front of the line recently for a COVID-19 fingerstick blood test drive thru at Stone Creek Family Medicine on Texas 105.

It would be nice to get your life back so you can go out without fear, Dean Phillips, 67, of Montgomery said while wearing his mask in the car with his wife Carolyn, 68.

While the couple waited for the 15-minute test to see if they may have had the virus after experiencing symptoms around December and January, they also brought a bag of supplies to donate to a new effort launching to deliver COVID-19 care packages to people in need.

I just feel sorry for people that cant afford to buy food or cleaning supplies, Carolyn Phillips said sharing why she supported the cause. So many people have lost jobs through this thing.

Care packages

Three sisters, whose mother is a physician at the clinic, are seeking supply donations and volunteers to make and deliver the care packages to Montgomery County residents in need during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Montgomery High School graduate and Kaylie Chilek, 20, who is back home from college in New York and her sisters Lacy, 17, and Grace, 14, who attend Montgomery ISD, said they heard care packages were being made for people who cannot get things they need due to the pandemic.

Its just nice to help others, Lacy Chilek said. Its kind of tough times right now and theres nothing wrong with trying to help out your neighbors and people around you.

They learned about the packages from their mother, who saw a COVID Care Package sitting by a trashcan in their neighborhood. The sisters decided to start a new organization, Montgomery County COVID Care to extend the reach.

Two of the sisters who can drive and several of their friends who have already volunteered are able to deliver the care packages to the homes. The sisters are asking Stone Creek to allow people to pick them up anonymously for themselves or to give to someone they know needs one.

Some donations of boxes and food have already been received from a Facebook post. On Saturday, a small pile of boxes and donations sat outside the car line. The sisters are asking anyone who comes to get tested to bring donations like boxes, food, household items. Stone Creek is also donating money from the tests to buy things like milk, eggs, and groceries.

We have had quite a few cars come in with donations, not even coming for the test, but still getting tested anyways, Kaylie Chilek said while helping at the test site.

Kaylie Chilek shared she has been studying at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Her college is currently developing a new data visualization tool to help examine how COVID-19 impacts regions differently by examining how community conditions affect health outcomes. New York has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States with more than 305,000 cases and 23,000 deaths.

Its really bad in New York, Kaylie Chilek said. I was away for Spring Break and I was lucky enough not to have to go back there to pack up my stuff. Because my college provided a way to pack it up for me. There were a lot of people who didnt have that opportunity or werent able to come home.

Sister project

Shes grateful to be able to start the new project with her sisters and to be able to help at the clinic.

Despite missing out on part of my college experience, which I guess everyone is upset about, its been pretty fun being back home for the most part, Kaylie Chilek added. Starting this has been really cool, its been a new experience for sure, learning how to make things run and how things work and making things happen as far as the organization, getting people together to do it. Its very new experience, its been fulfilling.

Her mother shared she is proud of her daughters.

Im really proud that they really wanted to take the time to do it and are serious about it, said Dr. Jennifer Chilek.

But she knows it must also be hard for her daughter.

They were supposed to go back in the summer, but luckily they canceled that, Jennifer Chilek said. I didnt want her (Kailey) to go back there because of the prevalence rate, it scared me. But my gosh, I love having her home and it is really fun to have all three kids home at once.

We do things together and they do they schoolwork, get their stuff done, and basically they have been so good about all of the precautions, she added. They have not complained once about having to stay home and not go anywhere because I have to be extremely careful and they know that.

In late February, Chilek, who has an underlying health condition, said she was hospitalized on two separate occasions at Houston Methodist hospital.

She described being intubated and having all the COVID-19 symptoms, including pneumonia, a pulmonary embolism, and a rash on her toes. While she and the doctor believes it is possible, she had the virus, she claims she has taken over five tests with negative results, including at the hospital and at the clinic.

She shared the experience had some influence on the decision to host the antibodies drive-thru testing, noting that the clinic uses the Premier Biotech test because it is used by Stanford. The clinic works with a group of physicians to be able to get the tests at a more affordable rate and is looking into a test from Korea soon, which she has learned may be more accurate.

So far, over the past two weekends, Jennifer Chilek estimated about 1,000 people have been tested in the clinic during an appointment at through the drive thru testing for the antibodies with approximately 1.5-3 percent testing positive. She noted most of the people who go to get tested describe having symptoms in January.

Depending on the availability, the plan is to host the drive thru test again on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the clinic at 19782 Texas 105, No. 111 in Montgomery. The tests cost $65 and may be purchased with credit card or cash.

I think it is a good idea, Carolyn Phillips said wearing a mask next to her husband. I would like to know if I previously had COVID-19. We are not sure. We had a flu that wasnt actually the flu. We had the symptoms in January, or it was December. We are just curious.

For more information about the care packages, email: MoCoCovidCare@gmail.com.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Agra, April 30 : Health services network in Agra, both private and public, has failed to cope with the increasing pressure and demands from an alarmingly rising number of Covid-19 cases, whose tally climbed to 455 on Thursday morning. So far 74 have recovered and returned home and 13 people have died.

Private medical practitioners were being targeted by patients and administrative officials. However, the charges were effectively denied by the doctors who blamed the district authorities for compounding the problem and failing to provide protective legal framework to facilitate return to normalcy.

The district administration has circulated helpline numbers for medical consultations and a list of 25 odd private hospitals where non Covid-19 patients could seek help. But the patients say doctors were refusing to admit or treat them without Covid test. In the last few days several precious lives have been lost in this passing the buck game.

A senior surgeon Shwetank Prakash said, "The role of private doctors and nursing homes continues to remain in confusion. Clear cut policy and direction is lacking. Hospital will be sealed if anyone is found corona positive. I will be labelled corona spreader. These official actions are self contradictory." Prakash said asymptomatic carriers don't know about the corona infection. The doctor is also in the dark. The virus spread continues.

Doctors said the biggest social stigma was the quarantine. They wanted exclusion from the Consumer Protection Act, as there were no universally accepted guidelines for Corona management.

The danger now is that a large number of health workers have been found to be infected with the virus. Even cops on duty continue are infected. More than 80 cops are in quarantine. The nodal officer has said that medical infection at the moment was the biggest worry.

The quarantine centres in the 30 odd hotspots are ill equipped with facilities. Complaints of lack of drinking water, food, clean toilets, continued to flood social media with video clips.

In neighbouring Firozabad, the number of Covid-19 cases has gone up to 105, while in Mathura the number has risen to 13.

Agra police from mid night sealed Agra district borders to prevent movement of vehicles.

A big problem, according to the police, continues to be the lockdown violators, although 471 have been arrested and cases against 1344 people were registered. The police has challaned 25,539 vehicles and seized 1065. Still, in many areas people continued to defy restrictions. Those held complain they had to move out for essentials, medicines or hospitalisation.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Kwasi Amoako Atta

30.04.2020 LISTEN

Work has commenced on 49-kilometres of road in Accra with the construction of critical links and overpass, which when completed, would ease traffic congestion and boost socio-economic activities.

The project, valued at GHC149 million, is in two phases and scheduled to be completed in 24 months by Oswal Investment Limited.

Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, who toured some of the project sites to inspect progress of work, said the project and many others on-going were part of the government's vision to give a facelift to roads in the country.

Last year, you all remember President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo say one of his focuses this year is to embark on an aggressive road development across Ghana tagging 2020 as 'the year of roads. Roads are critical in the development of any country, the Minister said. He said the project would develop a new link into Adjirigano Boundary Road from East Legon that would also see the building of a culvert and widening of the road, which would be connected to the Block Factory area. When this is done the traffic at the East Legon tunnel will ease significantly because commuters will have options and can drive to the Adjirigano without using the junction. Mr Amoako-Atta appealed to the local assemblies to desist from issuing permits that impede road development. He said the Ministry would work with the local assembly in whose jurisdiction the project was being implemented, in accordance with the law, to ensure demolishing of structures to ease construction work. He advised the public to be meticulous and ensure they secured permits from the right sources before putting up structures.

Director, Department of Urban Roads, Abass Awolu, said the project would include the building of an overpass at the Block Factory to provide direct access to drivers from the Motorway across Adjirigano Boundary Road, ARS and the University of Professional Studies area.

He said the road network leading to the A and C Shopping Mall, which was in a deplorable state, would be given a facelift as part of the project. He said in future, the road would be linked to an interchange over the Motorway to connect to the LEKMA and Adjirigano Boundary roads and subsequently to the ARS area. He said other critical roads that would benefit from the project were Weija-Gbawe, Tema Community 18 and Legon.

Managing Director of Oswal Investment Limited, Humphrey A. Williams, said the first phase included the building of the culverts and link to Adjirigano, which would be completed in eight months.

He gave the assurance that the project would be completed as scheduled to enable road users to heave a sigh of relief.

---GNA
Alessia Bowman, 10, Sybella Bowman, 12, and Oliver Bowman, 8, do school work at their family home and cattle property on April 05, 2020 in Tarpoly Creek, Australia. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Western Australia Principal Stood Down Over Virus Letter

A Western Australian school principal has been stood down after she wrote to parents asking them to keep their children home if possible amid COVID-19 concerns.

Halls Head College principal Bronwyn White sent the letter last week, calling for only the children of essential workers or those unable to stay at home to attend school for the first week of term two, which started on April 29.

She cited concerns about cleaning supplies and the ability to apply physical distancing requirements, reportedly saying only year 11 and 12 students should return for weeks two and three.

After Prime Minister Scott Morrison said social distancing rules did not apply to classrooms, Ms White issued a retraction.

The initial letter was against Department of Education advice although parents have the option of keeping their children home for the first three weeks of the term.

The department confirmed Alen Kursar was the schools acting principal, but director-general Lisa Rodgers said it would be inappropriate to comment on any matter relating to an individuals employment.

Western Australian Secondary School Executives Association president Armando Giglia told ABC radio the department was going through the usual processes.

Bureaucracy is bureaucracy, Giglia said on Thursday.

She had the best interests of the students at heart  nobody denies that.

Premier Mark McGowan said he wouldnt second-guess the departments decision-making.

An online petition calling on McGowan to intervene and have White reinstated has been signed by about 2000 people.

Perth
As San Francisco struggles to provide enough resources and services for its massive homeless population during the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor London Breed has a stern message for those coming from out of town: Please stay away.

People are showing up in San Francisco from other places and asking where their hotel room is, Breed said at a Wednesday press conference. Thats a real problem for me, because we already have a very challenging problem ... as it is.

Breeds message comes as officials scramble to move thousands of homeless people into spaces that they can quarantine and safely distance from each other. People coming to San Francisco from other counties and states in search of services and shelter has been a longstanding challenge for the city. But during this pandemic, when resources are strained to the brink, officials said they must put their foot down.

I want to get the message out loud and clear, Breed added. If you are not in this system, and were not in this system as of the beginning of this pandemic, then we will not prioritize you over people who have been waiting.

The city has leased more than 2,700 hotel rooms around the city for vulnerable homeless and front-line workers. Officials are also moving more than 100 trailers and RVs to a big, empty pier in the Bayview neighborhood, and exploring open land where people could pitch their tents at a safe distance from each other.

Still, its not enough to meet the demand for the citys 8,000-plus unhoused residents and the thousands of others who live in congregate settings. Its nearly two months since the city has been ordered to shelter in place, and many of San Franciscos neighborhoods  like the Tenderloin, Bayview, Mission and Castro  are still crowded with tents and groups of people with nowhere else to go.

Abigail Stewart-Kahn, interim director of the homelessness department, said that people will only be prioritized for a room if they are already in the citys system, and have roots in San Francisco. Those who have not been in the system, she said, will not be prioritized and will have to wait longer.

Other Bay Area counties, like Alameda County, have also moved some homeless population into hotels.

Its not that we dont want to help you, Stewart-Kahn said. Its that it will take a tremendous amount of time. And we need you to return to your home communities and get the resources there.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
The loss in working hours due to the coronavirus pandemic means 1.6 billion workers may lose their livelihoods.

Nearly half the worlds workers are at immediate risk of losing their jobs, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Wednesday.

The sobering statement will ring alarm bells in economies around the world, with every nation on the planet likely to be affected by the devastating fallout from the spread of coronavirus.

Some 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy  almost half of the global labour force, and those at the most vulnerable end of the employment ladder  are in danger of losing their livelihoods, said the ILO, the oldest agency of the United Nations, in its latest report.

For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future. Millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing, said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

They have no savings or access to credit. These are the real faces of the world of work. If we dont help them now, they will simply perish.

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The informal economy accounts for jobs that are neither taxed nor monitored by governments, and that make up a huge proportion of developing economies. Some two-thirds of the worlds working people are employed in such grey market jobs.

Employment crisis

The ILOs latest assessment of the worldwide situation suggests the calamitous scale of the impact of the pandemic on jobs. Coronavirus has infected more than 3.1 million people globally, killed more than 226,000 and shut down several of the worlds most major economies.

It shows I think in the starkest possible terms that the jobs employment crisis and all of its consequences is deepening by comparison with our estimates of three weeks ago, Ryder told a briefing on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The Trades Union Congress, a federation of trade unions in England and Wales, called for international action to protect workers.

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Hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable workers are losing their jobs around the world every day. Its vital they all have the support they need to make ends meet and are not thrown into poverty, TUC General Secretary Frances OGrady, told Al Jazeera in an emailed statement.

A crisis on this scale needs a global response. We need coordinated international action to support health, protect jobs, give everyone access to social security and boost local and national economies when the recovery comes.

Creative reconstruction

But while the immediate impact makes for horrifying reading, the global economy will likely bounce back in one form or another  though how long that will take, and what the world will look like when it does, remain unclear.

The bounce-back after COVID-19 will be gradual, but it will occur. John Bryson, professor of enterprise and economic geography, University of Birmingham

The coronavirus pandemic is a tipping point in an ongoing labour market restructuring, in which the creative destruction will become a creative reconstruction as new jobs are created, said John Bryson, professor of enterprise and economic geography at the University of Birmingham.

Those who are at risk or who have lost their livelihoods will eventually re-enter the labour market, the veteran economist told Al Jazeera. The bounce-back after COVID-19 will be gradual, but it will occur. Also we must remember that the global economy was already tipping towards a downturn before COVID-19; COVID-19 has just advanced a path-dependent outcome.

He described the pandemic as a cultural inflection point that can fundamentally change the future.

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If we look back to 1990, one-third of the jobs that existed then have been destroyed over the [subsequent] 30 years. A radical employment revolution occurred. But, this was a gradual process with limited disruption. These destroyed jobs were replaced by new jobs related to the internet and the emergence of digitalisation.

He pointed to the likely emergence of a socially distanced economy, in which jobs performed remotely would thrive, while technology drives the creation of millions of new roles and jobs.

But that may not come as much comfort to the worlds fruit-pickers and sewer cleaners facing their hours being cut in the coming weeks.

And the outlook for global poverty has suddenly become even more bleak than previously expected.

Impact on poverty

Earlier this month, campaigning NGO Oxfam published research suggesting millions more people were about to be forced into poverty.

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For the billions of workers in poor countries who were already scraping by  pulling rickshaws, picking tea or sewing clothes  there are no safety nets such as sick pay or government assistance, said Danny Sriskandarajah, Oxfam GB chief executive.

It will be hard for many to feed and protect their families when incomes vanish.

Ana Caistor Arendar, head of inequality campaigns and policy at Oxfam, called for a bailout of developing countries.

Todays figures underline the fact that the world is facing an economic as well as a health crisis, she told Al Jazeera.

While some action on debt has been taken, much more is needed, starting with the cancellation of developing country debt payments for 2020. This could equip poorer nations with the resources they need to tackle the health social and economic consequences of this pandemic. To give an example, cancelling Ghanas external debt payments in 2020 would enable the government to give a cash grant of $20 a month to each of the countrys 16 million children, disabled and elderly people for a period of six months.

It may not sound like much, but that amount could help stop the children of those laid off from starving to death.

The first month of the coronavirus crisis is estimated to have resulted in a drop of 60 percent in the income of the worlds two billion informal workers. The global workforce numbers around 3.3 billion, the ILO said.

The stats break down to show nosediving income for informal workers in Africa and the Americas  a fall of 81.6 percent  with incomes plummeting 70 percent in Europe and Central Asia, and dropping 21.6 percent in Asia and the Pacific regions.

Daily wage labourers in New Delhi wait to receive food handouts during Indias coronavirus lockdown. The ILO predicts many will soon have no work at all [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Informal workers are the worlds most vulnerable, usually without welfare protections, and often without access to healthcare, or the ability to work from home.

Worldwide, more than 436 million businesses face serious disruption. These are operating in the worst-hit sectors, including 232 million in wholesale and retail, 111 million in manufacturing, 51 million in accommodation and food services, and 42 million in real estate and other business activities.

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Hours worth 305 million jobs lost  in three months

The worlds number of hours worked in the second quarter of this year are expected to be 10.5 percent lower  equivalent to 305 million full-time jobs  than the last pre-crisis quarter, the ILO said.

The eventual increase in global unemployment over 2020 will depend substantially on how the world economy fares in the second half of the year and how effectively policy measures will preserve existing jobs and boost labour demand once the recovery phase begins, the ILO said.

The ILO urged governments to accelerate unemployment benefit payouts, give financial support to freelance workers, and fast track access to credit for small businesses.

As the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve, the need to protect the most vulnerable becomes even more urgent, Ryder added.

TUC chief OGrady agreed. As we move on from this crisis, she said, we must tackle the deep inequalities that force so many workers to live right on the edge.

The magnitude of todays challenge offers an opportunity to fundamentally reshape the world, said the University of Birminghams Bryson.

Do we want to return to a society that devalues labour, relegating whole parts of the global population to a position of exploitation and disadvantage? he asked. Alternatively, do we want to return to our old economy, in which price determined value  rather than value determining price?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 00:04:55|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's central bank on Thursday said in a press briefing that the Thai economy has shrunk in the first quarter and will further contract in the second quarter, factoring the downfall to weakening exports and tourism, both sectors hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourist arrivals in March dropped 76.4 percent year-on-year while exports contracted 2.2 percent, according to Don Nakornthab, senior director of Bank of Thailand's Economic and Policy Department.

Exports contracted 2.2 percent year-on-year last month, he said.

The most affected sectors were automotive, machinery and parts, as well as oil-linked products.

Some expansion was seen in electronics, processed farm products and electrical appliances.

However, the BOT can see a U-shaped or V-shaped recovery depending on how fast the tourists return to the country as well as the global economic recovery, Don said.

He said that the Thai government's economic stimulus packages estimated at over 1 trillion baht (30.86 billion U.S. dollars) could boost the GDP by 6 percent. Enditem
Dame Ward and YaYa Horne, founders of Tiny Room for Elephants, were planning an arts festival for May at the Delaware River waterfront. Cancelling was emotionally painful and financially devastating. Read more

One used the money for groceries. Another invested in canvas  a luxury after months of painting on Home Depot plywood. A magician invested in better illusions. For one artist, the money was just enough to help bury a family member, a victim of the coronavirus.

All were recipients of the Emergency Gap Fund, a grant program launched by the Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia to help black working artists in Philadelphia who were disproportionately impacted by shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic and, on average, have fewer resources and less generational wealth to fall back on.

The idea is simple: Strip away the complexities and bureaucracies of standard grant applications, and get $500 directly into the hands of those who need it most. And, in the face of the dire economic realities that are still unfolding, encourage Philadelphias black artists to stick to their dreams.

For YaYa Horne, 42, the pandemic swept away all plans for the year in one devastating blow. The arts festival Horne planned, Tiny Room for Elephants, was supposed to sprawl across the Delaware River waterfront venues in May, bringing together 150 visual artists and musicians. Earlier this month, Horne began drafting an email letting everyone know the festival was canceled, but couldnt physically bring herself to send it. She had to get a friend to help.

Ive been driving Instacart, because Im a single mom and I have to have something coming in, Horne said. I worked in corporate for years and years, kind of took this leap to do my own thing. And all that work and years of experience and Im delivering groceries. Its really humbling.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

In between, Horne has been applying for grants. But those mostly demand detailed information, financial statements, personal mission statements. It can take weeks to do this, she said. The Village gap fund grant application was just five questions.

The Villages executive director, Aviva Kapust, is well aware that arts organizations of all sizes are feeling deep pain from canceled spring, summer and, potentially, fall seasons. She was concerned that individual artists would be left behind in the relief efforts.

The inequities that existed before the crisis exist now still, and they are also exacerbated, she said. That means people  specifically black people in Philadelphia who have already historically had less access to resources  will continue to have less access.

So, the Village raised an initial round of $40,000 to fund 80 artists, and received that many applications within five hours. Now it has close to 300 applicants  and still hopes to find funding to support everyone who qualifies.

The fund is a way to try to stop the bleeding for artists whose gigs were canceled, whose clients backed out, whose teaching jobs were called off. For those early in their careers, with little savings, the funds are keeping phone service alive, filling prescriptions, and covering rent.

For Shavon Norris, the fund is providing breathing room as she figures out her next steps.

Norris, 43, spent years working for a charter school before she finally built up the spirit and muscle to walk away from that security to pursue art full time in 2018. She had received an Independence Foundation Fellowship to complete her solo performance piece, inspired by her youth, Me and Jesus and Prince and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a one-bedroom apartment in the Bronx.

Now, that performance wont happen  at least not on schedule. The foundation allowed her to keep her fellowship, though. That and the $500 gift from the Village mean that shell at least be able to make it through the summer. Instead of retreating, she hopes shell be able to continue making courageous, strategic decisions.

Another grantee, Jacquan Fields, 25, spoke by phone while dyeing a dog (his flamboyant dog-grooming and styling services are keeping him afloat in the pandemic), his only remaining source of income. The coronavirus pandemic swept away his primary job, Quany the Clown  a North Philadelphia-bred performer who is clown, magician, face painter, balloon artist, and mentor to an ensemble of teenagers who have few opportunities but a zest for show business.

Though his financial outlook is grim, Fields said his biggest concern is the kids hes been working with.

For some of them, this is their only platform of expression," he said. With that outlet taken away, were bottled up.

So, his plan for the $500 is to give them something to look forward to. Were trying to save the money to get bigger illusions, he said, for whenever its safe to perform again.

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.
Singapore's State Courts. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE  Four men and a woman were charged for offences related to COVID-19 on Wednesday (29 April), including one who was accused of using abusive words during an argument over face masks.

The five are Abdul Halim Adi, 48, Rajalakshmi Sukomaran, 36, Sethu Selvaraj, 43, Karthigayen Balasubramaniam, 32, and Muhammad Faez Salimi, 26.

All are Singaporeans.

Abdul Halim Adi

Abdul is accused of verbally abusing a Social Distancing Ambassador by shouting vulgarities at him in the vicinity of Hougang Mall on 14 April, at about 1.15pm.

The next mention of Halims case has been fixed for 13 May and he intends to plead guilty.

Rajalakshmi Sukomaran

Rajalakshmi was charged with one count of leaving her residence in Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 on 19 April at about 6pm for a purpose that is not allowed under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

Rajalakshmi said that she intends to plead guilty. She will return to court on 6 May.

Sethu Selvaraj

Sethu was similarly charged with one count of leaving his place of residence at Petir Road on 19 April, at about 5pm, for a purpose not allowed under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

He also faces two pending unrelated charges of molest and wrongful restraint against a 37-year-old woman on 6 June last year. He is said to have pulled the womans hand and refused to let her go at about 8.30pm near another HDB block along Petir Road. His charge sheet states that he hugged her from behind and groped her at a staircase landing between the first and second floor while interlocking his hands around her waist.

Sethu will return to court on 21 May.

Karthigayen Balasubramaniam

Karthigayen was slapped with two charges of hurling abusive words at two individuals on 12 April between 8.30am and 8.41am at basement 1 of Our Tampines Hub.

Appearing unrepresented in court, Karthigayen denied scolding anyone, claiming that there was only an argument over face masks.

He told the court he intended to engage a lawyer but had difficulty doing so due to the circuit breaker measures. The next mention of his case has been adjourned to 9 June.

Story continues

Muhammad Faez Salimi

Faez is accused of breaking into a minimart located at Bukit Batok to steal cigarettes and surgical masks.

He allegedly broke into Meema Store, at Block 315 Bukit Batok Street 32, on Monday at about 6.30am by lifting the shutter to the main entrance and entering the store. He then allegedly stole 15 cartons and 200 boxes of cigarettes worth $3,950. He also stole $300 in coins and $60 worth of surgical masks, according to his charge sheet.

The total cost of his the stolen loot is $4,310. He has been remanded for investigations and will return to court on 6 May.



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Woman who sneezed on another during COVID-19 circuit breaker period charged in court



Charged: Man who hurled racist remarks, another who slapped petrol station attendant
LAGOS  In continued effort to eradicate poverty in Nigeria, Noella Foundation in Collaboration with Food Clique Support has distributed another 2,500 COVID-19 Emergency FoodBox to residents of Lagos Island and Oshodi in Lagos state.

This is in addition to the 17,700 Emergency boxes distributed to residents of Mushin, Agege, Epe, Badagry, Bariga, Oworonsoki, Yaba, Iyana Ipaja, Idimu, Festac, Makoko, Surulere, Ojuelegba, Alimosho, Igando, Jakande, Ibeju Lekki, Ikorodu, Igbogbo, Ibeshe, Ikoyi, Ebute Metta, Gowon Estate, Shagari Estate, Victoria Island, Ojo Alaba, Lekki, and Onipanu amongst others.

Seyi Tinubu, co-Founder, Noella Foundation in collaboration with FoodClique distributing part of their 20,000 covid-19 Emergency FoodBoxes, containing over 600,000 meals to Lagos residents during the lockdown.

The Founder Noella Foundation and CEO Loatsad Promomedia, Seyi Tinubu who disclosed this on Thursday noted that the over 20,000 emergency food boxes distributed contains over 600, 000 meals and said the foundation will be providing free daily fasting meals for Muslims during the Ramadan period. The initiative, Seyi Tinubu noted, will put smiles on the faces of the thousands of beneficiaries.

According to Tinubu, We keep learning better ways of doing these mass outreaches to support our House-to-House effort and kudos to the various teams of partners and volunteers for ensuring the difficult task of social distancing is achieved despite the seeming difficulty and huge crowds.

Seyi Tinubu, co-founder of Noella Foundation and Bolajoko Fadipe, founder, Foodclique during their covid-19 emergency foodbox outreach which has so far provided 600,000meals during the lockdown in Lagos

We have now provided over 600,000 meals, we intend to reach more areas and do even more.

In the spirit of Ramadan and our goal of leaving no one behind in the fight against hunger, we have also embarked on providing free daily iftar meals in some areas across Lagos with FoodClique Support. It's the little we can do to put the smiles on the faces of beneficiaries.

We are grateful for the privilege we have to be in a position to help and nothing will stop us from doing more. He added.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- These are hard times for pro-immigration forces in the U.S. President Donald Trump has seized upon this moment of confusion and distraction to issue a 60-day ban on most green-card applications -- suggesting that the administration has been just as intent from the start on targeting legal immigration as well as the illegal variety. Trumps leading anti-immigration adviser, Stephen Miller, has said that Trump will try to extend this ban indefinitely, shutting down most immigration by administrative fiat. And with tensions with China ratcheting up over coronavirus and other issues, immigration opponents such as Republican Senator Tom Cotton are proposing a ban on Chinese students studying science and technology at U.S. universities.

Even if Trumps new ban is struck down by the courts and former Vice President Joe Biden beats him in the fall election, the economic downturn caused by the pandemic probably will depress migration for years. The U.S. has been especially hard-hit by coronavirus, and will almost certainly suffer a painful and lasting depression. That will make it a less appealing destination for international talent, which could flow to less-hard-hit places such as Canada and Australia.

But coronavirus is only putting the finishing touches on what was already a highly successful campaign of immigration restriction by the Trump administration. Years of nativist rhetoric and administrative harassment had already led to a sharp reduction in the net number of foreigners moving to the U.S., from more than 800,000 in 2017 to only about 200,000 in 2018. A series of Trump administration policy changes had already stanched the flow of Central American refugees to the U.S.

Trump isn't the only reason immigration to the U.S. has fallen. The big wave of Mexican immigration that began in the 1980s ended a decade before he took office. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 effectively built a border wall, while the Secure Communities program beefed up internal security and deportations during the Barack Obama administration. Meanwhile, Mexican fertility rates dropped sharply, and the Mexican economy improved modestly, reducing the pressures on Mexicans to migrate north for work. This combination of push and pull factors caused the Mexican-born population in the U.S. to fall by hundreds of thousands in the mid-2000s and early 2010s:

Story continues

Because of the end of the Mexican wave, overall low-skilled immigration to the U.S. plummeted. High-skilled immigration, however, remained robust:

Most of these educated immigrants came from Asia. Asian immigration surpassed Latin American immigration in the mid-2000s, and Asian-Americans were on course to become the countrys largest foreign-born ethnic group. That wave may also have waned in time, as better economic opportunities in China and India created alternatives to the American Dream. But Trumps restrictionist policies have choked it off prematurely.

So U.S. immigration is being curtailed by a remarkable confluence of events -- economic growth and fertility decline in other countries, the political success of American nativists and the coronavirus pandemic. These will combine to produce a long-lasting immigration pause similar to the one that started in the 1920s, when nativist laws -- and later the Great Depression and World War II -- choked off immigration for a generation.

In the short term, reduced immigration probably won't affect the economy very much. In normal times, high-skilled immigration boosts local labor markets and tax revenues, while low-skilled immigration leaves these largely unchanged. But with employment and growth constrained by pandemic and depression, even skilled immigration is unlikely to spur economic growth. Usually, the presence of skilled immigrants helps create knowledge clusters in urban areas, where ideas can be easily exchanged and local employers have access to a deep talent pool; but when everyone is working from home, these local effects dont matter. And tax revenue will be constrained by business failures and closures.The main sector that will suffer in the short term is, ironically, the medical system because of shortage of foreign nurses who want to come to the U.S. to help treat coronavirus patients

In the long term, the results of a generation-long immigration pause will be more apparent. Because of the U.S.'s falling fertility and population aging, fewer young workers will be available to support retirees. More places in the middle of the country will empty out, becoming half-inhabited ghost towns full of resentment and heroin. The information technology and biotechnology industries, unable to recruit the best and brightest from India and Nigeria and Vietnam, will cut expansion plans, move operations overseas or simply lose out to competitors from China and elsewhere. And scientific research, the backbone of U.S. prosperity and industrial supremacy, will decline without the foreign graduate students and visa workers who support the research system.

The impact on the U.S.s ability to compete with China will be especially severe. With only a quarter the population of its great rival, the U.S.s not-so-secret weapon was always its ability to keep its population growing through immigration and sustain its tech-industry leadership by recruiting skilled foreigners. With immigration halted, the U.S. will have very few advantages in the technological, scientific, economic and geopolitical cold war that is shaping up. Those in the Chinese government who seek to supplant the U.S. as the worlds leading power can only be pleased with this turn of events.

Immigration was always going to slow, but there was no need to close the country off in the same way as in the 1920s. The results of Trump's actions will not be felt immediately, but eventually they will erode the foundations of what makes the U.S. an exceptional nation.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Noah Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was an assistant professor of finance at Stony Brook University, and he blogs at Noahpinion.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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Egyptian sanitary ware and ceramics maker Lecico said it has closed one of its factories in Alexandria after one worker tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, the same day it reopened another facility shut earlier this month over virus fears.

Lecicos International Ceramics factory would close for two weeks and all staff members have been sent home to self-isolate, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The factory represents approximately 55% of the groups tile production capacity, it said, adding that all other production sites are operating normally.

The group, which employs 6,500 workers across five facilities in Egypt, reopened its Lecico for Ceramics factory, also in Alexandria, on Wednesday following a two-week closure after coronavirus cases were detected among its workers.

Cases confirmed among staff members so far cover different factories and departments on separate production sites within the group," it said.

The group stressed, however, that it has been committed to staying operational since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak while following health and safety policies to limit the risk of virus transmission.

Lecico believes it must continue to operate as much as possible within these changing parameters to protect its customers business and ensure Lecicos continuity commercially and financially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.

Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had said factories should continue to operate at full strength to keep the economy going, while following all necessary precautionary measures against the virus.

Egypts manpower ministry said last week that since the end of March, 19 factories had been closed for 14 days and two temporarily shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak.

He said another 93 factories had been operating on a rotational shift basis to prevent the spread of the virus.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a televised speech earlier this month that he was not in favour of total suspension of work, while urging compliance with safety measures.

Egypt has recorded 5,268 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 380 fatalities.

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A Western Australian boarding school teacher has been suspended for two years after she was caught sending 'inappropriate' and 'personal' messages to Year 6 students.

Liza Richardson, 46, was disqualified from her teaching position at the $20,000-a-year co-ed Wesley College, in South Perth, on Wednesday.

The teacher was under investigation for misconduct after she was accused of messaging young students outside of school hours.

A Perth private school teacher was banned from teaching for two years after she was caught sending inappropriate text messages to Year 6 students (stock image)

A State Administrative Tribunal found Ms Richardson had sent 'personal' and 'emotive' messages to children that were not related to school, the West Australian reported.

'This included sending and receiving communications such as "I love you", "love u" "love you too",' the tribunal heard.

The clandestine messages only came to light in October 2017, when a parent found the teacher had been in contact with two Year 6 students during school holidays.

The parent then complained to the school which launched an investigation that uncovered additional messages sent by the teacher on email and Instagram.

When addressing the claims to the Teachers' Registration Board, Ms Richardson said she had 'a lot of love to give' to her students since she doesn't have any children of her own.

The tribunal ruled she be banned from the classroom for two years.
He's won a whole new army of fans for his portrayal of the Ultra-Orthodox Jew Yanky Shapiro.

And Unorthodox star Amit Rahav shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of his transformation into Esty's husband on Thursday.

The Israeli actor, 24, shared the sped-up clip to Instagram of the makeup artist giving him the hair sported by many Ultra-Orthodox Jews by attaching payo ringlets to the sides of his short cropped hair.

New look: Unorthodox star Amit Rahav shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of his transformation into Esty's husband Yanky Shapiro on Thursday

In the video, Amit can be seen in the makeup chair as the artist clips the glossy payos to each side of his head before blending in where they are attached.

The actor went onto praise the artist's work in the caption by explaining the payos were even soaked in oil overnight to give them the perfect glossy effect.

After the payos were applied Amit was given a small application of makeup before he looked towards the camera to display the finished style.

Beloved: The Israeli actor has won a whole new army of fans for his portrayal of the Ultra-Orthodox Jew searching of his fleeing wife

Proud: In the caption Amit praised Unorthodox's makeup artists for their work to create Yanky's look, including soaking the payos in oil overnight

Transformed: In the video, Amit can be seen in the makeup chair as the artist clips the glossy payos to each side of his head

Changing: He then blended in where they had been applied in the clip which was sped up for Amit's fans to watch

The post was captioned: 'Shout out to Jens Bartram, the most phenomenal hair and make up artist and my bff on set, who used to soak these beautiful payos each night in a special oil so Ill have the shiniest curlers on screen.'

Payos - Hebrew for sidelocks or sideburns - are traditionally worn by most men and boys in the Orthodox Jewish community.

It's in accordance with Leviticus 19:27 that states: 'You shall not round off the corners on your head, or destroy the corners of your beard.'

Traditional: Payos - which is Hebrew for sidelocks or sideburns - are worn by most men and boys in the Orthodox Jewish community

Finishing up: After the payos were applied Amit was given a small application of makeup

Amit sent Twitter into meltdown when Unorthodox was released on Netflix earlier this month.

The four-part series tells the story of a young woman named Esther 'Esty' Shapiro, [Shira Haas] who decides to flee the Hasidic Jewish community in Williamsberg.

She flees to start a new life in Berlin, Germany away from her arranged marriage to Yanky, who tries to track her down and win her back.

He enlists the help of his rule-breaking and sinister cousin, Moishe Lefkovitch, played by Jeff Wilbusch.

The series is loosely based on a true-story memoir Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection Of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman.

All done: He then looked closer at the camera to display the finished style before heading to set to film another scene
BURLINGTON, Mass., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CIMCON , the leading global provider of smart city technologies , today announced that Spencer, Massachusetts, a town of approximately 12,000 people, is planning to add road condition monitoring as part of its recent LED streetlight conversion project. Town officials are undertaking this initiative to improve driver safety, meet state environmental guidelines, and reduce costs associated with ineffective road monitoring and maintenance.

Spencer, originally an agricultural and mill community, has an aging population for whom road safety is a priority, especially during the winter months. Using the funds remaining from a grant and incentives received from the Massachusetts Area Planning Council (MAPC) and National Grid respectively, to convert their streetlights, the town selected CIMCON's NearSky smart city platform with road condition monitoring application to improve public safety.

"We try hard to recognize and be responsive to the needs of the community," said Bill Krukowski, Superintendent of Spencer's Highway Department. "Our collaboration with CIMCON started with an LED lighting conversion. We had funds available in our project budget and grants from the state and decided to use them to improve the safety of our streets."

At the start of the project, the town identified four areas that experience the first occurrences of freezing during inclement weather. Two areas are along a causeway that runs beside the Stiles Reservoir and Cranberry Meadow Pond, and the other two are in the northern section of the town, where the elevation is higher and the temperature is typically five degrees lower than the town center. The town will monitor two additional areas for comparison purposes. Real-time data from road temperature sensors will be relayed back to the town's Highway Department via CIMCON's smart city platform NearSky, so that preventive measures may be taken.

The data obtained from the StreetVibe software will allow the town to monitor the road temperature and treat surfaces before hazardous road conditions can occur. Not only will this make the roads safer, but it will also allow the town to use less road salt, thereby helping it to achieve its high phosphorus reduction goals as part of its participation in the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Program.

The implementation of CIMCON's NearSky platform will also have a positive impact on the town's finances. Highway Superintendent Krukowski estimates that the platform will pay for itself within four years through savings on road salt and reduced equipment wear and tear. The system is expected to be fully deployed by May.

"Communities like Spencer are an important part of our customer mix," said Anil Agrawal, CIMCON's CEO. "They often come to us with a singular focus, usually lighting, but quickly see the additional possibilities that our NearSky smart city platform can provide. We are very pleased to be working with the Town of Spencer to help them in their efforts to improve public safety."

Cities and towns can learn more or initiate a customized pilot of the NearSky smart city platform by visiting https://www.cimconlighting.com/streetvantage-smart-city-pilot-program .

About CIMCON Lighting, Inc.

With a heritage of over 25 years of innovation and experience in industrial automation and outdoor wireless applications, CIMCON provides the most proven and most complete smart city solutions to global cities and utilities. The company is the world's leading provider of scalable, intelligent wireless outdoor lighting management solutions for traditional, LED and solar-based street lights, and the company's smart city platform provides an easy way to deploy, manage and maintain smart city devices and applications. Focused on offering solutions that provide the lowest "Lifecycle Cost of Ownership," CIMCON provides hardware and software technologies that allow cities and utilities to monitor, maintain and in many cases, monetize their assets and other devices on or near the light pole. CIMCON's "Just in Time Lighting," reduces energy, maintenance and repair costs while improving the quality of lighting services and enabling the path to a smart city. For more information, please visit www.cimconlighting.com.

Follow CIMCON on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media Contact:

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As the economy prepares to battle the debilitating impact of COVID-19, Indian jewellers find themselves in a sticky position due to working capital woes.

They have voiced concerns over a glut in the market post-lockdown, as seen in Thailand.

"Jewellers are wondering how they will manage force buying, which we are anticipating after the lockdown. The middle-class mostly has savings in gold or banks deposits and they will redeem their gold soon after lockdown. We don't have much working capital to buy the huge amount of gold but we cannot afford to lose customers also" a Patna-based jeweller told Moneycontrol.

Nitin Kedia, spokesperson of All India Jewellers and Gold Smith Federation, told Moneycontrol: "We have seen in south-eastern nations that people started dumping gold in physical market and there were long queues in shops. Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha had to request people not to rush to sell gold as shops may face a cash crunch."

Jewellers also rued the fact that they were not able to make the most of Akshaya Tritiya.

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

"We have missed one of the main gold selling day - Akshaya Tritiya. Now people are short of money and they may sell their savings in gold to jewellers. Earlier also, scrap gold came into the market but this time they will sell gold but not replace it with new jewellery. More than 25,000 tonne gold lying in household and another 2,000 tonne lying in temples in which 100 tonne gold worth Rs 50,000 crore will come under force selling. In the current situation, where jewellers themselves are facing severe liquidity problems, it would increase their problems," Surendra Mehta, National Secretary of Indian Bullion Jewelers Association, told Moneycontrol

Dr B Govindan, owner of Thiruvananthapuram-based Bhima Jeweller, told Moneycontrol "We are expecting surge of 300 percent in scrap gold in market. The government should give instructions to banks to buy gold from jewellers, which come for sale for a particular period and there should be curb on imports also simultaneously"

"Government should provide working capital for jewelers as we create third largest job in the country after real estate and textile with 7 percent of total export. Government should think about providing working capital on bullions which is only jewelry currently. Now retailers took jewelry on credit for longer days and it is difficult to get back old money as there is liquidity issue in system," said Ahmedabad-based jeweller Shanti Kaka.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) national general secretary Praveen Khandelwal told Moneycontrol: "We have proposed working capital model to government that gives 25 percent of working capital loan on 2018-19 total turnover."

The World Gold Council has also reported dip of 39 percent in sale of jewellery in first quarter in the country.

Jewellers are also proposing various way to tackle the problems in this sector.

"Now, everything is available on EMI or on credit card, so government should approve sale of gold also on this method. Anyways we are facing slump in sale of jewelry might be this measure may help in sale of gold," Kanpur-based jeweller Pradeep Agarwal told Moneycontrol.

Jewellers are also seeking relaxation in selling gold without PAN card. They also feel that government should set limit on volume, not on price wise. When Rs 2 lakh threshold was fixed, gold was trading around Rs 30,000 and now it has crossed Rs 45,000.

The government is also mulling keeping a six distance between two customers but it may be difficult for small shops to implement that rule.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
NEW YORKThe 40-foot trailer has been there for weeks, parked outside the Leo F. Kearns Funeral Home in Queens. Its refrigerator hums in an alley next to a check-cashing establishment. Thirty-six bodies, one atop the other, are stacked on shelves inside.

The funeral director, Patrick Kearns, has barely slept since the day he took charge of them. As he lies awake in the middle of the night, he knows there will be more.

It weighs on you, having so many cases in your care, he said. The death rate is just so high, theres no way we can bury or cremate them fast enough.

With more than 18,000 announced fatalities and a total death toll that is almost certainly higher, the coronavirus crisis is the worst mass casualty event to hit New York since the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago.

At the height of the outbreak in April, a New Yorker was dying almost every two minutes  more than 800 per day, or four times the citys normal death rate. And though the daily toll has recently slowed, hundreds of bodies are still emerging each day from private homes and hospitals.

While hospitals bore the initial brunt of the crisis as sick people flooded emergency rooms, the sheer volume of human remains has pushed the system for caring for the dead to its limits, too: Hospital morgues, funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories are all overflowing and backed up.

The scale of the problem was brought into sharp relief Wednesday afternoon, when police found dozens of decomposing bodies stashed inside two trucks outside a funeral home on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The owner, Andrew T. Cleckley, said he had nowhere else to put them, adding simply: I ran out of space.

What happened in Brooklyn appears to be an extreme case, and state health officials said Thursday they would investigate the matter. But in the past two months, funeral home directors have begun to store bodies in viewing rooms and chapels, turning up their air-conditioning systems to avoid decomposition. Some are transporting bodies to other cities and states to be cremated.

Some hospitals ran out of body bags  the city has since distributed 20,000  and others have used forklifts to transfer piles of corpses into makeshift mobile morgues. So many people have been dying at home that the medical examiners office has turned to teams of soldiers working around the clock to pick them up.

Cemeteries have scrambled to meet the need for burials, and the citys four crematories are backed up for weeks. To stave off a secondary public health emergency, any bodies left unclaimed for 14 days were, for a time, being buried at a potters field on Hart Island in the Bronx.

For the families of the dead, the overloaded system has turned the already painful act of mourning into a kind of anxious torture. Some have found it hard to track the bodies of their loved ones as they move from morgue to morgue. Others have had trouble hiring hearses, which are now in high demand.

Because of social distancing rules, wakes are often not permitted, and funerals that once took days to arrange can sometimes now take weeks  if they can happen at all. Even when they do occur, extended families are not supposed to touch one another or get too close as they stand beside a grave.

We wanted to grieve together, and we werent able to, said Reginald Teekasingh, whose grandfather was buried by Kearns. Nothing was like it should be.

The final responder

Funeral directors like Kearns have found themselves in the middle of a logjam, besieged at one end by constant calls for pickups from hospitals or nursing homes and stymied at the other by an inability to cremate or bury people quickly.

A fourth-generation funeral director, Kearns, 50, has always thought of himself as a final responder to the neighbourhoods his family has served since 1900. Some of those communities, like Richmond Hill, Jackson Heights and Corona in Queens, have been among the hardest-hit sections of New York.

In an average month, Kearns performs some 30 or 40 funerals, but in April alone he expected the number to be about 200. And that, he said, was on top of the 150 more he was asked to do but couldnt because he lacked the energy and equipment. His supply of caskets has at times run short.

Though he has spent his life around death, Kearns has never seen anything like the coronavirus crisis. Death certificates have been difficult to file; cremation permits have been hard to obtain; and keeping track of the endless wave of bodies has been harrowing.

My stress levels just keep going up, he said.

All of this has exacted a toll. In the past few weeks, Kearns said, he has lost 20 pounds and missed most family dinners. On a recent evening, working in his trailer, he tripped and smashed his head against a shelf. After blacking out, he woke on the floor among the corpses. His wife and business partner forced him to go home.

Im looking forward to the end, he said. Thats all I can say.

Were swamped

At most of the citys 50 cemeteries, telephones have been constantly ringing. On the grounds outside, digging crews have worked through the weekends.

Were swamped  absolutely swamped, said Julie Bose, the president of The Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn, where the number of funerals has tripled. And thats every day, day in, day out.

The citys four crematories have also backed up. Like other funeral directors, Kearns has taken bodies to other cities for cremation. A few weeks ago he reached a deal with a crematory in Schenectady, about 145 miles north of New York City, to avoid the crush downstate.

Anticipating the surge, officials in New York relaxed restrictions on city crematories in late March, allowing them to work around the clock. Each has recently run at double its capacity. None, however, were accepting new appointments until well into May.

On a recent week, the crematory at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn handled about 130 cases  more than double its typical load. Richard Moylan, the cemeterys president, said that two of his five ovens had broken down from overuse.

The chambers need a break, Moylan said, but as fast as we cremate people, they keep coming in.

It was much the same at the Fresh Pond Crematory in Middle Village, Queens, where the four cast-iron units are handling more than 75 bodies each week, up from the usual 45.

Cleckley, in an effort to explain how dozens of decomposing bodies ended up in trucks at his funeral home, said one of his drivers had arrived at the gates of a city crematory at 6 a.m. on a recent morning to find 15 vehicles from other funeral homes ahead of him. People are spending all night at crematories waiting to get seen, he said.

Dan Wright, the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 813, which represents about 500 funeral service workers in the New York area, put it bluntly: People are dying faster than we can get them to their final destinations.

The overwhelmed system has made the normal rituals of death and grieving all but impossible.

Funerals, limited to 10 or fewer people, at times look like a kind of dark ballet. As mourners wait in their cars, crews in masks and gloves put caskets into the ground. Families gather graveside  not too close together  only after the diggers have moved away.

I dont know how I would have felt if I had to bury my mother under these conditions, said John Blumer, a gravedigger at the New Montefiore Cemetery on Long Island. The body goes down to the ground alone. Its hard for them.

When Cruz Morales, 75, died at a nursing home in the Bronx earlier this month, her son Jose spent nearly a week making calls, looking online and going door to door in an attempt to find a funeral director. With no success, he began to worry that St. Barnabas Hospital, which had claimed his mothers body, would have to send it on to a public morgue.

My worst fear was that I didnt want my mothers body to be dumped somewhere and then I have to look for her all over the city, Morales said.

Last week, he finally found someone at the DBari Funeral Home on East 188th Street who could help him  or so he thought at first. Morales, a Pentecostal Christian, wanted his mother to be buried. But the wait for a cemetery plot was far too long, and the staff at DBari was only scheduling cremations.

With no other options, Morales agreed to a cremation, knowing that while he might not get to see his mother off, she would at least be able to rest in peace. Even though its not what we hoped for, he said, I feel so secure.

For Teekasingh, whose grandfather died of the virus, the hardest part of the process was picking only 10 relatives to attend the burial. The rest of the family had to watch by Skype.

A lot of us were not able to see him when he passed, he said. It was not normal.

A race to the morgue

Near the middle of April, Kearns got a panicked call from a client. She had just found out, she said, that her father had died from the virus two weeks earlier at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. Was there anything he could do?

Knowing time was short, Kearns called the hospital and discovered that the man, who had been unclaimed for more than 14 days, had already been scheduled for burial on Hart Island. Kearns and his team rushed to Montefiore  a race to see if they could beat the transport unit from the medical examiner before it took the man away.

In the end, Kearns said, we were able to get there first.

In normal times, the medical examiners office would involve itself in a death only if it was sudden, violent or unexpected. But during the pandemic, the office has become the official backstop for an overburdened system.

Dr. Barbara Sampson, the citys chief medical examiner, said that the city had managed to double its capacity for body storage  to about 1,800  by setting up four portable disaster morgues, tent-like structures in secluded areas, in addition to its fixed mortuary buildings.

The expansion allowed the office to lift the 14-day deadline for funeral directors to pick up a persons remains before they are sent to Hart Island. Instead of using the potters field, Sampson said her agency would soon start letting families freeze the bodies of their loved ones as a long-term storage option at the disaster morgues.

Im confident, Sampson said, that we will have enough capacity to be able to hold people appropriately with dignity and respect until the funeral industry can catch up.

Though officials have declined to say how many coronavirus victims have been buried on Hart Island in recent weeks, the numbers tell the story. Last year, a total of 280 people were buried on the island. This year, 550 people have already been buried there, 450 of them in the past two months alone.

Some hospitals were seemingly caught short by the sheer number of bodies the crisis produced, running low on body bags as their small, in-house morgues filled up. Many were forced to improvise with refrigerated trailers that the city rushed to them.

At Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, one doctor recalled that after a coronavirus patient died in bed, his body lay untouched for six or seven hours. The hospital morgue was already full. There was nowhere else for the man to go.

At St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, the chief executive, Dr. David Perlstein, said the city had told him that no one would come to pick up the bodies until there were 100 in his trailer. To increase capacity, he was advised to build a row of shelves.

Since March, Sampsons office has distributed roughly 150 refrigerated trailers among the citys roughly 60 hospitals. The medical examiner has also brought on more than 200 soldiers and airmen from the Army, the National Guard and the Air National Guard to bolster its normal mortuary work.

Four-person military teams have used a fleet of 15 vans, most of them rented, to pick up bodies from private homes when families cannot afford a funeral director or when no next of kin can be determined.

In March and April, the recovery teams picked up 4,729 bodies, more than double the number for the same period last year. Some survivors have reported waiting hours in the presence of the dead for the units to arrive.

Sampson has also reassigned more than a third of her 800-member workforce to front-line jobs, including nearly 200 highly trained scientists from the agencys DNA lab. They are answering phones, conducting investigations and helping out in the morgues.

We have had to increase every aspect, basically, of what we can do, she said.

Hidden heroes

Every night at 7, New Yorkers celebrate the citys health care workers with a salute of horns, songs and clanging pots and pans. Nothing similar exists for the gravediggers, cemetery receptionists and funeral directors.

These people are the hidden heroes of this disaster, said Dr. Emily Craig, who works with a federal database of missing persons. They work tirelessly.

The only public accolade that Kearns has gotten came from his daughter, Fiona Kearns. A few years ago, Kearns worked as a teacher in Missouri, and earlier this month, as the dying reached its peak, some of her friends from the Midwest posted Facebook messages claiming the death rate in New York was overblown.

On April 17, she put up her own message, describing the gruelling days and nights that Kearns was spending with the dead.

If you would like to look my father up, his name is Patrick Kearns, she wrote. He is my hero and currently working 16 hours a day.
[April 30, 2020] 24Tidy acquired the world's largest laundry factory during the economic recovery of Chinese consumer market

SHANGHAI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 29th, 24Tidy (Shanghai) Network Technology Inc. announced its 950 million RMB acquisition of Tiantian Laundry (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. in its strategy press conference in Beijing. As one of the largest online life services companies in China, 24Tidy has served over 12 million families with its excellent services that include laundry, flower, etc. Tiantian has been a famous brand in the laundry industry since 1991 and owns the largest centralized smart laundry factory in the world. While many industries are suffering during the epidemic, the online economy has experienced dramatic growth since the beginning of 2020. When people keeping stay at home because of COVID-19, online services have been used by more and more customers covering all ages in China.



The founder of 24Tidy, Yao Zongchang said, "24Tidy and Tiantian Laundry had reached the agreement before the epidemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 accelerated our pace to restructure the whole industry while the increasing domestic demands also accelerated the strategic upgrading of 24Tidy." The online laundry market remains a blue ocean area and obviously 24Tidy seized the timing to make the right move. 24Tidy has provided professional online washing and disinfection services for more than 1.5 million families with a remarkable growth performance since the outbreak of COVID-19. The average daily active users of 24Tidy App increased by 200% compared with the same period of last year with a continuous upward trend. Also, core technology like AI algorithm used to optimize user experience and customize service by analyzing diversified big data from user consumer behaviors, helps 24Tidy maintain its competitiveness. There are more than 400 thousand laundry shops in China and most of them are operated by very traditional business mode with small production unit behind the front desk. The old way makes the business owners run the business inefficiently with high cost burden, unable to guarantee high quality of the service and also take great risks of potential pollution to the local communities. This acquisition will make 24Tidy fundamentally lead small laundry business owners to update their business model with empowerment by information system and centralized supply chain, and eventually to resolve those risky issues.

The epidemic will enhance public awareness of health and personal hygiene, which will advance customer's preferences on professional washing and disinfection of clothing. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/24tidy-acquired-the-worlds-largest-laundry-factory-during-the-economic-recovery-of-chinese-consumer-market-301049978.html SOURCE 24Tidy

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Runners compete during last year's Blue Cross Broad Street Run on Sunday, May 5, 2019. This year's event has been rescheduled to October because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

Next to Christmas, the first Sunday in May is my favorite day.

I get up before dawn to board an over-packed SEPTA train heading to the Broad and Olney stop. After arriving, I and about 40,000 other runners head to assigned waiting areas, where we stretch, hydrate, and listen for the sound of the horn signaling that its our groups turn to make its way to the starting line.

Then, as the theme song to Rocky blares, we take off, whooping and tossing aside old sweatshirts as we head for the finish line 10 miles away at the Navy Yard. A handful of diehards have run the Blue Cross Broad Street Run every year since it started in 1980 with 1,500 participants. Its addictive like that.

But come Sunday, for the first time in 40 years, the Broad Street Run will not take place on its usual day because of the coronavirus pandemic.

 READ MORE: Broad Street Run postponed due to the coronavirus

Organizers were smart to move the race to Oct. 4. Too much is at stake right now. Too many lives have been lost.

Still, it will be missed. During this time of uncertainty, running can be a big stress reliever. I try to get out as often as I can. With warm weather expected on Sunday, many of us who have been mostly self-isolating inside our homes will be pining for the annual race.

My advice is not to go to Broad and Olney and try to run it, said Leo Dignam, the Broad Street Runs executive director. Go out  on Sunday and think about how nice its going to be Oct. 4, when we run again.

Studies show the virus is spread through respiratory droplets, typically released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Runners do an awful lot of spitting and heavy breathing, and frankly, I wouldnt want to be in anyones slipstream. It will be next to impossible to practice social distancing with thousands of runners on one street, so I wonder if it will even be safe to participate in the race come fall.

We  along with every other race director in the country  are hoping that we can, Dignam told me. The news comes in new every week. Almost every hour.

Whats certain is that we can expect new normals.

Race officials meet weekly to discuss various possibilities, such as having runners cover their mouths with buff-style masks, which are more comfortable than surgical or cloth masks. There is also talk of making changes to the race expo, where thousands of runners go to pick up their bib numbers, and of eliminating the finisher festival, where participants pick up their medals and post-race refreshments.

 READ MORE: The Broad Street Run is postponed. How do I adjust my training?

It could be postponed, but I would worry more beyond the Broad Street Run if were in this same situation come fall. Then we have a lot more things to worry about, said Ken Beran, a 65-year-old Voorhees resident who has run the race every year since 1980. The race should be the least of our problems.

Roy McManus, 71, who also has run it every year, said at first he was skeptical about the decision to postpone but is on board with it now.

McManus is hopeful that by October, many of us will have the antibodies that scientists theorize may be helpful in protecting against the virus. Meanwhile, the Springfield, Delaware County, resident is planning to go on a 10-mile run with his 38-year-old daughter on Sunday.

I run to inspire myself and others, he said.

Whatever the situation come Oct. 4, McManus plans to be out on Broad Street once again. Youll see me even if I have to drag myself across the line, he told me.

I feel exactly the same way.
(TNS)  Looking for work in San Luis Obispo County, Calif.? Theres a new online resource for job seekers and local employers The nonprofit Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County has created a new website, called the Employer-Talent Connection Resource, to help organizations on the Central Coast to retain and attract employees from inside and outside of San Luis Obispo County.In a time when unemployment rates are changing rapidly due to COVID-19, this unique resource will serve both local government and private organizations, while also enabling prospective employees of all occupations to search for career paths and opportunities, the EVC said in a news release.The resource includes a mapping tool to identify businesses by region and industry sector as well as company contact information and a wide range of information about living and working in the Central Coast, the release said.Via the Work tab, site users can find lists of companies in the following industries: building and design; energy; goverment, health services; manufacturing; technology and education; tourism and wine and agriculture.The Employer-Talent Connection Resource includes links to the companys websites and career pages with job listings, as well as tabs for five job portals with local employment postings  slojobs.com, indeed.com, linkedin.com, glassdoor.com and ziprecruiter.com.One of the biggest hurdles of locally growing companies and head-of-household jobs is attracting and retaining talent, said Michael Manchak, EVC president and CEO. Prospective employees are challenged to identify remarkable companies and job openings in our region, and to create connections.Growing companies and jobs requires linking employers with a talent pool, and Employer-Talent Connection Resource is designed to support this need.New SLO County job site offers work, lifestyle resourcesIn addition to Work, the Employer-Talent Connection Resource includes Live, Explore, and Whats Happening sections.According to the website, San Luis Obispo County has an average commute time of 20 minutes and more than 300 days of sun, and the region consistently ranks highly in quality of life surveys.Median home prices currently range from about $510,000 in Paso Robles to about $715,000 in San Luis Obispo, the site says.The site also notes San Luis Obispo Countys acclaimed wine country and outdoor activities including parks, trails and beaches.EVC is providing resources to the business community that will make a difference in what matters most now and in the future, said Jolie Ditmore, EVC board chair. This site connects talent with employers, showcases local companies and raises the profile of our region.Online resource could raise regions economic profileLoreli Cappel, the EVCs senior project manager, said the new resource is different from job portals and other career-related resources because it offers a comprehensive picture of the communitys employment market and lifestyle options.Some tech employers, for example, have faced difficulties hiring for top talent for positions requiring more experience, Cappel said.Prospective employees may be under the impression the Central Coast is too limited economically or they dont know which job options might be available to them in the future, Cappel said.She said the Employer-Talent Connection Resource will help prospective employees mitigate the risk of relocating to the Central Coast for a new job.People considering a job here from out of the area (matching the talent requirements of a posting) might not accept because they dont know what else is available in the community, say if the job didnt work out, Cappel said. The resource provides lists of all of companies in different sectors and communities around the county so they have an accurate picture of the employment options here. And the housing costs are half the price of the Bay Area, for example, and the quality of life is great without traffic.The EVC, established in 1994, works to stimulate the regions economic vitality by creating jobs, fostering investment, and promoting business.The Employer-Talent Connection Resource is sponsored by Noreen Martin and Martin Resorts, Clever Ducks and Your People Professionals.To access the Employer-Talent Connection Resource website, go to www.SLOcountyWorks.com.
The final months of a high schoolers senior year are supposed to be the most memorable.

Spring sport athletes represent their school in competition for the last time. Seniors get dressed up for prom and go away with friends for prom weekend - for most their first time away from home without parents. The last few months of senior year are supposed to be for wonderful moments spent with friends leading up to one last celebration at graduation.

For this years seniors, the coronavirus has made their final few months like nothing anyone has seen before. Theyve been banished from school parking lots and quarantined inside their own houses. Theyre learning on laptops instead of sitting next to their best friends passing notes between the teachers lesson.

Hightstown High School recognized how difficult the last month and a half has been on its seniors and decided it was time to give back.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

After pairing with local small business Stitches-n-Ink, 30 members of Hightstown Highs staff delivered signs to all 393 of the schools seniors Tuesday morning.

The signs read: We are in this together. We will get through this together.

So many things have been taken from the seniors, Hightstown principal Dennis Vinson Jr. said. I never thought that we would be in this situation. There are so many things that they arent going to have the opportunity to do. I think that its powerful that we had the teachers deliver the signs. It was a way to show our students that we are still thinking about them.

Hightstown High School teachers take a selfie while delivering signs to members of its senior class.Courtesy of Hightstown High School

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 30 staff members, who volunteered their time, gathered in the Hightstown High School parking. In teams of 12, they each took 20-40 signs and delivered them on routes put together by assistant principal John Perillo. After getting the signs for dirt cheap thanks to the generosity of Stitches-n-Ink, Hightstown High absorbed the rest of the cost to make sure the signs were free to every single member of its senior class.

The kids have been awesome, Vinson Jr. said. Theyve been thanking us for not forgetting about them. I really like the way that we did it. I like that there was no cost to the parents. I like that we didnt exclude anybody so every senior got their own personal lawn sign. I think that sent a powerful message.

The gesture also provided relief for teachers. Many of them hadnt seen each other since the last day school was in session in mid-March. Although they were in the schools parking lot, seeing their peers and then delivering signs to their senior students gave them a brief escape from the COVID-19 reality.

A couple of teachers told me that this was as much therapeutic for them as it was for the students, Vinson Jr. said. Teachers are really social beings. They interact with people and to not be able to interact with their students has really been a burden for our staff. It was also great to see my staff even if it was just in the parking lot. I havent seen them in a while. That was powerful for me to be able to see them and tell them in person that I value everything that theyre doing.

Schools throughout New Jersey must remain closed through May 15 by order of Gov. Phil Murphy and regardless of if they open or not then, Hightstowns staff plans on continuing to find ways to honor their seniors.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

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Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Richard Greco covers Mercer County news for NJ.com and may be reached at rgreco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Richard_V_Greco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
I have talked a lot with readers over my 38 years in the news business, and one common theme is how much you appreciate when we highlight good news stories.

Positive news is more important than ever as we face the coronavirus crisis in Michigan. Our newsrooms are making an extra effort to bring you not only the latest developments, but also those good news stories happening around the state.

As part of that effort, weve joined forces with our MLive Media Group sales group to bring you Powering Positivity. Lansing-based Biggby Coffee stepped up as an early partner to support this initiative, which goes beyond just spreading good news.

Powering Positivity was born with the intent of coming alongside our readers and providing them with some hope, inspiration and levity, said Jamie Dionne, senior director of sales for MLive Media Group. Through this, we also hope to lift up and support our local businesses, CVBs and organizations that have felt grave economic impact.

The list of stories grows every day (you can find it here) and it has generated more than 1 million reads so far.

We have stories of individuals stepping up to help neighbors in need, like the foodie in Kalamazoo who created an online menu site to help restaurants that are struggling in this crisis and drew 22,000 followers.

Weve told stories of entire communities pitching in to help beleaguered health-care workers, like the Hospitality for Heroes free hotel room offer in Marquette County.

Or the response from businesses, like the brewery in Detroit that switched production to making hand sanitizer for first responders and customers.

The ability to turn a negative into something positive is powerful. Readership to MLive.com news stories has multiplied during the coronavirus pandemic  thats to be expected during an unprecedented news event. We realized that we could, and should, use this period of heightened attention to turn toward the needs of our neighbors and local businesses.

Its our local retailers, restaurants, arts groups and foundations that make our communities so rich, Dionne said. Our mission is to help them succeed by connecting them with their audience in the most impactful ways possible.

On the news side, we will keep you informed  but also provide perspective and balance. Every crisis provides opportunities to come together, and MLives stature as Michigans most-read news source gives us a great platform to do that.

Do you have a good news story to share? Even if its something as simple as a teenager making signs to cheer people up, we want to hear them. Share them via email at editor@mlive.com.

And if youre a business that wants to join MLives Powering Positivity campaign, email Dionne at jdionne@mlive.com.

John Hiner is the vice president of content for MLive Media Group. Sign up for breaking news updates on major developments in the coronavirus crisis by texting 517-200-3045.
Gardai including armed detectives mount coronavirus checkpoints on the border with Northern Ireland at Carrickarnon Co Louth (Niall Carson/PA)

No changes to emergency Covid-19 laws are needed to prevent day trippers from Northern Ireland travelling to the Republic, the Taoiseach has said.

Concerns have been raised about visitors from Northern Ireland travelling south of the border ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend as the restrictions do not apply to people visiting the state.

Day trippers from Northern Ireland cannot be arrested because of the legal loophole.

Leo Varadkar told the Dail he had consulted with the Attorney General in relation to the loophole and it was determined that no changes to the emergency laws are needed.

Expand Close Gardai including armed detectives mount coronavirus checkpoints on the border with Northern Ireland at Carrickarnon Co Louth. PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gardai including armed detectives mount coronavirus checkpoints on the border with Northern Ireland at Carrickarnon Co Louth.

He said gardai in the Republic and the PSNI in Northern Ireland will have to co-operate to enforce laws on both side of the border.

Mr Varadkar said he can not prohibit people from crossing the border.

Unless we prohibit people crossing the border, which we are just not going to do, what is required is co-operation.

Somebody going beyond the 2km restriction without a very good reason, such as being a cross-border worker, is breaching the law in one jurisdiction.

What is really required is co-operation between the police authorities.

We will not to make it illegal for people from Northern Ireland to come into the Republic of Ireland for reasons with which the deputy will agree.

Enforcement is going to be the issue which will require co-operation between the PSNI and An Garda Siochana.

I am reassured by what the Garda Commissioner said about this in recent days.

Earlier this week, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said gardai will engage with and educate day trippers who come across the border.

He said: This matter has been raised with the Attorney General and our interpretation of the regulations is correct.

A day tripper to the jurisdiction can practically only be people from Northern Ireland.

Because their place of residence isnt here, the regulations as they pertain to essential travel do not apply to them.
During the first week she had covid-19, Morgan Blue felt weak, with a severe backache and a fever. The symptoms did not alarm doctors at her local emergency department, however. They sent her home after she showed up at the hospital.

But on Day 8, she abruptly felt like she was choking.

"That day, I suddenly couldn't breathe," said the 26-year-old customer service representative from Flint, Michigan. An ambulance took her to the hospital, where she spent eight days, four of them in intensive care, before she recovered and was able to go home.

For people who suffer the most severe reactions to the novel coronavirus - and their caregivers - the second week of the disease can become a time of sudden peril and heightened concern, when some of those who seem stable or mending can suddenly become critically ill.

There is little consensus among doctors and experts about why days five through 10, or thereabouts, seem to be so dangerous for some people with covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. But everyone from critical care specialists to EMTs is aware of this frightening aspect of the disease.

"This second-week crash has certainly been well described, but 2 1/2 months in, why it happens we're still not entirely sure," said Ebbing Lautenbach, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.

Learning on the fly as they confront the new virus, clinicians interviewed by The Washington Post speculated about the influence of an individual's genes, the virus's effect on lung tissue, overactive immune responses, blood clotting and even the impact of the ventilators used to save patients' lives.

There is little, if any, current research to guide them.

"I've been thinking about this a lot," said Naftali Kaminski, chief of pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, who studies the genomics of lung disease. "There's an early stage of infection and the virus sits somewhere. You can almost look at the virus as a fifth column coming in, securing its stronghold and then slowly inducing more cells to let it in.

"Because of this lurking nature, your genetic makeup and preexisting conditions will affect presentation of the disease," he said.

Doctors say the overwhelming majority of covid-19 cases do not require hospitalization. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. covid-19 patients are currently hospitalized at a rate of 29.2 per 100,000 people, or just under 10% of the 1 million known cases so far. Of those, only a small percentage require intensive care or ventilators, and only some will experience a rapid downturn in their health.

But people with the coronavirus can crash before or after they are hospitalized. Doctors report seeing patients who wait too long to seek care, including those who do not feel the symptoms of plummeting oxygen levels, such as shortness of breath, until they are in crisis. No one is sure why. Many people's lungs remain flexible for a while, allowing carbon dioxide out and forestalling the sensation they aren't getting enough oxygen.

"The people who actually crash, they've actually been sick a while," said Merceditas Villanueva, an associate professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine. "They've underestimated how sick they are, or they've just waited."

The virus may be killing the cells that line the air sacs of the lungs, which keep them open and allow for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, said Russell G. Buhr, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California.

At some point, the body simply can't regenerate those cells as quickly as they die, he said, and a stable situation turns life-threatening. That may also help explain why covid-19 patients can linger on ventilators for up to four weeks, much longer than in other respiratory diseases, he said.

"Some of that may be direct lung toxicity effect," Buhr said. "You need more time to regenerate those cells."

Another line of thought focuses on the virus's possible effect on the cardiovascular system. Researchers have suggested that some crashes are caused by events such as heart attacks, strokes and clots related to blood complications.

Eytan Raz, a neurointerventional radiologist at NYU Langone Health, said one theory is that some of the blood clotting complications may be due to an over-reactive immune response that comes after the virus has settled in, multiplied and triggered a defensive army of antibodies to fight back.

An April 17 paper in the medical journal, The Lancet, said that covid-19 appears to have the ability to attack the lining of blood vessels anywhere in the body. Frank Ruschitzka, a researcher from University Hospital Zurich, and his co-authors wrote that this may be why so many organs, including the lungs, kidneys and intestines, are affected in patients with severe illness.

It also could explain why people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, as well as smokers, are more likely to have severe illness.

Michael Bell, chief of critical care at Children's National Hospital, speculated that this is why the second week crash and covid-19 itself, are rarely seen in children.

"We've had several dozen kids on our medical floor and have been on pins and needles that they were going to have a big collapse after week one. We haven't seen any of that," he said. "My best explanation is children in general have pretty healthy blood vessels."

Ventilators themselves also may contribute to the crash, Buhr said, especially in overwhelmed hospitals where doctors cannot spend enough time fine-tuning the devices that force oxygen into the lungs. Too much pressure on inflamed lungs can produce more of the inflammatory response to the coronavirus, worsening the clogging of air sacs called alveoli.

"We don't like to talk about that one as much, but treatment of critically ill people is very complicated," Buhr said. "Ventilators don't work like meds. Adjusting the ventilator requires a lot of hands-on effort. And, in particular when hospitals are under stress, it's much more difficult to provide that level of care."

Within the field, a debate has broken out about whether physicians are turning to ventilators too often and too early, driven by the traditional response to remarkably low blood oxygen levels in some patients who show none of the symptoms of oxygen deprivation. Some doctors have advocated a more conservative initial response that would spare more patients the sedation, intubation and side effects of mechanical ventilation.

Aware of the hazards of the second week of the disease, hospitals have employed a number of tactics. Some are putting patients on oxygen earlier and using blood thinners prophylactically to prevent clots. At UCLA, caregivers more aggressively monitor ventilator pressure and use proning - placing patients on their stomachs - as much as 16 hours a day, Buhr said. The technique has been shown to increase the amount of oxygen getting into the lungs of patients with acute respiratory distress sSyndrome, a hallmark of severe covid-19.

Many of these specialists expect to continue adjusting their approach to the disease and to the unpredictability of its second week.

"There's a lot that we don't know," Villanueva said.

Blue, the woman from Flint, has been out of the hospital for nearly a month but still gets short of breath and suffers heart palpitations and anxiety. She said she knows of 10 people in her community who have died of covid-19.

Last week, she ventured out to the grocery store for the first time since mid-March and saw people without masks. She said she felt such distress that she left the store without buying most of what was on her list.

"There are still people who aren't taking this seriously, which is mind-blowing to me," she said.
Editors Note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect that hundreds, not thousands, of city employees are subject to furloughs.

Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

After four hours of discussion, the Santa Fe City Council voted 5-4 Wednesday night to furlough 1,048 city employees, the latest in a series of cost-saving measures triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Alan Webber cast the deciding vote.

Beginning May 6, some employees weekly hours will be reduced by four, while others must take off 16 hours every workweek.

Webber said the 16-hour furloughs will apply primarily to departments closed under the public health emergency, such as libraries, recreation centers and parking.

We feel that there isnt enough productive work to be done to substantiate a shallower furlough, Webber told a news conference Monday.

The furloughs are expected to save the city $1.3 million, still leaving a $16 million shortfall created by plummeting revenues.

City employees voiced their disapproval of the furloughs, with many holding a protest in their cars and driving around City Hall.

The main complaint was that lower-paid employees would be more affected by the furloughs, with such positions accounting for a larger portion of the 16-hour furloughs, while higher-paid employees would receive lower furloughs.

One of those employees was Ramon Coriz, who has worked in the citys Parking Division for 19 years and is facing a furlough of 16 hours a week. He said hes not sure how he will pay his bills on the reduced income, because he is paid only $13 an hour.

Cant afford it, he said. I can barely afford it as it is.

City councilors also criticized Webber and city officials over the furlough plan. Councilor JoAnne Vigil Coppler said she thought the council had been backed into a corner by not being given prior notice of the plan.

(The plan) makes lower-salaried employees carry the weight, she said during the meeting. We could come up with a better furlough plan.

Webber insisted that the citys plan was the least negative option but that the effect on employees still really sucks.

The furloughs come as the city wrangles with an estimated $46 million shortfall, caused largely by a sudden drop in gross receipts tax revenue, which makes up around 70% of the total budget. The city has until June 30 to make up the deficit.

Multiple councilors offered to donate part of their salaries back to the city, and Webber said he would cut his own pay by 30%.

Some city employees said the mayor could afford a larger pay cut, because some low-wage employees will receive a 40% cut in pay.

He should be 75% at least, Coriz said of Webber. Hes rich; he can live. Were not rich; we cannot live.
If you have COVID-19, have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or arrived in Australia after midnight on March 15, 2020, you need to self-isolate. Amcal have provided a useful definition on what isolate in your home or self-isolation looks like on their COVID-19 FAQ site here.

Should I wear a mask in public?

In some parts of the world, such as Los Angeles and Singapore, wearing masks in public has been made mandatory. However, both the World Health Organisation and the Australian Government say that if you are generally healthy and not caring for a person who may have COVID-19, it is not recommended that you wear a surgical mask. There is little evidence supporting the widespread use of surgical masks by healthy people, the Department of Health says.

What are COVID-19s symptoms?

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath.

What to do if you think you have symptoms

You can check your symptoms online using the Australian Government healthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker. If you want to talk to someone about your symptoms, call the National Coronavirus Helpline: 1800 020 080.

For medical attention, you can go to a GP clinic, a hospital emergency department, or a dedicated coronavirus respiratory clinic. Note: Before visiting a GP or hospital, you must phone ahead to book an appointment, and follow any instructions you are given.

If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call 000.

Can I get tested?

Generally, only people who meet certain criteria are being tested, for example, people who have recently returned from overseas, healthcare workers, or people who have lived in an area with a higher risk of community transmission.

Your doctor will tell you if you should be tested and arrange the test.

Who is most at risk of getting seriously ill?

People who are potentially at a higher risk of serious illness if they get the virus are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions, people aged 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions, people 70 years and older, or people with compromised immune systems.

Can I still pick up my prescriptions at the pharmacy?

Pharmacies remain open. Amcal Pharmacies offer home delivery of medication, which can be arranged over the phone or through the Amcal app. The Amcal app also allows you to manage your medications with reminders and alerts, script repeat requests, and allows you to order ahead with click and collect in addition to home delivery. If youre a carer you can use the carer mode on the app to manage your loved ones medications  and manage multiple different profiles in one place.

More resources

Amcal Pharmacies also have a dedicated FAQ site to help answer your key questions.

Now more than ever, if youve got questions, Just Ask Amcal  your trusted health partner.

Sources: All information, unless stated, is sourced from the Australian Department of Health
Blood

Rating:

Absolutely India: Mancs In Mumbai

Rating:

Let that be a lesson to all mechanics and grease monkeys who leave sprockets, flanges and gaskets lying around on workbenches. You're liable to end up impaled on half a carburettor.

One minute the gipsy thug Kian, with more gold chains than Mr T, was cheerfully throttling the life out of bearded wimp Paul in the rural Gothic thriller Blood (C5).

The next, disgraced doctor Jim Hogan (Adrian Dunbar) had burst into his caravan and started throwing punches. It was inevitable that Kian (Darragh O'Toole) would stumble onto something razor-tipped and oily, and expire in a heap of scrap iron.

Darragh O'Toole as Kian gives orders to Desmond Eastwood as Owen in Gothic thriller Blood

This second series of writer Sophie Petzal's suspenseful family mystery is even more baroque than the first. If you like your crime serials on the brink of wild-eyed madness, with skeletons crammed in every cupboard, Blood is bliss... all set to a haunting piano soundtrack by Ray Harman.

The dual timeline was hard to decode in the first episode, but by halfway through the week (Blood ends on Friday with a double bill) everything is clearer.

Both strands are wrapped around Jim's daughter Fiona (the superbly haunted Grainne Keenan), who is dying, like her mother in the previous series, from motor neurone disease. Fiona shouldn't be driving, especially at night and very especially with her husband's corpse in the boot. Part of the story sees her interrogated by creepy detective Dez Breen (Sean Duggan), with more forehead than Bamber Gascoigne, after her car is fished out of a river.

The events leading up to this are told in flashback, starting with Jim's return from exile with the stigma of killing his wife still clinging to him. Gradually it becomes clear that:

1) Fiona and weedy hubby Paul (Ian Lloyd Anderson) are living in a tied cottage on farmland owned by Paul's brash millionaire boss . . . and Fiona is having a lesbian affair with the farmer's wife;

2) The farmer's half-witted son is mixed up with a murderous gang of drug dealers, headed by blingtastic Kian;

3) Paul will be killed if he doesn't help Kian steal the farmer's prize stud racehorse.

Cheeky casting of the night: Daniel Mays, Stephen Graham and Anna Maxwell Martin have all had big roles in Line Of Duty. Now they're reunited in sitcom Code 404 (Sky One), about a malfunctioning police android. It got off to a stuttering start. Advertisement

There, that wasn't so complicated, was it? None of these arcane plot twists matters, of course, if you're just tuning in to enjoy Dunbar's stony-eyed performance as Jim  one of those patriarchal control freaks who wants to run his family the way Kim Jong-un runs North Korea.

Jong-un might be dead, if conspiracy theories are to be believed. So, apparently, are at least two of the characters in Blood. They won't be the last.

Madly, deliriously overheated it may be, but I can't wait to see who dies next.

For anyone who finds this too much of a mind-twister, or who feels mentally challenged when ordering a chicken biryani, there is Absolutely India: Mancs In Mumbai (ITV). This mostly consists of soap celebs Ryan, Scott and Adam Thomas leaning out of taxis in the city's rush hour streets and screaming each other's names. 'Scott!' yells Adam, before having hysterics. 'Ryan!' shrieks Scott, as the hilarity of the moment overwhelms him.

When the three brothers have exhausted this fine intellectual pursuit, they head to the street vendors and demand the hottest, spiciest food available. One cook obliges with a sauce-filled chapati that is literally on fire.

'Adam!' gasps Ryan, flames belching from his mouth. 'Scott!' chokes Adam with smoke drifting from his ears.

The boys are part Indian: their grandfather Nolan Thomas grew up in Mumbai, when it was Bombay. On this evidence, I bet the locals are glad he left.
The government said on Thursday that it does not intend yet to stop the ongoing gradual reopening of Armenias economy despite a record-high number of new coronavirus cases recorded in the country in the past 24 hours.

The Armenian Ministry of Health reported 134 new cases and two more deaths in the morning. The total number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus thus reached 2,066 while the nationwide death rose to 32.

Health Minister Arsen Torosian presented these figures at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. He again warned that the health authorities will soon be no longer able to hospitalize or isolate all infected persons.

Of course, we will try to delay the day when we make such a decision as much as possible because it will lead to a further spread [of the disease] in the future, said Torosian. I presume that we will manage to last for five or six days at this pace.

The spread of the virus slowed significantly at the beginning of April following the governments decision in late March to impose a nationwide lockdown involving the closure of most nonessential businesses. The government began gradually lifting on April 13 the ban on various types of economic activity. The Ministry of Health has reported increased daily numbers of COVID-19 case for the past ten days.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced on Tuesday that the authorities are planning to allow all companies, including cafes and restaurants, to resume their operations within the next ten days. A government task force enforcing the coronavirus-related state of emergency in Armenia eased restrictions on peoples movements the following day.

I think that our plans have not changed yet, the head of the task force, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, told Pashinian and fellow cabinet members.

Nevertheless, depending on the infection growth dynamic, our decisions may change, he said. I think that there is no need for such changes as yet. The statistics of the coming days as well as the circle of individuals who will test positive will allow us to make final decisions.

If we see that our policy of easing restrictions is bringing about dangerous consequences and the virus is spreading so fast that the healthcare system may not be able to treat all infected people, then I think that we will have to revert to the toughest possible [restrictions] regime, added Avinian. It is therefore essential that economic entities follow [safety] rules set by us.

Pashinian indicated, for his part, that he believes that the authorities should stick to their reopening plan. Its obvious that we will have [coronavirus] cases at least until March or April next year, and we therefore cannot live in a closed regime for a whole year, he said. No country of the world can.

Pashinian also complained that many Armenians are continuing to flout social distancing rules mandated or recommended by the authorities.

Critics say that the authorities themselves have contributed to the populations complacency through a lax enforcement of those rules and early easing of the lockdown.
A Monaghan haulier alleged to be "the ringleader" and "chief organiser" of an organised criminal group who trafficked 39 migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex last year has been refused bail by the High Court pending an extradition hearing.



The court was told at yesterday's bail hearing that Ronan Hughes is alleged to have "organised, paid for the travel and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants." Gardai gave evidence that Mr Hughes has "huge connections" and familiarity with various ports throughout Europe and had the "wherewithal to flee the jurisdiction at the appropriate time".

Evidence was also given at the hearing that 200,000 had been frozen in 33 bank accounts linked to Mr Hughes and his family and that the accused had last year bought a 2019 BMW X5, valued at 108,000, which has since been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).



Mr Hughes (40), of Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan is wanted by UK authorities to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.



Returning judgment today (Thurs), Mr Justice Paul Burns said that the prosecution had met the burden of proof and Mr Hughes was a probable flight risk if bail was granted. "There is a very serious risk of him absconding," he said.



The High Court judge said unfortunately there were no conditions that could allay the court's concerns.



Mr Justice Burns said the evidence that Mr Hughes gave yesterday was unconvincing and lacking in credibility. "Even if he had not given evidence I would have refused bail in this matter," he said.

Mr Justice Burns remanded Mr Hughes in custody to May 15, when the full hearing of his extradition to the UK will take place.



The haulier was joined by video-link from Cloverhill Prison today and wore a face mask for the short hearing. He is the second man from Northern Ireland to be arrested here on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) as part of the Essex police investigation.



Mr Hughes, who owns a haulage firm, was arrested on the evening of April 20 at his home in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a EAW issued by the police in Essex.



Mr Hughes and his younger brother Christopher (34) have been wanted in connection with the deaths since the beginning of the investigation, with Essex Police making an extraordinary live appeal last November for the siblings to hand themselves in. Their trucking firm is based in Tyholland, about 7km from the Armagh border.

The eight women and 31 men had arrived in England last October on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The youngest of the victims were two boys aged 15.



At yesterday's bail hearing, Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told counsel for the State Ronan Kennedy SC that gardai were strongly objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the charges and there were no conditions upon which bail could be granted that would allay concerns.



Reading from the warrant, Det Sgt Kirwan said it is alleged that Mr Hughes had unlawfully killed 39 Vietnamese nationals who were found dead in the back of trailer in UK between October 22 and 24, 2019. It is alleged the migrants had been brought into the UK illegally by Mr Hughes and his co-conspirators.

Mr Hughes, it is alleged, had also conspired with others to facilitate the illegal entry of people including the 39 deceased persons into the UK between May 1, 2018 and October 24, 2019. Migrants were allegedly smuggled into the UK from Belgium in commercial trailers owned or operated by Mr Hughes, said Det Sgt Kirwan. He said it was alleged that "Mr Hughes organised, paid for the travel and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants".

Continuing to read from the warrant, Det Sgt Kirwan said: "On October 15 2019 [Ronan] Hughes arranged for his driver Maurice Robinson to deliver trailer number GTR128D to Mr Eamon Harrison in France. On October 16, 2019 Hughes travelled to Essex.



The witness said that it was alleged that Mr Hughes had falsely declared that the trailer was carrying a load of biscuits. Mr Hughes had "a serious case to answer" in the UK and it was also alleged that he was the "chief organiser" of the organised criminal group involved in bringing illegal migrants into the UK. Essex police said this group was organised for the purposes of financial gain, he explained, adding that "very large sums" of money were involved in the business.



Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes faced a life sentence in prison if convicted of the offences and he had the means and ability to flee at the appropriate time. He had been identified by Essex police as the organiser and there was extensive phone and CCTV evidence, he indicated.

He said Mr Hughes has previous convictions in this jurisdiction and the UK for road traffic offences and smuggling convictions. Mr Hughes was sentenced to 30 months in prison for evading nearly one million pounds in excise duty for smuggling five million cigarettes into the UK in 2009, he said. He described Mr Hughes as the alleged "ringleader", who had allegedly made a substantial amount of money from this illegal activity.



Det Sgt Kirwan pointed out that 200,000 had been frozen in 33 bank accounts linked to the respondent and his family. He owns a time-share in a villa in Florida and has an address in Armagh, the court heard.

Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes has "huge connections" throughout Europe, has many trailer units registered to him and his haulage business is registered in Bulgaria. "Given the nature of his work, he has great familiarity with various ports throughout Europe and how to exit and enter them and he has the wherewithal to flee the jurisdiction at the appropriate time," he indicated. The court also heard that he bought a 2019 BMW X5 valued at 108,000 last year, which is now in possession of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).



Det Sgt Kirwan indicated that not all vehicles associated with Mr Hughes had been located by CAB and it was believed that vehicles of value were removed from his yard at Tyholland on October 24, 2019, when the bodies of the migrants were discovered.

Furthermore, Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes had the ability to abscond and it was the belief that should the High Court grant bail and then order his surrender, he would not present himself to be handed over to the UK authorities.



Last week, Det Sgt Jim Kirwan told Mr Kennedy that he arrested Mr Hughes as part of a planned operation at 5.15pm on April 20 at his home in Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan on foot of the warrant and cautioned him.

Eamon Ronald Harrison (22), of Mayobridge, Co Down has already appeared in court here and has been granted leave to appeal his pending extradition to the UK in May under the terms of the EAW. He is wanted to face 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.



Last Friday, the Court of Appeal was told by Mr Kennedy that a charge of conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK's Modern Slavery Act had been withdrawn by UK authorities against Mr Harrison. The court heard that this would shorten the appeal hearing on May 7.

It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer, in which the bodies of eight females and 31 males were found in an industrial park in Grays, Esssex on October 23 last, to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain. The cargo was recorded as biscuits and the migrants died from a lack of oxygen between 8pm and 10pm after they had entered UK territorial waters.



Earlier this month Maurice Robinson (25), of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. He denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The High Court in Dublin has heard that the sealed refrigeration unit was not turned on and that the people inside died from oxygen starvation. Temperatures inside the unit rose to 38.5 degrees before it steadily reduced, and police discovered bloody hand prints inside.
As the United States forced Saudi Arabia to end the oil price war with Russia, President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Saudi leaders.

During a phone talk with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on April 2, Trump said that if OPEC does not begin to reduce oil production, it will not be able to prevent US lawmakers from passing a law on the withdrawal of US troops from the kingdom, Reuters reported citing sources.

The threat to destroy the 75-year-old strategic alliance was at the center of a campaign to pressure Riyadh, which led to a landmark global agreement to cut oil supplies.

Trump announced told this the Crown Prince 10 days before the announcement of the reduction in production. The latter was so overwhelmed by the threat that he ordered his assistants to leave the room so that he could continue the discussion in private, the agency said.

These efforts demonstrated Trump's strong desire to protect the US oil industry from historical price drops when governments shut down economies around the world to fight the virus. They also echoed Trump's long-standing criticism of OPEC because of rising energy prices for Americans, which usually leads to higher gas prices.

A senior US official told Reuters that the administration notified Saudi leaders that, without production cuts, there would be no way to stop the U.S. Congress from imposing restrictions that could lead to a withdrawal of U.S. forces. The official summed up the argument, made through various diplomatic channels, as telling Saudi leaders: We are defending your industry while youre destroying ours.

Reuters asked Trump about the negotiations in an interview the night before at the White House. When asked if he told the crown prince that the US could withdraw troops from Saudi Arabia, Trump replied: I didnt have to tell him.

I thought he and President Putin, Vladimir Putin, were very reasonable, Trump said. They knew they had a problem, and then this happened.

A Saudi official who asked not to be named stressed that the agreement represented the will of all countries in the so-called OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations, which includes OPEC plus a coalition led by Russia.

Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia have played an important role in the OPEC+ oil cut agreement, but without the cooperation of the 23 countries who took part in the agreement, it would not have happened, said the Saudi official, who declined to comment on the discussions between the US and Saudi leaders.
An equalites watchdog has warned the body in charge of school exams that not enough is being done to stop 'unconscious bias' against black and ethnic minority students (BAME) when teachers award grades for GCSEs and A-levels cancelled in the coronavirus crisis.

Schools have been instructed by Ofqual to rank pupils within each grade for each subject for their GCSEs and A-levels, but they are not allowed to share these with families until results are issued in August.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission says Ofqual's measures will not go far enough to keep grades fair for disadvantaged pupils.

Equalities watchdog have warned BAME and disabled students may suffer grading bias

'At this time of national crisis, there is real danger that existing inequalities in education deepen,' the EHRC said in its response to Ofqual's consultation on plans for awarding grades.

'Our view is that this guidance in itself will not address the risk of unconscious or conscious bias by exam centres predicting grades for students.'

The equality watchdog called on the Department for Education (DfE) to issue guidance on the approach teachers should take to predicting grades and ranking pupils, to 'minimise the risk of conscious or unconscious bias'.

A student's ethnic background should be provided to exam boards and Ofqual to check for systematic advantages or disadvantages once results have been handed out, it said.

'If the evaluation reveals higher than average disparities for pupils with protected characteristics, these should be investigated thoroughly, with appropriate remedial action taken,' the EHRC added in a statement.

Students should also be able to appeal on 'grounds of suspected unlawful discrimination'.

It comes after race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust sent a letter to Ofqual and the DfE on Wednesday raising concerns about potential bias against black students.

The letter, signed by academics and campaigners, also called for more guidance and support for teachers on how to rank students to 'reduce inconsistencies' across groups of pupils.

David Isaac, chairman of the EHRC, said: 'If we don't get this right the future of some disadvantaged young people is severely at risk.

School and college teachers will give GCSE and A-Level results after exams were cancelled

'We can't let the crisis happening now affect the future of disadvantaged pupils when so many, particularly disabled pupils and those of ethnic minority background, already face an uphill battle.

'Young people's futures must remain at the heart of responses - we are ready to work with Ofqual to ensure young people can fulfil their potential and are not limited by any barriers put in their way during this time of crisis.'

A report by education charity the Sutton Trust in 2017 found that predicted A-level grades for bright but disadvantaged students were more likely to be lower than their eventual grades.

An Ofqual spokesman said: 'Our overriding priority is to ensure that this year's grading is as fair as possible, so that students can progress to the next stage of their education or training.

Students should also be able to appeal on 'grounds of suspected unlawful discrimination'

'The guidance we have developed sets out how teachers can work together to best make objective, evidence-based judgments of student performance and we are confident that schools and colleges will be able to apply this fairly and consistently.'

The exams regulator said it recognises there are concerns about the potential for students to be disadvantaged and it is engaging further with organisations that are worried.

The spokesman added: 'Our standardisation model will be designed to ensure, so far as is possible, that students are not advantaged or disadvantaged on the basis of their socioeconomic background or because they have a particular protected characteristic.

'Students who do not feel their calculated grade reflects their performance will also have the opportunity to sit an exam in the autumn.'
On May 2, 1670, King Charles II of England issued the Charter of the Hudsons Bay Company. Now, 350 years later, the fur company is still a key part of Canadas story.

The Hudsons Bay Company, remains one of the longest-running companies in the world. Arguably, its the most important corporation in Canadas history.

Most of the first investors were among the best-connected and wealthiest people in England. To them, the investment was a lark, a gamble that could end in a windfall if their ships made it back and a bearable loss if they didnt. Eighteen investors met over dinner, pooled their money, and waited to see what would happen.

There was no head office. Most of the companys business was done in coffee shops.

Prince Rupert of the Rhine, the kings cousin, pulled together the original investors. Rupert was very much a man of the turbulent 1600s. His parents were royal, but were refugees. Ruperts boyhood was steeped in fear, violence and insecurity.

In his 20s, Rupert was such a vicious commander in the English Civil War that his enemies on the Parliamentary side believed he was in league with Satan. They thought the big standard poodles he let loose on battlefields were witches familiars.

After that war, Rupert tried pirating, but gave it up after his brother Maurice was washed overboard in a Caribbean hurricane.

When the monarchy was restored, Rupert moved into Windsor Castle, where he set up a lab. He invented a way to make cheap art prints to brighten the homes of poor people. He also developed bulletproof glass, a torpedo, a primitive revolving pistol, and a gun silencer. He really wanted to find a way to turn copper into gold.

When he met adventurer Pierre Radisson during Englands Great Plague of 1665, the prince realized hed found gold: the French trader knew a back way into the heart of North America fur country through Hudson Bay.

Ancestors of some of the great families of England, including forbearers of Winston Churchill and princes Harry and William were among the early investors and Hudsons Bay governors. Radisson and his partner Medard Chouart des Groselliers werent offered stock, though Radisson eventually got one share.

The Charter granted the company all the land drained by rivers flowing into Hudson and James Bay. No one knew that amounted to 4 million square kilometres, a third of the last mass of modern Canada.

Charles II had no right to give that land away. It belonged to the Cree and their neighbours. But there was an upside: European powers eventually recognized the land grant, and so did the United States. The Hudsons Bay Company charter had a lot to do with keeping Americans out of what became the Canadian West until Canada took over the companys claim in 1868.

In return for furs, which were mostly used to make high-end felt hats, Indigenous people got metal goods, cloth and some glass. This hardware made life much easier for Indigenous men. Metal cooking pots, cloth, steel needles and cotton thread saved the Indigenous woman many thousands of hours of hard work.

The deal was not, at first, a scam of Indigenous people. They traded their surplus fur for useful things, and, when they had extra hardware and cloth, they sold it or gave it away to Indigenous people who didnt have easy access to the coast.

Later, the Hudsons Bay Company had to compete with traders based out of Montreal, who used the Ottawa River-Great Lakes canoe route. This cut the profit margins of both sides. They brought cheap alcohol into the trade, starting a cycle of dependency that weakened Indigenous peoples ability to resist the Canadian governments demands for land, and, eventually its scheme for residential schools.

The company survives. Its now owned by an American hedge fund. Like almost all department stores, it faces an uncertain future. Whatever happens to it, Canada is still left with a fantastic legacy: the companys records, which are now kept in the Manitoba provincial archives. They are key documents for understanding the European side of the northwestern fur trade.
By Express News Service

PATNA: Though the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed students, migrant workers and tourists stuck outside Bihar to return home during the ongoing lockdown, around 27 lakh people from the state continue to be stranded in different parts of the country.

On Thursday, Bihar deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi made an appeal to the Centre to run special non-stop trains with catering facilities and proper social distancing to bring them back.



"Bihar will welcome all of them but it would not be practical to bring them back from distant places by buses because of the distances between Bihar and those places and safety reasons like social distancing," he said.

"Around 27 lakh residents of Bihar, stuck in other parts of country, have applied for assistance and a majority of them including labourers and students are at distant places. A bus will take at least six to seven days in bringing them back," he said.

The state government has made all arrangements for welcoming the returnees including providing quarantine, he said, adding that Pratay Amrit, principal secretary of the state disaster management department, has been made the state's nodal officer to supervise the operation to bring the people back.

According to an estimate, around 5 lakh students, migrants and others from Bihar are stuck in Delhi alone and have applied for assistance to the Bihar CM. Similarly, 2.68 lakh people in Maharashtra, over 1 lakh in Karnataka, 1,87,754 in UP, 2.96 lakh in Haryana, more than 2 lakh in Gujarat, 1.52 lakh in Punjab, 87567 from Rajasthan, 99,221 in West Bengal, 32846 in MP, 87890 in TN and thousands in others are waiting to return to Bihar.



He said that all those who come back home would be welcomed and provided quarantine facilities in their blocks or at the state-border based centres. Till date, 1.8 lakh migrants and others have already returned to Bihar since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the total count of COVID-19 cases in the state has reached 409.
Irrfan Khans first film director, Mira Nair, has remembered her final meeting with the actor. Irrfan died on Wednesday, after a two-year-long battle with cancer.

Speaking to the New York Times, Nair said that their last meeting happened more than a year ago in London, where he was undergoing treatment for a neuroendocrine tumour. He was remarkably philosophical when I saw him last, she said. He was undergoing treatment, and I thought that Id be holding his hand at his bedside.

Also read: When Tom Hanks called Irrfan Khan coolest guy in the room, wrote him a personal note

But Nair was in for a surprise. We ate very well in a cafe. He flirted with the waitress. My friend came in on a bike and he got on the bike and he said: I just need to. I need to do one block. Just one. She continued, We had our last pictures together on this bike, and he was in full-blown treatment and yet he was in dapper linen.

Nair concluded, We have a beautiful word in Urdu  shaukeen  which means somebody with a lot of love and indulgences and delights. He loved a lot of things, whether it be clothes or food or beauty. Or his family and how much they meant to him. He had just a clear idea of what was worth it. Hed roamed and he returned to know what was really valuable.

Also read: Natalie Portman, Angelina Jolie on Irrfan Khans death: I remember the intensity of his commitment, and his smile

The filmmaker worked with Irrfan in Salaam Bombay!, and then cast him in The Namesake, and her short in the anthology film, New York I Love You. Irrfans co-star in the short, Natalie Portman, also paid tribute to the actor. Sending love to Irrfan Khans loved ones today, she wrote on Instagram.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Boris Johnsons most senior aide is facing fresh allegations he flouted lockdown rules by taking a sightseeing trip on Easter Sunday.

The prime minister is facing mounting calls to sack Dominic Cummings amid claims he made several trips to see his family in County Durham, while the country was being told to stay at home.

Ministers vociferously defended Mr Cummings after it emerged he had made the 260-mile journey, insisting he had obeyed the rules by staying in one place while there.

However, an eyewitness told The Observer and the Sunday Mirror he had seen Mr Cummings on 12 April, 30 miles from Durham in Barnard Castle.

Another eyewitness said they saw the prime ministers most trusted aide in Durham on 19 April, days after he had been photographed returning to Downing Street.

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Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 November 2021 Migrants are helped ashore from a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat at a beach in Dungeness, on the south-east coast of England, on November 24, 2021, after being rescued while crossing the English Channel. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 23 November 2021 The coffin of Sir David Amess is carried past politicians, including former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May, Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the requiem mass for the MP at Westminster Cathedral, central London PA UK news in pictures 22 November 2021 The scene in Dragon Rise, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset where police have launched a murder probe after two people were found dead Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 21 November 2021 London-based midwife Sarah Muggleton, 27, takes part in a 'March with Midwives' in central London to highlight the crisis in maternity services PA UK news in pictures 20 November 2021 Police officers monitor as climate change activists sit down and block traffic during a protest action in solidarity with activists from the Insulate Britain group who received prison terms for blocking roads, on Lambeth Bridge in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 19 November 2021 A giant installation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson made from recycled clothing goes on display at Manchester Central, as part of Manchester Art Fair, in a 'wake-up call for the Prime Minister to tackle textile waste' PA UK news in pictures 18 November 2021 The scene at a recycling centre in Stert, near Devizes in Wiltshire after a large blaze was brought under control. The fire broke out on Wednesday night the fire service has said and local residents were advised to keep windows and doors shut due to large amounts of smoke PA UK news in pictures 17 November 2021 The sun rises over South Shields Lighthouse, on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 16 November 2021 ancer Maithili Vijayakumar at the launch of 2021 Diwali celebrations at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 15 November 2021 Forensic officers work outside Liverpool Women's Hospital, following a car blast, in Liverpool Reuters UK news in pictures 14 November 2021 Wreaths by the Cenotaph after the Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall, London PA UK news in pictures 13 November 2021 Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is ending his hunger strike in central London after almost three weeks. Ratcliffe has spent 21 days camped outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London without food. He began his demonstration on 24 October after his wife lost her latest appeal in Iran, saying his family was caught in a dispute between two states PA

Earlier, Downing Street had described the first trip as essential, saying Mr Cummings needed his familys help to care for his young son because his wife was sick with coronavirus and he feared he was next.

Cabinet ministers lined up to defend Mr Cummings, saying he had put his family first and accused critics of trying to politicise the issue.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, used the daily Downing Street press conference to suggest that Mr Cummings had not broken lockdown rules because he had stayed put upon arrival in Durham.

But Robin Lees, 70, a retired chemistry teacher, told the papers he had seen Mr Cummings in Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday.

Mr Lees compared him to Catherine Calderwood, Scotlands former chief medical officer, who stood down after visiting her second home twice during lockdown.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have written to Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, calling for an inquiry into Mr Cummingss decision to travel from London to Durham.

They want the probe to include when the prime minister was made aware Mr Cummings had left the capital.

Senior Tories also expressed concern that Mr Cummings's behaviour could encourage others to flout the rules, jeopardising the governments plans to gradually lift the lockdown.

The Independent can reveal that senior MPs are set to question Mr Johnson over Mr Cummings later this week, as pressure grows on the prime minister to explain what he knew about the trip under lockdown.

Parliament is in recess until June, meaning Mr Johnson will not have to face MPs at Prime Ministers Questions.

But members of the Commons Liaison Committee, which is made up of the chairs of other select committees, said they expected Mr Johnson to be questioned about Mr Cummings when he makes his first appearance before them later this week.

Pete Wishart, an SNP MP who sits on the committee and is a member of the "quad" which organises its business, said: If nothing has changed and Dominic Cummings is still in post by Wednesday, it would be very surprising if this was an issue that was not raised.

Another member of the committee said: Im sure one of my colleagues will crowbar the Cummings question in.

In a statement defending Mr Cummings, Downing Street said his trip had been essential to ensure his young son was properly cared for. After an offer of help from his sister and nieces, he travelled to a house near to but separate from his extended family.

A spokesperson for No 10, said: "Yesterday [Friday] the Mirror and Guardian wrote inaccurate stories about Mr Cummings. Today [Saturday] they are writing more inaccurate stories including claims that Mr Cummings returned to Durham after returning to work in Downing Street on 14 April. We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers."

There was confusion about the involvement of police, however. No 10 also said that at no stage was Mr Cummings or his family spoken to by the police.

On Saturday night Durham Police took the unusual step of confirming they had spoken to Mr Cummingss father.

Steve White, the police and crime commissioner for Durham Police, a former head of the Police Federation in England and Wales, said it was "most unwise" for Mr Cummings to have travelled when "known to be infected".

The SNP accused No 10 of a "cover up" after reports some in Downing Street knew Mr Cummings had made the 260-mile journey during lockdown.

Former Tory cabinet minister David Lidington, Theresa Mays de facto deputy prime minister, told Newsnight: "There's clearly serious questions that No 10 are going to have to address, not least because the readiness of members of the public to follow government guidance more generally is going to be affected by this sort of story."

Professor Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist whose modelling prompted the lockdown, quit as a government adviser for flouting the rules when he was visited at this home by his lover.

At the time Mr Hancock, the health secretary, said he was "speechless" and that he backed any police action against Mr Ferguson.

Sir Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for Mr Cummings to quit over the allegations, while a spokesperson for Labour said: "The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for Dominic Cummings."

Asked by reporters on Saturday if he had considered his position, Mr Cummings said "obviously not".
The death of poet Eavan Boland comes as a soft shock to my sense of the world. The creative connections she forged between her richly various poetry, Irish culture and the fierce determinations of feminism were mesmerising. Just as important was her faith in poems as places to think and feel in, where those connections could be offered as intricate gifts to all readers.

She is rightly celebrated for her breakthrough collection, the 1980 In Her Own Image, which pitted itself against the lazy assumptions of a male-dominated poetry world and voiced the bitter extremes of female experience, like the anorexics fanaticism (Flesh is heretic./ My body is a witch. / I am burning it), the beaten wifes survivalist plural selving (I was not myself, myself), the menstrual visionary (I leash to her {the moon}, / a sea, / a washy heave, / a tide), the crazy poetics of the kitchen (the tropic of the dryer tumbling clothes. / The round lunar window of the washer).

A true challenger to Yeats

Such poems gave centre stage to female experiences and had a huge impact on the Irish poetry scene in particular, which had taken its time responding to the feminist revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.

Wikimedia

Their accurate representation of the marginalisation of women in history and by history (still no page / scores the low music / of our outrage Its a Womans World, 1982) was belied by the poems as public and historical voices. A feminist collection, In Her Own Image showed the world that Bolands was a powerful voice above all and a real challenge to the Yeatsian tradition of male poetics in Ireland.

The wonderful Mise Eire (1987), meaning I am Ireland, for instance, takes on the identity of the many emigrant women travelling from Ireland to the New World, and opens:

I wont go back to it my nation displaced into old dactyls

and the poem is colourfully detailed about the historical record, as routines being played by Boland:

I am the woman  a slovens mix of silk at the wrists, a sort of dove-strut in the precincts of the garrison

Story continues

The ancestral women whose being she inherits through her matriarchal line and her Irish identity, women under the control of the old dispensation, the women of Irish patriarchal history, molls to the men of power  that is what she wont go back to. So what reads as a rich imagining of the emigrant glad to be leaving is also Bolands coded challenge to the Irish lyric tradition with its old dactyls and assumptions about women poets as strutting doves; as well as a specific historical voicing of second-wave feminism  we are not going back to that old world.

Returning to Dublin

On the back of the extraordinarily febrile mind at work on her own culture and in concert with the feminism of her times, she built up a repertoire of voices that constitute some of the finest poetry in English.

Navigating between work in America and a full life in Ireland, she lived out that emigrant dream and made it real, made it her world. Her poems are intimately connected to the dailiness of her own life, to a sense of significances and exfoliations in the ordinary events in her patch of space and time. Equally, she writes poems of extraordinary power and complexity about the history of Ireland, about the Famine, the Troubles (the three-decade conflict between nationalists and unionists), about the acts of violence suffered by her people over time.

She was unafraid to make poetry do the work that once was most resolutely its task: the work of elegy, epic (her lyrics attend to history with the eye of an epic poet), lyric most of all and testimonial witnessing of experience with heart and mind.

For me, one of her tasks was to be the poet of Dublin, the Dublin she loved and cherished, and fought for and against too. Many of her very best poems bring that fabled city to new light. Her poem Anna Liffey (1997), which tussles with James Joyces representation of the female principle Anna Livia Plurabelle in Finnegans Wake, is also a hymn of praise to Dublins river Liffey:

It rises in rush and ling heather and Black peat and bracken and strengthens To claim the city it narrated.

Again, subtly, it is a womans story-telling (Anna Liffey narrating) that lays claim to this new post-feminist Dublin. Born abroad, she adopted Dublin as an emigre Irish returnee  but that journey home was also this complex act of kinship and claim:

It has taken me All my strength to do this. Becoming a figure in a poem. Usurping a name and a theme.

Thank goodness for her usurpation! Such a harvest of gifts, as well.

In the incomparably beautiful And Soul (2007), Dublins rain is praised at the same time as Boland is battling the cloudburst of her grief for her dying mother. In The Lost Land (1998), her daughters growing up and living faraway reprise her whole life story (memory itself / has become an emigrant). Nobody has written so fully and well about the intimate relationship between Ireland and the United States. Ireland has lost its most exquisite chronicler:

In the end everything that burdened and distinguished me will be lost in this: I was a voice.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Adam Piette does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Computer & Technology Brilliant images, comfort and high performance in an eco-friendly monitor - MMD launches the new Philips B1 Line

Philips 245B1

30.04.2020 10:07:16 -



(live-PR.com) - Amsterdam, 30 April 2020  MMD, the leading display specialist and brand license partner for Philips monitors, announces the 24 (23.8" / 60.5 cm) Philips 245B1 LCD monitor. This new model features Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440), a PowerSensor to save up to 70% energy costs and HDMI connectivity. Its rich variety of features and technologies is designed from - Amsterdam, 30 April 2020  MMD, the leading display specialist and brand license partner for Philips monitors, announces the 24 (23.8" / 60.5 cm) Philips 245B1 LCD monitor. This new model features Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440), a PowerSensor to save up to 70% energy costs and HDMI connectivity. Its rich variety of features and technologies is designed from top to bottom to offer optimal comfort and productivity for those who seek both versatility and high performance.



Optimised viewing experience and efficiency at work

The Philips 245B1 delivers crystal-clear images with its Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution. Its IPS panel enables an exceptionally wide range of accurate colour reproduction. Both IPS panel technology and SmartImage, an exclusive leading-edge Philips technology, contribute to providing bright and crisp images that photographers, graphic and film professionals and designers will certainly love.

Designed to enhance ultimate user comfort and convenience, the Philips 245B1 features Flicker-Free technology and LowBlue Mode to reduce eye fatigue, as well as Easy Read mode. The SmartErgoBase monitor stand enables user-friendly ergonomic adjustments. This model also provides built-in stereo speakers and a wide range of connectors including DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.2 and more.



Sustainable & eco-friendly

The Philips 245B1 is designed to be environmentally friendly. Compliant with various environmental standards and certifications such as EnergyStar 8.0, EPEAT*, TCO Certified Edge, and RoHS, this monitor features 85% post-consumer recycled plastic, 100% recyclable packaging material and it is entirely free of harmful substances such as mercury, lead and PVC/BFR. The Philips 245B1 is equipped with a built-in PowerSensor that automatically detects the users presence and adjusts the monitors brightness in response, leading to longer monitor life and cutting energy costs by up to 70%. Moreover, the LightSensor ensures the perfect brightness with minimal power consumption.



Take productivity and sustainability to the next level with Philips B Line monitors

All Philips B Line monitors provide great comfort, full connectivity, flexibility and excellent image quality  and the new 242B1 and 275B1 models are no different.



The 24 (23.8"/60.5 cm) Philips 242B1 LCD monitor delivers Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) for a stunning viewing experience. The monitor is equipped with PowerSensor, SmartImage, IPS panel technology and an array of comfort-enhancing features to bring together high performance, sustainability and the exceptional quality professional users have come to expect from Philips monitors.



Designed for todays professionals, the Philips 275B1 is loaded with a wide range of productivity and performance-maximising features and innovations, such as SmartErgoBase and Adaptive-Sync technology, to enhance user comfort and ensure the most productive, enjoyable workplace possible. This 27" (68.6 cm) LCD monitor delivers sharp, crystal-clear images thanks to its Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels).



Convenient, forward-thinking and eco-friendly, the Philips 245B1 monitor is available from April 2020 with an RRP of 199. The Philips 242B1 and the Philips 275B1 monitors will be available in June 2020 with RRPs of 173 and 269 respectively.



* EPEAT rating is valid only where Philips registers the product. Please visit



More information on Philips monitors:



About MMD

MMD-Monitors & Displays Holding B.V. (MMD), registered in the Netherlands, with their head offices in Amsterdam, is a wholly owned company of TPV Technology Limited (TPV), which is one of the worlds leading monitor and LCD TV manufacturers.

MMD-Monitors & Displays Holding B.V. (MMD) exclusively markets and sells Philips-branded LCD displays worldwide under trademark license by Koninklijke Philips N.V. By combining the Philips brand promise with TPVs manufacturing expertise in displays, MMD uses a fast and focused approach to bringing innovative products to market.

top to bottom to offer optimal comfort and productivity for those who seek both versatility and high performance.Optimised viewing experience and efficiency at workThe Philips 245B1 delivers crystal-clear images with its Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution. Its IPS panel enables an exceptionally wide range of accurate colour reproduction. Both IPS panel technology and SmartImage, an exclusive leading-edge Philips technology, contribute to providing bright and crisp images that photographers, graphic and film professionals and designers will certainly love.Designed to enhance ultimate user comfort and convenience, the Philips 245B1 features Flicker-Free technology and LowBlue Mode to reduce eye fatigue, as well as Easy Read mode. The SmartErgoBase monitor stand enables user-friendly ergonomic adjustments. This model also provides built-in stereo speakers and a wide range of connectors including DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.2 and more.Sustainable & eco-friendlyThe Philips 245B1 is designed to be environmentally friendly. Compliant with various environmental standards and certifications such as EnergyStar 8.0, EPEAT*, TCO Certified Edge, and RoHS, this monitor features 85% post-consumer recycled plastic, 100% recyclable packaging material and it is entirely free of harmful substances such as mercury, lead and PVC/BFR. The Philips 245B1 is equipped with a built-in PowerSensor that automatically detects the users presence and adjusts the monitors brightness in response, leading to longer monitor life and cutting energy costs by up to 70%. Moreover, the LightSensor ensures the perfect brightness with minimal power consumption.Take productivity and sustainability to the next level with Philips B Line monitorsAll Philips B Line monitors provide great comfort, full connectivity, flexibility and excellent image quality  and the new 242B1 and 275B1 models are no different.The 24 (23.8"/60.5 cm) Philips 242B1 LCD monitor delivers Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) for a stunning viewing experience. The monitor is equipped with PowerSensor, SmartImage, IPS panel technology and an array of comfort-enhancing features to bring together high performance, sustainability and the exceptional quality professional users have come to expect from Philips monitors.Designed for todays professionals, the Philips 275B1 is loaded with a wide range of productivity and performance-maximising features and innovations, such as SmartErgoBase and Adaptive-Sync technology, to enhance user comfort and ensure the most productive, enjoyable workplace possible. This 27" (68.6 cm) LCD monitor delivers sharp, crystal-clear images thanks to its Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels).Convenient, forward-thinking and eco-friendly, the Philips 245B1 monitor is available from April 2020 with an RRP of 199. The Philips 242B1 and the Philips 275B1 monitors will be available in June 2020 with RRPs of 173 and 269 respectively.* EPEAT rating is valid only where Philips registers the product. Please visit www.epeat.net/ for registration status in your country.More information on Philips monitors: www.philips.co.uk/c-m-pc/monitors About MMDMMD-Monitors & Displays Holding B.V. (MMD), registered in the Netherlands, with their head offices in Amsterdam, is a wholly owned company of TPV Technology Limited (TPV), which is one of the worlds leading monitor and LCD TV manufacturers.MMD-Monitors & Displays Holding B.V. (MMD) exclusively markets and sells Philips-branded LCD displays worldwide under trademark license by Koninklijke Philips N.V. By combining the Philips brand promise with TPVs manufacturing expertise in displays, MMD uses a fast and focused approach to bringing innovative products to market. Contact information:

MMD Monitors & Displays B.V.



Prins Bernhardplein 200, 6th floor

1097 JB Amsterdam





Contact Person:

Xeni Bairaktari



Phone: +31 205046945

eMail: eMail



Web: http://www.mmd-p.com

Author:

Peter Link

e-mail

Web: http://www.united.de

Phone: +49 30 7890760 30.04.2020 10:07:16 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday extended regulatory benefits to all banks including those deploying their own resources to extend liquidity support to the mutual funds under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF) scheme.

Earlier in the week, the Reserve Bank had announced Rs 50,000-crore SLF-MF scheme to bailout the mutual funds facing redemption pressure. The scheme was announced in the backdrop of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund deciding to shut several schemes.

"Based on requests received from banks, it has now been decided that the regulatory benefits announced under the SLF-MF scheme will be extended to all banks, irrespective of whether they avail funding from the Reserve Bank or deploy their own resources under the ...Scheme," Reserve Bank of India said in a release.

The RBI further said banks meeting the liquidity requirements of MFs by extending loans and undertaking outright purchase of and/or repos against the collateral of investment grade corporate bonds, commercial paper (CPs), debentures and certificates of deposit (CDs) held by MFs, will be eligible to claim all the regulatory benefits available under the scheme.

The banks claiming the regulatory benefits would be required to submit a weekly statement containing consolidated information on entity-wise and instrument-wise loans and advances extended or investment made to eligible entities to Financial Markets Operations Department and to Department of Supervision on every Monday till the closure of the scheme, the RBI said.

The Rs 50,000 crore liquidity window came days after, the Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, which has been operating in India for 25 years, decided to shut down 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.

Last time, RBI had opened a special borrowing window of Rs 25,000 crore for banks to help meet the cash requirements of mutual funds in July 2013.

Post the collapse of Lehman Brothers, RBI, in October, 2008, had provided a similar additional liquidity support exclusively for mutual fund industry.

The central bank also stressed it remains vigilant and will take whatever steps are necessary to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and preserve financial stability.

Under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF), the RBI will conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate.
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Germany announced further plans to ease coronavirus curbs on public life Thursday, with religious institutions, playgrounds, museums and zoos given the green light to reopen.

Angela Merkel said that the relaxation of measures was just a 'step', and a more far-reaching plan would be agreed next week, when Germany will review its coronavirus lockdown measures to see what impact they've had on infections after a recent rise in cases.

No decision will be taken about reopening schools and allowing sports teams to train until at least May 6, and there will be no end to wider social distancing measures until at least May 10.

This is to give time for the current measures to show in the data, aide Helge Braun said. He spoke as Germany reported 1,478 new cases of the virus on Thursday, meaning the daily total has increased every day this week.

Meanwhile France is due to outline plans for regions with lower infection totals to start easing lockdown measures quicker.

Elsewhere, Italy's exit from lockdown has been thrown into turmoil after regional leaders defied the central government and began opening shops and restaurants ahead of schedule.

Prime minister Giuseppe Conte bemoaned the 'rashness' of local politicians who opened up bars and pizzerias at a 'delicate stage' of the coronavirus crisis, four days before the lockdown starts to be lifted.

The southern region of Calabria allowed bars and restaurants with outside tables to open to the public on Thursday, while pizzerias and some shops have opened in northern Veneto.

'Initiatives involving less restrictive measures are contrary to national rules and are therefore to all intents and purposes illegitimate,' Conte told parliament, as Italy's daily tallies of coronavirus deaths fell for the second day in a row on Thursday.

ITALY: A cafe owner in Rome puts a table outdoors today as the country prepares to ease coronavirus restrictions from May 4 - while some regions have angered the central government by opening bars and restaurants ahead of schedule

GERMANY: Riot police dragged away squatters at an illegally occupied house in Berlin today - with all parties wearing masks

FRANCE: Volunteers distribute face masks and leaflets to commuters outside a metro station in Vincennes on the outskirts of Paris today as the country outlines more details on how it will exit lockdown

SPAIN: An elderly couple wearing face masks walk through Madrid - as Spain has announced time slots when elderly people and children will be allowed outside, in order to shield vulnerable older people from coronavirus

In Spain, Health Minister Salvador Illa has announced time slots when elderly people and children can be outdoors in an attempt to shield vulnerable older people from the virus - which can be carried by children though they generally do not suffer severe symptoms.

The Spanish government is facing possible parliamentary defeat over its four-step plan as governors urge the Prime Minister to call off a state of emergency and hand them powers to deal with the crisis on their own.

In order to get around that problem, France has proposed splitting the country into 'red' and 'green' zones when the lockdown lifts on May 11, with green zones - where the impact of the virus has been less severe - allowed to lift measures faster.

There are fears of a second wave of coronavirus in Europe - already the world's worst-affected region with 1.4million confirmed cases and almost 130,000 deaths - as lockdown measures are eased.

But with some of the continent's biggest economies suffering record-breaking falls, leaders have been left with little choice but to relax measures before a vaccine is available.

Here is the latest on how European leaders are handling their lockdowns...

GERMANY

Germany has given the green light to religious institutions, playgrounds, museums and zoos to reopen after closing during the country's coronavirus lockdown.

After a meeting with state premiers on Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the relaxing of measures was just a 'step', with a more far-reaching plan to be agreed next week.

'It remains absolutely important that we stay disciplined,' said Merkel, adding that the effects of the new relaxations would be watched carefully. In order to receive visitors, the institutions will have to meet 'requirements for hygiene, access control and avoidance of queues'.

Other decisions, such as when to open schools and restaurants and resume top-flight football, were pushed back until next week.

Angela Merkel chaired a meeting of regional governors Thursday to discuss further lockdown measures, but her chief of staff said social distancing will remain in place until at least May 10

Merkel said that 'clear decisions' would be made on May 6 on reopening schools and kindergartens, as well as allowing 'certain sporting endeavours' to resume.

There will be no end to social distancing measures until at least May 10, Angela Merkel's chief of staff has said, even as the German Chancellor met with regional leaders to discuss plans to ease lockdown measures further.

No firm decisions on reopening schools and nurseries, and restarting sporting events, will be made until at least May 6, Merkel aide Helge Braun said.

This is to allow time for the effect of the initial easing of lockdown restrictions last week to show in the data.

Next week's meeting is therefore expected to produce a final decision on whether the Bundesliga can become the first of Europe's major football leagues to resume play next month.

The top flight league has already presented a blueprint to resume the season behind closed doors, and clubs began testing players on Thursday.

Germany reported 1,478 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, meaning the daily infection total has now risen every day this week. Angela Merkel's chief of staff has said the country's lockdown will be reviewed next week in light of the data

Germany reported another 173 deaths from the virus, down slightly from 202 deaths reported on Wednesday

A woman walks out of a shopping mall in Berlin after Germany became one of the first European countries to start easing lockdown measures

A worker at a Mercedes plant in Germany fits a badge to the front of one of their cars after production was allowed to resume as the country eases lockdown measures

A man wearing painter's overalls and a face mask is dragged out of an illegally occupied house by police in Berlin, Germany

Braun spoke as Professor Tobias Welte, a top government adviser, denied that a rise in infections this week was down to relaxing restrictions.

German jobless total soars in April due to coronavirus The jobless total in Germany rose unusually sharply in April, official data showed Thursday, highlighting the coronavirus pandemic's impact on Europe's top economy. The jobless total soared to 2.6 million in April from 2.3 million in March, according to data compiled by the federal labour agency BA. And in seasonally adjusted terms, the unemployment rate jumped to 5.8 percent this month from 5.0 percent the previous month, the agency said. 'The coronavirus pandemic will likely lead to the most serious recession in Germany of the post-World War II period,' BA chief Detlef Scheele said in a statement. 'The labour market is also coming under pressure.' Economy Minister Peter Altmaier on Wednesday unveiled government projections of a record 6.3-percent year-on-year drop in gross domestic product. On top of April's increase in the jobless count, some 750,000 companies applied to place 10.1 million workers on government-funded shorter hours schemes, the BA said Thursday. Known in German as 'Kurzarbeit' and credited with saving hundreds of thousands of jobs during the 2009 financial crisis, Berlin widened access to the programme as the scale of the coronavirus threat became clear. Applications for the scheme do not mean that workers will in fact be placed on shorter hours. 'Nevertheless, this is a never-before-seen figure compared with recent decades, and a multiple of the notifications seen during the great recession in 2008-09,' the BA said. Advertisement

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said that cases are still trending downwards overall despite an apparent rise in the daily data.

He pointed to the 'weekend effect' that has been observed throughout Europe - where less case data is logged at the weekend because people are away from their desks, causing a backlog that is cleared throughout the week.

This leads to an apparent peak in infections midweek, while in fact the numbers may have remained steady or even declined on average.

For example, Germany reported an average of 2,040 cases last week, even while the daily figures were declining.

By comparison, the country has reported an average of 1,236 cases every day this week, even though the daily figure has been creeping upwards.

Professor Welte added that it is also too early for the effects of lifting the lockdown to show in the daily infection data because of the incubation period of coronavirus - which can be up to 14 days.

He said: 'The end of lockdown started about a week ago, normally with coronavirus it is a very long timeframe.

'From infection, to severe infection, to admittance to ICU is usually around 14 days. We are still in this window.

'We will see next week what was the consequence of shutting down the shutdown.'

Giving a glimpse into the German government's strategy going forward, scientists from four well-respected research groups - including the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz Association - outlined what they believe is the best response.

They dismissed the idea of pushing for 'herd immunity' because they say there is not enough evidence that a person who has been infected with coronavirus cannot be infected a second time.

A woman with a face mask buys flowers on a market in Muenster, western Germany, after it was allowed to reopen

Long-term effects of infection, such as trauma to the heart and lungs, are also poorly understood, they told Die Welt.

Similarly, trying to wipe out the disease while it is still circulating freely in parts of the world is also impractical, they argue.

Instead, the strategy must be to contain the virus in order to stop it spreading through the local population via increased testing and contact tracing.

Such strategies have proved extremely effective in places such as South Korea - site of one of the earliest outbreaks outside China - where zero domestic infections were reported Thursday.

The country has never enacted a full lockdown of the kind seen in Europe.

Only once the number of cases has fallen to such a level that they can be adequately contained with testing and contact tracing should social distancing be stopped, the German scientists said.

ITALY

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday some Italian regions might be able to roll back coronavirus restrictions more rapidly than others but warned local authorities against acting unilaterally.

He spoke as right-wing local administrations, which are not part of the central government, rebelled against his gradual approach to lifting restrictions which Conte argues is vital to prevent a second wave of infection.

For example in Calabria, in the Italian south which has largely escaped the worst of coronavirus, ministers have announced that bars and restaurants can reopen immediately so long as they have outdoor tables - a month ahead of the government's proposed schedule.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte arrives at the Senate in Rome wearing a face mask as he suggests some regions could ease lockdown faster than others after his blanket approach was criticised

Employees of the Italia Opere company spray disinfectant at an office in Rome today, with Italy just four days away from beginning to lift its nationwide lockdown

Italy reported 1,872 cases of coronavirus on Thursday, almost the same as the 2,091 reported Wednesday

Italy also reported 285 deaths from coronavirus on Thursday, down on the 382 reported on Wednesday

'There will not be a plan based on sudden initiatives by individual local authorities, but rather one based on scientific findings,' Conte said.

Autonomous moves by lone regions would be considered illegitimate, he added, opening the way for confrontations with regional chiefs set on defying the central government.

'We cannot allow the efforts made to be in vain because of rashness at this delicate stage. Moving from the policy of "let's close everything" to "let's reopen everything", would risk irreversibly compromising these efforts,' Conte said.

On Thursday, deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 285, against 323 the day before, the country's Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new infections stood at 1,872, down from 2,086 on Wednesday.

Italy has now registered 27,967 coronavirus deaths, the highest tally in Europe and the second highest in the world after the U.S., and has introduced some of the toughest lockdown measures in the world, which look certain to tip the fragile economy into a deep recession.

Conte acknowledged that the economy faced an unprecedented slump and confirmed the latest Treasury forecast for a contraction of 15% in the first half of the year.

Data released on Thursday showed the economy shrank by 4.7 per cent in the first quarter from the previous three months thanks to the lockdown.

However, the slump was less pronounced than expected, with a Reuters poll forecasting a 5.0 per cent fall.

People shop at an Esselunga supermarket in Milan's Famagosta district as the country plots its way out of lockdown

France and Spain, which also announced quarterly economic data on Thursday, saw dips of 5.8 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively - the largest quarterly retraction on record in both countries.

Conte said a new stimulus package to support the economy, due to be presented in a few days, would include 15 billion euros ($16.3 billion) for companies and 25 billion directly for payroll workers and the self-employed.

Acknowledging that the slow withdrawal of restrictions was causing upset, Conte said he had to act cautiously to avoid a potentially catastrophic resurgence of infections.

'I'll say this clearly, at the risk of appearing unpopular. The government cannot immediately ensure a return to normality ... we are still in this pandemic,' he said.

FRANCE

Health Minister Jerome Salomon will reveal the country's first 'red' and 'green' department map on Thursday and outline which lockdown measures will apply in each area.

It comes after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Tuesday that lockdown measures will be eased at different rates in different locations depending on how well they are coping with the virus.

While the exact criteria for marking a department 'green' or 'red' has not been revealed yet, ministers said it would depend on three things - local transmission rates, availability of ICU beds, and whether effective testing and contact tracing measures are being carried out.

France reported 1,607 new cases of coronavirus up until 2pm Wednesday, well below its daily peak of 7,578 on March 31

France reported 427 deaths from coronavirus up until 2pm Wednesday, a slight increase on the previous day's 367

It has also not been revealed how lockdown measures will differ between zones, but ministers have suggested that parks and gardens will be allowed to reopen in green zones while they must stay shut in red zones.

Similarly, schools and colleges may be allowed to reopen in green zones from May 18, while they must remain closed in red zones for longer.

While the zones themselves will be revealed Thursday, lockdown measures for green zones will only start being eased from May 11.

Underlining the importance of easing the lockdown was French economic data, published Thursday, which revealed the economy contracted 5.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the last quarter of 2019.

The fall is the largest quarter-on-quarter drop since records began in 1949. It was particularly pronounced in services that involve face to face interaction, such as hotels, restaurants, retail stores, transport and construction.

Meanwhile the French sport ministry has warned cyclists and joggers to stay at least 30ft apart when restrictions are eased May 11.

France has warned cyclists and joggers that they must stay at least 30ft apart once coroanvirus measures start to be eased from May 11 after a study showed they shed coronavirus over a much wider area than pedestrians

Currently, short-distance runs close to the home are permitted under the rules, but ministers have been alarmed by images of runners packing on to sunny sidewalks in recent weeks.

The recommendation comes following a study that suggested fast-moving runners and cyclists shed coronavirus over a much wider area then pedestrians.

For yoga, tennis and other activities, the ministry advised making sure that each participant had four square metres (43 square feet) of personal space.

No more than 10 people will be allowed to gather for any group activity, and changing rooms will remain off-limits. Team sports such as football will also remain prohibited,

SPAIN

Millions of people living in Spain will be allowed back out on the streets from Saturday but will have to adhere to time zones if they want to keep their freedom.

As part of the Spanish Government's relaxation of the coronavirus regulations, adults aged from 14 to 70 can go for a one-hour walk either by themselves or with a second person if they live in the same household. They can also got out to practice individual sport of any kind.

However, they will have to do so between the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the morning or from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at night.

They can choose one of the time slots per day, not two, and must not make contact with anyone else. In addition, they can only got up to one kilometre from their home and must keep to social distancing.

Municipalities with less than 5,000 residents will not have time slots and may carry out these activities between 6am and 11pm.

The regulations come into effect on May 2nd and add to the rule introduced last weekend which allows children under the age of 14 to go for a walk or play provided they are accompanied by one parent or guardian and a maximum of two other children from the same household.

Two women carry groceries down the street in Madrid on April 30 during the national lockdown. People will be given more freedom to leave their homes from Saturday, but will have to adhere to different time slots

However, to avoid too many families being out on the street at the same time, new time slots have also been introduced of noon to 7 p.m., rather than the original 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The change follows criticism on Sunday that parents with their children were not keeping apart and were meeting and playing with friends.

The new rules were announced on Thursday evening and come on a day when Spain's 24-hour death toll from the coronavirus hit the lowest level since March 20th at 268, bringing the total to 24,543, while the number of new infections confirmed on Thursday stood at just 518 - the lowest figure reported since March 11.

Spain reported just 518 new coronavirus cases on Thursday - its lowest daily total since March 3

Spain also reported just 268 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, its lowest daily death toll since March 20

Old folk will also be allowed out for the first time since March 14th. Those over 70 years of age or dependents who need the company of caregivers can go outside from 10 a.m. to noon or from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Again, there is no restriction if the municipality where they live has less than 5,00 people.

Health minister Salvador Illa said: People with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 disease or who are in quarantine after having been infected or having been in contact with a person who carries the virus will not be authorised to enjoy these walks or go out for sports.

The relaxed regulations are part of Spain's four stage de-escalation plan which will last until the end of June. By then, says the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the start of the new norm will have been reached.

Spain's State of Emergency is still in force until May 10th at least. Under the previous rules, people were only allowed out for a specific reason, including to go to the supermarket, to and from work, to the chemist or bank or to walk the dog.

Health minister Salvador Illa has announced that while people will be allowed more freedom to go out onto the streets in Spain now that the coronavirus is easing, those with any symptoms of the virus would not be authorised to do so

Mr. Illa said the confinement period had worked but he warned people not to let down their guard and to maintain hygiene and social distancing to prevent a second wave of COVID-19.

Despite the start of the de-escalation, we must not lose respect for the virus, he warned.

Most regions of Spain will start the first phase of the wind-down on May 11th although four islands - El Hierro, La Gomera and La Graciosa in the Canaries and Formentera in the Balearics - have jumped to a May 4th start because of their low incidence of positive cases and isolated or no deaths.

This first phase will allow the partial reopening of restaurant and bar terraces, churches, small businesses and hotels but all with strict conditions and social distancing,

Spanish Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos has already confirmed time-slots for different sectors of the population, saying the measures are being taken to avoid an 'explosive' mix of the young and old.

It comes after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez outlined a four-step plan to ease Spain's lockdown starting on May 4, with each new stage contingent on certain criteria being met before it can start.

However, it is far from certain that his plans will pass a vote in parliament as business groups and opposition leaders ramp up criticism of his plans, El Mundo reported.

Regional leaders are said to be angry that they have not been consulted on the plans, which they say are being dictated by central government and do not reflect local concerns.

Adding to the pressure, official data released Thursday showed that the economy shrank 5.2 per cent in the first quarter of the year, the worst figure since record keeping began in the 1970's.

SWEDEN

The man leading Sweden's virus response has admitted that mistakes were made - but said refusing to lock the country down was not one of them.

Anders Tegnell said that not enough was done to protect people in care homes - thought to account for half of the country's 2,586 deaths - and that he was wrong to predict the virus wouldn't leave Wuhan.

But he argued that refusing to lock the country down will be better in the long term even as public support for the approach waned amid infection and death rates that have continued to trend upwards even as the rest of Europe's trends down.

Sweden's top epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, right, has admitted a series of errors in the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic

The daily number of cases in Sweden, shown on this graph, was back up to 790 today - the second highest on record, after last Friday's 812

This chart shows the daily number of deaths, which has been heavily affected by delays in reporting weekend cases. Today's figure is 124 new deaths

Defending the lack of lockdown, he said that other countries including Britain had suffered equally bad death rates despite imposing drastic measures.

Today's figures showed 790 new cases - second only to last Friday's 812 - at a time when much of Europe is seeing a slowdown in new infections.

The rise from 20,302 cases to 21,092 comes alongside 124 more deaths, bringing the total from 2,462 to 2,586.

UKRAINE

Authorities in Ukraine have opened all 872 food markets in the country on Thursday, as the government prepares to gradually lift the strict lockdown enacted on March 12 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision to reopen the markets comes after a series protests all around Ukraine, during which entrepreneurs and farmers bemoaned the dire economic straits the lockdown has put them in.

Ukraine has agreed to reopen more than 800 markets in the country after daily protests by business owners who say they cannot survive another two weeks in lockdown until measures are eased on May 11

Ukrainians will be allowed to go to the markets while wearing masks and observing social distancing. Two inspectors will be assigned to each market to make sure the rules are followed and to check visitor's temperature.

Earlier this month, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced gradually easing lockdown restrictions after May 11, if there isn't a spike of new infections.

Ukraine has so far reported over 10,000 cases of the new coronavirus and more than 250 deaths.
CHICAGO  Our Lady of the Angels Convent was designed as a haven of peace and prayer in a suburb of Milwaukee, a place where aging, frail nuns could rest after spending their lives taking care of others.

Songbirds chirped in the sitting area. A courtyard invited morning prayers and strolls for the several dozen nuns who lived in the facility, a low-slung cream-colored building with a turret.

The quiet convent has become the site of a deadly cluster of the coronavirus. Four staff members have tested positive, a health official said. Since April 6, five nuns have died from the virus.

Covid-19, difficult to contain in any circumstance, has spread within Our Lady of the Angels with a particular invisibility. All five nuns who died were only discovered to have the virus after their deaths.
Fork in the road

I didn't do much for my Leaving and missed out on Natural Sciences in Trinity so I enrolled on a marketing course which left me underwhelmed.

I was a messer and liked to party - though the mayhem came down a notch when I was 21 and my son Jordan was born. I had to move out and get a job - not easy in 1992.

I started in Bewley's in Dublin city centre as a coffee roaster, then worked at Fitzers, waiting tables, before starting at the NYC-style eatery The Elephant & Castle (E&C), in Temple Bar - where I learned a lot about food, wine and how to interact with customers.

After three years my parents got on my case about making a plan - they were anxious a decade later I would still be there.

Through some connections, often the way back then, I was offered entry positions in AIB and Dell - but the bank paid 120 a week and I was easily bringing in 300 waiting tables.

Why leave a fun, lucrative job in an industry I liked for a boring one paying a pittance? Did I take a 'respectable' job or could I open my own place?

Research roadtrip

I headed to San Francisco to stay with my sister and borrowed her car for a detailed expedition visiting restaurants - taking notes and nicking menus.

There was no internet so this was visceral research - I observed how the staff worked, how the feel of a place was created. I learned a good location and menu is not enough - you need good design, atmosphere and organisation.

I had a business partner in mind but I had to convince him. Ger [Foote] had started with me at the E&C where his flair had been noticed from day one and where he was now a chef.

He had just been offered a Morrison Visa for the US - a big deal - but agreed to give our venture one year.

First advantage

With a lot of blood, sweat and tears we opened Dish on Crow Street in Temple Bar in 1996. The landlord - GAA player Bernard Brogan senior - took a lot of persuading to take on untested 25-year-old tenants.

We had a good menu and cheap funky furniture - we agonised over the music, the wine list, the pictures on the walls. The first three months we had a stream of family and well wishers but then all went dead.

I remember the Wednesday night in January 1997 when the food critic John McKenna walked in. I was sitting eating my own dinner but jumped up and started polishing glasses.

The restaurant was empty but the review could not have glowed any more than if I wrote it myself. Next morning the phone rang and it didn't stop for months.

Eureka

Four years later we were ticking along when I bumped into a guy I knew who had taken over the Pronto grill from his father in Ranelagh in Dublin 6.

He had done a massive refurbishment but was disillusioned and was about to pass on the lease. I said goodbye and a minute later ran after him - why not give it to us? Ranelagh was the perfect location for a buzzy, casual brunch/dinner venue.

We put a basic menu together - chicken wings, burgers, omelettes - and ordered pics of NYC (still there 20 years later) and in two weeks Tribeca opened to instant success.

Reality bites

We then got ambitious and opened a second, bigger Tribeca in Stillorgan in 2003, taking on an extra 50 employees. A big mistake.

The Celtic Tiger was in full swing but we had misjudged our market. Unlike Ranelagh, there were not many customers during the week - this was family land - and everyone disappeared in the summer. We closed and took a 1m hit. Our bank amalgamated the debt and spread it out over 11 years - this would never happen today, but in the Celtic Tiger money was cheap.

We made another mistake when we moved Dish to Leeson Street in 2001 but bringing the format more upmarket.

But it did not translate - keeping the name and changing the offering is confusing. We relaunched as the Canal Bank Cafe - which remains today.

Winging it

Raising kids and running a busy restaurant is tricky but things settled down and there was a period between 2011 and 2018 where we had a good run of it and got decent time off.

Then some staffing issues hit so I was back to working long hours and took just one week holiday last year - our employees got six weeks - but this is often the way with small-business owners.

Family affair

With Covid-19, we are working 70 hours a week. We were not set up for takeaway so it was a rush to get containers and an online ordering system.

I had to let our 65 employees go - we could not sustain a 30,000 weekly wage bill.

My wife, niece and daughter are helping, my two sons and nephew are on deliveries with me and Ger is pulling a blinder in the kitchen. His children are just babies, otherwise they would be roped in. Our customers are surprised when I drop off their dinner and say hello - this part is so uplifting.

Do I still love it? I don't know. But we have no plans to leave. Ger and myself know this business inside out and we will reinvent ourselves once again.
SAN ANTONIO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- One organ and tissue donor can impact as many as 75 people, including burn victims, breast cancer survivors and those waiting for life-saving organ transplants. In recognition of National Donate Life Month in April, Superior is proud to partner with South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and Texas Organ Sharing Alliance to shine a light on the difference just one person can make.

That's the premise of a new video released this month that features Melissa Thomas, a long-time Superior HealthPlan member, who passed away in 2019. The video features Thomas' mother as well as representatives from Superior, South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, to not only share Melissa's story, but also demonstrate the importance of being an organ and tissue donor, encouraging Texans to sign up and save lives on the Donate Life Texas state registry.

"To see Mary Kay telling Melissa's story and how generous she was throughout life is really inspiring," said Ashley Frolick, Communications Specialist, BioBridge Global (South Texas Blood & Tissue Center). "Our organization facilitates about 500 tissue recoveries each year, and it's through generous donors like Melissa that we're able to help, heal or even save more than 30,000 people across the region every year."

"Mary Kay has become a big advocate for organ and tissue donation since her daughter passed away," explained Clarissa Thompson, Senior Communications Coordinator with Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. "She has such a beautiful story to share because Melissa was so passionate about being a donor. When she passed, Melissa impacted so many lives, including a 53-year-old man transplanted in Texas who received her liver."

People of all ages and medical histories can register as donors. Along with kidneys, lungs or hearts, donors can also provide skin tissue, tendons and even bone to people in need. Some of the ways organ and tissue donations are used include:

Helping burn victims recover with new skin tissue

Repairing combat wounds suffered by veterans

Allowing breast cancer survivors to recover from surgery

Healing children born with heart defects

Providing a better quality of life for those suffering from organ failure

Remove the need for dialysis through the life-saving gift of a kidney transplant

"We're proud to join South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and Texas Organ Sharing Alliance to not only tell Melissa's story, but also focus on the impact one donor can make in the lives of others," said Mark Sanders, President and CEO. "Our purpose at Superior is to transform the health of Texas communities, one person at a time. While we do that collectively as an organization, I think Melissa's story is a unique example of how just one person can do that, too. I sincerely thank Melissa's family for helping us share her story."

About Superior HealthPlan

Founded in 1999, Superior HealthPlan is a managed care company that delivers quality healthcare throughout Texas. Committed to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time, Superior supports active local involvement in all 254 Texas counties with 4,000 employees in 9 offices throughout the state. Superior is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise offering both core Medicaid and specialty services. More information can be found at www.SuperiorHealthPlan.com.

About South Texas Blood and Tissue Center

The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC) is a nonprofit community blood center that provides blood, plasma, platelets and other blood components to 100 hospitals in 48 South Texas counties. It is the largest blood supplier in our region. In addition, it recovers and distributes donated human tissue for transplant. STBTC has a 45-year history serving the South Texas community. It is part of the BioBridge Global family of nonprofit organizations, which offers services in regenerative medicine and research including blood banking and resource management; cellular therapy; umbilical cord blood collection and storage; and testing of blood and plasma products to help patients in the United States and worldwide. STBTC has seven donor rooms in South Texas and conducts hundreds of mobile blood drives each year. STBTC is online at SouthTexasBlood.org.

About Texas Organ Sharing Alliance

Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), founded in 1975, is one of 58 federally-designated Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in the United States. TOSA is committed to a mission of saving lives through the power of organ donation by providing organ donation and recovery services to Central and South Texans wishing to donate, and to those waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

SOURCE Superior HealthPlan

Related Links

https://www.superiorhealthplan.com


Washington  President Donald Trump erupted at his top political advisers last week when they presented him with worrisome polling data that showed his support eroding in a series of battleground states as his response to the coronavirus comes under criticism.

As the virus takes its deadly toll and much of the nations economy remains shuttered, new surveys by the Republican National Committee and Trumps campaign pointed to a harrowing picture for the president as he faces reelection.

While Trump saw some of the best approval ratings of his presidency during the early weeks of the crisis, aides highlighted the growing political cost of the crisis and the unforced errors by Trump in his freewheeling press briefings. A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll says 55% of Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of coronavirus, and a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll shows former Vice President Joe Biden leads Trump by 6 points nationally and 10 points  50 to 40%  in a contest without a third-party contender

Trump reacted with defiance, incredulous that he could be losing to someone he viewed as a weak candidate.

I am not f---ing losing to Joe Biden, he repeated in a series of heated conference calls with his top campaign officials, according to five people with knowledge of the conversations. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private discussions.

The message to the president was sobering: Trump was trailing the former Democratic vice president in many key battleground states, he was told, and would have lost the Electoral College if the election had been held earlier this month.

On the line from the White House, Trump snapped at the state of his polling during a series of calls with campaign manager Brad Parscale, who called in from Florida; RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, on the line from her home in Michigan; senior adviser Jared Kushner; and other aides.

Echoing a number of White House aides and outside advisers, the political team urged Trump to curtail his daily coronavirus briefings, arguing that the combative sessions were costing him in the polls, particularly among seniors. Trump initially pushed back, pointing to high television ratings. But, at least temporarily, he agreed to scale back the briefings after drawing sharp criticism for raising the idea that Americans might get virus protection by injecting disinfectants.

Trump aides encouraged the president to stay out of medical issues and direct his focus toward more familiar and politically important ground: the economy.

Even as Trump preaches optimism, the president has expressed frustration and even powerlessness as the dire economic statistics pile up. It's been a whiplash-inducing moment for the president, who just two months ago planned to run for reelection on the strength of an economy that was experiencing unprecedented employment levels. Now, as the records mount in the opposite direction, Trump is feeling the pressure.

We built the greatest economy in the world, Trump has said publicly. Ill do it a second time.

Trump's political team warned that the president's path to reelection depends on how quickly he can bring about a recovery.

I think youll see by June a lot of the country should be back to normal, and the hope is that by July the countrys really rocking again," Kushner told Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning. But other aides, business leaders and economists predict a far longer road toward recovery.

Representatives for the RNC and the Trump campaign did not comment on the polling or last week's phone calls. In a tweet just after midnight Wednesday, Trump denied that he had recently shouted at his campaign manager and said that he is doing a great job.

According to people familiar with the incident, Trump vented much of his frustration at Parscale, who served as the bearer of bad news.

Trump has long distrusted negative poll numbers  telling aides for years that his gut was right about the 2016 race, when he insisted that he was ahead in the Midwest and Florida. At the same time, Parscale and other Trump aides are talking up the sophistication of their data and voter outreach capabilities this time.

The president and some aides have had simmering frustrations with Parscale for a while, believing the campaign manager  a close Kushner ally  has enriched himself from his association with Trump and sought personal publicity. Trump had previously been angered when Parscale was the subject of magazine profiles. This latest episode flared before the campaign manager was featured in a New York Times Magazine profile this week.

In a tweet, Trump denied yelling at Parscale.

Just told that Fake News @CNN is falsely reporting that I was recently shouting at my campaign manager over made up nonsense. Actually, he is doing a great job, I never shouted at him (been with me for years, including the 2016 win), & have no intention to do so. Just FAKE NEWS!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2020

Aides have grown particularly worried about Michigan  which some advisers have all but written off  as well as Florida, Wisconsin and Arizona.

Trump announced Wednesday that he will visit Arizona next week  his first trip outside Washington in a month  as he looks to declare that much of the nation is ready to begin reopening after the virus.

The president has mocked Biden, his presumptive general election rival, for being "stuck in his basement" in his Delaware home during the pandemic.

Trump said Wednesday that he hopes to soon visit Ohio, a battleground state that Trump carried handily in 2016 but that aides see as growing slightly competitive in recent weeks.

Aides acknowledged that the presidents signature rallies would not be returning anytime soon. Some have privately offered doubts that he would be able to hold any in his familiar format of jam-packed arenas before Election Day, Nov. 3.

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EVERGREEN, Colo., April 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AssetLink Global LLC today announced that Comprehensive Security Solutions Inc. (CSSI), a Barbados based GPS and satellite data service provider, is increasing procurement of AssetPack Hybrid, an IoT solution purpose-built to meet burgeoning demand for real-time vessel monitoring services in the Caribbean arena. CSSI is placing an order of 1,500 AssetPack IoT devices for use in the company's proprietary Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS). This system is currently in use by maritime industry clients operating in the countries of Suriname, Belize, and Guyana. Powered by AssetLink hardware and IoT data services, CSSI offers real-time VMS services to public and private sector organizations ranging from commercial fishing fleets, port authorities, coast guard, and other marine law enforcement agencies operating across LATAM. The CSSI VMS UX provides value-added geo-positioning data services including vessel tracking, real-time GPS, marine geofencing, emergency alerting, and granular access to location based data on the provenance of fish hauls across the region. The Suriname Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) is currently stepping up efforts to curb Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in the region. Under the leadership of Minister Rabindre Parmessar, the Ministry is reaching out to stakeholders in the commercial fishing industry to bring additional clarity to the issue. Concurrently the Ministry is mandating adoption of VMS in vessels operating in Surinamese waters with the goal of unifying all fishing operations under a single VMS platform.

AssetPack is a next-generation, solar-battery powered IoT device capable of bi-directional communications over high-availability cellular and satellite data networks. AssetPack includes precision GPS and sensor-agnostic interfaces designed to track the movement of fleet vessels, monitor the operation of ship equipment, and gather data on local marine ecologies. GPS positioning and emergency alerting provide vessels the real-time visibility and situational awareness required when traversing protected marine ecologies or operating near disputed territorial waters. The solution easily and cost effectively integrates with a wide range of marine assets -- including fishing vessels, ship mounted assets, drift trackers, and buoys -- and is engineered to provide 7-10 years of maintenance free operation in unforgiving marine environments.

"AssetLink IoT solutions enable us to offer real-time GPS and emergency data services our clients need to ensure the safety of crew and vessels out at sea," said Ryan A. Clarke, Owner of CSSI. "The solar power capabilities of AssetPack allow us to equip Suriname vessels en route via pan-Atlantic shipping routes to distant foreign markets with an uninterrupted VMS positioning and panic button solution."

AssetLink IoT solutions offer the real-time edge intelligence required by CSSI to track the position and movements of fishing vessels operating in territorial waters across the Caribbean. The CSSI VMS solution has proven instrumental in bolstering the regulation and enforcement of commercial fishing practices in the region. By partnering with AssetLink, CSSI is able to support the needs of local governments and oceanic agencies to counteract forced labor practices and curtail illegal, unreported, and unauthorized fishing practices, through a series of commercial fishing laws and the issuance of vessel operating licenses regulated and enforced by individual member countries.

"We are proud to play an important and integral role by providing the global visibility CSSI needs to build highly scalable cost effective VMS services, which result in safer and more sustainable fishing operations across the Caribbean," said David J. Goldstein, President & CEO of AssetLink. "AssetPack is purpose-built to effortlessly integrate with our clients' asset monitoring systems and represents over two decades of IoT technology experience designing, manufacturing and implementing IoT solutions across a wide range of oceanic and terrestrial use cases."

About AssetLink Global

AssetLink is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and execution of remote monitoring systems and next-gen cloud IoT services, seamlessly connected over enterprise-grade communications networks. Best-in-class solutions combined with our growing provider ecosystem address the evolving needs of Fortune 500 and public sector organizations in industries including agriculture, heavy equipment & mining, oil & gas, maritime, and transportation. Follow us on our social media handles LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About CSSI

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The Facebook-Reliance Jio deal envisages seamless integration of small businesses on a single network for communication and making payments through WhatsApp. But company's poor track record on privacy could hurt its payments plans, which stand crucial to its success.

Facebook's first quarter results were a reflection of how people locked-up inside homes were using social media more than ever. While the company's advertising revenues took a hit this quarter, user-engagement was at an all-time high. Family daily active people ('family' refers to people using any of the app from WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram to Messenger) was 2.36 billion on average for March 2020, an increase of 12 per cent year-over-year and the Family monthly active people was 2.99 billion, an increase of 11 per cent year-over-year for the same period.

The Jio- Facebook deal announced last week also found a significant mention in the earnings call with CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailing the move as a step that would serve small businesses and enable commerce over the long-term in a country that has the largest Facebook and WhatsApp communities in the world. "By bringing together JioMart, which is Jio's small business initiative to connect millions of shops across India with WhatsApp, we think that we're going to create a much better shopping and commerce experience," he said . With approximately $5.7 billion investment, an early focus area for the company as part of this investment is to give micro, small and medium businesses access to digital tools that empower them and help them grow and expand their business while also connecting with their customers.

Sneak peek into FB-Jio mart

Ajit Mohan, VP and Managing Director, India said, "The collaboration with Jio is focussed on making it easy for people to interact with a business of their choice and ultimately make it seamless to find or purchase a product right within a chat. We are looking to work jointly for identifying areas of collaboration. For example, consumers are able to access the nearest kiranas who can provide products and services including transacting seamlessly with JioMart using WhatsApp." Zuckerberg hinted at what this collaboration could look like. On the commerce side, especially for Whatsapp, the focus would be on maximising business presence over all the app offerings such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger and then increasingly doing things that can help them drive transactions. "We are working on payments to be able to complete transactions, and we've rolled out a new ad format, click to messaging ads, where basically a lot of small businesses and different businesses are finding that their message threads with people perform better for driving sales than their websites or other presences," he said.

The essential form of this commerce partnership would be that businesses buy ads inside Facebook or Instagram that send people to chat threads and tools that would be built around the threads to make it more valuable. " We think that those ads will only increase in value, which is the way we're currently thinking about that business," said Zuckerberg.

Payments troubles

The critical piece of the missing puzzle for the social giant' s mega vision of entering commerce space is the Whatsapp Pay. WhatsApp with ICICI bank as its PSP (payments service provider) has still not secured a full-fledged go ahead to launch its UPI-based payments service. National Payments Corporation of India still lists WhatsApp as a third-party app 'live for limited users'. Ajit Mohan says while the company is still awaiting payments approvals, the use of payments on WhatsApp will be important to the success of the collaboration. He also said that Facebook is engaging constructively with regulators in India to ensure that their concerns are addressed appropriately so that WhatsApp pay can be rolled out in India.

However, along with regulatory hurdles, the company is also battling a few cases in the Supreme Court whose outcome is awaited. In a Writ Petition/PIL filed by Centre For Accountability And Systemic Change (CASA) in 2018 (FB is one of the respondents, among others), RBI had filed an affidavit that clearly stated that WhatsApp was not complied 100 per cent with the data localisation mandate for payment services as mandated. In February this year, another interim application had been filed by CASA questioning the permissibility of the limited users mandate by NPCI to WhatsApp even as the RBI admitted the company to be non-compliant. Again another PIL has been filed by Good Governance Chambers questioning the WhatsApp payments with the RBI, NPCI and ICICI bank as other respondents in the case. Ajith says that unrestricted free flow of data is a bedrock principle of the open market, which has greatly contributed to India's technology boom so far, "We continue to have independent views on a number of topics and data localisation is one of them."

While India's data and privacy bills await a final nod and are yet to firm up as an enforceable law, Facebook is already treading on a grey area. Much of its plans will depend on the outcome of these litigations.

Also Read: BT Buzz: Mukesh Ambani, Mark Zuckerberg and the $700 billion kirana puzzle

Also Read: BT BUZZ: Don't be naive! Reliance Jio-Facebook deal is a partnership of unequals
INDIANA (WLFI) -- Local governments continue to rely on COVID-19 data for up to date information.

That data includes demographics.

It shows that women get tested for COVID-19 more than men around the state and country.

The opposite is true for deaths.

Men die at a higher rate from COVID-19 than women.

The state health commissioner and an epidemiology professor explained these findings.

Data collection is becoming more and more vital in the fight against COVID-19.

"It's not something that is unique to the United State nor is it unique to Indiana," said Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Purdue, Dr. Audrey Ruple.

Countries around the world are noticing the problem.

The World Health Organization keeps track of COVID19 demographics around the world.

The U.S., Spain, Brazil and China all share similar percentages of women getting tested and men dying.

This is also true of all with more than 1,000 deaths.

"That's because women have two copies of the X chromosome and there are some immune mediated proteins that are coded for the X chromosome," said Dr. Ruple.

This could help boost the immune system.

Ruple said men also are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors.

"We do know that in some cultures men are more likely to smoke for instance and that is something might also be leading to a higher death rate in the COVID19 virus in the male population," said Dr. Ruple.

During Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's daily briefing Wednesday the state health commissioner said women are often the healthcare leaders in their family.

"Women tend to come in and do their annual exams, get blood pressure under control and address other health problems," said Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box.

This could explain why women get tested more, but Ruple said previous viruses could give us better insight into the current one the world is fighting.

"We have seen similar responses for instance with the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and the MERS outbreak which is an ongoing outbreak in the midde east," said. Dr. Ruple. "We have also seen women have better response rates in terms to their immune response in terms to those viruses."
As the pandemic continues to deplete the supply of face masks and personal protective equipment everywhere, Willamette University faculty have responded to the call.

Professor of Theatre Bobby Brewer-Wallin and others  Professor of Art Alexandra Opie, Associate Professor of Chemistry Alison Fisher, Professor of Art History and Archaeology Ann Nicgorski, Administrative Specialist Honey Wilson, Professor of Environmental Science Karen Arabas and Access Services Librarian Charity Braceros-Simon  have together distributed about 200 hand-made face masks to students who still live on campus.

After a request from Opie, Brewer-Wallin began making masks after classes moved online in March. He raided the costume studios supply of scrap cotton fabrics, resulting in a colorful array of choices, and delivered supplies to those who didnt have fabric but wanted to sew. Students picked up the masks at Goudy Commons cafeteria along with with their bagged meals, at the Bearcat Pantry and from campus housing through Kourtney Prairie 20.

By spring break, Brewer-Wallin committed to making a dozen masks a day for students, friends and family members.

This felt like a great way to serve the community and put my skills to good use, he said.

Hes since extended his outreach to a Willamette alum whose family members had COVID-19 and plans to make them as long as necessary. After Willamette student needs are met, hell shift his attention to others in the community, he said.

Assistant Professor of Physics Daniel Borrero recently donated 45 face shields  created at home with his lab's 3D printer  to Oregon Oncology Specialists in Salem after a tip from visiting chemistry professor Scott Meyer.

Borrero used a design he found online that has been tested and approved by the National Institutes of Health. During his search, he also discovered MatterHackers, a 3D printing supply company, that called out anyone with a 3D printer to create PPE.

Borrero has since been contributing to the campaign, which has distributed so far more than 35,600 pieces of PPE to 135 hospitals nationwide.

Beating this thing is really going to take an effort by everyone, he said. Im going to do whatever I can to help.
Northern Ireland's agri-food sector could be facing the loss of 10,000 jobs due to coronavirus, the Agriculture Minister has warned.

Edwin Poots said around 100,000 people are employed in the sector, but price drops were likely in key areas like milk, beef and lamb.

"A 10% contraction in agriculture is 10,000 jobs, it's as simple as that," he said.

"We need to ensure that we don't have that contraction and the growth that we have seen in the agri-food sector is something that we can pick up on the other side of coronavirus once again."

He explained 40% of the agri-food market in food services "had closed overnight".

"Retail has not been capable of picking up all of that, therefore it has caused huge distortion," he said.

In the red meat sector, for example, he said the higher value cuts of meat for restaurants were not selling. The milk sector has also been cut off from the airline industry and shops.

The minister added: "These sectors are being very badly and disproportionately hit... but just because you're at the back of the queue it doesn't mean that your needs are any less."

Mr Poots said it would be "absolutely shameful" if agriculture did not get the same support afforded to other sectors.

Earlier, he said he intended to keep the good habits that had emerged during the pandemic.

These include securing Northern Ireland's food supply lines between the UK, Ireland and around the world.

"We've already seen other nations across the world struggle to get food moving off farms and into the retail sector," he said.

"And although the hard work and dedication of our local food sector and farmers means that we haven't had that problem, we must not be complacent. This is an important piece of work.

"We can win this battle, we must win this battle, we will win this battle, and better days lie ahead if we persevere a little longer."
OAKLAND (BCN)

Five Oakland police officers who were fired last year for their roles in the fatal shooting of a homeless man in Oakland in 2018 have been reinstated because the Oakland Police Commission violated open meeting laws, the officers' lawyers said.

The Police Commission voted to fire officers William Berger, Brandon Hraiz, Craig Tanaka, Josef Phillips and Francisco Negrete for the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Jonathan Pawlik in the 900 block of 40th Street at about 7 p.m. on March 11, 2018, ruling that they acted improperly.

But attorneys for the five officers said the Police Commission's Discipline Committee acknowledged this week that the commission violated the state's Ralph M. Brown open meeting law and has reinstated the officers pending a new hearing.

Mike Rains, the lead administrative counsel for the officers, said in a statement that he is insisting that the Police Commission start the entire process over again given what he described as incurable flaws in its procedures.

Harry Stern, another attorney for the lawyers, said, "Not surprisingly, the mad dash to fire officers turned out to be completely illegal. Ironically, the group continuously parroting the word 'transparency' violated the Brown Act, California's vulnerable open meeting law."

Stern said, "We look forward to finally getting an opportunity to reveal to the commission and the public the myriad errors in this decision."

Rains said, "By upholding the terminations based on these facts and this record, the credibility of this recently-convened committee has evaporated."

He said, "These compounding series of mistakes clearly show both their misunderstandings of basic due process rights and the hasty manner in which the firings were handled."

The Oakland City Council recently voted in closed session to approve a tentative settlement calling for the city to pay $1.4 million in damages to the family of Pawlik, who grew up in Virginia and had a history of mental health problems.

The City Council is expected to give final approval to the settlement at one of its meetings in May.

Oakland attorney John Burris, who filed the wrongful death suit on behalf of Pawlik's family, said Tuesday that he believes the fatal shooting of Pawlik was "particularly egregious" because he doesn't believe that Pawlik pointed a gun at officers or threatened them in any way.

Burris said Pawlik had been sleeping on the ground and when officers, who were behind a large military vehicle, woke up Pawlik, he sat up part way but officers opened fire on him before he had a chance to respond.

But Stern said in a recent interview that the officers shot Pawlik because he had the gun in his hands and was pointing it at them.

A spokeswoman for the Oakland City Attorney's Office didn't immediately respond to a request for a comment on the ruling to reinstate the officers.

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.
The world's economic pain was on full display Thursday as Europe and the United States were releasing more evidence of the devastation wrought on jobs and economies by coronavirus lockdown measures.

In Europe, where over 132,000 people with the virus have died so far, fears about new infection spikes were tempering hopes that economies now on government-funded life support will regain their vigor as workers return to factories, shops and offices.

New unemployment figures Thursday covering the 19 European countries that use the shared euro currency underscored how massive job-protection programs are temporarily keeping millions of Europeans on payrolls, sparing them the record-setting flood of layoffs battering tens of millions of Americans.

The European economy shrank a record 3.8 per cent in the first quarter as hotels, restaurants, construction sites and manufacturing were frozen by coronavirus shutdowns.

It was the biggest drop in the eurozone since statistics began in 1995 and compares to a 4.8% contraction in the United States.

Lockdowns that turned major European cities into ghost towns are plunging nations into recession.

France's economy shrank an eye-popping 5.8% in the first quarter, the biggest quarterly drop since 1949, and the Spanish economy shrunk 5.2 per cent in the same period.

Italy's government debt rating was cut this week to just above junk bond status, with the Fitch ratings agency expecting the Italian economy to shrink 8% this year.

Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, is projecting a 6.3 per cent drop in GDP this year.

No region in the world is being spared. A new report from the Paris-based International Energy Agency projected an unprecedented plunge in the global demand for energy this year that will be equivalent to losing the entire energy demand of India, the world's third-largest energy consumer.

The pain of coronavirus lockdowns has piled huge pressures on governments to ease them.

The World Health Organisation said nearly half of the 44 countries in Europe that put partial or full restrictions on movement have started easing them and 11 more will do so in the coming days.

But as economies splutter back to life and workers adapt to the strangeness of new barriers designed to keep them apart, governments are watching infection rates and public behaviour like hawks, wary of a second wave of deaths.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said his government wants to take small steps, rather than risk a big step back.

California's governor planned to close all beaches and state parks starting Friday after people thronged the seashore during a sweltering weekend, ignoring social distancing orders.

Nevada's governor was extending his directive asking people to stay at home until May 15 but on Friday eased restrictions on some outdoor activities and businesses.

In Sweden, authorities spread stinky chicken manure on a city park in Lund to discourage people from celebrating there on Thursday, a traditionally festive day.

The promise of an effective treatment against the coronavirus an experimental drug that can speed the recovery of COVID-19 patients raised hopes Thursday for faster progress in battling the pandemic and restoring wrecked economies and livelihoods.

The US government and others are working to make the medication available to patients as quickly as possible.

of the medical advance lifted world markets, outshining gloomy economic data showing the US economy contracted nearly 5 per cent in January-March in the worst downturn since the Great Recession.

California-based biotech company Gilead Sciences and the US government reported in a major study run by the US National Institutes of Health that the drug remdesivir shortened the time it takes for COVID-19 patients to recover by four days on average from 15 days to 11.

The study, involving 1,063 coronavirus patients, also showed a trend toward fewer deaths among those on the drug, said Dr Anthony Fauci, the US government's top infectious diseases expert.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Bollywood actors on Thursday mourned the demise of legendary star Rishi Kapoor, extending their condolences to the family of the versatile actor, who left a mark in people's lives with his acting and lively nature.

Salman Khan took to Twitter and shared a tweet praying for the family of the late star. He tweeted, "Rest in peace chintu sirrr, kaha suna maaf , strength , peace n light to family n friends..."

Vicky Kaushal shared a heartwarming picture with Rishi and Neetu Kapoor while remembering the late star.

GALLERY | Rishi Kapoor's versatile journey in Bollywood: Here are his top 15 must watch films

The 'Sanju' star took to Instagram and shared that he feels shattered and heartbroken to hear about the demise of Kapoor, and wrote, " Absolutely shattered and heartbroken to wake up to the news of the loss of Rishi Kapoor Ji, one of the liveliest persons amongst us. The last time when I met him in NY, he was fighting the battle like a boss, with Neetu Ma'm by his side and a smile on his face. This is utterly tragic and incomprehensible. My condolences to Ranbir, Neetu Ma'm and the entire family. May his soul be resting in peace and raising a toast to a life well lived with the Gods in heaven."

Reminiscing the memories with his 'Chintu uncle', Varun Dhawan shared a picture from 2012 flick 'Student Of The Year,' that captured a moment in between Varun, Rishi and Siddharth Malhotra. Along with the picture, he wrote," I was just in awe facing him in a scene. Sid and I would always discuss that we shouldn't mess up our lines. He was a professional and always loving rip Chintu uncle."

Dhawan also shared a picture of Kapoor from his younger days with a broken heart emoji.

Thanking him for the memories, Sonakshi Sinha took to Twitter and remembered the late star by sharing a picture with him. She tweeted, "Rest in peace Rishi uncle, thank you for the memories...you will be missed."

IN PICS: Here are 25 unforgettable dialogues by the veteran Bollywood star

Rishi's 'Student of the Year' and 'Kapoor and Sons' co-star Siddharth Malhotra took to Instagram, expressing the pain of losing 'the gem of an actor.' The picture shows Rishi and Siddharth engrossed in a conversation. Along with the picture, he wrote," Indian cinema has lost a gem today. I'm just heartbroken. Rishi Ji's warmth & zest for life will be remembered by all of us who have had the privilege to work with him. I will forever treasure our post-shoot chats. My prayers are with the Kapoor family in this tough time."

Kapoor's 'Housefull 2' co-star Jacqueline Fernandez took to Instagram and shared a monochromatic picture of the star. Along with the picture she wrote," I will never forget our shoot days from Housefull 2. It was an honour to work with you, sir... Rest in peace, Rishi Ji"

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja shared a heart-touching throwback picture with her 'Bewakoofiyan' co-star pecking a kiss on his cheek. Along with the picture. She wrote, "Rest in peace Chintu uncle.. All my love to you. I'm so sorry we all couldn't say bye properly."

Rishi passed away at 8:45 am this morning after a two-year-long battle with leukaemia, his family said in a statement. Earlier today, actor Amitabh Bachchan was the first to announce the demise of the 67-year-old with whom he worked in blockbusters like 'Amar Akbar Anthony' and 'Coolie'.

Often branded as Bollywood's first chocolate boy, Rishi touched heights of stardom in the film industry with numerous iconic roles in blockbuster hits like 'Bobby', 'Chandni', 'Karz' and many others.
To the Editor:

Re Even as Meat Workers Get Sick, Trump Acts to Keep Plants Open (front page, April 29):

Given the massive public health crisis we have been facing, it is unfathomable that President Trump has not made greater use of the Defense Production Act to lessen the pandemics impact. If he had acted to provide the needed personal protective equipment and testing capabilities, infections and deaths of thousands of Americans, including many of our front-line medical workers, could have been averted.

To add insult to injury, Mr. Trump has now invoked the act to force meat-processing plants to be open without requiring that they adhere to Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Ironically, he has used the act to exacerbate rather than mitigate the public health fallout from the pandemic.

If Mr. Trump has deemed that forcing meat-processing plants to stay open is necessary for our food supply chain, he still could greatly mitigate the extent of new outbreaks and deaths by requiring plants to follow C.D.C. guidelines and to provide extensive Covid-19 testing of the factory workers.

Mark Davidow

Glen Ellen, Calif.

Let Loved Ones Visit the Critically Ill

To the Editor:

Re Gasping for Breaths the Size of a Tablespoon (front page, April 27):

Dr. Emmy Rubin and her team at Massachusetts General Hospital should be commended not only for their extraordinary effort in saving Jim Bello, but also for their humane and empathetic approach of allowing his wife, Kim, to visit him while he was so critically ill  when most hospitals do not allow any visitors for Covid-19 patients.
Consumed by the gun violence on the West Side, Wright said he hadnt been paying much attention to the coronavirus pandemic, even as it hit neighborhoods around him particularly hard. He had been mostly staying at home, except to work shifts as a security guard, and decided it was time to honor Brown and Jeter with a party.
President Donald Trump is ready to hit the campaign trail again after spending more than a month in Washington, D.C., amid the coronavirus pandemic.

I think Im going to Arizona next week, and we look forward to that, Trump said Wednesday at the White House. And Im going to, I hope, Ohio very soon."

According to NBC, both are considered battleground states in the upcoming 2020 election. Trump won Ohio by 8 points in 2016 and Arizona by less than 4 points.

A White House spokesperson told USA Today that Trump will visit a Honeywell aerospace facility in Phoenix on Tuesday. The facility expanded its production to meet demand for N-95 respirator masks, needed by healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.

Trump said the visit is industry related because it is too soon for the big, for the big everybody get-together-and-stand-next-to-each-other crowds.

However, the president is already planning to resume holding campaign rallies, without social distancing, soon.

Were going to start to move around and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, well have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other. I cant imagine a rally where you have every fourth seat full  every sixth seats empty for every one that you have full. That wouldnt look too good," Trump said Wednesday.

"I hope were going to be able to do some good old-fashioned 25,000-person rallies where everyone is going wild because they love our country.

According to NBC, Trump last held a campaign rally on March 2 in North Carolina and visited his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida the following weekend. But since mid-March, his only public appearance outside the White House was March 28 in Norfolk, Virginia, when the USNS Comfort hospital ship headed to New York to assist with overwhelmed medical facilities.

Trump has repeatedly pushed for states to reopen businesses, tweeting support for protesters who gathered to liberate states with stay-at-home orders.

As of Thursday, more than 1 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed and more than 61,000 have died from COVID-19 in the U.S.

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Trump erupts at campaign team as his poll numbers slide: I am not f---ing losing to Joe Biden
Phuket Law: Virtual meetings are now official

Official electronic meetings (e.g. teleconferences or video calls, for company board of directors, shareholders, etc.) both in the public and private sectors were not legally valid under Thai law until June 27, 2014 when the Announcement of the National Council for Peace and Order No. 74/2557 on Meetings through Electronic Devices (the Order) went into effect.

Thursday 30 April 2020, 05:03PM

Corporate video conferences are now counted as official in Thailand. Photo: CoWomen / Pexels

But the Order still posed significant limitations on electronic meetings by requiring that:

all of the meeting attendees must be physically present in Thailand; and at least one third of the quorum must physically attend the meeting at the same physical meeting venue.

Because of these limitations, it remained difficult to hold an official electronic meeting under Thai law.

However, as of April 19, 2020 these unfortunate limitations have been removed by the enactment of the Emergency Decree on Electronic Meetings (2020) (the Decree). The Decree repealed the Order and cancelled the abovementioned two significant limitations under the Order. Pursuant to the Decree, the meeting attendees:

do not have to be present in Thailand; and do not have to physically attend the meeting venue.

The Decree applies to any meeting required to be held by Thai law, including but not limited to directors and shareholders meetings. But it does not apply to:

meetings of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the National Assembly;

meetings for preparing a judgment or an order of the Court; and

meetings for carrying out a procurement process of a government agency, a local government agency, a State enterprise, a public organisation and other State agencies.

Under the Decree, any person holding an electronic meeting must:

keep as evidence a meeting invitation letter, as well as any enclosures, that are sent by an email (which is allowed under the Decree as opposed to the standard postal requirement);

arrange for the attendees to identify themselves prior to joining the meeting;

arrange for the attendees to be able to vote, whether disclosed voting or secret voting;

arrange for an audio or video record, or both, of every attendee throughout the period of the meeting;

provide a minutes of the meeting in writing; and

collect the electronic traffic data of all the attendees as evidence.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society will issue a new announcement on security standards for electronic meetings in due course. Until then, the existing security standards issued under the Order  the Announcement of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology on Security Standards for Meetings through Electronic Devices (2014) (the Security Standards)  will continue to apply to the extent that they do not contradict the Decree.

The Security Standards include, among other things:

An electronic meeting organiser must implement in writing a meeting control system prior to the meeting and must arrange to have a system controller who will maintain and manage an electronic meeting system throughout the meeting;

There must be a reliable access management via a combined process of identification, authentication, authorisation, and accountability;

The computer traffic data arising from the meeting control system must be securely recorded and maintained;

The meeting chairman and/or the system controller must be able to easily disconnect attendees or terminate sessions in progress; and

All attendees must be able to view the data being presented on their own devices.

In a nutshell, a meeting required under Thai law for example, directors and shareholders meetings of both private and public Thai companies, as well as meetings of partnerships, trade associations, charitable foundations, and chambers of commerce, can now take place entirely via electronic means, and attendants will no longer be required to be physically present in Thailand.

 Weeraya Kippen

DUENSING KIPPEN is an international law firm specializing in business transaction and dispute resolution matters, with offices in Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand and affiliated offices in over 75 other countries. Visit them at duensingkippen.com
As theaters and dine-in restaurants were allowed to reopen Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp addressed the current state of the COVID-19 outbreak in Georgia and future plans in a press conference Monday.
LEBANON, Ore. -- Two people were arrested in Lebanon after police responded to their home for a report of a dead child.

Lebanon Police responded to the home Saturday, March 28, at 860 Park Street. Detectives discovered that the infant's death was the result of malnutrition and lack of care while in custody of the parents.

The girl was one-and-a-half months old.

Shantell Swiercz and Kristian Lee, the infant's parents, were taken into custody. Both are charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Swiercz has had multiple prior contacts with the Lebanon Police Department, none of which resulted in criminal charges. Lee has had several arrests for theft, criminal mischief and criminal trespass.

The investigation is still ongoing.

If you have any information, contact Lebanon Police Detective Chris Miner at 541-258-4314.
The man struck and killed by a New Jersey Transit train on Sunday night in Newark has been identified as a 21-year-old from Union County.

Charles K. Osei-Fosu, of Union, was hit around 8:10 p.m. by an eastbound Raritan Valley line train near the bridge on Peddie Street, a New Jersey Transit spokesman said Thursday.

Osei-Fosu was a 2017 graduate of Union High School where he ran track, according to a website that covers the sport.

Service was delayed for several hours on the line while New Jersey Transit police investigated.

The train was en route to Newark Penn Station from Raritan.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Tessitura Network is responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic by releasing new product functionality to automate and streamline its member organizations workflows, helping to save time and drive revenue, and has launched multiple ways for its global community to learn and connect with one another.

Enhanced Capabilities to Increase Productivity and Retain Revenue

As arts and cultural organizations moved to cancel events and close their doors to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Tessitura moved quickly to support their needs. One of the key factors for organizations during this time is the need to retain vital revenue. In just a few weeks, Tessitura has released several pieces of critical functionality.

Enhancements that automate Tessituras mass cancellation capabilities have streamlined the ability for patrons and staff to apply funds from returned tickets to a contribution, gift certificate, or account credit, or to process refunds en masse. For UK organizations, contributions can be processed to an in-scope fund for Gift Aid.

Along with the need to cancel events, organizations have needed to collect their ticket holders preferences for the value of their tickets. To aid with this data collection, Tessitura released a self-service feature for their e-commerce platform, TN Express Web (TNEW), that saved staff time by allowing patrons to select configurable options including donations, gift certificates, or exchanges.

Once cancellations are completed and revenue allocated, its essential to send receipts. Tessitura has made it easier to send bulk emails notifying customers of refunds, and can take advantage of a new HTML template for transactional refund emails.

For admission-based organizations wishing to quickly extend expiration dates on memberships, Tessitura has also released a new utility to make that a seamless process.

Business Intelligence

To facilitate reporting on the impact of cancellations, Tessitura added a new dashboard to its powerful business intelligence tool. The Cancellation Impact Dashboard for Tessitura Analytics displays high-level financial metrics, shows details of returned tickets and fees, and explores how revenue was retained as contributions, gift certificates, and on account balances.

Accelerating Learning and Connection Among Arts & Culture Professionals

Community collaboration, learning, and knowledge sharing have long been pillars of Tessituras mission. Online forums, regional user groups, and in-person conferences are just a few of the ways that the community has gathered and thrived over the years.

Tessituras website has long been a rich source of information for its members, from product documentation and video tutorials to live webinars and other learning resources. The website is also home to an active portal for community engagement and knowledge sharing.

As the scope of the COVID-19 crisis became clear, Tessitura added a new online forum dedicated to response readiness. To date, the forum has over 40 discussions on highly relevant topics, with some discussions garnering dozens of replies.

The Tessitura team has added new Business Continuity resources to the website, with a highly useful landing page (behind member login) collecting relevant content for those navigating the current challenges. A Frequently Asked Questions page collates useful information to help Tessitura users complete essential tasks while working from home. An ongoing series of blog posts has provided further professional insight and advice.

Tessitura was formed to enable arts and cultural organizations to be productive, efficient, and effective. We continually look for opportunities to do that, said Jack Rubin, CEO and Co-Founder. When this crisis hit not only did Tessitura Network respond to the immediate technology needs, but we also recognized the needs of the individuals in our member organizations: blogs to inspire, information to educate, and hosted webinar sessions to share ideas face-to-face with colleagues from across the world. It is this combined approach  people and technology  that is the foundation of the Tessitura Network.

Our communitys focus changed almost overnight to managing the uncertainty of cancelled events and closure of buildings, said Kristin Darrow, Senior Vice President of Product. We are proud of how our team was able to pivot: within that same span of time, we were preparing to bring new technology to our members facilitating easier ways to automate ticket returns, extend memberships and change event dates efficiently, improve flexibility in handling payment terms on existing orders. We have also expanded online capabilities for frictionless self-service like customer-managed ticket returns.

Tessitura's response as an organization has been very thoughtful and strategic, said Sean Wright, Executive Director of The Grand, a performing arts organization in Wausau, Wis. I commend you for the work done to meet the needs of the member organizations. Thanks to all who are working hard to shift to these immediate member needs.

Providing Timely Advice and Thought Leadership

Now that social distancing is having a profound effect on arts and cultural organizations that have had to close their doors, Tessitura has stepped up to facilitate the types of connection and communication that arts and cultural professionals need most.

Tessitura thought leaders quickly stepped in to share their insights and expertise with the arts and culture sector. President Andrew Recinos provided work-from-home advice from a company thats been 100% virtual since its very beginnings. Erin Koppel, Vice President of Enterprise Consulting, offered counsel on relational fundraising during physical distancing. And several additional team members have published best practice advice and other professional resources.

Offering Value by Bringing a Postponed Conference Online

The Australia New Zealand Tessitura Users Conference (ANZTRUC), originally scheduled to take place March 3031, quickly pivoted to offer ANZTRUC Virtual, in addition to rescheduling the in-person conference for October 2020. ANZTRUC Virtual offered six topic-specific events, all taking place online, April 38. 262 people from 50 arts and cultural organizations in Australia/ New Zealand (plus a few international guests) participated in the online meet-ups, whose topics included working virtually, administering large-scale cancellations, leveraging digital content to engage audiences, philanthropy, and measuring impact.

New Online Gatherings to Share Ideas

Innovators in Conversation

The newest online event series is designed to inspire the global arts and culture community during the current crisis. Called Innovators in Conversation: Advancing the Future of Arts and Culture, the series will present weekly video chats with an industry leader in conversation with Andrew Recinos, President of Tessitura Network.

Guest speakers are leaders from the worldwide Tessitura community who are finding ways to navigate through widespread closures and a rapidly changing economy. Each conversation will last 30 minutes and will be followed by 15 minutes of live Q&A. Guests will share ideas that have worked, tactics that havent worked, and what they have learned. They will also share how they are thinking about the future. The recorded conversations will be published on tessituranetwork.com/blog for future viewing.

Pop-Up Skill Builders

A new program called Pop-Up Skill Builders offers casual how-to learning sessions twice each week. Each session walks participants through hands-on skills that are immediately useful to staff using Tessitura in order to help them be more productive. Terry Stevens, Director of IT and Database Operations at the Midland Center for the Arts, called one Pop-Up Skill Builder event very valuable and commented: This was an excellent pop-up. It was great information, easy to follow. I learned so much.

Tessitura Arts & Culture Connections

The Tessitura community has been able to connect face-to-face as well. On March 26, the company launched a new series called Tessitura Arts & Culture Connections, with sessions planned and facilitated by thought leaders including Erin Koppel, Vice President of Enterprise Consulting. The series uses online video meetings to introduce specific topics, then organizes attendees into small groups to discuss in greater depth. Topics discussed to date include relational fundraising during physical distance, new revenue streams, revisiting your case for support, and season announcements and subscriptions.

EU Connections

Similarly, the Tessitura Europe community has been gathering for group discussions on current issues specific to their region. This series explores topics related to ticketing, fundraising, analytics, and more. Recent sessions have included digital engagement, adjusting audience strategy, and measuring success.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone at Tessitura for the way the organization has handled the COVID-19 situation, said Alan Moffat, Ticket Operations and Customer Relations Manager of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. You have quickly put together resources and forums, hosted webinars and discussions, and pivoted product development to features that are really needed. Its been very clear how much the Network cares about its members and how strong the community is as a whole.

As soon as this crisis hit, cultural institutions rose to the occasion, providing comfort and hope to a terrified world, said Andrew Recinos, President of Tessitura Network. We have been so proud by the noble response of our organizations, even as they cope with their own tremendous difficulties. Tessitura is leveraging every ounce of our innovation to support our organizations through this crisis and help ensure they are able to fulfill their missions well into the future.

About Tessitura

Tessitura is an enterprise CRM system that powers all key business functions for museums, performing arts organizations, and other cultural, educational, and media entities. From fundraising and memberships to ticketing, marketing, education, analytics, and more, Tessitura's unified platform enables a seamless, 360-degree view of all donors, members, and volunteers within a single database. Tessitura provides targeting and insight capabilities so the right engagement can happen at the optimal time.

In addition to its flagship software, Tessitura offers a range of complementary services that empower its users to achieve their goals. Those users form a community of industry leaders that enjoys an unprecedented level of knowledge sharing and collaboration through the facilitation efforts of the Tessitura Network. Tessitura also works with a wide range of ecosystem partners that provide products and services to extend the power of what its members can do.

Operating since 2001, Tessitura Network, Inc. is proud to be a member-owned and governed nonprofit. Tessitura serves over 700 organizations in ten countries. For more information about Tessitura, visit http://www.tessituranetwork.com or contact Amelia Northrup-Simpson, Marketing & Communications Manager, at amelia.northrup-simpson@tessituranetwork.com.
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The New York City subway system will shut down every night for the remainder of the pandemic between the hours of 1am and 5am for every train to be disinfected.

Essential workers who need to use the transport system during those hours will be given free bus riders or Ubers, Lyfts and Vias that the MTA will pay for.

The shut down will begin at 1am on May 6 and will last for however long the pandemic does, Cuomo said.

It came after outrage over the conditions on the subways where homeless people have taken over entire cars.

MTA workers spoke out to condemn the government for not doing more to make sure the subway system was safe.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement on Thursday at his daily coronavirus briefing where he praised Mayor Bill de Blasio for 'stepping up in a big way' by agreeing to the shutdown.

Subway ridership has decreased by 90 percent as a result of the pandemic.

Scroll down for video

Police wake up a homeless person on the A train on Thursday morning. From May 6, the subway system will be entirely shut down between 1am and 5am for cleaning

Since the pandemic, subway ridership has decreased by 90 percent. Homeless people have all but moved onto the empty cars but it has worsened the public health risk for them and for the MTA workers

Officers direct a woman who was sleeping on the train to an exit at the 207th Street Station

Police officers wake up a sleeping woman on the A train at 207th street on Thursday

It has left around 10,000 people still using the subway between the hours of 1am and 5am, Cuomo said.

'The MTA will launch what they call the essential connector program.

'They will have buses, dollar vans and, if necessary, we will provide for hire vehicles to transport a person... Uber, Lyft, Via etc, at no cost to the essential worker during those hours to provide transport.

'People who need transportation during 1am and 5am can have it, will have it, even to the extent of a for hire vehicle paid for by the MTA,' he said.

All subway trains will be disinfected along with the trains of the Long Island Rail Road and Metro North Railway.

'It's a heck of an undertaking by the mayor. I applaud him for stepping up and taking this on It's always easier to say no, I cant do it.

It's always easier to stay status quo, not to try to raise the bar. It's easier just to say no.

'This is all we can do. that's not what the mayor is doing here , he is stepping up and he is stepping up in a big way,' he said.

It came amid growing outrage among MTA employees that they were still having to go to work when the system was not being thoroughly-enough disinfected.

There has been a spike in crime on the network of trains which includes complaints of nudity, sexual activity, human waste and even arson.

On Wednesday, Cuomo instructed the MTA to present him with a plan for how to clean every train on the network nightly.

NYPD and MTA officials woke up the passengers and either directed them out of the station or sought help for them

One man who was found at the station had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance

A social worker guides a person by the hand out of the 207th Street Station on Thursday morning

A man was put in handcuffs after attempting to jump in front of a moving train at the station. It is unclear if he was arrested or given medical care

An NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit officer prepares to wake up sleeping passengers on a train and direct them to the exits at the 207th Street A-train station, Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York

Homeless outreach personnel assist passengers found sleeping on subway cars at the 207th Street A-train station, Thursday, April 30, 2020

MTA officers and homeless outreach advocates escort a rider found sleeping on a subway car towards the exit at the 207th Street A-train station, Thursday, April 30, 2020

NYPD officers wake up sleeping passengers and direct them to the exits at the 207th Street A-train station, Thursday, April 30, 2020

A homeless person sleeps in the station near police tape. The governor has ordered that every train must be disinfected every night

He said it was not safe for the homeless people on the network to be there without protective equipment, nor was it fair to the essential workers who rely on the trains to get to work.

Cuomo called the situation 'disgusting' and said the homeless, who he'd worked with 'for years', should be in shelters.

'That is disgusting what is happening on those subway cars,' he said on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, he went further, saying: 'Crimes are up in the subways even though ridership is down by 90 percent.

'The trains are filled with homeless... to let homeless people stay on the trains in the middle of a global health pandemic with no masks, you're not helping the homeless by letting them endanger their own life and the lives of others.

'It's not helping anyone,' he said.

In just ten hours on Monday, MTA officials received reports of arson, a person smothered in human waste and lewd activity on the subway system.

One incident involved a man masturbating on a 6 train in The Bronx at 1.13am.

At 10am, in Flatbush, Brooklyn, police were called to remove a man from a train who had covered himself in human feces.

At 11am, a homeless man was arrested for lighting pieces of cardboard on fire at the Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum station in Brooklyn.

Sarah Feinberg, interim NYC Transit president, said the city had failed the homeless population and was forcing the MTA to act as social services.

'The city has failed our most vulnerable who are in desperate need of mental health care and housing services.

'NYC Transit will continue to do everything in our power to address this important issue, including working closely with all partners, but it is outrageous that a transportation agency is conducting social services in place of the city,' she said.

On Wednesday at around 1am, cops hauled people off of a Q train at the 96th Street Station.

They were given the choice of going to the hospital or going to a homeless shelter.

'The city is stepping up and realizing they have to do something for these folks who live in a way that is not healthy. No one should be living like that. And no one should be living on a train for 10 years,' MTA chief safety officer Pat Warren told the New York Daily News.

Transit workers who are still forced to go to work have shared videos of what is happening to try to bring it to an end.

MTA conductor Torry Chalmers, 48, posted clip Tuesday to demonstrate that every carriage on the 2 train contained several people who appeared to be sleeping or have slept on New York City transit.

Many of the people filmed are seen alongside boxes, luggage items and bags. Several are splayed out across the seats.

'This is what they making me do, transporting the homeless and the virus at the same time thru every Borough of NY,' Chalmers wrote in a caption for the footage shared on his Facebook page.

'Transit workers need Hazard Pay ASAP. The Gov, Mayor or High official Transit personnel don't care about us. Make these videos go viral, maybe we can stop the spread of this killer virus.'
Apple and on Wednesday released the first version of exposure notification (earlier called contact tracing) Application Programming Interface (API) to select developers associated with public health authorities (PHAs) around the world.

This is a developer-focused release and is consistent with both the companies deliver beta copies of their software at the same time.

Aimed at helping developers begin testing in anticipation of the API's release in mid-May, another goal of the release is to encourage feedback that will help improve the various features, the tech giants said in a statement.

"Collaboration and transparency have been two key principles of the project for both companies. Additional details will be announced on Friday," they added.

Apple CEO Tim Cook told the European Union (EU) Commissioner Thierry Breton last week that the API would arrive shortly.

On April 10, and Apple announced a joint effort to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of Covid-19 through contact tracing, with user privacy and security core to the design.

Amid the growing debate over privacy and security around contact tracing technology, the tech giant last week announced new updates to allay such fears, saying the Bluetooth-driven exposure notification system to enable iOS and Android phones trace the spread of is completely safe.

ALSO READ: Apple releases mobility data trends for authorities to curb Covid-19 spread

Apple and representatives said they are encrypting metadata associated with Bluetooth. The tech giants said that the 'Exposure Notification Bluetooth Specification' does not use location for proximity detection.

It strictly uses Bluetooth beaconing to detect proximity.

Google and Apple have already released documentation on the Bluetooth and cryptography specifications as well as an API framework.

In addition, Apple is releasing Beta 3 of iOS 13.5, the first pre-release version of iOS to contain the code needed to run apps built using the exposure notification API.

Similarly, Google has delivered its beta Google Play Services update with the exposure notification API and the accompanying SDK privately to select developers who can begin testing using Android Developer Studio.

On Friday, both companies will release additional information including sample code to aid developers in understanding how the exposure notification system will operate, and specific criteria for developing apps.

Recently, Britain declined to use the Apple-Google framework API to build its contact tracing app. The countrys National health organisations digital arm in reportedly creating a centralised app. The framework proposed by Apple and Google is a decentralised one, meaning that the tracking information will not be stored in a central server. NHSX, in a blog over the weekend, said that it has prioritised security and privacy in all stages of the app's development, starting with the initial design, and user testing.

ALSO READ: UK declines to use Apple-Google framework for Covid-19 contact tracing app

In retrospective, public-health authorities across countries believe that improved tracking of infected people and their contacts could slow the rate of pandemic spread.

In light of this, Apple and Google decided to come together in building tools that could help authorities build contact tracing apps, which shall be used in the operating systems of the billions of iPhones and Android devices around the world.

Here is how the contact tracing tech work
<! Sanwo-Olu addressing newsmen >

The Lagos State Government has discharged another 12 Coronavirus patients who tested negative twice for the virus.

This is contained in the twitter handle of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday.

Those discharged include nine male and three female, including a Ukrainian.

This brings to 199, the total number of Coronavirus patients discharged so far by Lagos State after they recovered.

On Wednesday, Lagos discharged 49 Coronavirus survivors, but it recorded 87 new cases the same day.

Lagos now has 931 confirmed cases of Coronavirus with 20 deaths.
CARMICHAEL, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eskaton and The Reutlinger Community today announced an affiliation that will incorporate The Reutlinger Community into the Eskaton network of retirement communities and allow the nonprofit organizations to combine resources, expand services and enhance the lives of older adults in Northern California.

The affiliation, finalized on April 21, 2020, follows two years of negotiation and government approvals. Under the agreement, Eskaton will preserve the name and identity of The Reutlinger Community as a residential care and skilled nursing community located in Danville, CA with a commitment to Jewish values, policies and practices.

"The mission and values of Eskaton and The Reutlinger Community are very compatible, and we are eager to embark on this strategic partnership to improve the lives of seniors throughout Northern California," said Todd Murch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eskaton. "We look forward to using our resources, experience, and relationships to expand services and programs offered to the broader East Bay area and to residents at The Reutlinger Community now and in the future."

As one of Northern California's largest providers of senior housing and services, Eskaton owns and manages over 30 properties offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and affordable housing.

"The Reutlinger Community is pleased to affiliate with an experienced and financially strong nonprofit provider who will allow us to expand our programs while preserving our charitable mission and commitment to Jewish culture and heritage," said Jay Zimmer, CEO of The Reutlinger Community. "This partnership will ensure the long-term viability of our community while allowing us to continue to provide high-quality health care and social support services to seniors."

About Eskaton

Eskaton has been serving older adults in Northern California for over 50 years. As a nonprofit senior living provider, Eskaton's mission is to enhance the lives of older adults through innovative health, housing and social services. With five decades of experience and a national reputation for innovation, Eskaton is Transforming the Aging Experience. For more information, please call 1-866-ESKATON, or visit https://www.eskaton.org.

About The Reutlinger Community

The Reutlinger Community is a multi-faceted premier senior living community located in Danville, CA offering varying levels of living options, including skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care. For over 70 years, the mission of The Reutlinger Community has been to provide high-quality health care and social support services to seniors in a life-enhancing and stimulating environment with a commitment to Jewish values. For more information, please call 925-648-2800 or visit https://www.rcjl.org.

CONTACT: Sheri Peifer

916-798-7248

SOURCE Eskaton

Related Links

https://www.eskaton.org


WASHINGTON - As a wave of coronavirus restrictions shuttered more than two dozen of his hotels, Dallas hotelier Monty Bennett publicly pleaded for help.

"Every American should expect just enough from government that our businesses can survive. Is that too much to ask?" the longtime GOP donor wrote in a March blog post.

Behind the scenes, Bennett's companies paid $50,000 to hire two well-connected allies of President Donald Trump for help seeking financial relief: Jeff Miller, former vice chairman of Trump's inaugural committee, and Roy Bailey, a top fundraiser for the president's reelection campaign, according to lobbying disclosures.

As lobbyists blitz Washington for a piece of the massive federal response to the global pandemic, a group of former Trump administration officials and campaign alumni are in the center of the action, helping private interests tap into coveted financial and regulatory relief programs.

Businesses hit hard by the virus and health-care manufacturers seeking approval for their products have rushed to hire Trump alumni, who are leveraging their connections in a variety of ways - helping get their clients designated as "essential" services and securing meetings at the White House and federal agencies on their behalf, federal filings show.

In all, at least 25 former officials who once worked for the Trump administration, campaign or transition team are now registered as lobbyists for clients with coronavirus needs, according to The Washington Post's analysis of federal lobbying records and employment data compiled by ProPublica.

The barrage of activity shows how, despite Trump's repeated claim that he would "drain the swamp," his former aides and onetime administration officials have embraced Washington's lobbying world - and are now providing firepower for companies eager for coronavirus relief.

The group of hotel companies that Bennett chairs did not respond to requests for comment on the hiring of Miller and Bailey.

A few weeks after they came aboard, the companies together received the biggest windfall so far of any other publicly traded company: $126 million in loans from the Small Business Administration. The companies said they needed the relief money to bring employees back to work and to help stabilize the hospitality industry.

It is unclear whether the lobbyists had any role in helping secure the money from the Paycheck Protection Program. According to SBA rules, the agency processes loans submitted by banks on a first-come, first-served basis.

An SBA spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Neither lobbyist responded to requests for comment.

Miller, a veteran GOP operative who ran former Texas governor Rick Perry's presidential bid in 2016, works at his firm with other Trump alumni, including the former director of legislative affairs for Vice President Mike Pence and the former senior director of Cabinet affairs at the White House, according to the company's website.

Their clients now include Nuclein, maker of a handheld coronavirus testing device that is seeking regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration. Nuclein paid the firm $10,000 to lobby Pence's office and the Department of Health and Human Services, lobbying records show.

Other lobbyists with ties to Trump who are representing clients on coronavirus issues include Brian Ballard, a longtime lobbyist for the Trump Organization and major campaign fundraiser; his business partner Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who served as counsel to Trump during the impeachment trial; and Barry Bennett, a senior adviser to Trump's 2016 campaign.

Former high-level administration officials are also lobbying on coronavirus issues, including a onetime counselor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a past deputy assistant secretary at HHS and a previous State Department adviser.

The rush for a piece of the coronavirus lobbying business cuts against the president's oft-repeated claim that he has upended Washington's K Street culture.

Within his first two weeks in office, Trump signed new ethics rules intended to make it harder for administration appointees to profit off their time in government as lobbyists. His executive order imposed a lifetime ban on administration officials lobbying for foreign governments and prohibited officials from lobbying agencies where they worked, for a period of five years after leaving those positions.

"Most of the people standing behind me will not be able to go to work" after they leave government, Trump said in January 2017 as he signed the order in the Oval Office, surrounded by top aides.

While Trump pledged in his campaign to institute "a five-year ban" on lobbying, his rules prohibit former officials only from lobbying their former agency - not from becoming a lobbyist.

Some former officials subject to restrictions that bar them from lobbying the administration for a period of time after their exit have turned their focus instead to Capitol Hill, disclosures show.

Data shows that Washington's lobbying industry has not contracted during Trump's tenure. While the number of registered lobbyists fell during President Barack Obama's eight years from 13,718 to 11,187, the federal lobbying corps has held steady under Trump, according to public data compiled by the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics.

Last year, there were 11,892 registered lobbyists who together were paid $3.5 billion - the largest sum spent on federal lobbying in at least a decade.

It is also unclear how well Trump's lobbying ban is being enforced, since the executive order he signed stripped out an Obama-era provision requiring an annual public disclosure of how well the administration is complying with its ethics rules.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley in a statement that "it is the policy of the Trump Administration to ensure that all current and former employees comply with obligations under applicable ethics rules," including the lobbying rules.

If the White House learns of interactions between current officials and former employees that could violate those rules, "we have cautioned" those involved not to continue such communications, said a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal processes.

The number of Trump alumni lobbying on coronavirus issue is a small fraction of the hundreds of K Street denizens who have been tapped to advocate for private clients hit by the pandemic. But government watchdogs say their connections give them outsize sway - particularly those who previously worked for Trump and are perceived to carry great cachet with the administration.

"Those people retain a lot of influence because they built out the DNA of the executive branch," said Jeff Hauser, founder and director of the Revolving Door Project at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank.

And Trump-allies-turned-lobbyists said the president's unpredictable moves make their services particularly valuable.

"The government is picking winners and losers in industries, so being able to have an understanding of . . . the pulse of this administration and thought patterns, and their processes as to how they got to these decisions years ago, provides help," said one lobbyist and former Trump official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment frankly about private conversations with clients.

Barry Bennett, who co-founded his lobbying firm, Avenue Strategies, in December 2016, offering it as a "sherpa" to help navigate the administration, said business has ticked up since the virus hit.

"There are many challenges in the country, but the need hasn't gone away for people to talk to the federal government," he said in an interview.

Among his new clients: San Diego-based Arcturus Therapeutics, a preclinical drug-trial company that is developing a coronavirus vaccine. Arcturus paid Bennett's firm $30,000 in the first quarter of 2020, disclosures show.

The vaccine company hired him, Bennett said, to help develop a "strategy to communicate with the federal government" and others around the world as they begin human vaccine trials overseas.

Bennett has sought information from the HHS and its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency on behalf of the company, which is planning to initiate human clinical trials this summer for its coronavirus vaccine, known as Lunar-Cov19, filings show.

Ballard Partners, one of Washington's fastest-growing lobbying firms, picked up four new clients in March that sought lobbying help related to the coronavirus, according to the firm.

On March 18, NanoPure, a South Carolina manufacturer of disinfectants, hired Ballard to help the company get one of its disinfectant products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as effective against coronavirus.

"As they move forward at the EPA, we will be assisting them," said Justin Sayfie, a Ballard partner.

Scott Alderson, an official from NanoPure and a related company, said the manufacturer sought the help of Ballard's firm because "we are doing everything we can to fast-track its approval and to hopefully save lives.''

Ballard Partners also signed a Long Island-based commercial laundry equipment company called Laundrylux, which sought to get laundromats and laundry services added to a federal list of "essential" industries.

The list is maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and is used to advise state and local authorities as they make decisions about which businesses can remain open during a quarantine.

"They hired us to assist in being identified by the federal government as an essential-business industry so that people could wash their clothes" during the health emergency, Sayfie said.

Within a week, the DHS added laundromats and related businesses to their list of essential industries.

Neal Milch, owner of Laundrylux, said he was connected to Ballard through a friend in the laundry services industry, adding that Ballard's ties to Trump played no role in the company's decision.

While Ballard's firm was "clear that they don't promise any particular outcome," it played a crucial role in helping elevate the industry's needs to the administration, Milch said.

"We just needed our tiny voice to be heard," he said.

Later in March, Fidelity National Financial, a Florida-based title and document recording service, signed up Ballard and Bondi to protect its business by getting document services related to home sales declared an essential service.

In addition to the new clients, Ballard is continuing to monitor coronavirus issues for long-standing institutional clients, including major public hospitals in Florida and Florida International University.

Among the other former Trump administration and campaign aides lobbying on coronavirus issues are Shannon Flaherty McGahn, counselor to Mnuchin until January 2018.

McGahn, who is married to former White House counsel Donald McGahn, joined the National Association of Realtors later that year to lead its nonpartisan congressional advocacy team. She is now on the team lobbying Congress on coronavirus relief issues and the needs of small businesses and contractors in the real estate industry during the pandemic, the association said.

The association reported spending $13.6 million in the first three months of 2020 lobbying on a range of issues, including coronavirus relief and legislation.

NAR spokesman Patrick Newton said Shannon McGahn's team "is working at the moment to make sure the self-employed, independent contractors and small-business owners are protected and represented on the Hill in any legislative responses to this pandemic."

- - -

The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed to this report.
Representational picture

Seasoned diplomat TS Tirumurti, currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, was on Wednesday appointed as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

A 1985-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Tirumurti succeeds Syed Akbaruddin who is credited with effectively presenting India's position on a range of crucial issues at the global body's headquarters in New York for last several years.

Akbaruddin, one of the most visible faces of Indian diplomacy, played a crucial role in pushing for the designation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" by the UN as well as in stalling China's efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at the world body.

Akbaruddin has been serving as India's Permanent Representative at the UN since January 2016. He is due for retirement shortly.

"Tirumurti has been appointed as the next Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at New York," the MEA said in a statement. At present, he is holding the key position of Secretary, Economic Relations, at the MEA headquarters in Delhi.

As part of a diplomatic reshuffle, the government also appointed Jaideep Mazumdar as India's ambassador to Austria. At present, Mazumdar is serving as Indian envoy to the Philippines.

Joint Secretary Deepak Mittal was appointed as India's Ambassador to Qatar, a country considered important in the Gulf region. Mittal is currently serving as joint secretary in the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) division of the ministry. Another senior diplomat, Piyush Srivastava, has been named India's next Ambassador to Bahrain. At present, he is serving as Joint Secretary in the Nepal and Bhutan division of the ministry. The government has also appointed senior diplomat Namrata S Kumar as India's next ambassador to Slovenia.
Beverly Hills plastic surgeons are resuming cosmetic procedures throughout the coronavirus pandemic after California Governor Gavin Newsom lifted a ban on elective surgeries.

A city moratorium on elective medical, dental and surgical procedures was put in place March 16 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

But last Wednesday the state was given the go-ahead to allow health care workers to return to hospitals to perform heart valve replacements, angioplasty and tumor removals, as well as key preventive care services such as colonoscopies.

Although the governor advised against using it as an opportunity to carry out non-essential surgeries, some doctors are preparing for the likes of rhinoplasties and breast augmentations once again after the Beverly Hills City Council voted to repeal their moratorium on elective surgeries and cosmetic procedures.

Beverly Hills City Council voted to repeal their moratorium on elective surgeries and cosmetic procedures which allows for nose jobs and Botox (stock image)

Dr. Arash Moradzadeh, who is opening his practice and said: 'People need these procedures because it helps them feel better and feeling better is very important right now when we're taking such a psychological impact of being stuck at home or losing our jobs'

'The City will now fall under State and County guidelines, which do not prohibit elective procedures, but rather encourage their suspension,' a statement from the City of Beverly Hills read.

'While Botox may not be as important we can still conduct that in a very safe manner. People need these procedures because it helps them feel better and feeling better is very important right now when we're taking such a psychological impact of being stuck at home or losing our jobs,' Dr. Arash Moradzadeh, who is opening his practice.

He expressed that he does believe that the 'essential life-saving surgeries are the key and most important factors', however.

Dr. Moradzadeh reassured the public that his clinic is has plenty of personal protective equipment on the way and he has changed the way they do business in order to open up again.

He wants patients to get tested for COVID-19 before they're cleared to have surgery. He also wants them to stay in quarantine for seven days before and after surgery. People are not allowed to use the waiting room anymore.

The doctor is resuming cosmetics procedures because 'things are never gonna really be the same' and it could take a long time for the arrival of a vaccine or to eradicate coronavirus.

Dr. Moradzadeh reassured the public that his clinic is has plenty of personal protective equipment and he has changed the way they do business in order to open up again

He wants patients to get tested for COVID-19 before they're cleared to have surgery. He also wants them stay in quarantine for seven days before and after surgery. People are not allowed to use the waiting room

'We've taken a lot of measures to make sure safety is at the top, starting with infrared thermometers where we scan all of our employees as well as every patient before they enter our office,' Moradzadeh told Fox 11. 'We do telephone pre-screening beforehand asking them key questions.

'We're not going to take any unnecessary risks. We're going to do what we can to make the transition smooth and safe.'

Even when his business does reopen, fewer patients will be seen so they can ensure thorough cleaning.

'There's not going to be that many appointments available. We're spreading things out very, very wide because we have a sanitation protocol that is taking place,' the doctor explained.

Councilmember John Mirisch, the former Mayor of Beverly Hills, was the only one to oppose repealing the moratorium when the council voted 4-1 in favor.

He is hoping Newsom will amend his decision at a state level.

Councilmember John Mirisch, the former Mayor of Beverly Hills, was the only one to oppose repealing the moratorium when the council voted 4-1 in favor

He is hoping Governor Gavin Newsom will amend his decision to allow elective surgeries at a state level

'It's bad policy and it's irresponsible. The motion was made to just basically rescind the protections we've taken more than a month ago and open up those floodgates. Not only does it send the wrong message, it's just the wrong thing to do at this time I think,' said Mirisch.

'I was absolutely supportive of angioplasty, tumor removal, heart valve replacement, those sort of medically necessary procedures. What I do have a problem with is allowing purely elective cosmetic surgery so rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, Botox, that sort of thing.

'I don't think people need Botox now. I think that can wait. I don't think people need liposuction. I don't think people need face jobs especially when you're supposed to be covering your face.'

California was one of the first states with confirmed coronavirus cases. As of Thursday it was the fifth most affected state with over 49,000 cases and 1,970 deaths.

Los Angeles County, which includes the City of Beverly Hills, has the highest number of cases (22,560) and the majority of deaths (1,065).

'We're not doing well in the county when it comes to our infection rate. We're [Beverly Hills] actually the fourth most infectious city in all of LA County and so you can argue maybe it's because it's an older population but that's all the more reason to take precautions I would suggest,' Mirisch continued to Fox 11.

'We didn't take any specific measures to ensure that surgery centers and medical buildings that will be seeing increased traffic now have higher standards of hygiene, or cleaning or other safety measures,' he added.
In a statement, Nissan said that production suspension at Plant 2 in Samut Prakan will be extended from May 4, 2020 , until May 31, 2020. Meanwhile, production at Plant 1 will continue to be adjusted to meet current demand levels.

Recently, the Japanese automaker announced that they have extended the temporary suspension of vehicle production at its factory in Thailand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It looks like Nissan won't be able to restart the production of the Navara and Terra in The Land of Smiles just yet.

Our goal is to resume normal business operations as soon as possible, but ensuring the safety and well-being of all our employees, their families, and Thai society is our priority right now given the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ramesh Narasimhan, president of Nissan Thailand.

Narasimhan was previously the president of Nissan Philippines, Inc.

Despite Plant 2 not being able to restart vehicle production, Nissan Thailand is confident that it has a sufficient supply of vehicles to meet customer demand. In addition, all Nissan dealerships in Thailand are still open and are committed to continuing providing quality service to all of its customers.

But to ensure the safety and well-being of both the customers and its employees, Nissan Thailand has implemented several preventive measures across all dealerships and service centers.

These include disinfecting the service center every 30 minutes, checking the temperature of all employees and customers when they enter the dealership, requiring staff to wear face masks at all times, providing alcohol throughout the premises, and the constant disinfection of vehicle touch-points like the steering wheel, gear shifter, seats, door handles, and console panels.

Currently, Thailand has 2,947 confirmed cases, 54 deaths, and 2,665 recoveries. With those figures. it looks like Thailand could be on its way to a swift recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's to hoping that the country will not suffer from the second wave of infections.
CERRITOS, Calif., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The makers of Electrolit  the preferred, premium hydration beverage made from pharmaceutical quality grade ingredients  announced today that they have donated over $570k in hydration beverages to frontline COVID-19 workers. The donation will be distributed to hospitals throughout New York, California and Texas to keep nurses, doctors, and other essential workers hydrated during long shifts.

"The strides we have made in mitigating the Coronavirus pandemic would not be possible without the tireless work of the frontline workers," said Caridad Ochoa, Commercial Director with Electrolit. "It is our mission to help and support frontliners for their endless commitment and support to our communities during these difficult times."

Electrolit's donation will be received by New York City Health + Hospitals, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California and Texas's Coronavirus Response Efforts. Beverages will be disseminated to 11 New York-based Acute Care Centers, 15 Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Southern California, and dozens more Health Care Facilities and First Responder Agencies throughout Texas.

"NYC Health + Hospitals facilities are at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic response, and our heroic employees are providing lifesaving support to all our patients and ensuring they receive the individual care they need. We want to offer as many resources as possible to our health care workers so they can continue to strive and provide the best care to our patients," said Dr. Eric Wei, Vice President and Chief Quality Officer. "We are so grateful to Electrolit for their generosity. These beverages will help to keep our workforce on the front lines both healthy and hydrated."

Scientifically formulated with magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium and glucose, Electrolit provides complete hydration when electrolytes and ions are low. Electrolit is honored to provide their beverages to dedicated frontline workers and looks forward to future partnerships with related organizations. For more information, visit https://electrolit.com/ or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.

About Electrolit

Electrolit manufactures a scientifically formulated premium hydration beverage that replenishes the body after physical activity, intense heat, hangovers, or sickness. Formulated with magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium glucose, and sodium lactate plus six ions for electrolyte absorption, Electrolit aids in recovery of the hydro electrolytic imbalance, fulfilling metabolic and hydration needs. Available in nine delicious flavors, Electrolit is currently offered in national, grocery, convenience and online channels across the nation, including Walmart, Kroger, HEB, 7-11 and more. Electrolit is manufactured and owned by Pisa Pharmaceuticals, the largest pharmaceutical company in Mexico and Latin America.

Media Contact

Matt Kovacs

[email protected]

310-395-5050

SOURCE Electrolit

Related Links

https://electrolit.com


NEW DELHI: The old proverb of "Honesty is the best policy" is no longer applicable and has become a thing only read in books as companies, employees and even students are not ready to tread on the path of honesty anymore. The analysis was done by Zee News Editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary on his popular show DNA.

As per a survey conducted by Ernst and Young in the year 2015, three out of every five company in India has admitted to misrepresenting their financial information. As many as 60 per cent of the companies claimed that such 'errors' in the company accounts are justified. While 66 percent of the executives of these companies admitted that their companies do not follow the set of ethics and honesty laid out by company policies.

In a 2019 survey conducted by McAfee, 35 percent of Indians believe that they have been cheated in the name of online discounts, which rises to 60 per cent during the festive seasons.

While it has been found that employees too waste time in the office and it has a negative impact on the productivity of the company. According to a survey conducted by Time Doctor, a software company that monitors the work of employees, employees waste 14 per cent of their time in office by having unnecessary conversations among themselves.

After this, the defect in computers and laptops during work is responsible for wasting another 11 per cent of the time. Employees waste at least 11 per cent of their time in meetings on unnecessary debate or conversations, while 9 per cent of their time is wasted on surfing the internet. So in a nine-hour shift, if the employee wastes his time in all these ways then he has worked faithfully for only three hours a day.

Even in the field of education honesty has become a bookish term.

In the year 2017, a survey was conducted by an institution called Kessler International, 86 per cent of the students admitted that they had cheated in some way or the during school.

* 54 per cent of the students justified copying.

* 97 per cent of students who cheated admitted that they were never caught cheating.

* 76 per cent of the students agreed to have copied assignments from another student.

* 79 per cent of the students admitted that they completed by copying information found on the Internet.

* 28 per cent of the students claimed that while taking online classes, they made someone else sit in their place.

* 72 percent of the students admitted that they have used devices like mobile phones, tabs and laptops for cheating in the examinations.

Only 12 per cent of the students participating in this survey called cheating an immoral act.

It is said that only an honest student becomes an honest businessman, industrialist, leader or employee but with ethics set so low how will we build an honest nation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Turkmenistan and Ireland discussed prospects of expanding bilateral trade and economic relations, Trend reports with reference to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland Simon Coveney hold a telephone conversation on April 29, 2020.

The ministers discussed the cooperation of the countries in the political and diplomatic spheres and noted the importance of the world solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The parties reviewed the initiatives of the countries on international platforms and, in particular, their activities in the UN structures.

The sides stressed the importance of developing relations in the scientific and educational spheres and underlined that holding meetings and talks, especially political consultations, provide good opportunities for exchange of views on key areas.

The delegation of Ireland led by Special envoy of the Prime Minister of Ireland, Ambassador David Donoghue hold a meeting with the country's high-rank officials during their visit to Ashgabat on July 4, 2019. The parties discussed the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
The family of a Derry man who died after being attacked by the RUC have expressed shock that over 50 years later the Met Police Service has for the first time described his case as an unsolved murder.

Father of nine Samuel Devenny died on July 17, 1969, at the age of 42.

It came three months after members of the RUC entered his home in William Street and assaulted him and his family on April 19, 1969.

He was one of the first victims of the Troubles.

The Devenny family have repeatedly called for the British government to release classified files in relation to their fathers death.

It is their strongly held belief that those files could contain crucial information, but the state has said they will remain secret until at least 2022.

The report into Mr Devenny's death was compiled by Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Kenneth Drury who conducted an independent inquiry.

It established that the attack on the Devenny family had been carried out by RUC officers.

But it was unable to identify those officers, according to a Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman investigation in 2001.

Last year, the day after his 50th anniversary, Independent Councillor Gary Donnelly suspended standing orders and brought a motion before a full meeting of Derry City & Strabane District Council.

In it the council commended the courage and dignity shown by the family of the late Sammy Devenny in their campaign for truth and justice regarding the events that led to his death.

Furthermore, the council called on the Metropolitan Police to release all files in relation to the case.

In a response seen by the Derry News the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) refused to release all files in its possession saying five files are exempt under the Public Records Act.

It notes sections on national security, law enforcement and personal data to justify its decision.

On paper marked Official Sensitive the MPS explains that five files have been transferred to the National Archives in accordance with the Public Records Act 1958.

Whilst these files have been transferred to the National Archives, they are physically held by the MPS and must therefore be considered for release by the MPS under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

However, in issuing a reason for its refusal notice the MPS described Samuel Devennys death as an unsolved murder.

It states: The 5 located files concern the unsolved murder of Mr Samuel Devenny. These files are considered to be exempt under the Act because in any unsolved investigation, there is the potential for reinvestigation at any stage.

Closing the file accordingly, preserves the record in its original form and ensures that no information is made available to the general public that may prejudice any future proceedings. A more detailed explanation can be found within the Legal Annex below.

The documents MPS did release are of little consequence to the Devenny family and largely consist of newspaper clippings.

SIGNIFICANT

The family say this is significant as the police service or government have never been described their fathers death as an unsolved murder in the past 50 years.

Speaking to the Derry News today Mr Devennys son, Harry, said: They never referred to my fathers case as an unsolved murder.

We were surprised that they themselves put it in those words because they never really acknowledged it was a murder.

They said it was an open verdict and the case was still pending and thats one of the reasons they say they wont open the files.

Which is nonsense because we have already promised them that we would never use the file to prosecute anybody. Were not looking for prosecutions, were just looking for the truth.

Harry says he has no confidence in the judicial system and believes the Met Police will attempt to dismiss the inclusion of unsolved murder as a typing error.

He believes that when it comes to 2022 the MPS and British government will also refuse to release the files.

It is no different to many other cases in Northern Ireland, Harry said, where the truth is being purposefully withheld.

SHOCKED

Photo: Mrs Phyllis Devenny pictured with some of her daughter's and grandchildren. Phyllis passed away in 1992.

Mr Devennys daughter, Christine Robson, said the family were shocked when they saw their fathers death described as an unsolved murder.

They have never used that language, the whole time they have used death. My mammy didnt even use the word murder because it was too painful for her.

Even though we believed it was murder she didnt want to say it to us. But that is the first time it has come from them ever, ever.

The famous saying throughout my daddys death was that there has been a wall of silence.

But to say murder, I find that significant.

Their mother, Phyllis, led the campaign for justice at the beginning, Christine said, but they broke her down and she just had to stop because it was too hurtful.

Before Phyllis died she told her children that it was up to them whether they wanted to continue.

They have for many years but feel the Police Ombudsmans hands were tied while investigating many years after his death.

Christine said the Met Police files obviously contain information they dont want us to see.

As a family they are discussing the best course of action and cling on to hope that they can finally get justice for their father.
You are here: China

Shanghai reported two imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and zero increase in locally transmitted COVID-19 case on Wednesday, the municipal health commission said Thursday.

The confirmed cases, both Chinese nationals returning to Shanghai from Singapore and the United States, respectively, have been sent to designated medical institutions for treatment.

The 38 close contacts on the flight have been put under quarantine.

The commission said a total of 308 imported cases had been reported in Shanghai by Wednesday. Among them, 42 remain in hospital for treatment with two of them in critical condition.

On Wednesday, no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported. The municipality had reported 339 locally transmitted confirmed cases by Wednesday, including seven deaths.
As Mexico prepares for the peak of the pandemic in May, health workers say PPE shortage is fuelling hospital outbreaks.

Oaxaca, Mexico  For three years, Patricia* has trained to be a surgeon at a Mexico City hospital where there is a chronic lack of surgical equipment. Each winter when supplies dwindle, she and fellow medical residents organise a stockpile of masks and gloves to tide them over until the new fiscal year. But in 2020 the new supplies never arrived.

It was a streak of theres nothing, theres nothing, theres nothing, Patricia said. Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit.

As authorities announced Mexico was entering the most critical stage of the pandemic last week, Patricias hospital ran out of surgical masks. She says working without one is risky since she reviews patients with COVID-19 symptoms who have not yet been tested for the disease. No one is looking out for us, she told Al Jazeera.

Hospital workers across the country have echoed this sentiment in recent weeks. In pandemic hotspots such as Mexico City and Monterrey, doctors and nurses have protested the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), which they say is accelerating the spread of the novel coronavirus in hospitals and beyond. Additionally, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been criticised for a delay in taking the pandemic seriously, as well as the scarcity of testing in the country.

Public hospital health workers protest outside a hospital to demand protective gear and training in Mexico City [Fernando Llano/AP Photo]

As of Wednesday night, Mexicos health department had reported 1,732 deaths from COVID-19 and nearly 18,000 cases, though authorities say the actual numbers are far higher. At least 15 percent of confirmed cases were employees of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), which provides health services to nearly half of the countrys population. Thousands of other health workers are quarantined with COVID-19 symptoms as the country faces a severe personnel shortage.

The battle for PPE

As authorities expect the pandemic to peak in Mexico in the second week of May, health workers are taking stronger actions to call for equipment to keep themselves safe. This month a union representing some 5,000 IMSS employees threatened to strike work if authorities failed to provide its members with PPE. The leader of the union, Armando Rosales Torres, also promised to sue the state for negligence.

The government, however, insists there is no equipment shortage. Mexicos coronavirus czar, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, said shipments arriving in April from Shanghai to Mexico City would meet practically 100 percent of Mexicos PPE needs. The epidemiologist speculated that any scarcity in hospitals was due to corrupt supply chains or staffs inadequate use of equipment.

But health workers in four hospitals who spoke to Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity described a different reality.

Protesting healthcare workers stop the traffic to demand personal protective equipment at Tacuba General Hospital, as the spread of the coronavirus continues, in Mexico City, Mexico [Edgard Garrido/Reuters]

On April 8, Diana*, an IMSS anesthesiologist in the southern city of Oaxaca, obtained a court order forcing the health department to provide her with PPE. But even then she says her hospital was unable to comply with the judges ruling. When we won the injunction we were given a laughable amount of equipment, said Diana, whose real name is withheld; a pair of glasses that dont fit, a pair of disposable gloves that can only be used for one patient, and a sterile disposable gown that isnt waterproof.

Diana decided to buy her own PPE since she intubates patients  a procedure with a high risk of contagion. So far she has spent nearly $300 on reusable gear, plus $500 this month alone on disposable items like gloves, gowns and N95 respirators  practically her entire paycheque.

I took out my savings, she told Al Jazeera. I was left with nothing. This financial stress comes on top of the fear of being attacked in the street, following a spike in assaults against healthcare workers by people terrified of catching the virus.

Doctors and nurses stand outside the intensive care unit where COVID-19 patients are being treated in Mexico City, Mexico [Carlos Jasso/Reuters]

Dr Amparo Vera Cerda, the spokeswoman for the National Assembly of Medical Residents (ANMR), confirmed that such experiences were widespread. Of nearly 1,500 health workers surveyed by the organisation in mid-April, 93 percent lacked supplies to confront the coronavirus pandemic. In a survey conducted in March, the assembly found that more than 40 percent of hospitals had no protocols for attending to COVID-19 patients. In every hospital in the country there should be a protocol for treating suspected cases and there should be adequate supplies to carry out this protocol, insisted Vera Cerda, who said this is far from the reality.

The consequence, according to medical personnel interviewed, has been the accelerated spread of the virus in hospitals and the communities they serve, resulting in deaths that could have been avoided.

A spate of hospital outbreaks

Health workers fears have already started playing out at a growing number of IMSS facilities with coronavirus outbreaks. In Social Security Hospital No 7 in the northern city of Monclova, more than 40 employees tested positive for COVID-19. Dozens of other health workers were infected in the Tlalnepantla Hospital in State of Mexico.

In both cases, hospital staff sounded an early alarm about the lack of equipment, testing and safety measures. In both cases, their warnings went unheeded. IMSS authorities initially announced that medical personnel had been infected outside of the hospital and not through contact with patients. In both cases, officials later admitted that staff had contracted the coronavirus at the workplace.

We did have some outbreaks in some medical units, Victor Borja, a senior IMSS official, told Mexican media. Still, he said, the institution is prepared to handle the outbreaks with our maximum capacity and with the maximum number of patients we expect in the coming weeks.

A woman carries a sign that reads in Spanish: Im a nurse. I fight for you and for my life. Stay home. during a protest by public hospital workers demanding protective gear and training related to the new coronavirus in Mexico City [Fernando Llano/AP Photo/Daylife]

Although Alberto Vasquez San German, a leader of Local 35 of the National Health Workers Union, hopes Borja is right, he believes ill-equipped hospitals will be overwhelmed in the case of an uncontrolled outbreak. He says the blame for this lies not with President Lopez Obrador but with previous administrations that he says practically dismantled Mexicos social security system.

The [health] system in Mexico has been undermined through many years of neoliberal governments, he said. Today we are paying the consequences.

*Name has been changed to protect the individuals identity.
Dundalk and Cuchullain Credit Unions have recently announced additional recipients of their Covid-19 Community Response Fund, a support fund set up by both Credit Unions to offer financial assistance to organisations and groups within our wider community that are putting the needs of others ahead of their own in response to the impact of Covid-19.

To date, donations have been made to Cu Chulainn Blood Bikes, Womens Aid Dundalk, Meals on Wheels and Turas Counselling.

This week the fund donated much-needed funds to Cuidigh Linn Dundalk, a support organisation based in Muirhevnamore focussed on inclusion and supports for the older person.

Andrea Connolly, Cuidigh Linn Dundalk, said: This support allows us to continue our work, letting us connect and support the older people and indeed families living in our community who are faced with difficult challenges during this time.

Another organisation to be included in the Covid-19 Community Response Fund is dis ABILITY Louth, an umbrella organisation for disability service users in County Louth. Their aim is to provide a collective voice for representation, improving lives, creating networks for sharing resources and providing information to their members and the wider community.

It is invaluable for dis ABILITY Louth to be able to contact and connect with people. Social isolation is something we live with at all times, but even more so during the Covid-19 crisis. This contribution towards our phone costs will go a long way. Many thanks," says Olivia Shiel, Chairperson, dis ABILITY Louth.

Masks for Louth, a Louth and Proud community of sewing enthusiasts, all working to support and protect our frontline workers.

Tina McDonnell and Caroline Sheelan, Coordinators of Masks for Louth said: The whole sewing community across Ireland is working together to help our frontline staff. This donation allows us to provide another line of safety for our cherished and much appreciated frontline staff across Co. Louth.

Finally, Dundalk Simon Community a support service that continues to work in these very challenging times. Trina Harpur, Service Manager Dundalk Simon Community: We are very grateful for this donation. Covid-19 restrictions are challenging for everyone, the strength and support of community has never been needed as much as now.

Billy Doyle, CEO, Dundalk Credit Union, added: We have some excellent collaborative projects to be announced in the coming few weeks. Their delivery is built on partnership and collaboration with the Covid-19 taskforces at Louth County Council and the Health Service Executive. We have seen how coming together as a community is our armour in crisis, we are stronger together. We are delighted to continue to support our wider community, it is the foundation on which our Credit Unions are built.
A women covers her face as she walks past a child care centre that's closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Friday, April 10, 2020. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

What Do We Do With the Kids? Experts Say Child Care Needed in Reopening Plans

REGINAKelly Knowles has many questions about returning to work, including where her son would go.

The Regina hairstylist contacted his daycare after the Saskatchewan government announced last week that some businesses such as salons, shut down because of COVID-19, could reopen in mid-May.

She was told there is space for her 2-1/2-year old, but the centre is only caring for kids of essential workers. And with her partner still working, there isnt anyone else at home to help, she said.

If I did go back to work, we do need that extra care, Knowles told The Canadian Press.

I cant open up my schedule and start accepting my guests to come in if I dont have a daycare for my son.

Questions about child care and schools are being raised as various provinces outline their plans to relax public health restrictions so that some services and businesses can reopen and residents can go back to work.

For families with kids, they cant participate in that if they dont have child care, says Jennifer Robson, associate professor in political management at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Each province is dealing with the issue differently.

In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe has said students are unlikely to return to classes this school year. On Thursday, the province announced child-care spots reserved for the children of essential workers will also go to children whose parents are headed back work in the first two stages of its reopen plan.

Manitoba plans to keep schools closed, but intends to allow day camps with a maximum of 16 kids per site.

Schools and daycares in Quebec are to reopen May 11 outside greater Montreal, but high schools are to stay closed until September. In Ontario, publicly funded schools are to stay closed until at least the end of May.

The inability to provide hard timelines is understandable, Robson says, since those decisions are driven by medical evidence.

She says households with parents who can resume work will be figuring out what makes economic sense. And without child care or schools, someone has to stay home with the kids.

Gender roles being what they are and gender-related pay gaps being what they are, odds are good that most families are going to elect to have Mom end up staying home with the kids.

Lindsay Tedds, professor of economics at the University of Calgary, says women have already borne the brunt of the pandemic and, without child-care options, that could be exacerbated.

Citing a Statistics Canada labour force survey from March, Tedds says women were the hardest hit by job losses and a lot of the impact was felt in female-dominated sectors such as hospitality and tourism.

Women had to leave their jobs even before the big shutdown started simply because the schools shut down.

In a statement, the president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, acknowledges that restarting the economy will be tough for working parents if schools and daycares stay closed during the initial phases. Goldy Hyder encourages employers to be flexible.

Dan Kelly, head of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says some employers may not be able to find workers who can pull away from their families. But he feels its better to move ahead with an imperfect plan than to keep the economy frozen.

While some parents can work from home, those who work in bars, restaurants and sectors such as the airline industry cannot, Tedds notes.

She and Robson say household incomes will continue to take a hit if both parents cant get back to work. Gains made over the last few decades have been in large part thanks to women entering the labour force.

They also say time away from work may mean not getting promotions or building up work hours associated with career advancement. As well, staying home means not paying into a pension plan or employment insurance, including maternity and paternity leave.

If were  expected to go back to work and nobody has thought about what we do with the kids, we have a huge problem, said Tedds.

The CEO of the Canadian Womens Foundation says its time governments examine how child-care centres are funded. Right now, without receiving fees from parents, they could close.

Paulette Senior says Ottawa has a critical role to play.

This government is committed to gender equality and gender equality is an essential rung to the economy.

Maryam Monsef, federal minister for women and gender equality, says in a statement that the pandemic has shown long-term solutions are needed in child care and provinces need to collaborate.

It is clear that the steps that all orders of government take in the next days and weeks as we contemplate slowly reopening our economy will require a vision for child care.

We cant resume without it.

By Stephanie Taylor
When Nancy Drew burst onto the scene in 1930, no one could have known shed go on to solve hundreds of mysteries, both in print and on screen.

But perhaps the biggest mystery over those nine decades was the identity of the real-life woman behind her  Carolyn Keene, according to each book cover.

To fans, she was the woman responsible for their spunky yet grounded role model, a teen sleuth who had the wits to get out of any jam. Keene, or so they thought, had created a character embraced by girls every decade since her debut, whose fearless spirit, many say, continued to inspire them into adulthood.

So who, exactly, was this woman, to whom fans felt they owed their gratitude?

Its a story complicated by literary rights and the age-old truth of there being two sides to every story.

And its a story  like so many things in pop culture  that begins in New Jersey.

The literary tycoon

Nancy Drew was one of the many characters dreamed up by Edward Stratemeyer, a publishing titan who pioneered the mass production of childrens book series, including those starring the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, the Bobbsey Twins and the Rover Boys.

Stratemeyer was born in Elizabeth in 1862, the son of German immigrants. He spent much of his childhood consuming dime novels, then went on to write his own after graduating from Elizabeths Public School No. 3.

He also wrote for childrens story magazines and newspapers before writing books, many under different pen names.

But as demand for his stories grew, he decided to form a literary syndicate, allowing him to come up with ideas for the characters and plots of different series and assign them out to writers. His fiction factory, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, was established around 1905. Each series stuck to a basic formula and was published under a pseudonym, allowing him to shift ghostwriters as needed. Much of the work was coordinated from his home in Newark, before he opened an office in Manhattan.

Sales skyrocketed. In a 1926 poll published by the American Library Association, 98% of young readers listed a Stratemeyer book as their favorite.

But not everyone was fan. Stratemeyer had gained a bad reputation among some librarians, who felt his books  filled more with action than moral virtue  were rotting childrens brains (a reminder: this was before the advent of television). That apparently included a librarian at the Newark Public Library, who according to scholars removed his books from the shelves (a move he reportedly said only increased sales in Newark).

Though Stratemeyer had already monopolized the childrens market, he was always pursuing new ideas to further his publishing empire. Adults in the 1920s were clamoring for crime and mystery books, thanks in large part to Agatha Christie and others who popularized the genre. Assuming younger readers would follow suit, Stratemeyer came up with the Hardy Boys  two teenage brothers who solve mysteries. The books, written under the pen name Franklin W. Dixon, would be mostly written by a Canadian writer, Leslie McFarlane.

After the series debuted in May 1927, Stratemeyer began thinking about another detective series, this time starring a female sleuth who would be the equal of Frank and Joe Hardy.

Stratemeyer sent his editors at Grosset & Dunlap a pitch for the new series, as well as the plots and titles of the first five books, in late 1929.

The ghostwriter, he decided early on, would be a recent college grad who had written stories for magazines and was just starting to write for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. That writer was Mildred Wirt from Iowa, who in 1927 became the first woman to graduate with a masters degree from the Iowa School of Journalism.

(Stratemeyer) gave me outlines of two or three pages, and I wrote the Nancy Drew books from them, the author (who later became Mildred Wirt Benson) told The Plain Dealer Magazine in 1992. Each manuscript ended up being 200 to 300 pages, she said.

The combination of Stratemeyers outline and editing with Mildreds efforts had produced a fantasy girl with a few touches of the real  possibly touches of Mildred, who had added some of Nancys bolder moves and snappier dialogue to Stratemeyers outline, Melanie Rehak writes in Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her.

Their Nancy Drew had it all. She was pretty (but not too pretty), clever (but not a know-it-all) and popular (but would eventually spend most of her time with close pals Bess and George). Her boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, who also debuted in later books, was both good-looking and dependable. In addition, Nancy came from an upper-class household, with money never a concern when it came to fashion or her roadster, a car that gave her the independence most readers could only dream of. It was these qualities, Rehak writes, that made Nancy Drew a success even amid the financial strains of the Great Depression. Nancy was something every girl wanted to be.

The first three books  The Secret of the Old Clock, The Hidden Staircase and The Bungalow Mystery  debuted on April 28, 1930, months before the stock market would crash.

Stratemeyer, 68, died of pneumonia 12 days after their release, having no idea he had just launched one of the most beloved characters in young adult fiction.

Soon after Stratemeyer was buried in Hillsides Evergreen Cemetery, it became apparent that his wife and daughters knew little about how he ran his business. The family hoped to sell the company, but with the economy flailing, they were unable to find a reliable buyer. So Stratemeyers daughter Harriet took over with the help of her sister, Edna.

Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, a graduate of Barringer High School and Wellesley College, had spent much of her adult life keeping house for her husband and four children. But with her husbands encouragement, she essentially became CEO of the company, something almost unheard of for a woman in the 1930s.

To keep close to their families, the sisters moved the Stratemeyer Syndicate offices to the Hale Building on Main Street in East Orange, not far from Harriets home in Maplewood.

The first Carolyn

Determined to keep their most profitable series going, the Stratemeyer sisters continued churning out outlines for ghostwriters, including Benson, who would write 23 of the first 30 original Nancy Drew mysteries. Stratemeyers secretary, Harriet Otis Smith, and a handful of other ghostwriters also made early contributions to the series.

All of the syndicates ghostwriters were required to keep their true identities a secret and had signed away rights for any royalties on the books. Benson was paid $125 each for most of the manuscripts.

Those who knew Benson say she was not unlike the character she helped create. She was a go-getter, usually working on multiple writing projects at once (she also wrote for other Stratemeyer Syndicate series, in addition to books under her own name). She became a newspaper reporter during World War II  a rarity for women even then. And she was an adventurer in her own right, traveling by canoe to explore archaeological sites in Central America and learning to fly at age 59, according to multiple interviews before her death.

She was gutsy and daring, a living embodiment of her Nancy Drew heroine, John Robinson Block, then publisher and editor in chief of The Toledo Blade, where Benson worked until her death at age 96, told The Associated Press in 2002.

But even as the books and the name Carolyn Keene took on a life of their own, few people knew Benson was responsible for most of the earlier books in the series. When fan mail came for Carolyn Keene to the offices in East Orange, Harriet Adams would respond on stationery indicating it came from Ms. Keene, Rehak writes in Girl Sleuth.

The second Carolyn

But while scholars say Benson is most responsible for originating Nancys voice, Adams ultimately shaped and refined it. At first, that meant just editing manuscripts as they came in and having the final say over each book. But scholars and other experts say she also felt responsible for protecting the Nancy Drew brand, whether in print or on screen once movie and television rights were sold.

Quoting letters between Benson and Adams in Girl Sleuth, Rehak portrays an often-tense relationship, with each woman indicating they knew what was best for the character.

By the 1950s, Adams decided she would take on the writing for the series, eventually writing 26 more books. She would also oversee a rewrite of the series that started in 1959. The books were modernized, sometimes shortened, and rid of stereotypes and other language deemed offensive as society changed.

All in all, the books contained no profanity, religious confrontations, sex, extraordinary violence or murder, Adams told the Hunterdon County Democrat in an interview in 1977. There were no family problems, and each book must have some subject you can learn about, she said.

Nancy herself got an update in the series revision. She began to wear fewer hats and gloves and favored loafers over heels. Even her age changed, from 16 to 18  now the legal age to drive.

In an interview with the Democrat in 2007, Adams daughter Patricia Harr emphasized her mothers dedication to the business.

I dont think a day went by that she didnt work, writing or editing, Harr said.

She was so much like her father, a hard-nosed business person, yet creative, Cynthia Lum, a granddaughter, told the newspaper.

In addition to writing and editing, Adams spent her time caring for her four children and was known locally as a dedicated Sunday school teacher. Her family spent weekends and holidays at a farm they owned in Tewksbury.

But as time progressed and Nancy Drew became even more ingrained in popular culture  especially during the womens movement of the 1970s  few people knew who had written the books. Over the years, several newspapers had outed Benson as a ghostwriter for the series, but perhaps because they were local newspapers, the secret never really got out.

That began to change in the 70s, when Adams started to exert more protection over the character and told reporters she was the author behind the books. Benson, who never collected royalties from any books, movies, games or anything else that had been associated with the brand, then began speaking up in the media herself.

The truth, though, ultimately spilled out in a 1980 federal court case involving the books publisher, still Grosset & Dunlap, and the rights to the series.

Benson gave a powerful testimony that was covered by national media. And for the next 20 years, until her death in 2002, reporters and scholars would herald her as the original Carolyn Keene.

But Adams and her family also share much of that credit. Adams continued to write and lecture until her death in 1982. Her family and the remaining Stratemeyer Syndicate partners eventually sold their shares to Simon & Schuster, which continues to distribute the books.

All in all, Nancy Drew has sold more than 70 million copies and spawned spinoff series, not to mention numerous movie and TV reboots.

But no matter how many iterations there are or who deserves the credit, one truth remains: Even after 90 years, America cant help but continue to fall in love with its favorite teenage sleuth.
Children are just as likely as adults to get infected with the coronavirus and spread it to other people, a study has found.

In research that will come as a blow to Britain's hopes of reopening schools any time soon, scientists in China found children are just as at risk of infection.

How COVID-19 affects youngsters has confused experts since the pandemic began because so few of them seem to get seriously ill or die after catching the virus.

In England, for example, only 10 people under the age of 20 have died with COVID-19 in hospitals out of a total of 19,740 infected - a rate of 0.05 per cent.

This had led to speculation children were somehow protected from the disease or less likely to catch or spread it - something the Chinese research has dispelled.

The study, done in Shenzhen, found the virus's 'attack rate' among children was 7.4 per cent, which was on par with the 6.6 per cent seen in the general population.

One scientist in England said the research was 'important' and showed that children 'could expose parents, grandparents and teachers... risking a second wave'.

A study in Shenzen, China, found that infection rates are just as high among children as they are in adults. (Pictured: A woman and child walk wearing face masks in Beijing)

The researchers, who worked with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, studied 391 people who caught COVID-19 in Shenzhen between January 14 and February 12.

They said 'attack rates were similar across all age categories of infected contacts'.

People who lived with, or were contacts of, someone who had the virus were about equally likely to catch the illness of them regardless of their age, they found.

The proportion of someone's contacts who catch the virus from them is the 'attack rate' and the scientists found it did not vary significantly depending on age.

People in their 60s appeared to have the highest attack rate, and it was elevated for those in their 50s and aged over 70, but for the younger age groups there was little difference.

Another figure that also stood out on the researchers' data was that the proportion of people who tested positive but didn't have the tell-tale fever was significantly higher among under-20s, suggesting they might be more likely to spread the virus without realising it.

People in their 60s appeared to have the highest attack rate, and it was elevated for those in their 50s and aged over 70, but for the younger age groups there was little difference

'INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME' AFFECTING CHILDREN WITH COVID-19 An NHS memo this week warned doctors about rising numbers of children being hospitalised with an 'inflammatory syndrome' which appears to be linked to the coronavirus. The memo warned of a rise in the number of children being admitted to intensive care with a 'multi-system inflammatory state'. This refers to the over-production of cytokines, known as a cytokine storm - the overreaction of the body's immune system. In a storm, the proteins start to attack healthy tissue, which can cause blood vessels to leak and lead to low blood pressure. The children being seen with the new syndrome often suffer from stomach pain, cardiac inflammation and 'gastrointestinal symptoms' - which could include vomiting and diarrhoea. The cases share overlapping features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki disease, according to the memo that was sent around. Two of the most common symptoms of Kawasaki disease include a rash and a fever. TSS also causes a rash, dizziness and diarrhoea. Officials did not confirm how many cases have been spotted across the UK - but senior paediatricians have said there are just a 'handful'. It is unclear if any children have died from the condition. Advertisement

In the paper, published in the British journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the researchers said: 'Notably, the rate of infection in children younger than 10 years (7.4 per cent) was similar to the population average (6.6 per cent).

'There was no significant association between the probability of infection and age of the index case.'

This meant that children were as likely as adults to both catch the virus and to spread it.

The researchers added: 'Analyses of how cases are detected, and use of data on individuals exposed but not infected, indicate that infection rates in young children are not lower than the population average (even if rates of clinical disease are).'

Rates of disease do appear to be considerably lower in children than in adults and reports from hospitals worldwide show tiny numbers of children getting seriously ill.

Scientists are not totally clear on why this is, but suggest that a lack of age-related lung damage may be a contributing factor.

And people tend to get more seriously ill if they have other health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes, which are rare among children.

The Shenzhen study throws cold water on any hopes there were that schools would open quickly and fully as the UK moves out of its coronavirus lockdown.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the Government was considering reopening schools in a phased approach, a few year groups at a time, and attempting to maintain social distancing when classes resumed.

The vast majority of children, except those whose parents are essential workers like doctors and nurses, have been off school since the middle of March.

Evidence that children are just as likely to spread the virus as adults may force officials to reconsider how they move forward with schools.

Professor Simon Clarke, a virus expert at the University of Reading, told The Times: 'This is an important paper. It means we should be extremely careful.

'As children are carriers, reopening schools could expose parents, grandparents and teachers to infection and in turn anyone they might come into contact with... risking a second wave.'
Media reports have confirmed that the Sri Lankan defence ministry has stationed thousands of soldiers in up to 16 schools in Colombo and in other areas, including the North and Central provinces. The soldiers were dispatched to Colombo on Monday, during the all-island curfew.

This week M. M. Ratnayake, an additional secretary to the education ministry secretary, revealed that the schools would serve as lodging for the Armed Force personnel who are deployed for duty from distant areas. The comments were in response to a Facebook post by Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the education minister in the previous United National Party (UNP)-led government, who said the schools are to be used as quarantine centres.

Yesterday, retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne, the current defence ministry secretary, also denied schools were being used as quarantine centres. There was a huge influx of soldiers, he said, because they had been recalled from leave and the armed forces needed additional camps to accommodate them. Gunaratne did not explain why most of the soldiers were dispatched back to Colombo.

Last week the army deployed its Quick Action Battalion to bolster existing security force operations at Colombos main entry points. The battalion was reportedly needed to prevent coronavirus victims entering the capital.

None of the parliamentary opposition parties, including the UNP, has challenged President Rajapakse or the military hierarchy as to why such large numbers of soldiers were brought to Colombo. These parties, like the Rajapakse administration, depend on support from the military, and are reluctant to criticise its actions.

Nor have they questioned why the government has deployed the military, replacing police, for the external security of parliament, even though the secretary of the parliament himself insisted parliaments security is usually conducted by the police.

These moves raise the danger that Rajapakse, who has the closest ties to the military hierarchy, is putting troops in place that could be used to mount a coup. He is already in breach of the constitution regarding the holding of general elections. All of this is taking place under guise of combating the pandemic.

Instead of challenging Rajapakse, the main opposition parties on Monday issued a 10-point appeal to the Sri Lankan president urging him to reconvene parliament and offering their support. The appeal, which was signed by the UNP, its breakaway group Samagi Jana Balavegaya, the Tamil National Alliance, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the plantation unions parties, was released on the same day as the troops were being sent to Colombo.

The letter urged Rajapakse to respond positively to this offer of responsible cooperation which was made without any strings. It added: We are prepared to lend our support to the government in parliament so that the governance of the country can proceed properly and lawfully and according to the constitution. The opposition parties even promised not to draw any salaries for their service.

While it did not sign the appeal, the JVP, along with the other opposition parties, has backed the governments actions in previous all-party meetings and also called for a reconvening of parliament.

Rajapakse has ignored Mondays 10-point appeal, indicating that he will maintain his extra-constitutional agenda. Last week he told the media: Whatever the cause may be, I have no hope of reconvening the old parliament. He then accused the opposition parties of attempting to create a constitutional crisis.

Using the abject capitulation of the opposition parties, Rajapakse is systematically preparing a power grab and rallying support from the military leadership. Far from opposing the moves towards autocratic rule, the opposition parties are offering their support.

Despite their tactical differences, the overriding concern of both Rajapakse and the parliamentary opposition is the rising social anger of workers and poor over the ruling elites deepening attacks on jobs, wages and living conditions.

Last week, former parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya warned party leaders not to create another crisis by demanding the reconvening of the parliament. Only the Supreme Court, he said, could rule on constitutional issues and that he would only respond to such a decision.

Amid this deepening political crisis, the number of coronavirus infections in Sri Lanka continues to rise, inching towards 700 or almost double the figure reported a week ago and despite very few people being tested. Like governments all around the world, however, Colombo is attempting to claim the pandemic is not very serious or that there are falling numbers of people being infected.

Yesterday, the National Institute for Infection Diseases (IDH), Sri Lankas only premier hospital for coronavirus treatment, admitted that its 140-bed capacity was full. The facilitys pitifully low capacity highlights the neglected and rundown level of healthcare in Sri Lanka. Even after coronavirus infections began being reported, Colombo refused to allocate adequate funds to restructure and expand existing hospitals or build new treatment centres.

Following their imperialist masters in the US and Europe, the Indian and Sri Lankan governments are demanding the reopening of the economy and for employees to return to work.

Sri Lanka capitalism is mired in a deep crisis. Yesterday, Moodys international rating agency said Sri Lanka faced simultaneous domestic and external shocks that impact on its fragile fiscal position, as indicated by widening budget deficits, a growing debt burden and weakening debt affordability. It predicted that its debt to GDP ratio would soon reach 100 percent.

Yesterday the Central Banks fund-raising sale of $US68 million denominated bonds ended in failure. Only $18 million in bonds were purchased. Last week, one economist calculated that the Central Bank would print 8 billion rupees to boost the economy.

Big business continues to demand the government provide massive financial assistance. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce wants 350 billion rupees or 3.5 percent of GDP in total financial assistance. Several companies have told the trade unions they will not pay workers salaries for three months. Fearing the eruption of mass struggles by workers, the unions have issued pathetic appeals to Rajapakse for support.

Last week, Rajapakse told private sector management that they should only recall a third of their workforce. Nothing was said about what would happen to the wages and jobs of the remaining workers.

Last November, Rajapakse promised the ruling elite that he would establish a strong and stable government to deal with the mass working-class opposition that shattered the coalition government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. But weeks after Rajapakse became president, plantation workers, miners and teachers launched protest strikes. These were followed by ongoing demonstrations outside his office in central Colombo by some of the 15,000 sacked by his government.

Rajapakses preparations to take on the working class was spelled out by his defence secretary in early March. The government, the defence secretary said, had merged military and civil capabilities through Integrated Contingency Planning to enable the military to work alongside civilian first-responders in order to mitigate the impact of disaster situations, workers strikes and civil unrest, and take the lead if necessary.

Rajapakse is using the pandemic disaster to tear up constitutional norms and the rule of law in preparation for a presidential dictatorship. Step by step, the so-called opposition parties are encouraging Rajapakses anti-democratic agenda.
House Democrats released a plan Thursday to invest more than $80 billion into boosting broadband internet access as the coronavirus forces Americans to work, learn and seek medical treatment from home.

The proposal by 12 lawmakers resembles bills Democrats have released before to bolster a core piece of U.S. infrastructure. The issue has taken on more urgency, though, as efforts to slow the outbreak's spread have forced governments to close businesses and schools, leaving millions at home without reliable internet service.

"This broadband deployment is very, very necessary," House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., told reporters earlier Thursday in previewing the plan. He said ensuring more households have the internet was "made even more necessary by this current pandemic that we're trying to respond to."

Democrats and President Donald Trump have pushed for a sprawling infrastructure package  which could cost up to $2 trillion  to refresh roads, bridges, tunnels and water systems while increasing internet access. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that Democrats could narrow their scope for infrastructure goals during the next phase of the coronavirus response to broadband and water systems.

The plan unveiled Thursday would inject $80 billion over five years into expansion of broadband infrastructure into neglected rural, suburban and urban areas, with an emphasis on communities with high levels of poverty. It includes measures to promote rapid building of internet systems, such as low-interest financing for infrastructure projects.

It also has provisions designed to increase competition and reduce costs, such as requiring providers who use federal funds to offer an affordable plan and guaranteeing local governments and public-private partnerships can provide broadband service. It also promotes the creation of mobile hotspots and sets aside money for Wi-Fi on school buses.

Clyburn said the investment is necessary for remote doctor's visits, which many Americans have resorted to during the pandemic. The representative noted that schools around the country remain closed, and the prospect of another wave of infections in the fall could hamper students who do not have reliable internet access even more.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to comment on whether the Kentucky Republican would support putting a broadband provision in the next relief bill Congress considers.

Pelosi said Thursday that the House would not convene again until the week of May 11 at the earliest, as leaders worry about risking lawmakers' health. When Congress returns, the California Democrat aims to pass a sprawling rescue measure that includes more than $500 billion in relief for state and local governments and expands pieces of the $2 trillion stimulus package passed last month.

The Senate will return to Washington next week.

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Southwest Georgia has seen its share of disasters over the past few years, including tornadoes and hurricanes in 2017 and 2018 that tore through the community, destroying farms and homes and temporarily disrupting schools.

But nothing so far compares to how coronavirus has ravaged this corner of the state, anchored by Albany, the regions largest city.

Albany and surrounding Dougherty County have lost at least 120 residents to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, as April drew to a close. Thats on par with the number of deaths in Atlanta and Fulton County, which has a population more than ten times higher. The rate of infection in Dougherty County, home to about 90,000 people, is comparable to that of New York City.

Its a massive burden for any community to bear, let alone one that is largely rural and poor. And the 14,000-student Dougherty County school system, the largest district in the region, is in the middle of it. By late April, the district had 33 employees who had either been ill themselves, or who had to cope with the illness or death of a close family member. One district employee, a school crossing guard, has died.

The disruption and turmoil has landed on a school system that already trails state averages on some measures of academic achievement. Thirty-one percent of the countys 3rd graders read at or above grade level, compared to 48 percent statewide. And 41 percent of the countys 8th graders read at or above grade level, compared to about 60 percent statewide.

But there are academic bright spots. The districts four-year graduation rate of 85 percent is slightly higher than Georgias 82 percent graduation rate. And five of the systems 21 schools were designated in 2019 as beating the odds, with higher academic performance than other schools in the state with similar demographics.

Now, as Georgia moves to aggressivelyand some have argued, prematurelyrestart its economy, the school district is weighing what happens next and how it will help its students keep up after losing so much face-to-face learning time.

We have a community with a higher-than-average poverty rate, and we have a lot of students who have needs that go beyond the classroom, said Kenneth Dyer, an Albany native appointed superintendent in 2017. To move forward, the district will have to make sure all those needs are met, he said.

Its not new to us what were doing now, Dyer said. Were just doing it differently.

Sheer Trauma in the Community

Dougherty County is part of the black belt of the American South, a crescent of some 600 counties that stretches from East Texas, through the deep South and into Virginia. The name first came from the dark, fertile soil in the region, and now refers to the largely black population in those areas.

Albany also has a rich civil rights history. The desegregation effort known as the Albany Movement included the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr., who said he took what he learned from that campaign to his later work in Birmingham, Ala.

The coronavirus outbreak in the region is linked to two well-attended funerals in late February and early March. An infected person also served as a juror on a murder trial that ended March 12, setting off an outbreak among courthouse personnel.

By the time the county announced a shelter-in-place order on March 21, the virus had already taken hold. Several surrounding counties have also been heavily impacted, but their overall death and infection numbers are lower because they are more sparsely populated.

And its not over, said Demetrius Young, an Albany city commissioner. Its just a staggering thingyou cant really fully grasp it. Youre waiting for the phone to ring, did you hear about somebody else? Its really kind of heart-wrenching.

The pace of infections, hospitalizations and deaths in Georgia is slowing, according to state health statistics. Still, the community is coping with the sheer traumatic aspect of this, Dyer said.

I spoke to one parent who has two middle school students in our schools. Her mothers been in intensive care for over a week. And her mother does not know that her sister died from COVID-19, Dyer said. So [the parent] is planning a funeral for her aunt and dealing with her mother.

The children get good grades during normal times. But schoolwork is the last thing on the familys mind right now, Dyer said.

We can strike a balance between academic accountability and meeting the needs of families, taking some of the pressure off of families where we can, Dyer said.

For example, the district has four health clinics, a vision clinic and a mental health clinic operating out of its schools; it has been able to leave two clinics open for children and families who have health needs unrelated to the coronavirus.

School counselors are also pushing out nonacademic supports for students, such as videos offering lessons on coping skills that they can watch on their own time.

I firmly believe they need to see us, said Stacey Cross, an elementary guidance counselor. But she is also sensitive not to make parents feel like theyre being bombarded by information when they are already juggling so much.

Were hoping that were reaching out to the students, maybe touching some that were not touching through the e-learning. Were telling them we miss you, we love you, we cant wait until we can all be together again, Cross said.

Equity Concerns at the Forefront

Like school districts all over the nation, Dougherty scrambled to provide food, worksheets, computers and wireless internet hotspots to its students. The school system closed to in-person classes on March 13, five days before the state as a whole shut down schools.

But in some ways, the district already had built a foundation for what it is going through now. The district, nearly 90 percent black, also has more than two-thirds of students designated as economically disadvantagedliving in families that are eligible for food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, for example.

Remote learningand the ensuing concern about students who dont have computers and regular internet accesshas drawn a spotlight nationwide. In Dougherty schools, those equity issues have always been front and center, because of local poverty levels, said Cheryl Smith, the districts director of curriculum and instruction.

Back in 2014, the district budgeted $15 million to provide computers for every student in grades 3-12. Younger students have access to classroom iPads. Along with the purchases, the district has also invested in professional development for teachers on platforms such as Google Classroom.

Of course, we wanted to give our students access to technology, Smith said. But we also wanted to provide a targeted, individualized learning path for our students.

A week before Dougherty County schools closed, the district polled families to find out how many had access to reliable internet service. About 60 percent of those who responded said they did, but Dyer said some of those families are thinking of cellphones.

When Mom and Dad take the cellphone, then the internet goes, he said.

The district had 1,000 wireless hotspots, Dyer said. Thats not enough for all the families that needed them, so the district prioritized getting them to high school seniors and to students who are dual-enrolled in high school and college courses, so that they would not fall behind in their college coursework.

Dougherty County has also stuck with an asynchronous instructional model, rather than requiring students to sign in at a certain time every day. And it sends out work packets to families on school buses, along with district-provided meals. With the community under a shelter-in-place order that has only recently ended, and a number of families with limited transportation options, sending food out into the community made more sense than requiring families to come to centralized locations, said the superintendent.

The district also decided that students could choose to end the year with the grades they had when schools closed to in-person instruction, as long as their grade averages were at 70 percent or higher. Those with lower averages must work to pull their grades up during the remaining weeks of remote instruction left in this academic year; students who meet the 70 percent mark can choose to continue working for a higher grade.

Sharon Peoples, whose 15-year-old daughter Amari Cody is a 9th grader in the district, has chosen to have her child continue instruction in several classes, even though her grades are high.

Theyre already out a long time during the summer, and an additional month or a month and a half was going to be too much leisure time, Peoples said. And I didnt want to be responsible for assigning her things. It was a great opportunity and a great option to continue.

Amid all the uncertainty, Silvana Jenkins, a 4th grade math teacher who was spared COVID-19 even as her husband recovers from the disease, echoed some of the sentiments as the superintendent: The work underway now is similar to what teachers have always done. Teachers take students with different levels of preparation, and bring them forward.

The gaps may be a little wider than normal, but we would have seen gaps anyway, said Jenkins. We know were going to have to bridge them.

Looking to the Future

With Georgia schools closed for the academic year and distance learning in Dougherty underway for more than a month, the system is now turning its attention to how it will help students make up academic ground in the summer.

But its also facing the prospect of a financially precarious 2020-21 school year, whether its schools open for traditional instruction, remote learning, or a blend of the two. State budget analysts estimate that Georgia is looking at a nearly $3 billion shortfall by the end of the next fiscal year, and Dougherty schools are highly dependent on state aid. Local tax revenue is also expected to be down due to the pandemics impact.

If those shortfalls are passed along to the local school systems, Dyer said, the district may find itself needing to make cuts at the very time that it would want to invest more on technology and social and emotional supports for grieving students.

Our governor has done a good job supporting public education, Dyer said. But if we dont get federal relief, there are going to be some really tough decisions to be made.

Dougherty County administrators are drafting a plan for a distance-learning summer school program focused on remediation and credit-recovery for high school seniors. Typically, the district would also offer enrichment classes, but boosting students who have fallen behind is the priority now, Dyer said.

And what about the fall? Dyer said the district is preparing for traditional classroom instruction if health officials give the green light. But the district is also prepared to continue a remote program, or offer a hybrid model that could, for example, accommodate parents who dont feel comfortable sending their children to a school building.

One lesson taken away from this school year is that worksheets are a poor substitute for computer-based instruction, Dyer said. The district received an outside grant to purchase an additional 1,400 computers and 1,400 wireless internet hotspots that will be distributed among four elementary schools and a middle school. But the district could need about 4,500 more hotspots, Dyer acknowledged, to provide reliable access to all students.

The district is also planning a school schedule that will provide four days of instruction, plus a fifth day of remediation for students who need it, Dyer said. Some early assessments will help determine which students will need that extra help, he said.

The governors order allowing some businesses to reopen does not permit Dougherty County to retain stricter restrictions on its residents or businesses. But whether, and how, schools reopen is a local decision, Dyer said. Thats why staff are weighing multiple options, a time-consuming but necessary task.

Its tough work, he said. But I cant think of anything thats more important than making sure our students feel loved and supported.
A teenager was killed in Pakistani shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Thursday.

According to sources, 16-year-old Gulfaraz was killed in the Mankote area, while Zaffer Iqbal, 35, sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.



There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC over the last few weeks. It has been targeting defence positions and civilian areas in Mendhar, Kasba and Kirni sectors of Poonch.





Indian Army says it is giving a befitting response to Pakistani aggression.
SECAUCUS, N.J., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Freshpet, the first-to-market leader in fresh pet food, along with Rainn Wilson, today announced the acceleration of Freshpet's Fresh Start program during a video conference dubbed, "Zoomies," bringing together pets from all across the country into one video meeting. The Fresh Start program, which was created to provide support for overlooked cats and dogs who are often deemed unadoptable, was moved from September to April, to meet the growing financial needs of shelters during this time.

"There is so much great work happening at the local level to help care for and place rescue animals into loving homes," said Meriel' Peterich, Freshpet spokesperson. "That takes resources. And, while fostering is currently up, donations are down at many shelters as a result of COVID-19. Therefore, we're launching our Fresh Start program early to help ensure shelters can continue to give animals the care they need."

Freshpet says it wanted to provide a creative way to launch this year's Fresh Start program and found that with the partnership with Rainn Wilson and the pet-friendly Zoom video meeting, dubbed "Zoomies." Wilson is an advocate for rescue organizations and has adopted his own pets from shelters. "With everything that's happening in the world today, we wanted to launch the Fresh Start program in a way that brought a community of animal lovers together," added Peterich. "And, if we're able to be a bring a smile to a day filled with conference calls and video meetings, all the better."

The Fresh Start initiative, which originally launched in 2018, is open to no-kill 501c3 shelter and rescue organizations operating in the U.S. Nominations are open from April 30 through May 10 via freshpet.com/fresh-start. Following the nomination period, voting will be opened to the public from May 11 through May 17. Winners will be announced on National Dog Rescue Day, on May 20. Grand prize winners will be selected from five different regions across the U.S. -- West, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast, and will receive $10,000 each.

Freshpet is supporting the Fresh Start program this year with the "Wunderdogs!" creative campaign. "Wunderdogs!" calls attention to animals in shelters that are often deemed unadoptable. "We want people to look at these animals in a new way," said Peterich. "So many animals have had a rough start to life, but still have so much love to give, and can become our heroes when they're adopted. Our goal with the campaign is to remind people that rescue shelters are doing great work, and are filled with amazing animals in need of forever homes."

The Fresh Start program has resulted in more than $100,000 in contributions to local non-profit organizations in just its first two years. Recipients from last year's program used the donations to fund medical expenses, rescue animals from poor living conditions and help with general operating costs.

For more information about Freshpet and the Fresh Start program, visit freshpet.com/fresh-start, and connect with Freshpet on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Freshpet

Freshpet's mission is to improve the lives of dogs and cats through the power of fresh, real food. Freshpet foods are blends of fresh meats, vegetables and fruits farmed locally and made at our Kitchens in Bethlehem, PA. We thoughtfully prepare our foods using natural ingredients, cooking them in small batches at lower temperatures to preserve the natural goodness of the ingredients. Freshpet foods and treats are kept refrigerated from the moment they are made until they arrive at Freshpet Fridges in your local market.

Our foods are available in select mass, grocery (including online), natural food, club, and pet specialty retailers across the United States, Canada and Europe. From the care we take to source our ingredients and make our food, to the moment it reaches your home, our integrity, transparency and social responsibility are the way we like to run our business.

SOURCE Freshpet

Related Links

http://www.freshpet.com


Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Alaska Air Group (ALK), which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This airline has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 1.96%.

For the most recent quarter, Alaska Air was expected to post earnings of $1.41 per share, but it reported $1.46 per share instead, representing a surprise of 3.55%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2.62 per share, while it actually produced $2.63 per share, a surprise of 0.38%.

Price and EPS Surprise

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Alaska Air. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Alaska Air currently has an Earnings ESP of +11.06%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on May 5, 2020.

Story continues

Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.



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By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The United States on Wednesday said it is in talks with friendly nations in the Asia-Pacific region on the global economy and on restructuring global supply chains.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a news conference that they were working with our friends in Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam to share information and best practices as we begin to move the global economy forward.

Our conversation involved global supply chains, keeping them running smoothly  and thinking about how we restructure the supply chains to stop something like this from ever happening again, he said.

India has been in talks with the US, trying to woo multinationals such as Apple who plan to move out of China. A corporate tax cut brought in last year was seen as part of the move.

This (attempt to rework global supply chains) is a collateral effect of the Covid-19 and flows directly from the lack of transparency on Chinas part over the pandemic  There is obviously a serious thought in the top echelons of many global powers on a possible restructuring of the global supply chain, said Pinak R Chakravarty, former secretary (economic relations).

Prof Biswajit Dhar of JNU, a trade expert, agrees. It seems the US Administration is trying to ensure that value chains can get back to normalcy but with shifts in production bases. Countries are anxious to reduce their dependence on one or two nations for a host of supplies. When China was under lockdown, medical equipment supplies were hit as much as industrial production.One example of our work together is with India. It has lifted export bans on critical medical supplies, including pharmaceuticals used to treat some Covid-19 patients, Pompeo said.
The BJP on Thursday accused the Trinamool Congress government of turning West Bengal into a "hub of anti-nationals" and claimed that it has lost the moral right to continue in power after police surrendered before a group of people wearing 'lungis' that went on a rampage in Howrah.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh was referring to Tuesday's mob attack on policemen who were trying to enforce lockdown norms at the minority-dominated Tikiapara area of Howrah district, a red zone.

Reacting to the charge, the TMC asked the saffron party not to indulge in communal when the state and the country are going through a crisis.

"As a result of turning into psychophants of the Trinamool leaders, the police has lost its dignity, courage and moral strength. What was the police doing when the unruly 'lungi-bahinis' constantly rampaged public properties, like buses, railway lines and trains during CAA? [sic]" Ghosh tweeted.

West Bengal witnessed violence in the initial phase of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December last year, when several public properties were damaged.

"From that time the police had become spineless. Now no one believes in the Chief Minister's words. She has lost her credibility..." he said in another tweet.

Time is ripe for this "nefarious government" to bid adieu, he said, claiming that West Bengal has now become the shelter for anti-nationals and anti-socials.

The BJP MP told reporters that the TMC government has lost the moral right to continue in power after surrendering to the "lungi bahini" in Howrah.

Twelve people have been arrested so far on the charge of attacking the police in Howrah.

Two policemen were injured after a mob attacked a police party, enforcing lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus at Tikiapara.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening when a police patrol party reached Belirius Road at Tikiapara after receiving information that a large number of people were jostling with each other in a local market, violating the lockdown and social distancing norms.

TMC secretary-general and state minister Partha Chatterjee said the BJP should shun communal at the time of crisis.

"The country and the state are going through a crisis and the BJP is busy doing communal Shame on them! The people of Bengal will give them a befitting reply," he said.

The BJP had earlier claimed that the TMC government's "politics of appeasement" has led to this episode.

Referring to the attacks on police personnel in the BJP-governed Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had threatened to "open the Pandora's Box if the saffron camp continues to needle the Bengal government".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:33:54|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China's top procuratorate has called on prosecutors to better handle criminal cases involving violations of juveniles' rights, in a bid to ensure strict punishment of such crimes.

It required no delay in issuing arrest approval and in the later indictment by the prosecutors in relevant cases, according to a document issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) and made public Thursday.

These cases may include those regarding campus security violations, violations by the guardians and crimes against rural children whose parents are away from home and other children in difficulties.

The document also required intensified supervision of trials of juvenile-related cases by procuratorial agencies to ensure due conviction and sentencing of the guilty as well as proper enforcement of the judgments.

It asked the prosecutors to better cooperate with the police in handling relevant cases.

Moreover, it stressed strict standards in handling crimes committed by minors and enhanced education efforts among children. Enditem
2020 TMC Labs INTERNET TELEPHONY Innovation Award "The Catapult Ecosystem is a win for companies who want to build recurring white label UCaaS revenue correctly, without making a large investment to start. - Forrest Derr, President of Altaworx.

Altaworx announced today that TMC, a global, integrated media company, has named their Catapult Billing Platform as a 2020 TMC Labs INTERNET TELEPHONY Innovation Award winner presented by INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine.

The TMC Labs INTERNET TELEPHONY Innovation Award honors products that display innovation, unique features, and significant contributions toward improving communications technology. The awards are bestowed to those companies demonstrating ground-breaking contributions to the industry.

The Catapult Billing Platform is an ecosystem that includes white label UCaaS with automated billing and compliance. The UCaaS platform also provides robocall blocking, toll fraud prevention and revenue assurance integration features.

The TMC Labs INTERNET TELEPHONY Innovation Award recognizes the best and the most unique products and services that this industry has to offer. Altaworx has proven their commitment to quality and the further development of the IP communications industry through its Catapult Billing Platform, stated Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC.Congratulations to the entire team at Altaworx for earning this great honor. I look forward to seeing more innovative solutions from them as they continue to contribute to the future of IP communications, Tehrani added.

The 2020 TMC Labs Innovation Award winners will be highlighted on TMCnet and INTERNET TELEPHONY magazines online news portal.

About Altaworx

Altaworx, located in Fairhope, AL was founded in 2003 by Rickie Richey, with hopes of addressing the emerging demand for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) business telephone systems. His vision was to build a company that not only provided leading-edge technology, but truly focused on helping customers drive revenue, control expenses, increase their productivity and operate more efficiently. In 2011, Altaworx continued to focus on customer impact through emerging technologies, becoming an internet telephony service provider (ITSP). The company began selling Altaworx branded SIP trunking and Hosted PBX to business customers in the 22 state AT&T footprint. Today, the company operates its cloud-based solutions from two AT&T data centers located in both Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA. With a focus on empowering resellers to build equity value in their business, Altaworx continues to grow.

About INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine

INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has been the IP CommunicationsAuthority since 1998. Beginning withthe first issue in February of 1998, INTERNET TELEPHONY has been providing unbiased views of the complicated converged communications space. INTERNET TELEPHONY offers rich content from solutions-focused editorial content to reviews on products and services from TMC Labs. INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine reaches more than 225,000 readers, including pass-along readers. For more information, please visit http://www.itmag.com.

About TMC

Through education, industry news, live events and social influence, global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. As a result, leading technology vendors turn to TMC for unparalleled branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities. Our in-person and online events deliver unmatched visibility and sales prospects for all percipients. Through our custom lead generation programs, we provide clients with an ongoing stream of leads that turn into sales opportunities and build databases. Additionally, we bolster brand reputations with the millions of impressions from display advertising on our news sites and newsletters. Making TMC a 360 degree marketing solution, we offer comprehensive event and road show management services and custom content creation with expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit http://www.tmcnet.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, @tmcnet
By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Domestic violence incidents are surging during coronavirus lockdowns, just as the largest U.S. network providing emergency housing for abused women and their children is running short of money.

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Domestic violence incidents are surging during coronavirus lockdowns, just as the largest U.S. network providing emergency housing for abused women and their children is running short of money.

Some of the YWCA's locations are also providing around-the-clock daycare for the children of nurses and doctors who are treating patients infected with the new coronavirus. It is one of thousands of U.S. nonprofits being squeezed as fundraisers are canceled, big donors dry up, and revenue from shops, classes and pool admissions vanishes.

The U.S. Small Business Administration's initial $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided loans to help small businesses and nonprofits keep paying their workers. With 12.3 million workers, nonprofits are the country's third largest workforce sector, behind retail and manufacturing.

But the program came under fire after small companies and nonprofits were squeezed out by bigger, publicly-traded ones, with many nonprofits calling the application process "a logistical nightmare," said the YWCA's CEO, Alejandra Castillo.

Nonprofit executives told Reuters they have faced numerous bureaucratic obstacles to get the funding, including requests for federal forms they are not required to file, inaccessible bankers, and a general lack of transparency during the process.

Many are hoping they fare better in the second round of loans, which made $310 billion available, beginning Monday.

"We are really first line responders," said Sharon Shelton, vice president of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles, which has around 200 employees at seven sites.

Since virus-related lockdowns started, the Los Angeles YWCA says it has been feeding seniors and nearly 400 children each week, while expanding job training and other services during a pandemic that has caused millions to file for unemployment.

The group has also seen increased demand for services at its three rape crisis centers. Under lockdown, women "may be safe from the virus, but not safer across the board," Shelton said.

"RUNNING OF THE BULLS"

Founded in the decade before the U.S. Civil War, the YWCA is a federation of 204 independent associations with some 11,000 employees that serve 2.3 million women and children each year.

Now amid the current coronavirus outbreak, nonprofit charitable groups that serve vulnerable communities like the YWCA are reeling from falling corporate and private donations, and declining revenues from programs forced to shut, said Rick Cohen, chief operating officer of the National Council of Nonprofits.

Charities hoped the key spring fundraising season could offset a 2.6% drop in contributions of under $1,000 seen in 2018 due to changes in the 2017 tax law, he said. Instead, fundraising balls and auctions have been canceled.

Sheena Wright, president and CEO of United Way of New York, said that even before the pandemic, 40% of nonprofits in the city of New York had no working capital and the other 60% had only a month or two.

The YWCA said 29 of its local associations got PPP funding in the first round, and 32 others had their applications approved but had not received any money. Sixty-five more have applications pending with banks.

The Hudson Guild, a 125-year old community group on Manhattan's West side, hopes to secure a loan in the second round after losing out the first time, said its executive director Ken Jockers.

But the "highly bureaucratic" application process should have earmarked certain funds for nonprofits, instead of forcing them to compete against small businesses, he said.

"It feels like the running of the bulls," he said, referring to a chaotic annual event in Pamplona, Spain. "We're doing really important social services, but it feels bad to be competing against a group of waiters and waitresses who may also be artists. I don't want to get funded at their expense."

The Hudson Guild is "fundraising like crazy" to keep paying its 200 staff who provide remote lessons to children that would normally be in day care, carry out therapy sessions for clients by teleconference, and provide food for seniors.

Donors have been hammered by stock market drops, he said. "People have been generous, but money is tight everywhere. If we don't get the loans, all options are on the table," including cutting staff and services.

In New York, Jacquelyn Kilmer, chief executive officer of Harlem United, has already had to lay off 15 of her staff of 325, after revenues dropped when the group had to close one of its two health centers and an adult day center for people with HIV. She may have to lay off another 25 to 30 people if the shutdowns continue and more funding doesn't come through.

"The longer it continues, the worse it's going to get," she said. The group, which serves 10,000 people a year, won one PPP loan worth $2.2 million by going through a smaller community lender. But a separate application for a different arm of the group got mired in red tape at a big bank.

"If we don't get more money, we'll have to start shutting down programs that help the most marginalized people," she said. "If we have to shut down, who will be there for them?"

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Jonnelle Marte; Editing by Heather Timmons and Aurora Ellis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30)  A "targeted testing" will be conducted in select jails in the country in light of increasing coronavirus infections among inmates, the Department of Health said Thursday.

"Sa atin pong pakikipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Corrections and BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), makakapag-conduct po tayo ng targeted testing sa pasalidad kung saan ito kinakailangan," Health Spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in an online briefing.

[Translation: Through our coordination with BuCor and BJMP, we will be able to conduct targeted testing in facilities where it is needed.]

She said they have conducted "initial assessment and investigation and management of cases" in select facilities through joint efforts with the Department of Justice, World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in several jails and prison facilities across the country. Human rights groups have called them "ticking time bombs" for infection because of their crowded state.

Vergeire said they are monitoring these facilities, including the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City and Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

She said the department is also coordinating with the ICRC to put up more isolation facilities in Bilibid, on top of auxiliary tents for inmates suspected of coronavirus infection.

The BJMP on Tuesday said 195 inmates and 38 jail personnel have tested positive for COVID-19, but more cases were reported this week.

Earlier this month, 22 prisoners who have underlying medical conditions filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking temporary freedom amid the outbreak. The motion is still pending with the high court.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice have eased rules to facilitate the release of some inmates to decongest the country's jails.
Another plane with medical supplies on the board has arrived from China: 400,000 respirators and 50,000 safety shields have been delivered to Ukraine, the President's Office reports.

In total, 25 aircrafts have delivered medical supplies from China. The flights were organized by the President's Office using charity funds.

"We have allowed commercial organizations, first of all, pharmacy chains and retailers, to bring in goods. Particularly, these are ordinary masks for the population. These are the flights from China to Ukraine which are paid for by commercial organizations," Secretary of the Coordination Council on Combating the Distribution of COVID-19. Kyrylo Tymoshenko explained.

As we reported earlier, Ukraine's Ministry of Health will allocate 89.3 million dollars for the co-financing of medical institutions in the regions.

"In order to resolve the situation of critical underfunding of medical institutions, which has been keenly felt since April 1, the Ministry of Health together with the Ministry of Finance worked on the issue of receiving the funds of the subsidy, provided for the regions for October-December, in the amount of 89.3 million dollars. These funds will be redistributed to the regions today-tomorrow," Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov said.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-30 18:10:04

In 2019, Groups sales reached EUR 137 219 thousand , which is an increase by 10% or EUR 12 963 thousand.

Groups audited net profit reached EUR 23 628 thousand, which is the largest profit amount in history.

For 2019 the management proposed a dividend of EUR 0.32 per share.

In 2020, Group forecasts a revenue of EUR 135 500 thousand and net profit of EUR 14 200 thousand.

The Groups main achievements in 2019 were the following:

Secured profitability of the entire Group, focusing on identifying growth opportunities;

Maintained the competitive position of our products in the key markets;

Strengthened the product portfolio through new product launches;

DIversified and enhancing JSC Olainfarm presence in various markets through exporting products;

Optimized financial control and cost containment measures;

Optimized production processes and cost containment measures put in place;

Expanded the management board by added two new members bringing international pharma experience to the Group.

During the entire 2019 the Group sales reached EUR 137 219 thousand, which is an increase by 10% or EUR 12 963 thousand compared to 2018. Gross profit, in turn, was EUR 84 807 thousand which shows an increase by 13% or EUR 9 951 thousand since 2018. Gross profit margin improved from 60% in 2018 to 62% in 2019.

Parent company sales in 2019 increased by 12% and reached EUR 104 363 thousand compared to the previous year. Gross profit grew by 17% and amounted to EUR 69 453 thousand. Parent companys gross profit margin rose from 64% in 2018 to 67% in 2019.

The total annual revenue of the Group in 2019 exceeded planned sales figures (EUR 133 343 thousand) for the entire 2019 by 2.9% or EUR 3 876 thousand. Parent companys revenue beat the forecasted (EUR 98 636 thousand) by 5.8% or EUR 5 727 thousand.

The Groups main markets in 2019 were Russia with a 32% share (+2pp), Latvia with 28% (-1pp), Belarus with 11% (unchanged), the Ukraine with 8% (-1pp), Central Asian and EU countries have an 8% share (unchanged), Other countries with 3% (-1pp) and Caucasian countries with 2% (unchanged).

The main business segment is final dosage forms that are manufactured by the Parent company in Olaine. In 2019, pharmaceutical products worth EUR 80 993 thousand were sold, which is an increase by 14% or EUR 10 046 thousand if compared to 2018. This segments share in the Groups total revenue in 2019 rose by 2 p.p. to 59%.

Throughout 2019, sales of JSC Olainfarm main final dosage forms continued to increase. The share of the best selling product Noofen increased to 20% that is by one percentage point more than the year before. The share of the three largest products: Noofen, Neiromidin and Furamag/Furasol comprised 56% that is also one percentage point higher than the year before.

Within the Group, Latvijas aptieka Ltd manages and develops pharmacies in Latvia where the Pharmacy segment in 2019 generated a revenue increase by 7% compared to 2018 and reached EUR 25 427 thousand. The company evaluates market trends and performance results of each pharmacy. There were 68 pharmacies at the end of 2019. This segments share in the Groups total revenue during 2019 did not change and was 19%.

Groups company Tonus Elast Ltd manufactures a wide range of compression materials and sells products in Latvia and abroad. Revenue of this segment in 2019 was EUR 8 794 thousand that is 7% or EUR 712 thousand less than the year before. This segments share in the Groups total revenue in 2019 declined by 2 p.p. to 6%.

Within the Group, the Parent company JSC Olainfarm manages the wholesale of medical products as it has a medical wholesale license, which allows it to purchase products from other manufacturers and to deliver them to Latvijas aptieka Ltd as well as other cooperation partners. Revenue of this segment from external customers in 2019 was EUR 5 382 thousand, which is a decline by 2% or EUR 104 thousand. This segments share in the Groups total revenue during 2019 did not change and was 4%.

In addition to final dosage forms, the Parent company manufactures chemical components that are sold to other pharmaceutical companies covering a wide geographical area. The segments income in 2019 was 16% higher than in 2018 and reached EUR 5 124 thousand. This segments share in the Groups total revenue during 2019 did not change and was 4%.

The last segment combines Silvanols, Diamed and Olainmed medical facilities, the Belarussian manufacturing company Biotest and others, generating EUR 11 499 thousand in revenue in 2019, which is 14% more than in 2018. This segments share in the Groups total revenue during 2019 did not change and was 8%.

Groups EBITDA figure in 2019 was EUR 33 499 thousand, which is by 66% or EUR 13 271 thousand more than the results of 2018. The Parent companys EBITDA in 2019 improved by 91% and reached EUR 29 256 thousand. In 2019, EBITDA margin of the Group and the Parent company was 24.4% and 28.0%, respectively.

Groups net profit in 2019 was EUR 23 628 thousand, which is the largest net profit amount in the history of the Group. The profit increased by 120% or EUR 12 897 thousand in comparison to 2018. The Groups net profit margin in 2019 was 17.2%, whereby in 2018 the ratio was 8.6%.

The Parent companys net profit in 2019 was EUR 22 239 thousand, which is by EUR 13 353 thousand or 150% more than in 2018. The Parent companys net profit margin in 2019 was 21.3%, whereby in 2018 the ratio was 9.6%.

The Groups net profit target for 2019 initially was EUR 10 million but in May the management revised it to EUR 12.7 million. For the Parent company, the initial forecast of net profit was EUR 8.8 million and subsequently revised to EUR 11.5 million. Due to a number of positive events the actual results of the Group exceeded the Groups revised target by 86% and the Parents target by 93%.

In 2019, the Parent company approved a Dividend policy. For 2019, the Management Board will recommend dividend payout of 20.27% of the Parent companys audited net profit in the total amount of EUR 4 507 224.96 or EUR 0.32 per share.

According to the previous plan a set of pre-clinical and clinical trials was conducted in 2019. Throughout 2019, five phase 1 clinical trials (pharma kinetics and bioavailability) were started with the completion of trial planning, drafting of required documentation and issue of permits. Trials are set to close and final reports to be received in the 1st to 3rd quarters, 2020.

At the same time, in 2019, a planning and preparation phase took place for phase 3 clinical trials for two final dosage forms with a plan to start trials in 2020. Implementation of clinical trials for peripheral nervous system diseases is planned for the 1st quarter, 2020.

During 2020, substantial investments are arranged for the planning of clinical trials in order to start one phase 1 clinical trial and three phase 3 clinical trials in the 4th quarter of 2020  1st quarter of 2021.

Future oriented, in 2020, the Group will further build on the strategic directions for sustainable growth by focusing on innovation and leveraging synergies across the group. Second growth lever is to adapt the current and future portfolio and geographical scope to mid-term and long-term opportunities. At the same time, the Group is securing business by opening subsidiaries or representative offices in the main markets with the objective to work closer to the customer and key stakeholders, to have better control over promotional efforts and performances, and to anticipate for future growth.

For 2020, the Group estimates its revenue to be EUR 135.5 million and a net profit of EUR 14.3 million as well as EPS of 1 euro. JSC Olainfarm forecasta a revenue of EUR 97.3 million and a net profit of EUR 13.4 million.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Group Parent company 31.12.2019 31.12.2018 31.12.2019 31.12.2018 EUR '000 EUR '000 EUR '000 EUR '000 ASSETS NON-CURRENT ASSETS Intangible assets 38 422 36 619 4 181 1 977 Property, plant and equipment 42 442 43 697 36 327 37 380 Right-of-use assets 7 069 - 2 440 - Investment property 253 3 492 253 289 Other long-term investments 782 983 43 752 46 967 TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 88 968 84 791 86 953 86 613 CURRENT ASSETS Inventories 28 247 25 794 19 765 17 945 Receivables 36 225 34 637 34 506 32 040 Cash 15 230 2 689 12 965 1 545 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 79 702 63 120 67 236 51 530 TOTAL ASSETS 168 670 147 911 154 189 138 143 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES EQUITY Share capital 19 719 19 719 19 719 19 719 Share premium 2 504 2 504 2 504 2 504 Reserves (12) (224) 40 40 Retained earnings 105 298 83 079 99 657 78 827 TOTAL EQUITY 127 509 105 078 121 920 101 090 LIABILITIES Non-current liabilities Borrowings and lease liabilities 12 177 1 793 8 308 1 525 Deferred income 3 194 2 878 3 179 2 852 Total Non-Current Liabilities 15 371 4 671 11 487 4 377 Current liabilities Borrowings and lease liabilities 9 568 23 236 8 299 21 696 Trade payables and other liabilities 15 727 14 540 12 007 10 614 Deferred income 495 386 476 366 Total Current Liabilities 25 790 38 162 20 782 32 676 TOTAL LIABILITIES 41 161 42 833 32 269 37 053 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 168 670 147 911 154 189 138 143

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
What you cant see in numbers is how hard it is to apply for unemployment insurance, state by state, said Stephen Wandner, a senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance and a former U.S. Department of Labor official.

Michigan has tried to undo some of its restrictions. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has temporarily pushed the maximum benefit duration back to 26 weeks, what the state offered before the cuts passed in 2011. She suspended criteria limiting which workers qualify and stretched the eligibility window to file a claim.

Michigan has now fielded claims covering 20 percent of its work force, among the highest shares in the country, according to data reported Thursday. But the process has confounded many.

Loretta Lee, who lives in Detroit, was furloughed in late March from her job in supply chain management for a manufacturer. The state unemployment site kept crashing; the system told her she was missing required information. She called an overloaded call center more than a thousand times. She called her U.S. senator, then her state senator.

I felt like a child, said Ms. Lee, 32. I was so helpless.

Finally, she reached a state worker by phone who told her to send in a copy of her pay stub  by fax, marked Attention: Pam. And so, wearing a mask, she took the pay stub to a hotel concierge desk, entrusting her personal financial information to a woman she did not know who had access to a fax machine in a pandemic.

Layer after layer, adding red tape

In the last recession, most states depleted their unemployment trust funds and had to borrow from the federal government. As the economy improved, they had two options: raise taxes on employers who fund unemployment insurance, or cut benefits to workers.

Many chose the latter. Nine states cut the length of time workers could remain on unemployment. Others raised the minimum income to qualify, or cut weekly payouts.
As recently as last month, Christopher A. Wray, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was pushing tech companies like Facebook to give law enforcement access to what he called warrant-proof encryption.

It was the latest salvo in an intensifying battle between the government and Silicon Valley over so-called end-to-end encryption, which protects users data from being read by outsiders, including F.B.I. agents with a warrant. Mr. Wray, and Attorney General William P. Barr have been pushing tech companies to roll back encryption, with Mr. Barr going as far as to imply that companies like Facebook and Apple that offer end-to-end encryption were illegitimate.

But a new wrinkle surfaced in the governments arguments late Wednesday, after court documents in a separate matter between WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, and NSO Group, an Israeli spyware maker, revealed that Mr. Wrays law firm previously argued in favor of strong end-to-end encryption while representing WhatsApp in a sealed 2015 case involving the Justice Department.

In the earlier case, which has never been made public, Mr. Wray, then a partner at King & Spalding, was hired to analyze and protect WhatsApps software from a Justice Department effort to weaken its encryption in order to conduct wiretap of a WhatsApp users data.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech in Lansing, Mich., on April 13, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP)

Michigan House Doesnt Extend State of Emergency, Votes to Sue Governor

Protesters, some armed, gather at Capitol in Lansing

The Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday voted against extending Gov. Gretchen Whitmers state of emergency for another 28 days, voting instead to file a lawsuit against her.

Whitmers initial state of emergency order, which is different than her stay-at-home order, expires on Thursday.

Speaker Lee Chatfield was authorized to sue the governor, saying Whitmers unchecked and undemocratic approach is a poor strategy, according to ABC12.

The current status quo relies on one-size-fits-all edicts that unfairly punish millions of people across the state without giving them any recourse or voice in the process, Chatfield remarked to the station. The people deserve a better solution, and we can provide it.

Meanwhile, the state House passed a resolution that would limit her state of emergency declarations to 14 days.

It comes as protesters gathered outside the state Capitol in Lansing.

WDIV in Detroit and Reuters reported that some of the protesters carried firearms, while some held flags or signs.

A protester carries his rifle at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on April 30, 2020. (Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

Protesters rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on April 30, 2020. (Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

This is the peoples house, you cannot lock us out, one person said.

We want Michigan open, we want Michigan back to work, Jason Howland, one of the protest organizers, told Fox 17. We put the event together, we put it on Facebook, and we heard that they were taking down events that had to do with protests or rallies against the wishes of Whitmer, he said.

Governor Whitmer, and our state legislature, its over with. Open this state, Mike Detmer, a Republican U.S. congressional candidate running for the states 8th District spot held by Democrat Elissa Slotkin, told the crowd. Lets get businesses back open again. Lets make sure there are jobs to go back to.

State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat, wrote that men with rifles were in the Senate gallery, yelling at us.

Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg pic.twitter.com/voOZpPYWOs  Senator Dayna Polehanki (@SenPolehanki) April 30, 2020

Whitmer, a Democrat, has faced severe backlash for her stay-at-home order, one of the strictest in the nation, which was extended until May 15. It includes not allowing people to travel to other homes under most conditions and bars the sale of items deemed nonessential at many stores.

The order was designed to curb the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Michigan is one of the hardest-hit states, with more than 40,000 reported cases.

Reuters contributed to this report.
President Akufo-Addo says government is impressed with the contributions of academia in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

He acknowledged that the research and timely advice to the government by academia is helping in decision making.

The president speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, (UTAG) at the Jubilee House, said the government will continue to rely on academia for a local solution to this pandemic.

Apart from the normal work that you do to provide guidance to our young people at the tertiary level. It a very important national contribution that you make in your normal everyday assignment. We are very beholding to you for the particular contributions you are making to this fight against the pandemic.

Ghana Academic of Arts and Sciences which groups some of the scholars that we have here and the academic fraternity has very cooperative and helpful and now receiving regular updates, the president said.

The President of UTAG, Dr. Charles Marfo, on his part the president for the leadership shown so far contain the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana well.

We will also like to say something about the way you have led during this period. I must say its commendable. When this whole crisis came and other associations started issuing statements as to how things should be managed and UTAG had to come out because we put some of our experts at work and they came with some suggestions on how we could contain the crisis so we came out and mentioned a few points to Ghana and particularly you.

Weve been following the actions that have been taken and we feel very much at home with them because we feel like some of the suggestions have been taken by yourself and the leadership, the UTAG president said.

Ghana currently has a total of 2,074 confirmed cases in the country with 212 recoveries and 17 deaths.

---citinewsroom
Associated Media Publishing, which published Cosmopolitan, House & Leisure, Good Housekeeping, and Women on Wheels, will shut its doors on 1 May.

Associated Media Publishing is one of South Africas leading independent media houses and is well know as a publisher of womens magazines.

The company was founded in 1982 by Jane Raphaely, who was succeeded by her daughter Julia Raphaely.

Julia Raphaely has run the company for the last decade.

On Thursday, Raphaely announced the company will cease trading and will stop publishing its magazine titles on Friday, 1 May.

Raphaely said they made every effort to continue operating, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic killed the company.

This major factors which negatively impacted the company were:

The closure of printing and distribution channels.

The global halt in advertising spend.

The inability to host events in the foreseeable future.

Raphaely said these challenges have made it impossible to continue trading, even after investing large amounts of personal money into the business.

This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make, Raphaely said. Its a big blow for magazine media brands in South Africa.

She said they are working hard to minimize the impact of shutting down Associated Media Publishing on creditors and staff.

Letter from Julia Raphaely

The full statement from Raphaely on the closing of Associated Media Publishing is posted below.

Lockdown impact

The news comes after Flight Centre South Africa announced that it will close 40% of its network due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting financial struggles.

While we deal with these unimaginable circumstances, we  and other businesses  are taking some very difficult decisions, said managing director for Middle East and Africa, Andrew Stark, in a statement.

Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa has, therefore, made the difficult decision to right-size its physical retail footprint to better reflect the current trading climate, said Stark.

Now read: Flight Centre to close stores
Germany has been forced to cancel public events to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe but Berliners need no ceremonies to remember their downfall - the scars of war are all around them.

Facades in the centre are disfigured by bullet holes and shell damage, a reminder that Hitler's Third Reich ended in devastating defeat, not the liberation it is hailed as today.

Thanks to the coronavirus, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will mark the May 8 "Day of Liberation" by laying wreaths at the Memorial to the Victims of War and Dictatorship, home to the tomb of the unknown soldier.

This replaces a previously planned larger ceremony including foreign diplomats and young people plus a range of events including an art installation documenting the last days of the war and tracing the path to democracy, which will now go online.

Nazism, the Holocaust and the devastation of war still shape German identity and politics.

"Today you can say we were freed from the Nazi dictatorship but most Germans were defeated. They were perpetrators, not victims of Nazism," said Bjoern Weigel, curator of the "75th Anniversary of the End of the War" art project.

"You have to look at this differentiation to avoid a myth (of victimhood) taking hold," he said.

The Battle of Berlin, in which Red Army tanks, artillery and infantry fought their way forward street by street in April and May 1945, reduced the Nazi capital to rubble.

It was one of the war's bloodiest battles. Including assaults to encircle Berlin from Seelow and Halbe, more than a quarter of a million people died, say historians, although estimates vary and bodies are found every year.

SURRENDER

Germans fought on even after Hitler committed suicide on April 30 and the Berlin garrison surrendered on May 2. It took until May 8 for German generals to capitulate.

"In 1945, not all Germans felt happy. For many it was a catastrophe," said Joerg Morre, director of the German-Russian museum at Karlshorst where the unconditional surrender was signed.

Vivid reminders of the battle still disfigure Berlin buildings, offering evidence of fierce fighting.

Traces of the battle range from obscene graffiti scrawled on walls inside the Reichstag by victorious Red Army soldiers to damaged facades of city museums, bunkers and bridges.

"People living here are aware of this but they don't see it as being particularly relevant," said tour guide Nick Jackson.

Locals should be allowed to reinvent their city, he said.

"Rebuilding and moving forward is a natural process that I don't think is malicious," he said, adding younger Germans like to see May 8 as a celebration of liberation and democracy.

In the last decade or so, some Germans have focused more on their own suffering during the war and prominent members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Germany's third biggest parliamentary party, want to rewrite the history books.

As the rise of the right raises questions about Germans' view of the past, it is even more important to stress the responsibilities linked to democracy on May 8, said Weigel.

"You can see the link between the Nazi era and now. What these people wanted when they voted Hitler in was not what they got," he said.
As the United States pressed Saudi Arabia to end its oil price war with Russia, President Donald Trump gave Saudi leaders an ultimatum, Reuters reports.

In an April 2 phone call, Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started cutting oil production, he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The threat to upend a 75-year strategic alliance, which has not been previously reported, was central to the U.S. pressure campaign that led to a landmark global deal to slash oil supply as demand collapsed in the coronavirus pandemic - scoring a diplomatic victory for the White House.

Trump delivered the message to the crown prince 10 days before the announcement of production cuts. The kingdoms de facto leader was so taken aback by the threat that he ordered his aides out of the room so he could continue the discussion in private, according to a U.S. source who was briefed on the discussion by senior administration officials.

The effort illustrated Trumps strong desire to protect the U.S. oil industry from a historic price meltdown as governments shut down economies worldwide to fight the virus. It also reflected a telling reversal of Trumps longstanding criticism of the oil cartel, which he has blasted for raising energy costs for Americans with supply cuts that usually lead to higher gasoline prices. Now, Trump was asking OPEC to slash output.

A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the administration notified Saudi leaders that, without production cuts, there would be no way to stop the U.S. Congress from imposing restrictions that could lead to a withdrawal of U.S. forces. The official summed up the argument, made through various diplomatic channels, as telling Saudi leaders: We are defending your industry while youre destroying ours.
The acute danger COVID-19 poses around the world to the residents of aged-care homes was highlighted this week when Britain belatedly included in its death toll statistics the individuals who died outside of hospital. They showed that in the past two weeks alone, there were 4343 additional deaths.

Aged-care homes are especially dangerous because older people are much more likely to die of the disease and it is hard to maintain social distancing when residents share dining halls and other facilities. Staff come into contact with tens of residents every day.

So far, with a few tragic exceptions, Australia has been successful in avoiding the worst. While 12 people have died in an outbreak at the Newmarch home at Caddens in Sydneys west and a new cluster of three cases has just been identified at a home in Melbournes east, the number of deaths has been a tiny fraction of other countries.

This has been achieved by early action and tough quarantine measures, including restrictions on visits.
San Francisco Corporate Housing Intern season is right around the corner in San Francisco, and the smart housing-seekers are planning to find hard-to-find Bay Area housing even despite current governmental restrictions," explained Robert Lee, President of Key Housing.

Key Housing, a professional corporate housing service helping busy short term and corporate travelers find hard-to-find housing in California, from San Jose to San Diego, San Francisco to Los Angeles, is proud to announce its May 2020 NorCal designee for featured housing. The announcement focuses on a property that is ideal for interns and other summer dwellers who may be looking for hard-to-find housing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Intern season is right around the corner in San Francisco, and the smart housing-seekers are planning to find hard-to-find Bay Area housing even despite current governmental restrictions," explained Robert Lee, President of Key Housing. "Our May 2020 featured listing is designed to focus attention on an ideal property for interns and businesses as the smart business people realize that sooner or later, the economy will reopen and the hunt for hard-to-find San Francisco short term housing will begin again."

Persons seeking to find San Francisco corporate housing are encouraged to visit the newly revised landing page at https://www.keyhousing.com/rightside.asp?action=form3&ID=692. That page not only describes the May 2020 featured listing but also has a navigation bar on the right with other properties that one can examine. The property website can also be visited at https://jm-seo.net/dbc10. Named, '388 Beale' and located at 388 Beale Street, San Francisco, California, the property can be described as follows. The buildings catch the eye from blocks away in San Francisco. Two towers rise up from a central entrance atrium. With striking views of the Bay Bridge and the surrounding downtown Financial District, 388 Beale apartment homes offer a one-of-a-kind experience in upscale, short term and corporate housing in the Bay Area's most dynamic city. Featuring a host of amenities and attentive service, these luxury apartments are ideal for the busy business traveler, corporate intern, or other short term summer traveler, offering spacious floor plans with floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, hardwood flooring, wood-burning fireplaces, a fitness center, whirlpool spa, and sauna. Enjoy living in the most dynamic of city locales with Rincon Hill and the downtown business district right outside one's door. Those who want to dig into blog content on the City by the Bay can also visit https://blog.keyhousing.com/tag/san-francisco-corporate-housing/.

ABOUT KEY HOUSING

Based in Folsom, California, Key Housing Connections Inc. (http://www.keyhousing.com/) specializes in corporate housing and corporate rentals in cities like San Diego, Huntington Beach, and Costa Mesa. Whether the need is for a serviced apartment or short-term rental, corporate housing, or short-term apartments, browse our listings to find the location that fits one's short-term corporate housing needs. We are competitive with extended stay hotels in cities such as Irvine, Newport Beach, and Mission Viejo. People seeking pet-friendly corporate rentals or corporate relocation services depend on us for furnished apartments and other temporary housing needs. Whether after San Diego corporate housing or short-term rental in Santa Ana, we can aid the search for the right apartment in the Golden State. After all, we're among the top-rated short-term apartment listing service in areas like Orange County and Los Angeles County. Whether it's serviced apartments or a furnished rental, search, click or call today!

Key Housing Media Relations

(800) 989-0410


EDWARDSVILLE  Steve Adler is stepping down from his administrative role in Madison County government in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, according to County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler.

We feel weve really passed the crisis point, Prenzler said, and Adlers services are no longer needed.

In the beginning there were a lot of plans from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for finding housing, great quantities of housing, for quarantine, Prenzler said. He said the county was dealing with a lot of extreme contingencies that are no longer a concern.

The first projections from Washington, D.C. were 2.2 million people dying, Prenzler said. Then those numbers kept getting smaller and smaller.

Adler was brought on in mid-March as a temporary special administrator to help with the bureaucracy created by the COVID-19 pandemic. His annual salary was set at $95,000, but Prenzler said the appointment was never intended to be permanent and did not require board approval.

The appointment was criticized by Democrats, some who referred to Adler as a coronavirus czar, saying he was not qualified because of a lack of medical or public health experience. Prenzler said that was misrepresented Adlers role and that the countys medical response was being spearheaded by Madison County Public Health Director Toni Corona. Adlers role, Prenzler said, was dealing with bureaucracy and a number of different things. That included helping work with food pantries and looking for potential housing for people needing to be quarantined or emergency and health-care workers wanting to avoid going home and risk contaminating their families.

Adlers selection was announced about the same time unsealed court documents from 2018 dealing with allegations of data spying by former Madison County Administrator Doug Hulme and former Information Technology Director Rob Dorman surfaced. Hulme and Dorman eventually wer fired. Adler was mentioned in some of the documents.

Prior to rejoining the county, Adler was executive director of the Metro East Sanitary District until December, then remained at the agency after a change in state law made him ineligible to hold the directorship. The district then appointed Andy Economy as executive director with Adler remaining in a supporting role. Both Economy and Adler were later removed after a change in district leadership.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor died on Thursday (April 30) morning at Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He was 67. Rishi was admitted to hospital on Wednesday night after he complained of some breathing problem. His brother and veteran actor Randhir Kapoor confirmed the news to news agency PTI. Rishi Kapoor was battling cancer since 2018. He got treated in the US for a year and had returned to India in September 2019.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sorrow over the death of the actor and called this 'terrible week for Indian cinema'. "This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief," he tweeted.

This is a terrible week for Indian cinema, with the passing of another legend, actor Rishi Kapoor. A wonderful actor, with a huge fan following across generations, he will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world, at this time of grief.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2020

"The sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti.," tweeted Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.

The sudden demise of actor Rishi Kapoor is shocking. He was not only a great actor but a good human being. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti  Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) April 30, 2020

"Anguished by the passing away of noted film actor Rishi Kapoor. He carved a special place in the hearts of his fans with his inimitable style and performances. My thoughts are with his family and fans in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," tweeted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Anguished by the passing away of noted film actor Rishi Kapoor. He carved a special place in the hearts of his fans with his inimitable style and performances. My thoughts are with his family and fans in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 30, 2020

"Saddened by the sudden demise of #RishiKapoor who left a profound imprint on Bollywood by his versatility acting. Have grown up watching many of his films since my student days. A great loss to the world of creativity. My sincere condolences!," tweeted Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Saddened by the sudden demise of #RishiKapoor who left a profound imprint on Bollywood by his versatility acting. Have grown up watching many of his films since my student days.

A great loss to the world of creativity.

My sincere condolences!

 !!  Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) April 30, 2020

"Saddened to know veteran actor #RishiKapoor has passed away. It is a devastating news for his family, friends & fans. My heartfelt condolences to his close ones. May they find strength in this most difficult time. He would always be remembered for his iconic roles...," said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Rishi Kapoor, son of Indian cinema legend Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor, had starred in several blockbuster films. He was also a filmmaker. He is survived by wife Neetu Kapoor and children Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.
As some states take steps to partially re-open their economies, public health officials and local governments are trying to aggressively ramp up contact tracing to track the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.

Why it matters: If we are indeed in the midst of a war against an invisible enemy, a contact-tracing offensive  launched by both an army of human tracers and an arsenal of technological tools  will be a big part of the key to winning.

Identifying who has come in contact with people infected with the disease is critical to isolating the coronavirus while also allowing some semblance of daily life to resume.

Between the lines: State and city budgets are being hammered by the economic fallout of COVID-19, making it harder to find the resources to hire and train people to contact trace or acquire needed technologies.

Some governments are recruiting volunteers, retirees and students to do the work. But the sheer number of people needed  at least 100,000 across the U.S., per Johns Hopkins  and the open-ended duration of the work makes that a very daunting task.

"We haven't seen a big push coming from the federal government in either traditional contact tracing or these technology-based approaches," said Josh Michaud, associate director for Global Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. "That leaves most of the legwork and decision-making to the states and local authorities."

State and county public health officials are ramping up tracing efforts now that testing availability is improving  since tracing only works with widespread testing.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker allotted $44 million to an ambitious contact tracing program, which is training 1,000 tracers to staff a virtual call center to track people who came in close contact with those who've tested positive for the virus, starting from 48 hours before the symptoms emerged, per the Boston Globe.

Texas' Harris County  the nation's third-most populous county with 4.7 million people, including the city of Houston  this week approved the hire of 300 contact tracers.

"For every case, we have an average of about 20 people to contact. ... So if you have 100 cases, you've got 2,000 contacts you've got to handle for that day because you know the next day you'll have maybe another 100150 cases."

 Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health

What's happening: Other countries are relying on tech to varying degrees to augment contact tracing.

In March, Singapore launched TraceTogether, an app that uses Bluetooth signals to help users learn whether they've been in contact with someone who tests positive. More than 1 million people have downloaded it, and Singapore has made it available to other countries.

Australia said more than a million people downloaded its Bluetooth contact tracing app, based on Singapore's version, within hours of the government making it available.

South Korea used phone GPS records, credit card transactions and closed-circuit television to augment patient interviews for its contact tracing effort.

Iceland claims a 93% success rate of voluntary contact tracing through a smartphone app.

In the U.S., the most likely scenario for widespread, tech-enabled contact tracing lies with work done by Google and Apple.

The two companies are sharing an early version of what they're calling COVID-19 exposure notification technology with certain developers working with public health authorities. Apple and Google want to release the first phase of the project, which will enable users to opt-in to Bluetooth-based contact tracing, by mid-May.

MIT researchers, who launched a project to perform private automated contact tracing, are using their expertise with radar to help figure out how Bluetooth can show the distance between users.

Marc Zissman, associate head of the Cyber Security and Information Sciences Division at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory, said Google and Apple's effort appears to be incorporating the privacy principles researchers have called for, including sending randomized data that is not personally identifiable.

"Our best guess is that when Google and Apple release this, this is going to be what it is," Zissman said. "There was Betamax and VHS. Everybody was using Betamax. And then every company but Sony went with VHS, and that was it. And then Betamax just stopped being used. That's kind of like what's going to happen here I think in the United States."

The success of the effort will depend on widespread adoption of the technology so people will be notified when they come in contact with someone who tests positive.

Yes, but: Nearly 3 in 5 Americans say they are unable or unwilling to participate in the Google-Apple initiative, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.

What to watch: Zissman said MIT researchers will reverse engineer the Google/Apple programs to ensure they are following the privacy protocols, and also expect pilot testing in limited settings like hospitals or universities before states begin implementing.
E-commerce and online delivery in Gulf countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are undergoing massive changes as the coronavirus crisis sends people flocking to websites for essential goods and other products.

Though lockdown rules are slowly being relaxed, curfews and social distancing guidelines are still in effect, continuing to curb residents ability to shop at brick and mortar retail outlets. The change in behaviour  some of which may be permanent  has opened up opportunities for enterprises looking to generate more revenue from online sales.

Technology that supports e-commerce is in demand. Rabih Khoury, a partner at Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), claims that startups that offer order fulfilment and delivery, e-commerce services, SaaS (software as a service), and cloud technology, are doing better than others in the venture capital firms portfolio.

Khoury points to Nana, a Riyadh-based online grocery platform backed by MEVP, which saw the size of its business double in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. While this was a positive outcome, it did raise related issues.

It doubled so quickly that  they need now more cash and their suppliers are paying late, Khoury said. So even though youre growing, your receivables are extending and you need more cash.

The e-commerce market in the region is expected to be worth US$28.5 billion by 2022, compared to just US$8.3 billion in 2017, according to a study by Bain & Company and Google.

UAE e-commerce platform sees strong demand

Emirates Delivers, the e-commerce delivery platform launched by the freight division of Emirates, the Middle Easts largest airline, has experienced strong demand from UAE customers in March and April. By using the website, which was launched in October last year, customers can consolidate their purchases from multiple U.S. online retailers into a single package and have it delivered to the UAE.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Emirates Delivers reported a month on month jump of 20 percent in shipments delivered over the last month.

As customers have turned increasingly to shopping online  Emirates Delivers has seen an increase in membership and orders since March 2020, the company said in a press release.

For years, one of the biggest obstacles for the e-commerce sector in the Middle East has been the consumers overwhelming preference for the cash-on-delivery option  a popular mode of payment in the region.

About 62 percent of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) online shoppers prefer cash-on-delivery as a payment method when buying online, compared with less than 5 percent in the U.K. and France, according to a 2019 Bain report. This creates additional expenses for enterprises due to longer turnaround times and higher rejection rates, but recent government regulations could spark a dramatic change in consumer behaviour.

Saudi Arabia bans cash transactions

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia approved several temporary health rules and regulations for home delivery services of food and essential goods. Under the rules, all online transactions must be carried out using electronic methods, instead of cash.

Other governments in the region have made similar efforts to promote e-commerce. The Bahrain government for example, has launched an online shopping portal, mall.bh.

The government is offering enrollment free of charge to retailers but requires delivery services and online payment.

The user-friendly online shopping platform was launched in response to COVID-19 market disruptions, which has motivated local enterprises to reconsider how they transact business online, according to a statement from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

In response to the new rules, many e-commerce websites have begun disabling the cash-on-delivery option. Hosam Arab, the CEO of UAE-based fintech startup Tabby, expects the move to force consumers to shift away from cash payments, and opt for payments through debit or credit cards.

Customers mistrust for electronic payment modes stems from poor shopping experiences. I think thats a bigger problem that needs to be solved, Arab said, during a recent webinar hosted by Magnitt, an online platform designed to bring venture capital to startups.

The coronavirus crisis, nevertheless, is prompting many brick and mortar enterprises in the region to build an online presence quickly.

While many of those firms had plans to go online over the next two to three years, the current pandemic has really sped things up, Arab claimed. If you look at many of the big groups in the region theyve been caught off guard by what has happened.
PM Shmyhal: Cabinet's key task to balance energy market, ensure its stability

13:20, 30.04.20 818

Actions of the authorities must be prompt, effective and concerted.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 21:54:51|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's economic growth estimate for the first quarter was revised down to 1.54 percent, down from the forecast of 1.8 percent made in February, the island's statistic agency said Thursday.

Private consumption decreased by 0.97 percent in Q1, the first quarterly decline since 2009, the agency said in a press release.

The biggest impact on the island's economy came from the novel coronavirus pandemic, particularly on consumption, the statement said, adding that the service sector suffered the most.

The island's economy might rebound if the pandemic come to an end in Taiwan in June, and economic growth will largely depend on the recovery of exports, the agency said.

Several local think tanks maintained a pessimistic forecast for the island's Q2 growth. The Taiwan-based Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research forecast that the GDP may decrease by 0.12 percent in Q2.

The island has reported no new COVID-19 cases for five consecutive days, according to the island's epidemic monitoring agency. The total number of COVID-19 patients in Taiwan stood at 429, six of whom have died and 322 have recovered. Enditem
Dairy farmers have submitted evidence to the government highlighting the negative impact restrictions on access to foreign labour could have on farms post-2021.

It follows the announcement earlier this year that from 1 January 2021, a new points-based immigration system will give priority to those with the highest skills and greatest talents.

However, dairy workers will not be classed as highly skilled and in addition, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has opted not to include them on their Shortage Occupation List.

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) submitted four-pages of evidence to the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) Inquiry into Labour in the Food Supply Chain.

It is feared a failure to recognise dairy workers will leave the UK dairy industry with a severe labour shortage with some of the largest dairy producers relying on skilled foreign labour.

RABDFs managing director, Matthew Knight said it is 'vital' the government understands the importance of foreign labour for the 'continued function' of the UK dairy industry.

He said the the tasks the foreign workers undertake on-farm requires skill, experience and in some cases formal qualifications.

That is why we have submitted four-pages of evidence which pulls in data from previous RABDF surveys as well as identifying some possible solutions.

There are real concerns that post-2021 some of our largest, most technically advanced dairy farms could be lost due to their reliance on foreign labour.

"Should this happen the repercussions would be felt right across the industry, with associated businesses such as feed companies and veterinary practices also affected, let alone the impact on milk supply," he added.

A survey by RABDF in 2016 found over half of the respondents employed staff from outside of the UK in the last five years  a 24% increase on 2014.

And almost two-thirds of those surveyed said this was due to insufficient British staff being available.

In the same survey, more than 50% of migrant workers on dairy farms were classed as highly skilled or mainly highly skilled.

The association said it would be conducting an industry-wide survey once the pressure of Covid-19 has eased.
HONG KONG/PARIS/LONDON -- Face masks, temperature checks and packaged sandwiches could all become part of the daily routine for bankers as their employers work out how to get them safely back into the office.

While a growing number of countries are starting to ease lockdowns to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the threat of a new wave of infections remains high.

That means banks are having to look at new ways of organising buildings that before the crisis would have had packed elevators, crowded cafeterias and desks less than two metres apart.

Given the risks, many staff will still have to work from home.

Were going to do it in a way where employees feel comfortable coming back in, said Mark Fedorcik, head of Deutsche Banks investment bank, where around 84% of staff are currently working from home.

Financial centers in Asia will be the first to see a significant return of staff to the office.

Goldman Sachs had about 25% of its Hong Kong employees back in the office this week and has a target of 35% by May 11 and 50% by May 25, according to a source with direct knowledge of the plans.

Like other major office buildings in the city, temperature checks will remain at the entrances.

At UBS, the key pad entrances to its three Hong Kong offices have been removed to avoid having people constantly touch them, and access will now be through swipe card systems.

In most of its divisions, the bank is preparing to put staff in teams that will alternate between working at home and coming into the office, where it will be mandatory to wear face masks.

In France, where the lockdown is due to start being gradually lifted from May 11, the countrys third-biggest bank Societe Generale has begun to discuss with unions how to protect staff when some of them return to the office.

One union, CGT, has asked for suggestions on its website.

Proposals include asking the bank to provide tongs for picking up coffee pods, to buy scooters for staff, or to subside the cost of travelling to work in a way that avoids public transport.

Societe General declined to comment on the proposals.

A source at an American bank in Paris said it was preparing to carry out regular disinfections and to rearrange desks to make sure staff sit the recommended two meters apart.

Paper plates

In Germany, Deutsche Bank is in no rush to get staff back in the office, with strict limitations on gatherings still in place across the country, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

The cafe at the banks twin-tower headquarters in central Frankfurt is expected to continue to operate under reduced hours, with dining in and self service both banned.

Kitchen staff give employees food on paper plates to be eaten at their desk or elsewhere.

And many of the banks coffee machines are out of commission to promote hygiene.

In the United States, JPMorgan told employees last week it was working on a plan to return staff to offices in phases, though it has no official timeline for the process.

Discussions include possibly assigning building staff to press buttons on elevator key pads, and scrapping the buffet service in cafeterias in favour of selling packaged foods.

Wells Fargo has cautioned employees that working conditions may not return to normal even as government officials loosen coronavirus-related restrictions, according to an April 22 memo viewed by Reuters.

Instead, we will continue with the safety measures we have put in place at our work locations and we will expect the more than 180,000 employees who are working from home to continue to do so, the memo, signed by Chief Operating Officer Scott Powell, said.

The bank has also launched an on-site nursing service at 56 of its largest U.S. sites to screen for coronavirus symptoms, such as a high temperature.

As banks develop their plans, employee wellbeing is not the only criteria.

With many leasing real estate in some of the worlds most expensive financial districts, the potential for longer-term cost cuts will also be in play.

I think every company, including Deutsche Bank, will assess whether you need everyone working in the office or if there are ways to have some people work from home that havent been doing so historically, said Fedorcik.

On Wednesday, Barclay chief executive Jes Staley said the British bank would not revert fully to its pre-January working habits.

Staff, including investment bankers, could work from branches as well as other locations rather than all being packed into their central offices, he said.

There will be a long-term adjustment in how we think about our location strategy ... the notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past, he said.
A second Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office deputy has died from the novel coronavirus, the agency said Wednesday.

Lt. Garry Duplessis, a 27-year veteran, died on Tuesday. His death followed that of Deputy Vanessa Mackey, who died from COVID-19 on April 15.

Duplessis, 51, was assigned to the central control center, which manages the inmate tiers at the main jail on Perdido Street, the Orleans Justice Center.

Joining the agency in May 1992, Duplessis worked his way up through the ranks to become a sergeant in 2013, then a lieutenant in 2018.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and colleagues of these two members of our OPSO family," Sheriff Marlin Gusman and Jail Director Darnley Hodge said in a joint statement. "They will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all of us here at OPSO."

+2 First New Orleans deputy to die of coronavirus was 'one to open her home' Two days before her mother died from the novel coronavirus, Valisha Scott got permission to visit her in the hospital.

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The Sheriff's Office has been hit hard by the virus. The agency said that 70 employees have tested positive for the coronavirus. Nineteen have recovered and returned to work.

Thirteen staffers for the jail's private health contractor, Wellpath, also have tested positive.

Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office continued to receive results from its push to test every inmate. Of the 815 inmates in custody on Wednesday, 88 have tested positive. The Sheriff's Office says that only a handful are showing symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

The Sheriff's Office has not reported any inmate deaths from COVID-19. One inmate is hospitalized but showing signs of signs of improvement, the agency said.
"Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears.

- - -

In this episode:

Leonard Bernstein reports on what we know (and still don't) about the coronavirus. Laura Meckler explains the changes schools might have to make to reopen in the fall. And Anna Fifield discusses North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, missing in action.
In Netflix's "Hollywood," David Corenswet plays an aspiring actor in late '40s Hollywood, working at a gas station/brothel. (Saeed Adyani / Netflix)

"Hollywood," a new limited series from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, is an aspirational fantasy set in 1947 in a Hollywood that never was. Like time travelers heading into the past to improve the future, they aim to reset history, to liberate the picture business from racial and sexual prejudice decades before the picture business got around to considering it: We want the world and we want it ... then.

"I want to take the story of Hollywood and give it a rewrite," says black screenwriter Archie Coleman (Jeremy Pope) to director Ray Ainsley (Darren Criss), a Filipino American passing as white. "So maybe someday soon you ain't a half-Asian director who feels he has to hide it; you'll just be a director and  I'll just be a writer. Wouldn't that be something?" Ray wants to direct Archie's script, "Peg," the story of actress Peg Entwistle, who famously jumped from the Hollywood sign in the early 1930s, and whose story we are meant to regard as emblematic of the cruelty of a short-sighted industry. ("The town wouldn't accept her," Archie says of Entwistle. "I know the feeling.")

Murphy previously concocted a traditional show business double-biopic "Feud: Bette and Joan," about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, but this is something different: an alternate history, like one of those speculative dramas where the United States has lost to Nazi Germany (see: "The Man in the High Castle") or its surrogates (see: "The Plot Against America"), but in reverse  as if, say, Hitler got run over by a truck on the eve of war and Germany overnight became a peaceful bastion of inclusiveness. And as a partly accurate fable of Hollywood, it's also like a couple of Coen Brothers films, but with farce and satire swapped out for melodrama and sentiment. Or a version of "Sunset Boulevard" in which the close-up Norma Desmond is ready for is in a big-budget major motion picture.

Story continues

The fantastic nature of the story isn't obvious at first, but there is something about the clean and creamy production values, the theatrical dialogue and the slightly to substantially larger-than-life performances that announce from the start that we are not quite in our world. It's a movie reality, with situations and characters imported from old backstage dramas and cliches so obvious I can only imagine that we're meant to regard them with knowing affection: When someone coughs into a handkerchief, the confession of a wasting disease cannot be far behind. There is a good deal of speechifying  indeed, the finale is made up of literal speeches  to make big points and to let the actors run.

Laura Harrier is a young actress trying to bring change to the postwar movie industry in Ryan Murphy's "Hollywood." (Netflix)

Among a host of invented characters and celebrity look-alikes are two real-life figures at the center of the action: Roy Fitzgerald (Jake Picking), a good-looking, good-natured unformed lump later known as Rock Hudson, and talent agent Henry Willson (Jim Parsons), who gave him that name. (Willson, who tells Hudson "You smell like milk," is portrayed as bitter and sexually exploitative but lonely and frustrated too; he's a sort of half-villain.) A third character, Ernie West (Dylan McDermott, going big), is inspired by the late Scotty Bowers, who ran a drive-through brothel out of a Hollywood gas station, for a mostly gay, sometimes famous clientele. Hollywood's big closet  pretty fancy, but a closet still  is a theme here.

Working for Ernie is Jack Castello (David Corenswet), a hunk not long out of the service who has been angling to break into movies. (He is a sort of straight counterpart to Rock/Roy; they overlap.) His pregnant wife Henrietta (Maude Apatow) works as a waitress at Schwab's (perfectly reconstructed) and has little attention paid to her either by Jack or the script. She is allowed a big scene near the end, which only underscores the fact that she has been employed to that point largely as a millstone.

Also working for Ernie, recruited by Jack, is Archie, who falls into a relationship with Rock, a new customer. Ray is living with actress Camille Washington (Laura Harrier), who is black and under contract at Ace Studios, run by loud, uncouth Ace Amberg (Rob Reiner, having fun), whose wife, Avis (Patti LuPone), is one of Jack's clients. Their daughter, Claire (Samara Weaving), is also under contract at the studio, but under an assumed name, as if nobody there would recognize the boss's daughter. Well, they don't.

Together with the sometime participation of historical actors of color Anna May Wong (Michelle Krusiec) and Hattie McDaniel (Queen Latifah), they form a band of outsiders fighting for recognition, representation and artistic control. (Even LuPone's mogul's wife is a reject: "Nobody thought that a Jewish girl could be a movie star; nobody thought they were pretty.") Along with friendly studio executives played by Holland Taylor and Joe Mantello, all are involved in one way or another with "Peg." Much of the business of "Hollywood" revolves around the question of whether Camille can play the title character  the bruited solution is, hilariously, to change her name to "Meg." (Though Archie is worried at first that making Camille the lead will turn it into "a message picture," he's already a character in one.)

"A few months ago, you were a contract player," Claire says to Jack, once things get going for him, "and now you're part of an incredible ensemble of artists who aren't just making a movie, they're making history." I would note that none of them has ever made a movie before, and none of them is Orson Welles. But this is that kind of 1947 Hollywood.

Dylan McDermott, Patti LuPone and Taylor Holland play figures outside and inside the movie business in the Netflix series "Hollywood." (Saeed Adyani / Netflix)

Even as it sticks pins in its subject, "Hollywood" insists on its power. "Movies don't just show us how the world is," says Ray, raising a metaphorical banner. "They show us how the world can be." Even Eleanor Roosevelt (Harriet Sansom Harris) is brought in to attest that motion pictures can move mountains where "good government" cannot. As to the question of casting Camille, Roosevelt wonders what seeing her up on the big screen "might mean to a dirt-poor little black girl living in a shanty in some cotton town where she's told she is free but really her life is no better than that of her own grandparents."

The exact degree of ironic self-awareness here is hard to reckon, but "Hollywood," for all its exaggerations, feels sincere  as if Murphy is building the past that would have created the world he would have preferred to grow up in. Yet it's this very sincerity, even generosity  its best features, really  that keep the series from being lifelike, and, indeed, can make it seem a little ridiculous. "Hollywood" is determined to deliver good outcomes to its characters; it's a fixed game, and while it's easy enough to watch, and to sympathize with its desire to liberate a repressive age, it has little urgency. No one will be jumping off the Hollywood sign here. The only question is just how far Murphy and Brennan are going to take their orgy of wish fulfillment; the answer is all the way  which is a sort of courage, I suppose. (To dream the impossible dream, and all that.) The last episode is titled "Hollywood Ending," so, you know, they're not shy about it.

Hollywood

Where: Netflix



When: Any time, starting Friday




Mizoram Chief Minister



Zoramthanga has said that upgradation of Lengpui Airport is in full swing during the lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The resurfacing of the runway and repairing of the road between the landing area and the terminal building is in progress, he said, after inspecting the renovation of the airport on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) handed over Rs 10 lakh to Zoramthanga as a contribution to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) to fight COVID-19.

Around 300 employees of the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Mizoram Horticulture Officers and Staff Welfare Association also donated Rs 7 lakh and Rs 8.3 lakh respectively to the CMRF.

Earlier, each member of the Mizoram Horticulture Officers and Staff Welfare Association had donated their one day's salary, amounting to a total of Rs 2.5 lakh, to the CMRF to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Federal Labor MP Mike Kelly has resigned from Parliament after months of ill-health, leaving his marginal south-eastern NSW seat vulnerable to the first government victory in a byelection in a century.

Dr Kelly, an army veteran who was first elected in Eden-Monaro in 2007, said he had endured 10 operations in the past six months on renal issues caused by episodes of severe dehydration suffered during his military service.

Mike Kelly announced his resignation from Parliament on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The former minister for defence materiel said he was resigning because it had become too difficult to tour his electorate  which encompasses the south-eastern corner of NSW, from Bega to Queanbeyan and the Snowy Mountains  and he believed a new member should steer the region through the bushfire and coronavirus recovery sooner rather than later.

"I just can't do that physically any more," Dr Kelly said. "I wouldn't be [resigning] if it wasn't absolutely necessary."
David and Samantha Cameron with baby Florence in 2010. Photo: PA

Following the birth of Boris Johnson's son, questions have been raised about whether the British prime minister will take any paternity leave amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Mr Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth to their son in a London hospital yesterday morning, and a spokeswoman for the couple said both mother and baby were doing well.

New fathers are entitled to up to two weeks of statutory paternity leave.

This statutory leave in the United Kingdom is paid at 151.20 (173.15) per week, or 90pc of average weekly earnings, depending on which is lower.

Expectant fathers must give at least 15 weeks' notice to their employer.

Some couples are entitled to take 50 weeks of shared parental leave in the first year after a birth or adoption, although the eligibility criteria are narrower than for the statutory benefit.

Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds's son is the third baby born to a serving prime minister in recent history.

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron took paternity leave after the births of their children while in office.

Mr Johnson previously indicated that it was likely he would take paternity leave.

When asked in early March whether he intended to take time off, Mr Johnson said: "The answer is almost certainly yes."

But he later added: "I can't remember what the question was."

Since then, the coronavirus outbreak has progressed significantly.

The number of people who have died in hospital with Covid-19 has reached more than 20,000, with the number of daily deaths reaching their highest so far in early April.

The nationwide lockdown imposed on March 23 is set to be reviewed early next month.

The prime minister only returned to Downing Street on Monday after contracting coronavirus.

Deputised

He was admitted to hospital in early April, spending time in intensive care.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab deputised for Mr Johnson while he was receiving treatment and recovering from the virus at the Buckinghamshire Chequers estate.

If Mr Johnson does take paternity leave, it is not known whether Mr Raab will resume the position.

The foreign secretary stood in for Mr Johnson at prime minister's questions in the House of Commons yesterday.

Mr Blair attracted praise for his decision to take two weeks of paternity leave after his wife Cherie gave birth to son Leo in 2000.

Leo was the first baby born to a serving prime minister in 152 years.

Conservative prime minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha welcomed daughter Florence Rose Endellion Cameron in 2010.
The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus  where 52 have died and 241 residents have tested positive for COVID-19  is getting reinforcements.

Doctors and infectious disease experts from several North Jersey hospitals that have been at the forefront of the states coronavirus pandemic have agreed to consult with the nursing homes beleaguered medical staff to help triage residents as well as review protocols and other medical needs, state and elected officials announced Thursday.

We have some of the best and the brightest COVID specialists within a few miles away who have just been through the eye of the COVID-19 storm and are willing to bring their expertise to help veterans, said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist. Im hoping it will save lives.

Officials say 98% of residents of the state-run nursing home in Bergen County have either tested positive for COVID-19, are awaiting COVID-19 test results, or are currently hospitalized.

Gottheimer noted North Jersey had been park of the first wave of coronavirus cases in the country.

These doctors, whove been fighting this virus for months, will be using all of that experience and insight to help protect those who need it most, he said.

He and Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., D-9th Dist., worked together to bring the additional doctors to Paramus.

The number of coronavirus-related deaths have also been rising at a second state veterans home in Menlo Park, where 45 have died and 137 have tested positive for the virus.

Many families and residents have been complaining for weeks to officials in the home and to reporters about what they claim have been deteriorating conditions in both Paramus and Menlo Park.

Earlier this week, Mark Piterski, a deputy commissioner at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs who oversaw the states veterans homes, resigned from his post. Gov. Phil Murphy, at his daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, told reporters he did not know why Piterski resigned, but that he had been replaced by retired New Jersey Army National Guard Colonel Walter Nall, currently director of Veterans Services.

The state operates three homes for veterans. The third is in Vineland.

Pascrell said his office has heard heartbreaking stories of families getting no information about their loved ones in veterans homes.

We need to figure out what the hell went wrong in Paramus, said the congressman. Our veterans deserve the best treatment and they have not been getting it.

Statewide, 3,247 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19 since the outbreak hit the state. That number includes both lab-confirmed and suspected coronavirus deaths in nursing homes. According to the Department of Health, 489 out of 670 nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in New Jersey have reported viral outbreaks.

Army National Guard medics were deployed to the state facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park to help nurses and health aides there. But in recent weeks, many staff members have not reported to work or been sent home sick, according to officials.

Nall, the acting state commissioner, said his department appreciated the outreach of elected officials, the local hospitals and the community to bring the added medical expertise to Paramus.

Veterans are fighters by nature, and they know that tough times dont last, but tough teams do. The medical professionals of the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration and New Jersey Department of Health are working alongside citizen-soldiers and airmen of the New Jersey National Guard to bolster the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home team of nurses and staff, Nall said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Gottheimer and Pascrell say they have contacted the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the VA Inspector General, seeking an immediate federal investigation and urging additional measures to protect residents.

In addition to the National Guard medics, the VA said it was sending 90 nurses to support the veterans facilities in New Jersey.

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Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday requested the Election Commission to hold elections to the nine vacant seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council at the earliest, ending suspense over CM Uddhav Thackerays nomination to the upper house in the state assembly.

The development comes close on the heels of Uddhav Thackeray reaching out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help sort out the brewing political crisis in the state, which has also been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

The Sena had hoped that the message from Delhi will reach the state Raj Bhavan.

The Governor made the request to fill the nine seats in the legislative council that have been lying vacant since April 24, with a view to end the current uncertainty in the State.

In his letter, the Governor has stated that the Central Government has announced many relaxation measures regarding the enforcement of lockdown in the country. As such the elections to the council seats can be held with certain guidelines, he has said.

Since Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray is not a member of either house of the State Legislature, he needs to get elected to the Council before May 27.

The Election Commission had withheld the election process for these nine seats following the coronavirus crisis.
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has said there will be "a positive announcement" in the coming days on supermarket deliveries for vulnerable people. (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has said there will be "a positive announcement" in the coming days on supermarket deliveries for vulnerable people.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where supermarkets do not have access to a database that would enable them to offer the elderly and vulnerable priority online delivery slots.

The situation means that some of the most vulnerable here are being disadvantaged in comparison to those elsewhere in the UK - more than a month after the lockdown started.

Ms Hargey told Stormont's daily Covid-19 briefing that the fact that Northern Ireland had 350 individual health databases, compared to one in England, had made it harder to make the arrangements.

She said work was ongoing with retailers to ensure an improved online shopping system for vulnerable people.

"Our role is to support people through this crisis, making sure people get the help and support they need," she said.

Ms Hargey explained a number of data measures needed to be resolved to move ahead and said her department would speak with the Information Commissioner's Office about this.

"It is our responsibility to alleviate the stress people may be feeling as a result of pressures," she added.

The minister also revealed that more than 80,000 vulnerable people had received shielding letters from GPs, more than twice the initial estimate.

Meanwhile, a total of 34,000 food parcels have now been distributed since the outbreak began and arrangements are in place to help people who cannot leave their homes with prescriptions and other needs.

Ms Hargey said Stormont's discretionary support service had also received more than 10,000 calls each day.
Filed in the eastern division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the suit says the companies purchased the insurance from Wisconsin-based Society Insurance Inc. to cover their losses and expenses in situations in which their businesses are forced to close, Naperville attorney David Fish said.
Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:

- Maldives reports first death -

The Maldives reported its first coronavirus fatality Thursday with the death of an 83-year-old woman, as the Indian Ocean holiday hotspot extended a nationwide lockdown.



Health minister Abdulla Ameen said the woman died on Wednesday in hospital. She had been under home quarantine since coming into contact with another Maldivian patient.



There have now been 280 confirmed cases since the virus was first detected on March 7.



President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday extended the country's two-week lockdown by two weeks after the number of infections rose sharply in the densely populated capital, Male.



The shutting of the lucrative tourism industry in the nation of 340,000 people has taken a heavy toll on the economy.





- Chinese workers barred from entering Indonesia -

About 500 Chinese workers have been blocked from entering Indonesia over fears they could be carrying the coronavirus even though they had permits to enter the country.



They were due to work at a nickel smelter in Marosi, southeast Sulawesi, but the governor rejected their arrival.



Authorities also refused permission to dock to a Chinese vessel carrying 1,500 cement pipes destined for the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Aceh.



The 18 crew members from China and Vietnam have been stranded onboard for a month and are reportedly running out of food and clean water.



- Social distancing on wheels in India -

An Indian school drop-out has built a motorbike with a one-metre gap between the rider and the passenger to drive home the importance of social distancing.



Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bike from a scrap dealer, removed the engine and cut the machine in two, before modifying the frame to create the extra length



"Now I can ride with my eight-year-old daughter while maintaining a safe distance," he told AFP from Agartala in the northeastern state of Tripura.



Saha's new bike runs on battery power and has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph).





- Australia's capital 'virus-free' -

Health officials declared Australia's capital free of the virus while the country's Northern Territory announced the most comprehensive easing of restrictions in the nation.



Canberra and its surrounding areas were said to be rid of the disease after two patients recovered overnight.



The city, home to about 427,000 people, had recorded 106 cases and three deaths from COVID-19 before eliminating all known active infections by Thursday.



Restaurants, bars, cafes, libraries, gyms and beauty salons in the Northern Territory, meanwhile, will be allowed to reopen from Saturday, though physical distancing rules will still apply.



The huge rural territory closed its borders to interstate and overseas travellers on March 23, and has remained largely free of the virus with just 28 cases and no deaths recorded.





- ANZ profits dive -

Australia's ANZ Bank announced a 50-percent dive in after-tax profits as the lender set aside Aus$1 billion ($655 million) to cover expected losses resulting from the coronavirus fallout.



It also deferred a decision on its interim dividend amid ongoing uncertainty about the economic outlook.






With schools, libraries, and bookstores closed indefinitely, childrens authors have had to cancel their travel plans and appearances during the Covid-19 outbreak. Many publishers are finding creative new ways to spread the word about new releases and connect authors with their readers through digital platforms while maintaining social distancing protocol. Weve been highlighting some of the books this season that may not have gotten the attention they were due, and now we turn our sights to some of springs debuts, kicking off a series.

Picture Books

A Is for Another Rabbit

Hannah Batsel. Lerner/Carolrhoda, $17.99 Apr. 17 ISBN 978-1-5415-2950-2

In A Is for Another Rabbit, a rabbit-obsessed narrator makes an owl increasingly irate by refusing to play by the rules of a conventional alphabet book. Every entry is about bunnies, from delightful, dynamic, daredevil rabbits to young rabbits, old rabbits, rabbits on stilts. Author-illustrator Hannah Batsel said, My book was released right in the middle of the crisis. As a result, Ive been unable to host a release party, appear for signings or readings, or even meet with friends to deliver their personalized copies. Because its her first book, shes especially regretful about not being able to establish professional relationships with booksellers and local groups and organizations. The biggest challenge Im facing as an author is being unable to introduce my book to the world in the way it was meant to be introduced. Childrens books are supposed to be held, touched, discovered at school book fairs, flipped through until the pages are ragged, read to a big group of people, laughed at, featured at libraries, and loved in personand not all of that is possible right now, she said. One local teacher read Batsels book to her students on video and posted the video on the schools Facebook page, where students and their parents could ask questions about the book and the writing/illustrating process. Connecting with readers through social media and interviews is a godsend, Batsel said, but Im very much looking forward to the day when I can meet my readers in person!

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion

Ashima Shiraishi, illus. by Yao Xiao. Make Me a World, $17.99 Apr. 7 ISBN 978-1-5247-7327-4

Ashima Shiraishi may be a newcomer to picture books, but she is well-known in the rock-climbing world as one of the youngest and most skilled climbersand as the first and only female climber to ascend a V15 bouldering problem. In her debut, which earned a starred review from PW, Shiraishi draws on that experience to tell a story of strength and perseverance, in rock climbing and beyond. This also marks the first picture book for Chinese illustrator Yao Xiao. The publisher was hoping to launch the book on May 7 at the North Face SoHo store in New York City, as the brand is one of Shiraishis sponsors. The author was scheduled to be in conversation with designer Jeff Staple. Though the event was canceled, it is shifting online: Shiraishi and Staple will appear live on the North Faces Instagram on May 7. Much to her benefit in the digital space, Shiraishi currently has 300K followers on Instagram.

Lulu the One and Only

Lynnette Mawhinney, illus. by Jennie Poh. APA/Magination, $14.99 June 9 ISBN 978-1-4338-3159-1

In this #OwnVoices picture book exploring identity and discrimination, biracial Lulu doesnt look just like her father or her mother. Tired of people asking her what are you?, the girl comes up with a powerful phrase to tell people who she is, not what she is. Lynnette Mawhinney is associate professor and chair of the department of curriculum and instruction at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she helps prepare future urban teachers for the classroom. She has previously published three books, as well as several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Mawhinney was scheduled to attend the Midwest Booksellers Association Spring Road Trip in early April as an author guest, but the event was canceled. Still, she has been cheered by some positive early reviews for her first childrens book. Mawhinney is currently working with a freelance publicist to create a curriculum guide and reach out to influencers, including through a book trailer.

Middle Grade

Efren Divided

Ernesto Cisneros. HarperCollins, $16.99 Mar. 31 ISBN 978-0-06-288168-7

Efren Divided, a Kids Indies Introduce title, went on sale March 31. In the book, though Efren is American-born, his parents are undocumented; his worst fears are realized one day when his beloved Ama is deported across the border to Tijuana, Mexico. As affecting as it is timely, Cisneross debut depicts how draconian U.S. immigration policies rip through one Southern California family, PW said in its review. Cisneros was born and raised in Santa Ana, Calif., where he teaches middle school. As an author, Cisneros believes in providing todays young readers with an honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify, his publisher said. The real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to reflect that. Although Cisneros had planned to work with L.A.-area bookstores on launch events and school events, he hosted a successful launch event via YouTube Live instead.

Young Adult

Cinderella Is Dead

Kalynn Bayron. Bloomsbury, $18.99 July 7 ISBN 978-1-5476-0387-9

Debut author and classically trained vocalist Kalynn Bayron offers a fairytale retelling in which black queer girls are the heroes, teaming up to save the kingdom. The book is set 200 years after the events of Cinderella, as rebellious 16-year-old Sophia flees from the Annual Ball and sets out on a journey that leads her to uncover the dark truth behind the familiar tale. Given the uncertainty around in-person appearances, Bloomsbury is hoping to set up a virtual event for Bayron in-conversation with another author in July. Bayron is already presenting her book in the virtual space, as she participated in the Social Distance Book Fest on April 25, and she was also on a virtual panel earlier this month hosted by Black Girls Create. The publisher is continuing to pitch Cinderella Is Dead for fall festivals, with the awareness that they might turn into virtual events.

Dancing at the Pity Party

Tyler Feder. Dial, $18.99 Apr. 14 ISBN 978-0-525-55302-1

This debut graphic memoir takes readers from Feders mothers first oncology appointment through the stages of her cancer to the funeral, sitting shiva, and afterward, when she must try to make sense of her life as a motherless daughter at age 19. Pity Party got off to a promising start: it was an Indie Next pick and garnered five starred reviews, including one from PW. Feder had planned for a week of events in Seattle, Portland, Ore., and San Francisco, leading up to her appearance at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, where she would have joined a conversation with booksellers and media about the memoir she wished she could have read as she was going through the grieving process. Instead, last Friday she virtually launched her book with Chicago indie bookstore Women & Children First.

Elysium Girls

Kate Pentecost. Little, Brown, $17.99 Apr. 14 ISBN 978-1-368-04186-7

In debut author Pentecosts Dust Bowlinspired dystopian YA novel, a 1935 dust storm decimates the Oklahoma Panhandle, and Goddesses Life and Death challenge those remaining to establish order, building a city and tithing crops for 10 years, before their fate is determined, what PWs review called an imaginative premise. The author had been scheduled to participate in a joint event at BookPeople in Austin, Tex., with Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy, to help them launch their novel Sword in the Stars and introduce Elysium Girls. BookPeople and The Writing Barn turned it into a virtual event instead, which took place on Zoom on April 7. The book will also be featured as part of NOVL CouchFest 2020, the digital book festival that Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is hosting to connect authors with fans. Because the author is based in Texas, she was slated to appear at the Texas Library Association conference and attend LBYRs annual Happy Hour event. Instead, the publisher created a dedicated TLA newsletter that included a note from Pentecost, and she joined a Virtual Happy Hour on April 21 during TLAs virtual event.

Private Lessons

Cynthia Salaysay. Candlewick, $17.99 May 12 ISBN 978-1-5362-0960-0

Cynthia Salaysay has workshopped her fiction at Tin House, has written food and culture articles for several Bay Area publications, and currently works as a Reiki practitioner and an operating-room nurse in Oakland, Calif. In Private Lessons, her first novel, a young pianist devotes herself to her artand to the demanding, charismatic teacher she idolizes. Candlewick called it a standout debut for the #MeToo era. Now, with the current situation, the author has had to cancel her events, most notably her launch at Mrs. Dalloways Bookstore in Berkeley, where she wrote most of her book. However, she has pivoted to digital, and recently participated in a Zoom reading co-hosted by Jessica Irish, with an open mic afterwards. The all-digital landscape has opened up more unexpected opportunities as well. Newbery Medalist Meg Medina loved the book and had wanted to do an event with her, but scheduling had proved difficult; now the two will be appearing on an Instagram Live chat on May 15. The author will also do a Facebook Live event with Cynthia Leitich Smith, hosted by Reading Group Choices, scheduled for May 29. And she is offering local Bay Area bookstores signed bookplates in lieu of signed books. While the situation is difficult, Candlewick reported, she remains upbeat and optimistic, and is game to try anything.

Unscripted

Nicole Kronzer. Amulet, $17.99 April 21 ISBN 978-1-4197-4084-8

Pulling from her experience as an actor and improviser, Nicole Kronzers first YA novel addresses toxic masculinity and #MeToo issues through the lens of the comedy world. Our review stated, Kronzer excels at balancing humor with difficult subjects, and we highlighted Unscripted as part of our close-up on books for young readers starring funny girls. Originally, Kronzer had bookstore events planned at Red Balloon in St. Paul, Minn., and at Boswells Books in Shelburne Falls, Mass. Additionally, she was scheduled for Teen Lit Con in Minneapolis and the Minnesota Council of Teachers of English conference in Duluth (Kronzer is herself a high school English teacher near Minneapolis). But all of these events were canceled due to the pandemic. Instead, Kronzer had a virtual launch party in discussion with friend and Printz Award winner Nina LaCour on April 21 via Instagram. The author also wrote a guest blog post for the Nerd Daily on Breaking into the Boys Club of Comedy.

Witchlight

Jessi Zabarsky. Random House Graphic, $24.99 Apr. 14 ISBN 978-0-593-11999-0

Jessi Zabarskys debut this month coincided with the official launch of Random Houses graphic novel imprint. The LGBTQ YA fantasy, which traces the friendship-turned-romance between a young witch and her companion, started as a self-published zine. In addition to her work as a comics creator, Zabarsky runs the social media for Pusheen the Cat and has a background in online graphics. For Witchlight, RH Graphic had been planning in-store events tied to the books on-sale date, but given the current crisis, the team is exploring other alternatives. Meanwhile, the publisher plans to do another book with Zabarsky in the future.
Technavio has been monitoring the personalized gifts market and it is poised to grow by USD 15.92 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 9% 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/20200429005953/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Personalized Gifts 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. American Greetings Corp., Bed Bath Beyond Inc., Card Factory Plc., Cimpress NV, Enesco LLC, Hallmark Licensing LLC, Personal Creations, Shutterfly Inc., Snapfish LLC, and UncommonGoods LLC are some of the major market participants. Although the rising demand for 3D printed personalized gifts will offer immense growth opportunities, seasonal nature of the market will challenge the growth of the market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Rising demand for 3D printed personalized gifts has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, seasonal nature of the market might hamper market growth.

Personalized Gifts Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Personalized Gifts Market is segmented as below:

Product Personalized Photo-gifts Non-personalized Photo Gifts

Personalized non-photo gifts Wearables And Accessories Decoration Kitchenware And Tableware Stationery And Greeting Cards Sports Equipment And Toys Food And Beverages Other Personalized Non-photo Gifts

Personalized photo gifts Wall Decor Photo Cards Photo Calendars Photo Gifts

Distribution Channel Offline Online

Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America



To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR32182

Personalized Gifts 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 personalized gifts market report covers the following areas:

Personalized Gifts Market Size

Personalized Gifts Market Trends

Personalized Gifts Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies rising popularity of eco-friendly personalized gifts as one of the prime reasons driving the personalized gifts market growth during the next few years.

Personalized Gifts Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Personalized Gifts Market, including some of the vendors such as American Greetings Corp., Bed Bath Beyond Inc., Card Factory Plc., Cimpress NV, Enesco LLC, Hallmark Licensing LLC, Personal Creations, Shutterfly Inc., Snapfish LLC, and UncommonGoods LLC. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Personalized Gifts Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Personalized Gifts Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist personalized gifts market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the personalized gifts market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the personalized gifts market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of personalized gifts market vendors

Table Of Contents :

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT

Market segmentation by product

Comparison by product

Personalized non-photo gifts Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Personalized photo gifts Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by product

PART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PERSONALIZED NON-PHOTO

GIFTS

Wearables and accessories Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Decoration Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Kitchenware and tableware Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Stationery and greeting cards Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Sports equipment and toys Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Food and beverages Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Other personalized non-photo gifts Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 08: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PERSONALIZED PHOTO GIFTS

Wall decor Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Photo cards Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Photo calendars Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Photo gifts Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 09: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 10: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Market segmentation by distribution channel

Comparison by distribution channel

Offline Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Online Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by distribution channel

PART 11: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023

MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 12: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 13: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 14: MARKET TRENDS

Expansion by vendors offering personalized gifts

Innovations in personalization of gifts

Rising popularity of eco-friendly personalized gifts

PART 15: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 16: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

American Greetings Corp.

Bed Bath Beyond Inc.

Card Factory Plc

Cimpress NV

Enesco LLC

Hallmark Licensing LLC

Personal Creations

Shutterfly Inc.

Snapfish LLC

UncommonGoods LLC

PART 17: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

Definition of market positioning of vendors

PART 18: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005953/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: www.technavio.com/
One in four Americans say the coronavirus has deepened their religious faith, a poll released Thursday found, including a majority of black Protestants. Just 2 percent said the virus has left their faith weakened.

Pew Research found the trend of strengthened faith primarily among Americans who are already religious -- people who frequently pray, attend services in normal times and rate religion as important to them.

"But even among people who are not very religious, very few say their faith has weakened. Rather, most say that their level of faith hasn't changed much or that the question isn't applicable to them because they don't consider themselves to be religious," Pew said in its report.

Forty-seven percent of Americans said their faith hasn't been affected by the virus, while 26% say "I am not a religious person and this hasn't changed." The results suggest not many Americans are newly finding religion during the pandemic.

Pew found a significant racial gap. Forty-one percent of African American adults said their faith is stronger, compared with 20% of white adults and 30% of Hispanic adults who said that.

The poll begins to answer questions that are closely watched by many who follow religious trends: How will the virus and the challenges it brings -- including its radical impact on in-person communal worship -- affect people's faith? Some religious leaders have worried people will become accustomed to being cut off from standard practices and never return. Others have predicted a revival.

"I think it will deepen religion because virtuality is making anyone into a convener, part of the democratizing trend - it's a radical empowerment," said Marc Gopin, an ordained rabbi who directs the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.

He said he's heard from Catholics who feel closer than ever to Pope Francis because they are now watching him online in what can feel like an intimate, one-on-one service, after years of seeing him surrounded by layers of high-ranking clergy and security and crowds. Gopin described Christians moved by "attending" their first virtual Passover seders, and interfaith activists inspired by working together online for a common, global cause.

"Even enemies, let alone allies. There's never been a simultaneous threat to human life across everywhere at once. There is no going back," he said.

Chris Butler, pastor of the predominantly African American Pentecostal Embassy Church in Chicago, said the virus has been financially and logistically challenging to churches, but also refreshing. Butler has been trying for a few years to shift the congregation to see that "God is not confined to or defined by a building." They've been trying to focus more on outreach and prayer.

"I feel like the disruption of the pandemic has made us live that in a deeper way. We're having communion on the live stream, where everyone just gets their own element -- taco shells and grape soda or whatever, and let's do it. It's lifted us up into our mission."

Jessie Thompson, 67, who attends a black Baptist church outside Oxford, Miss., said she pines for the multiple days a week she normally spends at church, and misses the closeness of worshiping together. However, she said her big family has set up a system where every hour is taken by someone to pray. She and her husband do the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. shift together.

"When life isn't the way you expect it, you listen more attentively to what he's saying," she said of God. "It's a different closeness. Even with my husband, we used to pray at different times."

Those who know someone who has died of or been hospitalized for covid-19 are more likely than others to say their faith has been strengthened as a result of the outbreak, by a margin of 33% to 21%. There is also a gap depending on one's religious identity. While 56% of black Protestants said their faith has grown stronger, 42% of evangelicals said that, compared to 27% of Catholics and 22% of Protestants.

Among Jews, 7% said their religious faith has become stronger, compared with 69% who said it hasn't changed much and 22% who said the question isn't applicable to them because they are not religious.

There is also a gender gap. Among men, 18% said their religious faith has grown, 48% said it hasn't changed and 32% said they aren't religious. Among women, the numbers are 30%, 46% and 21%, respectively.

Among adults who normally attend worship services at least once or twice a month, 91% of the 10,000 people who responded to the survey said their house of worship has closed services to the public. The pandemic-related shutdowns have led to a lot of virtual spiritual experimentation, including huge celebrity-studded services, such as one with Joel Osteen and Kanye West. Some churches have seen their online attendance boom.

The Church of the Nativity Catholic parish in Timonium, Maryland, is drawing 6,800 to 13,000 online viewers for its Sunday services, compared to 700 or 800 before the virus.

But Terri Prokopik, a lay minister at the Church of the Nativity, said some of the initial enthusiasm may be waning.

"People thought we would be back. I'm seeing some people making comments: 'I'm a bit spiritually wiped out,' 'I'm not feeling well,' 'I'm feeling a disconnect,' " she said. "For me, I miss the sacraments, I miss communion. That's the hardest part."
Dubai Land Department (DLD), in cooperation with Smart Dubai and the Department of Finance (DOF), launched remote payment services to facilitate the process of real estate registration through the Dubai Pay portal.



This step is part of the precautionary measures taken by DLD to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and maintain the health and safety of its customers, reported state news agency Wam.



The initiative also aims to expand the process of payment methods through Dubai REST and DLDs website, allowing for the easy collection of service fees. It is also expected to help facilitate payment services for DLDs customers, which will lead to the revitalisation of Dubais real estate market and the establishment of reliable practical solutions for all procedures and transactions.



The remote payment services through the Dubai Pay portal constitute sales of all kinds, including buying and selling, mortgaging, grants, and usufruct, and it can be used by real estate owners, including buyers and sellers, in addition to all DLDs customers.



Sultan Butti bin Mejren, director general of DLD, said: "We continue to develop our services and facilitate their delivery to our customers, not only to make them happy and comfortable but also to ensure their health and safety.



This is made all the more necessary given these exceptional circumstances in which our efforts are aligned with other institutions and departments to support the efforts of the relevant health authorities to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and contribute to decrease the time it needs to be contained. We are proud to implement this project, especially since it was accomplished within a short period of time, to record a new and unprecedented achievement."



Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, director general of Smart Dubai, added: "Smart Dubai, in cooperation with its governmental partners, provided multiple smart and innovative solutions for payment, such as the Dubai Pay portal, in an effort to enable the smart city and enhance the happiness of people by developing safe digital tools and services within a comprehensive system This is consistent with the strategies of building smart cities and supports our efforts to making Dubai the happiest and smartest city on Earth."



The mechanism of registering transactions by registered trustees remotely and paying through Dubai Pay begins by initiating the payment process via sending the required documents to trustees to verify the availability of requirements, calculating the value of fees, and verifying the documents and customer information, which is followed by the registration of the transaction. The required documents are then uploaded and the trustee account data is sent to deposit the registration fees. After that, the trustee receives the deposit receipt and deposits DLDs fees into DLDs bank account if the payment is not made through Dubai Pay.



Upon verifying the deposit and making sure that the amount is available in the trustees electronic wallet and the procedure for verification is sent, the transaction is received and the data is verified. Upon approval, DLDs fees are paid through Dubai Pay, and the notice of payment will be sent through the Dubai Pay portal to issue bonds and title-deed, which will then be sent by email to the buyer to complete the procedure.



Bin Mejren added: "Although the addition of the smart payment channels came in response to the current critical conditions, we will continue to utilise them even after the global crisis is lifted due to their myriad benefits they offer customers and our performance in general.



The new options allow parties to pay their due fees for all DLDs procedures via the payment link on the mobile phone as the payments can be settled either by using the Dubai Now application on smartphones or through the Dubai Pay portal on the browser.



Payment can also be made via two channels for transaction fees on Dubai REST, including To Whom It May Concern letters, site maps, and valuation requests, with the option to pay via Noqoodi wallet, which also applies to DLD's website services. There will be no additional fees charged for paying using credit cards nor any other fees for customers when using one of the payment channels.



DLD said that it will apply payment mechanisms to other services in the near future to include off-plan sales, where the owner receives a link to pay DLDs fees without the need to return to the developer, in addition to bank mortgage fees, where the owner pays through a link that connects him via an SMS on his mobile phone.
A Danish poet of Palestinian descent who made headlines as a teenager in 2013 for a book that was critical of Muslims has died, his publishing house said Thursday. Yahya Hassan was 24.

His editor at Gyldendal, Simon Paternak, called Hassan's death a disaster. The publishing house gave no further details. Although Hassan had received death threats, police said they did not immediately suspect a criminal act.

Pasternak paid tribute to Hassan's insisting on having his own voice, defending his territory, finding his own place despite what people thought. He wanted to be himself and write the poems he wanted with the enormous cost that followed," Pasternak said.

Hassan's self-titled book has sold more than 120,000 copies since its publication. Most poetry books in Denmark sell fewer than 500 copies, according to the industry.

In his poetry, Hassan criticized what he claimed was a culture of hypocrisy underpinning Denmark's Muslim population. He pointed to his Palestinian immigrant parents and their generation as the reason why he quit school and committed petty crimes.

He also lashed out at Muslims for committing fraud with social benefits, beating their children and failing to integrate in Danish society while clinging to the Quran.

Hassan's publication triggered numerous death threats and he had police protection during public readings.

Police, asked about Hassan's death, would only say they were looking into the circumstances around the death Wednesday of a man in his 20s in Aarhus, western Denmark, where Hassan lived.

There is currently nothing in our investigations to suggest that there has been a criminal act, a spokesman for the police told the B.T newspaper on Thursday. In December, Hassan published a second collection of poetry, but it did not receive the same attention as the first one.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A senior Chinese government official challenged President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, accusing him of wasting weeks after the threat posed by the virus first became apparent. In a wide-ranging interview with NBC News conducted in Mandarin on Tuesday, Executive Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng also hit back at the politicization of the virus. Le, a rising star within China's political establishment, rejected claims that the country had covered up the initial outbreak or that it should be held financially liable for COVID-19. Instead, he termed the virus a "natural disaster" and called for greater cooperation and an end to accusations. "On Jan. 23 when Wuhan went under lockdown, the United States reported only one confirmed case, but on March 13 when President Trump announced a national emergency, the United States reported over 1,600 confirmed cases," Le said, referring to the city in China's Hubei province where the virus is believed to have emerged. "In this interval of 50 days, what was the U.S. government doing? Where have those 50 days gone?" said Le, who was born on China's industrial east coast and began his diplomatic career in what was then the Soviet Union, and is fluent in Russian. More from NBC:

South Korea beating coronavirus but anxiety grows over 'new normal'

Dutch teens sail home across the Atlantic due to coronavirus travel restrictions

Hotline staffed by psychiatrists helps coronavirus doctors in distress The White House, the Department of State and the National Security Council did not respond to requests for comment on the interview. On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that the Chinese Communist Party needed to be "transparent." "The world seeks answers to COVID19 and its origins  China has a responsibility to cooperate," he wrote, referring to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Pompeo has previously stated that Beijing will "pay a price" for its actions, while often adding he didn't yet know what form that would take.

Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng attends the Universal Periodic Review of China before the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on November 6, 2018 in Geneva. FABRICE COFFRINI | AFP via Getty Images

A memorial for Dr Li Wenliang, who was one of the whistleblowers of Covid-19 when it first emerged in Wuhan, China and caused the doctor's death. Picture taken outside the UCLA campus in Westwood, California, on February 15, 2020. Mark Ralston | AFP | Getty Images
A irlines should be able to issue vouchers instead of cash refunds for cancelled flights, according to 12 EU member states who have requested a change in the rules to help carriers.

The group, which includes France, Ireland, Portugal and the Netherlands, issued a joint statement to the European Commission calling for a temporary amendment to consumer law.

Enabling airlines to avoid having to reimburse all eligible customers would be a solution for current cash flow constraints of airlines, they wrote.

They said carriers continue to incur high running costs despite most planes being grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the regulation commonly referred to as EU261, which continues to apply in the UK, passengers are entitled to a full cash refund within seven days of a flights cancellation, if it is due to depart from an EU airport.

It also covers flights operated by an EU-based airline from outside the EU to an airport within the bloc.

But many carriers are refusing to offer refunds or are not making payouts within the legal timeframe.

Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: Its incredibly concerning that a number of EU member states are asking to temporarily suspend consumers legal right to cash refunds for cancelled flights amid the coronavirus outbreak, not least when so many people are now in difficult financial situations of their own and need their money back.

Not only would this move be bad news for consumers, it would be a disaster for tour operators waiting for payments to be returned by airlines in order to fulfil their own legal obligations to refund customers.
Oil rallied for a second day as global production cuts deepened and signs of a recovery in physical markets emerge.

Futures in New York rose as much as 20% Thursday. ConocoPhillips said it will reduce output by 420,000 barrels a day in June. Norway said it will participate in oil-output cuts for the first time since 2002, joining other major producers in reining in supply.

The industry is responding like its a five-alarm fire, said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC, regarding productions cuts. The cutbacks being announced and undertaken are real and are going to be significant, so thats helping to support prices.

Prices are also rebounding after the United States Oil fund and GSCI Index completed their exits of the June contract earlier in the week, according to Kilduff. As these bigger players exit, its going to ease the selling pressure and it has already eased, Kilduff said.

PREVIOUSLY: Oil climbs on biggest jump in U.S. gasoline demand in 11 months

Meanwhile, data on Wednesday showed signs of improved demand in the U.S. and Europe. In China, traffic is returning to the streets, supporting a boost in fuel use and refining rates.

Physical markets are showing early signs of improving, although from exceptionally weak levels, with crude from Russia to the Mediterranean being bid higher. Key price contracts, known as swaps, have also rallied in the North Sea. But while crude has ticked up from its lows, storage capacity is filling fast and oil major Royal Dutch Shell Plc warned it doesnt expect a market recovery even in the medium term.

Heavy Western Canadian Select crudes discount to U.S. benchmark futures shrank to $8 a barrel, the narrowest in more than a year as refineries in the Midwest, which take almost two-thirds of U.S. imports from Canada, boosted their crude use by almost 300,000 barrels a day last week.

Still, Shell said Thursday that the coronavirus outbreak is going to have a lasting impact on consumer behavior, meaning theres a higher chance that oil demand will peak this decade. Lifestyles will probably be altered for some time to come as the pandemic changes the economy, business, and peoples attitudes, Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The son of the UN's first Middle East mediator has shared his memories of his father's assassination by Jewish extremists.

Count Folke Bernadotte, a member of the Swedish royal family, was shot dead by members of the Zionist group Lehi while carrying out his official duties in Jerusalem September 1948.

Speaking to BBC World Service's Witness History, Count Bernadotte's youngest son, Bertil Bernadotte, told how he first learned of his father's death while listening to the radio at the age of 12.

Count Folke Bernadotte, a member of the Swedish royal family, was shot dead by members of the Zionist group Lehi while carrying out his official duties in Jerusalem September 1948. Pictured, with his wife Estelle Manville and sons Bertil (left) and Folke in Greece that summer

In September 1948, Count Bernadotte's motorcade was travelling through Jerusalem when it was stopped at a makeshift roadblock. Bernadotte and a French officer sitting beside him, Colonel Andre Serot, were shot through an open window. Pictured, the diplomat (foreground in cap) in a jeep with an escort of officers just days before he was killed

At the time, Bertil and his older brother, Folke, were living with their mother, American-born philanthropist Estelle Manville.

Count Bernadotte had stationed himself on the Greek island of Rhodes, which he had chosen as a 'neutral' base while working in the Middle East.

The UN, which was still in its infancy having only been established three years prior, gave the Count an airplane so that he could easily fly between Rhodes and Israel and Palestine.

In September 1948, Count Bernadotte's motorcade was travelling through Jerusalem when it was stopped at a makeshift roadblock. Bernadotte and a French officer sitting beside him, Colonel Andre Serot, were shot through an open window.

The American-born Countess, wasn't 'very happy' about her husband's decision to take up the position but remained loyal and supported him. Pictured, being greeted by her husband on her arrival in Greece in the summer of 1948, weeks before he died

'I heard about it first [of my family], actually,' Bertil explained. 'It came out over the radio and I was playing in my room with a friend and I heard it. I rushed out to say to my mother that something's happened to father. And she knew immediately.'

Bernadotte, nephew of the then Swedish King Gustaf V, was voted unanimously to take up the role following his successful diplomatic endeavours during the Second World War.

During the autumns of 1943 and 1944, he organised prisoner exchanges which brought home 11,000 prisoners from Germany via Sweden.

He is also credited with negotiating the release of about 31,000 prisoners from German concentration camps in 1945.

Bertil recalled how in the lead up to his father accepting his Middle East posting, the family had been holidaying on an island of Gotland.

A state funeral was held and Bernadotte was buried in Prince Oscar Bernadotte's family tomb at the Northern Cemetery in Stockholm. Pictured, his coffin being repatriated

Bertil told how his father spent 'quite a bit of time' walking alone as he mulled over the proposition of becoming the UN Security Council mediator.

'Everyone said it was an impossible job,' Bertil explained. 'And he [my father] said officially, "I would always regret it if I didn't try, even if it was impossible".'

The American-born Countess, who was a leading figure in the International Red Cross and Girl Scout movement, wasn't 'very happy' about her husband's decision to take up the position but remained loyal and supported him.

The couple were aware of the extreme risk the Count was taking by inserting himself into the conflict.

'They discussed funeral plans and things like that, so they were aware it might go wrong,' Bertil added.

The day after the murders, the United Nations Security Council condemned the killing of Bernadotte as 'a cowardly act'.

A state funeral was held and Bernadotte was buried in Prince Oscar Bernadotte's family tomb at the Northern Cemetery in Stockholm.
Photo credit: Spencer Tunick

From Esquire

Until COVID-19 struck, the hallmark of Spencer Tunick's artwork was lots and lots of naked people packed together. He's perhaps known best for his shoot of 100 nude women gathered at sunrise in Cleveland in 2016 to make a statement outside of the Republican National Convention. They met in a secret location to evade any cops who might try to stop themTunick has been arrested a handful of times while creating his art.

This year, he planned to go to Mexico to direct participants in a butterfly refuge, in an effort to bring attention to conservation. But when the COVID-19 quarantines began, the plans were abruptly canceled. He spent weeks wandering around his home aimlessly, typing vaccine into Google over and over, unsure of what to do while he was unable to work. He lives in the town of Ramapo in New Yorks Rockland County, where Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a containment zone due to the number of coronavirus cases. And he has a relative recovering from the virus. He considered organizing something local, with participants standing 12 feet apart but decided against it.

Everything is so overwhelming to me right now that I just couldnt even lift a finger to do anything. Its so weird. I had this whole list of things I wanted to do. I was going to go through my negatives, I was going to learn Lightroom, which is a photo editing application, Tunick says. I was like, Im going to do so much at home and then I just got so depressed that I couldnt even do anything. The days just went so fast.

Photo credit: Spencer Tunick

Then his collaborator and Studio 333 curator Alonso Gorozpe reached out about organizing a shoot via video conference. And they got to work looking for participants willing to pose nude while quarantined at home. For the project, which he's calling Stay Apart Together, they looked for people of all ages from the U.S., Mexico, Thailand, South Africa, India, Denmark, Lebanon, Argentina, Poland, Germany, Uruguay, Australia, Philippines, Canada, Netherlands, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Belgium, Colombia, France, and Italy. Tunick gave no direction about where the participants would be in their homesmost posed in living rooms and bedrooms. The quarantine locations, the contrasting backgrounds, become a part of the art. And he asked them to have masks to pose with just not the n95 ones meant for medical professionals.

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Photo credit: Spencer Tunick

After the group joined the video conference, Tunick explained what they'd be doing. Then he counted to three, and everyone took off their clothes.



For about 20 minutes, Tunick directed the group, telling them how to pose, what to hold. But instead of his Fujifilm GFX100, a Medium format 100 Megapixel camera, he dragged his mouse to screenshot the images. It may not have been his usual camera, but it had that same satisfying click.



Photo credit: Spencer Tunick

While the power in Tunick's art usually lies in seeing the human body in nature, which we so rarely see, the nudity in quarantine is meaningful in a different way. People remain separated, protected from the virus in their own homes. He sees a connection from strangers being nude together under these dire and unusual circumstances.

One model, Sara Gonzalez, is quarantined with her family, at her parents house in Mexico City. The 25-year-old had been living in New York, studying to become a chef, but went home after her campus and dorms closed. This weekend, her cousin called and asked if she wanted to be in one of Tunicks installations. Once her cousin explained she wouldnt need to leave the house, Gonzalez excitedly agreed. She locked the door, and opened her computer.

[My family is] very conservative, so I felt like a teenager hiding to do something forbidden, even though I knew that I wasand amproud of being in the project and doing nothing wrong, she says. It makes me think of all the music and art that are being created, of all the people that have started dancing and meditating again, of all the families that now have time to actually be together and makes me see that we have the ability to find art even in the hardest of situations.

Photo credit: Spencer Tunick

Over the last few days, Tunick has organized groups of 9 and 25 people, and he plans to continue with the shoots this week, for a total of 100 people. The final images will be available on his Instagram page and website. (The versions on Instagram are censoredTunick has been fighting censorship on social media platforms for years. He wouldnt specify the video conference platforms he used for this project because of censorship concerns.)

Tunick says the final project, with participants separated by the grid format of the video conferencing interface, reminds him of 1970s art from Annie Sprinkle, Yoko Ono, and John Waters. But in 2020, the contrast is in using those familiar quadrants, which have been our new primary mode of communication during this crisis, transformed into art. Tunick hopes the end results help start a movement.

Photo credit: Spencer Tunick

I hope people take off their clothes and make their own with their own friends. I hope this continues and doesnt start and stop with me, he says. Its really great to have platonic intimacy on video chat.

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Meditating on the Meaning of Struggle: Valuing Our Inward and Outward Striving

In reaffirmation. Those of us who still wage righteous and relentless struggle inwardly and outwardly to live a liberated, good and meaningful life will continuously find invaluable sources for grounding and growth in the enduringly relevant and deeply insightful sacred teachings of our ancestors found in the Odu Ifa, especially in this critical time. For it is about our natural and needed striving and struggle to be good, live good lives, and bring and share good in the world. I stress both inward and outward struggle, for the outward struggle in relations, society and the world requires a simultaneous inward striving for a disciplined and constantly developing heart and mind. Indeed, without discipline, development is less focused, less founded and less fruitful.

In Kawaida, struggle is posed as one of the defining features of what it means to be human. Indeed, the whole of our lives from birth to transition into the afterlife, we are compelled to struggle and, in that struggle, we define and develop ourselves. In a word, we struggle to come into being; thats called birth. We struggle to make the most out of our being; thats called life. And we struggle not to go out of being; thats called the quest for immortality. Thus, Odu 10:6 teaches, We are constantly struggling all of us. We are constantly struggling. For also we are not perfect, do not always choose rightly, always make the best choice, always live a disciplined life or always live up to our highest potential. So, we are continuously struggling, all of us.

Also, Odu Ifa 245:1 tells us that If we are given birth, we should/must bring ourselves into being again. Our parents give us the gift of birth, but even then, we must struggle to come out into the world to live the life given us. And then, we must bring ourselves into being again, that is to say, struggle to realize our potential and promise and come into the fullness of ourselves. And we must struggle to leave a legacy worthy of remembrance, a legacy of good work, service and struggle which is also a message and model for those who come after us.

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Moreover, Odu Ifa teaches us that even if we are disadvantaged physically or socially or are about to die, we should still struggle to live as best and as long as we can. Thus, Odu 43:1 says, Even if we are going to die, we must wage a life and death struggle. We should still struggle hard. This was directed especially to those confronted with the possibility or certainty of death, and for the physically disadvantaged, the lame, the blind. But in a larger sense, it is a call and challenge to all who are disadvantaged, disabled by physical, psychological or social conditions or threatened with death. Indeed, its a call and challenge not to be defeated internally, so that externally we can wage a strong, disciplined and victorious struggle with the capacities we have and the resources and relations to which we have access. Here Molefi Asantes call for a victorious consciousness is key and compelling. This is the meaning of Odu 19:2 in its advising and cautioning against interior deterioration, the unraveling of values and relations that are our anchor and indispensable means of orientation and assistance in any struggle we wage externally. Thus, this verse speaks of those who would go to the battlefield not knowing that It is at home that the war is lost even before reaching the battlefield.

Interrelated with this verse is Odu 59:1 which says that a constant soldier is never unready, not even once. This verse tells us we must be constantly prepared and preparing. It means continuously measuring strengths and weaknesses, and as Amilcar Cabral teaches, always struggling to turn our weaknesses into strengths. Indeed, he says, Thats what struggle means, turning weakness into strength; transforming what is or could be a liability in life and struggle into an asset. And it means reaching inside of ourselves for the known and unknown potential and promise of growth, development and righteous change, righteous change in our views, values and practice and in the ways we relate to each other and engage the world. Especially, Odu Ifa 33:1 instructs us, we must constantly strive and struggle to speak truth, do justice, be kind and not do evil and to bring good in the world.

It is this moral core at the heart and center of our struggle, internally and externally, that must always be in the forefront of all we do. Indeed, this relates to Odu 78:1s affirmation: Lets do things we joy. Surely, humans have been divinely chosen to bring good in the world and this is the fundamental mission and meaning of human life. Given this essential and overarching ethical imperative, we must wage struggle in righteous and dignity-affirming ways and be a model of the good we struggle for. Thus, Odu Ifa calls for a commitment that the battle we fight, the struggles we wage, always add to our honor. Odu 152:2 says, May the battle I fight (the struggle I wage) always add to my honor. We are struggling to bring, increase and sustain good in the world, and we must not emulate our oppressor or opponent and use evil means that undermine our cause, aims and identity.

The Yoruba word for honor (iyi) in the text also means great respect, nobleness, integrity and value. Like its synonym ola, it suggests in this verse added honor, gained for greatly respected and valued thought and practice, or behavior. The example of such an honor-bringing struggle used in the Odu is that of the lion. It is what we call in Kawaida, being simba-hearted, lion hearted, i.e., noble in conduct; courageous in combat and uncompromisingly committed to victory. Here I use noble in the moral sense as the Yoruba words iyi and ola suggest. This follows the Hon. Marcus Garveys teaching that in the struggle to liberate Africa, nobility and aristocracy must be based on service to the people and the struggle, not on hereditary class and status.

The Odu then teaches us to wage righteous struggle in the interest of human good and the well-being of the world. This struggle for good in the world, Odu 78:1 says, must include as its essential goals: full and effective knowledge for all; happiness everywhere; peace within and with others; harmony with nature; health and wholeness; resilient strength to meet crisis; and the end of poverty and misery in the world. And the sacred text tells us that to achieve victory in this outward struggle, we need also to wage righteous and continuous struggle inwardly, developing virtues and strengths of adequate wisdom, especially wisdom to rightfully engage each other and the world; willingness to sacrifice; good character; the love of doing good, especially for the needy and vulnerable; and the eagerness and struggle to increase good in the world and not let any good be lost.

Odu Ifa (33:2) also tells us in terms of ensuring the well-being of the world that we should take responsibility for the world and do good for the world. And Odu 10:5 teaches us that humans should stop making sacrifices for wealth and instead make sacrifices that will protect the earth from its enemies, i.e., plunder, pollution and depletion, and of course, the corporate and personal interests that drive these. For in this way we will live and thrive.

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Finally, Odu Ifa 11:1 tells us we must, in our most earnest struggle, also model fire without its destructiveness, but with its capacity to make a way for itself. It says, Wherever fire emerges, it will make a way for itself. Its head will clear a way for it. Therefore, anyone who wants to achieve anything, that person should practice sacrifice, so that a way can be opened for them as it is opened for fire. The point here is that in our striving and struggle, we must be like beneficial fire, way-openers, using our head and heart in the most constructive ways. And we must be way-openers not only for our personal selves, but also for our collective selves, our people. This is the message and model of our ancestors, the lifters up of the light that lasts, who opened the way for all of us and brought life-giving and uplifting light and warm to the world.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, The Message and Meaning of Kwanzaa: Bringing Good Into the World and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org.
Image from insideclimatenews.org (Photo credit: Mattea Mrkusic of Divest Harvard, via Twitter)

30.04.2020 LISTEN

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it, urged the Earl of Chesterfield in a letter of advice to his son penned in 1749. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. This has not tended to be the view of university governors the world over, notably in the field of ethical investments. The elite heavy weights have shown their flabbiness in the area, dragging in their approach to matters of environment and the climate. Money is just that; where it goes, in terms of investment, is of little moral consequence, lacking smell and ethical baggage. Industry is there to be, and here, the word is essential, engaged.

Harvard University, one of the wealthiest teaching and research institutions on the planet with an endowment of $41 billion, is something of a specialist in this. In 2013, the universitys President Drew Gilpin Faust adopted the position of engagement over withdrawal on the subject of fossil fuel divestments. At the time, Faust considered any full divestment measure as unwarranted and unwise: the endowment fund was to be seen in purely self-beneficial terms, a resource, not an instrument to impel social or political change.

Playing the fiddle of an amoral politician, Faust attempted different measures of dismissiveness and reassurance: climate change did pose a serious threat to our future  and increasingly our present, and the university would be incorporating environmental, social and governance into its investments, thereby aligning with investors fiduciary duties. Such an approach guaranteed an indefinite series of postponements on the matter.

By April 2017, the Harvard Management Company, the entity responsible for managing the finances of the corporation, felt that some move was required. Colin Butterfield, heading the natural resources section at the HMC, accepted that climate change was a huge problem and that a pause in fossil fuel investments would take place. Slyly, Butterfield shifted the focus, distinguishing between direct and indirect investments in the industry. What I can tell you is, from my area, I could honestly say that I doubt  I cant say never, because never say never  but I doubt that we would ever make a direct investment with fossil fuels.

In 2019, Harvards new broom, Lawrence Bacow still preferred engaging with industry. In a surprise appearance at a forum hosted by Divest Harvard and the Harvard Political Union in April that year, he have gave a model lesson on intellectual skiving: Teach, research and convince, and the industry itself will change. Till that was done, the fossil fuel matter could be postponed. We need to engage with those whose behaviour we need to change. We need to engage with industry. We do that through scholarship; we do that through our teaching.

Donning his weighty business hat, Bacow played the role of cold realist, warning against any policy coitus interruptus. Divesting from fossil fuels was not the same as tobacco, where a full-scale enterprise of withdrawal through the university from research to labs could be implemented. The day after, if we were to divest, were going to turn on the lights. We would still be dependent on fossil fuels.

It has been a long, acrimonious battle. The Harvard President and Fellows have tended to swat the claims away, regarding them as callow and unrealistic. The students, in turn, have sought to have their case taken seriously, engaging in their own little bit of climate change lawfare. In 2014, a lawsuit was lodged in Suffolk County Superior Court in Massachusetts, featuring an 11-page complaint and 167 pages of supporting exhibits asking the court to force divestment on the students behalf. The measure failed at first instance and on appeal, though campaign managed, along the way, to gather support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund, climate change scientist James Hansen and the Cambridge City Council.

The central problem in such climate change litigation remains one of conviction. Courts refuse to cast a distant eye upon the future, expecting evidence to be as immediate, clear and incontestable as possible. The argument by the students was precisely one of current action to prevent environmental dystopia, a case for future, potentially imperilled generations. Instead, the students failed to show they had legal standing to challenge fossil fuel investments for their negative impacts on academic freedom and education at Harvard. Their interests were widely shared with thousands of their peers at Harvard; their connection with the subject matter was not sufficiently specific or personal; and their allegations on financial mismanagement were too speculative to be accepted.

Both the Massachusetts Appellate Court and the lower court also came to the same conclusion on rejecting the merits of a new civil wrong on the intentional investment in abnormally dangerous activities. The students had, in the higher courts assessment, brought their advocacy, fervent and articulate and admirable as it is, to a forum that cannot grant the relief they seek.

The Bacow formula of engagement has been tinkered with, if ever so slightly. As a tentative nod to the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, and in response to a resolution adopted by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in February, the endowment was instructed to develop an approach to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its investment portfolio by 2050. Full Postponement Bacow had now transitioned to Partial Postponement Bacow. Harvards endowment should be a leader in shaping pathways to a sustainable future, he wrote to members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. With this in mind, the corporation has directed the Harvard Management Company (HMC) to set itself on a path to decarbonize the overall endowment portfolio.

In doing so, few toes will be tread upon in this new approach, as it considers the investment portfolio as a whole, rather than simply targeting the suppliers and producers of fossil fuels. Possible partners, he warned, would not be demonised, as they had committed to transitioning to carbon neutrality and to funding research on alternative fuels and on strategies to decarbonize the economy.

The reaction from Divest Harvard showed an expected mixture of I told you so satisfaction tinged with regret. Until today, the administration has claimed that the endowment should not be used for political purposes. Finally, due to the pressure of student, faculty and alumni, Harvard had acknowledged its duty to mitigate the emissions its endowment has been fuelling for decades. Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard was less complimentary: the university had taken a step in the right direction, but the plan was insufficient, making fossil fuel companies cooperative partners.

Former college president James L. Powell assessed the nature of managing an endowment sternly in a recent letter to the New York Times. The fundamental principle of endowment management is that future student generations should benefit to the same extent as the current generation. By investing in the very companies whose products cause dangerous global warming, Harvard violates that principle and bets that it can profit from the success of those companies. Such betting is set to continue  at least till 2050.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
: Tamil Nadu government on Thursday



announced the formation of a special task force under Chief Secretary K Shanmugam to attract investments from overseas companies which were likely to relocate from certain countries post-coronavirus outbreak.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami constituted the special task force to invite investors from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and the United States who might relocate their operations to countries like India to diversify their supply chain.

Maintaining that the government was committed to revive industrial sectors and make them vibrant once COVID-19 pandemic recedes, the government said due to adverse impact on the global economy by coronavirus, many industries located overseas are likely to exit from certain countries and relocate their base in countries like India.

"They include investors from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and USA who already have significant investments in Tamil Nadu," an official press release said.

Palaniswami has issued the Special Task Force instructions to take steps to attract the new investments in order to create new job opportunities and submit its report in a month.

The Special Task Force would comprise representatives from business associations, companies from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and USA, secretaries of finance, industries, MSME, guidance bureau as its members.

The task force would identify potential investors, frame guidelines for expediting single-window clearances, formulate special incentive package and identify key infrastructure projects, including a dedicated industrial township.

The government of Tamil Nadu is taking all necessary steps to ensure the state shines continously as the most preferred investment destination, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and has told President Vladimir Putin he will self-isolate, per the AP. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov will temporarily perform Mishustins duties, but the prime minister said Thursday that he would stay in touch on key issues. Mishustin, 54, was named prime minister in January. During a video call, Putin voiced hope that Mishustin would continue taking part in drafting policies to shore up the Russian economy, which has been hurt by the virus pandemic. In Russia, the prime minister oversees the economy and answers to the president. It was not immediately clear when Putin last met with Mishustin in person. The Russian president has minimized meetings and switched to holding video conferences with officials during the pandemic.



story continues below

Elsewhere, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK is past the peak and on a downward slope in its coronavirus outbreak. In his first news conference in more than a month following his hospitalization with COVID-19 and his subsequent recuperation, Johnson said he would be presenting a comprehensive plan next week about how and when the UK will ease the lockdown restrictions, which are due to last at least until May 7. Johnson is widely expected to extend the current lockdown further. Johnson also voiced frustrations in getting personal protective equipment and in ramping up the testing program, but he insisted that the government was throwing everything at it, heart and soul, night and day, to get it right. (Johnson just became a father.)
Washington  When the Supreme Court on Monday tossed out a dispute over since-changed New York City rules restricting the transport of handguns, it avoided issuing a major decision on the scope of the Second Amendment, handing a victory to gun control groups that advocate for stricter rules on firearms.

But gun control advocates caution that victory could be fleeting, as the high court is already poised to consider whether to take up other pending legal battles involving the scope of the Second Amendment.

"It's a win, but it's a temporary one based on the appetite of at least the four justices who joined separate opinions to take up another Second Amendment case," Hannah Shearer, litigation director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, told CBS News. "It's not to say that the victory will soon turn into a loss, but what's likely to happen is the court will take Second Amendment cases soon and the process will start over."

The Supreme Court's decision to hear the dispute between the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association and New York City officials ended a 10-year drought in gun rights cases before the justices.

The high court ruled in 2008 that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms for self defense in the home. In 2010, the court said the Second Amendment applies to state and local gun laws. Since then, it has rejected other legal battles over firearms restrictions.

The case out of New York, which challenged restrictions on where licensed firearms owners could transport their handguns, changed that, and gun control organizations feared that if the Supreme Court's new conservative majority struck down the transport rules, other local and state rules would follow.

After the court agreed to hear the dispute but before oral arguments in December, New York City altered the rules at issue to allow licensed firearms owners to transport their locked and unloaded handguns to second homes or shooting ranges outside city limits. The Supreme Court on Monday issued an unsigned opinion dismissing the case as moot and sent it back to the lower court to decide whether the gun owners who sued can seek damages.

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Supreme Court Guns

Activists gather outside the Supreme Court before the justices hear arguments in a case brought by gun owners in New York City on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, December 2, 2019. J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Three justices  Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch  dissented, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued a short concurring opinion saying he shared the concern from his fellow conservative justices that lower courts may not be applying the Supreme Court's last two Second Amendment decisions. Kavanaugh, the newest member of the court, also indicated that the justices should not wait long before hearing another gun case.

"The court should address that issue soon, perhaps in one of the several Second Amendment cases with petitions for certiorari now pending before the court," he said.

The justices are set to meet Friday for their private conference, during which they discuss cases before the court. On the agenda: at least six cases involving state and local firearms restrictions and the reach of the Second Amendment.

"The Supreme Court is well aware that they need to clarify the scope of the Second Amendment because presently, and Kavanaugh points this out, all the lower courts are doing is rubber stamping any gun law without giving it proper consideration," said Matthew Larosiere, director of legal policy for the Firearms Policy Coalition. "The court has made it pretty clear they're going to weigh in in the Second Amendment context. If anything, this just means the court is going to have to step into a case that's more controversial, like an assault weapons case."

Among those cases set to be discussed Friday are two involving assault weapons bans in Massachusetts and Cook County, Illinois, as well as challenges to concealed carry laws in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Illinois, which raise the question of whether the Second Amendment protects the right to carry outside the home. Also scheduled to be discussed by the justices is a battle over a California law that requires handguns to meet certain design requirements.

If the Supreme Court agrees to take up any of the cases, it likely would not be heard until its next term, which begins in October, with a decision arriving before the end of June 2021.

While it seems four conservatives justices are eager to take up more gun rights cases  it takes four votes for the court to grant certiorari  what's less clear is whether there are five votes to strike down a law, with Chief Justice John Roberts poised to be the swing vote.

"The four justices might not vote to grant review if they don't think the chief justice would side with them," Shearer said. "One possibility is they don't grant review because they don't think they have the votes. Another possibility is they grant review even though his vote is up in the air. It's not a predetermined outcome when they take another case."

"I do think there's a risk that either there's five votes on the Supreme Court to strike down some gun laws that are on the books in the states or issue an opinion that shifts Second Amendment law in a way that broadly affects other types of gun safety laws," she added.

Shearer said cases more likely to attract interest from the Supreme Court involve concealed carry laws, as well as the dispute from California.

"The court has acted cautiously in the Second Amendment area so far. Heller applied only to handguns in the home and said it wasn't intended to disturb many other types of gun safety laws," she said, referring to the 2008 case, District of Columbia v. Heller. "The justices could issue a similar opinion that strikes down a specific law but is careful not to disturb other laws."

The reluctance of the Supreme Court to hear cases involving the Second Amendment has been a point of contention for Thomas in particular. In 2018, after the court turned away a case involving a California law requiring a 10-day waiting period for gun sales, Thomas wrote the Second Amendment has become a "disfavored right" and the high court's "constitutional orphan."

He also accused the lower courts of treating the right to bear arms "cavalierly" and failing to "afford the Second Amendment the respect due to an enumerated constitutional right."

The dispute over New York City's gun rules raised a narrow issue, and Larosiere predicts the Supreme Court will avoid a sweeping ruling in future cases. Still, he's optimistic gun rights advocates won't have to wait long before the justices decide to weigh the reach of the right to keep and bear arms.

"I don't think it'll be another decade," he said.

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A detention deputy with the Bexar County Sheriffs Office who was found dead Thursday had recently tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

Timothy De La Fuente, a 27-year-veteran of the Sheriffs Office, was tested Tuesday for the highly contagious virus.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said that while the Medical Examiner's Office has yet to declare an official cause, he is considering it an on-duty death.

"I have every intention of laying him to rest with all the honor that's due someone in that situation," Salazar said. "We're going to lay him to rest with full honors."

De La Fuente, 53, reported to work Tuesday with no symptoms, Salazar said. He was tested that day as part of the jail's recent mass testing efforts, which have uncovered numerous asymptomatic cases of the virus. As of Thursday, 129 inmates and 40 deputies have tested positive.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County Sheriffs detention deputy dies from COVID-19 complications

On Wednesday, De La Fuente called in sick. He stayed home again Thursday and was due to seek private medical care later that day. He excused himself to use the restroom and his wife found him deceased at their North Side home.

Metro Health did not have a chance to notify him of his positive coronavirus test before he died, Salazar said. The San Antonio Fire Department transported him with full honors to the Medical Examiner's Office, where an autopsy was to be performed Thursday.

De La Fuente had underlying health conditions, according to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. It isnt clear where De La Fuente contracted the virus, Wolff said, but its possible he caught it at the jail.

Salazar noted that De La Fuente had been assaulted by an inmate about three years ago. He still had a scar from where the inmate had broken a mop handle over his head.

The sheriff said he was at De La Fuente's bedside at the hospital that day. The deputy was laughing and joking and made Salazar take a selfie with him. Assigned to working the front door while he recovered from his injuries, he shook Salazar's hand every time the sheriff entered the building.

"Always very respectful and always very eager to say hello," Salazar said of De La Fuente.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Megadeths 2017 appearance at Germanys Wacken Open Air Festival will be the subject of review for Megadeth fans this afternoon as band leader Dave Mustaine host both a viewing and a live chat.

The event takes place through the bands website at megadeth.com at 5 p.m.

In addition the band has developed a new line of merchandise to help raise money for its crew and production team (unemployed due to tour cancellations) The merchandise will include a face mask with a design that resembles their mascot, Vic Rattlehead, with all purchases.

The groups summer tour currently has June dates in both Boston and Providence  dates that could be in jeopardy due to pandemic concerns.

Shop for concert tickets here: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster.
[April 30, 2020] Galileo Financial Technologies Pioneers Expansion into Mexico with Mastercard Certification and Major Strategic Partnership with Klar

Rigorous certification enables Galileo to accelerate the launch of consumer payment services by innovative fintech Klar SALT LAKE CITY and MEXICO CITY, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Galileo , the trusted technology partner that powers world-leading fintech businesses, announced its Mastercard certification in Mexico and new partnership with a major fintech company in the Mexican market. These two events further strengthen Galileo's expansion into the region. Galileo is the first API software innovator to secure Mastercard certification and to launch as part of Mastercard's Fintech Accelerate program in Mexico, which makes it a pioneer in the market. Galileo is certified with the Mastercard Mexico Domestic Switch (MxDS) for Signature, PIN and ATM transactions, as well as settlement and chargeback processing. By meeting the standards required for certification, Galileo's API-centric platform enables fintechs launching in Mexico to quickly and easily build and launch payment services that meet the needs of consumers in the region. Building on this partnership with Mastercard, Galileo announced its first strategic alliace in the Mexican market: Klar, a leading Mexican challenger bank, has selected Galileo to provide the technology backbone to deliver services in Mexico.



"Not only is Mexico one of the most influential and innovative fintech markets in Latin America, it is also one of the Fintech hubs with the highest growth potential worldwide," said Tory Jackson, Galileo's in-country manager for Mexico. "Our Mastercard certification and partnership with Klar reinforce our commitment and efforts to bring innovative payment solutions for consumers in Mexico." Klar is leading the democratization of financial services in Mexico by offering alternatives to traditional credit cards and debit services, without the traditional banking fees. Partnering with Galileo, Klar delivers secure services via a mobile app and a secure credit card. As a well-backed startup, Klar recently completed Mexico's largest seed funding round, amounting to $57.5 million.

"Our partnership with Galileo is yet another big step towards building world-class financial products tailored to the Mexican market," said Stefan Moller, CEO, Klar. Last month, Galileo opened its Mexico City offices, located nearby Mastercard Mexico's headquarters in the financial district. "Mexico has solidified its position as Latin America's fintech leader with the government's recent enactment of pioneering legislation promoting technological innovation," said Pablo Cuaron, Mastercard Mexico. "Mastercard's partnership with Galileo, which offers powerful and customizable payments infrastructure, will allow fintechs in Mexico to go to market faster by leveraging Mastercard's Fintech Express program while meeting the rising consumer demands for digital financial services. This is just another example of how Mastercard is leading the way in partnering with new players to transform the way Mexicans pay." About Galileo

Salt Lake City-based Galileo, the API standard for card issuing, is a global payments platform that powers world-leading fintechs, financial services and investment firms by removing the complexity of payments. Galileo makes it fast and easy for businesses to innovate and deliver amazing user experiences to their customers. Check out Galileo at galileo-ft.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galileo-financial-technologies-pioneers-expansion-into-mexico-with-mastercard-certification-and-major-strategic-partnership-with-klar-301049915.html SOURCE Galileo

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Nearly nine in ten people are staying home rather than going out, despite a rise in bus users, according to new government research.

The poll, carried out by Amarach Research, found that 89% of people are not leaving home during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The findings of the poll were announced by Assistant Secretary at the Department of Taoiseach Liz Canavan at the daily health briefing at Government Buildings.

It found that 89% of people are staying home rather than leaving the house, 94% are washing their hands more often, 90% are socially distancing in queues and 78% are now coughing into their sleeves.

The poll of 1,100 people was carried out on Monday.

Ms Canavan revealed that the number of people using Dublin Bus this week has risen on the three-week average.

On Tuesday, 57,858 people used buses in the capital - a 3.5% rise on the average since April 8. On Monday, the figure was 57,700.

"It is important to note that strict social distancing provisions are in place on Dublin Bus," she said.

Ms Canavan said that over 50,400 businesses had signed up to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, with some 652 million having been paid out to almost 400,000 employees thus far.

Today, Revenue has generated a further 52.2 million in payments, which will land in company accounts tomorrow.

Ms Canavan said that gardai had used enforcement powers under Covid-19 legislation 76 times since April 8.

All of these matters go to the Director of Public Prosecutions, she added.

"It's important to acknowledge that the majority of people are complying with the regulations."

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Navy commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network while the U.S. intelligence community tried to track the cellphones of the man and his captors, in the days following the capture of an American contractor in Afghanistan earlier this year.

While the circumstances surrounding the abduction remain unclear, the previously unreported operation described by multiple American officials over the past month shed new light on early efforts to locate Mark R. Frerichs.

The disappearance several months ago of the contractor from Illinois has been shrouded in mystery, and the case has been the subject of minimal public discussion by the U.S. government.

The new details emerge as violence and political infighting in Kabul threaten to scuttle a Taliban peace deal with the U.S.

Mark Frerichs, a contractor from Illinois, poses in Iraq in this undated photo obtained from Twitter that he would include with his resume when job hunting

Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced frustrations after a failed attempt to mediate a power struggle between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

Washington has urged Kabul to release Taliban prisoners, which is part of the peace agreement.

But there are no indications Frerichs, a Navy veteran, has been part of negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban leadership, or that his release is part of any peace deal.

'The Taliban kidnapped my brother in January. In February, the U.S. signed a peace deal with the Taliban. My brother wasn't part of the deal. Now we are arranging for the Taliban and Afghan government to exchange thousands of prisoners,' Charlene Cakora, one of Frerichs sisters, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press. 'Why cant we make an American hostage be one of them?'

Frerichs was abducted in Afghanistan in January 2020. Early efforts to locate him have been shrouded in mystery and his disappearance has been the subject of minimal public discussion by the U.S. government

Frerichs father, Art, said in a statement that though he has faith in President Donald Trump and Pompeo, 'I just need them to tell their people negotiating with the Taliban that America wont lift a finger until my son comes home. Hes a veteran. This is America. We dont leave people behind.'

The Pentagon and U.S. Special Operations Command declined to comment.

The rescue effort is being coordinated through the FBI-led Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which said in a statement that it was working with its partners to ensure 'that Mark Frerichs and all Americans held hostage abroad are returned home.' It urged anyone with information to come forward.

The State Department said it was aware of an American whod been abducted in Afghanistan and that the 'welfare, safety and security of Americans is the Trump Administrations highest priority.'

A former U.S. national security official who is advising the Frerichs family said he specifically urged Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to resolve the situation and bring Frerichs home. The former national security official insisted on anonymity to speak candidly since the official works with the Trump administration.

U.S. officials believe Frerichs, 57, of Lombard, Illinois, was held for at least some time in Khost, an eastern province along the border with Pakistan and its so-called tribal regions, a mountainous area that has historically been a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

The Associated Press has learned that in the days following Frerichs' capture, Navy commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network while the U.S. intelligence community tried to track the cellphones of Frerich and his captors

The former national security official said that Frerichs has been in Afghanistan for about a decade working on commercial projects and was not a U.S. government contractor.

Though no formal demands are known to have been made, U.S. intelligence officials believe Frerichs was captured by members of the Haqqani network, a militant group that is aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan and that was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012.

Though the Haqqanis are known to carry out assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, Taliban leadership has not acknowledged Frerichs' capture.

Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and Army veteran who led the teams that searched for Bowe Bergdahl after the Army soldier abandoned his post and wound up captured by the Taliban, said the Taliban frequently hides American hostages until they can move them over the border into Pakistan.

He said he had 'real concerns about suggestions that the Taliban are serious about peace.'

The SEALs involved in the Frerichs effort had spent late January working to recover the bodies of two American service members who died when their aircraft crash-landed in Ghazni in central Afghanistan, according to the senior U.S. government official.

Frerichs' father, Art, said in a statement that though he has faith in President Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo (pictured), 'I just need them to tell their people negotiating with the Taliban that America wont lift a finger until my son comes home. Hes a veteran. This is America. We dont leave people behind'

The bitter winter weather that limited overhead surveillance of the airplane wreckage by U.S. military drones also worked against officials during the later SEAL operation on the night of February 3. Periods of poor-to-nonexistent visibility ultimately delayed a planned intelligence-gathering operation on a known Taliban location, said the senior U.S. government official.

Once the weather cleared, the SEALs loaded onto helicopters and flew to the undisclosed location. The senior official declined to disclose the exact location of the province for operational security reasons.

The senior U.S. government official and the Defense Department source with knowledge of the raid, who also requested anonymity, said the SEAL platoon was not met with Taliban resistance and that once at the compound, they detained several alleged Haqqani militants and uncovered a weapons cache.

The suspected Haqqani members were questioned about Frerichs whereabouts and were ultimately turned over to the Afghan government, according to the senior U.S. government official.

On February 4, American intelligence officials received a report that Frerichs had possibly been moved to Quetta, Pakistan, a historical safe haven for the Taliban, the two officials said. But the information was deemed not credible enough to warrant a special operations mission, according to the senior U.S. government official.

The report also conflicted with signals intelligence - information gathered from electronic signals broadcast from devices like portable radios and cellphones - that U.S. officials had at the time.

U.S. intelligence officials continued to receive location pings from the suspected cellphones of Frerichs and his captors, but the trail went cold on February 5, according to the senior U.S. government and Defense Department officials.

'Operationally, the reason why time is critical in a kidnapping is because you can close the distance quicker, ideally immediately or by utilizing sources,' said the senior U.S. government official. 'This is not the case right now. He could be two houses down from where he was taken and we would not know.'
Oyo

Indias Oyo Hotels and Homes, backed by SoftBank Group, plans to offload more properties around the world, three sources familiar with the matter said, as the coronavirus pandemic prompts it to speed up a retreat from a rapid global expansion.

The hospitality sector has been one of the worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with global and domestic travel coming to a near-halt.

While Oyo does not plan to completely exit any market, it will either terminate or not renew contracts with loss-making hotels, two of the sources said.

A fourth source aware of the plans added that Oyo had already ditched a number of loss-making properties as part of a broader restructuring that began last year.

The source also said the company may furlough additional staff in countries where travel curbs to prevent the spread of the virus persist for several months, making it difficult for hotels to operate.

The retreat comes just a year after a heady expansion beyond India and China into Europe, Southeast Asia and the United States, which made Oyo one of the worlds biggest hospitality brands by room count. However, the push also widened its losses to $335 million last year.

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 was not immediately clear how many hotel contracts Oyo plans to end nor in which countries, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions were still private.

Oyo did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Oyo will prioritise business and investment in India, Southeast Asia, Europe, China and the United States while sustaining a presence in places like Japan, Brazil, Mexico and the Middle East, said the fourth source.

The company has $1 billion of cash and the measures, along with other cost-cutting initiatives and furloughs outlined in early April, are aimed at reducing monthly expenses to about $25 million by June from $40 million, the source added.

Other large hotel operators like Marriott International (MAR.O) have also abandoned their financial outlooks and furloughed staff to conserve cash.

On April 8, Oyos founder Ritesh Agarwal, said the pandemic had resulted in a 50%-60% drop in revenues and occupancy levels, putting severe stress on the companys balance sheet.

Given how unprecedented the current situation is, its natural for Oyo to prepare for the worst, said one of the three people cited above.

Heady Expansion

Oyo is one of SoftBanks biggest bets with the Japanese group holding a 46% stake.

The six-year-old hotel startup had already consulted turnaround specialist Alvarez & Marsal and Accenture Plc last year, two of the four people said, and more recently it tapped human resources advisor Aon Hewitt.

Alvarez and Accenture did not respond to emails seeking comment. Aon Hewitt declined to comment.

Between January and March, Oyo cut 5,000 jobs mainly in China and India, leaving it with about 25,000 employees, and amended contracts with hotels to remove revenue guarantees.

It also decided to end contracts with hotels that did not generate annual revenues of at least $100,000, the two sources said. Emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia and Latin America bore the brunt of the cuts, one of the two people said, adding that Oyo now operated in 400 Indian cities from 550 previously.

The measures helped Oyo halve its monthly costs to $40 million from $80 million in January, said the two people.
New FBI documents related to the investigation of Michael Flynn reveal that the bureau was planning to close a probe in early 2017 of whether he was a Russian asset due to a lack of 'derogatory' evidence.

The new documents also indicate that Peter Strzok  who would later become a favorite target of President Trump's  ordered the investigation be kept open in 2017 at the start of the Trump presidency.

The new documents unsealed in federal court identify the Flynn probe's code name as 'Crossfire Razor,' a play on the Crossfire Hurricane tag agents gave the Russia probe.

The documents were disclosed in connection with Attorney General Bill Barr's review of the Flynn investigation, which ultimately led him to plead guilty to lying to the FBI.

New FBI documents related to the investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn reveal that the bureau was planning to close a probe of whether he was a Russian agent due to a lack of 'derogatory' evidence

Documents unsealed Wednesday show FBI officials discussed whether to get Flynn 'to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired' during a bureau interview with the former Trump national security advisor about his contacts with Russia's former ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.

A January 4, 2017 FBI memo described an FBI look at Flynn to see if he was 'wittingly or unwittingly' involved in activity on behalf of Russia. It noted pubic reporting on Flynn's trip to Russia where he attended a dinner with Vladimir Putin.

The FBI reached out to another agency whose name was blacked out, and it found 'no derogatory information' on Flynn. An additional agency also turned up no derogatory information.

The FBI's Washington field office thus concluded Flynn 'was no longer a viable candidate as part of the larger CROSSFIRE HURRICANE umbrella case.

The agent who penned the memo, which was reported on by Fox News, wrote that at the 'direction of FBI management, [Flynn] was not interviewed as part of the case closing procedure.

Flynn was being probed about his Russia contacts. Notes reference getting him to admit to a potential Logan Act issues related to his undisclosed work for Turkey during the Trump campaign

'What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!,' Trump tweeted Thursday

'The FBI is closing this investigation. If new information is identified or reported to the FBI regarding the activities of CROSSFIRE RAZOR, the FBI will consider reopening the investigation if warranted,' the concluded.

But Strzok texted another person: 'Hey dont close RAZOR,' in reference to the case.

Trump defended Flynn Thursday afternoon as a 'fine man' and even maintained the possibility of hiring him back.

'I would certainly consider it. Yeah I would,' he said when asked about it.

The memo describes a dinner Flynn attended while he was serving as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency before he was fired by President Obama.

After he had dinner and drinks, [redacted] 'got [Flynn] a cab to take [Flynn] to the train station.' It continued, adding that a [redacted] 'surprised everyone and got into [Flynn's] cab and joined [Flynn] on the train ride.' The confidential source of the information was 'somewhat suspicious' since the person was affiliated with 'several prominent members of [redacted].'

The person's father 'may be a Russian oligarch living in [redacted],' according to the memo. The FBI also did surveillance on a 'certain Russian subject' in search of contact with Flynn. But no contact was noticed at the event being observed.'

Just 20 days after the memo about the closing of the investigation, Flynn was interviewed at the White House.

Flynn resigned as national security advisor after just 24 days on the job. Trump said at the time he fired Flynn for lying to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

Trump pleaded guilty to lying to investigators but his new legal team has sought to reverse his plea. Trump has dodged direct questions about whether he will pardon Flynn, but has been explicit about his feelings about the case.

'If you look at those notes from yesterday, that was total exoneration,' the president said, referencing Wednesday's release. 'Now we have to see what's going to happen.'

'What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!,' Trump tweeted Thursday.
BRIDGEPORT  All of the citys first responders and residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who believe they have been exposed are eligible for free testing at two different facilities.

The two sites are new. Until this was set up, testing has only been done at Bridgeport and St. Vincents hospitals.

Mayor Joseph Ganim said the testing for police, firefighters and emergency personnel will take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. May 2 and May 6 at Central High School on Lincoln Boulevard.

Individuals must register before 8 p.m. April 30 for the Saturday session and before 8 p.m. Monday for Wednesdays session.

Registration is done online at www.physicianoneurgentcare.com/bridgeport.

Ganim said anyone needing help with registration should call 855-349-2828.

Residents who believe they are experiencing symptoms similar to those caused by COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has the virus can be tested for free at the Southwest Community Health, 46 Albion St. beginning at 8 a.m. May 6.

Ganim said there should be some foundation for those wanting to have the test and not just saying: Oh, I want to get tested.

Well test as many as we can with the number of supplies we have, said Mollie Melbourne, president and chief executive officer of Southwest Community Health.

She said she anticipates being able to do 80 of the rapid tests which provide results in about 15 minutes. The tests are being supplied by the state Department of Public Health and the Connecticut National Guard. She said she expects Southwest will complete at least another 120 of the longer tests through Quest Diagnostics.

She said 15 percent of the people tested April 29 using the rapid procedure were positive for the virus.

We advised those people to stay home and isolate themselves and informed them of what to look out for in the next few days, Melbourne said.

She said symptoms include if a fever remains or increases despite taking Tylenol, increased shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing and persistent chest pain.

Additionally, individuals should be concerned if chills cause intense shivering, if their lips turn blue or they lose the sense of taste or smell.

Melbourne said the testing will take place in the parking lot weather permitting.

Were hoping to offer this every Wednesday if we have can obtain the supplies, she said.

Ganim said testing is critical as the state begins to prepare for reopening.

Testing will help us get there, he said.

The citys two hospitals have conducted 5,914 tests. As of Thursday morning, 1,965 city residents have tested positive for coronavirus.

The mayor said he expects that number to rise as more tests are conducted.

As a result of doing more tests...logic would show more tests would come back positive, he said.
The untimely demise of veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor on Thursday has sent shock waves across the nation. Several southern celebrities such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Allu Arjun took to Twitter to share their condolences.

Rishi Kapoor breathed his last on Thursday morning in a hospital in Mumbai. The 67-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 following which he was treated in New York for nearly a year.

Actor Rajinikanth, who had shared screen space with Rishi Kapoor in 1986 film Dosti Dushmani, wrote on Twitter: Heartbroken. Rest in peace my dearest friend Rishi Kapoor (sic).

Heartbroken ... Rest In Peace ... my dearest friend #RishiKapoor  Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 30, 2020

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, who had worked with the veteran in Saagar, tweeted: Cant believe it. Chintu ji @chintskap. (Mr. Rishi Kapoor) was always ready with a smile. We had mutual love and respect. Will miss my friend. My heartfelt condolence to the family (sic).

Cant believe it. Chintu ji @chintskap. (Mr.Rishi Kapoor) was always ready with a smile. We had mutual love and respect. Will miss my friend. My heartfelt condolence to the family.  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 30, 2020

Telugu star Allu Arjun tweeted: Grief-stricken by the demise of the charismatic actor Rishi Kapoor ji. A Versatile Performer who I always admired. An actor from a legendary family entertaining us for decades gone too soon. Condolences to the entire family (sic).

Grief-stricken by the demise of the charismatic actor Rishi Kapoor ji . A Versatile Performer... who I always admired . An actor from a legendary family entertaining us for decades gone too soon . Condolences to the entire family . RIP . #Rishikapoor pic.twitter.com/Q0EbEXADZm  Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) April 30, 2020

Actor Chiranjeevi remembered Rishi Kapoor as a great friend. He tweeted: Devastated to know Rishi Ji is no more. A great friend, a great artiste, heartthrob of millions. Carrier of a great legacy. Feel so heartbroken at this loss. Farewell my friend #RishiKapoor. Rest in peace (sic).

Devastated to know Rishi Ji is no more. A great friend , A great artiste, heartthrob of millions. Carrier of a Great legacy. Feel so heartbroken at this loss. Farewell my friend #RishiKapoor. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/gBcdrIXvhO  Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) April 30, 2020

Malayalam great Mohanlal wrote: Loss of a legend... Rishi Kapoor... heartbreaking...#RishiKapoor

Actor Mahesh Babu described the passing away of Rishi Kapoor as yet another irreplaceable loss for Indian cinema.

Heartbreaking to hear about #RishiKapoor sir. Yet another irreplaceable loss in our world of cinema... A complete entertainer and an incredibly talented actor... A true legend. My deepest condolences and strength to Ranbir and his family. May his soul rest in peace.   Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) April 30, 2020

Mahesh tweeted: Heartbreaking to hear about #RishiKapoor sir. Yet another irreplaceable loss in our world of cinema... A complete entertainer and an incredibly talented actor. A true legend. My deepest condolences and strength to Ranbir and his family. May his soul rest in peace (sic).

Ram Charan tweeted: Heartbreaking to know that #RishiKapoor Ji is no more. Another stalwart of Indian cinema leaves us today. My deepest condolences and strength to the Mr. Kapoors family (sic).

Heartbreaking to know that #RishiKapoor Ji is no more. Another stalwart of Indian cinema leaves us today. My deepest condolences and strength to the Mr. Kapoor's family. pic.twitter.com/Lhm9faiHew  Ram Charan (@AlwaysRamCharan) April 30, 2020

Also read: Rishi Kapoor, Bollywoods original chocolate boy, dies at 67, Amitabh Bachchan says hes destroyed

Actor Vedhika Kumar, who starred alongside Rishi Kapoor in Body, wrote on her Twitter page: Heartbroken hearing abt #RishiKapoor sir. Day b4 mom n me were watching Chandini n were admiring u. I feel so lucky to have gotten to meet n work with u sir. Thank u for all ur generosity n kindness. The world will never be able to replace u & ur talent. We will miss u. Rest in peace (sic).

Heartbroken hearing abt #RishiKapoor sir. Day b4 mom n me were watching Chandni n were admiring u. I feel so lucky to have gotten to meet n work with u sir.Thank u for all ur generosity n kindness.The World will never be able to replace u&ur talent.We will miss u. Rest in peace pic.twitter.com/IC0c1I1HIA  Vedhika (@Vedhika4u) April 30, 2020

Just cannot believe what Im hearing  This is heartbreaking and absolutely bizarre whats going on! Another cinema legend gone too soon  #RIPRishiKapoor Sending loads of love and light to the family in these tough times   Pooja Hegde (@hegdepooja) April 30, 2020

Pooja Hegde, who was last seen on screen in Ala Vaikuntapuramloo, tweeted: Just cannot believe what Im hearing. This is heartbreaking and absolutely bizarre. Whats going on! Another cinema legend gone too soon #RIPRishiKapoor Sending loads of love and light to the family in these tough times (sic).

Follow @htshowbiz for more
SHENZHEN, China, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CIOE 2020 (the 22nd China International Optoelectronic Exposition), the most influential and renowned optoelectronic industry exhibition, will be held as scheduled from September 9 to 11 at the largest exhibition venue Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. This grand event attracted tremendous abundant leading optoelectronic companies to present the entire optoelectronic ecosystem in information and communications, lasers, infrared, precision optics, lens and camera module, optoelectronic sensor and photonic innovations. Having annual over 3,000 exhibitors at the exhibition halls, CIOE is popular amount optoelectronic buyers for product sourcing as one trip and for all.

At CIOE 2020, over 800 manufacturers, equipment and service providers such as Hisense, SCHOTT, Keysight, HiSilicon, PHOGRAIN, Shijia, Eoptolink, Gigalight, II-VI, VIAVI, MACOM, O-Net, SENKO, InnoLight, CIG, T&S Communications, Sifotonics, Hitachi, Jiangsu Etern, C-data Technology, AUXORA, Broadex will exhibit at CIOE - Information and Communication Expo showcasing optical components and materials, optical fiber & cable, wireless communications, fiber sensing, cloud data center, optical communications system equipment, manufacturing system equipment, broadcasting and communications equipment, operation and service.

China's laser market is growing rapidly due to higher requirements in semiconductor processing and PCB processing. More than 200 top laser companies like Han's Laser, INTE Laser, NKT, SemiNex, Holo/Or, ATTOCUBE, Optical Film, DERAY, BWT, RealLight, SYNTEC, Lumcore, HI-Tech, Raybow Optoelectronics, Exuberance Opto-electronics will gather at CIOE - Lasers Technology & Intelligent Manufacturing Expo presenting the hottest technologies and products in laser materials and components, laser equipment, 3D printing and high-end intelligent equipment. Also, Lithuania Pavilion will join CIOE 2020 and showcase the world's first-class laser technologies.

As the only and first professional infrared exhibition in China, key infrared players LYNRED, FORECAM OPTICS, JIUZHIYANG, Thorlabs, ULIRVISION, Newport, DALI, IRay, GLOBAL SENSOR TECHNOLOGY, LEMO, GRINM, Kaihang, FuJiRui, MAGNITY, Sunell, AVIC, Keii Electro will bring the hot infrared equipment and application in the fighting against COVID-19 at CIOE - Infrared Applications Expo.

Ametek, Haotian, Panasonic, Buhler, SCHOTT, SUMITA OPTICS, Bruker, SHINCRON, Novel Trading, Phenix Optics, Schneider, HIKARI GLASS, CDGM, Foctek, Hitronics, INFICON, OPTRONTEC will continue to showcase the hot products and technologies in machine vision, optical components and instruments at CIOE - Precision Optics Lens and Camera Module Expo.

Also, Shanghai JuYou Smart Intelligence Technology, Xi'an Zhisensor Technologies, Honvision, Hypersen, KOWINTEST EQUIPMENT, ACUS TECHNOLOGY, Neuvition Technology, Optochip, Fraunhofer FEP, DRX Light Tech will share the topnotch products and applications in optical fiber sensor, machine vision, IoT at CIOE - Optoelectronic Sensor Expo. Furthermore, CIOE - Photonics Innovation Expo will gather Chinese top research organizations such as Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Pixel Technology, Flyuoptics, Dajian Optics, Zhejiang jingzheng Optoelectronic Technology, ZHONGGUANG PRECISE INSTRUMENT to demonstrate the latest products in biophotonics, information optoelectronic technology, intelligent manufacturing and robot.

Together more than 3,000 optoelectronic companies will present the world's largest exhibition for product displaying, demo releasing and network expanding.

Save the date and sign up now to CIOE 2020 to meet the world's most completed optoelectronic clusters by only one visit.
By Trend

The Azerbaijani government continues to take urgent measures to bring back the citizens who are abroad and want to come back, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said, Trend reports on April 30.

Due to the difficult global situation because of the coronavirus pandemic, citizens abroad are returning to the country even under the current conditions of a special quarantine regime, the spokesperson said.

A special website has been created to bring back our citizens from Russia, the spokesperson said. People are being registered online. During the previous weeks, a group of our citizens, namely, 548 people, returned to Azerbaijan and this work continues. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that each returning citizen is quarantined. In this regard, the decision related to the return of citizens is made depending on the availability of vacant beds in quarantine zones.

We have repeatedly appealed to our citizens in this regard, Abdullayeva added. Azerbaijani extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Russia urged compatriots to demonstrate understanding.

Presently, our citizens after registration must wait for a message, which is sent to them from the website and not go to the border checkpoint, the spokesperson added. While going to a border checkpoint, our citizens endanger both their own health and the health of their relatives.

I would like to emphasize again that the return of our citizens is being ensured taking into account the availability of vacant beds in the quarantine zones in Azerbaijan, Abdullayeva said. In this regard, of course, we must think about our doctors, respect the work of the medical staff, which works almost without interruption. There are also our citizens in other countries. They are staying temporarily and want to return. The work is underway to return them to Azerbaijan.

Gathering at the border checkpoints doesn't help move the matter forward, and it is important for every citizen to understand this, the spokesperson added. I would like to reiterate that the government will return the citizens who are abroad gradually in accordance with the development of the situation in Azerbaijan, the availability of vacant beds in the quarantine zones and the corresponding logistic support."

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
As the coronavirus was beginning its mad spread across the United States, Alberto Perez, the city manager of Rio Grande City, Texas, worked with other city and county officials to confront it as they would a computer virus  by disconnecting.

Thats meant quarantines, an enforced 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew that carried fine and jail penalties, business closings and the testing of symptomatic people in Starr County, where Rio Grande City is, before much of the rest of the state  regardless of whether they had health insurance.

The simplest thing to do in technology when you get a virus is you disconnect your computer," said Perez, who has a background in IT. "The same thing happened in the county: You disconnect your county from everyone else, so the virus doesnt spread from everywhere else."

Though they havent kept the county, which is 99.1 percent Latino, virus free, as have a few other mostly rural counties, they've kept coronavirus cases lowno small achievement, they say, in this city on the border with Mexico.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

We are very proud at this point that our numbers are very low, considering we are an at-risk population and the disparity in medical services and our low socio-economic population. We rank as one of the poorest counties in the nation. However, that does not deter us, Rio Grande Mayor Joel Villarreal told NBC News.

Starr County, located on the border and one of the poorest county's in the country, used a public-private partnership to conduct testing for residents for a month. (Starr County Industrial Foundation)

As of Wednesday, Starr County had nine cases of the coronavirus. For two weeks, it had no new cases. But that lull was interrupted Monday with the case of a 30 year old and another Thursday involving a 69 year old. Most of the cases in the county so far involve people in their 30s.

Of the confirmed cases, seven have recovered. There have been no deaths. Perez said at least eight of the cases involved people who had traveled outside the county.

Starr County, which consistently ranks as one of the poorest counties in the state and country, has a population of 63,984, smaller than many cities, and has no large metropolitan area. But there is a constant flow of border traffic over the international bridge.

Story continues

Some county residents lack running water and other basic necessities. A third live below the federal poverty level. The countys median income was about $29,294 in 2018, according to the Census Bureau. An estimated one third do not have health insurance.

News

As of Wednesday, Texas had 27,054 reported cases of coronavirus and 732 deaths; Latinos accounted for 28.2 percent of cases and 17.9 percent of deaths.

Forty-seven counties had no reported cases, including five that are on the border. Many of those that dont have any cases have done little to no testing, leaving questions about whether they are truly coronavirus free, The Texas Tribune reported.

The state is preparing to reopen this week, and Starr County is hoping its good fortune and aggressive preparation and response holds out.

Early testing, 'no discrimination'

In late February and early March, the county shifted its focus to preparing for a coronavirus outbreak. A timeline Perez assembled of key milestones notes that on March 10-11, it held a training session for phone operators to answer questions and connect people to health care, and on March 14 hot lines went into service.

Starr County started offering testing on March 23. Officials like to boast it was the first city south of San Antonio to offer drive-thru testing, which it did with the help of a $30,000 donation from Sam Vale, owner of the Starr Camargo Bridge Co. The company owns the port of entry that is leased to the federal government.

Starr County officials created and distributed door hangers to encourage social distancing. (Rio Grande City government)

Testing was open to those who had a doctors prescription regardless of insurance coverage, or lack of it.

No discrimination, that is the most important part of our testing, Dr. Jose Vasquez said in the news conference posted on the countys Facebook page. Vasquez acts as the countys health authority and is president of its hospital board.

All information has been distributed in Spanish because its use is part of everyday life in the Rio Grande Valley.

The county had done 569 tests as of April 22, said Rose Benavides, president of the Starr County Industrial Foundation, the countys and cities economic development arm. The foundation helped negotiate the testing and is trying to get funding for another round.

We knew the community had 20 test kits sent to them from the state, and that was not going to be enough to handle any potential influx of testing, Benavides said.

The state sent a mobile testing site to the county this week, but Benavides said local officials know urban areas of the state are the priority so we just tried to make a big effort to be proactive instead of reactive. ... I think that unified message has resonated with the business community and residents as a whole to make sacrifices.

Collaboration, coordination was crucial

Perez said the county clamped down when Rio Grande Citys finance director returned ill on March 20 from Cancun, Mexico. He required the finance director to go into a 14-day quarantine, and the county stepped up its restrictions on contact and travel.

As Perezs timeline reads: March 20 RGC (Rio Grande City) prohibit community gatherings, no more than 10 people initiate curb service; March 24 judge signs stay at home order; March 24 RGC stay at home, essential travel, curfew, closing of nonessential businesses (gyms, salons, day cares).

This was before Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued the states stay-at-home order on April 3.

The cities of Roma and Rio Grande City, scheduled to hold elections May 1, postponed them. Rio Grande City rescheduled its elections for November.

I think one thing we are trying to communicate every step of the way is the more we do this, the more protected we are and we are able to come out sooner, Perez said.

News

The county didn't adopt an "everyone-for-themselves" attitude. The countys municipalities and their governments stayed in close contact, coordinating and collaborating response, officials said. In some cases there has been some sharing and exchanging of resources, such as disinfectant, with other counties.

We had to get buy-in from the community. It didnt make sense if one municipality did one thing and one did another. What effect would that have on our friends in Roma? Villarreal said, referring to another Starr County city, 13 miles west. He said they also keep in contact with Mexican officials in cities across the border.

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

Many of the steps theyve taken are about to be subsumed by Abbotts decision to begin reopening the state, allowing restaurants, malls, retail stores and movie theaters to open on Friday, although at limited capacity and with restrictions.

Villarreal said hed like to keep some restrictions in place that will be lifted by Abbotts order, such as requiring face masks, the curfew and keeping theaters closed. He said the order should have left some leeway for local officials to decide how their businesses reopen.

"How do we do safely reopen and at same time maintain social distancing and face coverings and continue to promote safety and not risk the population?" Villarreal asked, saying he fears a second wave of cases. "We are not going to let our guard down."

Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Economic stimulus checks are prepared for printing at the Philadelphia Financial Center May 8, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jeff Fusco/Stringer

Feng Chen, a 31-year-old New York man, was arrested Tuesday and charged with theft for allegedly taking stimulus checks from mailboxes.

Police say they found him searching through mailboxes in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.

When he was arrested, Chen was carrying stimulus payments "totaling more than $12,000, credit cards, opened envelopes and letters bearing the names of various individuals and mail addresses," police said.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A 31-year-old man in New York City was arrested on Tuesday after police said he stole nine stimulus payments from mailboxes in Brooklyn that were worth $12,000.

Police arrested Feng Chen after finding him looking in mailboxes and a medical collection bin in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

Prosecutors said police found Chen carrying stimulus payments "totaling more than $12,000, credit cards, opened envelopes and letters bearing the names of various individuals and mail addresses" when he was arrested.

Chen was charged with theft and faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors say he stole mail, "including credit cards, multiple checks and nine Economic Impact Payments (EIP) from the United States Treasury Department, otherwise known as 'stimulus payments.'"

"The COVID-19 crisis has placed tremendous stress on underserved communities across this country. The Economic Impact Payments are, in many cases, the lifeline needed by these individuals to stay afloat during this crisis," Philip Bartlett, the inspector-in-charge at the United States Postal Inspection Service's New York Division, said in the statement.

"When Mr. Chen stole these checks, he robbed recipients of these much-needed funds," he continued. "Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners have no tolerance for the theft of mail, especially during these unprecedented times."

Story continues

Richard Donoghue, the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said prosecutors would go after people taking advantage of the coronavirus crisis.

"This Office will vigorously prosecute all those who seek to take advantage of the public health crisis," he said. "I commend the NYPD police officers for their truly outstanding work and service under difficult conditions."

Read the original article on Insider
BEIJING, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 58.com Inc. (NYSE: WUBA) ("58.com" or the "Company"), China's largest online classifieds marketplace, today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has received a preliminary non-binding proposal letter dated April 30, 2020 (the "Proposal Letter") from Warburg Pincus Asia LLC, General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte. Ltd., Ocean Link Partners Limited, and Mr. Jinbo Yao, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of 58.com (collectively, the "Consortium"), with respect to the proposed "going-private" transaction (the "Proposed Transaction") wherein the Consortium proposes to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company, including Class A ordinary shares represented by the American Depositary Shares of the Company (the "ADSs", each representing two Class A ordinary shares) for US$27.50 in cash per ordinary share, or US$55.00 in cash per ADS. A copy of the proposal letter is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Consortium was formed in furtherance of the proposed transaction initially set forth in the preliminary non-binding proposal letter submitted by Ocean Link Partners Limited to the Company on April 2, 2020, and the Proposal Letter updates the initial proposal letter accordingly. As previously announced, the Board had formed a committee of two independent directors (the "Special Committee") to evaluate the Proposed Transaction, or any alternative strategic option that the Company may pursue. The Special Committee will continue to evaluate the Proposed Transaction in light of the latest development.

The Board and the Special Committee caution the Company's shareholders and others considering trading the Company's securities that no decisions have been made with respect to the Proposed Transaction or any alternative strategic option that the Company may pursue. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be received, that any definitive agreement will be executed relating to the Proposed Transaction or that any other transaction will be approved or consummated. The Company does not undertake any obligation to provide any updates with respect to any transaction, except as required under applicable law.

About 58.com Inc.

58.com Inc. (NYSE: WUBA) operates China's largest online classifieds marketplace, as measured by monthly unique visitors on both its www.58.com website and mobile applications. The Company's online marketplace enables local business users and consumer users to connect, share information and conduct business. 58.com's broad, in-depth and high-quality local information, combined with its easy-to-use website and mobile applications, has made it a trusted marketplace for consumers. 58.com's strong brand recognition, large and growing user base, merchant network and massive database of local information create a powerful network effect. For more information on 58.com, please visit http://www.58.com.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. 58.com may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 58.com's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: 58.com's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to retain and grow its user base and network of local merchants for its online marketplace; the growth of, and trends in, the markets for its services in China; the outbreak of COVID-19 or other health epidemics in China or globally; the demand for and market acceptance of its brand and services; competition in its industry in China; its ability to maintain the network infrastructure necessary to operate its website and mobile applications; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the corporate structure, business and industry; and its ability to protect its users' information and adequately address privacy concerns. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and 58.com does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

58.com Inc.

[email protected]

Christensen

In China

Mr. Christian Arnell

Phone: +86-10-5900-1548

E-mail: [email protected]

In US

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Phone: +1-480-614-3004

Email: [email protected]

Exhibit A

Updated Preliminary Non-Binding Proposal

to Acquire 58.com Inc.

April 30, 2020

The Board of Directors

58.com Inc.

Building 105, 10 JiuXianQiao North Road Jia

Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015

The People's Republic of China

Dear Board Members,

Reference is made to the preliminary non-binding proposal dated April 2, 2020 (the "Original Proposal", as amended and updated by this letter and as may be further amended and updated from time to time, the "Proposal") from Ocean Link Partners Limited (together with its affiliated investment entities, "Ocean Link") to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of 58.com Inc. (the "Company") in a going private transaction (the "Transaction").

We, Warburg Pincus Asia LLC (together with its affiliated investment entities, "Warburg Pincus"), General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte. Ltd. (together with its affiliated investment entities, "General Atlantic"), Ocean Link, and Mr. Jinbo Yao, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (collectively, the "Initial Consortium Members"), are pleased to update the Proposal to, among other things, inform you that we are forming a buyer consortium with respect to the proposed Transaction (the "Consortium").

We believe that our Proposal provides an attractive opportunity for the Company's shareholders. The Proposal represents a premium of approximately 17.8% to the closing price of the Company's ADSs on the trading day immediately preceding the Original Proposal and a premium of 17.1% to the volume-weighted average closing price during the last 15 calendar days preceding the Original Proposal.

Set forth below are the updated primary terms of our Proposal:

1. Consortium Members . The Initial Consortium Members have agreed to work exclusively with each other in pursuing the proposed Transaction. The Initial Consortium Members in the aggregate hold approximately 44.1% of the total voting power of the Company's issued and outstanding shares.

2. Purchase Price . We propose to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company and the American Depositary Shares of the Company (each, an "ADS", representing two Class A ordinary shares of the Company). The consideration payable for each ADS to be acquired will be US$55.00 in cash, or US$27.50 in cash per ordinary share (in each case other than those ADSs or ordinary shares that may be rolled over in connection with the proposed Transaction).

3. Funding . We intend to fund the Transaction with a combination of equity and debt financing, and we expect the commitments for the required funding, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the equity and debt financing documents, to be in place when the definitive agreements for the Transaction (the "Definitive Agreements") are signed. Equity financing will be provided by the Initial Consortium Members and additional members that may be admitted into the Consortium. We are confident of our ability to secure adequate financing for the Transaction in a timely manner.

4. Due Diligence . We, along with our advisors, are prepared to move expeditiously to carry out our due diligence on the Company. The Initial Consortium Members, together with our advisors, have significant experience in structuring and consummating transactions of this type and believe that we will be in a position to complete customary due diligence for the Transaction in a timely manner and in parallel with negotiation of the Definitive Agreements.

5. Definitive Agreements . We are prepared to promptly negotiate and finalize the Definitive Agreements. These documents will provide for representations, warranties, covenants and conditions which are typical, customary and appropriate for transactions of this type.

6. Process . We believe that the Transaction will provide superior value to the Company's shareholders. We understand that the Company's Board of Directors has established a special committee (the "Special Committee") comprised of independent directors to evaluate our Proposal and any alternative strategic option that the Company may pursue. We look forward to promptly engaging with the Special Committee and its advisors to discuss our Proposal.

In considering our Proposal, you should be aware that the Initial Consortium Members do not intend to sell their shares in the Company to any third party or support any competing bid to our Proposal while remaining a member of the Consortium.

7. About Warburg Pincus . Warburg Pincus is a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. Warburg Pincus has more than $54 billion in private equity assets under management. Warburg Pincus' active portfolio of more than 185 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 19 private equity funds, which have invested more than $83 billion in over 895 companies in more than 40 countries. Warburg Pincus is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore.

8. About General Atlantic . General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies. Established in 1980, General Atlantic has more than 180 investment professionals based in New York, Greenwich, Palo Alto, Sao Paulo, London, Munich, Mexico City, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore and Jakarta. General Atlantic combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with management teams to build exceptional businesses worldwide. General Atlantic has $37 billion in assets under management, and the firm's unique capital base is comprised of long-term commitments primarily from wealthy families and large charitable foundations; this affords General Atlantic with flexibility in investment structures and time horizon, enabling a strong partnership approach with growth companies.

9. About Ocean Link . Ocean Link is a private equity firm with a focus on China's consumer, travel and TMT sectors. Ocean Link currently manages two USD funds and an RMB Fund. With teams in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, Ocean Link invests in the leading companies across the value chain and sub-verticals of the abovementioned sectors.

10. No Binding Commitment . This letter constitutes only a preliminary indication of our interest, and does not constitute any binding commitment with respect to the Transaction or in connection with the Company's securities. A binding commitment will result only from the execution of Definitive Agreements, and then will be on terms and conditions provided in such documentation.

11. Governing Law . This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

We would like to express our commitment to working collaboratively with the Special Committee and its advisors to bring the Transaction to a successful and timely conclusion. Should you have any questions regarding our Proposal, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Warburg Pincus Asia LLC

By: Julian Cheng, Managing Director

/s/ Julian Cheng

General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte. Ltd.

By: Ong Yu Huat, Director

/s/ Ong Yu Huat

Ocean Link Partners Limited

By: Tony Tianyi Jiang, Partner

/s/ Tony Tianyi Jiang

Jinbo Yao

/s/ Jinbo Yao

SOURCE 58.com Inc

Related Links

www.58.com


The U.K. will know by July whether its Covid-19 vaccine is effective, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said Thursday.

The company announced Thursday that it had partnered with Oxford University to help develop and distribute the vaccine being researched by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca would be responsible for the worldwide manufacturing and supply of Oxford's vaccine, which entered phase one clinical trials last week.

AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot told BBC Radio 4's "Today" show that the company would know within months whether the coronavirus vaccine was effective.

"By June, July we will already have a very good idea of the direction of travel in terms of its potential efficacy," he said.

Soriot added that for the duration of the pandemic, AstraZeneca would be supplying the vaccine at cost.

"It is definitely a risk to launch into the development of the vaccine but now is the time to take those kinds of risks," he told the BBC. "This is a terrible crisis we're facing and  a vaccine is of course the number one tool we can bring to managing this."

AstraZeneca also said on Thursday that data from the preliminary human trials could be available as early as May, with advancement to late-stage trials projected to go ahead by the middle of this year.

John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, said in a press release on Thursday that the partnership with AstraZeneca would be "a major force in the struggle against pandemics for many years to come."

"We believe that together we will be in a strong position to start immunising against coronavirus once we have an effective approved vaccine," he said. "Sadly, the risk of new pandemics will always be with us and the new research centre will enhance the world's preparedness and our speed of reaction the next time we face such a challenge."

There are currently at least 89 vaccines for the coronavirus in development globally, according to the WHO. Experts have predicted that it will take between 12 and 18 months for a vaccine to be deemed safe for distribution to the market.
The coronavirus pandemic has laid waste to the global economy. U.S. economic activity is expected to fall by double-digits in the second quarter, and almost 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment since mid-March. In order to help support the economy, the U.S. government passed a massive aid package that sent money to almost every American family.

For many people, this extra cash presented a welcome opportunity to add to -- or maybe start building -- a nest egg. Another great way to put that stimulus check to use is by creating long-term wealth by investing it in stocks.

Three popular ideas for investing right now include beleaguered aerospace giant Boeing (NYSE:BA), beaten-down oil stocks, or just a low-cost index fund like the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:SPY). So what's an investor to do? Bet on a turnaround for troubled Boeing that could be years in the offing, stay with the safety and diversity of the S&P 500, or make a risk/reward investment in the oil patch?

We asked four top contributors who cover these industries to weigh in. While all four agreed that it makes sense for just about anyone to invest in a low-cost index fund, two contributors offered up compelling stocks in the oil and gas industry -- Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI) and Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) -- that you may want to consider as well.

No speedy turnaround

John Bromels (SPDR S&P 500 ETF): This is a tough call. It's not clear what actions the government might be willing to take to rescue the ailing Boeing or to help out the oil and gas industry in general. But unless something materializes, I'd sooner put my stimulus check in a good old-fashioned index fund.

The oil industry and Boeing have fallen a lot further than the market in general: Boeing is down about 60% year to date, and there are plenty of oil companies whose shares have fallen even further. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 is only down about 13% from the high point in February. So it might seem like if things get "back to normal," Boeing and oil have more upside.

However, it's likely to take much longer for Boeing and the oil industry to get back to normal than it takes the broader market. At Boeing's annual shareholders' meeting, CEO Dave Calhoun warned investors that it could be three to five years before the company is able to restart its dividend. And, of course, it's anyone's guess how soon the market for new planes might rebound.

As for oil, global demand has fallen by tens of millions of barrels per day. Here in the U.S., we're close to running out of storage for all the oil that's still being pumped. Even once demand recovers, it's still going to take months, if not years, to deplete the excess.

As an economic recovery begins -- whenever that happens -- the broader market is likely to start rising while Boeing is still ailing and the oil markets are still trying to absorb a massive oversupply. That's why I'd pick the index fund here.

Bet on diversity

Travis Hoium (SPDR S&P 500 ETF): I think the best investment of these three is index funds, but I want to go over why it's the winner by default.

Oil stocks are in a world of hurt right now with oil trading near single digits and even going negative in April. Dozens of oil producers could go bankrupt as a result of low prices and even big oil stocks are going to feel the pain of low prices and falling oil demand. Betting on a recovery is a gamble, at best, right now.

Boeing will suffer from the short-term decline in travel, which its management says could take years to get back to pre-COVID-19 levels. I think Boeing will eventually get back to business as usual, but orders may be put off and profits will be down for the foreseeable future if air travel is down like it is right now. Like oil, Boeing is a gamble.

With index funds, investors aren't betting on any specific stock and are instead getting a big basket of stocks. Long term, I think the market will recover and there will be some great deals over the next few months, but identifying those winners will be tough. Instead, betting on a big basket like the S&P 500 with SPDR S&P 500 ETF is a better bet than oil or Boeing. The companies in the index are relatively large and stable, so when a recovery comes they should be able to pounce on the opportunity.

Some oil stocks look quite attractive

Matt DiLallo (Kinder Morgan): I'm a big believer that a low-cost index fund is the best option for most investors, especially those who don't have the time or desire to manage a portfolio of stocks. So, that would be my standard advice for someone who wants to invest their recent financial windfall.

However, I'm a bit more of a value investor, which has me somewhat concerned with the run-up in the stock market from its COVID-19 bottom a few weeks ago. I think it has gotten a bit ahead of itself since I'm not entirely on board with the idea that the economy will quickly bounce back. Because of that, I think there could be more volatility ahead for the overall market.

On the other hand, I see some value in oil stocks, which have tumbled due to the impact the outbreak has had on demand. In particular, several pipeline companies (which are largely immune to the effect of low oil prices) trade at enticing valuations. Kinder Morgan, for example, believes it can generate $4.6 billion, or $2.02 per share, of cash flow this year, which is only about 10% below its initial forecast. Shares of the pipeline giant, however, are down 30% this year and currently trading at around $15 apiece, implying it now sells for a dirt cheap price of about 7.5 times cash flow. Because of that sell-off, and Kinder Morgan's recent 5% dividend increase, its stock yields an enticing 7%. That payout alone would enable an investor to turn their one-time stimulus check into a long-term income stream.

Deep value for patient investors

Jason Hall (Phillips 66): With the market in turmoil, it's easy to forget Boeing had its share of problems before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded the majority of global air travel. And while I don't think that's a nail in the company's coffin, it's a reminder the company had plenty to fix before the biggest crisis in the history of air travel happened. Skip Boeing.

I also tend to agree with my colleagues on the benefit of the S&P 500 index fund. It gives investors instant diversification, and I think it's an ideal core stock investment for most people.

But...

I also see some market-beating opportunities in the oil patch for investors willing to wait out a protracted downturn. One of the biggest refiners in the world, Phillips 66 is positioned to profit from ultra-cheap crude when gasoline demand stabilizes, and in the meantime the natural gas pipelines, storage, and petrochemicals segments are holding up well.

The epic oil crash has shares down 38% from the high, but the company doesn't face the risks oil producers do. Refining should bounce back relatively early in the economic recovery, and its natural gas segments will help pay the bills in the meantime. Whether the economic recovery takes months or years, I expect Phillips 66 to be a market-beating investment.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to members of the news media while walking into his office on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 17, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

McConnell Open to Funding States in Next CCP Virus Rescue Package

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said April 29 that hes open to funding states and local governments in the next CCP virus rescue bill.

Theres no question all governors, regardless of party, would like to have more money; Im open to discussing that, McConnell said during an interview with Fox News Radio.

But hes not interested in aiding the localities on any point beyond countering the CCP virus outbreak.

The point is, we are not interested in borrowing money from future generations to send it to states to help them with bad decisions theyve made in the past unrelated to the coronavirus epidemic, McConnell said on April 30.

The Republican leader faced a storm of criticism from the nations governors after panning Democrats proposal for more than $500 billion to help cash-strapped local governments cover the sudden extra costs of police, fire, and other front-line workers in the crisis. Last week, he suggested states should be allowed to go bankrupt.

Bankruptcy is obviously a decision, if it were legal, would be made at the state level. I dont think many states would choose that option, he responded to the criticism.

While saying hes willing to consider new funds, McConnell insisted that the next potential rescue package must also include funding for health care workers and facilities.

He pointed out that any additional assistance provided to states and local governments must come with funding for the doctors, nurses, hospitals, and the businesses that will be reopening.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) walks to her office after signing the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, H.R. 266, after it passed the House on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 24, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

Top lawmakers from the Democrat side supported the funding for states and local governments.

House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on April 24 that a fifth COVID-19 relief bill would soon be ready and called on Republicans to agree to longstanding Democrat demands that the next package must include aid to states and local governments.

There will not be a bill without such aid, Pelosi said during a press conference. While she didnt specify her expectations for the price tag of the next bill, she said it would be expensive.

McConnell also repeated the need for federal liability protections in the next funding package.

He said hes concerned about an epidemic of lawsuits that are going to be brought by the plaintiffs all over America in the wake of this pandemic, and he added, If we do another rescue package, and we may, we need to take our time and do it right, and it needs to include these liability protections so that all of these brave workers and brave businesses that will be reopening are not subjected to this second epidemic of litigation.

Tom Ozimek and the Associated Press contributed to the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-01 01:58:45|Editor: huaxia

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R) attends a virtual press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, April 30, 2020. Guterres on Thursday once again called for a global ceasefire and debt moratorium while COVID-19 continues its path of worsening destruction. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, April 30 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday once again called for a global ceasefire and debt moratorium while COVID-19 continues its path of worsening destruction.

"The ceasefire call has resonated widely, with endorsements from 114 governments, regional organizations, religious leaders and more than 200 civil society groups spanning all regions. Among them are 16 armed groups," the UN chief said in the virtual press briefing.

"But we know that mistrust remains high, and that it is difficult to move to implementation," the secretary-general noted.

Noting that in Syria, the Idlib ceasefire is holding, however, he said that "we are still hopeful for a country-wide end to hostilities."

Guterres is obviously not satisfied with the ceasefire implementation in Libya, saying that "we are seeing an escalation despite all our efforts and those of many others in the international community."

As for Afghanistan, he said that the United Nations is "pushing hard" for a humanitarian ceasefire between the government and the Taliban.

In Yemen, Guterres said that all parties have expressed support for his appeal for ceasefire, adding that the United Nations is "actively engaging with all the parties and key regional and global actors, aiming at a permanent ceasefire."

The secretary-general expressed the hope that the Security Council will be able to "find unity and adopt decisions that can help to make ceasefires meaningful and real."

In an appeal issued on March 23, Guterres urged warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger battle against COVID-19, the common enemy that is threatening all of humankind. On April 3, the UN chief reiterated the global ceasefire appeal.

As for debt moratorium, the UN chief said that debt moratorium must be extended to all developing countries "that are unable to service their debt, including several middle-income countries."

"That initial debt moratorium must be followed by targeted debt relief, and by a comprehensive approach to structural issues in the international debt architecture, to prevent defaults leading to prolonged financial and economic crises," he added.

Guterres on April 17 called for an "across-the-board debt standstill" for some developing countries in order to help them win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking of the dire economic plight that many people are facing, the UN chief cited the International Labour Organization as reporting this week that the global workforce will be hit with the equivalent of the loss of more than 300 million jobs.

Millions of children are in danger of missing life-saving vaccines. Remittances are in sharp decline, as are flows of foreign direct investment, he said.

"Poverty could rise by 500 million people - the first increase in three decades," he warned.

The UN chief commended the efforts of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the G20 that are taking efforts to help countries and people overcome the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guterres also urged kicking start planning for a better recovery.

"Recovery from COVID-19 can help to steer the world on a safer, healthier, more sustainable and inclusive path," he said.

"It will be critical to address the fragilities, inequalities and gaps in social protection that have been so painfully exposed, and place women and gender equality front and center if we are to build resilience to future shocks," said the secretary-general.

"And recovery needs to go hand-in-hand with climate action," he added.

"Our template remains the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement on climate change," he added.
(CNN)  The world is learning to live with less oil. It may never look back.

The coronavirus pandemic has destroyed demand for gasoline and jet fuel as billions of people stay home, and there's no guarantee it will ever fully recover despite rock-bottom prices.

The oil industry is bracing for the effects of the crisis to linger. Employees keep working from home. International travel stays scarce. And citizens in once polluted cities, having become accustomed to blue skies, demand tougher emissions controls, encouraging governments to redouble efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

Such changes would come on top of a push for investors to dump oil assets that had been gaining momentum before the recent price crash. Sustainable energy investments, by comparison, appear to have held up relatively well despite stock market volatility.

All this could mean that global demand never returns to its 2019 record high, a scary prospect for oil companies and their employees from Texas to Western Europe, and countries such as Russia, Nigeria or Iraq that depend heavily on selling crude.

"I think the pressure to accelerate the forces driving the energy transition will only increase as a result of this crisis," said Mark Lewis, global head of sustainability research at BNP Paribas Asset Management in Paris.

The threat of a second wave of infections in the fall also looms for producers. Prices have already plunged to their lowest levels in decades as producers grapple with excess supply and the worst demand shock in history.

"There remains an exceptional level of uncertainty regarding the near-term outlook for prices and product demand," BP Chief Financial Officer Brian Gilvary told analysts this week.

Before the pandemic, analysts predicted that the peak in oil demand would occur around 2040 due to the rise of electric cars, increased energy efficiency and a switch to alternative sources.

But the coronavirus has forced many assumptions about the future of oil to be tossed out.

Everything has changed

At minimum, the shock of the coronavirus crisis will take the oil industry years to process.

As governments around the world put their economies into a deep freeze to prevent the spread of the disease, demand for energy collapsed. The International Energy Agency expects global oil demand to fall by a record 9.3 million barrels per day in 2020, the result of efforts to contain the contagion in 187 countries and territories.

The Paris-based agency estimated earlier this month that demand will fall in April to a level last seen in 1995, when the global economy looked radically different.

Such dynamics  combined with the supply glut that resulted from a brief but brutal price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia  have dealt a gut punch to oil markets. Last week, US oil prices turned negative for the first time ever as traders paid people to take crude off their hands, with storage tanks filling up fast.

To restore calm to markets and start pushing prices higher again, supply needs to come down significantly, and by much more than the record cut envisaged by OPEC and its allies from Friday. That means wells will be shut down, and many companies will fail.

But industry players also need demand to start the recovery process in the second half of 2020.

"The key question is how quickly the Covid-19 pandemic is contained and comes to an end, since that dictates the degree of movement around the world," said Jim Burkhard, head of crude oil research at IHS Markit, a research firm. "No one knows that yet."

New behaviors

Current Wall Street forecasts for demand to recover fully in one or two years rely on two main assumptions: that governments will quickly ease rules keeping people indoors, and that economic activity will bounce back very rapidly once restrictions lift.

In this case, demand could return to 2019 levels as soon as 2022, according to IHS Markit.

There's some evidence to support this upbeat view. Goldman Sachs notes that weekly refinery data indicate that oil demand in China  the world's biggest consumer  is only about 5% down compared to pre-crisis levels, suggesting a robust recovery.

But IHS Markit has also modeled an alternative scenario in which governments are slower to lift quarantine rules, or a second wave of the virus hits. Should that happen, demand may never fully recover.

"If we do have a second wave  even if it's a quarter of the intensity of this one  it's still going to keep oil demand down and further entrench changes in behavior," Burkhard said.

Lewis of BNP Paribas thinks it's inevitable that the coronavirus will have lasting effects on activity in developed countries. He predicts that the number of people working from home will stay elevated even after the crisis ends, cutting down commutes. Road fuels such as gasoline account for roughly half of the world's oil demand.

He also says the psychological impact of the virus will weigh on travel for a long time, encouraging businesses to limit the number of conferences they attend and reducing the frequency at which people fly generally.

"I just fail to see how aviation can ever go back to the rates of growth we were seeing before this crisis emerged," he said. Aviation accounts for a smaller portion of oil demand than ground transportation, but it has been a key driver of growth in recent years.

Carriers such as Lufthansa and British Airways have already warned that their businesses will have to shrink because the sector won't recover for years.

Last week, Rystad Energy, a consultancy based in Oslo, moderated its predictions for a rise in oil demand in the second half of the year, factoring in a weaker outlook for gasoline and jet fuel consumption.

The big role for governments

Such behavioral shifts, the thinking goes, could clear the way for governments to take more aggressive action to promote renewable energy and pivot away from the use of fossil fuels, allowing countries to meet their commitments under the Paris Accord sooner.

That could be especially true in Europe, which has pledged to cut emissions at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that tackling climate change must be woven into the solution to the coronavirus pandemic.

"'If we look at the severe harm that has been caused by the corona crisis to our economies all over the world, we also have to encourage each other not to forget climate protection," she said.

There are already signs that European cities will use the pandemic as an opportunity to keep pollution down. Milan said last week that as the city opens back up, it will reserve more street space for bikes and pedestrians.

"Of course, we want to reopen the economy, but we think we should do it on a different basis from before," Marco Granelli, deputy mayor of Milan, told the Guardian newspaper.

It's also a major opportunity for China, Lewis said. The country recently extended its subsidies on electric vehicles to 2022, but later said it will cut them by 10% this year.

In the United States, much rests on the outcome of the 2020 election. President Donald Trump has been a vocal supporter of America's oil and gas sector, recently promising a bailout package. Joe Biden, the Democrat almost certain to challenge him in November, is much more likely to adopt a Green New Deal-type approach to rebuilding the economy.

Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy, still expects demand to hit a new record in 2022, powered by a surge in activity as daily life gets back to normal. But government action in the wake of coronavirus could "fast forward" the timeline for peak consumption.

The remainder of 2020 will prove crucial in setting the trajectory. Some countries could prioritize their economic recoveries over efforts to cut emissions, Tonhaugen said. That will be tempting given that crude is so cheap.

"Lower prices are slowing down this move to renewable energy sources," said Giovanni Staunovo, an oil analyst at UBS, who does not believe the peak in demand has been reached.

But Lewis noted that renewable energy has gotten much less expensive in the past decade, with prices falling 70% to 90% depending on the technology. That has the potential to speed up a transition that was already underway  in contrast to the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

"You're bringing forward what was already starting to look inevitable," Lewis said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "The world may never recover its thirst for oil."
Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil says though he never met Irrfan Khan in his life, the actor was one of the reasons why he joined cinema.

The National Award-winning actor released a statement in the wake of Irrfan's death from a rare form of cancer on Wednesday.

Faasil recalled that when he was a student in America, he came across Irrfan's 2006 film "Yun Hota To Kya Hota".

"The first thing I noticed was that the film was directed by Naseerudin Shah...That night, few minutes into the film, when the character Salim Rajabali came on screen, I turned to Nikunj (his friend) and asked 'who is this guy?'.

"I mean, there are actors who are intense, who are stylish and who are charming. In all honesty, this was the first time I ever saw an actor who was ORIGINAL on screen. And his name was IRRFAN KHAN," Faasil said in the statement.

The actor said he became an even bigger fan of Irrfan after watching his performance in Mira Nair's "The Namesake".

"Irfan Khan's growth was like a popular song. Every one was singing it and feeling it. I kept watching his films. I used to get carried away so much that most of the time I lost narratives of the films.

"Or it was more like I didn't care about the narrative as long as he was performing. He made acting look so easy and I was fooled," Faasil added.

He said Irrfan was one of the reasons why he decided to drop out of engineering and become an actor.

"I have been acting or trying to for the last 10 years.. I have never met Inrfan Khan. For that matter I haven't even seen him. But I was fortunate enough to have collaborated with actors and filmmakers who have worked with him. The first thing I spoke to Mr. Vishal Bharadwaj when I met him was about 'Maqbool'," Faasil said.

The actor, however, has a deep regret of never being able to meet the prolific actor, even when Irrfan shot for his 2018 movie "Karwaan" in Kerala.

"Even when my dear friend Dulquer was shooting with Irrfan in our home town couldn't meet him as I was going through a hectic schedule myself. I had no reason to believe why I had to rush. Today, I regret not shaking hands with-him. I should have just gone to Bombay and met him," Faasil said.

The actor said the country has lost an "impeccable artiste" with Irrfan's demise and he has left a deep vacuum in the cinema community.

"We just didn't have enough of him. Today, when my wife barged into the room and broke the to me, I will be lying if I say I was shocked, because I continued doing what I was doing.

"The entire day went by today and I could not stop thinking about him. I feel obliged to him. I feel like I owe my career to him. I don't think I would have ever come this far if I had not picked up that DVD and watched an actor who changed my life," Faasil concluded his statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday told Supreme Court that right to internet access is not a fundamental right and the state can curtail the freedom of speech and right to trade through internet.

The administration opposed the restoration of 4G services in the union territory, saying a very reasonable quantum of restrictions have been imposed by reducing the speed of internet to protect the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. "It is submitted that the right to access internet is not a fundamental right and thus the type and breadth of access for ...
Nigerian music stars, Olamide, Dremo, and several other artistes have expressed sorrow over the death of a popular Nigerian dancer, Love Divine, popularly known as Kodak.

Details of her death remain sketchy as at press time.

But unconfirmed reports say the energetic dancer and video vixen was electrocuted while charging her phone on Wednesday evening at a video directors home in Omole Estate, Lagos

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that she was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital within the estate, where she was later confirmed dead.

The deceased was popular in the industry for working with Clarence Peters in music videos for acts like Burna Boy, Tekno, Davido, Olamide, and more.

One of the last videos she posted on her Instagram page was one of her with a popular dancer, Poco Lee.

The death of the dancer, who is well-known within the music industry, has drawn reaction from artistes.

The vixen in the Haba Video, picture Kodak just died, it hurts so much cos we became close after, I dont know how to handle my emotions Face with cold sweat, rapper Blaqbonez said on Twitter.

Kodak worked with some of the biggest Nigerian musicians including Burna Boy Instagram Kodak

Many have started paying tributes to her. Rapper Olamide took to his Instagram page to pen down his tribute: Rest Up.

Also, popular dancer, Poco Lee, wrote: We lost A Legend in the Dance Industry & Nigeria at large.Forever in our Hearts.

Blaqbonez tweeted, The vixen in the Haba Video, picture Kodak just died, it hurts so much cos we became close after, I dont know how to handle my emotions.

Kodaks management, Westsyde Lifestyle, is yet to release an official statement.

Check out some tributes to the late dancer below:

KODAK  I still hope and pray you wake up in the morning and we move on like nothing happened. Never met you but 

Rest In Peace Queen   MONKELE  (@_Taaooma) April 30, 2020

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Omo i dont know how the people really close to P.Kodak be feeling right now but man my heart is heavy! the two times we met was pure vibes!!  pic.twitter.com/heP5dGsHMw  DREMO  (@Dremodrizzy) April 30, 2020

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RIP PICTURE KODAK  I will always remember you for the amazing person that you were, you brought life to everything you touched, its too hard for me to grasp the concept of your death but I hope youre in a better place  pic.twitter.com/dcCCiTI01n  Nigerian Adele   (@BlaqBonez) April 30, 2020

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A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, published in the journal Nature in April 2020, reports that extending vaccination to all children could help resolve antimicrobial resistance - one of the biggest obstacles to effective healthcare in low-income countries. This is the first study to look at how vaccination is related to the use of antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries.

The March of Antimicrobial Resistance

The overuse of antibiotics around the world has led to the rise of antimicrobial resistance in many common pathogens - harmful or disease-producing bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Resistance to antimicrobial drugs is the acquired ability of certain microbes to overcome or work around these drugs administered to kill or incapacitate pathogens. This makes it challenging to treat frequently seen infections with first-line drugs.

These pathogens that become resistant to the drugs commonly used to combat them are termed 'superbugs', and continue to infect human beings  but now the drugs that previously wiped them out have little or no effectiveness.

Many pathogens have undergone this change, including those that cause sepsis, malaria, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. The effect of this resistance is worst in low- and middle-income countries, as they often find it difficult or impossible to provide adequate funds for both caring for those who are already ill, as well as research and development against new strains of pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance is mediated by genetic adaptations in a population of micro-organisms with a gene variant that helps overcome or avoid the metabolic inhibition or destructive cellular process caused by the drug in question. Since the infection can no longer be treated with that drug, other potentially more costly and less effective drugs and preventive methods must be used.

How Childhood Vaccination Helps

The new study explores the pivotal role of universal childhood vaccination in the effort to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income nations.

The current study discovered that immunization with two vaccines  the pneumococcal conjugate and the rotavirus vaccines  significantly lowered the number of children who contracted acute respiratory infections and diarrhea. This means that fewer children require antimicrobial drugs, which in turn reduces the chances of antimicrobial resistance occurring.

Every country is focused on reducing antibiotic misuse and overuse by national action plans, recognizing the critical danger of antibiotic resistance to their healthcare systems. However, not much evidence exists as to the effectiveness of different courses of action.

Says researcher Joseph Lewnard, an assistant professor of epidemiology at UC Berkeley, and lead author of the paper. "By providing hard numbers on the substantial impact that has been achieved with just these two vaccines alone, our work demonstrates that vaccines should be among the interventions that are strongly prioritized."

Just Two Vaccines

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine protects against the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae , which can cause respiratory infections, ear infections, sepsis, and meningitis. The rotavirus vaccine, on the other hand, protects against rotavirus infection, which mainly causes diarrhea. Antibiotics are ineffective against the rotavirus: however, it is difficult to differentiate between diarrhea caused by bacterial infection. This is why antibiotics are often prescribed and administered to rotavirus patients.

Using demographic study and healthcare data from 78 low- to middle-income nations, the researchers found that an estimated 19.7 percent of respiratory infections and 11.4 percent of diarrhea cases in children, which are usually treated with antibiotics, could be prevented by the pneumococcal conjugate and rotavirus vaccines.

They then used data on the efficiency of the two vaccines and the current vaccination rates and calculated that the vaccinations are currently preventing 23.8 million cases of antibiotic-treated acute respiratory infections and 13.6 million cases of diarrhea each year.

Furthermore, their projections show that with universal vaccination, an additional 40 million cases of antibiotic-treated illnesses can be prevented.

Indirect Benefits

Dr. Lewnard added that these figures were likely underestimated, and the actual results could be much higher.

"We're not accounting for the fact that there are indirect reductions in disease associated with the declining transmission of the pathogens themselves, and that there might be additional benefits in other age groups as well," Lewnard said. "Moreover, we are looking at a narrow spectrum of all pneumococcal diseases, which, further, include ear infections and sinusitis cases that often receive antibiotic treatment."

Of course, antimicrobial resistance can also be prevented by better hygiene and public sanitation, and by cutting down on the use of antimicrobials in agriculture. But research is lacking on a head-to-head comparison of the efficacy of these methods vs. childhood vaccination, according to Lewnard.

Pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccinations are usually administered to young children under the age of two in high-income countries. However, due to the vaccine's relatively high cost and the difficulty of accessing reliable healthcare facilities in low-income nations, they are not always administered there. Institutions and charities around the world are working to remedy this actively: however, as they readily admit, it is a mammoth task.

Proof of Benefit in Economic and Health Fields

As developing countries continue to evolve their health strategies, the current study provides useful concrete proof of the economic benefits of vaccination programs in reducing antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance. This could help frame policies that support new and existing vaccination programs to enhance public health and strengthen the economy in many ways.
And here we are: There are already reports of farmers slaughtering animals that Americans would love to eat  if only there were some way to get them to the table, or at least, store them until the processors can reopen. Unfortunately, our whole economic system, not just our food processors, has been reconfigured to minimize storage and redundant processing capacities. Instead, we surfed a steady stream of goods and services flowing through our increasingly elaborate economic plumbing.
The frontline officers of the Port Huron Police Department will soon be armed with new X2 Tasers.

At its regular meeting on April 27, the Port Huron City Council approved the purchase of the weapons from Axon Enterprises at a cost of $45,375 payable in annual installations of $9,075.

Mayor Pauline Repp asked if there were grant funds available for the purchase.

Yes, said City Manager James Freed, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on the citys website. We receive $2,500 a year from through Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, our insurance company to purchase these, plus we also budget $7,500 for Tasers.

(Police Chief Joe Platzer) and his team did an excellent job. The current Tasers are becoming old and obsolete. Instead of replacing them all at once, he wants to do them in phases, so that if technology changes or better technology comes out in the next couple of years, you can roll it in.

Also, theyve done it in a fashion that we can keep tapping that $2,500 once a year. So by doing it over five years, you max out that grant every year.

Assuming the MMRMA continues its grant program for the full five years, the police departments cost will drop to $32,875.

Police Lt. Brian Kerrigan researched replacing the older generations of Tasers.

The Port Huron Police Department first started carrying a Taser as a less lethal option (to a standard firearm) in 2003, said Kerrigan in a March 26 departmental communication to Platzer. The department was able to purchase a Taser X26 for every officer. Since the original purchase, we have upgraded some of the Tasers to the X26P.

The Taser is an effective tool that has reduced injuries to police officers and citizens during a violent encounter.

The company stopped supporting the X26 model in 2014.

Since our original purchase of the X26, Axon has released four new versions of the Taser and now operates on a completely redesigned platform, said Kerrigan. This new platform operates differently than the X26 and requires a completely different type of training for the officers to carry it. It also provides several advanced safety features for our officers.  After researching the different versions of the Taser, the price of the Taser and logistical concerns relating to updating the departments Tasers, we determined that purchasing the Taser X2 is our best option.

Freed noted that the police department is equipped to offer in-house training on the new generation of Tasers.

Officer Ryan Mynsberge was recently certified as a Taser instructor and was introduced to the newest versions of the Taser, said Kerrigan.

Other agencies have to pay and send their people out, said Freed. We actually do in-house training of all our people on these things. And we actually help other outside agencies as well. So theres cost savings from having that professional capacity in-house to do this.  If anyone wants to be Tased, we can arrange that, too, at one of the trainings  the chief has always been trying to Tase me.

After a chuckle, the council voted 7-0 to approve the expenditure.

Having our policemen with the right equipment makes all the difference in the world, said council member Anita Ashford.

The council also authorized the purchase of 25 body cameras for $24,413.

Jim Bloch is a freelance writer. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
A petition calling for the reinstatement of a WA school principal who sent a letter urging parents to keep children home if they were able to has received more than 1500 signatures in less than a day.

Halls Head College principal Bronwyn White has been stood down after sending a letter asking parents to keep their children home.

Halls Head College principal Bronwyn White was stood down pending an investigation earlier this week after requesting parents keep their children home despite the state government's advice it was safe to return to school on Wednesday, April 29.

The move was met with outrage from the local community after the news broke on the Mandurah Mail on Wednesday evening.

The petition calling for Ms White's reinstatement was launched that night, claiming the dismissal was "unfair."
Tourism Council announces reopening of Cancun, Riviera Maya travel for June

Cancun, Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council has announced the reopening of the state for travel as of the beginning of June.

The Consejo de Promocion Turistica de Quintana Roo (CPTQ) says that airline operations also will begin then, which is why they are preparing a special campaign now to be launched in late May. The campaign will be aimed at reviving local tourism.

Dario Flota Ocampo, director of the CPTQ said that airlines from Canada, the United States and Europe have already confirmed their arrivals to the Mexican Caribbean, which initially is expected to consist mainly of convention and wedding tourism.

Dario Flota Ocampo, director of Consejo de Promocion Turistica de Quintana Roo

Some of the airlines, through virtual meetings, that have announced they are resuming their operations at the Cancun International Airport are Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta Airlines, Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Sunwing, Southwest and Aeromexico, he explained noting they will begin landing in early June.

The announcement of the arrival of flights has also promoted the opening of some online reservation systems for area hotels. The Hotel Association of Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres detailed that due to the coronavirus pandemic, more than 155 area hotels closed.

Area attractions including parks will also reopen. Last month, large attractions including Grupo Xcaret, Dolphin Discoveries, Coco Bongo locations and Ventura Amusement Park announced their temporary closures due to the virus.

Flota Ocampo stated that during meetings last month, international and local industry professionals revealed great enthusiasm for collaborating in a united promotional campaign for a speedy recovery, adding that they have all expressed confidence that both international and national tourists will consider the Mexican Caribbean a safe and attractive destination to visit once travel restrictions are lifted.

He reiterated that the recovery strategy will first focus on reestablishing direct air connectivity as soon as possible at the international airports of Cancun, Cozumel and Chetumal. At the same time, all members of the industry will be informed about the destinations disposition to receive visitors and about the reinforced state health and hygiene protocols that are applied in areas most frequented by tourists.

Up until now, the state has been campaigning Paradise Can Wait, Please Stay Home, however, some tourists continued to arrive, mostly from the US, on empty flights that have been landing at the Cancun airport.

According to SUTD Data-Driven Innovation Lab, a site that provides continuous predictive monitoring of COVID-19 developments as a complement to monitoring confirmed cases, the predicted turnaround for Mexico will be around May 4, when a downward trajectory will begin with coronavirus cases becoming 97 percent depleted around June 12.

In the US, the agency predicts the 97 percent depletion for around May 16 and in Canada, around May 23. The global prediction is calculated to be around May 30.
The Union Health Ministry on Thursday stated that the recovery rate of coronavirus COVID-19 has improved from 13.06 per cent to above 25 per cent in 14 days which is a positive sign. Addressing a press conference, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Luv Agarwal said that 8,324 COVID-19 patients, which is 25.19 per cent of total cases, have recovered so far. In the last 24 hours, 630 patients have been cured.

The total number of cases till now in India stands at 33,050, with 1,718 new cases in the last 24 hours. Of these, 23,651 positive cases are under active medical supervision.

Speaking on the doubling time of cases, Agarwal stated that the national average currently is 11 days, compared to 3.4 days before lockdown. "If we look at the doubling time of COVID-19 cases, we find that the national average is 11 Days now, compared to 3.4 days before lockdown," said the Joint Secretary.

On the deaths so far, the Ministry said that the case fatality rate is 3.2 per cent with 65 per cent of deaths are male and 35 per cent are female. An analysis of the age-wise distribution show that the case fatality rate of those less than 45 years is 14 per cent; 45 - 60 year age group is 34.8 per cent; more than 60 years is 51.2 per cent; 60-75 years: 42 per cent; and above 75 years: 9.2 per cent. It has also been witnessed that 78% per cent of cases have comorbidity.

He said that the RT-PCR tests are available in 292 Government and 97 Private facilities across the country. A total of 49,800 tests have been conducted on average in the last 5 days, added Agarwal.

The Health Ministry has issued guidelines regarding measures to be undertaken if a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case is detected in a non-COVID-19 health facility. Services can be continued in such health facilities after due disinfection procedure, he added.

Agarwal said, "COVID-19 tests prescribed by any health facility should be as per protocol. Treatment should not be denied to any patient, citing the requirement of additional testing beyond what is prescribed in the testing protocol. Health Minister has written to state Health Ministers on ensuring adequate availability of blood transfusion services, especially for patients needing a regular blood transfusion. The Ministry had prepared a Standard Operating Protocol for dialysis services, in the wake of COVID-19."

Health Ministry has written to states asking them to ensure that non-COVID-19 essential services continue to be provided to those who need them. "We have to ensure physical distancing becomes a norm so that the chain of transmission is broken; equally important are containment measures for the disease," further added Agarwal.

The MHA spokesperson said, "Centre has issued orders to states/UTs to facilitate Inter-State movement of stranded people, as per guidelines laid down and as per protocols developed by states."
(Photo : Sccreenshot from Twitter of @NewExpressNews)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) hope of flying a helicopter on Mars has a very catchy and deserving name.

Here's what you need to know about NASA's miniature toy which they are planning to bring to the red planet.

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NASA Helicopter 'Ingenuity' will go to Mars with Perseverance rover this year

NASA's Perseverence rover will not be the only machine going to Mars when it launches in the middle of the year. NASA's mini helicopter named 'Ingenuity' will accompany the Perseverence rover.

The space agency recently announced the name choice on Wednesday, April 29. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine posted a tweet saying, "Our Mars helicopter will attempt the first powered flight on another world. I'm proud to name it Ingenuity."

The name came from NASA's 'Name the Rover' essay contest. And the person who was lucky enough to name NASA's miniature helicopter came from Alaba high school.

A student named Vaneeza Rupani wrote in her submission, "The ingenuity and brilliance of people working hard to overcome the challenges of interplanetary travel are what allow us all to experience the wonders of space exploration."

Rupani is an 11th grader and recently had an interview with NASA on Wednesday, April 29.

She chose the word "ingenuity" because, in her own words, "that is exactly what it took to design this machine. The challenges faced trying to design something capable of flight on another planet can only be overcome with collaboration and creativity. It takes the Ingenuity of an incredible group of people to create something with so many complex challenges.

The helicopter is dubbed as a high-risk, high-reward technology field exercise. It will sit on top of the rover's belly and will be ferried by Perseverance to the planet Mars for a few months before its actual deployment. NASA is hoping that Ingenuity will be able to prove that powered flight can still be achieved on Mars.

Read More: Coronavirus Pandemic Might Last Until December According to A.I. Model's Prediction

What else is in store for the space mission?

NASA's Perseverance rover is carrying with it an inspiring coded message to Mars. NASA had this to say with regards to it: "Along with investigating difficult-to-reach targets, such as cliffs, caves and deep craters, future aircraft could carry small science instruments or act as scouts for human and robotic explorers on Mars or other celestial bodies."

Perseverance is scheduled to fly to Mars sometime in July or August this year. If all goes according to plan, it will arrive on the red planet in February 2021.

This mission will be one step closer to flight on another planet in the near future.

Read More: Not Enough? Experts Say, Summer, UV Lights Won't Likely Save People From Coronavirus

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A food delivery worker who did not want to give his name has "Be Safe" written on his delivery backpack while walking down Chestnut Street in Center City Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Gig workers, like Caviar couriers, do not get mandated paid sick leave in Philadelphia because they are independent contractors. A new bill seeks to change that. Read more

City Councilmember Kendra Brooks is expected to introduce legislation Friday to expand the citys paid sick leave law for Philadelphians working during the coronavirus crisis.

The proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Helen Gym and Bobby Henon, would expand the law to cover all workers, including ones currently ineligible for its protections, such as gig workers and those working for companies with fewer than 10 employees. The proposal would increase the number of paid sick days from five to 14  the recommended quarantine time for people who have been exposed  and allow workers to use the days immediately, instead of waiting to accrue them.

The legislation seeks to fill the large gaps left by the federal governments emergency paid sick leave bill. More than 75% of American workers are employed by companies that qualify for exemptions to the federal legislation. In Pennsylvania, three million workers werent covered by the federal bill, according to Brooks office. This month, such cities as Los Angeles and Washington passed their own paid sick leave laws to fill gaps in the federal law.

The coronavirus crisis has renewed calls for mandated paid sick leave, as essential workers, most of whom are low-wage earners, continue to report to work even if they feel sick because they cant afford to stay home. As cities such as Philadelphia went into lock down, the virus spread throughout workplaces deemed essential, such as meat processing plants and city jails.

And even though Philadelphia expanded its paid sick leave law to cover workers affected by the public health crisis, the most a worker covered by the law could accrue was five days. Its why, in the early days of the pandemic in the city, low-wage workers called for the city to expand its paid sick leave law.

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Mayor Jim Kenney said he supported the concept but had yet to review the legislation, and wasnt sure where the money would come from. The city, like other employers, would have to cover the expanded paid sick leave costs for its own workers.

Kenney expressed frustration that the city was filling gaps left by the federal government.

We cannot do things that should be done by the federal government, he said.

Its not yet clear what kind of opposition the bill could face, but similar proposals have faced push back in the past.

It took seven years to pass the first paid sick leave bill, with then-Mayor Michael Nutter vetoing it twice, saying the policy would drive businesses out of Philadelphia in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

Kenney has made progressive worker legislation a hallmark of his administration, but the country is once again grappling with what could be a prolonged recession.

 READ MORE: Philly unions are calling for a citywide essential worker bill of rights during the coronavirus pandemic

Businesses both big and small are putting the safety of their employees and customers first, Rob Wonderling, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. Some are having to furlough or lay off colleagues due to the extraordinary financial hardship. As such, we believe it is imperative that any proposed legislation does not detract from these life-saving efforts and should be fully deliberated to ensure they do not do further harm to our citizens.

A lack of access to paid sick leave is among the long list of issues facing workers deemed essential during the pandemic, who have been lauded as heroes as they risk their lives on the job. These workers have increasingly turned to protests and strikes to seek safer conditions. Labor unions and groups this week called for city-mandated protections, including testing for essential workers and protection against firing if workers stay home when they feel sick.

It is time that we showed gratitude to our essential workers with actions, not just words, Brooks said in a statement.

Staff writer Sean Collins Walsh contributed to this article.

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.
The Trump administrations plan to free Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from government conservatorship may be stymied by the economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.

The GSEs, which backstop about $5 trillion worth of mortgages, may have to reserve vast sums to cover the risk of loans failing as a result of the outbreak, according to a Bloomberg report. They may also be affected by the hit taken by mortgage servicers whose borrowers are in forbearance.

This crisis is dashing hopes for a quick exit from conservatorship, Jaret Seiberg, an analyst at Cowen & Co., told Bloomberg. If theres not a lot of clarity on their losses or capital its hard to envision the market providing the $100 billion of fresh capital they would need to raise down the road.
The impossible is becoming possible. As we all stand in the midst of a world crisis, those of us who can dream must dream. And after we dream, we must demand and act. I want to acknowledge my privilege from the onset of this essay. I am a tenured college professor with access to the internet, university resources, and a reliable income.

But I am not writing about dreaming oblivious to the crisis we are living in. As a Black woman, I am keenly aware of how this virus is disproportionately killing Black people because of environmental racism, medical and housing discrimination, and a racist educational school system that leads to low-wage jobs for Black and Brown Americans, which is why Black people are a large majority of the essential workers in this crisis and those dying on the front lines. In the face of that racism and resistance, it may seem pointless, but this is the perfect time to radically dream.

We must radically dream because before COVID-19 closed our schools and dismantled our way of life, schools were failing not only children of color but all children. High-stakes testing, large class sizes, and the disproportionate expulsion and suspension of Black and Brown students were the norm. Teachers had low expectations of Black and Brown children and high burnout. School shootings were disturbingly common. Schools lacked both adequate funding and inclusive classrooms for students with disabilities. Segregation and corporal punishment persisted. There was a scarcity of educators of color. There were more police in schools than counselors, and racism permeated every inch of our nations school system.

We now have the opportunity not to just reimagine schooling or try to reform injustice but to start over."

We all knew it was happening, but it felt too big to take down, too big to rescue. This pitiful existence of the education system has become normalized to the point that many teachers are broken, fighting to just survive, and working to protect children from the very system that is intended to uplift them. This situation is what we have been given, but that does not mean it is what we have to take.

We cannot go back. We now have the opportunity not to just reimagine schooling or try to reform injustice but to start over. Starting over is hard but not impossible; we now have a skeleton of a playbook. It starts with creativity, teacher-student relationships, and teacher autonomy.

When schools reopen, they could be spaces of justice, high expectations, creativity, and processing the collective trauma of COVID-19. Some school leaders are stepping up. In my home state of Georgia, the states school superintendent issued a letter to teachers and parents calling for compassion over compliance as we all try to reach students during a pandemic. In mid-April, Atlantas superintendent moved the district to a four-day teaching schedule. Teachers are to use Fridays for professional development and to be available to students who are behind. We need that same energy, understanding, and creativity from our school leaders when schools reopen.

As I watch my wifea 4th grade teacherteach and my kidstwo 4th graderslearn during this crisis, I see the possibilities for an education system now forced to trust teachers, give students autonomy, and rely on the ingenuity of parents. I also see the loss of schools as places of refuge, safety, family services, and invaluable social interactions.

My social-media timeline is filled with stories from teachers around the country finding innovative ways to reach their students. School districts are giving out laptops and books to studentsitems that were never allowed to leave the building before. Companies are offering free internet to families. Communities are rallying together to support families in need. Schools are relying on different indicators of achievement other than standardized testing to measure improvement, such as parent engagement, teacher-outreach levels, and interactive lessons. Teachers are making the social-emotional learning of their students their top priority. Students are having more time for physical activity and art. And they are researching and learning about things they feel passionate about but never had time to explore before.

The virus has made this new system the expectation of teachers, parents, and school districts. Asking teachers to be creative, react to the needs of students and families with resources backed by the district, and provide instruction driven by a teachers pedagogy rather than a test is our new norm. However, this new normal will be short-lived if we do not fight to keep it when we return to school.

Educational testing companies stand ready to profit from this crisis. They will introduce tests to measure gaps in learning after school closures. They will market tests to close these gaps, even though those tests have never closed the so-called achievement gap before. Schools will insist on surveilling teachers to make sure they are getting students back on track instead of trusting teachers and their skill sets. Education technology companies will try to convince school districts that moving an entire nations educational system online was beneficial and can continue in some variation.

Schools will expect parents to go back to homework duty and be less involved. The creativity of teachers and the trusting of students will be replaced with standardized testing, rote learning over critical thinking, and punitive school policies.

Our education system is allergic to change and comfortable with oppression, so if the system is not physically and theoretically pushed to stay in the direction of progress, it will revert back to its obsolete purpose.

We cannot go back. We must return to teaching in schools with a deeper understanding of how racism and capitalism limited our reach in offering all students the resources and instruction they needed and deserved before and after schools closed. This is more important than ever as COVID-19 exacerbates the educational opportunity gap.

The alternative ways educators are learning to exist in our new world cannot be lost when we reopen our society because that world only worked for some and was consumed by racism. What was said to be impossible in education is now here, and we must act for it to stay our reality.

Related Video

In 2016, Bettina L. Love, the author of this essay, spoke to Education Week about African-American girls and discipline. Heres what she had to say:
A suspected Russian intelligence agent was reported to have flown into the Czech capital with a deadly mission.

The agent was tasked with taking out three local Czech officials, including the mayor of Prague, Zdenek Hrib, according to the Czech investigative weekly Respekt.

Each of the three had taken or supported steps that angered Moscow, including the removal of a statue of a controversial Soviet general and the renaming of the square in front of the Russian Embassy in Prague after the slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov.

One of the alleged targets, Ondrej Kolar, a district mayor in Prague, was blunt, saying he had been told by Czech authorities that the Russian had been dispatched to "liquidate" him and the two others.

Upon arrival the suspected intelligence agent was driven to the Russian Embassy compound in a leafy residential neighborhood of Prague, according to Respekt, which broke the story on April 26.

Respekt said the Russian national entered the country with a suitcase containing the toxin ricin. That suitcase could have escaped customs inspection as per diplomatic protocol.

There are few other details in the Respekt report that, nevertheless, has sparked outrage in Prague and denials in Moscow, which has been accused of similar plots in the past, including the 2018 poisoning in Britain of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said it was "not acceptable -- if it's true -- for a foreign state to take action against our citizens here."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed the reports, saying it "looked like a canard."

Russia's 'Spy War'

But Western intelligence experts find the alleged plot possible, especially given the number of Russian spies reported to be operating out of the Czech Republic.

For John Schindler, a security expert and former National Security Agency analyst and counterintelligence officer, the ricin scandal would mark a dangerous escalation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's espionage activities in the West.

"Russian intelligence services feel safe operating very aggressively in Prague, I've gotten their rough treatment there myself, but the ricin thing is crazy, insane even for the Kremlin. Putin's gloves are off now," Schindler told RFE/RL.

In 2006, Putin launched his "spy war" against NATO and the European Union, gradually increasing the number of Kremlin spies operating abroad, Schindler has said.

"Now, cadres of Russian spies in NATO countries are bigger than even in the worst days of the Cold War, and Prague has more than perhaps anywhere else in the West," Schindler wrote in a 2017 article in The Observer.

For years, the Czech counterintelligence service, BIS, has issued report after report warning of the threat posed by Russian spies.

BIS said all Russian intelligence services, including Russias Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), military intelligence (GRU), plus departments of the Federal Security Service (FSB), have been detected operating on Czech territory.

BIS and other security experts all agreed that the Russian Embassy in Prague, with its estimated 140 personnel, is a hive of Russian espionage activity.

"A long-term security problem remains the oversized Russian diplomatic mission in the Czech Republic, which raises the threat of Czech citizens coming into contact with the intelligence service of a foreign power," the BIS said in its latest annual report, issued in November 2019.

"The Russian Embassy remains a key site for many of their activities in Europe," Ladislav Sticha, a BIS spokesman, told RFE/RL in a phone interview.

David Stulik, a senior analyst at the Prague-based European Values Center for Security Policy, said operating under diplomatic cover "greatly facilitates" Russian espionage.

"They are undermining our institutions, gathering information, and making the Czech Republic a de facto base for Russia intelligence services for the Schengen area," Stulik explained, referring to the visa-free, EU travel zone.

Embassy Staff

Following the revelations from the Respekt report, the Czech Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee in condemning the alleged plot also called for action from the government to come up with a plan to reduce the number of declared Russian diplomats in the country.

The last time the Czech Republic expelled any Russian diplomats was in 2018 in the wake of the Skripal nerve-agent poisoning. Prague kicked out three Russian Embassy personnel as part of a coordinated Western response.

With more than 150 Russian diplomats recalled from two dozen states, it was the biggest wave of expulsions since the Cold War. The Russians announced their own expulsions in response.

Later that same year, Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek in November told Czech TV that Prague and Moscow were in talks on reducing the Russian Embassy staff. Petricek said the number should "correspondent to the population and importance of the state."

The Russian Embassy in Prague, however, quickly issued a denial. In a Twitter post at the time, the embassy said there was no "intensive dialogue" with Prague about possibly reducing diplomatic staff. It said not only that such talks "had not occurred," but added "they will not."

Sticha declined to say whether the BIS had recommended to the government to push for a staff reduction, emphasizing that the Czech counterintelligence agency has repeatedly pointed out the large number of Russians with diplomatic status in the country.

"It's not a decision for us. It's a political decision," Sticha said.

Political Courage Lacking?

Jakub Janda, executive director of the European Values Center for Security Policy, said he doubted the political will exists in the Czech Republic to take drastic measures akin to those taken by Britain in the past to rid the country of Soviet or Russian spies.

"In the 1970s, Britain disrupted nearly all the KGB spy networks in the country, expelling almost all diplomatic and intelligence personnel, Janda told Seznam.cz in 2018.

"We could expel practically all diplomatic and intelligence personnel in the Czech Republic, which Moscow would reciprocate," Janda said. "In addition, we would break most of the Russian spy networks in the Czech Republic, the main goal of such a move. However, that requires political courage of the government, which today is dependent on Russia through the president and communists."

Czech President Milos Zeman is considered to have warm ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, having questioned the point of sanctioning Russia for its support of a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine and Moscow's annexation of Crimea.

Czech fear of reciprocity -- that Russia would shrink the Czech Embassy in Russia if Prague moved against the Russian diplomatic mission in the Czech Republic -- may be putting the brakes on the Czechs taking action, Stulik explained.

"The Czech Republic has its interests in Russia: economic, but also maintaining the graves of Czechoslovak legionnaires," Stulik added, referring to the Czechs and Slovaks who fought in Russia during World War I and in the Russian Civil War on the side of the White Army.

However, Schindler said the alleged ricin plot may serve as a wake-up call for Czech political leaders. "BIS, despite being overwhelmed by the scale of the Russian Intelligence Security threat, understand the stakes and work against it, but Zeman, et al, aren't enthusiastic about pushing back on the Kremlin here," Schindler explained in e-mailed comments.

"The ricin incident is so brazen that, like the novichok attack in the U.K., we can hope for change. Maybe," Schindler said.
Exclusive agreement with Medlive, a pharmaceutical and health products distributor with network of over 3,000 clinics and hospitals in southern Brazil

Company's medical cannabis products will be marketed through Medlive network of doctor offices, clinics, hospitals and governmental institutions

Medical education, marketing activities and sales are planned to start in Q3 2020

Brazil represents the largest addressable market in Latin America with a population of approximately 212 million

TORONTO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Khiron Life Sciences Corp. ("Khiron" or the "Company") (TSXV: KHRN ), (OTCQX: KHRNF), (Frankfurt: A2JMZC), a vertically integrated cannabis leader with core operations in Latin America and Europe, announces that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Medlive, a leading marketer and distributor of pharmaceutical products to clinics, hospitals and pharmacies in southern Brazil. Through this agreement physicians in Medlive's extensive network will receive medical education and training related to Khiron products.

"Brazil represents one of the most important markets in Latin America, with its massive population and its acceptance of medical cannabis. Together with Medlive we are now positioned to begin educating health professionals and driving prescriptions for our medical cannabis products, and ultimately focus on our objective to help patients in Brazil who can benefit from medical cannabis," comments Alvaro Torres, Khiron CEO and director. "Medlive is recognized as an important medical marketing organization in the region and we could not have a better partner to help us achieve these goals."

On November 29th, 2019 Khiron announced it had received authorization from the Colombian Technical Quotas Group ("TQG") for the commercialization of medical use high THC cannabis for domestic and export purposes, including to Uruguay. On February 7th, 2020 the Company announced authorization from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) for Khiron medical cannabis product to be imported for use on an individual patient basis.

The medical cannabis market in Brazil is anticipated to grow to 3.4 million patients and a market of US$1.4 Billion within three years, including serving patients with chronic pain conditions (Source: New Frontier Data 2017). Further, total requests for medical cannabis have tripled since 2015 (Source: ANVISA) and today, approximately 1,100 physicians are now prescribing medical cannabis to their patients.

"With the rapid globalization of legalized medical cannabis, including here in Brazil, there is an important need to bring product education and information to the country's health professionals. When medical professionals think of medical cannabis here, they think of Khiron. Khiron was the best choice to have as a partner, and to bring their highly regarded product research and development expertise to our health network," comments Adriana Marques, Medlive Managing Director.

About Medlive

Medlive is a leader in the distribution of medical and hospital products in the south of Brazil, serving more than 3,000 hospitals and clinics in the public and private sectors. Medlive delivers efficient, effective and agile results through a wide portfolio of medicines and nutritional products, and with solutions that are applied across the supply chain for conditions including cancer treatments and clinical nutrition, among others.

Medlive is a committed commercial partner, understanding needs and with technical and scientific knowledge in the areas of pharmacology, nursing and nutrition that make the company an important resource in the distribution of medicine products. The company is able to move at speed to support the healthcare community in the south and southeast regions, and with capacity for the entire Brazilian territory. Visit http://medlive.com.br

About Khiron Life Sciences Corp.

Khiron Life Sciences Corp. is the dominant integrated medical cannabis company in Latin America. Khiron has core operations in Latin America, along with activity in North America and Europe, and is licensed in Colombia for the cultivation, production, domestic distribution, and international export of both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) medical cannabis. The Company delivers best in class regulatory compliance, has the first approved line of CBD cosmetic products on shelf in Colombia, and is fully authorized to manufacture high- and low-THC medical cannabis, and to fill prescriptions for low-THC medical cannabis in the country.

With a focused regional strategy and patient oriented approach, the Company combines global scientific expertise, agricultural advantages, branded product market entrance experience and education to drive prescription and brand loyalty to address priority medical conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, depression and anxiety in the Latin American market of over 620 million people. The Company is led by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alvaro Torres, together with an experienced executive team, and a knowledgeable Board of Directors that includes former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox.

Visit Khiron online at investors.khiron.ca and on Instagram @khironlife

Cautionary Notes

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Khiron undertakes no obligation to comment analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Khiron, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Khiron believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking statement has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Khiron's control, including the risk factors discussed in Khiron's Annual Information Form which is available on Khiron's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. Khiron disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

United States Disclaimer

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE Khiron Life Sciences Corp.

Related Links

https://www.khiron.ca/en/home


When Ingmar Bjorn Nolting saw his grandmother in early April, it was from a distance of five meters. Roswitha Erler, 80, lives in the northwestern German town of Minden and has been battling breast cancerputting her at high risk of severe symptoms if she catches the coronavirus. It was strange not being able to hug her, says Nolting, who took his grandmothers portrait outside her home. The next time I can do that, Ill really appreciate it.

Inside Erlers doorway hangs a sign that reads Im staying at home. She was born five years before World War II ended, and told Nolting that life during the coronavirus pandemic feels similar to life during the post war years: everyone must stick together and do their part to keep Germany stable.

Taking his grandmothers photo was one of the most challenging tasks in Noltings latest project. For the past month, the 24-year-old photographer has been traveling around Germany under strict precautions to document how different groups of people, from medical workers to asylum seekers to couples separated by newly erected border fences, have adapted to life in lockdown and sought to find some normalcy and creativity in these times.

The closed border between the German village of Sigmarszell and the Austrian village of Hohenweiler on April 18. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Easter services are held at a drive-in cinema in Dusseldorf on April 10, as church services have been prohibited throughout Germany since March 16. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Mohamed and Saleh, both from Syria, photographed during quarantine at a refugee reception center in Suhl on March 27. More than 500 residents in the center have been under quarantine since March 13, after one resident was confirmed to have coronavirus. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Every Sunday, members of a church brass band

Germany recorded its first case of coronavirus on January 21. More than three months on, there have been 160,059 confirmed infections and 6,314 deaths, according to April 29 data from Johns Hopkins University. Although Germany is Europes second largest country, with a population of 84 million people, it has managed to keep its outbreak relatively under control compared to its neighbors. Widespread testing and strict lockdown measures have meant Germanys death rate is far below France, Spain, Italy and the U.K., which have each lost more than 20,000 citizens.

From March 16, Germanys public life started to shut down. The country sealed off its borders with France, Germany and Switzerland on March 16, while Chancellor Angela Merkel urged people to stay at home and banned church, synagogue and mosque services. Days later, non-essential shops and restaurants were shut and gatherings of three or more people were barred. Under Germanys 16-state federal system, only state and local governments can impose curfews. In some states, a full curfew was introduced, banning people from leaving their homes with a few exceptions.

Story continues

For Nolting, the gravity of the situation hit when Merkel gave a rare television address on March 18. This is serious, she said, as the number of confirmed infections hit 5,800. Since the Second World Warno challenge to our nation has demanded such a degree of common and united action.

Thats when I understood it was going to be very different from everything else Ive experienced, Nolting says. Its also when the 24 year old photographer decided to document how life in Germany was changing, driven by a need to visually document this in a more comprehensive, personal way.

Hospital beds are set up on April 4 at a new hospital for treating coronavirus in an exhibition hall at the Hannover Messe trade fair in Hannover. Five hundred beds will be available across two halls. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Markus Kustner, an undertaker, is seen on April 17 before a funeral in the mourning hall of a cemetery in Dachsenhausen. According to official guidelines, no more than 10 people are allowed to attend a burial and mourners must keep a distance of at least five feet from one another. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Michaela Schenker and her son Lucas take a walk through a forest near the village Ellenberg on April 19. Lucas lives in a home for people with mental disabilities and was not allowed to have visitors due to the pandemic. After developing symptoms of depression, his mother was able to get a special permit that allows them to meet for a walk once a week. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Within a matter of days, ordinary life had become impossible. It showed me how fragile our systems are, how everything can change so quickly, Nolting says. People are forced to be creative when they need to be and, somehow, they find ways of doing what they love.

Among those people was American organist Cameron Carpenter. Although large gatherings of more than 1,000 people have been banned until August 31 and music venues remain closed, many musicians have found news ways of reaching their audiences. Nolting photographed Carpenter rehearsing for a concert at the Konzerthaus, a Berlin venue that hosts more than 1400 people. Carpenter, who live streamed the performance so that his audience could access it online, said the empty concert hall gave him the ability to enhance the acoustic quality.

Nolting also photographed members of a church brass band in the southern town of Essingen, who have continued playing despite being unable to meet. Since the band stopped gathering six weeks ago, they have taken to playing in different spots around town every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.  keeping their distance from one another. On April 19, for instance, members Andrea and Rainer Zube, met on a meadow in Essingen to play the french horn and trumpet.

Keep up to date on the growing threat to global health by signing up for our daily coronavirus newsletter.

Minakhanym Bagavova sews reusable hybrid face masks in the sewing room at the textile services company Sitex in Minden on April 8. Wearing face masks on public transport and shops became mandatory on April 27 for most people in Germany. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

The entrance area of a store in Minden, Germany, April 9. German supermarkets have taken safety measures that include placing cashiers behind perspex windows and designating an employee to disinfect shopping baskets and carts at the entrance. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Romanian seasonal workers, who came to Germany before the entry ban, work on an asparagus plantation near Staffelde on April 25. Despite the entry ban, the government has allowed 40,000 foreign harvest workers to come to Germany in April and another 40,000 May, in order to help plug the huge deficit of workers available. Around 100,000 foreign harvest workers are needed until the end of May. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

In the southern city of Konstanz, Nolting captured scenes of friends and couples meeting a border fence that was recently created with the neighboring Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. Residents in both cities are usually able to cross the invisible line that separates Germany and Switzerland, but since the borders were shut on March 16, travel between the cities has been mostly forbidden. A couple weeks later, Swiss officials put up a second fence 1.5 meters away from the first to enforce social distancing rules, as too many people were making physical contact and passing each other objects through the fence.

Many people dont even have the freedom to walk around their towns and cities. Throughout Germany, asylum-seekers and refugees have been confined to accommodation facilities after residents tested positive for coronavirus. Nolting visited a refugee center in the city of Suhl in central Germany, where more than 500 people were placed in quarantine on March 13 after one person tested positive for the coronavirus. When a small group of people rioted and tried to escape the center, more than 100 police and special service officers were reportedly deployed to the center on March 17.

On March 27, residents Mohamed and Saleh from Syria spoke to Nolting through a fence about the difficulties of the situation. They said they lived through the war in Syria, so they dont fear the virus, Nolting says. But there is one difference, they said, you can see the bombs. But you cant see the virus.

Young men fool around on the banks of the river Weser in Minden on April 8. In most federal states in Germany people are allowed to move freely, while keeping a distance of at least five feet from others. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Cameron Carpenter rehearses before live streaming an Easter concert at the Konzerthaus Berlin concert hall on April 11. The empty concert hall offered new opportunities to position Carpenter's tailor-made organ and loudspeakers for improved acoustic quality, something that would not have been possible with an audience present, according to Carpenter. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

A coronavirus drive-in test facility at the Nurtingen fairground on March 26. Germanys weekly testing capacities were boosted to about 700,000 a week, a trade group said on April 28. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

Roswitha Erler, the photographer's grandmother, who has breast cancer, shelters in her house in Minden on April 8. | Ingmar Bjorn NoltingDOCKS Collective

A month later, at the time of publication, Nolting was in the northwestern region of Westphalia, some 300 miles from his home in Saxony. He says he does not know when his project will end. It depends on how long the pandemic keeps Germanys residents confined to their homes and accommodation facilities. As restrictions are being gradually eased, with certain shops reopening last week and some schools set to open their doors from May 4, normalcy appears to be on its way back for some, slowly.

But for Erler, it could be months before she can safely leave her home. Nolting is reassured by the amount of support shes receiving. Its been nice to see my family be so caring towards her. My aunt delivers food and everything she needs to her door, we call her everyday, Nolting says. Shes coping well, somehow.

Please send tips, leads, and stories from the frontlines to virus@time.com

Correction, May 5

The original version of this story misstated the location of Minden. It is in the northwest of Germany, not the northeast.
PORTLAND, Ore.  Oregon public health officials have identified 61 new cases of the new coronavirus in the state as of 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29.

The state also reported that two more deaths have occurred due to COVID-19. At present, 101 deaths have been attributed to the virus.

We want to keep you informed about #COVID19 in #Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, visit https://t.co/HOiXqGkygF. pic.twitter.com/Tx8npzJvXD  OR Health Authority (@OHAOregon) April 29, 2020

The Oregon Health Authority said that there are now a total of 2,446 people in the state who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through a positive test. 54,026 have tested negative for the virus.

RELATED: Jackson County reports no new COVID-19 cases, 38 recoveries

OHA reported new cases in the following counties: Clackamas (1), Hood River (1), Jefferson (4), Linn (1), Marion (18), Multnomah (19), Polk (1), Umatilla (8), Washington (7), Yamhill (1).

Public health officials gave the following information about the latest reported fatalities:

Oregons 100th COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 20th and died on April 22nd at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregons 101st COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old female in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 11th and died on April 20th at Adventist Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.

SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Watch

In a weekly report, OHA offered a new total of recovered cases in the state. Of 2,253 surviving cases at the time of the report, 860 (38.2 percent) were considered recovered, and 785 (34.8 percent) were not yet recovered. 607 cases (26.9 percent) have yet to be assessed by the agency.

"A person is considered recovered once they are free of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication), cough, shortness of breath, and diarrhea for 72 hours," OHA said. "If they are not yet recovered, public health staff will call back weekly until the person is recovered. COVID-19 cases without symptoms are considered recovered 7 days after the last positive test."

The median recovery time for cases who had symptoms was 15 days, while the median recovery time for those who were hospitalized was 19 days.

Though Oregon is now reporting recovered cases by county, the lower numbers than those reported by local southern Oregon counties suggests that the report is somewhat dated compared to what counties are now offering on their own.

OHA weekly report provides information on 'underlying medical conditions' for COVID-19 deaths

In a weekly report issued on Tuesday, the Oregon Health Authority for the first time released some of the kinds of underlying conditions found in people who have died from COVID-19. The vast majority  if not all  of Oregon's deaths have had some sort of pre-existing condition.

The most common underlying conditions included diabetes, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders. More than half (58.9 percent) had cardiovascular disease. A relatively small percentage were obese, had liver disease, or were current smokers  although 24.7 percent were former smokers.

"There have been a total of 92 deaths among COVID-19 cases. We have obtained comorbidity data for 73 of the deaths from case interview or medical records review," OHA wrote in the report.
In late January, researchers at BenevolentAI, an artificial intelligence start-up in central London, turned their attention to the coronavirus.

Within two days, using technologies that can scour scientific literature related to the virus, they pinpointed a possible treatment with speed that surprised both the company that makes the drug and many doctors who had spent years exploring its effect on other viruses.

Called baricitinib, the drug was designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Though many questions hang over its potential use as a coronavirus treatment, it will soon be tested in an accelerated clinical trial with the National Institutes of Health. It is also being studied in Canada, Italy and other countries.

The specialists at BenevolentAI are among many A.I. researchers and data scientists around the world who have turned their attention to the coronavirus, hoping they can accelerate efforts to understand how it is spreading, treat people who have it and find a vaccine.
Five of a family of 12, living in a two-bedroom government quarters near Central Delhis Gole Market, have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) since April 20, with the family blaming delayed reports for the disease spreading to so many members of the family within a span of nine days.

The head of the family, a 58-year-old Lok Sabha housekeeping staff member, was the first to test positive on April 20. He lives with his wife, daughter, three sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren in a two-bedroom house with a covered balcony functioning as an additional room.

My father had complained of chest pain on April 11, after which I took him to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital. Three days later, he had fever and I took him for a Covid test to RML again. On April 20, he test results came positive for Covid-19. The ambulance did not come for hours to take him to the hospital. Since beds were full at RML, we had to call up several people to get him admitted to Safdarjung, the mans son told HT over the phone.

On April 21, the whole family got their Covid tests done at the RML. Reports came on April 23 and the staffers daughter tested positive. She was shifted to the YMCA/YWCA quarantine facility of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) the same day. All others tested negative at the time. However, one of the daughters-in-laws report did not come.

The staffers son said, After my sister tested positive, I had requested the medical staff at RML to help shift us to an isolation facility, as we have young children at home. But they told us that since none of us had symptoms, we should stay in home quarantine, he said.

He added that days later when he checked with the authorities about his sister-in-laws report, he was told that it may have been misplaced and they will get her sample collected and tested again, which didnt happen, he alleged.

Our house is small and all members of the family have to use the same bathroom, he said.

 When my mother and brother got fever and sore throat, all three of us again got our Covid tests done on April 25. Mine as well as my mothers report came on April 29 (Wednesday) evening. We again waited for almost two hours for the ambulance to arrive. My brothers report had not come even then. He had to isolate himself in the balcony to keep away from children, the staffers son said.

The son and the staffers wifes were shifted late Wednesday to the YMCA/YWCA quarantine facility. The other sons report came a day later, on Thursday evening.

The others in the neighbourhood Thursday said that they will write to the local authorities to shift the family to a quarantine facility, as social distancing was not possible in the small house and more members might end up getting infected.

Rebat Ram Dobhal, president of the local RWA said the family had a hard time even getting to the hospital. I had to call up the local authorities to help send ambulances. We plan to write to them to move the family to a safer quarantine facility, as they may infect each other. Also, it poses a risk to others in the building,Dobhal said.

Four civil defence volunteers have been deployed to supply essentials to the sealed building that houses 15 flats.

All the staffers son wants now is that the rest of his familys samples are collected from home and they do not have to go out again to a hospital. Initially when I took my father for his heart check-up on April 11, the hospital staff was not taking adequate measures to keep the non-Covid patients separated from Covid patients. My father was made to sit on the same bench where a Covid patient had sat minutes ago. He contracted the infection from there. Now I just pray that our children remain safe, he said.

New Delhi district health officials said in designated hospitals, it usually takes two days for the reports to arrive. There could be a slight delay on account of medical facilities being burdened with tests from containment zones. We have already asked them to speed up test results, a senior government official, who did not wish to be named, said.

A senior official from the RML hospital, on condition of anonymity, said, There is no delay in reports. It varies from case to case. In some cases, it may take three or four days for the report to come, while in others, the test has to be repeated, and the reports may take longer. The sample load at testing labs is also high.

A senior Delhi government official, looking after the Gole Market area, who did not wish to be named, said only the block where the Lok Sabha staffer was living, has been sealed so far because all cases are from the same family. There are about seven or eight other cases in Gole Market area, the official said.

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As an investor, mistakes are inevitable. But really bad investments should be rare. So spare a thought for the long term shareholders of Tempo Australia Limited (ASX:TPP); the share price is down a whopping 82% in the last three years. That would certainly shake our confidence in the decision to own the stock. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 54% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 23% in the last three months. Of course, this share price action may well have been influenced by the 23% decline in the broader market, throughout the period.

We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway.

See our latest analysis for Tempo Australia

Tempo Australia wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth.

Over the last three years, Tempo Australia's revenue dropped 4.8% per year. That's not what investors generally want to see. Having said that the 44% annualized share price decline highlights the risk of investing in unprofitable companies. This business clearly needs to grow revenues if it is to perform as investors hope. There's no more than a snowball's chance in hell that share price will head back to its old highs, in the short term.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

ASX:TPP Income Statement April 30th 2020

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 12% in the twelve months, Tempo Australia shareholders did even worse, losing 53%. 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 14% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Tempo Australia better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 5 warning signs for Tempo Australia (2 are concerning!) 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 AU exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Professor Rod Walker manufacturing sanitiser in the Pharmacy lab

Two eminent Rhodes University academics, Professors Rosemary Dorrington and Rod Walker have joined a team of experts assembled by Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane and assigned by the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, to shore up efforts to curb Covid-19 in the Eastern Cape Province.

As part of the expert panel, Professors Dorrington and Walker will provide clinical advice to the OR Tambo, Sarah Baartman and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Joint Operations Centres, to best inform governmental response strategies.

Prof Dorrington, who holds a SARChI in Marine Natural Products Research, has been the consulting virologist to Rhodes Universitys Coronavirus Response Task Team (CVRTT) since the start of the outbreak. Under her expert guidance, the CVRTT has been able to make informed decisions regarding the Covid-19 outbreak and the effect it may have on the University and the city of Makhanda.

Prof Walker, who is a Professor of Pharmaceutics and was the first-ever academic to receive a South African Pharmacy Council Pioneer Pharmacy Award, has been at the helm of the Universitys World Health Organisation-accredited sanitiser manufacturing project since early March of 2020. What started out as a small initiative to produce sanitiser for the University and Makhanda when this much-needed commodity became scarce, quickly turned into a collaboration with the Eastern Cape Provincial Health Department that has produced in excess of 5000 litres to date. Furthermore, world-class training is now being rolled out by the Pharmacy Faculty, also at no cost to government, to rural communities in sanitiser manufacturing under the auspices of the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.

All of these efforts speak to the drive Rhodes University academics have to serve their community and their country. Rhodes University wishes Professors Dorrington and Walker all the best in their new significant roles. We take pride in their expertise, professionalism and commitment to serve, said Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor for Rhodes University.

Professor Rosemary Dorrington

Source: Communcations

Please help us to raise funds so that we can give all our students a chance to access online teaching and learning. Covid-19 has disrupted our students' education. Don't let the digital divide put their future at risk. Visit www.ru.ac.za/rucoronavirusgateway to donate
Princess Anne has thanked workers for 'their successful team effort and astonishing achievement', as she marks the completion of the seventh NHS Nightingale field hospital.

The Princess Royal, 69, featured in a clip on the Royal Family's Twitter account to congratulate those involved in the building and preparation of the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow.

She appeared to speak from her manor house in Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire, where she is isolating. The land is also home to her daughter Zara Tindall, 38, and Peter Phillips, 42, and their families.

Princess Anne (pictured) has thanked workers for 'their successful team effort and astonishing achievement' as she marked the completion of the seventh NHS Nightingale field hospital

The Princess Royal, 69, appeared in a clip on the Royal Family's Twitter account (pictured) to congratulate those involved in the building and preparation of the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow

NHS Louisa Jordan (pictured) was built in only 20 days and has over 1,000 beds to help against the coronavirus pandemic

For the video, Anne sported a sensible brown, checked blazer for the occasion, while adding simple golden earrings.

The royal said she was 'particularly pleased' that the hospital was named after a Glasgow-born nurse, who volunteered and died working for the Scottish Womens Hospitals (SWH) during the First World War.

Sister Louisa Jordan died on active service in Serbia in 1915, while providing much-needed care to an area of dire need as part of the Scottish Womens Hospitals for Foreign Services.

NHS Louisa Jordan was built in only 20 days and has over 1,000 beds to help against the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking in the clip, Anne said: 'May I offer my congratulations to everyone who has made it possible to open the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow.

The royal said she was 'particularly pleased' that the hospital was named after a Glasgow-born nurse who volunteered and died working for the Scottish Womens Hospitals (SWH) during the First World War. Pictured: The Royal Family's tweet explaining the name

Sister Louisa Jordan (pictured) died on active service in Serbia in 1915 while providing much-needed care to an area of dire need as part of the Scottish Womens Hospitals for Foreign Services

'Construction work only began on the 31st March and was completed on the 19th April. An astonishing achievement by contractors and all the NHS staff who were involved in the project.

'This was a successful team effort and it will need to continue in order to make the best use of the facilities here.'

The royal continued: 'I am particularly pleased by the name you've chosen. A few years ago, I helped celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Women's Hospitals and their founder Dr Elsie Inglis.

'Glasgow born Louisa Jordan and many others responded to her challenge by working as nurses in one of the fourteen hospitals set up across Europe in the First World War.

In 2017, the Princess Royal (pictured above) marked the centenary of the death of Dr Elsie Inglis, the founder of the Scottish Womens Hospitals. Elsie was one of the first women to graduate from The University of Edinburgh, of which Anne is Chancellor

'The biggest risk to their patients and themselves was often disease, especially Typhus. Louisa Jordan herself died of Typhus in Serbia in 1915.'

She added: 'That devotion to patients is being shown by nurses, medical and support staff across Scotland today. So it is entirely fitting that we should name this new hospital after Louisa Jordan.

'The role of this building is about providing spare capacity which will ensure support to the whole of the NHS in Scotland. And importantly will give confidence that there are enough facilities available for whatever happens now or in the future.

'COVID-19 has done something very rare. It has affected every single person's life in some way. Sadly for some, in a very personal and final way.

NHS Louisa Jordan pictured earlier this month as work continued to prepare the hospital at the SEC event centre in Glasgow

Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) said her Government expects that the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital, set up at the Scottish Events Campus, will not need to be used

'But while many people feel frustrated and helpless, the Louisa Jordan hospital is a way of being positive and helpful. And although we would all hope that it doesn't need to be used. We can all be very grateful that it exists.'

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, said her Government expects that the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital, set up at the Scottish Events Campus, will not need to be used.

In an official statement, Ms Sturgeon said: 'Everyone involved in establishing the NHS Louisa Jordan deserves our sincere thanks. They are working tirelessly under extremely challenging circumstances to build a unique national facility.'

She continued: 'While I still hope that it will not be needed, the NHS Louisa Jordan will help our NHS to prepare and provide people with reassurance that we have measures in place to help treat people during this pandemic.'
China voiced disapproval on Thursday of the Netherlands' diplomatic office name change in Taiwan, saying it opposes the one-China rule.

The Netherlands changed the name of a diplomatic office from Netherlands Trade and Investment Office to Netherlands Office Taipei on Tuesday.

Geng Shuang, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, said China is against "any kind of official relationship with Taiwan' and requests the Netherlands "strictly abide by the one-China principle."

China's embassy in Amsterdam immediately issued a rebuke, the latest in a decades-long diplomatic tie between the island nation and the world's second-largest economy.

The Global Times, a semi-official newspaper based in Beijing, said the move "could provoke consequences" including the suspension of medical supplies.

When asked about reports from Spain that China had sold the country faulty masks and medical equipment, Geng said that "some countries didn't strictly follow the product usage rules."

Geng said, "we also hope that other countries will strengthen the quality inspection of products imported by their purchasing agents, and use the product in strictly accordance with the scope of application and operating procedures."
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2020) - Roscan Gold Corporation (TSXV: ROS) (FSE: 2OJ) ("Roscan" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. David Reading as Technical Advisor - Exploration Geology to the Company.

Mr. Sangmuah, President and CEO of the Company, commented: "We are proud and excited to have David join the Roscan Exploration Team as Technical Advisor. We believe his extensive experience and success in exploration discovery, and resource expansion will help unlock great value at our gold project for all Roscan shareholders. This comes at an important time as we try to unlock value from our exploration targets and ensure we strategically allocated resources to high priority targets."

Appointment of Mr. David Reading as Technical Advisor

Mr. Reading has significant expertise in the global gold mining industry with over 40 years' experience across the fields of exploration, feasibility, project development and mining. He is the former CEO of European Goldfields and Aureus Mining and the former General Manager of African exploration for Randgold Resources. In addition, he was Special advisor to Continental Gold until the recent sale to Zijin Mining for $1.4B and has consulted to various Toronto and London based Mining Groups with assets in the Americas and Africa.

Mr. Reading has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a fellow of Institute of Materials, Metals and Mining (IOM3) and the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG).

Stock Options

The Company's board of directors has approved the granting of 500,000 incentive stock options pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan to recently appointed David Reading, subject to approval. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.30 per share for a period of five (5) years.

About Roscan

Roscan Gold Corporation is a well-financed Canadian gold exploration company focused on the exploration and acquisition of gold properties in West Africa. The Company has assembled a significant land position of 100%-owned permits in an area of producing gold mines (including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine which lies in a contiguous property to the west of Kandiole), and major gold deposits, located both north and south of its Kandiole Project in West Mali.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew J. Ramcharan

Executive Vice President - Corporate Development and Investor Relations

Tel: (902) 832-5555

Email: aramcharan@Roscan.ca

Greg Isenor, P.Geo

Executive Vice-Chairman

Tel: (902) 832-5555

Email: gpisenor@Roscan.ca

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/55138
[April 30, 2020] Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom awards 2020 Press Freedom Award to Kenneth Jackson of APTN

OTTAWA, April 30, 2020 /CNW/ - The winner of the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (CCWPF) 2020 Press Freedom Award is Kenneth Jackson, reporter/producer with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). The annual award recognizes outstanding achievements by Canadian media workers who produce public-interest journalism, while overcoming secrecy, intimidation or other efforts to thwart their work. Backed by his APTN managers, Jackson relentlessly pursued critical information on the fate of Indigenous children who died after being placed in care in Ontario. His reporting included tracking down relatives on the streets of Thunder Bay, filing access to information requests, and going to court to get access to files in civil lawsuits. The CCWPF gives honourable mentions to Michael de Adder, long-time editorial cartoonist with the Irving-owned Brunswick News Inc, and to Joan Baxter, a Nova Scotia journalist and author. The Committee also awards its Spencer Moore Award for Lifetime Achievement to David Pugliese who covers the military beat for The Ottawa Citizen. Pugliese has been a fearless chronicler of the Canadian military for many years, often by challenging the Department of National Defence's poor record on Access to Information. He spent time covering Canadian troops in Afghanistan and has broken important stories on questionable practices in defence procurement. The award is named in honour of the late Spencer Moore, a founding director of CCWPF. More information about the winners can be found on our website: https://worldpressfreedomcanada.ca/awards/



The CCWPF works with the patronage of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and the sustaining sponsorship of the Canadian Bankers' Association. Each year, the committee marks UNESCO's World Press Freedom Day on May 3. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier of Ontario Doug Ford appear in press freedom video

To mark World Press Freedom Day, the CCWPF is also releasing a video in which leaders from governments, business, the environmental community, the arts and Indigenous organizations attest to the importance of press freedom during this time of public health and economic crises. The video can be found on our website: https://worldpressfreedomcanada.ca/

"It is important that we mark World Press Freedom Day," committee president Shawn McCarthy said. "The public health and economic crises resulting from the coronavirus outbreak has clearly demonstrated the vital importance of a free and vigorous media in communicating accurate information and posing relevant questions to those in authority." McCarthy said that even though Canadian journalists work in a country of relative freedom, we still have to be vigilant because there are glaring examples where freedom is frustrated or threatened. 20th International Editorial Cartoon Competition Winners

Arash Ekramifar of Iran is the grand prize winner in the 20th International Editorial Cartoon Competition, with the theme: Pulling the plug on social media. Second prize goes to Kianoush Ramezani of Finland, and third prize to Bruce MacKinnon of Canada. "We received more 300 cartoons from 31 countries," said Guy Badeaux, coordinator of the contest. Ekramifar has collaborated with various Iranian publications for 14 years and is now continuing his studies in journalism and arts. The winning cartoons are available on our website: : https://worldpressfreedomcanada.ca/cartoons/ About the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom

The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom is an Ottawa-based volunteer group whose mission is to raise public awareness for the right to free expression; identify violations and defend freedom of the press. The advocacy committee is supported by sponsors including the patronage of Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the platinum sponsorship of Canadian Bankers' Association. To learn more about the committee, visit: https://worldpressfreedomcanada.ca/ SOURCE Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom

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